Just a heads up to everyone reading this. Most of this chapter is written in a way that talks about the entire sequence of events in Volume 3, so perhaps gloss over those parts (not sure if it will after the flow of the chapter), which are in the middle. The beginnig and the end are the non vol 3 related stuff (you'll understand once you read it). Tried to write it without so much exposition, but i was compelled to do so.
Or just ignore what I said.
After completing his usual morning run, Zen entered the dorm to find Penny sitting at the end of her bed reading a novel.
"I thought you would have gone for your lessons by now." he said, before grabbing his pack and stuffing it with several notebooks.
"Have you forgotten?. Considering you don't have lessons until midday, it would have been a waisted opportunity for us to work on your sparring if I had to work on my own training. Not to mention that General Ironwood had been notified of your scheduled lessons and allowed me the time to train with you in the largest breaks between your lessons.
In addition to this, we should also work on your semblance and see what you a capable of... even going so far as trying to incorporate it into your combat training."
"Fair enough, I just thought I would get my things ready anyhow. And you're sure that this is alright with the General?"
"I am definitely sure."
" I'll have a shower and then we can go get breakfast before we do anything else."
"I already had something while you were out."
Hiccup
"Hmm...I'll be quick as I can in that case. I'm just as eager to train as you are...oh and have you ever tried drinking a glass of water quickly?"
"I'm sorry?"
"For your hiccups, I'm pretty sure that's one way to get rid of them."
"Oh, well don't worry about them, they're not as frequent as you think. Thank you for the suggestion though"
"Well, if they don't bother you, then there's no real issue is there."
"None whatsoever."
"Be out in five." Zen said as the bathroom door closed behind him. Penny sighed to herself and continued to read once she heard the sound of running water.
After practicing for two hours, the pair decided to square off against each other before going to the dining hall to get something to eat before going to their separate lessons.
Halfway through the fight, Zen missed an opportunity to strike at Penny, who took the advantage and decided to retaliate.
By doing so, the side of her blade connected with Zen's head as he attempted to dodge it.
His vision blurred, then went dark as he sprawled onto the floor.
In that moment, something within his mind began to stir, and just like that, a very, very familiar song began to play out, the lyrics echoing in his head.
'This will be the day we've waited for.
This will be the day we open up the door...'
This wasn't some sort of hallucination from a concussion, these were his memories... memories he could call his own.
As the dreams he had for the past week began to get answered so too did that location from yesterday reveal itself to him.
He found himself on the same cliff top overlooking the sea of trees. A blue haze hovered above them as he recalled the smell that entered through the portal... eucalyptus.
Those sandstone mountains, they made up the three sisters, which were a part of the Blue Mountains.
That was home, on a not so ordinary planet orbiting a medium sized middle aged star...Earth.
He mouthed the last part as his mind began piecing everything back together.
"Zen are you alright?"
As he heard Penny's voice, images of RWBY flashed before him , not the team itself, but scenes from the actual show.
Only on Earth was it a show.
But not here.
This was fully real.
If only Monty could have seen it for himself.
As his vision slowly returned, Zen looked up at Penny. Once he made eye contact with her, images of PVP flashed before him, the sights the sounds, all playing out within his head.
He tried to hold back tears that came, but to no avail as his mind replaced the current expression of concern on Penny's face with the memory of a lifeless one, her body laying on the ground of the Vytal stadium in several pieces.
"P-Penny... I-I-I-r- remember... I remember w-who I am... I have my memories back and I-I... wait. I-I need to see Ozpin. Right now!"
"Zen calm down, what's wrong, why are you crying?"
There might be time, it's not too late. Zen thought to himself, getting up from where he lay and sprinted for the door, ignoring Penny's worrying plea for a response from her friend.
He bolted down the corridor, talking to himself about what he was considering:
"If Penny is here, and the Vytal festival hasn't begun yet, there could still be time to-"
Zen was cut short as he made his way around a corner. Only getting so far before landing on the floor after bumping into someone much larger than he was.
"I'm sorry"
T-t-that, that voice it can't be?
Zen's eyes widened, despite his vision still blurred.
As they refocused, he could see a pair of blackish red boots and as his eyes drifted upwards to see the figure who he ran into, vivid green eyes met with his brown teary one's. She gave an apologetic smile extending a hand out.
