After the first Guy's Night they all decided it to be a regular thing. Once every week they planned to get together and hang out as a big group.
Now it's the Monday before the dance and everyone just finished a test for professor Oobleck. And are given a small break before they go to professor Glynda Goodwitch's class.
Alabast walks out of the classroom with slumped shoulders and droopy ears. "Why does it always have to be history…." He mumbles.
Nora pats him on his back. "Come on fearless leader, don't let one test hold you back. We've got plenty more coming up!"
Ren looks at Alabast. "That is not helping Nora"
Pyrrha appears on the other side of Alabast. "Did we not study enough?"
Alabast shakes his head and straightens his back. "That's not it. I studied a lot. But it's just not becoming any easier to remember the dates and names, or the events that happened in the past"
"Then we can study more" Pyrrha rubs Alabast's back.
Alabast looks at Pyrrha's brilliant green eyes. "Sorry, I don't think that's gonna help"
Pyrrha stops moving her hand. "We don't know unless we try. Maybe me and Weiss are trying to teach you wrong. Different people learn differently"
"Thanks…." Alabast looks down the hall.
Nora looks to Ren to see if they can do anything for their leader. But Ren simply gives a quick side-to-side movement. Nora worryingly looks back to their leader.
Nora hasn't seen Alabast like this since their first few weeks. Then Nora sees Blake walking behind the rest of team RWBY while she looks down at her journal like she has been everyday for the past few weeks.
Blake has bags under her eyes. It's unnoticeable for the most part. But when you look at her behavior compared to the past you can tell she hasn't had much sleep.
Nora looks back to Alabast. "Are you ready for the next test on Huntsman and Huntress etiquette and rules?" She carefully asks.
"Yeah" Alabast walks down the hall. "That is one I should hopefully be fine on. It's the plant test that I'm worried about next" He grumbles.
The members of team ANVL follow their leader as they go towards the combat classroom.
Alabast gets inside the classroom and scans the room.
He sees Nyx and Dazz. They're in the middle of the class. And they don't particularly stand out. Nyx because he's short and Dazz because he blends in with the generic group of faces with his brown hair and basic build. He sees Ayaka give him a wave and he returns a single and short wave before he goes towards his seat.
Alabast sits down next to Seraphina and slumps forward.
Seraphina raises an eyebrow. "What could make Alabast Noir like this? Surely not the last test~"
"Enough with your playful antagonizing Sera. It's not appreciated" Alabast flatly says.
Seraphina shrugs. "It never is"
——————
Ruby walks towards Ayaka. "Hey Aya!" She enthusiastically greets the purple haired fox Faunus.
"Hello Ruby" Ayaka greets the ball of energy in her usual slow and methodical tone. "How was the last test for you? I don't think Alabast did very well"
"It was easy peasy! My dad taught me some of that test a while ago! And why don't you think Alabast did good?" Ruby turns and sees Alabast slumped forward with his ears down. "Oh~"
"Yeah. And thanks for the fun time yesterday" Ayaka lowers her head slightly to show her appreciation.
Ruby turns back to her friend. "It's not a problem! The guys have been hanging out so I figured us girls could get together! Emerald and Seraphina haven't been able to join us yet but I think they might next time!"
"I wouldn't hold your breath with those two. They seem to have already made some other friends besides our group" Ayaka remembers how team CMES doesn't stick together very much. It's like they're trying to avoid each other but not at the same time. They each have their own groups of people they talk to but meet back together at the end of the day and pretend they didn't just practically ignore each other the whole day.
"I'm not holding my breath, I only do that when I'm under water" Ruby states.
Ayaka smiles at Ruby's antics. They're always amusing and unique.
Ruby glances at Ayaka from the corner of her eye. "So have you and Alabast talked much lately?"
"Sadly no. Beyond the friendly greeting and a few other topics we haven't talked much at all" Ayaka's tails flick around.
"That's unfortunate….. What about Jaune? Has he been a good leader?" Ruby asks and changes the subject.
