The Way of the Maiden

by The Court of Talons

The world of Remnant is notable for warriors such as Huntsmen and Huntresses. It is also notable for the Mandalorians, groups of mysterious and nomadic warriors just as ruthless as the Grimm. This is the story of one particular Mandalorian, and how a chance encounter with a child leads to the adventure of a lifetime.

44. Chapter 44

Chapter 44: The Butcher

Years ago

It was a night unlike any other. The sky was as dark as it could possibly be, and yet hardly any one had retreated to the safety of their homes. For they had all found themselves united by a common goal. Even a common phrase.

A phrase that was usually heard only once a year.

A phrase that was simple yet powerful.

A phrase was being screamed over and over again.

"Trick or treat!"

Halloween night had come to the city of Vale, and the entire city was celebrating. The night was once a means of defense, where people would construct abnormal costumes to ward off Grimm and supposedly ward off spirits as well. But when the Huntsmen Academies were created and reality drove away the superstition of evil spirits, Halloween transformed into a night of frolic and mischief instead of defense.

Children were dressed in various costumes as they moved from house to house while receiving unfathomable amounts of candy. They were of course accompanied by their parents, who either joined in the costume wearing tradition or wore normal clothes.

One such person was wearing what he wore every day. And yet, he was always mistaken for wearing a costume.

"Whoa, nice Mando costume, bro!"

"Yeah, really scary!"

Din Djarin watched a pair of teenagers walk past him and felt somewhat annoyed that his traditional armor was called a costume for what felt like the millionth time. Djarin was no stranger to the holiday, although he never celebrated it. He would usually keep his distance when he had to leave Nevarro, otherwise he would be recuperating in the Razor Crest. And yet, he found himself among the humans and Faunus who were celebrating Halloween, though he wished his armor would have the effect it normally would. It was truly an annoying experience.

The nagging feeling, however, would disappear every time Djarin laid his eyes on a very happy child.

"Dad, look at this!" Cinder said as she jumped in front of her father. "That house gave me three whole candy bars!"

Djarin looked inside the sack Cinder was carrying and indeed saw large candy bars instead of the smaller ones that riddled her sack. "Looks like you hit the jackpot," the Mandalorian said with a chuckle. "Lucky you."

"Yeah! Let's go try it across the street!"

"Don't run, now. Hold my hand."

Cinder complied and walked across the street with her father. Instead of her normal attire of a white shirt and jeans, the young Maiden was dressed as a superhero; she had a multi-colorful suit with a red cape and a black mask across her eyes. The costume was rather inexpensive, but it was the one Cinder wanted to wear when she heard about the holiday. Given her status as the Fall Maiden and her recent exploits in the forest outside Haven Academy, Cinder wanted to look more like a hero and see if she felt any different.

Of course, it may have been the sugar that was making her rather energetic.

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

Djarin looked at his beeping gauntlet after Cinder had ran up to a house. Instead of a message or phone call, his gauntlet was telling him that it was currently nine o'clock. He automatically knew that Cinder wasn't going to be happy about that.

"Oh, my gosh, Dad!" Cinder yelled as she stopped in front of him once again. "That house just gave me four whole candy bars! I'm on a roll, let's keeping going!"

"Sorry, Cinder," Djarin said as he showed her his gauntlet. "It's time to go home."

"What? Already?" Cinder looked at her own Scroll to see that it was indeed nine o'clock. She had previously agreed that they would go back to Beacon when the time came, but Cinder was having misgivings about the idea. "But I can't stop now! I'm on fire!" Cinder quickly stopped talking so loudly. "I mean, not literally. No powers tonight."

"It's a school night, Cinder." Djarin kneeled down to his daughter. "Remember; a Mandalorian always keeps their word."

Cinder hummed in disappointment as she remembered what Djarin always taught her. "Aw, okay," she said as she took his hand once more. "You're right, I promised." As they began to walk towards the airships, Cinder looked at her sack. "I still can't believe how much candy I got."

"You and me both." Djarin looked down at the sack with Cinder. "You can always share it, you know. I think I earned a finders fee for going to fifty houses tonight."

Cinder looked back at her father, who she believed was smiling under that helmet. "And tell me you ate all of it the next morning? No way! I've seen the guy on TV that makes parents do that to kids!"

Djarin chuckled as he continued to walk. "Come on. Would I do that to you?"

Cinder laughed with her father. "No, I was just kidding. But that guy's still a jerk."

Djarin laughed again. "That he is. So, did you have fun?"

"Uh-huh. Thanks for taking me."

"It's no problem. I think we needed to get out for a-Oh, boy."

Cinder looked in the same direction her father was looking in and shared his sentiments. "Oh, that's not good."

Just in front of the clan of two was Vale's town square. It was riddled with both people and decorations, as well as festivities. From bobbling for apples to reenactments of Halloween traditions, the town square was full of entertainment.

It was also filled with people who formed a sort of wall in the heart of the square.

"We'll never make it through," said Cinder. "Semblance time?"

Djarin looked at his gauntlet to see a green bar of Aura. "Semblance time," he said. He firmly held Cinder's hand as he activated his Semblance. Soon enough, they were back in their own room. Djarin then let out a sigh of relief as he moved into his bed. Cinder, however, dumped all her candy out and began to sort through it all.

At least, that's what Djarin thought she was doing. Instead, she began to eat everything rather quickly.

"Whoa, there," Djarin said as sat upright. "I think you've had enough for one night."

"Aw, come on!" Cinder protested. "That wasn't part of the deal!"

"True, but we still need our sleep. Don't you still have to train tomorrow?"

"I guess. But you wouldn't expect Ozpin to make me train after tonight, would you?"

"Would you expect the Saxons to give you a reprieve simply because of a holiday?"

Cinder suddenly realized how her way of thinking wasn't very practical. "I... Okay, yeah," Cinder said as she began to think clearly. "But do you think... you could tell me a story first?"

Djarin would normally accommodate to this request, but he knew how busy tomorrow would be. "Cinder-"

"Just one!" Cinder begged. "You could tell it while I brush my teeth and my hair!"

"..."

"I won't do it fast this time! I'll be sure to go as slow as possible, just like you told me!"

"..."

The Mandalorian removed his helmet to reveal a pair of playful rolling eyes and a soft smile as he reached for the book of Mandalorian lore he gave to Cinder. "You better get started then," he said. "I'll see if I can find a good one for tonight."

Cinder didn't need to be told twice. She moved as fast as lightning into the bathroom, where she began to brush her teeth. But when she remembered what she promised, Cinder began to move slow and steady. Djarin stressed how important it was to take care of oneself like their weapons, which was why he was content to see Cinder keeping her word.

With that, he began to read a story that seemed appropriate for Halloween.

"The Great War had its share of both heroes and villains," Djarin began as he kept an eye on Cinder. "Many brave Mandalorians gave their lives for the homeland, though they were not taken with ease. It was spread across the world that one Mandalorian was equal to the strength of a hundred men."

Cinder looked back to Djarin after she spit in the sink. "I could have told you that!" she proudly declared.

Djarin looked up from the book. "They were also careful to keep their egos in check."

"Does the story say that?"

Djarin looked back to the page, but it didn't have his wisdom in writing. Nevertheless, he knew Cinder needed to be wary of pride. "As clear as day," he fibbed. "How about we see what else it says?"

Cinder looked back to the bathroom mirror and continued to brush her teeth. Meanwhile, Djarin continued his story.

"In this time of war, the Kingdom of Mantle was proving itself to be the superior foe. The King of Mistral knew this to be true, as well as the fact that he was facing both decline and a loss of territory. After a failed coup for his crown, the King of Mistral searched far and wide for a way to defeat the Mandalorians. And he found one."

"..."

Cinder couldn't help but stop brushing her teeth when she heard that line. She remained as still as a statue as Djarin continued to read.

"A lone figure, a man that refused to show his face, presented himself to the King one day," Djarin continued. "He challenged the King to invite any of his personal guard to strike him down. When the eldest tried, all of the guards were killed without even being touched."

"..."

"The King was easily impressed, as well as desperate. The warrior knew this well, and gave the King his terms for his service. He demanded no gold and no silver. He did, however, demand two things. The first was the freedom of his brother, a prisoner of Mistral."

"..."

"The second was that the Mandalorians would be his to fight and his alone."

"..."

The Mandalorian looked back to Cinder, who was staring at her father with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. Djarin soon became worried that this was a bad idea. "Maybe we should read a different story," he said calmly.

"No, it's okay," Cinder said as she moved closer. "I wanna see how it ends."

Djarin still lowered the book. "Are your teeth brushed?" Cinder opened her mouth to show her father a set of clean teeth. Content with her work, Djarin handed his daughter a hairbrush. She took it and soon began to brush her hair as as Djarin continued reading.

"After the King agreed to these conditions, the brothers met their foe on the plains of Cathar, after a brutal massacre. Together, the brothers faced a battalion of fifty Mandalorians. Of those fifty... only their leader survived."

"..."

Cinder had seen Mandalorians fight one another before, but she had never heard of someone being capable of fighting the Mandalorians and delivering such a blow. Based on what she had seen and done, only a Mandalorian could stand against another Mandalorian. Now she had to see how the story ended.

