At long last, I have returned! It has been quite some time, but life has been hectic, to say the least. Considering that since my last posting, I left my job, am currently in the process of starting a new business, entering a relationship, and with some home repairs/renovations on top of all that, I feel that my absence can be at least be overlooked.
Though my goal of a monthly update still seems unlikely at this time, rest assured that I will do my best, and that quality, not quantity, shall remain the end result.
I'm not doing the reference contest anymore. It was a fun idea, but I'd rather create something of my own, rather than force as many references as possible into it.
I appreciate everyone that tried, but as a quick note with no offense intended, did none of you read what I said as to the post-chapter riddle being a hint? The actual reference is in the story; why would I have it tacked on at the end of an A/N? I don't mean to insult anyone; it's just that I want this to not be the main focus as it was starting to become.
We did have a winner for the Hellsing Ultimate reference in chapter 17, but as they are labeled as a guest, they are unable to reap their reward.
Without further ado, it's SHOWTIME!
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Chapter 18: Gold v. Silver
Blake frequently patroned of Beacon's expansive library, a hoard of knowledge and records on any topic one could imagine and more. But lately, she was not here for idle, escapist leisure, but instead for a project. The massive archive provided peace and solitude as she scanned a computer terminal; searching and examining records, reports, with an ever-growing frustration at the fruitlessness of her efforts thus far.
"Hello~! Guess who?" At least, it was solitary, until a pair of hands covering her eyes interrupted her. The abrupt and unexpected interruption stiffened her spine, unused to being caught off guard when alone.
"Get off me, please. I'm not in the mood, Yang." The body attached to said hands pressed a little tighter into her upper back.
"Oh, don't be such a grumpy puss." Despite the blonde's words, Blake's request was followed as she sat next to her. "So this is where the hermit secluded herself instead of hanging out with little ol' me this evening? It had better be exceptional porn."
"Comments like that are why Weiss calls you vulgar." Blake didn't even look away from the bright screen illuminating the immediate area, pausing only to rub her eyes a bit.
"If the Ice Queen wants vulgar, you can loan her one of your 'erotica'." Yang even did the finger quotations for what she called smut, not that the Faunus noticed. "Girl needs to loosen up, at any rate."
"For your information, I'm looking into why Jaune was arrested, not for porn."
"Again? I thought you were done after the trial date was announced." It had been a little over a week since the events of Evergreen, and the trial had been scheduled in two more weeks.
"No, but the seminar about mission reports earlier today gave me an idea." If it was about that bandit encounter mission several months ago, then something must have happened to warrant the level of rehashed scrutiny being brought to bear. So far though, her research had yet to turn up significant results.
"Blake, that was yesterday." The difference of time recognition ripped Blake's gaze away from the screen, and finally to the blonde looking at her with concern. "Unless you've decided to live here now, you haven't slept in two days."
Now no longer looking directly at the computer, Blake saw that it was the primary source of light in this spot. The interior lights were dimmed, as they would be during nighttime to conserve power, but not enough to outright prohibit the facility's usage. Her back was unusually stiff, indicating an extended period of time in the relatively comfortable chair.
"What time is it, then?" Blake asked.
"A few hours past dinner, which is at 19h in case you've forgotten. The second one in a row you've missed." Yang didn't sound chastising, but it didn't have to.
"I've been busy."
"No one should be so busy that they neglect the basics for self care. Eating and sleeping, in case you've forgotten." Now, Yang sounded chiding, and it prickled Blake's nerves.
"At least I'm doing something." She argued.
"I'll let that pass, since I'm sure you're in dire need of a cat nap. But for now, here." The boxer placed a plastic bag on the table, containing a couple of takeout containers. Blake's stomach rumbled, practically shouting in its own way that her friend was right in that she hadn't eaten in a while, and Yang's smug look told her that she heard it. Embarrassed by her body's betrayal, Blake took the food without a word before they dug in. There was a rule in the building against such activity, but no one was there to stop them.
While eating, Blake considered Yang's ability to approach her unnoticed. She should have been more alert, even if focused on something else, and the blonde wasn't much inclined to stealth. With all of her supposed gifts of heightened senses, her not so subtle companion still managed to sneak up on her, with food no less. "I suppose I have been a bit out of sorts, haven't I?"
"Sure have, princess." Since finding out her father was Menagerie's leader, Yang had called her that in private as well, much to her dismay. On the plus side, it at least provided variety from the sporadic cat puns.
"I don't like sitting around when I feel something's wrong and no one seems to be doing anything."
"And I respect and agree with that, but I've been told that patience is a virtue." Coming from Yang, Blake found a statement of cliché wisdom and advice dubious.
"Patience, you? Last I checked, you're the one who nearly ripped out Jung's hair after what she said." A couple of days after Evergreen, they had heard several rude, at best, comments about him and his situation during one lunch. When Ruby made to defend him, the target of her mocking was shifted to Yang's sister, implying if not outright declaring the silver-eyed's attraction to a 'bloodthirsty maniac'. It only got worse when they couldn't reveal the true mission details that caused this mess to begin with, and a fight almost broke out.
"Please, that bitch was asking for it. Besides, she got what she had coming." Later that same day, Pyrrha got lucky and was the one to knock the 'president of Jaune Arc hate club' around like a rag doll in the arena, leaving Jung a few locks of hair short, and such comeuppance was good enough for her. "And I so have patience. I have goals, you know."
"Like what, having your hair grow to touch the ground?" Yang's cringe at the thought of it getting so frequently dirty, made Blake cheer up a bit.
"At last, your smile and snark return." Yang praised. "But actually, I want to find my mother."
Blake was surprised at the sudden tone shift for something more somber. After taking a pause for a drink of water, Yang continued. "My birth mother is, or maybe was, a Huntress on the same team as my dad and uncle. Eventually, my parents get married, and have a bit of fun to make my glorious self. Only not so good is that soon after she took off without a word."
"Do… you happen to know why?" Blake asked tentatively.
"Not a thing. Dad doesn't like talking about it or her. So I want to find her and ask her why myself."
"Why are you telling me this?" It seemed out of the blue.
"Simple. I know some of your past, and it's only fair that you know some of mine."
"You didn't have to-"
"I wanted to anyway. Trust is a two way street." Yang's statement, and the implication, took her aback. That she would trust her, even knowing what she did of her previous actions and loyalties, was endearing.
As she relaxed, Blake was unable to suppress a loud and wide yawn, her body once again objecting to her mental tunnel vision. "Perhaps it would be best for me to rest a while."
"Just so, Blakey. Especially since Rubes is adding a notch or two to morning training." Yang was proud of her sister rising to the occasion as leader, even with Ren assisting as her second. Without being authoritative, she kept the other six organized without much issue. When Yang talked to her earlier about noticing something off about Blake, Ruby trusted in her to resolve the issue, despite clearly wanting to help, as was her nature.
As they got up, Yang went to turn off the terminal, but was interested in how far Blake had searched. Checking the search history, it contained multiple entries for Vale mission reports around the time Jaune's bandit mission would have been found. All were low level, since he was an apprentice at the time, the highest being a level five, but none of them had his name attached.
"Yang?" Blake called back to her, noticing that she didn't follow with her.
"It's nothing, just that you were looking in the wrong place." As Blake joined her back at the terminal, "You only looked for Vale's missions, but the mission was in Vacuo. Also, Jaune was an apprentice, so the missions would be under his father's name, not his."
Blake face palmed with a loud smack. "Ugh, what's wrong with me?"
She went to sit back down and refine her search, but her friend was having none of that, picking her up and slinging her across her shoulder. "Yang, put me down!"
"Nope. You admitted you need sleep, and you're gonna get it." She was strong enough to hold her captive in place, and Blake lacked the proper leverage to break free. Trying to focus on her semblance to escape via a clone substitute, the ability eluded her concentration.
"Fine, I promise I'm coming, so you can stop carrying me like a duffle bag now."
"As you wish." But instead of putting the half-asleep Faunus down to walk, Yang switched to a bridal-style carry. "How bold of you."
"I meant put me down."
"Did you? Things are only embarrassing if other people see you. And would you look at that, no one's around." At that late hour, most were either out in Vale or in their dorms.
"That's not how that works." Blake turned her head away, as doing otherwise would mean staring directly at her captor-in-jest's chest.
"Sure it is. Besides, now you have a pillow to rest on." Blake politely declined the invitation.
"Oh well, your loss. If you don't like it, consider this a penalty for making me worry."
"Don't you mean punishment?"
"Nope, because I've refrained from intentional puns, until meow." Yang couldn't help but snicker at her own humor as Blake groaned in response. "Hey, don't you groan at me. I'm not the one whose vest makes a cat's head shape out of your shirt."
Looking down, Blake confirmed the claim with her own eyes. "How have I never noticed that?"
"Despite being a ninja, you're not very subtle." Mercifully, Yang finally put her down before they got back to their dorm. Now curled up in her bed, a thought popped in Blake's head before sleep overtook it. Hearing a glimmer of Yang's family situation, and comparing it to her own, it would be right for her to reconnect with her own parents, whom she had no contact with for several years. But that could wait until she was… and that was as far as she got before succumbing to a long-delayed slumber.
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"I'm so sorry about that! Again." Ruby apologized for the fourth time to Pyrrha. They had finished sparring a little while ago, and while she had lost, a lucky shot had left a dent on her opponent's bronze circlet. While the damage was minor and easy to repair, it did leave the headpiece uncomfortable to wear for the time being. If not for aura, it would also have left a sizeable bruise on her forehead.
"It's fine, really. It was well struck." Pyrrha didn't seem angry about it to her, but then again, she rarely did about anything. "This isn't this first time it's been damaged, and I doubt that it will be the last. At least it was just a bullet. A melee hit from your scythe would need a bit more elbow grease."
"Well, may I fix it? It's the least I can do." She offered.
"I know you could, but there's no need. I have a special trick." More and more often the two redheads spent time together, including sharing a room for weapon maintenance. With Miló having three forms, including a firearm, she had thought that it was complex, but Crescent Rose took the cake. Seeing it fully disassembled, it made her trusty javelin look like a simple spear by comparison. Distracted by her musings, Pyrrha didn't hear her companion's question, and politely asked her to repeat it.
"What is it, a customized press?"
"Not exactly. Here, let me show you." A black glow encircled her hands, and she pinched the damaged area, molding it like clay back into shape and returning it to a pristine state, the indented bullet popping out onto the floor.
"Wow, that's so cool!" Ruby gushed as she picked up the bullet. "Is that your semblance?"
"Yes, I can control magnetism." She explained, deciding to put her newly repaired circlet on her desk for the moment.
"Neat." After a small silence, she pointed to the bronze headpiece. "So I'm guessing that means a lot to you?"
"Why do you ask?" Pyrrha didn't sound discouraging at the new line of inquiry, so Ruby explained her logic.
"It's just that I've rarely seen you without it."
"Much like your cape?"
"Exactly! I've had it for so long, it's almost like a part of me." Leaning in to whisper conspiratorially, "Don't tell my baby, she might get jealous."
"As you wish." The taller of the two couldn't help but giggle. Ruby was happy that someone else understood her keeping something of such sentimental value, even if it was bittersweet. It was an odd parallel between the two, both having keepsakes crafted and gifted to them by a now deceased parent. In Ruby's case, it wasn't literally the original, but the sentiment of remaking it as she grew remained.
"It's getting late, and we've got Port first thing in the morning." Ruby got up to stretch. Normally, she would have tried in vain to nap during story time, but she had promised herself that she would put forth her best efforts as much as she could.
"Rest well. I'll be up for a little while yet." The Spartan bid her pleasant dreams, but Ruby frowned a bit at her response. It's been two weeks since Evergreen, and three days since Ruby accidentally discovered Pyrrha's state was not as perfect as it appeared.
While up for a clandestine midnight snack, she found the shield maiden awake, practicing her weapon stances and forms. Ruby couldn't help but watch mesmerized as she danced in the pale moonlight. The fluid grace was tinged, but not tainted, with something emotional that she couldn't put her finger on, but it made the display all the more captivating. However, not knowing how best to approach her in what was a private moment, she had let it go.
The next night, she had adjusted her schedule to arise earlier to prepare for a surprise change for a training session, only to find Pyrrha awake before her once again. That time, Ruby mustered the will to talk to her, only to hear an excuse of being restless, one that she didn't buy but didn't pry too far. But at that moment, seeing Pyrrha without makeup to mask the forming redness around the eyes, Ruby decided that there wouldn't be a third, or however many more, time.
"Nope." With a simple declaration, Ruby dashed to close the door, then came back to half-drag, half-carry Pyrrha to her own bed. She playfully shoved her down onto it, before lying down on top of her. "You're taking a break."
In any other circumstance, Ruby would never have the boldness required for this, but since it was for Pyrrha's well being, she could do it. She just had to ignore Pyrrha's toned muscles, her flawless skin, the faint floral scent of her shampoo, and everything else that inspired such sinful thoughts with her undeniable physical attractiveness… and she was already failing.
Ruby didn't think that she'd be attracted to women, but her friend rapidly approaching the level of bestie could and did turn heads of all genders and orientations, even in normal outfits, let alone in track shorts and a tank top. Thanking God she was already looking away, Ruby kept her gaze on the plain, uninspiring wall, focusing on the why rather than the what.
"Ruby, I'm fine. There's no need for this." Pyrrha denied that anything was wrong, but she wasn't having it anymore.
"I know about your late nights and early mornings. I've seen them, and they need to stop."
"I just get restless sometimes, and I feel the urge to do something, get the blood flowing to relax."
"And how often is sometimes?"
"It's not that bad."
"How. Often?" Ruby donned her voice with a leader's tone, crumbling Pyrrha's wavering resolve against her stubborn inquiry.
"Three, four nights a week." She admitted in a blasé fashion, as if it was nothing new. "I thought it was just a growing phase I had passed. I don't know why it came back. For the most part it was just one night, with a rare two surrounding more exasperating events."
It just sounded odd. Sure, sometimes an overabundance of energy could do that, Ruby herself had one here and there after discovering her semblance. Having a good feeling that Pyrrha wouldn't try to wiggle her way out of this private intervention, Ruby rolled over to lie in between her and the wall. "When did it stop, and then get worse? Maybe if we figure out the cause, it'll go away."
Unknown to the reaper, Pyrrha was having similar thoughts stemming from the physical content. Though her usual outfit somewhat disguised it, Ruby was not a little girl, but instead a young woman with curves developing in the right places. If Yang's genetics were any hint, the late phase of Ruby's puberty would be very kind to her. Pyrrha took the move as a sign of trust and letting her go at her own pace, taking away any possible feelings of entrapment and letting her focus on herself. She was just trying to help, highlighting one of her most endearing qualities, so how could she refuse an earnest friend?
"Hmm, now that I think about, it stopped soon after coming to Beacon. It got worse a few days after Evergreen, I believe." An oddly specific timeline, and neither felt that it was a coincidence. Shifting to lie on her side for ease of conversation, Ruby felt a now familiar mild chill on her skin shift in response, reminding her of its presence.
"Hold on, I've got an idea." Taking out the jeweled eye amulet for the both of them to see, Ruby pitched her plan. "Before everything happened, Jaune loaned me this. I don't know if it actually works, but I haven't had a poor night since. I don't think he'd mind if you used it as well."
"He might not, but I would. It's an old superstition back home, to never borrow something borrowed, and to do so would invite ill fortune."
"Never took you for the omen type." Ruby said with a quizzical look. Truth be told, Pyrrha wasn't, but she considered it bad manners. It was only in this circumstance of the best intentions that she hadn't been offended. Looking at the amulet, Pyrrha noted that it mysteriously looked different at night then during the day, the only other time she'd seen it up close.
Though in dim illumination from the nearby window, the silver gleamed without an iota of tarnish. Pyrrha averted her eyes, lest the flawless jewel distract her again, with it having been enhanced too and now ethereal in its brilliance. "I was told to be mindful of them, just in case someone else was. Better safe than sorry."
"Ok then, new plan. I'll sleep here tonight, and we'll see if this thing actually works."
"I'm… not if that is a good idea." Pyrrha was hesitant to agree for more than one reason.
"Why not? My sister and I do it all the time in the winter. You don't have cold feet, do you?" The turn-about to a playful fear was jarring, in a good way.
"No, nothing like that."
"That's a shame, 'cause I do." Without warning, Ruby latched onto Pyrrha like a sloth and placed her icy toes on her calves.
"Eeek!" The undignified squeak preluded a small bout of futile squirming. "Gah, stop it! If you're trying to persuade me, this isn't exactly helping your case."
Ruby moved her feet around as much as she could, weaponizing the temperature difference between her toes and her captive. However, her hands were not idle, seeking any ticklish points within reach and without mercy. Pyrrha was both helplessly laughing and shivering.
"Okay, okay, I give!" She managed to get out during a brief reprieve for air after a minute of her 'torment'. With her surrender, Ruby got off the bed and retrieved the pillow from the bed above them. With such high energy from their activity, it took a bit of time for the both of them to fall asleep. The tension due to proximity that had once plagued them both had faded. After all, it was just sleep, and they were that close to each other before. The only difference was that it wasn't in a tent.
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XXXX Spring M4 W1 D7 XXXX
It was an early morning on what promised to be a mild, refreshing day, one that beckoned all to simply relax and enjoy it. Weiss felt that it would be well deserved and needed. She had once considered them to be superfluous and a temptation to miss opportunities. However, as the body needs rest to improve, so too does the mind. Completely submerging oneself in their work, mentally or otherwise, did not lead to happiness; she only needed to look to her father as an example.
And the day would have been as promised, if not for one, minor detail. Jaune Arc's trial would take place in but a few hours. Her thoughts were interrupted when Nora barged in without so much as a knock, the barbarian. "Hey Rub-, oh wait, she's not here. Weiss, have you seen Ruby?"
"No I have not; not since last night, at least." Sighing, she continued to brush her hair. She needed to look her absolute best today, they all did. With a quick glance, she saw that Nora looked exactly the same as she always did. "Are you seriously going to court, looking like that?"
Nora let the not so silent judgment slide right past her. "What? It's not like I'm the one on trial. Besides, some of us look silly in formal clothes, princess, unlike you. I mean could you imagine me at one of your gales, in a ballroom dress? Yuck."
"Thank you for the compliment, as off hand as it was, and it's gala." Nora's candor allowed Weiss to take a deep breath. Although, she did agree that the hammer wielder would stick out like a sore thumb with her mannerisms, as old as the saying was. "So what do you think?"
For the trial, which would include half of the sitting Council members, Weiss had adorned an outfit that she'd been saving for a special occasion, and this time proved an optimal time to don it. A white, double breasted jacket with black piping, cuffs, and buttons over a white, pleated skirt with black lace trim, completed with white, thigh high boots and lace-topped black stockings. Nora gave her a brief up and down look, before giving her two thumbs up and a smile. "It's fancy, it's schmancy, and it's… you. I'd guess that blue looks best on you, though, but the black makes it work. Then again, I'm not entirely a fashion conformist."
"Really? You don't think it's too much with my hair?"
"Nah, makes your eyes pop. Just be lucky that you can make long hair work, unlike me." That sounded like a story, but she didn't seem to be inclined to tell it at the moment. "Speaking of short hair, I'll be going now."
"Let everyone know that we should be there an hour early, if you'd be so kind." Though she didn't turn back around, Nora responded with a wave to acknowledge that she heard.
"No luck, Weiss ain't seen her either." She let Yang know.
"Hmm, she's not one to sleep in, anyway." Yang remarked. It was too early for her to be out and about, especially since they decided to skip training for the day in lieu of the trial. Speaking of which, she too decided that her outfit was due an upgrade.
"So Blake, how do I look?" She now had a deep-collared cream vest over a low-cut black top with gold cuffs. Black, thigh high stockings had her emblem in gold on the outside of each thigh, attached to a black miniskirt by garter belts, over ankle-high boots with multiple buckles. Too add some color to complete her new look at the last minute, she attached a purple piece of fabric to lower belt around her hip, and a purple pendant set in silver around her neck.
"Which over the top adjective do you want me to say this time?" Blake sighed, not even glancing up from her book, or rather Jaune's, copy of 'The Devil in the White City'. To be fair, it was the fifth or sixth time her partner had asked since they had gone out, with Coco's expert guidance of course, three days ago.
"I'd settle for eye catching, but it seems that would be a lie, now wouldn't it? And have I mentioned how good you look in tight pants?"
"I'd say at least once or twice. Feel free to do so again." Blake finally indulged her partner with a rare moment of vanity, and not only to get her to stop interrupting her time of leisure. The corners of her lips slightly tugged upwards. It was nice to receive compliments, especially if they're genuine. Her new threads included the aforementioned tight, black pants with a vertical, dark purple stripe on each side, ending with new boots with higher heels, the undersoles of which being colored an identical purple. Her new top was a black, V-neck, zip-up crop shirt with a grey hem and three-quarter sleeves. Her emblem was printed off-white on her left side.
"Though you are a total tease with that thing over your… asset." Said reason for the name-calling was the short, two-piece hip cape attached to the rear of her belt, with black on top and translucent purple underneath it.
This prompted Blake to finally put her book down, giving the blonde that was giving herself a mental high-five an up and down look. "No one likes blatant hypocrisy."
Without hesitation, Yang struck a sexy pose. "Hey, if you got it, flaunt it!"
"I still can't believe you bought that. You look like a courtesan." Nora, who had stayed remarkably silent for far too long, for her at least, finally cut in through the banter. It was the most prudish thing either of the two of team RWBY had ever heard her say. She gave Yang an appraising, but not reproachful, eye. "But like, a good one. At least seven hundred lien an hour, maybe eight just on looks alone, and that's coming from a pure hetero."
And thus, the balance of chaos was restored.
"Why, thank you~." Yang was flattered, but Blake looked at the hyperactive orangehead suspiciously. "You know this, how?"
"Ren and I spent more than our fair share doing odd jobs where we could. While we waited for Beacon to start, one so happened to be at a bordello, and you tend not to be picky when hunger kicks in…" Noticing their surprised looks, she startled. "Oh no, none of that! We did some cooking, cleaning, that sort of thing. Anyway, even though we weren't involved with any of the hanky-panky, you still see and hear things."
Looking for a way out, Nora found one with Blake. "You'd be the same rate, maybe a bit more depending on the clientele if you took off the bow."
"Hear that, Blakey, we'd make excellent courtesans. Bet we could charge extra if we gave them a bumblebee special duo, too." Yang looked way too into the joke for her partner, as usual.
"I'm sure you meant that as a compliment… and no, Nora, I don't want to know." Blake didn't want to add more fuel to the fire.
"That's fine, you'd actually both be terrible at it. You're too cagey and stiff, and Yang would start swinging at the first guy who got grabby with her hair." It wasn't much of a consolation.
"What? No I… yeah, I probably would. But seriously, where are the reds?"
Whilst the ladies discussed their hypothetical employment in the world's oldest profession, Ren had snuck into Pyrrha's room, where Pyrrha and Ruby were still asleep. They looked peaceful in their spooning position; he believed that was what it was called. Ren didn't bother making any assumptions. Nora and he did this all the time, in the cold months and otherwise.
He gently shook the smaller of the two's shoulders, as making more noise than necessary would defeat the purpose of him unleashing Nora to divert any outside attention. It wasn't the first time he had found them like this. The first time, he made the mistake of waking Pyrrha first, leading to an accidental gut punch. Aura or not, it was a hard hit, and he was thankful that she didn't aim lower.
The realm of dreams had quite the grasp on Ruby, as she merely squirmed closer to a nearby heat source, that being Pyrrha, thereby waking up the more alert sleeper of the pair. "Ah, good morning Ren."
"The same to you. You two overslept again, we leave for the trial in thirty minutes." He spoke barely above a whisper before exiting and giving an excuse for the two now getting dressed. "They lost track of time, and will be ready shortly."
"How nice of them to get dolled up too." Yang quipped sweetly, ignoring the fact that she had done the same, even putting on makeup if a bare amount of orange eyeshadow counted as such. It wasn't her thing, for the most part. "Bet Jaune hasn't seen any lookers like us for a while, so his reaction should be fun."
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Dawn had broken during their transit, yet the sun was too low to break over The Palace, leaving them waiting in its shadow. Though it no longer literally functioned as such since Vale's transition from monarchy, the name had stuck, and it was where the Council lived and performed their duties of office. While not outrageously lavish in size, architecture, or décor, it still stuck out with its marble white walls and the 150-meter gap between it and any other structure.
Due to security measures, they waited for an authorized escort to give them clearance to enter. They were positioned far from the min gate, populated by the media as it was. It had leaked to the press that a high-profile trial was taking place, requiring five of the nine in total. Since most cases and or appeals to the highest court deemed one to three Councilors necessary, journalists swarmed with frenzy, not unlike the Grimm, forcing the seven to go the long way around to the outside of a nondescript office building.
"Why not just hop over the fence?" Nora asked, shifting between leaning against the steel fence and standing in a vain attempt to mitigate boredom.
"Because I'd prefer us to not be shot at today, thank you very much." Weiss pointed out. The Vale Council treated their security very seriously. Anyone and anything inside the fenced area, but not on the main path, for longer than three seconds were given a warning shot in the face. A squirrel skittered down from a tree and through the bars, only for a patrolling security droid to prove her point and dispose of the evidence, leaving nothing but a small scorch mark on the ground behind.
"… Well, that happened." Yang said to break the silence. The click of a lighter announced Pip's arrival. He was to be their escort, since he was a high-ranking officer of the VSDF, high enough to grant them clearance at least with minimal red tape.
"I see the tin cans finally got that upgrade." His accented voice partially muttered as he lit the cigarette held in his mouth.
"I thought Cerise made you quit." Ruby accused, but he only scoffed in response.
"Nah, only around her. But you didn't come here to get the sit-rep on my vices." They entered the office building across the street, and then into the elevator. "I'd apologize for the wait, but some bureaucratic dipshit held Hans and I up on getting you access. Walk fast." The elevator lead them into a tunnel that ran directly under The Palace, likely to be both a service entrance and an emergency exit.
"Jaune's dad is here?" Nora looked excited to see a role model of hers in person, regardless of the less than ideal circumstances that made it possible.
"He's a key witness. Even if that weren't the case, no paper pusher has the guts to tell him no to his face on the best of days. Especially when he looks to be on the verge of losing his temper."
"So is usually an angry person?" Ren asked, wanting to know how lightly they should tread. The older man just laughed in response.
"Oh, I needed that. But no… that is, not anymore. He's mellowed out in fatherhood. Or it could be all the sex with Julie, who knows? But believe me, you'll know when he's pissed."
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha was curious.
"The last time it happened, he earned his epithet." He dangled a hint in their figurative faces, but said no more on the topic.
They came to a stop at a seemingly random door, no different than the dozen they passed before it with the exception of an armed guard in front of it. "Please hand over your weapons and step in two at a time. You'll be scanned as you ascend."
After keeping them around at all times, it was to be expected that there would be some reluctance to the idea. But if they wanted in, that's what had to happen. Ironically, Ruby was the first to hand over her own weapons, considering how attached she was to them. Yang asked, "So how come you're not wearing your new outfit?"
"Because I like what I have now, duh." Ruby proclaimed her disinterest in shopping for clothes, but she did change her cape in wrapping it around her like a scarf before letting it hang down. What she had still fit and was comfortable to fight in. Plus, she liked the form-slimming effect of black, as she didn't like the kind of attention Yang got with hers, however flattering they might be.
"Aw, but the grey brings you out." And by 'you', Yang meant her growth. Ever since coming to Beacon, her younger sister seemed a lot more attractive. Not to her, Yang had no inclinations to that sort of thing, but whether it was the training, new friends, or something else, Ruby seemed to be coming out of a shell, both mentally and physically.
"I don't have the urge to be gawked at by every guy, and some girls." She snipped cuttingly, earning an appreciative hiss for the well-crafted shade. Case in point to her earlier thoughts, Ruby was a lot better with them, both in response time and content. Of course, Ruby should have expected retaliation as Yang cooed at her while playfully pinching her cheek.
"How about just one? He'd like it." Ruby just sighed from Yang's go-to method of teasing, most likely not knowing that she used it so often because not once had her younger sister denied it. Not that the blonde would correct her.
"I doubt it. It has two corset laces and that weird metal thing slapped on the shoulder. It's not practical, and silly." The bit of levity between the two served Yang's purpose in breaking their tense anticipation. Based on Jaune's letter that had been hidden in his hat, he had some kind of plan, and they had to be careful in not giving anyone that might be watching or listening any inkling, else his whole gambit might be rendered hollow.
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They were sitting in the courtroom, awaiting all main parties of the event, the defendant, the prosecutor, and the Councilors presiding over the trial as arbitrators. They were waiting in the rather sparsely populated public seating area, with them being the only seven seated. Pip had left a few minutes ago, saying something about a commotion at the main gate. The other eighteen in the room with them were guards, faces hidden by helmets and visors.
Most were statues, staring straight ahead and paying them no mind, with the exception of the one behind them. Their uniform, face-concealing helmet included, and androgynous chin made it difficult to discern gender, even if they were so inclined to pay more attention then a single glance. They had visibly swiveled their head as the seven had come in, and tracked their movement until they sat down.
"This is some real spy level stuff, right?" In came Nora, as blunt as her hammer, to break the silence.
"What are you talking about?" Weiss harshly whispered at her imprudence.
