"I will leave command of Argus to you, Cordovin," Winter commanded.
"Yes, ma'am." The shorter woman saluted. "I'll make Atlas proud."
Raven, at the back of the room, closest to the exit, rolled her eyes. Always with the procedures and the bureaucracies, she never understood them. It was much easier in the Branwen Tribe. The only thing that needed to be respected was the pecking order. Anyone is free to challenge it sure but they needed to be able to back it up.
The Atlas Specialist turned around like any other soldier would and marched, not walked, towards her.
"How soon can you make the portal?" she asked.
"As soon as the kids involved." Raven raised her eyebrow. She was certain that she explained it rather well.
"I do not like getting Weiss involved in this." Winter shook her head.
"She's a huntress. Maybe if you didn't coddle her enough, she wouldn't be so weak that you need to be around."
"While I will not speak for the rest of them, I do care about family. Something that you clearly do not."
"Excuse me?"
"Child abandonment in pursuit of what? Thievery, banditry, kidnapping, arson…" Winter Schnee listed down a variety of different crimes. The only thing that Raven didn't know about them was what they were called. She probably was guilty of many of those.
"Yang is strong; she can handle herself."
"No thanks to you."
Jeanne d'Arc was there waiting for them. "Okay, both of you, enough." She held her banner tight, probably ready to whack them if she had to. "You're supposed to be the adults here, with years of experience greater than the rest of my team." Not counting Jeanne's collective years and alternative selves.
"Not including yourself in that list, are you?" Raven asked.
"This is a second life of mine," Jeanne replied. "I think that adds up."
When word of their departure reached the others' ears, it was understandable that some had expressed worry about what would happen to Argus once they're gone. There was also the matter of how long they would be there. Raven assured them that she had means of returning here quickly and bring them back if needed to. Neither Jeanne nor Winter knew exactly who but they were certain that the bandit leader had someone she was connected to in her tribe.
Walking down the streets of Argus, they were met with many faces of reverence, the two Maidens especially on account of having seen them in action. Winter had similar but that mostly came from the soldiers.
The three of them met up with the other five. That blonde knight called Jaune Arc was still absent as he wanted to make sure that Argus had enough to at least last for a while longer. Whatever it was that he had been doing with those fishes was working and not one that Raven was willing to question really. There were many things that she didn't think were possible before and this was simply going to be more of that.
Raven learned of her lesson about asking too much the last time. This time, she would willingly stay ignorant. If it means that her tribe would survive longer, she'll accept it.
"So we're good?" asked Nora. "We're off to save Vale again?"
"Not until your team leader is back from his fishing trip," Raven replied. "I'd rather not take two trips back and forth. I'm not a vehicle service."
"You'd need more friends for that," Jeanne said. Before she could make a comeback, Jeanne addressed the others. "How about ammunition?"
"Restocked and fully loaded," Pyrrha Nikos responded. "Armor is also repaired."
Winter nodded. "And Mr. Arc said that he would be back soon?" She turned to Jeanne.
"Jaune is already coming back," Jeanne confirmed. "It was a quick trip; they might as well not have brought the boats and stuck to the nets."
"It would still be full," Nora joked. "Hey, you don't think—"
"No," Ren cut her off. "We are not about see if we could get an endless supply of maple syrup or pancakes."
"I feel so out of place here." Weiss shook her head. "And yet somehow, I feel like I belong here."
Jaune Arc soon arrived. He already had his armor on and his sword and shield on his side. But the scent of seawater and fish still clung to him that Raven was certain that that had been the reason behind him not wearing his helmet.
"You all done yet?" Raven asked. The blonde nodded. At least there were no words. "Good. Get your weapons ready. There's no telling how many Grimm there'll be when I open it."
Winter Schnee forward but Jaune got ahead first, expanding his shield. It had been reason enough for the Atlas specialist to allow him to take that lead. The other blonde positioned herself behind him, spear-point reaching further than the shield.
With a swing of her sword, Raven opened the portal. From what she could feel, both her brother and her ex-husband had been putting themselves in greater danger. They were probably protecting the children, no doubt. It was only relative though as she could still feel that there was some danger involving Yang.
The portal itself was good for about one or two people. There was hardly enough space for them all to charge in but they will pass through anyway.
The two blondes were the first to jump through. Rather than walk, they rushed towards the other side, expecting some kind of battle already. They wouldn't be able to hear anything from here. Winter Schnee followed immediately after. Being the most experienced and the oldest barring Raven herself, the Atlas Specialist obviously is taking responsibility. The rest of this team JNPR followed after, along with Weiss. Oscar—or was it Ozpin, currently—followed after.
Raven was the last and closed the portal. True enough, the sounds of battle against the Grimm were already heard. The path had been cleared enough that Raven suspected that Jeanne had been responsible for that. Those spears and blasts of light were pretty much evidence of that.
The expressions on her family were one of shock and surprise. Whether that had anything to do with her presence or her choice of current companionship was anyone's guess. She didn't really pay much attention to that. Instead, she focused on cutting down the Grimm that were attacking nearby.