"The King of Mistral was more than pleased with the turning of the tide. And he found himself recruiting the brothers again and again against Mandalorians while he dealt with Vale and Vacuo. And so, the brothers took back more and more land from the Mandalorians for Mistral. It was said that the eldest, who was also the most violent and passionate, was revered and even worshipped by the people of the outskirts."

Cinder stopped brushing her hair and turned to her father. "Who... were these brothers?" she asked.

Djarin skimmed the rest of the story, but didn't see any signs of any names. "I don't think it says," he admitted. "But the story is called... The Butcher."

Cinder moved closer to the book to read the title. "Why did they call him that?"

"I think the story goes into those... details. But hang on." Djarin looked closer. "It says that the brothers fought with weapons that burned and shined as bright as the sun. So bright that... it rivaled the Darksaber."

Cinder slightly gasped as she remembered one weapon that could do that. "They were Jedi? No, wait. Sith?"

"Maybe. That King might have seen the... Butcher... use the Force on his guards." Djarin looked back to Cinder. "Are you sure you want to hear the rest? The story might go into those... details."

Cinder thought about it, but soon realized that she would be more comfortable if she didn't hear how the Butcher earned his name. "Can you skip to the end?"

Djarin nodded and looked towards the end of the story. "From Duro to Malachor, the Butcher proved himself to be a capable military leader, one that made the Mandalorians fear his name," Djarin continued. "Even one of the Mand'alor's predecessors lost his life to the Butcher. It was said that he stole a valuable relic from the former ruler: his Beskar mask."

"..."

"But when all hope seemed lost for Mandalore, when all seemed lost for the free Kingdoms... the Butcher disappeared."

Cinder looked at the book once again. "What happened to him?" she asked.

"Nobody knows," Djarin read. "Rumors spread far and wide. Some said that he joined a new fight, one that not even the four Kingdoms knew about. Others said that his brother, riddled with jealousy over the Butcher's worship and power, betrayed him in a bid for more power. But one thing was clear; without the Butcher, the King of Mistral had hardly anyone to turn to for a swift end to the war. Let it be known that one should take care in who they place their faith in."

"..."

Djarin closed the book and looked to Cinder, who was dumbfounded by what she had heard. Even though she didn't listen to the whole story, it was enough to send a chill down her spine.

"Well... that was... an appropriate story," she said with a nervous chuckle.

Djarin put the book down and moved Cinder's bedcovers. "And that's all it is, Cinder," he promised. "A story."

"I know." Cinder moved into her bed and looked at her father. "But I guess it's easy to think about that Sith I met in Mistral. Maybe he was the Butcher?"

Djarin took this opportunity to ease Cinder's mind as he took off his helmet. "If there ever was a Butcher, he's dead now. If it wasn't you, then it was someone else."

Cinder laid down while still looking at her father. "But... I didn't do it alone."

"What's wrong with that?" Djarin knew he could build up this point, which was why he didn't allow Cinder to answer his rhetorical question. "I've lost count of how many times I had to ask for help for a fight. The last time I did, I was able to find you, wasn't I?"

Cinder remembered the day Major Gideon kidnapped her and how her father rescued her. It was enough for the term "knight in shining armor" to be used to describe Djarin, but she forgot that he wasn't alone when he found her. "Oh, yeah," she said with a smile. "Still... it's kind of scary. Knowing that someone can fight fifty Mandalorians and hold their own."

"It may have been easier with Mandalorians who didn't have anything to fight for other than Mandalore." Djarin moved closer to Cinder and made a final attempt to conquer whatever fear he may have inadvertently instilled in her. "But I have you. Now the Butcher can't touch you or me."

Cinder couldn't help but blush at the promise, however corny it was. And so, she was able to lie down in bed and welcome sleep without any fear. "Yeah..." she whispered happily. "Good night, Dad."

"Good night, Cinder."

Djarin kissed Cinder's forehead and made his way to his own bed, firmly remembering the promise he had just made.

---

Present day

The Mandalorian was now in the Kingdom of Vacuo, where he had just performed a strange task. On top of Shade Academy, he was put in charge of sounding a loud horn that was supposed to bring someone that could help him fight Death Watch and Clan Saxon.

He and Ozpin were now exploring the academy, walking around and examining the place where Djarin was planning on teaching now.

"This is where Theodore told me the students practice combat," said Ozpin, who was looking at a large arena on the outside of the building. "It appears to be some kind of sand arena."

"It makes sense," said Djarin, who was still wearing his Magic disguise. "It'll accustom them to the environments of the Kingdom."

"Them and the new students from Vale."

Ozpin frowned when he mentioned the new arrivals Vacuo was expecting. The Mandalorian had known Ozpin long enough to know that the slightest change in Ozpin's usual neutral glare was enough to indicate something was wrong.

"I'll miss Beacon too," the Mandalorian admitted. "It was like a second home for me. Cinder and I made some great memories there."

"It was my home as well," Ozpin admitted. "But that isn't what concerns me; I felt the dread in the air when Shade heard they would be expecting students from Vale."

"Oh?"

"I'm sure you're aware of the Kingdom's... bad history with the rest of the world. Dust mines drained, rivers drank by others until they dried up. It's easy to understand why the students and staff may be... reluctant to accept newcomers."

"..."

Djarin never spent much time in Vacuo, but it was common knowledge how much the Kingdom had suffered from foreign influence. One would think that the Great War could have improved their relationships with Vale, but that didn't seem to be the case. And it seemed very unlikely that the people of Vacuo were willing to let bygones be bygones.

Djarin couldn't judge them in this case, given that his people were killed and divided during and after the war. Ozpin, however, was shaken to the core by this grudge.

"We need to find a way to work together, Djarin," said the tired Headmaster. "Not just the two of us... all of us."

"..."

Suddenly, Ozpin dropped his cane and raised a hand to his forehead. Along with a sharp headache, Ozpin felt so weak that he couldn't even stand up.

"Ozpin?" Djarin asked as he grabbed the Headmaster and helped him sit down. "What's wrong?"

The pain began to disappear as quickly as it came. While he was recovering, Ozpin knew exactly what had happened; he had just felt a great disturbance in the Force. A powerful warrior was very, very close by.

"He's here," the Headmaster said as he stood up and took his cane. "Come, let's meet him by the entrance."

Djarin easily realized that the man Ozpin was referring to was the reason they came to Vacuo, the reason he sounded a large horn on top of Shade Academy. Although he knew next to nothing about this warrior, other than the fact that he was an enemy of Salem and Mandalorians alike, Djarin was willing to take any help he could get. Now, he was ready to see who it really was that Ozpin seemed so desperate to meet.

*BUZZ*

*BUZZ*

*BUZZ*

Ozpin stopped walking and reached into his pocket. He took out his Scroll and placed the device on his ear. "Theodore," he addressed the caller calmly. "I was just-"

"..."

Djarin couldn't hear what the Headmaster of Shade was saying, but it seemed obvious that he needed Ozpin for something.

"I'm sorry, but can this wait?" Ozpin asked politely. "I'm about to meet with someone very important."

"..."

Ozpin sighed as he listened to Theodore. "Alright. We'll be there soon." The Headmaster ended the call and looked to Djarin. "I'm sorry, but our meeting will have to wait. Theodore needs to speak with us about additional security for the school."

Ozpin may have been willing to wait, but Djarin had lost his patience. He didn't care how much this "ace in the hole" hated Mandalorians, Djarin wanted the war to end as soon as possible.

"I'll meet him at the entrance," the Mandalorian said as he began to walk away. "Come find us when you're ready."

Ozpin immediately saw this as a bad idea. "No, Djarin! Wait-!"

The Mandalorian vanished.

---

Din Djarin was never one for acting recklessly, but his patience in this ordeal reached its end long ago. More than anything, he wanted to stop the Mandalorians who were attacking the Kingdom of Vale, find Aurora, and make sure the Maiden powers would return to Cinder so she could wake up.

And if whoever he summoned would make that process much faster, no time could be wasted in enlisting his service.

The disguised Mandalorian found himself waiting in Shade Academy's entrance hall, where every student walked in on their way to class. It was abandoned now, due to students being on a break after the Fall of Beacon. So as far as the Mandalorian knew, secrets could be safe in this hall.

*THOOM*

Djarin turned his head in the direction of a sound that entered the room. He soon saw the doors before him had opened, and a person was making their way into the large area. As soon as he stepped inside, the doors behind him closed. The apparent visitor was wearing a hooded cloak over their body, hiding any features that could distinguish their identity.

"That has to be him," Djarin reminded himself. "But I should still be careful." He took a few steps towards the mysterious stranger, but didn't stand in his path. "Ozpin's been expecting you," he said to the figure.

"..."

The hooded visitor didn't acknowledge Djarin's promise, but they had stopped walking. Silence returned soon after, so Djarin decided to introduce himself.

"I'm Din Djarin, I'm here to-"

"No more lies."

The figure revealed itself to be a man; a man who had just spoken to Djarin while waving his hand at him.

Suddenly, Djarin felt the Magic that was powering his disguise disappear. Instead of regular clothes, the Mandalorian could see his Beskar armor as clear as day.

