A/N

Things are picking up in the story! Yay!

Note: Cinder isn't yet a Maiden, but her Dust manipulation is so fine-tuned and extensive that she can almost emulate one.

Also, replying to a reviewer who raised some valid points in post: this version of the White Fang is in the middle of radicalization. Their hatred of humans hasn't yet reached a spike, and Salem is working with them in an attempt to bring them under her control, which is why there has been some involvement thus far.

They aren't yet in a "kill all humans" mode-- only the "bad" ones-- though this obviously will change.

This willl be elaborated upon in future, but there's a reason the strike force in this chapter is small. The military branch of the White Fang is still in development.

His neighbor for the indefinite future didn't appear to like him.

"Hi! I'm Jaune," he tried, affecting his most cheery tone. Cinder had left, expecting them to "talk to each other" and "bond." Emerald seemed as though she wanted to do neither.

"Nice to meet you." Her expression made it seem anything but.

He held out a hand and she shook it, dipping her head in the most perfunctory show of respect.

Needless to say, this was unnerving. He didn't know what it was, but people his age— girls, especially— seemed to just open up to him. Emerald, meanwhile, maintained a mildly miffed expression.

"Well… I'll see you around, I guess. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions!"

He smiled. Not just any smile, though; this smile had been drilled into him over several etiquette lessons with Cinder. The 'charm' smile had been used against even his teacher to great effect.

To his relief, the girl stared at him for a second, her eyes glazing over and her mouth opening a sliver. A second later, however, she shook herself, blinking rapidly. "I'll keep that in mind… is that all?"

"Sure. See you around, Emerald!"

She didn't return the sentiment as she made her way back down the winding staircase to her room, which was not twenty feet from his own.

Jaune wasn't sure how to feel about this development.

=II=

The next morning, he ate breakfast with his mother in the main hall. Some part of him expected Emerald to arrive as well, but she never did.

"Today's a big day," his mother commented, giving him a brief appraisal. "Are you ready?"

Today was the Schnee Dust Company raid. Cinder and he would leave in an hour's time to join with a White Fang group, forming the main party. The coalition would hit a Dust mine on the outskirts of Atlas, one unlikely to be heavily protected. It was more a gesture than anything, a training exercise.

One in which he wasn't expected to see action, he was acutely aware.

"I'm ready," he promised, hefting his sword and shield by the table. Hazel had only given him the shield a month ago, when he'd deemed Jaune's swordplay "adequate." Thus far, it'd made a significant impact. He doubted underpaid Atlesian guards would make it through Cinder, much less force him to use it.

"I expect good things. I know you won't disappoint me, Jaune," she smiled.

"Of course!"

Through the rest of breakfast, his eyes kept glancing to the double doors, hoping a certain shock of emerald hair might make an appearance. No such luck.

=II=

He asked Cinder where Emerald had been as they boarded the ship.

"Oh, her? She eats at the lower levels," his mentor had said, an odd quirk on her lips. "I wouldn't worry about it. Hmm… speaking of…"

She looked over his shoulder, and he turned. The girl herself was picking her way to the airship, two blades in hand.

"She's coming along?"

"I trust you'll take good care of her, Jaune," Cinder laughed.

=II=

This time around, the ship was a behemoth. It dwarfed the passenger ship they'd taken to the White Fang arena, with several more compartments and a bulky body. This was a ship for war, bulky enough to take hits and large enough to carry fighters.

He and Emerald were shuffled into a passenger compartment surrounded by windows in all directions. It was always fascinating to see the Land of Darkness cross over, bit by bit, into forested areas. Small ferns sprouted at first, then larger plants, and soon, they skimmed above a full rainforest without a hint of the desolation they'd left.

Emerald didn't say a word. Instead, she took to leaning against a windowpane, staring out over the vast expanse. Half an hour passed like that, both of them in quiet introspection.

Jaune tingled. He could feel it in his stomach, a roiling, upsetting unrest. This was his first true mission. Everything prior had been training or controlled, building him up to this moment.

True, he wasn't even supposed to fight. That knowledge didn't curtail the nervousness bubbling within him.

"I don't need you to protect me," Emerald said, breaking his train of thought. He blinked. It was the first thing she'd said in near half an hour.

"Cinder told me to," he replied, projecting his most reassuring smile. "But don't worry! I'm sure it won't come to that. She said we shouldn't even need to fight! The adults will take care of it."

"Hmph." She turned away.

And the radio silence resumed.

Jaune sighed. It'd be a long couple hours.

The door opened, admitting a smiling Cinder. "We'll be landing shortly to retrieve the White Fang operatives before continuing onward."

True to her word, the plane began dipping downward. Hopefully, the company they were retrieving would prove less hostile than Emerald.

=II=

Blake hadn't been sure what to expect when Adam told her she'd be taking part in a White Fang mission. She'd never been on one before, and— truth be told— she wasn't sure she should be.

If Adam hadn't gotten injured in his last bout, he'd probably be in her place. Adam was the better fighter, the better leader.

The lady with the yellow eyes told her to enter the back compartment, whatever that meant. Was this silver door the entrance? Shrugging, she pried it open.

Two people were already sitting inside, a dark-haired boy and a green-haired girl. The boy perked up as she entered.

A dazzlingly handsome face framed by raven-black locks greeted her, replete with a charming smile. Something about him tickled her memory, but she wasn't sure what. She'd have remembered that face if she'd seen it before— of that she was sure.

"— and you?"

He was saying something. Too late, she realized she'd been staring. She could feel her face heating up as she stammered, "I'm sorry— what was that?"

He laughed, his voice like choir bells. "Hi! I'm Jaune. And you are…?"

"B-blake."

He held out a hand, and she shook it firmly.

Maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad after all.

=II=

A cold pit settled into the depths of Emerald's stomach as she watched her rival chatting up the cat faunus.

He was Cinder's first priority. Her benefactor had made as much clear the first day she'd arrived. Emerald, apparently, was the second option, a backup to be discarded or replaced when the need arose.

Her annoyance grew as she watched him turn that megawatt smile on the girl. The little cat faunus had adopted that dazed, unfocused smile. She wasn't sure the girl— Blake, was it?— was even aware there was another person in the room. Even in the few hours she'd been in the castle, she'd seen that look on more than a few of the younger serving girls— and some of the older ones, too.

She didn't understand the appeal.

True, he was pretty— irritatingly so. Strong enough, she supposed, though nowhere near Hazel. Tyrian could probably finish him within five seconds, and she suspected Doctor Watts, the strange, old curmudgeon, had tricks up his sleeves too. Cinder? She'd roast him alive.

Emerald held an image of Jaune being spit-roasted, screaming, longer than she probably should have.

Whatever the case, she'd prove she was the better choice. He could chat up girls all he liked. In that time, she'd be training.

And one day— in the near future, she hoped— she'd take his spot in Cinder's heirarchy.

=II=

"Oh! Whatever happened with that Bull guy? Is he alright?"

"He's fine. He was hurt, but it wasn't anything too bad."

"That's good. He had some real skill! I think I've seen that swordsmanship and style before in old World Championship fighters!"

She smiled. "Yeah, he's really cool. I want to be as strong as him one day."

"I'm sure you will be. What weapon do you use?"

Blake unsheathed a sword as black as night. Jaune gasped as he pored over its lines, which seemed to absorb the light from the room. "Can— can I touch it?"

At her nod, he traced a reverential finger along the blade's spine. It was cool, like a fresh winter's breeze. "It's beautiful…" he whispered.

"Th-thanks…"

When he glanced up, Blake had turned red again. She looked adorable.

"This is your captain speaking," a voice intoned over static. "Prepare yourselves. We'll be landing within ten minutes."

"Here," he smiled, returning the weapon. "I'm a bit of a sword nut. Weird, I know. Don't mind me."

"Not at all. It's not weird! I think it's kinda cool…"

"R-really?"

"If you two are done with your little date," drawled a voice. Blake spluttered as Emerald stood, her weapons at the ready. "We have a mission to prepare for, remember?"

"Hey, why are you so moody?" Jaune shot back, eyes narrowing. "What's your problem?"

"Hmph."

Sighing, he got to his feet. "She does have a point, I guess. Are you ready?"

"Um… yes?" Blake tried, whitening. "Yes."

The tilt of the plane signalled descent. A White Fang operative in full white-and-gray patterned combat gear thrust open the door. "Head out to the main compartment."

They followed him to a holding area with a massive, corrugated wall. Jaune guessed it'd fold out when they landed.

"Trainees will be escorted by Anteater and Crow."

Two uniformed faunus stood at the ready, decked out in full combat gear.

"We'll make this quick," Cinder purred. "Blast them first, ask questions later. We'll catch them off guard in a blitz. I expect minimal bloodshed— on our end, that is. Are we clear?"

A chorus of "Yes, ma'am!" resounded through the hold.

"Good."

The taller of the two operatives turned to address Jaune, Emerald, and Blake, his face hidden behind a blacked-out mask.

"Stay behind me at all times. Is that understood?"

Jaune nodded. He assumed his companions did the same, because the man leaned back, satisfied.

Now came that awkward phase between mission orders and landing. Here was a minute which allowed doubt to fester and spawned butterflies in empty stomachs. Jaune found himself tapping his chair in rhythm, his hands buzzing with untapped energy.

Blake, on the other hand, had taken to clenching the metal so hard Jaune was worried she'd dent it.

The aircraft slowed, and the strike team stood as one. As the bay doors opened, they poured out into the open.

Jaune followed his designated escort as they crossed into a barren area. There wasn't much in the way of vegetation, and even less fauna. It reminded him somewhat of the Land of Darkness, though more dreary and dull. The only sign of life lay ahead, a yellowish hue emanating from a large, circular cave, the sound of metal striking metal echoing from within.

As they approached, he noticed a chain-link fence followed by one topped by barbed wire encircling the premises. A few figures in black fatigues poked out from two stone towers within.

"This is Schnee Dust Corporation property!" a voice hollered, amplified by some sort of microphone. "Trespassing is strictly prohibited. Should your party continue to advance, persuant to Atlas military law, we will open fire."

"Light them up," whispered Cinder.

Aura blazed to life as the White Fang's weaponry carved a black brand across fence metal. The figure at the top of the watchtower collapsed, screaming, and toppled headfirst to the ground below.

An instant later, the piercing wail of an alarm shattered the silence. The strike team increased the pace to sprinting, springing inside the holes they'd created in the fence even as bodies began pouring out from the mine.

"Shit," someone cursed.

Jaune had been told this mission was as close an event as possible to literal training. An out-of-the-way SDC mine on the outskirts of Atlas?

One squadron of day soldiers should've been the extent of the resistance.

The wall of soldiers arrayed before him must have numbered a hundred. Then, a thudding reached his ears like grinding gears.

Something massive and mechanical emerged from within. Its body was an amalgamation of what must have been hundreds of thousands of metal parts, all working on coordination to produce a burgeoning battle suit.

"Some Atlesian nonsense…." muttered Cinder, stepping back into a fighting stance. "I'll take the machine. Wipe the soldiers."

As the strike force fanned out around her, tensing, a voice boomed out from within the tangle of metal.

"It would seem our mole was correct!"

A scarred man climbed up from within, baring a set of yellowed teeth. His suit was tailored in white clothing, with military stars lining the lapel. He bore the mark of an Atlesian Lieutenant, with the insignia on his cap to boot.

"It's your unlucky day, terrorists. A little birdie told us the White Fang were bringing an elite strike force along with their most promising young blood," he purred, his voice amplified across the distance. "What a perfect chance to kill two birds with one stone, hmm? We'll christen the debut of this prototype Paladin with your blood! But before that… mole, if you would?"

A series of clicks rang out from behind Jaune's back, followed by a startled cry. Then, a body dropped to Jaune's left.

He leapt back, blade leaping to his hand. At first, there appeared no visible injury, but closer inspection revealed a faking hole through the back of his helmet. Anteater— one of the two guards he'd been assigned. Gun wounds had cut through his aura from the back, depleting him through one of his weakest points and ending him in mere moments.

Which meant…

His blood chilled as another two White Fang uniforms dropped with startled cries, clutching themselves in pain. Cinder turned, eyes aflame with fury, but Jaune finished the job first.

Crow's hand, gun and all, lay severed on the ground. To Jaune's surprise, no aura shielded the limb, allowing his sword to cleave cleanly through.

Another thrust pierced through the man's chest. He smiled as he died, his lips twisted in sadistic glee.

"Aw… that's too bad. Not to worry, my faunus friend."

Gears ground as the mechanical beast folded over him, whirring and revving. Rows of gun barrels shot out from its joints, each bearing the low orange tinge of Dust.

"I'll finish them off for you."

Not good.

How many members of the strike force remained? Twenty, maybe? He, Emerald, and Blake huddled into a circular formation, ready to defend themselves as soldiers fanned out around them.

The only person who appeared calm was Cinder. She stood in a near lackadaisical stance, hand on her hips. Only now did he realize she wore her usual outfit— a dark red dress which hugged her curves, leading up to a plunging neckline.

To his surprise, the Atlesian Lieutenant tensed at the sight of her. "I want Squadrons 1 and 2, to me! Lock on the woman!"

"Oh?" Cinder crooned, arching an eyebrow. "So you've heard of me."

"No," barked the man, all playful pretense abandoned. "But anybody insane enough to wear that to a gunfight…"

"Good call."

Two reams of white-hot flame burst into her hands following flashes of flame Dust.

"A pity it won't make a difference."

The machine leaned back, undoubtedly charging some massive blow.

Jaune blinked. He'd been mistaken. It wasn't preparing to attack.

No, something had struck it so hard and so fast it'd tilted almost completely to its side.

A red glow emanated from the metal in front, which gushed off of the machine like liquid.

"Argh!" The Lieutenant returned to his feet with dexterity Jaune didn't think the machine was capable of. "Shoot, you fools! Shoot!"

If only there was something to aim at.

Cinder flowed not like a river but an avalanche. When confronted with an assault of that caliber, no person would lock onto an individual patch of falling snow and think to fight back.

No; when faced with an avalanche, run.

Cinder tore through the men, burying them in their own molten bones. She became a dragon of white and red, tearing a crimson swathe and swallowing her victims hole. Even Jaune, aided by a Time-slowing Semblance and keen eyes, only tracked the trail of flaming devastation she left behind her.

Only by inducing heavy time dilation could he perceive her as though at normal speeds.

She dealt her damage in a variety of ways— punches, kicks, elbows, all delivered in a fluid symphony of movement. A spinning backfist caught an Atlesian soldier in the face, shattering his skull, while that same momentum carried into a wheel kick which damn near decapitated another. As two other soldiers of the remaining few who hadn't yet fled tried to intercept her, she waved a hand, and a wall of white-hot flame caught them mid-swing. When it subsided, they'd been charred to bones.

Her companions were holding their own, though mostly because she'd caused such a massive distraction. They mowed down opposition on either side while she cleaved a straight line through the middle of the pack, heading directly for the man in the machine suit.

Several hundred tons of metal pivoted.

The Lieutenant had elected to flee. He didn't get far.

A flash of red uprooted a metal leg at the joint, collapsing the metal into a molten puddle. Flashes of fire and ash hugged the body, moving in a dash up to the cockpit and dissolving its frame all the while.

Cinder stopped for a moment with both feet planted atop the cockpit windows, a familiar smirk gracing her face.

Fire exploded out in a halo of blinding white. It was as though she'd set off a firebomb directly on the chest of the Lieutenant.

Jaune winced. The man must've died instantly.

A blur of motion in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Several Atlesian soldiers had broken through the ranks of the White Fang squad, and were dashing at top speed toward them.

There was no hatred or anger or rage in their eyes— only desperation.

They wanted to use he, Blake, and Emerald, the future prospects, as human shields, he realized— bargaining chips to ensure they escaped this ordeal alive. There were four in total, each looking more bedraggled than the last.

"I'll take right, you two take left," he called. Blood pumped in raw circuits through his veins. Watching Cinder fight had riled him up, and some fighting spirit within him yearned for battle. Someday, it'd be him crushing giant machines to their knees, wiping out rows of people with the barest of effort.

For now, he'd settle for two semi-trained soldiers.

They ran at him with combat machetes, probably because they wanted to retrieve him alive. Bullets were more volatile and carried the risk of killing their bargaining chip. If Jaune had to pick, he'd take the knives. Swordplay was the more entertaining of the two.

He leapt at the first soldier, who brought up his machete to parry Jaune's strike. The man must've been caught off guard; he must've seen Jaune as an easy target. Whatever the case, the strength behind his parry was so insignificant that Jaune's stroke cleaved a clean line through the blade's path, knocking it from the man's hand.

Eyes widening, he leapt back, pulling a gun from his belt as his fellow soldier tried his luck against Jaune's sword.

Thus far, his shield hadn't seen any use. Other than deflecting a few stray bullets, he hadn't felt the need to deploy it. He was used to either dual-wielding his sword or having a free arm out for balance, so the weight of this new piece of gear felt foreign on his arm.

He'd need to learn to use it, he supposed. And what better practice dummy than with a soldier locked in a life-or-death battle?

Grinning, he deflected the man's slash and shoved his right arm into the man's chest. He struck with his whole body behind the blow and was rewarded with a satisfying crack followed by a shrill scream. The soldier flew back, his sword long forgotten, chest caving in at odd angles.

Dead, already? Sure, the man had no aura— he was probably some lower-level grunt— but one blow?

Jaune took a moment to survey Blake and Emerald. Blake moved with a grace and coordination defying her age, evading strikes and dishing out her own at a steady clip. She seemed to be holding her own.

Emerald also appeared to be carrying her weight, though through a different style entirely.

She was overwhelming a man double her size and triple her age through ferocity and aggression alone.

Her weapons moved in large, scything arcs, allowing her opponent no room to breathe as he staggered back, struggling to avoid her attacks. Her pace increased as she advanced, twirling and spinning in what appeared the most aggressive dance he'd ever seen. Hazel had a saying: You can't fault results. Although unorthodox, her method was successful, and the bloody tears she carved on her opponent's body proved it.

Instinct brought his arm up, his sword held flat in his grip. Just in time— a Dust projectile deflected off of the side, scattering to the ground below.

His first assailant hadn't died. After downing the second, he'd forgotten all about the disheveled man before him, holding up his gun with a trembling hand.

Still alive, annoyingly enough. He'd remedy that.

He leapt in a zigzag, strafing bullets and closing in on his target. The soldier's gun kept firing until the bitter end. Even as Jaune ran him through and tore the blade out, leaving a bloody hole through the man's body, his hands kept squeezing the trigger— to no effect.

The silence of a won battle descended upon them. Up ahead, a few of the remaining White Fang veterans were heading into the mines.

"There are a few hundred captive faunus within," explained Cinder, walking up to him. It was strange watching her saunter leisurely when moments before she'd been barely visible to the naked eye. "We, however, are done here."

She gestured to the sky, where a much larger ship lowered itself slowly to the earth. A cargo ship of some kind, Jaune guessed. Only after the battle would the White Fang bring its long-haul large-scale transport ships. Such a large target would've been shot down by Schnee anti-air defenses within seconds.

"That's our cue. Emerald? Come along, will you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Cinder pursed her lips. "Cinder, dear. I'm not yet so old."

"Yes, ma'— Cinder."

"You're leaving?" a voice whispered. He turned to Blake, who sat shivering on the ground, her face a pale white.

Jaune recognized that expression. He'd wore it himself mere months ago. She bore the brunt of someone unused to killing. So he acted on instinct, wrapping an arm around her little body and hugging her close, much like Cinder had done for him.

To his surprise, she responded by hugging him in return before leaning her head against his chest.

"Don't be too long," Cinder smirked, before tugging Emerald away and up into the ship. The green-haired girl surveyed he and Blake with a glance of mild disgust.

The cat faunus took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She was already taking it much better than he had, braving the maelstrom of emotion with a steely expression.

"That was hard," she finally gasped. "I thought it'd be hard— Adam told me it'd be— but watching— watching him go down like that—and from my sword—"

He didn't know what to say, so he hugged her tighter instead. "I know," he whispered. "I know what it feels like. You'll get through it. We'll make it through together."

Moments passed in comfortable silence.

When Blake pulled away, some color had returned to her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she whispered. " I don't know what got into me."

"No worries," he smiled, standing. "Hey— I have to go, but keep in touch, okay?"

She nodded, though her gaze was distant, lost in a whirlwind of scattered thoughts. Even as the airship pulled away, she kept kneeling, eyes blank, staring at a patch on the ground where she felled a person for the first time.

A/N

Haven't ended may chapters on a sad note, but here we are.

So Blake isn't taciturn Blake yet because she has no reason to be. She isn't the jaded teenager she is at the beginning of RWBY. Here, she's just a little girl. She'll seem OOC because she hasn't become Blake yet.

We might see RWBY Blake make an appearance, but that won't be for a number of chapters… no spoilers!

Truth be told, the last half-ish of this chapter was more necessary character introduction/action than anything. Next chapter will include a 2-year time skip, as well as the much-awaited Junior World Championships, which I'm looking forward to writing much more…

Featuring some familiar characters, as well as a Jaune aging into adolescence— and the personality changes that come along with it.