Disclaimer: I do not own the blazblue franchise or the RWBY franchise they belong to their respective owners
(A/N)
To answer a few questions,
Details regarding Jack-O is a massive spoiler. But I can confirm that she exists. The situation is complicated within the story and the situation with Aria is a massive part of it. Which is the main reason why Sol is out on his own looking for a certain someone.
I want to give more details, but I will be spoiling a lot more than I want. Along with some future plans I have once this story ends. I will confirm one thing though, two VERY major Guilty Gear characters will appear in this story. I'm not going to give a hint to who they are. Because it will be a dead giveaway but I am excited for the reveal.
For why Ragna relates to Hazel, its because if he was in Hazel's position, he would do the same thing. Ragna truly does care about his family and wants what's best for him. Ragna's attempt to toughen Jin up is something that he deeply regrets. One of the things that drives Ragna is that he wants to protect his family. So he is determined to make sure Terumi is killed.
Soon chapter 100 of this story is coming up. I want to release a special chapter but I don't have any ideas. I am open to suggestions but I can't guarantee that I will be able to do them. However, I will do what I can. Especially since this story will be in Volume 7.
I am also conflicted on something, I have two ideas on how to begin Volume 7. One way is how I've always done it. Another idea I have to start Volume 7 is to start the volume with a scene that will be in Volume 8 and have Volume 7 and 8 be told as a flashback up to that point with occasional character narration. However, if I do that, the opening scene will tease a massive moment and I will be limited to the main characters perspective without the villains. I am interested in your recommendations on how to begin Volume 7. especially since I will not do a poll because the reviews will give details on the suggestion and the reason.
Chapter 91 Direction
(The House District in Argus)
After spending several hours momentarily drinking away his depression. Qrow decided to make his way to the house of their kind host. Learning that Ozpin has kept so much from him has hurt him deeply. Especially after devoting many years of service and loyalty to the mysterious man. The realization has caused the veteran Huntsman to question everything about his actions and his purpose. Making matters worse is that not only the truth has justified Raven's reason for leaving. But it also forced the veteran Huntsman to question everything he's done. Especially since the realization of the fact that Salem can't be killed has weakened his resolve along with another set back that put everything on a standstill.
Realizing he needed to get back to the house. Qrow proceeded to make his way back in a drunken state. Once he saw the house, he saw many people of the group leaving the house and went their separate ways. As the group was leaving, Qrow took this opportunity to speak to Yang, who he quickly approached.
"Hey Yang, where is everyone going, did the old hag decide to give us an airship after all?" Qrow said in an inebriated tone in which Yang quickly noticed.
"No, we told the others what we learned about Salem and things got intense. Right now we're just going to be on our own for a bit before we try to figure this out." Yang told Qrow
"That's good, now I need to go and sleep this headache off. I needed to null the pain and I have a lot of pain." Qrow told Yang maintaining his inebriated state
"Well while your sleeping off your drunkenness, remember that this is somebody else's home and Ruby is still inside. So if your going to throw up, please do it in the bathroom." Yang told Qrow causing the veteran to look at her in slight confusion
"Well where are you going, since your so concerned about my well being?" Qrow asked
"I need to speak to a certain someone. Try to figure all of this out, including what to do." Yang told Qrow before she left and the veteran stumbled into the house. Once Qrow made it inside, he fell to the couch and slowly started to doze off. Though what woke him up, is the sound of Ruby and Maria talking to each other. The sound of his niece and his inspiration talking to each other piqued Qrow's curiosity. Which drove the man's curiosity further to the point where he decided to make his way to where they are and see what's going on. Once he did so, he saw Ruby and Maria in the garden and they shared a surprise look at seeing him.
"Well what are you two talking about?" Qrow asked
"Hey uncle Qrow, she was telling me about my powers and . . . are you drunk?" Ruby said before she took a more focused look at her uncle
"Only by a little, and considering the day I've had. I think I've earned the right to be a bit tipsy." Qrow said maintaining his inebriated state
"But this isn't the time to get drunk. We need to figure out what to do. I'm sure if we take some time to think about things then we can . . . ." Ruby said before Qrow interrupted her
"Well I've thought about things and I've realized that all of this is pointless. First of all, every way to Atlas has been closed off to us. Which means there is no way for us to get to the Kingdom. Second, time isn't on our side since the Relics are Grimm magnets. Third, even if we somehow find a way to get to Atlas, then its only a matter of time before Salem sets her sights on the Kingdom. That old hag can either wait us our or diminish our strength with war of attrition. Especially since she can't be killed. Raven is right, Ozpin will lead all of us to ruin and we don't even have a plan to deal with this. Not to mention . . . ." Qrow was saying before Maria took her staff and hit him upside the head
"Ouch, what was that for?" Qrow asked while rubbing his head
"To knock you out of your drunken state and to stop your complaining. I got enough headaches from everyone yelling at each other earlier." Maria told Qrow
"Well we have a right to complain, all those years of loyalty and service. He kept a lot from us, especially from me. He gave me a purpose despite my semblance making me cursed. But now it feels like all of it was a lie. We're just fighting so we can delay the inevitable." Qrow told Maria, while getting out of his inebriated state from the hit on the head.
"Uncle Qrow." Ruby said in a concerned tone before Maria spoke up
"I understand your frustration, but to be honest. Your angry at the lie itself and you're ignoring the full picture." Maria told Qrow
"What do you mean?" Qrow asked in a curious tone
"For starters, you've been a Huntsman for a long time. I've been a Huntress for much longer than you have. You don't get the reputation of the Grimm Reaper without taking on a long list of missions. With some of those missions being the kind that most people wouldn't take on even on a good day. Due to how dangerous they are, as well as the kind of people we deal with." Maria told Qrow
"I know that all too well, what are you trying to say?" Qrow asked
"No matter how dangerous the mission is or how unpleasant the client. We still have a job to do as Huntsmen and we do not have the luxury of choosing and controlling our circumstances. But no matter what, we still need to protect the people from the dangers of the world. Fighting a threat that won't die sounds like an unpleasant experience. But if you ignore that fact for a moment. Does it really change anything that you've done?" Maria said causing Qrow to have a thoughtful look on his face
"That's right, So what if everything Ozpin told us was a lie? Are you saying that everything you've done, as a huntsman, a teacher and an uncle, that was a lie too?" Ruby told Qrow causing him to look at his sword and think about everything that he's done
"I admit that learning what we learned was hard to accept for all of us. But at the end of the day like Maria said. We still have a job to do and there are people who are counting on us. So we have to pick ourselves up and keep moving forward. Are you ready to move forward with us?" Ruby asked which caused Qrow to take out his flask and take a long hard look at it. Once he did he poured the drink on the ground and threw it to the side.
"Well, do you have any ideas?" Qrow asked causing Ruby to have an awkward laugh.
"Honestly, I haven't really thought of anything. I was kind of hoping that you would have a few ideas." Ruby sheepishly told Qrow
"I don't, I wasn't lying when I said that I was thinking about our situation. The only other idea I could think of are the bad ones. But like I said time isn't on our side and that's just with Salem. We still haven't done anything regarding Terumi." Qrow told Ruby
"I have been meaning to ask, I know that Terumi is one of the six heroes. But what does he have to do with any of this?" Maria asked causing Ruby to have a saddened look on her face causing Qrow to speak up.
"Terumi has caused us a lot of problems, you've probably heard of what happened at the Vytal Festival with Ragna's attack?" Qrow asked
"I have, I got the details of how Ragna went berserk and killed a lot of people. The moment that earned him the title Beast of Remnant." Maria answered
"Terumi was the one who caused Ragna to go berserk. Attacked the other students and killed one of them. To top it all off, he's the one who killed Ruby's mother." Qrow briefly explained to Maria.
"That explains it, still it is a little odd that an item of great power couldn't give details regarding that man." Maria told the two
"It's like Weiss and Blake said, there is a chance that Terumi is allies with someone that has the powers of a god. Which means there are more questions than before." Ruby said before Qrow spoke up
"I thought about him to but unfortunately, the answer to that depends on Ozpin." Qrow told the two
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked
"Ozpin looked surprised when the spirit of the lamp had 3 questions. I was there when he said that there should have been 2 questions. So that means we can narrow down when Terumi messed with the Lamp. If there were two questions left after it was sealed. Then Terumi may have done something after we've retrieved it. Though that's hard to believe because we've had it with us all this time. Besides, if he did that, then why didn't he get the lamp if he had the chance?" Qrow explained his thoughts to the two
"We've learned more about Salem and Ozpin, but we're not any closer to learning about Terumi." Ruby said in a frustrated tone
"I'm not surprised, from what I was told about him by Rachel and Jubei. Terumi is very perceptive and has a lot of insight of the current situation. He has a way of getting inside your head and is sneaky and manipulative as he is strong and this is without his semblance. Him having Nu with him isn't making things easier especially since she has the other half of the Black Beast's power." Qrow explained before Maria spoke up
"What do you mean half of the Black Beast's power?" Maria asked
"Cinder's announcement was partially true. Ragna has half of the Black Beast's power and Nu has the other half. As an added bonus, they have the life link. Which means that if one of them dies. Then the other dies too and for the Black Beast to return they need to kill each other." Ruby explained to Maria
"Now I have a better understanding of the situation. Though this does give me a chance to ask why you didn't tell them everything regarding what you've learned? I suspect Ragna has told you to keep it a secret. But I assume that you have some reasons of your own." Maria asked Ruby causing Qrow to look at Ruby with a curious gaze
"Your right, Ragna did ask me to keep it a secret and after thinking about it, I agreed to it. Part of the reason is that I owe it to him to keep it secret. I used Jinn to learn about Ragna's life in an invasive way. But I honestly needed to know more details since I still had doubts about whether or not Nu is related to him. Besides, I also thought we might get answers as to how Ragna got half of the Black Beast's power and the life link. I got answers but not the kind I expected." Ruby said in a tone full of regret before she continued
"For the second reason, a lot of people see Ragna as a monster. If they know the truth then it will give them a good excuse. I know for a fact that some of us aren't fully comfortable with being around Ragna." Ruby explained further to the two
"Makes sense, Human and Faunus are natural beings of this world. But learning that your life isn't fully natural will lead to a lot of scrutiny." Maria told Ruby
"I learned about this in a very invasive way. So, I want to at least try to do right by him. Especially since he saved me at the Tower." Ruby explained
"I see why now, I never really dealt with something like an artificial human so I'm going to trust your judgment on this kiddo." Qrow told Ruby causing the younger girl to smile in gratitude before he continued.
"But with that being said, we need to talk about what to do regarding Nu." Qrow told Ruby
"Aside from seeing what she had to endure and what you two told me just now. I don't know anything about her, so would someone be kind enough to fill me in on the details." Maria told the two
"Nu is a threat who's working for Salem. She has two different Semblances and is a lot stronger than she looks. As it stands, her two brothers Ragna and Jin are butting heads on how to deal with her. Ragna wants to save her because he sees a victim of the world's cruelty. While Jin sees her as a threat and wants to deal with her. Everyone else is conflicted with how to approach her. Especially my other niece Yang, since it was Nu who cut off her arm." Qrow explained to Maria
"Now I understand, I hate to sound heartless but with what I've been told from you two. Dealing with Nu might be your best and only option. Which can unfortunately involve killing her." Maria said to a shocked Ruby before she continued
"When I took on missions as a Huntress, I found myself having to kill people. Taking a life is never an easy thing to do and the more it is done. The more numb you become to the reality of the whole thing. The people that are killed by Huntsmen and Huntresses will always have a story that justifies their actions. But at the end of the day, it boils down to two choices. Let a threat live which will lead a lot of people to die. Or end the threat to save many lives. Its not an easy choice but its one that needs to be made. We've seen what that child has endured. To go through something unimaginably cruel that I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemies. But if she's as much of a threat as you say. Then you'll need to make a hard choice. Especially if there is a possibility that she can't be saved." Maria explained further to a worried Ruby
"I've always fought the Grimm, but I never had to kill someone else." Ruby told Maria and Qrow
"I know this isn't something you want to hear. But if your determined to be a Huntress. Then you need to understand the harsh realities that comes with it." Maria told Ruby as Qrow gave a saddened nod in agreeing with Ruby think about the entirety of the conversation.
(The Plaza)
"Why is it that everything always gets harder for us when we're trying to save the world?" Nora said as she was walking with her team along with Saphron
"Did something happen earlier? When I found you guys when I was returning home, I saw that most of you were angry. While the rest of you looked depressed." Saphron told the group
"It's a long and complicated story sis." Jaune responded to his sister
"Does this have something to do with that mission that you and your friends refuse to tell me about?" Saphron asked
"It does, we just learned that things are a lot harder than we thought. Some of us aren't exactly taking it well. While others are taking it harder than others." Jaune briefly explained to Saphron
"Well do you need to be the ones to do this mission? I know that its none of my business, but maybe you all don't have to do all of this. If its that hard, you can start over here. You can get your license and start a life here. Think of the good all of you can do for the people. I know its not glamorous but the people here need a hero. There are a lot of missions that need doing and you guys can do it." Saphron told Jaune and his team
"I understand what your saying. But what's going on now is a bit hard to talk about." Jaune told his sister.
"Right now, we're just lost on what to do next." Ren told Saphron
"I know what you all do is important, I'm just telling you options that you might want to think about." Saphron said before Jaune spoke up while he had a thoughtful look on his face
"Sis, I have a personal question I would like to ask you if that's fine?" Jaune asked which surprised Saphron
"This looks like a brother and sister moment, we'll be in the café if you need us." Nora said as she dragged Ren to the café
"Is there something on your mind?" Saphron asked in a worried tone
"What if something happened and you needed me to look after Adrian. However, something unexpected happened and your son got hurt. Would you be angry with me?" Jaune asked his older sister
"I would, I love my son deeply and if anything happens to him. Well, you'll see a side of me that you won't ever forget." Saphron told Jaune
"Oh, I see." Jaune said in a despondent tone before Saphron continued
"I didn't finish, I will be angry but I won't hate you and I'll even understand if you explained yourself. Does it have something to do with Jin?" Saphron asked
"What makes you say that?" Jaune asked
"I heard what he told you. When he said he can protect us like you protected his family." Saphron answered
"That's part of it, his teammate Makoto told me to give him time. Especially since what happened at Beacon is still fresh on everyone's mind. I know he'll lighten up about it but I still feel terrible about how things happened. But his family isn't the only one I failed to help." Jaune said before he brought out his scroll and showed Saphron a picture of him and Noel.
"Wow, she's pretty." Saphron told Jaune
"This is my girlfriend Noel Vermillion. Someone attacked her and I wasn't able to save her. I just feel so useless, especially since I let down the people that depended on me." Jaune told his sister, causing Saphron to give him a hug.
"Jaune, I know your doing the best you can. I also see that you've been through a lot since we last saw each other. I don't have an answer for you. But the only thing I can tell you is for you to do your best." Saphron told Jaune
"Thanks sis." Jaune said as Saphron stopped hugging him
"I need to go and pick up Adrian. I'll see you and your friends later." Saphron said before she left Jaune to get her son
Once Jaune was alone, he started to walk around for a brief moment until a statue caught his eye. The reason the statue caught his attention is because it is in the shape of an individual that Jaune can never forget about. As he approached it, tears started to swell up within his eyes as he got closer to the statue. Once he stood in front of it, Jaune maintained his poise but came close to breaking down crying at the memorial.
"Pyrrha." Jaune said as he started to cry at the sight of his lost friend
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I couldn't help you." Jaune said as he fell to his knees and cried as the memories of the Fall of Beacon started to overwhelm him. After a few minutes of this, a gentle hand touched his shoulder. When Jaune looked to see whose hand it belonged too. It was an older woman with red hair wearing glasses.
"Did you know her?" The red-haired woman asked in a gentle tone that reminded Jaune of Pyrrha in so many ways.
"I did, she was my teammate back in Beacon. She was one of the few people who believed in me from the very beginning." Jaune told the woman
"She's always been kind to the people around her. The people here didn't want to see her go, but she knew Beacon is where she needed to be. It makes me very happy that she was surrounded by so many wonderful people." The red-haired woman told Jaune
"Why here?" Jaune asked in a curious tone
"It's because she trained here in Sanctum. She followed her heart when she chose Beacon, and I am so proud of her for that." The red-haired woman told Jaune causing him to look at her with a sense of guilt and shame
"She never graduated from Beacon, but she was more than worthy of the title of Huntress. She should be standing here." Jaune told the woman
"She is still here with us. Pyrrha always wanted to be a Huntress for as long as I can remember. She knew that being a Huntress is a dangerous path. But she also knows that the world need heroes and that for a Huntress, there is only one way to live. It is to protect all life. No matter the cost." The red-haired woman told Jaune with a determined gaze that hides her grief.
"She was one of the greatest people I've ever met. Pyrrha saved so many people in so many way, even me." Jaune told the red-haired woman
"Thank you, it makes me so happy to hear that." The red-haired woman responded with tears in her eyes.
"She should be standing here, I wish I could have done more for her." Jaune said in a somber tone before the red-haired woman approached him
"You remind me of another young man that came here to pay his respects. It my be my intuition but I believe that he blames himself for what happened to her. I have a feeling that you two will see each other again. If you do, help him understand that he shouldn't bear the weight of his duties alone." The red-haired woman told Jaune before she pointed at the ice bouquet of flowers that's at the foot of the memorial statue
"Jin." Jaune muttered before he turned to face the red-haired woman and saw that she was gone.
"Jaune!" Nora yelled getting his attention. Once Jaune saw Nora and Ren, they proceeded to walk towards him.
"We were wondering where you were. Now what would you be doing . . . ." Nora said before she saw the memorial statue and realized what got Jaune's attention
"I'm sorry everyone, I don't deserve to be your team leader. I've also been a terrible friend. I wasn't with you guys when . . . ." Jaune said before Ren interrupted him
"Jaune, this has to stop." Ren said before Nora spoke up
"You're not being fair to yourself, you haven't been ever since the Fall of Beacon. What happened to Pyrrha, to Noel, even to Celica and Saya. None of it was your fault, we know that you asked Jin to look out for us while you were in Ronin-Gai. While you trained and got stronger, but you need to understand that your our family and it will tear us up if anything happens to you." Nora told Jaune with Ren nodding in agreement
"I think she knew that she wasn't going to win that day. But she needed to do something, she was the only one who could try to do something." Jaune told the two as he looked at the statue
"She isn't here with us physically. But she is still a part of this team in spirit. In many ways, she is still looking out for us." Ren told the two as they looked at the statue. After a few more moments, Jaune decided to walk off.
"Where are you going?" Nora asked
"I'm going to try to set things right. Not much of a blonde duo if its only one person." Jaune Responded
"Why would you try to make things right with jin? What happened wasn't your fault and there was a lot going on at the time." Nora told Jaune
"I've been doing some thinking and after speaking with Saphron. I have a good idea of why he's so angry. It might be for nothing, but I still consider him my friend and I have to at least try." Jaune said before he left to look for Jin
"We should get going too." Nora said in a reluctant tone
"Where are we going?" Ren asked in a curious tone
"I haven't been fair to Ragna. I'm still terrified of him but he did good by Jaune so that has to count for something. Besides, if we're going to be in deep, then we need to start trusting each other. Which means clearing the air and facing my fears. So I'm going to talk to Ragna and properly apologize, no matter how mean and stern he looks. But I'm certain it'll go a lot smoother if a very trusted friend is by my side during the trip." Nora said giving Ren a pleading look
"I'm sure it'll go fine, but I'll always be there to support you. So I will go with you." Ren said reassuring Nora
"Boop." Nora said as she tapped his nose and the two proceeded to go and look for Ragna
(A different district)
Blake spent time walking around Argus, taking in the peace atmosphere that's within the city. For a moment, she wanted to forget about everything she's learned. Regarding Salem, the war, the threat of Terumi and the possible return of the Black Beast. Along with the lingering fear of the uncertainty with Faunus relations. She felt proud of how Human-Faunus relations have significantly improved in Mistral thanks to her and the Faunus of Menagerie. Unfortunately, she knows that there is a lot more to be done. Since her and her friends will be going to Atlas, which is at the forefront of Faunus mistreatment. As Blake was relaxing with the atmosphere alone. Blake came across Cardin talking with what appears to be an older man. With her curious nature kicking in, Blake proceeded to listen in.
"That about settles it, all the listed supplies are counted for and in order. Once the train services are back in order. We'll start the process of getting the supplies ready for Vale." The older man said
"Thank you sir, these supplies will go a long way to help the people of Vale." Cardin told the older man
"Think nothing of it, what happened during the Vytal Festival is nothing short of a tragedy. At least we don't have to worry about the Beast of Remnant being among us. Everything will be ready in a few days, once its done, you can go and make sure the right people get them." The older man said before he walked away
"What's this about supplies?" Blake asked getting Cardin's attention
"It's part of my mission, I took on a job to escort some goods to Argus. Amane caught wind of it and decided to tag along. Once everything is ready I'll escort the supplies to Vale. It'll be nice to get back with my team." Cardin answered
"Your taking on missions that's helping people, that's really good Cardin." Blake said in a nervous tone before she spoke up
"Cardin, I have to apologize to you once again. I've been thinking about a few things and while I didn't like how you treated the Faunus and Jaune. I'm honestly in no position to judge. Especially since I've been doing a lot of running." Blake said causing Cardin to shake his head
"Like I told you don't worry about it. We kept doing what we wanted since nobody was stopping us. But after a few things happened, I realized that I needed to change a few things about myself." Part of it involved apologizing to Velvet for the things I've done. Cardin told Blake
"That doesn't sound easy." Blake commented
"It wasn't, she forgave me and all. But as for trusting me, that's something I'm going to have to earn that myself." Cardin told Blake
"What will you do after you escort the supplies to Beacon?" Blake asked
"After that I'll keep taking on missions. Aside from trying to keep my team together, I also want to keep helping Vale." Cardin told Blake
"It sounds like you have things figured out, must be nice." Blake told Cardin causing him to chuckle
"I don't have anything figured out, if anything I'm terrified of the future." Cardin said which surprised Blake
"Why do you say that?" Blake asked in a surprised tone
"When I realized how badly I've messed up with how I treated people, including the Faunus. So aside from trying to do good, I also want to show the people that knew me that I've changed for the better. It's expected for them to not believe it and to still not trust me. But I need to try, not just for myself but also for my team. Since I also want them to change for the better as well. I know its going to be hard, but I have to at least try. Isn't that what it means to be a Huntsman?" Cardin explained causing her to think for a moment at the realization of what she needs to do.
"Your right Cardin, I never thought I would say those words. I have to keep going, no matter how hard its going to be." Blake said as she walked away, before she went too far. She turned to look at Cardin
"I see that you have changed for the better. If you can keep this up, then I know you'll be a great Huntsman." Blake told Cardin
"Thanks, I know you'll be a great Huntress." Cardin responded as Blake left with a better understanding of what she needs to do.
"I'm done running, and I'm done with the lies. There is still a lot I can do for the Faunus and with the White Fang. Not to mention for the fight against Salem. If I keep running then nothing will ever get resolved. I need to see this through, no matter what I'll face." Blake said to herself with a look filled with resolve
(A different district)
Jaune spent several minutes walking round the district of Argus looking for Jin. He understands that what happened with Celica and Saya isn't his fault but he still felt that he needed to give Jin a proper apology for what happened. Especially with a better understanding that if the situation was reversed. Then Jaune would have reacted the same way. Makoto told him to give him some time. But for the sake of the friendship they had. Jaune wants to at least try to fix things. Besides, he also has the hope that once they reunite with Noel in Atlas. Jaune can play the brother card and convince Jin to endure her cooking.
"He shouldn't be too far, I just have to find him and explain myself. Hopefully he will accept my apology and we can move past this. Or he'll freeze me solid and dump me in the sea. I'm really hoping for the former." Jaune said before he bumped into some and the both of them fell down.
"I'm sorry, I was thinking about a few things and I wasn't paying attention to . . . . ." Jaune said before he looked at the person he bumped into and found himself at a loss for words. The person he saw is an adult woman. Yet as he stared at her, it felt like the person he saw is the physical combination Noel and Saphron. Yet is more endowed and has very gentle eyes that reminds him of himself.
"Noel?" Jaune said before he quickly corrected himself when he saw that the woman isn't Noel.
"Oh I'm not . . . ." The woman said before she looked at Jaune. The moment she did so, she had what appears to be a glint in her eyes. As if she saw a hero from the stories of legend. Like the Rusted Knight from the story "The Girl who fell through the World"
"Um . . . . are you okay?" Jaune asked in a concerned tone
"It's so great to meet you. I mean, you look like a cool Huntsman I grew up hearing stories about." The woman told Jaune
"Oh thank you, but I'm not a Huntsman. I'm just someone who doing the best he can." Jaune responded
"Well, I have a feeling that you will be a great Huntsman someday. I know we don't know each other, but I have a good feeling about you." The woman told Jaune
"Are you sure about that? I mean, we've literally bumped into each other and I'm just a stranger." Jaune responded
"Very, for starters you remind me of my father who I love and adore. He also has a saying, "strangers are friends who you just haven't met yet." He would tell me this whenever I get nervous about meeting new people. My mom also taught me to see the best in people. Which means that my hunch about you being a hero is a good possibility." The woman told Jaune which brought a smile to his face
"Thank you, my name is Jaune Arc, what's your name?" Jaune asked
"My name is J . . . . Jina. I don't want to keep you and it looks like you're in a rush." Jina told Jaune
"That's right, I was looking for someone. I don't know if you've seen him. He's wearing a white light armor set. He also has blonde hair." Jaune said describing Jin
"I think I know who you're talking about. I saw someone like that over there." The woman said as she pointed Jaune in the direction he needs to go.
"Thank you." Jaune said before he walked off to the direction she pointed at
(Argus Plaza)
After almost freezing Oscar in the house, Jin knew that he needed to be alone for a bit so he can clear his head. Knowing that he is now part of a war that originated with both Ozpin and Salem is bad enough. But the fact that Ozpin has been on the defensive for so long and knew that time was always going to be on Salem's side adds to his frustration. The threat that Salem represents, the deaths that occurred due to his careless and reckless plans. Jin understood that in wars that lasts a long time, deaths inevitably happen. But he believes that many of those deaths could have been avoided if Ozpin hadn't made many desperate decisions. Such as placing the Maiden in a location where many people will die in pursuit of her. Making things worse is that many people have died without knowing what it is they are dying for.
Jin understands that the path of a Huntsman is a path where one can die at any moment. But he believes that they should at least have an understanding of what their fighting for. Yet with all of the lies that's been fed to them, it feels like the people that fight and die for Ozpin have been given a false purpose, instead of one they chose for themselves.
"All this time, fighting a never-ending battle. Making decisions based on desperation is one thing. But for him to convince people to fight for him under a false pretense. With deceptive and manipulative actions to coerce people to his cause. We've earned the right to know the truth so we can choose for ourselves. As things stand, he's just like Salem. Different goal, same methods. What the hell is even his end goal." Jin thought to himself before the shadow of a female figure approached him. When Jin saw who it is, it was Weiss and she had a concerned look on her face
"Are you okay?" Weiss asked in a concerned tone
"I'm fine." Jin bluntly responded as he looked away. Though not convinced of it, Weiss sat down besides him and grabbed his hand.
"Jin, talk to me. I know something is bothering you. But I won't be able to help you if you say nothing." Weiss told Jin in a pleading tone
"It's a lot of things, don't worry about it." Jin told Weiss maintaining his tone
"Jin, Ruby told me about the argument you two had when you killed Penny while she was being controlled." Weiss told Jin which got more of his attention before she continued
"I know you did what you had to do. But to be honest, I'm just worried about you and what you'll become. Especially if you let the burden and frustration of everything that's happening overwhelm you." Weiss told Jin in a pleading tone
"What does it matter of what I'll become? The people and the world needs a protector. They need someone who has the will to do what needs to be done." Jin responded causing Weiss to have a worried look before she spoke
"Jin, when you told me to be better after you saved Vale. Did you really believe that or did you say that to make me feel less guilty?" Weiss asked causing Jin to look away for a bit
"Honestly, I don't know. I want you to do better. I want that for you and everyone we're travelling with to be better. But its hard to believe in your potential when mistakes keeps getting repeated with different variations." Jin told Weiss
"I understand, I know that your hard on yourself for what happened at Beacon. I also know that you think we're taking all of it for granted. But something you need to understand is that we're dealing with everything in different ways. Ruby is keeping it all in because she doesn't want to worry us. Blake is having hard time dealing with the fact that the White Fang, an organization she has personal ties to has played a large role in Beacon's fall. While Yang is still trying to emotionally recover from what Ragna did to her. While I am coming to grips with how I can make things better with everything my father has done. Just because we're not showing it, don't think that we aren't grieving. We're just trying to make sure that it doesn't overwhelm us, while we try to figure out how to make things right. Especially with everything we've learned from the lamp." Weiss explained to Jin
"Nora was right, I should have stayed and protected Celica and Saya." Jin said as Weiss laid her head on his shoulder
"That's not your fault either, or Ragna's. I know Ragna knew about her and told you. But the more I think about it, the more I see that Cinder was ready for us. Something like that must have taken a lot of planning and preparations. She caught all of us by surprise and now we're involved in something bigger." Weiss explained further to Jin
"I can't let what happened to Beacon happen anywhere else. I will not allow people to die for nothing, for causes that they don't anything about." Jin told Weiss
"Then what about Nu, Ragna told me what he learned and she endured things that I wouldn't wish on anyone. Are you really determined to fight her?" Weiss asked in a concerned tone
"I understand that Nu is my sister, but if you think that will stop me from fighting her. Then you are very much mistaken. She is a very real threat to the world." Jin told Weiss which worried her
"But she's your family, shouldn't that be a reason for you to try to find a way to help her?" Weiss said in a worried tone
"Would you do the same for your father or brother?" Jin asked in response
"Whitley wants nothing to do with me, as for my father he made my life very difficult. A lot of people hate him and take it out on me." Weiss told Jin
"The same could be said regarding Nu, she may have a reason for becoming what she is. But at the end of the day that changes nothing. Or would you rather I show her the endless devotion you show Winter?" Jin said while receiving a glare from her
"That's enough Jin." Weiss said while giving him an intense glare
"I'm sorry, but you can at least see my point. I know its important to protect lives. But sooner or later we're going to have to make a choice. Our duties to the world or preserving what we cherish. I will do what I have to for the world." Jin told Wiess
"What if it means hurting me or your family?" Weiss asked in a somber tone which stunned Jin
"I won't let it come to that." Jin responded
"I believe that, but I hope it doesn't happen. Because if it does. Then I'm scared of the choice you'll make. I'm going to go back to the house. I'll see you later and please don't be hard on yourself." Weiss said before she walked away.
"Hey Jin." Jaune said getting Jin's attention. Before Jin moved Jaune started to talk
"I'm sorry, I know you trusted me to help your family but I screwed it up. I did a lot of thinking and you have every right to be angry at me. You even have a lot of reasons to turn down my request to help my team." Jaune said getting more of Jin's attention
"We both know that I cheated my way into Beacon. When I cheated I didn't think of the realistic dangers that could occur. But now that I understand things a lot better, I know why you have the standards that you do. I can't change the past, but give me a chance to be better make things right." Jaune finished explaining while Jin stood there and listened
"The last time I spoke to Pyrrha, it was when Yang was set up during her match." Jin told Jaune before he recounted his last conversation with her
(Beacon Courtyard)
"What do you mean the situation has changed? What are you even talking about?" Pyrrha asked Jin in a confused tone
"Listen to me, I have an idea as to who's doing all of this. Right now I need to get as much proof as possible before its too late. Don't fulfill their request, the enemy is driving Ozpin to desperation and that will paly into their hands." Jin told Pyrrha
"But I need to . . ." Pyrrha said before Jin cut her off
"Pyrrha you need to think for a moment, can't you see that your being pressured into this? Ozpin and his inner circle have given you this request in a way that you can't possibly refuse them. You're not being given an honor or a burden. Your being forced into a role on their terms. The claim its due to desperation, but they only wanted your consent to ease their conscious. Don't follow such a manipulative request Pyrrha." Jin explained to Pyrrha
"Would you have someone else burdened with this?" Pyrrha asked
"I would find another way, the fact that our esteemed headmaster didn't look into other options already warrants suspicion. If I can find solid evidence then we can prevent the worst case scenario." Jin said causing Pyrrha to nod in worry
"Jin, I know your trying to find a way to help me. But I've accepted what's been asked and what I will lose. But if it means protecting this world, then it is a sacrifice I will gladly make. It will be painful, but it's what's expected of a Huntress and I will take this burden with pride and dignity." Pyrrha said in a tone filled with resolve
"But it doesn't have to be like this. There is still time, I can still find a way." Jin said causing Pyrrha to smile at Jin
"When I first met you, I thought you were a cold person who looked down on people. Especially with how you attacked Jaune during training. But when I met your teammate Noel, I saw that she was an exceptionally kind and gentle person. She told me that there was good within you. I initially didn't believe her, especially after you tried to tell me to convince Jaune to turn himself in. But the more I observed you, the more I realized I was wrong and I'm glad for it." Pyrrha explained to Jin before she continued
"You hold the title of Huntsmen to a high standard and you want others to do the same. Because you understand the burden that we take and you also know that we are still people and you will not allow us to throw our lives away." Pyrrha explained further before she finished
"I have a feeling that whatever is going to happen, will happen soon. I also doubt that I will live through the upcoming crisis. But if anything happens to me, I want you to look after my team and protect them as best as you can. This also includes Jaune, he is very important to me and I will give my life to protect him. He has what it takes to be a great hero and I believe in him with all my heart." Pyrrha finished telling Jin
"Very well, out of respect of you Pyrrha. I will do what I can for your team, including Jaune." Jin told Pyrrha
"Thank you, I know it won't be easy. But I believe that you also see potential within him too. Especially since you never turned him in for cheating. If we don't see each other after this, I want you to know that despite our disagreements, I do consider you a friend." Pyrrha said with a smile before she walked off. A few minutes after she left, Jin punched the wall and made a noticeable crack on it.
"Damn, another person walking towards their end. I need to find the evidence and figure everything out. Before its too late." Jin said before he went to the library
(Argus Plaza)
"Pyrrha was determined to face the path before her. She reminds me of Sister Celica in so many ways. Asking her to not help someone when she was in a position to do something. Would be the equivalent of asking her to kill an innocent person. I don't think you could've stopped her from doing what she wished. I know its not your fault Jaune, everything was just, frustrating to deal with." Jin told Jaune before he walked away. Though before he went too far, Jin spoke further
"Besides, you weren't the one who made them targets. That would be my brother, he has a role in all of this too." Jin said as he walked away with Jaune following him. Unknown to either of them, the woman (Jina) was watching them from a distance while remaining hidden
"To think that he's here." The woman said in a somber tone. After a brief second, a male hand touched her shoulder. When she looked to see who touched her, it was a tall muscular young man with short blonde hair. What made him stand out even further is the eyepatch over his right eye.
"So that's why you made contact, for a second there. I thought you were going to tell him your real name Joan." Sin told Joan after saying her real name
"Sin, can't we tell them something? Mom trusts Jin and despite how cold he is, he will at least try to do something. As for Jaune you know he's my . . . ." Joan said in a pleading tone before Sin interrupted her
"I know how you feel, but you need to understand that we can't tell them anything. There is so many things that I want to tell my parents. But if I do that, I could make things a lot worse. We came here to find something and neither of them are here. We have to keep looking and if we can't find them, then we can at least take precautions." Sin told Joan before he walked away.
"Jaune, Jin, please be safe. I know you two will be great heroes." Joan said before she left as well
(Argus park)
"So did you figure out what you're going to say to Ragna?" Ren asked Nora
"Well, I'll start with an ice breaker, after that I'll work my way from there. Assuming we can find him before its too late. He seemed much angrier than usual back at the house." Nora told Ren in a concerned tone
"It must be difficult for him to be in a town like this. Remember, everyone on the train treated him like a monster. So its going to be hard for him to deal with being in a town. Especially since he needs to figure out what to do once he gets to Atlas. He will probably spend time with Celica. But that's not something I expect he'll be able to do forever. Not to mention he is still driven by revenge." Ren briefly explained to Nora
"That just means I need to make things right with him sooner. After all, I am very certain this will go well since one, I am not anything like Jin. Also, he traveled with Jaune/ Which means we can play the teammate card." Nora confidently stated before the both of them say Yang. When the both of them noticed her, Yang was walking quickly towards a specific direction and didn't notice Ren and Nora.
"Where do you think she's going?" Nora asked in a curious tone
"Given by how she's walking. It appears that she's in a rush. There might be a chance she's meeting up with Ragna." Ren told Nora
"Ooh, let's listen in on them." Nora eagerly suggested
"Doesn't that seem a bit intrusive on their privacy?" Ren told Nora in a worried tone
"You say intrusive, I say informative. I want to make things right with Ragna and this is the perfect chance for me to find the best approach. Things look better between Ragna and Yang. Which means I could pick up on some good details. Whatever we've learned, I can use the details to have a good approach." Nora explained justifying her plans to eavesdrop on the two before they followed Yang. After a few minutes, the both of them saw Yang go into an alley and she was seen talking to Ragna. The duo proceeded to stay close to the two while Ren reluctantly used his semblance to make sure they weren't noticed.
"How are you holding up?" Yang asked in a concerned tone
"Honestly speaking, not well." Ragna answered in a blunt tone
"Ruby told everyone that not only Nu is your sister. But also Noel is your sister as well. We both know there's more to it. So I have a feeling that you had something to do with it." Yang told Ragna
"Your right, I told Ruby not to tell certain details of what we've learned from the lamp." Ragna told Yang
"Why, Ozpin kept secrets from us and now we see how big of a mess this is. Why do you want to do the same thing?" Yang asked in a concerned tone
"Ozpin's secrets affected all of us since we're a part of his damn war against Salem. But my past, my origins that's personal and Ruby had no right to dive into it the way she did." Ragna angrily told Yang
"I know what she did was invasive, but try to look at it from her point of view. You and Nu hold half of the Black Beast's power. Then all of a sudden, Nu is your sister and if one dies, the other will die too. It's hard to believe for anyone." Yang told Ragna explaining Ruby's actions
"Your right, so how about I expose some personal stuff regarding you. Like how you almost got Ruby killed looking for Raven. Or better yet, expose the fact that Raven is the Spring Maiden. Someone who could have sealed the vault and make things a lot easier for us. Tell me how would you feel about that. Especially since I'm keeping my mouth shut on the strength of you." Ragna explained to Yang
"I'm not saying Ruby was right, It's just that I understand why she did it." Yang said before she stood beside Ragna
"I think you should tell them, especially Jin. He's your brother and you owe him that much." Yang told Ragna in a concerned tone
"Learning all that affected me deeply Yang. How do you think Jin is going to take it?" Ragna asked Yang
"Despite his cold nature, he can handle himself really well. You need to give him more credit." Yang told Ragna causing him to get off of the wall and pace for a bit.
"How do I tell him that me, him, and our other siblings which includes Saya are not even human. That the Murakumo labs created our mother and are the reason that our birth parents are dead. Oh and that Hakumen, one of the six heroes who tried to kill me is Jin from the future! Last but not least, I still want to save Nu, I still want to help her and I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO! HOW DO I TELL HIM ANY OF THIS YANG!" Ragna yelled causing the blonde brawler to give him a somber look before she responded
"I don't know." Yang weakly responded
"Learning that I'm not a human had hurt me. I know that it shouldn't affect my love for my adopted mother. But if it can affect me, then what do you think it would do to Jin? Is that a risk you honestly want to take?" Ragna asked Yang
"I wish I had an answer. I want to tell you that I have one but I don't. The only thing I do know, is that whether or not you have an answer won't stop you from trying to do the right thing. Even if it causes problems for people." Yang told Ragna
"Right, problems for my family and my friends. Your right, I did destroy my family. Instead of being more patient and understanding with Jin. I tried to toughen him up and it backfired hard. If I'd have been thinking, I wouldn't have provoked Cinder into targeting my family. Which led to Terumi attacking Sister Celica. Then I kept secrets from you, I should have handled it better, or at least told you what I knew about Nu. All of that blew up in my face and I have to live with all of that." Ragna explained to Yang
"I made mistakes too, when I learned about you lying. Looking back on it, I should have kept a level head and focused on my priorities. We could have fought Cinder and Pyrrha wouldn't have died. At the very least we should have taken time to figure out what to do with Nu. But instead, Pyrrha is dead and Nu is with Salem. I have to take some responsibility too." Yang explained before she continued
"But to be honest, I still don't know how I feel regarding Nu. I know she was experimented on in those labs. I know that her life was taken from her. But I can't let that be an excuse for her. She killed people and she cut off my arm. That's not something I can let go of easily. Especially since she is still a threat to the world. Would you forgive Terumi for cutting off your arm?" Yang asked Ragna receiving a glare from him
"No, I can never forgive Terumi. He has to pay and I will kill him personally for what he's done to me and my family." Ragna stated with an intense glare
"Ragna, I know you blame yourself for what happened. But you can't blame yourself for anything and you can't let yourself be obsessed with revenge. Otherwise it will make you into a monster. The beast of Remnant that everyone is labeling you as." Yang told Ragna in a worried tone
"Terumi attacked my family, that earned him the top spot on my shit list. I do bare some responsibility for my carelessness. But don't forget, I told Jin because I thought he would try to protect him. He's responsible for what happened too and he has to answer for that. As for me being a monster, I'm going to tell you what I told Ruby." Ragna told Yang before he continued
"I don't give adman if the world sees me as a monster. But if I am a monster, then I'm a monster with a target. Terumi and Salem, should be very afraid. Because I will show no mercy to them." Ragna said before he walked away with Yang following him with a worried look. After the two went far, Ren and Nora came out of hiding and Ren deactivated his semblance. After doing so, Nora maintained her shocked reaction. Adding to her fear of Ragna more than before
"Him and his siblings aren't human." Nora said in a shocked tone
"And Hakumen is Jin from the future." Ren told a visibly shocked Nora
"I can't, I want to give him a chance but he's not even human. Neither Ragna or his siblings are human. This includes Jin, Noel, even Saya. I don't think I can deal with this." Nora said maintaining her shocked expression
"Nora, I know its going to be hard. But we have to keep it together. Don't forget that they are still our friends." Ren told Nora in a pleading tone
"I'll try, but I need time to process this." Nora told Ren in a worried tone
"You're not the only one. Especially with us learning that Hakumen is Jin from the future." Ren said before they left
(The House)
After a couple of hours, the large group returned to the house. All of them were impressed by Oscar's new outfit. Thanks in no small part to Amane helping him upgrade his wardrobe. Once the happy and pleasant vibes died down, everyone went back to talk about their current situation. Seeing the situation, Saphron and Terra went to the kitchen and out of earshot so they can talk about the current problem. Unfortunately, when the topic shifted towards a plan of action. The air started to become tense.
"I know that we have some time before the Relic draws in the Grimm. So we need to take this moment to figure out a solid plan. It doesn't have to be perfect, but good enough to allow us to get to Atlas. I want to help you guys with as much time I have left." Oscar told the group
"I have an idea, but its really a no going back kind of plan." Jaune nervously said getting everyone's attention
"Well, out with it, what's the plan?" Qrow said in an impatient tone
"Since Cordovin is on watch, only Atlas airships can leave Argus. So I suggest we steal an airship. I know its illegal but if we use her offer, we can hijack it and get to Atlas?" Jaune said in a nervous tone
"That is a very bad idea Jaune." Jin bluntly said
"I'm sorry Jin, but did forget this bitch. There's no way she's going to help us willingly. I'm all for following the rules, but if people in power aren't going to try to help us. Then we'll have no choice but to force our hand." Makoto told Jin
"What plan would you have then Jin?" Nora asked in an angry tone
"We do take her offer, but we leave the relic here. I'll get Ironwood attention and twist his arm to bring an airship here. This way, everyone including the relic will get to Atlas without any illegal tactics." Jin suggested which shocked some of the people in the group
"Jin, the idea is for all of us to stay together. Besides, we have no guarantee that its going to work." Ruby told Jin
"Since the General is part of Ozpin's inner circle, he knows the importance of the relic which is a leverage we can use. He likely knows about Haven and will see the need to follow our request. We get to Atlas, gain some measure of trust from him and secure the Relic in the process without a hassle. This way, we can kill a flock of birds with a single stone." Jin briefly explained causing Ragna to chuckle before speaking
"All it requires is for us to trust you. Which is a load of shit." Ragna boldly stated to Jin before the brothers approached each other
"What is . . . ." Maria was about to ask before Yang pulled her away
"Trust me, you do not want to be in the middle of this." Yang said before Jin spoke up
"You seem to doubt me brother, so why don't you say what's on your mind." Jin angrily responded
"First of all, we have no guarantee that this will even work. Second of all even if by some off chance that you can convince Ironwood to help. What makes you think that he's trustworthy?" Ragna asked
"The fact that he willingly escorted Celica and Saya into the Kingdom and assured that they will be protected should mean something." Jin responded
"If it meant something, then you should have gone with them and made sure that they stayed safe. Unless you never really did give a damn about them." Ragna angrily told Jin
"I do give a damn, but I'm not going to stand by and do nothing while the threat is still out there. Besides, if you gave a damn, you would actually make getting to Atlas your first priority instead of foolish revenge." Jin angrily responded which angered Regna
"I'M GOING AFTER THE BASTARD THAT HURT HER! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE TO PROTECT THEM! THAT'S THE REASON I TRUSTED YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Ragna yelled
"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE PUT THEM IN DANGER IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT IS ALL ON YOU! I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF TERUMI HURT THEM JUST TO PISS YOU OFF!" Jin yelled in response causing Ragna to ball his fist up
"Choose your next words very carefully. Because I'm looking for a reason to put you in your place." Ragna said
"The feeling is mutual brother, we can do this here and now. I will gladly pay for the repairs if means putting you down." Jin responded with his fist balled up too before Jaune stepped between them
"Guys, this isn't the time for this. There's too much at stake and we can't fight among ourselves." Jaune said causing the brothers to walk away from each other. Oblivious to the various looks of fear and concern that they are receiving
"Justifying illegal acts with noble reasons is a slippery slope. It will make us no better than the terrorists that kill for there own noble missions. It will start with this but what will we do if it happens again. I know it's a risk, but it is the best idea that maintains order in the world." Jin said explaining his reasoning
"Everyone, we're just brainstorming for now, I'm sure we can come up with a good plan to . . . ." Weiss said before a knock came at the door. Bearing caution, the large group hid in various locations while Terra and Saphron answered the door. When Terra opened the door, her face has an expression that is a mix of shock and fear
"Captain Hazama." Terra said as she looked at the tall and slender man who is accompanied by a younger girl.
"Good evening Mrs. Cotta-Arc, how are you two doing on this fine night?" Hazama asked in a casual tone
"We're doing fine, thank you for asking." Terra responded
"How is your wonderful son doing?" Hazama asked further
"Our son is doing fine, thank you for asking." Saphron answered in a calm tone
"Can we come in? This is a business trip and I don't want to take up too much of your valuable time." Hazama asked with the two women letting Hazama and the young girl in
"This is my new assistant, Vanilla. Don't mind her, she doesn't talk much so just pretend she's not here." Hazama said in a casual tone causing (Vanilla) to give him a glare
"I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but what are you even doing here?" Terra asked in a concerned tone
"Well let's get straight to the point. The reason I'm here involves your guests." Hazama answered causing the two wives to look at each other
"I don't know what your . . . ." Saphron said before Hazama interrupted her
"I'm not fond of liars Mrs. Cotta-Arc so I have to humbly ask that you don't even entertain the notion of insulting my intelligence. Besides, I know for certain you have guests here, who are understandably cautious." Hazama said before he walked further into the living room
"I know you're here team RWBY and remnants of team JNPR. You can come out now or I come back with a warrant. You don't want to ruin things for an innocent family do you?" Hazama said before team RWBY, Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Qrow came out of hiding.
"How did you know we were here?" Jaune asked in a cautious tone
"There are two ways I knew you all were here. First, it's my job, I am head of the intelligence department after all. The Atlas border being closed is public knowledge. So when multiple individuals shows up to a base demanding an airship to get to Atlas with no clear reason. It is something worth looking into. Since you have been clearly identified, it was easy to figure out that you have family here and the chances of you staying here was a moderately good one. You'll be amazed at what can be learned when people use their brains. Something I'm sure you do know of." Hazama explained before he continued
"As for the second way, its because of Blake Belladonna. I know she's a cat Faunus and I'm not fond of the smell of cats. I have a bit of a bad allergy to them. The meds make things easier but I can smell cats a mile away. Even that other Faunus that's hiding, Tao I believe her name is." Hazama explained further while receiving a glare from most of the people in the room
"We're not looking for trouble." Qrow spoke up with his hand on his weapon's handle
"Oh I know, in fact me being here could be the best thing that happened to you guys. So please don't let your friends come out of hiding. It is good to keep a few tricks up your sleeves." Hazama said before he continued
"I know that you all want an airship, a request that has been heavily denied to all of you. However, I get the feeling that all of you are the kind of people that will do whatever it takes. Whether or not your given permission to do so. An admirable trait that tends to attract all kinds of trouble." Hazama said before he gave a glance at the two wives
"The kind of trouble that causes innocents to suffer. I hope you all weren't planning to do something illegal. The base may have its problems but not all of us are idiots. It's only a matter of time before we figure out the source of the trouble. A source that we will deal with through extreme methods." Hazama said while giving Terra a glare that was clearly noticed before he continued
"But since I'm here, there will be no need for any possible illegal activity. Because I'm going to use my authority to give you guys an airship to Atlas." Hazama said which surprised everyone
"We're grateful, but why would you do that?" Weiss asked in a confused tone
"Yeah, we didn't exactly do anything to warrant this kindness." Yang said in a cautious tone
"It's like I said, all of you are the kinds of people that will do whatever it takes to do what you need to do. I've also noticed that trouble seems to follow you guys and it is a concern. Especially for those that even try to go against you guys. So rather than tempt you all to do something stupid. I'm going to remove the problem and give you what you want. The solution to many problems tend to be the simplest." Hazama answered the two
"But, we didn't even tell you why we need to get to Atlas. Don't you even want to know?" Ruby asked Hazama in a concerned tone
"You wouldn't even tell Cordovin the reason you all want to get to Atlas. So why should I expect you to tell me. I detest liars, but I have a soft spot for your idealism. So I don't want to put you in a position where you will end up being a liar. So I'm going to have to trust you, I just hope you can trust me." Hazama told Ruby
"I see, thank you Captain Hazama." Ruby happily told Hazama
"There are a few caveats to this though." Hazama told the group
"Oh here we go." Qrow said in a frustrated tone
"Don't worry its not a big deal, it just involves your other friends. You're going to have to make a pit stop to pick the rest of them up." Hazama told the group
"Why do we need to go through such a hassle?" Nora asked the captain
"I have a feeling that Cordovin didn't leave the best first impression. You also have a large group and its bound to make people worried. So the pit stop is a way to prevent a possible confrontation and give you guys a chance to make sure everything is ready. It might even give you all a chance to pick up very public individuals that might draw unwanted attention. Like the Hero of Vale and Mistral or the daughter of the SDC's CEO for example." Hazama explained further to the group causing Ruby and her team to huddle with Jaune and his team.
"What do you guys think? He's trying to genuinely help us and this is a good offer." Ruby asked her friends
"He's giving us what we need on a silver platter and the perfect way to bring Ragna to Atlas. He's right, him coming here is the best thing that happened to us." Jaune said with everyone nodding in agreement before getting out of the huddle
"Well captain Hazama, we've discussed it and we are eager to accept your very generous offer. What time do we meet up with you?" Ruby eagerly asked Captain Hazama
"Just meet me in front of the Base at 7:00 in the morning and I will handle the rest." Hazama said before him and Vanilla left the house. Before he went too far, he turned to look at Terra
"Before I forget, Terra Cotta-Arc, as thanks for housing these aspiring protectors and doing a good job fixing the faulty communications. Expect a bonus coming your way, I'll recommend it myself." Hazama told Terra causing the woman to have a happy look on her face
"Thank you Captain Hazama, we really appreciate this." Ruby happily told the captain
"Think nothing of it Ruby Rose. Just do what you believe is the right thing, with everything you can possibly do. That is all the thanks I will need." Hazama responded before he left the house with the younger girl
(Outside)
It didn't take long for Hazama and the younger girl to make a good distance from the house and the city of Argus. Once they were alone, the young girl transformed into Neo and gave Hazama an intense glare.
"What, I couldn't just use your real name. At least its not your born name Neo." Hazama said before he brought out his scroll
"Tyrion, everything is set up for that test run tomorrow. Remember, make sure our Maiden don't get a little too wild. If it looks like she's in trouble, make sure to get her away from there. It was a pain in the ass to convince Salem to approve this experiment. But we need to see how she can handle the powers of a Maiden. Along with having the power of the Black Beast." Hazama told Tyrion over the scroll before he spoke further
"Don't worry, this is a test run, nothing more. Like I said, if things get dicey pull her out. If I'm satisfied with what I've seen, then I will let you know when to take her out. Just use that device I gave you and I can handle the rest." Hazama said before he hung up
"Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day." Hazama said with a sinister smirk
(A/N)
I will not give any details regarding Joan and Sin and why they appeared. As for who Joan's family members are, I think I dropped some hints as to their identity. Story details about them will not be revealed until very much later in the story. I know it's a tease to reveal them and not give any details. But I am not above giving big teasers. Especially since big story spoilers are involved.
Volume 6 of this story is almost over. Unfortunately, I have to announce that once its finished. I will be taking another break. Volume 7 and 8 are going to be massive and the quality has to be at its best. So I want to make sure of that. It will also give me a chance to iron out details that I want to improve upon. Along with updating my other stories which are long overdue.
Also, I do want to know, if any of you had problems with Volume 7. What were they, I want to know so I can make quality improvements in case my story ideas might add to the problem. There are several story moments that are set in stone, but the details does give me ideas on how to approach it so I can make the needed improvements.
Another thing, what do you guys think of volume 6 of this story so far?
read and review
Thank you