The Grimm Knight Chapter 12 Crossroads, a rwby fanfic

Disclaimer: The following is a fan base parody. RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and Monty Oum. Please support the official release.

CHAPTER 12: CROSSROADS

Waiting patiently for her son, sitting at an outdoor table set on a small island in the middle of a lake with a stony path to the bank, surrounded by a flower garden landscape on the other side. Surrounded by strange and unique fauna that would consider endangered or extinct to people of Remnant. There wasn't a sun, cloud, or sky in sight, no windows or glass to see the outside of Grimmlands. This was their secret underground garden of the Evernight castle. To think her path of vengeance against humanity, her home, and her castle became an ark of these "collections", as Jaune would put it, of his botany fascination. She would admit, at first, she was against the idea of wasting much time on a useless secret garden underneath her castle. The area is over five times as big as her castle and has its own ecosystem in five sections representing each Kingdom. The fifth section is the lake with a small island in the centre. Believing the garden won't last underground, she was wrong without the lack of sunlight and care. When Jaune used Dust to compensate as substitute sunlight with fire dust with a bit of lightning dust to give the fire a unique glow and source of light for the entire area, it could be mistaken for a sun. Jaune didn't stop there. The lake in the garden's centre with a small island came in. If she was, to be honest, it was her favourite spot. Jaune and herself spend time in the area enjoying tea together from time to time to catch up for quality "Mother and Son time".

Salem was surprised to hear when Jaune finished. She knows that the only liquid source in the Grimmlands is the black tar that only spawns Grimm. When she asks how he found a fresh spring in the Grimmlands, it turns out that Jaune discovered a new kind of water dust while excavating the garden. A Blue dust crystal that could produce fresh, untainted water. If it piles together with ice dust and a bit of lightning dust as a spark to activate as the trigger, it makes water from the air in the form of what Arthur has discovered after studying the new dust crystal is condensation. For it to work, the water dust crystals need to be cooled to a specific temperature with ice dust as the controller and the lighting dust as the trigger to activate the water dust to produce water. It solves the garden's water problem by giving an eternal spring and using the Grimm Seers to mend and maintain the garden while Jaune's away. No one knows about this garden except Jaune and herself.

If she was honest, this would be one of many places to get away from her responsibilities and relax. Despite the quiet, Flipping over the pages of a photo album of her son, reminiscing the times raising him, she couldn't help but smile at such fond memories. The only thing that's keeping her teetered to vengeful insanity. As she flips through the page, a photo slides off from the pages and to the floor, where she pauses and slowly picks it up and flips over the picture. Once she sees the picture, she immediately covers her mouth to prevent a sound and voice from her lips.

It's a picture of Jaune sleeping on the floor with his four sisters in his black tunic shirt. Three of them used his arm as their pillow. The youngest, Rhea, rested on his shoulder with his other arm over her protectively as the overprotective brother he is with a book over his chest. Indicating that Jaune read them a story and fell asleep on the floor. While his twin Jona gently covers each of them with a blanket while looking camera with his finger over his lip with a thin smile, silently gesturing to be quiet for such an occasion.

"This was Jaune's favourite…" she whispers with a silent sniffle of emotion she hasn't felt in a long time. She was also the one who took the photo. As she pocketed the picture, she continued turning the album's pages till she was called out, surprising her.

"Hey, Mom. Sorry, I'm late." Jaune's hands placed on her shoulders, and with a peck on her cheek, he took a seat across her.

"It's okay. Watts gave me his report. He told me you both discovered a new Grimm that could bond with a host. He insists that we have Grimm armaments for our forces and sleeper agents." As she closed the book, that took Jaune's attention and reached out for it out of curiosity. Just as he opens the album, his eyes widen to the size of saucers with a blush of embarrassment, and he immediately slams the book close. Salem Couldn't help but giggle at her son's chagrin.

"W-where did you find this?" he questions, to which Salem crocks her brow till it clicks.

"So it was you that hid it!" she points accusingly while Jaune raises his hands.

"That's because every time I invite someone, especially a woman! You immediately pull out the album and show it! Do you know how embarrassing that was!? She couldn't stop cooing how adorable I was, especially that photo you gave her. It took over a month for Cathrine to focus on the War!" covering his embarrassing face away from his Mother to avoid her teasing.

"Where's the fun in that? You know how lonely it is in the castle. I have to quietly wait and worry about my only son. I might add, who got involved in a war that has nothing to do with us." While giving Jaune a deadpan look, he looks away, avoiding his Mother's gaze.

"I-I have my reason…" he stutters, still refusing to look into Salem's eyes.

"Yet it didn't occur to you to tell me at least?" she raised her brow to Jaune. While Jaune mentally felt a mental jab into his back of guilt. That's the last thing Jaune wanted to do to his Mother.

"Anyway…Sweet Emerald found it." Then, Jaune's face slowly deforms to panic and embarrassment, but Salem quickly beats him.

"And before you ask, no, she didn't peek. If that's what you're asking." As Jaune's shoulders slump with a sigh of relief.

She sighed with the worry about her son, fully knowing she couldn't help but worry about him. Jaune is going to the lion's den of Ozma. Believing he might do something drastic that could get him hurt or worse. She didn't want to think about it and shook her head to move the conversation along.

"Jaune, I called you here for our final moment before leaving." She says in a dismayed tone while it ires Jaune a little to himself.

"Mom, you make it sound like I'm never returning. I'll call every once, and I promise to visit. Apparently, these academies have "semester break", if I recall correctly. I'll come home and ….maybe… bring my team with me…." He assures his Mother till he stutters at the end, hesitating and maybe regretting when Jaune could've sworn he saw a twinkle in her eyes of excitement but immediately changes to a stern look.

"Good…, and I expect you to have at least multiple partners within the first month." She states in a severe tone towards Jaune while he couldn't help but blushes and groan at that statement, full of knowing what she's planning.

