A/N: Happy Holidays y'all. Here's your late-by-one-day gift, the beginning of the end. Enjoy!
"Oh hello. Tell me your name," she had escaped her fans, her parents, her manager. It had all been too much. Not like she would leave them behind, but for a few hours she needed to be alone.
Her last opponent had been bitter, and gave her a look of hate and fury she had never seen before on someone.
She didn't know why. All she had done was compete.
However, running through the snowy forest of Argus, she bumped into a woman. Pale as snow, with clothes dark as coal.
However, she bore a warm smile.
"Y-you should know who I am, miss. I don't mean to offend, it's just the way things are," she told her, hugging herself.
"Really? I've never seen you in my life," the woman said. "You look hurt."
"I-I'm fine. It's just…" Pyrrha bit her lip. She remembered what her mother told her. 'Everyone wants to use you. They'll use you for your fame. Please.'
"Just…?" The woman tilted her head.
"I'm… alone," she said.
"Alone?" The woman repeated. Her smile was gone, replaced by concern she usually only saw in her parents.
"Yes. Nobody likes me. N-no, forget that. Everybody likes me when I fight but… Nobody seems to like me for me," why was she saying this to her? Maybe because she wasn't afraid of appearing weak. She could tell this woman did not live in Argus, or anywhere close to a town, really.
"I know what that feels like," the woman said, looking down on the ground.
"R-really?"
"Indeed. My father, my ex-husband, tons of suitors. They never once cared, they wanted my family's name, my money, my status. It's just how things are, really. Humans only care for themselves," Pyrrha looked down at the ground. It was rock, covered by snow.
She felt cold.
"Are you cold?" the woman asked.
"Yes," Pyrrha said.
"I live in a cottage not far from here. Do you want to come? I'll make you something warm," something told Pyrrha it was not a good idea. However…
This woman was so similar to her. The hand she offered was so enticing. And more importantly… she understood her. She didn't know her as Pyrrha, the champion of Mistral.
Just as Pyrrha.
"A-alright. But just for a little while," Pyrrha said.
"Good. Come, I'll get the fire started."
Pyrrha took a breath. It was time. She was ready for it.
"Pyrrha?" Her head shot up as a hand landed on her shoulder. Jaune smiled at her. That warm smile she loved so much.
"Hey Jaune. You're gonna miss all the seats if you don't hurry," Pyrrha said, shaking her head. His hand left her shoulder.
"I'll manage to squeeze somewhere, since I'm so lanky," he said, letting one of his arms hang limp.
Pyrrha chuckled. "Not anymore. You've really become a proper huntsman, or at least the makings of one."
"Nah, I still have ways to go. Besides, you started everything. If you hadn't believed in me… well… I would have dropped off Beacon for sure," Pyrrha shut her lips. Yeah, if she had left him on his own, he would have been expelled for sure.
That would have been much better for him.
However, she wanted him to stay, because he saw her for who she was. Or at least, who she pretended to be, which was more than anyone else.
Ren and Nora too.
But they would never understand.
Jaune would never understand why everything was wrong.
"Well, you're here now. So I guess we have that to look towards," she said, lying through her teeth. She got up from her seat, looking towards the gateway to the arena.
"Yeah. I'm sure we'll be a great team. So, good luck. You'll make it," he said. She looked back at him, and gave him her best smile.
"Thank you Jaune. For everything," she said.
Yes. This would be goodbye.
Jaune raised his eyebrows.
"What?"
He never got his answer, for she had already walked away.
In the arena, she looked towards her target: Penny Polendina.
Ruby and Blake sat side by side in the bleachers, alongside a new member.
Rhodes looked at Penny and Pyrrha, standing on opposite sides of the battlefield. He frowned and crossed his arms.
"Is something wrong?" Ruby asked.
"N-no. Not at all. But I do feel like I should leave," he said, moving to get up. However, Ruby held him in place.
"Nope, you're not going anywhere. You said you wanted to reconnect with Cinder. The easiest way would be staying," she said. Ruby believed Rhodes did have good intentions when it came to helping her sister, and so, she wanted him to stay.
However, he still seemed reticent.
"Let him go, Ruby. If he doesn't want to stay…" Blake said, pulling her by her cape a little.
"But Blake, you have to insist to get some people moving!" Ruby whispered. The cat faunus looked at her with disapproval.
