RWBY: Restart
When the world was destroyed and all that he had ever known was taken from him. One man will unknowingly return to the past and prepare it for the future...just not the way he expected.
A/N there has been a slight change in Chapter II and I of this story, as I believe Ozpin to be older and highly unlikely to be a student the same time as Jaune's father, Raven, Tai, Summer and Qrow. As well as accommodating to the ending in Volume 5. I don't know if Cinder is dead, I hope she's not, only because I want Jaune to be the one to kill her. So, I went back and edited that portion so feel free to check up on it and read Paths of the Arc by Sixsamchaos.
Also, made a quick change to Jaune's family in Chapter IV. Saved his grandfather but still lost the rest of his family, due to a good idea I got from reading Paths of the Arc by Sixsamchaos. So, yeah, Grandfather is alive just not around as much. Also, see if you can spot a tie into Remnant Knight. Have fun.
Also, now that we found out what Jaune's semblance is – Aura Amplification – I can see the potential that comes with this ability and I'll try to work it into all of my stories. Hopefully, I can come up with some valid possibilities.
Anywho, Enjoy the Chapter.
Chapter XII: The Message
The streets burned red as the fire of the Grimm King stretched itself upon the forgotten ruins of the city. Flames reaching high into the sky as the crimson light bathed the Kingdom in a scarlet blaze of death and destruction. From the flames came the Grimm King, its large Draconic form smashing through building after building as Jaune narrowly avoided his flames and teeth. He fired bullet after bullet from the weapon of his fallen brother as the multiple projectiles bounced off the creature's face.
The Grimm King roared as he blasted the building with flames, only for Jaune to jump out of the window and land on the adjacent roof in front of him.
Sheathing both guns back, he pulled out the replica of his partner's rifle as he took aim and fired at the Kings eyes. But none of it seemed effective as all they did was enrage the King further as it smashed its claws into the roof. Jaune barley managing to jump off in time as he tumbled into the streets. The rifle sliding from him as he lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
His ears ringing and his vision blurred as he lay upon the broken streets. His form reflected in the broken glass of the Dust to Dawn store as he looked at the old man he had become. The many years of fatigue and pain plain to see on his face, as anyone else would have been pushed the point of desertion by now.
But not him. Not after everything he went through to get here. He wasn't about to just lay down and die just yet.
He slowly looked back up as the Grimm King lumbered itself upon the broken home as a deep growl rumbled in its throat in what Jaune could only assume was an attempt to frighten him. But Jaune had no fear of the creature before him, or of the fact that soon he would face his end to the beast.
In fact, he wanted Death to finally visit him and take him away from this horrible place.
To reunite him with the ones he lost long ago and the ones he cherished the most. But not yet…not until he took him down with him.
Not until both of them were dead.
He reached over and grabbed the rifle as he glared up and aimed at the beast, who glared back through the crosshair of the old rifle. "Come on…" a faint smile on his lips as he cocked back the bolt. "…take your best shot." The Grimm King roared as the streets were once again bathed in fire and the battle to end all battles continued amongst its ruins…
New Timeline – Beacon Training Fields
What many didn't know was that aside from the combat arena, Beacon also had a variety of other training fields that they used to teach the next generation of Huntsman and Huntresses how to fight in different terrains. Some fields had training dummies that were no more than logs tied with rope, while others were combat areas filled with sand, rocks and trees to simulate different environments.
It was set up years ago by the former headmaster of Beacon, to ensure that the students had ample room to test their abilities in unfamiliar terrains.
It is here we find the heroes of this tale as Jaune and his friends began to train together as their newly self-formed eight-man team – whose name was debatable at the moment. Using their time and collective knowledge to improve themselves for the future.
"Wha!" a small huntress screamed as she was thrown over a large sand pit and landed face first in the dirt. "…Owie" Ruby moaned as she lay on the ground.
"Come on, Ruby" she looked up as Jaune stood over her. "You could have easily dodged that, I know you could've. Your semblance is speed for crying out loud," he told her as he helped her up.
"I would've, but you guys won't let me use my precious Crescent Rose. I told you guys I'm just not the hand-to-hand type. But with Crescent on the other hand…" she looked over to the tree as Crescent Rose lay under the shade. An alluring aura surrounded the scythe as Ruby blushed and drooled at it.
Jaune rolled his eyes at this. "Yes, while you may be better with a weapon, there are times where you will not have your faithful weapon by your side." That statement broke her out of her trance and she snapped her head at him.
"Blasphemy! I would never go anywhere without my precious weapon by my side!"
Inwardly Jaune wanted to tell her about all the times in the future where she lost her weapon but couldn't bring himself to tell her. Instead, he shook his head and crossed his arms.
"Regardless, it's important that you learn some hand to hand combat." Ruby huffed as she crossed her arms. "I know how skilled you are with a weapon, but it's an essential part of being a Huntsman to be prepared for any situation. That includes having a weapon or otherwise. It's for your own good," he lectured as she turned back and glared.
"But how's hand-to-hand combat supposed to help? Your hands can't stop a blade or a bullet, and there is no way hand-to-hand can beat a weapon in a straight fight. It's like going up against scissors with a piece of paper, it's just impossible." Jaune sighed as he rubbed a hand across his face.
"Might want to give it up, Hot Stuff."
He turned to Yang as she sat under a tree next to Ren as they appeared to be meditating. "I've been trying to get her to learn hand-to-hand for years and she never even once listened to me – her own sister. What makes you think you can change her mind?" Ren flicked her with a grass leaf as her eyes flashed red.
"Focus," he merely said as she huffed and went back to meditating. Jaune smirked at this as he looked at her.
It had been a week since the incident at the docks and while Ozpin managed to get them off without too much trouble, though they were not excused from Miss Goodwitch's ire as she had the entire teams under house arrest for staying out past curfew and for meddling with an ongoing investigation.
But now that their week-long ban was lifted the team decided to start their first official training session as the new eight-man team. The main aspect of the training program was to improve on their weaknesses.
Like teaching Ruby not to rely too much on her weapon and teach Yang some patience and learning not to jump the gun in every battle. Something that he hopes would stop her from losing her arm or attacking Mercury during the tournament. Only if he didn't take out Emerald in time.
While Ren would increase his stamina training with Yang's help, much to Nora's annoyance as the orange haired girl had a slight bout of jealousy from the idea of another girl hanging out with her Renny. Not that she would admit that out loud. But she understood the reason and allowed it, only subtly glaring at Yang from time to time.
Now she understood why Pyrrha always glared at her. No one should touch her man.
While over to his left Blake was helping Nora learn the importance of waiting for the right moment to strike, as well as testing out the voltage limit of her Semblance. While Nora also helped to increase Blake's usage of her 'Shadow Clones' and how far she could make.
Pyrrha was with Weiss as the two discussed new usages of Dust for their teammates, while also helping to increase Weiss' stamina, as long battles usually tended to tire the girl out
It was part of Jaune's plan to prepare them for the future, as he felt that he needed to make sure they could protect themselves better should the Grimm King try anything else. He was not going to lose them. Not again.
"Is that a challenge?" he asked as she blinked at him before smirking.
"Maybe…" she said coy fully as Pyrrha glared at her while she and Weiss were clashing swords.
"Watch it, Yang, that's my boyfriend remember?" she said as Yang glared back.
But even as she glared, her heart inwardly fluttered as she called Jaune her boyfriend for the first time since their date. If she was back in the alternate past, and she and Jaune became a couple, the poor girl would have passed out from pure happiness by now. The only reason she didn't was the looming threat of Cinder, Salem, the White Fang and the Grimm King all poised to strike at any moment…
Although that didn't stop her giggling every once in a while.
"For now, at least," Yang remarked as Jaune could have sworn to see lightning shot between the two, while everyone else backed away from the two.
Especially Weiss as she decided to stop her spar with the Gladiator before she got her ire. Jaune sighed as he shook his head at the two and returned his attention to the youngest Huntress.
"All right. If you aren't going to listen to reason, then I guess I need to show you. Ruby, go grab your weapon." He pointed at the girl looked confused. "You feel like you don't need to learn hand to hand, fine, let's see you prove it."
Ruby looked uncertain as she looked at her weapon and Jaune, who only nodded and gestured for her to retrieve her gear. She grabbed the compacted rifle as the gears shifted the gun into its blade form. She looked back to Jaune – hoping he would change his mind. But the boy just seemed to nod as he folded his arms behind his back.
"Are you sure about this, Jaune? I could hurt you?" she asked as the boy merely shrugged.
"Maybe, tell you what. If you manage to get one scratch on me before I disarm you, I will tell you everything about Retribution, and show you all of its other functions," he smirked as her eyes became stars – literally stars – as she looked over to the large sword beneath the tree.
The large sword beckoning to her as she could only imagine what other secrets the blade held.
"However-" she turned back as he held up a finger.
"If I manage to disarm you, you're banned from using your weapon for all of our training sessions until you learn the basics of Hand-to-Hand combat. Barring the exception of Miss Goodwitch's Combat class and when we start missions. Do we have a deal?" he asked as he smirked at her.
Ruby recoiled in horror at this, as the mere thought of being separated from her weapon was almost too much for her to bare. While she was confident in her own abilities, Jaune had proven multiple times to be far stronger then he appeared. If the previous events of the 'Hybrid of the Emerald Forest' and the 'Horde of the Forever Falls' were enough to go on, and she feared the possibility of being separated from her precious Crescent Rose.
Yet at the same time, she could not hold in the temptation of learning the secrets of the massive sword possessing multiple functions and designs that had driven her crazy for the past month. It was unlike any weapon she had ever seen before, with secrets still locked away to be uncovered. She had to know its secrets…whatever the cost.
She turned around and grinned as she deployed the large scythe. "You're on!" she yelled as Jaune smirked and stood in the middle of the filed. The rest stopping their training as they watched the battle that was about to happen between the two leaders.
Ruby held the grips of Crescent tight as she eyed the boy before her, ready to attack him at a moment's notice. Jaune, to her confusion, closed his eyes as he stood in the centre of the clearing with his arms folded in front of him with no intention of defending himself whatsoever. This confused the young prodigy as she was sure he would have put up some form of defence, wasn't that the point of all this?
But that didn't matter as she desperately wanted to know the secrets of his weapon and she wasn't about to lose just yet.
Activating her semblance, Ruby sped towards the boy as a flurry of rose petals trailed behind her. Her form morphing into a red blur as she zipped and dashed at high speeds towards the older teen. Jaune, however, smirked as the red blur sped around him. His feet firmly planted into the ground and his aura subtly shifting into his limbs as he prepared himself for her attack.
One of the advantages Jaune had from travelling back in time was being able to predict what his opponent would do because he had faced them before long ago.
This was no exception for his friends either.
Jaune had known Ruby for most of his previous life. He had fought by her side through many battles, bleed together against many foes and let her cry on his shoulder more times than he could count. Even crying in hers when his will would waver. He knew everything about her, from her small little quirks that made her personality to the way she fought and wielded her scythe.
He knew what she was going to do and how to counteract it.
Just as he predicted, she appeared out of the blur behind him in a red haze of roses and swung the large scythe at his back. Hoping to catch him by surprise.
But to her surprise he spun around and caught the blade with his own two hands, as he focused his aura into his arms and legs, holding the blade with tremendous strength and ease.
The stunned look on her face was enough to cause him to chuckle before he spun the blade around and threw Ruby away from him. The girl tumbling across the forest floor, only to land at the base of the tree as she impacted with a large thud as she groaned in pain. Only to shriek in fear as he swung the massive scythe and lodged it into the tree above her head, as she looked up at the boy who smiled at her.
"I win," he only said as Ruby stared up in awe before falling to the base of the tree in shock.
The others, aside from Pyrrha, were in awe of the speed and efficiency that the JNPR Leader of the group took down the young prodigy with nothing but his own bare hands. Honestly, they were impressed.
"Woohoo! Way to represent team JNPR, Fearless Leader!" Nora called out as she pumped her fists in the air.
"That was a rather impressive display if a little risky," Weiss observed as she nodded at the team leader.
"But the technique he used to channel aura into his extremities and the reaction time he displayed must have taken years to perfect. The balance and the strength behind it are nothing but commendable," Ren commented as he observed his leader, noting silently that there were some similarities to his own fighting style that was subtly mixed into it. Odd, seeing as he never showed anyone – other than Nora – the proper stance and techniques he used.
Another part of the ever-growing enigma that was his team leader.
"In any other circumstance, I'd be decking the guy who'd beat my little sister like that. But even I got to admit that was pretty badass," Yang said as she smirked at the boy.
"Though I think using her own weapon against her was a bit much, don't you think?" Blake asked as Yang only shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe, but it was pretty cool though" was all she said as Blake only rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the scene unfolding. Jaune holding the large scythe in his hands as he looked down at the kneeling girl, who looked up meekly at the victor of the battle.
"Sorry, Ruby. But looks like I won our fight. Which means that as acting co-leader of Team SPECTRUM -"
"The name's still debatable!" ignoring Nora's outburst.
"I have full authority to confiscate your weapon until further notice. You can have it back as soon as you master the basics of hand-to-hand combat – barring any missions and Goodwitch's combat class. I'm sorry Ruby, but you forced my hand," Jaune spoke with his commander like voice as Ruby looked up in horror.
"No! You can't do this! I've never been apart from Crescent Rose in my entire life! It's my baby, my masterpiece! How can I be a Huntress without it!?" she cried as she fell to her hands and knees. "Please don't take away my baby from me!"
"…It's alright, Ruby"
A deep mescaline voice spoke as Ruby looked up to the large scythe as she stared at the 'face' of the large mechanical weapon. Her mind shifting the environment as sakura petals slowly drifted around the two, as they stood in the middle of a strange pink void. The weapon almost looking sad at the girl as the cherry blossoms swirled around them.
"I've fought by your side for many years since the day I was born and have been proud to fight by your side. But this young man is right, it is time you learned to fight without me. It is a part of your growth as a True Huntress after all…."
The scythe bizarrely gaining a human muscular body with the blade as its head and wore a school uniform with a long coat and hat. While Ruby herself was dressed in some kind of sailor school girl uniform? With tears in her eyes.
"But Crescent! I love you!" she called out as the scythe began to walk away.
"We will meet again, my master… But it is time I go until you are strong enough to fight without me…" it walked away as it brought its hat down over its eye.
"Sayonara…Ruby"
Tears streaked down Ruby's face as she reached out for the weapon. "Crescent-a Rose!" she called as she fell to the floor and cried at of the loss of her weapon and only true love…
While that was all happening in Ruby's mind, Jaune and everyone else could only look in bizarre confusion as the girl wept onto the grass. For the first time since he had come back, Jaune could not find anything that could explain this bizarre scene before him. He knew that Ruby loved her weapon, but he never imagined it was as deep as…this?
Not even Yang seemed to be able comprehended it, as she looked stunned and a little disturbed while Weiss was embarrassed and hid her face in her hands. Blake was just as stunned as she stared wide-eyed at the small huntress, while Ren only blushed and looked away…
Nora, on the other hand, seemed interested as she somehow got a bucket of popcorn and watched her like a TV soap-opera.
It was honestly, a little unsettling.
"…Ruby…you've been hanging out with this weapon for too long…I think this is actually good for you?"
Ruby instantly snapped out of her depression as she looked at the stunned faces of her friends. Her face turning a bright shade of red as she rushed away from them in a flurry of roses and landed by the side of a tree. Her hood fully drawn over her head, as she curled herself up in her cloak, too embarrassed to show her face to the world. Jaune sighed as he compacted the large weapon and threw it over to Yang, who caught it with ease.
"Do you mind if I?" he asked as Yang nodded allowing him to talk to the sad girl. He kneeled down beside the red bundle as Ruby hid further into her protective cloak.
"Ruby?" he asked as the girl was unresponsive. "Are you going to come out of hoodie town?" a small shake was his answer as she brought the hood further over her head. He sighed as he sat down next to her.
"Look, I know how important weapons are to you and that's a good thing. But there are going to be times where your weapon isn't always going to be by your side. Trust me, I've had several instances where I had to fight without my weapon." She raised an eyebrow as he waved his hand nonchalantly.
"Long story."
"The point is I'm not trying to be mean. Trust me that is the last thing I want to do to you. But this is the only way you'll learn, cause the last thing I want is to see you get hurt because you didn't know how to defend yourself. You'd make a lot of people sad if you died, like your friend, your family…and me," he smiled as he stared at her.
"Didn't you want to become a huntress to make the world a better place? How are you going to do that if you die?" Ruby was silent in the folds of her hood as she looked at the soft smiling face of Jaune before she huddled up further and moved away from him.
He sighed again as he rubbed a hand over his head. "Alright tell you what, if you come out of there I'll show you an aspect of Retribution I didn't get to use at the docks, deal?" as predict her ear enlarged at this as she nervously looked at the boy and the weapon he hoarded secrets from, while also contemplating the reason why she should learn martial arts.
After being nearly decapitated by her own weapon – not that Jaune would ever truly harm her – she realised how vulnerable she was without her weapon.
Sure, she had her speed, but Jaune had managed to overpower her so quickly that if she was in a real fight she'd be dead. Her uncle always warned her about relying too much on her own weapon and should learn to utilise every aspect of being a Huntsman. But she was young and thought as long as she had her weapon she'd be fine.
It was clear that was not the case, and she needed to improve herself even more. Despite being a prodigy she still had much to learn. Finally, her will was shaken as she removed herself from the cloak and stood before the leader of JNPR.
"Alright…I'll learn hand-to-hand. Not that I'm going to be very good at it," she argued one last time as Jaune shook his head.
"I don't expect you to be good, I just want you to be safe."
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder like he did so many years ago in the future. Pyrrha smiling as she saw the same touching scene play out like it did when they travelled to Haven. Glad to see that even in this timeline, they were still good friends.
"Anyway ~…" Ruby began as she suddenly disappeared and reappeared beside Retribution as she drooled over the weapon. "What else can this beauty do?!" she asked as everyone slapped a hand over their forehead.
Jaune chuckles as he was glad that she was back to her usual self. "Well, I never got around to using it…" he shifted the gears on Retribution as only one section of Retribution Mode VI detached itself from the multi-blade. "But Mode VI has one little trick I never got to show."
Flicking a small switch on the side of the blade, the handle deployed a trigger mechanism and folded inwards and then in half as two barrels revealed themselves. He pointed it over to a tree as he squeezed the trigger and a hail of electric dust bullets shot out of the weapon. The tree becoming decimated as the submachine gun like weapon ripped into the bark.
The gun/sword went silent as a cylinder canister exited the handle and he reloaded it with a spare, as smoke drifted from the barrel and the tree was riddled with bullets.
Retribution Mode VI - Version II: Hidden Lotus
Ruby's eyes were wide – and almost star-shaped again – as she stared at the weapon and the tree it decimated. A thousand questions running through her mind as she marvelled at the sophisticated engineering and design that must have gone into the blade. She had never seen anything like it, a multi-purpose combat sword with several unique designs for any type of combat.
It was a masterpiece.
While Ruby was going weapons nerd over the blade, the others gathered around as they too inspected the gun/blade.
"Jeez, how many weapons do you have in this thing?" Yang asked as she looked at the giant sword. "A sword, a shield, a hammer, twin blades one with a whip and now one with a Gun. It's like you're ready to fight a war or something?"
It wasn't far from the truth. The weapon was designed purely for War, the biggest War this world would ever see. But hopefully, he could prevent it before it can get to that stage…so long as the Grimm King didn't try anything again.
"It's strange though…" he turned to Ren as he eyed the gun/blade. "All your weapon modes appear to be similar to our own weapons. It's almost like you based them off ours?"
Jaune narrowed his eyes at the man he considered his brother as he should have guessed that Ren would start to notice some strange things about him. There were too many incidents where he made it almost clear that he knew more about his friends then he should. Habits that he had developed after living with them for so long and fighting by their side.
Of course, Ren would be the first to notice. Pyrrha was better at hiding it because she was famous and already known as the strongest in their age group due to her upbringing.
Jaune, however, was an unknown that comes from a backwater town and never attended a training academy – only receiving training from his parents. Not to mention his weapon was based on all the weapons of his fallen friends while Pyrrha's was relatively the same.
It was all a little too coincidental for Ren.
Jaune shrugged his shoulders as he placed Hidden Lotus back into Retribution. "My parents thought it would be a good idea to learn every weapon style I could get my hands on. In case there was a time where my usual style was ineffective against certain enemies."
"And your parents just happened to know nearly every single fighting style there is?" Weiss asked, also sceptical of being so skilled with so many weapons. Luckily it was at this point that Jaune was thankful for his father's family history.
"My father does. Back in the day, my family was once the most renown huntsman clan in Sanus. It was expected of them to master every weapon from a young age, as everyone born of the Arc bloodline was expected to be a warrior. We even had a fortress north of Vale called Kaer Arc and was charged with protecting the outer regions of Vale a long time…kind of like Vassals of the Region?" a sad smile crossed his face as he looked to the north.
"But thirty years ago, the fort was overrun by Grimm and left in ruin. My father and my grandfather were the only ones to survive…" Ren's eyes softened as he knew the pain that came from losing your family. Nora too, as they both remembered losing everything to the Nuckelavee.
"I'm sorry," Ren apologised as Jaune shook his head.
"It's alright, it happened long before I was born. My dad doesn't let it bother him anymore and my Grandfather has pretty much learned to put it behind him. So, no harm," he held a hand to his friend as they both shook hands.
"But still, my parents wanted me to be prepared for anything. So, they taught me and my sisters how to use every weapon we can get our hands on. It wasn't easy, but we managed it," he grabbed the handle of retribution as he held the large blade in his hands.
"With that in mind, I wanted to make a weapon that catered to all my styles. The fact that they are similar to your weapons is just purely coincidental." Ren wasn't as convinced, but let it go for now.
"So, wait, does that mean you have a weapon similar to mine?" Yang asked as Jaune merely shrugged and placed the sword back against the tree.
"Maybe, can't spoil the secret just yet. But let's just say it'll really burn anyone that gets in my way." He joked as he got a small chuckle from Pyrrha. Yang smirked at the pun, while Ruby was too entranced with the possible secrets of the blade.
"Aside from Jaune's weapon, I think it's time we talk about what happened at the Docks." Blake drew everyone's attention as the mention of the docks had reminded her of the troubling discovery they made a week ago. "About why the White Fang is working with someone like Roman Torchwick, and why are they stealing all that dust?"
"It was odd, I thought the White Fang hated humans? What was one doing with them?" Weiss asked as she knew from personal experience how much the White Fang hated humanity. If the many dead friends and family of her company were enough to go on.
"I don't know. Maybe they hired him to help steal the Dust?" Ruby suggested as Blake shook her head.
"But if that was the case, then what does Roman get out of it? He doesn't seem like a man to just throw his hat into something that doesn't involve him, especially the White Fang." Blake asked as she was still shaken by this discovery.
"Or maybe he's using the White Fang?" Nora suggested as she received a blank look from Blake.
"I doubt the White Fang would be stupid enough to let themselves be used by someone like Roman," she argued as Nora huffed in disappointment.
Jaune really wanted to tell her that was nearly the case. Except the White Fang was being employed by Cinder to do her masters bidding and help spread chaos across the four corners of Remnant. It was only thanks to the New Faunus Movement that the White Fang slowly began to lose members. But the damage they caused was deep and everlasting, epically how it led to the end of the world.
Yeah, they were that stupid…especially Adam, that bull-headed idiot
"But it still doesn't change the fact that the White Fang is up to something, something big and we have to stop it," Blake said as she was tired of her past coming back to haunt her. "But I don't want to get you all dragged into this mess from my past. The White Fang is my problem, and I'll deal with them-"
"Yeah, no."
They all turned to Jaune as he had his arms crossed over his chest. "Excuse me?" she asked, as she was slightly confused at the childish response from the leader of Team JNPR.
"I said no, you are not going to face off against the entire White Fang by yourself. That is just a recipe for suicide and disaster. We all agreed that we didn't care about your past or your former relations with the White Fang. We are helping you solve this, whether you like it or not." He emphasised with a stern voice as she was briefly reminded of her father whenever he dealt with politics.
Yang and Ruby felt the same way too, only their dad wasn't a politician and it was when they did something naughty. "What he said," Yang remarked.
Blake sighed as she could see that they wouldn't back down.
"All right…but that still leaves the problem with the White Fang. We need to find out what they're doing with Roman and what they're planning. Ozpin says 's they can handle it, but they don't know the White Fang like I do. They don't know what they're truly capable of."
Jaune had to agree with her on that one. Despite how Old Ozpin really was, and how long he had been on this earth, the man was still naïve to think that he knew how the enemy would react. He still thought he could stop the war that was coming. But the enemy, like time, is always changing. Salem had evolved to use different tactics to win, while Ozpin remained firm in his outdated plans.
Guard the relics, protect the maidens, find allies, create spies and hold up in the fortresses that he helped build centuries ago.
But that just wasn't cutting it anymore.
He hadn't even realised that one of his allies had turned against him if Lionheart's betrayal was proof enough of that. The man just couldn't stand the knowledge and the pressure that come with fighting in this war against Salem for so long, that he chose to ally with her just to get out of it. The Maidens were being targeted, the fortress that held back the darkness was being surrounded and his army was being infiltrated.
The man was losing this war, and he hadn't even realised it yet…But that wasn't the worst of it.
Now there was a new piece on the board – The Grimm King – Whose side Jaune still couldn't determine if the recent events have shown that he hadn't joined up with Salem.
Because if he had, then the Docks would have been much more different. But instead, it was still the same with Roman and the White Fang– minus Neo's intervention. But why? Why hasn't he gone to Salem and told her everything about the future? What was he planning and when will the next attack be?
These were things that Jaune desperately needed answers to. But for now, he needed to get his friends stronger and prepare them for the future.
"Well then, looks like we'll need to do something about it?" Jaune suggested as folded his arms. "If Ozpin and the others don't know how they work - and we do - then it's up to us to stop them." He felt like he was leading his troops again. Making decisions that would affect the rest of the world.
Some things never change he supposed.
Weiss raised her hand. "Can I be the voice of reason here for a moment? May I remind everyone that we are still students. I know that this thing with the White Fang is big, I don't doubt that. But despite how strong we are, I don't think we can take on an entire organisation by ourselves. I don't think any of us are ready for something like that?" Yang huffed as she folded her arms.
"We handled ourselves pretty well at the docks, I'm sure we can handle it." She sounded so sure of herself, that Jaune saw another reason she lost her arm in the next few months. Overconfidence was dangerous.
"That was different. We didn't know what we were walking into in that fight. And while I'm sure blowing up nightclubs," Yang looked away and started whistling nonchalantly.
"Stopping robberies," Ruby joined in too as she started whistling nonchalantly.
"Or facing unknown monsters are indications of our strength." Jaune and Pyrrha shared a glance as the Heiress voiced her opinion.
"The fact doesn't change that we are not ready for this kind of thing. We have no idea what will happen if we start pissing off the White Fang?" she sighed as she hung her head.
"But we can't just sit here and do nothing! Our enemy isn't going to wait around for graduation day when we're fully trained. They are out there somewhere plotting their next move, and none of us knows what it is! But whatever it is its coming! Whether we're ready or not!" Blake told them as Weiss sighed,
"I'm not disagreeing with you Blake, trust me I'm not. But All I know is that when we start to dive deeper into stuff like this, people tend to get hurt…maybe even killed…and that's not something I want to face again. I've lost enough friends to them…and I don't want to lose you guys too,"
A beat of silence drifted between them as each and every one of them processed what she said, while Jaune and Pyrrha understood her reasoning, but felt guilty knowing that they would all be dragged into it anyway. It was unavoidable in in the end.
"She does have a point," they turned to Ren as he held his arms behind his back.
"It's naïve of us to think that we can take on the whole White Fang by ourselves and not suffer the consequences. But like Blake said we also can't just sit by and do nothing. They won't wait for us, and neither will we. If we do this, we need to be careful, not careless."
Jaune nodded as he saw an older version of his brother and felt a twinge of nostalgia and regret as he replayed the moment he died years ago.
"Ren's right, we need to be careful and gather more information. Find out why the White Fang has suddenly decided to ally themselves with Roman and if it's only the ones here or everywhere." They nodded at this as they all looked to Blake.
"Don't worry Blake, we'll get to the bottom of this. We promise," Yang said as the cat girl merely stared at the gathered seven and felt her heart stir at these people. She had never felt like this before in the White Fang. Only when she was with her parents, and that was a long time ago.
"Thank you…" she said as they all smiled and nodded.
"So! All those in favour to be the first team of first years to take down an evil Organization that's plotting to take down the Kingdom of Vale, say aye!" Ruby proclaimed as she pumped her fist.
"Heck yeah! I love it when you're feisty!" Yang pumps her fist as she grins at the prospect.
"Count me in!" Nora mimicking Yang as both powerhouse's linked arms and flex muscle.
"Me too," Ren was calmer while Weiss nodded.
"I guess it could be fun, and maybe this will help stop some of the attacks on my grandfather's company," she reasoned as Jaune nodded as well.
"Pyrrha and I are in, we're a package deal after all." he placed an arm around her shoulder, causing her to blush at the intimacy of their new relationship that was still new to her. But she still nodded as they were both willing to do whatever it took to prevent the war that was to come.
"…None of you said aye," Ruby sulked as she slacked her shoulders while Jaune patted her on the back.
"Alright then, let's find out what the White Fang is up to and stop them before they do it," Blake said as everyone nodded. "Though I still want to know what happened to all that Dust they stole last week, where do you think they made off with it?" she asked wondering where they could store that much Dust.
"I don't know, but where ever it is. They need a large place to store it," Weiss said as she knew from personal experience working with her company that Dust needs to be stored in a safe location.
"Who knows, for all we know they could have taken it far away by now," Yang said as she lazily placed her arms behind her head.
However, unknown to the group Jaune and Pyrrha shared a subtle glance to each other as they nodded. They knew where all the Dust was headed, and they knew where it was currently located. They also knew that it was the most likely place that the White Fang would be held up and where she would be.
Now it was time to send them a message… one she would never forget.
Later that Night – Abandoned Warehouse outside of City Limits
Roman oversaw all the White Fang member moving around as they organised and shipped the crates of Dust he and his men had spent the last few months collecting throughout the entire Kingdom. This was the largest take he had ever made in his entire criminal career. A true highlight of all his criminal accomplishments…
But still, his mind wandered back to a week ago when those bunch of children stopped him from stealing the entire shipment of Dust from Atlas.
There was no way that many of them could have found out about him stealing the dust. Even if they just stumbled upon him, there shouldn't have been that many. Not if they were students of Beacon from the way they fought and their equipment.
Which was another thing that bugged him? They had equipment specifically designed to take down his Bullheads. It was almost like they were waiting for him to arrive.
But why? Other than the cat girl, the others must not have a good enough reason to find him. So why? What was going on and did Cinder know?
His thoughts were interrupted as the warehouse doors opened and two individuals walked in. Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai – two of Cinders most loyal lackeys. Cinder claimed they were the best and essential in taking down the Kingdom of Vale – but he honestly thought they were spoiled brats, nothing more.
"Oh, look! She sent the kids again! This is turning out just like the divorce!" Roman approaches the two from behind and wraps his arms around them in a group hug. Emerald shivered in disgust as she pushed the man away.
"Spare us the thought of you procreating."
"That was a joke. And this..." he pulled out a piece of paper. "Just might tell me where you two have been all day." Emeralds eyes widened as she reached into her pocket.
"What!? Agh!" Roman smirked at the little thief's face as he held the paper between his fingers.
"I'm a professional, sweetheart. Pay attention, maybe you'll learn something…" he looked at the paper as he glared. "Why do you have this address?" he asked as Emerald only smirked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yeah, I would. Now, where have you been all day?"
"Cleaning up your problems. One of them, at least."
"I had that under control" he stressed to the two as the moved around the place with a stride of confidence. It was almost like they owned the place, and that just annoyed Roman more.
"Two packed bags and a ticket out of Vale said otherwise". Mercury smirked as Roman glared.
"Listen, you little punk. If it were up to me, then I would take you and your little street rat friend here and-!"
"Do what, Roman?" From above the walkway, Cinder appears on a platform above them as she brushes a hand on the railing. She steps onto an automated lift, riding it down to their level.
"I'd, uh... not kill them?"
"Cinder!" Emerald exclaimed as she ran to the woman, only for her to ignore the girl and walk towards Roman.
"I thought I made it clear that you would eliminate the would-be runaway."
"I was going to..." Roman started before Emerald spoke to him.
"He was going to escape to Vacuo! Mercury and I decided to take it upon ourselves to kill the rat." She spoke proudly as if she was proud of the fact they just killed someone.
"I think he was some sort of cat, actually."
"What? Like a puma?"
"Yeah, there ya go."
"Quiet." She commanded as the two stiffened at her tone. "Did I not specifically instruct you two to keep your hand's clean while in Vale?" Cinder speaks, as Roman points a finger at the pair while laughing in agreement.
"I just thought..." Emerald started while Roman uses his fingers to mime having a slit throat.
"Don't think... obey." She commanded as Emerald shrink slightly at the older woman.
"…Yes, ma'am. It won't happen again." Cinder nodded as she turned back to Roman.
"And you. Why wasn't this job done sooner?" Roman points to his right, then to his left, then behind him.
"Oh, I'm sorry if I've been busy stealing every speck of Dust in the Kingdom!" he gestured to all the Dust in the warehouse. "You know it not exactly easy, you know? it takes a certain...finesse, to pull off stuff like this."
Unknown to those inside, outside the warehouse two robed figures stare at the building before dashing and jumping up onto the rooftops. Their feet light and swift as they ran up to an opening in the roof. They quickly opened the glass as they jumped inside, careful not to alert any of the Faunus with sensitive hearing.
"You're an inspiration to every punk with a gun and a ski mask." Emerald laughs at the remark.
The two figures that appeared through the roof stealthily moved across the walkway, as they quickly and efficiently knocked out any of the White Fang in their path before they both nodded and split up. One going to the rafters, while the other headed for the breakers.
"Look around, kid. I've got this town running scared! Police camping out at every corner, Dust prices through the roof, and we're sitting pretty in an old warehouse with more Dust crystals, vials, and rounds than we know what to do with!" unbeknown to them the shadow of one of the intruders jumped along the rafters as the shadow moved stealthily above them.
"Speaking of which, if you guys wouldn't mind filling me in on your grand master plan it might actually make my next string of robberies go a little smoother!" He emphasizes the last word by clenching his fist.
Meanwhile, the second intruder made its way to the breaker as she efficiently knocked out two more of the White Fang and placing their bodies carefully on the floor. The figure pulled out several circular objects from her cloak as they glowed with a dark grey matter and floated in mid-air before splitting up and hovered towards certain sections of the building.
"Oh, Roman. Have a little faith." She places her hand on his face never noticing the small circular devices hovering to the shipping crates from the robberies. "You'll know what you need when you need to know it." Two red eyes glare from atop as Roman seems entranced by the woman but then looks away with a grunt.
"Besides, we're done with Dust." She begins to walk away as one of the figures draws a black pistol.
"O-okay, then what now?" the second figure opens the circuit breaker as she grabs the handle of the main power feed.
"We're moving. Have the White Fang clear out this building. I'll send you details and coordinates tonight." The figure on the rafter's breaths a calming breath as he stands upon the rafters, gripping a long black sword in his other hand as he prepared himself.
"Coordinates?" she looked back as she smirked.
"We're proceeding to phase two."
And with those words, the second figure pulled the lever as the lights went off and the occupants of the warehouse went full alert. But before any of them could figure out what happened, the figure on the rafters jumped as the cloak fluttered away from him revealing in the darkness a man in body armour.
Several gunshots sounded and lights flashed with each shot as the figure shot at the White fang members. Who returned fire, as small bursts from their guns briefly illuminated them.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Roman yelled as he desperately dodged the bullets flying in the air. Cinder managed to bring up a flame in her palm as she attempted to find the intruder, as the figure used the shadows and the darkness to his advantage, while those like Cinder and the humans stumbled in the dark.
Emerald and Mercury were faring no better as they could barely see or hear amongst the chaos. A stray bullet nicked the side of Emeralds head as she screamed and hid behind a container.
"Cease fire! That's an order!" she yelled as she tried to get them to stop. But they barely heard her over the gunshots
"You idiot! We have night vision! We can see in the Dark!" one of the members yelled as he shot at the figure.
"…I know…I'm counting on it,"
The second figure from the darkness pulled out three-cylinder objects as she threw them into the warehouse.
Bright flashes of light exploded as every member of the White Fang and Cinder's possie where blinded and deafened by the noise. The White Fang Members, especially as their sensitive sight and hearing, were overloaded by the bright light and deafening sound as some even dropped their weapons and held their sensory organs in pain.
The figure took no hesitation as he ran towards them, his longsword drawn as he quickly attacked the closest member. He slashed, bashed and decimated the White Fang members while those of human origin struggled to see in the darkness. The soft light of Cinders flames continued to search the warehouse as the sounds of fighting still resonated in the darkness.
Finally, after regaining her vision and hearing had enough as she forced the flame outwards and briefly illuminated the warehouse, only managing to catch a glimpse of a skull-faced helmet as red eyes glare back until fading back into darkness.
The warehouse lights came back on as those remaining could only stare in shock as all the White Fang members were knocked out and lying unconscious as they were spread out across the floor or hanging from the rafters with cables wrapped around their feet.
And in the middle of it all, stood one man with a black sword in one hand and a Pistol in the other.
He was wearing a white bullet armour over his chest, with dark grey pants, combat boots and a short-sleeved black shirt. One his arms were two white gauntlets with black sleeves going up and stopping at his bicep, revealing a small section of skin between the short-sleeved shirt and the sleeve of the gauntlet. Around his waist was a black utility built with grenades, pouches and a combat knife.
On his face, however, was what really drew their attention as his entire face was protected by a helmet that looked like an angular knight's helmet with the lower half a skull's jaw and glowing red eyes.
The glow sent a small chill down Cinders spine as she could have sworn to see the pure rage in the reflective lenses. But she cast of her doubt as she summoned the power of the maiden she had into her palm. A small flame burning in her palm as the man glared at her. Emerald and Mercury standing beside her as they too armed themselves against the man. Roman looked nervous as he stepped back towards the exit.
"Okay~…looks like you guys have some issues to work out, so I'm just going to-!" he was stopped as a Kopis sword impaled the floor beside him as Nemesis stood atop of the shipping crate. Glaring down at the man with her own helmets blue eyes as she glared at the man.
"…Or I can wait"
Cinder glared at Roman before she turned back and glared at the man and woman. "Who are you? You have a lot of nerve attacking me like this." The man remained silent as she glared at him. "Attacking my men, breaking into my warehouse. You must have a death wish or something?" the man remained silent.
"Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"
Above them, Pyrrha looked at the woman as the last moments of her death flashed before her. The overconfident smile on her face as she plunged an arrow into her chest still haunted her to this day as she looked at the woman that cut her life so short. She should be afraid, scared to death of seeing the woman that so easily killed her in her previous life. But instead, she was mostly filled with anger at the woman that destroyed her life and separated her from the one she loved.
But right now, she was more worried about Jaune as she looked upon his form whose aura was subtly quivering with a similar rage.
While on the exterior Jaune was calm and silent, inside was another story as every fibre of his being was screaming at him. But not out of fear, but out of rage and anger. He knew he would see her again eventually, it was inevitable a part of the continuity of the world. But the last time he had seen her, she was a shadow of her former self – a person dulled by regret and time – and getting very acquainted with a bullet in the head.
The one he met was not the one he wanted his revenge on. Not some shamble of the one who took everything from him.
But this one…this woman before him had the exact same fire in her eyes that sparked his rage years ago. This was the one he wanted to kill. This was the one he wanted to suffer his wrath and anger. This was the one he wanted to pay for everything she had done to him.
This…was the Cinder he wanted to destroy...and that worried Pyrrha.
She had seen how far he had gone to get his revenge on her. Seen how he had flown into a rage back at Haven so many years ago that she feared what would happen now. Sure, he was more experienced and stronger then he was the last time they met. But rage was a dangerous thing, and it often blinded people and made them into something…
Worse
His teeth ground together as he gripped the handle of his weapon. "…Cin…der" his voice comes out low and strained as she raised an eyebrow at the who looked back up as his eyes flashed red. The lower half of his jaw unhinged as the jaws opened up and he roared with a righteous fury.
"CINDER!"
Waves upon waves of killing intent rolled from his body as the air became cold and lifeless. Emerald and Mercury instantly recoiled in terror of the intense pressure that slammed into them. Mercury had brief flashes back to when his father would abuse him as the man towered like his father after too many drinks. While Emerald felt herself growing smaller at the towering figure.
While Roman nearly pissed himself as he was face to face with the visage of death itself as red eyes were burned into his memory…
But Cinder…she was bearing the full brunt of his rage as her form was frozen in fear. She couldn't understand what was happening to her as she stared at the man before her. The only time she had ever felt this level of fear was in the presence of her master if she had failed her. But this was on a whole different level and for a brief moment…
She was afraid.
Jaune catapulted towards her as the black blade whistled through the air, determined to cut her head from her body. But Mercury managed to snap out of it first and got in front of her, blocking the blade with his leg. The metal in his leg bent slightly as his eyes widened at the strength behind the blow. The masked Jaune growled as he applied more aura to his arm and blasted the boy away as he slammed into the metal container, nearly knocking it over from the force.
"Mercury!" Emerald shrieked out before flinching in fright as the skull-faced man suddenly appeared before her, blade in mid-swing as he was determined to cut out her eyes. But Cinder summoned two blades of glass from her clothes as met the man with locked blades.
The two glared at each other as small bits of metal and glass sparked off the blades.
Emerald took the opportunity to race behind to strike the man, only to be kicked in the face as Pyrrha – in her nemesis disguise – intercepted her attack and got to work on fighting the little trickster.
The Champion and the thief briefly exchanged blows, as the Kukri Knives clashed against the Kopis blades with sparks. Emerald tried to shoot at her, but Pyrrha's natural agility and speed easily trumped the other girls. And she didn't even need to use her semblance to alter the trajectory.
Meanwhile, Jaune – Rudianos disguised – and Cinder was engaged in a battle of speed and skill as glass blade clashed with steel.
The embers of her maiden's powers coursing through her as she tore up the ground at her feet and fired them at her attacker. But the man merely shot each and every one of them as the large calibre of the black pistol destroyed the shards to pieces. Cinder growled in annoyance as she summoned her bow and arrows and fired them, only for the masked man to avoid or cut her attacks in half.
Cinder growled in annoyance as the man bested nearly all of her attacks. Despite only having a fraction of the Maiden's power she should have been enough to deal with this intruder. But no matter what she threw at him, he bested them. It was almost like he knew exactly how she fought and knew how to counter them. And for some reason, she felt like he was going easy on her.
Who was he, and why was there this intense rage in his shaded eyes?
She noticed Mercury as he groaned while getting back up. She signalled him to attack from behind, as he nodded and lunged towards the man who sent him flying. Jaune however, already sensed him turned back around and flipped his sword into a reverse grip. His semblance channelled into his blade as he amplified the aura coating the blade and made it sharper. Then with one slash, he penetrated the boy's aura and slashed his legs from his body.
Mercury stared in absolute shock as he only had seconds to register what happened before a fist was slammed into his face and he impacted into the floor. A large crater-forming as he was rendered unconscious.
Emerald turned back as she saw the boy lying unconscious on the ground, his eyes rolled into the back of his head as a large bruise formed on his cheek.
She growled as she turned back to her opponent and cast an illusion and rushed back to assist him. But instead of tricking her opponent, a hand grasped her forearm as she stared in shock at the woman glaring at her.
"Nice try, but not this time"
A brief look of confusion crossed her face before Pyrrha slammed her fist under her chin and knocked the girl into the air. She then grabbed Emerald weapon and wrapped the chain around the thief and slammed her into the wall.
Emerald's own eyes rolled back into her head before a Kopis blade pinned the chain and suspended her off the ground.
"Emerald!" Cinder yelled as she finally had enough and decided to end this fight once and for all. Her right eye flared with the maiden's power as she summoned all that she had and launched a stream of fire towards the man. Jaune, however, didn't move as the flame came towards him.
The entire doors of the warehouse exploded outwards as the intense flames melted the door to slag and blanketed the air with smoke and flames. The man no longer in sight as the large flames covered everything in front of her as she took a moment to savour her victory and quickly made plans to deal with the other intruder…
That victory soon turned to dread as a footstep resonated amongst the wreckage of the Warehouse doors.
Emerging from the flames was Jaune, his aura coating him like a suit of armour as his Semblance – Aura Amplification – amplified his aura defence and protected him from the blaze. The flames doing nothing to him as he walked through the fire. His masks red eyes seemingly glowing as he slowly walked through towards her, looking like the true God of War.
Cinder was frozen in fear as the man approached her.
She tried to move, to run away and report what had happened to his mistress. But her body just refused to move properly as she fell on her ass as the man stood over her. His form overshadowing her own as he glared down at her. She quickly attempted to summon more of the Maiden's power, only to be slapped across the face as she fell to the floor. Blood dripping from her lips as the entire right side of her face stung with pain.
As she began to stand up, Pyrrha quickly placed something on her wrists as she felt her aura being cut off.
The device was a set of Aura Nullifying cuffs that Huntsman and Military used to contain dangerous individuals with Aura. Pyrrha forced her to her knees as she made her kneel before them. Something that she found strangely satisfying as she stood over the kneeling murder.
Jaune narrowed his eyes as he looked at the scared woman before him. He knew that she only had a fraction of the Maiden's power and was nowhere near the same level of power she would have in the coming months.
But this…this was just pathetic.
She spat out some blood from her lips as she glared up at him. "W-Who the hell are you? Are you one of Ozpin's spies or did he finally have the gall to hire assassins to kill me? Does he seriously think that he can stop what's coming by sending a couple of - Gah!" she screamed as he grabbed a hand full of her hair and forced her to look up in fear of the man before her.
"Listen and listen closely. I do not work for that man. I will never work for that man again! If you even mention his name, I will kill you…and besides, he didn't send us. We represent ourselves, not him. And we're not here to kill you, only to deliver a message from everyone in the Entire World…" he leaned in close as he glared at her.
"Leave Vale, tonight. Keep whatever power you have and run for the rest of your life. Because If you aren't gone by the Vytal Festival…" he pulled from his back pouch his regular revolver as he placed the handgun to her head as she flinched at the cold steel. "The next time you see this gun, there will be a bullet in the pretty little head of yours." He threatened as he removed the gun from her head as she glared up at him.
"…Do you- Do you really think you've scared me off with this little display of power? Because I can promise you that this will not stop what's coming, no matter who you work for. Because the one I answer to is far more terrifying then you can possibly imagine…" she chuckled as she glared them both.
"So, go ahead, scare us all you want! Vale will fall, and you will be dead at her feet! Because I can promise you that is your Fate, that it is your Destiny!"
Jaune glared as he went to grab his sword before Pyrrha signalled him to stop. She then looked down as she grabbed her by her hair and forced her to look at her.
"Let me tell you a little something about Destiny and Fate…" she pulled back his fist and punched her in the face. "Destiny is a lie…" she punched again as Cinder gasped in pain. "Fate is a word made up by those who either think themselves better than everyone…" another punch resonated as she screamed in pain. "Or those who hate their own existence…" a tooth flew out of her mouth as Cinder cried out in pain.
"And those who worship them, praise them as the one true rules of this world…needs to get their heads straight," she picked her up by her dress and slammed her helmeted head against her own. Cinder screamed as her nose was bent and broken.
"Because I know the truth of this world. Destiny doesn't exist, and Fate is something we choose, not chosen by others…" she dropped the woman to the floor as she reared back her fist.
"And I refuse!" another fist hit the woman with tears and blood mixed together.
"To let anyone!" her pleas fell on deaf ears as Pyrrha unleashed her rage on this woman.
"Tell me!" she continued to punch as her vision was clouded in red.
"WHAT MY DESTINY IS! EVER AGAIN!" she made to go for the final strike that would end her once and for all. But was stopped as Jaune held her arm. He shook his head as he gestured to the bleeding and crying woman on the floor.
"Not like this. Not here…Stick to the plan"
She looked at him and the woman as she nodded, ashamed that she let her anger get the best of her. Funny, she was worried about him doing something like this. But clearly, even she was capable of such rage. He then gestured as they began to leave the warehouse.
"Remember, leave Vale tonight. And if you aren't gone by the time of the Vytal Festival…then we're finishing what we started." He called out as he pressed a button on his gauntlet and the shackle detached itself from her wrists.
She groaned and gasped in pain as she glared up at the pair as they walked towards the door. A look of rage and fury brushed across her face as she attempted to stand back up and attack them, to pay them back for the humiliation that she felt.
"Oh, one last thing…" she stopped as he looked back and pulled out a detonator. "...Tell Salem we said hello," her eyes widened as he pressed the button as several red lights flashed on the containers.
A loud beeping accompanied the lights as he dropped the device to the floor and calmly walked out of the building. She looked back in stunned silence as the beeping sound of the detonator and waking people slowly faded around her as she stared at the two who just defeated her with such ease.
She could barely even register Roman – who had cowered in fear – telling her to move as the large crates Dust were rigged to explode. Members of the White Fang too realised as they gathered up they're fallen and attempted to flee the warehouse, while they grabbed Emerald and Mercury. But none of that mattered as all she could think of was this…
What the hell just happened?
A large explosion reverberated out as the night was bathed in a multi-colour display of elements and destruction as months worth's of Dust were destroyed in an instant. Jaune and Pyrrha watching from a distance as the light bathed the night sky and the sound of sirens drifted in from the city. They knew that Cinder had escaped in time, as killing her now was not part of the plan and they gave them plenty of time to escape.
Not to mention they could still sense her presence this close to her.
Now, many would be wondering right now of why they didn't just kill her here and now. Why let her live if they knew she was just going to come back again and maybe with reinforcements?
Well, that was the plan.
They need to expose her first, show her to the world the truth of the War that silently waged behind veiled curtains. They wanted her to call in reinforcement. They wanted her to send another. They needed to thin out the herd and throw Salem off her game. Destroying the Dust was one of them, though they probably already moved enough of it to Mount Glenn by now and attacking the White Fang would more than likely stir Adam and make him react irrationally.
But attacking Cinder was their true goal, by showing her early on that the power of the Maiden's was nothing to them, and that she was no more different than anyone else on the planet. That she can – and will – die.
The nodded as they drew their hoods over their head and walked away from the blazing fire that stretched into the sky. Signalling the fires of war had been ignited, and that they had struck the first blow. And this that this War will end, on their terms.
…No one else's…
Omake: Interrogation of a New Relation Inspired by Engineer1869
A bright light flashed into their eyes as Pyrrha and Jaune found themselves in a dark room sitting in front of a metal table with only one light from a desk lamp. "Alright now…" a familiar voice spoke as Yang and Nora stepped into the light. "Let's get this over with-!" she was cut off as Nora suddenly slammed her hands on the table.
"How long have you two been going out?!" Nora demanded as she looked them in the eyes.
"Nora, what the hell?! I was asking them first! And - why do you have a moustache?" Nora looked back as she fiddled with the fake moustache.
"it's an essential part of my cop persona. I like to think it makes me look…edgy." From behind a one-way mirror, Ren slapped his own forehead. "Plus, they're my teammates, I deserve to ask them first. Especially since they're my OTP couple!"
"Yeah, but I'm the one asking the questions here. You need to wait your turn!" Jaune and Pyrrha looked confused as they sat in the interrogation room at Beacon. Something that they didn't even know they had – Seriously when was this installed?
"Why are ere watching this Ozpin?" Glynda asked as she and the headmaster watched from the monitors.
'When you are as Old as I am, Miss Goodwitch. You find your entertainment whenever it appears." He merely said as he sipped his coffee, secretly hoping to find out more about the mysterious couple.
It was about three days after the Forever Falls and since Jaune had asked Pyrrha out to the docks. The sudden request from the boy had shocked many of their friends as it was a sudden curve ball thrown at them. Considering that at this time they were not aware that Pyrrha had strong feelings for him or that Jaune reciprocated them. Sure, there was the occasional playful banter between them, which is why Nora shipped them because she believed there was subtle sexual tension between them.
But they never imaged it would blow into a relationship. Something that both Yang and Ozpin was determined to get to the bottom of.
"In any case, what she said. How long have you two been going out?" Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other as they shrugged.
"I guess about…three months now? But what does our relationship have to do with any of…this?" Pyrrha asked gesturing to the interrogation room.
"Because! When two of my best friends suddenly start dating out of thin air, I feel left out of the loop! And as the Gossip Queen of Beacon, I have a right to know the truth!" Yang proclaimed as she stood proudly on her chair. A small light turned on as Blake, Weiss, Ren and Ruby stared blankly at the other side of the glass.
"Isn't this just because you're jealous Pyrrha beat you to the punch?" Blake asked as Yang snapped to her partner.
"Denied! Now start talking! How did you two get together and tell the truth!"
Jaune looked at Pyrrha and then to Yang as he smiled. "Well, I guess it was when she offered to train with me." He looked back as he stared into her eyes. "She wanted to help me become a better Huntsman and offered to share her knowledge and experience with me. She sacrificed her time, and her energy just to make I-we were on the same page." He smiled as he placed a hand over hers.
"After that, I guess I just couldn't imagine my life without her…she completes me."
Pyrrha smiled as she gripped his hand with hers. "Well, as for me he treated me like a normal person. Something I've wanted since I won my second win in the Mistral Championships. Everyone I've met has always placed me on a pedestal thinking I'm too good to be friends with." Weiss looked away embarrassed as she knew who she was refereeing to.
"But Jaune, he treated me like how I wanted to be…" she smiled as Emerald gazed into Dark Sapphire. "A person and I just fell in love with him right there and then. And I never want to lose that."
Ruby and Nora had tears streaming down their face as they listen to their beautiful heart filled confession. While Ren and Weiss looked slightly embarrassed by smiled at how affectionate their teammates were. Ren looking at Nora with some stirring feelings in his chest, while Weiss wished she could find that kind of love. While Blake was blushing slightly remembering how in love her parents were. Something that made her wish to see again.
Even Ozpin and Glynda were moved as they listened to the pair.
Yang herself was touched as she looked at the scene and wondered if one day she could have something like what they had. It was clear how in love they were and made her wonder if she had a chance with Jaune. Her father always said to follow her heart, but to make sure it never came between someone else's...
But that didn't mean she couldn't mess with them.
"That's, beautiful…" she admitted as they smiled at her. "But that still doesn't explain…this!" she slammed something down on the table as eyes went wide and face went bright red.
Jaune had wide eyes, Pyrrha had a horrified and blood red face while steam erupted from her head. Ozpin spat his coffee out while Glynda had a stunned red face. Ren's eyes went wide along with Weiss who looked stunned and horrified, while Ruby blushed deeper than her cloak. Blake, on the other hand, had to stop her nose from bleeding as Nora had a somewhat curious and red face.
On the table was a pair of sexy black lingerie that Pyrrha had bought months ago as part of her plan to gain the attention of what she thought would be a pre-war Jaune. But when she found out it was her Jaune, she had completely forgotten about them and stored them away in her closet.
"H-How did you get that?!" she demanded as Yang grinned.
"We searched your room for evidence, and was surprised to find these little numbers," she held up the bra that left little to the imagination as red faces went brighter. "Just how far have you two gone?" she asked with a shark-like grin as Pyrrha stuttered to respond.
Jaune, on the other hand, held the panties in his hand as his mind wandered to Pyrrha wearing these as his faced flashed red and his imagination went to some…hot places.
Pyrrha instantly snapped her head as he held the underwear in his hand as a blush permeated his cheeks. "NOOOOOO!" she screamed as she instinctively kicked Jaune in the face and sent him flying across the room and slam into the glass window. A blood trail following down the glass as he was rendered unconscious with his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
"Holy shit! Jaune!" the others yelled as they watched Jaune get One Hit K.O.'d by Pyrrha.
Before they could even register, Pyrrha sun around as she grabbed Yang and suplexed her into the table. Her eyes rolling into the back of her head as the blond brawler too was rendered unconscious. Nora looked scared as Pyrrha's eyes had gone crazy white as her face was shrouded in shadows that made her eyes glow white as she slowly approached the girl.
"P-Pyrrha?" she asked fearfully as the champions slowly walked towards her.
"No…one…must…know…" she slowly drawled with an empty tone as Nora grew even more scared.
Her screams resonated through the school as the others cowered behind the Glass screen. Nora slammed into the ceiling as she hung by her head while her body dangled in the interrogation room.
Pyrrha's head then swivelled to the glass as they all attempted to run from the girl. But their screams resonated loudly as Glynda and Ozpin watched in muted silence as the screen became nothing but a statistic screen.
"...Oh boy," was all Ozpin could say as Pyrrha rampaged across the campus.
It was on that day everyone had a strange case of amnesia as Pyrrha suplexed and rendered anyone unconscious. It was known as the Red Day and everyone – who managed to keep their memories – swore to never reveal what triggered the red-haired champion ever again. While Pyrrha was embarrassed for the rest of the week.
Though Jaune had some interesting dreams after that, with interesting colours of black lace and red hair…oh my.
And Scene. Well here is the long-awaited Chapter 12. Whew! Sorry, been busy with work and University – studying a bachelor in Animations – that the time slipped by. Sorry, everyone. Still working on Darkness, Knight and Fabled and glad to see people like my stories.
In any case, leave a review and tell me what you think and suggest Omake chapters. Until then, stay tuned for…
Chapter XIII: Knight on the Town