HACKING NOTE

Due to the continuing hack threat on the site – which hits you if you view infected people's profiles – my presence on the site has been a little threatened. To note, I'll continue to update, but I may not be open to responding to PMs or reviews until this is over, since the infection might be able to spread through those.

If someone goes wrong and I vanish, I would suggest checking my P a treon first – because the moment I realise, I will post a FREE post on there that everyone can see (without having to sign up or anything) which will explain what has happened and where you can find my stories.

I'll still be uploading in the event of a hack, in the short term on my P a tr eon , but I'll also probably make accounts on SB or SV. This is only in the event my account is lost. All my stories are backed up on my home computer, so nothing is at risk.

To those who haven't heard, the exploit works by targeting you if you view the profile of an infected person. Safety precautious thus far are to just NOT view anyone's profiles. And honestly, if you're not a writer like me, I'd suggest logging out. Clearing your history and cache, and just viewing stories while logged out for the next week or two. However long it takes to get this fixed.

EDIT: They claim to have already fixed this now, which will be great news if it is true! Even so, I'll keep the above message because if anything ever does happen for whatever reason, this will serve as a reminder of what the process will be.

Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Kegi Springfield

Chapter 89

"I'm here on the streets of Vale where the proclamation of but a day ago has led to organised protests and riots," Lisa shouted, voice raised so that the camera crew desperately jostling for space in a sea of people could stay upright. "The sudden reveal of organisation between the Grimm has thoroughly divided opinion, with many calling for action and outright war, others for peace, and some asking just why this was kept from the people of Vale for so long."

"I see. How bad is it, Lisa?"

As if they – or the audience – couldn't bloody well see. She was one wrong step away from falling and being buried by the bodies. Still, it was part of the job and Lisa smiled like she didn't want to strangle the anchor for asking.

"There's been limited bursts of violence, Kevin. As always, the police and Council are asking for peaceful protest – as are many of the organisers. Sadly, there are those who have seen fit to take matters into their own hands, but these people make up the minority thus far."

"And what has prompted this surge of emotion, Lisa?"

Another stupid question, another staged answer. Sometimes she wondered if the audience really were so stupid that they needed it spelled out for them. Maybe they were.

"There are emotions charged on every side, Kevin. The Grimm were reviled enough when we saw them as mindless beasts acting as little better than wild animals but knowing that there are entities capable of thought behind them has led some to ask why we are being killed and why they have made no attempt to co-exist with us."

Lisa paused as some people tried to wrench the camera out the hands of her faunus reporter. Luckily, they were just regular civvies and Malcolm had some old huntsman training. Not enough to become one, but enough to make him stronger than the average guy. He was able to push the idiots back and sent her a quick nod to continue.

"On the other side, we have those of a somewhat cooler mind, who argue that events of the past – while tragic – should not influence dealings going forward. The suggestion that the Crown Prince of the Grimm might take a human bride, and announce his presence to us, is seen as a sign that relations may yet improve. Of course, there are also those screaming about the end of the world as we know it, and conspiracy theorists are running rampant with suggestions of a Government cover-up."

"As always, Lisa," Kevin chuckled. "And back to the analyst's desk."

The camera panned away, switching back to the interior of a TV studio, where a tall man with brown hair swept to the left sat behind a desk. In the background, Lisa's face lasted a few more seconds on the screen behind, showing her signing off with her signature smile and wave.

"That's all from Lisa on the streets of Vale, but we've invited two speakers into the studio today to get a better view on the thoughts and feelings behind the current situation. Today, we have Bartholomew Oobleck, Professor, Doctor and Historian of Beacon."

"A pleasure to be here, Kevin."

"And we also have Christopher Redcliffe, Police Captain for the VPD."

The man nodded. "Thanks for inviting me, Kevin."

"Not a problem, both of you." Kevin smiled as the camera panned over to the two, sat in plush red chairs with a small table and a vase of flowers separating them. "Now, we've heard from Lisa what the sentiment on the streets are, but the two of you have a more in-depth view of this. Tell me, what are the deeper thoughts behind this?"

"It's quite simple, Kevin," Redcliffe said. "While we can't comment on what Atlas has done, this so-called kidnapping attempt, we have to remember that Vale and Atlas are and have been staunch allies for quite some time. The Grimm, on the other hand, have been our enemies for centuries. It seems obvious to me where we must stand."

