Chapter 55
It was a fine day here at Beacon. The students were resting, the food was great, and at last the number of Grimm and monsters were lowering down considerably. Beacon being much more fortified now with the civilians living here being more calm after everything that has happened. Word even have it that maybe aid will come from Atlas and Mistral, if things were done right. However, that calm may just go away as those walking out then saw many people on Beacon's cliffside where the docking area for ships were at.
Headmaster Ozpin.
Glynda Goodwitch.
Mr. EMIYA.
Blackbeard.
Not to mention Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, Yang, and a few other students were there as back-up. The other staff members of Beacon along with the remaining Huntsmen and high grade students back at Beacon to protect the citizens. From what many may ask? From the Atlas airship now heading their way.
"So, any calls?" EMIYA asked Ozpin who shaked his head.
"We've tried making communication with whoever has the airship, but none have made contact. So we must be ready in case they are hostile." Ozpin tells him with EMIYA nodding.
"Still, sir." Glynda walks towards the headmaster. "Is it wise to have some of the students here? Would it not be better to have them elsewhere, in case things go bad." Glynda didn't want the students to get hurt any further. Particularly on Yang, who while was now physically capable and acted good, Glynda knew she was also affected by the night she lost her arm.
"We need anybody capable of facing whoever we meet." Ozpin tells her. "Still, I am ready to have them fall back if things go awry." Last thing Ozpin wished for was more of his students to fall. As such, if things truly turned for the worst, the students would be the first to leave.
Everyone then got ready as the airship got closer to the ground. It made everyone suspicious on who was utilizing such a vessel, as all Atlas airships and carriers should have been destroyed. Yet this one not only just happened to fly time after the fall of Vale, but it clearly had powerful individuals on board. The only question being, were they on their side, or evil? The only reason it wasn't being shot down was because whoever was riding this craft did deal with all the remaining Grimm and threats, so they got a pass.
For now.
In a matter of minutes, the ship docked onto the cliffside. Engines shutting down, where everyone also got a good look at the vessel. Seeing the damage on it, the holes, the burn marks and claw tears. It was amazing it was even flying. Even then, nobody let their guard down. Ozpin prepared to use some of his magic if needed. Glynda and the students holding their weapons or readying their power.
Then, one of the doors opened up. A hiss came out and it slowly opened up, where a figure could be seen. The students held their breath, and the adults narrowed their eyes. Then, a loud, annoying, and obnoxious voice is then heard.
"The Argonauts are in the house!" Then running out with his sword held high, none other than infamous criminal Jason appeared with a smile on his face.
BANG!
Then a bullet composed of Fire Dust was shot at his face and knocked him out. Sword clattering on the ground and the poor fool unable to even move after such an attack. Everybody turning around to see none other than Ruby Rose who had made the shot, who was slowly turning red.
"He's...a bad guy...Isn't he..?"
From the ship, more of the Argonauts came out. Some they knew, others only EMIYA and Blackbeard recognized. All of them having advanced weapons and looking dangerously tough. Then, they saw their leader Jason on the ground, and for a moment, everyone thought they were screwed. I mean, they shot the leader. Surely they would be upset at this.
"Hercules, pick him up." A guy in some kind of witch doctor outfit then said like he was asking someone to pick up trash. "We don't want to trip all over him."
"Someone shot him. Nice!" A woman with a rather well developed chest and armor with faunus features and brown skin then laughed. "Wish I could have seen his stupid face when he got shot."
"Oh. My poor husband." The girl that many for some reason feared, despite her dainty appearance who ran to Jason, now placed on that scary giant man's shoulders. "I'll give you a kiss and make it alllll better." Everyone felt creeped out by her, and Ozpin flinched as he still recalled how much pain he went through after her stunt on him.
"Please. Don't." The beautiful archer woman with cat ears then says, looking displeased by the small girl's action.
"Can we just get this over with already." A man with blonde hair then sneered at the Beacon cast before him. "I'd rather not stay here long with these inferior people."
"Agreed." The girl who looked like him, only the opposite gender then says in agreement. Any fear of these individuals attacking them in retaliation for hunting their leader then went away, as apparently they didn't seem to even care. The beautiful woman then walked forward and then looked at Ozpin.