"What?" Djarin asked in disbelief. His disguise had never disappeared like this before; only he had the power to activate or remove it. "How did you-?"

"A Mandalorian," the man said in a voice that showed nothing but disgust. "So, you wish to invade Vacuo after all."

"No, wait! This isn't what it-!"

"Silence!"

The man raised his hand again, and Djarin began to feel an invisible hand around his throat. When he grabbed his throat to break the grip, he found nothing there. And not only was he having trouble breathing, but he was also being lifted off the floor. Not only was the man unwilling to let Djarin go, but he was also walking towards him with a piece of metal in his hand.

"This was almost too easy," the man said as the metal in his hand sprouted a violet blade. Djarin easily recognized the weapon as a lightsaber, and it was about to be plunged into his side. "I know what you're thinking, Mandalorian; how you believe I need you to find any others hiding in this Kingdom. But don't worry. You're just as easy to find as you are dying."

The man swung his lightsaber at Djarin, but struck the air instead. He looked around the area to find his prey, who he had inadvertently let go of in the process. Unfortunately for him, Djarin used his Semblance once again to reappear behind him and tackle him to the ground.

The Mandalorian grabbed the man's arm and twisted it so he could let go of the lightsaber. Once he was disarmed, Djarin turned the man on his back to point his blaster in his face.

"Listen to me!" Djarin ordered as he pushed the man on his back. "I'm not your enemy, I-!"

Djarin was at a loss for words when he got a good look at the man before him. Instead of a face like any other, the Mandalorian saw a metal mask that covered the man's whole face. But rather than being surprised at the sight of someone hiding his face, the Mandalorian was surprised that the mask he saw was... familiar.

"Where did you get that mask?" he demanded.

"You will never know," the man said as he moved his hand once again.

Djarin felt another invisible force on his body, one that pushed him backwards and made him slide on the floor. If Djarin had any doubts that this man was using the Force, those were now gone. And if his run in with Nihilus had taught him anything, Djarin needed to think fast if he was to stand a chance.

The chance came when the masked assassin used the Force once again in an effort to claim his lost lightsaber. Djarin shot his razor wire around the man's hand and used his jetpack to fly in the air. The warrior came with him and barely missed his lightsaber.

However, the man was also a fast thinker. Before Djarin had a chance to explain why he was in Vacuo, the Force pushed him against the stone wall and broke his jetpack. Both men fell to the ground, but Djarin landed closer to the lightsaber. He immediately took it and stood ready to fight as if he was holding the Darksaber. The only effort he spent was finding out how to activate it.

"How dare you!" the masked man yelled as he stood up. "You are not worthy to wield such a blade!"

"This is your own fault," Djarin said as he stood right where he was. "If you had listened to me, we wouldn't be in this situation! Now tell me, who are-?!"

"Listen? When all I've heard from your kind were lies and empty promises? I think not." The man reached towards his belt and took out another lightsaber. Only this time, the blade was red instead of purple. "I have a much better idea." The man lifted his hand again, and Djarin prepared to teleport once again to avoid the Force.

*ZAP*

Instead of a mere push or grab, Djarin saw pure electricity escape from the man's hand and come directly at him. Before he could teleport away once again, the Mandalorian felt the lightning strike his chest and move all across his body. Each jolt and spark was incredibly painful, and his Beskar armor offered no protect from the violent storm. His Aura broke with ease, but the masked man continued to conjure lightning as he moved closer.

He only stopped when he was inches from the Mandalorian.

Djarin fell to the ground and laid in a kind of pain that he didn't even know existed until now. His opponent simply retrieved his first lightsaber and activated it. "I must admit, you fight with a remarkable speed," he said. "But you fight alone. Not very common for Mandalorians."

"..."

The man could see that his opponent wasn't feeling well enough to talk. "It doesn't matter." He then raised the lightsabers above his head. "If you fight alone... you will die alone."

*ZAP*

Before the blades could reach Djarin, a green blast of energy hit the man in the head and caused him to fly away from the Mandalorian. The attack was easy to recover, but the surprise to see Ozpin himself defending a Mandalorian could not be recovered easily.

"Enough!" he screamed.

"..."

The masked man didn't say anything, but he did stand once again. Ozpin could see that he was in no danger now, so he ran over to Djarin and helped him stand up. "I'm sorry," he said. "But I tried to warn you. You should have waited."

"..."

Djarin could see how foolish he was for being so impatient. While he was grateful to Ozpin for saving his life, his head was racked with questions about his opponent's identity and powers.

But he was ready to defend himself as the man walked closer.

"Stand down," Ozpin said as he moved in front of the Mandalorian. "Now."

"I do not take orders from you anymore, Ozpin," the man warned as he prepared to use one of his lightsabers.

"Yet you know that I am not easily defeated. Now stand down."

"..."

The man didn't respond to the command, but turned to look back at Djarin. The Mandalorian could tell that nothing would please this assassin more than cutting his head from his body, yet he seemed to show some compliance.

Albeit with sheer reluctance.

Nonetheless, the figure lowered his lightsaber and put it back on his belt. He also kept his distance from the Mandalorian. "What is this?" he asked. "You befriended a Mandalorian? Have you gone mad?"

"I may have," Ozpin declared. "I seem to recollect that I befriended a former Sith as well."

"..."

The man lowered his head with a grunt, clearing showing annoyance at the word. Djarin immediately wanted to know more, and he wasn't in the mood for Ozpin to delay the inevitable any further.

"Who are you?" the Mandalorian asked. Before the man could reply, Djarin pointed a gauntlet full of Whistling Birds at the man's hidden face.

"Djarin, wait!" Ozpin pleaded. "I can explain-!"

"I want him to explain." Djarin pushed the gauntlet further. "Who... are you?"

The Mandalorian couldn't tell if the man before him was afraid or angry at a weapon being pointed at him, but he didn't care. Djarin wanted to know who he was and why he should have any reason to consider working with him.

"I... am Revan," the man finally admitted. "Jedi Knight, and veteran of the Great War."

"..."

The man now known as "Revan" could see that the Mandalorian was not impressed or intimidated. Not that he was trying to impress the Mandalorian.

"Where did you get the mask?" Djarin asked without moving his gauntlet.

"The fields of Cathar," Revan replied. "From another unique Mandalorian. But she was far more unique and honorable than you could ever be."

"Revan, please," Ozpin begged as he moved closer to the Force-wielder. "We summoned you here to talk, not to fight. I may not be your master, but I am aware of your-"

"Hand it over."

Both Ozpin and Revan looked to see that Djarin was still pointing his gauntlet at the masked man. While Ozpin was surprised to see that Djarin was still willing to fight, Revan knew that this could be expected of Mandalorians; defiant until the bitter end.

And judging from how this one was holding his side in pain, it seemed this end would come very fast if Revan wished for it.

"Hand it over," Djarin repeated.

Revan wasn't ready to finish the Mandalorian yet. Instead, he removed the mask to reveal his face; one with brown hair, a beard, brown eyes, and four scars that looked like brands. Revan then moved the mask towards the Mandalorian.

"Come and claim it," he challenged while readying his lightsaber.

"..."

The reveal of the man's face, as well as his combat prowess, made Djarin realize that there was more to Revan than more meets the eye. Someone who claimed to be a veteran of the Great War, a war that ended eighty years ago, was looking rather young.

Before either man could do anything, Ozpin raised his cane and struck the Mandalorian's chest. Djarin flew backwards and hit the ground while continuing to hold his body in pain. Nevertheless, he was able to speak.

"What... are you... doing?" Djarin asked Ozpin.

"Saving your life," Ozpin firmly declared before he looked back to the self proclaimed Jedi. "Revan, all I want is a moment of your time. To show how you are needed now more than ever."

"..."

Ozpin followed Revan's gaze to see him looking at Djarin. "This one is not your concern," Ozpin professed. "The ones in Vale, however, are exactly like the Mandalorians you've slain during the war. Please, grant me an audience to prove this."

"..."

All three warriors felt that an eternity had passed before Revan placed the mask back on his face and spoke. "I will attend," he agreed. "But should your lapdog follow us or attack me again... I will destroy him."

Ozpin nodded after he let out a sigh. He then began to walk to a more private place in Shade Academy, but not before he looked down to Djarin one last time. "Stay out of our way and heal yourself," he implored. "It's for your own good, please."

"..."

Djarin became silent once again, but he had begun to move off of the ground. He even moved out of Ozpin's way, as well as Revan's.

"You would be wise to listen to your master," he said as he also stopped. "Or you will see how I earned the title of the Mandalorian Butcher."

"..."

While both Revan and Ozpin could see that Djarin had no intention of following them, they couldn't see his dropped jaw when he heard the title. Even after they left, the Mandalorian couldn't help but repeat it over and over again in his head. And soon enough, it came to his lips.

"...Butcher?"

---

"-and now, Djarin and I are in search of reinforcements in this war. If there is anyone on Remnant who can deliver the blow we need, it is one that is connected to the Force. I know you understand."

"..."

Professor Ozpin had finished explaining the last five years of his life with Revan, the mysterious Jedi Knight. Ozpin made sure to add emphasis and extra details about Djarin and Cinder, as well as the service they provided to Vale before the Fall of Beacon. While he did nothing but listen carefully to this story, not everything was to Revan's liking.

