Heres part two of the Blizzard. Thank you all so much for your support on the last chapter even if it was split in two.

Hopefully you all enjoy this chapter. In truth I liked writing this one much more than the last chapter. This one just flowed better.

Once again, fuel my addiction to reviews by supplying me with your words.

X.

Crocea Mors rattled slightly as they continued down the long, paved runway. It still clung to Jaune's back while his Enforcer mace was attached to his right wrist. As of yet, they hadn't been able to use the blade, which had greatly annoyed the ever prideful Maiar blacksmith. Though at the current moment, using their reformed sword would be the furthest thing from their minds.

Jaune's eyes widened as he gazed upon the battleship, Blizzard. It was a menacing, castle-like ship with gigantic wings and engines to propel it through the sky. Massive guns laid across both its sides, mounted on swivels to give the ship's turrets full range of their enemy. Strewn over the rest of the ship were many point defense dust lasers, made to combat smaller avian Grimm or in the terrible case, enemy fighters.

'What a strange fortress you mortals have built for yourselves. What are those odd protrusions jutting out to the side? Where are the gates to allow armies to enter and garrison this structure? The rather grumpy Second Dark Lord critiqued the battleship, not truly understanding what was before the old God.

'Are you still upset at Roman for eating the last portion of breakfast?' Jaune inquired, as said man continued to lead them down the runway, disguised in his Atlas mercenary uniform. Roman has spent a ridiculous amount of time pressing and cleaning it, after it had been almost completely covered by soot and ash.

'That man stole the last eggs Benedict from us. The inn we stayed at would provide no more! I do not possess the knowledge on how one can 'Benedict' an egg, but I was more than willing to give it a try.' His soul partner vehemently complained. 'Do you not feel irritated as well? I could feel your want for that particular morsel.

Jaune remained silent to Sauron's prodding, knowing he had too much pride to admit that he was upset that Roman did take the delectable eggs Benedict away. What both failed to admit and realized, was that they had effectively eaten three quarters of the Inn's complementary breakfast. Roman had to steal the last remaining egg in order to actually have a breakfast. Neo had just been satiated by sitting near Jaune's side and munch on a piece of toast.

'Either way, that isn't a castle in the same matter. It's a ship.'

'Why would you have a ship positioned here? It is several long miles until you reach the closet large source of water. Would it not be more efficient to make us meet them at a port?' The war mongering Dark Lord attempted to rationalize.

'Its not a sea-based ship. It's an airship.'

Sauron remained silent for several moments, all the while the massive form of their ship loomed above them. Their path had practically been engulfed by the mechanical behemoth's shadow. The ship had to be at least a kilometer long.

'To think that you mortals would have come this far.' The Maiar muttered. 'The idea of a flying ship is not unheard of. While I did not participate in this particular battle, I did hear rumors that an airship and several eagles were responsible for slaying Ancalagon.'

'You had flying ships?'

'Only one to my knowledge, but its hull was swallowed by time and it disappeared from the world. But its legacy lay with the defeat of the greatest dragon to ever live.'

'Acnologia?'

'Ancalagon you fool. But yes, so large and mighty was the Black Dread that mountains were his footstools. When he feel, he crushed an entire mountain range under his weight.'

'Whoa.' Jaune thought in awe and once again Sauron went on a tangent about the old days. The young Arc didn't mind. The stories were entertaining and educational and it did help distract him from his own thoughts and sadness. The thought that he had not seen his family in a week haunted him and the ache of their missing presence still pained him. Roman and Neo had done well in making him do some tasks to keep his mind busy, and their talks did help fill the void.

Sauron had been stuck with Jaune for nearly two weeks, and even if the two wouldn't admit it, their company to each other wasn't a bad thing.

"Stand at the ready Jaune. Our employer approaches.", Roman spoke, and Jaune's eyes squinted to see the approaching figure. It was a tall, lean man in an immaculate blue suit that Roman would approve off. He was tailed by a large detachment of white armored, faceless soldiers. They were professional, with their large black rifles and they marched to the pace of their employer.

"Stay quiet. Let me do all the talking. The SDC is no joke with their security, especially when one of their officials is involved. I wouldn't be surprised if those guns on the battleship aren't primed on us right now.", he said warningly and an ominous feeling escaped over Jaune at the thought of him being helpless to the might of the war ship's guns.

It took several long moments, but eventually both parties met near the halfway mark of the large ship. Jaune filled as. He gazed at the long line of Atlas guards, heavily armored and armed. Even their leader, had two swords hoisted on his hip. The Atlas military and SDC did not mess around when dealing in military affairs.

"Mr. Lighter, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. If you are unaware of who I am, I am Jacques Schnee of the SDC. It was I who employed your services for this venture of ours. I'm assuming the negotiations that we agreed upon are still standing." The suited man asked, with a well practiced and used voice.

Initially, Roman seemed taken back that the very head of the SDC had come to greet them. However, the thief easily recovered and began to introduce himself and Neo to their employer. However, Jaune's attention was taken away when Sauron began to comment on the status of the Atlas guards in front of him.

'See? This is what a proper army looks like. Well equipped, armored, loyal, faceless, or at least they seem to be totally loyal. I'm quite sure their true colors will show when battle comes their way.'

'You think there will be a fight soon?'

'What is the point of having an army, if you are not expecting combat for it? For as long as I've known your mortal kind, your race has always had an army. Enemies of the all ages have attempted to squash your kind, me included. Yet, you have resisted and defeated the enemies of time. Even now your kind resists against those Aberrations and the undead.'

"And this is the third member of our party, Arc Angel.", Roman interrupted their thoughts, while the man showcased him to the head of the SDC. Panicking, all Jaune was capable of doing at the time was give him a small salute with his hand, which to his surprise the man acknowledged him with a small nod.

"It is a pleasure to meet all three of you. One of my lieutenants will show you to your quarters, where your mission directives will be sent to you. Now if you excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.", the authoritative man curtly said before he began to walk past them, flanked by a cohort of his gaurds. The other cohort remained where they were lead by a man with a slightly different armor configuration that must have been the formentioned lieutenant.

