It was the morning of their last day in Arcadia and Yang woke up a little too earlier than usual and way more frustrated. After the attack on Jaune and her the royal family took measures to keep them protected, meaning they were never alone outside the castle. So every time the prince tried to take her for the date he promised her, there was always someone following them. It was usually one of his older sisters, or some of their teammates, especially Pyrrha, making it impossible for Yang to make a romantic outing with Jaune, and she knew her fellow blonde was trying his hardest to follow with his promise towards her.
But sneaking out proved impossible as Charlotte and Chifuyu had some kind of enhanced sixth sense mixed with woman's intuition to always know when they were trying to sneak away. So Yang sat on her bed and sighed, deciding to at least take a walk around the castle's garden to relax, so after fixing herself and putting her hair in twin tails she opened her door, and a hand met her mouth.
Jaune smiled and made a sign for her to stay quite, to what she nodded. He took her hand and walked together, avoiding the most busy corridors of the castle. She was smiling and curious to know if the boy discovered a way for them both have their date, but said no word to avoid unwanted attention. After a few minutes they were in the 'old castle' area as Jaune called it, a part of the castle built during the first settling. Taking spiral stairs she soon found herself in front of an old wooden door, that Jaune opened with a big iron key. After a last flight of steps they were in what the brawler would define as a 'tree house' space.
"This is the first guard tower made back in the day. Very few people now of it, so I decided to make it my retreat." He explained and she smiled brightly.
There was a TV set, a big bean bag enough for three people, a mini-fridge and a small round table filled with her favorite breakfast foods. The windows were made of green glass and she opened one, being rewarded with a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding lands. Jaune put two pillows for them to sit at the small table in opposite sides and sat down.
"So, I brought some Arcadian movies that I believe you'll like. Don't worry, all subbed or spoke in the general language, so no subtitles. I know it's not perfect, but I wanted to have a day just for us anyway and..." She shut him up by hugging him.
"It's perfect, Jaune. Thank you. But won't your family come here? Or our 'beloved' friends?" She asked as she moved to be as close as possible to her lovely knight, causing him to stiff a little.
"I asked Chifuyu-nee to keep everyone off our back for today. She said as long as we remain in the castle she would help." He said and Yang smiled more, pecking his cheek and making both blush slightly.
"And how you brought all of this?" She asked as she started serving herself.
"I cooked them myself and made a few trips… it just took me an hour." He admitted.
"You were awoke since so early? You shouldn't have!" She said, hiding the fact she was beaming with happiness for his dedication.
"But I wanted to. I promised you and I never go back with my word. Besides, I think we don't spend as much time together as we should." He said and she nodded in agreement, humming in happiness as she ate her food.
She couldn't believe how much fun she was having with a simple movie session. Arcadian movies were mostly hilariously bad and she loved those kinds of movies. Many were action movies with invincible heroes whose abilities were borderline superpowers, monster and horror movies with the crappiest use of CGI possible, cheesy romantic plots and overacting all over the place. She tried to not laugh so hard to not offend Jaune, but she couldn't help, especially when Jaune started joking during the most ridiculous scenes, causing her to almost faint a few times without air.
Now they were watching one called 'Grimmnado', about Grimm being caught by tornadoes and flung against people that used chainsaws to protect themselves, and them there was the hilarious deaths fool of blood. She was breathless by the time the credits rolled, ans was cuddling Jaune in the beanbag as he caressed her hair. She left out contented sighs as she checked all the other movies he had bought with.
"Tomorrow we're going back to Beacon." She commented and Jaune nodded.
"Home away from home. I love here, but I must admit I missed there." The boy said as both shifted on the bean bag, the girl resting her back on his chest.
"Can I take those with me?" She asked as she kept flipping through the movies.
"Sure. I think we should make a movie night with the… 'best' ones. I'm sure people will find them hilarious."
"I still want to see how people will react towards you, prince Jaune of Arcadia." She teased and he groaned.
"Don't remind me. I just… Beacon was the one place I could be always myself and now people will keep an eye on me. I just want to be me." He said and she nodded, hugging him gently.