"...And what of this 'Din Djarin?'" the Jedi asked skeptically. "How sure are you of his allegiance?"

"As sure as I am of yours."

"..."

Revan thought back on his first meeting with Djarin. The Mandalorian was a capable fighter, but this was to be expected of all Mandalorians. He had fought enough battes to know that their allegiance could be bought, never earned. Only in war did the devils show their true colors.

"Why is that?" Revan finally asked.

"Because, as I mentioned, Salem is responsible for the state his daughter is in," Ozpin restated.

"Ah, yes. The Fall Maiden. The Mandalorian Fall Maiden." Revan stood up from his seat and moved to a nearby window. "Tell me, when he first saw the power of the Maidens, was Djarin blinded by its potential?"

"...Blinded?"

Revan turned to Ozpin. "Paralyzed? Dumbstruck?"

"Possibly. Is this relevant?"

"It is." Revan looked out the window again to see the sun that burned twice as bright on Vacuo. "What was his first instinct when he met her?"

"To bring her to me. So I can-"

"No more lies."

Ozpin quickly felt a strong compulsion to tell the truth. It normally wouldn't be so hard, but this was how Revan used his Semblance; given that he had been lied to and taken advantage of more times than he could count, Revan was not a man who trusted others easily. He could detect lies with ease and squeeze the truth, whether it be words or removing a disguise, out of anyone he desired when he spoke those three words.

And try as he did to fight it, Ozpin spoke the truth.

"He... brought Cinder... to his tribe." Revan hummed in understanding and dropped his hand. "But then he brought her to me. I've been training her for the past five years."

"And then she fell in battle."

"She is still alive, Revan. And she retains part of her powers."

"But she still fell. And the rest of those powers are in her hands."

Ozpin sighed as he fixed his glasses. "I didn't summon you here to be reminded of my failures."

Revan turned to Ozpin once again. "I only wish to understand where we stand in this new Mandalorian war. And now I know." Revan moved to the desk Ozpin was sitting at. "Overwhelmed and outmanned."

Ozpin sighed again. "Which is... why I came to you, Revan."

Revan hummed once again. "A wise decision." He then moved back and turned around. "What is it you would have me do?"

"Vale is under siege by a group of Mandalorians. The Saxon Clan."

"And these 'Children of the Watch.'"

Ozpin was beginning to lose patience. "No, that's not true."

"No?" Revan turned again. "Did you not learn that they splintered from Death Watch? And did you not say that they splintered again in favor of fighting with their kin?"

"That may be so, but-"

"Then why should I simply wait for them to splinter a third time, to let them join the ones who started this war?"

Ozpin immediately stopped being calm and rational with Revan. "Because you will be a slave to yourself once again!" he yelled. "Your anger and hate will leave you right where I found you!"

"..."

"Think, Revan! Think of the people who need your help, not your vengeance!" Ozpin stopped yelling when he made a final argument. "Think of the boy. Would you strip him of the value he holds you in?"

"..."

When his thoughts drifted to the boy Ozpin was referring to, Revan easily recollected how much of an impact he left in the child's life. It was true that he was only supposed to watch him from a distance, but there were times he had to intervene.

In those times, he became a role model and a hero to the boy. Even though he had the confidence and wisdom to stay away from the dark path, Revan was forced to ask himself what would happen if he fell down it again.

He had to ask what would happen to Luke.

"...The Saxon Clan," Revan stated. "They are the Mandalorians attacking Vale."

"They must be stopped," Ozpin said as he began to calm down. "Local Huntsmen and Huntresses are doing everything they can against the Grimm, but the Mandalorians are too formidable for them. But not for you."

"..."

"Please, Revan. You are our only hope."

Revan considered the truth behind Ozpin's sentence, but there was one more thing preventing him from agreeing. "The boy will be left undefended," he said. "The war will not end tomorrow, Ozpin. He may be without a teacher when his time comes."

"I know," Ozpin admitted. "But perhaps it would be for the best. He may be one of the defenders of Remnant, but for now... he is just a child." Ozpin's time with Cinder had taught him a valuable lesson, one that he was ready to share with Revan. "It will not be a role he will have forever."

"...No. It will not."

"..."

"Very well." Revan moved closer to Ozpin. "You've convinced me, Ozpin. I will depart for Vale immediately."

Ozpin felt a strong weight come off his shoulders when he heard those words. His faith in Revan was strong, and he was proud of his ability to convince him to fight once again. Although he was sad that Revan seemed to feel forced to use his Semblance once again, Ozpin was expecting him to not have the Jedi's complete trust yet. Perhaps once all of this was over, things could change.

"There will be a price."

Ozpin's dreams were shattered when he heard an unfamiliar phrase come out of Revan's mouth.

"I beg your pardon?" Ozpin asked.

"I will go to Vale and purge it of the Saxons," Revan promised. "But I will need something from you in exchange."

Ozpin firmly gripped his cane. While he refused to raise his voice once more, his anger could hardly be contained. "Since when did a Jedi Knight expect to be paid for keeping the peace?" he asked.

Revan let out a dry chuckle. "Odd how you assume you know everything, and yet you know nothing at all," he said. "I do not want your Lien."

"Then... what do you want?"

"First, I expect to conduct this crusade alone. Nobody must know of my existence. Not until I allow it."

"Very well. What else?"

"Djarin must tell me everything he knows about every Mandalorian clan in existence."

"Does that include beyond Vale?"

"It does."

Ozpin considered the idea, but only saw one objection. "Should you find them, there are two clans that are to be treated as the Children of the Watch. They are not to be harmed."

"So be it. I will also-"

"Before you continue, I will only accept one more condition." Ozpin gently tapped his cane on the floor to add emphasis. "Then you will depart for Vale."

"Then it's fortunate that I have only one more condition," said Revan. "Tell me, what do you know of the current holder of the Maiden powers?"

"Cinder is a very special child," Ozpin began. "And I don't mean the fact that she-"

"Not her. The one who took them."

Ozpin's confusion disappeared immediately. "Oh. You mean Aurora." Revan nodded. "I'm afraid I don't know much about her. Merely that she is a Faunus who serves Salem, and that she was chosen to be her Maiden."

"It's likely power is her ultimate goal. I would know."

"I wouldn't be surprised. Do you intend to find her yourself?"

"No. But I do plan to lure her out."

"How do you mean?"

Revan moved his palm to form a small amount of lightning for Ozpin to see. "If she only possesses part of the power, nothing would please her more than to absorb the whole thing. Only then will she reveal herself. No... only then will Salem allow her to reveal herself."

Ozpin agreed with Revan's logic, and he began to form the basis of a plan. "You wish to make Cinder easier to find?" he assumed.

"No," Revan said as he closed his fist. "I wish to give Aurora what she wants. I will kill the Fall Maiden."

"What?!"

Ozpin almost dropped his cane when he heard the declaration. Revan, however, remained as calm and collected as he was when he begun the conversation with Ozpin. He expected this reaction, as he expected an argument to follow.

"That is my final condition, Ozpin," Revan began. "Then I will depart for Vale."

"You can't be serious!" Ozpin shouted. "You can't!"

"I am. If you wish for Aurora to reveal herself, the Fall Maiden must die."

"You're wrong! Aurora must be the one to die, not Cinder! She needs the powers, not Aurora!"

"Aurora will die, whether it be my hand or your own. But if you wish for her to leave Salem's lot of darkness, we must sacrifice the child."

"You dare speak to me of sacrifice?!" Ozpin sharply pointed at Revan. "Revan, the man who tried to sacrifice his own people for what he believed to be 'the greater good?!'"

Revan himself began to grow angry once again. "I too do not need to be reminded of my failures, Ozpin," he warned. "The Dark Lord Revan is dead. I am a servant of the light now."

"Then serve it by making sure that Cinder will not be harmed!"

While Revan was angry at being reminded of his past, he was confused at the fact that Ozpin wasn't agreeing with him. "This wouldn't be the first time you sacrificed a Maiden," he said. "What makes this one special?"

"..."

"You remember. You watched them all transfer their powers. You made sure the next shared their predecessor's responsibilities. So tell me; why is the Mandalorian special? Does she hold a different power? Is she connected to the Force?"

"..."

"Or have you lost your resolve?"

Ozpin pointed at Revan and shouted as he lost his patience. "I have not!" he declared. "And I certainly have not lost my mind, unlike you!"

"I've lost my mind before. I assure you, it's not been lost again. I found redemption, and I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"Then surely, you were listening to yourself! If you kill Cinder, how are you any better than the one who took her powers?"

"I'm doing this to save lives, not for glory! I will mourn for the dead and do what I must." Revan had enough of this argument, so he laid down his terms again. "I will kill the Maiden as well as the Mandalorians and whatever legions of the Dark Side await me. If you will not accept my decision, so be it." Revan placed a hand on one of his sabers. "But you will not stop me."

"..."

To say that Ozpin was stuck between a rock and a hard place was the understatement of the century. He knew that he could not change the course of Revan's mind, nor risk losing his one advantage over the Mandalorians. But Ozpin had known and cared about Cinder for a long time, much longer than Revan. He knew how to look past her Mandalorian beliefs and he knew that she was a good person.

