Greetings everyone,

Let me say it first that I HATE these flashbacks because they are literally the bane of my writing existence. Seriously, I hate it when a show shows us what will happen and then goes back to show why it happened. I mean, c'mon, just show us it in order that way there's no confusion for those of us that rely on the show for a reference. Sorry, just need to vent a little bit. I'm good... For now. Beyond that, I have been watching the episodes as they come out so I do know what happens in them and I do know how I will plan those out in the future.

Weirdly enough, I may have found out how I plan to go about the "fusion of Jaune and Ozpin" vs the "switching of seats". I had originally thought of it would world around the same lines as fusion in Steven Universe - yes, I'm a Steven Universe fan - in the way that both sides MUST be 100% in sync or else their fusion will fail, i.e. the fusion of Sapphire and Ruby, Garnet, having a meltdown over Pearl abusing fusion in "Keystone Motel, Part 2". But then I included pronouns such as we to ensure that this was when the two had fused even though in Steven Universe the fusion still referred to themselves as a singular being that just happens to be composed of two different beings.

But, now I believe I have a permanent solution to how Jaune and Ozpin's fusion will work from now. Think of it like a car with two steering wheels; one for the driving instructor, who can take control whenever something goes wrong, and the other for the test taker, who is primarily the one in control. But it's only when both are taking control at one that the test goes swimmingly. Perhaps not the best analogy but it's the one I'm sticking with.

Anyway, hopefully this explains the chapter a bit better and remember that after this month is over I will be announcing how I plan to go about any future updates to better fit my current work schedule.

Next Scheduled Release:

Dec. 9th: "The Knight and The Wizard - Ch. 11"

Make sure to Favorite, Follow, and leave a Review.

Till next time!

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Chapter Ten

Why did the universe hate me so much? No, seriously, it was almost like it had a goddamn vengeful agenda towards me for simply being alive. Not only do I find out from the man that was literally calling my body his fuckin' apartment that the Relic was like a damn dinner bell for the Grimm but that even though I was essentially the closest thing Ozpin had to a partner he still refused to tell even me the truth about the Relic or anything else about these random flashes of memories that were not my own.

It also didn't help matters that we were now totally stranded in the middle of nowhere because a certain Grimm couldn't just die in peace. OH NO! That would've been too easy! Oh, I know! Why don't I just fuck everyone's day up by blowing up the damn train tracks! And leave them in the middle of a snowy hellscape with a bright neon sign that says "All you can devour humans! Now with a side of Relic of Knowledge!"

"Mr. Arc! Please do try to remain calm." said Ozpin, the very sound of his irritating voice causing me to clench my teeth as I picked myself out the snow.

"Stow it, Ozpin!" I mentally shouted back at the single biggest annoyance in my life. "What the fuck do you expect me to tell everyone, huh!? "Oh, gee, sorry about the mess everyone but it turns out that the single most important thing we're supposed to be protecting is a goddamn dinner bell for every fucking Grimm for miles!" Tell me, exactly how well do you think that will go over with them?" I mentally asked the immortal wizard that resided in my body. But my words were only met with silence from the one man I'd hoped would have all of the answers. "Exactly."

Lifting myself from the snow was harder than I thought. Though not from lacking in strength or from any bodily injuries. But from the simple fact that every part of me wanted to do nothing more than stay in the snow and wait from the Grimm to appear. But, unfortunately, I knew that in the end it wouldn't solve anything and that it would only be delaying the inevitable. As I lifted myself back onto my feet, the pristine white snow crushing beneath my sneakers as my eyes scanned the area around us. To the far left of me was Qrow, trying shake some snow off of his weapon, and Blake, who stood atop the crashed train to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. The the far right of me was Ruby, who was trying to scavenge for supplies that fell from the train while Weiss was busy trying to look for their team's missing bags. And straight away from me was Yang, hotheaded as ever trying to lift her motorbike from the snow. And judging by how hard she was struggling was not succeeding by any stretch of the word.

