Chapter 10: By My Word As An Arc

(Beacon Academy, Ozpin's Office)

Victory in war required sacrifice, this Ozpin knew well, for reasons he kept to himself. He turned to the people that had assembled in his office to confirm the results of their strategy.

"Well, Miss Amitola," Ozpin said, "Your prediction was spot on. Adam has overextended his reach, and as such, is incredibly vulnerable."

Ilia beamed. As soon as the war had begun, and Adam had made his first moves, Ilia had immediately been suspicious. She knew for a fact that he didn't have the manpower to keep making these big attacks. So she suggested a plan that had drawn more than a few sideways looks.

If Vale appeared weak, it would force Adam into keeping his bold stance, because if he pulled back, it would reveal that his White Fang was nowhere near as strong as he wanted the people of Vale to believe.

Since Adam wanted to cause enough chaos to bring the Grimm down on everyone, it would be best to fight that with hope. Which had been given by Jaune, of all people.

While they had failed in their mission to protect Dust to Dust, team RWBY and team JNR's fevered defense of the main square had become the signal victory that the people of Vale had been searching for. On top of that, Jaune's attempt at disarming the White Fang bomb was being touted as a shining example of heroic sacrifice.

Not that he had sacrificed much, courtesy of his massive aura reserves, his aura had been broken by the bomb, but he had escaped with injuries that only required a short stay in Beacon's infirmary. In the end, the biggest wound had been to his pride.

"So, on to phase two, then." Roman said. As he was fully committed to the cause now, albeit for his own reasons, the Vale council had made the pardons for him and Neapolitan official. "Now that Bully Boy is on the backfoot, we put the pressure on him."

"Speaking of putting pressure on him, Winter, do you have an update for us?" Ozpin asked.

Winter nodded curtly, "Yes, I do, Professor."

Ozpin cut in, "Please, Winter, Ozpin or Oz is fine."

After a moment of uncertainty, Winter continued. "My request for the commando squads was approved. Per my instructions, they are stopping in the town of Gallia to outfit themselves to look like Valean Hunters."

"They aren't complaining about that too much, are they?" Roman asked.

"No, they're taking it with good humor." Winter said, "Gallia is sending a small group of their Hunters as well, led by Reign-Beau Arc. They should all be here in a couple of days."

"Excellent." Ozpin said, "Miss Amitola, I believe that it is high time that you and Miss Belladonna get in touch with Sienna Khan."

"Right, she'll probably jump at the chance to help us, she's been looking for a way to... remove Adam's stain from the White Fang's reputation. Her words, not mine." Ilia said.

Once Adam had started his war, Sienna had disavowed him and the Valean White Fang. Most likely, she would jump at the chance to help take him down.

"Good," Ozpin said, "We are officially in a holding pattern for the next few days, keep up appearances, defend as necessary." As the others left, Ozpin took a long drink of his hot chocolate, and sank into his chair.

What are you playing at, Salem? Letting a rabid dog like Adam run wild isn't like you. What's your endgame?

(Beacon Academy, Infirmary)

Jaune Arc had come to a conclusion. Getting blown up sucked. As it turned out, being close to a large fire dust explosion equaled a broken aura and lots of burns, all on his back.

Which was why Jaune Arc was lying face down on a bed in Beacon's infirmary, his back had healed over the course of the night, but he had apparently healed so quickly that the doctors wanted to make sure that "everything had been put back together right." So he was stuck in the infirmary until the doctors granted mercy.

It certainly helped that Weiss was spending every waking moment she could with him. Right now she was running her fingers through his hair, and it felt like heaven.

Jaune sighed, now was a good a time as any to explain the Knight's Oath to her, all things considered. The problem was that he still had no idea how she'd react.

Just tell her! She'll hear you out...

"Hey, Weiss?" Jaune asked, "Uh, I've got something I need tell you."

Weiss was equal parts curious and worried. Jaune typically didn't stumble over his words unless it was something big. "What is it, Jaune?"

"Dad's coming out of retirement," Jaune said, "He's coming to help us with the White Fang."

Weiss remained quiet, both her and Jaune had developed a sense for when there was more that the other was going to say.

