~ Welcome back, CaptainRyano here. It's been a while. Again. God I'm lazy.
It's not that I didn't try! I wrote and finished this chapter almost a month ago, but I could never get to the final part of editing. And when I did plan to work on it, I joined my friends on a 4-day bender. And then the Nether update came out for Minecraft, and then my roof caved in, and my car was set on fire, and then my dog died-!
Ugh, enough of me, and onto the story. Strap yourselves in, kiddos.
(=Chapter 17=)
This was not how things were meant to happen. Not at all.
When Jaune had saved Neo that dreaded night, he'd thought that the holy Brothers had blessed him, somehow earning their good graces.
But that had been far from the truth, he'd realised, merely an hour later.
He, as well as hundreds of others stood silent in the auditorium, donned in dark formal wear respectively. He'd stood in this exact room before initiation, his head filled with ideas of battle and glory. The place where teams and friendships were forged, destined to last a lifetime.
How naive he'd been.
"We shall now read out the names of the fallen," Ozpin announced from the stage. Even from where Jaune stood, he could see how exhausted the man was. No one would want to be in his position. To Jaune's right, Pyrrha stood stiffly, her eyes red rimmed and puffy. He offered his handkerchief, which she accepted, whispering her thanks.
On his other side Jaune felt a soft hand trace against his own. Gazing to the source was Neo, her face shielded by a dark black mesh. He felt himself relax a bit, not realising he was so tense. His fingers met with hers, intertwined.
"Scarlet David and Sage Ayana, of Team SSSN."
He didn't recognise the names, but that didn't matter. Someone did. Two lives wasted.
"Nebula Violette, Dew Gayl, Gwen Darcy, and Octavia Ember, of Team NDGO."
Another four lives, a whole team, gone in the blink of an eye. Jaune clenched his teeth, squinting his eyes shut. Neo squeezed her hand in a show of support.
"Russel Thrush and Dove Bronzewing, of Team CRDL."
Memories of his excursion to Forever Fall flooded into his mind, when he had fought and defeated his first Ursa. The first time he had truly proven himself. Despite their history, Jaune hoped Cardin was faring well.
"Velvet Scarlatina, of Team CFVY."
Jaune's entire body sagged. Flashes of fire, tears, and blood engulfed his mind like an unrelenting parasite. He took a ragged breath, and held firm.
He looked to Ozpin, who seemed to hesitate at the next name. He knew exactly who it was. He braced himself.
"...Nora Valkyrie, of Team JNPR."
Pyrrha, unable to keep her cries silent any further, almost fell to her knees. Jaune placed a supporting hand on her shoulder, his vision clouded by tears.
Ahead of him, Ren stood alone. It was something he had asked for, so he didn't push.
His head was down, his hands at his sides. His teammate seemed calm on the surface, yet to Jaune he seemed almost too composed. Like a coiled spring on the verge of snapping. He couldn't even imagine what Ren was thinking during a time like this...
"...Helloooo, Remnant to Ren, you there?"
Ren's eyes sprung open in mild surprise. He looked to his side with a small smile. "Apologies, Nora, I was… distracted. Something wrong?"
"Well, I wasn't sure if you were focusing or were about to crap your pants," Nora replied with a cheeky smile, taking a sip from her punch. She then pointed to the dancing students before them, music blasting from the speakers. "Seriously though, what could distract you from all this?"
He hesitated, and Nora's features softened. "Ren…?"
"I'm… not sure. Call it a gut feeling, but something feels off about tonight, and I'm unsure what it is. It's been lingering in my head since we got here."
She drew closer, directly in front of him. "Could it be your semblance?" Nora suggested in a hushed voice. Seeing his partner's concern, he managed to release the breath he'd been holding. "Possibly. I can't be sure."
"Well, you know what I think you need?" Nora said, falling back to her usual energetic self. "Some fresh air! That's what I always enjoy if I don't feel right."
Ren chuckled to himself, softly shaking his head. "That's only because you eat pancakes a dozen at a time."
"Lies and slander. C'mon," She said, taking a hold of his arm and pulling him towards the main exit.
