A/N:
SilentKnightFan- Ok, thats good. Felt like I did. Regardless though, I still love it. As for Neo in RWBY, RT DID NOT screw up XD So Im happy about that. BUT they did screw up on keeping Older Jaune cuz MAAAAAN the shenanigans tha wouldve ensued when they returned wouldve been HILARIOUS XD
Hunchback of Notre Dame? AWESOOOME! And YEEEEESSS! Anita focused :) WOOOO! I have no doubt that you will live up to it. And tbh, i like these special chapters with a focus shift on Jaune's kids. Hoping the other kids get a focus too XD like Neiger Arc Schnee and Lyra Balto Arc.
Also, considering that Jaune and Nimueh had a foursome, I'd absolutely lose my shit if Kali did get pregnant and both her and Ghira have been able to secretly hide her's and Jaune's kid or kids from Blake until they felt she was ready to know XD The shitstorm that would happen would be AWESOME XD Anyways dude, as always, love your fics, keep it up and stay awesome _
Imagine Nora's reaction alone. I can see her climbing Jaune like he was a mountain before tugging on his beard. "Ren, you ABSOLUTELY need to grow a beard! Look at how amazing Jaune's is!"
And the thirsty moms! Ooh, if they were attracted to baby boy Jaune, then they would absolutely need an ocean to quench their thirst when seeing Rusted Knight Jaune. . . *sniffle* RT stole a treasure from us.
The special chapters are fun, aren't they? At the very least, they show that Jaune's kids are more than capable of being protagonists in their own stories. One of the main points of the side stories is to show that not even Jaune can save the entire world on his own, but more so that he doesn't need to. That his kids are capable of saving the world just as easily as he can. Though, not sure I can use Neiger anytime soon. After all... HE'S A BABY! gonna be a long time before he can take a hero role. Oh, and I think you mean Taria Balto. Lyra is Lie and Nora's daughter, as well as Argent's not-but-actually-really-is girlfriend.
OOOH, BLAKE WOULD BUTCHER JAUNE AND NIMUEH IF THAT HAPPENED! THAT WOULD BE HILARIOUS! Oh, I almost wish I did think of that.
Back atcha. Hope you continue to enjoy my story.
Dios de la oscuridad - I'm getting sick and tired of seeing stories that have Overpower Jaune added go them...
I somehow doubt that. Overpowered Jaune was practically a disclaimer. I warned people about that going in, and yet you clicked on here anyway. Oh, wait. I get it! You're an anti-Jaune troll! Sorry, but he's the most interesting character on RWBY to me. The one with the most potential at that. No way I could make a story like this with any of the main RWBY girls. Let's face it, WBY's story and character arcs are pretty much over. Ruby is the only one left who has an interesting story left to explore. Oscar? He's literally Jaune 2.0. His sequel. I'll stick to the original, thank you very much. Sorry this story ain't for you, but why would you even click on something you know you'd hate? Ah, whatever. Hope you find a story you like. I don't have any recommendations, though. Sorry.
Fue walked past Ténèbres, looking around. "My boy, whoever are you talking to?"
"M-My friends."
Fue looked at the now-still statues. Fue doesn't know that Ténèbres not only has Aura but a Semblance that can bring statues to life. Why would he? Ténèbres was an extremely rare case, for not many, human or Faunus, are born with Aura already unlocked. To keep Ténèbres's secret safe, his friends would always revert back to mere lifeless statues whenever Fue appears.
"I see. And what are your friends made of," Fue asked as he knocked on Nevermore's head.
"S-Stone," Ténèbres said as he looked down.
Fue lifted the young man's head, making him look into Fue's face. "Can stone talk?"
"No, it can't. Not without a Semblance."
"Oh, silly child. There is no Semblance in all of Remnant with the power to give life to stone. Only our God of Darkness has the ability to give life. As mortals, we can only take it."
"But the papers you've brought me... I-Isn't the Vale Knight able to-"
Fue smacked Ténèbres. "NEVER mention that man before me," Fue said with hatred laced in his voice.
"I-I'm sorry, Master."
"I am truly sorry to strike you, Ténèbres, but you must be disciplined. Learn of the mistakes of this world so as to not..."
"Repeat them."
"That's right. You're a smart lad," Fue said as he walked towards the carved table. "Now. Lunch," he said as he place the basket down and sat on the carved stool.
Ténèbres ran and grabbed the tableware, two normal wooden plates, a beautifully carved grail, and a humble small cup. It was obvious which belonged to who.
"Shall we review your alphabet today?"
"Oh, yes, Master. I would like that very much."
"Very well. A," Fue began as he poured Ténèbres wine into his little cup.
"Abomination."
"B," he said as he poured into his grail.
"Blasphemy?"
"C?"
"C-C-Contrition."
"D?"
"Damnation."
"E?"
"ETERNAL Damnation."
"Good. F," Fue began to as began to drink.
"Festival." Ténèbres realized his mistake when Fue spat out his wine.
"Excuse me?"
"F-F-Forgivness!"
"You said 'Festival'," Fue said as he stood up.
