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!

Rex: Come on, James. Yang wouldn't do it on purpose, and you know it.

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. But 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...

Yang: But I wasn't-

Ironwood: That's ENOUGH!

Zach: Hey! Lay off her, James.

Rex: Uncle Zach!

Ironwood: This does not concern you, Zach. How did you get in here?

Zach: Apparently, it does. I had to deal with your robo-pets. When I saw the match, I noticed that when Yang beated Mercury and was walking past him, she seemed to hear and see something. Mercury was the one who attacked you, right?

Yang: Finally! Somebody gets me.

Zach: I know something was wrong. Yang, for what you saw in that match was an illusion.

Rex: An illusion?

Ironwood: Are you suggesting someone tricked Yang?

Zach: Yeah. (Pulls out his scroll and checks the photos he caught) Emerald Sustrai. Her semblance can make you see everything but the real deal.

Rex: I thought Emerald is one of the good guys.

Zach: Believe me, she's not. Her and Mercury.

Ironwood: So you're suggesting that Mercury and Emerald set Yang up?

Zach: Exactly. And you almost forgot about one thing on Mercury. His legs aren't real.

Ruby: What do you mean they're not real?

Zach: They're metal.

Rex: What!? Wait. How did you know about them?

Zach: I've been all around the world. I've kept my eye on them everywhere. Whenever you guys see them, stay away from them.

Ironwood: You do make a good case, Zach. I'll send someone to question those two, but the sad truth is, whether it was an accident or an assault, it doesn't matter. The world saw Yang attack an innocent student. They've already drawn their own conclusions. And it's my job to inform her that... she is disqualified.

Yang's shock turns into miserable understanding when she looks to the ground, and Ironwood leaves the room. Team REBL comes into their dorm.

Elena: We heard everything next door.

Rin: It's a good thing you found the culprit, Uncle Zach.

Zach: What can I say? I'm an expert detective.

Briana: Pfft! Yeah right.

Yang: You guys believe me, right?

Rex: Of course, we do!

Ruby: Duh!

Weiss: You're hotheaded, but not ruthless.

Briana: Girl, I trust you.

Elena: Cross our hearts, Yang.

Luke: Babe, I know you didn't do it on purpose and I forgive and believe you 100%.

Yang: Blake?

Blake turns her gaze away, earning a shocked look between Ruby, Rex, and Weiss.

Blake: I want to believe you...

Ruby: Huh!?

Rex: Blake, what the hell?!

Weiss: What's that supposed to mean?

Yang: Blake?

Luke: Sis, come on. We all know Yang's not lying. You should know it, too!

Briana: Did you not hear what Zach said!?

Weiss: How can you say something like that? Yang would never lie to us!

Rin: I know Yang is an honest person I've ever met. You've got to believe her, Blake! It wasn't her fault!

Blake: I had someone very dear to me change. It wasn't in an instant, it was gradual - little choices that began to pile up. He told me not to worry.

Blake: At first they were accidents, then it was self-defense. Before long, even I began to think he was right. This is all just... very familiar. But you're not him. And you've never done anything like this before. So... I want to trust you. I will trust you.

Blake: But first, I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me that he attacked you. I need you to promise me that you regret having to do what you did.

Yang: I saw him attack me, so I attacked back.

Blake: Okay. Thank you.

Yang: (still looking down) I think I'm gonna rest up.

Blake: We'll get out of your hair.

Luke: I'm gonna stay with her. Keep her company.

Cut to outside the room, where Ruby is closing the door, pausing only for a second to see Yang slump forward before shutting it completely. She joins Weiss and Blake in the middle of the hallway.

Weiss: This is a mess...

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: (looking down) 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: I'll... do my best.

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

Pyrrha's smile dips down into worry as she looks away.

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

Weiss: (nodding once) Ditto. Coffee?

Blake: (smiling) Tea.

Rex: I'll go with hot chocolate.

The four members of RWBY and REBL walk down the hall, and Jaune only closes the door when he sees Ruby disappear behind the corner. Pyrrha continues to look forlorn, until...

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

Nora: We gotta get your butt in shape for the big fight! It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be the most important fight of your entire life!

She culminates this 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: Um...

Ren: Nora's right.

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: (nodding) Of course. I-

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': Algae contains numerous spectacular properties. See for yourself. (lifts it towards her mouth)

Nora: BLEGH!

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

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

Ren: (gesturing) 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 notice Pyrrha's smile at their antics fade once more, though their leader does from the doorway.

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

Pyrrha looks up at Jaune, who grins at his troubled friend.

Yang, still in the dorm sitting on Blake's bed, looks 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.

