Eagle Bazooka!~ So we're finally in Menagerie folks.

Now, I've received a few PM's asking me why I decided to make Vito one of my main characters, and the honest answer is I just like the guy and his design. That's honestly the true reason, sorry that I don't have much else to say about it QQ.

Welp short author's note for this one folks, as always cheers and happy reading.


"Do you really have to go Ghira?" Kali snuggled her head against the naked muscular chest of her husband. It had been many moons since the two had shared the same bed, and Kali wasn't willing to have the experience leave her so soon.

"I'm sorry Kali, but there have been disputes in our Faunus gatherings in the neighboring islands. I thought everything was fine, but the recent news would say otherwise," Ghira grumbled and wrapped his arms around his wife.

The news, while tragic could not be ignored. Signs of violence and aggression were building in settlements and kingdoms where the government lacked authority, and videos and pictures of Faunus literally fighting for their freedom were popping like wildfire. Propaganda by the masses was being printed on a weekly basis, and this did not bode well with the chieftain of Menagerie.

"You haven't stayed in Menagerie for more than a week, Blake and I are getting lonely you know." Kali let out a depressed sigh.

"The next boat to the western isles doesn't arrive until next week. I promise to devote all my time for you and our daughter." Ghira spoke softly in the twitching ears of his beloved.

"Are you telling me the truth Ghira?" Kali whimpered.

"Cross my heart and hope to die." The chieftain chuckled.

"Then I think you deserve a reward for your honesty." Kali flicked her ears against the chin of her lover. A sultry gaze crossed her amber eyes, and Ghira understood what she wanted and embraced it.

"Perhaps this night will be a little longer." Kali giggled and planted a soft kiss on Ghira's cheek.

While the hormones of affection and love worked both under and over their bedsheets in hot lustful bliss, a particular blonde boy was lacking in any sense of comfort.


The waves swished against the barnacled hull of the ship. Due to an upcoming storm, the boat to Menagerie was forced to dock at an island midway to the haven of Faunus, much to the annoyance of its passengers and staff. The moon glistened as the chilled breeze caressed the clouds in the dark sky and the rays from the stars peeked through an open window belonging to Jaune F. Hawkins. He tussled in his bed, with Funkfreed perched on the footrest of his bed, and Emerald and Trifa snoozing peacefully across the room.

With each passing minute, the turbulence in his gut grew more ferocious. Jaune, at wit's end, complied to the temptation and rubbed the sweaty skin of his stomach. A small cloud puffed into existence, but it lacked the cheery smiles of the genie. Instead, it was nothing more than a couple of sputters of grayish smoke that smelled like rotting decay.

"Well, you finally let me breathe Jauney-boy. Do you have any wishes for me?" Jaune shuddered at the growing and ominous presence.

He didn't want to admit it, but this being before him was no longer the cheery and helpful partner he'd come to respect. Just summoning him sent a flurry of negative emotions through his mind. Memories of his father near death's doorstep, his sister's sobbing face when she claimed they weren't siblings, and Trifa's saddened expression from yesterday caused his heart to quicken its pace.

"Hey, Jauney-boy. You're not lookin' too hot. Why don't you pump yourself with some of your aura? It helped you out of this mess before, so why not do it again?" The genie made it sound so simple. Too simple... There was the time when Jaune first acquire would carelessly pour his aura reserves to regain that 'happy' feeling to stave off the waves of negativity, but nowadays he felt like his aura was a sacred treasure he needed to keep under lock and key.

Another cruel memory resurfaced, one Jaune wouldn't speak of to anyone, even his father in fear of the punishment that would come should he discover it. It was a late afternoon in the agricultural district, and Jaune and Trifa were on their way back for dinner after they caught a few guppies over the bridge. However, a troupe of Faunus delinquents had other plans in mind.

"Hey look, the human adorer decided to come out and show her face!" Shouted a Faunus boy with dog ears.

A chorus of Faunus behind him, they lobbed half-eaten fruits and vegetables at a sulking Trifa. It was a mistake to leave the house for some fresh air, as the bullies continued to pelt her with insults and objects a blonde hero emerged with the intent to teach the bullies a lesson.

"Hey! Leave my best friend alone!" Jaune charged down the dirt road and tackled the dog Faunus who led the children's mob.

"If any of you have a problem with me, then why do you have to take it out on Trifa?!" Jaune's voice thundered through the air, reaching assertive tones he didn't know he was capable of.

The mob stuttered, and Jaune used this opportunity to lean down and assist his friend to her feet.

"It's alright Trifa, I've got this in the bag." Jaune flashed her a goofy smile and she nodded with a nervous smile of her own and ran to safety.

Now it was just Jaune and the bullies. Their numbers counted up to five, a number Jaune was more than capable of dealing with. He left Funkfreed back at home, but his trusty genie would make a fine substitute. Clasping his hands on his belly, Jaune rubbed and a spiraling cloud of smoke emerged.

The bullies quaked in fear of the mighty being, and Jaune cheered in triumph for his scare tactic had worked. That was it, nothing more, but what developed was far from a mere spook. Against Jaune's wishes, the genie lashed out against the bullies and grabbed them then threw them every which way. The few who managed to escape did so with shrill screams, but the dog Faunus wasn't as lucky.

"G-Genie what are you doing?! We were just supposed to scare them a little, not hurt them!" Jaune wailed.

"Isn't this what you wanted Jauney-boy?! With this they'll never bother you again, so come on and give me some more aura!" The face the genie wore when he turned to Jaune made his blood run cold.

That wasn't the face of a happy go lucky servant, it was that of a bloodthirsty monster!

"Genie I command you to stop!" Jaune screamed.

To his dismay, the genie continued its rampage despite its master's orders. It picked up the bruised and unconscious dog Faunus by the throat and shook him violently. Jaune begged the genie to stop and refused to feed him the energy it desired. He stopped rubbing his stomach and tried to put a cap on his flowing aura.

It didn't work. Despite having no aura or rubbing to keep it around, the genie continued to toy with the Faunus and threw him to the ground. In fear of what could become of the bully, Jaune dashed forward and raised his arms to block the genie's path.

"You can't do this genie!" Jaune shouted.

"Come on Jauney-boy! Learn to SMILE a little!" The genie loomed over its owner with clenched fists and a fierce visage.

"I'll never smile if you act like this!" Jaune snapped back.

Before the scene could develop to one that included bloodshed, a pair of thundering footsteps echoed across the dirt paths. The genie turned to meet the presence, but a fist the size of Jaune's head collided against the genie's skull and pummeled it until it was nothing but fleeting smoke.

"Uncle Kuma!" Jaune scrambled to the safe embrace and cried his heart out.

His stoic features never moved, but Kuma bestowed his opinion on the matter in a comforting tone.

"I don't think you should depend on your genie anymore Jaune... I sensed a malicious presence from it earlier." Kuma hummed.

Jaune buried his face in Kuma's shorts and nodded furiously. Though, despite Kuma's warnings, Jaune didn't tell anyone else about what happened out of fear.

"Hello, Jauney-boy." The genie tapped his master on the skull, but Jaune pushed him away and ordered him to disappear.

"So harsh, but you'll need to take action to cure your condition sooner or later Jauney-boy. Before it's too late."

The way the genie said that sentence, was almost threatening. Too scared to move, Jaune broke into a second sweat, closed his eyes, and scuttled back to the edge of his bed. The genie smirked, he knew Jaune was frightened, he knew his nerves were rattled and his muscles were frozen. If he were to do anything now, this would be the most opportune moment. That is if a loyal sword wasn't in the room.

"Pao!" Funkfreed's trunk crashed down on the genie and split his head in two.

Spirals of smoke petered against the walls and retreated through the gaps of the dorm door. Jaune felt a wash of relief as his connection with the ominous genie had been severed once more.

"Pao?" Funkfreed patted his partner on the head and flapped his ears to cool him down.

"I-I'm alright Funkfreed." Jaune shuddered out a smile and wrapped himself under his blankets, eager to get some much-needed rest.


"Hey, where are you going Kuma? We were supposed to meet with Hawkins tonight-rero." Vito grabbed the warlord's arm and tried to pull him down the hallway, but Kuma was determined on the path he was already on.

"Do you not sense it, Vito? There is an unwelcome presence on this ship." Kuma looked to the night sky with a neutral face.

"What are you talking about? I don't sense anything-rero." Vito let go and scratched his head.

"I will check on Jaune, you should check on Hawkins." Kuma walked away in silence and left a confused Vito to hurry to his blonde friend's sleeping quarters.

"Hawkins-rero?" Vito knocked, but no reply came. He knew the magician was still inside his room, but being the polite gentleman that he was, Vito was hesitant to barge in.

However, a chill and depressive wave worked its way up the gunslinger's spine, and Vito complied with his instincts. His right hand on the throat of his large gun, Vito opened the door and let himself in. His footsteps clicked against the floors, and his eyes faltered in the dim lighting. One thing was for sure though, Kuma was right.

A shadowed presence loomed over a panting Hawkins. It's features twisted and morphed, Vito could only assume that the menacing figure was either a demented ghost or a hungry Grimm. Vito blinked a few times and took off his shades. He reached for the light switch, but decided against it and readied his revolvers instead. He twirled them around his fingers and locked their noses on the murky figure above the magician.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

All three bullets hit their mark, and a shrill scream shrieked across the room. The monster turned to face its aggressor, and Vito stepped back. A tall and lanky form patched with bony plates and bulging red eyes, it's cruel smile stretched across its contorted face as it acquired a new target to leech happy emotions off of.

Vito's legs buckled and he staggered to a knee. Why did he feel so powerless? And what was this storm of despair that churned his mind? The demented Grimm limped closer, and the waves of depression circled Vito like a whirlpool. The sense of defeat or worse rung in his mind, and the gunslinger made a last-ditch effort to save his skin.

He swung out his right hand and latched it onto the Grimm's skull. With the other, he shoved the nose of his gun down the monster's throat and pulled the trigger. It's boney head splattered like a bursting egg, and the dark mood of the room evaporated in an instant. Vito, while encumbered by negative thoughts, felt the blood in his veins flow once more and his mouth and nose were able to breathe freely. He did a double-take of the room to make sure no other Grimm remained, and to his relief, everything seemed to be in the clear.

"Hawkins, are you okay-rero?" Vito flicked on the light and crawled to his friend's side, but the crippled sight of his friend drew a new line of concern.

The blonde magician's complexion was paler than usual and gave off a glass-like reflection. His stoic visage was scrunched in agony, and cold droplets soaked his clothing and sheets.

"H-Hawkins, please speak to me-rero!" Vito grabbed his friend by the shoulders and shook him.

"Ugh, Vito... Stop shaking me." Hawkins wheezed.

After that night it took a lot of convincing with the ship's staff and security to let Vito stay on the ship after the ruckus he caused with his guns, but Hawkins was able to persuade them from throwing Vito overboard. Having Kuma also stand for the gunslinger's defense helped a great deal.


"Jaune, come on already, Melanie and I are sick of waiting.~" Miltiades knocked on the door over and over again. It was 11:00 am and the twins were eager to see their blonde doofus again.

The door creaked open, and the smiles of the Malachite sisters dropped when a Faunus with bluish hair and cobalt eyes met their expectant gazes.

"Who're you?" Trifa asked in an annoyed tone. She put herself in the middle of the entrance, clearly to block the Malachites from entering.

"We're Jaune's friends. He was supposed to meet with us half an hour ago, so we wanted to check on him to make sure he was okay." Miltiades explained.

"Jaune's sick and he won't be leaving his bed until he gets better. So I'd suggest you two go on your merry way and let him rest." Trifa tried to close the door, but a mauve sneaker slammed against it.

"We'll be the judge of that." Melanie scoffed and she and Miltiades pushed against the door.

"Hey! This is Jaune's room, you can't just barge in without permission!" Trifa protested.

"We're Jaune's friends too, so we're allowed to see him when he's not feeling well!" Miltiades countered.

Down the corridor, Emerald was on her way back from Sam and Carla's dorm who had a few baked goods that would help Jaune perk up from his moody condition. What she didn't expect, was to see Trifa glued to the door with another pair of ebony twins plastered to the other side. Emerald rolled her eyes at the scene, but her brother needed his sweets so she plucked up her courage and approached the migraine to come.

"Jaune will feel better when he sees us!" Miltiades pouted.

"No, he won't!" Trifa shouted.

"What the heck are you guys doing?" Emerald fidgeted when all eyes landed on her.

"This mean girl won't let us see our friend!" Miltiades blurted and pointed an accusing finger at a scowling Trifa. Her twin nodded in agreement.

"For the tenth time, Jaune needs his rest, so why don't you just leave us alone?" Trifa growled.

"Alright, that's enough. Trifa, let me in, I have the tarts and pies from Carla." Emerald lifted the weaved basket for emphasis and Trifa reluctantly opened the door.

However, the Malachite twins used this chance to show themselves in and when their pale green pupils landed on their blonde doofus, their lips curled upwards.

"Jaune!~" Miltiades called and skipped over to Jaune.

"Oh... Hello Ms. Malachite. Sorry that I didn't show up, but I'm not feeling too sharp. I don't think it's the motion sickness either." He chuckled.

"Aw, but we wanted to play hide and seek again. I thought you said you'd keep your promise too." Miltiades' dejected tone and pleading expression sparked Jaune's older brother's instincts and propelled his body into action.

"You know what, some fresh air will do me some good." Jaune fell out of his bed and landed flat on his face.

Emerald and the Malachite twins laughed, but Trifa jumped at the chance to help her best friend.

"Thanks, Trifa," Jaune said groggily and stood himself up. He quickly took the hand of the spider Faunus which caused a thick blush to form on her cheeks and led the charge outside of the room.

"Are you going to join us Minty?" Jaune looked to his sister with a weary smile.

"I'm good. Just don't kill yourself to make a good impression." She sighed.

As usual, Trifa clung to Jaune possessively while the Malachite sisters tried numerous times to pry their blonde doofus from her clutches. Jaune, oblivious all the while, did his best to cease the petty disputes, but nothing he said would sway their determined emotions.

"So Funkfreed, what do you do when you're all alone?" Emerald asked the leaning western-styled saber.

"Pao?"


"There was a Grimm in my room last night?" Hawkins asked.

Vito nodded and entered the room with two plates in hand. Scrambled eggs, two linked sausages, and a side of hashbrowns to boot. He set down their hot meals on the table and grabbed himself a chair.

"I don't know what it was doing here, but its main target was you-rero," Vito said through stuffed lips.

"You have my gratitude, Vito." Hawkins sighed.

Vito choked on his hashbrowns and punched his chest in desperation. Hawkins curled a brow at the gunslinger's actions but didn't move to assist him either. His hacking fit done with, Vito chuckled and shot a teasing grin at the magician.

"I didn't expect you to be so nice, Hawkins. It's a nice change of pace from your usual stoic nature." Vito handed Hawkins his breakfast and the room fell under peaceful silence. Their bellies now stuffed and minds fresh, it was time to crack down on the mysteries from last night.

"It was Kuma who warned me to check on you-rero," Vito said.

"He said there was a malevolent presence on the ship, but what worries me the most is that he went to go and see if Jaune was alright-rero."

Hawkins lowered his plate and crossed his arms.

"Why would my son be any concern in this matter?"

"Why not? You said so yourself that there's a 67% chance that Jaune is the cause of our sleeping problems-rero." Vito adjusted his cravat and dabbed his lips with a napkin.

"Yes, but there's only a 15% chance that he is related to the cause." The magician grumbled.

"What about the devil fruit he ate-rero?"

Hawkins hesitated then reached for his tarot cards. Why didn't he think of this before?

"96% chance the devil fruit is the problem." Hawkins' eyes widened and so did Vito's.

"Say, you told me you went to some weird world when this magic woman gave you the fruit right-rero?"

"Yes, but she was an ally of Bastion so I didn't think the fruit she bestowed upon me was dangerous." Hawkins continued his tarot readings, and Vito pulled out a notepad and pen.

"Could you draw the fruit she gave you? I've seen quite a few fruits in my time and I might recognize it-rero."

Hawkins did as he was told, but to his dismay, Vito couldn't identify the fruit he scribbled.

"Attention all passengers, we will arrive in Menagerie in fifteen minutes so please be prepared and gather your belongings before 8:15 AM and head to the western boarding platforms." A voice called through the ship speakers.

"We will chart our next course of action when we land on Menagerie's borders. Promise me Vito that you'll watch over Jaune and keep him in line. There's an 84% chance that Jaune's emotions dictate what his genie will do, so we have to make sure he doesn't crack under stress and negative emotions."

"You have my word Hawkins, and Kuma will help me no doubt-rero." Vito gathered the dirty dishes and headed out. He also needed to gather his suitcases before they arrived at Menagerie.

"Hello, Menagerie!" Sam announced with gusto.

"So this is Menagerie. It's very tropical-rero." Vito said as he and the others walked off the boat and onto the docks of the haven for Faunus.

"I'll be going on ahead Hawkins, why don't you and the others see the sights? I'm sure my niece would be thrilled to show you around." Carla winked to a blushing Fiona who tried to hide behind Kuma's massive body.

"Here Hawkins, I'll take those bags off you, so why don't you enjoy yourself while Carla and I prepare the house? I know Carla told her niece that there'd be a big family coming over, but I don't think she and her husband are prepared for a family with this many persons." Sam chuckled.

"I'm fine. I want to rest for today and explore tomorrow." Hawkins sighed.

The bags on the magician's eyes were larger and deeper than usual. And the energy in his monotone voice was lackluster. Even his eyes were drawn to the ground and his shoulders sagged as if a great weight had been put upon them. But his expression lifted to one of confusion at a sudden outburst that involved his son.

"No! You can't leave me with Melanie Jaune! I'll die of boredom!" Miltiades whined and wrapped her hands around Jaune's left arm in an attempt to drag him back onto the boat.

"I-I'm sorry Ms. Malachite but this is where my family is staying and I don't think I can abandon them." Jaune chuckled nervously at the cute pout that Miltiades produced.

"Come on Miltiades we should get going too, we don't want to upset mom." Melanie frowned and pried her twin from the blonde doofus' arm. Though from the resentful tone Melanie used it was obvious she was upset too.

In an effort to ease the dampened mood, Jaune decided to leave on the best note possible. He wiggled himself free from Miltiades' grasp and closed the distance between them. Then he wrapped an arm around the twins' waists and hoisted them up for a tight hug.

"I'm really gonna miss you Milliecakes! And you too Melmel!" Jaune's sudden action earned a heavy blush from both girls, as they sputtered and flailed in his strong embrace.

Emerald giggled at the embarrassing scene, but Trifa had a look of thunder bloom on her visage. The spider Faunus stomped over and urged Jaune to finish his farewell, which earned her two hateful glares from the Malachite duo.

"Don't worry Trifa! I've got plenty of adventures planned for us after we get settled at Carla's niece's place!" Jaune beamed.

He gently returned the twins to the ground, despite Miltiades pouting pleas, then spun around and picked up Trifa for a warm hug.

"J-Jaune what are you doing?!" Trifa's eyes widened and she thrashed around until Jaune let her go.

"Haha, I just thought I'd give you a hug Silkmoon, it looked like you wanted one when I picked up Ms. Malachite." Jaune chuckled.

"Silkmoon?" Miltiades and Melanie narrowed their eyes at the spider Faunus.

Trifa, boosted by the rush of her best friend's passionate affection, skipped behind Jaune and sneered while spitting out her tong at the Malachite twins. The duplicate siblings stepped forward to pay her back with comments of their own, but a call from one of Little Miss Malachite's henchmen echoed from the ship's boarding platform.

"That's our queue Miltiades." Melanie drawled.

Miltiades hung her head but obliged to her sister's advice. The two bid Jaune a shockingly polite farewell and walked back up the stairs towards the deck of the ship.

As the boat's horn blared over the waves, the twins continued to wave at Jaune who returned their actions until the sisters were out of sight. However, a lightbulb dinged over Miltiade's head at a sudden realization.

"Hey, Melanie?"

"Huh? What is it Miltiades?" Melanie curled a brow at her sister's pondering face.

"Did you get Jaune's scroll number? Because I didn't."

Melanie shook her head and her eyes shot open in bewilderment. For the rest of the trip back to Mantle, the Malachite twins would spend their time disputing whose fault it was for forgetting such a crucial detail.

"I think I'll take a nap too." Jaune yawned. Finally free to speak his mind after that emotional scene.

Jaune did well to hide it, but his condition fared no better than his father's. His eyes half-lidded and their focus vague, he stumbled over to Sam's side with a worried sister and best friend holding his arms for support.

"I see, well then Kuma, are you going to join us as well?" Sam waved to the silent bear Faunus and Kuma nodded in turn.

"Well then, that settles it, looks like your niece is in for a big surprise Carla." Sam grinned.

"Are you alright Hawkins? I can take your bags if you want." Fiona rested a gentle hand on the magician's bicep, and to her surprise, he didn't resist and gave up his possessions for a lighter load.

All eager to indulge in the peace of Menagerie, another set of individuals had other plans in mind.


"We almost missed our stop because of your carelessness Vergo-san. I told you that you didn't buy a backpack didn't I?" Monet huffed.

"So this is the place Doffy wants to base his future operations on?" Vergo joined Monet with a spoon stuck to his right cheek and the two descended the boarding planks of the ship.

"Menagerie is decent when seen from an economic standpoint, and they lack a CCT tower for quick news on the events of the world. This makes it a perfect spot to avoid the eyes of hunters and huntresses alike, and the support from other councils as well. All we have to do is remove the head, or rather the chieftain, who leads the White Fang and the power vacuum will make way for Doffy to take over." Monet explained.

"Alright, but have you seen the camera that I bought back in Mantle? I could have sworn I had it on me when we boarded the ship." Vergo patted the pockets of his trench coat but stopped when he received a deadpanned stare from his cohort.

"You never bought a camera in Mantle." She sighed.

"Is that so? Then what about the sword I bought at the armory."

"Vergo, we never passed anything of the sort on our way here." Monet rolled her eyes and strutted past her confused partner.

"Let's go Vergo-san, I've booked us a room at one of the only inns Menagerie has to offer. I hope it's as nice as the advertisement described." Monet led the way with a smirk, and Vergo trailed behind her with his usual neutral face.