Howdy!
This chapter is two months too late, I'm so sorry!
I didn't know how I was going to make this chapter
so I've gone back to the drawing board several times
in the last two months - some days, I just sat in front
of my computer, sighing in despair because I just didn't know what to do
Anyway, here we are with an exceptionally long chapter
the kind of length you'd expect for one of my other fics on this site
but I really hope you enjoy it - it has a shitton of things happening
since it's revealing not one, not even two but four plot points
Okay, I thought I'd say this for y'all so that you know the pronunciations for the OC teams created thus far:
CNDR is pronounced Candor
(while it is a quality of character, it is synonymous with honesty - Honesty is represented by the color blue. I go above and beyond to make sure the color naming rule is maintained lmfao)
MSTN is pronounced Moonstone
Anyway - let's get this awaited show on the road!
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY
Chapter 27: Power Not Your Own
"Explain." Ghira said with a stern tone. His arms were crossed over his chest as the glare he held lessened with each passing second.
"I'll do my best to keep this brief. I'd like to start off by saying thank you for letting my forces take residence in the Northern Barracks of the Kuo Kuana Guardsmen Corps – it was cramped on those warships. I'm here for a good few things, most paramount of all, letting Blake reconnect with you two. She deserved to see you both again and vice versa. Now onto the army I've brought. You saw the small army of engineers, yes? I brought the army to defend my engineers."
"From us?" Kali asked with a worried look.
Chuckling softly, the King sighed. "Of course not, Lady Bella–"
"Just. Call. Me. Kali." The matriarch sighed in defeat.
"Of course not, Kali." Jaune quickly corrected. "I came here with good tidings, did I not? That army is here to defend my engineers from the Grimm and whatever creatures lie in wait. Ever since I took power in Vale, taking over much of its trade and large districts of the kingdom, even having major settlements in Sanus like Viridian Hollow and Orléans, donations have been made by my citizens and from the companies that back me. You would be surprised how willing the rest of Remnant is when it comes giving a helping hand."
Ghira seemed unimpressed and almost had the audacity to scoff. "With all due respect Jaune, we are fine without your money. If you haven't noticed, Kuo Kuana doesn't have many business ventures aside from our general goods and market stalls."
"That's great, since it's not money I'm giving." Jaune trailed. Ghira's arms unclasped from his chest from surprise. "Menagerie suffers from one thing and one thing only. Miscommunication with the rest of the world. What have you been denied by the Four Kingdoms, over and over again?"
Kali gasped. "A CCT…"
"Exactly." Jaune rose from his seat. "A CCT Tower would connect Menagerie as the Fifth Kingdom of Remnant – the first Faunus Kingdom at that. The tower would bring information that would normally take weeks, if not months to arrive to your shores, in a matter of seconds. My engineers are trained and among their ranks are accredited CCT Tower mechanics and IT Specialists."
"But even if we get a CCT, who will protect it?" Ghira asked with a worried expression. "We don't have the natural defenses of the Four Kingdoms and worse yet, we don't have a Huntsman Academy. Don't tell me you've thrown an academy in as well?!"
"Even donations wouldn't be able to pay for that, your grace." Jaune laughed, trying to ease the worry. "No, I had something else in mind."
"What would that be, pray tell?" Kali asked, her brow rising.
Blake took the moment to speak up. "Jaune has contacts across the world, thanks to a few of his subordinates. We already have an army well into the tens of thousands – and it continues to grow in Vale and now in Viridian Hollow. Menagerie won't necessarily need a Huntsman Academy since Jaune is intending to streamline travel between all nations and kingdoms."
"Streamline…?"
"Dad, how long does it usually take for shipments to arrive by traditional means?" Blake asked.
Ghira took a moment, thinking of the near endless ledgers that required his review sitting in towering stacks in his study. "A few weeks to a month at most, depending on Grimm activity and weather."
"Airships don't have to deal with those threats." Blake finished.
Kali looked like she'd choked. "But we have no room for airship docks! The smugglers that come from Mistral have hybrid airships that can also double as regular surface ships. The area that we can inhabit on Menagerie is incredibly small compared to what lies beyond the mountains – but we call that land the Badlands for a reason."
"We never said they had to land." Pyrrha piped. The Belladonnas of Menagerie trailed over to the redhead who deigned from saying a word since the explanations began. "Ankōshoku airships are one of a kind – at least the model we've been given."
"You saw the schematics?" Jaune's eyes widened.
Blake looked confused too. "The schematics arrived? I thought the Ankōshoku were waiting until the Vytal Festival Tournament to reveal them?"
"Oh no, Kenji Ankōshoku, the youngest of the family arrived before we left for Menagerie and delivered the schematics and updated timetable." Jaune said. "I'm just surprised Pyrrha saw them."
"What can I say – curiosity got the better of me." She responded with a sheepish expression. "I've been curious of our coming fleet."
Jaune chuckled. "I'm not mad – I'm daresay impressed. Anyway. Your grace…as Pyrrha said – we have new designs for Airships. They're not menacing or even that large, compared to Atlas's Airships…but they can hold their own against a flock of Nevermore or even Gryphons. I'll go into more detail soon…by the looks of your faces, you need a break."
"I understand that everything I've said just now, may seem like I've just dropped a weight upon your shoulders – don't think we're in a rush." Jaune took a deep breath before continuing. "Blake, Pyrrha and I are intending to stay in Menagerie for about a week before we have to return to Vale."
"I don't know what to say…" Ghira took slow breaths, trying to process. "It's almost too good to be true…"
"Your grace…I gain absolutely nothing from leading you and your people astray. I care for Remnant and all the people who inhabit this world – man, woman, Human, Faunus. It makes no difference to me, because in the end, the further we keep the divide, there's nothing stopping the Grimm from making a meal out of us all. Also, it doesn't hurt that Blake would murder me if I did anything she didn't approve of."
At this, both Kali and Ghira laughed, easing the pressure. Blake lightly punched his shoulder bringing a soft giggle from the redhead amongst them. As the laughter died down, the bigger and more pressing matter was what remained. Ghira and Jaune locked eyes and for a moment, Jaune swore he saw his execution.
"Now, explain this." Ghira said with an even tone. "I'm certain it will be an exciting tale."
"Well…"
"HAHA!" Ghira bellowed, sipping at his warm tea. "You mean to tell me – old Tukson is finally living out his dream of owning a bookshop?!"
"He didn't seem that old…" Blake murmured.
"Seriously." Jaune chuckled. "He had shelves upon shelves of books. Even the catchphrase was made by him!"
"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun!" Ghira said, mimicking the puma's voice to near perfection. "He's been talking about his dreams of starting a bookshop since before we started the White Fang…oh gods. I can't believe he's actually done it – and working with your sister of all the people."
"I'm so glad though." Kali smiled, spying the confused looks on Pyrrha and Blake's faces. "I'm the one who came up with the idea for a catchphrase – so few businesses have that extra oomph these days."
"Then…" Blake trailed. "Jaune and I headed off to find somewhere to eat and the next thing you know – we're held at gunpoint with our scrolls taken from us and no weapons to use. Turned out these were new recruits that had never seen Jaune before in their lives!"
"Recruits?!" Ghira bellowed with a booming guffaw. "Green as grass – I almost forgot those days…"
"And from that point on, I joined Jaune's army." Blake nudged the blond boy. "We've watched each other's backs for the last few months and I don't know…it just blossomed into this. Pyrrha is his partner and teammate so…it was only a matter of time before she revealed how she felt for him – for me. At first…"
"I guess you could say we were afraid of what the people would say…" Pyrrha giggled. "Then we remembered Jaune was a King and that meant we would be Queens."
The five laughed, sipping at their tea as they did so. Ghira set his tea down and stared at the three teenagers. "I'm a man of reason. I do my best to avoid conflict, especially if there is a better, nonviolent solution. My mind tells me to disapprove of your relationship. The implications of it all – who would follow a man who has multiple girlfriends and speaking about future events, possible wives. It screams irresponsibility and promiscuity – not exactly something someone should have in the realm of politics, especially if it's someone in a position of great power."
"I'm certain you've thought this possibility through as well, haven't you, Jaune?" Ghira asked. "I can see your doubts and thoughts in your eyes. When you have given your heart to more than one, it leaves you with more weaknesses than strengths. Honestly, I can't tell which is worse – having a polyamorous relationship or the old Mistrali Emperor's entire court filled with concubines from all corners of Anima…"
Blake was about to speak but the look her mother was giving her, immediately silenced her. "But…you've all handled this situation with extreme maturity. This relationship you have can only hold you back if your emotions and actions are handled wrong. When you open yourself, you open yourself to the world and those who would wish you great health and those who would wish you great harm. Those who want to hurt you would attack you from any angle available. Family, friends – significant others. I can tell you're strong, your aura is incredible and you haven't even activated it. But strength alone won't be able to protect everyone."
"My mind tells me to disapprove of this, but my heart tells me to accept it." Ghira smiled. Blake's eyes bulged from her head. A smile slowly spread across Pyrrha's face and Jaune, sat almost frozen in place. "My family is all that matters to me. Kuo Kuana, the politics, the White Fang be damned – nothing compares to Blake and her happiness. While I will admit, forcing her to join in on our protests and pickets wasn't the best way to raise a child – it brought her to the two of you."
"I won't say she was an unhappy child – we did our best to give her the childhood Kali and I didn't have." Ghira continued, ignoring Blake's teary and beaming eyes. "But during this short time I've seen – she has never smiled this bright; never glowed this bright. She never even spoke this much. But in the presence of you two, Jaune, Pyrrha, the best side of Blake was revealed and she even stopped wearing that damned bow…if you were afraid of my disapproval, don't be. I wholeheartedly support your relationship."
"As do I!" Kali wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "Ghira has had a long time to reflect on the choices we've made and situations that could have had a different approach. While we regret few, we are content with our past – now we only look toward the future and what it may hold. This is just one of the many excitements life has laid out for us."
Blake sniffled as her hands clenched both Pyrrha and Jaune's. "I don't know what to say…"
"Tell us more!" Ghira cried with a raised cup. "I think Kali and I would love to hear more of the adventures of team RWBY and JNPR!"
The teens chuckled and continued on with their varying stories. From their morning routines of struggling out of bed, sobering up to Ren's godly cooking, arguing over what was the right breakfast beverage – orange juice or milk. Then there was their little quirks, the things that made them so lively. Blake blanched at her teammates and their antics, somewhat subconsciously keeping names from being said. Pyrrha happily spoke of Nora, like a proud older sister, while Jaune spoke of Ren like a fond brother.
"Oh!" Kali squealed. "It's almost like a boarding school drama. How exciting…"
"Well…" Blake's voice trailed. "Mom, Dad…I don't think I've been completely honest with you two."
"What do you mean, Blake?" Ghira's eyes gazed at the shattered moon rising into the night sky. We've been talking this long?
"Pyrrha and I aren't Jaune's only girlfriends." Blake said, half wincing as she did. "There's another named Yang and one that's iffy."
Ghira choked on his tea, sputtering like a dying vehicle. "What?!"
"Ghira dear, you said you accepted the relationship hours ago." Kali happily clapped her hands together.
"But that was before I learned there were more!" He raised his hand in confusion.
"Well, don't be shy." Kali egged Blake. "Tell us more about this Yang and who's the iffy one?"
"Don't freak, mom." Blake hesitated. After Ghira managed to remove the tea from his lungs and Kali nodded her head in preparation, the girl took a deep breath.
"Weiss Schnee."
Ren flipped through pages of his textbook. While classes had ended and much of their time was spent at HQ, he couldn't help but find some sort of solace in his nose being pressed between the informative pages. Nora was off, talking with Nebula and Ruby about Nora things probably, leaving him in relative silence. Aside from the occasional grunt and officer walking by to salute a member of the King's personal Fireteam, the quiet he so rarely got to enjoy was finally upon him.
Gazing upon the words and endless sea of letters, he picked up keywords like Fireteam and Specializations. Jaune had entrusted he and Ruby to micromanage all the Huntsman teams that decided to swear loyalty to him. Already having reorganized Fireteams RWBY, JNPR, NDGO, CNDR and MSTN among others, he had his work gracefully cut out for him with the rest of the unorganized masses. But as he continued, thinking of each huntsman and huntress that came through the halls and corridors of HQ, his mind began to wander, lingering on a pair of huntresses.
While he had already completed their specializations, he couldn't get them off his mind. It was frustrating and honestly beginning to weigh down on him. While it was only the first week passed since Jaune had left for Menagerie, he couldn't find the time to rest. He flipped another page, looking through older passages about the time before the Great War, before huntsmen and huntresses, before the academies. Divisions split corps, brigades split divisions – the list went on until it landed upon the individual soldier.
While the King himself commanded, more like requested, him to manage the Huntsmen they had, Ren felt he would be doing his best friend a disservice by not going the full nine yards. Flipping the page once more, he read upon the command structures, finding nothing but efficiency and effectiveness. The effects of the Great War were rooted deep in the Four Kingdoms, going beyond culture and politics. Even military structure had been lost in the chaos.
Sighing to himself, he shut his textbook and leaned into his chair. Never saying or even whispering a word, the boy stared at the ceiling. Magenta eyes examined the acoustic panels decorating the ceiling tiles before darting away to the ornate chandeliers that hung ominously above the library of HQ. The shadows they cast were a reminder that even as bright as light can be – not even light can completely remove darkness.
A similar venture was happening within his body as his mind and heart battled with each other for control of his actions. Ren could feel the tensing muscles of his chest and the throbbing nodes of his brain. It was excruciating, almost as if someone was dragging a hot knife against his skin. The more he tried to ignore it, the sensations worsened further.
A hiss escaped his mouth as he rose to his feet, causing his chair to screech against the tiled floors. Ignoring the stares as he usually did, Ren made a beeline towards one of the training rooms. Mediation is what he needed at the moment. As he walked, ignoring nods and salutes as he passed soldiers and officers, he had to shut his eyes in sheer frustration.
We're not together-together.
He stopped completely. Her voice echoed in his head, like a spectre. It was haunting, but almost taunting as well. The statement repeated again, just before being followed by her usual cackle of offhandedness. Running a hand against his face, he decided he really needed some meditation.
You're different. I like it, Ren.
Why? He asked himself. Her voice sounded in the back of his head, almost as soon as Nora's voice filtered from his brain lobes. Nebula was somehow going about his mind as well, mumbling in the recesses, nearly impossible to hear. As quiet as it was, he could hear her voice. While not girlish and excited as Nora's was, it was far from stern and haughty. It was almost like a perfect in between–
Oh what the hell am I doing?! Ren sighed violently. This is Jaune's thing – not mine! I can handle Nora – at most! But…
"Oh man…this is bad." Ren sighed in defeat.
"Ren?"
Snapping up, he spun on his heels to face the voice. Magenta eyes gazed upon the sight of none other than Dew Gayl. Surprisingly, she stood with Carolina beside her. Wearing Noble-class GEN2 Power Armor, bearing trims and base colors of her scheme. Her helmet was held beneath her arm against her chest.
"Nice work, kid." Carolina smiled. "Make sure to get Nebula into her Power Armor soon so NDGO can start working on their specialization training – hello, Ren."
