Though it's a rather grand proclamation and more an estimate than anything, I think this story might be done before the New Year. That would mean Headmaster Arc gets a nice 2019 release. If it works out that way, of course. Plans have a tendency of not fitting chapter limits as neatly as they do when jotted down in bullet points.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 88
Jaune awoke groggily, and the first thing he noticed was just how uncomfortable he was. He was laid on something flat and solid without so much as a cushion for his head. His head ached, too. A dull, pounding headache as if his brain were trying to bash its way out of his skull. He groaned.
"Jaune. You're awake?"
"Ruby, stop hassling him. He can groan in his sleep. He'll wake up when he-"
"I-I'm awake," he managed. His eyes cracked open and then closed immediately blinded by too much light.
"It's about time, my son. You've kept us waiting."
Mom? But if she were here along with Ruby and Weiss… Jaune forced himself to sit up, despite the warnings from Pyrrha that he should stay down. The light burned his eyes again, but this time Jaune forced himself to blink his way through it. He was in the dining hall, laid out flat on the table with some of the plates and food pushed aside or removed entirely.
Everyone was there. Mom, Coral, Qrow and the rest. They were in various states of worn, faces smudged or bleeding in places and their clothing having obviously seen battle. The hall itself was no better, with numerous white figures strewn on the floor and a hole in the wall, with a corresponding black burn mark on the wall opposite.
Right. Atlas, the Knights, the battleship…
His eyes widened. "Yang!"
"Do you know what happened?" Ruby asked eagerly, almost bounding over to him but for Pyrrha holding her back gently. "I-I was knocked out and no one else saw. They only heard you shouting, and then the explosions as the battleship collided with the tower."
Understandable. Nora's vision must have been blocked by him, while the others couldn't see past the blockade and Ruby and Emerald, on Yang's side, had been knocked out. Ruby looked so desperate for answers.
"They took her," Jaune snarled. His eyes flashed red, his hair and skin a ghastly white. "They knocked her out and took her. Put her on a Bullhead and fled!" He looked to his mother.
"A Bullhead did escape the encounter," she confirmed. "I bid the Nevermore focus on the battleship and any remaining robots. That was lucky since, if your lover were unconscious, she might not have survived the vehicle crashing."
Lucky, yes. Satisfying, no. Jaune's teeth gnashed together, even as worry gnawed its way through him. Why did they want Yang? Was it just her specifically, or had they been after something else? Where had they taken her? Well, the last one was obvious.
"I have to save her. I have to go to Atlas."
"There and back again," Weiss said with a put-upon sigh. She waved a hand when he growled at her. "I'm not saying we won't, so you can cut it with the animalistic noises. You may be half-human, half-Grimm, all-royalty, but I'm still your team leader."
Jaune backed down.
"Good. Now, yes, we obviously have to get Yang back. Question is, how do we do that?"
"With extreme ease," Salem answered. "It has been a while since I played the part of the destroyer. For this trespass, I could bring every Grimm on the continent down on those fools. The oceans around Atlas would team with Grimm, dragging themselves out onto the shore in a never-ending tide. She would be safe, of course. No Grimm will harm her."
"Do that, and they won't have to. Atlas will figure out what's going on and kill her – if only to see whether it's Yang attracting the Grimm." Salem frowned, but sat down, hands clenching the armrests of her throne so tightly it cracked.
Watts coughed into his fist. "If I may, my Queen, the Schnee is correct." He nodded politely to Weiss, who nodded stiffly back. "While the last thing we can allow is for the girl to be kept there, arriving behind, atop or before an army of Grimm will only force a violent reaction."
"We have never shied from such means before, Watts."
"We have never had to worry about a captive before, my Queen."
"I am no idiot. You are suggesting we send my son and these allies of his. That would be no less dangerous. The enemy knows of their existence. They would be walking into a trap."
"We can't not go!" Jaune railed.
"I am not suggesting such!" Salem fired back. "Only that you think before you leap. Was it not your girlfriend herself who suggested such?"
The words hit him hard, snuffing out his anger. His hair became golden once more, his eyes blue. They were filled with doubt, however.
"We'll get her back," Ren said. "I'm not leaving my partner a prisoner. No one in Team RYBN will do that. Correct?"
