Yang let Blake drop to the floor, causing a fit of coughing from the Faunus. She shakily took a step toward her sister, then another, and another until she was full on sprinting. Ruby was also heading straight to her, and soon the sisters would meet in each other's arms.
She's alive. I found her Mom. I found her. She's safe. She's safe in my arms!
Then, right as the sisters meet, Ruby ducked under Yang's out stretched hands.
She was going right for the still wheezing Blake. She was trying to help her, asking her if she was alright.
Ignoring her sister entirely.
Shock and confusion were understatements to how Yang felt. She watched as her sister was trying to help her kidnapper! She and Weiss kept exchanging looks, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Blake! Are you okay? How bad are you hurt?"
"Ruby...I'm fine...Just give me a minute...to breathe..." Blake started coughing violently, still struggling to obtain air. Ruby was using a little black bow to help clean away the blood around Blake's mouth and nose.
Yang slowly approached, every step echoing off the walls. She felt as though she was in some strange dream as she reached for her sister's shoulder.
"Ruby?"
It happened in a blink of a second. One second Ruby had her back turned to Yang, and in the next, Yang was face to face with the business end of a hybrid scythe.
"STAY BACK!" Ruby yelled, struggling to control the choke in her voice. She still had tears both normal and bloody streaming down her face. "Don't come any closer!"
All was still and silent with the exception of Blake still gasping some and struggling to put her bow back on. Both sisters were locked in a surreal standoff, and Weiss was at a loss of what was happening and what she needed to do. So she stood there, still holding her rapier and Blake's wicked weapon.
"My my. Look at all this melodrama we've got here." A muffled voice called from above.
The four teens broke from their trance, looking up to find Torchwick sitting back in a foldable chair and smoking a cigar. His trusty cane was hooked onto the back of the chair, and the now visible boy stood beside him. His mask glowing a bright red.
Torchwick pulled the cigar away from his mouth, letting a content sigh free with the smoke.
"Now little red has joined the fray. Oh how couldn't have asked for much else." He took another drag of his cigar. "Despite everything, you four have given me a great show."
He rose from his chair, grabbing his cane and adjusted his hat.
"Sadly though, the show must end. I've got things to do, kingdoms to burn down, people to kill. Not to mention you four have to go." He turned to the four and tipped his hat. He then started to turn and walk away with a spring in his step.
"Ta ta ladies. My friend here will show you all a good time. Bye!"
He walked back into the dark of the stage to some place the four teens couldn't see.
Finally realizing what was happening, Weiss spoke up. "Torchwick!" she shouted, even taking a step towards the stage. "Come back you coward! Face me slime!" She knew he was long gone, and it seemed there was no following him.
Rage boiled in the royal as she griped both blades tightly. Turning her knuckles white and causing them to pop loudly.
"Come back you murdering son of a bitch!" She screamed with all her anger.
WWWWWWWW
Jaune and Glynda walked back to the others in silence, but Jaune could feel a change in the air between them. Though his mother had gone completely back into her professional façade, he could still make out the subtle hint of a smile. He'd never really seen this much happiness from her. Not since dad anyway…
When the two of them made it back to the others, both a pleasant and dreadful surprise greeted them.
Pyrrha and Ren were up and moving around. Ren was unusually quiet as he tried in vain to get the dirt out his clothes. Pyrrha was stretching out, testing her manipulated body. And Nora was checking everyone's ammo and weapons. All of them looked dead tired.
When Jaune and Goodwitch entered the scene, all eyes turned to them, and an awkward silence followed.
"Um, right. It's good to see everyone moving." Jaune said as he moved up with his mother still in tow. Now face to face with his whole team, it was time.
Jaune motioned to Goodwitch. "Team, I'd like to introduce you to the terror of the North. Glynda Goodwitch. My mom."
Pyrrha's eyes turned to white circles and her jaw practically dropped to the ground; while Ren gasped deeply, ready to let loose a storm of words. Thankfully Nora slapped her hand over his mouth as she glared at Goodwitch.
"The truth is…" Jaune was struggling to let his words go. Once the truth was known, this wonderful bliss of a life would shatter. Maybe his friends would forgive him, or maybe they wouldn't... Either way, things would never be the same again.
A hand on his shoulder and a slight nod from his mother told him to go on. She was right as usual. No matter how much it hurt, he had a duty. As his dad always said, 'Knighthood before Brotherhood'. Whatever that really meant...
Jaune took a deep breath, closing his eyes and standing straight as if giving a report to the King.
"The truth is… I'm not really Jaune Arc. I'm not a knight, and I never have been. In fact Arc, is a dead name. My real name... is Jaune Goodwitch. I'm a Hunter. Trained from birth at Beacon Academy... and current teacher aid at Last Light.
"I was given an assignment about a year and a half ago. Last Light needed someone close to the King to relay information on what was happening in Vale. Vale is crucial if we hope to win the oncoming war, and the headmaster of Last Light saw me fit to do the job. I was young enough, and with my skill I would easily climb through the ranks.
