Happy late Valentine's Day.
On a less happy note, there is another storm hitting the UK. Storm Dennis this time. My Internet Service Provider has already sent out a warning that service might be hit or halted entirely if it gets bad, so I am warning you all now that what happened last week with no Sunday update may happen again tomorrow.
If there is no update tomorrow, please assume it will be released on Monday like it was earlier this week. That's only if all internet fails again, but it happened once and this storm is expected to be bigger.
Cover Art: Jack Wayne
Chapter 95
"And these maidens are dangerous?"
"Dangerous should the power fall into the wrong hands," Ozpin said, watching Jaune from his position on the only stool in the hotel room. Jaune was leaning against the door, arms crossed and doing his best to appear surprised by anything he was hearing. "If Salem gets hold of this power, it will be one more weapon under her control."
"So what," Jaune said. "You're the one in charge of making sure they're not lost?"
"We have a group."
Jaune forced a frown. "Qrow. Glynda. Summer and Taiyang?"
"Yes." Ozpin nodded. "Though they're a little less active now they have children to care for."
They'd had Ruby and Yang for fifteen and seventeen years respectively, but Summer's near-death experience might have been the nail in the coffin. Being introduced to the group like this was a novel experience, especially when he had to play dumb and be sure to ask questions. How much Ozpin would answer those was a good indicator of the trust he wielded.
Not enough yet. Ozpin left out the Relics, the Gods and Salem's immortality. It was a fair call; there was no reason to trust a stranger with that kind of information. The wiser decision was to bring him in slowly and build up trust.
"You mentioned James as well."
"Ironwood is a distant part of us," Ozpin said. "He helps when he can and provides information. It's more accurate to say our goals align than him being a member. There's also Leonardo." This time, Jaune didn't have to fake his scowl. Ozpin chuckled. "Who you already know."
"I don't trust him."
"I can see that. All I'll ask is that you trust me for now."
"Fine. So, this maiden power is how Pyrrha pulled out those elemental attacks. She batted a professional huntress aside – knocked her out in a single attack…"
"Yes. Luckily for us, Miss Nikos' original Semblance isn't well known, so we can simply claim this is hers. An already powerful young huntress gaining a Semblance of unbridled elemental energy. It won't be enough to fool Salem or anyone working for her, but it shall be enough for the masses. The general public cannot know of this."
"Yeah. I get it." It wasn't hard to see why. And the reason wasn't because it was magic. "Too many would try and claim it for themselves, or for their Kingdom. If one Kingdom could gather all four maidens, they'd be able to demand whatever they wanted of the others."
"Precisely. And all four maidens in one place is a recipe for giving them to Salem."
"Which is why you want them all in Beacon?"
Ozpin appeared surprised by the point, though he recovered quickly. "Beacon would be a temporary haven for them, and I'm only suggesting it because Salem is actively trying to find them. I fully intend to let them go their own ways afterwards."
That, he had no evidence of. To or for. Ozpin might very much plan to let them go, but he might just as easily not. The future never came to it and no one thought to ask. His first instincts were to say Ozpin would imprison them, but Jaune knew he was biased. I can't always judge him based on one decision at the end of his life.
He'd stood alone against Salem for hundreds of years. That had to count for something.
Still, Ozpin didn't seem to suspect he had a hand in Pyrrha. "How do you think Pyrrha became the maiden, then? You said this other girl died all the way in Vale." He stressed that to remind Ozpin they were currently in Mistral, making him an unlikely suspect.
"Miss Nikos is famous. That might have been enough. The power and how it transfers is relatively unknown, so it could be Amber didn't specifically think of anyone at the end, but the last person she had thought of before that was Miss Nikos. If she saw a news report, magazine or interview with her."
"That can work?"
"Perhaps."
"Did you tell Pyrrha about it?" he asked. "And Helena?"
"I gave them parts of the story," he explained. "I wanted to keep it to the new fall maiden, but she was insistent her sister hear anything that had to be said. They both know what happened was not her original Semblance; there was no avoiding it."
Helena was a Specialist; she would understand the necessity of secrecy and this being related to James would speak in Ozpin's favour. She'll know Pyrrha isn't safe here. That should be enough to convince her to go ahead with the transfer.
Leonardo was the current problem.
"How does this change things?" he asked Ozpin. "I don't think you'd bring me into the fold just because James asked you to…"
"You're not wrong. While there is a good reason to do so – you're close to too many of us not to, and it makes sense to explain just why I am trying to draw Miss Nikos to Beacon – I was hoping there was something you might be able to do for me."
Of course. A favour. "What's that?"
"Raven."
"Choose something else."
"Jaune…"
"Raven isn't my slave; she's my…" He questioned himself, then didn't. "She's my friend. Raven is my friend." Not someone he would have normally called that, or someone he would have said he wanted as a friend, but sometimes you didn't get to pick. Sometimes people just became your friends no matter what you thought of them objectively. "She doesn't want to be a part of this, and I won't force her to be."
"I'm not asking you to, but if you could just suggest it-"
"Like you have Qrow `just suggesting` it? Pressuring, more like." Jaune shook his head. "No. I'll help you. I'll do whatever I can to help you stop Salem. I won't force Raven to. I'm about the only person she has left."
"She abandoned her family."
"And I think that's horrible. I hate that she did it; she knows that's how I feel." Given than she had his memories of his friendship with Yang, she knew exactly what he'd think about her. Raven didn't let it change how she acted, though. Neither would he. "Like I've said before, I'm not saying she's the best person, or even a good person, but she's my friend. Like it or not. I won't betray that, and I don't think you should want me on your side if I was the kind of person to do so."
Ozpin met his gaze for the longest time, ideas floating behind those eyes of his. Plans. Schemes. More. Jaune watched them all and held firm until, with a sigh, Ozpin looked away. "If you believe it is hopeless, I suppose it must be."
"Nothing is hopeless." It was that attitude that let Ozpin sacrifice everyone to stop Salem. "I'm just not crossing the line of forcing her into something she doesn't want. If you have any questions for her, I don't mind acting as a middleman, but I'm not your agent to recruit her."
"Very well. I won't say I'm not disappointed, but I at least understand your reasons."
But did he respect them? Probably not. Ozpin would do what he felt he had to, which meant Qrow would continue to push and push until Raven lost her temper. At the end of the day, though, that was their issue. It was something for Team STRQ to work out between them. Maybe with Summer alive this time, they'd have a chance to.
"Fortunately, that's not the only favour I had in mind. If Leonardo is dragging his feet, I thought we might look to speed things up ourselves."
"Oh? I thought you trusted him."
"I do. I also trust James, but that does not mean I won't disagree with him at times. Besides, it seems Leonardo's problem is more about how he's afraid of the consequences of agreeing to transfer Miss Nikos. It wouldn't be a problem if that was taken out of his hands, would it?"
"I'm not sure he'd agree."
Ozpin smiled. "I don't think he'll be in a position to disagree."
/-/
The Nikos manor was more akin to a mansion. A huge building with three floors, its own wings and a gated commune guarded by four people. Dust-powered torches clung to the outer walls illuminating the streets, while gardens within covered a large open stretch of ground before getting anywhere close to the building itself.
Two feet clapped down behind him. "So, the old man has you on our side at last, huh?"
"I wasn't aware I was ever not on your side."
"How about when you kicked my ass in front of the tribe?"
"Okay." Jaune chuckled. "Apart from that time." Crouching down, he peered through the metal bars of the fence at the building. "I take it he has you guarding the new maiden. Any attempts on her yet?"
"Nothing."
"Should you be over here with me in that case?"
"Given my Semblance, I think it's best I look after her from a difference." Qrow cracked a lopsided grin. "Otherwise, she's likely to cross her shoelaces, trip down the stairs and break her neck. She's been with her sister ever since Ozpin broke the news. Interesting woman. Moves like she's military."
"She is military. Specialist."
"Explains it. You were one too, right?"
"Hmm." Jaune stood and paced before the wall, inspecting the spiked prongs atop to prevent anyone climbing over. The place didn't so much scream trapped fortress as home security but being in the middle of Mistral that ought to be enough. "We worked together."
"Oh? Some torrid romance."
"Something like that." It took Qrow a second to realise he wasn't joking. Jaune chuckled. "It didn't work out. I was too dense. Too focused. Her family called her home before anything could be made of it. Doesn't matter." He tugged up his hoodie. "How do I look?"
Far from his usual white Atlas coat like Ironwood's and his Ashari scarf and jeans, he was wearing a burgundy hoodie and black trousers, the hood drawn up. On the front, Pyrrha's emblem rested over his chest while the back actually had a black stencil outline of her silhouette, sword raised to the sky. Being a celebrity meant more than just paparazzi. Pyrrha had entire clothing lines and brand deals in her name. He also had a bandanna over his lower face.
"You look like a stalker."
"Huh. Not what I was going for, but it'll work out." Jaune paused before the wall. "Give me a hand?"
"I'm going to hate this, aren't I?" Qrow asked, kneeling and holding both hands under Jaune's foot. "Is this really Ozpin's idea?"
"Yep. Turns out the old man can think up crazy shit if he's desperate enough. Heave!"
Qrow pushed up and Jaune kicked off, gripping as high up the bars as he could and vaulting over the spiked tips. He tucked in his legs and landed on the other side, rolling with the impact. Up on his feet quickly, he scanned left and right and waited for an alarm. Nothing. Would they have a public alarm, though? Could be a silent one.
"Try not to get caught," Qrow called through the fence. "Might be hard to explain this away."
"That's kind of the point."
Qrow made a confused sound but he was already moving, charging wildly across the open grass. Someone shouted out from the right – toward the gate. He'd been seen. Ducking down, he sprinted the final distance and planted a foot down on the first windowsill, kicking up and grabbing for one on the floor above. More shouting. They were close behind and screaming at him to get down. Bunching his muscles, he hauled himself up and smashed an aura-covered fist into the glass, shattering it.
The second he was inside, the alarm sounded.
The Nikos home was in panic. Jaune raced down the corridors pushing past people running around in shock. Many saw him and screamed. Some didn't even realise he was there. They weren't security or huntsmen for the most part and they fell back in fear, giving way and letting him run down the corridor toward where Ozpin had mapped out Pyrrha's room. The old man had a keen memory on him. Enough to draw him a route based on only a brief visit to the place.
A door smashed open and Alexander Nikos barrelled out. "What is the meaning of this!?"
Jaune pointed a gun at him. The man froze. Horrified. Raising it, he fired two shots into the ceiling, making the round man dive to the floor. He didn't dare speak for fear of being recognised, but the screaming in the house intensified. Stepping over Alexander's body, he approached Pyrrha's room.
A hand gripped his ankle. "No." Alexander spat. "You won't harm her!"
Concern? Jaune was honestly surprised, though he guessed he shouldn't be. Just because he was a bastard didn't mean he couldn't love his daughter. The smallest sliver of respect wormed through him. Maybe if Alexander got past this silly rivalry, they could have worked together. Hardening himself, he stamped down on the man's wrist hard enough to make bones grate but not break. Once he let go, he kicked Alexander in the face and marched to Pyrrha's room, making a show of pulling back the slide to chamber a round.
Not necessary in the slightest, but what did the average witness know?
When his hand touched the handle, he paused. It was stiff and shaking. Swearing, he threw himself to the side a brief instant before the door exploded outward – Pyrrha having felt his approach through trying to move the handle while she had it under her Semblance. Her real Semblance and not the fake one people now thought she had.
Hitting the ground on one knee, he looked up and twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the thrust from her spear. Sliding a foot back, he tackled forward and bore her down, only for Pyrrha to roll back with him on top and kick off with both feet, launching him through the air and back into her room.
Away from her family, he noted. Convenient. There was barely any time to admire her room – spartan as she'd ever been – before she was on him. A thrust, a sweep and a stab turned into a slash as a spear became a sword. He blocked that with his handgun, sparks flying as metal grated over the hammer. Pushing it up and over, he stabbed the flat of his left hand into her stomach, winding and knocking her back. She hadn't the time to put on armour.
"Who are you?" Pyrrha barked. "What is your purpose here?"
Jaune's answer was to bring up and point the gun at her face, making his intention clear. Two shots – both pinging off her shield. Pyrrha kept it up and charged in, grunting as he took the opening of her being blind to place the third shot in her knee. Aura protected her but the impact still made her falter just a little.
Not enough for anyone her age to take advantage of with how good she was, but this was the woman who trained him. He knew her style better than anyone. Maybe even better than she did at this age. He sidestepped the thrust before it even came. Parried the sweep he knew would follow. Stepped back to avoid the lancing tip into his foot and dodged away from the upward cleave, even ducking the shield slam she always followed up with to keep her enemy off balance if her first attack missed.
It was all familiar to him. Fun. Suddenly, it was just the two of them on the roof, Pyrrha smiling as she put him through his paces. He found himself laughing past the bandanna over his lower face. The sound didn't do much to impress her. Even so, she didn't waste breath telling him to stand still like some opponents might.
Not Pyrrha. She was better than that.
In time, she'd be better than anyone. Even him.
Not now, though.
Not yet.
Lashing out, he feinted high and ducked low, gripped the bottom of her shield and flipped it up into her face, ripping it from her hand. Pyrrha swung her sword to push him back but he took it on the shoulder and accepted the loss of aura, planting a hand on her shield and slamming it into her jaw. Stunned, she staggered back, stumbling on uneven footing.
Jaune brought the gun up and aimed.
A crack from the left sounded, blowing it out his hands.
"Down!" Helena shouted, striding into the room with a handgun gripped between both hands. "Get down or the next shot goes between your eyes."
His right foot shifted.
Helena opened fire, noticing the tiny movement and deciding instantly it wasn't him surrendering. He got a full look at the bullet spinning in before it clipped his forehead, aura spraying back as he dove to the left, putting Pyrrha between himself and Helena. Charging forward, she pushed Pyrrha down and leapt over her to clear the obstacle, shielding her younger sister and continuing to shoot. A second shot caught his left leg, a third striking the back of his knee as he rushed for the window.
When the fourth caught his ankle he knew she was trying to target her shots to cripple him with or without aura – laying enough impact down to make his muscles seize up through aura. It almost worked. His leg buckled but he threw himself at the window shoulder first, crashing through and out into the night air.
The fall was a short one. It felt like longer. The air was driven from him and Helena was at the window, drawing aim. Pushing up, he hurried away covering his face with one arm. Every shot was placed perfectly until she was out of ammo and his back was screaming in pain by the time he reached the wall.
A shadow morphed on the other side, or rather a bird became a man in the darkness. "The hell was that!?" Qrow hissed, reaching through the gate and helping him up and over while guards chased after. "I thought you were going to sneak in or something!"
"Ozpin's fault." Jaune hissed as he got over, scraping across the metal spikes and landing with a groan on the other side. Qrow hauled him up and carted him away, ignoring the shouts of the people inside for them to halt.
Qrow rushed them to an alley and in, then out the other side, down a street and into a public restroom abandoned so late at night. He placed Jaune down by the wall and knelt, wincing at the visible welts forming on his skin.
"Not sure you can blame Ozpin for your fuck up here. He probably expected you to be subtle."
"No," Jaune said, wincing as Qrow poked a lump slowly forming. "No, he didn't."
/-/
Assassination Attempt on Pyrrha Nikos.
Vicious Stalker Kidnapping.
When Fans Go Bad.
The newspapers were having a field day by the time morning rolled around, and with little definitive proof either way, the theories ran thick and wild. One thing was for sure, however. Someone broke into the Nikos home and attacked Pyrrha. That the newspapers knew said person was wearing Pyrrha Nikos branded clothing only proved someone in the house had earned a fat chunk of money selling the story to the press.
Wincing, Jaune laid out on the bed in Ozpin's hotel room, lamenting his minor bruises and pushing up Ozpin's bill via the minifridge as punishment. The headmaster was at the Nikos home, offering his condolences and the safety of Beacon.
Temporarily, of course. Pyrrha could stay there until this vicious madman was found. And what safer place was there than Beacon Academy? Since Pyrrha would have been going there in a few months anyway for the Vytal Festival just made it all the better. Jaune had no idea how that was going, but considering they'd look like fools – or worse, like they didn't care about Pyrrha's life – if they refused, he was sure Ozpin would make it work.
Nothing Leonardo could do if Alexander approved this now.
No one could blame the headmaster of Haven for letting her go with a psychopathic stalker on the loose. If Lionheart even tried to argue that, Ozpin would see right through him. As plans went, it wasn't what he would have expected of the old man, but then again, how subtle has Ozpin's plans really been? For all that wisdom apparently came with age, Ozpin had been outsmarted by Cinder and only won in the long run through brute strength and skill of his allies.
Still, sending him on a fake assassination… Argh. Maybe it was a sign of how much Ozpin trusted his skills. In the end, he wouldn't complain if it worked.
"You're insane," Qrow grumbled, downing his own bottle out of Ozpin's fridge. "Framing an assassination attempt to force Lionheart's hand. Honestly, I can kind of see you doing that, but Oz? Have you corrupted him?"
"Maybe." Jaune laughed and quickly regretted it. His chest hurt. "Or maybe he just never did anything like that before because he didn't have anyone who could fill the role. You have to admit, you, Tai and Summer don't exactly come across as subtle."
"And you do, after last night!?"
"One, I was supposed to make a scene. Two, I meant subtle in terms of not giving myself away or getting caught." He nodded to Qrow's weapon by the door. "That's recognisable."
"I know how to use a gun."
"True, but you don't know how to plan an assault against people." Qrow looked insulted, so Jaune quickly added, "You're a huntsman, remember? You're better against Grimm than I am and I'm betting against people thanks to my time as a Specialist."
Qrow being stronger against Grimm might not have been fully accurate either but it was close. Jaune had the advantage of time – even now, with Qrow being as strong as he was, he wasn't as tough or hardened as the future Qrow had been. Against Grimm, they'd probably be on par, but it didn't cost him anything to flatter his old mentor.
"I guess Ozpin just figured I could pull it off. Don't take that as an insult. He's saying I pull off a better mad psycho than you do."
Qrow snorted and then burst out laughing. "Yeah. I can buy that. You know, it's good to have you on our side."
"Like I said, I was always on your side."
"I know. I know. But I mean officially." Qrow held up his bottle in a cheers motion. They were too far apart to do it properly but Jaune made the gesture in the air and they both drank. "It was always shitty having to walk around on tiptoes. You're too involved in Summer and Tai's lives for that. That's a good thing," he said. "I realise it sounded bad but-"
"I get you, Qrow. And thanks."
"Ha. I never was good with words. I feel like you always understand, though."
"Probably because I was just as bad ten years back. The understanding of one bumbling idiot to another."
"Nice." Qrow snorted and dithered with his bottle. "Did Ozpin tell you to try for Raven?"
Jaune sighed. Not this again. "He did. I said I wouldn't."
"Why?"
He gave Qrow the same reason he had Ozpin, making sure to make it clear that whatever issues Qrow might have with his sister, it wasn't going to change so he might as well not bother. Qrow listened and then, to Jaune's surprise, nodded.
"Thanks for thinking of her."
Jaune blinked. "You're… welcome…?"
"Sounds weird, doesn't it?" He laughed. "I'm genuine, though. Thanks for being a friend for her. I think she needs one – and I don't mean those killers and thieves she hangs out with. They only follow her because she's strong. One shred of weakness and they'd stab her in the back to take her position. Raven needs someone who isn't like that."
Jaune picked his words carefully. "I thought you didn't approve."
"I don't approve of her. And I sure as hell didn't approve when I thought you and her might be. You know." He pushed a finger into a circle he made.
Jaune rolled his eyes. "It's called sex, Qrow."
"Oh, fuck off. Ha. I'm only joking. But yeah, I mean…" He looked out the window. "I hate the choices she's made and all and I hate how much of a selfish bitch she can be, but she's still my sister. I still love her."
"Even after abandoning Yang?"
"Even then," he said. "I think back to something Tai once told me." Qrow adopted a slightly different voice; a weak impersonation of his friend. "If I could go back in time and make her stay, that'd mean giving up Summer and Ruby. I couldn't do that." He let his voice fall back to normal. "It got me thinking. If Raven didn't go, Ruby wouldn't have been born. You can't have one without the other."
"That's a mature way of looking at it."
"Tai can be mature when he has to be. Honestly, it's Summer who took it worst. I don't know if that's because she's team leader or some kind of guilt of stepping in and stealing Tai. She didn't, but you know how some people are."
"Blame themselves for every little thing."
"Exactly. More than that, I think Summer got angrier because of how much it hurt Tai. Like she's angry about Raven leaving her and the team, but then adds a second bunch of anger on because it hurt the man she loves."
That made sense. In a way, he'd seen Nora and his team do the same with Cardin. The bullying had all been aimed at him but once it was over, he'd mostly forgotten about it. Him and Cardin hadn't been friends, but they'd made peace. That hadn't stopped Nora shooting him evil looks and despising him ever since, though. Like she refused to forgive him even though Jaune had.
Kind of like Emerald getting offended on his behalf as well, even when he himself wasn't. If Summer was blaming Raven both for how she was hurt, but also how Taiyang and Yang were, then it made sense she was carrying three times the enmity. Which, now that he thought about it, sounded about right. Taiyang and Qrow had been against the idea of him dating Raven, but otherwise hadn't cared about him being her friend. Summer, though. There was always a tension there, like she thought both she and Raven couldn't be his friend at the same time.
It hadn't gotten ugly, but he'd figured out rather quickly he wasn't to mention or bring Raven up around her. Seemed like it wasn't such a taboo with Qrow.
"Do you want her back?" Jaune asked him.
"Dunno." Qrow sighed. "I ask because Ozpin asks me to, but do I really? I'm not sure. Team STRQ is done. We can re-form it, but it'll never be the same. Maybe Tai has the right of it. He's happy with Summer, Yang and Ruby. Why look for drama if you don't need to?"
"Summer doesn't agree."
"No. She's always been dreaming for that team reunion. Or an apology. Ozpin… well, he just wants Raven back because her Semblance is literally the best thing ever. It's the kind of thing you can't ignore."
Raven's Semblance really was that strong. Amazing to think she got that and Qrow got bad luck. For a woman who always goes on about strength, it's amazing how she avoids her biggest strength. If she really believed in that stupid mantra of hers, she'd be running around bonding with as many people as she could. Instead, she all but refused to allow her Semblance to be as powerful as it could be. Meaning that either Raven didn't believe her own strength shit, or she considered it an exception. With her, there was no telling which was true.
"Hey." Qrow looked over. "Look after her, will you? I know she's a prickly bitch and a pain in the ass, but she's still my sister. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her."
"You know I will."
"And be an ear for her." Qrow scratched his cheek, almost embarrassed to be asking. "Sounds weird, I know, but she obviously thinks she can't rely on me, Summer or Tai to have her back, so it's nice to hear you would, even if it's against Oz."
Jaune chuckled. "You're not as brainlessly loyal as Raven says you are."
"Is that what she calls me?" He laughed. "Can't say I'm surprised. Don't tell her I said any of this, mind. She'll just think it's some stupid angle to get you on my side. And don't tell Summer either. I don't want to get the cold shoulder for the next ten years."
"Your secret is safe with me."
I hate to suggest the same no update on Sunday might occur again, but I really don't know. I went driving today to stock up on some essentials – red wine – and saw two cars abandoned after having fallen in ditches. If the wind can pull a car off the road, my new spangly aerial isn't going to fare well. And I just had the bastard repaired on Wednesday. Ughhh!
Next Chapter: 22nd February
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur
