RWBY: Against All Odds
Chapter 13: Fall From Grace II
- With a dissident among us invading Beacon, the situation was obviously difficult to deal with.
- Sending first year students was the best way to deal with it; with the tournament coming, even if one were to get caugh, it could just pass off as a student seeking information on his adversaries.
- Also... Director Merlina knows about us. So, she knew we wouldn't side of any faction of the outside, with ignorants that can't accept each other as species. We as the top first year team and citizens of Chimaera were perfect for the job.
- But our target was also versed in infiltrations. Never was she caugh in camera, but we could deduce a few things. A compulsory behavior that was constantly repeated. A traject always done through the same place at a specific time.
- We divided ourselves on that day. We could finally catch her, but the situation got out of hand and Vlad had to proceed alone. In the end, the situation took a different turn and we needed to capture her.
- But she appeared...
After Tracy said the first part of the story, Vladimir finally raised his hand, determined to speak.
"I shall proceed with the explanation now" he said.
- I... knew that it was impossible to explain the situation. Pyrrha Nikos was, after all, an outsider for us and my personal experience taugh me that words would never reach someone in that situation.
- Wether this is true or not is something that I am led to question now.
- Either way, at that time I believed in two things: that is was impossible me to capture the target and...
- That a battle would ensue sooner or later.
- So I fought. I fought with everything I had. I fought one of the best battles in my whole life. I fought without knowing if I could really win, but I didn't care. At that time, I was... a warrior.
- And Nikos was an opponent of the highest caliber. Someone that belonged to another world. A celebrity. A champion. It was... a dream come true to actually fight her.
- In the end, I won. I lost my target, but I didn't really care. I had defeated the infamous Pyrrha Nikos. I had won an impossible battle. I had become the true champion of Jammer, Clockwork and Beacon.
- I injected the antidote of the poison on her and called an ambulance afterwards before leaving.
- But I knew it wouldn't end at that... and that everything would just get better and better.
- I was the Impaler Vampire that defeated the crown jewel of Beacon. Of course her friends would come after me due to the situation. Of course they would meddle with the mission. Of course they would try to fight me.
- And I didn't care about such problems. I actually wanted them to happen. To fight the powerful warriors of Beacon Academy. To win.
- I sent Newton to Beacon while leaving with Luna, so that she could settle the perfect situation of a one-on-one combat. I actually planned to fight Xiao Long, but... I changed my plans and fought with Belladonna.
- In the end, Xiao Long was defeated and Luna called an ambulance for her. And in my side, just as our fight reached the climax, the gave up when she didn't see any meaning to continue fighting.
- I got desperate. She didn't admit defeat for the actual loss, so that wasn't a battle I could gain glory. I tried to make her continue by showing images of the defeated Xiao Long, but even though it worked, the poison took over.
- It was a shallow victory.
- I gave her the antidote, but before I could take her with me to a hospital, Winchester interfered in the last second and took her away.
Both Ren and Jaune were surprised at how the events played out.
It was completely different from how both of them expected the stuff to happen.
"The rest..." spoke Vladimir. "Is as you know. I went to the place the target kept going, to at least get her identity, but you two appeared and my greed took over. I lost my last battle and... here I am".
Tracy glanced at Vladimir. His voice lacked power. His face lacked expression. His eyes lacked will.
But she decided to continue from where it was left:
"Newton discovered that the target stole several pieces of information regarding security and a few incidents. Such as that infamous one that happened in the docks... one regarding the time a subterrean train ended up exploding and releasing many grimm in the city and... one regarding the destruction of an Atlesian Paladin in the streets. Also many other things about security".
Ren flinched. He obviously knew about such incidents.
Tracy sighed and continued:
"Newton was found by the Heir of the Schnee in Beacon and defeated in combat. Luckily, Luna arrived in time to save him, but they were found by Dr. Oobleck. Regardless, that man wanted to hear us out and... he gained his trust some time ago".
"He did?" Asked Ren.
Vladimir nodded lifelessly.
"He has many ideas regarding history and interaction... His words reached me when I attended to one of his public lectures... We talked about many things and I told him about our home village, Chimaera... He was intrigued about our society in many ways..."
