Chiron's expression immediately caught the attention of everyone in the room. He was staring hard at one particular direction.
"A danger is approaching the Branwen Tribe," he said. "Cinder Fall."
At the mention of her name, Rider was the first to rise. "She's looking for Raven."
"What do we do?" asked Ruby. "Do we rush back to the bullhead?"
Rider shook his head. "We wouldn't make it in time. There is one way, but I don't think I can bring all of you there."
"Your Noble Phantasm," Lancer guessed. "Too much weight?"
"No, too much suspicion on Leo's end," Chiron answered. "He's still expecting me soon. I've already delayed this meeting long enough."
"We should split up," Ruby suggested. "Me, Lancer, Ren, and Nora can stay here with Chiron and get into headmaster Leo's good graces."
"Master," Rider addressed Pyrrha, catching her by surprise. "Your orders?" He remembered Chiron's words.
"Uh." She wasn't sure what to answer. "Then, we'll retrieve Raven?"
Rider turned to Chiron, expecting something. The Companion Servant gave a nod. "It's a start."
"The only problem left is whether I can secure Raven's anchor along with her."
"What do you mean?" Chiron asked.
"Raven's semblance allows her to travel towards people she's bonded to in an instant. She had to have had one in the tribe, probably the proxy Spring Maiden. Vernal is her name."
"You're not confident in dealing with Berserker?" Pyrrha looked worried.
"It's not Berserker that's worries me," Rider corrected. The anxiety didn't leave her face still. "So long as Vernal is around, Raven has someone she could run towards. I doubt she would go to Qrow, Taiyang, or Yang if she could go elsewhere. We need to cut her off from her escape routes."
"Isolate the prey from the rest of the herd," Chiron finished. "Not quite a fairy tale hero, are we?"
"It's the best I got." Rider shrugged. "Despite my knowledge of the future, I don't know Raven that well. I'm not sure how we could get her to our side."
"I can," Chiron said. "Her reasons are similar to Leo's own. Questionable methods but the reasons are the same. Us in the League have a use for her."
"Alright." Rider nodded. "We'll leave Raven to you. Master, let's go."
"R-right," Pyrrha replied. In time, she'll be a proper leader. First, she needs to be a Master. "Let's go, Rider."
All of them soon left their residence. Rider led them to an open-spaced area, away from the general populace. They were needed to keep as much of this as a secret though with what was to come, that secret wasn't going to stay as one for long.
"Chiron," Rider said. "Point me to their direction." When Chiron complied, Rider nodded. "Alright then, let's begin."
Removing his helmet, Rider had to bear the sudden stiffness of his living friends at the sight of his face again. He normally shouldn't do this but making that whistling call would be too difficult to perform through the gaps of his helmet.
Similar to the summoning circle that Masters would perform, a section of the ground appeared before them. Unlike the circle, it was more solid, like something was sprouting from ground below. It took a shape of a large flower ready to bloom. It kept growing in size and had a tranquil effect on those around them. It was Nora who noticed this. Rider on the other hand, noticed the flower. He was certain that it was native to Mistral, something that could be found in Kuroyuri.
"Ren," she said. "This is like your semblance."
"It's more than that, Nora," Rider replied. "It's more than that."
Rider took a deep breath. He honed in on that singular moment that would define what was to come. He remembered those words vividly. Rider could never forget it.
"Jaune Arc," Rider began. "Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, the four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as…"
Much like how the large blooming flower gave an effect similar to Ren's semblance, sparks of pink electricity began to appear. The voltage continued to increase the longer it went. The flower bud grew close to bursting.
"…Juniper."
The large flower burst, electrical sparks lingered in the air for a short while. The flower was in full bloom but that wasn't what caught their attention, beautiful and tranquil as it was. It was the creature that was in the flower that did, shaking of what dew remained on its luscious white fur. With bronze antlers that shone in the light and hare's feet as golden as Rider's own blonde hair, the most trusted companion of the Rusted Knight had appeared before them. Rider checked on his Master; she shook a little but she was mostly fine, just a loss of balance. The amount of aura must have been significant.
Rider petted Juniper. Juniper rubbed against him like a cat, her fur had that calming presence that always comforted him during those days in the Ever After. He doesn't know how long he would have lasted with her.
"You can pet her if you like." Rider did not miss the curious eyes of his companions, except for the other Servants.
Juniper was initially a little shy and backed away. But with Rider's guarantee, Juniper eventually allowed them all to approach. Rubbing the fur was similar to generating static electricity as some of their hairs were beginning to stand. The overall feeling was like that of serene calmness. As an added demonstration, Juniper's antlers generated a faint ringing noise and they all felt their weapons rattle so slightly; it was Pyrrha who noticed what that was.
"Polarity," she said.
"Tranquility and High Voltage," added Rider. "She could also do my own but its only to herself."
"Your semblance?"
Rider nodded. "Aura Amplification. I could use my own to amplify others and myself."
Pyrrha's eyes widened in realization. She was mumbling to herself, probably about the amount of reserves her Jaune had in this timeline. Chiron was doing something similar though his expression was more on worry than anything else.
Rider managed to catch Chiron's mention of "magical energy" and "od" in there.
"Speaking of my semblance," continued Rider. "Master, if you will." He offered a hand. Pyrrha took it.
As a Servant bound to a Master here in Remnant, Rider could also estimate the amount of Pyrrha's aura he was using. One might make the assumption of comparing it to Mana Burst, the difference here is that Aura Amplification isn't a quick expulsion of energy but a constant stream so long as he would continuously do so.
Having accomplished his duty, Rider mounted Juniper. Her back was strong as she carried both him and Pyrrha and still enough strength to carry the others.
"I'll leave Leonardo to you two," Rider said to both Chiron and Lancer.
"Not like we could do anything without the Spring Maiden," Lancer replied.
"Well I guess I better quick then, huh. One last thing: you guys might want to cover your ears."
Juniper walked a few meters away from them first. Then, with a lightness in her step, she burst forth, leaving behind a thunderous boom that most definitely was heard by everyone. They would be fortunate if any listeners had just assumed it to be a thunder from some stray storm cloud.
Her speed was greater than the Bullhead and despite absolute blur of their surroundings, Juniper never lost her way, easily hopping across rooftops and agilely navigating the alleyways. Her feet were light as leaves that it was as though she wasn't touching the ground at all which made the ride the smoothest that anyone would ever have. When they made it past the borders of Lower Mistral, of which they got through at the same time it took for a clock's ticking hand to move once, Juniper's agility made itself known as it slipped past the condensing trees, slipping around, under and over, without so much as slowing down.
On Juniper, Rider felt unstoppable. Fitting since her abilities was akin to having his entire team with him. With team JNPR around, he was always certain that nothing could stop them. Only team RWBY had any chance of denting that faith.
Any Grimm that happened to get in their way were quickly eliminated, unable to even react to the incoming force that barreled through them. Old leaves and branches were broken off and flew along with them.
To anyone else, their vision of them would have lasted an instant, turned to a blurry mess that none could possibly make out. If voices were spoken, they would fall silent as Juniper ran faster and her momentum kept increasing. Had the ground been even and straight with no obstacles, they would have been at their destination in as close as they could manage in an instant.
Pyrrha, his Master, kept her mouth closed tight. No bugs would get to her at all. There was a layer of protection in the form of Juniper's head and neck that would prevent any unfortunate flying critter from getting to her. Even if there was, Juniper had Nora's High Voltage which made herself akin to a moving electric fly swatter.
There was no worry on Master's face. That was the effect of Ren's Tranquility. Even if it were one's first time riding any sort of mount, let alone at this speed, they would never be worried nor would they feel any sort of fear when riding. Juniper simply had that effect on others.
Juniper's antlers rung slightly. Like a compass, Juniper could locate the poles of Remnant through Pyrrha's—his Pyrrha's Polarity. None of them would ever be lost on Juniper and they could avoid any trap laid involving metal; there was none that they had encountered.
No damage nor scratch came upon Juniper's coat. It had less to do with Juniper herself but more so that she was a Noble Phantasm and was thusly possessed the energy of its rider, aura in this case. Much like huntsmen and huntresses, Juniper possessed a protective layer akin to aura which she instinctively amplifies further. There is no need to guess as to who that belonged to.
She even had great control and focus of her own aura. Her antlers were soon glowing as more of it was being concentrated there. Her head lowered as she readied herself for contact. Rider took hold of Pyrrha tight and braced for the oncoming impact.
It was only an instant. Rider's vision was quickly filled with the black blurs of the Grimm, the brown smudges of wooden fences and walls, dotted by many other things that he would assume to be the other members of the Branwen tribe. Still, Juniper kept charging forward. Pyrrha didn't see it, but Rider and Juniper did: Berserker caught them in its sights.
Both Master and Servant braced hard as Juniper quickly decelerated. The momentum that she had built suddenly stopping. Berserker's claws had gripped Juniper's antlers and dug its own feet to the ground. The sheer force behind it broke down the wooden walls of the Branwen Tribe and blew everyone away. The booming noise had been deafening and Rider internally apologized for anyone unfortunate enough to not use their aura. Many screamed as they covered their ears, if they hadn't been too hurt to cover them that is.
Berserker's feet dug into the ground and kept digging as though it was making a shallow trench. Though they were decelerating at an instant pace, Juniper's momentum kept forcing Berserker back that it couldn't do anything but hold on to the antlers. Locked in this wrestle, Rider couldn't draw his sword out of the chance that Pyrrha would fall off; they were still moving because of the momentum.
Juniper's head lowered. Berserker lost his grip on the ground. Juniper flung Berserker overhead and Berserker fell, damaged and bruised. Their momentum had been slowed to a walk. Juniper turned, her front hoof scraped the ground like she was a bull ready to charge again.
Pyrrha got off. "Keep them distracted." Juniper's Tranquility must have given her a calm enough mind for her resolve. "I'll find Qrow and we'll secure Vernal if we can't get Raven."
"She's rough around the edges." Rider nodded. "Imagine a violent-looking tomboy."
It took a moment for her to picture it. "Got it... I think?"
The two nodded and Pyrrha gave him one last concerned look before running off. Good. There was less danger for her here. Drawing his broken blade, Rider raised it and pointed it at Berserker.
"I am Rider," he declared. Fairytale Knight already having its slight effect on him. His tone changed. "Have at you, Berserker."
Underneath that mask, Rider's eyes met with Cinder's own. That face. That face that had been responsible for many deaths, not just of those close to him but of many others as well. In this time, she had been responsible for his death. Rider will not deny some modicum of temptation to just gut her there. However, Berserker proved both a loyal Servant worthy of respect and an enemy most despised. It stood between them. Still, Rider did not fail in catching that admiration found in Cinder's eyes. Part of him wanted to remove that helmet of his, reveal to her that everyone's childhood hero was not hers. He will never be hers.
The surrounding area was bereft of obstacles, courtesy of the two Servants. Berserker's Grimm had mostly been dealt with by the earlier force with the remainders being dealt with by capable fighters, both friend and foe. Pyrrha herself proved to be the greatest among them for everyone else were reeling back from the damages they suffered. There were an unfortunate few laid among them, not moving.
Both opponents circled around each other. Each round made them inch closer. It was as though everything else didn't exist. The Grimm and what survivors fought in the background. Rider and Berserker made their arena smaller. Juniper's hairs stood straight that Rider could feel some of them poking through the little gaps of the exposed layer beneath the armor. Both mount and her rider displayed a stoic focus. Rider's broken blade remained steady.
When they were close enough, Berserker was the first to attack. Its reach was greater than Rider's. But Juniper made up for it.
Juniper was swift and agile. In a contest of strength, Rider will not deny that he would lose against Berserker. Even without the mount, Rider could move about with speeds and agility that was greater than what Berserker could follow. With Juniper, Berserker's building frustration of being unable to catch him was clear.
Be it by sword swipes or by Juniper's own martial prowess, the two of them were controlling the flow of the current battle. Juniper bounced off of Berserker, delivering a powerful kick with her hind legs in an acrobatic display that Rider would be incapable of doing himself.
Rider would occasionally swipe against the Grimm that were being commanded by Berserker. At the moment, it was more accurate to say that it was Juniper against Berserker with Rider himself playing support, keeping the pestilence of Grimm away.
Berserker grabbed hold of Juniper's antlers, locking the two of them in place. A mighty swing caused both Juniper and Rider to fly across their fighting ground and landing on the Branwen Tribe members and some of the escaped prisoners. The weight of Juniper kept Rider on the ground, preventing him from getting up. Juniper thrashed and kicked as the Grimm neared them both.
Rider managed to dislodge himself from his own mount. In a mixture of both the Pankration that he had just learned and of the swordsmanship that he had, Rider fought against the Grimm with finesse and strength. Since his sword was broken he had a much lighter grip on it that made his other hand free to do whatever. Thus far, Rider had yet to deploy his shield, opting instead with the other sword form, making up for reach. The coat of arms wasn't quite close to the Arc family but was recognizable enough as that of crescent moons. There was also a large bright star at its center.
Juniper followed in his footsteps as she kicked the last of the Grimm that surrounded them. She stood behind him, watching his back.
Pyrrha managed to get to Qrow. The experienced huntsman still capable of fighting off against the combined trio of Cinder, Emerald and Mercury. Pyrrha, by contrast, was securing Vernal. Raven was nowhere to be seen. Rider never saw a portal when he and Pyrrha arrived.
She ran away, didn't she? Rider guessed. Typical of her. If she had the option to run, she would have taken it.
Berserker lunged at him. "Attacking!" it cried out.
Rider reached out his hand and gripped Juniper's fur. The two quickly got out of the way. They only had a few seconds and Rider intends to make it count.
Getting between them, Rider tossed Emerald and Mercury in separate directions. Cinder was stricken twice or thrice before she was thrown—with a bit more force behind it—towards Berserker. Berserker caught its Master and Rider did not miss the slight surprise of betrayal in her expression. Rider will take what victories he can get, pettiness included.
"Where is she?" Rider asked hastily.
"Ray's gone." Qrow shook his head. "Took her chance to book it when she saw it."
"She's in Vale, then?" The only other people she could have bonded with were here.
"You know anybody else she could be bonded to?"
Behind them, Pyrrha engaged with Vernal in fierce combat. Rider's Master had finesse and was a spectacle to watch, Vernal was wild and brutal, never hesitating to use dirty tactics to gain an advantage.
Pyrrha was better than the average competitive fighter. She too had some tricks up her sleeve. Namely, her subtle use of her semblance allowing her to control her fight. Vernal was keeping up as not every part of her had metal and she was willing to throw down with anything she had. The Branwen Tribe weren't exactly the fairest of fighters.
"Do you think you have what it takes against me?" Vernal bluffed.
"Kid, don't even try." Qrow was unconvinced. Besting them both, Qrow had experience. "We're looking for the Spring Maiden."
"And what makes you think I'm not it?" Vernal kept bluffing.
"Because you're not doing what she's doing." Pyrrha replied, her eyes pointed towards Cinder. Pyrrha and Vernal's blades locked.
On cue, Cinder Fall flew at them. Her eyes burned bright. Those fires were absent and had always been absent on Vernal.
Rider raised his sword arm. As a Servant, it didn't take much effort for him to hold back the momentum of a Maiden.
Cinder's eyes shone bright. Her grin was as wide as her face allowed it.
Her voice nearly cracked. "You're here. You're actually here!"
For a moment, Rider thought he was facing Tyrian of all people. He didn't need that image. Nobody needs that image.
"I knew you would come! A great hero always comes to those in need!"
Like a fly on his arm, Rider swatted her away. He then lost his balance as Juniper bore the weight of Berserker's claws pushing her down. He quickly held back the vice-like grip of Berserker's nearing jaws.
"Berserker enough!" Cinder commanded. Rider wasn't alone in thinking that was odd.
Obediently, Berserker backed away. It kept growling at him though.
Two groups were in a standstill. On one side was Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, Berserker, and what Grimm that still remained. On the other was Rider, Pyrrha, Qrow, Vernal and what few of the Branwen Tribe was left. Raven had left them all behind, leaving the tribe without a leader. Qrow kept his grip on Vernal tight. She wasn't leaving anytime soon either.
Rider used this chance to aid in Pyrrha's aura recovery. He had used his own for much of it but he still took an amount from his Master's reserves. Efficiency was their means of making up against Maiden magic.
Both Servants never left each other's eyesight even as Cinder strutted her way in-between them. Her hand outstretched, as if beckoning Rider to come to her.
"The ideal Rusted Knight," she said. "Called the First Huntsman. An ideal which all huntsmen and huntresses would strive towards. An ideal that is tragically unmet when faced against reality."
Pyrrha and Qrow's eyes narrowed. The latter managing to take hold of Vernal. Rider did as well but his face was hidden behind his helmet.
"Many years ago," Cinder continued. "I had always imagined that you would come to me. Liberate me from my captors, carrying me in your gentle arms."
Rider sighed but he didn't show it. Oh hell no. She's crazy about me, isn't she?
"Yet." She kept going. Cinder tried to make herself appear like a fair lady betrayed; it was a rehearsed and unnatural display of acting. "You never did." She even fluttered her eyelashes. Even Juniper felt uncomfortable.
Pyrrha's weapon transformed into its javelin form. Her target had never been more certain. Bronze metal rattled as grip tightened. Juniper scraped the ground again.
"I had always thought of it as nothing more than a fairy tale." Cinder was either ignoring it, or she never noticed the poison dripping from Pyrrha's look. "But what do I see in front of me? The man of my dreams, standing not beside me." Now she noticed Pyrrha for she matched her scornful glare with her own. "But with someone raised with a silver spoon. Even aiding in her own recovery because she couldn't be bothered to do it herself."
"I am not responsible for whatever sad story you had," Pyrrha replied. Her teeth were grinding.
"No?" Cinder asked. "You only stood by and did nothing when countless others have been stepped on, spat all over, and shocked into their sleep."
Rider kept his hold on his Master tight. It wouldn't do for her to make any hasty decisions. He was the Servant. It is he who should fall first before his Master. Jaune Arc already perished once in this timeline, if it meant protecting Pyrrha and everyone else, he would do so again. He had another reason too: he would rather do it himself. The only thing that held him back was Berserker's caution.
He could respect that. It didn't stop him from pitying Berserker still. Right in front it, Berserker's Master was making her preferences known. She didn't even appear to be that concerned about her Servant's well-being.
Juniper's feet kept scraping the ground. She too didn't like Cinder. Whether that was the air around Cinder or just part of his Pyrrha's influence, Rider wasn't sure. Perhaps it was that Juniper could tell what Rider was feeling and understood that Cinder wasn't a friend.
"So what do you say, Rider?" Cinder said. Rider lost track of what she was saying. He didn't even realize she kept talking. "Be my prince and take me away." She wasn't asking.
Pyrrha couldn't hold back and threw the javelin. It flew through the air with ferocious speed that it stopped only inches from Cinder's neck. Berserker held Miló before Juniper's antlers acted, pulling the javelin back and returned it to its owner.
Rider held as much of his own anger back. He jailed his tongue with his teeth serving as the prison bars. "I do not know what it is that had befallen you, Master of Berserker. But I am bound by oath to serve my Master to its bitter end."
Said Master's eyed turned to him in confusion. Fairytale Knight had strange side-effects.
He kept going. "Thusly, I cannot join your side. My loyalty is to my Master. Perhaps, if it had been a different time," he said. So I could end you before you even realize what's happening, he did not. At least it didn't affect his thoughts.
Cinder hid her pain well. Berserker acted in accordance to its Master's emotions and it was ready to tear Rider to shreds. Rider took out the sheathe but did not expand it to its shield form. Not yet.
"Fitting for a Rusted Knight," she said. "Always the hero. Always that perfect huntsman. Always denied from me." The fires in her hand grew intense. "Imprisoned by lofty ideals of loyalty and heroism. I'll set you free, my dearest Rider." Cinder gave a sideways glance towards Berserker. Cinder pointed towards Pyrrha. "Kill her."
Berserker was on Pyrrha in an instant. Rider was between them earlier, shield deployed. It was Rider's turn to take on Berserker's momentum; he nearly buckled at the weight. Was Berserker's strength rank A or something? Rider estimated himself to be around B.
"Get Vernal out of here!" Rider cried out. Juniper leapt from the ground just to grant him greater leverage against the still larger opponent.
Qrow didn't argue and dragged Vernal along with him. Vernal resisted and fought back but Qrow's experience and semblance always put her in unfortunate situations. Misfortune that Qrow took full advantage off. Their distance from Rider and Pyrrha wouldn't be far for long.
"Master!" Rider called. "We're falling back, now!"
Pyrrha ran after Qrow and Vernal. Mercury and Emerald tried to chase after her but Juniper kept them both in check while Rider focused on Berserker shoving him out of the way. Juniper's polarity grounded Mercury's legs and Emerald's sickles could never reach them. They were subsequently shocked as electricity was felt through the metal.
Rider may not match Berserker in raw strength but he wasn't weak by any means. Just as Juniper could reinforce herself with aura amplification, Rider could do the same on himself. As a Servant, Rider prided himself of being as efficient on his Master's reserves as he could. He could work with even a terrible Master and still fight to well. Luckily for him, Pyrrha's reserves weren't terrible at all.
He was able to push Berserker back but it was Juniper that made that distance greater. The two of them didn't leave at the same speed as when they arrived. They needed to catch Qrow, Pyrrha and Vernal. Still, Juniper was still rather swift. One of the fastest mounts of Remnant.
Rider took over in keeping Vernal in place. Her struggles were non-existent against a Servant. Qrow turned into a bird while Pyrrha held on Rider's back tight. Juniper was matching Qrow's pace due to him being slower but his avian form kept making noises that Juniper must have understood. Could Juniper understand Qrow? He sounded kind off surprised. They split off from Qrow while Juniper secured their distance from Berserker and the rest.
Vernal was screaming something but no one could hear her. Her mouth was muffled by Rider's hand.
When they had arrived at a safe destination, Qrow soon joined with them. Transforming back into his human form, he gasped for air. Juniper, by contrast, didn't even appear tired. They stopped just outside the borders of Mistral Below. It would take them a while before they would catch up with the others but it was a fairly short walk.
Rider and Pyrrha dismounted. "You did good, Juniper." He made sure to give her all the pats. Vernal wasn't much of a problem that he could handle her with one hand; she was like luggage, a vulgar and muffled luggage but luggage.
Juniper lied down on the ground. Much like how she appeared, a large flower soon covered Juniper like a blanket while she went to sleep. The flower soon descended back down and left behind a little garden of smaller flowers of the colors white, bronze, pink, and green. She really took after his team.
Even now, Juniper still left behind that tranquil presence though that was quickly losing itself on account of one very angry bandit. Vernal was trying to bite through the metal of his armor. Clanging noises can be heard as she repeatedly struck on his armored feet and shins.
Pyrrha, with her semblance, took Vernal's weapons away from her. It didn't make Vernal any less dangerous. When Qrow finally managed to catch his breath, it was only then that they relaxed. Well, Pyrrha and Rider at any rate.
Rider never did let go of Vernal but he did at least remove his hand from her mouth.
"Weaklings!" she called them. "Had you been any stronger, then you would have stayed and fought!"
"You mean like how Raven booked it out of there the first chance she got?" Rider raised an eyebrow. His helmet was an absolute blessing. That silenced her at least.
"What happened there, anyway?" Pyrrha asked Qrow.
The huntsman only shook his head. "Didn't believe that Oz would actually tell the truth. Even after calling her out as the Spring Maiden didn't really do it. Even with the Holy Grail thing, she isn't convinced that Salem could be killed. She's dead set in thinking that this war is unwinnable. Guess I'm not much of a negotiator when it comes to family."
"Does she have anyone else that she could be bonded to?" Rider asked.
"If you don't have any future spoilers that we could use then no. There's only one place that she could have gone. Which only leaves one question."
It was Rider who completed the thought. "Did she go back to her husband? Or her daughter?" Rider wasn't sure about Ozpin but even if he was, Raven wouldn't have possibly chosen him.
Pyrrha sighed relief. "Then, I guess we can count on the headmaster himself?"
Qrow share that same sentiment. "If firecracker doesn't get to her first. Tai might be more lenient I think. She might as well hear it straight from the man behind the curtain."
Vernal continued to struggle and break free.
"As for you," Qrow continued. He took Vernal out of his hands. "You and I are going to have a chat."
"And why should I listen to a traitor who ran away from the tribe?"
"Because I'm the one who stuck around when literal fairy tale monsters started attacking while the mighty Raven Branwen so courageously and tactically ran away." Qrow then turned to Pyrrha. "Give her back the weapons kid."
"Are you sure?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah. I could use a little bit of exercise. Wanted to know if this ol' bandit still got it."
Qrow had a mischievous smile to him. Pyrrha did eventually comply. Both he and Vernal found a different spot. It didn't take long for them to start hearing the clanging of metal and Vernal's profanity intensifying.
"Is Vernal going to be okay?" Pyrrha asked.
"She will be," Rider assured her. "She's definitely getting a better ending here than what she got in my timeline. At least in this one, she's staying alive for longer."
"Cinder?"
"Cinder."
The wind blew and the only disturbance to this peace was Qrow and Vernal's impromptu sparring session and Vernal's constant curses during it. Rider was glad that Juniper was absent here; she didn't need to hear any of that.
"I'm glad you're safe, Rider," Pyrrha said. She never looked more relieved than now.
"We have a Grail War to win, don't we?" Rider shrugged. "It would be unbecoming of the Rusted Knight if I lost first."
"I know." She nodded. "It's just we leapt into that battle headfirst."
"Yeah. Berserker is tough. But I can assure you, Master. Maiden or no, I can make up the differences in any reserves."
It stung a little that he couldn't quite surpass Berserker. But there was next time.
Eventually, Qrow and Vernal did return with the latter being more compliant and bruised. The three of them—Rider dematerialized—walked towards Mistral's city.
Rider did not miss his Master's sigh of relief. She was massaging her wrist, the wrist that connected to the hand that had the Command Spells.
/-/
Raven Branwen regretted her decision as her arms raised in surrender. A sword was pointed at her neck. She should have wondered why there was a sudden addition to her connections but desperation had called for her to take what chance she could to ensure her survival.
"Saber," Ozpin said. "That is not how we welcome our guests."
Saber smiled knowingly. "Forgive me, Master. I had thought a stray bird had entered."
"Very well, all is forgiven." Ozpin turned to Raven. "Now then, Ms. Branwen. Long time no see. What brings you to my office?"
AN: Specific to here in FFN, I will not deny that I was surprised that there are those actually interested in these ANs of mine. Decided to copy paste these on there as well (excluding anything specific to either platform).
So here we have the reason why RK is a Rider. Was worried when I chose the Rider-class for RK since I wasn't sure if Juniper had been known to Lewis but RWBY Beyond gave me that confirmation. Anyways, on to skills, Juniper was named after team JNPR, so I felt that might be neat if Juniper the NP had some traits of JNPR, namely gaining their semblances in an all-in-one package.
Small thing, but this is primarily the reason why I'm mostly going on the RWBY side of things. To my understanding (and correct me if I'm wrong), RWBY's aura, by description, is most comparable to Fate's Od or the Magical Energy found in living organisms. I have yet to really contemplate the implifications of Jaune's Aura Amplification would have on Od, especially if it is a close comparison that the effects would be similar.