Finishing this a casual fifteen minutes before I'm expected to call the CEO of some food manufacturing company to conduct an interview on how the global food convenience industry has changed over the last 10 years and how they have reacted to it.

Riveting stuff.

I hate doing interviews where they provide or have to vet the questions. I mean, if you're going to see them in advance, just WRITE the answers out and save us both the time. I'll only have to talk to you, record the whole thing and then play it back and write it out myself. Let's cut out the middle man.

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 11

"Fifteen other teams report finding what we've begun to term `Golems`," Oobleck said, tossing down a sheet of paper with a list of names on it onto the table. "Of those teams, two were injured and forced to retreat, though none suffered any critical injuries or losses."

"And the Golems?"

"Huntsmen were dispatched to destroy them the moment the teams called in. It seems the difficulty was not the Golems themselves, but the students being surprised and overwhelmed by the sudden influx of Grimm."

"Hm." Jaune tapped his fingers on the desk. It felt like they were waiting for him to make a decision – which was odd given that everyone here knew he was a fraud acting as a figure head. "Qrow, you fought one down south, didn't you? Was it similar to ours?"

"Pretty much." Qrow took a swig and leaned back against a porthole on the airship that now made up his office. "It was easy for me to deal with. Fly over, drop down and cut the thing to pieces before the Grimm realised what was going on. For those on foot, though? Harder. You couldn't get to it through the Grimm wading round it."

"Tactics?" Glynda asked. "Were they using strategy?"

"Don't think so. More they were drawn to it and that accidentally ended up with them `guarding` it. I'd say it was made that way by design, but tactics suggests intelligent thinking. This looked more… engineered."

"Salem." Glynda sighed. "Nothing we didn't expect, though I suppose this confirms it."

"Nothing you didn't expect? Speak for yourself." Roman sighed. "Finally got away from Cinder, only to find there's a bigger `Cinder` behind her. Wonderful. You really remind me every day why it was a good idea to side with you, Jaune. You really do."

"Side?" Jaune replied. "I don't seem to remember you choosing to side with me at all. Or me giving you a choice. I think I called you my-"

"Oi, oi! Let's not dig up memories. Salem. Dealing with. How?"

Trust Roman to throw out the shade but not be able to take it. "We can't really deal with her at all until we have more information on what she is, how she works and how she can be stopped. Or if she can be convinced to stop." Glynda snorted and Jaune didn't disagree. The chance of this ending peacefully was low, but he threw it out there. "In any case, we need information – and Ozpin is the one who has it all."

"Ozpin has always been secretive," Glynda warned. "Even among those he trusts, he keeps information close to his chest. Even knowing of Salem's existence was something he tried to keep from anyone he could."

"No one wants to cause a panic," Oobleck said.

"No, but we can't do jack if we don't know anything," Qrow said. "The only reason he told Raven and I about the Relics was to get us motivated about protecting them. Knowing the world might end if she got hold of them."

"Raven?" Jaune asked, looking up.

Qrow grimaced. "Jaune, no. Please…"

"Didn't she kill Mercury and Emerald, saving Yang's life?"

"Unconfirmed."

"Yang said she saw her…"

"Could have been a trick of the light." It was obvious Qrow didn't believe the words coming from his own mouth. Jaune raised a single eyebrow. "Okay look, yeah it was Raven who saved her, but that's how she operates. People get `one time` with her and then you're on your own. She can't be trusted – she's a criminal."

"Ahem," Roman coughed.

"Ahem," Jaune also coughed.

"Caw!" Neo's pet Nevermore opined for her.

"And yes, I get that we're, like, half-criminals ourselves now. Damn it. But she's a coward, too!"

"I can be pretty cowardly," Roman said. "It's kept me alive numerous times. It's not like it precludes you from being useful and we're not talking about asking her to lead an army against the Grimmlands. We want information."

"She'll not give it. You don't understand, she's not a coward like you were – stuck in a bad spot and forced to play along with someone who could kill you in an instant. Raven is strong. She would be you if you'd easily been strong enough to fight off Cinder, but you chose not to out of fear there would be a one per cent chance of failure. Raven's the kind of person who'd avoid a fight with a toddler in case it jabs a fork in her eye."

He was exaggerating, surely. Raven had come to fight Mercury and Emerald. Obviously, they were weaker than her – being dead now – but that still suggested she was prepared to put her sword where her mouth was.

