There's a shortish timeskip this chapter. It will be explained in the chapter itself but, for those who like dates and such, it's a couple of months. Maybe 6-9. It's to help facilitate movement into the next major arc.

Troll still in the reviews, still wasting his time. Still ignore.

Cover Art: Jack Wayne

Chapter 35

Emerald was fourteen today.

Or close enough…

She didn't actually know when her birthday was any more than she knew who her birth parents were, but it was the day Jaune had given her and he was better than whatever parents didn't want her, so this was her birthday. It was possible she was fifteen, or maybe thirteen. Ages weren't easy to work out either, and they didn't really matter to her.

Either way, it was the first birthday she'd ever had that involved a party with other people.

Not a lot of people, mind. She'd been invited to Yang's birthday the last time and agreed to go after Jaune wheedled and bribed her into doing so. It had been loud, obnoxious and there were so many people that Yang called friend. It honestly annoyed Emerald, making her feel somehow less important. Luckily, Ruby had been the same and the two of them stuck together.

This was nothing like that. There was Yang and her family, from Ruby to Mrs Rose and Mr Xiao-Long (when Emerald asked why they were married with last names, Jaune had been as confused as her but told her to go along with it), and there was also Qrow. That was it, really. Ozpin and Glynda had surprised her by bringing some presents to the Gym for her, but they hadn't stayed for the small party.

Even more surprising was that she'd received a few gifts from further afield, one each from Winter, Weiss and even Whitley. She wasn't sure what to make of those since she'd barely met the latter two, but Whitley had written her a poem of some kind.

Weird.

It was a much smaller thing than what Yang had, but Emerald found herself pleased nonetheless. More pleased than she'd thought she would be. She got hugs from Mrs Rose, which she put up with, hugs from Yang, which she squirmed out of, and a happy hug from Ruby that she bore with infinite patience. At least Mr Xiao-Long just smiled at her.

Emerald chose to hug Zwei, though.

She didn't choose to have Jaune take a picture of her doing so and made a mental note to find and delete it off his scroll if she got the chance.

After a while, the older people had their fill making her blow out candles, accept well-wishes and other stuff like that, and had gone to sit in the corner and talk about boring stuff like they usually did, leaving Emerald, Yang and Ruby to talk.

"Where are all your other friends? You've got to have more than this."

"Who do I `got to` have more?"

Yang punched her arm, unimpressed with the sarcasm. "What about everyone at the ASH Gym? You get on with that Coco girl, right? And Sky isn't half bad. You even said he was a decent fight."

"Yeah, so? Vernal is a decent fight but I'm not inviting her to my birthday party."

"If you did, I'd be worried for your sanity."

Emerald rolled her eyes. Like Yang had room to talk. It wasn't like Ruby was doing much talking, however, since the younger girl was happily munching on some cake and looked dead to the world, content in the sugar.

"So, you spoken to your old man about Beacon yet?" Yang asked.

Emerald frowned. "I'm working on it…"

"Not very fast, you're not. Just ask him."

"It's more complicated than that!"

It had been four or five months since she'd last brought it up and Jaune snapped at her. He hadn't meant it, but the sudden shock of being told off had silenced her instantly. She hadn't had the courage to ask why he was against it.

There hadn't been any better timing after. The news of the White Fang and Atlas broke and people were starting to talk about the possibility of another faunus war. Nothing had happened yet, but there was a lot of posturing and the news channels were acting like it was the end of the world. Jaune had been in calls with Winter ever since it started, and he left each more frustrated than the last.

Given that, Emerald hadn't felt confident enough to broach the issue.

"I could ask him," Yang said.

"No, no, no."

"Why not? He's cool. I can ask all casual like."

"Maybe you should let Emerald do it," Ruby said quietly. She always spoke like that, as if she was afraid they might laugh at any suggestion she made. Emerald never did, especially not when Ruby was speaking in her defence.

"Listen to Ruby," she said.

"Sheesh. You're both ganging up against me?" Yang placed her hands on her hips. "My own sister?"

Ruby giggled. "Sorry, Yang. But it's Emerald's dad, so she should ask."

"Alright, alright. I get it." Yang grumbled at being outvoted and got her revenge by poking a finger into Ruby's slice of cake, stealing some and popping it in her mouth. Considering the full cake was huge and only had to be shared between a small group of them, no one cared. There was plenty left for seconds and even thirds. "Mhm. Tastes better when it's stolen."

