AN: Did anyone else see the announcement for RWBY Arrowfell? I'm a huge fan of Metroidvania-style games, so I'm excited. I'm also looking forward to the new novel about Roman and Neo, even though I'll likely have to ignore it after I already wrote my own backstory for them.

In other news, someone has expressed interest in writing the Fire Emblem: Three Houses and RWBY crossover story I pitched on my profile! The author's name is Bardockskywalker1991. Expect more updates in the coming weeks!

Once again, thank you to Lord Maximus for the help with this chapter.

Chapter 94

James Ironwood was shivering when he finally woke up. His vision was blurry, but slowly returned to him as he looked around.

Atlas General, the main hospital of the Kingdom.

"I see you're awake, General."

Ironwood watched as a doctor appeared in his vision.

"What… happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us, General. You were found in the Schnee Mansion with… well, you were frozen with your prosthetic arm and leg torn off," the doctor said, gesturing next to the general.

James looked to the right and indeed saw his right arm and leg had been viciously removed. And then he remembered.

Aqua.

The Keyblade Master, engulfed in fire as she lifted him off the ground with a mere wave of her hands, burning his prosthetics until they were cut from him, and then she froze him.

"In addition to that, you have experienced blunt trauma and have a slight case of hypothermia. Luckily your Aura protected you long enough for you to be rescued," the doctor continued. "Replacements for your prosthetics are in the works right now, and they will be ready as soon as possible."

"Who is working on them?" James asked.

"Dr. Pietro Polendina, General," the doctor answered.

"Good. I would like a chance to see what he has in mind for upgrades," James said, looking for a scroll. "I have some ideas I want added."

"Ideas?" the doctor asked.

"What about the fugitive, Aqua Branwen? She was supposed to be staying at the Schnee Manor until I had her transferred back to the Academy," James said, changing the subject.

"…I'm not sure. I'm a doctor, not a detective," the doctor replied.

"Gone."

James looked to the door and was surprised by who he saw standing there.

"Councilor Caelum."

Regis Lucis Caelum, the father of Noctis Lucis Caelum, who shared a remarkable resemblance to his son despite being older. He wore a black business suit, and had black hair with a short beard.

"An interesting woman, this Aqua Branwen. People thought she was Marigold, then a Schnee, and now she's the woman who put both Jacques Schnee and General James Ironwood in the hospital."

"She's a criminal now. We must lock Atlas down and find her at once. She must have sought shelter with Robyn Hill and her band," James said quickly.

"I'm afraid it'll be pointless to put Atlas in lockdown now. She's not in Atlas or even in Mantle," Regis said stoically. "Apparently she stowed away aboard an airship bound for Mistral with Jacques's youngest daughter Weiss."

James's eyes widened as he realized that if Aqua was bound for Mistral, she was going to meet up with Qrow and her family. She had mentioned they were going to Haven.

"We need any forces available to track that airship down and have it brought back!" James yelled, grunting as he sat up.

"That will not be possible. You've recalled all of Atlas's forces, remember? With the exception of a handful still in Mistral, the majority of your military s now behind the border." Regis frowned. "And given what I've learned, I don't blame Mrs. Branwen one bit."

He produced a sheet of paper, and handed it to Ironwood.

"A contract forged by Jacques Schnee, stating he would have his daughter sent to the SDC mines as an 'inspector' if she did not sign and agree to face Weiss in the match you approved of. It also stated she would become Jacques's newest maid if she lost, but both of them threw the match rather than fight each other. Have you gone sick in the mind, James?" He ripped the contract up and threw the remains to the floor. "Is this some kind of joke to you? You made sure she had no way out. No wonder she brutalized the both of you."

"I had my reasons, Councilor. We have to get her back," James replied. "At any cost."

"So now you won't be recalling all our military back here and closing the borders? All for one woman? Well, you're a little late since she already has a head start. By the time you muster enough of a strike force, she will be long gone in the wilds of Mistral, and you won't have the incompetence of your men to blame. It will be your own miscalculation in closing the border and putting up this embargo on such short notice." Regis rolled his eyes. "In fact, you're not in much of a position to be giving orders, so I will be taking this time to dispute your decisions."

