Author's Note: One of the many chapters I've been waiting a couple of years to write. This will be the last chapter of the current story Arc (Tournament story arc) which is also the penultimate Arc before the last story Arc.
I wrote this scenario back when volume 2 ended, so it's a long time coming. That means things will go positively different from the canon Volume 3. Still sad stuff though in this long chapter.
Anyway, hope you'll enjoy.
The Heroes and The Queen
Revenge, Peace, Arrogance, and Survival
Chapter Twenty-Two: Deus Ex Machina
One year ago
It was a misty morning for the Brier manor.
The emotions that filled the room were still awkward for both girls; a couple of days have already past and they have yet to speak to each other. Even so, they were curious about one other. As the minor lady of the house, Luvia Brier told herself that there was no choice but to make an attempt at a hollow friendship. Her parents had been strict on that matter. That being said, on a personal level she was curious about the other girl.
The other girl, Theresa Monarch, had childlike eyes with bright pink irises, and was dress in, for the lack of a better word, "funny" attire. Theresa blinked several times and squirming slightly under Luvia's vacant gaze that burned into her.
Reaching to a conclusion that she couldn't get an answer by gaze alone, Luvia reached into her dress pocket to pull out a laminated card that was given to her a week earlier and was told to absorb the light information from it. As she was studying the card for what seem to be the tenth time a soft voice broke her attention.
"Uhm, what is that?" Theresa asked.
Luvia bit her lip; a habit she developed over the past week. She quickly pocketed it without breaking eye contact. "Nothing." she hastily said.
"Oh," Theresa put her head down.
The awkward air resumed. Silence only lasted twenty minutes before the first droplets of light rain began to hit the large window of the spacious entertaining room. Theresa slightly flinched, forcing her head down as she still felt the burning gaze of the green-eye girl.
'Am I really going to live here?' the rural girl thought.
Up until now: Theresa has lived from rural villages, to towns in Mantel, to small cities in the exterior of the Kingdom. Being on a grandiose house like this in the middle of Atlas felt so alien. But the feeling of perpetual loneliness and fear have stayed the same; it has never gone for the past twelve years since the destruction of Via.
"Why do you dress like that?" Luvia suddenly asked.
Theresa squirmed, she didn't expect a sudden question to be addressed to her. With a sharpened tone too. Slowly her eyes shifted up, along with a series of blinks until they met Luvia. Looking visibly frustrated, the girl reclined into the large plush sofa. Theresa was on the identical sofa across, she didn't answer and sank into the plush white.
Luvia crossed her arms and huffed before speaking again, "I ask once more: Why do you dress like that?"
"Umm, wha-?"
Her finger pointed at Theresa, moving up and down, "The cape, the chest plate, you're practically gleaming in armor. Are you trying to state something? Be some kind of hero?"
The smaller girl was trying to state something. Something that she lost long ago she's been working to regain. "I want to become stronger." Theresa said with a shaking voice. "Become stronger, become a Huntress!" this time she said firm and loud.
Luvia for her part was taken aback. She didn't expect the shy girl to speak like that. She would admit that for the couple of days since they met, Luvia has been nothing but cold to her, deliberately being passive aggressive towards her. Venting the anger that stemmed from her parents. Sensing she angered the other girl, aimed to apologize, but impeding Luvia a series of knocks rattled the doors.
Theresa payed no mind; glad that she wasn't in Luvia's attention for the moment. The green-eye girl open the doors only slightly, the person whom she was talking to was hidden from view. As Luvia talked, Theresa's anxiety drew her to the windows, past the misty glass she saw something in the distance coming over.
Curiosity wanting to get a better view, she got up and went over to see. She peered past the mist and over to the forest past the flat green field behind the manor. Just emerging from the dark of the trees, a hooded figure drench in rain stood there, seeming watching her back.
The girl's eyes widen. The hooded figure's face was slightly obscured until the breaking of the overcast sky and the sunlight shining revealed identifiable features of the face.
"Penelope?" Theresa uttered.
Theresa awoke only to be blinded by the morning sunlight. A quick glimpse to recover eyesight had her see herself sprawled across her bed, still dressed in the weightily combat uniform of hers. Trying to think back from how she got here,Theresa felt afflicted by a fugue state. Then memories started flooding in of yesterday; not a very fun day as she hoped. After Jaune had left with his renewed resolved, she felt incredibly tired. Not wanting to forget getting across Jaune's word of his plan with Pyrrha to the others, she texted a last message to Luvia before heading to the dorm. Theresa waited for her team to answer into the late hours but eventually the comfort of the bed took her.
A soft groan settled as Theresa desired another wink of sleep, but softer voices kept her mind awake. Theresa squinted past the sunlight to find her team by the window, huddling around in the light. The voices of theirs were hush, they were in the unusual act of holding hands in comfort, Jane in the middle while Olga the left of her and Luvia on the right.
"Good luck."
"I...I am sorry about this day."
"Theresa? Hope she...may she forgive us if...one day."
In the groggy senses everything felt distorted and dream-like, Theresa wanting to find out what everyone was talking about, brought herself upright where her sudden pandiculation startled the three to her attention.
"Oh, Theresa!" Olga was the first to speak. She was acting the most nervous out all of them. "Ya finally awake?"
Theresa rubbed her eyes, still feeling lethargic effects of a troubled sleep. "Um, yeah? I guess." she yawned, "What is going on?"
"Nothing, Theresa." Luvia stood in front of her, behaving just as careful as Olga. "We've been waiting for you to wake up for some time this morning."
"I-I been all night for you guys." Theresa got out of bed, yawning. "Where were you anyway?"
Luvia mumbled, Olga in the back look aside, it piqued Theresa's curiosity, Jane was vacant of facial expression under the sunlight, then she came alive towards Theresa.
"We had arrive later than usual. After we had received your text about Jaune, I encountered Penny who told me Pyrrha had been found. I imagine by that point you fell for a spell." Jane after explaining so candidly suddenly was anxious. "Today is the last day of the tournament." she said almost emotionless.
Theresa smiled, oblivious of the quirks. "So we're heading there right now, right? Supporting our friends."
"Actually." Luvia stepped forward, she did not meet Theresa's eyes, which Theresa picked up. "I'm participating in the tournament in an emergency draw."
"What?" Theresa gasped.
Jane took it herself to explain, "The emergency draw of candidates outside the rounds is attributed to the lack of...healthy candidates lately. As such, the emergency draw has chosen some previous teams from the first rounds. Team JOLT was chosen. We went and elected Luvia for the finals."
Theresa blanked out. "That's a lot...huh?"
"It is confusing, I agree." Olga spoke up from her quietness. "First of its kind, so I heard. They needed an answer right away. Ya were in pleasant dreams so Janey needed to make the decision without your input."
"I see." Theresa was befuddled by the morning she woke up to. She turn to look at her partner nervous, and avoiding eyesight. "Luvia? You're fighting?"
Luvia showed some terror, slowly meeting Theresa's eyesight by force. Her struggle to explain had her do a timid stationery dance. "I am not the strongest fighter, or the most skillful, but…"
"Go get them, Luvia, make us proud by giving it all you got." Theresa encouraged her, something Luvia didn't expected from the dumbstruck expression she was left with.
"Y-yeah." Luvia suddenly became a bashful mess, she then presented herself in a more dignified manner. "I graciously accept your support, Theresa."
Theresa giggled and apologized for doing so, leaving her partner both confused and oddly at ease. Time had proven their relationship strain and distant initially, for Theresa, even after going through their trials and amends that brought them to a closer friendship, Luvia's quirky charm and human fault always brought a smile to her.
Satisfied with answers, Theresa noticed the horror of sleeping in a day with the same clothes a without washing. She cited this, and left to the bathroom to shower in time for the tournament.
Luvia hid stress behind a silly grin. As soon the bathroom door close, Jane went to her bed and dug underneath the space pull out a metal briefcase. She headed towards Luvia, her grin gone away to stark fear of what's to come.
"My condolences, Luvia." Jane motion her arm up horizontally straight, the metal briefcase dangled in her hand. "It is in there, you already know what you will find and what act to carry out. You have a role today, I already spared no explanation on what you will do, one important target at the finals that they want."
"She has a name, Jane." Luvia's glare fell to a crushing frown. "Why did they have designs that impact team JNPR? They don't deserve it."
"None of us deserve it. But here we are." Olga was visibly frustrated. "This the day we all been dreading for."
Jaune sat on his bed, a walking shadow pass over his saddened vacant face. Nora was pacing in front of him while Ren had his back to the door having a studious look.