"Carolina, Dew." Ren bowed respectfully. "A pleasure to see you both, this morning."
"Aw." Carolina cooed. "Always so respectful, I like that. Well, I'm going to head off to find Fireteam CFVY to have some training."
"Take care, Carolina!" Dew called.
The redhead simply smiled and waved. "You as well. Get some rest, Dew – you'll need it. Until next time, Ren."
Ren watched the blonde cringe at the implications. Her violet eyes shut trying to hide the discomfort in the elder woman's farewell. Her eyes trailed from Carolina's fleeting form and back to that of the green clad ninja before her. "Anyway…what're you doing here, Ren? Nebula told me you'd be working on reorganization the whole day."
"My head is killing me." Ren responded. The girl nodded in agreement, popping her neck a few times before standing upright. "I've been staring at textbooks and military history books since dawn…I need a break."
"You too, huh?" Dew laughed softly. "Carolina was showing me and a few others how to use the most out of the Noble-class Power Armors – needless to say…she was…"
"Carolina?" The two said in unison. For a moment, almost reminiscent to her leader, a pregnant pause was held. Dew sputtered a laugh, forming a smile on Ren's usually stoic face.
"Do you always finish people's–?"
"Sentences?" Ren asked. Dew's eyes widened for a moment before calming down. "Yeah. It's a phenomenon that will never cease to amaze me."
"Oh my." Dew giggled, bringing a hand to her mouth. "Nebula said you were sassy, but I didn't believe her!"
"I always like to keep my opinions open." Ren started. "It leaves little to surprise me."
"Do you?" She asked, her eyes narrowing with mirth. "If that's so, what's your opinion of me?"
"Uh…" He paused. "I don't understand what you're asking…"
"Please. Don't play coy. Honest opinions – we can talk over some tea, you down?"
Ren's magenta eyes trailed to the training room and back to the armor clad woman in front of him. Taking a deep breath, some tea didn't sound too bad. While he'd rather spend time by himself, some company didn't seem too bad either. Sighing in defeat, he relented.
"Sure. But please take a shower–"
Dew bellowed guffaw. "Of course, Ren. Give me an hour, tops. I'll meet you in the lounge."
"I wasn't expecting him to faint." Jaune facepalmed.
Kali wondered worriedly. "Neither was I."
"Well given the circumstances…" Pyrrha trailed off.
"Don't give me that look." Blake huffed. "I thought it was a good idea to tell them, instead of letting them know later."
"They are sitting in front of you, Blake." Kali said. "I guess with all the information we've been given, your father was overwhelmed."
"So…are we going to leave him there or…?" Jaune stared at the unconscious giant of a man, laying in an awkward position on the wooden floors. "Because if you need help, I can call in MSTN and they'll give a hand."
"That would be wonderful, Jaune." Kali smiled. "Even though your father is unconscious, I'd still like to know more about this Yang and the Schnee heiress…and how that came to happen."
"Well, Yang is the daughter of Taiyang Xiao Long, I'm certain you've heard of him." Blake nodded.
Kali indeed heard of him. "A member of Team STRQ, one of the most well-known and renowned huntsman teams to ever come from Beacon. I can only assume she is just as powerful."
"We've never actually seen what her dad can do, we haven't even seen what he looks like – so I can't really judge." Blake shrugged. "But she is one of the strongest fighters and people I've ever met…it's almost scary sometimes. She's also my partner and teammate – the 'Y' in team RWBY."
"Oh my…" Kali adopted a thinking pose. "It's almost like something out of a romance novel. A secret king under the guise of a normal student gains the love and adoration of his peers, the silent, the warrior, the strong and the rich. All that remains is the innocent…"
Pyrrha's eyes trailed to Blake's with confusion bursting in those emerald orbs. What?
"Nevermind me!" Kali clapped her hands together. "Hmm…tell me more about Weiss Schnee though! How did you convince a Schnee to see past your Faunus features?"
"She…she was rough around the edges at first given her heritage. In the beginning, she was incredibly stuck up and sounded like a spoiled child. Over time though, we grew to accept it and looked beyond her scathing demeanor." Blake's eyes trailed off. "But after Jaune and I fought the White Fang at the Docks in Vale–"
Kali's face paled. With a strength the three teens didn't know she had, she slammed her hand into the table, knocking the tea pot off. "After you did what?!"
Blake, Jaune and Pyrrha flinched at the sudden tone of her voice and the shattering porcelain. "W-We fought the White Fang…"
Her once calm and glimmering yellow eyes had suddenly turned aware. They widened before narrowing in confusion, almost in disbelief. Immediately snapping to her husband, she slapped him a few times, saying things under her breath and pulled him from his coma. Ghira was confused, eyes practically spinning in his sockets, but when he came to, what he saw confused him further.
Blake, Jaune and Pyrrha had backed a respectable distance away from the irate cat beside the giant of a man. Fear and surprise painted across their faces, telling him, there was something wrong. Did someone attack the mansion? Did Grimm show up? No, that was impossible, Jaune's army would have done something to fight them off. It was something else.
"What's wrong?!" Ghira immediately snapped at attention. "What happened?!"
"The White Fang…" Kali's voice echoed in his ears. "Children, tell him what you just told me."
"Lord Ghira…" Jaune took a deep breath. "The White Fang…I don't know what you're being told by Sienna Khan, but they attacked Vale two months ago. Over five hundred Faunus in White Fang armor and masks invaded Vale – but thanks to my army, we held them back."
"What…?" Ghira collapsed into his seat once more. Releasing a powerful sigh, he leaned against the table. "How could this be…?"
"Adam Taurus led the attack…"
Almost immediately, the man growled. Claws extended from his fingernails. "That bastard! He and Sienna Khan shared the same vision, but he was always more militant, always–"
"We defeated him." Blake said, trying to calm her father down. "But not without difficulty. It was a hard fought battle with casualties on both sides, but we did what we could to protect the Kingdom, our Kingdom. When the White Fang pulled back, they practically disappeared off the grid. We came to Menagerie to cut off the only support they could possibly have."
"Lord Ghira…" Jaune rose from his seat, feeling a strange sensation. "Tell me…is the White Fang on Menagerie right now?"
"Yes…" He said, his voice trailing off. "We were supposed to have a meeting with the White Fang representatives that Sienna Khan left behind…"
"Knowing the White Fang…" Blake hissed.
Kali crossed her arms over her chest. "The White Fang don't wear masks on Menagerie. It would be difficult to find them."
"Then I'll have Saber Rodentia root them out." Ghira clenched his fists. "Before you ask, yes. Saber Rodentia is a trusted ally and friend of this family and Kuo Kuana. He is the Commander of the Guardsmen Corps for a reason."
"That's good, I'll send a message to my Fireteam and my troops to help–"
Suddenly Jaune, Pyrrha and Blake snapped to attention. Throwing their helmets on, the latches hissed as they locked into place. Glass shattered behind them as the sound of a metal canister clanking followed after. "Flash-Smoke grenade! MSTN, move in to protect the Belladonnas!"
Almost immediately, four men and women burst into the room, overshields activated and helmets worn. Assault rifles armed and swords glowing with aura and energy, MSTN moved quickly to protect Ghira and Kali, adopting the diamond formation to keep track of each sector. Once the initial flash died down, the power packs of their power armor activated, breathing electric life into the machinery.
"Activate threat sensors!" Blake commanded. "Watch your peripherals – whoever's dumb enough to attack us thinks blinding us with smoke is the way to go."