"I still have two seats," James argued.

"And when a new Councilor is elected, you will have to contend with them as well as the rest of us," Regis replied calmly. "If you are not so focused on capturing this woman. Like I said, by the time you've sent someone after the airship she left in, assuming you find out which one it is, she will have landed in Mistral and can apply for political asylum from the Mistral council."

"That's not a guarantee of safety," James said as the doctor handed him his scroll. "I still have forces pulling out of Mistral."

Led by his top Specialist, Winter Schnee.

Out of all his troops, she was the one he trusted the most. He might have failed against Aqua, but Winter might be skilled enough to bring her in. And she'd be motivated if her sister was with Aqua.

"I have a new message to send," James said as he accessed the priority channel on his scroll. "I need this sent to Specialist Schnee, who should be pulling out of Mistral by now. She has new orders to track down and capture Aqua Branwen for her crimes, and is likely holding her younger sister hostage."

Regis scowled, as he knew from his son that Weiss had not been taken hostage. General Ironwood was desperate if he was resorting to lying to his own second-in-command. Unfortunately, with two seats on the council, he could not override Ironwood's decision, and even with the other vote it would be a deadlock that would only stall the general for a short time.

"Suspect is armed and extremely dangerous. Approach with caution," James said, finishing his orders before closing his scroll. "You pushed me to the limit, Aqua."

It only she had cooperated when she had the chance. Now he would have her locked up in Atlas's deepest secured areas along with the Winter Maiden, and he would force her to show him how to gain the Keyblade's power for himself and for his army.

First of all, he would see about getting some upgrades done so he would be ready to face her again.

Telekinesis like Glynda, summoning fire and ice like a Maiden. A Semblance that can summon copies of people she's met. I severely underestimated her. I cannot make that mistake again. James thought as he looked over the schematics. I will have shields and perhaps a rocket boot attached to my new leg like I knew Pietro was working on for my normal one. I can try and mimic the number of advantages the Keyblade offers with the science of Atlas.

Aqua had managed to escape, but he was not about to accept defeat. If she preferred the hard way, then that was exactly what he was going to give her.

Leonardo sat at his desk, anxiously waiting for his… associate, Arthur Watts, to finish establishing a connection to Sal—Er, Lady Salem.

He always hated having to contact her. Everything about her made his skin crawl.

He supposed that was why he had turned against Ozpin. She scared him too much. Watts stepped into Leonardo's office through a secret passage in the bookshelf.

"Are we ready?" the doctor asked, to which Leonardo reluctantly nodded and followed him into the secret passage. Watts closed the door behind them, and they walked down a short corridor, being met by a Seer Grimm at the end of the path.

"After you," Watts said, pushing Leonardo closer to the Grimm.

"Your Grace," Leonardo said nervously. "Are you there?"

From inside the head of the Seer, black fog shifted around to form a clear image of Lady Salem, alongside an unfamiliar silver-haired man.

"Hello, Leonardo," Lady Salem greeted from within the Seer. "Do you have something to report?"

"Of course, ma'am," Leonardo said. "I would not waste your time, if not."

"I'm still just so fascinated by this creature," Watts said, leaning closer to get a better look at it, but pausing when he saw the man standing next to Lady Salem. "Oh? And who might you be?"

"This is Sephiroth," Lady Salem said. "He's… a new ally of ours."

"I've never heard of him," Watts said. "How new is he?"

"Very," Sephiroth said.

"Your report," Lady Salem said, getting the conversation back on track. "What is it?"

"I've…" Leonardo said nervously. "I've found the Spring Maiden."

"Is that so? Well done…" Lady Salem said, and Leonardo could feel a smile starting to form at pleasing her. "…Arthur." Only for the smile to fall when he realized she was actually praising Watts. "Had I known how useful you'd be expediting his process, I would've sent you long, long ago."

