Emerald is walking down the halls of Beacon with a small smirk. Soon Cinder's plan will happen and Vale shall fall. She is brought out of her thoughts by the bandaged hand of Joshua tapping her on the shoulder.
Joshua: Miss Sustrai, am I correct?
Emerald: Yes you are um sir?
Joshua: Mr Graham is fine.
Emerald: Did you need me or something?
Joshua: Yes, I would like to have a chat with you in my office.
Emerald puts up a scared face
Emerald: Am I in trouble?
Joshua: No. Nothing of the sort. I am the counselor here and it's my job to make sure all students are in a good frame of mind. I just want to see how you are holding up.
Emerald: Oh okay.
Joshua and Emerald enter his office/counseling room. He closes the door and locks it. Emerald sees this a grows slightly cautious.
Emerald: Why are you locking the door?
Joshua: Standard practice. It's to prevent interruptions and people barging in.
Emerald: Cool, so what did you want to talk about?
Joshua: I am going to be honest. You are making a mistake in helping Cinder.
Emerald is now growing wary.
Emerald: And what's that supposed to mean?
Joshua: I am not stupid, Sustrai. I know that you and your team are planning something. What it is I don't know. All I know is that you're going to get people hurt.
Emerald: You know nothing of our plans!
Joshua: I do in fact, like for starters you are working with Salem.
Emerald hearing that Joshua knows about Salem goes wide eyed.
Emerald: How do you know of her?!
Joshua: *sighs* I was for a time Salem's right hand, and that I will always regret
Emerald: Then why did you leave her faction? Why did you side with the liar Ozpin?!
Joshua: It was not my choice, but perhaps it was the best thing that could happen to me. I failed her once and she had me burned alive. What's to say the same won't happen to you?
Emerald: I uh...
Joshua: When was the last time you thought about what you wanted and not what someone else wanted? Hmm?
Emerald: I- I don't know. Do I even want to do this? Have I fallen so low?
Joshua: For many of us, the road is a difficult one, but the path is always there for us to follow, no matter how many times we may fall.
Emerald: Do you ever fall?
Joshua: *sighs* Every day. Some days are harder than others. But I must try.
Emerald: Why are telling me this?
Joshua: I'm telling you because I believe you can change. Cinder cares only for power, she doesn't care about anybody else. Look in your heart, it will be for the best. When you have made a choice, you know where to find me.
Later that day Emerald is still pondering Joshua's words.
Emerald: Why did he tell me those things? Am I able to change and start again?
After several hours of thinking and soul searching, Emerald comes to a conclusion.
Joshua is in his office finishing up the days paperwork.
Joshua: Paperwork is the work of the devil.
Knock knock
Joshua: Come in.
Emerald comes in.
Joshua: Miss Sustrai, you are here. What decision have you come to?
Emerald: I want to leave this madness behind me. I want to leave my crimes behind me! I want to live normally!
Joshua: But...
Emerald slumps down
Emerald: I don't know where to start, plus I have no family. I'm an orphan. An orphan that Cinder took advantage of!
Joshua: Calm down. I know a lovely lady who would love to take you in. Although she's a little bit "unusual".
Emerald: Anything to get out.
Joshua: Meet me at the Vale Docks tonight. She'll be there.
At the docks Emerald arrives and sees Joshua talking to someone who's covered by the shadows.
Emerald: Um hi. Mr Graham?
Joshua: Ah, you're here. Lily this the girl I was talking about.
A hulking blue figure emerges. She was wearing gardening gloves, overalls and a straw hat. It spoke in a voice that could be mistaken for a man's.
Lily: Oh, what a lovely girl. Come to grandma.
Emerald just looks at Joshua
Joshua: This is Lily, despite her intimidating size and looks she is the sweetest person you'll meet.
Emerald: Hi, um Miss Lily.
Lily: Please call me Grandma dearie. Miss Lily makes me sound old. I hear from the nice man here that you have no family. Would you like to join me and help me look after my bighorners?
Emerald: Bighorners?
Joshua: A type of cow with large horns.
Emerald: I would like that yes.
Lily: Oh goodie. Now come along dearie.
Emerald runs to Joshua and hugs him.
Emerald: Thank you thank you thank you!
Joshua: It was a pleasure helping you.
Lily: Oh how sweet.
Emerald parts from Joshua and heads to Lily who was now on a boat. She turns around waves to Joshua who returns it with a wave and a nod in his head. He watches as the boat fades into the night before turning around and heading back to Beacon, happy he was able to save a soul from sin.
Chapter End
A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm still busy looking after my 80 year old neighbor so my schedule is busy still
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The Burned Arc
FanfictionA month before his younger sister Jeane goes to Beacon Joshua Graham or Jaune Arc is approached by Ozpin to join as a Councilor as he knows how to deal with trauma and as a teaching aide for Goodwitch. Oz doesn't know that Joshua was a servant of Sa...
