Chapter 1: The Journal

This story is a work of fanfiction based on the RWBY series. I do not own the copyright to the original series mentioned. This work of fiction has been created in order to explore the vast possibilities of the imagination and, above all, to provide entertainment. I hope you find pleasure in reading it.


—[]—

In the calm of the morning, the RWBY team and their JNPR colleagues shared a leisurely breakfast. The weekend had given them a rare moment of leisure, a break from their hectic lives as students at Beacon Academy. For the first time since they had begun their education, since the initiation ceremony, they found themselves without plans, without schemes to follow. There were no impulsive adventures proposed by Ruby, no shenanigans suggested by Yang. Weiss didn't urge additional study sessions, and Blake... Blake simply immersed himself in his books.

The absence of an agenda presented them with an unusual dilemma. What to do with an unstructured day, the question hung in the air, a silent challenge to his usual routine.

Ruby broke the silence with a thoughtful voice, —"Perhaps we could explore the woods surrounding the academy. There could be secrets waiting to be discovered among the trees."

Weiss raised an eyebrow skeptically. —"Or we could meet Grimm. It's not my idea of a relaxing day."

Yang stretched, his smile contagious. —"Come on, Weiss. A little emotion never hurt anyone. Besides, you always have our back, right?"

Blake nodded without looking up from his book. —"Nature has its own poetry. Every leaf and every breeze tells a different story."

The conversation continued, with each team member coming up with their own ideas to fill the day.

Ruby, her eyes shining with excitement, suggested,— "How about we take a tour of Vale? We could visit the market, try new foods, and maybe find some interesting artifacts."

Weiss nodded, considering the idea. —"It would be a good opportunity to learn more about the local culture and relax a bit."

Blake closed his book gently, —"I'd like to visit the Vale library. There are some rare volumes I've been wanting to read."

Yang joked, —"That sounds too quiet for me! How about we find an arcade and compete in some video games? We could use some action, even if it's virtual."

Nora, who had been listening intently, jumped up excitedly. —"Yes! And then we could go to an amusement park. Imagine the roller coasters!"

Ren, always the quietest, proposed,— "Or we could just take a walk in the academy grounds. It's a beautiful day to enjoy nature."

They all gave suggestions to pass the time on this day, even the Modest Pyrrha Nikos limited herself to giving some opinion as well

The conversation flowed with laughter and lively chatter, each visualizing their ideal day. The diversity of their personalities was reflected in their ideas, which ranged from adventure-seeking to serene contemplation, from action to learning.

However, the harmony was interrupted by an unexpected question from Ruby, —"Where's Jaune?"

Restlessness gripped the group. They remembered seeing Jaune following them into the dining room, but now his absence was evident, and a shadow of worry hung over them.

—"I'm sure he was with us just now," Yang said, frowning.

—"Yes, he was the one who suggested having breakfast together. Where has he gone?" added Nora in a bewildered tone.

Silence hung over the group like a thick fog, worry for their missing friend hanging in the air. With a sudden impetuosity, they rose from the table and scattered in all directions, determined to find Jaune Arc.

They searched tirelessly, scouring every classroom and every corner of the gardens, but there was no sign of him. Finally, they made their way to the most obvious place: the JNPR team's room.

Pyrrha, with a determined gesture, knocked on the door and flung it open, revealing the inside. There was Jaune, crouching and rummaging under his bed. His countenance reflected concentration, oblivious to the commotion he had caused.

The girls' eyes fell on the small box that Jaune extracted from his secret hiding place. He placed it on the bed and carefully opened it, revealing its contents, a flashlight, bandages, a needle, and several vials that appeared to contain medicine.

This sight baffled the girls, though it wasn't the first time they'd witnessed a similar scene.

Jaune proceeded to meticulously store each object in a backpack of colossal proportions, as big as himself. It was a bag that seemed capable of containing an arsenal for any eventuality.

Once his task was complete, Jaune finally looked up, noticing the presence of his friends. With a nonchalant smile, he waved.

—"Hey girls, how are you?,Have you finished breakfast yet?"

The room was filled with expectant silence as Jaune finished his task. Looking up, his casual smile greeted his friends.

Ren, with a barely concealed tone of exasperation, was the first to respond. —"Are you going to Vale again?"

—"Yes, there are some things I need to attend to," Jaune admitted with a nod.

Pyrrha, with a mixture of curiosity and concern, interjected. —"Jaune, you do this every weekend. Where do you always go?"

Jaune seemed to search for the right words, —"Well, I haven't told you before, but... I like to go hiking."

Nora, unable to hide her excitement mixed with a hint of sadness, exclaimed,— "Wow, and you never thought of inviting us, brave leader?"

—"I'm sorry, I thought it wouldn't be of interest to you, so I didn't mention it", Jaune apologized, adjusting her backpack over her shoulders.

Ruby, entering the conversation with a twinkle of excitement in her eye, suggested,— "We could accompany you."

—"It would be fun", Yang added with a smile.

Weiss, with a sneer, replied,— "A weekend in the woods? , no thanks, I prefer the comfort of my bed"

Blake nodded in agreement,— "I say the same thing, nothing beats my warm blankets and a good book."

Ruby, undaunted, proposed, —"Then those other than Blake and Weiss could go. Will it be in the Emerald Forest?"

Jaune's refusal was swift and firm, —"No, they can't come. This is a personal hobby, don't be offended. We can plan something together another day. Now I must go, don't worry about me."

With a farewell greeting, —"I'll bring back memories for everyone," Jaune closed the door behind him.

In the dim light of the room, the remnants of the group stared at each other, their faces a canvas of mixed emotions. Disappointment, surprise, and confusion intertwined in the air, as if dancing to the rhythm of Jaune's unexpected absence.