"I mean, come on, secret tunnels, classified Intel, and all we're missing is trench coats and fake moustaches." A collective sigh of relief filled their section of the room. "Ren, did you happen-"
"No, I did not bring them. We never had them in the first place, nor do we need them." He remained unruffled by the random, doing his best to appear contrite. Perhaps he was.
"Bummer." She was disappointed for all of three seconds. Sitting still and waiting was not one of her strong suits. Flailing her legs under her seat was all she could do to entertain herself before something else to talk about came to mind. "So how's Velvet, Weiss?"
"Why?" As Ruby and Pyrrha had been spending more time together, so too had Weiss and Nora, oddly enough. Velvet had joined them on more than one occasion, and the Faunus and the Schnee seemed to gel pretty well, kind of like herself and Ren when they first met, but only in much more chill circumstances.
Before she could explain and put her fantasy of white rabbits into words, intricacies of genders be damned, the doors opened and let through people who should have been here half an hour ago. She had been so bored, waiting for this dreary nonsense to be over with, but it would be and was worth it.
In that small crowd, one man drew her eye. Not that it was difficult to notice him, since he stood head and shoulders above the other notable figures; The Black Hammer himself, though without his hammer just like her. 'So is he just The Black now? … Nah.'
He seemed larger in person than in a picture, both figuratively and literally, and looked none too pleased with a stern, stony face, or perhaps the beard was really good at disguising emotions. It might be a perfect thing for Ren, but Nora had to restrain a giggle at the silly mental image of her bestie with a beard. With the room being so somber, it seemed a bit 'inapprops'… didn't stop her from waving at him, though.
He gave them a small nod as he went to sit in the back rows few aisles behind them. The wood creaked from his weight as he sat down. She would have gone up to say hi, but Renny had asked for patience. They could talk with him later, he said. 'He better show some appreciation for this sacrifice. Maybe with some celebration pancakes, with the chocolate chips and sprinkles?'
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Though he wanted to be up on the podium to further ensure his victory, even with his ambitions providing such fruit, Cobalt Winchester knew the dangers of overreaching. It had been enough of a risk convincing his fellows of the necessity of such a grand affair. Any usage of aura above a certain threshold in The Palace was heavily scrutinized, regardless of whom, when, or why, recorded by a system that he remained ignorant of its full complexities. What he did know that persuading them to ignore such a massive conflict of interest without crossing said limit was beyond his abilities.
Compared to that, filling the slot of prosecutor had been a simple affair. It was the perfect role for a man of his talents, education, and experience. Besides, this was the most crucial point of his plan, and he could not trust such a pivotal duty in the hands of a lesser mind.
If it had been his choice, he wouldn't have orchestrated the security breach that delayed today's affair. To have roaches like Jaune Arc categorically forgotten in the annals of history was the ultimate goal, but too many factors, technology included, currently interfered with such attempts of 'tabula rasa'. However, it was a tried and true method to vilify members of this accursed cult.
All it had taken was a single guard of weaker mind. He hadn't even needed to enhance his voice to influence the woman to let her gambling addiction fester, and become desperate enough to accept a bribe to sell information to the media. The fool's family would be compensated for her unknowing sacrifice to the greater good, and her gambling debts repaid. Innocents should not suffer for the sins of others.
The only setback now, however expected it was, was for Ozpin to lead the defense of his student. No matter, his position was near ironclad, and this would be a large step to cleanse the world of humanity's plague. The two men gave each other but a passing glance, as this was not the time for words. In the corner of his eye, he saw the enemy's father unruffled, looking straight ahead and waiting for his turn on the stand.
The reason for the Faunus' calm was simple to decipher. When this show drew to a close, who would stop a warrior of his strength and renown? The answer was no one, and he would walk out of here to save his offspring as boldly as he had entered through the main gate, stirring those who hovered by it in a speculative frenzy. But that power and confidence was also a weakness; one that Cobalt was far too happy to exploit for the benefit of mankind, should the golden opportunity arise.
He was not worried about the father; the son was the far more dangerous of the two. The only proof he needed were the seven youths behind The Black Hammer. A shame, truly, to have such potential corrupted by the shadow, both in mind and in body. In a just world, such an individual would be his son instead. Compared to his progeny, such potential left his progeny wanting in any trait he could think of.
'Then again, what else can I expect from his stock? At least he was of some use at last.'
If he had known that the community of veteran Hunters had such pull in his youth, that option in his career path would have been mandatory. The curse of hindsight, but entering his son was an acceptable gamble with minimal risk. If unsuccessful, then Cardin shall die with honor and purpose, no longer be a liability to his vision, nor a reminder of a past error in judgment.
"All rise." The bailiff announcing the arrival of the five judges from the rear conference room dragged Cobalt from outside his mind back to the present, re-galvanized his focus, and donned a stern but personable visage. He did not get this far and rise to the highest office by underestimating his enemies, but by obliterating them.
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"Now commencing trial of Spring M4 W1 D7, 83 AVA, into offenses committed under the Inter-Kingdoms' Hunters' Code of Conduct by eo tempore Huntsman apprentice Jaune Arc of Crow's Hill. Interrogators and Arbitrators: Councilors Pankarta, Smith, Bartholdi, Peridot, and Ethylene." The hearty monotone of the court scribe began the proceeding, whilst an offline scroll dictated his every word.
The five sitting on high were named from left to right. They wore identical green, ceremonial outer robes befitting their status.
"Court Scribe, Blanco Marsh. Representing The Holy Order of the Golden Eagle, Prosecutor Councilor Winchester. Defense, representing Jaune Arc, Headmaster Ozpin. Prosecution, your opening statement."
Winchester stood and addressed the only other five people worth consideration in the room to him. "My fellow Councilors-"
"As per regulations, your position as Councilor is temporarily suspended until we have reached a verdict. Kindly adhere to them." Councilor Peridot curtly interrupted him as he readjusted his glasses with the back of his hand.
"Noted." He took the reminder in stride. "Councilors, this is an indictment of many horrific crimes. The indictment sets forth that Jaune Arc is guilty of the following, from least to greatest: Murder exceeding twenty counts, destruction and desecration of religious sites, unrestrained and rampant negative emotions, heresy with intent of conversion, and aura experimentation/manipulation. To these crimes, the accused has made no official plea or confession, but I have sufficient evidence for your judgment to render a verdict."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to prevent a gross misconduct of justice." Ozpin rose to recite his own statement. Ruby leaned in, anticipating more, but was disappointed in how brief his words were and in their lack of intensity.
Conversely, it had the stern, grandmotherly looking Smith titter. "To the point, as always Ozpin?"
"Indeed. By the way, your security confiscated my thermos." He retorted, his tone remained lackadaisical, likely due to lack of caffeine. She then realized why he looked like something was missing. In the brief moments the student had seen him, he was never without a supply of whatever he drank on hand, usually a mug.
"Why isn't Jaune here? This is his trial, after all." Ruby whispered to Weiss, who was just as ignorant on this matter as she was.
"Before we present evidence, I believe that one key aspect of this… proceeding is absent. Where is the accused? I have him scheduled for questioning." As if he heard them, which was unlikely, Ozpin brought up that very issue, speaking directly to Winchester.
"The accused is in a secure facility that shall remain confidential. Due to an up spike of Grimm activity in the region, the risk of his transportation was deemed too high, for everyone's safety."
"Of course." If that reply wasn't so bland, it might have been sarcastic.
"Now that you're done exchanging pleasantries…" Councilor Pankarta, the sole Faunus on the Council, spoke with a deep, relaxed voice before he paused to inhale from his cigar. He had a long scar across his nose that stretched from ear to ear as he spoke, "Perhaps someone can explain to me why you brought students?"
