Juhani: A RWBY Story

Chapter Twenty Three - The Greatest Kingdom

As the airship reached Atlas, everyone on board grew nervous as Atlas Air Control began to direct orders from the radio.

Atlas Air Control(Radio): Manta 5-1, please continue your approach to Atlas docking bay Omega-12. A security team will meet you there. Over.

Ruby: I don't understand. What's happening here?

Qrow: I don't know.

Jaune: But we are here. We got the lamp to Atlas, so I guess we land and get some answers.

Weiss: I'm not so sure. I've never seen our forces deployed so aggressively before. If we land in a stolen ship, there's no way the security team will let us anywhere near Ironwood. They might even take me back to my father.

Juhani: We must be cautious. Weiss, is there anyone who might be able to help us?

Weiss: Winter! Perhaps she can help us! Maria, put some distance between us and the fleet.

Maria: You don't have to tell me twice.

With that, Maria begins to steer the ship towards the city of Mantle. They spot a large screen playing a transmission from General Ironwood.

Yang: General Ironwood. He looks...

Ruby: Tired.

Qrow: James, what have you been doing?

As Weiss attempts to call Winter, she gets no response.

Weiss: This isn't right. None of this is right.

Once more, airship is contacted by Atlas Air Control.

Atlas Air Control(Radio): Manta 5-1, we've noticed a detour in your route. You are to make your way to docking bay Omega 12 immediately. Do you copy? Over.

Maria: We're kind of running out of time here, kids.

Yang: We need to ditch the ship.

Qrow: Agreed. Get lost in Mantle and buy ourselves some time.

Weiss: I'm telling you, my sister can take us to Ironwood.

Suddenly, Winter's voice is heard on the radio.

Winter(Radio): Manta 5-1, this is your final warning. Failure to cooperate with Atlas military personnel is a punishable offense. If your sector is under lockdown...

Juhani: We haven't much time. We need to act quickly. 

With that, Maria continues to pilot the airship to Mantle. Maria lands the airship in a secluded alleyway and the group exits the alleyway. As they exit the alleyway, they all notice a large presence of Atlesian soldiers in the city. Juhani immediately becomes cautious.

Maria: Come on now, hurry! It shouldn't be much of a walk.

Jaune: Is this many soldiers normal?

Weiss: No. At least, I didn't think so.

As they walk the streets of Mantle, Yang notices a whirring sound and stops to take a look. There is a small drone hovering to her right. The camera part of the drone lifts up, focused on her. When Yang shrugs it off and resumes walking, the drone follows her. She stops again and looks at it in surprise and confusion. As she leans in to take a closer look, the drone takes a photograph of her face with a bright flash, which Yang recoils from. Before Yang could react, the drone is flung into the side of a building, smashing it. Confused, she turns to see Juhani. Juhani nods her head as they kept moving. 

Maria: You have to remember, the Kingdom had just lost the Great War. The people of Mantle needed a sign of a brighter future, and that sign was Atlas. After all, a home in the clouds is as bright as it gets.

Juhani: I sense much pain and strife in this place. 

As they walk, Blake was interrupted by a group of drunk men voicing their grievances about what is happening. As Blake tried to defuse the situation, one of the men became hostile.

Drunk Man: Stupid Faunus like you wouldn't unders....

Before the man could finish his sentence, Juhani stepped in and attempted to diffuse the situation. 

Juhani: Leave her alone. 

Drunk Man: Mind your own fucking business, you stupid Faunus!

It was clear to Juhani that this drunk was going to cause a scene. Juhani quickly resorts to the Jedi Mind Trick.

Juhani: You will walk away and go about your business.

After a moment of silence, the drunk man appeared to go in some sort of trance.

Drunk Man: We will...walk away and go about our business..

With that, the drunk men began walking away without hesitation. With the potential conflict dealt with, Blake turned to her adopted sister. 

Blake: Thank you, Juhani.

Juhani: I know what it's like to be persecuted, sister. I will not let you endure what I have endured. 

Eventually, the group reaches what appears to be a pharmacy. As they enter inside, Maria approaches a man behind a desk. After a brief conversation, the man is revealed to be Pietro Polendina who is an expert on prosthetics. 

Blake: What exactly has been happening here?

Pietro: Well, the Fall of Beacon took a toll on all of us. James was no different. I couldn't tell you exactly what it was he saw there, but it changed him. He's...

Qrow: He's scared.

Pietro: Paranoid would be the more appropriate term. You have to understand, it wasn't just the Grimm. Someone completely dismantled Atlas security code, made it their play-thing, and made us look like traitors to some and buffoons to everyone else. Whoever managed to do that is either a genius or one of our own. I fear the answer may be both, and so does the general.

Juhnai: If this is true, then we must be cautious. 

It wasn't long before Pietro recognized the members of Team RWBY. However, before answers could be given, screaming was heard outside. Everyone rushed outside to see a pack of Grimm attacking. In that moment, everyone prepared for a fight.