PvP

The clanks of the gears are turning over the headmaster's office, with Professor Ozpin himself walking back to his desk and pouring himself a drink from his teapot as he watches the Vytal Festival Tournament's roulette system deciding the next match.

"Alright, it's now time to begin the randomization process for our next fight!" Oobleck said, over the broadcast.

"It looks like our first contender is...Penny Polendina, from Atlas! And her opponent will be...Pyrrha Nikos, from Beacon!" Port said.

Ozpin seats himself behind his desk and takes a sip from his cup as he stares at the 'randomized' fight to be.

Arena...

Down in the arena of Amity Colosseum, Pyrrha is still looking hesitant and distracted while Penny politely salutes her opponent.

"Sal-u-tations, Pyrrha Nikos! It's an honor to finally meet you!" Penny said, with her hands on her hips in excitement.

The troubled Pyrrha doesn't respond, looking at her hands as she clenches them in attempted determination.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Penny said, not noticing Pyrrha's reluctance.

Hallway...

In the same structure behind closed doors, Ruby Rose and Jared Shay are still facing down an up-and-standing Mercury Black, who's smugly smiling at the two's confusion.

"Mercury, what are you doing? You were hurt! Why…" Ruby said, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, but I'm not losing anyone." Jared said, as Mercury doesn't answer, still grinning with malice. "I don't want to. But Mercury giving us the silent treatment."

"Fine. If you're not going to tell me…" Ruby said, and she and Jared attempt to move around Mercury, but he blocks their path.

"Are you kidding me?" Jared asked, looking back at Ruby. "Come on! We have to save Penny! She's gonna die!"

"I know!" Ruby said, as Jared sidestep with her. "We don't have much time!"

"Fighters, are you ready?" Oobleck asked, over the announcement system to draw Ruby's and Jared's attention away.

Mercury smirks.

Arena...

Penny beams widely in anticipation, but Pyrrha is still looking around as if in a daze, though she manages a small scowl at her opponent, her weapons Miló and Akoúo̱ already in hand.

Oobleck is counting down as General James Ironwood calmly sits to observe the fight, Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren cheer for their teammate while Jaune Arc simply watches anxiously, and Emerald Sustrai leans forward with a glare, "3, 2, 1…"

"BEGIN!" Oobleck said, leaning forward.

Suddenly, Penny is surrounded by her floating swords, gesturing them around to her command before launching a volley of them at Pyrrha, who runs towards them and leaps though or deflects each aimed blade. The swords fly into the air until they turn around and come back to the fight.

Hallway...

"Showtime." Mercury said, looking back at Ruby and Jared.

He goes forward, blocking Ruby's path with his arms outstretched, restraining their movements no matter where they move.

"Come on, think…" Jared said, taking out his necklace and tapping on it for his nanotechnology supersuit to appear. "Let's go Ruby! Give me a speed boost!"

"Right." Ruby said, panicking, and she grimaces and spins forward, becoming a blur of red and petals taking Jared with her. "Hang on."

"Sure." Jared said, as he felt like he has transformed into sparks of lightning as he and Ruby are rocketing towards Mercury. "This is for Penny and Pyrrha!"

Mercury kicked them mid-dash with his boots and knock them to the ground.

"Damn it." Jared said, as Mercury advances on Ruby just as she gets out her Scroll. "Get away from her!" He then looked over the user interface of the super suit, knowing that he linked up his super suit to his Augma headset, which is connected to Kirito's Augma, which has Yui's computer code in there. "Yui! Call…"

Ruby is about to push the button to call for help when a bullet shatters the device into several shards, and Mercury ripped the helmet of the nanotechnology super suit apart with his bare hands.

"Let's just keep this between us friends." Mercury said, lowering his leg from its kick.

"You bitch!" Jared said, as Mercury moves towards him and Ruby. "Don't make me fire!"

Arena...

