Reviews:
Kaze: Yeah, Cinder's plan in this is different now that she resides in Jaune's soul, but yeah with things going according to her new plan, all I can say is that things are going to end well... for anybody.
CriticaofRandomness: Trust me when I say that we will see Ozpin Vs JEMNI, and let me just tell you, that is when things are going to go really downhill because that is when the fate of the "Game" is really at stake, after all, there can't be three people playing Chess.
Baixiaochung2910: Thank you!
Spiderboy2004: I wanted this to be different and I loved how Jaune was angry with Ozpin and his circle in V4-6 because he had every right to be! I wanted that for this story, and I hope you continue to read this story! Thank you!
ReDestrobo: Oh trust me, things are only going to get scarier from here on out~! And in this Fic, almost no one is safe, I am going to be killing off characters left and right when the time comes! As for Cardin's redemption, I love the idea of him changing his way after what happened in Forever Fall and I always thought he would be a good guy once he changed his ways, your right, if characters like Emerald could change, why not him?
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In an empty area of Mistral's forest, Pyrrha Nikos, took a seat on a nearby rock, taking a break from her training with Qrow, as she sat down and took a few deep breaths, she set her shield and sword against the side of the rock and her mind quickly thought back to her team and her friends at Beacon. She wondered how they were doing after everything Cinder Fall and her team had done, and also wondered how they were holding up with her not there. She wanted to call them, check and see how they were doing and if they were ok, but Ozpin's orders were that she was not to have any contact with her team until the new school year began, but she... she missed them. She missed Jaune most of all.
She kept thinking back to her kiss with him before she ventured off on what she at the time knew to be a suicide mission, it was supposed to be a goodbye kiss, but it wasn't, she had survived her fight with Cinder and became Ozpin's Fall Maiden, and fulfilled her destiny. However, she didn't expect this, she didn't expect to be taken away from her friends for a whole summer, not even being allowed to speak to them, and that pained her.
"I know that look," Qrow's voice said, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Pyrrha turned to him, feigning innocence, "What look?" She asked.
Qrow took his flask out and undid the lid, "You're thinking about your friends, and your missing them," He told her, then he took a sip of his flask.
Pyrrha sighed and nodded, "I am," She said, "I missed them and I don't understand why I can't speak to them?" She asked.
Qrow removed the flask from his mouth and looked over to Pyrrha, "Because the Cinder chick hacked into the CCT tower, so until Ironwood's best tech dogs can wipe the Virus away, no calls, and no text," He told her. "Look, I get it, I miss Ruby and Yang too, and they both could use all the support right now, but you and I, have a job, and that job is making sure your powers don't fall into the wrong hands," He told her.
Pyrrha nodded and sighed, "But isn't there some way I can know how they are doing?" She asked.
Qrow looked at her and saw sadness in his eyes and he groaned, "Ugh... look, If you really wanna know how your little friends are doing, I'll ask Oz how they are, and once I hear back from him, I'll let you know, deal?" The drunk asked.
Pyrrha smiled softly and nodded, "Yes," She replied
Qrow smiled and nodded, "Alright then," he said, "Now, get your stuff, we'll stop by a small town and restock on supplies," he told her.
Pyrrha got up from her rock seat and made her way to her bag, as she did, Qrow looked at her and his expression changed to a gloomy one.
'She's gonna hate us when she finds out about two of her teammates, as well as who her former leader is in charge of now, but Oz is right, we need to focus on her training, and using her Maiden powers,' Qrow thought to himself, 'We don't want her ending up like Amber,' Qrow finished.
He took another sip from his flask and once he was finished, he closed it and put it back in his vest, and he walked over to their small camp, grabbing his things as well.
Meanwhile, back at Beacon, Jaune and his team were in their room with CFVY and Cardin, and FVY and Cardin were speechless from what had just been explained to them, and even Neo and Ilia were a bit shocked at what they had just learned.
Fox looked at Jaune and Coco, "This isn't a joke, right?" Fox asked.
Coco shook her head, "It isn't, if it what, I'd fill Arc up with so many rounds he'd be crapping lead," Coco told him
"He's telling the truth," Mercury said, "Look, I know you guys don't like us, and that's fine, but believe us when we say that Jaune is telling the truth," Mercury finished.
Jaune let out a sigh, "Listen, I know how bad this all seems, I know what am asking you to do is to turn on the very school that you fought for, believe me, I don't want to do this either, but it has to be done," Jaune said, "Salem is the one who caused all of this, and Ozpin's the one who let this all happen, to them, this is a game, a game that's been going on for far to long, but this is our lives! WE ARE NOT PIECES ON A DAMN CHESS BOARD!" Jaune cried.
CFVY and Cardin were taken aback by Jaune's anger, but they could understand why he was angry and they knew he had every right to be.
"I'm in," Cardin said.
CFVY turned to the ex-bully with shock, surprised her he was the first to agree to join Jaune.
Cardin could feel their eyes on him and he let out a sigh, "Look, I know I'm not the best person to give his two cents on what's right and wrong, but what Headmaster Ozpin is doing, it's fucked up," Cardin said, "And I don't care what everyone else says, I'm in because I don't want to go through another attack again,"
"I'm in as well," Velvet said. "I don't feel right about betraying the school, but if Headmaster Ozpin really let all of this happen, he's the one who betrayed us first," She said.
Jaune nodded and then turned to Coco, Fox, and Yatsuhashi, "What about you 3?" He asked.
Coco smiled at Jaune, "I already agreed to hear you out, might as well agree to work with ya," Coco said.
Yatsuhashi agreed with a hum. "If Coco's in, then I am in as well," Yatsuhashi said.
Fox sighed and looked at Jaune, "We're fighting an immortal woman who's the Queen of the Grimm, and the Headmaster of Beacon, who is leading a group of the most powerful huntsmen in the world as well, as the other 3 Headmasters... this is the biggest suicide mission I have ever heard of," Fox said, "Ah, screw it, I'm in," Fox said.
Jaune nodded, "Then we're all in agreement," Jaune said somberly, "From this moment on... we're traitors to everything we once stood for, because once we do this, we do whatever it takes, to put Salem and Ozpin in the ground, understood?" Jaune said.
They all nodded.
Jaune gave them a quick nod back, "Good, because right now, I have a plan," Jaune said.
Ilia turned to her leader, "Already?" She asked.
Jaune turned to her and nodded, "I've been planning this out since I recovered from my fight with Tyrian," Jaune said, "Right now, the only army Salem has and can manipulate is the White-Fang, specifically, Adam Taurus, he's the one leading the White-Fang here in Vale, we deal with them first,"
Ilia turned to Jaune, "And what about Ozpin's circle?" Ilia asked.
Jaune turned to her, "I'll figure something out on Ozpin's side, while we also deal with the White-Fang, but when the time comes, there are a few teachers and fellow students we need to deal with when they return," Jaune said in a low tone.
Everyone knew who he was talking about when he said students, team RWBY and his old partner. Coco looked at Jaune with a raised brow, "You think you can handle it when the time comes?" she asked.
aune turned to his fellow leader, "I'm hoping to talk to them about joining us, but if it comes down to it, we'll deal with them," Jaune replied. "I will do whatever it takes to stop Salem and Ozpin," Jaune told her.
Coco looked at him for a bit but gave him a quick nod.
Jaune looked back to everybody, "Now then, here's what we're going to do," Jaune began.
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As Jaune was telling the others of his plan, Ozpin and Glynda were up in Ozpin's office, both were on a call with Headmaster and General Ironwood and Qrow.
[What is this about, Ozpin?] Ironwood asked over the video call.
Qrow nodded, [I'm in agreement with Jimmy,] Qrow said, [I thought we'd hold off communication while I was training little miss Champion?] Qrow asked.
Ozpin nodded, "That was indeed what we agreed on, however, an unexpected problem has formed," Ozpin said.
Ironwood was now worried and Qrow was confused.
[What kind of problem, Oz?] Ironwood asked.
"A few days ago, Ms. Nikos's old Partner, Jaune Arc, was attacked by a Scorprion Faunus named Tyrian Callows, he was injured but recovered rather quickly," Ozpin informed them.
Qrow looked at Ozpin, [Salem?] he asked.
Ozpin nodded, "Yes, but that is the least of my concerns, I'm sure she is regrouping and forming something new, which will give us enough time, however, what worries me is that Mr. Arc, has figured out about Salem,"
Hearing this, the two men on the call were shocked.
[HOW!?] Ironwood asked with shock.
Ozpin sighed, "I don't know, my theory is that Mr. Arc learned it from Ms. Sustrai and Mr. Black, he probably began questioning some things after what happened with Ms. Nikos and with him being given the position of leader of JEMNI," Ozpin replied.
Qrow shrugged, [Makes sense, he was with the girl when you brought him with to the basement and with his partner being gone, he just started questioning everything and figured it out all on his own,] Qrow finished.
Ironwood rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh, [So what do we do?] Ironwood asked, [How do we deal with this?] he asked.
Ozpin looked to Ironwood, "I will deal with this James," Ozpin said with a serious tone, "For now, I as well as Glynda will observe him and his team, and make sure they are not doing anything that could jeopardize them or us," Ozpin said.
Ironwood wanted to retort and disagree with Ozpin, however, he felt he didn't have the right, and so he let out a sigh, [Very well, I'll agree to this... but I would feel better if one of us were there,] Ironwood said.
Ozpin rose a brow as he looked at Ironwood, "Do you not trust me, James?" Ozpin asked.
Ironwood shook his head, [It's not that, Oz, I just want someone who's skilled enough to possibly deal with Salem's agents or if need be, Team JEMNI] Ironwood said.
Ozpin thought about it and he would admit he was stretched a bit thin, as he and Glynda had to deal with the Council and other matters, and some of the staff were still recovering or on vacation. He couldn't ask Qrow to come back, it was too dangerous. Ozpin looked back to Ironwood and nodded, "Very well James, who will you send?" He asked.
[Specialist Schnee,] Ironwood said.
Qrow chuckled, [Ice Queen? Really?] Qrow asked.
Ironwood ignored Qrow and continued talking. [She's one of my top specialists and I can promise you that while there, she'll follow your orders to the T,] Ironwood told Ozpin.
Ozpin nodded, "Very well, James, send Ms. Schnee here," Ozpin told him, "With that, I think we can end this little meeting, but I want you both to remember, keep watch, we never know when Salem is strike next,"
Both men nodded and the call ended. Once the call ended, Opzin let out a long sigh and sat back in his chair.
As he sat back, Glynda looked to Ozpin with a raised brow, "Sir, are you sure Mr. Arc and his team need to be watched?" Glynda asked, "Even if they know about the Maidens and Salem, what could they possibly do?"
Ozpin took a quick sip from his mug and looked at Glynda, "I've lived for many years Glynda, I've learned that it's better to know every piece on the board," Ozpin told her, "Because even a pawn can become a king,"
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Man, I wonder what the fuck is going to happen next? Oh wait, I know what's going to happen next! But you don't! HA! You just have to wait till the next chapter!
But for real, I hope you liked today's chapter and I hope you guys are ready for the next one because things are going to get complicated with Winter joining the game and Jaune and the others are finally on the move!