RWBY: Chosen King and Queen

Chapter 13: Explanation and Action

"So let me get this straight, you didn't even know that Crescent existed until now!?" Weiss yelled out as Ruby sheepishly grinned as she sat on Weiss' bed. They were all grouped into team RWBY'S room.

"Do you know anything about her by chance?" Rainier asked.

Ruby shook her head, "Honestly she helped guide me throughout the fight but other than-" Ruby then stopped and seemed as though she was having a conversation. She then looked at everyone, "She actually wanted to explain herself and what she is." Ruby then breathed in and then exhaled as a red outline appeared at the corner of her eyes similar to Drayce at the fight at the village.

She sighed, "Alright I am going to say this once so listen up." Her voice made Jaune snap into attention as well as Cardin and Nora. "Questions can be asked after. I am tired as it is so I want to get some rest."

Drayce nodded, "Fair enough, we won't be interrupting until after. I promise."

Crescent smiled at Drayce, "Thank you love. With that said Ruby is still listening in on us so she will hear everything as well." Crescent took in a deep breath again, "Alright so I am essentially an amalgamation of Ruby's potential given form. Usually I would not form but due to Ruby unlocking her family's power a little earlier than expected, thus I was created." Drayce thought of multiple theories due to what she said, but as he promised he held them off for later. "Think of me as a sort of fail safe until Ruby grows strong enough to be able to handle her own power that she has aquired. Lastly, I will not be trying to take over her body at any point. We are the same person in and out, I am just more outward than her, but with that said what you saw earlier today was something that rarely ever happens. Most of the time my role is siphoning Ruby's power to her. I measure her abilities and how much of her power she can handle and siphon that amount into her. I am not a combat oriented person, even earlier today I wasn't the only one fighting you. Ruby was fighting you as well but we had sort of fused. Our tactics are different and that was where we would switch almost seamlessly. But we won't be able to do that again unless certain prerequisites are met." Crescent stopped and then motioned for Drayce to ask away.

"So what are these prerequisites?"

"Essentially, it has to be specifically if the two of us are fighting each other. For some reason your aura is sort of an amplifier for us. I am not talking about your semblance but specifically your aura. The attacks filled with aura that is exchanged between Ruby and you are a sort of give and take for both of you. Usually this wouldn't be a problem but when attacking your energy would be unwanted but since our aura let's yours in subconsciously it messes with the natural order of things. Allowing me to take control with permission from Ruby."

The outline in Ruby's eyes went away signifying that Ruby had taken back control, "But I didn't give any permission."

The red outline reappeared, "Ah but you did. Your specific thought was that you wanted to fight Drayce with everything you had. That was your wish which was enough permission to allow me to enter." Crescent smiled at the others, "Any more questions?"

"So," Rainier began, "You primarily will be playing a support role, but what I don't understand is when you said that you are Ruby's potential made manifest. Can you go further into that?"

Crescent nodded, "Essentially I am what she will be at full power or her current full power. As she gets stronger so will her potential, me. Her abilities are transformative in nature at this stage, but again my role is to siphon as much power into her as she could possibly handle without adverse effects. The more she gets accustomed to that power, the more she will be able to use it."

"Then," Yang began, "What happens to you when she is able to use all of her power?"

"Simple," Crescent smiled at everyone, "I will disappear."

"Wait what?" Jaune questioned.

"As I said my job is to siphon enough of Ruby's power or me into herself. With all of my power being one with the power she has now, there will be no need for me anymore. Thus I will fully, in a sense, fuse with Ruby and become one."

"Don't you want to live?" Zyaire asked.

"Of course I do, but I want to become whole much much more." She then smiled, as she looked straight at Drayce, "Being able to be one with Ruby is something that I wouldn't give up anything for. I am fully under Ruby's command." The amount of conviction and honesty that was in her voice was shocking to everyone, even Ruby herself. "With all of the questions answered I will be going back now, later."

The outline in Ruby's eyes disappeared as Ruby returned, "So with that what do we do now?" Weiss asked.

"I don't see how this changes anything," Cardin said as everyone looked at him, "It seems as though our course is still the same."

Rainier nodded, "Cardin is right, the only thing added is we have an avenue of information when it comes to Linux's royal family."

Drayce sighed, "Let's all rest for tonight. It's been a long day and we all need to process everything."

Jaune nodded to this, "I agree. Let's all meet up tomorrow to discuss our next course of action."

Everyone nodded and went back to their team dorms while Anguis occupied a room that was given to him by Ozpin. Team RWBY looked to their leader, "How do you feel about everything?"

Ruby thought for a moment, "Honestly for me, nothing has really changed. But there is something bugging me."

Weiss raised her eyebrows, "And what would that be?"

"Drayce," Ruby thought back to him at the village, fighting off everyone to protect them. She also thought back to the other time at the initiation where he protected her. And again him doing everything in his power to carefully maneuver their situation in order to protect everyone. "He is shouldering too much on his own and that is something that I can not allow anymore."

Yang saw the fire in her sister's eyes and was excited about what was about to happen in the coming days, "And what do you want to do about it?" She said cracking a smirk.

Ruby stood up, "We are huntress, we are here to protect those who can't protect themselves. We are not helpless, nor will we ever be helpless."

"So you have a plan?" Blake asked.

"Yes but in order to do so we must get stronger, and I know just the person to help us with that," Ruby said as she smirked.

That smirk made the rest of RWBY a little uneasy as Crescent switch with her, "That person would be me. I have years of information on techniques and aura manipulation through that crystal that was at the village. So I hope you all are ready for hell because once I am done with you all, you're going to wish you were in it."

After a quick discussion everyone had decided to continue as plan however, Drayce did notice that Ruby was much more attentive to everything around her, which he decided he would question on a later date. Later in the day, after classes Drayce had told all of his friends and his team that he would be leaving for some business for about two weeks with Anguis which was news to his team as well. Argus knew something was up and knew Drayce enough that him not giving any details to what he would be doing meant he was doing something dangerous. Knowing that he would not get anything out of him, he decided he would train with the rest of the team more to be prepared when Drayce would need them.

Drayce was walking with his friends as they were headed to the aircraft that was waiting for him. "Alright guys, I'll try to get everything done as soon as possible."

Zyaire waved his arm around, "Yeah, yeah just hurry back soon, before it gets boring."

Drayce laughed slightly, "Understood."

Argus looked as though he wanted to say something but decided to hold his tongue for now. Rainier also noticed this but decided to do the same as well.

"What's meeting you have about anyway?" Weiss said.

Drayce waved her off, "It's nothing really. Just meeting some important figures."

"Will it be dangerous?" Ruby asked worried about him.

Drayce shook his head, "Naw not at all."

'That was a lie.'

Ruby was slightly surprised but was able to suppress her reaction, 'What do you mean? How can you tell?'

'You can always tell whether a person is lying through their aura, but for some it's a lot harder to do if they have 100% control over it. Drayce does not and I am a being of aura. So I can tell that what he had just said was a lie.'

Ruby balled her first slightly taking in the new information that Crescent has given her. She decided to not act on it and relax as there was nothing she could do about it at the moment.

"Okay just stay safe, you never know what might happen."

Drayce smiled at her, "Thanks Ruby."

The door to the airship slammed open revealing Anguis already in as the aircraft had already begun powering up. "Drayce, let's go and get this done with! I don't want to be away too long from Arlyn. Eileen will be on my ass if I am out more than I should be."

Drayce nodded and began to walk towards him until he felt small arms wrap around him from behind. "Please, make sure you come back safely."

Drayce smiled, "Of course. I promise I will." Ruby waited for a response from Crescent but there was none, so he had every full intent on coming back, which had eased Ruby greatly. She let go of him which allowed him to board the ship as she and their friends waved him a goodbye and good luck.

"You're getting bolder and bolder, eh sis." Ruby blushed at her sister's jab, "When is the wedding?"

Ruby's face was scarlet red now as she just stomped away from the group as they chuckled due to her embarrassment.

As the team RWBY was about to enter the room, Yang abruptly grabbed Blake's arm, "Hey Blake can you help with something?"

Blake looked confused but nodded nonetheless, "Um sure?"

"Cool thanks let's go," Yang then dragged Blake away to somewhere that neither Ruby nor Weiss knew where to. They both looked at each other and shrugged as they entered the room.

The room was silent with Weiss studying while Ruby was on her scroll. Weiss kept tabs on Ruby when she saw Ruby put her scroll down and was staring at the floor. "What is wrong?"

Weiss' question made Ruby jump slightly, "Oh n-nothing."

Weiss smiled slightly, "For someone who is royalty to one of the most powerful countries on Remnant, you stutter like a regular school girl." Ruby blushed from embarrassment, "And blushes like one too." Ruby became even more red as Weiss got up from her chair and sat next to her teammate on her bed. "What's going on?"

Ruby shifted slightly, "Um well, it's about royalty," Ruby paused slightly while Weiss motioned for her to continue, "I am royalty, I know that but I don't know a single thing about being royalty. I know nothing about the subject so I was wondering could you help me."

"Me?"

Ruby nodded, "You always had that regal air to you. You're proper and carry yourself as such, so I asked if you could help me because besides Drayce, you are the closest person I know who knows about this subject."

Weiss thought about Ruby's question, before asking a question of her own, "Why not just ask Drayce himself when he comes back?"

"Well…" Ruby didn't say anything but Weiss knew now why she was asking her.

"You want to impress him and everyone else you will be talking to soon. Don't you?" Ruby sheepishly nodded with a blush on her face. "Well first things first, don't." Ruby was shocked and confused at Weiss, "Look here, Ruby. You don't need to do any of that. Trust me. I believe that you only need to act like yourself and I think you will be just fine."

"You do?"

"Of course," Weiss sat down next to her, "Listen Ruby, while I don't believe that you have the type of authority that a ruler comes, it's just not your personality, but what you more than make up for it is your charisma. People will naturally believe in you and be there for you because they know that you are a good person."

Ruby was very surprised to hear this from her partner. Sure they have become very good friends but to hear this from Weiss was something that really touched her heart. To know that her partner believed in her without a shadow of a doubt.

Ruby smiled at her partner, her best friend, "Thank you Weiss."

Weiss smiled back, "Anytime Ruby." Weiss then got a very mischievous smirk that covered her face, "However, what you do need to know is the laws of all the kingdoms, to maneuver your way in a conversation. That I will teach you."

Ruby slumped, "Fiiiiine." This got Weiss to give a little giggle. No matter if she was a princess, queen, or anything else, she could count on Ruby to always have her childish side.

In an empty classroom Yang had taken Blake somewhere to chat with her, "So why did you bring me here?" Blake asked.

"Well Ruby wanted to ask Weiss something in private so I pulled you along, but also I wanted to talk to you as well."

Blake's eyebrow cocked upwards, "Me? What for?"

Yang sighed as she sat down on the professors table, "Well to be frank with you, I really wanted to vent a little, and you are the only one I could do it with at the moment. Plus I feel that you are easy to talk to about this."

Blake nodded to her and sat down next to her, "So what is it that you wanted to talk about?"

"Well to be honest with you, I am scared."

Blake looked at Yang bewildered, that she was opening up like this to her about her fears. She thought it was going to be her frustrations with their current situation but it seems as though it won't be like that.

"I never thought that Ruby would be pulled into something like this so quickly and on such a large scale," Yang began. "I mean we almost died. If it wasn't for Drayce, we'd all be dead by now. And if it wasn't for Pyrrha Ruby would be dead right now. It seems as if Ruby is going to get into even more danger, and as her big sister, I feel as though I am inadequate to protect her from anything."

Blake nodded to this as she understood her partner's worries, "I understand, but we will always be there for her and she believes in us more than anyone."

"But that's just the thing, what if we fail her?" Yang looked at Blake in distress and desperation, "What if something like what happened at Arvan happens again? Even though it all worked out for the better, I wasn't able to reach Ruby in time to save her, twice. Now she is getting stronger and at a faster rate, so knowing her, she is just going to throw herself in danger more and more and I'm just worried and scared if I will be able to save her."

Blake understood the root of Yang's problems, because she wasn't fast enough to save her sister twice, she questioned her ability to. "Yang, listen Ruby herself knows exactly what she is getting into. But she knows that we are with her no matter what."

"But what if we-"

"Then we won't. We just won't fail her. She believes in us and we will make sure that she gets through this."

Yang looked at her partner to see her give her a rare smile which Yang returned and then gave a relieved sigh as she hopped off the table, "Thanks Blake, I really needed that."

"No problem, what are friends for right?"

In Mistral

Sienna Khan, the current leader of the White Fang, was sitting on her throne, overseeing certain things with the White Fang, specifically looking at reports from the different kingdoms. While the influence of faunus in Mistral and Vacuo has significantly increased significantly, she was perplexed as to why Vale was very stagnant as of right now. 'What are you doing there Adam?'

After that thought was finished her doors opened to one of the many members of the White Fang coming to her.

"High Leader Khan!"

She looked up at her subordinate, "What is wrong now, Jade?"

"A human has come to see you."

Sienna perked up at this, 'Human, how did they even find this place.' Sienna sighed, "Tell them that I do not wish to speak to any human at this time. Send them on their way."

"High Leader, I may be out of line, but I wish that you would reconsider."

Sienna was now very interested, "What makes you think that I should reconsider?"

"High Leader the person that requests an audience with you is that of the crown prince of Arlyn, Drayce Regulus and his guard."

Sienna to say she was shocked would have been an understatement, 'Arlyn? What does Arlyn want from me? And more so why?' she looked back at her subordinate, "Very well. Please bring them in." After a short time the doors opened to see Drayce and Anguis had walked into the throne room with Sienna's guards right behind them. Some guards moved to stand by Sienna as she looked at her guests, "Drayce Regulus, prince of Arlyn. I can't say that I am not surprised to see you here. Tell me why have you come."

"Sienna Khan, leader of the White Fang. It is a pleasure to meet you," Drayce and Anguis then bowed to her slightly to show their respect.

"I could say the same, however I would like to know why you are here. I know that we, the White Fang, have had no qualms with Arlyn, so pray tell why are you at our doorstep."

"To be quite frank and to get down to the point, we need your help."

Sienna raised a brow, "Help? Why do you need help from a bunch of 'terrorists'." She said as she emphasized on the terrorist part.

"Firstly we both know that you all aren't terrorists. Rather there is a faction that uses more excessive force than the others. With the status of Faunus one group could ruin your reputation for all faunus in the eyes of the four other kingdoms."

'Adam.' Sienna instantly thought, "You have still yet to answer my question. Why do you need our help?"

Drayce sighed, "Fair enough." He walked slightly more forward, making Sienna's guards tense, "If I am going to be honest, there are many things that will be happening to the world. Due to information that Arlyn has discovered, it is going to get very violent in the coming years."

"And what does it have anything to do with us?"

"Because, like it or not you will be pulled into this war." Sienna was not happy with that notion and her face visibly showed that. "I do not mean any disrespect at all, but due to how your Vale branch has operated, the White Fang is going to have to fight, or it will collapse on itself."

'Damn, what is Adam doing in Vale?' Sienna stood from her seat, "And Arlyn is going to be in the middle of it so you want us to help as soldiers. Is that correct?"

Drayce shook his head, "No just to protect the innocents of the capital."

"And what's in it for us. You talk about this war, of this battle to come and that we have no choice but to take part in it but what will you do for us. If it is as you say, that we will essentially implode on ourselves, how can Arlyn help us?"

"We offer you a true home, a base of operations if you will. For providing protection to the capital, we will essentially hide you, allowing you to run your operations more in secret, it also gives you our resources and the ability for us to help more on the political front."

The guards began to murmur to each other, 'This is not a bad deal at all, but…' Sienna silenced her subordinates with a raised hand. "How can you be sure that we won't take advantage of your kindness? Or how do we know you won't take advantage of us?"

"Truthfully we don't and you don't. But I believe that we want the same thing. I have many friends that are faunus and I would like for them to experience the freedom that they would get in Arlyn but around the world. It just so happens that I would get an ally out of this as well." He then reached out his hand for her to shake, "What do you say High Leader Khan."

Sienna looked at the hand in contemplation, "Before I agree, I wish something else from you. More of a favor for me to know I can trust you."

Drayce put his hand down, "As long as it is within my power, I will do as much as I can."

Sienna nodded, "As you probably know, I don't have much going on in Vale. I seldom get updates from one of my most trusted individuals, Adam Taurus. I don't want an interaction between you and him to occur until I confirm something for myself, but I want to speed up the faunus influence in Vale after it became stagnant."

"So you want my political influence?"

Sienna shook her head, "No, not at all. I actually want you to take someone out of the picture. Two people to be exact."

Drayce's face hardened while Anguis noticed but stayed where he was to not cause any unnecessary trouble but had his hand at the ready just in case.

"You want me to kill two people."

"Again no that's not what I mean," Sienna's face then hardened as well, "But if it does come to it then yes, however that's more so for the first person than the second."

"Who are the names?"

Sienna put a fist on her hip, "The first is a despicable man whose crimes against the faunus has gone unpunished all because he holds a seat on the Vale council. This man is Kiwi Winchester."

Drayce was surprised at this name, 'A relative of Cardin perhaps?' Drayce recalled the time back in Forever Fall Forest with what Russell said.

"…You were so passionate about saving people no matter who they were but now it feels like I don't even know you anymore sometimes."

'Maybe he is the reason why…' Drayce resolved to talk to Cardin about his father after this, "And the other?"

"The next name is Azure Sky."

Drayce was very surprised as to why him, because as far as he knew, he hasn't caused any problems with the faunus at all. Even praised them from time to time. "I don't feel as though you are the type to hate humans just to hate humans, so could you tell me why."

Sienna sighed, "Admittedly I have nothing to go off of, but something doesn't seem right about him. I have very little information, I sent several spies but they all have never come back so presume that they are dead. If you choose to take up my offer, be careful with that man." She then sighed one last time as she felt that Drayce wasn't going to like this last part, "Lastly, I want just you doing this. I rather not get anybody else involved and also you should be able to maneuver better by yourself as well."

Drayce thought about the information and offer presented to him. "When do I have until?"

Sienna was surprised that he was actually considering it, "Well you and the teachers of Beacon are leaving for Arlyn in a month so I would say two weeks, three at most. If time is of the essence as it appears then we need this done as soon as possible."

Drayce nodded, "That is fair. Very well."

Sienna actually gave a slight smile as she held out her hand, "Then do we have a deal?"

Drayce nodded, and shook her hand, "Yes, we do. I will get right on it when I get to Vale."

Sienna nodded, "The White Fang thanks you and Arlyn for your cooperation."

"And us as well."

Anguis smiled and let out a sigh of relief, everything was going as plan, "Cool, now with that done. I am going back to the capital. King Fenrir would like to know of this."

Sienna understood and agreed with that sentiment, "You should also tell Ozpin, what you will be doing. I don't fully trust the man, but I know that I rather not make him my enemy as of right now."

Drayce nodded to this as he and Anguis said their goodbyes and left for their respective destinations. Anguis to Arlyn. Drayce to Vale.