The morning came, and my stomach was doing backflips.
I've never been this nervous before. I don't know what's coming over me. Here I am lying in bed, when the biggest match of my life is happening in a couple of hours.
"Fran? Are you up yet?" I heard from beyond my door.
Looks like Ruby and the others have come to check up on me.
"I'll be out in a minute, Ruby."
Okay, Fran calm down. You can do this. You've taken on Grimm that huntresses and hunters would have likely died. Still... Pyrrha is a renowned fighter, no one has defeated her. What chance do I have against her?
"Fran, we're coming in." This time, I heard Blake call out.
I heard my door slowly open and then close, followed by a flurry of footsteps.
"You're still in bed!?" Yang gasped.
"You do realise class starts soon. Have you even had anything to eat yet?" Weiss asked as I shook my head.
"Why, what's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"I-I'm really nervous about this. I've never felt like this before. Normally, an opponent wouldn't faze me, but this is Pyrrha we're talking about. She's never been beaten. What chance have I got against someone like—" I was cut off as I felt a stinging sensation from my cheek. My hand immediately moved to my cheek.
W-what happened there?
"Calm down Fran!" Blake said as I felt her hand on my head. "Sorry. I shouldn't have done that."
"No, it's fine Blake... I needed that. It's true that Pyrrha has never been beaten, the same can be said about me. After all, I did beat you four quite easily if I recall." I chuckled.
"Hey, you took me by surprise!" Yang yelled.
"No, it's because you let your guard down easily." I said. "Ruby's fault is that she heavily relies on Crescent Rose, after disarming her, the battle was easy. That's why she should undergo hand-to-hand combat to cover her bases."
"See that's what I've told you both. You both are too lax." Weiss said.
"If I can say, you also have some faults Weiss."
"What faults? I thought I put up the greater fight against you?"
"Oh, you did but I still found a way around your traps."
You are the only one that nearly made me use my Maiden Powers.
"Your glyphs are really effective, I swear you had me for a minute, but they are lacking and after prolonged usage, you'll get exhausted, so you need to work on your stamina." I said as Weiss heavily sighed.
"Then what were my faults, Fran. I want you to be honest." Blake said.
"Alright, you need to rely less on your semblance to dodge from combat. While leaving a clone of yourself might trick your opponent, it won't last if you continue to use it during long battles. Plus, for me, it was easy to decide which you was the real one. The clones lack your body signal." I answered Blake.
Everyone let out a collective sigh. The overall mood in my room lowered. "Hey, this is just the end of the first term of our first year, there's plenty of time to improve. It's not like I'm perfect in battle."
"Why? What's wrong with your fighting style?" Yang asked as I pointed to my ears.
"All that someone has to do is just shout near my ears and then I crumble to the ground in agony." I explained.
"Well you can't help that, Fran. Your ears are really sensitive." Ruby said. "Oh, I know. Why don't we work together to try and work past our weakness?"
"Good idea, sis." Yang said. "I'm sure by the time our first year ends we'll be the top of our year."
"I like the sound of that." Weiss said as I sensed her walking over towards me.
"Are you feeling less nervous now, Fran?" Weiss asked.
I nodded my head. "Yes, thanks everyone. Guess I better get ready. Blake, can you hand me a blood pack while I go over my arrows."
"Yeah sure." Blake answered.
"You're not going to fire arrows at Pyrrha, are you?" Ruby asked curiously.
I chuckled. "Of course not, I've had them modified. Some of the arrows are clustered arrows, once I fire them, they split up and cause a small shock to anything it hits. I used some of them against that Neo, who was with Torchwick."
"So, they're perfectly safe?" Weiss asked.
"Yes! I've removed the arrowheads from most of my arrows and added a flat end that conducts electricity. My other arrows, the ones with the arrowheads I keep, are used against the Grimm." I answered as Blake returned.
"Here you go, Fran." Blake handed me my blood pack.
"We better go, we should let Fran get herself focused." Weiss said.
"Yes, good idea Weiss. Okay Team RWBY, let's go." Ruby cheered as Yang also cheered as they left with Weiss only Blake remained.
As I devoured the blood pack, I heard my bed creak as Blake sat on it. "So, are you going to visit your parents over the Summer break?" I asked.
Blake hesitated "I-I don't know. What were you planning to do?"
"Since the Professor and Miss Goodwitch are my guardians, it's up to them. I wouldn't mind going somewhere though." I said as the bell rang for classes.
"We better go." Blake said as she ruffled my hair and ears.
I nodded my head as I quickly checked my arrows, placed them in my quiver and left with Blake.
***
Just before our class with Miss Goodwitch began, everyone was sitting down in their chairs. Blake had returned to join her team and walked over towards Jaune and the others. I sensed Pyrrha was standing on the stage with her team. I also picked up on a team that surprised me that they were still here.
"Velvet, Coco, Fox Yatsuhashi!? What are you all doing here? Don't you have your own classes?"
"No. Our classes ended yesterday." Yatsuhashi answered.
"As for why, we wanted to see you go at it with the red-head." Coco said, but shortly winced. "Geez Vel, not so hard."
"What my partner was trying to say, is that we came to cheer you on." Velvet said as she cleared her throat.
"Plus, we missed the last airship yesterday, because Miss rabbit ears wanted us to finish our homework, so we can enjoy our break—Ow, I'm sorry Velvet." Fox cried out as I giggled at the team.
"I see you are all on top of things. Still it's nice to have friends here to cheer me on." I said as I sensed Miss Goodwitch clap her hands, signalling the start of class.
"Everyone who is not presently participating in the sparring match, please evacuate the arena!"
"I guess that's my cue. Wish me luck." I said as I felt hands on my shoulders. One on my left and another on my right.
"You've got this Fran! Velvet said.
"Knock 'em dead" Coco said as I nodded my head and walked onto the arena.
Everyone sitting down erupted into cheers. I then heard Pyrrha chuckle. "This seems a bit too much."
I giggled. "I know right." I approached her and held out my hand. "Let the best Huntress win." I said as I felt Pyrrha shake it.
"Yeah!" Pyrrha said as I picked up Miss Goodwitch approaching us, silencing everyone.
"I know I don't have to remind you both, but please keep this fair and try to not go too hard against each other. We still need you back for the next semester in one piece. The first one to reduce their opponent's Aura to the critical level will win." Miss Goodwitch said.
"Of course, Professor." Pyrrha answered as she walked away from us.
"Good luck." Miss Goodwitch said as she left the area.
I quickly calmed myself and took my position.
"Go Fran! Go Pyrrha!" Everyone from team RWBY, team CFVY and the remnants of team JNPR cheered.
Okay Semblance, don't fail me now.