"I think we should give it a shot."

Qrow groaned. "Jaune, no…"

"What's the problem? It's a yes or no question. We ask her for help and if she says no, we shrug and walk away. We don't lose anything."

"You're not the one who'll have to go talk to her," Qrow grumbled. "It's gonna be me. Because of course it's going to be me. I'm just sayin' this is going to end badly. Raven ran away from her responsibilities once."

"I'm not trying to give her any…"

"And she doesn't trust Ozpin at all."

"I'm not Ozpin…"

"And… And she's a twat!"

Jaune looked to Glynda. Glynda rolled her eyes. "Noted," he said to Qrow. "But she's a twat who might have useful information on our enemies, and one who might be willing to share it if we promise not to involve her in anything."

"Right." Qrow downed the rest of his booze and looked distressed to find there was no more. He wore the face of a man destined for his own execution.

Talk about a drama queen. How bad can she be?

/-/

"And then he swung his sword into it and chopped a huge chunk off!"

"He knew it was a Grimm?" Velvet asked.

"Had to," Yang said confidently. "Why else would he hit a rock with a sword? That'd be dumb." And if the headmaster was anything, he wasn't that. "It was amazing. Even Dad thought it was just a rock, but the prof took one look at it and knew." Yang tapped her temple with one finger. "Genius."

"And did it die?" Ren asked.

"Nah. It came up and caught him by surprise. Knocked him down the cliff a bit."

"Only because Doctor Oobleck distracted him," Ruby chimed.

"Yeah. Course." Yang nodded. "It was me, Ruby and Dad who finished it after that. It wasn't so tough on its own, but it was spitting out Grimm like no one's business. Blake just sat there recording it. Didn't lift a finger."

"Because Doctor Oobleck had me recording it!"

"Yeah yeah. Anyway, the prof comes walking back up, steals Blake's weapon and beats a Beowolf to death with it, but we'd killed the Golem before he could get to it. Knocked its legs down, then me and Ruby double-teamed it." Yang held out a hand, which Ruby slapped her palm against. "It was badass. Best. Mission. Ever."

"Wowww!" Nora bounced up and down in her seat.

Pyrrha sighed. "At least someone had an interesting mission…"

The three members of Team RWBY winced, easily catching the frustrated tone of Pyrrha's voice. The mood spread quickly across Team RVNN, who could only sit and listen to the tales of other teams' wild adventures.

"No fun?" Yang asked.

"Not unless you count wandering around the Emerald Forest killing juvenile Grimm fun. The biggest danger we faced was Nora getting an ice-cream rush." Pyrrha sighed again. "Sorry. I'm ruining the mood and it's not your fault."

"Do you think it's because…?" Ruby made a motion to her eyes then looked around and shrugged.

"What else could it be? Mr Torchwick said it was just luck-"

Blake growled.

"-but I don't believe him. It's no accident our team didn't get to do anything and it's not fair. I came to Beacon to escape being treated differently from everyone else. I don't want the same thing to happen here."

"Have you tried talking to him about it?"

"Torchwick!?"

"No! Jaune."

"No…" Pyrrha let out a quiet sigh. "He's busy and besides, he's probably the one who ordered it. How is he going to tell me the truth if he knows I don't like it? I-" She bit her words off. "Never mind. I'm complaining about nothing. Forget it."

Ruby, Yang and Blake exchanged worried looks again. It obviously wasn't nothing if Pyrrha was so worked up about it. Team RVNN as a whole looked to on edge; vibrating with the nervous energy of someone with acute cabin fever. For huntsmen and huntresses, that often showed when they were kept away from fights for too long. While it was obvious no one on Team RVNN blamed Pyrrha for that, it was just as obvious that she held herself responsible.

Which wasn't wrong, Ruby supposed. If it was the whole maiden issue, then it was Pyrrha's fault. Just not her fault it was happening. Not even Jaune's either. Cinder was out there and did want to kill Pyrrha.

"Do you want to spar?" Ruby blurted out.

"No, I-" Pyrrha sighed, then cut off. "Actually, yes. I'd like that. But… if it's not arrogant to say it…"

"Us three against you?"

A little pink in the face, Pyrrha nodded.

"Sheesh," Yang laughed. "That'd come across arrogant if it was anyone else. How you manage to have a slice of humble pie while saying Ruby isn't enough for you blows my mind." She downed her soda. "Right. I'm in. You sure you don't want all six of us against you?" She gestured to Pyrrha's team.

