Blair and Lilith approach the center of the arena.

Silver: By all accounts, this should be a reasonably straightforward win for Blair.

Kevin: Yeah, Jace wiped the floor with her and then tapped out. She should have been out last round.

Hayze: (It’s not the outcome of this match that has me worried… it’s Blair’s wellbeing.)

Calm appears as a spirit in the seat next to Hayze.

Calm: (You seem very concerned with Blair.)

Hayze: (I’m always worried about her, she’s overcome a lot, but she’s still fragile.)

Calm: (Do you not have faith in her?)

Hayze: (No, of course, I do, I just… I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.)

Calm: (Nothing will happen if you believe in her.)

Hayze is silent for a few moments.

Hayze: (That’s why she got angry… I’ve always believed in her, and then I asked her to forfeit if things got tough.)

Calm: (Blair has overcome a lot, and that’s why everything will be alright. Jace targeted Lilith’s insecurities to manipulate her into joining his “Vanguard.” Blair’s insecurities may not be gone, but she’s far more prepared for a verbal assault than Lilith was. I believe everything will be alright.)

Hayze: (Yeah… I just can’t help but be worried.)

Calm: (And that’s because you care about her.)

Hayze: (Yeah, I do.)

Fatal leans forward.

Fatal: Am I the only one worried about this match?

Adrian and Houston: No.

Fatal: What do we do if the same thing happens to Blair that happened to Lilith? It’ll be like an epidemic.

Adrian: We worry about that bridge when we come to it. For now, we just hope that this match is simple and smooth.

Fatal: Okay, fingers crossed.

The screen begins randomizing through locations.

Lilith: Are you nervous, Blair?

Blair: No, not a bit.

Lilith: That’s good; seeing the light shouldn’t make you nervous.

Blair: That’s not-

Lilith: Blair, you should be smiling. Soon you’ll be the person you’ve always wanted to be. Just like I am.

Blair: Lilith, I-

Lilith: Empress.

Blair: *frustrated grunt* I’m happy with who I am.

Lilith: I remember when I thought that, then I saw the light and realized how wrong I was.

Blair: *nasal grunt*

The screen stops on a jungle.

Lilith: Let’s see how long you last against the Empress.

A blinding light blares, and Blair and Lilith suddenly find themselves in a lush jungle.

Blair: (I could really start some fires like this.)

Lilith: Why don’t we start with a little bit of fortune-telling?

Lilith reaches into her cloak and pulls out a deck of tarot cards.

Blair: Ugh… not this… I’m not falling for the same crap you did, Lilith! My “fortune” means nothing to me.

Lilith: Oh really, then maybe you’d care to play a game?

Blair: Huh?

Lilith: I know exactly which card represents you, Blair, and by fate, you will always draw that card. So how about I let you shuffle and pull the card for yourself? If I guess your card correctly, you’d have to believe me at least a little bit, right?

Blair is apprehensive.

Hayze: (Don’t fall for it, Blair. There’s no need for you to play along.)

Lilith hands Blair the deck.

Lilith: Just take it.

Blair: (I’m not sure I should go along with this, but I know tarot; there are 22 cards in the major arcana, and their meaning changes based on whether they’re upright or reversed. That means there are 44 different possible draws, so Lilith has a 2% guessing correctly. She’s letting me shuffle, and I can inspect the cards for markings.)

Lilith: I’m not getting any younger here. If you want to shut me up, then just take the deck and let me guess wrong. That will defeat my entire argument immediately.

Blair: (Screw it.)

Blair takes the deck and inspects the cards. Each one is in a perfect and identical condition, and all 22 cards are present. Blair begins shuffling.

Blair: Based on how you’re talking, It sounds like you have a guess already determined.

Lilith: Of course, you will draw Strength Reversed. I’ll explain the meaning once you’ve drawn it.

Blair: (Strength Reversed, huh? So I have a 1 in 44 chance of drawing that exact card and orientation. No way that happens.)

Blair finishes shuffling and draws a card. Her eyes widen.

Blair: (No way…)

Blair drew Strength Reversed.

Lilith: Judging by your expression, I’d say I was correct.

Blair places the card back and reshuffles. She draws it again.

Blair: (What!)

Blair places the card back and reshuffles, but this time she takes the top card and places it on the deck’s bottom, then draws: It’s Strength Reversed again.

Blair: How are you doing that?

