- Black -
Blake Belladonna's family member, Ghira Belladonna, sent a distress call.
It came as no surprise that when everyone had heard the name of Belladonna, they were immediately met with the memory of a certain cat-Faunus that was originally apart of the team RWBY. With Ruby already on the move towards the palace, it was clear that her intentions were to devise a plan and trip to Menagerie. Weiss wasn't a second late when it came to trailing after her partner in order to help organize it.
Jaune?
Jaune remained back, strolling along the park on his own after discreetly escaping the hold of Cassandra Astria and Glynda Goodwitch. Whoever knew that if those two teamed up, they'd make a terrifying power of enforcement? All he wanted was some slack! The king of Vale slid his hands into his pockets, his irises transferring to the corner of his peripherals when seeing someone standing there by one of the trees. Sure, there were efforts that were put out to aid in the redevelopment of nature anywhere they could've. Granted the Grimm destroyed most life there ever was here.
There was someone with jade-glowing hair within the broad of daylight. She was at least twenty feet away from him, her amethyst eyes trained on him like a predator of sorts underneath the shade of the tree she leaned against. That woman wore a suit, out of all things, despite this sunny weather. Jaune felt as if he knew her from somewhere. It… the memory surfaced now and then, but refused to stay in place. Like a whack-a-mole machine, but with a mole that won't even stay up for just a second.
How irritating.
The crowned Arc proceeded making his way towards her, wanting to inquire her presence before him. That's when he realized that he was the only one in the park for some reason, as he glanced about to notice not even a single speck of a person within the area. Not even Athena was flying around his area when she usually would to come find him.
His eyes trained upon the woman when he stood three feet away from her- a good distance to keep a certain space, in his opinions. Jaune's lips pursed into a frown briefly when he started to ask, "… Do I know you?"
"Hm." She hums soothingly, her eyes clearly making indication that it trailed from his feet and up to his face, "You've… certainly grown taller." Jaune blinked, finding himself just as more confused than before when she continued, "I've been keeping an eye on you for… quite…. some time now. Forgive me for sounding 'creepy'. But you should know that I'm doing it for the best of you."
"That… hold on, I asked if I knew you."
"The direct answer to that is 'yes'. You 'knew' me."
Slight confusion continued to hold him, and for once in the past week, he felt intrigued enough to want to pry further into what this woman knew about him, "Can you… elaborate?"
She seems to have laughed at him when he asked, and all he could do was just continue what he was already doing. Being confused. When she waved it off, she tried calming herself down a bit in doing so, saying, "I'm sorry, it's just… looking at how you are now just makes me wonder how you've even managed to carry on from his last adventure. Let's just say… I knew you from many years ago, Jaune." She noticed him flinch a little at that statement, in which she steps off away from the tree to approach the blond and rest a hand on his chest, her amethyst eyes unfocused on the general view of said chest.
"Many, many years ago… I would know why you've forgotten of me by now. If I weren't bounded by the rules, I maybe could've aided you in saving your village." The woman then looked up to him, only to be met with eyes that were straining with a mental progression, as if he were trying to recall something painful but couldn't figure out what. It wasn't that he was trying to push the stranger away from him, or him feeling any physical pain connecting with his body.
"I can't… remember." Jaune rose his hand to gently rest it over hers, "But somewhere in me knows you, and knows who you are. Just like someone else I keep seeing."
"I could not blame you, even if I would want to, Jaune. What you should know for now before my time is up, is that…" Her eyes trail down to the blue hilt of Crocea Mors, as it rested within its sheath on his left arm, "… you are the one who was meant to use that sword, and not him. People have searched for you for a long time. Now, you will soon be put to the test." The stranger's hand soon pulled away from him, softly holding onto his hand instead before she pulled away, "No one gets left behind."
The woman now begins to walk away from him, leaving Jaune to remain idle on spot. By the time she got behind the tree she leaned against, the blond blinked and took notice of his voided gaze, "Wait-!" He immediately ran behind the tree, looking for the specific woman and found… no one there. Jaune narrowed his eyes briefly when trying to see for any signs of where the enigma had went, only to find none.
"Your highness." A man spoke through his scroll, which had been connected to his wrist at the time as a watch. All Jaune could do now was simply hope that he'd one day come across that same woman one day… and when he does, he'd make sure she'd never leave his sight again until his questions were answered. He rose his scroll to his mouth.
"I'm on my way."
Cassandra always did wonder where he kept going- or where he vanished off to in the first place. But by the time she'd figure it out, he was gone. Again. Like a ninja in the dark.
The princess of Vale sighed very softly, as this was practically normal, considering how many times he's juked his way out of her view to begin with. With that said, she began to focus on whatever was proceeding to process through her scroll, watching as some statistics began lowering and raising over time. It came as a surprise though.
That when the CCT was finally re-enabled to have a global cross communication again with the rest of Remnant, the amount of signals and voices that shot over were tremendous. Most were SOS signals from neighboring denizens that accompanied the peninsula that Vale was on. To even get into communication with Mistral, Vacuo, and Atlas was the most shocking.
Vale retained many operators to help speed through the messages and answer whatever questions flooded in from Remnant. But when it came to a higher up communicating straight through the comms, it was immediately redirected to none other than Jaune Arc, the present King of Vale,
Now here's the catch: where the heck is Jaune at this ungodly time of hour?
With a sigh, the princess of Vale stood by the operations table to oversee the activity that occurred throughout Vale. There were many situations at hand now that the CCT was re-enabled. What Jaune mentioned days before was a possible 'technical attack 'from none other than Atlas now that Vale was going to be visible on all ends, to and fro.
"I had a feeling that Vale was busy for the oddest of reasons." Claimed the general, as Cassandra was met face to face with the holographic projection of General Ironwood's face. Yet, she remained unamused, nodding, "You should've trusted your instincts then, General."
"I thought you were dead when my men entered the castle to evacuate you and your family, Princess Astria." James Ironwood focused his eyes upon her form as she shook her head at him.
"I managed to get away safely with my little sister. Our parents ensured that we were one hundred percent safe by ordering their royal guards to defend me and Hailey. As we speak, those royal guards are now separate orders I've given them."
This seemed to have piqued the Atlesian General's curiosity, "Separate orders? They were dedicated to protecting you and your family for centuries. You need them to be around you at all times."
"Unless there is to be someone higher than me and my little sister in terms of position that I can reasonably argue against them for that person's sake." She verbally countered, narrowing her gaze briefly.
"… Your father and mother are dead, and I mean no emotional harm. So who could it be that-" He was cut short as he was intercepted.
"All present, greetings, your highness!" As the immediate shuffling commenced, all within the operations room stood up to salute to the entering crowned blond, along with Cassandra turning around and crossing her arms at him.
"Where have you been? You know how many calls I had to deal with the past several hours?" Man she sounded really irritated about that one.
"Sorry, sorry. I dropped my pencil somewhere and couldn't find it."
"… You spent hours searching for a penc- you know what? Nevermind. Jaune, a General from Atlas is here." Casssandra restrained herself from pinching the bridge of her nose while watching Jaune approach the screen to greet a somewhat shocked general on the other side of that screen.
He made sure to allow the others to carry on beforehand as they all took seats and resumed their technical work.
"General Ironwood." He greeted casually, as if it hadn't been years since he's last seen this man.
"Jaune Arc. Or, rather, 'King' Arc. Why does this not surprise me too much? I've finally solved that puzzle you left behind for me at White Castle's yard." The general claimed, recalling the telsa coils that generated a pattern with electricity that signified a familiar symbol of an Arc.
"Glad you got my message then. Are you aware that I was also the one behind Weiss Schnee's escape?"
"I am." He frowns, "And you've left a bad impression of me on Jacques Schnee, her father."
"And you'll tell me that you're right and that I should bring her back or else face dire consequences from the Atlesian army when we have more pressing concerns on Remnant as a whole?" His eyes narrowed, creating a bright glare to emanate from his eyes. Cassandra took a step back cautiously before he continued.
"You will tell me that Jacques Schnee is a powerful political individual who wields so much power over technologic advance and dust facilities that it's 'world changing'? I know of him and his status in terms of politics, James." Ironwood gritted his teeth visibly on the projection. "I don't fare well with a man who treats Faunus less than actual people and confines his daughter into solitude for prolonged periods of time when her freedom is at stake? That you would even enforce such event, despite you fighting for the safety and happiness of the people, but can only accomplish one trait of what was just said?"
For once, Cassandra felt like pulling a seat over and taking a seat would've been the greatest idea, given by how tense the air felt. It was suffocating. So suffocating that the Atlesian General on call and the workers around couldn't handle it. This caused the workers to turn chair and listen fully rather than partially on their progress.
Speechless. That's what the General was. To even be referred to by a first name basis was something no one else would do around Ironwood.
"I offer you a new standing." Jaune Arc let his hands slip into his pockets, taking a casual gaze to lock upon Ironwood's image. This caused the Atlesian General to look upon Jaune and listen carefully, "What I've developed is a plan to rid you of what you're trying to do with little success. Instead, I've created a plan to cause you to fully eject yourself from these individuals who prevent you from fully accomplishing what you've been wanting to accomplish for so long, General. A safe haven for people. An open equality of all those around. The ensured happiness that you've longed to see during your times of failure." The crowned blond of Vale turns his head to one of the communications specialists, who nods to him as a separate holographic window sat between him and Ironwood.
"This is…" Ironwood muttered as he sets his eyes on it.
A nod from the blond, "This is a list of things that can be achieved through the combination of my forces and your forces."
"Your forces?"
"Vale itself. As much as I am a King, I am a hunter, no matter where I am, no matter where I go. When you're a hunter, you will always be a hunter. Just as you are a General in the standing. What's also provided is the material I will use to accommodate for your current bond with Jacques Schnee and have him work under my kingdom directly while I'm capable of controlling his capabilities over his workers specifically. He'll still receive his benefits and riches, I merely control what governs his employees."
"As I look over this document, I can only say… that what you'll be using against him is also blackmail material?"
"Yes. I have someone to thank for that too."
Somewhere in the background, in some room, Winter bursted out laughing while staring at her scroll, falling back onto her bed with Qrow sitting on some chair laid back, going through an 'Alcoholics' Special' magazine. He then checked his own scroll, clicking on it to see the conversation Jaune and Ironwood were having until-
Now then, returning to Jaune and his conversation with Ironwood.
"When I have this presented to him and give him my demands, he'll have no choice but to accept. Given that I'm aware of his business partners all across Vale, I can just as easily convince them to side with me without complaint."
Qrow bursted out laughing in the room, as Winter wiped some tears out of her eyes and pointed at Qrow, nodding understandinly as Qrow nods back in acknowledgement. The pay of working under a specific king pays off so well.
"I always did wonder how you always had everything under the tips of your fingers."
"I just know how to use my resources and contacts, General."
"It's rather terrifying, I must admit." Ironwood sighs, closing his eyes briefly and nodding, "Then I suppose things are supposed to come to a close, Jaune Arc. King of Vale."
Jaune returns that nod, "This is the final call, General. Will you side yourself amongst my people and aid us in our endeavors, or will you stand by and accept idleness alongside Jacques Schnee?"
He received a friendly smirk from the Atlesian, "I will accept."
Just as Cassandra was grinning at the agreement of partnership, Jaune him grinned all the same, "Welcome back to the First Ascended Legacies, General Ironwood."
Who stood before him was a man with the most terrifying aura that anyone could ever wield.
That's what Ironwood had thought when he accompanied the side of the newly made comrade. Not too far behind him were the docks which him and his soon-to-be-arriving army was going to station at until further orders were given for full-scale settling.
Jaune Arc.
He did prove a mystery indeed. The General retained his calm factor as much as he could've, but when faced to speak and make propositions with someone as Arc, it became honestly unnerving to a global-scale. Not only did his aura terrify him, but it also terrified him of how far ahead he's planned that always seemed a temple-height ahead of others.
This is truly not a character he would ever want to make an enemy of.
He straightened out his voice with a brief internal cough, "Your majest-"
"Jaune is fine, General Ironwood. We know each other well enough to consider ourselves on good terms." The king intercepted, taking a casual walk about the city as his irises travelled to the corners of his eyes to set upon him. It was almost disturbing at how much taller Jaune had grown over the past years to even make eye-level with Ironwood now when he wasn't even as tall back then.
"My apologies then, 'Jaune'." The General dismissed the men who were accompanying them, waving away the personal guards that usually went with. They seemed rather wary of the surroundings at first before obeying their orders and separated, "You know that if Mister Schnee doesn't buy into the blackmail, then Vale is certainly going to find itself more enemies than allies."
"That doesn't matter to me." The blond replied plainly, stopping by a stall in the marketplace as the elderly woman smiled at him with a toothless grin, as he smiled back to the elder, "I've already devised about 7 other plans that would make him submit to me- and if not, I have trusted friends that know a way around destroying an entire corporation from inside-out."
The General almost shuddered to the thought of that.
"I'm sure that whatever he has to throw at me, it'll only be thrown back at three-folds." Jaune knelt down infront of a small box which housed apples, grabbing and examining one. When he asked the elder how much it was, the elder merely shook her head and beckoned the king to take it for free. Jaune stood up, thanking the woman as he left behind some lien before walking down the road.
"I intend on making a trip to Menagerie."
"Hm?" Ironwood blinked, perking a brow to the Arc, "To Menagerie? For what reason?"
"Chief Belladonna recently sent us a distress call from there as soon as we made contact on an open-air channel. We did reply that we'd arrive there as quickly as possible to help with their situation as it sits in between the White Fang and the Decimators that occupy the area." His eyes traced upon the apple in hand, lightly juggling it in the air, "No, it will not include your entire force."
It was just when the Atlesian general was going to suggest such thought that he was forced to swallow it back down and sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose stressfully, "If it deals with the Decimators we're currently warring against as a whole, they need to be taken care of with as much means as necessary. The people there will feel safe."
"They'll feel endangered and worthless with how outnumbered they are in terms of non-Faunus allies. It's like taking a lion, tearing its entire mane off and stripping it of its courage." Jaune tossed the apple his way, in which he caught it with his robotic hand carefully whilst the crowned blond continued his lecture, "What I aim to accomplish isn't capable of being made by the dreams of those who believe everything can be done by the natural acts of force being imposed upon a single subject."
They arrived at the town square, which the Atlesian general held witness to all apart of FALL and the statue of Cassandra's late father in the center. All turned towards their direction, and Jaune merely sent a wave to them, all waving back respectively with their friendly expressions, "You have what I need to get to Menagerie, along with the proper equipment and supplies that will be needed for this plan to be executed properly."
Ironwood was a man of stature, authority, order, even of iron grip when the worst of situations come to the extremes.
But…
"Then they are no longer things you need, King Arc."
"You have to be joking, dad!" Her hands slammed against the surface of the mahogany coffee table.
"Blake! You have to understand!" Kali Belladonna folded her hands together, staring up in concern to her daughter when Blake began her yelling. The mother looked to the side, eyeing the other Faunus present within the room. A former leader of the White Fang, particularly.
Ghira merely sighed, crossing his arms when the similar amber irises trained upon his daughter, "I said no. We need the White Fang's aid in the next horde that is about to attack our settlement, and I will not stand by and watch our people die to these… Decimators." Those eyes narrowed sharply, "The Faunus will stand strong when we are all together, and they are the only help we can get… I'm sorry Blake, whether you like it or not, this must happen. Our last distress call was sent out days ago, and our signal tower was overrun by these Decimators shortly after."
His daughter didn't want to accept it- that look on her face looked as if it were a kitten just being kicked into a rain puddle that was draining into a water drainage. At the same time, she knew her father was doing something that would benefit both sides of the participating parties in the oncoming war with the next Grimm wave. For months, Menagerie's fought off on its own against the common enemy of Faunus and Humanity. Given how little land they have and how many people strive to survive on this island, it was easily outnumbered by the sheer firepower and population that the Grimm wielded altogether.
The Faunus of Menagerie would live on to see another day.
The White Fang would get more influence and control, in addition to whatever it is they demand from the Chieftain- her father.
Blake watched her father stand up with a pained face, making his way towards one of the windows and gazing out to the cracked moon.
With his back turned to both her and his wife, he could only provide words that would be hoped that they would forgive him of what actions he would've made further to ensure the safety of Menagerie, no matter the cost of one's happiness.
"Blake, Kali, I want you both to understand that what I do… I wish to do for the sake of all other Faunus- because we were once binded by chains, but we, the Faunus, are linked together by what we carry up ourselves to be."
She left with a sigh to fill the room several minutes later, as it felt awkwardly tense, given what the subject was at hand. Never did she think that her own settlement would unite with the White Fang- given how violent they were and how aggressive they were when protesting against Humanity of their equality. Not even giving her mother a chance to stop her, Blake left for the balcony, leaning against the railing and holding her head in distress as she couldn't help but cringe in the writhing mental pain that overtook her.
Many things she's had to deal with since getting to Menagerie. Ever since the fall of Vale and Beacon, and the day that Yang lost her arm, she trekked away from her tea and the others, wanting to find other ways to end the White Fang's violent protests on her own. There had to be at least one way…
Though, when we say that she 'left', it technically didn't mention 'alone', as a certain monkey Faunus had trailed her all the way here on the same boat. That's a story for another time though.
With the feline Faunus settings eyes upon the full moon, she asked for a wish. A wish that would let her find hope and ways to end the wars amongst Remnant and even the war against the Decimators. It came as a quiet mutter, her hands gripped tightly into fists.
Yes.
A wish.
"I don't want Menagerie to force itself into what it is the White Fang wants to manipulate them into doing- or even influence them to turn to violent ways. Even if it means it has to be for a little while just so we could end the crisis with the Grimm humanoids."
That wish would come true, one day.
"Even if it means that in the future, when this crisis is over, this war between the human and Faunus societies would rage onward like nothing had ever happened between them in that brief moment of alliance?" He asked, as he leaned against the wall behind him.
The cat-like Faunus wasn't prompted to turning around, but let her wish be heard from the ears of that stranger. It felt necessary.
"Even if it meant that. It's what I want the most, now out of anything. It would be even better to allow total peace after the Decimator crisis. Where people would stop hating each other- trying to kill each other- leaving each other." The balled fists loosen, her fingertips finding light rest upon the wooden railing of the balcony.
"You know that what you're asking- 'wishing'- for is unique."
"I know. But anything is worth a shot at this point. I wanted to save people, save people from the hands of others that are friends of theirs. I one day want to see the world at peace, and not just envision it."
"If it meant you sacrificing yourself in the process?"
"…" It wasn't a sharp intake of breath that made her stop, but the slow breathing process of which she wanted to wrap her mind around the thought of her dying to accomplish the peace she's yearned for, "Yes."
Blake's eyes trail up to the shadowed environment around the house, dimly lit by the casting of the moon light. She could hear the winds bristling gently across leaves of some other plants. As it blew by, the small silhouette form of a feather gently descends from the air and rested upon the back of her hand.
Maybe she's gone crazy, talking to a random voice. She would have been dead a long time ago otherwise if it was a professional assassin that could've potentially snuck by her senses undetected.
Turning around, she saw nothing but the wall and the door that led inside. Gingerly fingering the feather that fell upon her hand, she gradually looked up to see the aurora-filled skies, and the bird that flew across it on its own. When her eyes reflected the moon light, the Faunus felt it wash over her briefly.
A hope.
Quack. fanfictionPenguin here!
Found my drawing pad, grabbing the pictures of the current cover art that's being used right now to digitalize it. Unless you guys like a scratch paper art like that one. Ooh, and I've seen those reviews you guys have been posting as of lately. It strikes my heart to hear that you guys are enjoying the story and want to see the team reunite ASAP! No worries! You guys will see it in the future- and your reviews are greatly appreciated!
Like, super duper quacking seriously!
You even taking your time to read this update down here posted in the form of an A/N is very appreciated!
That aside, there are some inspirational moments and clips that I've gotten ideas from when watching certain animes and the genre. Oh, and if you haven't figured it out, the 2nd series of this does originate from the beginning of technically Volume 4, if Vale were rebuilt as a kingdom whole and whatnot. Spot out any difference and cool things you guys want! Quack!
If you guys do enjoy a Jaune x Ruby AU-kind of story, I do have a story on the sideline called 'Powerless'! [ insert generic advertisement my studio funds can't afford here ]
You guys are driving me to try to figure out a good romance for this story- so feel free to fire away at the reviews- or even PM me.
So until then, hope you enjoyed the story thus far and pitch whatever you'd like for contemplation!
Aborting thread, fanfictionPenguin.
- A Will To Live -