As Zen was pulled back up, he was the first to speak, trying to fight back the image of Pyrrha turning to dust before Ruby's eyes.
"Pyrrha you're okay... It's really you isn't it?"
"Yes it's me, all in one piece. Just a little startled when we knocked into each other is all."
She said with a friendly smile.
"You must be Zen, the student from Atlas who wants to train at Beacon. it's a pleasure to meet you..."
"Um no, I mean yes, I mean it's like wise, to meet you that is... I need to go I'm, I'm sorry I ran into you, nice meeting you too".
He fumbled with his words, which were trailing behind him at this point as he raced toward the elevator that would lead to the headmasters' office.
Entering the elevator he juggled with his scroll as he placed it onto the scanner to verify his access.
Maybe there was still time, I need to know when this is taking place. Hopefully I can stop this before it even starts.
The doors couldn't open quick enough as Zen stepped out of the elevator trying to keep as calm as he could. Ozpin sat at his desk with mug in hand, looking over the details of upcoming missions and overseeing the final construction plans of the Vytal stadium.
"Hello Mr Discovery and what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here?"
"Hello sir, well the first thing is, I have regained my memories."
"Well that is excellent news."
"But there's more to it. Is this a good time to talk?
It's very urgent what I need to tell you.. and also if possible, you should power down any device that is connected to the CCT tower for this conversation."
Ozpin raised an eyebrow at what Zen suggested. However, he had never seen the young man with such an expression of worry, dread and fear on him right now, pleading to have an audience with the headmaster.
"Alright, but once I do I want you to tell me from the beginning, as well as why it would be so important that this conversation is being held behind closed doors."
Just as Zen was about to speak the elevator door parted and out stepped Penny followed by general Ironwood.
Ozpin got up from where he was seated and walked over to the general,
Penny meanwhile approached Zen, showing concern after running off, feeling lost as well as worried that her friend was having a mental breakdown.
"Are you alright, I talked to Pyrrha Nikos minutes after you left the training room, she said that you appeared to be upset yet happy at the same time.
Does this have to do with your new found memories?"
"They do Penny. But right now, I need to speak to Ozpin about this, privately.
Once I'm finished we can either go back to training or explore the rest of Vale, I don't feel like going to any lessons after what just happened. For now however, you can relax, everything will be fine once I'm done with this."
"Alright, I'll be in our dorm. When you're done we can decide what to do."
With that he gave her a small hug and watched as she followed behind the general, Ozpin's conversation with him ending roughly the same time as Zen's own.
Once the elevator doors closed and the sound of the motor began to hum, Ozpin pressed a button on the nearby elevator controls, a do not enter button flashed on as his finger left its position .
The headmaster then returned to his seat and gestured for Zen to approach, allowing him the floor to speak.
"I'm listening."
"Well the thing is sir. Is, well- I'm not from around here."
"Oh, so you hail from one of the other three kingdoms?"
"No, sir. I don't hail from Mistral, nor Vacuo or Atlas. Sir I'm not from Remnant at all. As difficult as it is to accept, I'm from a world called Earth."
Ozpin maintained his composure not phased at all by what he was hearing.
That answers a few questions at least. The professor thought to himself.
"So how were you able to travel from Earth to Remnant... all with a fiery aftermath?"
"That sir, I'm not quite sure of myself.
I just remember going to bed, sleeping and then waking up to find myself in the streets of Vale."
He paused for a long while, Ozpin said nothing, waiting for what Zen might say.
"Now, I need to ask. Were there any major events that took place within the last few weeks or so? I need to understand whether or not I have a chance?"
"There was the Grimm invasion that happened from underground. It occurred just before the students were ready to break for the two weeks off.
But what do you mean by chance exactly?"
"Well, first off, I want to prove to you that what I am going to discuss is not a ploy of any sort, so I will give context to what you already know.
Now, I'm sure that not many people knew that the invasion was spawned from a runaway train being used by the white fang, whose base was situated under mountain Glenn. This base of operation was being led by Roman Torchwick...I assume he is in custody on Ironwoods personal ship, isn't he?"
Ozpin nodded in response listening without even taking a sip of coffee, still maintaining his stoic expression.
"The team that stumbled upon the base was team RWBY, led by Doctor Oobleck correct?