Nora, with gentle steps, approached the bed that had been occupied by her leader. His eyes fell on the box from which Jaune had extracted bandages, needle, and flashlight. Driven by an impulse of loyalty, she decided to emulate his usual gesture and slipped the box under the bed. However, curiosity was a whisper he couldn't ignore. With a mixture of laziness and expectation, he inspected the contents of the box. Among the mundane objects, he discovered another bottle of medicine, labeled with words that were foreign to him: anesthetics, morphine... terms that floated in his comprehension like ships without anchors.

—"Why would the intrepid leader have these things?", Nora muttered to herself, though it didn't take long for her voice to capture the attention of those present, including Ren, who approached cautiously.

Together, they watched as Nora pulled a small photograph out of the box. It was not an image that evoked nostalgia or admiration; it didn't show a loved one or Jaune. It was, instead, the representation of a cesspool, an abyss of darkness.

Flipping the photograph, Nora discovered something unexpected: coordinates. An enigma in the form of numbers and addresses that invited speculation. With a gesture of indifference, Nora decided to relegate the find to oblivion, returning the photograph to its place of origin and hiding it under Jaune's bed.

The room fell silent, a silence that was soon broken by Nora's inquisitive voice.

—"Guys, have you ever wondered what secrets are in that box Jaune brought at the beginning of our Beacon adventures?", asked Nora, with a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

Ruby nodded excitedly, while Yang nodded his statement. Weiss, on the other hand, firmly denied his stance as unwavering as his voice.

Each person's response reflected their personality: Ruby, always ready for adventure; Yang, driven by emotion; Weiss, the voice of reason. But Nora, with a mischievous smile, plunged deeper into the mysteries of Jaune's bed, and, with an effort that showed her determination, pulled out a trunk of considerable proportions.

—"In Jaune's absence, I propose that we explore this enigma" ,Nora suggested, her voice filled with barely contained anticipation.

Pyrrha, always the conscience of the group, expressed her concern, —"I'm not sure that invading Jaune's privacy is right."

Yang, however, was delighted with the idea,—"It will be an adventure within an adventure!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with the prospect of the unknown.

Ruby, though reticent, couldn't hide her curiosity, —"Well, it's not like we have anything better to do", she murmured, her voice a whisper that betrayed her inner arousal.

Weiss stood firm, ready to leave, but Nora stopped her with a persuasive smile.

With a softness that barely concealed her excitement, Nora challenged Weiss with a question that echoed through the silence of the room.

—"Weiss, do you remember the last time you did something just for the pleasure of enjoying it?"

The decision seemed made, and with an air of resolve, Nora walked over to the trunk. But his attempt to open it was thwarted by a bolt that demanded a secret combination.

—"Let me try," Pyrrha interjected, approaching the trunk with a mixture of reluctance and curiosity. Despite his reservations, the attraction of the mystery was too strong. I wanted to discover Jaune's secrets, I wanted to understand what he valued.

Concentrating on the mechanism, Pyrrha employed her ability to manipulate polarity, fine-tuning each gear with precision until, finally, the correct numbers clicked. With a slow, deliberate gesture, he lifted the lid of the trunk.

The anticipation was palpable as they leaned over the open trunk, but what they found was a bittersweet surprise. Inside, a collection of black hardcover notebooks, each numbered, lined up in chronological order. Some showed signs of frequent use, others looked newly acquired. And in a separate compartment, a series of USB sticks, also numbered, promised more secrets.

Initial disappointment gave way to intrigue. What stories would those notebooks tell? What memories would those USB sticks store? Curiosity enveloped them, and with almost sacred respect, Yang stretched out his hand to the most worn-out of newspapers, No. 11.

The group gathered around Yang, who curiously flipped through the pages until a random one caught his attention. He began to read and soon realized that the words in the diary seemed to speak directly to the reader.

— In the diary —

*October 9.*

—"Friends, I must confess something to you. Of all the possible days to spend a fortune, it had to be today, on this."

—"I'm frustrated, and just to make you understand my anger, today, October 9, I attended a Weiss Schnee concert."

— Out of the diary —

The revelation blew everyone's mind. Jaune had attended a Weiss concert.

—"Did that fool really go to one of my concerts?" exclaimed Weiss, half disbelief and half amusement.

The room was filled with laughter and murmurs, as everyone imagined Jaune, their earnest and brave leader, lost in the crowd at a Weiss concert. The image was as unexpected as it was funny.

—"Maybe he sold some family heirloom," Ruby joked, eliciting a new wave of laughter.

—"Or maybe he has a secret fund for musical emergencies," Yang added, winking.

Weiss crossed his arms, pretending to pout. —"Well, at least someone appreciates my art," he said, though a treacherous smile crept across his lips.

—Inside the diary—

"Yes, the famous singer that everyone talks about, the one who monopolizes the conversations of my colleagues with her beauty and her voice. I didn't want to be the only one oblivious to her charm, so I went to see her, to meet the muse behind the fame."

—"And boy is it beautiful, a sight to behold, a truth that no one can deny. But, oh surprise, his singing was not the ecstasy I expected."

— Out of the Journal—

Weiss couldn't believe his ears. —"What?!, how dare he?!" she exclaimed, her indignation as palpable as the sound of Ruby's laughter.

— Inside the diary —

—"Don't get me wrong, his voice is a heavenly song, a melody that could make angels cry. But if I was looking to immerse myself in a sea of sadness, I would have opted for one of those films where the faithful canine is the protagonist. Those really squeeze your soul."

—"The price of admission was a robbery in broad daylight, an exorbitant expense. Three doctor's salaries! "It's crazy."

—Out of the diary—

Every word Yang read aloud made Weiss angrier.
—"How I wish Jaune were here, I would teach him a lesson he would never forget," he said, clenching his fists.

—"Wow, it looks like Jaune doesn't hold you in as high esteem as he pretends," Nora remarked, unable to hide a mischievous smile.

—"These thoughts of Jaune are quite revealing," Ren added with a thoughtful look.

—In the diary—

—"The music I heard from that woman was a desperate cry, the lament of someone who, despite swimming in riches and belonging to the richest family in the world, feels miserable. No one understands her, she feels isolated, as if she were alone on a desert island. And I can only think, Foolish Woman, you feel lonely and wretched, but have you ever thought of those who really suffer, of those who live in the shadows of your great kingdom of Atlas, those who must work day by day to survive. For them, the concern is not what dress they will wear or what caviar they will taste."

—"That woman doesn't know what it's like to be truly alone, like a single mother struggling to raise her child, working tirelessly to give him the opportunities she never had, sometimes giving up her own food to make sure her child doesn't go hungry."

—"There are countless stories like these. Weiss Schnee has problems, yes, and I don't deny or minimize them, but to express them in a song as if it's an open secret is, frankly, irritating."

—Out of the diary—

The silence that fell over the room was so deep that it seemed to have been taken from a funeral scene. They all glanced sideways at Weiss, his face tinged a furious red as his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened.

—"That wretch! How dare you talk about me like that? ,How dare you pretend you know me?" muttered Weiss, his voice a tense thread of pent-up anger.

—"Calm down, Weiss," Ruby interjected, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.— "This diary is old, from a time when he was younger. Maybe his opinion of you changed after meeting you in person."

—"Keep reading," Blake urged Yang, who nodded and resumed the journal.

—In the diary—

—"The best singer of this era, ha, my balls."

" the best voice of the Millenio, That's what they say, but I say I've thrown my money away. I regret it with every fiber of my being."

—Out of the diary—

The words from Jaune's diary echoed in everyone's mind, offering a raw, unfiltered perspective.

—"There is still more to discover," he announced, his voice echoing with an echo of adventure as he prepared to plunge back into the written confessions that lay in the old diary.

—In the diary—

—"But it wasn't all loss, I actually have to say that despite all my complaints, coming to the Atlas realm wasn't such a bad idea after all."

—"The White Fang, an almost ghostly presence in these lands, moved with an agility that defied the authority of the kingdom of Atlas and the ever-present shadow of the Schnee family.

—"Which means dust at my disposal."

—"The Fang will steal the company's powder cargoes, and I, with cunning and stealth, will steal them from them."

—"I missed doing this. It's been a while since I've done that, and frankly, I could use replenishing my dust reserves, you White Fang idiots. I know I shouldn't be so happy to take advantage of the work that others do, but they are criminals and, in a way, I would consider myself a hero in this situation."

—Out of the diary—

Silence fell over the room. Reading the words of Jaune ranting about Weiss's music had been hilarious and enlightening, but the last part had been somewhat disturbing.

Yang closed the book with a sigh, and everyone in the room looked at each other, trying to process what they had read. They didn't understand, or rather, they couldn't relate what they had written to what they knew about Jaune.

Jaune, the clueless fool with golden hair and blue eyes, kind-hearted, with a big, happy smile, would never speak ill of anyone, let alone deign to steal. Let alone steal from Weiss, part of the richest family in the world, let alone the White Fang, who steals from Weiss's family.

Ren, with the meticulousness of a consummate detective, approached the trunk from which Jaune's diaries had been extracted. He moved to where the USBs rested, inspecting each one until his fingers stopped on a memory stick with the inscription '10'. He held it, feeling its weight as if it were the key to unraveling a latent mystery.

—"Ruby, could you bring your laptop here, please?" Ren requested, not taking his eyes off the small device.

—"Sure," replied Ruby, who, in a whirlwind of speed and rose petals, appeared with her computer.

Ren inserted the USB into Ruby's computer and several folders unfolded in front of them, but when they tried to access its contents, they ran into a barrier: a security key.

—"It's password protected," Ren announced in frustration.

—"Try Jaune's mother's name, Juniper," Yang suggested hopefully.

Ren obeyed, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

—"How about Jaune's father's name, Nicholas?" suggested Blake.

Again, Ren typed and again, access was denied.

One after another, they all offered their guesses, but the correct key escaped them. They were about to give up when Weiss took Jaune's diary and examined it meticulously. At the end of all the pages, he found a numerical sequence.

—"Try 12 45 90," Weiss said.

Ren entered the combination, but the digital door remained closed.

Frustration grew as everyone pondered how to access the files. Then, Blake, looking at Jaune's diary, noticed that the number Weiss had dictated was identical to the one used to open the trunk containing all the diaries and USB sticks. An improbable and absurd idea crossed his mind, but it was worth a try.

—"Write 12 45 90, and this time add the journal number, 10," Blake suggested cautiously.

Ren did exactly what Blake indicated, adding the 10 to the previous sequence.

To everyone's surprise, the key was correct and the files were made accessible. The USB stick contained an overwhelming number of folders.

—"On what date was the fragment of the diary we read written?" asked Ren, his voice full of curiosity.

—"On October 9," Weiss replied without hesitation.

Ren searched through the files and found a folder marked with the date in question. Upon opening it, a multitude of files and videos were revealed.

With a curiosity he rarely showed, Ren clicked on the first video. The screen lit up and the video began to play, promising to reveal long-kept secrets.

The video turned out to be less exciting than expected. On stage, Weiss was engaged in her singing, her voice rising and filling the room. Even though everyone was captivated by his talent, the camera drifted to Jaune Arc, who, sitting in the crowd, couldn't hide his boredom. His face said it all: "Did I really spend money for this?"

Jaune's expression was so obvious that neither Blake nor Yang could contain their laughter. Part of the diary describing Jaune's tedium turned out to be true; he had actually attended a Weiss concert.

However, the other half of the story remained to be verified. Until now, the October 9 folder only contained short films about walks through the Atlas realm, nothing out of the ordinary.

Relieved, they thought that perhaps Jaune's diary was nothing more than the ramblings of a teenager. Ren left the October 9 folder, but something prompted him to dig beyond the obvious, and he made his way to the next folder, dated October 12.

That's when he came across the first video in that folder.

—In the video—

—"What's up, gang! Here we are in another episode of my ramblings, another chapter of my personal odyssey in search of the enigmas of the world."

—Outside the video—

Surprise gripped everyone upon seeing Jaune in the video, especially since she was darkening her face with makeup.

—"What the hell is he doing?" exclaimed Yang.

—"Why is he painting his face?" asked Ruby.

The others also expressed their confusion and curiosity at their friend's actions.

—In the video—

—"It's been two days since I tracked down those White Fang fools. And yes, as I suspected, tonight they plan to dock one of the many trains that carry dust throughout the Atlas realm."

Jaune had finished applying her makeup, now her skin looked a dark, almost unrecognizable shade. Then, she pulled a pair of contact lenses out of a case and placed them over her blue eyes, swapping them for deep, dark ones.

—"Well, you know the thing. For obvious reasons, I'm not going to get into that assault mess. Frankly, there's a good chance it's going to end badly, and I'd rather keep breathing for a while longer."

Wearing a wig that mimicked dreadlocks, Jaune completed her transformation. Now, with dark hair, black eyes, and brown skin, he was a totally different person, at least in appearance.

—Outside the video—

—"Ok, I have to admit that's awesome," Weiss admitted.

—"He's strangely adept at changing his look," Blake said quietly.

Jaune's transformation had left everyone open-mouthed. From a blond, blue-eyed boy, he had become someone with a darker skin tone and tight curls, almost unrecognizable if it weren't for that unique voice that gave him away.

—In the video—

"Let's see what we've got so far, okay? There's a shipment of dust that the Schnee have to pass to Atlas' army, and that's going to be tonight, at 8 o'clock. The White Fang has his snitches in both the company and the army, the bastards are cracks at their game."

Jaune couldn't help but grin mischievously as he spoke, as if it wasn't enough that he himself was planning to give the White Fang a slap on the wrist, who already had his own plan to rob the Schnees.

"The guy in charge of the security of this shipment is William Teran. Oh yes, I remember that guy! Haha don't fuck with me, this is the third time the White Fang has played on him when he's guarding a shipment of Dust. I wonder how come he hasn't been sent to fry asparagus yet, or degraded."

—"There are a lot of familiar faces in this robbery, some of them already fell for my scams a long time ago. Take a look."

Jaune grabbed the camera that was recording him and led it to a computer, then pointed it at the screen where a person's image was displayed.

—Outside the video—

Blake Belladonna froze, her body trembling. She was on that screen, although it was difficult to recognize her with the naked eye because of the faun features she hid so much, as well as a mask that covered much of her face.

—"Who's that?" asked Ruby.

—"Sounds familiar," Nora said.

—"yes, it's like he reminds me of someone," Weiss added.

Blake was silent, his gaze fixed on the screen, but inside, a whirlwind of thoughts assailed her. How was it possible that Jaune had had an encounter with her in the past and she didn't have the slightest memory of it?

The face Jaune was now vaguely familiar, as if it evoked someone from the past, but he couldn't pinpoint who. It was like a song whose melody is recognizable but whose lyrics escape memory.

Jaune had mentioned previous interactions with her, prompting her to dig into her memory, searching through the countless faces she had crossed paths with as a member of the White Fang. He mentioned a scam, and with that detail, someone's image began to take shape in his mind.

A young man with reddish hair, lilac eyes and freckles scattered across his face, dressed with the elegance of a man of fortune. The image became clearer, and Blake felt his teeth clenched involuntarily. She remembered that day as if it had been yesterday, when, on the orders of Adam Taurus, her old love, she was on a mission to find someone to buy the powder that the White Fang had stolen or to exchange it for weapons.

It was then that the red-haired man appeared, introducing himself as William Shakespeare, evoking the infamous writer. She naively allowed herself to be seduced by his words, listening as he expressed his desire to buy the powder and offered first-generation weapons in exchange, as well as an extra bonus of weaponry for being sympathetic to his cause. Blake believed those lies, as if she were a gullible child, despite her role in the White Fang.

The exchange was carried out with the precision of a Swiss watch, everything in place, everything as planned. But when William vanished into the darkness of the night, leaving behind only the echo of his footsteps, the real trial began. The weapons Blake had given to the White Fang, distributed among the members with the promise of power, turned out to be a cruel mockery: some barely worked, but most were so faulty that they weren't even good for scrap.

Blake had fallen into the trap, tricked by William, who had shown her an impeccable arsenal, only to exchange it for stolen dust. The humiliation was profound, and although anger boiled in everyone's veins, the situation was so absurd that they couldn't help but burst out laughing. Even Adam, his pride wounded, joined the chorus of taunts. Blake etched two lessons into his heart that day: a deep hatred for William Shakespeare, both the businessman and the writer, and the wisdom of examining every detail before closing a deal.

The experience had been a hard blow, but the lessons learned were invaluable. Blake had become more cautious, learning to read between the lines and doubt sugar-coated promises. Every deal, every word, every look since then was examined with a magnifying glass. No more deception, no more laughter at your expense. With each decision, Blake grew more sagacious, more implacable, and above all, more determined that the shadow of William Shakespeare should never again obscure his path.

—In the video—

—"Who's here?" The vigilante with a love affair of those who make history.

—"Oh my God, I've seen complicated and toxic relationships, but this... This is another thing, it's like comparing uranium-238 to a banana.

—"And speaking of which, why don't we get the most out of uranium-238 for energy? If we use it well, we could set up nuclear power plants, or as I call them, and give light to all the kingdoms. But no, it seems that no one is encouraged. We're fine with what we've got, but it wouldn't hurt to have a plan B in case the dust goes to hell. This smells like a conspiracy, guys, you have to put a magnifying glass on it.

"But hey, I'm beating around the bush. Hey, if you're watching me, girl, I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart: let go of that guy. I don't understand what you see in it. Yes, it's good, he fights like the gods, but that level of obsession is horror movie. What do you find in it? Could it be that... Does he have a huge cock?, Well, I'd better not go on.

—"Oops! Look at the time, it's time to take action. I got too rolled up. See you in the next video, people. Hey, buddy, say goodbye too."

The camera tilted to the ground, where lay an unconscious man with feline features, a faun. Then the chip fell: Jaune had disguised herself as him.

—"These are the times when even education is getting out of hand."

With those words, the video came to an end.

— Outside the video —

—"Wow, Jaune doesn't bite his tongue, huh?" Ruby couldn't help but comment, impressed by the boy's frankness in the video.

Nora, curiosity painted on her face, threw a question into the air,— "Hey, what about uranium-238?"

Weiss, always ready with an academic answer, explained, —"It's a radioactive isotope, quite heavy and unstable and potentially dangerous

Yang, with a distant look, pondered aloud,— "Whoever the girl Jaune was talking about, I hope she is okay and has been able to leave that poisonous relationship behind."

—"Yes, I hope so, too," murmured Blake, with a hint of bitterness in his voice, aware that in some ways Jaune's words resonated with his own experience. Fortunately, she had managed to escape that harmful bond.

Suddenly, as if a bucket of ice water had fallen on her, Blake recognized the man lying on the ground. It was Winston Arginium, or so it seemed until the pieces of the puzzle fit together in his mind. On that fateful October 12th, he was destined to steal a shipment of dust... But now it all made sense. She never took orders from Winston because the real Winston was actually Jaune Arc, cunningly disguised to fool everyone.

—"Ren, play another video, please," Pyrrha asked, eager to continue the video marathon.

Ren nodded earnestly, and with an expert click, the next video came to life on the screen. The camera, with its relentless lens, captured every detail from a first-person perspective, dragging viewers on a visceral and raw journey through the reality unfolding before them.

— In the video —

—"The shipment of dust is here, Mr. Winston, but why here?" The hoarse voice of a man dressed in the uniform of the White Fang echoed, his steady hand holding a gun as his gaze scanned the place.

The confusion was evident in his tone; Adam Taurus' orders were clear: transport the cargo to Mistral and then to Menagerie. What had changed?

—"Oh, don't worry, brother,"
Jane replied with a calmness that bordered on indifference.— "This, too, took me by surprise. Adam informed me that Mistral is not safe for now. In other words, getting to Mistral right now is problematic. Atlas is in the middle of a political mess with that kingdom and has closed its borders. Transporting something so heavy and valuable would be almost illegal now. We can't risk them discovering all this and starting to snoop around more than they already do. They know we take the dust, but they have no way to prove it."

—"I understand, sir," the man with the White Fang nodded, though uneasiness still danced in his eyes.

The conversation in the video flowed with deceptive ease, punctuated by jokes that drew nervous laughter. But the atmosphere changed abruptly when an explosion rumbled in the distance, too close to be ignored. The members of the White Fang surrounding the stolen powder shipment tensed, their bodies on high alert.

—"What's going on, sir?!" The question shot from the lips of one of the members, his voice rising above the chaos that was beginning to unfold.

—"Atlas' army has caught us, this is a disaster!" His tone was a mixture of frustration and urgency.

—"Listen, everybody," he continued firmly, —"we can't let those Atlas soldiers get the dust. Still less give them the excuse to label us as terrorists. So, move! Hold those guys as long as you can while we leave with the cargo."

The members of the White Fang nodded, their faces tense from the situation. Without wasting a second, they scattered into the forest, becoming shadows that melted into the darkness of the night.

The camera, which had captured every moment of the scene, swung to reveal the few remaining members of the White Fang. One by one, they began to vanish into thin air, like ghosts leaving a stage.

—"Okay, Roman, you can go out. It's just you and me here," Jaune said, her voice echoing in the stillness that had followed the frenzy.

From the thicket of the forest, as if it were a play, a figure emerged that imposed presence, followed by another smaller but no less intriguing. The man, dressed in a white suit that seemed to defy the filth of the forest, approached Jaune with a smile that hid more than it revealed. His cane, more a status symbol than a supportive one, complemented his air of sophistication.

The companion who followed him was a visual enigma: her hair, a canvas of pink and brown, framed eyes of different hues, one reflecting the sky and the other, the earth. Her white outfit hugged her figure with a precision that defied logic, highlighting a beauty that needed no embellishments to be recognized.

—"Roman, it's been a long time since we've seen each other. Are you still fleecing the rich with your piracy antics? I imagine the business is still as round as ever," Jaune remarked, shaking the familiar thief's hand with a familiarity that spoke of past complicities.

The said Roman, accepting the greeting with a firmness that denoted confidence, replied with a sly smile, —"When you called me to propose this little job, I didn't think twice. And the truth is, I don't regret it in the slightest."

Glancing at the cargo of powder that the White Fang had stolen, Roman couldn't help but show his shock. It was a booty that any thief would envy.

—"Thank you for coming, Roman, and Neo, of course. Without his unique ability, this plan would have been nothing more than a crazy dream. I owe you one, but of course, I'll also pay you for the help, so we're at peace," Jaune said, trying to stroke the girl's hair, who reacted with a gesture of disgust and pushed her hand away with a sharp thud.

Neo, with a mischievous expression, stuck out his tongue at Jaune and, in one swift movement, pulled out a knife, placing it on his own neck in a theatrical gesture. "If you touch me again, I swear I'll cut you off," he threatened, with a gesture that left no doubt about his seriousness.

Jaune's smile didn't fade, even as he cast a knowing glance at Roman. —"She never loses her charm, doesn't she, Roman?"

—"Sure, boy. I guess that's the end of the deal. A part of this dust is mine," said Roman, with the confidence of someone who knows he is about to make a good deal. "I've got a bullhead on the way to take my share."

—"There's no rush, but before that, we have to wait for another partner to pick up his lot," Jaune replied, causing Roman to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

—"So you've been making deals behind my back with someone else?" asked Roman, his smile indicating that unexpected twists were part of the game for him.

— Outside the video —

Astonishment gripped the room. No one could believe their eyes: his friend Jaune giving orders to the members of the White Fang and then discarding them as if they were pawns on a chessboard. And there he was, collaborating with one of the kingdom of Vale's most wanted criminals, the infamous Roman Torchwick, and a mysterious girl no one recognized.

—"It's incredible, does Jaune know and work with Roman Torchwick?" Ruby could hardly believe her eyes.

—"It seems we didn't know Jaune as well as we thought," Pyrrha murmured, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Weiss couldn't contain his irritation. —"I could bear it if I was stupid, a fool, an imbecile... But this is too much. This makes him a criminal", he said, his disgust growing at seeing Jaune involved in a robbery of the White Fang and collaborating with Roman.

—"Wow, the vomit boy turned out to be a lot more interesting than he looks," Yang joked, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

Silence fell over Blake, Nora, and Ren, each deep in thought, trying to assimilate the hidden truth behind Jaune's actions.

— In the video —

—"Of course I made another deal; You are useful, but only up to a point. I need something else... like the distraction that's taking place in that forest," Jaune said, pointing to the horizon where a battle was raging between the White Fang and what everyone assumed was Atlas' army.

—"So you were the author of that skirmish, and I thought it was Atlas's army in action. Who are they then?" asked Roman, his curiosity piqued by the revelation.

—"The Branwen tribe," Jaune replied with a calmness that contrasted with the gravity of the situation.

—"You have allied yourself with these lunatics! They are barbarians without an ounce of humanity. You can't keep dealing with those people; it's too dangerous," Roman exclaimed, his voice tinged with fear and dismay.

—"Be careful, Roman. That tongue could cost you your head," warned a voice from the darkness of the forest.

The camera turned to the figure emerging from the shadows: a woman in red and black robes, her black hair waving with wild elegance. His steps were firm and captivating, and a gracefully designed mask concealed his face.

—"Raven, I thought you had left me hanging. How are you, miss?" greeted Jaune with a smile, extending her hand in a gesture of greeting, but she did not reciprocate, keeping her arms crossed in a defiant posture.

—"I see you're glad to see me, too," joked Jaune, his smile intact at the coldness of the reception.

— Out of the video —

The tension was palpable among the friends as they watched Jaune's interaction with such dangerous and enigmatic figures. Surprise and disbelief flashed across their faces, wondering how much more was behind their partner's façade, and what other secrets lurked in the shadows of their clandestine dealings.

With Yang, surprise quickly turned to anger at seeing his mother, Raven, next to Jaune. —"So she has time for conspiracies but not for her own daughter?" his voice trembled with a mixture of fury and pain.

Ruby, her eyes wide in disbelief, Ruby struggled to reconcile the image of her friend with that of the accomplice she saw on screen. —"Jaune, how could you?" he whispered, feeling a personal betrayal.

Weiss: Weiss's anger was palpable, his countenance cold and distant. —"Stealing from my company, betraying our trust—what else have you hidden from us, Jaune?" he questioned, his disappointment as sharp as the edge of his sword.

Pyrrha's disappointment was in his eyes. —"I thought I knew you, Jaune. I thought you were better than this," he murmured, his heart heavy with the reality of the situation.

Blake remained silent, his expression inscrutable. Theft and betrayal were themes all too familiar to her, and now, seeing Jaune involved made her question her own judgment.

with Nora and Ren. Both shared looks of bewilderment, unable to articulate the right words. —"Jaune, our friend, a criminal?" the question hung in the air, unanswered.

The atmosphere in the room was a whirlwind of emotions: anger mingled with disappointment, surprise intertwined with a deep sense of betrayal. Jaune's image, once the epitome of innocence and loyalty, was now obscured by the shadow of doubt and suspicion.

— In the video —

Jaune Arc, with a theatrical gesture, bowed deeply, placing one hand over his heart and the other extended toward the firmament.— "Oh, dear Raven, your presence here is like a beam of light on a gray day, though perhaps it is more appropriate to say a lunar flash, given your taciturn nature."

Raven Branwen, with a dismissive gesture, her eyes twinkling behind her mask. —"Jaune, if your sarcasm had an edge, you would already be lord of this world. But, sadly, you only succeed in exasperating me, although I must admit that your capacity for disguise is still impressive."

—"Exasperating you is the last thing I would want, ever! My intention is simply to spice up your day with my charming wit," replied Jaune, with a bow that bordered on the burlesque.

Raven heaved a heavy sigh, her patience visibly frayed. —"If your wit were as 'charming' as you proclaim, we would not find ourselves hidden in this forest, but in an ornate hall, feasting on a feast."

—"Ah, but then we would deprive ourselves of the delights of this—" jungle 'entertainment,'" Jaune argued, pointing to the din of battle in the distance. —"Besides, who needs a feast when you have the honor of the company of the fearsome and magnificent Raven Branwen?"

Raven, with a look of disbelief. —"Your flattery is as hollow as your skull. Have you not something more productive to do than to annoy a warrior who can tear you in two?"

—"Ah, but that's the essence of your charm, Raven, always so full of life and brimming with surprises," Jaune said with a smile, nimbly dodging a branch she had thrown in his direction.

Raven narrowed her eyes, her posture rigid and defiant. —"Your recklessness knows no bounds, Jaune. Although, perhaps, that's part of what some would call your... 'Charm.'"

—"Precisely," Jaune replied with a knowing smile, winking. —"And don't underestimate my talent for negotiating. After all, who else could gain the trust of the Branwen tribe and come out unscathed?"

A fleeting smile came across Raven's lips. —"You may be right. But don't expect to see my smile often; It's a weird sight." Warned.

—"I'll consider your smile a personal victory." Jaune declared, his smile widening.— "Now, why don't you take your fair share of the spoils?"

Raven nodded, her expression turning serious.— "All right. But keep in mind, Jaune, that if you ever break your word, you will be the first to suffer the consequences."

—"It would never occur to me! After all, who would be able to betray someone with such a captivating smile?" joked Jaune, dodging a low branch with agility and a laugh.

Raven sighed, her restrained smile barely perceptible, and walked over to Jaune, who proudly pointed to her share of the loot.

—"Take a look at this, I think we've come to a fair deal. We're going to split the spoils fairly between the three of us," he suggested, pointing one by one to Raven, himself, and then Roman.

—"Your ability to impress me never runs out, Jaune," Raven said with an admiring smile.— "This haul is more than I bargained for."

—"How about you give me a kiss of thanks?" Jaune proposed with a mischievous smile, but he had to jump back to avoid a slash from Raven's sword, which as it cut through the air seemed to divide reality itself. Suddenly, a portal opened and countless members of the Branwen tribe emerged from it.

Jaune quickly palpated to make sure he wasn't hurt. He had barely managed to dodge the attack; After all, he was not a hunter, but a mere civilian.

—"What's the matter, didn't you like my kiss?" asked Raven in a seductive tone.

Jaune could only laugh nervously. With this woman, you never knew how she would take a joke.

—"Listen up, you idiots, pick up the cargo of dust from this side and take it to the tribe," Raven ordered in a voice that commanded respect, like a born leader. His tribesmen responded with a roar of support and hurried to move the valuable dust into the portal.

Raven made her way to the portal, ready to go.

—"I'm still waiting for that kiss," Jaune joked, but only got a withering look from Raven. With a wave of his finger, he pretended to cut his own throat, sending Jaune a warning as clear as glass: Don't play with fire or you'll get burned.

With that threat hanging in the air, Raven launched herself into the portal, which closed behind her, leaving only the darkness of the forest and the echo of her words.

Jaune, still shaking off his fright, couldn't help but marvel at Raven's ability to bend space to her will. It was a display of power that he, a mere civilian, could barely understand, let alone replicate. But in the depths of his being, he could not deny the tingle of excitement that such feats ignited in him, a tingle that reminded him that, in this world full of danger and wonder, adventure was always lurking.

—"Hey, kid, I like bold guys, but there's a limit. You have to be kind of an idiot to mess with Raven Branwen, that girl is crazy," Roman warned her, and the truth is that she wasn't wrong. Raven was a deranged woman, and it was not advisable to antagonize her, much less to play practical jokes on her.

"Come on, Roman, it's not a big deal either. Look how many times I've teased him and here I am, breathing. That means I must like something, or at least she puts up with me," Jaune replied nonchalantly.

Suddenly, the hum of the propellers filled the air, and as they looked up at the sky, they saw a bullhead approaching towards where Jaune, Roman, and Neo were, causing the treetops to sway gently.

—"Here comes my transport," Roman announced, and then the ship descended from the sky and several men got out of it to load all the dust.

—"Are these Junior's henchmen or old Malachite's?" asked Jaune, pointing to the guys in suits.

—"They're Junior's," Roman confirmed.

The conversation turned pleasant, with Jaune showing a familiarity with Román as if they were lifelong cronies. It was curious to see Jaune so relaxed and confident. Then, efficiently, the dust was transferred to the bullhead.

—"Well, it's time to set sail," Roman announced with a touch of drama. —"Where do you want me to leave your share, in your lair of Mistral, in the kingdom of Vale, here in Atlas, or in Menagerie?" he asked.

—"Leave her in Mistral for now. Menagerie is off the table; they're on high alert," Jaune explained.

Roman raised an eyebrow and laughed. What was happening in Menagerie was a mystery; That corner of the world was practically isolated, news from there was delayed, and the same was true the other way around. If Jaune said that that area was under extreme tension, then he must know something. And if he knew anything, it was likely that Jaune had something to do with it.

—"Hehe, what have you done now, Jaune?" asked Roman, amused.

—"Accusing someone like that is a serious matter, Roman," replied Jaune.

Roman continued to smile, clearly incredulous. —"Come on, whenever you know something that no one else knows, it's because you've had something to do with it, directly or indirectly."

—"Well, maybe, and I'm not saying I did it alone, but there's a small chance that I planned and executed a coup d'état in Kuo Kuana."

—"What the hell?!, why would you do that?" exclaimed Roman, surprised by Jaune's audacity, wondering what reason he would have to orchestrate a coup d'état against a mostly Faun government.

—"You see, setting up a base in Menagerie has been a headache. Every time I go, I have to disguise myself and hide when they find out I'm human. It's not practical. I need the government to collapse, that at some point in that battle, I will appear as its savior, a human who will change the laws and the constitution of the place. Thus, I will finally be able to move freely, just like other fauns. It would be a win-win. In addition, there is an area in the Menagerie desert that I cannot access freely; I have received reports that what I seek is found there," Jaune explained earnestly, detailing his motives for wanting to overthrow the government in Menagerie.

—"Are you still on the hunt for goblins?" sighed Roman, exasperated by Jaune's outlandish theories. Ever since I'd known him, the guy had been quite peculiar.

Jaune laughed with confidence that overflowed, as if he had the secret of the universe in his hands. "Laugh as much as you want," he began, his voice filled with unshakable certainty.

"But I know that goblins are as real as you and me. I've got proof, man, evidence that even the most skeptical can't ignore. All that's missing is that final spark, that confirmation that will make all unbelievers swallow his words. Think about it, all those old stories, those whispering tales about tiny creatures slithering through the trees, kidnapping children and amassing fortunes in gold. It's no coincidence, it's a pattern, and I'm going to be the one to prove it to the world. And don't tell me that mandrakes don't exist, because I've already dug up the truth about them."

Roman, on the other hand, seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "Those were nothing but ginseng roots!" he exclaimed, his patience clearly exhausted.

Jaune, however, was not discouraged. "What your eyes see as ginseng, I see for what it really is: a mandrake. Of course, she is no longer alive, because otherwise, her screams would have left us all deaf and crazy," he explained with a tone of knowledge that did not admit of reply.

Roman sighed, resigned. "There's no point in arguing with you, Jaune. It's like talking to a wall," he said, before turning to his partner.

"Let's go, Neo. We have things to do. I'll leave your dust at the base, Jaune. See you."

"See you, Roman," Jaune replied, waving goodbye as the video drew to a close.

—Out of the video—

The revelation was astonishing. Jaune turned out to be a criminal of high caliber. He was entangled in a web of conspiracies involving Roman Torchwick, the notorious thief of the kingdom of Vale. And as if that wasn't enough, he also had connections to Raven Branwen, Yang's mother, and was implicated in something even darker and more terrible, and who apparently seemed to be a simple dreamer with crazy theories about goblins and mandrakes

The final confession was like an emotional earthquake for everyone, but for Blake it was devastating. Not only had she survived the terror of those days four years ago, but now, as if waking from a long sleep, the pieces fell into place, forming an image that no one wanted to see.

Four years ago, the tension between the White Fang and Menagerie's government, specifically in Kuo Kuana, was red hot. Attacks came and went like shadows in the night, and although both sides denied being the perpetrators, trust was already broken. No one believed in each other's innocence, and so, a cold war brewed between them, a dangerous dance on the tightrope of politics and fear.

Members of the White Fang looked over their shoulders, fearful that their affiliation would make them targets of distrust and anger from ordinary citizens, who in turn were instigated by the police force and the government. Paranoia spread like a disease, and civilians, equally terrified, saw in every shadow the threat of the White Fang.

The spiral of violence intensified with every attack, every accusation, every suspicious look, until tension erupted into an armed confrontation. It was a bloodshed that marked everyone, a series of events that left deep scars on the community. The streets of Kuo Kuana, once full of life and color, were tinged with the horror of loss, with the echo of screams and tears echoing around every corner.

In the midst of this chaos, a startling revelation came to light. The investigations carried out by both the White Fang and the Menagerie government pointed to a single culprit: an individual who called himself Copernicus. This fellow, with an entourage already formed and ready to act, had dark plans for the government, though his true intentions were still a mystery.

But when Jaune confessed to being the mastermind behind a coup d'état, orchestrating the conflict between the White Fang and the police forces to position himself as the savior, it all fell into place. Jaune was none other than Copernicus.

Blake's anger knew no bounds.

"Damn you, son of a bitch, it was you!" he shouted with a fury that filled the room, causing everyone to recoil. Never before had they witnessed Blake so enraged and vocal. His voice, full of betrayal and pain.


—[]—

In the gloom of the night, where the silence was broken only by the rustling of insects and the song of nocturnal birds, invisible hunters in the dark, rodents hid under the earth, gripped by fear of the creatures that stalked them. The moon, shattered in the sky, shed its light over the forest, granting the predator a sinister advantage over the creatures of the forest.

During the day, this forest was illuminated by the sun, which blessed it with almost incomparable beauty. The pristine water of its rivers nourished the land, providing fruit for the animals that fed on them. But now, illuminated by the moon and covered by the cloak of night, someone was running in fear.

That someone tried to hide from what was chasing him, but it seemed useless; No matter how fast he tried to run away, that thing was always stalking him. The creature was intelligent, cunning, creating traps that nearly captured it.

And he could only just run, he tried to challenge the creature, but no matter what he used, that creature knew him well, as if he knew what he would do, what moves he would make, and what tricks he would use. He tried to negotiate, but the beast, as if it didn't understand his words or as if it didn't want to understand, just kept attacking.

From afar, the creature watched with a funny eye as the person ran through the forest.

—"You will not be able to escape from me, because I am the walker of darkness and mysteries, I am the revealer," the creature sang with an almost sinister amusement, fun and jocular, at ease with the situation.

The persecuted man felt his strength coming to an end, and then a trap loomed over him. He could not escape; His leg was imprisoned by a rope that held his left foot to the ground, and also, as if from beneath the ground, apparently metal beams closed, forming a cage. Locked up, he couldn't escape.

He tried to struggle, but he couldn't; This cage had three five-leaf clovers around it. I couldn't get out even if I tried.

Then he heard footsteps approaching. He searched desperately; The creature was coming for him, and at last that thing came to him, as tall as a mountain, sinister as a nightmare, and smiling as a demon. He was tall, or maybe it was because he was small.

Then the creature bent down and took the cage in his left hand and lifted it with a critical eye. She looked at him.

Jaune Arc, or as he called it, the creature, was just laughing.

"Very well, goblin, you little wretch. I've finally found you. Now tell me, where do you hide your gold?"


—[]—

I am deeply grateful that you took the time to read this chapter. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and highly valued. Although English is not my native language and you may encounter some grammatical errors, I hope that the essence of the narrative remains intact. This story will not follow the original canon of the RWBY series; rather, it will be enriched with elements from various franchises and inspiration from other series.