"Wait, I got it!" Nora suddenly stopped and shouted. "Pyrrha was abducted by an alien race looking for warriors to aid in their alien war, and an alien disguise as her broke things off with you as her to hide the truth!"
Jaune wasn't fazed; only silence settled in. Ren turn his head to Nora. He knew was only a matter of time before she spoke a novel of explanations. "Nora…" he caution her.
"Nah. Too obvious." tapped her chin in a thinking fashion. "Yet so cryptic that only the members of these very team would get it. And who would make such an obvious yet cryptic story apparent: Pyrrha! She's in trouble and that was a story just to hide real truth that-"
"The tournament finals are coming up." Jaune suddenly stood up, brushing Nora away as he headed to the door, Ren stepped aside. "We're due to see them. Ren, Nora, let's get going." he stepped inside the hall. "And Nora, please shut up."
He left the room. Leaving Nora confused and hurt, Ren with his subtle worried face shook his head. He went to console Nora when she whimpered.
Nora shook her head, frowning. "I-I just don't do good with stress, Ren."
"I know." Ren said coyly. "Just be strong, not foolish, for your sake. Both Jaune and Pyrrha need us."
At the eve at the finals, fire blasted against flames back in Beacon. A match was set on top of the building wing near the teacher residence. Yang slid across the floor on her knees, the previous attack from Oobleck's fire lance was heavy hitting, but gave her enough power to stand up for another round. While she had her own match in front millions, Yang was eager to have a practice match with a mentor.
The two silently read each others' movements, they encircled each other inside the oval arena bordered by stone brick arches, on a upper level balcony fixed at the main building the rest of team RWBY watched. Oobleck made a twitchy swipe that Yang vaulted over, a hay-maker from behind had the lanky Huntsmen jump back. Explosions followed, bathing the spectators in the orange fiery light.
Ruby cheered obliviously over the quietness of Weiss and Blake. Hearing her own voice be singled out by the backdrop of the battle, Ruby turn to them.
"Guys! Why aren't you more excited?!" Ruby fervently shouted.
"Hmm?" Weiss bobbed her head towards Ruby, a weary expression. "Umm, sorry. Been a long night seeing Winter off. Right now I lost my head in the clouds."
"Yeah." Ruby looked around, returning to Weiss with sheepish face. "We are pretty high up over here, huh?"
Weiss was left slackjaw. "That is not what…" a defeated sigh squeezed out of a pinch nose, Weiss turn to Blake next to her. "say what about you, Blake? You look a little lost yourself."
Blake perched her arm and head on the balcony railing, looked up. "It's not anything really." she said uneasy. "It's more of a bad feeling. We know they're out there, those we've yet to encounter I mean, today would seem an obvious event for them to make themselves known to everyone in the world watching."
"With Atlas around?" Ruby chimed in.
Weiss showed some unwarranted disapproval at Ruby who was confused by it. Weiss turned away to the battle. "Well, at least we could trust Ironwood." she said doubtful.
Back to the battle between student and teacher a standstill occurred by their tiredness.
"Come on, Doc! Is that all you got?" Yang huffed.
"No, actually, I could do this all day, yesterday, and tomorrow!" however he wanted to show his seniority, Oobleck was very much lying through his grin. "But your match is coming and I expect my student to be scheduled ready. No doubt, no matter how young and prime you are right now, you have to have a warrior's rest. You don't know what you might encounter at the stage of the world."
Yang glanced at the coliseum in fixed in the sky, she shrugged. "The start of the matches is not until an hour from now. That plenty of time for me to rest."
"I'm not talking about that." Oobleck pushed his glasses back, hiding solemn eyes. "A lot of people are proud that you came this far over this past few months, none should be more prouder than you, after the massive obstacles you settled with. I have to be impersonal about being critical, but I don't want see you relapse into the brute you were last time."
"I won't." Yang said. "You'll have my word. My mind is calm, but I can bring myself down after fighting. Learned it from someone close."
"Raven. Or whatever she liked to call herself; back when she was a student." Oobleck seemed to deflect a topic.
"You look worried about something else, Doctor Oobleck. What's up?"
"Although I'm a man of logic I feel an air of doom transpiring beyond our control. I advise you to be ready for anything."
"What have you heard?" Yang asked.
"I'm no fool to the events of the better half of the year. But not to the extent as I believe the Headmaster does. I believe perhaps you know more than me. All I have to offer is same message Ozpin had so cryptically warn to Professor Port and myself today: 'Be ready for anything.'."
Yang had entered the tournament finals with that warning in mind. A select few entered the arena to be admired at by the world, the familiar faces of Luvia, Pyrrha, and Penny walked past her in time for the start of her own match. Yang couldn't help but see the trouble in their eyes; it left Yang unsure. Confidence in fighting the only other face she had come to known in Mercury was the only event Yang felt ready for.
"And the winner is Yang Xiao-Long!" Professor Port announced to the world.
Confidence that brought her the victory she was facing. The first fight of hers was exceptionally close. Yang went in ready to go against anything, but she still gauged his level as the off-putting friend of Emerald who willing conceded a training match against Pyrrha a few months ago. Yang still gave credit where credit is due, however.
"You a good fighter, Mercury." she gave thumbs up. "Hit me up next time when you want to battle again." Yang took a moment to clear her head with a long inward breath, she began to leave the seemingly tired opponent of hers.
"I'm not waiting for next time blonde!"
A loud internal chime vibrated inside her head. Yang turned around to see Mercury begin to charging and leaping to kick her head. She was shocked to see this sudden attack. Her mind raced to make the move to defend herself, her body however stayed steady like nothing was coming. Yang closed her eyes and took a deep breath, opening her them she found Mercury still lurching, haven't not move at all.
The cheering filled the void that the weird chime purged, Yang swore that it felt real, and that she even heard him say a threat, but he looked just as perplex as she was. Yang wrote it as nothing more than the excitement getting to her, but was still ready for anything. Almost anything.
Mercury wiped his arm across his brow, a sickening smile appeared after it, he slowly stood up calmly and straight. All the while he was fixated towards someone among the spectators.
"You okay, Mercury?" Yang asked.
"I don't know how you did it, blonde." Mercury expressed a low, sinister chuckle. "Maybe it was Emerald failing." he took a step forward, this time Yang's body moved on its own and stepped back. "Doesn't matter. I'll improvise!"
No imagination this time. Mercury ran up to her, swinging his leg straight to Yang's head. Naturally shock, Yang still evade the attack, the air left disturbed by the swing of the leg made a painful aftershock of pressure on her face.
Yang stepped back, "What are you doing, Mercury?!" her question echo across the appalled people watching all around.
Mercury did nothing more than chuckle and continue the assault. He fired the several Dust rounds from his weaponized boots, Yang back-flip every explosive shot, so he went in personal. Mercury subjugated her with a barrage of kicks that thrust into her with sharp, lethal force. Yang use every reserve of energy to dodge, it kept her from even trying to talk sense into him.
All Yang could do was evade. His Aura was already pass zero despite his current fighting ability, any counter would mean she would have to seriously maim him, or take his life. Survival was on her mind, and all she could do was hope that it didn't have to come to that.
Mercury managed to close in past her defense, he lifted his leg up high and waited to cut down over Yang. There was no more choice now; Yang had to go for the attack. She pulled her fist back, then threw the punch towards Mercury's leg.
Something humanoid suddenly moved in between them.
Yang saw her fist clutched by the same person that was holding off Mercury's leg. She recognize the person as one of the female Atlasian guards that served so much trouble yesterday. The Atlas guard let go of her fist, then preceded to gently lower Mercury's leg which followed by a slow drawn punch across his face that still made him fall hard into the floor.
Yang was dazed as Atlasian Knights rush past her with guns drawn, the Atlas guard hovered over the down offender. The Atlas guard brought Mercury up and restrain him, she and the armed entourage started to escort him off the arena. Mercury looked back behind his bruised face at Yang, smirking at her confusion.
At the announcer booth, both Oobleck and Port tried through the assault to quell the situation, but words had failed them. Ironwood made a sudden entrance, made his way past the men to grab the microphone between them.
Ironwood address the world: "To the folks around the world watching, this is not how real Huntsmen act. This is a lone coward among the participants, and I assure you this rogue will be punish. Yang Xiao-Long remains the winner. "
"Unexpected." Cinder watched the broadcast before it was cut off to a technical difficulties screen. She lowered her Scroll to see Amity Colosseum with definite excitement around it. "But dear Mercury is resourceful as always."