"If you three will follow me, I will lead you to your quarters.", the helmeted man said before he turned around, his men following his movements, and began to make his way to a large ramp that lead into the bowels of the ship.

'You think we could own one of these bad boys?' Jaune whistled mentally as he observed the grandeur of the massive Atlas battleship. Even if he was a mature fourteen year old, he could appreciate the absolute beauty of the massive weaponry and the sheer awesomeness that a warship could provide, especially as one as spectacular as the Blizzard.

'I would not object the chance to get a tour of this ship's capabilities. Perhaps one of these smithing monstrosities would be useful in our mission.' Sauron suggested, and Jaune had to intentionally force himself not to shiver at the memory that had been instilled by Lady of Lothlorien, Galadriel, when she had bound their souls together and given their directive of defeating the darkness that threatened the world of Remnant.

It had only been taken with weeks since that night, since Jaune's life was change. The shirt amount of time and such a drastic amount of difference, it was staggering to think how June's perspective of world or even his position in it had changed.

And both he and Sauron knew that their position in the chain of this world's power order would change. For better or for worse at the least.

X.

Blake sighed in relief as once again she dodged another large patrol of Atlas troops went down opposite hallway. Instincts and natural acts of preservation died hard. Even when she had the full Atlas uniform on and a helmet fully covering her face and ears, she couldn't help but be extremely anxious and fearful. She had infiltrated the very heart of the SDC, disguised herself as a member of their security detail and had avoided blowing her cover so far. Everything was going good so far.

She had even managed to hide herself away from the prying eyes of the very head of the SDC, when she had accidentally happened upon him walking down one of the many hallways of the ship. It was due to her quick thinking and reactions that saved her from being discovered.

"Hey! You! Where's you're unit soldier!" A commanding voice called out from behind her. Blake was quite sure she felt all the hairs on her body stand straight up. Perhaps karma had finally caught up with her. Slowly, she turned around to find that an entire squadron was staring at her, officer included, with three rather bizarrely uniformed beings along with them.

Well, she had tried her hardest and hopefully the White Fang would remember her name has a martyr who had died valiantly for their cause.

"Ugh. Sorry I thought you were one of the normal infantry, Operative...Nightshade, whatever, come with me. From now on your working with the Mercs.", the commanding officer roughly said before brushing past her. She couldn't help but squish herself against the wall in order to not be crushed by the following passing of the soldiers. And of course he had to doublet take at her terrible secondary identity.

It took several long seconds but finally the line of men ended and she was free to move. She looked to her left and found that the three figures were staring at her intently. A bead of sweat traveled down her unseen face.

"What are you waiting for girl? Come along." The lead male said, tall and imposing, yet not as threatening since his somewhat dirtied uniform was covered in some rather flamboyant designs, and he had a large staff and cane attached to his back. But they did look rather nice. Even she had to admit that. The rest of the trio was made up of a short, feminine mercenary, with pink highlights plastered all over her armor. The paint did look like it had been scratched up lately, a recent sign of battle. At her side was a sabre and a thin blade, as well as a pistol.

The third member looked the most...interesting. The merc was obviously male, shorter than the first man, but taller than the girl. He too wore a helmet that covered his face, but for some reason, Blake found him to radiate an aura of youth. His armor also had decorations on it, to separate himself from actual Atlas personnel or SDC security. Gold and black trailed down his heavy armor, and there was an odd symbol on the side of his helmet. An eye with instead of irises, two golden arcs. A sword handle peaked out from behind his back, and a large baton like weapon was attached to his right arm.

She nodded silently and fell in line behind the shorter male and followed him as they trailed after the column of guards going down the hallway.

'Okay change of plans, but still doable. I just need to get myself to the Schnee's quarters or find myself in a major component of the ship. The only thing that will jeopardize my mission would be to be put on guard duty.' Blake reasoned with herself to keep calm and collected.

"I do not understand why my superiors saw it fit to hire some Academy dropouts, but their reasoning says that we need more officers to help command and properly organize guard and troop movements aboard the ship. We have seen it fit to split you three up among our different task squads. One of you shall be put on guard duty and the two others will be responsible for other battalions aboard.", the lieutenant spoke to the three mercenaries. For the illustrious and arrogant SDC to stoop to such low level as that they needed to hire mercenaries to fill their ranks. It brought a smile underneath Blake's helmet.

Blake would have to learn soon enough that her special awareness outside of combat needed to be on the same level in such tense situations, because soon she found herself side by side with the young merc. And he was speaking to her!

"This your first mission?" He asked quietly, his helmeted face turning to her slightly. Perhaps it had been her rather short experience with talking to humans, or to anyone for that matter, but she couldn't help but appreciate the sound of his voice. It was young and soft, but there was a firmness to it that told her he didn't mean to be a threat, but at the same time he wasn't a pushover. It was especially welcomed to her when her second pair of ears were being pressed against her head due to her helmet.

A far cry to the harsh yells and shouts that she had experienced during her many rallies against the SDC. Or the loud roars and grunts of White Fang officers during drills, who thundered instruction to all the recruits. Blake herself didn't like loud noises, perhaps due to her sensitive cat hearing, and much rather enjoyed the silent words of a good book.

"Well...no actually. I've been on a few smaller assignments. This is my first major one.", she lied and told the truth at the same time. Her infiltration instructors had taught her that good lies had a grain of truth to them and that the best lies weren't lies at all; just twisted truths. Plus, if she remained silent in this situation it might draw suspicion to her.

"Is that why you are lost?" He questioned again, and Blake felt some dread make her way into her heart. Survival instincts took control and she began to answer the rest of his questions with lies and half truths that would hopefully satisfy the very curious mercenary.

"I'm just a bit discombobulated. This is a large ship, and this isn't usually what my position is used for. I'm usually deployed for field work or other related operations.", Blake answered quickly, reciting from memory the details of her made up identity provided by the infiltration branch of the White Fang.

But, she was growing incredibly tired of lying and answering the curious man's questions. Now it was time for her to get a break and ask him a few questions.

