Wake up Where the Clouds
Ozpin placed his coffee mug down on the armrest of his chair and leaned back in the soft dark emerald green leather chair. On any normal day the headmaster would be standing at one of the many windows of his office watching his school and students or out for walks on the grounds, observing the students up-close, watching them train and bond and grow. Occasionally he would step up to one or two in their moments good or bad and talk with the or offer them advice or direction.
Today however he sat despairingly in his chair, his face heavy with the stress. In his hands was a parchment displaying his office's waiting room where Jaune paced furiously, his hands and wrists bound in ice. Pacifica and Blake sat around the room watching him, the black-haired girl with pained concern and worry while the silver-haired archer watched the blonde boy with a bored flat stare.
Ozpin's heart broke for the young man. He had lost friends and family, he knew how it felt to have them ripped away, some bloody and sudden and others quiet and peaceful, but yet Ozpin knew there was nothing he could do to lessen the burden on the young man's heart and that was what drove the deepest knife into the headmaster chest; to have all the knowledge and experience of a long life and yet being unable to do more than offer condolences and words to the boy.
Ozpin closed the parchment and turned around in his chair. Puting the device and his cup on the desk he stood up, his legs and hips cracking and popping from having been seated for so long.
The intercom on his desk buzzed, Glynda's voice coming through the speaker. "Mr Arc is demanding to see you again. He is growing rather hostile, shall I send him away?"
Ozpin sighed. As much as he hurt for the boy he was in no mood to put up with his surprising temper. The headmaster pressed a button on his desk and hunched over to speak. "No, that will only make him worse. I will see him, once I have read the report."
"Yes Sir."
With a weary sigh Ozpin let go of the intercom and hit a key on the holo-board hovering just above the surface of the desk. The screen blared to life above the desk with a picture of two emerald gears, one inside the other, against a black background. Ozpin sat down and typed on the holo-board, a small envelope icon with a blinking exclamation point appearing on the screen before opening up and expanding to fill the entire page. Ozpin read the words at the top of the page and took a sip of his drink, which with a disappointed look he found was empty.
"Hmm," he muttered as he set the cup aside and started to read the report. Immediately something jumped out to the headmaster. In the encounters between his students and the killer she showed remarkable speed and skill in fighting and dispatching her opponents, yet GNRL and PTFM managed to save the life of Sky Lark and hold off the killer long enough for PTFM and CRDL to escape. And GNRL managed to hold their own against the killer even when she defeated three of their classmates within a minute.
'So what is different this time' Ozpin mused as he hit a key to turn the page. His eyes skimmed across the page drinking in the words until a single sentence made him stop dead in his tracks and rise from his seat.
-first-year swordsman and Pacifica Yale of team APCS joined the battle as well. The swordsman charged the killer and engaged her, which almost resulted in his death or serious injury-
Ozpin picked up the parchment again and opened the video feed to his waiting room. Jaune was still pacing the room but was having a muted argument with Blake while Pacifca was inspecting one of her ice-dust arrows. Ozpin however had eyes only for Jaune.
"Why were you there, mr Arc?" Ozpin asked himself as he lowered himself back into his seat and turned back to the report. "And how did you fare?"
Ozpin's eyes danced across the screen drinking in the words like a man near-dead of thirst. Every now and then he would glance at the video feed on his parchment and raise an eyebrow at the young knight furiously pacing, a small sense of pride blossoming in the headmaster's chest. He knew of course that Jaune faked his transcripts, that he didn't have the training nor conditioning for this school, let alone the dangers he would face if he made it to graduation. Yet Ozpin knew the young Arc was a natural fighter and leader; his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather had all been great warriors, generals and Hunstman, and ozpin had seen the raw talent in Jaune during his trial in the emerald forest coordinating the future team JNPR and taking down a Deathstalker. And now Jaune had gone up against a dangerously skilled opponent capable of beating a skilled third-year team and actually managed to win the bout.
"I hate to admit it Miss Nikos, but it appears you motivated Jaune more in death then as his mentor," Ozpin said; he of course also knew of the training sessions on the dorm roof. The headmaster let out a sad sigh for the slain amazon and dismissed the report with a wave of his hand as he stood and pressed the buttom to key the intercom.
