Here we are. Here we go. Still trying to get my internet fixed.

Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Kegi Springfield

Chapter 72

Jaune yelped and fell back, bringing up his sword but not really having the time to deflect Sapphire's. It whistled harmlessly past his throat and pierced into a tree behind him. It hadn't been an attack designed to kill, but rather to intimidate.

"Wait, wait, wait," he called, stumbling away. "You're going straight to violence? Why don't we talk it out first?"

"Will your mind be changed by talk, little brother?" Sapphire asked, wrenching her sword free.

"Uh..."

"Exactly. You're stubborn, just like the rest of us. If you won't be convinced either way, and neither shall I, then why should either of us try?"

"I think it's more of a manners thing," Jaune said, barely blocking her follow-up. It rattled his bones and knocked him back several feet. Sapphire was the first of his sisters and for a good reason. When she'd been born, Salem was still firmly in her destroy the world phase, which meant that while Sapphire had been raised lovingly, she'd not been raised with any experience.

Salem had been a monster convinced she could never have children, while Nicholas had been a prisoner who just found out he wasn't being killed because his captor and he had just had a child together, and that child was part Grimm. They'd both tried, but neither knew what they were doing.

That wasn't to say Sapphire came out badly by any means, but she came out overly serious. She absorbed all of Nicholas' sword skills – the only thing he was any good at teaching her – and also took after her mother in terms of motivation and power. When Salem had more children, rather than become jealous or upset, Sapphire had declared herself their guardian, promising to be the best big sister possible.

Whether her younger siblings wanted it or not.

"Is that a human mannerism?" Sapphire asked, stepping into his guard, locking blades and then forcing his down. "That seems awfully pointless, but I suppose I can humour you. Would you care to come home where you'd be safe, little brother?"

Jaune gritted his teeth. "No."

Sapphire shrugged. "Okay. I guess I'll beat you unconscious and take you home, then."

"You're not exactly trying very hard to convince me!"

"You're such an idiot, Jaune…" Sapphire kicked his legs out from under him and pinned a knee to his chest, hovering over him with the tip of her sword tickling his throat. Just like that, he was beaten. "Here you are, making me the bad person yet again. In any other situation I'd be praised for loving my brother enough to risk my life rescuing him from three huntsmen, but no, you act like it's exactly where you want to be."

"This is where I want to be!"

"It's where you will be killed! They are our enemies."

He stared up at her. "They're not my enemies."

"Perhaps not, but you are theirs. Can you tell me the huntsman in that group would not kill you if he knew the truth? Can you tell me Ozpin would not have struck you down had he discovered your true identity?" Sapphire waited for an answer. Jaune looked away, frustrated. "I thought not." She sighed. "Jaune, it's not enough that you think them your friends. What matters is what they believe in turn, and what they will do."

"My friends wouldn't hurt me."

"I'll take your word for it. You know them better than I. But you also know what is coming – the war that approaches. What of everyone else involved, Jaune? What of Ozpin, Branwen, the Maidens and every other huntsman who will stand against you? Will they refrain from harming you, just because you show them the same mercy?"

They wouldn't. He knew that. How could he not? It didn't make it any easier to accept and he stared to the side. Tears burned in his eyes. A gentle hand cupped his face and turned him back. Sapphire's eyes were blue again, looking down on him with such love and sorrow that he almost choked.

"I want to protect you, Jaune. We miss you."

"Saph…"

"You know why I chose to do this. I could have attacked your group at any moment, but I held back, making my presence known but taking no action. I knew harming them would harm you. I have no intention of hurting them."

"I… I know. Thank you, Saph, but… I can't go home."

Not yet, anyway. If he went home with her, he would never escape again. Nor would Pyrrha. There was no way he could convince Sapphire to take Ruby and Nora with them, not with Ruby's eyes, which he had to assume she didn't know about yet. But she would if she met her. Sapphire wouldn't let someone like Ruby close to her siblings.

"I'm not giving you a choice, Jaune." Sapphire said sadly. "I'm sorry. I've already instilled my will on all the Grimm in Mistral. They will no longer heed your words, and once mother finds out what you've decided all the Grimm back home won't, either. You can't tread the line forever, Jaune. You need to decide whose side you're on in this war."

"I'm on both sides!"