"Only if you look at it from a narrow point of view," Oobleck interrupted. "While I am not an apologist for what the Grimm have done, the discovery of a group or Government behind the Grimm has to be further investigated. If they can control the Grimm as they have suggested and shown evidence of, then it could mean an end to hostility between the Grimm and humankind entirely. Such peace should be encouraged."

"The Grimm are responsible for thousands, if not tens of thousands, of deaths! Peace, with them!?"

"Conflict always leads to death. Every war in our history has only brought the tally of the fallen higher, and Atlas and Vale have clashed more than once in history, yet we are allies now. The faunus wars-"

"Resulted in the White Fang. Hardly a good example."

"Whatever you may say about the White Fang, they are still preferable to the war itself," Oobleck said, "And we all know they were not spawned by the war but by events after it. Even so, the Grimm outnumber us greatly. If we remain allied to Atlas and they provoke all-out war with the Grimm, we will be drawn into a conflict we do not have the resources for."

"So, you're suggesting we curl up into little balls, cower and let our new overlords rule over us!?"

"That is not what I am suggesting at all. I am saying that we should make tentative overtures towards this Crown Prince, liaise with him, meet him and see if we can come to a fruitful conclusion to a centuries old conflict."

"And all those who have lost family to the Grimm," Redcliffe scoffed. "They just get to suck it up, do they?"

"Such losses are tragic, but if we focus only on what has been done then we will lose sight of what can be achieved."

"Those who have lost people demand retribution!" Redcliffe snarled.

"And in doing so they'd condemn everyone else!" Oobleck snapped, rare temper showing. "We have a genuine chance for peaceful relations, but if we let passion and ideas of justice and retribution get in the way, then all we'll do is perpetuate war! Cooler heads must prevail."

Redcliffe snorted, "Cooler heads, or cold hearts? We've stood against the Grimm thus far. I think we'll be fine."

"Don't be foolish, Redcliffe. You're no huntsman. You don't understand what it is like on the front lines. We have not stood against the Grimm. We have survived. Barely. Mountain Glenn did not."

"And tens of thousands died there," Redcliffe said, waving a hand. "You want us to just ignore that?"

"No! I want people to move beyond it. Remember it, yes, but do not throw away our own chances for a peaceful future because of what happened years ago. Or worse, out of some misguided sentiment that it's what the dead would have wanted. Our fallen, those who were left behind, would no doubt encourage us to live. Not to throw our lives away for the sake of pride."

"Better to die free than live a slave."

"No one is speaking of slavery! No one!"

"It's inevitable!"

"How is it? In what possible way? Grimm have no need of houses or cities. They would not even live with us. They have no need of service, food or even products we might build. There's no chance they would seek to enslave us because there is nothing for them to gain for it. And we are not suggesting surrender in the first place, rather discourse as equals. What you are suggesting is a pre-emptive attack."

"We should stand with Atlas," Redcliffe shouted, talking not to Oobleck but the cameras. "Remember those who have fallen. Remember justice. An eye for an eye, courage and tenacity. Stand with us, brothers and sisters. Stand and fight!"

"Do not fight!" Oobleck pled. "Remember those who fell and remember that they would have wanted you to live, not fight a pointless battle in their name. It's not justice which drives these people, just anger, pride and fear of change."

The camera switched back to the main display quickly, where Kevin's face was a little red.

"Well, that got a little passionate. We're going to take a quick break now, after which we'll have a televised speech from the Vale Council." He paused as the sound of arguing and raised voices came from the side, back where Oobleck and Redcliffe had been. The anchor made a vague motion, even as he kept his eyes on the camera. "Until then, stay safe and remember to report any signs of violence to your local police department."

/-/

In Atlas, a man stood before a large building with one hand over his ear, the other holding a microphone. A veritable gale was blowing, making recording difficult, but he and the camera crew fought through it.

"We are standing here in front of Atlas Military HQ, where General Ironwood, the Council and the assorted military have but a day to decide on whether they will meet with the so-called Crown Prince of the Grimm or not. The closed-doors meeting has led to no decisions yet, but emotions look to be flaring as numerous breaks have already been called."

There was a loud clang as the doors were thrown open behind, a tall and burly figure storming forth. General Ironwood cut an intimidating sight at the best of times, but his scowl at that moment was legendary. The journalist swallowed, but pride, foolishness and the little voice that spoke about his career forced him forward.

"General Ironwood, sir, do you have any-"

"No comment."

"But-"

"No. Comment."

"W-Well, there you have it," he said as the General stormed past without stopping. "What decision will be made? What is to come of Atlas, and who is Yang Xiao-Long, supposed bride kidnapped by Atlas? The questions are in the minds of many, and with our home in the crosshairs of the Grimm, people are demanding answers and action. Although Vale has promised to stand beside Atlas in these troubling times, many worry that Vale's limited military presence and the distance between the two Kingdoms – distance which traverses land ruled by the Grimm – will make reinforcement, or rescue, all but impossible."

/-/

"-blanca, reporting from Haven, Mistral, where Leonardo Lionheart has been found guilty of treason. Claims that he was controlled or coerced by the Grimm were not accepted on the grounds that numerous witnesses saw him attacked and defeated by the one known as the Crown Prince. His crimes include treason and numerous counts of murder."

"This could not come at a worse time for Mistral, who have had their huntsman population gutted by Lionheart, and where there are suspicions the next generation of huntsmen may be similarly sabotaged. The Kingdom's ability to fight back against the Grimm has been severely compromised and may remain so for some time."

/-/

"Are demanding answers," one of Vale's Councillors barked. "How did we not know? How were we not told!?"

"Ozpin was the expert on the Grimm," another said.

"Ozpin is dead!"

"Then his Deputy, the new Headmistress."

"She has confirmed the Grimm's claim, the Gods help us, but nothing more. Only that the Grimm seemed to obey and be subservient to him. He left soon after his appearance and no Grimm have attacked Beacon since, not even tested its borders."

"What do we do? The people are split."

"Where do the voters lay?"

"You think this is a time for vote-collecting? Our very Kingdom is at risk of being snuffed out!"

"Elections are not so distant-"

"Selfish monster!"

"Enough, enough! Calm!"

"You'll get us killed!"

"CALM!"

"We will never make peace with the Grimm!"

"Then we will be destroyed. Those are the only options! There is no third, magical, win option."

/-/

General Ironwood slammed into his office and glared about the interior. Ozpin wasn't present. The evil glower vanished, and the tired man slumped behind his desk, both hands falling like anvils, shaking the woodwork and knocking several pens off the edge. He left them. For the first time in his career, Ironwood desperately wished he'd hidden bottles of alcohol in his cupboard, as opposed to a gun, grenade and several emergency rations.

The latter had already been taken and devoured in a staunch effort to stay refuelled during what had already been a marathon of political meetings, conferences and international calls.

All because of Ozpin.

Or all because of Jaune Arc, really, but the problem had become Atlas' problem due to Ozpin, so it was the same thing as far as Ironwood was concerned. He'd thought he could trust his old friend. Evidently, he'd been wrong.

Ozpin might sugar coat it – and hell, Ozpin might even be in the right, but it didn't change the fact that the bastard had thrown him and Atlas into the fire in order to further his own ends. Now he'd vanished, leaving Ironwood to try and pick up the pieces and prevent his Kingdom, his people, the very country he loved, being torn asunder.

He really needed that drink.

A fist knocked on the door.

Ironwood considered shooting through it, and to hell with whomever was on the other side. Sadly, such was something he could only enjoy in his fantasies. "Come in."

"Ironwood, sir?" Winter opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind her. She had a tray in hand, atop which lay two cups, a thermos and a bottle of what looked suspiciously like Vacuan Fire Rose. "I thought you might need this, sir."

"Winter, you've quickly become my favourite person in all of Remnant."

The ex-heiress, current Specialist and one of the few people Ironwood still trusted, smiled. "I don't think that would be very hard, sir. Our list of allies is dwindling fast."

"Tell me about it. And thank you," he said, accepting the mug. Atlas Black, no sugar or milk. Ironwood poured in some Vacuan Fire Rose, giving it the kick he so desperately needed. "You've heard the back and forth, Winter. What do you think?"

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Of course. I've neither the patience nor the will for anything less."

"We're in a bad situation, sir."

"With comments like that, you'll soon be promoted to Captain."

"Captain Obvious," Winter interrupted. "With comments like that, sir, you'll soon be mistaken for a father making `Dad jokes`."

Ironwood laughed. Winter always had been snippy once the formalities were out of the way.

"But things are very bad. The other Kingdoms have all nominally promised to stand with us in the event something goes wrong, but we all know how unlikely it is they actually will. Atlas is the only Kingdom with a military capable of mobilising. Even if Vale wanted to, the best they could do is ship huntsmen over piecemeal. Mistral can do even less, and we all know how difficult it is for Vacuo. To put it lightly, sir, the Grimm could not have chosen a better target. Rather than deal with us reinforcing another Kingdom, they strike at us directly."

"And yet, if we are to believe them, they do not strike at us at all…"

"Yes." Winter's brows drew down. "If we can believe them."

"You've met the boy, Winter. What do you think?"

"I do not know what to think. He appeared courteous, friendly… for a while, I was under the impression he and Weiss were dating." And a complicated mess that must have been, for this could only have been worse if it were Weiss Schnee Ironwood had unknowingly kidnapped. "I didn't get a chance to know him well, but he seemed to be on good terms with my sister, and she with him. Her letters spoke of him as clumsy and foolish, but willing to listen, learn and follow her instructions."

"She liked him, then."

"As close as Weiss had ever come to liking someone before. She was pleased with her team, proud of them. Even if her letters did not say it, I could read between the lines." Winter sighed. "What would you do, sir? If the decision were solely yours?"

"I would meet with him."

Winter appeared surprised. "Truly?"

"Yes. Without hesitation. I would do it not because I trusted him or his word, but because I might learn more by speaking to him directly. It would also delay negotiations, giving us time to think up a better plan. If things went well, I might be willing to deal with the Grimm, and if things went poorly, I would be the only one in danger, and Atlas would have more time to prepare for my sacrifice. This is hypothetical, Winter," he said. She had looked about to protest. "I am not so willing to spend my life, but desperate times call for desperate measures."

"Indeed. There are some who think we could withstand a siege," she said. "Atlas does have the strongest defences of all the Kingdoms. Our military might, not to mention our huntsmen, are at full power. We could last."

"So our war hawks would think, Winter. It's not the immediate conflict I'm worried about. Atlas is isolated, cast adrift from our allies across an ocean infested with Grimm. If the worst came to it, I think we could last, but we would die of hunger before the Grimm got us. We cannot sustain enough farmland within our walls and any import from the other Kingdoms would be intercepted, either by marine-based Grimm on the ocean, or airborne Grimm if sent by Bullhead. They would starve us out, and since the Grimm have no need to eat, sleep or fear the weather, the siege might well be eternal."

And that was assuming the Grimm did not simply throw themselves at the walls en masse. Atlas was strong, but everything was limited in the end and they simply didn't know how much the Grimm were. They held more than nine-tenths of the world. Their numbers could be in the millions.

"Your father is calling for talks," he said.

Winter rolled her eyes. "Of course he is. Father would deal with disease itself if he thought he could and it might improve the bottom line. All he cares for is stability."

"In these circumstances, perhaps stability is what we need…"

"Perhaps," Winter conceded. "I will fight if needs be, but even I must admit to feeling some fear, sir. I'm sure the rest of the troops are just as bad."

"I know. It's one thing to fight a war someone else begins, but they are offering – or pretending to offer – peace, if we return the captive. If we refuse to even try, our soldiers will be asked to die for no reason."

"But it's not your decision," Winter said.

"No. Not solely mine. I hold two seats on the Council, but the others…" Ironwood clenched one fist and quickly finished his drink. The burning sensation in his throat helped to calm his nerves. Not enough, but better than nothing. "They're set in their ways. They speak of warfare as if it were for glory. Some of them have lost too much to the Grimm, as well. They would not accept peace even if it came with a cure for all the world's ills."

"And what of Ozpin, sir?" Winter asked. She had learned at least of his existence in the body of a child, not at Ozpin's will, of course, but because Ironwood frankly needed someone he could trust to have his back.

Winter was that someone.

"Ozpin has disappeared."

Winter flinched. "Didn't you have him watched?"

"Of course I did, but Ozpin is Ozpin. Even if he's trapped in the body of a child, he has experience and abilities beyond even our finest veterans. No one was hurt, fortunately, but those who watched him reported that he entered a room and was not seen to leave it."

"But he was gone when they investigated?" Winter asked.

Ironwood nodded. Perhaps it was magic, or maybe it was something more. No way to tell, and Atlas didn't have the time for him to look into it. Whatever Ozpin was up to, so long as it was out of his hair, it was fine.

"I placed more guards on the girl," he said. "Last thing we need is Ozpin killing her. If he so much as tries, he'll be filled with bullets before he can move." An extreme reaction, but he would not allow Ozpin to force Atlas into this without their permission.

If Yang Xiao-Long died, Atlas' fate was all but assured.

"I might be the bearer of some more bad news, sir."

Ironwood groaned. "Hence the alcohol. Very well, Winter. Lay it on me."

"I've been informed that a Mr Taiyang Xiao-Long is en route to Atlas and wishes to speak with you. He is… the, uh, Crown Princess of the Grimm's father. Her human father. He did not sound pleased, sir."

"Of course he didn't." Ironwood stared at the bottle longingly. It would be bliss to down it and then collapse in his office, but he had more meetings ahead. "This really isn't my day…"

/-/

"How do you imagine the world is taking it?" Jaune asked.

"You're really asking us that," Sun said. He was sat at the long table and kept giving odd looks to the Seers that were now serving him food. "Seriously? How do you think they're taking it?"

"Poorly…?"

"Try mass panic," Ilia remarked, lifting her food up with a fork and sniffing it. "What meat is this?"

"It's not human," Pyrrha said. She, at least, had eaten here before and did so happily now. "Trust me, I had the same issues at first, but the food is good."

"Ilia has a point, though," Blake said. "Did you think this would end up with anything other than panic? The fallout is going to be huge."

"No, I…" Jaune sighed. "I think I always knew. It's just that there was never a choice. If I wanted to try and make peace between humans and Grimm, then at some point we'd have had to go public, otherwise no one would believe it was possible."

"Couldn't you have just moved the Grimm back?" Ruby asked.

"Wouldn't have worked," Weiss said. "If the Grimm retreat, the Kingdoms would expand, either in search of space, dust or more resources. The boundaries would meet again, and even if the Grimm were ordered to not attack, huntsmen would clear them out just in case. As much as I hate it, Jaune is right here. The existence of him, of Salem's entire family, was an impossible secret to keep. Not if we want to work towards actual peace and co-existence. There has to be an understanding on both sides. And for that to happen, the human side needs someone they can negotiate with."

"Jaune Arc, Crown Prince of the Grimm," Nora said with a laugh. "I can't wait to see Yang's face when she realises she's been promoted to royalty."

"I can't wait to see her face when she realises she's married," Blake added. "Considering you didn't ask her."

Jaune sunk into his chair. "It was the only option…"

"Oh, I don't disagree. I'm just saying Yang won't see it that way. She'll be embarrassed."

"And Yang's not the best person when she's embarrassed," Ruby admitted.

"I really think I should be more worried about the whole world knowing I'm real and probably hating me, as opposed to what Yang is going to do to me. Is it a bad sign that I'm not?"

"That or common sense," Ren said. "The whole world doesn't get to beat you up for embarrassing it in front of everyone it knows. Yang does."

And would, Jaune thought with a little sigh. Well, it had to be done. There was no way to give Yang the importance otherwise, and she needed to be important for him to demand her back and still have a modicum of respect on the world stage. The actual `fiancé thing` had been Weiss' idea, though not without a little eager prodding from Salem.

Bad enough she'd been proud of him for donning the cape and standing out like that, but had she really needed to record the whole thing and send it to his father and sisters? He was never going to hear the end of this.

Apparently, Nicholas was collecting the girls with the intent of keeping them safe and out of harm's way. The Grimmlands was safe, but anyone travelling to or from it was going to draw a lot of attention, and possibly even be shot out of the sky by Atlas. The Nevermore or Kevin could prevent that, but to do so would have to attack Atlas' fleet, which would surely kick off a war.

It wasn't that he thought it was a war they would lose, not with the Grimm's resources and endless nature, but winning it would be a loss all of its own. He'd never be able to enter human civilisation again, and the same could be said for everyone here. It might even spark a conflict that would rip all of Remnant in two.