"Could you at least promise not to show them this album?"

"And where's the fun in that? When you left home without a word. I thought you abandoned me…." She says sarcastically in a distressed tone.

"haaa…., you're not going to let that go aren't you?" he asks only with a smile response from Salem.

"…guess I deserve that…" he sighs and then smiles toward his mom, and both couldn't help but laugh. They continue their moment together as long as they can. Walking around the garden while taking a few stops for Jaune to harvest some plants for both medicinal and sustenance. While he gathers the necessities in the area, Salem can't help but be proud of her son's knowledge of botany and realize she's too overprotective. After harvesting Jaune's necessities for his journey for every occasion that may or may not occur, just to subside his Mother's worries for his safety and health. They head for the elevator as it rises up to the floor of the castle as they finalize the plan at hand, as Salem starts the conversation.

"So, as agreed. You'll be heading to Mistral to participate in the Mistral Regional Tournament…". As Jaune continues.

"As Jaune Arc, from one of the frontier villages close to the Grimmlands to win the tournament to recognize my skills, it's impossible not to notice that their champion lost to an outsider."

"Then you'll announce to Remnant that you'll be a huntsman and decided to go to Beacon Acadamy of Vale. However, entry to Beacon Academy is a few months away. So you decided to travel around Remnant for the time being."

"But in reality, I'm searching for the relics and the maidens. Since we have the Spring Maiden, I don't need to head to Heaven Academy. Also, you have a tight leash to a particular cowardly lion of Heaven Academy. So instead, I'll go to Atlas to search for the Winter Maiden. From what I've been told, this Ironwood that Watts speaks of is very tightlipped and, if any, paranoid that he would hide the Maiden within arms reach and plan for the next Maiden." Jaune leaned his back on the wall with his arms crossed in deep thought.

"Your priority is the Winter Maiden to join our side. Gather what you can to find the relic's location and send all data to Watts. He'll deal with the relic. Once done, head to Shade Academy of Vacuo. Your mission remains the same, locate the Summer Maiden and convince her to join us." Just as she finished, a bell dinged, and the castle opened.

"Understood. I'll see you at the landing pad, Mom." with one last peck on her cheek, she leaves her thoughts as he heads for his room to finish packing.

Everything was carefully planned for the mission, his duffle bag pack, wearing his now "signature look", as Mercury calls it, in a black high collar hoody and jeans combo and feeling Armatus still merge on his back. But Jaune is in a predicament situation: armour weapons. He knows Hunters these days used very little armour. They mostly rely on their Aura to protect them; Aura indeed protects them, but everyone has a limit. Yet these hunters never gave some thought in incase of an emergency. If Jaune could think of an example of hunters at the top of his head, it's Qrow Brenwan and team CFVY. He first met them back at Springvale; he'll admit he is surprised by their lack of armour, but thanks to Watts's instruction of present-day huntsman and huntresses, they came lax yet efficient on their weaponry and skills, which makes up for the lack of protection.

Pacing in his room back and forth in deep thought of his armour situation, he can't use Armatus or else people would already figure out that Jaune Arc is the Grimm Knight. Especially using Ater Poena, his personal weapon, the people of Remnant already saw it. He could buy a set of armour in a local blacksmith in Mistral, although from what he understands, they only make armour through commissions and cost way more than a commission of a mechashift weapon.

"Argh! Dammit!" he curses under his breath.

"I'm leaving a few hours, and I didn't think this through regarding armour." quickening his pace, realizing that he never once left the castle without wearing armour, and now, for the first time, he's going to feel naked without his armour. He quickens his pace faster and panics, lost in the train until he trips over his own feet and lands face-first. Groaning in pain, rolling over to the side and back while holding on to his nose till he finally lay on his back. Scrunching his eyes over the pain of his nose, he sighs and finally relaxes, calming his nerves and coming to terms with his over-reacting. As he opens his eyes, a glint shines over his right eye. He turns his head to the source and sees two sets of armour he had on a display by the window.

Both are identical to his original, but both are different in use and colour. If Jaune were to describe it in one word, it would be bland. Unlike his armour, it isn't etched in markings or coloured with accents. It just looks like simple plate armour of steel silver colour. The armour isn't designed to be used for combats. If anything, it's either used for decoration or reference if he needs to make a new armour set. From what Jaune could remember about the armour is that it's the original or the first prototype used before his armour was made, and the other….he pauses and stares at the white armour with gold accents. He stood and wiped the blood off his nose and approached the white armour, his brother's, Jona.

Placing his hand on the breastplate, he couldn't help but feel the nostalgia of Jona reminiscing about his brother. Seeing his reflection on the armour makes him believe his brother is staring right back at him. Training together, sparing together, even though Jaune always loses against Jona, forming a rivalry. But when it comes to the battlefield, they're like cogs in a machine, working in sync, watching their backs in both defence and offence. For as long he can remember, they've always stuck together, never apart.

"Jona…I hope you forgive me." As he grabs hold of the Cuirass and pulls it off the stand.

"But I'm gonna borrow your armour. Don't worry, it's just a few pieces."

Hours have passed to the evening night, and everyone gathered by the bullhead landing pad waiting for Jaune to leave as scheduled. The men stayed by the side, while the women gathered by Salem while she kept her stoic expression in front of her inner circle. But deep down, the Mother cries about her little sparrow leaving the nest so soon, not wanting him to go. Then the sound of footsteps approaches the group from the dark hallway. First, Fenrir and Raven emerge from the shadows, followed by a Jaune with his duffle bag over his shoulder but in somewhat different attire. He is still wearing his "signature look" clothes but wearing a different armour set of white with gold accents. But only wearing a rerebrace covering the upper arms, Cuirass covering his upper chest, gauntlet gloves, Greaves over his shines and the sabaton over his shoes. His brother's shield carried over his back and Crocea Mors's sheath. Salem immediately recognizes the armour that almost mistakes Jaune for his twin Jona. She walks past the group, approaches Jaune, and embraces him while Jaune groans in embarrassment.

"Mother…Please, not in front of everyone…." Jaune muffles out with his face buried into her chest.

"Jona would've been proud of you." She whispers to Jaune's ear to help him cry a little and hug his Mother back. Thanks to the dress to dry his tears and nodded to his Mother as they approached the bullhead as Cinder entered and prepped it for take-off.

"take this with you." as she handed Jaune an sealed envelop, while Jaune gave a crooked brow towards his mother.

"open it when you have a moment to yourself." she advice as Jaune nods and notices the men by the side and separates from his Mother to speak with them. Tyrian is the first, he bows as Jaune approach him.

"My Prince…" he smiles.

"Tyrian, thank you for keeping my skills up to peak proficient."

"Oh, my Prince, it was a great honour." He lowers his head even more to Jaune while Jaune moves on to Hazel, still giving his stoic expression and arms crossed.

"Hazel, will you stay upon are agreement and protect my mother in my stand?" Jaune says sternly while the two men stand in silence till Hazel sighs and reaches out.

"As long you keep your side of the agreement. I will forever stand by our Queen's side." Jaune smiles and accepts his hand, shakes with his pledge, and then moves to Watts.

"My Prince." As he places his hand on his chest and light bows to Jaune. Jaune reaches out his hand to him as well.

"Watts…I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me. To expand my horizons and to be more calculated." Watts Smiles, accepting the Prince's gesture.

"It was a pleasure. And to witness you succeed in being in Remnant's history will be the greatest reward."

Jaune breaks apart with a smile to the Doctor and walks away to his Mother as the engines roar. He stops midway and turns to Watts.

"Watts! If I'm ever in of your Council, will you answer?" Jaune asked while the Doctor smiled with his hands on his back and stood straight.

"As long as I draw breath and serve our Queen, I will answer." Jaune nods, then finally approach Mercury Black, who distances himself from the group. He was seated at the platform's edge overlooking the Grimmlands with his legs hanging over the edge. As Jaune approached, he didn't acknowledge the Prince's presence, but it didn't bother Jaune as he joined Mercury in the viewing for a couple of minutes; it slowly got Mercury's nerves, so he decided to break the ice.

"Are you going to say something or annoy the hell out of me?" he asked, annoyed.

"I would, but I prefer to say it to the man's face." He smiles as Merc groans and decides to face the Prince, only to see him smiling and immediately giving him a handshake and leaving. Left the assassin in training confused until he noticed something wrapped in a piece of paper. As he unwraps the wrapper, it is a golden coin with a proposal.

"If you ever get tired of being Cinder's tool. I could use a man of your calibre. I would ask Tyrian, but he's too crazy and will leave a trail. You, however, took my interest and did a background check, and I have to admit. You and I are not so different. And your skills will be perfect for the jobs I have in mind with said skills. If you are interested, talk to Watts for more details, and be sure neither Cinder nor Emerald notice. I promise you this, I will make it worth your while."

He inspected the gold coin, and to his surprise, it was really thick to be a coin, with weird marking like those ancient coins he saw in museums. Mercury isn't going to lie; he is somewhat interested in the proposal. Everything became so quiet and boring after the fight with the Fall Maiden. The closes thing that Mercury got action from is talking with Roman face to face, and that was just a courier job, no action. Mercury Black is an assassin; he killed his bastard drunk of a father, who took his legs and stole his Semblance. There's no way that his going to be an errand boy. As he watches the Prince leave and stare at the coin and smirk, he already knows the Prince's work. The clue is when he mentions Tyrian, Salem's assassin. He'll see Watts after this.

As Jaune returns to his Mother's side raises his hand to Fenrir. Like a silent command, she nods, understanding Jaune is asking for. Her entire being glows in a bright light of a silhouette of the wolf as it shrinks down to a size of a puppy. Jaune lowers himself with a smile, reaching out to her as she climbs up to his arm, over his shoulder to his hood, sticking her head out. Salem couldn't help but smile at such a union between them.

Waiting for them by the bullhead was Emerald as Jaune approached, leaving Salem behind, watching the young woman's flush face and averting her eyes away. Salem couldn't help but smile at Maiden's reaction in love. At the corner of her eye, the Corvid knight, formally known as Raven Branwen, finally arrives at her slow pace to make headway to the bullhead. But not without parting words with the said knight.

"Corvid…" she called, freezing the said woman in place not out of respect but fear as Salem approached behind. Placing her hand on Raven's shoulder, she jolts in fear as it was the same shoulder that Salem dug her nails into Raven.

"Do not forget your duties as my son's retainer. If something happens to him and you weren't there to save him. Know that punishment awaits you. And if you abandon your duties, know that death will be the least of your worries. Am I clear?" her voice whispers to her ear threateningly.

"C-Cyrstal, my Queen…." The sound of the engine's roar of the bullhead caught their attention. Seeing Jaune boarding the ship, Raven attempts to flee from Salem's grasp to Jaune but is held in position by Salem's vice grip. Noticing Jaune isn't aware of Raven's predicament, the bullhead slowly takes off, and panic soon rises within Raven, trying to free herself from Salem's grasp. But only for Salem's grip to tighten, stopping her from leaving, seeing the bullhead already on the air and Jaune still oblivious. She begins to panic, trying to escape Salem's grasp. The further the bullhead rises to the air, the more she loses hope of survival in Salem's hold. Just as Jaune was about to close the door, he noticed something was missing. Jaune searched the hull, then turned, looking down and found what he was looking for.

"Raven! What are you doing!? Come on!" he calls out to her reaching out his hand.

