Chapter 36: Broken Crown
Reviews:
CriticaofRandomness: Glade you loved the chapter and good to see you my theory-loving friend! As for Sun, Whitely, and a Crown defector joining up with the gang? Possibly, but Gillian isn't going to defect as I have other plans for her in the story, but trust me, all good plans... kinda. We'll for sure be seeing more of Sun and Whitely since both are important for this final Act of the first part and for the future Acts as well.
PlzDontReferToMe: Ngl my guy, I've been listening to and added "Just A Man" on my writing playlist due to me also writing a RWBY x PJO crossover story!
Guest: Trust me, this is gonna be tame to what happens later in the Act! Trust me, there's pain and sadness near the end! This ain't shit!
Guest #2: Whitely will get some development and it's a possibility he will join Jaune and the others!
blaiseingfire: It's a possibility, but Sun might not since he is still a student of Haven
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As the chaos of Whitely's rescue unfolded at one end of the train, the other end was a battlefield of a different sort. In one of the cars, Jaune and Vernal moved with calculated precision through a hail of bullets. The enemy's gunfire echoed through the metal corridors, but Jaune held his shield high, his aura flaring with intensity as he positioned himself between Vernal and their attackers.
The relentless barrage bounced off his shield as Vernal, now wielding her pistols, returned fire with deadly accuracy. Each shot found its mark, dropping White Fang operatives one by one.
When Jaune closed the distance on one of the attackers, he swung his shield with brutal force, smashing into the Faunus's face. The satisfying crunch was followed by a swift thrust of his sword, driving it deep into the enemy's gut. With a grunt, Jaune yanked the blade free, kicking the body aside as he turned to the next target. A quick slash across the chest and another adversary fell, lifeless.
"Damn humans!" a Faunus shouted, his voice laced with venom as he raised his weapon, eyes locked on Jaune.
Before Jaune could react, Vernal's sharp voice cut through the noise. "Duck!" she yelled, her tone urgent.
Without hesitation, Jaune dropped to the floor, trusting Vernal's instincts. The crack of gunfire rang out as Vernal squeezed the triggers, her pistols spitting fire. Both bullets struck true, slamming into the Faunus's chest and sending him sprawling backward, lifeless on the cold floor.
The car fell silent, save for the distant rumble of the train on its tracks. Jaune quickly scanned the area, confirming the White Fang members were down for good. He wasn't taking any chances—these terrorists had a nasty habit of getting back up when you least expected it.
With a sigh of relief, Jaune glanced around the car, noting that it was mercifully empty of civilians. The thought of innocent lives caught in the crossfire had weighed heavily on him, but at least here, they had only enemies to deal with.
Vernal holstered her pistols, reloading them with a practiced ease. "You think he's farther ahead?" she asked, her voice steady, but with an edge of concern.
Jaune wiped the blood from his blade with a grim expression and turned to her. "Maybe," he replied. "But whether he is or isn't, we need to clear the cars ahead, if we can take control of the front, we might just end this,"
"Why the head?" Vernal asked, her eyes narrowing as she reloaded her pistols, the click of metal against metal punctuating her question.
Jaune adjusted his grip on his shield, his gaze focused on the door leading to the next car. "The White Fang would want complete control of the train, if they get ahold of the engine, they control everything, makes sense they'd head straight for the front,"
Vernal's lips curled into a smirk as she cocked an eyebrow. "Or maybe you're just guessing because of all those old Western movies you love?"
Jaune couldn't help but grin, a hint of sheepishness in his expression. "Maybe a little," he admitted with a shrug. "Those movies did get a lot right, though,"
Vernal chuckled, her smirk widening. "Well then, partner," she drawled in a mock Southern accent, "Let's giddy up!"
Jaune laughed, the tension between them easing for just a moment. But as they moved toward the next car, the seriousness of their mission settled back in. They exchanged a glance, nodding in silent agreement before Jaune reached for the door handle. With a swift, practiced motion, he yanked it open.
Their lighthearted banter vanished instantly as they were met by a grim sight. Standing in the middle of the car, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of White Fang members, were Jax and Bertilak. The two men were formidable figures, their presence commanding the space, and the blood on their weapons was fresh, the evidence of a recent and brutal fight.
Bertilak eyed them with a flicker of irritation, his massive frame exuding a casual menace. "More White Fang?" he asked, his tone carrying a note of impatience.
Jaune shook his head, his gaze unwavering. "No, we're not," he replied firmly. "Huntsmen?" he asked, trying to gauge the two men in front of him.
Jax's smirk widened, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "In a sense," he answered cryptically, his tone dripping with a mix of mockery and menace.
As Jaune studied the pair, his instincts screamed that these two weren't White Fang, but they were far from allies. There was something off about them, a dark aura that radiated danger. The killing intent emanating from Jax and Bertilak was palpable, making the air between them heavy with tension.
Jax tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp. "Are you also looking for the Schnee kid?" he asked casually, as if discussing the weather.
Vernal's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "How do you know about that?" she demanded, her voice edged with distrust.
Bertilak's expression didn't change as he responded, "These animals told us," he said with disdain, gesturing vaguely to the fallen White Fang members. "Are you Huntsmen?" he asked, his tone now carrying a hint of curiosity.
Vernal's grip on her pistols tightened, her muscles tensing as she prepared for whatever might come next. "And if we are?" she shot back, her voice cold and guarded.
Jax's smile widened into something more sinister, a glint of malice in his eyes. "Then you're in our way," he said, his voice calm but threatening. He paused, then added, "But maybe we can work together," as he activated his semblance.
Suddenly, Jaune and Vernal felt an unsettling tug at their minds, as if something was subtly eroding their defenses. Their guard began to lower, their senses dulled by a creeping sense of calm. But just as they started to relax, a primal instinct kicked in, a deep-seated warning that something was very wrong.
Vernal and Jaune swiftly raised their weapons, their eyes locking onto Jax with unyielding determination. The tension in the air was thick, but they both stood firm, their resolve unshaken.
Through her simmering anger, Vernal allowed herself a smirk. "Nice try, asshole," she spat, her voice laced with defiance. "But that trick isn't gonna work twice."
Jax's eyes flickered with surprise. His semblance was usually effective, even against seasoned Huntsmen, lowering their defenses just enough to gain the upper hand. But these two had somehow managed to power through it. His surprise quickly morphed into intrigue, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Interesting," he muttered, his tone filled with dark curiosity.
Jaune kept his sword steady, his glare unwavering. "Who are you? What do you want?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the tense silence.
Bertilak hefted his heavy maces onto his shoulders, meeting Jaune's glare with one of his own. "No point in telling a dead man," he growled, his words dripping with finality.
Jaune's grip on his sword tightened as he assessed the situation. The weight of the coming battle hung over them, but there was no hesitation in his voice. "So... I guess we're doing this the hard way?" he asked, his tone steady, almost resigned to the inevitable.
"Indeed," Jax replied, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as he began twirling his sword with a practiced ease.
Acting on instinct, Jaune surged forward, his sword arcing toward Jax with lethal intent. The would-be king, however, was quick to react, bringing his own blade up just in time to block the strike. The impact sent a sharp, metallic clang through the air, sparks flying from the collision as they launched into a fierce exchange of blows. Each strike came with force and precision, the two combatants locked in a deadly dance of steel.
Bertilak, seeing the battle unfold, readied himself to join the fray, but before he could move, Vernal appeared like a specter before him. With a swift, brutal kick to his stomach, she sent him stumbling backward a few inches, the wind knocked out of him.
"Focus on me, Meathead," Vernal taunted, a smirk playing on her lips.
Bertilak's eyes narrowed in anger. Without hesitation, he turned his attention to her, swinging one of his massive maces with all his strength. But Vernal was faster. She dropped to one knee, her first shot hitting his foot dead-on. The sharp pain made him grunt, but before he could react, she fired her other gun into his gut, forcing the hulking man to stagger back once more.
In one fluid motion, Vernal was back on her feet, her guns blazing as she peppered him with bullets. Bertilak, now regaining his composure, swung his maces furiously, managing to deflect some of the shots, but not all. Several rounds found their mark, tearing into his defenses and causing him to grit his teeth in frustration.
Meanwhile, Jaune and Jax remained locked in their intense duel, their swords clashing with relentless fury. Jaune's superior skill became increasingly evident as he began to overpower Jax, driving him back step by step.
'Gods damn it! He's overpowering me!' Jax thought, his glare turning more desperate with each passing second.
Sensing the opportunity to end it, Jaune channeled his aura into his sword, the blade glowing with renewed energy. With a powerful, precise strike, he shattered Jax's defenses and delivered a swift cut across his waist. The blow wasn't deep, but it was enough to draw blood.
Jax gasped in pain, his eyes widening in disbelief as he staggered backward, his hand instinctively moving to the shallow wound. Shock and horror mingled on his face—he could hardly believe that he had been cut.
A cold, paralyzing fear gripped Jax as the realization hit him—someone had just bypassed his aura, cutting through his defenses like they were nothing. Panic flooded his senses, and he stumbled backward, his mind racing in disbelief. "H-How did...?" he stammered, his voice trembling with the weight of his shock.
But the answer never came. Jaune, sensing the fear in his opponent, wasted no time. With deadly precision, he pulled his sword back, eyes locked on Jax. The would-be king barely registered what was happening before Jaune's blade was thrust forward with unstoppable force. The strike found its mark, piercing through the center of Jax's forehead.
Jax's face twisted in a grotesque blend of confusion and agony, his last conscious thought consumed by the impossibility of what had just happened. His body went limp, eyes glazed over as Jaune yanked his sword free, blood splattering across the ground as Jax crumpled to the earth, lifeless.
The thud of Jax's body hitting the ground echoed through the battlefield, catching Bertilak's attention as he dodged another of Vernal's bullets. He turned just in time to see his friend's lifeless form lying in a pool of blood, the crimson spreading like a dark, ominous stain. Shock and horror widened Bertilak's eyes. "JAX!" he cried out, the disbelief evident in his voice.
Vernal seized the moment of distraction. She closed the distance between them in an instant, her movements swift and calculated. With Bertilak's gaze still locked on Jax's corpse, Vernal pressed the barrel of her pistol against the side of his head. The shot rang out, a sharp crack that reverberated in the air. The bullet slammed into his aura, the impact strong enough to make him cry out in pain as he toppled to the ground, clutching his head in agony.
Before Bertilak could recover, Jaune was upon him. Without hesitation, Jaune drove his sword into Bertilak's side, the blade sinking deep into flesh and bone. Bertilak gasped, the pain overwhelming him as his body collapsed to the ground, his strength ebbing away. His vision blurred, and within moments, his body went limp, life slipping away.
Once Bertilak lay motionless, Jaune looked to Vernal, his expression grave. "They weren't White Fang," he said, his voice low and serious.
Vernal gave a curt nod, her expression sharp. "No shit," she replied, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "You think there's more of them?" she asked, one brow arched in cautious curiosity.
"Maybe," Jaune admitted his tone thoughtful but laced with unease. "We got lucky this time, the first guy's skills were nothing special, and we only took down the other because he was too shocked by his friend's death to fight back properly,"
Vernal frowned, her concern deepening. "Think we should head back and regroup with Oscar and the others?" she asked, the worry in her voice unmistakable. The thought of their comrades facing similar threats weighed heavily on her.
Jaune nodded, his resolve hardening. "Yeah," he said. "As much as I hate to admit it, we need to regroup, if there are more rogues like these guys on the train, we can't afford to take them on alone, so if we have to deal with them and the White Fang, we'll do it together,"
With their decision made, Jaune and Vernal turned and sprinted back down the train, urgency driving their steps. Their thoughts were fixed on reuniting with Maria, Oscar, and Deery, praying they were still safe. But in their haste, neither of them noticed the subtle twitch of Bertilak's hand as they passed, a sign that the battle might not be over just yet.
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Back with Oscar and the others, they swiftly secured the remaining White Fang member who had taken Whitley hostage. Using a pair of cuffs the terrorists had on hand, they bound the captive, ensuring he wouldn't cause any more trouble.
Whitley, still trembling from the ordeal, turned to Sun with a broad smile of relief. "Th-Thank you, sir!" he cried, his voice shaky but filled with genuine gratitude.
Sun grinned back at the youngest Schnee, his demeanor relaxed. "Eh, don't mention it," he replied with a casual shrug, as if rescuing hostages was all in a day's work.
Deery, her curiosity piqued, glanced at Sun with a raised eyebrow. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone cautious yet intrigued.
"Like I told that guy before I knocked him out, name's Sun Wukong," Sun said with a playful smirk. "I'm a student from Mistral, just visiting some family here in Vacuo."
Oscar, still trying to piece everything together, looked at Sun with interest. "What were you doing before this?" he asked, referring to the moment Sun had burst in and saved Whitley.
Sun's smile widened as he recounted the events. "Ah, a couple of those guys barged in, demanding I surrender. Figured they could use me as a hostage. But I wasn't having any of that. Took care of them before they knew what hit 'em."
"You beat them?" Maria asked, her tone a mix of surprise and admiration. The old Huntress had seen plenty of fights in her day, but this young man's confidence was something else.
Sun nodded confidently, his tail swishing behind him. "Yup. Took 'em down and tied 'em up nice and tight."
"You restrained them too?" Maria pressed, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied the young warrior.
Sun shook his head, still grinning widely. "Nah! I threw them overboard," he said, the pride in his voice unmistakable.
"Seriously?" Deery asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
Sun nodded, looking quite pleased with himself.
Maria, her smirk widening as she sized up the Monkey Faunus, couldn't help but chuckle. "I already like you," she said, a hint of approval in her voice.
"Anyway!" Oscar cut in, trying to steer the conversation back to the task at hand. "We should go find Vernal and Jaune and let them know we found Whitley," he suggested, his tone more serious.
"Why not just call them on their Scrolls?" Deery asked, tilting her head slightly.
Oscar raised an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. "You really think they'll answer their Scrolls in the middle of a fight?"
Deery chuckled awkwardly, realizing her mistake. "Good point," she admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Who are they?" Whitley asked, raising an eyebrow as he referred to Jaune and Vernal.
Oscar turned to him with a reassuring smile. "Jaune and Vernal are our friends—they kind of lead our group. Don't worry, we'll be fine. We've all dealt with guys like this before. You're safe with us!"
Deery nodded in agreement, adding, "Yeah, especially Jaune. He's crazy good in a fight!"
Maria, observing the exchange with a mix of amusement and urgency, shook her head. "Alright, enough chit-chat. We should get moving and find them before we run into more of these wackos!"
Everyone quickly agreed, and they made their way toward the front of the train, moving swiftly through car after car. After passing through at least five train cars, they finally encountered Jaune and Vernal, who were also rushing in their direction.
Both groups stopped in their tracks, surprise flashing across their faces as they took in the sight of one another.
Oscar was the first to break the silence. "Guys! We found Whitley!" he announced a hint of excitement in his voice.
Jaune nodded, glancing at Whitley before noticing the blond monkey Faunus standing with them. "We can see that," he replied, then gestured toward Sun. "Who's he?"
Deery smiled and stepped forward. "This is Sun! He helped us save Whitley."
Sun, grinning, gave a casual wave to Jaune and Vernal. "Sup!" he greeted, his tone lighthearted.
"Hey," Jaune greeted Sun with a quick nod before turning his attention back to Oscar. "We might have a bigger problem than just the White-Fang, we ran into two rogue Huntsmen while trying to reach the front of the train," he explained, his tone serious.
Vernal stepped in, her expression grave. "There could be more of them, which is why we need to stick together," she added, her eyes scanning the group for agreement.
"Sounds like a plan," Maria said, though her voice carried a hint of skepticism. "But can all of us really make it through this entire train and take on both the White Fang and these rogue Huntsmen?"
Jaune's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "We can try,"
"No, we can't," Maria countered firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "Listen to me, if the White-Fang has control of this train, they have access to everything, they might already know we have Whitley, and if they do, they'll stop at nothing to get him back, they'll do something drastic,"
Deery, her face pale with concern, nodded in agreement. "She's right, the White-Fang will do anything to get their hands on Whitley," she said, her voice tinged with urgency. "They're fanatically devoted to their cause, if they think it's necessary, they won't hesitate to sacrifice themselves to complete their mission,"
Jaune paused, mulling over what Maria and Deery had said. They were right—the White Fang was fanatically dedicated and willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals. After all, they had infiltrated both Atlas and Mantle just to eliminate ex-members recently. Jaune was fairly certain there weren't any Huntsmen-level operatives of the White Fang on this train, but the possibility of more rogue Huntsmen showing up nagged at him. Vernal and he hadn't encountered any more on their way here, so there was a chance they were in the clear—but that didn't ease his unease.
They were trapped on a hijacked train filled with White Fang operatives and possibly rogue Huntsmen, and they needed to act quickly to prevent the situation from escalating even further. He needed a plan—something that could neutralize the threat while ensuring the safety of Whitley, Oscar, Deery, and Maria.
Before he could speak, Sun chimed in with his own idea. "What if the three of us head to the front of the train and take out the White Fang, while the others head to the back? There's a radio in the last car, they could use it to notify the station in Vacuo City and have the police and local Huntsmen ready to arrest these guys when we arrive,"
Jaune's brow furrowed as he considered the suggestion. "The end car has a radio?"
Sun nodded confidently. "Yeah, it's built just like the head of the train, we can use it to call for backup and coordinate a response,"
Vernal glanced at Sun, her expression serious. "And you're sure you want to come with us?" she asked, referring to herself and Jaune.
Sun smirked confidently. "Oh, you bet!" he replied, the enthusiasm clear in his voice. "I could use the warm-up!"
Jaune couldn't help but smirk back at the Monkey Faunus. "Alright then, sounds like a plan," he said, feeling a surge of adrenaline. He turned to Oscar, his tone shifting to one of command. "You and the others head to the back of the train, use the radio to alert the station about what's happening, and make sure Whitley stays safe, meanwhile, the three of us will take care of the White Fang, got it?"
Oscar hesitated, a spark of determination in his eyes. He wanted to argue, to insist on fighting alongside them—he was strong enough, after all. But he knew that Jaune and Vernal were counting on him to warn the station and protect Whitley. Reluctantly, he nodded.
"Got it," Oscar replied.
Jaune gave him a quick nod of approval. "Good," he said, before turning his attention to Vernal. "Ready?"
Vernal smirked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Do you even need to ask?" she retorted, her voice laced with excitement.
Jaune nodded, then looked over to Sun, who returned the gesture with a grin and a nod of his own. With their plan set, the trio steeled themselves and dashed through the train cars, heading back toward the front with determined strides. The urgency of the situation pushed them forward, their focus razor-sharp.
As they moved, Oscar led the others toward the back of the train, his heart pounding with the weight of responsibility. He glanced over his shoulder at Jaune, Vernal, and Sun disappearing into the distance, knowing they were heading straight into the fray. All he could do now was fulfill his part of the plan and hope that they all made it out safely.
With the group split up once more, each focused on their mission, it was do or die for everyone. They had to stop the White Fang and save everyone on the train—or perish in the attempt. All they could do was hope for success.