"Great!" shouted Yang, still struggling with her motorbike. The sound of her frustrated shout causing all of us to turn our heads towards her. "This is just great! We're stranded, we lost a fourth of our party, and we've gained a defenseless old lady!" shouted Yang before fall backwards into the white snow, her motorbike falling after her in suit.

Said "defenseless" old lady was quick to retort Yang's label as she shuffled through the snow to be by my side. "My name is Maria Calavera, and I am NOT defenseless!" shouted Ms. Calavera, arguing against Yang's point. Wait for it. "I'm just a little hard of hearing." said Ms. Calavera, frowning ever so slightly as my cynism continued to predict her next words. And? "And blind without my eyes." said Ms. Calavera, tapping on her goggles as the lenses opened and closed repeatedly. "Which are in desperate need of repair." Which would make her... Defenseless."Okay, I'm starting to see your point."

At the sound of Qrow's annoying grunt, Yang turned her head, causing her blonde hair to become slightly wet from the frozen water as she turned to look at her uncle. "Yang, knock it off, will ya?" asked Qrow, pulling out a silver flask before taking a small sip of it. "If we lose our cool now, we'll just be inviting even more Grimm."

Upon hearing Qrow's words, Blake jumped from the top of the tree to Qrow's side, crushing the snow beneath her shoes. "Does that even matter anymore? Apparently, we've been attracting Grimm ever since we left Haven." said Blake, pointing out a very obvious flaw in our "protecting the relic" plan that Ozpin had neglected to let any one of us know. Even me, and I'm the one he's hitching a ride with and the one who will eventually be kicked out of my own body. I'd think that makes me the first one to know if all the work I'm going to be doing is just going to end up being wasted effort. And judging by the look of anger and annoyance on Yang's face, I wasn't the only one that thought that.

"Oh, and how could I EVER forget about that?" asked Yang, the sarcastic venom on his lips was palpable as she directed her anger onto Ozpin and by extension, me. "Whatever happened to "no more lies and half truths"? And why didn't you say anything to us either, Jaune?"

But, as much as I agreed with Yang about Ozpin and his inability to tell a single truth, I was not about to be considered an accomplice to Ozpin's lies. "Hey, I knew about as much as any one of you!" I shouted back, throwing Yang for a loop before managing to calm myself down with a sigh. "But you're right. I think it's about time we got some answers. Ozpin?" I asked, hearing the beckoning call of Ozpin's desire to fuse our souls once more. Upon fusing once again, for what must've been the fourth time this day. we faced our students and friends.

The feelings that both Ozpin and Jaune held within their souls filled our body due to their fusion. Guilt welled within Ozpin's soul over lying while Jaune's was filled with only anger over being lied to. In all honesty, it made fusion even more difficult than previously as this time it felt like the stirngs that held us together were snapping with every second that past.

"Believe us, Jaune is just as frustrated as the rest of you but understand that Ozpin did NOT lie to any of you." we said, holding our head as the two souls within us argued with the other.

But by the looks of disbelief and caution on each of their faces, we could tell that none of them believed those words a single iota. But it was the former heiress of the Schnee Dust Company that voiced her opinion in our words. "Well, Professor Ozpin certainly didn't tell us everything about the Relic."

Weiss's words only caused more strife with the unstable souls that fused together. The strings that barely held them together were snapping at a rapid pace. At the rate they were going the fusion between both souls would sever and neither would walk away unscathed. It only made matters worse as we lifted our hand to our head with a grimace.

"Please." we pleaded, trying to remain together even though all we wanted was to be apart. "Now is not the time."

But Yang, just as unaware as the rest of them over the damage their words were having upon us, was having none of it as her lilac eyes flashed a furious shade of red. Her blonde hair igniting like a fire as the snow around her slowly began to melt due to the heat that radiated off of her body. "No, we're past that!" she shouted at us, causing us to grimace once again. "I wanna know why you're is STILL not telling us everything!" shouted Yang, directly at the ancient wizard that remained housed in Jaune's body.

