hello everyone, and welcome back to A Rose for the Champion. Here is your chapter and I apologise for how late it is. In between freshers week parties, regular hangovers and lectures writing has been a difficulty. I will continue writing but these updates may well be few and far between now due to my increasingly busy schedule. Regardless, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Each of the eight teens looked at Ozpin with differing levels of shock. Was it really true? Had the General really betrayed everyone that had trusted in him and enslaved them all for their troubles? Around the headmaster the atmosphere fell like a stone, it lost its joviality and adopted an air of confusion and shock. No-one knew quite what to say or do. To the surprise of all it was Weiss whom had the strongest reaction. Her little hands were clenched into fists at her side and her whole body seemed to tremble with a mixture of anger and sorrow. Her face was twisted into a look of pure disgust as though she couldn't possibly fathom what might lead a man to commit such crimes.
"How could he?" She asked her voice scarcely above a whisper yet the venom and hatred within was clear to all within earshot. It sent shivers up and down Jaune's spine as he listened; knowing full well that no matter what Ironwood had done Weiss would pay it back to him in full with the tip of her sword.
"He had it all; he was wealthy, in charge of one of the top academies in the world as well as being lord and master over the most powerful military on the face of the earth. What could possibly have convinced him that this was the right path to take? What could have made him think that such an act of aggression could possibly end in anything but disaster for himself and the world around him?! Not only has he doomed himself, he has also put the entirety of Atlas commerce at risk, including my father's company! When people find out that it was the leader of the Atlas military who attacked the rest of the world, either by order of the council or not, the implications for our economy will be drastic. They will place an embargo on all trade in and out of Atlas." Weiss continued, her voice rising in volume as she went on, her anger boiling over within her and threatening to consume her. Besides the fuming heiress, Jaune placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her an imploring look. She turned to face her leader with fire burning hot within her eyes, contrasting against the icy blue. She locked eyes with him for a long moment before she uttered a long sigh and relented. Calming herself down, she unclenched her fists and took a couple of steps back, her posture and expression once again adopting its usual impassive state.
"Yes Miss Schnee it is indeed a shocking series of events, the political fallout from which will be very lengthy and profound. However, as I'm sure you are aware, we cannot afford to lose our heads on this issue and retaliate without thinking. As I previously said we have been down here carefully contemplating out next manoeuvre and we think that we have found a way to strike back." Ozpin explained once the heiress seemed suitably calm. Around him, the students all gathered in to hear what the old headmaster had to say.
"We believe that we can shut down this virus and free up the remainder of Remnant in one fell swoop. It will however take a great deal of co-ordination and courage from you. I didn't ever want to ask this of you due to the incredible risk that this plan poses, however due to circumstances each of the staff have agreed that this is the best course of action open to us. Professor Goodwitch." He continued, stepping aside to allow Glynda to step in. The disciplinarian stepped up to the table and set down her scroll projecting a 3d map of Vale onto the table. It was finely detailed, showing each and every building, passageway and alley.
"Ladies and gentlemen please close in and pay attention. The plan of action is very simple. You will each be split into three task forces and sent to three separate objectives. Team Burgundy, you will be assigned to attacking the CCT tower here in Vale. Your role will be to disable the tower's communications array, by any means necessary. Ironwood likely knows that the tower is the vulnerable link in his control network and so it is likely going to be very heavily defended so let nothing stand in your way. You shall be accompanied by Doctor Oobleck who will act as your direct liaison with Professor Ozpin and me."
As she finished explaining their role, team BRNY each nodded in agreement and Yang loudly cracked her knuckles. It somehow made sense that the blonde brawler would be so raring to go for the battle ahead. Even Blake and Ren, individuals known for their perpetual calm, seemed to have a fire burning within their eyes. Anxiously, Jaune waited to hear what his own team would be assigned to do.
"Team Jasper, Your own task is a little more risky. You are going to be sneaking into the Beacon campus through the network of sewer tunnels underneath Vale. We don't know what the General will have deployed to defend this route but expect heavy resistance." She said with a nod. "Once within Beacon itself your role will be to cut the head off of the snake, you are to isolate and neutralise the General himself. Be aware that you must not underestimate the General; he is more than he seems. I will be accompanying you on this mission, understood?"
As the Professor explained their role in the whole master plan, a deep feeling of foreboding settled itself in Jaune's gut. He couldn't shake the notion that something was going to go wrong and that maybe they wouldn't all make it back. Yet he knew that the Professor wouldn't let them get hurt if she could avoid it, that one small thought gave him comfort. Looking over his own team he watched as they seemed to exude an air of determination as though nothing that Ironwood could possibly throw at them would stop them.
