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Chapter 44: A Night Out
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The airship ride all the way back to Vale was uneventful. General James Ironwood sat comfortably aboard his own personal Atlesian Corvette, a specially designed airship with both heavy armaments and a highly sophisticated decoration. Like most of Atlas architecture, the Aesir was vaguely triangular like the rest of Atlas' fleet, but was much shinier with some white-gold accents all over it. It was essentially a smaller version of a Capital Ship with fewer 'wings' on the rear of the craft and rounded 'engines' on its tail.
Vale City and Beacon Academy had been rebuilt after a truly ridiculous feud between the Plumber's Union and the Constructor's Legion. The City itself was redesigned with some eco-friendly gardens in its town center. Beacon stood proudly with its tall tower once again restored. A massive clock tower was affixed to its face and an Airship Dock had been integrated into the floor where Ozpin's Office was located, allowing for government officials to dock with the Tower itself and see with the Headmistress directly rather than waltzing all the way through town on foot. A new statue had been built in the courtyards below, this time depicting the students that had fought during the Battle of Beacon. Ironwood could see a stone Cardin Winchester holding off stone Nevermores, mace in hand against the Grimm like a hero. Team RWBY was depicted scaling a wall, possibly Beacon itself alongside Team JNPR with Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune Arc on top of the statue facing off against the massive Dragoon. A few other Huntsmen assisted them in their battle, all frozen forever in stone. Ironwood made a mental note to donate to whoever had carved the statue; it was incredible.
Ironwood had his personal Airship Captain dock with one of the eight or so parapets that surrounded the Administer's level of Beacon Tower. He had someone who he had been dying to meet up with, Glynda Goodwitch. Ironwood hadn't seen Glynda since the Fall of Beacon and had assumed the worst. The news reports had been wrong, and Goodwitch had been found living inside the ruins of Beacon Tower. He calmed his nerves and made way off his Airship and into the newly restored halls of Beacon itself.
The Headmistress's office was similar to Ozpin's. Massive metal gears clicked away in the upper areas of the room and drove the clock tower itself, a crescent shaped desk sat against the far wall, surrounded by a massive window. Several heroic paintings had been commissioned and now lined the room. Some of the paintings depicted Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos, others depicted members of the staff. A portrait of Ozpin and Glynda hung above the central desk. Glynda Goodwitch spun around in her chair to face the General.
"James. You've come a long way...", Goodwitch whispered.
"Glynda! Oh gods. It's really you. I was so worried... I may have lost my mind for a time...", Ironwood noted.
"Yet, you've come here alone. And you're just in time for the Festival. Look...", Glynda noted, pointing downwards out of the tower.
Beacon Arena stood proudly, built close to the Emerald Forest. A large Vale-esque bowl of an arena sat amidst a grouping of tents and vendors. Ironwood could see the hundreds of future Huntsmen and Huntresses far down below, they bustled around busy as bees. The Arena had been built in Amity's image, with a bit more local architecture. It also wasn't flying.
"The Vytal Festival lives on. Just as we do.", Ironwood noted.
"Yes. In fact, the Academies are building their own versions of the Amity Arena to continue the legacy of all of those who fell during the Battle of Beacon. This is the anniversary of both the End of the Great War and the Fall of Beacon. It means so much to me for you to come here.", Glynda noted. "We've lost so many... But the students here, they know...and they've come from all around the world to prove that they are ready to defend what matters most."
"Glynda...", Ironwood noted. "I'm just so glad to see y-"
Ironwood had no time to react as Glynda Goodwitch pounced on him. It had been far too long since they'd seen each-other. Far too long had gone by since the isolation of the Kingdoms. Far too long had gone since Ironwood had felt the embrace of another human being. For a moment, he didn't feel like a man of tin. He felt human. He took Goodwitch in an embrace and let himself go to her in many more ways than one. Ironwood tossed his Scroll aside followed by his cloak, then his shirt and pants. It was happening now. Nothing could stop them. A very exhausting 'battle' would be fought in Beacon Tower between Atlas and Vale. It was said that Ironwood's Ironwood grew three sizes that day...
X
Far down below, in the Main Hall of Beacon Academy, Peter Port grew weary. He'd hit the elevator button several hundred times. It appeared to be out-of-order and he didn't want to take the stairs. The news of Jacques Schnee's death would have to wait. It probably wasn't important anyways. Port suddenly remembered that Goodwitch was meeting with Ironwood right now and second-guessed himself. It probably was important. He ran off to find Oobleck and Professor Peach. He had to tell someone!
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Far away, back in the frozen Kingdom of Atlas, Team RWBY awoke from their much-deserved slumber to a Scroll ringing repeatedly. It played a melancholy tone over and over. It was picked up, glanced at by Weiss and shut off only to begin ringing again. Weiss just picked up the device and pressed the 'answer' button.
"Shitley! What the hell do you-", Weiss was cut off.
"Weiss! Father's been murdered! He's dead!", Whitley wailed from the other side of the call.
Weiss sat in shock for a moment. Her father was dead? She really didn't know how to feel right now. She hadn't been particularly close to Jacques Schnee, but that still didn't change the fact that one of her major family members was now dead. She calmed herself.
"Well good riddance! He did nothing but stir the pot and cause trouble!", Weiss said stone-faced.
"Weiss! How... How can you... Weiss?", Whitley cried. Weiss hung up on him. Her feelings were still mixed. She still had no idea what she felt right now. Sadness? Happiness? She just felt numb.
"Weiss... What was that about?", Ruby asked, bleary eyed.
"Oh, nothing Ruby. My dad is dead.", Weiss noted.
"What!?", Yang exclaimed, awakening Blake who snored loudly in the background.
"Auugh! What? Are we under attack?", Blake exclaimed in shock.
"Nope. My father, the honorable enslaver of Faunus is dead. He was murdered at his own party.", Weiss noted apathetically again. Her feelings were still mix of Happy and Sad.
"That's horrible! Who would do that!?", Yang exclaimed.
"Well... He wasn't the nicest of guys...", Blake noted.
"Blake! Have some respect!", Yang argued.
"No, Blake's right. He wasn't a nice guy. He took advantage of the minorities. He hated Faunus. He cut wages so people had to work themselves to death. He was a tyrant. I hated him.", Weiss mused.
