The Reviews!
.
AutoHunterJ49(1/3): Yep! All your answers are in the guidebook! As for your theory on the other part of Salem's plan, I will say you're half right. Salem's plan is part Lucius Zogratis, part Sosuke Aizen, and part Blackbeard, which also describes her in this story.
Reader: Thank you, and Watts is indeed going to be using the data for something interesting. We'll see Fe again since she and Sun will be sort of getting... "Involved". As for who will Team WTCH will fight let's call them... team AASSS (Funny I know,) (guess the Characters by the way). As for Watts creating something similar to the Pacafistas I will say that you're not far off.
Greer123: Thank you and as of Now I am doing very well, thank you for asking :)
dragoon109: in the show, Salem's goal is to destroy humanity and destroy the brother gods. I also just wanted to let the other readers know that Salem in this story won't be the same as the one in Canon. Also, the original plan was to have Jaune awaken his semblance here, but I changed it to awakening King's Aura because when Jaune unlocks his Semblance it'll be when he truly needs it.
AutoHunterJ49(2/3): I have felt the same way with Salem's character, but I am aware that she is smart, smarter than most characters, and because she's been playing the longest chess game in history! As you said, she's able to manipulate her followers, but also manipulate her enemies into playing right into her hands. As I said before, Salem (as well as her plan) is a combination of Lucius, Aizen, and Blackbeard... and yet she's not even the final villain in this story.
X3runner: Thank you and glad you like Sun in this story cause I wanted to do him right and because he is one of my favorite male characters in RWBY.
AutoHunterJ49(2/3): Funny that you say that because something like that might happen in the future Arcs~!
JC of the Corn: Hey JC! Good to see you again! Thanks for the support and I hope you'll like the future chapters because I can promise you that it's only going to get better!
.
Anyway, I hope guys enjoy today's chapter!
.
.
.
.
.
.
After returning the hostages to Alnwick and letting the people know that their troubles were now over, the students returned to Beacon a day later, where Port was put on Medical leave for two weeks, and Arslan was still knocked out but recuperating. Currently, it was the next day and Jaune was in Ozpins office, filling him in on what had happened in Alnwick. Ozpin sat alone at his desk while he listened to Jaune's report of what had happened to Alnwick, the MutaGrimm, and Dr. Merlot.
"And that's all, Ozpin," Jaune said.
Ozpin smiled at the young teen boy, "Thank you for the report, Jaune, and there is no amount of words that can express my gratitude to you and your friends, for saving Alnwick and protecting the whole Kingdom from madman" Ozpin said "But... I feel like there's something else, something that you're not telling me?" Ozpin asked
Jaune looked at Opzin with a bit of a worried look and then looked down and let out a heavy sigh before looking up. "There is something else..." Jaune began
"What?" Ozpin asked, leaning in.
"During the first night, when Merlot and the Rouges attacked with the MutaGrimm, a man named Treygen used some Aura piercing rounds, and he was gonna kill me, but then something happened," Jaune began, "I blacked out and... something took over my body," Jaune said.
Ozpin was now both intrigued and confused, "What do you mean?" Ozpin asked.
"From what Sun and Arslan said, Sir... A Grimm took control of my body," Jaune told him.
Jaune didn't see but when Ozpin heard what Jaune had said, his entire body stiffened. Ozpin looked at the boy, "Are you sure, Jaune?" Ozpin asked.
"Ask Sun and when Arslan wakes up, ask her as well," Jaune told him. "And I think I know how this Grimm entered my body,"
Ozpin raised a brow, "How?" Ozpin asked
"back in Mt. Glenn, when I went looking for where Roman, I saw Roman's Aura, followed him to Mount Glenn, but I lost him along the way so I started looking for where he might be, I went down the wrong tunnel and fell through a hole that dropped me into some black pool,"
"Black Pool you say?" Ozpin said
"Yeah," Jaune replied, "Anyway, it was really bad, some got in my mouth and I began to feel pain all over my body, it was intense, and after that, I passed out," Jaune said
"The Black Pool, Is that all you saw down there?"