"But what about when the General finds out about these task forces, won't he just ship all of his available troops out to meet them? Isn't this just suicide for them?" Another student asked, stepping forward. Around him several other students murmured their agreements, looking at both BRNY and JSPR with a critical eye.
"Yes, in the event that they were the only fighters that would probably be the case. However that is where the rest of you will come into play. Everyone else will be massing elsewhere in the city and you will charge the school forcing Ironwood's eye to be fixed upon the main battle right in front of him. Our reports suggest that he is holding the professional hunters prisoner within the residential wing. That is to be your objective. No matter what happens, you are to push for that. If we can free even a handful of hunters it might be enough to turn the tide of the battle."
Once more a ripple of murmurs travelled through the remaining students, in their eyes Jaune believed he could see fear and even envy directed towards both his team and Blake's. He could understand why, compared to a headlong charge against Beacon's front gates, his own mission sounded like a peaceful stroll in the park. Although he knew that they would be far from that. For the rest of the briefing he struggled to devote more than half his attention as his mind played through the role which his team would play. He wasn't sure how best to fight within the sewers and hoped that they would encounter only light resistance because of it.
Once the briefing was over the students drifted away again into their respective sections of the room. Walking with his team Jaune settled himself down against the wall with his head in his hands. He was still having trouble in calming his mind and the added nerves caused by his team's new found responsibilities weren't helping at all. Around him, both Ruby and Pyrrha tried to help him relax, talking to him in soft voices so that others around them might not hear.
"It's going to be alright Jaune. This is exactly what we have trained for the whole time we were at Beacon. We always knew a day like this might come. In times of war, the Hunters serve as soldiers, fighting to try and restore peace." Pyrrha said.
"'In times of war'? Is that what this is? Are we just soldiers now? I'm not even eighteen and I'm expected to head out there, fight and maybe even be killed?" He replied
"We all are Jaune. Every last one of us is. We all knew that being a hunter would mean serving the people of Vale before ourselves and right now they need us to do that more than ever. There are thousands of innocent people out there, afraid and unsure of what tomorrow might bring, or even if they will get to see tomorrow. They need us Jaune." Weiss interjected, shocking them all by stepping in from her usual position of detachment.
"But Weiss… I'm scared." He murmured, already knowing that it was a weak answer.
"And when has that ever stopped you before. There have been countless numbers of times where we have all been scared and you have led the way. In initiation when we were all in a panic about that Nevermore you were the one with a level head, and the only one who had any idea how we might kill that thing!"
"But Yang was the one who killed it in the end and she did that alone." He retorted.
"What about our first assignment? The whole town was at risk from one of the deadliest Grimm to ever stalk the face of Remnant? Yet you stood strong in the defence of that town against a tidal wave of monsters and even when a professional huntsman turned tail and fled and all common sense told you to do the same. You remained calm and thought of a plan. Not only that but you took on the responsibility yourself so that none of your team might come to harm."
"B-but I was doing that to protect my friends and family…" He tried to justify but the heiress was unrelenting. The blonde knew that he was fighting a losing battle.
"And you are doing that now. With Ironwood holding the world in the palm of his hand, do you honestly think that any of our families are truly safe? We must do this assignment to make sure that none of them may come under threat. I know that you have it in you Jaune and so does Ozpin. You were made a team leader because you deserved to be one. You earned your position and with every mission we all go on you only serve to justify the headmaster's decision. We will all follow you into the very pits of hell if you asked it of us, so don't show our faith to be misplaced by bowing out right when we need you most." Weiss continued, her face colouring a little as she lay bare just what it was that she thought of her leader. Jaune listened in pure disbelief, a feeling mirrored on his face. Did Weiss really think so highly of him that she would truly go through all of that for him? Looking around, first at Ruby and then his own partner, he saw an expression mirroring Weiss' on both of their faces. For the first time since the four of them had been grouped together, the three girls were all in agreement together.
The blonde knight looked at them each in turn with an expression of pure gratitude, a film of tears in his eyes as, for the first time; he knew that he truly and utterly meant something to someone.
"T-thank you Weiss, thank you all." He said his voice scarcely above a whisper. The Heiress only chuckled and folded her arms with a satisfied snort, though she couldn't entirely suppress the colour blooming in her cheeks.
"You're welcome, but tell anyone that I said that and I'll deny it." She caught harsh looks from the other two girls "What? I have a reputation to uphold y'know?"
At that, both Ruby and Pyrrha stared at the heiress with expressions like they had just been slapped hard. Jaune only laughed, starting as a small chuckle and building into a rich and full laugh. All around the room, eyes turned to face the blonde with brows raised quizzically. Yet Jaune didn't care. He laughed at just how the heiress had reacted. It had become her custom for whenever she demonstrated emotional capacity or affection to immediately try and draw herself back into her usual impassive state. Every time he watched her do it, it never failed to make him laugh.
When finally he stopped laughing again, his sides ached and his lungs burned. Catching the number of people who were looking straight at him at last, he began to slowly turn a brilliant shade of red. Moving over towards the circular wall of the room, he removed Crocea Mors from his waist and sat down against the wall. Drawing his family's blade from its sheath, he studied the edge intently for any chips or battle damage. If he was to lead his team into battle the following day, then he would have to make absolutely sure that his equipment was in the very best condition. Seeing that there were no major scars on the metal, he retrieved his whetstone from the pouch at his waist and began to slowly sharpen his weapon.
His teammates soon joined him, taking their places at his sides. Pyrrha sat to his left and began to inspect her arm. All around her, her black aura flared out as her body began to attempt repairs on her damaged limbs. Her arm glowed with particular intensity. He paused in his maintenance to watch her as both Ruby and Weiss sat with him to his right.
Pyrrha had her eyes closed, taking deep breaths in and out as she entered a meditative state. Her calm was broken by the occasional wince and pained expression. Jaune didn't know how long he watched her for, it could have been minutes or it could have been hours. He had ceased to be aware of the passage of time, being far too interested in what she was doing. It always intrigued him to watch the other Beacon students as they manipulated their aura, though why it was he couldn't explain. Perhaps it was the hope of learning some new technique from them. Regardless of why, his cerulean blue orbs remained fixed on her face.
Finally, after quite some time, her eyes fluttered open once more. She leant forward with a sigh of relief, wiping away the sweat which beaded her forehead. Seemingly, the exertion of fixing her various injuries had taken quite the toll on her physically. Once again, Jaune reached into his pouch and pulled out a small chocolate bar. It was his favourite kind and he had planned to enjoy it after all the fights at the end of the day. His eyes lingered on the sweet for a long moment before, with an immense force of will; he held it out to her.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha said quizzically, her intense viridian eyes fixing on the packet and then the blonde's face.
"You look a little hungry after all that. It's alright, take it." He replied with a smile. Pyrrha watched his face for a few seconds, as though making sure he was sincere before slowly reaching out and taking the packet. The champion would never normally have eaten such a thing, instead choosing to stick with her strictly healthy diet. But at that moment she was too hungry and tired at that moment to care. She took a slow nibble of the sugary treat, slowly savouring its flavours for a long moment and mulling over whether or not she found them pleasing; yet before she could reach her verdict, her stomach let out a growl reminding her of her hunger and the fact that she hadn't eaten since first thing that morning. After that, she soon polished off the snack, glad to have her hunger sated, at least in part.
Seeing that she had at least eaten something, Jaune settled back into his work on Crocea Mors. The rasp of his whetstone upon the blade was the only sound that filled their region of that room as his teammates got comfortable around him. Before long, he was the only one that remained awake. He sat there in the gloom, his brilliant blue eyes fixed on the blade in front of him. As he finished sharpening his weapon and made to inspect the blade, he heard a soft whimpering off to his left.
Turning to face the source of this noise, he saw Pyrrha, her sleeping face twisted with fear. Even as he watched, she curled herself up into a ball, wrapping her arms around her knees and hugging them close to her chest. Her hands locked with one another, turning them white with the sheer force of her grip. Her whole body trembled as whatever nightmare she was embroiled in upped the intensity. Reaching out, he made to place his hand on her shoulder so that she might at least know that he was there. But as his hand approached her skin, a mere hair's breadth from her she jolted awake. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she struggled to comprehend just what horrors that her subconscious had thrown at her.
He reached out and gently placed his hand upon her bare shoulder. With a gasp he found her to be icy cold to his touch. Removing his hoodie, he quickly wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled her in close, hugging her tightly. She struggled against him for a moment before coming to terms with her surroundings and relaxing into his arms. Tears formed within her eyes and rolled their way down her cheeks, dampening his t-shirt, but he didn't mind. He held her for a long while, rocking her back and forth gently.
"It's alright Pyrrha. I'm here" He cooed, gently rubbing her arm.
"B-but Jaune… She was there…" She sobbed in reply.
"Who was there?"
"P-Penny… She was out of control… I couldn't stop her…" The champion whimpered beside him, clearly disturbed by the events that her mind had pushed onto her.
"Pyrrha, there is no-one that you can't beat. No-one." He replied, pulling away to give her honest to goodness smile.
"But she is just too powerful. I couldn't even block her attacks in the tournament."
"Pyrrha, she isn't too powerful. I mean sure she is really strong but there is no way that I'm going to let her hurt you, and neither would Ruby or Weiss. Penny might be able to beat any of us on our own, but we aren't on our own are we? We fight together, all four of us." Jaune felt some colour come to his cheeks as he spoke, and hoped that the gloom concealed it from his partner.
"Y-you really mean that?" She asked with a hint of scepticism which wounded the blonde's pride. Was it really so uncertain that he would be willing to fight against the worst odds with his partner?
"Of course I mean that Pyrrha. You have always stood by me. I would be a poor excuse for a partner if I abandoned you when you most needed it." Hearing those words seemed to have a more profound impact on the redhead. Her saddened expression was replaced with one of a more cheerful disposition which in turn bolstered the blonde's spirits. He pulled her in a little closer and rested his head against hers. The two of them shuffled around a little before both were in a satisfactory position of comfort. To anyone else in the room it might have seemed that the two of them had ceased to be separate entities and had instead become only one. The two teenagers closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep with warm smiles on their faces.
Jaune dreamed that night for the first time in a long while. He dreamed vividly of Vale; every detail seemed so real and precise that he might have just reached out and touched it all. He could smell everything, and see clearer than ever before. He looked down upon the city from great height, watching small wisps of cloud float by below him, completely unaffected by the events below. Indeed, there was something going on in the city. With growing horror he saw that a great many of the buildings were ablaze with great billowing plumes of smoke rising up towards the sky. In the streets themselves were crowds of people charging around with battle cries upon their lips. To Jaune, the whole city looked like an ant's nest that had been stirred up. Seeing the wide variety of the weapons that they carried, he easily identified them as hunters.
With a frown, he watched on as another group of ants came into view in the streets, another colony of ants, yet unlike the first batch these shone in the brilliant morning sun. They formed tight blocks which completely spanned the street. Even as he watched on, they produced what he perceived to be rifles and raised them up. The battle cries faded and became more uncertain of themselves and then, as the blonde watched, the first volley was fired. Time itself seemed to slow to a stand-still, he saw each of the bullets in perfect clarity as they rocketed towards their targets with deadly accuracy. Closer and closer they flew until only a scant inch separated them from their targets. He tried to shout, to warn them but whenever he tried no sound came from him. In horror he watched as the deadly projectiles struck the first ranks of the charging huntsmen. And then he woke up.
Sweat beaded his forehead, cold and unforgiving. It was a true sign of the intensity of his dreams. His breathing was ragged no matter how hard he tried to calm it. Gradually his eyes came into focus and he found himself staring straight into the golden feline eyes of Blake. She looked at him with a momentary expression of concern, scrutinizing his face for any signs of trouble or instability. The blonde only stared back, still struggling to fully comprehend his dream. Was it an omen, a bad sign for all those about to march blindly into battle? Peering past the faunus he found that his teammates and the remaining members of team Burgundy were already up and on their feet. Pushing against the wall behind him, he rose to his feet and shook the sleepiness from his mind. Stepping over to stand with his friends he caught a brief smile from Pyrrha and an unexpected hug from the little rose. Weiss only gave him a curt nod, her mind already in the mind set for their task.
"Well Jaune… Are you ready?" Blake asked in a low voice as she came to stand beside him.
"I think so. You?" He replied, trying to sound as confident as he could.
"Honestly? We're nervous. But we'll do our best to get the job done." Such a revelation perturbed the blonde, it was unusual for him to ever pick up on Blake being nervous. For her to freely admit it must have been something incredibly difficult for the stoical faunus.
"It'll be okay… We'll all be back in our own beds tonight, just you wait and see." Jaune said after a brief pause, looking around at the faces of his friends and wondering if he might ever see them all together again. He bolstered his voice with as much confidence as he could muster and for a moment, their morale seemed to be lifted. The two teams queued for their rations and ate their last meal together before their 'zero hour'. It was a jovial atmosphere with bawdy jokes flying freely from Yang, keeping them all entertained. Yet it couldn't last, as Goodwitch approached their newfound positivity was sapped away again, leaving them each alone with their nerves once more.
"It's time… Good luck to you all." The professor said. They were simple words, yet the look on her face expressed an inner most concern for the eight of them along with a single question which undoubtedly, all of the professors were thinking.
'Will I ever see these students alive again?'
So yeah, this chapter ended in a much darker way than I may never have anticipated. Yet I feel that in order to truly set the tone for what I have planned in the next couple of chapters, it is an entirely necessary tone shift and I hope you all enjoyed it all the same. Send me all the reviews you like and let me know what you think. If you enjoyed this chapter then please do show your support by favouriting and following. A great many thanks to you all and as always I'll see you all in the next chapter.