"Keep telling yourself you're a rebel," Emerald drawled. "We all know you're a daddy's girl."

"Oh, like you have any room to talk."

Emerald flushed before she could really stop herself, and then glared at Yang for having managed it. There wasn't much hope of denying it, either. Ugh. She had no idea when Yang had risen from `annoying worm` to `annoying friend`. She'd just sort of always been there, something she couldn't get rid of because Jaune was friends with her parents and Ruby liked having her sister around. Emerald would never admit to liking having Yang around her, but there was no denying that she usually spent half an hour each night trading messages with Yang and Ruby. Yang was like dandruff, Emerald decided. She grew on you.

Whether you liked it or not.

"So, who are these rich folks that sent you presents?"

Of course, Yang still didn't have any tact.

"It's the Schnee family. Winter was one of Jaune's first students. She… helped me learn to read." Which would be about the only nice thing Emerald would ever say about Winter. "I met her brother and sister at a dinner before the Gym opened."

"The one that Torchwick robbed?" Yang asked. "Tch, that guy is all over the news recently. He's robbing loads of places."

Yes, and at Jaune's behest nowadays. Emerald kept her expression neutral. She didn't really mind them being involved in things like that – and even if she didn't like Torchwick, she could take some pleasure in knowing he was under control. Jaune didn't trust him, though, so neither would she. "Jaune said he could have taken him but didn't want to risk everyone else."

"Why do you call him Jaune?" Ruby asked.

"Hm?"

"You never call him Dad. Or Daddy. We don't call Dad Taiyang."

"I-It's awkward," Emerald deflected, looking away. "Besides, it's different." Ruby always asked the hardest questions.

Yang didn't. "Forget that, I want to know who the boy who sent you that poem is!"

Emerald blinked. "He's called Whitley."

"Is he handsome?"

"I… guess…?" She didn't really have much to compare him to, and it was a while back. He'd been a little younger than her too, around eleven at the time. That'd make him twelve now, roughly Ruby's age. "He wasn't annoying like you."

"Harsh words."

"True words," Ruby giggled.

"But what I want to know is why he's calling you his `Shining Emerald`. Eh, eh." Yang nudged her in the side. "Anything you want to tell us?"

"My name is Emerald."

"Yeah, but he called you his Shining Emerald."

"It's a play on words."

Yang looked annoyed for a second, and then bemused. "Wait, you seriously don't see anything odd about it?"

"Not really. My name is Emerald. My hair is green. He compared me to an emerald." She shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"

"Uh. Maybe that he likes you?"

Again, Emerald shrugged. "I know. He sent me a birthday present."

Yang groaned and slapped a hand to her face. "No, I mean he likes you."

Emerald raised an eyebrow.

"Yang means that he likes-likes you," Ruby explained.

Personally, Emerald didn't think doubling the word up made the meaning any more obvious. They were both speaking in tongues as far as she was concerned. "I liked him, I guess. He wasn't annoying like the other kids there."

"Ugh. You're hopeless." Yang rolled her eyes. "You'll figure it out. He also said you inspired him to be a huntsman. If you're too dense to figure out what that means-"

"I'm not an idiot," Emerald snarked. "It means I inspired him to become a huntsman."

"You're an idiot," Yang deadpanned.

"This is my birthday party. I can still throw you out."

Yang leaned forward. "You and what army?"

"Okay, okay!" Ruby stepped between them, all smiles and hands as she pushed them away. "No fighting. Not outside the ASH Gym." Ruby pushed a paper plate of cake into Emerald's hands, and then another into Yang's. "Cake good, fighting bad."

"Fighting is good too, you know," Yang said.

"No. Bad Yang!"

"Ru-ow!" Yang rubbed her arm where Ruby had pinched her.

"No! Bad!"

Emerald watched with a smirk, silently spooning fresh chocolate cake into her mouth. Cake, presents and a show. They'd already given her some gifts, but it looked like the presents just kept on coming. Emerald grinned and enjoyed the festivities.

/-/

"Ozpin isn't sure what to do about the White Fang," Qrow said, sat on Jaune's left with Taiyang on the other side. The three of them were drinking, though hardly to excess. "He's annoyed, obviously, but Ironwood says it wasn't something he could have predicted."

"I know, he said as much himself." That had been an unpleasant call, especially because Jaune made the mistake of accusing James at first. He should have known better. James was rash at times, but he was a fair man.

He didn't doubt for a second Ghira's death had something to do with Salem. Maybe not something she'd ordered specifically but orchestrated by her lieutenants. Tyrian and Hazel had already sunk their claws into the White Fang to start the attack on Atlas, so it was a given that they were interested in the organisation. If Leonardo Lionheart could turn traitor, so too could a General in Atlas. He'd never heard the name General Hawk before, but since Ironwood had been a General by the time he reached Beacon, the man had obviously come and gone. He might have been a traitor in the original timeline, but it was just before his time.

"I spoke to Oz about Salem being involved," Jaune said, "There's not much we can do to prove it, but it's definitely possible."

"Not like we can make that information public," Taiyang said. "It doesn't help us much. The White Fang are going to blame Atlas and Atlas is busy trying to run damage control. Doesn't look like it's working all that well."

"It's not going that bad," Jaune said. "Atlas and the White Fang hate one another, but that's a given. At least with Hawk stripped of his position and on his way to prison, the other Kingdoms know Atlas is taking this seriously."

"It won't be enough to stop the conflict."

"It never would have been," Jaune said, with a sad shake of his head. Not just because of what happened, but because the White Fang would have simply found another reason to fight.

"Hey now," Taiyang said, "Let's not be cynical. Ozpin is working to try and open communications with them and no one wants to be a terrorist. This might yet blow over."

"Maybe," Qrow said, taking a drink. "We can hope at least."

Jaune faked a smile. "I'll drink to that."

The three clinked their bottles together.

Sometimes it was hard to remember that everyone here still hoped the White Fang would just calm down, talk or be dealt with quickly. They had no idea just how long-lived an organisation it was going to be. Or how problematic of one.

Ozpin was still talking like they could be dealt with, diplomatically or otherwise. Again, it was hardly Ozpin's fault, and no one could say the headmaster was wasting his time, not without coming across as a huge asshole. Ozpin just didn't know what he did.

Although, Ozpin does know Salem has her claws in the White Fang, so he should be able to understand that they're not likely to come over to the good side anytime soon. I just hope Blake is okay.

"I hear you're in talks with the SDC on how they can deal with it," Qrow said.

"You hear? And where do you `hear` this highly sensitive information from?"

"Ozpin." Qrow showed no apology for outing his boss. "And Ozpin hears it from Ironwood, I imagine. Or you, if you've told him."

"I might have mentioned it." Wouldn't have done to raise suspicions after all and his work with Winter was mostly innocent in nature. Certainly not illegal. "She mostly calls me for advice or help with planning. We worked in the Specialists together for a while and she is an ex-student."

"Going back to your teacher for advice, that's kinda cute."

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Don't you still go back to Ozpin just about all the time?"

Taiyang snorted. "He's got you there."

"Hey, that's work. Saving the world. Not the same thing. Besides, at least I'm not engaged to Ozpin."

"I've no ideas where those rumours keep coming from," Jaune growled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Winter and I sat next to one another at the Schnee dinner, but that's about it. She's seventeen for crying out loud."

"That's legal," Qrow pointed out.

Jaune bounced an ice-cube off his friend's forehead. Qrow tried to catch it in his mouth but it fell, bounced off his cheek and landed on his bottle, cracking the side. "Unlucky," Jaune teased as beer ran down the inside of Qrow's pant leg.

"Luck has nothing to do with it," Qrow grumbled. He raised the bottle and drank the flow until it was empty. "And I'm just saying, man. There was that article in the newspaper saying the two of you were engaged."

"A tabloid newspaper."

"You didn't deny it."

"I shouldn't have to."

"The Schnee family didn't deny it."

"Same reasoning. Winter looks to me as a teacher and a trusted friend, nothing more. Besides, all our calls recently are about the White Fang and what to do. Menagerie has closed off its borders and expelled all diplomats. It's not war by any means, but it's the tensest peace I've ever seen."

"Do you think it will be?" Taiyang asked. "Another faunus war, I mean."

Jaune grimaced. "I hope not."

Because if it was, it would be something he'd started. Gods, it was hard to see what benefits he'd really brought to the past at this rate. No, that wasn't entirely true. Emerald was happier, as were Qrow, Tai, Yang and Ruby with Summer still alive. Not to mention Winter was better off along with Weiss. He'd done a lot of good.

It was just that Salem and her lot had managed to do a lot of bad, too.

Guess it was arrogant to think changing the past would be as easy as fixing a few mistakes. Salem wants the world thrown into chaos so no one can stop her collecting the Relics. A second faunus war would certainly accomplish that.

"A faunus war?" Summer griped, returning. She had her hands on her hips. "I go to the bathroom for five minutes and I come back to find you've started talking about this?" She rapped the top of her husband's head with a rolled-up magazine. "Bad Tai! Bad!"

"Ow! Why me?"

"Because you're the responsible one, or you're supposed to be. I can't hit Jaune because that would be rude, and it's not like anyone expects anything from Qrow."

"That's the Branwen promise," Qrow said sarcastically.

Summer huffed and sat down next to Tai, glowering but not protesting as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She shot each of them a quick glare. "It's Emerald's birthday party, not another meeting with Ozpin. Keep the heavy talk away from the children."

"Come on, Sum. They're not listening."

"They're teenagers now," she said. "They're not idiots. I thought we agreed to keep them out of this."

"We did, we did."

"Well, talking about it around them isn't going to help. Teenagers are curious. We certainly were."

Taiyang sighed. "When you're right, you're right. We're sorry." He looked to Jaune and Qrow, making it clear they were to agree or face consequences. Summer-shaped consequences.

"Sorry," Qrow said.

"My bad," Jaune agreed.

Summer knew they were just agreeing to keep out of trouble with her and she huffed. It was surprising how scary she could be at times, a true team leader. "Fine. This is nice, though. Yang needs more friends like Emerald, mature friends."

"Female friends," Taiyang said with a nod.

"Tai, you can't forbid boys from talking to her."

"Can and will."

"She's growing up."

"And out," Taiyang agreed. "I've prepped my gauntlets."

"You big lummox," Summer giggled. "Qrow, tell him."

"Tell him what? I've already sharpened my scythe."

Summer groaned. "Ugh, you're both insufferable. Look, not every boy Yang talks to is a boyfriend in waiting. You're not going to do this with Emerald are you?" she asked, looking to Jaune.

"Eh, probably not." It wasn't like he could imagine Emerald opening up to a boy in the first place, and as long as it was someone trustworthy, he didn't mind. Of course, if Mercury came along, all bets were off.

Along with the bastard's legs.

"Oh God…" Summer held a hand to her face, and Jaune realised he'd let the little bit of murderous intent show on his face. "You're all hopeless. What is it with men and being so protective? Yang's a big girl or soon will be. She needs to be able to make her own choices in life. Emerald, too."

Jaune doubted she meant it, but she'd hit a little close to home with that and he cringed. His daughter asking about Beacon was still something he hadn't really dealt with, and he didn't know how to even start.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Emerald at Beacon, or that he thought Ozpin would try to use her. It was possible, sure, but Emerald was just too loyal. She wouldn't turn on him like that. Ozpin could try, but Emerald would come straight to him the moment he did.

The real problem was Emerald dying.

Because, at the end of the day, even if he fully intended to stop Cinder and Salem from attacking Beacon and bringing it down, that didn't mean they wouldn't try. He could set up his agents, put Roman in a position of power to say no to Cinder when she arrived, maybe even to force her out of Vale, but that wouldn't stop Salem enacting her plan. She'd find another way. Maybe through the White Fang, maybe with Tyrian, Watts or even Hazel.

One way or another, Beacon was going to be attacked, and he didn't want Emerald to be caught in the middle of that.

The problem was, he couldn't explain that to her.

Emerald knew a lot, about Salem, Cinder and even the Maidens and Ozpin, but she didn't know about him. She didn't know he was a time traveller. As such, he couldn't tell her what would happen to Beacon. If he did, she'd feel tempted to tell Yang, or to try and fix it herself. Worse, she'd ask how he knew.

He couldn't tell her he was a time traveller. Even assuming she believed him – which might be possible – she'd ask why he'd come back and what she was like in the future. Knowing she was an enemy would destroy her, and any trust between them. She'd instantly ask whether he'd only taken her in because of the threat she represented… and the answer would be yes. Even if he lied, even if he said he'd come to love her as a daughter, it wouldn't change the fact that the original reason he'd cared about her in the first place was to stop who she would be in the future. No matter what had come from it, he'd only adopted Emerald because she was his enemy.

Telling her the truth wasn't an option.

But then, what else was there? He knew he ought to give her a reason why he wouldn't let her attend Beacon. Just saying no was neither mature nor conductive to her understanding. He couldn't say it was because he was worried about her or she'd think he didn't trust her. It would be the argument before her match with Pyrrha all over again, and much like with Pyrrha, Emerald would probably run off to Beacon just to prove she could be relied on.

Tell her he had some other plan for her? She might accept that, might even follow it, but then it would be back to square one on convincing her she wasn't a tool. He couldn't say she was his daughter and free to choose her own life one second, and that he had long-term plans and a role for her in the next. He'd only just gotten her to open up and make friends. Closing her off now wouldn't help.

Sadly, there just didn't seem to be any good options. Let her go and she'd run the risk of being killed, either in a targeted attack – since Tyrian and Hazel knew who she was – or as collateral damage. When Adam hit Beacon, a whole lot of students died to bombs, Grimm or terrorists. Emerald could easily become one of those caught by surprise and killed.

"Jaune?" Summer asked, noticing his silence.

"Nothing. Just… thinking on parenting stuff. You know, the future."

She nodded. "Anything we can help with?"

"No. It's fine. Something I need to figure out on my own for a change."

As he watched Emerald show Yang and Ruby the gifts she'd received from everyone, the Schnee family included, Jaune sighed. He'd have to figure it out soon, and more than just how to handle Emerald, how to save everyone and the world. Because time was passing, and at an alarming rate. The foundations were there, Junior and Roman slowly taking over the criminal underworld with his funding and control. Ironwood on the way to becoming General once more.

He just hoped it was coming together fast enough.

/-/

Adam caught Blake by the arm and dragged her into a room. The White Fang operatives she was with stiffened and made to intervene, but once Blake realised it was him, she waved them off. "It's just Adam, I'll be fine."

"With him?" one of them asked. "Fucking human sympathiser."

Adam's hand fell to his waist.

Blake caught it before it could draw anything. She also glared at the masked man who had dared speak. "Watch your tone, Thatcher. Adam has been here longer than you and accomplished a whole lot more. His team is one of the most successful, and he trained me."

"Most successful at being cowards," Thatcher sneered. He did walk away, however, taking the rest of the team with him.

"I don't like them," Adam said.

"I know." Blake rubbed Adam's hand and was rewarded by his shoulders relaxing. "I'll have words with him, Adam. I promise. And I know you're not like what he said. You just have a different way of doing things."

"You mean that I spare my enemies."

"That's what I said."

Adam's eyes hardened. "And you no longer do."

Blake felt the weight of another argument coming on and let out a long sigh. They'd been through this dance so many times now. "Adam, if they try their hardest to kill me, I'm not going to go easy on them. Would you forgive me if I did and got myself killed?"

"No, but I'm not convinced you're putting much effort into limiting damage either."

"Sienna approves of my methods."

"Sienna is a part of the problem!" Adam hissed.

"I don't see why! You're the one who told me nothing would change without action, that peaceful discussion wouldn't fix anything wrong with the world. Why are you shouting at me now?"

"Because action does not constitute murder."

Blake's patience snapped. "It did for my father!"

"Blake…"

"No, don't `Blake` me, Adam," she said, pulling out of his hold. She pushed him back, snarling through her watery eyes. "They killed my father. He tried his hardest to prove that things could change peacefully, and he died for it. The laws don't work. They don't protect people."

"What Sienna does is little different! What you-"

"And me?" she whispered. "Am I no different?"

Adam's face fell. "No, Blake, you are. You… You only kill people who fight back, or order them killed, but…"

"But what? This is a war, Adam. I-I know you do things different and I don't get on your case when you take extra risks to try and capture people alive, but you're always attacking my methods. Am I that much of a monster to you?" Blake tried to push him away when he walked forward, arms extended. "No, stop it. I'm just a killer. If you don't like what I do, you shouldn't-" She broke off in a sob as Adam's arms enfolded around her.

He pulled her head down onto his chest as she cried. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

"I-I'm not killing unarmed people," Blake sobbed. "Not like they did my dad!"

"I know. I know. I'm sorry. It's just… I don't like it. Ghira wouldn't want you to become like this, taking lives so easily."

"Daddy wouldn't have wanted a lot of things, but Atlas never gave him a choice."

"No," Adam agreed, "They didn't."

"You don't want me to be like this, either," Blake accused.

"I don't."

"Will you hate me now that I am? I don't think I can change it. I don't want to change it. I felt no pity for the people I killed today. They tried to shoot me, so I shot them. I told Thatcher to deal with those who surrendered. He killed them all."

Adam's eyes clenched shut. His words were strangled. "Blake…"

"It's how we do things, Adam. It's how we get results." She looked up from his chest into his eyes. "Do you hate me for it?"

"No."

"But you have what I've become?"

Adam's silence was telling.

"It's not forever," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. Adam was safe, familiar. He'd been with her forever now. No matter what he said or did, she still got angry whenever people talked bad about him. "I don't want to be like this all the time. I'm not going to become a bloodthirsty monster. I just… It's a war and I'm not going to let people who try to kill me go free."

"It's not officially a war…"

She laughed. "It's close enough. You know that. But once it's over, once the faunus are safe and dad is avenged, I'll stop. I promise. So…" Blake pushed herself up on tiptoes. Her lips ghosted against his. "Can you put up with me until then? Can you trust me until then?"

Adam kissed her back. Soft at first, and then with an increasing need that spoke of his passion. She melted into it, forgetting the troubles of the day. They were young, maybe, some of the others certainly thought so, but being in the White Fang, you had to grow up fast. Both led their own teams now, of which some of the members were older than both of them.

"I said I'd stay with you and I will," he said, parting. "I just… I want to protect you from this, from losing yourself."

Blake laughed and pressed her forehead against his neck. "Isn't that the promise I made to you?"

"It goes both ways."

Blake let the silence between them grow. It was comfortable, but she could still feel his tension, the sense that something wasn't quite right beneath her fingertips. Blake sighed. If Sienna found out, Adam would be in for a world of trouble. He was valuable to the White Fang as one of its strongest members, but Sienna already looked unfavourably on him for his tendency to pull relatively bloodless missions, and to impose the same mentality on his team.

Some whispered that his heart wasn't in it, that he wasn't giving it his all or didn't want to help the White Fang as much as he said he did. Blake silenced those rumours wherever she could. She knew his heart was in it, because his heart was hers, as hers was his. To her guilt, she also knew he would stay as long as she did and put up with whatever she did. No matter how much it hurt him.

Sienna would never find out from her, and if Thatcher tried anything, he'd find out just how replaceable he was.

"I'll try to make things better," she whispered.

The last tension fled him. "You will?"

"I'll try. I… I can't say I'll be perfect, but we'll try to keep a few more prisoners. The non-combatants for sure."

"And what about the Atlas or SDC soldiers?"

Blake huffed.

"What about them?"

/-/

Things are becoming worse. The White Fang have become even more aggressive. Just yesterday, one of our Senior Directors was kidnapped and executed. There wasn't even a chance to ransom him, let alone stage a rescue. The SDC has put their weight behind Ironwood, who will be sworn in as General within the week, but it feels as though it is too little too late. The damage has been done.

I'm doing what I can to protect assets on our end, limit casualties, but the White Fang are striking at far too many targets. We're not sure if they're seeking to collect the dust they steal for themselves or create a global supply crisis to destabilise the other Kingdoms. Either way, I can't be everywhere and with Menagerie cutting off all discussion, the White Fang's ranks may yet swell.

I know we spoke of it before and you were reluctant, but we could really use you over here, Jaune. If not in a combat role, then to help plan. The SDC needs you. Atlas needs you. I need you. Please.

I've convinced father to arrange a diplomatic mission to Menagerie under the authority of the SDC. If it's not Atlas, we hope they'll be prepared to listen. Even if we can't calm them down towards Atlas, we might be able to stop the attacks on the SDC. I've promised to go in person. I… know you will not like hearing that. No more than father does. It's dangerous, I realise, but there's no one else we can think to send. I'm separate from the Atlas military.

It is my formal request, both as your student, your colleague and, I hope, as your friend, that you come with me. I would feel more confident with you at my side.

If you choose not to, I will understand. I will still go, but I will understand.

Yours sincerely,

Winter Willow Schnee

Director of Security

Schnee Dust Corporation

-SDC Missive Ends-

Jaune cursed as he read the message. He wanted to call her back immediately and tell her she couldn't go, but who else would they send? No one. Winter would ignore him and go anyway, stubborn as she was. Worse, he had no idea how this would go since it was an event that just hadn't happened in his time. She might well die.

"Bad news, I take it," Junior said.

"The worst. I may have to take a trip to Menagerie."

"At this time? That's a recipe for disaster, friend. The faunus over there aren't looking all that friendly right now. Not to people like us."

"That's the issue." Jaune ran a hand down his face. He had to go, though. Leaving Winter to this would put her fate in his hands, and since this was something he'd caused, he ought to be involved in trying to fix it. "Bigger issue is Emerald. I don't want to take her there."

"Obviously. You'd be a shit father if you did." Junior leaned back. He'd grown a little more into himself through their partnership. A little more confident, a little more willing to talk back. Relaxed. He'd also grown into a more expensive suit, now that the Red Axe Gang, along with their allies in the Union 46, had expanded to own even more territory. "I can't imagine the little munchkin is going to be pleased at being left behind, though. Not with her past."

Jaune groaned. "I know."

"You want my advice?"

"Sure."

"Explain it to her. In full. Make sure she understands your reasons, even if she doesn't like them. Make sure she knows for certain that this isn't you abandoning her."

"She still won't like it."

"Course not," Junior said with a shrug, "But it's not about her liking it. It's about her being safe. She'll `like it` when you come back safe and sound. There's nothing you can do in the meantime other than make sure she's safe."

"I know. I have some friends I can talk to." Summer would put Emerald up, he was sure. But Junior was right, he definitely had to have a long talk with Emerald and make her realise just why it had to be this way. "If I go, I'll be gone for a week at most, maybe two if things go badly. How will our ventures stand with that kind of absence?"

"If you're asking whether the Gang needs you, I'd say no. Roman's proving himself as useful as you said. He's keeping some of the bigger families busy chasing him, and they still think he's just an uppity thief being a narcissist."

"Which he is," Jaune pointed out.

"Heh. You know him well. That little sidekick of his, though. She's dangerous."

"Neo? You don't know the half of it. Keep an eye on them, Junior. Roman will stay loyal as long as he thinks he has to. If it benefits him, he might stay loyal a little longer. Keep him happy if you can. In fact, give him a bonus from me. Say, half a million?"

Junior whistled. "That'll put a smile on his face."

"Good. In fact, make it three-hundred thousand for him and two for Neo. It'll still go to him, but she'll appreciate the gesture. Maybe." It was impossible to read Neo, even with his future knowledge. The only things he knew was that she was dangerous, tricky, and that, in her strange way, she genuinely had loved Roman.

He wasn't sure if that was as a father-figure, lover or even just something that amused her, but she'd loved him dearly. Best not to take any chances or get Roman hurt.

"Keep things quiet here while I'm gone but get in touch with Sebastian and the Union. Things… Things need to go a little faster."

"Faster than they already are? In a little under two years, we've taken almost ten per cent of Vale's underworld. In another two years, we might be able to count ourselves among the major criminal families."

A year before Beacon started. It was fast, but not fast enough. Cinder would have alternatives she could go to, when he needed her to come to him.

"Not fast enough."

Junior leaned back.

"When I get back, we're going to push. And if needs be, we're going to push the major families ourselves. I don't want us to be among their rank in two years, Junior. I want us to be the criminal family in two years."

"Y-You want to destroy them all?"

"Destroy, subsume. Whatever we need to. I'd rather have Union on board than not, but we're not aiming to be at the top. We're aiming to be the whole lot."

"That's going to cause waves, Jaune. Tidal waves."

Not as much as Cinder would in three years' time. "If that's what we need to wash them away, that's what we'll do. Just prepare the gang, Junior. Things are going to change when I get back. Until then, let the city had a break. It'll need the rest."

"Right…" Junior ran a hand over his face. "Gods, I can't believe I'm about to be involved in this, but you've not led us wrong so far. I'll get it done." He poked a finger towards Jaune's chest. "Just you make sure the White Fang don't start another fucking war, alright? That's bad for business. Everyone's business."

"I'll do my best." Jaune hesitated. "Any news…?"

"No. I've had everyone keep eyes and ears open, but no woman by the name of Cinder Fall or anyone matching the description you gave us has made contact with any criminal families. Not that I can find out anyway. If I knew why you were looking for her, I might be able to find more."

"You won't. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and remember-"

"Whatever she wants, she gets," Junior parroted. "Keep her happy, co-operate and get in contact with you. I've got it, man. I got it. Leave me to my job and go do yours. And sort out that munchkin of yours while you're at it. Before she wraps you so hard around her finger, you can't get out the city without her."

Jaune laughed and left the office. He would need to talk to Emerald, but not yet. There was still someone else who had to know he would be leaving the city again.

/-/

"So soon?" Ozpin tapped his fingers on the desk. His eyes were shut, his brows drawn down. "I can certainly see the angle they're going for. That the SDC is prepared to open communications with Menagerie is a wonderful thing. If it goes well."

