Chapter 10 – Termites of Doubt

Ozpin

He stood before her gravestone, he looked down at her name with his hands held atop the rounded head of his cane.

Glynda Goodwitch

Loved by many for her kindness and sternness

We will never see her like again

Flowers covered the grave with love and care, gentle and loving cards were left behind as well where she lay, his brown eyes stared down upon the flowers. Violets and roses all piled atop her grave, with goodbye cards that rested upon the dirt. The Funeral had ended a few minutes ago, Cardin and Pyrrha were the last people to leave the Graveyard, and the Black Gallows soldiers that were stationed here took Ironwood's body and delivered him to the Atlesian ship nearby so then they can bring him home. Winter wanted to go with him to see him off, but she knew she could not leave the Academy Grounds. Even if the bombs were not inside the concrete, she could not leave her sister and she needed to know where her girlfriend was.

Ozpin had already said his goodbyes, he and Ironwood may have had their disagreements in the past but they were still friends. And Ironwood was always one of his most trusted allies, he always obeyed him and listened to his advice. But none of Ozpin's advice and teachings could have possibly saved him from what happened to him. No amount of training can save you from a surprise Terrorist Attack from a smart foe you never realised you had.

Ozpin felt lost, he did not even know what to say to her grave now that he was finally alone, so he just knelt down and he placed his hand atop the grave stone, and he stared at the name that he had just read. "I'm sorry…I tried to help you…I truly did. I wanted you to be ready, I never wanted to be in this position I am now…you deserved better than this." Ozpin stated as he stared at the grave, and then he hanged his head low, and he tensed at the mere idea of seeing where she died. Of hearing Jackdaw's voice and seeing his red eyes that seemed to burn into his enemy's soul.

The cold breeze of the coming storm came close as he remained by her side, and he scratched the back of his neck that was hidden beneath his black suit. But as he sat there, and he closed his brown eyes, he started to remember a time…a very long time ago.

It must have been thirty years ago, because Glynda was still a student at the newly formed Beacon Academy. He taught her everything she ever knew, he helped her unlock her semblance and utilize her aura to the best of her abilities. He trained her how to create a weapon, and due to her past life of being raised on a farm, she always knew how to use the crop she still used up until the day she died. She always had quite the fiery personality and temper, but he helped her control that anger.

He held his cane in his hand and he smiled as he looked at tiny Glynda, who had her hair tied up into a pretty braided tail, and she swung her Crop towards him. It blasted a pulsating ball of purple aura towards him and he deflected the incoming shot with the cane. The purple energy coursed across the cane, and he slid back across the ground and he chuckled. Ozpin charged at her and she ran towards him, he jumped right over her head and she used her Crop to shatter the ground that he was about to land upon. The concrete and tarmac cracked and shattered into chunks, as she lifted it up into the air. But Ozpin managed to land upon the remnants of the ground with impressive ease, and he leapt off it, just as she tried to crush him inside of the rocks. He landed right in front of her and struck, he slammed his cane across her face so hard it threw her back, and she slid across the ground.

Glynda glared at Ozpin with gritted teeth, and thus she formed an artificial storm cloud with her Crop, one that Ozpin lifted his gaze to see the clouds that formed above him. He nearly thought it was the powers of a maiden, but he knew how that Crop worked. He helped her design it, she blasts some energy from her aura but also has a small canister of both gravity and lightning dust which gave her abilities that would seem like it was magic. But nothing in the slightest at the end of the day, just more tricks thanks to Ozpin to scare their enemies.

But Ozpin slammed his cane down into the ground and he formed a dome shaped barrier of green energy around his body, which acted like a shield. The lightning came crashing down, like the hands of Brothers Light and Darkness tried to pull him back into their claws. But instead, they could not touch him, and as soon as he had the chance, he erupted through the bubble and he struck her once more.

That one finally broke her aura, and knocked her onto the floor. He yelled in anger, and as she swung her arms into the floor, the crop sent a pulse of gravitational energy into the stones, which cracked the smooth stone surface with great ease. Ozpin looked around and he sighed, he walked with his cane over to her and he raised his brow. "Go on…you know how we always clean up after a fight, don't you?" He asked her and she huffed, and she sat up, she held up her crop and the stones started to rise up, but they quivered in the air, and they fell from her grasp like they were far too heavy for her to burden herself with. She panted with exhaustion, and she stared at Ozpin with anger.

