/==/ Chapter Sixteen /==/

The trip to Forever Fall was nearly a disaster. Being a man down, team CRDL was assigned to work with teams RWBY and JNPR. The staff of Beacon surmised that the exceptional skills of just Pyrrha and Yang would be more than enough to compensate for the lack of a student. It was in turn proven true as part way through the sap gathering, grimm were drawn by the sweet scent and the feelings of mistrust and apprehension of RWBY, JNPR and CRD(L). The Ursa that charged them were massive. Much larger in bulk and height than the few that Nora had ridden and slaughtered during initiation. This meant that they were older and with age came intelligence, and more bone plating, which meant they would be tougher.

Much to the surprise of everyone, Cardin himself took to the front of the defensive line, as the three teams set themselves in a defensive formation in an attempt to hold until assistance could arrive. Jaune wished she had access to her powers, knowing that even with what little control of them that she had, they would have easily decimated the encroaching grimm. But in her current form she was unable to manifest them, so she did the next best thing. Coordinating the defence.

She and Pyrrha flanked Cardin on each side, using their shields to redirect blows and to protect him, while he used his heavy mace and considerable strength to shatter grimm skulls and shoulders. To their sides, acting as skirmishes, Yang and Dove moved in and out harrying the small group of grimm, allowing Nora, Ren, and Ruby to unload from behind the line of defenders with their ranged weapons. Russel and Blake circled the ranged combatants, acting as a last line of defence if any of the beasts found a way around or through the main line.

The arrival of Professors Port and Goodwitch spelled the doom of the remaining grimm. It had only been about fifteen or twenty minutes of combat, before their arrival, but to the training huntsmen and huntresses it felt like hours. Muscles ached, and chests rose and fell, pulling in ragged gulps of air. As seamlessly as the three teams had worked together, they were still spent. As the adrenaline faded from their bodies, weariness set in. Jaune, herself, felt as if her body had been irreparably broken. Having had to tank several blows that rocked her body to the core.

The teams said nothing to each other as they were airlifted out on the first available bullhead.

/=/

The ritual was planned for three days after the Forever Fall trip. With Blake and Ren providing a distraction, Jaune slipped away towards the end of the evening meal, meeting her Aunt at the doors to Beacon Tower's elevator.

"Are you ready for this Jaune?" Glynda asked, a distinct hint of concern and apprehension in her voice, as the elevator doors slid open.

"I want the lies to stop. I want to be ME again." Jaune replied, a tremor in her voice as she followed her Aunt into the carriage. "Even if…"

"Have some faith in them, Jaune." Glynda offered. "You'd be surprised what people can forgive if the reasons are valid enough to justify the deception."

"But, are mine?" Jaune asked as the elevator started its descent after Glynda imputed a very specific pattern into the console.

"They are Jaune." Glynda reassured her, "Trust me, they are."

For the remainder of the short trip, the pair of blonds stood in silence. Both remunerated over the events of the past few months. Jaune bit her lip, and let out a sigh as the doors slid open. Steadying herself for what was to happen, Jaune exited the carriage first. With Glynda following close behind.

Jaune shivered as her eyes fell upon the capsule that held the comatose form of Amber. Jaune had nearly lost her lunch when Ozpin revealed Amber to her, and then spoke of what they thought had happened to her. She was the prime reason for Jaune agreeing to this blasted plan. The lynch pin that forced Jaune to weather the agony of the transformation. Jaune hadn't even realized she had stopped moving, and was staring at the contraception that housed Amber until she felt the touch of Glynda's hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I…"

"It's okay Jaune. That will not happen to you."

"How do you know?" Jaune asked, unable to take her eyes off Amber's resting place.

"Because I'll rip Remnant apart to protect you." Glynda calmly replied. "It's time."

"Okay." Jaune commented as she forced herself to turn and focus on the other prominent scene in the massive room.

"Jaune. Glynda." Ozpin greeted the duo as they approached. "Everything is prepared, so whenever you are ready."

"This is going to hurt, isn't it?" Jaune asked. "The other one did, so this one will as well, won't it?"

"More than likely." Ozpin replied, "And I am truly sorry for that, and all the other pain I've caused you."

Jaune inhaled slowly, in an attempt to steady her nerves. As much as she was dreading the upcoming pain, and the uncertainty of what will happen between herself and her friends after she has been returned to normal, she knew she needed to do this. She wanted to be whole again. To be who she really was. Letting out the breath, she moved out from under the comforting hand upon her shoulder and proceeded to remove her shirt and pants. Once she was in her underclothes, she moved to lie down on the bare mattress situated on the floor.

