[RWBY] The Great Temporal Step-Sibling War!

[AndrewJTalon]

It had been foolish of Arslan. She had lost control. Seeing Jaune hurt so badly... She had seen nothing but red. Nothing but raw rage had filled her.

In that moment she had forgotten that her Semblance didn't work if she lost emotional control. Her incredible Aura control and power? Useless if she didn't keep herself calm.

Cinder had struck her down and everything had gone black. She wondered for a moment if she was dead. If she was about to reach the Table Breaker's Country at last.

Instead, she awoke in a cell in Aura suppressing cuffs. A cage in some run down warehouse in Mantle, below the flying city of Atlas.

It was filthy, dark, and deserted. She was still in pain.

Still... She would manage.

She got up onto her knees, and bowed her head. Her hands were bound in front of her, so that made things easier.

Oh Emperor above, please, hear my prayer...

"You're awake."

Arslan opened her eyes and turned her head calmly. Cinder stood there, a sneer upon her ruined face. Arslan studied her for a moment, before turning her head back and closing her eyes again.

She could feel Cinder's derision from here.

"You know, I could have killed you then and there," the terrorist went on, "But I chose not to. You know why?"

"Because you wish to use me as bait for my friends," Arslan said quietly. Cinder was quiet, then snorted.

"You can do nothing about it."

"I can. And I am," Arslan replied.

She heard Cinder stalk in front of the cage and crouch down. No doubt to glare at her right in her face.

"What are you doing, hm?"

"Praying," Arslan said simply. Cinder laughed mockingly.

"To your made up god? What good will that do? You hoping he'll save you?"

"My hope is that He will save both of us," Arslan said quietly. She could feel Cinder gape at her in disbelief.

"Save both of us?!" She demanded. She slammed the bars of the cage, making them rattle. "What kind of shit is that?! I'm your enemy! I'm your nemesis-!"

Arslan opened her eyes and stared into Cinder's.

"And why do you not seem happy about that?" Arslan asked. Cinder sneered at her.

"Your god's a fake. A fraud. What power has he given you? What reward? What reason to believe?"

"I do not always recognize His will, for no one can discern it fully," Arslan said, "But He has given me many things. A loving family. Friends. A man I wish to spend the rest of my life with. And opportunities to help and save people. The power He has given me is to do good. The reward is that good is done. The belief is that my actions matter and will make a difference."

"Your life has made no difference!" Cinder sneered.

"Your defeats and the lives you have failed to take speak otherwise," Arslan countered. Cinder seethed.

"You're up against the power of an immortal witch! She is the true god here-!"

"And you seek to usurp her power," Arslan surmised. Cinder glared, then smirked.

"So what if I do?"

"It will not change what happened to you," Arslan said softly, her eyes filled with compassion. Cinder's eyes narrowed.

"You don't know anything about me-!"

"The orphanage," Arslan said coldly, "The Glass Unicorn. Rhodes. Your stepmother and stepsisters."

Cinder reared back as though Arslan had struck her. She shook her head rapidly.

"Y-You can't know-How could you-?!"

"I know. It is enough," Arslan murmured. She shook her head.

"You have been through Hell, Cinder Fall. I do not dispute that. I do not deny you have suffered much. Was killing your abusive stepmother and siblings justice? I cannot say. Only He can judge you. I do know that the actions you have taken in Salem's service will not bring you peace."

"I don't want peace!" Cinder spat, "I want power! I want revenge!"

Arslan slowly shook her head.

"You want to feel safe," she stated, "You wanted love. So badly. But you decided it was not worth the risk. How could you? After how badly you were hurt when you trusted? It is the hardest thing in the world to trust, to open yourself up-"

"SHUT UP!"

Cinder flared her flames in her hands. Arslan remained stoic, staring back at Cinder. Cinder meanwhile was panting angrily.

"You can't pity me... You don't get to pity me! We're enemies and I'm going to kill you, your fucking boyfriend, and the rest so I can rule! Your prayers won't change that!"

Arslan closed her eyes and bowed her head.

"Perhaps not," she said, "But I will still try."

Cinder was silent for a moment.

"Even if there was a God, He wouldn't..." Cinder hesitated, "He wouldn't forgive me for what I have done."

"He would," Arslan said softly, "Even if I cannot... He would. If you sought redemption."

"So you can't forgive me," Cinder smirked. "You're not perfect, huh?"

"I am not, nor did I claim to be," Arslan said, sounding tired, "But I still try to do the right thing. No matter how hard it is. That includes praying for my enemies in the hope that they will turn away from evil. It is a faint hope... But it is what must be done."

Cinder glared at Arslan in silence for a bit. Arslan continued to pray.

"You're a fool," Cinder spat. She stood up. "I'm going to kill you in front of your boyfriend. The one I crippled! How does that make you feel?"

"Sad," Arslan said quietly, "For you."

Cinder seethed. She turned and stalked away.

- - -

A bit random but while this story is very Jaune-centric, no reason we can't show glimpses that showcase the other characters in more detail.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Always hate how thick Cinders plot armor is.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Always hate how thick Cinders plot armor is.

Click to shrink...

Don't worry, she died in ten out of eleven of the future timelines.

 

[TheFabulousCustodes]

Don't worry, she died in ten out of eleven of the future timelines.

Click to shrink...

Sounds like an idea for a short, most of Jaune's future kids revealing how Cinder goes down in their timeline.

Also, thanks for more warrior nun Arslan!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Dvipa, near Mistral

- - -

Dvipa was a small collection of about seven islands about halfway between Pandu's southernmost shore and Menagerie's northernmost point. It was one of thousands of small island chains that dotted the sea between Animus, Vale and Menagerie. Law and order could only be brought to so many of them, even with the reach of Atlas' military. So among the petty almost-kingdoms and islands where people toiled unaware of the larger world outside, there sat Dvipa.

Once it had been an outpost of the great Pandavan Empire at its height, and so the cities that dotted the archipelago featured Pandavan architecture: White and tan walls with graceful arches and turban-like tops. Wide fountains and boulevards going through dense jungles. Yet its allegiance was neutral, and it had no extradition laws.

This suited Colonel Sebastian Zaroff, late of Her Majesty's Vytalian Army, just fine. He rode on his horse through the jungle, tall, broad and strong despite his long years. His hair was a fading orange, with black and silver stripes running through it. With his bushy mustache, fearsome scowl and golden eyes, one covered by a monocle, he resembled a fearsome tiger on the prowl. His khaki uniform was still filled out well by his muscular body. He held his double rifle in one hand, keen eyes and senses scanning the underbrush.

He tugged on the reins and his horse obediently slowed to a stop. Nothing but the wind waving in the leaves and the sounds of birds and monkeys could be heard.

The colonel sniffed the air carefully. He looked to his south. He held up his rifle, eyes narrowing through the scope. He took aim, his heartbeat slowing as he went still as a statue.

He licked his lips free of sweat, revealing his Faunus fangs just for a moment-One replaced with a golden replica.

His Aura surged... And he fired!

The first round from the double rifle flew straight and true, the sonic boom ringing through the forest. There was a cry of pain-Human.

Colonel Zaroff turned his steed towards the sound and galloped after it. He crashed through the undergrowth, disturbing several beasts who hadn't scurried away with the sound of the shot.

At last, the colonel and his horse broke onto a wide shallow stream. A single figure lay in the water, dragging himself onto the rock. The figure looked back in terror, a White Fang mask upon his face. He gasped loudly, desperately, as the Colonel dismounted and slowly approached him.

