27 The First Duel

"Mr. Fielder, nice of you to finally join us. I trust your stay in the infirmary didn't rust your combat capabilities?" Goodwitch announced as both Arthur and team RWBY entered the duelling theatre of Beacon.

"Cute one, Ms.Goodwitch I would first need them to lose them" Arthur replied

"Yeah, he almost got himself killed, by a little nevermore! How much more worse can you get!" Yelled the unwelcome voice of Cardin Winchester, the generic bully that every story set in a school has.

"Mr.Fielder, do not sell yourself short. Being able to decimate a pack of Beowolves without an Aura or training and coming out alive, is no small feat" She complimented shocking the rest of the class apart from Ruby, who had already heard of this as well as having seen the outcome of the battle. That being Arthurs numerous wounds he had earned from the battle.

"You what!?" Weiss and Blake shouted as they turned in shock to Arthur

"It was nothing special. I'm only alive because I was lucky enough to be rescued by Summer after collapsing due to blood loss" Arthur shyly scratched the back of his head while turning away from embarrassment.

"Ha! Couldn't even deal with Beowolves without getting killed! You're a joke!" Cardin once again chimed in, using his already unpleasant view, his three lackeys shouting in agreement.

"Mr.Winchester, I see you have a lot of unspent energy today, you shall be the first to fight today. Arthur, please prepare for combat, as per the headmasters request you are not to use you're… secondary weapon" She announced, confusing everyone that Arthur was expressely being told not to use a weapon.

"I don't need a handicap! I can beat him with my hands tied behind my back even if he did use it! You're just that pathetic!" Cardin mocked.

"I expected as much" Arthur said as he collected his borrowed iron sword he had gotten during initiation and stepped into the field, followed shortly by Cardin wielding a discount mace of Sauron that was much bigger than it really had to be.

"Oh, lookie here! Doesn't even have any combat clothing! And what's that, a teeny weenie bread knife. I'm so scared." the bird kept talking, much to the dismay of everyone.

"Hey! Don't diss bread knifes! They are amazing for cutting through bread, necks and bones! They make perfect saws… if it's sharp enough and made of a decent material…" he looked at his own sword seeing a small nick near the handle on the blade. "Huh, that's not good…"

Chuckles ran through the class due to Arthur taking Cardin's provocation, catching it and sending it right back at him in the form of a joke. Cardin of course being the generic bully he was, got annoyed from this as he clenched his hand around his mace's and scowled.

Once Arthur and Cardin were done with their provocations Goodwitch explained the rules "Now, students, as I am sure you are all already aware of by now, combat will be fought tournament-style, meaning that the fight shall continue until one of your Aura's is in the red…"

"His!" Cardin shouted, his team shouting back with "Yeah!"

"…as well as forfeiting the match. Apart from that you are free to fight in any way you see fit. Now, fighters take a stand!" she called out as she stepped away from the arena floor and stood atop a small podium overlooking the battlefield to give her a better view of the fight. While also dimming the lights surrounding the field to remove the sight of the other students that could end up as distractions otherwise.

"You can do it!" Ruby shouted to Arthur

"Break him Mono!" Yang roared

"Good luck!" Weiss encouraged

"Fight Well!" Blake called waving a small flag with ARTHUR written on it

'When did she get that made?' Arthur bemused as he stuck a thumb up to them

"Ready, set, Fight!" Goodwitch called as the light surrounding her also disappeared. Leaving Arthur and Cardin standing across from each other, one in a ramshackle stance, the other holding resting their weapon on their shoulder while inspecting their nails.

"Just give up! You're not going to win!" Carding called out, ignoring Arthur

"Wow, I never expected you to get anymore unoriginal than that. Come on dude, at least blend the bullies from those sappy high school romance's you probably read! Become! Original! Is that so difficult?" Arthur taunted, getting laughs from the other students. His mocking obviously having worked as Cardin's face turned to him in hatred as he lifted his mace from his shoulder.

"I'm going to kill you!" he roared as he charged towards Arthur raising his mace above his head.

"If you did that, you'd be expelled." Arthur calmly retorted as he followed Cardin's bull-headed charge trying to figure out the best way to deal with his much stronger opponent.

