Pov: Cinder
I saw Emerald and Mercury were looking outside at the Grimm being created and I snapped my fingers to them.
"Yes, yes, keep your posse in check." Watts said.
Mercury grunted and tried to make a move toward Watts, but Emerald held him back.
"You hear that? Silence." Watts said.
I saw Hazel give Watts an unimpressed glance.
"I've half a mind to thank the little girl that bested you." Watts said.
"If I were you, I'd hunt her down. Heh Find her and, well, she took your eye, didn't she?" Tyrian said.
I stared at Tyrian while he cackled at me. I tried to speak but only managed to make quiet exhaling noises. Emerald leaned in to hear me.
"Pathetic. Why did you even-"
The sound of a heavy metal door being unlatched and open made everyone stand just before Salem entered. She slid alongside the table before reaching the head of it, jewels jangling from her hair. Salem stopped, facing away from us and toward a candle and crystal display.
"Watts." She said.
Watts straightened up, looking toward her.
"Do you find such malignance necessary?" She asked.
She gestures for all of us to sit down.
"I apologize, ma'am. I'm not particularly fond of failure." Watts said as he and Salem sat simultaneously.
"Then I see no reason for your cruelty towards young Cinder. She's become our Fall Maiden, destroyed Beacon Tower, caused the Grimm girl to kill her brother, and most importantly, killed dear Ozpin. So I'm curious, to what failures are you referring?"
"Well, the girl with the Silver Eyes." Watts said.
"Yes. We've dealt with their kind before. How is it a novice was able to best one of us?" Hazel asked.
"My thoughts exactly. Even with her new power, it should have been effortless." Watts said.
"It is because of the Maiden's power. Make no mistake, Cinder, you hold the key to our victory. But your newfound strength brings with it a crippling weakness. Which is why you will remain by my side as we continue your treatment." Salem said.
I wasn't happy about that and lowered my head.
"Dr. Watts, you are to take Cinder's place and meet with our informant in Mistral. But not until you are done with what I asked." Salem said.
"Very good." Watts said.
"Tyrian, I want you to continue your hunt for the Spring Maiden." Salem said.
"Gladly." Tyrian laughed.
"And Hazel, I'm sending you to the leader of the White Fang. Adam Taurus has arranged the meeting. The boy continues to prove loyal. Ensure that Sienna Khan feels the same." Salem said.
"As you wish." Hazel said.
I raised a finger.
"Oh!"
Emerald leaned in to hear me.
"Ask about the girl." I said.
"Speak, child." Salem said.
"She wants to know… What about the girl?" Emerald asked.
"What about her? Seems to me that she's Cinder's problem, not ours."
I slammed my fist on the table and glared at watts who smirked.
"That's enough. Tyrian?"
"Yes, my lady?" Tyrian asked.
"Spring can wait. Find the girl that did this to Cinder and teach her what happens when you hurt one of us."
Tyrian giggled elatedly and clapped.
"But bring her to me and bring the Grimm girl as well. I have plans for her. Because of your efforts, Beacon has fallen. And Haven will be next."
We all rose.
Tyrian snickered at me and points to his left eye.
"Eye for an eye." Tyrian began to laugh maniacally.
Pov change: Nora
"I'm just sayin'...there's more members of JNPR in this team than RWBY and STRS. It just makes sense to go with that one." I said.
"But 'junior' isn't a color." Ren said.
"How can I be more clear? There's three members of team JNPR and in total 2 people from teams RWBY and STRS."
"But we're helping Ruby with her objective." Ren said. "Wouldn't that make her the leader?"
"Guys!" We heard.
Ren and I turn toward Jaune.
"We need to focus. Also, JNRR is way cooler."
"Exactly!" I said.
Ren groaned.
Suddenly, we heard a rumble.
"It's here." Jaune said.
Pov change: Ryuki
I ran along the side as the Grimm chased Ruby through the trees. This Grimm was going to be more challenging since my armor is currently being upgraded. This Grimm seemed to control a collection of floating boulders. As it chased Ruby, she was firing away from the creature, hitting some trees along the way.
"Bad… landing… strategy!" Ruby yelled.
Ruby landed on a tree branch that was strong enough for her. I pulled out a rope arrow and fired it at the tree and flew up next to her.
"Ready for this?" Ruby asked.
I nodded as Ruby grabbed me.
Ruby used her semblance to fly back. As we flew through the forest, we saw the others.
"We could use some help!"
We landed and joined our friends. Nora shot the Grimm in the back. Ren hopped around on branches. The Grimm seemed to try to hit Ren. Ren ran up its rock arm, flew into the air, and came down upon the Grimm, striking at it with his weapon. It was ineffective.
"Gotta get in closer!" Jaune said.
"My blades don't hurt him!" Ren said.
The Grimm turned, standing upright.
"Crap!" Nora yelled.
"How about this?!" Ruby asked.
She loaded a magazine with electricity while I got an electric arrow out before we opened fire on the Grimm. Our shots encased one of the Grimm's arms. The red lines on the arm glowed brighter, and the Grimm slammed it into the ground. All of us were sent flying backward, but most of us were able to land on our feet, except jaune.
"'You'll be fine without a weapon. You're the strategist.'" Jaune mimicked/
"That's it!" Nora yelled.
She ran forward, tossing her weapon into the air and transforming it into hammer mode. She jumped into the air and hit it, breaking its arm off.
"Hey! Be careful! Especially Ryuki." Jaune yelled behind us.
The Grimm's armless shoulder gained a glowing red circle with a symbol of an eye in the middle. The circle spun, and then a black, elongated arm with clawed fingers emerged from it. The arm reared back, getting ready to strike.
"Uh-oh." Jaune said.
The Grimm shoved its new arm into the tree Jaune was leaning against and lifted it from the ground.
"His arm is a tree! His arm is a tree!" Jaune yelled.
"Big mistake!" Ruby said.
Ruby spun Crescent Rose and loaded another magazine into it - this one was fire. I looked at the tree and knew it was too thick. But before I could warn her, she fired, and the flaming projectile hit the tree arm.
'Great the Grimm has a burning arm.' I said.
"Eh sorry?" Ruby asked.
I smiled and rolled my eyes.
"Big mistake!" Jaune yelled.
The Grimm chased Jaune, swinging the flaming arm at him. It missed twice, but then Jaune fell. However, one of Ren's weapons spun through the air and made a cut across the Grimm's mask. This made Grimm fall.
Ren land beside Jaune and caught his gun. Ruby, Nora, and I came up behind them.
"Okay, how do we do this?" Jaune asked.
"His body is too thick to break through." Ren said.
"It doesn't care about its body." Jaune said.
"Plus it can keep grabbing new limbs!" Nora said.
"But it keeps protecting its face." Jaune said.
"We can't break it!"
"Ugh, if we knocked all of its limbs off at once and went for the…"
'The mask must be its weakness.' I said.
"Guys, I got it! We hit it harder!" Jaune said.
"Is that it?" Ren asked.
I was so confused by that plan.
"No, seriously. It's trying to keep us from its face. If we kill the limbs, we'll have a shot to kill the whole thing!" Jaune said.
"Alright! Come on, team, let's do this." Ruby said.
"Yeah!" Nora said.
"Right!" Ren said.
I nodded and got out another arrow.
"Ren, left. Ruby, right. Ryuki, feet."
Ren, Ruby, and I departed as told.
Ruby attacked the right side. Ren attacked the left.
I ran up and pulled out a frost arrow and fired at its feet, slowing it down.
"Ready!" We heard Nora yell.
Ruby jumped back and landed next to Jaune.
"Use everything you've got!" Jaune yelled.
Ruby used her Semblance to fly at the Grimm, taking Nora with her. Ruby sliced the tree in half, opening the way for Nora to hit the mask with her hammer. The rock body shattered and the Grimm rose out of it and tried to escape.
I jumped up and aimed at the Grimm but before I could fire… I had a flash of Satoshi.
Pov change: Ruby
I saw Ryuki was freaking out so I quickly took out my sniper and fired. After hearing a screech, I put my weapon down and hopped up to her and hugged her.
"Hey it's okay, I'm here." I said as I felt Ryuki hug me back.
I looked at her and saw her move her hands.
'I had another moment…' she said.
"It's okay, I'm here for you. Ready to go back to the town?"
She nodded and I helped her up.
"Another victory for Team JNRR!"
'That was… just bad.' Ryuki said.
We all chuckled at that.
"Yeah, okay. Ren, I think you're onto something. I-it's just not sounding great anymore."
Later
I smiled as I shook hands with the town Mayor.
"We truly can't thank you enough." The mayor said.
"Just doing our job, sir." I said.
"That Geist had been plaguing our village for weeks. We were beginning to wonder if we'd have to relocate."
"Well, we are on our way to Mistral. You could always come along with us if you don't feel safe." I said.
"Ha. I take it you're not from these parts. Anima is a large continent. I'm afraid our people would never survive the long trek to Mistral. It may be safer in the Kingdoms, but we prefer our way of life. I just wish we could pay you more." The mayor said.
"Our previous arrangement is more than sufficient." Ren said.
Later
We were at the counter as a burly man with horns sets down a set of armor.
"There you go, son. It's going to be heavier than what you're used to, but you'll thank me the next time you go up against a set of claws. And you girl, your armor will now help you keep up a reasonable substitute for aura."
I saw Ryuki was staring at her hands and they were shaking. I reached over and held her hand which made her jump a bit but she seemed to be better.
"Wow. That-eh. I don't know what to say."
"Don't gotta say anything! Just both of you put it on! I'll go get the rest." The blacksmith said.
"So, what are you waiting for?" Nora asked.
"Oh, uh, right! Guess I was going to grow out of it eventually." Jaune said.
I looked at Ryuki who was staring at the armor.
"This will help you in the fights to come."
Ryuki nodded and walked up to the armor and picked it up. She put on the armor and turned to face me. It was a mix between her's and Satoshi's which… still made me sad to think about. Both for him and for Ryuki. Ever since she's been having these moments where she can't kill Grimm. She said that it reminds her of Satoshi which I completely understand. It's like a PTSD experience.
"A sign of progress." Ren said.
"Progress." Jaune said.
Jaune turned around, and I saw what he was wearing and gasped before I covered my mouth and tried not to giggle.
"What is it?"
"What is that?" I asked, pointing at the bunny emblem that is on Jaune's chest.
"What, my hoodie? I've always had this."
"It's got a cute little bunny rabbit!" I laughed
"It's Pumpkin Pete! You know, from the cereal?" Jaune asked.
"What did you do?! Send in a box top for a prize?" I laughed loudly.
"Yeah! Fifty!" Jaune said.
I began to laugh hysterically. As I laughed, I saw Ryuki begin to chuckle, which made me happy.
'"Well, I suppose we don't have to grow out of everything." Ren said.
"Can't have a Huntsman without his weapon." The blacksmith said. "And her weapon."
The blacksmith planted Jaune's new sword into the table and placed Ryuki's new weapon, a Atlesian steel dagger on the table.
"You had some extra armor parts so I melted them into this. On the house." The blacksmith said.
Ryuki picked up the dagger and nodded.
"Made all the modifications you asked for." The blacksmith said.
"That was some fine metal you two brought me. Accents the white nicely. Where'd you get it from?"
"From some friends…" Jaune said.
Outside
We saw Ryuki and jaune testing their equipment.
"He cleans up alright, don't you think?" The blacksmith asked.
"He certainly does." Ren said.
"I still think a grenade launcher would've really brought the look together." Nora said.
"Nothing's gonna stop Team RNJR now!" I said.
"Team JNRR!" Nora said.
"Still not a color." Ren said.
"It doesn't matter what we're called. As long as we're together." Jaune said.
'Agreed.' Ryuki said.
"You kids sure you won't stick around? You've been real good to this town." The blacksmith said.
"Sorry, but we've got another mission." I said.
"Make it to Haven Academy, no matter what." Nora said.
"We've heard the next village over has a working Airship." Ren said.
"Mmm, no way to know for sure. Scroll signals were weak enough out here back when Beacon Tower was still up. Haven't heard from Shion Village in a while." The blacksmith said.
"Well, there's only one way to find out." I said.
Later
"Food?" Jaune asked.
"Check!" Nora said.
"Water?"
"Check!"
"How about ammo?"
"Locked and loaded! Thank you, Schnee Dust Company!"
"Got the map?"
I is looked down sadly when Ryuki walked next to me and held my hand. I smiled at her and was back to my usual happy self.
"Ren's got it."
"No, I don't. You have it."
"Wait, what?"
"Guys, please tell me you're joking." Jaune said.
"Uh.. heh-heh-heh."
"Guys! Guys? Guys..." jaune begged.
"Nope." Nora said.