On a literary level, I made a big mistake last chapter. Not a continuity one or a plot hole, but rather an error of story structure. I'll be pushing on regardless. If I can remember to, I'll point out what that silly mistake was come the end of the story.
From your point of view, it might not be a glaring issue, it's more that from the point of view of the one writing it the mistake makes my job many times harder and for no good reason. Don't worry, it's not really an exciting thing or anything that'll excite. Just one of those irritating errors that makes you slap your forehead. At least if you're the one writing the story. I teach people to be better than this, damn it. Need to follow my own advice sometimes.
Stupid, stupid Coeur…
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 100
"One Relic of Destruction," Sun said, gently laying the sword down on the table. "No idea what it does, but with a name like that I've not been keen to experiment. If you want to swing it, let me get a couple of miles away, yeah?"
"I don't think anyone will be swinging it," Jaune said. He didn't try to touch the sword, however. It looked innocent enough, but if the Relic of Knowledge quite literally gave knowledge, he didn't want to see what form of `destruction` the Relic of Destruction gave. "What are we even supposed to do about this?"
"Want my advice? Leave it here until we have all the others. Lock the room, too."
"Definitely keep Ruby away," Yang added, looking over his shoulder. Jaune, Sun and Blake shivered at the thought of Ruby going into another weapons frenzy with the thing in front of them.
"Definitely keep her away," he agreed. "Good work Sun, Blake. I'm surprised you managed to get hold of it so quickly."
"Would you believe me if I said it was hidden in a dungeon surrounded by vicious and deadly traps?" Blake asked.
"Because it was," Sun added. "Swinging blades, spike pits, concealed rooms that spilled Grimm out. Talk about well protected; little wonder no one ever found their way through there. I'm gonna have nightmares just thinking about it."
The two faunus sounded serious, which was odd given that neither looked to have even a scratch on them. Yang raised an eyebrow towards him in question and Jaune shrugged back. She nudged him in the side, hinting that he should be the one to ask. Reluctantly, he cracked.
"So… how did you manage to get it so quickly? And without even a scratch?"
Blake shrugged. "Semblances."
"You're looking at two people with clone Semblances," Sun better explained. "Traps kinda don't mean anything when we can just feed endless clones into the meat-grinder. We sat at the entrance playing cards until the traps were all cleared."
"Ozpin's defences really aren't all that great…"
"In his defence, I'm not sure he arranged them all," Yang said. "I think he sealed them away but let each Kingdom handle the vaults and how to get to them. That said, how did you get into yours? Did you find the Summer Maiden?"
Sun grinned. "Yep."
"Yep?" Jaune asked, bemused. "Just like that? Where was she?"
"In Shade."
"And she just… what, was waiting for you when you got off the Nevermore?"
"Surprisingly, yes," Blake said, shrugging. "Turns out the Summer Maiden wasn't quite as keen on travelling and roaming as the Fall or being a bitch as the Spring. No offence," she added to Yang.
"Absolutely none taken," Yang replied.
"Summer Maiden got her powers ages ago and basically decided to use them. She's the headmaster of Shade. Or is that headmistress? She was waiting for us when we arrived, asked what we were after and why, then agreed to open the vault door if we could navigate the defences."
"Think she looked a little annoyed at how easily we did that," Sun added.
Blake's smirk was just a little too smug. "Yes. Yes, she did."
Jaune wasn't sure if it was just him or not, but the Relics seemed to be a whole lot more obvious than they needed to be. According to Ozpin, the Relic of Knowledge had been hidden beneath a statue quite literally of the Relic of Knowledge – or Jinn, anyway. Cinder had thought the Relic of Choice was at Beacon, which it hadn't been, but the vault had, and the Relic was only missing because Ozpin hid it.
As for the maidens, they'd managed to stumble across Fall and Spring without ever asking for it, and now Summer, too. He expressed the concern to the three of them, only to have Yang laugh.
"It's not that bad. Keep in mind we only found Spring because I went to her for a portal, and we'd have never seen the Fall maiden if it wasn't for Cinder hunting her for, what, a year, a year and a half? Ironwood has his hidden behind Remnant's biggest military, while the one in Vacuo would actually have been pretty safe. If anyone attacked to try and get it, the maiden-headmaster could have fought them head on. If they kill her, they lock themselves out the vault. Long as she remembers to think of someone far, far away when she dies."