Lilith: Blair, that card represents you. You cannot run away from it.

Blair: *grunts*

Blair tosses the tarot cards aside.

Blair: Whatever! This isn’t a card game! It’s a fight, so let’s go, Lilith!

Lilith: Not until after I’ve told you your fortune.

Blair: I don’t need to hear it!

Blair lunges at Lilith.

Blair: I’ll take you down!

Suddenly, jungle vines grow like wildfire around Blair, snaring and entangling her.

Hayze: What!

Silver: Huh?

Kevin: That’s new!

Adrian stands up in his seat.

Blair: D- did you do that?

Lilith laughs.

Lilith: Like I told you, Blair, I’m finally the person I always wanted to be.

Blair: *grunts* How did you do this!

Lilith: As an elite member of the Vanguard, I have been given new power. It’s a gift from the light, and if you see it too, Blair, you will also receive newfound abilities.

Blair struggles, attempting to break free, but the vines are too vigorous.

Blair: (I’ll just burn my way out of these.)

Blair begins secreting lava, igniting the vines, and burning herself free.

Blair: A minor inconvenience.

Lilith: Oh, well, in that case…

Blair’s fingernails begin to grow at an extreme pace; they dig deep into the ground, trapping Blair in place.

Blair: What!

Lilith: My new quirk, The Empress, allows me to accelerate the growth of anything. I can even grow your hair.

Lilith snaps her fingers. Blair’s face turns red.

Kevin: But Blair’s hair didn’t grow.

Hayze: Kevin… I uh… I think it did.

Kevin: What do you mean- oh… OHHHHH.

Lilith starts laughing.

Blair: THAT ISN’T FUNNY, LILITH!

Lilith: It’s pronounced Empress, and if you get that wrong one more time, I’ll make your armpits look like this jungle.

Kevin: *from afar* Ha!

Lilith sits down on a tree root.

Lilith: Now, where was I? Oh right, your fortune. Strength Reversed reveals self-doubt, weakness, and insecurity. I’d say you’re the poster child for all three of those, which made it easy to guess which card you would draw.

Blair: I’m not insecure!

Lilith raises an eyebrow.

Blair: Okay, I may be a little insecure, and I may doubt myself, but that could apply to anyone! I’m happy with my identity and how far I’ve come; you can’t tell me otherwise.

Lilith: Are you sure about that? Are you happy being the girl that forgot to have a clean pair of undies before a big exam?

Blair’s face turns red.

Blair: I- I don’t know what you’re talking about!

Lilith: Oh, it was apparently based on your body language. I hadn’t pointed it out until now because I was the old, weak version of myself. Now that I’ve seen the light, I’m the type of girl who calls other people out on their shit, and you, Blair, are the worst of all.

Blair: *frustrated grunt*

Lilith: Come on, Blair. Don’t kid yourself. There are tons of things you wish you could change about yourself. Just like I did. I hated being the passive, friendly, sweet girl who was nothing more than an exaggerated wallflower. I always wanted to be assertive, passionate, and prominent, and once I saw the light, I could finally be all those things. Blair, can’t you see that I’m trying to help you?

Blair: Help me? You’re trying to brainwash me! Just like Jace did to you!

Lilith: Brainwash? I’ll have you know that I chose to join the Vanguard, the same way I’m asking you to join. I’m trying to convince you of the benefits of seeing the light. I don’t want you to join if it’s not of your own free will.

Blair looks at Lilith with a confused expression.

Blair: (Is she serious?)

Lilith: I’ll do anything to prove to you that I’m not brainwashed, Blair. Even forfeit this match, would you like me to do that?

Blair: No! I want to beat you fair and square!

Lilith: Okay, then please acknowledge that I have joined the Vanguard of my own choosing.

Blair: *grunt* I guess that’s a possibility…

Lilith: Thank you. Now then, we haven’t discussed the final aspect of your fortune.

Blair: The final aspect?

Lilith: Weakness. Let me ask you this, Blair. Honestly, what do you believe the percentage chance was of you defeating me before I fought Jace?

Blair thinks for a moment.

Blair: Probably 95%.

Lilith: More realistically, 100%. I couldn’t even lay a hand on Jace, and you’re far out of his league. With that in mind, if I can defeat you here, then that means that seeing the light LITERALLY made me stronger than you. Would that not be satisfactory for showing that I’m trying to help you?

Blair doesn’t respond.