"Jaune is... a leader. He can make quick decisions and knows how to utilize his teammates. But he second guesses himself and struggles with confidence. And he's not very helpful in a fight. He's been training with Pyrrha for the past few weeks and improved a bit. But he's still very clearly the weakest on our team" Ayaka looks over at Jaune. "But he's trying very hard. And he reminds me of Alabast in a few ways. He's trying his best and that's very amusing to watch"
"Have you been asked to the dance?" Ruby asks. "It's coming up on Sunday"
Ayaka gives a faint smile. "I have unfortunately not been asked yet"
Ruby nudges Ayaka. "Not been asked yet or not been asked by the person you want to ask you yet?"
Ayaka rolls her eyes. "I don't know what you are talking about"
Ruby moves closer to Ayaka. "I know you've given up on Alabast, but there HAS to be someone you want to go to the dance with"
Ayaka looks the other way. "Jaune may or may not have made a bet with me. I won't spoil it"
"Eeeeeeeeh!" Ruby quietly squeals into her hands. "I can't wait for the dance!"
"That excited for it?" Ayaka turns back towards her friend. "I thought that you weren't the type"
"Oh, I'm not" Ruby waves her hand in the air. "I'm only going with Alabast. What I'm excited for is the mission after the dance on Monday! I can't wait for that! Actually being able to go out and do what a professional Huntress does while shadowing a REAL Hunter! It's amazing!"
Ayaka gives a genuine smile to Ruby. "I suppose it is"
——————
Sun is sitting next to Blake.
"So what are you up to?" Sun asks as he plays with his collar. He doesn't like wearing the uniform that makes him feel caged. "Blake?"
Blake continues reading and scribbling in her journal.
Sun puts a hand on her shoulder. "You ok Blake?"
"Huh?" Blake looks up. "Oh, Sun. What is it?"
Sun looks at the bags under her eyes. "Are you doing alright? You seem… out of it"
Blake rubs her right eye. "I'm perfectly fine" Then she goes back to her journal and ignoring Sun.
——————
"And that's the match" Glynda anounces after Pyrrha just wiped the floor with team CRDL.
She barely even used her semblance. Her moves were so fast and flowed so well together that team CRDL could barely fight back. Pyrrha changed Milo between its javelin, sword, and single-shot rifle form fluidly and was able to pull off some combos that were so fluid that team CRDL couldn't keep up. And of course, she wasn't hit once.
"Lucky shot" Cardin groans out before falling to the floor.
Glynda walks onto the stage and looks down at the collapsed Cardin. "Well done, Miss Nikos. You should have no problem qualifying for the tournament"
Pyrrha shifts Milo into its sword form and smiles. "Thank you, professor"
Glynda holds a larger scroll, that teachers use like a tablet, in her right hand and taps on it. "Alright, now I know that's a tough act to follow, but we have time for one more sparring match" She looks up at the various students. "Any volunteers? Ms. Belladonna?"
Blake quickly closes her journal and looks to the side.
Glynda continues. "You've been rather docile for the past few classes. Why don't you -"
Mercury raises his hand. "I'll do it"
Glynda looks over at him. "'Mercury', is it? Very well, let's find you an opponent"
Mercury stands up. "Actually, I wanna fight..." He points down at Pyrrha. "…her"
"Me?" Pyrrha is surprised, she hasn't even moved from her spot on the stage yet.
Alabast turns towards Mercury and stands up. "She just finished fighting. Why don't we go instead"
Glynda adjusts her glasses. "I'm afraid Miss Nikos has just finished the match. I recommend you choose another partner, and it seems Alabast is offering"
"No, it's alr-" Pyrrha tries to accept but is cut off.
"Fine, I wanted to fight the Invincible Girl but I'll settle for the Wolf instead" Mercury half shrugs.
"Guess you'll just have to have your a- butt kicked by me instead of Pyrrha" Alabast walks towards the right changing room where Pyrrha changed.
"Is someone a sore loser? I didn't know you held a vengeance after I beat you at go-carts" Mercury smirks and goes towards the left.
"That's not why I want to put you in your place". Alabast had come in close to last when the guys went go-carting the previous weekend. He was a little big for the vehicle. He just is irritated by Mercury for some reason, and Mercury challenging Pyrrha after she just finished a match was the last straw. Alabast didn't care if Pyrrha was basically still in prime battle condition.
"Scary" Mercury waves his hand over his shoulder and goes into the changing room.
Alabast gets into the changing room and sees Pyrrha walking towards him.
