I have written several chapters of a couple of new fics, I put up a poll on Fanfiction net and my Tumblr not release types

Chapter 54: Friendly Fire

The morning sun glinted off the Traveler as it hung suspended above the Last City. In one of the Tower's many training fields, Lord Shaxx stood with arms crossed, his horned helmet tilted upward in appreciation as he watched eight Guardians assemble before him.

"A CRUCIBLE MATCH BETWEEN LEGENDARY WARRIORS FROM ANOTHER WORLD!" his voice boomed across the field, causing several nearby Guardians to turn their heads in curiosity. "THIS WILL BE GLORIOUS!"

Ruby adjusted No Land Beyond against her shoulder, the exotic sniper rifle's wooden stock comfortable in her grip. The ancient weapon was a far cry from Crescent Rose's sleek design, but she had developed a fondness for it over the centuries. There was something satisfying about the bolt-action mechanism, the way it demanded precision and patience—qualities she'd cultivated through her long existence.

"You're using that old thing?" Yang teased, checking the ammunition on her Monte Carlo. "I thought this was supposed to be a serious match."

"Don't underestimate the classics," Ruby replied with a wink. "This 'old thing' has gotten me through more tight spots than I can count."

Across the staging area, Nora bounced excitedly from foot to foot, her Harsh Language shotgun gleaming under the morning light. "This is going to be AMAZING! First official Crucible match as Guardians!"

"It's a friendly practice match," Ren corrected, inspecting his Furina-2mg fusion rifle with characteristic calmness. "No need for excess enthusiasm."

"EXCESS ENTHUSIASM IS PRECISELY WHAT THE CRUCIBLE DEMANDS!" Shaxx thundered, clapping Ren on the shoulder hard enough to make him stagger slightly. "EMBRACE THE CHAOS, GUARDIAN!"

Jaune checked his Mountaintop grenade launcher one last time before securing it to his back. "Let's go over the rules again. Capture the zones, hold them for points, and eliminations add to the score, right?"

"Control," Pyrrha confirmed with a nod. "Three zones across Bannerfall. First team to 150 points wins."

Weiss adjusted her robes, Randy's Throwing Knife scout rifle held casually at her side. "I've studied the map layout. Blake and I will take B zone initially while Ruby provides cover from the elevated position near A."

"And I'll flank through the lower corridor to pressure C," Yang added, cracking her knuckles with a grin. "Just like we practiced."

"Bold strategy," Jaune replied with a confident smile of his own. "But we've got a few tricks up our sleeves too."

"Do these tricks involve pancakes?" Ruby asked, giving Nora a knowing look. "Because I remember how you used to fight on Remnant."

Nora's eyes widened with excitement. "Wait, can we use pancakes as weapons here? Is that allowed? Shaxx, can I throw pancakes at people?!"

"NEGATIVE, GUARDIAN!" Shaxx replied, his tone somehow both stern and amused. "BUT YOUR LIGHT WILL SERVE YOU FAR BETTER THAN BREAKFAST FOODS!"

"You haven't seen what Nora can do with her Light yet," Ren commented quietly, a hint of pride in his voice.

Blake finished checking her Red Death pulse rifle and stood ready. "Well, I guess we're about to find out."

Oscar and Adam watched from the observation deck, the former smiling faintly as Team RWBY and Team JNPR lined up at their respective spawn points.

"Just like old times," Oscar observed.

"Not exactly," Adam replied, arms folded across his chest. "Back on Remnant, they were children playing at being warriors. Now they're immortal soldiers with the power to level cities."

Oscar chuckled. "And yet, looking at them now..."

Down below, Nora was attempting to balance her shotgun on her nose while Ren pretended not to notice. Ruby and Yang were engaged in what appeared to be a pre-battle sister handshake that ended with both of them laughing. Even Weiss, normally so composed, was smiling as Blake whispered something in her ear.

"Some things never change," Oscar finished softly.

Lord Shaxx raised his arms dramatically. "PREPARE YOURSELVES, GUARDIANS! BANNERFALL AWAITS!"

A shimmering field of Light enveloped both teams as their Ghosts prepared them for transmat to the arena.

"FIGHT FOREVER, GUARDIANS!"

Bannerfall materialized around them, an abandoned Tower courtyard now repurposed for Crucible matches. The symmetrical arena was split between two sides—New Monarchy red and Dead Orbit gray—with three capture zones situated strategically across the map.

Ruby found herself at the spawn point with her team, No Land Beyond already in her hands.

"Remember the plan," she said, silver eyes gleaming with excitement. "Weiss and Blake, take B. Yang, pressure C. I'll provide cover."

"What about having fun?" Yang asked with a grin.

"That's mandatory," Ruby replied, returning the smile. "But winning's more fun, so let's do that too."

As they broke formation, Ruby quickly scaled a nearby pillar, her Hunter's agility allowing her to reach a perch overlooking the central courtyard where B zone waited. Through her scope, she saw Weiss and Blake advancing cautiously toward the center, using cover effectively as they moved.

On the opposite side of the arena, Team JNPR had deployed with equal efficiency. Pyrrha had taken a similar elevated position with her Frozen Orbit sniper rifle, while Jaune led Ren and Nora toward B zone from the opposite approach.

The match had begun.

The first clash came at B zone. Blake slid into position behind a low wall, Red Death tracking the entrance where JNPR would emerge. Weiss had positioned herself on the opposite side, her scout rifle ready.

"Movement, east side," Blake reported over the comms. "Looks like—"

A grenade sailed over the barricade, detonating in a burst of blinding light. Jaune had thrown a flashbang, momentarily disorienting both Guardians. In that brief window, Nora charged in, Harsh Language shotgun at the ready.

"SURPRISE!" she yelled, firing a devastating blast that caught Weiss before she could recover. The Warlock's body dissolved into Light as her first death of the match was registered.

"Weiss down," Blake called, ducking back into cover and switching to her Funnelweb submachine gun. "Engaging Nora."

From her perch, Ruby tracked the chaotic movement below. She exhaled slowly, lined up her shot, and squeezed the trigger.

The crack of No Land Beyond echoed across the arena. Nora's triumphant expression froze as a precision shot struck her directly in the head, dispelling her form in a burst of Light.

"Nice shot, sis!" Yang called over the comms.

"One down," Ruby acknowledged, already cycling the bolt to chamber another round. "Jaune and Ren still at B."

With practiced precision, she lined up another shot as Jaune emerged from cover to capture the zone. The bullet struck him in the shoulder, not a killing blow but enough to force him back into cover.

Meanwhile, Yang had reached the edges of C zone, finding Pyrrha already there, capturing the point. Without hesitation, the Titan charged, Monte Carlo spitting rounds as she closed the distance.

Pyrrha, ever the consummate warrior, calmly switched from her sniper rifle to Night Watch, returning fire with measured shots that forced Yang to dodge. The two circled each other warily, neither willing to commit fully to the engagement without advantage.

"Pyrrha's holding C," Yang reported. "Could use some pressure from the flank."

Blake had managed to secure B zone after Ruby's covering fire had eliminated Nora. "On my way," she responded, already moving through the interior corridor that connected the zones.

Back at A zone, Weiss had respawned and was now defending their home territory. The scoreboard showed an even match: both teams held one zone, with two eliminations each.

Ruby spotted movement on her left flank—Ren was attempting to approach her position from below. She swung No Land Beyond around, but he was moving too erratically for an easy shot.

"Got company," she murmured. "Switching positions."

With a Hunter's grace, she leapt from her perch, her cloak billowing behind her as she landed on a lower ledge. Ren had anticipated this, however, and a burst from his Furina-2mg fusion rifle narrowly missed her, the energy bolts superheating the air where she had been a moment before.

Ruby smiled. Ren was good—really good. She'd expected nothing less.

Slinging No Land Beyond onto her back, she drew Arc Logic, her auto rifle more suited for this closer engagement. They exchanged fire, dancing around cover as each sought advantage over the other.

Across the arena, the battle for C zone had intensified. Blake had arrived to support Yang, but so had Jaune, turning the skirmish into a chaotic 2v2. Pyrrha's expert marksmanship kept them pinned down while Jaune pressed forward with his Arc Logic auto rifle.

"They're coordinating well," Blake noted, ducking behind a pillar as Pyrrha's shots chipped away at the stone. "Just like old times."

"Yeah, but so are we," Yang replied with a grin. Her eyes flashed crimson as her Titan's Striker abilities began to manifest, Arc energy crackling around her fists. "Cover me!"

Blake nodded, understanding the plan instantly. She broke from cover, firing her Red Death in controlled bursts that forced Pyrrha to shift position. In that moment, Yang charged, her body wreathed in lightning as she activated her super ability.

"INCOMING!" Jaune shouted in warning, but it was too late. Yang's Fists of Havoc slammed into the ground between them, the shockwave of Arc energy overwhelming both Jaune and Pyrrha. Their forms dissolved into Light, giving RWBY temporary control of C zone.

"C secure," Yang reported, her super energy depleted but satisfaction evident in her voice.

The scoreboard updated: RWBY 45, JNPR 30.