"As much as I'd like to take credit, ma'am, I can't say that either of us are to thank for this development," Watts said. "I guess you could say, a little birdie told us."

"Explain."

"You see, ma'am," Qrow Branwen arrived at Haven Academy earlier today," Leonardo explained. "He believes Spring has taken residence with his sister's tribe."

"Qrow…" Sephiroth said thoughtfully. "His niece is the young girl with the Keyblade, correct?"

"Yes, Miss Rose was in attendance," Watts said.

"The last time I encountered her, she was in the company of a man named Cloud. Was he still with her?"

"He was," Leonardo answered.

"…Good."

"Do you know of the tribe's location?" Lady Salem asked.

"Yes, ma'am!" Leonardo said. "But you have to hurry! Qrow is already at odds with my-!"

He was interrupted by one the tentacles of the Seer wrapping around his neck and choking him.

"Leonardo, do you remember the first time we met?" Lady Salem asked. "I remember. I remember your fear. But, since that day, you've been extraordinarily brave. I won't forget all that you've done for me. Do not forget everything that I can do to you."

From within the orb, Sephiroth chuckled, and after a few seconds, Lady Salem commanded the Grimm to release him. Leonardo fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

"Arthur, I will be sending Cinder and her team to meet with you, and together, you will convince Raven Branwen that the survival of her people depends on her cooperation. Sephiroth will be joining you as well. Once you have Spring under control, escort her to the Relic and contact Hazel. The White Fang was promised the destruction of Haven, and they'll have it once we have what we need."

"Understood," Watts said.

"However, before that, I need you to return," Lady Salem said. "Tyrian is in need of a new tail."

"What happened to his old one?" Watts asked incredulously.

"Apparently he ran into complications when he attempted to capture Miss Rose," Lady Salem explained.

"That girl is becoming more troublesome by the day."

"It wasn't her," Lady Salem said, prompting Watts to raise an eyebrow in confusion. "According to Tyrian, it was an unknown woman in armor wielding a Keyblade. And she evidently isn't allied with the girl, as she attacked them, as well."

"That's… concerning," Watts said. "I'll be right over."

"Good," Lady Salem said, and her image disappeared from the Seer, leaving Leonardo and Watts alone in the room.

"I swear this girl is far more trouble than she's worth," Watts muttered as he left the room.

Aqua sat quietly in the cargo hold of the ship, still fuming at being denied the chance to help the other ship. She knew that they could have made a difference, but the pilot was too scared to let them try!

And now whoever was on that ship was most likely dead.

"Aqua?" Weiss asked, her voice full of concern. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, only half-lying. "I'm just frustrated."

"About the other ship," Weiss asked, prompting Aqua to nod. "I get it. I wish he would let us help, too. But it's like he said, it's his ship. Unless we hijack it, we go where he takes us."

"I know. It just still doesn't sit right with me."

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds.

"…I'm sorry," Weiss said.

"Why are you apologizing?" Aqua asked. "Us leaving the other ship behind wasn't your idea."

"…It's not that," Weiss said quietly, looking at Aqua's neck. Aqua was confused for a second, until she reached a hand up and touched it. She felt the rough skin lining her neck. Remembered the scars.

"It's not your fault, Weiss," Aqua said. "You don't have to apologize for any of the things your father did. To me, or anyone else."

"If I hadn't decided to stop fighting you, you wouldn't have been stuck there for as long as you were," Weiss said. "You could have escaped on your own without having to worry about me, and now, you have to live with marks that man left on you!" She shouted, pounding her fist against one of the containers in the ship. "…Just like I do."

"What do you mean?" Aqua asked.

"Did I never tell you how I got mine?" Weiss asked, pointing to the scar over her eye. Aqua shook her head, and Weiss sighed. "When I first told my father about my intentions to study at Beacon instead of Atlas, he was furious. He initially refused to let me, but after I continued to stand my ground, he eventually relented. He agreed to let me attend Beacon, but only if I could pass his test. He forced me to fight a Geist possessing one of the giant suits of armor from the manor, and to this day, I'm certain he never intended for me to be able to defeat it. During the fight, it cut me in the eye."