"NO!"
"You are thinking about going to that horrid festival," he said as he walked away.
"It's just that you go every year," Ténèbres said as he followed Fue.
"I am a public official! A member of the council and the Supreme Judge of Minuit. I must go out of duty. But I don't enjoy a moment of that blasphemy. As I have said countless times before, there are far better ways to please our God. However, if mortals acting as buffoons amuse him, who am I to end it? Still, thieves and cutpurses and filth, the dregs of Remnant all mixed up together in a shallow drunken stupor. I can only thank our benevolent God of Darkness that the elites of Minuit never have to experience such debauchery."
"I didn't mean to upset you, Master."
Fue stood near a railing, looking out at the beautiful city of Minuit at one of the kingdom's highest points. "Ténèbres, can't you understand? When your vile Faunus mother abandoned you as a child anyone else would have drowned you, including that detestable Vale Knight."
"But, i-isn't the Vale Knight Remnant's greatest hero?"
"Lies and propaganda, my boy. All he has done is aid in the destruction of a vile witch who took the power of our God for her own selfish desires. Jaune Arc is no hero. He is nothing more than a fool with our God's sword in his hand."
"I-If he has the God of Darkness's sword, doesn't that m-make him worthy?"
"My dear boy, our Lord works in mysterious ways. After all, he sent you to me. But if this is the thanks I get for taking you in and raising you as my son?"
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Oh, my dear Ténèbres, you don't know what it's like out there. The vile evil, the monstrous actions of man, the filth of Faunus, and the harsh judgment of the Grimm. But I do. I do. The world is cruel. The world is wicked. It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole city. I am your only friend. I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you. I who look upon you without fear. How can I protect you, boy, unless you always stay in here? Away in here. Remember what I taught you, Ténèbres. You are deformed."
"I am deformed."
"And you are ugly."
"And I am ugly."
"And these are crimes of which the world shows little pity," Fue said as they walked to Ténèbres carved model of Minuit. "You do not comprehend..."
"You are my one defender."
"Out there they'll revile you as a monster."
Ténèbres picked up the carving of him. "I am a monster."
"Out there they will hate and scorn and jeer."
He picked up a carving of a normal villager. "Only a monster."
"Why invite their calumny and consternation?! Stay in here. Be faithful to me," he said as he pushed away the other villagers off the model.
"I'm faithful."
He then placed the basket of food on the model.
"Be grateful to me."
"I'm grateful."
"Do as I say," he said as he took Ténèbres carving out of his hand. "Obey."
"I'll stay in here," Fue and Ténèbres said in unison as Fue placed the carving on the walkway of Beauté Noir.
"You are good to me, Master. I'm sorry."
"You are forgiven. But remember, Ténèbres, this monument to the God of Darkness is your sanctuary." He then smirked before leaving.
Ténèbres looked down sadly. "My sanctuary," he said softly.
Ténèbres looked back at his model, staring at it before he spotted a particular carving. The one he made of Jaune Arc. He picked it up, looking at the simple yet detailed face he made for the hero. 'Anyone else would have drowned you, even that detestable Vale Knight,' Fue's voice went in Ténèbres's mind.
Ténèbres then walked over to a pile of newspapers from all over Remnant, most of them about Jaune. He picked up the first paper, a picture of Jaune shaking the hand of a Mistrilian Council Member. He looked at the next to see another picture of Jaune patting the head of a Faunus child, the man oblivious of the picture being taken of him, a caption above his head.
VALE KNIGHT WAS CAUGHT AIDING IN THE EFFORT TO REBUILD THE BURNED-DOWN FAUNUS PROTECTION HOME IN ANVIL.
The next paper showed a picture of Jaune pushing a notorious crime lord into the back of a New Mantle Manta, Elm resting her hammer on her shoulder as she glared daggers at the crime lord.
VALE KNIGHT CAPTURES NOTORIOUS KING PIN, WHITE FIST FISK, AND HELPS ESCORT HIM TO ATLAS TOWER.
The next paper was what always caught Ténèbres's eye.
VALE KNIGHT SAVES MINUIT FROM A SWARM OF ACRIDEATHS, SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES.
The picture was of a beat-up Jaune, covered in slashes wearing torn clothes and damaged armor, yet still holding his sword up high and proud. 'A hero like this... would never be cooped up here,' Ténèbres thought before looking out towards the city. "Just one day. Just one day. One morning out there like an ordinary man. Just one day, and then I swear I'll be content with my share. Won't resent it. Won't despair. Old and bent, I won't care. I'll have spent one day out there."
As Ténèbres made that promise, someone was walking into the city, trying to use his scroll's GPS, but it was on the fritz. The man sighed. "Use the same scroll for a couple of decades and it decides to die when you need it most. Maybe I should upgrade like I was told." The blonde man put away his scroll before seeing two guards walk by. "Excuse me, gentlemen, by scroll is on the fritz. Could you tell me the way to-" The men just walked away. "The Palace of Justice. Really polite." He then walked down the street.
As he walked, he heard music. He looked to see three Faunus, one man, and two women, doing a street show. The man was blowing a horn, the woman with beautiful raven wings was dancing with a tambourine, and the equally beautiful woman with silver hair and goat horns was playing guitar while holding onto her walking stick. The man saw that the Faunus with a stick was holding up a crooked leg, but that one default didn't take away from her beauty, especially those blue eyes of hers.
"Stay away, child," a mother went. "Those are Faunus. They'll steal us blind!"
The man walked up and threw some lien into the hat, staring at the Goat Faunus, specifically her gold and blue eyes before noticing the Raven Faunus. If it wasn't the emerald green eyes, it was that bewitching smile. He couldn't believe how beautiful these two Faunus were.
A Faunus boy with a rat tail then whistled, alerting the others. The Dog Man ran quickly, but the Goat Girl was reaching for the bag, the Raven helping her when guards stomped in front of them.
"Alright, Faunus, where did you two get this lien?"
"For your information, we earned this," the raven went.
"Faunus don't earn lien," the mustache guard went.
"They steal it," the fat one grabbed the raven from behind, accidentally making her drop her goat friend.
"You'd know a lot about stealing," the raven went.
"And honestly, so would I," the goat went. She then rolled onto her back and used her good leg to kick the fat guard in the crotch, making him squeal in a high-pitched tone. She then stabbed her walking stick into the ground before vaulting off from it and stomping on the mustache guard's face before kicking off of him, making him fall hard onto the ground.
As she fell, the raven spread her beautiful wings, flew up, and caught the goat before flying off, lien still in her hand.
"Ta-ta," the goat teased before giving a mocking air kiss.
"Get back here, Faunus Filth," the mustache guard yelled as he and his partner tried to run after the long-gone duo.
The blonde man then tripped the mustache, the man falling face-first onto a puddle of muddy water. "Oh, dear. I'm sorry about that. I didn't know my feet were in your way."
"I'll teach you a lesson, peasant," the fat guard went as he took out a dagger.
The man then pushed his cloak away, revealing gold armor and a sword, which he drew, the barrel of a gun visible at the hilt of the blade. He then took out his scroll and held out his license. "You were saying, lieutenant?"
"Oh! C-C-C-Captain!" He saluted while still holding his dagger, slamming the hilt onto his helmet and bonking himself in the process. "Ow! At your service, sir!"
Mustache finally raised his head out of the water, only to have half his mustache sliced off by the captain's sword. "I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but, the Palace of Justice?"
Meanwhile, Esmeralda landed on a safe rooftop away from the guards, placing the Goat on BOTH her feet. "You really know your way around that thing, Anita."
The goat's horns vanished, her silver hair turning back to half blonde, half brunette, her gold and blues eyes now blue and brown. "Knock First has been my partner for years, love. I very well should know how to wield it. So, that gentleman from earlier, any idea who he was?"
"None. I've never seen him before, but seeing how those idiots are acting, he must be important."
"They're addressing him as captain."
"You can hear from all the way up here? I thought your Semblance involved visual illusions."
"It does, love. But Master Thieves need impeccable hearing, you know. It would be tacky if someone were to sneak up on you while you're trying to crack a safe."
"Speaking from experience," Esmeralda asked with a raised eyebrow and snarky smile.
"Tut-tut-tut. Asking a lady her secrets. How dare you, Essy," Anita teased.
Esmeralda giggled before looking around. "We should be able to reach Beauté Noir's plaza easily. Have to get ready for the Feast of Fools, after all."
"And you're sure Fue will be there?"
"Don't worry. He always appears. Perfect chance to assassinate him, if you want."
"Darling, I'm a thief, not an assassin. I only want to analyze the man. The smallest hint is all that is needed for a plan of attack, you know," Anita says with a wink before Esmeralda lifts her and flies away again.
The captain was led to the Palace of Justice, a magnificent yet dark building that almost looked like a medieval castle. It was about half the size of Beauté Noir, if not smaller, but still an intimidating building. Just looking at it made it obvious why no one would want to be brought to the dark prison.
When the captain left the elevator of the building, he heard whipping. When the door slid open, he saw Fue standing in front of a cell. "Stop."
"Sir," a man with a whip asked as he walked out with a salute.
"He's up. Wait between lashes. Otherwise, the old sting will dull the new."
"Yes, sir," the torturer said with a smirk before walking back into the cell.
Fue then noticed the captain. "Ah, so this is the gallant Captain Phoebus home from the wars."
"They're not quite wars yet, but I'm reporting for duty as ordered, sir."
"Your service record proceeds you, Phoebus. I expect nothing but the best from a former National First Class Huntsman. According to my records, had you not joined the army, you would have been promoted to an International Third Class. A very rare yet prestigious honor."
"I do not plan to disappoint you, sir. I will prove that everything you've read about me was true."
"Oh, I would hope so. After all, my last captain of the guard also had an impressive record. He was merely a National Second Class compared to you. He was also a bit of a disappointment to me." A whip followed by a scream was heard, Fue smiling at the event. "Well, no matter. I'm sure you'll whip my men into shape. They could learn from a former Huntsman, after all," he said as he walked off, Pheobus following him.