"Why didn't you let me fight him?" She asks as she sits down in front of her locker. She begins taking her boots off.
Alabast opens his locker. "You just had your fun playing with Cardin and his team. Plus I wanna blow off some steam" He undoes his tie and unbuttons his jacket and shirt.
"Just make sure not to lose" Pyrrha jokes.
Alabast takes his jacket and shirt off and puts his combat outfit shirt on. "Didn't plan on it" He looks over at Pyrrha. "Do you mind?"
Pyrrha looks away. "Not particularly"
Alabast undoes his belt buckle and changes his pants.
"Are you going to use your semblance?" Pyrrha asks.
Alabast pulls his pants up and gets his tail free. "Probably. Depends on how much he ticks me off" Alabast throws his side cape over his left shoulder for the finishing touch.
Pyrrha stands up and turns towards Alabast. "Just have some fun, alright?"
Alabast lightly holds Pyrrha's face. "I'll try. But without my girls it'll be a little hard" He gives her a kiss and then grabs Nights Fall as he walks past her.
Pyrrha watches Alabast adjust Bestia Fang on his wrists as he exits the changing room.
——————
Alabast rubs his neck as he stretches his shoulders and walks out onto the stage and notices that Glynda is back up by the students. She was only down here since it was a 1v4 fight. He looks across the stage but doesn't see Mercury.
Alabast then stretches his back and looks up at the stands. Everyone is talking amongst each other except for a few people that are doing their own things.
"Daydreaming?"
Alabast turns and sees Mercury standing there with his hands on his hips. "Just reading the room. Something you should try some time"
"Ouch" Mercury winces. "That one almost stung"
"Why is talking with you always such a chore" Alabast takes his weapon off his back and holds it in his right hand.
"I'm just surprised you're talking" Mercury raises his fists like a boxer.
Glynda cuts their talk short. "You have until the time is up or until either of your auras go below the red. The time will start when either of you attack"
Alabast flicks his wrists and his Bestia Fang flick into their 2nd knuckleduster form and cover his fists. He also shifts Nights Fall into it's opened form, the great-railgun-sword form. It still shoots normal shot but those shots can be charged up before they are fired.
Lightning begins crackling across the blade as Alabast puts the part of the hilt he isn't holding on his shoulder. "Are you going to use your semblance?"
Mercury clenches his fists and a frown makes its way onto his face.
Alabast hasn't seen Mercury frown like this before. Perhaps he stepped on a nerve.
"Are you?" Mercury asks through clenched teeth. He bounces on the balls of his feet a few times before stopping. "Because if you don't plan on it I'll make you"
After he stops talking Mercury charges forward.
Seeing Mercury run forward Alabast starts his plan.
*Zzzz-Ping!*
Alabast fires the charged shot behind him and lets his body get thrown forward from the recoil.
Mercury's eyes widen but he doesn't stop running.
*Bam!* *Bang*
Mercury dropped to the ground and kicked Nights Fall as it was swung at him. He then rolls to his side as the stage cracks under Alabast's fist. He doesn't just get up but fires a shot from his left boot to spin him on the ground.
Mercury's heel goes flying towards Alabast's elbow.
*Zzzz-Bang!*
Alabast maneuvers over Mercury's leg and brings his fist over his own face.
*Bang* *Tink!*
Mercury's other leg follows his other one and fires at Alabast but it's blocked by the Bestia Fang and ricochets off into the distance. The force from Mercury's shots cause him to spin fast. He puts his hands on the ground behind his head and he continues spinning as he pushes himself off the ground.
Alabast spins over Mercury and brings Nights Fall down with more force than Alabast had expected, but he is still in control of it. This is just his first battle test with his upgraded weapon and he's trying out Ruby's style of launching ones-self with a high impact round. And currently he is loving the increased maneuverability it gives.
Nights Fall goes towards Mercurys face. But Mercury spins his body to the side with his momentum from his kicks and the push off the ground and goes up past the blade.
Mercury grins as he narrowly dodged the big ass sword. His legs are currently above him as he basically does a handstand. And he brings his right leg down where Alabast's head should be.
*Slam!*
Mercury gets beaten back down to the ground by something thick and…. fluffy?
Mercury gets back up to his feet a few feet away from Alabast. "Dude, did you just hit me with your tail?"
Alabast takes Nights fall from the ground and ejects a steaming cartridge from it near the hilt and grabs a magazine with a fire symbol from his hip and reloads as he talks. "If all is fair in love, war, and tag then I feel like I can use my tail in a spar"
Mercury rolls his eyes and glances at the stands and sees Sun practically overflowing with joy. "I really am surrounded by idiots"
Alabast shrugs. "Who cares. At least they keep things interesting"
"Ugh.." Mercury groans as he looks back to Alabast and runs at him.
Mercury throws a few punches but Alabast dodges them and with the last punch Alabast meets Mercury's fist with his own.
Alabast smirks as he feels he won the clash as Mercury's eyes widen from pain. Bestia Fang dug into Mercurys knuckles, and even with aura it hurts like hell.
But Mercury doesn't stop he switches to his trusty kicks. He performs a sidekick which Alabast sidesteps and swings Noghts Fall down towards Mercury's body.
The shot from Mercury's boot allows him to move backwards as he avoids the dummy long range of the great sword. But as he moves backwards he sees that the sword doesn't complete its swing. And then he sees the fire in the gun.
*Fwooosh!*
Alabast fires the charged fire dust at Mercury.
*Bang* *Bang*
Mercury fires a shot from his boot that was aimed at the ground and then another one to cause him to somersault midair over the fireblast.
*BANG!!!* *Whoosh!*
The fireblast collided with the stage off in the distance and explodes and spreads fire through a small area.
——————
Glynda hasn't taken her palm off her forehead since the fight began.
First it was Alabast's shot that he fired at the ceiling which she had use her telekinesis to stop from breaking and falling down.
Next was when Alabast hit Mercury with his tail. It's not unheard of and is a viable strategy which she has seen used before. But it was the pause in their spar as they talked and Mercury allowing to Alabast to reload.
After that it was Mercury willingly clashing with Alabast's knuckleduster. That was the dumbest thing she has seen in a while and she has seen a lot of things.
She just leaves her palm on her forehead and shakes her head as she continues to watch.
——————
Mercury flies through the air doing somersaults as he arcs towards Alabast and brings his heel down in an extremely heavy axe kick due to the built up momentum.
Alabast narrows his eyes as he sees the heel falling towards him and moves Noghts Fall to deflect the kick and shifts it into its normal great sword form.
The kick hits the sword and pushes Alabast back as his feet slide across the stage to a stop around 11 feet back.
Mercury lands on his feet and runs towards Alabast who shifts his weapon into its hybrid form again.
"At this rate I really won't need my semblance" Alabast says as fire erupts in the middle of the great sword and wisps fly into the air as it charges up.
"We'll see you cocky bastard!" Mercury shouts as he gets serious. He's tired of Alabast flaunting his semblance outside of battle but never actually using it in any fight. It pisses him off more than he would admit.
Mercury performs sidekick after sidekick and switches between legs. Alabast meets each kick with Nights Fall.
Their clash continues until Mercury stands strong on his right leg and just kicks out at various angles with his left leg. Each kick as strong as the last and only increasing in speed.
Alabast grabs Nighfs Fall with both hands as the clash ramps up. He moves around Mercury but Mercury just pivots off of his foot.
*Wham*
Alabast gets kicked in his sternum. It was a heavy kick and he felt the force in his bones. But he pushed through and brought Nights Fall crashing down towards Mercury's left collarbone.
*Bang!*
Mercury fires a shot from his boot planted on Alabast's chest and moves out of the swords range.
*Vwhooosh!*
*BOOM!*
Mercury gets hit by the fiery explosion and smoke moves out from the blast.
Alabast brushes whatever dirt or dust is on his uniform as he looks at where his opponent is.
Mercury jumps up and through the smoke as he punches at Alabast's face but is simply sidestepped. He doesn't stop there.
*Bang!*
Mercury's knee is propelled forward and slams into Alabast's face. Both students move in the direction of the kick 2 feet before Alabast stops moving.
"Alright. Enough experimenting" Alabast says as Darkness coats the flames creating black flames.
Mercury feels the intensity of the heat from the flames increase and jumps back.
Alabast doesn't let him land and runs forward. He swings his fist at Mercury but is met with a heel.
