After the previous episode, the group was left with multiple worries about Winter's final line and what all that would imply in the future. Jacque Schnee plans to make his own embargo in hopes of painting General Ironwood as more of the villain so he can have a higher chance of obtaining the Council seat. Everything was just getting worse and worse as the volume continued. Not only that, Yang's words didn't leave them with any more hope. "I'm terrified when I say this that when it finally comes time for Winter to gain the Maiden powers it's not going to go as smoothly as any of us wishes."
Dread filled them. Cinder has never been introduced in this volume, does that mean she's going to appear in the volume finale and ruin the power transfer, just like she did back with the Fall Maiden? "Ugh! I'm tired of all this! Can't we just have one episode where nothing horrific happens? Where all of us can just have fun and relax?!" Nora exclaims. How much more tragedy is going to strike?!
"Back then, you told us to prepare ourselves for Volume 3 as, your words, 'that's when shit goes down'! Why haven't you told us to prepare for these volumes?!" Yang screamed.
"Yes, I told you to prepare, but I never said any of the ones that followed were going to be good," Raider counters.
"Yeah, no kidding!"
"You want me to tell you to prepare for a volume? Fine, get yourselves emotionally ready for the end of Volume 8 and especially the entirety of Volume 9 because that has to be one of the most depressing and heavy volumes made!" Raider didn't leave herself any room to breathe as the room sat in silence.
"Alright, that's enough!" Winter shouts, standing in between the two. "That's enough out of both of you, none of this helping the rising situation."
Raider sighed, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to regain her composure. "Winter's right…and I understand everyone's stress levels are, but yelling isn't going to do anything but make things worse. Yang herself took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging in defeat.
"I'm sorry, too, watching this has just been a lot, but that doesn't give me a reason to shout at you. None of this is your fault and you're only trying to help by showing us all of this," Yang said.
"I think this is a good time to take a break?" Pyrrha suggests. Everyone nods as they all need a minute to calm down. Yang looks down at the floor before training her eyes on her sister. She walks over to her and Ruby finds a distressed look in Yang's eyes.
"What's wrong, Yang?" Ruby asks, now more worried. Yang is quiet for a moment before speaking.
"You know you can come to any of us if things get too much, right?" Ruby's eyes widened in surprise, wondering where this was all coming from. "I've noticed that your counterpart is beginning to have a lot of pressures put on her and she is keeping it all to herself." Yang placed both of her hands on Ruby's shoulders, looking her right in the eyes with a serious Ruby hadn't seen yet. "You know you come to us if anything becomes too much. I'm not going to let my little sister have to carry everything alone, you have a team, we're here to help. Just because you're a team leader, our team leader doesn't mean you have to hold all the weight on your shoulders. So please, Ruby, talk to me, to any of us if something is bothering you, okay? We'll be here to listen." That wasn't a promise Yang was making to herself, that was a vow.
Ruby couldn't hold it in anymore. The dam broke and Yang's arms were already holding her close. "I-I'm scared that all the e-events that follow will be my fault b-because I chose to keep everything f-from Ironwood." Ruby flinched when she felt the rest of her friends hold her.
"Ruby, not everything is your fault," Weiss told her softly, softly kissing the top of her head. So this was the root of her episodes, and all of them felt awful for letting Ruby think this way and not realizing it sooner. Ruby desperately clung to herself, just needing to have her close as she cried. Ruby couldn't see, but her friends' eyes welled with their own tears. Ruby's sobs turned to whimpers and she hugged Yang tightly.
"We're all here for you, and we're not going anywhere." Yang tightened her hold and carried her sister so they were back on the couch. Everyone else joined and Ruby's eyes were brought to a smile plate of cookies that appeared in front of her with a glass of milk. The room kept silent as Yang held a death grip on her sister, refusing to let her go. Raider gave them a few more minutes and when the cookies were gone and the glass empty, Ruby gave Raider the 'okay' to play the episode. Raider was a bit hesitant, wanting to give Ruby a bit more time, but Raider took one look at all of her friends and knew Ruby was going to be alright.
(Volume 7 Intro)
Atlesian Knights patrolled the streets of Mantle arresting the rioters as other people began to put in their votes. "Although rioting in Mantle has finally is finally under control, how does it feel to know the majority of those involved were your supporters?" A reporter asked Robin.
