Chapter 13: Eye of the Storm
(Beacon Academy, CFVY Dorm)
It was a normal morning in the CFVY dorm room, or what passed for normal these days. Fox was trying to solve a puzzle cube involving interlocking wooden pieces by touch alone. He enjoyed the extra challenge, since it honed his ability to "see" without relying on his Ada implant. Yatsutashi was out checking on Jaune's progress with his two-handed sword skills, according to him, Jaune was coming along quite nicely. Even if Jaune's clumsiness reared it's head more often than not.
Velvet was doing maintenance on her camera, making sure it was it working order. It was, it always was. It helped that her hobby was photography, after all. The problem was Dust.
She was running low, she maybe had enough for five more weapons. After that, she would have to get more, and thanks to the White Fang, that was out of reach, both in actually getting to a dust shop, and in price. Hard Light Dust was expensive enough without price gouging.
Coco glanced up from her fashion magazine. Velvet made that whimper. The I'm Running Low On Dust whimper. There wasn't anything Coco could do to help this time, the not-so-secret stash of Hard Light Dust she maintained for when Velvet ran low had ran out.
Someone knocked on the door.
Coco rolled her eyes, Yatsu probably forgot his scroll again. At least she'd get to make more jokes about how he was training his Semblance by using it on himself.
She opened the door to disappointment, as Cardin was standing there. Velvet may have forgiven him for his trespasses, even become friends with the former bully, but that didn't mean Coco had to like him.
He was standing there rather awkwardly, holding a box with the SDC logo on it. "Cardin." Coco said, "What can I do for you?"
He awkwardly held out the box. "Uh, I thought Velvet might be running low on Dust, so my team pooled our money to get her some."
Coco took the box and opened it, old habits and everything. Inside where twenty vials of Hard Light dust. Coco was never more thankful for her shades, as her eyes went wide. This cost them thousands of Lien! I know Cardin comes from money, but this must have at least put a dent in his allowance.
"So, how much of a dent did this put in your allowance?" Coco asked. She had this in common with Cardin at least, she came from money too.
"Uh, pretty big, considering I used all of it." Cardin said, "The others put in what they could, and I... yeah."
Never let it be said that Cardin knew how to make words go.
"One moment." Coco said before turning to Velvet, "Hey, Velvet! Cardin solved your dust shortage."
Velvet looked up, and a smile blossomed on her face. "Thanks, Cardin, but how did you know I was running low?"
Cardin fidgeted before replying, "I didn't know, I just figured that since it's hard enough for me to get Fire dust right now, it must be hell for you."
Coco set the dust down on Velvet's bed, then got her shoes on. "Cardin, walk with me for a moment."
"Er... okay." Cardin mumbled.
Coco led him to an offshoot corridor that no one really used unless they needed to have a private conversation, like right now.
Coco whirled around, "Okay, Cardin, spill. I get that you and Velvet are friends now, but this is a little much, don't you think?"
"I don't do things halfway, Coco." Cardin said, "I don't really know how."
Yeah, that tracked. Even with that though... "Cardin, your team literally spent thousands of Lien..."
Cardin cut in, "Uh, my team... didn't help. I paid for the whole thing."
Coco just stared at him. Even though Cardin was reformed, he still wasn't this selfless normally. What was he up to, the only logical explanation was...
It hit Coco like a ton of bricks.
"Cardin." Coco said slowly, "Do you have feelings for Velvet?"
"Yeah..." Cardin said, "I'm sorry."
Well, now it was time for the million dollar question. "Why?" Coco asked.
"When I asked her to help me get over the last of my racism, she just agreed." Cardin explained. "She never asked for anything in return, never said I even had to atone for the things I did to her."
Cardin continued, "I don't exactly have the best home life, over break, I needed someone to vent to, and she was there for me. She's like the exact opposite of what I have to deal with at home, and I... I need that. If it never goes beyond friendship I'm fine with that. I wouldn't date me either after the shit I pulled."
Coco could only stand there in stunned silence. What the hell did she just hear? While she was recovering, Cardin left, leaving her no option but to return to the CFVY dorm.
As she entered, Velvet asked, "So, what did you want to talk to Cardin about?"