But the advantage was short-lived. As Weiss moved to reinforce B zone, a distinctive sound echoed across the arena—the unmistakable whirr of Nora charging her super ability.

"Take cover!" Ruby warned, but Weiss was caught in the open.

Nora appeared at the far end of the corridor, her body crackling with Arc energy so intense it distorted the air around her. But instead of the expected Striker surge, the energy coalesced into something unexpected—a massive hammer of pure lightning.

"HAMMER TIME!" Nora cried with gleeful enthusiasm, hurling the Arc construct directly at Weiss. The impact was spectacular, a explosion of electric blue that not only eliminated Weiss but also Blake, who had been unfortunate enough to be passing through the adjacent hallway.

"Did... did she just throw an Arc hammer?" Yang asked incredulously. "I thought Titans could only do that with Solar light!"

"Nora's Light doesn't play by the rules," Ruby replied, a note of genuine admiration in her voice. "Just like her."

The score shifted again: RWBY 50, JNPR 55.

As the match progressed, both teams settled into a rhythm of coordination that spoke to their long history together. JNPR held B zone firmly, with Jaune directing their defense while Pyrrha provided sniper support from elevated positions. Ren and Nora operated as a perfect duo, one creating distractions while the other struck from unexpected angles.

RWBY, meanwhile, adapted with fluid precision. Ruby abandoned her initial strategy of staying at range, instead using her speed to harass multiple zones, preventing JNPR from securing all three simultaneously. Weiss's Warlock abilities created zones of denial with her grenades, while Blake's shadowy Hunter movements kept JNPR guessing.

Yang proved to be the wildcard, her aggressive Titan charges creating opportunities for her teammates to capitalize on the chaos.

The score remained close: RWBY 120, JNPR 115.

"They've got us on eliminations," Ruby noted as she respawned after Pyrrha had landed a perfect headshot. "But we're maintaining zone advantage."

"Not for long," Blake warned. "They're making a coordinated push on A."

Indeed, Team JNPR had regrouped and was now moving as a unit toward RWBY's home zone. Jaune led the charge, his Mountaintop grenade launcher forcing Weiss and Blake to retreat from their defensive positions.

"Yang, cut them off from the side passage," Ruby directed. "I'll hit them from behind."

"On it!" Yang acknowledged, already sprinting toward the intercept point.

Ruby switched back to No Land Beyond, its familiar weight reassuring in her hands. She found a vantage point and scanned for targets, spotting Ren covering the team's flank. With calm precision, she squeezed the trigger.

The bullet struck true, eliminating Ren before he could react. "One down," she reported.

Nora, seeing her partner fall, responded with characteristic enthusiasm. "You'll pay for that!" she shouted, charging toward Ruby's position with reckless abandon, her shotgun blazing.

Ruby smiled and rolled away from the incoming fire, switching to her Auto Rifle. "Yang, now!" she called.

Yang emerged from the side passage exactly as planned, catching Jaune and Pyrrha in a crossfire between herself and Weiss. The Titan's Monte Carlo roared to life, forcing JNPR to divide their attention.

In the confusion, Blake slipped behind them, her Red Death finding its mark as she eliminated Jaune with a precision burst to the back of his head.

"Two down!" Blake called.

Pyrrha, however, was not so easily defeated. With remarkable poise, she switched to her Night Watch scout rifle and found cover, returning fire with methodical shots that forced Blake to retreat.

Meanwhile, Nora had closed the distance to Ruby, her shotgun proving devastating at close range. Ruby's form dissolved into Light as Nora scored the elimination.

"Ruby down," Weiss reported. "Nora advancing on A zone."

The scoreboard updated: RWBY 135, JNPR 130.

With time running short, both teams fought with renewed intensity. Pyrrha, recognizing the tactical situation, made a bold decision.

"Nora, fall back to B!" she directed. "We need to hold two zones!"

But Nora, caught in the thrill of combat, either didn't hear or chose to ignore the command. She continued pressing forward, her shotgun claiming Weiss as another victim before Yang finally managed to bring her down.

The elimination pushed RWBY's score to 145 points, just five shy of victory.

Pyrrha, now alone against three opponents, did something unexpected. She reached for her heavy weapon, the exotic rocket launcher Gjallarhorn—a weapon of such destructive potential that most Guardians reserved it for only the most desperate situations.

"Pyrrha's going for heavy!" Blake warned, spotting the distinctive weapon in the Invincible Girl's hands.

"Scatter!" Ruby commanded, having just respawned at A zone.

Pyrrha fired, the tracking rocket splitting into multiple projectiles that sought out each member of Team RWBY with unerring precision. The resulting explosions eliminated both Yang and Blake instantly.

