AN: So, everyone, I was looking back at my list recently and found that a lot of the ideas I had for chapters wouldn't be enough by themselves so I'm combining several plot points from their own chapters into being in a chapter together. At this point I'd say this is the first of the last five or six chapters, the story will probably get finished this update cycle.

AN2: Also, every sister mentioned here (apart from the Canon Saffron and the already mentioned Hestia) was just a Blonde I decided to reference from other games and shows. I thought it'd be fun.

To Be Relentless

Chapter 16

-Ciel-

Standing alongside Jaune and Penny, Ciel kept her eyes out for Jaune's sisters, her friend having mentioned that they were coming and to 'look for an invading horde of blonde women'. "Jaune!" hearing a shout, Ciel turned just in time to see Jaune go down under a pile of blonde women, a dark-skinned woman following more sedately.

"Hi." Jaune wheezed out as his sisters dog piled him, checking him fretfully which felt counterintuitive to her.

"Friend Jaune, may I join in on this piling of the dog?" Penny asked eagerly, always eager for anything even remotely resembling a hug.

"Please…don't." Jaune wheezed from the weight of six sisters somehow circumventing his aura. Pouting at Ciel when he heard her giggling at his suffering.

"So, you must be Ciel." The dark-skinned woman smiled, pulling the oldest blonde up by the ear even as she protested the treatment, "My name's Terra and it's lovely to finally meet you in person. Jaune's told us so much about you."

"He has?" Ciel looked surprised, feeling her cheeks warm even as the only bit of Jaune she could see, his ears, turned red as well.

"Terra!" Jaune protested, his voice muffled as the rest of his sisters still kept him pinned down, the two that weren't pinning him happy to oust him.

"Oh yeah, whenever he chats with us, you're his favorite thing to talk about. I'm Saffron by the way." Saffron smiled at her, Ciel blushing.

"And you're Penny, right?" the sister who looked closest to Jaune's age smiled warmly, "It's wonderful to meet you too! Thank you so much for helping look after Jaune for us. Oh, my name is Mercedes by the way."

"Of course!" Penny bounced happily, "Friend Jaune has been a wonderful friend!"

"I'd expect nothing less." A regal blonde woman smiled even as she approached, having apparently been arranging a car for them "I'm Arturia, and it is truly a pleasure to meet you finally."

"I'm still so glad you all were able to make it." Jaune smiled at his sisters, the spark in his eyes making Ciel feel warm inside even if it wasn't directed at her.

"We wouldn't miss this for anything Jaune!" one of the sisters who hadn't been introduced yet threw her arm around Jaune's shoulders and gave an energetic squeeze, "I mean, my baby bro getting a Hero medal? That's just not something to miss! Only way it'd be better if he had one of my weapons!" the apparent weapon Smith gave a smug grin "An Astrid Original would have made him even more awesome!"

"Come on," Saffron rolled her eyes and started herding everyone outside where a couple large vans were waiting "everyone can brag about who's the best sister once we get to the Hotel."

"Um…" Ciel held Saffron and Terra back as the other girls herded Jaune and Penny into the vans, Jaune thankfully too distracted by the horde of siblings to notice Ciel hold these two back.

"Is something wrong Ciel?" Saffron shared a concerned look with her wife "Is it something about Jaune?"

"Actually, it's um…" Ciel felt her face become flaming red "I…I wanted to ask Jaune to the Academy's upcoming Sadie Hawkins Dance and wanted advice." The sudden wide teasing grins on the two women as they herded her into the van that didn't have Jaune or Penny had Ciel questioning several of her life choices.

-Jaune-

Awkwardly adjusting his formal academy uniform, for the twelfth time in the past five minutes, Jaune continued to pace about the back room he and Marrow waited in for the award ceremony to begin. "Relax Jaune." Marrow laughed, bumping his shoulder playfully "Don't want the girls to see you sweat. Speaking of though, I seem to remember 'the girls' being a much smaller group."

"My sisters came for the ceremony." Jaune rubbed the back of his head bashfully.

"And not your old man?" Marrow raised an eyebrow, knowing the basics about Jaune's situation with his dad but he'd only shared the more detailed information with Ciel.

"Hestia stated he figured I wouldn't want him here." Jaune admitted, still conflicted at that bit. He was still utterly furious with his father for the years of denying his dream. But as angry as Jaune was at his dad he did have the older memories from before he'd became the way he was, a part of him, no matter how small, wanting that back. There was also the petty part of him that wanted to rub the award in his father's face, but he wasn't going to admit that ever.

"It sounds like he's trying at least somewhat." Marrow offered weakly before getting an expression Jaune didn't recognize "Anyway, tell me about your sisters for a bit, we got some time to kill before the ceremony."

"Well…the oldest one is Saffron." Jaune explained "She's married to Terra, and they live in Argus, Terra works at the CCT as a technician. The next oldest are the twins Arturia and Samus. Arturia has a position on the town's governing council and Samus works in the town guard…with dad." Jaune's expression soured for a moment before he pressed on "Then there's Hestia, she's the one who went to the Vale Institute of Medicine and sent me her old textbooks. After Hestia there's Astrid, she's the most…wild of the lot and a blacksmith for the town. Igrene tends to work hunting deer and boar to feed the town. Finally, Mercedes took over the town's Inn in the past year and is loving every minute."

"Feel calmer now?" Marrow grinned as Jaune realized that giving the basic information about his family had given him something else to focus on.

"You're smarter than you look Marrow." Jaune gave his mentor a teasing grin as the smug dog Faunus buffed his nails on his chest.

"I know, I…wait a minute you little-" Marrow did a double take when he noticed the backhanded side of Jaune's comment, getting cut off when the door to their side room opened and Specialist Schnee entered.

"It's time you two." The Specialist gave them a nod and a small smile, "Let's go." Ignoring Marrow's look of 'this isn't over', Jaune followed the specialist, noting General Ironwood on the stage giving a speech about comradery, honor, and the dedication those who served Atlas have always displayed.

"And today, we honor two young men who went above and beyond the call of duty." Ironwood started wrapping up his speech, "These men, still in training at our illustrious academies, came to the aide of The Wall to repel the Grimm Incursion, without their aide many lives would have undoubtedly been lost. For their dedication, bravery, and in honor of the lives they saved that day I'm proud to present the Meritorious Eagle of Valor to Jaune Arc and Marrow Amin!" at Specialist's Schnee's nod to confirm that this was their que, Jaune and Marrow stepped onto stage, Jaune noting with distaste that some of those in attendance seemed surprised, and even dissatisfied, upon spotting Marrow's tail.

"Congratulations you two." General Ironwood nodded to them with a respectful nod, shaking their hands after placing the medals upon their chests "These medals are the highest honor able to be given to those in the academy not yet formally inducted into the military proper. I greatly look forward to seeing where you two go in the future. With your talents and drive I'm sure it will take you far."

Finishing with his words, Ironwood had them turn to the crowd, several reporters taking pictures of the ceremony for whatever newspaper or station would be reporting on the story. Jaune could only focus on his sisters, Penny, and Ciel as they smiled and cheered. Eventually, Jaune and Marrow were allowed off the stage as they entered the after party for the ceremony, a nice event with drinks, food, and music.

"Oooooh, Jaune!" Saffron was quick to find, and hug, him once he entered the celebration hall "You looked so handsome up there." She gave him a warm smile "I'm positive Mom would have been beyond proud at the man you've become."

"T-thanks Saf." Jaune felt his voice crack a little but ignored it and hugged his sister tighter, the rest of his family all coming over to offer their own praises of congratulations, and to take the chance to meet Marrow.

"Hey Jaune." Ciel spoke up as she approached, his friend in a nice dress as Jaune tried not to stare, noticing out of the corner of his eye that his sisters seemed eager about something, "Can…can I talk to you really quick?"

"Of course, Ciel." Jaune didn't even hesitate, letting Ciel take his hand as she led him aside.

"Jaune…I…um." Ciel nervously fiddled with her necklace as she spoke, stealing a glance over his shoulder to where they'd left his sisters before steeling herself and taking a deep breath "Jaune, will you go to the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance with me?" Oh, that's why his sisters seemed so eager. Feeling his face burning bright red, Jaune gave a nod, not trusting his voice to be able to work if he tried to answer aloud. The smile Ciel gave him felt even better than the Medal the General put on his chest.

-Alexander-

Taking out his oxygen mask, Alexander surfaced from the lake on the inside of the hollow mountain, the shadows rising high up with only the faintest bit of light visible near the top. "Well, looks like we've got a climb to do." Alexander sighed, opening his bag as he readied the climbing gear they'd brought just in case, Roman doing the same with a grimace while Neo pouted.

"I really hope this is worth it." Roman groused "And we'll need to think of something to tell Little Miss if she asks what we found?"

"Emergency bunker or emergency storage?" Alexander offered as they started scaling the mountain, their aura and huntsmen training making it more tedious than anything else.

"That," Roman grunted as he heaved himself up higher "could work. I'm guessing we shouldn't carve 'Roman was here' anywhere?"

"Given I'd prefer Ozpin not be aware of our presence here that'd be a no." Alexander gave his flamboyant friend a look as they continued to climb, the lake soon being swallowed up in the darkness bellow. The rest of the climb was spent in silence before they finally got high enough to see a platform bearing a large golden door like thing and trees with glowing leaves.

"Well, it's pretty if nothing else." Roman offered as they approached the large golden door statue that led to nothing, the other side just being open air. "I…Neo?" Alexander and Roman both turned to look at the girl who was approaching the door, seemingly drawn to it. When the small ice cream themed girl touched the golden surface, it glowed before fading away, revealing a seemingly infinite desert along with a glowing lamp on a pedestal.

"The fuck?" Roman's cigar fell from stunned lips as the three entered the desert, the air becoming dry and arid the second they crossed the boundary.

"What is this thing?" Alexander picked up the strange golden and blue lamp, rubbing off some dust as he saw words engraved in small lettered on part of the surface "Djinn?"

"I have been called!" the lamp glowed, blue mist flowing forth, swirling and rising before revealing a naked blue woman covered in golden chains, a sight a flustered Alexander was quick to avert his eyes from.

"Uh…hi?" Roman offered weakly even as the strange blue woman let out an amused chuckle.

"Hello mortals, I am Djinn, spirit of the Relic of Knowledge. I may answer any three questions about the past or present each century, and there are currently two questions remaining. What do you wish to ask?" Quickly looking over at Roman, he gestured to his friend to let him ask, a question quickly forming in his mind. At Roman's nod, Alexander turned to Djinn, pointedly not looking bellow her eyes, much to the spirits bemusement.

"Djinn, tell us everything there is to know about the powers Neo gained." He spoke firmly as Djinn's eyes seemed to light up excitedly, "So you have asked, so I shall answer!" and the mist swirled before pouring down his, Roman's, and Neo's throats, knowledge surging through his mind with it.

He saw it all, he saw the history of the powers and all things tied to them. The Maiden powers were magic so to properly understand them, Djinn included knowledge of the history of where magic came from. They were created for a purpose, so it included who made these powers, their rules, and why. The powers were used to lock away certain items, so it was included what items were sealed away and where.

He saw Ozpin, the bastard's shadow war against his ex-wife.

He saw the gods, petty and callous as they toyed with mortals and then left.

He saw Djinn's hatred for the old man, how he sealed her away without any contact with anyone. Or with anything to do.

Eventually the smoke receded as Alexander panted and looked over, seeing Roman looked much like he himself did but Neo's eyes blazed with controlled power. Blazed in the manner Alexander now knew could only be achieved by a Maiden fully realized, Djinn having granted Neo, along with the History Alexander saw, all the knowledge of that power's use from those who had it before.