A/N: While you were busy to look for evidence to prove that Yang was innocent, Pyrrha was still dealing with her own problem.

You and the girls were in the Team's dorm with general Ironwood as two Atlesian Knight-200s guarding the room.

Ironwood: I'm sorry, but you've left us with no choice.

Yang: But he attacked me!

Ironwood: Video footage and millions of viewers say otherwise.

Weiss: But Yang would never do that!

Ruby: Yeah!

Ironwood turned around as Yang sighed and placed her head in her hands.

Ironwood: You all seem like good students, and the staff here at Beacon are fully aware that you would never lash out the way you did... under normal circumstances. What I believe and hope this to be is nothing more than the result of stress and adrenaline. When you're out on the battlefield, your judgment can become clouded in an instant. Sometimes you see things that simply aren't there. Even after the fight is past...

With that last statement, he looked to the right while rolling his right shoulder.

Yang: But I wasn't....

Ironwood: That's ENOUGH!

The room fell silent before he spoke again.

Ironwood: The sad truth is, whether it was an accident or an assault, it doesn't matter. The world saw you attack an innocent student. They've already drawn their own conclusions. And it's my job to inform you that... you are disqualified.

Yang's shock turned into miserable understanding when she looked to the ground, and Ironwood left the room. Yang soon turned to her friends.

Yang: You guys believe me, right?

As she asked this, you left the room and walked into the hall. You saw Ironwood walking. So you called out to him.

(Y/N): Ironwood!

He stopped and looked over his shoulder to you.

(Y/N): I may not be the individual around here, but I know when someone is being played and right now .....you and everyone who saw what happened have likely got played. 

Ironwood: Just what exactly are you trying to imply?

(Y/N): I've had this growing suspicion for quite some time even before this incident. But I believe someone's been using illusions. And I have without a doubt that they've done it again with what happened earlier. You don't have to take my word, but I have known Yang long enough to know that she wouldn't attack someone like that. Especially in something like a tournament.

Ironwood: Even if I were to believe that it were an illusion, who do you suspect to even be?

(Y/N): I have a suspicion that it maybe Mercury's other teammate, Emerald. When She and Mercury had their round with Coco and Yatsuhashi, Emerald must have been using illusion type abilities a few times in the fight. Because I was able to sense her being in one place yet she seemed to be shown standing in another. And she was allegedly moving a lot faster than what her actual speed was in that fight. Not to mention that Coco told me that she thought she saw Yatsuhashi with her in the forest during the fight with Emerald and Mercury, but he not once got out of the geyser fields.

Ironwood: And what might you suggest we do then?

(Y/N): You should at the very least hold up an investigation or even interrogation on Cinder's team to find out if it was her.

Ironwood soon sighed.

Ironwood: Once the tournament is over, we will hold an investigation. I can't risk accusing someone or their team for something they were possibly not responsible for.

(Y/N): We might not have time to wait until it's over.

Ironwood: I've made my decision.

He said before walking off and you gave a frustrated growl.

(Y/N)'s mind: Things will probably get worse if we wait! I'll have to do this myself before it's too late.

You thought before walking off to the opposite direction sometime before Ruby, Weiss and Blake left the room.

Weiss: This is a mess...

Jaune peeked out of Team JNPR's room, with his team peering around the edge in concern.

Jaune: She doing okay?

Blake: She's doing the best she can.

Ruby: I heard Mercury and his team rushed back to Haven to be with his family. So, until they land, no one can really question him about what happened.

Ren: If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate to ask.

Ruby: All right then. If that's the case... Pyrrha?

Pyrrha: Hm?

Ruby: You be sure to win one for Beacon, okay?

Weiss: It's what Yang would want.

Pyrrha turned her head away before coming back with her attempt at a confident look.

Pyrrha: I'll ...do my best.

Ruby: I'll be sure to watch tonight in case you're picked!

Pyrrha's smile dropped down into worry as she looked away.

Blake: Sorry but, I think I've had enough fighting for one year.

Weiss: Ditto.

A moment passes before she spoke again.

Weiss: Coffee?

Blake: Tea.