"You can always count on me, sir knight." She said as she stared up and smiled gently, receiving a kiss on her forehead. She stared at his deep blue eyes, feeling the moment was at hand. She cupped his cheek with one hand and slowly inched towards him, both closing their eyes.
"YANG!" The duo stood up as Ruby's voice came from downstairs.
"Bro!" Miki's voice came soon after and the two girls appeared. "Miki was worried about you! You missed lunch!"
"We did?" Jaune wondered as he checked his scroll. It was two in the afternoon and apparently the two blondes spend a good chunk of day watching bad movies, and since they had plenty of snacks none felt time passing.
"Yes! It's your last day here! You shouldn't spend it without Miki!" She complained and grabbed his arm, pulling him back down while he shot an apologetic stare at Yang, who smiled and waved him to go. She was frustrated she lost the chance, but understood Jaune's family, specially his sisters, would want to be with him.
"Sorry about that. Those girls could be too much." Chifuyu appeared and Yang sighed in understanding.
"It's alright. Thanks for helping though." Yang said as she prepared to follow them.
"Wait… Ruby, can I have a moment alone with your sister?" Chifuyu asked and Ruby traded stares with her sister, but nodded and left after Jaune and Miki. "Jaune refused to allow us to send protection back with you guys to Beacon. I'll be there, but I'll be counting with you all to keep everyone safe."
"He did that?"
"He doesn't want to be special. And we don't want to send a bunch of our agents there. We just started negotiating with the other kingdoms after all. But that wasn't the real reason I wanted to talk with you. Jaune is too much like his father." Chifuyu started and Yang nodded, as they even had a few quirks they shared, like scratching the back of their heads when nervous. "You know, right? The champs and the kitty feelings?"
"I… I do." Yang confirmed what to her was quite obvious.
"Good. Jaune probably don't. And he can end hurting people without intending, and that would hurt him a lot. So I'll be counting on you to make sure he doesn't." Chifuyu's statement got Yang by surprise. "Oh. Don't misunderstand me. You're stronger than the others, so I'm sure no matter the future, you'll be the one to help them, even if you're too hurting. Jaune is a rare honest soul, so keep in mind he doesn't have much malice, if any, on his heart. That is both good and bad on its own way."
"Jaune's my friend before everything else. And I don't abandon friends." Yang sated proudly, making Chifuyu smile at her.
"Oh, don't you teenagers have all the answers? But remember us adults have lived longer than you, and we lived much of what you are living now. So if you need any counsel don't shy away from asking me."
"Thanks. But who'll give Jaune counsel? Uncle Ichika?"
"No. Definitely not Ichika." Chifuyu said eliciting yang to laugh out loud.
The sun was still hidden as the Arcadian airship approached Beacon. At Jaune's request they left Arcadia at night, to avoid the reporters and photographers back at Vale, and it was a few minutes to five as the ship started maneuvering. Ozpin, Glynda, Chifuyu and Qrow returned with their students instead of Ironwood, that had left before them. Most of the young ones were sleeping, specially Nora and Ruby, but Blake was napping on Yang's shoulder, and Jaune was passed out while Pyrrha caressed his hair, to the brawler's envy.
The airship touched down and most of them woke up, except Ruby and Nora, and both were carried away by the others (Qrow didn't allow Jaune to carry Ruby, saying something about 'no more than one niece') so he carried Nora to Ren's relief. The group walked towards the entrance where they found Dr. Oobleck waiting for them.
"Welcome back! I have coffee ready at the teacher's lounge and Peter is hunting those pesky reporters trying to trespass. His count is fifteen right now." He informed the headmaster.
"I'm sorry!" Jaune said between his teeth towards the staff.
"It's not your fault, Mr. Arc. I suggest you and your friends return to your rooms now and rest. The Tournament is coming closer, but you still will have classes to attend." Ozpin said, with Qrow delivering Ruby to Yang so the group nodded and walked away then the headmaster turned to the Huntsman. "Now, we better catch up with you, old friend. Chifuyu, you can also take some time to rest."
"I'll leave you to your secrets." Chifuyu said as she walked away, and Ozpin was glad she didn't put more resistance.
"Secrets?" Oobleck questioned the headmaster.
"It's nothing to worry about, old friend. Just a personal mission I asked Qrow to do for me." Ozpin explained.
"Very well. I'll leave you then so I can help Peter. Heavens knows when the sun finally rises we'll need all the help to keep everything under control." The doctor then left to join his partner in crime and the trio walked back into the building.
"Keeping the reporters out will be easy. I worry about the students. They probably will make a fuss around Mr. Arc after what happened." Glynda said, her caring nature showing.
"He'll be fine. I bet he'll be very happy when all the chicks around here decided they want a bit of his royal d..." He was silenced when Glynda slapped him with her riding crop.
"He's a nice and respectful man, different from you!" The blonde woman growled and Qrow put his hands on his chest defensively.
Jaune wasn't fine.
Lunch time proved to be proving to him, as simple walking around attracted unwanted attention from everyone. He lost account on how many times people stopped him to make the same questions over and over again, how many people gave him their scroll numbers and made quite raunchy innuendos towards him. Pyrrha and Yang had to keep themselves in check as they desired nothing more than to send the people bothering Jaune away. When he finally was able to seat with them to eat, he was already rather tired.
"It seems being popular is not your thing." Ren commented as he sipped his tea and Jaune simple nodded as he started to ate his almost cold food.
"I'm not used to people being so… intruding? I think that's the word. I think that's how you feel all the time, right Pyr?"
"It's not so bad here, but back home can be like that. I'm here if you need help." She offered and Jaune traded smiles with her.
"Thanks. I wonder what to do with all those scroll numbers." Jaune said as he put the pile of paper on the table. "I don't want to be rude, but I don't want to call any of those people."
"I can take care of those for you." Neptune approached and took the papers.
"I don't..." Jaune was about to protest.
"I think Neptune knows how to handle it." Pyrrha affirmed vehemently, mostly because otherwise she would use the papers as a hit list. Or simple burn them.
"Dude, people haven't shut up about all the royalty stuff since you appeared on TV! They are treating you like an alien or something!" Sun chimed in as they sat with the rest of the group.
"Nah, he's too cute to be an alien. I'd expect them to be gray and big headed." Coco added as she sat on the table with Velvet. "Anyway, I loved your sisters idol performance! And their clothes were so cute and fashionable!"
"Not to tell about the fights against Pyrrha and Weiss. By the way, you have a mean punch!" Sun said to the heiress.
"Thanks? I guess?" Weiss answered.
Jaune felt happy when his closer friends talked about everything else but his status, and lunch ended being rather enjoyable. The large group around him allowed Jaune a bit of peace as they walked back to their rooms, but Jaune made a pit stop in the bathroom located in the corridor. After doing the deed he took a time to stare at his usual face in the mirror. It was hard for him to believe so much happened to him since arriving in Beacon and he hoped things would slow down a little bit. As he left he stumbled in someone and caught the person before she fell on the floor.
"S-sorry about that!"
"It's no problem. Well, if it isn't the man of the hour?" Cinder sultrily stated and Jaune blushed slightly, helping her on her feet and taking a step from her. "I don't bite, you know?"
"What? Oh, hehe, o-of course. So, huh… How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you. You look a little tense. Must be hard getting this sudden attention all of sudden."
"Yeah… But in a week they probably will forget about it, with the tournament and all." Jaune stated with a small hopeful chuckle and Cinder smiled again, inching forward him.
"It must be difficulty to adapt here, considering what I heard about your homeland. Vale must feels… rough, when compared." She said in an understanding tone and Jaune moved his head side to side.
"It does have its problems, but so does Arcadia." He conceded and Cinder nodded.
"It must be hard on you being responsible for a whole kingdom." The brunette said as a hand rested on the boy's shoulder.
"I'm not responsible for it, at least, not entirely. In fact, barely. Even my mom isn't this absolute ruler of the land. A lot of the responsibility is shared between a lot of people. We're just human, after all."
"Meanwhile here we have our destinies controlled for a few arrogant people that believe they have a power they don't. Look at Ironwood and his might fleet, a fool that believe his technology would solve all the problems in the world and that is up to him to decide when to use it." She said and Jaune nodded slightly, as it was hard to disagree with her on that.
"Well, they do say our leaders are a reflection of our people." Jaune wondered and Cinder smiled more honestly at him.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha returned to call him, and frowned at the closeness he was sharing with Cinder.
"Oh, sorry, I got sidetracked. I, huh, I might see you around..." he said before rushing back to Pyrrha, that spared a glance at Cinder. Soon Mercury and Emerald joined the evil girl.
"Do you think you can make him join us?" The silver haired boy asked.
"If I had more time, eventually. He's so innocent that I probably would just need a little seduction and sweet words. But he's not arrogant like Ironwood or Ozpin, he's a simple soul and those many times turns to be the most hard to deal with." Cinder said as she walked with her partners.
"So you'll stop going for him?" Emerald said in a hopeful tone.
"Actually, I'll keep doing it. The Mistralian champion is a threat, but her interest in the young prince is a weakness I can exploit. Besides, even if I can't get us on his side, I can always plant doubts on his cute head." Cinder concluded to Emerald dismay.
"I just say we kill him. Make his mommy get angry at Beacon for not protecting the little prince." Mercury suggested.
"And that's why you're the brawls and not the brain, my dear Mercury. We do it and Vale goes in lock-down, garnering unwanted attention towards us. You two will follow my orders and the plan, and none of you'll mess with him. Let that for me." She concluded.
"There's something about that girl I don't like..." Pyrrha told Jaune as they entered their room.
"What girl?" Nora asked as she was jumping on her bed.
"The one who's always with Mercury, the boy I fought some time ago. She was… talking with our fearless leader." The redhead said with a little irritation apparent in her voice. Jaune sat on his bed and removed his shoes.
"At least she wasn't flirting with me." He commented and Pyrrha displeased expression softened a little. Apparently in this case his obliviousness helped her. "She got all serious though, talking about Ironwood and such."
"There's a certain tension in the air." Ren manifested as he stared at the flying fleet outside their window. "The fleet came first, then the Breach, and now Arcadia. People are starting to question what the government knows and isn't sharing."
"Hopefully the Tournament will take their heads out of it." Jaune wondered, but he was unsure of his own words. "And talking about it, I think we need to train harder from now on. We don't want to make Pyrrha look bad after all."
"Jaune, you're my partner and this is my team. There's no way I'd be nothing but proud of fighting with you all." Pyrrha said with a big smile.
"Yeah! You can count on us for the win!" Nora supported.
"Anyway, I think we need to work in our teamwork. Ruby told me her team have joint attacks, with names and all, so maybe we could work on that." Jaune started with a smile as his friends paid attention to him… barely. Nora was still jumping up and down on her bed.
"And that's our training regimen for the next day. I included that weekend you asked for to visit your father though, Ruby." Weiss said as they stared at the schedule the heiress set up for them, with such time table covering even their free times. Suffice to say the other girls weren't impressed.
"You're kidding, right?" Blake asked first as she stared the small boxes with letters inside that could be a foreign language for all she cared. "It says I have half hour for my reading daily."
"Indeed. The fact you like to read is a quality I admire in you, Blake. In fact, I wish Ruby and Yang would also read as many books as you."
"Hey, I'd read her books if she allowed me too!" Ruby protested and Blake blushed slightly as she made a mental note to hid her books better. She didn't need anyone to realize what literature she prefers.
"Look, I agree with we having training times, but I think you're exaggerating." Yang said as she sat in her bed with Zwei.
"None of you complained about Ruby's 'best day ever' plan." Weiss affirmed.
"That plan was thrown out of the window the same way Nora sent me through the roof that day. By the way, wouldn't it be nice if we trained with them?" Yang questioned.
"No, it wouldn't. They'll be our most likely adversaries in the tournament and training with them would reveal our strengths and weakness against them, and I have to admit that Jaune would come up with a plan against it. Besides, they have Pyrrha. Pains me to admit it but none of us stand a chance against her." Weiss stated and the girls had to agree with that part. The only person they ever saw to fight as an equal to Pyrrha was Jaune's sister Artoria and that because she had that powerful Semblance of hers.
"I think we're jumping the gun here. We don't know when we'll fight Pyrrha or even if. People of all remnant will come to compete, so we should focus in one battle at a time." Blake suggested.
"But I agree with Weiss-cream in that we do need to train. I want to win the tournament and if I can do it by defeating the Invincible Girl the better." Yang conceded, a sudden desire to prove herself in battle overcoming her. She was eager to fight in the Tournament since the fights in the Arcadian Arena, eager to not only to prove herself but to excite the crow as the Saber twins did.
"Then we all agree we need to prepare. Weiss, I'm thankful you spend time doing it, but I think we need just to do some adjustments. Because, really, no cookie time?" Ruby said and Weiss scoffed, but she did decided a few concessions were in need.
"A dime for your thoughts?"
Glynda turned to Qrow as the man sipped on his flask, then returned to watch Amber, the Fall Maiden, trapped in the Atlesian medical pod, face showing a hint of pain. It felt so wrong to the headmistress to see they were denying the poor girl even the right to die in order to protect her power. The blonde teacher have being questioning the acts of their group for a while now and what they were proposing was simple unacceptable in so many ways.
"I think my thoughts are worth way more than that." She retorted, returning her gaze to the poor girl.
"Look, I know you have your doubts, but I think we should trust Ozpin on this. We can't just let whoever attacked Amber steal her powers." The man said and Glynda sighed heavily.
"And exactly what part of our current actions are doing any good to her." Glynda stated not a question to be answered, since she knew the answer Qrow, Ironwood and even Ozpin had for the teacher.
"I know it's not the ideal plan, but its the best we can do with what we have. Look, I'd love to have a way to save Amber, but..."
"But what we're doing here is wrong. We are playing gods with the life of a poor girl that never asked for this yet did her best. And now we're planning to ask one of our own students to sacrifice herself for the 'greater good' as James said. And she could be one of your nieces." Glynda stated angrily and Qrow put his flask away.
"I don't think any of them would be a good choice. One is too young, the other too bold."
"Honestly, there's no good choices here, just choices. I understand a little more now why Raven decided to have no part in all this." The mention of his sister made Qrow pause for a moment.
"She left a girl without a mother. I'm not sure if I'd say her choice was better than ours. But all of us wants the same, to protect the people."
"It would be easier if we knew what we're doing will guarantee such thing." Glynda lamented.
"True. But if we could see the future, maybe we wouldn't be here." Qrow concluded and turned to leave. "You better not stay here for too long. You can't do much for Amber, but you can still help those kids up there."
Glynda sighed and turned to leave. But she stopped to spare one last glance at Amber and one last prayer for her, in the hopes that everything would turn to the best. Then she left as the lights turned off one by one.
"Atlesian beer? Some habits die hard, though I was sure Ozpin wasn't as permissive with alcohol as it was back in Atlas. But then he do tolerate Qrow..." Ironwood said as he approached Chifuyu.
"This hardly will affect me and you know it. Besides, you also know that bossing me around hardly turns well." The woman answered still seeping her beer and observing the city far away.
"You know, my offer for you to return to us is still standing."
"Oh. Funny considering that I had to flee the country so my little brother could marry Charlotte." Was the answer, though no anger carried in the words, just a statement of facts.
"In my defense, I was against it, but you knew the old higher-ups were less willing to let a talent like you go away to join a rebellious settlement." He answered and Chifuyu made no motion of reacting. "But hings changed now, and I hope for the better. You'd be welcome back as what you always was, a valuable member of our military."
"Hm. I'm actually quite happy as things are now. Teaching suits me more than the military lifestyle. Besides, while I do not doubt you made things better in Atlas, James, you also is the Headmaster, General and leader. Don't you think its a lot of power for one single person?"
"I heard those arguments before. And I believe this makes decisions faster. We both know how things in Vale or Mistral for example take forever to be done, except in a crisis, then they rush to solve things." Ironwood defended himself.
"Yet all mistakes rests on your shoulders."
"Yes, and I'm ready to shoulder them."
"Oh. You're a good man, James. You just take your duty too seriously."
"Glynda says the same."
"Because we're right. You'll never find peace if you're always expecting war."
"Are you going to tell me you don't see what's happening? After the Breach and all we talked about?" James questioned the woman.
"That's the problem, I only see part of the puzzle. Ozpin, Qrow, you and even Glynda are hiding a few pieces I need. But it doesn't matter." Chifuyu drank the rest of her beer and tossed the can in the trash. "I'm going to figure it out eventually and with luck before this turns into a huge mess."
"You should trust us a little more." Ironwood urged her.
"It's a two way street." Chifuyu answered as she left. Ironwood stared at his fleet and contemplated such words.
OMAKE
Cinder had assigned Neopolitan to get close to Jaune Arc during his stay in Arcadia. Neo haven't had the easiest trip getting here due to the four kingdoms trying not to acknowledge Arcadia even existed. Thankfully she was able to bribe some smugglers to get close to Arcadia for her to teleport onto the land.
Assuming her Mint disguise, Neo managed to set herself up as an orphan looking for work. She'd been in an exceptionally bad mood ever since Cinder cut her pay and worse Roman stopped buying her ice cream. The fact he was in jail was no excuse for him to not buy her ice-cream. Her luck got worse as getting into the palace was next to impossible without some sort of cover. Sadly, all the positions required her to talk, which in hindsight Cinder should have thought ahead but apparently hadn't.
As such 'Mint' had been forced to stay on the streets cold, hungry and tears of anger in her eyes due to her ill luck. Then things turned around when her tears attracted Ichika Orimura himself. Seeing this as her way in Neo proceeded to come up with a sob story about being an orphan and how no one would hire her because she was mute.
He was silent for a long time and honestly Neo thought she'd been busted. But luckily, Ichika was that dense and immediately offered her a job as a maid in the palace which Neo had gladly accepted.
Neo had thought being a maid would be too easy... oh she had been so wrong. Artoria was nice enough, but Nero was another thing entirely. Hearing her brag about herself for nearly half an hour was enough to make Nero want to throttle her, and if that wasn't enough she'd decided that Neo needed a better uniform.
"Your uniform while appropriate for a common maid is not enough." Nero declared "I sense hidden beauty within you and it would be a shame to let it go to waste."
Several scandalous maid uniform variations and a lot of blushes on Neo's part later and she'd been rescued by Artoria who dragged a reluctant Nero away.
"But sister, it would be crime to let such beauty remain unseen to the world!" Nero yelled as Artoria dragged her away.
"You have bothered Mint enough, Nero." Artoria stated with a sigh.
"...Is it because her chest is bigger than yours?" Nero asked.
"I WILL MURDER YOU!" Thus began a merry chase throughout palace as one of the Saber twins attempted to murder the other.
The next day had been harrowing as Neo dodged a huntsman known as Qrow who had attempted to grope her while she was walking from the servant's quarters to the palace. She had filed a complaint about the incident where normally she would have castrated the idiot for trying.
Later that day Neo's duties began in earnest when the delegates from the other kingdoms arrived. She was ordered to bring drinks, food snacks and other things to them while the 'negotiations' were going on. Eventually Qrow had 'revealed' himself during the tournament and was given a place to stay at the palace. When his flask ran dry he was foolish enough to ask Neo to refill it, she'd been all too happy to oblige... while adding something extra too it.
"GAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Qrow screamed in pain as his lips began swelling up "HOOOOOOTHOTHOTHOT!"
"What is wrong with you, Qrow?" Glynda asked with a long suffering sigh.
"My drink is really hot." Qrow cried as he tried gulping down water to try and cool the fire in his mouth.
As she stood between Queen Charlotte and Chifuyu who were smirking at Qrow's misfortune, Neo felt the bottle containing the extract of the hottest chilli pepper on Remnant be removed from her hands. Look and seeing the Queen as the perpetrator, Neo felt her stomach turn over and thought it was all over… until the Queen winked at her and gave her smile as Qrow continued to scream in pain.
It would be a few days later when Neo saw that she'd been given a huge bonus on top of her Maid pay check that Neo seriously considered giving Cinder the finger and taking the job up full time.