"Wait..." Ren thought about it. "Then if you are Chimaerians, does that mean you are a faunus?"
Vladimir's lifeless eyes crossed Ren's gaze.
"I am a mixed blood. We all are and that is a symbol of our mutual understand through the ages. Regardless, to the public, I am a pure blood human currently and prefer to remain known as such. In a corrupted outside world such as yours, everything is a source of racism".
Tracy opened her mouth. Only then Ren noticed her canines were also bigger than normal ones.
"The entire team VLNT is of mixed blood. It doesn't matter if any of us is faunus or human. Either way, we told what we had to. This is over".
"No... it isn't" said Vladimir. He looked at Ren and Jaune and... "I apologize for the trouble I have caused".
Even with an emotionless voice, the boy bowed down to them.
Ren was surprised. Both at his action and at Jaune's expression. As if he truly didn't want to hear those words.
"And now..." muttered Vladimir. "I have... to go to the hospital apologize for Belladonna and Xiao Long..."
"NO!" Shouted Jaune. Clearly worried, he stood. "You... don't need to".
"I have".
"No, I don't mind it... you don't have to-"
"I gave my word" he answered without emotion. "I mislead... I trick... I deceive... but I don't lie. I promised to apologize if I lost... I... have to..."
Jaune bit his lip.
"Th-then... just a letter or something is fine. I can go apologize in your place! Yes! You don't need to..."
'You don't need to humiliate yourself for me' thought Jaune upon looking at Tepes.
"Very well... then..."
Tracy and Ren looked at each other. Neither were understanding the situation.
Jaune felt this couldn't go on. Leaving Vladimir like that, leaving the prince in depression, leavin that person that went so far for his dreams like that...
"Tepes... you aren't wrong to believe. If you try hard, I'm sure you-"
"With all respect, that is bullshit" answeredTepes.
His voice devoid of emotions just made his words more serious. No anger. No hatred. Just acceptance.
And once again, unable to stand up, he had to look at Jaune from bellow.
"I am many things. I am arrogant. I am prideful. But... one thing I always made sure to do in my whole life was to work hard for what I believed... to be known as the 'Impaler Vampire' instead of 'Prince Vladimir'. I have always been trying to escape this shadow, that always seem to plague my achievements and bar my wishes. But now I know... that no matter what I do, my only future is in there. Now I know that those born in the shadow of the throne will never know true light. And that is not your fault, Arc. It truly is not".
"Te-Tepes..."
At that moment, Jaune realized it: the fact that Tepee never had announced his status as a prince.
Weiss took pride and when Jaune first met her, when she, Ruby and Blake were there, she haughtly smiled upon being recognized as a Schnee.
She was his friend and that wouldn't change for Jaune, but he realized once more how Tepes was different from other royals.
The boy was a prince, but how much did he do to make sure such a thing wouldn't be discovered? How far did he go for his start away from the shadow of the throne? How happy did he feel when he was recognized as the top first year stydent of Jammer?
Yes, before their battle, Vladimir Tepes wasn't 'Prince Vladimir' from Chimaera, he was 'The Impaler Vampire' from Jammer. He wasn't one that ordered others, but he was the boy that slayed hundreds of grimm.
'He really went far...' thought Jaune.
"I was already experienced with outside beings, with pure bloods" said Vladimir. "You are a good person, Arc and I should never push my own expectations in a world built over the corpses of heroes. You merely could not resist to temptation, and I am just one of those that were not chosen by fate".
Talent - the gift that he wasn't born with, but Jaune did. If they were born with their gifts switched, what would have happened?
Jaune averted his gaze in shame. Ren noticed that worried.
"Jaune?!"
Vladimir got up, and before he could fall due to his wounds, Tracy grabbed him and helped him stand.
"Vlad, where are you going with this?" She was worried.
Vladimir ignored her and calmly gazed at Jaune.
"I hold no ill will toward you. This is merely a reality I never came to accept, but that would appear before me sooner or later. I admit that it is not what I truly wanted, but... things could be worse for me. I still have a place where I will be welcomed with open arms and still have a future there".
"I... am sorry".
"There is no need to apologize. You and your friends moved out of free will, but all along I planned you to do so. In a way, we can say that the fault lies in both sides".
'Why' Jaune couldn't handle it. 'Why can't he feel anger or hatred? Why can't he be sad?'
It was much worse like this.
Tepes took his defeat that way, an acceptance of reality.
He wasn't angry at Jaune. He wasn't sad anymore.
He was hollow, without desires nor dreams. Without the willpower he once possessed.
"I won't spread of your secret" he said. "After all, the outside world is none of my concern, and I know that even if I said anything, no ears would be reached".
Ren looked as Jaune seemed even more in pain than before.
"Jaune, tell me what happened right now! What did he do to you?!"
Jaune ignored Ren and in despair asked Vladimir:
"Wh-what did you... what did you mean by the last part?"
It was the last part. That last implied part. The part he couldn't believe in.
After everything that happened, if that thing were to be true, then he truly wasn't worthy of anything anymore.
Vladimir didn't smile.
"It is not about me, Lie Ren" he then looked at Jaune. "Who did not do anything was the prized Director Ozpin. He is, after all, very intelligent. Smart enough to notice discrepancies in backgrounds, but not minding showing a blind eye to certain students. And I am not referring to Belladonna here".
'He knows about Blake being a faunus' noticed Ren. 'But if he implies what I think, then...'
Ren slowly turned around to face his friend. And it was as if Jaune had lost his soul.
Vladimir spoke again:
"You understand where I am getting at here, do you not?"
'Then...' Jaune finally realized. 'Ozpin knew...'
Yes. It was merely the obvious. Ozpin was smart and wise.
He should have known how the Jaune that entered Beacon didn't match the Jaune from the transcripts.
He should have realized something.
"To think a Hunter Academy would be more corrupted than a Mercenary one, it is merely another proof of the reality I did not accept. Funny if you think about it, and maybe in a near future we can laugh about what happened on this night" muttered Vladimir. "Let us go, Tracy. If the target did not appear until now, she will not anymore. And our business here has been settled" he looked at Jaune a last time. "Please, do not forget to bring my apologies to the others. I do not want to break my word".
There were many things that Tracy wanted to say, but she complied. Helping her leader, the duo left.
And after they were gone...
"JAUNE!" Ren shouted.
Jaune fell to his knees.
"Once more... he beat me..." The tears started to fall.
Looking at his hands, he once again realized how easy things had been for him in his life.
It was always there: how simple things were. Yes, why would he worry about getting caugh? Someone like Ozpin probably knew all along. Jaune didn't even need to worry with such favoritism on his side.
'Maybe... this is what he felt all along' thought Jaune. 'The unfair help that was always at his side, to the point Tepes had to run and hide in order to have his own challenges. But I... I... have never truly tried to do things on my own, did I?' Jaune punched the ground. "And the guy that did it... the guy that truly deserved all the blessings and talents I have doesn't care anymore" he punched the ground again, cracks appearing in it. "I actually proved to him that talent will always surpass effort!"
'And that lying and cheating will actually get you what you want...'
And what was it that he expected? Hatred? Anger? Hostility? But his opponent didn't even hold a grudge towards him. He wouldn't even spread of that secret, the secret responsible for destroying all of his dreams.
And that guilt... once more he felt that guilt of his darkest secret piercing his heart.
Heretic notes:
Yuck, this is getting too emo.
I keep wondering how Jaune would get over it. If the Jaune from the show, after suffering all this would tell his friends and if he could be cheered up.
Let's see... next chapters will be "A Hurt Heart" followed by "An Unforgivable Light" and the chapter after will be the start of the second arc, "A Dawn Reeking of Blood"
Considerations: Tepes won't participate in arc 2 as much as he did in arc 1, hence why he will have a focus until it starts.
Should Jaune reveal his secret or should he not?
Should I stop putting way too many feels in this or should I not?
Who knows? I'm still trying to think of a better summary!
Man, I expected a bunch of people to stop reading after the arc finale, but there were even reviews (that I'm thankful to) aproving such an end. I'm starting to think you people are masochists.
My precious masochists, that is.
Later!
Heretic, out!