Jaune Arc 2.0
Chapter 7 Second Chance
-Anima Boating Village-
The village chief could do nothing but stare his mouth agape at the pile of lien before him. Sitting across from the man was the overly cheerful form a ginger girl dressed in green.
"Will this amount be acceptable."
"T-there has to be at least ten thousand lien here."
"There is exactly eighty nine thousand lien, a thousand lien per person as you requested… that was the agreed-upon fair for boat passage correct?" Slowly the man nodded to that however he then looked up to Penny as he struggled to put his next thoughts into words.
"Um, ma'am." The ginger merely smiled.
"Please call me Penny."
"Um, Penny, while this is certainly the agreed-upon fair, I'm afraid we lack the ships to send them all to the Kingdom of Vale at once." Penny looked down her face showing no real concern but a hint of surprise.
"Oh dear, it would seem I've made a mistake then. Mister Wei how long will it take for the full transfer of these people?" The man leaned back a calculating look in his eyes.
"Well I'm afraid at most we can do ten or so people for each trip and I'm afraid after today's ship leaves it won't return for another four days or so… a few people could leave on the supply ship that'll be here tomorrow but at most they could probably take twenty or so… however I think they'll be asking for quite a bit more lien." Penny nodded to that and retrieved yet another suitcase of lien placing them before Wei.
"I believe this will cover the housing and food for the fifty-nine people until they can properly leave. If you would be so kind as to tell me an estimate of what the supply ship may ask for the twenty people." Wei slowly nodded his eyes on the suitcase.
"Yes, um… usually they ask for triple the standard fair." Penny nodded.
"Understood then I will give quadruple the amount as well as double the standard fair to you as intermediators for the negotiations. Is that acceptable?" The man could hardly think as the number ran through his head.
How much money does this kid have!?
Penny merely smiled back at the man who finally nodded to her, Penny then begun ruffling through her person until she pulled out a blank sheet of paper.
"Splendid, now all that remains is to write an official agreement and have it signed." Wei let out a tense smile a slight twitch in his eye.
She hadn't arranged for one already, good Oum this is gonna take hours.
Pulling out a pen the ginger examined the sheet for any wrinkles hesitant to so much as touch the sheet until she made sure there were none.
Oh my gods! We're never leaving here are we!
However, that thought was quickly disproven when the girl begun writing at a speed that would put a printer to shame. Quickly she snapped a picture of it before looking up to Wei once more a pleasant smile on her face.
"I do hope this will be an acceptable document." Slowly Wei reached out his hand and signed the document after which she smiled and bowed. Upon exiting the house, she was met by the sight of the village that sat along the oceans. It truly was a breathtaking sight. After all she had never actually seen a small village like this, after all her experience only truly extended to that of the large cities of the kingdoms.
Content the arrangement for the former slaves with Wei she made way to the Waverider but was surprised when she saw a small group of children sitting in front of one of the surviving families.
"When it seemed like no hope remained and that Grimm had devoured all the bad men he came. He didn't hold a sword nor shield but a bright beautiful light, thou I hadn't seen it he slew the beast and rescued us." The children's eyes lit up at the lady's story while her son nodded a huge smile on his face, in the crowd one of the older kids spoke up.
"Was it really him? The Hero of Vale?" The little boy smiled brightly as he nodded.
"Yep he's my hero!" the nearby villagers looked to the group with suspicious eyes but didn't retort their words. Whether it was due to doubt or not wanting to get involved remained to be seen. Penny looked to the excited kids and found herself smiling after hearing how they idolized her friend.
Perhaps it wasn't ideal for information to be getting out on Jaune, but she had no intention of silencing these little cuties. After all if these rumors spread it will put Jaune in a better light and open up the possibility for him to easily integrate back into society with less suspicion. With a pleased smile Penny walked to the group Jaune had rescued. The people gathered around her eager to hear the good news.
After explaining the circumstances the people had varied reactions. Some broke into tears of joy while others thanked her profusely and yet a few girls even nervously asked for Jaune's scroll number land similarly a few of the males asked for hers. They seemed quite sad when he declines them under the pretense that neither of them had one.
The older members of the group told the fembot to make sure top visit them at their relative's home in Vale something Penny promised to do so. The Ginger gave a curt bow before turning away to the Waverider as she entered it she heard a plethora of thanks and tearful goodbyes. The children waved while the older boys seemed rather disheartened at her leaving, finally thou the ship departed.
Penny walked through the Waverider's hull, checking their supply and making sure their supplies hadn't been taken. As she entered the deck she checked through the status of the ship. Beyond needing a refueling in the near future and a few nicks on the ships from their scuffle with the Atlesian Fleet she doubted they'd need worry any time soon.
"Hm, where's Oscar." Turning to both sides of the room she finally noticed the boy absence and begun to scan through the Waverider to find him. Until finally she located the boy in the retention cells, making way to the room she was surprised to find the boy sitting across from the caged rooms that were inhabited by the three White Fang members.
-Airship Retention Cell-
Illia could only look down, avoiding the gaze of the boy sitting outside of their cell, while Trifa and Yuma glared back at him. While Trifa's glare was wavering Yuma maintained his hate.
"What is it you damn human scum! Looking down on us!? When we get out I'll kill you we'll see if you can stay so calm when I do that!?" The boy flinched back but wouldn't break eyesight with the winged faunus, almost as if doing so would be dangerous to his life. Was this kid actually scared of them, even though they were locked up? The boy despite his fears asked a question through a reluctant voice.
"Is that really all you can say? That you'll kill me?" Yuma sneered at Oscar.
"What's wrong you deft or just stupid!?" At his words Oscar fell off his seat landing on his back making Yuma laugh.
"That's right! Damn human, get scared!"
"Yuma… that's…" The Winged faunus looked to Illia curiously.
"Huh, what was that Illia?" Looking to him Illia shook off her earlier thoughts and spoke.
"Nothing, it's just it'd be a bad move to irritate our capturers." To that he scoffed.
"Pfft, as if, soon enough Corsac and Fennec will have us out of here. Then we can gut the tortious bastard!" To that Illia flinched as she recalled the incident that led to their enslavement.
-White Fang Base-
It was only a few months after the failed Fall Incident, ever since then they had been nearly wiped out on multiple occasions. Before the White Fang may have been targeted by the police force while some higher-ups may put bounties on the more notorious members. However now things had grown far more critical, militias, mercenary forces and the like were sent after them while a bounty was put up just for any known members.
In Vacuo things had turned to chaos while in Atlas people were turning in every Faunus they could find for a chance at some money. Not only that but capture was no longer the goal of older huntsman now elimination was the word. They had lost so many men and women to the cause hell some even turned themselves in at their families request while other did over the guilt of their involvement in the Fall.
Adam had grown desperate so much so that he had requested for the Albain twins to send him their reserves and even those not particularly suited for combat. Illia had been there for less than a week and yet she was easily able to understand the full extent of their desperate situation. Adam sent them on one suicide mission after another, not willing to take the easier or safer way of stealth but preferring the bloodier path, ignoring how it only made the target on the back of his head that much larger.
It was just after they had lost their lieutenant on an ambush mission gone horribly wrong that she appeared to them. Entering the camp was the familiar form of Blake Belladonna. While they wanted to attack most had returned from a harrowing mission leaving none in any condition to fight even Adam himself was on his last legs his aura dissipated from the night raid from the previous day.
While in contrast Blake stood tall and firm no signs of fatigue nor weakness her aura obviously at full. Even if she couldn't take on the entire camp on her own she could surely take out a third of them Adam included and get away. Despite how most looked to her with hate Illia could only stare at her former crush.
Even now she was as beautiful as she remembered, standing tall and even more confident then she ever had in the fang. It was only for a moment that their eyes met and with her being able to see clear into those breath taking golden eyes Illia felt a small amount of vigor come back to her. However, that feeling soon faded as the belladonna turned her gaze past her and to the form of Adam all her being staring into him intensely… longingly.
Illia wanted to scream, even now he was all she saw…even now she wouldn't look to her after all this time. Blake stepped past her giving her a final glance before walking to Adam who stood just a bit taller under her gaze almost as if it gave him strength. His face showed equal parts anger and blame however both were dwarfed by the sheer amount of relief upon seeing her return to him.
"My love don't you see how pointless this is? They'll never accept you, never love you!" Illia could see her shoulders tremble, Adam's words were resonating with her and with that a speck of hope emerged deep within her.
"We can make a world for our people my love, we can create a world without suffering for the Faunus." Blake gave the smallest flinch at that and with it Adam smiled while that speck of hope grew in Illia.
Blake…
"What have the human taught you besides they're selfishness and their hate!" Illia smiled as she saw Blake not retort his words, was it possible, did she dare hope her love would return to them.
"Didn't Vale prove it to you!" Blake's exposed ears twitched at it giving Illia the impression that she agreed.
"They fight each other and die together just like those fools on the CCT, My love… Please don't fall with them I've talked to Sienna Khan and she's agreed to allow you back to us, back to your family." A lie of course, anyone here could tell you Sienna had long since abandoned their sect, branding them as extremist and exiling them from both menagerie and her White Fang alike.
Illia's heart ached as she saw a tear come from the trembling Blake's form, she stepped forward and pressed against Adam and they embraced the sight bringing her no small amount of despair.
"I knew you'd come back to me." Blake looked up to him and Illia nearly turned away
"Adam, would you answer something for me?" However, at that curiosity took her.
"Of course my love." Adam rested his chin on her head, the action making Illia teeth gnash and fist clench as she saw it knowing it should be her instead.
"Do you know the name of the two that died on the CCT?" The question was unexpected and Illia could hardly see the reason to ask it, even so she knew one was their former benefactor while the other was the so-called Hero of Vale though she hardly thought it necessary to dig that information up.
"The woman was named Cinder, as for the that weakling that managed to kill her I do not know. 'heh' but then again who does." Illia tilted her head at Blakes reaction as she didn't move nor react to Cinder's name but upon Adam's callous remark of the martyr her disposition… changed.
"I do…" Illia heard the words but instead of her giving the answer faster than any of them could react she drew her Gambol Shroud and acted. It was only a single strike, a single quick and precise action and with that one swift movement the situation changed. Adam didn't even realize it for a moment and fell to his knees the strength of his body betraying him.
From the brush dozens upon dozens of men in camo emerged they were obviously mercenaries those she could spot a few huntsmen in their ranks. Including a rabbit Faunus she remembered seeing in the Vytal Festival. It was only then that she looked closer and realized it, all the men and women surrounding them their guns leveled were entirely their kin, Faunus.
"His name." Illia looked to Blake unable to do anything else… she saw how the bloodied Gambol Shroud trembled in her hand.
"Do you want to know what his name was Adam?" The people surrounding them eyes grew cold as if looking upon trash as they looked to the White Fang who couldn't comprehend the situation. Without hesitation Blake rose the barrel of her weapon to right between Adam's eyes. Raising her face to him all that could be seen was righteous fury and hate through clenched teeth she roared out the words.
"HIS NAME WAS JAUNE ARC! THE MAN YOU AND THAT BITCH TOOK FROM US, FROM ME!" As she saw that fury in her eyes Illia realized that the pleading, the want and the regret they weren't ever towards Adam or the White Fang but to that man who died during The Fall. Without hesitation she was about to fire however Yuma rushed forward at her.
"You traitor!" However, she was far too quick jumping back and avoiding his tackle only for Trifa to launch out her webs. However, upon grasping her the figure faded revealing itself to be a shadow Blake landed within the ranks of the group. Her eyes closed in on Adams kneeling form no love nor even a trace of affection reside within them towards him only disdain.
"I'm done, do what you want with them, I don't care as long as he dies." Turning away from them, the group begun to open fire. Illia watched as each of her kin were killed before her very eyes by the people they sought to save. The firing Faunus teared up but never hesitated to pull the trigger while other invaded the camp and begun cutting down her brother and sisters.
Illia couldn't understand why this was happening, why were they being killed by the very people they fought for. She turned to the retreating form of Blake and yelled out to her.
"Why! What did we do to deserve this!" To those words Blake stopped however she didn't turn to her, never bothered gracing her with the sight of those angelic amber eyes.
"After all you've done, after you killed so many, don't tell me you didn't expect to be killed in kind? Everyone whose lost someone to your revolution… all of you are guilty by standing there, by wearing those outfits… for all the people who've suffered at your hands just die." With that she walked away, Illia froze in place her heart shattering at her words.
"Illia!" Turning she saw the form of Yuma and Trifa holding Adam, Trifa using her webbing to stop the bleeding.
"We need to get out of here" Illia nodded and rushed to their side, Fang members came around the four shielding them however without warning a figure appeared before them as she cleaved through several men.
"As if I'd let you get away…" Standing there was the faunus girl who she had seen in the Vytal festival's first round from that coffee-based team. In her hand was a large sword one would never think she'd be capable of lifting. Soon the blade faded and from a small device it begun projecting a new weapon that sent shivers down Illia's back. In the bunny faunus's hand was a cross between a great sword and chainsaw, that she and all the members of the fang were very familiar with.
"T-That's the lieutenant's…"
"Who, that big man who tried to infiltrate the last dust shipment… we made short work of him… he was far to predictable…" Without a word the girl leaped into the air seemingly undaunted by the massive weapon and slammed down into the remaining members were, the weapon digging into a sister.
"Don't you dare ask for mercy… after what you've done!" Velvet looked to them with eyes no different than Blakes.
"Blake, may not be able to bare cutting down her own kind! But I can, after what I've seen you do!" Without a word she kicked a member away and begun to rush to him.
"I was so ashamed of my heritage because of you that I didn't even resist when they called me an animal! After all, with what you've done how could we argue against that, how could we act like they were wrong to hate us!" Even members of the White Fang realized in that moment that these people weren't killing them for money, nor fame but out of principle and to relieve some of the guilt they bared for their actions.
Illia locked eyes with Velvet and saw a determination much like her own but instead of the hate she felt Velvet's eyes revealed a sorrow and worse pity. Beside her Yuma gritted his teeth as he glared upon the bunny Faunus.
"Your just traitors to your kind! You side with the humans! With our enemies." Velvet eyes gained a cold resolve.
"Human's aren't the enemies, the Grimm are… while it true that there are those that see us as animals. There are also people who would gladly walk beside us. Like Jaune who died because of your revolution…" Velvet switched her weapon to that of a sniper rifle/ scythe and opened fire hitting Yuma's wing essentially clipping it. Without a moment's hesitation she rushed forward upon them only to be intercepted by what remained of their brothers and sisters
"Get the general out of her-" the man's head was quickly bisected by the bunny who cried as she committed the act.
"We've already done this much… Don't let them escape… This ends now." Any reluctance left the members at her words. With a new resolve they rose their guns to the people who had been blinded by their hate.
"For the sin of becoming a monster worse than the Grimm we'll eliminate you… The Faunus of Vale declare war on the White Fang!"
Illia, Trifa and Yuma rushed away with Adam as they heard those chilling words, not looking back they ran until their feet were raw and worn. After finally being to worn out to move any further the three stopped letting down Adam. Somehow, he was still alive. Trifa begun to use first aid on the man.
"Adam…" The voice was low and quiet and yet there was such a presence to it, turning they were met by the figure of a large human with tanned skin. Yuma took his position his eyes glaring upon the man.
"Get back human!" The man seemed none to perturbed by Yuma's words and advanced Trifa fired off-web at him however despite being caught in it he spread out his arms tearing it apart. Yuma darted forward upon him however the man took his attack before grabbing his other wing and crushing the bone in his hand. Yuma yelled hut was quickly silenced when he struck down on him knocking him unconscious.
"Yuma!" In her rage Illia reached for her weapon and struck however upon hitting he didn't even flinch merely turning to her. The man clenched his fist as he advanced, his gaze firmly sat on Illia who repeatedly struck his imposing form but to little effect.
"Enough…" Without warning Hazel launched forward at her however Illia was knocked out of the way by Trifa who received the full brunt of the attack. The spider faunus was launched away into a tree snapping it's truck, Illia heard the sound of snapping bones and saw as her sister revolutionist fell limply on the floor. Illia looked to the man once more finding his imposing figure standing straight before her.
"Move." Illia found she lacked even the needed strength to respond and seemingly in response the man rose a hand to swat her away.
"Stop… Hazel…" The man lowered his hand and looked past Illia to Adam, who was barely clinging unto his life.
"Why did you come here."
"We had info you'd be attacked… need to escort you to our leader." The downed revolutionist sneered.
"As if I could, I won't last long and besides my kin have nearly all been killed. Who would take us in now."
"You can be saved, improved… will you?" Adam looked to Hazel his discontent clear.
"The humans are my enemy and now even my own kind bared their fangs at me… why not side with the Grimm." Hazel nodded before fixing his gaze on Illia.
"What of them?" Adam looked to Illia who stared back at him.
"Kill them…" As the words left his mouth Illia felt her body freeze, Hazel's eyes adopted a disappointed expression.
"Why?" As if to mimic him Illia turned to him panic running through her form.
"Yes brother Adam! Why!" However, before he could answer her she felt a mighty force strike her away, Illia launched into a boulder causing it to crack and leaving her body in pain all over. Falling to her knees she struggled to look to him. From behind Hazel a odd Grimm appeared resembling that of a jellyfish if only faintly. Without warning the Grimm impaled the injured bull with its spiked tendrils.
"I'm pleased you've realized the futility of your kind sir Taurus." Illia felt a shiver run through her spine at the voice that both enticed and repulsed her. Slowly essence begun to pump through the Grimm's tendrils and into Adam's form. The Faunus commander begun to writhe in pain screaming gout as the inhuman substance ran through his veins.
His muscles begun to bulge and distort as did the rest of his bones, the wound on his throat healed at a startling pace which betrayed the otherworldly nature of the essence entering him. The horns on his head begun to extend and grow in mass becoming more pronounced and curving forward like that of a bull. He roared out with enough force to shatter his mask black veins begun to run throughout his body and upon reaching his eyes the sclera begun to corrupt as the white darkened to that of a jet black.
Slowly the Faunus's pained howls begun to turn to that of laughter as he, all the while his bright red aura begun to be stained by a darker hue becoming like that of a parody of it's former glory. Hazel merely looked upon the scene of Adam's transition into that of something more and yet less. Every instinct in Illia told her top run from the being before her, regardless of any former loyalty.
As fast as the transformation happened it almost abruptly stopped leaving the Faunus still all the while laughing. Slowly he stood up and gazed upon his form noting the overwhelming power and strength practically oozing from his form. Hazel nodded to him.
"You survived."
"Yes he did… 'heh' very good Taurus, no… my child." Adam turned to the Seer and kneeled before it.
"Thankyou… mother." His eyes radiated with a sinister gleam, finally he tu8rned to Illia the smile on his face leaving him.
"Amitola, you asked why?" Adam pulled out Wilt leveling the scarlet blade to Illia's neck she could feel as his aura begun to enter the blade allowing it to somehow bypass her own.
"Yes, we saved you…Wwhy would you abandon us?"
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Illia looked up to Adam into his eyes and found him smirking.
"The way your eyes lingered on her, on my love…"
"What?"
"You were jealous, I felt your eyes on her and rage towards me even before this power… That why you'll die… forever thinking you could have what's mine!" Adam rose the blade high in the air however before he could slash down he ceased turning to the direction they had ran from.
"'Tch' They're coming… So much faster than I thought. I suppose it doesn't matter. Adam turned towards the Seer."
"Mother can you distract them?"
"But of course, my son, I could summon Grimm and bend them to my will though… so could you? why not try?" Adam seemed momentarily surprised by that however that feeling quickly left him as no sooner did he turn towards the direction of the incoming Faunus. Opening his mouth wide he yelled however what came out didn't sound like such. Throughout the forest a insufferable roar rang true and howls and growls of Grimm responded to it.
Illia watched in horror as Nevermores, Beowulves and Ursa alike surrounded Adam who looked upon them kindly almost lovingly. He placed his palm on the closest Ursa's head and slowly it begun to grow in mass. The armor plating surrounding it grew and spines begun to grow from its back.
"to already have such a grasp on your influence, my Adam you exceed my expectations." Adam removed his hand from the Grimm's head and where the Ursa once stood now there was a Major. Adam smiled upon the sight of the Grimm and around his face a Grimm mask begun to manifest covering his nose and up.
"Thank you mother, now all of you, attack." Without hesitation the Grimm turned towards the incoming faunus and roared before rushing forward towards them. No sooner than that did the sound of guns and screams emerge. Illia watched as Adam smiled manically.
"I see… fear, panic and despair… hehehe, ahahaha how pathetic! Why did I ever treasure them so much… they're no different than humans. Human and faunus are equal… before the Grimm." Adam turned to Illia and smiled.
"Mother can I ask something."
"What could it be my child?"
"Blake… can I make her mine."
"Of course if you kill the other three I'll allow it." Adam grinned.
"Thank you." Adam turned to Illia his gaze set and his eyes letting out a baleful glow, slowly he advanced towards the frightened Faunus however that same voice spoke from the Seer.
"Oh Adam dear, will killing her truly satisfy you?" Adam paused and turned to Salem.
"What do you mean?"
"Killing them would be a kindness my child… surely you of all people could understand the fears of your kind." Adam grinned at her words and slowly sheathed his blade.
"Thank you for the kind advice."
"Think nothing of it." With that Adam turned to her grinning before lifting his foot slamming it into her.
-Retention Cell-
She remembered waking to find herself in a Henry boys care on her way to be sent to the Schnee but not before those guards of his made sure to vent their frustration towards the White Fang on them. It was almost ironic really, they decided to cast aside peace and enter Adam's revolution, by doing so they became something that destroyed any progress the former White Fang made and turned their own kind against them. She remembered Velvet's words and felt a weight in her stomach.
"It's not too late to do what's right." Illia looked up to see the Oscar kid looking to Yuma his face tense from hesitation but firm.
"What the hell did you just say human?" Oscar looked down breaking eye contact with Yuma but continued.
"I said you can still do what's right… you can still change your ways." To that Yuma sneered.
"Shut your mouth human! Do what's right! That's what we've been doing!"
"Do you honestly believe that!" Yuma stepped back a bit surprised by the boy's outburst, Illia saw as he trembled.
"My best friends was a Faunus… she wasn't anything special, or to bright but she was kind and believed in the best in people… She was so happy when her parents told her she could go to the Vytal Festival… She said there was a Faunus in the team that won last year named Velvet." Illia watched as tears fell to the floor.
"She wanted me to go so badly… we practically begged my aunt, but it would be time to harvest soon so I didn't get to go. I remember how mad I got when she told be… I even said I hated her but she still gave her life for mine." Yuma took a step back.
"When we saw what was happening over the broadcast I prayed and then Jaune sacrificed himself… I was sure she come back bragging about how amazing it all was." She could see Trifa look away from the boy.
"But when she did come back it was in a casket… there wasn't enough of her for even that…"
"That was the Grimm not us!"
"They showed me the camera feed! I saw your kind gun them down because they wouldn't pick up a gun and fight alongside you!" Illia went wide-eyed she'd never heard anything about this… No maybe she just didn't want to.
"They shot them down and left her there…Milly had aura though, so she survived… until the Grimm came… I watched as she struggled but, but." Oscar rose his gaze to Yuma.
"Tell me was that part of your Revolution! To kill a innocent girl who wanted nothing but for our kind to get along! Who only saw the best in people!" Yuma begun to respond but quickly stopped having nothing worth note to retort with.
"I almost didn't tell Jaune…" Illia looked to the tanned boy.
"When Jaune came to save us… I was so happy and then I realized you three weren't there. I thought you deserved it, to die alone and forgotten… but she, but Milly wouldn't have wanted that." Oscar looked to Yuma.
"She would've said its not to late for you to change that's just the kind of person she was, so even if I can't see it, I'll try to believe she'd be right." Oscar smiled but their was no joy in it only a struggle to not cry out at the memories.
"Y-You, Human… she, she died so that our kind…"
"Enough Yuma…" Yuma looked over to see Trifa looking down tears running down her face.
"Kid, Oscar what type of Faunus was she?" Oscar looked to her.
"She was a Cow Faunus, we always joked her stubbornness came from Faunus heritage hehe stubborn as a bull she was…'hic' I remember how awkward I felt the first time she made that joke." Illia watched as the boy teared up and saw how Yuma gritted his teeth.
"I-I'm." Yuma looked and Illia looked to Trifa and saw her do something they'd never thought they see. The pale spider Faunus groveled before the boy.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry!" Illia went wide-eyed while Yuma seemingly gasped.
"Trifa what are you doing!?" Trifa continued to repeat those two words over and over again all the while her form trembled. Finally back from his stupor Oscar kneeled down and did something just as unexpected he kneeled down reached out his hand through the bar clamping it on her shoulder. Trifa looked up to the boy shocked but was met by his smile and despite that fact that tears still ran down his face the nature of his smile had changed to that of a truly joyful one.
"She was right… I'm glad I did what she would've." Trifa looked to Oscar.
"Then you, forgive me…" Oscar looked down.
"I don't know that." Trifa cast her eyes down.
"I se-"
"But I'll try… after all it because of feeling like these that you entered the White fang, right?" Oscar looked to her.
"And besides if it'll stops you from continuing down this path, even just one of you… Then Milly wouldn't have died for nothing." Trifa looked to Oscar and teared up giving yet another apology.
"Enough!" Before anther word could pass Yuma reached out grabbing Oscar's arm and pulling it towards him with a grievous amount of force, when it hit one of the metal bars a sickening crunch rang through the room.
"What right does your kind have to talk about forgiveness!" Yuma roared his aura seething out from his form.
"After all your kind had done!" Hell tightened his grip as images of them came to mind.
"Where was the kindness when you enslaved them!" Tears begun to form in his eyes.
"When Atlas military took my dad to work in a mine for those bastard Schnee!" Images of the stoic figure patting his back and when he saw his father form again when he infiltrated the mine burnt to a crisp from a dust explosion.
"When the sick Mistral forced my mother to sell herself to them and make her a slave! No, their plaything!" He remembered how his mother would always read him stories of heroes and justice and smiling to him. However, those were quickly stained by the scene when they were on a hit on one of the Schnee relatives. He remembered seeing her so frail and void of her former warmness leaving only a motionless husk to lost from the drugs to know what they were doing to her body.
"When Mistral killed my sister in cold blood!" He remembered how they stoned him and his sister on the streets of Vale and the night where he returned he found their shack burnt to cinder…with her still in it.
"You think a few pretty words will change anything!" Yuma reached out his other arm grabbing Oscar by his throat.
"You think your kind were the only ones who suffered! Who lost the people they loved! You Humans are all the same So stop pretending!"
"I'm sorry…" Yuma froze.
"What…"
"Your right…" Oscar looked to Yuma his eyes firm and focused despite the searing pain.
"My kind aren't innocent…" Yuma didn't know how to respond to those words freezing from them.
"I'm sorry for those you lost… I know what it's like to lose your family." Yuma's grip released, and he backed away from Oscar almost fearfully.
"Why…" Hitting the wall the man was caught in a weird sate of surprise and refusal to accept the boy before him. Oscar fell back clutching his arm, Illia watched as Yuma struggled not to roar in anger as his body trembled and tears fell from his face.
"Why did they die! Why!" Oscar looked to the wing Faunus before doing something none of them expected he opened Yuma's cell and stepped right before the winged man.
"I don't know, and I feel like any other answer would be an excuse… That's why, this is the best I could come up with." Yuma looked to the boy as he rose up his sole good hand in surrender.
"What the hells the matter with you? I could kill you…" Oscar nodded, honestly he was scared but even so outside of this ship who did he really have, the answer, nobody. Which was why he needed to do this, they had something against Jaune whether it was stopping their plans during the Fall or something else he didn't know but regardless they needed what these three knew. Besides there was something else he didn't know about Trifa or Illia but Yuma knew the pain of loss something that made Oscar want to save him.
"You could, but what would that change?" Yuma gritted his teeth.
"Would that bring back your parents?" He remembered his mother and father once more.
"Shut up!"
"Or your sister?" Yuma gripped Oscar by his collar raising him into the air.
"I said shut up!" Oscar looked to the Faunus man and could see it his hate and the reason behind it.
"Would they be happy to see what you've done?" With as much strength as he could Yuma slammed Oscar into the metal bars.
"Stop It!"
"'Cough' Would they be able to rest in peace… if they saw what you were becoming?"
"W-why won't you… why won't you just shut up… stop it…"
"They wouldn't want you to become less then the people responsible for their deaths… please stop… not because I asked you, or even for yourself… but for them…" Tears fell on the floor once more as the Faunus's grip loosened.
"Dammit… DAMMIT!" With all his strength Yuma threw Oscar from the cell, before falling to his knees and crying out. Looking to him Oscar didn't see a grown man, nor the terrorist or even the hateful Faunus but a child who was locked deep inside drowning in his hate.
"Was it all in vain! All my fighting, our goal was it just the same hate that suppressed us! Tell me! Tel…me…" Yuma fell forward and wit was only then that Oscar noticed the small dart in his neck.
"You did quite exceptional Friend-Oscar." Turning Oscar was met by the sight of Penny who held a small tranquillizer gun in hand.
"Though I wouldn't have recommended opening a cell for a potential enemy, such a tactic even if potentially beneficial for negotiations is far to risky." Slowly Penny closed the cell door before looking to Trifa.
"I've dug through the files gathered on the White Fang, according to my information you are Trifa correct?" Trifa slightly stiffened before looking away her eyes adopting some of her previous sharpness.
"Do you intend to interrogate me? I know you Atlesian bastards methods…" To that Penny once more tilted her head.
"Interrogate, no I'm afraid such skills are beyond my capability, besides I am no longer affiliated with Atlas. The fact that you three haven't been executed as per law should be more than adequate proof for that is it not?" Trifa looked to Penny seeing her kneeling by Oscar as she begun to wrap his arm.
"Then what do you want?"
"I wish to learn information on the kingdoms, Grimm activities or on the geopolitical scale if at all possible. Though I would not be opposed to learning more about the White Fang's extremist faction. Of course, only if you are willing to tell. " Illia finally gaining her bearings from the earlier display looked to Penny almost accusingly.
"And what will you do to us once you have your information, execute us?" At her words Oscar went wide-eyed and begun to retort only to briefly pause before looking up to Penny questionably. To his almost accusatory gaze Penny frowned before narrowing her eyes on Illia displaying her emotion of annoyance quite highly.
"Miss Amitola I would appreciate it if you would not accuse me of doing such things. After all we rescued you despite the blood on the White Fangs hand could you say you'd do the same." To the gingers words Illia wanted to retort but found she couldn't. Seeing that the girl had given up Penny had once more turned her attention back to Trifa.
"Could you please tells us the information, rest assured I've been ordered by Friend-Jaune to keep you three safe, we have no ill intentions towards you, only those with direct involvement in The Fall and even then, we will 'attempt' to practice fair judgement." To her words Trifa loosened just a bit but held her suspicious stare that was till Oscar once more spoke.
"Please… I'm sure if you talk Jaune will be willing to forgive anything you done up till now, if he wasn't I'm sure he wouldn't have helped you." To his words Trifa and Illia alike both visibly calmed before Trifa gave a nervous look to Illia and Yuma and showed slight guilt however before she could speak Illia made up her mind.
"I-I understand… just please promise you won't hurt Yuma or Trifa, also I'd like to tell Jaune personally." To that Penny smiled
"Marvelous, I would have it no other way, once I leave the room I will deactivate the Cells as a show of good faith, I trust you understand that attempting escape will be met by hostilities correct." To that Illia nervously nodded.
"Very good, Jaune is attending business elsewhere however upon his return I will ensure your issue takes priority. Until then I wish to take friend Oscar to the medical wing for his arm." Slowly Illia nodded in understanding however before she could leave Illia spoke out to her.
"Thankyou…"
"… It is Friend-Jaune and Oscar who have shown faith in you not me, I would advise remembering that. Had Mr Yuma gone any further I would have terminated him." With those words Penny gave a curtsy before leaving Oscar in toe. Penny smiled at Illia's terms she may had thought seeing Jaune the leader of their group was in her best interest but in truth she wouldn't be able to lie to him and any hostile intent would be detected almost instantly.
The truth was she lost the moment she requested that, however that was not the foremost concern of the former fembot at the moment but was instead her newest friend as well as subordinate Oscar Pines. Even now she was still surprised by what he had done but even more so then that was the result of his gamble.
Just as she entered the Medical bay she was greeted by the sight of a small petite figure who looked back to her wide eyed. Penny blinked as if to see if the wanted girl was a trick of the eyes however Oscar went wide eyed.
"Hey that's the slave Jaune saved from miss Schnee right?" The Petite girl just looked to the two letting a sight tremble leave her form before she jumped back in hopes of shattering.
"Wait!" Surprised the petite mad dog stopped her escape to look at Oscar curiously.
"Before you go please hear me out." Neo looked to Oscar.
"Jaune was worried about you…." Neo rose an eyebrow at the memory of the blonde knight, before Oscar could finish any further Penny stepped forward tossing a small chip Neo's way.
"There is a list of priority targets of the woman in charge of the late miss Fall's… you'll find yourself rank 3rd there." Neo looked to Penny surprised before looking back down to the chip.
"Jaune convinced miss Schnee keeping you alive would be both beneficial and necessary with that, however what he truly wanted was to save you." Neo remembered the boy showing up just as the fat asshole was about to claim her, the thought of what she'd be doing if he hadn't shown made her want the throw up.
"Miss Politan I feel the need to info you that even if you escape here you will only continue to be pursued." Those words made her freeze in place.
"However, if you are willing to stay and cooperate Jaune will certainly help you." Neo looked to Penny suspiciously however Penny merely smiled in response.
"Do not fret over the legitimacy of my words after all the only reason I haven't exterminated you despite your involvement in The Fall is due to the fact that Jaune wished to save you." the words of the fembot were said with no trace of lies which only served to both give Neo a small amount of relief and at the same time disturb her. Oscar seemingly ignoring Penny's callous remark stepped towards Neo alerting her of his presence once more.
"Please… Jaune said it was only because he felt our despite that he came to us… he said that you were the one he wanted to save most." Neo looked to Oscar and found his words oddly believable, that knight wanted to help her? She didn't dare believe it or at least she shouldn't have and yet…She remembered that stupid small he gave her as he allowed her to put a knife to his throat.
Nobody just helps somebody else there was always a reason behind their catch, that's what Roman taught her… Roman. Remembering her former boss and stand-in father. Brother figure her eyes glazed over. She looked to the chip in her hand that apparently held Cinder's daddies wanted list, she didn't need to look she could already tell it was legit and even if it wasn't she was sure the bitch would want her dead anyways.
Don't be panicked, I'm friendly
What was his game? Was it her body, her servitude or even the information or bounty on her. No if that was the case he wouldn't have freed her… then what was it, could it really be as simple as he wanted to help her. People didn't work like that, they were scummy, corrupted and easily influenced, they didn't just help people out of the kindness of their hearts.
So why?
Neo shook her head before looking back to Penny and Oscar she hated to having a scroll to communicate. Penny smiled as if she understood and nodded.
"Friend Jaune has endured a lot, when I'm sure when he saw your state, your despair he could relate and wanted to save you like he hoped someone would've saved him." Neo looked to Penny quotably, could they be serious could that blonde idiot really be so strong and yet not want to use that power to take over everything.
"Will you please consider staying till Jaune returns miss Neopolitan?" Neo took a gamble and signed to the former fembot.
I won't be retained?
Penny observed and smiled before shaking her head.
"No, while the information you may carry may prove to be vital, I have no intentions of doing something Jaune would dislike."
I'm a wanted woman, can you honestly say you won't turn me in.
Once more Penny nodded.
"Do not fret, We have three members of the White Fang in our hands and have no intentions of turning them in either, I hope that will prove our intentions." Neo went wide-eyed a bit surprised to hear that and found herself conflicted. This was to good to be true and yet what choice did she really have… With a sigh Neo looked up to Penny signing.
I see, very well, retain me in a cell as well until that thing returns.
To that Penny's eyes narrowed.
"His name is Jaune Arc miss Neopolitan I suggest you remember that." To her cold gaze Neo stepped back a bit frightened but maintained herself, after all she knew she could fight this woman or at the very least escape from her. The question was could she fight or evade the Arc if his intentions proved to be less then ideal.
-Anima Forest-
"What the hell are you!" The woman shouted as she fired her dust rounds from her rifle/ sword hybrid from her position. She had been ambushed by this girl, her team killed and herself heavily injured now without the aid of her aura. She couldn't rise as both her knees and hip had been expertly cut. She continued to fire at the woman however to her horror the girl before her intercepted each and every bullet with her glass twin swords.
The response to her struggle the girl merely gave a slightest of smirks to the more matured huntress her black eye with a deep scarlet pupil keen on her form and yet that was not the eye that unsettled the veteran huntress but the other eye that was now unobstructed by the girl's hair. It was white like that of a human and yet at a single glance one would now how far from that it truly was.
"What's wrong miss Shield?" The girl advanced the odd eye keen on her form where her pupil should be instead a red Ouroboros tattooed remained.
"Who are you?" the girl merely smiled before shifting the blade to that of a bow.
"Who I am doesn't matter, at least not to you… all that matters is that you were brought here to be eliminated."
Brought here?… Leo, no.
At her despaired expression Ebony smiled knowingly.
"I see so you understand such a pitiable woman, to be forsaken by your superior's fret not though. Soon it will be over." Ebony didn't waste any time and fired at the woman. In response Heather rose her shield over her form blocking it only for the dust in the arrowhead to ignite and engulf the woman in searing blue flames. Before she could scream though she felt a pressure in her chest and looked down to see a blade emerging through her shield burying itself deep into her chest.
"A pity you were born in Mistral, had your birthplace been Vale I'm sure you'd have lived a long life." Whether it was act of kindness or not Ebony blade pieced her heart ensuring her a quick if slightly painful death. However, Heather's thoughts were already too far away from that as her mind pondered to her family. Her daughter, who was still so young, she didn't want to leave her at such a tender age.
She remembered what happened to Qrow's niece when her mother died, she didn't want to do that to her precious Lily. How would Cyan explain that to her, oh Oum how would he handle it when he heard… Memories of the two during their younger days came to mind, their wedding and then Lily's birth.
"Please… take care of…each…oth…er…" The huntress's eyes glazed over as her form went forever still, standing above her Ebony looked down, he expression unchanging.
"You human make no sense to me… all you had to do was run… you stood no chance so why did you stay." Ebony leaned down to level with the dead woman's face raising her hand to trail her finger along the deceased Heather's hair.
"Why do your kind refuse to do the logical thing? You could've lived if you abandoned them 'sigh' I suppose in the end you were just another foolish human throwing your lives away for nothing" As she said this a single drop of scarlet landed unto Heather's cheek, seeing it Ebony reached to her face and found why. Tear of blood formed from her eyes.
"It would seem I still can't understand why you would do such a foolish thing for them Progenitor, even if these tears come from my eyes they are surely yours." Ebony turned away from the scene and begun to make her way towards Oniyuri enabling her Scroll she called Mordred.
"It would seem that woman put up more of a fight then I intended, I'll be late."
"Should we call off our ambush." Ebony shook her head.
"That won't be necessary, I will be there in no sooner than a hour or so, until then detain her."
"What of the others."
"Kill them on sight."
"Understood." With that single word Mordred cut of his transmission, Ebony looked in the direction of Oniyuri before closing her eyes and letting two larges Nevermore wings emerge. She didn't know why but before she left she turned back to the form of Heather. Looking to the woman who layed their forever still she felt annoyed.
"Tsk, useless…" With that she rose a hand letting loose a fireball the quickly enveloped her form in fire rendering the corpse to ash before she flew off towards Oniyuri.
-Oniyuri-
"Awww, I'm bored!" Ren looked to Nora a small smile on his face as he patted her head.
"I suppose we have been on the move for a while, A rest may be in order." Hearing that Russel nodded.
"Hey Pyrrha, Cardin you hear that?" Turning to him with a Cardin rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah just a little more you crybabies will rest in one of those buildings over there." To his order Pyrrha nodded and just as they stepped past the walls of the abandoned village she rose a hand to stop their advance. Cardin rose a brow at that.
"What's up Nikos?" Pyrrha quickly scanned over the village before she pursed her pulled out Miló and Akoúo̱. In response to that the other six drew their weapons as well forming a circle Ren's eyes narrowed.
"We're already surrounded."
"Hmm, observant." Just then a colossal blade stabbed into the center of their circle on top of it an armored giant of a man stood. Before the seven could look to him from the allies of the half-constructed building, Grimm of all shapes and sizes began to crept fort.
—
As he rushed through the foliage Jaune couldn't help but noticed the absence in Grimm during their advances through the air just above the trees as to not be spotted by possible huntsman. While Winter rode on top of her ivory Nevermore, Jaune used his wings to keep up.
"Winter how long until we reach Oniyuri?"
"At this rate will be their soon." Jaune nodded to her words not happy but accepting things for what they were.
Jaune.
What is it Pecus?
I can feel a vast amount of Grimm emanating not to far from here… I fear its from Oniyuri.
You don't mean…
They've begun their ambush…
Jaune narrowed his eyes focusing on the area ahead of him.
"Winter, get there as fast as you can, I'm going ahead." Without another word Jaune forced more Biomass into his wings allowing them to grow in mass and speed up. Winter shrugged.
"'Sigh' how am I supposed to keep up with that." Winter looked to her Nevermore and more importantly the unconscious woman it carried.
"I suppose the drugs are still in effect good thing I always carry chloroform as a mean of suppressant." Rushing to Jaune's aid was certainly tempting but securing this Vernal girl was necessary she looked to the black spec that was Jaune and nodded.
"If that ambush was really targeting his team, I fear nothing will stop him from tearing apart the culprits."
-Extra-
All she could see was him as he stepped towards her drawing his sword. The red of his hair as his masked glowing demonically, he smiled and then he struck. Yang awoke panicked but stopped as she looked to the sight of her team who looked at her wide-eyed alongside her uncle. Yang looked to them and saw the tears begun to form, she quickly threw away her self-pity and forced a smile.
"C'mon guys don't start crying I'm the one in the hospital." Yang looked to her Uncle who she noticed was actually sober.
"Hey, uncle mind giving your little Firecracker a hand." She saw as her little sister fell over her lap and broke down alongside the other members of her team in tears.
"W-we thought we lost you! The doctor said he didn't know if you'd wake up." Yang smiled down at her sister rubbing her head.
"Don't worry sis I'm fine. Before she looked to them she saw the many flowers by her side they were from her team, CFVY and even classmates she didn't even know, Hell even CRDL sent her some. it seemed like everyone at Beacon sent her flower like a testament to her popularity. Well everyone but one.
"Heh that jerk Vomit boy didn't send me anything." Of course, she wasn't mad, a little hurt sure but maybe he didn't have any cash. Yang suddenly heard her team go quiet.
"Huh, what's wrong guys?" Yang felt Ruby tremble beneath her as she watched Blake fall to her knees, even Weiss fell back against the wall.
Just as she was about to ask what was wrong before her eyes caught the sight of the TV that was muted and say the headline hero of Vale and who's picture was up.
"Oh, wow Vomit boys on TV!"
"Yang."
"Guess he had it in him after all, well crap I owe you 50 lien sis.
"Yang!" The blonde brawler turned to face her uncle who wore a grim expression as he walked up to her handing her his scroll. She looked at it to see Jaune and that sexy ravened haired girl Rubes had help back when she first came over for the Vytal Fest.
"What's this?" Yang took the scroll and pressed play, she heard Jaune talking about buying some time.
"Wait what?
Jaune looked to them and spoke. Wondering how the guy she fought Mercury was standing, something Yang hadn't even realized. Mercury smiled and lifted his pant to reveal prosthetics shocking Yang. He then said something about emerald being an illusionist. What truly shocked her was how they just so nonchalantly confirmed it.
"What the fuck I told you didn't I! Way a go Vomit boy maybe you deserve a reward." their next words shocked her as they asked him to join them than she heard them say how his family viewed him forbidding him from going to school or even healthcare how they even tried to feed him to Grimm she saw her uncle tense at the words. Jaune begun to laugh at them something that made Yang see her fellow blonde in a new light.
She watched as the woman literally flew at Jaune and a giant Grimm Dragon tried to attack. A flash occurred, and Yang froze in shock as Jaune's arm was sent flying.
"Jaune!" She watched as the witch drew an arrow her aim set on Jaune.
"Get out of There!" She fired it dead center into his chest the scroll begun to warp from the heat her semblance lets out. She saw as Jaune fell to his knees.
"No, no, NO! Don't give up Vomit boy don't give up Jaune!"
Yang hears the woman taunt him on his failures each word chipping away at her soul because she had thought the same thing even if she had never said so. Finally, the raven-haired witch stepped towards Jaune and stabs her dagger deep into his form.
"I'm gonna find you and I'm going to kill you!" She wanted to yell at her team for being here with her instead of finding this bitch! She saw as Jaune grabbed the women's hand and watches as the last of his light enters her. For a moment, Yang thought he had accidentally healed her until three words came from his mouth each sending shiver through her.
"Pawn takes Queen." The woman began to clutch her gut as her lackeys supported her writhing form. Jaune tells the women his semblance and by extension Yang who felt her heart drop she watched him fall on his back seemingly accepting his fate. The woman asked him how he could throw away his life away. Her fellow blonde begun to chuckle as he answered her. Jaune spoke his final word each line making her cry she would never forget
"Because you're a threat to my friends."
Vomit-boy… don't.
"Yang will be fine and with her name cleared the skies the limit."
No.
"In the end it all comes down to the fact that I'm the only one replaceable so why wouldn't I do it."
No, you aren't! Please Stop!
"Yang. You always used me for jokes or just messed with me. But you meant well, after I failed at flirting you would fake flirt with me to cheer me up. Try to cheer up Pyrrha for me okay, if anyone can do it, you can."
Stop You Idiot! Get Out Of There Please! You Can't Just Save My Future! Not at the cost of your own!
"When I left my parents told me they hoped I died a bloody death, and that the cemetery was always open for me to return to. Not entirely false given the situation but I don't care. I always did want to go out with a bang 'heh' looks like I finally get your puns Yang."
"JAUNE!"
As the white light enveloped the screen Yang watched and fell back into her bed. She was the daughter of two of the strongest hunters in history a natural-born fighter and top at Signal. She was the embodiment of power to most people even those in Beacon and at that moment she cried out in a horrid mix of pain, regret and guilt for a boy she'd never get to thank or apologize for what he done.
-The Club-
Yang's eyes begun to open and see herself in a bed and lift herself up before realizing that this wasn't her room. Looking around the room she realized she was in the twin's rooms one the second floor of the club.
"'Groan' I must have drunk myself under the table again… 'sigh' for a moment there I thought I might have been lured by some asshat." Yang begun to raise herself from the bed making way to the bathroom, her hair was a mess while her eyes were a bit reed around the ends from crying.
"Dammit, I hate it when booze don't do their damn job." After fixing her hair and washing her face the Buxom brawler made her way down stairs. She could feel the stares of lust on her, some were girls, most were men, but she spared them no mind as she made her way to the bar. Sitting down she looked over to see Junior already looking her way a brow raised.
"Really girlie, you just woke up and you're already trying to get wasted again." Yang shrugged a cocky grin on her face.
"Just trying to get a healthy buzz." Junior shoulder's slumped.
"'Sigh' listen girlie I know people imitate their heroes and all but maybe your uncle isn't the best example." Both let loose a soft chuckle at the joke.
"Oh come on Junior I'm just trying to start my day…er night with a 'Yang' is all. " Junior let out another tired chuckle.
"Good Oum, I'm probably the only person this side of Vale who actually likes those 'punny' jokes of yours." To that Yang grinned and Junior slid a Strawberry Sunrise her way, with one drink she could tell it had less alcohol then the usual, but she understood it was just the big guys way of looking out for her.
"Tall, knows how to make drinks and loves a good joke 'heh' Junior pal why didn't we become pals sooner." Junior snorted and shook his head a mirthful smirk on his face.
"Because you were a pain in the ass teen who wrecked my bar over something I didn't even know."
"Hey, I resent that, I'm still a pain in the ass teen." Junior shrugged at the blonde's toothy smile.
"Maybe but at least your ass has been humbled and you're not nearly as rash." Junior gave a knowing glace to her right mechanical arm earning a roll of her eyes followed by a playful smirk.
"Who said I can't be rash." With a quick chug of her sunrise, she gripped Junior's collar pulling him in close they're lips a few inches apart. Leaning in close to his ear, she purred.
"How bout it big guy, wanna go upstairs and have a yangtastic time?" Junior chuckled once more as he felt the glares of jealousy all around him, finally, he swiped away her hand crossing his arms and smirked
"I'm good, after all I don't want my nieces sloppy seconds." Yang puffed her cheek at the scathing comment but knew it was in good humour.
"Well damn, when'd you hear about that?" Junior shrugged his face showing a mix of discomfort and annoyance.
"Kind of hard not to notice when you kids go at it like damn rabbits every other night, the only thing worse than knowing your little girls ain't innocent anymore is them sleeping with somebody who could knock my ass out." Yang gave Junior an apologetic look rubbing the back of her head.
"Yeah sorry about that big guy, we can get kind of enthusiastic." Junior waved one hand while the other covered his forehead.
"Please, no more… the only good point to this is that I don't have to worry about them going after some guy." Yang nodded to that.
"Yeah, there's only been one guy who'se ever caught those twos eye…" The two sobered from their pleasant talk at the sentence remembering the doofus blonde. Brought back from their chat Junior asked.
"So you feeling any better girlie?" Yang leaned into the bar.
"Yeah, I guess… I mean it's great that Qrow came back in one piece, but I don't get why dad was so insistent I don't go."
"I get where he's coming from after all nobody wants to put their kid in danger, besides Tai's a big boy, he can handle himself whereas you're still working out the kinks in that new arm of your right. Last time you and the twins spared you were still trying to get used to the shield."
"You know you sound like an ass when your right."
"Everyone says that, but it doesn't make it any less true." Before she could retort she heard the sound of Miltia yelling.
"Take that back!" turning back she saw both twins glaring dagger at a single Faunus man, however, Yang could tell by their getups that he was a huntsman or at least a huntsman-in-training. Around him, Yang could see three others focused on the twins their hands ready to reach for their weapons. Junior's eyes narrowed as he got up and made way with Yang decided to follow.
"Whoa, whoa what the hell girl, what happened to that smile." Melanie clenched her fist as she spat out the words.
"That was before you said that stupid shit, now, take, it, back." The boy shook his head.
"Seriously, I was only stating the facts, no need to lose it." The twins let their aura flare and in response, the Faunus's adopted a threatening air. Seeing this Junior decided to intervene and stepped between the three.
"Hey girl what the hell, don't go losing it like that." Yang sighed sure the big guy had this handled she begun to make way back to the bar. The Faunus boy smiled happily to Junior.
"Thanks their big man." Junior shrugged.
"No problem, they must be a bit buzzed." The twins tried to retort but Junior sent a hard glare their way silencing them but earning him a perfect pair of spiteful glares.
"What happened anyways." Seeing the mood calm down the faunus lowed her guard as did the three others. It was only then Yang recognized him as the leader of team LVDR (Lavender) they came from Mistral if she recalled correctly. She remembered right they tried to enter the tournament but lost to team NDGO their first round, Leo the leader shrugged.
"Nothing much me and my friends were just talking a bit about a criminal and those two lost it." Junior rose an eyebrow to that before turning to the twins. Both Melanie and Miltia maintained their hateful glare on the four especially that of Leo, Junior sighed scratching the back of his head.
"Yeah sorry about that tell you what your drinks are on the house if you're willing to drop it…" Leo gave a cheerful smile.
"Of course man." Junior turned while the twins tried to march up to Leo once more only to be stopped by him.
"Hey, hey you two, what's gotten into you?"
"Tell him who you were talking about!"
"And what you said about him!" To that Leo quirked his brow not understanding.
"The Faker Arc what of it?" At those words the room noise went down a few decimals and Junior stilled.
"Care to repeat that?" Before Leo could answer Junior's sight was blinded by gold, Leo looked to the woman before him. She stood tall and strong with a beauty and strength that gathered the surrounding eyes including his own. However, unlike everyone else in the bar her sight was only on Leo, her beautiful scarlet eyes. Miltia seemingly not able to endure anymore screamed out to the Faunus.
"Who cares if he got in with fake transcripts. In the end, Jaune still died like a huntsman, a hero! My Hero!" Leo looked at her and smirked.
"Oh I see… so you had a crush on him huh? Well, that explain things." Leo's eyes seemingly adopted a smug calm.
"Listen here miss you may consider him a hero and all but a huntsman would've won. I mean come on I talked to the teachers and even some of the Huntsman, Arc was a weakling. Hell, use your head how strong could that lady really be if Arc killed her." Miltia eyes widened and she gritted her teeth while Melanie clenched her fist being the next to roar out her anger.
"How dare you, you sorry excuse for a bastard! You didn't even make it pass your first round in the tournament! If Jaune was a fake then you're less than that." Leo's brow knitted, and his face contorted into an annoyed frown.
"Don't compare me to a failure like that… All he was, was a fake who died like a coward too weak to live to pay for his own Cri-" A heated drink collide with his face that sent him out of his chair. The man looked up to see an enraged Yang whose golden aura was like that of an inferno and begun to warp the room she stared into Leo's eyes.
"Get… up."
"Wha?…"
"GET UP!" Yang roared out he Crimson eyes starred down at the Faunus. A katana was levelled at her neck she turned to see another member of the group looking her dead in the eyes alongside the remaining two behind him looked down the sights of their gun.
"Listen here I don't know who you are but you attacked my leader so you better get ready for a fig-" The boys voice began to trail off as his blade warped from the heat that radiated off of her. Yang turned to him gripping his warped blade with her synthetic arm and shattering it.
"I'm their girl who would've won the Vytal Tournament if that bitch hadn't framed me." Leo visibly shuttered there wasn't a soul in Vale that didn't know who teams RWBY and (J)NPR were. Yang looked back to LVDR's leader.
"I said get up."
"B-but."
"If you're willing to talk shit about the man responsible for Vale still being on the map, then you better be prepared to face any huntsman that protect it." The team soon noticed the entire club looking to them, nearly all of which glared at them. Even Junior had brought out his bat with the seemingly the only reason for him not attacking them was that facing Yang was a far worse fate. The Twins on the other hand advanced beside both sides of the Buxom brawler their aura's flaring and ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Finally coming to understand the gravity of his words Leo begun to stand up taking his stance with his dust gauntlets a slight shake in his legs. The crowd burst into laughter while Yang tried hard not to do the same knowing she would enjoy this.
"Just be glad it wasn't Nora who heard you, unlike me she doesn't know restraint." Without waiting for his response, the brawler struck forward, in turn, Leo rose his arm to block it only to feel pain shoot through him as his gauntlets shattered from the impact of her left hook as well as fracturing his arms, the damage surpassed his aura threshold. The boy pulled back roaring in pain, Yang looked down to the Faunus leader and rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on, that all you got? That's not even the robot arm." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"The man you were insulting took far worse than that little love tap." Bullets slammed into her form she turned to the two gunmen of LVDR and shook her head.
"I'll give you credit for sticking with your leader even if it's a poor decision on your part." Yang fired Ember Celica enveloping the two in fire, jumping into her flames and onto one of the team members, she begun to beat him till he was unconscious. Turning to the next member who quickly lifted her hands in surrender.
Yang decided to be lenient and delivered a single uppercut that launched her into the ceiling and unconscious. She turned to the sight of Leo's partner, facing his broken blade held firmly, ready to battle and support the cowering leader behind him. Yang's face adopted a cold menacing tone towards the brave idiot.
"Leave now, he deserves this." The boy reluctantly shook his head.
"No…How Leo said it may have been too brazen but… he wasn't wrong." Yang felt her eye twitch.
"Jaune Arc was a fraud an-" He never got to finish his sentence honestly, she didn't know who hit him first whether it was a blow from her Synthetic. Miltia's speedy slash of her claws or Melanie's roundhouse kick. But regardless the attack struck launching the boy through the building's wall and into another. Seeing that Leo began to run away.
Oh no you don't!
Yang used the propulsion of Ember Celica to burst towards him and stomp on the boy sending him plummeting to the floor.
"Take it back and I'll stop at breaking your other arm." The boy looked up at her terror clear in his eyes.
"I take it back! I take it back! please let me go!" Yang still wanted to break his arm.
Yang will be fine and with her name cleared the skies the limit for her.She wanted to, but she wouldn't.
"Your lucky day." She pulled back her fist and turned away from the boy.
"You're not worth staining my name any further. I don't know why you think you can talk but if you do so again I'll personally end you." In probably the biggest display of restraint she had managed in a long time the brawler turned away.
"I spoke to his family…" She paused at that.
"What did you say?"
"They told me everything, look you may not like it but that doesn't make it wrong." The man soon found himself lifted in the air by his throat. The skin burning from the metal of Ember Celica looking down to Yang Leo's vision was filled with the sight of her pure unbridled rage as her glowing scarlet eyes looked back to him her aura flared out threatening to incinerate any who would dare intervene.
"I change my mind." Tears streamed from her crimson eyes as she looked to the terrified boy.
"It's not your lucky day." Images of the boy tricking that bitch so he could clear her name enveloped her mind.
"You don't know anything about Jaune!"
In the end it all comes down to the fact that I'm the only one replaceable so why wouldn't I do it.
"He wasn't a fraud… He may have come to Beacon falsely, but he never dishonoured us or Beacon!"
Because you're a threat to my friends
"He was the bravest of us!"
Yang, You always used me for jokes or just messed with me. But you meant well."Kinder than anyone I met and more forgiving than me!" She leveled her synthetic arm to the boy's face, it glowing orange from the heat her aura expelled. Memories of his face overtook her mind and ended like those nightmares that rendered her dependent on alcohol that of the image of a white light enveloping everything.
"So, you're not allowed to talk about him like that… Nobodies allowed to talk about the only man I'll ever consider a hero like that!" She swung her right hook forward not caring if she'd kill him. Not caring if her life as a huntress would end here, at least it'd be on her terms, except the sound of his skull shattering never happened, restraining her from behind was Junior.
"The hell are you doing Hei?!" The man's eyes spoke volumes of his determination.
"Not letting you do something that would render his sacrifice pointless…" To his words, she felt a wave of shame overtake her followed by a calm sorrow. Her crimson eyes faded back to lilac as the will to end the boy there faded.
"Fine… I'm good big guy, you can let me go." To that Junior sighed before releasing her, Yang wasn't happy he had said that, but she was thankful. She looked to the trembling form of Leo her eyes holding only discontent. Junior's eyes fell on the young leader.
"I hope you learned your lesson brat." Leo only had the time to let out a sigh before his face was levelled with the barrel of Junior's rocket launcher.
"Cause if I even think you're talking shit about that kid I'll blast you to bloody pieces, we clear brat." Junior didn't wait for a response instead nodding to his man who had already grabbed up his teammates and him dragging the Faunus away. It was only as he was being dragged away that he noted the glares of all the surrounding people. Yang slowly made her way back to the bar and to his credit, Junior brought out a bottle of the good stuff.
With a shrug Yang grabbed the shot taking it down in one go, however n that moment she didn't see The Club but the happier days when all eight of them hanging out at launch. Watching the blonde doofus try and fail to flirt with Weiss being reward for his efforts with her signature scowl fallowed by scolding.
A small smile formed on her face followed by a descending tear.
In the end it all comes down to the fact that I'm the only one replaceable."Damn idiot…"
"The hell?" Yang looked up to Junior seeing him staring at his scroll wide eyed.
"Hey big guy, what's up?" Junior looked back to her seemingly gather his courage to speak.
"Xiao Long.., you where pissed because you dad went after some kind of advance Grimm right?" A small growl escaped the blondes mouth at recalling that. She wanted to go with him, but he denied her and she was so pissed that she went straight to Vale to get shitfaced.
"Yeah, what about?" Junior looked to her his eyes adopting a serious gleam.
"Have you checked your scroll." Yang rolled her eyes.
"I've been passed out what do you think?"
"You should check your scroll Girlie" Reluctantly the blonde grabbed her scroll checking it and was greeted by multiple text and missed calls.
"The Hell?" She really didn't want to deal with being scolded about drinking again or worse another damn intervention. With a shrug she ignored them and then a different message launched up from the emergency broadcast. Without warning the video begun to play and no sooner was she greeted by the sight of Lisa Lavender reporting on the incident.
"This is Lisa Lavender on the emergency broadcast, we're reporting on the Haven incident where Headmaster Lionheart was killed." Yang breath froze at that before a panel appeared beside the reporter showing a video of some black humanoid Grimm attacking a different building.
"While we have no footage on the Haven incident a similar attack was launched by a Grimm matching the description by eyewitnesses. After an autopsy, it has been confirmed that the cause of death was a perfect match." Yang looked to the Grimm not knowing how to feel as she watched it.
"This Grimm appears to be an older smarting breed capable of… 'ahem' absorbing aura." At that Yang went wide-eyed.
"That's it…" Slowly her hair begun to brighten as crimson stained her eyes as she burned the image of the beast deep into her mind.
"That's the thing that kidnapped Weisscream's sis, that attacked Uncle Qrow." She was sure it was one of that Salem bitches' servant, like that bitch who cost them Jaune. She wasn't going to let it cost them someone else. Raising from her seat she threw down a nice little stack of Lien before turning away towards the exit, she didn't have time to lay around. She needed to meet up with her sister and teammates, she was sure they'd seen the same video as well. As she did she started to look at the message only to be interrupted by a call from her sister.
When she answered it her world was once more shattered.
