Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners.

Hours After the Shroob Invasion Had Been Stopped

"Are you certain this is a good idea?" Glynda asked.

"It's the only thing we can do." Ozpin responded. "If we don't postpone it, then the Vytal Tournament will be a prime candidate for possible destruction as far as Dry Bowser and Calasmos are concerned. They will spread fear and panic, and that will attract the Grimm into an all out blood bath. We do not need that."

"Mmm, you raise a good point." Glynda nodded. "I just hope everyone will understand."

"There will be disappointment… but rest assured, there will be understanding. Now, I just need to locate Lisa Lavender, because I'm fairly certain fliers will not be enough."

"Very well."

Later…

BGM: News (Pokemon Colosseum)

"Breaking news! Professor Ozpin has announced that the Vytal Festival has been postponed indefinitely due to unforeseen circumstances. He has explained that the Vytal Festival will resume once some unknown issues have been resolved. Here is what Professor Ozpin had to say about this announcement:"

"It is with a heavy heart that we must postpone the Vytal Festival until further notice. Rest assured, these unforeseen circumstances will be resolved in the immediate future. We want the Vytal Festival to be filled with fond memories, good sportsmanship and above all else, a safe environment. We wouldn't want something horrible to happen in the middle of the festival."

"Thank you Professor Ozpin for your words. From the Vale News Network, this is Lisa Lavender signing off."

End BGM

Emerald and Mercury stared at their scroll while eating in the cafeteria. Both of them looked at each other. "What just happened?" Emerald asked.

"I don't know… but we need to tell Cinder about this."

"Yeah… I don't think she's going to take it well." Mercury said as they walked out of the cafeteria in a hurry. As they were hurrying, they would see several students from different kingdoms reading the fliers.

"Unbelievable… I was looking forward to this tournament and now it's postponed?"

"Ugh! Well, I guess it's not all that bad… perhaps it's for the best."

"Aww, I was really looking forward to making my opponents miss the beat…"

"Shoot, I was thinking I'd be showing off my trumpet skills on my opponents…"

"It has been exactly ten hours since Penny has gone missing and now this has happened? Where even is Penny anyway?"

"AAAAAAAAGH!" Cardin yelled. "What do you mean we have to wait?! We should be pummeling everyone in the dust in this tournament and this is what happens?! What is that idiotic professor DOING?! Unforseen circumstances my ass!"

"Welp, I guess I can count this as going back to bed…"

"Now now, settle down, students. This is just a minor setback." Robin said. "I'm certain the tournament will be back up shortly."

"MINOR SETBACK?!" A few students yelled, causing Robin to sweatdrop.

"Let's all calm down. We don't need to attract any Grimm!"

Emerald and Mercury hurried along to their dorm and opened the door to see Cinder taking a nap. "Zzz…"

"Cinder!" Emerald called out to her.

"Zzzz… no, I don't want to scrub the floors anymore… screw you… zzzz…"

"CINDER!" Mercury yelled.

"Aaaah!" Cinder yelped, sitting up. "Wh-what is it?! Is there a fire?"

"No, it's not that." Emerald said. "Remember that virus you planted during prom?"

"Yes, I remember. We were going to release our hard work during the tournament. What of it?" She asked and then heard the commotion outside as she looked out the window. "Is there a rally going on?"

"What do we want!" Cardin yelled, holding a mega phone.

"The Vytal Tournament!"

"When do we want it!"

"NOW!"

Aside from several students joining in on the protest, Neon, Flynt, ATMC and even Ciel were standing there confused and looking at each other with a shrug as they turned around and walked away from the protest.

"Where did they get a megaphone and picket signs that fast?" Mercury wondered.

"It'll die down… protests always do that." Emerald said. "See, those kids are already dropping the picket signs and leaving Cardin by himself."

"Well, it's Cardin. Dude's an idiot." Mercury said. "Wouldn't be surprised if he came up with this on the fly."

"WHAT DO WE WANT!" Cardin yelled and then turned his head. "Uh… guys? Where are you going?"

"I've got other places to be!"

"Yeah, I just realized that a bully leading a rally is a complete waste of time."

"The spur of the moment is gone!"

"What the… TRAITORS!" Cardin yelled as he picked up a picket sign. "I'll do this by myself! What do we want! The Vytal Festival! What do we want to do! Kick everyone's ass into the di- aw, forget it…" Cardin tossed them behind him and walked off grumbling to himself.

"Told ya." Mercury chuckled.

"Can someone please explain what is going on?" Cinder asked.

"Well… the Vytal Festival has been canceled."

"WHAT?!"

"It's been postponed, Merc. Not canceled."

"I know, I just wanted to see how she'd react."

"What do you mean it's been postponed? We worked too hard for this! We shouldn't let it be postponed! Is there a reason?"

"Yeah, unforeseen circumstances." Emerald said.