The three members of RWBY walked down the hall, and Jaune only closed the door when he saw Ruby disappear behind the corner. Pyrrha continued to look forlorn, until Nora suddenly got suddenly getting up in Pyrrha's surprised face while grinning madly.

Nora: You heard the lady! No more moping around!

She then backed away to the other side of the room, now clad in pink workout clothes and sweatbands, as she pointed to Pyrrha.

Nora: We gotta get your butt in shape for the big fight!

She said as she started doing random exercises - running in place, pushups and jumping jacks.

Nora: It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be the most important fight of your entire life!

She culminated the demonstration by lifting a barbell tipped with 1000 pound weights on each end, holding it in the air and sweating profusely before falling backwards. Pyrrha smiled a little in bewilderment.

Pyrrha: Um...

Ren: Nora's right.

Pyrrha looked to him in his pink apron reading "PLEASE DO NOTHING TO THE COOK".

Ren: You can't let your concern for Yang hold you back. You need to focus. You'll be defending the honor of Beacon Academy.

Pyrrha: Of course. I.....

Ren cut her off as he held a glass filled with a green liquid making bubbling noises in front of her face.

Ren: This blend of herbs and vegetables is filled with nutrients vital to your body's well-being.

Pyrrha: Oh, that's.....

Ren: Please, there's no need to thank me.

Nora: Thank you? Ugh, that looks like slime from a lakebed!

Ren turned away from her, cradling his creation.

Ren: Algae contains numerous spectacular properties. See for yourself.

He said as he lifted it towards her mouth. Nora took a sip and immediately regretted it. Her face turned the same sickly green as the healthy sludge.

Nora: BLEGH!

She went straight over to the waste basket and dunk her head in, getting all of the liquid out while continuing to make disgusted noises until she turned back around to Ren.

Nora: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? Ugh...

Ren: Me? You're the one that wasted perfectly good juice.

Nora: We're supposed to help Pyrrha, not poison her!

Ren: There was absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Nora: If it looks the same coming up as it does going down, then there's something wrong!

Neither of them noticed Pyrrha's smile at their antics fade once more, though their leader did from the doorway. He came over and placed his hand on their shoulders.

Jaune: Hey, how about we all get some fresh air?

Pyrrha looked up at Jaune, who grinned at his troubled friend.

Yang was still in the dorm sitting on Blake's bed, looking out the window at the members of JNPR walking in the courtyard outside, Nora marching alongside Ren with Jaune and Pyrrha in the back, all of them looking happy to be with each other.

Qrow: Hey there, firecracker.

She turned around to just gazed down in the direction of her uncle, who was leaning against the doorway.

Yang: Hey, Qrow.

Qrow: So, why'd you do it?

Yang: You know why.

Qrow: All I know is that you attacked a helpless kid. So either you're lying or you're crazy.

She soon stared resolutely at her uncle.

Yang: I'm not lying.

Qrow: Crazy, got it.

Yang: Who knows? Maybe I am.

Qrow: And here I thought your dark-haired friend was the emo one.

Yang: I saw my mom.

Qrow gave a sudden stop and shocked reaction from the corner of her eye.

Yang: I ....I was in a lot of trouble. Took a pretty hard hit. But when I came to, the person attacking me was gone. And I thought I saw... her. Her sword, like the one in you and dad's old picture.

He then laughed.

Qrow: You're not crazy, Yang.

He turned and nodded while smiling sadly.

Qrow: That was your mom, all right. Let me guess - she didn't say a word, did she?

Yang: How did you know that?

Qrow: I don't see my sister very often, but she does try to keep in touch... whenever it suits her.

Yang: Wait. You mean you talk to her? That was real?

Qrow: Yeah, she found me. Had a tip from my most recent assignment and wanted me to give you a message.

Yang: Why didn't you tell me sooner!?

Qrow let out a sigh as he went over to the window, not looking at his niece.

Qrow: I was tryin' to wait for the right time, and this sure ain't it. But I guess you deserve to know.

He looked back at Yang, gravely solemn.

Qrow: She wanted me to tell you that she saved you once, but you shouldn't expect that kindness again. Raven's got an interesting way of looking at the world that I don't particularly agree with. And she's dangerous. But you're a tough egg, kiddo. Shouldn't let this tournament thing get'cha down. You had a slip-up, sometimes bad things just happen. I say it's time you move on.