The score: RWBY 145, JNPR 140.

It came down to Ruby and Pyrrha, the two veterans facing off across the central courtyard. Pyrrha with her Night Watch at the ready, Ruby with No Land Beyond raised to her shoulder.

"Just like old times," Ruby called out, a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Indeed," Pyrrha replied, her own expression serene despite the tension. "Though we never got to spar properly on Remnant."

They circled each other warily, each looking for an opening. Pyrrha fired first, her shot grazing Ruby's cloak as the Hunter dodged with preternatural speed.

Ruby returned fire, the antique sniper rifle cracking loudly. Pyrrha deflected the shot with a pulse of her Light—a technique she had perfected over her years as a Guardian, reminiscent of her Semblance from Remnant.

"Still using polarity, I see," Ruby observed, chambering another round.

"Old habits," Pyrrha acknowledged with a smile.

Their dance continued for several tense seconds, each landing glancing blows that were absorbed by the other's Light. The score remained unchanged, but time was running short.

Finally, Ruby saw her opportunity. As Pyrrha reloaded, the Hunter feinted left, then changed direction abruptly. It was a simple trick, but executed with such speed that even Pyrrha's exceptional reflexes couldn't fully compensate.

No Land Beyond's report echoed across Bannerfall one final time. Pyrrha's form dissolved into Light as Ruby's bullet found its mark.

"MATCH POINT!" Shaxx's voice boomed. "VICTORY TO TEAM RWBY!"

The final score: RWBY 150, JNPR 140.

"That was AMAZING!" Nora exclaimed as the teams regrouped in the Tower courtyard after the match. Despite her team's defeat, her enthusiasm hadn't diminished in the slightest. "Can we do it again? Right now? Please?"

"I think we've earned a break first," Jaune suggested, rolling his shoulder where Ruby's initial shot had struck him. "Good match, all of you."

"You as well," Weiss replied with a respectful nod. "Your coordination was impressive for a team with two newly-resurrected members."

"Some things you never forget," Pyrrha said softly. "Like how to work together."

Ruby approached, No Land Beyond slung casually over her shoulder. "That was some fancy shooting, Pyrrha. That Gjallarhorn play almost turned the tide."

"Almost being the operative word," Pyrrha acknowledged with a good-natured smile. "Your final shot was perfectly timed."

"I got lucky," Ruby admitted. "One second later and you would have had me."

Yang threw an arm around her sister's shoulders. "Don't sell yourself short, sis. That was skill, not luck."

"Says the woman who obliterated us with her bare hands," Jaune teased.

"Speaking of obliteration," Blake interjected, turning to Nora. "That Arc hammer of yours was... unexpected."

Nora beamed with pride. "I know, right? Apparently it's weird or something. Shaxx kept muttering about 'unconventional Light manifestation' and 'unprecedented cross-class techniques.'"

"She's not wrong," Shaxx's voice boomed as he approached the group. "In all my centuries overseeing the Crucible, I've never seen a Striker Titan manifest Solar-like constructs using Arc energy." He turned to Ruby. "And you, Hunter—your precision with that antique weapon remains unmatched."

Ruby shrugged, a hint of her old modesty breaking through centuries of confidence. "It just feels right."

"The Tower's going to be buzzing about this match for weeks," Shaxx continued. "Eight Guardians from another world, each with unique Light manifestations... it's unprecedented."

"We aim to please," Yang replied with a wink.

As the group began to disperse, heading toward the Tower's dining district for a post-match meal, Adam and Oscar joined them.

"Impressive display," Oscar commented, falling into step beside Ruby. "Though I noticed you held back your scythe."

Ruby smiled. "Wanted to keep it fair. Besides, No Land Beyond needed some exercise."

"The Traveler didn't make a mistake," Adam observed quietly, his gaze moving over the reunited teams. "Bringing you all back, preserving your connections and your abilities... there's purpose in it."

"Always the optimist, Adam," Ruby teased, bumping his shoulder lightly.

Adam's expression remained stoic, but those who knew him well might detect the ghost of a smile. "Not optimism. Tactical assessment."

"Well, whatever the reason," Jaune said, "I'm just glad we're all here. Together again."

"And kicking butt across the solar system!" Nora added enthusiastically. "Though next time, we're totally winning."

Ruby laughed, the sound light and genuine in a way it hadn't been for centuries. "You're on."

As they made their way through the Tower, other Guardians watched with curious eyes. The legend of the warriors from Remnant was growing—immortals with unique connections to the Light, fighting patterns that defied convention, and bonds that had transcended death itself.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, just as they always had.