"Unforesee- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Cinder yelled. "WHAT could possibly be so horrible as to postponing the damn tournament over unforeseen circumstances!"

"I dunno… possibly an alien invasion." Mercury suggested.

"Robot invasion?"

"Zombie invasion… no wait! Robot zombie invasion!" Mercury said as Emerald gave him a "really?" look. "What, too much?"

"A Grimm invasion."

"Will you stop throwing in invasions?!" Cinder said exasperatedly. "Regardless of what happened, I will need to go talk to the professor about this… setback." She said and then pulled out her scroll. "But first, I need to talk to Roman." She said and then called him up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Torchwick, it's Cinder. Look, about the Vy-"

"Can't talk right now. Currently being hunted down by Ironpants!" He said and then hung up.

"…What." Cinder flatly said. "Rrrrgh… fine! I'll just go talk to Ozpin about this." She said and walked off. "We will watch this place fall to the ground."

"This oughta be good…" Mercury said as Cinder went to go find Ozpin.

With Ozpin…

"Hmm, they're taking it rather well." Ozpin said, sipping some coffee as he was wandering around the premises.

"Professor Ozpin." A voice called out to him as he turned to see Cinder approaching him.

"Ah, Miss Fall. What can I do for you?"

"Listen, I just heard the news about the tournament being postponed. Any reason why?"

Ozpin let out a chuckle. "It is due to unforeseen circumstances."

"Yes, I've gathered… but there has to be a reason for these unforeseen circumstances, right?"

"Yes, but I'd rather not say why. We don't want to cause an uprising that would cause students to look for these… reasons and get themselves killed over it."

"Was this your decision?"

"I had a chat with Ironwood earlier, and he told me about a few things that made me feel uneasy about the tournament. So, it's for the best that we keep a low profile. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes… of course…" Cinder said, twitching a bit. "But perhaps you can tell me in secret? My lips will be sealed."

Ozpin let out a chuckle. "Now Cinder, I can't let you go off with this secret. You might accidentally let it slip and it will cause quite the rumor. It should be in our best interest that only the leaders should know about this."

"…Of course…" Cinder said, fuming on the inside. "Sorry for disturbing your peaceful walk." She said and walked off, her hands clenching as she was screaming on the inside.

"Hmm, I can't help but wonder if that girl is troubled…"

Back in Cinder's room…

"Do you smell burnt carpet?" Mercury asked while reading a book.

"…Uh oh." Emerald said as Cinder slammed the door open and slammed it shut. She marched straight to her bed and then put a pillow over her face.

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMPH!" She screamed into it and put the pillow back. "He was NO help!"

"So what do we do?" Mercury asked.

Cinder took a deep breath and exhaled. "We go about our days as normal… and when the Vytal Tournament happens, we strike." She smirked. "Our plan will continue as normal."

"Yeah, it's not like anyone is meddling with our plans for that, right?" Mercury chuckled.

Suddenly, Cinder's scroll went off as she answered it, but put it on speaker. "Hello?"

"I've heard you run into a snag."

"Oh, hello Watts... to what do I owe this... pleasure?"

"I am here to tell you that I saved you from further embarrassment."

"What do you mean?"

"I've detected that someone in Remnant is hacking through its firewalls and is closing in on a breakthrough."

"What?!" The trio yelled.

"Not to worry, I put a stop to it."

"Just a few more firewalls…" Futaba said, her fingers tapping on the keyboard. "Almost there..." She smirked, when suddenly the screen turned off. "Huh?!" She yelled in surprise when the screen popped up but a W was in the screen. She would notice a Chibi Watts next to the W.

"Congratulations, you discovered my trap. Let's see if you can get through my elaborate puzzles before I let you interfere with our work."

"Elaborate puzzles?" Futaba wondered before smirking. "Oooh, a challenge... and here I thought it was almost too easy." She said as she leaned back, cracking her knuckles and let out a devilish chuckle, putting her fingers on the keyboard again. "Alright, Mr. W man, unfortunately for you, I have a lot of time on my hands! Challenge accepted!"

"You're welcome."

Cinder let out a chuckle. "What would we do without you?"

"Possibly have a meltdown. We all know you don't like to lose." Watts let out a simple chuckle while Cinder sneered at the scroll. "Fear not though. No one can get through my hacking. It will take a lifetime for this hacker to succeed. Have a good day, Cinder." He then hung up.

"Rrrrgh..." Cinder let out a growl.

"You sure like to let him get under your skin. You make it too easy." Mercury said.

"Hush!" Cinder scolded before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "No matter. Our plans will succeed... this is just a minor setback." She let out a casual smile. "Once the Vytal Tournament returns, we will strike."

"Right." Emerald nodded.

Cinder chuckled and looked out the window. "I wonder how our reptilian friend is doing..."

I wonder what it'd be like if Futaba and Watts ever met. It'd certainly be an interesting hack-off...