"Some minds can't be changed, and some people simply don't want to change. Leave it alone," Blake said. Ruby huffed, and went back to watch the tournament.
Pyrrha and Penny fought ferociously. Penny danced in the battlefield, her swords moving at beautiful angles and with amazing rhythm.
Pyrrha, on the other hand, fought practically and ferociously. Her friend was holding nothing back, a display of strength she never saw before.
"I think she's too young to be fighting," Rhodes said, making Ruby and Blake turn to him.
"Penny?" Ruby asked. She had forgotten, he didn't know she was a robot. To everyone else, she was just a girl.
"Yes," Rhodes answered.
"Well… I mean… if she wants to…" Ruby said, knowing full well she kind of didn't have a choice, not with Ironwood or Winter.
"Right. Because every kid wants to fight," Rhodes stated, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"If you don't like it, why are you here? Why haven't you done something?" Blake asked, tone laced with venom.
Rhodes looked at her, eyes filled with guilt. He sighed, and turned back to the match. "It's not that easy."
"Nothing is," Blake stated.
The crowd cheered. Thus, any other attempt at talking turned pointless
Two knocks. With that, the room to RWBY's dorm opened, and Yang revealed herself.
"Hey sis!" She said, sporting a happy smile. "Come in! Have you heard?"
"No," Cinder said, stepping in. The room was as always, if a little more untidy. And it smelled of sweat. "What happened?"
"Ironwood said my name is clear, legally at least," Yang replied, giving a thumbs up. Cinder narrowed her eyes. Ironwood's little bribe would not work on her. Yang's eyes soon turned downcast. "Although it will take some time for everyone to stop believing I'm crazy."
"That's just how the world is," Cinder replied, going to the window. It was nighttime now, the plaza near the dorms illuminated by lamps. "You do something wrong, you are forever a criminal."
"I mean I don't blame them. I blame those two bastards. Did you catch them?" Yang asked, leaning on a wall on her right.
"No. But we will soon," Cinder said. She said nothing else, leaving them in silence for a moment.
Cinder's mind still swam with questions, with images of possible outcomes. Stealing the maiden powers, not stealing them, rejecting Ozpin, accepting his offer, telling Ruby she would be gone…
It was too much.
"You okay?" She turned to Yang, her lilac eyes staring into her own.
"Yeah," she replied, turning away. She couldn't talk to Yang about what happened. "You?"
"Shittiest day of my life," Yang replied.
"Until now. More will come," Cinder said.
"What a downer you are. And here I thought you were beginning to be a little more friendly," Cinder rubbed the ridge of her nose.
"Sorry for not being happy all the time!" She snapped at her sister. However, yang was no little girl and stood her ground.
"I'm not asking that. I'm just saying I know something is bothering you. And dad as well," she said. Cinder's eyes widened.
"What?" She asked.
"Yeah. He came by recently, he was… weird. Like how he was the few months after mom didn't come home," Yang said, voice getting more quiet the more she spoke.
It was still a sensitive topic, and one they never properly addressed.
However, that begged the question, what made him so upset?
Was it the offer Ozpin made to Cinder? Her fist balled thinking that he knew all along.
But another part of her thought… Was it Raven? Had Qrow told her?
"So what's going on?" Yang asked, yanking her out of her thoughts.
Cinder leaned away from the window. "I told you, it's nothing," she said, walking towards the door.
"Oh come on! Aren't we past all this secrecy?! Aren't we better than that now?!" Yang asked, following her. Cinder rolled her eyes.
"It's not that simple to talk about!" Cinder replied, turning to her slightly.
"Well, though luck, cause I'm staying here for the night. So please, tell me and don't run away," Yang said, voice a mix of anger and sadness.
Cinder couldn't resist that. "I… uh…" she wandered back, near Ruby's bed. Yang followed her with her eyes. "Ozpin… made me an offer…"
What could she tell her? That she would leave forever?
Yang would not like that, that would be doing the same thing she did years ago.
"Offer… like… a job offer?" Yang asked, eyes glinting with hope.
"No. Like, a very important mission," that hope puttered out.
"Oh. How important?" Yang asked. Cinder rubbed her neck a little.
"I… may not… be able to see you for a while. Maybe never again," she admitted, not daring to look her in the eye. A tense moment passed as Yang stared at her.
