Disclaimer: I do not own the blazblue franchise or the RWBY franchise they belong to their respective owners
(A/N)
I've seen the trailer for the RWBY Winterfall anime and as to whether or not I'll implement stuff from that series into this story. To be completely honest, I don't know. I do not fully know if the Winterfall anime is a reboot, retelling, or reimagining. So I don't feel comfortable adding something that contradicts what I've established in the story.
Jumping far ahead a bit, I already know how this story will end. But when it will end depends entirely upon RWBY. Don't get the wrong idea, this story IS NOT CLOSE TO ENDING. But I can't add everything RWBY does to the story. Especially with my plans to divert from canon. I do want to give a hint to one of the diverting moments. But I don't want to give everything away.
Chapter 78 Current Standing
(? ? ?)
Being around Cinder and her lackeys has always proved to be mentally trying for Dr. Watts. Especially since they share both of Cinder's arrogant and reckless nature. Cinder not showing Dr. Watts respect for his intelligence is almost as bad as the General. But letting the power get to her head makes the experience near unbearable. Especially since she knows that she plays a crucial role in Salem's long-term plans. Putting up with Cinder is bad enough, but having to watch over Nu is another concern altogether. It is clear to Arthur Watts that Nu is mentally unstable. But being around her knowing this fact is very nerve racking.
If it were up to Dr. Watts, he would have spent time working with Relius on his project. The masked man is difficult to read thanks to his mask. But it is clear to Dr. Watts that Relius has a great deal of intelligence behind the mask. For now, Arthur Watts will endure Cinder's insufferable presence for the sake of Salem's ambitions. The silver lining for this mission is that Relius trusts him with a letter to give to the individual they are being sent to meet. Someone who is acquainted with both Relius and Terumi and will prove to be very useful on this mission.
"You have to be at least a little curious about that letter?" Mercury asked Dr. Watts
"For the last time, I am not looking at the letter that I've been entrusted with." Dr. Watts responded
"So you're just going to deliver a piece of paper with no idea of what it says. You know, with all the time you talk about your intelligence. You're not really doing anything worthwhile with it." Emerald commented to Doctor Watts causing Mercury to chuckle
"That's the problem with you kids these days. Never taking the time to understand that even the smallest of tasks can hold a great deal of importance." Dr. Watts stated to Emerald and Mercury
"What's wrong, did we hurt your pride or just told you something you should have realized sooner?" Emerald said in a mocking tone to Dr. Watts before Cinder spoke up
"Now don't be so hard on him you two. If the good Doctor is content with being a mere errand boy. Then let him be satisfied with such a meager role that's fitting for a man of such grand intelligence." Cinder said in a mocking tone causing Emerald and Mercury to laugh at the comment.
"Like you're in any position to criticize my activities. Which reminds me, how was it being a glorified babysitter for Nu while you were at Beacon. I'm sure it's a role that suits your talents. After all, you need to watch over her again during this trip especially since you've done such a spectacular job at Beacon." Dr. Watts commented which visibly angered Cinder
"I want to see how long you can last against the Beast of Remnant Doctor. Especially with everything you know about what he's capable of." Cinder told Dr. Watts
"Maybe if you were thinking with your brain instead of underestimating and provoking Ragna. You wouldn't have returned in such a sorry state. Terumi told me how you were demolished at the tower." Dr. Watts told Cinder
"You have a lot of nerve to tell me that Doctor. I should burn you to a crisp for such disrespect." Cinder angrily said as her eyes glowed
"You could, but it would prove to Salem how petty you really are. Not to mention that you're willing to jeopardize the mission for you own pathetic ego. You may be the new Fall Maiden. Though I highly doubt Salem will let you do as you please. If you think I'm wrong, then by all means. Set me ablaze and burn me to a crisp." Dr. Watts said as he spread his arms daring Cinder to attack him
"Your lucky we have a task to fullfill. But sooner than you realize, your luck will run out." Cinder angrily said to Dr. Watts as they were getting closer to their destination.
Once they arrived, Dr. Watts brought out his scroll and lead the group to a specific spot on the map that's on his Scroll. After he followed the instructions given to him by Relius, a secret door opened up that surprised the group. Once the door opened up, the group entered and they quickly found themselves in the hallowed halls of a lab.
"This is quite fascinating, to think there was a lab hidden within Mistral this entire time." Dr. Watts said in an impressed tone
"How did you know about this lab?" Emerald asked
"Relius gave me the details of this lab when he was giving me the instructions for meeting his contact. This shows that I can be trusted to fulfill my responsibilities. Instead of running off and doing whatever I please. I'm sure you can relate to that frustration Cinder my dear." Dr. Watts said causing Cinder to briefly glare at Emerald and Mercury remembering when they assassinated Tukson. The group continued to walk in the metallic hall for a few more minutes until they entered a large room with a lot of discarded machine parts. When the group looked further into the room, they all saw a lone individual that looks asleep. The person is wearing glasses and what appears to be a hospital gown. After seeing the individual, the group started to approach him.
"This is who we're supposed to meet? A kid that doesn't look like much who's a heavy sleeper." Mercury loudly asked causing the sleeping boy to quickly and suddenly wake up and look at the group that entered the room
"A large group that entered this room without setting off any of my alarms. Seeing as thought I've never met any of you, its most likely that an associate of mine has sent you here. Now explain to me the purpose of your presence here before you all end up as my new test subjects." The young man quickly told everyone
"An acquaintance of your name Relius Clover has given us your location and instructed me to give you this. He only told us your name, which is Bedman." Dr. Watts said before he handed Bedman the letter. Once Bedman looked at the letter, it started to light up which surprised everyone. A few minutes later, the letter stopped glowing and Bedman started to speak
"So Relius is asking me to work with you all. I supposed seeing as though I don't have anything better to do. There is no harm in assisting you with this mission of yours. I do have some concerns of the lacking traits most of you display but my skills will make due." Bedman quickly explained to the group
"You said we're lacking but you don't exactly look very capable or reliable. Do you have any idea of who we are?" Emerald said to Bedman
"The letter makes it clear who each of you are. The mustached man is Dr. Watts, the only one among you who have a respectable level of intellect. You on the other hand are a street thief turned lackey. While the gray-haired individual is a smart-ass assassin. While the one in the red is a Fall Maiden." Bedman stated to the group
"How could you get all that from a letter without us knowing anything?" Mercury asked
"This letter was given a special design to ensure that the person it's for is the only one who can read it. To put it in a way your primitive mind can understand. Think of it as a paper form of a voice message that you're all acquainted with. A call would be more convenient but the security would be non-existent. Especially since most of you aren't really reliable." Bedman stated to the group
"This is quite fascinating, there's no hint of technology so if I had to guess. The letter and the message are concealed by magic." Dr. Watts said in an impressed tone
"I had a feeling that you were the smart one. Your correct magic has been utilized and I am capable of it myself. Though its not the only thing I can utilize, in fact I am more capable than most of you can imagine." Bedman stated to the group before Cinder spoke up
"If you are as capable as you and Relius claim. Then you will no doubt be an essential asset to this mission." Cinder told Bedman
"I have no doubt about that, but I am mostly concerned about you. In fact, I have a strong suspicion that you're the type of person who lets power and success gets to your head. Classic traits of narcissism with sociopathic tendencies. Traits that consistently to ruin many missions. I hope for your sake that you know what you're doing." Bedman quickly explained to Cinder
"Don't underestimate me Bedman. Contrary to what you think, I do know what I'm doing. You will see once we get to the Branwen Tribe." Cinder told Bedman
"Before I forget, there was a young girl with an eyepatch that was supposed to be with you guys. Now do please tell me where she is to satisfy my curious. I know that she has the Grimm Aura and I am fascinated by that power." Bedman told the group
"She chose to stay on the airship. Nu's motivation is non existent without the chance to see Ragna." Cinder said with a lot of angry emphasis at the mention of Ragna that Bedman noticed
"Well I supposed that the chance to meet her will be presented soon. So I should exercise some form of patience. At the very least, this will present me the opportunity to see the people that Relius has allied himself with are capable of." Bedman said to himself
"What can you even do, are you even capable of a fight. Or are you trying to show by how smart you are?" Mercury asked in a sarcastic tone
"Judging from what I can see of you at first glance you have more street smarts than book smarts. It's obvious that you have a bad habit of underestimating people. Quick word of advice, if this habit of yours continues you will end up dead sooner than you realize." Bedman warned Mercury
"You have some nerve you little . . ." Mercury said before a large metallic hand grabbed him in a blink of an eye. Seeing this, everyone was briefly startled and stood on guard before Bedman spoke again
"I am a lot stronger than I look, so I would heavily advise against underestimating. Though if you want to tempt me further, I am more than willing to humor you. But be warned, I can't guarantee you will be in one piece. After all, I always up for a viewing of the Nightmare Theatre." Bedman said with a smirk on his face
(The House)
A couple of hours after the house was fixed up due to Ragna and Jin fighting again. Qrow and Ozpin gave the group a rundown of the situation that they are in. After the situation has been explained to everyone. Once both Qrow and Ozpin were finished explaining everything regarding the entire situation that they are in. The room became silent with a good deal of tension in the air.
"All of you are taking these details well. Most people would be overwhelmed. But you guys have nerves of steel." Qrow told the group
"It's just that, there's a part of me that still finds all of this hard to believe. But given everything I've seen and heard. I can't deny the possibility that magic really does exist. Especially the details regarding Salem and the maidens." Weiss told everyone
"Did everything Raven tell you match up with what we've said Yang?" Ozpin asked
"Except a few details regarding Terumi and what you did to Qrow and my mom." Yang quickly responded
"I see, Raven telling you what I did is a secret I didn't expect she'll give up so easily." Ozpin told Yang
"What did he do?" Ruby asked in a concerned tone before Qrow spoke
"Oh here we go." Qrow sarcastically responded
"I gave the Branwen twins the ability to turn into birds. A bit silly now that I think about it. They're named after birds and they can turn into one." Ozpin said before he chuckled
"Sounds like a useful ability to have. It's gives them a chance to gather information in a convenient way. Not to mention if used in a fight, it gives them a lot of maneuverability and can catch their opponent off guard." Ragna said in a praising tone
"It's not something I can give whatever I please. With my dwindling powers, it's quite frankly a miracle that I can do that much. As for Terumi, I only knew the bare minimum. We keep each other informed of crucial details but we kept some facts close to the chest. I didn't know anything about the Nox Nyctores or the true nature of the Three Azures or the Black Beast." Ozpin told the group
"Thanks to Jaune, we know that Noel has the Eye of Blue. With Jin having the Power of Order. That means we know where two of the Azures are. Also with Ragna here, half of the Black Beast's power is with us." Qrow told the group
"Exactly, we are in a more favorable position than before. Though I am concerned about a few other things. Such as what Terumi is planning and what he's after." Ozpin told the group
"Do you think he could be interested in the Murakumo Labs?" Jaune asked
"I hope not, its just that the description of those labs is quite frankly inhumane. To perform experiments on people especially kids. It's hard to imagine being able to do that." Weiss told everyone
"You have no idea." Jaune said as he remembered his experience in the lab
"Qrow, how did you learn all of this?" Yang asked
"I had a long conversation with Jubei and his benefactor. Jubei's benefactor is a brat, but she knows her stuff and gave me a lot of information." Qrow said before Ragna spoke up
"Let me guess, long blonde hair, red eyes, and an uptight attitude that needs to be taken down a few pegs that's worse than Winter's?" Ragna asked causing Weiss to give a brief glare
"Yep, her name is Rachel Alucard. I would tell you more but meeting her isn't something I can arrange." Qrow responded