"I guess…"
"And we were only let in because of the peace agreements," Blake added. "Anyone else would have had a much harder time. In the end, it would never have mattered anyway. No matter where you hid them, it would only ever take the Relic of Knowledge and enough time to use the wishes, to find out where every Relic and every maiden is hidden. In a very real sense, the only Relic that needed to be hidden more than any other was the Relic of Knowledge."
"Which was why hiding it under a statue of itself was pretty dumb," Yang said, "Otherwise, the others wouldn't need the same degree of protection."
"That's true." Relaxing a little, he nodded. "Anyway. Good work you two. Guess this means we're just waiting on Weiss and Pyrrha to make a deal with General Ironwood."
"You think she'll be able to?" Yang asked as they left the room.
Jaune took his time to lock the door as they left. It was just another room in the tower, but lacking any entrances other than the main one, the Relic of Destruction would be safe. Ozpin might know how to use it, which would take the danger away once he was ready to convince the wizard this was a good idea. Which, to be fair, he wasn't looking forward to. Door locked and room secure, he turned back to answer Yang's question.
"If anyone can, it's her. She seemed really eager for some reason…"
Blake snorted. "She wants to show she's better at things like this."
"Feels threatened," Yang added with a grin.
"Threatened? Of what?"
"You organised a coup, convinced General Ironwood to get on board and hatched a plan to force peace between Atlas and the Grimmlands and got everyone out of Atlas, within a space of two hours. That's given Weiss a little bit of an inferiority complex."
Yang laughed. "Yeah. So now she wants to be in charge of convincing Ironwood to hand over a Relic that will help us summon a pair of Gods that may or may not destroy the world, all to prove she's still team leader."
He felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. Really? Weiss was still team leader, even if they weren't all that much of a team anymore. The coup aside – which had been a hectic affair anyway – he was still relying on her for just about everything.
"Aw, that's so cute," Yang said, seeing his concern and pinching his cheeks. "She'll be fine. It's just up to her partner to make sure to shower her with the appropriate praise when she returns."
"Jaune, Jaune!" Ruby came rushing around the corridor, eyes wide. Blake stepped in front of the door they'd locked, ready to sell her life to prevent Ruby fangirling over the Relic of Destruction. Fortunately, Ruby didn't seem interested in it. "Jaune!" she yelled. "There's an Atlas battleship approaching!"
And all of a sudden, Jaune didn't care about the Relic of Destruction either.
/-/
"Again?" Ren asked, weapons drawn. "I thought we worked out a peace deal."
"Could Ironwood have been found out?" Pyrrha wondered. "Making a deal with the enemy would definitely be illegal. If he was discovered, they might have arrested him and placed someone else in charge."
Jaune bit his lip as he watched the giant ship approach. It had yet to open fire, but it was the exact same model as the one that had attacked the tower before. Many of the Nevermore were flying around the tower angrily, sensing his mood. His sisters were all here, many of them unable or untrained to fight.
"Jaune?" Yang asked. "Your call."
"We'll hold fire…"
"You sure that's wise?" Sun asked.
"No, not really. They've not attacked yet, however, and there's too much to lose if we do anything. Until they open fire, we don't make a move." Raising a hand, Jaune summoned several Nevermore down onto the platform. "The ship is not to be harmed. It-"
"There's a Bullhead coming off it," Nora said.
True to her words, a small vehicle had detached from the side and was now flying down towards the landing platform. The battleship itself remained in the air, anchored in position by its numerous thrusters.
"Would Atlas technically know where your landing pad is?"
"They might if they found out from the other Kingdoms who sent ambassadors."
"We still don't do anything," Jaune said. "If they want to talk, we'll talk."
The airship came down quickly, but decelerated as it approached, fighting with the wind, angle and the momentum itself to come to a land. Through the window on the front, Atlesian helmets could be seen, but the weapons did not spool nor open fire. Not that it would have been enough to kill them, but still, it was a good sign.
When the ramp on the side opened, a familiar figure spread her arms wide.
"Ta-dah!" Weiss called.
Jaune stared at her. "Um…?"
"Uh, Weiss," Pyrrha said. "A little warning next time? We nearly knocked you out the sky."
