Here's a new chapter, reviews are greatly appreciated- RareNyte

Noir POV

I took a deep breath, this moment had to go perfectly, any less and I've already lost, 'Jaune' wasn't there last night, he doesn't think anything is wrong and is disapproving of Noir

From that I'll get to see how they feel about their future ruler. That should work.

With my plan in mind, I entered the cafeteria. I walked as calmly as I could over to the usual table. The others didn't seem to notice my approach; I noticed that Ren was absent.

I panicked momentarily before calming myself once again, Ren had been wary of me before, he still has the memories of Nora's kidnapping inside his head, who's to say if he's remembered already. Still, even if he did, would he suspect me?

I sat down next to Weiss, who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Uh, hey guys, why the long faces?" I asked, alerting the others of my arrival.

"Oh, Jaune, sorry, didn't see you there" Ruby said across from me.

"What's up with you guys? Something happen last night?"

I was met with silence for a few seconds before Yang spoke up.

"The Prince… he had Velvet locked up, he said that she was the leader of the White Fang and that she was gonna be executed"

"What? He didn't-" I began in fake horror before Weiss took hold of my arm.

"No, she's fine" She said quietly, not looking up at me.

"There was a guy in a GRIMM mask, a girl in a masquerade mask, and then there was this other guy, I think he was the boss, he called himself Noir"

"Whoa whoa whoa" I interrupted "The Noir? The one dad defeated?"

Yang shrugged "Who knows? He knocked out the Prince and started talking about how the kingdom was corrupt and that he was raising an army to free the oppressed and stuff like that"

"Seriously?! But I thought he was the bad guy!" I exclaimed.

"I don't know" Blake chided, looking up from her book. "From the sounds of it, he wants to stop the discrimination against the faunus and the injustice in the law, plus, he did save Velvet's life"

The others looked thoughtful, I smiled inwardly, maybe this'll be easier than I thought…

"Guys! Check it out, they featured it on the news site!" Nora showed us her tablet.

'Astonishment filled the air last night when the execution of a girl convicted of leading the notorious White Fang was saved by a group of three claiming to preparing for war against the kingdom!

The three have been identified by anonymous sources as Adam, Blair and Noir, the enemy to the Kingdom that was said to have been defeated long ago'

I frowned, I had been happy to have a new challenge to take on earlier, but I hadn't yet considered how I was going to deal with the Kingdom.

I knew they couldn't come and arrest me just like that; there would be an uproar if it got out that they had allowed a villain into a prestigious academy. I can take care of spies quite easily with my slaves.

I had control over Blake and Nora, as well as CRDL, I can also call for the assistance of both Dorei no me and Shinime. I believe Cinder Fall is willing to assist as well, I remembered our conversation the night of the reveal of Noir.

"We have snipers surrounding that arena, if you don't give me a good show, your friend Nora, or your slave 'Oran', could be in a bit of trouble"

"It'll be done, now what about afterwards? Will you stand against me?"

She chuckled as she started to walk away, she turned back to me

"Quite the contrary, I've never been the biggest fan of Solus, as you can guess, I think we can be quite useful for each other"

I just have to keep playing the part of the feeble minded Jaune Arc while making the final touches on my army, my worries depleted as I imagined the chaos that would soon ensue, as I take on the Kingdom of Vale.

Ren POV

I slowed my breathing and placed my hands on my knees as I let out a slow hum, I was completely at peace, I listened for the nearby sounds, I heard some students sparring against one another, judging by the noises, one was using a bow, the other.. I think it was a sword… a metal sword … wielded by a man in a metal mask who stared on emotionlessly as the woman pulled a gun out and-

"AGH!" I screamed as I punched the nearby wall, the dreams were real, Noir existed! And he's playing the good guy! This was the man that abducted Nora!

'If he carries on making himself the hero, people will slowly start to see him that way too!

I can't let that happen, for Nora's sake, I will find you, Noir!'

"Hey Ren, we gotta get going, it's the trip to the Nightlock Forest remember?" I turned to see the cheery blond boy gathering his belongings, including his Katana.

'And I think I know the perfect place to start'

Noir POV

In the Nightlock Forest

"Students, today you will work in your teams to find and capture the strongest Grimm you can find in the forest, the method that you chose to contain them is your decision to make, I expect a variety of Boarbatusks, however some of you may feel a little bit more ambitious and go for something like a Nevermore or Deathstalker"

I smiled at that, did Goodwitch really expect anyone to go for anything less? Just by looking at them, you could tell most of the people here would rather be killed by a monster than bring back a weakling like an Ursa.

I felt slightly excited, it had been so long since I had fought a worthy opponent, I couldn't go all out on them of course; I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

I turned around to my team, it occurred to me then just how messed up JNPR had become.

We have the green with envy Spartan, the brainwashed cheerleader and the Lotus Boy with a bad case of Night Terrors.

'Speaking of which, I have to keep an eye on him, he may have remembered the entire ordeal by now…'

"Ok, we should get going, I'll see you later okay?" with that and a quick peck on the cheek, Weiss headed out with the rest of team RWBY.

As we started walking, I began to understand why this place deserved a name like Nightlock.

Everything past the few dark trunks around you was cloaked in a veil of murky shadows, the thick trees up above blocked any kind of sunlight, it was a cage of darkness, I remembered hearing stories about men that entered the forest, only to get lost and never found.

I imagined the same fate falling upon some unlucky enough to have opposed me…

"Jaune? Do you have a minute?"

"Sure what is it?" Ren took a step closer; he apparently didn't want this to be overheard.

"What do you make of all this Noir business?"

'An innocent enough question I suppose, if it wasn't for the fact that you took a step closer.

You didn't want Pyrrha to hear? Possibly, she was also suspicious of me when my attitude slipped just before I regained my memories so she would probably join the conversation and Ren wanted to avoid that

That is a possibility, another is that he has pieced together what happened to Nora, he may somehow have figured out that she is working for Noir, bringing the name up could be risky, however in that case it could also work in his favour, he could judge by her reaction whether or not she was affiliated with Noir,

Did he overlook that opportunity? No, it's more likely that he doesn't want to believe Nora is connected.

It is useless for me to question why he would ask me, after all, we both know of his suspicions so there's no need to hide it, it's better to in fact, on any other person it would have put more pressure on them.

I have to act carefully; I didn't care as much about the reveal of my identity the first time because I was basically a nobody, no village, no family, nothing.

However this time is different, I have to play a part now, more so because people like John Arc and Solus know that I was Noir, however they do not know that Shinime can also return memories. I'll have to play innocent and convince everyone that it is a second Noir, a copycat.

It will no doubt be a challenge, I wouldn't have had to go through any of this if Cinder hadn't shown her face, she will be useful for the time being but she will have to pay for putting me through so much trouble'

"Noir? Well I don't know, you'd have thought that I'd want him to be defeated, seeing as my dad took him down last time. But from what the others have told me, the Prince was prepared to kill Velvet without any kind of trial, maybe some change is necessary"

I watched Ren for a reaction, he didn't seem satisfied,

'You probably thought that I would pretend like I was completely against him, didn't you? Anyone with brains could see past that, maybe he isn't as smart as I thought…'

"You don't think he should be stopped then?" He asked, quitter still.

"I don't know… I mean my dad never told me much about him, I know that a lot of people died because of him before, but I can't say that what he says he's trying to do is wrong"

"What he says he is trying to do? Do you think he's lying?"

'Damn it, I should've phrased that better. I see now that he isn't choosing the most obvious questions because he's simple minded, it's because it makes me let my guard down and slip up.

I would presume that from what I just said, he's assuming I at least know more than I let on, after all, 'Jaune' wasn't there when Noir gave his speech, so he shouldn't know enough to make comments like that.'

"I can't say for sure, I mean I wasn't actually there you know? He seems a little shady but maybe- no, sorry I shouldn't talk like I know anything about it. I guess I was just trying to sound smart" I rubbed my head bashfully.

"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have given you the third degree like that, but with characters like Noir around, we have to be careful"

I looked the Lotus Boy up and down.

"Yeah, you're probably right"