A/N: By the force, here we are Chapter 40 the end of the rewrite! So here it is Chapter 45: Fractures.


Chapter 45: Fractures.


While the events were occurring on Nar Shaddaa and Drommund Kaas, In the Jedi Council chambers on Tython another argument had spurred up as the recent operation on Drommund Kaas had opened up two seats on the Jedi Council along with harsh criticism of Satele Shan as the Grand Master of the order. After her failure on Drommund Kaas, the council in its entirety was divided, one side willing to forgive the other not. Both sides were very vocal aside from Satele and Surik. The white-clad, silver-eyed Jedi sat in her chair slouched with her arm supporting her head with a smug grin on her face. Satele sat across from her tense and fearing as she saw the Jedi order seemingly dividing before her eyes.

Satele looked at the few empty seats on the council, she felt guilt and shame for her failure. She was angry and distressed though for one of the few occasions in her time as a Jedi she snapped. What made her snap was one council member's suggestion.

"I think we need a new Grand Master, as this massive of a failure is unacceptable!" one of the more verbose masters spoke out causing half almost half of the masters to rally behind him as Surik hid her smirk with the placement of her hand over her mouth. Satele snapped embracing her anger at this backlash.

"You really think removing me is the best course of actions, if I may ask who would you name to replace me!?" Satele inquired boldly, her voice tainted with anger that shocked the council.

"I those who stand with me would name Master Meetra Surik to be the new grand master of the order!" the Jedi Master replied. At this moment Satele knew she needed to calm down as she felt the darkness trying to take her. She looked around the council chamber those standing with the outspoken master, Satele could almost see strings going from them to Meetra's fingers. Though, one of the masters on Satele's side proposed an issue that could arise.

"Is it so wise to put a new grand master into power when war could be knocking at our door? If the empire found out about our actions in Hiskal they could be mobilizing their attack as we speak!" The bold master spoke, injecting logic into the discussion. At which point those masters in support of Satele rallied behind her logic as to them this was not the time for infighting, they need to be ready in case there was a Sith retaliation to their actions, as it was confirmed that all of the priority targets were still alive and if a Dark council member claimed they were attacked by the Republic and could provide proof, the Sith fleets would already be mobilizing.

Then came the the fact of how their intelligence network went dark, they had received no reports over the past weeks which was quite concerning for the Jedi as they were blind to what was occurring in the Empire, which gave the Implications that a Jedi with knowledge of the intelligence network was taken alive by Malserik and interrogated. Which turned into a point against Satele as she let a Jedi get captured and then interrogated. Though after that topic reared its head the council was dismissed by Satele, as this argument would help with nothing.


Though, after the council meeting, Summer found herself being confronted by Satele Shan in her quarters as she slipped in before she had returned. Satele was being very bold and invasive to the silver eyed Jedi, enough so that she had her saber drawn but not ignited. Satele drew a temporary replacement saber in response to this threat. Both of them were unsure of who would strike first if at all. Though Satele started to speak, as her mechanical hand clamped down on the hilt of her replacement saber.

"So, Surik. Care to explain why we have twelve more Remnant Jedi that were forced into joining the order, and the fact one of our best knights is being ostracized for her opinion on redemption?" Satele growled lowly and accusingly at the white and red clad Jedi, her voice reeking of venom as she spoke. The crackling of Satele's crude prosthetic filling the silent air as she further tightened the grip on the hilt of the cheap replacement saber. "You even drew your saber on me. How far have you fallen Surik? What are you planning?"

Summer felt a drop of sweat as she was pushed back into a corner both metaphorically and physically as Satele blocked the way out of her quarters. Summer, lowered her hood and quickly smirked and said, "Oh, I am the one whose fallen!?" Summer replied in a condescending snark, "Says the woman who broke into my quarters, look in the mirror Satele, I care so much for the Jedi I am willing to bolster our forces so we can bring peace to the galaxy, you are the one trying to stop that." Summer continued, "How do I know you haven't secretly been turned to the darkness like Revan was?"

Satele felt anger as she heard Surik say these things with a smile, years ago she had been a timid Jedi unsure of her place in the order on Tython, now she was looked to be the second in command in the order and it seemed to be going to her head. Satele felt the darkness in her heart and her own, as she replied verbosely,

"About Revan, I couldn't help but notice something, but are you sure that Remnant that you brought here the day Yang left was Ruby's father?" this question made Summer's heart sink into her stomach, "Cause I noted her eyes reminded me more of Revan than yours, was Mical or Taiyang not enough for you? Or could you simply not control yourself around him?" Summer felt her face turn red as Satele accused her of adultery. Satele opened her mouth to continue on but Summer had enough of her and force pushed her back out the doorway and closed the door.

"Thanks for the answer," Satele said disgustedly as the grandmaster stood up, and walked away.


Away from the scrutiny of Tython, Jaune who was now effectively an outcast from the Jedi as he was associated with Artorika, despite his newfound status, he was still a Jedi and not all Jedi were against Artorika especially those in the Embassy on Coruscant which is were Jaune and Artorika were going to be stationed for the next few months.

After landing the two knights got off the shuttle they had taken to Coruscant, Artorika had a droid unload their things as Jaune was due to have a meeting with Ambassador to the Senate, Lie Ren. In a few minutes though Lie Ren was already awaiting them on the landing pad as he stood there clad in his green robes as Jaune approached in his blue plated robes. Lie Ren gave him a pleasant smile, and gave him a pleasant greeting that consisted of,

"Welcome to the Coruscant Embassy, Jaune," Lie Ren smiled as he gestured for him to follow him inside the embassy proper. Once inside Lie Ren asked a long question of his old friend, "So what you said in that report Jaune, is that Ruby Weiss and Pyrrha attacked the ship to free Nora and then scuttled it?" Ren inquired just to recap his story as they walked along, Jaune noted that Lie Ren's Robes different now they were long and green with brown accents along with a pink lotus pattern on it. Despite his youth, he looked and carried himself like a Jedi that had decades of knowledge and wisdom. The two Jedi were a dichotomy, one a sage, and a pacifist the other a warrior and an honorable knight. Lie Ren continued with "and in your private message to me you told me that you know Summer can manipulate people's minds. Hence why CVFY, CRDL, and SSSN are now Jedi, Correct?"

"Yes," Jaune said understanding Lie Ren's skepticism, "As crazy as that sounds that is correct." Jaune continued as looked over to his Jedi Sage friend, Jaune voice had a slight quiver to it, as he felt horrible for what he said and thought back on that damn ship. If he hadn't seen how much Summer can manipulate a person, he couldn't believe what he wished for on the pride of Alderaan.

"With how events have been falling in line Jaune, I fear Ruby and our friends being Sith will be the least of our worries, I fear for what is to come and it won't be by Ruby's hand that these events transpire. Though I think your observation as ludicrous as they sound to you have merit to them, Surik is planning something," Lie Ren Spoke calmly, believing his friend, "I also fear for Blake's for well-being"

"She was on Drommund Kaas for the Hiskal operation, though she wouldn't tell me what had happened there, all I know is it was a massive blunder of an operation," Jaune said disheartened, remembering how Blake freaked out on him before continuing with, "From what I heard she really beat up too."

"I would concur, from what Satele said she took a lot of blaster fire," Lie Ren frowned as the teammates walked on through the Embassy. "From what Master Satele told me, you refused to inform the council of who we were dealing with,-"

"I know, I was just very troubled at the time, I mean four people I respected a lot, decimated a ship full of people, and I didn't know what to feel okay!" Jaune blurted out, interrupting his friend who put his hand on his armored shoulder in a gesture of understanding.

"Jaune, I couldn't imagine what I would do in your place," Ren admitted, as he had no way to know how he would react, especially considering, "I am sorry to make you remember, but I have to ask, how was Nora?" Lie Ren asked his voice quiet almost seemingly ashamed as his Jedi facade cracked and his heart was exposed. It was at this moment Jaune quivered, he had no idea how to respond to this, after a second's hesitation, he decided to tell his friend the truth.

"She was the person that was leading the people the sand people on Tatooine, she is also the reason Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha attacked the ship," Jaune explained calmly, though with each word his voice gained apprehension, eventually explaining, "as how she's doing, she seemed broken, absolutely insane and violent," This line seemingly made Lie Ren very distraught. He wondered what Nora would do without him and it seemed he got an answer.

"Well thank you, Jaune,"Ren smiled faintly and fakely, though he quickly continued with, "Though with all that is going on I fear Ruby and our friends will be the least of our concerns as things advance" Lie Ren explained as he approached a window that gave a clear view of the cityscape outside.

"I know there is something going on and it is aggravating not knowing what it is!" Jaune said maintaining his stoic demeanor, though the venom and frustration in his voice could be heard.

"And I fear it is so much bigger than us Jaune," Lie Ren replied calmly, though he quickly shifted the topic and said, "You and Master Artorika are welcome to stay here for as long as you need, I could really use the help," Lie Ren smiled as he was getting a bit behind in some of his work, but Jaune seemed to be relieved, as he shook his hand and said

"Thank you," after the exchange of pleasantries, Jaune regrouped with Artorika at the location of the room that was to be their quarters. At which point Artorika suggested it was the time that he replace his lightsaber. After a few hours of work, they were sitting in their quarters. Artorika had requested that he allow her to assist in the building of his second lightsaber as she had made numerous parts for him to use, and the Embassy did have a forge used for lightsaber repair and crafting which they did take advantage of. Jaune had gone too long without a lightsaber. The saber parts Artorika had given him were elegant, fitting the design style of her own as the parts were being formed into a unique weapon building upon the master's design. Once the frame of the saber was complete Jaune looked at the rough form with an approving smile as this design he was trying to achieve was a difficult one to pull off, an intersecting crossguard. Though Artorika had helped Jaune by sourcing the parts he needed.

"Thank you for all of the parts, Artorika," Jaune spoke softly in a pseudo-meditation as he began to assemble the parts using the force.

"It's no trouble," Artorika spoke with a pleasant smile "I must thank you once again for standing with me, it takes a noble person to stand against the flow like that."

"Well what Surik is doing is wrong, she made them into Jedi unwillingly, from what I know forcing someone where they don't leads to bad things as seen many times," Jaune spoke calmly, "one name I can think of is Malserik."

"There is an argument to be made there, he is the reason Jedi have regulations on family, marriage, and children now," Artorika said saddened as some Jedi were rabid about this new doctrine, "He hated the Jedi for what they did to his family, he was a man of noble value, honor-bound, and willing to do things the right way," Artorika spoke lamenting about her friend who fell to the dark.

"from the way you have talked about him, he sounds like he would have been a great Jedi," Jaune said with a smile as he brought some more of the parts together. "Personally, I believe everyone has the ability to redeem themselves, they may still be judged for their crimes but if they accept punishment for them or atone for them, they have been redeemed."

"Well put Jaune," Artorika smiled serenely, "Revan was redeemed even after he declared war on the Republic. Though right now I am worried about the state of the Jedi order especially after that mission."

"I know the feeling, Blake is keeping to herself, not even Karlile can get through to her," Jaune said concerned as he kept assembling the saber as he talked, as he remembered how Blake retaliated to what he said before the mission, if Jaune could claim to feel shame for anything it was the fact he didn't release the fact that Ruby was a Sith. he regretted not telling the Jedi the full truth, and Artorika knew this though unlike certain elements of the council, she could understand why he did that.

"Then you have the council attacking Satele for what happened on Drommund Kaas, I fear with the full revelation Surik's abilities that she may be behind it, Though I will not go after that possibility until I have proof of manipulation," Artorika spoke to Jaune as the saber came to is final stages of assembly, "And then we have the scrutiny on us for our beliefs on the redemption of Malserik. If we are not careful, I fear the Jedi may end up walking down the same dark path as the Sith," Artorika admitted plainly as Jaune had his saber within completion, he just needed assembling the crystals he had including the one off of his necklace given to him by the Gungans.

"You said you had a crystal to put in this saber?" Jaune asked as he set the saber down as Artorika pulled out a box and opened it exposing a sapphire colored gem.

"Jaune, this is an Ankarres Sapphire. This has been in my family for generations, a lightsaber with this crystal can only be wielded by a paladin of the light," Artorika said pleasantly, "I swore this crystal would go to a Jedi who is pure of heart and knightly in character, You are that Jedi Jaune."

"I am honored, but you find me to be of that character?" Jaune asked nervously, unsure of what to make of Artorika's judgment of his character.

"You have stood against darkness both at my side and alone and you don't even show the slightest taint of it, that scar on you face shows you are willing to sacrifice to face the darkness. if you can wield that crystal, you have earned it." Artorika said as she put the crystal in the saber and sealed the casing. Jaune picked up the saber the hilt heating in his hand though it cooled quickly and standing he ignited the blade of the unique cross guard saber in front of him, covering the darkened room with the deep blue light emitting off the blade, the offset angled off the guard looked quite impressive ignited. Artorika inspected the saber herself and spoke, "You are worthy Jaune Arc of both your saber and the first to call themselves a Jedi Paladin!" Her voice was proud with a bit of cheer as she pronounced the Remnant Jedi with a title that made him raise an eyebrow.

"You made that up, there is no Jedi Paladin title," Jaune chuckled at his former master though her reply was one that solidified her beliefs in him and removed all doubts in his character.

"Not yet but there will be and I think you may become the first, Jaune Arc," Artorika said, "though that reminds, me a paladin requires a shield," Artorika said with a smile, she took out the old shield he brought with him from remnant, the shield of Crocea Mors and handed it to Jaune in its collapsed state. As he took it from her hands, he realized it felt lighter than it did years ago, it looked unchanged minus the change in color palette. So the young knight figured he might just be stronger now than he was. Though one concern ran through his mind as he deployed the shield and spoke,

"Well a shield is great and all but its kind of useless against a lightsaber," Jaune spoke with a smile though voicing his concerns, but it was at that moment Artorika smiled in a way that reminded him of one of his sisters.

"Well you would be correct but..." Artorika said as she ignited her gold bladed lightsaber and struck at Jaune's shield. Instead of cutting through the metal, the blade was stopped. Jaune had a look of pure shock on his face as the humming blade crackled on the shield, "phrik alloy plating, an old friend told me of it considering his Saber is made of it."

"Old friend?" Jaune asked as he got a chill up his spine as he heard that. He could guess who it was. Artorika deactivated her saber and said,

"Yes. I do mean Viridian," Artorkia said sadly, it was at this point Jaune put his saber and shield down and put his hand on royal Jedi's shoulder.

"You miss him a lot don't you?" Jaune asked calmly despite the fact he could guess the answer.

"Yes I do, he was one of my few friends when I first arrived, he was nice and very honorable, always looking for alternatives to violence, and a genius of a scientist and his saber reflected that. The council didn't like how attached he was to his family, as he wanted to go back to his parents and see them proud of him," Artorika spoke as her normally noble voice quivered with sadness. To her, it was not a senseless act but a tragedy that caused Malserik to turn against the Jedi.

"I know we can get him back, if he still a good person," Jaune said with a bright smile, hoping that such bright mind would actually not hold a permanent scorn towards the Jedi, Artorika was just as hopeful but there was a glimmer of acceptance that Malserik may never come back and she couldn't blame him after what just happened with the Jedi.


On Tython, in the cold and dark, Blake sat in her quarters in the quietness of solitude. She had numerous saber parts in front of her. She needed a saber that she could combat that abomination of a lightsaber that Ruby used. Her body ached in a reminder of what that 'bitch' had done to her, as she had most of her body covered in stark white bandages to cover her wounded body as she dawned black and gray robes over them. Though these bandages had lost some of their whiteness occasional stains of blood and plasma. Like her robes, her makeup choices darkened. To some on the council, it was only a matter of time till 'she wields the Darkside and a red blade.'

Blake was insulted by these comments, she would never steep as low as to use the Darkside. she was a Jedi, or at least she identified herself as a Jedi. After her traumatic injuries, Blake had been training how to better use the feline in her blood by training her body to be as nimble and flexible as possible, as a Jedi shadow should be. As she focused on being nimble she based her new saber design on this principle a shorter paired saber set connected by a cable while still retaining the legs for using as a reading light, one thing she refused to omit as the one thing keeping her sane was her reading. The cable between the sabers was to allow for a fighting style like that of Gambol Shroud, something Ruby or any Sith would not expect. Assembling the saber design, she smiled as it came together before her. Taking two more of the same crystals she used in the original Candlelight, she tested the candle flame like blade. She smiled at it ignition as she held it up as her damaged feline ear twitched.

"Ruby you will pay for your crimes with your blood, I swear this upon my oath as a Jedi," Blake said solemnly as she held up her other saber, looking at cable she retracted the inactivate saber on tho the active as they connected with a firm snap. Holding the saber hilts connected in front of her she read the Aurebesh scrolled across the middle,

Fallen Rose, the path you walk and your actions cannot be forgiven. Thus you must face justice, your blood will pay for your sins in full.

It was a reminder who her enemy was, who her rival was, who she wanted to bring to justice. That cheerful girl that was her former team leader was now dead, replaced by a monster with a light-scythe, capable of murder and destruction. Repressing her emotions the darkened Jedi walked out into the corridor of the Tython Jedi temple, Blake was a shadow in the bright halls casting a dark aura upon those that passed her. Save for one for a golden monkey faunus who tried to shine a light on the downcast Jedi's heart.

"Hey Blake long time no see," Sun said introducing himself which initially shocked the cat faunus as she had no Idea that Sun had been found and had been made into a Jedi. To Blake, she wanted to smile, but she had matters to attend to, mainly her training so instead, she grumbled at the fellow Faunus, who wore a White and Yellow Gi with his tail wrapped around his belt, his saber on prominent display. "Look I know something's bothering you. You can talk to me you know?"

"Leave me alone," She spoke, dismissing her old friend and continued walking. The rest of SSSN tried to get her attention, joined by CRDL and CVFY, but as soon as one of them put their hand on her shoulder, Blake disintegrated into shadow. revealing what they were following was just a clone, while Blake had escaped into the shadows. Though upon reaching the training grounds a Jedi who was serving the role of a messenger, informed Blake that she had a holocomm call from Lie Ren on Coruscant. She shook her head at the young padawan and said,

"Tell him I am not able to talk at the moment, please," Blake said with a frown, she had to make sure she was ready for her next encounter with Ruby, and that she could bring her to justice.


Returning to Coruscant, Lie Ren sighed, he figured his call would get denied, but it was worth a shot. Though he looked at another message that had popped up on his terminal, it was from Jaune, and it read,

Hey, Ren I just finished my new lightsaber, I want to practice with it if you are up for it?

This invitation got Ren to smile as he had been shirking his velocities for the past few months, and he could use the exercise, as he had been dealing with the senate for too long. Making sure his desk was secure and left his heavy outer robe on his chair. He was criticized for how young he was by some elements of the Jedi council and the Senate, but for the youngest Master in the order, he held his position well. Though it left little free time as he was either dealing with the council or senators. Now he had a friend he could talk to again.

Walking to the courtyard Ren looked out one of the hallway windows looking at the twilight of the day, He smiled as velocities always looked better in the dark. Though as he walked on towards the courtyard he couldn't help but worry for Nora. He felt his heart being tugged, he could only imagine the pain that Nora went through to be changed in such a way. It horrified him that his friend a person he knew his entire life after his home was attacked had turned down the dark path. It was at this point Lie Ren reigned himself in by mentally saying Get a hold of yourself Ren, don't let your emotions get the better of you.

As he continued walking he reached the courtyard where Jaune and Artorika were waiting, Lie Ren immediately noted that his Jedi Knight friend was clad in heavy armor that meshed well with his Jedi Robes. After Lie Ren entered the courtyard, Ren asked his old friend if he was ready to start to which Jaune answered yes and ignited his crossguarded lightsaber, and the two engaged in their spar under the watchful eye of Artorika. Lie Ren relied heavily on defense though when he went on the offensive, Jaune deployed his shield and pushed him back on the defensive, something that surprised Lie Ren this shifting in who was on the offensive was a staple of their velocities, but after half an hour of sparring they both relented tired, as Lie Ren had one question on his mind, which he asked to Jaune,

"How can a shield resist a lightsaber?" Ren asked as normally a lightsaber would make short work of a shield like that.

"Something called Phrik alloy, Artorika had this upgraded for me" Jaune smiled as Lie Ren nodded, as Artorika added into the conversation with,

"I figured Jaune would like having something like that," She admitted with a smile, as Jaune was making very good use of the shield, but after regaining their breath they continued with the Sparring into the night.


Returning to Remnant, in the dark and gloomy ruins Salem called home, the mad woman and her minions were preparing to enact the first act of her plan. Looking through a black and smokey crystal of dust, the type made famous with the Amity incident, Looking into the crystal, focusing into the crystal with the force, Salem watched the events in the distant galaxy unfolding before her eyes, like a rose in bloom. She had been watching the foolish fallen Jedi and his menagerie until she had finally broken through to Tython. The dark side must be growing where the Jedi least expect it.Salem smiled as her crystal focused on a faunus and someone she knew, her lost apprentice, Cinder Fall. This made the wicked witch of a Sith smile, well now I have an agent in the Jedi. No, not yet. Cinder you wound me with your amnesiac defiance!Salem said theatrically in her head. I will awaken you soon Cinder, but first I must test the ability of Nihilus pets, and I have the perfect place Nar Shaddaa.


On Tython, deep in the brig of the temple, Master Surik was looking for a specific prisoner as she had an idea on how to kill Viridian, and gain the trust of the entire council after which she would cast out the noncompliant of the order, like Artorika, Jaune, and Satele, though her plans went even further than that as now the republic was giving them hell for losing all of those troops on Drommund Kaas. Passing the energy shielded doors to the cells containing Criminals and Prisoners of War. Though she was looking for one cell, in particular, one that housed a Jedi killer. He had resisted her attempts to rewrite his mind but she had the best leverage for a man like him. Reaching the deepest corners of the prison complex, she saw his cell and smiled as she walked up to the door to see the man inside laid back on his bed, speaking into the Cell intercom the White Clad Jedi said,

"Zaffre Malserik, I have a job for you, and it's one you can't refuse," Surik said with a wicked grin as Zaffre rolled his eyes at her, though what she had to say had him horrified.


A/N: Well that's the end of the Rewrite only took me 7 – 8 months to do, I am so happy everyone bore with this stage of the story and finally the story will advance beyond the original point of the original Chapter 8! I would like to thank everyone who read this Story, it means a lot to me that over a hundred people have followed this story of mine. I mean this has been a massive project for me to undertake but I love it!

I will be taking a week to review what I have written if I have the time, correcting issues in all the prior chapters as I come across them, making little touch ups as needed as well, this minor clean up will be released with Chapter 46 which will be new content from what I had of the unpublished Chapter 9!

Well with all of this in mind it's time for review responses:

ToxicGentleman: Well, wait and see.

So with all of that out of the way, Thank you all for reading, if you have any comments, critique, suggestions or corrections, feel free to leave a review or PM me if you can, anything can help the Story. Now then, please everyone be safe and may the force be with you all and thank you all for reading, reviewing, following, favoriting, and sharing RWBY: Dark Side of a Rose! With that said I would like to ask for opinions if you can give them. Like how is the story doing? for those who have been around long enough How does this version compair to the original? Stuff like that. Thank you for your time!

Blitzing Raptor