"I knew it was going to be a long and lonely journey. Until told otherwise, I was to live a fake life. I thought time would go much faster if I just kept to myself and, not get attached to anyone. Just focus on my job and it would be done. But then…"
Jaune could feel his teammate's stares, and he closed his eyes tighter.
"Then the Festival incident happened. I meet three strangers from different kingdoms. Three strangers, who helped me stop a war from starting. Three strangers, who wanted to start anew in Vale and were all were ready to throw down their lives for it. Three strangers... who became the most important people in my life.
"I mean that with all my heart and soul. You're all my best friends, but I can't lie to you all anymore. The guy who was your leader, and your friend… he never existed…"
Jaune opened his eyes only long enough to look at his mother and nod his head. Afterwards he faced his teammates again with his eyes closed. This part he especially didn't want to see their expressions.
Jaune could feel his mother feel around the top of his head. With one finger she felt around his scalp until he felt her touch the tiniest bump of the implanted gray Dust crystal. Her energy flowed into him, and Jaune could feel the artificial semblance beginning to fade. For the first time in about two years, Jaune finally felt free.
His hair faded from blond, to a dark chestnut. Blond highlights streaked at the tips of his hair. The blue from his eyes faded, though they stayed blue at the edges, and were replaced was a green that matched his mother's eyes to a T.
He opened his eyes to see his teammates, his friends, staring with mouths agape. So far they showed no signs of hurt or anger. For now, they only looked astonished at this new face in front of them.
Jaune let loose a sigh he's been holding for such a long time. He was free at last from the feeling of not being able to breathe, and feeling trapped inside a shell. But funny enough though, he wanted nothing more than to go back into his cage.
"I'm... I'm so sorry guys. I know you have a lot of questions, but the thing is-"
"Jaune! Move!"
Listening on instinct to his mother's orders, Jaune rolled backwards and narrowly avoided whatever projectiles whistled past him. When he got his bearings, in the middle of the group where he stood, Jaune saw four black feathers the size of his arm stuck into the ground. Loud squawking filled his ears.
All five warriors looked up to find the sky filling with Nevermores. Hundreds and hundreds of them...
WWWWWWWW
"What did he mean by 'show us a good time'?" Yang asked no one in particular. Crescent Rose was no longer being pointed in her face. Ruby was now pointing the weapon at the horned teen above them.
The boy gave a tsk sound. His hand went up to his mask and it began to glow even brighter.
"He didn't mean me." He said.
Blake was up on her feet now. Bow attached, and a frighten look on her face.
"Adam don't!"
The ground suddenly began to shake under the four girls. A low roar came from underneath the tile floor, and cracks began to appear.
"Everyone move now!" Weiss shouted to the others. She began running, with Ruby and Yang following in the heat of the moment. Blake however took a different approach, using a clone to jump up to one of the hanging support beams of the stage.
The three grounded girls were sent sprawling to ground. As what seemed to be an explosion went off where the four had previously stood. Hundreds of pieces of tile and dirt were sent all over the place, and a now clear and terrifying roar echoed off the barren walls.
When the dust cleared, the teens could see a giant hole had formed. Two giant white pincers were sticking out of it. Followed by a huge tail and stinger, many glowing red eyes, and a fully white armored body. The creature slowly making its way out.
"What the hell is that thing!?" Yang screamed out hysterically. She was starting to hyperventilate; her eyes had shrunk to the size of marbles in fear.
"A… creature of Grimm. What's a creature of Grimm doing here!?" Weiss stuttered in shock and fear. And was it here imagination? Or was everything starting to take on a shimmering texture?
Ruby was the first to get to her feet. She held Crescent Rose out in scythe form and was no in a battle stance. She looked more shocked then frightened at the sigh before her.
"Not just any creature of Grimm. That's a Death Stalker! A young one too! How is that possible? I thought they were recently declared eradicated!"
Weiss got to her feet and took a stance at Ruby's side. She readied both her weapon and Gambol Shroud to the best of her ability. She tried to sound as confident as possible and tried to ignore the flash trying to form.
"Apparently not. Do you know how we're going to kill it?"
"Screw that!" Yang rushed in between the two. She grabbed Ruby's wrist and was trying to pull her to the exit behind them. "Let's get outta here!"
Ruby threw off Yang's hold. She glared into her sister's eyes and said with as much venom as she could muster, "You run! I'm staying here and stopping this thing so it doesn't get out and hurt people. So just go and run away like you always do!"
She turned back to the monster and addressed Weiss. "I don't know. I didn't bring anything that could punch through its armor. I didn't even grab any extra clips for Crescent Rose. We just gotta wing it."
Ruby charged forward, using both her semblance and a shot behind her to gain speed.
"Hey wait!" Weiss called after her. Only to sigh and shake her head. "We came to save that dolt? Perfect." She charged too.
Yang just stood there. Watching in horror as her only family left in this world, just cast her aside and went off to her death.
Like mother, like daughter…
WWWWWWWW
While that was happening, a certain Faunus above quickly saw what was rising from the depths. She made her way as fast and as silently as she could up to Adam. If she could get that mask off or something, maybe the creature might retreat.
Once she was on the stage and behind Adam, she made a dash for him. Sadly his nose must've clued him in. And just as she going to go for a kick, Adam turned with his sword drawn. The tip of his blade barely touching Blake's neck, stopping her in her tracks.
"Hello there, traitor." He said neutrally.
Blake took a step back, hands now raised.
"Adam, you have to call that thing off. You don't have to do this. The mission is over. And these girls-"
"Our mission failed because you ruined everything! If you had just stuck to the plan, everything would have gone fine! The train would have pulled into the station, the explosion would've distracted every knight in Vale, and we would've gotten the job done like always. That little human brat would've been easy!" He now said with anger clear in his voice.
Blake threw her arms to her sides. A whirlwind of emotion raging inside her.
"Do you hear yourself? Do you even think about what you're doing? We killed people Adam! We killed and tortured innocent people! For years and years we did terrible and unspeakable things!"
"For justice and for our people! We are fighting for equality and freedom Blake. You were an inspiration to me and so many others. But now, you've lost sight of what's important."
"It was never about justice! Not for me, and not for the White Fang! I joined and fought to change the White Fang to be more radical because I wanted revenge Adam! Humans took everything from me, and I wanted to strike back. And when I finally got that, I turned cold and heartless. And even worse, I helped turn a good group into monsters too."
Blake closed her eyes for a moment. She could feel her ears folding under her bow as she had put her hands to her aching chest. When she reopened her eyes, she went on.
"In a lot of ways, I still am that way. But after years doing the things we did... I couldn't take it anymore. I will never be forgiven for my sins, but I'm not going to follow them anymore!"
The two went silent. The only sounds came from the roaring monster beneath them and the sounds of a starting battle.
"I thought as much…" Adam said, a hint of sadness hidden in his voice and scent. He turned from Blake, turning back to the scene beneath them. "I thought something was different on that train. Something in you had changed. I was just too much of a coward to stop you."
He put a hand to his head, causing the Corruptio mask to glow. A second later, Weiss screamed out in pain and Gambol Shroud was sent flying up to the stage. The blade landing in-between the two Faunus.
"Adam! Stop-" Blake started.
"I'm giving you a choice. I'm sure if you come with me, I can get them to forgive you for your actions. Or, if that is truly what you wish, you can go and die down there with those human vermin. Consider it your execution. Whatever you choose, I've ordered the Death Stalker to kill whoever stands against it and I can't call it off." Adam put his blade down, and instead put out his hand. "Make your choice."
Blake wanted to rush off. The thought of Ruby, the Princess, and even Yang dying and probably eaten by the thing was too much to bear. But... she wouldn't move.
Somewhere, some old and dark part of herself wanted to leave with Adam. That same deep and dark part of her that had said to kill off Red back on the rooftops. To snap Ruby's neck when she was going down the stairs of the wall. To let the thugs take Ruby. To rip those dock workers into pieces. And to not cut the coupling on the train.
That part of her was the reason she could never be forgiven. In the end, she really had become a monster. No better than a Grimm. Hell, she didn't even need one of the masks to corrupt her or to make her look like a monster. She'd done that on her own.
At that moment, Blake accepted who she was. Who she will always be. She is a monster. She is an animal. Heartless. Primal. Degenerate. Criminal. And nothing but pure evil. A beast.
"That suits me just fine Adam. What a fitting end,"
Blake grabbed Gambol Shroud from its place. She took the katana half out, forming it into pistol form. Sheathe in hand and pistol in the other, Blake readied herself.
"A monster like me, to die by another monster!"
Blake rushed Adam. Ready to take out her real final target.
WWWWWWWW
"Team JNPR, engager l'ennemi!" Jaune ordered.
Nora tossed Miló, Akoúo̱ and StormFlower to their respective owners. Shen then lifted up her own weapon in launcher form and began to open fire into the sky, with Pyrrha and Ren following suit. Goodwitch was searching for something in a small pack she'd brought along, and Jaune had drawn his sword and shield.
"This is not good!" Pyrrha shouted over the noise.
"Where did they all come from? I mean it's not like Nevermores are common. I guess we should consider ourselves lucky they're just average sized ones and not the giant 'I'ma gobble you up' size because then we'd totally be dead. Did I mention how much I'm scared? Or look I got-"
"Shut up Ren!" The whole team shouted.
"Aim for the bigger ones Pyrrha! Ren, try to aim at ones that are clustering together. Nora, stop firing. Wait for them to come together and then open fire."
The team did as they were told. Nora held off and started loading the last of her grenades; While Pyrrha and Ren were taking out as many Nevermores as they could. There were occasional misses, but a majority of rounds made their mark. High above, loud and dying screeches called and showers of blood and feathers rained.
"Jaune!"
Jaune turned to his mother. She was filling her Dust Crop with…White Dust!
"Is that necessary!?" He shouted.
"It is for what I'm going to do. Buy me some time!" She called back.
And of course, as luck would have it, just as Jaune relayed the orders for everyone to form a defensive formation around Goodwitch, the Nevermores screamed in unison. A tsunami of feathers, beaks, and talons came homing down on them.