Pyrrha's words caused Weiss to stiffen a little, but she shook it off and refused to let the warning take the wind out of her sails. "What are you talking about? I sent a message ahead of time to Ruby saying I'd be coming back with company."
All eyes turned to Ruby, who hunched a little. "Forgot to put my scroll on charge," she whispered.
"You dolt…" Weiss somehow managed to sound more amused than annoyed. "Regardless, my mission was a success. I present to you, the Relic of Creation!"
Weiss' hands were empty, as was the space around her. Jaune looked her up and down just in case, to make sure it wasn't hooked onto her belt. The description was a staff, but Weiss clearly only had Myrtenaster with her.
"It's the battleship?" Pyrrha dared to guess.
"No." Weiss' hands fell, as did her smile.
"Then why is the battleship here?" Jaune asked. "And all these soldiers? Ironwood needs to keep his working with us a secret and this isn't going to help. He'll be furious."
"Actually, it was I who thought this necessary," General Ironwood said, stepping out from the confines of the Bullhead. "As for my men, rest assured the ones here know the truth of our little arrangement. It would have been impossible for them not to, given how the Grimm are sandbagging the war against us. Beowolves slashing the air above my soldiers and Nevermore `miraculously missing their dive-bomb attacks` all the time would hardly go unnoticed." Ironwood nodded to Weiss and stepped down onto the tower. "May we speak inside, Mr Arc?"
/-/
"Here's some coffee, sir," Pyrrha said, handing the General a steaming mug.
"Thank you." He accepted it and took a sip. "Do not worry at the lack of hospitality. In fact, it's better this way. If anyone from Atlas asks, I'm currently engaging you in one on one mortal combat. It is the hardest fight of your life."
Yang snorted.
Jaune nodded. "I'm hard pressed and losing blood. So, did Weiss tell you our plan…?"
"Miss Schnee did. Summoning the Gods to bring an end to this once and for all. It is a dangerous gambit. If you are incorrect about them, they may take their rage out on Remnant."
"If things continue as they're set to, the cycle will continue anyway. Salem is peaceful now because she has a family and plenty of love. Falling in the Grimm pools still corrupted her, and once she's no longer surrounded by loved ones, the grief will compound with the God of Darkness' influence and send her back to square one."
"As Miss Schnee made me aware. It is tempting to let that happen, for it wouldn't in our lifetime…"
"But it might in the next," Ren warned. "We don't know if it would take all her children dying or just Nicholas. It might happen in the next eighty years or so. Not exactly so distant as to be easily ignored."
"No. No, it is not. You are convinced that this is the only way?"
"Honestly, no," Jaune said with a shrug. "We've not even talked to Ozpin about it yet, and we can't go ahead until he tells us where the Relic of Choice is. Since he knows more, he can tell us the details. We're just collecting the others ahead of time."
"That may prove a small problem on our end," Ironwood said. "We cannot exactly leave the Relic of Creation with you. The Relic is being… utilised."
"Utilised…?"
Ironwood shifted uncomfortably and coughed into his robotic hand. He sipped his coffee after and placed the mug down, seemingly trying to find the right words, the best way to explain. The time he took was enough to have them all on edge.
"Did you ever wonder just how Atlas has such a technological advantage over the rest of Remnant?"
"Well yeah, obviously." Nora shrugged her shoulders. "I think everyone has."
"The rest of Remnant has cars, Bullheads and limited communications systems," Emerald agreed. "Meanwhile, Atlas is flying around in battleships, making giant robots, fully autonomous AI systems and weaponry that might as well be something out of a sci-fi movie. I think it's safe to say everyone has been trying to find out just how you've managed that."
"Wasn't there a TV program about it?" Yang asked.
"Yes," Ironwood said with a sigh. "They claimed we found an alien ship and stole its technology."
Yang snorted. "I remember that. It was the scientist with the funny hair."
"That man is not a scientist," Ironwood growled. "He would blame aliens for his hair. No alien could be so cruel." He coughed. "Regardless, while it's not aliens, there is a little something to our… ah… sudden pace of technological development."
"The Relic," Jaune said, knowing it could be nothing else. Not with this build up.
"Indeed." Ironwood pushed a button on his wrist. "You may enter."