"Hell no!" Nora said.
"The longer she's left alone in a cell with no one to distract her, the more puns she'll come up with," Blake teased. "I can't allow such a thing to happen."
"But they do have a point," Ren added. "If we go in with Grimm behind us, we'll start a war."
"But if we go in without, we'll be captured."
"True. In which case, we find a different method."
"We have to consider what Ozpin wants from this, too," Weiss said.
"You really think it's him?" Qrow asked. "The fleet was one of Jimmy Irondick's."
"Jimmy-?" Weiss sighed. "General Ironwood is a general and a politician. He's not a rash man, nor a foolish one. He knew I was headed to Mistral, and while he may have heard the reports of me flying here with the dragon, I doubt he would authorise those AI to open fire on me. Besides, they captured Yang. The only person who knows Yang is of any importance to Jaune is Ozpin."
"But what would he get from capturing Yang?" Ruby asked.
"I've no idea…"
"I don't care," Jaune said, shaking his head. "Yang's been kidnapped. We were attacked. Whatever is happening, it's happening in Atlas and if we don't respond, it's only going to get worse. I doubt they took her just to sit back, smile and not do anything."
"We know this," Ren said. "We've already all agreed to do something. It's the something we're not sure on."
"No." Jaune's eyes were wild. "I have an idea."
"Is it one of your usual gems of wisdom?" Weiss asked.
"I don't know. That's why I want you to listen and tell me what you think. Because you know this all better than I do. All of you." His eyes strayed over them. "Ruby and Qrow for Vale. Ren, Nora and Pyrrha for Mistral. Sun for Vacuo. Ilia and Blake for Menagerie. Weiss for Atlas. Me for the Grimmlands. We've got people from every Kingdom here. Every major city or location."
Everyone looked between themselves. It wasn't something they'd ever mentioned because it didn't seem important, but some of them had travelled a long way to attend Beacon. The differences weren't noticeable, but each of them at least knew about the culture of every Kingdom.
"The problem is," he went on, "The world doesn't know the Grimmlands is a Kingdom. They think the Grimm are just wild animals mindlessly killing for the sake of killing. They don't know there is a force behind it, a culture." He looked to his mother. "Of sorts." She raised an eyebrow. Ignoring it, Jaune focused on the others again. "We've already decided that going in with Grimm behind us will just look like an attack, while going in alone will be suicide. Not doing anything is out of the question, so we have to do something. I say we demand her back."
"I'm assuming there's more to that than you're suggesting," Weiss said. "Because just saying `Give Yang back` isn't going to impress anyone."
"Of course. Atlas isn't going to negotiate with the Grimm, or people they see as traitors." Jaune grinned. "But they'd have to negotiate with another Kingdom."
"Well, they wouldn't have to," Weiss said, "But it would be more likely, yes. Wait, you're suggesting going public with who you are!" Her eyes flicked to Salem. "You want to out yourselves!?"
"Jaune, is that a good idea?" Ruby asked nervously.
"There's a lot of people who will hate you for the Grimm," Sun pointed out.
"It'd be the most hated Kingdom in the world," Ilia added. "And that's saying something."
"It would be all of those things," Jaune accepted. "But it was always going to be that anyway. How could we ever work for actual peace if we're not accepted as a power in the first place? Sooner or later, we'd have had to come out. People would have to know who the Kingdoms are negotiating for peace with, and we'd always have been hated for the things that happened in the past. Nothing is going to change that. Coming out now. It's not ideal, but it was going to happen eventually. Might as well use it to help Yang."
Weiss sighed. "I suppose you have a point. This is just a matter of speeding up what had to happen at some point. But still, I'm not sure how you believe this will help Yang. Atlas could refuse to negotiate on the basis that you're – no offence to you or Blake and Ilia – no better than terrorists."
That was true. And everyone would take Atlas' side in any conflict. But that wasn't the point, at least not fully. Jaune's lips thinned and his face took on a hard expression, one that he borrowed from General Ironwood himself. His voice was deep as he spoke.
"Atlas will negotiate because if it does not, it shall fall."
The others gasped.