"What are some mercenaries doing on a SDC battleship?" She asked him in return. Out of the corner of her peripheral vision that wasn't disrupted by her helmet's visor, she saw that the female mercenary had turned slightly to possibly hear Jaune's answer.

"The SDC needed us, so we heeded their call and came.", He answered. Blake nodded in approval of the answer, even if he sounded naive, his answer was acceptable. It gave her an actual response but it hid their true intentions. Smart.

"Sorry, uhhhh...Black Nightshade. I get a bit nervous from time to time, and I have to ask questions to shake it off." He apologized as his black visor turned towards her. Now that she could fully comprehend the symbol, she could appreciate just how unique it actually was. Such an odd design, it was a mystery from where he could draw such an inspiration for it. It didn't help her situation that he was a least a couple of inches taller than her so she had to peer up at him in order to see it.

Blake almost forgot that her disguise's name was such a terrible one, and thus took several seconds to realize that he was addressing her. Whoever wasn't in charge of espionage and sabotaging at the White Fang was going to have a very long and nice chat with Blake if she made it back

"Oh. I understand. In all honestly I prefer a good book to a party.", she once again couldn't help herself and tell the truth. Something about this boy made it so easy to talk around and to him.

They continued to speak back and forth until they reached a large ornate pair of doors, where the commanding officer awaited the lagging duo.

"Merc! You and Operative...Nightshade will be assigned to guard duty here. The person inside is of great importance and if I get wind of you slacking, your hides will be my rug for the next decade. Are we clear?" The man hissed like loose lightning. Blake caught how the young mercenary to her right straightened slightly, then slowly relax, as if he had misjudged the danger that the officer in front of them possessed.

She couldn't quite tell considering the fact that she was panicking on the inside since her plans were currently being by the current security forces employed by the SDC. Now she was stuck on guard duty with a mercenary. Excellent.

The mercenary she had talked to turned to his companions, and despite the helmet covering his face, Blake could see that the young man wished to stay with his companions.

"Don't worry Arc. We'll stay in touch.", the lead mercenary said, who was most likely the leader of the trio, holding up a scroll to indicate they would communicate over the piece of equipment. The shorter mercenary merely placed a small hand on his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze before she went over to stand by the leader mercenary.

The younger sell sword nodded hesitantly, before he turned to her. Despite not knowing the young man for even an hour, she gave him a nod of assurance and encouragement. He hadn't annoyed her so far, so she would be a least civil with him.

"Get inside and get acquainted with your host and the person you will be protecting. A garrison will be sent down momentarily to aid you in your objective.", the officer said before he and his squad left the hallway, followed by the two other hired officers.

Blake entered the room first and found that it was quite nice. It was comfortably furnished and there was even a large table full of delicious looking food that got a slow grumble out of her stomach. Dry rations had taken a toll on her, and any chance she had to get real food into her stomach she would happily take it. The mercenary wasn't faring any better than her in hiding his hunger. He was eyeing the table with barely contained greed and Blake would bet that his mouth was watering judging by the way his body had slouched in response to the lunch spread on the table.

The twin doors closed behind them, leaving them in the empty room, the official or officer or person of major importance not yet seen or perhaps having stepped out of the room.

The room itself was nicely furnished, with oriental, soft rugs and carpeting draped over the floor. Couches and cushioned chairs were positioned throughout the large room. Doors arranged further down the lounge room obviously lead to other rooms, most likely of the same degree of comfort and cost.

Blake herself had never seen such an expensive room. There was even a large scroll screen that was taller than her. Whatever VIP was in here was obviously very important to either the Atlas military or the SDC, or perhaps even both. Who ever it was would be an excellent hostage and bargaining chip. The only thing stopping her right now would be the mercenary who was she was assigned to.

She turned to face him, only to find his hands on his helmet. There was was a hiss has the clasps the kept the helmet airtight during operations in hostile environments where the air was unhealthy for normal human beings, were released and the decorated, white helmet was lifted from his head.

Blonde hair, messy yet complimenting to him, and distractingly vibrant blue eyes met her. Blake actually had to blink underneath her visor to get a better look at his strikingly brilliant eyes. They were life fire, with how much life and color was held within the irises. There was something within those portals to the soul, something unseen and watching.

He was young, she expected for him to actually be around her age, and there was no long scars that marred his face like shad had previously expected. But there was a certain..aura that hung around him. He was young, but there was a reason he was currently a mercenary being hired by the SDC

She could respect that.

It came to her surprise however, that the mercenary was making his way to the lunch spread on the table and was actually about to take a generous helping for himself. Did this sellsword have no belief in the protocols and highly attuned standards that the SDC and Atlas military had for its soldiers and guards under their banner?

It came to a realization to her that she also was not part of the Atlas military and her stomach grumbled with hunger at the sight of her fellow guard spooning a helping of smoked fish onto a prime piece of rye toast. A smearing of cottage cheese was added on top, and to her great surprise, she found that a loud grumbling of a stomach reached both her ears, even the ones currently smooshed underneath her helmet. The mercenary was very hungry.

He looked ready to bite into the nicely made fish snack, when his sapphire eyes found her looking intently at the sandwich. He blinked and moved the open sandwich away from his mouth, while unconciously her eyes followed it. This routine continued on for several seconds, with the young employee of the SDC moving his plate of food in all directions, while Blake's feline eyes followed it. The rather abruptly he shoved it into her direction.

She looked up from the plate of delicious food into the eyes of the mercenary, and she couldn't stop herself but be charmed by the smile in his face.

"My names Jaune. You want some Ms. Nightshade?", he negotiated with her. His eyes boaring through her visor into her own amber ones. The tone of his voice was quite apparent that he knew that her name was not her true identity,

So, he had seen through her fake name. It was time for the her to fall back on the White Fang's contingency plan if her fake name was ever discovered.

"I can't tell you my actual name. I'm an operative. It's protocol." She reasoned with him. He seemed taken back and his face quickly morphed through many emotions, as if he was currently arguing with someone and losing. It took several second but finally the newly named Jaune relented.

"Well I guess that's all I can do.", Jaune said defeatedly before he surrendered the plate of fishy goodness to her. She greedily took the plate for herself, forgoing her helmet(while forgetting that she did not have her usual bow to cover her ears), and quickly devoured the delicious morsel. The soft, slightly sweet flesh of the salmon clashed beautifully with the savory, crunchy slid of bread, and the cottage cheese added a delicious element to it.

After a few moments of her greedy munching it suddenly dawned on her that she had just revealed her faunus heritage to an employee of the SDC. She slowly turned her attention back to Jaune and found that he was staring at her with wide eyes, the vibrant color of his irises fully showing themselves. What a sight it must have been, a scared White Fang agent with bread crumbs and small pieces of salmon on her face and her cat ears twitching nervously.

She couldn't imagine what was going inside his head.

X.

'Why does she have an extra pair of ears?' Sauron asked in bewilderment at seeing such a bizzare set of foreign and unfamiliar features atop the mysterious girl's hair.

'She's a faunus!' Jaune mentally answered in awe at the rare sight. He had seen very little of the Faunus kind back in Canvas. Faunus in general were far more common on Atlas, Vacuo and their small island of Menagerie. They were even rarer in the countryside of Vale as most of them stayed in the relatively safer havens of the major cities.

'A faunus?'

'Yeah. They're a subclass of humanity that has animal characteristics.' Jaune answered the Maiar.

'Have humans been procreating with animals for the centuries I have been absent from your history? I know that the old gods favored the elves and dwarves but for man to have devolved so far? That is quite disappointing.' Sauron commented, obviously disgusted by the extra pair of limbs that the cat girl was sprouting.

'No we didn't procreate with animals. They just sort of...appeared.' Jaune defended the cat girl from a foe she had no idea existed.

'Things do not just 'appear', there is a reason for them existing.'

'Well we don't know how they came to be, so don't judge them on something you don't know.'

'I can judge whatever I please and I can especially belittle some creatures that have decided to destroy the image that Allfather Iluvatar gave to your kind. They are an abomination of your gift from your creator.

'Whatever, I'm not getting into a conversation about this with you of all people.

'You wish not to discuss this conversation because you know that you will lose it. No matter, hurry and converse with this abomination. I will entertain myself in other means.' Sauron angrily said. 'And do hasten your attempts at getting another morsel. We need more calories.'

Jaune only internally sighed as he turned his attention back to Operative 'Nightshade'. Honestly either the Atlas military or SDC really needed to come up with better names for their agents and operatives. Black Nightshade was just bad.

Jaune had found something fishy about it, while Sauron had guessed that it was a fake name from the moment they heard it. But he wasn't going to pry into her real name when it was part of her status as an operative. Making himself an enemy of the SDC would not be good.

'Indeed. Making a massive military power when you are one entity is not conducive for survival. You must bide your time and gather forces. It will take time and resources.'

'We only have me, you, some armor and a sword. How do I get an army with that.' Jaune asked bewildered. Just a week before they literally had nothing in their possession.

'You would be surprised what happens when you are thrown into a situation and forced to survive. When I was gathering the remnants of Morgoth's forces I was forced to survive in a hostile world without angering the Gods favored children and the Dwarves. I will tell you from experience that having organic minions at a volcanic fortress is not very productive. They burn too easily. It took hundreds of years and thousands of minions in order to divert lava flows and create a habitable area where I could grow a large enough force to conquer the known world.

'But even then, you lost.' Jaune pointed out.

'Indeed.' Sauron angrily muttered. 'Fate has been my enemy for a very long time.'

Jaune hummed in agreement has he turned his attention back to the cat faunus, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression.

"You aren't disgusted by me?" She asked in trepidation and slight awe. Jaune only snorted.

"Well I don't mind you at all." Sauron growled at Jaune to show what would happen if he continued down this path of speech." I think all faunus are pretty cool." He answered truthfully. In all honesty, when Jaune was younger he had always wanted a tail of sorts. Claws would work too. Back then Jaune was a very imaginative child.

"I see. You're not like most humans I know." The young faunus answered.

"Well that's disappointing. I don't know why people don't like you.", Jaune answered as he made himself a serving of a smoked salmon and bread. While it wasn't as good as Goldberry's, it did well enough to stave off his hunger.

"You'd be surprised." The operative said with a sad undertone that told him there was so much more to the subject than there seemed to be.

However, anymore of their conversation was interrupted by a shrill voice. Both the cat faunus operative and the young Arc were caught off guard as a short, white haired in an expensive looking dress entered from the other room.

"What is going on here!" She harped like a bird. Her face obviously showed a large amount of annoyance, but that was lost as soon as she laid eyes on Jaune and Nightshade. Instead, a vast amount of confusion had edged this way onto her face. Nightshade gave a quiet squeak before she threw on her helmet to cover her face.

'Perhaps she is disgusted with your inability to properly eat food. You still have a smudge of that smashed cheese on your face.' Sauron intoned as he had manifested himself to deal with the new development.

'Its called cottage cheese.' Jaune defended himself as he wiped said smudge from his face.

'That makes no sense whatsoever. The cheese does not resemble a small wooden house.'

'The word cottage is a double entendre. It's not actually a wooden house. Besides we have a more pressing matters at hand.' Jaune referenced the still silent and bewildered girl that had happened upon them. Sauron turned his proverbial eyes onto the girl and regarded her silently.

'If she poses a threat we will kill her. Simple solution.' Sauron gave his reasoning to the quickly irritated Jaune.

'We've gone over this. You can't just kill people like that.' Jaune protested strongly to his Maiar companion. The ancient god-like be in merely snorted in discontempt before responding.

'She holds no value to you. You just met her. Why must you insist on saving those with little to no value to you?'

Jaune only snorted. Sauron already knew his reasons.

'Your morals again! I thought we discussed how much a liability that is to you. To us! It's is going to get you, and by extension me, killed!'

'Whatever. I'm not talking about this now. What do I do?' Jaune snarked to his mental companion. Sauron growled at his feä partner's naivety and belligerence, but complied to deal with the situation at hand.

'You are her escort and guard. State your profession and your reason for being in your quarters.'

"Uh hello! I'm your assigned mercenary guard, Jaune Arc." Jaune said with smile and ignoring how he sounded like a complete buffoon. Following his faunus companion's quick action, he too donned his helmet. It was probably a sign of respect in the Atlas military. The important official of the SDC or of Atlas just looked at him incredulously before turning towards Nightshade.

"Operative Nightshade why haven't you arrested this buffon yet?" The white haired girl asked accusingly. The operative was silent for a moment, her head turning towards Jaune and back to the girl.

"Uh I can't Miss Schnee. He is assigned to you as a body guard. The lieutenant said so.", Nightshade said from beneath her helmet. The girl gained a scandalized look before she returned her gaze back to Jaune. She looked him up and down, probably appraising him, and judging by how beat up and unclean his armor was, it most definitely left a bad impression.

'I told you to clean up the damage from that pyromancer. White metal is stained easily and must constantly be cleaned in order to look pristine. Now you look like a ignorant fool who doesn't know how to care for his own personal equipment.' Sauron commented with a happy tone, pleased to see that Jaune would suffer from not following the far superior being that was the Dark Lord.

Jaune groaned as he had basically squandered his first impression with a very cute girl. All because he had wanted to rest after their weary journey. But to be quite honest there was no way he had any chance with her.

'Ah! Truly the toiling and courting rituals of you mortals is quite an entertaining sight. Though I do believe the love between an elf princess and a great king of old was what helped defeat me.' Sauron recalled with a bitter undertone. 'But none the less it is quite entertaining to see how your mortals do to try and pass on your legacy.

'Just please be quiet.' Jaune asked in exasperation as he refocused on the girl, who had been conversing with the operative.

"You are undoubtedly sure that this man is not a vagabond, but in fact a mercenary hired by my father in order to acquisition some extra man-power?" The white haired Schnee asked his fellow guard. It was at this point that Jaune realized that he was in the presence of his employer's daughter. The very heiress or potential owner of the largest and most powerful dust company in the world.

'Ahhh how destiny works. If you do something stupid, she had the power to get you executed for inefficient work.'

'They don't execute employees of companies.'

'You mortals have always been soft. When my orcs did not reach my standards, or perhaps failed an objective, I had no qualms of ending their miserable lives. Better for business as they say.'

'Taking your quotes from movies we watch doesn't make you seem more with the times.' Jaune mumbled.

"Yes Miss Schne-" the operative responded before she was cut off.

"And enough of that Miss Schnee nonsense! I am nothing to this company yet, so you may call me Weiss.", the girl said curtly, cutting of the operative.

"Yes, Weiss. The lieutenant posted him as your guard and has taken the two other mercenaries to be put in charge of other parts of the Blizzard ma'am." Night shaded answered with practiced ease as she retold the event of their arrival on the massive battle ship.

The girl gave a noble snort before she refocused on Jaune, who had chosen to remain silent. Her eyes scrutinized every aspect of his appearance once again.

Several long moments passed in silence.

"He doesn't look like much. Doesn't even know how to properly clean his armor.", the heiress quipped with the silent operative, who in Sauron's loud mental opinion, didn't probably know how to respond to it.

"The decorations also need a lot of work."

Now Sauron's verbilzarion was much louder, so much so that Jaune feared that outside his head, they could hear the sound of Sauron's anger.

'This harlot dares mock the very symbol of the Dark Lord!' Sauron seethed. 'I already receive enough disrespect from my idiotic host and vessel. I shall not receive it from some mortal girl who shares the appearance of fallen snow!"

In all honesty, Sauron's jab at the girl made no sense to him, but she did look like snow to him. A snow angel if he was being truthful. But, she had just insulted his family's insignia and he really did not feel like dealing with a migraine at the moment. The Dark Lord's anger could be devastating on the mind.

"Alright! Lay off. That symbol means a lot to me." Jaune a girl said, both to appease the headache that Sauron was creating in his head and to also defend his family's insignia.

Weiss, taken back from the sudden anger from her guard, backed off for a moment before she returned with a vengeance.

"And what is so special about this symbol. What worth is it to you?" His charge said with an icy glare directed at him. Perhaps her beauty had distracted him from how bratty the girl was being.

"Its my family's coat of arms.", he retorted back quickly. The Arcs may not have been as famous as the Schnees, but they still deserved respect for what they did and sacrificed.

"What would your family think seeing you know?" The girl's barb-like question may have had more affect if Jaune had a very bitter relationship with his family, but he loved them dearly. What made him choke up, however, was the sudden wave of longing and nostalgia. Worry and anxiety ate away at him as thoughts and fears of his family came to mind.

However, anger for the impudent girl's question overcame his sadness. How dare she bring up his family like that! She knew nothing and he had done nothing to draw this girl ire.

"I wouldn't know." Jaune angrily growled, before brushing past Weiss to stand by the door. His eyes didn't catch the flabbergasted and quickly paling face of the heiress, but Sauron's near surround consuming vision took great joy from her reaction.

He passed by Nightshade who's helmeted head followed his movement for a brief moment before snapping away.

'There's that backbone that I've been looking for. Perhaps it was buried under all your damned morals.' Sauron said in his head, unheeding and uncaring of Jaune's anger. He was enjoying this far too much.

"Wait!" The shrill voice of their charge called out from behind them. Jaune turned around, ready to be berated more by the insensitive brat. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of the white haired heiress bowing down to him, her form hiding her face.

"What?" He asked, far harsher then he intended for it to be. The girl stayed silent and still for a moment, before she stood straight up once again and looked him.

"I spoke out of turn there. I apologize for my previous comment. My behavior was unacceptable. Forgive me.", she said with a practiced tone. She said her line with such a monotone voice, that Jaune swore that she had been forced to practice that Smaug elite for many years.

He found that she was looking at him expectingly, waiting for his approval of her apology. Sauron, of course, wanted June to reject her apology. With some few harsh words.

Jaune, however, would always be weak to the charms of a pretty girl.