To their horror, Pyrrha considered it.

"Pyr, no," Nora said. "Six on one is too much."

"It's not if I use my Semblance." The emphasis Pyrrha put on the word made it clear which she meant. Since Pyrrha had managed to keep her magnetism a secret, Miss Goodwitch had suggested she claim some of her maiden powers were Semblance-based.

"Is that's safe?" Blake asked. "I thought you couldn't control them all that well yet?"

"I can't. But the lessons with Miss Goodwitch aren't helping. I've always learned better by just doing, and it's not like I'll have a clear and empty mind if I had to do this in the field. I need to learn to control under pressure."

"I was thinking more is it safe for us…"

"Yes." Pyrrha smiled. "More for you than me. Whenever I lose control of it in training, I lose it. At worst, I fall over because it's like losing control of my legs. Most of the time, I just stumble a little. It doesn't blow out of control."

"You sure?"

"Miss Goodwitch and I do the training in her office," Pyrrha said with a nervous laugh. "I think you'd know if I blew that up because you'd never find my body." Everyone around the table laughed, even if none could discount it. Miss Goodwitch was scary before Beacon fell. Now, she was stressed on top of that.

Not a good combination. Yang was still amazed they were alive after being caught sneaking their way onto that Schnee charity dinner. Blake was still working her detentions – though that was a given. She'd been in and out of detention ever since the Paladin incident. It was pretty much a way of life for her at this point. Grass grew, birds sang, and Blake got detention.

"After lessons," Ruby decided for the team, getting nods from Yang and Blake. "Shall we meet in the training fields near the Emerald Forest? Those are pretty quiet at the end of the day. No one to see anything they shouldn't."

"Yes. And thank you." Pyrrha's shoulders loosened just a little. "Maybe working this out will help."

"Yeah. It'll be fun."

/-/

"I can't say I like the sound of this, Jaune."

Jaune looked up, wondering not why Glynda didn't like his idea, but which part specifically was causing the biggest problem. "How so?"

"Collecting Ozpin is all well and good and I agree with the general thrust of it but involving Team RWBY is a risk we don't need. Leaving aside the usual problems with Miss Belladonna, which are bound to be made worse if she figures out you're going to talk to Sienna Khan, there's the danger involved."

"There shouldn't be that many problems, though. You said Leonardo was a good friend of Ozpin's. I've already spoken to him and he's happy to help. And we kind of have to bring Team RWBY along. If Ozpin thinks we haven't, he's going to bolt."

"I'd question how much distance a fourteen-year-old boy could make. And while I'm sure Ozpin will be irritated that we have decided on this course of action, he'll surely see the wisdom in it."

Jaune stared at her. "Ozpin? Wisdom?"

"While he can be lazy at times, he's not… well…" She looked away, not quite able to finish. "I just think it would be rather unusual for him to not work with us. I can't think of any good reason he would want to run off with a team of children to fight Salem when he has a perfectly experienced and powerful support base here, not to mention the aid of James and Leonardo, who know the truth about him. Or a limited version of it. It would be frankly foolish of him to think he and three girls who aren't even huntresses yet can topple Salem."

"I know. Which is why I'm absolutely not letting Team RWBY go off on that suicidal adventure."

"Good."

"But we can't ignore the fact Ozpin wanted them to."

"Maybe he knows something we don't," Glynda suggested.

"Maybe." It wouldn't be hard given how little he knew. "But if he explains that to us and it makes sense, I'll do whatever I can to help him – and I'm sure you and the others would, too."

"Of course."

"That's it, then. We're all on the same side. We just need to tie Ozpin down and make him realise that and we can all start working together for the betterment of Vale." And himself, he didn't add. Finally, Ozpin would be able to take back the accursed position of headmaster. "Heh. Soon, you old bastard. Soon."

"Jaune…?"

"Ahem. Nothing."

Glynda raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "I suppose you're right," she accepted. "It's not as if we're going against Ozpin's desires so much as we're asking him to trust us a little more. I still don't see why his first course of action wasn't to come back here. If nothing else, you'd think his life would be made easier with the resources we can offer."

"Or the coffee."

"Jaune, I very much doubt he is force-feeding coffee to a fourteen-year-old."

"You willing to bet on that?"