"That's not going to be possible. Even now, your teacher plans to kill us, to kill mother. Once he learns about us, we'll be killed as well. All of us. If you continue with him, you'll only be working towards that outcome." Sapphire leaned forward so that her own neck touched the edge of her blade. She took his hand and placed it on the other side, where he could push it into her throat if he wanted to. "Can you do it?" she asked. "I will bring down my aura. Kill me now if you wish it."

Jaune tore his hand away as if it had been burned. "No!"

"I'm glad. But then what are you going to do? Even if it's not by your hand, Ozpin seeks to end us. Help them and you as good as drive the knife into our hearts."

"But if I go with you, I as good as kill them!"

"Not so," Sapphire argued. "We could spare your friends. We could protect them."

"And only them. What would happen to everyone else?" Sapphire's silence was answer enough. "No deal, Saph. I'm not going to go with you, but I'm not going to let them kill you, either. I'll find my own way. I'll find my own direction."

The woman atop him let out a beleaguered sigh. She shook her head from side to side, a small, almost nostalgic smile on her face. "That's just like you," she whispered. "You always argued from the other side, always saying that there had to be more to humans, that they could be saved. That we could live together in harmony."

"We can," he replied.

"Perhaps we could have, in another time. In another place. I don't hate them, Jaune. I have no reason to. But they want to kill us. They want to kill mom, dad, and then they'll want to kill us as well. Me, you, even Amber, young as she is. They'll find us one by one, no matter where we hide, and they'll murder us without mercy. Ozpin won't stand for less. I'm not fighting this war for me, or for a belief. I'm fighting it to protect the ones I love." She reversed her sword so that she held it by the blade, pommel drawn back like a club about to strike down. "And I love you too, Jaune. Enough to bear your hatred if that is what is required to protect you."

"No!"

The pommel raced down, and even though he brought his hands up to cover his face, he knew they would be knocked aside. One or ten blows, it didn't make a difference. He couldn't outfight Sapphire. Not in a hundred years.

A gunshot echoed through the forest. Sparks flew before him as it struck the blade, diverting it just enough that the pommel struck dirt. The treeline to the left exploded, a furious figure streaking out from it with scythe deployed. Had it silver eyes and a slender frame he might have been relieved. As it was, Qrow slammed into the side of Sapphire and tore her off him. And all Jaune could feel was panic.

The two wrestled for a moment – or it looked as such. They were too close to bring either weapon to the fore, so both jabbed and grappled, kicked and head-butt one another until Qrow rolled onto his back and kicked up, launching Sapphire away. She landed gracefully and flicked her sword to the side, spitting out a little blood.

"So," Qrow said, rising slowly. "There's more than one of you. First Hentacle, now you. I see Salem's been busy."

Sapphire regarded the huntsman with cold, red eyes. Her transformation had already been in full effect, though unlike him, her hair retained the vaguest shade of gold, leaving it possibly the most platinum it could be without technically being white. There were no tentacles behind her, nor a single shred of evidence to the transformation but for her eyes. Not even the veins so specific to their mother were shown.

Such was Sapphire's control that she did not need such, though she could bring any out at will, and much, much more.

"Leave, human," she said. "This does not concern you."

"Yeah, I'm afraid I can't do that. See, he's kind of under my protection at the moment. It wouldn't reflect well on me if I let anything happen to him." Qrow stepped back a pace and glanced at him. "Kid, go back to the camp. Ruby and the other one are awake. Get out of the way and stay low. Don't run off anywhere."

Jaune bit his lip. He could follow said orders and get away – the best result for everyone – but what if Sapphire was hurt? She was his sister, and strong or not, he had no idea how good Qrow was. An ugly thought occurred to him, one that pointed out the man probably had his aura focused before him, and that a single well-placed tentacle might be enough to kill him.

No! He shook his head. Ruby would never forgive him. Never. And killing like that, even to protect Sapphire, would only prove her point. His eyes sought hers and she nodded subtly, telling him that he should follow the huntsman's instructions for now. She didn't want him hurt, after all. Right now, he was just in the way.

"O-Okay," he said, picking up Crocea Mors once more. "Be careful."

He had no idea who he meant that to.

"Tch, you're a little young to be telling me that," Qrow joked, eyes still on the threat before him. "Go back and look after Ruby. I'll catch up once I'm finished here."

Ruby! Right, that was the best shot. Maybe if he got back and explained what was going on, they could come up with a plan together. Jaune dashed out of the clearing and back in the direction of camp. All they needed was a diversion, really. If all three of them joined in with Qrow against Sapphire, it wouldn't be hard to get in the way and give his sister a chance to escape. Qrow wouldn't think it sabotage, knowing Ruby enough to believe she'd suggested they help, and no one would be hurt.

For now, anyway, he thought. If she really has cut me off from the Grimm, we'll have to fight our way to Haven.

Even now, he was being forced to pick sides. To pick a side in a war he didn't have any interest in. No one even remembered why the war was being fought anymore! The humans just killed the Grimm because they always had, and the Grimm killed in turn. Grimm attacked human settlements. Humans sent huntsmen out to kill Grimm in the forests. More Grimm attacked villages. Huntsmen were sent to kill them in turn. Sapphire was no different, only blessed to have avoided the bloodshed until she'd reached adulthood.

He could understand her fear, and how it had turned into hate. If someone threatened Amber, he'd have hurt them too. Hell, he'd hurt someone if they threatened any of his sisters. He'd killed Adam for harming Yang. He'd do it again if he had the chance.

But spending time with humans, he'd come to see their side, too. It was frighteningly similar. Sapphire would kill Qrow to protect her family, and Qrow was about to try and kill Sapphire to protect his.

It had to stop. They both had to come out of this safe and sound.

"Ruby!" Jaune yelled, bursting from the treeline and into the camp.

"Jaune!" Ruby yelled back, voice filled with relief.

"Jauney!" Nora yelled happily.

"Nephew!" Uncle Tyrian cried, waving one hand wildly, the other gripping Ruby by the collar.

Jaune took half a second to assess the scene and come up with the appropriate response. He felt Yang would have been proud of it.

"Fuck my life…"

/-/

Yang knew there were things about being a mother she'd never really understood. Raven was a shitty mother and didn't count, but she still had plenty of memories of Summer being her real mother, and one of them – or many, really – dealt with how Summer could feel the most ridiculous sense of pride whenever she or Ruby did something for the first time. Anything, really.

Ruby's first word? Summer had gushed for an entire day.

Yang's first all A report card? She'd been showered with praise and affection.

Ruby's first spar? Instant pride and photographs.

And, of course, there was the most ubiquitous example, or maybe it was the stereotypical one; that being either her or Ruby's first time on a bicycle. It was her first, of course, and then Ruby a year or two later, but she could still remember Summer running behind her, holding her shoulders as she learned to pedal. Looking back, it was an embarrassing scene, but a loving one nonetheless. It had repeated pretty much identically for Ruby later on.

Teaching your kid to ride a bike was, Yang had gathered, something of a big thing for parenthood, eclipsed only by her father often mentioning his dreams (and terror) of having to walk her down the aisle one day.

Yang had only been a mother for a week or so, but she had a feeling she'd made a serious mistake in teaching Yin how to ride a bike. A motorbike, that was.

"Left! Go left!" Yang shrieked, pulling with her left arm. Her right arm – her Grimm arm – tried to imitate that, but went too far and caused the bike to swerve aggressively. "Not that much! Right! Right! Go right!"

Yang's hair whistled behind her as the bike pulled off a right-turn faster than she'd ever imagined it could, practically a right angle, except that it slid over so that her face almost touched the dirt path, more like a racer than a casual rider like she was. She screamed as it did and only just regained control, breathing a sigh of relief.

For half a second, anyway.

The front wheel struck the edge of the dirt road and they were suddenly airborne, flying perpendicular to the road and into the treeline. There was that old saying about not being able to see the wood for the trees. Yang personally thought it was pretty stupid, especially since all she could see were trees. Every single one of them seemed determined to kill her.

Yang screamed again and didn't even think to try and control the bike when it landed. Luckily, she didn't have to. Her right arm tugged to the right and then the left, skidding her around one tree and making her brush up against another. A sudden right again, another – a skid and a slide. Dirt and mud kicked up as she slid under a branch and righted on the other side. Her wheel caught a gnarled tree branch and she was up in the air again, clearing the forest and arriving in a wide, grassy field with their destination in front of them, an inn off the beaten path. It had a decent-sized car park, not that Yang was in any state to admire it since they were approaching at what had to be ninety miles an hour.