Cinder was on top of a dorm building, commanding from the rooftop her part of the plan and her subordinates' roles in it. She had been alone since late morning, dressing inconspicuously in her battle uniform, despite the cool demeanor Cinder showed some nervousness.
The door from the rooftop access opened behind her, Cinder tensed up and turned around slowly. A lone female gazelle Faunus dressed in Haven uniform hastily approach, stopping and standing straight.
She had a stern face. "Ma'am! Everyone is already in their place; here at Beacon and at Amity. Adam has told us to be ready when you specifically command it."
"Everything goes as plan starting in ten minutes. Prepare your weapons from their hidden locations, and standby for the end of Pyrrha Nikos' second round." Cinder said devilishly. "The dreadful climax of that particular battle will be your signal. Vale will be another battle ground; running parallel if temporary. You should already know what to do when you encounter resistance from Atlas if you value your lives."
"Right, Ma'am." the White Fang member was shifty eye, clearly troubled. "I also have urgent information on the Headmaster of Beacon. He contacted me with a message."
"What?!" Cinder approach the sacred Faunus, she seared her glare into the poor girl. "You didn't think to warn me, you little worm? Did you sell this operation out? I seal your faith."
"No! No! H-he just contacted me out of the blue. He said: 'Think of Penelope.'," her begging hands and the name stopped Cinder and her threatening fire on her palm. "Please ma'am. Don't burn me like the others!"
"What else did Ozpin tell you? About Penelope." Cinder's eyes glowed, whistling flames surrounded the Faunus girl. "Spit it out!" Cinder threaten.
The White Fang member continued through her sobbing, "He said: Myself and Victor will be waiting. In the CCT elevator, address your name into the intercom and you will be allowed passage. I, Ozpin, with Victor, will waiting for you and you alone."
Cinder stepped back, extinguishing her flames. She silently contemplated. "Y-you already know what to do. Relay the command and do it post-haste; you forget what Ozpin has told you, or prepare to die if you even think of uttering even a single letter."
The White Fang member nodded and fled the rooftop exit. Cinder dropped her fierce demeanor, she back into the guardrail and prop herself against it, exhausted.
"So you haven't forgotten me, Ozpin?" Cinder brought up her Scroll again. "What information on me and my motives that you manage to salvage is useless. I'm just one of many today; it is as She said: 'You will not find victory in your designs.'." she activated a program that allowed her to choose the next contestants, there she chose the two: Pyrrha vs Luvia. Then she went for Pyrrha's next opponent for the battle after that, but pause her finger. "it doesn't matter; you will not see this one coming, and neither will I." she set a random opponent. "I will leave this one up to Destiny."
"Are you sure you don't want to sit this one out, Yang?" Ruby said worryingly. "Like talk it out or something?"
"No." Yang was stiff in her seat, watching the arena be reset. "Just shock, y'know? It happen just ten minutes ago, but it still feels like a blurry nightmare. I don't have a clue on what happened."
"Did the two of you have a prior argument? Mercury showed some ferociousness there, like he intended to hurt you at the expense of his own health, he didn't care about committing a crime in front of the world." Blake said.
"I'm sorry to say, with that other teammate of theirs I don't think too highly of Cinder's team right now." Weiss said. "Then again, it might be that Cinder and Emerald might not know of their nefarious actions."
"Let's just...talk about this later. Watch the fights, and I'll wait for the next battle that I'm called up for." Yang said.
The announcer speaker whistled from feedback, Professor Port was heard coughing. "If I could get attention back everyone. Despite the unfortunate outcome of the last battle we will commence with the randomization to pick out the next, more honorable, fighters that will battle."
Most eyes stayed glued to the giant screen passing the few contestants, Jaune stay quiet in his seat with his wistful look at his feet. He barely reacted to the tragedy of Yang's earlier battle. The signal of a chosen candidate sounded, he looked up before Oobleck announced it, a dull surprise as he saw Pyrrha's likeness.
Then came the next candidate, Jaune turned his head down the row to see Luvia turning her back, already leaving for the arena.
After her name was announced a sense of dread and nervousness compounded in Pyrrha. It was loud and clear in the hallway to the arena that she had never left; Pyrrha has been hounded by her media agents with ever increasing scrutiny. The media swarm around her with shallow congratulations and she gave them lukewarm basic answers to their generic questions of how she feels. Horrifying thought occurred when she would miss this; when this will have been her only horrible experience. Pyrrha made it to the arena in a trance like state. The octangle platform raised to the stage lights, the floor softly settling brought her eyes to her opponent across from her. Luvia gave an uneasy stare, her fingers digging into the folds of her satchel before leaving the bag alone.
Oobleck started counting down, Pyrrha moved into her fighting stance, Luvia nodded carefully and did not make a stance of any kind.
"Start!" Oobleck's shout echoed.
Pyrrha had not wasted any time closing the distance between her and Luvia. She entered the fray with as much ferociousness as before; a sudden leap had Pyrrha coming down spear first into Luvia who retreated backwards by the explosive back-draft of her rocket aim at her own feet, Pyrrha landed and threw her spear past Luvia, then using her Magnetic Semblance pulled herself to the spears' grasp and use the momentum to kick down Luvia back to the ground.
After nasty fall and tumble Luvia slowly got up to her feet. Pyrrha was standing in her ready stance, observing her for the next move. Luvia lurched over and twisted to hide her action, then she pivoted and toss a Dust grenade, the silver green banded canister exploded close to Pyrrha; the green wall of flames blocked her view of Luvia.
Pyrrha held her shield and spear shoulder level to gain sight and defense. An explosion erupted behind the bend of green fire and Luvia penetrated through it, she came in spinning her sharp heels at Pyrrha who blocked it off with her shield and followed with a thrust of her spear, Luvia had evade the blows by using the concussive blast of her rocket launcher to maneuver at will. Using more of these blasts she encircled Pyrrha with a bladed storm of her kicking barrage, Pyrrha spun in circles, blocking each kick that bounce off her shield. Pyrrha saw the technique gradually weaken and rammed her shield against Luvia, battering her and sending her crashing into the floor.
Stumbling to her feet Luvia had shown this was far from over. Pyrrha had trust in the gauge of her own level, a little bit of arrogance and a bit of anxiety had her expecting this fight to be through with, but her prowess was strangled by her mind being plagued by the Destiny once the tournament comes to an end; winner or not. At the very least since yesterday, she was able to reclaim the inner serenity to move forward.
The level head came into play as Luvia began launching rockets at her. Rather than avoid or destroy the small propelled projectiles Pyrrha used them to head straight for disabling the source; seeing a pattern she hopped onto the stream of rockets like stepping stones, catching Luvia off guard Pyrrha made her way closer and jumped and dove her spear into the rocket-launcher, knocking it off Luvia's hands.
The move put Luvia into a corner and desperate defense; she was entirely outmatched even before the finals, it was by Pyrrha's own will that she was barely hanging on. Low Aura and low stamina, Luvia put the fight closer by pulling out her short-range shotgun and sprinted to close the gap. Luvia opened with a high kick that Pyrrha was already deflecting with her sword, a hot shotgun blast buckled her shield as Luvia tried to make an opening; no matter what move Luvia made, all the attacks failed ever so slightly to make their mark on Pyrrha. A realization about Pyrrha's Semblance hit Luvia about why they failed.
Grabbing a grenade from her satchel she let it drop after retreating, Pyrrha saw it and made a move to retreat but not before subtly using her Semblance to push it back, the bomb glowed purple as Luvia used her Semblance to make any movement stagnant. Where retreat was more viable they made a grudge match to push the grenade to each others' side. A futile effort for both as the grenade finally exploded sending a massive shockwave along with green fire raining.
Pyrrha crouch and hid behind her shield a split second before the explosion lashed at her. Once everything settled she peeked at the other side to see Luvia on her knees, head covering chest, then standing up in an act bewilderment rather than defiance in the light of still not crossing the Aura threshold. She didn't move apart from standing, and neither did Pyrrha.
There was only a handful of fighters left even from the emergency draw, each win draws closer to the tournament being over, then Pyrrha would have to give her answer to Ozpin. She wanted time to stop before she would undeniably win this fight. She was ready to face being a Maiden, but scared. The bridges were already burn, but the painful connection to Jaune was still present.
Luvia collapsed soon after, but still her Aura wouldn't drop. After everything since the start of this festival Pyrrha never imagined an connection with this girl then in this battlefield. Weak but still struggling to her feet. Pyrrha knew of Luvia and her status from what knowledge could be offered, but was surprised by the more intimate person that she is; Pyrrha remembered she had asked Jaune about how he settled his feeling during their date, Jaune revealed he had encouragement, and Pyrrha was surprised to hear there was an invisible romantic rival that she was competing against.