"…So, your own father is responsible for scarring your face?" Aqua asked.

"Well, if you were to ask both him and Winter, I'm responsible for scarring my face because I wasn't paying attention, but yes, it's ultimately his fault," Weiss said. "That's why it makes me so mad to think about someone else I care about having to live with their body being… marked by him."

"Well, I don't blame you for any of this," Aqua said. "The only person responsible for what happened was Jacques. Think about it, the fight never would have happened anyway if he had just viewed you as a daughter, and not a tool. Besides, I'd go through it all again to help you."

"But why?" Weiss asked. "Why would you go through all of this, just for me? You said yourself that you needed to get to Mistral to see Ruby and Yang. I would've understood if you just left Atlas, but instead you delayed seeing your own daughters just for me. Why?"

"Is having someone care about you really that hard to understand?" Aqua asked, making Weiss's eyes widen. "It's easy. I was willing to endure it because I care about you. Yes, Ruby and Yang are my daughters, and they needed me, but you needed help, too. You needed someone, anyone, to be there for you. I couldn't just leave you to fend for yourself. I don't think of things in terms of cost/benefit. All that matters to me is that someone is suffering right in front of me, and I can do something to help." Weiss looked down at the ground.

"B-But… But I…"

Aqua didn't let her finish her thought, instead wrapping her arms around her and pulling the former heiress into a hug.

"I know things were hard for you," Aqua said quietly, gently patting Weiss's head. "You had to fend for yourself, especially after your sister left. But you don't need to do that anymore. I'm here for you, the girls are here for you, even Qrow would be here for you. Don't think that you're not important, that you shouldn't matter to me as much as my family. That's just not how it works. You're a friend, and friends don't let friends suffer." Aqua pulled back, holding on to Weiss's shoulders and looking her in the eyes. "You're not alone anymore. You have people all around you that would be willing to help. All you need to do is ask."

Weiss looked at her for a few seconds, before wiping a tear away.

"…Thank you," she said, and Aqua returned it with a smile before the entire ship shuddered.

"Oh, what now?" Aqua asked in frustration, looking out the window.

She could see large, floating landmasses all around the ship.

"What the…?" Weiss asked. The two of them headed into the cockpit, seeing the pilot a little more focused than usual. "Where are we?"

"Nowhere good," the pilot said. "Passing by some of Lake Matsu's floating islands. The gravity Dust that forms in these things is giving us a little turbulence. Nothing I can't handle, but the islands sometimes hide some nasty Grimm. I'm just betting on our friends in distress keeping them occupied."

"You what?!" Aqua yelled, outraged that the pilot that willing to use the damaged airships and the people in them as bait.

"Look out!" Weiss shouted, drawing their attention to a damaged airship barreling towards them, forcing their pilot to pull up to avoid a collision. The ship passed by them, slamming into one of the floating islands, the ship disappearing in a ball of fire.

"You've got to be kidding me!" the pilot shouted, switching his radio back on.

"By the gods, we've lost Percy!" the voice on the radio shouted. "Help!"

Another airship came from around a corner, surrounded by Lancers. The large wasp-like Grimm launched their stingers like harpoons at the other airship, snagging it in place and preventing the ship from escaping.

"We're hooked! We're hooked!" The airship's hull began to crack, as the Lancers began pulling apart in midair. "Everyone, abandon ship!"

The crew of the other ship never got the chance, as one of the Lancers dove into the hull of the ship, blowing it up.

Unfortunately, that left the other Grimm free to focus on their airship, since Aqua, Weiss, and the pilot couldn't help their anxiety and anger.

"Lancers, freaking Lancers!" the pilot said in frustration. "Alright buckle up—huh?"

He didn't get to finish his order, as Aqua and Weiss had already headed back into the cargo hold.

"What are you doing?!" he shouted back to them.

"What we should've done in the first place!" Weiss shouted back. "You're carrying Dust, right?"