*Bang!*
Mercury maliciously grins as he shoots Alabast's hand back. He goes to kick another shot but-
*WHAM!!!!*
Nights Fall's blade crashes into his ribs.
"Gah!" Mercury looks down where he is hit and sees that the blade was extended by Alabast's semblance.
A second later and he is driven down into the stage.
He rolls twice and then gets back up to his feet.
——————
Ruby looks at Emerald. "Hey, your friend is doing pretty good"
Emerald gives a fake smile. "Your friend is also doing well"
Ruby's smile widens along with her eyes. "Ohmygosh! Youactuallyrespondednicely! Doesthatmeanyouwanttobefriends? Iwasbehinningtothinkthatyouactuallyhatedmeorsomething!"
"Uhhhhh…." Emerald raises an eyebrow and looks at Ayaka to reel in the overexcited teen.
Ayaka puts her hand on Ruby's shoulder and drags her back to her seat after Ruby had started floating through the air towards Emerald. "Ruby, nobody understands what you say when you talk that fast. And lets get back to watching the fight"
Ruby blushes as she moves her hood over her head. She looks back to the stage and sees Alabast and Mercury continuing their spar. "Alabast and Yang understand me....." She grumbles to herself and pulls her cloak around herself.
Ayaka smiles beautifully. "I am glad they can, that means at least somebody can translate"
——————
Alabast has dark wisps rolling off of him as his eyes glow a dark red. He runs forward and holds Nights Fall in a reverse grip so the tip points behind him.
*Fwoosh!* *Boom!*
He fires the charged shot and launches himself 2 feet off the ground but the main purpose was to send him towards Mercury which it does exceptionally well as he gets there within a second.
Mercury holds his hands up and moves his left leg back and gets in a stance.
Alabast lands and slides a foot on the stage before stopping as his sword, smoldering in black flames, is held over his head in both hands as he brings it down with all his strength.
"I forfeit"
Mercury nonchalantly says as he stands up in a relaxed manner and closes his eyes as he shrugs.
Alabast's eyes widen. There is no way he can stop the swing.
*VWHOOoooosh!!* *BOOOOOM!!!!*
Alabast manages to move the blade slightly to the side and it absolutely destroys the stage. A trail of black fire gets shot off across the surface of the stage until it explodes after colliding with the wall 40 feet behind Mercury and to the right side of one was a spectator. The wisps of Darkness stop rolling off Alabast and his eyes stop glowing.
*WHIstle~* Mercury looks next to him at the 4 foot diameter crater and then back at the black flames that quickly go out. "THAT could have been bad"
"Mr. Alabast! Mr. Mercury! Detention for the both of you" Glynda states as she glares at the two students.
Mercury points at his face. "Why me?"
Alabast stands up and forces Nights Fall from the ground and looks up at the stage.
Glynda glares at the two Students. "Mr. Mercury, I will be glad to explain to you did wrong in detail in detention. And Mr. Noir" She turns to Alabast. "I needn't tell you why you are going to join him, or do I?" She flicks her wrist and a purplish-pink magic circle forms.
The wall that was blasted, and the entire stage glow as they reform. The crater gets filled along with the others from his previous explosions.
Alabast sees the state of the room as he puts Nights Fall on his back. "I think I have an idea"
"Good" Glynda turns to the class. "Alabast Noir is the winner for this fight. That's it for class today. And remember, the dance is this weekend. But you all have your first mission on Monday. I will not accept any excuses. Dismissed"
Emerald and Seraphina smirk as they stand up and exit with the crowd of students.
Alabast walks away to his changing room.
"Good fight, 'Buddy'" Mercury says as he waves behind him and walks towards his own changing room.
Alabast clenches his jaw as he goes enters the changing room. "Good fight my a-" Alabast takes a deep breath in and then slowly lets it out.
He quickly changes and goes to meet up with his friends.
——————
Blake jolts in her seat as she feels a hand on her shoulder and closes her book. She looks at the hand and sees that it's Yang.
"Class just ended" Yang informs her teammate.
"Right" Blake holds her book with her left hand and stands up. "Thanks"
"Yeah…" Yang says unenthusiastically as she gazes at her exhausted teammate.
——————
Mercury stops just outside the doors of the class and sees Emerald and Seraphina. "Learning is just so much 'FUN'~!"