"I can't!" She argued.

"Enough with the self-doubt, Glynda. You have great strength in you." Ozpin assured.

"I've been trying! Look at all this! Everything I throw at you, and not one bit of it can stop you!" She argued with a huff, and he sat down next to her, around the decimated training grounds that they were using.

"Not every enemy is as strong as me, Glynda. But at the same time, you must be ready to face a man or woman like yourself. Or even a Creature of Grimm, there are terrifying monsters out there in the world, and I am dead certain there are beasts that make me look like small fry in comparison." He explained with a chuckle, Glynda stared at him and she rolled her large green eyes with a heavy sigh, she bent her crop with frustration. A thing she would do even before she died, when students would get on her nerves.

"I'm not strong enough, I keep making the same mistakes over and over again. I need to show my enemies how strong I am…they'll probably back down before the fight even begins." Glynda hoped, rather naively, an idea that truly would never come to the minds of her future students.

"Now that right there, is why you will fail." Ozpin told her, and she raised a brow.

"What does that mean?" She asked him.

"It means that you must choose when to broadcast your power. You cannot show it all the time, especially not to a huge enemy. They will figure out your strengths and from there they will find your weaknesses. It is what I would do, after all." Ozpin explained to her, and she scoffed.

"And you're a perfect tactician?" She questioned, which made the new Headmaster laugh.

"Gods no, not even close. I have made plenty of mistakes in my life, Glynda, and I am almost certain my blunders are still to continue in my life." Ozpin explained to her, and she looked at him with curiosity. "But…I know how warriors fight. I have been taught by some of the greatest men and women in history, and I wish to make sure that this idea continues."

"But I don't understand, if I cannot use my powers on my enemies…then what's the point in having them?" She asked, a question Ozpin had heard countless times before.

"If I had a lien every time someone asked me that…I would be richer than Nicholas Schnee." He chuckled, this was a time before Jacques Schnee came into power after marrying the previous Nicholas' daughter – Willow.

"That's a lot of questions." Glynda chuckled, which made Ozpin chuckle too.

"Yes…it is." He said, before he clarified what he meant. "You see, when I say you can't broadcast your powers, it is like telling everyone you have a gun under the table you are sat at. Your enemy cannot know what you are capable of until they think they are about to get the upper hand on you. Because at that point, they are gonna get cocky and not expect anything." Ozpin explained as he got up, and he started to show an example with snow. It was winter at the time and the snows were still falling everywhere. "Take this for an example, I could stand here in front of you and just make a snowball and throw it straight at your face. You would have seen it coming, and you would have dodged." He stated, as he launched it right at her, and just as he predicted, she dodged it.

He turned his gaze and he smirked when he saw Professor Peter Port emerging from one of the buildings, a much younger man with dark black hair and that huge moustache still over his lip. "Ah yes, Bart! The Legendary Manticore would make for a fine kill." Port chuckled, he still had that booming personality even back when he was a mere Teaching Assistant. Ozpin slowly formed a snowball and he grinned at Glynda who softly giggled.

"But…when they least expect it…" Ozpin said, and he launched the snowball straight at the Weapon's Expert across the courtyard from them, and he nailed him in the face. He staggered back and he gasped, suddenly he face was freezing, and that made Glynda guffaw with laughter. "You can make a lethal hit, maybe even tear them to the ground…or at least make them slip up." He added, as Port slipped on some ice as well, which made Glynda laugh even louder.

Port stared at them and he at first looked offended, but then he laughed as well, as he always would. Oobleck laughed as well as he helped Port back up to his feet, and Ozpin returned to his student's side, and he sat down next to her. "You see? Save your best cards for when the time is right, and if you learn how to fight without your semblance, then you will only need to use it for a last resort." Ozpin explained and Glynda nodded her head, but as always, with youthful curiosity.

"But…what if I tricked my enemy? Tricked them to think I was weaker than I was?" She asked and Ozpin chuckled, and he ruffled her blonde hair.