Nodding his head, Jaune pressed a button on the side of his helmet. His orange visor glowed red for a moment. Images of silhouettes grew defined in the smoke with thick red outlines denoting their exact positions. Drawing his assault rifle, Jaune popped off a few shots, dropping his targets. Beside him, Blake pulled the trigger on Gambol Shroud, putting down the invaders on her end. Pyrrha had dropped to a knee, Akouo acting as a stabilizer with Milo in rifle form. The powerful .308 rifle rounds imbued with Dust, plowed through her targets, blasting them back in a hailstorm of kinetic and Dust energy.
It was a quick skirmish and had quickly calmed down with the shouts and commands falling silent. In the wake of it all, Jaune released a powerful sigh of relief. Channeling his aura, he released a blast of energy, clearing the smoke from view. MSTN stood with their weapons smoking and steaming from their own gunfight. Fortunately, neither Kali nor Ghira were hurt in the small skirmish. Once the remnants of smoke filtered through the new holes decorating the walls, it revealed almost fifteen dead Faunus, dressed in White Fang fatigues and armor.
Jaune turned his head to face the towering panther. "Lord Ghira…these are…"
"The White Fang…" Ghira sighed in disbelief. "How…why…?"
"MSTN! Secure Lord and Lady Belladonna, protect them as if your lives depended on it." Jaune called. "We're going to get to the bottom of this!"
"Your grace!" A cry entered the room. The Captain of the Kuo Kuana Guardsmen Corps burst into the room with a small squad of fully armed officers. "Secure the room and check for survivors! We came as soon as we heard gunfire!"
"Saber!" Ghira called, waving the scarred Rodent Faunus over. "Find Corsac and Fennec…and bring them to me – alive!"
"Y-Yes, Your grace!"
With a nod and a few flashes of hand gestures, Saber Rodentia and a handful of guardsmen took off through the mansion halls. Their steel toed boots beat against the wooden floors, echoing throughout the battleground. Jaune sheathed his rifle against his back and immediately began to shake his head.
"It doesn't make sense." Jaune reasoned. "Why would they attack, now?"
"I don't know…" Blake shrugged, putting gambol shroud away. "Maybe it's because we're here."
"A large presence of humans are on the island." Pyrrha added. "Maybe they thought it would be a good chance to rile the people."
"But the Belladonnas are still here." Jaune began to pace, thinking. "They'd have to be incredibly stupid to attack the Chief of Menagerie without reason."
Marsha coughed, adopting a thinking pose as guardsmen switched with MSTN. "I wouldn't put it past the White Fang to want to strike now. In a way, this is us saying we're making the next move. We're practically shouting at the White Fang that we're gunning for them now. This is their homeland. The Battle of the Docks will be nothing compared to what comes next if we don't keep momentum."
"Agreed." Jaune's eyes met with Marsha's beneath his helmet visor. "But it still doesn't explain their sudden courage to strike. What would the White Fang gain from attacking the Chieftain of Menagerie?"
"Like Marsha said…" Blake began to pace as well, her ears tilting as she did so. "The people of Menagerie look up to my father…and there are many humans on the island now…if an attack were to suddenly happen…"
"The White Fang would twist it and say we did it…" Jaune growled. "Where–"
"Your grace!" A fizzed shout echoed in their helmets. "Your grace, it's Captain Terra of Lightning Squad! Come in, Your Grace!"
"Captain, what is it?!"
"The Northern Barracks – it's under attack!" Her voice was shot, shaken from the sound of it. "White Fang, assault rifles and rocket launchers even mortar placements! We can't hold them for long!"
"Your grace with the guardsmen here, we can protect lord and lady Belladonna!" Marsha called, getting into a stance. "We can handle it from here!"
"Alright, I want five guardsmen with us!" Jaune roared. His voice boomed through the halls and empty atriums of the mansion. "Let's go!"
Charging through the now ruined wall, the physical augmentations of the power armor and his aura, launched him into the air, almost ten feet. Blake and Pyrrha followed suit, covering great distance through the thick foliage of the jungle trees and brush. In the distance, tracers glowing white hot danced in the sky with trails of rockets and mortar shells dashing across the nighttime canvas. Civilians were screaming in the city, hiding in their homes and behind boulders and streetlamps.
Bullets were riddling the buildings and supports – some houses had already collapsed onto the dirt paths and cobblestoned roadways. Rockets went astray, plowing through abandoned street stalls and overturning their steel carts. Fires were born of the stray Dust and explosives, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Thankfully, the King's Fist engineers moved quick using fire retardants to slow the advance of the flickering destruction.
Continuing his beeline, a bullet grazed his armored cheek, nearly flattening against his helmet visor. Sliding forward, his overshield fizzed for a moment, absorbing the hit, but dropping a significant amount. Flipping around, bullets danced and ricocheted off the boulders and decorative works of art. One hit his calf, but the armor simply bounced the projectile off. He'd finally entered the fray.
Dodging mortar shells and stray bullets, Jaune had entered the Northern Barracks. It was a large compound-like area. It bordered the jungle sector for the jungle biomed Faunus. It had seven buildings, each serving a different purpose – living quarters, mess hall, armory and logistics. Between the buildings, palisades, courtesy of the King's Fist engineers, palisades of stone and wood were erected. Albeit crude in make, they did the job they were made to do.
"Captain!" Jaune's voice exploded over the battlefield. "Give me a sitrep, now!"
A glowing red rocket whipped over their heads, before exploding in a violent show of orange and white. Debris and dirt showered over the armored King. Taking a few deep breaths, Jaune did his best to calm his raging and speeding nerves. From the wood and stone palisade that his forces erected, Jade Terra could be seen, shimmering orange as she popped from cover to take several shots. With another roar, the woman snapped at attention.
"Yessir!" The woman jumped from her palisade, landing beside the blond king. "Your grace, the White Fang gunmen have created a fortified firing position against the jungle tree line. We can snuff them out, but we're worried that our incendiaries will cause structural damage to the homes of the jungle biomed Faunus! Worse scenario, Burn Dust spreads to the rest of Kuo Kuana!"
"Anything else?" Jaune asked as he pulled the spring bolt back. "How many wounded, how many killed?"
"No one's dead yet, our armor's doing its job." Jade answered with a nod. "There are a few wounded, nothing too serious, but I don't know how much longer we can hold off this amount of concentrated fire. Most of our overshields have already died – mine did too."
"Then take some cover and let your shields recharge." Blake ordered. "Gather the wounded and move them closer to the clinic on base…we'll handle it from here."
"Yes ma'am!" The elephant Faunus nodded her head with an affirmative. "Alright, you heard the Queen – those with no overshields, pull back to recharge and gather the ones too wounded to fight and fall back! Those who still have overshields, continue the fight! The King and Queens are here!"
"Oorah!"
Jaune charged up the wooden steps of the barracks palisade, dodging bullets and letting his overshield soak the rest. Trails of rocket smoke traced across the night sky, before ending with a bright orange and red explosion. Bullets riddled the wooden stakes and metal plates, some ricocheting off his armor, completely bypassing his overshield.
It had been a long time since he'd felt this rush. "Alright! Pick your targets!"
Blake had sheathed Gambol Shroud and opted to use a Battle Rifle laying on the wooden steps. Rising from cover, bullets bounced off her overshield and helmet as she pulled the trigger. The four round burst tore through the bushes and jungle shrubbery, striking hard and true. A few screams and wild gunfire lit the horizon. For a moment, Jaune shivered, remembering her powerful night vision.
Unfortunate for him, he didn't have such luck and pressed another button on his helmet. For a moment, the HUD glowed and shimmered, showering his face and eyes with all kinds of colors. Just as quickly as it had come though, the colors settled on one, creating iron sights for his assault rifle. Synchronized and ready for combat, the boy pulled the trigger as soon as his targets glowed in the distance. They did their best to hide in the trees, hoping to catch the humans among them off guard, but his tech was unmatched.