"Send in Mr Arc," Ozpin said. Letting go off the button he turned his back to the desk and walked over to the window, crossing both arms behind his back as he stared over his academy. There he stood until the door burst open as if it was kicked and turned calmly to face the furious hatred-eyed teenager storming across his office.
"Before you say or do anything there will be consequences for seeking out and engaging the killer," The headmaster stated in a stern voice that showed how displeased he was. Jaune walked up to his desk, ignoring what Ozpin had said and slamming his hands on the headmasters desk.
"Ruby is the killer!"
If not for the chair Ozpin would have fallen to the ground as his legs almost gave out; his worst fear at come true. The usually stoic and unshakable headmaster was at a loss for words as he shakily lowered himself into his chair, not looking at the student in front of him as he tried to find any thought or idea to support the crumbling theory, nay hope, that the simple soul he had known was not behind these deaths and attacks.
"You, saw her face?" Ozpin asked with a shaky voice, unable to look up from his desk.
"I did!" Jaune growled, removing his hands from the desk and stepping back. "I saw her face, I saw her fucking eyes! She's the one who killed Pyrrha!"
"Your are absolutely, 100 percent certain that the person you saw was Ruby Rose?" Ozpin asked his voice going harsh as he finally locked eyes with Jaune while rising to his feet. "You swear that the person that took the lives two of my students and injured five more is the most innocent, purest and honest soul I have ever encountered in my life!"
Ozpin's words softened Jaune's face and filled his eyes with pain and sorrow that washed away the anger and hatred. Taking a step backwards Jaune looked away from the headmaster. "I swear."
The room fell into silence as the two bowed their heads, their faces breaking with sorrowful realization as the horrible truth of Jaune's words finally sunk in.
CRASH
Jaune jumped and uttered a colourful sentence as Ozpin picked up his parchment and threw it after the coffee cup. The headmaster threw his chair next before bending down and with a heart-broken scream flipped the heavy wrought-iron and clockwork gear desk.
The room again fell silent save for Ozpin's laboured breaths. Jaune looked at the headmaster in fear; he had never seen the man lose his cool before even a little. But this, Jaune felt he was staring at another person entirely.
The door burst open as Glynda stormed in, riding crop in hand and looking like she was about to murder someone, possibly Jaune by the look she gave him before her eyes settled on the Ozpin and his destruction.
"Ozpin," she started, dropping the crop to her side and taking a step towards the headmaster.
"Get, me, Yang, and, Blake," Ozpin panted as he righted himself and turned away from the student and headmistress. Jaune and Glynda shared a look of shock before looking back to the headmaster.
"Sir-"
"Now, Glynda!" Ozpin yelled harshly, his voice wavering. The headmistress went to say something, but bowed her head and stepped back. With a distressed but collected voice she said "Yes, sir," and left the room, leaving Jaune alone with the headmaster.
The doors to the elevator slid apart, allowing Blake and Yang to step into the room. Glynda stayed in the office and didn't say a word to the two, only shooting a distressed glance over their heads as the doors closed.
"What the hell?" Yang asked as the pair stepped around Ozpin's desk and looked around the office. Jaune was sweeping up the remains of Ozpin's coffee cup and stood up when he saw the girls; Ozpin stood in front of the window his back to them standing as still as a statue but radiating a dark aura. The girls shared a look of alarm and concern and turned to Jaune as he walked up to them.
"What happened here?" Blake asked looking between the blonde and the headmaster. Yang looked around the room. "Blake told me you were mad but I wasn't expecting this Vomit boy."
"It, wasn't me," Jaune sighed, gesturing to the headmaster as he spoke. "I, gave him some really bad news."
"What ne-"
"How is Weiss?" Ozpin interrupted, making the three look up. Ozpin turned around slowly, his face neutral and calm but his eyes at war between burning righteous fury and heart-breaking despair. "Is she well?"
"Yes, sir," Blake said hesitantly. "She's healthy, but just needs to rest."
"That is good to hear. We have at least one shred of good news," the headmaster said flatly. The girls looked to Jaune questionly. The knight was looking away from the pair, unwilling to meet their eyes and biting his cheek.
"Jaune?"
"Jaune knows the killer's identity," Ozpin said taking as step towards the students. "He has seen her face."
"What?" the girls yelled and turned on Jaune. Yang grabbed him by his chest-plate and dragged him towards her.
