So believe it or not I'm still working on this story. Originally school prevented me from working on the next chapter than when Vol 5 came out (which I have an abundant amount to complain about) I figured I just finish it before I worked on the new chapter. Problem with that was that a lot of the revels kind of messed up my plans for the next few chapters. On top of that, the idea I had for Jaune's semblance that I had already hinted at was pretty relevant to the plot. I thought about starting over but I eventually just decided that since Jaune's real semblance didn't seem that interesting to me I would just make the story the way I wanted. Usually, when writing fanfic I try to stay as close to canon as possible just so everyone has the same reference point in this situation I just couldn't do it. So again sorry for the long wait and thank you to everyone for the comments.
Chapter 6: The Board Reset
Weeks of stress melted away as Weiss allowed the hot water to wash over her body. She knew she would never take something like a hot shower for granted ever again. She had been savoring the small luxury for about 25 minutes when the banging on the door brought her back to reality.
"Hurry up Ice Queen, your going to use up all the hot water." Nora cried.
Well, I suppose that couldn't last. Weiss thought as she turned the water off and changed into her combat skirt. She exited the bathroom and was met with an annoyed look from Nora.
"Sorry, it's been a while since I had a hot shower," Weiss said, only slightly regretful that she had probably used most of the hot water.
Nora ignored her apology and walked into the bathroom.
"You know I always figured her to be a morning person," Weiss said to Ruby.
"Yea. I was kind of surprised myself. But she's usually back to her normal self by breakfast."
"So what was your plan for today?"
"Well, Uncle Crow said that Professor Lionheart didn't have any leads for us on how Cinder and her team got into Haven. So he thinks we should all just head to any of the local places that sell illegal things."
While the idea made sense on the face of it Weiss felt skeptical at their chances.
"What?" Ruby asked in response to Weiss' expression.
"Ruby these people make their money by circumventing the law. There's a certain amount of discretion expected of them by their clientele. Do you think they're just going to give users whatever information we want because we ask?"
"Well, we could offer them money."
"What money? I'm completely out and you even told me yourself that you all would be broke by the end of the month."
"Well, we're just going to have to make them tell us," Ruby said, trying her best to sound intimidating.
Weiss sighed. While she knew her partner was more than a competent fighter she was also incredibly nieve. If she had to describe the way she looked the word adorable would come to mind. "Ruby I don't think you've thought this all the way through. I mean honestly how much do you know about the black market? And what are you honestly willing to do if these people refuse to tell you what you want to know?"
Ruby lowered her head.
Weiss began to feel bad for her blunt statement. She was about to try and comfort her friend but was interrupted by a knock on the door. She opened the door and was surprised to find Ren holding a paper bag in one hand and balancing 6 cups of coffee in the other hand. She quickly helped him with coffee as he came in.
"I brought coffee and scones."
"Wow, thanks, Ren, you're the best!" Ruby said as she jumped up in excitement.
Ren set the bag down and headed Ruby her cup. "Double cream with 2 pumps of caramel and 37 sugars. Weiss, I wasn't sure how you took your coffee so I just got it plain and brought some cream and sugar."
"Thank you," Weiss said as she happily grabbed the cup.
The three of them ate their breakfast together in an awkward silence.
"So Weiss, do you still plan on trying to find your sister?" Ren asked.
The question brought a somber expression to Weiss. "I want to but I have no idea where to start. All I learned from general Ironwood was that she was in Mistral. Until I know more I was planning on sticking with you guys…if that's all right with all of you?"
"Of course."
"Hey Ren, where's Jaune? He's usually the first one of us up."
"He's still sleeping. Crow told me he found him training rather late last night. I thought we should just let him sleep while we investigate the places your uncle told us about."
"Do you think it's a good idea to leave Jaune here by himself?" Ruby asked with a worry in her tone.
Weiss too seemed concerned with the idea.
"I think he'll be fine. I don't see any need to wake him just to go around asking for information."
The phrase reminded Weiss that she had to revisit her earlier question to Ruby. "Look I don't want to be the mood killer but I feel obligated to ask. Have any of you considered to what lengths you are willing to go if these people aren't as forthcoming as we would like?"
"Then we break their legs," Nora said in a manner far closer to what Weiss remembered.
"So I sent all four of you a list of the most well-known forgers in the city. There is also a list of 20 Huntsmen in Mistrial that I used to be in contact with. I need you to find out if any of them would be willing to help us retrieve the Spring Maiden."
"Spring Maiden?" Weiss asked.
Qrow then realized he hadn't let the heiress in on the secret about the relics and the maidens. He rubbed his temples. "Look I'll tell you about it later. For now, just ask them if they'd be willing to help me out. Split up into groups of two or stick together, doesn't really matter to me. Just go through as many as you can before nightfall. I don't want you all hanging around these places after dark."
"Uncle Qrow what happened to your shirt?" Ruby asked, pointing at the large tare across it.
"Some guy got a little too riled u at the bar last night." He replied dismissively.
"There's like 50 names on here!" Weiss yelled.
"Yep, so you better get started if you want to finish this week," Qrow replied as he took the flask out from his pocket.
"You're not going to help us?!"
"Hey, I got my own stuff to take care off."
Weiss looked at him skeptically.
"You're going to a bar, aren't you?" Ruby asked in a patronizing tone.
"I might stop by one at some point."
Ruby just rolled her eyes. "Fine. We'll take care of it ourselves." She turned to the rest of her team. "I guess me and Weiss will take the first 10 names and you two can take the next 10."
"Alright! Last one to finish their list has to buy dinner." Nora challenged.
"You're on!" Ruby shot back as she grabbed Weiss by the hand and sped out of the inn.
Jaune was awoken from his sleep by the tapping on his head, by something incredibly hard. "Ow, what the hell!" He turned over to see Qrow holding Corcea Mors.
"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty."
Jaune grabbed the sword out of the man's hand. "Was that necessary? He asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Not really."
Jaune rubbed his eyes as he looked around the room. "Where's Ren?"
"He already left with the rest of your team."
"What, they went out without me?!" Jaune said, instantly overcoming his drowsiness. "Why didn't you wake me!?"
"They'll be fine. They're in groups of two. It's not like having a third person is going to make any kind of difference."
"Yea but they're still my team. I can't just lay around all day while they search for a lead."
"I think we have some more important stuff to discuss. And after carrying your unconscious body here I think I'm entitled to ask some questions"
Jaune sighed. "Like what?"
"Well for starters when did you activate your semblance?"
"I haven't," Jaune replied defensively.
"Wait, so you don't remember using your semblance last night?" Qrow asked, confused.
"What are you talking about. The last thing I remember was you slamming my head into the pommel of your sword."
Qrow gave him a strange look, deciding if he should recount to him the event of last night. He eventually came down to the conclusion that keeping it from him wouldn't serve any purpose, plus Ruby had told him that this kid always felt like the weak link in his team. Telling him of a potential semblance might boost his self-esteem."
"After smashed your head into my pommel I thought you'd be done for it. Your aura was at 0% and instead of staying down you got back up and ruined my shirt." Qrow said pointing to the cut across his shirt. "You were surprisingly difficult to put down. Your aura started to increase immediately, your strikes were more powerful, and you attacked me with wild abandonment. I've never seen anything like it."
Jaune opened his mouth to respond.
"I have" A voice interrupted.
Both Qrow and Jaune looked toward the door.
Jaune recognized the kid from several days ago. He was the one that Qrow had taken to see Lionheart.
"You know what the kid's semblance is?"
The boy walked over to Jaune's bed. "Yes. I've seen something quite similar to the semblance you described Mr. Arc having."
"Wait, wait wait, who is this kid?!" Jaune asked in a mix of anger and confusion. The boy spoke as if he was the oldest person in the room but he was younger than Jaune.
"O I guess I should explain that," Qrow said as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, the thing is…let see how do I explain this….
"I'm Ozpin."
Jaune gave the boy a strange look. "That's impossible. Ozpin's dead."
"In a manner of speaking. But it would be more accurate to say that my body was destroyed. The person you knew as Ozpin was merely one persona I've had in a life that stretches back between dozens of lives and several centuries."
Jaune just looked at the boy blankly. He couldn't deny that his eyes portrayed that of someone far older than a 14-year-old but to go as far to say he was Ozpin was just too crazy to believe. "You can't actually expect me to believe that."
"I understand it is a hard thing to believe. Qrow was skeptical at first as well. But surely this is something that could be tested. We had several conversations while you attended Beacon that only the two of us would know about. Ask me you to recall something that no one else could know about.
"What did I ask you about the day after initiation!" He replied instantly.
"You asked me to choose a new leader for your team. Which I refused."
Jaune's eyes widened. His first thought was to believe what he was telling him but the more cynical part of his mind held doubt. It was possible that Ozpin could have divulged their conversation to someone else.
"I can tell your not convinced."
"It's just kind of hard to believe."
"You seemed to accept the truth about the maidens easy enough," Qrow added.
"That was different. I saw the maiden's power first head. I saw Cinder take the power for herself. But this…you're basically asking me to believe your immortal."
"A curse, I assure you."
Jaune had a hard time believing immortality could be a curse.
"And I suppose I owe you an apology."
"For what?"
"For the Fall of Beacon. I was careless and allowed a great evil befall us. And for my failures, others paid the price. I never wanted Miss Nikos to suffer for her choice."
Qrow knew as soon as the words left Oscar's lips that they were a mistake. He moved, almost on instinctively to stop the kid from strangling Oscar."
"Her choice! You asked her to shoulder a responsibility or put thousands of people in danger!" Jaune screamed as Qrow held him back."
Oscar's face remained calm but there was a noticeable amount of guilt. "Usually I would not have Qrow hold you back. You have a right to hate me for what I've done. But this body is not mine alone and for whatever you think of me Oscar does not deserve to have your anger taken out on him."
It took Jaune of few minutes to calm down. Eventually, Qrow loosened his grip and allowed Jaune to break out of his hold.
"Well…it looks like he believes you now." Qrow joked.
"So what, you taking over some kid's body?" Jaune asked.
"I assure you I have no control who I reincarnate with. It's been boys as young as Oscar and men as old as Qrow. But Oscar's mind still remains. He's merely allowing me to 'take the wheel' so that I might talk to you."
"Using Beacon students and children in order to fight a war against… this Salem. You ever think to ask yourself if you're even the good guy?"
"Every incarnation I ask myself that. But I, along with many of those whose soul I have merged with, have agreed with me that our actions have led to the betterment of Remnant and without the sacrifices, people have made world would have fallen into darkness Eons ago. I led man out of the age of tribes and bandits into the age of kingdoms, I helped bring about the end of the Great War, and when I finally do defeat Salem mankind will know a world without Grimm thanks to the sacrifices made by those like Pyrrha."
Qrow's body tensed as he prepared to stop the kid once more.
A flash of anger shot through Jaune's eyes but he made no move against Ozpin. After staring into the man's eyes for what seemed like an eternity he finally spoke. "Ruby will remain devoted to you and your cause. And I think the rest of them will follow her example."
"But not you? Is that what you're telling me Mr. Arc." Ozpin asked in an amused tone.
"I won't abandoned my team!" Jaune nearly yelled. "But I'm loyal to them not to you. They all have a right to know your plan. If they decide to stay then so will I. If they chose not to I'll be right behind them."
"Fair enough. But is keeping your team together with the only goal you have?" Ozpin asked, sadly. He saw it clear as day what the boy desired above all, revenge for his fallen partner. Past experience taught him that revenge could be a powerful motivator. It could give people determination and strength they didn't know they had. However, it could also corrupt them and send them into Salem's hands. While Ozpin knew the boys wish for revenge would keep him opposed to Salem he dreaded the idea someone as young as him would be overtaken by it.
Jaune ignored the question and got up to leave.
"Well…that was a thing. I say we get a drink." Qrow said as he followed Jaune out the door.
So I know after such a long break it seems like a let down to have such a short chapter but I finally had the motivation to finish the chapter. I'm curious to know what people think of Jaune's reaction to Ozpin. I remember in Vol 4 it seemed like everyone hated Jaune's attitude towards Qrow and I was completely in the other direction. I enjoy cynical and angry Jaune way more than goofy Jaune. Lastly not to give anyone false hope but I do hope to get another chapter out before the end of the week and I plan to finally have Jaune and Neo meet.