"Alright!" we shouted, voicing the anger that filled souls of both Ozpin and Jaune as the two of them slowly calmed themselves, relieving the pain that thumped within our head. But they were right. It was time that everyone knew the truth that Ozpin was hiding about the relic they were meant to protect. "It is true that the Grimm are attracted to the Relics. It's...faint, but undeniable." we said, clasping crocea mors in our right hand with a frown. "Ozpin believes that it has something to do their origin, but he's not entirely sure. Regardless, he fears that making you all aware of the danger would only add anxiety and negativity. H-He... He believes that it was the safer option... An option that Jaune does not wholeheartedly agree with either." we said, finishing our words as the others stared at us with mixed expressions.

"You know, I'm getting real tired of people choosing what's best for me." replied Weiss, placing one hand on her hip as she glared at us only for her glare to be joined alongside Yang's own.

"Is that why you told Qrow to lie to everyone about Lionheart too?" she asked, causing the souls that were currently merged together to fight once again.

It was very obvious that Jaune shared her views on Ozpin's actions. To him, Leonardo Lionheart was a cowardly man who viewed his own life above others. To betray someone close to him simply because he believed it was the better option. To willingly give his enemies secrets and locations on each Huntsman in Mistral. To think the number of people who will go to bed this night unaware that their loves were long dead. But it was Ozpin who held more anger towards Leonardo than any one of them. To him, he not only lost a valuable asset but a man whom he'd once believed to be a brother in arms. A friend.

"Ozpin believed that the kingdom of Mistral deserved better than the truth..." we said, clutching our head as wave of pain washed over us as the two souls within our body continued to fight. But sans Qrow and Ruby, none of the remainder of Team RWBY seemed to care about the damage their words were having on our psyche. "A-And he believed Leonardo deserved to be remembered...for his lifetime of service, and not the...unfortunate missteps he made in his final years."

Yang's eyes widened at the word "missteps" and in truth, we could not blame her for her reaction as her lilac eyes flashed red. "Missteps?!" she shouted, clenching her fists together as tight as she possibly could.

"W-What Lionheart did was cowardly...reprehensible. Ozpin knows that. He does not argue differently, but he asks does one lapse in judgement negate all of the good he's done?" we asked,grimacing as the two souls within our fused body continued to fight one another for dominance. "We all may have met Lionheart, but none of us met the man he was before...before Salem found him." we said, feeling the guilt and remorse that filled Ozpin's soul spread throughout our body as flashes of a man with a lion's tail bravely protected the weak and trained the next generation of heroes with a prideful smile on his face.

It was true that Leonardo Lionheart was a man many would've been proud to have met. He was brave in the face of danger. He was caring to those around him regardless of their social standing. He was a man deserving of praise and friendship. It was why it pained Ozpin so much to know that the man he believed he could trust became yet another memory in a sea of betrayal.

"Look, we're supposed to be in this together." said Yang, clenching her fists as she took a step forward towards us, adding fuel to the anger that was swelling within Ozpin's soul as flashes of memories appeared before our eyes of the sheer number of times he'd heard those exact same words. "You can trust us!" she shouted, summoning more painful memories of those we'd once thought our closest allies betraying us without a second's thought. "We're not gonna turn our backs on you!"

Finally, the infighting of the two souls within our body ended as Jaune's soul was pushed away, giving Ozpin full control of Jaune's physical body. Suddenly, we became separated and our fusion ended but there was something different about it this time. Instead, I was not in control of my body but Ozpin was. Fear washed over me as I thought that this was it for me. Was Ozpin really going to take my body for himself? Suddenly, I saw a vision of the outside world, through my own eyes. It felt strange, at first, like I knew what was happening around me yet I couldn't do anything to stop it. It wasn't until I laid my eyes on the look of devastation and confusion on Ruby's face that I was fueled by determination. There was no way I was going to go down without a fight if it meant seeing Ruby cry. And so, I fought using every ounce of mental clarity and power I could muster while Opzin continued to scream and shout at my friends.