They'd win the war but lose the world.

Odd, really, how he'd gone from being a normal(ish) guy attending Beacon to the future ruler of an entire species with almost unlimited resources and troops, and yet he felt like he had less control of his life than before.

If the goal of this was just to kill everyone, life would have been a lot easier. Instead, he had to try and drag peace out of the jaws of the apocalypse. And a well-bred and maintained killing army wasn't going to help him do it.

"Do you think Atlas will meet with me?" Jaune asked, looking to Weiss.

"They'd be fools not to. Atlas is the strongest Kingdom, but that means they'll stand alone. It costs them nothing to meet with you, and costs them everything to refuse. And yet…" Weiss sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "People are not always logical. They don't always make the correct decision, not when emotions, prejudice and other things get involved."

"We've been taught to hunt and kill Grimm forever," Ruby said. "That's… kind of hard to get over."

"Only possible for us because we know you personally," Pyrrha said. "If we didn't, if you were just some mysterious figure with a sword and a dragon declaring himself the ruler of the Grimm, well… we'd have no idea what to think. How could we trust a stranger?"

How indeed. Jaune understood what they meant. They knew him, the people of Remnant did not.

But that was why he'd gone public, even if it was with such a threatening address. The only way to let people get to know him was to appear. If the meeting went through, if Yang was returned, and if he took the Grimm back, then he'd show the world that he could be trusted.

Or at least that he could honour deals. It might be too idealistic to think trust could come so quick. Start small. Show them his word meant something, show them that he could be dealt with in good faith, and maybe trust would slowly come.

It might not be in this generation or even the next, but eventually…

"I've had a response from the White Fang," Ilia said. "Sienna has said she would be prepared to meet with you or a representative."

"The same for my parents," Blake said, "But only after I assured them it would be safe."

Jaune's head rose. "They're willing?"

"Menagerie is the smallest and weakest of the Kingdoms, hardly even considered such, while the White Fang is a terrorist organisation," Weiss said. "It makes sense they'd be the first to speak out. It's not like either can hope to stand against you."

"I wish you'd stop saying it as if I'm forcing them at gunpoint…"

"To them, it feels like you are."

Jaune bit back his protest. They didn't know better, he supposed. Still, was it wise to meet with either of those? He looked to the others at the table, "Any thoughts on if I should go?"

"Favour them too much and the other Kingdoms might get nervous," Blake said. "As much as I hate to admit it, if you make peace with the faunus first, it'll only inflame things for you in Atlas. Especially if the White Fang are involved."

"Someone should go," Ren said.

All eyes looked to Blake. She sighed.

"Yes, yes, I'll go. Or better yet, I'll meet them somewhere neutral. I think seeing me safe would calm my parents down at least and make it more likely an agreement comes forth. What do we actually want, though?"

"What do we need?" Ruby asked. "Nothing, really."

"Standing," Weiss said. "Reputation. Proven loyalty. Offer them a trade deal for dust or something," she waved a hand negligently. "There's enough of it around the tower, Menagerie can use it to subsidise their living expenses and help people. Also promise to make all Grimm on Menagerie peaceful unless directly threatened."

Blake raised an eyebrow, "And in return…?"

"Nothing," Jaune said. "We don't need anything."

"Lien," Ren interrupted. "We, you, can't give it away for nothing or you'll look weak. Worse, you'll make Menagerie look weak – like it's a charity case of a deal made for the sake of showing you can make a deal in the first place."

"Which it absolutely is," Sun pointed out.

"Yes, but we can't let it appear that way or no one will take it seriously. Make it look like you want lien, because money talks and people respect that. You can't spend money if you're ostracised from the Kingdoms, so the fact you want it will make it look like peace and future deals are even more likely."

"Like he's going to spend it elsewhere," Pyrrha realised, smiling. "Of course! Then you can buy something from Mistral or Vacuo or invest – or just do things normal countries do with money."

"The Grimm investing in commercial property," Nora said. "That'll confuse people."

"Exactly. If they're confused, they'll start to see things differently. It'll force them to keep an open mind, and then they'll be more likely to accept that Jaune can be trusted. That he wants peace and is an intelligent creature, not some mindless monster."

"So, I'm basically supposed to do all this despite not needing any of it?"

"Yes," Weiss agreed. "Think of it as a disguise. Like when you had to sneak into Beacon and pretended your mother worked in real estate." The comment now, a reminder of easier times, earned a few laughs. "You can finally make that one true."

"Does that mean we're all going to be diplomats?" Ruby asked. "If Blake is going to go be one for Menagerie and the White Fang, she could take Ilia and Sun with her. Does that make them Ambassadors?"

Sun laughed. "Good question. Does it?"

"I suppose it does," Jaune said. "Make sure everyone knows that if something happens to you, the Grimm will react. I'll give you a murder of Nevermore that will follow your orders. It's a shame we can't do it with the other Kingdoms, since they all sort of hate my guts."

"For now, they do," Pyrrha said. "But that may change. Depending on what Atlas does. Right now, everything is in their hands."

It was, and there was little Jaune could do about it. He closed his eyes and grimaced. It was the uncertainty that was killing him, the constant `what if` in his mind, wondering if this was the right decision.

But where the alternative was letting Yang stay in captivity or being seen as some Grimm-hybrid monster and killed, what choice did he have? Ozpin had been involved in her capture, which meant he had some plan for her.

There was no other option. Walk into Atlas and be captured. Send the Grimm and start a massacre. Do nothing and Yang might die when Yin was forcefully removed. Wait, and Ozpin would spin this however he needed to – maybe even suggest they were capturing and experimenting on your children, turning them into Grimm monsters.

Going public had been the only choice.

It was also the most dangerous.

"I guess this meeting is adjourned," Jaune said, standing. "Excuse me, I need some fresh air."

/-/

It didn't take Ruby long to find Jaune.

It was the Seers that gave it away. Salem had told them to follow their commands and keep them safe and well, and that included offering directions and pointing out where Jaune had snuck off to. She doubted either he or Salem had expected that, but the Seers were hardly the most intelligent of creatures and just did as they were instructed.

She found him in some library, a large hall stacked full of shelves, bookcases and with numerous tables, literature spread across them. Toward the back was an open balcony window, and on it, a figure leaning on the railing with a book in hand.

Jaune had eschewed his royal cloak, leaving it resting on the back of a chair inside. It made him look much taller and wider than he actually was, more confident. Without it, Ruby could see how exhausted he really was.

"Hey," she whispered, stepping out onto the balcony.

"Hey," Jaune returned, so like when they'd only just become friends. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Well, except for the worry about Yang and all, but she figured they all felt that. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. You didn't look pleased with how things are."

Jaune sighed. He turned, book in hand, and she caught sight of the cover – Kingdoms through the Ages. A history book, and one focused on politics. He slapped it shut and dropped it on the floor.

"It's no use. None of them are. They never say what to do if things are this bad, or if the world hates you. Even less so if the world has good reason to hate you."

"They don't have good reason to hate you."

"How can you say that? The Grimm have killed so many people."

Ruby squared her shoulders and met his eyes. "You haven't."

"I haven't," he admitted, "But my family has."

"Your mother."

"Cinder, too, and probably my other sisters. The older ones at least. And besides, it's not like I can claim innocence. If I was, I'd be willing to punish them and I'm not." His mouth thinned. "If they demand Mom be locked away or killed for what she's done, I'll tell them exactly where they can stuff it. Is that wrong?"

"No." Ruby's answer was immediate. "I'd think less of you if you did. Because it would mean you might put us in trouble if it helped your goals. The fact you won't isn't a bad thing."

"People will see it that way."

"People will see it that way anyway," she stressed. Ruby poked him in the chest. "You're half-Grimm, Jaune. You could have the solution to all illness, the ravages of time and everything else wrong in the world and people would hate you. Just because of what you are. It's like the faunus."

"The faunus don't murder everyone."

"Some do."

"Some," he accepted. "But not all."

"Some is enough to make some people despise all faunus forever," Ruby pointed out. "You can't make everyone like you. That's impossible. Trying will just upset you and be a waste of time. You'll just end up listening to people criticising you, and you'll start to think you're useless. You're not," she said, slapping his arm. "Look at this. You've done more to push for peace than anyone who has ever existed. Sure, it's because Salem and Ozpin never even tried, but the fact you are proves something."

"Never tried…" He sighed. "Why do you think that is? Why did they never try?"

Ruby thought, but found she had no answer. "I don't know. Ozpin said it was a story about the Gods, remember? He said the Gods cursed him. Maybe he doesn't have a choice. Maybe he doesn't want this and never did, but he was cursed and couldn't say no."

Which meant, interestingly enough, that Salem might be something of the same. Someone forced into her role and unable to break from it. It was obvious from meeting her that she didn't feel bad about that, but the fact she'd been ignoring that role to raise a family did show a certain lack of motivation towards it all.

If destroying humanity was so important, why stop to raise a family?

"Why do the Gods get to decide anything at all?" Jaune growled. "They're gone, even the legends say they abandoned us eons ago. Why are we still playing to their tune? It's ridiculous! They're gone. They came, did their thing and left. They don't get to say `oh, and by the way you get to fight forever` and expect us to agree. That's stupid."

"It is," Ruby admitted. "To be fair, I don't think any normal people are fighting for religious reasons. Most people just fight because they think they have to. They should be happy to think it could all end." Ruby stepped a little closer. "I am."

"How?" Jaune's eyes tore away from hers. "How, after…" He swallowed. "You never mentioned it, you know. Never brought it up. Not once. I kept thinking you would, or Yang would, but neither of you did. I keep waiting for it."

Ruby smiled knowingly, but also sadly. "You mean our mom?"

Jaune's eyes closed. "Yeah…"

"Mom was great." Ruby's voice took on a wistful tone. "It's weird, you know, saying you love your mom. It's like, duh, who doesn't? But I really did love her. We both did."

"Ruby, I'm-"

"But mom would have loved you too."

"What…?" Jaune looked shocked. Worse, wounded.

"I'm not joking, Jaune. Mom would have adored you. How you are with Yang, treating her like a princess." She giggled. "Now a literal one. And how you were my best friend, how you helped Yang when she was down or how you want to stop all the bloodshed. Mom would have loved that, and she wouldn't love it any less for the fact she died."

"And it hurts," she admitted, the words hard. "It hurts that she's gone. But what am I supposed to do? You're two years older than me. You didn't kill her. And even if I killed your mom, what would that do? Would revenge help me feel any better? I don't think it would. I'd still not have mom back, and now you wouldn't have a mom either. Or your sisters. And your dad would be alone like mine, grieving." Ruby let out a long sigh. "It's just… what's the point? If Mom saw me doing that, if there's an afterlife and we meet, she'd be so disappointed."

Not much, Mom always forgave her, but still a little. Disappointed and hurt that her death had robbed not only Ruby and Yang of a mother, but of a friend, of a potential husband in the future, and that she'd robbed other children of a mother in turn.

All because Summer died.

"I won't do that to her," Ruby said. "I won't insult mom by acting like she'd want me to kill someone for her. She wouldn't. She never would have. And I think Yang feels the same way. It hurts, and it would probably be different if we weren't all so close. If you were a stranger, I think I could hate you more, but now? It's just not possible."

"Ruby…"

"Yeah, so, that's about it." Ruby rocked back on her heels. "I'll never forget her and never stop loving her, but I'll love her and I'll life, peace and you as well." Sometimes with more intensity than was really deserving of her sister's boyfriend. And now fiancé, assuming Yang said yes. Which Ruby knew she would.

Damn it. Feelings were hard.

Jaune's arms wrapped around her before she could realise it. His chest pressed against her face, his chin against the top of her head. The Crown Prince of the Grimm, the bogeyman to everyone else in Remnant right now. If only they could see him now.

Ruby wrapped her hands around his broad shoulders.

"Thank you," he whispered into her hair. "Just… Thank you…"

So, a bit of a "let's look at the world" chapter, with some of the fallout hinted from Jaune's actions. I stuck to major pop centres, but you can imagine the absolute chaos – and most of it negative. Jaune's appearance would spark a lot of bad shit.

But, as he said, it's kind of necessary. With only Ozpin knowing Salem exists and keeping the information concealed, peace would be impossible, because who would the peace be with in the first place?

And if my work vanishes or I don't upload for multiple days, check my P a tr eon, link below, or just Google my name and you can find it. I'll have a notice up if anything goes bad, and I WILL continue writing and posting, no matter what happens.

Next Chapter: 1st November

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