"Tell me who it is so I can hunt them down and beat the living shit out of them for touching my friends!" the fiery blonde yelled, his eyes flickering red and her golden locks starting to simmer with burning rage.
The blonde knight however dropped his gaze to the floor and bite the inside of his cheek. Blake stopped around her partner, careful to not get burned and stood in front of Jaune.
"Jaune, tell us. We need to know who this person is."
"Just," he started, putting his hands on Yangs. "Let me go first, and promise you won't punch me."
"Why would I waste a punch in you," Yang said fiercely but nevertheless let the knight go, even backing up a few steps. "Now out with it Vomit boy!"
Jaune didn't answer straight away, instead he stepped out of Yang's immediate reach and let out sigh before squaring his jaw looking the two dead in the air.
"The person I saw, the person who attacked Weiss and CRDL, who killed, Pyrrha, was Ruby."
The fires throughout Yang's hair died with a hiss and the temperature of the whole room dropped several degrees as if his words had let loose a frozen gale. Both the girls recoiled and their faces dropped as they shared a look.
"That's not," Blake started only to be cut off as Yang yelled furiously and turned on Jaune, her body beginning to shake as her voice wavered.
"You're lying! You son of a bitch tell me you're lying!"
Jaune bowed his head, hiding his eyes behind his hair. "No Yang, I'm not."
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Yang lunged at Jaune and lifted him off of his feet as her hair burst into a firefly inferno and her eyes turned a murderous shade of red. "SHE IS NOT A MURDERER! SHE COULD NEVER KILL ANYTHING THAT WASN'T A GRIMM. SHE, IS NOT, A KILLER!"
With each word fire erupted from her body, crawling up her arms like a tide. Jaune tried to pry her hands off of him, but touching her skin burnt him. Blake yelled and tried to put Yang back by her shoulders, only to be knocked back by another wave of fire.
"MY SISTER IS NOT A MURDERER! SHE'S NOT!" Yang roared as her tears evaporated into steam. Fire began to catch on Jaune's clothes as he tried to pull Yang off of him, his hands blistering from the heat and burning from the flames. He however ignored all of the pain and focused on the girls red eyes. "Yang! I saw her! I saw her face!" He yelled, his voice cracking from the pain and the emotions warring in his heart. "She said she will kill me if I stood in her way! She tried to Yang! She tried to kill me!"
"LIAR!" Yang screamed, and the fire covering her died out as she fell to her knees, taking Jaune with her. Sobs wracked her body as she let out her anger, her anguish, her breaking heart in one great scream that shook the room. As the scream subsided silence returned only broken by the sobs of the young girl who had her heart ripped from her chest and shattered before her eyes. Blake stood besides the overturned desk, using it to support her shaking frame as she forced down the tears threatening to spill; despite her shaking the faunus forced herself to remain strong for her teammate, as she knew what had to come next.
As if on cue Ozpin cleared his throat, bringing Jaune and Blake's attention to the headmaster. Despite the sight of one of his students sobbing her heart out in front of him Ozpin remained as still and calm as a statue with the same icy hardness he had when the members of team RWBY had walked in.
"As much as I hate to say it, but we must come up with a plan to apprehend miss Rose."
"Sir," Blake said with a glance to Yang who had quieted down but was still sobbing and murmuring incoherently into Jaune's chest. "Perhaps it's best if Yang is-"
"Think me cruel Blake," Ozpin cut her off with a wave of his hand, not taking his eyes off the two the blonde brawler. "But Yang must come to terms with this quickly. Ruby is still out there and she has no signs of giving up her quest to murder my students. None know her better, so we will need Yang with us on this."
"Yeah but sir," Jaune said, carefully shifting his weight so not to jostle Yang but so he could face the headmaster. "She just found out Ruby is actually alive and killing our friends. Surely-"
"No."
It was Yang who interrupted this time, pushing herself off the blonde knight and to her shaking feet. "Ozpin's right. I know Ruby best, and we need to catch her. Alive," She growled the last word to the headmaster despite the waver in her voice.
"I would have it no other way. She may have hurt my students and gained a body count, but she is still in my care. And I want some words with her," the headmaster replied, his voice dropping dangerously low with the last few words.
Blake turned to her partner with concern. "Yang are you sure you want to do this. I know this is necessary, but still this is your sister."
"I have to Blake," Yang said, gaining strength and confidence with each step towards the headmaster, Jaune close behind her. "I lost her once, I'm not going to let her destroy herself."
"So then Yang," Ozpin said stepping away from the window to stand in front of the three students. "What do you suggest?"
"We need to find her and isolate her, cut off anyways she could escape and make sure she stays where we want to. Once we have her I'll talk to her. She may have gone dark side, but she'll listen to me."
"And if she doesn't?" Ozpin asked. Yang glared at the headmaster.
"She'll listen to me."
"So how do we find her" Blake asked, hoping to keep the two from each other's throats; tensions were running high she didn't need Yang starting anything, nor Ozpin. The two looked to the faunus and backed down, the tension dropping in the room. None of them spoke however at they retreated into themselves to think.
After several minutes of silence, a hand rose up, getting everyone's attention.
"Its risky," Jaune said, lowering his hand now that he had everyone's attention. "But what if we took CRDL somewhere out in the open, the main courtyard say, and use them to lure Ruby in."
"You want to use them as bait?" Blake asked shocked that Jaune of all people would come up with a plan like that. :You want to give Ruby the four people she's after on a silver platter?"
"Of course not!" Jaune shouted back, anger flashing through his eyes. "CRDL may be jerks but I'm not about to give them to a murderer. We use them to bring Ruby to us then get enough teams to spring the trap and surround her."
"She would not be able to fight dozens of teams and the teachers," Ozpin said, sounding impressed. "According to team GNRL's report she barely fought off them and you."
"Hold up," Yang said putting her hands in the air. "I'm all for dangling a line to catch my sister, but these are people we're talking about. Students. Shouldn't we ask them if they're willing to put their lives on the line for this."
"They're huntsmen-in-training Yang," Ozpin said with a harsh tone, the tension in the room rising again. "If they aren't prepared at all times to put their lives on the line then they have no place in my school."
"What is it you said after that food fight of ours sir," Yang growled, her eyes flashing red. "They're still only children, so why not let them play the part."
Ozpin glared down the young blonde, Blake swore the two were about to explode and take the room with them. With a loud drawn out sigh ozpin bowed his head and backed down ,all the tension and anger draining from his body.
"It seems I still have much to learn if I'm being lectured by a young woman," the headmaster said with a smirk. "You're right. In my pain and impatient I forgot that you all are still only children who have had the cruel truth of the world dumped on your laps."
Blake and Jaune copied the headmaster and let out a sigh of relief; Yang took a step back and nodded, the red fading from her eyes.
"We should speak with CRDL about this then," she said.
"Yes," Ozpin agreed. "Come, let's-"
He was interrupted by the doors to his office bursting open as Glynda ran into the room, a panicked look to her usual stern face.
"Ozpin, miss Schenee and team CRDL are gone!"
"WHAT!" Ozpin roared, the room shaking with the force.
"Professor Oobleck went to check on Port and the students, and found the entire medical wing frozen in ice and her room empty."
"What are those fuckwits thinking!" Yang yelled as her hair flared. Suddenly everyone was in motion heading to the elevator. Glynda kept talking as they piled in. "He searched the grounds and found several sets of footprints heading to the Forever Falls."
"They must be going to the place Ruby died," Blake said, earning another growl from Ozpin and Yang.
"Where is Bartholomew now?" Ozpin asked as the elevator doors opened and the group stormed out.
"Collecting teams to follow them, though he said he saw a team already heading into the woods."
"Another team?" Yang asked. As the group passed the waiting room to Ozpin's office Jaune looked inside, and slid to a stop causing the rest of the room to stop and backtrack.
The room was empty, and Jaune had a feeling he knew who the other team was.
Yes! Finally. I've worked through the block and finished the chapter and I'm actually happy about it.
So quick update to me: I'm in London England at the moment about to head up to Hertfordshire to study until January, so the next few chapters may or may not come out quicker. Will have to see. Bear with me I'll try get them out.
Also I know I'm not the best at character and weapon descriptions, so if you want to see what my weapons and some of my characters (Males only until I can find a good female base) please go to my DeviantArt page and look me up at DragonhunterTomyh.
And that's it for now. Please stick around and wait for the next chapter which I'm aiming to finish in the next week. Next couple of days if I'm lucky.
LordTomyh