A/N: Enjoy!

It was another harrowing journey on the Bullhead for Jaune, jerking back and forth from the turbulence and making him generally miserable. After an eternity, Jaune was finally able to pick himself off from the ground and shook his head, finding appropriate bearings to allow his legs to function vaguely human-like. Everyone looked sympathetically, as always, at Jaune, except Yang, who still refused to look at the sickly boy.

As always, when the door hatch opened up, Jaune was the first one to exit, performing his ritual of praising the ground and vowing to never leave it again. This time however, it was interrupted by Yang rudely bumping into Jaune, not even bothering to apologize as she strode past. Jaune frowned, making note that he didn't need much more encourage to talk to her.

The clacking of high heels close to him attracted Jaune's attention, causing him to turn towards Professor Goodwitch, who simply leveled her gaze at him.

"Whenever you're done Mr. Arc." She said calmly, causing his cheeks to tinge a little in embarrassment. With a quick nod, Jaune lightly jogged to catch up with the group, ignoring Cardin's sniggers. Other than that though, there was little other noise, as everything had been discussed beforehand, plans and backup plans ironed out to prepare to siege the pass of the Mountains of Sorrow.

Jaune snorted, thinking of the cliché name. Who came up with this stuff anyways?

As they got closer to their destination, Jaune was able to appreciate the size of the mountains that blocked their passage. The mountains truly were colossal, bunched together in tight formations that made it difficult to navigate through with any means of transportation, barring maybe an orbital landing.

There were few valleys, and fewer passes through the mountain range, the bases of the peaks so wide around that Atlas could barely fund for a half a dozen tunnels through them.

Team ARC was soon approaching the biggest pass of the mountain range, almost half a mile wide across, which would allow forces to be moved out of Atlas at much more reasonable speeds than if they were going to scale the mountaintops to arrive outside of the country. Unsurprisingly, it also worked in reverse. With the pass freed of the presence of Grimm, the United forces would be able to hinder the Grimm forces much more efficiently, and slow down its advances even further, giving the Atlas forces even more time to breath.

As the ground below them dipped downwards, Jaune's breath caught at the scene of almost a hundred Hunters and Hunters-in-training standing on an open field, some milling about, some focused on the upcoming task, and all standing and ready to fight.

This was extremely important to stopping Imaar, Jaune realized.

This didn't help his nerves at all, Jaune having to grip onto Crocea Mors a little tighter, letting out a few steadying breaths. Yeah, there wasn't any pressure at all. After all, Jaune was just the leader of a task force that was supposed to be getting rid of the biggest obstacle to the United Forces advancement.

Yeah.

A few weeks back, Jaune would've simply shook his head and turned tail, running as fast as he could in the opposite direction. He wanted to be a hero, yes, but even the most idealistic hero wasn't suicidal. Dust, even now, with the power of a Dragon's soul backing him up, Jaune wanted to hide under a rock at the enormity of the task at hand.

We will do fine. Vedrahgol said, in a rare mood to reassure his host. You are strong, and you will not be alone in this.

Jaune smiled at Vedrahgol's attempt to cheer him up, thanking the dragon mentally, as well as patting his sword as if it was a pet on his hip.

Cardin was standing next to Jaune, a little skeptical, looking back and forth in confusion.

"Wait a second. Where's the big, bad Grimm that's stopping us from crossing?" Cardin said almost derisively. While Jaune wasn't sure he liked how dismissive Cardin sounded, Jaune had to agree, as there was no Dragon in sight. And it wasn't as if Dragons were small enough to hide somewhere.

Right?

Professor Goodwitch raised a finger, pointing to the pass. Jaune narrowed his eyes to try and look a little closer, to discover a lone figure with a controller in his hands, along with a strange machine next to him.

At some unknown signal, the figure fiddled with the controls, and the contraption, which Jaune soon discovered was a drone, lifted up into the sky, zooming forward towards the pass between the rocks.

At first nothing happened, the audience looking with bated breath, waiting to see if anything would occur. It lasted long enough that some people (Ruby, Cardin, etc.) started to move around again, a little restless at the lack of action.

