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Yang felt the burning in her lungs as she forgot to breath. She tried to take a shallow breath but found herself unable, eyes focused on the arena. Fifty thousand people had fallen utterly silent as they watched the scene that had unfurled in front of them.
Pyrrha fell to her knees in front of Penny's remains just as the overhead monitors flickered.
"This is not a tragedy," A voice rang out over the intercom system. "This was not an accident."
Jaune turned and started to push his way down to the arena, pushing people around him as he moved to help his partner. That served as the shock to get them all moving, snapping from their surprise. With a shake of her head, Yang set out after him, doing her best to block out the voice that taunted them.
"This is what happens when you hand over your trust, your safety, your children, to men who claim to be your guardians... but are nothing more than men."
People gawked on as the voice continued, even as their group shoved through them. She could feel the fear in the air even if nobody ran or moved, even if nobody even spoke, she could feel the panic growing. Hunters and civilians alike simply waited.
"Our academies headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one was audacious enough to claim both." The voice sounded amused, even as Yang felt her stomach roll.
"They cling to this power in the name of peace and yet, what do we have here? One nation's attempt at a synthetic army, mercilessly torn apart by another star pupil. What need would Atlas have for a Soldier disguised as an innocent little girl?" The voice paused a moment, allowing people to think. It didn't take a genius to see that it was a loaded question and yet… Yang knew what people would think.
There wasn't a use for an android that advanced as a Soldier against Grimm but Penny wasn't a soldier, regardless of whether she was real or not. She was Ruby's friend and she… and she was…
…Dead.
"And what of Ozpin? The esteemed Headmaster of Beacon Academy and the leader of Vale's huntsmen and huntresses? The man who has repeatedly failed to protect that which he has claimed as his, and make no mistake, he considers Vale his. He has done all he can to prevent the kingdom from building its own military to stop the kingdom from being able to challenge his authority. When Atlas marched it's armies in, there was no force capable of stopping them. His deception and so called diplomacy failed to save the kingdom from invasion."
"Perhaps Ozpin thought that defeating Atlas in the tournament would help people forget his colossal failure to protect Vale when the Grimm invaded its streets not but a few weeks ago. Or perhaps, this was his message to a tyrannical dictator that has occupied an unsuspecting kingdom with armed forces." Again, it was another leading question, but… it made a twisted sort of sense in a way.
Yang cursed as she ran, hating herself for listening.
"Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue as to who is right and who is wrong… But I know that the existence of peace is fragile, and that the leaders of our kingdoms conduct their business with iron gloves."
"Our kingdoms are at the brink of war. Yet we, the citizens, are left in the dark. So I ask you, when the first shots are fired… Who do you think you can trust?"
The voice cut off suddenly, leaving a deafening silence in its place.
"Caution!" An automated voice cracked over the system, startling everyone with the sudden shift. "Alert. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: six. Please seek shelter in-" The warning was interrupted by a sudden blast.
Yang froze where she stood, eyes going wide as she looked on in horror where the smoke had started to rise. A bomb had gone off in the stands.
Jaune tumbled forward but continued making his way towards the arena.
"Threat level: nine." The voice corrected. "Please seek shelter i-" Yang blocked out the rest as she tried to focus, her eyes refusing to move away from the smoke.
It only took a second before the crowds began to run, a slight pause where everyone became aware of the situation they were in; the Civilians began to run, filled with fear and panicking under the impression that any one of them could be next.
Yang saw Jaune vault over the railing and onto the platform below. She made to follow but the calm that had allowed them to get as far as they had was now gone, forcing their group to push through a wave of civilians leading the other direction. It was slow progress.
Yang cursed as she saw the shadows from above, the protective dome held them back for a moment but it wasn't built to hold up against the sudden influx. A Nevermore landed and broke through, glass showing down as the smaller Grimm used the chance to fly in.
Through it all, Pyrrha didn't move to defend herself, even as people called out to warn her. She simply stared forward with a haunted look on her face. Jaune appeared in front of her at the last second, holding up his arm to catch a pair of talons on his armor before falling to his knees, the action finally seeming to snap the Champion from her haze.
Pyrrha rolled back and to the side, grabbing Milo and switching it into its rifle form, putting several rounds into Grimm's head. The beast screeched in pain before falling to the ground, already beginning to dissolve.
Yang was the next to arrive, leaping onto the back of a Grimm that had approached them from behind; smashing its head down onto the ground. She unloaded a shot into its head before jumping off. Unlike most of her friends, she had been able to carry her weapons with her.
It was a lot easier to conceal her gauntlets than a sword after all.
She noticed a few other hunters descending the arena, some with weapons, and others with nothing, but they were struggling to make their way through the crowds.
Another Grimm landed to her side, screeching in anger just before a large clawed foot sat down on top of it. The Nevermore didn't seem to notice that it had just killed one of its allies, or it didn't care as its red eyes zeroed in on the things it saw in front of it.
She noticed Jaune's hands shift to his waist, once again trying to draw the sword that wasn't there; he pulled out his scroll and typed in the number to summon his locker.
The Nevermore didn't seem willing to wait, charging in as best a flying creature could. Yang rolled to the side, firing a shot into its side as it moved past. Pyrrha leaped back, tossing her shield at the Grimm.
