Hey Fellas, sorry it's been a while. Life has been... Yeah, so, anyway. This chapter is a setup I had in mind, not much happening but it can't be help. Hope you guys enjoy it regardless~
Hopefully, everything goes well and I could pause MonHunWild and write the next chapter much faster. Should be combat in 'em, I hope.
Forgot to mention, I have an Archiveofourown and this story is also published there.
XXX
Ozpin stares at the report papers in his hand, pondering the worrying words he had been re-reading for the third time in case his tired eyes played tricks on him. With a sigh, he put the report down and leaned back on his chair. "Not a good sign." He muttered. In all his years as Headmaster, he'd never seen such an odd yet worrying report by his security team.
-and not a single grimm was sighted around the perimeter.
Beacon was surrounded by Grimm-infested forest. Daily patrols by staff and automated weaponry ensure that none get too close or even enter the school grounds, and monthly Huntsmen hunting parties discourage large hordes from building up. Still, there should be at least a few grimm activities, like a beowolf or two attracted by the commotions.
Yet none were found as if they'd all just disappeared.
As he ponders if he should send some teams to scour the forest to investigate, the door of his office opens and a familiar blond professor walks in along with an unfamiliar... Nun?
"Evening Glynda." Ozpin greeted the teacher, noticing her restlessness. "Let me guess, Peter and Barth are at it again-"
"NO!" Glynda suddenly snapped, taking the Headmaster aback. "No, Ozpin, she's not an esco-I mean, no, they're not at it again. It's... more complicated than that."
"Oh? How so?"
Glynda opens her mouth to answer but pauses. She looks to the side, clearly thinking if she should even say it. "Do you remember the thing that you said... About the future children?"
"Jaune Arc future children?"
"Yes."
Ozpin narrows his eyes as his mind slowly and surely connects the dot. "Ah."
...
...
...
"A-Are you sure...?"
"I have interrogated her and all of her answers are spot on."
...
...
"HAHAHAHAHA" Uncharacteristically, Ozpin began to cackle like a madman at the news. Perhaps it's the lack of sleep or maybe the bombardment of bizarre, new information that made him want to laugh, regardless he found the news of his rigorous and professional college getting together with one of her students quite hilarious at the moment.
"DO NOT LAUGH!"
"F-Forgive me, Glynda, all the years knowing you I didn't expect you to be into younger men..." Or men at all. But perhaps her weapon should've been a dead giveaway to him, but Jaune Arc of all people?
"I must admit, the romance between father and you was quite the classic formula." The third person finally began to speak. "She told me it was after an intense and dangerous mission with the team during their third year, then drinking was involved and..." She blushes, "Love Motel, Outer Heaven-"
"STOP!" Glynda stopped her daughter's exposition, "Do NOT explain anymore! And why would an alternate version of myself tell you that?!"
The Nun smiled innocently despite what she had just said, "You were drunk when you told me the story. It was quite spicy, I must admit."
After calming down, Ozpin observes the 'nun' that Glynda claimed to be a possible alternate future daughter of Glynda Goodwitch. She looked much older than the other future children he had seen till now, and her nun outfit piqued his curiosity. But it was the way that she seemed immune to Glynda's death glare that had put fear in many, many souls, students or otherwise, that made him somewhat believe the claim.
"Oh! Forgive me, I had almost forgotten. Excuse me for a moment, Mother." The nun turned toward the headmaster, "Headmaster Ozpin, I am Rapunzel Goodwitch, Saint of the Reborn Brothers Faith, I am here at the behest of the Professor to provide what little aid I can for the coming danger."
'The Professor'. It wasn't the first time that name was mentioned to him. "Let me guess, you can't tell me anything about this 'professor' figure?"
Rapunzel smile softly, "Unfortunately not, Headmaster. He'd made me promise not to divulge anything about him."
"I see." It was certainly curious why this person would make the future children not explain anything about him. But another curiosity piqued him. "And you said you were a Saint? I have never heard of this religion you mentioned." Or was it perhaps based on the old religion of Remnant?
"Yes! I was chosen by the good flocks of our small faith to be the herald that represents their light." She beamed, "We brought back this faith that our ancestors once held after we found an ancient tome in a ruin. It helped people during such dire times, it gave them comfort and purpose."
So he was right. But before he could ask more his scroll suddenly beeps aloud, alerting him of an emergency call. "Excuse me for a moment." He grabs his scroll and answers it. "... Good evening, James."
James Ironwood's stern face greeted him from the screen, "You answered, good. I apologize for calling so late, but I have a question that has to be answered as soon as possible."
Ozpin's eyes narrowed, "And that is?"
"Do you know anything about... Future Children?"
That made Ozpin's heart jump. "I... Maybe. Why such a specific question?"
"No, that's all I need to know. I'm heading to Vale ahead of the convoy, I'll see you soon."
The Headmaster blinked in confusion when the General just cut the connection. "That's... odd."
XXX
Ironwood sighed and leaned back to his chair. "How ridiculous..." He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. He then stood up, walked out of his office, and made his way through the corridor of his flagship, passing by soldiers who paused what they were doing to salute. It didn't take long for him to reach his destination, an observation room filled with soldiers. "Report."
"Sir!" One of the observers responded, "The woman remained calm after we gave her alcohol and assigned Specialist Schnee to interrogate her."
"She drank half of our booze supply..." One of the other observers muttered.
The General stares at the monitor, seeing Specialist Schnee, one of his most trusted and dependable soldiers, sitting across a table with an unfamiliar woman in a white, Eastern-like outfit, including a big straw hat, gulping down a bottle of alcohol like their normal water. He also noted her weapons, a 40-inch sword and a 78-inch long sword, which she lazily let rest on her shoulder. "Has she said anything else noteworthy?"
"Subject Scarlet had answered every question that Specialist Schnee had asked, even ones that were... intimate, which we muted per her request and will redact in recording per privacy protocol." The Observer reported, "Specialist Schnee concluded that it is highly likely that her claim she had come from an alternate future is true."
It was a ridiculous statement and a crazier claim, coming from an alternate future, Ironwood mused. However Winter Schnee is a very logical woman, and as someone he trusted with his life, she wouldn't just make such an insane conclusion without powerful proof.
"You don't... believe she came from the future do you, sir?"
"... I don't want to, however, considering Specialist Schnee's interrogation-" He looked at another screen, this one showing a containment room where a large carcass of what appeared to be a creature that looked troublingly similar to the grimm 'Nevermore', but much, much larger, larger than the flagship and any gunships Atlas could field, and covered by much more plate armour, harder than any that had recorded, so much so that none of their handheld weapons could pierce the damn thing. The beast appeared out of nowhere and would've brought the ship down if not for an intervention. "-and how she cut that beast in two and saved our life, we must consider all available possibilities, including her crazy story about being Winter Schnee's future daughter." Ironwood turns his gaze back to the interrogation room, where it looks like Specialist Schnee is trying, and failing, to make Scarlet stop drinking. "This is why we're going to Beacon early. To find the next piece to the puzzle, her (possible) future father, Jaune Arc."
XXX
Everything is blurry.
Jaune Arc feels light and floaty as if everything isn't real, yet he can't move. The blurs began to fade, and the blond could see scenes of his life passing before his eyes-No, Not his life, whose life is this? He could see scenes with his friends, then it jumps to a night of peace sitting at the rooftop of Beacon alone-Wait, no, together with someone-Long golden hair, lilac eyes, and a beautiful cocky smirk. He (?) is sitting with Yang, talking, joking, and then another blur.
When his vision returned to him they were in the same place, but this time he and Yang sat closer, hands interwind, eyes locked with one another, and then he (?) kissed Yang Xiao-Long. It then jumps from scene to scene, sometimes fighting for his (?) life, going on fun dates with Yang, and even having their first time at some hotel called the Outer Heaven, then jumping again to graduation, then their marriage, and finally their first daughter.
"Leone." He (?) whispered. Jaune winced as the name echoed in his head as if they were being pounded into him.
With another blur, he arrived at a new scene-but this one is different. He could feel it, SENSED it.
He (?) was standing in front of Yang, she looked much older, beautiful yet sorrowful. They're in a building, small and comfy, a cabin made with love. "Don't do this Yang..." He (?) begged, "Leone needs you." He (?) pleaded fully knowing he (?) wouldn't succeed.
"I..." Yang looked away, "I'm sorry, but Ruby... She needs me. I'm her sister, I need to find her."
"Leone's your daughter, she NEEDS you!"
Yang didn't turn toward him but instead began walking away toward the door. "I'm sorry..."
Jaune Arc could feel his (?) sorrow and despair as he (?) watched Yang leave.
She was never seen again.
Another blur and a new scene greeted Jaune Arc but before he could observe everything he was hit with the sensation of pain everywhere, his entire body was filled with it. He could barely breathe, he wanted to scream yet no voice came out, he wanted to stand up, but a great force pushed him back down.
HesgoingtodiehesgoingtodieHesgoingtodiehesgoingtodieHesgoingtodiehesgoingtodie
The scene before him slowly clears and Jaune Arc can finally comprehend what he's seeing. He's in the same place as before, his (?) home, but it was burning. He's on the ground, forced to watch all the beautiful memories they had made being destroyed before his (?) very eyes. Jaune noticed He (?) no longer had a left arm nor any legs to stand, only pain in their place. He (?) slowly turned his gaze from the horror to a person stomping on his chest, a woman (?) in full rusted knight armour and faded red cloak. "Please... Spare her..."
The Knight didn't pay attention to him nor did she seem bothered by the heat of the house fire.
"Found her~"
His (?) eye snapped toward the doorway, a female with a white tuxedo and rabbit mask was holding a struggling Leone in her arms. "Let me go! Let me go!" Leone demanded, to no avail.
"Spare her... Please!" He (?) begged, but was ignored once more.
"Put her here." The Knight ordered, and the rabbit obeyed, forcing Leone onto the ground next to him (?), face forced to watch her father.
"Papa-!" Leone struggles with him.
"Everything-" He (?) coughed, "-going to be okay honey..."
The Knight unsheathed her weapon from her back, "Lament, oh weak one," A greatsword of pure blood red, a blade of malice and death. She aims the tip at his (?) chest, "and accept your fate and be welcome in the embrace of our Colorless King. Be glad in your last moment, for you will be the nourishment that birth a great revolution." The knight brought her weapon down.
"NOOOOOOO!" Leone cries and languishes, trying to claw herself toward her father in futility as the rabbit on top of her chuckles. Even as her finger bleeds, even as she knows she can't move, she continues. "PA... PA!"
Jaune Arc could feel becoming weaker and weaker as darkness slowly embraced him, but before it fully could he saw a figure in a black cloak burst into the room and strike the rabbit away with a cane, grab Leone, and dash out of the building before the Knight could even pull out her blade.
Hope. There's hope.
As darkness enveloped Jaune Arc, he could hear faint echoes of a voice in the darkness, pleading, begging, yet hopeful in his tone.
"Please... Take care of Leone. Take care of our daughter."
Then everything went black.
CHAPTER 5-END
New future child~
She's important for what I have in plan so the setup needed to be done. Next chapter should have more Leone, but also scenes with Lily, Helena and (maybe) Salju, I wanted to showcase what they could do and stuff. Now, I need to go back to MonHunWild, those Kut-Ku aint gonna hunt themselves. Ciaou~