Qrow managed to get close to her. "When did you get a spine?" he asked.
"Always had a spine, little brother," she replied. "How else would I be standing?"
"You know what I mean!" he accused. "And what's with the farm boy?"
"Good to see you again, Qrow." That was certainly Ozpin speaking. "It is a complicated story."
"Oz?" Qrow looked at Raven then at Oscar then back to her.
"On your left." Raven cut at the pouncing Beowolf. "Life in the city made you slow, Qrow. Or is it your drinking problem?"
In the background, Raven could see that her daughter, along with her team, were in a middle of a reunion with the younger Schnee.
JNPR continued their fight with Jeanne and Nora clearing out most of the fodder. The others took their time as they dealt with one Grimm after another in quick succession.
Choosing to surprise them again, Raven's eyes began to glow. True enough, Qrow and Taiyang were indeed shocked at seeing that she was a Maiden. Both men turned to the child for answers who only shook his head in response.
Plentiful Grimm fell by the ice cold blade of the Spring Maiden. Most didn't even reach Raven as she conjured a long blade and cut through them easily. She didn't even hit any other huntsmen.
"Proof enough for you?" Raven asked. It went ignored as the others returned to the fight. "Oh sure, the one time I decided to be a good little huntress and it gets ignored."
Shotgun blasts slammed hard against one Grimm. Yang's expression was one of mistrust and doubt. She said nothing to her own mother as she searched for the next Grimm to fight. For a moment, Raven nearly called out to her.
She sighed. "Later. Not now."
The two Maidens split and went in opposite directions. As they did so, they opened up paths that allowed wounded huntsmen to retreat. Every few seconds of their freedom was taken for them to breathe. One wouldn't think that the battle would be going in their favor just because nine more people showed up but two of them were Maidens; it is the tougher species of Grimm that proved to be a problem.
Goliaths came marching in. It was Jeanne who responded first as she charged towards them, spear of light in hand. Getting through the toughness of their hides, she aimed at the legs, causing them to lose balance and crash into the Goliath next to them. Clever girl, Raven will give her that.
Raven personally preferred blades more as she cut through her own Goliath.
The Schnees were doing remarkably well despite not having Maiden powers. Their Glyphs were thrown into overdrive as white familiars kept coming and going. Various Dust went flying across the air, almost mimicking the Maiden's powers.
Nora and Ren were partners through and through. They were synched to a point that Raven wondered if one of them had a mind-reading semblance that allowed them to be this perfect.
That left the two warriors, Pyrrha and Jaune. With their shields, they were more willing to let Grimm come at them with a sharpened edge of sword or pointed spear waiting for them. Armor was just as much as a weapon as all the metals on their persons struck down the Grimm.
Grimm began to fall in greater numbers, mainly thanks to the two Maidens. Cheers were being heard as morale increased. All fighters present charged forward to meet with the Grimm who responded in kind.
Raven looked around her. There was no sign of Salem yet. It was just her Grimm. However, looking above, she could see a blackened cloud coming in. Raven had no doubts that those weren't actually clouds. It must have been Salem.
She cut through an Ursa. There were many Grimm still left behind. It was going to take a while. She could leave now. Nah. Raven could use a little bit of exercise. Until Salem herself gets here, she could play at this hero business for a while.
/-/
Jeanne could feel it. That woman from her visions, she is close. She wasn't sure where she would be but she was certain that the woman was close. Looking around her, there were only capable fighters here. Huntsmen and huntresses all gathered here while civilians ran for cover, though a few did stay behind if only to offer support.
Twirling her banner, Jeanne struck many of the Grimm that had surrounded her. How many had she killed now? Even with her Maiden powers, there were still a near endless supply of them coming in. She even conjured a second spear and dual-wielded it along with her banner.
Powerful lights of magic cut through many of the Grimm. At the end of it all, said light exploded, taking what remaining Grimm that happened to be nearby.
Jeanne fell on her knees. How long had she been doing this that she started to feel exhausted? It was hard to tell with the skies turning dark as more Grimm were pouring in.
Most of the others have either retreated or established some kind of rotation. JNPR, now reunited with RWBY and CRDL of all teams, had their own. She looked at her immediate surroundings. There were no huntsmen in need of assistance and she could not feel whoever that woman was that she was looking for. Rather than taking the easiest past, Jeanne sought to fight her through more Grimm as she made her way to meet up with the rest of her team.
Up in the skies, Jeanne could just make out the presence of an incoming presence. It was a Grimm. However, unlike most other avian Grimm, this one was something that none of them had seen before. Jeanne certainly hadn't seen a flying whale like that.
"That's her," Ozpin said. "That has to be her."
"Does she have the Relic, Oz?" Qrow asked.
"Considering what happened to Vacuo, it is likely. Perhaps she forced her way in."
Jeanne stared at the approaching monstrous sized Grimm. Her other hand felt the Relic of Knowledge by her hip. She had used it to draw as many of the Grimm towards her. They still were but their current numbers were manageable with most being too far away.
"Give me time," she suggested. Her eyes glowed the fires of the Maiden. "I think I can bring her down."
"From this distance?" Jaune asked.
"No. When she gets a little closer. We still need to keep her away from most of Vale."
Her brother nodded. "Ren, Nora, Pyrrha, you know what to do."
"What Grimm clearing, coming right up!" Nora already charged out with Ren following behind her.
Pyrrha and Jaune followed soon after, keeping Jeanne in the middle of the group.
Qrow's hand tried to reach out to them only to be stopped by Raven. Jeanne could hear their conversation as she was charging forward.
"Never thought I'd be the one to say this," Raven said. "But they know what they're doing, somehow. If not, well I don't think even your semblance could screw this up."
"They'll still need help!" Ruby protested.
"Be my guest," Raven replied. "By all means, go and join them."
"Oz," Qrow said. "You can't be serious."
"They have help, Qrow." Ozpin sounded content. Jeanne heard the expansion of the cane. "We'll make this as big of a clearing as we can. I do not know what will happen afterwards, but I am willing to trust them."
The others soon joined them, except for Raven. The Spring Maiden was elsewhere, preferring not to go where most of the Grimm are beginning to concentrate. Jeanne let her, the bandit leader already did more than enough here. The fact that she was staying instead of running away was enough for her.
Nora, with her grenades, provided the heart-shaped clearing. The rest simply followed suit with Jaune staying closest to her while the others formed as wide a circle as they could make it tight.
Thrusting the banner deep into the ground, the fires of Holy Maiden glowed brightly and fiercely. Normally, she wouldn't have been able to do this given the limitations of her Class but as a Maiden, she could freely recreate them as she pleased.
I wonder, she thought. If I would ever come back here in the future or some other time, would my life here make any sort of difference on the me there? Jinn had showed them all sorts of alternate timelines. There was no guarantee that it won't happen in some other place.
A ring of light appeared around her. Within that circle, Jaune stayed close. She didn't need their shared aura for this but she still felt his consent. The Grimm continued their assault on the outer circle of huntsmen and huntresses.
Raising her hand, her eyes were an inferno of light as an orb began to grow just above her. It kept growing until it was the size of a large watermelon. From there, the light began to stretch itself thinner and thinner, becoming a shaft with one end still being somewhat bulbous; that end shaped itself into a triangle. It was a spear of light.
Said spear began to replicate itself and grew in size as well. The ring of light grew brighter and intensified. The Grimm in the distance was getting closer. Not yet. It was still too far.
In the end, Jeanne did end up drawing Jaune's aura into the mix. While the energy contained in those spears were certainly plentiful, she would take what she can.
There were about fifty-nine spears of similar shape with one more being noticeably larger than the others.
Putting her foot back, Jeanne held the larger spear in hand and aimed at the approaching whale Grimm. Then, she paused for a moment. A realization had struck her as if like a message from elsewhere.
It's you. She stared at the whale Grimm. Salem is that woman.
"Jeanne?" Jaune felt her doubt and hesitation. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry," Jeanne replied. "Let's hope that she can forgive me."
"She?"
The large spear flew with the remaining fifty-nine flying afterwards. They all flew in formation as the air ripped apart, giving way to their approach. The whale Grimm had forcibly gone with the momentum as it fell from the skies. From their distance, that descent seemed slow.
"I have to go," Jeanne said. "I found her."
Before she could leave, she felt Jaune's hand grab her arm. "Hey, you're not the only one getting these weird visions. Besides, if it really is Salem, I don't think she would be happy in seeing the one person that shot her out of the sky."
For a moment, Jeanne considered protesting. "Right," she eventually said. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Jaune assured her. "We're doing this together. Even if it's just us. Doubt it, though."
The circle of huntsmen and huntresses remained as they held back the Grimm. While cheers of jubilation were already heard, there was no doubt that there was still at least one more thing to do.
"Let's clear a path then," Jeanne said.
"Allow me," Jaune replied, raising his shield. "I can take it from here."
Jaune charged forward, shield raised, barreling through the hordes of Grimm. He never stopped moving though he had been slowed at times. He kept his momentum going whenever he can though.
Jeanne followed immediately after. Her eyes focused on the falling whale Grimm as it crashed into the ground. Her brother was right: if it really was Salem, it was doubtful that she would be happy to see the person that shot her down.
AN: Okay so funny thing about Jeanne's light spears here, I have been playing around with the idea of using Fate Characters in possible future fics remolded with memories/abilities from previous ones. In the case of Jeanne here, it was as a Lancer-class. So when I saw Fate/Samurai Remnant (I still cry in not enough money), I said to myself: I want that but less "Tristesse de la Vierge" and more "Beatae Mariae Virginis a Rosario"
Also, added the Spirituality tag. Didn't expect it would go in this direction, tbh. Might as well accommodate this change.