The students sighed, none of them wanted to be reminded of what even led to the riot in the first place: Jacque's speech.
"I don't condone rioting, especially when our city is being denied aid for the hardships we've already had to go through. But Jacque Schnee's latest stunt is holding the city hostage for his own political gain." A man hesitates in choosing who to vote for.
"That man is planting seeds of doubt in every one of their heads, making it to where the citizens have to second guess who the right person would be to sit on the Council." Winter was more than furious with her father and what he was doing. Winter wonders why none of them have thrown the man behind bars years ago. That's where he belonged.
"So I understand their anger, but ask that they show it not in the streets, but at the polls today."
"You know, if I was voting, I'd go for Robyn Hill in a heartbeat," Nora says, attempting to lighten the mood.
In the Atlas training room, Blake and Yang bound from each of the pillars. Winter creates a beowulf to attack that Weiss stops with her gravity glyphs. She slams it into her glyphs and blows it back. Winter goes to make her own glyph but drops to her knee when a tiny Arma Gigas attacks her ankle.
Winter tsks and Weiss hums to herself with a smile like she's done nothing wrong. "Went for the heel," Sun whispered.
Winter grunts in frustration as Weiss just smiles. Behind her, Jaune deflects and sends back a purple ball with his shield that Nora hits with her hammer.
This must be part of the training that Vine had suggested.
Nora clicks a trigger on Magnhild, releasing the electrical energy to smash back the ball to Jaune and the boy blocks it. The ball disintegrates and Oscar holds up a scroll that shows Jaune's aura. Jaune takes a breath, using his semblance that his aura levels go back into the green.
Jaune looks at himself, impressed as that was a fast recovery. He wonders how he can unlock that ability…once he figures out how to activate his semblance. Since watching himself use his semblance so much has made him forget that he hasn't quite done that part yet. Plus, Jaune rather not go through the same events that had it unlocked in the first place. He prays that it happens in much more normal conditions.
Oscar comments that Jaune's recovery is getting faster. Then, Ruby, using her own semblance, heads straight for a calm Ren sitting in front of a pillar. Ruby splits into three parts to go around the pillar before connecting back into one.
Ruby's eyes began to shine as she had never tried to do that with her semblance before.
Oscar asks if she was always been able to do that. "I don't know, I don't normally think it through that much," Ruby replies, walking up to Oscar.
"You guys are evolving and I still don't even have my semblance."
"Hey, that's okay. If anyone knows what that's like it's me. It took seventeen years for mine to finally unlock and it was under an extremely high-stress situation…that…we won't talk about. Winter's fists clenched, just imagining what she'd do to Cinder once she got her hands on her. No one ever wants that to be brought up, just the thought of what could have happened if Jaune's semblance hadn't emerged.
Ruby's voice fades away as Ren concentrates more and more, everything around him going white.
Speaking of evolving, was Ren's own semblance going to evolve as well? And, if so, how?
Ren is brought out of his concentration by the training door opening and Clover and General Ironwood entering the room. "Clover wasn't kidding, you're really giving this your all," the general comments, impressed. Ruby says they have to with the way things are going.
Things are only getting worse and worse, and if they slowed down then it would just allow Salem and the others to catch up. None of them have much of a choice. So much for Yang's words back in volume 2, huh?
Ironwood takes out his scroll and pulls out the current results. "They're not going well, are they?"
"Better Robyn than Jacque Schnee," Yang comments, putting her arm to rest on Oscar's shoulder.
Yes, it is much better if Robin wins than Jacque. If Jacque wins then Atlas and Mantle will only fall further.
"I supposed so. By the way, this election doesn't bode well for stability."
"I could be a chance to work with Robyn and get Mantle on your side," Ruby suggests.
With someone like Robyn who holds a very big influence on the people of Mantle, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to work with her. However, with how Ironwood is keeping Amity and its purpose a secret, they doubt Robyn will be able to trust the general.
Ironwood doubts the likelihood of those chances, but Nora interrupts. "She's right, you have to do something about Mantle. If you could get Robyn to trust you…"
"I bet if you opened up to her she'd understand that you're being framed," Jaune finishes and Ironwood sighs.
Not like any of them haven't noticed this pattern before, but this volume is really based on the subject of trust. Being able to trust others with secrets or trusting someone else to be on the same side and work with them.
"Perhaps, but it will only work if she's open too." Nora wants to say more, but Ren cuts in, changing the subject to new mission assignments.
Nora frowns as there is more that should be said and more that could be done. Besides, she doesn't exactly appreciate being cut off like that. Ren scowls, as well, as Nora is just trying to communicate to solve the issues in Mantle.
"You could say that. The general and I want you to take the rest of the day to recuperate," Clover announces.
Sun lets out a sigh of relief. "It's about time because if you guys ask me, you all deathly need one."
Blake asks if they're giving them the night off, just to make sure she understands correctly. "Ordering it," Ironwood clarifies. "After tonight's election, we'll be waking up to a very different Atlas tomorrow. I need you all rested and ready for whatever that may bring."
"The election also concerns Mantle as well," Ruby says, "Not just Atlas. Whoever is elected onto the Council will affect both Atlas and Mantle."
Ruby looks down in thought, troubled. Back at the academy, Blake is doing her mascara as Yang watches, Weiss is on her scroll and Ruby is on the top bunk. "We still have hours ahead of us, but as votes come in, it looks more and more certain that Robyn Hill will fill the open Council seat."
The students let out a sigh of relief as Jacque won't be elected onto the Council.
"There's no way my father could have thought layoffs would do anything but hurt him, so why announce this the day before the election?" Weiss asks, knowing there has to be some ulterior motives.
"The plan has to be Watts doing because, yes, father wouldn't do something like this as he's fully aware of the risks," Weiss muttered.
"And if it's Watts's idea, there's more to it than he's making everyone else think," Blake adds.
"Just seems like a power play that backfired to me," Yang says, getting up from her bunk and stretching. "Won't matter in a few hours, though." Ruby asks where they are going.
"Team FNKI invited us out dancing. Yang and I thought it would be good to get our minds off the election," Blake replies.
"Welp, it's a good thing there will be blaring club music," Yang said with a shrug. Yang doesn't mean to sound rude, but she doesn't know if she'd be able to handle a whole evening of Neon's talking.
Ruby thought Yang said Team FNKI was annoying. "That's the best part about dance clubs, I can't hear you…" Yang ends her sentence by whispering to Blake, making her giggle. The door to their room opens and Nora tells Ruby to 'come on'. Weiss still can't believe Ruby is going to the election.
"Wait, you plan on going to the election? Why?" Sun asks.
"Just because Ironwood dislikes Robyn doesn't mean we all have to. From where I'm standing, both of them seem to be trying their best to help Atlas," Nora says in Ruby's defense.
Sun nods as that makes sense. One person hating another doesn't have to speak for the entire party.
Nora still questions as to who's doing a better job is up for debate. Weiss scoffs, still not understanding the need for a victory party.
Sun hums to himself, that seems a bit different. Ruby shrugs, not able to give her girlfriend a clear answer in her counterpart's head, unfortunately.
Ruby still gives her the chance to come if she wants, Penny is working security.
"Well, at least there's plenty of good company," Ruby says, glancing back to Ren and Nora, and now referring to Penny.
"Penny will more than likely be on duty," Weiss tells her.
"Eh, still won't hurt to 'hi' though."
Weiss looks back at Yang and Blake. Yang is chuckling at Blake's attempts at her own dance moves. Yang shows her it's done and Blake shouts that that's what she is doing. Weiss was staring at them with a very specific look.
Blake and Yang let out embarrassed laughs as they could just feel the rest of their friends sharing the same looks. "Explain to me again how they're not dating yet?" Ruby asks.
"None of us would be able to tell ya'," Nora replies. Yang rubbed the back of her neck as Weiss's expression looked like she was so done with them as the feelings between them were obvious to her.
"Question, when are they going to get together in this?" Sun asks rhetorically.
Jaune appears in the doorway and tells the group that he and Oscar are going to hit the movies if anyone wants to come, but Weiss cuts him off and immediately agrees to go.
Weiss shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. She feels so bad for her counterpart that she has to deal with those two dancing around their feelings for one another.
A car drives through the street of Mantle, celebrating Hill's win. Ren states that he sees Weiss's point of view as a victory party seems premature. "Aww, let them have one sure thing," Nora says.
"Probably the last sure thing before Amity Tower goes up and everyone learns about…what we're fighting," Ruby adds.