"N-No... I-I'm... I'm a Faunus... Like you!" The terrorist begged. He coughed, holding his side-A hole had been shot clean through, and blood poured out of the wound into the river.

The Colonel snorted.

"Such a trivial bond we share," he huffed. "I fought the Mantlians and the Mistralians, a loyal soldier of Queen Arturia herself! Well before you were a glint in your no good father's eye. I slew Grimm, man, and Faunus. There was no challenge I could not overcome!"

He shook his head sadly, and cocked his double rifle. His sorrow was so deep it made the big man sag almost completely.

"Then the Empire ended... And I was left without a purpose," he sighed. "Without war, what use is a warrior?"

He brightened at a happy memory, which made the Faunus cower even more.

"Then... Oh, then... Ol' Duryodhana, he had a plan! Overthrow the Sarkaras! Put the Kauravas back on top! Beat drinking myself to death in a bar, telling stories of my old glories to unappreciative youths. Aye lad, was that a great battle! And so many others besides! Now those were heady days! I was fighting again! Killing again! The most dangerous prey you can imagine!"

He sighed and slowly shook his head, regret coming over his face.

"Then... Bah. Arjun retook the throne. I lost it all. Even that little shite Karna betrayed us. I had to flee to this spit o' land, retired and bored again."

He gave the White Fang terrorist a scowl.

"I had hoped hunting you down would have given me some excitement! But you... You didn't even take an hour."

He held the rifle up with a shrug.

"Still! Better than nothing. I'll put you down clean and put your head somewhere nice on me wall, I promise-"

"Colonel!"

Zaroff growled and looked away from his injured prey. A Pandavan man in white clothing with a red turban dashed through the trees, his youthful face filled with anxiety.

"Yes Asok?" Zaroff asked impatiently. "I'm in the middle of something-"

"Lionheart is calling!" Asok said quickly, skidding to a halt in the middle of the stream. He held up the holocommunicator. Zaroff's annoyance changed flavor-No longer with his aide but with the caller.

He took his time, quite deliberately rubbing his chin. He then shrugged.

"Very well."

Asok activated the projector. The tiger Faunus glared at the lion Faunus outlined in blue.

"This had better be important, Lionheart. I was in the middle of-"

"Ozpin knows I'm a traitor," Lionheart stated flatly, the rotund Faunus's voice level but the sweat on his brow betrayed his fear.

Zaroff huffed.

"And?"

"And you owe me," Lionheart growled.

"Feh," Zeroff scoffed, "For what? Sending me to retire in exile?"

"Would you have preferred I left you to Arjun's tender mercies?" Lionheart sneered. Zaroff shrugged and thought about it.

"Hmm... A glorious end might be preferred, I'll be honest."

Lionheart growled, then sucked in a deep breath. He regain his composure.

"I helped you escape and got you prey to hunt from time to time. Now... I need something more of you. I need you to go to Vale."

Zaroff raised a bushy eyebrow. He was too old a hand at this to betray his full interest though.

"Oh really? In handcuffs? Trying to save your skin?"

"Offering you would not be enough," Lionheart stated flatly. Zaroff chuckled.

"That's true. I believe you had a hand in murdering the entire Sarkaran family. My life wouldn't buy yours. So why should I go?"

"Because there's something much more valuable to be had," Lionheart stated, "A shot at Team AARN."

Zaroff paused.

"They're back together again, are they?" He asked softly, a glint returning to his eyes.

Lionheart nodded.

"Family issues... You would have a shot at them and what's left of team STRQ. All you need to do is take them down... And retrieve these two people, alive and unharmed."

An image of a blond young man, around 17, with blue eyes and white and black armor appeared alongside a boy of the same age whose features shifted almost constantly. Zaroff scowled.

"The hell is wrong with that one?"

"Long story," Lionheart said, "I'll be sending you in along with a team. They'll be hard to manage... But I have every confidence you can do it."

Zaroff hummed. Granted... He was tempted. Severely, in fact. Yet...

"And what else will I get if I go along with this little hunting expedition of yours, Lionheart? My services were never cheap."

"If you achieve this," Lionheart said, "You'll get to name your price."

Zaroff stared at him. Lionheart didn't so much as blink.

"You're serious?"

"Deadly serious," Lionheart stated.

Zaroff laughed. He shook his head and rested a hand against his hip.

"Well... I suppose I may as well hear you out," he decided. "We'll talk more back at my manor."

"Agreed," Lionheart said, before the hologram winked out. Zaroff chuckled again, nearly jumping for joy.

"Hahaha! A good old fashioned hunt! Ahh... Against the greatest of prey! Suddenly, everything is looking up!"

The White Fang member coughed up blood. Zaroff looked down at him, all smiles.

"Ah, yes... Almost forgot about you. Seems I've got a change of plans, son! I've actually got some real entertainment at last!"

"So... Are you going to let me go?" He asked hopefully.

Zaroff held out his hand. Asok pulled out a shotgun. Zaroff, still smiling, took the the shotgun then held it up to the face of the White Fang terrorist.

"You should have been a comedian, son," Zaroff chuckled, before he pulled the trigger.

- - -

Colonel Sebastian Zaroff is based upon Colonel Sebastian Moran, an associate of Moriarty's in "Sherlock Holmes" who was a British Army Officer and tiger hunter, and General Zaroff from "The Most Dangerous Game", a Russian aristocrat and big game hunter who hunts people on his private island.

Asok is named for the Indian intern from "Dilbert".

Zaroff will be the first of the Four Emperors: Four mercenaries Salem's agents will gather to counter the adults and assist her Maiden Candidates as part of her larger plans in Vale.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Zaroff is gonna die screaming

 

[Thamerlin]

Zaroff is gonna die screaming

Click to shrink...

For a man like him? A better curse: "may he die an invalid."

 

[Electrotechman]

For a man like him? A better curse: "may he die an invalid."

Click to shrink...

Make him an imprisoned vegetable.

With all four limbs chopped off and the wounds seared closed.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Just wait until you meet the other Four Emperors.

 

[Gur40]

Just wait until you meet the other Four Emperors.

Click to shrink...

oh~ i remeber you talking about a 'hunter of the dangerous game' kraven style character before and he does not disappoint
will the Crown of Vacuo be one of the emperors? Adam a false/deluded king? Tyrian a devoted priest ? Arrowfell guy[literally can't remeber his name] Merlot the destroyer of Glenn? so many epithets and titles and so much fun!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

oh~ i remeber you talking about a 'hunter of the dangerous game' kraven style character before and he does not disappoint
will the Crown of Vacuo be one of the emperors? Adam a false/deluded king? Tyrian a devoted priest ? Arrowfell guy[literally can't remeber his name] Merlot the destroyer of Glenn? so many epithets and titles and so much fun!

Click to shrink...

No, you have only seen one of the Four Emperors before. His theme is Dragon, in keeping with the four Cardinal creatures of Chinese mythology: Tiger, Dragon, Tortoise, and Phoenix/Crane.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Moses' nap had lasted only a little bit longer than Ozpin had needed to tell Weena all the truly pertinent details of Salem's and his own immortality. He was certain they would revisit the topic at some point the the near future once the experimental physicist had mulled over what he had shared and questions had the opportunity to properly percolate. But conversations about the deep past would happen later; Moses awakening from his nap had refocused them on the now.