"So. Will you take us to the tower?" She referred to the tower where the Argonauts kept meeting Ozpin here and there. The Headmaster looked at Beacon, then at everyone he brought toward them. Letting out a breath of relief, he then gave a slight smile.
"Very well. Follow me."
Everyone was now sitting inside Ozpin's office. Well, Ozpin anyway. Glynda, EMIYA, and the Argonauts were all standing up. Everyone else, back on campus to do their own thing. Ozpin staring at the group and then giving a soft smile. "So I suppose it was all of you who dealt with the remaining enemies we have in Vale."
"Indeed." Asclepius says with a nod. "Granted, we didn't expect them at all. It was self-defense."
"And yet it might have never happened had you not flown a giant airship." EMIYA points out.
"Ha." Castor mockingly laughs. "At least we got the job done while you humans cower in this castle."
"Brother." Pollux whispers to him. "This is a school. Not a castle."
"Really?"
"Ahem." Glynda then coughs. "Just to be certain, is it safe to assume you...commandeered one of Atlas's ships?"
"More like taken for ourselves." Medea (Lily) giggles. "We needed a new home. And thus we now have the new Argo!"
"And unlike this idiot's ship," Caenis points at Jason who scowls at the insult of his own ship back in his life. "This one can fly, has canons, and has some fancy tech."
"Well. Whatever tech that didn't get destroyed." Atalanta says, recalling the damage done onto the new Argo. "While still capable of flight and has most of the basic functions working, certain parts are a mess or unrepairable. Especially since we have no engineers."
"Then maybe we can fix that." Ozpin says getting Glynda's attention.
"Ozpin." She adjusted her glasses before glancing at the Argonauts. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"
"Indeed." The Headmaster nods, leaving some confused. Though for Jason, he knew what he meant.
"Oh, I see." Jason smirks with the air of smugness. "So now you want our help." Jason crossed his arms. "I suppose you want our power, influence, and of course, added numbers to help what little you have left." While it was all true, many felt Jason was saying it in such a way that made him look like a scumbag.
"...yes." Ozpin says as Jason then laughs arrogantly. Thankfully, Hercules slapped the back of his friend's head to get him to shut up. Once that was done, Ozpin gave the big guy a grateful look before resuming. "Listen. As you know, with the fall of Vale Remnant has never been any bleaker." Ozpin looked out his tower, where he knew beyond the academy was the former city of Vale. "With this event, all of Remnant has entered a practical state of panic."
Glynda took over as she held a scroll, looking at a few things saying, "Worldwide assistance is at a standstill. The remaining three Kingdoms are locking themselves down. Grimm attacks are happening more frequently. Not to mention the rise of these new monsters are causing great terror with everyone blaming each other. That isn't even mentioning the revelation of these 'Sister Goddesses', the blackout in Argus, not to mention forums of deaths occurring in Mistral."
"When you put it like that, things really do look bad." Asclepius along with the Servants in this room have all witnessed the terror of Singularities. However, those Singularities, where a strange force has entered in a time where they shouldn't have appeared, felt underwhelmed as instead of one location being in terror, here, an entire planet was in terror.
Sure one could say the Singularities they faced threatened to destroy the world. But here, despite the lack of a Singularity, the world can still be destroyed not because of some time shenanigans, but because of the monsters and hidden foes throughout Remnant. So yeah, things weren't good at all.
"Because of all this, we need as much manpower as needed." Ozpin looks straight at Jason. "And while I understand you and your group are considered villains here," for good reason that even EMIYA understood. "I am also aware of the skillset, power, and abilities you all have. After all...you are Servants."
That got a slight surprise by the Argonauts, though a look at EMIYA who gave them a nod told them Ozpin must have figured it out and asked. Regardless, Jason supposed it wasn't even a big deal. Not as if they were hiding their Servant status or whatever, so no real problem. Well, except for one.
"Yeah, I suppose it would be best if we all worked together. Buuuut," Oh dear. Atalanta scowled and Glynda just frowned. The rest realize Jason has entered his scumbag mode and is about to demand something. "The question is, what do we get out of it?"
While he wished to deny it, Ozpin actually expected this kind of thing from Jason. He asked of Jason from Ana before she left, and EMIYA when he had time. Both painted him as a powerful tactical leader with charisma that can charm even the most fearsome of foes. They also painted his image as a coward, weakling, a bit of a whiner, wife abuser, and scoundrel with a silver tongue. One that would try to take advantage of a bad situation for his benefit.
As such, Ozpin knew what to do.
"What is it you desire?" He asked.
"Two things." Jason got straight to the point, raising two fingers. "First, the truth." Jason also looked out the window. Remembering the battle, the deaths, and of course Haagenti. "I'm certain that it wasn't just plain bad luck that caused all those Grimm to strike, but some unforeseen enemy. One that decided to take advantage of this event. Am I close?"
While Ozpin said nothing, the silence was the answer.
"Good. As for the second one, it's quite simple." Jason then gave the widest grin he ever made. "I...want to be the King of Vale!" Now that got everyone's attention. His second demand was to rule Vale. For a moment, everyone thought he was insane for even demanding such a thing.
"It is done." Then everyone thought Ozpin was insane. Not even Jason could hide the surprise on his face, as even he didn't expect that. The blonde fool having expected some kind of resistance. Instead, Ozpin took out some papers, a pen, and then handed it to Jason. "Just sign here, here, and there, and the land is yours."
"Ozpin!" Glynda snapped and turned toward the Headmaster. "Have you gone mad!"
"Trust me. This can't end well." EMIYA joins in. The idea of Jason having Vale was just...uh! He couldn't even imagine it. Maybe he should strike Jason down before-
"And done." Nope. Too late. Jason just signed the forms and Ozpin quickly took a picture of it, took the papers away, then rummaged through a cabinet drawer and took out a single piece of paper and wrote Jason's name on it. Handing the deed to the Argonaut leader.
"Congratulations Jason." Ozpin gives Jason the deed to Vale, the land itself. "By the power vested in me, as the only person with the highest authority, seeing as Vale's council has been slain in battle, you are now the official ruler of Vale. May the Broter-er-Sisters be with you."
Jason looked at the deed for a moment, that said his right to rule Vale.
The Argonauts expected him to brag. To jump in joy. To turn around and shout out how he was right and they wrong to not believe he could pull this off, because frankly, they didn't. Now, they no longer served just a leader. But a king.
"This...doesn't feel as good as I thought." A king who felt no satisfaction of accomplishing his goal in ruling Vale. Instead, just a lack of any actual satisfaction, much to the surprise of his teammates.
"Huh. Wasn't this what you wanted?" Caenis asked him, confused. "To rule Vale and all that junk."
"Jumping in joy and bragging about it." Pollux added.
"Telling us how right you were and how wrong we were for not trusting you." Atalanta added in.
"Wait. You didn't trust me?" Jason asked.
"Not a single bit." Castor confirmed.
"You guys are asses. You know that, right?" EMIYA tells them with none of them even denying it. But hey, that's what friends were for. I mean, his friends had him hanged.
"Uh, moving on." Jason looked at the deed that now deemed him the absolute ruler of Vale. "For some reason, this just feels less satisfying than I hoped."
"I suppose that's because there's no crowd to cheer you on." Asclepius put his own thoughts why Jason didn't feel so good. I mean, he was just handed rulership like so, instead of, well, earning it in a way that would make the trip worth it.
"Plus that's not even mentioning what the city is like." Atalanta also pointed out. As Vale was technically no longer Vale considering the ruined wreck it's in. "I mean, you don't rule over a kingdom technically. Instead you own...well…"
Hercules growled and pointed at a garbage can full of garbage.
He didn't even need to say words to show what he meant.
"Yeah." Atalanta agreed. "You rule garbage basically."
"Damn it all!" Jason threw the deed on the ground. "I want a kingdom exchange! How about Mistral? I hear that's the only place that isn't experiencing troubles."
"Aside from people dying that is." Medea (Lily) says all this with a wonderful voice as if she were happy.
"Everyone dies all the time." Jason points out. "But at least over there, there aren't self-proclaimed Gods, rouge machines in freezing weather, or," Jason spreads his arms out. "A land full of rubble!"
"Unfortunately, as per the agreement," Ozpin then tells Jason before he tries making a move. "You are now the ruler of Vale. As such, it is your kingly obligation to help us all out. Whether you like it or not." Jason looked ready to explode. Quickly he grabbed the papers and his eyes scanned them.
"Oh come on!" Only to remember he couldn't read properly. Thankfully, Medea (Lily) could as she grabbed the papers and reviewed the devilish contract Jason got him, and his teammates, into. Her eyes skimming each line properly, nodding at what they meant, and then gave a satisfied smile once she spent the next seven minutes reading them. She's a fast reader.
"As the ruler of Vale's lands, you must be here to defend it and it's people as king of this country." She then gives the baby basics for everyone to understand.
"Guess we're stuck here." Asclepius says while Jason moans.
"So I'm stuck ruling rubble!? Oh come on! My son had citizens and buildings at the least when I left him!" Jason screams out as despite now owning land, that land was worth squat considering it was so wrecked that it's value went down. "How much money would it even take to get started on refixing the infrastructure?!"
"More than what you'd ever get in this lifetime." Ozpin replies as Jason bangs his head on the wall. Now realizing that he was trapped. While some would say he could just leave, unfortunately, for all of Jason's bad qualities and immense flaws, even he had standards and felt obligated to obey this contract. As such, while he hated it, he would protect this land and reluctantly do his best to make it from scratch.
Too bad he'd probably be long dead by the time this kingdom was rebuilt.
"So I guess we're stuck here now." Castor groans with Hercules growling in agreement.
"Neh. I don't like traveling to other places anyway." Asclepius shrugs.
"As long as I have Jason, I'm fine." Medea (Lily) says as she hugs Jason from behind, already knowing he was to mentally tired to push her away. And squeezing him tight with some feeling very uncomfortable by her actions. Mainly Atalanta.
"I suppose as heroes, we must defend the people of our…King's….land." Pollux says, already accepting their new role as Jason's subjects. Castor didn't particularly want to defend humans or even faunus, and especially be a subject to Jason of all people, but reluctantly decided to go along with his sister anyway.
"I see you already have good followers, for the most part." Ozpin says, glad that he was able to manipulate and outwit Jason into being the King of Vale and as such, deal with all problems that any king must face. Defending the people and making an actual kingdom. Something he too had problems with back in his early days as a king in one of his reincarnations. "But now, we must focus on other matters."
"You mean telling us who the enemy is." Jason says, finally getting enough of that mental strength to push Medea (Lily) away.
"Indeed." Ozpin sadly said. "If possible, I'd appreciate it if none of you were to spread what I'm about to say to the more regular folk."
"I can understand that." EMIYA shrugs. "From the looks of it, some secrets should stay hidden, lest people panic further."
"Sure, sure." Jason waves his hand, not really caring. "Just tell me who to sic Hercules on." Hercules slammed a fist onto his open palm with a terrifying smile. "They'll realize who they're messing with soon after."
Ozpin chuckled a bit. Despite Jason's antics, he clearly held some decent qualities in accepting his role, even if he disliked it. So, while still a bit reluctant in telling more people of the hidden shadow war in Remnant, Ozpin opened his mouth and went to explain who the true enemy here is.
"Headmaster!" That is until entering the room forcibly, was none other than Port who panted from the running up here. "We have trouble!"
As if to verify his words, howls could be heard along with mechanical clanking. Quickly Ozpin stood up and went to the tower's window with everybody else doing the same. Where in the courtyard were many Grimm and machines, both Atlas models and some of the rogue machines witnessed. Yet already Ozpin can see some oddities.
'Grimm aren't green.'
More importantly, the machines seen fought with cooperation, and tactics. Those on the ground fighting them back, but forced on the defensive as the Grimm and machines pushed forward. This wasn't good. Beacon, while heavily defended, certainly didn't expect another attack. The only good thing was that those fighting ensured the civilians out there were taken to safety while the rest fought.
What concerned Ozpin more however was that on the ground, carrying some kind of electric mace of sorts while wearing a bridal dress, a strange girl seemed to be giving command to both the machines and Grimm. Could it be, that she making a move? Now?
Before he could even ponder, a loud cracking noise was heard. Turning, it was none other than Jason who had once again broken the windows as he stared down and smirked at what was below.
"Well." He said as he took out his sword from its sheath. The blade then glows orange from the Dust vial in it. "I suppose as King, I must ensure to protect the citizens. Argonauts!" His teammates were right behind him. "Move out!"
The entire group then leapt out of the window and fell down below. Each of them ready to deliver a harsh punishment of death to these intruders. EMIYA soon follows with Glynda right behind the man. Ozpin blinking at what he witnessed, but then gave his own smirk as green power emitted from him.
"I suppose it's best to follow." Ozpin then flew down toward the enemies and began unleashing his magic upon those that dared to attack Beacon. Unaware of a hidden stealth droid watching the fight going on. Watching, to see how these do-gooders will react.
At long last, Jason has done it. Shot at. Beaten. Food poisoned. Fleeing. Betrayal. All these bad things, but at last he fulfilled his vow. For he. Is. A. KING!
A king...of a ruined kingdom with few buildings standing, it's citizens in Beacon, and needing lots of money to start rebuilding. Not to mention a whole bunch of other problems that need attention, which he has been saddled with as Ozpin notes. So yeah, Jason became king like he told his teammates.
Plus, now Jason must prove his worth to the people by battling Merlot as the attack begins here and now. Will Jason rise to the occasion and show Beacon and the people he is fit to rule them, or will he be overthrown in a bloody revolution that wants him gone. Likely the latter if I'm being honest.
Regardless, I hope you liked this chapter, leave a review, go ahead and visit the story's trope page, and pray RWBY Volume 9 will be awesome. Until next time.
In the continent of Anima, around the Kingdom of Mistral, things were oddly...calm. Of course, Huntsmen were dying left and right by some strange new creature. But overall, Mistral was the least affected by the new dangers here on Remnant. Even then, people decided to be careful, lest they be the next victim. But while doing so, one young man was wandering the kingdom of Mistral, despite that danger.
"Now where is that store." Searching for groceries, despite the fact he was such a young boy.
He has tanned skin and he has a faint, perpetual blush and freckles on his cheeks. His hair is black and his eyes are hazel, the main iris being forest green, with accents of burnt orange and yellow around the pupil. Wearing farmish clothing as he walked the streets of Mistral for a grocery store. Being here because his aunt decided to move around here with all the new Grimm appearing all over, and this kingdom allowed them to be safe.
"Well what do we have here." Well, to the Grimm and new creatures. Mistral is known for crime for a reason, as this young boy soon found out the hard way. Brute thugs coming out of an alley with barbaric grins and ruffed up clothing. The boy realized he messed up, and looked around for help. Those nearby looked away, as they are used to people like him being beaten for coin.
"Aw man." The boy said, as he raised his arms and prepared for a beating. The thugs gladly raising their fists to get a little extra coin.
"Yeah. I don't think so." Then, suddenly from nowhere, the men looked fearful. Turning, the boy did the same and saw a young woman who could be described as a cold beauty, if he read those books his aunt reads right, and wore a kimono while having ink-black hair, pale skin color and black eyes described as being of "clear void". In her hands, a simple knife that seemed ordinary, and yet the men jumped at the sight of it.
"So." The woman says as she stares at these low-life punks. "We doing this or no?"
"Yeah!" Suddenly, from behind the woman, a young girl that looked like the woman and may be her daughter, seeing as she had a younger face that looked like the woman. "You gonna mess with us?"
"..." The older woman slapped the girls head from behind making the girl whine. Still, it got the job done as the thugs ran off, knowing what will happen if they mess with this woman. A woman that was known to be one of the greats, and in the same circle as the Grimm Reaper. As for the boy, he was just confused why the men ran off, and concluded this woman must be some kind of Huntress.
"Well kid," He then heard the woman call to him as she began leaving. Dragging the girl behind her who then claimed she wanted to see her dad in a very affectionate way. "Be more careful out here. You never know what you might find." Then, the woman vanished away in the distance.
Oscar Pines, blinking before starting to move. Huh. Mistral had very interesting people here.