"No. No, I am not."

Wise choice.

"Tell me, though," she said, sitting down on the end of his desk beside him. "Do you hate the position of headmaster so much? Has it been so bad?"

"No…"

"Then why the rush to offload it onto Ozpin?"

Why indeed. Jaune leaned back in his seat. "I'm scared."

"Of Cinder?"

"No. Yes, but… she's not the reason." He'd be a fool not to fear her after what she'd done, but if he were being honest, he feared Salem more for apparently being able to control her – and for being somehow in charge of the Grimm.

That was all logical, though. No one could fault him that.

"I'm afraid of mucking this up. Every day is another problem. The Council, Ironwood, Grimm and now these Golems. Sending the students out like mercenaries and getting reports on their injuries when they come back." He took a shuddering breath. "I keep waiting to receive a report that they've died."

Glynda laid a hand on his shoulder. He leaned into it.

"I'd have to tell their parents if that happened, wouldn't I? And I'd have to see them cry and blame me. And they'd be right to do so. I know it's selfish; I'm more concerned about me making a mistake than them losing their lives, but that's how it is. I'm not good enough for this and we all know it. I'm just… stumbling along. Trying to keep the ship together and bail out water as I go. But sooner or later it's going to sink."

"Not necessarily," she said, moving a little closer. "We're stabilising. The money from the SDC and now this mercenary initiative – I know I had issues with it, but it's working. No one can deny that."

"It could just as easily have not worked. Jacques could have been offended by me starting a fight with Ironwood and the students could have been killed on their missions."

"They weren't."

"But they could have," he said, looking up at her with a haunted expression. "It's stupid, I know, but I keep thinking what could have happened, even if it didn't. I was lucky. Again. What happens when my luck runs out?"

Glynda had no answer, not that he needed it. When that happened, he would need to face the consequences. And he would. The students deserved it. But that didn't mean he couldn't be afraid of that happening.

"Sometimes I forget that you've not been trained for this," she whispered. "You always seem so confident, so on top of things."

"It's hard to figure out what's real and what isn't," he admitted. "I wake up, put on my act and then go through the day. Confidence, confidence, confidence. Bluff, bluff, bluff. Lie, lie, lie. There are times when I'm no longer sure what's real and what isn't. Or who I'm supposed to be. Do I even care about the students, or am I just afraid of being found out as a fraud…?"

"You are." Glynda cupped his cheek with one hand and drew his face to look at hers. Through her lenses, her green eyes burned intensely. "You do care for your students, never doubt that. Ozpin did as well, but he cared for all of them equally and with a certain distance. Distance born of necessity and loss. You're different. You get involved; you care about their personal lives. Never doubt that."

"Are you sure that's not just part of the act?"

"I'm certain of it. I think your problem isn't that you refuse to take responsibility for the things that go wrong, but that you refuse to take it for what goes right. Look at all the good you've done. Look at all the people you've helped."

His words came out a whisper. "For a certain definition of the word…"

"No. Don't belittle what you've done. Beacon stands because of you. Miss Nikos lives because of you. Torchwick – well, he's still alive so you messed up there, but I'll forgive you it."

Jaune managed a weak laugh.

"The point is, you doubt yourself too much. I think your biggest problem isn't that you're confused between two different acts, but that you refuse to see that those are the same person. I've seen both sides of you." Glynda's thumb rubbed across his cheek. "And I can say that I find both to be equally admirable."

It felt a whole lot warmer all of a sudden. His eyes were fixed on hers, which had become lidded and covered by her lashes, casting criss-crossing black lines across a field of emerald green. His breath caught and he failed to swallow, moisture building in his mouth as Glynda's eyes tracked from his down to his lips, then up again. Hers, luscious and full, parted.

Her hand, still on his cheek, fell to stroke his neck and land on his shoulder. She leaned forward, tilting her head just a little to the right as he did the same in the opposite direction, closing his eyes as he leaned forward to meet her.

The door slammed open.

"Team RWBY and RVNN just booked into the infirmary!" Peter boomed.

Glynda was up and away from him in a second, her back to him and her shoulders stiff. She adjusted her blouse and refused to look at anyone. Jaune slumped back in his seat, red dusting his cheeks and a scowl his lips.

"Aaand I've got a feeling I've just booked myself into the dog house," Peter continued. "Please, pretend I wasn't here. Carry on as you were."

He made to close the door but Glynda snapped out, "You were saying something about the infirmary, Peter?"

"Ah. Yes. Well… Teams RWBY and RVNN have had a little… accident."

"Training accident?" Jaune asked, annoyed.

"Of a sort." Peter winced at both his tone and the subject. "Really more of a… specific kind of training accident. The kind only four people in the world might have, and which relates to something best kept a little hidden."

It took them a few seconds to catch on.

"That idiot," Glynda snapped. "I told her not to play with those powers on her own! She doesn't understand how they work! No one does!" Her skirt flapped as she stormed out the room, crop held in hand. Peter practically leapt out of her way, pressing his back to the wall by the door in case Glynda decided to march through him.

"I guess we'd better follow," Jaune said, rising with a grimace.

"I am sorry," Peter said gruffly. "Perhaps if you'd put a sock on the door-"

"I'm going to put a sock in your mouth if anyone hears about what you absolutely did not see. Got it?"

"Quite." Peter winked. "Your secret is safe with me. Why, they called me Peter the Pig at school – thanks to my incredible ability to keep secrets hidden. Like a piggy bank. I remember one day my best friend said to me-"

Ignoring the old – and likely incorrect – tale, Jaune chased after Glynda out of the airship and through the `doorway` that had been created over a giant hole the ship had caused when it rammed into the school. Students were out and about but quickly found reason not to be as Glynda stormed down the halls with him in quick pursuit.

She still beat him to the infirmary by a good few minutes. He would have thought she'd stolen Ruby's Semblance if said girl wasn't very pale and very much shrinking into her infirmary bed as Glynda berated them.

"Irresponsible and reckless! Playing with powers you don't understand. I would expect this of Miss Belladonna-"

"Wha-?"

"But of you, Miss Nikos? I am disappointed! I'd thought someone with your capabilities would know how to moderate their strength to those less accomplished. Or that you would at least understand the necessity of it. Powers like these can kill waves of Grimm. Do you see now what they can do to your friends if used without care? You might have killed them!"

"I didn't-"

"You didn't! And that's the problem! You-"

"Glynda," he interrupted, moving into the room and looking over the assorted girls and one boy. None of them seemed to be in critical condition, though Ren looked to have lost a few inches of hair. That might be critical from Nora's point of view. The rest had bruises and cuts – which was jarring enough given that aura should have prevented it. They must have really been knocked about. "I'm sure they're already feeling bad enough about the situation. No need to make it worse."

"Headmaster." The use of his title told him she neither agreed nor appreciated the interruption. He winced. "As you will, then. I'm sure you have some words to give them in my place."

Oh, now that was just unfair.

"What happened?" he asked Pyrrha. It was easy enough to guess but asking bought him time.

"We were training. I… I wanted to burn off some steam." Pyrrha sounded angry as she said it, either at herself or him. "Team RWBY offered to help. This isn't their fault. The only one who should be punished here is me."

"I think it's punishment enough you're here," Jaune said honestly. and with a very pointed look at Tsune's wagging tail. "I assume something went wrong with the spar. Your team against theirs?"

"Them against me…" Pyrrha whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"All six of them against me."

Behind him, Glynda threw her hands in the air. "And you didn't think for a moment that powers that can come and go based on emotion and perception of danger might be sparked by facing six competent opponents at one time?"

"I thought it would help me learn some control."

"Isn't that what your lessons with Glynda entail?"

"We mostly do theory and staged practice…"

"Because you're not ready to try and utilise this in combat," Glynda said. "I'm sure your weapons training was much the same – or did they let you take a sword to another student on your first day and with no idea of safety or how to control your blows?"

Pyrrha looked down but there was an odd, defiant look to her. He wasn't used to seeing it on someone as polite and friendly as her. If anything, it was more what he'd used to see from Velvet back when she was protesting her place on the team.

"How exactly did these injuries happen?" Jaune asked, trying for a softer tone.

"The fight began as normal. Yang and Nora decided to take me head on and stall for time while the others circled around to flank. I was backing up to keep them in sight and trying to snap off a few shots at Blake, stop her getting behind me."

"Hm." He nodded, knowing that only Pyrrha could make fighting six people at once sound so logical. "Go on."