"Character witnesses, no doubt. They wouldn't be here if they weren't relevant, you know." Crocodile eyes of molten gold shifted to the speaker to his left, blinking once with an inner membrane, silencing the pompous tone of Councilor Ethylene.
Peridot got events back on track. "Any disputes with listed evidence, from either side?"
"None, your Honor/Grace." Both Ozpin and Winchester replied.
"Then Mr. Winchester, you may proceed." A holographic screen appeared next to the left wall, showing a series of images showing a small town in highlands, bordering a mountain range, consisting more of a variety of tents than permanent buildings, including a temple in the central square.
"This was a Humanitarian effort of the Golden Eagles, led by Officer Açai Cotton, to assist two recently united nomadic groups grow roots and establish a community, near the mountains due west of Vacuo. It initially began as a diplomatic affair in settling a dispute over resources." Winchester established the admittedly wholesome scene of bettering the lives of others. "The location was ideal for them. The land fertile, and a sizeable deposit of Dust had been discovered nearby."
"Why was Vacuo not involved in this affair?" Councilor Ethylene asked. "This was in their domain, after all."
"Nomadic tribes are usually independent, and they fit that mold." The inquisitive judge harrumphed in disapproval of such lack of proper government oversight. "Talks were in the works to begin a trading accord with the Schnee Dust Company and found it as a mining town. Regrettably, two events prevented such prosperity from coming to pass."
The mention of the SDC had more than once glance sent Weiss' way, but she was as ignorant as everyone else of this twist. Though she was the heiress, she wasn't involved or aware of every single business venture in Atlas, much less a failed one in Vacuo. It would be an interesting topic to cover when she next spoke with her father.
"The first was the expected hazard of many frontier settlements; Grimm attacks. However, these were repelled thanks to aura-wielding members of The Order, though lives were still lost in the carnage." Another set of images replaced the old ones, showing three humans in armor, valiantly defending against various Grimm, primarily horse-sized Griffins and Springers, whom are most similar to rabbits.
Some of the pictures were a bit on the lower quality side due to moving objects and nighttime. By the position of the camera, they were similar technology as the headsets used in the Evergreen mission, albeit a model of lesser quality.
"With the construction of a sanctum and defenses being sufficiently augmented for their needs, the Grimm became less of an issue for the community, as the population was low enough to avoid major attention. That changed with a new arrival." Another photo appeared, this one of Jaune approaching the village from the mountains in the west. His friends almost didn't recognize him, as he wasn't in his usual outfit, with the exception of his hat. Instead, his garb was a simple red tunic and khaki cargo pants, clothes better suited for the harsh desert. He was in a less than pristine condition due to cuts and scorches, signs of battle damage, but that was more familiar.
Without Taijitu Dust woven into clothing, an X-strap crossed his chest to hold Djura and Ludwig, while Yharnam and Orion were at his waist, the katana still without a sheath. He was hunched over, clearly wounded from a recent fight.
"I call Hans Arc to the stand."
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In the small break from Winchester's story, Blake took the time to study his audience, the five individuals that would determine Jaune's fate, and compared them to what she knew of them.
Ethylene seemed to eat up every spoken word without a second thought, a woman in the highest office with all the conviction and mental capacity of a mob. Her vote would likely be whatever would put her in the best light, irrespective of truth, if this were ever to be released to the public.
While the middle three seemed to be on different on the neutral scale, but still receptive of the oration, only Pankarta gave her confidence in a positive outcome. It might have been a bit of positive racism, but having a Faunus on the Council gave her a bit of hope for the progress of true equality, even if he appeared to be lacking in compassion. In her previous research of Winchester's tenure in the ruling body, the two's positions were staunchly opposed on many issues. He was also a former Huntsman, so that might play a factor.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Jaune's father took his new seat in the witness stand, in between the prosecutor and defense's places and directly facing the Council. Having sat in one previously, she recalled the subtly oppressive feeling in being forced to tell only truth. It wasn't a compulsion to spill every secret, just that the technology made it impossible to tell anything directly false undetected.
"Mr. Arc, why was your son at that location?"
"Completing his apprenticeship." Hearing his voice for the first time, Blake found it reminiscent of Ren's placid tone. "Doing so alone is part of it."
"And what did that entail?"
"The only reason why anyone would go in that region of mountains; The Shaggoth Hollow." In that room, only three people had ever heard of that location, even if the name sounded familiar, and of those three Ozpin stood up.
"If I might have the floor, as education falls under my career purview?" Winchester did not object, nor did the judges. "The Shaggoth Hollow houses one of the greatest mysteries of the bane of Humanity, the eponymous Shaggoth."
On the opposite wall that Winchester used for his presentation, photos of a few detailed etchings showed the creature at different stages of growth. To those more familiar with the story, it bore a resemblance to the centaur from the fairy tale 'The Centaur and the Unicorn', but only in the most general terms; a humanoid upper half supported by a quadrupedic lower body.
Though its torso was humanoid, there was no shred of nobility from its fictional counterpart, only savagery and brutality, each more so than the last. It's lower half was reptilian, with smaller forelegs that could double as arms and strong hind legs.
The two most fearsome versions were framed.
"I would show the Shaggoth itself, but modern technology has been proven to be unreliable at best in the area, so we must make do. Nevertheless, it's a remarkable variety for two distinct reasons. First, it has not left its hollow for any reason in recorded history, making it no threat to anyone outside of its territory. When the final battle that ended the Great War was not fifty miles away, undoubtedly the source of a veritable ocean of negativity that drew in legions of its brethren, it stayed put."
"If that is indeed the case, why hasn't anyone killed it before now?" Smith interjected. "Unusual behavior aside, shouldn't someone have eliminated it long ago?"
"Someone has. I did, when I was his age, for the same reason. Countless before me have as well. It doesn't stay dead for long, and every time it gets up stronger, smarter." Hans spoke, revealing that he had also fought it in the past. Pankarta solemnly nodded and grunted in affirmation to having done it as well.
"The practice fell out of favor when Shade was built, much like apprenticeships, but enough remember the old ways." The former huntsman, now Councilor, explained. "Kill it as many times as you can, leave before it reforms again, and etch the largest one as proof of success. By the time someone else comes along, it… resets, for lack of a better term, and awaits the next challenger."
"As riveting and educational as this is, I must lobby an objection." Winchester cut in. "No proof has been presented that the accused accomplished this feat. It is equally, if not more so, likely that he simply made an etching without having fought to such an extent."
"True." Hans' blunt admission and agreement was unexpected, and took most aback. "Were it not completely against his character, I might have thought the same. Fortunately, I do have proof of his success, or rather Jaune does."
He pointed to the picture of Jaune approaching the town. "He was wounded in battle. At a certain point, the Shaggoth gains the ability to wield lightning, much like the Leviathans roaming in the seas between Anima and Menagerie, though in a different way."
"Passing that level exceeds the requirements of completing an apprenticeship." Ozpin finished their defense of Jaune's integrity on this matter. "Within each of your evidence folder is an excerpt of Jaune's medical transcript."
Pyrrha didn't need the excerpt to know what they were seeing. She, and the others she sat with, saw the fractal pattern marking his side on a regular basis, but had assumed it was from some form of Lightning-based Dust; evidentially not.
"Objection withdrawn." Winchester could not think of a benefit to continuing this line of thought, so he started a new one. "So the accused, wounded in battle, obviously sought shelter at the town for medical attention. From the mission report of the Shade Academy team shadowing you, Mr. Arc, you arrived a day later."
"Correct."
"What did you find when you arrived?"
"Village was under attack by Grimm, a heavier incursion then usual from what I gathered. Jaune had rallied the people as best he could with untrained civilians, sending them to group up in tight areas such as alleys to bottleneck the enemy. He saved many lives that nght." Hans spoke with fatherly pride, and with challenge.
"The accused's semblance allows him to heal when destroying Grimm, does it not?" The abrupt shift in his line of questioning was unexpected by the larger man, and he paused before he answered.
"Yes, but I don't see-"
"And your son has a history of violence against the Golden Eagles, as shown when he hospitalized several other members a few months ago."
"Objection, leading the witness." Ozpin curtails line of inquiry into his student's personality.
"Sustained. Be so kind as to make your point, Mr. Winchester." Peridot included.
"My point, and the reason for this trial, is that actions cannot be considered heroic if they are orchestrated by that 'hero' in the first place." One final image popped onto display. The town had sustained damage, clearly after the Grimm incursion mentioned, but the location was not the focus.
What had taken the limelight were three Golden Eagles shown before helping build and protecting the people, now violently butchered and their corpses strapped down on racks. Their backs had been carved open and their ribs severed from the spine. Their lungs had been pulled out through the opening as a mocking image of wings.
"In his condition, it would have been more efficient to lure them to him, using the people's emotional response to the execution of these so-called 'bandits', as he called them in the mission report, as bait to slake the bloodlust his cult instills and encourages."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Winchester's colleague, Ethylene, looked green in the face and quickly looked away, clearly having little stomach for violence. With everyone in the room focused on the execution, he allowed himself a brief ghost of a smile, for victory was his.
Ozpin probably caught his satisfaction, but it was too late for him to do anything about it as the damage was done. No matter what the defense brought up, what had come before will influence the judges' decision. Even if concrete evidence existed that would exonerate him, it would crumble from their dyed perceptions. The expression 'a picture is worth a thousand words' was exceptionally apt today.
No matter how clear law and the justice system might be, they were still hinged on the people making those decisions. The best way to influence people was to tell a story, and to frame it in such a way that their mind naturally fills the blanks in by the orator's design.
It was almost cathartic in how well this proceeding was progressing. Glancing at the Beacon students, he observed the predicted mix of shock, confusion, and growing anger. Not as horrified as he expected, but that could be discounted by having stronger constitutions that their profession demanded. But then they began to look at him with that anger, starting with the silver-eyed girl. She clearly wanted to stand up and say something, but cooler heads around her prevailed and the Schnee heiress prevented an outburst, though she did not look pleased either.
'It seems that I was too late, and they had suffered under his influence too long to embrace salvation so easily. It's a truly tragic scenario, especially with such potential to do an abundance of good in the world, but sacrifices are and have always been necessary in this hostile world. Perhaps those more affiliated with the Light and appropriate faith could be salvaged, and a call to Jacques is in order.'
"I call Cobalt Winchester to the stand." Ozpin's statement cut through his thoughts and future plans. His mind blanked for a brief moment due to the unexpected paradigm shift, something that didn't happen often and he didn't much care for the experience. That distaste hastened his recovery.
"I believe that you are mistaken. As prosecutor, I am exempt from such action."
"And under normal circumstances, you would be correct. However, what you have failed to take into account was your own involvement in the events that had transpired." That word, failed, caused an involuntary twitch in Cobalt's neck. He abhorred failure and imperfections, and to be told that he had done so was more piercing than any insult.
"My involvement? I wasn't there, and was only made aware of this heinous atrocity a week later."
"Yes, but those were your men, and if they were still alive, would still be. One could say that you have a conflict of interest on this matter." Those three words killed any chance of further debate. Councilors, when appointed, were mandated to resign from any and all titles and positions. He had managed to slip his leadership of the Golden Eagles through due to its theological nature and technical lack of separation of religion and state, but that had now backfired on him.
What's worse was that he couldn't pull rank to excuse himself because he had temporarily suspended his elected position to have this trial set up in the first place.
"I find your term of choice for the death of your men interesting, Mr. Winchester. While executed is a bold and vivid term, it also has legal implications." Ozpin came out from behind his figurative curtain, nonchalance and passivity left behind with it.
"This leads to my exhibit of why this trial should be dismissed. As we've established, these events took place in a region near Vacuo, correct?" Not waiting for an answer because he didn't need one, he continued. "And according to the Vytalian Accords, crimes are processed in the same jurisdiction that they occurred, regardless of individual citizenship. This includes whatever outcome is derived."
"We are well aware of the Vytalian Accords, as only two years have passed since the last amendment." The councilor in the middle seat, Bartholdi, spoke up for the first time since entering the room. Ozpin took it as a respectful hint from the taciturn woman to get to the point.
"Councilors, this trial has been framed by Mr. Winchester as an appeal to the highest court due to both the accused and the victims being Vale citizens, which the VA does allow as per the latest amendment. However, at the time of the events that transpired, Jaune Arc did not have Valean citizenship, and only has temporary status as one due to being a Beacon Academy student."
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In the benches, they watched whilst their Headmaster put forth his case without opposition, though the nuance of what was being discussed and presented went over their heads for the most part. Yang asked why Winchester was just sitting there as his work was in the process of being undone. She couldn't see his face, but she hoped it was fuming.
"By calling Winchester to the stand, he's essentially been silenced so long as Ozpin follows the rules." She answered with awe. "Normally, the prosecution's attorney can't be called onto the stand like this, but since Winchester is representing himself, he can be."
"Yeah, but what about citizenship? I thought Vale's territory was all of Sanus north of here until the coast." Though she and Ruby had been born in Patch, outside of Vale's wall, they were so close that it may as well be a part of the city. All but three shared this confusion, each hailing from one of the big four.
Ren, who along with Nora had the most experience living outside the Kingdoms, corrected their misconception. Though trade with surrounding regions was practically without tariffs or import/export taxes, and the Kingdoms offered military support to their smaller neighbors when necessary, the relationship is more accurately described as a free trade agreement and a military alliance rolled up into one, rather than a colony or a controlled territory.
Outside the walls, any laws that existed boiled down to whatever was enforced by those with any form of power to do so.
"This feels wrong." Ruby blurted out. "He's not saying that Jaune is innocent or proving that he didn't do it, just that no one here can punish him. He's trying to throw out the whole thing like the wrong side of a crime show."
"Perhaps there is something not being said." Ren offered.
The deliberation was over as the five judges stood up as Councilor Bartholdi announced in a formal timbre, "Based on this information, and upon consulting the relevant regional law, the Council declares that Jaune Arc acted within bounds. This case is henceforth dismissed, and all charges are dropped."
"Woohoo!" A loud cheer cut through the room, before it's source, Nora, sat back down and blurted out a hasty apology when she realized that it had been a bit too loud. Nevertheless, it changed none of the cheerful ambience she sparked to life in their group.
"Councilors, I humbly request that you overturn this disastrous decision!" Winchester protested. His patience had already begun to wear thin as Ozpin had countered his ploy with such finesse that he might have been impressed, in other circumstances.
"The decision has been made, and it is final, Councilor." Peridot borderline scolded his now reinstated peer. "This farce of skirting the law is now over. Release him from custody immediately, before you embarrass yourself and this esteemed body any further."
"There is much more than Law at stake, Peridot."
"Compose yourself Cobalt, for God's sake!" Ethylene was flummoxed at his abrupt lack of his usual decorum. But instead of complying, her outburst seemed only to set him off further.
