I know this is, and should be, obvious to most but a few people have asked or brought it up in reviews – why doesn't Relic just kill Cinder? Well, the obvious and simple answer is that he wants to save his daughter, Emerald, and killing the woman she loves and obsesses over isn't going to do that. It'd more likely end up with Emerald killing herself or committing suicide by huntress in an effort to finish what Cinder started. Relic is hoping to save Em by showing her the light and how bad Cinder is, and he can't do that by throwing away Em's freedom of choice.
Cover Art: Curbizzle
Chapter 11
Barista was possibly the nicest Jaune that Ruby had ever met, and she didn't say that lightly. He wasn't as awesome as Knight – who was? – and with him belonging to Velvet, that had kept her from really interacting with him, but he'd sought her out, and for no other reason than to catch up. That had been a little intimidating at first, until she realised how easy he was to talk to. They'd been chatting happily ever since.
It was sort of like meeting a friend you never realised you had, or one that you hadn't seen for years. He knew things about her, things she wasn't secretive about but which she didn't tell everyone either. The fact he knew at all made it clear she trusted him a lot in his world, and it also showed that their worlds weren't all that different.
"You're still a huntress, you're on Team RWBY and you're the leader," he said. "I've been talking with Velvet and Coco and honestly, this world is pretty much a mirror image of mine. Except that there's a me here on a team as well."
"Did everything happen the same way?"
"If by that you mean Blake running off to the docks like an idiot, the White Fang being assholes and you all preparing for the Vytal Tournament, sure."
He had an easy smile, one born of ages serving coffee in his restaurant. Yet again, he'd spoiled her with some crazy ice-cream and caramel treat that allegedly was coffee. Ruby wasn't convinced but nor was she going to argue. It tasted so good!
"This Blake running off thing seems a recurring trend," Knight said. "My Blake was never so flighty."
"C… Can you not say it like that?" their Blake mumbled with reddened cheeks.
"Flighty?"
"No." Her eyes darted away. "Your Blake…"
"Ah." Knight chuckled, and Ruby giggled as well. Watching the usually unflappable Blake lose herself to embarrassment was too funny not to enjoy. "Well, either way there was only one time she really ran from us, and we had to chase her a long way. Across the ocean no less."
Ruby sensed an adventure and wasn't left disappointed as Knight sprang into a tale of an honest to goodness pirate fortress, their infiltration of it, a huge battle and then the summoning of some monstrous demon by the forces of the evil Greycloaks. Barista may have been nice and sweet and friendly, but Knight was just so much of everything. He was her every heroic fantasy wrapped in one armoured package – oh how she wished she could live in his world. Then she could be a super cool hero, now a queen as well and… and his…
Heat burned across her face as she realised what else she'd be. Okay, maybe she hadn't thought that one through. Not that Knight wasn't super handsome – he totally was. He took Jaune's goofy but not unattractive features, ironed them out into something more chiselled, and then dashingly threw on a cape and a princely smile. Ruby squirmed in her seat, only realising she'd tuned out when Knight finished his story, and she couldn't recollect any of the ending.
And Blake was grinning at her, the traitor. That was a dangerous choice on her part given the heaps of teasing material the team had gained on Blake for her apparent relationships with half the Jaunes of the multiverse.
"It's just so strange that it's always Jaune that changes," Ruby said, more to draw attention away from her embarrassment than anything. "Jaune as a knight, or Jaune as a barista or Jaune even becoming a criminal like Xiong. Do we not change? Don't we have a choice?"
"I'm sure there are many universes where things change because you did something," Barista said. "I bet there are even some where you opened a coffee shop."
"He's right." Blake said. "The Brother Gods specifically chose Jaune to be the one in their tournament, so they looked for worlds where he was different Now that we know they exist, it stands to reason there are worlds where it's you or I that are the outliers." She suddenly gained a teasing grin and said, "I bet there is even one where the Dark Lady Ruby Rose is the scourge of all free people, and we have to unite together to overthrow her."
"No way!" Ruby squawked. "I'm not a dark lady!"
