Chapter Seven: The Kingdom of Vacuo, Part One

Outside Shade Academy, Vacuo, Vacuo Kingdom, Sanus

They had traveled for five months. Ilia had returned to Menagerie with Vernal after their meeting with the council of Mistral. They had been skeptical about Salem but agreed when they recounted the events of the past several months. Before she left, Ilia promised Blake and them that the people of Kuo Kuana would travel to Vale. Vernal decided to join her to help train the ''weak' in Vale for the coming fight against Salem. And before they left themselves, Weiss had received a raven from Winter that Mantle would be sending its people to Vale too. All while Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, Blake, Crow, and Raven traveled to Vacuo by ship. Specifically, the Belladonna.

It had been a long, boring journey but in that time, some things had changed. Crow and Raven had been ruthless in their training with them. But in that time, their skills had grown. They didn't just teach them how to fight but how to survive. They had trained on the deck of the ship from sunrise to sunset. And they all felt more confident for the coming fight.

But to their embarrassment, Crow and Raven had also commented on their relationship and each gave their version of 'the talk' to Jaune considering Taiyang and Summer were absent. Crow simply wanted Jaune to understand that while multiple partners weren't frowned upon, he couldn't give half in their relationship. Raven, on the other hand, told him she would not let a 'weak' man court her daughter and niece…

"Shade Academy…" Crow said quietly.

Jaune left his thoughts and looked toward the academy, a castle built into the wall of the valley, surrounded by the village of Vacuo. The bright sun was up in the clear blue sky but thankfully the high valley walls provided shade. Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Blake, Crow, and Raven stood on a bridge over a river that traveled through the village, staring at the academy.

He now had blonde stubble on his face and wore his usual black shirt, blue pants, and black shoes. And his usual white armor on him.

Ruby wore her usual red hooded cloak but now wore a white short-sleeved shirt, black shorts, and black boots.

Yang wore a brown short-sleeved jacket, a white sleeveless crop top that bared her midriff, black pants, and brown boots. She also had a purple bandana tied around her left thigh.

Weiss, Blake, and Neo had remained in their clothes from Mistral. As did Crow and Raven. To Jaune, it seemed the two adults didn't mind the heat as much as them. Before anyone could comment, Raven continued walking.

"Let's get this over with." Raven said.

Shade Academy, Vacuo, Vacuo Kingdom, Sanus

"Ruby!"

"Yang!"

They only walked three feet from the door when Summer hugged Ruby tightly and another man, who Jaune assumed was Taiyang Xiao Long, hugged Yang. They were both shocked for a moment until they hugged them back. Then when they separated, they glanced at their group until Summer saw him. She smiled and hugged him too.

"Jaune, your family told me to tell you they miss you a lot," Summer smiled warmly and Jaune smiled a bit too. When she let go of him, Ruby asked the question they were all thinking.

"Mom… What are you and Uncle Tai doing here?" Ruby asked.

Taiyang was the one who answered and Jaune got a better look at him. The man had tan skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and blonde stubble and wore a brown leather vest over a tan short-sleeved shirt, brown pants, and black shoes. He also had a heart-shaped tattoo that looked like Yang's emblem pin and similar brown and black bracers.

"Crow sent us a raven. We heard what happened in Atlas… And Mistral… We thought you were going to come back after Atlas but you didn't."

"We're sorry dad…" Yang said quietly.

"Tai…" Summer warned.

"We're not mad…" Tai began. He chuckled. "We were. But Crow told us everything. Salem… We knew… But we didn't think he would involve you three. But with Crow away and Summer and I being busy. It made sense."

"So why did you come here?" Yang asked.

"To help you, silly." Summer smiled. "We're family. We're not going to let you face her alone."

Ruby and Yang smiled until Summer and Tai turned to Crow and Raven. Then Jaune, Weiss, Blake, and Neo felt as awkward as Ruby and Yang seeing their parents reunion.

"Hey, Crow…" Summer said softly.

"Hey, Summer…" Crow said weakly. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly while Summer giggled.

"Raven." Tai said angrily.

"Tai." Raven responded dismissively.

"I had hoped for a better reunion for Team STRC. But I supposed this will do." A female voice spoke. Jaune and everyone else turned to the person who spoke. An older woman with tan skin, long graying blonde hair, and sharp green eyes. She wore a tattered brown hooded cloak, white long-sleeved shirt, brown pants, and brown boots. She also carried an old staff as a weapon.

Nobody spoke. Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, and Blake were confused. While Summer, Taiyang, Crow, and Raven stood awkwardly. The woman looked at each of them before she turned and huffed.

"Well come on now. We don't have all day. And Salem won't wait. Follow me, children."

Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, and Blake were even more confused while Summer, Taiyang, Crow, and Raven were bewildered by being called children. But they all followed the strange woman regardless.

…

Jaune sat alone in front of the older woman, Dorothy Summer, the Headmistress of Shade Academy, in her office while Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, Blake, Summer, Taiyang, Crow, and Raven stood around. He could tell he made a mistake doing so as the woman was strict and strangely motherly, fussing over him more than his own mom. And Summer. And Willow. And even Raven… But after revealing everything that happened outside Vacuo, she became silent, deep in thought. Then she spoke, more softly which surprised them all.

"Ozpin did warn us this was inevitable. That one day the Witch… Salem… Would come for us all with her Grimm. Ironwood… Jimmy made plans after plans. It made sense she went after him first once Ozpin died. And Leo… Lionheart… He had always been a coward. He thought we could talk to her. She likely knew how he felt. And now it's my turn." Dorothy chuckled bitterly without any humor and took a sip of wine, straight from the bottle.

"Headmistress…" Jaune began quietly.

"Don't, Mister Arc. I haven't taught anyone anything in some time. When we heard what happened in Atlas… Or to Atlas… and then Mistral, I sent the students home. Those that didn't have a home, I sent to Vale already. After all, there are a lot more Summers here… Not that the council cared… I could send the rest… And I guess you'll all get what you want…" Dorothy finished quietly.

"And what about you?" Jaune asked quietly too.

"What about me?" Dorothy whispered.

Silence. Jaune noticed Summer, Taiyany, Crow, and Raven looked shocked as well as Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, and Blake. Jaune stood up angrily and knocked the bottle of wine off the desk, shocking everyone and Dorothy.

"What about you? What about you?! Do you have any idea what we've been through for the past half year?! I lost my dad! I haven't seen my family in a long time! Vale is in ruins! Atlas is gone! Mistral and Menagerie are barely surviving! And now the people here are in danger! Is that it?! Are you just going to give up on them?! You think that I don't want to do the same?! To have someone else be the hero?! To go home and see my family again?! But I can't! Because this isn't about me! Or about what I want! And this isn't about you either! Or what you want! This is about all of us!" Jaune yelled angrily.

No one spoke. He knew the others behind him were shocked. However, he imagined Raven was a little bit impressed but he ignored that thought. His eyes narrowed at the Headmistress of Shade who looked like a surprised deer. Her eyes then returned to normal but she studied his face for a moment. She then spoke softly again.

"You're just like your father. I never met your grandfather. But I met him. He tried to get the council of Vacuo to help the children who all had the last name Summer. He cared when no one else did… Look at me, I've been Headmistress for about ten years and I'm only forty-three… Heh… I bet you thought I was older… But life out here… We don't live… We survive… I'm tired of surviving…" She finished the last part in a whisper with her eyes closed.

Jaune didn't speak but he felt tears in his eyes. He lowered his head, ready to accept defeat. Until she continued in a more determined voice with her eyes focused and sharp.

"But maybe it's time we live. Maybe it's time we fight. Okay. I'll send everyone to Vale. Damn the council if they disagree. We'll fight the Grimm. We'll fight Salem. We'll fight with you. Vacuo will fight with you, Jaune Arc."

Jaune raised his head quickly and he smiled. The headmistress gave him a small smile and picked up the bottle of wine. He turned to the others and was surprised by their expressions. Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, and Blake were smiling too. So were Summer, Taiyang, Crow, and even Raven had a smirk.

But before they could celebrate their small victory, the strange sound of something loud reached their ears. Dorothy quickly stood and went to the large window behind her desk. She stopped and dropped the bottle of wine. Jaune and the others quickly joined her. They all stared in horror at what they saw.

A gargantuan flying whale-like grimm heading toward Vacuo from the endless desert. With Nevermores, avian Grimm, and flying Bergingel, gorilla-like Grimm. All with a large sandstorm traveling behind them.

Vacuo, Vacuo Kingdom, Sanus

Chaos. There was nothing but chaos. Dorothy had given the order for everyone to evacuate Vacuo to Vale. In less than an hour, the fleet of ships prepare to follow the Belladonna to safety. All while Jaune, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Neo, Blake, Summer, Taiyang, Crow, and Raven, Dorothy, and numerous Huntsman and knights face the flying Grimm.

Jaune and Dorothy fought side by side, her staff knocking the smaller Nevermores from the skies and Jaune finishing them off. Nearby, Ruby, Summer, and Crow worked together as well as Yang, Raven, and Taiyang. And Weiss, Neo, and Blake stayed together.

Slowly, they all retreated to the Belladonna at the docks. Until a swarm of flying Bergingel grabbed Jaune causing him to drop his sword and shield. He heard Dorothy and the others scream his name.

And he saw that Yang was taken next.

Then Weiss.

Blake.

Neo.

And finally, Ruby.

A/N: As I said before, I'm aware the Headmaster of Vacuo is male (I believe confirmed in one of the books which I haven't read so lol) but I wanted a female Headmistress. And once again, the season surname came up. I regret not making this fic longer because that was something I really wanted to expand on and the realization that there are many orphans who never knew their families in this world. Cinder, Amber, Fria, Vernal, Tock, Trifa, Yuma, Dorothy, etc.

And I know this chapter was rather short but I hope the next one makes up for it because boy oh boy. You'll either love me or hate me after the next one lmao

Up next: Team STRC vs a certain scorpion faunus! And the Queen of the Grimm finally appears...