Helloooo!
So, here's a super long chapter generally written about Weiss
because for being my favorite character on the show, I haven't given her much screentime
So, now that we're moving along with the plot of Volume 2, I've done some thinking
most of the volume revolved around the conflict of the White Fang and Cinder's plans getting the army of Grimm agitated and break into Vale when the Vytal Festival was in full swing. The thing about that though; I've pretty much ended that possible plot. So now, I have to come up with something else entirely and my oh my is it getting harder and harder to create this without aggravating myself and a few of you.
As for the whole traipsing around and showing off their god powers, neither Jaune nor Ren seem like the type that would do that. I mean, they barely use their semblances in canon unless they really have to. TBH, I feel like I've been making them use their semblances too much for my taste. It barely makes any real challenges for them.
So, yeah. Don't expect any mass resurrections like they've both done before. My reasoning for it, was because they felt they caused the destruction and had a moment of weakness and pretty much threw out the meaning of sacrifice and fighting for hope.
Idk. That's me. If you don't agree, whoops.
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY
Chapter 33: Venatrix
Ruby awoke suddenly. Looking around, rose petals covered the room, flittering by and drifting out their open window. Pushing herself from her bed, she looked around the room, finding Yang and Blake still asleep in their beds. Poking her head over, hoping to catch Weiss giggling and blushing at pictures of JNPR and RWBY together on her scroll, but she found nothing. Rubbing her eyes, almost in disbelief of what she saw, she pulled her whole body off the barely stable bunk bed, careful of the chafing ropes. Seeing exactly what she thought, Weiss was nowhere to be seen.
Flipping off the bed, landing on her bare feet, her face drained of color when Yang shifted in her bed, hints of a scowl already beginning to spread across her features. Thankfully, the busty huntress was still asleep. Turning toward the bathroom, the only other place Weiss could be, she inched over, putting her ear to the wooden door. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Ruby was stumped. Whipping out her scroll, it was six in the morning – two whole hours before Weiss was usually up. Sliding away, she opened her dorm door, poking her head out into the hallway.
There was nothing but the snores of Jaune and Nora across the hall. Sliding it shut, she turned to the window, taking a deep breath. Quickly running to the bathroom to do her business, she jumped into the shower of a quick soak, soap and wash, she burst from the bathroom doing her best to not spray rose petals all over the place again. Coming to her drawer, she was careful of the loud dragging of wood against steel. Blake's sensitive ears could wake her. Throwing on one of her outfits that she'd been dying to try on, the dark greys and blacks really suited an operation this early in the morning.
She tiptoed, creaking their door open once again. Moving through the winding halls of grey and black, she was practically camouflaged. No one was up, thankfully, even the professors who patrol the halls through the night were nowhere to be seen. Using her superior huntress senses, she followed the scent of perfume – only Weiss would be so proper to put perfume on so early in the morning. Continuing her tiptoe, she stopped, pressed herself against the plaster walls of the hallways.
Moving like a specter, Professor Ozpin himself was patrolling the halls. His cane in hand and steaming cup of coffee in the other, the man's silhouette was one that no one could forget. Putting herself against the all, as still as a statue, the girl hoped, wished that she was invisible. However, as if her prayers were answered, the man simply walked past her, not once turning to look at her. As soon as he made a turn into another hallway, she gasped, holding her chest, trying to calm the raging heart. That was too close.
As the smell of perfume grew stronger, cool, early morning winds, drifted into the halls, washing her in an ice-cold aura. She was so glad that she chose her thicker outfit. The sleeves rustled as she neared the source of the rushing winds. Coming close, a hand suddenly grabbed her, stopping her from continuing. Before she could scream, a hand pressed on her mouth and pushed her against the wall. Silver eyes started to glimmer but immediately faded when she saw just who it was.
Jaune had an embarrassed look on his face, as he practically shook his head, asking for forgiveness. "Wait, Ruby…don't, please. Just listen."
The two walked to the open doorway to the fire escape and looked through the crack of the doorframe. Standing on the fire escape, Weiss wore an entirely different dress, one that was bluer and had less frizzles. It was darker, closer to a cobalt type of shade. Wearing a jacket and a scarf, she stood in the light of the coming sun, ethereal and almost glowing. Her long, waving white hair drifted in the winds, carried ever so slightly, dancing with the frills of her battle skirt. But what really caught her off guard, Weiss was singing. And it was the most beautiful thing the silver-eyed girl had ever heard.
Her jaw slowly dropped and her eyes grew large with excitement. "What is this? I've only heard her singing in the shower and even then, she uses glyphs to silence the bathroom!"
"I don't know, but ever since we've come back from Menagerie, she comes out here every morning, at five thirty, on the dot, without fail, and sings." Jaune leaned against the door frame, closing his eyes. "I didn't know until I followed her out of curiosity. I uh…fell asleep in one of the training rooms here and came back to my dorm super late. Next thing I know, she's singing on the fire escape, belting notes I didn't think were possible."
"Didn't you say she was a professional singer?" Ruby asked.
Jaune nodded with a smile. "Ah, so someone does listen. Thank you, Rosy."
Ruby blushed slightly at the compliment and punched his shoulder. "Thanks, King."
"You two do know I can hear you?"
The two snapped away, shooting to their feet. Jaune tried to look inconspicuous, while Ruby shot to the wall. Weiss though, crossed her arms over her chest, unimpressed. "What the hell are you doing, Ruby?"
"She can see me." It was all the girl managed to croak.
"Of course, I can see you. Get off the wall, you dolt. And you; what are you doing following me for the last few days?" Weiss hissed.
"It worked on Ozpin, why didn't work on you."
"My eyes can see through stupid." Weiss's response brought a laugh from the girl. "Ugh. Since you're both here, might as well come out and judge me."
Jaune tilted his head, a surprised look on his face. Ruby though, immediately brightened at the invitation. Bursting through the door in a wave of rose petals, she appeared once again, sitting cross-legged on the floor, waiting patiently with a bright smile on her face. Jaune simply chuckled and walked outside, feeling the full force of cold winds. Weiss though, simply facepalmed, trying to fight her growing blush. "Come on…"
"What's the song called? Did you write it?" Ruby asked, excitedly. "Did you come up with music sheets? Is team RWBY going to make music?! Am I going to be in a band?!"
"It's called…It's My Turn. And yes, yes, no and definite no." Weiss actually laughed. "I uh…I've had a lot of time to think about a lot of things. How I feel about Vale, how I feel about Beacon…how I feel about my family…it's about…how do I say this…?"
Jaune sat beside Ruby, legs crossed and ready. "Whenever you feel you can say it, Weiss. We're in no rush."
"I didn't have the greatest of upbringings." Weiss started. "My mother wasn't the best kind and my father certainly wasn't. My sister left as soon as she could and that left myself and my younger brother, Whitley. Business is nasty, and to be number one required a lot of conniving and manipulating. With my sister in the Atlesian Military, I was the heiress to the largest, the richest and the most well-known company in Remnant."
"To…make up for the loss that Winter was…my father tried to condition me." Weiss held an arm. "He…was cruel. He was conniving. He was everything a good businessman should be. But a father? He had none of those qualities. It was business first, personal image last. There was nothing in between for me. My mom…she was nowhere to be found, unless she was in the gardens drinking."
"Water?" Ruby asked.
"Wine." Weiss said with the word with distaste. "I don't blame her though. How would you feel if the man you married and had a family with snaps and admits that he only married you for money and fame? How would you feel when your family falls apart and there's absolutely nothing left that you can do? I uh, wrote this song with the hopes of singing it one day at a gala or concert, declaring my rise to CEO of the SDC…but I don't see that happening any time soon."
"This song…it's the culmination of everything I've learned and gained from being here in Vale. You've all taught me so much, even you, Ruby and I can't be more grateful for your friendship." Weiss turned on her heels, letting them click against the concrete rooftop. "Shall I begin?"
"Whenever you're ready."
"Go, Weiss!" Ruby cheered.
"Keep it down, dolt!" Weiss snapped. When the girl flinched in defeat, she turned to face the great city.
When…I was young.
If I just closed my eyes, then I could go anywhere.
Dream of any place
Imagination set the pace and my heart was happy there!
What a shame that you came 'round and told me
Said my dreams can't come true
Don't be foolish, give up your wish
Big things aren't for you!
And how you'd scold and chide me
Forever criticize me, but now I think I know the truth…
You, were the one, who held me down and told me I was heading nowhere.
You said, know your place
Accept your fate and show good face, and be thankful that you're there
That was so long ago when you owned me, I believed it was true
Bend me, shape me, bend me break me,
Why was I your fool?
And now I'm so much stronger,
I'm not yours any longer,
I've got a message here for you!
Time for you to learn,
It's my turn, I won't be held down any longer,
I've waited all my life and finally it's here.
It all begins, a chance to win,
A dream that's been a lifetime,
An endless, vast uphill climb.
The day I've waited for is drawing near…
As the final note left her lips, the sound of horns honking in the distance cut her off. Airships zoomed and hummed to life in the distance as aircraft were sent out on their morning patrols. Distant highways on both north and south of the great river, were packed with cars and SUV's, each one fighting to get to their menial 9-to-5's. Turning to face the two sitting patiently, her heart fluttered by what she saw.
Jaune's eyebrows were almost to his hairline and Ruby was almost moved to tears. She never knew the girl even knew what complex emotion even was. She was almost afraid to ask though, looking to them both, she held her arm, nervous and anxious.
"Well are either of you idiots gonna say something?!" A voice sounded below.
Snapping up, the three of them poked their heads over the edge of the fire escape to find CRDL all poking their heads from their window. Weiss's face turned a bright red, almost as if she were about to burst with steam. "What the fuck, guys?!"
"What?!" Cardin shouted back. "That was amazing, Weiss!"
"Hell yeah!" Sky clapped. "Keep the songs coming!"
"Hey guys!" Ruby waved. The four of them happily waved back. "How's that for an alarm?!"
"Shit, release it on the CCTN Weiss and it'll be my workout song." Dove laughed. "That was great!"
Weiss couldn't hold it anymore. Before she knew it, tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "T-Thank you, guys."
"Yeah, no problem, Princess." Cardin winked. "C'mon losers, let's go before any of the transfer scrubs take our training room."
With that, their window snapped shut, leaving the three of them alone. Weiss couldn't help it; she was actually crying. Instead of hearing the claps and cheers from the massive crowds, or the approving glare her father always wore, these cheers were genuine. They were real. They saw something in her that wasn't just her combat prowess or her money. She was just Weiss, the girl who can sing. Beautifully sing. Weiss thought of it, feeling her body shiver.
"Weiss, come here." Jaune said.
Without thinking, she leaned into him, letting him wrap her in his arms. "That really was beautiful, Weiss…I'm going to be honest, I…I felt that. The emotion was so raw. Even though you don't really open up like the others do, I feel we've learned more about you from just those few stanzas than we have in a while. Thank you for sharing."
"I…" Weiss sniffled, wiping the tears from her icy blue eyes. "No…thank you, Jaune. Ruby. Ever since I've met the two of you…I'm going to be honest; I've felt a little…intimidated."
Ruby waited for the punchline, but when the joke didn't begin, she immediately went into defense mode. "B-But you're Weiss Schnee! What do you mean?"
Weiss giggled. "Ruby, you were brought into Beacon a whole two years early. To be so young, but so optimistic and mature when you need to be, it's scary. In a way, I kinda wish I had that mentality. And Jaune. Jaune, Jaune, Jaune."
She sniffled once again, cracking a smile across her face. "You've done so much for me, even if you don't realize it. To stand against your father and mother, to create something that will last, to become something greater than any of us can imagine. Future or not, knowing me before or not, it feels so…good to be around you all. You've saved me from myself…and I can't be more grateful to be your friend. Both of you. And Ruby, I can't be more grateful to be your partner."
"Aw, Nice Weiss." Ruby beamed. "I like it."
"I will push you off the ledge."
"You won't actually do that, right?"
"Weiss?"
"Wait. Weiss."
Weiss stood before her mirror, staring at the scar that ripped through and over her left eye. Icy blues mimicked the pain within her heart – shouldn't lie or hide it anymore. After the Battle of Vale, after the reveal of everything to just about everyone, it wouldn't be long before her father tried to call her. She could already hear it; she could already hear the complaints and the rage in his voice. He'd probably question why she wasn't Jaune's queen.
Staring at herself, she blushed hotly. Really?
Clutching the edges of her porcelain sink, she lowered her head before her reflection. What am I doing?
Looking back up, icy eyes locked with each other. Pain, surprise, even distrust, flowed in her irides. What was it that really drove her to feel like this? What was it that made her act so…childishly? This was more than some business meeting; this was more than keeping appearances; it was always more than that. Now, she really found what it was. She hissed and turned away from the mirror, almost in disgust. What she saw was her old self; meek, terrified and small. She saw what kind of person she once was, how naïve and insufferable she was.
Pushing away, she walked to the door. She could hear them, giggling and laughing at some joke Nora told. Pyrrha tried her best at doing the same, but failing miserably. Yang followed up with her own joke making all either groan in disgust or top it with something worse. She rested her hand on the silver handle, waiting for the right moment. She didn't want to be the one to make them stop having fun. She didn't want to be the last one. Taking a deep breath once more, she tried to fight her warm heart from breaking through her ribcage.
It's my turn. She thought. I've waited all my life and finally it's here…
Now bursting with inspiration, she swung the door open as soon as the laughter died down. Walking through her room, she plopped into her seat, pulled a pen and began to write. Humming the melody and the tune of the song, she finally found her lyrics. Stopping only to show that she was listening, she wouldn't be distracted – she had to keep writing. But even in her trance, she wasn't all that distant. When asked, she'd answer, when a joke was made at her expense, she'd give them the most sarcastic laugh she could muster – but this song, this wonderful song, was all she could think about.
Jaune talked about his problems; Ren meditated; she would write music. Turning as she dropped her pen; she crossed a leg over the other and crossed her arms under her chest. Speaking of Jaune, he was telling the girls of RWBY and JNPR a story of his youth and how his sisters made him wear one of their training bras. Yang was certainly enjoying it and Blake shared a few giggles. Pyrrha, Ruby and Nora were completely enraptured with the experience. Not only was his hair braided, forced into a sundress, but he was wearing a bright yellow training bra and forced to walk around the Arc Compound in full view of the compound guardsmen and their parents.
"I think you might look good in a dress, Jaune." Weiss suddenly said.
All eyes turned to her as wide as plates. Yang snickered slightly, bringing a hand to her mouth. "E-Excuse me?"
"W-What?!" Weiss hissed, her cheeks slowly turning red. "Some men look good in dresses. I know Ren would."
"Uh…" The boy raised his hands. "Nora tried to make me. I don't have the hips."
"Oh, you should've seen him." Nora slammed her palms into her knees. "He's as flat as a board. You'd think he'd have some hips! Well…Jaune-Jaune…the dance is coming up! You should totally do it!"
"Well…Blake, Firecracker, Pyr? Do you three feel okay with that?"
"No." Pyrrha's response was flat.
"Eh, I don't mind." Blake shrugged. "Though, I'm going to lean on the no side. Jaune's legs are too hairless. I don't want my dance date to have nicer legs than me."
Yang however… "You better! Oh! I want to pick it out!"
"Sorry, Firecracker – two against one." Jaune smiled victoriously. I will never let them know I've already worn a dress to the dance. This time–
"You already have your date?" Weiss asked worriedly.
"Well, we are dating each other." Yang said sarcastically. "C'mon, get with the program princess; unless you're implying you wanna dance with us?"
"W-What?!" Weiss's face turned a bright red. "I-I did not come out the bathroom just for this!"
"Why not?" Blake asked, a sly smile growing on her face. "Ruby's getting a dance with Jaune and she hates wearing…what was the term again?"
"Lady Stilts and they are vicious!" Ruby growled, eyes narrowing to nowhere in particular. "But…for Jaune, sure. Why not?"
Weiss stared with disbelief. "Ruby…you'll wear heels for Jaune?"
"I'm wearing those torture devices because Yang says that the dance requires formal wear. My boots are formal wear!" Ruby hissed. Any more venom she could be a King Taijitu.
"Heels are not that bad."
"Says the one who fights in them. I don't know and probably never will know how you or Pyrrha do that." Ruby fell back, sighing with delight. "Thankfully, I don't care to know. My boots are more than perfect."
"Well I trained a lot in heels." Pyrrha raised a hand to answer. "It was hard at first, but after a few years of conditioning and balance training, fighting in heels is normal for me."
"Thank you, Pyrrha." Weiss smiled with relief. "At least someone knows where I'm coming from."
"Don't forget me. I wear heels too." Blake raised her arm. Both Pyrrha and Weiss gave one another a look before shrugging their shoulders uncertainly. "W-What's that supposed to mean?"
Yang shook her head, putting her hand on her bare shoulder. "Don't worry kitty cat – someday they'll accept that heeled boots are a thing."
"I wear them every day!" Blake looked over at her mid-thigh high heeled boots resting against the foot of her bed. "What do you mean?!"
"It means it's too advanced." Yang narrowed her eyes as her voice dropped to a near whisper. "Their fancy minds can't wrap around the idea."
Before the blonde could continue, a large pillow flew across the room, smashing into her. She fell back in a fit of laughter, clutching the pillow as a couple others were thrown at her with dangerous precision. "See my point?"
"Oh, shut up, Yang." Weiss hissed, holding another pillow in her hand, ready to throw it. "So…the dance."
"Yeah." Jaune smiled. "Last time I went to the dance, we were all pretty scattered throughout the dance floor. Not much interaction really. Hopefully, this time, we can change that. Sound like a plan?"
"S-Sounds like a plan." Weiss weakly raised a thumb.
"Don't worry, Weiss-y you'll get your icy claws on Jaune eventually." Yang winked.
The girl in question almost meeped before turning around to keep writing once again. Weiss, ignoring Yang and Pyrrha's giggling and Ruby and Nora's actual guffaw, she picked up her pen, flipped a paper and immediately began to write. Before she stopped, she realized she was practically cussing them out through song.
Walking through the school campus Weiss arrived at the CCT Tower. Ruby close on her heels, snapping pictures and videos, starry-eyed and amazed. No matter how many times she sees it. She had to admit, it was a majestic sight. Though, she could do without the constant snapping pictures and the giggling squeals. No matter, she knew it was a complete package – couldn't have the innocence without the insufferable naivety. It was almost adorable, really.
LAHAT and Hornet VTOL's suddenly zoomed overhead followed by the Charité. Great cerulean banners waved off of its antennae and wings. Horns were blaring and before she knew it, her scroll activated. Pulling it out, she saw it was none other than Jaune himself trying to get in contact with her. Opening the device and putting it to her ear, she was met with static and hissing electronics. She winced quickly, garnering Ruby's attention before her scroll rang as well. Neither of them could understand what was happening.
"Jaune?" She questioned.
"Ruby?" Weiss asked. "What's wrong?"
"Sienna Khan…" Ruby's voice trailed. "S-She's coming to Vale. Jaune doesn't know why but she's coming to Vale. An airship fleet is coming and we're not too sure what to do. Jaune's sending the Charité and the Paix to meet them, but hopefully this isn't some kind of invasion…"
"There's no rest for the weary." Weiss hissed. "C'mon, Ruby. The CCT can wait."
Running over to the landing pads, the rest of RWBY and JNPR were already there, loading onto a LAHAT. Bursting through the front doors of Beacon, the rest of the Fireteams appeared; CNDR, CRDL, NDGO, CFVY and SSSN. To her surprise, two other huntsman teams looked at the commotion and picked up their weapons and followed the gathered men and women. If her memory served her right, teams FNKI of Atlas and ABRN of Haven.
Piling into the gunship, they nodded at one another, almost knowing of what might happen. The newcomers though, hung to the back of the gunship, uncertain and slightly worried. Especially the pink haired kid and his bladed assault rifle. As the vehicle pulled into the air, the doors remained open. Taking in the sight of Beacon and all its beauty, the students not attuned to it, quickly shouted and reached for the first railings they could as the LAHAT turned mid-air. Now, they were over the great river and headed toward the North, ignoring the towering skyscrapers and ancient towers that were older than time itself.
"Arslan. Flint." Jaune called. "I know what you're thinking, just hold it in for now."
"What's the deal?" Arslan was quick to ask.
"Hey, that's the King of Vale you're talking to." Sky snapped.
"No, Sky. It's alright." Jaune raised a hand. "Sienna Khan of the White Fang is finally showing herself and she's apparently heading to Vale with a fleet of airships."
"Sienna…" Flint looked over to his Faunus partner. "What does she want?"
"That's what we're going to find out." Jaune nodded. "Alright, Fireteams. This isn't a combat mission but be prepared for it to be one. The weaponsmith on the Charité will give you all replacements for your weapons. No need to make a scene with rocket lockers. While I don't exactly trust Sienna, I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Blake, since you have the most experience with the White Fang; in the event that she wants to speak to me personally; you're coming with me."
"Already on it." The queens agreed. Weiss though felt slightly bemused, Blake would never hear the end of responsibility until the White Fang were dealt with. "What's the game plan?"
"LAHAT and Hornets will patrol the Paix and the Charité for the duration of the meeting. I will not allow her to land her army or even step within the walls of Vale until I know for certain this isn't some kind of ruse."
"Which is which?" Flint asked.
"The Charité has cerulean banners; the Paix has green. My flagship should be coming soon, but I don't feel Sienna warrants three airships. Ruby, I want the rest of RWBY to stand by with JNPR. Ren…I don't think I need to say what I need from you."
The long-haired ninja simply nodded his head with understanding. "It will be done, Jaune."
"JNPR, RWBY, don't blow anything up until we're certain that we're under attack." Jaune glared at both Yang and Nora. "Promise?"
"Ugh, no fun."
"FINE. You owe me pancakes after this."
"CNDR, NDGO; sister teams need to stick together, so stay in the periphery of the meeting area, which is still being negotiated. CFVY, CRDL, you are the bulwark, the vanguard. ABRN, SSSN, FNKI, two of you I didn't account for, but hey, I'm open to surprises. You three teams will hold the rear and make sure no White Fang saboteurs are lurking about. This is a meeting and I want nothing more than that. Got it?"
"Understood!"
"If I need to, Fireteam MSTN and Lightning Squad are on standby in the Espérer. When you see Golden Banners flying above us, it's free fire. Don't hold back." Turning back to the pilots, he sighed in defeat. "I'm going to be honest – I'm tired of all this fighting."
"Then use those powers you had in Menagerie." Pyrrha said without thinking. "The same powers you used on Vale!"
"I want to but…" Jaune looked at his palm, glaring at the golden energy glowing within. "After what happened in Vale, everything's different. I can't just shine some golden light and be done with it. It's more than that – if I used my powers so freely and without check, I'd be no better than Salem. I want to be better than her – I want to be better than Ozpin. It's the use of these powers that brought the downfall of the Gods, it's the reason Salem became what she is. I cannot go down that path."
"Better than Salem?" Arslan asked. "Better than Ozpin? What do you mean? Who the hell is Salem?"
The Fireteams who knew simply groaned in defeat. "Who wants to start?"
"Weiss, you ready?" Ruby asked. "We could do Banana Split again."
"That's a terrible name and you know it."
"What?!" Ruby feigned hurt. "When those Grimm were tearing up Industrial, you didn't say a word when I called it."
"We were about to die; it wasn't the right time to complain about the team attack name." Weiss huffed as she clicked her armor shut. "Jeez, there's a time and place to complain."
"And now's that time?" Ruby wagged her eyebrows. "What is it, Weiss? What name would you have used instead?"
"That's your gimmick as the Team Leader." Weiss relented, pulling her Atlas GEN2 helmet.
"So, you're saying, by default, that Banana Split is the perfect team attack name?"
"I-I said no such thing!" Weiss slammed her locker door shut. Ruby though only seemed more convinced.
"But if you don't come up with something instead, that means, by default, Banana Split is our name."
"Weiss is just mad. I know Pyrrha, Blake and Jaune were doing banana splits while in Menagerie." Yang whispered. "Totally jealous, but what can I do. I was stuck in Vale."
"They had ice cream in Menagerie?"
Yang only chuckled, slapping Ruby's helmet into her arms. Weiss tried to speak but her steaming face kept her silent. "One day, little sis. One day."
Pulling her along as she slipped her long blonde hair into her Indomitable GEN2 helmet. "C'mon Weiss, Jaune ain't gonna wait forever."
Sighing in defeat, she let the rest of her Atlas GEN2 armor hiss and lock around her body. Walking along, she tied her long white hair into a thick bun. Thankfully, the helmets made for them made room and somehow compressed their hair without making it uncomfortable to wear. Walking through the winding halls of the airship, she could see men and women of the King's Fist running about, gathering weapons, munitions and even gas canisters. While the White Fang was far from their enemy anymore, especially after the Healing of Menagerie, she couldn't help but feel the threat was still there.
To show up with a fleet of airships, something that Weiss didn't even know the Fang had access to, spoke volumes of how little the Tigress cared for Jaune's title. It showed the world that the Faunus who've been angered are still willing to stand when there's nothing left for them. Even with all that Jaune had done and created, there were still those who were unhappy with the turn of events. She shuddered in her armor. It had been a few months since the last battle and she was feeling rusty. Was she hoping for a fight? Not really. But she was more than ready to give them one if it came to.
Thankfully, RWBY and JNPR were back together again, stronger and more united than ever. Fighting the Grimm without Blake, Pyrrha, Jaune and Ren was one of the hardest fights she'd ever been with. Though, Ruby's silver eyes doing whatever it was they were doing, really helped hold off the Grimm incursion, but it wasn't enough. There was just too many to deal with. Now, they were together. They were standing shoulder to shoulder. They were ready. She was ready. In their time apart and time together, no matter how short it was in reality, felt like a true eternity. She trained, she bled and she struggled with everything to catch up to her teammates.
What Jaune saw in them was strength, courage and hope. None of which, Weiss felt she embodied. With this coming meeting, she hoped she could prove herself wrong. Not for Jaune, but for herself. She needed to know that she wasn't RWBY's weakest link, she needed to know that she was worth it. Pulling Myrtenaster and checking its revolver, she checked her dust cartridges, making sure each was filled and ready to be used. Beside her, Yang fiddled with her ammunition belts, keeping a mental check of how many shells she had on her at once and Ruby caressed the collapsed Crescent Rose. Waiting patiently as the elevator lifted them to the hangar, not a word was shared between them.
Nothing distracted them better than full conversation – they learned this when the Grimm first arrived in Vale. There was a time and place for conversation and it was only when they were absolutely certain they were safe and not gearing for a fight. She remembered the first Grimm that burst through the mall's stores and restaurants. They came like a black wave, washing over the polished tiles and tiled walls, destroying everything they touched, eating and eviscerating anyone who came into their path. So many people died before they could even call their rocket lockers and that was after they had to snap out of their terror.
Never again. They know better now, than to leave their guard down. While others laugh and drink and calm nerves before a fight, like the infantry of the King's Fist, they didn't have that luxury, Ruby less so, as both a Lieutenant and Fireteam leader. They had to bring everything they could to the table and be ready to fight at a moment notice. The Battle of Vale really put their skills and preparedness to the test and showed them their flaws. They were too complacent with their constant string of victories. They were too comfortable and the Battle spit in their faces and tossed them around like ragdolls.
Still, she couldn't help but feel the same distaste as she usually did. She was the last to move. Ruby and Yang were almost in unison with the blonde of the two not even waiting for her rocket locker and charged for the first Grimm that came into her view. Weiss cursed herself every day, every moment, since that day. Without Myrtenaster, what was she; without her Dust, what was she? Was she a coward? Was she a weakling? Was she really, Fireteam RWBY's weakest link? She didn't know what to believe anymore and she really hoped that now, this could be her final test to show just what she was truly destined to be. The worthless Heiress or the fearless Venatrix?
The doors of the elevator suddenly opened, hissing as they did, revealing the hangar bay filled with LAHAT, Hornets and a new fighter, the F-41 Broadsword, courtesy of GreeneTek and EcruTech Arms. Standing at attention, the other Fireteams were already present with others just arriving from the other side of the hangar. Moving fast to join their own team, standing at the front of the force, Yang left RWBY to join Jaune and his Queens. Weiss smiled softly, looking at the four – Pyrrha wore the Achilles GEN2 power armor, while Blake wore black and white colored Hellcat GEN2 power armor. Jaune though, no longer wore Scout GEN2 armor and replaced it with Dynast GEN2, specializing in his close quarters' mastery.
"Alright, Fireteams, sound off!"
"Fireteam CFVY, here!"
"Fireteam CRDL, here!"
"Fireteam RWBY, here!"
"Fireteam JNPR, here!"
"Fireteam SSSN, here!"
"Fireteam CNDR, here!"
"Fireteam NDGO, here!"
"Good." Jaune looked between them. "Get to your LAHAT and get your squads ready. We'll be meeting in a very familiar clearing in the Forever Fall. Be wary of Grimm and be wary of anything else the White Fang might be trying. The Headmaster has permitted this and will send in reinforcements should we need it. I personally don't see how we'd need help but hey, I'm open to whatever. Fireteams, King's Fist – we've had nothing but hard fought and hard-earned victories since we began this war…but believe me, the war has only just begun. Be safe out there and when you arrive at your LZ's sound off on the open channel. Let's go!"
Pilots ran to their vehicles, starting repulsor lifts and igniting engines. Broadswords screamed and roared from the hangar in pairs and Hornets followed close with ballsy infantry holding rocket launchers on their shoulders, hanging from the ledges of the aircraft. LAHAT hovered slightly and doors hissed, snapping open. As she followed after Ruby and the rest of RWBY and JNPR, she couldn't help but take notice of everyone else around her.
Cardin was pale, almost as if he'd seen a ghost. Velvet was beside him, doing her best to console him. She couldn't help but feel for the poor Winchester. He almost died in that clearing. Why Jaune would allow that place to be the meeting, she didn't know. Turning about, CNDR and NDGO chatted and laughed as they met with their sergeants and lieutenants before entering their LAHAT, taking off first. SSSN had the most fun, with Sun getting his scalp knuckled by Arslan as they led their teams into their own gunship. Taking a deep breath, Weiss remembered, this was more than an army, they were more than Fireteams. They were friends. They were practically family at this point. Gods, how would my father react if he knew I was friends with so many Faunus. Honestly, I'm surprised I haven't gotten a call from him. Especially after the Battle, I would have thought that he'd spend every resource he had if he needed to, to get me out of here. Guess not…
"Alright, guys." Jaune smiled. "Now that we're in the air, I can speak freely. Pilot, close off and silence. Ren and I have been talking about our powers. If we used our powers so freely, like we did during the battle, like I did in Menagerie, life…there's no meaning. The whole reason Salem even became so hateful was because the Gods stupidly decided to make her immortal. They made her immortal with the hopes that she'd learn the sanctity of the cycle of life and death. He and I have already broken that cycle several hundreds of thousands of times when we revived Vale and Menagerie. Never again."
"What?" Yang asked.
"We can't do it." Jaune sighed. "Life…it goes on and then it ends. There's nothing we can do about that because in the end, we all deserve rest."
"What if their life is taken so soon, what if there was more that someone could accomplish?!" Blake questioned.
"That's the thing. Who said that when you start something, you have to finish it? There's a reason we have generations, children, heirs and heiresses. There's a reason we built our whole existence on preparing the youth to take the reins one day. We cannot live forever. Even with our powers…as hard as it is to believe…Ren and I can be killed. We can still be hurt. It's gonna be real fucking hard to do so, but unlike Ozpin and unlike Salem, we aren't immortal and we don't reincarnate. We will live and we will die eventually. But under no circumstance can we upset the balance again."
"But there are so many people you could heal. What about the people whore massacred, the people who're sick and dying from diseases that medicine can't heal? You could do that!" Yang questioned next.
"Then what? Did you not listen to what I said?" Jaune hissed.
"When we're gone, who's going to heal those people?" Ren asked. "We're not omniscient. We're not suddenly Gods because of this power. All we got was their abilities and near limitless aura when we merged…nothing else."
"Convenient." Jaune scowled. "Balance must be maintained – that's why both gods merged with us. The darkness to my light, the day to my night. We are brothers now and as such, we much fix everything we ruined. Under no circumstance can we use our powers so haphazardly."
"Understood?" Ren asked.
There was a silence among the women present. Uncertain and unsure of what to feel or say. What they spoke of was true, to an extent, but with such incredible power, they could quite literally, fix the world. Thinking back even more, Weiss remembered what Jaune showed her when he spoke to her. He showed her the future-past and everything he witnessed and was told. She remembered the great naked blue specter called Jinn. The story she told of Salem and the Gods rang in her head. The thought that Ozpin and Salem were once a couple, that they were once the sole God and Goddess of Remnant didn't sit well with her. If Jaune and Ren went down the same path, that wouldn't be living, that'd be existing. No pain, no suffering, no growth. There'd be no reason to living. There'd be no reason to anything. Finally closing her eyes before she had an existential crisis, she opened her mouth to speak but Nora beat her to it.
"So…does that mean you won't make pancakes magically appear anymore?"
Ren simply laughed. "Nora…I didn't say that."
"Well, good to know Nora's priorities are straight." Blake rolled her eyes. She couldn't help it. Weiss knew it. The hint of a smile grew on the cat's face before splitting completely. "Fine. Jaune. We won't push it anymore unless it's truly dire."
"If Salem is as immortal as you say and remember…" Yang trailed. "How are you certain that you're going to kill her?"
"I have a way." Jaune turned on his heels. "Though, I'm not too sure how I want to start this plan. It will happen soon, not too sure when exactly. Salem is a being made completely of magic. Her magic abilities are beyond comprehension and the only person who could have matched her was Ozma, but Ozpin now, is weaker than he's ever been in his life. Now that the God's light and darkness has arrived on Remnant again, I don't doubt that Salem and Ozpin have received power ups to their magic abilities. After all, when the Gods left, magic left with them. So, when we enter the endgame…which I don't know when it'll be…we'll have the fight of our lives. It'll be a fight unlike any other. We will face the Grimm Darkness herself; we'll face all the devils and monsters and demons she can muster and worse yet, we'll face off with her personal teams of Huntsmen. RRGE was child's play compared to what WTCH could do. And who knows what else she has in her employ?"
"So, evil lady with evil army is gathering more strength because of our salvation." Yang asked. "Got it. What else?"
"We get stronger." Jaune simply said. "Alright, ready yourselves. We're landing soon."
Clutching the railings hanging from the ceiling, Weiss watched the world rise up to meet her. Blast doors hissed open, practically screeching wide. However, instead of the skyscrapers and tall towers she was used to, even the sprawl of dorm rooms and teaching facilities of Beacon, all she saw was crimson. Crimson sea of leaves and the crimson mountains that rose up to meet them. She could see a great rail stretching through the waves of red, winding like a King Taijitu. The repulsors of the LAHAT though, were suddenly drowned by the powerful rush of Broadsword fighters zooming through the air, ripping through clouds and blasting over the tallest points of the crimson canopy.
Soldiers of the King's Fist were already running about the forest and the overgrown roots that poked from under the red grass. Weiss didn't exactly enjoy the dust-red forest, reminded of the nightmare the first time. Myrtenaster was tested that day and pushed to limits she didn't know until the Battle. So much Grimm in just one place really set her off. Thankfully, they had the train rails above them and the great walls of Vale right behind them. In the sky, the Charité and the Paix waited. Unlike Atlas's approach, these airships were designated specifically based on their ability and specialization.
The Charité, was the perfect mobile operating base, one that was crucial to any invasion. Filled with weaponsmiths, mechanic bays and a whole host of medical bays with enough supplies to heal a small city – it was perfect for their peaceful, yet nervous, meeting. On the far side of it was the Paix. Unlike the Charité, it was more like the Espérer, topped with anti-air point defense systems, missile, Dust and ballistic. Then there were the rocket pods, filled with Dust rockets, how many exactly she wasn't too sure. She smiled looking at the green banners waving proudly in the winds. The pride of the fleet, some could already be heard saying, state of the art gun batteries that could puncture the strongest of armors and the thickest of walls. If need be, the cannons could dig through several hundred feet of earth and concrete to bust a bunker.
Stepping from the transport hold of the LAHAT, infantry quickly met her, saluting and carrying on. They set positions and snipers were already on the move to find proper vantage points. If the White Fang were found, no one would pull their triggers yet. Waiting for a few moments to take in all the sights and sounds, a powerful horn was heard and the winds shifted, blasting through her white hair as a large multi-car train blasted on its track. She could see it zooming by like a blur across the canopy. Leaves were ripped from their branches and whatever piece of tree that had overgrown into the track was rent to nothingness.
"Weiss." Jaune called. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing." She responded. "Just…doesn't this seem like a bit much? The White Fang are over. After the Healing, there's nothing left to fight for – they already got it and blood didn't need to be shed to get it. Don't you find it strange? Why bring an air fleet when you know, when the whole world knows, that you hold the second biggest stick. It's like trying to pick a fight with Atlas and expecting results. I'm just thinking…you said when Vale first fell, it was because Vale didn't have a standing army outside of its police forces and the Huntsmen of Beacon. Now, we do have an army, we have more than enough Huntsmen; we have a King. What does she want to accomplish with this?"
"The Schnee thinks hard." A voice came from the crimson bushes. "I believe you're looking for me?"
Turning on their heels, a woman with large tiger ears poking from her head, entered the clearing. Standing in front of the very same rock that Cardin was maimed, several other White Fang soldiers appeared as well, looking to be honor guards of some sort. Their spears were different from the usual weapons they carried. Even their garb was totally different. Soon several became a hundred and the roar of engines from the Broadsword fighters was met with the slight hum of the White Fang airships. Turning her eyes to the sky, they looked like repurposed Mistral airships with some drastic aesthetic changes.
There were almost ten of them hovering over the Forever Fall and communications went wild. Jaune lifted a finger to his helmet, and immediately began to shout commands. Stand down. Stand down. Stand down. Don't fire. Stand down. He repeated it multiple times before the Hornets and LAHAT gunships disappeared from the clearing to continue their runs of the Forever Fall airways. "Stay calm. No one moves a muscle."
"Listen to the King." Sienna called to her own troops. Some gave her confused looks but they all complied. "We're in the middle of the Forever Fall forest – Grimm are born here. Any emotion left uncheck could bring their ilk upon us."
"What did I say, stand down." Jaune hissed. Infantry were uncertain, but followed his command, lowering their rifles. "I am Jaune Arc of the House of Arc. I'm glad that you've come."
"I would not have come if you didn't put me in the situation, I am in." She responded. "Do you know why I'm here?"
"I was hoping you'd enlighten me."
"As much as I'd hate to say it, but I've come looking for some people I've thought were dead." Sienna frowned. Walking from the shade of the trees, Weiss shrunk inwardly, staring at her hips and the tiger markings on her dark brown skin. She was curvaceous and honestly, she carried a certain charisma about her. "Adam Taurus. Ilia Amitola. Trifa Dem. Yuma Caelum. Four Faunus, great fighters and loyal to the cause. However, one betrayed the cause when he murdered the Albain brothers in Menagerie. If I recall, you were there."
"Yes. I watched him murder them." Jaune looked away. Several White Fang soldiers gasped, and others even backed away. "He arrived somehow and beheaded one of them and drove his blade through the mouth of the other."
"Strange, because if I remember correctly, the Albain brothers are supposed to be dead, so color surprised when I received a call from a jail cell in Menagerie from Corsac Albain." The woman looked at Jaune with a calculating eye. "You watched Adam kill them; yet one of them calls me. That doesn't make much sense, now does it? Then I receive endless reports of Menagerie being healed. Healed. That kind of thing doesn't make much sense, now, either. But lo and behold, I arrive in Menagerie to see Lord Ghira myself and what do I get, other than gun barrels and insults. Menagerie is as green as Anima, as Sanus. I don't know how you did it, but I don't care for that right now. What I do care about, is wondering what exactly it was that you did to Adam to make him turn on his brothers and sisters."
"We did nothing!" Blake blurted.
"You, Adam's little minx." Sienna scorned. Hearing the distant roars of Grimm, the people present calmed down immediately. "You do know what the price for betrayal is, right? You still need to pay for your transgressions against the White Fang."
"I will pay no such thing." Blake glared. "We did nothing to Adam. After the Battle of the Docks, he was captured by someone else. We had no hand in his turn. In fact, if we did have anything to do with it – Adam would actually be dead."
"Your Grace. She threatens us." A White Fang member leans to Sienna. "What do we do?"
"Do nothing. You heard the Grimm in the distance. Even with all this firepower, we could still attract too much unneeded attention." Sienna hissed. "So, I'll be quick. I've received a message from one of our cells in Vale. Yes, there are still White Fang in your dear city. For the price of Adam, Ilia, Trifa and Yuma, I will pull all White Fang operations from Vale and leave you be."
Jaune visibly tensed. "W-What?"
Weiss didn't know what to make of it. Pull out of Vale?! What the hell?
"Adam…I don't know what has happened, but together reports are calling them Team ACID. They're working for someone else and someone else's agenda has swallowed their own abridging their loyalties. There are warehouses across Vale's districts that are filled with dead Faunus. You'd think the Brotherhood was behind it, but no, it's Team ACID. Spider webs, bodies hanging from where they shouldn't be and small piles of dust? It screams them. Individually, they are dangerous when they want to be – together…in close quarters, they're unstoppable."
"Why do you want Adam so badly?" Weiss questioned.
"Since you want to know – almost five hundred of our brothers and sisters have been murdered within the last three weeks. They don't go a day without killing their former brothers and sisters and it seems they're looking for something as well. When warehouses and outposts stop responding, messages from across Vale start to flow into my ears and onto my desk with casualty reports at several locations at once. Vale is a big place and like I've said…after what you've done in Menagerie, you've shown yourself to no longer be an enemy."
"What do you gain from this?" Jaune asked.
"Menagerie is a big place." She said wistfully. "Thanks to you, there's enough land there for two Kingdoms. I know you're tired of the fighting – so are we. Right now, Adam Taurus threatens the peace we want to have. He is murdering hundreds every week. That kind of carnage shouldn't be possible but they make it possible. We are all in danger if we continue to let him loose."
"Jaune." Blake pulled him close. "I don't know what to make of this. She genuinely seems scared."
"I know. We can all feel it." Yang added.
"Do you think she's being serious?" Ren asked. "I don't sense anything off about her. She's genuinely afraid."
"She doesn't show it. She's good." Weiss followed quickly. Her icy eyes darting back and forth.
"What do you say, King?" Sienna asked. "Are we in accord? You give us Team ACID and we leave Sanus. It's a deal that no other Kingdom is being offered."
"I…"
Suddenly, trees were ripped from their roots. Dirt was thrown about in droves as machines and infantry burst into the scene. Sienna immediately backed away from Jaune, drawing her chain whip. White Fang drew their weapons and before Jaune could even finish his sentence, the clearing was shrouded in a fleet of Manta gunships. Moving fast, he rushed ahead, dodging bullets and rockets firing from every direction. Glancing over to the source of the intrusion, a large Atlesian Paladin stood in the clearing, guns blazing and rockets already armed and primed.
"What the fuck?!" Weiss nearly screamed. "What's happening?!"
"Atlas showed up!" Sun's voice sounded in the comms.
"AK-200's and Atlesian Paladins are pouring through the Forest!" Clair's voice followed. "What the hell do we do?!"
"Don't fire on the White Fang or the Atlesians! We don't need another war this soon!" Jaune roared.
Bursting into action, RWBY moved fast to catch bullets and redirect rockets and missiles firing from either side. Atlesian Airships appeared as well, preparing to fire their lasers and rockets at the White Fang fleet. However, the captains of the Paix and the Charité were already on it, having moved to protect the fleet and the innocent Faunus. Rockets were blasted from the sky and thanks to deflector shields, lasers were absorbed or redirected back into the forest.
On the ground, gunfire erupted on either side, with White Fang doing their best to fight off the superior numbers of the AK-200's. They were mindless drones with rifles that could barely damage a Beowolf. Their number though, were a serious problem and if five gathered onto one target, their aura would not keep up. Blake was the first to move, blocking bullets and tearing the drones apart with Gambol Shroud. Yang followed quick, completing the Bumblebee team attack, blasting the remaining drones out of existence with an explosive shot from Ember Celica.
Pyrrha was on the ground, shooting rifles and firearms from the hands of White Fang and AK-200's that came within her sights. Nora, on the other hand, resorted to both EMP and Gas grenades. Using the most non-lethal armament she could with Magnhild, White Fang collapsed to the dirt, unconscious but still alive. The Atlesian Knights were left unusable, their wirings and circuitry destroyed beyond repair. Ren moved about, pushing men and women to the dirt and popping Atlesian Knights like grapes. They did their best to keep casualties to a minimum but the Atlesian Paladin was being a real pain in the ass.
Ruby, jumped into the fray, tapping Weiss on her shoulder. "C'mon. We have to stop the Paladin."
"Alright, Team RWBY! Freezerburn!"
Yang heard it and quickly fell into position. Weiss took the vanguard, activating her glyphs. Ice spikes shot from the epicenter of the strange symbols, clashing with the metal plates of the Atlesian Paladin. Each impact shattered on its body and joints, but it was quite alright, Weiss wasn't aiming to take it down. Already beginning to grow around strategic areas, blotches of ice had formed. Smirking, she felt back, letting Yang move in. Fists cocked and HE Shells in the barrels of Ember Celica, the blonde shot her arms forward, projectiles burning with Dust and gunpowder roared across the field, crashing with the ice blotches.
"Alright! Checkmate!"
The Paladin moved in to strike Yang, but a black glyph grabbed her and pulled her back. Its massive fists dug into the dirt, ice forming around it keeping it trapped. Ignoring the bullets and the flying pieces of metal, Blake appeared, Gambol Shroud in hand. Letting the pistol form latch onto a gravity glyph, Weiss twirled her wrist, letting it rotate with the Faunus. Explosions ripped across the battlefield as she swung around the Paladin. Swinging her blade around, large incisions lacerated through the machine's arms and joints. It lurched, aching and sparking. As Blake fell back and Weiss created walls of ice to protect her team, the Paladin returned to fight.
From its shoulders, missile pods shot up, almost thirty rocket heads could be seen. Weiss did the only thing she could. "Everybody run!"
Rockets and missiles shot forward, spiraling in all directions trying to follow the laser sights beaming across the field. Behind the wall of ice, Jaune and Pyrrha moved side by side, moving as one, destroying Atlas robots and pushing Atlas personnel back and worth without harming them. All the while, they used their shields and weapons to stop Sienna Khan and her Faunus army without harming anyone either. It was hard work but it needed to be done. They cursed at themselves, moving between bullets and blaster bolts zipping by their heads and faces. It was frustrating in every possible way. Jaune though, was definitely going to have a word with the general.
"Jaune!" Weiss screamed. "Watch out!"
Snapping at attention, he pushed Pyrrha out of the way. The rocket smashed into him, blasting in a powerful show of fire and smoke. Flying back, pieces of his armor disappeared, shredded and mangled beyond repair. He smashed into the concrete and steel columns holding the train rails. Dust fell from above him, cracking and spiderwebbing cracks across and around him. While his aura remained intact, the blast definitely knocked the wind out of him. Weiss knew it wouldn't kill him, but to see him already moving and getting back up really made her heart stop.
What are you, Weiss?! She watched her friends, her family, fight for their lives. She could hear Grimm roaring in the distance. She could feel everything, from the recoil in their rifles to the weight of the blades in their course, rough, aching hands. What are you?!
Opening her eyes, icy irides glanced through the battlefield, Faunus of the White Fang were held at gunpoint, some immediately surrendering without a fight. Even then, the buts of the AK-200 rifles were beaten into their faces, forcing them to the dirt. Infantry of Atlas poured into the clearing but close on their heels men of the King's Fist followed with their rifles and shouting commands. Huntsmen moved about, blocking bullets and kicking missiles away. Some more ballsy, took full shots into their bodies to protect the men and women of both Atlas and the White Fang.
Weiss took it all in. The smell of the embers, the smell of gunpowder, the smell of Dust. It all filtered into her nostrils, stinging as it did. What are you?!
You're a huntress.
Swinging Myrtenaster, glyphs appeared across the battlefield. Spiraling with a vicious renown, she disappeared in a blast of mist and snow. Zipping between glyphs, Atlesian Knights were stabbed and skewered, while Atlesian footmen were kicked and pushed away. White Fang gunmen and swordsmen were beaten back with the sole of her heels or beaten back with the butt of her sword. Spinning midair as her feet latched onto another glyph, she dashed ahead, almost drilling into Paladin. Rockets still firing from its pods, now in completely random directions, before she could pull her weapon free, a powerful explosion ripped through the field, crackling the earth and shattering the machinery into nothingness.
Weiss yelped before falling back, only to be caught in the giant arms of Yatsuhashi Daichi, the Y of team CFVY. He placed her on the dirt softly before swinging his giant sword around, blocking a flurry of bullets. As the barrage came to an end, he raised the blade to reveal eight Atlesian footmen on the ground with weapons lying on the dirt. Fox and Coco standing over them. Weiss smiled and nodded in relief, wafting through the smoke.
Standing above the ruined Paladin, Cardin held his glowing mace, heroically posing in the sunlight. Men and women cheered for him, raising their weapons and fists. She had to admit, Velvet knew how to pick them. Moving through the field, gunfire and explosions were winding down, given them enough time to really take everything in. The battle however, wasn't done. Turning her head around, an Atlesian footman carrying a bazooka appeared, ready and already aiming down the sights. Huntsmen moved to apprehend him, but just as Dove and Russel got their hands on him, he pulled the trigger.
Without thinking, she threw her weapon out, letting black glyphs appear in the path of the rocket. As it broke through the glyphs, the projectile spun out of control, completely flying off course and into the broken column that Jaune was once planted into. As the Dust and the gunpowder ignited, destroying the column completely, rending metal track and bending it toward the ground below. Immediately the men and women who moved to kill one another went to work. Horns blew in the distance letting them all know that another train was already on its way.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune shouted. Golden antlers began to form from his forehead. "C'mon! Weiss! We need you! Get up there and slow the train down!"
"You got it!"
Tightening her grip on Myrtenaster, she was suddenly picked up by both Arslan and Yang. Using their inhuman strength to their advantage, they hurled the girl into the air, letting her glyphs aid her flight. Spinning through the air, she landed on the last bit of perfect track and fell into a practiced stance. Bringing up her blade, a series of black glyphs appeared in front of her for several yards of varying size and strength. Pushing herself to the limit, she felt her aura already beginning to drain and the strain of her semblance. Blood began to trickle down her nostrils, even with all the medical and physical aid her suit was giving her.
Forcing more energy into the glyphs, she suddenly felt her aura reserves replenish, almost overfill. Turning her head just slightly, Jaune had his arm up, channeling his semblance into her power exploded in all directions. Glyphs that were on the verge of collapse reformed, stronger, more defined and thicker. Before she knew it, the train arrived, blaring its horn as it broke through the first glyph. Behind her, the track was covered in a black outline, bending and twisting to meet with the rest of the railroad. She had one mission – slow it down enough to let it through into Vale.
More glyphs appeared as the metal railings were forced into one another. As the train ripped through each glyph and symbol, it slowed down significantly. Preparing herself, she gathered more power, ready for the final push. As the train neared, breaking through yet another glyph, there were only seven more standing between her and the edge of the railing. A shadow appeared above the field. Lasers scanned over them and the slowing train before disappearing as quickly as it came. Weiss recognized it. Feeling her eyes widen, she jumped from the train tracks, avoiding the explosion that followed.
Grabbed by Arslan swinging on her rope-dart, she landed in the grass, rolling about, only stopping when she shoved Myrtenaster into the dirt. Jaune and Pyrrha fell back, bringing up their aura to protect themselves. The railing was destroyed completely and the train flew off the railings, crashing with rubble of the remains of the column. Fighting through the smoke and the falling debris, Weiss couldn't help but feel her breath hitch within her helmet. Images of the Battle flashing through her mind. So much for a meeting!
As the smoke and the sound of twisting metal came to an end, all that remained in the epicenter was the mangled remains of the train and whatever was in it. As men and women clamored about, Atlesian personal were suddenly held at gunpoint by the King's Fist and even some Fireteams did the same. FNKI tried to reason with the enraged Fireteams, but now with their anger and distrust, there was little the Atlesian Huntsman team could do.
"Get on the fucking ground!" Dove shouted, pointing his gun-sword at the men and women. "You sons of bitches!"
Sky twirled his halberd with CFVY following close with Coco activating Gianduja in its Gatling gun form. "You heard the Bronzewing! Get your asses on the ground, now!"
"Get on the ground!" Doré could be heard, putting her blades together. "You don't know what you Atlesians have done! Get on the fucking ground!"
Men and women wearing the fatigues and armor of Atlas were pushed and thrown, with some resisting their commands, being beaten to the ground by sword butts and gun butts. They shouted back but as the shouting got worse, a weapon was fired, scaring them silent. From the shadows, Ren arrived, ram horns appearing on either side of his helmet. With Stormflower in his hands, the barrels were smoking. Moving through the crowd he raised the handguns and pressed it against the head of the first Atlesian he saw. Malevolent energy flowed from his body and into his weapon.
"We already know who commanded this." Ren growled. "Until the General comes for you himself, you are under arrest for attempted extra-judicial killings. Your attack threatened the life of several Fireteams of the King's Fist and the Three Queens of Vale. Not only that, but the King of Vale himself. Your crimes could start a war. Is that what you want, General?"
All heads turned to the airship that had just landed, finding the man in question standing there looking none the wiser with a giant magnum in hand. "In that train was a force of White Fang operatives. They were moving to sabotage the city. Open the doors and check for yourself. There are four people on that ride that are on my watch list since coming to Vale. Four Faunus started a criminal syndicate of some sorts in Vacuo and have been a thorn in my side and my interests…they're in that train car."
Moving of his own accord, Cardin was the first to make it to the overturned train cars and quickly bashed his mace into the rent doors. Bashing once again, he sheathed his weapon and wrapped his hands around the twisted metal. Pulling with all his might, his semblance bled into the metal, melting and bursting it free. Ripping it off and throwing it to the side, within the car, there was a horde of people laying on their suitcases and bags. Thankfully because of Weiss's glyphs, their momentum was no longer high enough to kill or even maim them. Bruises and a few twisted ankles and nothing more. Reaching in, he pulled men and women and children from the car, letting them get escorted by soldiers of the King's Fist.
"Let my men go." Ironwood stood over Jaune.
"You should have thought of that before you interrupted my meeting." Jaune glared.
"I don't think you understand what's going on here, student."
"I don't think you understand what's going on here, General." Jaune sneered. "Get back on your ship and go back to Beacon. I'll be having a word with both you and Ozpin when I get back and finish processing the prisoners."
"This is grounds for war."
"You should have thought of that before you blasted at our train and putting my Queens in danger. This isn't your Kingdom, James." Jaune said. "Take your toys and go away. This is my operation."
"You don't command me! I am General Ironwood of Atlas!" Raising his magnum, he prepared to attack.
Flaring his golden energy, Ironwood backed away several feet, dropping his melting handgun. "You will listen to what the fuck I tell you, James. Get. Back. To. Beacon. I will deal with you, later."
"Cardin?!"
Turning away, the antlers disappearing. Weiss shuddered, watching Blake rush over the battlefield, tripping over pieces of Atlesian Knights. Coming to a stop, she saw someone she didn't think she'd ever see again. A woman sat before the burnt-orange haired lord, while he backed away into the scorched remains of the Atlesian Paladin. Velvet stood beside him, holding onto his shaking hands. Cardin couldn't breathe, his eyes were so wide, they could pop from his head. Moving to join them, Weiss couldn't help but drop Myrtenaster.
Sitting against the overturned train car, three Faunus helped another to her feet. With long, curling brown hair with streaks of black, the woman was beautiful. Her jaw tapered to a heart-shaped jawline. Her chin came to a soft point with a slight cleft to it. Her lips were full, albeit slightly split with hints of blood streaking across her face. She had aura and it was strong for someone who looked so scrawny and weak. Though, what really caught her attention, the mangled stumps that came from the hairline. She forced herself to her feet, letting her shimmering, deep blue eyes lock with the armored boy hyperventilating.
"Blue?!" Blake shouted with surprise. "I-It can't be!"
"Blake?" She asked. Shuddering forward, she tripped over a stray rifle and quickly embraced the woman. "I can't believe it!"
Blue.
Blue.
Blue.
Blue.
Cardin was frozen. It couldn't be.
Footsteps could be heard coming from either side. Without thinking once again, she threw her hands out, creating a pair of glyphs. Ice shot from the symbols, shooting out and latching onto both Sienna Khan who held a knife and the General Ironwood who held his own combat knife. Frozen in place, the pair stared at the Schnee and the King who moved to retrieve them. Falling to her knees, her heart raced in her chest, pounding against her ribcage.
"Weiss…" Jaune sighed in defeat. Falling beside her and putting taking one of her hands into his own. "You did great today. Come on…the battle's over. We have a lot of talking and PR to get through…Ironwood and Sienna…I'll handle them myself. As for Cardin and…Blue…there's nothing we can do about that. He'll have to come to terms and she'll have to come to terms."
"You know, when you said nothing would be the same, this wasn't what I had in mind, dolt." Weiss leaned back, pressing her head into the blackened leg of the Paladin. "Fuck me…"
"My father's going to kill me."
So, my headcannon has been that since even before the Fall of Beacon, Ironwood's been manipulated by Salem, albeit very discreetly.
Unlike Leonardo, who literally had a Seer hiding in his office, I feel like Salem would be a whole lot more discreet. Ironwood wasn't like Leo - he wasn't a bitch.
He was however, heartless, like the fckn tinman. I feel that through Salem, he slowly felt like he was losing control of everything and with everyone talking down to him like he actually was a bitch because no one liked how warmongering he was. As the only power in Remnant that carried a big stick, I kinda don't blame him for taking that approach, but like, realistically, it ain't gonna work fam. When the Grimm could tank shots from your pussy ass rifles, what kind of war are you gonna fight when Grimm only get stronger and stronger as the seasons pass. Like I remember when I was rewatching Volume 2 and came to the Breach episode and the AK-200's arrived - the fucking Beowolves and Ursai tanked shots like the bullets were tickling them. Idk but that doesn't look very fckn efficient to me fam. Som idk if any of you caught it last chapter, the Fall of Solitas came at the expense of good ole Jimmy thinking of his interests first before helping Jaune in the future past, so the blondie definitely has a bone to pick.
Either way, next chapter isn't gonna be fun for Weiss-cream or Sienna or Jimmy Johns.
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Ja ne!
gottahavekyuubi