"Weiss? Are you okay? How... How do you feel?", Ruby asked sadly.
"I feel... Fine... I feel... Nothing.", Weiss noted. She really didn't feel anything. It was weird. "He's gone, but did he really do anything good for the people? He wasn't a nice person and he would've ruined Atlas if he'd won a seat on the council. I feel nothing, Ruby. Nothing."
The remainder of Team RWBY just nodded. Jacques Schnee wasn't a nice person and he had done some horrible things to people. They all made mental notes to keep an eye on Weiss for the time being. They really didn't want her to go crazy like 'Handsome' Jaune had done.
X
Far below, in a tavern that had once been a forge, Rhames Greyblood and his team resumed what they were best at; drinking heavily. As it was now mid-morning, nobody was really in the pub. It was just them and a few members of Team ATAK.
"Back.", Alabaster Blanche noted as she'd returned.
"You're back!? What have you done now!?", Kindel exclaimed.
"Nothing.", Alabaster noted.
"Nothing!? Jacques Schnee is dead!", Kindel exclaimed.
"Secret.", Alabaster mused.
Allie, you can tell me. I speak Mistrali., Rhames noted.
Rhames. It was me. I did it. More blood for the Blood God. I am saving us.
Red eyes met crimson eyes in understanding. It was more of this talk of fate. Rhames had enough of that in his life. He was the Mad Prince, after all. He sighed.
You might be. But how many more will die?, Rhames mused.
Only those that oppose us. You were the one who said it. 'Those who feed on carrion, feed for a fortnight.'
My father said that., Rhames sighed.
Still, a prophecy. Fate and Destiny are one., Alabaster mused.
"Are you two done speaking in gibberish? We can't understand you.", Kindel lambasted.
"Hap! Hup Hup hap appa hap up Hup hap!", Timmy Rim added.
"I think I'm having an aneurism.", Adam noted.
"It's nothing. Nothing important. Who want's another round!?", Rhames announced.
ATAK and MRJJ both nodded in agreement. Another round of day-drinks. Nothing but the finest Atlesian brandy. It was nice. Rhames thought for a moment, but shook the thoughts aside. If it came down to it, he would protect his family. His lover would die. Was this the striking truth his father never talked about? What exactly had Arden Greyblood done in his past? What sacrifices did his father make? He shook his head again and grabbed the nearest shot glass. Time to forget.
X
Back in Atlas Academy, Team JNPR awoke from their own slumber, this time to noises from Jaune and Pyrrha's bunk. Nora just averted her eyes, Ren took immediate notice, watched for a moment and then took Nora's lead. Jaune and Pyrrha had no boundaries and used a 'bunk bed' for more interesting uses. Ren promptly ran out of the room and down the hallways to the communal showers. Nora followed him but lost track. Pyrrha and Jaune continued their 'struggle' with the 'sheets' in their own bunk.
A few hours later, Jaune and Pyrrha had dressed and were ready for the day. Jaune glanced at his Scroll for a moment before turning back to Pyrrha.
"Oh no. Oh gods. It's horrible. Jacques Schnee is dead, good riddance! DIng dong, the bastard's dead, doo doo doot doo do do...", Jaune mocked.
"That was Weiss' father, Jaune. Have some respect.", Pyrrha chided.
"He wasn't a nice guy. He did horrible things to Faunus. Another thorn in our sides removed forcibly. And I don't have to worry about Schnee Dust interfering with my plans. Now it's just LunaCross Arms, Merlot Industries, and a few others... Trevali? Ehh... Maybe not...", Jaune mused.
"We should probably check in with Team RWBY. They might be feeling different about this.", Pyrrha noted before hauling Jaune across the hall into RWBY's dorm. The scene before the red-haired Spartan was shocking.
Team RWBY, inside their dorm, was simply watching the Vytal Festival on their television. Weiss seemed distant and cold for some reason, but wasn't bawling her eyes out over the loss of her father. She was currently on her Scroll with someone.
"Really? You're taking the company back? Wait... What!? That- That's... Really nice, actually. The people deserve better than what... Father... had promised from Schnee Dust.", Weiss noted.
Pyrrha just sidestepped into RWBY's room. "Ruby? Is Weiss feeling alright?"
"I guess... She's on the phone with her mother. Willow Schnee is taking over Schnee Dust company. Schnee Dust is releasing all of their indentured workers and will be providing free Dust to impoverished families. They're going to be using Atlesian Knights, repurposed for mining, with human and Faunus workers working shorter shifts or supervising the robots.", Ruby noted, Weiss had apparently mentioned this at some point.
"That's actually really nice. A change for the better.", Pyrrha mused.
"Hey, Pyrrha! Beacon Academy is sponsoring the Vytal Festival this year. They even built their own arena!", Yang exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Yeah, Ironwood just made a speech for the opening ceremony. He looked really tired and sorta disheveled. Actually, so did Headmistress Goodwitch for some reason too. Their clothing was all wrinkled and stuff.", Yang added.
"It must be really stressful for them both. General Ironwood appearing in person during what's happening in his own Kingdom must've been exhausting. I can't imagine what Prof- er... Headmistress Goodwitch is doing since Ozpin is... um... not there right now.", Pyrrha mused.
"The first match is about to start! It's Team SAFR (Sapphire) of Beacon against Team ORNJ (Orange) of Vacuo. Then the next one is Team CPRS (Cypress) of Beacon against AKWA (Aqua) of Haven. Team SAFR and CPRS sorta reminds me of us.", Yang noted.
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah, Team SAFR consists of four boys, Sapphire Blau, Argentus Cyril, Ferris Grun, and Rosenrot Augen. Sapphire and Rosenrot are both siblings, like me and Ruby.", Yang noted.
"What about Team CPRS?", Pyrrha asked.
"They're a co-ed team, like yours. Coral Marina, Pyrine Argos, Rorikstadt Rodharig, and Song Rhang. Coral is a swordsman sorta like a wussy Jaune and Pyrine is a blonde-haired version of you, also from Argus, who attacks with a halberd and has a shield. Ren and Nora's genders are flipped with Rorikstadt being the red-haired dude from Mantle? and Song Rhang being the Mistrali girl with a purple stripe in her hair.", Yang noted, pointing out their alternate reality doubles.
"That's really weird...", Pyrrha noted.
"Yeah, I know, right? Ferris Grun is even a Faunus. He's an iguana or something. He has a really, really long tongue but otherwise just looks like a guy with green hair.", Yang noted.
"I hope they do as well as we did. Maybe they won't have to deal with actual murderers and thieves like we did.", Pyrrha mused wistfully.
"Ehh, sorta. There was this group of four, but they ran back to Atlas for some reason. It was another dude named Sapphire; Sapphire White, who had green hair, a weird grey-haired chick named Gallium Zei, an even weirder and seemingly older and edgier guy named Ember Plummet and a silent psychopath named Uno with red and blue hair. Apparently they had something to 'take care' of in Atlas.", Yang noted.
"But... We're in Atlas. We really don't need another set of wacky faux-students like before. Cinder Fall was more than enough for one lifetime.", Pyrrha noted.
"I know, right? It's nice to have a night off for once! Hey, there's another weird dude in the Vytal Festival! His name is Shilling and he might also be a robot in disguise! Like if Penny was a dude!", Yang exclaimed.
"Yang, you're missing the opening. Professor Port and Professor Oobleck are starting the first round.", Blake interrupted, pointing at the TV screen.
"Haha! What an eventful year! The reopening of Beacon Academy and the Grand Opening of the Beacon Arena! Oh... hohoho! It looks like some of our graduates are the inspiration this year! Here comes Sapphire Blau with his custom Sickle that is also a high-powered shotgun!", Port announced from the TV screen.
"Ah yes! I remember Team RWBY quite fondly! Hopefully today, this new team of future Huntsmen will live up to their inspiration!", Oobleck slammed syllables like he was going to war with the alphabet.
"And let's not forget Team JNPR and the star athlete Pyrrha Nikos! It looks like Pyrine Argos was very inspired and chose to attend Beacon rather than Haven, just like her inspiration! My dearest condolences to Headmaster Lionheart!", Port loudly announced.
"Now! Let us start the simulation battleground! It looks like we will be fighting during the Battle of Beacon! Atlas has provided some additional robotic units this year to imitate the Grimm threat! This is a battle of tactics!", Oobleck spat.
"Let the battle... Beeeeeeegiiinnnnnnn!", Port roared.
Pyrrha just stood back and watched for a long time. The new Vytal Festival was a simulation of famous battles across recent history. The Battle of Beacon, the Fall of Haven, the Uprising, the Great War, and many others were the simulated battlegrounds. Atlas had provided mechanical 'Grimm' adversaries for added difficulty; some flew in the air like Nevermores, others were beasts like Beowolves and others were monstrous Goliaths and impossibly, the Nuckelavee. All the robotic Grimm spewed black smoke and were made from a jet-black metal. Somehow, Goodwitch had made the tournament even more realistic with simulated Grimm and fight-or-flight tactics; Person versus Person versus Environment. The teams could work together and score a victory against the Grimm or they could fight each other, one representing the opposing side. The crowd roared as Team SAFR took down a Nevermore automaton. Pyrrha silently wished that her version of the Vytal Festival had been like this; it would have prepared her and her team for what they faced in the real world.
"Whatcha watching, Pyr?", Jaune interrupted.
"The Vytal Festival. It's even more brutal than when we fought. Headmistress Goodwitch really is doing better to prepare the future Huntsmen than Ozpin ever did.", Pyrrha mused.
Jaune watched the fight as well and cackled with glee. Ozpin really wasn't the best headmaster after all. The old man was useless and didn't teach anything realistic. He was just stuck in his own mind; his own past, for entirely too long. This was realistic combat. Friend or foe? A battle. A war. This was a simulation of the real world, with real choices. Nobody would die in this 'battle' but it would serve to remind the new students that each student that 'fell' or 'lost' could die in a real battle; a real war.
"Team SAFR wins the match! Heroic tactics from our future Huntsmen! I cannot believe that Ferris spared his opponent after that brutal attack from the Grimm!", Port announced.
"You need to know when it is time to fight and when your opponent is no longer a threat! Ortolan Janus is out by Aura depletion. In a real battle this would mean certain death!", Oobleck babbled.
"Aha! A great example! Even though they didn't know each other, Ferris still saved the poor boy from certain doom! A human life is still a life saved! Now... A short break before the next match starts... During the Uprising! Double the Teams and double the excitement! The four teams will represent the two sides during the Faunus Uprising! Who will win? Will history be rewritten!?", Port announced enthusiastically.
Team RWBY just stayed glued to the TV. Weiss had finished her Scroll call and now sat aside her teammates. The Vytal Festival was even more action-packed than it had been when they'd attended Beacon.
"Are you really going to sit here all day?", Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah... It's snowing outside and it's cold.", Ruby noted.
"It's warm in here. There's even a Battle Royale as a final battle. All the Teams from the Festival against each-other. One winner. Every man and Faunus for themselves. Remnant represented by several separate zones. It's going to be epic.", Yang added with glee.
"But... The Vytal Festival is a weekend-long tournament!", Pyrrha exclaimed.
"Yeah, but we want to see who wins the preliminaries. We have bets.", Blake noted.
Pyrrha just threw her arms up and left the room. Apparently the Vytal Festival was more important than the murder of an Atlas Official. Maybe Jacques Schnee just wasn't that important. And he really wasn't that great. Pyrrha walked down the hallways alone for a bit before Jaune came running up to her.
"Hey, Ren and Nora are out doing whatever it is they do together; probably each other. Maybe we should head into town and check out the sights!", Jaune noted.
"Good idea. Let's explore!", Pyrrha exclaimed.
It had been entirely too long since they'd had some time to rest and relax. Whatever life threw at them next would require a decent amount of time to recuperate from. It was time for a Nice Night Out.
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Far down below on the streets of Mantle, two hapless idiots walked around. Arthur Watts was out of the picture. Emerald and Mercury walked in silence. A few News Screens they passed called out the Murder of Jacques Schnee, the reformation of Schnee Dust Co. and several advertisements for LunaCross Arms weaponry and Trevali Armor. Mercury glanced at a functional display of Trevali Nanofibre-Mesh armor, the same armor he'd previously made fun of way back at the start of their unfortunate adventure in Vale. A demonstrator was showing off the armor's ability to stop projectiles while still being flexible. A large sign noted 'Pyrrha Nikos Approved!'. Mercury sighed.
"Em, that's the whole reason right there...", Merc noted as he pointed at the armor display. "The whole reason we're in this mess right now... Pyrrha Nikos survived her fight against Cinder. If it wasn't for that damned armor, she'd be dead and we'd be winning right now."
"Hmm... Probably. Without Nikos, Jaune would probably be off sulking or getting a stupid haircut or something.", Em mused.
"We also missed every single chance of ever being able to take her down as well. It's us, the lovable idiots against a fully powered Maiden. There's a quick death if I ever saw one!", Mercury sighed.
Em and Merc just continued down the Market District of Mantle. They passed a weapons store with a bin full of discounted Merlot Industries handguns, the older weapons being put on close-out to make room for new LunaCross Arms guns. A wood-grained revolver with a silver body and gold sights sat on display alongside a similarly designed rifle. They were old-school cool and fired regular dust cartridges or black-powder. A crowd of people clamored for the classic guns.
"Hey, kiddos! Handsome Jaune here; Buy LunaCross Arms! They're the best on the market! With Hyperion backing them, they're unstoppable! Take advantage of this limited sale right now! Half of the profits go to Families in Need!", a holographic Jaune Arc announced, briefly frightening Emerald and Mercury.
Mercury glanced at the price tag, fifteen-hundred Lien for the handgun and two-thousand for the rifle. It was a steal of a deal. There wasn't anything special about the guns and they couldn't transform into other weapons, they were just guns. An add-on bayonet was displayed alongside the rifle: Limited Edition Milo bayonet, it was a bayonet version of Pyrrha Nikos' signature spear. The shop was nearly sold out.
"Do you want a new gun, Em?", Merc asked.
"Not really. And definitely not one that Jaune Arc endorses...", Emerald sighed.
Mercury had already run off and bought the last LunaCross rifle and bayonet combination. He held out a gold and crimson limited edition Hyperion-LunaCross rifle with the Milo bayonet attached to it. He returned and took in Emerald's look of disgust.
Em and Merc continued down the road. This was their night off. There wasn't anything else they could really do. Arthur Watts was dead and Hazel had run off to the nearest pub to drown his sorrows as he'd realized that Arden Greyblood was in town and they really couldn't do much of anything. Arden Greyblood was in their notes as a person they did not want to cross, ever.
Em and Merc passed a sign looking for sign-ups for the new Grifball Tournament that was going to be held in the Amity Arena. They ignored the sign for now, the Vytal Festival was being held at the same time and it didn't look like the tent was occupied. The Vytal Festival that they had been a part of was one of the better times in their career as minions, Cinder had caused the Fall of Beacon and their plan was in motion, what followed afterwards was a train-wreck of failure. Lost in their memories, Mercury stopped walking for a moment.
"Em, are we sure this is the right thing to do?", Merc sighed.
"Mercury? What are you talking about?"
"Are we sure we want to keep doing this? We lost. We failed already. Hazel is gone and Watts is dead. It's just us. If we go back to Salem, we're dead. If we go to Jaune Arc we might still have a chance to live!", Mercury sighed.
"Merc... We've been through a lot together... I... I don't know. What choice do we have?", Emerald resigned.
"We could try to join Jaune Arc... Find him and his teammates... Switch sides... We're dead either way. Salem is going to kill us, Jaune Arc might not.", Mercury concluded.
Emerald thought for a moment. Salem would absolutely kill them in the most graphic and horrible way possible the moment they returned from Atlas empty handed and without the two other idiots they'd come with. Jaune Arc was their best choice right now. She felt really bad for abandoning all that they'd come for, but it was a chance at redemption. In the end, they would die, but their fate was in their own hands now.
"Fine. Let's go find Jaune Arc.", Emerald sighed.
Em and Merc both accepted what was about to happen, their grisly death by Huntsmen that hated them. It was still better than what Salem had planned for them, though. And there was still the chance that Jaune Arc and friends wouldn't immediately disembowel them on the streets. They were lost in thought and didn't notice the man that they had suddenly bumped into.
"Hey!"
"Oh, whoops! Sorry about... wait... Adam!?", Em exclaimed.
"Oh, Emerald and Mercury! Wait... Are you two working on some kind of secret plan? You got out of jail because nobody thought you were important, but I know you...", Adam Branwen noted.
"We were... But... We're done. We give up. We raise the white flag.", Emerald mused.
"Umm... Is this a trick? I know what your Semblance is...", Adam noted as he slid his sword out of its sheath, his eyes looking for some kind of sneak-attack.
"No! No... Don't kill us! It's not a trick, we give up, really...", Em and Merc exclaimed.
"Uhhh... Ookay...", Adam noted as he slid Exagora back into its sheath.
"We're looking to join Jaune Arc. For real. Can you take us to him?", Mercury added.
"Yeah... I can do that. I don't really know what my life has become right now, really. I'm alive. Blake and Yang didn't kill me. I've got a brother and sister and they're both heroes. I don't know what I am yet... I think you're having the same feeling that I am...", Adam trailed off.
Adam Branwen walked off, Emerald and Mercury followed him. Adam had somehow, turned into a sad man filled with regret. He was still a formidable fighter and was as strong as an Ox. Another person that Em and Merc didn't want to mess with right now, even if he was feeling a bit emotional.
"There's a moment in time when you know you need to change. You look into the darkness inside and it looks back into you. You see yourself on the path you chose, trapped like a rat in a cage. Then you see what choices you have... I'm taking the path less traveled. It's the same end, the same as everyone else. But it's a different path. A new one...", Adam mused to nobody in particular.
"Uh huh...", Em noted.
"Look, there's a point where you'll break. There's a point where you just can't take it anymore. You have to say goodbye to certain things, like the innocence of youth and the things you used to love. I guess it's just called growing up and moving on... Keep moving forwards, forever and always...", Adam mused. "Jaune's up in Atlas... We can get there by airship. Follow me."
Emerald and Mercury followed the former terrorist leader, Adam Taurus... Adam Branwen... towards the airship docks. They'd get their chance at redemption too, even if it was short and painful. People could change, it was possible. Adam had certainly done that and it showed. What choice did they have at this time?
XXXXX
An airship soared over the icy sea separating Atlas and Mistral. The pilot, world-renowned Hanz Ohlo had a very interesting passenger with him. A single person that had paid him much more than the trip was even worth. It was strange, but he'd seen stranger things during his lifetime as a smuggler and then suddenly a welcome citizen of Atlas. His first mate, Bitey, groaned from the co-pilot's seat. Their passenger rode in one of the jump seats behind them.
"Shh! Bitey, she's odd, but she paid well... Very well...", Hanz noted.
"Graaaauuugh Awwoooooggghhhh!", Bitey whined.
"Salem!? Who the hell is Salem!?", Hanz asked. "Doesn't matter... What did you say your name was again? Bitey is getting nervous."
"I'm Sally... Sally Fields...", Salem lied.
"Hear that, Bitey? Sally Fields. Not Salem or whatever you just said...", Ohlo mused. Bitey still seemed on edge for some reason.
"Zwaaugh!", Bitey noted.
"Yeah, I know! You call yourself 'Zwei' for some reason! I know that's your real name, but still! It's like that ridiculous 'Semblance' you claim to have! You can turn into a dog. You already are a dog, Bitey!", Hanz brushed off.
"Auugh! Taiiigh! Zoooaaahhhggg! Owwaaagh! Gurraagh!", Bitey noted.
"I remember! Tye Zow-log was your 'owner' and he never gave you any freedom.", Ohlo noted.
Salem just sat back for a moment. This was weird. Ohlo actually understood his bizarre pet/Faunus. Fifty-thousand should've been enough. Maybe it was too much? It didn't really matter, she was late for a very important date! She could still feel the subtle pulse of thousands of Grimm below and in the skies around them. The ridiculous airship captain hadn't done anything to wrong her, though. Although 'Bitey' apparently knew who she was... She relaxed and let the Grimm do their own thing. It would be fine... Probably...
X
Down in Mistral, an Ursa Major sat and clawed at a stone honeypot. It was curious and had nothing else to do. It was also bored. After getting its golden prize, it promptly got itself stuck up to its waist in a nearby Rabbit-Grimm's hole; its legs kicked helplessly.
The team of Haven students just looked at this situation in surprise. Did they attack? The Grimm wasn't doing anything. It was just a little bit weird. They silently wished that Professor Port from Beacon was there right now, he was an expert on Grimm. This was very unexpected.
A few meters behind them, a Tiger-Grimm bounced around on its tail for some reason and an abnormally small Boarbatusk ran in circles trying to figure out a way to free the Ursa Major. A Nevermore seemingly mocked them from a tree branch while a concerned Rabbit-Grimm hopped around in agitation.
The students of Haven just gave up and left. They'd walked almost a hundred acres of forest for this and it was pointless. The Grimm weren't a threat right now and had other issues, just like the people. They all sighed and began the long trek back to Haven Academy. Leonardo Lionheart awaited them. A gold star in effort awaited their arrival.
X
Back in the frozen land of Atlas and Mantle, two unfortunate comrades walked the frozen tundra together. It had been a long trip, but they were finally there. The glowing city of Mantle was nearby and they could feel the warmth. A bull Faunus sighed loudly.
"It looks like we've finally made it..."
"Yes. We have. We are in Mantle."
"Not really... It's still miles away..."
"Fjord... Dear Fjord... We have made it. It is within our grasp! Cannot you see it?"
"Cinder... Thing. We're still nowhere close to Atlas. Atlas is in the sky.", Fjord pointed.
"We shall get there. I know it. We shall reap what we have sown.", Cinder Thing mused.
"And then what? Kill them all?", Fjord mused.
"Yes. We shall feast upon the graves of a thousand refugees! We shall bathe in the blood of a thousand sacrifices! We shall overthrow our Queen and be reborn in fire! We shall stand above all others!", Cinder Thingy rambled.
"It's just us, you know...", Fjord added.
"Just us? You are the Unstoppable. I am immortal. We will win this day! We will!", Cinder Thingamazoo announced.
"Uh huh..."
XXXXX
It had been hours upon hours of action-packed action and exhilaration. The Final Battle was soon to begin. A dozen teams of future Huntsmen and Huntresses fought to the world's glee. The Battle of Beacon had been fought and won against the Grimm with one team choosing to save their opposition. The Faunus Uprising wasn't an Uprising, but a truce against those who had chosen to cause chaos. The Great War was about to begin. Beacon Arena was to simulate the Great War with all students opposing each-other in simulated combat against all that had come before. One would arise as its champion and that one that had arisen would become King of Vale, the one who had called the truth and the one who had orchestrated the Vytal Ceremony all those decades ago. He or She would become the acting 'headmaster' of their own Academy. They would choose whether or not to train future Huntsmen or go a different path. Ironwood had a speech prepared.
"Future Huntsmen of Remant, this is your proving grounds. You will all fight in the Great War. You will show what you know about our History. You will change it if need be. Who will win? You destiny is in your own hands!", Ironwood announced from the announcer's booth.
A crowd roared to life, the thousands of spectators from around the world and through telecast cheered and booed equally. This was the fight to end all fights. Kingdom versus Kingdom. All or nothing. All for one and one for all.
"I will let my most trusted and inspiration take the mic.", Ironwood announced.
"Hello, students. I, Ozpin have returned. I know it has been a long time, but I have returned to oversee the newest Vytal Festival. I can see all of you, doing your best for what is right. I want to let you know that you are doing what everyone would have wanted. I know that the Fall of Beacon was a tragedy and that many have inspired you to attend Beacon Academy this year, but this is not about Beacon Academy. This is about the future of our world. Fight and prevail. You are all destined to become Huntsmen and Huntresses!", Ozpin announced from his booth in Atlas.
Gallium had done her job, hiding Ozcar Pine's image from the world. He was seen as an adult version of Oscar Pine this time, with the same features, but the older white-hair and glasses that people knew Ozpin of. The crowd roared at the sight of the presumed-dead Ozpin. Some of them didn't believe what they saw and blamed a hologram; a very good hologram that portrayed Ozpin as he was. It was uncanny valley for most of the attendants.
"As Ozpin just said, fight for what is right. The Great War begins... Now!", Ironwood concluded.
The final battle in the Vytal Festival began. All the teams from all of the kingdoms fighting for the crown. A simulated version of Remnant stood before them; a desert, a valley, a marshlands, and an icy tundra. A war that only the Students had heard about, a war that only their parents told stories of, A War that had split the world and forged their future. This the the day they had all waited for. Change history or let it run its course. This was the fight to end all fights. Team RWBY and Team JNPR stayed glued to their TV's in Atlas as the Final Battle had begun.
"Are we really just going to sit here all day long?", Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah, it's snowing out and it's cold.", Ruby and Jaune noted. There wasn't much else to do right now.
"I hope Vale wins!", Yang exclaimed.
"Vale won the actual war, I hope it's the students who banded together in the last round to form Menagerie.", Blake added.
"A world where the Faunus win? You know how history went!", Weiss chided.
"Yep. The Faunus win and give all the rest of humanity a crappy little island to live on.", Blake nudged.
"History would've been weirder if that had happened. Ooh! What kind of Faunus would've Ozpin been?", Nora speculated.
"Hmm... Probably an owl.", Ren noted.
"Oh wow! Does that mean he could spin his head all the way around? Owls can do that... I think.", Nora mused.
"Maybe? It's not like we have an owl Faunus we can ask...", Ren added.
"Oh wait! What if we were Faunus? What kinds would we be?", Nora trailed off, having had her most recent thoughts derailed.
"Hey, you kiddos just have fun for now. It's not like we get to do this all the time or anything. Tomorrow is yet another day of boring adult stuff.", Jaune noted.
"Yeah... I kinda miss our misadventures...", Yang reminisced.
"Cool. Pyrrha and I are going to step out for a bit.", Jaune added.
"Great! Have fun! Please be quieter in the bunk tonight.", Ren loudly announced.
"Maybe we should compete? I bet I can be louder than-", Nora was cut off suddenly as Ren clamped his hand over her mouth.
"Ha ha! Have fun, Jaune!", Ren noted, his eyes burning into Jaune's, a look of agitation forming.
Jaune and Pyrrha left the room. Yang stared at Ren and Nora.
"You do know we're all aware of the whole 'Renora' thing right?", Yang added.
"You are!?", Nora and Ren exclaimed.
"It's not like it's a huge secret.", Blake noted.
"Yeah, I mean... It's obvious.", Ruby glossed. "Just like Yang and Bl-", Ruby was cut off as Yang clamped her hand over Ruby's mouth this time.
"Yeah! I mean, it's really obvious. We thought you were a thing all the way back in Initiation!", Yang exclaimed.
Ren and Nora just sighed, at least they didn't have to hide anymore. Not that they were really hiding to begin with. Ren always loved Nora and Nora always loved everything about Ren. It was probably their upbringing and backstory that glued them together.
"Hey, just out of curiosity... What ever happened to Maria?", Blake mused.
"Oh yeah! I forgot about her... Hm... I think we just left her with the airship captain. We were sorta sidetracked by the whole Handsome Jaune thing.", Yang noted.
"I'm sure she's fine.", Ruby mused.
X
A bit farther outside of Atlas, a Scroll rang repeatedly, over and over. Nobody picked it up. Growing more concerned, Ironwood had Pennyopolis activate the security cameras in the abode. Ironwood needed to have a chat with Doctor Pietro Polendina. Pennyopolis hesitated for a moment before sending the feed. A video footage appeared on his Scroll before being immediately turned off in absolute disgust. Doctor Polendina was very busy right now. Very very busy with someone very important. He was also naked and the person he was with was also naked and very busy with the Doctor. Ironwood stumbled over to the nearest trash bin and proceeded to vomit violently. It was just like the time he'd accidentally walked in on his parents when he was a boy. He thought about that image for a moment before resuming to assault the bin furiously. He tried to place a name to the face of the woman that Polendina was currently pollinating, but that also caused more uncomfortable bile to rise up and rinse the bin. The only thing he could see was a face gripped with intense feelings and mechanical eyes. He continued to vomit, he probably shouldn't have eaten at A Simple Wok earlier.
"It's okay, General. I didn't want to see that either.", Pennyopolis reassured from Ironwood's Scroll. Ironwood didn't respond.
X
Jaune pulled Pyrrha out of the room and down the hallways towards the main hall of Atlas Academy. Pyrrha made an attempt to stop.
"Jaune, what are you doing?", Pyrrha asked, coming to a grinding halt.
"I've got something to show you. It's my Semblance. I learned a new trick with it!", Jaune exclaimed.
Pyrrha just shrugged. Jaune had been practicing with his Semblance more, it was one of the reasons why their time in the 'bunk' had been extra loud this time.
"Remember when I told you I've been seeing worlds between the worlds? I've perfected it.", Jaune wildly noted.
"Jaune, what else have you been doing? You are playing with time...", Pyrrha sighed.
"Oh nothing much...", Jaune mused.
In all honesty, he had been messing with his Semblance more than he should've. It was still limited to a set time-span before his head started to hurt, but he'd been able to go back farther and farther. He was also able to jump into those 'worlds' he was seeing, but he needed a 'tether' in order to come back. He'd tried to jump into one briefly without one and found himself flying down a multicolored tube of time itself, only being able to return when he remembered a significant time. He had taken to calling this 'tube' the Everwhen. The time he'd chosen to jump into to return was the one where he'd told Ironwood of Ozpin's plans and cackled in glee when Ironwood had abruptly picked Ozzy up and slammed him into the wall in rage.
"How have you perfected your world-time-jumping?", Pyrrha asked quizzically.
"We just need a tether. Make a moment in time that's memorable.", Jaune noted.
"What?", Pyrrha asked before she was cut off, Jaune had kissed her, suddenly and intimately.
"Like that. That's how. Now hold on... This is going to get weird.", Jaune exclaimed.
Jaune held his hands apart above each other. He slammed his upper hand down on his lower hand and clapped them together. In a sudden blur, a bubble formed and teleported the duo through time and space to a different time and a different place. The bubble spiraled through a multicolored abyss. Pyrrha looked around in confusion before she fell out of the bubble and landed in a random place. Just before she fell, she heard Jaune.
"Remember the tether!", Jaune's voice exclaimed as it faded.
Jaune Arc himself ended up in a different area of the same world. This time he stood in a briefing room with alternate versions of his own team and the Ace Ops. He held a mug of coffee for some reason.
"Oh right. This is what happens to me. I become the Jaune in this world... hehe.. Fun.", Jaune thought to himself. For some reason, he could only travel to alternate worlds where he was present. Usually, the Jaune he was replacing was a pathetic loser. This Jaune had that crappy sword and shield again.
"Hey, Jaune. Can I have that?", Marrow Amin noted, staring expectantly at the mug.
"No! Get your own, you smell like dog shit.", Jaune exclaimed. Team RWBY just stared at him.
"Jaune, that was mean.", Ruby noted.
"Hey, It's 'Handsome' Jaune. Remember that name, okay Pumpkin?", Jaune argued. His own team was now staring at him as well.
"Right... Anyways, your top priority is Amity Tower. It's time to get used to the new normal in Atlas. It means you'll be warding off Grimm and Bandits.", Clover announced, making a sideways glance at Jaune.
"Alright, great, success, another fun mission with you losers!", Jaune heckled. Both Team RWBY and JNRO were starting to get wary of his behavior, which up until now had been the usual hapless Jaune Arc.
"What is your problem, Jaune?", Yang chided.
"Oh my problem? Say my name...", Jaune argued.
"Jaune Arc.", Yang replied.
"It's Handsome Jaune! Handsome! Jaune! That's my name!", Jaune raged for seemingly absolutely no reason at Yang.
"Geez! Fine, 'Handsome Jaune', what's wrong with you!?", Yang asked, shying away from the now aggravated blonde-haired warrior. Jaune was acting like someone had peed in his cereal this morning.
"Oh, the usual. Just planned a nice night off and my red-haired lover, Pyrrha Nikos, isn't here with me!", Jaune noted.
Team RWBY and JNRO just stood back aghast. Jaune was losing his mind.
"Jaune... Uh... Pyrrha is gone... She died...", Ruby gently attempted to say.
"Ahh, another one of these. The universe where Pyrrha is dead. Great.", Jaune thought mentally.
"Yeah, she's not dead. She's about to walk through that door... Right... Now...", Jaune hoped. Pyrrha didn't walk through the door.
"I think Jaune is losing it.", Blake added.
"I'm not losing it! You're losing it!", Jaune raged.
"Now, Jaune... We have a mission here... Please stay focused.", Clover reiterated.
"Okay, Jaune fun time, and then I jump back.", Jaune mused silently.
Team RWBY and JNRO just stood back in shock as Jaune Arc, the lovable idiot they carried around stood up and punched Clover straight in the jaw, the Ace Operative falling backwards in agony.
"Just tell the cat you love her, Yang.", Jaune noted as his eyes went dim for some reason. Yang stared in horror. She did notice that for some reason, one of Jaune's eyes was green and the other was blue.
"Uh... What!? What happened!?", Jaune exclaimed as the Ace Operatives immediately and violently took him to the ground.
X X X
A short while later, Handsome Jaune stood in the main hall next to Pyrrha Nikos again. They were back in their world. Jaune just looked annoyed for some reason. Pyrrha just looked shocked.
"Jaune? What happened? You look annoyed.", Pyrrha asked.
"Oh, just another one of those fun worlds where you're dead!", Jaune noted.
"You were dead? Or... Or me?"
"You. It's always you for some reason. And the Jaune I get to replace is some kind of pathetic loser with a dumb haircut and nothing cool.", Jaune argued.
"You replace the Jaune in that world?", Pyrrha noted.
"Yep. I get to be some kind of moron.", Jaune noted.
"Hmm... I had a very different experience, Jaune. Very different.", Pyrrha mused.
Pyrrha went on to tell her tale of falling out of the Everwhen and into a different world. Pyrrha seemed to be the wildcard in this equation. Everywhere that Jaune went, he replaced the Jaune in that world. Everywhere that Pyrrha went, she just randomly appeared when her teammates could've used her help before being forcibly pulled back by Jaune's Semblance. It seemed like they were tied to each-other somehow.
X X X
Pyrrha Nikos fell out of the 'Bubble' that Jaune had created. She hadn't really expected to fall into a world where she was still in the air and also falling towards a frozen tundra outside of Mantle. She quietly activated her Maiden powers and took flight, becoming a red and gold missile. She noticed an airship flying towards Atlas and latched onto that. She used her Semblance and felt the metal hull of the ship and pulled herself towards it. The airship suddenly banked hard and started to crash.
"No!"
Pyrrha pulled upwards, pulling the airship from the sky and keeping it aloft with her Semblance and Maiden powers. The airship, still far too heavy, continued on its crash course. Instead of slamming into the ice at full speed, it skimmed over the surface before finally coming to a rest against the surface of the glacier. Pyrrha just flied over the ship, turning around in midair to stare at the ship. What just happened? Why did the ship suddenly start to fall?
Pyrrha watched as Qrow Branwen stumbled out of the ship in confusion. A white-haired woman followed him, she didn't know who this was. As the two adults crawled away from the wreckage, a familiar scorpion Faunus launched out of the ship towards them. Clover, who was also present, stood and deflected the sudden attack from the scorpion.
"What was his name again? T... Tyrian?" Pyrrha mused as she watched the adults being to fight amongst themselves. Qrow had turned on Clover, taking out his scythe. Clover battled against Tyrian and Qrow. This was odd. Why were they fighting?
Pyrrha stopped and realized that Tyrian was still alive. She'd killed him long ago. Tyrian was evil. Maiden powers flourished. This isn't our world, Pyrrha. Let's take it to one-hundred, Amber mused from inside Pyrrha's head.
"Deal.", Pyrrha mused to herself. Time to let go...
Pyrrha felt the intense heat of the Maiden's powers. She felt godlike. Her Semblance amplified beyond anything she'd ever felt; she could feel the metal in Atlas miles away. She could sense the flow of the battle and the metal in the weapons. She felt the metal prosthesis of Tyrian's tail. She pulled.
Down below on the battlefield, Tyrian Callows screamed out in pain as his prosthetic tail was ripped from his body by some unseen force. The appendage landing in the snow between himself and Clover. He was promptly struck by lightning on a clear sky.
"Halt. You shall go no further.", PyrrAmber raged from the heavens. Clover stopped for a moment. Qrow just looked in shock.
"You! It's youuuu! Hahaha! Oh they will tell tales about this moment!", Tyrian cackled.
"P-Pyrrha?", Qrow stammered in a loss for words. If Pyrrha Nikos was here, then he'd already been killed by Clover. Or he was going mad. Or both.
"What is this!?", Clover asked.
"I am Pyrrha Nikos. I am the Fall Maiden.", PyrrAmber noted calmly.
"Hahahahaha! Oh, how she failed! You're supposed to be dead, remember? Now die!", Tyrian raged, now without a tail.
"I did my duty, for Vale and Kingdom.", PyrrAmber announced as she let down a beam of fire directly onto Tyrian Callows. She'd done this already, why not do it again?
Tyrian Callows stumbled around in the fire. He stood and laughed, pointing a finger at the Fall Maiden. Another blast of fire came down on him. Tyrian still cackled. Pyrrha was annoyed by this and hefted the airship back into the air.
"You will cause more harm than good. You do not deserve to live.", PyrrAmber noted.
Tyrian's eyes just widened as the crashed airship was forcibly shoved down his throat and into the glacier itself, the Faunus crushed into Tyrian-flavored paste beneath it. Clover just dropped his weapon is shock; Qrow had already done the same.
"Who... how? What?", Clover stammered.
"Qrow is not your enemy.", PyrrAmber noted. "You must work together."
"Wait, hold on. You're Pyrrha Nikos? There's a statue to you in Argus, I've been there. How is that even possible?", the white haired woman mused.
"I am."
"Just... Just come down here. I want to test something...", the woman noted.
Pyrrha just flew down to the ground and stood in front of Robyn Hill. Robyn took Pyrrha's hand and used her Semblance. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as way too much knowledge was downloaded from the out-of-time-and-space Spartan. Robyn Hill foamed at the mouth and fell unconscious into the snow.
"I am sorry, for that.", Pyrrha apologized as she watched Robyn Hill spasm on the ground.
"What did you do?", Clover asked, now forgetting what he was supposed to be doing.
"I exist outside of time and space. I hope I helped you in some way today...", Pyrrha noted.
Qrow just shrugged. Clover looked at Qrow and the prone Robyn. His mind couldn't really comprehend what had just happened and shut off for a moment. Clover also face-planted into the snow, leaving Qrow standing over them.
"What about you?", Pyrrha asked.
"Ehh... I guess I'm good. Thanks.", Qrow noted. He was definitely going mad.
"Then my work here is done. Farewell.", Pyrrha noted as she disappeared like dust on the wind.
Qrow looked around. Clover was unconscious, Robyn was unconscious. He was the last one standing. Nobody died! Well, Tyrian died, but he didn't really count. He sighed as he saw several dozen Atlesian airships headed for him. The explanation for this situation was more than he could handle. If he told anyone that the 'Fall Maiden' had saved them, he'd be locked in an institution for the rest of his days. He looked around for his flask. He really needed a drink right now.
X X X
Pyrrha finished relaying her side of the story. It seemed like the Spartan was tied to certain events when Jaune and friends would've needed her help. Jaune was tied to himself for obvious reasons. Pyrrha didn't need a tether, as it was apparent; she was pulled back to Handsome Jaune Arc whenever he returned from his 'trip'. She didn't know whether or not they could both visit an alternate world together. It was probably possible.
"So, wait... Clover and Qrow got into a fight together?", Jaune asked.
"Yeah... I went full-Maiden. I killed Tyrian again.", Pyrrha glossed.
"Okay... Why?", Jaune asked.
"I don't know. They were just fighting for some reason...", Pyrrha mused.
"Like an old married couple... Heh...", Jaune mused.
"Jaune, if you replace the Jaune in the worlds you've been to... Have you ever done anything really bad?", Pyrrha asked.
"Oh yeah! There was this one time right, Yang pissed me off so badly I scooped her eyes out with a fork. She was running around and screaming and bumping into things... Ruby was all like 'waaah, you killed Yang!' And I was like, 'that's because you're a whiny little bitch!', ah haha... Oh gods, you had to be there...", Jaune laughed.
Pyrrha stood aside for a moment. Jaune was losing it. Or he was just releasing years of pent up rage against alternate doubles that had no relation to the actual versions that they knew. Jaune wouldn't kill Yang. Probably. Yang was funny and he liked Ruby. Right?
"That's just wrong."
"You'd do the same if you were in my shoes. Yang was extra super annoying that time.", Jaune noted.
"Maybe?"
"Look, pumpkin, I'm not going to hurt Yang. Yang's funny! I like Yang and Ruby.", Jaune reassured.
"I guess... If I had to kill someone, it would probably be... Ozpin. Over and over again until he regenerated into someone with a brain.", Pyrrha mused.
"See? We can do that now. Unlimited alternate worlds with unlimited stress-relief! You can be my partner in crime!"
"And you're my partner in time."
Jaune and Pyrrha embraced in the main hall of Atlas Academy. Many students passed them and just tried to ignore the public display of affection. They had more important things on their mind, like the Vytal Festival's closing ceremony and the winner of the simulated Great War. In the back of Jaune's mind, though, he had killed every single one of his teammates and he had used his Semblance to reverse it so that he didn't. The only one he didn't touch was Pyrrha herself. She was too important and for some reason, his Semblance wouldn't allow him to do harmful things to her. He'd tried and failed already. The two of the were bound together whether they knew it or not.
Chapter End. More Alt-Jaune? Who knows. Who... Nose... BTW, the Vytal Festival teams will not be appearing in this fanfic later on. I had to make up names and I did. Ember Plummet and his team might, since they're important to a rather Unfortunate Adventure. Tata for now!