Pyrrha prepared as Luvia started to walk in an increasing gait, holding something concealed in her hand. Her being weak was plainly evident, but Pyrrha had found respect (and envy) of her being so normal. With good people around Jaune like her, Pyrrha felt elated about the prospect of Jaune moving forward without her.
Luvia increase her speed, her expression was a painful valiant one. Pyrrha was ready for anything until Luvia stumbled and clumsily tossed underhand a grey canister, it fell near Pyrrha's feet and it hiss dark grey smoke that quickly envelope them both in a thick cloud. Pyrrha coughed as the smoke stung her eyes and throat. She heard movement and guarded herself. Pyrrha heard a sad voice right next to her say: "I'm sorry for this." then she felt a sharp, short lasting pain on her right shoulder, Pyrrha instantly retaliated with a powerful elbow hit and hard against a body. Through the dissipating veil of smoke Pyrrha saw Luvia fly from the hit and off the arena platform, the defeated buzzer went off soon after.
"Pyrrha Nikos is the winner!" Oobleck declared.
The platform under Pyrrha lowered back into its place. Luvia was already limping towards the arena exit hall, her teammates were there meeting her with various expressions of joy and some apathy. Meanwhile, Pyrrha dreaded the meet and greet of the media waiting for her. She timidly approach the waiting reporter and their mic when the next randomization process started to commence, the reporter was just about to ask his question when a loud cry of "What?" from Oobleck echoed the hall. The media peaked behind her in astonishment, Pyrrha turned around and frown in confusion to see her profile and name selected again.
"No." Pyrrha uttered in a soft, scared voice. The media behind her started chattering her up, a great pain on the shoulder where she was last struck made her vision blurry and voices disordered. She let out a painful shout. "Leave me!" the red Aura around her body became a visible outline of coursing energy waves that extend outward. Pyrrha was unaware of it. As she ran ahead the red energy flew from behind her and it washed a wave of magnetic properties that short-circuited every equipment; this time by accident.
The students watching from their red seats were just as confused as Pyrrha on why she was chosen again. None more than Jaune; he stood up to anxiously watch Pyrrha run to the arena stage, her steady gaze to the announcement booth trying to catch the attention of the two professors. Both Oobleck and Port from aside told everyone to wait while they deliberated. It was then that the bewilderment was settled: the match would go on as plan. Pyrrha reluctantly conceded to the choice. A tiredness different from physical fatigue ravaged her from inside, a break was all she wanted now but she resign to do her best and soldier through. If only it were that easy.
A slight welcomed surprised came from the introduction of her next opponent chosen to stand opposite. Penny out of nowhere came in a gaily skip to the arena. She stopped, grinned and saluted in her usual way. "Salutations Pyrrha! I just knew we would meet again. But not this soon. Still, I'm combat ready if you are! Good luck!"
Pyrrha nodded uneasily. The countdown began, she pulled her sword and shield, Penny delightfully smiled and took a calm, ready stance, the countdown went down to one. Pyrrha's vision completely blurred to grey. She lurched over, letting out a painful howl that cause concern as her body pulsated red energy, the shield and sword dropped and bounced then hovered off the ground near her feet.
Penny immediately set aside the fight. She approached cautiously when a wave of red energy washed over Penny, causing her to feel weaken and drained. The buzzer went off, Penny glanced at the Aura levels and saw hers' gone; Pyrrha on the other hand, had her Aura level fluctuating wildly from low to high. Another howl from Pyrrha had Penny ignore this and approach her. Not knowing the cause of pain, Penny only asked in a worrying tone what was wrong. Pyrrha howled again, much louder and forlorn as she shouted to the sky, the stage lights above buckled and turn and the floating arena that they stood on wobbled, Pyrrha glowed red as the red Aura expanded from and finally exploded in display of uncontrollable magnetic power. Penny gasped sharply. Pyrrha knelled over and fell unconscious.
"P-please...remove it…" Penny felt the coldness of Pyrrha's sword deep into her chest: the final magnetic pulse had the blade impeded into her in its final throw. She struggle desperately to pull it off before her arms went limp. "Please…" her voice disappeared, she fell on back dead as people still were reeling on what was happening.
Ruby sprung out of her chair. "Penny!" she cried out.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune had been smashing his fist against the invisible force-field that surrounded the fighting area. He couldn't bare seeing the bodies still lying with no help, impatience grew in angered frustration as he shouted in the direction of the announcement booth.
Both professors were equally in a panic, they were heard in the background that microphone caught trying to send help and get the broadcast turned off to prevent more panic. But the broadcast remained. Then all of the broadcast screens blanked out to an orange background of a laughing jack-o-lantern.
"Ha ha ha!" the sickening laughter of Torchwick entered the airwaves. "Is this what I have missing these past years; the wanton violence and 'accidental' death? Oh boy! And here I thought it would be apathetic spectacle of self-important guardians showing the world that there are heroes that walk among us. Or over us."
"No." Ironwood shot up from his chair. Shocking shouts of gasp and horror all around him, Ironwood stayed still and glance to see an Atlas student and a Mistral student train a rifle on him; they were both Faunus, and dubbed their allegiance as they put on White Fang masks. Scores of other hidden agents popped up from both the student and general populations, all locking down the areas of the Colosseum. Ironwood silently cursed. He question how they snuck weapons in past security and how were they been able to keep a large operation under everyone's nose. From another glance he saw all the Atlasian knights standing lifeless in their post.
"I wouldn't advice any sudden movements! My cohorts in the White Fang are a little jumpy." a derisive chuckle echoed the dome. "By the way, if it wasn't already plainly evident, the current hostile takeover of your precious Amity Colosseum and months of meticulously planting revolutionaries among you, is none other than Roman Torchwick! And I'm going to start by ripping off the proverbial band-aid and enlighten you idiotic people after this pause."
An early loss earn team CFVY free reign to spent the last day of the festival anyway they choose. For the team it was talking to family in the CCT, and for Coco it was the teasing it allotted. The team just left the tower lobby entrance.
Coco snickered at Yatsuhashi and Velvet's direction. "So did you gain the parents approval, and permission for little Scarlatina hand in matrimony?"
"I, ugh." the giant blushed.
"It's not like that, Coco!" Velvet was red to the tip of her brown rabbit ears, overbearing on the grinning leader of hers. "We just wanted see mum and dad, and introduced Yatsu. That's all!"
Coco snickered still while Fox shook his head at his partner. "For now." continued into a giggle, brushing past an amber eyed woman walking with purpose being accompanied by another brunet in gothic attire so short Coco nearly collided with her. Coco glance behind her, feeling something familiar about her, then the disturbing horns of the warning claxon erupted then suddenly died.
There was an eerie calm that filled the void. A shout asking desperately for help followed; the team saw Cardin running from an Ursa that gained on him. The Grimm had its sight dead set on Cardin who took an ill fated trip to the floor, he screamed as the monster lunged at him when the burly beast was sent flying by a powerful kick, Velvet relief she was on time. Cardin was helped up to his feet by her; former adversaries made amends. The rest of her team came up to her, feeling the worst to come.
Yells around the school echoed, gunfire mixed around it along with sounds of heavy metal falling hard against the surface. Coco looked up to see a Bullhead flying away, proceeding it was the bizarre sight of another Bullhead that was carrying a train car, then another hovered low with the train car dangling from a series of cables until it was released from its harness. A loud crash made by the train car landing near them. They all watched as something seemed to be alive inside, the doors carrying the worn-out Schnee snowflake symbol burst to an infestation of Beowolves pouring out.
Both Yatsuhashi and Cardin became the frontline as the others called for their weapons via the rocket lockers.
Coco didn't understand the daylight horror transpiring in their own campus; all she knew all the help was needed. She turned and saw the two other students that had previous past her inside the lobby. "Hey! We need back up!" Coco's shout had one turn back. "Get b-" the smaller girl in gothic gear materialized into a pink and brown hair girl smirking at her.
Coco was left breathless by intense fear. "No...Neapolitan." a group of students in masks rushed past Neo aiming their rifles at Coco and the others.
Grimm on one side and White Fang on the other.
"Hear that?" Torchwick taunted the scared audiences with the distant violence in Beacon. "The sounds of your so called heroes failing on their own footstep. You can only appreciate the audio from where your are. But wait! You don't have to! The world of Remnant, look no further to see your heroes live! Hehehe. And I use live pretty liberally."
Angered tears streamed over Ruby's cheeks. The rest of team RWBY stood idly in a hostage state along with everyone; practically being forced to do nothing but stand and look as their friends dying on the arena made Ruby struggle to impulse into attack. A soft hand on shoulder and emphatic look from Yang had Ruby reconsider the audience members who huddle in fear at the White Fang members marching.
"Take a good look, take it all in." the attention of Torchwick voice swelled over to the arena center. "The mighty Pyrrha Nikos, you've heard of her, right? How could you not have? She's the warrior darling of Beacon that graces every commercial and poster here and around the world. The inspiration of every little boy and girl who wants to continue this proud tradition. Now reduce to this. Being a world weary man I couldn't care less about the tournament but flipping through the channels I never seen such ferocity until I laid my eyes on that redhead. She even took down a poor, innocent fellow combative. If this is what you people watching treat as tradition then maybe I chosen the wrong career path." the laughing angered Jaune below. "Now, I'm not trying to prove a point or my view of society, I could care less. I'm a self liberated man with a job. Just a hired, charismatic mouthpiece of the people you left behind. Now, you are under our shadow, quite literally, actually."
A low rumble rattled the heads of everyone below, and everything was cast under the shadow of the Atlas airship stopping and hovering over the open roof. There was silent gasp and hush screams. Ironwood lost his nerve and felt frighteningly sick to his stomach.
"How, you ask, did I manage to take a flying fortresses from the world's largest military force? Am I that good of a thief? No. It's because Ironwood cares more about keeping Beacon safe than all of you. Personal opinion here; I think it's because of nepotism. Second in his metal heart after all is being the Headmaster of a Huntsmen Academy. Such unchecked power of being both a General and Headmaster, those positions should be divided up instead James Ironwood had the audacity to claim those powers for himself, even in from a position in the council. Perhaps he was even trying to usurp it from Vale's own Ozpin too; not that it would be much better for the man who let me roam unattended in his Kingdom, not even his prize pupil Pyrrha Nikos could stop me from unleashing Grimm into your doorstep. Failures of Headmasters. A flaw that the White Fang exploited again and again." Torchwick said. "With their help I turned Ironwood's command center against you and shut down his little wind-up tin soldiers, we robbed Huntsmen and Huntress of their precious Dust and made them helpless, we brought monsters into your city, into your festivals, into your Academy, you impeded us temporarily but we push on through to this current stage. Why? Because you underestimated us. You relied on your heroes to give you a false sense of security, you've grown lethargic that even an up-and-coming master thief like me could do so much that you didn't even noticed until it was too late. Like the poor Faunus wielding weapons down there; you underestimated them and their pain, now you're paying. We've shown you how weak and pathetic your heroes are. You reliance on them will be your own downfall as you shall join them in an uncertain future."
The Colosseum quaked as the massive ship turn an 180°, the shifting shadows as it maneuvered under the sun frightening all below.
Torchwick spoke again. "Whoo! I don't have tell you all how much firepower this baby has, else I would have been stopped already. Guess they're aren't that stupid. Or they know how invaluable the lost of the CCT would be if I push the big red button before me. Only one General can find out, if he meets me in the deck up here. Don't worry we won't hurt the rest you, like you did to us, the outcasts of society. I just want James Ironwood." he said. "Hey lughead! I know you're down there! You and you alone will be the V.I.P to leave this place to come aboard. If I see anyone other than your personal ship I will fire. Until then, I'll be in touch." the signal cut-off.
Ironwood remained calm among the sea of uncertain and deathly worried faces. In the pit of his stomach it was much of churning as anybody else. He showed a cold glare at the White Fang members approaching him and beckoning orders to follow. Wolf in sheep, betrayal for them to wear student uniforms; how long were they among the regular student body, Ironwood felt more ill and saddened ire as he thought about it. Without word Ironwood followed down the row of actual students, his only thoughts on where was the help he built.
The member escorting him was suddenly pounced on his shoulders, he was lifted upside down and tossed against the invisible force-field wall, knocking him out. Moving light as a feather and landing hard as a rock, a girl in an unknown Atlasian uniform became the center of attention. An uprise spawn all around the stands as more of the uniform defenders appeared and dealt swiftly the White Fang; some even surrendered immediately. All of them extensively use Semblances with precise flare that awed and brought victory. Within a few minutes control was taken back. The White Fang members arrested brought hush sighs and loud cheers and holler among the people. It filled skepticism in Ironwood above all else. Only a small victory as Beacon was still under attack, and his own flagship was taken somehow by a criminal madman, but the tragedy closer to his heart still laid bare on arena.
Looking over the barrier Ironwood could see already others heading to the arena.
Ruby rushed ahead of her team and Jaune's. Passing close to the downed Pyrrha she quickly inspected her; breathing rapidly on her side, alive but dealing in great pain. Ruby moved on to the unbearable vision of Penny laying there eyes wide open, Ruby burst into a cloud of rose petals until she made to Penny. The embedded sword of Pyrrha's was the first to go, after that there wasn't anything else to achieve, Ruby laid on her knees next Penny, a fleeting part of her childishly wished that Penny would be alright and talking by now. Warm tears silently made their way to floor as Ruby closed Penny's eyes, Ruby lifted Penny's limp torso which felt cold and heavier than before, giving an unreciprocated hug as Ruby whimpered.
"It is true." a voice whispered behind Ruby. For a surreal moment it sounded much like Penny's, Ruby turned around to see Jane standing over her with a face that was lost and bleak. "Ruby, would you please lay her still on the floor." Ruby scruble over Jane's request. Jane pleaded, "Please, Ruby."
Ruby gently lowered Penny to floor, putting her hands together across stomach before letting go. Ruby shuffled aside as Jane lowered herself beside her and watched Jane place her hands above Penny's vertical wound on her chest. The thin wound revealed inhuman metal innards past the cloth layer and cut of pallor skin, Ruby froze at the thought of what Jane would find but stayed quiet when Jane seemingly did not react.
"I done this before. I seen it done." Jane's body glowed in its orange Aura, a lump of its rushed underneath Jane's sleeves and rode on her hand which spilled on Penny's wound in viscous movement that entered it. The glowing stop, and nothing had happened. Penny was still cold, and still gone. Jane stood up, her face expressionless as the start. "I can help a little. It is the least I can do."
"What did you do?" Ruby asked, concerned and curious. Wiping dry her tears. "Would it help?"
Jane said nothing and began to walk away as the rest of team RWBY arrived. Continue her silent walk past Jaune caressing Pyrrha, calling out for help as Ren and Nora scramble to find some.
Ironwood saw nothing he can do here. Rather there was a whole crisis that had unleashed itself in the worst light under his watch. The situation needed to be taken care of and controlled, away from Torchwick; he was severely underestimate, that much Ironwood admitted, but that feeling goes both ways. Ironwood turned to leave when a girl called out to him, he saw it was Theresa with Olga and Luvia trailing behind.
"Miss Monarch?" Ironwood addressed her with familiar tone, having met her mother, a fellow councilwoman, many times in meeting. "You're not hurt. You and the rest of the students here should stay with the people. Right now that sick man is my responsibility."
"I want to help, to help prove him wrong." Theresa said. "I think, as a Huntresses, he is all of our responsibility. Even if I'm green this what I've sign for; like my father before me. Please Headmaster Ironwood."
"I admire your tenacity, it reminds of your mother." Ironwood said. "But I'm the only one needed, if anybody else goes then he might live up to his threat, leaving me to go alone even if there is clear trap. That being said, I'm not an idiot with a death wish, and I rather take the risk of taking capable hands with me. Though Huntresses-in-training travel in team as necessary. You are not team leader, will your team follow up to your cause?"
"I…" Theresa turned around to see Olga and Luvia, waiting on her. "I need my team, I can't do it alone." she addressed them. "We have to do this. Will you all join?"
"Like we were not already fighting for the same cause." Olga said firmly.
Theresa had confidence by Olga's inclusion, her own partner hesitation diminished her resolution. Luvia timidly avoid eye contact. Theresa promptly asked, "Luvia?"
Luvia avoided until Olga place her grip on her shoulder, forcing her to meet Theresa."We are...we're right there with you, Theresa." she smiled nervously. "Always have been; even when you don't see it."
Theresa took the encouragement in its face value, her unwitting obliviousness missed the almost nervous breakdown of Luvia as Theresa looked around for Jane. She found her making her way out of the ring when Jane looked up.
"Jane!" Theresa called out. Her leader took no more than a moment to acknowledge a thumbs up; nothing more was needed to be said, Jane already saw the plan of action in Theresa's eyes and was ready to follow through with the rest of her team.
"Very well." Ironwood nodded. "I've no qualms or doubts on your current combat abilities." he gaze at the situation back at the arena, at team RWBY and JNPR, "I seen others like you who had rose to the occasion before. They need us now to step up. Let's go."
They've regrouped and headed out. Ironwood was assured that the situation was under control and secured; the people seem content and relief at the presence of the Atlas guards and in Atlas itself, Ironwood did know who they were and how were they associate with any realm that he foresaw. Ironwood and the team made it to a personal platform space which held his dropship. Over the communications Ironwood made sure that the rest of his fleet did not intervene in face of Torchwick's threat. The girls waited ready in the back as the ship looped towards the sky, the commandeered flagship hovered above Amity with the front-and laser batteries-facing Beacon tower, in the open back hanger the dropship entered.
The dropship was halted by ceiling harnesses latching it in place. Ironwood took an exhausted sigh. The situation in the flagship was unknown, for all he could know, there could have been a resistance still fighting, or a large enemy force surrounding Torchwick, if he even was still there and not a trap laying instead. He brought himself cool face to the Huntresses waiting on him.
"My former ship is now the dragon's den that we need to take back. All of you will have to expect every volatile variable that may come, but I'm confident that you will meet them without failure. You have to."
Theresa stepped up. "What do we do?"
The announcement com of the hanger pronounced a loud feedback followed by a dark chuckle. "Oh Ironwood, you sure took your sweet time. Got nervous being here all alone while your precious students have failed you? Tick-tock come out wherever you are." Torchwick was ultimately ignored.
"You're my backup." Ironwood said to the girls, "Torchwick only wants me. I will go ahead as quickly as I can, all of you will sweep the area behind me of any enemies (if present) until I get to the captain's bridge. Your objections is for free action but not to be reckless; if I fail I want you to fall back and unlock the dropship autopilot back to Amity. " he smiled warmly. "Today I've never been prouder to be in the presence of Huntresses and Huntsmen. Show them what we got, let's go!"
Ironwood left the dropship first, faster than the students into the main corridor of the bay. The corridor was a series of long passages that acceded to the bridge. Short after Theresa led the team towards the main corridor, and just as they made it the door closed off access. The entire hangar shook and the girls struggle to stay upright, across their faces they realize the flagship was moving.
The communications above the door came alive with the voice of Torchwick."He he he. I see a few familiar faces down there. Oops. Probably shouldn't reveal that secret just yet. Ta~Ta!" the broadcast ended as soon as it began.
Theresa turned around. "We need to get in there like it was yesterday! And now!" she turn to Luvia. "Do you have any explosives left, Luvia?"
"That will not do." Jane pass them and pressed her fist against the door. "We are liable to heavily damage the ship or blow it out of the air. I will use physical force." she pulled her fist and smashed it against the door, it only breached a small crater. "It will take some time." she said without a hint of sarcasm.
"No...you're…" Ironwood back himself into the door, his face heavily distraught.
Torchwick propped his chin on his cane and smiled brilliantly at him. "I know I was hired for this but boy do I take personal pleasure in delivering that truth to you, James."
Ironwood composed himself, and look straight at him with a defying stare. "That's General Ironwood to you, creep."
"Yeah?" Torchwick chuckled. "Even when your Kingdom is just a lie? Your title and career is just one too!"
"I still have a duty to my people." Ironwood reached his revolver as Torchwick twirled his cane in anticipation. His complete focus was on the criminal and nothing else. "I will make sure you have your due process in an uncorrupted court!"
Ironwood lunged then was struck by a large fire ball that batted him against the wall. The fire burned his torso of his clothes and expose the cybernetics that made half his body. His unconscious body slumped without a word.
Torchwick was shock at the unexpected conclusion, he turn to find the attacker was an Atlasian guard. "What a turn of events." he kept himself on his toes, unsure where this would go. Then, he heard a seductive chuckle coming from the girl.
The Atlasian guard removed her helmet cover to reveal a freckled black-hair girl. Bright energy swelled around her amber eye and subsided. She devilishly smiled at the accomplishment, and at Torchwick.
"Got a name sweetheart?" Torchwick said, uneasy.
"Titan." she said. The amber iris glowed burning orbs. "But all the same, dear Roman, it is I, Cinder Fall."
"Cinder?!" Torchwick let out a small, afraid gasp. "Should I even ask? After everything you threatened and opened my eyes to, this must be part of the plan." he strolled to her, still afraid underneath his confident smirk. "So, how did I do? I really have to improvise with that goofy script I was given."
"I have many plans for many motives interwoven today." Titan said, the smile unnerved Torchwick. "Thank you for your services today, Roman, they won't be forgotten. And this part won't be scripted; we'll do it live."
"What are you-?" Titan grabbed him by his jacket, the tight grip pulled his skin around his chest under her hand. Torchwick's protest went unheard by the high winds as Titan open the bridge window, and for the first time in a long time his fear came to the large body of water that the airship resided above.
"Act out your part or I will drop you." Titan brought the attention of a glowing Scroll sitting on a console board. Torchwick was unfazed by the idea of falling to his doom that an orange clone of Titan manifesting from the Scroll did nothing for him. "You'll be on camera, so use that dashing face for some good today."
If he were a braver man facing death he would have some choice words, so Torchwick nodded for now. Titan acknowledged her clone to begin filming.
The communications was retaken over to spread another narrative.
Back at Amity Colosseum people all around saw on the screens, the criminal that spread a wave of terror for the past year, they saw him at the mercy of a young girl so out of place that they felt little emotional impact, and only the members of RWBY were left truly shock.
"I-it's her." Yang uttered.
Weiss and Blake stood up, Ruby cradled Penny's body as she saw and awaited the repercussions.
Titan presented herself in calm disposition to the world. "Attention, people of Remnant, we have done what General James Ironwood could not: Kept you safe, without fail." the message echoed across the mummers of the crowds. "Those at Amity has already seen our work, our sworn duty, what we are made for."
Torchwick jittery grinned. "Oh, yeah, pretty much thrown a reach on my calculate planning." a subtle shake had him quite as Titan continued.
"This may come as a shock, may rallied you all to fear but I implore you to judge our work today and rationalize a future hope. We are Project Legacy. Myself and others like me are, in fact, synthetic lifeforms built in human image to better allow us serve and protect you all without fail. Allow to reveal ourselves."
All of the Atlasian guards around the grandstands began to remove their face-concealing helmets. People look to see them as young girls in various hair and eye colors, but all of the few scores of them carried the exact same freckle face and jubilant expression.
"It can't be." Weiss examined dozens and more. She looked down at the freckle girl, still limp in Ruby's arms. "They all look like…"
"What are they up to…" Ruby said, an undertone of anger.
"We strive, we are built, to be your unfailing guardians." the people in Amity were roused up by the firm commitment of Titan's words. "Not the Grimm, not the White Fang, not loathsome cretins like him will stop us from protecting all citizens in the Kingdoms and those outside as well. A friend to Humanity and Faunus. A friend to Remnant."
Torchwick worked up the nerve to laugh derisively. "You really believe you can pull that off? You're just machines, set by whoever create you for this ill, pie in sky goals. But bad guys like me will always roam, you can't expect to lock us all up."
"You're right." Titan answered him in a satisfied tone. "We can only correct those who want to contribute to society despite their falling. Sadly however, you demonstrate like so many others before that you don't. In this current society scares of life's necessities, your kind of meddling will drive us to the jaws of Grimm eventually as you tried to day. We'll do what citizens want to do: Drop the trash."
Torchwick realize the sadism in her smile, he felt the ironclad grip on his shirt gradually loosened."You dirty, fink! You li-" he yell was lost to the high winds as he drop rapidly to waters, a landing was never seen.
Titan quelled the shock audience watching. "Don't think us as executioners. We had carried out your will, the will of the people, the justice you wished but were denied. General Ironwood only kept him for months from truly paying his debt, to receive justice from those Torchwick had hurt because he wanted to flaunt around his imprisonment to Headmaster Ozpin for doing what he couldn't, like some ill gotten victory. That won't do anymore. It is because of Huntsmen taken center stage on our society that they took advantage on our limited resources, they hold out elaborate schools and tournaments, and for what, to show their viciousness? I dislike to agree on the late Roman Torchwick but he had a point; look how unhonorable they show themselves in their violent behavior, even the young superstar Pyrrha Nikos has murdered innocent today. That's a true executioner." she continued. "We're creations of Atlas, just like the CCT that has been trusted into the other Kingdoms for the good of progress, so are we to replace a flaw system that has taken all of you for granted. Those like Ironwood and the other Headmasters has misuse your trust on them, but I plea for you to see our work today and have renewed trust in Atlas, Remnant, as you did decades before. To make a safer, greater Remnant."