"Always remember your place, Corvid…. As long my son lives, you are free from my grasp…for now. Now go." She lets go of Raven's bleeding shoulder as she runs over the edge of the cliff and out of view to only see a Raven bird fly up to the bullhead as it lands on Jaune's arm just as he closes the door.

"Cinder! Take us to Mistral." As ordered, Cinder takes course to Mistral; flipping switches on the controls, she calls out to Jaune.

"Will be in Mistral by the morning. I suggest taking a nap to avoid your motion sickness." Jaune can tell she's mocking him for his misfortune with her voice.

"Just focus for a smooth Flight! Or else you'll be cleaning up chunks off the floor." He retorts, embarrassing, while Cinder's smirk triumphs. Jaune sighs, knowing Cinder won the argument since she's the only person who knows about his motion sickness. Since after Springvale, Jaune discover a few remedies to help him either coup or distract him from dealing with his motion sickness. He needs to get his mind busy away from the bullhead and occupy his mind with something else. The problem is on what? Then a faint sound was heard, soft but faint and yet close by. As he turned to the source, it was on his arm, or to be more specific, Raven in her Corvid form. Seeing her wings dripping in blood on his armour, Raven looks away with unconcern.

"Raven, your bleeding. Here let me…" in concern as his hand slowly reaches towards Raven and takes notice, as if it's on animal instincts and strikes Jaune's hand with her sharp beak drawing blood. But Jaune didn't jolt in pain or fright but kept his concerned look, asking to let him help. Watching through her red beady eyes, her beak slowly releases its grasp, and the wound on his hand instantly heald before her eyes within seconds.

"Thank you, now hold still. This will be cold for a bit." True to his word Raven felt a cold sensation over her wing and noticed the blood on her feathers. Yet she can feel her shoulder healing.

"So how is it?" he asks as he gently raises his arm for Raven to fly off and revert back to her original form, landing in front of Jaune and rotating her shoulder in a warm-up exercise.

"A bit numb. But it's better." She avoided Jaune's eyes of concern, and slowly the silence built up into awkward silence.

"Well, if anything doesn't feel right, just wake me up. I'm just going to get some shut-eye." As he leaves Raven's side, she watches the Prince approached the row of seats with the Grimm pup. She continues to stare at the Prince to ensure he falls asleep as she distances herself to a corner and slowly removes a piece of her shoulder armour, exposing the injured shoulder. Using the reflection of her scroll and sees black veins spreading down to her chest and above her heart. She grimaces at the sight of the black veins spread even further than before and stares at her shoulder, seeing four black circles as the source.

She still remembers when she first noticed it after her skirmish with the Prince back in the Armoury, when he cut her dress off and stuck cleaning the mess of the fight. Before, at first, she thought it was just bruising from Salem's talk, with four black circles on her shoulder. While the giant wolf Grimm watches, amused by the Maiden's situation.

"Hehehe…" the wolf cackles mockingly to Raven. She turns and scowls at the Grimm.

"What's such a funny Mutt!"

"Oh, it's nothing…it's just the irony. I thought I would expect to be the one with a collar. But it seems you're more of the pet than I am as a partner to our Master." She smiles.

"what are you talking about?" she leers to the wolf as she picks up the armour pieces scattered on the floor.

"The black marks on your shoulder. You may not be aware, but there's a Grimm parasite incubating in your shoulder."

Raven's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly spotted a jagged dagger, with the blade black with sliver flora etched on the blade with a small bird skull resting along the blunt side of the blade and crossguard. She removes it from its plaque wall and points it to her, ready to plunge the knife into her shoulder to get the Grimm parasite out. Just as she was about to impale the blade.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." the blade stopped midway to her shoulder and turned to the Grimm.

"It's a Grimm Parasite! You would do the same thing if you were in my position!?" she shouts while Fenrir clicks her tongue nonchalantly as she lies on the floor, still watching Raven.

"I won't deny it. But yes, I would do the same thing. However, did you honestly believe that the Mother hadn't thought of that?"

Raven paused and gave it some thought to the Grimm's word, and she was right. If Raven ever learns anything, as Ozpin's lackey is, know that Salem isn't the type to tie up loose ends. She always has an iron grip to ensure her favour. Raven stares back at the Grimm and hesitates to ask, but Fenrir can already guess what Raven will ask. She wasn't sure if it was pity or humour that a human asked a Grimm. A Grimm is known to hunt, kill and devour the beings of humanity. She claims to her Master to be the strongest of her tribe and states the strong survive. But only flutter when Raven saw true strength from her Master, eradicating her entire tribe and claiming her as his prize of her fidelity. And she asks her an Elder rank Grimm for help?

"Okay, this isn't pity anymore. This is just hilarious!" Fenrir cackles to the Raven while she grits her teeth and sneers at the Grimm.

"Alright, alright…what do you want to know?" she calmed down and asked, just as Raven was about to sound a word. Fenrir cut herself in.

"And before you ask, no. I don't know how to safely remove the parasite. Only the Mother knows." As Fenrir closed her eyes and rested her head on the cold floor. Immediately stopping Raven in her track and trying to think of another question. While Fenrir continues her explanation of the Grimm on her shoulder.

"From what I know from the besides its name. During its incubation stage, it's linked to your nervous system, watching your memories, literally learning everything about you till it has a complete understanding, believing itself to be Raven Branwen. But the difference is that it is loyal to the Master, unlike you. Once it's convinced it's the host, it hatches. It moves to the next phase in its life cycle. The Grimm moves to the host's heart, slowly mending itself. It was ready to attack when it felt betrayed, or the link to its Master weakened via distance. In this case, the Prince."

Raven, now shuddering at the thought of a Grimm literally learning her life, and as soon it's done, it'll believe that it's Raven Branwen, except it's loyal to Jaune. And will immediately attack her from the inside if a single thought of betrayal is even thought of. A question did occur, but she refused to ask due to her arrogance and pride. Then she remembered earlier what Jaune said to her.

