Chapter 7. Two Birds, one Sword

Jaune was now in a good mood, if only so because of the murders about to occur. Here he was, the day following dual team outing and days after the spar with Yang, satisfying a tug on his instincts when he and two of the very targets he sought crossed paths. He awoke this morning to a curious sensation, a need to head into Vale and wander about around a particular old man's shop. He wandered about, clad in his armor and weapons, and promptly saw two figures from his meditation, a green haired woman and a gray haired man. These two where in league with that Cinder Fall woman, and when Jaune looked at each of them he saw wickedness in their hearts as well. He saw Mercury Black, his father Marcus, their fight, and various acts of cruelty committed on Cinder's orders. Emerald Sustrai, Cinder's loyal lapdog, a master thief and deceiver. Both would die, the Balance demanded it.

He followed the two, taking care to ensure that he was seen. They both had noticed him, and decided to humor the large figure. They proceeded along their intended route and found themselves at Tukson's Book Trade, Jaune following right behind them. Inside the group was seen by Tukson, who recognized Emerald and Mercury but not Jaune. Tukson knew Cinder's little cronies, but he couldn't think of Jaune as a part of their little group.

As for Jaune, he saw Tukson and his heart. He was once a member of the White Fang but abandoned them, his soul felt remorse for whatever actions his past held. He would be spared Jaune's Judgement.

"Stay right there please, we'll be right with you." Emerald said in a cheerful tone, before rounding on Jaune. "Can I help you?" She asked in a 'go away' tone.

"Cinder Fall, where is she?" Jaune asked simply.

The two now shifted into hostile states. Tukson saw Emerald's and Mercury's backs, but he could clearly see Jaune's face. A familiar looking red mark and eerie white eyes, both glowing slightly under Jaune's hood. It quite quickly contorted into irritation as his left hand shot up to grab something Tukson couldn't see. And while he couldn't see Emerald's face, Tukson could see surprise in her sudden step back.

Emerald herself couldn't believe it, this…thing just saw through her Semblance with ease. She had attempted to hide Mercury from him and allow the monochromatic youth to strike an unsuspecting Jaune. But now Jaune had Mercury's leg in a death grip, a situation Emerald's throat soon found itself in.

Emerald gagged and clawed at the massive gauntlet encasing Jaune's hand, Mercury, now visible to Tukson, attempted to jump up and kick at the horseman with his other leg. But the moment he left the ground Jaune used the grip he had on Mercury's other leg to slam him into the floor. Jaune could feel metal beneath Mercury's pants, so he had no issue with crushing the artificial limb. Emerald had managed to slip out of Jaune's grip and pulled her weapons, quickly working to unload their ammunition into Jaune's torso.

Jaune simply stood there, letting the bullets bounce harmlessly off of his chest plate. Mercury tried to kick Jaune again, and succeeded this time. Jaune was sent flying through a wall into an alley next to the book store, though to his credit he was clearly more annoyed than injured. Emerald leapt after him, the chains on her weapons lashing out to try and ensnare Jaune. Jaune swept up the airborne chains in his right gauntlet and yanked Emerald off of her feet.

Mercury, trying to take advantage of Jaune's distraction, launched at the horseman again. His right leg was too damaged to fight with but it still could support his weight if needed. This attack was swatted aside by Jaune's left hand, and came just short of breaking Mercury's other leg at the knee.

Emerald, who had landed on her feet following Jaune pulling her, tried her semblance again. She hoped that, in the confusion of battle, Jaune would be less likely to recognize a hallucination. No luck. Jaune's left hand came around to launch a punch to Emerald's stomach. Her world exploded into naught but pain as her stomach emptied itself on the inside of Jaune's elbow. He tossed Emerald to the ground, where she gasped in agony.

Jaune sneered in disgust, his body suddenly puffing out a large plume of fire to burn the upheaved bile and blood. Mercury rose and tried to escape, but a sudden pain in his lower belly brought his attention downward. The point of some metal projectile was poking out from his belly, making Mercury realize that he had just been shot.

Jaune leapt up, swinging the arm holding the Abyssal Chain around. Mercury left the solid earth, flew in a large, round path a few dozen meters from the pavement, and was brought back down violently. He felt his bones shatter upon impact, but momentum allowed him to bounce up.

And Mercury saw the next split second in slow motion, which made it all the more agonizing to witness. He had landed on his upper back, then bounced up and backwards. So now he saw Jaune charging in pulling Chaoseater from his back, leveling it for a thrust, then sending it forward straight through his gut.

When a blade about a foot wide and a few inches thick impales you through the torso then aura healing or not, you're going to die. And this is the realization that came to Mercury as he brought his hands up, in what Jaune could only think was a feeble attempt to pull the blade from himself, to weakly paw at the blade. His movements only lasted a few moments more, his blood leaving him too fast for any form of aid.

Emerald, still on the ground, could only look at Jaune in terror. She knew that she was next, and she suspected that an equally gruesome fate awaited her. Dragging herself up she attempted to stagger away, leaving her weapons and partner in an attempt to save herself from Jaune's wrath. She didn't get far.