Luke: (Startled) Ah!

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. (he smirks)

Yang: I'm not lying.

Qrow: Crazy, got it.

Yang: Who knows? Maybe I am.

Luke: Yang, you're not crazy.

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

Yang: I saw my mom.

She looks at Qrow's 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.

Qrow: (he laughs) You're not crazy, Yang. 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: I was tryin' to wait for the right time, and this sure ain't it. But I guess you deserve to know.

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. And think that cat boy would help, too.

Luke: Hey, only Yang calls me cat boy.

He glances back at Yang, who looks at him with her full attention.

In the twilight, Pyrrha sits alone outside the dining hall, head bowed as the wind rises. She sees the air blow a single orange leaf onto the cobblestones at her feet, and she looks 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.

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

Pyrrha: Um, right. Thank you, Jaune.

Jaune's beam fades as he sees her still-tormented face, and looks to the far end of the building as Nora and Ren come around, the latter carrying a cotton candy, a tub of popcorn, and a drink to sip on.

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

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

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?

Pyrrha: You're already doing it.

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

Pyrrha: Jaune...

Jaune: Hmm?

Pyrrha: I don't know what to do.

Jaune: W-What do you mean?

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

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

Jaune: (gets up as well, spreading his arms in confusion) 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... (sighs) and it's become increasingly clear to me that my feelings were right. But... 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... you can't let anything stand in your way.

Despite Jaune's intentions, this doesn't bring relief. Instead, Pyrrha looks absolutely shattered, covering her mouth as she begins to sob.

Jaune: Pyrrha?

Pyrrha: Stop...

Jaune: Did I say something wrong?

Pyrrha: STOP!

She holds her hand out, a black energy surrounding it as she unintentionally uses her Semblance to push Jaune's armor and its wearer into the dining hall column. He weakly watches her from his spot above until she opens her eyes and realizes what she's done.

Pyrrha: Jaune! I'm... I'm sorry...

Jaune: Pyrrha, wait! What did I say?

At the cliffside docking bays down the main alleyway and under the floating Amity Colosseum, Rex and Ruby walks up to the end of the line waiting to get in the transport up to the arena. She turns her head to see Brawnz and Nolan 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. Rex and Ruby steps out of line and approaches her from behind as she continues taking pictures with her camera until she notices who's behind her.

Rex: Velvet?

Velvet: Rex, 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 offers her camera to them, looking extremely delighted. They immediately notices that Velvet didn't even get all of Sun in her picture, cutting out his head and feet.

Rex: Huh. Not bad.

Ruby: That's... better.

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

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

Rex: Luke's with her trying to cheer her up.

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.

Rex: What?

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.

Rex: Yeah, I've noticed.

Ruby: Yeah...

A quick snap shocks her as Velvet snaps a photo of her.

Velvet: Oh! Sorry.

Rex: Hey, you mind taking a picture for us?

Ruby: Oooh, can you?

Velvet: Not a problem.

Ruby hugs Rex's left side as he's holding a peace sign and Velvet took a picture.

Velvet: It will take some time to polarize, guys, but I can send it to you later.

Rex: Thanks, Velv. You're a real pal.

Back in the Colosseum, people are back in the stands cheering and ready for entertainment as Ruby and Rex descends down the steps to an open seat. Despite everything that's happened, Ruby's smiling widely, looking around at the assembled crowds... until her stupefied eyes see a familiar, glaring face on the other side of the arena.

Ruby: Emerald's... here?

Rex: Shoot. I think she's watching us. Uncle Zach was right.

As if sensing she's being watched, Emerald leans forward to glare at them, 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. They were walking 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 is heard faintly, but what makes Rex and Ruby stop in their tracks is the sight of another unexpected "friend" stepping out from a nearby tunnel, completely unharmed and definitely not going home.

Ruby: Mercury?

Rex: What I heard from Uncle Zach is that your legs are made of metal, isn't it?

Mercury: Smart thinking, but you're too late. Zach's your uncle? He never told me he has a nephew.

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!

Ruby: (her head dips in thought until she realizes the awful truth) No...

Rex: (getting more angry) You and Emerald were in on this! You're the ones who set Yang up!

Mercury: 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.

Rex: (brings out Caliburn) Rubes, get behind me.

Mercury simply grins maliciously and sets himself up in a fighting pose.

Outside, the arena's center is lifting back into the air,

and an oblivious Penny is grinning wildly, with her fellow redhead Nora cheering excitedly from the stands, even getting Ren to let out a reluctant "Yaaay..."

The screen fades to black as Pyrrha, face and body still filled with depression, looks to the ground while the stage finishes being set up.

END OF PART 35