RWBY: Team SHDW Volume 1 [NOT CANON ANYMORE]

Chapter 27: PvP

Skyler arrived back at the docks and waited for his teammates to arrive. If what Velvet told Ruby was true, then he and his team needed to discuss it. When they arrived, Skyler explained the situation the best he could.

"Well, you got a point," Hazel said, "It is a weird coincidence... Both Coco and Yang got these PTSD illusions when fighting the same team."

"There is no way they could be seeing things," Walker put in, "Coco isn't one for seeing things or getting PTSD. She's way too strong for that."

"Same with Yang," Skyler said, "It can't be coincidence. Too many things match up."

"But there's one thing I don't get," Hazel rubbed her chin, "A motive. Why would they do that? I would guess for winning the tournament, but with Mercury's injury and Team CMEN going out of Vale, they're not getting anywhere."

"Um, guys?" Dante said nervously, holding his Scroll.

"What is it?" Walker asked.

Dante presented his Scroll in the middle of their circle, showing SHDW the screen. Dante had paused the live feed of the Pyrrha vs. Penny match.

"You guys may not see this, but I can," Dante stated, "I saw Pyrrha look strange when the match started, so I watched closely. And in the midst of the crowd... I saw Emerald."

"What?!" Skyler gasped, "But, she's gone! Isn't she?"

Dante fast forwarded to where the match was now live, and Penny looked poised to attack. But the weird part was that Pyrrha looked a lot more nervous than she should have been. Penny thrust her swords forward, and Pyrrha unleashed as much of her Polarity as she could. Nobody was prepared for what came next.

Each blade was sent reeling back at Penny, who was also unintentionally affected by the Semblance attack. Pyrrha only had a brief moment to understand what was happening before Penny's arms were spread wide as she gasped, the strings attached to her own weapons curling around her left arm and midsection, which were crumpled by the force.

Next thing anybody knew, Penny was split in half at the waist. Hazel let out a shriek, while the guys were a collection of gasps and shocked silence. But it also took them a moment to realize that there was no blood. Only wires.

"No way..." Dante muttered.

"She was a robot?!" Walker pressed his hand to his forehead.

"That explains a lot," Hazel squeaked, "But that's not really what I'm focused on."

"What the heck is going on here?" Skyler mumbled.

Suddenly, the screen turned red, a black chess piece in the middle of the screen. A Queen Piece. And a familiar voice spoke.

-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..." Skyler growled.

-Our Academies' Headmasters wield more power than most armies, and one was audacious enough to control both. 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.-

"Dante," Skyler ordered, "Scan everywhere. Something tells me that you might be able to spot her."

"Already on it," Dante nodded, looking at the rooftops.

-What need would Atlas have for a soldier disguised as an innocent little girl? I don't think the Grimm can tell the difference. 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.-

Skyler growled. This lady was really starting to tick him off.

-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.-

"Found her!!" Dante yelled, pointing to a hotel a few blocks down, "She's on the roof!!"

-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.-

"I'm on it!!" Skyler said, taking off towards the city.

"What?!" Hazel screamed, "Where are you going?!"

"To get some answers!!"

-So I ask you: When the first shots are fired... who do you think you can trust?-

Skyler made it to the building a few minutes later, not sure if she was still there. But he had to try. Why would she move anyway? He flipped his weapon into sword-form and pulled the trigger. The resulting explosion propelled him up to the top of the roof where he saw her. Cinder turned to face him. If she was surprised, she didn't show it.

"Well well well," she smiled menacingly, "Look who it is. I'll give you credit, I didn't expect anyone to find out. But here you are."

Skyler growled, flipped his sword into gun-form, and aimed it at her, "I knew there was something off about you guys. I just didn't expect this. Now, what do you want?!"

Cinder just raised her arm, her eyes glowing, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Yes, I would actually."

Cinder smirked and shot a fireball out of her hand, while Skyler pulled the trigger at the same time. The two flames met, and there was an explosion, creating a smokescreen. When the smoke cleared, Cinder was gone. Skyler growled to himself, looking around, but she wasn't anywhere.

Suddenly, there was a loud blaring of sirens. And the warning for an incoming Grimm attack was announced. Skyler grimaced and his eyes widened.

"So that's their game," Skyler quickly pulled out his Scroll and hopped off the roof, "Dante! Cinder's disappeared, so I'm coming back! You see any Grimm?"

"Galore!!" Dante yelled, "And not just Grimm! I'm spotting some White Fang members! The school seems to be the target!!"

"Alright, just meet back up with me! We'll head back to the school together!!"

"Copy that! On our way!!"

Skyler hung up his Scroll and took off back to where his team was. He then looked up to see some of the Atlas Fleet taking fire at the giant Nevermores. But one of the ships wasn't. Instead, it turned and shot down the other two airships. Skyler's eyes widened in fear.

This was going to be a long night.
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And everything officially goes to crap. Ladies and gentlemen, the Battle of Beacon has begun. Till next time guys!