The doors opened not a moment later and a familiar short figure with bright orange hair entered. "Salutations!" she called. "I have come to engage in intercourse!"
Sun's head perked up. "Really?"
"Discourse," Ironwood coughed. "She means discourse…"
"Is intercourse not discourse?" Penny asked curiously, tilting her head to the side. "The definition of the word would suggest so. Jaune, Ruby and I spent many an afternoon engaging in furious intercourse. It became quite heated, and friend Ruby could be quite vocal."
`Friend Ruby` had already begun to sink under the table, hiding her bright red face from view.
Shocked, Jaune turned to Ironwood. "Penny is the Relic of Creation!?"
"Yes and no," Ironwood replied. "It is complicated. You've no doubt noticed that the Relics functions are somewhat tied into their names. The Relic of Creation creates. Atlas has been using it to help create hardware to help protect us and our Kingdom. It is not entirely selfish," he added. "With the help of the Relic we made the CCT Towers, Amity, many dust-powered appliances used in everyday homes, and, importantly, we used the Relics powers to help defend the Relic from Salem and the Grimm."
"Not hiding the Relic at all, but rather using it," Pyrrha said. "That's certainly a different approach."
"It is one that has worked. Either way, the Relic is not in Penny, but she was born of the Relic of Creation. The first fully artificial life the Relic has created. The Relic itself is housed in a large super-computer we normally use to control Atlas and the manufacturing facilities there." Ironwood nodded back behind him. "Currently, it is stored on the battleship brought here."
"Hence the reason we needed both a large guard and a ship big enough to bring it," Weiss said, "It's not a small piece of equipment. The moment Ironwood showed it to me, I knew we'd have to have proper transport to bring it back."
Penny only existed because of the Relic? It was hard to imagine, though given what the Relics could do, it was certainly possible. Jinn only existed because of the Relic of Knowledge and she acted sentient enough.
"That explains why I always found her so appealing," Remy said. "Because she's not a disgusting human."
"Really, Remy? Now of all times?"
"Just saying it how it is…"
Whatever the case, he couldn't decide if Atlas using the Relic was genius or reckless. They were practically toying with the power of a God, the God of Light specifically. They had no idea how that worked, what caveats there might be or how it could go wrong, yet they'd hooked it into their entire way of life and relied on it for decades now.
The fact it hadn't blown up in their faces didn't disprove the recklessness, it just showed that it had paid off. On the other hand, if it wasn't for the advancements Atlas made and shared with the other Kingdoms, mom might have conquered Remnant long before dad had a chance to meet her. Scrolls, dust systems, computers, weapons and more. It was no exaggeration to say Atlas had changed the world.
"The Relics were created to benefit humanity," Ironwood spoke into the silence. "I believe this is, to a degree, what was intended. It might also be a good sign for your goal of summoning the Gods once more."
"Really? How so?"
"If the Gods truly despaired of us as Ozpin's tales suggest, they would not have given us the means to defend ourselves. To hear the story, the God of Darkness killed all of humanity, and yet in the next step Ozpin said that the God of Light created the Relics to aid humanity. You cannot aid what has been destroyed, meaning that the Gods never intended to destroy all of us, and in fact believed we could be redeemed."
"That is a good sign," Pyrrha said, cheering up dramatically. "They wanted us to prove them wrong, which means they might be more amicable than expected."
"True," Jaune said.
It didn't mean they wouldn't be angry to see him or try to kill him and his family, but it was a step in the right direction. Maybe they could be reasoned with. It sounded like it was up to the God of Darkness, since it was he – or was that she, it? Did Gods have a gender? – who destroyed the humans. Either way, that didn't change what they had to do.
"Can I assume that you bringing the Relic here means you're willing to let us use it?" he asked.
Ironwood snorted. "I did not come all this way bringing our most carefully hidden secret for a show and tell. You may use the Relic, although I would ask that Penny be allowed to hold it. We've no idea what removing the staff from the machine will do to Atlas' creations. It may be that they all cease to work for the period it is out, it may be that – bring already created – they function just fine. Either way, with Penny being the only truly sentient creation, I would not like to see her killed if it were removed."
The sobering words brought them all to a stop, Ruby especially. She glanced at Penny, concerned for her strange, but still loyal, friend.
Penny smiled back. "Mr Ironwood told me everything I needed to know. I am prepared to take the risk if it means the world can live peacefully."
"P-Penny. Are you sure…?"
"I am a huntress, Ruby. Even if I was not born as you were, I want to protect Remnant and am willing to put my life on the line to do so." Penny brought a fist down and smiled happily. "I am combat ready!"
"Nothing will happen unless we get mom and Ozpin to agree," Jaune said. "There's no need for Penny to risk her life just yet. We'll keep it in the machine until we have to. Does that mean you'll be staying here, General?"
"We shall be locked in battle for a little longer, yes."
"And Atlas is fine with you taking the machine?"
"It is not a politically known tool. I dread to imagine what a politician would do with such a thing. As for those who do know, they believe I'm using it to manufacture a weapon capable of killing you. Ironically, that's not far from the truth."
Yang leaned forward. "You want to explain that one, General?"
"By all means. You are attempting to summon the Gods. Miss Schnee has told me the risks, and for what it counts, I do not believe they would eradicate the faunus." He looked to Sun, Blake and Ilia as he said that. "The faunus came about naturally in the wake of the Gods leaving Remnant. I don't think they would take issue with them. You and your family, however…" Ironwood met Jaune's eyes once more. "It is you they shall take exception to. You and the Grimm."
Jaune let out a breath he'd been holding. "Yes. I know."
"Whatever happens, Atlas is unlikely to be something the Gods take issue with. We have defended ourselves and humanity, and we have used the Relic of Creation to help humanity. The very reason I'm even considering allowing you to use the Relic is because it should not come as any risk to the people I am sworn to protect. If your plan works, the peace we've agreed on may last forever. If it does not, you and your family and all the Grimm may be slain, and through that, we will have peace."
"Sheesh," Nora grumbled. "Talk about blunt honesty…"
"Is that how you really feel, General?" Ruby asked sadly.
"It is not about feeling, Miss Rose. If I had a choice, I would wish for them to spare Mr Arc and his family. I want the peace we have agreed on. But as the one in charge of Atlas at this time, I must also look at the big picture." Ironwood's eyes met Jaune's. "I hope you, as a fellow ruler, can understand."
"I… I think I can…"
Yang was aghast. "Jaune!?"
Jaune felt a gnawing in his gut. Likely fear over the unknown. And there was a whole lot of that on the horizon. That said, he appreciated Ironwood's honesty, even if it was delivered so painfully. "He has to make the decisions for his Kingdom," he said, "As I have with the Grimmlands. It's easier for me, I guess. It's just you guys and my family that are really in danger. Ironwood has hundreds of thousands of people to protect, though. He can't talk to each and every one of them like I did you. He can't make sure everyone knows the risks and is happy with it. He has to make the decision for them, no matter their will."
In a way, the thought of that was terrifying. He'd had an easier task of it, everyone being willing to go ahead with this despite the risks. If any of them died, and he'd die before he let that happen, but if it did, then he could live knowing they'd known what they were getting into. It wouldn't stop the pain, but it would lead to less guilt.
Not so for Ironwood. He couldn't take the time to talk to everyone, so every decision he made carried the weight of lives. If his decisions led to poor outcomes, he would only have himself to blame.
"How do you do it?" Jaune asked hoarsely. "It sounds terrible…"
"If I do not, then who will?" Ironwood straightened, looking every part the veteran, if old beyond his years. "I have good men and women by my side who support me. But in the end, I make these decisions because someone must, and I believe myself the best available. Not perfect. Only the best of a sorry bunch."
"Speaking of decisions," Weiss said, "This means we've collected all the Relics bar the Relic of Choice. You do realise what this means."
Jaune shifted nervously. He did.
"Before that, I'd just like to thank you for doing an amazing job, Weiss. You truly are incredible."
"Y-Yes, well, I'm only doing what I can to help," she deflected, all the while preening. Yang was right, it seemed, and shot him a wink. "I'm only trying to help."
"I know, and I mean it. We couldn't have gotten the Relic of Creation without you."
Ironwood rolled his eyes but said nothing. Jaune had to wonder if the General hadn't acted like this around Winter once or twice, and whether the need to be recognised was something inherent in all Schnee. Or at least the good ones. Either way, Jaune poured on the praise, leaning forward.
