SCAPEGOAT
I thought by now I've solved it. I thought by now, I would have found a way out of this mess, but every turn I make frustratingly leads me back to a dead end. This cruel labyrinth that leads to nowhere is driving me insane. The happy ending that I'd hope for here in Beacon all but gone. Oh how foolish I was to believe that it was even possible to begin with.
Pyrrha asked me if I believed in destiny. Whether or not I do matters not when destiny stares you right in face. She told me that my destiny was to help Beacon weather the coming storm, but as I look at Yang now, my destiny couldn't be anymore different.
"I- don't know where to start..."
Yang pleaded once more, gripping my shaking hand even tighter.
"Ezra, it's okay, please tell me.
Ezra. The name I've heard so many times. So many truths in a name that holds so many lies.
"Let's start with that... my name isn't really Ezra."
Yang shook her head in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
I took a deep breath, as I prepare to pour everything out of me.
"I mean, it is, just not Ezra Flyheight. My full name, my real name is Ezrael Perseus Snow."
She chuckled, not knowing how to fully react.
"I- ah, that's a... fancy? Why the lie though?"
I ignore her question and continue on.
"It's true that I was born in a tribe in Mistral, and the events that happened in Mountain Glenn are all true. My love for you, and the feelings I have for our team, our friends are true. I hope you remember that while you process the things I'm about to tell you."
Her face slowly began to change into that of concern.
"O-okay, now you're scaring me... what things?"
I pause for a couple seconds, desperately trying to find the resolve to tell her the truth, but such a thing doesn't exist when the reality is to break the heart of the person you love.
"Yang. I'm OWL... the events that happened with the White Fang, with Torchwick... that was- I was a part of all that. Those things happened because I was part of the peg that pushed those gears in motion."
Her grip on my hand began to slowly loosen.
"S-stop it Ez, that's not a funny joke. You know how many people suffered because of that? I-I mean, Blake! Blake... Blake suffered."
I could not nothing but sigh and look away, but I push on.
"I was a mercenary, a conman for hire. I was recently in Atlas for a job before returning to Vale. As soon as I landed back here, I was hired for a job by a woman named Cinder. The same Cinder that you and the rest of the team met. The job was to simply rob a couple of dust dispensaries, infiltrate Beacon Academy and ensure her spot in the Vytal Festival."
Yang began to shake her head in disbelief.
"I never would have thought it would escalate the way it did."
She pulled her hand away and used it cover up the disgusted look she had on her face.
"N-no! That's not true... Ezra, you knew all this time. My sister was hurt- kidnapped! Weiss was hurt because of you, we fought in the train!"
Her eyes began to swell in tears.
"Yang, you have to understand, I was threatened. That day I took you to see grandma, someone from Cinder's faction followed me and blackmailed me. I wanted to quit believe me, I wanted to! But I can't! The thing with Ruby in the train I had no choice, I had no part in that! I tried to save her! You have to believe me!"
Yang's eyes flashed bright red, her fist curled and her eyes flooded with tears.
"BUT YOU KNEW! YOU NEVER TOLD US! YOU NEVER TOLD ME! WE COULD HAVE STOPPED IT!"
The sadness and sorrow in her eyes and the shaking in her voice was worse than I could have imagined. Nothing could have prepared me for this.
"No you couldn't. You don't know what we're up against. Beacon is in danger-"
Yang pointed her finger at me, while she cut me off.
"BECAUSE OF YOU! Was I part of the plan Ezra? That match with Mercury? Was I part of the plan!?"
I stood there in silence, unable to look her in the eyes.
"Oh god..." her voice softened, as she reached a heartbreaking conclusion. "Ezra... was I?"
Every inch of my body is telling me not to, but she has to know.
"It wasn't my plan, but yes... I believe you were set up because of me."
She began to break down in tears, and I could do nothing to console her, but that didn't stop me from approaching her to give her a hug.
"Yang, I'm sorry just know that I love-"
She violently pushed me away before slapping me across the face.
"Don't you dare! Ezra I gave you everything! EVERYTHING! And you used me as part of your plan."
She has it all wrong.
"Yang no, I told you I was blackmailed!"
It doesn't matter what I say, it would seem she'd already made up her mind.
"No! Ezra no! I don't care! If we meant- if I meant to you as you say I do, then all of that wouldn't have mattered! You would have trusted me, but you didn't! You continued to live with me while doing all that shenanigans behind me back! No, Ezra! We... We are done!"
I close my eyes as those words that Yang yelled last echoed in my head. Now I have truly lost everything. I open my eyes to a devastated Yang and my body began to crumble.
"I... I'm sorry."
Yang stood up and cocked her arm back, loading a bullet in Ember Celica. She began to hyperventilate as she stared at me with her teeth gritted. I don't offer any sort of resistance, simply closing my eyes to prepare for the worse.
"AHHHH!"
The shockwave from a large explosion knocked me down on the floor. I opened my eyes only to see the wall beside me caved in. Looking at Yang, she had arms drooped and her face hidden by her messy hair. She stood there in silence before running out of the room as fast as she can.
"Yang!"
I fall back to my knees, knowing full well how useless it would be to chase after her. It's done, I told her everything... I told her the truth, and it ended the way I knew that it would. All this desperation to avoid what deep down, I knew was the inevitable. No words can describe the sorrow I feel.
The hope that I got when I enrolled in Beacon, so cruelly ripped apart right in front of me.
Minutes began to feel like hours as I hopelessly sit in the corner of the dark and empty room, lost and depressed till a shine from my scroll snatched me back to reality.
[Voicemail: Ruby Rose]
I was getting tired of the silence. It's doing nothing but play back the worse moments of today over and over, so I instinctively pushed play on my scroll.
[Hey Ezra! I- I'm not sure if you can even have your scroll during detainment, but now that I think about it, probably not, but here I am already talking so... might as well. Ahahaha. Anyways, I hope you're okay. Yang's pretty down and out and is heading your way. Hopefully you two can make each other feel better. Weiss and Blake are out to go grab some coffee... or was it tea. I forgot, but I'm heading to Amity to watch Penny and Pyrrha fight-]
Just then, the transmission cut out.
"She was saying something else, what gives."
I violently shook my scroll, hoping to get a better reception till I realized that the reception wasn't the issue at all. No, this was Cinder, enacting her plans.
"I- I have to do something."
[Calling: Ruby Rose]
[Line Error]
Crap. Signal's completely out, wait did she say Pyrrha and Penny!? No, no, no, no, no! Cinder's about to turn Pyrrha into a murderer! I run as fast as I can, sneaking my way to a random airship on the way to Amity, all the while constantly trying to contact Ruby,- anybody for that matter, but got no answer.
I stumble my way towards the back of the arena tunnels, but as I turn the corner, I was caught in a stand-off between Ruby and Mercury.
"Ezra!"
Ruby spots me first, she had a face full of relief and without Crescent Rose. Mercury on the other hand is standing, and fully loaded.
"Ezraaa."
Mercury sarcasm doesn't bode well for me.
"So nice of you to join us."
Ruby, still in panic mode tried to explain everything at blinding speed.
"Ezra! Mercury, it's all a trap! They're using Emerald's semblance to trick everyone! That's how they got Yang!"
Calmly I look at Ruby.
"I know..."
"W-wha? How?"
Hearing this, Mercury laughed.
"Oh yes, please do enlighten us Ezra."
"Shut up Mercury!"
But he ignores me anyways.
"Tell Ms. Rose over here how you found out about all this." He frantically waved his hands around. "That the festival was just a giant set-up."
I raise my hand at Mercury and Ruby, as the two of them cautiously circle me.
"What's he talking about Ezra?"
I slow my breathing down, trying my best not to get baited by Mercury's taunts. I can't think about that now, all I know is that if Ruby's up to speed with Emerald's semblance at least, there's a chance for us to still stop this madness.
"Ruby."
The two of them stood there frozen in their spot, anxiously waiting for me to make my next move.
"Run."
As soon as those words escaped my mouth, I dashed towards Mercury, watching Ruby use her semblance to bolt pass the two of us. Mercury instantly sent a flurry of kicks my way, and though I may not be proficient in hand to hand combat, all that time spent with Yang had made at least somewhat competent. I parry half his blows and dodge the others while I sneakily unveil my OWL talons underneath my jacket sleeve, swiping at Mercury.
Caught off-guard, Mercury stumbled backwards, losing his balance, but before I was able to swipe through his clothing. No flesh unfortunately. Mercury looked down at his shirt, then glanced back at me wearing that same cocky smile he'd always worn.
"I see the OWL came to play tonight."
"You what Mercury, I've always hated that smile of yours."
Mercury charged at me full speed. He kicked the ground and used his weapon to launch himself up, quickly comboing with a kick which I block with my gauntlet. Mercury used the momentum he got from jumping to vault over me, landing right behind me. I backflipped backwards, planting my feet on top of his head, but he used his weapon again to propel himself forward at blinding speed.
"I'd like to stick around and play, but I got a date with little red."
I clicked my tongue and used Silent Waltz to dash after him. It wasn't very difficult to catch up to him, in this state, only Ruby is faster. I violently tackle him on the ground, grasping his whole body with my arms and using all my strength to throw him against the wall.
"AAAHH!"
I jump towards him, but Mercury shook off the pain and kicked me square in the chest, this time, slamming me against the wall on the opposite side. He tried to capitalize, but I was able to dodge, and countered by twisting his arm, and pinning him against the wall. I extended my talons out and tried to gouge his eyes, but that too, he was able to dodge. I swung my arm with such force that my talons were buried inside the concrete. I duck down anticipating another kick, which I correctly guessed. I punch his thigh, then elbowed him in chest, while I wiggled my talons out.
It would seem we're evenly matched, and Mercury seem to have come to the same conclusion. We stare at each other, panting, desperately trying to catch our breath as we wait for the other to make the next move. This whole conflict only stems from one source, and he knows that.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Mercury swung his legs up, shooting a bullet my way, which I was forced to dodge, giving him the opportunity to turn and burn towards Ruby. Unfortunately for him, I have another trick under my sleeve, literally.
I pull out a single pair of bolas that I threw at his legs, binding him and knocking him down on the ground. I cocked my leg back and punted his stupid face with enough strength that it knocked him unconscious.
"Hah... That's for Yang, jerk."
Satisfied with the black eye I gave Mercury, I quickly ran after Ruby, traversing through obstacles and double doors till I was able to reach the one that leads back to the arena.
"Ruby! W-wha... NO!"
As soon as I open the door, I was greeted by Ruby, dropped to her knees and sobbing. I step forward to console her only to find the source of her grief flashing brightly on the big screen.
"I... I'm too late..."
Laying there in the middle of the arena was a horrified and shocked Pyrrha, staring at the dismembered body of Penny Polendina. Cinder has succeeded, she was able to turn Pyrrha into a murderer.
As Professors Port and Oobleck began to enter damage control mode, the screen in the arena, along with the screens of our scrolls began to glow an ominous bright red. In the center of it all, a black queen chess piece. Shortly after, the sound of Cinder's voice began to ring loudly across the Amity.
[This is not a tragedy. 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. Our Academies' Headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one was audacious enough to control both.]
The murmurs in the crowd slowly began to grow louder and louder, as confusion slowly transformed into that of fear.
[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. What need would Atlas have for a soldier disguised as an innocent little girl? I don't think the Grimm can tell the difference.]
This is it, it's really happening, the entirerity of Cinder's plan.
[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 felt as though 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. Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue as to who is right and who is wrong. But I know the existence of peace is fragile, and the leaders of our kingdoms conduct their business with iron gloves...]
[Why else would Ozpin accept a wanted criminal as one of his students.]
No, she can't be doing what I think she's doing.
"Not like this! Dammit!"
Cinder began playing clips of the heist Roman did, except she conveniently cut out the parts where Torchwick was involved and left the ones where the OWL was present. Video after video of me as the OWL with the White Fang terrorizing Vale was played over and over again, pinning me as the mastermind for all those crimes.
But the worst has yet to come.
[The infamous OWL so freely roaming the streets of Vale, galivanting around and stealing the city's dust supplies, but little does everyone know that this criminal is someone all of you are very familiar with.]
The video Cinder played next dropped me to my knees. It was the moment I first invited Neopolitan to the Nest. She secretly recorded it, especially the part where I took off my helmet to earn her trust.
[That's right, the very OWL that brought fear and harm all over Vale is a student of Beacon Academy, a student that Ozpin recruited as part of his goodwill program, the winner of the opening ceremony's battle royal: Ezra Flyheight.]
The video faded to black momentarily, and when it came back up, the screen was spilt into two. One half had the image of OWL, while the other was an image of me.
[ Our Kingdoms are on 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?]
This was her game, the reason why she blackmailed me. I was wrong again. She didn't just want the Nest gone, she wanted someone to point the finger to, and I played right into her hand. I-I was never ahead, I thought I was onto her, but all this time... everything I ever knew were things she wanted me to know... I'm no OWL, no predator, I was the fish that foolishly followed the dangling worm.
"Ruby I..."
Ruby sat there in stunned silence, refusing to look at me.
[Alert. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: Nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner.]
Pandemonium erupted, the crowd began screaming and pushing their way through the exit tunnels. In the meantime, Ironwood grabs the mic from Port and Oobleck, and attempted to calm the roaring crowd.
"Ladies and gentleman, please. There is no need to panic.
Just then, a massive Nevermore appeared atop the arena. It landed on the Amity's force field, while letting out a blood curling screech as it claws and pecks at the dwindling shields.
[WARNING! Safety Barriers Failing]
"Pyrrha move! That thing's going to break in! Hurry!"
I walk pass the lifeless Ruby, leaning onto the one of the seats, as I watch Jaune desperately try to yell at Pyrrha.
But Pyrrha's still too shaken to do anything. Jaune decided to throw caution out the wind and sprint towards her, but just as he did, the Nevermore completely broke through the barrier, landing with such force that it knocked both Jaune and Pyrrha to the edge of the stage.
"Ruby listen you can scrutinize me later, but we gotta help them. NOW! RUBY!"
Her fingers began to twitch, as she whispered something to me so softly that I can barely hear her.
"Snowcloak."
"Wha- okay, that's more like it!"
Ruby and I began to combine our semblance, dashing towards to the Nevermore, who was mere inches away from biting Pyrrha's head off. When we materialized, we both held in our hands a pair of Penny's blade, stabbing it deep in the chest of the grimm.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
The Nevermore screamed in pain and slowly started to get up. It shook its head once then focused its blood red eyes at the four of us, before it flew towards us with the intent to kill. But before it could any harm, a barrage of rocket power lockers began to descend upon the sky, pinning the Nevermore down and crushing its wings.
"Cavalry's here!"
Sun Wukong came charging in, with all the students that participated in the tournament not far behind him. The various teams began to work to together to hold the unfortunate grimm down before Yatsuhashi from Team CFVY successfully decapitated the damn thing.
With the Nevermore down, Ruby began to focus her attention on Pyrrha.
"Ruby... I... I'm so sorry."
Pyrrha began to cry, as she clutched in her hand a torn piece of Penny's clothes.
"Me too." Ruby replied with saddened voice. "But it wasn't your fault."
"She right." Jaune added. He held in his hands Pyrrha's weapons, handing it to her with a resolute face. "Whoever was on that microphone... they're the ones that did this. And we have to make sure they don't take anyone else."
Pyrrha, with her resolve renewed, slowly began to rise. They're moment were cut short with the arrival of the griffons that responded to the Nevermore's cries of pain.
"Eyes up everyone! Here they come!"
The flock of griffons came at us hard, simultaneously trying to nib at us, one at a time. I jump up as high as I can and killed one of the damn things, but they were simply too many. I rolled back up and slowly walked back till I accidentally bumped into another student.
"Ah!"
It was Neptune with his trident. We both looked at each other, paranoid and tensed because of the grimm, for me at least. Neptune had other issues to incite such emotions.
"OWL!"
"What! Neptune no!"
Neptune began to blindly swing his weapon towards me, which I was able to parry and block with Penny's blades.
"Traitor!"
Neon Katt began to skate towards me with blistering speed, spinning her nunchakus at me, forcing me to back pedal and dodge each strike. Out of nowhere, Flynt's sound wave hit me from the side of my body, sending me back to the edge of the arena where three griffons were waiting for me.
I was able to kill one of them, but fighting three at a time is too much of a task. I thought it was the end of me when one of the griffons knocked me down on the ground, but Jaune and Nora came to my rescue.
"Enough!"
Jaune yelled.
"While we're sitting here fighting amongst ourselves, thousands of grimm are flooding into the city! Instead of fighting the ones that are trying to help, let's focus on the grimm and the people that caused all of this.
Sun quickly vaulted over one of the griffons, bashing his weapon against it and crushing its skull. He then pointed his finger at me, his face had rage written all over it.
"What do you mean!? He's one of the people that caused all of it."
I could say nothing in response.
"He saved Pyrrha! That's proof enough for now!"
Neptune pensively stared at the ground, before finally giving in.
"FINE! Fine! Grimm first, then OWL. Anybody got a plan of attack?"
Ruby stepped forward and tapped me by the shoulder.
"Ezra."
"Yeah?"
"Call it in."
At her command, I type in the codes for both our lockers on my scroll. It didn't take long for them to come crashing down on the ground. Ruby was the first to open hers, grabbing Crescent Rose with both passion and determination etched in her face. Then it was my turn. As soon as I open my locker, everyone's eyes locked in on me.
"So... it's true. You really are OWL."
Ruby somberly whispered to herself.
"Yeah..."
Inside my locker was a fresh new pair of my OWL armor. The black cargo pants stood tall atop my equally dark combat boots. The grey shirt had brown suspenders running along its chest and shoulders, with a pair of silver breastplates screwed in. On the side were a pair white talon gauntlets along with a variety of knives and kunai. Behind my clothing was a stiff white cape that everyone knew it doubles as wings while I'm in the air.
But the most incriminating part, the piece of my clothing that everyone's attention gravitated towards was the metal OWL helmet on top.
I place my hand on the OWL suit's shoulder plates like it was another person.
"All of remnant knows now. No sense in hiding anymore."
I quickly don my whole gear except the helmet, which I firmly grasped in my hand. I looked at everyone's faces filled with contempt and disgust, except for Ruby and Jaune. I shook away whatever hesitation I had left and wore the helmet, pushing the button on the side, causing it to fold back to my hood and revealing my face once more.
"Now what?"
Sun asks, but before any of us could answer, Professors Port and Oobleck came barging in with their weapons in hand.
"Students! I think it would be best for you to leave!"
Ruby tried to protest, but Oobleck cut her off.
"Miss Rose! This day will surely go down in history in Remnant's history. I'd prefer it if my students could live to tell the tell about it."
Ruby nods at the doctor's request, as she began to make her way out of the arena; the rest of the students weren't too far behind. Except me.
"You too, Ezra."
Doctor Oobleck said to me with a gentle look.
"I- ah... don't deserve their company doctor. I'm gonna go at it alone."
Professor Port butted in while laughing enthusiastically.
"I saw what you did to save Ms. Nikos, Ezra- if that even is your real name. You have made a grave atrocity, that I cannot deny, but I have interacted with you for months on end, and I refuse to believe that the mistakes you've committed is the entirety of who you are."
He shot one of the griffons down and looked at me once more.
"I'm speaking to the part of you that spent that time with those students, not the man that wore that OWL mask of yours. If any of the time you spent here in Beacon is sincere and true, then you only have one task left."
He's right.
"Go, Ezra."
Oobleck urged me once more. I resolve myself once more, slinging a pair of Penny swords on my back and quickly made my way after Ruby.
"Thank you, Professor."