Chapter VII: The Crying Woodsman

One month before the Great War started...

A man in a green cloak and simple cloth attire stands over a field of roses, butterflies and bees worked the field as the sounds of waves echo from the nearby shores. The man walks through the fields, with a one-handed axe on his hip and firewood under his arms. Returning home he meets with his wife, Lilly Dawn. She had cute brown eyes and dear antlers in her neck-length brown hair, freckles covered her face and entire body. He lay the firewood next to the chimney and embraced his wife, his hand runs over her heavily pregnant belly. He gets out a record player and plays a mellowing tune. He and his wife dance to the music, feeling each other's warmth.

A week before the Great War...

The man now was in a pub and drinking milk, because he hates alcohol and it helps him grow, with his longtime friend, Fenrir Brawen, a 30-year-old 6'8 tall merc that knows how to make sausages. They were talking about the relationship between Vale and Mistral, on how both sides were close at going to war with each other. They both knew the war was going to happen so both decided to enlist together in the army. As soon as they clink their drinks a crier from the Vale government announced that Mistral declared war on Vale with Mantle joining in, after the result of a fight between two settler parties. They both facepalm.

A day before the Great War...

The man, now wearing gambeson, was in line at a recruiting office. It was just a simple stand in the town square with only one guy making people sign papers. The pay was not good, you have to buy and/or steal your own equipment, propaganda replaced proper army guidelines, the food was shit and had a chance to kill you and your officer was probably part of the royalty and will get you killed through stupidity, ego or both. But at least his family will be safe, hopefully. He whispers prays to the Dark Brother that he will survive this war, earning him the ire of those that could hear him as the White Brother was considered better for luck. He, however, thinks that the Dark brother is perfect, for who better to ask for help than the god that judges who live and dies at specific moments and controls the monster that could kill you?

"Next!" The man walks forward and takes a deep breath, here we go. "First name, age and previous occupation?" The recruiter asks as he slid him a piece of paper, the age section says the minimum is 16 years old.

The man answered, his hands gripping the pen and paper "Twig, 19 years old and woodsman of Patch."

The recruiter huffs a cigar "Welcome to the army, boy, you're doing a great service to your king and country." He was not doing it for his country, he was doing it for family. Twig was directed to an army barracks down the road, as the recruiter was yelling "Next!" as Twig was pushed out of the way, rude.

He explored the barracks and met many unsavoury criminals and disgruntled veterans in it for pardons and conscription respectively. His quarters were mostly a tent and sleeping bags, his new roommates playing cards and drank homemade moonshine from an improvised still. Twig declined any drink and get out a journal. He writes down on the poor condition of the army and missing his family.

An hour later...

"Soldiers! Welcome to the army! You will fight for the glory of Vale and its people!" General Lagune says as the men just stand there listening to him. "We will meet the dishonourable scum on the battlefield and we will slaughter them like sheep, for we are fighting against an evil that would dare to repress the human soul!" Half of the men began to cheer while the other half continue to listen. Twig leaves as he finds Fenrir waving at him.

"So, now what?" Twig asked.

Fenrir sighed "Usually we marched towards the enemy instead of long-ass speeches." He looks at Twig's axe on his hip "You should also get a ranged weapon since Mantle has issued guns as a standard weapon for their army. But keep the axe in case they use their knives" They walked to the armoury and looked at the many poor-quality weapons.

Swords, hammers, axes and bows were plentiful but not powerful enough for Mantle's forces. Fenrir was outside waiting for Twig as the woodsman try and find something that appeals to him. Unbeknownst to him, there was a figure hidden from his sight behind him. Twig sighs in frustration and gives up, he turns around to come face to face to an armoured knight in a thick military trenchcoat with a red cross on a white base sewn onto his shoulder.

"Hello Mr Twig, my name is John." He spoke in a deep synth bass-enhanced voice from his titanium Great Helm that made Twig shudder "I would like to offer you a weapon." He gets out a Winchester Model 1912 "This, should suit you well." he holds it by the barrel and stock sideways to him, offering it to the woodsman.

"And what would you get from this?" The woodsman cautiously took the weapon into his hands, seeing no trick he admired its craftsmanship and unique design compared to most firearms of this world. This would perfectly complement his axe for CQC and urban combat if the shells are what he thinks they are.

John took off his helmet, showing a shaven face with friendly yet serious eyes "A friend." he brought out a flask and unscrewed it, offering Twig a sip. Twig take a whiff at it and smelled tea? "It's lemon tea, I don't like alcohol."

Twig chuckled, he wholly agrees to that and takes a swing, very sweet. He looks at his gun again, his hand wipes the smooth wood. John brought out a simple leather pouch, in it what twig would describe was an endless amount of 3" 12 gauge shotgun shells. "A bag I enchanted with endless ammunition and will always be at your side." John puts his helmet back on and salutes "Your lineage shall do great things, friend." Then in a blinding flash, he disappears leaving behind two cowboy shoes with round end spurs and an awesome sheriff hat. Twig smiled, looks like he gets a new weapon and a friend.

Twig exits with his new weapon, with a bit of tinkering he fused it with his axe, which is now the bayonet of the shotgun. He named it Splinters for the number of pellets that come out of it and causing small holes in one go. Interestingly he found out instead of the usual fire dust as the propellant, he found a fine smokeless powder that held more charge in a smaller package.

Fenrir looked at him all decked out in new gear that he haven't seen before in his mercenary life "Where the fuck did you get those?"

The Great War...

Twig charge into the night with his company as Mantle soldier began to open fire at them. It had been a full week since he joined the army and apparently, he and other common soldiers had to also provide themselves with their own transports. Fenrir thankfully procured some horses from a friend in the nobility and they managed to get to the rally point on time, but then the chaos congo line starts.

First, the rally point was in a rapier-wasp infected forest and caused many casualties amongst them. Second, several crucial supplies got delayed when the merchants carrying them got killed by the Grimm. Third and last, only 500 out of 40,000 soldiers managed to get to the rally point as the others were being held back by Grimm, poor weather, faulty transports, fucking meteors for some reason, busy raiding their own country for food and coin, food riots and infighting, just to name a few.

Now I and 500 Valerian soldiers were now under attack by 200 Mantle soldiers with superior range and firepower at night. Thankfully Fenrir scouted ahead and using his canine scent and night vision we prepared an ambush on the unsuspecting Mantle soldiers who thought they had the element of surprise. Me, Fenrir and everyone else surrounded the Mantle soldiers and with a single chilling yell from me that could only be akin to an Ursa roar we charge from all sides.

Within minutes, 500 melee-armed troops descended onto the 200 surprised Mantle force. I fired my shotgun from my hip and I could have sworn my shots went through their aura, forcing a hole in their body as the pellets went on to their next victims. I changes into my axe and began swinging wildly like a madman, but with a strong purpose. my blade went through the soldier's aura and in one gruesome instance cleaved a soldier's head in two, causing the body to spasm and become a blood fountain. I could only be stunned before having to continue to fight. Switching repeatedly to both my shotgun and axe, I killed 12 more soldiers before the sun came up.

Later...

Twig vomited as Fenrir pat his back to calm him, bloodied greatsword in hand. The sound of horns came from the west as the main body of the army arrived, led by 80-year-old Arch-Lord David Arc himself and his personal honour guard of armoured foot knights. Beside him was his daughter, 50-year-old lady Jane Arc. Both he and his knights were more comfortable on foot.

David walked up to Fenrir and Twig, taking off his helmet in respect for the shellshocked woodsman. He kneels to speak eye-to-eye "I'm sorry for what you had been through and for not coming sooner." He unhooks a flask from his hip and offered it to the soldier who had held his line.

Twig shakingly took the flask and tried to drink it with the water splashing onto his gambeson. Fenrir took his friend aside "His weapons went through the aura like a hot knife through butter. He shot a hole through 3 soldiers." he whispered, causing David to look back to see Jane using her behaviour-altering semblance to numb the mental shock. David looked at an area Fenrir points at, the bodies that littered were brutally killed to a level he had not seen before. He found a man who's head was sliced open the bottom teeth and tongue left untouched, a woman had her arms chopped off, another had a large hole in his body as the guts were also shot out and several other headwounds/amputation related deaths.

David sighed, this war was going to kill thousands with the same amount of brutality. Each kingdom had an average of 25 million people in their capital while outside in the countryside was 20 million scattered all over about. Only Grimm in massed assaults can cause such purposeful destruction.

Soon after David, Fenrir and Twig would talk about their lives and what the future may bring in, all three knew both great and terrible things are coming.

Present times...

And those times are coming. An airship lands at Beacon's landing pad. The doors open to reveal a grizzled veteran who had seen many great and terrible things, and wept. His soul heavy with burden, but strong in will. His mind scared, yet clear as day. His body healed, from scars of old. He is Twig Cucullo Rose, grandfather of Ruby Rose, and he is the Woodsman.

Inside Beacon...

"Good morning students! Today I bring weapons from my home." Henry Parker gestured to the huge amount of M1911s inside the shooting range, there was also desks for the entire school body including those from other schools. All the academic students fiddling with the guns were intrigued by the fact that it operated on a simple recoil function to load in the next bullet, no pistol firearm of that size in Remnant had enough dust charge to do that.

Henry gives a demonstration with a loaded M1911. He aimed at a 3D humanoid model target at 50 meters and fired 7 rounds into the chest. Causing everyone to flinch back at both the noise and violent recoil (to them) coming from the gun. Wiess was currently gaping at the fact that the small bullet caused a lot of damage to a non-aura target, Ruby now wanted to know what kinda bullet that was and how the recoil-system works, Pyrrha now wanted to get one, Jaune currently looked at the wound the bullet had caused, everyone else was shocked and Glynda Goowitch was horrified to let the children see this, yes their hunters-in-training but still children!

Samson was eating some popcorn while watching The Mandalorian from MyFlixer, it's weird that a streaming service is not available in most countries even though it's digital. He had his sniper rifle leaning next to him and he took off his balaclava, he had his human face as not to disturb the students, unlike Glynda who was standing right next to him. The soldiers also camouflaged the trenches and outposts so it causes less distress.

Vale, however, was now off-limits as Atlas has started to roll in more troops to the point where all of the Legends infantry had to relocate into the forest. The engineers dug a tunnel underground and then made a large bunker complex that was 1/4 the size of Vale, thanks to the help of the power armour troops and some Italian volunteers from their engineer corps.

Henry went on to explain where he was from "Me and my brothers are from a place called 'Earth', a place filled to the brim with good and bad people. Grimm doesn't really exist there, to be honest, but evil kings, terrorists, war, politics, we have those." He grimaces before smiling "Anyway students today you will be practising your firearm skills. The reason being is that you some of you need to have a range option and the others should get used to having a sidearm, which all of you lack."

"Ruby," Ruby stands up "This school has a foundry right? See if you can replicate this ammunition." Henry holds up a .45 ACP bullet.

Ruby was ecstatic, she gets to finally know their weapons "Yes sir."

In Ozpin's tower...

Ozpin did not expect a large force of soldiers when he took Fenrir's offer. Yes, he wanted extra security but not to the point of an army. James was very suspicious over the whole ordeal but the 3 Parker brothers were able to compromise thankfully. They were surprisingly focused on making sure the populace was both safe and happy, even though they were not their own.

Ozpin doubted they were they work for the Queen, considering they routinely hunt down any Grimm that gets close to any civilians. Glynda's mention of skulls on fire did worry him though, not sure how but he trusts Glynda's word. Ozpin research on them was also nonexistent, except a black and white photo with a man who looked like he was a relative to the Parkers but in some strange metal armour and trenchcoat with a red cross on a white base sewn on the shoulders. The photo included David Arc and what appears to be a mammoth of a machine not of this timeline, HMS Dreadnought. He had heard stories that this 'battleship' was extremely powerful compared to even the most advance weapon from Atlas, with simple but effective guns.

Whoever these men were, they were not on any side he knew. Only that they are friends.

Somewhere in Vale...

"Yes, Jane, I am the one who recommended them to Oz." Fenrir was on the Scroll with his friend who was currently on an airship to Vale with her eldest granddaughter, Joan Arc, The Witchburner herself.

"Then can you explain why he has a skull for a face?" Her voice spoke with worry.

"I can't. But you must know that he has no reason to harm Jaune, I assure you." Fenrir vouched, trying to calm her down.

"Fenrir, I believe you. But why did you recommend an army to Ozpin?" Jane could only sigh in exasperation.

Fenrir rubs the back of his head "Hey don't blame me, I only expected the tanks."

Jane raised eyebrow "The, what?" Were they the metal beasts?

"Uh, got to go now, very busy!" Fenrir panicked trying to close the scroll as Jane, annoyed, saved him the trouble.

Olive was right next to him "That could have gone better." he joked "Come on, let's go." They head back to Beacon, where Gylnda's fighting class was starting.

The day before...

"Sir, its Cinder's group." One of Jacob's men reported as the cameras at the landing pad showed Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, and his spy, Neopolitan.

Jacob takes a sip of his chocolate milkshake "Good, don't arrest them yet. We need to catch them red-handed." The soldier stands up and salutes as Jacob leaves.

Now...

Jacob was overseeing with Glynda over the fighting class with his experience as a CQC expert, breaching veteran and headbutt enthusiast. He currently was wearing his Marine uniform while also carrying a medic bag. Compared to Earth's medicine, the Huntsmen have no such knowledge as they rely heavily on Aura to heal their wounds, very devastating when running out as you need to disinfect a cut while it's being healed over as it traps bacteria and viruses inside, get bullets out of your body as it didn't go through the body or worse, even trying to prevent blood loss from your arm being cut off. All very nasty.

"The first match has been decided, Mercury Black vs Jaune Arc." Mercury eyed Jaune and chuckled as he thinks that this will be easy, he was very wrong.

The fights began with Jaune readying his shield and sword into a defence position by placing his shield in front of him and pointing the sword tip closely above it. Mercury, on the other hand, was letting his guard down by crossing his arms. They both walk in a circle, keeping an eye with each other.

Mercury rushes in to close the gap and opens up with a few shots with his boots. Jaune retaliates by swinging his shield to the left, catching all the bullets, and slashing upwards with his sword. The blade hits Mercury's leg and he is forced to backflip multiple times from the stored Aura-converted kinetic impact from Jaune's sword, dazing and stunning him.

Jaune uses the opportunity to slam his pommel diagonally down-right into Mercury's face and with a cracking sound, broke his nose. He then thrusts his sword into his shoulder only for Mercury to dodge and jump away a few meters.

Mercury was angry "You bwoke mu nose!" His voice was muddled thanks to his broken nose. In a rage, he began releasing multiple shots into Jaune's direction who kept his shield up. Mercury did not stop until his ammunition ran out. Seeing this Jaune charged at him while Mercury did a flying kick. Jaune slid at the last possible second and slashed once again at his legs, making Mercury fall once again but this time on his face.

Jaune got up and prepared for another strike. Mercury got up wobbling with his face bleeding. Mercury hobbled towards Jaune before a shot rang out and hit the empty space between them. They both look up to see a Jacob who fired a revolver, visibly worried.

"Mr Black your Aura has gone into the red, please stand down." He gestures to the screen to show that he indeed went into the red. Mercury scoffed and headed to the nurse's office.

In the stand...

Cinder Fall watching from the sidelines was both disappointed and surprised. Disappointed at Mercury's ability to defeat as someone as weak as Jaune Arc and surprised that Jaune Arc may be a threat to her plans. This would not do.

Cinder got up and left to plan on how to get rid of Jaune Arc, he may be a powerful protector to Pyrrha Nikos. She passes by a hooded figure who she just ignores even though the man gave her a hateful glare.

Back with Jaune...

'Maybe I should have not broken his nose.' He thought as he headed back up and sits with his team.

"Great fight Jaune!" Ruby put up her hand to high five to which Jaune graciously accepts.

"Thanks, Rubes." Her encouragement mixed in with Pyrrha's personal tutoring have majorly improved his mood and skills as he trained, they were awesome.

The bell rang to announce the next period, free time.

With Ruby...

'Time to make some cookies!' Ruby would not disagree that she has a large sweet tooth, especially for cookies. Heading towards the kitchen she skipped, only to bump into a man in a green hood who looks like he is in his mid-50s. His dead silver eyes locked into hers.

"S-sorry, sir..." Ruby stutters as she freezes up. Her eyes rapidly moving all over his imposing 6'9'' body, covered head to in brigandine armour and wearing a cowboy hat and spurs.

The man continues to stare into her eyes as he held an old worn photo up between him and Ruby. He takes off his hood to reveal an almost crying face. He kneels and hugs Ruby. He cries really hard as Ruby began to hug back as if she knows him. Ruby feels it in her heart that this man hugging her, is her own blood. At this close she could feel his emotions as sadness overwhelms her.

He stops crying after a few solid minutes and showed his smiling face "Ruby Rose, I am your grandfather."

Her eyes flood with tears.

Omake (Pre-chapter)

Jack was sitting at his metal desk, a large window behind him showing soldiers training and maintaining their weapons. He looked at the piece of paper on his desk then looked at his friend/general "So let me get his straight, old friend, you just want me to send you home? That's it?"

"Yep." Twig tiredly answered. On the floor next to him were Red Poppy Flowers.

John chuckled and got out a red ink stamp with the words 'granted'. *Thunk* "Merry Christmas Twig, don't forget about the flowers."

Twig nodded as he travels to France to one of the Commonwealth War Graves through a portal Jack opened up. He goes through and arrives at Thiepval Memorial. Taking a handful of flowers at a time he blows them out of his hand as they spread across the area, one petal on each grave. As he does this his passive semblance brings up memories, the dead.

Men who he had fought within the trenches of the Somme, some who died before their time, fighting a war to end all wars. It never did. They appear as an aqua blue ghost in proper uniform, all with sad smiling faces.

He salutes with tears in his eyes as memories flooded of that fateful day, Christmas eve. Where men stopped killing and celebrated, becoming brothers once more. They salute back "Merry Christmas lads." He wipes the tears away as the men returned to their graves. He sighs, he has a granddaughter to meet. With a renewed determination that had not been seen in decades, he leaves and heads out to a familiar world.

End of Chapter VII

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!