Ozpin draped a towel across her chest to provide for her modesty once she had reverted to her natural form. Picking up a calligraphy brush, Ozpin dipped it into a small bottle that he had picked up off the floor. Jaune shivered as the cool liquid touched her bare skin. Ozpin took his time as he drew the complicated symbols the ritual required. There could be no mistakes. So Jaune lay there, under the watchful gaze of her Aunt, as Ozpin continued his work. It took almost half an hour before Ozpin rose from his knees. Setting his implements aside, he moved and stepped into the centre of a small circle surrounded by archaic symbols at the foot of the mattress.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." Jaune's reply was short and to the point.

Glynda watched from a safe distance as Ozpin started. There were no grand expositions of strange words. No fancy hand positions. No, Glynda watched as Ozpin clasped his hands before him at his waist, and just closed his eyes. A hazy, almost flickering flame-like glow surrounded his still form. The symbols around him and painted upon Jaune's skin began to glow. Glynda winced as she involuntarily grabbed her weapon, the second Jaune started to scream. It broke her heart and shattered her soul as she watched, unable to intervene as Jaune's back arched, as her body started to twist, all the while screaming in agony.

Tears welled up in Glynda's eyes as she watched her sweet baby suffer. Her instinct waging an open war within her head and heart; to rush in and comfort her, and knowing that this needed to happen. It needed to be seen through, so Jaune's life could return to a semblance of normality.

On the mattress, Jaune started to convulse and thrash. Her body fluctuated between male and female proportions. Glynda dropped to her knees at Jaune's final agony filled scream before she fell completely silent, still in her male form. Glynda's breath came in rapid gasps as she watched her baby girl go limp. Tearing her gaze from the horrific sight, she looked at Ozpin. She could see pain etched across his own features. She watched as he weaved on his feet, before stumbling forward, taking to one knee. Yet still, he kept his focus on Jaune, even going so far as to reach out with his left hand.

"Something's wrong. The magic did not flow correctly." Ozpin gasped, just loud enough to cause Glynda's heart to skip a beat.

"What does that mean?!" Glynda asked worriedly. "Is Jaune going to be alright?"

"She will be alright. Something was happening that twisted the magic. I could not predict if it would be dangerous or not, but I managed to bleed off the magic from the ritual before anything worse than this failure could happen." Ozpin responded, breathing hard. "I don't understand… We had all that was required, I will have to look over everything again to see what went wrong,"

"Are you sure," Glynda asked again as she moved over and helped Ozpin to

His feet. "That she is going to be okay?"

"Aside from being particularly upset at the ritual failing, and for me breaking my promise to turn her back to normal… I do not believe she will suffer any ill effects."

"I'll be holding you to that, Oz." Glynda calmly stated as she moved from the Headmaster's side to check on the still unmoving Jaune.

"I know you will be, and I will look into what caused the failure." The Headmaster looked at her with a serious expression, "Glynda, I need you to believe me when I say I didn't cause this to fail on purpose. This only adds to the decisions that I regret in my life. I will right this wrong, I just need more time"

"I believe you, Ozpin, the question really is if Jaune will." Glynda sighs and looks from the Headmaster to Jaune still laying on the mattress in the centre of the runic circle. "She means the world to me, Oz."

Jaune started gasping and coughing, which instantly had both Glynda and Ozpin concerned. Without a further second of pause, Glynda rushed over and helped turn Jaune onto her side, as she started to choke. A second later, she vomited. Glynda shot Ozpin a glare, only to see him on his scroll.

"I just contacted Doctor Peach." Ozpin informed her as he then approached, a deep look of concern etched on his face. "She'll be here in a few minutes."

Glynda returned her attention to Jaune, and began to softly hum, while brushing hair from her sweat coated forehead. Ozpin stood a short distance, his mind already trying to puzzle out what his error had been. He would have to consult his books again, and go over every inch of the ritual.

Doctor Peach arrived shortly after Ozpin's scroll call, and instantly set to work, checking Jaune's vitals. At first, she shot him a venomous glare, but that died away when she noticed his exhausted state, depressed posture, and that he could not meet her eyes.

/==/ AN /==/

Volume One has ended. Thank you all for taking the time to join me as I shared this story.

Volume Two is in the works, so this is not where the story ends.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this offering. Thank you for the comments and suggestions.

See you in Volume Two.