"Officially, no. Actually, yes." Weiss opened up one of the containers near her and started loading Dust into her rapier.

"Then when I tell you, open the rear door!"

"Better make it quick!" Aqua and Weiss could feel the ship making evasive maneuvers. "We're cutting it close!"

Weiss summoned black glyphs beneath herself and Aqua to keep them on their feet.

"Ready!" she shouted, and the cargo doors opened. Weiss wasted no time, launching a fireball out the door and killing one of the Lancers. Aqua followed it up with her own Fire spells, and the two of them succeeded in culling the swarm by a significant amount.

The ship suddenly rocked, knocking them off-balance.

"What was that?!" Aqua shouted.

"We're hooked!" the pilot yelled back.

"Tinker Bell!" Aqua shouted, summoning the fairy and jumping out of the cargo door.

She flew up above the ship, throwing her Keyblade at the cords the Lancers were using to hook onto the ship. The creatures recoiled in what appeared to be pain, and Aqua flew up and quickly dispatched them.

"I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up, lady!" the pilot shouted over the intercom.

"Look out!" Weiss shouted, and Aqua could see a much, much larger Lancer flying towards the ship. Aqua pointed her Keyblade at it.

"Firaga!" she shouted, sending a fireball at the Grimm. It impacted, but the monster didn't slow down. She was about to fly towards it, but then a black blur flew past her.

Within seconds, the Queen Lancer was absorbed into a black blur, leaving something else behind.

A Heartless.

One that seemed to be entirely comprised of a black robe, with sharp claws at the end of its fingers.

"What the hell is that thing?!" the pilot yelled. The Heartless quickly flew into the cargo door faster than Aqua could react.

"Weiss!" she shouted, flying back towards the ship, only to see the Heartless fly back out through the cockpit window, holding the pilot in its grasp. The man screamed, before the monster stabbed him through the chest with its claws. The Heartless threw the man's limp body away, leaving him to fall the long distance back towards the ground.

Aqua could see the Heartless charging up a fireball, so she quickly dove back into the ship, grabbed Weiss, and conjured a barrier around the two of them.

She was just in time, too, as the ship exploded around them immediately after.

"Adam. I'm not going to repeat myself, so I want you to listen when I tell you that the White Fang will not attack Haven Academy," Sienna Khan, High Leader of the White Fang, said from her throne, flanked by armed guards. She had dark skin, black hair, and tiger ears on top of her head, with a red gem in the middle of her forehead. She wore a black bodysuit adorned with red robes, and all along her skin was tattoos designed to look like tiger stripes.

Atop her throne, with her arms crossed unhappily, she was the very picture of both unrelenting strength, and unparalleled beauty.

"High Leader Khan," Adam said, kneeling down before her. "I am begging you."

"You should bed for forgiveness and nothing else!" she said. "The assault you led on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be more grateful your punishment was not more severe. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible."

"I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader," Adam said, hoping that flattery might make her more amicable.

"And what example might that be?"

"Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now."

"I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary," Sienna said. "Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back. But the destruction of the Huntsman Academies crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl! And the White Fang is a target now more than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us, and for what?! Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans we still know nothing about, and come and go as they please! These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by shortsightedness!"

"If you want to know more about the humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself?" Adam said, standing up and turning towards the main entrance. "Hazel!" he called out, and a large man in green stepped into the throne room.

"Took you long enough," Hazel muttered. Sienna rose from her seat angrily, while her guards took combat stances.

"What is this?!" Sienna demanded.

"Apologies," Hazel said. "I don't aim to cause any trouble."

"You've brought a human to this location?" Sienna asked, leveling a furious glare at Adam.

"You should hear what he has to say," Adam said.

"This is grounds for execution!"

"Ma'am, please. Nobody needs to die today," Hazel said, kneeling respectfully. "I'm just asking for a moment of your time.

"The longer you stay here, the less of a chance you have of leaving alive."

"I'll take those chances, if you don't mind." After a second, Sienna relented, sitting back down and gesturing for her guards to relax. Hazel stood back up. "You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want."

"I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it is that I want. I want humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect! I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win!"

"That's where you're wrong," Adam said, making both Sienna and Hazel look at him. "We can win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support f Hazel's master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this plant. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should serve the Faunus." Sienna glared at him for several seconds.

"I've had enough of this conversation for tonight," she finally said. "Guards, take them away." Her guards remained still. "I said, take them away!" Adam chuckled.

"I will admit, Sienna, you were right about my popularity," he said. "My followers in Vale already see me as the true High Leader. And many here in Mistral feel the same." The doors burst open, and four White Fang soldiers ran in, their weapons pointed at Sienna.

"What are you doing?" Hazel asked.

Ah, yes. Adam had… neglected to inform him that he had no intention of leaving things to Sienna.

"I'm doing what's right for the Faunus," Adam said. "From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang."

More soldiers burst into the room with weapons drawn, as Sienna's own guards pointed their spears at her. Sienna was shocked for only a second, before righteous fury took over.

"If you think I'll just step aside and follow beneath you, you're wro—"

She didn't finish her sentence before Adam's sword impaled her.

"I know," he said, stepping in front of her and grabbing the hilt of his sword. It slid further into her body and he lifted her off the ground, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Thank you, Sienna. You were there when our people needed you, but they need me now. I'm sorry you couldn't see this through to the end." Sienna, her strength quickly failing her, attempted to raise her hand towards Adam's face, only for him to throw her off of his weapon, allowing her body to tumble down the stairs. Hazel looked down at her corpse, before giving Adam an annoyed look.

"Give our former leader a proper burial," Adam said. "All who were here tonight will claim that Sienna was murdered by a human Huntsman. Sienna Khan will become a martyr for our cause, her final act as High Leader."

Sienna's body was carried away as the White Fang soldiers left the room, leaving Adam and Hazel alone.

"When were you planning on telling me about that?" Hazel asked. Adam pulled a cloth out of his pocket and began wiping Sienna's blood off his blade.

"This was my business, not yours," Adam said dismissively.

"It's our business now, and I don't appreciate you withholding things like that."

"Your master was concerned with Sienna's willingness to cooperate. Now she doesn't have to be."

"Nobody needed to die today," Hazel said, before turning around and leaving the room. Adam smiled and sat down on his throne.

"I… disagree."

Whitley and Willow arrived at Atlas General Hospital, escorted of course by SDC security to Jacques's room. When they arrived they could see he was lying on a bed with several doctors hovering over him. Whitley could only stare in stunned silence at his father, head of the SDC and how low had had been brought down by the woman he had seemingly outwitted and forced into serving him. It had happened without warning and by the time he had been found Jacques had been screaming in pain for hours as he was electrocuted by the very device he had used to "discipline" Aqua.

Willow was stoic, having not wanted to come, but wouldn't let her son go alone either. Despite that, Whitley barely even acknowledged her as the head doctor approached and met them outside in the hall. Jacques's head secretary was already there, waiting for them so they could hear the news.

"How is he?" Whitley asked.

"His condition is stable but he will need to spend an extended amount of time here. The hours of electrocution he had endured has caused temporary blindness along with some breathing problems. We are now just checking his heart to make sure he doesn't have a sudden heart attack. It's a miracle he survived at all at his age," the doctor explained.

Yes… A miracle," Willow thought idly as she glanced back in the room. To think, she was able to do this to him.

Aqua had not just beaten Jacques within an inch of his life, he had also damaged his pride beyond repair. No way was his PR team going to be able to keep quiet about this. No doubt someone in the hospital had already reported what happened and once that happened, the rumors would spread. She had already read the medical file sent to her after they had brought him out of the ER and had actually let out a laugh when she found that Aqua had literally kicked him in the nether region so hard he needed surgery.

I wish I had done that to him when I had the chance, a small voice in Willow's head whispered in vengeance.

After all her children had been born of course.

If that wasn't enough, Jacques had a nasty scar from the course of brutal electrocution he had endured at the very collar he had used on Aqua. Not to mention, black eyes, a broken nose, and several broken teeth. It would take weeks of work and plastic surgery before he would look like his normal self again, and even then, it wouldn't be enough.

Aqua had not only broken the man's public image along with his body, she had effectively shattered his pride and left him a broken, hurting, and ruined man. Jacques's partners and opponents would leap on this to destroy his reputation to make themselves look better. He might not even be presentable when the election for the next council seat bean, which he planned to run in.

"Whitley?" Jacques called out weakly.

Steeling himself, Whitley slowly approached the bed as the doctors moved away. The once-proud Jacques Schnee had been stripped of his prized business suit, a deep scar, much bigger than the one that had started on Aqua had been left behind by the collar before its removal, and his entire body was shaking. They had to give him a breathing tube, which made it hard to speak.

"I'm here, Father," Whitley said calmly, with Willow behind him. "Mother is here as well."

Willow had schooled her features as Jacques tried to look at her, but his gaze was unfocused. To think this was the same man with whom she had wasted her life. No longer the symbol of authority and victory for the SDC.

Now he was a mere shadow, barely able to move, barely able to see or even breath because he had incurred the wrath of a woman he thought was somehow related to them and did everything he could to break her and bend her to his will, just as he had done with everyone else around him.

Including her.

Only it seemed Aqua was the one woman he should never have trifled with.

She had to suppress the small savage glee she felt from seeing him like this, but would offer no pity or compassion for him. He had long since gone past the point of any of that.

"I can't see… Everything is a blur…" Jacques clenched a fist. "…Damn her… Damn that woman… I want her found… I want her dead…No, I want her alive and brought here so I can torture her for all she's done to me!"

Even though Jacques had supposedly temporarily lost his vision, he could still see her in his mind.

That damn woman, Aqua Branwen, standing tall with a look of utter indifference that she had made when they had first met. Her continued defiance had been amusing when he had forced her into servitude, but she would not break. He thought it was only a matter of time, and hoped it would have been before Ironwood would take custody of her. He had taunted her, disciplined her, had her on her knees…and yet she didn't accept her fate as a servant and obey her superiors like she should have!

She dared to raise her hands against him, taunted him, insulted him, beat him down and left him in agony!

That indifferent look with blue eyes brighter than his wife's, not the color of winter but the sea, staring at him as if he was the mere ant to be stepped on and not her…

His entire body shook, but not just from the after-effects of the shock therapy she had left him in…

But also deep rage.

She had mocked his authority and place, dared to speak to him as if he was a common peon, and then dared to actually raise her hand to him like a barbarian!

"I want a reward posted… For her capture…" Jacques snarled through the tube. "Ten million Lien…" Whitley's eyes widened in shock.

"Ten million?"

"Yes! I don't care if they ask for more! I want her here, bruised, bleeding, broken… Dead!" Jacques snarled as the doctors rushed around him.

"Mr. Schnee, you have to calm down. You blood pressure will spike and it will be dangerous!" the doctor urged.

"I will do the same to her! Make sure she's brought to this very hospital, in this very bed! Have her shocked and drugged until she's a vegetable!" Jacques raged. "Get the word out! There will be no place on Remnant she can hide!"

"It will be done, sir," the head secretary nodded, pulling out her scroll as she left the room.

The doctors shooed Whitley and Willow out of the room as they injected Jacques with tranquilizer to calm him down.

"DAMN YOU, AQUA BRANWEN! DAMN YOU!" He howled as the tranquilizer took effect and he slowly fell asleep. But he could still see her eyes staring back at him with the same cold look she had when she left him to suffer.

AN: So the scene with Ironwood in the hospital had to be a flashback because I had already written Winter's reaction to his orders. This was also to establish a little bit of a retcon in my story. I decided to have Noctis's father be not only fabulously wealthy, but also a Council member.

I've also always felt that they wasted Sienna in canon. She was so cool, but they didn't really know what to do with her.

So next time will be Aqua and Weiss dealing with the Phantom.

As always, thank you very much for reading, and I'll see you all next time!