Chapter 1
Salem looked down at the sight before her. She had a chess board laid out on large table in the middle of a room. However, this was not ordinary chess game, no, this game had a different set of rules and represented much more than a simple game. It represented the very battle between the light and darkness. She looked over the pieces and saw their represented losses. On the black side, it was missing three pawns, a bishop, and a rook. The pawns, like all the chess pieces on the table had symbols on them. One of them was that of the White Fang wrapped around the piece. The symbol curving with the pawn's shape. Another pawn had the symbol of Junior's hired thugs while they worked for Torchwick. And the final pawn resemble that of the Dragon Grimm that Ruby had froze. The rook held Adam's symbol painted in red. And the bishop had the deceased Torchwick's symbol. A small smile spread across her face as she looked over to the white side and the pieces they had lost. Sitting next to the board was a rook, a knight, a bishop, and a queen and king, and all of the pawns. The pawns were various things such as Penny, Team SSSN, Atlas, Beacon, and other mere pawns in Ozpin's arsenal. The rook had Yang's yellow flaming heart symbol printed onto the white piece. Next to it sat the knight with Blake's symbol painted across it. The bishop was next with Weiss's blue snowflake plastered across it. The final power piece that was now on the side lines and no longer within her game was a Queen piece, with the Invincible Girl, Pyrrha Niko's spear and shield family seal painted on the fallen piece.
"Oh Ozpin, you senile old fool, you placed all your hope in defeating me into these eight children, and look at what has happened," said Salem as she continued to examine the board. She eyed the final white piece that had been lost, the king piece, with Ozpin's symbol painted across it in green. It did not take an expert of the game to be able to see that black was winning. Salem looked over the remaining pieces on the board. There was a rook with Nora's hammer, a bishop with Ren's lotus flower, a knight with Jaune's arches, and another queen with Ruby's rose.
"You did not have weak pieces Ozpin, no you chose very powerful ones indeed, you have two queens after all. And I imagine that they will take out some of my pieces now that they are on the offensive. But power is useless if it is not known how to use it properly, soon, they shall fall just like their friends." Salem now looked over at her side and saw all her pieces. She still held a rook, a bishop, a knight, five pawns, and her queen. Salem laughed as she looked down at her game of chess. She turned around and walked towards her dungeon, and towards her two new prisoners.
Pyrrha's eyes slowly started to open as she began to take in her surroundings. She was in a medium sized room that had a red tint to the stoney walls surrounding her. She noticed only one door infront of her with bars. Am I in a prison cell? the young Amazon thought.
"Pyrrha, you're awake!" cried a voice next to her. Pyrrha turned to her left and saw Ozpin sitting about ten feet away from her with a chain around his left foot that connected to the wall.
"Headmaster Ozpin!" cried Pyrrha as she quickly tried to rush over towards the teacher. She made it about half way when she came to an abrupt stop. She looked down and saw that she too had a chain around left leg as well. She tried to activate her semblance only to discover she couldn't.
"What the heck?" she asked as she tried again.
"Don't waste your energy Pyrrha, these chains are draining out Aura's abilities. You won't be able to break the chains," said Ozpin as he saw her struggle.
Pyrrha turned towards Ozpin and asked, "Where are we? How did we get here?" Ozpin sighed and asked, "whats the last thing you remember Pyrrha?" She thought for a moment and said, "I was fighting Cinder, and then she, she, s-she shot m-me in the che-est. Oh m-my Oum, are w-we de-dead?" asked Pyrrha as tears began to welt up in her eyes and shake.
"Yes and no. Just before we would have died Cinder used her new Maiden powers to teleport us to the land of the dead. So for all intensive purposes we are dead, but we could still walk amoungst the living if there were a way out," said Ozpin.
"And as I'm sure you already know Ozpin, there is no way out," said a voice by the doorway. Pyrrha and Ozpin jerked their heads towards the source to see a snow white women with burning red eyes and black veins running across her body.
"What the hell are you!" shreaked Pyrrha in fear.
"Pyrrha, that is Salem, Mistress of the Grimm," said Ozpin as he glared at Salem.