"What about Terumi, from what you all told us. That man is a monster, the reason that my family is broken. We can't just ignore him." Yang stated with suppressed rage
"We can only speculate what Terumi is planning. But with no solid lead or idea, we're practically taking shots in the dark. For now we need to focus on what we know now and what we can do. Which involves Salem and her plans for the Relic." Qrow explained to Yang
"Qrow is right, without the Maiden, there isn't much that we can do aside from train and get stronger." Ozpin told the group
"Unless you have another machine hidden." Jaune commented in a bitter tone
"I understand your frustration with the plan we had for Pyrrha, but please understand that we were desperate. I can assure you that when Ragna and Jin discovered the Vault, they had no knowledge of the plan to transfer the power to Pyrrha. If they did, I highly doubt that Ragna would have stopped at my jaw." Ozpin explained to Jaune before Ragna spoke up
"Your damn right, and if it wasn't for the fact that you're possessing a kid. I would give you another punch in your jaw. You forced a decision on her knowing full well she wouldn't say no, you son of a bitch." Ragna angrily said before Qrow stepped in front of him
"Cool it Ragna, you didn't exactly handle things perfectly either. Right now, we need to move on and learn from our mistakes. There's no need for things to escalate so quickly. Especially with the situation regarding you." Qrow briefly explained to Ragna
"Which leads to another topic that we need to discuss. Thanks to Qrow's information, we know that both Ragna and Nu hold both halves of the Grimm aura." Ozpin said before he turned towards Ragna
"Ragna, given the situation surrounding your power as well as the attention the world has on you. It will be best if you stay with us and away from public eye. If you're presence is known by the populace of Mistral. Then there is no way to predict how the Council will react. Which will make our own mission much harder in the long run." Ozpin told Ragna
"That's fine, I had to stay out of sight in Ronin-Gai anyways. So this won't be any different." Ragna stated to Ozpin
"While we have the chance, we need to talk about Nu." Ozpin said which got more of everyone's attention before he continued further
"Ragna, I know you had a role in her escape. Why didn't you aid in her capture and fought both Yang and Weiss to protect her?" Ozpin asked causing everyone to look at Ragna
"My semblance had gotten stronger and because of that, I learned that Nu was from the Murakumo Labs. With my evolved semblance, I learned in good detail the kind of hell that Nu had to endure. If any of you went through what she did. Can you honestly tell me that your sanity will be intact?" Ragna explained causing everyone to have aa thoughtful look before Ozpin spoke up
"Ragna, though it was an error in judgment. I can see clearly that your heart was in the right place. But the situation with Nu is already complicated enough without the fact that your lives are intertwined due to the Life Link. Which is why capturing Nu is quite frankly the best course of action for us." Ozpin told Ragna before Qrow spoke up
"It's not pretty but it is necessary. That girl is strong enough to take on both me and Glynda. She has two semblances and half the power of the Black Beast. To be honest it feels like she was holding back and if it wasn't for her obsession with you an what is obviously mental instability. Me and Glynda would be among the many people that died that day. I'm terrified of what she'll be capable of if she fully embraces her strength." Qrow explained to the group
"Precisely, make no mistake we don't intend to kill her. But to be frank, it's too dangerous for her to roam around freely. Which is why we all need to work together to subdue Nu." Ozpin briefly explained to Ragna
"Then get ready for disappointment, because I'm not going to imprison her. In fact, I'm still determined to save her." Ragna said which surprised everyone in the room causing Yang to speak up
"Weren't you listening to anything they were saying? It's too dangerous for Nu to roam around freely. It's safe to say, she has a lot of lives to answer for. Or did you forget what she did to me? Something you had a role in." Yang stated to Ragna
"I didn't forget, but you should also remember that Nu is a little girl that's younger than Ruby. She also endured the hell that is the Murakumo Labs. Why should she be punished because she killed people with a broken mind." Ragna said making his stance on the matter clear
"I agree, if there's a chance to help Nu. Then we should at least give it a chance before it's too late." Jaune said which surprised everyone
"Jaune, we've fought Nu in the tournament and this was before she went psycho. None of us don't owe her a thing, so why should we even bother?" Nora asked in a concerned tone
"Me and Lambda have been in a Murakumo Lab and hearing about the horrors of those labs is one thing. But to actually see them in person is something else entirely. Just remembering what I saw in there makes me sick and the ones in charge experiment on kids. Anyone who experiences that will need aa lot of help just for a chance at a normal life. I know it's naïve and reckless. But what's the point of being a Huntsman if we don't even try." Jaune stated to the group agreeing with Ragna
"We can't ignore the fact that she's dangerous. By this point, she has probably killed a lot of people. I know you two want to do the right thing. But the fact that she is still with Salem and has the Grimm Aura is a situation we need to deal with." Qrow told Ragna and Jaune
"I know how dangerous and deranged Nu is. Trust me, those are details I haven't forgotten about. But I can't call myself a Huntsman if I can't save someone who had to endure something unspeakable with nobody willing to help her. That goes against everything I stand for." Ragna stated
"How naïve and arrogant can you be brother?" Jin said which angered Ragna before he continued speaking
"We know that Nu holds the other half of the Black Beast. It is also likely that while she worked with Salem and Terumi. Many people have died by her hands. Whatever she went through in the past. She made her choices and there must be consequences for her actions. Otherwise, you might as well give Cinder a free pass for all the lives she ended." Jin stated to Ragna causing him to get angry
"That bitch's situation is entirely different from Nu's and you know it." Ragna angrily stated
"I know it's a lot to ask, but we can't ignore what she went through. Don't you think we should show some compassion towards her and try to help her?" Jaune asked Jin
"Would you still be willing to say that if it was Nu that killed Pyrrha?" Jin asked Jaune causing Nora to angrily stand up and approach Jin
"How dare you say that. You have no right to . . . ." Nora angrily said before Jaune spoke up
"I get what you're saying Jin, I know that if Nu was the one who killed Pyrrha. Me and my team would be feeling an unbearable rage. But I also know or at least believe that she would want us to help her if she really did endure something so awful." Jaune stated to Jin
"Misguided mercy like that will get a lot of people killed. Do you honestly believe you have what it takes to do this? That you can protect the people from Nu, the same way you protected Sister Celica and Saya, after I trusted you." Jin angrily stated causing Jaune to have a look of guilt
"Jin, you're not being entirely fair to him." Bang said before Jin's cold glare was directed at him
"What if you trusted someone to look after your family and that person failed. Would you be so forgiving and understanding? But to be honest, I blame myself for what happened. I should have known better than to trust any of you knowing full well how you all share in recklessness and arrogance." Jin angrily stated which bothered most of the people in the room
"Oh yeah, I'd like to see you do better." Nora angrily said
"I did, Ren is still alive despite his self-destructive actions against that abnormal Grimm isn't he? Or how about Ruby when she wanted to protect a machine instead of dealing with the threat?" Jin countered which angered Nora and Ruby
You son of a . . ." Nora said before Jaune cut her off
"Wait!" Jaune yelled getting everyone's attention
"Your right Jin, I shouldn't have been trusted to do my part. Especially with a lot of the mistakes I've made and my failures. I'm sorry that I failed to protect them. I'm going to go train." Jaune sorrowfully said before he left the room
"He's already feeling bad enough, what were you thinking going out of your way to make him feel worse?" Nora angrily asked
"If we're going to proceed with this mission to fight Salem. We have to take responsibility for our reckless actions and improve. Which includes dealing with all manner of threats to the world." Jin stated to everyone
"If you showed that you gave a damn about someone. We might be more inclined to listen to you." Ragna responded before Qrow spoke up
"Everyone calm down, this infighting is exactly what Salem wants. How can we stop her and secure the Relic when we're busy fighting and arguing with each other?" Qrow said calming everyone down before Yang spoke up
"Professor Ozpin, I'm listening to everything you're telling us. I'm still here since Ruby will still stick around. For some reason, she always knows what the right thing to do is. But if we're all going to risk our lives. Then we've earned the right to know the truth. No more lies and no more half-truths." Yang stated to Ozpin
"I understand, it's not my intention to deceive any of you. But I do keep certain details close to the chest. But I will be fully truthful to you all from this point on." Ozpin told Yang
"Thank you, but now for another matter." Yang said as she directed her gaze at Ragna with everyone following the look
"I know now that you lost your arm. I'm also grateful that you protected Ruby from Terumi and Cinder. But don't think for a second that this changes anything. You lied to all of us about Cinder. To make things worse, you fought me and Weiss to protect someone who threatened the world. I'm willing to work with you, but don't expect me to trust you again. Because it's obvious that you're not here to do the right thing. The only thing driving you is your obsession for revenge." Yang angrily stated to Ragna causing Ruby to give a concerned look while looking at the both of them
"I never asked anyone to trust me. So to be completely honest, I don't give a damn whether you trust me or not Yang. All you need to know is that those bastards needs to pay and I will see to it personally." Ragna responded causing Jin to step up
"Your adamant on saving Nu and getting revenge. There's more to this that you're not telling anyone. Why is it that your so focused on saving Nu yet want to kill Cinder and Terumi?" Jin asked
"Nu needs help and I'm determined to give it to her. Whether or not I have to do it alone." Ragna stated to Jin
"That girl holds half the Black Beast's power just like you. She likely killed a lot of people and is also an agent of both Salem and Terumi. What reason do you have to actually want to save her?" Jin questioned causing Ragna to get angry
"BECAUSE SHE'S OUR SISTER!" Ragna yelled which surprised everyone in the room before he continued to talk
"A sister that nobody was there for when she needed help. The world gave her nothing but cruelty and despair at the cost of her sanity. The people that were there for her, took advantage of her anger and pain. Used her as a weapon while satisfying her wish for destruction. How the hell can we call ourselves Huntsman when we can't even save her from the torment she endured?" Ragna stated causing Jin to speak up
"This changes nothing." Jin responded which shocked everyone before he spoke further
"What if she's too far gone to be helped. What about the people she's killed, how are you going to explain your plan to save her to the families of her victims? Did you even think about the possibility that she doesn't want to be saved? You need to think about these things instead of embracing your short-sighted carelessness. The same kind of carelessness that put Sister Celica and Saya in danger in the first place. It's clear that you haven't learned a damn thing." Jin stated which angered Ragna
"I dare you to say that again Jin." Ragna angrily said as he grabbed his sword
"I'll say it again since you didn't hear me the first time. You haven't learned a thing and your arrogance put them in danger in the first place." Jin stated before the both of them clash swords in a blinding speed and created a small shockwave that pushed the furniture back. After brief moment, space was made between the brothers. But they are determined to start fighting again.
"Guys we had just got finished cleaning up after your fist fight." Makoto stated to the brothers before Qrow stepped in between them
"We don't have time for this, Salem has her eyes set on Haven's Relic and fighting among ourselves is not only going to get us nowhere. But also save her the trouble." Qrow said to both Jin and Ragna before Ozpin spoke up
"He's right, seeing as though we still need to come up with a plan. It would be best if we take this time to enjoy being among friends and family. Since the path ahead will be long and difficult. We should take this moment." Ozpin told the group causing both Jin and Ragna to go off on their own
"Are they always ready to kill each other like this?" Oscar asked after he took control of his body.
"Unfortunately, it seems that there are some issues between the brothers that will prevent them from properly working together. Especially since it's clear they're divided on how to deal with Nu." Ozpin internally told Oscar
"I still can't believe it, Nu is their sister." Weiss said to everyone
"It is hard to believe. But I'm not surprised that Jin is that cold hearted towards Nu." Nora said
"But Jin does have a point, if we help Nu then we might as well help Cinder and her lackeys. Where do we draw the line at when it comes to helping people?" Yang asked causing everyone to think for a moment
"It's clear that all this stuff regarding Nu is complicated. I know its not the best idea, but we should table this discussion until all of us have a clear head to discuss it." Ren suggested to the group
"I agree, tensions are high enough as it is and we don't need to make things even more stressful with a controversial topic." Qrow said as he took another drink and sat down before the rest of them left. Before they went too far, Nora had a sudden thought.
"Now I get it, a crow and a raven. They are named after birds and now they can turn into birds." Nora suddenly stated
"I see, it fits their name and theme perfectly." Bang said agreeing with her
"Thanks for the obvious." Bullet commented
(The Patio of the House)
Jaune quickly found himself getting back to his training during the group discussion mainly out of guilt. He is happy to see Ruby reunite with Yang and Weiss despite the absence of Blake. Though the moment is also bittersweet for him for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that Jaune believes that it's only a matter of time before Blake is reunited with Ruby and fully reunite team RWBY. Yet this is also a reminder that team JNPR will forever be without Pyrrha and the team ultimately incomplete.
This fact is haunting Jaune in the back of his mind and is also painfully reminding him of his own failures. The failures he's referring to was his inability to protect his team. Jaune believes that if he were stronger and smarter. He would have been able to figure out what was going on with Pyrrha and had probably been strong enough to protect her and the rest of his team.
The second reason the reunion is bittersweet to him is because of Makoto's arrival. Seeing Makoto is also a reminder of how he wasn't strong enough to protect Noel from Relius. Making this thought worse for him is that the same man who hurt his girlfriend, is the same man who not only attacked his friends and teammates. But is also the main reason the Murakumo Labs exists the way they do. The man that is one of the roots of so many problems with the world was right in from of him. Yet Jaune wasn't strong enough to do anything to stop him. Now the man had severely hurt his girlfriend and forced Jin to truly kill Penny.
Jin's words were harsh, but he can't deny the fact that he has a point. Jin was one of the few people that knew he made it into Beacon with fake transcripts. Yet despite being tempted to do so, Jin gave Jaune a chance to prove that he belonged in Beacon Academy. Yet when Jin trusted him to look after Sister Celica and Saya. He allowed them to get away and now they are hurt. This fact haunts Jaune and ads to his determination to get stronger. If not for his sake, then for the sake of the people he's sworn to protect.
"I have to get stronger, no matter what I need to do." Jaune said to himself as he continued to swing his enlarged sword
"Hey there." A female voice said quickly getting Jaune's attention. When he looked to see who it was, Jaune saw that it was Makoto. At the sight of her, Jaune couldn't even look her in the eyes and started to quickly think of an excuse
"I'm just about done, I'll be out of your way." Jaune briefly said before he tried to go. Before he went too far, Makoto stopped him
"You know, Weiss spoke to Tsubaki before she left Atlus. Noel woke up from her coma a few months ago. From what I've heard, she's recovering quite nicely and is back to her usual self." Makoto told Jaune
"Weiss told me a little early, thanks for telling me though." Jaune said as he tried to leave the room before Makoto strengthened her grip
"Wait, there is something I want to talk to you about." Makoto told Jaune
"Um . . . sure, I supposed I can talk for a bit." Jaune said hoping this will be quick
"Ever since we came here, I couldn't help but notice that you've been trying to keep some distance from me. I know that I gave you a hard time back at Beacon for what happened to Noel. So I want to apologize to you for how I acted. I know you did the best you could and when I heard how strong that Relius is. I realize that I essentially overreacted and I should have cooled down." Makoto explained to Jaune
"Thanks, but you don't have to apologize about your reaction Makoto. You were right to be mad at me for failing to protect Noel." Jaune said in a guilty tone
"Jaune I can see that your bothered about something. I don't know what it is, but if you talk about it. I'm sure we can figure it out." Makoto told Jaune
"There's nothing to talk about Makoto. I just want to focus on training and getting stronger." Jaune stated to Makoto
"I can see that, but it looks to me that you're trying to get stronger for all the wrong reasons. That look on your face when I saw you train earlier. I've seen that look a dozen times and I have a pretty good idea of what's going through your head. Your driven to do something, but I also see that its more of an obsession for you. The kind of obsession that tends to do more harm than good." Makoto explained to Jaune
"I'm just focused on getting stronger. There's nothing strange about that." Jaune said in a slightly bitter tome before he tried to leave with Makoto stopping him again
"Listen to me, you say that your focused and determined to get stronger but I'm seeing something different. I can't put my finger on it, but it seems like you're not the same person that Noel fell in love with." Makoto stated to Jaune
"Maybe it's for the best, otherwise I wouldn't have screwed up as badly as I did." Jaune commented to Makoto before he continued
"Makoto, during the fall of Beacon. All I did was nothing but mess things up. Jin trusted me to protect his family and I let them go. Pyrrha was bothered by everything Ozpin and Qrow told her and I was too careless to notice. Then when Relius attacked Noel, I wasn't strong enough to stop him. Thinking about everything, I realized that maybe I shouldn't have come to Beacon. Noel and my team deserve much better than me. If I could make it up to them by sacrificing myself to protect them. I'm willing to make that choice, so no one else will have to." Jaune told Makoto before she sat down at a nearby bench.
"Come and sit down." Makoto said as she patted the seat beside her. Knowing that she'll be persistent about the issue. Jaune decided to oblige her and sit down beside her. Once he did, she started to talk
"It's easy to want to throw your life away. Especially if you think that nobody cares about you. Did you know about the things I went through as a Faunus? Everyday it was always the same racism and discrimination I've had to endure for years. So I can relate to you wanting to throw your life away. But you need to understand that it's not worth it." Makoto told Jaune before she continued
"Nora and Ren still care about you. They made that clear ever since the beginning. So if you just throw your life away because of several bad events. Then it would really hurt them and it wouldn't be right for you to do that to them. As for Noel, like I said earlier, she's still alive and still cares about you. So you shouldn't throw away your life because of a few bad events." Makoto told Jaune
"But what about everything that happened that I couldn't prevent? Like what Jin said earlier?" Jaune asked Makoto
"I admit that what Jin said was harsh. But it seems like he's still feeling bad about everything that happened. All of us went through something terrible during the Fall of Beacon. So losing family is going to be rough for everyone. Just give him some time and he'll come around. There was a lot going on and I'm sure Jin will understand that. Besides he has enough family stuff going on with Ragna and Nu." Makoto explained before Jaune noticed what she said
"What does Nu have to do with this?" Jaune asked in a curious tone
"That's right, you left before we got to that point. Jin and Ragna started arguing again. But this time, we learned that Nu is both Ragna and Jin's sister." Makoto said which surprised Jaune
"Now I get why Ragna wants to save her. I can't even guess how Ozpin and Qrow will deal with this." Jaune said causing Makoto to have a thoughtful look
"I doubt it will be anything pleasant. Since we know what Ozpin and his inner circle was prepared to do to Pyrrha. To be completely honest, I'm not convinced that I should trust them. They were prepared to do something that goes against what they teach us at the Academies. For example, carelessly put people in danger and encouraging recklessness. If they were prepared to force a decision on some under the claim of desperation. Then what else will they do?" Makoto asked causing Jaune to remember Kokonoe's words
"Someone else told me something similar." Jaune said
"Oh really who?" Makoto asked causing Jaune to look around
"I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone. I'm dealing with something big and I really need someone I can trust. Who is also good at keeping a level head. Can I trust you with this Makoto?" Jaune asked in a pleading tone
"You can trust me Jaune, I even have some secrets of my own." Makoto told Jaune before he started to tell her about Kokonoe and what he learned and experienced
(A different area of the house)
Jin didn't care about what people think of him. Ever since the beginning when he decided to take the path of a Huntsman. He made it clear to himself that he will take his duties seriously. Being told that he will be fighting against an ancient evil that threatens Remnant didn't deter him in the slightest. If anything, this is the kind of stuff he expected in the long run. The problem is his lacking trust in everyone's motivation.
He understands that everyone is willing to fight against Salem. Yet Jin isn't convinced that they will have the will to make hard choices. Which is made obvious to him from the reactions of many of the people have with a few standouts. Some of them, for example Weiss and Nora still have some doubts about the truth to the existence of magic. Despite seeing Jin use the Power of Order, the both of them still see it as enhanced aura.
Another stand out reaction is Ruby herself. Jin sees that she still intends to do the right thing for the sake of Remnant. Yet a major thing about her that is going to be a along term problem is her naïve perspective and carelessness. During his journey with her, Jin notices that she would allow her optimism get in the way of her better judgment. Which includes going against authority that she doesn't agree with.
A major reaction that stands out to Jin personally is his brother Ragna. Personally, Jin holds Ragna responsible for putting Celica and Saya in danger by provoking Cinder the way he did. He believes that if Ragna had gone to him before going after Cinder. Then they would have been in a better position to take action against her and by extension Terumi. The entire fiasco could have been salvaged if Ragna had brought in Nu to General Ironwood.
Nu made it clear that not only she's a powerful threat, but also a dangerous one. Which would make capturing her an essential task. Because keeping her away from the likes of Salem and Terumi would ultimately save a lot of lives in the long run. Yet when Ragna was given the chance to do something for the greater good. He ultimately chose himself and now many people have paid for it. Jin knows that he is expected to show sympathy towards her since she is his sister. But that wouldn't be fair to her many victims.
"Back at Beacon, I've heard how cold hearted you are. A part of me thought that a lot of people were exaggerating. But after our meeting, there might be some truth to the rumors." A female voice said that got Jin out of his train of thought. When he looked, he saw that it was Yang.
"You must have a reason to be here aside from criticizing my attitude." Jin told Yang
"I know that we have no reason to talk to each other. But I do know that you went with Ruby on her trip here. I also know that alongside my uncle, you saved her life a couple of times. So I came here to thank you for that." Yang told Jin in a grateful tone
"I did what anyone would have done, your thanks is not needed. If you really want to thank me. Then you need to get stronger and learn from your mistakes. Or else you will be certain to repeat your mistakes. If not for your sake, then for the sake of your sister. Because her naïve carelessness will get a lot of people killed." Jin said which irritated Yang
"You have no right to say that about Ruby. Unlike most people that we've dealt with. She's one of the few people that's doing the right thing and is actively helping people. Traveling with Ruby for months, I would think that you would understand that." Yang said causing Jin to speak up
"Doing the right thing is very different from doing things the right way. Ruby's heart is in the right place, I will admit that. But it seems to me that her mistakes and carelessness far outweighs the good that she's done. Like that disastrous investigation and your collective failures to stop the Grimm Breach. Or the mistakes you've made during the breach." Jin stated to Yang which slightly angered her
"I was set up during my match against Mercury. How can that be held against me?" Yang asked
"I was referring to how susceptible you are to your own emotions. It's obvious that you're a thrill seeker, yet that's not your only weakness. Your reckless and impulsive like my brother. You also have a tendency to be emotional like your sister. With a bad habit of not thinking things through." Jin said which angered Yang further
"Say what you want about me, but you don't dare talk about my sister like that!" Yang angrily yelled at Jin
"Then do something about it." Jin stated which angered Yang and caused her to throw a punch
Reacting quickly, Jin moved to the side and avoided Yang's attacks. After her punch was avoided, Yang proceeded to try to rapidly punch Jin at an intense speed. Yet while Yang was throwing her punches, Jin managed to quickly and calmly avoid each of her punches. Yang slowly but surely found herself agitated by the fact that Jin spoke so harshly about Ruby and is unable to land a punch against Jin. This kept going for a few seconds, until Jin avoided one of her punches by side-stepping her and after he did so. He used the sheath of his sword and attack Yang's legs. Which caused her to trip and fall.
"Exactly my point, your desire to protect Ruby easily blinds you from you and Ruby's shortcomings. You may be aware of your own hot-headed nature. But as soon as Ruby is involved in some way. You tend to block out everything else and enable her actions with no sense of restraint. While also let her misguided sense of justice give you a chance to embrace your thrill-seeking tendencies." Jin explained to Yang as he helped her stand up
"I get what your saying, but you need to cut her some slack. Aside from the fact that she's my sister. She is still learning this stuff, you can't expect her to get it right the first time." Yang argued
"Then answer this question, for both of your missions with the investigation and Mountain Glenn, did you go over all aspects of your plan. Or did you all impulsively jump into it thinking you know what you're doing?" Jin asked causing Yang to think for a moment before Jin continued
"Making a mistake is one thing but taking the path of a Huntress is more demanding than you can imagine. If you proceed with your missions with such arrogance, carelessness, while enforcing your pride. It will be your downfall and many innocents will suffer." Jin said which caused Yang to think for a moment before speaking
"I see you point, but I'm not going to abandon Ruby. My family is important to me, but I supposed you wouldn't understand. Especially with your response to Nu being your sister." Yang stated to Jin
"Then will you condemn the world to protect your family? Or sacrifice what's important for the sake of the world? Their called hard choices for a reason and they must be made. As for Nu, she made her choices and while she did endure monstrous things. It wouldn't be fair to the world and her victims if we give her a slap on the wrist. Otherwise we may as well do the same for Cinder." Jin explained to Yang
"With statements like that, people will no doubt see you as cold-hearted. Aren't you afraid that people will want nothing to do with you?" Yang asked
"I'm more than prepared to make the hard choices if I need to do so. If people see me as cold-hearted and want nothing to do with me, then so be it. If I have to protect the world alone, then I'm prepared to do it." Jin explained to Yang causing her to think for a moment before leaving Jin alone
(Mantle's Medical Clinic)
It took Tsubaki, Litchi, and Polly a couple of hours to get to the Clinic. The reason they took so long is due to the fact that they had to deal with more lingering Grimm that were in the area. Fortunately, the Grimm were dealt with and there were no Grimm that gave them any problems. Once the trio made it to the clinic, they all see Dr. Polendina tend to a patient. What makes the Doctor stand out is that he is in a mechanical chair with multiple legs. Yet he has the demeanor of a kind man who wants to help people.
"Dr. Polendina, I found myself dealing with the Grimm when the city alarm went off. I'm sorry I was unable to get the supplies you wanted." Litchi told the doctor
"That's fine Litchi, as long as you were able to make it to safety. Fortunately, this clinic proved to be durable and allowed me to look over my old assistant." Dr. Polendina told Litchi
"I'm glad to see your safe as well Doctor, as well as your old assistant. It's good to see you again Clementine." Litchi said
"It's good to see you as well Litchi, I'm happy to see that your filling in for me just fine while I have my bun in the oven. Once I return to work, all three of us will be able to help a lot of people in Mantle." Clementine told Litchi
"Who is your friend Litchi, I haven't seen her before?" Dr. Polendina asked
"Oh my, I almost forgot her name is Tsubaki Yayoi and she helped me and Polly fight off the Grimm in town." Litchi said
"Thank you for helping Litchi and Polly. I know that Litchi can handle herself but Polly is a different matter. It's no secret that I created Penny, but for her to be viciously killed by the Beast of Remnant was really hard to watch. Still, despite all of that, Mantle needed a protector and I still yearned for a daughter. I could never replace Penny, but I know that Polly will be the best daughter that she can be." Dr. Polendina told Litchi
"Dad." Polly said in a slightly somber tone which Pietro quickly noticed.
"Well that's enough with the somber stuff. Since you three were fighting the Grimm, let's give you three a quick medical check-up." Dr. Polendina said before he took another look at Tsubaki
"Wait a second, now I remember, your last name is Yayoi correct?" Pietro asked Tsubaki remembering Litchi's introduction
"Yes, that is my last name." Tsubaki confirmed dreading what will come next
"Miss, it is my honor to make your acquaintance. I owe your family a lot for helping me in maintaining this clinic. They even go out of their way to provide additional support whenever they can. I know that the nobles of Atlus gets a bad reputation. But the Yayoi's are the only ones who actually care about commoners. In fact when Clementine's adopted father Lee Everett was arrested for killing a noble. The Yayoi's were the only ones who tried to help him. They even succeeded in getting Lee a reduced sentence. The Yayoi's don't let their status get to their heads and will help the people no matter where they come from. For that you all have my respect and support." Pietro told Tsubaki which made the young girl smile at the praise towards her family
"Thank you, me and my family only want to set out to make things better for the world. My family and my duties as a noble served as my core motivation to be a Huntress." Tsubaki told Pietro
"Humble as well, you'll make an ideal Huntress someday." Dr. Polendina told Tsubaki
"Polly, I need to go over a system check soon. It's going to take me a few minutes to prep the systems and program. Litchi, would you mind escorting Clementine home? I don't feel comfortable with her out their while pregnant so soon after the Grimm were in Mantle." Dr. Polendina asked Litchi
"I feel the same way, so I can take her home. I'll be back soon." Litchi responded before her and Clementine left
"Doctor, I need your help with something, would you mind hearing me out?" Tsubaki asked
"Sure, what can I help you with?" Dr. Polendina asked
"I was out on a mission and I came across something interesting. I can't tell you the specifics, but my teammate found something that I was curious about. It's probably nothing, but can you restore this old photo to its best quality?" Tsubaki asked as she handed the Doctor the picture and he looked at it
"The condition this picture is in isn't the best. But it is entirely possible, it's just going to take a few minutes. Would you mind keeping Polly company, I need to get the system set up and go over a few things. The picture should be restored before I get started on Polly." Dr. Pollendina told Tsubaki
"Thank you, I don't mind being with Polly." Tsubaki told Pietro
"Yes, I get to spend quality time with my new friend. Who also fought alongside my sister Penny." Polly told Dr. Polendina before he went into the back room.
"I must admit that I'm a bit surprised to see that you were made. Especially since it's been almost a year since your sister was well . . . ." Tsubaki said before Polly spoke up
"Dad did grieve for a few weeks over the death of my sister. But with everything that's going on. The city of Mantle still needs a protector. So in a few months, I was created. I have several functions similar to my sister. But with many more new features and improvements. With these improvements, I will be able to fulfill my duties as a protector to the people." Polly enthusiastically explained to Tsubaki
"I see, well how do you feel about your role as a Huntress? I can't imagine it's something that's easy for you to adjust to your responsibility." Tsubaki asked Polly in a concerned and curious tone
"Truth be told, it's a bit hard for me to fully adjust to it. I am enthusiastic at the fact that I'm essentially a Huntress. Which comes with the responsibility of protecting the people. But it does feel like I have a lot to live up to. My predecessor is my big sister Penny and that is a lot for me to live up to. She has done a lot of good for Atlus and Mantle and she died fighting the Beast of Remnant." Polly explained to Tsubaki
"So you feel a lot of pressure because of what's expected of you. I can relate to how your feeling." Tsubaki said in a supportive tone
"Yes, I do feel the pressure of having such big shoes to fill. Especially since Dad is worried about me everyday and doesn't want me to die. But to be honest I see it as a honor. To have a father that truly cares about me and my safety and to have people believe I can live up to what my sister has done. I only hope that I can make everyone proud." Polly explained further to Tsubaki. Unknown to the both of them, Pietro Polendina was near the door and heard the whole
"Polly, I wish things were different and better for you." Dr. Polendina thought to himself before he entered the waiting room where the two are at.
"I'm glad to see that you two are becoming more friendly with each other." Dr. Polendina said in a happy tone
"Yes Dad, I believe that me and Tsubaki will become good friends with each other. Especially since we can relate to each other with being dedicated to protecting the people." Polly enthusiastically told Pietro
"I'm glad to hear that, it's important for you to make friends and establish great bonds. One of Penny's biggest wishes is to make a lot of friends with various people. It is unfortunate that she was killed, but I believe that she did make some friends and would have loved to have a sister like you." Dr. Polendina told Polly
"Thank you Dad, I promise that I will live up to the expectations set by my sister." Polly quickly said with some enthusiasm
"The backroom is ready for you Polly. Once Litchi get's back, I will have her handle the clients and walk-ins. So that the people will still get help and I can focus on you." Dr. Polendina told Polly
"Yes Dad, I understand." Polly responded before Dr. Polendina turned towards Tsubaki
"The picture you gave me was in rougher shape than I thought. Most certainly due to the fact that it's a very old picture. If I had to guess, it's more than 10 years old and it's a miracle a good deal of it was preserved. But fortunately, a good portion of the picture was restored and the quality has improved. I'm sorry I couldn't do much more." Dr. Polendina told Tsubaki in a slightly sad tone.
"That's fine Doctor, if any this is more than enough. I can't thank you enough." Tsubaki said in a grateful tone before she took the picture
Once Tsubaki took a look at the picture, she was able to get a much better look at the kids that's in the photo. She was able to see a woman in the background. The upper half of the woman's body couldn't be seen, due to the picture itself being incomplete. However, it is clear that the woman is visibly pregnant. Another thing that is clear to see are the children. The children that Tsubaki is seeing in the picture are four kids. One of the kids appears to be a toddler and is asleep. Another one of the kids is much older but clearly has a rough exterior.
Yet the kids that stood out to Tsubaki are the set of twins. With the picture much clearer to see, the features of the twins are much more easily noticeable and Tsubaki took a better look at them. There is a nagging feeling within Tsubaki's mind that there was something very familiar about the twins that she couldn't ignore. As she focused more, Tsubaki noticed that one of the twins is a male and looked very familiar. When Tsubaki looked at his features, she noticed that his eyes and blonde looked much more familiar and in a few seconds, a name came to her mind in a quick realization as to the young boy's identity.
"Jin." Tsubaki muttered in a visibly shocked tone at seeing a picture of her close friend and to where he cam from so long ago.
"Are you OK?" Polly asked in a concerned tone
"I'm fine it's just that there is more to this picture than I thought." Tsubaki responded before she looked at the picture again
The more Tsubaki looked at the picture, the more she started to realize that the twin girl looked a bit more familiar as well. The twin girl's simple features was simple and yet significant. Yet as Tsubaki thought about the girl, a memory from several months ago surfaced on her mind and caused Tsubaki to have a visibly shocked realization.
"The more I look at you with your hair like that Noel. I can't help but get the feeling that I'm looking at a female Jin." Blake commented
"Now that you mention it your right. Noel kinda does look like Jin but female and with longer hair." Makoto said
"NOEL!" Tsubaki yelled out after remembering what was said. Upon looking at the picture, and the features the twins have and compared them to Jin and Noel. It is made clear to Tsubaki with a major realization. The twins in the picture are Jin and Noel. The two are siblings.
"Tsubaki, is there something wrong?" Dr. Polendina asked in a concerned tone
"I'm fine, but I have to go. I realize now that I have urgent business to deal with and it's personal." Tsubaki said before she left in a hurry
(Atlus Medical Lab)
General Ironwood would occasionally come to the Medical Labs for various reasons. The reasons would range from getting medical treatment or checking on the staff to see how their doing. The reason for his string of recent visits is the comatose individual that's within the medical capsule. Seeing someone in a coma is nothing new to the General. Yet in the case of Celica, her situation could not be ignored. The General made it clear that Celica is not to be experimented on. Yet he couldn't help but notice that there are several mysteries surrounding her.
Among the mysteries that is surrounding her is the energy within her that the machine's detected. Her energy signature didn't match anything he had on record. Making things interesting is that her energy was detected when it was used to keep her alive. Ironwood has a strong suspicion as to what Celica's energy is. But he promised Jin that he would use Atlus's resources to aid Celica as much as possible. General Ironwood does not care about what people think of him, but one of the last things he'll do is to go back on his word if he can avoid it. The mystery surrounding Celica's power, will remain a mystery as long as it holds no relevance. As the General was in thought about various things, the nearby medical machines started to beep loudly.
"General, we're getting a reaction." One of the Medics told General Ironwood
"What's wrong with her?" General Ironwood asked in a concerned tone
"Nothing is wrong, in fact there's movement. She's trying to wake up but her body isn't recovered enough for her to do so." Another one of the Medics answered
"But she will recover enough to regain consciousness soon?" General Ironwood asked the Medics
"Yes sir, if I had to guess, she'll be able to wake up in a few hours." The Medic responded
"Once she wakes up, inform me immediately and give her a full treatment." General Ironwood told the staff
"Yes sir!" The staff responded before General Ironwood's Scroll ringed, once he looked at it. General Ironwood saw the message and he left the room quickly.
(Moments Later)
General Ironwood was able to quickly make it to the airship landing pad. He didn't know what to expect, so he ordered the Ace Ops to meet him on the landing pad. They all waited for a few minutes and before long the airship was in view and started to land. After a few seconds, Winter and Potemkin stepped out of the airship and stood near a short figure that is very familiar to the General.
"I can't believe it's actually him." Marrow whispered
"Yeah, the living legend himself Jubei." Elm said barely able to contain her surprise
"Despite the circumstances of your arrival, welcome to Atlus Jubei." General Ironwood told Jubei in a welcoming tone
"Thanks for the welcome, but did Winter really need to give me these restraints?" Jubei asked
"Sir, given his capabilities, the restraints were necessary." Winter told the General
"I understand your reasoning Winter. But now that he's here, those restraints are no longer needed." General Ironwood told Winter
"Thanks." Jubei said before he broke his restraints with ease. A feat that shocked the Ace Ops.
"Since it's clear that you could have escaped at anytime, I assume you have a reason for coming here." General Ironwood said
"Your right, there are several things we need to talk about. Stuff that you need to know." Jubei told General Ironwood
(A/N)
It has been established in canon that Jin is considered to be a very cold-hearted person. In this story, his cold heated nature is toned down but he does have a cold nature that is formed from his strict nature as a protector. Jin isn't entirely heartless but the family card isn't going to work on him for various reasons. Jin does understand that Nu went through something terrible, but he also knows that she has her own free will and has no excuse for her actions.
Jin knows that if he gives Nu a free pass, then he may as well do the same thing to Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury. Which wouldn't be fair to Nu's victims. Ragna sees a victim of circumstances and knows that the world has been cruel to her. But Jin sees a threat that must be dealt with who is crucial to Salem's plans.
For Jin's comments to Jaune, he does understand that a lot of things went out of control at Beacon. But the memory and anger is still fresh on his mind. Especially since Jin is still feeling bad about failing the people of Vale.
Also, don't expect Yang to let go of what Ragna has done to her. She does now know that Nu is Ragna's sister but it won't change much. Because Ragna chose to protect Nu BEFORE he learned that Nu is related to him. Also Yangs abandonment issues is still in effect and Ragna not only hurt her. But she also lost an arm indirectly because of him. Making things worse is that her and everyone else sees that Ragna is driven by revenge. Which is not making it easy for Yang to trust him again. Fortunately, she is not in the mindset to attack Ragna at first sight.
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