It's All Changed

Volume 3 Ep. 8 - Her Twisted End

When I returned to the row of crowds, my eyes caught someone. "Emerald...? What is she doing here...?" I muttered under my breath. Then, a wave of panic and fear washed over me. I widen my eyes and start breathing heavily.

'What is this feeling...?' I asked myself. 'C'mon, Y/N... relax.' I told myself. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. Eventually, it slows and I open my eyes. I let out a sigh.

"FIghters, are you ready?" Dr. Oobleck asks the two combatants. Penny continues to smile at Pyrrha. But Pyrrha... she took a moment to herself to manage a small scowl at her opponent.

"Three, two, one... begin!" Dr. Oobleck countdown. Immediately, Penny takes her floating array of swords. I watch it dance for a second before Penny commands her swords at Pyrrha.

Pyrrha runs forward and leaps through and deflect each aimed blade. The swords fly into the air until they turn around and come back to fight. Pyrrha notices the incoming swords and brings her shield up.

Penny retrieved her swords as both her and Pyrrha start close-quarter combat with each other. Pyrrha deflects each sword with her javelin, eventually dropping it to avoid Penny's slashes. Pyrrha magnetically retrieved her javelin.

"My word! What a tremendous display by Ms. Polendina!" Professor Port compliments. Fully glowering, Pyrrha rushes forward and jumps on an incoming sword, swinging down on Penny, only to have the assault halted by a collection of blades, though she leaps away from the retaliatory slice as Penny backs away as well.

Pyrrha attempts to defend against the multitude of swords with the length of her weapon but is forced back regardless, prompting Pyrrha to roll the shield from her back onto her arm with her semblance.

Penny advances Pyrrha with her swords. The red-haired warrior spins wildly as she deflects and dodges each sword, until she gets close enough to Penny to deliver a few slashes with the spear, sending her flying back as Pyrrha bats aside the blades called to their wielder's aid.

Penny changes tactics and uses her swords to create green energy blasts. Pyrrha avoids the blasts and fights off the remaining swords with her blade until she slides into position to charge at Penny and knock her back.

Pyrrha straightens with a victorious grin that disappears as soon as Penny rockets forward, weapons firing behind her like a jetpack. She leaps into the air, then comes down as an energized meteor on her opponent.

Rolling back to her feet, Pyrrha doesn't expect a sword to knock her shield off, then another to do the same for her blade. She tries to get her javelin back with her semblance, but was knocked off course by one of Penny's swords.

Grinning, Penny raises her arms as her swords appear above her. Aimed to strike down on Pyrrha. My eyes widen again as I saw the same thing from before... form Yang's fight.

It changed from eight swords aimed at her... then quadruple the amount. Then back to eight. 'I don't know what's real anymore...' I told myself as the wave from before washed over me again.

Panicked, I started to sweat bullets. I was knocked out of my state as I heard collective gasps from the crowd. I looked back at Penny and Pyrrha... only to see a dismantled Penny.

"She's... not human..." I muttered under my breath. Pyrrha stares in abject horror, eyes wide and mouth agape. "No!" Professor Port shouts over the intercoms.

The crowd continued to gasp and mutter amongst themselves. It was clear... the crowd was in utter shock and horror. Suddenly, the holographic screen took in a red hue, with a queen chess piece as the only picture shown.

"This is not a tragedy." The person started. "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." The voice spits.

"They cling to this power in the name of peace, and yet, what do we have here?" The voice asks the crowd. "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?" The voice continued.

"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 honor and mercy, yet I have witnessed neither." The voice spoke.

I looked back down at Pyrrha... she was already crying a river and regretted losing her composure. "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." The voice appealed.

"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." The voice continued.

"So I ask you: When the first shots are fired... who do you think you can trust?" The voice asks the crowd. Soon, the question was answered with the wail of sirens. "Alert. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: Nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner." The overhead announcer sounds as the crowd begins to flee, wild and screaming, through the exit tunnels.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please. There is no need for panic." I heard General Ironwood state to the crowd over the intercoms. Suddenly, a Nevermore appears atop the coliseum's domed force field, giving a series of deafening screeches as it claws and pecks at the defense with its beak.

"It's started..."