"Should I really be bringing up a topic like that out in the open? Sure, no one knows what I'm talking about when I say 'what we're fighting', but bringing up Amity Tower like that might make some people ask questions." Ruby doesn't think it to be a good idea to bring up top secret projects out in public such as now.
"We've spent so much time worrying about how Ironwood would react to the truth about her, but have any of us considered how we're going to beat her if we managed to work past that?" Ren asks.
They've been trying to come up with ideas on that matter, but all they know is about the terms the Gods have given her to rid her immortality, and doing something about that is much more risky than it already sounds. Other than that, none of them are sure of how to proceed past that issue. How does one get rid of a murderous Grimm Queen's immortality with as few casualties as possible?
This problem, this isn't one any of them should have to deal with, they're all just teenagers, yet the fate of the world as they know has been thrust upon them. The responsibility and the outcome of all of humanity are on their shoulders and that's terrifying enough to think about, but to have it now as their reality is even scarier.
Nora states that she can't be beaten and Ruby adds that Jinn said Oz couldn't destroy her.
Then that would mean Ozpin isn't the one to kill her, it's someone else who will do the job. That someone else is all of them.
"But, maybe someone else could?" Nora suggests. Ruby responds that she doesn't know. Ren thinks they should be training right now.
"Ren they've trained enough! Don't you think they deserve a break?" Nora shouts at the screen.
Nora says they've trained enough and they should take some time–Ren cuts her off, telling her they don't have time. Both Nora and Ren walk off angrily while Ruby slows down, looking at the two.
Both Ren and Nora sigh as those two really need to clear the air. The tension has been clear since the beginning of the episode. If they don't talk to each other soon Nora feels like she's going to lose her mind. Both are disappointed in the way Ren is handling the situation.
The small group enters the building that's in full swing. Penny appears from the crowd and happily greets the three. The air between Ren and Nora is still tense while Ruby greets back. "It's just Marrow and I tonight, so more friends means more fun. Where are the others?"
"Jaune, Oscar, and Weiss are out to see a movie and Blake and Yang are out dancing with Team FNKI at a club," Ruby answers as if Penny will actually hear her.
"Weiss is out with the boys and Blake and Yang are off doing their own thing, again," Nora says. Ren comments how they're back together as friends. "Friends, huh? Just friends?"
"What else would they be?" Ren asks as Ruby slides down to the floor, having had enough of the two.
"Well, if that little dancing moment and Weiss's exasperation at the scene wasn't proof enough that there might be something more going on," Jaune mutters.
"Two people who've gone through that much? I think there's more going on."
"Well, maybe one of them feels that way, but the other might be worried.
"About what?!" As the two continue, Penny whispers to Ruby that she's confused about who they're talking about. Ruby isn't so sure either, just looking done with the two.
Nora clicks her tongue, shaking her head at the two. If only they could truly see, it really is sad, Nora thought to herself. To also think that both she and Ren could have argued this. The stress of the situation really doesn't help.
In Penny's intercom, Marrow asks where she went. As Penny is about to go, Ruby quickly grasps onto her arm, begging her not to leave her.
"I wouldn't want to be left alone in that mess either," Nora mumbled. Nora was glad that both of them were able to get out their feelings.
Marrow sees Penny and then unenthusiastically asks what Ruby is doing here.
"I appreciate that I'm so wanted," Ruby says sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Ruby puts out a hand for Penny to fistbump. "Just, uh, hanging out with a friend while she's on the job." Penny gasps happily, returning the fistbump, but definitely damaging Ruby's hand as its color changes to red and throbs.
A few of the students winced as some of them could feel how much that must have hurt. Ruby rubs her own hand, she loves Penny but sometimes she really doesn't know her own strength. Raider internally screams in pain at the adorable look on Penny's face. It hurts so much to know what happens to her.
"Yeah, real cute. Try not to be too much of a distraction, we need to be vigilant in case–" May appears beside Marrow, finishing his sentence. "In case someone tries to start trouble."
"Oh funny, that's why we're here, so feel free to take a hike."
"Listen, the general's trying to help, alright? Just 'cause you can't understand-" Marrow is disrupted by Robyn making her presence known and asking him what's going on.
The group let out a breath of relief, they really didn't want this to turn into some kind of fight.
Robyn looks over at Ruby and says 'The pipsqueak is back', making Ruby let out a new of frustration.
"I'm not a pipsqueak!" Ruby shouted.
"We're concerned about security risks, ma'am. The general doesn't want any surprises tonight." Robyn walks up to Marrow before agreeing but tells him to stay out of the way, shocking May.
Things don't have to escalate into a scene. But, nothing like these parties ever goes smoothly, something always happens. A few spare a glance towards Weiss.
"If I get elected tonight, we'll all have to learn to get along." Robyn looks directly at May who walks off with a scoff.
"Sure, we won't have any problems, as long as you stay within the law." Robyn reminds Marrow that the law isn't perfect, it certainly isn't equal. "Trust me, I'm well aware." Marrow's tail is shown for further emphasis.
Blake's ears and Sun's tail flicked as another acknowledgment. Winter frowns, just giving her another reason why she is going to do her best to change things once they all return. Winter doesn't want another 'Adam Incident' to occur.
"My only goal is that all the citizens of Mantle and Atlas and Faunus, have an equal shot at a good life."
"That sounds great, and you're planning to do all the equalizing legally, right?"
Winter sighs, despite her admiring Robyn's goal she will need to keep a closing eye on the Happy Huntresses to make sure they stay within the legal boundaries.
Joanna and Robyn smirk. "Everything I've done is legal."
"Of course, one hundred percent," Marrow replies. Behind them, Fiona is trying to the microphone working. She taps on the microphone and she has to cover her ear. Her voice echoes and Joanna makes her way on stage. Marrow grunts then turns to Ruby and tells her to scram as he and Penny have a job to do.
Ruby sticks her tongue out at the Marrow on screen, resulting in a light slap to the shoulder from Weiss. Yang copies her sister and does the exact same thing, also leading to Blake telling her to cut it out.
Ruby secretly blows a raspberry at Marrow.
Weiss just shakes her head.
Ruby goes in search of her friends to find them still arguing. Ren asks Nora if they cannot have their talk at the moment.
Ren frowns. What is with my counterpart? It's clear Nora is trying to talk and communicate but I'm just brushing her off. Ren wasn't just referring to now, the previous times he kept either cutting her off or changing the subject. Ren was becoming disappointed in himself.
Ruby wishes she'd just gone to the movies.
Both Ren and Nora agreed if they were to put in Ruby's shoes.
"I want to thank everyone for going to the polls today, this is Mantle's moment." The crowd cheers and Fiona continues. "I know, that like me, you're all thrilled that we chose Robyn as our voice in Atlas. No one has fought harder for Mantle than she has and," for a moment, Fiona gets teary-eyed, "I know Robyn will continue that fight on the Council. Will you share a few words?"
Blake lightly chuckled, "Robyn must have made a lasting impact on her."
The crowd cheers as Robyn's smile turns soft. Ruby makes her way to the stage while Robyn is sharing a few words with Fiona. "I've never been much for public speaking."
"A bit ironic considering she does such a good job speaking out for the people of Mantle," Pyrrha said.
"Probably wasn't my best idea ever to go into politics. Thank you so much, everyone."
"Is anyone else a little worried about the polls between Jacque and Robyn being so close?" Jaune asked. Jacque was at 45% while Robyn was at 55%. The gap between the votes only seems to get smaller and smaller. Everyone noticed and that certainly put a damp on their good mood.
"For choosing me. You said you believe in me, but I'm the one who believes in all of you. You've proven to me that as individuals we are strong, but together, we are unstoppable." Nora and Ren seem to be taking the words much more personally. "So no matter what happens tonight, win or lose, we will continue to fight for our city because it is this city that brings us together." The crowd cheers and erupts into applause.
The students couldn't stop their own, also considering that was a much better speech than Jacque Schnee's ever could be.
Nora tried to reach out to Ren, but he flinched.
"Ugh, at this point it's just becoming more infuriating! Stop trying to shut her out, damn it!" Ren screamed. Ren has about had enough of his counterpart's behavior.
Robyn begins to make her way off stage, but she doesn't look as confident as she had a second ago. The announcer declares it's going to be a closer race than anticipated. Joanna tells her not to worry and that it's in the bag. Robyn looks back at the percentage and the poll is now 47% Jacque and 53% Robyn.
Some of the students were beginning to bite their nails as the numbers drew closer and closer together. Yang was becoming increasingly worried that she was going to be right once more. If her earlier comment comes true, then Yang wholeheartedly decides that she's just going to keep quiet about those specific comments.
Nora looks at Ren, pleading to know why he won't talk to her and what's going on. "You know I've… been…really good with talking."
"Then to hell with talking!" Nora screams, grabbing her boyfriend by the shoulders and kissing him. His eyes widen in surprise before he melts into the kiss. Nora pulls away just as Ren is making himself comfortable in her embrace. "It's not that hard!" Nora noticed her friends looking back at her with light shock.
"Then screw talking." Nora grabs Ren by the collar and kisses him. The two wrap their arms around one another as everything else begins to fade away.
Winter coughs into her fist while everyone else cheers. "That's what we're talking about!" Yang shouts, swinging her fist in the air. Jaune and Pyrrha are clapping for their teammate's counterparts as they finally address the goliath in the room.
"You two better be prepared for the massive amounts of teasing from us," Sun says.
Ruby, Penny, and Marrow all surveil the room. Somewhere else, watching on a camera is Watts.
"Fucking damn it!" Yang screams in outrage. "Something good is actually happening and this piece of shit has to come and ruin?!"
"Noooo," Ruby whined. This was going to make Ren push Nora way even more because the universe proved him right that if he let his guard down for even a second then something bad would happen.
"I'm getting so sick and tired of these two!" Nora yelled. He was ruining her moment with Ren!
Watts activated multiple scrolls and his rings and raised his hands, asking if Tyrian was ready. Tyrian, in the crowd, laughed evilly and replied that he always is.
"He's there!" Ruby shouts in horror. "No! No! No! I don't want to hear anymore!" Ruby immediately covered her ears, knowing what sounds were about to come next. She didn't want any more screams to forever repeat inside her head. Weiss quickly goes to hold Ruby as the girl refuses to move her hands.
Everyone knew, even after hearing so many, they could never truly prepare for the sounds they hear next.
Robyn announces that polls are about to close. The countdown begins and Ruby spots Tyrian's tail in the crowd. She rushes deeper and spots him. Ruby reaches out her hand and shouts just as the lights go out. Tyrian says 'Go', sliding his fingers across the scroll screens. The microphone drops to the floor and Tyrian proceeds to slash at everyone in his path. Ruby gets knocked into the wall and she clutches her head.
Ruby whimpers into Weiss's arms, trying to block out the sounds to the best of her abilities, but it's no use, she can hear everything. Everyone else is watching in horror at the massacre unfolding in front of them. Some of them are covering their mouths while others' eyes are glued to the screen, frozen in terror.
Raider wordlessly looks away from the group as she's too ashamed that she makes them watch this.
Bodies drop to the floor, dead. Penny activates her night vision as Marrow demands to know what's going on. Penny sees Tyrian and pulls out her weapons, ordering him to surrender.
Ruby shakes in her seat. She should have just gone to the movies. She should have just gone to the movies!
One moment Penny can see him, the next he's gone after somebody runs in front of her. Marrows requests immediate assistance as Watts works his magic and is tracking Tyrian's movements.
"What the fuck is he even doing?"
"Why is Penny a part of it?"
"Does he plan to frame Penny?"
Questions broke out as Penny and Tyrian were connected on the same programming screen.
Robyn calls for her huntresses to come to her and Fiona says they need to get her out of here. Creeping up the stage stairs is Tyrian as he rushes towards Fiona. His hand turns purple and he cuts his venom into Fiona.
"No!" All of the scream. Ruby knows she should be watching, but something in her can't bring herself to.
Tyrian jumps over Robyn, landing behind her. Penny shouts the woman's name and she tackles her to the ground. Tyrian jumps up and Robyn looks up to Penny with her blades out to keep the area around Robyn secure. Tyrian chuckles from a beam up above. "Right on time." He leaves the scene and the lights come back on.
"I-Is it over?" Ruby asks meekly, her face buried in Weiss's chest. Weiss pets her hair, holding her tightly.
"Yes, it's over…" Weiss looks up in despair at the screen and Ruby follows, her eyes widening.
Penny looks back to people crying. "And the winner of the Atlas Council Election is…Jacque Schnee!"
Everyone still felt too stunned to speak after what they just watched. Then, the silence shattered. "Are you kidding me…are you fucking kidding me?! After seeing all that we then find out that Jacque Godsdamn Fucking Schnee WON?!" Yang shrieks in complete outrage. The room was left beyond disbelief. Winter leans down and holds her head in her lap, rubbing her temples.
"Yang," Blake said sternly. Yang whipped her head, about to say something when her girlfriend's expression made her stop dead in her tracks. "Ruby." That one word had her swiftly focusing on her sister and bringing her into a strong hug.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled, I'm sorry…" Ruby was shaking as she felt her emotions were all over the place and nothing was doing much to help, not after earlier.
A man, kneeling over someone else yelled that it was Ironwood's robot.
That got Ruby to snap her head up, almost headbutting her sister in the chin. Same as everyone else as this man was blaming Penny for all of this?! "You seriously think the Protector of Mantle would be the one to do this?!" Nora shouted.
"Penny would never do something like this!" Ruby cries. Ruby was beyond enraged. Gone were the sad feelings that were quickly being replaced by anger that they have the audacity to blame Penny for this massacre.
Robyn's eyes narrowed as she looked at Penny, believing she was the one behind this. Penny put away her weapons as Jacque, on camera, was thanking the people.
"Shut the fuck up you bastard of a man!" Winter shouted, standing up from her seat.
Ruby jumped on stage, rushing to stop Fiona's bleeding. Robyn grunts in rage as Nora and Ren run up, the girl asking what happened. "It was Tyrian! Tyrian's here!" Ruby shouted. This put them on high alert as the people of Mantle ran to attack Penny.
"Stay!" Marrow snapped his fingers at the people and everyone froze. "Get Penny out the back! Now!" Nora and Ren take Penny and Robyn runs off and shoves Ruby off Fiona.
"Hey! Ruby had nothing to do with this!" Yang shouted. She understands everything's a high-stress situation, but still! Winter grits her teeth, she was going to make sure Watts and Tyrian get what they deserve after everything they've done, she swears it!
Ruby looks over to Marrow who attempts to reach out, apologizing, but a single arrow from Joanna warns him to stay back. Ruby runs and takes Marrow's arm, urging them to go. "This wasn't us…I swear it," Marrow says as the two leave. Robyn angrily looks up, not believing what she thinks to be nothing but a lie.
All this was going to do was create tension between Mantle and Atlas, potentially leading to something of a civil war! Now the group is not only going to have Salem's team after them, but the people of Mantle as well.
"Fine work, Tyrian, I think we are done for tonight." Watts taps the upload button on his screen and begins to exit the small space he is in, tossing his scroll in the air before catching it.
What the hell did he just upload? And what did any of it have to do with Penny?
A man looks up at the screen, taking a sip from his flask as the winner is announced "A surprise victory by SDC Mining Corporation CEO, Jacque Schnee. Last minute voter turnout produced a dark horse victory for the dust industry leader."
Everything is going all wrong…why? Why? Why?! Why must everything go so terribly wrong?!
In an alleyway, the group stands on guard while Penny looks out at all the chaos, her eyes glossed over and traumatized. Ruby is about to reach out her hand, but stops, looking down at it.
One of Ruby's own hands tightened.
"Penny, you need to get to Atlas, backup's on the way." Penny doesn't respond. "Penny." The girl's only response is to move her head, showing she heard him before blasting off into the air. The sound of growls in the streets grabs the group's attention.
None of them were even allowed to have one peaceful night, something always had to come and ruin it, huh? They even knew the others' night was ruined after having to hear about this horrific event.
"Grimm," Ruby mutters.
"We've got a long night ahead," Marrow adds.
"And as the newest member of the Council," Jacque announces.
"Oh my Gods, SHUT UP! No one gives a crap!" Sun yells.
"This episode is already horrible enough as is, we don't need it ending off with hearing your stupid voice!" Nora screams.
"I pledge to serve each and every citizen of Mantle and Atlas!" Lynels fly through the city as Mantle's Grimm sirens blare. One flies down the streets and into its mouth, leaving everything to be dark.
The screen went blank and the room was left in a deafening silence, no one had a single thing to say. "I…um…I think now would be a good time to turn in." No one says anything, but all soundlessly take themselves to their bedrooms.