"W-what?" Yang asked. Her eyes darted on the ground, mind probably working in overdrive. "Like… Uncle Qrow? Or like… mom?"
Yang looked at her, eyes glistening. Cinder looked away, she wasn't strong enough for this.
"I… Not like mom but… I don't know. It's risky," Cinder said. Yes. Regardless of what she did with the Maiden powers, she would still need to submit herself to the aura transfer. While she could kill Amber in cold blood, it would also mean potentially losing the powers.
The sister stayed still, Cinder balling her fists to liberate tension.
"Don't do it," Yang whispered. Cinder looked through the bangs of her long hair to her. Yang hid her eyes, she was shaking. "Please."
"You don't understand," Cinder said, gripping one of the bed's sides so strongly it was nearly breaking. "This is what I've been waiting for, a chance to be the most powerful person in this school! Hell, even this kingdom!"
Cinder opened her arms, smiling as she thought of the possibilities. Yang just stared at her, eyes opened wide. She looked at her as one looks at a monster. It hurt.
"Not even Ozpin nor Ironwood would be able to stand up to me!" Cinder shouted, grabbing Yang by the shoulders.
She didn't look at her, a forlorn expression plastered on her face.
"Is that really worth it? Is that power really worth losing everything else?" Cinder froze as Yang looked up to her, eyes piercing her own.
"I…" Cinder retreated. "...I could protect you."
Yang scoffed. "You're going to do it for yourself sis. At the very least don't lie to us, or yourself."
Cinder looked away. It was true, a pretty lie to hide the ugliness of her thoughts.
Something else erupted from deep inside. A deep anger. Just like Rhodes had abandoned her once she earned her freedom, now Yang was doing the same.
"Why can't you just support me on this one?!" Cinder shouted.
"Because you're being stupid. Because I love you and don't want you to leave?!" Yang shouted back.
"You don't need me!" Cindee said, leaning towards Yang, trying to use her height to stand above her. Yang didn't back down, eyes red and teeth clenched.
"Yes I do! We all do! Even if we don't need your strength, we still need you to be there for us!" Cinder continued to stare at her sister, not believing her in the slightest.
However, a part of her told her Yang was right. Memories of the good times with her sisters, their friends, Winter, Penny, meeting Tai, reconnecting with Rhodes. None of that would be possible had she stayed alone on Mistral.
She wasn't deserving of such things, but there she was with everything.
Yang was right, throwing it all away would be stupid.
So she turned away from those crimson eyes.
This wasn't freedom. This wasn't her destiny.
"Cin," Yang said, voice strong yet low. "Do whatever you want. I don't want to make you feel trapped. But freedom is not everything. It won't…" Yang choked up, as if afraid of saying something. "... It won't make what happened to you… disappear."
Cinder turned to her sister. Her eyes were not red anymore. Her face was scrunched up as if in pain.
She pursed her lips.
"Right…" she whispered. She looked at her hand.
Losing everything, even her freedom, for power.
That couldn't be the path.
She clenched her hand.
She would find another way. She had to.
She took a deep breath, looking at the ceiling. Her chest felt lighter, but still short of breath.
"I'll tell him to sod off," she said, looking at her sister. Yang's eyes widened.
In a flash, a patch of yellow was hugging her, trappings her arms at her side.
Cinder rolled her eyes, a smile creeping up her face. Then, she rested her head on Yang's fluffy and smooth hair.
"Thank you," she sobbed.
"What sister would I be if I made you cry?" At this, Yang separated, smiling.
"Bitch," she said, punching Cinder's arm a little harder than necessary.
"Ow!" Cinder rubbed her arm. "So what did dad want?"
Cinder couldn't stop herself from saying that, and it made Yang smirk.
"Shut up," Cinder said preemptively.
"Not a word. But back to dad," Yang said, sitting back down on her bed. "No idea. I guess we should simply wait here until he comes back with Ruby."
"Great, is the tourney on?" Cinder asked, sitting down at her side.
"Yep!" Yang pulled her scroll, abd the Vytal Festival stream popprd up on the screen. "Penny vs Pyrrha. Wow, she's gonna have a bad time with P-money."
Cinder raised an eyebrow, seeing how Penny gracefully overwhelmed Pyrrha with multiple blades. Still, her student managed to dodge all attacks, which made her proud. "How so? Even if she could manipulate all those blades with her Polarity semblance, she still needs to waste Aura."
"Haven't you fought her?" Yang asked. "Hell, you teach us to fight!"
"Grimm. And I don't really teach you to use your semblances. That's up to you, since each is unique," Cinder replied.
"Well," Yang huffed, crossing her arms as her scroll rested on her thighs. "P-money is pretty insidious with it."
"Why?"
"Well… i don't know how she does it but… when I fight her, it's like all my attacks miss by an inch. You wouldn't know it's her semblance unless you knew about it from fighting her over and over," Yang explained. Cinder nodded absentmindledly. Then, a memory came to her.
Blades missing by an inch.
Shots that should have landed missing.
An invisible pull.
All things the infiltrator did.
Cinder froze.
She analyzed that fight again, the words of her enemy.
A woman.
A ponytail.
Sais.
Disappearing as if she were a hallucination.
If Emerald had tricked Yang with a semblance…
She could probably cast illusions.
And she assisted the infiltrator.
Pyrrha knew her before Beacon.
Thus…
It couldn't be.
Her breath felt cold as she watched her student.
Her moves.
Her strikes.
Her attitude.
The way she dodged and struck.
A ringing took over her hearing.
It couldn't be.
"Sis?" A distant voice called to her.
It was Pyrrha.
Pyrrha was the infiltrator, using her semblance to avoid shots and strikes, but never truly exposing it.
Someone who had been there from the start, who could access Beacon without anyone noticing.
It was obvious. Far too obvious.
How could she have missed it?
"Sis!" A shake.
She had missed it, because she was her student.
Because she trusted her.
"I need to stop her!" Cinder shouted, running to the door.
"Wait what!? Who?!" Yang asked, running after her, grabbing her arm.
"Pyrrha!" Cinder shouted, stopping to look at her sister.
"What!?" Yang asked, stunned.
"There's no time! Stay here!" Cinder said.
"But what about Ozpin? Ironwood?" Yang shouted.
Cinder stopped for a moment. "They won't make it in time. They won't listen. Only I can stop this."
And with that, Cinder left Yang behind.
She didn't even stop to see whether her sister had listened. She just needed to get to the Vytal Colosseum.
Ruby was at the edge of her seat.
She didn't know who to cheer for. Her best friend, or her other best friend's partner who was also her friend.
And thus far, both seemed equally capable of winning.
She loved Penny, this was her chance to prove she wasn't just a machine.
While for Pyrrha, it was her chance to win as herself, with her team.
As the match lulled, Penny and Pyrrha both tired on opposite sides of the arena, someone touched her shoulder.
She turned to see her desd crouched at her side, a look of dread on her face.
Behind him, Blake looked curiosuly from the corner of her eye.
"Dad?" She asked over the cheers from the audience.
"Something's come up. We need to go meet Yang and Cinder," he said. Ruby looked at him, then at the arena, then at him.
"W-what happened?" She asked.
"I can't tell you here. We need-"
"Cinder!" Rhodes shouted, turning all eyes to him as he got up.
Ruby turned back to the arena, where indeed, Cinder was approaching Pyrrha, weapons drawn.
"Pyrrha!" Cinder shouted, silencing the audience.
Ironwood tore his scroll apart in fury. "Again!?"
Glynda and Ozpin, both occupying their office, turned to him with narrowed eyes.
He paid them no mind as he brought a hand to his ear. "All units, move in to-!"
He stopped. The line was dead.
He turned to his companions.
"Oz! Glynda! Call security!" He nearly shouted. Something was wrong.
"I can't. My system is…" her screen, as well as Ozpin's and the one they were using to watch the tournament, turned red.
"So that's how it is…" Ozpin announced, eyes narrowed and voice calm.
Ruby watched with her eyes glued to her sister.
No one said anything, until…
"Professor. What is the meaning of this?" Pyrrha asked. Penny lowered her weapons.
"You…" Cinder said, voice ragged and raspy. "... Are under arrest."
Ruby's mind stopped.
The audience murmured.
However, Pyrrha, who Ruby knew never acted callous or sarcastic, said:
"Oh really?" With a chuckle, Pyrrha turned to her sister. "Is this another one of your crazy accusations. Are you so desperate to prove your sisters innocence that you accuse random people now?"
Pyrrha never laughed like that. Her voice sounded harsh, angry, terrifying.
"I know what you've done. I know you infiltrated Beacon Tower during the dance. Now step down!" Cinder was furious with her.
What did she mean that Pyrrha infiltrated Beacon tower?
"Oh. That. Well…" Pyrrha raised her hand. Penny went stiff, and started hovering into the air.
All screens turned red, displaying the image of a chess piece, the queen. A moment later, they started to show a live close up of Pyrrha.
"I guess I have all your attention now? Good. You all know what I can do, I am the Champion of Mistral after all. But…"
Pyrrha walked, arm waving, and so did Penny along with it, stringed like a puppet.
Ruby felt something awful and disgusting seeing that. Seeing Pyrrha of all people do that.
"... I guess you are wondering how I can do this to a flesh and blood person."
Pyrrha flicked her hand, and Penny was turned upside down.
"Put her down!" Cinder shouted.
"Why should I? She's nothing but a weapon," Pyrrha said. Ruby's heart froze.
She knew.
"I said…!"
"Should I prove it? Fine," Pyrrha closed her fist.
Penny turned her head as her body shook, limbs going in opposite directions. She looked to her best friend, as if pleading.
Then, her body was torn in half, green liquid and circuitry spraying everywhere.
"NO!" Cinder and Ruby shouted as Penny was torn apart, ver body falling to the ground, lifeless.
And Pyrrha, she smiled at the screen.
The audience panicked, shouting, screaming, whispering, standing up, running.
"See? She was a robot, disguised as a human girl. A weapon designed by Atlas to infiltrate this tournament as a test. Meanwhile, a fleet hovers around for our 'protection'… bullshit!"
Cinder just looked at Pyrrha, as stunned as Ruby was.
"Vale has been invaded and the people don't even know it! Where are the huntsmen! Where are your heroes! Or your teachers!?" Pyrrha asked, shouting in fury.
"Teachers like her?" Pyrrha pointed to Cinder. "A killer. Someone who murdered an entire family, and Ozpin just pardoned her! And now she teaches our young to be what? Killers? Soldiers that follow every order? Pawns sent to die against the Grimm?"
No one responded.
The screens changed. Ruby saw with horror as they displayed files and images of a dead family, and a face that was indisputably Cinder.
Blake gasped, covering her mouth. All attention was on Cinder now.
"Ozpin doesn't care. Ironwood doesn't care. Those in charge of Mistral and Vacuo don't care either. Huntsmen, your heroes, are rotten to the core. Children turned into killers and then sent to die. This has to stop!"
In team JNPR's room, all three remaining members stared at their screen.
Jaune… well… Jaune felt sick.
Ren and Nora fared no better.
Ren's face was strained beyond belief, but he betrayed no emotion.
Nora's mouth hung open.
Who was this person that had Pyrrha's face? Pyrrha's voice?
He didn't know.
He wanted to turn away.
But he couldn't.
He could only watch.
Something smashed against the dome that protected the arena. Nevermores. A horde of them.
The people screamed.
"I will change this! Ozpin, and Beacon, will fall! You better be ready when they do."
A crimson light emerged behind Pyrrha. A smoky portal opened, and a masked woman dressed in black stepped out.
"And with this, I take my leave. Goodbye, dear audience."
The people panicked. The ceiling broke.
Just then, Cinder recovered from her shock.
"PYRRHA!" She shouted, transforming midnight and shooting an arrow at the Champion.
However, she stopped the arrow midair, and with a smile, shot it back.
It was too fast, and it grazed Cinder's face.
She fell to the ground, screaming as she held her face.
Was that blood?
Regardless, Pyrrha and the woman entered the portal and disappeared.
The glass fell. Nevermores poured into the arena.
Yet, all Ruby could see was Penny's lifeless body.
A/N: Hey everyone! Heart of Glass is a year old now, and honestly, it's been quite a journey. Never in my life did I expect this to be popular, but you all stood by my side as I wrote this, and I want to thank you, from the lurker that only read to those that reviewed on every chapter. Thank you!
Also special thanks to the simps on the Cinder Discord. They are all wonderful people and I would have never made it this far without their friendship and support.
So, Merry Christmas!