It was a surprise to everyone when the drone jerked hard to the side, going fast enough that it crashed into the side of the mountain. A few people yelped in surprise, eyes wide at the suddenness of the destruction of the drone.

"Wow." Nora said simply, looking impressed. It was something impressive though, the drone flying at such speeds to be flung in a completely opposite direction.

Jaune's mind raced, Vedrahgol speaking to him. In the brief second before the drone had been pulled aside, through Jaune's eyes Vedrahgol was able to spot almost a barrier of wind whirling before it.

Vedrahgol knew of one Dragon that used to do something like that, preventing almost anything or anyone from approaching the Dovah unless he wished, or if they knew a specific shout. This was quickly relayed through Jaune, who started on the long process of understanding and memorizing and meditating on newly learned Words of Power.

Team CDNL looked at Jaune in bemusement as the blonde knight seemed to hunker down on the ground and cross his legs, eyes closed.

"What's he doing?" Dove asked, looking at Jaune while he straightened his back and placed his hands onto his knees, Jaune's mouth fluttering as he started to mouth words that would be incomprehensible to almost anyone else on Remnant.

"He communing with an ancient dragon to find a way to get us through the pass." Yang said drily, her arms crossed as she kept her gaze on Jaune.

"Huh?" The explanation did nothing but confuse them even more, something that Yang saw was evident when she looked up at the confused stares. Shaking her head slightly, she dismissed them.

"Never mind." Yang muttered, before marching away from the group.

"She really is moody today." Blake observed quietly, before making a decision and went to follow Yang, intent on talking to her. Ruby frowned at the scene, but decided that now wasn't the best time to interject with some sisterly love.

Meanwhile, Jaune was trying to ignore what was happening behind him, continuing to concentrate on the Words that he needed to learn to help the Hunters out. But never let it be said that Jaune wasn't an eighteen year-old, making it difficult for him to stay focused on the task for long.

Focus, Maldovah!

With the gentle encouragement from Vedrahgol, Jaune turned back to the task at hand, continuing to meditate on the Words of Power, shaping them appropriately before taking them into himself, bringing the power forwards. Eyes snapping open, Jaune was ready. He only needed one thing.

"Professor Goodwitch." Jaune said, his voice vibrating slightly, and his aura briefly flaring up as he left his meditative state. The chaperone peered over her glasses, waiting for Jaune.

"I need to get close to the pass." Jaune explained, pointing at it. "I know of a way to dispel the blockade." The professor raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure about this Mr. Arc? After all, the United Army has been trying to find a way to get through for the past week." Jaune let out a shaky breath, nodding.

"Yeah. I just need to get close to the pass."

Professor Goodwitch stared at the boy, her eyes almost piercing as she tried to figure out if it was worth the risk for her to allow the students to get close. Finally she nodded.

"Very well. I will accompany you and your team."

With that in place, Jaune called unit ARC around him, ready to discuss what needed to happen. Once they all came around, Jaune hesitated, not sure what to say.

"Just… just get ready." He finally said, the best explanation that he could think of.

"Get ready? Get ready for what?" Yang asked, frowning. "It's kind of hard to get ready for something if we don't know what it is." Jaune turned to her, wincing.

"I, uh. I don't know what's going to happen really." Jaune confessed. "Just. Get ready for anything. Trust me."

At the last words, Yang scoffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and settling towards the back of the group. Jaune pursed his lips, about to say something before Professor Goodwitch intervened.

"Is there anything else you need of us, Mr. Arc? Besides preparing for something that we don't know will happen, that is." Jaune sighed, nodding.

"Yeah. That's pretty much it. Let's move."

At top speed, Hunters could make an insane amount of headway compared to 'normal' humans. At top physical form, a civilian could finish a mile in five to seven minutes. Hunters could cut that down to two or three when they pushed it.

Unfortunately, not sure what they would encounter getting closer to the pass, the group didn't want to waste all of their energy sprinting a mile and a half at top speed. In the end, with a light jog, they reached the foot of the mountains in close to nine minutes, none of them looking the slightest bit out of breath.

The mountains looked even more imposing up close, Jaune having to crane his neck almost ninety degrees to see the peaks. As they got closer to the pass, it got easier to see the faint ripple of fast winds, which were impossibly rushing chaotically between the two mountain edges, preventing anyone from going any further.

