//------------------------------// // Before the Fight // Story: RWBY vs. SPAR // by Inthretis //------------------------------// “Fluttershy, I am still amazed how Headmistress Celestia procured such magnificent seats for us. We are in the very first row, right in front of the action!” Rarity said. The young purple-haired faunus adjusted her white dress as she sat down, carefully placing her purple purse to her side, “I also don’t know why she forbid Sweetie Belle and her friends from attending.” The other girl shrunk into her yellow jacket, as the pair of yellow-feathered wings on her back covered her head. The crowd around them was, ahem, very enthusiastic, “Well, Headmistress Celestia, um, always has her reasons. She knows what she’s doing, I think,” the pink-haired girl ruffled her green skirt between her fingers. Rarity giggled, “You sound just like Twilight right now. She was so busy preparing yesterday, I swear she would collapse from exhaustion.” Fluttershy thought before speaking, “Well, the other team is very strong. I heard from Twilight that their leader skipped two whole years.” “That does sound intimidating, but I have faith in our friends. Team RWBY doesn’t stand a chance!” “Hey!” Rarity and Fluttershy turned their heads to their right to see a blonde haired teenager two seats down. He wasn’t angry, just frowning at them. “Yes, mister…?” Rarity queried. “Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue. Ladies love it,” he smiled and posed. Rarity snorted, “My word, that is adorable. He’s just like Spike, don’t you think Fluttershy?” The pink haired girl squeaked before nodding. He sighed and groaned before continuing, “Er, anyways, I think that Team RWBY is going to win.” “Oh really now? And what gives you that idea?” “Well I’m friends with RWBY’s leader, and they have a good thing going for them. Not only that but Ren,” he pointed at the empty seats between them, “Did his own research. He pointed out that this is the Menagerie school’s first time in the festival, so they’ll be at a disadvantage compared to the other schools. Also, Yang outclasses Team Spark’s melee fighter.” “Please, I know Applejack, and she wouldn’t dare lose to an angry inferno such as Ms. Xiao Long.” “Actually,” another voice entered, belonging to a red-haired woman next to Jaune, “Sorry to interrupt, but I would like to say that while Applejack could match Yang physically, she would lose due to Yang’s semblance overtaking her.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Oh I’m sorry, my name is Pyrrha, Jaune’s partner,” the woman held a hand up. “Yes, I believe I’ve heard of you,” Rarity thought she saw Pyrrha’s smile falter ever so slightly, “All good things! You are well known in the Mistrali fashion scene. Your tournament wins helped set a few trends among huntresses.” “Is that so,” Pyrrha said waveringly. Taking the cue, Rarity quickly added, “Of course, most of what I know is from my friend’s research, like how, uh, Jaune here fights only with a sword and shield, and that your teammate with the hammer might be Pinkie’s long lost twin. She definitely has the hyperactivity for it.” Jaune laughed at that, “I don’t think we can handle two Noras. One is almost too much for us as it is.” The three of them laughed while Fluttershy smiled. “The woman with the jetpack seems intriguing,” Pyrrha said. Rarity smirked, “Well I suppose so. Rainbow Dash is definitely… actually ‘intriguing’ does fit. Frankly, I prefer ‘reckless’ myself. The amount of dust she has crammed inside her jetpack is quite frankly ludicrous.” “Oh a jetpack! Those are remarkably rare,” Pyrrha said. “Wait a minute, jetpacks are a thing?” Jaune asked, “Where can I get one?!” Pyrrha smiled back at him, “I’m sorry Jaune, but you’ll have to be able to make it yourself.” “Darn. Guess it’s back to good ol’ Crocea Mors,” he sighed wistfully. “She has a speed semblance like er, Ruby Rose I believe?” Rarity said, “I’m pretty sure the first thing Rainbow does is go after her. She never could deny a challenge. I wouldn’t be surprised if after the match she asks the girl for a race afterwards.” “Ruby might take that offer. And if Rainbow Dash does, she’ll have to deal with Ruby’s sniper scythe,” Jaune said. “I assure you that Rainbow is agile enough to deal with a sniper, especially with all the practice she gets going against Twilight.” “Team Spark’s leader, I recall,” Pyrrha said, “From what I've heard, her semblance is quite powerful.” “Powerful is an understatement. There's a reason she's Headmistress Celestia’s personal student.” Pyrrha tilted her head, “Personal student?” “Hmm?” Rarity frowned slightly, “Oh! Our school is relatively small, or at least its hunter portion, so our headmistress has time to privately teach one of the more promising hunters. It’s always the best of the best, and Twilight is definitely that,” she beamed with pride. “So if you two aren’t huntresses, what are you guys?” Jaune asked. “Well! I am a scholar of the wearable arts: seamstress, tailor, haberdasher, and soon to be world famous fashionista!” she pointed up into the air. A moment passed and she gestured to her companion, “And Fluttershy here wants to be a veterinarian.” The pink-haired girl nodded, although she shrunk further into her jacket as her wings shrouded her as raucous cheers around them grow louder. The two hunters looked at Fluttershy. “Oh it’s alright,” Rarity chuckled, “Fluttershy here is not used to such large crowds. It’s alright dear, just relax. Everyone is focused on the arena, not us.” Fluttershy nervously peeked out of her wings. Pyrrha decided to ease in a new conversation, “I think Weiss and Blake could tag team against Twilight Sparkle, considering Weiss’ glyphs and Blake’s clones.” “Perhaps, but I think she can manage,” Rarity smiled at the crowd above them, “Twilight has a lot of pressure on her. She’s the leader of the first team from Menagerie to participate in the Vytal Tournament. You two know the story?” They both shook their heads. The designer smiled, “Since Twilight isn’t here, I might as well fill the role, so to speak. You see, our school is Gallopmaufry, founded forty years ago by our headmistress. It was just after the rights revolution, and she decided that a school on Menagerie would be needed. So with the help of Headmaster Ozpin’s predecessor…” Headmaster Ozpin sipped his coffee right as the elevator doors opened into his office. He stayed neutral as a tall woman exuding a regal aura entered. She was seven feet tall, and dressed in a flowing white dress that radiated a sensation of calmness and awe in most people. Ozpin was not most people. The woman with long, billowing, multicolored hair pleasantly smiled at Ozpin, tilting her head downwards slightly before greeting him, “Good day, Headmaster Ozpin, how are you faring?” Ozpin smiled back, “I am fine, Headmistress Celestia. How are you?” “In fine shape. My sister has returned from her incarceration, and is adjusting to her new body. A new student, Trixie Lulamoon. We’ve also encountered Discord, who was safely put back into his stone prison. And you?” she smiled softly at him. “Life goes on,” he frowned, “Autumn is still in critical condition, James has taken control of the Vytal Festival security, and we’ve recently suffered a breach in the kingdom’s defenses. It’s not the worst situation.” “Indeed,” Celestia stepped up to the wide window, “Vale has changed quite a bit since the Great War.” “It’s not usually full of warships, I assure you,” he reached for his coffee mug, “So you’ve chosen a new student. Need I remind you?” Celestia sighed, “No. She is intelligent, a good leader, and with a greater affinity for the tree than any I’ve ever seen.” “The Tree of Harmony has been dead for millennia, Celestia. It is of no use against the forces of darkness.” “You may have become a pessimistic old man, Ozpin, but I remain optimistic.” “Old man…” he chuckled, “You are much older than me.” “Yes, but I’ve kept a youthful demeanor and outlook on the world. Come, let’s stop talking about the past and start of the future. I hear Summer Rose’s child is participating.” “Indeed. While you’re off gathering the elements, I’ve been keeping an eye on more fruitful endeavors,” he sipped his coffee. “And so have I. One of my teams are part of the tournament, and I do believe they shall do well.” “Depends on who they go up against. The tournament is fierce competition. We will have to see.” An awkward pause came upon them. A full minute passed before she asked, “You’re still not angry, are you? About my sister and I condemning you to immortality?” He sipped his coffee, “No no. It was a few dozen lifetimes ago. Besides, I’ve had my petty revenge.” “I still don’t know how you convinced everyone we were male. One look at us…” “Except everyone thinks you’re brothers, so now you’re just two really tall women.” “Or how you removed literally every single important part of our conflict and turned it into the most simplistic and banal of stories.” “It was definitely worth it,” Ozpin smiled, “Ah! What good timing, the picks for the first round are being announced.” The two of them looked over at the screen. As the names came up, Celestia smirked, “Well, this shall be interesting.” Ozpin glanced at his colleague, “Indeed.” “Representing Vale and Beacon Academy, we have Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long of Team Ruby, led by Ruby Rose!” Peter Port boomed over Amity Coliseum. “And for the first time in Vytal Festival history, representing Menagerie and the Gallopmaufry School, we have Twilight Sparkle, Pinkamena Diane Pie, Apple Jacqueline, and Rainbow Dash of Team Spark, led by Twilight Sparkle!” Jaune squinted his eyes to see below him four women opposite to Team RWBY: the tallest one was a well-built blonde, hair tied back into a ponytail and covered by a brown stetson. She wore blue jeans and an orange plaid shirt. She gripped a curled length of rope. Applejack scanned her opponents and picked out the other blonde combatant. She knew that Yang was another melee fighter, and her leader told her to keep the other blonde from exploiting her dangerous semblance against her teammates. Applejack cracked her knuckles, and felt the lasso next her leg, keeping an eye out. Next to her was a tangle of rainbow hair, followed by a lean and toned woman with a large metal pack along her back. Rainbow Dash wore a blue shirt under a blue jacket with blue shorts. She also wore a belt that held two guns on either side. She smirked as she quickly eyed Ruby Rose. Her fingers twitched as she prepared to launch herself and attack the other speedster. Bouncing around was a pink haired woman covered in never ending curls, gleefully anticipating the upcoming battle, she also wore a blue shirt and a pink skirt. She had a bright pink tail, also covered in curls, appearing to hide a stash of random items.  Pinkie Pie jittered in place, hopping from one foot to the next. Last was a woman with purple hair with a single streak of hot pink. She wore a dark purple dress and held a large tome in one hand. Her purple ears swiveled back and forth, picking up on the slightest of movements. Twilight looked at each member of the other team, quietly noting the youngest Belladonna and the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. The world was surely strange for them to be Team Spark’s first opponents. “Competitors, on your marks!” All eight women tensed. “Get set!” Ruby gripped her scythe. “Fight!”