"Mistress of the Grimm?" asked Pyrrha.
"Yes child, I am the mistress of the Grimm. I am where they originate from, and I am the one who has decided to keep you alive," said Salem as she looked at Pyrrha.
"W-why" asked Pyrrha fearfully.
"Snacks," said Salem with a small smirk.
"W-what!" cried Pyrrha.
"You see child, just like my Grimm, I have no natural Aura, so I am required to feed off others. And the best way to get to someones Aura is through emotion."
"Wait, but I thought these chains prevented us from having our Aura," asked Pyrrha.
"No Pyrrha, you misunderstood, we can't use out Aura with these chains, we still have it, we just can access it," said Ozpin as Pyrrha started to understand.
"But why us?" asked Pyrrha.
"Simple my dear, you and Ozpin were the two big threats, so not only did I neutralize you and stop the threat you posed. But you Miss Nikos have a plethora of the most delicious emotions for me to consume," said Salem.
"What emotions might those be?" asked Ozpin as he looked over at a confused Pyrrha.
"Loss, misery, and guilt. That last one is why I chose to keep you alive Ozpin, as your guilt will only continue to grow as you watch them," said Salem.
"Watch them? Watch wh- JAUNE!" cried Pyrrha as her eyes were open wide as she made the realization.
"Yes my dear, your little boyfriend and his friends have decided to try and avenge you by going on a little mission to try and find my Fall Maiden. And you both will get to see them suffer," said Salem as she lifted her hands up and conjured an orb in the center of the room. The blue flames slowly opened up and Pyrrha could see Jaune, Ren, Nora, and Ruby walking down a snowy path. Pyrrha was on her knees, tears streaming out of her eyes as she watched Jaune, the boy she loved, traveling to try and avenge her and knew the hardships he would face all because of her.
"J-Jaune, I-I-I'm so so-sorry, i-its all my fault, i-its all my fault you h-have to do this," she sobbed as a green flame started to come off her. Salem inhaled deeply as the flame flew into her nostrils.
"Ah, yes Miss Nikos, I will enjoy having you here and feeding off your misery. Enjoy the show," said Salem as she walked away from the two, with Pyrrha still sobbing glowing a beautiful luminescent green as she mourned all that she had done, and will do to Jaune.
"So should we camp here for the night?" asked Jaune as he and the others approached a clearing.
"Yeah, we should call it a day," said Ruby as she stopped next to the Blonde Knight. She and the others unloaded their gear, with Jaune and Ruby pitching the tents, Nora grabbing some fire wood, and Ren starting a campfire. After he got the fire going, Ren took out some of his cooking pots and started to prepare the team some dinner. Nora returned about fifteen minutes later carrying an almost cartoonish amount of fire wood in her arms. Jaune put the sleeping bags in their two tents, Ruby and Nora's in the girls tent, and his and Ren in the guys.
"I think I heard a stream when we came in, I gonna go see if I can find it," said Jaune as he grabbed Crocea Mors.
"I'll join you," said Ruby as she quickly grabbed Cresent Rose.
"Just be careful you two, I'll have dinner ready in about twenty minutes," said Ren as he stirred the contents within a pot that was dangling over the fire.
"Will do, come on Ruby," said Jaune as he and Ruby started to walk towards the stream. As they walked, multiple thoughts were buzzing through Ruby's head, Man a lot sure has changed. She was going over the events of the past month after she and what was left of team JNPR left for Haven. I still hope Jaune will be okay, he gave up being a leader too easily, thought Ruby as she flashed back to when Jaune told her he didn't think he was fit to lead after Pyrrha died. Poor guy. Ruby looked over to Jaune and was quickly snapped out of her thoughts as she saw some tears streaming down his cheek.
"Jaune! Are you okay?" asked Ruby nervously.
"What? Oh, yeah I'll be fine Ruby, sorry for bugging you its just, its just, *sigh* I was thinking about her again," said Jaune as he hung his head down.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Ruby.
"No, its, its nothing Ruby, lets just find the stream and get back to the others," said Jaune as he started to speed up. No, not this time Jaune thought Ruby as she activated her semblance and ran right in front of Jaune.
"Jaune sit down, we need to talk about this," said Ruby as she stood firm in front of him.
"Ruby please, I really don't want to," said Jaune. Ruby looked into his eyes and saw the spark that was there four months ago was gone. That drive and enthusiasm that brought everyone up had disappeared. Jaune looked like he was dead inside. Ruby couldn't take it anymore, "J-Jaune, p-please, you're scaring me! You don't have a-any motivation anymore, and y-you seem like you're about to lose the will to live! I-I can't do this alone Jaune, I n-n-need you!" cried Ruby as tears streamed down her face and she quickly rushed and hugged Jaune. He was like the big brother she never had and she couldn't stand to see him in this depressed state.
Jaune's eyes lit up at Ruby's sudden burst of emotion, Look at what you've done Jaune, you made her cry!
"Ruby, I-I'm s-sorry, its just, I-I don't know wha-at to d-do without her!" cried Jaune as he let all of the emotions he was holding in the past four months out. "I-its my f-fault sh-shes gone! I-if I could h-have just been a l-little fa-faster or stronger, sh-she might still be with u-us. But I couldn't save her, the most i-important girl i-in my life and I cou-couldn't save her. I failed her just like I fail everything else. I-it should have been me Ruby, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!" Jaune screamed as he let it all out.
Ruby cried even harder now, "Do-don't say that Jaune! Y-you aren't a f-f-failure! Look at what you accomplished a-at Beacon! Yo-you've come so far and done s-so much!" said Ruby as she hugged Jaune tighter.
"T-then why did s-she die Ruby! I-I don't even think I should be here with you guys, I'll just drag you down," said Jaune a he fell to his knees.
"Jaune, I," started Ruby before Jaune cut her off.
"Ruby, after she died, when I went home, I tried to kill myself," said Jaune as he stared at the ground, not having the courage to look Ruby in the eye.
"W-what?!" cried Ruby as he eyes were as wide as they possibly could be.
"Its true Ruby, I-I tried to end it all, and I couldn't even do that, just another failure to add to my name." said Jaune. The two suddenly heard a large wail and turned to see Nora and Ren standing about twenty feet back listening to their conversation. Nora was crying and Ren to had some tears coming from his eyes.
"Jaune," cried Nora as she ran and tackled the boy giving him a crushing bear hug.
"D-don't you e-ever say that! Your one of the most important people in my life, a-a-and I can't lose another one Jaune, I can't!" cried Nora as she hugged Jaune tighter.
"Nora, can't breath," wheezed Jaune as Nora squeezed the air out of him. Ren came over and put a hand on her should telling her to get off, as soon as she did Ren embraced Jaune into a hug of his own.
"J-Jaune, please don't talk like that, you're my brother, and I can't stand the thought of loosing you to." said Ren. He looked Jaune in the eyes and said, "Don't you ever say you're a failure. You may not be the strongest or fastest, but you have the most heart, and the kindest soul I've ever met."
"Then why couldn't I save her Ren? I failed her just like I fail at everything " asked Jaune as he buried his head into Ren's shoulder and cried.
"Are you kidding me Jaune! Look at what you did! You stood up to Cardin when none of us had the courage to and even saved his life despite what he did to you! You killed and Ursa Major with one hit! None of us could do that! You saved me and my team when you trusted your gut and came to Vale during the breach! You lead your team to victory in the Vytal Tournament! At the begging of the year you couldn't even hold a sword right, yet you ended up beating most of us in combat class by the end of the year! You have over come such adversity time and time again, and with a smile on your face! Jaune, you're not just a knight in shinning armor. You're our knight, without you, none of us would be here now! You saved me and my team's lives, and Ren and Nora's! You are not a failure! If anyone is a failure, its me! My whole team broke up because I couldn't motivate them to stay together! Look at your team, they stayed together to the very end! You're the best leader I've ever met and will always be better then me. A-and besides, I was there when Cinder shot Pyrrha, a-and I couldn't save her, if anyone failed her Jaune, its me!" cried Ruby as she joined Ren in hugging Jaune.
"Guys I-" started Jaune before Nora cut him off.
"Jaune, you keep us together, you managed to give me and Ren the first ever real friends we've had in years! You didn't get us expelled from my crazy antics and managed to keep us together, and use the best of our abilities. Jaune, you are the bravest man I have ever met. Greatness isn't measured in our physical strengths, but rather how strong our hearts and bravery are! You are the strongest out of all of us, look at yourself. You lost the most but wanted to continue on still, not for your own personal sake, but for ours. You're the one that called me Ren and Ruby and got us out here! So don't you dare say you failed Pyrrha Jaune, you did the most for her than anyone else, and I will be eternally grateful for all you did for me and Ren!" cried Nora as she now joined the hug. Jaune was surprised by the sudden wisdom that Nora provided as oppose to the quirky and crazy self she normally is.
"I-I'm sorry you guys," said Jaune as he cried with the others.
"Its okay Jaune, we forgive you, but don't you ever leave us Jaune, I-I don't know what we would do with out you" said Ruby.
"Don't worry Ruby, I'm here to stay now, I'm here to stay," said Jaune as he and the other stayed there and continued to cry for another twenty minutes.
The four teens returned to their campfire after letting it all out back in the woods and ate the soup Ren had prepared. As they ate, Jaune looked at the three and said, "Guys, I just want to say thank you. I've been in that abyss for the past few months, and you guys helped finally pull me out of it. I haven't felt this good since Beacon, again just, thank you. You just saved me from myself and I don't know how I'll ever repay you guys."
The three smile and Ren said, "You don't owe us anything Jaune, its just nice to have our friend back." Jaune smiled and slurped up the last bit of his soup.
"So Jaune, do you still want me to be leader?" asked Ruby.
Jaune chuckled and said, "I still want you to act like one, but we can do it together. Like Ren said, I'm back, and I'm ready to make Cinder pay."
"So guys I've been wondering," chirped Nora. They looked over to her, "What are we gonna call out team name now?"
"Huh, I hadn't thought about that," said Jaune.
"Aren't you guys just called JNR now?" asked Ruby.
Jaune looked over at Ruby and said, "NO way Ruby, you're apart of our team now." Ruby looked over at Jaune, eyes gleaming, "You guys will really let me on your team?" Ren Nora and Jaune looked at eachother almost flabbergasted that she asked that question.
"Ruby did you really think we wouldn't let you join?!" asked a shocked Nora. Ruby had a slight blush and looked at the ground, "Uh, y-yeah I guess I did."
Jaune got up and put his arm around Ruby, "Whether you like it or not we're family Ruby, and that includes you."
"Thanks Jaune," said Ruby as she pulled him into a hug.
"RNJR" said Ren.
"What?" asked the other three in unison.
"RNJR, thats what we should call ourselves. Team RNJR," said Ren calmly as he slurped more of his soup.
"RNJR huh, I like it!" said Jaune as he got up and pulled his sword out and put it in front of him, "To Team RNJR!" he cried triumphantly. Ruby figured out where he was going with this and pulled out her weapon and put it on top of Jaune's. "Team RNJR!" Ren and Nora quickly followed and also pulled out their weapons and cried out, "Team RNJR!" Ruby looked at her new team smiling that even though her team was disbanded, she still had these friends to count on. "Look out Cinder Fall, because you're dealing with a whole new group now that we're reunited again. And we will defeat you!" The others cheered out at her proclamation as the fire was relite in all of them, and they were going to see that they would bring their fallen friends justice.
So thats Chapter 1! This is a story that I have been wanting to do for a really long time and I finally have the chance to do it. I'll try to do updates every two to three weeks given I have not only work, but my Gravity Falls story to work on, and I plan to interchange between the two. But yeah, so thats the first chapter, if there are any questions feel free to ask them in the comments as I will answer any I get in upload after I get it. So don't be afraid to leave a review, or follow and favorite for that matter.