Jaune continued, "There's also an Arc family tradition for when an Arc goes to war, the Knight's Oath. I kind of forgot about it with everything going on, part of dad's reason for coming is to... administer it, for lack of a better term."

Weiss was fascinated. She was no stranger to family traditions, being a Schnee. While her family traditions were nauseatingly Atlesian, from what she knew, the Arc family traditions were a unique blend of their heroic heritage and their hopeless romantic tendencies.

"And what exactly is it?" Weiss asked, "What do you do?"

Jaune took a breath, alright, first hurdle cleared. "Well, first of all, it's actually we."

Weiss blinked. Twice. "What? We?"

Jaune nodded. "Yeah, we. Because we're together, and you're going to be fighting alongside me, more or less, you'll need to take the oath as well."

"Well, I can safely say that my curiousity is piqued, Jaune." Weiss said, "What exactly does the oath... entail?"

"Well, we swear the oath to each other, dad acts as a guide, you could say." Jaune explained, "The oath itself is things like, we will be a shield for the defenseless, we will bear each other's burdens that they may be light. Things like that. There's also a chance at the end for us to add our own promises to each other."

Weiss pondered for a moment, then spoke, "Well, Jaune, I see no reason why I can't do this."

Alright, Jaune, final hurdle, you can do this. "There's one more thing, Weiss," Jaune said, "From the moment you swear the oath, as far as the Arc family history is concerned, you will be an Arc."

The gravity of what she would be agreeing to hit Weiss like a charging Boarbatusk. "So, if someone looked at your family history, they would see my name next to yours, as if... as if..."

"As if we were married." Jaune finished, his voice catching on the final word.

Weiss sharply drew a breath in, no wonder Jaune had been so nervous.

Jaune was starting to panic. "Uh, in reality it's more like we're more than just dating but less than being engaged if that makes sense."

It was at that moment that a nurse popped her head in, "You're good to go, Mr. Arc! Your scans came back good!"

Jaune moved to a sitting position, "Uh, thanks." He said.

Ten seconds passed.

Thirty seconds.

A minute.

"Weiss, please say something." Jaune pleaded.

Weiss looked at him, he was staring at his lap, or would be, if his eyes weren't screwed shut.

"Jaune, look at me." She said.

He did, and she could see the fear in his big blue eyes, fear that she was going to say no, fear that she was going to walk away, fear that she was going to leave him alone.

She could practically see his heart breaking.

"Jaune, do you love me?" Weiss asked. Kind of a silly question to an observer. It was Beacon's worst kept secret that they slept together on occasion.

"Yes, Weiss." Jaune said, "With all my heart."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her forehead to his. "And I love you, Jaune. With all my heart." She said, mirroring his declaration, "I'm with you until the end, whatever that may be."

After a while, they left the infirmary, and meandered back to the dorms, hand in hand. Moments of peace were difficult to come by these days, so they had to savor it while it lasted. Sooner or later, they would be drawn into the conflict again, but they swore to themselves that they would not fall.

They had too much to live for to die now.

(Beacon Academy, Roof)

Blake looked at her scroll like it was going to bite her, she hadn't talked to Sienna Khan since the Schism. The Schism... when was the last time that Blake had thought about that day? The day when the everything that her parents had worked so hard for all these years had split in two.

When Ghira Belladonna had stepped down and named Sienna Khan the new leader of the White Fang, the fuse was lit.

Under Sienna, the White Fang started being violent, but only to protect themselves, or those that couldn't defend themselves. In time, however, there were some that outright wanted to kill humans for their "crimes". Even if they were completely innocent. Adam Taurus ended up being the leader of these radicals, and Blake had found herself by his side.

Blake shuddered, that had been a dark time for her.

The day that the White Fang had split had been bloody, with no clear victor, just a fractured organization. By unspoken agreement, Adam took his faction to Vale, and Sienna had taken hers to Mistral.

Soon enough, during a raid on an SDC train, Blake ran, after realizing just how far gone in hate and spite Adam was.

She had ran, to Beacon Academy, to fight for Faunus equality her way, not from shadows, but from the light. Now the shadows of the past were threatening to gobble up the light, and Blake's new family with them.

That was the thing about light and dark though, If you cast a bright light, it casts a long shadow. But darkness can be held back by a single candle.

