Chapter 1
Vale has fallen. Ozpin is dead. Rosa Reidan has disappeared. Pyrrha Nikos has been Paralyzed, and Yang Xiao-Long has lost her arm. Team RWBY and JNPR plan on saving Rosa who was last seen in Mistral.
Lady Umbra was stalking a Jedi knight and his padawan. Lord Keiser was with her causing trouble for the Military outpost. The Jedi master was wounded by Keiser, but not killed. That wasn't the plan. The reasons for this attack were simple. One, to create more Grimm through more negative emotions, two, to kill Jedi, and three, to build the relationship between Umbra and Keiser. That third one was meant for their fighting relationship, but neither Umbra nor Keiser were unaware of the fact that Salem wanted them to create a child. Salem didn't force the issue, but she wanted them to make a child that had access to both of their drain abilities.
But Umbra had a mission. She rose her hand to her face and took put on an invisible mask. She changed her form. She looked like one of the wounded troops. Her semblance had increased in power, allowing her to change her clothes as well. She gave herself wounds and made one of her arms disappear. The arm that held her lightsaber. She stumbled through the forest, stumbling to the Jedi master.
"He's behind us." She said. She collapsed to the ground. The master rushed over to her. He helped her up.
"We need to get out of here."
Her lightsaber went through his heart. Her powerful semblance changed. She turned her form into the Jedi master. She grabbed his lightsaber and followed the presence her Padawan gave off.
She jumped into the trees. The padawan ran. He jumped from tree to tree, following her prey. She saw the padawan running. She didn't even care to learn his face. She fell from the tree, bracing for the rough landing. The Jedi slammed on the ground. The padawan rushed to his master.
"Master, we need to get out of here." He said. He dropped his guard. Umbra sighed. It was too easy. Was she really this weak only a few weeks ago? She took his head off with a single swing of her lightsaber. She chose to use her old master's lightsaber as her Sith weapon. She bled the crystal. She did keep her own lightsaber as it was before, so she could sneak into Jedi-guarded places.
It was ironic she noted that her master rebuilt his lightsaber with the parts of a Sith's lightsaber. The sith was a weakling, and as she promised, she had forgotten about him. Kaiser, who was once known as Adam Taurus, went next to her.
"The white fang took out the instillation." Keiser said.
"I finished the Jedi." Umbra said. Her once tan skin showed as she changed her back to normal. The dark side corruption ran quickly and fast in Umbra. Rosa Reidan was no more. She was now Umbra, Lady of the Sith. She looked at Salem's suitor for her.
"Did you use the draining ability?" Umbra asked.
"Advancing it was another aspect of the mission." Keiser said.
"I didn't use it against the Jedi." Umbra said. Keiser grabbed her hand.
"You wanted blood on your hands." He said, holding her hand to her face.
"There wasn't any blood. Not this time. I was training my assassination skills." Umbra said.
"Is that how you plan on fighting them? With stealth?" Keiser asked.
"What do you care?" Umbra asked.
"Traitors should know why they are killed." Keiser said. Umbra took out her lightsaber and pointed the red blade at his face.
"Do not threaten them." Umbra said.
"You will have to kill them Umbra." Keiser said with a smile on his face. He loomed over Umbra.
"I can turn them. They would be a better asset on our side." Umbra said.
"Don't let your emotions for your friends blind you. Or we will both be forced to fulfill Salem's wish for us." Keiser said. Umbra and Keiser both knew that one mistake and they would lose the leverage they had over Salem's want for their bodies. But if Salem pushed the issue, her will would win out.
"You'd have the easier time with it." Umbra said. She grabbed the lightsabers and opened a portal behind her.
"It is disappointing they died so easily." Umbra said. Keiser let out a grunt.
Clone Commando squad Epsilon was sitting on the ship heading toward Menagerie. They were ordered to follow the two teams of Jedi padawans. Ruby stepped on the ship. They were going to have to take a ship to Menagerie again. They were able to leave so soon because they were Jedi. The clone team was on a mission from the masters. Somehow, they knew their apprentices would leave patch.
Beat sat on the ship, his armor off. It would take some time for this ship to get to Menagerie. The first stop in the journey for them. He watched all eight of the Jedi get on the ship, then noticed a ninth Jedi get on as well. He turned to his three teammates and waved. Sun had gotten aboard the ship.
"I wonder what weaponry this ship has." Cy said.
"Seeing we're crossing the ocean that is home to massive Grimm, I hope it's a lot." Cross said.
"Isn't a part of the reason we're here?" Tip asked.
"You got a point there.
The ship started soon after. Beat looked over at the clones, and noticed Yang brought a motorcycle with her. The clones waited as the journey started.
Ruby looked at her team. Team RWBY and JNPR. They had a mission to save Rosa from the Sith and to stop the white fang in Menagerie. She looked around the boat and noticed four clones. The masters must have known they were going on this journey.
Reports showed up on her scroll that another group of clones arrived on Remnant. Another Venator arrived, with ten thousand clones, and ten Jedi. Also, four thousand more civilians. They also said smaller ships would be following them soon.
"That should help Vale." Ruby said.
"Maybe one of the masters will try to find us." Blake said. She was in her new outfit. Everyone, before they left, got a new outfit. Blake stopped wearing her bow around her ears. She tied it around her arm.
Weiss went over to the clones.
"Are you here to follow us?" Weiss asked.
"We received orders from the Jedi masters to keep track of your group." Beat said.
"I should have guessed." Weiss said.
Pyrrha was feeling better. There was still hope for her. The Oasis. If they could get there, maybe Pyrrha would be healed. That was a part of the reason she agreed to go on this trip. They just needed to get to that oasis. She rose her head and saw Blake looking out toward the ocean.
"The white fang are trying to do something at my home. Wasn't Vale enough for them?" Blake said. Pyrrha moved over to Blake. She looked out at the water.
"You can stop them." Pyrrha said. Blake turned around and looked at Pyrrha.
"I didn't mean to disturb you." Blake said.
"You didn't." Pyrrha said.
It was going to take a few days to get to Menagerie. Pyrrha liked sitting at the front of the ship. Jaune knew she was meditating.
Where she was stabbed by Darth Vanus, who went by the name Cinder, caused Pyrrha to lose the use of her legs. She was given a power chair from the republic. Vanus stabbed Pyrrha through the spine. Vanus told her that she was meant to die…
"Why didn't I die?" Pyrrha asked.
"You wish you died?" Cy asked. He stood next to Pyrrha. Pyrrha jumped and turned to him. She didn't know what to say.
"I understand." Cy said. He put his helmet down on the ground and sat on the bench. He started checking his gear.
"How do you understand?" Pyrrha asked, anger seeping into her words. She realized that and tried to apologize, but Cy just put his hand up.
"The squad sarge is named Beat. The sniper is named Tip. The Medic is named Cross. I'm Cy, the demo expert. Did you notice the difference between their names and mine?" Cy asked. Pyrrha nodded her head. "Cy, the odd one out, because this isn't my original squad. Hell, this isn't even my second team. Twice, I lost my brothers while I lived. Left alone… twice. The first group died on Geonosis. At least they died together. They sent me out to get an exit for us. I did, but they never came. I learned later that they were in the catacombs. They ran into General Grievous. Scary son of a Bitch. He used four lightsabers, and his brain was hooked up to a computer that input your Jedi lightsaber techniques in his mind and put them out at random. Well, I lived, alone. I wasn't unique. Then I was put in another group. They died on Felucia. A Rancor got them, while I killed it. Then I was slipped onto squad Epsilon."
"I lost my legs. I can't fight ever again." Pyrrha said.
"You lost part of you. But you have the reminder every day. You look down and see those useless legs. I look down and see a useless clone who let his brothers die twice. I understand wishing you died. That pain won't go away. You wake up and for a moment you forget that your legs don't work. I wake up and think for a moment that I'm with my old brothers." Cy said.
"If I died back there…" Pyrrha said.
"You may have become a Martyr that inspired thousands. I hope you aren't mad that you didn't die in a blaze of glory, holding off the darkness. You still have your friends. They care for you. Don't forget that." Cy finished cleaning his blaster pistol.
"How am I supposed to help them like this?" Pyrrha asked.
"Do you know how to shoot a gun?" Cy asked.
"I do." Pyrrha said.
"We'll get you a blaster." Cy said. He opened the rest of his gear and started spraying something on his gear.
"What are you doing?" Pyrrha asked.
"This? Since we're going to be around seawater for a while, I'm lubricating the joints of the armor. If your gear is in top shape, you'll get rewarded for it." Cy said.
Pyrrha grabbed her lightsaber. She hadn't turned it on yet since she woke up. She put it away, not able to find the courage to turn it on.
"You should get some sleep." Cy said.
Umbra and Keiser walked to Salem's audience chamber. They knelt in front of Salem.
"We were successful in the attack." Keiser said. Umbra took out a roll, cut from the cape of the master, and revealed the two lightsabers. Salem grabbed the two lightsabers and put them on her table.
"Umbra, Keiser, you have done well." Salem said. She put her hands on both of their cheeks. "You both show me that you were worthy investments. I saved you both from Ignorance. Oh, how great potential the two of you have."
"What is our next mission?" Umbra asked.
"So eager to take your revenge on the Jedi who wronged you Umbra. That is a powerful fuel, the hate you have locked in you. Hate the Jedi. Hate their nonsensical code. Remember the true code of the force. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The force shall set me free." Salem said.
"Where shall the white fang attack next?" Keiser asked.
"So eager to go back out. No, you've used a lot of your power today. Go, rest." Salem said. She sent both Sith out. It was a far less obvious sign that she wanted them to become close.
Keiser and Umbra walked out of the castle. Keiser forced Umbra down an alley. They stopped to look at each other.
"Was that not enough to keep her at bay?" Keiser asked.
"She sees the ability to have a Sith with both our abilities." Umbra said.
"But she's normally far more subtle than that." Keiser said.
"I think that if one of her watchers saw what you just did, she'll get ideas." Umbra said. A large lightning strike came down. They both looked around.
"You should get a Faunus mask. I'm going to meet with Khan soon. I want you to be there." Keiser said. Umbra sighed.
"I need more details than that." Umbra said. Keiser thought about it a bit more.
"Khan is a powerful force user, but she is not Sith. She is an Anti-Sith, Anti-Jedi. She'll know a Faunus in Sith gear. If I recall that semblance only changed clothes for short bursts. That won't be good for either of us. You'll need to appear as a white fang troop. Rabbit faunus should be a safe bet." Keiser said.
"When are we going?" Umbra said.
"Three days. That's when she'll be expecting me to arrive." Keiser said.
Umbra and Keiser left the alley. Salem knew nothing happened between them, but they were planning on taking out a target without her even having to lift a finger. She was in a win-win situation. She could wait for a child.
Cinder walked into the room. Her arm had to be removed. The corruption took damaged the arm. Salem replaced it with a Grimm arm. Her eye was stolen as well.
"Your apprentice is promising." Salem said. She turned to Cinder. Emerald was next to her. Cinder's voice was damaged. She whispered in Emerald's ear.
"Vanus says that Umbra has strong potential." Emerald said. Salem looked back at Cinder.
"You didn't kill the girl. Why?" Salem asked.
"Vanus…" Emerald started.
"Is she so weak that she needs a voice to tell her master a simple thing?" Salem said.
"To… take away… a symbol." Vanus said. Salem turned around.
"Symbols… powerful icons that give our enemy hope. You did well in destroying the symbol before it could grow. The girl has lost her status as a hero to the public and become another tragedy. The Jedi lost hundreds of members. We lost weak Sith. But in exchange, we gained strength. The strength of the dark side is not spread equally. The reason I surround myself with weak Sith is not to show my strength, but to show you all weakness. And only those who see the weakness around you can break the chains that hold you. Vanus, I have need of teaching strength to your apprentice." Salem said. Vanus bowed.
Emerald turned to Salem. Her heart pounded harder. Being alone in the presence of Salem was intoxicating. Salem came up to her.
"Do you know why I let Umbra kill Cya, my own son?" Salem said. It was no shock that Cya was Salem's child. She had born hundreds of children over thousands of years.
"He was weak." Emerald said.
"What happens to the weak?" Salem asked.
"They are tossed aside." Emerald said. Salem put her hands on Emerald's shoulders.
"Good. What do you want me to do?" Salem asked. Emerald felt an animalistic urge to beg for her. But she stayed standing.
"I want nothing more than for my chains to be broken." Emerald said. Salem put her hand on Emerald's exposed stomach.
"You have more base desires." Salem said.
"I would never think of asking you for something like that my lady." Emerald said. She said with everything in her, despite her body wanting to be Salem's plaything. Salem slowly brought her hands up. Emerald forced herself to stay composed. Salem's touch was enough to drive some Sith to a lust-filled mess.
"Even now, you fight against the pressure I put on your mind." Salem said, letting go of Emerald. She breathed, realizing she was holding her breath.
"You see, those Base desires can become chains. Though I don't care if you indulge occasionally, you withstood my touch far longer than I thought you would. You stayed focused on the mission. You learned what Cya could not. He thought he would take Umbra into his bed. He thought she would do unspeakable things to him. He wanted Umbra to be his. It blinded him to the attack. He let the emotion of lust cloud his mind until he was killed so easily. He was a pathetic excuse of a Sith. It must have come from his father." Salem said.
"If he was that occupied, he deserved his death." Emerald said.
"I think I finally found the perfect name for you." Salem said, with a bit of excitement in her voice. Emerald looked over at her.
"Lady… Velum." Salem said.
"Velum?" Emerald asked.
"Veil, or mask. Your semblance allows you to put a veil over the eyes of another. You are one of the greatest spies we have." Salem said as she stood up.
"Velum… Thank you Lady Salem." Velum said.
Vanus knew after Emerald left the room; she had been given her Sith name.
"I have been given the name Velum." Velum said. She explained what it meant. Vanus nodded her head. Salem had a talent for coming up with names from a long-dead language. Vanus assumed it was her own language back before she became immortal.
A fifteen-year-old boy woke up on his farm. He opened his green eyes. The bandages around his neck started to hurt. He undid them and looked at the scar along his neck. He lived, though he still didn't know how. All he remembered was a knife on his throat as a woman stood away off. She said something, but he didn't hear it. The knife opened his throat. The next thing he remembered, the woman was over him, her hands over his neck. Her voice was kind and soft.
"It's okay." She said. He believed it. He didn't remember how he got in that position or got back home. He tried figuring that out. But he didn't. Those memories were gone.
He remembered her face. Light brown skin, brown hair that hung below her face as she was over him, amber eyes, and a beauty mark.
"You're safe now."
Then she was gone. He knew that whatever happened there happened because of her. He was just a bystander who got caught in the middle of whatever it was. Oscar remembered those eyes. He even remembered her giving him a kiss as thanks. He liked to imagine it was on the mouth, and not on the cheek, but he couldn't be sure.
Oscar looked at the scar for a little longer, then took out the new bandages. He covered the scar. It wasn't new. It had been like that for over a year. He looked at himself in the mirror for a few more seconds. He looked at his upper lip, and saw, like yesterday, he was without a mustache. He flexed in the mirror, trying to see his muscles. He shook his head.
He was no hero.
He was a farmer.
His aunt was standing in the doorway, and he jumped, letting out a 'gah!' She shook her head.
"Do all boys check themselves out during puberty?" She asked. She stood in his doorway, arms crossed with a smile on her face. She was his father's sister. She took him in after…
She wore her new blue flannel and her gloves. She took care of him for most of his life. It was so long ago when they were taken from Oscar.
"Aunt Em, what are you doing?" Oscar said.
"I called you for breakfast more than once…" Her eyes glanced at the bandages.
"Sorry I…" Oscar started.
"I get it. You were in the past." Em said. "And then you looked to the future. Come on, let's eat."
Oscar started down the stairs when he felt a pull. To what he didn't know. He ignored it.
The ship was sailing as the sun rose up. Blake was looking over the side as she was handed a cup of tea. She looked over and saw Sun standing there. She jumped back and almost dropped the tea. He was wearing a Jedi cloak. He winked at her.
"What are you doing here?" Blake asked.
"I've been here from the start. You just didn't notice." Sun said.
"You have Jedi robes?" Blake asked.
"Yeah, I just don't like wearing them." Sun said, looking out at the water.
"Everyone's here, except for one." Sun said.
"Rosa…" Blake said.
"Yes." Sun turned around. Blake looked at him.
"Is this a mission from the masters?" Blake asked.
"I'm sure Kit knows I've joined you guys. You need a knight here. This ragtag group isn't ready for some of the greater threats yet." Sun said.
"With the masters not here, what are we going to do about becoming knights?" Blake asked.
"Oh, Pyrrha's already considered a knight. Yang was next up, then Jaune. I think Nora is as well. They all passed trials of the flesh and trials of courage. Yang even passed the trial of insight. I mean, all of you passed the trial of courage, but most of you have passed only that trial. Hellio and Vale showed that you are all courageous." Sun said.
"Which trials are left?" Blake asked.
"The trial of spirit and the trial of skill." Sun said.
"And you think Menagerie will be able to test us that far?" Blake asked.
"It will. It always does." Sun said with a smile. "Some say that Menagerie is all about change."
"That's why two Faunus are never the same." Blake finished the saying.
"Exactly." Sun said.
Ren was sitting alone as high up as he could get. He began meditating. Nora had helped him center himself again. He smiled as he thought of Nora, the eccentric powerhouse. She was with him all the way back… then. He saved her that day. She saved him. He… he couldn't get her out of his head. He blushed to himself when he realized. He couldn't meditate while thinking of her smile.
He never would have thought that they would have still been together after so long. She would say they weren't together-together… but that was because he couldn't find the courage to just ask her out. It took him a while to admit it. He never wanted to be away from her. Her smile, her cheeriness, her cute actions. He wanted to keep those with him forever. His blush increased. This was his best friend. He didn't want things to get awkward between them. He couldn't assume she liked him back. She was just so… cute. He knew others thought she was dumb, childish, or (to Ren's utter dismay having to admit this, even if only to himself) Sexy. Every time he saw how others looked at her, he got angry at them. But he hid it very well. Gods, he hid his emotions well.
He envied Nora for that. She couldn't hide her emotions about anything. Ren held his hand out, wondering what Nora's hand would feel like with her fingers intertwined in his. He wondered how his lips would feel against hers. His blush grew. He even liked her teasing him. She jokingly flirted with him. That's all it was. She couldn't like him back. He was just her friend who stayed by her side for way too long. How did she even allow him to stay around her? He couldn't help her when Vanus attacked her. He couldn't help Jaune when was attacked. He just stood there as Pyrrha went to fight Vanus. All his teammates got hurt, and he didn't.
Ren felt his head hit the wall behind him. Cross told it this was survivor's guilt. But everyone survived.
He was there in the arena when Rosa was taken. He could have done something. He should have done something. He should have fought harder to keep Amber alive. He should have gone after Vanus after she hurt Nora. He could have if he was stronger.
But he was weak. He was too weak to get to Rosa, too weak to protect his team, he was just too weak.
His body was splayed out now, his arm covering his eyes. Silent tears fell. He was just so frustrated. Why couldn't he just be better?
"Ren." Nora found Ren in this state of self-pity. He turned away from her.
"I'm too weak." Ren said. Nora sighed as she got up and sat next to him.
"You're way too negative nowadays." She put her hand on his side. "It's not your fault that I got hurt." Nora said.
"I should have been able to do something." Ren said. Nora lay down next to him.
"You were okay. That's not a problem Ren." Nora said.
"She hurt you. You almost died Nora!" Ren said, sitting up, and looking at her. His eyes were red and tear-filled.
"I didn't." Nora said with a smile.
"I can't get the images of you convulsing out of my head. I thought your heart stopped. Gods, I froze." Ren said.
"I didn't die. You have nothing to worry about." Nora said.
"We failed Rosa." Ren said. Nora wrapped Ren in a hug.
"We did."
Ren heard, for the first time in so long, Nora sound defeated. Ren looked down. He was glad he chose such a secluded place to go. No one could see them. He wanted to stay like this. He wanted to hold her and be held. He...
"Is it wrong for me to want you to stay a little longer?" Ren asked.
"I'll stay by your side." Nora said.
"Can…" Ren started. His face was completely red. Those dark thoughts left after Nora hugged him. Now he could only think of the other distraction. His feelings for Nora.
"Can you what?" She asked.
"…Hold your hand?" Ren asked. Nora buried her head in his back. It was as red as Ren's. She opened her hand, and Ren grabbed it. The two sat there like that for a while. Ren felt her hand in his. The soft hand found his hand. They interlocked. Ren knew he had feelings for her. Oh, how couldn't he? She was cute, beautiful, kind, quirky, and so many other things. He loved when she ate, the face she would make. Even that face, he loved it so much. He loved her, but he couldn't say it. He loved her for a while. He thought about her a lot. She was the queen of his heart. But he couldn't say those words. He just couldn't. He would die if she said no to him. He loved her. He imagined more than once how this happened. He couldn't think of one instance. He thought for a while it was puberty, but that wasn't it. He thought when she got her new outfit to go to Beacon, but that wasn't it, though he had to admit, he did like seeing her so excited. It wasn't when she saved him from a Beowolf. No, it was none of those. He had to admit that there wasn't a single event. And that made it all the harder. The movies Nora and he watched all had a single magical moment when you knew. Of course, he would sooner die than tell anyone that he was using romance movies as his basis for knowing if Nora was into him. It wasn't when the first time he noticed the other boys ogling at her chest. He almost got into more than one fight over that. To his great shame, he knew he was also one of those boys who checked them out. He didn't want to. He felt awful after doing it. He objectified his best friend. He wanted to apologize, but found that just as awkward. Fuck hormones. Why did they make him do stuff like that?
"Have you ever thought about how the others saw you at Beacon?" Ren said. "The… boys I mean."
"Where's this coming from?" Nora asked.
"…" Ren said.
"Ren…" Nora said.
"…"
"You're going to have to say something eventually." Nora said.
"No, I don't." Ren said.
"Fine, yes I noticed that some of the boys were checking me out." Nora said. "But they had no chance."
"Good." Ren whispered.
"I heard that." Nora said. She let go of Ren's hand and ended the hug. He wasn't expecting her to turn him and for her to sit on top of him. Ren's face was red as fire. He tried to look away from Nora. What he tried to avoid more than her eyes were her... He didn't need to get into that with his own mind. His body didn't mind, and so started the war between body and mind. And in the middle of that long and hard war was Ren, with Nora on top of him.
"Why was that good Ren?" Nora asked, a massive smile on her lips. She said it in a seductive voice, but Ren agreed that anything she said would have been seductive in this state. She could have called him a cocksucker and he wouldn't have minded. Oh this was bad. The war continued. She had no idea what she was doing to him... or did she? Was this her weapon?
"Please don't tease me." Ren said.
"Tease?" Nora asked. Nora opened her eyes wide and finally understood what was going on. He didn't notice her. She felt her eyelid twitch as she slammed his arms to the ground. She leaned down close to his face. The body was currently winning the war. Oh Gods, Ren was in a bad spot. And even his mind was fighting hard to not completely falter to Nora's touch.
"Lie Ren, I, queen Nora, do declare you are dense!" Nora said.
"What?" He asked. He didn't know why he liked being in this state. Oh no. He liked this. Ren really couldn't look Nora in the eyes now. She noticed his inability to look at her and laid her body on top of his. He made a squeaking noise. Nora stopped and stared at Ren. He opened his eyes wide, realizing his greatest mistake of all. He saw her smile. Ren made the worst, or perhaps best, mistake of his life. He showed weakness in front of this woman. Gods above, was this a cruel joke, or are you helping him? That squeak, so mistakenly slipped through his mouth. Now in the war between body and mind, Nora, the queen of both, had found a weakness in his defenses. That squeak showed how much he was into this. He was far too into this.
"You just squeaked." Nora said. Ren could feel a presence in his mind. As if the general of his mind's army had fallen. And Nora had replaced him.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ren said. He really didn't like these new emotions that Nora had unlocked. He could never look Jaune or Pyrrha in the eyes again. He wished something could save him… but at the same time… He wanted this to continue. He wanted her to win his war. She would dominate him, body and soul. His defenses were weak, and all it would take would be a little pressure, then he would be under her command for the rest of his life.
Where was his mind going? This was wrong... right? This wasn't years of desire that had built up rising to the surface, threatening to blow was it? Nora shifted ever so slightly, making his mind lose more control. Images of her started to flash in his mind...
No! He shouldn't think of Nora like that. She was a kind good friend. But he had shown her all his cards. She had all the power. And there was no shift in this game. He was defenseless to her attack.
"Ren, you don't need to lie to me." Nora said, lying down on his chest again. Too close. He felt her… Oh, this was too much. Where was this coming from? He didn't know and he almost didn't care. He had no idea he would have this kind of dream come true. Oh, Gods, Ren didn't know if he should curse or thank them. But one thing Ren did know for certain, he didn't want her to leave. His mind was being routed. Not too much longer, and the body would win out. Damn him for being so... thirsty.
"Nora…" He said weakly. It was all the defense he could muster. A pathetic attempt.
"Yes, Ren?" She asked, a massive, satisfied smile on her face. She knew! She knew what she was doing to him! And she liked it!
"What are you doing?" Ren asked. She moved her head, and her clothes moved as well. Ren saw her chest move. His mind's army was being routed.
"Spending time with my Ren." Nora said. Her head was on his chest. She was listening to his head and tapping on his chest. It was going fast. His body was trying to take control of his mind. He had to fight it. His mind had to win out. She was just teasing him... She was..
Her finger slipped in between his shirt and his chest. Her fingers were wondering around his bare chest. She had done it before, mostly after an injury or a swim, but this...
"Ren…" Nora said, looking him in the eyes, a massive feat on its own since he found the clouds above them very interesting right about now. That was the only way fir his mind to get a moment's reprieve. He realized at that moment just how down bad he was.
"Yes, Nora?" He asked.
"Did you ask about the other boys because…" Her fingers run up and down his chest. His mind was barely holding back his body. Damn monkey brain. He was trying to do everything he could to keep from embarrassing himself in front of Nora. But he had failed. She was having so much fun. Ren didn't notice her massive blush.
"You want to be with me?" Nora finished her question.
"…Yes." He said. Nora had a massive smile on her face. Ren knew he couldn't lie at this moment, even if he wanted to. He did his best not to signal how excited his body was. She crawled forward crawling a few inches that felt like miles to his young body. She was torturing him. He didn't know he had this side to him, and he was mortified to find out about it here, on a boat with the object of his attention, and attraction. He felt her breath on his skin. His skin tingled at that. Was he this weak that feeling her breath on his neck was enough to overrun his common sense? Apparently, yes, it was.
"You just needed to ask me out." Nora whispered in his ear. Oh, how sweet those words sounded. She leaned in for a kiss. And with that, his mind had lost the war. Defeated by the might of Nora. He was truly bested by her. And she knew it. The kiss started of as soft, but then she started to put passion into it. She was releasing all of her urges as well.
Ren didn't know what happened next. The animal in him took charge. It led him through the kiss. They broke away to catch their breath and started back up.
Blake looked up at the mast, her face completely red. Her cat ears picked up on everything they did. Part of her wanted to watch. Part of her wanted to leave them be. Another part of her wanted to have someone that would do that with her.
She hoped they stopped at kissing. But she knew they may not. She wondered how they would be able to handle a pregnant Nora. Gods, this was turning out to be just like her books. She didn't know this happened in real life. She started to blush more as she heard their gasps of passion.
Jaune came up to her, unbeknownst to Blake. He couldn't hear the sounds of a repressed love finally bursting. Only Blake. She had no idea who to turn to. Yang would blow it way out of proportion, Weiss would be disgusted, and Ruby was far too innocent...
"Have you seen Ren and Nora?" Jaune asked.
"No." Blake walked away, her face burning red.
The trip to Menagerie was a long one, but Ren and Nora agreed it was for the better. Jaune didn't understand what they meant. Blake couldn't look them in the eyes. They were a day away from Menagerie. Sun had gathered the group together to make sure they all had the same ideas as to what to expect.
"The masters will be paying attention to what happens while this group is on Menagerie. I will be taking you all to some of the trial grounds while we are here. This is your testing ground. We can expect White Fang. We also have aid from the local Jedi and Blake's parents. The masters may be able to come for a limited amount of time. They are watching this to see if you have the skills to become true Jedi." Sun said.
"Really?" Yang asked.
"We need Jedi knights, but we won't accept anyone who's not ready. In Menagerie, you will face the trials. If you aren't ready to be a Jedi knight, that will become painfully clear. We send padawans to Menagerie to become knights. It will change you." Sun said.
"You're taking this very seriously." Weiss said.
"Serious as hell."
Ghira was in his office. A Jedi master sat in front of him. Kit Fisto sat there with his smile.
"Thank you again for hosting this group. They will be facing a massive challenge while they're here. I'll be heading back to Vale in a few days." Kit said.
"What will they be facing?" Ghira asked.
"The trials to become knights. They have all passed the test of courage. Some of them have passed the test of skill, and one of them has passed the test of insight, but they have more trials." Kit Fisto said.
"I see. Here's the map of the shrines you wanted." Ghira said.
The tests took place in certain shrines around Menagerie. The shrines dotted the land. One was located on the outskirts of town. One was in the middle of the desert. Kit smiled and shook Ghira's hand.
"We will solve the issue with the white fang." Kit said.
"I hope so. They're getting bolder." Ghira said.
The white fang gathered outside the city because of recent activities. Ilia looked around at the other Faunus there.
"When are we going to get word back from Adam?" One of them asked. He was a newer member, one who Ilia disapproved of. Yuma made a mistake taking him in. He was weak.
"Adam will appear when the time is right." Yuma said.
"And that's now." Everyone turned back to Adam. Next to him was a new Faunus. She was a rabbit faunus. She wore the white fang mask, and the same stealth outfit the rest of this group wore.
"Adam, finally. We've been waiting for so…" He started choking.
"Who is this?" Adam asked.
"He's our newest addition…" Yuma started as the Rabbit Faunus put a hand on Adam's shoulder. She took out a dagger and handed it to him. He shook his head and drove the dagger into the new guy. Ilia watched as the rabbit Faunus said nothing. She was beautiful. Ilia saw her glance at her. She turned back to the others. Ilia felt the presence coming off her.
"This group will be on guard. The Jedi master Kit Fisto was seen." Adam said. Everyone knew him. He was one of the strongest Jedi at Hellio, killing some of the most powerful white fang. If he was coming, then that meant they should be on the lookout for other Jedi.
"We understand." Yuma said.
"Someone take out the trash." Adam said as he left. Ilia was the unlucky one. She dragged out the body far enough that the Grimm should soon come and devour the failure. She stood up and turned around, to be faced with the rabbit Faunus. Ilia jumped.
"Who are you?" She asked. Ilia stepped back.
"Ilia." Ilia said.
"Why were you so concerned about me Ilia?" She asked. Ilia looked around. She wondered if she chose the spot for her own death.
"Last we knew, Adam worked alone." Ilia said. The rabbit reached out a hand and touched Ilia's face. The hand was deathly white.
"Call him Keiser when you aren't in the presence of the others. I know you know who I am." She said.
"You are Sith." Ilia said.
"Then you should know why I want to know who comes here next." With her other hand, she had a hold of Ilia's scroll. She put her contact info in.
"Umbra?" Ilia asked.
"The others are weak. I wonder if you are." Umbra said. She opened a portal behind her.
Keiser stood on the other side, waiting.
"You scared her half to death." Keiser said.
"Good." Umbra said.
"Are you hoping that it's your friends?" Keiser asked.
"If they are?" Umbra said. Keiser leaned down so she could see his glowing eye through the mask.
"I'll make sure we kill them." Keiser said. He smirked.
"You may try."
Author's Notes: Veil of Darkness! Part 2 of the Jedi Huntress Series! The gang is heading to Menagerie, what could go wrong there?
The next step in Salem's plan is in motion.
Keiser and Umbra, Adam and Rosa. These two deadly Sith are forced to become partners because of their force drain abilities. Keiser's ability drains the general area, while Umbra's drain is the classical force drain.
Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Sun, and clone commando squad Epsilon have started their journey to Menagerie. A land of trials, for Faunus and Jedi alike.
In this story, I'll go more into the Sith order on Remnant. I assume the dark lands are on the unnamed continent, which is why that's where the Sith are. Umbra and Keiser are Sith Lords. They are much stronger than the Sith we've been seeing in this series up to this point. They are on the weaker side of Lords at the moment, but they have massive potential.
Salem gives Sith names to those she uses. Most Sith give their apprentices Sith names, but it is the highest honor to be named by Salem in this Sith society.
The closer to Salem you are, the more powerful you are.
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-DragonZlayerx12