"There's probably a world where Blake is the star of those smutty novels she likes so much," a sarcastic voice chipped in. Fate walked up, his hair dishevelled and a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. He kicked a chair out with his foot and flopped onto it. "Blake Belladonna, the Kunoichi of Love, sleeping her way through legions of samurai, ninja and tentacle monsters."
"Are you sure that isn't your life?" Blake hissed, ears flattened. "And my books are mature fantasy romance, not porn."
Fate finished his cigarette and snuffed it out on the table, burning the wood. The way he grinned, head lolling to one side, warned Ruby he was about to say something shocking. She was not disappointed. "Really? That's interesting, seeing as how you asked me to act out plenty of those scenes in the bedroom. You're either lying now or you were then, and you were just a horny little kitty trying to trick poor, innocent, me into bed. Which is it, hm?"
If looks could kill. Well. Fate would have died on the first day of his summoning. Poor Blake's face was glowing a cherry shade of red, and Ruby would have guessed it was half embarrassment, half murderous rage. He said he'd slept with me as well, she thought while hiding in her cloak. At least he didn't give stories of that – mostly because Ruby was smart enough not to engage in a verbal sparring match with a man who had weapons of mass destruction.
"Why are you even here?" Blake snapped.
"Why, to meet the latest pawn to join Ozpin's board of course. This so-called grand strategist. Long may he reign, at least until he's thrown away in a sacrificial gambit."
"Life isn't a game of chess," Knight said.
"Not to us, it isn't. To one who lives forever? Well, perspectives change. How is Yang doing?"
The sudden and random change threw Ruby for a loop. Yang was… better, she supposed. Still hurting and still blaming herself for what happened to Leviathan, but Ruby had honestly expected it to be worse. Her sister was bouncing back slowly, and eager to keep fighting. In her words, she was going to win this for Leviathan's sake and make the bastard that shot him pay. That was more productive a solution than she could have hoped for.
"Yang is… better…" Ruby said.
"Good."
"What do you care?" Blake demanded.
"Watch your tone or I'll take you over my knee." He grinned. "Though knowing you, you might enjoy that." He waited, but this time Blake was wise enough to stay quiet. Fuming. But quiet. "Let's just say I prefer my big-titty blondes bubbly and bouncy and leave it at that."
"Pig," Blake sneered.
Ruby could only shrug. Yang had been… weird around Fate in the last day or two. Weird enough that at first Ruby had dreaded to imagine he'd cornered her in her grief and offered some `comfort`. The kind she really didn't want to know about. Luckily, Yang had dispelled that notion when Weiss rather crassly, and with a horrified expression, accused her of being bedded by the reprobate.
"Hey! Hey!" Case in point, Yang strolled into the room with slightly shadowed eyes and swatted her hand against the back of Fate's head. The way she laughed as she did, and the way he didn't react negatively, had all sorts of question marks rising in Ruby's head. Since when did they banter? Yang even yanked out a seat and sat down beside him. "If it isn't my favourite sister hanging out with my least-favourite Jaune. What's up?"
"Fate is being a disgusting pig!" Blake accused.
"I'm being unfairly judged," he lazily replied.
Yang snorted. "Yeah, right. Maybe if you weren't such a manwhore. Look at your hair – did you crawl out of someone else's bed five minutes before this?"
"Pyrrha's."
Ruby and Blake gaped.
"Not as he says!" Pyrrha cried out as she and the rest of her team entered the room. "He slept in my bed while Jaune and I were training." Huffily, she added, "I had to share with Nora."
"Whoah." Yang whistled and held her palm to Fate's forehead. "Not sleeping with a random woman last night. Are you ill?"
"It's possible I might be dying," he replied. "We should check to be sure. Quick, find a hospital bed, a curtain and a sexy nurse outfit. I'll wait."
Rather than get angry or embarrassed, Yang snorted and punched his arm. It was Blake's turn to give Ruby the `wtf` expression, and she retuned it with a shrug. Hey, Yang might be her sister but that didn't mean she came with an instruction manual. Ruby was as lost as anyone else.