And the only reason they were there was because you bent the rules to authorise them to be assigned a mission there. You deemed them capable of the task, also they were determined to catch Torchwick and whoever else schemed with him."
Zen began pacing as he thought how he would explain everything. One thought popping into his head and he swivelled to face the headmaster.
"How much time is there before the Vytal festival begins?"
"In exactly 10 weeks starting from next week." Ozpin replied.
10 weeks, I hope that is adequate time. I don't have an option.
"Alright where to begin?" Zen said aloud, massaging his temples.
"Do you remember the night of the school dance, where Ruby Rose saw and confronted a perpetrator in the CCT room?
How she wasn't too sure as to what she was doing there?
Well, the person in question is Cinder Fall, the same person who attacked the autumn maiden.
She's posing as a student of Mistral, along with Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai and Neo.
What she did during that night was upload a virus that allows her total access to the CCT tower as well as any useful intel she can acquire, including whatever is added to your desk files... internally or externally."
" I was just speaking to the general about that. He claims that the team investigating if the CCT's software and hardware had been tampered with from that night. They came back with no evidence to suggest that there is a foreign program in the system."
"Well the black queen virus is there, and it has access to all major systems within Vale."
"I see, well is there anything else you wish to explain."
"I will, let's talk about the Vytal festival, or rather the tournament itself, it's split into three days correct?"
"Correct."
"So for the first day of the tournament the following events play out.
One of the very first matches will be team RWBY versing team ABRN, the former winning the match. Team JNPR follows after being several minutes late, taking on team BRNZ, again the former wins. By the afternoon there is a fight that takes place with team NDGO and team SSSN, the latter winning by electrocuting the entire opposing team while standing in a watery biome."
"What about Cinder and her team? I imagine they also make it into the next round?"
"You are right about that.
There is also an altercation that occurs just outside the courtyard between Qrow Branwen and Winter Schnee, possibly an hour after the match I described to you.
Once you resolve the issue and you return to your office, there will be a discussion with regards to the Atleasian army.
This will prompt Ironwood to display a holographic projection of the army hovering over Vale, interfacing with your desk to do so, thus giving Cinder the access to all the information on Ironwoods scroll, including details about Penny."
'Miss Polendina?"
"I'll get to that part later.
On day two, Weiss Schnee will sacrifice herself in the match between Neon Katt and Flynt Coal, allowing Yang Xiao Long to win the match for her team.
Then there will be a match, which has been determined by Cinder between Emerald and Mercury against Coco Adel and Yatsuhashi Daichi. Where Mercury will beat the latter and Emerald will use her semblance to fool the former.
By the afternoon you request that Pyrrha Nikos be present in your office. You ask about her favourite fairytale.
After which you proceed to tell her about the maidens. She will proceed following you and the rest of your small organization to the Vault located under the academy, to where Amber is being held in a stable condition. Telling Pyrrha that she has a choice to become the next autumn maiden.
The final match of the night is a singles match which again was selected by Cinder. Where Mercury and Yang are 'randomly' selected to compete, she wins after delivering several blows.
But under the influence of Emerald's illusions, she believes that Mercury is about to strike her, she retaliates accordingly.
But, from an outsider perspective Yang is the one who attacks him outright... causing Grimm as far out as mountain Glenn to sense the uncertainty, fear and hostility amongst the spectators."
Zen said, shutting his eyes before taking a deep breath and continuing.
"Then we get to the third day...where everything that matters happens.
Team RWBY is disqualified after last night's events.
The match that will initiate the beginning of the end will be chosen by Cinder.
It will be between Pyrrha and Penny.
Each combatant on par with their skills, however with the weight on her shoulders Pyrrha was going into the match feeling uncertainty.
When Penny prepared to launch her swords at Pyrrha, Emerald made it appear as if hundreds of swords were hurtling towards her.
And so she used her polarity to repel the blades, the force of the blow sent the blades back towards Penny, the tethers entwining around her...and... caused her robotic body-t-o b-be t-torn apart..."
Zen finished his sentence abruptly, he could no longer hold back tears that began to stream down his cheeks.
"Robotic body? Mr Discovery, are you telling me that Miss Polendina is an android of some sorts...?!"
"Y-yes sh-she is. The first synthetic person capable of generating an aura." he said as he regained his composure.
"And the general knows about this?"
"He holds himself accountable after its revealed to everyone in the stadium."
"..."
"It is at this point that all emotions within the stadium are running high, causing all Grimm to converge upon Beacon and the stadium, Cinder then broadcasts to the entire world that all of these events are your doing as well as Ironwood's.
When the transmission ends, a level 9 Grimm invasion alert is sounded just before a large nevermore breaks through the shielding of the stadium while it is being evacuated.
As the invasion begins, the White Fang join the attack as well as send multiple bullheads loaded with Grimm into the chaos.
Meanwhile Roman is set free and takes command of Ironwood's ship and with the use of the black queen virus, gains full control over the Atlesian knights and paladins, commanding them to attack those defending Beacon.
With all your resources running thin, you make one last attempt at tipping the balance...finding Pyrrha and transferring Amber's aura into hers. It seemed to be working, until Cinder kills Amber and absorbs the remaining half of the maiden's powers.
Pyrrha tries to retaliate but you tell her to find Qrow, Glynda, Ironwood anyone who can help fight Cinder. As they run off you stay behind to stop Cinder. Your attempt fails and you die."
Zen said, his voice becoming slightly fiercer as he mentioned Ozpin's death, thinking what pain one would experience while being burned alive.
"The last thing that occurs is Pyrrha attempts to fight Cinder, as this happens a Wyvern Grimm is awoken from the depths of mountain Glenn, only adding more Grimm into the mix, before slamming into Beacon's tower, disabling the CCT causing all communications between the kingdoms to go dark.
The final moment I should note is that Pyrrha loses, not only the fight but her life, just as Ruby reaches the top of the tower to try and save her...witnessing Pyrrha taking an arrow in the chest, before being turned into ashes."
Zen's eyes started to well up again as he sat down and buried his head in his hands.
The room was silent before Ozpin finally spoke.
"With what you have told me I should contact General Ironwood to make an arrest."
"No. You can't do that!"
"Do you not wish for Cinder and her group to be held accountable for the atrocities they have committed, or rather they will commit."
"Of course I do."
"So why don't you want me to take action then Mr Discovery? Seeing how distraught you are after what you have just described to me, it would be foolish to ignore this."
"Because if we do act now, I'm not sure if that will guarantee the safety of everyone present at the Vytal festival.
I have no way of knowing what may happen if we prevent her actions. Cinder may have a contingency plan if things were to go wrong for her.
But here however, everything is laid out for me..."
He thought for a moment before explaining himself.
"What is the most important strategy in chess?"
"..."
"It's not knowing what the best move to make is. But rather knowing the move your opponent will most likely make. Ozpin the board is here, the pieces are set and the game is in play...it's my time to make a move."
"I see. Well, given your explanation of everything, I find it difficult to believe you would make up something as detailed as this. And that it is better to have a fighting chance when you know what's coming, rather than having to face the unknown.
I will allow you to do what you think will be possible to prevent these events from unfolding.
However you will need to be ready when the time comes to take action. And you will need to equip yourself with your own weapons...I take it you know that Miss Rose has a knack for weaponry, I suggest you start there.
As for your lessons I will inform the staff to delay your study without trying to give anything away, the less people know the better, and take care not to mention any of this to anyone alright."
"Yes sir." Zen said, getting up to leave.
"Oh and Mr Discovery."
"Yes sir?"
"I hope you know what you are doing." he said, his tone having an air of concern..
"I do sir, it's getting the chance to stop the fall of Beacon from happening." he said as he pressed the button to the elevator.
I hope you will Mr Discovery... I hope you will. Ozpin thought to himself as he watched the elevator doors close, he got up from his seat and gazed through the window that looked out towards Mountain Glenn, slowly drinking his still hot coffee.
What's this, another chapter, just a day or two after the last?
Well I wanted to try to give this as some sort of holiday gift, two chapters at once, but I couldn't, so i decided to do it before the end of December (it is now 2:32am NYE here as I write this).
So yay, Zen finally knows everything before the incident.
Will note that the line about chess come from a quote by Stephen Fry: " There is a chess rule, you know in chess, the best move to play in chess is not the best chess move, but the best move is the move your opponent least wants you to play."
I changed it so it fitted with the story.
That was it, hope you enjoy this chapter, will see you for another soon.
Have a good one.