"Why's he not moving?" Weiss commented

"Come on…" Ruby said chewing on her thumb

As Cardin raised his mace above his head, his charge brought him feet away from his target, Arthur dodged to the side as the mace began it's decent down towards him, narrowly avoiding it.

Seeing his attack miss Cardin swiped his mace to the side hitting Arthur while also causing him to stumble at having changed his momentum without stopping his charge.

Cardin's attack sent Arthur stumbling away while slightly decreasing his Aura, the attack obviously not having a lot of power behind it. 'Okay, not nimble enough for that type of dodge, got it'Arthur commented in his head.

His mind brought back as Cardin quickly stood up and brought his mace down once again in Arthur who was still trying to steady himself 'Shit!' he grit his teeth and rolled to the side as the mace impacted the ground next to him.

Seeing the opportunity Arthur dashed towards Cardin and slashed him across the chest as Cardin was lifting his weapon from the ground, the attack successfully knocking Cardin's Aura down by a bit but still more than what he had gotten on Arthur.

"Gonna have to do a lot better than that" Cardin rolled his shoulders as he raised his mace atop his shoulder and gripped it with two hands

"At least I can actually hit my target. What are we at now? One, null? Or do we consider your little scratch a hit for you?" Arthur taunted "And judging by the Aura readings, I'm already doing better than you, tweety." He now mocked.

"Oh, I am going to enjoy breaking you" Cardin grinned as he took a step towards Arthur bringing his mace down.

"Sorry tweety, that's Yang's job" Arthur commented as he charged towards Cardin surprising him and making him slow his attack in an effort to block, but his attack was already to far gone as it sailed past Arthur who had dodged to the side an tackled Cardin to the ground, his sword connecting with Cardin's stomach with enough force to bring his Aura down to yellow.

Cardin, not one for being pinned used his stronger strength to throw Arthur off of him sending him flying through the air, landing roughly on his side. Arthur rolled away from Cardin until he was in position to quickly stand-up, having lost his weapon during the tumble.

"Oh, now you don't have a weapon. Here, why don't I just give it back to you." Cardin said as he saw Arthur sword on the ground next to where he stood.

"That would be appreciated, yes." Arthur calmly commented

"Nope!" Cardin retorted bringing the mace down on the side of the blade, snapping it where Arthur had previously noticed the nick while also shattering part of the blade. Gasps filled the theatre while Cardin's teammates cheered for him "Oh, I am so sorry! I didn't see it there under my weapon!" Cardin sarcastically snorted.

'Well, shit…' Arthur though as he saw the blade that was now shattered on the floor. "Huh, Crap. You wouldn't be willing to just through down your weapon and we go it Yang style?" Arthur asked

"Not a chance in hell" Cardin charged once again swiftly attacking Arthur with wide swings that were lighter than his previous ones, probably having learnt that his heavy attacks make it easier for Arthur to dodge.

Arthur ducked and weaved around the attacks, narrowly missing a few while getting the glancing blow there. He began sweating and panting as his efforts seemed to get harder and harder to pull off. Cardin, seeing he was getting slower decided to go for another heavy blow, swinging his mace down faster than he had done before for his heavy attacks.

Finding he was unable to dodge the attack Arthur brought his arms up to block the attack while also jumping into the direction of the blow in an effort to lessen the impact. The struck true sending Arthur flying across the field, his back impacting against the wall.

"Arthur!" shouted team RWBY as they watched Arthur crumple to the ground on his hands and knees while coughing, bringing his Aura down to just above the threshold for the end of the match.

Trying to push his body up Arthur's arm collapsed under him sending him to the ground, but not one to give up Arthur attempted to get up again this time getting his foot solidly on the ground in a kneeling position.

"Just stay down! You're pathetic, how did you even get into Beacon! Your no Huntsman!" Cardin mocked resting his mace on his shoulder scowling at Arthur.

Forcing his body to stand Arthur let out a strained smile that disappeared as he suddenly let out a cough sending blood onto the floor of the field. "Arthur!" Ruby yelled in panic at the sight of blood trickling down Arthur's mouth.

Wiping his mouth Arthur saw on his glove the trade mark colour red, which he also saw on the ground 'This could work' a cruel grin appeared on Arthurs face, he raised his hand and gave a 'Come hither' motion his smirk accentuating the sheer cockiness he was releasing.