"Raven Branwen is dead. Died along with her tribe in Anima."

Staging her death wasn't the blow that shattered her pride. Her defeat and the eradication of her once beloved tribe before her. Imagine what he could do to an entire kingdom if he could eradicate her whole tribe with that attack with ease. Without them to lead and be defeated by someone who could embody death. He took her in as a trophy, with an iron grip, with no escape to prove his strength and power. But she knows that staying quiet will get her nowhere, gritting her teeth with frustration as she turns to the Grimm. Seeing the Grimm giving her a close smile smirking.

"What…What will it take to get rid of this parasite?" lowering her head, Raven openly admits and accepts her allegiances with Salem and Jaune. While Fenrir couldn't help as her grins spread further than before of such satisfaction and achievement.

"hehe…simple." Without looking or batting an eye at Raven.

"remain loyal to the Mother and the Prince. And you will be rewarded."

Back at the bullhead, she stares back at the black veins over her chest. She scrunches her eyes, unsure if the Grimm hatched and mend to her heart. She didn't feel anything or felt any different, especially her heart.

"Could this all be a ruse to put me on a tight leash?" She turns to Jaune sleeping calmly with the pup resting on his chest. Tempted by an idea, she pulls her armour back over her shoulder and approaches the sleeping Prince. Her step is soft, and she comes to him. Barely no one didn't notice her approach, not the Prince, not Cinder and not even Fenrir, who still is asleep. Raven couldn't help but smile at how easy this was as she pulled the sword her generous "Master" gave her.

"Virtuous Treaty…"

"A pure white blade that can't be stained by a single drop of blood with an edge that can cut through the soul of a tainted warrior." She smiles, remembering the exact description.

"a fitting name… let's see if this sword could hold merit." She swings her sword till it points downward, with the blade's tip aimed directly at Jaune's throat. She would expect the effect of the Grimm, but nothing. Confidence returned to the former bandit leader, and she smiled at how easy this was.

"Goodbye, Jaune." she smiles and, without hesitation, plunges her sword direction of his throat with full force.

But suddenly, the tip of the blade immediately stops just a few mere inches above his throat. Raven struggles to plunge the sword, but her hands won't allow her. No matter how hard she tries to push, her hands still refuse as if they have their own mind. Her hands move against her will, pulling the sword away from Jaune and dropping it. Then suddenly, Raven felt a great jolt of pain in her chest. Regaining control of her arms instinctively clutches her chest and falls to her knees. Her heart tightens like it is in a hand vice grip. In tremendous pain, she grits her teeth, refusing to scream out in pain. She can feel her blood flow slowly stop with her heart inactivity. It is only a matter of time till she meets her end.

"I have to be honest." Raven looks up and sees Fenrir awake and sitting before her with a sneering gaze of disappointment.

"I'm not sure if it was Pride or stupidity that you didn't give this much thought to your situation." As Fenrir's leer is intense, Raven can feel her heart tighten, and the pain multiplies to a point she is now on the floor, yet refusing to scream in severe pain.

"How long must you resist till you realize? However…" she leers to Raven but not to Raven directly, then the pain ceases, and her heart is beating again at ease as she reaches for her sword.

"Consider this a warning." She pauses before grasping the sword.

"…try that stunt again, and that parasite will be the least of your problems. Am I clear, Corvid?" As Raven turns and sees the pup, Grimm's eye engulfs with a flaming blue aura of Dispair.

"Crystal…" as she sheath her sword and sat on the other side of the bullhead, away from Jaune and the Grimm and decided to follow Jaune's example and dose off to sleep.

"I can't relax around her. Why did we have to bring her? She'll be nothing but a pain to deal with." Fenrir sighs as she watches Raven dose off to sleep while Jaune gently scratches her ear. As she shivers in pleasure and relaxes while lying on Jaune's chest.

"I know. But I know you'll be there to protect me, Fenrir." Jaune smiles.

"so you were awake this whole time and didn't do anything?" Fenrir pouts.

"If the Great Mother finds out that you purposely lower your guard and let that bitch have her way. You'll be getting a scolding of a lifetime," she pouts, clearly not happy with her Master purposely endangering himself out opening like that.

"And like I said earlier. I know you'll be there to protect me." He smiles with one eye open and stares at Fenrir looking at him. If the pup can blush, Jaune can already see her embarrassment.

"hmph! Your lucky I'm loyal to you! If not, I would have told the Mother." She looks away, embarrassed.

"hahaha…of course…." He smiled, letting his heavy eyes close for the end of the day and couldn't help but smile and be excited for the tomorrow to come.

Due to the slow pace the group is going through, the ride to the next assignment will take a couple of weeks or a month to arrive at the location. But they have no choice as it is hard to travel through the border and cross the open ocean with careful navigation through Grimm infested waters without being spotted by the Kingdom's army or security. Though it did give the members of the White Fang a breather away from their constant fight for Faunus kind of Remnant. They were either sleeping or watching their scrolls while the rest looked for danger. Their leader is donning a white mask with auburn spike hair in a long-sleeved, double-breasted blazer with slit sleeves and red thorn sigils adorned with a white sigil resembling a curved one stem and flower of deathly nightshade plant that lines up with his left shoulder. With his weapon, Wilt and Blush sheathed and rested against his shoulder as he leaned against the corner to sleep. This man, known as Adam Taurus, wanted terrorists in all four parts of the Kingdom of Remnant and was now the White Fang Vale Branch leader.

Next to him is his partner, pupil and lover, Blake Belladonna. She believes in a cat Faunus and the daughter of the Founders of the White Fang. She used to "believe" in the White Fang when the leadership shifted from her Father to Sienna Khan for a direct method of listening. Primarily on humans, through their more "direct" approach instead of their former pacifist protest. At first, Blakes stayed for the cause. But the more she watches what the White Fang has done, the more violent they become day by day. They sent a negative message, which wasn't all they committed. They also steal supplies, Dust, armaments and even worse, execute prisoners. She never witnesses any execution, but she does hear gossip from the others, especially if the executioner was Adam. At first, she was in denial, but the more she watched how aggressive Adam fights against either man or machine, especially those who worked for SDC, the more she connected the dots and realized her mistake and needs to escape. But the question is….how?

No matter how hard she tries to think of a plan to escape, there's always a variable in her escape. It's driving her insane, especially if you have a clingy obsessive boyfriend who wants you away. The only solace she has left from going insane is an old journal from her great-great-grandmother, Catherine Belladonna, the Nekomata. It's a small black leather-bound, compact journal with her family's sigil on the cover, which she kept in her holstered on her belt, as it's filled with years of entries during the Faunus Rights Revolution.

It was one of many Journals that Catherine left behind for her family, hoping she could pass down her knowledge to the next generation. This was how the White Fang was formed in the first place. She read many of her Grandmother's journals and did learn a thing or two from them, but this one she kept was her personal favourite. It was given to her by Catherine herself before she passed away a few years ago.

Before her death, she gave this journal to her and said it contained her secrets and the Fallen Avian's true identity. This excited Blake, as it was no secret that Blake was a fan and believed the Fallen Avian was real. But in return, she must swear to never tell or show anyone about the journal, not even her parents, and when the time comes or when the journal is discovered, she must destroy and burn the diary. Blake hesitated for a moment. This journal literally contains years of history of the Faunus war from a first-person perspective. It could change Remnant's views of the Faunus, but with the severe expression her Grandmother was giving her, she realized that if this journal had fallen into the wrong hands, it would spell catastrophic for Faunus and for all of Remnant. Therefore, she accepted the terms and conditions.

It was easy to hide or fool others as all the journals looked identical, but they were sophisticated compared to this journal. This was a more personal matter, especially regarding her Grandmother's love life. And it wasn't just any love life, but an affair with the greatest hero of all time, the Fallen Avian. It has a detailed description and a sketch of the Avian with his wings out and dons in armour, sleeping against a tree with his helmet by his side.

Jaune….

Seating in a cave in the snowy mountains of the Kingdom of Mantle. The cave was large enough to hold our forces, and the rescued Faunus (mostly non-combatants) with a couple of open fires in different areas to warm the shelter to make it liveable and safe to sleep. With each fireplace, a group huddles around the fire for warmth. Even though we managed to rescue the Prisoners from a Mantle workcamp, morality was at its lowest ever. Too many non-combatants are too ill or nil nourished; most have to be carried, which didn't cover our forces. Many men were injured during the battle, as we were not equipped in Mantle's cold, snowy weather. But we secure enough supplies from the work camp to make it back to Homebase, even some ale.

I checked over the man to see any problems, such as supplies and the injured, yet morality was still low no matter how hard I tried. But everything changed when Jaune returned with his wings folded into his back with the hunting party with some extra supplies from the forest of Mantle, mostly fish. But to make matters even worse, a snowstorm. And we can't leave till the storms calm down, yet it didn't help the moral you can smell it. And if this keeps up, we're bound to attract Grimm, and Jaune could see as he removed his helmet as he walked through the people and looked over the weak and injured. The expression on his face was evidence of pain, doubt and Grim to the weak and looked out to the storm of uncertainty as he didn't know how long the storm would last or if the supplies were enough.

The people look at their hero with grim and saddened expressions. He walks among the sick till he notices that one of them was frustratingly fiddling a harp, tugging its strings to the right tune and infuriating him. Till Jaune reached out for the harp with a calm expression ask for him to give it a try. The frustrated man sighs, gives up the endeavour and hands it to Jaune. He tunes the string while tugging it until it reaches its desired tune. As he was done, he stood and headed to the cave's centre while playing a loud melody that everyone in the cave stopped and stared at Jaune. Of curiosity and awe to see someone playing, and after playing a few notes, he began to sing.

I saw the sun begin to dim
And felt that winter wind
Blow cold

A man learns who is there for him
When the glitter fades, and the walls won't hold

'Cause from then, rubble
One remains
Can only be what's true
If all was lost
Is more I gain
'Cause, it led me back~
To you

The verse was gentle and quiet, yet sad… at the beginning, yet somehow, he pauses and stares at the crowd before him but specifically towards me as I couldn't help but smile after realizing what he was doing. I almost cried as he walked through the crowd towards the children while still playing the harp.

I drank champagne with kings and queens
The politicians praised my name.
But those are someone else's dreams
The pitfalls of the man I became.

For years and years
I chased their cheers
The crazy speed of always needing more.
But when I stop
And see you here
I remember who all this was for~

He passes the harp back to the original owner and continues playing the same tune excitedly. In contrast, Jaune continues walking through the crowd to the supplies with a tray full of cups to the Ale barrels behind a makeshift bar and sings proudly with a smile that the group couldn't help but smile.

And from now on
These eyes will not be blinded by the lights
From now on –

The beer is poured and handed to the people excitedly until everyone has a cup except for the children, who had juice instead.

What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight
It starts tonight~

As he raised his cup, everyone cheered and started dancing with fun and excitement that they hadn't felt in years during this depressing War of rights. Jaune shines in their darkness and leads them to the light, where children should smile and laugh together with other children while we rest with ease without worry or fear. Even if the sick were unable to join the dance, they simply smiled and clapped to the music or played other instruments to join in the fun.

And let this promise in me start
Like an anthem in my heart
From now on
From now on
From now on~

As he sat on a bench overlooking the entire cave, he drank his ale while the people danced, smiled and sang the following lyrics like they knew the word from the heart. But didn't stop the rest of the people from joining the fun.

And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home, again!

"From now on!"
And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home, again!

And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home, again!

And we will come back home
And we will come back home

Home, again!

And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home, again!

"Yes!" Jaune cheers excitedly, seeing everyone singing, dancing in choreographed synchrony and smiling. He joined in with a random dance partner. Both were smiling, having fun till they switched partners and just to be me as the song continues with Jaune responding accordingly.

From now on!
"These eyes will not be blinded by the lights!"
From now on!
"What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight!"
"It starts tonight!"
"Let this promise in me start
Like an anthem in my heart
From now on!
From now on!
From now on!~"

As we danced, he held me tighter, not letting me go, which I didn't mind as I purred with affection and saw the glint of life and hope in his eyes.

And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home again!

The song then came to a calm and gentle tone, while the dance came to a slow-paced waltz.

From now on
From now on
Home again! (Ooh ooh)

From now on
From now on
Home again!

The song was sung, and everyone cheered with excitement, awe and hope and wanted to continue. They all stared at Jaune as he, too, smiled at the people with me in his arms. All waiting for permission to enjoy the life they have at the moment.

"The night is still young! Tonight! We enjoy life to the fullest!" the crowd cheers and continues the celebration of life, immediately forgetting Jaune's prances as he leaves the area and out to the cave. I follow him with curiosity. The sound of the party slow fades softly. You can barely hear from outside of the cave.

Outside, the storm slowly passes with the clouds moving away from view till the starry night sky shines the Milkyway of stars present. Jaune stared up at the sky. He couldn't help but be immersed in the beautiful night. He didn't realize I followed him.

He stops when he hears snow's crunching sounds approaching him as he slowly turns to see. Immediately looking at his face, he felt his heart congestion upon me, a woman he admires for my beauty. My fair skin, wavey black hair being carried by the wind, wide topaz eyes and the most essential features of my rare two Faunus traits of cat ears on my head and two cattails waving above my waist. People believed I was a nekomata in Faunus form. To my people, I'm seen as a saviour, to my enemies as an evil spirit, but the man before me see me as a person, someone he loves and cares for. Wearing my uniform with a large fur cape over to keep me warm. I hugged myself for warmth as the cloak wasn't enough, speechless, his eyes wide in awe.

"What's with the look, Jaune? You look like you've seen a ghost." I jest towards the young man as he approaches me with a smile. He reached over to my hand as he warmed it and followed up with a gentle kiss. He leans over to my ear while gently blowing cold air down her neck. I shiver with anticipation of lust and ecstasy. His arms slowly wrapped around me while his hands slid beneath my clothes, slowly felt over my smooth skin, as my breathing came to rasp and my face flushed red. I lean onto his chest and slowly slither my hands underneath his shirt, feeling his warmth and skin. His wings pop out of his back as they slowly wrap around me for warmth, like a mother bird shielding her chicks with her wing, protecting me from the cold winds and snow.

"If I did see a ghost, I must be the luckiest man in Remnant to witness such beauty. Be in her presence, never letting her go to the other side. Even if I must be cursed or damn, I will know it's worth it." He whispers seductively; I couldn't help but be overstimulated and shiver uncontrollably; my underwear has gone through a minor crisis.

After reading that part, Blake wasn't sure if she would be either cringe or aroused by the situation, thinking it was her instead of her great-grandmother.

"Sounds a bit obsessive, isn't it?"

"It is, but I know you are not the type. You are gentle and caring and will do what it takes for the happiness of others than yourself." I smiled at him and rested my head on his chest, hearing his rapid heartbeat. While I remember the smiles of all the people, especially the children at that party, it was beautiful to see. As children, they shouldn't experience the life of an enslaved person, especially in a work camp. My lips slowly frown to a thin line not towards the children but someone else.

"That's what I truly love… and hated about you…." I grip tightly on his clothes, with a lump forming in my throat and tears. Watching how much pain and suffering he endured for the sake of others and not for himself. In the last battle, he shielded the prisoners; they would take the prisoners' lives, including the children, when they realized they were losing. Likely the arrows only landed on Jaune's non-vitals. My hands felt the still fresh bandage wounds on his back and felt moist blood seeping through the bandages, indicating the wounds reopened. I couldn't help but frown towards the thr=ick skull man.

It must've happened when he left with the hunting party, and when he returned, he tried to hide it. It was clear as day for me to notice. His hands are reddened with a black tint on his fingertips. With the lack of equipment and supplies, Jaune fished with his bare hands and assigned the rest of the hunting party to hunt for deer while he tasked himself with the most challenging task upon himself. As well as every scar covering his body, each a reminder of my failure to be there for him. Enduring many hardships and asking nothing in return, how can one like him still smile brightly.

"Cathrine…?"

"You always do this to yourself…so why? Why do you smile so brightly when you gain no happiness, to begin with?" I couldn't hold back my tears anymore bellow onto his chest while holding him tightly. He didn't reply nor complain of my tears staining his shirt, but he gently caressed my whole being, making me sure aware of his presence, telling me that he was not abandoning me and would stay by my side. Soon my tears finally stopped, and my mind was calm, yet I rested my head upon his firm chest listening to his heart in a calming rhythm to be at ease. Then I ask him again…

"….So, why?" as I wiped my tears and nose on his shirt, yet he didn't mind it and rested his chin on top of my head and slowly swayed our bodies side to side gently as if we were dancing. And not long before, we danced like a formal ball on the snow under starry light. He knows how much I love dancing and how it usually calms me with him as my partner. It was a basic waltz, following his lead, step-by-step. Then, as we push apart with our hands still linked, he pulls me in. My back is against his chest, and his arms hold me around my waist.

He leans his lips against my head with a kiss and whispers back to my ear.

"I'm happy because I could help the others smile, for their joy and be there to help so that no one would ever cry in this dark age. I can smile proudly because I know you'll be there to save me from my own darkness and know you'll be by my side till the end.…" my face flushed.

"idiot…." I blushed red and looked away while he smiled and laughed, and then we kissed deeply under the night sky like jewels in a treasure box waiting to be taken away. A night that will always be kept in a special place in my heart.

As Blake closes the book and sighs with nostalgia, imagining herself in her Grandmother's position in the arms of a hero in the starry night sky. She looked up at the sky, hoping she would see the same skies as her Grandmother did. But sadly, the sky is covered in dark clouds. Blake turns to Adam, imagining him as her hero, but only to frown. Sometimes when she reads the journal of the fallen Avian with her Grandmother, Blake can't help but sees herself and Adam in their shoes. But the irony of seeing her "hero" is nothing like an actual Hero and sees nothing but a killer, a soul with no shred for both humanity and Faunus.

She couldn't help but sighs at the harsh reality, the mistakes she made with the problems she now carries in tow. Her dream and existence are now fractured by the one she used to believe in for a change, but too blinded by his own desire, Adam lost his purpose for the people's interest instead of succumbing to his own interest. The complete opposite of her ideal hero.

She watches the night sky with resolve and decides that she has made a mistake and needs to escape this nightmare. She refuses to be part of something that her Grandmother risked life and limb for freedom for nothing. But for now, she needs to abid her time for the right moment. A lone tear of regret flows down her cheek as she stares at the sky, just to see a solitary star shine.

"Grandma….forgive me…." As she hugs her legs to her chest.

Omake: M.I

Mercury Black was many things to his comrades. From Emerald are mostly insults, such as moron, jerk, lazy, asshole and etc., of all the comments she can think of. Cinder, her boss, however, sees him as nothing more than a tool, a killer, an assassin, a means to an end. Yet he doesn't care. He prefers to be called a puckish rogue to do things his way with a bit of mischief. And double-crossing his boss for a better deal and pay is so far up his alley.

He made it to Watts's Lab with Jaune's offer on hand and without delay. Usually, he would show this to Cinder, but he didn't care, and Cinder was away at the moment to drop the Pince to Mistral. And he is not going to lie to himself; Prince Charming's offer is tempting. At the moment, under Cinder's command is becoming very lax and needs to get out more. He bangs the door loudly with his fist, no response. He repeats, and again no response. So he would do what any puckish rogue would do….repeatedly banging the door non-stop till the door opens.

"WHAT!?" Watts shouts, opening the door in a rage, deeply annoyed and frown upon. Then Mercury passes the note to Watts as he snatches the letter and does a quick read, leaving Mercury slamming the door before him for a moment. Then returned and handed Mercury a metal cylinder tube.

"open it in your room." He instructed and slammed the door again to ensure telling Mercury to leave him alone, for only Mercury shrugged his shoulders without care leave.

As soon he made it into his room, he crashed on his bed and twisted the top of the canister open. When it cracks open, it hisses lightly with light smoke escaping the canister while it slowly erects a pair of sunglasses out of the can. He pulls them out and inspects the glasses, and he will admit they look cool. Sharp and sporty, his kind of brand. He tries them on in front of a mirror and looks like a badass or those secret agents he watches with the Prince and Emerald that one time on movie night. While he was busy admiring himself, something flashed in his field of view that made him pause. It was Jaune's two crescent moon insignia but upside down with text saying "retinal scanning…Scan complete…Agent Black.". Then Jaune's voice calls out very professionally yet secretive.

"Good evening, Mercury Black. Leonardo Lionheart will be attending the Mistral Tournament in the VIP lounge for a week now. Leonardo is a coward and a loose end that needs to be replaced. We have a candidate for his replacement of Yae Meko, a long-term member of Mother's inner circle who holds a seat on the Council of Mistral. With her as Leonardo's replacement, she will hold the position of Headmistress of Haven and has two seats on the Mistral council." Showing a picture of said replacement of a young female Fox Faunus with light pink hair with large fox ears drops downward along with her hair, disguised as hair with a sly smirk.

"For you to get in, you'll be impersonating one of the staff serving the VIP. Your disguise and pass will be handed to you when you arrive in Mistral, and make contact with Yae Meko in the Mistral Shine Hotel you'll be staying." Mercury spits in shock. The Mistral Shine Hotel is the most expensive and luxurious in Mistral; even Cinder has trouble booking a room.

"Your mission. Should you choose to accept it, it is to assassinate Leonardo Lionheart. Headmaster of Haven Academy and member of the Mistral Council."

"Wait, what?" he questions as the recording continues.

"This needs to be timed perfectly and looked like a natural cause of death or accident. Leonardo's death cannot be linked back to Yae or us. Report to me when you arrive at Mistral during the tournament. There I will give you more details." As he noticed something inside the cylinder and shook out the contents of two thousand liens and a fully paid room booking hotel in Mistral.

"Please note if you were caught or killed. I will disavow any knowledge of the involvement in your actions. Don't disappoint me, Merc."

Then another voice calls out in a robotic femme tone.

"This message will self-destruct in five seconds…."

As Mercury pulls out the glasses, astonished and amazed.

"Gonna admit, Prince Charming knows how to make it interesting. Guess I'll be heading to Mistral." He tosses the glasses very dramatically, expecting the glasses to explode from the timing and those movies he watched. But for it to land on the floor was anticlimactic as nothing happened. Mercury waited a few more seconds, but nothing happened. Curiosity got the better of him, and he checked the glasses. Mercury shakes it a couple of times and taps it. When he tries to put it back on, it finally explodes, pushing his hair back up with his face ashen by the explosion and cartoony coughs out a puff of smoke and falls unconscious with his last words.

"Mission…accepted…."

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delayed update got a bit preoccupied with studies and life with a slice of minor writer's block, but I power through. ATM, the next chapter will be done either at the end of the month or the start of the following month. I'm still trying to get these chapters out monthly. Thanks for your patients, and as always, please support with a follow, favourite and review. Your Constructive criticism is always welcome, and to know if I'm going in the right direction. Izzy out!