(Volume 3) Chapter 8: Shredded Spirit/Nightmare Unleashed

You've been hanging around the courtyard at Beacon. Sitting on a bench out by the front of Beacon and just wondering when is a good time to check on Yang. You saw Qrow pass you a while ago, probably also checking in on Yang. You sigh while placing your head into your hand tiredly, you flinch as your forehead got burnt by your Ring. You look down angrily at your Ring. So much could've been avoided had you just not taken this stupid Ring, you place your fingers on your Ring, your fingers burn as you flinch and try to remove the ring. As you try to do so those whispers that you haven't heard for a while begin shouting at you as your Ring brilliantly burns into your skin violently.

You(In Pain):"Gah!" You stop trying to remove your Ring as you sigh and look at your Ring in anger "Can't even get this stupid Ring off..."

???:"Now why would you want to do that?" You quickly glance up to see Caedis popping up behind you. You roll your eyes

You:"Oh great, what do you want?"

Caedis:"Remember how I said we needed to talk?"

You:"Ugh listen, I'm already not in the best of moods right now, could we talk later."

Caedis:"You don't understand, if you don't listen there won't not be another opportunity." You raise an eyebrow and get up slowly.

You:"Fine I'm listening."

Caedis:"I'm going to cut to the chase, an attack is about to happen, a devastating one." Your eyes widen in surprise

You:"I'm sorry, what!?" You yell out angrily.

Caedis:"This attack is aimed to overwhelm and destroy all of Beacon and overrun Vale. Multiple armies will invade such as Torchwick's gang, the White Fang, and thousands of Grimm are all going to be here soon."

You:"That's crazy! How do you know about this!? And why should I even believe you!?"

Caedis:"I know about this because Team ICRS is going to be apart of this." You sigh, why are you not surprised in the slightest. You look at her vividly "And you should trust me because even that Ring of yours is telling you something bad is about to happen." You look down at your Ring as it's pulsing with heat. You look back at her in anger

Caedis:"Look you might hate me but you need to trust me because there are VERY powerful people specifically targeting you, your team, and your loved ones...I suggest finding them all."

You:"Ugh damn you! Give me names of who I need to watch out for?"

Caedis:"Roman Torchwick, Neopolitan, Cinder Fall, Adam Taurus, Somnus (Last Name), and the one you've been dreading; Omnis." You scowl at her and groan. Damn it, even Omnis!?

You:"Ugh! why are you even telling me this!?"

Caedis:"Because unlike the rest of my team who willingly joined, I was forced to despise you." You look on in anger "I know you won't forgive me, but I'm risking everything to tell you this. You need to warn your team immediately. The next match-up will end up in death, the Coliseum is the first target."

You:"Grr..." You close your eyes thinking about what to do. "Alright, you head back to your team. You act like you NEVER spoke to me, from now on you're gonna be a double agent because that's the ONLY reason as to why I'm not freezing you in place for the police to arrest you. I need to get to that stadium." You say as you look at the floating stadium in the sky. You lower yourself to the ground, focusing on the bottom of your feet as tiny sparks emanate around your feet as a massive blast propels you into the sky, blasting off towards the stadium, you flip forwards as you arrive at the stadium and fire controlled blasts underneath you to stop your fall. You land in the coliseum and run in

You:"Okay, okay...at least Ruby and Jack SHOULD be here." You get your scroll out and call Ruby. No response, damn it! You glance at the arena to see that Pyrrha and Penny are fighting. Oh God one of them is gonna die!? You look to your left as your Ring glows and see a door that says do not enter. Immediately you see Jack fly out of the door and skid on the ground

Jack:"Ugh!" He yells as lightning is sparking around him.

You:"Jack!? What the hell happened to you!?" 

Jack:"It's Mercury! They're planning something big!" Mercury? Gah she was right! You both burst into the door to see Ruby looking back at you both

Mercury:"Ah, and now big brother is here. Great."

You:"Quit while you still can Merc, I know what's about to happen! Why the hell would you do this!?"

Jack:"Wait, do wha-"

Mercury:"I'm curious on to how you found out about something like this... and I don't need to explain my actions to you." He smirks as you unsheathe your Kitsune as Mercury readies himself.

You:"You two need to leave now!" You yell back at Ruby and Jack

Ruby:"B-but we can help!"

