Short shout out to Blazeraptor54.

Been awesome chatting with him while working on this story.

Give his works a check if you like.

Warning for those squeamish.

There is a mild torture scene later in the chapter.

Reader discretion is advised.


Walking upon the scorched scene before him as his drones did everything they could to clean up the mess left as his soldiers held a perimeter, Ironwood was in quite a foul mood. This was the worst-case scenario.

Sirens and the red and blue flashes of the fire department and police had been here for quite some time to help contain the blaze and try to solve what had happened. This would not be able to be suppressed, and he knew it. Simply sectioning off one building would be too suspicious, and the discrete nature of this entire operation was about to be blown…

All because Vester had his people act upon his tracking technology and pursue Naruto! No, not just him. Technically, they were targeting those around him, specifically the Schnee family, to make a point.

Well, the point was made!

The faunus would trigger the explosions as he threatened to, and indeed he and his friends would walk out unscathed if the tracker indicated correctly! Meanwhile, nearly every Mistral soldier sent in perished, and for those that weren't, he made sure his droids put them down as there could be no witnesses to say precisely what happened here.

However, the police response bothered him.

James knew they were being rigorously shaken up and put in line by his dear colleague and friend Glynda. It was impressive to think their response time had been honed in such a short period of time. And hearing her voice in the distance, reaming a few of her officers, and firing some of his implants didn't help matters…

She seemed to know about the Schnee incident earlier, something he knew would happen but hoped it would take slightly longer than it did. Given her connection to Qrow, it wouldn't take long for her to be filled in, unfortunately, and that was the last thing he wanted…

He cared for her safety and did not want her dragged into this. Or any of them, for that matter. If this could have been done quietly…

"James!" Glynda's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to the good witch as she strutted toward him; any inclinations of watching her swaying hips were immediately tossed aside, seeing the intensity in her emerald eyes.

She was furious, and he knew not to test the waters at this time.

"Glynda." Ironwood bowed his head ever so slightly in a sign of respect to his peer before looking at the scene with a grimace. "I don't have an answer for this. When I do…"

"I have an idea considering I know the handiwork quite well." Glynda tapped her right foot in an annoyed manner as she crossed her arms under her bosom, glaring at the man temporarily before gazing upon the carnage of the scene. "The more pressing concern is what would push them to find it necessary to pull that trigger and cause this kind of scene? Furthermore…"

"Leave it without an explanation."

James closed his eyes tightly and furrowed his brow, clenching his fist. Either she was aware, or she was pressing him for answers wanting to uncover the truth. She knew who was involved, as it was unmistakable to those who knew what his first precaution was.

Given the opportunity and ability to, an area would be rigged with explosions. And he always had the opportunity. Stopping him was next to impossible, for when he used it, stealth was his greatest weapon. He had him on camera, and the boy was virtually invisible.

This modus operandi was Naruto's one-o-one. A sweet and simple counter that he could get away with because he had the speed and powers to evacuate out of the area and the ability to protect others in the process.

The boy was a Wunderkind, and he knew it. Gold had made the poorest possible enemy choice, and this takeover was in jeopardy due to it.

"I don't know, but I intend on finding out." James opened his eyes, not giving any hints as he looked at the terrible scene. "From what I know, he is currently spending the night at the Schnee residence last night after the incident as Jacques was extremely uncomfortable, and having him and his entire family there made it much more bearable."

"Not to mention the finest protection he conned himself into…" Glynda muttered, and James responded with a simple nod in agreement.

She stated the truth.

"Seeing as I have dinner plans tomorrow evening at the Schnee banquet celebrating the marriage, and given what happened yesterday, I feel it may be rude to intrude without concrete evidence at this time," Ironwood stated with ease as he returned to the matter at hand. "Given a day to rest and the event itself, I'm sure he wouldn't be inclined to cause a disruption there and would be willing to divulge information freely."

"If you say," Glynda frowned as she watched the last of the burning wreckage finally be extinguished. "But if he was willing to go to such lengths and do something like this and was backed into a corner…"

"I know," Ironwood replied as he gave another slight bow of his head to his friend. "I should be off. I have matters to attend to, and I've done all I can do here for now."

As he turned and Glynda still gazed at the scene, her emerald gaze shifted to him. "One last thing, James."

"Care to explain why all the corpses have state-of-the-art Atlas weaponry? Or shall I mark that as another careless loss of military property?"

Lowering his head, a lone tear shed and slid down his left cheek as he walked away.

She knew, and there was nothing he could do about it.

This was all going so terribly wrong.


"Are you sure it is here?" Raven questioned as she cut through a swamp vine blocking her path.

Traveling behind her was Ruby, with Pyrrha standing beside her while they trailed behind a massive behemoth of a man. They traveled in the dusk of light of the morning sun and finally started to shimmer on the bubbling, swamp-infested earth they stood upon.

And Raven turned her attention back to this man as her eyes gleamed in the low light. "Didn't you say Grimm would be attracted to this place like moths to a flame?"

"We've only encountered two lone Lancers, but I'm sure more are lurking around," Pyrrha said with a frown on her face as she scanned the area, the light of the man's torch illuminating the still-dim area around them. "Where there is a Lancer, there is…"

"A queen." Ruby finished as she knew the sentiment well, and Pyrrha nodded as she had heard it from her father many times; her silver eyes scanned, knowing there could be a queen anywhere.

Raven huffed as she continued to walk ahead and trail ever so slightly behind Guts as he led with the torch ahead of the group. She held no fear of a group of Lancers and their queen. They were beneath her, and with the powers of the maiden, she could obliterate them in short order. There was no need to fear common Grimm and in a group once they figured out how to handle themselves better.

And once Ruby mastered her silver eyes, Grimm would only be a threat in substantial numbers. If only they could get the time to train and get a moment to relax…

"It is right ahead." Guts confirmed as he held out the torch before his face twitched in response to the movement in the darkness before him, and with a single toss of his torch, the night came alive.

As the torch revealed a small cave entrance partially covered by the hive, the Lancers and their queen flew into the dawn sky.

"Well, isn't that something?" Raven drolled in annoyance as she looked upon the Grimm as they flew into the sky as her eyes ignited with a crimson aura sparking around them as she held her hand out. "But foolishly, they soared straight into the sky."

"Played directly into my hand!" Raven exclaimed as the sky darkened, clouds began to swirl above as lightning crackled, and soon the morning light of dusk was reduced to the flickers of the torch and flashes of lightning.

And a bolt struck through the sky, striking through the swarm of Lancers, spreading and chaining between them as it connected. Several Grimm plummeted through the sky, plopped into the swampy marshlands below, and several splashed alongside.

Pyrrha's eyes widened in astonishment as her body froze. This wasn't a semblance. This was…

This was magic! This was what Professor Ozpin had shown her! What little Amber could show her in her state! So that meant that…

Yang's mother was a Maiden!

Then did that mean…

The Headmaster was always looking for candidates? She was older than Amber for sure, but she indeed would have been considered a candidate for the Fall Maiden if she had been around…

So what happened? What was happening?! She needed so many more answers! All of this was so overwhelming for her!

"Pyrrha!" Ruby's voice snapped her out of her funk as she saw her friend draw Crescent Rose, and her silver eyes focused on the Lancers as they began to fly toward them. "Let's go!"

"Right!" Pyrrha drew her newly minted Milo into her right and pulled Akouo off her back in her left, ready to defend herself. "Lancers are usually mindless like other Grimm, but with a queen involved, they can have some semblance of tactics! We should take out the queen first…"

"Leave that to me." A slight breeze lifted the black cape of Guts as Dragonslayer was held firmly in his right hand, his eyes firmly fixed on his target as several Lancers flew in.

Then, his left arm was lifted in a single motion, and flames lit up the darkness as flames poured out of his metallic arm. The wasp Grimm was caught in the fire, unaware of the possibility that would befall them, and in a single slash, they were cut down in a single mighty cleave of the newly sharpened behemoth of a blade.

And the black swordsman had a manic grin as he completed the act. His blade felt better than it had for far too long. For the first time in quite some time, it cut cleanly, and it was the sharpness and not the brute force and sheer weight of the blade causing the damage. It was still rugged and distinct, like he liked it. And it sang through the air as he remembered.

It was a beautiful sound.

Rose petals danced in the darkness around him as a blur vaulted past him, catching the next Lancer by the head of the insect with the crescent arc of her scythe. With a pull, the blade decapitated the Grimm as she burst further ahead as several stingers shot forth and extended to her position only to penetrate the ground where she was.

At the same time, a shield deflected an extended piercing shot aimed at Guts. The highly powerful and penetrative piercing stinger of the Lancer could not pierce through the durable metal of Akouo, and with a single cut of Milo, Pyrrha severed it. And with a flick of the triggering switch, Milo turned into its javelin state, and with a sure throw and activation of her semblance, she made sure her target was found.

The Lancer's head was pierced by Milo even as it attempted to use its high speed and evade the throw. Her semblance simply allowed her to adjust her aim mid-flight so she would never miss. And calling upon the magnetic signature of Milo, the javelin swiftly called to her hand, and she triggered it back into its sword form as she rushed to meet the next Lancer as it came swooping in.

They were easy pickings for Ruby as she dodged several extended barrages and jumped over them with lightning-quick speed and agility that surpassed theirs. Landing on the extended piercing stingers and with another shot of her semblance, she burst forward, encircling and traveling around them until she made it to the Grimm, and with several slices, she cut the Lancers to ribbons.

Only for the last one to strike out and a stinger to be seconds from piercing her.

And the stinger was severed, and the head was split in twain as a portal opened from behind it, and crimson eyes met silver.

"You're still using your semblance like an amateur and putting yourself into risky situations, I see. Your mother could fly when she was Beacon, and you're a Huntress, girl. She would have been able to dodge that at your age! You need to get your act together if you want to survive!" Raven hissed angrily as the storm she created rumbled around them while Ruby slowly drifted away as gravity took hold.

"Naruto saved it once, and you were spared again recently! You have to think! Otherwise, you are just dead weight, and I am not losing her legacy due to you not thinking things through!" Raven grilled Ruby as she floated in the sky, using the winds of her maiden powers to keep herself in flight, watching as Ruby began to drift and fall back to the earth, flying directly to another lancer and slicing through it.

"You can't keep getting lucky! It will run out, and where will that leave us? Where will that leave your sister?! Your father?! Qrow?!" Raven roared as thunder crackled and lightning tore through the clouds, her hand outstretched, and a ball of lightning burst from her palms.

The bolt caught and shocked several Lancers as it passed through them, igniting and setting them ablaze before sending them free-falling to the marshes below.

As she began to plummet back to the ground below, Ruby gnashed her teeth together in frustration at what was thrown in her face. She knew that! She didn't want to be seen as a burden any longer! It was why she was waking up early every morning to train with Naruto to figure out how to use her silver eyes! To get stronger every day so she wouldn't hold everyone back any longer! So she wouldn't hold him back!

She knew she was nowhere near as strong as her mom! She wasn't ready for any of this yet! She thought she would have some time to learn the ropes. All of this was thrust upon her because she wanted to follow in her footsteps before she was ready, and she was forced to deal with it!

And…

She was not about to let everyone down!

"I…"

Several Lancers flew close, stingers ready to strike as their wings buzzed.

"Have…"

Clutching Crescent Rose tightly, her body trembled as lightning struck and the sky and everything rumbled around her.

"Had enough!" Ruby screamed as a flash of silver and two wings burst from her eyes.

Raven's eyes widened, and for a moment, she had to cover her eyes with her arm as a white flash burst through the darkened morning. And in an instant, she could see again. She saw the Lancers near where Ruby had been flash petrified, plummeting to the marshlands and in their wake where her ex's daughter was…

Petals of red and white roses.

And a surge of red and white rose life into the sky, cutting through everything Lancer in its path while others were petrified by the sheer touch of the bright rose petals lifted above her. And in a burst, a sonic blast of roses revealed Ruby, her eyes glowing a bright silver and magical silver wings glinting in her eyes.

It was a similar sight she had only seen a few times before, and Raven was filled with bated breath every time. It was something to behold when Summer did it, but now to witness a similar scene to see her daughter pull a trick out of her mother's playbook…

A tear trickled down her cheek. She would get her there yet.

After cutting through several more Lancers, Pyrrha was further at a loss. What did she witness? What were her friends? That seemed like magic too! That was some mystic energy that didn't seem like aura or chakra like Naruto used!

What was everyone?! Was everyone else unique in some way? Was she only noteworthy because she was exceptionally skilled in combat and happened to be a Maiden candidate? Was that why she was sought after…

Then why was Ruby brought two years ahead of schedule to Beacon? Fox, Ren, Nora, and Blake never attended an academy before, which wasn't necessary, but it helped with your qualifications and getting accepted. Weiss was set to attend Atlas but chose to do so without ever having to attend an academy, either. She was afforded the most comprehensive training she could get, and her hereditary semblance was a rarity amongst hunters, so she was accepted without question. Even Jaune fraudulently managed to sneak into Beacon now that she thought about it…

Was it only the majority of team CFVY, Yang, and herself, the ones in her friend group that got to Beacon that she knew of through the traditional method?

That was more than half!

It was like how most of them had parental issues or experienced a traumatic childhood!

What was the deal?!

Her emerald eyes darted as her attention focused on the battle, whistling in the air, drawing her attention. Effortlessly lifting her Akouo, a more prominent stinger than the others, deflected off her shield. She winced as the force behind the penetrating barb was far more substantial than the others. It even left a dent in her shield, unlike the last.

Pyrrha's gaze was drawn to the queen as it had come straight for her, its servants buzzing around her and their lances extending out in a crossing pattern to catch her as she moved toward them. Then, sliding in between the creases and deflecting another stinger as the queen retracted her stinger faster than she could slice it off, she was stopped from transforming Milo as two Lancers buzzed towards her, one with its mandibles extended to chomp onto her left leg and the other attempting to claw at her with the torsus on its front legs.

Leaping up to avoid the lower Lancer, she swiftly swung Milo to meet the torsus clawing of the higher lancer. The Grimm's limbs did not match up to her steel, and with a single stroke of her blade, smoke erupted as its exoskeleton couldn't protect it; it sliced through its claws and then easily cut through its body, severing it in half.

Letting the body parts bounce and roll off her, thankful the torsus hit her breastplate. She was thankful that it absorbed it as she let her momentum carry her through. Pyrrha crouched for a moment before leaping forward using the same momentum. And in the same action, she slid Akouo under her feet and used her semblance to keep her afloat and airborne as she propelled herself toward the turning Lancer.

If they wanted an airborne battle, she would give it!

It tried to counter with an extended stinger, but with a shift in her magnetic pulse, Pyrrha surfed out to the side. Her eyes gleamed as she gripped Milo tightly, and with a mighty swing, the bug was torn asunder before it could evade.

Hearing the whistling in the air once more, she leapt up into the sky, avoiding the barbs of the stingers. And focusing her semblance on her armor, she hurled herself back toward the extended stingers. And with just enough time, she could reach out and grasp the stinger without it sticking into her as it retracted back to its host.

The Lancer had nothing it could do. Its fate was sealed as Pyrrha returned with it and sliced through its abdomen. And with a flick of her switch, she transformed Milo into its rifle mode, and at the range she was, she took several shots directly into the other's head, which was more than enough to get the job done.

Her eyes widened as the whistling came again, and she knew it was the queen's stinger. As she retracted Akouo, she was unsure if it would return to her in time. She would have to focus on her armor and pull herself out of harm's way…

"Die!" A dark figure cut through the dark sky, leaping through the darkness toward the queen as several other Lancers attempted to get in the way.

And were cut down in the process with a single sword stroke. Dragonslayer tore through all of them and the queen in one stroke as he passed through, moving at a speed she could barely track.

The stinger slackened while still moving at a tremendous speed, she was able to push herself in the nick of time, and Akouo reached her so she could safely glide to the ground. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped to the ground and glared at the man as he stomped firmly into the ground with a wicked grin as the last few Lancers looked uncoordinated and lost.

What was this man?! Capable of moving that fast in such heavy armor despite his immense size?! And the shape he was in?! He may have been a remarkable physical specimen at first glance, but with a few glimpses of his movements, anyone could tell he was haggard and weathered. That every movement caused a great deal of agony.

And yet he seemed thrilled by it! He enjoyed every second of the battle! He seemed to thirst for it if that horrific smile said anything!

Was this the price of being a great warrior?! If so, she wanted to avoid following in the footsteps of whatever path someone like him had to travel to achieve his battle-hardened status.

And looking back into the sky as the mother and her estranged step-daughter touched down, one far more gracefully than the other as Ruby came crashing down in a tumble, Pyrrha was shocked back into normality. She quickly ran to her friend to check on her when she noticed something odd about her. It wasn't very noticeable, but it was something she caught nonetheless.

Each had a snow-white fade at the very tips of her red bangs.

With a few more flashes of lightning in the skies, the lancer swarm faded as the rest of the corpses plummeted and burned in the marshes below. Raven walked up behind Pyrrha while Ruby panted heavily as the red-haired Mistral-born Huntress checked upon her friend. "You did well for your first lesson…"

"But don't push yourself too intensely. Your mother's powers were too much for even her at your age. The silver eyes can be very taxing on your body when you are first getting used to them, so we will have to master using them in smaller bursts. It's why her hair started to turn white, and her semblance even changed the way it did." Raven added as she knelt before ruffling Ruby's hair with a grin.

"Mother's powers?" Pyrrha momentarily looked confused before recalling Beacon being told that Ruby and Yang's mothers were part of the same team so that they would know a bit about each other. "So she had something other than a semblance? Something magical like…"

"There are other magical forces besides the forces of the Maidens, yes, girl," Raven responded as her red eyes turned and pierced Pyrrha's emeralds. "Magic exists all around this world and has since the dawn of time. But this magical force, in particular, was snuffed out in a long, drawn-out process as Salem despised the last remaining magic users she knew of. As they…"

"Are all descendants gifted power by the Brother God of Light. And she despises the Brothers, so she snuffs out anything that has connections to them with extreme prejudice."

As Pyrrha looked shocked upon hearing that there was more magic in the world and her horizons on Remnant were further expanded, Ruby's silver eyes began to flicker. Silver-eyed descendants were being snuffed out…

By Salem?

Did that mean that after all this time, she finally learned what had happened to her mother?

And now she had to work with that person?!

"My mother…" Tears dripped to the wet ground beneath as the last crackle of thunder above gave out as the magical storm Raven conjured slowly receded.

"Did Salem kill my mother?!" Ruby screamed as her head snapped up, and her tear-filled silver eyes looked directly into Raven's.

Her face blushed from exertion from before, but now the sensation and pain coursing through her. "Is that why…"

"She didn't come home?!" Ruby cried out in despair as she reached out and grabbed Raven's battle skirt. "She confronted Salem! That was her mission!"

"Did Oz send her?! Did he send my mother… To her death!"

The marshlands fell silent as Raven froze in terror, her body shaking as memories of Summer's last moments flashed before her eyes. Salem's cackling laughter filled her with terror.

And Summer's lifeless eyes stared back at her as she came through her portal to rescue her friend…

No, her sister.

"Answer me!" Ruby wailed in anguish as tears rolled down her flushed cheeks as her body shook and trembled, looking directly at the only mother figure she had left.

Even if she had abandoned them long ago, it was something she still had left! And she was trying even if she was horrible at it!

Feeling two arms wrap around her, Ruby's eyes widened as she felt the sobbing coursing through her sister's body; she tried to hold back her tears as she fell to her knees and embraced her. She said nothing at first and only heard the gnashing of her teeth. But then it came.

A pitiful plea for forgiveness.

"Yes."

Everything was cold upon hearing that word. Her touch was frigid. The air burned her flushed skin from its icy cool breath that whisked gently against her.

Salem killed her mother.

Ozpin led her to the witch.

And he brought her to his school.

Was he going to…

A seething hatred boiled within. Rage, unlike anything she had ever felt before, filled her. The man that had brought her so much joy and set her on her journey to become a Huntress had set her up from the start.

She was a pawn! It was like she had heard Naruto say a few times in the past! He didn't see them as people but as pieces in a game!

Her mother was nothing but one of those pieces, and he sacrificed her!

Ruby couldn't even be enraged at the witch, even if she felt hatred for killing her mother. She did what she always did from the sound of it. But Oz knew that and had her mother…

A near-muted, hollowed scream echoed from Ruby's mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks and her body tremormed in rage and agony.

And Pyrrha looked on in worry at her friend as she didn't know what she could do. She had known since Christmas about her mother and how she passed away, but to hear how she passed away…

What was she going to do about it? Could she even trust that man now? Someone that she was aware worked for him from everything she heard from Ruby and Yang. Her entire family worked for Ozpin, and to hear he sent her up against Salem and had to know she had a vendetta against all those with silver eyes if Yang's mother knew…

Pyrrha didn't know what to think anymore. Everything was so confusing.

"We have a problem." Guts' gruff voice echoed from the cave as he took a moment to collect what they had come for.

And now his eyes steeled, and the muscles of his face tightened. "It's not here. And from the looks of it…"

"Someone from a very peculiar clan ransacked my armor." Guts finished as he held a piece of cloth that seemed ripped from someone's clothes.

And the emblem of the Branwen clan was emblazoned on it.

"So that's why one of the fools returned poisoned with Lancer venom." Raven sighed as she held onto the trembling Ruby as she tried to calm the girl in her arms, stroking her hair and rubbing soothing circles in the middle of her back.

Guts turned his focus onto Raven, and with a few steps, he knelt, looked directly into her red eyes, and demanded an explanation. "When was this? How long ago?"

"What does it matter? The tribe should have moved on by now." Raven muttered as she didn't want to involve her family and deal with the clan.

Only for him to grasp her by the collar and make her glare into his eyes dangerously. "I would watch you threaten…"

"Your entire clan is about to die!" Guts gritted his teeth and replied.

Raven's head snapped back as her eyes widened. Ruby's crying ended as she looked upon Guts in shock and horror as he growled in a measured but deadly tone. "The moment that fool puts it on, everything is lost. He won't have control of himself any longer, and very few have the will to resist its temptation! He will kill everything around him without hesitation and have every ounce of power in his body realized to its fullest potential and without restraints!"

"What?!" Raven's eyes narrowed upon hearing this before a frown pursed on her lips. "Shay isn't much of a threat even if somehow his potential was maximized. The rest of the clan could put him down…"

"Could they do it until every last drop of his blood was spilled?!" Guts countered as his voice was still on edge, and Raven's face drained and paled. "That armor will not let the user die and keep them together until nothing is left! It will pin and hold the wearer in place until the last drop of blood stains the ground!"

"All to make sure that whatever was put before falls because the wearer will not die peacefully!"

"By the Brothers, why would anyone create or wear such a thing?!" Pyrrha gasped in horror at what the armor could do.

"I can name a reason or two," Guts growled as his memories faded to a specific man and all the times the armor saved his life and the comrades around him. "But only since I could keep the beast at bay and had a witch capable of returning my sanity when I wielded it…"

"To keep me from going fully berserk."

"No… Vernal!" Raven released Ruby, and her eyes became grief-stricken as her face twitched morbidly. "We have to move. I can't let her…"

"Not her."

"Then take us to the camp. It's the only chance we can stop whatever is about to happen." Guts stated sternly as he stood straight up.

With a simple nod, Raven drew Omen once more, and with a single slash, a portal opened. But before they entered, one last message was given as Guts took the first step as he gazed directly at Pyrrha and Ruby. "Be prepared for the worst…"

"And be prepared to kill another person, as it will be the only way you will survive."


"I'm still not getting used to waking up in the same room with you…" Weiss muttered as she felt the bed depress beside her and knew someone in it had moved. "It felt wrong yesterday in your bed with Blake there, and now…"

"It feels worse." Weiss groaned as she saw Naruto sigh as he quickly moved to gather his things and get ready for the day. "I feel like I'm crossing a line I shouldn't be."

Taking a deep breath and sighing, Naruto ran a hand through his hair, his ears twitching in response. "I don't like it either. It feels wrong, but unfortunately, I guess we will have to get used to it. I don't think anywhere is safe after what happened here yesterday and the ambush at the warehouse. Blake wanted me here as she feared your parents were more in danger, and I could mitigate that. With everyone else at Patch, she feels safe, and her parents are safe."

"I know, but it still feels wrong." Weiss sat up as she glanced across the room at Naruto before her face flushed brightly, and she turned her head away bashfully. "Oh, by the Brothers! Were you only wearing boxers all night?!"

"Yeah, that's my norm. I used to have a full pajama kit and a hat, but since that got left behind in my world, I didn't feel like trying to replicate it here. Can't replicate my frog hat and PJs. They were soft and comfortable." Naruto blinked as he tried to understand why Weiss was acting so modest and simply turned to get his clothes ready for a shower.

"Idiot!" Weiss yelled as she turned back at him, glared at the impressive physique before her, and tried not to admire it. "You should know my problems by now, and I don't want to see you half-naked with a hard-on before me! Do you know the kind of stress that will put me through?!"

"Hard-on?" Naruto looked confused momentarily before his eyes flickered in realization, and he cursed. "Shit! It's morning! Blake usually doesn't give me a chance to be hard…"

"Fuck you both!" Weiss grabbed her pillow, threw it, and pegged Naruto in the face. "I've learned too much about what you two do in bed! I never wanted to know about that!"

"Bullshit! You fawned over me, and I know those thoughts crossed your mind! It's human nature!" Naruto grinned in response, only to eat another pillow in the face. "Now that is the reaction I've been waiting for all this time! Where have those reactions been?!"

"Pervert!" Weiss cried out as she was glowing crimson from both rage and embarrassment, as her eyes glared at him, and she tried not to glance over at his body. "Go take your shower! Father will surely be waiting for us soon! He gets up just as early as you!"

"Yeah, yeah! I'm hopping to it, princess!" Naruto smiled as he had the rest of his clothes gathered, but his grin never left his face as he approached the door. "But do make sure you think of me if you have to do it…"

"Pervert!" Weiss roared as she found Myrtenaster and engaged the trigger, ready to fire it across the room as Naruto bolted and fled to take his shower, having finally gotten his wish.

He finally triggered someone with his perversion in Remnant, which felt so fulfilling.

"Oh, this is such a problem now…" Weiss bemoaned as she fell back in the bed after dropping Myrtenaster onto her dresser, clutching her thighs tightly together and wincing at the tension. "Pervert doesn't know how much he's doing to me hurts…"

"But I don't want to hurt Blake. I want to end this marriage somehow so they can be happy together…"


"Qrow!" Tai burst into the small cabin that Raven had been staying in, having heard noises, and upon seeing the sight before him, his eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Tai?" Qrow snarled as he heated a fire poker in the chimney, thankful Raven had plenty of stocked wood and kindling to keep the fire warm and make his job more manageable. "If you heard the noise, it would be quite apparent what I'm doing. Leave me be."

"The hell!" Tai roared as he looked at the man strung up to a wall tightly with no loose grip, his eyes narrowed. "I thought you gave this up years ago when you swore to be Huntsman! That you would leave the old ways behind you!"

"You swore on it!"

"Well, Tai, there isn't much choice when he isn't talking!" Qrow snapped back as he glared back and held the fire poker tightly. "I will revert to my old ways if necessary if it gets the job done. I cannot see this happen. I cannot stand back and watch as my family is taken away from me again! I watched Summer go off and die. I will not stand back and let the rest of my family perish due to James and this Grimm fucking war he's brought to our doorstep!"

"What?!" Tai was startled by this sudden news reveal and left speechless for a moment before he took in Qrow's haggard appearance again before collecting himself and speaking again. "Qrow, start from the beginning. What war? What did James do? What information is worth torturing this man for?"

"A brand new fucking Great War, that's what." Qrow gnashed his teeth as his eyes glared at the man breathing heavily against his wall, but otherwise, steely returned the glare right back at Qrow. "From what the kids told me last night when they returned, Mistral's army is here, and Atlas covered their approach!"

As Tai was shocked from the surprise, Qrow slowly descended upon the assassin he had taken the day before from the police station and slowly pressed the poker into his stomach, letting it sizzle as he pushed it slowly into the man and made him bite back a scream as he didn't want to give the satisfaction. The act alone made Tai squeamish and want to look away as blood started to pour from the wound temporarily, but Qrow didn't push further than where he heated the poker, so it seared and sizzled the wound shut. "Feel like talking yet? I can do this all day."

"Go fuck yourself!" The assassin spat, and Qrow reflexively avoided the spit before backhand slapping the man with the edge of his knuckles into the jowls of his cheeks.

"Try that again. I dare you." Qrow pulled the fire poker from his stomach, made the man cringe, and returned his gaze to a sickly-looking Tai as the poker was tossed into the chimney haphazardly. "The kids know where one base is, and they have an idea where the second base is. I want to make sure I know exactly where it is, and I'm sure this gnat is aware of where it is, given his orders came from their general."

"Good ole Leo. No wonder why James wasn't pushing the investigation against him so hard. He didn't want to screw over Gold's plans on occupying Vale for the slight they received over eighty years ago that they, for some reason, can't get over!" Qrow hissed before picking up the closest random object he could find, an old dust-covered wooden chair, tossing it and shattering it on impact with the man's torso and making him grunt. "Fucking get over yourselves! There are bigger fish to fry! Like, say, the Grimm that infest our world, you dumb pieces of shit!"

As the assassin coughed and wheezed from the blow, Tai pulled Qrow away from continuing his assault on the tied-up man and grimaced at what he was witnessing. "Qrow, let's take a minute and think about this! Okay, I understand! We're in grave danger but don't lose your cool! You can formulate something better if you take a moment and think!"

"Right, right…" Qrow took a deep breath as Tai relaxed his grip around his waist, and the crow Branwen glanced quizzically at the assassin strung up on the wall before a wicked gleam filled his eyes. "Ah, I know. I'll use an old Raven classic. He doesn't need his toes. Let's start with the little ones…"

"Oh, Brothers, no, that's not what I meant!" Tai pulled Qrow away as he approached the worried assassin on the wall, who seemed disturbed and thankful for the interruption. "I meant we could find something other than breaking a man who won't tell us anything! There is other…"

With the opening of the door, a pair of golden eyes snapped straight at the assassin before a ribbon snapped around his neck and tightened around his throat. A snarl was heard, and in an instant, black hair fluttered as a blade embedded into the wall next to his face, slicing his cheek open. And Blake breathed heavily as she launched herself onto him, straddling his chest as she stuck to the wall using her aura as she tightened her ribbon. "I'm going to make this simple and clean…"

"Tell me where the base is, or I'm going to start skinning the flesh off you until we have the location."

"And if you know anything about the whereabouts of the Black Fang, tell me. I'm looking for someone specific."


"Mom, my hair is fine." Weiss moaned as she sat in a chair with Willow standing directly behind her straight face, combing through her shortened hair with Klein at her side while holding a pair of scissors at the ready. "Really, it is. I haven't had time to get it fixed after barely survi…"

"Don't mention anything dangerous around your mother, dear," Klein advised and warned Weiss before she said anything that might trigger Willow, as he could see the twitch in his mistress' face. "After yesterday, I think it would be wise to stay clear of such conversations for the time being."

Weiss flinched, seeing the look on Klein's face. What had happened? And getting a nod from Whitley and a glimpse of confirmation as his eyes were gazing upon their mother worriedly, she was even more concerned. The fact that there wasn't a single cup of alcohol in the room was an improvement, but…

Precisely what was the cost?

"Yes, at least not in front of her." Jacques reminded his daughter as he smiled, seeing his entire family in one room as it was something he did not think he would ever see again in his lifetime as Winter stood to the side of the other side of the study with Naruto, silently discussing something over the table. "We will have our moment to do that in a short while. I thought it would be pleasant to share a family moment first thing in the morning while everyone was here."

"Not something we've been able to do, I'm afraid, and I fear that has been my fault."

Attention was drawn to the Schnee patriarch. Weiss looked wide and stunned, and Willow gasped and stopped combing her daughter's hair. Whitley was utterly surprised, and Klein took a moment to cover his surprise and school it to an impassive demeanor to stay professional. Even Winter and Naruto stopped their quiet conversation and turned to face the well-groomed man.

That was not something either of them had expected him to say. Where was this change of heart coming from?

Did someone steal it and replace his cold heart with a new one?

Sighing and taking a deep breath as he sat in the Winchester chair in this study, as he had to have multiple study rooms, Jacques took a sip of his morning tea first. Then he gazed upon his family gathered in the room and the young faunus he brought into it forcibly. "There are many things that have occurred lately that have made me question my choices in life. But for the first time, something has left me contemplative and unable to form my words properly."

"My loathing for this situation cannot be understated on how powerless I feel. A man of my status and wealth. Yet…" Jacques turned his head from his family and gazed at a solitary window with ire before slowly shifting in the brief pause to a more longing and reflective look. "There are some things that are still beyond my reach. Some things that I cannot reach, and it bothers me that I cannot somehow shield my family from them."

"Despite how much I detested the idea and how undignified it was, I thought allowing my daughters to train in the inherited skills of their family would be safer. That they would be satisfied and yearn to stay home and build an empire with me. Yet it was not to be as I made too many mistakes, and they inherited my steely will and used it against me, willing to do whatever it took to reach their desires." Jacques snorted as if it was mocking them for it before sighing defeatedly. "Funny how things turn around, and the attribute I found in myself to be most desirable was what I detested the most in my own children."

"The incident two months ago showed me something I was truly not prepared for." Jacques continued with a frown on his face. "That despite the time and effort afforded to ensure you both were prepared for the world outside, it did not seem to matter. There is always another danger waiting. There is nothing truly safe. I always knew that after hearing about what happened to Weiss at Christmas and…"

"I set in motion a plan after seeing what happened to my dear friend in Rainbow, knowing what the rest of my organization would do when one of us was indicted and brought to justice." Jacques turned his attention fully to Naruto, knowing the faunus was listening avidly to his words. "After all, a Huntsman with the ability to rend and shake the earth asunder and draw the attention of each headmaster and general of the Kingdom's standing armies is quite noteworthy. And showing the drive to work through and bust crime at its roots and not willing to bust the surface level problems…"

"Left many people quite nervous after that and the Vest Frontier incidents."

"Even you, it seems," Naruto growled as his ears flattened and his eyes dilated as everything he heard was things he had speculated about but now was being confirmed. "And if I were to guess, I'm assuming this was when your approach differed from the rest of your organization. When Gold decided he wanted me out of the picture for good as he didn't want anyone in his way in his conquest of Vale?"

"That I had no clue of until yesterday when all this happened." Jacques refrained from speaking further as Willow's breath hitched, and he didn't want to traumatize his wife any further. "And knowing that I am willing to do what it takes for my family first, so consider whatever request you need to be done."

"James and Vester endangering my family is a line I will not accept. I will sacrifice everything to ensure they are protected and have done everything I can to ensure the Schnee lineage will prosper well into the future."

"Father…" Weiss grimaced as she shrunk into herself, knowing all too well what he meant by that last statement and even the endearing message of wanting to protect them before…

Made everything hurt all the more. He was willing to sacrifice her happiness to make them as a family succeed. He still didn't understand at some level despite the slight progress she just saw in him…

Why was he like this?

"That's…" A solemn voice began as a warm hand was placed on Weiss' shoulder, and her icy blue eyes widened. "That is enough!"

Every eye in the room was drawn to the voice of Willow as she sternly glared directly at her husband, her eyes furiously glowing coldly at him. "I have had quite enough! In the end, it's all about the lineage and you! It is never truly about us! It has never been!"

"I am tired of this! I want my daughters back, Jacques! Winter should never have been forced to find refuge outside our own home to feel comfortable and safe in her own skin! To finally come into herself as she is more like her grandfather than any of us! She should have never been cut off from what was rightfully hers, and only she had the right to give it up! The company and its inheritance have always been passed down in such a manner. You had no right to change it!"

"The pressure should have never fallen onto dear Weiss' shoulders!" Willow cried as tears welled and dripped down her cheeks, years of repressed rage being loosed upon all. "You know as well as I do, it's a miracle we had her with all the complications! That she turned out as amazing as she did, no thanks to your tumultuous care and my negligence, is beyond my wildest expectations, for the pressure placed upon her was too much!"

Weiss winced at the words as Naruto's eyes temporarily shifted to her. That was news to him. Willow had complications with her? Considering Whitley was years younger and already the same size as Weiss and Winter was only slightly smaller than himself, and even Willow and Jacques were of proportional height…

Did that mean the complications meant she was sickly and frail in some way growing up? If so, that made the treatment he knew she received unbearable…

"And my baby boy!" Willow bit back another wail as she trembled behind Weiss. "You tried to groom him into a carbon copy of yourself! From your mannerisms to your shrewd practices, he even started to pick up on disliking his own sisters! His own blood because of your wretched behavior! And yes, they didn't treat him kindly either, but that is because of how dysfunctional we have become because of you!"

"Winter still came and saw him every time she came to keep in touch while helping train Weiss! Even in her isolation these last few years, Weiss kept checking in on him even if he ignored her half the time!" Willow's voice began to crack as her sobbing wracked her body further. "I put up with it for years, Jacques. But I can't…"

"I can't keep this up any longer. I want my family. Wealth means nothing to me, and it never did. I simply followed along with it as I thought it was appropriate for them, and I've been so wrong all this time…"

As her words trailed off, the room fell eerily silent besides the slight whimper and sniffle from Willow as her body trembled from releasing all her pent-up frustrations.

Winter finally saw the woman she remembered in her youth for the first time in years. She saw her mother's strength return as she confronted her father and took a stand. She made her point and…

While it didn't make up for the years she was absent, it was a start, and she could accept that. The woman she wanted to be when she was young was still present. She was just buried underneath…

Maybe reconnecting wouldn't be too difficult after all.

Weiss couldn't believe anything that had happened and was very uncomfortable with all of it. Was this where she got her stern stance on standing up to things from? Was it actually from her mother? She hardly remembered standing up to things in the past, but now that she thought about it…

It made sense. But it was really uncomfortable to be the topic of conversation, and worst of all, Naruto was here and had to hear all of it.

Oh, she wanted nothing more than not to be here right now…

Whitley frowned and wasn't sure how to handle this situation. On one hand, he wanted to support his father as this wasn't the time or place for this. Yet, his mother wasn't all right, considering what had happened.

But she had a point in everything she had said, and he knew. He was more like his father than anyone else, and he didn't like that comparison. He wanted to be his own person. He wanted to make a mark like his sisters as they stood for something. They ventured out and did something. They tried to make their own place in the world without being restrained by their name and status…

He started to wonder if that was something his grandfather would have thought of. Never having met the man when he was old enough to have memories of him, he only had to go by Winter and his mother's words about what he was truly like.

And he hoped to an extent, it was.

Klein had to bite down a sorrowful smile and remain trained in impassiveness. After more than a decade in service, it was wonderful to see Willow's strong spirit returning. The same spirit that made him take this job in the first place. Back when she was more active and even in the activist scene back in the day when he first met her…

For Naruto, this entire scene was something else. He was unsure how to place it as he didn't know Willow. But from the few glimpses he saw from what he witnessed, he could see where Weiss inherited her hardline stances and unwillingness to budge. It seemed the apple didn't fall too far from the tree after all…

Breaking his gaze from his wife, unable to look her in the eyes any longer or withstand it any longer, Jacques' face did not break. It did not twitch. His eyes showed very little. "What is it that you want me to say? That I failed? That I regret everything I've done?"

"Because I can't say either of those things. I don't believe them. I have only done what is necessary to succeed." Jacques retorted without looking back at his wife, whose body heaved further in dismay upon hearing those words, only to be stopped by his following words. "Klein, under the safe in the other study, if you would, fetch the will. You know the password. It's the same as it is at home."

"I need to correct a mistake I made."

Willow looked in stunned silence, unbelieving what she had heard. Weiss blinked, and her eyes flickered in shock, and Whitley held a look of mild surprise. Winter, however…

Was sharply glaring at her father. "I do not want your charity after everything you have done…"

"And you are not receiving it," Jacques responded as he turned to his daughter and waved toward Klein to do what he asked. "I am simply doing as my wife requested. It is your inheritance as much as your siblings. You have every right to it as well, and considering everything happening right now if something were to happen to your mother or me…"

"You are currently the most qualified candidate to take over the company," Jacques said with ease as he held his daughter's stern look with the utmost comfort, as it did not bother him. "I still believe in my heart that Weiss or my dear boy Whitley will be better suited to taking over the company in the future, but in these dire circumstances, I do not want to take any chances."

"With what has happened so far, if the unthinkable happens to your mother and me, I want you to head the company."

Winter took a surprising step back at her father's thoughtful words. She hadn't expected him to say such things after learning what had happened with the general and what was happening with Mistral here in Vale, so she wasn't sure what to say. Or how to process any of this. Was her father being heartfelt? And kind?!

Who replaced her father?!

"Or at least until one of the more able of your siblings can take over, as they are more suited to the role."

There it was. There was the condescending tone she knew and expected. It was almost a relief to hear it after everything else he had been…

"Or figure something out. The company has massively expanded in such a short time that it may do well to divide duties and roles. Brothers know I have been too busy for my liking and need some way of lessening all my duties. Running a business and being a councilman for Atlas and Remnant has become quite stressful." Jacques added with a deep and tired frown as he momentarily turned his gaze back at the window before they finally fell back to the faunus in the room.

"I'm afraid with Gold as our opposition, anything passing through the council is moot at this point, if you aren't aware by now."

Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously at the implication of his words. A snarl escaped his lips. "So you are aware then…"

"Of course I am." Jacques gave a huffing laugh that only made Naruto glare more furiously. It was foolish of you not to formalize it, because the Kingdoms do not recognize mating as an official practice. It's why I covered up those articles with more media press about how wonderful this event will be, uniting Faunus and Schnee after years of me, unfortunately tanking our perception of their kind after everything Nicholas did to build it up."

"Jacq!" Willow's eyes narrowed as this was the first she had heard of this, and being sober, her icy blue eyes danced coldly. "You can't. Father and I spent years petitioning long before you came into the picture…"

"I will do what is necessary to protect this family now!" Jacques roared in response as he returned a sharp look at his wife. "Nothing will stop what I have set in motion. The lower class here in Vale love the Gale Fox. Children are inspired to be like this hero who purges the Kingdom of crime and protects them from Grimm! He's a media darling here, and with the classified information I held due to his jump straight to Huntsman, he was an ideal specimen, race be damned!"

"And the Schnee name is well respected by the upper class and those in business! It is a match made for the ages. It is a story once in a lifetime that deserves to be heard, and I will tell it to everyone. And for it to not be told to the people now when everyone expects and desires to see it…"

"Is to break their hopes and spirits and draw forth a mass of negativity..." Naruto hissed under his breath, and his eyes dilated, enraged. "And therefore, the Grimm would very well come running. There has never been a way to stop this."

"Wait, what?" Jacques was taken aback by the latter part as he expected hopes and spirits to break but not the summoning of Grimm, as that had nothing to do with his plan. "No, I only planned to ruin your image and make your life miserable if…"

"No, that was your plan. That's the plan of the Goddess guiding your hand. Isn't that correct, Fate?" Naruto growled as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let the world around him fill his lungs.

And then the world around him became crystal clear, and a voice he did not want to hear echoed in his ears.

Affirmative.

"Lovely, I could talk to her directly this entire time. Fantastic!" Naruto snapped his eyes open when he noticed everyone else's eyes were wide and frightened as a golden orb wisped through the air and hung directly in the middle of the room, leaving everyone on edge.

"Oh fuck me, this can't get any worse…"

It's time we talked…

Before we both regret what is to come next.


I hope you enjoyed the update.

Four more updates until the end of Volume III.

Been quite a ride so far.

Hit more milestones than I thought I reach in such a short time.

So I thank everyone that has come with me for this ride.

But in case you may have forgotten...

The Wheel of Fate is Turning.

Death is Inevitable.

Someone is Perishing.

And it's time you begin to accept that a character you may enjoy...

In this story or in canon...

Their story is coming to an end.