"God? Do not speak to me about God, you imbecilic toadie! I answer to a higher calling, a higher Order that must be maintained! I am an instrument of God's Will in exterminating the Darkness and all the heretics and sinners that spread it like the diseased vermin that they are." His fanatic confession seemed to have been therapeutic, as he calmed down to his normal demeanor as he straightened his suit cuffs. Seeing what was beneath the veneer of a cultured façade made him appear all the more unhinged and dangerous to everyone around him.
"Guards, escort Mr. Winchester to his living quarters, to be placed under house arrest." Smith ordered, not shaken in the slightest by the display. "I knew that a religious fanatic such as yourself should never have been allowed to be elected."
"I think not." With a snap of the fanatic's fingers, every guard hoisted their weapon, aiming at everyone in the room but those on the Council. On instinct, the group reached for their respective weapons, only to find air.
Councilor Ethylene attempted to stand only to find that she was unable to remove herself from her seat. "Cobalt, what is the meaning of this!?"
Her only answer was another cold look and, "It would be too inconvenient if I let my new figureheads get caught in the crossfire. As for… what I am doing, it is what's best for all. Aah, and before any ideas of resistance come to you, allow me to inform and or remind you that each and every Council Guard standard-issue rifle in this room fires mercury alloy-tipped bullets. I'm sure you're aware of the properties of such firepower, given your now former associate's arsenal; so I must insist on all of you to sit down."
After a brief and silent conference with each other, both adult Hunters did as requested. Though they could have fought their way out of this debacle, unarmed and disadvantaged as they were, the same logic wouldn't carry over to the other twelve hostages. With over two-dozen guns surrounding them, they had no cover if they started shooting and would be as helpless as civilians. Their aura shields meant nothing, and all it would take was a single misstep and a stray bullet to end their lives.
"Very well then." Ozpin spoke as calmly as before being held at gunpoint. "You have us at a disadvantage, that is clear as day. What is it that you want?"
Pankarta, equally unruffled, flicked some ash off of his cigar. "To put all of this together for simply the removal of a teenager is excessive. I assume you want or imagine a greater return on this little power grab of yours."
"My personal interest in this matter is irrelevant, only what my duty requires. The last remnants of the distant past must be cut out, root and stem, and burnt away until not even ash remains. Only then can we ascend to greater, nigh-inconceivable heights. A golden age of Humanity, an eternal dawn is within our grasp, and I shall be its Herald."
Though vocalized concisely, the message itself was borderline nonsensical. What struck out as odd to Weiss was that not a single guard reacted to his spiel with any sign of hesitation. He obviously hand selected or played a huge role in their selection, and unusually disciplined for the zealous rabble she associated under Winchester's thumb. They acted more like Atlasian drones than people.
"And your incarceration of my son will accomplish this… how, exactly?"
He looked to all of them, and saw only opposition to his vision. He hadn't wasted the energy to attempt to convert them with his vocal semblance. None of them were needed, and would only hinder things at a later point if he let them go.
"An idea is like a disease, and should be treated with similar containment protocols; quarantine and purge the infected. But I can see that you will remain blinded to this threat, the true threat, and I am left with no other choice but to send you all to face His judgment on High, and eternal benevolence for your martyrdom against the Dark."
Finally losing her temper, Yang jumped up to shout at their executioner. "Yeah, well you know what? You think you're just going to kill us and get away with it? Fuck you! The only Light you care about is the one you think shines out of your ass, so fuck you and your fanatics, you dickless coward!"
"Yeah! Let's see how high and mighty you feel after I break your legs!" Nora was eager to add her own opinion into the mix.
The rest stood up with her, steadfast. Pyrrha subtly readied her semblance to misdirect enough rifles to create an opening to resist, but her power latched to nothing, as if the rifles had no metal in them at all. Something wrong, besides the obvious, was occurring.
Cobalt Winchester lifted his right hand. "Whether I 'get away with this' will not concern you any longer, but rest assured that I will. The people will believe whatever their ruler tells them to think. I swear on His sacred name that your sacrifices shall not be in vain, and your bodies will be treated with full honors as gratitude for protecting us against this heinous… White Fang attack, regardless of your blasphemies and sins. I will proceed with a heavy heart, but move forward I will, for the glory of the Light. Amen!"
He sharply brought down his hand as a signal to fire, but only a single gunshot was heard from the entrance of the courtroom. A brief silence hung in the air, before Winchester fell to the floor like an unstrung puppet.
"Amen. WoohoHaha-!" Mad, silvery laughter brought everyone's focus to its source, the guard directly next to the door and behind the Beacon students.
"If you're not dead yet, dear Councilor, consider this your compulsory resignation." The masked former guard, now disguised assassin, reached for something in a jacket pocket. With a nearly inaudible click, the other 'guards' flickered and dispersed into nothing, exactly like targets in Beacon's firing range.
The voice was all too familiar, though the skin tone and jaw line did not match at all.
"They make hard light constructs quite realistically nowada- crap!" Before he could finish taking off his helmet, a bench flew the air and crashed through the assassin, embedding into the wall behind him. The surprise attack immobilized and disarmed him, as well as knocked the loose headgear from his head.
"Hmmhmm… throw was a bit subpar, big man." When the dust cleared, a more familiar face was having a horrid coughing fit, that of Jack Napier. "A little lower and you might have broken my presents."
"My apologies. I'll be more careful this time." It might have been sarcasm were it not from a voice of stone. Hans loomed over Napier, but the latter showed no fear against someone his physical superior.
Grabbing him, Hans sent Jack was sent flying again, landing and rolling to come to a stop next to his former Headmaster, who had done all he could to keep Winchester alive. He was successful, but felt that he had not bought enough time for more capable help to arrive. Napier made to stand up, but was held down to the floor by Ozpin's cane.
"Ah, my wayward student shows his face, and just in time for a trial of his own. Impersonating an officer for the purpose of killing a seated Councilor involve quite a few crimes, but it's a feat more ambitious than I gave you credit for."
"Sorry not sorry, but there won't be one. I've had enough time in this court as it is."
"Do not bet your life on it, Mister Napier. Winchester would have been impeached in time, but you'll still be executed for your debut as an assassin."
"Ooh, an immediate death sentence? Shame, maybe I would have had Jaune as my cellmate. Wouldn't that be fun? Sadly, once again I must decline. That pot seems a bit small."
In Napier's hands was a small device, with his thumb pressed on a button. After a brief giggle, his demeanor turned on a card as he glared at them all with sickly, bloodshot eyes. "How about I up the stakes and bet yours instead? And by you, I mean everyone in this room."
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Chapter End
I hope you all have found this worth the excessive delay. Happy 2018, everyone!
Bestiary Entry:
The Shaggoth
Of the many forms of Grimm that plague Humanity and Faunus, there is one that does not seek out death. The Shaggoth resides in its hollow, and has remained there longer than historical records can recall. Many legends have cropped up about this mysterious monster, but those are stories for another time. The best information about it is literally set in stone. To be more specific, on the stones that mark the entrance to its lair:
-Only one shall enter at a time
-Use only what you bring
-Mark your victory
-Leave, and then never return
All who have broken these four statutes either fall in the Hollow or die soon after.
Its base form is slightly smaller than an average human riding horseback. Each time it is defeated, after five minutes it will reform and grow by ten percent. At it's approximate D-class growth, it will wield a giant axe that looks forged for it alone to wield, growing in skill with each rebirth. At its approximate C-class growth, it gains the ability to wield lightning, channeling it in its attacks.
If it wasn't obvious, I got the idea for the Shaggoth from the Dragon Ogres of Warhammer.