Oh, Velvet, I'm still processing it, and it'll be up to him to tell you. "Nothing, just leader stuff."
"You're a terrible liar, Coco. You're lucky Velvet is so trusting." Fox sent.
"Shut up, Fox." Coco mentally replied, "Not in the mood."
Coco went back to her magazine, but her heart wasn't in it. It was just as well that her scroll buzzed. She could use the distraction.
A text from Ozpin? What the hell?
"Miss Adel, your team has been selected to participate in what we hope will be the final operation against the White Fang, please convene in the Combat Class Auditorium at 11am."
"What the hell?"
(Beacon Academy, Combat Class Auditorium)
To say that Jaune felt out of place was an understatement, considering that everyone that would be involved in the (hopefully) final battle against Adam was crammed into the auditorium where Combat class was typically held. He could see Atlesian commandos, White Fang that had come from Mistral with Sienna, even hunters that had come from home with his dad! Not to mention his team, and team RWBY. As he craned his neck looking around, he saw both team CRDL and team CFVY.
"You look a little overwhelmed, Jaune." Reign-Beau said, from his spot behind him.
"Just a little." Jaune said. "I'm just used to... a smaller scale than this."
"I have to admit to being mildly overwhelmed as well, Mr. Arc." Weiss said, looking around, "We aren't used to operations on this scale."
"Heh, welcome to the big leagues, kids." Qrow said as he walked up to them. "Oz wants the team leaders front and center, in case you have any input. He doesn't want you to get drowned out."
Jaune nodded, "Right then, duty calls." He turned to Weiss, "Wish me luck?"
Weiss leaned in and gave Jaune a quick kiss, "You don't need it, Jaune. This is your arena." Weiss said.
Jaune grinned that dopey grin. "Thanks, Snow Angel." Jaune descended the bleachers to the front row, and took a seat between Ruby and Cardin.
Professor Ozpin, Winter, and Sienna took the stage, after everyone quieted down, Ozpin began. "Thank you everyone for coming. today marks the beginning of the end for Adam Taurus and his faction of the White Fang. Sienna will explain the broad strokes of our strategy, while Winter will explain the minutiae."
It was fairly simple. Adam had learned that Sienna was in town, so he had challenged her for full leadership of the White Fang. As per the White Fang's laws, the challenged was the one to pick the location of the showdown, for lack of a better term. Sienna had picked the Vale City Park, two days from now, since it was open, easily cordoned off, and would keep civilians away from the fighting. Sienna would arrive with her White Fang, Reign-Beau Arc, Winter, and Qrow, along with teams RWBY and JNR, while the Atlesians, Roman, and teams CRDL and CFVY would lie in wait to blindside Adam. It seemed good enough, but there was one problem that Jaune could see.
One double cross from Adam and everything would go to hell. Jaune raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr. Arc?" Ozpin asked.
"What's the backup plan if Adam double crosses us?"
"We won't need one, Adam wouldn't dare double cross us on this, it would make his claim to all of the White Fang illegitimate." Sienna said, her annoyance evident.
"That won't stop him." Cardin blurted. "I might not know much about the White Fang, but I do know how bullies operate. He'll double cross us, then rig the game so it looks like he was in the right the entire time."
An uncomfortable silence descended, only to be broken moments later by Ruby.
"What if we could control the double cross?" Ruby asked.
"Miss Rose, while your optimism is admirable, I don't think that-" Ozpin started to say.
Ilia stood up abruptly. "It can work. Adam still thinks I'm loyal."
Winter narrowed her eyes, "Why would he think that, Miss Amitola?"
"Because for missions like the one I was given before I left, you're expected to go dark until you complete it. If he's heard anything about me being at Beacon, he'll assume that I've opted for a deep cover approach." Ilia explained.
Sienna nodded, "I like it. Make Adam think he'll have the upper hand, then rip that away from him."
But of course, that raised the question of how they should convince Adam to double cross them. Ideas were thrown around, but were all shut down because the initial attack tipped the scales just a little too far in Adam's favor.
Until Jaune figured it out.
"What if we tell him to ambush us at the airfield before we leave?" Jaune proposed, "He'll probably bring in all his troops in one fell swoop, so after they land, the Atlesian peacekeeping force can create a no fly zone, while the Atlesian commandos can cut off the back entrance, to prevent us from getting blindsided."
"That'll appeal to Adam the most I think. He considers the academies to be symbols of oppression after all." Illa provided. "Sienna, as soon as you tell Adam the intended location, let me know and I'll disappear. Don't try to contact me after." Ilia stood up to leave, but Blake stopped her.
"Ilia, be careful." Blake said, "If Adam finds out that you're working with us while you're in arm's reach..."
Ilia's brain short circuited due to Blake showing concern for her, since she was temporarily incapable of making coherent sentences, Ilia settled for a nod, then left.
From his seat in the back, Roman looked at Neapolitan, who looked back. Over the years, Roman had learned how to translate Neo's facial expressions to English. Right now the pint-sized thief was asking him "Do you want me to follow her?"
"As long as it's safe. If you're even suspected, the White Fang will have your ass." Roman said, "And Ilia will be screwed too, and then we'll all be screwed."
Neo's hands were almost a blur as she spoke in sign language, "Do we still have those White Fang uniforms stashed in the safehouse near the metalworking plant?"
Roman's eyes lit up. He saw what Neo was after, with an actual uniform, she'd be able to sneak around without having to maintain a full illusion.
"Good idea, just be careful." Roman implored.
Neo gave him her best "Don't you know who I am" look, then sauntered off. Roman pinched the bridge of his nose, this mess was going to give him gray hair before it was over, wasn't it?
Either that, or kill him.
(White Fang Safehouse, Vale, Industrial District, Night)
Ilia had decided that she definitely liked Roman's safehouses more. Say what you will about the man, but at least he had standards. Where the safehouse that she had briefly used before Blake had come for her had things like carpet and sofas, the White Fang safehouse she was waiting in for someone to come get her had concrete and metal folding chairs. There was barely food in the kitchen for goodness's sake! At least there was a white board for mission planning. She got up and looked out the window, it was a clear night, complete with a full moon.
Well, full for Remnant, anyways. As Ilia was looking out the window, she saw someone on a rooftop waving at her.
Wait, what?
Ilia squinted as she peered through the window, it was a girl, someone short... was that pink hair? Ilia gasped, it was Neapolitan!
Wait, was she wearing a White Fang uniform? Was she planning on following Ilia in?
At least I'll have one ally on the inside.
Ilia was jolted from her observation by a knock on the door, she quickly crossed the barren safehouse to the door, and looked through the peephole.
Ilia gasped, she'd recognize that mask anywhere, Adam Taurus himself had come to retrieve her.
With no other option, Ilia opened the door, "High Leader." She said reflexively.
With no invitation, Adam swept into the safehouse and shut the door. "Ilia, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't I tell you to not come back until you accomplish your mission?"
Ilia swallowed. Damn, she forgot how intimidating Adam could be, and, uh, yeah. He had said that. "You did, Adam, but-"
"Did you forget what the Schnees did to your family? What they do to all Faunus?" Adam said, "You haven't let the heiress twist you around her finger have-"
"NO!" Ilia yelled, "No, I haven't!" Damn it! I just let him play me like a fiddle, but I can't defend Weiss without letting him know I've turned against him! DAMN IT!
"Blake wouldn't have returned without completing her mission." Adam said, his voice colder than the average Atlesian winter.
Okay, that one hurt, not that Ilia was going to let Adam see it. "That's because Blake never saw the big picture." Ilia scoffed, "I used a deep cover approach for a reason, Adam."
"And?" Adam demanded.
Ilia smiled, "How would you like to catch your enemies off guard, kill the heiress and her boytoy, destroy Beacon, and gain control of all of the White Fang... all at the same time?"
Adam smiled.
"I'm listening."
(Beacon Academy, Airfield, Day 1, Morning)
Normally, Jaune wouldn't be out jogging. He was a firm believer that exercise should be done inside, thank you very much. There was another reason for his out of character choice of exercise. He had realized that he had a unique opportunity to know the battlefield like the back of his hand, as long as Ilia convinced Adam to play his part.
Jaune took a moment to stop, stretch, and appreciate the sunrise. When was the last time he had just... taken time for himself? Ever since the Battle of Beacon, he had one goal, one thing he had to do, and everything he did had done was in service to that.
He had told Cardin that his "private war" was to kill Cinder. When he had tripped in Dust to Dust, he had told himself that he couldn't die there because that would mean that he wouldn't be able to avenge Pyrrha.
But, would Pyrrha want that?
Beyond that, Jaune had made himself a promise to live a life that Pyrrha would be proud of. Would Pyrrha be proud of Jaune avenging her?
He knew the answer, anyone who knew, truly knew Pyrrha, would know the answer. She wouldn't want him to think she had to avenge him, she wouldn't want Jaune to try to take revenge.
"Well, it seems that great minds think alike."
Jaune turned and saw Winter Schnee, dressed in Atlas Academy branded work out gear. "Yeah, I suppose so." Jaune said. "Uh, Winter, I've got something I need to ask you."
"A bit early for marriage, don't you think?" Winter deadpanned.
Jaune laughed at the absolute absurdity, "No, no, it's not about Weiss." Jaune looked off at the sunrise, "If General Ironwood ordered you to go fight an enemy that you know would kill you, what would you do?"
Winter answered quickly, "I would trust that the General had a plan to provide me with support."
"What if he didn't order you to fight that enemy, but to call for help. But for that help to be effective, you had to delay that enemy, even though your orders were not to engage?"
"You're trying to make sense of why Pyrrha Nikos went to fight Cinder." Winter stated.
Jaune nodded, "Yeah, I am."
Winter paused a moment before answering, "I can't pretend to truthfully say that I know what was going through her head. I knew her, but not in the way that you and your friends did. All I can tell you is that if she had not gone to fight Cinder, the CCT would've been destroyed and Beacon would've been overrun by Grimm."
"Yeah." Jaune said bitterly, "So, people will say she's a hero, a champion, and put her on a damned pedestal."
"Jaune, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that you and Weiss will need to fight Adam in the coming days." Winter said, "He is superior to both of you, so tell me, why would you fight him?"
Jaune looked at the patch of sky where he knew that the star that he believed to be Pyrrha's star occupied during the night.
"To protect my friends."
(Beacon Academy, Ozpin's Office, Day 1, Evening)
Ozpin rubbed the sleep from his eyes, but he couldn't let himself rest until he went over the plan for the attack one more time. It had to be perfect. It had to. No one was going to die, no one was going to have to sacrifice themselves. No more. No...
He stopped. How many times had he swore that over his lifetimes? And how many times had Salem proven him wrong again and again? How many more would have to die, over what could jokingly be referred to as the worst divorce in Remnant's history?
Ozpin allowed himself a chuckle, Ozwald had thought it was hilarious.
"Ha! Good one, Ozpin! You're alright for someone who just wants to be a boring teacher!"
Ozpin frowned, he missed Ozwald. He missed always having a second opinion, always having that constant companion. So much so that for the first time in what probably was all of his lifetimes, he had researched his past lives.
Oddly enough, he had found a pattern. Vacuo, Atlas, Vale, Mistral. His lives, his... hosts, for lack of a better term, would always rotate between the kingdoms, in that order. Ozwald had been an inventor from Mantle, that had earned his way into Atlas. Then, he, Ozpin of Vale, had always wanted to be a teacher.
After the events of the Miracle of Beacon, Ozpin did something that he had never done in all of his lives. He went looking for the next one, with his new knowledge that his next life, his next companion, would be from Mistral, over the break he had crisscrossed the continent looking for him.
And found Oscar Pine.
A farm boy, he lived with his aunt ever since his parents were killed by a Grimm attack. He was nothing special on his own, but after Ozpin died, Oscar wouldn't be alone, now would he?
In the end, Ozpin decided to take a page out of Pyrrha's book. He recorded a message to Ironwood, Qrow, and Glynda, that would send on the event of his death, and included all of the information that he had on Oscar Pine.
Ozpin took a drink of his hot chocolate, one more review of the plan, then he would get some rest.
It had to be perfect. It had to.
(Beacon Academy, Training Room, Day 2, Afternoon)
Jaune tapped at the console in the training room used to program the training bots. While they couldn't be anywhere near as dangerous as Adam, they could at least let Jaune get in the right mindset for fighting him.
Max difficulty, max aggression, wrist blades, and shotguns. That's the closest I'll get to him with these training bots.
Jaune set the console to activate one bot on his verbal command, and took his place on the training room's arena. "Start." He said.
He drew his sword and advanced, the training bot extended its wrist blades and charged at him. As Jaune closed in, it started firing its shotgun. Jaune raised his shield, forging a path through the buckshot. The training bot swung at him, but Jaune smacked at the blade with his shield, and countered with a lightning dust powered stab.
The bot fell over, soundly defeated.
Jaune trudged over to the console to erase his choices for the bots. This wasn't going to work.
Damn, my initial training with Weiss practically ruined these things for me.
"Having trouble, Jaune?"
Jaune turned and saw his father, dressed in his armor, and weapon by his side. "Hey, dad," Jaune said, "Just trying to prepare for Adam anyway I can, just in case I have to fight him."
Reign-Beau nodded to the remains of the training bot on the floor. "And those aren't cutting it, I assume?"
Jaune barked out a singular laugh, "Not even close."
"You're over-preparing for one foe, when you'll have many." Reign-Beau said, "You won't see the forest for the trees, and you'll never see the bear that mauls you."
Jaune sighed, "Yeah, you're right, dad. I need to loosen up, but I'm not sure how."
Reign-Beau smirked, and drew his sword. "How about a spar with your old man?"
Jaune grinned. "Oh, you're on."
Jaune drew his sword and moved back into the arena, Reign-Beau followed, assuming a classical Valean Bladesmanship stance. Jaune took his stance, a hybrid of Mistralian Dueling and Atlesian Fencing. Father and son moved as one. Reign-Beau struck first, with an overhand strike. Jaune parried it with his shield, much like that first Ursa Major, and countered with a diagonal slash, the flare of Reign-Beau's aura the sign of a successful hit.
Reign-Beau retaliated with a pommel strike, shoving the pommel of his sword into Jaune's unprotected gut. Jaune grunted, then slashed with his sword, throwing out a wave of wind that knocked Reign-Beau back.
Reign-Beau activated his Semblance, channeling it through his sword, which began to glow gold...
Wait a second...
... then Reign-Beau slashed, sending a blast of Aura at Jaune, which knocked him off of his feet.
"Do that again!" Jaune said, scrambling his feet.
Reign-Beau blinked, "Excuse me?"
Internally, Jaune was a whirlwind of relief and happiness. He had found the missing piece to his preparations for fighting Adam!
Reign-Beau's eyes narrowed. "That was similar to Adam's Semblance, wasn't it?"
"Yeah..." Jaune said, "So, uh..."
Reign-Beau shook his head, "Damn it, Jaune, your mother will have my hide for enabling this."
Jaune took his stance, "Dad, this is bigger than us. If Adam wins... destroys Beacon..."
Reign-Beau looked in Jaune's eyes. Even though he was now supportive of Jaune's pursuit of the life of a Huntsman, there was still a small part of Reign-Beau that believed that Jaune was still just an ignorant child playing dress up, despite the stories that Reign-Beau had told him of his partner's death, of the Apathy...
When Reign-Beau looked into Jaune's eyes, he didn't see that image of an ignorant child, he realized that was a pre-judgement that he had made.
When Reign-Beau looked in Jaune's eyes, he saw a man, willing to protect others that he barely knew, willing to lay down his life for his friends, willing to fight an enemy that could very well easily kill him simply because it was the right thing to do.
When Reign-Beau looked into Jaune's eyes, he saw a Huntsman.
Reign-Beau's weapon began to glow. "Prepare yourself, Jaune."
Jaune grinned. "Bring it on, dad."
A/N; Pacing is a funny thing. Originally I was going to have the battle between the Beacon Gang and Adam start at the end of this chapter, but words happened, and I ended up wanting to end it on that exchange between Jaune and Reign-Beau.
Also, I decided to start the Cardin X Velvet shenanigans with Cardin's feelings, because it seemed like a more natural way to start, but I could be talking out of my ass, and it was actually a horrible decision. Oh well.
Next Chapter: Adam and his goon patrol versus literally Everyone Else.