"No, a Dragon Grimm, a Wyvern if I remember from what Sun told me, it was huge, as big as an Airship," Jaune told him,
"This is very troubling, a Grimm like that has to be destroyed, it can not be allowed to wake," Ozpin said
"I don't think it will sir... because that Wyvern is inside me," Jaune said
Ozpin looked at him with wide eyes "Are you sure?" Ozpin asked
Jaune nodded, "It said its name is Favnear, and I think that whatever that Black goo was that his original body was leaking, allowed him to somehow transfer his soul into my body, sir," Jaune told him.
"His soul?" Ozpin asked
"I know how weird and unbelievable that sounds but from what he told Sun and Arslan that Grimm do have souls, even saying that we as humans don't know anything about Grimm, and I think that with what's happening with me... he's right,"
Ozpin felt deeply troubled by all of this, while he was over a centuries years old, he never truly tried to study the Grimm like some he knew, but he couldn't deny that a human and Grimm hybrid existed, after all, she was one after all.
Ozpin looked at Jaune, "Mr. Arc, who else knows about this?" Ozpin asked.
"Everyone on the mission except Professor Port," Jaune told him.
"I see," Ozpin said, "I will ask Mr. Wukong and Ms. Atlan when the time comes, for now, I need to call a few old friends for some help,"
"Sir..." Jaune called out.
Ozpin looked at the boy and saw the small fear in his eyes, and realized that the boy was brave for telling him this, but he was also scared because of how this may look. Oz smiled at the young man, "Do not worry, Jaune, I will not let any harm come to you, I swear it," Ozpin said.
Jaune let out a sigh of relief and nodded, "Thank you, Ozpin," Jaune said and smiled.
"You're excused, for now, I think Ms. Atlan will want to see you when she wakes," Ozpin told him.
Jaune nodded and got up from his seat, made his way to the elevator, and left the office.
Once the teen left, Ozpin called for both Glynda and James to quickly come to his office, stating that it was a rather urgent matter. Glynda quickly arrived at his office and asked him what the urgent matter was, but Ozpin said that they needed to wait for James because this was a group decision. A few minutes later after Glynda's arrival, James arrived and looked at his fellow headmaster.
"What is this about, Ozpin?" James asked.
"It's about Mr. Arc," Ozpin told them.
Glynda raised a brow, "What about him?" She asked
"He has the soul of a very powerful Grimm inside of him," Ozpin told them bluntly.
Both of them looked at the wizard with shocked expressions.
"What!?" James cried, "How!? How is that even possible!?"
"It seems that Mt. Glenn held the nest of a Wyvern, Mr. Arc stumbled upon it during his mission with Dr. Oobleck and Team BRNZ of Shade Academy, and the Wyvern was leaking some of its essences, creating a pool that Mr. Arc fell in, and the Wyvern was able to transfer its soul into Mr. Arc,"
"Its soul?" Glynda asked.
"Yes I can't believe it myself, but he's not lying, the Grimm told him so,"
"The Grimm told him?" James asked, still in shock.
Ozpin nodded again, "Yes, it appears that Mr. Arc and the Grimm, or Favnear as it's called itself, are still two separate entities in one body,"
"Has this ever happened before!?" James asked.
Ozpin shook his head, "No, not to my knowledge, I've only known that any human who comes into contact with the Black essence of the Grimm dies," Ozpin said.
"Except for Her," Glynda chimed in, "She is half Grimm right? If she could become one, who's to say that it's not possible now?" Glynda asked.
"Yes, But she's different, she had magic, Mr. Arc doesn't, so how can he become a hybrid, and most of all, why hasn't his appearance changed?" Ironwood asked, looking over to Ozpin.
"It's possible that because Mr. Arc and Favnear are two separate entities when Mr. Arc is in control, he's human, but when this... Favnear is in control, his appearance changed to more Grimm-like features," Glynda said.
"I was thinking the same thing as well," Ozpin chimed in.
James let out a sigh, but looked to Ozpin, "So what do we do about Mr. Arc? Do we restrain him?" James asked.
Glynda looked to the general with a raised brow, "Excuse me?" She asked
James looked over at her, "We can't let him run loose, if he turns out like her, we're going to have to deal with two hybrids," James said.
"So we lock him up for something he might do and something he might become!?" Glynda cried with anger, "We don't know what will happen, James!" Glynda cried.
"But we can't take the chance of letting him go either!" Ironwood cried, "Mr. Arc is a danger to everyone here!"
"You don't know that James!" Glynda yelled as she glared at the Atlas General.
"I don't care! It's too much of a risk!" James cried.
"That's enough," Ozpin said.
Hearing him, both stopped arguing and quickly looked at him.
"What do you suppose we do, Ozpin?" Ironwood asked.
Ozpin remained silent for a moment as he pondered what to do, but he looked at both of them. "You're both right, we can't lock up Mr. Arc for something he might become or do, nor can we leave him unchecked... But there may be a 3rd option here," Ozpin said.
"Like what?" Ironwood asked
"Like seeing if Mr. Arc can control the Grimm inside of him," Ozpin said, "If the Grimm does have a soul inside Mr. Arc, then Perhaps we can send Mr. Arc inside of his mind and see if he can face the Grimm and get control of it," Ozpin finished.
"Is that even possible?" Glynda asked.
"For one person, yes," Ozpin replied, "Glynda, Call Shion and Qrow and tell them it's an emergency,"
"Do you think Qrow will even answer?" Glynda asked.
"I'm sure he will, but I'm sure he'll just show up instead of calling back," Ozpin said with a small smirk, he then turned to James, "Call Specialist Schnee here, I'm sure her talents will be needed here,"
James nodded, "I'll have her down here by tomorrow," James said.
Ozpin gave James a quick nod, "Good, and now, I also have to call someone that will be of great help to us," Ozpin told them.
Both the Combat Professor and the Military general were a bit confused.
"Who else do you have to call?" Glynda asked.
"Mr. Arc's Grandmother of course," Ozpin said with a faint smile.
Hearing this, a sudden chill ran down the back of the two adults. Both remember just how scary and intimidating she was.
Ozpin opened his Scroll and quickly found Betty's contact and pressed on it.
The scroll rang for a few seconds before the sign of it being answered was heard.
[Ozpin]
"Hello Betty, How are you?" Ozpin asked
[I'm well,] Betty replied, [How's my Grandson?] She asked.
"Is doing well, however, we have a problem and it does involve your grandson," Ozpin said.
There was silence for a few seconds before Betty replied. [Did that little brat James do anything to him?] Betty asked.
Hearing that, James began to sweat just a little.
"No," Ozpin replied.
[What about Glynda? She put too much pressure on him?] Betty asked.
"I-I did no such thing Ms. Arc!" Glynda frantically cried, before covering her mouth in embarrassment.
"No, it's much worse than that," Ozpin replied, "Your grandson... May have a Grimm inside of him," Ozpin told the older woman.
Silence.
That's all there was on Betty's end, which as all three of them knew, meant bad news for all of them.
[Ozpin, are Glynda and James with you?]
"Yes," Ozpin said.
[Good, because I'm only going to say this once] Betty said [You better pray to every god you know, because if anything happens to Jaune before I get down there, and if you don't have an explanation of how the hell this happened, I will make sure that there will be nothing left of both Beacon and Atlas... Am I clear?] Betty asked.
"Yes ma'am!" Both Ironwood and Glynda cried frantically.
"Understood Betty," Ozpin said with a bit of an awkward smile.
The Scroll call ended and Ozpin ended the meeting for now and Glynda and James returned to their duties.
As they left, Ozpin turned his seat around and looked out to the view of his school and he began to wonder what lay ahead.
Because from what he felt, things were only going to get a lot more difficult from here on out...
.
.
.
Back in the infirmary, Arslan's eyes began to flutter open and when they finally opened, she saw the ceiling of the infirmary and quickly sat up and looked around frantically.
"Wh-Where am I!? Arslan asked with a Shakey voice.
"Ms. Atlan!" came the voice of Professor Peach, "Please take it easy!"
Arslan looked over at the professor with a fearful and confused expression, "What happened!? When did we get back to Beacon!? What happened to Alnwick!? Where's Jaune!? What happened to him!? Is he ok!?" Arslan asked
"Easy, Ms. Atlan! Easy!" Professor Peach cried, "Take a few deep breaths and try to calm down, and I will answer your questions as best as I can," she said
Arslan nodded, and took a few deep breaths in and out and eventually calming down as Professor Peach rubbed her back.
"Ok... Ok, I think I'm alright, Professor," Arslan said
Peach smiled at the young woman and nodded, "Good," She said, "Now calmly, can you ask me what you want to know?"
"When did we get back?" Arslan asked
"Yesterday," Peach told her, "You've been out for two days, Ms. Atlan,"
"What happened to Alnwick?"
"It's safe, You and your friends saved the town," Peach told her with a smile.
Arslan let out a heavy sigh of relief, "What about Merlot?"
"From what the reports say, He died when Mr. Arc and Mr. Wukong carried you out and escaped the lab," Peach told her.
Arslan nodded, not feeling bad for the mad scientist's demise. "What about Jaune and Sun? Are they ok?" She asked
Peach nodded, "Yes, Mr. Wukong and Mr. Arc are fine, no major injuries, just tired," she said
Arslan let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "Thank the gods," she said.
"Would you like me to call your friends and let them know you're awake, or do you still need time to rest?" Peach asked.
"I'm fine, I've slept enough, please call them," Arslan said.
Peach nods and leaves to do so.
Meanwhile, Arslan sat there and began thinking back at what she had done in Merlot's lab.
She killed a MutaGrimm and turned around only to see Merlot's Mech aim the canon at Jaune, and saw the blast of dust charge up and then saw the blast of dust toward Jaune while he was distracted with another MutaGrimm.
Arslan's eye's widened with fear as she saw the blast head toward the man she cared deeply for, and knowing that he was low on Aura, she quickly made her way toward the boy as fast as she could, and before the blast could even hit him, she pushed him out of the way and when she did, she saw his shocked expression at what she had done. Seeing his expression, she felt terrible for making him see this, and a fear of death came over her, and she thought about how she might die in this very instant.
However, there was only one thought on her mind, a thought that she wanted to form into words before she was struck.
"I love you,"
"Arslan!"
Taken out of her thoughts, Arslan turned her head to see Reese running toward her with the rest of her team behind her.
Reese reached her bed and looked at her leader with a look of worry, "Are you ok!?" Reese cried
"How are you feeling!?" Nadir asked as well.
Arslan chuckled, "I'm alright," Arslan replied.
Bolin nodded and smiled, "Good, these two were very worried about you," Bolin told her.
"And you weren't?" She asked with a raised brow and a smile.
"I knew you pull through," Bolin told her with a smirk.
"Well, well, well, looks who's finally up, eh?"
They all turned to the entrance to see Team CFVY as they too walked in and over to Arslan. Coco looked at the Haven student and lowered her shades to look at Arslan.
"How are ya feeling Queen?" Coco asked.
"Better than I was before," Arslan said, "What about you guys?"
"We're as good as can be, Arslan," Fox said.
Velvet nodded in agreement, "We were all more worried about you," she said.
"Indeed," Yatsuhashi said with a nod.
Arslan smiled and then looked to Reese, "Where's Jaune and Sun?" Arslan asked
"Sun's talking to Ozpin right now, and I'm sure Jaune is on his-" Reese began
Jaune burst through the infirmary and looked over to the group with wide eyes. "Is she awake!?"
"-way," Reese finished, she turned to Jaune with a soft smile and nodded, "Yeah, Ars is up," she said
Jaune quickly made his way over to her and before she could say anything, Jaune quickly brought her into a hug. Arslan was surprised, but she broke the hug and looked at Jaune with a bit of a shocked face.
Jaune looked at her with concern, "Arslan? Are you ok?" Jaune asked
However, instead of getting an answer, Arslan grabbed him by his hoodie and pulled him down and to her, and planted a kiss on his lips! Everyone went wide-eyed at Arslan's action as they were not expecting her to just straight up kiss the guy.
Arslan broke the kiss and Jaune stood up straight, stunned at what Arslan had just done to him, but also feeling like had won a million Lien.
"I'm just fine, Jaune," Arslan said.
"Uh... Arslan?"
"Yes Jaune?"
"Was that a "friendly" kiss or was that an "I like you" kiss?"
"It was an "I've been in love with you since we were kids" Kiss," Arslan said with a chuckle.
"R-Right! Got it! Wow!" Jaune cried, still in shock
Coco chuckled at Jaune's reaction, "Looks like ya broke him Ars," Coco said. "But he about to get more of a shock~!" Coco teased
Velvet looked at her leader with a raised brow, "Coco? What are you-?"
"Hey Jaune," Coco called out to him.
Jaune stopped and looked at Coco, "Y-Yeah?" Jaune asked
"Arslan's not the only one who's got the hots for ya, but Reese, Bun-Bun, and I do as well," Coco said with a smirk.
Reese quickly pulled her hoodie over her head to hide her blush.
"COCO!" Velvet cried as she blushed.
Jaune was now even more shocked as was everyone else, not expecting this to happen so soon.
"Y-Y-You all have feelings for me!?" Jaune cried with a blush
"Yes/You Bet/Yep/Y-Yeah/" Replied all four girls at once.
"Why?" Jaune asked, still stunned.
Reese stopped hiding inside her hoodie, walked over and stood next to Arslan, and then looked at Jaune, "Well, you were always there for us, you stood up for us back when we were kids and while you got beat up a lot, it still meant a lot to us that you were willing to get beat up to protect us," Reese said, rubbing her arm.
Arslan nodded, "Not only that, but you were always so hopeful about the future, when we had our bad days, you never dwelled on them, you pushed forward and told us that tomorrow was gonna be a better day," Arslan told him.
Jaune blushed as he hear Reese and Arslan's reasons for liking him and it gave him a really warm feeling to know that they liked him since they were kids, it's not like he never thought about it, he was just scared that it would ruin their friendship and also because he thought they were out of his league.
Jaune looked over to Velvet and Coco, "Um... Why do you guys like me?" Jaune asked
"W-Well, you never gave up no matter how many times you were struggling during training and you kept pushing despite the odd, I uh... I also thought that you looked really cute in your Pumpkin Pete's hoodie..." Velvet said with a blush and an embarrassed smile.
Jaune smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck as his face was heating up more and Yatsuhashi could have sworn that steam was coming off his face.
"As for me, well you're a smart guy Jaune, not only that, whenever you get really into fighting, there's this side of yours that I find hot," Coco said
"Coco!" Velvet cried
Coco chuckled, "I'm teasing Bun, besides, I also like that he's sometimes just a big ol' nerd, it's really cute how much he loves his comic books," Coco said, "But for real, when you get all brave and confident, it is hot, it's not even cockiness, and then you get all protective knight mode where you just do you best to protect anyone," Coco told him.
Jaune was overheating at this point, "I-I... Wow, this is a lot to take in hehe..." Jaune said
"So what do you say Jaune? Are you willing to go out with 4 beautiful ladies~?" Coco asked
"Y-You guys are willing to share me?" Jaune asked, once again shocked.
"Of course," Velvet said, "We didn't want to make you choose so we all decided on sharing you," Velvet told him.
Jaune was overloaded to such a point that his head was spinning, not believing that this was happening, but a goofy smile formed on his lips and he looked away from the girls as his face was still as red as a tomato, "W-Well if you all are ok with sharing me, then I'm willing to give this a go," Jaune said happily
Reese jumped up in the air with a fist raised, "Awesome! You'll be taking us on a first date soon!" Reese said
Jaune nodded, still smiling like a goof, "Of course!" Jaune said happily.
With that said, the girls were happy that they had gotten to confess their feelings to the blonde knight and Jaune himself felt like the most happiest man in the world as he had four lovely dates, all of whom he cared deeply for like family.
Sun and Neptune showed up after hearing that Arslan was awake and that everyone had come to visit her, as they entered the infirmary Sun greeted everyone and looked over to Arslan.
"So, did I miss?" Sun asked with a smile
Fox went over to the monkey Faunus and put his hand on his shoulder and smiled at him, "Sun, my dear man, you missed a lot," Fox said
Everyone laughed while Sun and Neptune just stood there confused.
Sun leaned to his partner, "What is everyone laughing about?" Sun whispered.
"I have no idea dude, but just roll with it," Neptune said.
And the two boys began to laugh along with everyone else, even if they were still very confused.
.
.
.
AT LONG LAST! THE GIRLS HAVE CONFESSED! A four-way date is up next!
We got 1 more chapter to go in the Grimm Eclipse Arc before the 2nd Databook comes out and before we jump into the Favnear Arc!
Here's what is gonna happen in chapter 30!
Jaune takes Coco, Velvet, Arslan, and Reese on a date to a small festival that celebrates the end of Fall! Four new faces approach Beacon, all have one target: Jaune Arc!