"It's fine. You didn't know.", he accepted her incredibly formal apology.

"Even so, my actions did not properly represent the SDC. For ruining the image of our company to you, I apologize profusely.", Weiss continued to push on. Jaune nodded slowly and the heiress finally relaxed in her apology.

"I didn't know that the symbol on your armor meant so much to you. If I did, I wouldn't have made that comment about your fam-" She was cut off by the loud hum of powerful dust engines coming to life. It cast a low rumble throughout the ship, and the dull drone of numerous auxiliary engines and thrusters coming to life permeated the air.

"Attention all passengers and personnel we are taking off now. Please refrain from any extreme movements as we take off. Shortly after take off, personnel will be assigned their missions. Captain Arcturus out." The ship continued a low rumble before with soft jolt, it levitated off the ground.

'Interesting. Quite a marvel indeed that you mortals have devised. Had this been the first time I've heard of a flying vessel, you would have earned a portion of respect from me.' Sauron idly commented, but his jab at humanity's inferiority was ignored as Jaune was concentrating on something far more important.

There was a pressure on his stomach, and Jaune had to brace himself against a wall as his vision began to sway as the ship moved. His plight, however, was not ignored by the two other occupants of the room. Sauron also didn't ignore how he too was feeling quite uncomfortable in Jaune's state.

"Mr. Arc are you well?"

'Indeed, what is this feeling? It is quite an unpleasant sensation.' Jaune, ignored both his charge's and Sauron's question as he performed acts fueled by pure instinct.

"Where's the restroom?" He asked quickly and with a manic tone to it. Taken back by his sudden change of demeanor, Weiss merely pointed to a side door on the right side of the luxurious common room.

Jaune felt himself stumble but he quickly ran to the door, pried it open. It revealed an insanely high tech and furnished restroom, but Jaime paid no heed to it as he rushed to the toilet and threw up his breakfast.

'Oh dear Allfather! What punishment is this!' Sauron roared in disgust, pain, and disbelief as he was subjected to the wrath of Jaune's motion sickness.

X.

Weiss Schnee was a young woman with very high standards. As expected of someone of her family and her position in the company. She was expected to be the best and she wanted the best.

So she found it rather perplexing why her hired body guard was currently groaning in pain on her couch and why her other guard was gently rubbing his back in order to alleviate the pain.

Or why she was ordering some pills for motion sickness from the Blizzard's stockpile of medical supplies and medicines. Perhaps it was because she found a kindred soul in one who had also lost a family member like her.

No, she blamed it on how utterly miserable he looked. His expression was like of that he was being scolded immensely and he had failed to explain himself. She didn't know who had done the scolding; both she and her other guard had helped support him to the couch and had helped him remove his heavy armor and lay him on the couch.

"Some bodyguard you are.", Weiss joked to the young man on her couch. She had made sure to leave his weapons near him, which included his Atlas standard Enforcer mace and a heavy longsword that had taken both her and her other guard to lift and place it by the couch.

"I can't help it. Motion sickness is a real problem." Jaune weakly protested as he gave a weak groan as the Blizzard's powerful engines propelled them over the Valean sea. Weiss idly checked her scroll and saw that the entire escort fleet was surrounding the kilometer long battleship. Two heavy Castle-class crusiers, which were just a few dozen meters shorter than the Blizzard, and an assortment of frigates and corvettes. Not to mention that each ship within the flotilla carried at least four squadrons of Flurry-class fighters.

Such was the military prowess of the Atlas military, and by extension, the power of the SDC. Now, of only they could hire more professional and non motion sick mercenaries.

"How long am I supposed to do this?" Operative Nightshade asked as she continued to run Jaune's back. As expected of an Atlas and SDC operative, she had obeyed the orders of a superior, and she did have the gumption to question why she was currently rubbing her fellow guard's back.

"The voyage to the city fo Citadel will take at least a day. Hopefully room service gets here in time with this dolts medicine.", Weiss informed her guard as well as berate her troublesome one. Her induction of knowledge was met with groans from both her guards. Such a professional and respectable bunch.

"What does one do to entertain themselves for such a long period of time?" Nightshade asked as she finally got up from giving Jaune a back rub. Weiss raised an elegant eyebrow at the notion.

"What do you think? We have the scroll screen for a reason." The heiress said, observing how the operative seemed taken back.

"You don't train or do business with the SDC?" Weiss looked at her incredously and as if she had grown a second head. Was that what the personnel think the Schnees always did? Granted they were a very busy and active family, but they did enjoy breaks and vacations as much as the next person.

"There's no training room on the Blizzard and we have an army of lawyers, advisors, and financial advisors to deal with the mundane purposes of the SDC.", she informed the ignorant employee. She would have to notify the rest of the personnel of the way that Schnees enjoyed themselves.

"Here. Let's see what we can watch." Weiss said as she picked up the Scroll's control and began flipping tlhrough several channels and the various movies that the Scroll boasted. It even came with a few expensive and new scroll games, most likely intended for Whitley.

"Ohh that's neat looking." Jaune voiced out from his laying form on the couch. The heiress stopped her selection browsing and found that the choice of media that they had stopped on was a four hour long documentary covering the Atlas military and how t came to power.

"I agree. That would be a wonderful choice." Nightshade eagerly said, raptly paying attention to the screen as she had made herself comfortable on floor while leaning against the couch that Jaune lay defeated on.

"Uh! You want to watch a four hour long documentary about the Atlas military!" Weiss asked on disbelief. Didn't they want to watch something a bit more...entertaining? No one else her age had wanted to do something so menial and mundane but here were two young guards eagerly awaiting her to play the documentary.

It was almost as bad as movie night with Winter!

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.

'Alright it wasn't as bad as that.' Weiss thought and conceded as she sat herself elegantly down on a free couch.

X.

'So these Atlaseans have become one of the strongest military powers of their time and they squander it in their winter island? Disgusting.' Sauron voiced as they continued to watch the Atlas documentary of their military. When their charge had given them the option of choosing. 'They should launch their full might against their neighbors and conquer their land and with the full might of your mortal nations, launch an attack against this 'Grimm' that your kind fears.

'They tried that before. It didn't work. The leaders bickered and after only a few days the Alliance of Remnant fell apart. That was hundreds of years ago though.', Jaune informed the ancient Maiar. The Dark Lord only laughed with mirth.

'Of course you fools would foil your greatest chance of victory! How you mortals have lasted this long is beyond my comprehension.'

'It was just the wrong time and with the wrong people. All they wanted was power.

'And you don't think that mortals don't want power now? All mortals desire power. Wether it's for greed, vengeance, or for your 'morals.' Everyone wants power.'

Jaune remained silent as Sauron once again claimed another verbal victory over him. Instead, he pointed his attention back to the scroll screen while ignoring as a slight rattle moved through the ship, making his stomach rumble with protest. It was disturbing enough to the both of them, for Sauron to start complaining once again.

'What is the exact ailment that curses our stomach? It caused us to lose valuable food and nutrients, and has forced us to lie down on this couch. Utterly defenseless I may add.'

'I told you before that I have motion sickness!'

'And I vividly remember telling you that getting a disease from simply moving is not an actual ailment and I demand for you to tell me the truth on this matter.'

'Its the truth! I'm not good on moving animals or vehicles!'

'Then you are stating that for the rest of the duration of this journey on this flying ship, we will have to endure this volatile sickness of yours?'

'Weiss said that she would call up one of her maids and bring us some medicine. She said that they have all sorts of medications and remedies stocked up in the Blizzard's med bay.'

'Oh and you're telling me that your willing to ingest foreign and strange materials and herbs? That's fool hardy and not conducive for out survival what so ever.'

'Its modern medicine! We aren't primal beings who live in trees! It saves life!'

'That's what they said when they had eleven magic and herbs. I would rather trust the favored children of the gods rather then some unknown concoction devised by you mortals who find it desirable to fornicate with animals!'

'That argument has nothing to do with the current situation!'

However, their mental tirade was cut short as a well dressed man entered the room. He had a professional, white suit on and was accented by black pants, and a large silver tray that he balanced perfectly on one hand.

"Madame". He replied with a monotone voice before he placed the tray on a table before departing the room fluently. On the tray was a singular pill on a fancy plate that was far too much for such a mundane role.

Weiss picked it up and merely presented it to him, as if it hadn't been brought in on a incredibly expensive platter. She held it out expectingly as Jaune merely returned the look.

"Well?" The heiress asked with an expectant look, which translated that she expected for him to take it from her. Respectfully of course.

Carefully he picked up the pill in his gauntlet, making sure to brutishly grab it from her hand. Jaune peered at with interest. It was an average sized pill, colored white with a pink stripe circling width wise.

'See? No indications of poison. No indication of danger. Which makes it the most dangerous of all. You have no idea what that small pellet of chemicals and ingredients holds. It could kill us swiftly.' Sauron's warned, desperately attempting to advise his vessel to adhere to his warnings.

'It's modern medicine. It's supposed to help us.' Jaune confidently replied as he swallowed the pill in one gulp, ignoring the sharp gasp of disbelief and fear that the paranoid Darklord let out. He followed the heiress back to the couch, a victim to the another storm of anger that Sauron unleashed onto him.

'No poison see? Completely safe and sound.' Jaune reassured him.

'Oh really?' His mental companion drawled. 'Then why are you stumbling?'

'Paardon?' The now unbalanced Arc, mentally slurred.

'Even your mental thoughts are slowing down. What a strong unknown drug that you've ingested for us. So strong that you've failed to notice that you're falling forwards.' Sauron said with his mental voice dripping with powerful sarcasm as they fell forwards unto the unsuspecting heiress, and their voices were silently shut down by the medicine.

Weiss would not admit that she let out a very unlady-like screech as she felt the heavy weight of her own body guard falling against her back. She was the heiress of the SDC, she had a reputation to uphold.

Blake would not admit that she let out a hiss of fear as both a Schnee heiress and her fellow 'body guard' fell on top of her as she lay on the luxurious couch.

Now both were laid out on the couch, underneath the heavier form of the unconscious Jaune, who had the gall of snoring lightly. An awkward silence passed over them as they laid there, squished under him. He was much heavier then he looked, with his male physique, armor, and weaponry. With a mighty heave, both of the girls pushed off the sleeping body guard and winced as his body unceremoniously crashed into the ground.

The duo looked at each other and silently agreed that the young man was incredibly and utterly a dolt. Through and through. In silent agreement, Weiss heaved him up with his arms while Blake moved to his legs and they both once again, unceremoniously threw his body onto the couch where he once again would lay. They also ignored the crash as Jaune probably fell upon his weapons in a heap.

X.

"Current diagnostics on all systems and decks have reported they are green and running at peak efficiency. All ships are in spearhead formation. Everything is peaceful and there are no signs of aquatic or aerial Grimm." Jacques' first officer reported as the head of the SDC acquired of the status of the Blizzard and its escort fleet. His time as a general in the Atlas military had rubbed off into his conduct as a business owner.

"Have we recieved any return messages from air bases in Atlas?" He asked his communications officer, who sat at an adjacent chair and desk. The young ifficer turned to him and shook his head as an answer.

"No sir. And by the looks of it, they aren't recieving ours." Jacques turned his head in thought as the news did not bode well with him. Even if one airbase did not get their message, and they didn't get a message from one, that didn't mean all of them would ignore their presence or calls. Something was wrong.

"Is it a connection error?" He asked. It would put all his worries to rest if it was just because of the heavy clouds and the weather that was famous on the eastern side of the world.

"No sir. Its almost like they are getting our calls, but refusing them. Were not being blocked by them either. They just won't respond." Fear dawned inside of Jacques' heart and realization and paranoia intertwined together.

"Bring up all comms with the rest of the fleet! I want a situation report from each of them!" The head Schnee commanded as experience and instincts were driven to overdrive. The entire bridge crew had to cover the left side of their face as a orange glow was born out of the shattering remains of an Atlesian frigate. It had been absolutely torn apart by a volley of cannon fire.

Hulking shapes emerged from the clouds, decrepit ships from Vale's past military fleet emerged, however these ships bore the symbol and coloring of his family's nemesis. The White Fang.

The main guns of the opposing fleet fired upon his security ships with malice and anger. Jacques had to brace himself as the Blizzard rattled with the force of a dozens of explosions tore against its advanced shielding.

"Return fire! All port side weapons open fire! Bring the rest of the fleet to engage them! I want all personnel prepared to evacuate or to repel boarders!" The Schnee barked out orders, his past days as a Hunter and military officer coming back to the forefront. His crew hurried around, desperate to follow his orders to the best of their abilities. Already blue bolts of Atlas cannon fire soared from his ship and the rest of the fleet, clashing with the orange blasts of the White Fang. Unfortunately, even through the haze of explosions and of capital ships flying past, he could see dozens of dropships soar in the Blizzard's direction.

And just when we he thought this would be relaxing.

X.

Sauron snarled in frustration as he felt horrendous explosions rack Jaune's body. With what little control he had over the boy's body, only being able to open his eyes for a few scant seconds before he lost concentration. From what he could see, the two harlots had already been ushered out by scared guards, while they had locked and secured Jaune's uncocnious form in Weiss's chambers.

'This is a new type of hell! I refuse for this to be the end of us! You hear me you mockery of Valar! Whatever curse you have sent to befall me is weak! You are nothing comapred to me you mistakes! I am Sauron and you will know why I am the Dark Lord!'

The ancient Maiar's anger cackled with physical energy and with hopeful surprise he found that his own fea was taking over Jaune's unresposive one. The familiar, but forgetten darkness brough a malicious, imaginary grin to his face.

'Oh. This will do nicely.' He practically purred.

X.

Private Alex felt his breath hitch, and his wolf ears twitch as he and the rest of his strike team walked down the dark corridor. The only light that they were provided were the flashlights that were attached to their weapons and their own faunus vision. The Schnee's bastard ship shook under the fire of their attack fleet, and they had been able to destroy a portion of the giant ship's power, casting certain portions into darkness.

Their team's objective had been to regroup with Operative Blake and secure the Schnee spawn. However, they hadn't been able to contact her or meet up with her. She had probably been dragged away, along with the rest of the Schnee's security team. Even better.

It just meant more SDC personel to kill.

Their captain suddenly stopped, the lion faunus' bulky figure blocking up half of the hall way. He raised his left hand up, with his fist closed, a sign for the rest of the ten man squad to stop.

"Quiet. Do you hear that?" He asked with trepidation. The rest of the team stilled and quieted, but there weapons still remained raised, fanning all over place to keep them secure.

His ears picked it up though. It was a shrill noice, as if metal was being bent or grinded against another metallic object. Worse of all, it was getting louder.

Flashlights and night vision began to dim, as the ruckus grew louder and louder. It was if it was trying to break through the walls, and it was effective at spuring the rest of the them into defensive positions.

He could feel it physically grow colder and the shredding and destruction of whatever grew deafening. His hairs were literally standing up, and his wolf instincts were howling at him to leave. The rest of the strike team were fidgety, even their experienced captain, who's tail swished frantically as he trained his rifle to the end of the hallway.

And that noise! That horrid noice!

It was getting louder.

Closer.

It was upon them.

A door was thrown against the far end of the hall way and all hell broke loose.

Bullets soared through the air, and the sounds of guns firing deafened all as they emptied entire magazines into whatever was at the end of the hallway. The screams, roars, and shouts of fear and anger joined the cacophony, and for a couple of seconds it was just pure bliss to unleash all their tension.

However, pure bliss can only be followed by a sinking feeling.

When they had all had empited their magazines, it revealed that the walls were covered in bullet holes but no body was revealed or anything suggesting that there had been anything there.

Just darkness and a broken door. Only, it seemed to to get darker.

"What the fuck?" Their captain elouquently put it. Flashlight beams hit something and did not pass through, and their eyesight could not see through the dark. Something was there though. Black and getting closer.

Two firey eyes snapped open, and the shadows around them wreathed.

Their huge captain, a stalwart believer to the cause and a veteran, screamed in terror as he was lifted off from the ground by a dark claw and was subsquently crushed by the dark. His blood covered every where. It outlined the moving shadows on the wall, and the human like hand that had just left him a bloody pulp.

All the while, all they could do was stare back at the firey eyes. Trapped by its gaze.

Someone crashed against the wall, the sounds of their bones breaking eclipsing that of the wall denting. Another person's head was cleanly taken off by a huge mace. Quick and terryfing.

His fellow privates were crushed under the weight of the shadow, not even screaming. There was a sudden gaping hole in someone's chest as they slumped against moving shadows.

It continued on. Silent, quick, and brutal. No one moved unless the shadow moved them and they would no longer move again. It went on until for sure, Alex knew he was the last one left. Forever lost in those firey irises.

As he blinked, they appeared right before him. Brighter and far more like fire. The broken stars morphed and within those baking flames, as blindness began to take over the edges of his eyes, a figures shrouded in fire and shadow spoke to him.

It was a whisper that was as loud a silence, and with a voice that spoke with the groan of age old darkness.

'Old gods dream no more.'

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X...

Its been a while. Sorry about that. Its been a trip. Ive been exploring new ideas and reformulating my plot to fit with the canon of the series. It what I owe this to any way.

But I think you guys desrve a better reasons then that.

Life. Simple enough. All I have to say for that.

Writing and plotting techniques needed to be revised. I cant churn out monstrous chapters and then go back and rewrite signifcant plot points. So I've settled for smaller chapters here.

New ideas.

The bane of my existence. I always want to improve my stories with new thiughts and beliefs. New powers and wants. It can derail entire canons with what you do with them.

In fact as I wrote this, I've been writing two other dabbles.

Jaune as an ancient weapon designed to kill gods.

Jaune combating otherwordly beings.

Hopefully those two come out soon and wont be tanked by my unproductive self.

I wish you the best of 2019 and I hope to see more of you.

p.s. Please review. ;-)