Pyrrha, now having returned the shield to her back, twirls the javelin to block each sword swipe of Penny's, dropping her weapon when she needs to somersault away after being hit by a slash, only to magnetically return it to her hand as Penny readies another wave of blades.

"My word! What a tremendous display by Miss Polendina!" Port said.

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. She tries 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 polarity.

"Whoo, yeah! Goooo Pyrrha!" Nora said, cheering with her arms wide alongside a fist-pumping Ren and worried Jaune.

Despite the cheers, Pyrrha isn't doing well, looking down to see her Semblance's black energy bend the weapons in her hands unnaturally for a split second. Emerald narrows her gaze further, continuing to concentrate on Pyrrha.

Hallway...

"Jared!" Ruby said, looking back at her friend. "Don't!"

Jared has his hand facing Mercury but he looked away, and chose not to fire, "Fine with me. I'll leave this up to you. Be careful, Little Red."

"I'll try." Ruby said, attempting to block a kick from Mercury with her arms, but gets a face-full of boot. "Ow…"

"Ruby! When you have an opening! Run!" Jared said, watching what is happening through his super suit. "Me butting in would make things too overpowered…"

"Um, did you call?" Yui asked, appearing in front of Jared through the user interface. "Do you need mommy and daddy's help?"

"No." Jared said, watching Ruby managing to duck under Mercury's next attack and leap over his leg. "Call the Symphogear Wielders."

"Okay. I'll see what I can do."

Jared activated the thrusters of his super suit when Ruby spiraled past Mercury, this time getting much farther down the corridor.

Ruby kicks off of the wall and falls to the ground, pumping her arms as she runs for the exit with Jared flying next to her.

Arena...

Pyrrha 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 slides to a stop and makes a new series of motions, the weapons folding up until she's circled by several laser rifles, a few of which open fire on the approaching champion. Pyrrha avoids the blasts and fights off the remaining swords with her xiphos until she slides into position to charge at Penny and knock her back. Pyrrha straightens with a victorious grin that disappears into dizziness, just as she sees Penny rocketing forward, weapons firing behind her like a jetpack so she can leap into the air, then come 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 the latter back with her magnetism, but has to use the power to send a flying sword back at Penny's side. It disappears behind Penny, only for her to grin and raise her arms as several appear above her, aimed to strike.

With Emerald still squinting down on the arena, the sharp sound of Emerald's Semblance is heard as Penny's eight swords double, then triple, multiplying into an unreal thicket of blades. At the sight of this, Pyrrha unsteadily steps back, both in reality where the eight swords are ready to go forth and in the hallucinated world, where the cloud of weapons thicken to even block the crowds around her.

Penny sends them all forward, few in reality and hundreds strong in Pyrrha's mind, who is left with no choice but to spread her arms and send out a magnetized shockwave. Each blade is sent reeling back to Penny, who is also unintentionally affected by the Semblance attack. Pyrrha only has a brief moment to understand what's happening before Penny's arms are spread wide as she gasps, the strings attached to her own weapons curling around her left arm and midsection, which are crumpled by the force with the ease of an aluminum can.

There is a moment of darkness, cut by the wire slicing through the electronics in Penny's torso to reveal a shocked Pyrrha, and the entire stadium watching the now unmoving swords drop to the ground. A piece of fabric flutters to the arena floor, only to be pinned by the point of a falling blade, away from the torn halves of Penny Polendina.

Pyrrha stares in abject horror, eyes wide and mouth agape.

"No!" Port said, straightening in shock at the revelation alongside Oobleck, and with Ozpin standing up from his chair back at Beacon.

While the remains of Penny's missing arm spark with electricity from the exposed wiring inside, her big green irises, now looking like camera shutters, slowly expand so her dark, lifeless pupils take up most of her eyes with the sound of a machine shutting down.

Atlas laboratory...

A balding white-bearded man watches the live footage on the news, his hand gripping the armrest of his chair tightly.

Arena...

The crowds are still terrified by the sight, and miles away in Mountain Glenn, Grimm of all kinds turn toward the Colosseum, and begin to charge.

Finally, Ruby and Jared turn a corner and emerges from the service tunnel, only to see with their own eyes that they are far too late.

Jared turned his nanotechnology super suit back to its portable form of dual pistols to use for later. He fell down to his knees with Ruby.

"Penny…" Ruby said, and she begins to cry, the tears fall as she sobs miserably. "Even with your foreknowledge…we couldn't save...Penny…"

"Yeah." Jared said, walking over to Ruby to hug her, and he also started crying. "I tried. I really did. I planned ahead for months. But, I failed."

The levitating arena is lowered back into place under the spotlights, and Mercury appears behind the weeping Ruby and Jared, grinning widely at his success in delaying them before stepping back into the Colosseum's maintenance area.

"I lost Rose, Jackie, and Mickey." Jared said, squeezing Ruby's hand as he hears Mercury's footsteps along with her. "To Pete's World. I know I'll get them back someday."

"If you don't change things of course." Ruby said, slumping forward once again as the door noisily swings shut. "What can you do? What can I do? We both failed…"

"Broadcast, what are you doing? Kill the feed!" Oobleck said, putting a hand up to his ear.

"Something's wrong! We don't have control of the cameras! We can't even stop the broadcast!" The Broadcast Operator said, over the earpiece.

"What!? How is that possible!?"

In answer, the background behind the two teachers changes to the video feed of the sight before them, tinted an ominous bright red with a black queen chess piece hovering over the scene. They turn back to the arena as a familiar voice rings out throughout the Colosseum and the rest of the world watching these events.

"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." Cinder said, and she is seen standing on a rooftop, speaking into her Scroll. "Our Academies' Headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one was audacious enough to control both."

Ironwood, realizing who she's talking about, grimaces and rises from his seat, marching up the steps.

"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." Cinder said.

Pyrrha holds a hand to her mouth in dread as she continues to stare at the remains of Penny, eyes watering, a single tear falling. Back in the fairgrounds, a gaping Weiss Schnee and glaring Blake Belladonna watch the hacked screen of the Shopkeep's stall.

"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." Cinder said.

The two teammates share a look before the last member of RWBY, Yang Xiao Long, is seen hunching over her windowsill listening to the speech before she straightens and turns as Zwei barks behind her.

"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." Cinder said.

Ozpin watches the screen intently, cane at his side and Atlesian Airships hovering beyond his window. Amid the silence over the Colosseum as they absorb the revolutionary words, no one notices Emerald exit the stadium.

"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." Cinder said.

Two blue Atlas Soldiers watch the message on their Scroll, not noticing the wave of Grimm coming out of the mist shrouded treeline until they turn and open fire the best they can, with Cinder's voice still stirring up trouble from her position with a malevolent smile.

"So I ask you...when the first shots are fired...who do you think you can trust?" Cinder asked.

Amity Colosseum...

In the Colosseum, the screens cut from red and black to complete static.

"The feeds are all jammed! We can't get a message out!" Oobleck said, looking at Port.

"Will somebody tell me what in the world is happening!?" Port asked, looking at the people working behind the scenes.

"Jared, I managed to get a hold of them." Yui said, her voice coming out of Jared's super suit. "Of the Holy Quintet. They said they're on their way."

"Okay…" Jared said, hearing the noise of a wailing alarm throughout the structure. "What's even the point in bringing them here?"

"Didn't you ask me to call them?" Yui asked, as the humans and Faunus and even a Henchman holding a tub of popcorn looking up in alarm at the orange flashing screens reading 'CAUTION'.

"Alert. Incoming Grimm attack. Threat level: Nine. Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner." A warning announcer said.

The crowds begin to flee, wild and screaming, through the exit tunnels, while Ironwood enters the announcers' box and grabs the microphone from between Port and Oobleck.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please. There is no need for panic." Ironwood said.

With that said, a Giant Nevermore appears atop the arena's domed force field, giving a series of deafening screeches as it claws and pecks at the defense with its beak. And the Holy Quintet appeared in a flash of light, inside a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro. The five magical girls get outside of the vehicle.

"We're here, like you said." Kyoko said, exiting the shot gun seat of the car. "You called us for something?"

The rest of the Holy Quintet also exited the car.

"Grimm…" Madoka said, looking up. "What is that thing?"

"I don't know." Sayaka said. "But it looks kinda strong."

"It does." Mami said.

"How do we take this thing out?" Homura asked.

"A Nevermore!?" Sun exclaimed, standing up in alarm along with Coco Adel.

"How did it get past the Kingdom's defenses!?" Coco exclaimed, lowering her sunglasses.

Ren is appearing beside them as he states, "It wasn't alone."

Headmaster's office…

Ozpin is gripping his cane tight, watching the city come under attack with a horrified expression.

"Oz!" Qrow said, running in with Glynda Goodwitch.

"Get to the city!" Ozpin said, turning to them.

"But…"

"NOW!" Ozpin said, resolutely.

Qrow and Glynda exchange a look before going back the way they came.

Meanwhile, Mountain Glenn is almost silent, as every monster lurking there from Beowolves to Boarbatusks, Ursai and Nevermores, and even lumbering Goliaths with wide red eyes rush forward.

Colosseum...

"Jared, we, um, called Hibiki." Madoka said, walking towards Jared. "And the rest of the Symphogear wielders."

"You did what?!" Jared exclaimed. "What can they do against Grimm?"

"This is a battle where we know things won't be the same afterwards." Homura said, taking out a pistol. "You need all the help you can get."

"But this is ten years too early for that!"

Ironwood is watching the Nevermore attack the shields until he answers his Scroll, stammering, "Ozpin, the girl... I-I can explain!"

"You brought your army to my Kingdom, James." Ozpin said, gravely, before he changed his tone to an angry one. "Use it."

Ironwood's worry turns to determination. His fleet of ships are being attacked by even more giant Nevermores though to minimal effect, Soldiers scrambling to enter commands inside the bridge around their commanding officer.

"Dammit!" An Atlas Ship Captain said, speaking into his Scroll as he turns to the screen of data. "This is Blue Four! Blues Two and Three, fall into defensive position!"

"Roger! Blue Three, in position!" Blue Three said, over the Scroll.

"Blue Two, what's your status?" The Atlas Ship Captain asked, getting no response. "Blue Two, come in! Someone answer me, dammit!"

He doesn't know that the bridge of the last ship is wrecked, computers sparking and men down as a pair of high boots walk through the destruction. Dressed in an Atlas uniform and holding both a pink umbrella and dark cane with a feathered hat on top, Neopolitan opens the door of a familiar-looking cell with a devious grin.

"Well...it's about time…" Roman said, leaning out of the shadows and into the light.

Outside the Airships…

The furthest craft suddenly turns towards its allies and fires several bright red lasers at the engine of the one closest to it. The aircraft is barely able to send out 'We're hit! What's going-' before the flaming ship crashes into another in a series of explosions and sends both of them tumbling toward the waters below.

"Woo-hoohahahaha! Oohh, it is good to be back!" Roman said, laughing manically at the controls as Neo watches from the side.

Beacon Academy...

Finally, at Beacon's cliffside landing platforms, three Bullheads arrive, the middle one opening its hatch to reveal four members of the White Fang, and their leader.

"Bring them to their knees!" Adam said.

Another Bullhead opens its door, this time with several creatures of Grimm inside. A growling Ursa jumps from it and lands on Academy grounds. The foreboding scene darkens as the Ursa's roar echoes, leaving only the burning red eyes of the monster, until they too disappear.