The Arc Knight VS The Dark Ninja

by SpiritWolf313

Hello, and welcome to my first FanFiction. In this story, Jaune Arc and Adam Taurus once knew each other in their past life. However, Jaune can not fully recall their acquaintance by some misfortune. It is not until they reunite that Jaune gradually discovers secrets in the Arc and Taurus family. To discover the hidden truths, the hunt for each other ignites. I hope you all enjoy.

6. Chapter 4: Triumphant Memorial

Hello folks, once again. It has been a long time since the last chapter. Too long, for my taste. I've been meaning to finish this much sooner, but I've had to work, which was hectic, like how it is for most people. But you don't want to hear about my problems (Not even I want to hear about my own problems). You just want the story, like I do. When this story is complete, this will hardly matter, I believe.

I've also taken up digital drawing more frequently. I've always been good at drawing with pencil and paper, but I've taken up a way for my drawing's to look better, and uploaded to my DeviantArt account (SpiritWolf32123). It's an artistic passion I have, like writing these FanFictions. That takes time to invest in and complete too.

Another exception to why this might have seemed hiatus is waiting to finish watching all of Volume 5. And let me tell you, I have thoughts of what all took place. At this rate, given what RWBY felt like it has become after Volume 3 to 4, as well as the feeling of a few people onboard with my FanFiction, I feel like I'm mainly doing this for myself. But that's a good thing. Whatever work of effort you put in, make sure you're doing it for yourself before making sure for others. The results are only as good as your efforts and passion. And for those that follow, favorite, comment, PM, or even so much as acknowledge and clicked on my Fic, God Bless you all even more. Especially you, asdfguy432.

I won't get in to details with my opinions of RWBY, for I believe criticism has been addressed enough (if not too much) by YouTube reviews, RoosterTeeth themselves, and other medias. Plus, you'll probably see them within this story and how it's conducted. But I will say this: though last chapter, while I said this would revolve around Volume 5, canonicity is now faint, if not out from this point. This is basically going to be the original Volume 5, but with Jaune as our (my) dreamed Mary-Sue, and progress with my own aligned plot. Rest assuredly, the next and final chapter will be from my own mind for the most part.

Now, as always, I hope you all enjoy the story.

Chapter 4: Triumphant Memorial

Care. Very much different than a mere desire for a simple benefit. While caring may bestow an emotion for acquiring or reassuring the condition of something or someone, it all stems from a personal fulfilment. To give unto someone for their sake, as well as the sake of oneself feeling that it is right can be seen as a selfless, yet personal satisfaction. While someone who might give unto another only for their own benefit, and pay little mind to the other's needs can be seen as a selfish personal satisfaction. As both may be justifiable cause and effects, they are merely done for something in return. And something in return is never always a guarantee.

Yet rarely, if ever, has someone helped another while uninvolving oneself, being less eager for an expectation, or for their personal gain. Rarely, has anyone helped just because they can.

"...but we did not do these things for you because you were special. We do what we can for everyone, because we are able."

-The Original Fall Maiden.

Our heroes, Team RNJR, as well the additional member and mentor, Qrow Branwen, have embarked in quite a few battles, to and through Anima. Thanks to the hidden potentials of Jaune Arc, he feels that him and his friends are much more progressive than anticipated. That, with the exception of Qrow taking a venomous injury at one point. From where they appear to be, they had just defeated an infamous Grimm, in the grounds of Ren and Nora's devastated former home, Kuroyuri. As if things couldn't seem to get better, a sound is heard from above.

Jaune: "Guys! I think I hear something!"

Two ships, marked with the symbol of Mistral, descend to Team RNJR and Qrow's rescue. As they land, both Ren and Nora climb aboard one of them, while Ruby gets onto the other with Qrow, being carried in. Jaune, after making sure everyone is onboard, climbs on himself, ready for their Safe Haven.

Before Jaune could get on the ship, it explodes, with the force pushing him threw a building. With the sensation of pain and confusion, he tosses the rubble aside, looks up, and sees both ship's engulfed in flames. Though now unseen, his friends were last recalled to be in those ships.

Jaune: "No…! No!" Jaune gets back up, and runs toward the fire. "Guys, say something! Are you ok-?!" Before reaching the destruction, he somehow gets pushed back again. He looks up to see the burning ships' debris form one big tornado. "Huh?!"

From within the whirling destruction, it circulates into a giant ball. It rises up to the darkening sky. The smoking clouds (much like what would be left of a Grimm) mixes into the fiery destruction. It all descends to the ground, morphing into a shape.

First, a pair of clawed arms emerge, and then a pair of hooved legs touch the ground. The ships' parts of wood and metal form skeletal armor, while the fire leaves Grimm designed markings. The limbs grow a horse like body, but with no head. Instead, it has one yellow eye, just like the Geist Grimm. Behind and above the eye, the humanoid portion of the Nuckelavee grows.

Both Grimms, the Geist and Nuckelavee, form one reincarnated abomination. But just as Jaune thought he had seen the worst of the Grimm, something odd happens from the Nuckelavee's top portion.

Instead of the infamous shrieking that pains the ear, the Nuckelavee chuckles. As it laughs, its body once again starts to morph. The claws become more of a sharp pincher set of claws. The body itself becomes more defined and muscular. It has a set of upper body clothes made out of the ship's debris. Its head even grows long braided hair and morphs psychotic facial features and expressions. Completing its transformation, the humanoid body looks exactly like a Grimm version of Tyrian Callows with his infamous laugh.

Not only does the upper part change, but as the fire marks all over the Grimm turn purple, the horse portion morphs once more. Looking less like a horse now, its limbs become spiked, instead of hooved. Along with that comes an extra pair of spiked limbs growing out in between, giving it eight spiked legs instead. Taking on a more arachnid like form, it grows a long, extended stinger that hangs over the Grimm Tyrian.

All the enemies that Jaune and his team had faced in Anima, the Geist, Tyrian Callows, and the Nuckelavee, all are combined, making one abominable Deathstalker.

Slowly, the Freak of Nature steps up to Jaune. It chuckles with a demonic effect in its voice. With its claws, it anxiously pinches. Slowly, the stinger extends lower, close to Jaune's face, out of intimidation.

All Jaune can do is shake in fear. Still, he brings his newly modified Crocea Mors up with intensity. The Grimm even flinches, bringing its tail back.

As the two stare at each other, Jaune tightens his grip, and the Grimm laughs, retracting its stinger back further. In a quick movement, the stinger lunges to Jaune. At the same time, Jaune swings his sword, with hope of an impact.

Jaune: "GRAAAGH!" After only hearing, and feeling a clang, Jaune holds his head down for a moment, afraid of seeing the outcome. The Grimm screams with a screeching effect this time. Jaune slowly brings his head up and sees the Grimm's tail, but not its stinger. He looks down and sees the stinger lodged through the Geist's eye. "...Did I…?"

As he looks, having a speck of hope, he hears a voice. A familiar voice.

??????: "Great work, Jaune!"

Jaune: "That voice! But… how?! ...And where--?!" From up above the Grimm, Jaune sees a yellow disk hover across from it. From that disk, a red flash ricochets off of it, and straight down to the stinger. It pushes through the eye, making the Grimm's bottom section no longer active. The flash now comes to a stop, revealing to be a red silhouette with bright copper ornaments. A silhouette of a beloved Spartan. "P-Pyrrha…? ...What is this?"

Pyrrha?: "I'll cover you!"

Before he could look into this uncertainty, Jaune chooses to go by the Pyrrha Silhouette's offer and runs up to the Grimm. He will ask questions later, as he sees her retrieve the yellow disk (Akouo?), and shoots at the Grimm with a yellow rifle shaped weapon (Miló?). While the Grimm is distracted from getting shot at, Jaune approaches it.

The Grimm weakly hurls its claw at Jaune. With his shield, he slides it across the claw, holding it up. With its position, Jaune brings his sword up, and cuts the arm off. Using his momentum, he sheaths his sword, engages it in its great sword form, and cuts the other arm off.

From its pain, the Grimm screams, and then stops and bends down. Looking at it, Jaune backs up. He notes how it jitters, and how its spine extends. With haste, knowing it will shriek at a painful volume, Jaune shouts.

Jaune: "Pyrrha, aim for its head, quick!"

The Pyrrha Silhouette goes by the Natural Leader's command, and transforms her rifle. It takes on a spear shape, before being thrown. Right before the Grimm could fully shriek, the spear goes through its mouth, past its neck. It falls and evaporates into smoke, leaving only the yellow spear shaped weapon on the ground.

The Pyrrha Silhouette retrieves her weapon, putting the spear and disk (shield) to her back. She then walks up to Jaune, with no sound or movement. They face one another for a while.

Jaune: "...Pyrrha? ...Is that really you?" The Silhouette responds by opening her eyes. Still a blank red face, but the entirety of her eyes reveal to be glowing in bright green. "I… I thought you were dead… What happened to you?"

Pyrrha?: "Hehe. Did you see me die that night? Or did you just go by what everyone thought? Like Ruby? Or Adam?"

Just then, putting the mention of his enemy aside, Jaune remembers what he recently last saw of his friends.

Jaune: "*gasp* Ruby! Ren and Nora!"

Pyrrha?: "Jaune, focus."

Jaune: "The ship! It blew up! W-Where--?!"

Pyrrha?: "Jaune!" Jaune stops, as he is already in tears from everything. His friends missing, and his friend found, all break him down. "...You believe that I am dead because other people have told you, right?" Still crying, Jaune nods his head yes. "People have told you a lot of things, Jaune. About what they believe of you… But what do you believe?" Just then, Pyrrha holds up a weapon set. With the exception of being white and having the Arc symbol in blue, the weapons appears to look exactly like Wilt and Blush, making Jaune surprised and gasp for so many unexplained different reasons. "Do you believe in Destiny?"

Jaune's mind goes blank from those last words. He looks up from the weapon and at this Pyrrha like figure. To his perception, the silhouette now has more definition, having her outlines be a beautiful dark red.

The feeling of doubt shadows Jaune's mind. Yet, the closer he reaches for the weapon, the more comfortable he feels toward it. But at the sight of his armored hand, he becomes frightened by its color. Jaune then looks all over himself to see his whole color complexion faint, from his skin, attire, and Crocea Mors. In the midst of panicking, he looks over to the weapon held out to him, as it is now the black and red, Wilt and Blush.

And holding Wilt and Blush is the Pyrrha Silhouette, but with a white complexion, red eyes, and black veins. A Grimm silhouette of Pyrrha. As Jaune backs away, the silhouette only stands still, like a statue. For a moment, Jaune only looks at her confused. But her arm shatters like glass, as a new darker arm from behind goes through it, grasping Wilt and Blush.

Following the arm is the body, walking through the shattering white Pyrrha Silhouette. The body appears to be another silhouette, but a black one of Adam with his red complexions.

The Adam Silhouette walks up to Jaune, who is both sad and now angry just by seeing his mere shape. He reaches for Crocea Mors at his hip. But the closer the Adam Silhouette gets, the bigger he seems to somehow grow, like a giant shadow. This in turn challenges Jaune's guard, looking up at the silhouette that reaches for Wilt in a massive size.

From behind the Adam Silhouette, the shattered Pyrrha Silhouette glows a bright white light. The bigger and brighter it gets from behind, the smaller the Adam Silhouette gets, until it returns to its original size. It then removes its hand from Wilt.

Continuously, the light shines brighter, drowning out everything. The only thing Jaune can see is the Adam Silhouette standing in front of him. As its black color slowly lightens, he reaches up for his face. His color becomes white, having define red outline features.

Adam?: "Forgive me…"

The Adam Silhouette moves his hand, removing what was on his face. At the last minute, everything turns white.

(Kingdom Of Mistral, House Of Heroes…)

Opening his eyes, Jaune wakes up to a brighter environment. Judging by the color scheme of the sun's light on the ceiling, it appears to be dawn. While only half awake, his mind is unclear of what is real and what is not.

Jaune: "*yawn* A dream… All just a bad dream…" Jaune sits up from his bed, and feels a small sharp ache in his abdomen and back. While only wearing a pair of blue boxers, he sees the faint scar on his body, not yet fully gone through his working aura. His scar right before he left Vale. He then looks over to his desk at the divided headphones, acting as a reminder of his second aftermath of being stabbed. That as well as his dependent skills. "*sigh* ...But not all of it."

After gradually waking all the way up, Jaune gets out of bed and recalls his current and previous status. Him and his team, Team RNJR, have finally made it to the Kingdom of Mistral. Newly accompanying them, and guiding them, is Qrow Branwen, still. And now, accompanying and guiding them as well is Oscar Pine, but by sharing minds with the formerly deceased Headmaster, Professor Ozpin. And later on joining them is half of the dispersed group, Team RWBY. The half includes Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long, making three of RWBY's members active.

As for what happened in Anima, all was in Jaune's dream. At least some of what had occurred. The fight with the Grimm Geist, the destruction of the villages, their encounter with Tyrian Callows, and defeating the Nuckelavee, were all real. The only things unreal were the abominable combination of the villainous beings, and Jaune seeing those extraordinary figures. And yet, they felt so real at the moment.

During his recollection, Jaune had already gotten dressed in his modified attire, armor, and weapon. Thankfully, their colors remained as well as his, unlike his dream lead on for it to not be. He grabs his scroll, steps out of his room, and exits the house toward the training grounds. Unknowingly however, he is being watched.

(Meanwhile With Weiss…)

After the first day of reuniting with her friends from Beacon Academy, Weiss is already awake and in the kitchen the next morning. There, she makes coffee for everyone who seem to all be awake. While it brews, she notices Jaune from a quiet distance leaving the house. She chooses to follow him, silently, sensing that he may be troubled.

At the corner of the house outside, Weiss quietly watches from a distance. She sees Jaune standing on the rails of the backyard's cliff. It worries her seeing him in a dangerous position, and possibly more troubled than she thought. Jaune puts in a pair of wireless earbuds, taps on his scroll, and gloomingly pouts as he hears music. With one step, he casually drops from the cliff.

Weiss: "*gasp*" Weiss runs to the edge of the cliff and looks down. All she sees is the top of the trees, concealing anything below. "(hollers) Jaune?!"

After a few seconds of worrying, Weiss hears a voice from behind.

Qrow: "He's alright." From watching both Jaune and Weiss even longer, Qrow walks up to Weiss with a coffee mug in his hand. "He probably wouldn't have stopped anyway, if you shouted before he jumped."

Weiss: "Is he really okay?"

Qrow: "Yeah. I'm telling you, he's fine. He ain't the same 'dunce' as you might've called him before. He's improved, a lot."

Weiss: "Oh. Yeah…" Even Weiss knows that Jaune had improved. She knew ever since she saw him and his team in the Vytal Festival. Still, she did not figure he would have improved to a level of surviving such a fall in mere months. Putting that aside, she feels that there is something else to his well-being. "But… he looks sad. And I could've sworn I heard him having a night terror lastnight. Has he been like this ever since…?"

Weiss did not want to say whom she feels would be the cause. Doing so might upset her as well, after losing that friend.

Qrow: "Yeah, he has. We all have since Beacon fell. But he's been having them more frequently. He usually trains with his team in the morning, and on his own at night. But sometimes, he'd go out on his own, before telling anyone. Those days, his dreams are more than likely to be nightmares."

Weiss really starts to be worried. With the way she feels, she grabs the rail, puts her foot on it, and gets ready to jump.

Weiss: "I'll go talk to him."

Qrow, on the other hand, grabs her shoulder, stopping her.

Qrow: "Whoa, hold on. You stay here and get everyone their java." Weiss sets herself back down, and Qrow hands her his mug. "Him and I might be on a rough patch, but this might be good for a man to man bonding time. I think I might have more experience on how to deal with stressed out teenagers a little better than a 'stressed out teenager' like yourself. No offense." Weiss nods her head, as Qrow steps up on the rail. "Besides, I think your threads might be in need of repairs, before going up against sticks and twigs."

Weiss gives a small pout, and Qrow chuckles before he jumps down the cliff. She turns around, walking back to the house. Taking one more look behind her, she only sees the rising sun, and a black bird flying towards it.

(Meanwhile With Jaune…)

With his eyes closed and listening to music, Jaune proceeds to drop down from the cliff. He then lands, softly, opens his eyes, and gives a disappointing sigh. After coming to this area numerous times, he walks through the forest, taking off his ear buds and absorbs its atmosphere. Eventually, he makes it to an open field surrounded by trees.

Hesitantly, Jaune puts his ear buds back in. He taps on his scroll a few times, and gives one more disappointed sigh before closing his eyes, and putting his scroll away. He takes out Crocea Mors, opens his eyes, and awaits for his scroll to play. This time, it plays the recording of his virtual training with Pyrrha.

Pyrrha (Recording): "Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions."

Going along with the routine, Jaune repeats, as well as conducts the instructions.

Jaune And Pyrrha: "Shield up. Keep your grip tight. Don't forget to keep your front foot forward."

Pyrrha: "Ready?"

Jaune: "*exhale* Ready."

Pyrrha: "Go!" At the command, Jaune lunges his sword, creating a wave that the trees react to. After every other command from Pyrrha's recording, Jaune swings his sword again. Each wave, stronger than the last. Pieces of the trees' bark even break off. "Okay. Now, assuming you aren't cheating… we can take a break."

Jaune: "(panting) Does relying on music count when you're in a real fight?"

Jaune's training may leave him less tired than before, the more he has done it. But due to his emotional fatigue, he appears more exhausted than necessary. As the recording goes on, he pays it little mind after hearing it so many times.

Pyrrha: "I'll always be here for you, Jaune." Gradually, while the recording plays again, Jaune's distress turns into anger by missing his friend not physically there. "Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions." Before given the instructions, Jaune already has himself in his fighting position. "Ready? Go!" He lunges his sword. "Agai--." He swings his sword. "And ag--." Another swing before the full command. "Okay. Now, assuming you aren't cheating…" Jaune now gets more tired and angrier. This time, the reason is from his mind going back to his dancing fight with Adam. "...we can take a--."

Jaune: "Replay!"

The recording immediately replays by Jaune's command to his scroll this time.

Pyrrha: "Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced." Jaune is already in position, but impatiently waits for the command. "Read--?" Jaune lunges and swings his sword in three movements, all before any of the commands. As he waits for the recording to finish, he pants with slight exhaustion, but with mostly angry breathing. This time, his mind crosses to Adam cutting the headphone's cord, and stabbing him. "Okay. Now, assum--."

Jaune: "Replay!"

The recording replays once again.

Pyrrha: "Alright, Jaune, just like we--."

Jaune immediately rushes the three movements, giving no time for following the recording.

Jaune: "Replay!" Before the recording even starts, he starts slashing. "Replay!"

Jaune replays the recording five more times, all without even listening to it from the beginning. At one point, he notices how the trees no longer react to his attacks anymore, due to his blinded concentration. To add on to that, his mind now goes to Adam attacking his friends while he only stood still, and got hurt afterwards. Now even angrier and impatient, he yanks his ear buds out and stomps up to one of the trees.

Now, Jaune does the three attacks on the tree, giving himself no rest in between. Eventually, he completely abandons the instructions he learned, and just angrily chops at the tree with no form, except that of a baseball batter. None of the branches or leaves move to his force like before. All he does is take his anger out on it with tears and grunts flying from his face.

But just like back at the house, Jaune is still being watched.

Qrow: "I don't know what all your friends taught you, but I don't think they want you to fight like that." Jaune stops his attacks on the tree and slowly calms down. "That's not what Pyrrha's been saying through your scroll, is it?"

Jaune: "*panting* What do you want, Qrow?"

Qrow: "Well, for starters, I'd like to know what's really bothering my ally. We're on the same side, aren't we?"

Jaune starts to calm down, slumping, then turning to fully acknowledge Qrow. As much as he despises how Qrow works as a Huntsman, he is still his ally. An experienced one at that, who knows how the world and people work.

Jaune: "...I just don't get it. How can I be such a good fighter, but only by some ridiculous… reliance? I couldn't protect anyone when we got to Anima! They all did the work, while I gave them nothing but a strategy! And even then, we almost got killed! What if I lose THESE headsets, or all the other spare that I 'so desperately' need?! What if I come up with a plan that doesn't work, or what if I can't come up with a plan at all?!" Once again, Jaune's sorrows return, looking down and crying even more. "What's wrong with me?"

Qrow: "...Nothing's wrong with you, kid. You're just more innate to rhythm than most people. That's all. It's probably what made Oz put you in charge of your team. But don't look at it as a weakness. Any kind of dependence is always open to change and adjust."

Jaune: "...I don't even think my past self could fight unless he had some music in his ear either. The only difference between me and him is he had more confidence than I did. I was dependent then, and I'm even more dependent now."

Qrow: "Well, you're not him." Jaune looks at Qrow, a little curious now. "Not anymore. You act like music is your only motivation to fight, when you're already miles away from home, and with that memento on your shield."

Jaune looks down at his shield, remembering its symbolic meaning below his own emblem. It reminds him of his purpose for why he is here, out in Mistral. His mind even crosses to when he could stand up to Adam after disconnecting his headphones. At that time, something still caused him to properly fight.

Jaune: "What would you suggest I do?"

Qrow: "How about I give you a little guidance?" Qrow leads Jaune away to stand at the same distance he was in before he got closer to the chopped tree. They both face another less damaged one beside it. "From what I've been able to pick up from your abilities, you have at least two motivations that bring the skilled fighter in you out more. Let's start with your stimulus for rhythm. Now close your eyes." Jaune closes his eyes, holding completely still. "Do you hear any music?"

Jaune: "Uh, no?"

Qrow: "But what DO you hear?"

Jaune: "I hear… birds… the wind… and leaves, shaking from the birds and wind. And maybe something else within the tree."

Qrow: "Alright. So, if I wanted you to cut down this tree in front of you, without opening your eyes…" Jaune makes a confused face, seeing (or rather hearing) how Qrow wants him to attack one thing among other things he cannot see. "...what strategy would you use?"

Jaune: "I would… listen to… what gives away… its position." As Jaune listens to the birds and wind near the tree, he lowers and strengthens his stance. "...But to cut it down, and from this far? ...I have to find its weakest point… my strongest point." He puts himself in a fighting position, ready to strike. "Do that, by finding both of our…" He waits for a certain sound, a certain silencing, in both his and the tree's… "...rhythm!"

Jaune swings his sword, producing a narrow white projectile slash that instantly hits the tree. He waits for a brief moment for a certain sense, and then conducts two quick choreographic slashes. And then, two more quick danceful slashes, followed by one last strong slash. Afterwards, he senses hollowness from within the tree. However, to Jaune's dissatisfaction after opening his eyes, it stays in place.

Qrow however walks up to the tree and analyzes it. He looks back at Jaune and smirks. Feeling that his semblance is present, Qrow snaps his finger. Followed by it, his Misfortune causes the tree to fall back from a clean slice below.

Qrow: "See?"

Jaune: "Whoa…"

Qrow: "Real smooth, kid (both the moves, and the cut, literally). Next, we'll work on all of what your friends taught you. You can do that by using your emotions. This seems to be your more natural fighting method, as it's something you learned after your amnesia. So now, put on your headset, but don't play any music."

Jaune: "Um, okay." Hesitantly, Jaune picks up and puts on his ear buds. All he hears is just his own thoughts, shutting most of the world out. "What is he getting at?"

Qrow: "Face these three trees over here." Qrow adjusts Jaune to face the next set of trees aside from the one he cut down. Though deafened, Jaune can slightly hear Qrow, but fully read his lips. "So, if I wanted you to cut down three trees, but in one swing each, how would you do that?"

Jaune looks at the trees, even more puzzled this time. Not only does he have to cut the trees at a further distance, but one slash each seems like an even harder task to him. Nonetheless, he adjusts himself, with his shield up, grip tight, and front foot forward.

Jaune: "Hm… 'Using my emotions'...?" By listening to nothing, Jaune is only left with his thoughts, and the memories they hold. "And my friends' fighting skills… I haven't trained with them in a while, but..."

Looking at the first tree, Jaune's mind thinks of his enemy and his haunting impact. It causes him to grit his teeth and lose focus.

Qrow: "Easy, kid."

To make himself stop, Jaune restrains himself from thinking about his more ominous foe. Instead, he thinks about Cinder Fall; a lesser ominous foe to him. Thinking of her, he remembers how she lead his partner to her death from the start. At the same time, he lunges his sword forward. With one attack, it creates a gaping hole at the bottom of one tree, causing it to fall back after.

Instantly afterwards, Jaune thinks about his father. The secrets he holds upsets him, believing to be what lead him in the position of fighting for his and his friend's lives from a terrorizer. He then faces the next tree, puts his sword in both of his hands, and swings across. This time, the slash busts the tree like an explosion, and falls down.

Now, Jaune thinks about his family, including Catherine, their mother, six other sisters, and father (loving him no matter what is at stake). Along with them is his friends, from Beacon Academy. Having the need to protect them, they count as family for him just as much. With attention on the last tree, he switches his sword in a reverse grip, and slashes at the tree. The attack cuts the tree halfway, before falling back and breaking the other half.

Jaune: "...Wow!"

Qrow: "Yup. Nice work. If you think about it, I didn't really tell you to do anything. That was all you, really. Just imagine what you could've done, if you'd have continued training with your allies, and stop doubting yourself."

Jaune: "But, how? I've never been able to apply myself before. Not unless I heard music, or if I was angry, or…"

Qrow: "Or unless you actually 'applied' yourself." It took a small while, but Jaune really thought about applying himself, after hearing it from Qrow. "See, you already know the answers to your problems. You just need the confidence to put them in action. By listening and looking at other things, other than what's already in front of you, you'll just deafen and blind yourself, unless you go by your own instincts. If you run out of music, then make your own music. Find the rhythm in yourself. And that's not to say you shouldn't rely on your comrades, because we're nothing without them. Take from them, and give to them all that you can. But instead of always relying on what this world, or anybody, to tell you who you are, what you can do, or what you should do, recognize yourself… Or better yet, don't even listen to what 'I' tell you. 'Cause that's what I'm literally getting at. Hehehe."

Jaune: "*chuckle* Got it. Just… get a grip, and remember my potential. Do that before I kill nature any further. *nervous laugh*" Although, feeling slightly pitiful, Jaune can feel himself being lifted back up. He even found a portion meaning in some of his dream "...That actually answered a lot more than you think."

Qrow: "Hahaha. Good. Glad we're on the same page. Now if you're done relieving your stress, let's not miss breakfast and get everyone all up in their 'combat skirts'. I think your team would like their leader to train with them again. Plus, Little Ice Queen actually showed a little warmth in her heart when you jumped from the rail."

Jaune: "Sounds good. I'd like that." Both Jaune and Qrow walk back away from the trees. "...Weiss? Even she was worried?"

After just a few steps, Qrow stops, and then Jaune. Without looking back, Qrow lectures Jaune one more time.

Qrow: "One more thing, kid. What you have is a gift, that not many people have. Even my sister recognizes it. She might have her doubts on us saving this world, but even she has a bit of hope through what your heritage can offer. And what you offer is as good as what this team will do, and show them all wrong. Apply all that you can. From your friends, and even your enemies. What you did here, don't forget it. Because if you can conduct both of your motivations in an alignment, you'll be much stronger, and you can accomplish more than you think… Alright?"

Out of the inspiration that Qrow gave Jaune, all he can do is look at him. He then looks back at the trees he cut, as well as the one he only chopped at, now further away.

Jaune: "...Alright. I'll apply myself, from now on." Jaune looks to his front. "You'll se--."

Looking forward, Jaune no longer sees Qrow. Almost as if he disappeared. More than likely, he turned into a bird and flew off. Jaune figured that was the case, for all he sees is two black feathers falling in midair.

Seeing as Jaune has to head back himself, he steps. But by only one step, he thinks on Qrow's words. If Jaune is to find alignment in his motivations and apply himself, he could do alot more, as stated. With his front foot already forward, he bends his head down, and closes his eyes.

With his imagination, Jaune pictures his dark enemy behind him. His hands on his sword and shield tighten. Remembering his dream, and how his enemy's silhouette drowned in light, he slowly sheathes his weapon to his side. His enemy darkens, and even grows in size. Jaune feels the energy within himself, as well as the energy behind him.

At the instant Jaune opens his eyes, he spins around, simultaneously engages Crocea Mors' great sword form, and quickdraws from behind. He leaves a slash that hits the chopped up tree (his imagined enemy). For a small moment of patience, Jaune holds his position, then stands straight up. Calmly, he sheathes Crocea Mors once again, and walks away.

From behind, without Jaune looking, the tree falls back, as well as the other trees in a domino affect (including the fading, divided imaginary enemy).

(The Next Day…)

After having an apologetic conversation with Ren and Nora yesterday, Jaune had rekindled their usual morning training schedule. Although he had been able to manage it naturally, they made their routines much more harsh. It was deserving for Jaune, and made easier for his team to forgive his abandonment.

On Ren's behalf, him and Jaune had to drink two of his herb juice right after breakfast. To both of them, it was seconds to water as their bodies fully accepted it. But this time, Ren added a small hint of a highly potent spicy substance. For Ren, it was like mint. For Jaune, it was more like a ghost pepper.

Afterwards, Jaune and Ren's meditation and aura practice went fairly smooth. The only thing that made it different was doing them under a harsh waterfall. Even with that, Jaune found peace in prevailing.

On Nora's behalf, her and Jaune had to run up numerous mountains. The idea hardly seemed to faze Jaune at the time. That was until she slapped heavy metal rings on their wrists and ankles. To Jaune, they felt like four Nora Valkyrie's were pulling him down. Yet, by mere thought, it actually gave him the boost he needed, when thinking of similar experiences with his sisters.

The excessive exercises afterwards seemed to pass quick, even while Jaune and Nora were still wearing the weights.

The best part about his training (second best to bonding with his team again) is that Jaune did not even use any of his headsets. Taking Qrow's advice, Jaune managed to train without relying on music. The only music he used was the kind he found in himself. As trite as that sounds, he figured, he wondered how he would fair in his combat training, later on in the day. Better yet, he wondered more on how he would fare in real combat, later on in both his and his group's quest.

As of now however, while still morning, Jaune uses his free time to critique something else in his room. On his desk lies both of his bracers, and the shield of Crocea Mors. With a screwdriver, he twists a few screws on his right bracer. But like his other gear on the desk, they each have some new attachments, on the shield's back handles and both bracers' top sides, that were not there before.

Before being able to get even one screw tight, Jaune stops for a moment as there is a knock on the door.

Jaune: "Come in."

The door opens, and Jaune continues his work. His visitor steps in and walks up beside him. The former Heiress, herself.

Weiss: "Hi Jaune."

Jaune: "Oh, hey Weiss. What's up?"

Weiss: "Nothing… I saw you yesterday before you left to train in the woods. First you, then Yang… You both were upset that morning. I'm just making sure you aren't thinking of doing anything crazy."

Jaune: "I'm alright. Is Yang okay?"

Weiss: "She's fine. She just needs us to be there for her."

Jaune: "That's good. I can imagine, with what she's been through. With her mom, as we're now after her, and Blake… and losing her arm."

Weiss: "Are you sure you're okay? What happened at the woods with you and Qrow?"

Jaune: "Qrow helped me sort things out. He gave me some advice that I needed to hear. But yeah, I'll be okay. Thanks."

Weiss: "Okay. That's good…" Weiss trails off, seeing Jaune occupied. He only made eye contact with her a few times, making the environment awkward for her. Unsure why, but she wanted his attention. Perhaps to make sure he were really okay, and see what he is doing now. Or perhaps to gain an understanding from her own curiosity from previous encounters. Or from something else. "So… when I was in Atlas, I had just got done with performing at my father's charity for Vale." Jaune turns over to Weiss, after tightening one of the screws, and gives her his attention. It is the least he can do after making her worry. "During the after party, I saw this man, who--." Again, Weiss trails off, as she looks over to Jaune's desk. "Um… I'm sorry, but what are you doing with your armor and shield? Are you like… fixing them?"

Jaune: "Oh, well…" For Jaune, it is a little hard to explain what it is he is doing with his gear. "Let's just say, I know what I'm doing, and I DON'T know what I'm doing."

Weiss: "...What does that mean?"

Jaune: "I'm almost done. I'll show you when I'm finished." Jaune turns back around, and continues working on his bracers. "I've been working on a few extra modifications to my gear after taking it to a Blacksmith when I was in Anima. Just whatever chance I got when we weren't fighting Grimm, I'd sit down and do this. I want to finish before sparring practice tonight and really test it out." Just then, Weiss smiles, seeing Jaune making the effort to improve himself. "So what were you saying before, about a man? I didn't mean to interrupt."

Weiss: "Oh, right. Uh, it's nothing. He was just nice, which is rare where I come from, and he reminded me that I still… had friends looking out for me. So, I just figured I'd… follow in his footsteps."

Jaune: "Hm. That's good. He must've been a great man."

Weiss: "You'd definitely know if you were there…" Seeing as Jaune is not confirming with any of Weiss' clues, she moves on with their conversation. "Speaking of which, I never got the chance to thank you for saving Ruby that night."

Jaune: "Yeah, of course. We're all friends, after all. I'm sure you would've done the same for me… Actually, you DID do the same for me. For both of us. You helped us with our landing strategy, right? Haha."

Weiss: "Yeah. I guess I did. Hehe. Still, you've come a long way from Beacon, Jaune. You should keep it up… Pyrrha would be proud."

Jaune: "...Yeah. She probably would… Thank you." After a few more twists, Jaune completes his work on his bracer. "Okay. I'm done… I think."

After completing his tinkering, Jaune stands up and puts on his bracers and shield.

Weiss: "So… what all did you do?"

Jaune: "Let's see… What I did is make my gear more maneuverable, as well as tactical. That's the best way I can put it. With my shield and bracers, I can do this." As a demonstration, with a flick of his arm, Jaune rotates his shield, still attached to his arm, putting the bottom end at his fist. He then engages it in blade form. Showing off what use it can do, he swings it three times, as if he were attacking. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Weiss: "Yeah, that is pretty cool, I guess. Is that all you did though?"

Jaune: "I can also make it do this." Jaune holds his arm back. This catches Weiss' interests, as he looks moderately determined. With his aura, his arm and shield blade glow, and he uppercuts his fist. The results is his blade spinning like a ratchet with the edges glowing yellowish white. He then diminishes his aura, causing the blade to slow down and stop. "So, yeah. It's still anything but a gun."

Weiss: "Hm. Very impressive. I had no idea you knew how to work on weapons."

Jaune: "Actually, I don't."

Weiss: "Then… how did you do all that? Did the Blacksmith give you instructions?"

Jaune: "No, it wasn't him. It was all 'me'."

Weiss: "...I dont understand." If Weiss were not confused by Jaune knowing, and not knowing what he was doing, she is now. "How can you modify your weapon, by NOT knowing how to modify your weapon, after making the instructions yourself?"

Jaune: "...You remember yesterday, when I told you and everyone else how I had amnesia a year before coming to Beacon, right?"

Weiss: "Yeah."

Jaune: "Every now and then, my memories come as they go. But whenever I go through some strong kind of… memorial, I should call it, parts of my memory come back." Weiss sits herself down on Jaune's bed, now more interested and giving him her full attention this time. "My last fight, before leaving Vale, gave me clues and answers to a lot of things. But not everything. Still, ever since then, I've been having these… dreams. More like instructions in the form of dreams. They told me to acquire these pieces and materials, to do this, to practice that. And whenever I wake up, the instructions, or like, blueprints of what my dreams told me to build, were as clear as looking at them, every time I close my eyes. Not exactly like knowing them, but actually seeing them in my thoughts."

Weiss: "I think I get it. Your former memories are still in your subconscious. And whenever you dream, some of them become more conscious."

Jaune: "That sounds about right, yeah."

Feeling more comfortable of explaining himself, Jaune sits beside Weiss on his bed. Odd to her, her heartrate escalates with how close he is, making her less comfortable. Mainly due to is body structure when comparing to the last time she had seen it. She knew he was lean back at their dance when he was wearing a dress. But ever since Nora called him 'Mr. Muscles', Weiss began to notice his improvement, and can now apparently see how that term was not an understatement. Both by looking at his arms, and how his clothing and armor seem tight on him.

Weiss: "You… must've really been open minded back then, than you are now. I mean, you are now, but, compared to your other self…" Realizing her choice of words, Weiss had not hoped to sound like she were insulting Jaune like she felt she had. "T-That's not to say you're less than the old you! I just meant…!"

Jaune: "Hehe. It's fine. You don't have to butter me up."

Weiss: "I-I wasn't--! I was just saying how your strong, and how smart you--!" Feeling embarrassed by her newly adapted kindness, Weiss goes back to the original subject. "S-So, what does your right bracer do?! Does it do the same as the other?"

Jaune: "No. To tell the truth, I don't know what my right bracer's for. I just know that it's for something else."

Jaune's right bracer has an attachment similar, yet different than the one on the left. While the left has a continuous rotary system with the shield, the other has a two-way vertical to horizontal rotary system with nothing. And as Jaune flicks his right wrist this time, another exception to its difference shows, as a mechanical system is revealed above his hand, and attached to his thumb and index finger.

Weiss: "But, didn't you build it?"

Jaune: "Yeah, I did. But that's like the other thing I didn't know what I was doing, while doing it. The shield made sense to me, but this…? It's like something else is made for this, and I don't know what. It can't be my sword. The blade's too thick for this handle to hold it. *sigh* Figures, when I finally achieve something, I can only manage half the work, but don't know what to do with the rest. It makes as much sense as using a Caboose to build a new Church."

Weiss: "That… doesn't make sense…"

Jaune: "That's what I'm saying!"

Both Jaune and Weiss laugh at their last few comments from one another. Internally, they knew that what Jaune said made more sense than some would think, about not making sense. Their shared laughter fades, and Weiss looks up at Jaune. She enjoys their moment, embracing the silent company.

But in just a few seconds, the shared moment is interrupted as there is a knock, then an entrance to the room.

Ruby: "Hey Jaune. Ozpin wants--. Oh. Hi Weiss. I didn't think you'd be in here too."

Weiss: "Uh-- Jaune and I were just talking!" Weiss stands up, slightly embarrassed, thinking that anyone would assume otherwise with the door now open. "That's all!"

Jaune: "What about Ozpin, Ruby?"

Ruby: "Right. Well, it's good I found you two at once, because Uncle Qrow and Ozpin wants everyone in the living room. Professor Lionheart might've convinced the council to help us out, and we're gonna visit him tomorrow."

Weiss: "Okay, great." Weiss begins to follow Ruby, stepping out. But before she walks out the door, she sees Jaune standing up, but lost in thought. "...Jaune, are you coming?"

Jaune: "...Yeah. I'll be there in a sec." Hesitantly, Weiss leaves the room, looking back at Jaune. By the look on his face, he appears concerned. "I'm not sure about this sudden change. Professor Lionheart wouldn't be against us. Afterall, he's the one who…" Without the risk of going too deep in thought, Jaune slows his mind down. "Training will have to be light tonight and tomorrow with Ren and Nora. And we'll make sure we all have our weapons. I don't know what it is, but I think we're in for something other than our raid."

(Tomorrow Night, Haven Academy…)

On the night of the full moon, Jaune and his comrades walk through Haven Academy. They follow Qrow, who gave them the word on Professor Lionheart's invitation. Him, as well as Ozpin hold their suspicions on the Professor with his disobeyed orders, and his drastic change for the heroes and their current objective.

As our heroes walk into the Academy's main building, they find Leonardo Lionheart standing at the top of the middle lower balcony.

Lionheart: "Why hello. Thank you for… coming. There… seems to be more of you than last time."

Qrow: "Eh, you know what they say, 'The more, the merrier'. So what's going on with the council?"

Jaune: "Something helpful this time, we hope. You didn't seem too keen on their aid last time."

Lionheart: "Why… did you bring your weapons?"

Qrow: "What? Leo, we're Huntsman."

Jaune: "Same reason you have yours. We were hoping to go on a raid, right? (sarcastic) That is what you called us here for, right?!"

Qrow: "You okay?"

Lionheart: "Of course! Of course, sorry." The more Qrow and Lionheart conversate, the more suspicious Jaune gets. He even sees a mutual feeling from Yang, and her attention elsewhere to her right. "Just haven't had my evening coffee."

Qrow: "Look it's nice to see you, but we got work to do. Are we getting support from the council or not?"

Jaune: "Is that…?" Jaune looks over in the same direction that Yang has her attention on. On the balcony, they see something watching them. "...a bird?"

Yang: "Mom?"

Lionheart gasps, and immediately, Qrow shoots at the bird. It flies off behind Lionheart, but magically reveals itself to be…

Ruby: "Raven…"

Nora: "They… They really are magic…"

Raven removes her helmet, and looks down at Qrow and everyone else.

Raven: "If you're going to shoot me, shoot me. That was insulting." As Qrow and Raven argue about her unexpected appearance, Raven walks down the stairs to the group's level. Just as Qrow, Ozpin, and Jaune suspected, Professor Lionheart has been up to something against their favor. Raven, however, defends him. "He looked at all the information he had in front of him, assessed the situation, and made a choice. And it seems you all have too." Yang tightens her fists, seeing as her mom looks to her, then elsewhere. "Isn't that right, Jaune Arc?"

Jaune makes no response, as some from the group look over to him and Yang. He only narrows his eyes and tightens his fists as well.

Qrow: "You have the Spring Maiden."

Raven: "I do."

Qrow: "Then hand her over and let's work together!" With his weapon away, Qrow tries to be slightly more cooperative. "We can beat Salem!"

Raven: "All that time spent spying for Ozpin and you still have no idea what you're dealing with. Look at yourself, Qrow! You have kids, who think they're Huntsman, to fight beside you in a doomed war! Even if they are strong, it's not enough. Not even if they were older. By the time they grow up now, you'd all be too late before everything falls by her hands. Don't you get it?! There is no beating Salem!"

Ruby: "You're wrong."

Raven looks over to Ruby, who speaks against her doubt. Jaune does the same to reinforce Ruby, and express his own mind.

Jaune: "That's not the same attitude you had the last time we met. You knew there was more to us that day. You even knew that Yang would find you by her own strength and will. You wouldn't' have saved any of us if you didn't think there was any beating Salem, would you?"

Ruby: "We've done things that most people would call impossible, and I know the only reason we were able to do it is because we didn't do it alone!"

Jaune: "We've saved lives when our school was in danger. We even defeated Grimm that have terrorized homes and destroyed families in Anima, including the one your tribe lead to Shion. That monster has ruined lives for years. Including my friends'." Jaune holds his hand out in Ren and Nora's direction, making Raven note their strong faces. "Just imagine how much further we'd go with more support we had on our side.

Ruby: "We had people to teach us, people to help us, we had each other."

Jaune: "You can do the same for us… and us for you."

As Raven looks at Ruby and Jaune, her face twists out of discomfort.

Ruby: "Work with us. At least I know we'll have a better chance if we try together." Ruby holds her hand out, hoping for Raven to accept her invitation. "Please."

Looking down at Ruby and her offer, Raven has a slight off putting face towards it all. Almost as if she were familiarizing her, and even Jaune.

Raven: "You sound just like your mother. And you, son of Arc… remind me so much of your father." By the mention of their parents, Ruby's desperate expression turns more alert, as well as Jaune's, out of his stern feeling at first. "Both noble leaders with good hearts… but my priorities lay elsewhere, while now in peril."

Raven grasps her sword at her hip.

Jaune: "Wait!"

Seeing the instant of her movement, Jaune tries to run up to Raven. But with her semblance, she draws her sword and cuts down from behind her right, opening her portal. Immediately, a burst of fire comes out before Jaune and hits Ruby backwards and down to the floor.

Yang and Jaune: "Ruby!"

Seeing Ruby get hit, everybody looks over to her with Yang running to her aid. Jaune remains where he is, and looks over to Raven.

Jaune: "What the hell is wrong with you?! Why'd you do that?!"

Raven: "Not me." Raven steps to the side of her portal, with a careless expression that turns into a guilty one with briefly closed eyes. "I'm sorry, young Arc."

Through the portal, Jaune widens his eyes as he gradually sees a familiar, and nefarious group walk through.

Jaune: "(whisper) You!"

Hearing a voice from behind, everyone tenses up more than they were before.

??????: "Hello, boys and girls."

Everyone turns around, and Ruby sits up to see the newly added group walk through the portal. They include Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, Vernal (Raven's claimed Spring Maiden), and the voice at the center…

Ruby: "Cinder…"

Our heroes recover and look upon the enemies before them. Cinder and her faction hold as reminders of what all they had done to RWBY and JNPR at Beacon Academy, both physically, and emotionally. Raven's new alignment hold an additional weight on some of their hearts, through betrayal, shame, and mislead. Most of our heroes have their aggressions show by the looks on their faces, clenching fists, and inching themselves closer while on the edge for a fight.

Jaune: "Raven, why… would you do this?! Do you work for Cinder now? For Salem?!"

Qrow: "Everybody, stay calm."

The discipline for everyone to calm themselves becomes harder when the main door from behind opens with someone walking in. And like the other enemies, he too holds a great weight to someone from the past.

Oscar: "Oh no."

The man, known as Hazel Rainart, closes the door, securing any thoughts of exiting from anyone.

Hazel: "The White Fang has prepped demolition and is securing the school grounds. No one's getting in, and no one's getting out."

Jaune: "The White Fang?! ...He's here! He's in Haven…!"

Hazel walks up closer from behind our heroes. Everyone, except Jaune with his head down, hold their gaze on Hazel while uncertain of his abilities and motivation. All, except for one wise soul within the young mind of Oscar.

Weiss: "It's the Fall of Beacon all over again. But this time, it's Haven… This was all just a trap?"

Ren: "It appears so…"

Qrow: "Raven… tell me… How long have you been with them?"

Cinder: "Aww, don't take it personally, little bird. Your sister was a recent addition. The Lion on the other hand…"

Jaune: "...Professor Lionheart? You were in on this too?! No. Cinder, stop talking!"

Cinder: "Entrance into the Vytal Festival was a real treat, but Leonardo's been sending Salem all sorts of information for a very, very long time." The more Cinder talks, the more torment and overwhelmed anger Jaune feels, listening with his head down and eyes wide. "Isn't that right, Professor?"

Lionheart: "Stop it…"

Jaune: "Not you, Professor! Of all people… Our Huntsman reinforcements, letting Cinder in Beacon and The Vytal Festival… All this time, and after I had asked you of them..."

Qrow: "It was you… You sit on the Mistral Council. You had information on every Huntsman and Huntress in the Kingdom, and you gave it all to her."

Lionheart: "I…--"

Qrow: "I couldn't find any of them, because you let her kill them! Do you have any idea how many have already died because of her?!"

Jaune: "I can't take this…!"

With all that Jaune sees and hears, there is an even greater tension growing in the atmosphere. Nobody else feels or sees it from him, except Raven. It puts her in a cautious position.

Cinder: "Aw now, don't beat yourself up about it, Lionheart, I'm sure Tyrian and Hazel would've found them on their own eventually."

Jaune: "What is wrong with you?" Only now, does everyone's attention lie on Jaune, making them worry. After all this time, his head had been down, and eyes concealed by his hair bangs. "I just don't get it… How can you be so broken inside… To take so many lives, you and that psychopath, Tyrian, and then come here and rub it in our faces like it's something to be proud of?!" His voice cracks, showing the pain behind his words. "You destroyed our school, lead ours friends and others to die…!"

Nora: "Jaune…"

Jaune lifts his head up, showing the tears that fall from his face. With gleam already in his eyes, there holds another dim glow within.

Jaune: "All with that damn smile on your face!"

With his outburst, Jaune gives off a form of energy. It dwells through some of his comrades, as Ruby and Yang engage their weapons. One of them assertive for combat, while the other assertive, but worried for her fellow leader.

Qrow: "Everybody, stay calm!"

There is no response from Cinder, nor her faction. By the mention of her smile, Cinder's smirk fades. Raven, at their side, feels her hand twitching to draw her sword from feeling uneasy and defensive. She finds herself looking around, noticing something in the atmosphere.

Jaune: "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did! Do you hear me? You, Adam, all of you, AND Salem!"

Qrow: "Kid!"

Almost everybody else engage their weapons, including Jaune with his sheathed weapon, feeling the energy he gives off.

Jaune: "Well?! Say something!"

A small silence as Cinder stares at Jaune. She remains unfazed by his cry and threat to her. Even while knowing how she made an impact on many, she breaks the silence with little interest.

Cinder: "Who are you again?"

Appalled by her response, Raven turns her head to Cinder in a disgusted shock. She then looks over to Jaune, and starts to step away from Cinder's space. Vernal sees her, and does the same, asking no questions.

From Cinder's careless response, Jaune's eyes widen, then narrow in an increased anger. His head slowly goes back down, and he grits his teeth. Everyone looks to him, and notices his hair slightly wave, as if there were wind blowing up to his face. Only now does Cinder's gaze show more concern, and more on edge.

More apparently does Jaune's hair wave stronger as he grunts in anger. But from a soft feeling on his arm, he looks to his left, and the tension he puts off goes away.

Jaune sees Ruby, with her hand on his arm, and her head down. With her eyes concealed by her bangs this time, he sees tears fall down her cheeks as well. Her head shakes 'no', in the hopes that he would calm down this time. He even looks up to Qrow, with a disappointed expression.

The last few times Jaune remembers, he and Ruby were on top of the Tower when he let his emotions get the best of him. That, as well as his fight after going down a hill. The rest of his friends were in danger.

Remembering this, Jaune knows that he has to refrain from acting on emotions, or he and his loved ones will get in unwanted danger again. So he closes his eyes to calm down, turns from Ruby, and speaks to Cinder again with a sad smile.

Jaune: "Hehe. You don't remember me… Of course. That's fine. Why would you remember me? You got information on everybody at Beacon, but, I wasn't anything special. My team… oh, my team was special alright. But I can understand why you--... well, no one would remember me. 'Jaune, old goofball, everyone's punching bag, and a boy playing hero, complete with armor!' Heck, not even I can literally remember myself. And that was before my time at Beacon." An uncomfortable silence hits, as Jaune's smile drops. "But if you didn't remember me back then…" Jaune lifts his head, directly facing Cinder. As he opens his eyes, his irises briefly glow a bright blue light, before fading. "...you WILL know who I am now."

At that moment, the atmosphere had changed back to a neutral state. That, as well as the lighting. During Jaune's out break, the whole room was slowly, yet barely noticeably, getting brighter the entire time. But it was not until Jaune opened his eyes, that anyone could notice the immediate dimming. Anyone, except Raven, who has already inched her way from Cinder.

Cinder: "*chuckle* Well aren't we a fierce little warrior. I'm actually a little intrigued to see someone with this kind of power."

Jaune: "I'm disappointed in you…" Putting Cinder aside, Jaune looks above her. "...Professor." With unexpected attention, Professor Lionheart's guilt becomes more apparent, as well as shocked coming from Jaune. "I believed in you. I thought you were one of the greatest Huntsmen out there, and it would've been an honor to finally meet you when we arrived at your office. But after all that you've done, all that you've allowed, I'm just so ashamed. She was wrong about you."

Lionheart: "I beg your pardon, young man? W-Who exactly are you referring to?"

Jaune: "She was willing to make sacrifices so that people like us could keep fighting. So that we could be better than we were then and now. She believed in…" Jaune's attention goes back down to Cinder. "...Destiny."

Both Cinder and Lionheart's gaze on Jaune become more shocked with widened eyes. One out of anxiety, another out of amazement.

Cinder: "...I'm starting to remember you. You're the dense one that can't tell when he's out of his league. Shame what happened, really."

Acting on his emotions would only leave himself blind with rage with no progress, Jaune figured. However, he thinks that to get inside his enemy's head, he can lead them to act on emotions instead and be blinded rather than himself. Both his main enemy in front of him, and the questionable one above him. It would give him and his group the advantage.

Jaune: "What's a shame is how your afraid of what'll happen if Salem finds out you were too afraid to release that arrow."

By Jaune's comment, Cinder's eye catches fire in anger.

Cinder: "You're really starting to sound like that Bull… The both of you, full of sh-."

Jaune: "But does the Professor know?"

Cinder: "...Nevermind him."

Jaune: "You were jealous of her, weren't you? You knew she was better than you."

Cinder: "Stop it…"

Jaune: "It never clicked to you that she was the better pupil. That she was someone you could never surpass."

Cinder: "Stop it!"

Jaune: "So you wanted power, becoming a Maiden, in the hopes that she couldn't, that you'd be better than her, and you'd help Salem, hoping to get revenge… But even then, you couldn't finish her off, knowing it'd be pitiful if it were in your hands. Is that it? Does Leo know?"

Cinder: "Stop!"

Jaune: "Does Leonardo know how you helped her die?!"

The fire in Cinder's eyes increase, as she summons a collection of fire in her hand.

Cinder: "I am going to burn--!"

Lionheart: "(roar effect) Cinder!" The intensity behind Lionheart's voice grabs everyone's attention, and dismisses Cinder's flames. Almost inferiorly, Cinder turns and looks up at Lionheart. She looks into his angry, dilated eyes that show a brighter brown color than before, just like a lion. "(silent growl) Who does this boy speak of? And if I don't like my answer…!"

Feeling afraid, Cinder hesitates to give an answer. She finds herself unable to remove herself from looking into Lionheart's eyes.

Qrow: "Okay, that's enough!" Lionheart's eyes shift back to dark brown, and he looks over to Qrow, but with an angry concerned look still attached. Cinder looks down blankly in anxiety. "Jaune, you're done talking! ...Now, if we're all ready to relax now, then I'm sure we can understand that we've all done things that we regret, some things we don't regret, but--."

Cinder: "I regret nothing." Qrow and everyone else look over to Cinder, with her head turning back to them. "I wanted to prove that I was nobody's second. 'Pitiful', you say? No! It would've been fulfilling. Maybe she thought that I couldn't kill her, but I was just overwhelmed. I needed to confirm it was her, Lionheart's star pupil." Lionheart tightens his grip on the ledge of the balcony, gritting his teeth. "My destiny… had been taken from me a second time that night, from Taurus. The night when I became stronger, the more powerful one! The night when I lost the chance to savor the death, of Mistral's champion, Pyrrha Nikos!"

Both Jaune and Lionheart become angrier by the mention of Pyrrha. With his sword still in hand, Jaune slowly brings his weapon set up, ready to engage and swing. Everyone else's anger springs back up, and yet is more reserved. Whatever remorse anyone might have had for Cinder had either been tarnished, or directed slightly to Lionheart.

Jaune: "You're no better than Adam, tormenting everyone who you think gets in your way!"

Cinder: "Hehehehe. Don't you worry, young Knight. I plan to put him underneath me in time. But before I can do that, I have a new obligation I've been meaning to settle, right here." Cinder looks over to Jaune's left side. "Just know that no matter what any of you do, no matter how calm you may want this to be… none of you will stop me from ripping out those Silver orbs!" Ruby gasps in fear and caution "Hahahahahaha! 'Eye for an eye'…!"

Qrow: "...To hell with this! Subtlety is out." Getting everyone else in the fighting program, Qrow engages his sword, holding it out in front of Ruby. "Jaune, protect Ruby. I don't care what you do anymore, but kill this bitch!"

(Round 1)

Jaune nods his head, engages Crocea Mors in great sword mode, and charges at Cinder. Upon his swing at her, she catches it with her own summoned sword. The clash of their blades causes a statue with chains behind Cinder to vibrate, as well as everyone behind Jaune to feel the force. She only smirks at him, embracing the strength behind his attack, and ignoring the weight.

Ruby: "Jaune!"

Ruby shoots herself up in the air to assist Jaune. However, she ends up caught and pulled to the ground by Emerald's kusarigama.

The instant that Ruby looks up, she sees Emerald with her scarlet eyes. The same eyes that she last saw at the Vytal Festival before her friend, Penny Polendina, died. And now, she is here, with a smile on her face.

Emerald: "You're not getting near he--."

While loosely wrapped in chains, Ruby twirls her body off the ground, leaving a small whirl of rose petals. Her movement pulls the chains, as well as Emerald. Awaiting her forced approach, Ruby let's go of the chain, and slams her forearm into Emerald's chest, flipping her upside down in the air. Ruby then shoots her from behind without looking.

Ruby: "Fine." A small dim glow flashes in Ruby's angry irises. "I'll stay near you."

As Ruby runs back up to Emerald, Jaune and Cinder continuously clash swords, seeing as they handle each other. Yang however runs up to try and help Ruby. But by the sound of propelling gunfire, Mercury lands in front of Yang, getting in her way.

Mercury: "Hey there, Blondie. I'm thinking you owe me an apology for my leg, don't you think?"

From behind Mercury, Yang realizes how Ruby holds herself against Emerald. Even while concerned from the tears and distress in her eyes, she stays on the offense.

Yang: "...Nah. I'm thinking I don't owe you a damn thing. And I think you missed out on us being prosthetic buddies. Both you, and you're 'delusional' partner might've made good friends." Yang assembles her fighting stance, holding more confidence than her opponent. "Don't you think?"

Watching as her daughter fights, Raven feels herself uneasy. After all that Jaune had displayed, she questions the stake that her and Vernal may be in.

Vernal: "Are you alright?"

Raven: "I'm fine." Nonetheless, Raven holds her composure. "Just whatever you do, do not engage with the Arc. Take out the Heiress. Don't bother wasting your power, she's not worth it."

Right as Raven finds herself engaging with Qrow, Weiss finds Vernal stepping aside. They now face one another, as Vernal takes out her blades.

Vernal: "Let's see what the Schnee name really means."

Knowing what she had been through and what she had been told, Weiss raises her own weapon against her opponent.

Weiss: "I'm more than a name."

Vernal: "Prove it."

Watching as everyone fights, Ozpin, within Oscar, goes up beside Ren and Nora, looking at the remaining threat. One of Salem's faction, Hazel.

Ozpin: "You two think you can handle Mr. Hazel Rainart over there?"

Ren and Nora look to one another and nod, tightening their hold on their weapons.

Nora: "We got this."

Ren: "We'll be careful."

Ozpin: "Good. Oscar and I will have a talk with Professor Lionheart. He seems to have found his forgotten superiority against Cinder." Ozpin starts to walk towards the stairs with Ren and Nora uncertain with his words. Not once has any of them seen Lionheart hold himself above Cinder before he roared at her. Still, they each walk up to their unattended opponents. "Mr. Arc has awoken the Lion and his lost Courage… somehow, I wonder."

(Jaune VS Cinder)

In the midst of his battle, Jaune can find himself at fair ease, seeing everyone fighting well with no casualties, just yet. He even finds himself in good condition, fighting against Cinder and finding a possible weakness aside from her blinding rage. She swings upward, leading him to quickly block and twirl to her left side. Before given the chance to defend herself, he punches her mouth with his sword in hand. Irritated by this, she projectively shoots fire at him, making him engage his shield for defense. Stuck by its force and heat, Jaune struggles to find another opening while enduring his heat conducting metal shield and bracer.

By remembering his shield, and his light training prior, Jaune conducts his aura into it, against the fire. By the flick of his arm, he twirls his shield while on his arm and bracer's attachment, blowing the fire back at Cinder. Quickly, he puts his weapon back into great sword mode. They then lock swords, before going back to an angry swinging frenzy.

(Ruby VS Emerald)

Watching them is Ruby, worried about how much longer Jaune can fight Cinder. However, her concern only shows to be a distraction as Emerald begins shooting at her. Going against her shoot off, Ruby twirls her scythe, deflecting the rounds. With her speed, however, Ruby manages to give more shots in between Emerald's shooting, and her deflection, making Emerald back up in defense.

Ruby: "How could you do this?! Don't you know Salem's-

Emerald: "I don't care about Salem! But I owe Cinder everything." Emerald ceases her fire, and starts blocking Ruby's fire. She tries to jump and roll out of Ruby's line of fire, but she swings her scythe up, tripping Emerald. She gets back up, and faces Ruby. "You want to fight her that bad? Be my guest."

In front of Ruby, Emerald disappears behind a floor of fire. Within the flame comes out Cinder, charging at her with her sword. But with Ruby's peripheral vision, she can also see Cinder getting pushed back by Jaune. Even while knowing that this is a hallucination, Ruby cuts at the fake Cinder in front of her, allowing it to fade.

The hallucination breaks, but only before Ruby finds herself tripped by Emerald, running up with her kama. While in midair, Ruby shoots her scythe. To Emerald, it seems like an accident as she closes in for her next attack. But to Ruby, it was to swing her scythe at Emerald's kama. It knocks them aside, as Ruby uses her momentum to back kick Emerald to the face. With her on the ground, Ruby lands and walks up to her.

The mere thought of Emerald using her semblance against her makes Ruby even more distressed. The same semblance that brought her sister Yang to shame, the same semblance that lead her friend Penny to her death, and the same semblance that made her believe in a lie just for someone else's vendetta. Even with this distress, she still holds to her own remorse.

Ruby: "I don't want to fight Cinder! I don't want to fight Salem, and I don't want to fight you! ...But I will, if it means protecting my friends." Emerald looks into the teary eyes of Ruby's furious expression. "Even if it means avenging the ones we lost."

The more Emerald looks into Ruby's eyes, the more inferior she feels from its overwhelming gaze. Behind her Silver irises, Emerald feels a submissive force placed upon her. But Ruby breaks her stare as she hears a cry from Weiss. Her distraction gives Emerald time to recover and continue her fight with Ruby. This too interrupts Jaune's fight with Cinder, as he sees Weiss' aura deplete from Vernal.

Cinder: "Are you going to let her die too?"

Jaune: "No one's gonna die this time! So don't mess with me!"

Cinder: "If that's what you want…"

Cinder points her sword at Jaune, causing him to flinch and bring his guard up as it combusts. He looks up to see her sword take on a fiery form. She hovers over to him, as he grabs his sword with two hands and charges back at her. Before they clash swords, a familiar light shines along with a familiar loud cry.

Ruby: "Noooooooooo!"

At that moment, Jaune's mind stops everything.

(The Anticipation Of Jaune Arc…)

Jaune: "What was that?! That light… Was that Ruby… and her power… the Silver Eyes again? Why does that…?"

Seeing as everything is paused, the flash of light is gone and Jaune looks around with everybody stuck in one place. He looks back to his front at Cinder on her knees in agonizing pain. Remembering his previous position, and noting how he can still move, he looks down at his hands. But just like a nightmare come true, he finds his colors gone, once again.

Just as he sees this odd sensation return, Jaune sees everyone back in motion. Ruby had been knocked unconscious by Emerald behind her, everybody continues their battle, Cinder holds her concealed left arm while distressed, and Jaune sees another one of himself in full color about to attack her.

Jaune: "I get it… This is what I'm expecting to happen, isn't it? Me, fighting against Cinder. How is that gonna go out?"

Watching himself fight against Cinder gradually becomes depressing, as Jaune sees himself embarrassingly fall in an attempt to defeat her. He falls by forgetting his footing before she dodges. He then sees himself under Cinder's heels with him on the ground, humiliating him.

Anticipant Jaune: "If I die buying them time, then it's worth it. They're the ones that matter."

Both Jaune and the one before him watch as his friends fight their enemies. He even finds a way to compare them to himself.

Jaune: "They don't wear headphones and dance like idiots… like me. They want to be Huntsmen, Huntresses, Heroes, fighting for what's right… Why do I do this? ...For the glory? For vengeance?"

Feeling upset in his perceiving failure, Jaune blocks out any other sound around him and closes his eyes. The confidence that he previously had had been gone, ever since the flash of light came up. To him, all it made him see is what he believes to be an accurate, instantaneous prediction. But one voice reaches him. His own voice.

Anticipat Jaune: "Weiss!"

Jaune opens his eyes, and finds himself taking the position of the other Jaune who was on the ground. At a distance, he sees Weiss on her knees with Cinder's spear lodged through her ribs. He can not help himself but to be the only one frozen this time. Only he freezes in despair. The more he looks at his friend Weiss to believe he let her die, the deeper his guilt becomes. So much that his surroundings become dark, with himself being the only thing he sees.

Jaune: "This is what'll happen, if I can't get a grip… I can't let this happen again! But how?"

Without wanting to give up, Jaune thinks on a way to fix this possible outcome. And then a possible solution comes up in an echoed voice.

???: "(echo) So, what are we going to do about this, you're wondering."

Jaune: "Huh?" Jaune stands up, looking around the abyss-like surrounding to find the source of the voice. "Who's there?"

???: "Well, 'you're' there."

Jaune: "I-I know where 'I' am… kinda… but who are 'you'?"

???: "...You."

Jaune: "What…? Oh for Oum's sake, I get it. I know who you are!"

Almost annoyed, Jaune turns around and sees a figure stepping out of the further darkness. From where Jaune was previously before finding himself on the ground, approaching him is yet another replica of himself. Only this one is of his past self. The one he remembers with scars, hair neatly trimmed, and clad in his full former heirloom armor. The same look he had before his home's intrusion.

Arc: "Hahaha! That's right. I'm you, Jaune Arc. Your conscience in the original flesh. But for the sake of confusion, rather than Oum's sake alone, think of me as the 'Arc' in you, and just call me by that."

Jaune: "...Works for me."

Arc: "Or Felix. I've always liked that name. Haha." Unamused, Jaune looks at Arc waiting to be more serious. "*sigh* I'm just kidding. Now, what's been going on with you?"

Jaune: "What's been going on with me?! Dude, where have you been?! I've been literally dancing around, trying to find answers and defending my friends! All while trying to figure out who I am, find my true self, and all that junk!"

Arc: "And you're doing a good job at it too. I've been with you the whole time. Watching, giving hints, seeing what I've become, and what all we'll do, knowing we'll prevail."

Jaune: "Then why not step in and help? Why ask what I've been up to if you already know what's been going on? And don't you already know about my- our past? Can't you just tell me?!"

Arc: "...Well, I want you to give me the answer. Find the answers for… 'ourselves'. Sure, I know what you're looking for, but nothing would be quite clear if I just give them to you, not that our brain will allow it right away anyway. It's better if you figure it out yourself. Plus, there are things that neither of us quite know that I feel can be answered with this version of us (that being you)."

Jaune: "And what makes you think that?"

Arc: "Technically, it's 'my' past that you've forgotten. You're better off putting it behind you and moving on. But don't worry, our lesser combatant childhood memories are still ours to share. 'Your' past started the day you woke up in that hospital bed with our sister handing you back half this armor. And you wore it proudly during your time at our dream school. These may be our friends from Beacon, but they're more of your friends. You'd be able to discover and bond more with them than I would alone. It's best you accept the life you have now. Also, your suspicions against our family is stronger, leading you to ask more questions, and listen to more details. ALL of our family. Both Arc and Taurus. But not that you should hold a grudge to them, whatever it is that they started."

Jaune: "...I guess that all makes sense."

Arc: "Of course it does. 'You' said it, so I would hope it makes sense! *laugh*" Although Arc shows to be more confident and witty, Jaune finds him wise, yet annoying. Almost like the past few blondes he had put up with. "Sorry, it's that Arc Charm again."

Jaune: "So then… who CAN I trust if I'm still learning from my friends, and… hold some suspicion to my own… family?"

Arc: "Yourself… You're your own bestfriend at this point."

Jaune: "(sarcasm) Great! Even my confidence is telling me I'm my own bestfriend! Hello, 'End-Of-The-Line!' We seemed to have been well acquainted!"

Arc: "No, ya dunce. It's like the Old-Not-So-Old-Man said. Trust in your friends and family, be cautious of your friends and family. Be cautious of your enemies, especially, and trust in making friends with them, if at all you can. But most of all, you have to trust in yourself… more than anyone. That is what's holding you back. Because you're expecting the 'me' in you to come out when it's convenient, that's why you don't see the 'you' in you when you need it."

A long pause as Jaune looks away from the Arc in him. The lesson he had given him was a lesson he feared would slip his mind again. Thanks to the light before this moment, it gives him the enhanced sense of leadership he anticipated would slip away.

Jaune: "I… I understand… Okay Arc, I think I'm ready to get back out there now." By his own thought, the darkness of Jaune's surroundings are brought back.

That same light comes to Jaune's vision, dismissing the darkness, and his mind back into the fight.

(One Second Later…)

Jaune holds his hand up, covering from Ruby's blinding light. As the light goes away, and she falls from Emerald's attack, so too does Cinder in agony, like he anticipated.

Cinder brings her head up, and as everything slows down in her mind, she sees Crocea Mors swing toward her eye patch. It merely touches it, before she jumps out of the way. Keeping to his footing, Jaune misses, but remains standing, unlike Cinder at the moment.

The internal pain within Cinder goes on ignored, as she tries standing back up. On her feet, and with her head down, she's surprisingly sees a drop of blood and small pieces of hair fall from her head. Seeing this, she realizes how Jaune missed his full attack on her face, except for his sword swing's residue of force. While the cut goes from the point of her previous scar to a few inches of her scalp, she only feels the pain of humiliation. As a result, she jerks her head up with a flaming eye.

Coming back at her, Jaune swings at Cinder again. However, catching on to his persistence, she summons another, yet bigger, flaming sword. She swings back at his sword, showing strength she was holding back. Seeing him as more of a threat now, her attack sent his sword away at a distance, him on the ground, and the feeling of his aura so low, so soon.

While on the ground, Jaune feels Cinder's foot slam down to his armor. Without feeling too much force between her and his solid armor, he merely pretends to feel pain, giving her a false sense of domination.

Cinder: "Did you think you actually had a chance against me?! You?!"

Jaune looks over to his sword, and tries reaching for it. But seeing as it is too far to reach, he stops and looks up to her.

Jaune: "Hehe. Sure, why not? After all, you're just a Fall Maiden, nothing special. Who would I be, to add another scar to your face?"

Angered even further by his snarky attitude, Cinder conducts heat to Jaune's armor. Without pretending, he actually grunts in the pain of the heat. His pain satisfies her slightly, dismissing the fire in her eyes.

Cinder: "You're just a failure with a death wish."

Jaune: "Funny… To me, that sounds like the title any kid like me would have, wanting to be a hero. So… If I die buying them time, it'll be worth it. They're the ones that matter. So do your worst to me! Not that you could kill me anyway."

In attempt to free himself from Cinder, Jaune punches at Cinder's leg on his chest. It has no effect, until the third punch. Trying to get back up, she only puts her heel to his throat this time.

Cinder: "You think so?"

Jaune: "*laugh* Yeah, I do."

Distracted by her own sinister thoughts, Jaune whirlwinds his legs to trip Cinder above him. He then rolls over and grabs Crocea Mors. Seeing as Weiss falls to the ground and low on aura because of Vernal, he makes his way to her for needed protection.

With her back turned, Vernal is shoved aside by Jaune with a running force. Instinctively, she holds her weapon up, ready to shoot at him. But she puts it back down, remembering what Raven had told her. She then looks back at Cinder, whom she remembers he was previously fighting, and notes her furiously getting back up, with evident blood dripping from her head. Even more cautious of the situation, Vernal sees Cinder summon a spear.

Weiss tries to get back up, exhausted, and on her knees. From behind her, she feels someone grab her by the waist and hold her up. She looks up, and sees Jaune immediately turn around to their opponents. At the instant of facing them, he sees a spear, heading right at his head. Before reaching him, he holds his shield up, making it scatter to pieces in the air.

Thanks to his anticipation, Jaune had managed to save Weiss from impalement this time. The same however could not be said for himself.

Though the spear had broken in pieces, it regrouped from behind Jaune. As it did, its momentum reversed and pierced through the back of his neck and his throat.

Weiss: "*gasp* Jaune?!"

Jaune looks straight at Cinder, with gleeful hatred in her expression. Everybody stops as they see what she did to him. They only watch as she approaches him, still standing.

Cinder: "Huh. I guess you really weren't gonna let her die."

Jaune: "(gagging) Nope. I kinda saw something like this coming more than a mile away. You didn't seem like you'd be scared to take the shot this time… So I wasn't gonna let it happen to my friend again."

Cinder: "That's too bad actually, for you to stop it like this." Cinder grabs the spear from behind Jaune, up close to him. "Because now…"

Weiss: "Leave him alone!"

Weiss raises a Glyph at Cinder with a little bit of aura remaining. Cinder only blasts her away at a distance with fire from her other hand. She then grabs the other end of the spear, tightly as she pulls Jaune closer to her face.

Cinder: "...Now you're going to let everyone die."

Cinder twists her spear with one quick movement, snapping Jaune's neck. She throws him across the floor, right next to Weiss lying down. His blank eyes stare at her as she gets up on her knees, looking down at him.

Weiss: "Jaune! Jaune, no!"

The sight of Jaune's still body causes Weiss to cry, holding his head. Anxiety builds up in his friends with the feeling of tears building up their eyes. Their opponents even stop and watch as Cinder walks back up to him and Weiss.

Barely alive, Jaune feels himself slowly dying as his vision becomes a blur of white. Once again, he finds himself facing his conscience of confidence, the Arc in him.

(The Realization Of Jaune Arc…)

Looking down at his arms, Jaune sees how his color scheme, once again, is made to be dull. It gives him the feeling of not enough accomplishment from his display against Cinder, even after completing his goal. For a proper explanation, he opens up to the Arc in him, who is in front of him.

Jaune: "Well, this was anticlimactic…"

Arc: "You have no idea… But nice going out there, really. Saving your friend, protecting her in that moment, quite redeeming… But are you giving up?"

Jaune: "Let's see… My aura is low, I can't move at all, there's a freaking spear in my neck, and I can see the corner of the ceiling… right above my scapula… which I should never see unless I had two mirrors… So, am I done? ...Nah, I think I'm just gonna wait till my aura replenishes quickly, and keep fighting. Maybe that'll set things right this time so I won't come back here again."

Arc: "Love the spirit, but that's not happening any sooner than you think."

Jaune: "...What?" Surprised, Jaune for once finds it appalling how he cannot escape death like he always did. This time, not for lack of trying. "But why?"

Arc: "Ever since you left Vale, you've been different. All those times we walked away without a scratch, after getting scratched, we've been able to do so knowing we had a potential that could help us out in a bind, even if we didn't know how to control it. Our semblance."

Jaune: "...M-My-- Our semblance? But… we haven't even unlocked it yet."

Arc: "Uh, yeah you have. Before I could, actually."

Jaune: "No… No, I haven't."

Arc: "YES! You, have! For the love of Oum, this is what I'm talking about! I don't even know what it really is, but after all that we've been through, you could at least pretend that you did, and see what you'd do!"

Jaune: "That makes no sense! Since when?!"

Arc: "What would you call your little tussle with Cardin at Forever Fall? Hm?" Remembering that moment, Jaune recalls doing something relating to his semblance that left Cardin hurt, and himself fully healed. "Or your emotional sparring match with Ren, Nora and Catherine, playing your song at the Dance?"

Jaune: "I… I just thought…"

Arc: "Don't you get it?! You've already unlocked your semblance! You just don't know what it really is, or how to use it. But if you'd stop with always listening to others, like Nora, Ruby, or Ozpin doubting you, saying you can't do anything, or better yet, YOU stop saying you can't do anything every time you have a brain fart of your own essence, YOU'D BE INVINCIBLE!"

Jaune: "Alright, alright! Calm down! No sense in arguing with myself. I get it; don't make myself believe what others believe of me. We've been through this with Qrow already. I'll start thinking for myself."

Arc: "Good. And on that note, when you get out there, I suggest you--."

Jaune: "And I'll start with you."

Arc: "You'll start with me?"

This time, it is the Arc in Jaune that sounds uncertain.

Jaune: "I get that you're a part of me, as well as the essence of my past, but you've had your chance to be a Huntsman. Just like you and the Spring Crow advised me. It's time that I took full control, use all of myself, and answer my own questions."

By his last words, the Arc of Jaune smiles, as he fades into a yellow silhouette with white accessories, and blue defined outlines and bright eyes. This surprises Jaune as he recalls a familiar sensation in his dream.

Arc: "That's all we needed to hear."

The Arc turns around and walks away, leaving Jaune behind.

Jaune: "Wait, who's 'we'? H-Hey, where are you going?"

Arc: "Nowhere, really. Just your subconscious, where I've always been. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be back soon, when the time is right. But for now, I'll leave the rest to her."

The Arc fades away, making Jaune question all that he witnessed.

Jaune: "Leave who?" Just then, a familiar silhouette in red and copper with glowing green eyes fades in and walks up to Jaune. "Pyrrha… Does that mean…? Are you…? You've been the Pyrrha… the Nikos in me this whole time, haven't you?!"

The Nikos smiles, nods, and places her hands on his chest and his head. Much like Pyrrha did to unlock his aura.

Nikos: "Yes. I'll always be here for you, Jaune."

Jaune confidently smiles as the Nikos fades, dwelling forward within him. He looks down at himself, feeling her spiritual presence and notices the red on his sash and the copper on his shield return. While the rest of his body may have no color, he finds himself more than satisfied. The uplift of his sensation feels equivalent to the restoration of his aura. He then finds himself waking up clearly to reality.

Jaune: "I know you will."

(One Minute Later…)

Weiss: "(crying) Jaune, please! Get up! Please, don't be dead!" The process of Jaune fully recovering takes him time, if ever he could in his predicament. But he can hear all that Weiss says, and feels her pushing on him to wake up. "...Please. We can't lose anybody else."

But right above both Weiss and Jaune is the one responsible for his fatal injury.

Cinder: "Aw, how sweet. Worry not, Snowflake." From Cinder's hand, she summons another spear. "You'll be joining your Prince in a minute." Weiss tightens herself close to Jaune, bracing for Cinder's finishing blow. Most of her comrades find themselves in despair as their opponents keep them from helping. That is with the exception of Ozpin ironically smiling (while Oscar, horrified), looking down at something with an intriguing expression. "Goodnight, Princess."

The tip of Cinder's spear pierces Weiss in her ribcage. It pains her overwhelmingly, even while just the tip. Expecting the rest to slowly go through her back, she braces for further pain. However, the spear goes no further from a force holding and pushing it back.

Weiss looks down, and sees Jaune, who appears to be glowing, holding the spear at the last minute. He does this, all while his twisted and penetrated neck is turned toward his enemy.

Cinder: "What?! H-How…?!"

Cinder tries to push back her spear, aiming at Jaune holding it this time. He only crushes his fist down, making the spear shatter entirely. She backs away, unable to fathom what all is happening.

Jaune: "(gagging) Actually…" Given the space, Jaune cracks his neck forward… "Ow." ...then sideways to snap the spear off. "(gagging) ...she's not a Snowflake, nor a Princess, or a Snow Angel, or even an Ice Queen. Her spear tastes like ash..." His aura quickly regenerates the hole in his neck, and he coughs up one remaining piece of glass, spitting it to the side. "...She's Weiss, the true Heiress to the Schnee name!"

Cinder only stares dumbstruck, along with everyone else, with more than half of them relieved. Jaune however reaches down to pick up Weiss. Looking at her piercing and her expression, he can see it is severe, as she appears to be hot and more fatigued than before. Heat had traveled through to her back, as a small singed hole on her dress is present above her ribs. Noting a lump in her skin, he can tell that parts of the glass remain in her ribs, heating up her body. He takes out a cloth and a bottle of blue dust powder from his first-aid pouch. He pours it on the cloth, and with some form of enthusiasm, he tightens his hold on the cloth, making it glow, and places it on her wound in the front.

Jaune: "Here. Keep this on your wound. It'll help you, like it helped me."

Weiss: "(panting) Wha-... What took you so long? I thought you died, and… I was…"

Jaune can see a stronger blush in Weiss' face, even while already red from being close to a heat stroke.

Jaune: "Hehehe. Good to see you're alright, Weiss. Just stay back." With his sword and shield at both sides of his feet, Jaune stomps on their edges, spinning them up in the air for him to catch. He then walks up and away from Weiss behind him "Nobody will come near you."

Weiss: "What makes you so sure?"

Jaune: "Because I said so." Jaune looks back at her with the corner of his eyes with a dangerous expression. "And I'm gonna take care of all of them."

Weiss only watches as Jaune walks from her to his enemy, Cinder. She even feels a cool sensation from her wound. Looking at it, she is amazed. From the handkerchief, it emits a yellowish-white stream of aura to her wound. She even finds her whole body surrounded in aura from the wound's source of emitting aura. Out of curiosity, she lifts up the cloth to see the glass shrapnel slowly push out. She then places the cloth back down to her wound, feeling herself cool off more. But even with all this, Weiss looks at the cloth itself to see it not merely folded up in squares. Rather, from Jaune's previous embrace, it folded into a rose bud shape. A White Rose that Weiss is happy to accept this time.

Now as he faces against Cinder once more, Jaune raises his sword and shield to her. She raises her fiery hand, prepared to summon whatever she can to try and put Jaune down for good. That is until they hear a loud voice, and a certain name that dismisses Cinder's flames.

Hazel: "Ozpin!"

Both Jaune and Cinder break their guard against one another and look to Hazel, sounding out through the whole building. They see his aggression toward Oscar, who is now near Ruby. Hazel then begins ripping off his coat, takes out electric dust crystals from his pouches, and stabs them in his arms, after threatening Ozpin. The whole process leads Hazel to power-up, grow slightly, and scream monstrously.

Jaune: "Oh, come on!"

Protecting Oscar from Hazel in time is Qrow, grabbing him, and activating his scythe. Watching this and surprised is Cinder, who abandoned her fight with Jaune at the moment.

Cinder: "Ozpin is here?!"

Both Raven and Vernal walk up beside Cinder to question her discovery of Ozpin's life, still intact.

Raven: "Is that a problem?"

Cinder: "I'm not sure, but right now we've got the upper hand. Let's not waste it." Over to Lionheart, Cinder gives him an order. "Leo! Open the path to the vault!"

Lionheart reaches in his pocket and moves toward the statue below the balcony, but slowly.

Raven: "The upper hand?! Who are you kidding, Fall (if that is your real name)?! You really don't know who you've been up against, do you?"

Cinder: "Quiet! We've got this under control! Leonardo, hurry up!"

Lionheart, standing in front of the statue, looks down at his pocket watch that he had taken out. With an angry expression, he tightens his hold on his watch. All of his thoughts of regrets and sorrow stem into this moment.

(A Few Moments Ago…)

After Lionheart discovers the revival of Ozpin, him and Oscar embark in a fighting moment. Their cane managed to overpower his Dust revolving shield. That, along with his denial.

Lionheart: "This can't be… I knew you would be back, but… You made it here! You found Qrow! How? I… I shouldn't have doubted you…"

Ozpin chooses to take over for Oscar, as they both listen to Lionheart and his regret. It even becomes more evident that it truly is him, wanting to speak with him.

Ozpin: "Leo… What happened to you? What does Salem have over you?"

Lionheart: "...I had so much faith in her… my star pupil, Pyrrha…"

Ozpin: "Pyrrha… Ms. Nikos… Is that what this is about?"

Lionheart: "I had trained her, all of her life, as an honorable favor to her family name before entering Sanctum Academy. I was so proud of her… And I was so proud after I heard you would somehow empower her as our guardian… the Fall Maiden! ...But Salem… she somehow found her, before she could get any information on Vale's inhabitants. I was afraid they had already captured her, or were close to it. I believed it, when I saw that instead of her… it was Cinder…! It was her who became… who had stolen the Fall Maiden's powers! ...She was always jealous… So spoiled, after I had taken her under my care. But I never imagined that she would side with Salem, until she came to me that day… I thought that if I just did as she told me, they wouldn't hurt Pyrrha, and that she would be strong enough to put an end to Salem afterwards one day! It would've all been worth it. All would've been resolved and avenged. And then… I can finally be free! WE could've been free! ...But now that I find out that… *sob* that she had been dead this whole time, and with my help...! I have done many, MANY horrible things… all for nothing!"

Ozpin: "...It's not too late to make amends, Leo." Ozpin walks up to Lionheart, placing his hand on his shoulder as he cries. "You forget that among other things, a guardian is as good as those they protect, and those that aid them. For you see, Ms. Nikos is alive!"

Lionheart: "...Don't be absurd? You heard Cinder. You heard that boy, he--." Just as Lionheart mentioned him, that was the moment Jaune had gotten stabbed through the neck. The sight of his fatal blow from Cinder snapping his neck puts Lionheart in an even greater sense of regret. Ozpin looks too, and while disgusted, immediately represses. "That boy… now 'he's' dead…"

Ozpin: "On the contrary." Ozpin then smirks, looking down at Jaune and placing his hand behind Lionheart to push him closer to the balcony. "Ms. Nikos…" With Cinder putting her arm back, ready to strike Weiss, Jaune's barely conscious body glows with a tightening fist. "She lives…" At this moment, Cinder lunges at Weiss, only for Jaune to catch the spear. "...in him. Jaune Arc."

Lionheart: "Jaune Arc?"

Ozpin: "Yes. Do you not recognize the name?"

Taking another look as Jaune gets up, fixing his neck, Lionheart recognizes a few symbolic memorials on his attire and weapon. Both the red sash and the gold curve design near his chest. But most of all, the circlet shape, and the Arc emblem on his shield give recognition to two groups.

Lionheart: "Yes… I see now… It all makes sense! She… She made a friend… She finally made a friend, after all these years!" Lionheart finds himself crying for slight joy at this, even while still in a war time. "And for it to be an Arc…! A boy…!"

Ozpin: "Not just 'a' boy. 'The' boy, of the Arc heritage. But let's not get sidetracked, Leo. Pyrrha Nikos is gone, and yet she has Shined a great motivation through that boy. So much, that even I mislooked till now. If you're on our side, if you truly wish to put your faith in someone to be our guardian, and if you still believe we can defeat Salem, then invest your faith in him."

Just then, Ozpin dismisses himself, allowing Oscar to reawaken, and run towards Ruby, unconscious. Immediately, Lionheart runs down the stairs, but only to be stopped by Hazel, holding him up. Unaware of who Oscar really is from within, he criticizes Lionheart letting him go. Lionheart informs Hazel who he is, while also unaware of Hazel's grudge.

Seeing Hazel's outburst and dangerous power-up, and after everything else Ozpin told and showed him, Lionheart's realization is all made clear.

(Present Moment…)

Cinder: "What are you waiting for?! Open it, now!"

Unfazed by her demand, Lionheart looks at Cinder disappointingly. He then looks over to Jaune, concerned about the additionally dangerous threat of Hazel, pursuing Oscar.

Though he is ready to fight, Jaune ponders on whether to continue fighting Cinder, or help his team and comrades. Hazel relentlessly fights off Qrow and goes after Oscar right afterwards. And Cinder looks to be ready to acquire the Relic. To make a decision on his next objective, Lionheart calls out to him.

Lionheart: "Young man, catch!"

Jaune looks over to Lionheart. He sees that he had quickly thrown him the pocket watch, over Cinder from in front of her. Her, Raven, and Vernal look back at Jaune, after he catches it, leaving four of them surprised at the Professor.

Cinder: "What?!"

Raven: "Leo, what are you doing?!"

Lionheart: "What any sane person would do, when things change. I looked at the information that had been held from me, assessed the real situation, and made another choice."

Both Raven and Cinder stare at Lionheart, angry at his double betrayal. Because of the sense of her tribe being at a risk, Raven places her hand at her handle, seeing as he stands in the way of their safety.

Raven: "...You chose wrong."

(Round 2)

(Jaune VS Cinder, Raven, And Vernal)

Immediately, Raven dashes up to Lionheart, drawing her sword. Before it reaches him, Jaune appears between them, locking swords with her. From behind, Jaune sees Cinder appear, about to slash at his side.

To counter Cinder, Jaune swings his sword to maneuver Raven's sword down and up from under Cinder's sword. Cinder's sword shatters, as well as push her off balance. Using that, Jaune kicks Cinder far and to a wall.

Jaune then pushes off of Raven, and runs up to Vernal. He brings his shield fist back, looking ready to punch her. She puts her weapons up to guard against him. However, instead of a punch, he reaches out and grabs her hand. He twirls her around by twirling her arm, only to loosen her grip on one of her weapons. As a result, he swings his and her arm, just to throw her blade at Cinder's sleeve. It sticks her to the wall and gives a slight pain.

Seeing as he is free at the moment, he briefly looks to his friends in trouble. Oscar runs and blocks against Hazel's chase, while Qrow gives support with his scythe. He only manages to trip and distract him, before Hazel gets back up and knocks him away.

With Ruby barely conscious and Weiss vulnerably recovering, Nora and Ren give them protection. Also seeing their vulnerability is Yang after knocking Mercury back. She tries running up to one of them, but only before Mercury meets back up with her, beside Emerald in her way.

Lionheart: "Go, Jaune! I'll hold off Raven as best I can!"

Lionheart says this as he engages his shield with both wind and ice dust. After seeing the Courage in his eyes, Jaune chooses to trust him for the moment, as he runs off to support his friends.

Seeing Yang against Emerald and Mercury, Jaune runs toward her. She had been knocked to the ground by Mercury. Both him and Emerald stand above her.

Emerald: "You wanna get to them? You're going to have to get through all of us."

Hearing Emerald as Jaune runs up to her, he assumes that she is using her semblance against Yang. By her saying "all of them", and Yang's reaction, he imagines her being surrounded by hallucinations of more than just her and Mercury. So he jumps over them from behind. Right as he lands over Yang on the ground, he swings his sword in a full 360. Emerald and Mercury step back, and the hallucinations seemingly vanish as Yang becomes more calm. While angrily facing their now shared opponents, Jaune pulls Yang up.

Jaune: "Then don't mind me cutting in. All of you will have to deal with both of us, now."

(Jaune And Yang VS Emerald And Mercury)

While Yang charges toward Emerald, Jaune charges toward Mercury. They ready themselves for both blondes and their approach. But at the last second, they quickly side step to switch opponents. Yang gives Mercury the first blow with her new fist, and Jaune gives Emerald the first blow with his blade wrist.

Jaune and Emerald fight with their dual wielding blades. Her kamas against his sword and sheath in blade form on his arm. As they fight, Emerald makes multiple hallucinations of herself swinging at him. He uses reflexes to block them, until he can hope to find the original. But while he fights, he sees Cinder free herself from a distance, as well as Raven walking away from Lionheart, after knocking him down.

Cinder: "Vernal, you get back to handling the Schnee. And Raven, handle your brother. Ruby is mine. I'll finish her off, after I've taken care of this fool of a Knight."

From seeing Cinder and Vernal walking off, Jaune chooses to handle a fight before it can begin. So first, he dismisses the hallucinations in several instant swings. With them gone, the real Emerald appears and slashes at his neck. But with her hand out, he grabs and twists it before tripping her, and grabbing her kusarigama to engage his plan.

With Cinder on her way to Jaune, he extends the chains of the kusarigama at Cinder. She dodges it, only receiving a scratch to the cheek.

As Vernal walks up to Ren, ready to defend Weiss, the kusarigama wraps around her waist. She looks down confused, but looks up to see Ren run up to her, and kick an aura induced momentum as Jaune pulls her. She now hurls toward Cinder from behind. She crashes into her, leading the two to slam into a wall from behind Jaune. This, Emerald sees.

Emerald: "Cinder!"

Quickly getting up, Emerald shoots and slashes at Jaune with her remaining weapon. After a few hits, Jaune converts his blade to shield form and blocks it. He then back flips away from her to, as well as kick her weapon out of her hand, and toss aside the one in his hand. He now aims for Mercury.

As Yang faces Mercury, she manages to get a few hits in. However, he gradually overpowers her with his greater endurance and skills in kicking. Tagging in, Jaune sheathes his weapons, and block his oncoming kick with his bracers.

Mercury's attacks are met with Jaune's arms and dodges. Eventually, Jaune finds a point to even out the offense by kicking back at Mercury, with added punches. It then leads Mercury to block and try punching, which he fails at with Jaune accelerating at. He then goes back to kicking, and finds Jaune nearly mirroring his attacks. At one point, they even end up kicking each other's leg, repeatedly. However, this only proves to be a distraction, when Mercury sees Jaune quickly engage his shield.

Mercury's last kick meets Jaune's shield, to block and hold his leg up. From one side, he also sees Yang with her fist back. She punches the joint in the back of his knee, making him fall and bend down. In his position, Jaune and Yang simultaneously kick the back of his head, putting him in agonizing pain.

From behind, Emerald runs up to both Jaune and Yang. Out of desperation, she controls both their minds to make four additional hallucinations of herself charging them at her side. Seeing that they fazed from the center, they go out on a limb, and both punch the approaching Emerald in the center. Their estimation proves correct as the hallucinations fade away, and she lies on the ground with minimal motion.

Yang: "Thanks, Vomit-Boy. Hehe. Maybe I should start calling you 'Slayer' now."

Jaune: "Hehe. Sure thing, Yanger-Bomb." After their small talk and laughs, Jaune sees Yang look over to Ruby, waking back up. Both her and Nora stand up and run over to Ren, guarding Weiss. With his team fully up, he gives Yang instructions, in hopes of a victory. "Go help Oscar! We've got your team covered. I'll send Ruby your way, get everyone in gear, and handle the Maidens."

Yang nods and shoots off to Hazel. Her opening approach leads her to twist and punch his arm. Right as Qrow sees her take his place, he looks over and walks up to Raven, awaiting him. Jaune then hurriedly dashes off as he sees both Cinder and Vernal recover from the wall. They see him meet up with his team and Weiss.

(Meanwhile, With Qrow Against Raven…)

Slowly Raven walks up to meet Qrow in his approach. She slowly draws her blade, and he spins his to ready himself. They stop with a little bit of space between each other. From the pain of his previous fight, Lionheart limps and excuses himself away from the furious twins.

Raven: "Are you going to insult me with weak aiming again?"

Qrow: "Don't you believe we've had enough talk?"

Raven: "Hmph. I'll be sure to end this fight, before--."

Interrupting her, Qrow immediately takes advantage and attacks at Raven. Though her guard is sharp as they clash swords, his sudden advancement helps him to give the first blow at her abdomen. Afterwards, they come back to equal terms at the moment, leaving small unfortunate cracks in the walls.

(Meanwhile, Team RNJR)

Meeting back with Weiss and his team, Jaune can see her standing and breathing adequately. His yellowish-white aura then transpires to her bluish-white aura. This puts him at relief, while his team are only slightly relieved, questioning how it is she is healing.

Ruby: "What happened? What's going on?!"

Jaune: "It's okay, Weiss is going to be okay. She took a hit from Cinder that almost made her overheat. But I put some ice dust in a cloth, and transferred my aura to that cloth, to reduce the heat and amplify her aura."

Everybody seems surprised to hear Jaune address a procedure that not even they could do with their abilities. As far as certain dusts and cloths for first aid, they are capable of conducting such treatment they found basic. But not anything consisting of aura transfer.

Ren: "She… does seem to be stabilizing, but Jaune…"

Nora: "...You can do that?"

Jaune: "At first, I thought it was an ability we all could do, similar to unlocking other's aura. But I think it's something that… only I can do (among other things)."

Ruby looks to Weiss, and sees her smiling in relief with the rose folded cloth to her side.

Ruby: "Whatever you do Weiss, don't let go till you feel better!"

Weiss: "...I won't."

With Weiss' reassurance of holding on to her given cloth, Ruby looks over to see her sister, Yang. She gets knocked back and electrocuted to the ground by Hazel. As Yang gets up, Ruby sees their other enemies, Cinder, Vernal, Emerald and Mercury slowly get back up after being knocked down before. Ruby then looks over and sees Qrow against Raven, but appearing slightly more tired than her. Now Ruby looks to Jaune, hoping for answers and assuming he had been responsible for knocking their enemies down before.

Ruby: "Jaune… what do we do?!"

Jaune then looks over and assesses the area as well, devising a plan of attack.

Jaune: "...Right. Ruby, you're gonna go over and help Yang. Ren and Nora, you help Oscar fight off that Hulk Guy. Weiss, how are you feeling?"

Weiss: "Better." Weiss removes the handkerchief and looks at her fully healed, missing wound. She then summons a mildly amplified small Glyph in her hand. "Much better. Thank you."

Jaune: "Good to have you back Weiss. It was my pleasure. Now, you and I are gonna handle the Maidens. Cinder's after me, so long as I've got the key to the Vault. As for Professor Lionheart… he gave me the key, but I wouldn't trust him completely just yet. He seems to be on our side if we lead him the right way. So let's use this advantage while we still have it!"

Ruby: "Okay." Ruby engages her scythe, ready to put their attack to work. "Make it happen, RNJR!"

Ruby shoots off in the air to her position, Ren and Nora run off to theirs, and Jaune and Weiss walk off to theirs. As they all do, Team RNJR stare down at their opponents.

(Meanwhile, Ruby And Yang VS Emerald And Mercury)

Yang, after receiving an attack from Hazel, sits exhausted to regain her strength. Progressively, the electric residue seeps within her, converting to her own semblance of reserved Burning aura. But with her still down, Emerald tries to go in to attack her.

Jumping in between Emerald and Yang, Ruby lands with her swinging scythe. It helps to dismiss Yang's perceiving multiple hallucinations of Mercury. Ruby then symbolically stands with Crescent Rose behind her, to protect her sister.

Yang: "Thanks, sis." Yang stands back up, beside Ruby. "You okay?"

Ruby: "No. I'm angry."

Ruby states this, specifically looking at Emerald. Her eyes give a small flash that make Emerald flinch slightly.

Yang: "So am I."

Yang's eyes turn completely red, looking at Mercury this time. He tenses up more, ready to fight.

Both sisters, Ruby and Yang, jump to switch opponents, and shoot off to them.

(Round 3)

(Ruby VS Mercury)

Ruby swings her scythe at Mercury, who kick shoots it out of her hands.

Mercury: "Uh-oh, what're you gonna do now?"

Mercury then punches at Ruby, who ducks down from it. She then springs her head up to hit his face. He takes the hit, and then spin kicks to shoot her scythe further, before reaching it. Ruby then runs up to Mercury, and punches at him. He dodges them and starts punching at her. She blocks them with her arms, except the last one. Using the momentum of getting hit, she spins to knock his next punch aside, and uppercuts him in his guts twice, before punching him square in the face.

As he tries to get over her attacks, Mercury then spins for a high kick, that Ruby ducks down from. He then gives a front kick this time. At a brief moment of Speed and reflex, Ruby jumps and places her hand on his leg sticking out. It helps her to do a quick whirlwind to kick him with both of her feet. She then falls on her back as he stumbles (still adjusting to hand to hand combat).

Even after falling, Ruby springs her legs back, and then forward to Mercury in an aura filled double kick. She ends up behind him as he stumbles further. With his loose balance, she Bursts past him and trips him in the air with her stream of Rose Petals. With her past him, she grabs her scythe, sticks it to the ground, and shoots him before he slams to the ground. He looks up to her, angered, yet amazed when comparing their last encounter (at the Vytal Festival).

Ruby: "Whatever it takes to shut you up… and out of my way."

(Yang VS Emerald)

On Yang's side of the fight, she lands and punches the ground, after Emerald dashes back and out of the way. Emerald with her nervous red eyes looks at her, with her fiery red eyes and glowing hair. Yang walks up to her while she backs up. As a defense, Emerald creates multiple hallucinations of herself surrounding Yang. To her, they all stick out their kama revolvers, ready to fire. To dismiss them, Yang briefly ignites a wave of her blazing aura, making them vanish, and knock the real Emerald back.

Without her hallucinations, Emerald runs back up and swings at Yang with her weapon. She stops walking and blocks it, before Emerald swings again, having Yang block that as well. With her arms open, Yang forcefully shoots and spreads her arms wide to push Emerald to the ground. In a desperate attempt, Emerald now makes a hallucination of Raven in front of her.

The false Raven grabs her sheathed weapon and charges at Yang. She knows full well how this is only a hallucination, but it angers her nonetheless. To control her anger, she focuses on how she should not be angry with her mother this time, but the real threat. One, that falsely had her accused of unnecessary violence in the Vytal Festival. And one, who brought the loss of some of their friends with manipulations. Manipulations, just like now. So while perceiving a foe nonetheless, and knowing who the real enemy is, Yang punch shoots right through the hallucination.

As it fades, Yang, like she anticipated with her sharper mind, finds her fist more than an inch through Emerald's unpenetrated core. Her eyes go blank, falling to the ground, and Yang's eyes go back to lilac, looking down at her. She then finds Mercury knocked over beside Emerald, with Ruby walking up to Yang with spinning rose petals fading away.

Ruby: "You guys are lucky. Even with all that you've done for Cinder, we won't leave you here dead, like you did our friends."

Yang: "But you will leave here, broken."

Ruby then looks up from Emerald and Mercury on the ground. She looks across the room and nods her head.

Ruby: "Yang, hold them." Yang sticks her fists out at Emerald and Mercury's heads at gunpoint, as Ruby vanishes in a burst of rose petals.

(Meanwhile, Ren, Nora, And Oscar VS Hazel)

Nora: "I still say we should be called Team JNRL. At least THAT has a color, right?"

Ren: "We'll let the leaders decide on that when this is over."

As Ren and Nora are running and approaching Hazel, Ren jumps in first for a distraction. He shoots at Hazel, and ducks under his attack. Hazel then punches Ren, bracing his arms as he slams at the front door with his planted feet to the ground. Ren looks up and sees Hazel bring his fist back with an electric charge, giving him a traumatizing sense of deja vu.

Hazel punches a projectile electric force at Ren, who awaits it. Without having enough energy to dodge, Ren uses his blades to make a twirling aura wave to disperse it. It diminishes, but leaves a minimal electrifying charge that shocks his body.

Nora: "Ren!"

Angered, Nora runs up to Hazel, who just knocked Oscar down.

Hazel: "Hiding behind the face of a child? A monster like you must be stopped!"

Nora runs up from behind Hazel, hitting the joint of his leg, making him bend. With him now at Nora's level in front of her, she then hits across his face. He grabs her handle, unintentionally transferring static to her. She then twirls her hammer to flip him over across the ground.

Nora: "And YOU sound like a monster who needs to be…!" Nora jumps up in the air, bringing her hammer down. But Hazel catches and pulls the handle again (this time, without her footing). "...beat?"

Hazel then throws Nora down. Right afterwards, he slams her head down, electrocuting her.

Hazel: "How many more children must die for you?" Watching Hazel harm Nora especially is Ren.

Ren: "Nora! (panting)... This is nothing like that cattle prod with Team BRNZ… It's worse, even for Nora!" Even while aware of her semblance, Ren worries as he hears the pain in Nora's screams. "But if it's worse for her…" Gradually, Nora lifts up Hazel's arm from his grasp, the stronger she gets. "...It's going to be even more worse for him."

Nora stands back up, and flips Hazel over her. She picks back up her hammer and looks down at him, angrily.

Oscar(Ozpin): "His semblance… He can block out pain. It's how he's able to handle injecting so much Dust into his body.

Ren: "That seems more like a liability, than anything else. If he can block out pain, he can't tell what all of himself is damaged or vulnerable. That doesn't mean he's invulnerable or a quick healer like Jaune… does it?"

Hazel gets back up with additional pink static around him, and starts charging at Nora.

Nora: "I don't need him to hurt… I just need him to GO DOWN!"

Ren: "My point exactly."

The instant that Magnhild hits Hazel, with Nora fully charged up, it brings back another deja vu for Ren.

Ren: "Hold on. Instead of a boulder like last time at the Vytal Festival, he's going to knock through the wall. If he does that, the White Fang will be alerted, and we'll have more trouble. That can't happen!"

As Hazel gets sent across the room, Ren runs up to him with Storm Flower in hand. He puts in all of his recovered energy to jump up and meet him. Everything stops in his mind of extreme focus as he gives three slashes to Hazel's back. Three slashes, worth five each, invisible to the naked eye. Right as Ren touches the floor with his back turned, Hazel gets forced right back to Nora.

From behind Nora, Ozpin tip-toe jumps off of her hammer, held back. With him and Hazel in the air, he kicks across his face, twirls upward, and jabs his cane down at him. Hazel slams to the ground, now surrounded by his opponents running up to him at gunpoint.

Ozpin: "I can understand your hatred towards me, Mr. Rainart. Believe me, not a moment passes where I don't feel turmoil from those who've died by my guidance. Every decision I make always leaves me to question if it were worth making… But why Salem? You're never one who favors in taking away someone's life. Why side with someone whose objective is just that?"

Hazel: "The only life I need to take is yours. Because if you live, no one is ever safe!"

Ozpin: "Then why kill those Huntsmen? If it's only me you're after, then why take their lives?"

Hazel: "I didn't… I couldn't. You already know that the more that join your side, the harder it is to get to you. So I left it to Tyrian, and… one of 'their' kind."

Hazel's words leave Ozpin intrigued and concerned. Ren and Nora however only become concerned and even worried. They both question who it is Hazel is referring to.

Ozpin: "...Who's kind?"

(Meanwhile, Jaune And Weiss VS Cinder And Vernal)

Jaune: "Vernal doesn't seem to want to use her powers right now, for some reason. For now, you can use that in your favor, assuming you two are at close enough levels. I'll handle Cinder, seeing as I've kept her pissed off at me. But if anything seems wrong, I won't be far from you to help, okay?"

Weiss: "I can take her this time. Thanks."

Jaune: "Good."

Jaune and Weiss end up in front of the balcony (entrance to the Vault). They watch their teams in combat from afar, from behind Cinder and Vernal. They stop, looking at them with sinister smiles. Their smiles turn to grits, as they charge at them.

(Weiss VS Vernal)

Weiss and Vernal's fight continues, but with more intensity. Their blades clash with furious enthusiasm. More from Weiss, considering how she felt that she nearly died after her aura depleted. While Vernal continuously shoots at Weiss, she deflects them while creating surrounding Glyphs of ice and fire. It puts Vernal on edge, while trying to dodge them. This gives Weiss the space to try summoning, as she sticks her sword through the ground. However, Vernal maneuvers through her previous distractions and puts her blades to Myrtenaster like before.

Vernal: "Do you ever learn?"

As Vernal shoots her lasers, Weiss does a quick handstand on her sword's handle, and spin kicks across Vernal's face. Weiss then takes her sword from the ground, only for it to be shot up in the air. Vernal then skillfully boomerangs her weapon to catch the sword, and claim it as it comes back in her hold. She puts away her original blades and smirks, holding Myrtenaster before Weiss.

Vernal: "Hmph. Guess I get to keep this sword, after all."

Seeing her weapon out of her possession, Weiss, while hardly amused, just shrugs and holds her hands behind her back. Without giving its appearance away, Weiss creates a small Glyph, ready for summoning.

Weiss: "Unless you've put your own blood, sweat, tears and scars into making, as well as fighting with that weapon right there…" The summoning Glyph discretely settles to the ground behind Weiss' legs, where her small knight emerges, hiding and waiting. "...a bandit like you could never own what they think is theirs."

Ready to see what Vernal can and will do with a sword (Weiss' sword), Weiss takes on a combatant ballet pose. Vernal snickers, before running and thrusting at Weiss. As a response, Weiss pushes the edge of the sword aside, before spinning to Vernal's rear as she passes. Vernal stumbles and looks back at Weiss in a ballet posing movement. With her attention on her, Vernal remains unaware of the summoned knight slowly growing and waiting behind her.

Vernal then runs back up to Weiss, giving numerous slashes. Though conducted properly in a different style than Weiss', Weiss only twirls backwards in a danceful movement, avoiding her approach.

After one missed attack, Weiss spins in the air to kick Vernal in the face. With the advantage, Weiss mixes her ballet with elegant, yet strong hand chops, jabs, and aura induced hand palm hits. Eventually, the hand attacks add in kicks with Glyphs at the fingertips, palms, and feet.

On Weiss' last kick across the face, Vernal spins around and now faces the grown up knight, standing at 6 feet. After being amazed for a moment, she tries to attack the knight. However, the knight parries her first few attacks, before releasing a barrage of attacks. Its last attack swings Myrtenaster out of her hand, and up in the air.

With Myrtenaster in the air, Jaune appears in the air as well all of a sudden. In the midst of his battle, he takes the sword to help attack Cinder for a moment. He then throws it back toward Weiss at the side.

Vernal tries running to catch the sword, but meets the tip of the blade to the neck, as Weiss had already caught it. Before grabbing her own weapons, the knight takes on its more giant form, and holds its sword down, standing behind Vernal. She then chooses to hold her arms up and bend down to her knees, as Myrtenaster follows her throat.

Weiss: "This sword is mine!"

(Jaune VS Cinder)

As they approach each other, Jaune meets Cinder's sword with his shield. Trying to push against her additional angry strength, he manages to push her back and swings at her. Though it hits her abdomen, she ignores it, out of already feeling frustrated with his previous advancements.

As they fight, Jaune finds an issue in matching against Cinder. His own anger only did so much to give him additional strength, until he figures that she is almost as angry as him, as well as having the strength of a Maiden. At the time, he finds it hard to use her emotions to his benefit, when it is the very thing pushing him back from her harder and faster attacks. That is until he falls on one knee, and sees Weiss without her sword.

Weiss does the very thing Jaune found ridiculous on his behalf when he did it; dancing to fight. Not only that, but without a weapon, or even headphones, no less. Some of his comrades did utilize rhythmic moves to their benefit afterall, he figured.

Jaune even sees it in Qrow against Raven from afar. Despite the sorrow and struggle in his expression, Jaune can see a certain passion through his movements in blocking, twirling, and countering her attacks. It all seems inspiring.

With the motivational boost seen before him, Jaune remains still for a certain moment. The moment, right when Cinder swings down at him, only to miss. She looks over to see him smoothly slither his feet back on the floor, awaiting her next approach. Feeling like she were being taunted from his moves, she fiercely swings attacks at him from different angles around him. All he does is move, dodge, pose, and deflect her sword aside with his speed matched movement.

Jaune then backs up, waiting for Cinder's next approach. She quickly charges at him, meeting his diverting shield. With each attack she places, Jaune uses his shield to lure her attacks aside, giving less stress to his arms. He even ends up putting it in ratchet mode, helping him push back against her, before twirling to trip her with his sword. With her down for a moment, he looks up, and sees Myrtenaster now in the air.

The brief distraction gives Cinder the chance to summon a rise of fire from below Jaune. It gives him a certain elevation in the air as he sheaths his weapon and jumps up to avoid most of it.

Jaune grabs Myrtenaster and lands in front of Cinder, now standing up. With Weiss' sword, he gives numerous fast lunges all across her body. With one last attack, he grabs Crocea Mors by the handle, and draws it along with Myrtenaster in a double slash passed her. She almost falls to her knees. Before looking back at Jaune, she sees Myrtenaster shooting her way. She dodges it, only to be grazed at her left shoulder, before Weiss catches it and takes it back.

Cinder's eye catches fire, looking back at Jaune. He nods his head, looking past her from behind. She then dashes to him with her hand out wanting to grab his face. But he vanishes, in a residue of rose petals. She looks around the very area, confused until she quickly turns around and sees him a few feet away.

Jaune stares at Cinder, looking more ready than previously. But to her perception, he appears to have a red cape flowing from behind him. Her eyes narrow, questioning the new accessory from his rear side. Not until Jaune puts up his hood does the cape leave residues of vanishing rose petals at its edge and the source of the cape becomes obvious. Stepping out from behind Jaune, with her hood up as well, is a disturbed Ruby Rose.

(Qrow VS Raven)

At one point of his fight against Raven, Qrow gets knocked toward a wall, and falls to one knee. His support for Oscar against Hazel previously puts him in less of a position to fight. That, as well as how hard it is for him to fight his own sister, despite their long built up disagreements. Raven lands on her feet and sheaths her sword, looking down at Qrow.

Raven: "Is this the best you can do? Is this the dedication you have, wanting to protect the world?"

Qrow pays Raven little mind, catching his breath and mentality. He then stands up, looks at her disappointingly, and takes out his flask.

Qrow: "You know, it's never an easy day when twins have to fight those they once called brothers or sisters. That may sound hypocritical coming from me, but…" Qrow drinks his flask for a moment before it appears to be completely empty, except for one drop. He then aggressively throws it aside, putting Raven's disapproving expression to slightly on edge. "...I've already been living in Pain from losing family." He then looks over to Ruby, at Jaune's side (just like how he told him to protect her.) "What's one more loss when there's the next generation?"

Raven takes out her sword, and readies herself to fight again. But Qrow only remains still for a moment.

Qrow: "Now let's try this again. But this time, no holding back. If you really wanted me dead, then you'd stop messing around and use our old technique." At that, Qrow takes on a fighting stance, while his sword's mechanics start clicking. "The one that WE know, and the one you taught your old disciple years ago… the one who's outside."

Raven thinks on it for a moment, and then sheaths her sword, taking on a more bent down stance. Her sheath then starts clicking as well with her collection of blades. Both her and Qrow stare down at each other, a few feet apart.

Instantly, and simultaneously, Raven's red blade does a quickdraw before sheathing, against Harbinger's quickdraw to a scythe before turning back into a sword. They both smirk at each other from the thrill, blocking out everyone around them out of their attention. They do it again, yellow blade against scythe. Then green, cyan, blue, purple, and white against his brief reaping weapon.

For only a few seconds do the Branwen twins wait before doing the same cycle two more times. At their last strike, they both vanish, leaving feathers behind. From one corner of the building's ceiling, they appear in a sword lock before magically disappearing. Qrow's scythe against Raven's savored red odachi. Whether it be speed or magic, they both disappear and reappear, clashing blades, all over the building. Some red against multi-color slashes, some both red in long slashes. Not one of them damages another, except for leaving cracks to the building's insides.

By one of their reappearances, Qrow swings at Raven two times with slashes worth ten cuts each, before putting Harbinger in sword form. It knocks her back, standing under one of the building's side balconies. He loosens his fighting pose as he watches her tighten on her handle. She then looks up to see the balcony Misfortunately fall on her.

All Qrow does is spin his sword behind him. Not as a way of showing style, but less caringly to deflect a sword blade up in the air from shooting at him. From behind, like he had predicted, Raven had made a portal at his rear. Both for her safety, and to attack him with her sword blade.

Raven jumps out of the portal, drawing her sword at Qrow. He however does the splits to make her miss before shooting over to her. His shot shatters her previous blade falling back down, leaving shrapnel to hurt her. He then stands back up and walks to her on one knee.

Qrow: "(sarcasm) I'm sorry." He smirks knowing her to be more than alright. "I didn't want to insult you, so was that too complimentary for you?"

(Meanwhile, Ruby And Jaune VS Cinder)

Cinder narrows her eyes as she stares at two of her most despised enemies of tonight. Both Jaune and Ruby stare at her as well, but with shaded eyes under their hoods, giving little expression. With no words, knowing each other's intentions, Cinder summons two swords, keeping her left hand concealed. She then charges at them with a fiery burst of speed.

Before Cinder engages them, both Jaune and Ruby instantly switch positions. Though throwing Cinder slightly off guard, she attacks anyway. Her blades meet with their defenses of scythe and shield. She tries to kick one of them, until Jaune uses his other hand to jab Cinder back with his sword.

The attack leaves Cinder dragging across the ground as her feet are still planted. She looks up and meets Ruby who just cut at her shoulder. Both her and Cinder clash blades trying to attack the body. With her scythe, Ruby creates circular barrier like attacks all around her, but mostly directed toward Cinder. Seeing an opening, Cinder knocks her scythe aside, closing in to attack. Before she can hit Ruby, she vanishes, leaving rose petals behind.

Right at that instant, Jaune slashes up at Cinder's leg, giving her no time to process. Quickly, she changes her weapon over to a spear. Even with the advantage of range, Jaune dodges the attacks with different twirls from his feet, and twirls in the air. Right as he gets close enough, she sends a wave of fire in his direction. And just like before, he vanishes into rose petals.

Cinder: "What…?! What is this?!"

From the side, Cinder sees Ruby charging her way. She responds by shooting fire at Ruby before she disappears. She then looks to the other side, and sees Jaune charging at her. With little mentality, she just blocks, preparing for his attack. However, he disappears as well. This happens around Cinder numerous times, confusing her with Ruby and Jaune as they run and vanish quicker, leaving multiple after images.

Eventually, Cinder sees Jaune and Ruby circling around her in their faded multiplications. She tries shooting fire at them, but it extinguishes in their created wind. After seeing how they're producing wind around her, she no longer sees them, but sees more rose petals surround her. Enough that it blocks her sight outside of it. And now, she starts to become worried, seeing as she is being lifted up by this Rose Tornado.

The Rose Tornado becomes overwhelming and painful for Cinder. It becomes even more painful as she feels numerous slashes scratch all over her body. Both red light streaks from Crescent Rose and yellow light streaks from Crocea Mors harm her, knocking away her aura. As it does this, she finds herself lifted upside down. The tornado maneuvers and slams her down to the ground. It goes away, filling the whole building with rose petals before vanishing.

Cinder gets up, feeling an exhausting amount of pain. She looks up and sees, once again, Jaune charging at her. Angrily, she tries to produce another weapon, before something hits her back. Ruby's scythe both chops and pulls at her lower back, lifting her off the floor. On Jaune's end, he jumps, spins, and swings at Cinder's lower jaw. It sends her to the middle of the building on her knees. Rather than falling in her back, she finds the strength to flip and land on her feet.

Cinder: "Enough!" Before Ruby and Jaune could try to attack Cinder again, she releases a massive wave of fire all across the building. It knocks everybody to a wall, separating them from their opponents. Jaune ends up slamming up against the statue. "Everyone, on me!"

Everyone within Cinder's faction quickly get up and run to Cinder's side. They all surround Jaune as he puts his guard up.

Cinder: "I don't know who, or WHAT this kid is, but he's not normal! Every attack I lash out on him, he either evades it, or heals from it! He's strong… unlike anyone I've ever seen, before…"

Raven: "That's what I've been trying to tell you. Obviously, you're too proud of your own power to realize what you've been up against."

Cinder: "I don't want to hear it! No one should ever be stronger than a Maiden… Not stronger than me! You want to protect your tribe?! Do as I say!" Raven narrows her eyes at Cinder, then looks over to Vernal. She places her hand on Vernal's shoulder beside her. While apparently nervous, she looks up at Raven, who nods her head for a certain reassurance. "All at once, we're going to toast this kid."

Cinder holds her hand up with fire at her palm. The rest of her faction prepare for their projectiles as well. Jaune's comrades try to run up to Jaune for support from behind his present enemies. He however holds his hand up to stop them. As Cinder stares at Jaune, she villainously grins. But with his shaded eyes, he stands up straight, sheaths his weapon, and bends down, still holding the handle.

Cinder then looks at Jaune differently. Almost with unease. Both her and Raven with intrigued expressions of familiarity.

Jaune holds the handle with a mix of patience and strength within. His thoughts even go back to his talk with Qrow about training.

Qrow: "By listening and looking at other things, other than what's already in front of you, you'll just deafen and blind yourself, unless you go by your own instincts… That's not to say you shouldn't rely on your comrades… Find the rhythm in yourself… recognize yourself."

Jaune's enemies shoot their projectiles at him. From Dust to Dust rounds and Cinder's flames, they go toward him. He remains unfazed, still holding still as everything is slow in his mind.

Qrow: "What you have is a gift, that not many people have… And what you offer is as good as what this team will do, and show them all wrong. Apply all that you can. From your friends, and even your enemies… If you can conduct both of your motivations in an alignment, you'll be much stronger, and you can accomplish more than you think…"

Without imagining anyone as someone else this time, Jaune is for certain who his enemies are. With that knowledge, a force of power blows upward from him, taking off his hood and revealing is furious eyes. At that, Crocea Mors, glowing in its great form, draws at the projectiles. The attack sends them directly back to his enemies, but each in a bigger, brighter, yellowish-white glow. Upon impact, they explode.

The explosion leaves a bright light the blinds everyone of the outcome. Jaune and his comrades look at where their enemies should be, between them. The light fades, and they all see their enemies unconscious. For a small moment, everyone is silent before Ruby speaks up.

Ruby: "Did… we win?"

Ren: "None of them seem to be moving. I… I think we did."

Jaune with his guard loosened walks up to his comrades. He looks down at his enemies lying down.

Ruby: "Jaune… That was amazing!"

Nora: "Nice work! That was SWEET, Captain Muscles! Haha!"

Nora pats Jaune on the back for approval. Seeing her, most of everyone smiles, believing to have won the battle. It even puts a slight smile to Jaune's face, while looking down at his sustained opponents. Most of them. It only lasts until Ozpin speaks.

Ozpin: "Hold on. Some of them are missing."

Everybody else then looks to see who all is missing.

Yang: "Where's mom?"

Weiss: "And Vernal?"

From behind Yang and Qrow, a red light appears. Everybody looks at the light to see Raven's portal. Coming out of it is Vernal and Raven herself. They all look at her with their guard back up, while she looks down at Jaune.

Raven: "I see you've taken my word to heart, Jaune. You made yourself recognize who your enemies were, weakened them, and gave them the final blow. I expected nothing less of the Arc name… Granted, you've missed a couple. That being Vernal and I. We weren't going to challenge you, as we anticipated the results that we all see here… However, that doesn't make us any less of someone against your objective. But it doesn't have to be this way. So if you kindly hand over that watch, we can end this night, peacefully. Otherwise…"

Raven and Vernal place their hands on their weapons, indicating their intentions. Before anything can start, from one side of the walls, Lionheart strides up and stands beside Jaune.

Lionheart: "Alright, that's enough, Ms. Branwen. If you truly have as much faith as you do in the boy, then you have no further business here. Cinder's been dealt with, and we can take care of the White Fang outside. You need no further part in this."

Raven: "Hm… Look who finally grew himself a spine. And after our little meeting in your office… Actually, whether you believe it or not, I do have a part in this still. It's obvious that none of them are dead, so it won't be forever till they wake back up. And even if so, Salem's got plenty more allies on her leash. That includes her Freaks of Nature. So long as she's around, my tribe and I will never be free."

Lionheart: "If so, then why have so much hope for him? Don't you believe that he can beat Salem? With his power?!"

Raven: "I do… But not right now. That's why I'm taking the Relic… for myself."

Everybody tenses up at how Raven wants one of their main objectives. Jaune however loosens his guard, but for the sake of assertiveness.

Jaune: "Look, Raven, you seem like a wise, noble woman with priorities. You do what benefits you and those you call family. I get that. And I appreciate how you both believe in me and my… heritage. But I have other people who I call family too. And we don't just care for ourselves. We care for the world and what happens to it as well. And I'm going to save it with them." Jaune looks over to his friends, whom he calls family, and warms their hearts. He then looks back over to Raven, reassuring his guard. "So no. No one is getting the watch. Not by me."

Raven: "How courageous, all of you… I'll have you know, I'm much less arrogant than Cinder is, and I can be much more of a threat than even Adam. I am the one who trained him, after all…" From Raven and Vernal, everybody feels an uncertain chill as Raven takes on the same familiar bent stance. "...as for Cinder, I can show you… what ALL she did wrong with her abilities."

Jaune: "I don't doubt it."

As Jaune takes on a stance with his sword and shield, everybody opens a path for the two to duel.

Raven: "I pray that your family will forgive me."

Both Jaune and Raven dash up to one another. As they approach, her sword draws, and his sword swings. Both of their swords come close to touch. But before they do, their swords get pushed back, from what they hear to be a gunshot from afar.

Rather than a bullet, Jaune and Raven can see it is something of a long blue spinning blur. It ricochets and spins back to its source, toward the front door. Everybody looks back to see the blur pass through the door to a tall shadowy figure. It makes a cling sound, as if a sword were to be sheathed. Stepping from in front of the tall shadowy figure is a shorter shadowy figure, stepping into the light.

Catherine: "Don't worry, Raven. We could never forgive what you were going to do."

Catherine stands at the front door, holding a gym bag, announcing herself to everyone. Most of them are uncertain of who she is. Team RNJR of course know of her, and her reasoning for arrival.

Ruby: "*gasp* Catherine!"

Ren: "Hello, Catherine."

Jaune: "Hehe. Hey, sis. I hoped you be here sooner, but it looks like your right on time?"

Weiss And Yang: "Sis?!"

Nora: "That's right! The youngest sister of the seven, yet elder to Jaune, Catherine "Catty" Arc!"

Catherine: "Thank you for the introduction, Nora, oh Goddess of Thunder! Hahaha. Hi Ruby, hi Ren. Sorry we're late, bro. With Shion devastated, local communication hasn't exactly been in our favor. (sarcasm) But who would do such a thing to a place?"

Most of the heroes turn their attention toward Raven and Vernal. Vernal gradually gets more nervous, while Raven holds her composure. Jaune holds his composure as well, even while remembering that he lost a special place to him and his family.

Jaune: "I get it. That's okay. We found that out ourselves when we past it… But in any case, it's good that you made--. Wait, you said 'we'. Who did you…? Who's that behind you?"

Referring to the tall shadowy figure, Catherine steps aside. The figure starts walking in, revealing himself in the light as a Huntsman. Jaune and some of the people shockingly recognize him, while the rest can only have a familiar sense of his identity.

?????: "Ah, yes. One of our favor vacation spots; Shion. It's a shame what the Grimm did to that town and its people that we buried…" Just then, Raven loses her composure, widening her eyes. She steps away from Jaune, at a loss for words and losing his own composure. "But not as great a shame as those who came first, causing that negativity."

As far as what is seen outside of his armor, the Huntsman's attire consists of a long blue hooded trench coat with red insides. His pants are dark, as well as his tall medieval renaissance boots. At his waist is a utility belt over a red sash. Above his chest plate is a popped up white collar under a reddish-orange tie. The rest of his body is cladded with armor and a sheathed sword and shield on his back, all in silverish-white with gold accents.

This form of attire surprises one of them, considering their last encounter in Atlas.

Weiss: "Jacob! You came!"

It does not surprise Raven, as she recognizes him regardless.

Raven: "G-General Jacques David Arc!"

By the last name, giving most of the confirmation, almost everybody looks to Jaune. While surprised by his presence, Jaune unintentionally announces who he really is.

Jaune: "...Dad?!"

Closer, Jacob walks past everybody who stare at him. He pays them little mind as he looks forward to Jaune. He even steps over Jaune's enemies lying down, making Jacob grin even wider. Before given the chance to speak to Jaune, Raven approaches him.

Raven: "Jacques Arc. I had no idea you'd be here. What brings you to--?"

Just then, Jacob places his hand on Raven's shoulder, making her silent. She feels something striking at her aura, giving an expression that puts everyone on alert. He looks over to her, seeing a bit of fear in her eyes.

Jacob: "...The infamous sister of the Bran-Twins; Raven… I'm going to make this quick, because I came here only for my son. I'll even look past how you lead Shion in the way it is. And I only owe half a debt to you for taking in Adam, in spite of what you helped him become. So listen; if you ever so much as try to hurt my family again, I will make your fear of Salem much more minor to the fear you have of me… You might know of my aura, and how my semblance can be out of your favor, but take THIS to heart: you might not know this yet, but a mother's love for her child is a danger to those that interfere with their lives. So my daughters and I wouldn't be the only ones you wouldn't want to face. For our one and only boy, I can only go so easy on someone before I let my wife, and her gift, clean up what's left. Understand?"

Raven: "Y-Yes."

Jacob: "Good." Jacob removes his hand from Raven, making her fall to one knee, and walks up to Jaune. He looks down at him and smiles. "Hello, son. It's so good to see you again." He bends down to hug Jaune. Jaune hugs back, but with much confusion in his expression. "It's been almost a year, but, it felt much longer to me since you left. You look healthy. How are you?"

Jaune: "I'm… fine dad, but…" Jaune looks over to Catherine, who appears right behind Jacob, disregarding him. "Catherine… what is this? Why did you bring dad here? All I asked was for you to bring--."

Catherine: "It's okay, Jaune. Dad's here for a reason. He knew that Haven was going to be in trouble."

Jacob: "That's right. And I knew I could fix it, as well as help you. It seems like you already did half the job in here, but the White Fang Gang is more than likely waiting to rain hell on Haven. So I came all this way…" Jacob reaches over to his left hip, pulling out something. Something in a familiar white and blue color. "... just to give you this."

From his presentation, Jaune stares at what his father Jacob pulls from his belt. Jaune's mind nearly loses mentality, seeing what was once interpreted as a dream, but in actuality, is a reality. His mind even flashes to the dream of what is held out to him. A white rifle and sword handle, sheathing into a blue bladed chokuto set.

Jaune: "...Where did you get this?!"

The smile from Jacob lowers, showing his sorrow and concern for Jaune and his reaction.

Jacob: "...You've seen this weapon before, haven't you? But you don't exactly know how, or when, right?" Jaune looks up to Jacob. He feels that he understands the unclear hardship of his memories, and what they left now. "...Son, this is Flourish and Fair…"

Jaune: "...Flourish and… and Fair? ...But, this looks just like--… but only white and blue. I've only dreamt about this… I never would've thought… How is this possible?"

Jacob: "This was your first weapon, before Crocea Mors. You made it yourself."

Jaune: "Wha--?! I… I did?! But… But I don't even know how to use a gun, really!"

Jacob: "Well, you're gonna have to either learn, or remember on the job. Here."

Jacob holds the weapon set closer to Jaune. He does not take it, but he does lift his right arm up. He looks all over the attachments he built in his bracer. From his dreams, to his blueprints, and the modifications he put in, it all makes sense to him. It puts a smile to both Weiss and Jacob, as they see he had a certain recollection to it after all. Without really knowing it, Jaune was preparing for a second weapon set to wield for combat.

But right as Jaune tries to take it, his past/dream comes to thought.

Pyrrha: "Do you believe in Destiny?"

Jaune can only now clench his fist in front of his weapon, holding back tears. Everybody, including Jacob, lose their smiles.

Jacob: "...Jaune?"

Jaune: "...Why, dad? Why are you here, really? If you really wanted to help me now, to help the world, then why hide so much from me? Why would you keep me from becoming what I was…? ...Who I am…?! What I wanted to be…?!"

Jacob: "...Son…"

Jaune: "Was it to protect me? Was it, really?! Or maybe your career? Your finances? Huh?! Which is it?!"

Catherine: "Jaune, stop!"

Jaune ignores Catherine as tears come from his eyes.

Jaune: "You saw what I could do! I was great, wasn't I?! And you see what I can do now, without all of what I was, right behind you on the floor! Everybody saw! Isn't that what you want?! Don't we want the same thing?! To stop the bad guys, save the day, and hope we don't make more enemies?! Well now we have more, right outside, because of you! So why hide all of it, huh?! Tell me!"

Jacob says no words, while his shame says a lot of things. Most of everybody feel sorrow as well as awkward from Jaune's outburst toward his father. The echoed silence hangs, as well as Jacob's head, before lifting.

Jacob: "...Son, listen to me carefully. What I did was wrong, unforgivable, and you have every right to be disappointed in me. I will answer all of your questions, and set things right for you and our family. I give you my word! But right now, there is a greater threat outside that will prevent anyone within this Kingdom any second chances. And the only way for you to fulfill yours is to take back what's yours."

Once again, Jacob presents Flourish and Fair. This time, he gets on one knee, holding it above his head with two hands. Seeing the sincerity in his father's words and position, Jaune begins to calm down. It even reminds him of the bigger issue with him and his comrades. With minor hesitation this time, he reaches for the weapon.

With Jaune's hand only an inch from the weapon, his mind puts everything in slow motion as he feels something. He sees all around him something unusual. That being fire breaking through the walls and spreading. Disregarding the weapons once again, Jaune immediately crouches down with one hand on the floor, knowing what is about to happen; the building is about to blow up, completely.

(5 Minutes Later…)

Darkness is all that can be seen. Darkness, among smoke, fire and dust. Haven Academy's main building lies destroyed from a massive explosion. But rising from the building's pieces are some of our heroes.

First to arrive is Ruby, helping out her original team of Weiss and Yang, to their feet. They dig and push aside the debris while shouting to check for others, hoping they survived.

Yang: "Are you guys okay?!"

Weiss: "Yeah, I'm okay! We need to find the others!"

Ruby: "You guys, say something!"

From under the debris they throw aside, Ruby finds one person, holding Oscar while already trying to free themselves.

Ruby and Yang: "Uncle Qrow!"

Qrow: "*cough* Here, take Oscar!"

Ruby takes Oscar by the hand, and notices something unusual; both of their hands are glowing. After pulling Oscar out, Yang pulls Qrow up, and notices the same thing. All of his body is glowing as well. She then finds over her own body that she, as well as the others, are covered in yellowish-white aura.

Weiss: "It's coming from Jaune! Where is he?!"

Ruby: "Come on! Let's keep digging! We'll find him and everyone else!"

From behind those who already arrived to the surface, Ren emerges, picking Nora out the rest of the way. Now out of complete darkness, they step into the dusty darkness, finding a recognizable light of aura produce from themselves as well.

Ren: "Jaune! Jaune, where are you?!"

Nora: "He saved us, but where is he?"

Ruby: "Guys, over here! I think we found them!"

Pushing aside the debris, everybody present find a blonde head digging themself out. The blonde head climbs their way out with one arm. That being Catherine, holding Professor Lionheart, as they glow of aura. She tosses him aside, allowing himself to stand back up.

Catherine: "You all okay?!"

Ruby: "Yeah, we're fine! Where is Jaune?!"

Catherine: "He's alright. Daddy's got him."

Catherine points behind her to one of the collections of debris. From it, a big wave pushes off, clearing up some space. The source of it is Jacob Arc, slightly crouching down with his arms out, covering who is below him. That being the source of protective aura, projecting to everyone with his hand on the ground…

Ruby: "Jaune!"

Everybody gathers around Jaune at the center of the once-was-building. The aura he transfers to everyone from the ground goes away as he stands. After seeing the explosion coming, he looks to his friends covered in dirt.

Jaune: "Is everyone alright?! Is anyone hurt?!"

Jacob: "They're all fine, thanks to you son."

Jaune: "*exhale* Okay… Okay, good. Thanks dad."

Jacob nods his head, being more than grateful to protect his son.

After our heroes make confirmations of their health being adequate, they focus on the cause of its threat. The whole building had blown up from an unknown source of explosives. The only thing they find to still be intact is the statue behind them that leads to the Vault. To be the most distraught from this is Professor Lionheart, still on his knees.

Lionheart: "My school…! But why…?! Why now?!"

Qrow: "Why 'now'?!" Qrow strides up to Lionheart with furious eyes. He grabs Lionheart by the collar and brings him up more. "Start talking, Leo! You knew the school was gonna blow, didn't you?! What happened here?! Did you know, but just didn't tell us?!"

Lionheart: "*gag* This… wasn't part of the plan! The plan was to give them the Relic before demolition. They didn't say they'd use bombs. At least not until we left. If I knew this would happen, I would've told everyone sooner. I swear!"

Qrow narrows his eyes, hardly certain on what to say next. But looking past Lionheart, he sees Raven and Vernal from afar, looking around. Their heads turn all around their directions, almost ready to fight something beyond the smoke. Qrow then drops Lionheart, now striding up to them.

Qrow: "Hey Raven!" Raven pays him little mind as she looks to be on edge. He then chooses to speak calmer, becoming worried by her more serious expression. "...Raven, what is it?"

Raven: "...They're out their… And so is he, but he's… different!"

Qrow: "...Do you mean…?!"

Before he can get his thoughts together, Qrow hears a growl. He then takes out his sword, backing up to his group again. Soon after, everybody hears numerous growls. And gradually, they start to see a collection of red eyes that Raven saw, only getting closer.

Everybody holds their weapons out, believing to be surrounded by Grimm. Their dark bodies themselves make out to hardly be transparent while so far and in the smoke and dust. To give support, Jacob reaches for the handle in his back. By doing so, he releases a wave that pushes the smoke and dust clearly away. Thus, it shows what they were not prepared for.

All of Haven Academy, not just the main building, but the entire Academy in rubble. Bits of fire emit from the previous explosion, which was a greater collection beyond the main building. And standing on top, as well as hovering over everything are Grimm, nearly a mile away.

Jaune: "How is this happening…? How could all this happen while we were inside? Is this all from just the White Fang?"

Jaune looks all over to the Grimm, as well toward his team, doing the same thing. They even see bodies lying down, unaware of when or why they arrived at such a time. Looking closer, they all appear to be Faunus, armed with weapons, but dressed in civilian attire.

Ruby: "W-Who are these people? When did they…?! What is going on?!"

Everybody hold battle stances as the Grimm close them in to the center. They walk over the still bodies, facing our heroes. It appalls them, taking a battle stance for another fight. But only one person ceases their stance, looking over to the front. That person is Yang.

Jaune sees Yang, looking forward with a face of trauma. Her left arm shakes, with her right trying to make it stop. Jaune looks over to where her eyes remain on.

And then, Jaune nearly goes into a state of fear, mixed with anger.

(Before The Fall Of Haven Academy Springs, White Fang Headquarters…)

??????: "Adam. I'm not going to repeat myself so I want you to listen when I tell you that the White Fang will not attack Haven Academy."

On one knee, Adam Taurus meets with the current High Leader of the White Fang at her throne. Since his last encounter with Jaune, he has changed attires in a more tactical militant style, and underwent a less dark and less red complexion. Its purpose is yet to be known, as to go against his more tribal wear. But because of his actions in Beacon Academy, the High Leader had expressed herself to be less than pleased with any reasonings he may have.

Adam: "High Leader Khan, I beg your forgiveness… both for using my words with little care, and for my actions that night at Beacon without your concession. I understand that we've lost many soldiers due to my actions. Their sacrifices were not necessary. Only partially, for now… But if you will allow me to rephrase--."

Sienna: "Save it! The assault you left on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be grateful your punishment wasn't more severe. It's clearly helped you to realize how our fallen comrades didn't deserve to die the way they did."

Adam: "Victories come in portions. They all come together to form one greater prize, eventually."

Sienna: "The last thing I would hope to see from you, Adam, is to fall short of what you brought to our forces. The Branwen tribe was only a stepping stone for you to take what you needed, and share it on to those that look up to you. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible."

Adam: "Not yet… I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader."

Sienna: "And what example might that be?"

Adam: "Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now. And they will see much greater strength in time."

Continuously, Sienna lectures Adam on her goals for the White Fang and society, and the disadvantages his actions brought to their group. From the CCT disconnection, to becoming a greater target for other communities, and justifying humanity's campaign against them. All speaking against his follow-up of strength. Strength that he was promised more of from Salem, along with her faction of mostly human.

Sienna: "These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by shortsightedness!"

Adam: "Permission to speak, High Leader?" Even while agitated, Sienna gestures for Adam to speak. "If you want to know more about the humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself?" Adam stands up while still looking at Sienna, before turning his head to the door far back. "Again, forgiveness for what I'm about to do. Hazel!"

The door opens, and walking through is a human for Sienna to talk to; Hazel Rainart.

Hazel: "Took you long enough."

Sienna: "What is this?"

Immediately, Sienna stands up from her throne. It causes her guards from behind to hold their spears out, as well as seeing a human walk up beside Adam.

Hazel: "Apologies. I don't aim to cause any trouble."

Adam: "Which is why it 'took me long enough' to introduce you. If I hadn't tried to ease it to her even a little, you'd have been compromised."

Sienna: "You've brought a human to this location?"

Adam: "I have. This was the only way I could convince you. Hazel is one of the few respectable humans I've come across. You should hear what he has to say."

Sienna: "This is grounds for execution! For the both of you!"

Hazel: "Ma'am… please. Nobody needs to die today." Hazel takes a knee to reassure his subtlety. "I'm just asking for a moment of your time."

Sienna: "The longer you stay here, the less of a chance you have of leaving alive."

Hazel: "I'll take those chances, if you don't mind."

Adam: "It's not like he has a choice, given Salem's ultimatum."

Giving Hazel her attention, Sienna sits back down. Her guards stand straight back up with their spears up. Hazel then takes his chance and stands back up.

Hazel: "You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want. My master's goal is to make sure that this world is given what it deserves. Both human and faunus. Working with Adam here, I've been able to do just that. The faunus are a community that has every right to be treated like any human would treat their own."

Sienna: "I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it IS that I want. I want what all faunus want." Sienna expresses her doubt toward Hazel's claims. That being that she states how she wants humanity to fear and respect the faunus. "I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win! ...I've already stooped deep enough to a dark place just to get us where we are, Adam. Perhaps it's time you two stepped out."

Adam: "Oh, but I haven't gone deep enough, just yet. Forgive me, High Leader, but I believe… that's where you're wrong." Sienna looks at Adam questionably while Hazel only takes a deep breath. Slowly, Adam walks up the steps toward Sienna. "We CAN win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, MY master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this planet. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should understand the Faunus. And they'll understand us by serving us."

It takes Sienna a while to speak, for she thinks on Adam and Hazel's words.

Sienna: "I will admit, Adam, your words are rather intriguing. Both yours and Hazel's here. But I think I've allowed you to stall long enough for your punishment, and I've already lost my patience. I've had enough of this conversation for tonight. Guards, take them away." Sienna gives an order to her guards, who make no advancement from her words. "I said, take them away!"

Adam: "And 'I' will admit, Sienna, you were right about my popularity. My followers in Vale see me as the High Leader. And many here in Mistral feel the same."

Hearing the conversation, more White Fang guards step out of the door and from a corner with their spears and guns out. Sienna stands back up, surprised at how they're pointed toward her. Hazel only continues to be still, clenching his fists, and taking another deep breath. Even the guards beside her point their weapons toward her.

Sienna: "If you think I'll just step aside and follow beneath you…" With Sienna's head turned, Adam reaches for his sword handle at his hip. "...you're wrong!"

As she turns, Sienna crosses her arms. Her feline pupils become slit, and she grows out her nails into claws.

The guards with guns shoot at her while the ones with spears lunge at her. Before they reach Sienna, she swings her arms out, cutting and deflecting the rounds toward the guards near her. They fall in pain right at her feet.

Staring at Adam, Sienna gives a tiger's roar, and dashes to him. With her aura filled claws, she pounces at him. At the last second, he unsheathes his blade halfway, locking to her claws. As her pupil slit eyes stare into his mask slit eyes, his red complexion glows, and his grey complexion becomes darker.

Adam: "I know." Adam then draws his sword out, pushing Sienna back. "And that's why…" He sheaths his weapon back and Sienna assembles her fighting stance back. "...I will not fight you."

Unexpectedly for Sienna, Adam tosses Wilt and Blush aside to the floor. It even causes her guard to loosen slightly, in confusion. Hazel then gives one more breath of complete relief this time.

Adam: "To have you as a martyr now, and by a traitorous cause, will do no good for the White Fang… (emotional) or for me. And I actually mean that." Sienna lets up on her stance, now intrigued at Adam. Just then, the guards that had gotten shot stand back up. "Please, excuse your guards, for they merely acted on instinct. And though they do see me as Leader…" He snaps his fingers, and they bend on one knee, placing their weapons to the side. "...you are still the true High Leader. I only allowed this so that I may have liberty to show you our resources. Courtesy of Salem!"

Just then, Hazel this time snaps his fingers. From the door, 21 guards walk in. 10 lined up in columns of two, carrying cases, and one down the middle beside Hazel.

The guard beside Hazel sets down a certain device to the ground. They press one button, and a blue hologram appears. It reveals both Corsac and Fennec Albain.

Corsac: "Greetings, High Leader Khan."

Fennec: "As you can see, we have established our own CCT System. Compliments to one of this master's disciples, Dr. Watts."

Corsac: "It is exclusive to the White Fang and only the White Fang, as no one will know of our communications."

Sienna: "...Is this a one-way communication?"

Fennec: "No, High Leader. I am receiving you quite clearly. And I assume you've been able to receive all that we've acknowledged. Should we progress, this in turn could give our Faunus community a proper advantage in excelling within society."

Corsac: "With this said, are their any further words you wish to express, High Leader?"

Sienna: "...No. That will be all."

Fennec: "Good day to you, then."

The transmission ends, and Adam brings Sienna's attention back to him.

Adam: "And before his passing at Beacon, another one of her followers, Roman Torchwick, had given us an abundance of supply." The guards with cases bend down to one knee, opening the cases. One column holds a collection of dust crystals and powder, while the other holds stacks of lien. Sienna's eyes widen, putting her slit pupils back to round pupils and her claws to nails. "This is not even half of what we're given. Even more lie outside, tenfold. This is due by the hands of a girl with extraordinary talents of deception (Emerald) and her partner in mutilation (Mercury). We've already collected enough to give onto our fellow Faunus, struggling for survival."

Hazel: "This is how our master allows us to give to the people. We take from the greedy and selfish, and give to the hungry and mistreated."

A small silence falls as Sienna looks at what all was displayed, trying to process. No longer expressing irritation, only uncertainty.

Adam: "High Leader Khan, I ask of you once more. Please, allow us to take what is rightfully ours. Let our forces be lead into Haven, decimate those who stand against our cause, and show the humans that we are to be feared and respected. If not, then not only will what we have now cease to grow, but it will all be lost."

Sienna's head looks down for a moment, before she does something that puts a smile to Adam's face.

Sienna: "...Hehehehehehehehe. Hehehahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaa! Hahahahehe! *sigh* Hahaha… Oh, Adam." Sienna places her hands on Adam's cheeks, motherly-like. "My Adam… look at you, all grown-up. I always knew there would be a day where you would cross me. And not only have you turned my men against me (just by your own reputation), and gained more power than I have myself, but you give it all right back to me?! Hahaha! If that weren't humiliation for a Leader myself, I don't know what is!"

On the floor, Sienna picks up Wilt and Blush. She proudly holds it up in front of Adam.

Sienna: "Alright, Adam. My soldiers are yours to command as you will. These resources are rather… reassuring. We seem to have more than enough power to show recognition, as well as defend against humanity. If we play our cards right, we can guide the Faunus community to finally evolve within society. It's about time that our people be the ones that take charge, now that a war would be in our favor. This in turn postpones your punishment until I see fit that it reimburses. *chuckle* (loud) From this day forth, let all those that witness today, that I hereby promote Adam Taurus as High Leader of the White Fang, until further notice! He will lead our people into Prosperous Triumph! For his actions will reflect upon me!"

Adam Taurus: "Perfect!"

Adam takes hold of his weapon. Sienna however keeps her grasp on it before he can fully take it.

Sienna: "...Now Adam, listen carefully: I want you to command our troops, and ONLY you. If and when we lose some of our troops, it will fall to your responsibility. Not to these humans. And especially not Salem. I don't want to believe her to be unbeatable, but I don't want to give the effort of proving so, just as much. You've tampered with her enough, so when this is done, you get out of it as soon as you can. Do you understand?"

Adam: "...Yes."

Sienna let's go of Wilt and Blush, giving it fully to Adam.

Sienna: "*sigh* I can only pray for peace and equality while having such aggressions." Sienna places her hand up to her temple from stress. "How ironic…"

Adam: "You should rest, Sienna. I think you've had enough of my behavior today. *chuckle*"

Sienna: "*chuckle* Indeed, I have." Sienna excuses herself before hugging Adam and walking to a different room. "Make yourself at home, High Leader."

As Sienna leaves, Adam dismisses the guards. He then faces Hazel at the bottom of the steps, letting them be alone.

Hazel: "Thank you, for handling that well. I didn't know you and Sienna Khan were so close."

Adam: "Sienna and I have a history together, so I know how to ease in favors to her without too much to escalate. Not many humans have stepped foot into this territory and lived. But I thank you for bearing witness to my promotion, even while White Fang business."

Hazel: "It's our business when it comes to our master."

Adam: "Our master was concerned with Sienna's willingness to cooperate. Now she doesn't have to be."

Hazel: "I'm just glad nobody had to die today."

Hazel turns to walk out of the door. By taking Sienna's word, Adam sits down on the throne, while holding Wilt and Blush. He smiles, now having the power of the White Fang.

Adam: "No… not today."

(A Few Days Later…)

Adam: "We will not allow them to ruin this!" From Mistral, Adam speaks to Corsac and Fennec in Menagerie, via their established hologram communication. "The Belladonna name has brought me nothing but grief! And the Arcs… they gave me everything, then nothing, and now despair… We can't afford for them to do the same onto our people…" For a moment of agitation, Adam places his hand to his head. "You've done well in finding the deserter. Bring her and her family to me alive. And brothers… understand that although silencing the Belladonna's may be aligned with my own quarrels with them, that is not the true matter at hand. It pains me to disturb the peace of our brethren of Menagerie, but if we do not sustain those they look up to, that is what's at risk. I can imagine that their leaders are thinking the same thing, only to try and persuade the people to fight against us. But once the Belladonna's are out of the picture, you two will grow closer to being those they will follow. Only, be discrete, and stay in the shadows during your task. Is that understood?"

Corsac: "Yes, High Leader Taurus."

Fennec: "We will be 'thorough', when dealing with Ms. Blake and her parents. You have our word."

Adam: "...We'll see." Adam ends the call and turns away to his desk for planning. "*sigh* The Albains… I don't know what it is, but something about them, or rather, something that they do doesn't sit right with me. It might be something small, but one small thing could jeopardize our attack. But what is it? Could they be planning to kill the chieftain themselves? They've proven their loyalty to our cause… making themselves persuasive towards Ghira, staying secluded, finding recruits, but--... That's it! Our recruits… One of our members!" Quickly, he looks through his file cabinet and pulls out three files. "One of them… Who was it?" He looks through two of the three files, but with disappointment. "Yuma, Trifa, both scored low on their tryouts… Incompetence... They seem to be putting my set list of requirements for members aside, as if they want to start their own revolutionary order. I won't allow that! ...But there was something else... Someone else, who was good, that they requested… It's..." The last file shows to be someone that astounds Adam. But not just for their high score in tryouts, as well as their experiences. "...Ilia Amitola…!" Being aware of Ilia Amitola, his question is answered. Through the Albain brothers, his suspicions lie mostly with her. "Lieutenant!"

From a shadowed corner, Adam's Lieutenant from Vale steps into the light. From his last mission, apparent scars show on places other than his tribal tattoos.

Lieutenant: "Yes, High Leader Taurus?"

Adam: "You swore on your life that you'd help me get the deserter, right?"

Lieutenant: "Yes, sir!"

Adam: "Then get our troops ready. We're moving ahead of schedule." The Lieutenant nods and tries to leave before Adam calls for him again. "Hey!" The White Fang Lieutenant stops and looks back. "When you're done, come back, and study this file. I have a special assignment for you when we arrive to Haven Academy."

(A Few Weeks Later, Ramen Shop…)

At a Ramen Shop, the owner had just finished carving a bowl. For him, the day seems to be dying down while only sunset. With no one coming in, he continues to carve another dish out of wood.

Then the door opens, and walks in three people. They walk in and sit at the counter, awaiting for the owner's attention. He looks at them, and notes their fully clothed attires and accessories of either a hood, scarf, or gloves.

Owner: "Uh… Good evening. I… didn't think it'd be cold outside." The Owner turns around and grabs a few bowls to serve. With his back turned, the people who had walked in remove their accessories before the Owner turns around. "So, regular? Or the speci--?" He looks at them, and sees that with their accessories removed, they are Faunus. "What is this? Didn't you read the sign outside; No Faun--?!"

Interrupting the Owner, something swings over his head, and falls to the counter. He looks down and sees his own sign, reading "No Faunus", disintegrate into rose petals. At the door, he sees the source of who flicked it over close the door behind him.

Adam: "Yes… we read your sign." Adam slowly walks further into the building, and the other Faunus stand up. "But we don't really agree with it." He ends up behind the counter, and the other Faunus' remove their clothing, over their White Fang uniforms being revealed. "It's no wonder why your pal, Shiro Wan, hardly bothered coming here to pay his debt. He probably didn't want to be around much… 'negativity', in FEAR of some 'Grimm-Faced MONSTERS' causing a riot."

The Owner, while scared, swings his knife at Adam, only for it to meet his right forearm. It only makes a cling sound, leaving no scratches before Adam holds him up in the air by the neck.

Adam: "Now, these customers came in here to be served, but you've offended them. Apologize!"

The Owner looks down at the other White Fang members, who give little expressions with their masked faces.

Owner: "*gag* I-I'm sorry--!"

At his last breath, a snap is heard and felt by Adam's hand. He drops him to the ground, motionless, and closes his blank eyes.

Adam: "Apology accepted, for this is the only way humans can atone." Adam turns around and walks out the door. After a few seconds, his White Fang troops leave and follow, before the whole building catches fire. "Now everyone else will be sorry."

Just then, Adam gets a call from his scroll. He answers it while leaving the town.

Hazel: "Adam."

Adam: "What is it?"

Hazel: "There's been a major change of plans. Cinder and her group are showing up to Haven, but they're about to have a few unexpected guests."

Adam: "...What do you mean? Who?"

Hazel: "They're using Lionheart. He invited Qrow, along with a few young Huntsmen."

Adam: "Arc…" Adam looks away, trying to ponder on certain inconveniences, and inconveniences to come. But almost instantly, he has (or rather already had) a resolution. "I see… That won't be a problem."

Hazel: "How so?"

Adam: "I've already informed Salem that we're moving ahead of schedule. Something else had came up that I felt would get in our way, so I have my forces already advancing. I'm not sure what Ms. Fall Maiden thinks she's doing with this spontaneity, but she's not going to slow up our plans."

Hazel: "Good. And what about Qrow's older Huntsmen for his raid? Tyrian has already dealt with the Faunus half, (ashamed) with little hesitation, no less. How bout you?"

Adam: "They've been dealt with, as well as their traces. And if you will, give Tyrian my regards for keeping Faunus blood shed by Faunus hands, only. None will be on your hands today, Hazel."

Hazel: "*sigh* Thank you."

Adam: "No, thank YOU. It'll be easier to gather the Grimm, now with their corpses spread out."

Hazel: "...What?!"

Adam: "All across Mistral, leading up to the school."

Hazel: "When were you planning on telling me about that?! How do you even know if they'll follow the trail?"

Adam: "Trust me…" Adam adjusts his mask and smirks as him and his followers leave town in a bullhead. "...They'll be lead, thoroughly. Salem entrusted me with this task, specifically. Last time, there were too many Grimm during our attack. But this time, I've made sure that we have just enough." The bullhead lifts up with Adam at the open door's edge. The height shows a better view of Mistral and Haven Academy. "I'm at the other side of the school. Wherever I am, the Grimm migrate from."

Hazel: "...Right. All for a better cause…"

Adam: "Exactly. It'll all be over soon, Hazel. Just try to enjoy the show. See you at Haven."

Adam ends their conversation, and the bullhead flies forward. Its course is towards Haven Academy.

(Early Evening, Haven Academy…)

Adam: "Once the charges are set and concealed, move back to perimeter watch." By moving ahead of schedule, the White Fang have already started setting up bombs around the school before our heroes' arrival. Both Corsac and Fennec's lack of transmission to Adam indicated their failure to capture the Belladonnas. And Cinder's spontaneous change of plans lead him to press to be prepared for the Academy's destruction, no matter what. "Tonight, Haven Falls!"

After a few hours, the White Fang had finished preparing the detonators. Just as they were told, they leave the immediate area, going to Haven Academy's perimeters, and leaving Adam behind. Not too long after, he gets a call on his radio to inform of what looks to be young Huntsmen and Huntresses entering school grounds. At a high rooftop, he gives the order to allow them in, and watches as our heroes enter. His main attention lies on Jaune…

Adam: "Arc… I'll be ready for you this time. And nothing will stop me." Adam then looks at the one whom he mutilated; Yang Xiao Long. "The Branwen Daughter… You've got your uncle with you this time… and a new upgrade, I see." The last one to grab his attention is Ruby… "Rose… You probably don't have a clue… We'll see if you hold up to your leadership trait."

Many more moments have passed as Adam waits patiently for his current allies to finish dealing with their enemies. By the sounds, sights and senses of aura and flashes through the windows, he senses his enemies to be prevailing. Mainly from the familiar feeling of Jaune's massive presence. But as they go on, Adam not only waits for his allies, but for something monstrous afar.

Just then, he gets a call from his radio.

White Fang Soldier: "(radio) High Leader Taurus, come in High Leader Taurus. This is gate watch. Over."

Adam: "Gate watch, this is High Leader Taurus. Send it. Over."

White Fang Soldier: "We have eyes on a seven ton military vehicle approaching a mile away. Awaiting orders to engage. Over."

Adam: "...Describe the vehicle in detail. Over."

Anxiously, Adam questions to whom the vehicle may belong to.

White Fang Soldier: "It's white, and black, with… different streaks of colors on it. Heat signatures indicate two bodies in the front. Over."

Adam: "So Arc brought two of them as well… Do not engage. Allow them to pass, but do not give yourselves away. How copy? Over."

White Fang Soldier: "Solid copy. Do not engage, and remain undetected. Over."

Adam: "Over out." Adam jumps down to the ground, and makes himself scarce. Hastily, the truck drives in and drifts to a parking stop in front of the main building. Stepping out of it is both… "Jacques and Catherine Arc… You've made a mistake coming here, if you think it'll help the boy of your family. You'll die along with him." Both of the Arc family members walk in after starting off their introduction with Flourish and Fair. That very weapon catches Adam's attention. "...Why…? Why did they bring…? Was it to…? No! Need to stay focused! I'll worry about that later. The mission is what's important right now. If Cinder's failed at this point, we'll have to proceed without her."

Adam walks off, away from the building. He heads toward the exit, getting ready to detonate the bombs. But then he hears a loud voice from above.

?????: "Adam!"

Adam: "Blake!"

Blake: "Stand down!"

White Fang Soldier: "(radio) High Leader, we have sights on more bodies. They're one of ours! Faunus, civilians!"

Adam: "Wait! Stay hidden and take cover, all units." Adam puts his interrupting radio away, and looks back up to Blake. The situation continues to change for his behalf. But without wanting to risk losing his plan's momentum, he presses on. "...To think that I went through so much trouble to find you, only to have you deliver yourself to me."

Blake: "This isn't what's right for the Faunus! Stop what you're doing and we can end this peacefully."

Adam: "You're wrong, Blake. And you can't stop us."

Blake: "No, I can't. Not by myself."

???: "That's why she didn't come alone!"

Slowly, with little care, Adam turns his head to see where the voice came from at his side. There, Sun Wukong appears with an army of Menagerie civilians.

Adam: "No…" From behind Adam, more armed Menagerie civilians walk up, but lead by Ghira Belladonna in front. "No…!" He looks around to see himself surrounded by all of the Faunus from Menagerie. Their armed weapons and accessories are marked with the original White Fang symbol. It angers him, but not for his own sake. "They were really so careless… Make no mistake, brothers!" To the people of Menagerie, he announces. "The Belladonna's are your enemies! And I will not let them ruin…" As he talks, a light shines on him from above. "...your brighter future! Now what?!"

Mistral Police Officer: "(speaker) Adam Taurus. This is the Mystral Police Force!" The light comes from an aircraft, where the officer speaks, alongside Khali Belladonna at their side. "Dissemble your weapons and surrender peacefully."

Blake jumps down from the building and faces Adam at the same level. Still angry, he turns over to her, while he feels her to be dangerously too close.

Adam: "How…?! How could you do this?!"

Blake: "Adam, it's over."

Adam: "I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but… If it's over for me, Blake… If it's over for the White Fang…" Adam reaches for his back pocket and takes out the detonator for the bombs planted. "...then it's over for all of us. Now, YOU and your parents will call off the police, send our people home and away from this, and surrender! Do it, now!"

Blake: "No. That won't work." Both Adam and Blake look at each other, both confident with their potential forces. "We sent someone to confirm your explosives, and once we did, she disarmed them."

Adam: "...Is that what you think?"

Just then, Blake has a questioning expression. She looks up at the buildings, trying to find that person. And then she hears somebody grunting and struggling. Up on the building, the White Fang Lieutenant restrains Blake's reestablished companion.

Blake: "Ilia!"

Ilia: "(crying) Blake, I'm sorry! I tried-!" Ilia's words are cut off as the Lieutenant holds her mouth shut.

Adam: "You thought that our people would be safe, just because you sent one person to disarm us?! This just proves how you would go out of your way so that the Faunus never evolve! I'm surprised you even trusted Amitola, to forgive her so easily… But I always keep my doubts. I've seen the way she looked at you. So now, I have two traders that have to suffer."

Blake only bows her head, giving off a sign of defeat. Her comrades slightly loosen their guard, now afraid. Sun and her parents start to become worried by looking at her.

Ghira: "...Blake?"

Adam: "So what'll it be? Will you save our people and surrender?"

Slowly, Blake starts to walk up to Adam.

Sun: "Blake, stop!"

Ignoring Sun, Blake continues to walk to Adam. Sun clenches his fists and teeth as he watches his friend, now standing before the man she once loved, but now fears. It puts him in agitated discomfort.

Adam looks down at Blake, and she looks up at him. Her face and body movements look to be of one surrendering. But it only gives him an angrier expression as he then chops his right hand across her face. Knowing that it is only a Shadow clone, it vanishes, and he immediately turns his head, knowing her strategy.

Blake jumps up and holds her hands together into one big fist. She brings it down to his head in an attempt to knock him out. But he bends his head down to jerk it back up, cutting her hands with his horns. She lands, before being tripped to her front side on the ground.

Ghira: "Blake, no!"

Getting angry themselves, the people of Menagerie slowly step closer to Adam. He responds by holding up the detonator.

Adam: "Stay back! I don't want to blow us all up, but I will if I must!" Adam then presses his foot over Blake's head, making her scream. "But this traitor will pay for putting you all in danger."

Khali: "Blake!" Khali snatches the speaker from the Police Officer and hollers through it. "(speaker) You get away from my daughter, or I'll jump down there and KILL YOU MYSELF!"

Ghira then strides up faster, quietly growling as he watches his daughter being harmed. He engages his claws, and grasps his cloak. But before he takes it off, he stops and sees someone approach him a certain way instead.

Sun: "You MOTHERFUCKER!"

From above, Adam looks up to see three Via-Sun clones pounce at him. His response is drawing his sword, giving them three barely visible slashes before sheathing. Behind the clones now gone is Sun himself, going in for a kick.

Adam takes the kick to the face, but before grabbing Sun into a chokehold. Sun holds on to Adam's arm, trying to get free.

Blake: "S-Sun! Don't--!" Blake is silenced as Adam presses his foot down harder.

Adam: "Was that supposed to be some kind of sneak attack? That only works if you keep your mouth shut."

Sun: "*grunt* Blake told me about you… You're a ruthless jerk with a twisted sense of what you think is justice…! If you don't let her go, I swear, I'll show you what it's like to be human and rip those horns off your head!"

Adam: "Tell me: Does Blake make all of her friends fight for her?"

Sun: "Hehe. Nah. It's a voluntary gig. Because we've got each other's backs. We do for all of our friends… *grunt* So whatever you do to her, I'll do a hundred times more to you."

Adam: "Do unto me what I did unto her… How similar… You remind me of someone I know… Someone I once called a 'brother', even while human. He had blue eyes and blonde hair, just like you. He also liked to wear sneakers, jeans, and a certain white top with added gauntlets. But the way how you care for someone other than yourself is all too familiar."

Sun: "(grunting) Sounds like a great guy. I might know 'em… Then again, there's not too little people out there, human and Faunus that care for more than just themselves."

Adam: "It's not enough. It's only a matter of time before this cruel world turns the brightest of hearts into monsters. It happened to me…" Adam then look at the people who are now very close to him, Sun and Blake. "...And now I realize, looking at our people, it'll happen to them as well. You… I… We can't save them all." Just then, Adam raises his detonator arm, making everyone charge at him.

Sun: "Heh. Just watch me try!"

The instant he let's go of Adam's arm, Sun claps his hands, and Adam presses the detonator.

Blake: "Adam, sto--!"

(The Fall Of Haven Academy Springs…)

Engulfed in flames, blinded by smoke, and surrounded in destruction, Haven Academy has been destroyed. All of the armed Menagerie civilians fall from its harmful impact. Including the aircraft, that has already blown up and crashed with Khali and the Police Officers who were in the air. They all show little motion while lying on the ground and near the scattered flames.

Blake slowly opens her eyes with Adam's foot still on her head. From the explosion, she questions if it were her own aura that helped her survive. With Adam apparently glowing, he looks completely unaffected with his left thumb holding a few inches of Wilt unsheathed. He had activated his semblance after dropping the detonator at her side. On his right arm however, she sees him still holding Sun's neck. But while held, Sun also glows, but with his hands clapped together.

Adam removes his foot from Blake, and she flips to her back to find her body already covered in a yellow form of light. She looks all around to see all of her forces covered in a great multiplication of Via Sun clones, just like her. Even Blake's parents are saved, from Ghira on the ground, and while Khali and the Officers are lifted out of the burning aircraft. Even while covered in dirt, soot, and pain, she exhales for a great relief.

Sun: "(weak) Ehehehe… Bull… shit, I cant!"

Sun's aura depletes and he passes out. His clones then go away, showing that those he protected are only slightly hurt and dirty. Adam then sets him down, after Sun accomplishes an exertion of his semblance to save others. That, as well as embracing the explosion.

Adam: "Thank you, Sun. You protected our people in a war that they did not have to fight, as well as justified their safety during my actions of revolution. Unfortunately, it won't be long now before their fate is sealed by the Belladonna's. So I will spare you for just this moment."

Blake: "*grunt* You…!" Adam looks down to Blake, standing back up. "You are just… so psychotic… that you'll blow up an Academy, with the people you claimed that you would protect, and blame it all on me… and my family! What has gotten into you, Adam? I knew you changed, but just… how could you become this dark?!"

Just as Blake asked her question, she hears something from a distance, and relatively close. She hears howls, growls, and shrieks, far and near. The smoke and dust are unclear to make out the sources, but both Blake and (especially) Adam know what they are of; a horde of Grimm approaching.

Adam: "Humanity, Blake. When humanity decided that we were less than people, we had to turn to a side that was more than what we were. It's what gave me power. It's what put the White Fang in the position of prosperity now. And I'll use that power, the one that's all around us…" Blake, as well as the Menagerie civilians starting to get up, look around each other in fear. Through the smoke, they see red glowing eyes. "...to take back what they stole, and set our future free."

Just then, the smoke blows away. Both Adam and Blake turn their heads to find the source of force that helps them all see clearly. Putting aside the Grimm that surround them, they see a group of people stand on what was once the main building of Haven Academy, now rubble. And their stands our heroes.

Blake: "R-Ruby?!" Blake's eyes widen as she sees her team in the same place as her at this moment. "Weiss, and… Yang!" Her eyes then cry out of joy from seeing her friends again.

Adam: "Well, I'll be damned. Right on cue, too." Adam turns his attention toward our heroes with a smirk. "Watch, Blake. Watch as I show you all what I've obtained on my quest for true domination. And I'll start with our younger blonde friend." He then starts walking their way."

Blake: "Adam, stop!" Blake then starts striding up to Adam. "Don't you dare touch Yang! You've done enough to--!"

Adam sticks out his hand to Blake's face without facing her. By feeling the unseen aura he puts off to her, she falls to her knee.

Adam: "The Branwen Daughter is not of my concern. Not right now… But of our old playmates in armor." Blake makes a confused expression by how he refers to some of our heroes. "It's the son who has to die by me."

Adam puts his hand down and continues on to face our heroes. As he leaves, Blake goes over to Sun to protect him. The closer Adam gets to our heroes, the more they notice him.

Blake: "The son? Does he mean…? How would he know…?"

(Presently, Our Heroes…)

Jaune Arc, and his companions, watch as Adam Taurus gets closer to them. His attention lies half with Adam, and half with Yang, who seems almost as traumatized as Jaune had ever been of him. Ignoring the anxiety and jitters in her hand, Yang puts her fists up and rapidly shoots at Adam.

However, almost like her dream, Yang's shots deflect off of Adam as he reaches for his sword, held out to his left side. She stops her attacks, seeing that her fevered dream has come true, inducing an even greater fear. With one more punch, she releases no rounds from an overly jittery lack of enthusiasm. Instantly, Adam now appears in front of her, and smirks, causing her to paralyze. Jaune then tries to get beside Yang to protect her with his shield.

Adam's sword unsheathes a few inches, giving off a massive wave of faint red aura. Everybody feels it and hold still. He sheaths his blade back, and walks past Yang, nearly making her faint. Jaune catches her and eases her over to Ruby and Qrow walking up.

Jaune looks back with his attention now half way on Adam, and the cornering Grimm this time. Although they walked over the armed Faunus civilians on the ground, they become more aggressive the closer they get to Jaune and his group. He notes how Adam calmly walks up to the very top of the building's rubble, and how the Grimm create a large amount of space around him. So Jaune comes up with a calm procedure, while slowly backing toward everyone.

Jaune: "Everyone… slowly… back up… and don't--" As everyone slowly backs up, the Grimm increase their paces. "Okay, maybe a little faster… but just--" The faster they go backing up, the faster the Grimm go, until one pounces from a few feet. It causes the rest of the Grimm from high and below to charge at them all at once. "No!"

Everyone braces for the Grimm's surrounding approach. It leads Jaune to instantly charge his aura up before bursting it in their immediate space. But before him or any of them could attack, a bright white light emits from behind them, drowning out his own yellow light. Nobody can see anything from it, causing their eyes to be blinded as they all look back. With Jaune looking back to the source, he sees nothing, except the source in the center being the brightest. But the more he looks at it, the more paralyzed he feels.

(The Remembrance Of Jaune Arc…)

From the light, Jaune sees his Arc silhouette fade in and walk up to him. Just like last time, his red and copper color scheme remains unfaint, like the rest of him. And of course, everything stops for him.

Jaune: "What is it? What's going on?"

Arc: "It's time."

Jaune: "Time for what?"

Arc: "...For you to wake up, and for us to be 'Jaune Arc'."

Everything goes back into motion for Jaune as the light goes away. Everyone adjusts back to the dark night and looks around. They check to see if anyone is hurt from whatever had transpired. All they see now are the Grimm, paralyzed. With the source no longer producing blinding light, Jaune looks over to it. All he sees is Adam's back side, with his mask in hand.

Adam turns around with his eyes closed to face down at everyone. At long last, Adam's facial features of red eye brows reflect off of Jaune's faint memory. Their childhood of being friends. The brotherly bond of how they care for one another. And the missing piece to his previous dream, indicating the Taurus in him. The hidden key to Jaune remembering his forgotten life, all come back as Adam opens his eyes.

His Eyes, of Silver.

Credits for the idea of Flourish and Fair, as well as Jacob/Jacques Arc wanting to give and explain how it belongs to Jaune Arc goes to asdfguy432. Check out some of his stories, like "Adam Arc", wear the weapons originally came from.

And there you have it. Another cliffhanger, but before the final chapter. Hopefully, it can be released before Volume 6. To be more reassuring of that, my rough draft will be typed, rather than written like I have been. That should save me time.

Other than expressing myself, I would hope to inspire those that read my work. To learn and do better out of it. I ought to really hope for something like that from my own content, but as of this moment, this is all I have to offer to a certain public community; a piece of work, based off of another person's dream brought reality (R.I.P. Monty Oum).

I will finish this story, because it means a lot to me. I finish what I start. If ever you see something not done the way you wish for it to be, your vision that only you can see, you have to start it, address it, and be proud of it.

For those that do read this, I apologize if these A/N seem emotional or whatnot. I just have a passion for certain things, and it just breaks my heart to even imagine them being diminished to not reaching their full potential. RoosterTeeth included. They are hard at work, but as Unicorn of War said in one of her YouTube videos, they need to take a break to recharge.

I hope this story inspired you all, either in a sense of doing something, or even in a sense of not doing something. I pray that you all have a blessed life, and peace be with you.