RWBY (The journey of the white knight)

The truth

Jaune stared the ripped shirt and immediately regretted not grabbing one of the spare shirts at the Safehouse. He looked back up at tube and she Raised an eyebrow. 'Shit think think!'

"Oh, I uh.... was training in the emerald forest. And a uh...deathstalker snuck up on me." he gave her a sheepish smile hoping she would believe him. Ruby however wasn't the same girl as she was freshmen year, nor was she as naive or gullible as people thought she was.

"Jaune, the truth. How did this happen?" she demanded staring him down with her silver eyes. Jaune covered his side.

"... It's just a flesh wound from training it's nothing major." he tried to wave the topic off but Ruby stepped into his personal space.

"That isn't nothing, Jaune. What happened? Don't make me get everyone." The young knight sighed to himself. '... damn guess I've gotta let her in on the secret.'

"...Fine follow me." he said standing up. "Come on Lilly it's time to let Aunt Ruby in on our secret."

"Ok." she said leaving her puzzle behind for now. They entered Jaune's room and he locked the door. Jaune sat on his bed and changed his shirt.

"Ok Ruby let's get one thing straight; eventually I was going to tell you all this, when it was time, but since you've caught me I'm going to fill you in." he said and Ruby nodded. Jaune explained to Ruby everything, why he didn't really come back, how he got injured and why he didn't want to tell them.

"So, you're...a general of a secret government?" Ruby asked.

"...We haven't decided that yet.... the country thing I mean."

"Ok so secret organization that's fighting another secret organization?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Look I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth." he said changing his shirt.

"... I believe you...it's just...we're you ever going to tell us?" Jaune said nothing only scratching his head.

"... Honestly.... not for a for a while...but seeing as you know now, I guess I've got no choice."

Ruby sat on the edge of his bed and thought long and hard about what she just learned. If anyone else had told her this story she would have laughed it off...but this was Jaune. Her friend, fellow team leader. He didn't have anything to gain by making this lie up. But if it's the truth...then that means wars have been going on in the shadows and someone is controlling the Grimm.

"... If I do tell them Ruby.... I'd want it to be their choice. Ozpin has a habit of manipulating people to fight for him...I don't want to become like that. I want them to make their own choices."

Ruby sighed and laid back over Jaune's legs. They stayed like this for a few moments before Ruby finally said something.

"I want to join." Jaune sat up and stared at Ruby.

"Ruby you do-"

"I want to join. From what you've told me you're going to need all the help you can get so. I. WANT. TO. JOIN." Ruby growled sitting up and getting into his face staring him down. Jaune knew first-hand what a person with silver eyes was capable of especially when they were determined. Ruby wasn't going to accept no as an answer.

"...Alright, but don't say I didn't try to warn you." he mumbled flaring his aura to heal his wound faster.

"...So, what are my odds of coming out of the next conversation unscathed?"

"...Better if you let me help you."

Two hours later in Ozpin's.

Ozpin was not happy. But he wasn't exactly upset. He had planned to recruit Ruby Rose once she graduated, but now it seems she was in league with the Knights. He was losing pieces to them left and right and they have a common enemy. Who knows what their real agenda is.

But at the same time...maybe they were more equipped to handle the threat. They obviously had an expansive spy network to know about Salem's best assassins. But how much were they not telling him? And why? Was there a spy in their own ranks?

It was enough to put Ozpin on edge but Jaune had already put himself in a position to counter any move he made to gain information or recruit anyone in his group if friends. There was a time when he admired their fierce loyalty now it was a frightening force. One he couldn't control.

But he didn't have the time nor the luxury to be concerned with Miss Rose and Mr. Arcs position. James had managed to confirm the Knight's claims. Hordes unlike anything Remnant has seen before are on the move. Just waiting for the slightest spike in negative would kick off the next great Grimm incursion.

The councils of Remnant were being briefed on the Hordes and the estimated time they would inevitably arrive at their own borders. Huntsmen were being called in to evacuate the outer villages and set up provisional Farms and medical centers. Sadly, though Vale was not equipped to house or feed such an influx of refugees and thus...many villages would sadly be...abandoned. No aid, no rescue and as much as he wished to, he couldn't do a thing about it.

The public was to be informed tonight and then Beacon would shift into standby mode ready to aid in the defense of Vale or evacuate a village at a moment's notice. Atlas was scheduled to import several cannons and aerial defense guns to Beacon along with several turrets and Androids within the next few weeks.

Once all the preparations were complete...The Knights would show themselves to the world.

Three days later.

The Atmosphere at Beacon was tense these last few days. Everyone was getting ready for war. Something none of them expected to experience so soon. The first years were being put through a harsh training course and the upper years and Graduating class were already working alongside active huntsmen to build the aid stations around the city. They had, from what the experts and from what Jaune already knew, about two months before the first wave hit Vale's border.

The Knights were already in position to offer aid to the kingdoms, and were already evacuating villages into their own territories.

Jaune couldn't help but question why such an army was formed though. It wasn't like a major event happened to drive up negative emotions, the only idea he had was that Salem was just tired of playing the long game and simply wanted to wipe everyone out with one fell swoop...but that wasn't her style. No, she was using this for another reason...as a distraction...but from what?

Jaune groaned and flared his aura to try and heal his wound completely. The wound had closed and was a dark purple color from bruising and swelling. Jaune's wounds was already mostly healed and everyone was so preoccupied thinking about the coming war that they didn't press too hard about his injuries.

Atlas had been faster than expected sending a few turrets and a few paladins in just a few days. Not a lot, but enough that they could begin setting up defenses around key locations such as the border and Beacon.

Right now, teams JNPR and CFVY were busy helping the Atlesians set up turrets around the cliffs where they had initiation. Coco oversaw his team but she let him have mostly free reign.

The turrets were large five barreled machines with motion sensors built in. And held about ten thousand rounds of ammo each. The beauty of it, though, was that it was programmed to reload automatically.

Jaune and Fox set the last turret down and Fox opened a side panel to switch it on. The barrel of the gun rose and made a whirling noise for a few moments before it beeped twice signaling it was primed and ready.

"Alright that's the last one." Fox said patting the barrel of the turret. "Hey Jaune, what are your thoughts about this?"

"Well this is what we signed up for. And at least we have some time to prepare before the first big wave hits us." he stood up and stretched his arms out.

"Yeah...I'm not going to lie though I'm a bit nervous." The older boy stated.

"Good, we're going to war, Fox. I don't see how anyone could be completely calm about this." The two of them started walking down the cliff behind several turrets. It wasn't much but it was a start.

Jaune scrolled beeped and he took it out to find a message from Ozpin.

Jaune come to my office tonight with Miss Rose, we have a lot to discuss.