Alright. Lets get started. Flashback time.
Several knocks on the door. They are the only thing that reminds him that he is still in their...No, it's just his house now. Just his and Jay's. This whole place feels empty without her.
Muffled voices and shouts seep through the locked door.
He recognises Qrow's in the mix. And a worried Jay.
Jaune sighs and slides off the windowsill.
Blake always...or always did live to read while curled up next to the window. Jay loved the books they read together.
Jaune stumbles across to the door.
"I need to be alone right now."
Jaune's almost emotionless voice cracks out.
"Kid, you've been in there for a day and a half. Jay is scared, Ruby, Yang, and the others are scared. I need you to open the door. I need to tell you something important. Please Jaune."
Qrow's gravelly voice echoes.
Jaune retracts from the door. He clenches his hands. Its been eleven years since he lost his first family. And now he is losing another. Why him, NO. WHY NOT HIM?
WHY DID SHE HAVE TO DIE? JAY NEEDS HIS MOTHER, NOT HIM!
Not his weak, pathetic father.
The door is charged down a moment later.
And a furious Qrow stands in the splintered doorway.
"It's time you and I had a talk. About you and Blake. And about me, and Summer."
Qrow says walking up to Jaune.
"No, its time I had a talk with Ozpin."
Jaune says brushing past.
Jaune wakes at the jolting of the bullhead. Thus signaling it's landing.
He swings his legs out over the seat and rests them back on the floor. Rubbing his hair he slowly stands. Then he sighs and retreives his luggage. One single black duffle bag.
He slings it over his shoulder and rests his left hand on Crocea Mor's pommel.
He never thought he would come back an outcast. But somehow, it felt natural. As if he never really belonged.
A dark and familiar pang strikes his chest.
"I know that look... i've worn it before."
Jaune frowns and walks out into the open air.
The surroundings are all either covered in decor, or bumbling students and fans. Jaune almost lashes out when a tall student bumps his arm. The startled look he gave Jaune when his arm dropped the duffel bag to attempt to draw his sword nearly seared Jaune's heart. Then the boy scampered off. Afraid that he offended some extremist or something. The extent that Jaune has had to go to in the last years just to keep himself alive and his enemies at bay, are a little extreme. Especially due to the fact that he has only killed the least dangerous of his enemies, old and new.
The crowds that plague Beacon's grounds are only starting to swell. The imposing tournament and the meeting taking place in a few minutes are huge. Every year people from all four kingdoms all gather much like the Vytal festival. But official huntsmen are the only ones aloud in the Keepers meeting. There are no politicians or government officials who attend. Well, other than those of Atlas, who are both most of the time. And due to the fact that most of the world's huntsmen were killed in the war or are retired... It is a rather small amount of huntsmen in the meetings.
People start to part for someone nearly bashing them away. Jaune is no expert, but instinct kicks in and he instantly plays the stealth game. Dodging out of the path and duck-sprinting towards the side, Jaune avoids the first attempt at his opponent finding him. Eventually he slips away and heads for the meeting hall. A medium sized building that was constructed on the remains of Ms. Goodwitch's old classroom. The huge sculpture in front of it brings Jaune to a halt. That's new.
The large stone structure is a string of weapons, depictions of them anyway. The one on top is Gambol Shroud, then Ember Cecilia loop themselves around it's hilt. Next to them on the right is Myrnaster, Cresent Rose to the left. Under those, Ebon Reach acts like a table. Poor Qrow, at the base. Or at least, Jaune thought he was the base for a second. Below his weapon, Magnhild holds them all up. Ren's Stormflowers frame the base of his partner's weapon. Then comes the two that hurt. Akuou and Milo sit in front and to the left of the rest. And Ozpin's cane to the right of them. Then in the middle of them, Crocea Mors. Her shield expanded and her blade leaned against it.
'To those who saw the battle to the end, and to those who still fight the battle' Reads the inscription.
Jaune frowns and skulks right passed the damned thing. He marches up to the doors. And finds the guards, standing at attention.
"Sir, you can't enter. This years meeting is underway." The first guard says.
"I'm a huntsmen, it's fine." Jaune says taking a step forward.
"Sir I have to insist that you remain outside." The Guard says putting a hand on Jaune's chest.
"And I highly suggest that you let me in there. I have information for Headmasters Schnee, Branwen , Wukong and Pine." Jaune says annoyed.
"The rules are rules, don't make us call security."
"I DON'T CARE IF THEY WERE SIMPLY OUTNUMBERED! WE OFFERED THE SUPPLIES! YOU'RE IGNORANCE GOT THEM KILLED!" Shouts General Schnee. Her ponytail flailing around as she makes hand gestures and angered movements.
"I thought that they were more than experienced enough to handle it without assistance. Their deaths are as much a surprise to me as they are to all of you!" Sun nearly shouts back.
Ruby shakes her head, this is going badly! Ren volunteered to be the first speaker. When he gave a detailed report of the recent fall of an unnamed Mistrali settlement, none really expected anything but tragedy and a well made escape. Then they got to the part where he was too slow and injured to make the bullheads. They all wondered. But then the entire room stilled when he told them that the missing, suspected KIA, Jaune Arc was the one to save him... They all exploded with questions. Mainly about anything he may have said or eluded to. But quite a few simply wanting to know of his appearance and health. Ruby was the only one not surprised by the news that Jaune wasn't dead.
She has gut feelings sometimes. They never lie. She has had a gut feeling about Jaune since day one, that he will never die by the hands of someone or something else. He just has the eyes of a survivor. Eyes like her Uncle's, or her Father. They all just scream strong to her. Her mother's, sadly they weren't. They had a care givers gleam. Someone who just wan'ts to protect. Even if she has to die to do it. The survivors all have that gleam, but they know they have to survive in order to save more people. They all know that if they lose or fail to protect something, they have to survive to make up for it. So that is why she hates these meetings.
Everyone who shows, they all save themselves in order to save more. Even when it tears them all apart. That is why this particular Keepers meeting went sideways so fast. Because they all know of one that is more extreme than them when it comes to their practice. Jaune eats,sleeps and breaths revenge and remorse. He lives so that he can save enough to make up for failing all those years ago, of course they all know it wasn't his fault. But Jaune does not see it that way. He believes he was too weak or observant to stop the death of his wife.
Over the short time that Jaune came back, Ruby got to understand why Blake had done what she had done. Very few know of that night. And the ones who know barely speak of it. But Ruby knows why Jaune tortures himself over it. Why Jay sends an endless stream of cash and manpower into finding his father. It's because Blake did exactly what Phyrra did. She saw the threat, and indisposed Jaune so that she could make sure there was only one casualty. And that's why Ruby loves him. Because he is what two extremely powerful people died to protect. They both saw his potential, his spark. They both wanted that to go on.
After a few more speakers and a few jokes from her father, Ruby notices Qrow nod across to Jay. The seventeen year old boy slowly walks up to the center circle. He rings his hands and taps his microphone. Then he retrieves a paper from his pocket and unfolds it.
"Huntsmen of Remnant, I have come before you three years before my time. I have done this because I have been apart of an effort that all but a few of you have funded off and on throughout the past. The Keepers Reconnaissance and Defense Program has been my occupation for over a year now. I have been the operative dispatch chief for six months. I have undertaken and helped on several missions and operations. Some short, and some very long. I have worked on one particular mission as the Head of Operations for my entire time in the effort. The retrieval of the Relics and cursed persons of the war. This is what I have to talk to you all about today. An operative of mine stationed in the upper district of the city of Mistral has recently sent in a wire message. It reads as such..."
Alert to all operatives!(STOP)
Black Hands 1,3, and 5 have been spotted in Mistral(STOP)
Alert Keepers and freelancers, all haste(STOP)
Several gasps and disbelieving guffaws are head throughout the circular room. Ruby winces. She rubs her shoulder, remembering the maniacs wrist blades sinking deep. And Jaune's sword cleaving the man's leg off. That night is remembered by all. The night Salem fell. The night her forces dissipated and vowed to bring her back.
After a few concerned questions were shouted out, Jay took control back.
"I only ask that we get a small force together. I do not wish to send my operatives against such a grand foe. Fifteen of our strongest could slink in and apprehend or eliminate our targets. I wish to ask you all for funding and manpower!"
Silence hits them. None wan't to fight the war again. Not now. It's only been twenty years.
Then a sickening crash and a few crunched later, the main door is bent back on its hinges and the guards and a security personnel line the inside of the doorway. A flash of yellow flower petals later, and a figure in a black cotton trench coat stands at the entrance to the circle. One who gets the hall to slump in their seats.
"I have an announcement to make." His cold, flat voice echoes across the room.
"Then make it quick before I TAKE YOU HEAD OFF ARC!" Yang screams while shooting up from her chair next to Ruby.
Jaune pays her no mind.
"I have recently engaged Mercury Black and Adam Taurus. They are dead. Before he passed, Adam taunted that I could not stop them now. Not now that they had found a way. I believe that they may have finally found a way to bring her back. All of my previous run ins against Tyrion Callows and Arthur Watts have been at or near to ancient ruins and temples. They all held one piece of similar information in them."
Jaune then dumps the duffel bag onto the inner circle.
A large collection of bone masks fall to the tiles.
Not masks actually. But spikes. Seer spikes. Ancient ones.
"I believe that they have found a Seer from ancient times. One that still holds a bit of her thoughts. I believe they have found a fraction of Salem's mind. And I am concerned that they may be able to enhance it. To essentially take a bit of her from ages ago, and update it on things. So that it is suited to think like she did. In base terms- we may have an upcoming Salem on our hands."
Dunn dunn DUNNN.
Sorry for the late update. I am recently back in school. As in today was my first day back. And i now have the ability to write to my full potential. This is because my school supplies us with laptops. And I am a Jr now, and Jr's are all issued brand new ones each year. So yeet.
Anyway, I have to talk this over with you all. Salem is the biggest bad in Remnant. So there is one problem I see with all of the after-war RWBY fics. They all have her dead, and completely dead too. No possibility for revival. Which is a little wack to me. This is a world where beasts are pure evil incarnates, and their queen is playing a huge ass chess match with Ozpin. Meanwhile there are two types of fucking MAGIC. Dust, and fucking wizard powers. So why do we all believe that only one of these possesses reincarnation powers? Come on people. Ozpin comes back literally when ever. And Salem to our knowledge has never been killed. So how do we know she will die and stay that way? I didn't like the idea that she would just manifest again like Ozpin. Too, lame? I mean if that was the case, then this would never end and the entire cast of RWBY don't matter worth shit. So I am taking another route. What if she is like Voldemort in a way. That every advanced Grimm like the dragon in vol.3, or the seers in vol.5 have a bit of her in them. So that they become slightly intelligent. I used the seer due to the fact they are not really their own thing. They need command to function. So I thought that they would have more Salem in them than others. Hence the twist here.
P.s For a comment I saw... Yes, Jaune only getting one in eight years was underwhelming. But there will be reasons revealed next chapter.
Along with the mystery of his Mimic Semblances. So be Patient
Next Chapter: August 17th (Updates on Mondays and Fridays.)