Jaune let the fire and fury fall, and grinned. "At least that's what we'll say. They can afford not to negotiate with the White Fang because – no offence – they were never a big enough problem to force Atlas to the meeting table."
"I really wish people would stop assuming I'll take offence at every little thing," Blake grumbled.
Ilia nodded, arms crossed.
"But the Grimmlands is bigger," Ruby finished, smile appearing. "Atlas has to talk, because if the alternative is a declaration of war between Atlas and every Grimm on the planet then Atlas knows it'll lose."
"Mistral might even refuse to come to their aid, fearing it would draw the Grimm onto them," Pyrrha said. "Oh, they wouldn't phrase it like that. They would say reinforcements were on the way, but they'd mysteriously fail to appear. Meanwhile, Mistral would be busy shoring up its own defences."
"Probably the same for Vale," Qrow said. "Atlas are our allies, but Vale was just hit recently, and Beacon is done. Considering Beacon is the prime defence against he Grimm, that's kind of a big issue."
"Vacuo isn't stable enough to send help," Sun said.
"Atlas would stand alone," Weiss whispered. "Not literally, since you don't plan to invade." She paused to see if Jaune would interrupt. When he didn't, she let out a sigh of relief. "But since the Council and Ironwood would know the Kingdom would fall, they'll be forced to try and limit the damage. If you offer an alternative to bloodshed…"
"I think I have something," Jaune said. "But it would require Mom to let me be the mouthpiece for the entire Kingdom. It would mean letting me speak for her, for all Grimm, and basically accepting me as her heir."
All attention turned to Salem, who slumped in her seat.
The Dread Queen of the Grimm let out a long sigh.
/-/
The first thing Yang felt was the nausea. It was overpowering and stuck in her throat. She rolled onto her side and threw up on the floor, expelling vomit, spittle and some horrible purple-tinted dust. The sight of the mess made her throw up more and more, until she was dry-heaving on the smooth floor. It was only when her stomach could provide no more mass and her throat was raw, that she stopped. With the terrible smell of it in her nostrils, she tried to stand and move away, only to stagger and slump back. She made do with rolling onto her other side instead, at least so she didn't have to look at it.
Hefty, cold shackles bound her wrists behind her back. She was in a cell of some sort, one with an incredibly smooth floor of grey tiles, metallic walls, glass windows high above – one-way if the reflective surface was any indication – and a sealed metal door with no door-knob, handle or anything else to work with. There was a bed in one corner, an exposed toilet, a sink and a single chair.
"Tch. Not the best accommodations." She raised her voice. "If you think I'm using that in front of you lot, you've got another thing coming."
No response. Yang wasn't sure if that was because there was no one there, or if the cell was sound-proofed instead. Her experience with prison was essentially limited to what she'd seen on the TV, and this didn't quite fit.
Last thing she remembered was the gas. She'd been fighting until those stupid tin-cans cheated. Presumably, she'd been captured. This sure didn't feel like something Jaune's mom would provide for her.
"Yin," she whispered. "You still there?"
"M-Mom…?" He sounded worried.
"Hey. It's okay. We'll be fine, don't panic."
"Mom, some people came in when you weren't awake. They did something to us."
Yang's heart froze. "Did what?"
"They stuck a needle into you and took blood. Tried to take some of me, too, but I wouldn't let them. But…" His mental voice hitched. "They- They brought out some sharp knives and started cutting. I kept hardening, but they said if I didn't let them they would cut into you instead and find where I connected."
"Yin…"
"They took some of my skin away."
Fucking bastards. Yang's teeth bared as she snarled into the floor. She felt Yin flinch and quickly forced herself to calm down. "Not you, baby," she whispered. "I'm not angry at you. You tried your best, Yin. Momma's proud."
He relaxed, and Yang did the same. Sheesh. How quickly things changed, huh? So much for refusing to accept him as her child. Still, these fuckers had kidnapped her, drawn blood and also threatened to cut her up. If the cell didn't set the tone enough already, Yang figured that told the rest of the story. They wanted something from her, something about Yin.
Was this a prison at all, or some kind of testing facility?
"Yin. Did you notice anything about the guys who came in…?"
"There were five of them. Two women, three men. One of the men and a woman were in armour with guns, but the others were in white coats. They had masks on their faces to let them breathe. I don't know why."
Masks? Gas masks of some kind. Were they afraid she was infectious, or was that a sign that gas would be pumped in if she caused any trouble? Yang looked toward the ceiling and saw several vents. It wasn't proof, though. They could just as easily have been for air intake or conditioning. It sounded like Atlas though, if the great big battleship hadn't made that obvious enough.
That would make it at least a day since the fight, Yang thought. Maybe. Depends how fast they got me here. But if they had time to take blood and do tests, it probably wasn't recent.
A sudden screech filled the room. Yang winced and bundled herself into a tighter ball, prepared for pain or gas – only to open one eye warily when she heard a `tap-tap` like someone poking a microphone. There was a cough as the speaker – on the other end of an intercom system of some kind – finally spoke to her.
"Subject has awoken as of 21:16. Commencing introductory interview, Doctor Meadows speaking. With me are Doctors Brass and Terrance. Date is-"
"Oi!" Yang shouted. "You done!?"
There was a momentary silence, though again she had no idea if they weren't chatting between themselves and the mic was just turned off. "The subject is awake, responsive and capable of verbal communication."
"Nooo. Really!?"
"Also capable of sarcasm. Or mimicking it." Someone said something Yang couldn't make out, and the speaker coughed. "Yes. Possibly. Subject, you are in a sealed containment facility. Your arms are restrained, and your cell is being monitored at all times. Any attempt to escape will be met with countermeasures. It is my honest and heartfelt suggestion you make no aggressive moves, either towards your cell or any researchers or personnel."
"So, this is a research facility," Yang mumbled.
"Subject is capable of deductive reasoning. Caution advised. My name is Doctor Meadows, Chief Director in charge of your containment. As a subject-"
"Subject isn't my name!"
A pause. "We were not aware you had a name. What would you prefer we call you?"
"Yang."
"Yang…" Quiet murmurs, before the speaker came back, voice tense. "Would that be Yang Xiao-Long, Huntress of Beacon?"
"You mean you didn't even know who I am?" Yang snarled. "Do a fucking background check before you drug people! Where's my Dad? He's going to freak!"
"Subject refuses to acknowledge self. Subject continues to define self as `Yang Xiao-Long`, as befits appearance."
"Define…? I am Yang Xiao-Long. I'm me!"
"Miss Xiao-Long," the voice sounded patronising. "Are you aware that your arm up to your shoulder appears to be formed of Grimm flesh? Are you aware that there is Grimm material which appears to reach your spinal column, wrapping around it up towards your brain?"
Yang swallowed. "Yin?"
"It's how I talk to you. I can move it if you like, but you wouldn't be able to hear or talk to me…"
"No, it's fine." She trusted him. To those listening, Yang said, "Yeah, I'm aware. What's your point?"
"You… You're aware…?"
"Yeah. Do you think I'm stupid or something?" Yang tensed her hand. "Yin. Pop 'em."
Yin did as requested with a little `hum` sound. Her other arm flexed as Yin's muscles bulged, pulling in the opposite direction of her own. The steel shackles on her wrists flexed and bulged, before snapping with a loud clang. A brief siren flared, but no gas worked its way inside. Yang tried to rub her wrist but couldn't control her other arm. Yin, realising what she wanted, did it for her, gently caressing her bruised skin.
"Thanks," she whispered. She raised her voice for those listening, "So yeah, I know. Unless you think I'd not notice this." She nodded to her black, inky arm. Her coat had been removed long ago, leaving her in just cargo pants and a vest. Yin's black skin was visible to all. "I'm not bothered by it. Guessin' you lot are."
There was a flurry of whispers, the words of which she didn't catch.
"Just to confirm," Doctor Meadows came back, now sounding a little hoarse. "You are claiming that you are Yang Xiao-Long, and that you are in control of your own body?"
"Yeah." Yang cocked her head. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"There is a creature of the Grimm implanted in your body."
"I know. And I know who put it there."
"And you allowed him?"
"No, he did it without asking, but we've had words. I've come to terms with it." Yang shrugged. She wasn't going to give them names or tell them anymore than that. Her stomach grumbled. "Can I get some food in here? I've not eaten for ages and I've thrown up what I did have."
"To note," the voice said, "You require sustenance…?"
Why did he sound so unsure? "Yeah. Obviously."
"What kind of sustenance?"
"Uh. Food. Fruit, meat, vegetables – a normal meal. Burgers, pancakes, fries, steak. You know, the normal stuff people eat." Yang huffed and wandered over to the bed, sitting down. "What do you think I'd eat?"
"Nothing. Grimm in the wild require no sustenance."
Yang froze.
"You think I'm a Grimm…?"
/-/
Ironwood strode forward and gripped the young boy by his collar, hauling him out of the chair and against a wall. The thought of doing so to a child would have galled him before, but there was no mistaking the boy's expression as anything other than Ozpin's forced calm.
"You lied to me!"
"Put me down, James."
"You lied to me!" Ironwood roared, shaking him. "And what's worse, you've had me put all of Atlas at risk. The tests came back, Ozpin. She's a normal girl. There is a Grimm attached to her, yes, but there is no indication it controls her!"
"You may have misunderstood what I meant by `control`," Ozpin said.
Ironwood snarled. "There was no misunderstanding, Ozpin. You told me she was being controlled, forced against her will to work with Salem. You told me they all were, including Weiss Schnee. The only reason I agreed to this assault was to save their lives. Instead, I find you've been keeping secrets from me. Again!"
"The Grimm whispers to her, James. It influences her. In a sense, that is contr-" Ozpin's voice cut off as Ironwood dropped him. He reached up to rub his throat.
"Don't play your word games with me. I thought we were friends."
"We are friends."
"Hardly seems it. Lies, deceit and now this. Do you think Salem will let my assault on her tower stand? Do you think there won't be reprisals for this? I've as good as declared war on the Grimm. And I was fine with that," he said, pacing. "But you told me Salem was creating sleeper agents. You told me they'd infected some of the best and brightest, including the heiress of the SDC."
"It is as good as the truth. They have been led astray."
"Led astray is different to control, Ozpin! Especially when it comes to me sending military assets out to `rescue` them!"
"Weiss Schnee has already been seen working alongside the Grimm. Jaune Arc is of the Grimm, and he has taken his and Miss Xiao-Long's team to the Grimmlands." Ozpin's cane tapped on the ground as he walked behind Ironwood's desk. "What do you believe will come of this, James? Salem has now in her clutches agents who would work alongside her. We already had trouble protecting the maidens before. Imagine how difficult it will become if they have access to the SDC's funds, or the ability to walk around in civilisation, completely indistinguishable from any other person."
"Because they are the same as any other person!"
"Is Miss Xiao-Long the same, James? You've seen the recordings. Her arm is as Grimm as any Beowolf, and it extends inside her body. It works with her, yes, but only because their goals align. Can you imagine if she decided to turn on an innocent village?"
"If she decided to turn, Ozpin. If."
"It is Salem," Ozpin said simply. "It is the Grimm. What do you think they will do, James? Hand out cookies and well-wishes?" He sat in Ironwood's chair and linked his small hands on the table. "They are our enemies. They have ever been the enemy of humanity. Miss Xiao-Long and her friends may not accept that now, nor believe it, but you and I have history and fact to back us up. The Grimm have been slaughtering humans for over a thousand years."
"Do you truly believe Salem will want peace now?" Ozpin asked. "Or that her son would have infiltrated Beacon, befriended these aspiring huntsmen and huntresses, and drawn them to the Grimmlands, for entirely innocent reasons? You'd have to be a fool to believe that. This is but the next step in her plan. Where brute force has failed, Salem seeks to tear us apart from the inside."
Ironwood's shoulders rose and fell. His eyes were shut, pinched. His hands were clenched into fists and he wanted so badly to wrap them around Ozpin's throat. Except that this was a small boy, too. It was that which kept Ironwood from truly showing his anger.
"I've trusted you for a long time, Ozpin. But you're stretching things now. You're pushing me. You led me to believe this girl was possessed, that we would be saving her. Instead, I have the daughter of a well-known huntsman imprisoned in a research facility. Ethics aside, that's a scandal just waiting to be aired."
Ozpin waved a hand. "The world need not know."
"Ah, perfect. I just rob her of basic human decency and freedom, locking her away forever. That's much better. How did I not think of such an idea myself?"
"Sarcasm does not befit you, James."
"And that face does not befit you, Ozpin." Ironwood said, stomping over to the door. "Don't believe I haven't noticed how you wear it, or how little say he gets in the matter." He wrenched the door open but paused in it, looking back. "Before you speak of parasites controlling their hosts, perhaps you'll take a moment to look in the mirror!"
The door slammed shut.
/-/
Ozpin let out a heavy sigh as James left. The man's anger, understandable as it may have been, hurt. The two had been friends for some time, which was why they had come to blows so easily. James was a man who found it hard to trust, and who was hit harder by what he perceived as betrayal than any other.
"You did betray him," Oscar whispered.
Ozpin closed his eyes. "I did no such thing. The words I spoke were nothing but the truth. Miss Xiao-Long may neither believe nor accept it, but Salem and the Grimm are a force of nature. They are a creation of the God of Darkness and not out allies."
"You still lied to him. To me. To all of us."
"If through lies I can defend Remnant, so be it. You will see in time, Oscar."
"This is my body!"
"Not anymore. I was willing to work with you, Oscar. To help you. But help is a street that goes two ways, and you turned on me. You cannot be trusted. What I do is important, even if you cannot see or accept that."
"We could bring an end to this war. You heard Jaune and the others. They're working together despite him being a Grimm. Yang lives with her Grimm without being killed. Isn't that proof they can work together?"
"For a common goal, yes. Or until the parasite has had its use of her. I don't expect you to understand, Oscar. You have not seen the things I have, experienced them. Your life, boring as it may have seemed to you, was a cossetted and protected one. Not all are so fortunate. You speak of trust as if it is something that can be granted to the Grimm. You are not foolish, Oscar. Only misinformed."
Ozpin was not. Salem and the Grimm could not be trusted. He knew it better than any other entity on Remnant, for he had outlived the trees and mountains of this land. He'd fought Salem first-hand, been killed by her, fought again, died. He'd done everything over and over, forever losing a piece of himself. Friends, allies, lovers, family. He'd lost all in time, some to the Grimm and others to the ravages of time or disease.
He knew Salem. Knew her in a way few others did. She was vicious, cruel and completely without empathy, kindness or any other human emotion all but required to understand not only the concept of peace, but the need for it.
People desired peace when they were tired of war. It was a flawed concept born of flawed humanity. Ozpin accepted that people weren't perfect any more than he was, but Salem could not tire of war. She was born to it. She revelled in it. She was, by all measures, winning it – and at no cost to herself. The Grimm were made to be thrown away and could not complain or protest of their lives being spent. As such, there was no impetus nor reason to seek an end to the conflict.
This was just common sense. Alas, Oscar, like Miss Rose, Xiao-Long, Schnee and all their friends, were children. Naïve, idealistic and oh, so prone to errors of judgment. It was the responsibility of teachers like Ozpin to guide them to the right path.
He had failed them. He accepted this. He'd let his guard down and allowed Mr Arc into his academy, failed to see the signs and even trusted him in turn. Salem had tricked him with her clever disguise, her clever Grimm-human hybrids.
Cunning of her. Expected, even. But the world would soon know of them, and as such the element of surprise would be lost.
"And all across Remnant, people will look at one another with suspicion. I can see the panic now as innocent people are dragged to the town square and executed on the chance they might be Grimm in disguise. Their only crime being disliked, mistrusted or different."
"A dire picture, I admit. Alas, humanity has ever been prone to overreaction. If a few must die to guard against the Grimm, then die they must. I will not condone it, but I will understand why such a sacrifice is necessary."
"You're a monster."
"If you say so." Ozpin rolled his eyes. He would not even be responding were it not for the constant headaches Oscar forced on him. A price of retaining control against a host that fought back tooth and nail. He might have admired the boy's will were it not aligned against him.
James had every right to be angry, of course. The small falsehood aside, by acting on his information he had drawn Salem's ire onto Atlas. A storm would come. Ozpin knew this. He had expected it.
Planned for it.
This push for peace was but a ruse. He knew this. First, Salem would send one of her own to infiltrate Beacon, manipulate those close to him, earn their trust. Once he had, the idea of a peace would be proposed. Such a laughable concept. And yet the idealistic youth of today had been fooled, lured into believing a charismatic young man and his honeyed words.
Ozpin could not let that happen. Could not let the Kingdoms lower their guards, invite in the monsters and return the world to never-ending darkness. Salem's plan had to be stopped. This `false peace` had to be shown for what it truly was. And if goading Salem into destroying Atlas was what it took, then so be it.
"You monster."
"No, Oscar. I am a saviour. Through this, all of Remnant will be warned. They will see that they must close their gates, guard against the Grimm, and never trust the monsters that are Salem and her brood."
Kingdoms came and went. He had seen many in his unnaturally long life.
Even if Atlas fell, and all her people with it, Remnant would live on. Better prepared, aware of the true danger, and ready to fight Salem until the end of time. Fight her as Ozpin had, over and over again, no matter the consequences.
"Monster…"
The child did not understand. Ozpin sighed.
How like them.
/-/
When the Nevermore landed on Vale's hastily rebuilt CCT, no one knew what to do. Weapons were readied, the remainders of Beacon's student preparing for the worst. But the worst did not come, and the Grimm made no effort to attack. Pickets were set up and Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch set up an armed guard composed of teachers and students. Only for nothing to happen.
Not until another, larger shape filled the sky. The dragon that had fought at Beacon came in low across the treeline of the Emerald Forest, and landed on the outskirts of Beacon, a fair distance away. It did so before the school could mount a defence and was already at the side of the CCT before the school was ready. No one dared begin the attack. Not when the Grimm Dragon had not already done so.
There was tension in the air, Lisa Lavender thought, stood behind it all reporting on the matter. The network had shelled out some serious fucking danger pay to get her there, and it was only because of how many huntsmen were between her and the dragon that she dared at all.
And then he stepped out of the CCT.
It was in the middle of her report, live on air, and thanks to the CCT behind him, her story was probably being sent all across Remnant. The Council might have tried to shut that down, but the Grimm had done something to the CCT. Remote control was being cut off, ensuring the world saw this.
The man, for what else could he be, was somehow both human and Grimm. He had ashen white skin, hair of freshly-fallen snow and bright red eyes. Despite that, he stood tall and unhunched and intelligence flickered in those orbs. Lisa recognised him, even if she'd never had the chance to catch him on film. Hentacle, they called him. A fitting, if insulting name.
Judging by the freshly polished breastplate, fancy black clothing and long, flowing crimson cloak that fell around his shoulders, linked with a chain of solid gold, emblazoned with the symbol of an eye, Hentacle was something more than that. His cloak fell to the floor and flowed behind him and he stood with his legs apart, a simple sword, sheathed, pressing down into the ground in front of him, his hands resting atop it.
Lisa waved furiously for the camera crew to push forward, the three of them fighting to reach the front of the barricade before the man, Grimm, thing spoke.
And speak it did, in a rich, booming voice.
"My name is Jaune Salem Arc, Crown Prince of the Grimmlands, Heir to High Queen Salem, Queen of the Grimmlands and all Grimm across Remnant." The bold claim shocked Lisa to her core, along with everyone else.
The man, the prince, simply raised a hand, and every Grimm there – dragon included – bowed their heads in unison. The truth was undeniable, even if Lisa could hardly process it. Her mouth watered and yet her lips were dry. She didn't dare wet them for fear she might somehow interrupt the feed, the story that would make her life.
"Our Kingdom has chosen to stay apart from the rest of Remnant, content to live on our island home. Despite this, we have been locked in an uneasy conflict for some time. And yes, I do not say war, for imagine if you will how much worse your situations might be if I commanded every Grimm on the planet to converge on your homes right now, unified and in formation."
Lisa did. Everyone did.
The only reason humanity had survived against the Grimm thus far was because they were disjointed, unorganised, mindless. To think there was something behind them… It had never been considered. Her legs felt weak.
If every Grimm in Vale came, the city would fall. If every Grimm in the world came, the world would fall.
"That we have not erased your kind from Remnant was a conscious decision on our part," he continued, tone regal. He didn't seem afraid of the assorted huntsmen and huntresses at all. "This could change. This might change. Based on recent actions by the Kingdom of Atlas. Our Kingdom was attacked. Our home attacked. Atlas' automatons fell on our people. They were not victorious in harming us. In fact, they were wiped out with not a single casualty on our side." His eyes hardened. "However…"
He moved suddenly, tearing his sheathed sword up and drawing it in one swift motion. The scabbard was flung aside. The sword gleamed. Four tentacles burst from the creature's back, rising up into the air and making him look ten feet tall. The sword slammed down hard, digging more than three inches into solid concrete. It stuck there, the creature's hands gripped around the blade. Where his eyes before had glinted, they now glowed with raw fury.
"Atlas has taken my intended. My fiancé, who is as human as any other here. The Crown Princess of the Grimmlands, who is at this very moment with child. They assaulted us, harmed and stole her away. This, we shall not let stand. This, we shall not allow. I say this, Atlas," he shouted, and he might as well have been shouting to Atlas, for how his voice boomed. "You believe that you are at war with the Grimm? You have not seen war. You have no idea of what war is like. You shall meet with me at the Mantle Plateau's summit in three days' time. I shall come to Atlas, we shall meet, and you shall return my fiancé and child to me. Do so, and we might come to an accord. We might yet part on good terms."
He leaned on his sword, and it dug deeper with a loud, grating noise.
"Fail, and you shall reap the consequences." In one motion, he drew the sword free, heedless of how much strength such would have required. "All other Kingdoms are spared our wroth at this time. I would both advise, and ask, that you not interfere."
He turned away, unafraid to show his back.
No one dared take the shot anyway.
"Wait!"
Lisa, however, moved. It was instinct and greed that motivated her, somehow worked past her sense of self-preservation. Lisa only realised she'd crossed the barrier when she had, and her mind was already screaming at her to get back – along with some huntsmen. At which point, it was too late. She'd moved. The man, the Prince, had turned also, hearing the noise. He watched her, waiting. Lisa swallowed and cursed her stupid curiosity. Already here, she held up her microphone.
"Um, C-Crown Prince, sir. You said your intended was a human. D-Does that not fly against the enmity between humans and Grimm?"
Lisa expected him to scowl. Expected him to kill her. Expected him to do a lot of things, really.
She did not expect him to answer.
"This enmity you speak of is one-sided. If the Grimm wished all humanity dead, they would have marched on you in mass long ago. With but a word, I could command this. As to my intended, yes, she is but a normal human. I love her nonetheless. Perhaps in time, this could mean peace between our peoples." His eyes drifted shut. "I would hope so."
With a flick of his cloak, he turned.
"But that will depend on Atlas, now. Won't it? I will say it again. Return Crown Princess Yang Xiao-Long, and our child, Yin Salem Arc, to me. Or face the consequences."
/-/
In Patch, almost a hundred heads in the local tavern turned in unison, staring at the sole man who sat at the bar, mouth wide open, beer dribbling out the corners of his mouth. He was a man with tanned skin, bright hair and blue eyes. He was also not moving so much as a muscle, staring at the television in the bar which was showing live the events at Beacon.
"So," the bartender said, voice full of forced calm. "A Grandfather, huh? Congratulations."
Taiyang fainted.
Ah, Ozpin. Portrayed as the villain in this story, but he genuinely is convinced he is doing the right thing. Even if the ends justify the means. To be fair to him, he's been locked in eternal conflict for… well, we never get a time. But hundreds and "maybe" thousands of years. Hard to say how fast Remnant's technological advancement is.
I'm going to "guess" that it has been over a thousand years for Ozpin though. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Either way, after a thousand years where his very life becomes a routine, with all his thoughts about Salem ingrained, a sudden 180 by her where she has children and mellows out probably WOULD be pretty damn hard to believe.
"Has to be a trick. Has to be a trick. I must protect everyone…"
Poor Oz. In a way, he's like NTF Jaune.
Oh, and poor Taiyang. Yang kept meaning to tell you, but you know, things. Everything just kept getting in the way and before you know it, you're the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of the Grimm being kidnapped by another Kingdom. You know, typical Tuesday.
Next Chapter: 25th October
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur