RWBYond Vale
AN: So I'm probably going to switch my schedule to every other day since chapters are going to start getting longer. I don't know yet so hit that follow button to stay up to date. A lot is going to happen in this chapter, nothing drastic, just the leaders of the world getting together to throw around some accusations at each other.
Chapter 11: Are you the one who stopped the Dragon?
When the gang touched down in Haven, Jaune was relieved. He lept from the ship and kissed the ground on the Mistral docks, only to realize how gross that is and start wiping his mouth as the people he had traveled with walk off the ship. Rio was noticeably irritated at Nora. Tensions had been rising all day after Nora blasted a whole in the ship. It was an accident but Rio did explicitly tell her not to use her grenade launcher against the giant Cancer Crab.
"I said I was sorry." Nora pleaded.
"Deck officer." Rio said, ignoring the younger girls plea for forgiveness.
"Yes." the young deck officer said. Rio pulled out a clipboard, a list of supplies and services he would like to have. "And how do you plan to pay for all this?"
"You can bill the Haven council, I'm here on official huntsmen business."
Rio carried on with the deck officer as Ruby met up with Jaune and Ren went to Nora. As they started to leave Rio called out. "Wait just a moment." He pointed to Nora and Ren. "You two are going to help me take care of this stuff.
"What?!" Nora protested, "Why?"
"You broke my ship and you're going to help me fix it."
"And why do you want Ren?" Jaune asked.
"Because frankly if I just get Nora's help she'll probably make it worse."
"Nora." Ren said aggravated.
"Sorry Ren." Nora said pleadingly. "You two go on ahead, we'll meet up with you later.
Ruby and Jaune made their way through the town heading north towards Haven Academy. Jaune appreciated Ruby's company. Even after everything that happened she still tried to put up a strong and happy front. Even if she didn't always succeed. Today though, she was taking in the sights with wide eyes and amazement. Haven was a beautiful city, it's Greco Roman architecture blended nicely with all the small markets and shops that lined the streets. It wasn't long before they ran into some familiar faces.
"Hey you." A familiar voice shouted. It was Sun, the leader of team SSSN. He was with his teammates. "What's a pipquek like you doing all the way out here.
"Sun!" Ruby shouted with excitement. She dashed over and hugged the monkey Faunus. "How have you been? So much has happened. It's so good to see you guys." Ruby said rapidly.
"Calm down Ruby. We're all glad to see you've made it." Neptune said cooly. "And Jaune Arc when we heard you were coming I couldn't believe it." Neptune fist bumped Jaune then Jaune fist bumped the rest of the team. Then Sun punched Ruby atop her head.
"What were you thinking running up the tower alone like that?" Sun asked.
"Pyrrha was in trouble and I…" Ruby cut off eyes looking towards the ground. Jaune could tell that Ruby was fighting off tears.
"I'm sorry," Neptune said. "We heard what happened to Pyrrha. We just couldn't believe it."
"I know." Jaune said.
"I wanted, no I needed to save her and I failed." Ruby finally finished.
"You stopped the Dragon though." Sage amended.
"Ya speaking of which…" Sun started.
"How the blazes did you stop that thing?" Scarlet blurted out.
"I…um…well…" Ruby started. Jaune was curious. He had tried to find out what happened too but Ruby couldn't explain it. The only thing he had gotten out of her is that she has some kind of special power from her mom. Other than that she didn't know how it worked or why.
"Now, now no need to answer everything at once." A voice said from behind the boys. Jaune didn't recognize him but Ruby apparently did because she lit up like a fireworks show. "Are you the one who stopped the Dragon?"
"Yes!" Ruby said beaming.
"Do you know who I am?" The man said.
"Your headmaster Felix!" Ruby said. She then started listing off his accomplishments. He did seem impressive. "Ooh does that bag have your weapon? Is that bag part of your weapon? Eeeeeeeeeep I watched you in the Vytal festival when I was a girl. It was sooo cool how your batons turned into maces then joined into a staff then a hammer. You gotta let me see it, I've tried so hard to recreate it but it just has too many forms I wasn't able to."
"That'll have to be a no. I wouldn't want my secret revealed now would I."
"Oh come on. I'll show you how my weapon works."
"Haha, it's always nice to meet a fan. I've heard a lot about you too Ruby Rose."
"You have." Ruby said practically swooning.
"As a headmaster it's important to keep an eye out for exceptional students."
"Oh stop it." Ruby said blushing. Felix then leaned towards her ear and whispered something. Jaune couldn't make it out. But Ruby's blush stopped and her eyes went serious. "You have heard a lot about me then."
"Perks of being a huntsman of the highest caliber. Now if you'll follow me." The gang started walking down the street towards an old stone dome building. "I was under the assumption that there were others with you." Felix said.
"They're at the docks fixing the ship." Jaune said. "Say, I thought the headmaster here was April."
"You'd be correct. April is already in the councilor building. I'm actually the headmaster of Shade."
"But that's in Vacuo." Jaune stated. "What are you doing all the way out here?"
"Same as you. I'm here for answers. I'm also moderating the meeting." Felix said. "The huntsmen you were with, he's under orders to bring you all on security detail for the Vale representatives."
"He didn't say anything about that." Ruby said.
"He was originally told to tell you to say whatever necessary to get you here. We just sent him the location and time of the meeting when his ship touched down." Felix said. "Now for the details, I'd hate to break you up but team SSSN was personally requested by the Mistral representatives. Don't worry you'll have plenty of time to catch up once everything is done here. Speaking of which your old teammate Weiss will be arriving with the Atlas reps. Don't get too excited though, she'll be busy during the actual meetings as will you. Consider this your first real chore as a huntress."
Ruby could barely contain her excitement. "Weiss is going to be here." She said beaming.