It was time to light another candle.

Blake scrolled through her contact lIst, down to Sienna Khan, and pushed the call button for the first time in years.

One ring.

Two rings.

Sienna Khan's image winked into existence on Blake's scroll.

"Who is this?" Sienna demanded, "How did you get this... Blake?"

"Hello, Sienna." Blake said. "I need your help."

Sienna raised an eyebrow, "Well, that's a hell of a greeting. Not even a Yes, Sienna, you were right about Adam?"

Blake winced. Well this was going wonderfully. "Sienna, please. I was blinded by my devotion to him, incredibly ill-advised devotion, I might add."

"I could've told you that." Sienna said, a kind smile appearing, "Now what did you need help with?"

Blake blinked. "You'll help me? Just like that?"

"While you might not be a member of the White Fang anymore," Sienna said pointedly, "I promised your parents that I would do everything in my power to help you if the need arose."

Blake leaped into an explanation at once, "Are you aware of the situation in Vale?"

"I am, and it's worrying to say the least, do you need support?"

Blake smiled, "Of a sort. Adam's already put himself in a precarious position. In the initial battles, he tried to make it look like he had more forces than he actually does."

Sienna frowned. "How would you know that, Blake?"

"Two reasons, we have an ally who is perfectly suited to infiltration and, ah... intel recovery, and Ilia defected just before this mess started." Blake explained.

Sienna's eyebrows nearly shot off her face with how fast they rose. "Ilia defected? That's a surprise."

"Even with her vendetta against the SDC, as it is now, she didn't sign up for all the killing Adam is doing, and is making others do." Blake said.

"So, what's the plan?" Sienna asked, "Please tell me you have a plan."

"I'm not privy to the whole plan, but that's just Professor Ozpin's... leadership style. Put simply, we are going to draw Adam into an unwinnable situation."

Sienna's eyes narrowed, "You want to use me as bait. Dangerous."

"I know, I know," Blake said, "But you would only be one-third of the bait, Weiss and Winter Schnee would be present as well."

Sienna whistled, that would certainly earn them Adam's undivided attention. "I assume we would have to work with the Atlesian peacekeeping force." Sienna sighed, "Oh well, enemy of my enemy, I suppose. Give Ozpin my contact information, so we can coordinate properly."

Blake nodded. "I'll do that right away. Goodbye, Sienna."

Sienna's image winked out of existence, and Blake let out a sigh of relief.

That went much better than I was expecting.

(Unknown Location, Vale)

"I'll do that right away. Goodbye, Sienna."

Arthur Watts grinned. This was almost too easy, he could ruin Ozpin's entire strategy, all it would take was a single scroll call to Adam.

Or, they could go to Tyrian's plan, to succeed where Cinder had failed, and kill Ozpin.

Gods, that sentence still sounded like it shouldn't exist. Tyrian making a plan that wasn't stab everyone in sight? It was madness, pun absolutely intended.

Watts sipped his coffee, the magical elixir of hackers everywhere, as he contemplated the possible courses of action.

On one hand, if he told Adam about Ozpin's plan to lure him into an unwinnable final confrontation, then Adam could easily circumvent or frustrate the trap that was being laid for him. Even with that, there was still no guarantee that he would win in the end, and wipe Beacon off the map.

Watts frowned, that course of action seemed, dubious at best. Adam was so consumed by his personal vendettas and, what had the Belladonna girl called it? Spite? Yes, spite. Adam was so consumed by it that he only cared about his personal war, not the bigger picture that Watts saw.

Then there the option of letting Adam continue as he saw fit without letting him know what awaited him. This would inevitably end in Adam's defeat, unless there was a inexplicable surge of bad luck. However, that loss could lead to a potential victory in Ozpin's death at the hands of Tyrian.

Salem had given him and Tyrian autonomy in how they operated and what decisions they made, but this would be pushing that to its limits.

Besides, if Adam did survive somehow, he needed to learn that his desires would be fulfilled by fulfilling Salem's desires. Without executing Salem's will, they had nothing.

Well, I always did enjoy pushing the limits, didn't I, James?

"Oh, Tyrian?" Watts called out, "We're going to go with your plan."

The only noise Watts heard for the next minute was his own breathing and maniacal cackling.