The sounds of music and lively chatter faded into obscurity as the pair slipped past the large open doors, silently walking down a lone concrete path that surrounded the hall. A few armed Atlas guards stood on patrol nearby, watching over the area, rifles in hand.
"Come on, let's get some privacy," Nora suggested, no doubt referring to the guards. He looked at them, but shrugged. It was probably a good idea.
They found relative silence at the Beacon gardens that stood nearby, the large and varied plants offering a perfect spot away from the party that echoed in the distance. A single guard stood by the entrance, face hidden behind the visor of his helmet. He nodded their way as they entered. Ren politely nodded back.
Nora sighed to herself, taking a seat on a nearby wooden bench. "I feel bad for Pyrrha, you know," She said, head facing the night's sky. "She'd worked up her feelings right from the get go, and then poof! New girl comes and steals the show. It's kinda unfair for her, don'tcha think?" Ren hummed in agreement, joining Nora by her side. "I suppose you could say that."
Nora continued to ramble on about Pyrrha's relationship woes, he commented sparingly, content for her to do most of the talking. It was how the two of them had always operated, though it had been a while since coming to Beacon that they had time alone like this.
It was a wonder she didn't pass out all the talking she's done. Ren thought as he admired the stars. It was a few minutes more before Nora's tirade eventually lapsed into silence.
"It's a beautiful night," Nora said suddenly.
"It is," Ren replied simply.
Nora shifted closer beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow, but chose not to comment on it, merely adjusting his position so she was more comfortable. A small, yet visible smile grew on her face. It was only when she closed her eyes that he offered one of his own. Nora could be extreme at times, but her escapades would always serve to keep him on his toes. Dull moments never lasted when she was around, so it was rare for them to be like this.
It was… nice.
But something still didn't sit right with him, distracting him from the moment.
His head shot up as a chill went down his spine. Nora had noticed his sudden movement. "Something wrong?" She asked in a hushed voice.
"It's that feeling again. I'm still not sure what it is…"
"It's probably nothing, Renny," Nora said, rubbing his shoulder. "You just have the jitters or something."
Ren rose, gently letting go of Nora's side. She tilted her head as he walked towards the entrance. "Where are you going?"
"Just asking the guard something," He replied. Reaching the entrance, he poked his head around the corner, eyes narrowing.
"The guard's gone."
"And?" Nora said, appearing by his side. "There might be a shift change."
"I don't think so," Ren replied as he looked around the area, the lingering feeling of uncertainty returning. "We should check, just in case."
"Ugh," Nora groaned, rising to her feet. "I swear, if I'm underwhelmed, you owe me twenty lien."
Wasting no further time than was necessary, Ren exited, Nora reluctantly following in tow. He came to a halt once outside of the hedges, looking for anything that seemed out of place. In the corner of his vision he saw a brief moment of movement, a figure donned in some sort of dark overcoat, a mask covering his face. His suspicions now confirmed, Ren pressed forwards.
"Ren!" Nora half shouted, half whispered. "I really don't think this is a good idea. What if we get in trouble?"
"If we get in trouble, I'll take the blame," Ren replied in an even voice, not looking back. "If it's nothing, then we can go back." Nora seemed conflicted, but chose not to speak.
As they rounded the corner, Ren almost tripped when something soft hit his legs. He looked down.
It was a body, the same guard from before.
Nora gasped as she saw it, eyes scanning the area for the perpetrator. Ren removed the soldier's helmet, checking the man's neck for a pulse.
"Is he…?"
"Dead," Ren said, taking note of the discolouration around the neck. "Most likely strangled or a snapped neck." His eyes shot up as he heard a noise from ahead, closer to the main hall.
Ren began to sprint, much to the surprise of Nora, who failed to keep up in her heels and dress. As he rounded the next corner…
...The figure had vanished without a trace.
Ren knew better than to believe that his own eyes had lied to him. He pressed slowly forward, cautious.
Nora joined him by his side a moment later. "Shouldn't we tell the teachers?" She asked in a worried voice. Ren shook his head. "We will, once we catch whoever did this. We leave now, we leave the risk of them slipping away."