They landed hard. Bumblebee buckled under her but held – even as her ass impacted the seat over and over, the bumpy path making her head ring. Up, down, up, down – hit a picnic table – up, up, up, over the three-foot tall fence and into the car park. Land, see car, scream, swerve to right, too much, airborne again, this time flipping sideways in a motorbike cartwheel.

Land on wheels somehow. Skid aggressively, do a figure eight while doing so. Three-sixty. Seven-twenty. Ten-eighty. Rubber squealing. Brakes smoking. Sudden stop. Nearly fall over front. No more movement. In parking space. Black smoke billowing behind. People looking at her like she was all four horsemen of the apocalypse in one package.

Deep breaths, she told herself.

Deep breaths…

"That was amazing!" Yin crowed. "Again. Again! Let's do it again!"

So much regret. Yang didn't so much as step off the bike as fall off, sliding sideways and slumping onto the tarmac. Oh, sweet ground. How she'd missed it. Tugging her helmet off, she reached up limply to push it onto the seat, still flat on her face and struggling to catch her breath. Okay, lessons learned. There might have been a reason mom and dad started her with a bicycle. A bicycle with training wheels, and with their supervision. Live and learn.

"Mom, why are you kissing the floor?"

"No reason," she mumbled against the tarmac. After a second's pause she sighed and pushed herself up, Yin trying to help, but doing so a little clumsily and pushing unevenly, almost tipping her on her side. That was something they'd not yet been able to perfect. Balance and allocation of force was kind of hard when you were two separate organisms trying to work together.

At least Yin had learned to moderate his strength after crushing the first can she'd bought from a vending machine and showering Yang's face in grape soda. It still hadn't gotten to the point where she trusted him to help wash her hair, but they were working on the little things. Sometimes he'd push too hard and unbalance her, or not hard enough and do the same. She hoped it would even out with practice, but she figured they were good enough to go find Ruby. No point delaying matters any further.

"We're about to be around a lot of people, so I need you to be on your best behaviour."

"Sure thing, mom."

"Don't call-" She sighed. "Ugh. Never mind. Try not to talk to me either. I can't do the talking in your head thing you say Jaune can. I don't need to look like I'm insane talking to my own arm. Just stay quiet. Or if you do talk, don't expect me to answer."

"Okay."

Honestly, it would have been safer to have Yin back inside her and go in one-armed, but that just led to too many problems. She hadn't bothered to get used to only having one arm for the simple fact that she didn't. Besides, that kind of thing drew attention and she wasn't here for that. Not yet, anyway.

The people at the last village said a tribe of bandits was seen around here. Could be anyone, but if there's even a chance it's hers, I can't afford to not investigate. Even if it wasn't Raven, they might know of her, or where she was last seen.

The door to the inn opened and Yang stepped inside, eyes on the bar that took up the main room, filled to the brim with people, most of them – or at least the ones who looked like locals – deadly silent. Silent in the way that told her they were trying not to cause trouble, not to draw attention to themselves. The reason why was obvious soon enough, for the one or two tables that were loudly chatting and laughing to themselves were filled with burly men armed to the teeth. It was just like the villagers had said; find the bar and you'd find the bandits.

Or some of them, anyway, Yang thought as she made her way over to the bar and sat down. A year back she might have walked over, planted a foot on their table and demanded they take her to their leader, but she'd matured. She'd grown wiser, faced adversity, had a chil- no, not the last one. Slapping her head with her good hand, she forced the thoughts out. She could follow them once they got up to leave. No need to cause a fuss for the poor guy running this place. He looked haggard enough as it was as he wandered over to her.

"W-Would you like a drink, miss…?"

"Strawberry sunrise. If you can make it."

"I can." He reached for a glass and was about to ask for lien, but his eyes caught her outfit, her brown coat and the obvious signs of muscle in her arm. "Are you…" he swallowed. "With them…?"

"I'm not." Flashing a smile, she pulled out some lien and pushed it across the counter. The man slumped with obvious relief. "I take it they've been causing trouble around here."

"Came a few nights back. There was nothing we could do."

"They kill anyone…?"

"Hurt a few, but I managed to convince them not to kill."

Yang was impressed. "How?"

"I offered them free drink, food and room," the innkeeper said, and it was obvious he'd not come out well from the exchange. His business might well be ruined, though she could only hope those he'd saved stuck by him and helped him recover. "Between them killing everyone and taking the money, or sparing everyone, taking the money and getting free drink out of it, they went with the obvious choice."

The village had surrendered, then. Made sense. Not everyone could fight like a huntress and sometimes it was wiser to bow down.

"Why would humans kill other humans?" Yin asked. "What's the point?"

"No point," Yang murmured as the innkeeper went to make her drink. "Just bastards."

"Grimm don't kill other Grimm. Not on purpose, anyway."

Yang shrugged and sipped her drink when it came. Yin had a point, much as it sucked to admit it. Maybe it was cynical of her, but that was the thing about being an intelligent species. Sooner or later, someone would be smart enough to realise someone else had a load of stuff they wanted, and that they could take it from them and have it for themselves.

Still, the little Grimm wasn't wrong. Some humans could be as bad, if not worse, than most Grimm. The bastard that took her arm was one such example, though thankfully he'd been killed, and by a Grimm no less. Justice in the strangest of places.

The stool beside her rattled as a man sat down, slamming an empty beer glass down on the counter. He was a rough sort, easily ten years older than her, and covered in tattoos. "Another beer." He glanced at her drink and snorted. "Strawberry Sunrise? Ha. That's a woman's drink. Oi, barman. Better make it two beers."

Yang sipped her cocktail before she answered. "I like the taste of it, and in case you didn't notice, I am a woman."

"Oh, I noticed," he said, looking her up and down. "You're not from around here. Sightseeing?"

"Looking for something," she corrected.

"Yeah? Well I can show you something." The two drinks came and he pushed one over to her and raised an eyebrow. Yang took it and clicked the glass against his. "Bottoms up," he said, tipping the pint glass back.

Yang wasn't much of one for beer. Drinks were fine but she liked cocktails because of their taste, the after buzz just being a bonus. All beer tasted the same and made her feel fat and stodgy, so she only took a single swig before she put it down.

"Ah, that's better," the man said, wiping a hand over his mouth. "Thirsty work being out here."

"I notice you didn't pay for that…"

"The barkeeper and us have an… understanding." He smiled in what he clearly thought was a roguish manner. Yang merely took another sip and didn't bother responding. He was a bandit, then. Good of him to confirm it for her. Yang felt an arm snake around to rest on the back of her shoulder. "No reason why that can't extend to you as well," he quipped. His hand drifted lower, down her back and towards her rear end.

Yang's entire body shifted – though not by choice. Her right arm shot across her to catch his wrist and slammed it forward, so that his skin caught the edge of the bar with a mighty crack.

"Only dad is allowed to touch mom like that!" Yin growled.

"Heh. Good work, Yin."

"W-What the hell?" the bandit growled, unable to hear the voice. "You better let me go or-" He broke off, eyes growing wide. His face was on the bar, dragged down along with his arm, and that left his nose flush against her arm – able to see past the end of her jacket's sleeve and her biker gloves. It might have been the pitch black skin that frightened him, or it might have been the large, red eye that glared balefully back at him.

Hard to tell really…

Yang gripped his collar with her good hand before he could scream and run away. She pinned him down on the counter and leaned forward so that she could whisper directly into his ear. "You know, I think I will take you up on the offer of sightseeing. As soon as you've paid your tab, you can take me to see your leader. How does that sound?"

The man was frightened. That much was clear. "Y-You don't know who you're messing with."

"And you, my man, don't know what you're messing with." Yang pulled out her best manic smile, hoping it made her look as inhuman as possible. She flashed her Semblance too, just because. Her irises flickered to blood red. The bandit's face paled rapidly.

"A-Alright. I'll do whatever you say. Just don't kill me."

Huh. Whoever said diplomacy was hard? Yang grinned and let him up, though Yin didn't release him and she made no effort to command him to. The little parasite had a good grip, and she didn't fail to notice the tiny tendrils, like miniature tentacles, slipping from her wrist to encircle the bandit's. Judging from how badly he was shaking, he didn't miss it either.

Maybe being a young mother wasn't that bad after all.

"Can I drive us to the bandit's camp?"

Or not.

/-/

"Uncle Tyrian, no!"

"Uncle Tyrian, yes!" Tyrian replied, laughing manically.

"T-This is your uncle?" Ruby rasped.

"Hmmm? This is the girl? The girl my Queen speaks of?" Tyrian dragged Ruby close and looked her up and down. He recoiled with a howl. "Silver eyes! Silver eyes! Killer and murderer, accursed monsters who should have died long ago." He tossed Ruby bodily aside and she slammed into one of the tents, getting tangled in the fabric as it collapsed on her. "You, young prince, would associate with one so wretched?"

"I would."

"Then I only have one thing to say," Tyrian replied, drawing his blades and turning to Jaune with a wide grin. "Something your mother asked me to pass along. A question most burning."

He covered the distance between them in a second, blades flashing. Jaune brought his shield up to defend but was knocked back when Tyrian leapt and placed both feet onto it, latching one hand on the top so that he was balanced on the shield and forcing Jaune to bear his weight. The madman's face was pushed into his own.

"Are you a virgin?"

"Y-YES!" Jaune roared, pushing the older man off. He sagged once the weight was gone. "Damn it, yes, I'm still a virgin. For crying out loud, tell mom to stop asking me that!"

"You've been surrounded by women for months."

"I'm dating one of them!"

"But is she pregnant?"

"I… well… It's complicated."

Ruby, still tangled in the tent, somehow heard and gasped. Her attempts to escape doubled in intensity. Nora whistled appreciatively and went over to help, still holding her hammer toward Tyrian, but content to use the distraction for what it was and not start the fight early.

"I see," Tyrian said, even though he obviously didn't. "Your mother will be disappointed, Jaune, but I won't be. I understand. No matter your preferences, I, the greatest uncle on Remnant, shall support you. But I'm afraid your mother, my Queen, has given me a missive. One that I must complete."

"Wasn't it just to ask as to the status of any grandchildren?"

"That was the priority objective, yes, but there was a secondary – to bring you back home where you will be safe."

It was good to see his mom's priorities hadn't changed any. So, Sapphire was both the first attempt and also a distraction. It was just like her not to take any chances, and even if Tyrian wouldn't want to actually hurt him, he was a powerful combatant. Ruby and Nora were back on their feet and ready. They hurried over and took a position on either side of him, though Ruby's face said she was burning to ask him what he'd meant about Yang.

"Oh, dear oh dear," Tyrian said. "This puts me in quite the predicament. You see, I was told not to harm any potential wives accompanying the young heir. Fighting three on one is hard if I can't kill you both."

"Wife? Hey, I'm not-" Ruby's hand clamped down over Nora's mouth before she could spout any loyalty to Ren, or worse, get into another together but not together-together monologue.

"We're potential wives," Ruby said straight after.

Tyrian looked unconvinced. "Are you virgins?"

"Yes. We're… uh… saving ourselves for Jaune." Lie or not, Jaune felt his cheeks heat up, and by the time Tyrian looked back to him, he was bright red. That was all the confirmation his uncle needed and the man cackled happily.

"Oh, she will be pleased – yes, she will! But I must separate you for now. Worry not, fair maidens, for you shall be reunited in time. After the war. When everyone is safe. When the petty Kingdoms are crushed and all bow down to the once and future Queen of Remnant."

Tyrian clicked his fingers together and several Ursa and Beowolves approached from the treeline, surrounding them. Jaune, Ruby and Nora backed into a smaller circle, their shoulders touching. The Grimm weren't the real problem, numerous as they were. It was Tyrian that was the issue.

"You're huntresses, so you'll be fine against Grimm," Tyrian said. "Or you should be." He cackled happily. "Come on, Jaune. It's been so long since we sparred. Let's see how much you've improved. Oh, I can't wait to see it!" Tyrian shucked off his coat, revealing his long, scorpion's tail from the get-go. It was a terrible mirror of their first fight against the Deathstalker, except now without most of their heavy hitters, and with Qrow busy fighting Sapphire, as evidenced by the sounds of clashing steel in the distance.

"Deal with the Grimm," Jaune whispered. "I'll keep him busy."

"You sure you can take him?" Nora asked.

"I'm sure I can't. But I might be able to prolong the fight until the two of you finish up and come rescue me." He was a better swordsman than he'd been before, but that didn't mean much. Worse, if he transformed then he'd run the risk of Qrow coming back and seeing him. That would be as good as a loss right there, since he'd be forced to flee with Sapphire and accept sanctuary back home.

"We'll come help as soon as we can," Ruby promised. "Try not to get kidnapped for once." She flashed him a cheeky grin. "It's supposed to be the prince rescuing the princess. Not your army of future wives coming to save you."

Nora laughed. "I like it more this way. Go on then, husband. Try not to get knocked around or I'll leave you for Renny."

Jaune nodded and faced Tyrian. He flourished his sword before him and strode forward, past the Grimm that moved in to encircle and trap Ruby and Nora. Tyrian seemed pleased at the display and made a bow of his own, a rare sign of respect and courtesy from the normally insane faunus.

"I've improved a lot, Uncle. You better take this seriously or you might get hurt."

"Hee Hee! I hope so! Show me how much you've grown."

/-/

Ironwood stormed out of the meeting room with a fierce glower. Several members of staff, all with the distinctive snowflake emblem, bowed as he passed but he ignored them all. He took the staircase down three at a time, one hand on the banister, gripping it so tightly he feared he might tear it from the staircase itself. To his frustration, he was barred from escaping the Schnee mansion, and by a young girl he could not with any good conscience brush aside. She stood at the bottom, arms beside her, rapier on one hip and looking intently toward him.

"Miss Schnee," he greeted, hiding his anger. It was not directed at her. "I would like to apologise for what happened at Beacon. You have my condolences."

"Thank you, General, but Beacon did not fall. My friends survived, for the most part…"

"You still have my sympathies. I know from your sister how much staying there meant to you. I cannot necessarily say I approve of the way your father dragged you back." Not that there was much he could do about it, it being a family issue and thus none of his business. He had enough problems with the Schnee family as it was.

"You seem frustrated, General. Were you in a meeting with my father?"

"I was. I apologise for any unsightly display."

"Not at all. My father is not the easiest person to get along with."

That was the truth and then some, but Ironwood eyed the girl with some level of suspicion. The Schnee family always stuck together, or at least provided a united front. Not even Winter would speak out against her father, despite how obvious it was she hated him. He wasn't sure why the youngest daughter did so now.

"We have our differences," he said cautiously. "Normally, they are differences of opinion. Nothing more."

"Father is angry about the dust blockade, I take it."

Ironwood grunted his assent.

"I suppose that makes sense. From an economic standpoint the SDC stands to lose much from it. Profit outlooks are to be slashed by seventy per cent for the third and fourth quarter."

"I understand that, but the situation is a fragile one," Ironwood said. "It is-"

"Regrettable, but necessary," Weiss said.

Ironwood cut off immediately.

"It's not what anyone wants, but given the situation and the fact that SDC dust was used to attack Beacon, it's imperative the leaks in information be found and dealt with. Our shipments could not have been targeted so effectively unless there were spies involved. Until those are found, profit cannot be more important than security."

"Those are my thoughts exactly," Ironwood said, still suspicious, but also a little more relaxed. "Your father does not agree."

"Jacques is an excellent businessman," Weiss returned. "But he does not handle change well. He only sees the bottom line, with no attention paid to anything else."

"It is a failing," Ironwood said.

"It is." Weiss agreed.

General James Ironwood inspected the girl, no, the woman in front of him with a keener eye. The tone in her voice was familiar, and reminded him of Willow Schnee, back when she'd been a fierce political opponent and powerful woman. Back before Jacques changed her. Ruined her. Weiss Schnee might have been young, but she hid her emotions well and Ironwood was not so far removed from the political scene that he did not pick up on the little nuances.

"I'm glad to see we are in agreement, Miss Schnee. It is a relief to see that not all in the SDC are so short-sighted."

"I could not agree more, General. For what it matters, you have my support. Both in this action, and in your efforts against those who attacked Beacon. If I were able to, I would offer my support in a more tangible fashion, but alas, I am somewhat limited at the moment."

"That is a shame."

"It is," Weiss said meaningfully. "It is a definite shame. Still, I'm not above offering what little help I can." Weiss drew out a card and pushed it toward Ironwood. He took it and noticed that along with her number, a small data disk had been taped to the hardened paper. "Father hopes to defeat your proposal for a trade embargo on dust in the next session of the council. He's been entertaining several important figures to influence them. You might find the contents of that intriguing."

Ironwood smiled and pocketed the disc. "I'm sure I will. I have to say, Miss Schnee, this has been a pleasant conversation."

"Call me Weiss. I'm not a fan of being compared to my father."

"Weiss it is, then," he returned. "Your sister speaks often of you. I'm glad to see all the stories are true." Ironwood shook her hand. "That said, I really must return now. If you have need of me, you can always reach me through Winter. I would be… appreciative… if we could continue this conversation another time. You've given me much to think on."

Weiss smiled politely and curtsied. "As would I, General. I won't delay you any longer. Have a good day."

The General nodded and departed. As he did, he tapped his pocket and smiled curiously. Jacques might have been a bust, as expected, but it was a surprise – a pleasant one – to run into Winter's sister on the exit.

She was rough at the game, at politics, but she held promise. More than Jacques did, anyway.

Perhaps that was something to think more on…

/-/

Weiss smiled and slipped away as Ironwood left. She ducked into a hallway and toward her chamber, and was met by Emerald half-way.

"Did father dismiss you?" Weiss asked.

"He slapped me in the face," Emerald growled. "Or you, I suppose, since I had him see what I wanted. I managed to keep the illusion up through it. He's a real piece of work."

"He is," Weiss agreed.

"Still, there's no way he'll believe you met with Ironwood after this. Not when his own eyes tell him you were right there with him, being knocked around like that. Even if the maids tell on you, he'll just assume they're lying." Emerald huffed and crossed her arms. "I take it the meeting went well?"

"Well enough, I think. I might be able to count on Ironwood's support. More than before at the very least."

"That's a powerful friend to have."

"I know. That's why I want him. That he's connected to Winter helps. He's trustworthy. He wants whats best for Atlas, and the world." Weiss held a hand out. "Did you get father to sign what I wanted him to?"

"Sure did." Emerald held out a sheet of paper. "He thought it was an order for a ball gown for that gala thing coming up. It's harder to change small print like that. Had to distract him by calling him out on the Atlas issue. That's what got me slapped." Emerald rolled her eyes, as unaffected by the assault as anyone with aura would be. "Worked, though. He was so angry he didn't go through it in detail. It's official, then?"

"It is now," Weiss replied, reading through and grinning. "You're now officially my retainer, which means you get a salary, insurance and a room of your own. It will be connected to mine, naturally."

"Naturally," Emerald parroted. "At least this makes things official. What are my responsibilities?"

"Assistant, companion and bodyguard. You work in my benefit and mine alone."

"No different to what we've already got, then."

"No, but at least you're paid for it now."

"Heh." Emerald grinned. "There is that. This pays better than working for Cinder ever did. Feels more satisfying, too. I can't wait to see the look on that bastard's face."

"Which? Father or Whitley?"

"Either," Emerald groused. "Both. That little twat couldn't take his eyes off my breasts the other day. You're telling me he's going to be next in line to take over?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it, Emerald. Father hasn't disowned me yet, and won't so long as I – or we – don't anger him. On the other hand, the same rules go for Whitley." Weiss opened up her wardrobe and inspected the beautiful dress she'd ordered only a few nights ago. "The charity ball is coming up, and I think it's time for us to be noticed."

"You mean it's time for Whitley to be noticed."

"And for us to steal the show," Weiss added demurely. "Whitley always wants to be the centre of attention. He should be grateful we're going to help him."

"Yeah," Emerald laughed. "Real grateful. You know, you're as vicious as Cinder was sometimes."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Oh Weiss, is this Game of Thrones all of a sudden? Is it the Red (or White) Wedding?

Yin and Yang continue to steal the show while Jaune meets up with Sapphire and gets thrown back into a fight against Tyrian. And hey, that one line from Tyrian in the show finally makes sense. This might be the only circumstance once can think of where what he says comes across as cute and not creepy. Go me.

Next Chapter: 5th July

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur