The Arc Clan
A RWBY Fic by AndrewJTalon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and ViZ. Please support the official release.
Uncle Phillip - A guest chapter by rea11
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As night fell, the forest was shrouded in dim moonlight, with occasional calls of wild animals echoing among the trees. Teams RWBY and JNPR were in the middle of a field training mission.
Blake had been silently following the group until, at a certain moment, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her ears twitched slightly as if she had heard something. Without saying much, she simply started walking in a particular direction.
"Blake? Where are you going?" Ruby noticed her odd behavior and called out.
Blake didn't answer. Her gaze was locked on something in the distance, and her pace quickened involuntarily.
"Wait, you can't just wander off like that!" Weiss frowned but still followed after her alongside Yang.
Ruby sighed and ran to catch up with Blake. With that, the entire RWBY team moved in pursuit of Blake's destination. JNPR, sensing the disturbance from behind, quickly followed suit.
As they passed through the forest and arrived at an open clearing, a thick, acrid stench filled the air. The scene illuminated by the moonlight made everyone hold their breath—a battlefield's aftermath lay before them. The ground was scarred with scorch marks, collapsed tents, and shattered supply crates scattered everywhere. The air was heavy with the scent of ash.
What was most unsettling were the corpses. The clothing and insignia on them clearly identified them as members of the White Fang.
Blake's face turned pale instantly. Her hands tightened around Gambol Shroud, her eyes filled with shock and sorrow.
"Who… did this?" Ruby asked in a low voice.
"Whoever it was, they didn't just want to defeat the White Fang…" Yang clenched her fists so tightly they cracked. "They tore them apart."
Weiss shook her head solemnly. "We'd better be careful. The culprit might still be nearby."
Just then, a sharp whistling sound cut through the darkness, and a throwing knife stabbed into the ground—right at Ruby's feet!
"Ahh!" Ruby yelped and jumped back, gripping Crescent Rose in a defensive stance.
"Hmph… Who gave you kids permission to be here?" A cold voice drifted from the smoke.
From the shadows emerged a white wolf Faunus dressed in black tactical gear. Her silver tail swayed lightly as her black combat boots pressed firmly into the dirt. In her hand, she idly twirled another throwing knife.
"Fenra Grayscale…" Blake gritted her teeth, glaring at the newcomer.
"You kids shouldn't be here…" Fenra said, her gaze lingering on Blake before curling into a faint smirk. Her tone took on a more amused edge. "Well, well… Didn't expect to see you here, Belladonna. You really are a magnet for trouble."
Blake's eyes widened slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"Shadow Company…" Weiss murmured, gripping Myrtenaster tightly as she saw the emblem on her gear.
"You know them?" Ruby asked.
"My father hired them a few times," Weiss whispered. "They're a PMC—Private Military Company. They operate with ruthless efficiency, handling difficult situations. They don't care about morality, only contracts."
Blake's expression darkened even further. "And before I left the White Fang, I encountered them a few times. Every time they showed up, it meant a massacre was about to happen."
Just then Fenra simply snapped her fingers.
Shadows flickered around them, and several soldiers in tactical gear emerged from the darkness. Each bore an emblem on their shoulders—a unique black spade with a rook inside. That is the insignia of Shadow Company.
"Not good," Yang muttered, shifting into a combat stance.
"Wait, we're not enemies!" Ruby called out, trying to de-escalate. "We're Beacon students, just here on a training mission!"
At that moment, a chuckle echoed through the air—casual, yet carrying a hint of amusement. The soldiers parted, allowing a blond man to step forward. His military uniform was immaculate, with gears gleaming under the moonlight. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips. His appearance exuded both maturity and danger, with neatly trimmed short hair and steel-blue eyes that carried a sharp, penetrating gaze.
"Phillip Graves…" Weiss recognized him, a trace of unease in her voice.
"Who is he?" Yang asked worriedly.
Blake answered slowly and uneasily. "The CEO… of the Shadow Company…and their commander in chief."
Graves' eyes swept over RWBY before settling on Blake, his smirk widening.
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with mockery. "If it isn't Blake Belladonna?" His voice carried a trace of derision. "I never expected to find an important White Fang member here. What are you doing? Helping your comrades?"
Blake's grip on her weapon tightened, her posture tense.
"We're Huntsman trainees, conducting field training. This has nothing to do with us," Ruby said cautiously.
"Is that so?" Graves looked at Blake with an amused glint in his eyes. "Didn't expect Beacon's little Huntsmen-in-training to show up here." His voice carried an undertone of intrigue. "But she isn't just any trainee, is she? She's White Fang. And, as it happens, one of our targets for this operation."
Weiss stepped forward, trying to reason with him. "Graves, listen—she's not with them anymore. You don't need to go after her."
Graves narrowed his eyes. "You sure? I haven't heard any official announcement of her departure. That's not something you can just say and walk away from."
Then, turning to Weiss, he gave a small, knowing smile. " , huh? It's good to see you again. I remember your father being a generous client. Unfortunately, you're not our employer anymore. And our current employer has instructed us to eliminate or capture every White Fang element in this region." He raised a hand.
The soldiers lifted their weapons, surrounding RWBY.
RWBY immediately went on high alert, standing back-to-back, ready to fight.
Blake bit her lip, gripping her weapon, while Yang glared daggers at Graves.
"She left them a long time ago!" Yang shouted.
"Maybe," Graves replied smoothly, "but certain higher-ups still take an interest in her. Past crimes don't simply vanish. I'm sure the Schnee family knows that better than anyone." He shot Weiss a pointed look, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You have no right to do this!" Weiss shouted, her icy glare locked onto Graves. "This is illegal!"
"Illegal?" Graves chuckled, crossing his arms. "I know the law well, . After all, we operate legally. But the thing is… this isn't illegal."
As he spoke, a powerful surge of Aura erupted from him. Black energy laced with golden light surged around his body, exuding an overwhelming presence like a king standing on the battlefield.
"Ugh…" Ruby unconsciously stepped back. She had never felt such crushing Aura pressure before.
Graves waved his hand, and the Shadow Company soldiers closed in, tightening the encirclement.
"You're not laying a finger on her!" Yang narrowed her eyes, preparing for a fight.
Just as the tension reached its peak—
"You all better back off!"
A furious voice rang out as a figure suddenly charged from the side, raising a war hammer and slamming it against a Shadow Company soldier's shield. The sheer force sent the soldier stumbling back several steps!
"Nora!" Ruby exclaimed in relief.
"You think you can surround our friend?! I'll smash your knees!" Nora brandished Magnhild, her expression burning with battle fervor.
Ren and Pyrrha arrived soon after, joining the standoff.
The atmosphere grew razor-sharp because of their arrival and Nora's action, soliders have put their fingers on the trigger. ready to explode into battle at any moment.
Then, a voice cut through the tension—
"Uncle Graves?!"
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice—Jaune. Without hesitation, he stepped in front of Blake, blocking Shadow Company's line of sight, his expression deadly serious.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?"
Graves turned his head toward Jaune before suddenly chuckling. "Well, if it isn't my favorite nephew. hello, Jaune."
RWBY and JNPR were stunned.
"Wait—he's your uncle? Graves is an Arc?!" Weiss asked in disbelief.
"Of course," Graves shrugged. "For the sake of work, I gave up the Arc surname, and Jaune is my favorite nephew. Though, I do prefer Tangy—oh, wait, she's my niece." Graves let out a small chuckle, but then his gaze toward Jaune sharpened. "Alright, kid, this is business. Step aside."
"No." Jaune's eyes were firm. "...Uncle, Blake is my friend. She's not an enemy. I trust her. Please, let her go."
Graves narrowed his eyes and was silent for a few seconds, as if deep in thought.
"Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice, his sharp gaze cutting like a blade. "Are you certain you can trust her?"
Jaune met his gaze without hesitation and nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. Blake is my friend. She was once part of the White Fang maybe, but now she is no loner one of them. I trust her. She's nothing like those ruthless members. Uncle."
Then, he paused for a moment.
"Even if you don't let her go, I won't let you lay a hand on her."
Graves remained silent for a while, staring at Jaune with a serious expression, as if weighing his options. Then, he ran a hand through his hair and suddenly laughed. "Alright, since my favorite nephew insists, I'll let it slide this time. Shadows!"
The soldiers of Shadow Company lowered their weapons.
"Our mission is complete. We're pulling out. Fenra, put your blade away." The wolf faunus complied, sheathing her weapon. Graves glanced at Jaune. "Next time we meet, you owe me a drink. kid."
"But remember this, Belladonna—there is always a shadow." Before leaving, Graves shot Blake a look, his tone carrying a warning. "This time, I'll trust my nephew. But if you ever do anything—especially if you harm him—you're finished. I won't give you another chance."
Blake listened, a growing anxiety settling in her heart.
As Shadow Company withdrew, the quiet of the night returned to this place, but the atmosphere remained tense.
"Well... I guess we learned something from this wilderness training," Pyrrha finally said.
"Jaune… you have a uncle being the leader of a PMC?" Yang spoke up.
"He doesn't seem like a good person," Ruby added, and the others nodded in agreement.
Jaune sighed, a wry smile appearing on his face. "Uncle Graves… he's not a bad guy actually. He cares about family. He loves us. But you're right—his morals are… complicated."
"Oh God…" Weiss groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Jaune, just how many family secrets do you have?"
Jaune chuckled awkwardly. "Uh… it's a long story."
Meanwhile, Blake looked at him, her thoughts in turmoil. She couldn't understand this, but at least she knew she still had friends she could rely on.
Notes:
Phillip Graves is from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Not all the members of the Arc Clan are heroic. Some work in shades of gray. In the shadows.