"If," Jaune agreed. "That's why Winter wants me along."

"Insurance. Yes, I can see the reasoning. If the heiress of the SDC were to die here, any hope of peace would be lost forever. In fact, Salem might well want to push toward that conclusion."

"That's my main worry," Jaune said, sat on the other side of Ozpin's desk, nursing a warm cup of coffee Glynda had provided. She was stood nearby, listening with Jaune's permission. He knew she'd have been informed by Ozpin anyway, so it made sense to have any advice she might be able to offer. "We already know Tyrian and Hazel are with the White Fang. I don't know if they'd be in Menagerie, but it's possible. We also know they want me for whatever reason."

"Two birds with one stone. Capture you and kill the heiress of the SDC, framing it on the White Fang in both cases. It would all but assure a war."

"Surely it's too dangerous to let them go," Glynda said. She shot Jaune an apologetic look. "I'm not saying to forbid you, but you could speak to Winter Schnee and convince her to change her mind."

Ozpin answered before he could. "If he does, Menagerie will see it as an insult."

"And if we don't at least try, they'll just side with the White Fang anyway," Jaune added. "I'm aware of the danger, but Winter's plan isn't a bad one. It's this or we just go straight into a war, and no one wants that. No one but Salem."

Ozpin drew his hands together. He thought for a moment, shaking his head once he was done. "This diplomatic mission has to go ahead. No doubt that's why James hasn't tried to put a stop to it. I think you're right to want to accompany her, Jaune, even if that puts you both in danger. I'm also grateful that you brought this to my attention."

"It would have been stupid not to."

"Quite." Ozpin smiled briefly. "We are allies in this and it does us no good to keep secrets. Would you be averse to taking someone with you, however?"

Surprised, Jaune blinked. "No. Not at all. Did you have someone in mind?"

"I was thinking to ask Qrow. It will be his decision of course, but he's unaffiliated with Atlas, which makes him a neutral party, and he can offer support both in terms of combat ability and recon. If the worst happens and you are captured, he can affect a rescue or get in contact with myself. Would you be okay with his inclusion?"

"Honestly, I'd be thrilled," Jaune said honestly. "All the help I can get right now."

"Good." Ozpin smiled again. "I wish I could go myself, but a new term is beginning soon. We even have some of your students joining us this year. One hundred per cent of applicants from the ASH Gym made it through the entrance exams."

"We shall yet see if they make it through initiation," Glynda said.

"I'm quietly confident," Ozpin admitted. "But don't tell anyone. A headmaster should not have favourites. Either way, while I can't go, Qrow has time off from Signal before the next year begins and the two of you seemed to have buried the hatchet as it were. If I tell him what's at stake, I'm sure he would agree."

"Thank you."

"Does your daughter know?"

"Not yet." Jaune winced. "I can't take her with me on this. I was going to ask Summer to look after her tomorrow, but I'll need to explain it all to Em tonight. I don't think she'll be pleased."

"I don't doubt it. If you wish, we could prepare a room for her in Beacon. There are hundreds of empty rooms right now since we're between years. She could eat in the cafeteria or the staffroom, whichever she prefers."

"I appreciate the offer, but if Summer is free, I think Emerald would be better off there. She's not very sociable, but Ruby and Yang have managed to get her to open up."

Ozpin nodded, not offended. "Of course. The offer is open if you need it, however." He stood, as did Jaune. "And thank you again for bringing this to my attention. There's little telling what part the White Fang plays in Salem's plans, but I've a personal interest in working against it."

"Same for me," Jaune said, shaking Ozpin's hand. "I'll see you tomorrow if Emerald doesn't murder me first." He grinned, and both Ozpin and Glynda chuckled.

He was only partly joking.

/-/

Emerald stared at Jaune, her mouth open. The words he'd spoken hung in the air, but also struck her in the gut, driving the air from her.

"W-What?"

Oh noes, Em.

So, I'm sure some are wondering why the timeskip now. For the most part it's because even if something big happened last chapter with the White Fang and Atlas, it's not something that was going to have an immediate payoff. There would be a lot of posturing and fallout moments, lots of discussions, planning, panicking – that sort of thing. Jaune explained as much this chapter.

I wanted to skip that and move into the action a little more freely, so skipping a few months worked in my favour this time.

For those keeping track, the main cast are around 14 now, with Ruby being 12.

Next Chapter: 1st December

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur