Rising Dawn Chapter 5: What Happens Next, a rwby fanfic

Chapter 5: What Happens Next...

XXX

"AAAHHH!" Aurora screamed, charging forward with her training sword held high. Her small frame vibrated with determination as she rushed towards Jaune, who stood across the training ground, his own wooden sword poised and ready.

Jaune watched the ten-year-old's fierce approach with a calm, practiced eye. As Aurora neared, he smoothly sidestepped her wild swing, allowing her sword to crash harmlessly into the dirt. Seizing the moment, Jaune delivered a quick, controlled kick, sending Aurora sprawling to the ground. She let out a grunt of pain, the impact jarring her senses.

Before she could fully recover, Jaune was already moving, his sword arcing down towards her prone form. Aurora's instincts kicked in, and she rolled swiftly to the side, narrowly avoiding his strike. Scrambling to her feet, she brandished her sword once more, eyes locked on her opponent.

Jaune's sword met the ground with a dull thud, but his gaze was already tracking Aurora as she prepared for the next exchange. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between them, his movements fluid and precise. He pulled his sword back, aiming for a quick jab. Aurora, however, was ready this time; she dodged, attempting a counter-slash. Her shorter reach, though, betrayed her, and the blade whistled through empty air.

Jaune capitalized on her miss, stepping back and then swiftly bringing his sword down on Aurora's hand. She winced, the pain forcing her to release her grip on her wooden blade. In an instant, Jaune's sword was at her face, the tip hovering just inches from her nose. Aurora froze, her wide eyes reflecting both surprise and admiration.

Looking up at the man who had taken her in, she saw Jaune's soft smile, a stark contrast to his earlier intensity.

"I win," he teased, lowering his training sword and offering her a hand up.

Aurora groaned in frustration, retrieving her fallen sword and glaring at Jaune with an annoyed pout. "Aw, come on! How am I supposed to win if you're going all out?" she protested.

Jaune chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'm not going all out, Aurora, if I were, you might've ended up with a broken hand from that swing," he said gently. "I'm being this intense because out there, and maybe even in here, no one's going to go easy on you just because you're a kid, there are terrible and evil people who won't hesitate to harm you or worse,"

Aurora sighed, her shoulders drooping. "I... I understand," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "I just wish these fights wouldn't always end with me losing, I want to be stronger..." She looked down at the ground, her fingers tightening around her training sword.

Jaune watched her for a moment, then set his sword on the ground. He approached her and knelt down, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders. Aurora looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. Jaune wondered if her self-imposed pressure stemmed from a desire to make him proud.

It had been only a week and a half since Jaune had brought her back, but in that short time, Aurora had clung to him like a lifeline. He had given her a home, food, and a sense of safety she had never known before.

"Aurora," Jaune began softly, "Losing helps us become better, trust me, I know, I used to get the sh- the crap kicked out of me a lot," he joked, catching himself.

Aurora giggled, a small smile breaking through her somber expression. "Really?"

Jaune nodded, chuckling. "Oh yeah, like you wouldn't believe! But each loss helped me grow," he told her. "It showed me what I was doing wrong and how I could improve, so trust me, you may be losing now, but with each loss, you're going to grow stronger,"

"You think so?" Aurora asked, her eyes wide with a glimmer of hope.

"I know so," Jaune replied with a confident smile. "Now, put your sword away and I'll see if I can convince Rosa to make some of that Angel Food cake you love so much."

Aurora's face lit up with joy at the mention of her favorite treat. She dashed past Jaune, her earlier frustrations forgotten, and hurried to put her sword away. In a flash, she was running back into the base, eager to find Rosa. Jaune watched her go, a warm smile on his face as he got back to his feet.

He began to follow Aurora but paused when he noticed two figures on the second floor looking down at him. It was Jax and Gillian. Jax seemed rather pleased, a grin stretching across his face, while Gillian's expression remained unreadable, almost blank. Jaune offered them a quick smile and a wave, though he felt a slight unease under their watchful eyes. How long had they been there?

From their vantage point, Jax and Gillian observed Jaune as he walked away. Jax's smile widened, and he glanced at his sister, raising an eyebrow. "You know, I think I'm beginning to like him," he said, amusement coloring his voice.

Gillian turned her deadpan gaze towards him. "Really?" she asked, her tone flat.

Jax chuckled, nudging her playfully. "Well, he's giving you a constant headache, so that's a win in my book,"

Gillian rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Ha ha ha, you're so funny, Jax,"

Jax chuckled again, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Come on now, you have to admit he's got a certain charm to him!" he said, his tone light. "Besides, our source in Shade confirmed they have no knowledge of Jaune being some undercover agent, we should ease up on him, if we drive him away, we lose his skills and his Semblance, that's not a risk we can afford,"

Gillian rolled her eyes, though she knew Jax had a point. Their source within Shade was reliable and had assured them Jaune wasn't a spy for Shade or the council. Still, trust didn't come easily to her, especially not with someone as enigmatic as Jaune.

"So, what about the mission to hunt and silence his old teammates? Do you still want me and him to hunt them down?" Gillian asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.

Jax sighed, the weight of their reality settling back onto his shoulders. "Unfortunately, yes, they pose a threat," He said. "If they're investigating Jaune, they could lead back to us, they need to be taken care of, but if we force him to do it-"

"Jax, he needs to handle it!" Gillian interjected sharply. "This is his problem, he has to deal with them himself! That's the rule, remember? It's the old way,"

Jax let out a resigned sigh, nodding. "I know, I know... you're right," he said. "He needs to handle it," he conceded, finally agreeing with his sister.

Gillian studied Jax closely, her brow furrowing with concern. "Are you alright? Ever since you came back, you've been in your own head... Is something wrong?"

Jax let out a heavy sigh, his gaze distant as he gathered his thoughts. "I've been thinking a lot about why we really started the Crown, Gillian," he began, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and regret. "At first, it was because we needed change, we saw how broken our system was, and how corrupt the council and Shade had become... So we left, declared ourselves royals, and vowed to start a revolution against the Council,"

"But...?" Gillina asked.

"But with the Fall of Beacon, the attack on Haven, and those Atlas cunts hiding away in their fortress, the people are terrified! Everywhere I go, I see small villages struggling, with barely any food, and no protection! The fear and desperation in their eyes... it breaks my heart, Gill... I'm starting to wonder if this is really the right time for a revolution,"

Gillian listened intently, her expression softening as she heard the pain in her brother's voice. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm, grounding him in the moment. "Jax, we've always known this wouldn't be easy, change is painful and often comes with sacrifice, but what we're doing is necessary," She told him.

Jax looked at her, the weight of their responsibility evident in his eyes. "I know you're right, but seeing those people suffering... it makes me question if we're doing more harm than good... Are we really helping them, or are we just adding to their fears?"

Gillian shook her head, her grip on his arm tightening. "We're giving them a chance, Jax, a chance to fight back, to reclaim their lives," She said. "It's not going to be easy, and yes, there will be suffering, but without our efforts, they'd have no hope at all... We have to believe in what we're doing, even when it's hard,"

Jax nodded slowly, the resolve in Gillian's words rekindling his own determination. "You're right," he told her. "We started this for a reason, and we can't lose sight of that, we have to keep fighting for that, no matter how tough it gets,"

Gillian smiled, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "That's the spirit, Brother," Gillian said. "We've come this far, and we'll see it through... Together," She finished,

Jax returned her smile, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Together," he echoed. "We'll keep pushing forward, for the people, for the future we believe in,"

With that, they turned and walked away. Jax knew there would be many hardships ahead, knew that for now, he'd be seen as a villain, and the enemies of his cause would rise from the sands and face him, but with Gillian by his side and the fire of their cause burning bright, he felt prepared to face them all.

Meanwhile, down on the first floor in what was designated as the dining hall, Aurora sat eagerly eating a chicken shish kabob, her eyes glued to Rosa as she prepared the Angel Food cake. Jaune sat beside Aurora, his gaze also fixed on Rosa, a calm smile on his face as he enjoyed the rare moment of peace.

Rosa Schwein was another dedicated member of the Crown, much like Carmine, Bertilak, and Argento. These were the only willing members Jaune had met so far, but he was certain there were more he had yet to encounter.

Rosa had light tan skin and spiky pink hair, her eyes a dark shade of red that seemed to dance with perpetual mischief. Small freckles were scattered across her cheeks, giving her a youthful appearance. On missions, however, these features were hidden behind a gas mask, which was nowhere to be seen now. She wore a loose black robe over a white tunic, a silver band wrapped around her right arm, and simple straw sandals that left her feet exposed to the elements.

"Thanks for doing this, Rosa," Jaune said, his gratitude evident in his tone.

Rosa chuckled, her voice warm and cheerful. "Ah, think nothing of it! I'm always happy to give this ball of sunshine some cake!" She grinned at Aurora, who beamed back at her. "Gods know we needed someone lively to spice up this dreary place,"

Jaune chuckled. "Don't let Carmine hear that," he joked, a playful glint in his eyes.

Rosa rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Ah, that woman wouldn't know a good joke if it hit her!" she retorted, her tone light and teasing.

Jaune laughed along with her, but his amusement was cut short by a faint vibration from his pocket. Recognizing the signal, he knew it could only be from one source. He quickly formulated an excuse to slip away. Turning to Aurora with a small smile, he said, "I'm going to go back to the room real quick to grab something. Can you stay here by yourself for a bit?"

Aurora nodded, her mouth full of chicken. "I'll be fine," she replied confidently.

"Good girl," Jaune said, giving her a reassuring nod before standing up from his seat.

He left the dining hall and headed towards his room, his earlier lightheartedness replaced by a growing anxiety. The vibration in his pocket meant a long and troubling chat with Theodore was imminent, and he braced himself for the conversation ahead.

As he climbed the stairs, his mind raced with thoughts of what Theodore might want to discuss. Reaching his room, he closed the door behind him and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Pulling out the small device from his pocket, he activated the scroll and put it to his ear.

"Jaune speaking," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

[Mr. Arc, it's good to hear from you] came Theodore's voice from the other end, calm but carrying a weight of urgency.

"You too, Headmaster," Jaune replied, his mind already racing. "Have you figured out something for what they want me to do? Because if I don't act soon, they're going to get suspicious," he asked, his thoughts drifting back to Jax and Gillian watching him in the training yard.

[I have... but it involves getting someone else involved] Theodore responded.

Jaune frowned, disliking the idea of bringing someone else into their already complicated situation. "Who?" he asked, his tone cautious. "It can't just be anyone,"

[It won't be just anyone, Mr. Arc] Theodore assured him, his voice firm.

Jaune's patience began to fray. "Who is it and what's the plan, Theodore?" he asked, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.

Theodore paused, then explained who he wanted to bring in and the details of the plan. Jaune listened, his initial shock quickly turning into reluctance. The plan was risky, and the idea of involving another person made him uneasy. However, as Theodore laid out his reasoning, Jaune couldn't find any flaws in the logic, so with a heavy sigh, he agreed, though the reluctance remained.

[Thank you, Mr. Arc] Theodore said, his tone softening. [I know how hard this will be, but remember, this is what needs to happen for you to gain the Crown's trust]

Jaune let out a shaky sigh, his uncertainty palpable. "I just hope this all pays off because if it doesn't, we're screwed," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

[Indeed we are] Theodore replied solemnly. [But have faith, Mr. Arc... this will work]

Jaune slowly nodded, forcing himself to accept the gravity of the situation. "I know, and if this is what I have to do, then so be it... I'll bloody my hands," he said, his tone resolute yet heavy with the burden of his decision.

Theodore expressed his gratitude, his voice tinged with both appreciation and regret. [Thank you, Jaune... I apologize for what this plan entails, but it is necessary]

"Think nothing of it," Jaune replied, trying to sound braver than he felt. "It's something that needs to be done."

With that, the call ended, leaving Jaune staring at the now-blank screen of his Scroll. He took a deep breath, trying to steady the tumult of emotions within him, then exhaled slowly. Pocketing the Scroll, he headed out of the room and back down to the dining hall to rejoin Aurora.

As he descended the stairs, the weight of his choice pressed heavily on his shoulders. From this moment forward, his relationships with his old friends would be forever changed. He pushed open the door to the dining hall, finding Aurora and Rosa still immersed in their cheerful conversation.

Aurora looked up and immediately noticed the change in Jaune's demeanor. "Everything alright?" she asked, concern evident in her eyes.

Jaune forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil within. "Yeah," He replied.

Aurora's eyes searched his face, her trust unwavering. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, a mixture of determination and sadness in his eyes. "Yeah... everything's alright," Jaune lied with a forced smile...

XXX

Nora and Velvet hastened to the elevator that would take them to the Headmaster's office. Their urgency stemmed from an important message: Headmaster Theodore had notified Team CFVY and Nora of a sighting of Jaune, promising to send them on the case.

Nora's recent trip with Team SSSN had yielded no new leads; the bandits they interrogated, despite being members of the Crown, provided no information about the group's leader or Jaune's whereabouts.

As Nora and Velvet reached the elevator, they found Yatsuhashi and Fox waiting there.

Velvet raised an eyebrow at her teammates. "Where's Coco?" she asked.

Yatsuhashi turned to her. "She's already up there," he replied. "She was closer to the office than the rest of us and got there earlier."

"Well, best not keep her and the Headmaster waiting, then," Velvet said.

With that, they all entered the elevator. Velvet pressed the button for the top floor, and the machine hummed to life, lifting them toward their destination. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions and a shared sense of anticipation.

Eventually, they arrived at the top floor, the grandeur of the corridor giving way to a sense of anticipation. The heavy wooden doors to Theodore's office loomed ahead. They approached, hearts pounding, and entered only to find Coco seated across from Theodore. Both of them looked up, expressions unreadable, clearly waiting for their arrival.

Theodore shifted his gaze from Coco to the four students, his eyes sharp and attentive. "Ah, good, you're all here," he began, his tone steady but urgent. "I was just informing Ms. Adel of the details of the report. Now that you're all here, I'll repeat what we know."

Nora couldn't contain herself and stepped forward, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Is it true? Did they really spot Jaune?"

Theodore nodded solemnly. "Yes, the description they provided matches Mr. Arc perfectly," he confirmed. "The reports indicate that he's been seen mostly alone, but I have my doubts about that."

Yatsuhashi nodded in agreement, his deep voice adding weight to the conversation. "Yes, it seems highly unlikely that Jaune would be wandering alone after his work with the Crown," he said thoughtfully. "It's possible that others are with him, but they've just managed to stay out of sight."

Theodore's expression grew more serious. "Indeed, but be warned... this may also be a trap."

Velvet's brow furrowed in confusion. "A trap?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Theodore nodded, his expression grave. "Yes," he replied. "Ms. Valkyrie's actions with Team SSSN have stirred the pot, leading to rumors that there are people actively searching for the Crown. More specifically, they're looking for a young, blonde-haired man."

Nora's face twisted in a grimace. "So you're saying they're trying to use Jaune to lure me out and kill me?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

Theodore's tone turned even grimmer. "Or... he's using himself to bring you to him and kill you."

Nora's eyes blazed as she glared at the Headmaster. "Jaune would never do that!" she cried, her voice ringing with conviction.

Theodore sighed heavily. "Ms. Valkyrie-"

But Nora cut him off, shaking her head vehemently. "No! I'm not hearing this!" she shouted. "You don't know Jaune! He wouldn't do that!"

Theodore's face hardened. "He's already done far worse, Ms. Valkyrie. He's broken out two highly dangerous criminals and joined a terrorist group that threatens Vacuo. He's not the same person you knew."

Nora's glare intensified, her eyes burning with fury. For a moment, it seemed as if she might try to burn a hole through Theodore with her gaze alone. But then she turned on her heel and stormed out of the office, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Velvet, who had been watching the exchange in stunned silence, hurried after her. "Nora!" she called, her voice filled with concern as she followed her friend out of the room.

Watching Nora and Velvet leave, Theodore sighed deeply, then turned to Coco with a serious expression. "Ms. Adel, you'll be in charge of the mission. Ensure everything goes according to plan, and please make sure Ms. Valkyrie doesn't do anything to jeopardize the operation," he instructed, his voice firm.

Coco nodded confidently, a smile tugging at her lips. "You got it, Headmaster," she replied, rising from her seat.

Theodore's eyes bore into hers, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "Good, and remember... this mission cannot fail," he said, his tone stern and unwavering.

Coco paused at the door, turning back to give him a resolute nod. "I understand, Headmaster," she assured him before stepping out, with Yatsuhashi and Fox following close behind.

As the door closed behind them, Theodore leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, weary sigh. He rested his head in his hands, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. "I'm sorry, Ms. Adel... I hope your team can forgive me for what is about to happen. I hope this works out the right way, but even if it does... it will only lead to more trouble," he murmured to the empty room, the silence amplifying his sense of foreboding...