Cardin's cheek twitched at the sight of Arthur who just didn't seem to go down. Growling Cardin began to walk towards Arthur who could barely keep his body standing while constantly stumbling trying to catch his footing. Arriving before Arthur, Cardin raised his weapon and brought it down.

Arthur using as much of the power in his legs as possible dodged to the side narrowly avoiding the blow, Cardin turned his head to follow Arthur but his sight was met with a red mist that Arthur had spat out, successfully getting into Cardins eyes blinding him.

Trying to clean his eyes Cardin felt something connect to his cheek, sending him stumbling to the side putting out one of his legs to catch himself. Only for his new stance to be used against him as Arthur quickly arrived behind him and kicked upwards causing an agonizing scream to fill the hall as all the girls flinched and all the boys clenched their legs together and covered their goods as they all felt a phantom pain connect with their bodies.

Cardin, of course having been the main victim of this attack fell to the ground as he covered himself in agony letting his weapon fall to the ground beside him. Picking up the oversized mace Arthur lifted it above his head and swiftly brought it down upon Cardin's side, knocking him into the red with the sound of a buzzer announcing the end of the match.

"Woohoo!" Arthur shouted as he let go of the mace, not predicting that it would fall once again onto Cardin's side, now knocking his Aura down to a sliver of red. "Sorry… Yeah, no" Arthur commented as the lights returned to the surroundings, as cheers erupted from the girls and silence from the boys who were too busy guarding the jewels to care.

"Mr. Winchester…" Goodwitch called out to Cardin who was now on his knee's staring with pure unadultered hate at Arthur, grabbing his weapon Cardin quickly stood up and charged at Arthur but was stopped midway as he felt his weapon fly out of his hands, turning he saw his mace wrapped in a purple light as it floated in the air.

Caring not for his weapon he kept charging at Arthur tackling him to the ground as he raised his fist and brought it down on Arthur's arms as he defended himself. "Get off of him!" Yang roared as she along with the others of team RWBY charged onto the stage.

"Enough!" Goodwitch shouted as she used her semblance to pry Cardin off of Arthur. "Winchester! I understand you may be angry but the battle is over!"

"Fuck you! Let go of me! I am going to kill the piece of shit!" Cardin roared as he began flailing in the air.

"Watch your attitude Winchester, three months detention for assaulting Arthur" she said as she sent Cardin back to his teammates who wrapped their arms around his restraining him from charging to Arthur who was being helped up by Ruby and Weiss while Yang and Blake took up positions to guard him.

"Do not do that again Winchester, you lost. Accept it and move on. The next time you attack a student like that I will have you expelled." She threatened "Am I understood?"

Cardin grumbled in disapproval not taking his eyes off of his new mortal enemy.

"Am I understood!? N" Goodwitch ordered him.

"Yeah! Fine!" Cardin acceded as he pulled his arms free from his teammates grasps.

"Good. Now leave, you are dismissed along with your team" Goodwitch said as she pointed to the door with her riding crop.

Growling Cardin began to walk towards the exit but not before turning his head to Arthur and growling out "Your dead"

"Bite me!" Arthur retorted to the bully, coughing up another mouthful of blood into his hand "Goddammit, and I just got out of the infirmary" he whined as he stared at the blood trickling through his fingers.

"Arthur please head to the Infirmary, I shall inform Professor Kardia of your arrival" She told him as she brought out her scroll and sent a message, soon returning it to her pocket.

Nodding his head Arthur attempted to stand but found his legs to weak to hold him, before he could fall Weiss and Ruby wrapped his arms around their shoulders as they supported his body as they began to walk towards the exit with Blake and Yang following behind.

"Ms. Xiao-Long, Ms. Belladonna, I do not believe they require your help." She said

"We're going to make sure Cardin and his goons don't try anything funny" Yang explained earning a nod from Goodwitch. "Good teamwork, You are dismissed" she called

"Ah, Mr. Fielder, well done. Even if your methods were underhanded, good use of mind games at the beginning and well done on not giving up till the end, not many can say they would do that." Goodwitch complimented only getting a raised thumb from Arthur as he hobbled away supported by Ruby and Weiss.