The tension in the clearing was thick, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on everyone present. Ruby, Yang, Qrow, and Raven all stared at Autumn, their breaths shallow as if the air had grown heavier. So many questions swirled in their minds, unspoken but palpable.
Where have you been? Who are you? Are you… her?
Before anyone could voice their thoughts, the woman in the red hood broke the silence, her silvery gaze sweeping over them with a mix of gentleness and pity.
"I'm not her," Autumn said softly, her voice carrying both reassurance and a tinge of sorrow.
Raven's body stiffened, her hand twitching near the hilt of her weapon. "You have Sundered Rose," she said, her tone sharp and accusing as she pointed at Autumn's weapon. "That's her weapon."
Autumn tilted her head, her lips curving into a sad smile. "Maybe it is," she replied. "But… I think you already know the truth, don't you?"
Raven's eyes narrowed in suspicion before flickering with an unsettling realization. She closed her eyes briefly, reaching out with her Semblance to sense the bonds she shared with the people in her life. She searched desperately for a connection that would lead her to Autumn. But there was nothing — no link, no tether, no anchor.
"We're… not connected," Raven said at last, her voice quieter, tinged with confusion and frustration.
Qrow frowned, his sharp eyes darting between Autumn and Raven. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.
Raven shook her head, her gaze never leaving Autumn. "There's no link between us. She's not—" Raven's words faltered as her suspicion grew. "She's not her."
Ruby, trembling slightly, looked like she was on the verge of tears. Her fingers twitched as if she wanted to reach out and hug Autumn, but something held her back. Yang, on the other hand, clenched her fists, her fiery spirit bubbling to the surface.
"So you're not… my super-mom?" Yang demanded, her voice laced with both hope and frustration.
Autumn's sad smile didn't waver. "I'm not the person you think I am," she said again, her tone as soft as the wind through the trees.
"Then explain!" Yang's voice cracked, a mix of anger and desperation.
"I can't," Autumn replied, her smile fading just slightly. "My lips are sealed."
Yang turned her sharp gaze to Jaune, clearly searching for answers. "Jaune, what is this? What's going on?"
Jaune raised his hands defensively, his confusion clear. "I… I don't know. Look, I only called for her because we needed help. I didn't know there was history here."
Jaune turned to Autumn, his brow furrowed. Now that he thought about it. She bore a resemblance to Ruby — her silver eyes and red hood and even slight appearance. But Jaune had only met her through his master, and their interactions had been brief and focused on practical matters most of the time since she usually wanders the Acres. There was no way he could have anticipated what her appearance would trigger.
Jaune cleared his throat and addressed the group. "Autumn's been working with my master for years, outside the kingdoms. She's helped me before, and I thought… well, I thought she could help now. I didn't even know you guys might have some history with her."
Qrow folded his arms, his expression skeptical as he turned to the other thing. "And what about that jackalope? What's with it? How did it just… show up?"
Autumn spoke before Jaune could answer. "That's Juniper's ability — her Semblance, if you will."
The others exchanged glances, clearly unsettled but unwilling to press further. Pyrrha, standing near Juniper, tilted her head as she observed the golden jackalope.
"I didn't even know jackalopes existed," she murmured.
Ren nodded in quiet amazement, while Nora, true to form, was still ready to leap forward and smother Juniper in a hug.
"SO FLUFFY," she still whispered with uncontainable excitement.
As the initial shock began to fade, Ruby, Yang, Qrow, and Raven settled into a tense silence, their gazes darting between Autumn and Juniper. Jaune took a deep breath, deciding it was time to shift the focus back to their immediate concerns.
"I get that this is… a lot," Jaune began, his tone measured. "But right now, Menagerie is overrun with Grimm. We have to create a foothold — a safe area where we can bring in reinforcements. That's the first step."
Qrow raised an eyebrow. "And you think we can convince someone like Ironwood to send backup?"
Jaune crossed his arms, his resolve clear. "That's why we need evidence that this will affect Remnant as a while. If we can prove how bad things are here, he'll have no choice but to act. And to get that evidence, we need a base of operations."
Raven's piercing gaze shifted to Autumn. "And what about her? What's her role in all this?"
Jaune hesitated, glancing at Autumn. She smiled knowingly, her silver eyes glinting in the light. "He wants me here because he knows what I can do."
Ruby tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Autumn's smile widened slightly, her voice taking on a teasing tone. "Let's just say I have a knack for killing Grimm."
Jaune interjected before the conversation could spiral further. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in, but the bottom line is that we need every capable fighter we can get. Autumn is… well, she's unparalleled when it comes to dealing with Grimm."
"Is that so?" Qrow asked, arms crossed.
Jaune nodded firmly. "She's got silver eyes. I'm, uh, assuming you know what it can do."
"We do," Qrow said, still unsure what to think about Autumn.
At that, the tension in the clearing seemed to reach its peak. Ruby, Yang, Qrow, and Raven exchanged glances, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Autumn, for her part, remained calm and collected, her gaze steady.
"Well," Autumn said at last, her tone light but her words heavy with meaning, "it seems like we have a lot of work to do. Shall we get started?"
The sky above Menagerie was a vast expanse of ominous gray and blue, streaked with the smoke of the still burning settlements and the distant screeches of Grimm. The Mistralian airship cut through the thick air, its engines humming steadily as it soared over the Grimm-torn island.
Jaune stood near one of the observation windows, his jaw tight as his eyes scanned the devastation below. Beside him, Ruby gripped the hilt of her weapon, Crescent Rose folded but ready. Weiss silently observed the destruction with a cold, assessing gaze, though there was a glimmer of worry behind her disguised red eyes. Nora leaned against Ren, unusually quiet, while Ren himself wore his usual composed expression, though his eyes betrayed a deep concern.
Blake sat slightly apart from them, staring at the ruins of what was once been her home. Yang sat beside her, offering silent support.
The landscape was haunting. Entire villages had been swallowed by the forest, buildings half-collapsed or charred, smoke curling up from smoldering ruins. Grimm of every shape and size roamed freely, tearing through whatever was left standing. Among them, they could spot Merlot's twisted creations — Grimm with crustal growths on their bodies, moving in eerie, unnatural coordination.
Ruby broke the silence. "We need to show this to the others. They need to see what's happening."
Ren silently raised his scroll, already recording. He methodically captured the destroyed villages, the Grimm prowling through the wreckage, and the hollowed-out remains of once-thriving communities. His calm, steady hand didn't falter as he zoomed in on the worst of it.
Jaune watched the recording for a moment before turning away. "I hope this will be enough," he muttered. "If this doesn't convince them, nothing will."
Autumn stood near the cockpit, quietly observing. Juniper, the golden jackalope, rested at her side. Every time Jaune had whistled for Juniper, the creature had appeared, no matter where they were. Ruby, Weiss, and even Yang had found it unsettling at first, but they were slowly growing accustomed to it. Autumn, on the other hand, remained a quiet but formidable presence, as if she belonged to a different world altogether.
"We're nearing the eastern coast," Yuma called from the cockpit. "Brace yourselves. We'll circle around and pick up any survivors."
As they dipped lower, the air grew heavier, thicker with ash and the scent of burnt wood. In the distance, they spotted a group of faunus refugees waving frantically. Sienna had mentioned a few scattered survivors might still be holding out.
"Prepare to land," Jaune ordered.
The airship touched down with a rough shudder. The hatch opened, and Jaune led the charge, Crocea Mors drawn. The Grimm noticed them immediately, lurching forward. Jaune's aura flared, and he carved a path through them, allowing the others to escort the wounded aboard.
Ruby and Yang moved with fury, taking down Grimm with practiced ease. Weiss provided cover with glyphs and icy projectiles. Pyrrha's spear flashed in the light, and Nora's hammer smashed through the beasts without hesitation. Ren, with his Semblance masking the refugees, provided clear directions, guiding the civilians safely to the ship while occasionally imploding any Grimm that got too close with a palm to their stomach.
By the time the hatch sealed shut, the air was thick with ash and the scent of burnt wood. Jaune sat against the wall, exhaling steadily, recovering his aura back to full. His eyes softened as he looked at the injured faunus huddled together.
Without a word, he stood, raised his gauntlet, and pressed his hand gently against the wounds of one of the survivors. A soft glow spread from his palm, and the faunus's ragged breathing steadied.
As the airship lifted off, full of Faunus filling the airship, it soared back toward Azure Island. The ruins of Menagerie shrank in the distance.
Back at Azure Island, the camp had grown more crowded with the arrival of the wounded. Faunus of all kinds, young and old, injured and scared, were given food and shelter. At least what they could prepare. Jaune continued to offer what healing he could.
At the center of the camp, Sienna Khan stood in quiet conversation with Blake. The weight of leadership pressed heavily on Sienna's shoulders, her fierce demeanor tempered by exhaustion.
Blake's expression was cold, but composed. There was a strange understanding between her and Sienna, born from the shared burden of leadership and the weight of loss.
After Blake said her piece, she signaled Jaune.
Jaune approached them.
Sienna crossed her arms. "Are you really sure about this?"
"Yeah," Jaune didn't mince words. "We need to call for help. From Atlas."
Sienna's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You really want me to ask the Atlas for help?" Her voice dripped with venom.
"I think you know better than everyone here that there's no choice. Outside of this island there are thousands of Grimm and modified Grimm that will turn this entire island into a nest," Jaune remained calm. "It's not about pride or grudges anymore. Menagerie is falling. If we don't get help, there won't be anything left."
Blake watched Sienna carefully. The older woman's posture stiffened, her pride battling with the reality of their situation. She opened her mouth to argue, but her eyes drifted to the huddled, exhausted refugees. Their fear was palpable, their hope dwindling. Even if they gather all Faunus with that could fight Grimm, it wouldn't be enough.
Qrow stepped forward, arms crossed. "If I bring this to Headmaster Ozpin, he'll have to listen and bring Huntsmen with him. Menagerie being overrun isn't something they can ignore in the long run."
Sienna's grip on her arms tightened, but eventually, her shoulders slumped. "Fine," she muttered. "But I'm not begging. If Atlas wants to help, it'll be on their terms."
Weiss scoffed quietly. "Of course it will be."
Jaune's expression softened slightly. "We'll figure it out. But we need to act now."
Sienna nodded begrudgingly. "Trifa, Yuma. Prepare a report. If we're going to beg for help, let's do it right."
As they dispersed, Jaune sighed heavily.
He felt Pyrrha's steady gaze on him as she pat him on the shoulder.
The fight for Menagerie had only just begun.