"Get up, Jaune!" Ashlynn cried.
Jaune's breathing came to an abrupt halt when he tripped over something. He lifted his head up and saw Ashlynn's hair was stained with red, similar to the blade she held in her hand. He could barely recognize the blade that gleamed in the sun, nor the girl he fell for. The look of fear on her face become one of desperation as the low growls grew louder. Jaune rolled over onto his back to see a monster about to pounce on him.
He would've screamed if Ashlynn hadn't struck first and thrusted Crocea Mors deep into the monster's hide. It let out a piercing howl in pain, collapsing under Ashlynn's weight as she continued to thrust the blade in deeper. Her grunts and screams were desperate, maniacal even. Soon, the creature began to fade away, allowing Ashlynn to lift the blade again with the last of her strength. She mustered everything within her to even stand.
"I..." she gasped. "Will not die like this. Not. Like. This." She dropped the blade and offered him a hand. She firmly grasped him and pulled him into a hug, stroking his hair gently to ease his stress a little.
He hadn't spoken since his father was torn to shreds. Ashlynn was there for his final words as he handed her the family heirloom, but he wasn't fixated on that. His mother shielded him from some beast, he'd seen golden hair sprawled over the corpses of his sisters... He wasn't sure who was still alive anymore. Was he alive...?
"Please stay with me, Jaune..." Ashlynn begged. Her own breathing hitched. She picked up the blade again and pulled him forward with her other hand, determined to make it out of the village. "Look! The townsfolk! We'll be okay-"
Jaune's ears began to ring as an explosion knocked him off his feet. He was sent flying and grimaced when his body slammed against a wall. He struggled to even adjust his head to see the horrifying sight. Ashlynn was caught under some rubble. If she were crying out in pain, he wouldn't be able to tell by her screams. Had he gone deaf? He watched as she howled and struggled beneath the concrete.
"Help..." he muttered. Just a small distance away, he could see someone armed to the teeth. A Huntsman? "Help."
The man, the kid didn't hear him. He simply continued to fire his weapon, causing even more explosions.
"Oi! That was my kill!"
His kill...?
Another appeared. This one female, with her hair done in a braid. She held some sort of device in her hand. Her body was adorned with belts of grenades.
"Here I go putting effort into setting up my babies along the walls for the Grimm and you're just destroying them anyway. Seriously, this took me some time."
The defenses were destroyed because of her...? Why!? It wouldn't help in the long run.
"Ah, forget about it. You're just bitter I'm the best exterminator on the team. Look at you, trying to get a bunch of the cannonfodder at once with that chain of explosions. That wall could've held out."
"Help us..." Jaune tried again.
"Yeah, but there was a whole swarm of them there. I guarantee you the majority of the nest was handled by yours truly."
"Whatever. Just keep them busy until the others get here. We'll sort this out and make a name for ourselves."
"Help!"
His cries and Ashlynn's went unheard somehow. He desperately began to crawl over to Ashlynn. She was beginning to cry, reaching her hand out towards him. He did what he could to comfort her.
"Run..." she begged.
"My word..." a gruff voice said.
Jaune's eyes darted over to the man towering over him. He felt something in his heart ignite as the man placed a hand on his shoulder. The grand mustache he donned, the collected expression on his face, the surge of energy he began to feel dwelling within him. The man reached for Ashlynn as well.
"For it is in our time we seek glory. We raise our hands in triumph as the cheers motivate us to save just one more soul. To strive with honor and rest with resolve, I am bound by the virtues of man. And by my hand, free thee from the shackles of darkness."
The man trudged over to the rubble and easily lifted the concrete off of Ashlynn. Jaune immediately embraced her, letting the tears leak as his partner was granted freedom.
"I have unlocked your aura," the man wheezed. "Behind me should be a clear path. You should see some other survivors about to flee into the forest. Go. I'll stall these demons for as long as I can."
"Sir..."
"Hmph. Young man, I am Peter Port. And you have far too much to live for." He eyed Ashlynn. "She's a fighter, young man. A keeper for sure. Don't you think you should put on a brave face for her as well?"
Jaune's eyes sparkled.
Jaune could tell Ashlynn saw fear in his eyes. The boy with grey hair and girl with piercing red eyes flanked her, much to his confusion. He didn't know where Blake was, he saw Roman holding up his weapon, aiming in his direction... He was outnumbered. Even if he used his semblance, he couldn't take on all of them. Especially since Ashlynn is aware of what he's capable of.
And he knew what she was capable of.
"I thought you were gone..." Jaune weakly said. He took a step back, terrified. "Why, Ashlynn...? No, what is this? I-"
"Refrain from calling me that, my dear." She slowly sauntered over towards him. With every step she took towards him, he responded with one away from her. He needed to think and act. Fast. "I honestly did believe I was done for. I don't think I felt that scared since our home was overrun. Tell me, Jaune... Have you been fulfilling my last wish for me? I do hope my efforts have been for naught. After all, you made it into Beacon like we originally planned."
"The Vytal Festival is approaching..." he said slowly. Could he just leave Blake? He needed to ascertain what she wanted. It seemed as though she wouldn't harm him, but... Why did his very core tell him to make a run for it? "I've already stirred and provoked the students at Beacon. And the ones from the other academies are coming in. Once I get things going with them, I was going to finish everything at the final bout of the tournament, regardless if I made it or not."
"So your resolve has not shaken, truly?"
"No..."
"It's not like you to lie to me, my dear. I know it's been a while, but surely you haven't forsaken me? Us? Our destiny?" He saw her eyes spark for a brief moment. Her little tell. This wasn't good. "Here you are causing trouble for my subordinate. And all for a girl, no less? Someone I know very little about... Why don't you join us in the other room? I'm certain a nice conversation between the three of us should clear everything up, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah..."
So that was what she was after. She's in the same boat. She needs information as well.
"Shall we?" She turned towards her companions. "Emerald, be a dear and fetch us some refreshments. Mercury, prepare the girl and the room. And Roman?" she called out. He lowered his weapon, his expression hardened. "Fear not, I know Jaune wouldn't let further harm come to your dear girl. And anyone under my care is my responsibility, I promise you."
The three of them scattered, soon leaving him alone with Ashlynn. No, Cinder. He had to start calling her that, didn't he? She continued to walk over to him, his back against one of the metal containers, cutting off any chance at escape. Did he want to flee though?
Cinder raised her hand and brushed it against his cheek before cupping it. She gently stroked it and edged closer, her warm breath tainted by the scent of wine, alluring his sense of smell. Her piercing eyes gazed into him, full of purpose and drive. And yet, he was cornered by a complete stranger, wasn't he?
"Come," she instructed. "There's much for us to catch up on."
Pyrrha didn't understand the brief message Jaune had sent her. She showed it to Yang and she didn't have much of an idea either. Perhaps it was code for something or maybe a simple mistake? It very well could've been intended for another recipient, but it didn't stop her from pondering on the matter. Until Yang snapped her back to reality that is.
"What if it was meant for Blake?" Yang suggested.
"Why would you think that?"
"Well, you did mention he was with her when they came back, right? And we know for a fact that they were involved with the incident at the docks regarding potential White Fang activity. Maybe this was a message for her regarding that. Hold on, actually."
Yang fished for her scroll and browsed it. She held it out to Pyrrha.
"I have Blake's scroll tracked. She's in Vale, so maybe Jaune's with her again? I still don't know the purpose behind the message he sent, but maybe it could be of importance."
"Perhaps..." Pyrrha agreed.
Pyrrha's scroll buzzed again. When she unlocked it to read her new message, she almost dropped it. Her eyes widened and she felt her fingers tremble. Yang was savvy enough to pick up on her distress. Pyrrha showed the new message.
Help.
The next thing she knew, she was sprinting towards the locker room. She needed to fetch her weapons. Was this an overreaction? No. The brief messages and lack of any explanation said enough. Yang was on her tail, ready to assist her however. She was on her scroll, contacting someone. She grunted in frustration. Backup not picking up, then?
They burst into the room and made their way to her locker. Once she grabbed her gear, something else caught her attention.
"Yang, you heard that, didn't you?"
"What? You slamming your locker?"
Pyrrha shook her head and scanned the room. It was a startled yelp or something along those lines. Was someone else in the room with them?
"Hello?" she called out.
"In here..." a familiar voice muttered.
Pyrrha directed her attention towards a locker. She peered inside to see Velvet trapped inside.
"Velvet?" she wondered. "Why... No, now's not the time. Are you trapped?"
"Yes..."
Pyrrha didn't hesitate to use her semblance to free her. The door of the locker was forced open and sent flying across the room. Perhaps she overdid it there. Inside was sight that made her stomach drop a bit. Yang's eyes flared.
"Who did this?" Yang demanded. "No... Where is he?"
She already deduced who did this?
"Don't worry about it," Velvet dismissed. "Thanks for freeing me."
She was about to bolt, but Pyrrha grabbed her wrist. Velvet struggled and tried to break free. She almost did but Pyrrha made her stop in her tracks. She wasn't sure if this was the right call, but right now, she needed as much help as she could get.
"I believe Jaune's in danger!"
Velvet froze. Her ears perked up, twitched, and her hands curled into fists.
"It's about time someone gets retribution on him," she spat. "L-Let me guess, he pissed off the wrong person or even a staff member and-"
"This is more than some retribution for his antics! I mean it, Velvet." Pyrrha added. "Why... Did something-"
"You clearly have something going on with him," Yang interjected. "You don't have to come with us, just let the staff know we're going to this address in Vale."
Yang tilted her head as she broke off into a run again. Pyrrha followed after looking back at Velvet one last time. She'd have to ask her what was ailing her, but right now, there were far more pressing matter at hand. What are you getting yourself into, Jaune?
"Stupid..." Velvet cursed to herself. She wanted to scream, to punch something. She wanted all of this stupid torment to end. She had her pride though. And she didn't need someone like Jaune to criticize her for her actions. If anything, maybe it was about time faced the music. It was clear Pyrrha had feelings for him. Surely she was overreacting to whatever predicament Jaune got himself into this time.
She scoffed and made her way back to her room for the night, and she didn't see a single staff member on the way there.
Cinder being Ashlynn was planned since the beginning. The italicized text in the beginning of some chapters are Cinder's own words to Jaune when she was Ashlynn. More of her will be explored a bit further in the next chapter.
I felt like Jaune's inner conflict regarding Pyrrha wasn't enough. Not nearly as much power as this little twist. I planned on saving this for a bit later, but I felt this could work in this direction. And I cannot wait to explore this along with something else regarding out dear rabbit girl.
Well, hopefully I can get the next chapter out soon. We'll see.
-Mute