The Vytal Tournament Chapter 1: Ozpin's Plan

The day had finally come. After months of preparation and waiting; Pyrrha could barely contain her excitement. The Vytal festival was in full swing, and more importantly, the combat tournament was about to begin. Finally, after all the time put into training Jaune in Protagonist 101, and chasing after Nora with her insulin shots, and putting up with team RWBY’s annoying arguments about race or whatever; Pyrrha could finally focus on what she understood, what she was good at: Hurting other people.

 

Beacon Academy’s assembly hall was packed tighter than ever; not with just the usual students but several pockets of students from other combat schools around the world. Pyrrha was rather curious about all these new and strange people, and had even tried talking to a few in their short time here. But she had trouble getting to know them, what with their odd accents and strange ways and the fact that they’re almost all black faceless holes in creation; devoid of any defining form or personality outside of the default shape. They clearly hadn’t experienced main character puberty yet. Ultimately Pyrrha found it more comfortable to stick with what she knew and stay around her friends. Who need new people when you have great conversationalists like...? Ren! Yeah, Ren. He liked to talk about things sometimes.

 

Pyrrha’s uncharacteristically inane internal monologue quieted down when she noticed a figure approaching the microphone. The enigmatic headmaster of beacon who in no way reminded her of Ren at all, Professor Ozpin was preparing to address the gathered students.

“First of all, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of those who have travelled great distances across land and sea to take part in this illustrious event today. I think it is of critical importance that those individuals who would train to hunt the evils of the world, to fight for those who could not fight, must stand united as protectors. Our first duty it to help the people of this world, all people. Neither nations nor borders should separate us in this cause. This is what the Vytal festival means to me.”

It was at that point Ozpin decided to stop talking for an indeterminate amount of time to stare into space and occasionally take a sip of coffee. He wasn’t done talking he just did this sometimes. Nobody knew if he was just pausing for dramatic effect or if he was telepathically communicating with other member of the hivemonty. Usually Pyrrha could tell by checking if Ren’s face was twitching or otherwise showing emotion. All the same, they just had to wait until Ozpin started talking again.

 

“But it is the very enthusiasm that you all are showing that pains me to say what comes next. From what I’ve heard almost if not all of you seem to be under the assumption that the Vytal Festival tournament is a combat tournament, well you have been misinformed, that is not the case.” Wait, what? Does he mean no fighting? Pyrrha wasn’t sure how to react to this revelation, but the idea of not hurting people made her angry. The growing wave oh whispers throughout the hall confirmed that Pyrrha wasn’t the only one displeased by this turn of events.

“The Vytal festival” Ozpin continued “is a celebration directed towards peace and the sharing of culture. To hold blood sports for this holiday is pure nonsense. It’s true that we will be holding a competition tomorrow, but to keep with the theme of exchanging of culture and art tomorrows tournament will be, in essence, a dance-off.”

 

Ozpin then left the stage as the entire hall erupted into chaos. Students shouting with outrage, or confusion, or just because everyone else was doing it. Pyrrha stood on the spot, dumbstruck. DANCING? That isn’t how you hurt people. Or at least it isn’t supposed to be. She looked to her teammates to gauge their reactions to this shocking twist. Nora face was split open by a huge grin, the very picture of joy. Of course that didn’t indicate any strong emotions one way or the other; Nora ALWAYS looked liked that, even when she was sleeping. Just next to Nora was Ren standing there emotionless and apparently opinionless. Ok there wasn’t much point in look for Ren’s reaction. But to Pyrrha’s Right stood their glorious (And as of recently, not too incompetent) leader Jaune. Jaune was surprising Pyrrha by not panicking and/or sobbing in a generally disappointing manner. In fact he looked calm, confident even. Pyrrha couldn’t explain what the vibe she was getting from him was, only that it was giving her impure sensations not suited for a pure maiden such as herself. But before she could enquire further another person approached the microphone, it appears Glynda was attempting the salvage the situation.

“That’s enough now students, please quiet down. Need I remind you that we’re entertaining guests?” She ended that sentence with an edge of malice that no one wanted to challenge. To cacophony calmed down to a few irritated mumbles. “Much better. Now I’m sure you’re all rather upset with this new information, but your headmaster is right. Hunters and huntresses aren’t just warriors, we are ambassadors, representatives. I think we can ALL see the importance an event such as this holds. Now the plan for tomorrow is that the tournament will be split into four rounds, in each of which a separate member of a team will compete and be judged. Your teammates may do this in any order although we encourage team leaders to go first; leading the way if you prefer. Now I won’t hold you any longer, feel free to return to your accommodation. I’m sure many of you feel the need to practise for your performance tomorrow.” And with that, she grimaced and stalked of the stage.

 

“Wow! A dance-off! That seems zany yet unlikely” Nora observed without a trace of sarcasm as she fidgeted on her bed. “I think it sounds like fun.”They had all since returned to their dorm to draw up battle plans.

“I think we aren’t being serious enough about this,” Pyrrha interjected “we trained to fight, not for this. What if we aren’t ready?” It was then that Jaune turned from the window he’d being staring out of since they got back. It seemed crazy, but he was almost like a whole new person at that moment; brimming with manly confidence that wasn’t familiar, yet seemed oh so right coming from him. Pyrrha shut out the impure thought and listened to him.

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I know a little bit about dancing, and Nora’s a never-ending font of energy. We just have to point her at the stage and fire. What about you Ren? Think you’ve got this?”

“I have some experience in the matter” Ren said coolly, and mysteriously, and awesomely, also coolly.

“See Pyrrha, nothing to worry about, and it’s not like any of the other teams are any more prepared then us. Just go to sleep Pyrrha, you’ll feel a lot calmer in the morning.” Pyrrha decided to listen to Jaune; he seemed to know what he was talking about, and Ozpin seems to support it; what’s the worst that could happen?

 

Ozpin leaned back from his desk with a wry smile on his face, took a swig of coffee and chuckled a bit while Glynda angrily glared at him. This was pretty much how every faculty meeting proceeded.

“A dance competition? A dance competition! A century of celebrating with martial combat and you decide to convince everyone we have a dance-off just to see if you could?”

“And it turns out I could” Ozpin said with the smugness 10 regular men.

“Do you really expect them to believe you?”

“They already believe me. Hell, if I told them there was no such thing as aura and that they’d been relying on the power of friendship this entire time they’d eat it up. Now could you please Irish up this coffee for me, I aim to make more mistakes tonight.” Glynda sighed and complied, two words which pretty much summed up her life.