"Uh, thank you," Phoebus said as he looked into the cell to see a broken and beaten man, blood seeping out of his whip wounds. "T-tremendous honor, sir."
"You've come to Minuit in her darkest hour, captain. It will take a firm hand to save the weak-minded from being so easily misled."
"Misled, sir? And correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Minuit's darkest moment when it was nearly destroyed by a swarm of Acrideaths? Countless soldiers and Huntsmen died until the Va-"
"This is much worse, Captain. Look. Faunus," Fue said as he pointed at Esmeralda, Anita, and the Dog Faunus performing again. "The Faunus live outside the normal order. Their heathen ways inflame the people's lowest instincts, making them as beastly as they are, and they must. Be. Stopped."
"I was summoned from the campaigns and missions to capture Faunus? With all due respect, sir, Remnant is experiencing turmoil as of late. The DunBrock clan is preparing for war against the Dragonewts. Reports state that the Branwen Tribe might be involved. Sparrow Branwen alone is becoming a dangerous threat, and Raven Branwen's power and influence seem to be growing. Worst yet, the Grimm seems to be evolving, with a new variant that the locals have summed Night Mares being spotted, led by a shadowy man. And through all of this, the Vale Knight is said to be in Menagerie for who knows what?"
"That accursed Arc is on the Isle of Beasts? Hmph, I always knew he was a fool. Purposefully surrounding himself with Faunus Filth. Did you know he fought side-by-side with a Faunus on Vytal Island? Saving it from a group of barbarians calling themselves Dalai or some silly word like that. Even more sickening are rumors that he was the lover of that wolf woman who slew the Dalai's leader. Bedding with beasts. And people foolishly call him a hero."
"But sir, he saved Mi-"
"He rid the city of bugs. WE rebuilt it. Am I clear?!"
"Crystal, sir. I assume you know what he is being called now?"
"Now?"
"The people are calling him the Grimm King."
"What?"
Phoebus took out his scroll, Fue looking down at it as Phoebus pulled up news reports and videos of Jaune's exploits. "He's been accomplishing impossible feats. Taming Grimm, wielding magic, defeating monsters capable of destroying kingdoms nearly on his own. A mad woman named Amanda Lavender has documented everything. Jaune Arc is slowly becoming the most powerful being in the world, and people are already praising him as the man who will put an end to the threat of Grimm. A village he saved is already famous for having tamed Beowolves as their guardians," Phoebus said as he showed a picture of a girl happily riding a Beowolf and another of a boy napping on the side of one.
Fue glared at the pictures. "It is even worse than I feared."
"Sir?"
"A war is coming, Captain. A war for the very soul of Remnant itself. And it will all be caused by that man. We must make sure Minuit is prepared to protect itself when that horrid war occurs and to do that, we much eradicate the scourge plaguing our fair city. We must rid it of the Faunus Filth."
Fue looked at the stone rail to see three ants. "You see, captain, for the past twenty years, long before Arc came to my fair city, I've been taking care of Faunus filth, one, by, one," he said as he crushed each ant. "And yet, for all my success, they have thrived," he said as he yanked out a stone, revealing an entire colony of bugs. "I believe they have a safe haven within the walls of this very city. A nest, if you will." Fue chuckled. "Fitting for beasts. Though, they have the gall to call it a court. The Court of Miracles."
"What are we going to do about it, sir?"
Fue smirked before slamming the stone back in its place, a loud squelch of crushed bugs being heard. Fue twisted the stone to push it in deeper, making sure each bug was dead.
"You make your point quite vividly, sir."
"You know, I like you, captain. Shall we?"
Cheers were heard.
Fue rolled his eyes. "Oh, duty calls. Have you ever attended a peasant festival, captain?"
"Not recently, sir."
"Then this should be quite an education for you. Come along."
At Beauté Noir, Ténèbres climbed down the walls of the cathedral, keeping himself hidden in just a simple cloak. He looked at the massive crowd before looking up towards the statues, Beringel waving him on, Beowolf and Nevermore looking happy for him. Ténèbres smiled before riding down a rope and clinging to a pole. When he grabbed the other rope, it came undone and caused him to swing into the crowd, somehow getting involved with the festival.
As Clopin sang, Ténèbres was trying his hardest to keep hidden, somehow becoming part of a puppet show, seeing trained dogs walking men with bones in their mouths, people with crazy masks walking around him, and even somehow getting dragged into a can-can dance with beautiful human and Faunus women, Clopin at the end in a dress.
When Ténèbres crawled out of the tent, he stumbled and fell into the next one, bumping into something.
"Hello!"
"Anita, are you alright," Esmeralda yelled as she pushed her curtains away, seeing Ténèbres at the beauty's legs.
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm more worried about this one. He just came stumbling into your tent. Are you hurt, dear," Anita asked as she knelt down.
"I-I didn't mean to," Ténèbres said as he crawled away trying to hide his face. "I-I'm sorry."
"You're not hurt, are you," Esmeralda asked as she tied her robe. "Here, let's see."
"N-No! No!" Esmeralda moves the cloak to show Ténèbres's face.
"There."
"He doesn't seem hurt," Anita said.
"See? No harm done."
"Though, maybe avoid any of the beer and wine, love," Anita said with a wink, making Ténèbres blush. He couldn't believe how beautiful the raven and the goat were, but what was even more unbelievable was how kind they were to someone as ugly as him.
"Oh, don't tell him that, Anny. But still, just try to be a little more careful," Esmeralda said as she guided him out of her tent.
"I-I will."
"Enjoy the festival, love," Anita said with a wave.
"By the way, great mask," Esmeralda said with a wink before letting the tent close.
"That really was a cute mask. I almost don't want you to yank it off during the King of Fools crowning."
"Who knows? Maybe I won't have to take it off. Can you help me with this," Esmeralda asked as she raised her hair.
Anita helped with Esmeralda's necklace before tying her dress. "There we are."
"Thank you, Anny."
"Of course, Emmy. My, my, don't you look ravishing."
"Why thank you. You know, you can join me for the dance."
"Sweetheart, the point of a thief is to be as inconspicuous as possible. Joining you on stage is the last thing I should do. Besides, even my Semblance has limits. I won't look like a Goat Faunus to everyone. The darker the heart-"
"The uglier you look unless you choose to look different. Aren't you just saying that to make sure you don't use your Aura to look like a cute Goat Faunus to everyone?"
"Thieves also have to be frugal and resourceful."
"Frugal," Esmeralda asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, frugal with our things. With everyone else's, it's fair game."
The women giggled.
"You truly do look beautiful, Emmy. My father wouldn't stand a chance against you."
"Really?"
"Of course not. My father is..." Anita giggled. "He's a himbo."
That made both women laugh.
"Come one! Come all," Clopin went.
"It's almost time," Esmeralda went.
"Time for you to earn some lien."
"Be sure to be on stage."
"Didn't I just-"
"Who else is going to kick off the losing king candidates?"
"Ooh. Maybe I will join you after your dance," Anita said with a snarky smile before leaving the tent.
As soon as she did, she saw her target, Fue De L'enfer. 'As sour-looking as ever,' she thought before vanishing into the crowd.
"See the beauty of Sanus! Make an entrance to entrance! Dance La Esmeraldaaaaaaa, DANCE," Clopin went as he threw down a special powder, making a smoke screen.
Out of the smoke, Esmeralda began to dance with her tambourine and a night sky scarp attached to it. Anita couldn't help but give a wolf whistle at the dancing beauty, Esmeralda showing off her legs and wings with each movement, some of the men even grabbing for her fallen feathers.
"Look at that disgusting display," Fue said.
"Yes, sir," Phoebus said as he pushed up his visor, a smile on his wide-eyed face.
Esmeralda even danced toward Fue, wrapping her scarf around him and giving a quick peck on his nose before pushing down his hat and flying away. Fue angrily yanked the scarf off his neck and grabbed one of the falling feathers.
As Esmeralda danced, she gave a quick wink to Ténèbres, who hid behind his cloak.
Anita then threw her staff at Esmeralda, who caught it and spun the staff beautifully before stabbing it into the ground, spinning around it in a sexy way that made the crowd (mostly the men and some women) go wild, and ending her dance, lien being flung at her.
Clopin then jumped onto the stage, Anita jumping behind him, Esmeralda sneakily handing her back her staff. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the pièce de résistance! Here is it, the moment you've been waiting for! Here it is, you know exactly what's in store! Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore! Now it's time to crown the King of Fools! You all remember last year's king?"
A man was hauled in wearing a jester's hat, the man belching loudly.
'Lovely,' Anita thought with a twitching eyebrow.
"So, make a face that's horrible and frightening! Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing! For the face that's the ugliest will be the King of Fools!"
Anita then noticed Ténèbres, going over to help Esmeralda haul him onto the stage, both beauties smiling at him.
When Ténèbres stood at the end of the line, Esmeralda danced to the start and took off the contestant's mask, the man making a pathetically silly face. When the crowd booed, Anita used her staff like a baseball bat and smacked the man's butt hard enough to send him flying into a puddle, making the crowd laugh and Esmerald winked at her, telling her she did a good job.
The two beauties continued this trend until they finally reached Ténèbres. When Esmeralda yanked at his face, both women gasped.
"That's no mask," a spectator went.
"It's his face."
"He's hideous!"
"It's the bell ringer from Beauté Noir!" Fue stood up, shocked.
'Huh. That got an interesting reaction,' Anita thought when she noticed Fue. She then looked back at the ashamed-looking Ténèbres, the beauty looking at him in pity. 'Poor thing,' she thought sadly. She actually chooses to look ugly as a disguise. She knew the child who looked at least a year older than she had no choice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, don't panic! We asked for the ugliest face in Minuit, and here he is! Ténèbres, the hunchback of Beauté Noir! E-very-bo-dy~!"
The crowd happily lifted Ténèbres, parading him as the King of Fools.