It bounced off its beak, causing the creature to roar but otherwise seem unaffected. Several shots hit around its eyes as Pyrrha attempted to hit its weak spot, missing by only a few inches.
Say what you would about Grimm intelligence but it had sense enough to realize the situation it was in; rearing up it pumped its wings, launching itself up a few dozen feet while also knocking most of them back from the force of it.
It screeched once more before a blast launched itself into its mouth. The Nevermore falling down to the arena, wailing as it half landed half crashed.
The Grimm reared up preparing to attack, just as something impacted the underside of its head, piercing flesh and muscle to push through to the other side before rupturing out of the bone plating.
The Nevermore flailed for a moment before falling still, tilting downwards and smashing into the arena floor.
Yang was still lowered in a combat stance even as no Grimm came to replace it.
The one during initiation had been a hard fight. This one felt almost anti-climactic in comparison.
General Ironwood stepped forward, lowering his still smoking pistol and bringing a hand to his ear. "Captain, what's the status with the fleet?"
Yang couldn't hear what was being said but judging by the General's sour expression it couldn't have been good. A number of dull thuds signaled the arrival of the first locker, a moment later the arena was dotted with them as hunters-in-training grabbed their gear.
Some were grabbed by professional hunters, running off in directions that would be the most at risk, others sought out the Headmaster.
Jaune walked over to Pyrrha, pulling her into a hug.
Pyrrha tried to speak but her voice cracked and died off. Instead, she simply hugged her partner back, tears falling down her cheeks.
Nora rubbed the girls back, looking to her own partner in worry.
Yang took the second to look for her sister, finally noticing the younger girl's dazed look. All she had to do was stand near her and Ruby buried her head in her stomach. She saw Blake and Weiss step forward hesitantly, unsure of what to do but wanting to do something to help all the same.
"The air should be clear now, get transport to my location an-" The General paused as somebody on the other side spoke. "The ceiling has been broken in by the Grimm, land on the damn arena!"
The Headmaster walked over, placing a hand on the Generals shoulder. Ironwood's head snapped up but after a second of stare down, he sighed, looking away.
"Beacon is the target." He looked over to them, face softening for a moment as he saw the pain they were in. He spared a glance for where Penny had fallen before his face turned to stone. "We need to get you all there to help defend it. We can't allow the academy to fall."
"What about the people still on Amity?" Ruby's voice was barely above a whisper. "Won't they be in danger without one of you to help them?"
"One of the senior hunters can oversee the evacuation."
"Most of the actual hunters were stationed at Beacon." Ozpin said, Yang thought she heard the slightest hint of annoyance behind his words. "We thought it best to keep them on the ground so that they could secure a landing area for the civilians here."
The General paused for a moment before growling. "Fine, I'll oversee it myself and once i-"
"That won't be necessary." The Headmaster held up a hand cutting him off. Looking over the group. "I trust that you can handle things here, Nicholas?"
Yang turned to see that Jaune's father had joined them, his wife held tightly against his side.
"My priority is Juniper, I w-" His wife gripped his arm, cutting his words off in an instant.
"Sweetie, we both know you couldn't watch as this happens." She smiled, despite the situation they were in it didn't seem forced, only a little strained.
Nicholas looked into her eyes, imparting something through the simple act, before sighing. "Very well. I will see that the evacuation is taken underway properly."
Yang looked back just in time to see the relief on the General's face, before it was wiped away.
"Thank you, Mr. Arc. My men will be at your disposal." Ironwood nodded to several Atlesian Soldiers who had joined them.
Two Bullheads landed just as Nicholas and Juniper were led off. Several more Atlesians jumping off and following in the direction they had gone.
After a moment, a man in a white lab coat stepped out.
"Doctor, she's over here!" Ironwood yelled over the sound of the engines. "Get her core back to my flagship as soon as possible!"
The scientist didn't say anything, simply waving over a few others to help him.
"I need to get back to my ship to coordinate my men! Once I have an understanding of the situation I'll be joining you at Beacon!" The General continued. "This one's going to Beacon! Ozpin, it's all yours!" The General stepped back, turning and moving towards the ship they had loaded Penny into.
Yang watched Ruby as the Bullhead closed its doors, before slowly rising and escaping out of where the roof had once been.
Weiss stepped forward, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. Ruby turned and pulled her into a hug.
Weiss hugged her back.
"Beacon will likely be under assault when we arrive." Ozpin didn't raise his voice over the roar of the engines behind him and yet his voice was still audible. "Our foremost concern is aiding the hunters and security officers in the protection of the civilians still located on school grounds."
Yang took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She felt a hand settle on her shoulder as a feeling of calmness washed over her. She turned to see Jaune's eyes staring back. There was an intensity there she didn't recognize before, as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished.
Replaced instead with something she would call defiance.
Yang smiled as best she could, though she could tell it didn't look as confident as normal.
"Who's ready to kick some terrorist butt?" She punched her hand, going for the most confident look she could manage.
Nora yelled in support while everyone else nodded. It did more for her confidence than any fancy words from the Headmaster.
Authors Note: And that's the chapter, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even if it was a shorter one, and as always let me hear your thoughts in the reviews.
Sincerely SE