The long wait of the elevator was entertained by the incognito White Fang fighters shooting outside the empty CCT lobby. While students here has been taught to fight threats bigger than themselves, the surprise attack had left them ill equipped to throw them off into defense. Cinder entered the elevator along with Neo as the roars of the Grimm turn to dying shrieks, and White Fang members were seen behind the glass doors surrendering to Atlasian guards. Both team CFVY and Cardin stood in the sidelines in bewilderment.
Cinder studied the intercom; usually quick to respond to to elevator riders, in the middle of the attacks the responder would've be long gone. She was suspicious. Cinder leaned her mouth close to the mouthpiece and spoke her full name without repeat. The elevator moved after a moment, but instead of up-as it been the first floor-it went down to a new, hidden level. To a basement.
The short journey ended. Cinder ordered Neo to stay behind, the great hall was admired by Cinder as she travel down it; anger, apprehension, and caution replace that feeling soon enough. The presence of two were already sense further down the hall. The clinks of glass heels stopped, Cinder could see the faint outline of one person standing and the other sitting, the glass clinks resumed. Cinder stopped again, she didn't let herself express surprise to see Ozpin nor Dr. Victor, the green torches lighting the hall remove some of the shadow that hid the two: Ozpin looked at her in a stern and studious way, the determination on Dr. Victor's face said it all.
Cinder raised her right hand in open palm and created a roaring jet of fire that intimated and illuminated. She began to walk in a steady pace, the two men were apart in either side of the hall. Cinder walked in between them without neither of the three exchanging words. They only follow by their eyes as Cinder made it to the end, the elaborate equipment and machines drawn her into panning from left to right. She had seen enough.
"She was here." Cinder turned around, glaring at Ozpin. "The Fall Maiden, you and your cabal kept her here, where is she?!"
Ozpin said, "Idle threats will get you nowhere. I have no knowledge of your designs, or of her's, if you still under the guidance of that creature, as you have no foothold on what I'll do to safeguard this world. All we can do is rekindle the chance to have a conversation."
"No idle threats here." Cinder said, "You already have lost this world. You're a fool if you believe yourself informed of all who stand against you. Talking to you I might as well be speaking to a madman."
"Then talk to me, Cinder." Dr. Victor moved his wheelchair forward, not a hint of fear. "I have known you longer, you can trust me, that has never change."
"Mr. Victor?" all the posturing and anger died down in Cinder. Shame had resonate in her wet amber eyes. Short lived as they return to the burning scornful orbs. "What do we have left to talk? The decade long absence between us should be the defining statement."
"It doesn't have to be." Dr. Victor pleaded. "You would be absolutely right to state that I have no right in knowing what it happened to you since then, nor before I met the ardent named little girl I have met back in Via, but I believe in change. Please Cinder, I'm sorry I left you in that organization, tell me what have they done to you?"
"It's not the Athen foundation that had changed her." Ozpin said. "She has already met Cinder before."
"Arrogance, both of you." Cinder said. "I had designs long before."
Dr. Victor spoke, "I don't believe that: It's not arrogance, I just don't think I can come to terms with that. Project Blue Fairy has taken much from you than you think, your very soul has been split up, in an attempt to satisfy my attempt at beating death and bringing back Pene-"
"Shut up! Don't say her name!" Cinder shouted, huffing in anger before composing herself. "Whom do believe proposed Project Blue Fair? Not the Director: It was me you arrogant man."
Dr. Victor's green iris slightly sunken from the shock, then regret as he seemed to already discern that fact long ago. "So, you have used me. I've been a puppet the whole time, using my sorrow to control me?"
"Your sorrow is not your own." Cinder snapped, brimmed with emotion. She struggled to reign them, her scowl twisted and flustered. "I've always been plotting, I have never stopped using you, even to this day. Have you ever wondered what happened to the fruit of Project Blue Fairy? The one that reminded you so much of your late granddaughter. You had whisked her way to raise as your daughter?"
"Janus?" Dr. Victor's face was anguished, it fell from complete view as he moved his wheelchair an inch forward. "No. I don't call her, my missing daughter, that."
"Whatever she calls herself, she still calls you father, and with such hatred." Cinder cruelly taunted. "you only saw her as a machine at first, an initial step in your sicking desire that I exploited, then you grown to love Janus as your own flesh and blood, making her an extension of yourself. I found her, used her like daughter like father, and mothered a deep hatred in her for her father. Heh. Honestly with your current creation that you call a second daughter, I didn't have to do much to drive for a revenge against you. I made her see that daughter you have made with Ironwood as her replacement. Another replacement for your granddaughter." a deep personal vendetta unraveled. "To desecrate your granddaughter's memory again is more despicable than my stepmother's actions."
Dr. Victor sighed miserably frustrated. "What evil Anastasia Poppy had done. You lost yourself to that tragedy, when your stepmother took Penelope from you, Cinder."
"No." Ozpin challenged Cinder with a glare. "It wasn't her that had murdered my daughter. Wasn't, Cinder?"
Cinder ignored Ozpin. "More arrogant than Ozpin, Mr Victor. Ozpin is right. Anastasia didn't kill Penelope." she enjoyed silent anger on Ozpin's stony face. "I did." She answered the unspoken question on Dr. Victor's hurt expression. "In that cabal that you made bedfellows with the Headmasters you must know my reason already. Her Maiden power was my destiny to claim. I killed Penelope!" she boasted proudly to the never ending ceiling, her head fixed skyward, twin streams started dripping off her chin. Cinder was crying. "My destiny was to end her, but for what? That power escaped me. I murdered my best friend, the one who sheltered this pauper girl from the cold world, I was her love, and she was my love. I loved Penelope Polendina. And I selfishly took her away from this world."
"Cinder…" Dr. Victor struggled to speak, it left a silence in the conversation.
"Penelope forgives you." Ozpin said after a long pause. "I do not, but my daughter does. Your parasitic Aura has intertwined with Penelope's Aura and Semblance which made you foresee a destiny that is now the present. So you must know of what she saw and what she was trying to fight against, you must already know that she has forgiven you before she even met you, and in thousands timelines she has loved you too. She never stopped trying to save you from what you are now. Penelope has kept this as her biggest secret from her father until this very moment. If you still love her, then leave the creature's influence on you at once."
"Penelope Polendina." Cinder cleaned her face with a gentle wipe of her hand. "My heart will forever be hers, and her sorrow will be mine to bear till the end when we will meet again. But now it doesn't matter." Cinder opened her right palm flat and a jet of fire created and compressed into a ball of energy, she tosses the fireball passed the men and destroyed the equipment and empty machines that were housing the Fall Maiden. Cinder glared at Ozpin. "Do you really believe I care about your eternal struggle with her? I have my own path to godhood that needs me to have all the powers that Remnant has buried. She and others like you won't impede my Destiny, everything will go has I foreseen it to be." Cinder backed away laying a weak wall of fire that separated her from them. "I still have serve her for my purpose. The attempted fall of Beacon tower should suffice. I don't doubt you leave alive but when you two escape you find Remnant clearly under my sway, and then only a matter of time before I find the remainder of my power that you hidden from me." Cinder turned and ran, leaving to the two men ready to brace her manifesting designs.
A fist punctured through the thick door to the flagship's main bridge. It fell off its frame and made a loud thud. Jane entered with her team right behind her. Theresa saw on her right see the downed Ironwood against the wall and immediately came to his aid with Luvia assessing the damage done to him.
Jane and Olga set themselves wary of Torchwick, the room was quiet until a person rose behind the command console.
Titan observed Jane, Jane was mesmerized; An almost mirror image. Titan from her side violently interfered with the navigation panel, destroying its speed governor, and the large ship began a slow acceleration toward Beacon tower.
"Janey?" Olga tried to snap her out of the trance.
An orange energy flowed from Titan's eyes, she pivoted and shot lighting into the Command console. One last smirk at Jane before Titan disappeared in scatter of orange energy. The gravitational tug of the increasing speed of the flagship became noticeable. Beacon was getting closer and the CCT tower was in sight.
"We have to get out of here. Now." Theresa ponderously put herself under Ironwood's arm, Luvia was under the other helping share the weight. "Jane, Olga, let's go!"
"What about the CCT?" Luvia struggled under Ironwood's weight. "It's lost would be devastating to Remnant."
Olga went over to help distribute the weight of Ironwood. "There is nothing we can do now. Move your keister, miss!"