The gun battle continued, with bullets riddling the palisade walls and bouncing off their overshields. But it never progressed farther than that. Pyrrha dropped behind cover, pulling another magazine and loading just as quick. Popping up, she pulled the trigger letting Akouo take the incoming hits. Thanks to its angle, the incoming bullets bounced upward, like fireworks. Jaune kept up, taking down the glowing targets as quickly as his helmet HUD could picture them.
Blue eyes stared at the Faunus lines hidden in the tree line. They were close to the Badlands with giant mountains and deserts to their back. Even with the jungle and the Faunus habitats in the trees, there was a reason the White Fang chose this section to attack Kuo Kuana from. Taking a moment to think, he stayed behind cover, letting spent ammunition casings beat against his helmet. He ignored the searing heat from the smoking cartridges as some slipped between the spaces of his armor.
Popping back over cover, he pulled the trigger as soon as a gunmen came into view. Five rounds plowed through the Faunus's armor, sending her to the mud in a resounding splash. He was responded with rockets, bullets and even energy beams trailing through the night sky. Jaune couldn't believe his luck – it was almost like a beta version of the two year Siege of Mistral.
"Something tells me this is just a distraction!" Pyrrha shouted over the explosions and gunfire. "They don't even seem to be trying!"
"To be fair, this is their homeland! They know it infinitely better than we ever could!" Jaune shouted back. Quickly dropping behind cover, he unclipped his magazine. Reaching into his ammo packs, he drew another, fully loaded, and shoved it into the magazine chamber. Receiving a click and a hiss, he rose once more, sending rounds across the field. His eyes couldn't be lying – the White Fang were reorganizing. "Blake, take some of Jade's best men and rendezvous with the western palisade! The White Fang look like they're preparing to push!"
"Right!" Blake quickly pulled back, dropping the magazine from its chamber. As she jumped from the palisades, she dashed left and right, pulling men still unaffected by the White Fang attack and disappeared in the darkness.
Turning his eyes to the fight, Jaune took a deep breath, concentrating with all his might. "This is going to be a long night, Pyr."
To his surprise, the redheaded beauty fell to a knee beside him. Moving with the grace of an experienced fighter, she dropped the magazine from Milo and pulled a small magazine filled with Dust cartridges. "Don't worry – it's mostly Gravity Dust with some Ice. Try to keep up, hon."
"This is good." Ren smiled. "I must say, I'm surprised you've already acquainted yourself with the tea shops of Vale."
"It helps to familiarize yourself with new settings." Dew giggled, sipping at her scalding green tea. "Even if it is the locales tea shops."
"No, I get it." Ren chuckled. "I did the same when I first came to Vale with Nora. This place seemed so foreign, but…as you said, familiarity."
"Exactly." Dew clinked her tea cup with Ren's. "Now, Renny. Lay it on me. What's your opinion of dear ol' me."
Shaking his head, the boy set his cup down and took a deep breath. "You're…strong. Albeit a little brash."
"Brash?" Dew raised a brow. "Astute observation."
A glint flashed in his pink eyes. "More than an observation. You enjoy showmanship – almost like Coco does. Actually, you and Coco share a lot of mannerisms, save for wastrel spending habits."
"Wastrel?" Dew interrupted. "I'll have you know, she has an extensive closet! Hardly a waste."
"My point exactly." Ren tilted his head. "Who needs that many clothes?"
"I don't, but a fashionista like Coco, sure needs it!" Dew laughed. "What else can you say?"
"Your sisterhood with your teammates is admirable and reminiscent to that of RWBY's and several other all-female Fireteams. Camaraderie, among other very obvious things, is your strength. As Nebula inspires leadership, you inspire friendship. The team follows you as much as they follow Nebula without forgetting the chain of command. You are a lot like Sun – you wear your personality on your sleeve, leaving little to explore."
"Amazing." Dew said like a gaping fish. "Almost everything you said is wrong."
Magenta irides widened for a moment before relaxing. Of course though, Dew caught it, only serving to feed her growing smirk. "I beg your pardon?"
"You were almost spot on, I'll give you that." Dew's smirk grew confident. "I think that deserves another round of tea. You agree?"
"I would never turn down tea." Ren smiled, nodding his head. "Now, I can't be the only one talking."
"Alright, Mr. Ren. Let's see…" Dew's eyes narrowed at the boy with a pink streak. "You…are a quiet one. Hard to decipher at times, but your loyalty to Jaune, to Nora and your friends is unlike any I've seen. Even before the whole reveal of the past and Jaune's true history, you all seemed…I don't know…a perfect mold, I guess."
"You and your fellow teammates, JNPR and RWBY, all fill out into a specific role in the family scene." Dew continued, finding his silence as a cue. "You fill the role of the observant brother or uncle. You keep Nora in line in case she blows up a room, Jaune is you main confidant, he trusts you with almost everything. The girls of RWBY and Pyrrha love you as if you were their own brother…it's interesting."
"How so?" Ren raised a brow. "You can't just end there."
"Well…" She adopted a thinking pose, her indigo eyes stealing glances at the long haired boy. "In Vacuo, there really aren't many guys like you. Quiet, reserved, respectful. Oh gods, there are almost no respectful guys in Vacuo. If there are, they're ditzy and weak – just wait until you meet Team BRZN…but here, you're just such a breath of fresh air, it's hard to find a responsible man in this world."
"You have a low opinion of men."
"I wouldn't say that…" Dew frowned. "My father is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, man I've ever known. I've just been let down time and time again by so many who claim to be strong and parade their strength. You said I like showmanship – you're only partly right. Sun, in all his annoyance, is great at making a show. People like Baron Crowne of Team CRAP…shit…it's CARP like the fish."
"There's a story there." Ren raised a brow.
"Doré." Dew simply said.
Sighing, a small chuckle escaped him. "Why am I not surprised? They seem like polar opposites to Jaune."
"Right?" Dew nearly shouted. "When they told me we'd be meeting her only brother, I was expecting someone more like Doré!"
"I was half expecting someone more like him." Ren shrugged. "Can't say I'm surprised by the turnout either."
"Heh." The girl lifted her cup and sipped the last few drops of tea. "We should head back to base."
"Yeah…it is kinda–" Ren stopped as his phone began to vibrate. "Nora? What is it?"
"Cardin and Velvet!" She cried, almost laughing. "They're back! Come on, we have money to get!"
"What I wouldn't give to have Ren with us…" Jaune scowled, reloading another magazine. "This battle would be over in a heartbeat."
"Why don't you use your semblance, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked with a worried look. "Is it the ooze?"
"Yup…" He popped the cover, taking a few shots before sliding back. "The ooze cramps my muscles and you know this. If I used any of my semblances, I might shut down in the middle of the fight…we can't have that, not when we have the Belladonnas in trouble."
"But if push comes to shove…"
"If push comes to shove, I'll do what I have to." Jaune nodded. "Until I come up with a better alternative, I'm going to have to stick with this. Sergeant!"
"Yes, your grace?!" A man dressed in black and grey battle armor strode forward.
"How many rockets do you have?" Jaune questioned, as he fished through his ammo packs for Dust ammunition.
"Eighteen Crimson Dust rockets and two Burn!" The man responded. "Our rocket teams are deployed at the guard barracks towards the center of the city!"
"Alright…" Jaune took a deep breath. Typing into his scroll, ignoring the spend bullet casings bouncing around him, he brought his left hand to his ear. "Admiral Haddock. Do you read me?"
"Yes, your grace. I read you loud and clear!" A powerful, boisterous voice come from the receiving end. "What are your orders? I can see the smoke and tracers from the port!"
"Prep the LAHAT crews, get the guns pointed towards the jungle tree line that lies against the Menagerie Badlands." Jaune ordered. "As this battle continues, fear grows. Admiral, we all know what will come next…"
"Yessir! LAHAT will be in the air ASAP!" The man cried once more. "Admiral Haddock, out!"
Taking a deep breath, Jaune whipped his head back. "Mortars! Bring up the mortars! It's time we give them a taste of their own medicine!"
From the rear, five pairs of men and women rushed to the Menagerie Guardsmen Corps Barracks courtyard. Cobblestone tiles had been removed, unhinged and thrown askew. Their combat boots clapped against and crushed the debris that peppered the battlefield. Coming to a stop in the center of the courtyard, the crews released the mortar stands, hoisting the tubes towards the tree line. Adjustments were made, ignoring the rockets and screaming shells landing behind them.
"Pyrrha, do you still have smoke grenades?" Jaune asked.
Dropping her last Milo magazine, she slid against the palisade stakes. "Yeah, just three more left. What's the plan?"
"Levies will be coming in and naval artillery support." Jaune responded. "Our mortar teams will suppress the firing line while the air support and artillery blast them to kingdom come. They've outlived the element of surprise. Whenever you're ready, Mortar Teams!"
The first mortar whistled through the air, primed and glowing with agitated Dust. Following its finned tail, a trail of smoke almost as thin as floss, wisped like vapors. Jaune could see the glowing shell arch in the sky, turning its raging tip towards the cratered battleground. Trees were uprooted, holes were created and bodies littered the field. Blue eyes trailed after the glowing light of death as it made its descent. The White Fang were none the wiser, ignoring the ordinance.
The resulting explosion rocked the tree line, splintering palm wood and destroying machine gun placements. And that was the first shell. Shouts were heard, commands, affirmatives and cheers. Screeching metal, swiveling pistons and clanking primers, the mortar teams repositioned and released all they had onto the attacking Faunus. Fires grew, dancing in the night, eating at the grass and thick foliage infesting the island nation.
Even then, the White Fang didn't let up. It was almost as if they were unaffected, unfazed by the King's Fist counterattack. Mortar shells arched across the sky, both his and theirs. Some met their mark, others hit targets not intended. Homes were blown to smithereens, streets were ripped asunder. Jaune couldn't believe the chaos that had befallen the once peaceful island. Clenching his fists, the king slid behind cover, holding his head, ignoring the bullets snagging and hissing by.
"What have I done…?" Jaune whispered. "All of this destruction…how could I overlook this? How could I do this to our people…?"
A hand reached over, resting on his shoulder. "Jaune…not even Blake knew the White Fang would be here…there's no reason to hurt yourself over this. You're from the future and you didn't even know about the White Fang being on Menagerie."
"I just…I just wish I was more prepared." He scowled. "I should've brought an AT-TE or even more Levies…something! Anything but this! I should've assumed something – I should've –"
"Jaune, please…" Pyrrha's hand tightened on his armored shoulder. "Just calm down…Blake is safe. The Belladonnas are safe. I'm safe. You're safe. Our men, while shaken up, are still fighting…you aren't omniscient. You make mistakes…"
"But the innocent." Jaune hissed, fists clenching tightly. "Their homes, their city! I came here to bring wealth and prosperity! The first day isn't even over and we're already shooting at each other!"
"Now's not the time for this, Jaune!" Pyrrha held him. "Sometimes things just don't go to plan! I thought you'd understand that!"
Blue eyes stared at the orange visor hiding those emerald orbs he'd fallen in love with. "Pyr…I'm sorry…"
"It's okay…" Reaching up, she pressed her thumb against a button. Her helmet hissed before unlatching completely. She tossed the kepi away, letting it clank and bounce against the wooden steps. Her face, while glistening with sweat retained its beauty, especially under the light of the shattered moon and blazing fires. Her tiara chains dangled in the winds, jingling with a soft tune that he could still hear despite the battle. "Jaune…look at me…"
He followed suit, removing his own helmet. Blond hair stuck to his skin, slicked with sweat. Those blue eyes had never been so deep, nor did they hold so much pain. Regret and disappointment were all she could see in those eyes of his. He did his best to hide his scowl, but she knew better – this was weighing on him hard. "Pyrrha…"
"I know you're worried about what will come of this…" She smiled warmly. "You don't have to be. All that matters is the here and now – we can worry about the future after the battle is through. For now, my love, be the King we know you are."
Nodding his head, he finally shook it out of his system. Blue eyes gazed at her fiercely with a fire ignited. "Alright. I need some smoke grenades and I'll need some covering fire."
"Men!" Pyrrha roared. "The King needs a baseline of sustained fire! Everyone else – cover him!"
"Yes, your grace!"
The men and women of both the King's Fist and the Guardsmen Corps rushed to the palisade. Rifle barrels poked through the holes made in the palisades and over the stakes. Raising Milo its xiphos form, Dust burned off the blade. It glowed like a beacon to all soldiers and guardsmen waiting. Beside her, Jaune cocked his arm back, grenade already popped and ready.
"Open fire!"
Bullets, rockets and mortar shells – the horizon glowed like fresh blown glass. It was a resounding howl of casings and hissing back blasts. Hurling his arm forward, the smoke grenade tumbled through the air, dancing over the fires and the corpses littering the field before landing in the blood slicked mud and foliage. Faunus repositioned and advanced, while others began to fall back towards the badlands.
The Badlands…? Jaune watched with weary eyes. Why would the White Fang be running to the Badlands…?
"Jaune!" Pyrrha yelled, tossing him his helmet. "The Admiral is trying to reach you!"
Throwing his helmet on, the locks hissed and shut. Energy flowed into the kepi, bringing life back to his vision and visors. Graphs, maps and all the HUD fixings appeared before shuffling off to the corner of his peripherals. Throwing a hand to his ear, he pressed a button, answering the call. "Admiral Haddock, what is it?"
"The LAHAT crews have taken off – they will arrive at your AO in two minutes." The admiral spoke quickly. "We see the smoke, your grace – do we fire?"
"Fire as soon as you can." Jaune answered. "One barrage of sixteens can do the job, any more than that would be overkill. You have the clear. Over and out."
As the final command was given, powerful thundering thuds were heard, echoing throughout the chaos. If it were any louder, Jaune was certain it would have silenced the field. Trailing through the skies, three massive glowing tracers screamed through the night. One smashed into the smoke rising from the grenade, plowing through the fortifications the White Fang had erected. The second snapped through jungle trees and palm wood, showering shards of metal and splinters at lightning speeds.
Surprising the White Fang assault, the sixteen inch shell was imbued with Burn Dust. When it finally came to a halt, embedding itself into the dirt behind the lines, the agitated Dust exploded in a fiery light. Spreading in all directions, the heat, the flame, it was unlike any other, drawing the White Fang from the jungles and cover. Despite the masks covering much of their faces and the weapons still clenched tightly in their hands, the infantry, the men and women who were tasked with dying for the White Fang – their fear could be felt even from the palisade.
The third and final shell blitzed through the sky, and missed the battlefield completely. Men and women of both the King's Fist and the White Fang watched it continue over the mountains that separated Kuo Kuana from the Badlands. It landed with a resounding explosion that shook the mountain range and even caused a palisade stake to fall from its position. Jaune hissed at his luck. Not only did that shell shake the mountains – it probably woke whatever creature may live there.
A powerful, screeching howl echoed in their ears. Pyrrha dropped to a knee holding her ears. The White Fang and the Faunus guardsmen covered their ears as well, even those with extra pairs. It was so powerful, he could feel the winds ripple from the power. Clenching every muscle in his body, he did his best to hold still. It was incredible – the power, the decibels. But as he collapsed to his knees, the ear-ripping screech went silent.
"Oh…shit…" Jaune gasped. "Admiral!"
"Yes, your grace!" The man responded with a slight worry in his tone. "What was that?!"
"The last shell overshot and headed into the Badlands!" Jaune scowled. "Whatever it hit, it pissed it–"
"I am disappointed in you." A loud, baritone voice fell upon the battlefield. "After the Battle of the Docks, I thought you'd have better strategies than to strike wildly at those who oppose you."
"Jaune!" Blake's voice entered his ears.
Whipping back, Jaune turned to find Blake, hunched over, panting. "Something happened, Jaune! There're Grimm gathering around the White Fang from the Badlands! Those weird people from the docks – Team RRGE – they're here!"
"They're what?!" Jaune nearly roared. Drawing Crocea Mors, the blade glowed white. "Men, prepare yourselves!"
Blake stormed up the steps, drawing Gambol Shroud and shoving a Dust magazine into her weapon. "I saw with my own two eyes – the hunchback guy was at the Western Palisade leading a pack of Beowolves and Ursai."
"They must have used the portal…" Pyrrha whispered under her breath, hands shaking.
"Portal?" Blake's eyes widened. "RRGE used a portal?!"
"Apparently they're still using portals." Jaune spat. "Pyr, put your helmet on. Guardsmen, fall back to your Lord and Lady – tell MSTN we'll need them here…"
"Corsac, Fennec." The voice continued, slowly growling as it did. "Where are you? Only cowards won't fight on the front lines."
"What the heck is going on?!" Pyrrha lowered Milo and Akouo. Soldiers and guardsmen lowered their weapons in confusion as well.
"I don't know, but stay frosty." Jaune narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, a great raging portal of blood red and black opened in the sky. From it, a man wearing oriental plate armor. His shoulders were covered in a six layered plate, almost like Yatsuhashi's. But what made his skin and blood run cold, the man had two great horns, thick and menacing, protruding from his head. They were black and carved with oriental flame designs, curving forward, rather than up. At his side, a weapon Jaune would never forget.
"A-Adam…" The blond gasped.
"What?" Blake leaned closer to Jaune, hands clenching Gambol Shroud. "I could have sworn you just said Adam."
"Adam…"
Blake whipped her head back to the battlefield as the portal snapped shut. Standing in the center of the battlefield, a man she thought was long gone had returned. No longer wearing a mask, blood red markings – almost like veins, had spiraled around his face and menacing eyes. Even in night, she could see his crimson eyes and black sclera. He was no longer a man. "It can't be…"
"Corsac, Fennec." Adam said once again, his voice booming over the city. "I know you're here…come out, you cowardly dogs."
He drew Wilt, the crimson blade glowing menacingly in the night. The White Fang backed away from their former champion. "Come with me, brothers and sisters. Corsac and Fennec had betrayed our cause…they have brought nothing but strife to the one home we have…they have forced us to kill our own. Look at the King of Vale, look at his army. See our estranged brothers and sisters among them."
"I didn't join the White Fang to kill our own." Adam spoke with a calm voice, one that not even Blake heard before. "We didn't join to kill our own – we joined to take care of our own, to look after our own. But fools like Sienna Khan and her followers have created this rift between Faunus. Come with me – and I will see to it that Faunus never betray Faunus again!"
"Adam!" A hoarse voice entered the fray.
"What the fuck is going on right now?!" Jaune gripped the palisade stakes. "I don't understand…"
"Neither do I…" Blake shivered.
"Adam…please!" A deeper voice came next.
"There you two are." Adam turned to the Albain brothers. "Did you miss me?"
"Please, Adam…" The taller, wolf-tailed Faunus pleaded. "Have mercy! We carried out your last – Urgh!"
Blake jumped, Pyrrha choked and Jaune nearly dropped his sword. Before the wolf tailed Faunus could finish his statement, Adam shoved Wilt through the man's open mouth. The blade punctured his skull like a hot knife to butter. The smaller, fox eared Faunus beside him, howled in horror as Adam pressed his boot against the man's face, almost in the same fashion of unsheathing his sword. Corsac's body collapsed into the mud, blood pooling around him and the gaping hole left in his head.
"What the fuck?!" Jaune could hear some of his men and the guardsmen hissing.
"Everyone calm down!" The king ordered, bringing his hand up. "They aren't shooting at us, so that's a good thing."
The White Fang gunmen backed away, slowly moving towards the palisade. It was either the King's Fist or getting eaten by the massive horde of Grimm amassing behind them. Jaune couldn't believe the situation he'd gotten himself into. For a moment, he thought of how different the situation would be if he, Blake and Pyrrha came to Menagerie on their own. He didn't want to believe it was his fault, but all the evidence pointed to it.
"Blake." Jaune whispered. "Prepare to open the palisade gate."
"What? Why would we do that?!" She gave him a confused look through her visor. "Do you not see Adam and the Grimm and RRGE?!"
"The White Fang are clearly not in league with this new Adam." Jaune glared. "We came here to bring prosperity and wealth, not exterminate an enemy that wasn't supposed to be here."
She sighed, knowing he was right. "I will…just give me the signal. Pyrrha, come on."
The two jumped off the palisade and rushed to the gate that was barred with metal plates and steel beams. Turning his attention back to the farce that the battle had become, Adam was standing before the still screaming Faunus.
"Look at me Fennec." Adam knelt in front of the man. "Look at me…"
"Please…" The man pleaded, almost in a similar fashion to his brother. "I'm begging you."
"Look at me Fennec." Adam said once more, as calm as before. But Fennec would not meet the bull's gaze. "I said look at me you dog!"
On his knees, the Faunus flinched at the spit and tone. "Adam…we did all that you asked – we were loyal to a fault…"
"I know."
With a quick Iaido action, Adam sheathed his sword before Fennec's body realized his head was no longer connected. As his head toppled to the mud, leaving a spurting stump, Adam turned to Jaune. Crimson eyes meeting Sapphire. "Look what you've made me do, oh, great King of Vale…look what you've made me become…I won't forget that you stole the woman I love…I won't forget that you've turned my people against me! My time for revenge will come…but it isn't now…"
Whipping back, he faced the small army of White Fang gunmen remaining. "I have been gone for two months – presumed dead, probably. But I stand before you, alive and more powerful than ever. Come with me, my brothers and sisters in arms. Come with me and learn the truth. Come with me and be free."
Unsurprisingly, several of the gunmen walked up to Adam, including several men and women wearing all black jumpsuits. One had long brown hair tied into what looked like a chameleon's tail. Another had silver, almost light blue hair and strange markings on her otherwise, pale skin. The third was the tallest, with back swept spiked hair and a soul patch. Protruding from his back seemed to be bat wings. Jaune didn't even know there were Faunus who could fly.
"Are there no one else?" Adam called. "Is there no one else who wants to be free from this lie? No? So be it…"
A great portal opened above them, swallowing Adam and almost eighty Faunus. Behind the remaining hundred or so, smaller portals opened and swallowed the members of Team RRGE, leaving nothing but the Grimm. It was a stressful pause as all sound and feeling warped and screamed with the raging portals. Jaune was so confused and honestly, terrified, he didn't know what to do with the White Fang and the horde of Grimm gathering just outside of the palisade walls. It was horrifying.
But just as the fear had come…the Grimm attacked.
"Open fire!" Jaune roared. "Blake, open the gates! Let the White Fang in!"
A loud rumbling could be heard as repulsor engines sang into the ambiance. Looking to the skies, four LAHAT gunships opened fire on the Ursai and Beowolves – even Creeps came in numerous numbers. Their bullets and mortar shells rained upon the horde, smashing through their bone plates and mauling their ghostly flesh apart. But the sheer amount of Grimm made their defenses mean nothing. Jackass rockets destroyed groups, but more took their place. Mortar shells follow up, but like everything they've tried before, the Grimm came in numbers the pilots in the air couldn't fathom.
Beneath the palisade, the hundred White Fang remaining rushed towards the open gate, trying their hardest to not become Grimm dinner. They ran, they jumped, they pushed and screamed and cussed as they plowed through the open gate. Some were unlucky and fell behind, feet tripping over firearms left in the mud, or even worse, caught in the thick mud itself. Those who fell behind were eaten on the spot, shredded and eviscerated before their very eyes.
"Alright, that's everyone!" Blake howled. "Shut the gate!"
They moved as quickly as they could, White Fang, King's Fist. They pushed against the doorway made of steel and wood and stone. The combined weight of fifty people could not compare to the strength of almost a hundred Beowolves and Ursai beating against the walls though. It was only a matter of seconds before the Grimm shattered the barricades and the palisade into splinters. The creatures roared and tore through the Northern Barracks, destroying homes and eating whomever got their path.
The fires that had formed from the White Fang skirmish, simply grew in the chaos, engulfing entire city blocks. The people screamed in terror, trying to find hiding places, while others tried to defend themselves with sticks and stones. The King's Fist, with all their technology and training, were outnumbered. Their overshields, as high tech as they were, fizzed out and died as soon as Grimm teeth punctured their armor.
From his position on the last standing portion of the palisade wall, he could see Captain Terra fighting off a pair of Ursa Majors with a handgun. Beside her, MSTN had arrived, doing what they were trained to do, but the sheer amount of Creeps and Beowolves converging on the Belladonna Mansion in the center of the city would overwhelm them. Below, Blake and Pyrrha were fighting for their lives against Boarbatusk and even a Deathstalker. The Grimm were a force to be reckoned with, feeding on the death and fear they had created.
Damn the ooze… Jaune roared in his mind. Damn freezing in battle! If I can do something to stop this – I will!
Raising his arms to the sky, he roared with incredible intensity. Channeling the one semblance he knew would help the most, pink energy rushed from his body, engulfing his and racing to Blake and Pyrrha. The Deathstalker was in mid swing of its pincers, but froze immediately. It hissed, staring at the pair of huntresses before moving along past them.
Roaring once more, drawing on his own semblance, his body glowed both white and pink. Energy rushed beyond both Pyrrha and Blake, still covering them in the aura. It snagged onto soldiers and White Fang gunmen in tricky situations, halting the Grimm where they stood. The energy jumped from man to woman, to woman to man, latching upon those fighting for their lives, and those hiding for their lives. Human and Faunus alike, the pink aura engulfed them, immersed them in an endless calm, stopping the Grimm before they could strike.
Blood suddenly trickled from his eyes, dripping from his nose. But he didn't let up. His aura boosted and increasing tenfold, he continued drawing on the semblance. Before he knew it, a great pink bubble of glimmering aura surrounded him and was growing exponentially. The larger it grew, the more blood flowed from his nose and eyes. As it grew, the auras surrounding Blake and Pyrrha joined the bubble, increasing its size.
Within the bubble, the Grimm were almost like mannequins, frozen in time, expressionless. They were sitting ducks. Blake and Pyrrha immediately went to work, slicing and shooting at the Grimm trapped in the massive pink bubble. As more soldiers were engulfed in the bubble, they too went to work, blasting away at the Grimm surrounding them and invading the city. The bubble engulfed the Belladonna Mansion, releasing Ghira from a deadlock with an Ursa Major, allowing him to strike the beast with a quick slash at its throat, killing it.
Before long, the bubble extended beyond the center of Kuo Kuana and began to creep upon the coast and the port. The ships anchored were almost overrun with Terremer Grimm and Beowolves who climbed the steel hulls. Seamen and Marines blasted at the creatures to no avail, but once the pink bubble engulfed the ships and the sea around Kuo Kuana, the Grimm were frozen, releasing the catch they had. It was almost unbelievable that it could happen, but it did.
The entire city was under the pink bubble and every Grimm within it was frozen. Jaune continued channeling the semblance, despite losing almost a liter of blood. Outside the bubble, Grimm had turned around and hobbled back to the Badlands where they came from. He succeeded, he won. But just as he was about to release the semblance, the pain he'd inflicted on himself came screaming back. His world turned dark, and spun in the endless recesses. He couldn't feel his legs, his arms or his body. His mind had gone numb – even that, he couldn't feel. Images, there were none. Even nothingness had no substance. But there was a voice – one that was foreign to him.
It was a woman's voice.
It's okay, Lie…look at me…it will be okay…
"Jaune!"
Pyrrha jumped first, charging for her partner. Flipping over debris and overturned palisade stakes, she caught the blond king before he could hit the mud and dirt. When she caught him, his once white and bronze-gold armor was slicked with blood, painted a sour maroon and mahogany. His head was tilted back with a thick layer of blood flakes still attached to his skin. He was unconscious and barely breathing. Pyrrha nearly screamed when she saw that his aura was in fact, in the negatives.
"Someone, help! The King, he's unconscious!"
"Ah!" Cardin shouted in surprise. Beside him, Velvet's hand clenched his own, fingers interlocked. "Why the hell did you idiots bet on who'd jump on who first? I didn't realize you cared so much."
Dew cackled and knuckle bumped the green clad ninja beside her. "I don't know, birdy. Maybe it's because it was too much fun to watch you both beat around the bush for so long."
"I just knew it was the quiet ones you had to look out for." Ren nodded his head, counting his Lien. "And…Nora. You owe me, Coco and Dew five thousand Lien – each."
The girl in question howled in despair. "You let me down, big guy. You let me down."
She handed the three their expected Lien, much to her adamant dismay. Coco smiled devilishly with Dew like the Cheshire cat. Ren kept his demeanor steady, hiding the hilarity within. Don't rub it in her face. Don't rub it in her face. Don't–
"Urgh!"
Ren dropped the Lien cards, letting them clap and topple on the tiled floors below. Yang and Weiss immediately jumped back, eyes wide with fear. Everyone followed suit, making sure to keep some distance from the howling boy. He held his head as blood coursed from his eyes and nose. Nora and Nebula rushed to the screaming ninja.
"What do we do?!"
"What the hell is happening to him?!"
"Renny!" Nora screamed, hugging him tightly. "Ren!"
He kept screaming as the blood rushed from his nostrils and eyes, dripping to the floor his knees landed upon. He fought and thrashed about, howling as he did. He even shoved Nora away! Ren could feel his mind reeling, almost as if the pressure of the world was pressing against his face, his bones and his very soul. Worse yet, it felt like his soul was getting sucked out of his body, siphoned away and used for someone else's agenda. He could see faces, vague and nondescript in the spinning void his vision had become.
He could hear gunfire, all around him as delirium took him. Before he could continue, strong arms wrapped around him. Cardin picked the hemorrhaging ninja from the floor and hoisted him up bridal style, resting Ren's head against his shoulder. "We have to get him to a hospital soon! But I cannot let him leave this position – get paramedics, something!"
"Blake!" Ren roared. "Pyrrha!"
"What…?" Yang froze.
"Help me…" He whimpered. "Mother…"
"No!" Cardin roared. "Ren, wake up! Wake up!"
"Ren!"
So what did y'all think?
I understand the talks were 'short' but that's because
I don't want to turn into George Lucas writing the prequels
The political talk is incredibly boring in my opinion and can
be omitted for the sake of the author and y'all as readers.
I mean I don't want to bore you with statistics and
the Remnant value of Coconuts and Bananas and freight
Anyway, so Jaune's power came with a double edge that
I've hinted at since the beginning of the story
Review, Follow and Favorite y'all! I'll be sure to be more posty soon!
Ja ne!
gottahavekyuubi