The Beginning of the End
One moment there was cheering within the stadium for the one on one match. Pyrrha versus Penny. As the match went on, the video displayed something utterly horrifying. The sight of one of the girls using their semblance to tear the other limb from limb, the despair etched in her face as her arms were dismembered, her torso severed from below the bosom. The other girl crumpled into a heap, the clanging of the multiple swords she wielded being the only sound within the silent stadium... and yet the scene lacked any blood.
How could a mere robot bleed?
"This is not a tragedy."
The sounds of a feminine voice pierced the stadium as the feed continued playing, the screen now replaced by an eerie red with a black pawn centered on the monitor. No one dared stop to speak against this voice, their tongues still as before.
"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."
Those were the words that reverberated across the stadium and across all televisions across Vale. Whether or not you wanted to hear a possibly horrible truth, the commanding voice continued with its baleful observations, chiding Vale and Atlas with destructive information.
"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?"
There was a brief pause only for a moment to let the scene sink in even further.
"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."
"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."
"Perhaps Ozpin thought defeating Atlas in the Tournament would help people forget his colossal failure to protect Vale when the Grimm invaded it's 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 that 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 at the brink of war. Yet we, the citizens, are left in the dark."
So I ask you when the first shots are fired..."
"Who do you think you can trust?"
As the words pierced your skull, the feed came to an abrupt end, leaving the coliseum in complete befuddlement. No further human sound came out as a response to this, not even one from the teachers, Oobleck and Port. The only thing left on the screen was static, left to your own devices, thoughts. What were you to think of this whole announcement? Instantly, warning sirens echoed across the stadium surprising some of the audience as it blared out a response.
"Alert. Incoming Grimm attack."
"Threat level: Nine."
"Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner."
The intensity of the crowd skyrocketed as some could handle their senses, flying into pure undulated fear which rippled across the stadium. Screams and shouts echoed as civilians and students alike shoved their way past each other, not knowing how to properly respond to such an imminent threat. Even Ironwood failed to bring the panicked masses to a halt as his voice was barely audible at the tone all around. It was a slew of fright and other negative emotions stirring within before pouring out.
It also didn't help that there was a giant Nevermore attempting to break the force-field that concealed the top of the arena. One could wonder how it broke past Vales defenses, especially with the tight security they had. The shouts of fury and anguish were intertwined with the screeches of many Nevermores soaring across the sky; there was no difference to either noise.
The barriers... it was failing and those shields keeping those citizens and students safe? It shattered like a mirror...
...
The final scene before you all left on one of the ships was the image of a Beowolf terrorizing the landing strip before promptly being put down by Ironwood.
Just what was happening?
The inside of the ship hummed with a soft wirr as some sobbing penetrated the atmosphere. It felt stifling, not in any sense comforting... It was as if the air was going to suffocate everyone within the ship you all boarded. The outside was faring no better as Gryphons and Nevermores ruled the skies, along with an Atlesian Airship destroying its own comrades. It was as if the world had gone mad.
Not one of the students dared to speak up at a time like this. They all stood, staring listlessly at each other as the pilots silently maneuvered the soon to be Hunters and Huntresses away. Even so there were emotions clumping together, volatile, mashing together. But even so...
The safety that was was known...
The happiness of the realm...
The lives people lead... they were all shattered in an instant.
What were you to make of this impending chaos?
Who do you think you can trust?