Suddenly, I was flushed with an intense anger as years and years of painful memories flooded my mind. "DO YOU REALLY THINK LEO WAS THE FIRST!?" Ozpin shouted at them, using my own voice that both shocked and worried everyone to the point that they stopped dead in their tracks. But none were more shocked than I as struggled within the depths of my own mind to fight back against Ozpin's control. But even the sight of Ruby lifting her hand, her mouth opened to say my name, she was silenced as a pulse of energy rippled from my body, which in turn pushed me further away as more memories of unfamiliar faces filled my mind. Were these the men and women who had betrayed Ozpin so many years ago? "Do you honestly believe that Leo didn't say THOSE EXACT SAME WORDS TO ME?!" shouted Ozpin, clenching my body's teeth and fists in anger before slowly managing to calm himself just enough to avoid losing control and giving me another chance to take it back as Ozpin continued to try and explain himself and his lies to my friends. "Please understand that I am sorry about lying to you all, but my behaviors are back by experience." Ozpin said softly, lifting my head and giving me another view of my friends, who most likely had no idea of the struggle I was going through to take back my body. "I'm not saying that I have reason to believe any of you will betray me. I'm saying that I have reasons for the things I do, the secrets I keep, the reason I..." But suddenly he stopped before using my eyes to scan the surroundings as a feeling of anxiety washed over me. "Where is the Relic?" he asked before seeing said Relic in Ruby's gentle grasp.

"I-It got scattered in the crash." said Ruby, avoiding meeting Ozpin's eyes.

"Please, Ms. Rose, hand it over." commanded Ozpin, using MY voice and reaching out with MY hand out to take back the Relic, which only made me continued to fight back for control of my own damn body.

But Ruby couldn't help but hesitate, clutching the Relic close to her chest as she looked at the nigh-immortal man who wore her best guy friend's face. The same face she'd first seen when she was down on her luck on the first day in a new school. It made me fight back for control even harder than before as I used my own recently discovered Semblance to amplify my strength, hoping to match Ozpin's own just enough to gain control.

"So, all those times you talked about having faith in humanity, that was just for everyone else?" I heard Ruby ask Ozpin as I continued to fight back for control until I felt a strange presence in the back of my mind. The voices of the outside world becoming nothing but muddled words and silent tongues as I felt another strange presence within myself. Then another. And then another. More and more strange presences were making themselves known to me as a single word slowly popped into my head.

Jinn.

Jinn? Who was Jinn? It felt strange to say but it felt as if I knew this name or rather it felt as if even I had known this name for many, many years. It was then that I felt a warmth on my right shoulder. Quickly, I turned my head to see my own headmaster smiling down at me. But where as for Ozpin I felt nothing but disdain and hatred, I couldn't feel even an ounce of malice towards this man. I wracked my brain around I as tried to remember who this man was, who he used to be before meeting Ozpin.

It wasn't until I heard him speak that a flood of memories washed over me. "Say her name, Jaune, and show them all that Ozpin is not the man he claims to be." he said as memories and memories of previous lifetimes filled my vision. From the youngest child that played in the streets to the oldest man to hid himself away in a cabin. Memories flooded my vision of a blue translucent being, one who held the answers to all of my questions.

And the only way to get those answers we sought after was to say one thing.

Her name.

Finally, I threw my hand out upon instinct, shocking me back into the waking world and allowing me to see the look of confusion and shock on my friend's faces. My eyes widened as I realized that I'd taken back control of my own body! But even as euphoria filled my body I knew that Ozpin now knew what I'd learned and even now I could feel him desperately trying to take back control of my body. I knew I needed to hurry lest I lose control over to Ozpin.

Hesitantly, Qrow took a step forward towards me with a strange expression on his face. "Oz?" he asked, taking another step forward as I tried will all of my might to stop Ozpin from taking control.