You:"I said go! You need to stop the fight now!!! Hurry!!!" You yell as you burst at Mercury and immediately he swoops underneath and multi kick you in the air knocking you down as you  jump back and slam your foot into the ground as ice immediately explodes out and ensnares his leg you burst over and slam him with a right cross as he collapses to the ground, holding his jaw...

Mercury:"Heh, not bad." You aim your Kitsune at his throat in fury. Your Ring and clothes slightly glowing. 

You:"I'm gonna ask again, why are you guys doing this!?..." Mercury sighs before smiling

Mercury:"And like I said, you're not getting an answer out of me." Mercury fires a massive shot out of his leg as the ice around his leg shatters and immediately drives his foot upwards, kicking you in the jaw as you stumble back. He flips up quickly as you're about to go on the offensive before all of a sudden your Ring burns against your skin violently and you instinctively look back and hear the sounds of screams,gasps, and mumbling from the audience outside, your eyes widen as you can only think something horrible just happened. "Hmm...I think you should go check what that was..." You glare at him as you back up slowly, still defensive before bolting out the door. You look around frantically and you hear Ruby sobbing, you look at her as Jack holding her tightly, tears running down his face.

You look at the arena...to see Penny is destroyed, electricity sparking from her severed limbs, Pyrrha looking on in horror.

You:"N-no...Penny!?" You yell out as your eyes tear up and your Ring burns violently as your sadness turns into rage. "D-DAMN IT!" You yell while slamming your fist against the wall of the coliseum. You hear the sound of static, you look up to see the screen showing their aura levels has been replaced by a red screen with a chess piece over it, DAMN IT NO! YOU WERE TOO LATE!!!

Cinder:"This is not a tragedy. 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. Our Academies' Headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one was audacious enough to control both." You glance at Ironwood as he gets up in frustration...

Cinder:"They cling to this power in the name of peace, and yet, what do we have here? 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? I don't think the Grimm can tell the difference." You look down in anger, Penny...even if she wasn't a "real girl" she never deserved this, she was a friend, and you're gonna make these assholes pay for killing her. You need to find your team, now.

Cinder:"And what, I ask you, is Ozpin teaching his students? A lunatic who can't accept defeat, a dismemberment, and now this? Huntsmen and Huntresses should carry themselves with honor and mercy, yet I have witnessed neither. 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. 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." Your Ring is starting to glow uncontrollably, something MASSIVE is happening, and it's involving ALOT of Grimm.

Cinder:"So I ask you: When the first shots are fired... who do you think you can trust?" The screen cuts to complete static as a siren goes off. A feeling of despair is filling the air 

Warning Announcer: "Alert. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: Nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner." THREAT LEVEL: NINE!?!?!? Holy shit you all need to go! The crowds begin to flee, wild and screaming going past you, Ruby, and Jack through the exit tunnels

Ironwood(Intercom):"Ladies and gentlemen, please. There is no need for panic." As he says that a Giant Nevermore appears on top of the arena's force field, before giving an ear-deafening screech as it claws and hits the force field with its beak...yeah no you feel like there's a slight need for panic!

Sophie's POV

???(Light):"You should've listened to me!"

Sophie:"NOW IS NOT THE TIME!"

???(Dark):"No it is not, and yet it was your own arrogance that led you to not tell your team about this."

Sophie:"I did try to tell them this!"

???(Dark):"And yet they didn't listen...if you had let me be in full control I would've done it myself but you had to show restraint."

Sophie:"Maybe...I should..." I look down at myself as my coat begins to turn pitch black.

???(Light):"You can't! If you do he'll never let you be in control again!" 

Sophie:"Same thing happens if I let YOU be in full control!" My coat goes back to it's black and white appearance. Damn it! They actually did it, I burst into (F)'s dorm and look around to only see a confused Yang I look up at the window as multiple Nevermores and Gryffins are flying around.

Yang:"What's going on?"

Sophie:"I don't know!? All I know is we need the rest of your team quick!"

Yang:"Here I'll call them on my scroll." She takes out her scroll, she calls Ruby but there's no response. I call Jack and (F) but there's no response from them either.

Sophie:"Ugh neither of them are picking up!" I see as my coat becomes darker in anger.

Yang:"I can't get to Ruby either...let's call the others, you're staying with me Sophie." She opens the door to the dorm as Zwei follows behind her as I run afterwards.

Blake(Scroll):"Yang, are you okay?"

Yang:"I'm fine. I've got Sophie with me, is Ruby, (F), or Jack with you? None of them are answering their Scroll."

