Author's Notes: I would have liked to release this chapter on Mother's day because of the whole irony of the chapter but some things came up, namely time constraints, the chapter then would have been shorter than I would have been comfortable with, oh and I almost forgot

I GOT A JOB BITCHES

And I had to make a choice, do what I want to do or do what I have to do.

...and you best believe I did that work, got that pay and spent that cash. Cause I've got bills to pay and mouths to feed, namely mine.

On a side note I have over 1000 follows, damn. That's one thing crossed off my bucket list and technically this is the number one Salem-centric story in the fandom (unless White Sheep counts which I don't think it does) so I'll mark that off my bucket list too.

Lastly I want to make a shoutout to wildstraydog who to my surprise is a fan of the story. PM'ed me a few weeks ago asking what's up. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but I'm actually a fan of his stories and it was wild getting that PM, sorry I didn't make deadline but you know [Read above]. So that made my day back then, I felt big, established, brushing off my shoulders-ha!

...

Okay I'm done you guys can go ahead and read the chapter now.

Chapter 9: Extraction

For what seemed like an eternity they did nothing. His mind was still reeling from the revelation that this person this woman was his mother.

His mother

This woman who looked like the final boss of some indie horror game...was his mother.

His mother

From his position he looked at his hands. They were the same deathly pallor as hers.

Which means...

Who has he been calling his mother all this time!?

Salem was in a temporary state of semi-euphoric bliss, a sense of accomplishment she had not experienced in a long, long time. Of course she knew this wasn't over but the fact that she got to hold him, even if it is technically a dream, was well worth the years she had searched and planned to have him back.

As much as she could literally stay there and cuddle with him she wasn't blind. The hard part wasn't finding him, nor was it having him remember who she is or even taking him from under Ozpin's nose. No the hard part starts now. That is, having him accept who he is.

Judging from the expression on his face it will take a while but she is patient enough to wait. Unfortunately time waits for no one and she found herself with a lack of it. No doubt that family would have alerted Ozpin already. She would have to time her next course of action perfectly and it had to be before he makes contact with her son.

So with that in mind she reluctantly eases her embrace. The boy beside her didn't seem to notice as he kept staring at his hands. She frowned at this, her assumption had been correct. Knowing something and accepting it are two completely different things.

"Ragna"

He jerked at the name and looked up questioningly.

"M-my name is Jaune"

"No!" she squeezed his shoulders closer "your name, your true name is Ragnarok. It was the name I gave to you the day you were born. 'Jaune' is nothing more than the name of the shell of my son that they sealed away" at this point her eyes were smoldering but upon seeing the frightened look in his eyes she calmed down

"I am sorry" and like that she settled down.

"I understand this is a lot to take in and if you feel uncomfortable then I will refer to you as...Jaune"

He did in fact feel more comfortable being called his 'human' name and it had nothing to do with the length of time he'd been raised as an Arc. After nearly an entire week of being taunted by whisperings of 'Ragna' over and over again followed by visions assaulting his mind and the general creepiness of it all, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Jaune has a small abhorrence to that name.

He nodded to her timidly "o-okay, um..."

She looked down at him for a moment before answering "Salem"

He swallowed at her gaze, he was still unused to her eyes that looked so evil yet looked to him in a tenderness he'd only experienced with his…mother…

Huh…

His eyes drifted down "…so what now?" he asked now noting how awkward the position she had him in was but didn't want to bring it up…

For a moment she didn't reply as she was contemplating something "now you just have to wait just a little longer"

"What do you mean?"

She kissed him on the forehead "you will know soon enough."

\

Jaune's smoldering red eyes snapped open and somehow he could feel it. His vision was clear though, clearer than its ever been and way too clear this early in the morning.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Jaune wake up, breakfast is ready"

"I-I'm coming!"

He waited until the footsteps receded before tossing the covers from his bed and running to a mirror.

"No, no, no" As he thought his eyes were glowing red with black sclera "not good" he wiped his eyes as if to wipe off the red and groan when it remained "come on, change back" a blink later and he was looking back into a familiar ocean blue.

He sighed in exhausted relief. Despite just waking up he felt so tired, mentally. He just wanted to go back to sleep but he knew that if he did then there would be a chance she would be there as well.

His mother.

Gods it felt weird thinking about it. He wasn't Jaune, he wasn't an Arc and at this point he wondered if he was even human.

'What do I do now?'

Confront his parents?

He shook his head. If they have been lying to him all his life, even going so far as to wipe his memory then telling him he saw a vision of his real mother and that he knew he was some half monster...yeah he did not like those odds.

So his parents are out. Then his sisters...must absolutely not be trusted, actually he wouldn't be surprised if they knew about this and were in on it. Actually that made too much sense! How else would he explain their over protectiveness? No matter how eccentric and close knit a family is, some of the things he's seen them do in the name of 'keeping him safe' was not normal for a family.

Hunter trained or not.

Which brings him back to the question 'what do I do?'

He couldn't even trust his own family or at least the people claiming to be his family. The only one who seemed to be telling the truth as far as he knew was Salem but that didn't mean he could just go to her. First of all he didn't know where she was and her telling the truth doesn't mean she is necessarily a good person.

The last he checked good guys don't look like she did and while that said something about him Jaune was sure he wasn't a bad guy. And right now at this moment he (meaning himself) isthe only one he can trust.

He sighed dejectedly 'I should get downstairs.'

Jaune wondered if it was possible to lose appetite on an empty stomach that was still growling. Reaching the dining area Jaune had to pause. There was a tenseness in the air which could only be described as awkward and something tells him it has nothing to do with him.

Nope he recognized this formation anywhere 'someone messed with Rouge's stuff'

With such a big family seats are prearranged via the 'dibs protocol' and will remain as such even in absence. That is unless someone got into a fight (usually Rouge) and they would have to segregate her from the usual suspects while at the same time keeping them (her) from causing any trouble.

So as it is now Rouge was one side of the table flanked by Jonah while everyone else was on the other side. Joan would've been on Rouge's other side but she was still in the hospital.

"Uh did something happen?" Jaune couldn't help but ask.

"Cielen and Blanc broke Rouge's stuff" Olivia pointed at the twins.

"Amy shot Rouge with the poop dart" Rosa chirped.

"The poop dart?" he echoed.

Olivia nodded sagely "the poop dart."

Jaune gave his unconcerned sister a look and wondered 'how is she still alive?'

"Alright enough of that" the patriarch admonished "Jaune sit down and eat before your breakfast gets cold."

That's easier said than done because somehow they've arranged the seating so that Jaune has to sit next to Amethyst...straight across from Rouge. Jaune swallowed, if stuff hits the fan he'll be directly in the line of fire and from the look in the red devil's eyes she knew it too.

'I should've stayed in bed'

"By the way, where's mom?" Cielen asked.

\

"They know your location?" Ozpin asked to clarify.

"Yes" the concerned mother stressed at the other end of the line "Joan is in the hospital dying from poison Ozpin. She did something to Jaune, I could feel more of her presence in him with each passing day.'

Ozpin placed down his coffee "I will arrange a private transport for Vale immediately"

"Ozpin Jaune's awakened"

The man felt a pit dropped in his stomach "does he know?"

"I don't know but-"

"We won't have much time then, I will dispatch a Bullhead to transport your family directly" as he spoke Ozpin set to make preparations.

"I'm going to tell him Ozpin"

For the second time he froze "Natalia..."

"He has a right to know! I know that you and her have history, I know that at one point she took everything from you and that you are very wary of anything that is tainted by her but he's just a boy! Regardless of where he came from or who he is related to he is innocent in all of this!"

"...if she gets her hands on him and manages to corrupt him then she will be that much closer to ending us all" he warned.

"I know"

"She would see to it personally and I won't be able salvage the situation as I once did."

"...I know"

The man made to speak but stopped and sighed "do what you must Natalia" his mouth set in a thin line "I won't interfere with familial matters."

"Thank you for understanding."

"She will attack" he said moving along "I will try to have the Bullhead there within three hours"

He hung up before she could reply and sagged in his chair with a sad look before sighing. He reached for his coffee almost reflexively before stopping himself. That same hand balled into a fist and with a perfectly schooled expression he got up and headed towards the elevator.

\

For her this day was one that was in the making ever since she had found him all those years ago. She had been prepared to extract him and raze the entire place to the ground but through a coincidence she didn't immediately go after him. In hindsight she was glad she didn't take that impulsive course of action. It was one of the hardest things she had to do and it was almost done because of her.

The Maiden of Summer.

She couldn't quite keep the slight irritation from her expression, it wasn't enough that her son recognizes her as his mother but even more that the woman wasn't a bad mother to begin.

Does that mean she is jealous of the woman?

…preposterous!

All that means is that she will have a more swift death than what she would bother to give to a Maiden.

"Ma'am?"

"Are the preparations complete Hazel?"

The large tanned skinned man with shoulder length brown hair stood behind her "they are…"

"Is there a problem?"

"I think you're being reckless."

She turned to regard the man who wasn't cowed by her penetrating gaze, one of the few under her who didn't and she wasn't bothered by this. In fact it was a welcome to have someone who can be brutally honest without being disrespectful.

"I recognize that."

"Then why go through with it? I can retrieve your son, you don't need to put yourself in danger."

She chuckled at his concern for her safety "if there were another way then yes I would leave this in your capable hands" and she meant it too because what made Hazel so much better in her eyes was not only his unflinching loyalty, skill and professionalism was the fact that he could empathize with her on certain topics, her smile faded "however Tyrian is still recovering, Cinder isn't nearly as skilled, Watts is otherwise preoccupied with something too important for him to fly all the way here without compromising his position and I doubt you will be able to handle a Maiden and a skilled Huntsman by yourself and should Ozpin and his faction be there as well" her head shook "I will not leave it to chance."

Hazel's gaze was unflinching, she knew he knew that wasn't the whole truth and unlike anyone else he wasn't afraid to say it "you long to see him."

"…yes" she admitted "I want to see him Hazel, I want when he comes to my side the first thing that he sees is me and not one of my agents. I want to hold him in my arms and show him that I care, that no matter what I will love him as his true mother" she turned to look over the pits spawning Grimm "and unlike those humans I will love him no matter who or what he is."

\

The twins were busy packing their stuff for their eventual departure from home. Cielen was gushing about how they would finally be going places while haphazardly shoving different articles of clothing in a knapsack. In contrast Blanc had taken to silently organizing her clothes into neat folded rectangles inside her suitcase. The door was bolted shut with some furniture cluttered around it.

Jaune didn't question why they immediately did that on account of this morning and focused on packing the essentials, that is clothes, toiletries, games and comics. What? You think he was going to leave his precious comic collection to gather dust?

Hell no!

But then it happened, a shrill scream that echoed across the four corners of the house which sounded a lot like

"Amy?" Jaune said unsurely.

The twins shared a concerned look before Cielen spoke in a rightfully panicked tone "she got Amethyst sis, what do we do?"

Luckily having foreseen this Blanc went into the closet to pull out something. It was a pair of jumper cables and a yellow Dust crystal.

"Can that stop her?"

"It will buy us two minutes at most" was the answer the answer before her head perked up.

"What is it?"

"Shh"

They all quieted down then they heard it. Steel platted boots slowly making their way up to the door and all was silent for a moment before the doorknob rattled a bit then there was a loud knocking.

"Don't make this harder on yourself and open the door if you know what's good for you!"

The general consensus?

'Oh shit!'

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

"I only want the twins Jaune, so open the door and save yourself"

At Jaune's contemplative look Cielen growled "don't you freaking dare"

Blanc in the meantime began attaching the cable to the doorknob before saying "we surrender" in monotone and unlatching one of the bolts.

Another moment later there was an electrical discharge, a short yell and the sound of a body hitting the floor.

"We have less than two minutes" they only took one to finish pack and head to the window.

"Hasta La Vista Jaune" Cielen gave a two finger salute and jumped out the window.

"Just point to the window, don't try to be a hero Jaune. Se la vi" and like that she too jumped out the window.

He jumped when a fingerless gloved fist smashed through the door and calmly unlatched the bolts and jumper cables from the knobs. The door opened slowly and seemingly without any effort despite the clutter of appliances behind it. Jaune broke out in a fearful cold sweat at the sight of his sister…or at least he thinks that it's her.

With red frazzled hair sticking every which way and twitching eyes filled with murder in contrast to her calm expression Rouge looked like some deranged psychopathic killer that escaped from the asylum for the criminally insane. The only thing to detract from this was the purple stains on her clothes and gauntlets but he had bigger things to worry about.

"Where are they?" she said in a low tone of voice as she stared at him, Jaune pointed a trembling finger to the window "thank you" she then shot off and dive through the open window like a star swimmer.

Jaune didn't know why that happened but got his answer when his (not) father came at the door looking equal parts distressed and angry "where's your sister?"

Again Jaune pointed to the window and Jonah nodded "thanks son" and his father jumped through to join the chase.

For a moment Jaune simply stared at the window, this was such a normal event that he didn't even bother to question it, he simply took a deep breath before releasing it in a long winded sigh. Then he closed the window, bolted it shut and closed the blinds for good measure but now the room was too dark to pack. At least it would've been but nowadays the dark wasn't a big deal to him, in addition to not being bothered by it he actually preferred it.

Not because of his newly discovered heritage but because he wanted to look at his recent treasure. The toys he had been given, found or otherwise attained which in hindsight wasn't such a coincidence after all. He remembered receiving these toys from her years ago. Speaking of which…

'How old am I?'

The recently unlocked memory that is even now being streamed into his mind at a snail's pace is of him seeing some things he would see in cartoons about ancient times. So what does that mean? Jaune didn't have a concrete explanation for that which means he'll have to ask her about that.

He paused.

Did he really want to continue being in contact with her?

It's obvious she has a grudge against his pa- the Arcs or at least Mr. and Mrs. Arc because they are the only ones who had something to do with his kidnapping and subsequent brainwashing. The latter he has up to this point stubbornly tried to not dwell on because it raises so many questions, ones that will shatter what was left of the happy thoughts he had of the Arc family, the only ones he had known, his family.

But they aren't, at least not biologically and he's afraid that…what if what he had with them wasn't real at all. If that were the case could he stay with them knowing that? Could he look at them the same way having actual proof that they are nothing more than a bunch of glorified jailers? Jaune honestly didn't want to find out.

"Jaune?"

But it seems fate would have him decide sooner than later.

"Yes" mom? He wanted to say but that would just be him lying to himself again.

"Why is it so dark in here?" he saw her come in and almost tripped over the jumper cables "what happened in here?" she said looking at the half done barricade of furniture, jumper cables, Dust crystal and the hole in the door.

"…Rouge"

Natalia gave a long winded sigh similar to his own and mumbled "what am I going to do with that girl?"

"She followed the twins out the window and dad followed her out too" funny how it's easier to call him dad…

"And why are you sitting here alone in the dark?" she said heading for the blinds.

"I was thinking."

"About what?" she parted the blinds and opened the window then looked over her shoulder in time for him to answer.

"Stuff" he shrugged looking down at his toys.

…his toys

His…'oh snap!'

Eyes looked up at the same time she gasped "uh…I can explain…"

And before he could she hugged him, the action made him embarrassed and confused especially when she started sobbing "I'm sorry"

She broke away from him and he saw the tears she immediately wiped away but Jaune was just confused, why would she be crying?

'Joan!'

"D-did something h-happen to Joan" he asked voice slightly trembling. His heart was beating fast and there was pressure behind his eyes as he thought of the possibility that his eldest sister succumbed to the poison

"No" she wiped the tears before they fully trailed down her cheeks and seemed to school herself "Joan is-she's fine."

"Then what's wrong?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

She looked off to the side as if it provided answer which it did for he found himself looking at the full length mirror on the closet door opened ajar enough so that it had a perfect reflection of them sitting on his bed (which was not used in the barricade). There he saw the reason for her worry, his pupils were red instead of blue and at that moment he was aware of that pressure in the back of his eyes that went previously unnoticed.

"…oh"

He stared at his reflection for a moment, then looked at his mother's reflection but she wasn't looking at the mirror rather she was looking at the back of his head. He closed his eyes, his mind racing for ideas on how he should handle this but his jumbled emotions hindered the process.

'Should I even cover it up now? Would it make a difference?'

Before another thought entered his mind a weight was placed on his back and he realized his mother was hugging him again and for a moment they stayed in that position. He could literally feel her emotions, it was strange and he didn't know how that was possible but he could discern them.

Trepidation

Fear

Sadness

Grief

Jaune soaked in all of this before he broke away from her embrace to look at her. He didn't bother turning his eyes back to normal, it brought him some form of strength in the face of the immovable object that is Natalia Arc.

"…I'm not your son" he stated all pretenses now gone.

At the words he felt a spike in her sadness along with something else…guilt if he were guessing it accurately.

"Jaune" she tried to reach out but he stepped back from her.

"Who are you?"

"I'm your mother-"

"No you're not!" he yelled eyes burning "I know my mother!"

Natalia's eyes widened "what?" she breathed then gasped.

At that point Jaune began to feel something both internal and external. His eyes looked in the mirror and internally cursed, his sclera had remnants of black polluting the surfaces like...choco puffs when you drop it in milk.

"Jaune…"

His eyes snapped back to Natalia who was now before him he didn't even take a step back before she caught him by the shoulders.

"Jaune I want you tell me the truth" she stared at him with an intensity that had him almost lock up in fear "you met her didn't you?" he nodded shakily and her grip tightened "what did she tell you?"

"…the truth" he said after a moment.

Natalia's face twisted in anguish but Jaune didn't see it, the prickling he unconsciously put to the back of his mind came to the forefront almost against his will and he turned to the window and stared unflinchingly. Natalia felt rather than saw this and she slowly turned to the window as well.

"Oh my god…"

\

They never saw it coming.

It was supposed to be another normal day in arguably one of the safest settlement in the Vale territory. It started with a shift, nothing noticeable at first, then came the rumble, small at first but then it continued until it became a full scale earthquake. By this point people were already running for shelter but the earthquake was nothing compared to what came after

*CRACK*

The asphalt chipped, then cracked and finally split open, large enough to swallow a few unfortunate souls but it soon grew to engourge several buildings. An eerie silence soon followed and those in hiding dared to look outside to see the damage which was extensive.

*ROAR*

And just like that the silence gave way to screams, roars and a cacophony of other noises that from an observer would be complete and utter chaos. and it was because of this stream of chaos and death that no one noticed the four figures striding through the chaos purposely. There appearance would have no doubt garnered attention with how out of place they all looked but within the chaos they looked as if they were taking a stroll.

Of the four only two of them seemed unbothered by the happenings around them, focusing up ahead. Although she tried Cinder couldn't quite keep her gaze straight, what with the death and destruction around them. Similarly Tyrian seemed enamored with all the violence but he knew to keep himself in check, this was a mission of the utmost importance and he woldnt dare let his vices control his actions today.

Of all of them Hazel was the most concerned though he hid it well, maybe not from her but to anyone else he seemed stern and focused which is true but there is always the tinge of worry about the approach his leader took. This was unlike anything she had ever planned or known to have planned in the time he has known her. He couldn't help but channel a bit of Watts in saying that such a show of force was too overt and frankly unnecessary.

Though in a way he could understand why she chose this instead of his own suggestion. This mission is very personal and from an objective standpoint his mistress is too close to this to participate. But that was the point was it not, her presence here not only secures their victory but it would also send a message to those who are against her.

And what a message it will be.

\

Jonah had caught up to his daughters before Rouge could do any permanent damage to the twins. He easily restrained the fuming teenager and was in the middle of tending to a shell shocked Blanc while Cielen rocked back and forth in a fetal position when the earthquake was felt, then the sirens started blaring and distant screams could be heard. It was so sudden and loud that it snapped all of them out of their funk and they were instantly alerted.

"What is that all about?" Cielen asked only to be pulled up "dad?"

His gaze wasn't on them though, it was off in the distance and now that she was aware rouge wasn't paying attention to the object of her ire. Rouge was tied to up on the ground but even in her ridiculously compromised position she managed to pull off a very serious look. Cielen decided to see for herself and her stomach dropped.

Grimm, there was a pack of Grimm heading straight towards them

"Get into the house" he said and with a flick of his sword the ropes were cut off and he began heading the creatures of Grimm off.

Rouge immediately donned her gauntlets and ran after their father "get to your sisters and head to the basement!"

Blanc recovered and started to drag her twin away but not for long as she ran with her inside "could you tell me what's going on?"

"Defcon 1" she said as they went into the house.

\

Jaune wasn't fully aware of what was going on anymore to be more specific he was only where he was in body but his mind was drifting.

'She's here' was the only thing he could think.

He remembered what she said and figured she was going to try to meet him in person but he didn't think she would cause citywide alarm to go off.

'What did she do?'

Unaware of her son's inner turmoil Natalia hastily led her three youngest children to the bunker in the basement when someone called out "mom!"

"Amethy…" Natalia paused at the sight before her "what happened to you?"

The girls started laughing especially Rosa and despite his earlier mood as Jaune looked at his sister he tried in vain to suppress a snicker.

"…I don't want to talk about it" spoke Amethyst which like her namesake her face, hair, hands and generally every part of her body is now a shade of.

*BOOM*

The explosion happened inside the house causing the older women to react, Amethyst raised her weapon while her mother went in front of all of them. Through the silence they could hear footsteps approaching, he hugged Olivia and Rosa closer. Time seemed to slow as his eyes widened in anticipation.

Then the figure came into view but it wasn't anyone who he has ever seen before but the same could not be said for his 'mother'

"Hello Natalia."

"…Hazel" her fist clenched "where are my family?"

"They are all alive…for now" he answered and Natalia's jaw set.

Amethyst started to slowly guide her younger siblings away but Hazel caught the movement.

"All we want is the boy" he continued staring directly into her eyes "this doesn't have to end in violence"

Amethyst hurried in ushering them away leaving the two adults by themselves "I think we both know my answer to that" her fist opened clenched with an audible crack.

"I know" he settled into a stance "and I am sorry."

Her eyes flashed, literally "you will be."

\

They made it to the in house bunker just as a shockwave happened behind them.

"MOMMY!?"

"She's fine!" Amethyst quickly answered as they made it to the bunker.

After imputing the code on the panel she ushered them inside and locked the door. Jaune silently ushered his younger siblings to a bunk but he was the only one quiet

"What's happening!?" Olivia shouted.

"Who was that!?" Rosa followed up

"What did he want with mommy!?"

"Is mommy going to be okay!?"

"Where's daddy, Rouge and the twins!?"

"How come you're purple?"

Up until that point Amethyst had turned her back from them to open a closet filled with weapons, ammunition and armor. She had just picked up a sniper rifle when the last question was asked causing all the girls to turn towards the only boy in the room who looked oddly calm despite everything.

"You're purple" he said in a curious tone that wasn't at all forced "why?"

The lapse in the tension was enough for the younger girls to pause in their near tearful breakdown to look at their sister.

A blush formed on the girl's face Amethyst which looked weird with her new pigment.

She coughed "Rouge somehow put purple dye in my bath water" she then began putting on some armour

"…you look like that character from that one game" Olivia observed.

"Don't remind me" she muttered moving over to another side of the bunker she pushed away one of the bunks and the carpet to reveal a steel floor-door and opened it up via a control panel "alright come one you three we're going."

"What about mom and everyone else?" Olivia said looking at the door which Jaune mimicked.

"They'll meet us at the end of the tunnel" she slung the rifle over her back picked up Rosa and dragged Olivia to the secret passage, Jaune followed after them but froze halfway there not that they noticed.

"It's dark" Rosa said fearfully as the made it down.

"Hold on" Flipped a lever and a line of bulbs flicked on "here stay still, the lights don't last the entire way "she strapped on portable flashlights to their chests"

"Where's Jaune?"

Amethyst looked around and cursed mentally "stay here" she made it up the stairs to see his just staring at the door "Jaune what are you doing?" She grabbed his hand and started dragging him away but met some resistance.

Her eyes widened when she saw red eyes but he soon relinquished visual contact and stared at the door them said "she's here."

At that Amethyst was aware that there was someone else on the other side of the reinforced Dust-steel door. Said door began to be covered in dark spots that spread over like rust until it fell over to reveal a blacked robed hooded figure. Immediately an oppressive atmosphere loomed over the room, Amethyst began to shake even as her grip on Jaune tightened.

The robed figure took a single step and it was enough to set her off, all the training she'd received lead up to this single moment and she'd be damned if she froze now.

"Follow the tunnel to the other side and find Joan"

The hushed yet sharp words were hissed directly into his ears and before he could even say "eh?" she pushed him into the cavern.

"No!" she heard the woman yell as she made to follow.

Amethyst levelled her rifle and started taking shots while charging at her to buy more time. Not only did the bullets seem to not faze her but Amethyst was knocked aside and into the open weapons locker. But not before shooting the panel causing the floor door to short circuit and automatically close just as the woman gazed down.

The hooded woman turned her burning eyes towards the purple skinned girl in time to easily catch a grenade she tossed. Amethyst managed to lock herself in the locker just before an explosion went off. Her Aura took the brunt of the attack leaving her relatively unarmed but the shockwave did rattle her somewhat so she needed a moment.

The moment was gone when the locker door was wrenched off and she was yanked out the locker by her throat. She met the burning red eyes of the woman no, the monster in a pale imitation of human skin, with fear and agony. Her desperate kicks and punches seemed to be death throws as the vice-like grip on her throat seemed to increase.