"Yes and I'll make sure that the two of you are free tonight." Felix said. "It will be quite the surprise."
Everyone made their way to their posts. Ren, Nora and Rio met up with Ruby and Jaune as they took their seats in the stadium. Jaune and Ruby looked across to see the Atlas representatives, they soon spotted Weiss. She looked as beautiful as ever and she quickly took notice of them. Her and Ruby shared some silent expressions of elation. Weiss than got a worried look and started pointing towards the Vacuo seats. Ruby looked over skimming the crowd. "Blake?" she said softly. Yes Blake was definitely sitting with the Vacuo reps. Ruby than gasped when she noticed the guy she was with was also a Faunus. She started to get up, Jaune didn't know why but she looked scared. Rio then grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Don't worry she's here for the same reason you are." He said.
"But the guy she's with…"
"Is my team leader. Trust me he knows what he's doing."
"Why didn't Felix tell us she'd be here?"
"Probably because he wasn't certain. August likes to play things close to the chest and given Blake's record he probably didn't tell anyone he succeeded in his mission."
"What mission? What are you talking about?"
"My team was sent to get your team specifically. Blake was the only one that we put a lid on."
"Why?"
"Because someone let it slip during the fall of Beacon that Blake is a former member of the White Fang."
Jaune was floored, so many questions. Blake was an ex White Fang operative. Would explain why she ran. Especially if she found out her secret was blown.
"Who would do such a thing?" Ruby said.
"Is it true?" Jaune asked.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want you to find out this way."
"She's not anymore." Rio said. "That's what's important. As for your question Ruby, someone who wants Blake to suffer." A voice came on the mic.
"Ladies and gentlemen we are gathered here today to discuss the events that immediately proceeded the final match of the Vytal festival." Every one began shouting. "One at a time. Vale you start."
"We were attacked by a conjoined effort of the White Fang who but weeks earlier had attempted a similar strike on our city and failed."
"What of the Atlas drones, we all saw them attacking innocents." Vacuo said
"Our drones were hacked by a group originating from Mistral." Atlas said.
"Lies, I heard that you made up that cover story to keep from waging war with Vacuo and to give you an excuse to invade Mistral." Mistral accused.
"If that is what it takes." Atlas challenged. The arena went in an uproar.
"Everyone calm down." Felix, who along with the judge and Headmistress April were in the center. "I have personally interviewed many of the people who were there and they all say that the Atlesian knights were defending the people until long after many of the Atlas ships were shot down."
"Yes it's possible to take control of our drones from those ships." Atlas said.
"And if not for the Atlas soldiers on station, the carnage would have been worse." Vale said.
"How can we trust you?" Mistral accused. The leader of Atlas academy is currently sitting in Vale running security. Vacuo, is that not, proof enough that Vale is now under their rule and anything they say shouldn't be trusted." Mistral said. Everyone began shouting again then the judge slammed the hammer down a few times.
"It was the Vale council that even put Atlas in charge to begin with. Who's to say they didn't plan this?" Vacuo accused.
"Do you really think me capable of such a thing? Sicking the Grimm on my own people to further Atlas agenda, an agenda I ad many others have disapproved." Vale defended.
"And what of the voice that played on the broadcast?" Atlas asked. "She did claim to be from Mistral." Eveyone started to talk amongst themselves.
"Do you really think that if Mistral had anything to do with it we'd broadcast it like that." Mistral argued.
"That counicilor is the only reason we haven't sent ships flying here to get answers." Atlas answered. "But we do know from eyewitness testimony that the one responsible was in fact Cinder Fall, a student here at Haven. We also know that the person who supplied us with this information is here in the audience. It was her team that helped stop the initial breach by the White Fang, who also stopped the rogue ship responsible for so many deaths, and it was her that stopped the dragon and saw this Cinder Fall herself."
The light then showed on Ruby who froze. She stuttered to find an answer. "Well are you the one who did all these things?" Mistral asked.
"Are you the one who stopped the Dragon?" Vacuo said.
"Well out with it." Mistral said.
"I take full responsibility for the actions of Cinder Fall!" April shouted out. Quiet talking spread through the room.
"Explain." Atlas said.
"I should have seen the signs. I failed as a huntress a headmaster and a mentor. Cinder's team died during her first year. She then came back last year with a team of outcasts she handpicked herself. I should have seen the signs. I should have known something was fishy about their back story. If you'll hold to tomorrow I can show you all the files I have on these people." Silence fell throughout the room.
"We'll come back to that tomorrow if you so desire." Vacuo said. "But there is just one more thing I'd like to ask Atlas. Say these terrorist are real and they just so happened to choose Mistral as their stomping ground, it wouldn't be the first, I think we all know about Adam Taurus. But what, I ask you, or who could have possibly hacked your equipment? How do we know you didn't purposely put a loop whole in the CCT network when you built it after the war?"
"Yes who could have done this?" Vale asked. At that moment the doors behind the Vale reps burst open revealing a man in a green suit and hat.
"That would be me, Edwin Glas, smartest man in Remnant." He started using his cane to pummel anyone near him. Ruby burst forward at blinding speed smashing him into a wall. "You really do have silver eyes." He said before he started getting beat down by the security personel. The whole room was clamoring.
"I think that's enough." Felix said to the room.
AN: Far and away the longest chapter yet. I could have split it up but then that would ruin the pattern I have on my outline. When Felix whispered to Ruby he said something about her eyes. I didn't attend it to be a secret but I wanted to keep this more in Jaune's perspective. It was really fun making this chapter and finding things for the people to complain about. Next time team RWBY reunites and Edwin taunts them from behind glass, Avengers style, though that's going to be more chapter 13, 14 and 15 then all hell breaks loose. Make sure to follow favorite and review and as always stay classy.