"It worked for a bit, but I reached the forest and didn't want to go in. We'd get in trouble. I pushed forward instead and tried to break through Yang and Nora quickly – attack one of the pincers before the other could close. They were ready for it, though. Yang dodged back and Nora used her grenades to make space. I was attacked from behind by Ruby. I managed to hold her off, but then Ren came in low and Velvet started shooting. I…" Pyrrha's eyes narrowed. "I remember feeling angry.

"At them!?"

"No." Her eyes flicked to his and Glynda's, then down again. "Not at them."

Awkward, he thought, pretending he hadn't noticed. "And then?"

"I just wanted Velvet to stop shooting. I thought I could use some wind to knock her over or distract her. Miss Goodwitch has had me practicing on blowing out a candle. I thought it would be the same but… bigger."

Jaune had a feeling he could see where this was going. "How big was it?"

"Big," Pyrrha said miserably.

"The localised hurricane damaged several trees and uprooted them and also tore up the training field," Tsune remarked with alarming happiness. The word `hurricane` bounced about in his skull. "All the students were picked up in it and thrown about and most of the injuries come from them bouncing into one another, the floor, trees and whatever other debris was picked up. Add seven sets of weapons into the mix and you have a storm with a lot of sharp edges, hence their current states."

The six girls and one boy groaned.

"I see." Vaguely. Not without some confusion. "Why did you decide to do this?" he asked Pyrrha. "You could have come to us with the idea and I'm sure Glynda would have sorted something out. Maybe not six on one, but you could have fought against a teacher."

"Do other students get to fight against teachers whenever they wish?" Pyrrha asked.

"No… but you're not any other student."

"Why not? I'm no more special than anyone else."

"You're the-" He cut off, but not quite fast enough.

"The fall maiden?" Pyrrha asked with an almost hungry expression. "Because I'm the fall maiden, right? That's why you'll bend over backwards for me. That's why I'm different. That's why you hold my team back from missions when everyone else gets to do what they've been training most of their lives for."

"Miss Nikos," Glynda barked. "Do not speak to the headmaster that way. I expected better of you."

Pyrrha gritted her teeth and looked down at the white sheets. "Sorry."

It was obvious even to him that she didn't quite mean it.

Of all the people I thought would be giving me trouble, Pyrrha was not at the top of that list. Yang, Blake, Velvet, Blake and maybe Ruby at a stretch, but Pyrrha? He'd never have called her a teacher's pet, but she was the first student he'd counselled. He'd thought he had a better handle on her personality.

"I'll admit that you being the maiden has coloured some of our decisions lately…" The admission earned a startled look from Glynda and a victorious one from Pyrrha. The rest watched in silence, unwilling to draw attention to themselves but wanting to see how it would play out.

Except for Tsune, of course. She was staring down eagerly at some medical tools and plotting out her `treatment` for the injured teens behind her. There was a line of drool falling from the corner of her mouth.

"You know why we have to do this, though."

"I understand the reasoning," Pyrrha said slowly. "But what you're suggesting is keeping me out of action until the threat is gone. That could take years, even decades. Amber was alone for all that time. She left civilisation and travelled on her own. I don't want that."

"You won't."

"I don't want to be a prisoner, either. I know it's for my own good but it's not just me who's being affected. My team aren't going to be able to grow if they're being held back. I'm not going to be able to grow. Cinder is probably training with her powers every day, and she's probably using them in life or death situations. Did you see her, on the tower? She had the maiden's powers for less than an hour and she was already good enough with them to fight us all, and you and Mr Torchwick."

"She had practice," Glynda began.

"In combat. Not… Not sitting at home and being kept safe putting out candles. I'm going to be useless if she comes back. I'm going to die." Pyrrha's voice fell to a whisper. "I'm going to get my team killed…"

Pyrrha trailed off. No one else dared speak. He could have heard a pin drop and did in fact hear several long pins bumping together as Tsune prepared booster shots and hummed to herself, tail swishing back and forth behind her. Pyrrha's fears… He wanted to say she shouldn't think like that, that she should have faith and believe in both herself and her team.

But wasn't that just idealistic nonsense…?

Beacon had all but fallen. Ozpin had died. Pyrrha nearly fell and so many others had. Atlas' might have been turned against them and everything could have changed in the blink of an eye, taking all their lives with it. And what was with Cinder and her backers being subtle and trying not to be discovered. How much worse would it be now when they could afford to come at them in the open and go all out? How long could they keep Pyrrha locked in a cage and expect her not to die?

With a heavy heart, he made his decision.

"Some of the staff and I are going to Mistral in the coming days. To Haven."

"Jaune, no!" Glynda hissed.

"We'll be going to pick up… someone important. And also to meet another person of equal importance. We need Team RWBY to come with us for the first, but we specifically need them not to come with us for the second."

"Eh?" Ruby asked.

"The White Fang…" Blake realised, eyes narrowing.

"No," Yang growled. "Bad Blake. Bad!"

"Guess the cat's out of the bag there," he mumbled. "Yes, we're meeting with Sienna Khan, leader of the White Fang." He watched their eyes grow wide. "I trust you to keep this quiet, but it may be a chance for us to make peace with the White Fang."

"After what they did!?" Blake yelled. At least until her ribs played up and she yelped and went still.

"What do you want more?" Jaune asked. "Moral high ground or removing an entire army of terrorists from the influence of Cinder and her backers? I'll admit that I'm not keen on pardoning them either, but if it means we don't have to deal with the White Fang, or that Adam Taurus gets booted out, then I'm all for it." He looked to Team RVNN. "As you can see, Blake's not exactly `unbiased` about this."

Nora snorted. "Understatement of the century."

Pyrrha didn't say a word. She watched him carefully.

"Which is why I need another team to act as bodyguards for the meeting. Combat isn't expected, but there's a risk of it there. Likely from White Fang elements trying to break up the meeting."

"Or Blake," Ren joked.

Blake offered him the middle finger from her bed.

"Or that," Jaune agreed with a chuckle of his own. "It's not killing Grimm, but it's possibly the most important job a team could be given. Lives will depend on this negotiation going well, and we don't want to spook the White Fang by showing up with too many threats. A team of students would be perfect, especially first years."

"Are you… Are you saying we…?" Pyrrha gestured to herself and then the others. "Us?"

"Well I wasn't leading in to saying Tsune, was I?"

"Hm?" The doctor turned. "You need something?"

"No, Tsune. Go back to plotting your torture." Ignoring her, he looked back to Pyrrha. "I'm officially requesting Team RVNN accompany us on this task. Your job will include reconnaissance, bodyguard duty and, if necessary, combat and exfiltration. Are you up to the task?"

"Yes!" Pyrrha blurted. She went red a moment later. "I-I mean, if our team leader agrees…"

"I'm sure I can find it in myself to do so," Ren said. "Team RVNN accepts this mission, headmaster. Thank you for placing your faith in us."

"Not a problem." Jaune turned to Glynda, who still looked frustrated. This time, not sexually. "Shall we leave them to it? I'm sure they want to talk."

"As you wish, headmaster." Her voice was cold.

"Wait," Ruby called. "We're not being punished? For the maiden thing-?"

"Ruby!" Yang all but howled. "What the hell!? Why bring that up?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Jaune asked, looking back over one shoulder. "I think you are being punished. Tsune, the teams have important missions ahead. I need them in tip-top shape, so make sure to give them a proper check-up. Full physical and medical, I'd say."

The fox faunus spun with her hand full of medical implements, some he could have sworn were for surgery only. Her eyes were lidded, and her ears flickered as she trembled in excitement. "Yes," she breathed, as one might the name of a lover mid-orgasm. "I'll do that. You can leave them with me. Haaa~"

"So," he said, looking at Glynda and trying for a smile. "Want to continue our conversation where we left off?"

"I'm afraid I suddenly have a headache. Goodnight, headmaster."

Ouch.

Come on, Jaune. Don't show her up in front of the kids. That's not on.

I suppose the closest definition to what Jaune has going on here would be imposter syndrome. I'm sure people can look it up if they're interested. It would fit Jaune a lot more literally than it fits most people, for whom it can be a facet of depression or mental anxiety. Here with Jaune, it's just literal.

Omake:

Sienna looked up from her desk as the door slammed open and Adam Taurus stormed in. She hadn't yet had a glass of `bullshit-prevention-elixir` yet, aka raw vodka, and with work to do, that looked far away. Become a terrorist leader, they said. Get things done, they said.

Why the hell did she have paperwork as the leader of a terrorist group!?

Mainly because things still needed to be organised, supplies had to be catalogued and it helped to have something better than memory to call on if someone wanted to know what happened to the third box of munitions that went missing a week ago.

"Adam," she growled, failing to show any enthusiasm for his visit. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You're meeting with Beacon next week!" He slammed his hands on the table.

"Was that a question or a statement? You know I am. What of it?" Sienna sighed. "If this is to convince me I should not, and that I should instead rejoice in the destruction of Beacon, then no. Also, fuck off."

"It's not that. I would like a demand adding to the list."

"We don't have a list. We attacked Beacon. Our demands are `please don't crush us` and `please forgive us before Atlas aims its dust nukes at Menagerie`."

"They're still demands. I want it added that they are to relinquish Blake to us." He threw a picture of Blake onto the table. It was not a picture of her face, but Blake in a nurse outfit. A nurse outfit that was open at the front, exposing a fair amount of cleavage.

"Damn it, Adam," she muttered, straining for the alcohol. "I told you she was a bad idea when you first got together – mainly because for crying out loud, she was like fifteen at the time. Also, you need to let her go."

"No. I can win her back."

"Yes, I'm sure a hostage exchange is the best way to win back her love. Truly genius." Sienna pointed to the door. "Out."

"But-"

"OUT!"

Adam stormed away, slamming the door behind him. She didn't doubt it would be the first of many times and true to form the door opened not five minutes later, exactly when Sienna had put her pen to paper again. She slammed it down under the palm of one hand and looked up.

"Adam, I- Oh, Ilia. My apologies." Someone with slightly more brain cells. Not hard, but welcome. "What can I do for you?"

"You're meeting with Beacon next week, right?" Ilia asked, fiddling nervously with her hands.

"Yeeeeesssss…" What little hope she felt died a slow death. "Why?"

"It's just… Maybe you could request something from them."

Sienna leaned back.

"You see, Blake-"

"No."

"But-"

"No. Out."

Ilia scowled and shook but bit her lip and nodded. "Yes, Sienna. Sorry to have bothered you."

The door closed softly.

Thank the God of Darkness, Sienna thought, letting her head fall into one hand and picking up her pen again. This was stressful enough as it was, what with planning her speech and also expecting to keep morale up after the absolute debacle of Adam attacking Beacon. The last thing she needed was-

The door slammed open.

"Oh Siennnaaaa!" Kali crooned.

The pen snapped in her hand. "NO!"

"But you don't even know what I was coming for?"

"Blake. Beacon. Fetch."

"You figured it out so easily?"

"OUT!" Sienna roared, throwing the broken pen at the woman.

"You really need to do something for that temper, Sienna. You're all stressed. Have you considered finding someone to spend some time with? Whenever I'm feeling down, I just walk up to Ghira and nibble on his neck. You wouldn't believe what that makes him do to me-"

"GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!"

"I know a lovely boy down the road. He's quite single. And cute."

"Rargh!" Sienna hurled her chair at the door. It shattered as it closed before the impact. It was, in Sienna's mind, a small price to pay for peace.

When the door opened a moment later, she snapped. "If you ask for anything about Blake, I swear I will throw this fucking desk at you!"

"Who the hell is Blake?" one of her most trusted guards asked.

Sienna slumped, falling back into her seat. Since she'd tossed that at the door, she instead fell with a squawk to land flat on her ass. Her guard, knowing her well, looked the other way and said nothing as she scrambled back up and glared at him.

"Busy day?" he asked.

"Like you would not believe. Once upon a time I thought the White Fang existed because of a desire for equality, to fight the cruelty of the humans that have oppressed us." Her eyes narrowed as she growled. "I had not realised we'd become the official Blake Belladonna Fan Club, or that our main purpose for invading Beacon was to get some pussy!"

"Uh." The man sweat dropped. "Literal or metaphorical?"

"BOTH!"

"Sounds like you need a break, boss."

"Don't I know it," Sienna grumbled.

"Hm. Who's this?" The guard walked forward to pick up the picture Adam had left behind. The man brought it up before his face and whistled. "Holy shit. Hey, who is this babe? Can we get her to come back to the White Faaa-…?"

The man trailed off.

The shadow of a desk was moving towards him.

"Oh," he mumbled, cringing as the desk came down. "So that's Blake…"

The White Fang, where everyone is either involved with Blake, was involved with Blake or wants to be involved with Blake. At least as far as Seasons 4-6 are concerned. "I was branded by the Schnee!" GASP! That's shocking! "But more importantly, Blake left me!"

And sigh…

Next Chapter: 23rd May

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur