Chapter 6: Chocolate Death
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Jaune took a long, heavy drink from his glass, letting the burn of the alcohol settle deep in his chest before slamming the empty glass down on the counter with a force that echoed through the bar. His gaze drifted to his scroll, the screen illuminated with a message from Theodore.
[They're on their way. Five minutes out. You know what to do.]
The words hung in the air, their weight pressing down on him. Jaune tossed a 10-lien bill onto the counter, the currency barely making a sound as it landed, and slid off the stool. The bar's dim lighting barely registered as he stepped outside, the chill of the night air biting at his skin. Just as the door closed behind him, the distinct roar of a Bullhead's engines filled the sky. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"They're early, Theo," he mused to himself.
Jaune's fingers moved swiftly over his scroll, switching contacts to Gillian and Carmine. He typed out a quick message:
[Guests incoming. Huntsmen. Be ready.]
He hesitated for a split second, his thumb hovering over the send button. His friends—or maybe soon-to-be former friends—deserved more than this. But there wasn't time for hesitation. He hit send and pocketed the scroll, his mind shifting back to the mission. He moved with purpose, making his way toward the Bullhead pad in town.
As he approached, Jaune kept to the shadows, his steps careful and quiet. When he finally reached the edge of the pad, he could make out the figures disembarking from the Bullhead. CFVY. And Nora. The sight of her made his chest tighten. She looked worn out, her usual spark dimmed to a flicker.
For a brief moment, guilt pierced through Jaune's resolve. Did I do that to her? The question lingered, gnawing at him. Is it my fault she looks like that?
But he couldn't afford to lose focus now. The mission came first. It had to. Shaking off the doubts, he steeled himself, forcing his thoughts back on track. This was what he signed up for. This was what he had to do.
Jaune walked away from the landing pad, his mind already racing with the next steps. He needed to find Carmine and Gillian. As he made his way back to the bar, the familiar creak of the door welcomed him, and he scanned the dim interior. It didn't take long to spot them; both Carmine and Gillian were already seated at the far end of the bar, their expressions unreadable in the low light. Jaune slipped onto the stool beside them, not bothering to meet their eyes.
Gillian was the first to speak, her voice calm but edged with curiosity. "Did you see who they were?"
Jaune gave a short nod, his voice deliberately laced with a hint of fabricated concern. "Yeah, and I think we might be in some trouble."
Carmine's gaze snapped to him, her eyes narrowing as suspicion crept into her tone. "Why?"
"It's team CFVY... and an old friend of mine, Nora," Jaune said, carefully gauging their reactions.
Carmine's expression darkened, her posture stiffening as fury sparked in her eyes. "CFVY's here?" she repeated, her tone low and dangerous.
Gillian's eyes flickered with recognition, the name instantly conjuring memories of the team that had brought down Carmine and Bertilak in the past. She knew how much Carmine had been itching for revenge, and this was the moment she had been waiting for.
Jaune nodded again, his voice steady. "Yeah."
Carmine clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.
"Plan?" Jaune asked, his tone deceptively calm, as if they were merely discussing what to have for dinner.
Carmine's response was immediate and fierce. "Let's just go and deal with them. It's not like we can't take them on. Gillian can drain their Aura, and bam! We kick some ass!" Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous enthusiasm.
Gillian, however, wasn't so easily convinced. She shot Carmine a small, disapproving glare. "That's not much of a plan, Carmine," she said, her voice laced with a quiet, cold logic.
"But it's something," Jaune interjected, his tone pragmatic. "It might not be much of a plan, but they don't know we're onto them. We can use that to our advantage—hit them before they even realize what's happening."
Gillian blinked, surprised that Jaune was backing such a hasty idea. She'd expected him to be the voice of caution, but he was right; the element of surprise could tip the scales in their favor. She could sneak up on CFVY, drain their Aura with her semblance, and then Jaune and Carmine could swoop in for the attack. It was risky, but it was the best option they had right now.
"Fine," she conceded, her voice firm. "I'll sneak up on them. Once their Auras are depleted, you two move in. Understand?"
Both Jaune and Carmine nodded, their expressions resolute. Without another word, the three of them left the bar, slipping into the semi-crowded streets. They moved with purpose, staying in each other's peripheral vision while keeping to the shadows. The town was busy enough to provide cover, but not so packed that they could blend in completely.
As they continued to tail CFVY and Nora, the group finally came into view, walking down the street, unaware of the eyes tracking their every move. Jaune, Carmine, and Gillian just needed to get close enough to strike, but there was a problem—Gillian noticed that CFVY seemed unusually alert, scanning the crowd as if they suspected something. It wouldn't be long before Carmine or Jaune got spotted.
Before Gillian could make a move to adjust their approach, Jaune suddenly broke away from their cover and stepped out into the middle of the street, acting as if he hadn't noticed CFVY at all. His behavior was casual, almost too casual like someone lost in thought. But then, as if on cue, he turned his head and his eyes met theirs. He froze, his expression shifting to one of feigned shock—an act, Gillian realized, that was surprisingly convincing.
From her vantage point, Gillian saw the reaction ripple through CFVY. The Huntress in pink—Nora, if she remembered correctly—locked eyes with Jaune and came to an abrupt halt. Her expression mirrored Jaune's, a mixture of surprise and confusion as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Jaune...?"
The sound of his name hung in the air, a mix of disbelief and hope lacing Nora's voice. Gillian, hidden in the crowd, watched as the other Huntsmen-in-training froze in their tracks, all eyes locking on Jaune. He stood there, unmoving, his expression a mask of seriousness that starkly contrasted with the shock on their faces.
"Nora, CFVY," Jaune greeted them, his tone cold and distant, a sharp edge cutting through the air.
The Huntress in the beret and sunglasses stepped forward, her posture confident and unyielding. "Arc," she addressed him, her voice carrying a weight that matched the tension in the street. "We've been looking for you."
Jaune's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained steady. "I heard." His gaze flickered over the group, taking in their stances, and their expressions. "How'd you find me?"
Coco, the Huntress in the beret, didn't miss a beat. "Someone recognized you from your wanted posters," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact.
"Jaune," Velvet called out, her voice soft but pleading. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be... please, just come back with us, I'm sure there's a good-"
"There's not," Jaune interrupted, his tone sharp and final.
Velvet and Nora looked at him, stunned by the coldness in his voice, while the rest of CFVY remained composed, waiting to see what he would say next.
Jaune's glare hardened as he continued. "I'm done with the bullshit, the lies, all of it... I wanted out, something different,"
"And you think you found it?" Fox asked, his voice challenging but measured.
"I know I did," Jaune responded, his voice dripping with conviction. "Freedom and revenge,"
The word hung in the air like a blade, cutting deep. Nora stepped forward, her face etched with hurt and confusion. She opened her mouth to say something, to reach out to him, but before she could utter a word, a sudden, invisible force gripped her. It felt as if something vital was being ripped from inside her, and she collapsed to her knees, gasping.
The rest of CFVY quickly followed, their bodies crumpling under the same overwhelming sensation. Yatsuhashi, struggling to stay conscious, turned his head just enough to catch a glimpse of Gillian standing behind them, her eyes glowing with concentration as she drained their Aura slowly, and methodically.
'Is this... her semblance?' Yatsuhashi thought, his mind struggling to process what was happening as his strength ebbed away.
Before he could react further, Carmine appeared from the shadows, her movements swift and brutal. With a single, powerful kick, she drove her boot into Yatsuhashi's face, the force of the blow sending him into unconsciousness.
"Yatsu!" Velvet's cry pierced the air, her voice filled with desperation as she watched her teammate fall.
Realizing they had walked straight into a trap, Nora acted on instinct. She rolled to her side, her hands already moving to activate the grenade launcher on Magnhild. With a quick, fluid motion, she aimed directly at Jaune, her former leader, her eyes hardening with resolve. Jaune's eyes widened in shock as he saw the barrel of Magnhild aimed at him. Without a moment to spare, he activated his shield, raising it just in time to brace for the impact.
Nora fired, the explosion rocking the street. The force of the blast sent Jaune hurtling backward, his body skidding across the ground as smoke and debris filled the air.
"Jaune!" Carmine shouted, her voice laced with panic as she spun around to check on him.
But in her moment of distraction, she left herself open. Velvet, seizing the opportunity, launched herself upward, delivering a powerful kick to Carmine's chin. The impact lifted Carmine off the ground, sending her flying back before she crashed to the dirt, dazed.
The sudden eruption of violence sent the townsfolk into a frenzy. Screams filled the air as they scattered in all directions, fleeing the chaos. The once-busy street became a chaotic battlefield, with civilians unwittingly running between the Huntsmen-in-training and the rogues as they clashed.
Fox, regaining his footing, quickly dashed over to Yatsuhashi's side. He checked for signs of life, relief washing over him when he found his teammate still breathing. Glancing over at Velvet, he shouted, "Get him out of here!"
Velvet shot him a fierce glare, frustration and urgency in her voice. "I'm gonna need some help then!" she yelled back, her eyes darting between Yatsuhashi and the ongoing battle.
Jaune groaned as he slowly sat up, only to find Nora standing over him, her hammer raised high, ready to strike. Instinct took over, and just as she brought Magnhild crashing down, he rolled to his right, the hammer slamming into the sand with a thud. Without hesitation, Jaune lashed out with a swift kick to her leg, causing Nora to drop to one knee. Seizing the moment, he scrambled to his feet, drawing Crocea Mors in a fluid motion and bringing it down in a powerful, downward slash.
But Nora was faster. She raised the handle of her hammer, catching Jaune's sword with a resounding clang. With a surge of strength, she pushed his sword away, forcing Jaune to stagger back. She then aimed a fierce kick at his gut. Jaune managed to block it with his shield, but the impact sent him reeling.
Nora glared at him, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and betrayal. "You tricked us?" she spat, her voice thick with disbelief.
Jaune smirked, a hint of bitterness in his expression. "Is that so hard to believe?"
Nora's grip on Magnhild tightened, her knuckles turning white. "You're coming back with us, Jaune," she growled, her voice low and dangerous. "Even if I have to break your legs to drag you there, Fearless Leader."
Jaune met her glare with one of his own, a cold determination in his eyes. "You can try, Nora, but I'd rather die than go back."
Meanwhile, the battle around them raged on. Carmine was still struggling to regain her footing after Velvet's powerful kick, her vision blurred as she tried to shake off the daze. On the other side of the battlefield, Coco was narrowly dodging the arrows that Gillian relentlessly fired at her. Despite the onslaught, Coco kept moving, closing the distance between them.
With a sudden burst of speed, Coco lunged forward and grabbed hold of Gillian's bow. The two women grappled for control, their muscles straining as they fought for dominance. Gillian's eyes narrowed, confused as she noticed the sly smile creeping across Coco's face. Before she could react, Coco abruptly jerked her head back and then thrust it forward, slamming her forehead into Gillian's
Gillian released her grip on the bow, staggering backward as pain shot through her face. She clutched her nose, feeling the sting of the impact, and glared at Coco through watery eyes.
"Bow and arrow? Really?" Coco taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. With a swift motion, she snapped the bow in half and let the pieces fall to the sand. "You need to get with the times, girl."
Gillian's eyes followed the broken bow as it hit the ground, her anger flaring like a wildfire. The sight of her weapon, now in pieces at her feet, fueled a burning rage inside her. She straightened up, her muscles tense with fury, and without a second thought, she charged at Coco, her movements driven by raw emotion.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Jaune and Nora were locked in a fierce duel. The blond knight charged at Nora, his sword cutting through the air with deadly intent. Nora, quick on her feet, backed up just in time, narrowly avoiding his strike. She gritted her teeth and pulled Magnhild back, swinging the hammer with all her strength. Jaune ducked beneath the powerful swing, his sword slashing across Nora's stomach, but the strike only glanced off her Aura.
Nora winced as the impact reverberated through her body, staggering back a step. But she quickly shook it off, her resolve hardening. With a fierce determination, she swung at Jaune again. He raised his shield to block, but the force of the blow rattled his arm, nearly knocking him off balance. Nora didn't give him a moment to recover. With a swift motion, she struck him across the face with the handle of her hammer, the impact leaving him momentarily stunned.
Seizing the opportunity, Nora delivered a brutal kick to Jaune's gut, the force of it sending him crashing to the ground on his back. Jaune groaned, trying to push himself up, but Nora was on him in an instant. She stomped down on his chest with her boot, pinning him to the ground. Magnhild's barrel loomed inches from his face as she aimed it directly at him.
"Give up, Jaune!" Nora cried, her voice a mix of desperation and anger. "I don't want to hurt you!"
Jaune glared up at her, his eyes burning with a mix of pain and fury. "Yeah, right!" he spat, his voice dripping with bitterness. "All you've done is hurt me! You blamed me for everything! Don't lie, Nora! You hate me! You wish I had died back at Beacon!"
Nora's glare melted away, replaced by a look of shock and horror as she stared down at Jaune. The raw anger in his voice, the bitterness behind his words, was something she had never imagined coming from him. 'Is this how he's felt all this time?' Nora's mind raced, struggling to comprehend the depth of his pain.
As if sensing her turmoil, Jaune lifted his head, pressing his forehead against the barrel of Magnhild. His eyes bore into hers, a twisted smile curling on his lips. "Come on, Nora. Do it! Shoot your fearless leader in the face!" he goaded, his voice filled with a mix of mockery and desperation.
Nora's heart plummeted, a pit of dread forming in her stomach. The Jaune she knew would never say something like this—never taunt her with such venom. She felt her grip on Magnhild waver, her resolve crumbling as confusion and guilt gnawed at her. 'H-How did we get here?' she asked herself.
But Jaune had no intention of waiting for an answer. Seeing the horror and hesitation on her face, he seized the moment. With a sudden, forceful movement, he swung his shield upward, bashing it against Nora's knee. The impact was brutal, sending a sharp jolt of pain through her leg. Nora cried out, the agony tearing through her as she staggered backward, losing her balance. The world spun for a brief moment before she collapsed to the ground, clutching her injured knee.
Jaune quickly scrambled to his feet, his breathing ragged, eyes still blazing with a mix of anger and desperation. Jaune stared down at Nora, who was now sprawled on the ground, her breathing ragged. With a grim expression, he lifted his foot and, like Carmine had done to Yatsuhashi, delivered a brutal kick to Nora's face. He channeled his Aura into the strike, shattering the last remnants of her Aura that Gillian hadn't already drained. The impact sent Nora jerking back with a pained groan, a sob escaping her as she clutched her face in agony.
A wave of guilt washed over Jaune, gnawing at his conscience. He felt terrible for what he had just done to Nora, but a darker part of him couldn't deny that it felt a little good to do that. Shaking his head, Jaune forced himself to focus, tearing his gaze away from Nora. He quickly scanned the battlefield, his eyes locking onto Velvet and Fox, who were struggling to drag Yatsuhashi out of the fray. Nearby, Coco was locked in a fierce hand-to-hand fight with Gillian, but it was clear that Gillian had the upper hand.
Coco's movements were desperate and uncoordinated, her usual confidence shattered. Gillian delivered a powerful front kick, which Coco barely managed to block, the force of the blow sending her stumbling backward. As she tried to regain her footing and prepare for another attack, Jaune saw his opportunity. He moved swiftly, his Aura surging as he delivered a crushing kick to Coco's back. The force of the blow sent her hurtling forward, directly into Gillian's path.
Gillian's eyes gleamed with cold determination as Coco staggered toward her, barely able to keep her balance. Without hesitation, Gillian channeled her Aura into her fist and delivered a devastating punch to Coco's face. The blow shattered the last of Coco's Aura and sent her signature sunglasses flying, leaving the once-formidable huntress crumpled on the ground, groaning in pain.
Jaune and Gillian stood over Coco, their expressions a mix of cold resolve and grim satisfaction. Gillian glanced down at her fallen opponent, then looked back at Jaune. "Finish it," she commanded, her voice devoid of emotion. "I'll go take care of the other girl,"
Jaune nodded slowly, the weight of his choices pressing down on him as Gillian turned away and headed toward Nora. With each step, she drained more of Nora's remaining Aura, the blonde groaning in pain from the combined effects of Jaune's kick and the relentless pull of Gillian's semblance.
As Gillian approached, she noticed one of Carmine's daggers lying on the ground. She bent down, picking it up with a cold, calculated expression as Carmine finally regained her composure. The rogue huntress rose to her feet, wiping the blood from her mouth, and watched with satisfaction as Gillian advanced on Nora.
Nora's gaze locked onto Gillian as she approached, but before the reality of her impending doom could fully sink in, a sharp cry of pain pierced the air. Instinctively, Nora looked past Gillian, her heart pounding in her chest. The sight that met her eyes shook her to the core.
There stood Jaune, his figure dark and looming over the unmoving form of Coco. Blood dripped ominously from the edge of his blade, staining the ground beneath him.
Nora's bright electric blue eyes widened in sheer horror, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn't process what she was seeing, couldn't reconcile the image before her with the Jaune she knew—the man who had once been her leader, her brother-in-arms. The man who had just killed a friend.
Her mind screamed in denial, refusing to accept that Jaune, the boy who had always fought to protect them, could have done something so monstrous. But the blood on his blade was real, the lifeless body of Coco was real, and the coldness in his eyes—something she had never seen before—was all too real.
Before she could dwell further on the horrifying reality, Gillian came to a stop directly in front of her. Nora's attention snapped back to the rogue huntress, who stared down at her with a cold, expressionless face. There was no pity, no hesitation—just a merciless determination. Anger flared within Nora, her grief and horror transforming into a burning rage as she glared up at Gillian, furious at the loss of Coco.
Gillian, unphased by Nora's defiant expression, raised the dagger high, her intention clear. The blade glinted ominously in the dim light, poised to descend and end Nora's life.
But just as Gillian was about to strike, a barrage of hard light bullets tore through the air, slamming into her with unrelenting force. The impact threw her off balance, and she staggered backward, dropping the dagger. Nora turned her head in shock, eyes widening further as she saw Velvet standing not far off, wielding a hard light replica of Coco's Gianduja.
Velvet's expression was one of fierce determination, her eyes blazing with a fire that matched Nora's own. Without missing a beat, Velvet redirected her aim, unleashing a hail of hard light bullets toward Carmine and Jaune. The two rogues barely had time to react, their eyes widening in alarm as they dove out of the way, the deadly barrage forcing them to retreat.
Gillian, seeing that she was no longer the target, wasted no time. She scrambled to her feet, casting a brief glance at her retreating teammates before turning and bolting in the opposite direction.
Once the Rogues were out of sight, Velvet ceased her relentless fire, allowing the hard light Gianduja to dissipate into shimmering particles. Without a moment's hesitation, the rabbit Faunus rushed over to Nora, her heart pounding with fear for her friend's safety.
"Nora!" Velvet cried out, her voice trembling with concern. "Are you alright!?"
Nora groaned as she pushed herself up to her knees, wincing from the pain but determined to stay focused. She looked up at Velvet with a pained expression, but her thoughts were elsewhere. "D-Don't worry about me!" Nora gasped, her voice strained. "Coco... She's hurt!" Her trembling hand pointed urgently in Coco's direction.
Velvet froze, her breath catching in her throat. She slowly turned her head, eyes widening in horror as she saw Coco lying motionless on the ground, a pool of blood forming beside her. The sight of her leader—her friend—crumpled and lifeless sent a shockwave of dread through Velvet's entire being.
"Coco..." The name slipped from Velvet's lips in a whisper of disbelief, before the full weight of the situation crashed down on her. "COCO!" she screamed, her voice raw with terror as she bolted toward her fallen comrade.
Sliding to her knees beside Coco, Velvet's hands trembled as she carefully lifted the fashionista's limp body, her eyes frantically scanning for signs of life. Her breath hitched when she saw the gaping wound in Coco's side, blood soaking through her once-stylish outfit. Coco's eyes stared blankly up at the sky, unfocused and distant.
"No, no, no..." Velvet whispered desperately, gently shaking Coco as if trying to rouse her from a deep sleep. "Coco, please... wake up. Wake up! Please!" Her voice cracked with desperation, tears welling up in her eyes.
But Coco remained still, her chest rising and falling in shallow, erratic breaths. The spark that had once defined her seemed to be fading away, leaving Velvet in a spiral of despair.
"WAKE UP!" Velvet screamed, her voice breaking as she clutched Coco's lifeless form tighter. "WAKE THE FUCK UP! COCO!"
Nora, still kneeling on the ground, watched the heartbreaking scene unfold before her. The sight of Velvet cradling Coco's lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably, hit Nora like a ton of bricks. She could see the despair in Velvet's eyes, hear the raw agony in her voice, and she knew—she knew what had happened, what had befallen Coco.
A hollow ache settled in Nora's chest, expanding until it felt like it was suffocating her. The realization that Coco, their fearless leader, their friend, was gone, struck her with brutal clarity. But what twisted the knife even deeper was the sickening knowledge of who had done it. It wasn't just an enemy, a rogue huntsman, or a faceless threat. It was Jaune—their leader, her brother in all but blood—the one she had trusted with her life.
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About an hour later, back at Shade Academy, Theodore sat alone in his office, his eyes fixed on the sprawling cityscape beyond the large windows. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the room, but his mind was far from the beauty of the evening. He was deep in thought, mulling over the grim report that had just come across his desk—a report detailing the aftermath of the operation. The weight of what had transpired hung heavily on his shoulders, and the silence in the room only amplified the tension.
Suddenly, the sharp buzz of his scroll broke the quiet, jolting him out of his reverie. Theodore glanced over at the device, hesitating for a moment before picking it up. The screen displayed a message from an unknown number. He felt his chest tighten as he opened it, already knowing what it would say. He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself as he read the text.
[It's done. The plan worked, Theo.]
Theodore stared at the message for a long moment, letting the words sink in. He slowly nodded, setting the scroll down on his desk with a heavy sigh of relief. The mission was successful, and Jaune had managed to infiltrate the Crown deeper than ever before. But the relief was fleeting, quickly replaced by a deep, gnawing guilt that settled in the pit of his stomach.
The plan had worked, but at what cost? There was no turning back now. The deception they had orchestrated was bound to leave scars, not just on their enemies, but on Jaune as well. Theodore knew that once the truth came to light, there would be a reckoning. He would be despised, and Jaune... Jaune would be vilified, seen as a traitor by those who once called him friend.
Theodore leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as the gravity of the situation weighed down on him. They had gambled everything on this one move, and while it had paid off, the fallout was going to be severe. He could already envision the faces of those who would seek retribution, who would come after Jaune with vengeance in their hearts, believing he had truly turned against them.
This was the price of playing such a dangerous game, and Theodore knew it all too well. The line between right and wrong had become so blurred, so twisted, that he could no longer see it. All he could do was hope that, in the end, some good might come of this, that the sacrifices they had made would not be in vain.
But as he sat there, staring out at the darkening horizon, Theodore couldn't shake the feeling that they had crossed a line from which there was no return. He had sent Jaune down a path that might destroy him, and the weight of that decision threatened to crush Theodore under its enormity. He could only pray that Jaune was strong enough to survive what was to come, and that, somehow, they could all find a way to pick up the pieces when it was over.