Lilith: I’ll take that as a yes.

Lilith walks over to a nearby tree and picks up a watermelon.

Lilith: Then let’s have this fight begin now.

Lilith punches a hole into the watermelon and rips out some seeds.

Blair: Wh- what are you doing with those?

Lilith: Using the power the light gave me to defeat you.

Lilith approaches Blair. Blair struggles to move; her fingernails are dug too deep into the ground for her to rip them free.

Blair: (Shit! I’d burn myself free, but I’m immune to my own lava, it can’t hurt me or injure my body in any way.)

Lilith pulls out a knife and slices three minor cuts on Blair’s back. She places one seed in each.

Blair: What are you doing?!

Lilith: I’m turning you into my own little garden.

Lilith snaps her fingers. The watermelons begin growing at an accelerated rate, stretching Blair’s cuts and ripping apart the back of her bodysuit.

Blair: AHHHH!

Blair’s cries of pain echo throughout the whole stadium. Wrath appears as a spirit next to Hayze.

Wrath: (Get down there and stop her!)

Hayze: *frustrated grunt* I can’t.

Kevin: Did you say something, Hayze?

Calm: (Wrath, Blair may be in pain, but we cannot interfere, she is strong and can find a way out of this on her own.)

Wrath: (THAT GIRL IS GROWING WATERMELONS IN HER BACK WHILE SHE SCREAMS FOR HER LIFE! WHAT DO YOU MEAN!)

Hayze clenches his fist.

Lilith: Had enough?

Lilith takes a blood-soaked watermelon out of Blair’s back. The wound left by it is gaping. Blair is breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

Blair: What the hell… is wrong with you… you’re not Lilith… you’re some kind of monster.

Lilith: I’d recommend forfeiting now.

Blair: Huh?

Lilith punches a hole in the bloody melon and rips out three more seeds.

Lilith: Unless you want seconds?

Blair gets a look of terror on her face.

Lilith: Don’t you see, Blair? I’m much more powerful than you now, but if you feel like being a masochist, I’m more than welcome to accommodate you.

Blair: We’ll see about that.

Blair oozes lava down her fingers into the ground surrounding them, softening the dirt and allowing her to rip her long nails free.

Blair: AHHH!

Blair leaps back, away from Lilith. She falls to her knees, breathing heavily.

Lilith: Resisting, huh? That’s fine. Prolonging the inevitable will only do you harm.

Blair slowly gets to her feet; her legs are incredibly wobbly.

Blair: (Lilith’s new power is insane… how am I supposed to deal with her now?)

Adrian starts leaving the stands.

Fatal: Where are you going?

Adrian: I need to make a phone call back to the school; Ewing needs to hear about this.

Fatal: I- I- alright.

Adrian walks back into the stadium. He passes Walker along the way.

Adrian: What do you think?

Walker: Something is going on. I assume you believe it might have something to do with Ivan?

Adrian: Yeah, I do.

Walker: I highly doubt it, but it’s worth reporting.

Adrian: Yeah…

Adrian continues walking.

Adrian: I hope you see now that trouble seems to follow these kids regardless of who their teacher is.

Adrian exits.

Walker: (Maybe…)

Daniele turns to Aster.

Daniele: Are- are you doing good, Aster?

Aster: I’m fine.

Daniele: Well- that’s your sister down there, and I mean-

Aster: Blair will be okay. I have faith in her.

Daniele: Al- alright.

Lilith examines Blair.

Lilith: (I think I’ve laid the foundation for convincing her to see the light. The only remaining step is defeating her.) Those fingernails are going to be challenging to work with.

Blair: You turned me into Alden, whoop de doo. I can still beat you.

Lilith: That’s what you think… but might I remind you that my Empress quirk isn’t the one you should be worried about?

Lilith places her hand on the button embedded in the chest of her costume.

Blair: (Shit!)

Lilith: Let’s see how you handle this!

Lilith presses the button and grows to her giant form.

Lilith: Try dealing with this, Blair!

Blair starts running away as fast as she can as Lilith attempts to step on her.

Blair: (This isn’t good! One step from Lilith, and I’m a goner!)

Lilith laughs.

Lilith: Poor Blair, helpless at my hand, or I guess in this case, my foot.

Suddenly, Blair gets tripped up.

Blair: Huh?

Blair’s hair has grown far past the length of her body.

Blair: (No!)