She could feel the fingers start to dig into her neck, blood was drawn but her vision became too hazy. Tears streamed from her eyes as she choked on air, the energy beginning to fade. The entire time her attacker gazed at her agony with an indifferent frown and just as she was about to lose consciousness.

She was suddenly dropped to the floor where she spent nearly a minute hacking and gulping on air.

"You care for him don't you?"

She looked up at the monster looking down at her with those eyes that betrayed nothing.

"You care for him as if her were your own brother" she continued "why?"

Finally finding her breath Amethyst gazed defiantly at her "he is my brother" she panted "and he is nothing like you."

"…I know" her eyes narrowed dangerously before she turned to the doorway.

Standing at the doorway was ruffled but nonetheless relatively uninjured Natalia. She looked shocked at the woman's appearance but a quick scan of Amethyst and that shock turned to anger and that anger fuelled her. The matriarch's eyes literally flashed golden and began to shine as bright as her fury burns.

With the power of the sun itself radiating off her she uttered six words that would forever change the way her daughter saw her

"Get away from her you bitch!"

To Be Continued…

"Knock-knock"

"Who's there?"

"An Omake bitch"

\

"Amethy…" Natalia paused at the sight before her "what happened to you?"

Earlier…

The hot water ran causing the place to be enveloped in steam by the mirror Amethyst brushed her teeth. Bending down slightly she spat a wad of toothpaste in the sink and washed her mouth. After putting up her toothbrush she picked up her handgun and walked over to the almost filled tub and knelt down to check the temperature.

She frowned, something wasn't right, she looked around seeing no one but her eyes narrowed and she flipped the safety off. After a moment she dipped her hand in and withdrew it.

"What the…" she looked at her purple dyed finger for only a second

*Click*

And spun around at the soft click of the door closing behind her. She fired a single shot but the bullet never left the muzzle on the account of a gauntlet covered hand blocking the passage, Amethyst looked on in shock.

"Surprise mother*cker!" Rouge yelled with a sadistic grin.

'Oh crap' she kicked Rouge in the stomach.

The older girl sidestepped the kick spun behind her and had her in a sleeper hold faster than she could react "you should have left The Rock alone Amy"

"It's just…a…blueray…" she gasped.

"Limited edition!" she shouted.

Amethyst did three kidney shots with her elbow and heard her grunt and kicked off the bath so Rouge smashed in the mirror loosening her grip allowing her to escape and line up and take a few more shots. Rouge brought her elbows together to deflect the bullets, spun and did a falcon punch that connected with Amy's forehead.

"Gah!"

She stumbles and Rouge caught her wrist holding the gun. Amethyst dropped it right into her left hand forcing Rouge to grab her other wrist and twist their bodies around so that her sister's hand is facing away. Amethyst started to slowly tilt the gun towards Rouge's head but the redhead gave her wrist a sharp squeeze getting her to drop it.

'Uh-oh' Amethyst thought as Rouge kicked it away.

"Take a deep breath sis, you're going for a nice long soak"

With a spin and a trip Rouge managed to flip Amethyst head over heels and into the bathtub with a splash. With one hand binding her sister's hands Rouge dunk Amethyst into the tub while whistling a jaunty tune. To anyone observing from the outside it looked like a murder in progress except at the last minute she relented and backed away.

Amethyst rose up with a gasp, now colored head to toe in purple "that's a nice look for you Amy"

Amy looked over her hands and rushed to the mirror to see a purple face staring at her "ah…ah…"

Rouge came up behind and held her shoulders looking positively gleeful "guess its official now, Widowmaker"

Rouge's mad cackling was drowned out by a shrill scream that echoed throughout the house.

\

Present…

"…I don't want to talk about it"

The End

Author's Notes: Whoo damn it's done. Not a lot to say except that next chapter will be the last of the first Arc or the prelude to canon timeline…I know right? And I'm gonna be honest it might also be the last chapter of the summer since I'm working a job and I want to catch up on my other fanfics.

Quick Announcement, so I've decided to publish a new story although 'new' is relative since its the first story on my Anthology series (don't bother checking I already deleted it). The story is called 'The Grimm King' and it centers around the idea that Jaune is the long lost King of the Grimm species and late husband of Salem. Since it was so successful (and by that I mean it wouldn't be joke to say people look forward to that story specifically) I decided to publish it by itself. The story focuses less on the canon story and more on Jaune's relationship with his wife so expect Romance and fluff or as much fluff as you can get from two ancient monarchs of an evil species hell bent on annihilating civilization.