Well first off i'd like to apologise for not posting this chapter sooner. Due to work related issues with moving departments and refresher courses i've honestly been struggling for time to update anything. but if you are reading this i somehow managed to do this so let's get rolling! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Monty Oum (RIP) along with Rooster Teeth.
Back in the Colosseum Aodh was hiding once more in the Atlas Solider gimmick but this time he held his Gladius along with his own personal weapons Scath and Solas. He looked around the crowd in order to find anyone who would be close to cinder but was not able to locate anyone.
Meanwhile Ruby had just entered the Colosseum. Despite everything that's happened in the last 24 hours she was still excited to watch the festival as she smiled. She looked around the large crowd until she spots someone who shouldn't be there.
"Emerald's... here?"
Volume 3: Chapter 9: PvP
Emerald turned to face almost as she could sense her watching her. She glared at Ruby before shifting towards the Colosseum's maintenance tunnel. The glare that Emerald gave worried Ruby as she decided to go off after her.
As Ruby entered the tunnel she could hear the muffled voice of Dr Oobleck through the brick walls as he announced the start of the next battle round. "All right, it's now time to begin the randomization process for our next fight!"
Ruby could barely hear the sound of the Randomizer on the Colosseum's screen inside the tunnel but someone who Ruby didn't expect walked out to stop her walking down the tunnel any further.
"Mercury?" Ruby asked out loud as she looked at her 'friend.' Ruby then started to become nervous as she noticed that Mercury appeared to be unharmed.
"It looks like our first contender is... Penny Polendina from Atlas..."
"What are you doing?" Ruby asked Mercury but the grey haired teen didn't respond.
"And her opponent will be... Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!"
Upon hearing Professor Port announce who the who contestants where Ruby knew what this match up would mean. "No..."
Mercury however had a smug look on his face. "Ooh, Polarity versus Metal... That could be bad."
Ruby glares at Mercury as she reached back to grab Crescent Rose only to realise it wasn't there. See the now worried look on Ruby's face Mercury simply grins maliciously and sets himself up in a fighting pose.
"Mercury, what are you doing? You were hurt! Why... What's going on?" Ruby continue'd to ask Mercury question after question but he never responded. instead he kept smirking at her. "Fine. If you're not going to tell me..."
Ruby attempted to rush past the grey haired teen but instead Mercury managed to block her path. "Fighters, are you ready?" Upon hearing Dr. Oobleck voice Mercury's smirk slowly turns into a deadly serious stare at Team RWBY's leader.
"Oh I'm more than ready."
(Aodh)
From the stands Aodh continue'd to watch the crowd for anything suspicious. He could clearly see the anticipation on Penny's face as she stood in front of Pyrrha. He also spotted Pyrrha daydreaming. 'She in deep thought right now. I hope it's not over taking Amber's powers... I knew it would be too much for her to take in.' Aodh cursed himself as she watched Pyrrha.
Aodh looked around once more and found the rest of Team JNPR watching. 'You have some good friends Pyrrha.' Aodh thought to himself as he seen Nora and Ren cheer for their teammate while Jaune had an anxious look on his face. At that moment Pyrrha seemed to have found her compose as she readied her weapons, Milo and Akouo. "3, 2, 1... BEGIN!"
As the match started Penny quickly surrounded herself with her floating swords. Like strings on a puppet she manoeuvred them perfectly as she launched the first attack of the round. Pyrrha either knocked the oncoming swords away with ease or simply ducked under neath them as she rushed towards Penny.
The swords that were deflected swung back around again back into the fight.
(Ruby and Mercury)
"Showtime." Mercury stated at Ruby as he slowly began to walk toward the young huntress.
Ruby then started to panic slightly as no matter what direction she moved Mercury was there to block her path. She then decided to use her speed advantage as she tired to rocket past him in a blur or red and petals. however Mercury timed his counter perfectly and kicked Ruby's stomach mid air sending her flying back to where she was before.
With no other options left Ruby tied to pull out her Scroll. But before she could even open the device a bullet fired from Mercury's boot shattered the device in her hands. "Let's just keep this between us friends."
(Aodh)
AS the battle between Penny and Pyrrha raged on entertaining the crowd Aodh continue'd to monitor around the stands of the Colosseum. His eyes wandered between each face he seen hoping he would either find Cinder or her any other member of her Faction. But one thought did cross his mind. 'I haven't seen Ruby yet. She's a friend of both Penny and Pyrrha...'
"My word! What a tremendous display by Miss Polendina!"
Unable to find an answer to his thoughts Aodh attention was brought back to the Colosseum floor due to Professor Port commentary. But when he caught a glipse of Pyrrha body language it only made Aodh reconsider the offer that was made to Pyrrha. Meanwhile unknown to not only Pyrrha and Aodh, Emerald norrowed her gaze and continue'd to concentrate on Pyrrha.
(Ruby and Mercury)
As Mercury engaged with Ruby the hooded huntress attempted to block a kick with her arms, but instead Mercury's kick was too powerful as his attack hit Ruby face. He tried to not leave much room for a counter so he once more attached Ruby.
This time however Ruby managed to duck underneath his attack and leap over his leg. With room to run in front of her Ruby activated her semblance and with a sudden burst of speed that off footed Mercury Ruby was free as she rushed away from Mercury.
Realising moments afterwards that Ruby had gone past him Mercury quickly set off after the young huntress as fast as he could run.
(Aodh)
Aodh was now entranced by the spectacle that was Penny and Pyrrha battle. He watched Pyrrha spins wildly as she continue'd to either deflect and dodge each sword sent her way. Slowly she managed to get close to Penny and shifting her sword into a spear she slashed an exposed Penny sending her flying back.
Penny slid to a stop and changed her tactics once more. She moved her swords into several small formations and fried several lazers at Pyrrha. Pyrrha avoided the blasts and fought off any sword that come close to her position. Using her shield to block any forward attacks coming her way she knocks Penny back further in the hope that she will be knocked out of the ring.
'Don't slack off now it's never that easy.' Aodh thought to himself as he seen a victorious grin appear on the red heads face.
Within a heartbeat latter Penny suddenly recovered as used her swords to propel herself forwards and shoulder block a relaxed Pyrrha. Taking a bad knock from her landing Pyrrha suddenly became dizzy.
What no one expected next was a sword to knock Pyrrha shield and sword away from her. Using her semblance she tried to summon her sword back to defend herself but it's path back to Pyrrha was blocked by another sword. With Pyrrha now defenceless and exposed Penny swirled her swords in a formation behind her.
As Penny sent her eight sword forward to attack Pyrrha's facial and body language was nothing short of shear panic. She quickly sent a powerful burst of her semblance outwards to stop the blades but there was too much power behind her attack. The metal strings attached to the end of Penny's swords wrap around her left arm and torso as they easily cut through her body.
At that moment there was a deafening silence around the Colosseum as they watched what unfolded in front of them with nothing but a deep sense of horror. Pyrrha stares in abject horror, eyes wide and mouth agape as she fell to her knees.
During those few moments of silence the last remaining sparks of electricity flared from the exposed wires of Penny's severed arm and body. Slowly the sparks of life faded from her body as her big green irises, now looking like camera shutters, slowly expand so her dark. Those lifeless pupils stared out into nothing as the a sound of a machine shutting down could clearly be heard in the stands.
As Ruby emerged from the service tunnel she seen the scene in front of her. " Penny..." As Ruby fell to her knees see couldn't hold back her tears as she witnessed the death of her dear friend. As she cried her cousin Aodh finally noticed Ruby in the crowd.
"Ruby..." Aodh concern for his cousin became more serious as he spotted Mercury appearing behind the weeping Ruby, grinning widely as he stood there.
In a moment of panic over Ruby's safety Aodh tried to rush towards her. But he had no success as members of the public were coming up to him.
"Do something will you!"
"What are Atlas doing get out there and arrest her!"
Soon Aodh found himself soon surrounded with concerned faces. Suddenly the screens in the Colosseum cut from the red background with the black queen chess piece as a new voice spoke out around the Colosseum. Aodh recognised the voice as Cinder's own. "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.
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.
And what, I ask you, is Ozpin teaching his students? First a dismemberment, now this? Huntsmen and Huntresses should carry themselves with honour 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.
As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you the situation there is... equally undesirable. 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?" As Cinder finished her speech
In the Colosseum, the screens in the Colosseum cut from the red background with the black queen chess piece to complete static.
"What just happened?" Another voice shouted at Aodh.
"Will you find someone who can tell us what in the world is going on!?"
As Aodh was once more bombarded with questions he tried to calm everyone down. As he looked around he could thankfully still see Ruby with Mercury no where to be seen near her. 'Thank Oum he's not there.' Aodh thought to himself as he turned his attention towards the crowd.
But before he could speak the Colosseum screens shifted once more. This time they flashed only one word. 'CAUTION' Then another voice spoke out. "Alert. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: Nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner."
Feeling the masses in the Colosseum were about to panic Aodh stood above everyone and shouted out. "Everyone will be fine! I promise you will all be fine!"
But no sooner had Aodh finished saying those words the Colosseum shook. As Aodh looked up he spotted the source a Giant Nevermore had landed as was trying to breach the Colosseum's force field. The Grimm screeched loudly as it continue'd to peck it way into the Colosseum.
And Cut! Well that's all for this chapter. Leaving off just before the start of the events during the battle of Beacon. So I think there will be about 4 or possibly 5 more chapters left of Volume 3. I recently re watched the whole of RWBY and there is a lot of stuff to cover after this chapter it actually gave me a headache trying to figure out what needs to happen where lol. Anyway let's get going with this chapter's Q&A!
1) Will we see any more flashbacks involving Aohd and Amber? Simple answer to this will be yes. I won't say when but yes.
2) After Beacon falls will Raven be more adamant about Aodh taking over the tribe? There will be some talk during Volume 4 but still kinking that stuff out and trying to figure out what would be best for the story but Raven will be talking to Aodh during Volume 4.
3) When you reach volume 4 can you have Aodh start wearing clothes similar to Dante from Devil May Cry series maybe have him be travelling around on a motorbike? I might have this happened with the clothes change but I won't be giving Aodh a motorbike i'm afraid sorry.
So that's all for this chapter folks. If you have a question do feel free to post a review or PM myself. If I don't answer your question on next chapter's Q&A I will try to reply via PM. Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you've all enjoyed it. Till next time