Blair is overcast in the shadow of Lilith’s foot.

Lilith: It looks like you finally learned to bow before the Empress!

Blair: *grunts* (Not good!)

Blair is crushed beneath Lilith’s foot.

Silver: It’s over.

Kevin: Damn… Lilith was out for blood.

Wrath: (That bitch!)

Hayze: (Blair…)

The jungle stays intact.

Lilith: (The match isn’t over… what?)

Lilith feels a burning sensation on the bottom of her foot.

Lilith: AHHH!

Lilith falls backward and smashes down on the forest, demolishing all the trees and foliage in her path. The bottom of her foot is severely burned.

Blair: Gotcha…

After Lilith's foot made contact, Blair encased her entire body in magma armor and melted it back into lava.

Lilith: Dammit!

Lilith reverts to her standard size.

Blair: (Good, this is my chance to win. Becoming a giant eats up a ton of her energy, so she’s bound to be weak now.)

Blair gets up and attempts to walk in Lilith’s direction, but her hair holds her back. It’s tangled around a couple of roots.

Blair: *frustrated grunt* This new quirk of hers is so stupid!

Lilith gingerly stands up, avoiding putting any weight on her foot.

Lilith: (How dare she injure the Empress, I’ll destroy her for that!)

Lilith notices a sapling in the ground.

Lilith: (Hm..)

Blair uses her massive nails to cut out the tangles in her hair.

Blair: (I’m starting to feel like an unkempt feral creature. I don’t know what happened, but she really is different. Sure, maybe she was telling the truth about not being brainwashed, but how could she have just magically gotten a new quirk? I wonder if Jace has one too… or what power I would receive if I-)

Blair frantically shakes her head.

Blair: (No, I can’t think like that. I won’t fall victim to her persuasions! I just have to win to focus on winning this match.)

Blair hears a buzzing sound.

Blair: (Where!)

Blair looks in every direction.

Lilith: It looks like my makeover isn’t doing you any favors.

Blair: Huh!

Blair looks around again; Lilith is nowhere to be seen.

Blair: Where are you?!

Lilith: That’s not important. What is, though, is that you seem to still be standing.

Blair: Yeah, it’s going to take a lot to bring me down.

Lilith: I realize that now. Your lava quirk is quite powerful for countering my Empress power, which is unfortunate, but I’ve noticed a way around that.

Blair: What?

Suddenly Blair’s eyelashes grow incredibly long. They become so heavy that they weigh down Blair’s eyelids to where she can’t see.

Blair: *frustrated grunt* What the hell!

Lilith flies out of Blair’s hair and regrows to her original size.

Lilith: Your lava doesn’t seem to be able to affect your body, so if I continue your remodeling, you can’t stop me.

Blair: Where did you get this power, Lilith?!

Lilith: I AM THE EMPRESS! I am a part of the Vanguard, and we will bring purity to this world! You can join and help us accomplish that, or you can be purified with the rest of humanity! I received this power as a reward for seeing the light, and you could have the same thing happen to you! Look at how powerful I am now! Think of what you could become if you just saw the light!

Blair: I don’t need another quirk to get stronger! I’m fine the way I am!

Lilith: Really? Because that’s not what your beloved Hayze thought about himself! He has two quirks, one of which he acquired through a science experiment! At least my way was natural!

Blair is taken aback.

Blair: (She- she’s right… Hayze couldn’t become a hero without receiving more power, so maybe that’s what I need to do… I mean, I’ve admired him all of this time, and I can’t ignore that fact.)

Lilith: So what do you say, Blair? Will you join the Vanguard?

Blair is silent for a few moments.

Blair: No.

Lilith: *grunts*

Blair: I am Blair, not Hayze, and I don’t need your stupid Vanguard to make me strong. I’ll beat you on my own!

Lilith shakes her head.

Lilith: Fine, then I might as well just win this.

Lilith snaps her fingers. Suddenly a tree begins growing out of Blair’s hair, smashing her against the ground. The tree roots dig into the ground as Blair is bound beneath them and the tree itself.

Blair: What the hell!

Lilith: I hid a little sapling in your hair just in case you decided to be defiant.

Lilith places her foot on the back of Blair’s head and starts pressing her face into the dirt.

Lilith: Now, let’s finish this match. I might have more luck with Saige in the next round; besides, she’s much more powerful than you are. She’ll be a fine addition to the Vanguard.

Blair clenches her fist.

Hayze: (Oh boy, she pressed the Saige button.)

Lilith starts kicking Blair’s head over and over.

Blair: You think Saige is better than me, huh? Well, I’ll show you! And then I’ll show her!

Blair grabs Lilith’s ankle.

Blair: You’re going down, Empress!

Blair surrounds her entire body in molten lava.

Blair: Full Magma Jacket: Requiem!

Lilith’s ankle starts to burn within Blair’s grasp.

Lilith: AHHHHH!

Lilith shrinks to a butterfly and flies off; she lands and reverts to her standard size 20 yards away from Blair.

Lilith: (I can’t fly, I’m too weak, and with my foot and ankle burnt the way they are, I can’t walk either!)

The tree Blair was pinned beneath burns to the ground.

Blair: You were right, Lilith; I am Strength.

Lilith: *grunts* (This isn’t good!)

Blair stands up. Her entire body is covered in lava. Her long flowing hair drags behind her making it look like she has a flaming veil. Her fingernails drip with lava; she uses them to cut down her eyelashes so she can see.

Blair: Now then, take this!

Blair charges at Lilith and begins beating the shit out of her. Each and every one of her punches leaves a second-degree burn on impact.

Lilith: AHHHH!

Blair: I don’t need anyone to make me strong! I already am!

Blair uppercuts Lilith; she flies through the air before smacking unconscious against the ground.

Blair: Cya, Empress.

The arena reverts to normal.

Hunt: The winner is Blair Maddox.

Hayze, Wrath, and Calm smile.

Blair: (I did it…)

Blair falls to her knees.

Blair: Now, can someone help me with my watermelon wounds…

Two stretchers come out for Lilith and Blair.

Blair: *groans*

Hunt: Try not to get her hair stuck in the wheels.

Blair: Please…

Medic: Yessir.

Lilith and Blair are stretched off.

Hunt: It is time for another intermission; matches three and four will take place at the same time tomorrow.

Hunt walks off.

Silver: It looks like we’ll be on tomorrow.

Kevin slaps Hayze on the back.

Kevin: Hell yeah! And I’ve been looking forward to this matchup for a long time!

Hayze: Heh, yeah.

Sydney stands up and walks out of the spectators’ seats.

Silver: Meanwhile, she’ll be my opponent.

Kevin: Eh… there’s not much to worry about; she struggled against Wes and Eve after all.

Silver: Maybe…

Hayze stands up.

Hayze: I’ll catch you guys later; I’m going to see Saige and Blair.

Silver: I’ll come too.

Hayze: Hm? Really?

Silver: I’ve got nothing better to do.

Kevin: I’d join you guys, but I think I’m gonna get a bite to eat instead, cya!

Kevin leaves.

Hayze: Well, let’s go.

On the island, Aaron is forcing Alec and Killian to renovate their entire shelter.

Aaron: Alright, boys, and once you’re done moving that bamboo, You’re gonna cut each piece in half horizontally and replace them on the shelter.

Killian: *frustrated grunt* Why are we taking orders from you?!

Aaron: Because I’ve been appointed head of construction by the president.

Eve is sitting behind a desk constructed of bamboo.

Ash: Ms. President, Zach, Angel, and Justus have returned with three fish.

Eve: Alright, send them into my office.

Ash turns to Justus, Angel, and Zach, who are standing 3 feet away.

Ash: You may see the president now.

Zach: I- alright…

Alec scoffs.

Alec: *under his breath* Leave it to these 2-A chumps to show up and ruin everything here.

Aaron: What was that? Are you questioning our president?

Alec: Nope! Not at all!

Aaron: Good, because if you were, you’d end up like the others.

Down the beach, there are 5 holes in the ground. Wes, Isaiah and Demetri, Grace, Gus, and Gavin are inside each hole, respectively.

Wes: I SWEAR TO GOD, AARON! LET ME OUT HERE!

Bruno walks over to Wes’ hole and looks down at Wes.

Bruno: Quiet down, prisoner.

Wes: Prisoner! I didn’t even do anything!

Bruno: You were democratically elected to be placed in the hole indefinitely.

Wes: THAT WAS NOT A FAIR TRIAL!

A flashback begins.

Alexis: Okay, we’ve now officially elected Eve as our leader.

Eve: Thank you, everyone. I’ll be sure to-

Aaron: I’d like to call a motion to the floor.

Eve: I- uh… okay?

Aaron: I propose we build a proper prison to hold Grace, Isaiah, and Demetri. Keeping them tied and hanging to trees isn’t the most humane.

Eve: That’s fair.

Bruno: I can understand that.

Eve: All in favor?

Everyone says, “I.”

Eve: Motion passes. We’ll begin construction tomorrow. Aaron, you’ll be in charge of that.

Aaron: Yes, ma’am.

Eve: Alright, so thank you for-

Aaron: I’d like to call a motion to the floor.

Eve: I- what is it, Aaron?

Aaron: I propose we throw Wes into the newly constructed prison indefinitely.

Wes: WHAT!

Eve: I’m not opposed… explain your reasoning.

Aaron: I think you know that already.

Wes: FUCK YOU!

Eve: Alright, well, this is a democracy, so we’ll bring it to a vote. Wes will not vote as he is the subject matter. Gus and Tobias are not attending this meeting, so they will not vote either. Finally, Grace, Isaiah, and Demetri are prisoners and therefore are not eligible to vote, which leaves us with 13, so seven is the majority. So I’ll vote first, and then we’ll go counter-clockwise, I say Nay.

Ash: Nay.

Justus: Nay.

Zach: Nay.

Angel: Nay.

Karma: Nay.

Aaron: Yay.

Bruno: Yay.

Verity: Yay.

Alexis: Yay.

Wes: ALEXIS!

Alexis: Sorry, Wes, just supporting Aaron.

Wes: Wh- wh- wh-

Eve: Wes, do not interrupt the vote. Alec and Killian?

Alec: I mean, I don’t really care.

Killian: Yeah, me neither, so I guess, n-

Verity sneaks up behind Alec and Killian and whispers in their ears.

Alec and Killian: YAY!

Wes: WHAT!

Eve: So that’s 6 to 6, which leaves just one vote...

Gavin farts.

Wes: Gavin… please…

Gavin: Well, well, well, Wes.

The flashback ends.

Bruno: Are you saying you disagree with democracy?

Wes: I disagree with false imprisonment!

Verity walks over to Wes’ hole.

Wes: STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU LUNATIC!

Bruno: Ma’am, visiting hours are over.

Verity: Oh, is that how it is?

Bruno: Yes.

Verity grabs Bruno’s hand and places it on her breast.

Bruno: WH-

Verity: Help.

A new hole is dug, and Bruno is thrown inside.

Bruno: NOOOOOOO!

Verity leaps down into Wes’ hole and cuddles up next to him.

Wes: Y- you’re a fucking monster.

Verity: If you be quiet, I’ll call a vote for your sentence to be reduced.

Wes: MY SENTENCE IS INDEFINITE!

Verity: Yes.

Wes: AHHHHHHHH!

Eve slams her desk.

Eve: Dammit! I just lost my head of security! How could this happen?

Ash: Should I create an application?

Eve: *sighs* It’s for the best.

Alexis and Karma are sitting down by the ocean, watching the chaos.

Alexis: I don’t know if this government thing was such a good idea.

Karma: Probably not, but it isn’t causing too much harm right now.

Alexis: I just can’t wait to get out of here…

Karma: Me too.

Alexis: Oh, I’m sorry if that was a little insensitive, you’ve been here far longer than anyone, so I shouldn’t be talking.

Karma: Don’t worry about it; I’ve been at peace with my situation here, and besides, Gus has been here almost as long.

Gus looks like a skeleton with skin now with how much weight he’s lost.

Gus: *groans* Foooood…

Karma smiles.

Karma: It’s also gotten a lot easier as more and more of you have shown up and joined us.

Alexis: Yeah… I’m sad that Aaron lost, but I’m happy he’s here. I missed him.

Karma: You guys should go to the cove for a date. You’ve got all the time in the world.

Alexis: Ha, he wishes! He spends more time staring at my boobs than doing actual work; he needs to earn it.

Karma: That’s cold…

Alexis: No, Karma, it’s karma.

Alexis and Karma laugh.

Alexis: Huh? Look at that.

Alexis and Karma notice a flare out at sea.

Alexis: It looks like someone opted out.

Karma: That’s either Lilith or Blair, right?

Alexis: Yeah… and I can’t see either of them doing that. Strange…

Karma: Strange indeed.

Hayze and Silver reach the medical wing.

Hayze: Alright, I’m gonna visit Blair first.

Silver: Interesting.

Hayze: Huh?

Silver: I’m just wondering why you’re making a note of it.

Hayze: Trust me, it seems insignificant, but if I know Blair, it will make her happy.

Silver: *nasal grunt* That’s nice.

Silver continues walking past Hayze.

Hayze: Where are you going?

Silver: I’m going to see Saige first.

Hayze: Really?

Silver: Yeah… I- I have something to say to her.

Hayze: Alright, good luck.

Silver: Thanks.

Hayze reaches for the door to Blair’s room.

Silver: By the way, Hayze.

Hayze: Huh?

Silver: You’d better win tomorrow.

Silver walks off. Wrath and Calm appear next to Hayze.

Calm: (He’d be a formidable opponent to face again.)

Hayze: (Yeah… he would.)

Wrath: (Who cares, open the door!)

Hayze knocks.

Blair: *muffled* Come in...

Hayze enters Blair’s room. She’s face-down in bed with her back completely exposed. Her wounds are partially healed but still red and swollen.

Blair: Hey Hayze…

Hayze: How are you feeling?

Blair: They just shot me up with some pretty good morphine, so… pretty good, I’d say.

Hayze smiles and sits down next to Blair’s bed. Her fingernails have been clipped to a standard size, and her hair has been trimmed.

Hayze: They already fixed your hair?

Blair: Yeah… it was annoying.

Wrath: (Damn.)

Hayze: You did great out there; I’m glad you won.

Blair: Me too…

Hayze: I- I’m sorry if I made you think I didn’t believe you could win. I realize how I might have come off.

Blair: I- it’s fine… I probably overreacted.

Hayze: No, you reacted fine, I just didn’t consider your feelings, and I’m sorry.

Blair is surprised by Hayze.

Blair: (He never would have said anything like before he disappeared. What changed about him?)

Calm: (I still don’t think he’s cut out for women.)

Wrath: (Me neither.)

Hayze: (I can hear you guys!)

Blair: Well… thanks, Hayze. I appreciate it.

Hayze: Don’t mention it.

Silver enters Saige’s room.

Saige: Ohhhhhh, what’s this?

Silver: Can it.

Saige: Coming in without knocking, what would you have done if I was naked?

Silver: Ask you why you weren’t wearing clothes in the first place.

Saige: Touche.

Silver: Look, I’m just going to make this quick. I’m sorry for talking down to you and thank you for forcing me to socialize.

Silver turns to leave.

Saige: Aw… that’s it? You’re just going to go?

Silver: Yes.

Silver leaves.

Saige: (He might be more fun than Hayze.)

Later that night, Hayze is restless in his bed.

Hayze: *sighs*

Hayze gets up and walks down the stadium hallways. He eventually reaches the door to the spectators’ seats. He steps out and starts at the moonlit arena.

Hayze: (Tomorrow, I faceoff against Kevin right here in this-)

Hayze notices Kevin is sitting in the stands.

Kevin: So you couldn’t sleep either?

Hayze: No, I couldn’t.

Kevin: You know, Hayze. It’s funny; we were moments away from fighting each other on the very first day of school. Now, over a year later, we can finally pick up where we left off.

Hayze: Yeah… we can.

Kevin stands up and walks towards Hayze.

Kevin: I’ve changed a lot since that moment, and while you have as well, maybe more. That doesn’t mean you’re stronger than me. After all, I put up a better fight against Justus than you did.

Hayze: That’s true.

Kevin offers Hayze his hand.

Kevin: I’m glad I get to fight someone like you, Hayze. I don’t care how you got your quirk or if you’ve put in less work than I have. Since that first day, you’ve always been someone I’ve looked at as a rival. However, fighting alongside you in the Showcase was eye-opening. You inspired me to use my quirk in a way that allows me to fight with my head and not just my fists. I’m glad I can finally test my limits against someone as strong as you.

Hayze is taken aback.

Hayze: Thanks… Kevin. Hearing you say all that reminded me that you treated me as a friend even after discovering my lack of control of my abilities. And that persisted after I disappeared for three months. You’re a good friend and an even better rival. I look forward to squaring off against you as well.

Hayze shakes Kevin’s hand.

Kevin: Well, then there’s only one thing left to say.

Hayze and Kevin smile.

Hayze and Kevin: May the best man win.