(Beacon Academy, Courtyard)

To say that Roman Torchwick was having an identity crisis was an understatement. On one hand, he was still planning and executing activities that, if one was generous, could be called heists.

He was not feeling generous.

Neo wasn't either, she had metaphorically voiced protests at several points in this endeavor, the rules she had to follow were stupid, she asserted. Especially that whole "No killing unless you have to, rule".

Yet, Roman insisted that they stay the course. He hadn't yet told Neo that he was going to retire after this business with the White Fang was concluded. He wondered how she'd react to him wanting to become a professor at Beacon. Hey, someone had to teach those kids how criminals think, and who better than a reformed criminal mastermind?

As he was walking to the airfield, he noticed that Ruby was... sulking? That didn't track, Ruby Rose, the endless wellspring of optimism and idealism sulking?

Roman looked around. Blast, none of her friends around. It might be up to him to cheer her up. Roman shook his head, he never thought that he'd ever think that.

He walked over to her, and opened his big mouth. "What's got you down in the dumps, Little Red?"

Ruby didn't look at him. "What happened to remembering our names, Roman?"

Roman shrugged, "I'll still use my nicknames if it suits me. Now come on, I can tell something's wrong."

Ruby was silent for a good twenty seconds until she answered. "We failed in that last mission, but people are still praising us. Jaune could've died, and it's like they don't even care!"

"Alright," Roman started, "I'll tell you why. It's because they're scared."

Ruby looked at him like he had just tried to tell her that Uncle Qrow was her father.

"I'm serious, Ruby. I know a thing or two about hearts and minds and how to change them." Roman explained, "Sure, technically you failed, but that's not what the people of Vale wanted to see. They saw a group of Hunters in training keep a massive White Fang attack in check, more or less."

"That only happened because of our spirit, Roman." Ruby said as she looked at the former con-man. "I thought the world didn't care about spirit."

"Heh. I guess I did say that, didn't I?" Roman said. "That was before you beat me."

Roman continued, "When we fought on top of that airship, you... infected me. Infected me with your spirit, made me believe in heroes again. So, you know what? You'll stop Adam, you'll stop Cinder, and whatever else comes your way. Yeah, I'd bet on that."

Ruby started smiling, then she caught herself. "How... how did you know what I needed to hear?"

Roman twirled Melodic Cudgel as he walked off. "Hearts and minds, Little Red. Hearts and minds."

(Beacon Academy, Ozpin's Office)

Ozpin squinted at the reports from the last few days. Ever since team RWBY and team JNR had tangled with the White Fang in the main square, they had gone back to their usual tactics. Hit and run attacks, just enough to harass, then retreat again.

"These hit and run attacks are pains in the ass," Roman had told him, via text message, "But Qrow says he's nailing down the locations of a bunch of White Fang cells for us to raid."

The elevator dinged, drawing Ozpin's attention as Reign-Beau Arc walked through the now open doors. He was wearing his combat gear, and looked for all the world like a older, beefier version of Jaune. Except he was wearing a proper gambeson and trousers instead of a hoodie and jeans.

"Ah, Mr. Arc, thank you for coming," Ozpin said, "And thank you for making sure the the Atlesian commandos that Specialist Schnee had sent blend in."

"It was no trouble. Professor." Reign-Beau said, "But if I'm being honest, I'm here because there's a... family matter I need to take care of."

Ozpin nodded, "Yes, the Knight's Oath. I imagine that Miss Schnee will be taking it as well?"

It was only after Ozpin spoke that he realized his mistake. Ozpin didn't know about that, but Ozymandias did!

Oh, good job, Ozpin. The first slip up you have in lifetimes...

Reign-Beau raised an eyebrow, "How do you know about that, Ozpin? Unless Jaune told you.."

Ozpin interjected a little too quickly, "One of my ancestors fought beside Amadeus Arc in the Great War. They got to talking one night apparently, because that's how I know." Please don't interrogate me about this, Reign-Beau. Please.

Reign-Beau's eyes narrowed. "That's interesting, because Amadeus kept a very detailed journal. Would you like to know what some of those details were?"

Ozpin swallowed, "I'm sure you're about to tell me, Reign-Beau." Damn it all, I'll have to tell him.

A predatory smile appeared on Reign-Beau's face. "That the only non-Arc that Amadeus told about the Knight's Oath was the person he swore it to. Ozymandias, the Last King of Vale."

The smile vanished, and Reign-Beau Arc used a tone of voice that he had only ever used once before, when he had told a fourteen year old Jaune what had happened to his partner, and why Reign-Beau would refuse to train Jaune.

Hopefully Ozpin took it more seriously than Jaune had.

"Ozpin, you are going to answer two questions before I leave this room. What the hell do you have my son involved in, and who the hell are you?"

Ozpin sighed. There was no way around it, he'd been discovered. Partially. He took a sip of his hot chocolate, then asked a question. The question.

"What's your favorite fairy tale?"

(Beacon Academy, JNPR Dorm)

Jaune was starting to get restless, dad said he just had to meet with Ozpin, then he'd come help him and Weiss with the Knight's Oath. What was taking so long?

"Jaune, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet if you keep pacing." Weiss said gently.

Jaune flopped onto his bed next to her, making her bounce elegantly as only Weiss could, "Sorry, Weiss. I'm just nervous, I'll be the first Arc to take the Knight's Oath since my great-grandpa, unless dad swore it to mom before he left. That's completely-"

Weiss silenced him with a kiss. "You're rambling, my darling knight. Just focus on me."

"Yes, Weiss." Jaune said automatically, then he licked his lips, "Was that... vanilla lip balm?"

Weiss nodded, a slight blush coming to her face, "Ah, yes, Yang recommended it. Did you... um..."

Before Jaune could respond, there was a knock at the door, causing them to jolt apart, "Coming!" Jaune said. He opened the door to find Reign-Beau Arc with a grim expression on his face.

"Dad? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." Jaune said. Reign-Beau entered the room, shut the door, and turned to Jaune.

"Jaune," Reign-Beau started, "Ozpin is not what he appears to be."

Jaune frowned, "Dad, what are..." Weiss was taken aback, Ozpin told Reign-Beau everything? Why?

Reign-Beau hesitated. Ozpin had pleaded with him not to reveal his reincarnations, but had said nothing about the other things. Did that mean that Jaune and Weiss already knew?

Weiss didn't give Reign-Beau the time to continue. "He told you about the maidens? About..."

"Salem? Yes." Reign-Beau confirmed. "Jaune, Weiss, I need you to be completely honest with me. Were you planning on taking the Knight's Oath for the war against Salem?" Good job, Reign-Beau, asking for complete honesty from them while you aren't doing the same. You're a hypocrite, and your forefathers are rolling in their graves.

Jaune looked to Weiss, who nodded. Without hesitation, he answered. "Yes, we are."

"Damn it, Jaune!" Reign-Beau yelled. "You realize that means you won't be able to stop until Salem is defeated, right?"

"Do you really think that we don't know that, Mr. Arc?" Weiss asked. "Ozpin made sure that we knew what we were getting into beforehand."

"Why, then?" Reign-Beau demanded, "This is a fool's errand!"

Jaune had enough, so he spoke his mind. "Didn't someone in this room call me a fool before I left for Beacon?"

"Jaune, that's not what I meant, and you know that."

"If you must know, Mr. Arc, I am involved in the war with Salem because she would come for Ruby, my partner, either way because of her silver eyes." Weiss explained.

Reign-Beau sighed and hung his head. "Well, if you wont be swayed... so be it. Kneel facing each other."

Jaune and Weiss did so, their hands meeting in the middle of the space between them.

"Before we begin, Weiss, you do understand that after this, you will be an Arc in all but name, yes?" Reign-Beau asked.

"Yes, I understand." Weiss said.

"Do you understand what that means?"

Weiss frowned, "I'm not really sure. There's not really a lot to go on, except a couple mentions of Amadeus Arc's actions during the Great War."

"The earliest Arc that we have records of, is Atreus Arc." Reign-Beau said,"He heroically held off a horde of Grimm singlehandedly so that the pioneers that originally settled Vale could make it to where the city is today. Thought to have fallen in battle, he limped into what passed for Vale weeks later, a grin on his face."

Weiss smiled, so that dopey grin was hereditary, that explained so much.

Reign-Beau continued, "After he was healed, the town's blacksmith forged a new weapon for Atreus, a weapon that was fitting for a hero. A sword that would never grow dull, a sword that would pierce that darkness, and a shield that would never break, a shield to protect the light. Atreus named the weapon Crocea Mors."

Jaune supplied the next portion of the story. "Atreus ended up marrying the blacksmith's daughter. After the blacksmith died, Atreus passed Crocea Mors to his eldest son, and took up the forge. Over the years, Crocea Mors has been repaired, reforged, and upgraded, but it has always been the weapon of the latest Arc heir."

"What this means, Weiss," Reign-Beau explained. "Is that before Huntsmen and Huntresses, we Arcs were the wall. When the defenseless cry out in pain, when the helpless call for a hero, it is our duty to answer, and when our time as heroes is done, we use our wisdom to arm the next generation. Do you accept this?"

Without hesitation, Weiss replied. "I do."

Reign-Beau nodded, and took out his scroll. "Very well, then we'll begin with the Knight's Oath. I will record the audio to allow it to be transcribed into the Arc family history, then the recording will be destroyed."

"Repeat after me, to each other," Reign-Beau began, "I swear that I will always be true to my word." Jaune and Weiss dutifully repeated the line and the following lines, their eyes never leaving the other.

"I swear that I will be a shield for the defenseless, salvation for the imperiled, and solace for the distressed."

"I swear that I will stand as a beacon of light against the darkness."

"I swear that even when all hope seems lost, and evil is about to triumph, I will resist it with all my might."

"I swear that I will mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort."

"I swear that when we fight side-by-side, we will show our enemies the meaning of strength."

"I swear that we will bear each other's burdens, that they may be made light."

"I swear that if one of us should fall in battle, I will take up their weapon, and wield it as my own."

Reign-Beau fell silent, indicating that if either Jaune or Weiss had any oaths to swear to each other, now was the time.

Weiss decided to go first, "Jaune, I swear that I will never give you a goodbye kiss, then rush off into a suicidal battle."

Weiss had thought long and hard about what she would swear to Jaune as part of this, and she had decided to soothe his ever-present fears that she would end up like Pyrrha.

Jaune sucked in a breath, that had been exactly what he needed her to say. "Weiss, I swear that when the time comes for you to take over the SDC, I will be by your side, and that together, we will redeem the Schnee name from what your father has done to it."

"Is that everything?" Reign-Beau asked.

"Yeah, dad." Jaune said.

"Yes, Mr. Arc." Weiss said.

"Then, rise," Reign-Beau said, "Rise, Jaune Arc, and rise, Weiss Schnee, Arc in all but name."

Jaune and Weiss stood and embraced, having eyes only for each other. Reign-Beau smiled, pocketed his scroll, and left. After a time, their scrolls buzzed, with a text from Ozpin.

"I need everyone in my office now. We have a situation."

As they left the dorm room, they were greeted by Cardin Winchester, about to knock on the door.

"Cardin?" Jaune asked, "What's wrong?"

"See for yourselves." Cardin said, offering his scroll to Jaune.

It was a video on pause, Adam Taurus's face was plastered across the screen, unlike every other time Weiss had seen images of him, he wasn't wearing his mask. And over his left eye was a Brand. A brand that screamed out a condemnation of the SDC.

"No..." Weiss lamented, "How did... but the company... but father said..."

"Weiss, we can figure that out later. We need to go right now." Jaune said. "Cardin, thanks. We needed to know about this."

Cardin rubbed the back of his head as they walked off. "You're welcome?"

A/N: Hope you guys are ready, because we're on the train from Spider-Man 2, and Doctor Octopus just took out the brakes.

I hope I provided a little insight into Roman's face turn. No one's complained yet, but I figure some people might scratch their heads about it.

I can only hope that I wrote Sienna well, there aren't many other fics to go off of, and most are comedy pieces or "let's make her death a bit better." And she basically has nothing in canon.

Until next time.

Next Chapter: Weiss deals with the aftermath of finding out about Adam's brand, Jaune gets some perspective from Cardin, Winter, Reign-Beau, and Qrow pay some White Fang cells a visit, and Tyrian sets his plan in motion.