However, he also knew that Revan was right about the previous Maidens.

Every time one of the Maidens was close to the end of their service, Ozpin would almost always be there to see the transfer through. Despite his heart weighing heavily over each and every one of their deaths, Ozpin did not do anything to stop the process. There were even times when he would have to... accelerate it.

And yet, there was indeed something special about Cinder. However, it would not be enough to Revan to stop him from making his sacrifice.

"...Go," Ozpin said as he turned away. "I will not stop you."

Revan could sense that Ozpin was racked with shame and guilt, but also a lack of resolve to continue this fight. Revan had won, and now he was free to continue his fight against the Mandalorians.

But first, he had to make sure nobody would interfere.

"It would be in our best interest not to tell the Mandalorian here," he said. "I will deal with him myself when I am-"

"I said go!" Ozpin yelled.

"..."

Revan knew this wasn't a direct answer, that he could simply use his Semblance and assure himself that Din Djarin would stay in the dark about his plans.

But a part of him was telling him that this would be akin to beating a dead horse.

So instead, the Jedi took his leave.

---

Fire and ash was spreading as far as the eye could see. Trees and buildings were all ablaze as yet another city outside the capital of Vale had fallen to the Mandalorians. The Huntsmen and Huntresses of the Kingdom did what they could to stop the Saxons, but out of an entire battalion, only two were dead and ten were injured.

This battalion had travelled a long way across the Kingdom of Vale, conquering city after city in the process. While they had failed to take Vale on the night Beacon fell, not all the settlements outside the capital were prepared. Women, men, and children all faced the wrath of the Saxon Clan as they built up their forces and confidence in what they considered to be the final piece of their conquest: the capital.

Gar Saxon knew that when the capital city fell, any free and heavily defended city would fall with it. Vale would be his for the taking, and nobody would question his rule as Mand'alor. He knew he would face more citizens, both human and Faunus, as well as adults and children.

If they needed to die to solidify his rule... it would be a small price to pay. And he was planning to pay it with pleasure.

But one man refused to let this price be paid.

True to his word, Revan had arrived in Vale. His first action was to observe the enemy, see what they had done to the once peaceful Kingdom and how they did it. Although he may have given off the impression that all he was capable of feeling was hate and spite, Revan silently mourned each and every victim of the Saxon Clan.

Despite the overwhelming losses, patience proved to a virtue for Revan this day. This was due to the fact that he was able to see how well these Mandalorians fought, communicated, and dealt with damage to their own ranks. Based on what he had previously seen in Mandalorians, Revan concluded that Mandalorian strategy had changed very little. It was as potent as ever, but simple to break when given the right time and energy.

When he finally found the next village on the Saxon Clan's list, Revan arrived before them. The first thing he did was stay out of sight so that he could meditate. It was true that his meditation was once used to focus on channeling anger and devotion to the Dark Side of the Force. Not Salem or his other masters, but to the Dark Side.

This was because those who used the Dark Side are also bound to serve it. To understand this is to understand the underlying philosophy of the Sith. That was how Revan was taught and how he taught others.

But no more.

Now, Revan was meditating to become an instrument of peace, just like the Jedi. He refused to forgive the Mandalorians for their atrocities, both now and during the Great War. But Revan knew that he shouldn't be fighting so his enemy would die; he had to be fighting so that peace could return to this Kingdom.

He would meditate a certain way to to prepare for battle, but that strength laid with someone who was unfortunately not with him anymore. Instead, where he once sought power for power's sake, Revan sought power for the sake of others. That way, he could use it to save lives in the city. And then, he could go forth and spread that peace further. It was the duty of a Jedi to be a peacekeeper, and know Revan was ready to take on that role once again.

The meditation helped Revan clear his mind of any negativity, albeit temporarily. Anger always returned to a person like him, but Revan promised himself that he would be a force for peace during his time in Vale.

One other promise he made was resting right next to him.

Revan reached over and picked up the Mandalorian mask he wore in Vacuo. He had worn it for many years and during many battles. The one who wore it before him gave her life to save the innocent, which served as an inspiration for Revan to continue his fight in the Great War. While he held no loyalty or beliefs in the polices Mistral and Mantle wanted to enforce, Revan knew the world couldn't be safe with Mandalorians. Even the ones who killed their own kind.

So when he first found the mask, Revan promised not to remove it until the Mandalorians were vanquished. And now, Revan had made that promise once again. Until the Saxons were dead and this war was at an end, Revan swore that the mask would stay with him.

And now, it would be the last thing the Saxons would ever see.

[Play "Star Wars: Darth Revan Theme" on YouTube]

Revan placed the mask on his face and removed his lightsabers from his hilt. A door behind him opened with the Force, where the sounds of screams and blaster fire could be heard outside. Revan immediately took off running and jumped off the roof he was meditating on.

When he jumped, Revan landed on a Mandalorian he had sensed just before. And know the Jedi was going to put him to good use.

"Hey, what the-?"

*HISS*

Revan decaptiated the Mandalorian with a single blow and felt the body become limp. But rather than falling to the ground, the corpse's jetpack was still active and being guided by the Jedi.

And right now, Revan had guided it to a group of Mandalorians ready to execute an innocent family.

"Oof!"

"Gah!"

"Ugh!"

Revan did not share the pain he inflicted on the Mandalorians, but he was ready to inflict more. But one look at a little girl with her parents made Revan hesistate for the briefest of moments.

"Look away," he warned. The parents were too shocked by his sudden arrival to do anything, but Revan didn't warn them again. Instead, he used both his lightsabers to go on the offensive.

The Mandalorians were no strangers to resistance, but they knew that this was a different kind. Their instincts, however, did not falter as they assumed Revan was merely a Huntsman that needed to be put down.

But as they fired their blasters, Revan took this opportunity to prove their instincts wrong. He deflected every blaster bolt with ease while also making sure not to hit the family behind him; each blast either hit the ground or the Mandalorians instead.

And if the blasts didn't kill them, Revan killed them with his lightsabers.

The Jedi didn't look back at the family he had just saved, for new screams had filled the air. Once again, Revan leapt towards the sight of innocents being killed. When he landed in front of them, Revan began to lay waste to the Saxons.

Multiple blasts were fired, but the ones that made it past the lightsabers merely left scratches on Revan's body. All the while, the Jedi moved closer and aimed the lightsabers for the body parts that were not protected by Beskar. Whether it was arms, legs, hips, or even necks, Revan made sure his swords would penetrate or remove something.

Revan had slaughtered almost five waves before one Saxon was able to escape the onslaught by taking flight. The last thing she saw before her escape was her comrades and brothers being consumed in a storm of electricity. The sight disturbed her greatly, but she continued on her path towards the forest bordering the city. And soon enough, she found the second half of the battalion.

"Commander Saxon!" she said as she landed right in front of the leader. "We need immediate assistance in the city!"

The leader of the group, a Mandalorian in white armor with red and gray pauldrons, listened carefully to this message. His name was indeed Saxon, but he was not the Mand'alor. This man was Gar Saxon's brother, Tiber Saxon; someone who believed in the cause his clan had taken and was currently skeptical of his comrade's claim. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "Resistance out here should be minimal."

"We encountered some new Huntsman! He's unstoppable!" The Mandalorian looked at her gauntlet to see the number of forces that she was a part of. "Only... Only a few of us left..."

The leader of the battalion wasn't entirely convinced, but he could see the number of his forces was dwindling fast. This could not stand.

"You two, come with me," the commander said as he addressed two other Mandalorians. "We shall see what ails our compatriots." He then took flight away from the woods and made his way towards the city.

And sure enough, Revan was still fighting the Mandalorians. Some of them had abandoned their blasters and fought either hand-to-hand or with melee weapons. However, the result was still the same; Revan was killing them all and saving hundreds.

And yet, Revan's next plan was to leap close to the smaller buildings in order to put some distance between himself and the Mandalorians. Despite the fact that he had proven his title, Revan was vastly outnumbered by the Saxon Clan. And given that three more had just emerged from the forest, others were not far away.

"Thank you!" a voice from behind called out. Revan turned around to see a man dressed in a gray shirt and black pants run up to him. "Please, tell me your name! Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter now," Revan insisted. "We need to get everyone out of here and half the Mandalorians."

"What can I do to help?"

"Are all the citizens evacuated?"

"I think so." The man pointed towards the woods. "I saw a big flock run that way while the Mandalorians took the south."

"You would be wise to join them. Right now."

The man obeyed as Revan lowered his blades. As he made sure the man he spoke to was far from damage, Revan turned to the sight of the new Mandalorian advancement. He could see streets burning, bodies under their feet, and multiple buildings they were either passing or flying by.

The sight of said buildings was giving Revan an idea. It would require a sacrifice, but the part of the town he was looking in was already lost. Nothing mattered now than purging this once peaceful city of these invaders.

And so, Revan reached out with the Force for one last attack.

*RUMBLE*

The ground beneath the Mandalorians had started to shake, which made them all stop in their tracks. Since they were unfamiliar with Revan's power, they assumed that an earthquake had begun. Everything around them was shaking, and a few Mandalorians had used their jetpacks to get off the ground.

