CACE: A RWBY Story

Volume 0: Chapter 7

A week of hard classes pass, only broken up by Charley and Alex studying with Ze and Cat. Their schedules seem to only be sleep, eat and classes. Most classes don't require students to bring their weapons with them, but most carry them despite this. Today is a special day, in Professor Goodwitch's class, sparing matches will begin.

"I hope we get to fight." Alex whispers to Charley.

"I don't know if I can justify beating you up." He states, still watching Professor Goodwitch as she steps onstage.

"When I call your name, please step forward onto the stage. The fight will begin and end when I say so." The professor informs her students. "Will Coco and Velvet please come to the stage?"

The two teammates gather with Professor Goodwitch on the stage. She begins the fight, which is over in only a minute. To only a few surprised students, Coco wins the match. Professor Goodwitch continues to make her way down the list. Each fight is intriguing as the next, showing the diverse display of students, weaponry, semblance and strategy. None from Team CASE were called until near the end of class.

"Next will be Alexa."

"And Charley?" Alex hopefully inserts.

"Sparing against Cathrine." Professor Goodwitch finishes.

"Ok." Alex bounds down the steps and leaps to the stage, earning a few laughs. She proudly displays her crossbow, as she waits for her opponent.

"Just do your best." Ze whispers to Cat. Cat shakes her head, clutching her Katanas. Ze places a hand on her shoulder. "You can do this."

Her eyes light up and she straightens up, confidently. Cat descends the stairs more gracefully than Alex and leaps to the stage below.

"Begin." Professor Goodwitch informs the two, as she steps off the stage.

Cat draws her two katanas, holding them up in a defensive position. Alex raises her crossbow, aiming it at Cat. Cat dives out of the incoming bolt's way. She picks herself up and charges at Alex with both katanas. Alex transforms her crossbow into a quarterstaff just in time to deflect Cat's relentless attack. Seeing her advantage, Cat exploits the opening Alex gives in her defense form.

"Ahh." Alex rolls to the floor, from the swipe taken at her torso. Her aura protected her but only just.

Swiping her quarterstaff against the floor, Alex catches Cat's feet in her swipe. Cat falls to her hands and knees, trying to recover. Alex seizes her advantage and swings her staff again at Cat. This time Cat has a katana ready to deflect her attack. Both girls push themselves to their feet before reengaging in their fight. Neither has tried to use their semblance yet to gain an advantage.

Suddenly, Cat backs away from Alex. Confused, Alex tries to pursue her. Cat pulls her hood down her face and disappears into a dark mist. The mist fills the room, causing Alex to completely loose track of her opponent. A cry is heard and the mist clears to show an unconscious Alex and a collapsing Cat. Both appear to have suffered an injury while the mist was present.

Due to Alex being unconscious before Cat collapsing, Cat is declared the winner.

"Thank you students, there will be a quick break while we help these students." Professor Goodwitch instructs.

Ze and Charley climb down to aid their friends. Ze eyes Charley before picking up Cat and pulling her off the stage to sit her in a chair. Charley carefully inspects his friend's injuries before gingerly pulling her off the stage. While neither needs medical aid, they will need a few hours to fully recover.

"Cat, you alright." Ze asks.

"Wow, she hits hard." Cat places a hand on her bruised head. "I thought I had her, but somehow she sensed me."

"Maybe that's her semblance." Ze suggests.

"No, I overheard them speaking before we came to Beacon." She nods toward Charley and Alex. "She can sense truth. No, she knows something I don't."

"You won." Ze encourages. "That's something to be proud of."

"No one has found me in my shadow mist before." Cat shakes her head. "I have to know."

Cat stands, trying to make her way toward Charley and Alex.

"You can't walk in your condition." Ze advises.

"I need to know." She starts forward toward Charley and Alex.

As she approaches, she can hear Charley trying to wake her up.

"Alex, I need to wake up." He tries. "There is a fresh spring nearby, begging to be explored."

"Liar." Alex opens her eyes, trying to focus on her friend. Raising her finger. "Behind you."

Charley turns and sees Cat behind him.

"Congrats Cat." He smiles. "What a fight."

Turning back to his friend, he helps her up into a seated position.

"Alex, you alright?" Cat asks.

"Yeah. Good fight." She groans, holding her head. "I feel it now."

"I don't understand." Cat starts. "How did you know where I was?"

Smiling, Alex studies Cat's face before answering her question. "Your semblance stopped me from seeing you. I could still hear you."

"What, but I'm..." Cat trails off. "How could you-?"

"I've spent a ton of time in the darkness hunting with my father. Sound is the only thing that will give away another's position." She clutches her head. "Uhhh, pain too."

"Our last match will begin now." Professor Goodwitch calls from the stage. "The match will be between Charles and Ezekiel."

"Good luck." Alex pats Charley's arm. Cat remains silent as Charley leaves.

Charley watches as Ze climbs the steps to the stage and faces him him the middle. The two exchange a small bow before drawing their weapons and waiting for Professor Goodwitch.

"Begin."

Charley and Ze circle each other, studying the other's movements. Charley's two handed sword is held in a ready position, pointed toward Ze. Ze holds his hands up, showing his claw gauntlets. The two stop circling each other and time seems to stand still.

Ze starts forward, testing the distance between the two. Charley steps forward, to meet his opponent. Both react with lightning fast reflexes. Charley's sword meets the gauntlet of Ze's dominate hand. Charley sweeps the sword around to attack Ze's other side. Blocking the second attack, Ze jabs toward Charley's torso. The moment where Ze should have connected, Charley is gone. He is already circling to his opponent's back to gain an advantage.

Ze steps forward to distance himself from Charley, who is now on his heels. Charley presses his advantage again but is unable to break Ze's defense. Backing away, Charley changes his sword into its rifle configuration and fires a barrage of rounds at Ze. Darting out of the line of fire, Ze aims to close the gap on the now venerable Charley. While Charley might be good with a sword at short range, he will be at a disadvantage with his rifle.

Ze tackles the surprised Charley to the floor. Wrestling for control, Ze clearly is the victor. Able to pin Charley to the floor in seconds. Thinking for a solution, Charley delivers a hard kick to Ze's chest. Unable to breath, Ze falls to the side trying to catch his breath. While able to buy a few seconds, Charley grabs his rifle and turns it back to its sword configuration. Both taking a moment to recompose themselves before engaging each other again.

Charley charges at Ze, aiming a strike at the large man. Ze parries the attack, catching Charley's hands. Pulling Charley's momentum into a flip, causing Charley's body to crash into the floor.

"We have a winner." Professor Goodwitch steps back onto the stage.

"What?" Alex demands.

"Charley's aura is depleted. Class as you can see by the screen behind me, he has lost his defensive aura and the final match is done." Professor Goodwitch explains. "Well done, both of you."

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