"You know what I think?" He asked her. "If you keep working at it…working on your many skills you can hone…I think you can do more than just overpower them. Than just trick them. You will make them wish they had never been born." Ozpin assured with a smile and Glynda smiled back.

Every day he taught her when she was a student, he made a promise to her that she would get to grow old and have a family one day. She always hated the idea of it, and she never did get to have children, that chance was stolen from her, just as it was stolen from Ironwood and everyone else who died.

For now…here he stood…and he stared at her grave.

He could stand there for days and days on end, and he would just pray that none of this was real, or that somehow he could save her. But his mind would always return to reality and he would know for certain the truth behind what has happened. The fact that Glynda was an unfortunate casualty in a deranged killer's bombings.

"Sometimes we cannot prepare those we train for death…no matter how hard we think we teach ourselves." The voice of Nathaniel Killian said behind Ozpin, and he turned swiftly as if he heard the whisper of as demon behind him. But the Commander of the Black Gallows stood before him, with his hands respectfully behind his back as he approached. Killian never attended the funeral service, because he said it was not his place. Not only because he expected they would cut his throat open, but he did not know her – not like they did.

Ozpin however could see straight through this nice-guy act. Killian may have a human side but the fact he would turn on them in an instant completely overshadows any kindness he would show his way. The Old Professor had seen men like him come and go, and every single one has been crushed by the spinning wheel of monstrosities…their secrets always get shown to the world, and the weight of the world soon is too much for them to bear. And yet here Killian stood – completely untouched from consequences for his actions.

Ozpin's stare seemed to last for hours but it was only for around ten seconds. "What do you think you're doing here?" Ozpin snarled with disgust, he may have agreed with Killian's stationing at Beacon Academy to keep as many people inside and alive as possible – but that did not mean he had to forgive and forget everything he had done.

"I am not here to breed conflict, but merely to pay my respects." Killian said as he approached the grave and he crouched down by the flowers and her name. He sighed, and he reached into his bag and he pulled out a small bouquet of flowers of many colours and he set it down atop the grave. "Such a shame…a needless death. I did not know her well, but she struck me to be a fiercely strong woman, who always knew what was right."

Ozpin stared at him as he paid his respects to her. "Not always…but nobody does." Ozpin stated and Killian nodded his head.

"Ain't that the truth?" Kilian scoffed as he rose up beside Ozpin who looked like he was about to break his neck. "I truly am sorry for what has happened here." Killian apologised once again to the Professor, but that nearly made Ozpin snap.

"You do realise her death is on you, don't you?" Ozpin growled, and Killian stared at him.

"I beg your pardon?" Killian questioned.

"If not for you, and your horrific history of keeping Prisoners in your Black Cells – Jackdaw would have rotted and she would not be in the ground. Neither would James." Ozpin growled with anger, and Killian stared right back.

"Jackdaw Branwen…is an enigma. Every time we have put him in the cells nothing ever worked, he never broke – and I believe he is too far gone already. He is driven by a sense of purpose that is terrifying to me." Killian explained, the way he described Jackdaw it made him sound like he was some sort of force of nature. A being that cannot be stopped, unless it was by his own cursed semblance.

But Ozpin just stared right back. "You should have put a bullet in the man's head a long time ago, after the first breakout that was when I realised that containment will never stop him. But you ignored my words, and you continued to hold him in your custody. Everyone that is dead died because of your decision to ignore my advice." Ozpin growled, and Killian stared right back.

"You're right. And that is why I am going after him now, it is why I am sending my best men with me to hunt him down and bring him to justice. The old fashioned way." Killian explained. "And I will do it for the safety of the people."

Ozpin laughed, he laughed in a way that seemed like it was out of his character, because it was out of complete and utter disbelief of Killian and his excuses. "Is that what you tell yourself when you sleep at night? That everything you do is for the greater good?" Ozpin questioned him, almost grilled him.

Killian walked towards Ozpin and they stared each other in the eyes, the fiery tension of hatred between both sides could be felt like a blazing hot fire. "Do you? Do you tell yourself those things? After everything you've done?" Killian asked him, and Ozpin narrowed his eyes.

"I did the things I did for the good of Remnant. But you? All you care about is control, it is all you've cared for. The only thing you have ever wanted was to see the way of life we have enjoyed for years to be thrown out the window." Ozpin explained.

Killian scoffed. "Peace? You call what you have around you peace? You have created a level of Freedom that has allowed chaos to reign. Look at the world – the White Fang, the Branwen Tribe, the Vasillias Cartel, the Vacuo Mafia. You have allowed the terrors of the world to roam free, which in turn has caused countless people to suffer in the process. I aim to break this cycle of pain once and for all. If I have to spill blood along the way, if I have to make some people unhappy – then I will." Killian stated, and Ozpin shook his head.

"What you will bring is chaos. Negativity will spread like the pox, and the casualties will far worse. Grimm will flood cities and towns, and blood will flow in the rivers that were once blue. Is that what you want?" Ozpin snarled.

"What do you think I am going to do? You think I'm gonna just use my men to wipe out the Academies? That is the last thing I want, if I can help Remnant by fixing these problems as fast as possible then I will take that chance. And besides, my men wouldn't stand a chance against the Academies if you took up a defensive position." Killian explained to Ozpin as he walked around the graveyard. "But my men will help defend the towns and cities when Huntsmen are not around to protect them. That is the advantage with the Vytal Consensus, increased security is hardly a burden."

"But you are stealing their freedom."

"As I said. Complete Freedom is dangerous. You give a man with powers like the children you teach the freedom you have granted them…who's to say what they will become? Who's to say they will not use that power they love so much…to burn those beneath them to cinders?" Killian asked him and Ozpin scoffed and shook his head once again.

"You stand before me, and you talk like you believe your future is perfect. But once you forge this new future there will be people to stand against you. I have seen many faces and kingdoms come and go in my life – and I have learned an important fact. There will always be chaos, your desire to stop it will never work. I merely aim to create warriors that can try and stop wars before too many souls are lost in the process." Ozpin explained to him, and Killian stared at him sternly.

"Not if you can stop the chaos bringers before they ever try and rise against us." Killian stated, and it was always thinking like that that made Ozpin not trust him.

He's insane…even if he does not realise it…he really thinks this is the right thing.

But I am looking at the making of a Tyrant.

I have seen this kind of thinking before…

"I have seen men like you rise and fall all my life…and the ones that have always worried me the most, I have stopped them. I have shown their secrets to the world and let the masses tear them apart." Ozpin stated as he stared at Killian. "And yet…after what you did to my Academy…to Jaymes Ickford four years ago…all the men and women I paid to unveil your dark secrets all met the same fate. Either wound up dead by natural causes or merely disappeared without a trace." Ozpin explained as he walked towards the Black Gallows Commander, who merely stared emotionlessly at him. "I wonder…what do you know of this mystery?"

Killian stared at him, and the glare was enough of an answer. Killian just stared directly back with those dark onyx eyes. "Yes…you have done many things Oz. As have I. You judge me for my actions…but you know…that we are the same thing." Killian snarled, and he walked straight past Ozpin and away from Glynda's grave. "I pray your ideology is right, Ozpin…I truly do….because I do not want any more innocents to die." Killian stated, as he walked away from the grave.

Ozpin watched as he walked away, and only one saying appeared in his mind.

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.

Killian

Killian walked away from Ozpin, with his heart hanging from the tethers of his paranoia.

Of course it was him, suddenly all these journalists and Investigators started to dig into my past and my history. I always had a feeling he was the man behind it, I didn't want them killed but I had to.

If I lost my position I would no longer be of use and my whole mission would be ruined…it was right to eradicate them.

…wasn't it?

These questions were like termites, they kept creeping into his mind and building their little fortresses of his internal conflicts. For a man as cold and calculating like himself, every single death he would order, every single person he had captured and reformed in the Black Cells. It was like those Termites of Doubt started fortifying their holds, and soon they were going to be impossible to remove. No man on Remnant has such thoughts that would creep inside of his kind the way they do for him, and every single one of those termites were put there by his own doing.

His own sins.

But as he walked away from the Graveyard and left Ozpin with his student's burial site, he felt something buzz and vibrate in his pocket. He slowed down and he pulled out the Scroll to see the name of the individual that was calling him.

Doctor Arthur Watts

He stared at his name and he stammered, and he looked around, before he finally answered the call. He could feel the burning impression of Ozpin's eyes on the back of his head, so he kept walking when he answered him. "Are you completely mad? Calling me in the middle of Beacon Academy?" He softly spoke to his ally – not friend, not in the slightest.

"Oh calm yourself, I have secured this connection. The only people listening to this right now is Salem and her…fascinating Creature." He said, and Killian could hear the soft clicking hiss of the Seer right next to him. He could tell he was staring at it like a child who just found a snow globe for the first time. Killian rolled his eyes, he very rarely came by to Salem's Sanctum but whenever he did in his time serving her, Watts would always be staring at the Creatures she created.

Killian was also not blind, Watts must have been the first of the Disciples Salem brought on, and that was very clear from their apparent friendship. She adheres the advice of her advisers but Watts was the only man amongst them that was quite flippant with her and she would normally threaten someone with death the way he acted around her. But at the same time she was always quite nice to him – as nice as the Dark Queen could be. He was also the only Disciple that would be in the room with her first, and Killian once even saw the two of them actually sharing wine as they spoke.

If anyone has her ear, it was always Watts above all else.

"So, Killian – I would like you to give us a report on everything going on so far." Watts asked of him and Killian rolled his eyes.

"Things were going according to plan, until Jackdaw attacked and caused a divide between two Teams. Teams R.W.B.Y and J.N.P.R." Killian revealed to him and Watts chuckled softly.

"It's always those two…isn't it?" Watts notices.

"Indeed. Any chaos that seems to happen they are always involved. Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren have gone rogue. We presume they have gone with Qrow Branwen and Eryka Vasillias to hunt the bastard down." Killian explained to Watts as he walked down the paths, his eyes met the many students that had to sit quietly nearby.

"Then it is likely Qrow Branwen was heading to his sister, you know how predictable he is." Watts presumed.

"I know…in fact I was hoping your little birds had some information." Killian requested and he chuckled on the other end.

"Indeed I do. My little birds range far and wide across Remnant. Even amongst the Branwen Tribe, and they have many interesting stories to tell. Some of which have been of great interest to our Queen as well." Watts revealed and Killian slowed down with widened eyes.

"That so? What do you have? We managed to track our ship's signatures near Patch and my men are already investigating the island. If he did find Raven then her portals will make tracking them even harder." Killian explained, and Watts nodded on the other end of the Scroll Conversation.

"My Whispers have informed me that they are going to Vacuo, turns out that Jackdaw Branwen has been following some orders after all. He has been helping us secure a way into Atlas…as you said, the death of Ironwood has made infiltration even harder." Watts explained, and he could hear him sigh. Killian knew that sigh, it was because Watts knew that Killian was right. Jackdaw is a lethal weapon, but you could never truly control him, he was like a wildfire, and controlling a wildfire is damn near impossible.

"Vacuo…what the hell could they possibly find in Vacuo? After the destruction of the Vacuo Mafia the whole Kingdom has descended into madness." Killian explained.

"Indeed, but there is a Criminal Organisation with a very valuable trade. The Spiders. The Malachites have been using their Information and Spiders to rule the Underworld for years, and they even assisted the Mafia at one point. But Lil Miss Malachite serves nobody, only those who pay more. How do you think Lavinia Vasillias managed to destroy the whole Mafia in one night?" Watts asked him and Killian nodded his head.

"And Jackdaw spoke with her? Regarding information?" Killian assumed.

"Correct. Makes sense that they go to her, but worry not. My little bird has given me information that can help break their spirit some more." Watts assured Killian, and the Commander nodded his head.

"Well that's some good news. I thank you." Killian said.

"What about the Vytal Consensus? How many Huntsmen and Huntresses have signed it, bar those who ran?" Watts inquired, and Killian answered.

"A lot of them funnily enough, turns out that the students are smart enough to know that to have a comfortable future you need a stable income." Killian explained and Watts chuckled.

"Lien is always the sweetest of persuasions." Watts stated and he nodded his head.

"Indeed it is. I just pray it is not too late for the Rogues." Killian stated, despite his inner frustration towards their defiance.

"Well, I do have some more information from our Loose Cannon." Watts revealed, and that was always the nickname that they gave Jackdaw Branwen, since he has always been seen that way.

"Jackdaw's talking to you?" Killian asked.

"Of course, I know you hate him and want to kill him but he still serves us. And he has told me that five more names have been ticked off the list of people from Beacon that can leave." He revealed and Killian could already tell what Watts was about to say. He sighed and he pinched his brow.

"Lemme guess – Jaune Arc, Pyrrha Nikos, Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna?" Killian asked.

"And Winter Schnee." Watts added.

"Oh yeah." Killian nodded, since he totally forgot about her.

"I wonder if there is a correlation?" Watts assumed.

"Of course there is. It is the same thing that happened to Team S.T.R.Q twenty years ago with Summer Rose. It tore them apart, even before Raven ran away." Killian explained, he may not have the many whispers that Watts has the access to, but Killian has a fantastic memory. "He wants to tear them apart and they will walk right into their trap."

"Then let him. Take the other halves of their teams and the Schnee Specialist with you, end of the day they know the Rogues better than you do. And if they refuse to listen to reason and sign the Consensus, then we can kill too birds with one stone." Watts explained to him and Killian chuckled.

"I highly doubt Jaune's side of things will stay allied with us if I have his friends killed." Killian stated.

"Then you won't, if they won't follow protocol then Jackdaw will kill both sides of the same coin. Either way – two birds one stone. Nobody will be around to call witness." Watts explained and Killian sighed, and he pinched his brow.

"There has been enough death…all those Investigators Ozpin sent after me still linger in my mind." Killian stated and Watts chuckled rather sinisterly.

"Our Queen wished to protect her investments. You should be thanking her, Tyrian and Hazel did a marvellous job cutting those loose ends for you." Watts explained to him.

"Then I guess it's a shame that I wanted there to be…oh wait what was it? Oh yes, as little bloodshed as possible?" Killian questioned.

"Sixteen Investigators and Journalists snooping around in business that meant nothing to them opposed to the lives of hundreds of thousands? Maybe millions?" Watts asked him and he chuckled when Killian fell silent. "Recruit the other half of the Rogue Teams in your expedition to Vacuo and in your hunt for Jackdaw and the Rogues. This is the best path you can take…and remember, if you do not have the Academies under your control by the end of the Summer – we will initiate the Inhumane Necessity." Watts repeated before he ended the war.

Every single time he mentioned this thing…

…the Inhumane Necessity.

Killian knew exactly what that Necessity was, and it terrified him.

On the other end of the call, Watts hung up the scroll and he set it down on the table and he sighed and leant back into the table. "These eight students are always involved in some way, aren't they old friend?" Salem asked him, and he turned to see her stood at the window, as she looked out across the scarred Sanctum. Massive purple crystals stood and almost punctured the clouds.

"So it seems…" Watts agreed.

"We should send Tyrian and Hazel after them, on both sides – to make sure that they do not survive." Salem explained.

"Hazel has allies in the White Fang, we can use him to help Adam break out of his Cell in their Headquarters." Watts stated as he stood up from his seat and walked around the table. "And Tyrian is one of your best trackers, he will easily be able to locate them."

"Your little birds…what else have they been chirping?" Salem inquired curiously.

"They have been uncovering the secrets of the many Kingdoms on the planet, Your Grace. We shall be able to infiltrate them and retrieve the Sword and the Lamp with ease soon." Watts promised.

"So long as Killian manages to keep his end of the bargain." Salem stated.

"If I may, your Grace – may I speak freely?" He asked, and Salem turned and she nodded her head.

"You may." She agreed.

"I believe Killian is right, Ma'am. Jackdaw Branwen is too dangerous for us all to handle, he does not think and all he does is what he wants. I fear he will betray us." Watts explained and Salem nodded her head.

"I agree…but until then he is a powerful ally to have. And I promised him he would be able to get what he wants."

"Is it possible?"

"Is what possible?"

"What he wants? To beat his own semblance? I mean…Qrow has never been able to do such a thing and neither has his sister of Valravn. They are cursed…is it really possible for him to get what he desires?" Watts inquired to her. Salem thought on this, she has existed for a very long time and has learned the ins and outs of semblances and aura.

It was a good question.

"We shall see…Jackdaw Branwen has survived odds that should have ended him, and is driven by blood. And truth. Maybe he can, maybe he can't. As long as he assists us on our quest then he can do whatever he wishes." Salem explained as she looked at Watts and he nodded his head.

Watts turned and he went to walk away. "I shall return to my work, Your Grace. I am close to perfecting it soon." He promised and she nodded her head.

"Good."

Jaune

He and Pyrrha both were sat at a table, with Houses built from Cards forged on both sides, and they were getting close to the top as they challenged one another. Pyrrha set hers near her chimney and she squeaked with joy since she did not topple it over. But as soon as Jaune went to do it, the cards collapsed with a cataclysmic slumping thud. He stared at it and he pushed his hands into his blonde hair with defeat. "Nooooo!" He cried out with anguish as he leant back into his chair and Pyrrha giggled, as she performed an adorable little dance before him, where she wiggled her slim body with great ease.

"Yes! I did it!" She squeaked with happiness as she danced away her victory, but as she danced, Jaune's defeat started to dawn on him as he sat there.

"My house of cards has collapsed…again…" He sighed with anguish and Pyrrha slowed down, and she knew what he was getting at. He has not stopped thinking about Ren and Nora since they left them. There were so many things in the back of their mind that hurt their hearts, the most painful part of it was the fact that they went against them behind their backs. After everything they have been through, they did not trust them enough with this information.

"Jaune…are you okay?" She asked with worry.

"I…I dunno Pyr…I thought I could stop thinking about it but I can't." He softly said to her.

Pyrrha sat down next to him and she caressed his cheek affectionately so then he would turn to look at him. "Jaune…it'll be fine." Pyrrha promised, when the door suddenly opened and they turned to see Weiss stood there, the look of concern was ever present in her eyes.

"Guys…Killian is here. He wants to speak with us all." Weiss said to them and they looked at one another before they got up from the table. As they walked away from the table, Pyrrha's House of Cards collapsed behind her as soon as the door slammed shut. They followed Weiss down the hallway and into the Dorm Room which belonged to Team R.W.B.Y, to see Killian indeed sat down inside in the centre of the carpeted floor with a chair beneath him.

He always had this presence about him, one that sent shivers down their spines as soon as they saw him. Or maybe it was the Mysterious Stockholm Troopers. Men and Women turned into soldiers from mental torment, who believed the Black Gallows to be their saviours. To be the ones that helped them see the light in the darkness.

A darkness that they trapped them in, and a light that they shone.

All of it is a fiction, a fiction that has corrupted some of the brightest souls.

Everyone was congregated inside of Team R.W.B.Y's Dormitory, with Sun and Neptune here as well, they stood by their girlfriends to keep them comforted despite the unnerving presence of the Black Gallows. "Thank you for coming, I apologise for this being on such short notice." Killian said to them and they all stared at him. He knew that they did not trust him as far as they could throw him, but he did not care, and they needed to listen to what he had to say to them.

"You're not sorry, what do you want?" Weiss questioned rather sternly and one of the soldiers tightened his grip on his rifle as he stepped forward. But Weiss just gave the soldier a glare, he may be a well trained soldier, but he would not stand a chance against the Schnee Heiress, especially with her older and far more skilled Older Sister in the same room as her.

"Straight to the point as always. Well, fair enough." Killian said, and he pushed himself from the chair. The very motion made Jaune step back and slightly move his hand towards the sheathed Crocea Mors as if he was gonna ram the blade straight through Killian. But he knew that if he did that, chaos would ensue. So many people see him as a hero, and they have no real evidence other than their word behind what he did to take him down.

And even if they did…

…they would be in serious danger.

Killian walked around the room and he slid his fingers across Ruby's table. "A contact of mine has informed me that Jackdaw Branwen has been seen in Vacuo, speaking with a woman named Lil Miss Malachite. I believe your friend Yang Xiao Long had met her daughters a few years back." Killian explained as he stood there and Blake narrowed her eyes as she looked at her boyfriend.

"Why're you telling us this? We can't leave the Academy without Jackdaw's Bombs exploding." Blake questioned.

"Well – that is the second part of the news. My men were monitoring his explosives, hoping we could find a safe way to disarm them. We can't sadly, however they noticed something new. We found that the names of people that can pass include those who have left. And now…all of your names – except for Mr Wukong and Vasillias." Killian revealed and their eyes widen, and Killian could tell that they figured it out for themselves fast.

"It's a trap." Weiss said.

"Most likely." Winter agreed with her sister.

"Perhaps, but when it comes down to tracking your friends, you would be the best people to have at our side. You know them better than I ever could, and you would know their most likely move. They are with Raven Branwen now, that much is certain, meaning they must be with the Branwen Tribe." Killian explained to them all and Pyrrha's eyes widen.

"They…are with criminals?" Pyrrha questioned.

"It seems probable." Killian stated.

"Let's just hope they haven't joined them." Winter said to them all and they all fell silent, and Killian huffed a sigh.

"Look I am not stupid, I understand your reservations on this plan. Jackdaw is a very smart man and he knows exactly how to play the game of warfare. Divide and Conqueror, that is precisely what is happening here. But sadly he has the cards, we need to deal against him, find a better hand along the way. You know your friends, we can take down two birds with one stone. Bring back your friends, and take down Jackdaw." Killian explained to him, and he used the same words that Watts used.

Just in a very different way.

"If we go with you…if we go after our friends…we do not kill them." Jaune demanded and Killian looked right back.

"I couldn't have said it better myself. The Bandits that could be with them though…I will not show the same mercy. End of the day they are dangerous criminals. Ruby Rose and her band of rogues still have a chance to turn back, and if they do I will let them back. They will be punished accordingly." Killian explained to them all.

"Punished? What will such a punishment entail?" Pyrrha inquired.

"If they returned now after we explained the situation…a fine and some time confined to the Academy. Luckily for them…the whole Academy has been confined anyway." Killian chuckled at the irony.

The others however did not laugh, they just sighed and wanted this whole ordeal to be over.

"So…will you help me find your friends? Before Jackdaw Branwen lures them into a trap?" He asked them, and their eyes widened when they heard him say his full name for the first time. They all stared at him with shock.

"Branwen?" Weiss gasped.

"If you help me…I will tell you all about the Branwens and what happened." He promised, even though he only knew as much as Qrow, Raven and Taiyang. They all look at one another and they stammered.

"We will not lose anyone else." Jaune said and they all nodded at each other and Killian nodded back.

"Then report to the rooftop of this building, we have two Wasps ready for take-off." Killian said to them and he walked out of the room.

They did exactly that, as soon as all their essentials were packed they headed up to the rooftop of the building and they all started to enter the two jet black vehicles known as Wasps. They climbed inside but Weiss and Blake said their goodbyes to Neptune and Sun. Weiss held his hands and she kissed him lovingly. "I'll be back soon…keep the Academy in one place for me, please?" She asked him, and Neptune chuckled.

"No promises." He joked and that made her laugh, before they pulled each other close into a warm kiss.

Blake and Sun held each other and they looked into one another's eyes. Cardin walked up the stairs and he stared at them with disbelief. He did not know that they were able to leave, and he saw Sun give Blake his golden necklace and he put it around her neck. "Come back…I'm gonna want that back." Sun joked with a smile and she giggled, and she pulled him to her lips and she softly sighed with love in his embrace. As they broke their kiss she pressed her head to his as she turned away from him and got aboard the Wasp. It lifted up into the air and Cardin stormed out to Sun and Neptune.

"Sun!" He yelled, but the two Wasps soared away from the building and swiftly headed to the boarders. The two of them watched it fade away.

Cardin looked at them with fear. "Oh shit…what did you do?" He asked them.

The two of them turned and looked at Cardin.

And the bombs never detonated.

Jackdaw and Watts were not lying.

And now the hunt begins.

Author Note - And so the plot finally begins

Must admit I hated writing this chapter for some reason, I struggled through it for many reasons. Health problems or busy weeks were big reasons but Writer's Block was another. However now the story is really going forward and hopefully it should be easier. So I hope this chapter did not feel a bit poor, it could have been better I admit.

However, I did like showing an answer behind a question a few people have asked me about Killian. The reason behind him not being removed from office is both thanks to his own intelligence and forces, but also Salem. Anyone that started digging into his past and what he has done mysteriously disappeared or died.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!

Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Hunt Begins

- Matt