"Yang Xiao Long, stand down!" An Atlas soldier shouts. Mercury clings on his leg gasping in pain, "My leg, MY LEG!" As Mercury is still cradling his injured limb, Emerald kneeling beside him and Yang in the center of a ring of security, all with rifles aimed at her.
Emerald, in distress, calls out, "Please, somebody help him!" Paramedics come over with a stretcher, lowering it to Mercury, "Can you do something!?" A rip in the leg of Mercury's pants made skin and blood visible.
"We need to get this boy to a hospital. Grab a blanket." Paramedics begin to get Mercury on the stretcher and rush him off, Emerald following right behind. Yang looks on with a horrified expression, her lilac eyes now almost colorless, "You don't understand! He attacked me, I swear-" Yang pointed her finger at Mercury, "Stow it! You've already caused enough of a scene!"
Your eyes followed Emerald and Mercury, "S-something's not right."
Meanwhile, Emerald runs alongside the two paramedics as they come across an open door with a woman in the same outfit inside.
The woman was gesturing them to stop, "Here! We've got an ambulance ready to go!"
Later, the back door closes on the emergency airship they loaded Mercury in.
The Paramedic sighs, then talking with the "other paramedic,"
"Hope they'll be okay. That girl won't leave his side."
Cinder nodding under the white cap with a red cross she's wearing, "We'll take good care of both of them." The transport flies away from the Colosseum, and Mercury is laying on a cargo box in the back, still moaning and crying beside Emerald sitting next to him.
"Oh, doc, tell me, will I ever walk again?" Mercury then receives a punch in the arm from Emerald, looking at her as he rubs the sore spot he actually got hurt from, "Ow! What's your deal!?"
Groaning suddenly as Emerald puts her hand up to her forehead, "Ugh, headache. One mind I can handle, but two is a stretch."
Cinder calls back to them from the co-pilot's seat, "Well, you all performed marvelously, driver included."
The "driver," wearing a similar uniform as Cinder, blinks her magenta eyes back to their natural brown and pink shades and nods in silent gratitude.
Mercury asks as the airship continues to fly away, "So, you think it worked?"
"All according to plan, Saint isn't much as a threat like Salem said." Cinder crossed her arms.
"Explain to me, why did Salem warn us about her anyways? She said that this 'Saint' could ruin everything for us, but if you ask me, she's more of an airhead." Mercury leaned back on the stretcher.
"Then again, if she wasn't, why would Salem mention her if she wasn't a threat?"
A few professors called Ozpin, you decide to wait for him near the area, worry filled your head as you tried to understand what you just witnessed, you pull out your scroll to see if you can see what happened during the duel, "Maybe I missed something."
You then walked off your eyes still on your scroll when you bump into someone, "Ah, sorry about that; I wasn't paying attention-"
"Not all (Y/n), I don't mind if it's you." Your body stiffens as you felt your heart drop down to your stomach. The man in front of you had a kind smile, yet in his pale blue eyes were possession and madness. You step back away from him as a crowed separated you and the man. With a bink of an eye, the man was gone. You turned to your heel quickly, running off to Ozpin's side. Ozpin smiled at you when he takes notice that something was wrong.
"Love, what's the matter?"
"He's is here."
"Who-"
"Suneel." You whispered, but loud enough for him to hear, Ozpin freezes for a moment, "Gentlemen, may we have a moment?" The other people in the room leave, leaving you and Ozpin alone.
"He was there. Oz, she is on to us." You sat on one of the chairs as Ozpin takes a seat next to you, "I know, and it's going to be okay."
You cover your face with your hands, "Oz, this is so frustrating."
"It's sad to see what's becoming of you."
"That's kinda rude." You pouted at his remarks, "Saint, you used to be filled with happiness, warmth, but since that man got in your head, you kept your distance from anyone who tried getting close to you."
"Everyone other than you." Ozpin brings you into a hug, planting a kiss on your forehead.
"I want to remind you that Suneel is not going to take you in a cage he calls love. And I will be the one to make sure that I will protect you; every life I encounter, I will love you."
You smiled, "I love you too, Oz."
A meeting was held later that same night in the clock tower; you sat in Ozpin's chair as Ozpin stood right behind you, his hands resting on your shoulders.
Glenda, Ironwood, and Qrow all stood around the room, "I know it was short notice, but there's something to discuss."
"Is it about Yang?" Qrow questions, Ozpin sighs before continuing, "Suneel has entered Beacon."
Glenda uncrosses her arms, "How?"
Qrow straightened his position, "That Suneel? If so, why isn't (Y/n) been accompanied by any of us?"
Once again, Ozpin speaks up, "It was only a few hours ago that Suneel was found out, I haven't let (Y/n) out of my sight."
Qrow turns to you, "Then how have you've been feeling?"
You looked up, "I don't know, Oz is helping to calm me down so I don't attract the Grimm, but I ran into him while Yang was being apprehended."
"Ozpin, may I suggest we keep (Y/n) under my watch?" You sighed at the offer, "James, we already discussed this. I will stay with Oz, for the time being, Suneel is smart enough to know not to come near Oz."
Glenda began to think of an idea, "We need to make sure that (Y/n) is in plain view of all of us, by far what we know, he is the main threat of (Y/n). Ironwood, I suggest we use a few of your men to watch the area, and we will keep (Y/n) under our wraps."
"(Y/n), are you alright?"
"I'm supposed to be the one to protect all of you, yet you're protecting me."
Ozpin places a hand on your shoulder, "Saint, do understand that Suneel will do anything to get you since that incident. It hasn't been three years since you've last seen him."
The memory of that day appeared in your head, how Suneel's laughter echoed while he had you pinned down.
"I knew I should have killed him." Qrow glares at the ground.
"Qrow, you can't say that. Wishing someone's death-" Qrow cut you off, "After what he almost did to you? If I was a second late, he would have-... You know if anything happens to you the Grimm-"
"The Grimm attack my attacker they wouldn't target anyone if I am there, but fear attracts the Grimm. As long as I stay far from him, nothing will happen to anyone here during the tournament."
"During the tournament, Saint will be with Ironwood or with me. Qrow, I need you to have a bird's eye view of the area, please contact Ironwood or if you find anything."
"Understood." Everyone spoke in unison, as you smile at your friends. Ozpin smiles slightly, seeing that your aura was giving a positive vibe.
The next day back in the Colosseum, people are back in the stands cheering and ready for entertainment as Ruby descends down the steps to an open seat. Despite everything that's happened, she's smiling widely, looking around at the assembled crowds, taking notice that you were sitting next to Ironwood.
Until her stupefied eyes see a familiar, glaring face on the other side of the arena.
"Emerald's... here?"
As if sensing she's being watched, Emerald leans forward to glare at Ruby, who suddenly gets up with a worried expression and runs towards the exit tunnel. Checking to see if no one's around, she enters a door labeled with a yellow maintenance sign and finds herself inside of the Colosseum. She walks forward with determination as Oobleck's voice is heard, muffled behind the brick walls, "All right, it's now time to begin the randomization process for our next fight!"
The sound of the roulette is heard faintly, but what makes Ruby stop in her tracks is the sight of another unexpected "friend," stepping out from a nearby tunnel, wholly unharmed and definitely not going home.
"Mercury?"
"It looks like our first contender is... Penny Polendina from Atlas..."
Ruby's attention goes from the broadcast to the fraud, "What are you doing?"
"And her opponent will be... Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!"
Ruby's head dips in thought until she realizes the awful truth, "No..."
Mercury puts a hand to his chin, "Ooh, polarity versus metal. That could be bad."
Ruby glares at her new opponent, reaching back to grab Crescent Rose, only to remember she doesn't have it on her. Mercury simply grins maliciously and sets himself up in a fighting stance.
End of Chapter~
Michaelis~