Yang: Move on to what?

Qrow: Well... Raven let some info slip before she took off. If you ever wanna track her down, I think I might be able to help.

He glanced back at Yang, who looked at him with her full attention.

(Meanwhile).

Pyrrha was sitting alone outside the dining hall, head bowed as the wind rose. She saw the air blow a single orange leaf onto the cobblestones at her feet, and she looked at the fall colors with a face of total fright, remembering the sight of Amber in her comatose state and the choice weighing her down.

Jaune: Hey.

She turned her head up to see jaune with a large cone of cotton candy.

Jaune: I ....It's no green goop, but I think it still might do some good.

She stared at the offered treat while she came back to reality before hesitantly taking it.

Pyrrha: Um, right. Thank you, Jaune.

Jaune's beam faded as he saw her still-tormented face, and looked to the far end of the building as Nora and Ren came around the corner. Nora carrying a cotton candy, a tub of popcorn, and a drink to sip on. But she soon knew what was happening when she saw it and gestured to her distracted friend.

Nora: Uh ...come on, Ren. Let's go back to the fairgrounds. I'll win you another stuffed animal.

She dragged him away from Jaune and Pyrrha's private scene. Jaune looked back at Pyrrha took a seat next to her.

Jaune: You were the first person to ever believe in me, you know that?

He managed to get her to look at him as he laughed in sadness to himself.

Jaune: Even when I told my parents I was going to Beacon, they told me not to worry if I ended up having to move back home. How depressing is that?

Pyrrha: I'm sure they didn't mean...

Her sorrow became surprise, eyes widening and dropping the pink fluffy snack as she realized Jaune's hand was placed upon hers.

Jaune: I guess ...I'm just trying to say that... you've always been there for me... even when I didn't deserve it. And I can tell there's something on your mind, so ...I don't know. How can I help?

As her astonishment melts away into contentment, Pyrrha leaned over and placed her head in a startled Jaune's shoulder, closing her eyes.

Pyrrha: You're already doing it.

Jaune quickly matched Pyrrha's smile with his own, and the two stay there for a long moment, but as an additional autumn leaf joined the first, Pyrrha's expression darkened once more.

Pyrrha: Jaune...

She said while getting up from her nestling.

Jaune: Hmm?

Pyrrha suddenly took her hand out from his while looking away.

Pyrrha: I don't know what to do.

Jaune: W ...What do you mean?

She glanced up as she wondered what to say.

Pyrrha: Do you believe in destiny?

Jaune: Um ...I ...I don't know. I guess that depends on how you view it.

Pyrrha: When I think of destiny, I don't think of a predetermined fate you can't escape. But rather... some sort of final goal, something you work towards your entire life.

Jaune: Okay. Uh, yeah. I can see that, sure.

Pyrrha struggled to find the right words as she glanced at him.

Pyrrha: Well... what would you do if something came along that you... never expected? Something that had the potential to stand between you and your destiny?

Jaune: Like what?

Pyrrha: Or what if you could suddenly fulfill your destiny in an instant, but at the cost of who you were?

Jaune leaned over and attempted to place his hand on her shoulder.

Jaune: Pyrrha, you're not making any sense.

Pyrrha stood up away from his touch, holding herself as if on the verge of tears.

Pyrrha: None of it makes sense! This isn't how things were supposed to happen!

Jaune got up as well, spreading his arms in confusion.

Jaune: I'm sorry! Please, I ....I'm just trying to understand what's wrong.

Pyrrha: I've always felt as though I was destined to become a Huntress - to protect the world... 

She then let out a quick sigh before continuing.

Pyrrha: And it's become increasingly clear to me that my feelings were right. But...

She turned to look at Jaune.

Pyrrha: ...I don't know if I can do it.

Jaune: Of course you can. The Pyrrha Nikos I know would never back down from a challenge. And if you really believe it's your destiny to save the world...

He moved towards her, confident in his answer.

Jaune: you can't let anything stand in your way.

Despite Jaune's intentions, this didn't bring relief. Instead, Pyrrha looked absolutely shattered, covering her mouth as she began to sob.

Jaune: Pyrrha?