*CRACK*

Instead of the ground cracking, the tallest buildings around the incoming invaders had started to fall. The multiple support beams and bricks they held them together all began to break and bend to the Force, and the buildings themselves all began to fall.

The Mandalorians that were still on the ground all began to panic as they began to take flight, but it was too late. If they were not engulfed in a cloud of dust and rubble, they were crushed by the incoming buildings.

*CRASH*

Everything that once rested on the ground, corpse and Mandalorian, was now buried deep by mighty buildings that were once homes and offices. Truly, the town outside the capital of Vale had experienced the horrors of war.

Not just the town, but Tiber Saxon himself.

"Sir, what do we do?" one of the commander's guards asked his leader.

The commander removed his helmet and brushed it free of dust. "Contact my brother," he ordered. "He must know what has happened."

"And the attack?"

"...Order the retreat."

[End music]

The battle between Revan the Mandalorians felt like it had lasted for hours, which it did. The Butcher had lost count of how many warriors had been felled, but all around him was silence. Buildings may have been turned to rubble, but there were no more screams or any sounds of fear.

Peace had finally returned to the outskirts of Vale.

But it would take much time for a city like this to be repaired. While the Mandalorians failed to kill their new enemy, they succeeded in bringing destruction to a once prosperous city. The people here would need a new place to stay.

Fortunately, everyone seemed to be warming up to Revan. In fact, a majority of the citizens were gathering around the Jedi and praising his efforts.

"Whoa, that was incredible!"

"Thank you so much!"

"You saved our lives!"

"I thought we were goners!"

"How can we repay you?"

The genuine question was Revan's opportunity to relay instructions to the people. "You must leave this place," he said calmly. "The Mandalorians are gone, but they will return in greater numbers." After he deactivated his lightsabers, Revan pointed to the east. "The capital city of Vale is a day's journey from here, but the patrolling airships should see you earlier."

"...He's right," an older man said after he took a look at the ruined city. "We can make it only if we stick together. We can come back and fix the town when it's safe."

"That is for the best," Revan agreed. "Now, go. I will make sure you are not followed."

Despite some protest, the people began to flow towards the east and leave the city that once served as their home. They were sad, of course, given that they had no idea when or if they would return.

But they were certainly grateful to be alive. And they made sure Revan would know.

As the masked warrior watched the innocent citizens of Vale run for safety and heard their thanks and praise, Revan began to feel a sense of pride in himself. Not in an arrogant way, however. But rather, Revan felt that he was starting to get back in touch with his Jedi roots.

Of course, protecting Luke in Vacuo was a step in the right direction. But this was something else. Something that required a true Jedi, something that acquired a true balance of the Force.

Truly, this was a job well done.

"I hope I have made you proud, Bastila."

*CLICK*

*CLACK*

An unfamiliar sound from behind him caught the Jedi's attention. As well as the sound of something fast coming towards him. Yet Revan was able to catch it with ease.

The Jedi looked to see that he was holding some kind of... tendril. A long, black tendril that held a sharp stone at the end.

*THWIP*

*THWIP*

*THWIP*

*THWIP*

Revan quickly heard the same sounds behind him, but the Force stopped them from moving an inch further. He turned around fast to see that he was in the presence of a Grimm unlike any other. It had multiple tentacles instead of just one, and it seemed to be floating in the air.

And for a head, the creature had a glass dome filled with red smoke.

"Ah... a Seer," Revan noted. He was familiar with the Grimm when he was a Sith, as well as its capabilities. "It must have been watching the Mandalorians during their conquest. And now it saw everything." Revan increased his use of the Force on the Seer, causing it to let out an inhuman shriek. "Salem cannot know I was here." Revan began to form his hand into a fist, which made the dome begin to crack. Soon enough, the crack moved deeper.

And deeper.

And deeper.

And deeper.

"No."

The Jedi moved his palm outward and relaxed his hold on the Force. The creature was somewhat free, but it was rendered too weak to attack or defend itself. And Revan was still holding its tendrils.

"Maybe I should let you tell Salem after all," Revan decided. He then moved his hand across the orb, which resulted in the Seer making a series of clicking noises. Revan recognized these sounds as a means of communication. Seers worked two ways, and Revan was making sure the person on the other side, who he was sure was Salem, was listening carefully.

He couldn't see it, but he could feel much anger on the other side of the Seer. Whoever was on the other end was loathing the fact that they were disturbed, as well as that the Mandalorians had experienced their first failure.

The last thing Revan felt on the other side before killing the Grimm was fear.

"Hmm..." Revan said to himself as he watched the withering creature disappear. "Not exactly HK-47's methodology, but it won't trouble me anymore."

It was clear that the Grimm's master knew that Revan was back, but he didn't care. Like the Mandalorians, he had his own reasons for hating Salem as well as the other Sith she had taken under her wing. What he did today would surely get under her skin.

And now that she knew he was back, Revan knew that Salem would most likely stay at her castle and send others to do her work. Perhaps it would be more Mandalorians, or better yet, the pretender Maiden. Revan didn't care who he had to kill during this time.

However, there was only one thing that concerned the Jedi when Salem was involved. It was something he had desired for a very long time. And fortunately for him, Salem knew this as well.

The only question was... would she be willing to give it to him?

Would Salem unleash the one thing, the only thing, that could possibly stop him?

Revan admitted that he didn't know the answer to this question. All he could do was bide his time and see when Salem would retaliate against him. In the meantime, he would do what he was born to do; kill every Mandalorian that he laid his eyes on.

But now, there was only one Mandalorian Revan believed he had to kill.

---

Night had fallen on the Kingdom of Vale, and all of the cities that made up the nation. Most of its people were asleep, but others were keeping close watch in this time of war. Nobody was willing to take any chances against Grimm or Mandalorians tonight.

One individual had decided to do neither.

After his most recent encounter with the Mandalorians and his older encounter with Djarin and Ozpin, Revan found himself to be on the hunt once again. While he hadn't seen any sign of the Saxons in a matter of hours, Revan was still looking for other Mandalorians.

Normal methods of tracking Mandalorians weren't in favor with Revan at the moment, given that the ones he was searching for knew how to hide themselves. Fortunately, one factor remained in play: the Force.

Revan was currently sitting in the woods, the Emerald Forest to be precise. He appeared to be in a meditative state, but appearances were deceiving in this case. Instead of resting his mind, Revan was putting it to work by connecting with the Force around him.

Nobody could see or feel it, but Revan was sending a sort of signal through the Force, similar to an electronic radar. Each time he sent a wave, it returned with a multitude of information.

Life.

Death.

And death that sprang new life.

To say that Revan was a master of the living Force was an understatement. Experiencing both spectrums, light and dark, had opened doors that Revan once believed didn't exist. His knowledge was almost unlimited, as well as his abilities. Now both of them were helping him find a particular Mandalorian, one that had a very distinguishing feature.

It took time, but Revan was able to find this feature amongst the other life in the Force. It was weak, but it was just the thing Revan was searching for. And when he found it, Revan used the Force to travel at unfathomable speed.

Soon enough, Revan found himself in the outskirts of a small village. Unlike the ones he had returned from, this village was comprised of fully structured buildings and clean streets. Not only that, but the gates were guarded by a human and a Mandalorian.

"So... this is a place of coexistence," Revan thought to himself. He had heard stories of the settlement known as Nevarro, how humans, Faunus, and Mandalorians lived in peace ever since an Atlesian staged a failed coup on the leader of his Kingdom's army. Now he saw that the rumors were true; children walked the streets with their parents, greeting Mandalorian guards with smiles on their faces. And the Mandalorians who were outside the perimeter were teaching humans and Faunus how to kill Grimm. The sights were almost enough for the Jedi to question his current plans.

Almost.

Revan jumped into the trees bordering the town just as silently and quickly. He then travelled through the forest while staying off the road he could see below him. His instincts and the Force led him to another village, one that was much smaller than Nevarro.

One that proudly displayed the symbol of the Mythosaur.

"She's here," Revan sensed with ease. He was careful to stay above the ground as he moved past the entrance and its guards. A few more jumps through the branches were required until he found himself above a certain hut. The energy he sensed was much stronger here, despite the weakness he detected.

Nonetheless, Revan jumped down and became aware of his surroundings. When he was sure that no Mandalorians were close to him, Revan entered the hut and looked inside.

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

Revan had been in Vacuo for a long time, a time in which technology was either scarce or broken. However, he was no stranger to the sound of medical technology. More specifically, life support.

Before him, resting in a bed, was a teenage girl with hair black as night. A patch of scarring was on her left eye, and there appeared to be something attached to her arm. While he could not recall the girl's name, Revan knew exactly who was before him: the Fall Maiden.

Revan looked outside the hut one more time to make sure that he was still alone. The area was just as empty as before, so Revan looked back towards Cinder.

"It is truly unfortunate what happened to you, young one," he said as he took out his lightsaber. A purple light shined on the girl as Revan moved it upwards. "But perhaps you can take comfort in knowing you served Ozpin and Remnant well. And your sacrifice will not have been in vain."

"..."

Revan raised the blade higher. "I do not know your name, but I take up your cause. I will not rest until there is justice, until Salem's Maiden has been defeated once and for all." Revan raised the blade high enough for him to plunge down. "So swears-!"

*SHICK*

"..."

Revan's silence was replaced with a heavy cough. He couldn't see it, but the inside of his mask had just been sprayed in blood from that cough.

A sharp amount of pain rested near the Jedi's heart. When he turned to look at it, Revan saw the hilt of a knife embedded into his side. And the owner of the knife revealed himself in a familiar voice.

"Get the hell away from my daughter."

Din Djarin ripped his knife out of Revan's side and watched as the "Jedi" stumble as he dropped his lightsaber. Djarin could see the pain and surprise Revan was in, but he wasn't satisfied with his attack.

Which was why he stabbed Revan two more times in his chest.

On the third time, Revan was able to catch the blade. But Djarin was able to kick Revan out of the hut and retrieve the lightsaber. As he watched the Jedi move across the ground, Djarin pulled out his blaster and fired it in the air.

*BANG*

*BANG*

The two blasts altered every ear in the camp. Mandalorians and even some of the people of Nevarro, who were carefully hiding, came out of all directions and pointed their weapons at the Jedi.

"Everyone stay back!" Djarin warned. "He's not finished yet." The crowd obeyed, and as Djarin looked upon the wounded "Jedi," one thought came to his mind.

The reason he was here in the first place.

"Thank you, Ozpin."

---

Hours ago

"He's going to what?!"

The Mandalorian felt like his head was about to explode when he heard terrible news from Ozpin.

"Revan intends to kill Cinder," Ozpin sadly repeated. "He wants to sacrifice her to lure Aurora out of Salem's keep."

Djarin was feeling a multitude of negativity, with the main one being anger. "You should have let me kill him!" he declared. "You should have never called him in the first place! You should have-!"

"I know, Djarin! I know!"

"..."

"I know I should have expected this, I know I should have done something earlier. That's why I'm risking my alliance with Revan by telling you all of this. I don't care how he tries to put it or how many Mandalorians he kills; I will not sacrifice Cinder."

"..."

Djarin began to see that Ozpin was telling the truth. Recruiting Revan may have been a mistake, but it was apparent that Ozpin was not willing to let this mistake reach devastating potential. And now Djarin was ready to prevent another mistake. Instead of wasting time with anger and recklessness, the Mandalorian decided to spend what little time he had on saving his daughter's life.

"What can we do?" Djarin asked. "Is there any way to stop him?"

"There may be, but I must not be directly involved," Ozpin confessed. "If Revan knows I betrayed him, this would mean more than losing an ally. He would not hesitate to kill both of us. Cinder will be alone when she wakes up, and it could be years before my next host becomes ready to fight."

"So what do we do?"

"Something... unexpected." Ozpin stood up and moved closer to the Mandalorian. "Djarin, I need you to fight him again."

"Me? But I was child's play for him back there."

"I know, but we can improve that. What you did was reckless, and I'm sure you won't intend to fight him like that again."

"...I need to fight him on his terms, don't I?"

"Indeed. Sit down."

Djarin didn't see a chair behind him, but he did as he was told. He then listened carefully as Ozpin shared his plan.

"It is possible for a normal person to stand against a Jedi," he explained. "But it is far from easy. Jedi can sense practically anything in their path or in their proximity."

"So what can I do?" Djarin asked. "How do I stop him?"

"By gaining the element of surprise."

"..."

Ozpin joined Djarin on the ground. "The Jedi have a habit for meditation. They can use it to connect to the Force, prepare for battle, and even see visions of the future. What you need to do is meditate in order to completely clear your mind."

"But I'm not a Jedi."

"That doesn't matter. If you can clear your mind, make it a state of absolute nothingness... you may be able to camouflage yourself."

"Thus giving me the element of surprise."

"Precisely. You must use this meditation exactly where Cinder is. Hide yourself, and attack at the very moment Revan tries to take Cinder's life." Djarin nodded, but Ozpin wasn't finished. "This will not be easy. Revan may be quick to anger, but he is capable of holding his emotions when the time calls for it."

Despite the stakes being as high as the death of Cinder, Djarin couldn't help but feel his curiosity about Revan growing by the second. Someone who claimed to be a Jedi and being called a Sith at the same time didn't offer any answers. And his apparent age made it difficult to believe that he fought in the Great War.

"If I'm going to fight him, I need you to tell me more about him," Djarin declared. "Why did you call him a Sith back there? And how could he have fought in the Great War?"

Ozpin mentally sighed at the questions. "Djarin, I will tell you more, but now doesn't seem to be the time," he insisted.

"I was once reminded that I have to know an enemy before I defeat them." Djarin leaned closer. "Tell me more about Revan."

"..."

Ozpin sighed out loud this time. "Revan was once a Jedi, that is true. He was trained by many masters, myself included."

"..."

"But he was seduced and twisted by Salem and the Dark Side of the Force. The Great War and his hatred of Mandalorians proved to be the elements that contributed to his downfall. He spent many years as a Sith... and even more trying to climb out of the pit he dug himself in. I respected the actions he took to redeem himself, but he still possesses... unfavorable qualities."

"If that's true, why was he allowed to fight?"

"He wasn't. When he heard the Jedi planned to stay neutral and hidden in the Great War, he left the Order."

"And they just welcomed him back?"

"Not quite. There were some... special circumstances in regards to Revan's return to the Order. Luck, mostly."

"And... his youth?"

"A story for another time. Not even I understand all the details. Please, let us practice. There isn't much time."

Djarin agreed, but he had one more question. "Wait; one more thing."

"..."

"Revan called himself... the Butcher. I'm familiar with the legend, so I have to know; is he what he claims to be?"

"...I am aware of the Mandalorian legend," Ozpin confessed. "And yes; one of the titles he earned in the war was... Revan the Butcher."

"..."

Djarin nodded in understanding and closed his eyes. "Let's practice. I have a promise to keep."

---

Present time

Ozpin was right; the meditation that Djarin needed for a perfect ambush was far from easy. Every second of every hour he spent practicing was almost never good enough. Firstly, clearing his mind of any kind of intrusion was easier said than done. Whether it was internal or external, something tried to break Djarin's focus.

Next, keeping a clear mind while trying to attack someone was a near impossible task. Ozpin was able to sense Djarin wherever he was, until they had finally arrived in Vale.

Enough motivation and enough practice resulted in Djarin getting the upper hand in a surprise attack at least five times before the Razor Crest touched the ground. In short, Djarin was ready to ambush a Jedi.

As luck would have it, Revan was still fighting the Saxon Clan when Djarin arrived in Nevarro. He was able to warn everyone that trouble was coming while Ozpin returned to the capital. Though the warning reached everyone's ears, plans on evacuating were put on hold due to two things.

First, the lack of people would make the trap obvious.

Secondly, Greef Karga wasn't ready to abandon two of his friends in the process. Fortunately, there were enough people loyal to Karga and the remaining Children of the Watch to stay and help. The Armorer, who still retained her leadership over the tribe, agreed to stay as well.

But she made sure to warn Djarin that a private discussion would follow a successful defense of Nevarro.

Djarin was willing to make that sacrifice, just as he was willing to lay his life down if it meant protecting Cinder. And given that Revan was slowly getting back up, it was easy to see that the time would be coming very soon.

Despite being stabbed close to his heart and losing an alarming amount of blood, Revan refused to die. Instead, he focused all of his energy on the Force around him. One of his hands was creating a force field around him to deflect any other attacks while the other was close to the stab wounds.

What he was doing was an ancient practice of the Jedi, one that required a strong amount of concentration and an even stronger connection to the Force. Fortunately, Revan was able to do both and create a miracle: Force healing.

All of his wounds were not only disappearing, but they were healing in the process. Any kind of bleeding, internal and external, ceased to continue as Revan's body returned to its previous physical state. All the while, Djarin simply stood and watched. For he was unsure if he could hurt Revan once again, even if he wanted to.

Also, Ozpin had personally requested Djarin to not kill Revan... unless he absolutely had to.

"Was that your attempt at an assassination, Mandalorian?!" Revan angrily asked as he ceased using the Force. The act left him with a painful headache, but the Jedi did the best he could to focus on Djarin.

"No," Djarin replied while remaining as calm as possible. "If I wanted you dead, my blade would have found your heart with ease."

"..."

Revan wasn't using his Semblance, but his experience with Mandalorians told him that Djarin was telling the truth; for whenever a Mandalorian had the perfect opportunity to take a life, they did it without hesitation.

So why didn't Djarin do it? After all, he had plenty of reasons for wanting Revan dead. One of them was resting right behind him.

"Then why am I still alive?" Revan asked.

Djarin had to swallow his pride before he answered that question. While he believed he and Cinder would be better off without the self-proclaimed Jedi, the rest of Vale couldn't say the same after what he did today.

"Because I want to give you a chance," Djarin said, though "want" wasn't the right word in this case. "A chance to leave us in peace, to continue fighting the right fight."

"..."

Djarin was never good at negotiation, but he was good at threatening others with their lives.

"And to give you a warning; a warning that should I or my daughter find ourselves at your blade, you will never raise it again."

Revan was never one to ignore threats, whether it came from the strongest combatant or the weakest coward. Which was why he needed to make sure that the Mandalorian was serious. So as he approached closer, Revan took note of how Djarin never fired at him or activated the lightsaber he was holding.

"And do you wish to continue this battle?" he asked calmly.

This time, Djarin activated the purple blade and pressed his blaster against Revan's chest. "Only if you intend to harm Cinder," he replied. "I don't care how you try to justify your plans; I will kill you if you touch her."

"..."

*CLICK*

*CLICK*

*CLICK*

Before Revan could respond, the sounds of multiple guns at the ready reached his ears. As he looked around, Revan took note that both Mandalorians and commoners were ready to fire at him. It seemed that the threat Djarin was making was real.

But that didn't make it right in the eyes of Revan.

It wasn't his fault that Djarin and the people around him couldn't see the bigger picture. If the cycle of Maidens did not repeat itself, Revan and Ozpin couldn't make the power find a more suitable host than Aurora. If he were to walk away now, the war would reach a mighty standstill that was unacceptable.

Then again... this was an awfully large crowd to protect one child. Either they knew Revan was a Jedi, or they truly didn't want Cinder to die.

After weighing his options carefully, Revan was more than sure that he could carry on with his mission. He could still sacrifice Cinder to lure out Aurora, and he could kill Din Djarin right where he stood. And yet, there was something holding him back. And it wasn't the fact that the people he swore to defend were ready to throw him out.

"...Very well," Revan agreed. "I will leave."

"..."

Djarin had to admit that he was expecting more defiance and another brutal fight. But now, he couldn't help but lower his blaster in confusion.

"I cannot agree with your decision, Djarin... but I will respect it," Revan said in defeat.

No.

Not defeat.

Surrender.

The Mandalorian realized that this was a surrender, even though the Jedi before him could undoubtedly be victorious if he stayed the course. It would be foolish to ask, but Djarin had to receive an answer for the question he was about to ask.

"...Why?"

Revan looked over Djarin from head to toe before he used the Force to reclaim his blade. "You... are not like the other Mandalorians I have killed," he declared as he turned off the lightsaber. He then looked behind the Mandalorian, specifically at the hut where Cinder was resting. "I have met countless Mandalorians who rarely saw others as allies, who would always find something to fight against. But you... you have something to fight for."

"..."

Djarin was sure that these would be the last things he expected to hear from someone like Revan. And he was sure that a peace agreement was the last thing to expect tonight. And yet, Djarin watched Revan slightly bow his head, as a sign of humility; a trait Revan hadn't known in a long, long time.

"I will leave the Fall Maiden in your care, Djarin. You have earned my respect."

"..."

"But heed my warning; should you delay the inevitable, our enemy will grow stronger every day."

"..."

With that, Revan didn't wait for an answer or any other arguments. He simply leapt into the forests that bordered the Mandalorian camp, not to be seen again for much time.

Greef Karga was the first to take action by running over to Djarin. "Should we go after him?" he asked.

"He's not a threat right now," the Mandalorian assured his friend. "And he's too dangerous for any of us."

"If you say so." Karga turned back to his people, as well as the Mandalorians. "Show's over, folks! Let's go home!"

One by one, the mass of people who came to defend their land all went to their respective homes. Djarin and Karga, however, moved into the hut where Cinder was resting.

And sure enough, she was untouched.

"Oh, that's music," Karga said in relief, referring to the sound of Cinder's heartbeat through the machines that kept her in a stable state of being.

"That was close," said Djarin, who had the unnerving feeling that a moment too early or too late would have ruined everything. "Too close."

Karga turned back to his friend. "I can go after him. Make sure he stays out."

"He's not worth the time. Right now, I have to get Cinder out of here. I'm not sure I can trust Revan to keep his word."

Karga was told about the Mandalorian's plans to temporarily live in Vacuo. While he spent some time to make sure his friend would return at the first sign of trouble, Karga respected Djarin's decision to leave. "I'll call the doc, make sure he gets Cinder on your ship without so much as a scratch," he promised.

"Thank you," Djarin said.

"My pleasure." Karga turned to leave the hut, but stopped when a hand touched his shoulder.

"Greef... I wasn't talking about Cinder."

Karga simply smiled and patted the Mandalorian's back. "I know. What I said still stands. You two are worth going the extra mile."

"..."

Karga left the Mandalorian alone with his daughter. This wouldn't be the first time he stayed by her bedside; Djarin spent every chance he could with Cinder, talking to her and sleeping in a chair he would always bring with him.

But not tonight.

The mere sight of Cinder resting, which usually made the Mandalorian sad beyond belief, was a miracle that Djarin welcomed with open arms.

"You are leaving."

A new voice behind him caused Djarin to turn around. Instead of Karga or any of the villagers that took a stand, the Mandalorian found himself in the presence of the Armorer.

"Yes," Djarin confirmed. "I'll be taking Cinder with me, naturally. I'm unsure when I will return, but-"

"You misunderstand, Din Djarin," the Armorer stated. "Karga may welcome you to the town, but there will be no welcome for you in this tribe."

Though he didn't know the Armorer's intention behind her declaration, each word she said had sent a knife into Djarin's heart.

"...What?"

The Armorer continued to speak. "You have forgotten everything you learned, when you joined our ranks," she said. "Our secrecy is our survival; our survival is our strength."

"But... But Karga and Nevarro-"

"Their acceptance of us was not an easy one. Yet it was necessary because of you. I was willing to look past this due to our gains, but that time has past."

"I-"

"First, you brought us the Power of Old. In turn, that brought Atlas upon us. When you returned again, you brought false accusations and the Saxons. When you returned again, you brought war to our doorstep."

While Djarin was shocked by the Armorer's declaration, he quickly became insulted by this claim. "Vizsla divided our ranks," he reminded his leader. "Not me."

"Yet the division started when you brought your child to us. And when you returned again, you brought the Butcher of the Great War."

"..."

"Yes, I know who he is. And what he is. Which is why I cannot allow you to return once again."

"...It was never my intention to bring harm to the tribe," Djarin said in his defense. "I hoped to-"

"The tribe?" the Armorer asked. "Time and time again, you have put the needs of others above the needs of the tribe. Whether or not you believe your heart is in the right place, it is with the tribe no longer. Neither is it with the Way of the Mandalore."

Djarin felt insulted once again. "I have done nothing but fight for the honor of the Way of the Mandalore. It is the one thing, the only thing I know."

"Yet you did not waver from endangering both Founder and Foundling tonight. Nor did you waver from removing your helmet to your daughter."

"We are our own clan."

"Only until one or the other dies. This is the Way."

"..."

Djarin wasn't lying when he claimed that the Way of the Mandalore was everything he knew. He even knew that the rule the Armorer said was true; a clan like his would only last until he or Cinder would die. And since Cinder's condition was obvious, one could argue that the existence of the clan of two was fragile.

And if it wasn't clear that the Armorer believed this now, what she said next solidified her beliefs of the future.

"Where the tribe is concerned... you are a Mandalorian... no more."

---

Author's notes: Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I thought I'd make the beginning of this chapter a little more festive than usual, given that one character in RWBY was actually born on Halloween. Hope you don't mind.

I hope you liked Revan's introduction here. This chapter was meant to display his spite for the Mandalorians, but you'll see his backstory and more favorable qualities later on. After all, I think he'll be set on a better path after what just happened.

To The Avenging Titan, glad you liked my ideas for the Blair sisters. You'll be seeing them a little more often, as well as Revan. I hope your expectations for him were met in this chapter. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

To Rider126, if by "canon," you mean the actual Team RWBY, they'll come in much later. But there's still some RWBY canon involved in this story, it just happened much earlier than it did in RWBY (the Fall of Beacon). But there will be more to come, don't worry. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

To GojirraFan455516, I'm glad you liked the Revan reveal, and I hope you liked him in this chapter. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

To an unknown guest, I hope you liked Revan in this chapter. Please let me know what you think. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

To another unknown guest (my Spanish isn't very good, but I see it's your preferred language), los clones y Ahsoka son muy intersante. Usted verá mas en el futuro. Gracias para leyendo la historia, yo espero que usted disfrutó. Por favor perdoname si mi español no es bueno.

To Servos New Head, I am indeed excited for All Quiet on the Western Front. The old movie I saw was the perfect inspiration for writing a war, so I used it in the last chapter. I'm glad you liked the Basilisk, but I'm sorry you didn't like my little meme reference. Thank you for the compliment on the last part of my chapter, I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

To CT7567Rules, you will see plenty more Star Wars character before this story is finished. And I think you'll be very happy when you see who they are. Yes, the Basilisk may be inferior to those other droids, but it still packs a nasty punch. Revan is indeed alive, I hope I answered your questions about him in this chapter. I may use a speeder bike for Djarin's ground vehicle, but I'll give those other vehicles a look. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

Thank you all for reading and being so patient. I promise to have the next chapter up as soon as possible. Other than that, I hope you all enjoy your Halloween, however you plan on celebrating it. Don't forget to leave a comment before you go!

The Court of Talons is adjourned. See you next time!