A loud bang sounded out, and Emerald's world became only pain again. She felt this fresh wave of agony originate from her leg, just above the knee. She would come to regret looking at the wound, for where her leg used to be was now a torn apart stump. The rest of her leg was lying off a small distance, she would have screamed if a terror hadn't choked her into silence. Jaune made his approach with a deliberate slowness. It wasn't enough for her to suffer, she would pay for her sins.

(The following sequence is not affiliated with War or any depiction of him, it is a power I am giving Jaune for the sake of this fanfic and because I like the concept behind it.)

Jaune grasped Emerald around her throat once more, taking a moment to trace her threads of conflict back to Cinder Fall. He noted that now, as he hoisted the whimpering girl to his eye level, that several other threads were dissolving. This action, the taking of this life, was ensuring the continuation of dozens and laying the foundation for saving thousands.

"Your soul is stained by the blood of the innocent." Jaune growled, causing Emerald to lock eyes with her executioner. "Your existence offends the Balance, your actions seal your fate. Look into my eyes." Jaune commanded.

Emerald couldn't look away, she was being pulled into Jaune's gaze. She saw it all. The lives she ruined prior to meeting Cinder, the capture of the fall maiden, the deaths caused by her group aiding Adam Taurus in his mission. Then she started to feel the burning.

"FEEL THEIR PAIN!" Jaune shouted, Emerald could only scream as she caught fire. Her flesh burning away in seconds, until naught but the charred bones remained. But those too crumbled away, this wicked soul burned away from existence. Mercury would fare no better, Death had a special liking for those souls who took enjoyment from killing the innocent. And when Death takes a liking to you, he pays you 'special' attention after you die. Jaune's last actions were to behead Mercury and incinerate his body.

Tukson had heard the screaming and smelled the smoke. But for some reason, he felt that he was in no danger. Jaune soon entered the book store again, spared Tukson a glance, then cast a glyph to repair the wall. When Tukson saw the glyph, and the horse skull symbol in the center, he remembered where he saw the mark on Jaune's face.

"You…"Tukson started to say, drawing Jaune's attention. "You're a Horseman, aren't you?"

"How do you know of the Horsemen?" Jaune asked, his eyes returning to their icy blue color.

Tukson didn't verbally answer, but he did go into the back and retrieve the oldest book that he had ever found. It was ancient, bound in faded black leather. It was plain and nondescript, not worth a second glance to a potential thief. But Jaune could feel the power bound to the book, it had dozens of archaic spell laced through its pages that worked hard to preserve it.

When Jaune opened to the first page he was greeted by an illustration of the seven seals and an inscription in a language now long lost. Not even the greatest experts in ancient languages could understand the text, but Jaune could.

"When the seven seals are broken, four Horsemen will ride forth to punish the wicked. Be they sons of Man, lords of Heaven, or the dregs of Hell. All upon the earth shall be judged, and the pact forged anew." Jaune could almost hear the voices of the Charred Council, erased not long after what the Horsemen had dubbed the Apocalypse Conspiracy by the Horsemen themselves, saying the words to the first War as they sent him to clear his name eons ago.

"I take it you can understand this book?" Tukson asked.

"Easily. Where did you get this?" Jaune asked in an even tone.

"I was once a part of an…unsavory organization. One day myself and a group of associates found a ruin deep in the woods of Forever Fall. The book was there, resting against a sword imbedded in the center of the room. Four statues stood in a circle around it, looking like they were staring at me." Tukson answered, shuddering at the memory. The ruin had felt like a place of foreboding. Like the very structure wanted them gone.

"This sword, describe it please." Jaune requested, suspecting at the weapon's identity.

"It looked very complicated, its most notable feature was that it looked like it had parts made of gold." Tukson said, wracking his brain.

"Thank you, I wish you luck." Jaune said, exiting the store and pulling out his scroll. He considered calling Death but then reconsidered. The finding of such a relic as the Armageddon Blade could be crucially important, but it would warrant all four horsemen if it was valid. But if it wasn't…Death could kill him easily on his own, but Death with Strife and Fury. They wouldn't actually kill him but it would still hurt like hell. None of them liked to have their time wasted.

No, he would investigate further. If it was confirmed then he would sound the call. But for now, he had a delivery to make to Cinder.

Cinder had started pacing over an hour ago. Emerald and Mercury had been gone all day and she couldn't reach them whatsoever. She decided that she needed some fresh air and would take a walk around the warehouse district she was currently using as a hideout. But she took a single glance outside and realized why she hadn't seen her cohorts. The first thing she noticed was Mercury's head mounted on a spike, his expression making it clear he died in pain. Then she noticed a pile of ashes next to the spike's base, with Emerald's weapons resting among them and realized that that was all that remained of the young thief.

But the most terrifying thing was, and Cinder soon found the motion sensors that triggered it, was a sudden illumination of a wall directly behind the remains. It was once normal brick but now had a message carved into the stonework. And it read…

"You're next."