Blake:"No, they aren't." We both stop as worry begins to build up inside us...if something happened to them I-I. My fear is beginning to overwhelm me as my eyes slightly turn yellow "Yang, I'm sure they're fine. Ruby's our leader and (F) and Jack aren't the type of people to go down without a fight. They can take care of their selves." I breathe in sharply as Yang closes her eyes and curls her fist into a ball

Yang:"Right." She says hesitantly as we continue with Zwei as we turn into the next corner of the hallways

Weiss(Heard through scroll):"This can't be happening." pauses "Penny..." That poor girl...As Yang, Zwei, and I exit we stop as Grimm and White Fang stand in our way...I call forth my Lux and Nox blades, placing my hood on as I get ready to attack

Yang:"We're headed to the docks near the courtyard. The White Fang are releasing Grimm into the school!"

Blake(Scroll/Alarmed):"The White Fang is here!?" Grimm lunge towards us as Yang slams her fist into one as she fires her Ember Celica and I scrape my Nox blade on the ground as giant black smoke-filled spikes rise up and impale multiple Grimm, and oh dear christ there's still A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT OF THEM!!! "Yang!" Blake yells through the scroll

Yang:"Ugh! Gotta go! Be careful!" She ends the call as more Grimm approach...this is going to be a long night...

Amity Colosseum (Your POV)

The Nevermore screeches as it continues to slash away a the force field...it won't hold up for long...

Warning Announcer:"Warning: Safety Barriers Failing." civilians continuously run past you, Jack, and Ruby in panic, Ruby is still kneeling on the ground with her head down, her expression in a mixture of shock and sadness...Jack's just trying to comfort her the best way he can, and you don't know what to do, but all you know is that if you stay here then that Nevermore is going to get in. You look up as the Nevermore circles around the coliseum, you glance at Pyrrha as she struggles to stand as she looks in shock at Penny's torn apart body...poor girl, like you said, they're going to pay for that. You can hear Jaune yelling at Pyrrha

Jaune:"PYRRHA!! Pyrrha, that thing's going to break in! You've gotta move!" You look up to see the force field flash as the Nevermore rises back up before diving back in, damn it

You:"Guys! We need to move, now!" Jack rises up and glances back at you nodding. You both look at Ruby who still looks stunned, on her knees "Ruby?" Before Ruby could respond you look back at the arena to see that Jaune has jumped into the arena.

Nora:"Jaune!"

Jaune:"Pyrrha, please snap out of it!" He yells as suddenly the Nevermore has completely broken through the barrier as the shockwave coming from its landing knocks back Jaune, Pyrrha, and the quarters of Penny. You all hear a clang near you as one of Penny's swords slides next to Ruby, she slowly reaches for it as you hear the Nevermore shriek. You look up to see that the Nevermore is about to lunge at Pyrrha.

Jack:"We need to hel-" Before he can finish you both feel wind blowing you past as a blur of roses blows past your face, the Nevermore knocked back by Ruby using her Semblance. Ruby lands on the ground as she grips one of Penny's swords. You unsheathe your Kitsune as Jack summons his Tempest.

Pyrrha:"Ruby?"

Ruby (Yelling Angrily):"Leave her alone!" She yells as she points the sword at the Nevermore. The Nevermore rises up and circles around the arena before lunging back down. You both blast over to them and stand in front of Pyrrha defensively. Suddenly the Nevermore gets pinned down by a barrage of rocket lockers, and screeches out in pain before going unconscious. The lockers then open up, revealing the weapons of multiple people but you do recognize some of them like the Crocea Mors, StormFlower, Magnhild, and others. You see Yatsuhashi pulls out his sword from his locker as Scarlet holds his cutlass and flintlock pistol, Sage with his massive sword, and Neptune with his gun in hand. You look over at the other lockers to see Sun with his staff, Ren with his dual pistols and Nora with her mighty hammer, the remaining members of Team CFVY, the members of Team ABRN, and Flynt and Neon of Team FNKI, you breathe out shakily, feeling more relaxed with the amount of allies on your side now. They suddenly shake as the Nevermore starts to get back up. Ren then leaps up into the air and slashes at the Nevermore. Arslan uses her rope dart to swing down and grabs Yatsuhashi from the ground. Sage also leaps up into the air, and Nora runs up to the Nevermore's head and hit it with Magnhild. You glance up at Arslan as she lets go of Yatsuhashi, who is then joined by Sage, as the two broadsword wielders slash down and decapitate the Nevermore, causing it to dissipate into black particles. You're definitely glad you have these guys at your side, you look back as Ruby looks over at Pyrrha.