"In fact, you're so incredible at negotiation that I think you could really excel in something else, too."
Weiss froze. Her eyes narrowed immediately.
"I am not helping you convince Salem and Ozpin to go ahead with this."
Drat.
/-/
"Absolutely not!" Salem hissed. "I will never welcome those monsters back! Let alone take part in their return. I refuse!"
"Though not quite in the same vein, I do agree with Salem here," Ozpin said. "This plan is folly. In fact, it was irresponsible of you to even consider it in the first place. The Relics should be safely hidden away."
"Or thrown in the ocean," Salem added. "Let the currents deal with them as they wish."
Ozpin seemed intrigued by the idea.
"You're not thinking about this properly," Jaune tried.
"We are thinking about this perfectly well, Mr Arc. It is you who are not seeing the bigger picture."
Jaune groaned. He'd known they wouldn't like the idea, but hadn't counted on the sheer resistance shown, nor the possibility the two might team up against him. Weren't they supposed to hate one another still?
Not for the first time, he looked back to the door, wishing someone would have come with him for moral support. Yang's girlfriend duties didn't extend this far, she'd said, while Ruby had stammered and eventually said she needed to wash her feet in what had to be the worst excuse he'd ever heard. At least Weiss had been more forthright with her refusal.
Pyrrha had simply placed a hand on his shoulder, smiled and wished him luck. She'd then gone off to play with Mannie, who had apparently adopted her. Or her him. Not even his loyal companion would come with him!
Why was his team so quick to abandon him!? At least he still had Remy.
"If I had a choice, I'd have exited your system long ago and fled."
At least he still had Remy…
"I hate you."
"Try to see things from our point of view," he said, approaching the table Salem and Ozpin sat on the other end of. They might have looked cosy were it not for the metre of so of space between their chairs, and the fact Salem was sat on Nicholas' lap. His father was remaining silent in the affair, choosing to let him and his mother speak.
"I am seeing it from your point of view," she said, in the kind of voice every parent thinking they knew everything their child was saying might have used, "You want to summon the Gods to help your mommy. I love that. Really, I do. Best son ever. But have you considered that said Gods might kill you!? Best son, but also most foolish son."
"Also, only son," he grumbled.
"Not true. I have Qrow now. And frankly, he's showing more common sense than you."
"Qrow hasn't been seen in days," Jaune groaned. "He came out once for six bottles of water, a can of whipped cream, strawberries and to tell the Seers they needed a new bed."
"As I said, more common sense than you. He's working on grandbabies so dutifully while you're thinking of dooming the entire family. At this rate, he's going to become my favourite son!"
"Sweetie," Nicholas whispered.
"Damn it, mom! Yang and I aren't rushing into anything. Sex can wait."
"You wouldn't say that if you knew what it was like."
"But the point I'm trying to make," he said, valiantly pushing on, "Is that this isn't something we can just ignore. You and Ozpin are going to keep on living forever. Sooner or later, Dad is going to die. Then me and my sisters. Then our children, and our children's children, and our children's children's children. It might take forty years, it might only take two hundred. You're going to be alone again!"
The thought scared her, he knew. It was obvious in her eyes, even the way she leaned into Nicholas. His father wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight. Jaune knew it was something they'd both no doubt come to terms with.
"I-I will be fine," she lied. "I'll surround myself with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more."
"That won't last, mom. You know it. Kids grow up, or maybe the family will die out – or even move out! Even if you're okay for five hundred years, what happens when a thousand comes about, or two, or three thousand years?"
Salem's eyes closed.
"And you." Jaune rounded on Ozpin. "Are you any more immune to this? Considering what happened the first time, I doubt you and mom could ever get back together." And the thought sickened him, to be honest. "Even if you did, history shows how that worked out the first time. Are you really going to make history repeat itself over and over? If mom tries to gather the Relics again, are you going to make a new Team WJRP? A new Team RYBN? More wars, more death, more suffering. When does it end?"
Ozpin stared back at him.
"You're asking me?" he asked in a boyish voice.
Jaune groaned. "Oscar, put Ozpin on the line…"
"I am here," Ozpin said, voice a little deeper. "And I have heard everything. I was simply considering in silence. I can understand your concerns, truly I can. History has an unfortunate tendency to repeat itself, and whatever Salem's wishes, the influence of the pools might force her to do something she would, at this time, never consider."
"I can resist it," Salem said.
"We both know you cannot. There is no shame in admitting that."
"That's why we have to do this," Jaune said.
"Again, Mr Arc, I can understand the reasoning, but have you considered the dangers involved?"
"Yes. My entire family could be wiped out, along with all the Grimm. I'm not prepared to let that happen."
"And how do you intend to stop it?"
"I'm going to reason with the Gods," he said. "I'm going to talk to them, explain what's changed over the course of history and how we not only didn't kill each other in our anger, but instead rose above it to join forces. In doing so, we proved that we're better than we were back in their time."
"And if they refuse and seek to kill you?"
Despite his nerves, Jaune met the man's eyes head on. "Then we'll fight them."
Ozpin looked surprised.
Salem cocked her head to the side. "Suddenly, I hate this plan less."
"And I hate it more," Ozpin groaned. "Goodness. So, your plan is to convince the Gods that we will not make the mistakes of the past and seek to kill them for our desires, and if that fails you will absolutely repeat the mistakes of the past and seek to kill them?"
"It's not a mistake this time. Mom was angry, and the people she convinced to help her were greedy beyond compare. Here, we're fighting for what's right. The Gods will realise that."
"Right and wrong are human terms created to fit a system of morality expressed by laws, customs and expectations. All of those human. The Gods may not follow any of them."
"They may not," Jaune said, smiling, "But the two of you would know better than any what they do follow. You were there. You may be biased, mom especially," he added, with a silent apology sent her way. Salem, for her part, shrugged, unafraid to admit it. "But you have more knowledge on them than most. So, ask yourselves, what were they like in the past? What kinds of laws did they follow? Were they prone to ignoring human definitions of right and wrong and slaughtering people en masse? Or is that just what you remember because they did it once after everyone turned on them?"
Neither Ozpin nor Salem spoke for a moment, each as shocked as the other. There was no doubting that the end of the Gods' reign had coloured their reputation, and the two of them had reason aplenty to despise the God of Light especially, but that didn't mean there hadn't been a long and peaceful reign before that time.
As he understood it, the Gods had let humans make their Kingdoms, their kings, their own governments, political systems and more. They hadn't interfered for the most part. Things only changed because of the poor decisions made on both sides, first with the Gods choosing to punish Salem for feeling human emotion, and then Salem herself in convincing the other humans to attack the Gods as retaliation.
Not enough words. Not enough intercourse, as Penny would have said.
"The Gods were not always unreasonable," Ozpin began.
Salem snorted. "Talk for yourself."
"They weren't," he insisted. "It may have seemed it at the time. To any who made the journey, rejection was painful. Emotions clouded minds, leading many to claim they were arbitrary. Salem was no better, for all that the Gods were particularly cruel with her punishment. None before had thought to petition the God of Darkness after being denied by the God of Light."
"None before had made the journey, Ozma. The God of Darkness lay beyond a perilous wasteland few could survive."
"The Grimmlands?" Jaune guessed.
"Hm. Did you think a continent shaped so obviously as a dragon would have formed naturally? The Gods could be childish at times. More often the God of Darkness than Light. That fit of pique continued when he left, eradicating civilisations and shattering the moon." Salem laughed. "As if the moon had done anything to insult him. Childish."
"Childishness or not, the Gods had reason to be upset. You did organise all the Kingdoms to attack them…"
"They cursed me to eternal life!"
"We're not trying to decide who was wrong or not," Jaune quickly interrupted. "Only what they were like. You know, were they reasonable? Would they talk? How often did they go about killing people?"
Salem sagged, but it was Ozpin who answered.
"Not often, on the latter. I do believe their parting was the first time they had ever intentionally killed anyone. I cannot speak for accidents but suppose they could not be held accountable on such."
"I understand they took petitions."
"Yes. You could ask them for just about anything, thought they'd often reject the request. It depended on what was asked."
"Access to them was not always freely available," Salem grumbled.
"More a fault of our own greed," Ozpin countered. To Jaune, he added, "The God of Light was the easiest to reach, but there were some in positions of power who sought to limit access to him through the use of force, boundaries or laws, demanding people petition the King first, and only the God of Light once the wish was approved."
"They claimed it was to prevent disasters, but it was always greed," Salem mocked. "They feared that someone might petition something that would not benefit them, and as such sought to control it. Those fools were ever greedy, quick to jump at the chance of immortality at the price of turning on the Gods."
He didn't doubt it, but the image presented… it wasn't bad.
"And what did the Gods do about the Kings trying to limit access?"
Ozpin shrugged. "Nothing."
"So, you're saying the Gods were willing to let humanity do something wrong because they respected humanity's free will to do so?"
"That… is a leap of logic."
"Is it wrong?"
"I do not know," Ozpin admitted. "I never thought to ask and am not omniscient. It's possible, I suppose. Still, something being possible does not justify the risks involved with summoning them now. They were furious when they left and swore devastation upon Remnant if they returned and judged us unworthy."
"Is it possible they were just angry?"
"Oh, they were angry alright," Salem said. "Vicious, furious and vengeful."
"But then they brought Ozpin back later, made the Relics to help humanity and gave him a way to bring them back," Jaune said. "Don't you think that suggests they calmed down? If they really wanted out, they could have finished everyone, but they didn't. They gave us another chance."
He knew he had them. Not convinced, not even close, but curious, considering. "It was like when I ran away," he said to his mother. "I was angry. I thought you'd never understand. I thought I knew best." He stepped a little closer. "It never meant I stopped loving you, or that I couldn't admit I should have done things better."
"Jaune…" Salem crooned. If it wasn't for Nicholas holding her down, she would have crossed the distance and engulfed him into a hug, and likely smothered him at the same time. "That is… I… I am not sure. I will admit I am biased. I despise them for what they did, but… I am aware that I handled things poorly."
"As did they," Ozpin agreed. "You and I had ill experiences with them at the end, but they were not always as they were then. I cannot say for sure what decision they would make, but they were fair with most people, most of the time." Ozpin hesitated, and then looked Jaune in the eye. "Just tell me, Mr Arc. Why you? Why now? The risk of Salem becoming as she was is present, but what makes you feel this must be done now and not in three hundred years' time? Most would take the period's peace for what it is and not take so great a risk, especially with their life on the line. What makes you willing to do this now?"
It was a good question. Luckily, he had his answer.
"I don't want to do this. I don't want to summon them, see them or ask anything of them. This is the last thing I want, but I think it's what Remnant needs, whether they come back or not. I'm not willing, but I'm also not willing to let my children later down the line deal with this. Or let my mom suffer an eternity and a half."
"And you believe yourself strong or reasonable enough to convince the Gods to lift their curse?"
"Me?" Jaune laughed. "No. But I'm not alone here. I have good friends by my side who'll support me, and I have you and mom, too. And Ironwood, and Qrow, and all the other people who will support us. Things you might not have to hand in one or two hundred years' time. But in the end, the reason we need to do this is because it has to be done." He grinned. "I believe we're the best available to do it. Not perfect. Just the best of a sorry bunch."
Ozpin leaned back, while Salem sat stunned. The two shared a meaningful look, one filled with hesitation, more than a little fear – but also, he dared to think, a smidgeon of hope.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Jaune," Salem said, voice soft.
"I know, mom. But it's a game that's going to be played sooner or later no matter what we do. Might as well play it when we have a full board of pieces."
"Ha. A chess analogy. That should be up your street, Ozma."
"Yes, I suppose it should be." Ozpin smiled weakly. "He is not incorrect. We will not have an opportunity more in our favour."
Salem nodded. "Indeed."
Ozpin let out a long and heavy sigh. "Take me to Vale, Mr Arc. I will present you with the Relic of Choice. And then, I suppose, the choice on whether to use it or not will finally be yours. I hope for all our sakes that you make the right one."
"We, Ozpin." Jaune extended a hand. "There's no I here. We're all a team."
Ozpin chuckled.
"Yes. I suppose that we are."
And took his hand.
This chapter was irritatingly enough needed to rectify my error of the last. Ugh. Sorry for the trouble, though I suppose it still worked out as I did need to have the Relics be gathered. There isn't much left to this, to be honest. Headmaster Arc will come out after, but I'll mention more on that when the time comes.
Next Chapter: 24th January
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur