Chapter Four: The Kingdom of Atlas, Part Two
Schnee Manor, Atlas, Atlas Kingdom, Solitas
"Jaune!"
Ruby's panic voice woke Jaune from his deep sleep with a headache and sore body. He blinked a few times and realized he was still in his sleepwear. And tied up with Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Whitely. No longer in the guest room he slept in but rather a storage room. He guessed they were still in Schnee Manor because of the Schnee snowflake emblem on the nearby crates.
"W-what happened?" Jaune asked. But Weiss answered for Weiss.
"Drugged. From the wine we gave you last night…" Weiss said softly.
"Excuse me?!" Yang asked angrily. Her lilac eyes turned red from anger.
"We had no choice…" Weiss said quietly.
"No. They didn't." Another voice said smugly. Jaune turned to see the servant from the night before but without her uniform. She wore a red jacket over a black short dress, black shorts, and black thigh high boots. Her black shoulder-length hair was loose and her amber eyes focused on him.
"W-who are you?" Ruby asked worriedly.
"Cinder Fall. And these are my associates Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, and Neopolitan." Cinder answered.
Beside her were her associates. The dark skin girl with mint green hair and red eyes. Emerald. She wore a white jacket over a mint green shirt, white pants, and white boots. The boy with gray hair and eyes with a gray jacket, black pants, and black boots. And finally, Neopolitan. The left side of her long hair and her left eye were brown while the right side of her long hair and her right eye were pink. She wore a brown coat with pink underneath, a white top, white pants, and white shoes. She also had a black bowler hat with a red line around it. Jaune noticed they all seemed to be around Yang, Weiss, and his age.
But her surname was curious. In all four kingdoms, orphans were common during the Great War and after because of the Grimm. Depending on the kingdom an orphan lived in, they would take the surname relating to one of the four maidens from the fairy tale. Fall for Vale, Winter for Atlas, Spring for Mistral, and Summer for Vacuo. So he knew she was from Vale. He left his thoughts when Yang responded.
"And why are we in the basement?" Yang asked with a growl, her eyes still red. Cinder was the one who answered again while the others watched in amusement.
"Because you caught our Queen's attention. Specifically, you Jaune Arc. What makes you so special…" Her amber eyes narrowed and her smug smirk disappeared.
"Queen?" Jaune said. "There is no queen in Atlas or anywhere. There hasn't been a queen or king since the Great War. The kingdoms are run by councils."
"Oh, there is a Queen. And for some strange reason, you had her attention when you delivered a message to Ironwood from Ozpin. Tell me… What did the message say?" Cinder asked softly but there was an edge of danger in her voice that the captives all caught.
"W-we don't know… He said he would tell us today…" Ruby said quietly.
"You came all this way from Vale and you don't know why?" Cinder asked. Jaune realized she was… confused. "Interesting."
"Cinder?" Emerald questioned.
"We continue as planned. We'll keep them here for now. Emerald, Mercury, we're going to Atlas Academy. Neo, do watch them for us. And remember, you know what happens if you fail." Cinder said sweetly.
Cinder left with Emerald and an amused Mercury who waved to Neo but she scowled in return. The small girl said nothing but sat on a crate with a parasol. She smiled and swung her legs while watching them. Jaune turned to his companions to see Ruby and Yang with a look of defeat and a look of resigned acceptance from Weiss and Whitley.
"Weiss? Where's your mother and sister?" Jaune asked worriedly.
"We woke up and mother told us that she had to get Winter to leave. She told them you three would be staying for breakfast and then you would be escorted back to Atlas Academy to talk to Ironwood. She left and then Cinder had us taken down here. She told mother that if she behaved, we wouldn't be harmed. She was worried… About us and you…" Weiss said quietly.
"And what happened to your father?" Yang asked. "Isn't he the boss of the Schnee Dust Company? Why haven't we seen him yet?"
"He's dead…" Whitley answered in a whisper. "Another man… killed him when they came here a few days ago. Our father tried to reason with him but that man was… angry with him for some reason. We don't know why but we think they worked together years ago."
"I'm sorry…" Jaune said softly.
"Don't be… He hadn't been a great father…" Weiss said. Her eyes were hidden by her hair but Jaune, Ruby, and Yang noted a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Still, I lost my dad too… It still hurts…" Jaune said softly.
"Yeah…" Weiss whispered.
Jaune noticed Whitley tried to lean on his older sister to comfort her which shocked her for a moment before a small smile broke out on her face. He then looked back at the one holding them hostage. She still sat on the crate looking around with a bored expression but he knew she heard their conversation. Finally, he spoke.
"H-hey?" Jaune called out. The others watched him with interest. Neo did the same, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Are you really okay with this? Holding a family hostage? Killing a father?" Her eyes showed… guilt but then they returned back to fake boredom. "Do you really enjoy taking orders from Cinder?" Her eyes narrowed and Jaune knew he had her. "Do you even know anything about your Queen?"
She glared at him but said nothing. That was until she started moving her hands in a dismissive fashion… Until he realized she was using sign language. He moved his tied hands out and began to sign which surprised her and the others. He also voiced their conversation for the others.
My younger sister Lavender is also mute.
After a moment of shock, Neo responded.
Oh…
Her eyes looked away from him before they returned when he responded.
What do you know about the Queen? Have you met her?
No… But I know she has power… And no again… But I saw Cinder talk to her a few times… By speaking to a small, floating grimm…
"What…" Yang muttered. Jaune, Ruby, Weiss, and Whitley had the same thought. But Jaune continued.
What did they talk about?
However, Neo seemed reluctant. Jaune tried again.
Please…
Neo sighed and crossed her arms. Her face showed guilt and… fear. After a few seconds, she continued.
The Queen told Cinder to continue with their plan… Whatever it was. I only know I was supposed to help hold the Schnees hostage and capture you, red, and blondie when you all arrived in Atlas. The Queen… She mentioned your name… And red… She didn't care too much about blondie or the Schnees… But she also said something about the General, Arthur Watts, and a man named… Pietro Polendina.
"Pietro Polendina? Arthur Watts?" Weiss asked.
"You know them?" Jaune asked.
"Yeah. Polendina is a famous scholar from Mantle. Watts was a famous scholar from Atlas." Weiss said, just as confused as the others.
"Was?" Ruby asked.
"Yes. There were rumors around Atlas that years ago, the council picked Polendina to be the leading scholar of both Mantle and Atlas. It was a big deal because the leading scholar can push any innovation in the kingdom and essentially they were on the council, just not as a full member. They say Watts didn't take that announcement well because he was actually born in Atlas unlike Polendina. But Watts disappeared some time after that… No one had seen or heard from him in years…" Weiss explained.
"And now he's mentioned by a queen we never heard about?" Yang asked with slight humor. But Jaune returned his attention back to Neo.
You have to free us. Please.
I can't… My fri-mentor was killed because we tried to leave before. Cinder or her 'associates' didn't do it. The floating grimm thing did… And I heard her voice… The Queen… I can't…
I'm sorry… I get it… I know I don't know what's really going on but I already lost my dad. I don't want to lose my friends. Ruby. Yang. Or the Schnees… Please, Neo.
Neo looked torn but after a long minute of tense silence, she stood and grabbed her parasol. She slowly walked to Jaune who looked worried like the others. Before a blade popped out and cut the rope keeping them tied up.
Atlas Academy, Atlas, Atlas Kingdom, Solitas
The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the castle of Atlas Academy as knights and huntsmen rushed past the group of Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Neo, all heading outside to protect the castle and village from Grimm. After reuniting Weiss and Whitley with their mother Willow and their butler Klein, Jaune, Ruby, and Yang quickly changed and left to see the General. Weiss followed them with a white coat and her rapier, Myrtenaster, and none of them tried to stop her. Or Neo with her parasol, Hush.
They found Beowolf, Ursa, and Sabyr Grimm attacking Atlas. Jaune didn't know how but he knew the queen Cinder followed was responsible for both the Grimm attack on Vale and now Atlas which Neo confirmed. He readied his family sword and shield, an action his companions followed.
However, when they reached the General's office, they realized they were far too late. Black smoke left the recently deceased Sabyr Grimm. The sword the General held fell to the floor. He laid against his toppled over desk with a wound across his chest. Jaune and Weiss rushed to him and bent down.
"Sir…?" Weiss asked carefully.
"Good… You're all okay… Arthur… Arthur Watts… He has Polendina and his daughter Penny… And her friend Ciel… Winter is busy leading the knights and Huntsmen against the Grimm… Save them… Please…" Ironwood coughed up blood.
"Sir… What did the letter say?" Jaune asked. Ruby and Yang watched carefully while Weiss and Neo shared a confused glance.
"The letter…" Ironwood hesitated.
"Is it about the Queen?" Jaune asked. The General's eyes widened but after a moment, he closed his eyes and sighed.
"You know… I'm sorry… For what Ozpin did… The letter… He knew he was dying… Ozpin… He said that once he was dead, the Queen… She would begin her conquest of Remnant… Vale… Atlas… next Mistral… Then Vacuo…"
"Who is she?" Jaune asked quietly. After a second of silence, Ironwood spoke in a whisper.
"The Queen of the Grimm…"
Silence. Complete silence. Jaune thought he had misheard but the look of shock on Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Neo's face said it all.
"W-what?" Ruby asked, shocked.
"The Grimm… have a queen?!" Yang shouted.
"Yes… There is a lot that you all don't know… Save Polendina… Penny… Ciel… Then go to Haven Academy in Mistral… Find Headmaster Leonardo Lionhart… Warn him… He'll tell you everything… I'm sorry…"
And then the General was gone. They had learned the Grimm had a queen. And that there was a lot more they didn't know. But they had to help Atlas. Then they would find their answers in Mistral. Jaune stood and quickly left with his companions following behind him.
…
Jaune backed away and swung Crocea Mors down, cutting the Beowolf in half. Another tried to bite him from the side but Neo stabbed it through the side with Hush. They shared a glance and she winked while he shook his head.
Ruby rolled away from an Ursa and swung Crescent Rose, cutting one of its back legs. Yang followed that with a punch to its bone mask, killing it. Her lilac eyes were red with anger from the death the Grimm were causing.
They stood in the hallway of Atlas Academy and looked around. Bodies of knights and Huntsmen, young and old, were spread out. All of this was caused by the Grimm. By the Queen. Jaune shook the thought from his head. He then felt Neo tug at his jacket and he turned to see what she was staring at.
A man graying black hair, green eyes, and a black thick mustache with a purple coat with fur lining, a yellow shirt and black tie, black pants, and black shoes. Following him were the three people they saw leave Ironwood's office - Pietro, Penny, and Ciel. And behind them, Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury. All heading toward the courtyard of the castle.
Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Neo quickly followed them. They left the castle and saw them approach the gate while knights and Huntsmen lined the wall trying to protect the citizens and fight the Grimm. Jaune became as angry as Yang for what they had caused. For what they had done to his family. To Vale. To Atlas.
"Cinder!" Jaune called angrily.
Cinder turned, a flash of surprise, then back to her smug smirk. She said nothing but unsheathed two scimitars. Emerald followed with unsheathing two kusarigamas. And Mercury readied a stance, likely a melee fighter like Yang, Jaune thought. Watts said nothing for a second but watched with interest. Finally, he spoke.
"Is that him?"
The question made Jaune tense. And Cinder kept her smug smirk when she responded.
"That's him."
Silence filled the courtyard around them. And Watts seemed deep in thought for a moment before he spoke again in a dismissive tone.
"Capture him. Kill his companions."
Jaune quickly raised his shield as Cinder launched herself to him with her scimitars. They hit against his shield and he tried to push her back. He then noticed her expression. Her smug smirk was replaced with… fury. And desperation.
"Jaune!"
Ruby cried out. She tried to help him but Emerald used her kusarigamas, one blade cutting Ruby's left shoulder and another her right thigh. She screamed from the pain and quickly moved when Emerald tried to hit her again.
Yang's eyes were red with rage and she launched herself to help Ruby but was stopped by Mercury who blocked her coming punches with his legs. He then kicked her in the stomach, pushing her back.
Weiss and Neo were prepared to join them until more Grimm poured into the courtyard. Weiss quickly stabbed the Sabyr that tried to bite her, her movement quick and graceful. And Neo did the same with a Beowolf, using Hush with quick strikes.
Jaune wanted to help them but Cinder was intent on not letting that happen. She moved faster and hit harder than Ruby and Yang when they were sparring. Her scimitars moved closer and closer to his body before one cut his sword arm. He grunted through the pain and swung his sword downward. Cinder rolled to the side and cut his right leg. He fell on his right knee in pain. He tried to stand but fell again while Cinder looked down at him, back to her smug smirk.
"To think… She wanted you to join us…"
"What…" Jaune breathed out.
"It doesn't matter now… I think I'll bring your sword and shield back to her instead…"
Cinder raised both her scimitars before she brought them down. But the sound of metal hitting metal echoed through the courtyard and caught the attention of the others. Jaune blinked and realized a man stood between them. He had messy black hair, tired red eyes, and slight stubble and wore a black jacket, a gray shirt with a red scarf around his neck, black pants, and black boots. And he held a sword with a black and red handle and a steel blade with what looked like the engravings of a crow and raven on it.
Silence followed this man's arrival. Watts, Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury looked… scared. Jaune and Weiss were confused while Neo kept her smirk. But Ruby and Yang shared the same reaction. Shock. Then the man swung the blade again, knocking Cinder further away. And Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Neo stood behind him.
"What have you done Watts?" The man spoke to them in a rough, deep voice.
"Correcting a mistake the General and the council made years ago. This kingdom has been failing for years. And our generous Queen offered me a great position for when Atlas fell and Mantle prospered." Watts responded dismissively. They noticed Pietro move his hand slowly behind Watts but didn't comment on it.
"And how does she plan to do that?" The man asked.
Watts simply smirked as the land Atlas stood on, shook from an explosion of color. It only took a second for Jaune to realize what had happened. The dust mines in the mountains. Watts had caused an explosive reaction. And then he realized what they had done.
"You're going to kill us all!" The man shouted angrily.
"Not us. Come on, children. Ozpin's puppets will need to help evacuate the citizens before they all die an unfortunate death." Watts said.
But Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury didn't move. They watched with Jaune and his companions as cracks began to form throughout the courtyard. That was when Pietro revealed a dagger from his coat and stabbed Watts in the side. He screamed but pulled the dagger out before stabbing Pietro himself.
Watts fell to the floor and Pietro followed while his daughter Penny and her friend Ciel watched in horror. Ruby and Yang quickly went to them and pulled them away as the cracks opened up further. Jaune saw that Cinder was frozen in horror before she snapped out of it and pulled Emerald and Mercury away.
"We need to leave now!" The man shouted.
But they could do nothing as the mountain came down onto Atlas. And them. The man led them away. Ruby and Yang followed with Penny and Ciel. Weiss did too with clear worry for her family. And the last thing Jaune saw was Neo grabbing him. Before an avalanche of snow came down on them all.
A/N: Oh boy, so much to talk about.
First, I had debated whether to continue this story because trying to keep it more fantasy was more difficult than I thought. I never could decide between more fantasy or staying closer to canon but I liked the idea of the characters not having semblances and magic being a lot more rare. I know CRWBY tries to say the two are separate (I think) but really how is Weiss' semblance not magic? Or Ruby? Or Yang? But whatever. I realize now that if (or mostly when) I rewrite this story, I might stay closer to canon than a fantasy setting. The only reason I haven't ended this story now and rewrite it completely is because I've already drafted more than half of the story and despite some setbacks, I like some of the ideas I had and decided to write this story to its end. Besides I have too many ideas and unfinished stories.
Second... I kind of dropped the ball on some stuff... If you haven't noticed now, you will eventually but I dropped Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren. I've already finished drafting the Mistral Arc and realized far too late the disadvantage of having Jaune meet his companions on the road to the end. If this story had been longer or stayed close to canon, they would have had a role in this story but I feel as if Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang already fill those roles. And if you finished reading this chapter, Neo is also along the ride which wasn't my original idea for her or the others. Speaking of which... There were many things I failed to set up in the first two chapters. The early introductions of Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, Neo, and Roman; the attack on Vale; the Vytal Festival; Amber; etc. Because of this, Roman is already dead (although I had originally planned for him to survive) so Neo is on an arc (no pun intended nor do I intend for her to be a part of the harem for reasons you'll see later) and this time doesn't blame Ruby for his death. It also helps that she's a lot younger than canon (all seventeen here). As well as Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury so they are a lot more reluctant to do what Salem wants. And there are reasons that I won't reveal yet why Cinder said what she did to Jaune. There is also significance to her last name being Fall, although I will say now she was born in Mantle and that's very important. The whole seasonal surname was inspired by the whole bastard surname from Game of Thrones (snow, sand, hill, etc.). It made sense to me considering how much of a problem Grimm would be and how many RWBY characters lacked surnames. And I had planned for that to be mentioned and explained earlier with Amber appearing but yeah... lol
Third. RIP Atlas. It's funny because a lot of my canon fanfic ideas are still in this one. I always intended for Atlas to fall. Literally. In the closer to canon idea, it would have fallen into the ocean outside Solitas. I plan to mention a few of the ideas that changed so that'll be fun lol
Anyway, thanks for reading so far and sticking to this story.
Next up: Now split up, Jaune and company try to reunite with the others in Anima. And a certain cat faunus appears! And Pirate Neo!