The music blasting from the main hall pounded through the concrete walls, making the ground pulse with the beat. One footstep after the next, Ren continued.
"Ren, I really don't like this," Nora whispered, touching his shoulder. "We need to find a teacher." Ren opened his mouth to speak...
A weight suddenly pressed onto his chest, before a massive ball of fire struck him, launching him into the air. His aura protected him from the initial blast, but he felt it shatter as his body collided hard with the concrete ground, rolling several metres.
His ears were ringing, the sounds around him muffled and obscure. Pain lingered in every inch of his body, but he banished it, his muscles screaming out in pain as he attempted to rise to his feet. He crumbled back onto the ground with a yelp as he attempted to use his left arm, a sharp unbearable pain shooting through it.
Most likely a fractured bone, Ren realised, electing to favour his right instead.
Looking up, the main hall was completely encased in flames. A quick glance to where the bomb was revealed that it had somehow detonated inwards, into the structure.
Had it been the opposite, he and Nora would've been-
His eyes widened as he scrambled to his feet.
"Nora!" Ren called out, clutching his injured arm. "Where are you?! Talk to me!"
A weak cough came from the side, beside a pile of rubble. "O-over here…"
Rushing through the smoke, Ren found her immediately, then instantly wished that he hadn't.
She was sprawled on the ground, covered in rubble. The bricks were dark with her own blood.
Ren fell to his knees beside her, frantically pulling the debris off of her in an effort to free her.
"Ren…" Nora said shakily, her breathing ragged and unsteady.
"Stay with me, Nora! Just… just save your strength. I'll get you out of here."
He dug through the rubble with his bare hands, but as it was cleared away he saw the true extent of her injuries. Something sharp had punctured through her stomach. It was a grisly wound, large enough that her drained aura reserves wouldn't be able to support it. He attempted to assess the internal damage but any movement caused her to scream out in pain.
"Please… don't do that… again…" She wheezed between breaths. Her skin was almost colourless.
He faltered, unsure of what to do. Ren chose to keep her still, applying pressure to her wound.
"Somebody! Come quickly, please!" He cried out into the open, praying someone would hear him. He felt tears welling up in his eyes.
A bloodied hand gingerly met with his face, cupping his cheek so he could face her. Ren's eyes met with Nora's, his hand holding hers.
She smiled. "Hey…"
Tears brimmed down his face, but he didn't dare shy away.
"Hey."
His gaze met with the ground. There was a brief moment of silence, save for the nearby blaze and Nora's unsteady breathing.
"Ren?" He looked back at her. "...Promise me something..?"
His grip around her hand hardened. "Anything."
"Look… look after everyone while I'm gone, a-alright? Keep them safe. P-...protect them."
Ren nodded his head, wiping away his tears with his sleeve. "Of course."
"...and...and look after yourself, okay? No matter what happens, promise me that you'll... s-stay strong…"
Ren took in an unsteady breath, then looked to her. "I promise."
Nora smiled to herself again, closing her eyes. "Good…"
Another brief silence. Ren took notice of her breathing getting weaker. He kept looking around, frantically scanning the area in hopes that someone would come to help.
"I…I love you," Nora whispered.
His gaze re-met with hers. "I love you too," He croaked.
Mustering the last of her strength, Nora lifted her arm in front of his face. With a weak smile, she poked his nose.
"...boop…"
Her energy spent, Nora's arm fell to the side with a gentle sigh.
She fell still, her smile fading away.
Ren's eyes widened, then squeezed shut. He prayed that this was all just a nightmare, that it wasn't real.
When he opened them again, his friend's lifeless gaze stared back at him.
He gracefully cupped her face, closing her eyes so she could rest.
Ren rose to his feet, clenching his shaking fists. As the pain threatened to overwhelm him, his semblance kicked in, dampening his emotions in an instant. It was like holding back a river that had already burst its banks. His emotions returned, sharper, and his semblance once again rose to meet it. It struggled to keep up with him. He didn't know how long he stood there, his anger and grief raging and feeding back into itself as the world blurred.
He looked up to the night's sky.
And then he screamed.
"...A part of me still just doesn't believe it. That it happened. That she's gone."
Jaune looked to the large quartz pillar, a golden plaque embedded in its front. There, at the entrance of Beacon, he and his friends stood beside her name.
Nora Valkyrie.
Ren stood closest to it, a hand held on the name, back turned away from the others.
"She's not gone, not in spirit," Pyrrha said, softly patting Jaune's back. "No matter what, she'll be with us always. That's just how she is." Neo gave him a short side hug, squeezing his hand.
Jaune offered a weak smile. "I guess that's true," he replied.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Weiss agreed. Blake, Ruby and Neo all nodded as well.
"She was wild, fun, and maybe even a little bit crazy," a new voice from behind said, causing Ruby to gasp. "But in the end, she was our friend, no, our family. And we should never forget that."
"...Yang?"
Said girl gave a two fingered salute as everyone turned to her. "Hey guys. Miss me?" Ruby was on her before anyone could blink, almost knocking them both to the ground.
"I missed you so much!" Ruby squealed, giving her sister the strongest hug that she could muster. "I thought you were still in the hospital..."
"Officially, I still am," She replied with a cheeky grin, returning the embrace. "I'm set to be released in around two weeks time."
Her smile faded away as she looked to the others, and then the plaque. "...But then I heard what happened."
A brief moment of silence followed.
"So, does this mean that you're back?" Weiss asked her. Yang nodded. "So long as they don't realise I'm gone. Dad has it covered though, so everything should be alright. I hope."
She looked to the distant structures of the academy, seemingly reminiscent. "Besides, there's no place I'd rather be."
"Aww, that's a shame," Blake said with a smirk, nudging her partner's shoulder. "Just as I was getting used to Neo."
"Well I'm back, whether you like it or not," Yang replied with a roll of her eyes. Eyes which met with Neo's. "Speaking of which." She approached her, stopping with crossed arms. "So, you're that new girl I've been hearing about." Neo replied with a firm nod. Yang took a step closer.
"I have a lot of things to say to you. A lot of things to ask you, too, but now's not the time. For now, I'll just say one thing."
Neo didn't falter from her gaze, eyes narrowed.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her faster than she could acknowledge. "...Thank you," The blonde whispered into her ear. "Thank you, for protecting my partner, my sister... my friends." Neo seemed humbled, returning the hug.
A buzzing noise sounded from Jaune's pocket. He pulled out his scroll, as did Ruby with hers.
"Ozpin wants us to meet him in his office." Ruby said, looking to Jaune. He nodded, looking to Pyrrha and Ren. "He wants us as well. Something about the upcoming mission assignments." Weiss scoffed, not quite believing the words.
"Seriously? He wants to discuss that of all things right now?" She shook her head. "That's kind of a new low. It's barely been an hour."
The others murmured in agreement, not one of them disagreeing. Ruby took a second look at her scroll. "Well, it says he needs to talk to us about another matter, but it doesn't say what." She shrugged, and pocketed the device. "Maybe it's important?"
"Let's hope so," Jaune grunted, not wanting to see him in the slightest. "Guess we should get going then. Pyrrha, Ren?"
"I'm good. Let's go."
"..."
"...Ren?"
He turned around to face his friends, partially lowering his face in a vain attempt to hide the emotions that were bubbling on the surface. Jaune and Pyrrha approached him, intent on embracing.
"No!" He shouted, stretching out his arms to stop them. It worked, the pair stopping in their tracks.
Ren's heavy breathing relaxed, and he let out a ragged sigh. "...I'm sorry. I… I'm just not ready to leave just yet. I need a moment."
Jaune opened his mouth to speak.
"Alone."
His mouth shut, but nodded in understanding regardless. "Okay. Take as long as you want, alright?" He patted his friend's shoulder. "Whatever helps."
Ren nodded slightly, before turning back to the plaque.
Knowing that nothing else needed to be said, Jaune gestured for the others to follow him and leave. They did, beginning their walk to the dorms.
Jaune spared Ren a final glance before he left. He hadn't moved from his position, and though he couldn't see his friend's face, the hand resting on Nora's name had curled into a fist.
Neo took Jaune's hand in hers, gently guiding him away.
Oh, how Ozpin despised days such as this one. Days where the dead had been buried, the fighting had stopped, and the fallout had settled…
And then everyone moved on.
How many times had he done this? Hundreds of times? Thousands? He certainly couldn't remember the first, and regardless of how much he trained, or how many plans he made… The knowledge he had gained was meaningless. Death was an inevitability.
Except for him.
Even now, he could feel the weight of his many lifetimes, resting on his shoulders.
It made him feel like he should give up some days.
But deep down he knew that he couldn't. The task burdened upon him was the will of the Gods. And he?
He was merely their instrument.
The ping of the elevator shook him back into reality. He banished any doubts or sorrows from his mind, knowing now was not a time to show weakness.
He forced on a present, yet gentle smile as the doors opened, seven students exiting from the cramped elevator. "Hello, everyone. How are we all feeling?"
"Sore," Yang replied, popping and cracking her arms as she stretched. "Seriously, sir, you need a bigger elevator." Ozpin chuckled to himself. She was making an effort to be cheerful, so he took the humor in stride.
"I'll be sure to look into the matter, Miss Xiao Long. I'm actually surprised to see you here, if I'm being honest. Were you not supposed to be released in a fortnight or so?"
"I was, but they let me go early," Yang said, avoiding eye contact. "Guess I recovered quicker than they thought."
"No doubt the doctors will have something to say about this…" Ozpin mused. He hid the smile that was forming by taking a sip from his mug.
"Very well. Onto why you're here; As you've no doubt heard, the upcoming field assignments shall be continuing as per schedule. Normally, in a situation like this, I would cancel any and all excursions away from Beacon, but have chosen not to."
"Why?"
Ozpin, as well as everyone else, turned to Jaune. "Why keep the missions going? Why ignore what happened?" He took a firm step forward closer to Ozpin. "Why can't we mourn the death of our friend?"
A tense silence ensued, Ozpin taking note of Jaune's clenched fists. He was angry, and understandably so. He reminded Ozpin of himself, back when he was younger.
"Trust me when I say there's nothing more I want in this world than to let that happen." Ozpin sighed. "But we must always remember: We're Huntsmen. We must stand strong against the darkness, remain vigilant for threats. But most importantly…"
He turned to face the window, overlooking the city of Vale.
"We must protect those who cannot protect themselves. The people are scared. And who can blame them? Beacon, the impenetrable fortress responsible for protecting them, was attacked. Fear runs rampant throughout the city. And as the old saying goes, where there's fear…"
"...There's Grimm." Pyrrha finished.
"Indeed. The people need us now, more than ever. It will be up to us to protect them. Hence, why the missions shall proceed." He turned back to face them. "However, your mission shall be different. And, dare I say it, more important to you."
The group exchanged confused looks amongst each other. "What do you mean?" Ruby asked, sounding skeptical. Ozpin tapped a button on his desk, a holographic projection appearing before them all. It showcased a series of images, all of Beacon mere minutes after the attack. The once pristine academy was shrouded in a thick haze of smoke, fire burning away at the buildings to the west.
"Despite Beacon's best efforts, we have been unable to determine just who is behind the attack. All our current investigations have turned up with nothing."
"Could it have been the White Fang?" Blake said hesitantly. She had been silent up until now, and was looking down at the floor, her shoulders hunched. Was it from shame? The circumstances surrounding her past could, he considered, lead her to feel more responsible than most.
"I doubt that they were directly involved in the attack itself." He said, quick to nip those feelings in the bud. However, we have evidence to suggest they were responsible for supplying the explosives." He tapped the button on his desk again, the images changing into an array of ruined roads and buildings.
"Mountain Glenn. Patrolling huntsmen reported sightings of White Fang soldiers in the area, moving stolen arms, ammunition, and most notably, dust. With their presence a sudden surge of Grimm has increased tenfold." Ozpin shut of the projection, the screen fading away. "Miss Rose, Mr Arc, your teams shall be joining together during this expedition, under the supervision and instruction of two high-class huntsmen. Your objective will be to investigate the area, and see if you can uncover the Fang's operation. With any luck, we'll be able to put an end to their plans… and finally avenge those who we lost." He turned to face them. "Am I understood?"
"Yes," Ruby replied with a serious nod. Jaune said nothing, but nodded as well.
"Outstanding. Now, one final matter before you leave. Regarding your teams." Ozpin gestured to Yang. "With Miss Xiao Long back, she shall return back to her original position on her team." Where Yang's face visibly brightened at the news, Ruby's twisted into worry. "But… what happens to Neo?"
"Fear not, for I have an idea for her. That decision, however, is up to you," Ozpin said, nodding at Jaune. The young man's eyebrows rose, unable to hide his surprise. "Up to me..?"
It was a few moments before his eyes widened in realisation. "You… you want her on our team?"
"Quite so. I'm aware that having a new teammate so soon would only spark... problems. But I'm hoping that a familiar face will solve this issue."
Jaune seemed bewildered, Neo much the same. It took him a moment to regain his composure. "Uh...thank you, Headmaster. That does make sense... But what about Ren's say in all of this?" The rest of the group nodded in agreement.
"Your concerns are well placed," Ozpin said, turning his attention to them all. "However… Ren was informed prior to this meeting. He said to leave the decision to the rest of his team."
"He already knew…"Jaune frowned, something small passing behind his eyes. He trusted that the implications were not lost on the young man. For a few moments he didn't speak, before turning back to his partner. "You're okay with this, Pyrrha?"
The girl shifted nervously as all eyes turned to her. "...Yes," She finally answered after a moment. "I don't think anyone will ever properly replace Nora, but… it doesn't mean we should leave that void empty. Does that make sense?" To her relief, everyone seemed to agree with her. She found herself surprised as she looked down, Neo's arms tightly wrapped her body, head nuzzled into her shoulder. Slowly, Pyrrha returned the embrace, softly patting her back.
"Well said, Miss Nikos. One final decision to make before you leave, Mr Arc. Would you rather me keep your team's original name? I… understand if you would want it changed…"
"...No. Leave it the same," Jaune replied, something in his voice sounded different. "I… I'd like to remember her that way." Pyrrha, along with everyone else in the room, nodded in agreement.
"Very well. Team JNPR it is."
"Jaune, where are you taking us? It's late."
"Just trust me, Pyrrha. This is more important than you think."
Pyrrha gave her partner a suspicious look, but chose to drop it. He had been acting unusually for the past hour, insisting he and the rest of the team travel to Vale in the middle of the night, and not giving a proper explanation as to why. Neo seemed contempt with his idea, following it without a hint of hesitation nor question. It struck Pyrrha as unusual at first, before remembering how they were a couple now. Jealousy reared its ugly head once again, but she forced it away. Now was not the time.
Her gaze settled on Ren, who strayed behind the group. His eyes were set on the ground, hands in his pockets as he followed without saying a word. He didn't say anything when they met up back in the dorms, and was barely able to nod when he was told that Neo was his new partner. In fact, he hadn't said much of anything at all, but Pyrrha couldn't blame him. She could only image what was going through his head during a time like this.
Her gaze shifted back to her environment, and the aged buildings that surrounded them. Most parts of Vale had been in lockdown since the attack at Beacon. Rumours of Atlas' military storming the streets had been circulating around the media, but nothing concrete had been found.
"Alright, we're almost there. Just down here."
Here seemed to be an alleyway.
Pyrrha was about to ask why they had to go down an alleyway of all places, but chose to not mention it. "I hope you know what you're doing, Jaune," she said instead. "This whole thing is making me worried."
"Don't worry Pyrrha. Who we're about to see will solve all of our problems." He smiled at her, but it didn't seem genuine. More like he was sharing a joke that only he was in on. It unsettled her, but she asked her next question anyway. "And just who are we meeting?"
"You're meeting me," said a deep voice from behind them, causing her to jump. Emerging from the shadows, face hidden from view, The Dreaded stood before them. She hadn't even noticed his presence.
"I'm going to kill whoever murdered your friend."
~ God damn, I feel evil for writing this. Shoutout to Frescko for the idea in the reviews. Have a suggestion of your own? Chuck it down in the reviews, and I'll consider it.