Past
Newton stood there in front of Vlad.
"Today... marks my first loss" spoke the red-eyed boy. "Even my leadership failed me".
"She didn't die yet, Vlad".
"And what's the difference?!" Vlad glared at Newton.
"She is in vegetative state, not dead".
- Sometimes I think that my arrogance will kill us all...
"That's just wishful thinking... believing she will wake up one day" said Vlad.
- Because I tend to push people more than I should.
Newton decided to speak:
"My father told me what a wise man once said... that he believes in the infinite potential that lies in living beings. You and I are people like that, Vlad. We are people that give their all once they have their objective set. We are the people that can change the world. And if we can do miracles, then she CAN wake up".
- I tend to give hope to people when I shouldn't...
"Yeah... maybe you are right..." Vlad agreed.
- I tend to forget that hope... is the deadliest of poisons.
RWBY: Against All Odds
Present...
Newton finally opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry, but that was certainly the techno-gothic architeture of his team's room.
"Hey, Vlad..." he muttered. "Come back, okay?" Tears started to flow. "I... we are friends, right?"
No one answered him.
"Of course you won't speak to me" the boy started to cry, but also smile. "I already know I can't just wait for that, right?"
Yes, he knew...
He waited for help and the result was the death of his father and him nearly dying.
If you want something done, then do it.
Or at least try.
Chances were there and he was an oportunist by nature; he made his hero become his friend, he made that ingenuous knight his girlfriend and he was going to do whatever it takes to do what he wanted.
"Well..." he sat on the bed. "I know you dislike this type of stuff... but I am saving you. And if I can't do that, then I'm bringing you back from the dead. Even if I have to follow their footsteps".
His sword was there. The [Sin] passed down in his family.
"It really is fun right? Here we are again, our friendship defying the animosity of our ancestors... and here I am, ready to do what made my ancestor mad for the descendant of the person he hated the most".
Stretching himself, he got up.
And down again. His legs weren't responding right.
'Ugh... I lost the fight against the Schnee and had to see THAT happening... guess my body already reached its limit'.
Lying down on his bed, the boy started to think.
"Alright, alright. Luna drugged me because she would go somewhere and it would be dangerous for me too... which means she is doing something dangerous to me right now. Tracy was speaking to her, then... they are picking a fight or something with someone related to the murder attempt".
'But who?'
He snapped his fingers:
"Team JNPR! Of course! Pyrrha fought with Vlad and left him mortally wounded".
'Okay, then I have to research the second possible culprits if they are wrong. That is: team RWBY'.
"If team JNPR doesn't have anything to do with the situation, then they were manipulated. Who better than team RWBY, that even has a Schnee on it?"
Yang was surprised at the shop they entered: [Strings of Fate]
For a shop located in such a shabby place, it wasn't half bad. It was actually amazing.
"Am I in paradise?"
Dresses of all colors, clothes for all situations. The walls and the roof had many and many more. Weapons and alloys of metals were also aligned in their own place.
And a single girl was sweeping the floor. She wore a black and purple dress, one not made for battle, but for beauty. Her jet black hair formed a delicate and complex braid. It was as if the girl was some sort of queen from old and tragic romance stories, waiting for the prince to appear.
With the exception of one thing: a mask.
Covering her face, a mask with a spider symbol in it was there. A purple visor didn't let Yang even know how the eyes of the girl looked.
"Oh, my!" The girl noticed Yang and Ruby. "What brings you here again?"
"A big problem" responded Ruby.
The masked girl sighed.
"Of course. I expected as much. But before repeating the last routine, why don't you look around? See if there is something of your interest in this humble store of mine".
Ruby seemed to try really hard to resist to temptation.
"Arachne, this is serious".
"Yesterday you said the same thing" replied the shop girl. "And it wasn't".
"I think she is right, Ruby" said Yang upon looking around. "Look at that shirt, it's so cute! Why don't we look around a bit first?"
"Because with the Impaler Vampire's death, Jaune and Ren will be the prime suspects".
Yang opened her eyes wide. And Arachne seemed to have her mouth wide opened behind her mask.
"R-R-Ruby... what did you just say?"
"Arachne, I..."
"You couldn't be meaning Vlad, could you?"
Ruby averted her eyes. Arachne put her hand over he mask.
"My my... this has to be a joke. Yesterday you were spouting about how Vlad was trying to hunt your friends, today you talk about how he is dead. Are you truly sure this time?"
"I... I dunno" she answered. "We arrived at the park and there was a ripped arm, a giant bat wing and coal with human form. The spear started to shine out of nowhere and I saw it... him being consumed by the fire".
"..."
"Arachne".
"Please... just give me time to think about it... I need to".
Ruby averted her eyes and Yang looked at the shop seller.
"You knew him, right?"
The girl nodded.
"Vlad is the boy that killed the owner of the orphanage I live at".
Ruby's expression was grim, Yang's mouth was wide open.
"He did what?"
"It all occurred a long time ago. I remember that night until this very day. Vlad pierced the heart of a man that sheltered us all with his spear. It was very traumatic... specially when I learmed the truth".
"The truth?" Asked Yang.
Ruby spoke:
"Jammer students can take on assassination quests".
"And the orphanage owner was a target? That is messed up".
"The owner was the true messed up person" said Ruby.
Arachne nodded and sat on a chair.
"I couldn't believe at that time when Vlad showed me the evidence. That man that sheltered us all was selling the orphans to be slaves outside the kingdom. Funny, right? I couldn't even laugh, it seemed like such a sick joke."
"He participated in traffic of slaves?!" Yang was surprised.
"And Vlad took on the quest and killed him" said Arachne. "I tried to fight team VLNT, but I knew I couldn't win. Then, Vlad told me something:
Past...
The girl was lying on the ground crying. The red-eyed boy closed in with slow steps.
"Now, control yourself. I do not want to hit a disillusioned girl again" he said. "If you love this man even after all this is exposed, then fine. It is true however that without him, this orphanage won't last long. Of course it won't, his conections were the only reason a place that held so many humans and faunus could last long".
"I hate you" shouted Arachne. "I HATE YOU!"
"And I could not care less about your feelings" aswered Vlad. "However, a place where humans and faunus live together is rare these days. If you want monetary compensation, I will pay the price; I am a rich man after all and even more after killing this lowlife. If you want revenge even after all of this, then you can come and I will take you on alone; you deserve as much. However, I will be serious and you may end up like him".
The girl punched the ground.
"That's it?!"
"Yes" he calmly nodded.
The girl got up.
"Then I will have your life!" She shouted upon advancing.
But the boy's hand grabbed her neck.
"If you want to die so bad, then I will kill you here, masked girl. But stop and think. All of your little friends here will lose their home soon enough. Add you to the equation and they will lose a sister too" Vlad threw Arachne on the ground. "What do you want?"
The girl clenched her fist.
Yang was desperate to hear the end of the story.
"So? What happened?! Tell me!"
Arachne seemed to smile from under the mask.
"I got this store with their funding. I didn't want the orphanage to be related to Vlad, so I asked him to help me build this store. I wanted to save them myself".
"Really?"
Arachne nodded.
"I don't work here alone. A few orphans help me in the way they can. In the end, I accepted the truth and team VLNT as friends. I sell equipments for them at a lower price and at the same time, they spread this shop's name".
"Blake did say that Vlad talked about how his coat was made by an Arachne or something" muttered Yang.
"Yes. Whenever he fights, he says something about how his clothes came from here. Since his stamina is low, I make clothing for him that is light, yet durable. His coat is one-of-a-kind, one of my masterpieces".
Yang looked around and saw a yellow dress. Upon looking at the price tag.
"Are you serious?! This dress can't be this cheap!"
"That one is quite fragile. It is made to be ripped up for battles. I designed it for people that desire to go to advanced parties, but also be ready for fighting. It isn't very warm, since the person will be wearing battle clothes underneath".
Yang lightly pulled the dress.
"Doesn't seem that fragile".
"It's as durable as normal clothing... I consider conventional clothes fragile by nature".
"Wait... you made a dress to be ripped?"
"And the owner can bring it here for me to repair. It is win-win for me. You have no idea how many Jammer students come here for their equipment".
Yang looked around and pointed at a mini-skirt.
"And that one? It is cheap too!"
"Of course. That skirt is only fire-proof. How can I charge much for something like that?"
"It's cute!"
"I like to believe beauty isn't everything".
"Then I'm buying that skirt and that dress right now!" She shouted.
It didn't take long for Yang to disappear in the maze of clothes.
"I like your sister" said Arachne.
"I didn't come here to do shopping" answered Ruby. "This is serious".
"And so is my business" she said. "Look around, I have a special hood with hidden holsters and pistols which can be of your liking".
"... fine, you win".
Arachne saw as Ruby disappeared in the maze too and stopped smiling.
"Vlad... reay died?"
"He died... he died to save me"
Tracy punched Jaune in the stomach and the boy nearly collapsed on the ground.
How was he still standing?
"I have seen countless people die in many different ways, but I have never felt anything similar".
The girl continued to speak while beating him down. It was as if she was talking alone.
"Is this is true love?"
"What are you..." Jaune stopped talking.
In Tracy's face was a wide smile.
It didn't seem like the type of smile to taunt opponents, but the type of smile of pure happiness.
Alchemist Tracy: The Mummy of Impossible Defeat
Vladimir's girlfriend and the girl he died to protect. She seemed to be on the verge of madness
Before Jaune could react, the armored Luna stood between him and Tracy.
"Tracy!"
"Yes, Luna?" She asked happily.
"I don't think Arc is related to the murder attempt".
"So? I still have to extract the truth".
The four bandages extended in the air.
Arc 2 - Fallen Hero
"Now" Ruby spoke. "Can we ask our questions?"
"Sure" replied Arachne happily.
Both sisters held many bags full of clothes. Regardless of their reason for coming to that store, the shop owner earned quite the profit.
"Then me first!" Said Yang. "Do you really trust team VLNT?"
Arachne nodded.
"Of course. I know we didn't have the best start, but I like to consider them as dear friends. Actually, the four of them are the only people that don't discriminate me lile others even after seeing my face".
"Your face?" Asked Yang.
"My faunus heritage" Arachne replied. "I am not beautiful, I know that quite well. Team VLNT came from the only land where this type of stuff doesn't matter. It seems people like me are common there and the queen is also an example. To them, natural appearance doesn't matter".
"And it doesn't" said Yang.
"It does".
"No, it doesn't" she answered. "It's about who you are, not what you look like. Appearance isn't everything".
"Appearance matters A LOT!" She shouted.
"Arachne, she-" Ruby tried to intervene.
"Silence!" Arachne got up and glared at Yang through her mask. "What do YOU even know. Do you know what it is to have a life like mine? I have to live hiding what I am, hearing nonsense like yours from hypocrites that don't understand the pain".
Yang averted her eyes.
"Okay... I may not know how you feel, but I have a faunus friend too. I assure you, Arachne. We are not the type of people that take that into account".
"Liar".
"I'm not lying!" She said. "Show me your face and I will treat you just as before. There is no reason to hide".
Arachne released a laugh.
"Countless times I had to hear that" Arachne started to mock Yang. "You tell me this because you have a faunus friend that hides his traits? Tell me more about that. What, he feels his traits are ugly or something? He has to hide from humans? What did he have? Dog ears? A fox tail? Eyes with different colors? What a joke" Arachne put her hand on her mask. "They don't know what it is discrimination. Humans and faunus treat me differently because of my appearance. You are not different".
Yang looked at her with determination.
"I am".
"And I am proving you wrong. I will show you the true concept of ungliness".
Arachne took off her mask.
Hair covered her face. Many eyes, all purple. Fangs and a mouth covered in toxic saliva.
A spider, a black widow - that was her face. The face of a true deadly arachnid.
Yang's surprised expression was enough of a answer.
The girl covered her face again.
"See?"
"Arachne, I-"
"This is the time" Arachne interrupted Yang. "That you would say that won't treat me any different while looking at me with eyes full of pity. That is discrimination too, Yang. I had to live a life like that, hearing people either say this type of stuff or bad mouth me constantly".
"I..."
"And this is the time you would say that you are either sorry or that you didn't understand" she said again. "Then you would jokingly ask if I can read your mind and I would say 'yes', for I know exactly what is going on through it. You are not the first one. You acted just like your sister; trying to help me, but offending me with kind empty words".
Ruby looked at the ground. Yang understood her. They had no idea.
If living as a faunus in a human society was bad enough, imagine living as a faunus with the face of a spider? How many times did she have to listen to people either harassing her or telling her appearance didn't matter?
Yang knew that her expression of surprise wasn't the first one Arachne had seen.
The faunus girl said:
"Team VLNT didn't react like that, you know? For three of them, it took a while to understand the problem and the fourth didn't understand why I hid my face; she was ignorant to it... but I liked it. They had genuine feelings different from all others. They really didn't care for appearence".
Yang looked at Ruby. Her sister nodded, but she still was surprised.
"Seriously?"
"Yes... that's why I liked interacting with them. No matter how much I explained, Luna regarded the racism towards me as something impossible. I couldn't help but feel it was cute" Arachne had a trace of happiness in her voice. "Newton spoke with words of truth... when he said my appearance didn't matter for him, it really didn't. Tracy pitied me because I had been born in the wrong place. And finally..."
"Vlad offered you a place to live" completed Ruby. "A place where you would be accepted".
"Yes..." Arachne nodded. "Chimaera, the land of the mixed-bloods. I know that this wouldn't end. I would be the odd one out - a pure blooded faunus again. But... it would be refreshing. Vlad made me believe I would be accepted regardless of my appearance. He spoke about the many people born like me in there, his mother included. And his entire team backed him with that" Arachne looked at Ruby seriously. "If what you say about him dying is the truth, then I will help you if it means bringing him justice. Team VLNT gave me what no one else did: a sense of equality. I want to help them".
"Arachne..." Yang muttered her name.
"Okay, here is what is happening" Ruby started to speak. "Since he died, the authorities will suspect our friends. I want to know first and before all else if team VLNT would act on their own".
"They would" answered Arachne. "They would attack you out, corner you and probably torture your friends until they are certain that they are truly innocent".
"What?" Asked Yang surprised.
"They don't trust our authorities due to the massive corruptions, so they would probably act on their own".
"This is bad" muttered Ruby. "I can't let my friends get tortured. Is there any way for me to gather evidence on time to help them out?"
"No" answered Arachne again. "Ruby, I'm sorry, but if you figured your friends are suspicious, don't you think students trained to be assassins would too? Worst of all, Luna doesn't have much self-control. She must have gone after them right now".
"No problem" she said. "I told Jaune and Ren to return to Beacon. They wouldn't attack right away there".
"Sis" Yang called out. "Ren suffered an accident so..."
"They returned to the hospital..." muttered Ruby in despair. "Well, they wouldn't find it out right away would they?"
Yang thought about it.
"If Tepes told the others he defeated Blake..."
Arachne shook her head.
"Your friends are in danger. Luna and Tracy are merciless, not to mention Newton would destroy entire cities if it meant saving a friend. Above all else, if Luna gets your friends they are doomed".
"Is she that dangerous?" Asked Yang. "I kinda lost to her in a fight, but-"
"You don't understand, Chimaera is a battleground. All civillians have fighting capabilities due to the danger, so that it would lessen the death ratio, but Luna isn't a civillian, she is a knight. It means she received a training that puts her on a level she can challenge Hunters".
"You kidding?"
"AND" Arachne continued to speak. "According to Vlad... the knights would always ensure the highest probabilities for the best results. It means Luna is someone that will gladly sacrifice one friend if it means saving two people. If she can kill allies for her means..."
"She can torture Jaune and Ren" muttered Ruby. "Is there anyway we can fight her?"
"Luna alone? No" she said. "If another member of her team is with her... then you can try to do something, but... the other members left are Tracy and Newton. They are at least formidable foes on their own. Your chances are low".
Ruby started to think about it.
"Newton was defeated by Weiss during the night, so he is no problem".
"But" said Yang. "I called Weiss, she said Luna carried Newton out of Beacon".
"Which means" said Arachne. "That at least Luna is somewhere in the city".
"This is bad" muttered Ruby. "Tracy was with us, so she must have reached Jaune by now if he is still in the hospital. Do you think-"
"No" answered Arachne. "Ruby, they are Mercenary Students, not Hunter Students like you. They are trained to kill you guys. A one-on-one combat is disadvantageous by nature. Don't fight directly alone".
"But we still have to try" she said.
Arachne sighed.
"Do as you please. But promise one thing: don't harm them, okay? They are still my friends".
"Got it!"
Chapter: A Valiant Onslaught
Luna stood in front of Tracy.
"You can't beat me, Tracy".
"You said the same thing to Vlad" Tracy laughed. "Remember what was the result?"
"I am different now!"
Before the girl could react, the badages wrapped around her and threw her to the skies.
Tracy laughed.
"I don't need to beat anyone. I just need time" she turned to Jaune. "I have a few minutes before she returns. Let us end this, okay?"
"Tracy, for the last time, I am not the culprit".
"Say what you want, I will get what I want! Even if I have to kill you for that!"
"You won't" shouted a different voice.
Coming at her direction, Pyrrha attacked.
But Tracy blocked all her strikes with grace and kicked her in the stomach.
"Once again you got up... was it love? The love for him made you come for his rescue even with all these wounds? I love Vlad, you know? Very much!"
The bandages wrapped on Pyrrha's waist and Jaune's leg. Whipping the air, they were thrown against the ground, cracking the asphalt.
"When I saw his dried blood, I was sad" she muttered again. "But happy too... for he would even sacrifice himself for me. Countless times he came to me bacause he needed me. And in each time I could enjoy our time together".
Pyrrha and Jaune attacked together. Tracy punched the ground, covering their vision in flames.
Before they could see, each received a punch on the stomach.
Tracy continued to speak:
"His cries of paindue to his arduous training, the way his bones were relodged as they broke is still engraved in my mind... yes, if he died for me, he loved me..."
Jaune and Pyrrha tried to attack again, but Tracy jumped above them and axe kicked their heads simultaneously.
"I know... even if he is still alive, he could just come and die. So... if I go beyond madicine and break taboos, if I create a miracle itself I can bring him back to life... and he can die for me again and again forever and ever..."
Words of madness and insanity were said by the Mummy of Impossible Defeat.
Jaune and Pyrrha were still on the ground. Bandages wrapped themselves on their necks.
"You... are insane..." muttered Pyrrha weakly.
Tracy smiled - the smile of a person who lost her mind.
"Now, now... if Vlad died, then I can't just bring him back like that, right? I need to at least make justice, so... what is your involvement?"
"We..." Jaune started to speak weakly. "Are innocent".
"Is that so... then I guess I have to torture you two a bit".
"Do anything to me, but don't harm him!"
"Do anything to me, but don't harm her!"
Upon seeing both say their phrases, Tracy smiled.
"You love each other to the very end... I don't need to do anything to you, Arc. I have my answer".
Jaune looked at her surprised.
"Tracy... then you..."
"Yes" Tracy happily nodded. "If I torture her" she pointed at Pyrrha. "In front of you. Then I will be 100% sure of the truth".
Jaune's eyes were covered in despair.
"N-No... y-you have to be joking..."
Tracy's smile widened.
"What a beautiful red hair! If I rip it... and your lips... your eyelashes, eyes, breasts, arms and legs... if I rip it all of you, would he still love you?"
Her hand was stretched.
"S-stop it! Please!" Jaune shouted. "STTTTOOOOOPPP PLLEAAAASSSSEEEEE!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Tracy laughed insanely.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Jaune looked at her. Pyrrha was horrified, but at the same time...
"At least it won't be you..."
Her words...
"Tracy!" Jaune shouted again. He couldn't break free. He was powerless. "PLEASE! I WILL DO ANYTHING!"
Tracy laughed:
"Are you the culprit?"
"NO, I'm not!" Jaune was more and more desperate. "But I will help! I'll do anything that it needs to find the real culprit!"
Tracy stopped smiling.
"Definitely not a lie" she muttered. "But a proof of ignorance".
"I believe that's enough, Tracy" said a female voice.
The trio turned around. A girl covered in silver armor was there.
"They are innocent".
Tracy looked at Luna and sighed.
"You are right" she said.
The girl of purple hair stood up. The bandages wrapping Jaune and Pyrrha slowly loosened their grip.
Jaune looked at her surprised, yet speechless. Tracy side-glanced at them:
"If you want monetary compensation, it won't be a problem. I'm a rich woman after all. If you want revenge, you can come at any time and I will face you alone; you deserve as much".
"Wait..." Jaune extended his hand, but couldn't.
"I will pay the hospital bills, so you don't have to worry" she said again. "Ugh... this was so tiring..."
Pyrrha was the first to stand. She was still armed, ready for battle.
"What... is going on?"
Tracy calmly looked at her:
"You two proved your innocence. It's as simple as that. If I were you, I would lie down a bit".
Pyrrha didn't back down. Tracy sighed.
"It was an act" she answered. "To bring the best results from you. I knew that if I threatened you enough, I would get the truth".
Luna started to speak too:
"What Tracy means is: when she pinned you both down, that was the time you would speak. When she threatened to torture you, that was the time Jaune would confess".
Tracy nodded.
"The look on you both was of pure despair, but" she pointed at Pyrrha. "You accepted your fate" she pointed at Jaune. "And you begged for me to stop. That was a situation where the truth would come out".
Jaune struggled to get up.
"You two... fought... and did this all out... just for that?!"
"Yes" Tracy nodded with apathy. "Because this way, there would be less collateral damage. I knew that if I became a mad woman, you two would play the truth out. When you get cornered, your choices narrow. I won't ask for forgiveness; I'm doing what must be done to find Vlad".
Jaune didn't know if he should feel anger or relief.
"You two..."
"Ugh..." muttered Tracy.
"I told you to not use the flames" said Luna. "A semblance is far less taxing than using a skill outside it".
"I needed to become an impossible opponent, Luna ugh..." Tracy staggered. "I can already feel the toll..."
Pyrrha still wasn't understanding it right. The abrupt change in events was still affecting her.
"Let me get this straight... you two did all of this just to trick us out?"
"It isn't as simple, plebeian" answered Tracy. "Your precious little boyfriend was the most suspectful person. We needed to get the truth out. And now we have: Arc is innocent. So are you. And we are back to square zero; we don't know who is related to Vlad's murder attempt."
Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other in surprise. The reality was still not sinking.
Tracy impatiently took off a syringe from her pocket and threw it. The tube rolled on the ground until reaching Pyrrha's feet.
"It's a serum, the cure of the poison in his body. Our work here is done".
"Wait!" Shouted Jaune while forcing himself to stand.
Tracy stopped.
"What? Surely you wouldn't ask for us to work together or something like that, right?"
"Bu-"
"No. The answer is no, Arc" Tracy turned around. "People like you two aren't worth to have as allies in the situation I'm at. If you can't look at things impartially, or if you can't control your own emotions, then you are just a pureblood. No different from the Schnee or the White Fang, that bend the situation to their will regardless of the consequences. Let us go, Luna".
"Understood".
"Wait!" Shouted Pyrrha. "This isn't over yet."
"This is over. Pyrrha Nikos, you may be a renowed fighter here, but being in a pedestal with medals weighting on your neck have clouded your view. You lack the experience that comes with losses" she then looked at Jaune. "And you, Arc, lack control over your own emotions. You are the type of people that can't choose between saving one person or the other. The type that, in the end, with the futile attempt to save both, would end up saving no one".
- I needed to become someone able to make the hardest choice.
Tepes' words never felt so powerful.
Before Pyrrha could argue, Tracy shot a bandage to a post in the street, wrapped herself and pulled herself to the skies, swinging and leaving.
Luna respectfully bowed down and...
"Excuse my friend. She has been through a lot recently. I wish you best of luck in dealing with her sharp words".
"You talk as if we can convince with her of anything" said Pyrrha skeptically.
"Oh, but you can" Luna seemed to smile under her helmet. "We believe ourselves to be above ignorants. As much as we are arrogant, as long as you can build the right argument, we are happy to look at things from another angle" Luna's vizor crossed with Pyrrha's eyes. "If you can make a good speech, you can convince anyone and I believe in doing so you guys can help her calm down a little. See you later, Nikos, Arc. I expect a few things of you in a near future" once again she bowed down and... "No, seriously, if you guys can't make a good defense, not only will Arc end up in jail, but the next time we meet may be on the opposite sides of a warzone. And believe me: Vale isn't ready for war".
"What? But you know he is innocent!"
"And why should I bother to help a guy I don't even know? I already have my hands full. Seeya".
Stepping back, a powerful vibration was shot from Luna's foot and the girl disappeared at a high speed.
Pyrrha clenched her teeth.
"Don't mind them, Jaune... I know how you feel but-"
"They are right" answered Jaune with empty eyes. "This world isn't a fairy tale, Pyrrha... And I can't remain in a single spot without doing anything. Convincing Khufu to work together can wait. Preparing myself for when the authorities come can't".
"But they don't believe in you anymore. They know you are innocent!"
Jaune sighed.
"Two people from outside the kigdom mean nothing in face of the authority. Just like the friends that stand by my side mean nothing in front of the entire society. I can deal with this later, but if I fail to prove my innocence it won't end just with me".
Pyrrha averted her eyes and Jaune looked at the ground, at the syringe Tracy left.
"This isn't about just me" he picket up the syringe. "It's about doing what is right" he injected the needle in his arm. "It's about catching the villain and averting a war! And I wil do whatever it takes to stop it".
"Not only you" Pyrrha looked at him in the eyes. "WE are doing whatever it takes to stop it".
Jaune nodded.
"Let's go!"
Tracy nearly crashed on the alphalt, but Luna (without her armor) caught her in time.
"You haaad to be overly flashy with the flames. You could have used dust, you know?"
Tracy stood on the ground. Her sense of balance had been affected.
"Anyone could do that with dust. Doing on your own without showing the collateral effects makes you a bigger opponent. And that is a symbol of fear that can be used" she sighed. "But now we are back to square zero".
"I think the correct expression is back to square one".
"We are without clues".
Luna showed Tracy her scroll.
"To one, you mean" she grinned. "Newton woke up and sent me this. He deduced we would go after team JNPR".
"But they are innocent".
Luna nodded.
"And that is the good part: Newton prepared for that case. He thinks that, if not JNPR... we should go after team RWBY, that has a close relation to them!"
Tracy smiled with how dependable Newton and Luna were being. 'I kinda forgot a leader isn't supposed to be alone. Vlad never was...'
"Where do we go?"
A male frail voice came out of the scroll:
"Nowhere".
"You in there, Newton?" Asked Tracy.
"Yes. I can already deduce what you two have done while I was out. Regardless, we are running out of time. Team RWBY can have somehow manipulated team JNPR into this".
"Understood. Where do we find them?"
"Standing still" there was a spark of happiness on Newton's voice. "It seems Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long are going to the hospital and you two are on the roas they will be taking. It took my a while to hack their scrolls".
"Got it".
"And Tracy..."
"Yes?" She could hear sigh.
"About Vlad... no, forget it. See you soon".
The call was over and two dots getting cooser and closer appeared on the scroll.
"Ugh... he had to do that. I could feel from the voice he still isn't alright".
Luna sighed.
"Neither are you, Tracy. This time, I will be the mad warrior, okay?"
"But I-"
"But nothing. You are an alchemist before a fighter. And regardless of how handicapped they were, your fight with them is taking its toll. You aren't the 'Mummy of Impossible Defeat' because you were undefeated. It's because of all the victories you achived by defying the impossible, remember?"
Tracy averted her gaze. Luna stepped forward.
"I'm doing this. It's the job of the knights to protect the civillians, after all. And if something beyond us happen out of nowhere, just like a Modified Atlesian Paladin or a Rogue Hunter, then you need to be in your best shape".
On another street...
"The daaaaarkness juuuuuust consumes me~
And all the light is gone~
Hope is running out~
It was a mere illusion~
But I won't and will never forget what happiness is~
The true gift of love you gave me~"
Mary stopped singing upon hiding on an alley.
According to Chad, friends of the guy that defeated the prince would pass by there soon.
And that was her mission: befriend them.
"This is gonna be fun. How will I play it? Should I appear at last moment and try to save them? Oh, who cares!"
The girl started to laugh.
"This is gonna be epic! I never thought playing the role of a chess piece could be so fun!"
'I wonder' she thought. 'How long it will take for the [Curse] to work'.
"White Knight is gonna become a Black Knight".
In Jammer...
Newton punched his pillow. The situation was beyond bad.
It was on the news... it wouldn't take long for it to happen then...
"Damn the purebloods! How did they even get his real identity so fast?"
Yes... if Vlad's identity as a prince was exposed...
"Damn them! It takes a while to make tests and cross references and they found out a few hours after the murder?"
The situation was really bad. That meant...
'I planned to keep it a secret until we got hold of the information... but it will be worse if Chimaera discover this from the purebloods'.
"I will have to call them".
He couldn't hack every computer in existence. The information would spread soon.
Picking up his scroll, he did the choice.
"Sorry, Vlad. You always hated this type of stuff, but I can do nothing to stop it. At least I can control it a bit, but..."
'The way this is going, it's better than to have a war now'.
Yes, Newton knew they couldn't do that. A war without Vlad meant a war with people dying.
And Vlad hated to have his own people sacrificing themselves.
"I have to tell them... and pray that our people don't do something harsh".
The worst scenario happened.
"You two!" The girl with a blue hooded jacket stood in front of them. "Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long. You are under suspicion of participating in the murder attempt of Vladimir Tepes!"
The girl Arachne warned them not to fight stood there alone, a sadistic smile on her face, as if whe was a predator about to prey.
Knight Luna - The Silver Clad Werewolf.
Chimaera's equivalent of a Hunter.
Arachne's words echoed in Ruby's mind:
- Ruby, they are Mercenary Students, not Hunter Students like you. They are trained to kill you guys. A one-on-one combat is disadvantageous by nature. Don't fight directly alone.
And then Ruby answered:
- But we still have to try.
'Yes' Ruby nodded to herself. 'I at least have to try. The heroes in fairy tales would never back away no matter the opponent. Even if it was a man against a dragon, he would step forward with courage'.
Ruby readied her scythe. 'Weiss defeated The Creature of Stein and Jaune defeated The Impaler Vampire. Yang and I will have to defeat her'.
Luna laughed.
"Good, good! Jump the speeches and arguments and let's get directly to the fun! Let us begin, purebloods, the rite of combat!"
Heretic Notes:
And so this goes on.
Arachne was designed to deconstruct the normal faunus characterizations. I mean, I thought 'if a faunus can have ears and tail, what about other parts? Tuckson had claws after all'.
As you have seen, it wasn't limited to just her appearance.
And so, this arc continues. People may say that the plot is moving slow, but the way I'm seeing it, team CLMT has already thrown the dice.
The Dice Has Been Cast.
I think it showed more of their means. Team RWBY tends to take the action for themselves in direct confrontations. Like trying to take a mission first years weren't allowed and fighting a giant robot in the middle of the streets. Team CLMT is more subtle; they do simple actions while hiding in the shadows for great results. "Oh, they will pose a problem in the future? You, cause an accident to hospitalize their friend. You, befriend team RWBY. You, spread news about the death of the prince to make everyone busy".
Lol.
Well, seeya, people!
Heretic, out!