Jaune squinted at the barrier, before nodding to himself, sure that he was at a good distance.

Alright, Jaune breathed out, just like we practiced.

"Lok… Vah Koor!"

Just like with the first shout that he had ever used, a force of wind sped outwards from his mouth, almost visible by the ripples. The cloud of force hit against the wind barrier, and seemed to spread through it, infusing the barrier.

For half a second, nothing happened. Then the wind barrier seemed to bulge outwards, before exploding, winds scattering across the valley, threatening to blow them all away if they didn't brace against the ground properly.

That was one powerful wind barrier. The dragon-soul almost breathed the statement out, and for the first time, Jaune was able to hear a tone of voice that he had never heard from the dragon.

Awe.

… This is going to be tough, isn't it?

More than you—or I as a matter of fact—can probably imagine.

Wonderful.

"And it isn't even noon yet." Jaune muttered.

"Did you say something?" Ruby had stepped close to Jaune, worried look on her face. Jaune was quick to reassure her, smiling.

"No, I'm fine. How's everyone else?"

"Well…" Ruby looked a little uncertain, turning behind her. Jaune followed her line of sight and almost burst out laughing at the sight of everyone knocked over like bowling pins. Even Professor Goodwitch had picked herself up from a kneeling position after the wind subsided. Jaune opened his mouth, giving a little 'ah', of understanding. Ruby had probably fallen as well, but with her semblance had enough speed to recover a lot faster.

Jaune wanted to keep admiring the scene, but a loud rumbling disrupted any thoughts of doing so, as well as making some of them fall onto the ground again. Turning to face the large pass, Jaune discovered Grimm rising from the ground, as well as the sides of the mountains. Flocks of Nevermore also rose from the mountaintops, cawing and hovering menacingly.

Carefully Jaune drew out Crocea Mors, putting himself at ready. There were sounds of movement as everybody behind him quickly recovered, finding a threat standing in front of them.

There were a ton of Grimm, but that was something the United forces were starting to get used to. Without waiting for the Grimm to make a move, several Hunters gave a battle cry and started to charge forward, ready to attack.

And was quickly stopped when an enormous fireball, as large as a Bullhead, smashed onto the ground a few yards away from Jaune's feet. Jaune raised an arm to shield himself from the sudden light, while his aura snuffed out embers that tried to get close enough to burn him. When the blonde knight lowered his arm, he was treated with the sight of an enormous dragon, with scales colored black. However, if Jaune looked closely, he could see that the scales weren't completely black, seemingly tinged with a cherry red color, as if someone had left the scales in a hot furnace.

The dragon was enormous. Bigger than the other two dragons that Jaune had faced, he blocked the sun with contemptuous ease, his wings flapping slowly to keep him aloft. Even several hundred meters away from the dragon Jaune could feel the wind made from the wings against his body, powerful enough to shift any clouds close to it away.

The dragon opened its jaws, making Jaune tense a little, but only deigned to speak, the throat pulsing as the dragon spoke, causing minor vibrations along the ground.

"Turn away." The dragon said. Vedrahgol almost spasmed in delight, roaring.

That is the language of the Dov! Quickly, you must speak back!

The urgency of the dragon-soul's words made it so that Jaune opened his mouth quickly, trying to think of a sentence that would get the point across. This was harder than it looks, as Jaune had really only spent a few hours learning the grammatical structure of the language, really only concerned in using the language for his Shouts.

"We must pass." Jaune said almost haltingly, the sounds feeling strange in the back of his throat, unused to talking in the language without pushing power into it. The dragon flapping his wings before the United forces didn't move, simply staring at Jaune until he opened his mouth once again.

"Turn away." Again the phrase was repeated, without anther word more or less coming from the dragon. Jaune furrowed a brow in confusion, a dreadful feeling gathering in the bottom of his stomach. The blonde knight also repeated what he had just said, waiting for the dragon to say or do anything.

The dragon opened his mouth, but instead of the slight crack that he had done moments earlier when he was speaking, the mouth opened up wide, revealing slightly yellowed teeth and a black tongue.

"Fus…"

"Everybody get down!"