Finally, the door opened, and Ozpin entered with the last of them – namely Weiss, who had been invited to spend the morning with her sister, Winter. The arrival of Atlas' forces would have otherwise been a formality for the students, except for the fact that Ozpin had confided in them all that Atlas would be directly aiding them, both with their military might and security systems, but also with an additional iteration of Jaune to join their ranks. Ruby was eager to meet them. I hope they're nice.
The people that followed after were assuredly not from Beacon, however. Winter's sister was unmistakable for her bright white hair and blue eyes, but there was a giant of a man with black hair, a face wrought from iron and the beginnings of a stubbly beard. He was impressive and kind of intimidating, but it was hard to say he captured the room when they were all more interested in the last figure, the new Jaune.
Their age – it was funny how, after the docks, him being there age was no longer a guarantee. He had the same build as their Jaune, but his hair had been pulled back and pressed upward, cut short and out of his forehead. He didn't have any defining features, scars or much of anything to separate him from Jaune other than the hairstyle. And the outfit, she thought. He was wearing what might as well have been a cloned uniform of he man beside him, white pants, blue shirt and a grey waistcoat under a white military overcoat that reached to mid-thigh. It was buttoned over his neck like a collar with four bronze studs, and on his left bicep was a symbol – some kind of rank. Ruby wasn't familiar enough with Atlas to tell what it meant but it looked special, a circle with three dots at the bottom and an arrow pointing upward inside.
He doesn't look unfriendly, she thought to herself as the Jaune also looked over them. He didn't appear surprised by anything other than seeing himself, wherein his head tilted. He flashed them all a nervous smile that was oh so Jaune. And hey, he doesn't automatically hate Jaune like Fate does. That's a bonus.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ozpin spoke up. "This is General James Ironwood, headmaster and commander of Atlas' academy and military jointly. His specialist assistant Winter Schnee as well." He paused to allow Ironwood and Winter to greet them. Winter did so with a functional nod, but Ironwood stretched his face into a smile. It was surprisingly fatherly given his otherwise solid rock exterior. Then again, he was a headmaster like Ozpin, so he was probably used to dealing with people their age.
"A pleasure to meet you all," he said. "I've heard much of your exploits, and I have to say I'm impressed with how seriously you're all taking the situation. People your age should not have to be drawn into a war, least of all one with the fate of all Remnant on its shoulders, but it speaks well of you all that you've risen to it all the same."
Around the table they began to sit a little taller. Even Ruby wasn't unaffected and hid a shy smile. It was cool of them to fight, wasn't it? Not that they could have said no with the way things were going, but it was nice to have someone recognise the difficulties they'd been through.
"I've also been made aware of your recent skirmish and the loss of one of your members." He paused in a moment of respect. "Losing someone is never easy and, at the risk of sounding repetitive, it is not something anyone your ages should have to deal with. That said, I've reviewed the footage and reports and I have to say there was very little you could have done. I know it won't make the pain any less, but you should not fault yourselves. There was no reason to expect a sniper."
Yang gripped her fists tight and stared down at the table, the most effected by his words for obvious reasons. Her eyes flicked to Fate of all people before she too nodded.
"Thank you, James." Ozpin said. "I've said as much to them myself but it often helps to have an outside opinion. And, we have some good news today as well," he added. "General Ironwood has agreed to help us all against Salem's forces – he has been a staunch and trustworthy ally of mine for years now, and his assistance will be most appreciated. I encourage you all to work with him."
"I would like to interject that it will be working with and not for," the General said. "I want you all to understand that while I may give out orders in the heat of the moment, I accept that you are citizens of Vale and students of Beacon. I hope you will trust and follow what I say, and that you will understand I am falling back on military training in the heat of battle." He smiled a little lopsidedly and said, "So don't take anything seriously if I sound a little harsh. We're all in this together and we'll be fighting as allies to bring Salem down."
"Maybe he should be in command…" someone muttered. Yang. Quiet and lacking her usual fire, she said, "He knows more than we do about war. What did we do? Walk into an ambush, choose to stay and fight when we could have run and then achieve nothing."
"Yang…" Blake whispered. "It's not… That…"
"There are logistical reasons I cannot lead you as well as personal ones," Ironwood said. "I can hardly follow three teams of foreign students around all day, and we can never predict when and where you might come under attack. However, should you wish to seek me out for instruction, guidance or even advice, you may do so." His voice became softer. "I, too, have lost good men and women thanks to my poor decisions, Miss Xiao-Long. You're not alone in that. The important thing is that we remember them, and that we learn from our mistakes to ensure their sacrifice was not in vain. Everyone falters eventually; it's just a case of how soon we can climb back to our feet."
Maybe this new Jaune wasn't the only cool and nice person here, Ruby thought with a depreciating smile. General Ironwood was suddenly pretty amazing himself – and nicer and kinder than his scary appearance suggested.
"I, for one, will have no problem working with Archmage Ironwood," Knight said. "We have worked well together in the past."
"Ah. Knight, is it? I've heard a lot about you."
"Archmage?" Winter asked. The first peep from her – it seemed it wasn't only Ironwood curious about their ridiculously powerful ally. "Is that a reference to our technology seeming as wizardry to you or…?"
"It was his Class in my world. He led Atlas, much as he does here."
"Interesting." Ironwood said. "I'd love to hear more sometimes. And Winter…?"
"Your assistant and personal bodyguard."
"Our worlds are not so different then. Speaking of, Warchief. Introduce yourself."
It was finally time for the Jaune to step up. He stood straight and kept his hands linked behind his back in what Ruby suspected was the Atlas default pose. "I am Jaune Arc, codename Warchief to avoid confusion. It's a pleasure to meet you all again."
"Based on our studies into his stories, Warchief's world is as good a perfect mirror as our own," Ironwood explained. "Team designations are identical, there are no political differences and his relationships with everyone are practically identical to the Jaune of this world," he added with a nod toward their Jaune. "That should hopefully make working together easier. Warchief is a master of tactical strategic and battlefield control. In short, he is an apt commander of men."
Warchief sighed at that. "I wish you wouldn't put it like that…"
"Can he fight?" Fate asked.
"His current age places him as being within Beacon, so he should have the same background education as Mr Arc here."
Fate smirked. "We're all going to die."
"I have also been training him myself." Winter added sharply. "Warchief was initially rough around the edges but I have been able to iron out many of his problems. He was… a surprisingly good student. If the young man here shares his potential for rapid growth then he should make a fine huntsman."
Jaune, the normal Jaune, blushed. "Ahah. Please stop."
"Yes." Weiss said, sounding and looking vaguely ill at hearing her sister compliment her unwanted suitor. "Please stop."
"So," Fate said, "He can fight a little better than usual? Specialist-style training? Or did you teach him the Schnee-fencing style?"
"Are you familiar with either?"
"I've trained in both actually."
"How did you train in our family style-? No. Don't answer that." Winter crossed her arms. Ruby really hoped she didn't push because she didn't want to hear the screaming if she found out she'd slept with Fate in another lifetime. "I taught Warchief a little of both. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
"Greatly. Thank you."
"You're all dismissed if you wish to take the day to learn a little about Warchief," Ozpin said. "However, could Team JNPR please stay behind? Their iterations included."
Curious or not, that was as much a hint as she could get. Ruby joined Weiss and the rest of her team in standing up and moving for the door. Warchief followed, his hands hooked behind his head.
"So," Blake said. Ruby could imagine what awkward question was floating around in her head, but she didn't have the guts to ask it. "How did you go from everyday student and leader of Team JNPR to tactical genius? Is there a story there?"
"Oh, there's a story alright," Warchief grumbled. "Ren wrote the bloody thing and I'm still picking up the unwanted royalties."
"Ren is an author in your world?"
"Yes. A fantasy author, no matter how much he and everyone else thinks otherwise…"
/-/
Team JNPR sat awkwardly at a now much emptier table, and Pyrrha couldn't help but fidget under the impossible to decipher gaze of the headmaster. Their team, she couldn't help but think, was perhaps the least deserving of the good General's praise. Yes, they had fought hard and she, Jaune, Ren and Nora hadn't shirked their duty, but each of their iterations has. Fate refused and Hunter didn't consider himself strong enough, which meant Team JNPR had next to nothing to offer in the war other than their own bodies.
It was worse to think that Yang had a better relationship now with Fate than she did, and he was supposed to be her summoned champion. Ruby and Knight got on famously, and Barista was settling in well with his team for all that his combat strength was next to nothing. Is it me? Am I doing something wrong? With Fate hating her partner, she was loathe to put up with him, and that was before all the sleeping around. Jaune would never sleep with women so casually. He's a romantic at heart.
"Thank you for staying," Ozpin said. "I'm sure you are wondering why we asked you to remain behind."
"Because Fate and Hunter aren't fighting, and you want them to." Ren guessed, echoing her thoughts. They proved accurate as Ironwood nodded once, drawing a derisive snort from Fate.
"That's true." Ironwood said. "I understand that you might have your reasons, and that those reasons may even be valid, but this is a war to determine the fate of our world. Ozpin has been kind in allowing you to stay out of this, but recent actions mean it's time to draw a sharp line between who is friend and who is foe."
That… Was that a threat? Pyrrha's mind reeled.
"And so, the General shows his colours." Fate said mockingly. "You're either with us or against us, and you can't guarantee what happens to those who choose to be against you."
It couldn't be like that. Surely not. "I'm glad to see you understand." Ironwood said.
"O-Ozpin…" Pyrrha stammered. "You can't be serious!"
"I'm afraid that I must be, Miss Nikos." The headmaster bowed his head sadly. "Naturally, this is no danger or you or your teammates. Your loyalty is without question."
"Theirs is not." Ironwood interrupted. "And we need to know that everyone is on our side. The situation is too dangerous for anything else. It is cruel, I accept, but if I must be cruel to preserve our world than I shall."
"Bastards." Hunter snapped. "You huntsmen are all the same – trampling over people's rights in the name of the greater good. What now? What if we say no? You'll kill us? What of our rights?"
"Technically speaking, as non-residents of this world, you do not have any."
Pyrrha's jaw dropped.
Fate's did, too, albeit in wild laughter. "Ha ha ha! This is it – this is more like it! Here's the Ironwood that decided to torture information out of me when I went to him in one of my loops. Here's the Ironwood that blindly pushes ahead, sure in his justice, only to fail time and time again."
Ironwood linked his hands behind his back. "I do not expect either of you to like me for this decision. I do not much like myself for making it. However, it shall be enforced."
"I'm a hunter," Hunter said. "I kill animals, not men!"
"Men are no different than animals."
The young man in green stormed to his feet, knocking his chair back. "They are to me!" he roared. "I kill animals to feed hungry humans and faunus. I don't kill them. That's not who I am!"
"Then don't kill. Fight on the front lines as non-lethally as you can."
"Be a human meat shield, he means." Fate translated. "Take a bullet meant for someone more valuable."
"And you, Fate, you must fight as well," he said. "I don't accept this excuse of not being good enough because your conditioning doesn't reset. The foundations are important, I agree, but your knowledge, your expertise, must be worth a hundred times that. I cannot even begin to imagine how many skillsets you possess."
"No." Fate said ominously. "You cannot."
"Those skills could be invaluable to us – to our world. I understand you are refusing to compete on principal, but what if we could make it worth your while? I've heard you're not above your vices."
"What? Are you offering me a harem of beauties? Maybe Winter?"
Winter Schnee stiffened. "I would never in a million lifetimes touch you."
"Oh darling." He winked. "You already have." Fate let that hang, watching Winter bluster and turn a dark shade of red, before he sighed. "But I know how this old song and dance goes. I've had my fingernails pulled out by you already, Ironwood. Felt you channel electricity into my skull. What can a time-travelling loser like me do against the esteemed General of Atlas, hm? Fine. You win. I'll fight for you. But…" he stressed. "I expect resources. Whatever I ask for and need."
Ironwood nodded but also said, "Within reason."
"Of course. Of course. After all, we're all on the same side here. Aren't we?"
"We are." Ironwood said, ignoring Fate's mocking gaze. "And you, Hunter? I could arm you with a high-powered bow and arrows delivering various payloads. They could be yours for your cooperation."
Hunter's teeth were grinding together. His hands were clenched into tight balls and shaking violently. Pyrrha wondered if he'd lash out and deck the General, and if Ren shouldn't try and help.
How can I criticise him when I didn't do a thing to help Fate? He was just threatened with death and forced to fight against his will.
No one should be forced into that, and yet… with their world on the line. The Gods had chosen them to represent their side, to represent her and Ren, and they couldn't do that if they didn't compete. Oh, why couldn't she have been given someone like Knight. Even Leviathan had been easier – even Barista or Xiong. Never in her life had the Invincible Girl felt so helpless.
"I…" Hunter closed his eyes and looked away. "Damn you, I don't have a choice. But I won't kill. I'll distract and delay, but that's it. I will never take a shot that ends a person's life – to hell with you and your world."
"Good enough." General Ironwood intoned. "Winter will see you both equipped to your wishes. I'm pleased we could reach this agreement-"
A loud blast echoed across Beacon, rocking the room enough to cause dust to shake and fall from the ceiling. Ironwood lurched back, and Fate, who had been balancing on two chair legs, had to lunge forward and grip the table to prevent himself falling back. Pyrrha was up on her feet alongside Nora, with Jaune scrambling after her.
"What was that!?" Ironwood roared. "Are we under attack?"
"Maybe Salem's lot finally noticed your airship." Fate said snidely. "They're not going to take you coming down without interference, are they?"
Ironwood swore and sprinted for the door. Winter followed, then Ozpin with a shout of "Team JNPR, follow! If this is an attack then we must all be present to repel it!"
They weren't the only ones who had heard it. On stepping outside, students were already either staring in the direction of the sound or rushing towards it. The older students filled the latter, several with weapons drawn. Miss Goodwitch also came charging up, panting heavily. "Sir! The west wing- it's no fire, there's been an explosion."
"Not the airships?" Ironwood asked. He must have taken Fate's suggestion to heart.
"No. It's the school! The upper-year dorms."
Ozpin led the way and Ironwood and they followed. En route, they ran into Team RWBY, startled but ready for action. Knight had a hand on his longsword and fell in beside them with a curt nod, covering long strides as his heavy armour clinked and clanked. Two corridors and a staircase later brought them to the upper levels, where thick, black smoke covered the top half of the corridor, forcing them to cough and crouch low under it.
Ahead, students were dragging injured away – thankfully more of a few burns and some passed out from the smoke than blood and gore. Professor Port was already there, wielding a fire extinguisher and valiantly gushing ice-dust propellant into the blaze. The hulking figure of Yatsuhashi appeared, dragging Velvet by one hand and Coco by another. Both were unconscious, their skin and clothes charred.
"What happened!?" Ironwood boomed. Winter shot past him to summon several glyphs and aid against the fire, while Fate moved to the nearest window, tried to open it and then smashed it open by hurling a nearby chair through it. The smoke began to flow out of it and up into the sky.
"Get more windows open!" Ozpin shouted on seeing him. The nearby students hurried to obey. "Smash them if you must! Check every dorm and make sure no one has passed out! Leave no one behind! Yatsuhashi, where is Fox?"
"A-Alive," the tall teen coughed. "He's helping others. Ack! Hack!"
"What happened?" Ironwood repeated. "Who did this?"
"It… It was our room. Hack! T… There was an explosion. Second the door was opened." He choked out a loud series of coughs, thumping his chest. Ren moved over to pat his back while Nora and she moved to help Coco and Velvet. They looked terrible, but they were both still breathing. They'd need to be taken to the infirmary.
"Wait," Pyrrha said. "Where is Jaune? Barista?"
"H… He was the one to open the door." Yatsuhashi said grimly. "He took the full blast. No time for aura if he even had the control." He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head. Pyrrha's heart sank even before he said, "He didn't make it. He… Barista is dead."
Not our favourite coffee boy! He never even got the chance to pour the evil team a brew! Alas, another Jaune falls and the teams are drawn ever tighter. It was something of a miracle Barista lasted this long at all. At least he goes back to a world he is mostly happy with, back to his tsundere girlfriend and his fledgling coffee empire. Fare thee well, prince of decaff.
Next Chapter: 5th February
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur