I: You Never Know What You Have...

Ciel Soleil hadn't considered herself to be too terribly attached to Penny. The girl was sweet and energetic, and more than just a bit naive, but she was ultimately no more and no less than an assignment. A somewhat frustrating one, to be perfectly honest, having slipped out of the timekeeper's sight on many occasions while they were in Vale. Nobody had blamed her for failing to stop her partner from running off, but it still made Ciel herself feel humiliated and incompetent each time. Penny didn't even notice. Her demeanor was unprofessional, her blatant disregard for the all-important schedule vexing, and Ciel frankly had no idea why or how she was so important. (Not that it was her place to ask.) She performed her task with diligence, but watching out for the girl had been one of her least favorite assignments yet.

But now, staring at the ginger's dismembered form lying in the middle of the tournament stage, Ciel felt the inexplicable need to cry.

II: Eulogy From The Friend Of A Friend

Weiss stared in shock at the television screen. She and Blake had been chatting amicably, if somewhat awkwardly given recent events, but hushed when the match began. Now this happened…

Weiss hadn't been close to Penny. The first time they'd met, she'd been outright creeped out by the ginger girl's strange behavior, and the second time she'd ditched her own teammate and partner to avoid her. Most of what she knew about her after that point was secondhand, from Ruby's stories. She fought with floating swords, had a laser that could slice through bullheads like melted butter, and was apparently pretty fun once you got to know her. Not that Weiss had had the chance or will to do so.

But now she couldn't help but gape at the horrific sight. The girl, dead, with her torso cut in half and limbs scattered about carelessly. Something about the picture seemed odd, the lack of blood strange, but Weiss was too shocked to take a closer look. This was all wrong. Nobody deserved that fate.

III: Disbelief In The Face Of Failure

Ruby stared ahead blankly. Penny wasn't dead.

Why?

Penny shouldn't dead.

She didn't deserve this.

Penny couldn't be dead.

Ruby couldn't see anymore, her vision distorted into a blurred mass of colors, tears forming a constant stream down her cheeks. She was too exhausted to even wipe them away.

Yet Penny was dead.

This isn't my best work. More of a delayed reaction to PvP than anything, though part 2 has the real good stuff. This is just a quick way of dealing with a plot-bunny without starting another multi-chapter fic; I have enough on my plate as it is. Anyway, the one disappointment I have with the latter half of Volume 3 is the utter absence of Ciel. I'm not asking for a huge role from her, but at least a reaction shot would have been nice.

Through The Darkened Mirror Chapter 3 is almost done; just a bit stuck on this last scene. I'll probably have it done by the end of the week.