The Rush Against Time

-Schnee Manor-

During the after party of Weiss' performance. It was meant for a charity program of Beacon Academy. But seeing the people around the ballroom. It disgusts Weiss to see them talking about themselves, showing off their spouses and heirs. Weiss could see why she was never the kind to enjoy this again.

"At one point, we have prototypes of the Hoverbikes for extra forces added to the military." Jacques spoke as he was talking to another business man in the suit. While Whitley stood there listening. Not saying anything.

Then she sees Neptune, in his disguise serving wine around the room. But to her shock and dismay, some boy around their age with dark-blue hair and casual dark vest purposely spilt wine on Neptune's shirt.

"Give me a champagne. Extra ice if you may." Said the boy. Weiss gasped quietly not to give her father away. Neptune ignored it for her sake. Weiss wants nothing more than to give the young man a piece of her mind for what he had done to Neptune. But cannot, since it will cause Neptune to get into trouble, or worst, getting arrested.

She wanted to take a little break since the conversation might take longer than expected. Just as she was about to slip away. Jacques grabs her wrist to stop her. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked.

"Oh, excuse me, Father. I just needed some air." Weiss excused herself. Causing her father to let go of her hand and let her wander around the corner. She wanted to speak to Neptune and ask of he was okay. But knew she cannot say a word. But kept an eye on him for a little.

Then a portrait of Beacon Academy caught her eyes. Neptune saw it as well from afar. Memories of the battle haunted them for as long as they can remember.

Then the same obnoxious young man came toward her. "How do you do?" Weiss blinked as she turned to him.

"It has been awhile, Weiss. Henry Marigold. You probably don't remember but we met last year's gala." Henry said.

"You're right. I don't remember you. But may I ask what brings you to the manor other than this party?" Weiss asked, like it was an interrogation. But Henry seemed rather unbothered.

"This portrait over there. It was suppose to symbolize the light. But seeing what the staff members hadn't done. This is how they get for training barbaric students."

Weiss' eyes widened for what he just said. Insulting Beacon and the people of Vale. Like it was their fault for not predicting the chaos.

"You're even lovelier in person. I just wish I can get to-" Henry passed when Weiss interrupted with a raging voice.

"If you're going to insult more of Vale or Beacon, then get out!"

Henry, annoyed grabs Weiss by the wrist. Neptune saw this and begins to approach them.

"Get this through your head, Miss Schnee." He pulled her closer to his face. Weiss' teeth grinded as she didn't want to have a second with a man who can be anything like her father. "You can't turn me down. We are both in the same circle. And who knows, maybe we'll become man and wife. Eventually."

"You think I would say yes to this? No thanks." Weiss retorted. "But the fact your behavior towards those unfortunate was disgusting coming from you, Marigold."

"Feisty. Not all girls in Atlas were like that. Too bad your father owes my father a debt." Marigold said, smug about seeing her reaction. But Weiss wasn't gonna let him win.

"Whatever my father owed you. It's on him, not me." Weiss countered. Then out of nowhere, Henry was splashed with champagne he asked for. His hair was now soaked. He turned around to see Neptune holding an empty glass dropping drips of champagne.

"Hey, what's the deal?! Do you have any idea how much that suit cost?!" Henry yelled at him. Neptune was usually apologetic, but this time, he has to stand his ground like Weiss did.

"Look who's talking? A guy mistreating a lady like that are nothing but cheap stone like you. And it looks like you have too much champagne." Neptune taunted. "Cheap?!" That action caused Henry to let go of Weiss. But in response to this humiliation, Henry, he lunged at him. "Why you-?!" Henry tackled at Neptune causing the both of them to fell on a punch bowl. Both of them are doused soaked in their clothes. Causing the dark color on Neptune's hair to be reverted back to light blue.

The crowd is shock. Jacques saw this and recognized Neptune as the boy he does not want his daughter to be affiliated with. As Neptune and Henry continue to brawl. Weiss tried to intervene.

"Neptune, stop! He's not worth it!" Weiss pleaded.

Neptune stops, as he turned to her. Just as he was about to apologize for causing embarrassment. Jacques then grabs Neptune by the hair. "You filthy boy! I should've known you would trespass in Atlas!"

Weiss then ran towards her father and tried to get him to let go of Neptune. "Father, let go! You should know better than to-!"

"Know your place, daughter! That's my order!" Jacques pushed Weiss away. Causing her to fall on the floor. Neptune was let go as he came to her aid. "Weiss!"

"Yikes, I have seen this guy before. I heard he was afraid of the water in the Vytyl Festival." One man spoke, whispering to his trophy wife. "Some huntsman he tried to become."

"I guess all the more reason Beacon had failed to teach students some manners and qualities."

"Every last one of them deserves to be in the tribute of shame."

Weiss cannot take it anymore, and shouted at all the guests that taunted about Vale and Beacon. "Enough! All of you! Don't you know what was going on out there! While you were enjoying the comfort of the money! You don't know the reality of the chaos caused by the Grimm! I guess you can't see it until everything you have is gone?" Weiss yelled at them.

The ballroom became silent. The guests became shocked at the time of her voice. The heiress would not let her friends, or any loved one be talked down or be looked down upon. Her grandfather and sister's influence got to her very strongly than that of her father.

Suddenly, and unintentionally, her glyph had been summoned, even without any of Weiss' commands. And it summoned a boartusk Grimm charging at the trophy wife. "Ahh!" She was about to get hit before James Ironwood shot the projectile with his bullet, causing it to dissipate.

Neptune and Weiss were shocked. And looked at each other. Weiss' semblance had evolved. This had shocked and angered the trophy wife for the stunt even if it just an accident. "Arrest those two!" She demanded Ironwood. Pointing her finger at Weiss and Neptune. The blue-haired boy got in front of Weiss to defend her. But Weiss stops him. "I'll be fine, Neptune."

"I'm afraid Miss Schnee is right. But as for you, Mr. Vasilias. You're under arrest for trespassing the borders during it's closure. And for breaking in the manor." Neptune was about to accept it. Holding his hands out for handcuffed to be on his wrist. But Weiss came to his defense before this happens.

"General, wait! It's my fault I asked him to-?!" But before Weiss could finish. The lights were out. The ballroom became a blackout.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Whitley shouted.

"James! Do something!" Jacques demanded. But Ironwood wasn't listening. But considered doing the search. But a red laser beam showed on Weiss' shoulder and was pointed at her on the back. But Neptune notices quickly and knew a sniper got here. "Look out!" Neptune tackles Weiss to safety before a bullet can hit her.

The bullet was shot and broke the window's glass. Causing the pieces to fly over the ballroom and landed on some of the guests. Neptune got up from the floor as he helped her up. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yes, and you?!" Weiss replied.

"Never been better." Neptune rubbed the tiny glass shards off his hair. When they looked through the broken window, they saw the identity of the sniper. It was Mercury. "Mercury?!" Weiss shouted.

"Him again!" Neptune snarled grabbing his weapon. He already grabbed Weiss' Myrtenaster from her room and quickly gives it to her. Mercury saw them looking at him and sped off. Dropping the sniper gun, since he already has a weapon in him.

"You're a life saver, Neptune!" Weiss said as they make their way through the hallway to not let Mercury get away from justice. "I owe it all to you, Snow Angel!" Neptune replied.

"We can't let him get away!" Weiss said rushing through the hallway.

"No, we won't!" Neptune agreed.

-Anima-

Team RNJRSS set another campfire and Ruby was set on watch duty while the others sleep for the night. Jaune the decided to join her. As he got up and approached her. "Hey, Ruby." Jaune spoke. "If it's okay, can I join you?" Asked Jaune.

"You should be sleeping, Jaune. We're taking turns to keep watch." Ruby said to him, not wanting him to tire him out.

"Sorry, I just can't sleep." Jaune rubbed his eyes. Ruby thought he was having nightmares. Feeling bad, she decided to let him join in until he gets some rest. "Nightmares again?"

"It was really bad this time. I was getting the feeling something worse is about to happen." Jaune said to her. Ruby nodded. As she was also having nightmares.

"You too?" Asked Ruby. "What was happening in your nightmare?" Jaune decided to tell Ruby since she has been holding it for awhile.

"There was you and me, facing something or someone more powerful. It was horrible. There was a woman dressed in black and pale skin and red eyes. Then there was you and me, facing that someone alone. All our friends fought with all they can. Until they ended up dead. Then she summoned four objects that leads to Remnant's destruction."

Ruby gasped, as she rubbed her eyes as the vision of what he was describing was shown again in her eyes.

"I hate to say this Jaune. But I felt it too. I don't want to think about it but what if that big entity was the start of all of this? What if the world is about to end? I don't know what to believe anymore. But maybe this is why this brought us here." Ruby admitted.

Jaune didn't want to think of this either. But this feeling and fear can't be ignored. He wasn't sure if anyone was about to make it out of this alive. But to not let himself or Ruby worry anymore, he offers Ruby comfort so she allows it as he wrapped his right arm around her.

Ruby felt relaxed at the moment, watching the moonlight. They wonder if that nightmare is their fate about to be sealed in the future. One they hope it will never come true.

"If none of us makes it, I'm glad I met you Jaune." Ruby assured him. Wanting him to know that she was glad to have him as a friend. Her silver eyes shines by the light of the moon. Jaune smiled at her assurance.

"Why?"

"If we haven't met, we wouldn't learn in Beacon. About our mistakes and know more about how great life is, even at the worst times." Ruby was grateful to have met Jaune as her first friend in Beacon. At first, it was awkward of her because she feels like having friends would mean being brought down to the ground. But Jaune proved her wrong.

"Actually. I have to thank you." Jaune said to her.

"For what?"

"I wouldn't learn from my mistakes if it wasn't for your words. I just can't hide anymore." Jaune said. "A lot expected from us, but the more I think about it, the more I have to live beyond that." Jaune adds.

"I'm sure Pyrrha will be happy to hear you say that." Said Ruby.

Hearing Pyrrha's name upsets Jaune a little. If there was one thing he could've taken back what he said was that Pyrrha can do anything to become a Fall Maiden but didn't consider his words to be harsh to her.

"Jaune, what's wrong?"

"If there was one thing I could've taken back when Pyrrha was chosen to become a Fall Maiden, was that she can do it. But looking back, I wished I haven't said anything of this to her. I told her this because I thought she can. Cause I thought she deserve that power to use for good. And now she is gone. I guess the world expects too much from her." Jaune states.

Ruby sighs as she turned back to the moon. "Don't blame yourself for this Jaune. I know you mean well, you just didn't know what could've happened back there. I'm sure Pyrrha knows this too. You only said those things because you believe in her, just as she believed in you." Ruby said, not wanting Jaune to blame himself for as long as he lived.

"I hope you're right. I don't know what I was thinking." Jaune admits. All he wanted was to rid the nightmares. But what can he do? Ruby will have to remain at her friends' side if she had to. Especially Jaune.

"Still. If we run into her parents. I hope to see them and tell them I'm sorry." Jaune suggested.

"If we did. Let's talk to them together. I think Pyrrha would want that." Ruby said. "We should give them the closure they need."

"Can I ask you something?" Asked Jaune.

"Why not? I can't sleep anyway."

"Your mom, what was she like?" He asked.

"How come?"

"I saw you looking at the photo of your mom. And saw how much she meant to you." Jaune said, remembering the other night Ruby looks at the picture of her father, mother and sister.

"She looks a lot like you." Jaune said.

"My mom was a huntress. While Dad used to work as a teacher in Signal. Mom would be at home with us, but other times she would be on missions. One of my favorite Fairy Tales she read to me and Yang was "The Girl who fell through Time." She left me this." Ruby showed Jaune an emblem of the rose.

"To me, this emblem is a mother's promise." Jaune was amazed to see such a item most valuable to her as something meaningful, rather than rare. Blinging at the moonlight.

"It's actually beautiful. No wonder why you held it much." Jaune said.

"Yeah. It means a lot to me. But one day after Mom left. She disappeared. No one knows what happened to her. But all we have left as a grave with her name. I would come here often. No matter how hot or cold it gets." Ruby said. "I wanted to become a huntress to live on for her."

Jaune felt remorse. This is something he did not know. He lost one person dear to him, and so did Ruby. "Ruby..." Jaune hugged Ruby as her eyes began to tear off. They can feel each other's pain and regret.

"It's alright to miss someone. We'll follow you. On the way." Jaune assured her. "I think your mom will be proud."

"Thanks, Jaune." Ruby allowed Jaune to keep her company. Sage watches. He figured a vision from the future might came true for Jaune and Ruby to fight alongside for a battle very big, they will have to face it together. And there is more to their friendship than just as comrades. But only time will tell.

I wonder if those visions will come true? Can't think about it right now.

Unbeknownst to them, Sai is watching Team RNJRSS from afar. Seeing Ruby with Jaune. She has the same vision where they (as adults) fought against Salem. She was certain that the children of huntsmen are the final hope for their world to unite. But it will be a long battle for them to keep on.

Perhaps Ruby and that young man might be our final hope. Just like how Jonathan Arc sealed Salem away when allying himself with a silver-eyed warrior in the Great War.

-Atlas-

Weiss and Neptune got out of the manor armed with Myrtenaster and Tri-hard. They stopped at a nearby building where Mercury is sprinting away. "There he is!" Neptune shouted pointing at the assassin's son.

"I'll take the top! You take the lower ground!" Weiss suggested. Neptune nodded. He shift his trident into a gun, and fills it up with electric dust. As it blinks blue lights to charge it up.

Weiss uses her glyphs to catch up with Mercury who uses his prosthetics to counter her. As Weiss shifts back, he fires his leg canons at her. Weiss deflects Mercury's attacks as she uses her rapier to counter his blasts.

Weiss lunged her blade at Mercury to dissipate his aura, even if he has no semblance. But Mercury grabs her and threw her over off the roof.

But Weiss uses her glyphs to land. But before she can continue. Zeos came out of nowhere and was about to swing his hook swords, but Neptune came just in time to block it for her. "I got him!" He shouted.

"I knew you were up to no good Zeos!" Neptune snapped. As he blocks his cousin's clash using his spear. Zeos sound and swipes at his head. But Neptune ducked and jumps over another swing of a hook sword.

Neptune then holds his weapon over his head to block it. "Why are you doing this, Zeos?! Do you hate me that much?!"

"Zeos summersaults over him and kicks him on the back.

"I'll admit, you weren't as stupid as I remembered!" Zeos laughs. Neptune does a sweep kick Sun has taught him. "I want everything you had! Every day I looked in the mirror, all I see was you! And by getting rid of you, I'll be human once more!"

Neptune was confused. When Zeos mentions being human. It was as if something about that hides a mystery about Zeos' existence. "Be human? What do you-"

Neptune was cut off when Zeos was leaping at midair to slam him to the ground. But Neptune dodged it.

Weiss was blasting ice at Mercury who was countering them with his canon prosthetics. Then he jumped on another rooftop.

"You won't get away with this, Mercury! It's because of you, Beacon is gone! And because of you, Pyrrha and Penny are gone too!" Weiss shouted at him by using her clock glyph to catch up with him. But dodges Mercury's cannon blows from every shot he makes.

"Like I even care. I was already a monster since the day I was born!" Mercury said as he lift his leg up to block Weiss' slash. Weiss swings up to have Mercury deplete his aura even more.

"There's no point escaping from us! You're in Atlas grounds now!" Weiss taunted. Using her light blue-green glyphs to restrain him. Then spins around to summon ice from the roof and trap Mercury on it. Only his metallic feet were frozen.

Then Weiss thrust her sword towards Mercury at the speed of her glyphs and makes a swipe that drains his aura. Causing the ice to break, but for Mercury to collapse. He was shocked to see her so strong. Maybe even more so than her sister.

Neptune struggles to beat Zeos at his own game. Neptune then jumps onto a building wall and pierced it on the wall to climb on it and flipped on the rooftop. Zeos gives chase. But Neptune blast his gun at him to stun him. But to no avail when Zeos reflect them. Causing bolts of lightning from Neptune's gun to bounce back at him.

Neptune then leaps onto another rooftop before landing near an abandoned hotel. Hiding and waiting for a right moment. Panting and sweating to see how aggressive Zeos' fighting skills are.

But just as he was about to make the stance again. Waves of water were heading towards him Zeos is Vasilias, so he can manipulate the water. Neptune was engulfed by the water as he struggles to swim.

"Ah!" He tried to reach for the surface before Weiss creates the ice walls to keep the water from flooding the city. Neptune swam back up and reaches for a nearby tree and grabs on. Then the two were covering their eyes as they were spotted by the light from a military airship.

While Mercury was caught by the officers in the military. Zeos had escaped. The damage was done. Both Weiss and Neptune knew there was no turning back.

Author's note: We are now getting a battle near the Schnee Manor during the after party. This scene was inspired by the trailer of a Pokemon special of Team Rocket vs Team Plasma moment where the party is under attack. I forgot a few details.

Here we also have a moment when Jaune and Ruby have a vision in the future when they were about to fight against a big entity. Far a greater threat than the creatures of Grimm. It would seem that they were destined to fight alongside each other.

In this version of a fanfic, Jaune's great-great grandfather was aided by a silver eye warrior to have battle Salem before since the 1st Great War. But that was the history that Sai only knew of.