A series of shakes began to make the floor unstable, they had trouble moving under the unconscious man, violent shakes became worse as the airship accelerate beyond its governor to become a large missile. A horrible sight for Beacon tower. The airship aggressively weaved on its side sending the down Ironwood off Olga to pile on top of Theresa and Luvia, nearly crushing them.
Olga let out a frustrated sigh at Jane who was just standing at the captain's spot. "Jane, we need some help here!" she shouted.
After a silent deliberation, Jane turned around, showing a determined face. "I can help. I can use my Semblance to try restabilize the ship and direct it off its current course." she glowed orange and started to melt halfway to the floor, the ship groaned as it began to level again. She turn her head which was the only part of her shown, "There is only a small gap of time. Activate the autopilot on the dropship and please evacuate." she resumed her concentration on the ship that glowed orange from her power.
"Jane come on!" Luvia yelled. "If this is penance for what you did, then don't do this. I'm just as guilty of the same crimes as you. We need you, Miss Lazuli!"
"It is not! I am doing this for all of you on my own accord." she said. "Now go!"
Theresa gritted her teeth, pink eyes became wet. "Please come back to us, Jane." she begged with remorseful smile. "We need our leader and teammate, our story queen, our friend."
She hesitate. "I...just go. Friend. I'll be back."
"Janey." Olga growled her name without reply. "Jane." silence again. Olga mustered an angered shout, "Janus!"
The flagship buckle out of control. Jane grew back to her upper body form, she turned her head around and gaze at them with burning amber irises. "Go." her voice vocalized across the ship interior.
They finally understood there and then. Jane completely melted into the ship, finally stabilize, the three girls moved with Ironwood to escape.
Olga looked back in. "~You know, Jane, I never consider ~you as the title that the teef from Mistral bestowed on ~you." the three girls and Ironwood headed into the corridor.
"Thank you...my friends." echoed around them. They made it to the hanger when a jolt shook the interior, the airship dipped down and they all lost their balance, they crashed against the railing and brace it. To their horror they watched the only means of escape be broken loose from its ceiling latches after the last quake, the dropship tumbled violently off the hanger and disappeared into the waters.
There wasn't panic at the grim situation, only a call to action. Olga collected both of the smaller girls to her sides and pushed her back against Ironwood's torso, she placed the larger man's arm around her neck, both girls instinctively wrapped themselves around Olga. The mournful groans of the airship rising to its nose brought to mind Jane's own struggle in keeping it steady and in one piece. The height to the waters below were a death sentence, it wasn't Olga's plan to begin with, and with the girls' nods and trust Olga leaped out of the railing and fell off the hanger.
The high winds blow at them as they fell like a rock. Olga focused her Semblance and unleashed a torrent of icy wind from her mouth aimed at the waters. The strong funnel pushed against her and lifted the group past the struggling airship. Eventually they outpaced it to Beacon's docks far below, Olga was exhausted from the trial, she muttered an apology as they resumed their death spiral to the ground. Luvia took it upon herself to use her Semblance next, they all were bathed the purple hue of her Semblance that slowed their descent to the docks, they overshot it and glided to the courtyard where they took a hard landing ten feet above. Luvia exhausted herself too. Theresa was the only one standing, she turn see the ship dip downward from its rise.
Inside the airship was a mess. Despite being one with the ship with the use of her Semblance, the ship was dead and almost uncontrollable. Jane took every focus to try to keep the ship from flying into the tower, and she succeed at the cost of own escape. Trying to leave would only spell doom for all in its current path, including her team, this path she controls will end only her.
"I lied." the wistful voice echoed inside the ship. "But my lie was not expose this time by a hiccup. So, I am sorry, Team JOLT. Goodbye."
The airship dipped downward against waters and disintegrated its bow, the rest of the body managed to slammed against the cliff wall of Beacon, the remains of the airship exploded spectacularly sending shock-waves that brought down the overhang docks into the massive fireball.
A set of short lived explosions, nothing more was left.
Beacon Tower stayed standing.
In the sepia colored background of a seedy bar the dark oak door blew open. Almost every Dust roughneck and shady sunburned fighter turned their heads to a blond monkey Faunus blocking the fierce winds.
"Hey!" Sun was shoved into the bar, then Neptune followed and did his best to shut the door behind them from the intense winds.
Neptune resign his head against the door. Muttering and breathing heavily, he dusted a coat of sand off his jacket's shoulders. He turn to Sun, removing his sand caked goggles. "Are we there yet?"
"No." Sun glared. "You sorta shoved me into a random building. Vacuo maybe a nomad Kingdom but it's a vast area and Shade Academy is still far away." he looked around, "I think this a bar."
Neptune bashfully grinned. "Since we're here..." he took a good look around, everyone went back to minding their own; drinking themselves to a laugh. "Maybe the bartender has their ear on the ground and can tell us something." he went ahead.
"Boy like you is going to your ass kicked." Sun followed. "Hope Scarlet and Sage have a better time in Shade; seeing as they made it without help."
"Sorry dude." Neptune sat himself on a lone stretch of unoccupied bar stools near a drunken redhead woman. "I didn't think I would've hold us down on the caravan ride that much. We wouldn't have been separated by the desert storm if it wasn't for me."
Sun sat himself on the stool comfortably, Neptune struggle to stay on his. "It's cool. The TV is on though, let's see if…" his mouth stayed ajar.
The News broadcast crawl went about of upheaval in Beacon and Amity Colosseum by White Fang members and Grimm attacks. The next news crawl followed: Disgrace Huntsmen, Atlas unveils Synthetic army of protectors; Our best future against the Grimm?
"What the...?" Sun was interrupted by a series of interviews.
A man with his family huddled around on outside edges of Amity spoke, "It's all very confusing really." he said relief, hugging his kids closer. "But my family is safe today, on what was supposed to be an already safe day. I don't know how Atlas pull off making artificial beings but they had pull off scientific miracles before."
The interview hard cut to the Vale council broadcast. In a crescent desk council members were alight by the flashes of the press conference. An older woman spoke in behalf of the Vale council. "It doesn't come as a complete surprise to us on the synthetic soldiers that Atlas has brought us. Let it be clear that Vale wasn't a guinea pig for them to show themselves today, after all, the security guidelines we agreed to is not violated by their existence as they are no more different than the Atlasian Knights that had guarded our fair city for months."
The camera focus shifted to a man in Atlas uniform addressing himself as an Atlas council representative. "I also in behalf of Atlas want to make it clear that the current General and Headmaster of Atlas has no oversee in this operation. He is of a different matter back in the Kingdom of Atlas; any troubling rumors will be dealt with."
The focus went back the Vale councilwoman. "Overall, I'm glad to see one Kingdom come to the aid of another, without a standing army we're force to strain our police forces, the only ones who show loyalty to our home. The Vale police has already declared full cooperation. Here to make a brief statement is the chief of Vale police."
Neptune felt a shiver as he saw her walk into the frame, Sun stood up over the countertop where all but his tail stay stiff as it wildly swung around, hitting a woman who just fell back into her drunken stupor.
"I'm chief of police Yuki Kai." their former boss from their job shadowing spoke. "I witness many trouble that befell our city, our Kingdom. We rely on Huntsmen to combat those that are too much for normal police activity, but this year of increased White Fang attacks and even breaches of Grimm has left us in doubt. But no more. I see the technological advantage of steel over flesh. Let the Huntsmen rest, the police of Vale will have cooperation effort with the new warriors that don't need it."
"Okay! What the hell." Neptune rolled his fingers across his face. "What's happening back in Vale?"
"It's Kai." Sun said angrily. "She has something in behind all this. It's deep trouble, man!"
"And how do you know that?" slurred a drunken woman. Both boys turn to a youthful looking middle-aged woman, she wore a worn yellow dress that been patched from years of elemental damage.
"Um, we're kinda of a middle of our drama here." Neptune sneered.
"Dude." Sun brushed him aside before turning to the woman. "What do you mean?" Sun asked. "Who are you?"
The woman brushed her reddish yellow hair aside, drank a large gulp of cheap beer while staring at them with icy blue eyes.
"Anastasia Poppy, and I'm going to tell youse boys the reason I fucking drink."
Author's final Note: And here you have it. Lots of stuff hit the fan. Unlike the Canon story (Cries), Penny and Pyrrha's situations are left ambiguous. Maybe there is hope.
Keeping in what I intended this volume 3 story is every different from Canon, which means the volume 4 sections will also be initially different as well.
And in this story, Cinder's whole motive is tragic love.
Anyway stay tune for the last Arc of The Heroes and the Queen: Revelations Arc.
Read and Review if you please.