Pyrrha:"Ruby, I..." she stops as you see that she's holding a piece of Penny's tor clothing in her hands as her eyes continue to tear up "I'm so sorry."

Ruby:"Me too." She says sadly before her face of sadness becomes one with anger "But it wasn't your fault."

Jaune:"She's right." he says as he walks over to Pyrrha with Milo and Akouo "Whoever was on that microphone... they're the ones that did this. And we have to make sure they don't take anyone else." You nod at Jaune as Pyrrha stands back up and takes her weapons back from Jaune as the two of them exchange determined looks. They then look over to you, Jack, and Ruby, as you are all looking around at your fellow Huntsmen and Huntresses, smiling lightly.  But you all stop smiling as Griffons begin to land on top of the coliseum. They fly towards you all as Ren calls them out

Ren:"Griffons."

Neptune:"Anybody got a plan of attack?"

You:"I've got a plan. Attack!" You yell fiercely as you aim your Kitsune at the incoming Griffons.

Ruby:"Sun! I need your Scroll!" Sun uses his tail to flick his Scroll to Ruby, who catches and uses it to summon her locker as it opens up to reveal her Crescent Rose inside. But before Ruby is able to get to the locker a Griffon lands on it and roars at her before being scared away at the sound of a gunshot. You look over to see where the gunshot came from to see Professor Port holding his axe...how do you aim that if it's also a gun...seems kinda uncomfortable anyways he stands there along with Professor Oobleck who is holding his club.

Port:"Students! I think it would be best for you to leave." You all look at him confused

Ruby:"But we did a-"

Oobleck:"Miss Rose! This day will surely go down in Remnant's history. I'd prefer it if my students could live to tell about it." Ruby nods at them before grabbing her Crescent Rose and twirling it into it's scythe form.

Ruby:"Let's go!" You all nod as you run out into the exit tunnels. You all see General Ironwood as Grimm dissipate around him...damn it you really wanted to see him fight. You all stop as you get near him

Ruby:"What's going on!?"

Ironwood:"Grimm are crawling all over the city. The White Fang's invaded Beacon, and to make matters worse, some...vagabond has seized one of my ships. Until we regain command, the skies are out of our control. So I'm..." Ironwood stops as he quickly aims his gun and fires at a Creep in the head "...going to take it back." Well that was bad-ass, but still as Ironwood turns for his ship, he stops as Jaune speaks.

Jaune:"What should we do?" Ironwood stops and faces you all.

Ironwood:"You have two choices. Defend your Kingdom and your school... or save yourselves." you all exchange looks with each other...you feel like no one is going to leave. "No one will fault you if you leave." Ironwood then climbs up on the dropship in front of him, as he yells "Let's move out!"As Ironwood leaves, you all look at each other and murmur before Sun speaks

Sun:"I mean... come on!"

Jaune:"We can take a ship to Beacon!" You all nod and run over to another dropship getting ready to leave. You all hop aboard before turning to Ruby and Jack

You:"We need to meet up with the rest of our team."

Ruby:"I know."

You:"We need to hurry to Beacon." you hold your eye in pain before you look over to the General's ship as it plummets to the ground and an explosion is seen. Your eyes widen in shock before you hear the dropship's doors open and look back to see Ruby

Sun:"Ruby! What are you doing!?" You realize she's going to jump off isn't she...

You:"Ruby, wait!" She jumps.

Jack:"WELP I GUESS THAT'S MY CUE TOO!"

You:"Oh you better not-!" Heee's already out of the airship...if you all live through this, YOU'RE GONNA FREAKIN' KILL HIM FOR THAT! You sigh and whisper "...Please be safe you two." Your Ring burns violently into your skin as you look out of the opening of the ship and see him hovering there...you freeze up as the rest of your friends see him

Jaune:"Who the heck is that!?!?"

You:"Omnis!!!" They all look at you as you unsheathe your Kitsune, your clothes violently burning red

Omnis:"Ah there you are..." He opens his palm as his entire arm trembles violently as mystic green lightning engulfs it as a giant mystic energy wave goes flying at the ship. Your eyes widen as you blast off of the ship

Teams SSNN/JNPR/CFVY:"(F)!!!" You collide your ice engulfed fist with it as a massive explosion detonates.