"Once a year, we throw a party here in town," the crowd sang. "Once a year, we turn Minuit upside down! Once a year, the ugliest will wear a crown! Once a year on Topsy-Turvey Day! It's a day we do the things that we deplore!"
'He's crying tears of joy. How beautiful,' Anita thought as she stole a guard's wallet. Anita couldn't help but smile as she watched Ténèbres, the boy looking like he was on top of the world. Even she began to cheer Ténèbres's name.
"You think he's ugly now," the fat guard from earlier went to the mustache guard. "Watch this."
Anita's smile immediately went away when Ténèbres was struck by a tomato.
"Now that's ugly!"
"Hail to the king," another guard went as he threw a tomato at Ténèbres.
Then, one of the most sickening displays Anita has seen in a while occurred. A poor, pure soul being tormented and laughed at. It got even worse when he started to plead, only for Fue to ignore him.
Finally, she had enough. She was no hero, but she would never do this to anyone. Call it the speed of a Master Thief or the speed of an Arc, but in the blink of an eye, she was in front of Ténèbres, using her staff to knock the thrown food back at their owners, her incredible act of skill making the crowd stop. What's more, her emotions also influence her Semblance, meaning her rage made her look like a demon to many of the now terrified people.
"This. Is. DISGUSTING," she roared, making many people, including the guards, fall back in fear. "I am not from Minuit. I travel all over Remnant, but NEVER have I seen citizens this heinous! I've only seen CRIMINALS this cruel!" That made the crowd gasp. "I heard once that the legendary Vale Knight, Remnant's greatest hero, save this city!" That made the people murmur. "I have also heard that it was one of his greatest regrets! NOW I SEE WHY!"
"H-HOW DARE YOU," the fat guard went.
"SILENCE, FILTH," she yelled at such volume that he fell onto his butt. "PEOPLE OF MINUIT, TELL ME IF THE WORLD'S GREATEST HUNTSMAN WERE TO APPEAR HERE AND NOW, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO LOOK HIM PROUDLY IN THE EYE AND TELL HIM YOU WERE WORTH SAVING?!" The crowd murmured. "CAN YOU," she went before slamming Knock First onto the podium, smoke leaving her staff.
Then, the people were horrified as they watched the smoke take form. It became larger and larger before taking a familiar shape.
Before them was a colossal Jaune Arc, his hair flowing freely, which made him look more majestic, yet also more terrifying. It was even worse since he was holding his legendary sword, the hero looking down at them with eyes filled with disgust.
"No! NOoo," a man cried as he kneeled.
"Forgive us! Forgive us! Forgive us," a woman went as she was actually praying towards the massive illusion.
A guard even fainted, wetting himself when "Jaune" looked at him.
Many in the crowd were crying, praying, or looking away in shame. Many of them even felt like vomiting when Jaune closed his eyes and turned his back to the people in obvious disgust.
Fue. Was. Furious.
'Arc again. ARC AGAIN! How dare these peasants react to him like he is a GOD?! HOW DARE YOU DEFILE MY CITY WITHOUT EVEN BEING HERE?! DAMN YOU, JAUNE ARC,' Fue mentally cursed, his grip actually shattering his chair, the man too angry to realize it.
He then glared at the old goat standing in front of Ténèbres, eyes filled with rage before he saw it. Anita's true face flickered within her own illusion. He did not see the old hag of a Faunus. He saw the woman hidden behind the facade. In a split second, his rage was replaced by a single thought:
'Beautiful.'
Fortunately for Anita, her Semblance remained, but she then fell to one knee, absolutely exhausted from creating one of the largest illusions she has made yet, her Aura now well within the red, her staff being the only thing preventing her from falling.
As the people were collecting themselves after experiencing Anita's soul-crushing Semblance, many of them noticed Esmeralda walking up to Ténèbres. She unwrapped her cloak, slowly kneeling towards the frightened boy. "Don't be afraid. At least believe she'll keep you safe," she said as she motioned toward the tired Anita. "I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen," she said as she gently wiped Ténèbres's face. "Anita, thank you for stopping this."
Anita glanced at Esmeralda before sighing. "I guess this is proof that I am my father's daughter."
"Would he be proud of you?"
"Immensely."
Esmeralda smiled. "Then I already like him."
Anita giggled. "You would."
"You! Faunus girl! The both of you! Get down at once!" Anita just stared boredly at him.
"Yes, Your Honor. Just as soon as I free this poor creature."
"I forbid it!"
"The Vale Knight would have done it himself by now," Anita yelled. Esmeralda then took out her dagger and cut Ténèbres free.
"How dare you defy me? AND HOW DARE YOU MENTION THAT MAN BEFORE ME?!"
"I mention him because he is a better man than you," Anita yelled as she stood up.
"I have heard many stories about the Vale Knight," Esmeralda yelled. "His heroism! His accomplishments! The lives he has saved! Even Faunus look up to him as a hero! And what are you compared to him?! You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak of justice yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help! You even denied the help of the Vale Knight himself AFTER he saved Minuit! He wanted to help the people even more but you turned him away!"
"SILENCE!"
"JUSTICE!"
The crowd gasped at Esmeralda's speech. They watched as she and Anita helped Ténèbres to his feet, Anita brushing off a bit more tomato juice off of him while giving a warm and kind smile. She didn't know, but Ténèbres saw her true form, blonde hair and blue eye and all. While others saw a Goat Faunus around Esmeralda's age or an old hag of a goat, Ténèbres got to see the beautiful woman showing him kindness along with the beautiful raven.
"Make my words, Faunus, the both of you, you shall pay for this insolence. Especially you, Goat, bringing in that man's name before me."
"You mean the Vale Knight," Anita teased. "Maybe I should have just said Jaune Arc. Much more proper, and certainly a much more pleasant name to hear than Fue de L'enfer." She enjoyed the angered look on his face.
"It seems we have crowned the wrong fool, Anita," Esmeralda began. "The only fool I see is him," she said as she threw the fool's hat at Fue, Anita quickly shot at it with her Knock First, giving the hat the extra boost it needed to fall onto Fue's face, making the people laugh.
Fue yanked it off and burned it with his Semblance, making the crowd gasp. "Captain Pheobus, arrest them."
Phoebus snapped his fingers, the guards surrounding the beauties.
"Well, let's see. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine-" Esmeralda began.
"So there's ten of them and only two of us? Oh, dear. Esmeralda, I need your wing. I think I'm about to cry," Anita said in a breaking voice.
"Oh, I know, my dear, sweet Anita. What's a poor girl to do?" Esmeralda and Anita then began to cry as Esmeralda wrapped her wings around the two. Then, Esmeralda's wings completely engulfed the two and burst into a flurry of black feathers.
"YOU FOOLS! THE GOAT HAS A SEMBLANCE!"
"Oh, boys. Over here," Esmeralda went.
Everyone looked towards the beheading platform, Esmeralda and Anita next to the axe, their heads above a pile of pumpkins wearing masks. Esmeralda was giving her widest smile, fluttering her eyelashes, while Anita had her eyes crossed with her tongue sticking out, pretending to be dead.
"There they are!" They looked to see Fatso and Mustache.
"Get them!"
"Oop, time to run," Anita said.
"Agreed," Esmeralda went.
"Oh, but have some pumpkin, loves," Anita said as she kicked up two pumpkins before using her Knock First as a bat, smacking both pumpkins at the guards. She hit both right in the face, making the crowd roar with laughter. The beauties then jumped into the crowd, Esmeralda waving at the guards while Anita blew a kiss while they were being carried by the crowd.
The guards stupidly jumped into the crowd, obviously landing face-first since no one wanted to catch them.
After Anita and Esmeralda were placed on their feet, more guards ran after them. Esmeralda patted Anita's shoulder, making her look up at the hanging cage with one of the few human criminals Fue has ever put away. It was an ancient punishment, but Fue liked the old ways of imprisonment. The two jumped onto the cage and used it to smack the three guards, the two riding the cage before Anita had to jump onto the skateboard of a legless Faunus who was trying to escape the rolling cage.
"Thanks for this, love," she said as she kissed the Snake Faunus's cheek.
"WOW," he went before gaining a burst of energy, making him go even faster.
"Esmeralda, sweetie," Anita went as she held out her hand. Esmeralda didn't hesitate to jump and grab Anita's hand, both riding on the board.
Before the guards could chase them further, a man on stilts stood in their path and used his wooden leg to kick all four in the crotch, which absolutely hurt by the sounds of their shrill screams.
The three then looked ahead, only to see a ramp. They flew off of it and landed safely, the three looking back. They watched as the cage smashed onto four guards, opening up at the end.
The old man tiredly got up before his eyes widened. "I'm free! I'm free," he cheered before tripping on the cage. He then fell into another old form of imprisonment, a medieval stock, his head and hands now bound. "Dammit."
Esmeralda and Anita ran past the man, a guard on horseback chasing them.
"Sorry, love! Save you next time," Anita called. The man just sighed dismissively.
"I thought you weren't a hero," Esmeralda said with a smile and raised an eyebrow.
"Saving a fellow criminal is heroic?"
The beauties then jumped and pulled down the pants of another stilted man. The guard ran into the pants and was slingshot across the plaza, falling into a fruit stand, now covered in more fruit juice than Ténèbres.
His iron-plate helmet fell on Esmeralda's head. The beauty took it off and bowed as the crowd cheered. Three more horse riders came rushing towards the beauties, but Esmeralda threw the plate. It ricocheted off all three of them before rushing towards Phoebus. He ducked in time for the plate to lodge into the beam behind him.
"What a woman," Anita and Phoebus said in unison.
"Are you trying to make me fall for you," Anita asked her partner in crime.
"Is it working," Esmeralda asked with a sexy pose and a wink.
"Ooh," Anita went as she also did a sexy pose, making the crowd go wild. Well, the part that saw Anita as either a sexy goat or her true form with silver hair. If they saw her real form, gold hair, and blue eye, it'd be pandemonium.
When two more horseriders appeared, the two ran.
"Can I borrow your Knock First?"
"I think I know what you're planning, but I'd rather keep my weapon, thank you."
"Fair enough."
A whistle was heard, and the two looked up to see a stilted man dropping a staff even longer than Knock First.
"That'll do," they said in unison as the horsemen caught the stick, running towards Fue. Before they realized what was happening, they ran through Fue's seat, the judge ducking in time to avoid getting struck by it. When he got up and tossed the curtain off of him, he watched as Esmeralda princess-carried Anita onto the top of a stage, two stilted men on either side of them.
Esmeralda and Anita bowed before Esmeralda wrapped her wings around the two and vanished in a flurry of feathers again. The crowd cheered at Esmeralda's Semblance, but it died down when Fue put his hat back on and glared toward Ténèbres.
Fue then got onto his black stallion, looking furious. "Find them both, Captain. I want them alive."
"Yes, sir. Seal off the area, men! Find the Faunus girls and do NOT harm them! Be careful. The Goat has an Illusionary Semblance and the Raven has a Teleporting Semblance! Make no mistakes!"
Fue road up to Ténèbres, the boy looking up in fear towards the hard-faced man. The poor boy's eyes were glassy with tears. "I'm sorry, Master. I will never disobey you again." Ténèbres then jumped off the podium and walked towards the cathedral, hiding as much as he could.
Everyone parted from his path, many still afraid of his features, some still calling him hideous.
However, even more, were looking away in shame. They knew that they had disappointed Jaune Arc with how they acted. Many people revered Jaune as a hero. Even more, worshiped him. They knew without a shadow of a doubt that the world's greatest hero would be disgusted with them.
Without knowing that many of the people wanted to beg his forgiveness, Ténèbres closed the cathedral door in shame and sorrow.
As the crowd dispersed, two old women in cloaks were walking around, avoiding every guard. One guard saw their face, but only saw two wrinkly women and ignored them.
Phoebus noticed the old women, seeing how one had black feathers falling past her. He watched as they entered the cathedral together, sharing the same stick.
As soon as they closed the door behind them, Anita let out a relieved sigh as she fell, Esmeralda catching her, Anita's illusion disappearing. The two went from wrinkly old crows back to pictures of beauty.
"Are you alright," Esmeralda asked.
"Just a bit exhausted, love. Those illusions don't just take up Aura, but my stamina as well. I am most certainly in the red," Anita explained as Esmeralda helped her up. "I'm certain so much as a bump on my head would be enough to- OH," she went as she slipped, falling on her butt.
"Anni! I'm sorry," Esmeralda went.
"Ow, ow, ow. Not very lady-like, falling on one's posterior. At least it didn't-" Anita's Aura then flashed before it shattered, her beautiful true form now for all to see. "Of course."
Esmeralda sighed before smiling at her friend. "That was a kind thing you did, defending that boy."
"Kind, was it? Well, it's a bit uncharacteristic for a thief, but it most certainly would have made my father proud. Maybe it was due to his blood flowing in my veins that I performed such a deed."
"Then I'm grateful for your father."
"I'm sure you would." Anita sighed. "Still, it's difficult being a part of the Arc Bloodline."
Esmeralda raised an eyebrow. "Arc Bloodline?" Her eyes then widened as she finally began to connect the dots. "Your golden blonde hair. Your sky blue eye. Trivia being your mother. . . The Neopolitan was known for once being the partner of... the Vale Knight himself. HE'S your father! You're the daughter of Jaune Arc."
Anita smiled at her friend. "Surprise."
"I can't believe it," Esmeralda said as she knelt down to her friend. "Your father is the greatest hero in the world? The Greatest Huntsman? The Hero of Remnant is your father?"
"Mhm. The World's Greatest Thief and the World's Greatest Hero are my parents. Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn't it?"
"Or a legend. But why are you a thief when your father is... well, Jaune Arc?"
"Because I was raised by my mother. My father doesn't even know I'm his."
"What?"
"I'm a secret love child."
Esmeralda looked sad. "Oh."
"My mother wanted to protect my father. It would be quite scandalous for the Hero of Remnant to sire a child with The Neopolitan."
Esmeralda looked down angrily. "Men like Fue would jump on that. Downplaying every act of heroism the Vale Knight has ever done. Probably would even place the blame on him for certain situations, too."
"It didn't take me long to realize that truth. Still, I don't regret the life that was given to me. I actually quite like it. Though, I'm not looking forward to the day Father learns the truth. I could tell he truly loved Mother."
"You met him?"
"I did. He couldn't see through my Semblance completely, mind you. According to him, I had half-red hair and a green eye. But I was still beautiful in his eyes. My face was unchanged to him, apparently."
"Did you... did you want to tell him?"
Anita shook her head. "It wasn't the right time. One day, either Mother or I will tell him, but not yet. It's not the right time." Anita then looked up. "Though, I wouldn't mind telling him the truth in a setting as beautiful as this."
Esmeralda looked up, now in awe as she realized where she was and how beautiful the inside of the cathedral is.