And so the three of them had made their way to the Odette Swan Ballroom to reconvene with the others involved in this paradox. Ozpin held the ballroom door open for his son and... girlfriend? Fiancee? They had agreed to try courting while there wasn't an official engagement yet, so girlfriend fit best. He hadn't had to put a label on a relationship in quite some time; the nature of his curse meant he had woken up already married to most of his past wives, with the remaining handful being rare stubborn souls who'd pursued him. A mutual pursuit hadn't happened since Salem millennia ago, so it would take a while to shake the rust off. In any case he held the door open for them before following them inside.

Their arrival did not go unnoticed. Glynda's daughter Dorothy was looking their way when the ballroom doors opened and almost immediately made a beeline for Moses as soon as she saw them.

"Moses!" Dorothy grinned as she seemed to float with each step, "You're feeling better, right? I mean you were in bed all day yesterday but you gave us a semblance demonstration earlier so..."

"How am I feeling?" Moses gave her a strained smile before he waved his right hand in the 'so-so' gesture, "I mean I can do stuff but my head's pounding with all the memories that are actively shifting about."

"Actively shifting?" Dorothy asked with a concerned frown, "What do you mean by that?"

"Right, so you see Julian over there?" Moses pointed.

Dorothy looked over her shoulder for a moment to confirm that she could see the silver eyed boy, "I do."

"So when I'm looking right at him the memories I have of his timeline are really fuzzy and hard to pull up," Moses explained with a grimace. "I can still do it, but it's a bit of a fight. When I look away from him the memories I have of his timeline become sharper and easier to bring to the surface."

Ozpin and Weena shared a look silently agreeing that sounded quite strange, both of them would have expected the opposite to happen. Weena discreetly pulled out her scroll and made a note of the oddity.

"Wait," Dorothy started wringing her hands together, eyes widening like someone watching a car wreck in progress, "That means with me right here talking to you... do you remember our timeline at all?"

"Sorry," Moses apologized as he winced, "It's all an indistinct blur."

"O-oh." For a moment Dorothy sagged like a child who had just been told that Yuletide had been canceled this year and they wouldn't be getting any presents. Then she rallied, squaring her shoulders with a look of absolute determination on her face. "Moses, I want to make something unquestionably clear to you."

"Alright," Moses allowed, only for a look of confusion to grace his face as Dorothy's left hand clamped onto his shoulder. "Wait, what are-" his words died as her right hand cupped his chin before her head shot forward and her mouth latched onto his. The contact only lasted a few seconds, but Dorothy did her best to push every ounce of her feelings into it.

"Mwah," Dorothy pulled back with a coy twinkle in her eyes. "I hope that cleared some things up."

"Huba da wah," Moses managed.

"You're my boyfriend, we've been dating for six months, things have been getting pretty serious," Dorothy clarified with a small smile.

"Have they now?" Weena asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Dr. Nebogipfel!" Dorothy squeaked as her eyes suddenly grew wide, as if she hadn't realized Moses' parents were standing right there the whole time.

"It appears we need to have to have a nice long talk young lady," Ozpin chuckled with touch of mischief in his voice.

As Dorothy stammered all flustered like and Moses' brain rebooted Ozpin could see August getting up from where he was sat. The tallest of Jaune's children grabbed his grandfather Arjun's arm and with a few whispered words pulled the royal archer away from the dramatization of the Kraken hunt that had just concluded. The two approached with a purposeful stride and a look that meant serous business on their faces.

"Dr. Nebogipfel, can we borrow Ozpin for a moment?" August asked once they were close. "Our topic is cloak and danger politics."

"You can borrow him," Weena allowed with a wave of her hand, "I'll be learning all I can about this young lady while you talk about things I lack the context to comment on."

"Don't be too harsh with her," Ozpin smiled as he stepped away. "She's Glynda's daughter so Moses could do worse."

"Glynda's daughter huh? In that case I know exactly where to start."

Dorothy gulped.

Leaving the young woman to her fate Ozpin lead August and Arjun to an unoccupied corner of the ballroom where they could have a private enough conversation so long as they kept their voices down.

"What do you need to tell me August?" Ozpin asked in a low voice.

"Well, me and the rest of the firstborn had a little meeting before we went to church," August explained. "We talked a bit about potential threats to keep an eye out for, and in doing so we realized nobody thought to mention to you that Professor Lionheart is a traitor: he's been working with Salem for a while now."

Ozpin heaved a mighty sigh as a flood of disappointment filled his heart and soured his good mood. He really wished he could say he was surprised, yet he couldn't. This lack of surprise didn't stem from anything overtly suspicious on Lionheart's part, the old wizard had simply been betrayed by close allies and friends enough times over the centuries that such an event couldn't feel like a surprise no mater how unexpected it ended up being.

"What has Leonardo done?" Ozpin inquired as he started to drum his fingers on the handle of his cane, each little impact adding a bit of his frustrations into The Long Memory's potency. "I know you have no reason to lie about this, but I still need something actionable to cleanly remove him from his position."

"Where do I even start?" August muttered as he brought his hand to his chin. After a moment of thought he decided where to begin; "Alright, so from a completely objective standpoint the most insidious thing he's been doing is giving the majority of students at Haven deliberately shoddy training. He then takes this a step further by making sure the teams that were decent in spite of their poor training aren't able to effectively coordinate with each other, and if a team still manages to thrive with that going against them he'll make sure they don't get the support they need once they've accepted a high-risk mission. Basically Mistral's higher than normal attrition rate for huntsman is the result of his machinations."

"I see," Ozpin scowled as he considered August's accusation. The attrition rate for Mistrali Huntsmen had been noticeably higher than the other kingdoms for a while now, but the situation was complicated enough there didn't really seem to be a direct cause. The idea that Lionheart was a traitor changed those variables drastically and Ozpin was sure that if he looked over that data again with that idea in mind he could find enough correlation to imply causation. Pinpointing the timeframe where the attrition rate started to rise could also give him a general idea of when the man went turncoat, but perhaps August already knew? "Do you know how long Leonardo's been a traitor?"

"That's something the people writing the history books are still debating," August explained in an apologetic tone. "He helped the Kauravas overthrow my great-grandfather," Arjun's eyes narrowed dangerously as his time-displaced grandson continued; "However the political clique that controlled the central government of Mistral at that time thought having the Kauravas ruling Pandu again was in their best interests, so it's argued Leonardo didn't start working for Salem until later. Some people even think the Kauravas actually introduced him to Salem in the first place."

"I'm not sure which option's worse," Ozpin grit his teeth as the bitterness he felt bled into his tone. "One means he was turned by Salem near the very the start of his tenure as Haven's Headmaster. The other means he betrayed the spirit of his position all on his own." The old wizard's drumming of his fingers on The Long Memory grew more forceful. "In either case I've failed to notice something amiss, and the people I've worked to protect have suffered for it."

"Who exactly is this Salem I've heard mentioned a few times now, and why would Lionheart take orders from her?" Arjun asked with stormy eyes that promised violent retribution. "I've gathered she's a villain Jaune and his brides defeat in their futures, but that doesn't tell me who she is or why she would have a connection to the Kauravas."

"Oh, right, you need to be told about her," August sheepishly grimaced as he looked away from Ozpin to his grandfather.

"The Dark Mother," Ozpin chose to answer the royal archer's question instead of leaving the task to the boy. Arjun's eyes widened in recognition of that name, and so Ozpin continued; "That's the title the Kauravas use for her. She's born other titles you might recognize; The Phantom Queen, The Lady Of Shadows, The Bone Sorceress, The Death Caller, The Ash Bride, and so on."

"Those titles all belong to the goddesses revered by different Grimm worshiping cults," Arjun observed with knitted eyebrows. "So this Salem has somehow convinced these cults that she's their goddess?"

"That is technically correct," Ozpin noted before elaborating as his fingers quietly drummed faster. "Salem can control the Grimm just like the goddesses the Grimm cults worship. She also possesses other esoteric powers so vast and overwhelming that anyone who hasn't met a real god can be forgiven for thinking she was one. On top of that she is unageing and has been alive since before the Moon-Shatter, orchestrating the collapse of more than one civilization from the shadows. In other words Salem is able to convince the Grimm cults that she's the goddess they worship by virtue of actually being the goddess they worship."

Ozpin sighed as he finished drumming out his frustrations with his fingers, "Me and my fellow Academy Headmasters are the leaders of a secret society that's been fighting Salem and her followers long before the Academies were even founded. We've kept her agents from burning down civilization as we know it for centuries. Lionheart's betrayal isn't just against any one country or institution, it's a betrayal of all man and faunus-kind."

"The man needs to die," Arjun concluded with a dark intensity in his voice.

"He does," Ozpin agreed as he warily eyed the King of Pandu. "But you shouldn't be the one running off to do it."

"His betrayal started with my kingdom, and my family," Arjun's hands clenched and unclenched as if he was imagining something breakable within his grasp. "It is my duty as King and patriarch to bring him to justice."

"It will be difficult to find out what secrets Leonardo shared with Salem if he dies before we can interrogate him," Ozpin reasoned. "Can you honestly guarantee that you'd aim to capture and not execute if you were to head out and confront him now?"

The King remained silent, the dark intensity of his gaze was answer enough.

"Aside from that there's your daughter to consider; you've literally just reunited with her and you've yet to establish a real relationship that could survive you running off right now to take care of this," Ozpin pointed out. "Now is the time to delegate. Qrow's available and capable; I'm planning on sending him. He could easily meet up with Karna and a few other men and women you can trust. They capture Lionheart and bring him here; I learn what I need to know from him and then I hand him over to you to stand trial for his crimes. Is that acceptable?"

The King's brow creased in thought, and after a long moment Arjun spoke; "I can live with it."

"Good, good," Ozpin adjusted his glasses, "When brunch is over let's take Qrow up to my office and make a few calls."

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Man the upcoming events are gonna be fun.

 

[Reader548]

It's kind of wild that no one mentioned Lionheart but I can 100% believe it given the circumstances

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Solitas, Kingdom of Atlas, Republic of Balto, Nome City
- - -
Like all the other kingdoms, Atlas was not simply one gigantic nation. It was composed of many smaller republics, most of them founded as colonies by Vale, Mistral and Vacuo but over time became independent nations-Then voluntarily united together into a larger Kingdom, Atlas, with Mantle as its capital. In the prelude to the Great War, Mantle's legitimate rulers were overthrown in a coup and the new leaders launched the Great War across the planet. Yet all the while they were resisted by half the continent, who had won their freedom from foreign rulers and would not tolerate domestic tyranny. With the overthrow of the cabal that had taken over Mantle at the end of the conflict, aided by the Allied Nations of Vale, Vytal, Vacuo, and many others, Atlas was rebuilt into a free country once more and became the leader in economics, technology, and military might.

It was a harsh continent that made strong people. A strength Corporal Maroon Polo certainly hoped was in his veins as he nervously stared down his rifle. His squad was holding the only exit out of their military depot. Something had torn its way into the top secret storage facility and was heading for them. The alarms rang loudly as his squad stood ready, guns all pointed down the darkened hallway into the base.

"Reinforcement ETA is five minutes, boss," his comms tech, Mora Carnis, said as she tapped her earpiece. She stared back down her rifle. Polo nodded.

"All right. Nothing gets past us," he ordered, keeping his voice even.

There was a creak and a groan of metal in the darkness ahead of them. Polo tightened his grip on his rifle. Sweat dripped down his brow onto his pointed nose.

Silence fell, the most terrible silence he had ever heard... Then something red ignited in the darkness beyond. Scarlet lightning crackled up and down a huge claymore, held by a gigantic man in black armor. He was covered head to toe in it, all plate, his face obscured by a tinted visor. Silver highlights were here and there, like stars shining in the blackest night. Curled horns jutted from either side of his helmet, and a great silver cape waved behind him. In the dim light, they looked like bat wings.

"OPEN FIRE!" Polo screamed, and the loud percussion of their heavy HAR-2004 assault rifles filled the air. The armored figure advanced, every Dust enhanced round vanishing into the man as he walked through the barrage.

Impossible...! Polo thought, They're just bouncing off! HOW?!

It was then the armored man lifted his sword and swung. A great blast of Red Aura erupted, and the squad was blown off their feet and slammed into the walls.

Corporal Polo groaned, his Aura broken. The black knight walked right through them. Polo tried to reach up, tried to grab onto the man... But his armor expanded out and slammed Polo into the wall. The dark figure then swung his blade, and flames erupted all around the warehouse.

As the smoke choked him and flames blinded him, all Polo could do was gape in disbelief at the figure just plodding along. As though unbothered by the pain and anguish he had inflicted.

Not noticing a damn thing.

What was that...? Polo thought to himself, before he passed out.

- - -

The trek out to the base fence wasn't too arduous. The fire he had started was providing sufficient distraction, and his employer had disabled the security systems.

He hopped over the fence and dashed out into the pine trees. He dropped into a gulley, making his way to an old railroad station that had seen better days long ago.

He pushed through the rotting timbers that were once a door and through the wrecked, mold covered interior. He broke through the other wall, revealing a cave.

He hurried through it, down the wet cavern, the sounds of dripping water haunting his steps.

Finally, he reached a hidden lake. Sitting on the lake was a small automated cargo barge, one of thousands across Atlas' waterways. He stepped onto the deck and into the cabin. Inside was an elaborate life support system, integrated into a large metallic frame chair. The man sat down and leaned back. Robotic arms and needles activated, attaching themselves to him. The man sighed quietly as the barge got underway.

A holoscreen activated, and a familiar leonine face appeared.

"I trust you have completed the mission, Lord Caliban Testoasa?"

Testoasa turned his masked face towards the holoprojection. One might imagine a frown was on his face.

"Why you? Why not Watts?" He inquired in a deep, booming bass.

"Watts is busy with something else," Lionheart stated, almost impatiently, "Did you complete the mission?"

Testoasa reached into his belt, and pulled out a single metallic cylinder. He set it down on a table in the cramped cabin.

"Yes. The nanite core has been retrieved," Testoasa stated. "I trust I will receive my payment?"

"Yes... And an even greater reward," Lionheart said.

Testoasa scoffed, his breathing low and mechanical.

"To be Watts' slave and errand boy for longer? How wonderful to hear."

Lionheart scowled.

"He is the one who dug you out of your collapsed castle. He is the one who rebuilt you, after your folly-"

"That does not make me a slave to you parasites," Testoasa seethed. "I am a warrior, a count. Twenty generations of my family were warriors, knights of Hispania."

"And now you have nothing but the title," Lionheart returned. Testoasa's fists clenched as his impassive visor stared at Lionheart. The headmaster of Haven shook his head.

"But you could get back what you have lost."

"I have heard that before," Testoasa snorted.

Lionheart switched to an image. An image that Testoasa stared at with a frightening intensity.

It showed four people-Older than he remembered, but all too familiar.

"Team AARN has become a problem for my employer," Lionheart stated, "A big enough problem that we will require a great deal of strength to end them. I believe you have some... Personal interest in this?"

He had been young, handsome. A great count and warrior heir to a noble dynasty. He had had it all...

Save for a woman he desired.

Isabel Arc. She had brains, beauty, and talents that would have let him rise to the top of Hispania's aristocracy. Maybe become their Councilman, and then? Rule all of Vacuo.

He had used the old arts to try and entrance her. His natural charm. Yet still she insisted on that bumbling oaf!

He would not have it. He found a way to get her to agree to marriage: Blackmail.

He had used his mother's ancient lessons in medicine and alchemy to addict the townspeople to the old potion. Without it, they would die. He had lowered
the dosage, slowly, and made it look like a plague had struck. He told Isabel if she did not cooperate, he would put the potion into the general water supply.
It would hook everyone in the province. If she married him, she could help him refine it, make it so they could rule together!

She obeyed. She had told her friends to their faces she was abandoned them for him. That she never wanted to see them again. Arjun, the Exiled Prince and his little maid? They had seemed convinced...

But not the imbecile. He stubbornly refused. He'd thrown the idiot off a tower into the river and driven the others off with his troops.

Isabel was his. All his. He'd put an explosive collar around her neck, just in case. But he was confident he would get her to see things his way eventually.

But then Team STRQ got involved. Helped the imbecile, Arjun and the maid get into his castle. Defeated all of his men. Freed Isabel, who had proceeded to
fight him. He'd used his powerful Semblance, absorbed all their energy to become stronger and more durable than the strongest steel! His endurance was second to none, he fought that blond moron until his castle was on fire and collapsing around them!

He had vowed to make his death the worst of all of them!

Yet... The idiot had beaten him.

Nick Arc had slashed off his arm and legs and sent him falling into the depths of his collapsing castle. He and everyone else had escaped... And he was left for dead under thousands of tons of rubble.

Only his Semblance had kept him alive... Until Watts had found him...

Testoasa's fists clenched. His mechanical breathing sped up.

"... The reward?" The black knight demanded.

"Full regeneration of your flesh," Lionheart said, "We have a man who can do it. As well as enough money to rebuild your castle."

Count Caliban Testoasa stared at the image. He slowly nodded.

"We have a deal."

He was still a slave, this was true. A slave to these bastards.

But once he had his revenge and his body back? No one would enslave him ever again.

- - -

Caliban Testoasa's name means "Black Tortoise": "Caliban" is Romani for "Black" or "Blackness" and Testoasa is Romanian for "tortoise.". His Semblance, Reinforcement, allows him to absorb kinetic energy and reinforce his body to the point he is nearly impervious to physical attacks. He's also a master swordsman. But if you hit him hard enough with enough Aura energy or in the right way? You can beat him, which is what Nick Arc did.

He's our Black Knight, very Darth Vader-like. He's been used as hired muscle by Watts to pay off all the cybernetics Watts put in him to keep him alive.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Honestly dude sounds flimsy even with such a cool semblance. Perfect against Grimm but potentially not good against Huntsman. Not to mention Pyrhha wrecking his shit.

 

[Bev]

Balto and Nome? Is there also Nenana?

 

[FinalFormer]

Cross-Posted from the Spacebattles thread.

Childhood Memories: Starting Line

- - - - - - - - - -
Xiao-Long/Rose Homestead, Patch. Julian Arc-Rose. Age: 14.

Jaune Arc stood outside his father-in-law's home in the early morning, a cup of coffee in one hand and a stopwatch in the other.

A rumbling could be felt beneath his feet. They were almost here.

In a flash, clouds of red and gold flower petals showered the front lawn. Emerging from the flowerstorm was his wife, Ruby Arc, and their son, Julian Arc-Rose. Hitting the time on the stopwatch, Jaune approached the two. "I think you two beat your personal best."

He showed them the stopwatch. Julian and Ruby smiled wide. Last month their personal best was 44.5 seconds. Now it was 32 seconds! She and Julian had made these races a sort of morning ritual between the two ever since he unlocked his Semblance.

"OK, but I got here first, right? I definitely got here first." Julian asked. Ruby turned towards her son.

"Yeah right, slow-poke," Ruby teased. But truthfully, he actually was getting faster. Not as fast as she was, but he was getting there! "You were just a few inches behind me."

"Nu-Uh! I got here first!" Julian argued. There was no way Mom was still faster than him! He had to have gotten faster by now! "I want a rematch!"

"No way, mister," Ruby shot down Julian's demand. "We need to make breakfast for everyone. I'm starving!"

Before Julian could protest, his stomach growled. His face turned red. He was just as hungry as his mom. Ruby smirked. "You want some pancakes?"

"Yes, ma'am." Julian answered, sheepishly. The trio turned towards the house, but stopped when his grandfather stepped out.

"Uh, there's an angry rabbit Faunus on the house-line asking where Julian is?" Taiyang asked. Julian's eyes bulged in surprise.

"OHMYGODICOMPLETELYFORGOTSERENAWASCOMINGTOMEETYOUGUYSILLSEEYOUGUYSLATERBYE!!" Julian quickly shouted and disappeared in a burst of gold rose petals.

His parents and grandfather stood in silence before Tai asked the obvious question.

"Did either of you understand a word he said?"

------------------------------------

"Hmmph." Serena Winchester pouted as she sat the Bullhead station waiting for her boyfriend. She had been waiting an hour for Julian to come get her!

She opened her scroll to call him again, but her ears picked up something coming towards. An explosion of gold rose petals showered over her and Julian appeared before her, trying to catch his breath.

"I'm super sorry, Serena! I was racing my and I forgot I was supposed to--"

"Hmmph," Serena crossed her arms and pouted. "You said you'd be here. You said an Arc never goes back on their word."

Before Serena could continue her pout parade, Julian pulled out his ultimate weapon: His puppy eyes! He saw Mom use this on Dad a million times and it always works!

Serena's cheeks began to flush. He's using his cute face! He knows that's her weakness! "Y-you can't just make that face every time I get upset!"

As if he was being challenged, Julian's silver eyes looked like they were getting bigger for maximum effect. Serena couldn't find it in herself to stay mad at someone so cute. She stepped forward and hugged her shroter boyfriend.

"That's so unfair. I'm literally a rabbit Faunus! I'm supposed to be cuter than you!"

"Not to brag but, heh, I learned from the best," Julian said smugly, hugging her back. Mission accomplished! He knew she couldn't resist his boyish charms. After their hug ended, he then got into a dramatic pose. "My charms are too powerful to resist!"

His smugness got swept away when Serena raised an eyebrow. "Which one of was super nervous about asking out the other: you or me?"

"Uh..." Julian's face turned redder than a tomato. He knew the answer to that and it made his insides twist at how cringy it was.

Serena was sitting with her friends when they were approached by a cloaked boy. He looked extremely nervous.

"M-may I speak to you for a minute, Serena?" Julian winced internally. Why did his voice sound like that? Was it always this high pitched? Maybe he should've listened to his friend Liu and got her some flowers. Girls love flowers!

"Yeah, sure." Serena said happily. She remembered this guy! His name was Julian! He was that cute short boy that ate nothing but cookies during lunch! He's so nice to everybody.

They were standing in the forest behind the school for 30 minutes before Julian attempted to ask her something.

"I-I-I... Um... W-w...," Julian stammered out. Why is this so hard! She was too dang cute! It was so distracting! He flipped his hood up, completely covering his face and tried again. "Serena Winchester, I was wondering if we could have a study date together tomorrow?"

She didn't respond. Did he do something wrong? Of course he did something wrong! He put his hood on because he couldn't look her in the eyes!

"Ask me again."

Julian tilted his head. "I'm sorry?"

A brief silence passed before Serena lifted up Julian's hood. She smiled and looked into his eyes. "I said, ask me again."

Suddenly, all of the fear in Julian's body disappered. "Would you like to have a study date with me tomorrow?"

"I'd love to," Serena accepted. She gave him a farewell kiss on the cheek. "See you tomorrow."

Julian stood there dumbfounded. He... He has a date! He has a date with the prettiest girl in school! He's definitely bringing her flowers tomorrow.

"Oh, come on, I never talked to pretty girls before!," Julian defended his past actions. "I'm not a smooth operator like my Dad was!"

"You think I'm pretty?" Serena blushed. This isn't the first time he said she was pretty. But she really liked it when he did.

Julian, once again, blushed. He knew he was in a trap. Serena was good at getting him out of his awkward shell but she always did it in a way that made him feel shy. Before he could give her an answer, his scroll vibrated. He checked. His sister, June, had sent him a message "Mom knows you have a girlfriend. She got answers out of Pyrrha. Her and Dad are heading your way."

"Oh. Well, looks like you'll be meeting my parents a bit sooner than I thought. Did you bring any cookies?" Julian asked. Serena's ears perked up. Reaching into her bag, she showed Julian a tupperware filled with cookies.

"Does she like snickerdoodles?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I meant to get this out last week but decided to take my time with it.

 

[NightDranzer]

"I'm not a smooth operator like my Dad was!"

Click to shrink...

Kiddo, your dad may have had the rizz to charm the panties out of hot older women; but a smooth operator he certainly wasn't.

 

[LordofBones]

Jaune: eyes widen "Then... Great Aunt Rin and Great Aunt Sakura-?!"

Click to shrink...

Reminder that Sakura has ties to All the World's Evil and that Kali is a Sakuraface.

Sakura: *eerie smile* "Ara ara, the Dark Mother? Such an interesting title~"
Salem: "Why do I hear boss music?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

City of Viriathus, Lusitania Province, Vacuo

- - -

Vacuo was a harsh, arid Kingdom composed of many proud, squabbling cultures. One of the most famous was the small but fierce province of Lusitania on the far western coast of the Kingdom. Guarded by mountains, it had resisted numerous empires that had tried to conquer it. In a lawless Kingdom like modern Vacuo, it's capital Viriathus flouted the laws the council made in the far away capital: Especially on gambling.

Golden casinos stretched up into the night sky as tourists from all the Kingdoms walked along the boardwalks. Black Market wares were sold almost openly. Men who won big at the tables lived it up like it was their last night on Remnant, while losers were thrown out into the gutter.

Only the Magistrate's armed militia kept order in the glittering city, but they could not be everywhere. Despite this, some members of the criminal underworld actually tried to promote good order and lawfulness. After all, they were running businesses here. It would not do to antagonize their client base.

The man leading this charge was Prataeo Marfim. He was tall, dark skinned, his head shaved bald, with a neatly trimmed beard and a dark blue suit. He sat in his penthouse office of the Doreado Casino, overlooking the cityscape. His assistant, a woman in a business jacket and skirt, stood nearby in silence. She was beautiful: Tall, leggy, and curvy, with long black hair cascading down her back. Her purple eyes glittered behind her glasses like sharply cut amethyst. Her skin was pale and flawless, and her lips were ruby red.

Before them stood a militia officer. He was slovenly, balding, with pale skin and red hair. He wore his outdated armor messily, while holding his beret in front of himself nervously. The two large enforcers on either side of him, grim in their black suits, probably didn't help ease his worries.

"Carl," Marfim stated coldly, "I paid you to overlook shipments coming in. Not to start pimping kids or running drugs."

"I uh... W-Well, a man's gotta make ends meet, sir," the militia officer said, wringing his hat, "I-I appreciate all you've done for me but it's not enough-!"

"You could have put in more work for me, Carl," Prataeo went on, his eyes narrowing, "I could have given you more breaks. Instead? You broke the rules. Now you have to face the consequences."

He looked to his female assistant.

"Zhu?"

Zhu smiled cheerfully. She strutted right up to the sweating, nervous man. She pressed a delicately manicured nail against the side of his head... And Carl's eyes rolled into the back of his head. His veins turned black as he collapsed, and he began to choke.

"That's a brevetoxin," Zhu explained, "Usually found in single celled organisms in the ocean called dinoflagellate. It binds with sodium channels in nerve cells, causing a complete shutdown of your nervous system."

She smiled cheerfully at the dying man.

"I made this one especially painful," she grinned.

"I told you not to do that," Marfim growled. Zhu huffed.

"You never let me have any fun!"

"I want him dead, but quickly," Marfim stated, "Painlessly."

"Well, I chose something else, so nyeh," Zhu responded, sticking her tongue out. Marfim sighed and was about to say more... When Zhu's Scroll went off. She pulled it out, stuck an earpiece in, and answered the call.

"Hello? I'm at work, I... Ohhhh! Hello Lionheart!"

Zhu nodded a few times. She gasped.

"Really? They're back together? And..."

She growled.

"Branwen. Arc."

Poisonous fumes began to drift away from Zhu's skin, resembling the wings of a bird. Marfim's goons backed away, while Marfim discretely reached for a gas mask.

A moment later, Zhu was all smiles-Though still terrifyingly vicious.

"Of course I'll kill them! Don't you worry about a thing! Just make the deposit in the usual place, darling~! Okay, love you~!"

Zhu ended the call and turned back to her employer. She bowed low in the Fuujin manner.

"My apologies, Boss, but I have some personal business to attend to," she said.

Marfim grimaced.

"Arc and Branwen?"

Zhu nodded like an eager child.

"Oh yes! I finally get a chance to murder them."

Her pupils shrank to pinpoints and her grin shone like daggers in the well lit office. The goons cringed in terror behind the still dying Carl.

Marfim, unperturbed, slowly nodded.

"How long will you be gone?"

"Oh a few weeks! I'll file for the PTO and everything will be square! The lists of contacts and your agenda is set for the next month! Not to worry, Boss! I'll be back!" Zhu giggled. "And I'll have some new heads for my display case!"

"... That's great," Marfim said with a nod. "See you soon."

"Okay! Love you boss!" She pranced over to Marfim and kissed his cheek. She then turned and jumped out the window, smashing through the glass with a wild, child-like cheer. Marfim and his goons stared after her.

"Uh, Boss...?"

Marfim sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"I'm not gonna stand in front of the Poison Phoenix when she wants someone dead."

He paused.

"Plus, I'd be lost without my favorite secretary..."

- - -

Lusitania is the Roman name for what is now Portugal. Viriathus is the name of a famous tribal leader of the area who resisted the Roman occupation of the region.

Zhu is a Chinese surname meaning "Vermillion". She is our Vermillion Bird of the Four Cardinal Beasts. Her Semblance is Toxic: The ability to create and emit any form of poison from her body. She's also a bit of a womanchild-But a dangerous one.

Prataeo is a corruption of the Portugese word for "Silver".

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Its gonna be amazing to see these people die~

 

[TheFabulousCustodes]

Jaune's dad speed runned the "Make mortal enemies from every Kingdom" achievement......

Summoning Salt should make a video.

 

[cavalal386]

Lusitania is the Roman name for what is now Portugal. Viriathus is the name of a famous tribal leader of the area who resisted the Roman occupation of the region.

Zhu is a Chinese surname meaning "Vermillion". She is our Vermillion Bird of the Four Cardinal Beasts. Her Semblance is Toxic: The ability to create and emit any form of poison from her body. She's also a bit of a womanchild-But a dangerous one.

Prataeo is a corruption of the Portugese word for "Silver".

Click to shrink...

We got the tiger which is a mix of Sebastian Moran and General Zaroff.
The turtle which based on Darth Vader.
The bird, who is she supposed to be based on? Also what's her deal with Arc and Branwen? Angry that they stole the blonde himbos from her?
Now all that's left is the dragon.

 

[cavalal386]

Jaune's dad speed runned the "Make mortal enemies from every Kingdom" achievement......

Click to shrink...

I could be misreading it, but I think Caliban Testoasa is the only mortal enemy that jaune's dad has of the three.
Zhu seems to hate jaune's mom, qrow and raven.
As for Sebastian Zaroff, I think Arjun is the one who has beef with him, not the other way around.

 

[Gur40]

Y'know we haven't really talked about canon's villians and while Adam and Traitor Leo have had there scene's and Cinder Mercury and Emerald are main characters in the plot.
We have no scenes yet for Dr Merlot and Dr Watts learning about time travel and only Nicholas Arc-Schnee bringing them up and with Bram Thornmane from Arrowfall and The Crown from the AFK books the self claimed rulers and protectors of there respective Kingdoms through spies.
While Sienna Khan had her assassin plot but would any spies in Adam ranks could pass on info to her or Adam spies learning about Sienna assassin plot.
Then we have the Albain brothers from Menagerie ... the White Fang has alot of sub divisions huh
Vale- Adam
Menegerie-Albain bros
Mistral-Sienna
Anyone want to do an omake or short for these characters?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Y'know we haven't really talked about canon's villians and while Adam and Traitor Leo have had there scene's and Cinder Mercury and Emerald are main characters in the plot.
We have no scenes yet for Dr Merlot and Dr Watts learning about time travel and only Nicholas Arc-Schnee bringing them up and with Bram Thornmane from Arrowfall and The Crown from the AFK books the self claimed rulers and protectors of there respective Kingdoms through spies.
While Sienna Khan had her assassin plot but would any spies in Adam ranks could pass on info to her or Adam spies learning about Sienna assassin plot.
Then we have the Albain brothers from Menagerie ... the White Fang has alot of sub divisions huh
Vale- Adam
Menegerie-Albain bros
Mistral-Sienna
Anyone want to do an omake or short for these characters?

Click to shrink...

If I'm being honest I wanted AARN and STRQ to have their own unique enemies rather than making it fully generational, you know? But this is a great idea!

 

[Gur40]

If I'm being honest I wanted AARN and STRQ to have their own unique enemies rather than making it fully generational, you know? But this is a great idea!

Click to shrink...

saying this before the 4th emperor post but i just rewatched Baki and can't help but think of the scene we he's on a date and a friend reverse jumps the attacker about to interrupt the date

So imagine Jaune trying to give a romantic date for each of the girls as the kids and team AARN try to jump which ever mock is planning an attack so the date goes well, only for chaos to ensues as AARN is not a stealth team

 

[AndrewJTalon]

When The Schnee matriarch started making blatant inquires about his parents and their relationship an incredibly mortified Weiss and Winter had done their best to redirect the conversation to something else. After it became clear that Willow would not be deterred Nicholas and Theodore had provided some interference that had given Jaune a good reason to excuse himself from the table, to the relief of everyone not named Willow.

This left Jaune free to properly introduce himself to the last parent he hadn't met before today; Athena Nikos, the mother of his partner Pyrrha. Jaune made his way through the ballroom to the table the two were sitting at with his potential son Xander and the family's honestly ominous looking butler. The four of them saw his approach and rose from their seats, stepping away from the table and meeting him halfway.

"Jaune," Pyrrha warmly greeted him. The fond affection in her voice, the small smile on her lips, the soft look in her eyes, they were all things he had seen from her before. Breaker above he really was oblivious; her feelings had been clearly spelled out on her face this whole time.

"Hey Pyrrha," Jaune smiled back at his partner, "This is your mother?"

"Yes," Pyrrha tilted her head towards the retired actress, "This is my mother Athena."

"A pleasure to meet you Ms. Nikos," Jaune put on his best smile, but that smile became politely confused as he tried to interpret Athena's expression.

The redheaded actress was smiling a bit too wide, her eyes were a bit too big, and on top of that she was cupping her cheek with her left hand while using her right hand to muffle the giggles escaping her lips.

"It's a pleasure tah meet ya Mistah Arc," Athena preened with sparkling eyes and a cutesy voice. "And I must say you're easy on the eyes. I can totes see why my Pyr-Pyr took a liking tah ya, and I hope you can make her the world's luckiest gal!"

"Uh, I'll do my best?" Jaune answered as he looked to Pyrrha trying to gage if her mother's behavior was normal. Unfortunately Pyrrha seemed just as bewildered as he felt.

"Granny, you said you'd try to be yourself," Xander supplied from Athena's left.

"Whaaat? This is totes me!" The scarlet haired woman giggled.

Her blue haired butler placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "You're using the word 'totes' ma'am."

"I am?" Athena's head whipped around to look Orestes in the eye, "That's totes not something-" Her face morphed into a comical exaggeration of mortification. A haunted whisper escaped her lips, "By the rainbow wings of victory I'm defaulting to Dolly. Why am I defaulting to Dolly? I only played her in a single holiday special! Why aren't I accidentally defaulting to Aurora? I played her for five seasons and three movies! AND AURORA TALKS NORMAL!"

"Umm..." Jaune looked to his son and partner for some kind of explanation.

"Apparently having a difficult time expressing oneself is something my mother and I have in common," Pyrrha winced with sympathy she was surprised to feel.

"I lived and breathed Aurora for years! I only narrowly avoided being typecast as her character's archetype, and even then a third of my characters were still some kind of variation of that archetype! I've only played six characters like Dolly, and-" Athena stretched out her hand towards Orestes and the man handed her a paper bag. The actress' rant died as she placed the bag over her mouth, breathing in and out of the bag until she visibly calmed.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Jaune asked with clear concern in his tone.

"Considering what I've learned today? No. I'm not okay, and I haven't been for a long time," Athena answered as she pulled the bag away from her face. "It's a long and involved story that we don't have time to get into here. Perhaps we'd be better off with you telling me about yourself? I'd like to know the young man that captured my daughter's heart; do you know how that happened?"

Jaune closed his eyes in recollection, and after a moment's thought he knew where to begin; "Pyrrha chose me as her partner. Initiation's set up to make each partnership as random as possible, but your daughter threw her spear at me and pinned me to a tree to make sure she could get to me before anyone else. She singled me out because I was one of the small handful of people who had no clue who she was before meeting her, and I'm eternally grateful she chose me out of the clueless people she met that day because I didn't belong here at that point."

"Don't sell yourself short Jaune," Pyrrha fondly smiled as she remembered that day. "You came up with a plan to kill the Deathstalker chasing us that took perfect advantage of our team's strengths within moments of meeting all of us. That was really impressive and is solid proof that you deserved your slot here."

"I was still in way over my head," Jaune explained to Athena even as Pyrrha's encouraging words warmed his heart. "My transcripts shouldn't have gotten me in; all I knew about swordplay was that the pointy end goes into the bad guys and all I knew about shields was that it was better to have one than not have one if your sword can be used one handed. I started out as the dead last in combat class, yet in spite of all that Pyrrha saw potential in me. Potential I wasn't seeing in myself at that point. She offered to tutor me in the art of swordplay, but I refused out of my own personal hang ups."

Jaune internally cringed at the memories, but he kept it off his face as he continued; "Reasonably speaking she should have given up on me at that point, but she didn't. She waited for me to get over myself, and when I did she stepped right in to support me. I'm no longer the dead last in our combat classes and it's all thanks to her efforts."

"I can't take all the credit," Pyrrha gently objected, "You're an exceptionally fast learner Jaune; you've mastered things in a few months that would take other people years to get the basics on."

That praise brought a small smile to his face before he continued, "To bring us back to your original question Pyrrha told me yesterday that she's been in love with me since the day we met. I don't know when that initial infatuation turned into something more tangibly real, but it did and now hindsight is making me feel like an idiot for not noticing before everything that went down yesterday."

"So how did you not know?" Athena frowned as she rolled Jaune's words around in her mind, "From what you've said it sounds like my daughter was sending you clear signals from the beginning."

"Dad was just... ya know... dense," Xander supplied from the side. "And it probably didn't help that the examples of romance he saw growing up were all very overt; nobody's learning subtle flirting from Granny Isabel and Grandpa Nick."

"Hey," Jaune objected for his parent's sake, but it wasn't a heated objection.

"Well, if we ignore that romantic density for a moment," Orestes moved forward from his position behind Athena, "It sounds like you genuinely appreciate your friendship with Pyrrha. And since that's the case I'm glad to make your acquaintance." The bodyguard extended a hand to shake, which Jaune took without prompting. "Though now that you know her true feelings I'm curious, what are your intentions going forward?"

"My intentions..." Jaune took a moment to sort his feelings into words. Orestes keeping the handshake going the entire time, which was weird but it didn't stop Jaune from answering; "My intentions are to do the right thing. For everyone. I won't give up on anyone, especially not Pyrrha, because she never gave up on me."

A blush grew on Pyrrha's face as Jaune's words set her heart to singing. The other potential brides that were close enough to subtly eavesdrop stopped being subtle, each and every one of them now keeping a blatant eye on the conversation.

Orestes broke the handshake with the nod of someone reaching a conclusion; "I suppose that's as definitive of an answer that you can give right now considering the circumstances." Then his expression became stone faced, with a dark menace in his eyes that made Jaune's blood run cold, "Though I should warn you that the heart of a woman can be easily bruised if it's handled carelessly, and those who play careless games with the Nikos' hearts have a bright future exploring local lakebeds with a nice set of concrete galoshes."

Jaune looked the blue haired bodyguard up and down as he began to wonder if the man in front of him had actually fitted someone out with a set of concrete galoshes before. Pyrrha's jaw dropped as she felt a sudden urge to stand between Orestes and Jaune. Athena blinked owlishly as if she was seeing her butler for the first time.

Xander snorted, "Yeah Uncle Orestes is always like that." The boy's flippant tone popped the tension in the air like a needle in a party balloon. Everyone relaxed while Orestes pouted at having his intimidation undercut so quickly.

"Well Pyrrha, I'm glad you've found a boy that's trustworthy," Athena concluded from Orestes extended handshake. "I just hope the two of you can be patient with me; this all feels rather surreal right now."

"Right, patient. We can be patient." Pyrrha smiled, but Jaune could see the tension behind it. He probably needed to talk with her about that later, let his partner unpack some of her feelings away from her mother.

Such thoughts were put on hold when the main doors of the ballroom opened and the voice of his godmother called out:

"Jaune!" Saia Sarkara warmly smiled as she strode into the room with May following close behind, her figure hidden by her mother's. The Queen of Pandu continued as the two of them approached the blond swordsman; "I hope I'm not interrupting? If I am I promise this wont take much time."

"I think we're good," Jaune glanced at the others for conformation with nobody objecting that conclusion. "What do you need?"

"Like I said it won't take long; I just need to formally introduce May as my daughter Maia," The Queen then stepped aside with a dramatic flourish; "Behold! The Lost Princess of Pandu!"

May glanced around bashfully as she stood there in a very modern take on the national dress of Pandu. A vermilion sari was draped over her shoulders over an equally red top that left her arms and midriff rather exposed with a floor-length skirt tightly hugging her hips. Intricate patterns that represented a long awaited betrothal had been lovingly painted on her hands and arms, and it was taking all of May's power to not fidget in fear of smearing the paints that were already well dried.

Jaune felt his mouth go dry seeing May in this new outfit. It was... well it wasn't obscene. It just kind of felt like it because May's normal outfit covered so much more of her and...

...How in God's green world did her hoodie hide an hourglass figure so perfectly... pronounced. Her hips were wide in a way that promised easy deliveries while her abdomen curved in a way that made her bust look even larger than it actually was, and that bosom was generous enough to not need any help whatsoever. Like seriously those melons were almost the size of her hea- GET A GRIP JAUNE! Don't make this weird.

"Hey," Jaune managend.

"H-hey," May managed back. "Um, It's nice to- WAH!"

Saia casually hooked her right foot in front of May's leg while placing a hand between her daughter's shoulder blades, pushing the girl forward and making her fall. Jaune moved out of reflex, and managed to catch the falling girl before she hit the ground. This left the young sniper pressed against Jaune's chest as she blushed a crimson as deep and vibrant as her sari.

"Oh dear how did that happen?" Saia asked so innocently that anyone who hadn't seen her trip up her daughter would have believed she was completely uninvolved. That innocent facade was ruined by the fact that almost everyone in the room had been looking their way when she had acted. His various future children stared with wide eyed surprise, his potential brides were glaring daggers, and his potential in-laws were creasing their brows with disapproval.

About the only people not staring Saia and May down were his own father Nick and Qrow who were still arguing about who landed the killing blow on the Kraken. As a result the tension of the room skyrocketed exponentially.

This was a complicated problem, and Jaune couldn't help but worry that this was a preview of how messy things could get going forward. He wracked his brains for a way to defuse the tension and he was coming up-

"NORA SMASH!" Nora jovially shouted as she drove her fist into the Kraken model, spraying egg everywhere. "Hah! Now I'm the one who killed the Kraken! Remember that next time you tell the tale!"

"Nora!" Ren whisper-shouted as he tried to pull her away from the mess she had made.

"Ha!" Nick let out a booming laugh at the hammer-wielder's antics before promising, "I will remember it! In fact, I think you should tell it next at your wedding reception!"

"My wedding reception?"

"Yes," Nick grinned. "Once the adoption's finalized we can take you and Ren down to Radian and rent out the old chapel where everyone in our family's gotten married for the last six generations! Heck, we might be able to get old Parson Brown out of retirement to do the ceremony and after that you can use the old family lake house for the honeymoon!"

Nora squealed in excitement while Ren's eyes grew wide.

"Nick!" Isabel scolded, "Don't promise her things before we've adopted her!"

"So we are adopting her," Nick grinned.

"I didn't say that," Isabel pinched the bridge of her nose.

And with everyone's attention on that the tension in the room disappeared and Jaune sighed in relief. He'd have to get Nora the ultimate wedding present as thanks.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Kek I just love how Nora literally smashed the tension with a hammer.