Chapter 19: The Real Face Of Joshua Joestar
Vale Hospital…
Viola woke from her unconscious, only to find herself bound to a hospital bed. The last thing she remembered was being hit by Richard Speedwagon's Stand before waking up here. That most likely meant they had beaten her.
This was the first time she had ever lost a fight like this. Normally winning battles was easy for her as all she needed to do was point, and her target would "fall" to their death. But her opponents' Stands countered her own well enough to the point that she had difficulty killing them.
Even though she separated the biggest problem, Scotty Carlon, she still couldn't kill Richard and Elton, who managed to grab hold of her and send her plummeting to the ground. She felt humiliated by this defeat, and she vowed that when she recovered, she'd finish them off.
"You look like shit," Davion commented, bringing Viola's attention to him, having not registered his presence when she awoke.
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"D-Dio…you came to see me?" Viola questioned, not expecting that he'd come over to see her.
"Well, I had no choice. You managed to mess things up real bad on your end after all." Davion chuckled as he reached down and clicked on a button to raise Viola.
"Honestly, you should have had that fight in the bag. How could you lose?" Davion wondered as he placed his hand on Viola's leg, placing pressure on it, causing her great discomfort.
"I wasn't expecting them to put up such a good fight. I nearly had them, but some students made things complicated." Viola explained as Davion laughed.
"Well, to be fair, those guys are full of surprises, and I'm sure my uncle will be understanding and give you another chance. After all, this is your first slip-up." Davion smirked as he stood up, still leaning his hand on Viola's leg.
"What are you doing here, Dio?" Viola questioned as Davion crouched over, getting close to her face as he fluffed her pillow.
"My uncle has most likely figured out that my loyalties lie…elsewhere." Davion began as he moved back and placed his hand on Viola's head while she eyed him nervously.
"And I just came here to ask if you'll keep quiet about me?" Davion asked as Viola began to sweat nervously.
"Of course, I will. You know I'd never betray you." Viola answered as Davion smiled at her.
"Good to know," Davion smirked as he removed his hand from Viola's head, much to her relief, before he covered her mouth.
"But we both know that my uncle won't need you to cooperate so he can get my location," Davion stated as his smile disappeared and Viola struggled in her restraints.
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"Now, now, don't fight it. You should have seen this coming at some point anyway." Davion insisted as Viola let out a scream from under his hand.
Soon the color began to drain from her skin as it began to compress against her muscles and bones. With her hands and feet bound, she was unable to retaliate as Davion used his Stand to suck the oxygen out of her lungs and body.
"Almost done." Davion sighed as he looked at the clock on the wall until he felt Viola's body stop moving.
Looking down saw that Viola was completely pale, and her eyes had rolled up into her head. Removing his hand from her mouth, he placed two fingers on her neck and made sure that she was really dead.
"It is unfortunate that I had to do this. But my father always said to weed out those who have lost their usefulness." Davion muttered as he lowered Viola's bed back down.
"Too bad for you. I did like our talks. Though the tea was never good." Davion said as he pulled Viola's blanket over her head.
Twelve Years Ago…
Schnee Manor…
A five-year-old Weiss Schnee walked through the halls of her family home, looking down. She had just finished her lessons for the day, and she was going to go show her father. But he had been busy and told her off for interrupting him, so she was heading back to her room.
That is until she walked by her older brother's room, where she saw him sitting at his desk scribbling something on a piece of paper. Curious, she walked into his room, moving slowly so as to not disturb him.
He had been confined to his room for the past few days because their father had gotten angry at him, and this was the first Weiss had seen of him since. But as she got closer, her brother looked over to the corner of the room before turning around and seeing Weiss behind him.
"Weiss? What are you doing in here?" Walter inquired as Weiss noted that he looked like he hadn't slept.
"Your door was open, and I saw you drawing something. What is it?" Weiss asked as she peeked at Walter's desk, only for him to crumble up the paper and pocket it.
"It's nothing," Walter assured as he noticed a small paper in Weiss's hands.
"What's this?" Walter inquired as he looked at what Weiss's holding.
"I finished my lessons today, and I got perfect marks," Weiss answered, showing Walter her report card.
"Look at that. You're getting smarter every day." Walter smiled as he patted Weiss's head, making her smile.
"Did you show mother?" Walter asked as Weiss shook her head.
"She's been drinking again," Weiss murmured, looking down as Walter sighed, not even bothering to ask her about showing their father as he could guess the answer.
"Well, I'm impressed," Walter replied as Weiss looked back up, happy.
"But you did really well with your music teacher," Walter noted as Weiss nodded.
"She said that if I keep practicing that I could be a famous singer one day," Weiss explained, grinning ear to ear.
"Well, if that happens, I'll make sure to buy a ticket to see you sing," Walter smirked as Weiss looked happy.
"You promise?" Weiss asked as Walter nodded as he crouched down and held out his pinky.
"Pinky promise." Walter smiled as Weiss wrapped her pinky around his.
"Now, you should head to your room before father sees you here. He'll get angry if he finds you in my room." Walter insisted as he stood up and walked Weiss back to the door.
"Okay," Weiss replied as she exited Walter's room, watching his door close.
Present Day…
Team RWBY's Dorm…
Little did Weiss know that would be the last she would see of her brother, as the next day, she had been told he was placed in a psychiatric facility due to him seeing invisible people. It made Weiss very sad not to even be able to say goodbye, and it devastated her when news of his death came.
Perhaps that was why she was so insistent on learning more about the Brando Institution and Stands to get some sort of closure. But so far, it wasn't giving her that closure as nothing new about her brother came to light.
"Weiss, are you okay?" Ruby asked, taking Weiss out of her thoughts.
"Oh yes, I'm fine," Weiss answered, turning to her partner. The two had been on better terms since they made up and had decided to work out their issues.
Things were still awkward between the two, but that only came about when they were alone. Weiss still didn't know how to feel about the revelation Cupid's Arrow showed them, but she decided to take it one step at a time.
"Good, because I don't want you getting all distracted during the first match of the tournament!" Yang exclaimed as she and Blake stood by the door.
It was the first day of the Vytal Festival, meaning the first matchups for the tournament were about to begin. Team RWBY had been training long and hard for this tournament, and they weren't going to let it all go to waste.
Exiting their room, they made their way to the bullhead landing so they could go to the colosseum. As they walked, Weiss looked out one of the many windows that lined the hallway they walked down, seeing the large crowds of people who were coming to watch the tournament in person.
It reminded her of the crowd of people in the audience of her concerts which was just as large. She had been nervous during her first concert but never showed it on her face to make sure she didn't dishonor the Schnee family name.
Remembering those concerts, her thoughts drifted to her dream from last night. The memory of the promise her older brother made to her saddened her. With each concert she had performed, she remembered imagining him at the concerts, even if it wasn't true.
Perhaps one day, she could have closure about it all. For now, she was going to focus on the present as she mentally prepared herself for the tournament. When Team RWBY made it outside, they had to navigate through the crowd to get to a bullhead.
"Jeez, talk about a big crowd." Yang laughed as they made it to a bullhead.
"I don't think I've ever seen one so big," Ruby commented as the team took one last look at the crowd before entering the bullhead assigned to students.
"I've seen some larger," Blake admitted as Weiss nodded.
"I wonder who we'll be going up against?" Ruby wondered as the bullhead took off.
"We won't know until we get there." Yang pointed out as she looked out the window, her gaze falling on the colosseum.
It made her think of the events surrounding the Stand User, who somehow changed the direction of gravity itself. She wondered if there was going to be another Stand User who would attempt to interrupt the tournament.
She knew that the original goal of the people the Stars were after was to shoot several students with the Stand Arrow to turn them into Stand Users, but what now? Was that still the plan, or did the Stars force that to change?
Either way, if anything happened, Team RWBY was prepared for anything. At least, they hoped. When it came to the powers of Stands, fights became fairly unpredictable. But they wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Hey, now that I think about it, where are the…what do we even call them now?" Yang wondered, not knowing how to refer to the Stars.
"You mean the…Stand…guys…?" Ruby replied, also unclear about what to call them.
"I think they call themselves the Stars now," Blake noted as everyone turned toward her.
"Where did you hear that?" Weiss inquired, curious about how Blake found that out.
"I ran into Professor Ozpin a few days ago and asked where they were since they haven't been around campus recently." Blake began as she inspected her Gambol Shroud.
"Apparently, due to how frequently they get attacked, he suggested that they stay away from the fairgrounds and the colosseum. During then, he had referred to them as the Stars." Blake continued as the rest of the team exchanged looks.
"I guess that makes sense though it is a little sad they can't enjoy the festival," Ruby commented as the bullhead landed on the colosseum.
"I wonder what they'll do in the meantime, though." Ruby wondered as the team exited the bullhead.
Vale…
"This isn't the kind of work I was expecting a huntsman would assign to us." Max sighed as he carried a box into the back of a store.
"What did you expect? It's not like he could give us huntsman work." Richard inquired as he walked with him, carrying another box.
"I don't know, but I wasn't expecting to do this," Max responded as they placed the boxes down.
Currently, the Stars, excluding Scotty, were working behind a store, unloading boxes from a truck and into the back of several stores. This was one of the jobs Ozpin had recommended for them as they weren't licensed huntsmen.
Though Max was a little disappointed, he couldn't argue that doing this would solve some of their money troubles. If Team RWBY or JNPR were to see this, they'd find the sight to be quite odd as they could only see the Stars as formidable Stand Users. This would most likely make a majority of them laugh or give a light giggle.
"That's the last of it." Joshua sighed as he placed the final box down.
"Let's get going. We still have another job to do." Joshua insisted as he closed the back of the truck that transported them there and gave a thumbs up, allowing the driver to leave.
"Maybe we should invest in a car. I mean, it's a little annoying having to walk everywhere." Richard commented, watching the truck drive off.
"No way we won't have enough cash to pay for one and for supplies." Elton reminded, causing Richard to let out a sigh.
"This is the first time in my life that I actually had to be careful with finances." Richard sighed, thinking back on how he spent all the money he obtained soon after getting it during his life as a thug.
"It's the first time for all of us." Joshua pointed out as Elton and Max nodded.
Since Joshua, Max, and Elton were kept in the Institution for years on end, they never learned about economics, nor had they worked a job. It made them completely clueless on that topic which is why they depended on Ozpin's help.
As for Richard, he grew up in the lower levels of Mistral, where he had been unable to make an honest living. He had been forced to live the life of a criminal since he was very young, and it wasn't until he met Joshua that he turned his life around.
All of that, combined with the fact that Scotty was still a kid, made it hard for the Stars to make good financial decisions and make any money. The only reason they had been able to get by was the fact that Joshua still had access to his old bank account, which he decided was too risky to use anymore.
"Besides, our next job isn't too far away, so let's go." Joshua reminded before he and the rest of the Stars walked toward their next job.
"That's true. Doesn't the tournament start soon too? We'll have to set up one of our scrolls when we get back home." Max suggested as Joshua shook his head.
"Actually, we'll need to go speak with Ozpin after the next job. He wants to talk about what we will do if any Stand Users attack." Joshua explained as he looked up at Amity Colosseum.
He was curious about the tournament, especially when Team RWBY would have their first match, but he felt confident they would win. Plus, he could always watch the match later if he wanted to.
"By the way, Max, I've been meaning to ask you how you've been doing ever since you killed Gil…Midnight Magnetic?" Richard asked, turning to look at Max.
"How I've been feeling?" Max repeated as he looked up into the sky.
"Well, it was odd at first, but…it feels like there's been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders." Max began as he looked back at Richard.
"I feel like a lot of the guilt I've held has been extinguished, but…I don't know if I could still look my family in the eyes. Perhaps it is because I still don't feel worthy enough for it or if it's something else." Max continued as they continued to walk.
"At the same time, I feel like I've made it possible for them to be at rest. So I guess in the end, I'm still a little…conflicted. But I think I'm going to be okay." Max finished as Richard placed his hand on Max's shoulder.
"I think your family is proud of you, Max. You've got nothing to be ashamed about." Richard encouraged, giving Max a smile.
"Thank you, Richard. That means a lot." Max smiled as they continued on their way.
Unknown to them, they were being watched by a man with slick black hair and red eyes. He wore a grey top with black pants and a red cape while a large sword hung off the back of his waist. The man watched the Stars from afar while taking a swig from a flask.
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"So they're the ones who use this Stand power, eh." The Man murmured as he put his flask away.
"They don't look as tough as Ozpin said." The Man laughed as he began to follow the Stars.
Lower Vale…
Faust rolled his coin between his fingers as he mulled over the options for his next move. His initial plan of getting the aid of outside Stand Users to kill the Stars failed, so he needed to concoct a new plan.
He'd need to be smarter about it and strike when the best opportunity came about. No doubt using other Stand Users wouldn't work, so he'd need to deal with them himself. Since his own Stand was not built for battle, he would need a different approach other than a head-on fight with all of them.
"Perhaps I'll turn their luck sour and have them die from that." Faust considered as he stopped rolling his coin.
"As long as I have luck on my side." Faust began as he flipped his coin into the air.
"Then I can't lose. I'll just need to bide my time for the right moment." Faust smirked as the coin landed on heads.
Just as it did, a wallet fell at his feet from above as he heard a small cry from the building behind him. Looking up, he could see the owner looking out their window, having dropped the wallet before ducking back into their apartment to come down and retrieve it.
"Some spare cash always helps." Faust chuckled as he picked up the wallet and took out all the cash before walking off.
Amity Colosseum…
"We did it!" Ruby exclaimed as she jumped into the air and pulled the rest of her team into a hug.
"Calm down. It's just the first round." Weiss sighed, not fighting the hug.
"You don't need to downplay it that much, Weiss. It's still a big achievement." Yang laughed, poking Weiss with her elbow.
"Most first-years aren't expected to make it that far in the tournament after all." Blake pointed out as Weiss sighed.
"I know. I just don't want us to get ahead of ourselves. We don't want to get too overconfident over just one win." Weiss explained, folding her arms.
"I suppose that's fair." Blake nodded as they walked through the bottom of the colosseum to make it back to the bullheads to head back to Beacon.
"We should head to the fairgrounds next. I'm getting kinda hungry." Ruby suggested as Yang nodded.
"Good idea. I want to try some of the festival food!" Yang agreed as they walked up a set of stairs allowing them to look out over the edge of the colosseum.
It didn't take them long to get onto a bullhead and head back down to Beacon. They quickly made their way from Beacon to the festival grounds, where several stands of food and games were set up.
"Wow, look at all the food! All the games! All the stuffed animals!" Ruby exclaimed as she ran around the grounds until Weiss caught her by the hood.
"Don't run off without us." Weiss insisted as Ruby calmed down.
"Sorry, got a little too ahead of myself." Ruby apologized as Weiss released her.
"But there are so many stalls. Which one should we pick?" Blake wondered, looking around at each of the stalls.
"How about some noodles!" Yang suggested pointing at a small stall down the way.
"Sounds good to me!" Ruby agreed as the team began to head over toward the stall.
"Hey, I think you dropped this." A Voice called, getting Team Rwby's attention.
Turning around, they were met with Emerald waving a small wallet in her hand, shocking Ruby as she patted her pockets. Realizing that Emerald was holding her wallet, she held her head down dejectedly and got her wallet back from Emerald.
"Thanks, Emerald." Ruby thanked while placing her wallet back in her pocket.
"No problem. I saw your match. You guys did amazing." Emerald replied, striking up a conversation with Ruby.
"Thanks. When do you guys have your match?" Yang inquired as Emerald forced a smile.
"We won't fight until later today. What about you guys? Do you know when you fight tomorrow?" Emerald asked as Yang shrugged.
"No idea matches aren't posted yet. But Ice Queen here and I are going to be representing Team RWBY!" Yang exclaimed as Weiss glared at Yang for using the nickname she hated.
"Cool. By the way, I've been meaning to ask. Do you know who those big guys are who keep coming into Beacon? I've heard you talked to them?" Emerald inquired, referring to the Stars.
"Big Guys? Oh, you mean the….guys who are…." Ruby began before stopping herself from blabbing about the Stars.
"Apparently, they were hired by Ozpin to do specific work. They didn't say much other than that." Blake lied, covering for Ruby.
"Really? Well, that's good. I'll see you guys later." Emerald waved as she left Team RWBY and rejoined Mercury nearby.
"Well, did you learn anything?" Mercury asked as they began to leave the fairgrounds.
"The blonde and the rich girl are the ones advancing. Other than that, I got nothing. They either don't know anything about the Stand Users or lied about it." Emerald explained as she counted the lien she took from Ruby.
"Figures. I didn't think that they'd spill anything." Mercury replied as he kicked a pebble into the back of a man's head, messing up his aim with a dart.
"Not that it really matters since we placed cameras in their base," Mercury commented, causing Emerald to sigh.
"True, but they might know something we don't." Emerald pointed out as Mercury scoffed.
"I doubt it. Either way, we should get ready for our match. I've been itching for some action ever since the failed breach. It's boring pretending to be students." Mercury smirked as they left the fairgrounds.
Meanwhile, Team RWBY received their food after being saved by Pyrrha, who paid for their food when Weiss's card was declined. Teams RWBY and JNPR ate their food and talked about the Vytal Festival while Weiss mulled over her embarrassment.
Few Miles Out Of Vale…
Winter Schnee sat in the cockpit of her personal aircraft. She was currently on course for Vale or, more specifically, Beacon to help with the security of the Vytal Festival. Though she was going on a mission, she was a little excited to see her little sister again.
She hasn't seen her little sister ever since she entered Beacon. From what she could tell from Weiss's letters, her time at Beacon had been very eventful. However, it had been a while since she had received a letter from Weiss.
So it will be interesting to see what she has been up to. That being said, her mission came first, so she would have to find the time to visit Weiss. Just then, she received a call from General Ironwood, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Greetings, General." Winter Schnee greeted as Ironwood appeared on a screen.
"Hello, Winter. You know that you're coming to Beacon to help with security, but there is something I've left out from your orders that I need to tell you now." Ironwood began confusing Winter.
"Sir?" Winter questioned, surprised that Ironwood actually left something out of her orders.
"If he had to do that, then it must be serious." Winter thought as her expression became serious.
"I'm sure you're familiar with a place called the Brando Institution, right?" Ironwood asked as Winter went wide-eyed.
"I uh…yes, sir. My brother was sent there years ago and unfortunately passed away due to their corrupt nature." Winter explained, her voice turning hard from the unpleasant memory.
"I tried to do an investigation on them years ago but found nothing. They simply disappeared and shut down from my knowledge." Winter added as she balled her fists.
"Yes, I remember. The reason I've called you is pertaining to Brando. I didn't want to tell you at first so you would keep a cool head," Ironwood explained, surprising Winter.
"Sir, with all due respect, I'm not that easy to lose a cool head," Winter stated as Ironwood nodded.
"Good to hear. As you said before, Brando was exposed for its corrupt and inhumane practices. But it was hiding an even darker secret." Ironwood began as Winter raised a brow.
"If you remember, your brother was shot by an arrow. We've recently acquired a similar arrow and learned that Brando has been continuing their operations in secret." Ironwood continued as Winter hardened her gaze.
"But there is something more that you must know. These arrows that they use are able to grant certain individuals with a power known as a Stand." Ironwood went as an image of the Stand Arrow appeared on the screen.
"A Stand?" Winter questioned, her curiosity peeking.
"Yes, to put it simply, it is much like a superior version of a semblance. Brando was a breeding ground for people with these Stands, and they've been moving in Vale." Ironwood revealed as Winter scowled.
"I see. Sir, I assure you that I won't let my emotions get to me on the matter. I will help make sure they are brought to justice." Winter insisted, believing that was what Ironwood had called her for.
"I understand that. But it's more complicated than that. Stands are far more powerful than you could imagine. I've seen so first hand as….thankfully….we have some Stand Users on our side." Ironwood replied as images of the Stars appeared on screen.
"They are those who broke free from Brando and are working against them. As much as I don't like it, we're going to need them to help with security." Ironwood began as Winter looked at the photos.
"Both Ozpin and I believe that something might happen again. Meaning their help will be integral." Iron continued as Winter went wide-eyed when her gaze fell on a certain picture.
"I just need you to be ready and prepared and to know to not underestimate the power of these Stands." Ironwood finished as Winter remained silent.
"Specialist Schnee are you still listening?" Ironwood questioned, surprised that Winter didn't respond immediately.
"Y-Yes, sir, sorry, I was just…." Winter began as her gaze landed on a photo of Joshua.
"Thinking…" Winter stated as her gaze hardened.
"Thank you for telling me this, General. I understand why you were hesitant to tell me. But know I won't let this get to me." Winter thanked, returning her gaze to Ironwood.
"That being said. Could I meet these Stand Users? I have something to ask one of them." Winter inquired as Ironwood's brow raised.
Vale…
Joshua sneezed as he and the rest of the Stars left the job they had just finished. Ignoring it, he continued toward the bullheads as they had an appointment with Ozpin. He had wanted to talk about security options against Stand Users during the festival.
"I'm still surprised he didn't talk about this sooner," Max commented as they walked.
"Perhaps he needed some time to think about what he wants us to do." Scotty suggested as Joshua nodded.
"He makes a good point. This situation is unexpected, so it would make sense that he needed time to make a proper plan of action." Joshua agreed, noting how unexpected this situation was.
"I guess that's fair," Max replied as he looked at all the air traffic.
"That being said, it might be a while before we can get a bullhead. There's a lot of them all over." Max pointed out, causing the rest of the Stars to look up.
"Yes, it will probably take a while." Elton sighed as he watched several bullheads fly around.
"Uh, that one looks pretty important," Richard commented as the Stars spotted an expensive and more elegant-looking airship fly overhead.
The airship was in the shape of a trident's tip flying over the large traffic with several white ribbons flowing in the wind. They watched as it descended toward the Beacon and landed at the school's bullhead landing.
"Wonder who's on that." Richard wondered, rubbing his chin.
"Who knows," Joshua replied, equally curious.
"Only way to find out is to get up there, so let's get a bullhead." Joshua insisted getting the Stars back on track.
Joshua felt an odd sense of unease as they pushed forward. It wasn't the same sense of unease he felt when a Stand User was about to attack. He just felt like something unpleasant was going to happen, but despite that feeling, he decided to keep going forward until a man stood in their path.
"Hey, you!" The Man shouted, catching Joshua's attention.
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"Yeah, I'm talking to you." He continued pointing at Joshua, who prepared himself for a fight.
"Can I help you?" Joshua questioned as the rest of the Stars stood at the ready to aid Joshua.
"Yeah, you can. I've heard a lot about ya, and I just really want to know if what I heard was true." The Man stated as he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Just as suddenly as the man appeared did he attack as he drew his sword and rushed toward Joshua. He pointed his sword at Joshua, causing the blade to bend, revealing two barrels where he fired bullets at the Stand User.
Richard was first to act, using his Stand to block the bullets, forcing the man to move around and attack. The man swung his sword at Joshua, only for it to stop a few feet away, much to his surprise. Of course, this was because Joshua summoned Crimson Destiny to stop the sword.
"I see, so it's true that you can't see them." The Man muttered before looking at Richard's Stand.
"Or at least some of them." The Man corrected as he attempted to rip his sword from the unseen grip of Crimson Destiny to no avail.
Upon realizing that he wouldn't get his sword out of Crimson Destiny's grip, the man dropped down and swept Joshua's feet. This caused the Stand User to fall down and Crimson Destiny to drop the sword allowing the man to retrieve his weapon.
Just as he grabbed onto his sword, the other Stars ran in, with Richard boxing the man in while Max threw several knives at him. But to his surprise, they all missed something that rarely happened to Max.
"How the hell?" Max gasped as Richard attempted to pin the man in between two cards.
However, the man used his large sword to keep the cards at bay until he moved to safety. He then proceeded to fire at Elton, keeping him at bay until Joshua got back to his feet and used Crimson Destiny to knock the man onto the ground.
"Just from your smell, I can tell that you're drunk, and by the fact that you're using a weapon, I can also assume you're a huntsman." Joshua began as he glared at the man.
"So, how about you calm down and back off," Joshua suggested making the man laugh as he stood back up.
"Come on, the fun's just started." The Man smirked as he moved to press a button on the sword hit.
"QROW!" A Feminine Voice screamed, causing both the man and Joshua to flinch.
"Oh great." The Man sighed as Glynda Goodwitch pushed through the crowd that had converged on the scene.
"What do you think you're doing?" Glynda questioned, glaring at the now-named Qrow.
"I just wanted to see what the Stands that have Oz and Ironwood all worried about had to offer," Qrow responded as Joshua dropped Qrow's sword realizing the 'fight' was over.
"What the hell is going on? Do you know him?" Richard asked, confused at the situation.
"Unfortunately, I do. I must apologize for his behavior. If I had known he was in the city, I would have tried to keep him under control." Glynda apologized while giving Qrow a side-eye.
"Come on, no one got hurt, and you interrupted before I could even get things started. What's the harm?" Qrow questioned as Glynda elbowed him in the gut.
"So uh…Ms. Goodwitch, could you explain who this is and why he found it necessary to attack us?" Joshua requested, bringing Glynda's attention back to him.
"It'll be best if we do it behind closed doors," Glynda stated as she turned around.
"Please follow me." Glynda insisted as she walked off.
"I guess I had that feeling for a reason." Joshua sighed as he and the Stars followed Glynda, with Qrow joining.
Beacon…
The airship the Stars had spotted earlier landed and soon opened up to let out Winter and her Atlesian Knight guards. However, as soon as she exited, Winter overtook the Knights as she made her way toward Ozpin's office.
As she continued to speed through Beacon's courtyard, Weiss arrived with Ruby close behind, having seen her sister's ship fly in from Amity Colosseum. When she spotted the ship, Weiss went running off to see her sister, with only Ruby being able to keep up with her.
"Weiss! Please stop running!" Ruby begged as they came to a stop.
"Why are you in such a…." Ruby began before noticing Winter.
"Is that…" Ruby wondered, looking at Weiss, who was smiling ear to ear.
"Winter!" Weiss called, running toward her sister, who came to a stop after hearing Weiss.
"Weiss?" Winter gasped, breaking out of her own thoughts as Weiss and Ruby ran up to her.
"It's so good to see you again!" Weiss exclaimed before looking embarrassed and straightening her posture.
"Oh uh…It's a pleasure to see you again." Weiss corrected, giving her sister a small bow as Ruby mimicked her nervously.
"Ohmygodit'sWeiss'ssisterwhatdoIdowhatdoIsaywillshelikemewillshehateme?!" Ruby questioned as several thoughts ran through her head on how to talk to Winter.
"So what are you doing here? I thought you were on a mission in Argus?" Weiss inquired as Winter let out a small sigh before smiling at Weiss.
"I've been assigned a special mission during the Vytal Festival. So for the duration of the tournament, I'll be positioned here in Vale." Winter explained as Weiss beamed.
"Really! Well, when you have time, I'd like to catch up." Weiss insisted, not wanting to hold up her sister.
"Of course." Winter nodded as Yang and Blake finally caught up.
"What's with the older Weiss?" Yang wondered, causing Blake to laugh.
"I'm pretty sure that's her sister." Blake pointed out as Weiss looked embarrassed.
"Yang!" Weiss growled as she glared at the blonde, who gave a shrug.
"So this is the team you've made at Beacon. I must thank you for putting up with my sister." Winter thanked, shocking Weiss.
"Winter!" Weiss cried as the rest of Team RWBY laughed.
"We don't mind. We love having Weiss around." Ruby admitted catching Winter's attention.
"From Weiss's letters, I can assume you are Ruby Rose," Winter commented as Ruby blushed.
"You do seem odd at first glance," Winter added, causing Ruby to deadpan.
"But if Weiss's letters are to be believed, then I look forward to seeing your ability as a leader," Winter smirked, lifting Ruby's spirits.
"You wrote about me?" Ruby questioned as Weiss nodded.
"I wrote about everyone," Weiss stated, looking away, embarrassed.
"Well, I have to say you're not quite what I imagined. But seeing as you were accepted early at fifteen, I am eager to see how you all perform in the tournament." Winter smirked, perking up Weiss.
"You missed our first round, but I'll be participating in round two!" Weiss informed as Winter nodded.
"I'll make sure to watch. Now I must be off. I have…business to take care of. I'll talk to you after." Winter replied as Yang spotted a bullhead landing down.
"Hey, there's the Stars!" Yang pointed out as the Stars exited the bullhead, followed by Glynda and Qrow.
Upon hearing this, Winter looked past Team RWBY and spotted the Stars looking specifically at Joshua. Before she could do anything, Ruby squealed in excitement before shooting off toward the Stars, leaving petals in her wake.
"What's got her all excited?" Blake wondered as Yang sighed.
"Our Uncle's over there," Yang stated, shocking Weiss and Blake.
"Do you all know those five?" Winter inquired, pointing at the Stars.
"Yes, they are…well, it's a long story, and it involves the place Walter was sent to," Weiss answered as she explained the story.
"Has she not noticed?" Winter wondered as she listened to her younger sister.
"So you hear about us from Ozpin, and your first thought is that you want to test our strength?" Richard questioned, looking at Qrow in disbelief.
"Look, kid, I've heard some incredibly hard-to-believe stuff from Ozpin. When I heard about a group of guys with invisible powers, I had to see it for myself." Qrow explained as Elton held his head.
"A five-on-one could have ended badly, you know." Elton pointed out, making Qrow laugh.
"Look, I'm not a rookie like some of the students here. I'm a professional huntsman with several years of experience. I'm ready for any absurd situation." Qrow stated before taking a sip from his flask.
"Plus, it's clear even to me that you guys have never been taught how to fight," Qrow noted as the Stars sweatdropped, knowing he had a point.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby exclaimed as she sped past the Stars and clung to Qrow.
"He's Ruby's uncle?" Richard gasped as Qrow peeled Ruby off of him.
"Let's thank the gods she doesn't take after him," Max murmured before looking at Joshua, who was staring off toward the rest of Team RWBY and Winter.
"You okay, JoJo?" Max inquired, snapping Joshua out of his thoughts.
"For now." Joshua sighed as he watched Winter and Team RWBY approach.
"What are you looking a…." Max began before stopping short when he saw Winter.
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"AAAAAaaaaaaaaa…." Max stammered as his voice drifted off while he stared at Winter, unable to utter another word.
"Max? Are you okay? Max?" Joshua asked, returning Max's question as he waved his hand over Max's face getting no response.
"Why didn't you tell Yang or me that you were coming?" Ruby asked as Qrow scratched his head.
"It was a last-minute decision, Ruby. I didn't have time to let you know. Besides, surprises are always better." Qrow smirked, rubbing Ruby's hair.
"Well, as long as you're here, you can watch Team RWBY kick butt in the tournament!" Ruby insisted as Qrow laughed.
"Sure. I'll watch when I'm not busy." Qrow agreed as he spotted Winter.
"Great, the Ice Queen is here," Qrow smirked, surprising Ruby.
"You know Weiss's nickname?" Ruby questioned, making Qrow chuckle.
"No, no. I'm talking about the big one." Qrow stated, pointing at Winter.
"Does it run in the family?" Ruby wondered as Winter walked up to Joshua, who was still trying to get a response from Max.
"Pardon me," Winter called, getting Joshua's attention.
Joshua froze for a minute before turning around and facing Winter. The two stared at one another for a few seconds as Weiss went to introduce her sister to Joshua. But before she could utter a single word, Winter delivered a swift yet strong slap on Joshua.
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"Winter?!" Weiss gasped as everyone stared at her, shocked. Even Max finally broke out of his thoughts and stared at the scene.
"Twelve years. You were gone for twelve long years and made us think you were dead. How could you?" Winter questioned, confusing everyone there.
"Winter, what are you talking about?" Weiss inquired, struggling to understand her sister's actions.
"I understand that you're confused. You probably didn't realize it because you were still young when he was taken. But I recognize my own twin brother!" Winter stated, causing Weiss to go wide-eyed.
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"W-What?" Weiss questioned as she looked at Joshua, who rubbed his cheek.
"You may be older and poorly dyed your hair and eyebrows, but you can't fool me," Winter muttered as she flicked Joshua's hair revealing the white roots before he pushed her hand away.
"Wait a minute, so Mr. Joestar is Weiss's older brother?!" Ruby questioned, confused, as Weiss stepped in front of Winter.
"Is that true?! Have you been lying to me this entire time?!" Weiss shouted as Joshua avoided eye contact before letting out a sigh.
"Yes and no," Joshua answered, continuing to avoid Weiss's gaze.
"I didn't want to say anything because…while I am technically Walter Schnee…I don't consider myself Walter Schnee." Joshua stated, rubbing his neck.
"You're going to explain everything. NOW." Winter demanded as Weiss nodded.
Team RWBY's Dorm…
Joshua sat on a chair while both Winter and Weiss stood before him. Currently, they were alone in the dorm room, wanting some privacy to discuss the matter at hand. That being said, the rest of Team RWBY was peaking in through the doorway.
"I still can't believe it," Blake commented as she looked between Joshua and the Schnee sisters.
"You know, I never mentioned it because I never got to ask him about it, but when he spoke to Cupid's Arrow, he said something about me teaching the strength of sibling love in his stead. Kinda makes more sense now." Yang revealed as she looked at Joshua.
"I guess he never stopped caring about Weiss." Yang pointed out, remembering how he did his best to protect her then and during the fight with Davion.
"Now that I look closer, their eyes are really similar," Ruby noted, looking at Weiss's and Joshua's eyes.
"You do stare into Weiss's eyes a lot." Yang teased as Ruby elbowed her in the gut.
"So, what do you have to say for yourself?" Winter asked, glaring daggers at Joshua.
"Well, what do you want to know first?" Joshua inquired as Weiss spoke up.
"Why were you lying to me? Why did you tell us you were alive, Walter?!" Weiss questioned as Joshua shifted in his seat.
"Well, there are a lot of factors to that." Joshua began as he fiddled with Lailah's bracelet.
"My time in that hellhole, as you can imagine, was not fun. It left scars both physically and mentally that I may never recover from. Most notably is my memory." Joshua continued looking at his sisters.
"To be honest, I don't remember much of my life before I was locked up. I didn't even remember your names until I saw your faces again." Joshua explained, shocking Weiss and Winter.
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"It's been like that for many years now. Though I remember that my name was Walter Schnee, it just felt less and less meaningful. To me, the name Walter Schnee is just one that belongs to someone who doesn't exist anymore." Joshua stated, turning his gaze to the floor.
"The reason I lied was because…the only memories I have of my past are the bad ones. Most of them are about our father. Some about our mother and her…drinking problem." Joshua continued as he rubbed his face.
"With the fact that everyone already thought I was dead, I just… figured it would be best if I went on with my life. Why go back to a place that you could only remember badly?" Joshua finished as Winter grabbed onto his collar.
"You didn't have to return, but why not at least tell us you were alive?" Winter questioned, pulling Joshua out of the chair.
"Because I assumed that the masterminds behind Brando would come after you guys. I thought it best to stay hidden and avoid involving any of you. Though it wasn't really successful." Joshua explained as he took Winter's hands off him.
"I also felt that it would hurt too much for everyone involved. Knowing that I barely remember them." Joshua continued looking down.
"Though I want to say I would eventually let you know, I honestly had no plan to tell anyone. Being dead gave me a new chance at a new life, so I took it." Joshua added as he sat back down.
"So, in a sense, I wasn't entirely lying. To me, Walter Schnee died in the Brando Institution, and Joshua Joestar was born from it." Joshua finished making Winter sigh before slapping him again.
"Will you stop slapping me!" Joshua complained as he rubbed his cheek.
"Were you always like this?" Joshua wondered, trying to remember what little memories he had of his older sister.
"That was for hiding from us and for making such foolish decisions. What were you thinking trying to take on all these powerful people by yourself?" Winter questioned as she crossed her arms.
"To be fair, I have found allies. That being said, I can't say that all of my decisions are perfect. I never got a full education or was taught how to be a proper adult." Joshua sighed as he sat back down.
"I don't know if I'm doing this right, Winter. But I'm doing the best I can with what I've got." Joshua stated as Winter sighed.
"I see," Winter replied as she began to think.
"You can't remember anything from your past?" Weiss questioned, finally speaking up after her long silence.
"Like I said, I remember very little. Most of it is the unpleasant memories." Joshua restated as Weiss grabbed onto her chest.
"What about the day before you were taken away? Do you remember our last interaction with one another?!" Weiss asked as Joshua looked at her with sad eyes.
"I'm sorry. I really am. But I don't." Joshua apologized, causing Weiss to tear up.
"What did they do to you in there?" Winter questioned as Joshua took a deep breath.
"Well, they did a lot. My first day was 'electroshock therapy' or some sick version they made. The day after, I was used as a punching bag." Joshua began as he rubbed his forehead.
"Then there was the ice tub, whipping, and others I'd rather not have to talk about," Joshua answered as Winter took Weiss's hand and approached him.
"You're not going to slap me again, are you?" Joshua inquired as he stood up.
Instead, to his surprise, she pulled them into a hug. This shocked Joshua as this was his first hug in years from a family member. He didn't know how to respond initially as he hovered his arms around Winter and Weiss before slowly embracing them.
"I think you felt enough pain for a lifetime," Winter replied as Weiss nodded, hiding her tears as she buried her face into Joshua's chest.
"Does anyone else feel like we shouldn't be watching this?" Blake asked as she turned to look at Ruby and Yang, who seemed to be leaning in closer to see more clearly with tears in their eyes.
"Uh, guys, you're getting too close!" Blake warned, but it was too late, and Ruby and Yang accidentally pushed the door open and fell in.
"Wha…! How long were you guys listening?!" Weiss questioned, separating from her siblings, trying to hide her tears from her team.
"The whole time," Joshua stated, having noticed the three from the very beginning.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Winter inquired as Joshua shrugged.
"I assumed you knew," Joshua answered as Ruby clung to Weiss.
"Don't cry, Weiss. We're here for you!" Ruby cried as she pulled Weiss into a hug.
"Yeah, everything's going to be alright!" Yang agreed as she wrapped her arms around the two, with Blake shrugging and joining in.
"Stop it!" Weiss insisted though she didn't fight back against them.
"Well, them knowing won't hurt, I suppose." Winter sighed as Joshua used Crimson Destiny to close the door.
The sight was just out of the corner of Winter's eye, but she could have sworn she saw a red arm push the door closed. Before she could see any more, Joshua had recalled his Crimson Destiny before waiting for Team RWBY to stop hugging.
"Uh…sorry for listening in." Ruby apologized as she and the rest of Team RWBY separated from Weiss.
"It's fine. I don't really care." Joshua replied as Winter stepped forward.
"I, for one, find it inappropriate, but I'll let it pass for now," Winter commented, crossing her arms.
"Oh gods, she really is like an older Weiss," Yang commented in a low whisper.
"This is going to take time for me to accept this," Weiss murmured as she looked at Joshua.
"But promise me that there will be no more lies!" Weiss insisted as Joshua nodded.
"Very well. No more lies." Joshua agreed before shifting nervously.
"That being said, there's something you and Winter should know," Joshua said, confusing his sisters.
"It's about my…roommate in the Institution," Joshua added, causing Weiss to raise a brow.
"You mean Lailah, the one you said you fell in love with?" Weiss asked, shocking Winter.
"What am I missing here?" Winter inquired as Joshua a small cough.
"Well, during my twelve-year stay, the only inmate I had the pleasure of interacting with was my roommate. Her name was Lailah, and she and I…fell in love." Joshua began as he showed her Lailah's bracelet.
"Unfortunately, she died before we could escape," Joshua stated as Winter placed her hand on his.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Winter apologized, making Joshua smile.
"Thanks…but there's another thing about it. You see, during our time together, we…became intimate." Joshua continued making everyone present a little uncomfortable.
"I-I see…why do I need to know that?" Winter questioned, confused at why Joshua was telling her this.
"Because we didn't have…you know…protection and Lailah got…pregnant," Joshua answered, causing Winter and Weiss to freeze up.
"She died soon after giving birth, and they took my son away. So what I'm trying to say is uh…you're aunts now." Joshua finished receiving only silence in response.
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Winter and Weiss stood stock still after hearing the news as the remaining members of Team RWBY looked at them and Joshua, surprised. It was then that the two Schnee sisters blew spit from their mouths as Weiss collapsed and Winter grabbed onto Joshua's collar once more.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M A AUNT? YOU HAVE A CHILD! WHERE IS HE, AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME?!" Winter questioned as she shook Joshua furiously.
"I don't know where he is! They took him just after he was born!" Joshua explained as he stopped Winter.
"I've been looking for him, but I've found no leads. The only solid possible lead I can think of is Brando itself. To get there, I have to take them down." Joshua stated as he looked Winter in the eyes.
"Even if I do find him before, he won't be safe until I tear down Brando," Joshua added as Weiss got up with Ruby's help.
"What's his name?" Weiss inquired as Joshua turned to face her.
"Jonas. That was the name Lailah picked out. She was better at that than me." Joshua smiled, remembering days of old.
"The kid's got my hair…well, my natural hair color and her eyes. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him." Joshua noted as Weiss sighed.
"I'm not even eighteen, and I'm an aunt!" Weiss murmured as Ruby patted her shoulder.
"I see," Winter muttered with a blank gaze.
"Very well. Were there any other distinguishing marks?" Winter asked, confusing Joshua.
"Only one. He had a star-shaped birthmark on his back around the same place where my brand was placed." Joshua answered as he showed off his brand.
"I see if Atlas intelligence can find any child that matches that description. I can't let my…nephew be in the hands of such monsters." Winter stated, making Joshua smile.
"Thanks, Winter." Joshua thanked as Winter nodded.
"It's the least I can do. However, from this point onward, I want you to tell me everything you know about the Brando Institution." Winter demanded as she looked Joshua dead in the eyes.
"Alright." Joshua agreed as Winter moved to the door.
"Now I think we got what we needed. We should get to Ozpin's office before they get tired of waiting." Winter insisted as she opened the door, and Joshua went to exit.
"Wait, Walter, I still have questions. There's so much I want to say after twelve years." Weiss cried as she grabbed onto Joshua's arm.
"We can talk more later if you want, but I have to go now," Joshua replied, taking hold of Weiss's hand.
"I think it would be best if we had tea tomorrow. You are required to attend." Winter smiled, grabbing onto Joshua's ear.
"Okay, you've got to stop that," Joshua complained as he pulled Winter's hand off.
"Very well. We'll talk more tomorrow." Weiss accepted as she let go of Joshua.
"Alright, we'll talk more tomorrow." Joshua sighed as he walked to the door.
"But do me a favor, Weiss. Call me JoJo." Joshua smirked as he walked out of the room, with Winter following close behind.
"I still can't believe he was your brother this whole time," Ruby commented as she watched the door close.
"I can't believe you guys were watching!" Weiss cried as she fell onto her bed, hiding her face.
"I cried and everything!" Weiss muttered, putting her face in between two pillows.
"It's okay, Weiss, we won't judge you!" Ruby insisted, consoling her partner.
Ozpin's Office…
"I see that you two are finally done with your…discussion," Ozpin commented as Joshua and Winter entered his office.
"Yes, I apologize for my behavior. I just needed to have a talk with my little brother." Winter apologized, bowing her head.
"It's fine, Specialist Schnee. Please, raise your head." Ironwood insisted as Winter complied.
"I should also apologize. It might have been best to tell you my real identity initially. But I felt it didn't matter at the time." Joshua apologized, giving a small bow.
"Yes, well, let's push for honesty going forward." Ozpin nodded as Joshua stood next to the rest of the Stars.
"Now, I assume James has brought you up to speed with our Stand problem?" Ozpin inquired, turning his attention to Winter.
"Yes, he informed me on the way here," Winter answered as Ozpin stood up.
"Good. Because of how complicated this issue is, we'll need total cooperation." Ozpin replied, looking toward Qrow, who was drinking from his flask.
"These Stand Users are enemies whom we are unprepared to fight against. That is why we need the help of the Stars." Ozpin began gesturing toward the Stars.
"But they have a habit of…drawing these enemies toward them. So I've requested that they don't go toward the crowded areas." Ozpin explained as he walked in front of his desk.
"That is why I will need you, Ms. Schnee, to help keep watch and make sure these Stand Users don't attempt anything during the festival." Ozpin finished as he leaned on the front of his desk.
"I understand," Winter replied as Ironwood stepped forward.
"As you may understand, we need to keep this whole situation under wraps. We cannot let the knowledge of Stands out into the public." Ironwood began as he stood in front of Winter.
"If knowledge of Stands or, more specifically, the arrows were to get out, many powerful people will attempt to get their hands on them." Ironwood explained as Winter nodded.
"I understand. We can't let this power run rampant." Winter replied as Ironwood fished his scroll from his jacket.
"Here are some files of Stands we've encountered and those we know of. Please study it carefully." Ironwood requested as he transferred the data onto Winter's scroll.
"I'm sure the Stars and your brother will also be available for consultation as well." Ozpin pointed out as Joshua nodded.
"Of course." Joshua agreed, getting a chuckle from Qrow.
"You know I couldn't see it at first, but you're definitely a Schnee. That air of dignity just doesn't come out much." Qrow commented as everyone turned toward him.
"I almost forgot you were here." Winter sighed, giving Qrow the side eye.
"Ha ha." Qrow laughed as Joshua looked at himself.
"So, did I miss anything important?" Joshua inquired as he leaned close to Richard.
"Yeah, we'll tell you back at the warehouse, as asking your sister to leave alone would be suspicious. Oh, and heads up, she doesn't know about Salem, so don't say anything about her." Richard explained as Joshua nodded.
"Need to keep on Ozpin's good side after all." Joshua sighed, knowing that Winter wouldn't be happy with this if she found out.
"No one would if they found out. It's out of my hands at the moment." Joshua thought as he scratched his chin.
Deciding to ignore it for now, Joshua returned his attention to the conversation at hand, which had devolved into an argument between Winter and Qrow. It seemed that she was not fond of the huntsman, not that Joshua could blame her, and it took Glynda to end the argument.
"Now that we've all calmed down once more. I believe we should get to our last topic. Specifically pertaining to this." Ozpin sighed as he opened a drawer and took out the Stand Arrow.
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"Is there something wrong with the Stand Arrow?" Joshua inquired as Ironwood shook his head.
"No, I wanted to discuss bringing the arrow to Atlas for study," Ironwood revealed as the Stars looked at one another.
"Can you do that safely?" Joshua asked, concerned that whatever was transporting the arrow would be attacked.
"Of course. Once the Vytal Festival is over, I will be taking it back to Atlas. I doubt any action will be taken against us and our fleet." Ironwood explained as the Stars looked hesitant.
"While it's not a bad idea, there are most likely plenty of Stands that can go about getting the arrow without confrontation. However, if that was the case, then they would have tried that already." Joshua thought before sighing.
"It should be fine. I can't think of a problem with it." Joshua admitted as Max nodded.
"They'll definitely be more hesitant to take it during transit. But they might have people in Atlas waiting for it." Max pointed out as Winter spoke up.
"You really think these people could infiltrate our ranks?" Winter questioned, doubting Max's words.
"Well, uh….I…." Max stuttered, avoiding eye contact with Winter before clearing his throat.
"No, they'd definitely avoid doing that. They rather hide in the shadows and just break in to steal it." Max explained once he regained his composure.
"So they'll be among the populous. Which makes things harder." Ironwood sighed as Qrow rolled his eyes.
"Why not just destroy the thing? It'll cause us fewer problems." Qrow suggested as Joshua shook his head.
"As much as I would like to agree with you, it's the only leverage against Brando that we have. I doubt they would keep coming so earnestly with the arrow gone." Joshua stated as Qrow scratched his head.
"Would you be willing to go to Atlas with James and guard the arrow?" Ozpin inquired, catching the Stars and even Ironwood off guard.
"Going to Atlas to guard the arrow?" Elton repeated as he and the Stars exchanged looks. Most didn't seem to like the idea, mostly Joshua, and didn't know how to respond to the suggestion.
"We'll think about it." The replied, needing more time to think over the suggestion.
"I suppose that's all we can ask for at the moment." Ozpin sighed as he placed the Stand Arrow back in his desk.
"Well then, I believe that concludes our business for the day. Unless anyone has anything else to add?" Ozpin inquired as he looked around the room to no response.
"Then I believe we can go back to our business." Ozpin insisted as he sat back at his desk.
As everyone exited the elevator, Winter made Joshua give her his contact information and the location of where he was staying. After learning that he lived in a warehouse, Winter was shocked, questioning why he accepted such accommodations.
"It didn't really bother me." Joshua had stated as Winter rubbed her temple.
"Whatever. I suppose it's fine, then." Winter sighed before turning toward the rest of the Stars.
"Thank you for taking care of my brother." Winter thanked giving them a small bow.
"It's no problem. He's helped us all, after all." Richard replied as Winter left, and when she did, Max let out a sigh of relief.
"You okay, Max? You've been acting weird for a while?" Joshua inquired, confused about Max's behavior.
"It's uh…complicated. But I'm fine. For now." Max answered, looking off to where Winter had walked off.
Beacon Dorms…
Cinder walked through the halls of Beacon's dorms to make a good appearance after her break from school due to being "sick." It would have been too odd if she didn't return to school, as most would expect a sick person to recover sooner or later.
Plus, she needed to come back and prepare for the next phase of her plan. If everything went accordingly, then Beacon would fall, she would obtain the rest of the Fall Maiden powers, gain the Stand Arrow, and finally, the relic for Salem.
Once she arrived at her dorm room, she found it to be dark and empty. Emerald and Mercury were going around to get work they missed to save face, and Neo rarely stayed with them, so this wasn't anything new.
Pulling out her scroll, Cinder decided to see if there was anything interesting on Ozpin's computer or Ironwood's scroll. What she found was something she wasn't expecting to discover as her mouth curved into a grin.
"So Joshua Joestar is really the fallen Schnee. Who would have guessed someone like him would have such a background." Cinder snickered as her right eye glowed.
===To Be Continued===
Next Time…Family Tea Party
Author's Note:
Finally got this chapter done! Honestly, I've been going over this chapter several times because I wanted it to be just right when I posted it, and I think I've gotten it there. Decided to cut out portions that would just be exactly what happened in the show without change, such as the fight and the second half of the festival ground scene.
Felt it would be best as I don't want to have everyone read things they already know and just waste time. Definitely worked out. But before I go any further, let's just get this out of the way, lol.
Yes, Joshua Joestar is Walter Schnee which I am certain doesn't come as a surprise to many of you. Honestly, I did a poor job hiding it, but it's a learning experience, I suppose. Funny enough, I'm not going to lie. When I originally came up with the idea of this story, I had planned to keep Joshua's identity a secret for much longer.
I was going to have it be revealed about three-quarters into the story (we're about one-quarter in right now), but when I actually began writing this, I decided it would be better if Winter actually recognized him, and I think it worked better this way.
Props to Jello7AD and DeathlyJazzHands55 for calling it in the reviews, lol. Out of curiosity, did anyone else call it well toward the beginning? I mean, I know I wasn't that subtle, but I'd like to find out, lol.
Either way, I'm happy with how this chapter came out, especially since I pushed myself here as I wanted to write a chapter without an actual fight (the one with Qrow doesn't really count. Think I might have a proper one later) and have it more…I wouldn't say slice of life, but something along those lines.
Definitely helps my writing when I push to do this. I definitely put a lot of work into the actual reveal of Joshua's secret and his long explanation to Winter and Weiss. Best part was their reactions, lol.
One of my favorite scenes to write for this chapter, though, was the cold open because it's always fun to write for Davion. So yeah definitely a fun chapter to write. I don't have much to else to say, so I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see you next time!