I guess this is the first chapter towards the start of the invasion. So... yay?

Please enjoy!

"And with that, Diego Kapila stands undefeated, ladies and gentlemen!" Port said over the mic as the match came to an end.

"Not only that, but he's also broken the world record of remaining aura after a fight!" Oobleck added, "With a whopping 95% of his aura remaining! What a fight!"

The crowd cheered wildly for the lone figure down in the arena, who was standing beside four defeated huntsmen and huntresses. Loudest of all was Team RWBY, who quickly ended up rushing down into the arena and crushing him in a big group hug.

"Way to go, Diego!" Ruby shouted enthusiastically.

"Thanks, Ruby," Diego said. He then added teasingly, "Although if you wanna know the truth, I was going easy on them."

"Sure you did!" Yang said with a teasing voice of her own. "Like when you did that extravagant back-flip and caused that one guy to hit his own teammate? Or maybe when you 'pretended' to slip, then suddenly righted yourself in time to throw them off guard and land a finishing blow? Or when you-"

"Okay, I may have been fooling around with them a bit," Diego admitted, "But hey! Can you blame me?"

"Yes, we can," Weiss stated.

"Correction: You can," Diego pointed out.

"Well, you probably could've gone without the obvious fake-out that wasn't a fake-out," Blake stated.

"You were awesome!" Ruby squealed excitedly.

"I love it when you cheerful in combat," Yang said. Diego chuckled at this.

"I try to find joy in whatever I can," he replied, "Besides, no one said that you couldn't have fun in combat, did they?"

Just then, they noticed a crowd of huntsmen and huntresses moving out into the arena. They were all the ones chosen for the finals.

"Well, we'd better go," Diego said. He gave Yang a quick kiss on the cheek. "Good luck out there, Goldilocks!"

"You sly dog," she joked as she slugged his shoulder. Diego just smiled, then followed his friends out of the ring. However, he paused for just a moment to talk to a particular huntress.

"Pyrrha," he said to her, "You know you don't have to say yes to Oz's offer, right?"

"Diego, why did you get so mad?" Pyrrha asked, "What was it that upset you?"

Diego pulled her aside slightly. "Not here. Wait until later. I'll try to talk to you after the first match, and all will be explained then."

He then gave her a smile and walked out of the arena. After a few moments, he found himself a seat next to the rest of Team RWBY and sat down. Normally, he would've wanted to be less noticeable, but now that Ironwood was more or less cooperative with him, he didn't need to worry about being spotted by security. Now, he could relax and enjoy the show. The randomized results for the next match came up and Diego smiled to himself at how accurate his guess had been. Yang was the first one up to the ring, and the one she was going up against was...

Diego frowned a bit.

Of course it'd be Mercury, he thought to himself, I don't like that guy. He just screams "bad news" wherever he's at. And it doesn't matter at all that he helped in the defense of Vale! Who is he? And why do I feel like something bad's about to happen? Something's not right here...

"Diego? Are you okay?" Ruby's voice shook him out of his thoughts.

"I'm... fine, Ruby," he answered, trying to brush it off. But she persisted.

"No, something's definitely wrong," she pestered. "What is it?"

Diego sighed. Perhaps it was her kind of innocence or maybe simply the fact that she was Yang's sister, but for whatever reason he seemed to give in more easily around her.

"It's Mercury and Emerald," he said finally, "I don't trust them."

"Why not?" Ruby asked, "They seem okay..."

"They attacked and killed a Faunus," Diego said bluntly, "One who was trying to flee from the White Fang. One whom I swore to protect."

"What?" Ruby was, unsurprisingly... surprised. "But, they-"

"Are only putting on friendly faces to blend in," Diego finished. "I'm not exactly sure what they're here for, but if you want my advice, it's this: Be cautious around them. They mean bad news."

Ruby was silent at this and thankfully didn't pester him further. Diego probably wouldn't have answered anyways, as he was busy watching Yang's fight with Mercury. Out of habit, he studied the way both of them fought. He couldn't help but feel that Mercury was holding back.

"He wants her to win," he muttered to himself, "But why?"

Eventually, Diego got his answer when Yang won the match. Shortly after she had beaten him, she did something that caused fear to ripple through the entire crowd: she turned around and broke his leg with a single punch. The entire crowd gasped and some scattered 'boos' were heard as well. Mercury was crying out and Emerald rushed to his side. Even the camera footage showed Yang break his leg for no reason. Everyone seemed horrified... except her boyfriend.

Diego knew that Mercury was faking the pain, for he had learned from their brief encounter that Mercury had fake legs. Not to mention, the way Yang had attacked suggested that she was reacting to something that wasn't actually there. And he had sensed something right before she attacked...

"They set it up," he realized. His friends looked to him questioningly.

"What do you mean?" they asked.

"I'll explain later if I can," he answered, standing to his feet. "But right now, I need to speak to Ozpin."

Diego stood up and started to push through the crowds in an attempt to reach the exit closest to Beacon. As he walked, he accidentally bumped into a female figure.

"Sorry ma'am," he apologized, "I didn't see you th-"

He stopped as he got a good look at who he had run into. The eyes he stared into were familiar... Suddenly, he realized who it was. It was the girl that he had encountered on the night of the dance. But he seemed to know her on a much larger basis than that.

"You!" he exclaimed. The woman just smirked and brushed past him.

"Pardon me," she said in an almost seducing tone, "I must go check up on my teammate. So please, stand aside... Diego Kapila."

Diego was too stunned to do anything but comply. Not that he could actually do anything about it. With all the eyes and ears nearby, there was nothing he could do. He growled at the figure that had walked by, then started back for the exit.

"Please don't be who I think it is," he said to himself almost hopelessly as he disappeared into the shadows.

"Are you sure of this, Diego?" Ozpin asked the vigilante from within the confines of his study.

"I could never forget that face," Diego replied, clenching his fists in anger, "It was the same girl Ruby and I ran into on the night of the dance. But, I think she's more than just a common thief..." Diego sighed. "I hope I'm wrong, but I think... it was Cinder."

Ozpin seemed to gain interest. "Cinder? One of Salem's associates that you told me about? The one who was your apprentice before you turned against them?"

"That's the one," Diego answered, "I'm not sure what she's doing here, but I guarantee that it can't be good. Also... I think Emerald and Mercury may be with her."

Ozpin leaned forward on his desk. "You realize that accusing someone without proper evidence is a dangerous move, don't you Diego?"

"Oz, for once just shut up and let me take charge!" Diego shouted angrily, "Mercury cheated! He never truly was hurt! His legs are fake! I know because I had to fight him personally! What Yang saw was an illusion, purposely set up to disqualify her! You need to-"

"Diego," Ozpin interrupted, "Millions of viewers saw your girlfriend attack an innocent student on live footage-"

"Innocent my boot!" Diego shouted, "He and Emerald both killed an innocent; a Faunus! They are not innocent, they are monsters!" He leaned closer to the headmaster and Oz noticed Diego starting to take on a different change. His eyes were glowing a sickly color and his voice sounded dark. Oz tried not to show it, but in his eyes was a look of fear.

"Why can't you see what I have been warning you about from the begining?!" he demanded, "Do you WANT everyone to die?!"

The sickly glow stopped, Diego's voice returned to normal, and he started panting heavily.

"I'm... sorry," he gasped, "The fear... it's everywhere... I can feel it... everywhere..."

Ozpin nodded. "I suggest you go see Miss Xiao Long. It might help calm you down a little, and I believe she could use the comfort right now."

Diego nodded and left without a word. As much as he didn't want to put Yang in danger, he also knew that visiting Yang was probably the best choice for him right now.

He would end up going feral if he didn't...

Yang was still in tears when he arrived through the window. He arrived so quietly, she didn't notice him until he knocked his hand against a wall.

"Leave me alone," she sobbed. Diego sighed.

"I'm not leaving," he stated, "and I don't think you're crazy."

"Then what do you think?!" she demanded.

"I think he cheated."

Yang was silent at that, so Diego clarified.

"What you saw was an illusion that either Mercury or Emerald conjured up. He threw the fight. He knew this would happen."

"But, why would he do that?" Yang asked. "And how do you know it was a trick?" Diego walked over to her and lifted her head up to look him in the eyes.

"I'm not entirely sure," he answered, "Unless you're talking about the illusion. To which I'll say this: I possess a kind of power that let's me sense illusions. I can't tell you anymore than that for now." He sat down on the bed beside her. "It's not your fault. He forced you to react to something that wasn't truly present at the time. If he hadn't pulled that card, I guarantee you'd be in the finals still."

Yang smiled a little at this, then pulled him to her for a big hug. Diego returned it, giving her some of the comfort that she needed for the time being. He could hear her softly crying a few more tears, but not as much this time. After awhile, he released her and gave an apologetic look.

"I have to go now," he said, "I think Pyrrha will be up next, and I want to make sure that Mercury doesn't sabotage that too."

Yang nodded and gave him a quick kiss.

"Don't be gone too long," she said.

"I'll be back. Promise," Diego replied. He then jumped out the window and disappeared from view.

Diego wasn't too surprised to hear that Pyrrha was going up against Penny on the announcements.

"Of course I'd be too late!" he complained as he rushed as fast as he could towards the arena, "Freaking Mercury! When I get my hands on you, I'm gonna-"

He rounded a bend just in time to hear a gunshot and cry of alarm from...

"Ruby?" Diego asked himself, then he heard the dreaded voice of Mercury.

"Let's just keep this between us friends," he heard the man say. Diego growled inwardly, but he was also smirking.

Showtime!

"Excuse me," he said aloud as he came in sight of the two warriors. "May I cut in?"

"Diego!" Ruby cried joyously. Mercury frowned. He clearly hadn't expected this. Diego walked between the two of them.

"Ruby, get help," he said calmly, "I'll handle this clown."

Ruby nodded and rushed past Mercury. The assassin tried to stop her, but was intercepted by a blur that blocked his path. Mercury was surprised. There was no way Diego could've moved as far as he did so quickly! As he watched, Diego smirked and activated his gauntlets and other weaponry on his person.

"Show me what you've got, Mercury," he growled.

Mercury obliged with several shots fired from his boots, all which Diego deflected easily. Mercury then attempted to land a kick on Diego, but immediately regretted his decision. For no sooner had he tried, than Diego ended up grabbing his leg and throwing him to the ground. He then landed a few more punches and busted up the assassin's legs up again. As Mercury sat there practically defenseless, Diego heard the crowd outside gasping in shock and horror. Hesitating long enough to give Mercury a warning glance, Diego rushed out to see what had happened. He found Ruby on her knees and in tears, but he also noticed Pyrrha in the ring with a horrified expression. Lying at her feet was the torn-apart body of Penny, hence Ruby's tears. Diego was just as shocked. He started out for the arena, but stopped when he realized that the broadcast hadn't stopped. As he pondered this, suddenly the screens turned red and a familiar symbol was seen on them too. Diego looked to the symbols in horror.

No... Please no...

"This is not a tragedy," a female voice said over the speakers, "This was not an accident. This is what happens when you hand over your trust, your safety, your children to men who claim to be our guardians, but are, in reality... nothing more than men."

Diego fell to his knees, as the broadcast continued.

"No... nononono," he whispered to himself, almost as if traumatized.

"Our Academies' headmasters wield more power than most armies and one was audacious enough to control both. 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's star pupil."

"Shut up..." Diego whispered.

"What need would Atlas have for a soldier disguised as an innocent little girl? I don't think the Grimm can tell the difference. And what, I ask you, is Ozpin teaching his students? First a dismemberment, now this? Huntsmen and Huntresses should carry themselves with honor and mercy, yet I have witnessed neither. Perhaps Ozpin thought defeating Atlas in the tournament would help people forget his colossal failure to protect Vale when the Grimm invaded its streets. Or perhaps, this was his message to the tyrannical dictator that has occupied an unsuspecting kingdom with armed forces."

"Shut up," Diego said louder.

"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 the leaders of our Kingdoms conduct their business with iron gloves. As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you; the situation there is... equally undesirable. 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?"

"SHUT UP!" Diego screamed, somehow managing to be loud enough for all in the theater to hear. He looked to the red screens as the figure finished her speech.

"But I can't take all the credit. I'd like to give a special thanks to the one who made all this possible... Diego Kapila, the Dancing Rogue. You have revealed the truth to us all."

"ARRRRGGG!"

With a roar of rage, Diego jumped impossibly high up to one of the screens and smashed it with his fists, huffing and puffing heavily as he landed back on the ground unharmed. He barely had landed when the sirens rang out, warning of a Threat Level 9 Grimm attack. Diego was too shocked and enraged to notice this, however. He didn't notice the crowd running for their lives, the sound of Grimm howling and screeching, or even sense the levels of fear around him.

All he could do was realize the truth in Cinder's words as chaos erupted all around Vale.

Cliffhanger! The Battle for Vale is about to begin!

Special thanks to LunaTheBlackWolf, a devoted fan of this story, for supporting my development so far! If I can, I will try to find a way to repay the favor.

I hope you enjoyed! Cya next time!