She turned away with face still in her hands.

Pyrrha: Stop...

Jaune continued to approach.

Jaune: Did I say something wrong?

Pyrrha: STOP!

She held her hand out, a black energy surrounded it as she unintentionally used her Semblance to push Jaune's armor and it's wearer into the dining hall column. He weakly watched her from his spot above until she opened her eyes and realized what she's done.

Pyrrha: Jaune!

She lowered her hand and let him fall to the ground, finally letting the tears come as he looked up.

Pyrrha: I'm ...I'm sorry...

Jaune: Pyrrha, wait!

He said as he reached out to stop her from running away. But she was soon long gone and he faced the ground, cotton candy still discarded beside him.

Jaune: What did I say?

At the cliffside docking bays down the main alleyway and under the floating Amity Colosseum, Ruby walked up to the end of the line waiting to get in the transport up to the arena. She turned her head to see Brawnz Ni and Nolan Porfirio talking outside the line, and beyond that, Sun walking away, Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang over his shoulder, with a familiar rabbit Faunus snapping photos of him. Ruby stepped out of line and approached her from behind as she continued taking pictures with her camera until she noticed who's behind her.

Velvet: Ruby, how you going?

Ruby: Hi, Velvet! What're you up to?

Velvet: Oh, you know. Just working on my photography. Do you wanna see?

She offered her camera to Ruby, looking extremely delighted. Ruby immediately noticed that Velvet didn't even get all of Sun in her picture, cutting out his head and feet.

Ruby: That's ...better.

She stepped away as she grinned in forced approval.

Velvet: I'm ...sorry about your sister. Is she doing okay?

Ruby: Yeah, she's fine, heh. Thanks.

Velvet: I think it's just awful what people are saying about her. Yang's such a nice person.

Ruby: Well, I'm glad someone thinks so.

Velvet: Most people don't know what it's like on the battlefield. I mean, even experienced fighters can get scared and start seeing things. If it happened to Coco, it can happen to anyone.

Ruby: Coco?

Velvet: Yeah. She swore she saw Yatsu with her in the forest during the fight with Emerald and Mercury, but he never even made it out of the geyser fields. Stress-induced hallucinations, apparently.

Ruby: Yeah...

She turned her head away in thought, only to look back at Velvet after a quick flash startled her.

Velvet: Oh! Sorry.

Ruby: It's fine. But um ....have you seen (Y/N)? I haven't seen him after he left the room.

Velvet: Not long ago. He's said he was going up to the Colosseum to look for something.

Ruby: Thanks Velvet.

Velvet: No problem.

Back in the Colosseum, people were back in the stands cheering and ready for entertainment as Ruby went down the steps to see if you were near the seats. However, she didn't see you anywhere. But her stupefied eyes saw a familiar, glaring face on the other side of the arena.

Ruby: Emerald's ...here?

As if sensing she was being watched, Emerald leaned forward to glare at Ruby, who ran towards the exit tunnel with a worried expression. Checking to see if no one's around, she entered a door labeled with a yellow maintenance sign and found herself inside of the Colosseum. She walked forward with determination as the announcers' voices are heard, muffled behind the brick walls.

Oobleck: All right, it's now time to begin the randomization process for our next fight!

The sound of the roulette was heard faintly, but what made Ruby stop in her tracks was the sight of another unexpected "friend" stepping out from a nearby tunnel, completely unharmed and definitely not going home.

Ruby: Mercury?

Port: It looks like our first contender is ...Penny Polendina from Atlas...

Ruby: What are you doing?

Port: And her opponent will be ...Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!

Her head dipped in thought until she realized the awful truth.

Ruby: No...

Mercury: Ooh, polarity versus metal. That could be bad.

Ruby glared at her new opponent, reaching back to grab Crescent Rose, only to remember she didn't have it on her. Mercury simply grinned maliciously and set himself up in a fighting pose. Outside, the arena's center was lifting back into the air, and an oblivious Penny was grinning wildly, with her fellow redhead Nora cheering excitedly from the stands, even getting Ren to let out a reluctant "Yaaay...". Pyrrha, face and body still filled with depression, looked to the ground while the stage finishes being set up.

A/N: First comes the incident, then all hell breaks loose.