I turned my head towards Ruby, who looked at me with worry. "Ruby, hurry...he's trying to stop you!" I shouted at her, shocking her back into reality as I felt the pull of Ozpin's soul in the back of my head.

Seeing this, it was Yang that answered first as she took a step forward, crushing the white snow beneath her boots. "Stop her from what?" she asked angrily as I felt another pull on my mind from Ozpin's soul. I didn't have much time anymore. I needed to stop this by any means necessary.

"He's afraid... You'll find out what he's...hiding!" I said, struggling as I could already feel Ozpin trying to take back control of my body which was evident as I felt my left leg begin to twitch uncontrollably.

Finally, my legs gave out and I fell onto my hands and knees into the snow as I felt the pull once again on my body. But, like before, I wasn't about to go down without a fight. Even as I struggled to lift my head to look at my friends, the glares on Yang, Blake, and Weiss filling me with a strange sensation and the sight of Ruby's holding the relic defensively, I had but one chance to save myself from Ozpin's control. And the only way to do that was to learn his secrets and the only way to do that was..."Jinn...Say her name to summon her, Ruby." I said, looking at Ruby as she looked down at the mysterious relic she cradled in her arms.

"Her name?" she asked, no doubt feeling confused at hearing that the relic in her arms even had a name or the fact that Ozpin was trying so desperately to prevent her from saying it. But as the wind picked up, sending several particles of snow flying around us, Ruby looked back at me before looking back at the relic she held in her hands. "Jinn?" she said softly as the snowfall around us all came to a standstill.

The confusion that everyone felt was but one tiny emotion in the see of others that each of us felt as the relic in Ruby's hands began to softly glow before floating away from Ruby's soft hands and over the soft white blanket of snow. Suddenly, a light blue mist began to seep from the relic's before raising into the air and taking a new form. And before our very eyes was a giant blue-skinned and blue-haired feminine figure draped with golden accessories and ornaments. But, it wasn't until this mysterious being spoke that I truly realized the power we now held in our hands.

"Ah, wonderful." she said softly, smiling down at the weak and confused mortals we truly were. "Tell me, what knowledge do you seek?"

This was Jinn, the Relic of Knowledge, and we were but a group of kids lost in a war that we wanted no part of.

But now was the time to get some answers to the pleasant lies Ozpin had told us.

No words were spoken from our mouths ass the mysterious translucent being of blue mist hovered above us in all of her glory. The golden accessories she wore seemed to add to her already heavenly form as she continued to smile teasingly at us. My eyes widened at the sight of her all-mighty figure as Ozpin's pull on my body slowly faded into the background.

"I am Jinn, a being created by the God of Light to aid humanity in it's pursuit of knowledge." she said with a smile as she continued to hover above us mere mortals. "I've been graced with the ability to answer three questions every one hundred years. You're in luck, as I am still able to answer-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I randomly shouted at the godly being that floated above me before I immediately covered my mouth with my gloved hand. The stares I'd received due to my random outburst were enough to caused some considerable feelings of confusion as I looked down at my shaking hands. "What the hell? Why did I just shout at her? Unless..." I wondered as Jinn slowly floated towards me with eyes filled with nostalgia and an impish smile.

"Two questions this era." said Jinn, finishing her sentence before I'd randomly cut her off before chuckling at the look of confusion on my face. "It's a pleasure to see you again, old man. I see you've taken on a new form and an Arc at that. My, have the Gods been favorable to you." she seemed to say that last sentence like it was an everyday joke she'd say to her buddies at the water cooler. And even stranger, it only made me angrier at her for saying so.

But suddenly I felt my head move without my consent towards Ruby, who watched me with a worried expression before Yang stepped between us with an angered expression, her fists clenched into balls of rage. My mouth opened as if by it's self as the words flew from my lips as if it was automated message. "Ruby, please... Don't."

"Ozpin?" she asked allowed in confusion before her silver eyes widened in sudden realization as the knowledge of what was transpiring settled over us like a blanket of pristine white snow.

I was no longer in control of my body anymore. But whereas before I was shoved to the background and forced to watch as Ozpin took personal control over my body. This time I was to be his puppet and he, the puppet master. A deep fear began to swell within me as I felt the dark and looming presence of a terrified man manipulate me like a puppet on strings.

Qrow, not understanding what was happening around himself, slowly took a step forward towards his nieces and their team only to be greeted by their weapons poised and ready to strike should he make another move. Realizing that he had no control over anything it seemed as though Qrow was ready to resign himself to whatever happened next. After taking a step back, the snow crunching beneath his feet, his eyes slowly moved from myself and Ozpin to Jinn then back to Ruby. "Do whatever you think is right, kiddo." he said relenting control over to Ruby, who turned back around to face the mysterious floating woman that seemed to be taking their turmoil in stride.

"Jinn?" asked Ruby, most likely pondering her question as I felt a pain unimaginable in the back of my head. Several thoughts raced through my head I felt Ozpin trying to seize back control from me. But try as I might to prevent him from doing so, inside I knew that Ozpin was far stronger than I was. "What is Ozpin hiding from us?" she asked as I felt a power beyond anything I'd felt before.

"NOOOOOOO!" I shouted aloud as a surge of memories flooded my vision as I felt Ozpin forcibly taking control of my body, lifting me up above the snow and forcing me to charge forward towards Ruby, who turned back at the last second with an expression of shock. And as I neared her, I felt another strange sensation pull at my body before she, along with everyone else vanished before my very eyes. Clumsily, I stumbled onto the ground, slamming my hands and knees into the ground with a smack. I quickly leaped back onto my feet as I looked around in utter shock and confusion.

No one was here.

Not Ruby.

Not Weiss.

Not even Qrow.

I was all alone in an endless white void.

"Ruby!?" I shouted into the empty void, hearing my voice echo in the distance as I quickly turned to look for her. "Weiss!?" I shouted, again, but received no answer in return. "OZPIN!?" I shouted once more as slowly the panic as the fear of isolation soon began to take it's hold on me. Was this somehow my punishment for not trying hard enough? Had this been the moment when Ozpin finally took control of my body? But if so then where were the other souls he'd collected then? Where was the man I'd spoken to the first time I'd ever fused with Ozpin?

"Once upon a time, there stood a lonely tower..." said Jinn, the sound of her disembodied voice entering my ears and shocking me enough that it made me jump in surprise. Suddenly, the white void around me began to slowly change around me until it's a pathway eventually formed before my very eyes and in the distance surrounded by grasslands and mountains. The sound of a woman's humming entered my ears as I looked around before hearing the sound of Jinn's voice echo in the background. "...that sheltered a lonely girl..." said Jinn as the scenery changed once again and sitting before our very eyes before a mirror as she slowly stroked her beautiful blonde hair with a brush was woman. But it was when this mysterious woman turned to face us that my eyes widened in sudden realization. I knew this woman. I knew everything about this woman even though I'd never met her before in my life. I knew of her dream for freedom from her prison. Her fears of remaining trapped like a bird in a gilded cage. Her hope for a future where she could finally be who she chose to be. I knew everything about this woman sitting before me. I even knew her name. A name that inspired hope and love within my heart as she lifted her head, her eyes meeting my own for the first time as my heart skipped a beat as if she could actually see me.

I knew everything about this woman because I loved her with all of my heart and soul.

No, I knew this woman because Ozpin loved this woman and I knew this woman because it was Ozpin who changed her into a monster. I knew this woman because I'd met her before on the very night I'd slain that seer Grimm on the night of Haven's supposed downfall. I knew this woman because she was everything my friends and I had been fighting against.

This was her, the monster that orchestrated the fall of Beacon. Who had a hand in Pyrrha's demise at the hand of the bitch, Cinder. The one woman who said she could break Ozpin's hold over my body. This once beautiful woman, who gazed into my eyes as if I was actually standing before her, was the monster I was destined to fight against.

This was Salem.