[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

Cinder smirked as she saw the elevator doors open. What stepped out was a bit disappointing in some ways. She had been hoping for Pyrrha Nikos alone... But her little teammates? For her to murder and then put on a macabre marionette show with their corpses for her?



That might be fun.



"Welcome, you pathetic fools, to your death!" Cinder cackled.



Rather than cower or make a heroic speech, Jaune Arc glared at her and threw his hands up in the air.



"What the actual fuck are you doing, Cinder?!"



Cinder blinked. She wasn't expecting that. He didn't sound morally outraged, like he was overcome with grief and rage. He sounded... Exasperated.



"Wha-?"



"Salem didn't tell you?!" He demanded, and Cinder's eyebrows threatened to leap off her forehead.



"Hwah-?!"



"I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THE MAIDEN!" Jaune raged. "I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THE RELIC! All without causing a scene! But noooooo! YOU had to ruin my carefully plotted plans with your stupid BULLSHIT!"



"Wha-What the hell are you talking about?!" Cinder gasped.



"We were assigned to infiltrate Beacon," Ren said in his usual deadpan. Nora nodded quickly.



"All hail Queen Salem! Goddess of the Dark! Inventor of the Baconator!" Nora declared, thrusting her hammer up into the air.



"And get close to Pyrrha Nikos, who Ozpin would likely give the rest of the Maiden Powers to," Jaune stated, "AND get close to Ruby Rose, the bearer of the Silver Eyes! Can you imagine what kind of evil we could do if BOTH of them were twisted to our side?"



Cinder's jaw dropped.



"B-But... But... You're an idiot, you're useless-!"



"And yet," Jaune stated smugly, "I've got them both wrapped around my finger. They'd agree to a threesome if I played my cards right. With my Aura Amp abilities plus their powers AND the Maiden abilities, Salem could have an ARMY of super-powered warriors to conquer Remnant with!"



He threw his hands up in the air.



"UNTIL YOU FUCKED IT ALL UP!"



"B-B-But-!"



"Vale falling NOW will just unite all the other Kingdoms together!" Jaune said in exasperation. "They're already working on a fix to the CCT virus! And killing off Penny is pointless, she's a gynoid. SHE CAN BE REBUILT. All this is gonna do is drive all of humanity to unite AGAINST US. Hell! Vale's defenses are fighting back! They're going to reclaim the city very soon! Your little attempt at destroying all of Vale is turning into a wet firecracker! What do you think Hazel's gonna say, huh?!"



Cinder was utterly flummoxed. The story sounded insane, and yet... How could he know all this if he wasn't telling the truth?



"Honestly, I think Salem was setting you up to fail," Ren stated. "Think about it. She probably thought you were going to usurp her."



"M-M-M-Me?!" Cinder cried. "I would never-!"



"You're a slave who wanted to be free," Jaune stated coldly, "And instead you got a new master. Do you really think she wouldn't see you as a potential threat? You think she'd give you these powers just out of the goodness of her black heart? No, Cinder. You were meant to fuck up my mission, and yours."



Cinder gaped in horror. It... It was all too clear... Impossibly... But it was the only explanation her paranoid, cynical mind could come up with!



Even now, as she looked outside, she could see that the Grimm were being driven back. The White Fang forces were fewer and fewer in number. Fires were going out around Vale proper.



"But... But that means...!" She looked back at Jaune in fear. "You're here to kill me!"



Jaune sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.



"No... See? I want to kill that bitch too. And you would be a big help. I mean, revenge right? You love revenge. I love revenge."



"We all love revenge!" Pyrrha beamed.

 

[Eclipse Staro]

If SI Jaune decided to go streaming.



Inside JNPR room, Jaune was setting up his computer. The rest of his team went to Forever Fall to collect some syrup for Nora.

Jaune: "Hey guys, welcome to my channel. I'm your host, Jaune Arc and this is Knight Arc."

Miss Ara Ara: I'm liking this already.

Three Scoop:

Nearby party poppers shot purple confetti into the air.

Jaune: "So today I'm going to talk about Aura. The stuff that Huntsman and Huntress use when fighting Grimms and protecting people."

Jaune: "First, what is Aura?"

Jaune: Lets see if I can remember how Salem explain it.

Jaune: "Aura is a manifestation of the soul, a life force that runs through every living creature on Remnant, whether they are a meager shopkeeper or a renowned knight."

Dommy Mommy: That was an excellent explanation of Aura.

Ding~

*Dommy Mommy has donated 500 lien.*

Jaune: "Oh wow. Thank you for the money Dommy Mommy."

Cookie Monster: That amount of lien could buy me a hundred cookie.

Kaboom: A hundred cookie? That much money could get me a suitcase of military grade Dust.

Terra Top: Tell us more about Aura.

Jaune: "Right back to Aura. What do Hunter use Aura for? Aura can be used to create energy barrier that covers your whole body, activate Dust and heal minor injuries."

Jaune: "Now, some of you may think Aura is only useful to fight Grimm. Right?"

Banana Split: Yup.

Cream and Pie: Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, YES.

Jaune: "WRONG!"

Jaune made an X with his hands.

Jaune: "Yes, Aura is extremely useful against Grimm but there are other way to use Aura beside fighting. Observe."

Jaune puts a seed in a pot and water it. Then he began putting aura into the pot and minutes later a fully grown tomato replaced where the seed was.

Jaune: "That was Aura Growth, useful to grow plants quickly. A techniques that created by yours truly."

Kunoichi: Sugoi Knight-sama.

Bell Booty: This could help a lot with crops growth.

Will Low: As expected from our knight.

Jaune: "You're right Bell Booty but this technique is quite draining on Aura. I have a lot of Aura so this doesn't really drain me much but if anyone else my age tried this, they be sleeping for a whole day to recover. Still this proves that Aura can be used besides fighting Grimm."​

Jaune: Hmmm, Zwei has his Aura unlocked thanks to Ruby. What happen is I do that to a dolphin?

Jaune: "I'm going to give you explanation on how to unlock your Aura. Now before any of you even want to try to unlock your Aura after this, I want to give some warning. First, unlocking Aura will attract Grimm to you. It's like a holding a bright sign saying I'm here to your enemy. Second, unlock your Aura in safe place. Either be in a place with lots of protection or in a place with no Grimm. There's a reason why Vale has wall after all."

Bold Luck: Huntsman here. He's not wrong, you should unlock your Aura at a safe place.

Winter Cold: Wise word. Always take precaution when dealing with Aura.

Green Fast: He's right. Heed the warning well.

Jaune: "As far as I managed to find out, there are two way to unlock your Aura. The safest way and the dangerous way. The former is by asking a someone that already unlock their Aura like a Huntsman or Huntress to unlock your Aura for you. Most will use chants, it's more common than you think."

Wild Guy: Say what now?

Hihehahohu: Chants? Like spells?

Cucumber: Guess Aura is like magic huh?

Prepper: It's not a cult thing right?

Ignoring the chat, Jaune continued.

Jaune: "The latter is you will unlock your Aura after being in a dying situation. Let's say you got attacked by a Beowolf and have a huge wound on your stomach. If you're lucky, ssomeone managed to deal with the beowolf and help you get healed. If you survived dying, your Aura will have a chance of getting unlocked. The chances of you unlocking your Aura by this method is 1 in ten thousand."

Jaune let that statement sinks into his audience for a moment.

Jaune: "With Aura, comes Semblance. Now Semblance is-"

Suddenly the rest of Team JNPR enters the room.

Ren: "Jaune, we need to go the city. We are out of some food ingredients and Dust."

Jaune: "Sorry folks. Guess that's all for today."

Three Scoop:

Melon Lady: Noooo. Too fast.

Bun Bun: Wait what about Semblance?

Dark Green: Do Semblance next stream.

Stream Ends.​

Spoiler: Interesting Finds

I felt like I have read a fic where SI reincarnate as Neopolitan Brother. Anyone knows the name if it exist?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I wanted to write something else, but then this happened:

- - -

Cinder went through the transfer papers one more time. It was late, Emerald and Mercury were already asleep, and yet... She couldn't let it go. She had to make sure it was all perfect, every bit.

This plan... It was everything. Everything she had worked for, everything she had bled for.

She sighed as she looked out the safehouse window. She narrowed her eyes as she saw a familiar form climb out of the window next door and get up onto the roof.

"Idiot," she muttered. She rose and walked to the window. She opened it and then jumped out and up, climbing to the roof. The power of the Maiden thrummed under her skin, and almost felt strongest under the moon. How curious.

She put the sensation out of her mind as she glared at Jack.

"Why are you still up?" She demanded, "You should be resting. You're no good to anyone if you're exhausted."

Jack grimaced and bowed his head. It was strange how easily she could scold him. He actually cared about her opinions, even though if he willed it, she would be killed.

Not now, not when she had the Maiden's power... Well, half of it... But still.

"Sorry," Jack admitted, "I had the dream again."

Cinder stared at him, taken aback. Only the sounds of honking cars and the wind filled the city night. She shook her head slowly.

"You shouldn't... Worry about things like that," she said quietly.

"I do," Jack stated calmly, staring into her eyes. "I got careless, while you were taking the Maiden power."

"You..."

Cinder sighed. Her mind was cast back to that day. It should have been a triumph: They'd cornered Ozpin's Maiden. She had insisted on wandering alone wherever she wished. Her bodyguard, the unlucky drunk swordsman, was distracted. They'd fallen upon her and despite her power, they had taken her down. They were draining her of her magical power.

The power... It was what Cinder had craved all her long life. Even now, she felt so much more. More than some scullery maid or slave.

The swordsman had arrived sooner than they thought. Jack, in his cloak, had thrown himself into battle against him. Despite Jack's skill and training, despite anything else his mother may have done...

He had gotten struck across his chest. Blood had erupted from his armor. Cinder had called it off, and they'd retreated under a hail of flames she had conjured up. Mercury had carried Jack while Emerald cast illusions to cover their escape.

It had been a near thing. Thankfully, Branwen had been more concerned with the dying Maiden than them. Jack's Aura had healed him, and they'd gotten away.

Even so... It was an unacceptable... Interruption of their plans.

"You did get careless," Cinder stated in flat angry tones. Even as a chill went up her spine at the memory. "The Maiden Power is important. Half of it in our possession is... Is better than losing you."

Jack stared at her. Her eyes narrowed.

"Your mother would make me suffer the worst pain and agony imaginable if I lost you," she said in quiet anger.

Jack nodded.

"I know... But if I hadn't, you'd have been cut in half."

That... That was true. Qrow Branwen may have been a drunk, but he was formidable. He'd brushed past Emerald's illusions, parried Mercury's strike with contemptuous ease. If Jack hadn't been there...

"... Still," Cinder sighed, "You really shouldn't be out here. With us."

Jack looked away from her, onto the lights of the city.

"... I should know what the human world is like," he said, "Where I came from... Before we destroy it. I should know what it was before Mother wipes it clean. The New World won't be better unless we know what the Old World was like, right?"

Cinder snorted. Salem's overall plans were vague, at best. She promised power, influence, and a place in a new order. That was enough for her.

"It's not worth remembering," Cinder opined, walking up and sitting next to him. Jack stared at her.

"But you, Emerald, and Mercury came from it. So did Mother, long ago."

"So?" Cinder demanded.

"So," Jack said, looking back out at it, "It can't be all bad."

She was not blushing. She was not.

Honestly, she needed to nip this in the bud. Now. He'd been confusing and vexing her since they'd met, and with how crucial this operation was? They couldn't afford any distractions.

With that in mind... She decided to be direct.

"... If you wanted to woo me... If-If you wanted me," Cinder said, almost nervous, "You just had to ask."

Jack looked at her in confusion.

"Huh?"

Cinder glared, even as her cheeks burned bright red.

"You... You want me, don't you? As... As your woman? I... I'd be willing to do it. You... You'd just have to order me! So why... Why are you doing all this?"

Jack blinked rapidly. He blushed.

"What?!"

"Isn't... Isn't that why you're doing all of this?" She demanded. "The kindness? Defending me? The... The personal entreaties? You're trying to make me care for you, aren't you? Why bother? I... I'm bound to your service! You could make me do anything you want!"

Jack blinked a few times. He cleared his throat as his face burned red.

"Cinder... Y-yeah. I could do that. But... You were already a slave. Already forced to do things you didn't want to do. Why would I want you to suffer like that?"

"I... You have power over me," Cinder explained, exasperated and angry, "Why wouldn't you abuse that power over me?! Why are you playing these games?!"

"I don't know what you mean, Cinder," Jack said, "I just care about you. I want you to be happy."

Cinder's jaw dropped. She stared at him in utter disbelief.

"I... But... Wh-Why?!" She finally demanded.

Jack shrugged.

"I like you. I like Emerald and Mercury too, but... I like you the most. You're strong, you're smart, you... You treat me like a normal person. You look after me." He smiled gently. "And I think you're beautiful. And I just want you to be happy."

She looked at her knees, feeling like a lost little girl again.

"... Why would you want that?" She whispered.

Jack scooted up to her.

"If I have power over people I care about, why wouldn't I want them to be happy?" He asked. "I don't like the idea of anyone I care about suffering or being in pain. You... You make my life better."

He leaned in a bit.

"Do... Do you care about me too, Cinder?"

Cinder was silent for a while, the city ambiance washing over them. She sucked in a deep breath.

"... If I said yes, what would you want me to do?" She asked, soft as a butterfly wing.

"Only what you wanted to do," Jack said earnestly.

Cinder sighed and shook her head.

"You're a sentimental fool, you know that right?" She muttered.

Jack smiled.

"Yeah. That's why I'm lucky to have you around."

Cinder snorted, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

"You don't have to answer or anything," Jack said, "Just... Ya know... That's how I feel."

He looked out at the world again. Cinder looked out with him.

"I still think this is a mind game of yours," Cinder admitted.

Jack blinked a few times.

"I was never good at those," he admitted, "Uncle Hazel always won... Or lost...?" He frowned. "I don't know for sure."

Cinder snorted again. He scooted up a little closer. She sighed and leaned against him.

"... You're a hopeless idiot," she muttered.

Jack nodded with a smile.

"I know."

"I might just use you for my own purposes," Cinder muttered again.

"I know that too."

She scowled.

"Do you have to be so sincere?! You're going to get us caught at Beacon."

Jack coughed.

"Sorry..."

Cinder grumbled. She felt his arm go up around her shoulders, and she let him hold her. He was very warm and it was a little cold out.

"Just... Don't do anything stupid, all right? Leave everything to me," she ordered.

Jack chuckled.

"I always do..."

- - -

Yang Xiao-Long sighed as she walked back towards the dorms. Her gym session had run overly long due to some stupid drama between Blake and Weiss, she'd missed dinner-In a word, she was done.

She walked the Beacon campus, grumbling under her breath... When she smelled food. She followed her nose, and her eyes soon located the source:

Jaune Arc, of all people, sitting on a bench and looking up at the sky. He had a to-go box of chicken fingers and fries, with some sodas. Her mouth watered. Okay, so it was greasy and unhealthy as fuck: At this moment, she didn't care.

"Hey VB."

Jaune looked away from the stars, startled. He then sighed.

"Oh, hey Yang," he said. "Late from the gym?"

"Yeah," Yang said with a nod, "Thought you were training with Pyrrha?"

"We had to cut it early due to a call from her mom," Jaune explained. He picked up a chicken finger and put it in his mouth, chewing softly.

"Mind spotting me some food?" Yang asked with a grin, "I missed dinner."

She leaned over and winked at him. Hey, if he was sharing some food, she may as well be nice... And tease him a little. She loved doing that.

Strangely he didn't even seem to notice. He just nodded and went back to looking up at the sky. Yang frowned a little, but soon her stomach growled and she walked over to sit next to him. She dug in happily, enjoying the greasy goodness.

"So," she said, after dousing her hunger with some food, "Why are you out here, anyway? Thinking up love poems for Weiss?"

She popped a soda and drank it. Jaune shook his head.

"No. Just remembering my brother. This was the day he..."

He trailed off, and shrugged.

Yang paused and set the soda can down. She looked at Jaune, really looked at him. His body language could often be overly dramatic but it was rarely so... Down.

She put it together in an instant.

"Oh... I'm sorry," she murmured. "I can go if-"

"No, no, it's cool," Jaune said, shaking his head, "Um... I mean, you're still hungry and... And I can't eat all this myself."

Yang nodded slowly. She ate, though more slowly. Jaune kept staring up at the sky.

She hesitated.

"... You... Want to talk about it?" She asked. Jaune shook his head.

"I... I mean... You probably don't want to-"

"If you want to, that's okay," Yang said gently. Jaune turned to stare at her. He shrugged.

"It... Not much to say," he admitted. "His name was Jack. He was my twin. We were... We were five. On a camping trip around Argus. We were just having fun near the edge of the campsite... We'd found this really cool stick and... Well... We were walking back to the tents. We were still in sight of them so our parents thought it would be safe."

He looked away, back at the sky.

"There was a perimeter breach," he said, "Grimm were on us in no time. My mom and dad... They were Hunters, so they fought them. My big sister tried to get to us but... An Ursa charged through the trees. I..."

He stared at his hand. His tone remained cold and detached, even as it shook.

"Jack got separated. My sister got me... Tried to get to Jack, but the Ursa roared. So many other Grimm charged... My dad threw himself into the fight. He cut through them... But more and more came and... And we had to run."

Yang stared at Jaune intently. He didn't look grief stricken so much as... As tired. Aged.

"When the Rangers got control again, my parents went back in," he said, "They... They searched everywhere. We tried to months, scoured all over the park, but..."

He bowed his head. Yang bit her lower lip, before she reached out. She rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"That's horrible, V... Jaune," Yang said softly.

He glanced at her hand, and for a moment Yang thought about pulling away. Even though a warm hand and some comfort was all she had ever wanted when Summer had...

He nodded, a wan smile on his face.

"... Thanks," he mumbled. He looked back towards the stars again. He sighed.

"I... That's kind of why I'm here, I guess," Jaune muttered, "My parents wanted me to do something safer. Tried to discourage me, but... I don't want that to happen to anyone else."

Yang nodded.

"I... I get it," she murmured. "My mom... She was amazing. A great Huntress. She was basically my hero. She died on a mission when I was five so... So I don't remember her well but she was just amazing. And losing her was..."

Jaune looked back to her. He rested his hand on hers, and squeezed it.

"Yeah," he murmured. He shook his head. "I'm sorry about her."

"I'm sorry about your brother," Yang said quietly.

"I-I mean... I know that... There's nothing I could have done," Jaune admitted, "Nothing I could have tried. I was a kid... But..."

Yang nodded slowly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean," she said. "You hate feeling weak. You hate feeling helpless. You don't want to... To go through that. Or let anyone else go through that again."

She still remembered how terrified she'd been when those Grimm had closed in on her and Ruby in the woods. How helpless she had felt, how loudly Ruby cried... The relief when Qrow jumped in and saved them, and the guilt over putting her little sister into danger.

Jaune nodded back with similar gravity.

"Yeah... Exactly,"

Jaune sighed. He grabbed another chicken finger and ate it. She did the same. They chewed in silence as they looked up at the stars.

"We'll make them proud," Yang stated impulsively, "We... Both of them. I promise."

Jaune looked over at her and smiled. And despite the sorrowful feeling over them both, she couldn't help but feel warmed by it. Just a little.

"Yeah. Yeah, we will..."

- - -

Click to shrink...

- - -

It was a Saturday when the first exchange students began to arrive. Throughout the day, students from all across Remnant filtered into the great Academy: Most Vytal Hopefuls, though a few were seeking better education prospects or for various reasons had to start late.

Even after the hustle and bustle of the foodfight that morning, Pyrrha was in much better spirits than she had been last night. Going back and forth with her agent and manager and mother, ugh. It was so difficult trying to keep them from turning her back into the Invincible Girl.

The Vytal Tournament was an unexpected saving grace: She was given fewer "public duties" to attend to train for it properly. The fame she could have by winning Vytal would hopefully help manage keep the people running her life happy. Happy enough to leave her alone.

Part of her wanted to just throw the whole thing. Fail. She'd never failed at anything in her life, nothing important. What would it feel like, to lose?

That disappointment in the eyes of her mother and guardians... Only a few months ago it would have frozen her soul dead.

If not for Jaune.

Her smile though wasn't very bright today. It wasn't the punishment detail: She bore it stoically with Jaune, Ren, and Nora as they cleaned up the mess.

Team RWBY was with them too-After all, they'd caused at least half of the damage.

Yang was mopping up nearby. Jaune mopped alongside her, with Pyrrha.

"Easy Yang, you don't want to throw your back out," Jaune consoled, "Nice, smooth strokes. Like this."

He demonstrated across the wooden floor. Yang chuckled.

"I'm not that old and gray, ya know!"

"Yeah, but it's good to save your joints," Jaune said with a smile. Yang winked.

"Got any plans for my joints, Ladykiller?"

Pyrrha flushed. Jaune coughed and shrugged.

"Ah, well... Training would be nice. Later."

"Can't wait to get me all hot and sweaty, huh?" She asked.

"No flirting!" Glynda Goodwitch commanded from the chair she was sitting in at the head of the cafeteria.

"Wonder that she recognizes it," Yang muttered. A stick jumped up and swatted her backside. "EEP!"

"Enough lip!" Goodwitch commanded. Yang pouted and walked over to mop with Ruby. She still threw a smile at Jaune: One he returned. He turned the smile over to Ruby who smiled back encouragingly.

Weiss ignored him entirely, scrubbing the windows with a sour look while Blake and Ren scrubbed the floors. Nora helped though she had been restricted to a toothbrush.

No one was going to let her have anything bigger after the broom incident.

Still, Jaune and Yang kept exchanging looks. Warm ones.

Pyrrha's chest clenched up. She moved a bit closer to Jaune, easily matching his mopping motions.

"Everything... All right between you and Yang?" She asked Jaune softly. It was a nice neutral question.

"Hm? Oh, yeah," Jaune said quietly. "Just... Last night was tough."

Last night? What had she missed?! It wasn't Jaune's birthday or the birthday of any of his family members!

... So she'd asked for someone to investigate Jaune. It was just sensible, to make sure he didn't have any colorful characters in his background or potential obstacles to their wedding!

It wasn't weird!

What was so... Oh. Oh. Now she remembered.

His brother, Pyrrha thought mournfully. She should have been here for him. She should have been there to offer comfort.

"... I'm sorry," Pyrrha said quietly, "About... Whatever it might be. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you..."

She swallowed her regret.

"But I'm glad Yang was."

Jaune smiled gently.

"It's all right. It's part of why I'm here, after all. To protect everyone like..."

He looked towards the door. His eyes went as wide as dinner plates. His jaw and mop dropped. Pyrrha looked towards the cafeteria doors as well... And her own eyes widened in disbelief.

- - -

The campus was every bit as beautiful as Jack Arc imagined. Bright, vibrant, with ancient ruins and gorgeous gardens and fountains.

Even now he could see some touches from his mother in the architecture: The lines and the columns. It spoke of something familiar yet strange, like some murderer disguised as a loved one.

There was danger here. He knew it. He smelled it. Yet here was his mission.

And, as he felt Cinder's hand in his, the woman he loved.

She gave him a little smile as they walked hand in hand. Last night... Last night was amazing. He'd never felt anything like what had happened. So close, so warm...

Was this truly love? No wonder all men pursue it so hard, Jack thought.

Jack recalled the ancient stories, of when Enkidu was introduced to the joys of men with a woman. That had led to Enkidu learning the ways of men, fighting Gilgamesh, then becoming the greatest of friends-Brothers in all but blood. Until Enkidu died and Gilgamesh was left with nothing.

It was only a story. Even older than his mother. Yet where those men had found tragedy, Jack had found nothing but joy.

Well... Mostly. Emerald's glare at his back was a bit distracting.

"Emerald, do try not to be so stiff," Cinder murmured, "You're attracting attention."

"Sorry Cinder," Emerald murmured.

"Hard to imagine why," Mercury muttered. He took Emerald's glare with grace... And shot Jack a small, impressed smile. One Jack returned.

Cinder elbowed him.

"Don't strut," she muttered. Jack smiled warmly at her.

"Sorry," he said quietly, "But am I not entitled to do so?"

Cinder's smile warmed just a bit more.

"Charmer," she murmured.

His heart was light. He looked ahead past the various students to the cafeteria. His smile grew.

"I'm hungry," he said. "Let's go see what they have for food here."

"We need to check on the tower security first," Emerald interjected. She wilted at Cinder's glare. "But uh... I could go for something to eat."

"Same," Mercury said with a smirk. Emerald grumbled.

"Food would be nice," Cinder said, "It would also be good to gather more intel."

They headed towards the cafeteria. Jack gallantly opened the door for Cinder. She graciously went ahead. Jack walked after her and he took her hand again. He looked into the cafeteria, up at the tall walls, the beautiful windows, the stains of food and wrecked furniture...

And a young man in a Beacon school uniform with messy blond hair. With a face as familiar as looking in a mirror. He dropped a mop he had been holding and was gaping in disbelief.

Jack's heart froze in his chest. The bottom of his stomach fell out. His eyes shot wide.

Cinder tensed up. Emerald gasped. Mercury swore under his breath.

"Jack?" The young man croaked.

Memories. Distant memories. Of playing together in the grass, of a warmly smiling blonde woman. Of many happy sisters, and a tall father who hugged him and carried him on his back.

And of being abandoned. Of surviving long cold nights, hungry and scared... Until Watts came for him. Until he brought Jack to Mother.

His real mother.

Only then had he known true love. True kindness. True happiness.

He clenched his fists as anger rose in his chest. Burning and hot like fire.

It was a lie. It had all been a lie. His biological parents had abandoned him. His siblings had never cared for him!

"Jaune," he ground out.

He was going to let loose with every angry word and thought he'd built up over these years. He was going to let this-This bastard have it all!

You abandoned me! You didn't care for me! You never loved me! Mother loved me! You didn't even think twice about me, not once, not-!

Jaune sprang forward, faster than a pouncing Griffon... And hugged Jack. He began to sob, loud and ugly and relieved.

"Jack! JACK!"

Jack's anger... Died away. His twin was crying like a baby, holding him so tightly it was almost painful.

Everyone else stared at them. Jack knew their names, profiles, and weaknesses like the back of his hand, yet... None of it seemed to matter.

His arms twitched. He let go of Cinder's hand even as she tried to hold on. His arms wrapped around Jaune, stiff and uncertain yet...

"Who-Who is this?!" The white haired girl gasped in disbelief.

Jaune pulled back just a little as he smiled in joy, his tears running down his cheeks.

"It's my brother! It's Jack! He's alive... He's alive!"

Jack felt a few tears fall from his own eyes. He reached up and wiped them away as though he was doing it to someone else.

There was only one thought in his mind he could hear over the pounding of his heart:

Am... I Enkidu... Or Gilgamesh?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune and Ruby were baking in the kitchen, just the two of them.

Jaune: Man, I forgot how relaxing this is. Just me and a cute fun girl baking... Didn't get to do that a lot in my old life, but when I did, it was great!

Ruby: "What's your thing about pumpkin, anyway?"

Jaune: "What can I say? I love pumpkin spice throughout the year. Especially with chocolate."

Ruby: "Hmph! I don't like these soft cookies. They seem like muffins but cut short."

Jaune: "What's wrong with muffins?"

Ruby: "I don't like mixing my desserts!"

Jaune: "But what about that cookie cake-?"

Ruby: "It doesn't count! Cookie cakes are just big cookies, not cakes!"

They giggle a bit. Jaune beams at her.

Jaune: "It's been a while since we did this. I'm glad."

Ruby: "Y-Yeah, well, um..." mumbles "I'm used to it."

She turns back to the oven. Jaune frowns.

Jaune: "Used to what?"

Ruby: "Ohhh geez I said that out loud... Um... Don't panic, maybe he can't hear this-"

Jaune: "Ruby?"

Ruby: "EEP!" She tries to shoot away with her Semblance... But Jaune catches her in a hug.

Jaune: "What did you mean, 'I'm used to it'?"

Jaune: I've never heard Ruby sound so bitter... Not until the later seasons. Oh God, did I do something to make her suicidal?! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

Ruby: looks aside "I... W-Well... I-I mean... You're dating my sister now."

Jaune: "Yeah... And?"

Ruby: "Well, uh... Ya know..."

Jaune: "I don't."

Ruby: "C-Come on! You acted all socially awkward when we met but now you're like this-this super friend having... Person!"

Jaune: Oh shit that's right... I guess it would come off as kind of weird and scary, me getting the memories of some guy from another universe...

Ruby: "And before Beacon... People at Signal were friends with me just so they could be friends with Yang! But they didn't want to be friends with me! So, you know, I get it! Why bother with plain old baby sister Ruby when you can just have-!"

Jaune: "RUBY!"

Ruby started. Jaune flushed: He didn't mean to yell that loudly.

Jaune: "Ruby... Look. I'll admit I've... I've gone through some... Changes. When I unlocked my Aura, I... Well... Things changed. Maybe it's my Semblance, maybe it's something else. I don't know. But if I've been neglecting you, my best friend? I'm sorry. That's my fault."

Ruby: "I... Y-You haven't-"

Jaune: "And if I am? You should call me on it. Yes, I'm dating Yang. That wasn't my intention-She asked me out, remember? But I am happy with her. But I'm not going to use that relationship as an excuse to neglect you. You're my bestie. So get that out of your head: I care about you both, and I value you both."

Ruby: flush "You... You said you loved us."

Jaune: "Yeah... And I meant it. That means all of you. Just... Please remember I'm not psychic, okay? I screw up a lot. But I never want you to think you're just a means to an end, Ruby. Ever."

Ruby is bright red. She sniffs the air.

Ruby: "AH! THE COOKIES!"

They yank them out. Fortunately they're not burnt-It was just some crumbs that got overheated.

Jaune: "Phew..." He smiled at her. "No harm done."

Ruby: "We... We really need to have these big emotional talks when we're not baking something."

Jaune: "Yeah, yeah we do."

Ruby: "Still, I mean..." smiles shyly "Thanks."

Jaune: smiles back "You're welcome."

Ruby: sigh "Now I just have to deal with all my other psychological baggage."

Jaune: "It's a journey, not an instant fix. But hey... You're brilliant and amazing at Huntress-ing. I'm doing okay at leadership and other stuff. We'll help eachother."

Ruby: giggles "You're... You're like so corny! Like a character out of Blake's non-porn Mistral stuff!"

Jaune: sighs "Here you people tell me I'm too negative, and now when I'm being positive, you're still not happy. Women, honestly."

Ruby: "Hee!" hugs him from behind "You're stuck with us!"

Jaune: "Don't I know it."

He pats her fondly on the head. She blushes.

Ruby: "So... Um... Speaking of... Sort of... You and Yang."

Jaune: "Yeah?"

Ruby: "You uh... You gonna get married or-or something?"

Jaune: "Why's everyone in such a rush? We just started dating. Yes I care for her very much but until we both decide to go that route? No."

Ruby: "Oh... So there's still a chance for a harem ending?"

Jaune: "... I'm going to burn Blake's books."

Ruby: "HA! Shows what you know! I got the idea WAY before I met her!"

Jaune: "Well, I'll say this for you, Ruby: Your sense of humor has nothing on Yang's."

Ruby: Blush "HEY!" She huffs "You know, I was going to-to pick you up on the rebound if things didn't work out with you and Yang, but now maybe I won't!"

Jaune: Geez, like mother like daughter...

Jaune: "Please, you said I'm a harem protag. You'll be joining in before you know it."

Ruby: "HA! In your dreams!"

Jaune: Or nightmares...

- - -

This is honestly just stress relief writing. I want to write more substantial stuff but I don't have the mental focus right now. So, here you go. The literary equivalent of fried pickles.

Click to shrink...

Jaune and Yang met in a nightclub downtown one night. They danced and had fun... But Yang's mind was elsewhere.

So they took a break and sat down at a table to talk.

Jaune's Brain: Weird, I'm not deafened. I can actually listen to dialogue in a loud place. Huh!

Yang: "Man... Didn't know you had good footwork on the dance floor too!"

Jaune: "Seven sisters. Endless dancing lessons when they needed a partner."

Yang: "Heh! It shows!" She beams

Jaune: "You self-taught?"

Yang: "I mean I got some lessons from Sister Lavender at the church."

Jaune: "Really? You're a Table Breaker?"

Yang: "I mean... Sort of? Mom... Summer... Was devout. Dad? Not so much. We went when he was... Not well. Free meals every Sunday and Ruby loved her little dresses."

Jaune: nods

Yang: "You?"

Jaune: "My dad is a Paladin in the church. Mom goes and encouraged us to join too but she's less devout. Comes from being a doctor, I suspect."

Yang: "Heh... Does it bother you?"

Jaune: "Nah. And relax, I'm not gonna try to convert you or anything."

Yang: "I know."

They sip their drinks.
Yang: "Hey... Uh... Ruby wanted me to apologize."

Jaune: "For what?"

Yang: sighs "I uh... Well, when she mentioned you two were baking I uh... I got a little..."

Jaune: "Come on Yang. You being shy is cute sometimes but I also like my gal to be her fiery self."

Yang: sighs "I was a little jealous of my little sister. So, you know... She said I should sort my shit out." Glares "She didn't cuss until she met you, Sergeant Sewermouth."

Jaune: "I learned from my father that it's the only way to command. A leader who doesn't curse isn't fit to run a burger joint according to him."

Yang: "He's a Paladin of the Church?"

Jaune: "Well he never takes the Lord's name in vain, everything else just requires some penance and prayer. It's how he became a Paladin!"

Yang: giggles "You know... I am sorry if I've been a little, uh... What's the word Blake used?"

Jaune: "Yandere?"

Yang: "Yeah, that."

Jaune: "Nah. Weiss and Blake's heads aren't in a trash bin, you're okay. Still... Am I doing anything to make you worry so much, Yang?"

Yang: "No! ... Well..." grimace "I mean, I've... Gone out with boys before. Some real jerks who changed their tune the second I hit puberty. Some sleazebags who made friends with Ruby just to get a chance with me. But the second I didn't want to go all the way because of Ruby, well... They just ran off. You... You're just... Different."

Jaune: "Good different?"

Yang: grins "You're like... Well... A man."

Jaune: "Good start."

Yang: "Heh. You know what I mean. You don't strut like Neptune or try hard like Sun. You keep your cool in a fight and... I dunno... Do dad stuff. Or what a dad is supposed to do."

Jaune: "Well... Thank you?"

Yang: "You really need to learn how to take a compliment. But yeah... I just saw how the others started to eye you. Blake started sniffing around. Weiss, well... She's in denial but she clearly likes you. And Pyrrha..."

Jaune: "Yeah, she's... It's complicated."

Yang: "And well... One's a rich heiress. Another is a Faunus princess. Pyrrha's a celebrity champion-"

Jaune: "And you're you, Yang. You're a kickass fighter and biker chick who loves her little sister and is a great cook! You can be feminine, soft and warm and fiery and smashy! I mean... I love that you don't fit into a box. You're you, Yang. And I'm an old-fashioned guy: You don't have to worry about me straying."

Yang blushes deeply. She looks deeply into his eyes.

Yang: "I know. I'm... Not so worried about you."

Jaune: "Listen. We've just started dating." He squeezes her hands "All right? I care for you."

Yang: "You also love the others."

Jaune: sighs "I'm never living that down, am I? I mean philia, friendship or family love. Though..."

Yang: "Though?"

Jaune: sighs "I mean... It's not like I haven't noticed. I swear, there isn't a single bad looking woman here. And well... Urgh... Headmaster Ozpin's got me schmoozing with female transfer students... And Pyrrha well. She kind of confessed to me."

Yang: tenses

Jaune: "I made it clear we're together to her, and she accepted it. I just want you to know so we don't have any stupid misunderstandings. You are my girlfriend, Yang, and I'm your boyfriend. That's not going to change unless we decide to break up or..."

Yang: "Or?"

Jaune: smiles "Or we get married."

Yang: flush "Heh... With a dozen kids?"

Jaune: blush "Er, it's... An Arc thing... Only if we get that far. I'm not in a hurry and... And I want to build a future together. With someone who wants that with me, too."

Yang: "G-Geez... You know... If anyone else said that, I'd say it was corny as hell."

Jaune: "And... So?"

Yang: "It's still corny as hell..." She slides up against him and nuzzles him "But it works for you."

Jaune: "Heh, thanks." He nuzzles her back

Yang: "Still... You know, with all this female attention, another guy might be tempted to try and make a harem."

Jaune: "One, that kind of shit works ONLY if everyone is in the know and agrees to it and even then, it would be hard. Two? Only an idiot would cheat on women who could beat the shit out of him with superpowers."

Yang: giggles "I'm not hearing a no to the harem part though."

Jaune: "You're also not hearing a yes."

Yang: "Heheh... Like I said. Dad energy."

Jaune: "I have only just begun to tap into it. For instance: I tried to date two women named Kate and Edith. They found out and we broke up. Which just proves you can't have your Kate and Edith too."

Yang: "HAHAHA! Did you hear about the new dating site that matches women up with construction workers?"

Jaune: "Nope!"

Yang: "It's called Studfinder."

Jaune: "Hahahaha!"

Militia and Melanie stare over at them.

Militia: "Can we kick them out?"

Melanie: "They aren't starting trouble."

Militia: "But those puns!"

Melanie: "I don't know... Her boyfriend's kind of cute. Maybe we could steal him from her?"

Militia: "I like my teeth where they are, thank you very much."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -



Isabel Arc stirred as the front door opened. In an instant, her faculties returned from her deep REM to fully aware. She enhanced her senses of scent and hearing and listened to the footsteps of the person entering the house. Her heart rate slowed and she relaxed as she recognized who it was in an instant.



She got out of bed and headed down the stairs, the red light of the late afternoon sky shining through the windows. She rushed down the steps, every creak and pop comfortingly familiar, dashed through the living room and right into the kitchen.



"Nick!"



Nick smiled at her happily, sitting down at the table. He was filthy, his hair askew, his beard dusty, his clothing covered in dirt and leaves. He set down a leather messenger bag on the table with care though-As though it held something precious.



Lilac thoughtfully poured her father a jug of beer, which he downed happily. While he did that, Isabel hugged him-Something he returned with one massive arm as he drank deep.



"Haaa... Beer, hugs, home: Best things ever," Nick chuckled as he finished. He kissed his wife, as Lilac thoughtfully took the mug and turned away in embarrassment at her parents' show of affection.



"Mmm... You all right?" Isabel asked urgently. Nick nodded.



"I'm fine. Had to take down a few Griffons."



Isabel's eyes shot wide open. Her jaw dropped. Lilac dropped her mug and gaped at her father in shock.



"Griffons?!" They both gasped. Nick nodded.



"Yup. They were pretty tough. Carolina was able to take out their wings with the 50 Cal and Caboose used the rocket launchers to keep them grounded. Damn hard to fight them until we got them on the ground." He brightened. "Then I just hacked them apart with Joxeuse here!"



He patted his trusty railgun sword as it hung off his back. Isabel groaned in exasperation.



"NICK! Why didn't you get me?!"



"Wasn't time," Nick grunted, "They were going to attack Spondel. You couldn't get there that fast and they weren't gonna wait. Sides, you needed your sleep!"



"Why were you in Spondel?!" Isabel demanded, "That's thirty minutes away!"



"Well, we've culled the majority of the Grimm around Radian," Nick said with a shrug, "They called for aid. I wasn't gonna ignore them, Izzy! Not with so many of our best fighters off in Vale!"



Isabel groaned. As much as she might call her husband an idiot, he was perfectly logical when it came to combat.



"Still... Griffons. We haven't seen those around Radian in almost a century," she shuddered.



"Are more of them coming, Dad?" Lilac asked urgently. Nick smiled at his daughter and reached out to squeeze her hand comfortingly.



"Nah. The National Guard's finally in place with their anti-Grimm batteries around the Valley. We should be all right."



Isabel sighed in relief.



"Still, I wish I was with you," she muttered, touching her forehead to Nick's.



"Me too," Nick said with a nod, "I could have thrown you at them, and you could have torn their wings off. Like when we fought that Garuda in Jaipur. Remember?"



"Which one?" Isabel deadpanned, recalling the several battles they had fought to liberate the kingdom of Pandu with their old teammates Prince Arjun and Saia, "We fought three, then the REALLY big one King Duryodhana summoned right in Hastinapur."



Nick hummed and nodded. A furious battle in the middle of a major metropolitan city against a gigantic flying demon Grimm under the control of a mad despot did tend to stick in one's memory.



"Good point. Man, was he a jerk. It wasn't even fun to fight him after a while." Nick held his hands up. "He was all like 'It is useless to resist my power! You have supported Arjun in vain! I am a god and you are mere insects!'"



Isabel managed a giggle at her husband's bad impression.



"He was quite the blowhard," she agreed, "No wonder his own Grimm ate him: Anything to shut him up."



"Yeah, but Arjun totally got the win," Nick nodded, "He hit him last. It's only fair."



Isabel sighed.



"Any word from them?"



Nick's good mood soured and he became a bit pensive. Lilac poured him another beer, which he nodded his thanks to before drinking.



"Radio's picking up some messages. CCT net gets some updates. I hope Orchid's work fixes it soon, cause what I've seen is bad."



Isabel steadied her nerves with her Semblance.



"How bad?" She asked.



Nick heaved a long sigh.



"Jaipur got attacked by one of the factions in Mistral's civil war."



Isabel's lips thinned as Lilac gasped. Jaipur was the biggest trading city between Pandu and Mistral, and one of the busiest ports in the world. It was the gateway to Anima for much of the planet.



"Attacked?"



Nick scowled.



"A Mistralian air battleship attacked with missiles. Hundreds are dead at least, and the walls were deliberately breached in many key areas. They also herded Grimm in to assault the city before they were shot down."



Isabel's jaw dropped.



"That's... Insane," she muttered, "The factions in Mistral need support of other kingdoms to win this civil war. Using Grimm like this will just alienate everyone or make the conflict worse! The only reason you'd do that is..."



Her eyes widened in realization.



"If that's what you wanted to happen," she whispered.



Nick nodded. Lilac moved closer. Isabel reached out to squeeze her hand comfortingly.



"Arjun thinks the same thing," Nick said quietly. "He's getting yelled at by his entire Council to retaliate against all the factions in Mistral, since they're all claiming they didn't do it. But given this happened right after the Vytal attack... He thinks it's a false flag."



"But Mistral's still at war," Isabel sighed, "Which means that the next attack may not be a false flag and it will drag them and every other semi-independent kingdom into it anyway."



"Mm," Nick nodded slowly.



"I don't understand why any humans would do this! This chaos across the entire world all at once doesn't benefit anyone!" Isabel scowled thoughtfully. "It's like something out of the old legends. The Witch Queen of Argus claimed she had a darker, more dread master who wanted to overthrow the world of Men and Faunus..."



"So did Duryodhana, before he died," Nick said gravely. Isabel shook her head.



"At the time I thought he was just insane. All the things he'd done to himself for power... But now..."



Isabel scoffed.



"Not that the words of a thousand year old legend or a dead madman would count for anything."



"We... Have some witnesses from the Vytal attack," Lilac said carefully.



Isabel and Nick looked at her. Lilac shrugged. Isabel nodded slowly.



"We do," she agreed, "But... How much weight will a few teenagers' words have when an entire continent is at war?"



"Arjun would listen," Nick said brightly. Isabel gave her husband a deadpan look.



"Arjun will need proof."



"We'll see what we can do," he said, "We just have to ask them, maybe get their Scrolls and look through the information, maybe go back and see-"



"Nick!" Isabel growled. "They have been fighting for their lives for weeks now! Fighting even though I told you not to put them in! Especially Jaune!"



Nick nodded.



"They needed the rest, I don't disagree," he said, "But we needed the help, Izzy." He brightened in pride.



"You should have seen Jaune! He led his people so well! They never hesitated to obey an order! He threw himself into the thick of it and kicked so much butt! It's amazing how far he's come-"



Isabel rose out of Nick's lap and glared angrily at him.



"He is our son!"



"And he's chosen his path," Nick said calmly. "I'm letting his friends rest and relax because they need it... But they're going to go back out into the fight eventually, Izzy. You know this. He lost too much to stay away."



The healer and the paladin stared at one another. Isabel's gaze was tight, anxious, and angry. Nick's was grave but serene. After a tense silence Isabel sighed deeply.



"Maybe," she muttered, "But I don't have to accept it."



Nick nodded, as Lilac turned away to mind her own business at the sink.



"I know."



Isabel looked out the window. A familiar group of Hunters-in-Training were riding a wagon down the road into the farm.



She hurried out the side door to greet them. She smiled as the outdoor lights came out, illuminating the group in the horse drawn wagon as they came up the drive.



"Hey! How did... You... Do...?"



Jaune stepped out first, covered in blue feathers, grass and dirt. The rest of the teens looked similarly disheveled and exhausted-Save for Nora, who wore a crown of blue feathers around her head.



"... Choux birds?" Isabel guessed, and even with her Semblance of Total Body Control, it was difficult not to giggle.



"Yup," Jaune stated flatly.



Isabel sighed.



"Well, it could have been worse," she said. She beamed.



"And I think you've all earned a reward!"



"Do we get to fry the little bastards up with oil?" Neptune growled.



"No, but even better!" Isabel cheered. "Hot springs!"



"Hot springs?" Everyone not an Arc echoed in confusion.



- - -



Isabel got them a few piles of soap and towels and led them into the nearest stand of trees by the farmhouse. They walked down a dirty path lined with stone lanterns, which Isabel lit with a Fire Dust lighter as they passed each one.



They finally came to a small clearing where a small Fuujin-style building stood. It was boxy and made of dark wood timbers which framed white walls. The faint aroma of sulfur in hot water drifted over their noses.



"A bathhouse?" Neptune asked in immediate interest. Isabel nodded with a nostalgic smile on her face.



"Yes. This was my father Jonathan's wedding present to my mother, Elizabeth, when they built the farmhouse. The Arcs have a lot of relatives from Fuujin thanks to my great-grandfather Kiritsugu Arc. This is just one of many bathhouses they built across the valley thanks to the hot springs in the area."



"Wow," Ruby murmured, "I've only seen these in Mistralian animes!"



Yang opened her mouth but Isabel gave her a smile.



"It's all right. Your arm's waterproofing just had to set. You'll be all right."



"YEAH!" Nora cheered. "This'll be like that time we rested in those hotsprings with those monkeys who used tools! Remember that, Renny?"



"Unfortunately," Ren deadpanned.



"Um," May flushed, "Will it... I mean... Will we all be... Uh...?"



Neptune was practically chomping at the bit. Cardin flushed and tried not to look Velvet's way. The rabbit Faunus also blushed but was smiling softly at her boyfriend. Arslan was glaring death at Neptune, while Yang moved closer to Ruby. Jaune was carefully covering his mouth with his hand and coughing.



"It's small but very comfortable," Isabel went on. She then gave Neptune a knowing look. "And segregated by sex."



"Wha-Oh," Neptune drooped in disappointment. Arslan held up a hand to strike him. "N-No! No! That's cool! That's-Totally cool, Mrs. Arc!"



Jaune choked back a little laugh. Ruby and Yang snorted as well. Ren smirked very slightly. Arslan lowered her hand as Neptune sulked a bit.



"Now, girls to the right, boys to the left," Isabel ordered, as she pressed some Lightning Dust into an electrical receptacle and the entire bathhouse lit up, "Get washed up, grab your towels, and dive in!"



- - -



On the men's side, Jaune slid into the hot water with a soft sigh. The warm waters of the hot springs just seemed to ease his stress away as he sank down and sat on the cement bench. It wasn't a huge bath-The female side out of necessity took up about two-thirds of the available space, as evident by the tall wooden wall separating them-But it was roomy enough for about ten men to not get uncomfortable. It was also open air for the moment, and he looked up at the stars as they shone down through the gaps in the trees.



"As much as I appreciate this, Jaune," Neptune grumbled, sitting down near the lone rock in the center of the bath, "Your mom is no fun. I mean, Mistralian hot springs are all about appreciating the beauty of the female form in its natural glory!"



"You do realize his mom and his sisters are over there, right?" Cardin asked, sitting down in one of the deeper parts of the bath as he scowled at the blue haired young man, "And my girlfriend?"



"I wouldn't peep at her!" Neptune protested with his hands up, "I mean, not much!"



Cardin glared and lifted a fist. Neptune waved his hands.



"I mean... I'm only joking! Really!"



"Yeah, it's fine," Jaune said with a nod, "But can you tone it down a little, Neptune?"



Neptune frowned. Ren slid into the bath and began to meditate in silence. Neptune sighed.



"Yeah. Sure," he mumbled. "Just... I dunno... I miss my team, ya know? I don't know if they're alive or dead and-"



He immediately looked over at Jaune, his eyes wide in realization.



"Shit, Jaune, I didn't mean-"



"I get it," Jaune grunted, his eyes downcast. His neck was tense and his fists clenched. Ren too became tense. Cardin grit his teeth and glared at Neptune. The blue haired young man opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, then looked down at his hands in the hot water. He sighed.



"I'm sorry," he mumbled.



"It's hard on all of us," Ren said calmly. "It will... Take time to heal."



"I just... It's so unreal," Neptune continued, unable to meet anyone's eyes, "One minute, everything's fine. We lost the tournament but... Ya know... We did our best. Then everything... Everything... It all falls apart."



He gripped his knees tightly.



"... I thought I knew where I stood with my team," he muttered, "Sure, Sun would always run off to do his own goddamned thing, but in a fight? There was no one more dependable... Until now."



Neptune glared at the water. It began to swirl around him in a small whirlpool.



"My best friend ran off on me. All just for a girl. In the middle of a fucking war. That's the kind of shit even I wouldn't do," Neptune growled, "Not in the middle of a disaster! Okay, I'm a horndog! I admit it! But you don't just... Just abandon your friends in a fight for pussy!"



The water churned angrily, becoming frothy. Neptune shut his eyes.



"Now I don't know if that bastard's alive or dead! I don't know about anyone else! I don't know and it's pissing me off and I can't do SHIT ABOUT IT! I can't even joke and lighten the fucking mood properly! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, ALL RIGHT?!"



The waters surged up around him, before falling away. Neptune panted hard with his eyes shut tightly. He tried to regain his calm.



He felt a hand touch his shoulder. He started and looked up. Jaune stood there with his towel tied securely around his waist. His face was stony but he was forcing his calm calm.



"I know," he said quietly. "I know."



Neptune grimaced then looked away. He let Jaune's hand linger for a few moments longer, before brushing it off.



"Come on. Despite what Scarlet says, I'm not interested in anything involving men in a bathhouse," he muttered.



He looked back up. Jaune smirked a little.



"You do try a little too hard," he observed.



"Yeah, you compensating for something, Neptune?" Cardin asked with a toothy grin. "Miss your boyfriends?"



"Oh fuck off, I'll have you know I've gotten more women than any of you combined!" Neptune shot back with a scowl, but on the inside there was a smile. "Beacon was just a rough patch for me!"



"Sure it was," Jaune said as he walked back, "That why you couldn't dance with Weiss until I made you?"



"I uh... Well..." Neptune shrugged, "Again. I was thrown off. She came on so aggressively! I'm not into that, which is why Arslan and I will only be friends... Unless she drops the tsundere act."



"I get the feeling she sees you as an annoying little brother," Jaune said, "And given how many siblings I have? It's a familiar sight."



"Ha!" Neptune laughed, "I'll win her over! And May! And Orchid-Okay maybe not her," he amended at Jaune's glare, "You can't begrudge me dreams of having a harem, bro! Not with your record!"



"I don't know what you're talking about," Jaune stated flatly. Neptune scoffed.



"Come on! Ruby's all over you! Weiss couldn't stop talking about you just before we broke up! Yang, I mean, she clings to you and Pyrrha..."



He trailed off at the angry look on Jaune's face. He bowed his head.



"Fuck," he muttered, "I'm sorry..."



Jaune grit his teeth and worked his jaw. Ren reached out to rest a hand on his forearm. Jaune stilled, but the fury was still in his eyes.



Cardin sighed.



"Yeah... Well..."



Nick Arc chose this moment to bound into the bath, his towel secure around his waist.



"WOOHOO!"



He jumped in, causing a massive splash that drenched every man in the bath. Jaune rose out of the water sputtering.



"DAD! WHAT THE HELL?!"



"What?" Nick grinned through his now very wet beard, "It's a bath! You jump into baths!"



"Don't make me throw you out again, dear!" Isabel shouted over the wall. Nick huffed, sat down, and crossed his arms like a petulant child.



"Hmph... Just wanted to have some fun," he muttered. He shook his head and looked at the scowling boys. He brightened.



"Rough day?" He asked.



"For some of us," Cardin grunted, glaring at Neptune. Neptune winced.



"I'm sorry. Really," he emphasized. "Just... Kind of lost without my friends."



"Well, good news!" Nick said cheerfully, "I have news about that! And some for you too, Cardin!"



Neptune and Cardin instantly perked up.



"Really, Mr. Arc?" Cardin asked. Nick nodded.



"Yup! It's a big mess without the CCT but we've got volunteers at the city hall and Militia HQ writing down radio messages. I've got the handwritten ones back at the house but I memorized a few about your friends when we got responses!"



"That's great, Dad!" Jaune said with a tight smile, "Anything from Atlas? Or-Or Menagerie?"



"Some," Nick allowed, "I had to tell your mom them too, she'll be telling the girls. Anyway! The Jolly Roger, Scarlet's dad's ship, has joined the Valean Defense Forces and has been assigned to defend against any further attacks from the White Fang. Scarlet and Sage are aboard and just fine."



Neptune sighed in relief.



"Anything about Sun?"



Nick frowned and shook his head.



"Nothing beyond him going to Menagerie. Sorry about that."



"No, no, that's great news," Neptune grinned, immediately looking like a weight was lifted from his shoulders.



"Anything from Vale about my family?" Cardin asked urgently. Nick turned and nodded to him.



"Turns out Councilman Winchester is one of the few survivors of the Valean Council. He's been organizing defenses, leading the survivors, trying to do diplomatic... Stuff... He's just fine. Nothing about your mother or sister though." He frowned.



"Sorry."



Cardin shook his head, managing a little smile.



"No... It's okay. They were both out of the country at the time-They should be all right. I'm just glad to hear my dad's all right."



"I always liked his speeches," Nick mused, "Very violent! He smashed the podium one time! Definitely not boring!"



The absurdity made Jaune scowl.



"Wha-Since when do you watch politics, Dad?" Jaune asked in disbelief. Nick grumbled.



"Your mother makes me watch during election years. Hmph." He looked to his son.



"As for your other friends? We think Weiss made it to Atlas. They've sealed their borders and gone to AlerCon 2 though, so news is hard to come by. Mistral's in full on civil war right now and all of Anima's up in arms, so they're obviously busy."



"I see," Jaune murmured, "At least she's all right... Probably."



Nick nodded. He clapped his hands.



"Well now... Enough doom and gloom. This is a place to relax! Duty will still be there in the morning. But we must rest to remember what we fight for."



Ren nodded in approval. Cardin grinned. Neptune's smile became much more relaxed.



Jaune managed a small smile at his father, who even now looked like a wise, skilled warrior of old. He was half the reason he wanted to become a Huntsman in the first place, after all. These moments where he was every bit like their forebears. The Arc Knights of old.



"To start with..." Nick slid next to Cardin with a grin. He clapped him on the shoulder. "So! How did you and Velvet hook up? She's a real cutie and a spitfire! Reminds me of Izzy when we started dating!"



... An Arc Knight of old who was gossiping like a teenaged girl. Jaune grimaced. Cardin sputtered.



"Uh, um, w-well uh... It kind of started when I pulled on her ears-"



"Oh! She's into that sort of thing, huh?"



"N-NO!" A pause. "Sort of?"



"Dad!" Jaune groaned.



"Come now Jaune! As fellow men, we must salute our brother in achieving the dream of many," Nick said, holding a fist up in the air while crying manly tears, "Dating a hot girl who is also a powerful warrior! Girls who can't kick your ass are boring! Isn't that right honey?"



"Absolutely!" Isabel shouted back. Neptune paled.



"Can... They hear everything we're saying?" He muttered.



"Just me!" Nick laughed. "Whispering's for DORKS!"



- - -



Hot Springs Part 2 will come soon. Everyone will be in towels, there will be nothing sexual about it, so let's all stay cool. Worse comes to worse I'll post the girls' side on QQ only.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune and Yang met in a nightclub downtown one night. They danced and had fun... But Yang's mind was elsewhere.



So they took a break and sat down at a table to talk.



Jaune's Brain: Weird, I'm not deafened. I can actually listen to dialogue in a loud place. Huh!



Yang: "Man... Didn't know you had good footwork on the dance floor too!"



Jaune: "Seven sisters. Endless dancing lessons when they needed a partner."



Yang: "Heh! It shows!" She beams



Jaune: "You self-taught?"



Yang: "I mean I got some lessons from Sister Lavender at the church."



Jaune: "Really? You're a Table Breaker?"



Yang: "I mean... Sort of? Mom... Summer... Was devout. Dad? Not so much. We went when he was... Not well. Free meals every Sunday and Ruby loved her little dresses."



Jaune: nods



Yang: "You?"



Jaune: "My dad is a Paladin in the church. Mom goes and encouraged us to join too but she's less devout. Comes from being a doctor, I suspect."



Yang: "Heh... Does it bother you?"



Jaune: "Nah. And relax, I'm not gonna try to convert you or anything."



Yang: "I know."



They sip their drinks.



Yang: "Hey... Uh... Ruby wanted me to apologize."



Jaune: "For what?"



Yang: sighs "I uh... Well, when she mentioned you two were baking I uh... I got a little..."



Jaune: "Come on Yang. You being shy is cute sometimes but I also like my gal to be her fiery self."



Yang: sighs "I was a little jealous of my little sister. So, you know... She said I should sort my shit out." Glares "She didn't cuss until she met you, Sergeant Sewermouth."



Jaune: "I learned from my father that it's the only way to command. A leader who doesn't curse isn't fit to run a burger joint according to him."



Yang: "He's a Paladin of the Church?"



Jaune: "Well he never takes the Lord's name in vain, everything else just requires some penance and prayer. It's how he became a Paladin!"



Yang: giggles "You know... I am sorry if I've been a little, uh... What's the word Blake used?"



Jaune: "Yandere?"



Yang: "Yeah, that."



Jaune: "Nah. Weiss and Blake's heads aren't in a trash bin, you're okay. Still... Am I doing anything to make you worry so much, Yang?"



Yang: "No! ... Well..." grimace "I mean, I've... Gone out with boys before. Some real jerks who changed their tune the second I hit puberty. Some sleazebags who made friends with Ruby just to get a chance with me. But the second I didn't want to go all the way because of Ruby, well... They just ran off. You... You're just... Different."



Jaune: "Good different?"



Yang: grins "You're like... Well... A man."



Jaune: "Good start."



Yang: "Heh. You know what I mean. You don't strut like Neptune or try hard like Sun. You keep your cool in a fight and... I dunno... Do dad stuff. Or what a dad is supposed to do."



Jaune: "Well... Thank you?"



Yang: "You really need to learn how to take a compliment. But yeah... I just saw how the others started to eye you. Blake started sniffing around. Weiss, well... She's in denial but she clearly likes you. And Pyrrha..."



Jaune: "Yeah, she's... It's complicated."



Yang: "And well... One's a rich heiress. Another is a Faunus princess. Pyrrha's a celebrity champion-"



Jaune: "And you're you, Yang. You're a kickass fighter and biker chick who loves her little sister and is a great cook! You can be feminine, soft and warm and fiery and smashy! I mean... I love that you don't fit into a box. You're you, Yang. And I'm an old-fashioned guy: You don't have to worry about me straying."



Yang blushes deeply. She looks deeply into his eyes.



Yang: "I know. I'm... Not so worried about you."



Jaune: "Listen. We've just started dating." He squeezes her hands "All right? I care for you."



Yang: "You also love the others."



Jaune: sighs "I'm never living that down, am I? I mean philia, friendship or family love. Though..."



Yang: "Though?"



Jaune: sighs "I mean... It's not like I haven't noticed. I swear, there isn't a single bad looking woman here. And well... Urgh... Headmaster Ozpin's got me schmoozing with female transfer students... And Pyrrha well. She kind of confessed to me."



Yang: tenses



Jaune: "I made it clear we're together, and she accepted it. I just want you to know so we don't have any stupid misunderstandings. You are my girlfriend, Yang, and I'm your boyfriend. That's not going to change unless we decide to break up or..."



Yang: "Or?"



Jaune: smiles "Or we get married."



Yang: flush "Heh... With a dozen kids?"



Jaune: blush "Er, it's... An Arc thing... Only if we get that far. I'm not in a hurry and... And I want to build a future together. With someone who wants that with me, too."



Yang: "G-Geez... You know... If anyone else said that, I'd say it was corny as hell."



Jaune: "And... So?"



Yang: "It's still corny as hell..." She slides up against him and nuzzles him "But it works for you."



Jaune: "Heh, thanks." He nuzzles her back



Yang: "Still... You know, with all this female attention, another guy might be tempted to try and make a harem."



Jaune: "One, that kind of shit works ONLY if everyone is in the know and agrees to it and even then, it would be hard. Two? Only an idiot would cheat on women who could beat the shit out of him with superpowers."



Yang: giggles "I'm not hearing a no to the harem part though."



Jaune: "You're also not hearing a yes."



Yang: "Heheh... Like I said. Dad energy."



Jaune: "I have only just begun to tap into it. For instance: I tried to date two women named Kate and Edith. They found out and we broke up. Which just proves you can't have your Kate and Edith too."



Yang: "HAHAHA! Did you hear about the new dating site that matches women up with construction workers?"



Jaune: "Nope!"



Yang: "It's called Studfinder."



Jaune: "Hahahaha!"



Militia and Melanie stare over at them.



Militia: "Can we kick them out?"



Melanie: "They aren't starting trouble."



Militia: "But those puns!"



Melanie: "I don't know... Her boyfriend's kind of cute. Maybe we could steal him from her?"



Militia: "I like my teeth where they are, thank you very much."

Click to shrink...

Jaune did have more cooking skills than me, but I had more experience. So together, we-I mean, I-was able to cook breakfast for the teams pretty successfully almost every day.



Bonding with food was a great way to help solidify bonds, and hopefully it would help Ruby out with her team, too. Especially since I invited her to help me cook a lot.



Today's breakfast was crepes... And at Ruby's insistence, we made some of them into dessert crepes.



Nora: gasp "You made like... A thin pancake and transformed it into a burrito for fruit, ice cream, and chocolate?!"



Jaune: "Yes."



Nora: eyes shining "What is your church so I may worship the creator of this amazingness?!"



Jaune: "One step at a time, Nora."



Nora: "Oh, so there's an initiation thing?"



Jaune: "Something like that..."



Weiss: "I think I'll take one with yogurt, fruit and nuts please? My teeth hurt just looking at them."



Jaune: "Sure thing, Weiss."



Ruby: "That's how you know it's tasty!"



Weiss: "Do you know the LD50 for sugar, Ruby?"



Ruby: "Ugh, no! And why do people keep asking me that?!"



Nora devours the crepe eagerly. She looks to Jaune.



Nora: "Can I have seconds, Jaune? Please? Pretty please?"



Jaune: "Sure!" He prepares another... And notices that Ren is a bit tense.



Jaune's Brain: Shit... I've got to be a bro to Ren. I'm not some NTR protagonist, no thank you!



Jaune: "And I'll teach Ren how to do it for you too."



Nora: gasp "REALLY?!"



Jaune: "Sure will!" smiles "He's your number one guy for breakfast, after all."



Nora: "In general!" hugs Ren "Will you learn how to make these fancy pancake tacos for me, Renny? Will you?"



Ren: ghost of a smile "I will."



Nora: "YAY!"



Nora eats happily. Ren takes his own crepe and nods gratefully to Jaune. Jaune just smiles back.



Jaune's Brain: Screw those ArcNora shippers. This is too precious to ever want to break up...



Yang: "Hey! Your beautiful girlfriend wants breakfast, Jaune~!"



Blake: "Mmph..."



Pyrrha: "Please don't forget me either?"



Jaune: "Hang on, hang on..." He gives Yang and Pyrrha crepes with some ham, eggs and fried veggies "There you go, perfect protein starter pack for my beautiful girlfriend and partner, and..." Blake perks up at her crepe "A salmon egg and potato hash for our resident cat ninja."



Ruby: "Should have put in more syrup!"



Jaune: "I didn't put in any."



Ruby: "Exactly!" pouts



Jaune: "Easy Ruby. You're starting to sound like Nora."



Nora: "What's wrong with that?"



Jaune: "Nothing... But it would get confusing."



Nora: "How? I mean, I'm an actual ginger and she's just a pretend redhead!"



Ruby: "WHAT?! I am too a redhead! Just... Um... A dark one!"



Nora: "Nuh uh! I'm gingeriffic! I have gingervitis!"



Ruby: "That's not a real thing! Just like LD50 or whatever!"



Weiss sighs. She eats her breakfast and looks at Jaune.



Weiss: "You know... It's actually pretty good."



Jaune: "Thanks."



Weiss: huffs a little "My father would have a conniption if he saw me eating this fare."



Jaune: "So... Seconds?"



Weiss: small smile "If you please?"



Jaune turns to the stove... And Mint is standing there.



Jaune: "GAH! How'd you get in here?!"



Mint: points at Ruby's ice cream laden crepe, then at herself



Jaune: "Oh... You want some?"



The disguised Neo nods. Jaune sighs and switches to sign language.



Jaune: "<Just give me a minute. What toppings do you want?>"



Mint blinks, then signs back:



Mint: "<All of them.>"



Jaune: "Makes it easy..."



Ruby: "Oh! Hey new friend! Welcome! Do you like crepes too?"



Mint: smiles



Jaune: "Nuts about them."



Weiss: "You can't just come in here uninvited-!"



Jaune: "It's cool Weiss. I take it as a compliment when random people come in to ask for my cooking."



Ruby: "Ooh, me too!"



Pyrrha has a wary look on her face. Yang scowls as Mint seems to hover all over Jaune.



Jaune finally finishes the crepes with icecream and toppings, and hands it to Mint.



Jaune: "Here you go."



Mint takes a few licks... Bites... Then finishes it all with gusto. She beams at him.



Jaune: "Another?"



Mint nods.



Jaune: "Sure..." Jaune prepares another, and his own crepe. He then finally sits at the table across from Yang... And Mint slides into his lap. "Uh..."



Mint smirks and takes her time eating her crepe, as Yang, Ruby, Weiss, Pyrrha, and Blake scowl. Nora and Ren are busy with their breakfast.



Jaune: "Um... There's another chair over there."



Mint: "<I'm fine here. Aren't you?>"



She winked. Jaune sighed.



Jaune: "No."



Mint: "<Tough.>"



Jaune's Brain: Goddamnit... I had to get the universe with the flirty Neo, didn't I?



Sun: "Hey! What smells so good?"



Neptune: "Yeah, we were stopping by and..." He gapes at Jaune "GODSDAMNIT! I TOLD YOU! HE'S A DAMN HAREM PROTAGONIST!"



Jaune: rolls his eyes "Shut up Neptune."



Neptune: "But-But-!"



Jaune: "Don't hate me for your lack of skill."



Neptune gapes like a dying fish.



Mint waves her hand in front of her face with a smirk.



Yang smirks a bit... But her eyes are still red as she glares at Neo.



Jaune's Brain: Hoo boy... Gotta nip this in the bud quick... Freaking chaotic shortstacks...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Cowboys of Remnant: "Now That I've Found You..."

- - -

Pyrrha knew many different kinds of smiles. Soft and warm smiles for television interviews, indulgent smiles for private meetings with bigwigs, politely uninterested smiles for pushy fans. They all came with a certain level of detachment, and so she always felt so very... Plastic. Like a hollow mannequin.

She exited out of the warm building into the crisp evening air, the sights and sounds of Vale's late afternoon filling her senses. She was in a classic incognito outfit: A long blue skirt, cream white blouse with a blue jacket, a blue and red headscarf and sunglasses. Her mother and agent flanked either side of her, and Pyrrha did her best to not look like she was tuning out their conversation.

"I just don't see the need for her to be a singer too," her agent Teucer Salamis said, "Sure it's a great look but she's not going to outsell Weiss Schnee any time soon-"

"Come now, she's wonderful at it!" Athena insisted with a smile, "She's raw clay, just needing to be molded!"

Yes. Molded. Like a plastic doll, into whatever form needed or required.

"She's got a great voice, Athena," Teucer sighed, scratching the back of his curly head of hair, "But you heard the recording guy: She's all technique, no passion. I just don't see a break out. Plus, crossing over from athletics into the arts is tough. And after that movie-"

"We're not bringing that up again," Athena growled. Pyrrha's smile was slightly more genuine. That movie had been utter hell and frankly? She was glad it had been a box office bomb so she didn't have to do it again. Getting yelled at by a director to manipulate her emotions and having to put up with her mother's manipulations at the same time for months on end...? Ugh.

She did feel bad for the cast and crew though. At the very least they did get paid before the movie premiered.

She heard a guitar strumming nearby. A song she recalled... One that Jaune liked to play... She wondered what he would think of her movie. Maybe he'd laugh at it with her...

Jaune! She needed to train with him again! She checked her watch: It was so late, she was late!

"Pyrrha? What's wrong?" Athena asked, concerned. "Do you need more rest?"

"Yes!" Pyrrha immediately said, a bit too loud. Athena's stare intensified. "I-I mean um... I do need to focus on the Vytal Tournament, Mother. Maybe we should keep side projects to a minimum until that is concluded?"

Athena and Teucer both stared at her as though she had grown a second head. Pyrrha's eyes widened in disbelief.

Did... Did I just say that out loud?

That song... It had reminded her of Jaune. It had reminded her of who she wanted to be.

Teucer recovered first, smiling wryly.

"She's got a good point, Athena," he pointed out, "She's got enough pressure on her as it is."

"I..." Athena hummed. "I suppose... That said, it's something to consider..."

The guitar music was getting louder. Pyrrha zeroed in on the source. Her green eyes widened again.

Jaune?!

Athena sniffed as she saw the young blond man in a poncho and Stetson, playing his guitar up against one of the columns of the building.

"I thought security cleared this place? I don't want a vagabond around my daughter!" She growled. She turned to Teucer. "You should call them to escort him away at once and-"

"N-No! No, I know him!" Pyrrha insisted. Athena gaped.

"What? You know him?!"

"Jaune!" She called out.

The cowboy looked over and smiled brightly. He walked over to her, tucking his guitar under his arm.

"Howdy Pyr! You were running a bit late so I decided I'd wait for you," he said, "Hope you don't mind? Oh, howdy ma'am." He took his hat off and smiled kindly, holding out his hand.

"Mrs. Nikos, right? Name's Jaune Arc, I'm Pyrrha's partner at Beacon."

Athena glared. She slowly held out her hand and took his. She shook it once before pulling her hand back with a hint of disdain.

"Charmed," she stated flatly. Anger swelled in Pyrrha's chest.

How dare you look down on him! Pyrrha raged. How dare you...!

"Do you make it a habit to wander around like a vagabond, Mister Arc?" Athena asked dryly. Jaune shrugged.

"There are my work clothes, ma'am. I'm just used to them," he said.

"R-Right, um, we need to get to our training," Pyrrha said urgently.

"Wait, you can't just-!" Athena insisted, but Pyrrha shot Jaune the most desperate look she could manage.

Please...!

Jaune nodded, and whistled.

Moments later, Orleans galloped up, making Athena shriek and Teucer yelp as she landed right beside Jaune. Jaune mounted her, and held out his hand to Pyrrha. She leaped on with him, and Jaune grabbed the reins of his noble steed.

"Sorry Mother, Teucer. We'll have to meet again some other time!" Pyrrha cried out. Jaune pulled on the reins and Orleans neighed loudly before she galloped off like a shot. Pyrrha held onto Jaune's waist tightly, and didn't let go until the skyscrapers of Vale had receded into the distance.

Jaune brought Orleans to a halt on a plateau with a beautiful view of the city, the mountains, and Beacon gleaming like a giant pearl. Some old white ruins and trees were their own companions, as Pyrrha lit off Orleans and took some deep breaths.

Jaune slid off next, and after patting Orleans, walked up to the redhead.

"Pyr? You all right?" He asked softly.

"Y-Yeah, just..." She smiled at him in a mixture of worry and gratitude, "I just... My mother is... Difficult."

Jaune slowly nodded, letting out an uncomfortable grunt.

"I figured," he said quietly. "You want to talk about it?"

Pyrrha opened her mouth. She wanted to explain. She wanted to just spill everything. She wanted to bare her soul...

Yet still she hesitated. She looked away, clenching her fists.

"Hey," Jaune said softly, "If you don't want to, that's fine. Ain't gonna pry-"

"I-I wish you would!"

She grimaced. She hadn't meant to get that loud, that angry...

She turned back and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. Jaune stared back at her, and adjusted his hat.

"It's all right," he said softly. "Ain't nothing to be sorry for."

Pyrrha sniffled and nodded.

"... Thank you," she murmured.

Silence fell, save for Orleans munching on some grass. Jaune clearly searched for something, anything to say... He sighed.

"So uh... What was the meeting about?" He asked.

Pyrrha grimaced.

"They uh... My mother wanted me to try singing," she said, "Professionally."

"Oh?" Jaune smiled. "I reckon you'd be good at that."

"I..." Pyrrha shook her head. "I've been trained for it. But well... The recording man said I..."

"What?"

"... That I lacked passion," Pyrrha admitted quietly. How strange: She felt ashamed admitting it to Jaune.

He just smiled, pulled his guitar around, and sat down on a rock. He tuned his instrument up a bit.

"Well... Maybe you just need to find your passion," he said. "What were they having you sing?"

"Some pop standards," Pyrrha said with a shake of her head, "I... I mean, they're okay but not... Not the kind of music I like."

"Well, what would you like to sing?" Jaune asked with a soft smile. Pyrrha smiled back.

"... That... You were playing it while waiting for me," she said.

"Well then... Let's give it a try," he said. "I would hate it if you grew to hate music cause of all this."

Pyrrha smiled. All her negative feelings this entire day being in a recording studio, gawked at, directed to do whatever... And here was Jaune. A bright light in her life.

"If you could... Please...?"

Jaune's smile grew. He began to strum his guitar, and tap his boot on the ground in time. Pyrrha nodded along, letting the beautiful scenery, the music, and the young man she loved. She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. Her voice was tired. She was tired. Yet... The music came as though from her very heart.

"Baby, now that I've found you
I won't let you go~
I build my world around you
I need you so, baby even though
You don't need me now~..."

"Baby, now that I've found you
I won't let you go~
I build my world around you
I need you so, baby even though
You don't need me
You don't need me no no~..."

Tears fell from her eyes as the song just filled her from head to toe. Because Jaune was seeing her. His smile burning with love and care. It was just... Just too much...!

"Baby, baby, when first we met
I knew in this heart of mine~
That you were someone I couldn't forget
I said right and abide my time..."

"Spent my life looking for that somebody
To make me feel like you~
Now you tell me that you want to leave me
But darling, I-I just can't... let you...!"

Jaune stopped and looked at her in concern. He got up as she continued to sob softly.

"Pyrrha?! Pyrrha, you-you okay?" He asked desperately. She sniffled and smiled at him.

"I... I'm fine," she whispered. "Just, um..."

Say it.

"I..."

Say it...!

"I..."

I love you. I want to be everything to you. I can't say it. I just can't say it. What would Mother do? What would happen if she wanted to destroy you? What if you didn't feel the same way? I'm only one girl. You could have so many others, so many braver ones. Why would you want me?! The cowardly Invincible Doll who hides behind a plastic smile and even when she's singing her heart out she can't even be honest why why why-?!

Jaune hugged her tightly. She sank into his embrace, and sighed softly.

"I'm just... Tired," she murmured in defeat. "Sorry."

He stroked her back.

"It's been a long day," he agreed. He smiled. "Come on. Let's get you home, huh?"

"Yes," she nodded.

Coward, she thought to herself as they remounted Orleans, That was the perfect moment... The perfect moment...!

Jaune twisted around in the saddle and held her tightly.

"It's all right," he said softly, "When you wanna tell me? I'll listen. You never have to be afraid of bein' honest with me. I promise."

She melted. She leaned into his back and held him as he got Orleans galloping towards the school.

One day, she promised herself, one day... I'll find it in myself to be honest with him.

One day.

- - -

A bit of Arkos. It came out as a stream of consciousness and maybe not as well put together as I would like. But here it is.

Originally I thought this song would fit Weiss better, and I do intend to do a musical interlude with Weiss as well. Music has always been a key part of Westerns for me: See The Dollars Trilogy and that fantastic score. But ultimately I realized this would be better as Pyrrha's song to Jaune. Her trying desperately to express something she's just too afraid to through music rather than words.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune did have more cooking skills than me, but I had more experience. So together, we-I mean, I-was able to cook breakfast for the teams pretty successfully almost every day.

Bonding with food was a great way to help solidify bonds, and hopefully it would help Ruby out with her team, too. Especially since I invited her to help me cook a lot.

Today's breakfast was crepes... And at Ruby's insistence, we made some of them into dessert crepes.

Nora: gasp "You made like... A thin pancake and transformed it into a burrito for fruit, ice cream, and chocolate?!"

Jaune: "Yes."

Nora: eyes shining "What is your church so I may worship the creator of this amazingness?!"

Jaune: "One step at a time, Nora."

Nora: "Oh, so there's an initiation thing?"

Jaune: "Something like that..."

Weiss: "I think I'll take one with yogurt, fruit and nuts please? My teeth hurt just looking at them."

Jaune: "Sure thing, Weiss."

Ruby: "That's how you know it's tasty!"

Weiss: "Do you know the LD50 for sugar, Ruby?"

Ruby: "Ugh, no! And why do people keep asking me that?!"

Nora devours the crepe eagerly. She looks to Jaune.

Nora: "Can I have seconds, Jaune? Please? Pretty please?"

Jaune: "Sure!" He prepares another... And notices that Ren is a bit tense.

Jaune's Brain: Shit... I've got to be a bro to Ren. I'm not some NTR protagonist, no thank you!

Jaune: "And I'll teach Ren how to do it for you too."

Nora: gasp "REALLY?!"

Jaune: "Sure will!" smiles "He's your number one guy for breakfast, after all."

Nora: "In general!" hugs Ren "Will you learn how to make these fancy pancake tacos for me, Renny? Will you?"

Ren: ghost of a smile "I will."

Nora: "YAY!"

Nora eats happily. Ren takes his own crepe and nods gratefully to Jaune. Jaune just smiles back.

Jaune's Brain: Screw those ArcNora shippers. This is too precious to ever want to break up...

Yang: "Hey! Your beautiful girlfriend wants breakfast, Jaune~!"

Blake: "Mmph..."

Pyrrha: "Please don't forget me either?"

Jaune: "Hang on, hang on..." He gives Yang and Pyrrha crepes with some ham, eggs and fried veggies "There you go, perfect protein starter pack for my beautiful girlfriend and partner, and..." Blake perks up at her crepe "A salmon egg and potato hash for our resident cat ninja."

Ruby: "Should have put in more syrup!"

Jaune: "I didn't put in any."

Ruby: "Exactly!" pouts

Jaune: "Easy Ruby. You're starting to sound like Nora."

Nora: "What's wrong with that?"

Jaune: "Nothing... But it would get confusing."

Nora: "How? I mean, I'm an actual ginger and she's just a pretend redhead!"

Ruby: "WHAT?! I am too a redhead! Just... Um... A dark one!"

Nora: "Nuh uh! I'm gingeriffic! I have gingervitis!"

Ruby: "That's not a real thing! Just like LD50 or whatever!"

Weiss sighs. She eats her breakfast and looks at Jaune.

Weiss: "You know... It's actually pretty good."

Jaune: "Thanks."

Weiss: huffs a little "My father would have a conniption if he saw me eating this fare."

Jaune: "So... Seconds?"

Weiss: small smile "If you please?"

Jaune turns to the stove... And Mint is standing there.

Jaune: "GAH! How'd you get in here?!"

Mint: points at Ruby's ice cream laden crepe, then at herself

Jaune: "Oh... You want some?"

The disguised Neo nods. Jaune sighs and switches to sign language.

Jaune: "<Just give me a minute. What toppings do you want?>"

Mint blinks, then signs back:

Mint: "<All of them.>"

Jaune: "Makes it easy..."

Ruby: "Oh! Hey new friend! Welcome! Do you like crepes too?"

Mint: smiles

Jaune: "Nuts about them."

Weiss: "You can't just come in here uninvited-!"

Jaune: "It's cool Weiss. I take it as a compliment when random people come in to ask for my cooking."

Ruby: "Ooh, me too!"

Pyrrha has a wary look on her face. Yang scowls as Mint seems to hover all over Jaune.

Jaune finally finishes the crepes with icecream and toppings, and hands it to Mint.

Jaune: "Here you go."

Mint takes a few licks... Bites... Then finishes it all with gusto. She beams at him.

Jaune: "Another?"

Mint nods.

Jaune: "Sure..." Jaune prepares another, and his own crepe. He then finally sits at the table across from Yang... And Mint slides into his lap. "Uh..."

Mint smirks and takes her time eating her crepe, as Yang, Ruby, Weiss, Pyrrha, and Blake scowl. Nora and Ren are busy with their breakfast.

Jaune: "Um... There's another chair over there."

Mint: "<I'm fine here. Aren't you?>"

She winked. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "No."

Mint: "<Tough.>"

Jaune's Brain: Goddamnit... I had to get the universe with the flirty Neo, didn't I?

Sun: "Hey! What smells so good?"

Neptune: "Yeah, we were stopping by and..." He gapes at Jaune "GODSDAMNIT! I TOLD YOU! HE'S A DAMN HAREM PROTAGONIST!"

Jaune: rolls his eyes "Shut up Neptune."

Neptune: "But-But-!"

Jaune: "Don't hate me for your lack of skill."

Neptune gapes like a dying fish.

Mint waves her hand in front of her face with a smirk.

Yang smirks a bit... But her eyes are still red as she glares at Neo.

Jaune's Brain: Hoo boy... Gotta nip this in the bud quick... Freaking chaotic shortstacks...

Click to shrink...

Jaune sighs. Blake is holding his hand tightly as they sit in a nice restaurant.

Jaune: "Why am I here?"

Blake: "You promised. On your word as an Arc."

Jaune: "FUCK! Why did I do that?"

Blake: "Because you're a good person despite you trying to pretend otherwise? Hiding your pain behind sarcasm and almost fatherly quips..." leans in "A caring soul who knows the pain of this world and wants to protect others from it-OW OW OW!"

Jaune grabs one of her cat ears and tweaks it.

Jaune: "No. Bad kitty. None of that erotica stuff."

Blake: "It's porn-I mean-Ugh... When I called my parents, you promised to be here with me."

Jaune: "I know, I know... Just... What have you told them about me?"

Blake: "What? Nothing!"

Jaune: scowl "Blake..."

Blake: "I just told them you're my friend. That's all. A very good friend."

Jaune: scowls harder

Blake: "Honest!"

Jaune: "Okay."

Blake: "What? Did you think I told them you were my fiance and that we had a baby on the way?"

Jaune: "I... That's weirdly specific. Wait, you didn't tell them that, right?"

Blake: side eyes "Of... Course not!"

Jaune: "Blaaaake..."

Blake: "I did not use those words... Specifically..."

Ghira and Kali Belladonna enter the restaurant. Kali pounces like a panther on her daughter and hugs her tightly.

Kali: "Blake dear! You look wonderful! And such a healthy glow! How far along is the baby?"

Ghira: growls "You Jaune?"

Jaune: "Y-yessir?"

Ghira: hugs him "HAHAHA! Welcome to the family!"

Jaune: "URK! What?!"

Ghira: "You're not Adam so that means you're instantly acceptable as a son-in-law!"

Jaune: "BLAKE!"

Blake: "I PANICKED!"

Some time later, after they got mozzarella sticks and fried brussel sprouts...

Jaune: "Yes, Blake and I are just friends. We're not dating. I have a girlfriend I care for very much. I do care about Blake, despite how much of a pain in the ass she can be." glares

Blake: "I said I was sorry?"

Jaune: "What if Yang had heard all this?! Are you trying to mess things up for us?!"

Blake: "I'm very sorry?"

Kali: "Oh, it's quite all right! I did train her to get people's hopes up and dash them. I can only blame myself for how good she is at that."

Blake: ears droop

Jaune: "Hey... Look. Blake's made a LOT of mistakes. She's impulsive and overthinks things and somehow doesn't think enough. But she's really, REALLY sorry about everything and I know she loves you two very much."

Blake: "I... I do... I'm so sorry, Mom, Dad... I really screwed up..."

Ghira: "We all make mistakes, Blake. Your mother and I have made several when it comes to the White Fang and you... But we still love you, Blake."

Kali: "And we forgive you."

Blake: sniffles "Are... Are you sure... I did so many terrible things-"

Ghira: "Our own hands aren't free of blood, Blake. That's why we understand the need for forgiveness." sighs "While you make your own decisions... We influenced them. We could have been more clear, more supportive, done more for you. We are sorry."

Kali: "But we love you so much we'll do what it takes to work this out." She smiles and squeezes her daughter's hands

Blake: "M-Mom... Dad..." sniffles

Jaune's Brain: Aw... Oh man... I feel like I should go... This isn't a place for me-

Ghira: "Jaune?"

Jaune: "Uh, yes sir?"

Ghira: "You are a good friend to our daughter."

Jaune: "I... Thank you sir."

Jaune's Brain: I'm mainly doing it to keep her from fucking up everyone's lives and becoming the Shitty Kitty but hey...

Ghira: smiles "Also... Since she is technically a Princess of Menagerie-"

Blake: pouts "Dad, I'm not a princess! That's a backwards archaic term-!"

Ghira: "-There's nothing stopping her from having a husband and wife."

Jaune: "Wha...?"

Kali: "Ooh, is this Yang?" Holds up a Scroll with a picture of Yang on it "Oooh, she looks amazing! What do you say, Blake? If you marry her and Jaune, twice the grandkittens!"

Blake: "MOTHER!"

Kali: "But it would be wonderful! ... So I'd absolutely forbid you to do it!"

Blake: "Wha-You can't tell me what to do!"

Kali: "I just did!"

Jaune: "Um, that's really not necessary-"

Ghira: low voice "Sorry son, but we're not losing our chance to get a stable son-in-law and grandkittens. Just uh... Keep an open mind?"

Jaune: "Sir, I love my girlfriend-!"

Ghira: "What, my daughter's not good enough?"

Jaune: "No! No I didn't say that but-!"

Ghira: "Then maybe just think about it for the future, hmm? I know some ways to convince your girlfriend, as does Kali."

Jaune: "Sir, your daughter told you that we were engaged and she was pregnant with my child. Without telling me!"

Ghira: sighs happily "Just like her mother!"

Jaune: "Is every feline faunus in this world insane?!"

Ghira: "The world is already mad, so why fight against the current?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune sighs. Blake is holding his hand tightly as they sit in a nice restaurant.

Jaune: "Why am I here?"

Blake: "You promised. On your word as an Arc."

Jaune: "FUCK! Why did I do that?"

Blake: "Because you're a good person despite you trying to pretend otherwise? Hiding your pain behind sarcasm and almost fatherly quips..." leans in "A caring soul who knows the pain of this world and wants to protect others from it-OW OW OW!"

Jaune grabs one of her cat ears and tweaks it.

Jaune: "No. Bad kitty. None of that erotica stuff."

Blake: "It's porn-I mean-Ugh... When I called my parents, you promised to be here with me."

Jaune: "I know, I know... Just... What have you told them about me?"

Blake: "What? Nothing!"

Jaune: scowl "Blake..."

Blake: "I just told them you're my friend. That's all. A very good friend."

Jaune: scowls harder

Blake: "Honest!"

Jaune: "Okay."

Blake: "What? Did you think I told them you were my fiance and that we had a baby on the way?"

Jaune: "I... That's weirdly specific. Wait, you didn't tell them that, right?"

Blake: side eyes "Of... Course not!"

Jaune: "Blaaaake..."

Blake: "I did not use those words... Specifically..."

Ghira and Kali Belladonna enter the restaurant. Kali pounces like a panther on her daughter and hugs her tightly.

Kali: "Blake dear! You look wonderful! And such a healthy glow! How far along is the baby?"

Ghira: growls "You Jaune?"

Jaune: "Y-yessir?"

Ghira: hugs him "HAHAHA! Welcome to the family!"

Jaune: "URK! What?!"

Ghira: "You're not Adam so that means you're instantly acceptable as a son-in-law!"

Jaune: "BLAKE!"

Blake: "I PANICKED!"

Some time later, after they got mozzarella sticks and fried brussel sprouts...

Jaune: "Yes, Blake and I are just friends. We're not dating. I have a girlfriend I care for very much. I do care about Blake, despite how much of a pain in the ass she can be." glares

Blake: "I said I was sorry?"

Jaune: "What if Yang had heard all this?! Are you trying to mess things up for us?!"

Blake: "I'm very sorry?"

Kali: "Oh, it's quite all right! I did train her to get people's hopes up and dash them. I can only blame myself for how good she is at that."

Blake: ears droop

Jaune: "Hey... Look. Blake's made a LOT of mistakes. She's impulsive and overthinks things and somehow doesn't think enough. But she's really, REALLY sorry about everything and I know she loves you two very much."

Blake: "I... I do... I'm so sorry, Mom, Dad... I really screwed up..."

Ghira: "We all make mistakes, Blake. Your mother and I have made several when it comes to the White Fang and you... But we still love you, Blake."

Kali: "And we forgive you."

Blake: sniffles "Are... Are you sure... I did so many terrible things-"

Ghira: "Our own hands aren't free of blood, Blake. That's why we understand the need for forgiveness." sighs "While you make your own decisions... We influenced them. We could have been more clear, more supportive, done more for you. We are sorry."

Kali: "But we love you so much we'll do what it takes to work this out." She smiles and squeezes her daughter's hands

Blake: "M-Mom... Dad..." sniffles

Jaune's Brain: Aw... Oh man... I feel like I should go... This isn't a place for me-

Ghira: "Jaune?"

Jaune: "Uh, yes sir?"

Ghira: "You are a good friend to our daughter."

Jaune: "I... Thank you sir."

Jaune's Brain: I'm mainly doing it to keep her from fucking up everyone's lives and becoming the Shitty Kitty but hey...

Ghira: smiles "Also... Since she is technically a Princess of Menagerie-"

Blake: pouts "Dad, I'm not a princess! That's a backwards archaic term-!"

Ghira: "-There's nothing stopping her from having a husband and wife."

Jaune: "Wha...?"

Kali: "Ooh, is this Yang?" Holds up a Scroll with a picture of Yang on it "Oooh, she looks amazing! What do you say, Blake? If you marry her and Jaune, twice the grandkittens!"

Blake: "MOTHER!"

Kali: "But it would be wonderful! ... So I absolutely forbid you to do it!"

Blake: "Wha-You can't tell me what to do!"

Kali: "I just did!"

Jaune: "Um, that's really not necessary-"

Ghira: low voice "Sorry son, but we're not losing our chance to get a stable son-in-law and grandkittens. Just uh... Keep an open mind?"

Jaune: "Sir, I love my girlfriend-!"

Ghira: "What, my daughter's not good enough?"

Jaune: "No! No I didn't say that but-!"

Ghira: "Then maybe just think about it for the future, hmm? I know some ways to convince your girlfriend, as does Kali."

Jaune: "Sir, your daughter told you that we were engaged and she was pregnant with my child. Without telling me!"

Ghira: sighs happily "Just like her mother!"

Jaune: "Is every feline faunus in this world insane?!"

Ghira: "The world is already mad, so why fight against the current?"

Click to shrink...

Afterwards... Jaune, Blake, Kali and Ghira walk in a Valean Park.

Ghira: "Honestly? This is the best thing that's happened to us for a long time. You're no longer a hostage of White Fang-"

Blake: "Wait, I was a hostage?!"

Kali: "They strongly implied that you were with us, and if we tried to interfere..."

Blake: sniffles "I'm... I'm so sorry...!"

Kali hugs her.

Kali: "It's all right, Blake. It's all right..."

Blake: "I feel so stupid... I trusted them...!"

Ghira: grumbles "We trusted Sienna Khan and Adam Taurus once, too." He hugged his daughter

Jaune stands there a bit awkwardly.

Kali: "Jaune... It's much safer for Blake here than in Menagerie. Can we trust you to look after our daughter?"

Jaune: "She can kick my ass. Regularly does, too."

Blake: "We're a bad match-up. He's a close range Tank fighter, I'm stealthy and agile-When he gets a hit on me it's like I'm being pounded by the fist of God. A few hits like that and I'm just finished. I can barely keep up! I only finish him off with my full skill and even then I'm left mindbroken-"

Jaune: "You are doing that on purpose!"

Blake: blush "... Maybe a little...?"

Kali: "Aw. She did learn from my kunoichi teachings!"

Jaune: "And anyway, she has a team that looks after her-"

Ghira: "But we are asking you, Jaune."

Jaune: "I..." sighs "I will. I will keep your daughter safe."

Kali: "Wonderful!" She cuddles Blake "We're gonna talk with Ozpin about some diplomatic things. We'll leave you and your knight alone for now~!"

Jaune: "Have a girlfriend! Cannot emphasize that enough. Have a girlfriend whom I love!"

Kali: "So do I~. Later!"

Kali and Ghira head off after a few more hugs, leaving Jaune and Blake alone. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "... Parents, huh?"

Blake: "Y-yeah."

Silence.

Blake: "I'm sorry Jaune. I... I still messed up and I'm sorry! I just-When I'm scared I... I overthink and underthink...!"

Jaune: "Hey, hey..." He hugs her "I get it. Okay? You feel so much, you want to do so much... And you feel so guilty for every mistake you ever made. And... They're some big ones. But I know you care so hard about everything. That's your strength, Blake. It's also a weakness... But you can learn to make it your full strength. Or... Something like that. My dad says stuff like that all the time..."

Blake: "... Can you help protect me... From myself?"

Jaune: "Until you can do it yourself? Yeah."

Blake: "That... That's going to be a long time."

Jaune: "I'm not going anywhere... As a friend. Again. A friend."

Blake: "... Are you sure-?"

Jaune: "Blake!" He pushes her away "I'm with YANG. All right? I know your parents are desperate for you to have a boyfriend other than Adam Taurus. Again, I get it. But I'm not some... Some harem protagonist!"

Blake: flush "... You could be."

Jaune: "What."

Blake: "It's not illegal. It's not very common but there are polygamous relationships. And your great-grandfather-!"

Jaune: "I just got a girlfriend, okay? Slow down! Besides, she's your partner! And I will NOT let you betray her! Got it?!"

Blake: "... You're right." ears droop "I'm sorry Jaune. I just... It's been so long since I felt cared for. Safe. You make me feel safe!"

Jaune: "So will your teammates. Develop your friendships more with them."

Blake: "What about the harem?"

Jaune: "NO! N! O! I! LOVE! YANG! Okay? And so should you!" Sighs, turns... Sees Yang standing there "YANG!"

Yang is bright red... Though not out of anger.

Yang: "... You love me...?"

Jaune: "Y-Yeah..."

Yang: "Like that filia stuff or...?"

Jaune: "Um... More the other kind... Eros."

Yang: "Oh... I get that now!"

Jaune: "Yeah. It's all connected and-"

Yang kisses him possessively.

Jaune: Oh wow... Kissing. Kissing is amazing. So amazing... And she's grabbing my-Brain? BRAIN!

Jaune's Brain: Howa... Humwha... Boobies... Groping...!

Jaune: "Mwah... Haa..." He breaks the kiss "Haa... Haa... W-Wow..."

Yang: "Y-yeah..."

Blake stares with a red face. Yang turns and glares at her.

Blake: "Yang? I'm sorry. I just... I'm a little starved for affection, I suppose. And Jaune is... Well..." blush "He's like Prince Naofumi~! He loves and cares for his wives and fights to right the wrongs of a world that hates him!"

Jaune: "When did the world hate me? Also wait you've read Shield Hero?"

Blake: "You mean Shield Saint."

Jaune: "Oh, of course. Like Spruce Willis."

Blake: "What does that have to do with him?"

Jaune: "I... Nevermind."

Blake: "The point is, Yang... I-I care deeply for him. I also respect that you care for him. And we're friends, so... So I want to do right by you."

Yang: "Good... So... Stop sniffing around my man?"

Blake: "... I can't promise that."

Yang: "What?"

Blake: "I can promise that I will find a solution for all of us to be happy though." smiles

Jaune: "That sounds ominous."

Yang: "What kind of solution?!"

Blake: smiles "You'll find out." She vanishes

Jaune: sighs "... Yang, I'm sorry. Look, I don't do this on purpose-!"

Yang: "I know! I know... You care. I bet you nursed wounded animals back to health all the time on your farm!"

Jaune: "It was a farm, I kind of had to..." At Yang's look "But yes. I did. I just... I became a Hunter to help people. To protect people. To... Give people hope. And I can't just ignore someone who needs help. Even if they are a perverted catgirl princess with major psychological issues."

Yang: "Heh... Or a juvenile delinquent with some issues being abandoned?"

Jaune: smiles "Yeah..." He hugs her "I swear, Yang. I will never abandon you."

Yang: blush "Just... Coming right out with that?"

Jaune: "Yeah. You like it when I'm sincere, right?"

Yang: "Dorky was the word."

Jaune: "You still like it though."

Yang: "Yeah..."

She kisses him again.

Yang: "Mmm... But you really need to stop making girls fall for you. I'm not into girls... I mean... I don't think so?"

Jaune: bright red

Yang: glare "... Okay, who are you imagining me with?"

Jaune: "Pyrrha."

Yang: "Not Blake?"

Jaune: "She basically hits every one of your trauma buttons right now."

Yang: "But if she didn't... You wouldn't mind me getting it from the cats meow~?"

Jaune: bright red "Damnit woman!"

Yang: "Heheheh~!

Jaune's Brain: She's just joking... She's getting over her anxiety, which is good. She would never want a harem, and... Neither would I! ... Oaky I would but I'd be stupid to want that. And insane. And I'm definitely neither of those things...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ladybird, ladybird fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone,
Your house is on fire,
Your children shall burn!

- - -

Isabel had not wanted to believe it. She could not believe it.

For so long, she had dismissed any concerns about Blossom Springfield. She was the only survivor of her family after a massive Grimm and bandit assault on her village. She still remembered how the little ladybug Faunus girl looked: Blank eyed and walking dead, a little waif covered in ash and blood not her own.

Isabel had rescued and healed the little girl herself. She'd personally found a good home to take her in, a lovely couple in Radian who had raised her with all the warmth and affection they could. She'd grown up into an amazing woman: Sharp, strong, and intelligent.

So she had trouble socializing. After what she'd been through? It was perfectly understandable!

So she was brusque and tactless. She would learn in time! Isabel herself had been worse at her age!

So she was secretive. So many of her projects had mysteriously ended abruptly or vanished entirely.

So what if several missing people had been reported? It was sadly not unusual around the Radian Valley, though thankfully much less often thanks to Nick and the militia.

She hadn't wanted to believe it. Not her star pupil. Sure, she was confident Jaune would wow the medical world when he came of age but Blossom was a marvel. A mind as sharp as a blade, as quick as a fish in a clear stream.

Yet... She knew the scent of death anywhere. One day, she had smelled it on Blossom. So intensely she couldn't dismiss it due to Blossom's work in the morgue.

Blossom had fled. Isabel had gotten Nick and a militia team and they'd tracked her down. To one of many old ruins on the outskirts of Radian's Old Wall.

It was an underground chamber underneath an old watchtower. It had been concealed with weeds, stones and dirt... But her nose didn't lie and Nick's tracking experience didn't either.

They went in. Found a metal door that looked like it'd been taken from a bank vault.

Isabel had torn that open in a heartbeat. They'd gone down a dark hallway. There had been a dim light ahead. They'd entered into... Into a butcher's shop. Cold, sterile, metallic... And covered in blood and gore.

In the center of it all stood Blossom, typing on a computer console. She looked up from her work, the blue light reflecting off her cold green eyes and the glass tanks of bodies floating in suspension fluid. Her hair was pink and rigid like the twin shells of a ladybug, and out of her forehead grew two antenna. She wore a white labcoat over her scrubs, a used one hanging off a peg on the far wall nearest them.

"Blossom," Isabel said quietly, using her Semblance to control her hormones and calm herself, "What is this?"

"This? This is my private laboratory, Teacher," Blossom said in her usual cool voice, "Where I've been conducting my own experiments. My own research."

"This... This is not research," Isabel managed, her control shaking a bit. One of the militia members threw up behind her. She couldn't blame him.

Blossom shook her head slowly.

"Of course this is research. I've documented every step, every procedure, every finding. All of this data for my true goal. A goal worthy of your apprentice."

"And that is?" Isabel demanded.

Blossom smiled.

"True cellular regeneration. Immortality. The banishment of death entirely. That is my life's goal."

Isabel shook her head.

"Death is the way of all life. You know this..."

Blossom slowly shook her head. A small smile grew on her face. She looked around the place of horrors and her smile only grew.

"My mother called me Ladybird... She told me to fly away as our house burned. Fly, fly. I tried... But I couldn't. So I stayed. I stayed and hid. I watched the entire thing. My entire family devoured and burned to death."

She looked intently at Isabel, right in her eyes.

"That is when I learned the power of death. And the power of life."

Anger filled Isabel's chest. She seethed and her Semblance couldn't hold back her rage.

"I taught you to preserve life! To save it!"

Blossom stared at Isabel in confusion.

"But I am, Teacher. I am preserving it! I'm saving it! But you taught me there is a price to be paid for every advance in science! These otherwise worthless people... These specimens paid that price. So that others might live forever!"

"You're butchering people in search of an answer no one has found, and no one will ever find!" Isabel snarled.

Blossom shook her head.

"They just didn't go far enough!"

Nick stepped forward, brandishing his sword.

"You can have an argument about ethics and philosophy later," Nick stated flatly, "You're going to jail now, you crazy person."

"You had me over at your farmhouse many times for dinner," Blossom stated.

"Yeah, and now I'm taking you to jail," Nick growled, "So don't make this any more difficult than it has to be."

"Teacher?" Blossom looked at Isabel.

Isabel powered up her Aura and took a fighting stance. Her face was grim and angry.

"Hands where I can see them, Blossom," she stated coldly.

Blossom's eyes widened just a bit.

"You taught me to save lives-"

"And you've taken them!" Isabel exploded. "You've sacrificed innocent people for an impossible dream! You've twisted everything I ever taught you!"

Blossom's eyes went dead. As dead as the day Isabel had found her in the ruins of her home.

"I see," she murmured. "I thought you would understand... I was wrong."

She slammed a hand down onto the computer console. She channeled her Aura. Fire Dust began to ignite around them, as the tanks and horrors began to explode around them. Nick dashed forward and swung his sword at Blossom, but she dropped down with her computer. Gouts of flames began to consume their surroundings. Isabel, Nick and the team ran back down the hallway right out the door into open sky.

The ruins collapsed into fire and dust behind them, sending up a pillar of smoke into the night sky. Isabel watched it, as the sirens of the Radian fire department began to wail.

"Start sweeping all the old tunnels!" Nick shouted. "There are maps for the emergency evacuations! If you see her, don't engage, call in back up immediately!"

"Yes sir!"

They ran off into the night in pairs. Nick turned to Isabel and frowned deeply. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Izzy? Izzy?"

Isabel took a deep breath and slowly shook her head.

"... It's my fault," she muttered. "It's all my fault. I should have seen it... I didn't want to see it..."

She bowed her head.

"Now a monster is on the loose... Of my own creation. I-"

"Whatever she's done," Nick stated firmly, "She chose to do it. Not you. The man who owns a gun is not responsible if the man he hands it to commits a murder."

Isabel sniffled. Tears ran down her nose and onto the wild grass.

"If only I could believe that," she whispered.

 

[SharkCultist]

The world changes but pain still remains

Remnant is a peaceful planet.
it wasn't always so, historians say once in the distant past creatures called Grimm plagued the lands destroying anything and everything.

But heroes rose up time and again to hold back the beast until one finally rose up who stopped them at the source saving humanity.

And this legendary heroes reward for their actions.

Was pain.

---

On the small island of patch outside the city of Rose lies a forest.

The crescent Forrest is a strange place. Nobody ever seems to visit outside the caretakers, there are no trails, no preserves, no hidden treasures or spooky stories.

Just a Forrest with a small grave in the center.

Every year or so someone from the Arc or Xaio-long family comes and tends to the grave.

They pull the weeds, double check the writing on the headstone has been touched up, and say goodbye to the statue by the grave.

The statue is of a knight in full armor sitting by the grave. A strong figure but also a sad one. The statue is unsettling to many, perhaps it's how life like it seems, perhaps it's the wet moss that flows from the eyeholes of the armor.

It's probably the feeling of loss that seeps from the statue like a aura.

When asked the caretaker families refuse to name the statue they just say he's "a hero who won and lost everything".

Here Lies Ruby Arc
Beloved wife and sister
A Rose plucked too early

3279 A.G - 3 A.S

---

So little explanation here. The good guys did it they won! And Jaune even got to lay down the finishing strike with a big ol helping of Ruby and some silver eye magic!

Unfortunately that put a big strain on her, more than they realized at the time.

By the time they did, it was too late. Afterwards Jaune spent every day at her grave.

When he died it actually took them a while to notice because of just how long he usually spends at her grave.

Rather than move his body away from Ruby Oscar cast a bit of magic and turned jaunes body to stone.

I will say this. Jaune DID pass on, he's not trapped or avoiding the afterlife. The crying statue is sorta like a imprint or recording of his emotions.

Also for the years on Ruby's tombstone the A.G is After Gods and A.S is After Salem.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Afterwards... Jaune, Blake, Kali and Ghira walk in a Valean Park.



Ghira: "Honestly? This is the best thing that's happened to us for a long time. You're no longer a hostage of White Fang-"



Blake: "Wait, I was a hostage?!"



Kali: "They strongly implied that you were with us, and if we tried to interfere..."



Blake: sniffles "I'm... I'm so sorry...!"



Kali hugs her.



Kali: "It's all right, Blake. It's all right..."



Blake: "I feel so stupid... I trusted them...!"



Ghira: grumbles "We trusted Sienna Khan and Adam Taurus once, too." He hugged his daughter



Jaune stands there a bit awkwardly.



Kali: "Jaune... It's much safer for Blake here than in Menagerie. Can we trust you to look after our daughter?"



Jaune: "She can kick my ass. Regularly does, too."



Blake: "We're a bad match-up. He's a close range Tank fighter, I'm stealthy and agile-When he gets a hit on me it's like I'm being pounded by the fist of God. A few hits like that and I'm just finished. I can barely keep up! I only finish him off with my full skill and even then I'm left mindbroken-"



Jaune: "You are doing that on purpose!"



Blake: blush "... Maybe a little...?"



Kali: "Aw. She did learn from my kunoichi teachings!"



Jaune: "And anyway, she has a team that looks after her-"



Ghira: "But we are asking you, Jaune."



Jaune: "I..." sighs "I will. I will keep your daughter safe."



Kali: "Wonderful!" She cuddles Blake "We're gonna talk with Ozpin about some diplomatic things. We'll leave you and your knight alone for now~!"



Jaune: "Have a girlfriend! Cannot emphasize that enough. Have a girlfriend whom I love!"



Kali: "So do I~. Later!"



Kali and Ghira head off after a few more hugs, leaving Jaune and Blake alone. Jaune sighed.



Jaune: "... Parents, huh?"



Blake: "Y-yeah."



Silence.



Blake: "I'm sorry Jaune. I... I still messed up and I'm sorry! I just-When I'm scared I... I overthink and underthink...!"



Jaune: "Hey, hey..." He hugs her "I get it. Okay? You feel so much, you want to do so much... And you feel so guilty for every mistake you ever made. And... They're some big ones. But I know you care so hard about everything. That's your strength, Blake. It's also a weakness... But you can learn to make it your full strength. Or... Something like that. My dad says stuff like that all the time..."



Blake: "... Can you help protect me... From myself?"



Jaune: "Until you can do it yourself? Yeah."



Blake: "That... That's going to be a long time."



Jaune: "I'm not going anywhere... As a friend. Again. A friend."



Blake: "... Are you sure-?"



Jaune: "Blake!" He pushes her away "I'm with YANG. All right? I know your parents are desperate for you to have a boyfriend other than Adam Taurus. Again, I get it. But I'm not some... Some harem protagonist!"



Blake: flush "... You could be."



Jaune: "What."



Blake: "It's not illegal. It's not very common but there are polygamous relationships. And your great-grandfather-!"



Jaune: "I just got a girlfriend, okay? Slow down! Besides, she's your partner! And I will NOT let you betray her! Got it?!"



Blake: "... You're right." ears droop "I'm sorry Jaune. I just... It's been so long since I felt cared for. Safe. You make me feel safe!"



Jaune: "So will your teammates. Develop your friendships more with them."



Blake: "What about the harem?"



Jaune: "NO! N! O! I! LOVE! YANG! Okay? And so should you!" Sighs, turns... Sees Yang standing there "YANG!"



Yang is bright red... Though not out of anger.



Yang: "... You love me...?"



Jaune: "Y-Yeah..."



Yang: "Like that filia stuff or...?"



Jaune: "Um... More the other kind... Eros."



Yang: "Oh... I get that now!"



Jaune: "Yeah. It's all connected and-"



Yang kisses him possessively.



Jaune: Oh wow... Kissing. Kissing is amazing. So amazing... And she's grabbing my-Brain? BRAIN!



Jaune's Brain: Howa... Humwha... Boobies... Groping...!



Jaune: "Mwah... Haa..." He breaks the kiss "Haa... Haa... W-Wow..."



Yang: "Y-yeah..."



Blake stares with a red face. Yang turns and glares at her.



Blake: "Yang? I'm sorry. I just... I'm a little starved for affection, I suppose. And Jaune is... Well..." blush "He's like Prince Naofumi~! He loves and cares for his wives and fights to right the wrongs of a world that hates him!"



Jaune: "When did the world hate me? Also wait you've read Shield Hero?"



Blake: "You mean Shield Saint."



Jaune: "Oh, of course. Like Spruce Willis."



Blake: "What does that have to do with him?"



Jaune: "I... Nevermind."



Blake: "The point is, Yang... I-I care deeply for him. I also respect that you care for him. And we're friends, so... So I want to do right by you."



Yang: "Good... So... Stop sniffing around my man?"



Blake: "... I can't promise that."



Yang: "What?"



Blake: "I can promise that I will find a solution for all of us to be happy though." smiles



Jaune: "That sounds ominous."



Yang: "What kind of solution?!"



Blake: smiles "You'll find out." She vanishes



Jaune: sighs "... Yang, I'm sorry. Look, I don't do this on purpose-!"



Yang: "I know! I know... You care. I bet you nursed wounded animals back to health all the time on your farm!"



Jaune: "It was a farm, I kind of had to..." At Yang's look "But yes. I did. I just... I became a Hunter to help people. To protect people. To... Give people hope. And I can't just ignore someone who needs help. Even if they are a perverted catgirl princess with major psychological issues."



Yang: "Heh... Or a juvenile delinquent with some issues being abandoned?"



Jaune: smiles "Yeah..." He hugs her "I swear, Yang. I will never abandon you."



Yang: blush "Just... Coming right out with that?"



Jaune: "Yeah. You like it when I'm sincere, right?"



Yang: "Dorky was the word."



Jaune: "You still like it though."



Yang: "Yeah..."



She kisses him again.



Yang: "Mmm... But you really need to stop making girls fall for you. I'm not into girls... I mean... I don't think so?"



Jaune: bright red



Yang: glare "... Okay, who are you imagining me with?"



Jaune: "Pyrrha."



Yang: "Not Blake?"



Jaune: "She basically hits every one of your trauma buttons right now."



Yang: "But if she didn't... You wouldn't mind me getting it from the cats meow~?"



Jaune: bright red "Damnit woman!"



Yang: "Heheheh~!



Jaune's Brain: She's just joking... She's getting over her anxiety, which is good. She would never want a harem, and... Neither would I! ... Okay I would but I'd be stupid to want that. And insane. And I'm definitely neither of those things...

Click to shrink...

Jaune wasn't sure how much of his fanon was true to this world and how much wasn't. That made things delicate. There was also the fact that a lot of other information about this world wasn't something he'd even dreamed up. There were hundreds of students at Beacon all with their own histories, identities, families, and so on. He was also unsure of what his early changes to the timeline might cause later on in the future.



But as much as he might try to deny it... He was still Jaune Arc. He was going to help people, and deal with the consequences. So, it was time to test another bit of fanon.



He bumped into May Zedong outside the library, accidentally knocking her books out of her arms.



Jaune: "Oh! Sorry! I'm so sorry!"



May: "N-No, it's fine! I was a little distracted, sorry!"



Jaune knelt at the same time she did... And their heads bonked together.



May: "OW! OW OW OW!"



Jaune: "Urk... Oh geez, I'm so sorry... You okay?"



May was out, complete with anime spinny eyes.



Jaune's Brain: Oh great going, genius! Any other amazing plans, Hannibal?!



Jaune: "Craaaap!"



He got her to the nurse's office. Funny enough it was manned (womanned?) by a Racoon Faunus nurse named Tsune. And yeah, she was definitely hot. And fawned over him a bit.



Tsune: "Are you sure you're okay, Jaune? I mean, you both hit your heads-"



Jaune: "It's fine, I'm used to it, how is she?"



Tsune smiles and does some scans with medical devices Jaune is familiar with thanks to his mother.



Tsune: "Oh, she's just fine! I would wager it was more shock than the impact."



Jaune: "That's good... Hmmm..."



Tsune: "Mm? What is it, Jaune? Do you know her?"



Jaune's Brain: Gotta do this just right...



Jaune: "Well... She looks really familiar. Like, ridiculously familiar."



Tsune: "Hmm... Now that you mention it... She does."



Jaune: "Like, say... The spitting image of Saia Sarkara?"



Tsune: eyes widen "Y-Yes, actually! I was a field medic a few years behind them!"



Jaune: "Hmmm... And their daughter was kidnapped and presumed dead almost two decades ago..."



Tsune: "I... Wow..."



May: wakes up "Hwah...? Oh... Oh dear... What happened?"



Jaune: "Um, I kind of accidentally knocked you out. Which is strange since that's what you are." cheesy grin



May: blush "H-Huh?"



Jaune's Brain: I've been hanging out too much with Yang, shit... "Er, just a bad joke. So uh... I'm Jaune Arc. You are?"



May: "M-May Zedong. Team BRNZ." gasps "Oh no! I have to get the textbooks to them or they'll fail the next test!"



Jaune: "Woah woah woah! You're not going anywhere." He gently pushes her back "You took a nasty fall. Nurse Tsune needs to examine you."



Tsune: "Well..."



Jaune gives her a pleading look. She sighs and nods.



Tsune: "I do think it couldn't hurt. Also, I've been going through your records. Your genetic scans aren't on file. Do you mind if I take some samples?"



May: "I-I mean, um..." wince "I... I don't think that would be a good idea... Uh... M-My parents told me never to get one of those."



Jaune: "What happened to your parents? If you don't mind me asking?"



May: "Oh, um... Well..." looks aside "A Grimm attack on our village when I was... I was seven. I was orphaned."



Jaune: reaches out to squeeze her hand "I'm very sorry about that. You didn't get a DNA test ever though?"



May: "Um, Shade Academy doesn't require it for anything... Er... So um..." She frowns "Why is that important?"



Jaune: "Well... Strange as this may sound? My godparents lost their daughter when she was a baby. And you're the spitting image of my godmother, except for your eyes."



May: "I-I am?!"



Jaune shows a photo of the Arc family with the Sarkaras during a holiday visit. Arjun and Saia are out of royal regalia, as is their son Abhimanyu. Yet it is clear that Saia resembles an older May almost exactly. Right down to the, uh... Measurements. May's eyes however are greyish-blue... Exactly like Arjun's.



May's eyes widen in disbelief. She shakily holds out a hand and touches the screen.



May: "Who... Who are they?"



Jaune: "Arjun and Saia. Their son is Abhimanyu. Their daughter's name was Maia. They lost her a while ago... When's your birthday?"



May: "I... I mean my parents celebrated it on August 15th..."



Jaune: "That was also Maia's birthday."



May: shakes a bit "... But how...?"



Jaune: "I don't know the full story. Their daughter was kidnapped and after a while, presumed dead."



May: "... I-I... How...?"



Jaune: "May. It might be that you are their missing daughter. It might just be a fluke. But... Well..." smiles at her kindly "Wouldn't it be nice to know for sure?"



May: sniffles "... W-Why would you...?"



Jaune: "Because I knocked out a girl who might be, well, family. And family helps family." He smiles warmly at her.



May blushes deeply. She considers it.



May: "... I... I think I would like to do the test please, Nurse."



Tsune: smiles "Of course."



May: looks at Jaune "You're... You're very kind."



Jaune: smiles back "It's how I was raised."



Ruby: "Hey Jaune! We were supposed to study, right? Why are you..." She gasps at Jaune holding May's hand "ACK! ANOTHER GIRL'S FALLEN IN LOVE WITH YOU?!"



May: "W-Wait, no, I-"



Ruby: "WHAT IS WITH YOU?! YOU'RE LIKE THOSE HAREM HAVING GUYS IN BLAKE'S MANGA! YOU-YOU STUPID HAREM HAVING JERK! WHY HAVEN'T YOU SEDUCED ME YET?!"



Jaune: deadpan "Not until you're sixteen."



It does take some yelling but Jaune is able to explain the situation to his friends. May agrees to the test. She meets JNPR and RWBY at their breakfast table the next day.



Pyrrha: "Won't your team worry about you?"



May: sighs "They're... Kind of useless without me. I insisted that they had to get to class and they all just snored."



Ruby: "Wait, I thought Brawnz was your leader?"



May: "He is... On paper. I have to handle the paperwork, the supplies, the schedule, the training-"



Jaune: "So you are the leader."



May: "I, well..." wince



Nora: "You need to stand up for yourself! If you're the leader you gotta bust some heads sometimes! Like Jaune-Jaune!"



Jaune: "I have never had to bust anyone's heads. I've yelled and dopeslapped but never busted heads."



Nora: "It's like a metaphor, or something!"



Weiss: scowls "Plus, he was mainly doing it to our team?"



Jaune: "I'm just helping Ruby. Her pimp hand is still developing."



Ruby: "YEAH!"



Weiss: "What's a pimp hand?"



Blake: evil smile



Yang: sighs "So, hey... Look May. From what Jaune's said, your possible family really misses you. And... Well... I hope you get to reconnect with them."



May: blush "I... I don't know what they would want with me."



Jaune: "Hey: They searched for years. They still ask for any sign of you."



May: "I-I might not be their daughter!"



Pyrrha: "No... But if you are? You'll have a family."



Ren: nods "Believe me. It's not something to take for granted."



Nora: "Yeah... And even if you aren't? We can be family for you." She hugs May "Mmm! Maybe you can join Jaune-Jaune's harem?"



Jaune: "I don't have a harem!"



Yang: "Damn right he doesn't!"



Weiss: "I-I feel zero attraction for him at all!"



Jaune: "Thanks, feeling's mutual."



Weiss: "Wha-NONE AT ALL?!"



Ruby: "Hey! If you're gonna have me, Pyrrha and Yang in the harem, you gotta have Weissy too!"



Jaune: "Don't have a harem, but even if I did, that's up to me."



Weiss: "Oh what, I'm not good enough?! N-Not that I'm interested!"



Blake: "I'd be fine with it."



Weiss: "Of course you would, you perverted cat!"



Blake: "Prude!"



Weiss: "Deviant!"



Blake: "Tsundere!"



Weiss: "WHAT?!"



May: "S-Still... I mean... You're only being kind because I look like your friends-"



Jaune: smiles "I'm being kind because it's the right thing to do."



May: blush



Jaune's Brain: Even if she isn't family... I'm not letting her or her team die like they did in the canon. I just... I want a future where everyone lives. Except the bad guys...



May: "H-How long do you think it will take?"



Jaune: "Well, the results were probably ready this morning but Nurse Tsune would have to inform your parents if you were their child first. Beacon policy. Or it could be taking a while for other reasons."



Ren: "There's no reason to be tense. What will be will be."



Weiss: "I'm sure your parents will find this just as strange a situation as you do. They'll approach it calmly, rationally-"



The roar of airship engines fills the cafeteria. The windows are blocked by an airship in red and golds-Resembling depictions of vimanas in ancient Hindu literature. The double doors are kicked open, and two figures stand there.



One is a tall hirsute and handsome man with black hair and grey-blue eyes. A short, well trimmed beard highlights his noble features. He wears the blue and gold embroidered shirt of a royal and a red and blue turban with white feathers decorating a red jewel in the center, with silk white pants, leather boots, and a blue/purple cloak that waves dramatically. He has a curved sword at his belt and a bow and quiver of arrows on his back.



The other is a beautiful curvaceous woman with long dark red hair and green eyes in a heart-shaped face-Almost exactly like May's. She wears a red and white sari inlaid with gold. Over this is a white cloak and hood, covered in red and gold designs, which is also waving dramatically. She wears stylish leather boots and a red gem in the center of her forehead. She holds a black staff that glows faintly with Aura, and Dust slots that decorate the top of it like a crown.



The couple strides into the cafeteria, so imposing that all conversation has ceased. They walk up to Jaune's table. Jaune is the only one who stands up to greet them willingly. He pulls May along with him, though she immediately hides behind Jaune in fear.



Jaune: "Uncle Arjun! Aunt Saia! You got the news?"



Arjun: "We did... Is that...?"



Jaune: "Yup!" He carefully pulls May out from behind him and holds her in front of himself by her shoulders. "This is May."



May: terrified beyond rational thought "H... H.... H... H-Hello...?"



Saia... Immediately hugs May, bawling like a baby. Arjun hugs her other side, crying manly tears.



Arjun: "Our daughter! You-You're alive!"



Saia: "Oh Maia! Maia! You-You've grown up into such a beauty!"



May, overcome with emotion, also begins to cry as she hugs her parents back. Jaune smiles happily.



Jaune's Brain: All right! That's one sidequest out of the way, and one happy family reunited... I do wish they'd shown up in a more private place but they are both really melodramatic...



Arjun: "Jaune! Jaune..." He hugs Jaune "You are the finest godson a man could ask for!"



Jaune: laughs and hugs him back "Anything, Uncle! I'm glad I'll get to know my godsister!"



Arjun: "Godsister? HA!"



Jaune: "Eh?'



Arjun: "Your father and I made a pact, as men do, over liquor and while listening to Irony Dan, to become brothers in every sense of the word! So we pledged to marry our children together!"



Jaune: "What?!"



May: "Wh-Wh-What?!"



Arjun: "Admittedly, we still haven't convinced your mother to let Abhimanyu marry one of your sisters yet, but surely she'll agree to marrying our firstborn!"



Jaune: "I uh, um-!"



May: "B-But-But-!"



Yang: "HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND!" Yang growled and grabbed Jaune's arm



Jaune: "Y-Yes, that!"



Blake: "And he's gonna be my consort!"



Yang: snarls "BLAKE!"



Jaune: "WHAT! I DIDN'T AGREE TO THAT!"



Pyrrha: "OF COURSE HE DIDN'T!"



Ruby: "YEAH!"



Weiss: "Exactly! Besides arranged marriages are-are barbaric! I would never want that with Arc!"



Nora: "SHE HAS TO JOIN JAUNE'S HAREM! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!"



Jaune: "NORA STOP HELPING!"



Jaune's Brain: Me and my generous impulses!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune wasn't sure how much of his fanon was true to this world and how much wasn't. That made things delicate. There was also the fact that a lot of other information about this world wasn't something he'd even dreamed up. There were hundreds of students at Beacon all with their own histories, identities, families, and so on. He was also unsure of what his early changes to the timeline might cause later on in the future.

But as much as he might try to deny it... He was still Jaune Arc. He was going to help people, and deal with the consequences. So, it was time to test another bit of fanon.

He bumped into May Zedong outside the library, accidentally knocking her books out of her arms.

Jaune: "Oh! Sorry! I'm so sorry!"

May: "N-No, it's fine! I was a little distracted, sorry!"

Jaune knelt at the same time she did... And their heads bonked together.

May: "OW! OW OW OW!"

Jaune: "Urk... Oh geez, I'm so sorry... You okay?"

May was out, complete with anime spinny eyes.

Jaune's Brain: Oh great going, genius! Any other amazing plans, Hannibal?!

Jaune: "Craaaap!"

He got her to the nurse's office. Funny enough it was manned (womanned?) by a Racoon Faunus nurse named Tsune. And yeah, she was definitely hot. And fawned over him a bit.

Tsune: "Are you sure you're okay, Jaune? I mean, you both hit your heads-"

Jaune: "It's fine, I'm used to it, how is she?"

Tsune smiles and does some scans with medical devices Jaune is familiar with thanks to his mother.

Tsune: "Oh, she's just fine! I would wager it was more shock than the impact."

Jaune: "That's good... Hmmm..."

Tsune: "Mm? What is it, Jaune? Do you know her?"

Jaune's Brain: Gotta do this just right...

Jaune: "Well... She looks really familiar. Like, ridiculously familiar."

Tsune: "Hmm... Now that you mention it... She does."

Jaune: "Like, say... The spitting image of Saia Sarkara?"

Tsune: eyes widen "Y-Yes, actually! I was a field medic a few years behind them!"

Jaune: "Hmmm... And their daughter was kidnapped and presumed dead almost two decades ago..."

Tsune: "I... Wow..."

May: wakes up "Hwah...? Oh... Oh dear... What happened?"

Jaune: "Um, I kind of accidentally knocked you out. Which is strange since that's what you are." cheesy grin

May: blush "H-Huh?"

Jaune's Brain: I've been hanging out too much with Yang, shit... "Er, just a bad joke. So uh... I'm Jaune Arc. You are?"

May: "M-May Zedong. Team BRNZ." gasps "Oh no! I have to get the textbooks to them or they'll fail the next test!"

Jaune: "Woah woah woah! You're not going anywhere." He gently pushes her back "You took a nasty fall. Nurse Tsune needs to examine you."

Tsune: "Well..."

Jaune gives her a pleading look. She sighs and nods.

Tsune: "I do think it couldn't hurt. Also, I've been going through your records. Your genetic scans aren't on file. Do you mind if I take some samples?"

May: "I-I mean, um..." wince "I... I don't think that would be a good idea... Uh... M-My parents told me never to get one of those."

Jaune: "What happened to your parents? If you don't mind me asking?"

May: "Oh, um... Well..." looks aside "A Grimm attack on our village when I was... I was seven. I was orphaned."

Jaune: reaches out to squeeze her hand "I'm very sorry about that. You didn't get a DNA test ever though?"

May: "Um, Shade Academy doesn't require it for anything... Er... So um..." She frowns "Why is that important?"

Jaune: "Well... Strange as this may sound? My godparents lost their daughter when she was a baby. And you're the spitting image of my godmother, except for your eyes."

May: "I-I am?!"

Jaune shows a photo of the Arc family with the Sarkaras during a holiday visit. Arjun and Saia are out of royal regalia, as is their son Abhimanyu. Yet it is clear that Saia resembles an older May almost exactly. Right down to the, uh... Measurements. May's eyes however are greyish-blue... Exactly like Arjun's.

May's eyes widen in disbelief. She shakily holds out a hand and touches the screen.

May: "Who... Who are they?"

Jaune: "Arjun and Saia. Their son is Abhimanyu. Their daughter's name was Maia. They lost her a while ago... When's your birthday?"

May: "I... I mean my parents celebrated it on August 15th..."

Jaune: "That was also Maia's birthday."

May: shakes a bit "... But how...?"

Jaune: "I don't know the full story. Their daughter was kidnapped and after a while, presumed dead."

May: "... I-I... How...?"

Jaune: "May. It might be that you are their missing daughter. It might just be a fluke. But... Well..." smiles at her kindly "Wouldn't it be nice to know for sure?"

May: sniffles "... W-Why would you...?"

Jaune: "Because I knocked out a girl who might be, well, family. And family helps family." He smiles warmly at her.

May blushes deeply. She considers it.

May: "... I... I think I would like to do the test please, Nurse."

Tsune: smiles "Of course."

May: looks at Jaune "You're... You're very kind."

Jaune: smiles back "It's how I was raised."

Ruby: "Hey Jaune! We were supposed to study, right? Why are you..." She gasps at Jaune holding May's hand "ACK! ANOTHER GIRL'S FALLEN IN LOVE WITH YOU?!"

May: "W-Wait, no, I-"

Ruby: "WHAT IS WITH YOU?! YOU'RE LIKE THOSE HAREM HAVING GUYS IN BLAKE'S MANGA! YOU-YOU STUPID HAREM HAVING JERK! WHY HAVEN'T YOU SEDUCED ME YET?!"

Jaune: deadpan "Not until you're sixteen."

It does take some yelling but Jaune is able to explain the situation to his friends. May agrees to the test. She meets JNPR and RWBY at their breakfast table the next day.

Pyrrha: "Won't your team worry about you?"

May: sighs "They're... Kind of useless without me. I insisted that they had to get to class and they all just snored."

Ruby: "Wait, I thought Brawnz was your leader?"

May: "He is... On paper. I have to handle the paperwork, the supplies, the schedule, the training-"

Jaune: "So you are the leader."

May: "I, well..." wince

Nora: "You need to stand up for yourself! If you're the leader you gotta bust some heads sometimes! Like Jaune-Jaune!"

Jaune: "I have never had to bust anyone's heads. I've yelled and dopeslapped but never busted heads."

Nora: "It's like a metaphor, or something!"

Weiss: scowls "Plus, he was mainly doing it to our team?"

Jaune: "I'm just helping Ruby. Her pimp hand is still developing."

Ruby: "YEAH!"

Weiss: "What's a pimp hand?"

Blake: evil smile

Yang: sighs "So, hey... Look May. From what Jaune's said, your possible family really misses you. And... Well... I hope you get to reconnect with them."

May: blush "I... I don't know what they would want with me."

Jaune: "Hey: They searched for years. They still ask for any sign of you."

May: "I-I might not be their daughter!"

Pyrrha: "No... But if you are? You'll have a family."

Ren: nods "Believe me. It's not something to take for granted."

Nora: "Yeah... And even if you aren't? We can be family for you." She hugs May "Mmm! Maybe you can join Jaune-Jaune's harem?"

Jaune: "I don't have a harem!"

Yang: "Damn right he doesn't!"

Weiss: "I-I feel zero attraction for him at all!"

Jaune: "Thanks, feeling's mutual."

Weiss: "Wha-NONE AT ALL?!"

Ruby: "Hey! If you're gonna have me, Pyrrha and Yang in the harem, you gotta have Weissy too!"

Jaune: "Don't have a harem, but even if I did, that's up to me."

Weiss: "Oh what, I'm not good enough?! N-Not that I'm interested!"

Blake: "I'd be fine with it."

Weiss: "Of course you would, you perverted cat!"

Blake: "Prude!"

Weiss: "Deviant!"

Blake: "Tsundere!"

Weiss: "WHAT?!"

May: "S-Still... I mean... You're only being kind because I look like your friends-"

Jaune: smiles "I'm being kind because it's the right thing to do."

May: blush

Jaune's Brain: Even if she isn't family... I'm not letting her or her team die like they did in the canon. I just... I want a future where everyone lives. Except the bad guys...

May: "H-How long do you think it will take?"

Jaune: "Well, the results were probably ready this morning but Nurse Tsune would have to inform your parents if you were their child first. Beacon policy. Or it could be taking a while for other reasons."

Ren: "There's no reason to be tense. What will be will be."

Weiss: "I'm sure your parents will find this just as strange a situation as you do. They'll approach it calmly, rationally-"

The roar of airship engines fills the cafeteria. The windows are blocked by an airship in red and golds-Resembling depictions of vimanas in ancient Hindu literature. The double doors are kicked open, and two figures stand there.

One is a tall hirsute and handsome man with black hair and grey-blue eyes. A short, well trimmed beard highlights his noble features. He wears the blue and gold embroidered shirt of a royal and a red and blue turban with white feathers decorating a red jewel in the center, with silk white pants, leather boots, and a blue/purple cloak that waves dramatically. He has a curved sword at his belt and a bow and quiver of arrows on his back.

The other is a beautiful curvaceous woman with long dark red hair and green eyes in a heart-shaped face-Almost exactly like May's. She wears a red and white sari inlaid with gold. Over this is a white cloak and hood, covered in red and gold designs, which is also waving dramatically. She wears stylish leather boots and a red gem in the center of her forehead. She holds a black staff that glows faintly with Aura, and Dust slots that decorate the top of it like a crown.

The couple strides into the cafeteria, so imposing that all conversation has ceased. They walk up to Jaune's table. Jaune is the only one who stands up to greet them willingly. He pulls May along with him, though she immediately hides behind Jaune in fear.

Jaune: "Uncle Arjun! Aunt Saia! You got the news?"

Arjun: "We did... Is that...?"

Jaune: "Yup!" He carefully pulls May out from behind him and holds her in front of himself by her shoulders. "This is May."

May: terrified beyond rational thought "H... H.... H... H-Hello...?"

Saia... Immediately hugs May, bawling like a baby. Arjun hugs her other side, crying manly tears.

Arjun: "Our daughter! You-You're alive!"

Saia: "Oh Maia! Maia! You-You've grown up into such a beauty!"

May, overcome with emotion, also begins to cry as she hugs her parents back. Jaune smiles happily.

Jaune's Brain: All right! That's one sidequest out of the way, and one happy family reunited... I do wish they'd shown up in a more private place but they are both really melodramatic...

Arjun: "Jaune! Jaune..." He hugs Jaune "You are the finest godson a man could ask for!"

Jaune: laughs and hugs him back "Anything, Uncle! I'm glad I'll get to know my godsister!"

Arjun: "Godsister? HA!"

Jaune: "Eh?'

Arjun: "Your father and I made a pact, as men do, over liquor and while listening to Irony Dan, to become brothers in every sense of the word! So we pledged to marry our children together!"

Jaune: "What?!"

May: "Wh-Wh-What?!"

Arjun: "Admittedly, we still haven't convinced your mother to let Abhimanyu marry one of your sisters yet, but surely she'll agree to marrying our firstborn!"

Jaune: "I uh, um-!"

May: "B-But-But-!"

Yang: "HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND!" Yang growled and grabbed Jaune's arm

Jaune: "Y-Yes, that!"

Blake: "And he's gonna be my consort!"

Yang: snarls "BLAKE!"

Jaune: "WHAT! I DIDN'T AGREE TO THAT!"

Pyrrha: "OF COURSE HE DIDN'T!"

Ruby: "YEAH!"

Weiss: "Exactly! Besides arranged marriages are-are barbaric! I would never want that with Arc!"

Nora: "SHE HAS TO JOIN JAUNE'S HAREM! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!"

Jaune: "NORA STOP HELPING!"

Jaune's Brain: Me and my generous impulses!

Click to shrink...

Yang ran off. Jaune manages to track her down. She's punching and kicking through solid stone ruins on the outskirts of Beacon. He decides it's wisest to let her get her anger out of her system first before approaching her.

Yang: "Haa... Haa... Haa..."

Jaune silently hands her a water bottle. She glares at him.

Jaune: "Hydration's important."

She grabs it and downs it. She then bows her head.

Yang: "... Do you want to break up with me?"

Jaune: "WHAT?!"

Yang: "Do you?! Is... Is that why this keeps happening?!"

Jaune: "Yang, no!" He grabs her hands. She tries to pull away but he holds on... She tightens her grip until it's painful but he doesn't let go "Yang, did I look happy about this happening? At all?!"

Yang: "... No... B-But it just keeps happening-!"

Jaune: "I don't know why it does! Okay?"

Yang: sighs "... Maybe I'm... I'm just not enough woman for you-"

Jaune: "BULLSHIT!"

He grabs her around her waist and looks her in the eyes.

Jaune: "Of course you're enough for me, Yang! Why the hell do you think I'm fighting so hard against all this crap?! I love you!"

Yang is bright red.

Yang: small voice "... Really?"

Jaune: "YES! Look... I want a girl I can spend the rest of my life with! So I'm gonna take it slow! My mom and dad took years to fall in love and get married! And they're insanely happy! That's what I want! I don't want a giant harem! How would I even manage it?!"

Yang: "But... But Blake said-"

Jaune: "Blake has issues. LOTS OF ISSUES. I'm not sticking it in crazy, okay? Not unless you agree, and clearly, you don't!"

Yang: "Pyrrha-Pyrrha says she loves you-"

Jaune: "And I do care about her but unless we break up or you're okay with her, nothing's gonna happen!"

Yang: "Weiss-"

Jaune: "Weiss, again, has major issues. I'm fine being her friend and helping her with them!"

Yang: "You threatened her ex-boyfriend-"

Jaune: "Which I would do for ANY of my female friends! I had seven super hot sisters! Do you think I don't know the old ploy of cozying up to me to try and get with them? That's habit for me! Same as you would do for any guy who got close to Ruby!"

Yang: "And Ruby-"

Jaune: "Is underaged! And your sister! Sure I like her a lot but I'm NOT A CREEP. And once again, you're MY GIRLFRIEND."

Yang: "I-I just..." She bows her head.

Jaune hugs her more tightly.

Jaune: "Yang. I am not going anywhere."

Saia: "Ahem."

They turn and look at Saia. She is standing there with May... And a very contrite looking Arjun.

Saia: "Husband? You have some things to say?"

Arjun: bows "I'm sorry Jaune. I was so overcome by emotion that I lost my head. I shouldn't try to force my daughter, whom I just got back, into anything. I was simply so... Overjoyed. I want what's best for my family, and the Arcs have been that. So forgive my selfish impulses."

Jaune: "Of course I do, Uncle."

Saia: nods "May? Go ahead."

May: "Um... Jaune? Thank you so much for this. This... This is the happiest day of my life. Even better than double soup Tuesdays at the orphanage!" smiles "And... And um... I understand why you wouldn't want to get engaged. It-It's too much, too fast. You are an amazing man and I-I would love to marry you but... We barely know eachother and um... You're taken."

Yang: "Very."

May: blushes "But um... I would like very much to get to know you better as a friend. If-If that would be all right?"

Jaune: "... Yes. I would like that."

Saia: "Wonderful!" Beams at Yang "I'm also very glad to see you have a supportive girlfriend, Jaune. One not willing to compromise on any stupid ideas."

Arjun: grumbles "I only floated a harem once as a joke, dear. Please, forgive me?"

Saia: "I will... In the fullness of time."

Arjun: "Hmph!"

There are some hugs and further exchanges before Saia, Arjun, and May head off to bond. Leaving Yang and Jaune alone with the mid-day sun.

Yang: "... Jaune, I-"

Jaune: "Yang-"

They stare at eachother.

Yang: "Let me go first?"

Jaune: "Sure."

Yang: "I... Look. This is a little crazy but I mean... Jaune, will you marry-?"

Jaune puts a hand over her lips. He shakes his head.

Jaune: "Yang... Acting just as crazy as the world isn't the answer, okay? My parents took it slow. They knew each other for years before getting married and they're very, very happy together."

Jaune's Brain: Maybe too happy, urgh. Thanks, I needed more childhood trauma.

Jaune: "Okay? All of this is happening fast but we don't have to do anything we don't want to do. I care for you. If you don't want to be involved in all this crazy... Well... I-I mean, I'd understand if you wanted to break up-"

Yang pulls Jaune's hand away.

Yang: "No! No I don't! I-I like being with you! I just... It's pretty overwhelming."

Jaune: "I know. But that doesn't change how I feel. All right?"

Yang: "Y-Yeah... Same... Just... I mean... I'm not exactly less crazy than these other girls."

Jaune: "No. But you're the right kind of crazy for me."

Yang: smiles and hugs him

He hugs her back.

Yang: "That said... You keep saying only if I'm okay with it?"

Jaune: "About what?"

Yang: "Other women."

Jaune: "Well, yeah."

Yang: "So... Even though it's stupid and would probably be a massive disaster, you would be fine with a harem if I was okay with it?"

Jaune: sighs "Yes Yang. Yes I would. Because damnit, I'm a man and my stupid instincts go 'You know what would be better than one hot female having your kids? Multiple hot females having your kids!' But I'm not gonna let my instincts rule over me."

Yang: "... So... I mean, what would that even look like?"

Jaune: "Huh?"

Yang: "You imagining me with Blake... Pyrrha... Both~?" winks "Maybe Weiss and May as our cute little submissive maids~? My sister~?"

Jaune: nosebleed

Yang: "HAHA!"

Jaune: holds a tissue up to his nostrils "That's not funny... It's a medical condition... Stupid Fuujin genes..."

Yang: "Yeah... But now I have a whole new avenue of teasing you~."

Jaune: rolls his eyes "Then I'll have to shut you up whenever you do."

Yang: "And how will you do that-?"

Jaune kisses her senseless.

Jaune's Brain: Finally I'm doing something productive with my mouth today...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang ran off. Jaune manages to track her down. She's punching and kicking through solid stone ruins on the outskirts of Beacon. He decides it's wisest to let her get her anger out of her system first before approaching her.



Yang: "Haa... Haa... Haa..."



Jaune silently hands her a water bottle. She glares at him.



Jaune: "Hydration's important."



She grabs it and downs it. She then bows her head.



Yang: "... Do you want to break up with me?"



Jaune: "WHAT?!"



Yang: "Do you?! Is... Is that why this keeps happening?!"



Jaune: "Yang, no!" He grabs her hands. She tries to pull away but he holds on... She tightens her grip until it's painful but he doesn't let go "Yang, did I look happy about this happening? At all?!"



Yang: "... No... B-But it just keeps happening-!"



Jaune: "I don't know why it does! Okay?"



Yang: sighs "... Maybe I'm... I'm just not enough woman for you-"



Jaune: "BULLSHIT!"



He grabs her around her waist and looks her in the eyes.



Jaune: "Of course you're enough for me, Yang! Why the hell do you think I'm fighting so hard against all this crap?! I love you!"



Yang is bright red.



Yang: small voice "... Really?"



Jaune: "YES! Look... I want a girl I can spend the rest of my life with! So I'm gonna take it slow! My mom and dad took years to fall in love and get married! And they're insanely happy! That's what I want! I don't want a giant harem! How would I even manage it?!"



Yang: "But... But Blake said-"



Jaune: "Blake has issues. LOTS OF ISSUES. I'm not sticking it in crazy, okay? Not unless you agree, and clearly, you don't!"



Yang: "Pyrrha-Pyrrha says she loves you-"



Jaune: "And I do care about her but unless we break up or you're okay with her, nothing's gonna happen!"



Yang: "Weiss-"



Jaune: "Weiss, again, has major issues. I'm fine being her friend and helping her with them!"



Yang: "You threatened her ex-boyfriend-"



Jaune: "Which I would do for ANY of my female friends! I had seven super hot sisters! Do you think I don't know the old ploy of cozying up to me to try and get with them? That's habit for me! Same as you would do for any guy who got close to Ruby!"



Yang: "And Ruby-"



Jaune: "Is underaged! And your sister! Sure I like her a lot but I'm NOT A CREEP. And once again, you're MY GIRLFRIEND."



Yang: "I-I just..." She bows her head.



Jaune hugs her more tightly.



Jaune: "Yang. I am not going anywhere."



Saia: "Ahem."



They turn and look at Saia. She is standing there with May... And a very contrite looking Arjun.



Saia: "Husband? You have some things to say?"



Arjun: bows "I'm sorry Jaune. I was so overcome by emotion that I lost my head. I shouldn't try to force my daughter, whom I just got back, into anything. I was simply so... Overjoyed. I want what's best for my family, and the Arcs have been that. So forgive my selfish impulses."



Jaune: "Of course I do, Uncle."



Saia: nods "May? Go ahead."



May: "Um... Jaune? Thank you so much for this. This... This is the happiest day of my life. Even better than double soup Tuesdays at the orphanage!" smiles "And... And um... I understand why you wouldn't want to get engaged. It-It's too much, too fast. You are an amazing man and I-I would love to marry you but... We barely know eachother and um... You're taken."



Yang: "Very."



May: blushes "But um... I would like very much to get to know you better as a friend. If-If that would be all right?"



Jaune: "... Yes. I would like that."



Saia: "Wonderful!" Beams at Yang "I'm also very glad to see you have a supportive girlfriend, Jaune. One not willing to compromise on any stupid ideas."



Arjun: grumbles "I only floated a harem once as a joke, dear. Please, forgive me?"



Saia: "I will... In the fullness of time."



Arjun: "Hmph!"



There are some hugs and further exchanges before Saia, Arjun, and May head off to bond. Leaving Yang and Jaune alone with the mid-day sun.



Yang: "... Jaune, I-"



Jaune: "Yang-"



They stare at eachother.



Yang: "Let me go first?"



Jaune: "Sure."



Yang: "I... Look. This is a little crazy but I mean... Jaune, will you marry-?"



Jaune puts a hand over her lips. He shakes his head.



Jaune: "Yang... Acting just as crazy as the world isn't the answer, okay? My parents took it slow. They knew each other for years before getting married and they're very, very happy together."



Jaune's Brain: Maybe too happy, urgh. Thanks, I needed more childhood trauma.



Jaune: "Okay? All of this is happening fast but we don't have to do anything we don't want to do. I care for you. If you don't want to be involved in all this crazy... Well... I-I mean, I'd understand if you wanted to break up-"



Yang pulls Jaune's hand away.



Yang: "No! No I don't! I-I like being with you! I just... It's pretty overwhelming."



Jaune: "I know. But that doesn't change how I feel. All right?"



Yang: "Y-Yeah... Same... Just... I mean... I'm not exactly less crazy than these other girls."



Jaune: "No. But you're the right kind of crazy for me."



Yang: smiles and hugs him



He hugs her back.



Yang: "That said... You keep saying only if I'm okay with it?"



Jaune: "About what?"



Yang: "Other women."



Jaune: "Well, yeah."



Yang: "So... Even though it's stupid and would probably be a massive disaster, you would be fine with a harem if I was okay with it?"



Jaune: sighs "Yes Yang. Yes I would. Because damnit, I'm a man and my stupid instincts go 'You know what would be better than one hot female having your kids? Multiple hot females having your kids!' But I'm not gonna let my instincts rule over me."



Yang: "... So... I mean, what would that even look like?"



Jaune: "Huh?"



Yang: "You imagining me with Blake... Pyrrha... Both~?" winks "Maybe Weiss and May as our cute little submissive maids~? My sister~?"



Jaune: nosebleed



Yang: "HAHA!"



Jaune: holds a tissue up to his nostrils "That's not funny... It's a medical condition... Stupid Fuujin genes..."



Yang: "Yeah... But now I have a whole new avenue of teasing you~."



Jaune: rolls his eyes "Then I'll have to shut you up whenever you do."



Yang: "And how will you do that-?"



Jaune kisses her senseless.



Jaune's Brain: Finally I'm doing something productive with my mouth today...

Click to shrink...

Things did calm down a lot after that, which gave Jaune time to do actual school things: Study. Hang out. Make out with his girlfriend (which she was very keen on).



It did however also let Jaune notice a few things he hadn't been paying a lot of attention to but now he questioned. To wit, as he looked around the cafeteria...



Jaune: "How did I not notice so many couples? And where did those kids come from?"



Weiss: "You dolt. How did you not notice that?"



Jaune: "Well, I mean, I did but I was a little preoccupied..."



Weiss: "Well... Um..." bright red



Yang: "What do you expect to happen with a bunch of fit young men and women in close quarters?" She smiles at a baby a few tables over being rocked by an upperclasswoman "According to my dad in his day? Half the class graduated late due to pregnancies and weddings."



Blake: "Yes. Life persists even in the face of adversity."



Ruby: "How have you NOT noticed all the cute little babies, Jaune?!"



Nora: "I KNOW RIGHT?!"



Pyrrha: "They are very adorable."



Jaune: pouts "I have noticed them, I just didn't put it all together until now."



Weiss: sighs "They're all so adorable...!" Coughs at everyone's looks "I mean... It is good that there are so many responsible adults taking good care of their children."



Ruby: "They are super adorable!" beams



Jaune's Brain: Well I suppose it makes sense. And I guess Monty couldn't render so many kids. Geez, is that why everyone's so pushy about romance? Thank goodness Yang is fine with taking it slow...



Yang nuzzles his neck.



Jaune's Brain: For the most part...!



Cardin approaches, looking a bit exhausted but smiling. Velvet is alongside him, and she's practically glowing. Their teams trail behind them.



Jaune: "Hey Cardin, hey Velvet. What's up?"



Cardin: "Er, well... Um... I'd like to ask you to be my best man, Jauney."



Jaune: "Best Man?"



Velvet: smiles "At our wedding!"



Jaune: "Wait what?! It's only been around six months and you're already-?!"



Velvet: beams and nuzzles Cardin "We're having babies! Triplets at least!"



Coco: "And Cardin here actually stepped up to the plate and proposed right on the spot! Didn't need to shoot him or anything."



Fox: "Yet."



Cardin: winces



Russel: "HEY! Cardin's a stand up guy you jerks! He'll do the right thing! Seriously though, why ask him to be Best Man?"



Cardin: sigh "He did give me the advice that let me ask her out, Russel."



Velvet: "Besides, you're already gonna be godfather!"



Russel: "True."



Cardin: "So uh, what do you say, Jauney?"



Jaune: "Well, sure! I'd be honored!"



Cardin: "Thanks!"



Jaune: "I uh... I hope your parents are as cool with this?"



Cardin and Velvet look at each other worriedly before looking back.



Cardin: "We... Had some issues..."



Velvet: "But we're working them out! Oh, I hope you'll all come?"



Ruby: "Of course! Weddings are awesome!"



Cardin and Velvet hand out some wedding invites (Cardin hands out some cigars) and their teams head off to spread the news. Jaune smiles a little.



Jaune: "I suppose life finds a way..." He looks over at Blake "Blake? You okay?"



Blake: sniffles "Once... I would have hated the idea of a human and a Faunus marrying. I thought it was nothing more than slavery... But they seem so happy."



Jaune: smiles "Yeah! I'm glad they do."



Blake: "And gives me hope for the future~." Warm look at Jaune



Jaune: "As... Friends. Totally friends."



Yang: "The best of friends." Grabs Jaune's arm and pulls him close



Blake: "For now."



Ruby: "Blaaaaake! Stop being all weird and seducer-y!"



Weiss: "Indeed! Have some self respect not to go after a taken man!"



Blake: "Says the woman who scribbles hearts with Jaune's name in them."



Weiss: "I DO NOT!"



Pyrrha: bright red "O-Oh my..."



Jaune: sighs "Thank God summer break is coming up... Nothing ever happens during that time... Except hot girlfriends in swimsuits."



Yang: "You're aware you're saying that out loud, right?"



Jaune: "Yup."



Yang: beams "Just making sure~."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Things did calm down a lot after that, which gave Jaune time to do actual school things: Study. Hang out. Make out with his girlfriend (which she was very keen on).



It did however also let Jaune notice a few things he hadn't been paying a lot of attention to but now he questioned. To wit, as he looked around the cafeteria...



Jaune: "How did I not notice so many couples? And where did those kids come from?"



Weiss: "You dolt. How did you not notice that?"



Jaune: "Well, I mean, I did but I was a little preoccupied..."



Weiss: "Well... Um..." bright red



Yang: "What do you expect to happen with a bunch of fit young men and women in close quarters?" She smiles at a baby a few tables over being rocked by an upperclasswoman "According to my dad in his day? Half the class graduated late due to pregnancies and weddings."



Blake: "Yes. Life persists even in the face of adversity."



Ruby: "How have you NOT noticed all the cute little babies, Jaune?!"



Nora: "I KNOW RIGHT?!"



Pyrrha: "They are very adorable."



Jaune: pouts "I have noticed them, I just didn't put it all together until now."



Weiss: sighs "They're all so adorable...!" Coughs at everyone's looks "I mean... It is good that there are so many responsible adults taking good care of their children."



Ruby: "They are super adorable!" beams



Jaune's Brain: Well I suppose it makes sense. And I guess Monty couldn't render so many kids. Geez, is that why everyone's so pushy about romance? Thank goodness Yang is fine with taking it slow...



Yang nuzzles his neck.



Jaune's Brain: For the most part...!



Cardin approaches, looking a bit exhausted but smiling. Velvet is alongside him, and she's practically glowing. Their teams trail behind them.



Jaune: "Hey Cardin, hey Velvet. What's up?"



Cardin: "Er, well... Um... I'd like to ask you to be my best man, Jauney."



Jaune: "Best Man?"



Velvet: smiles "At our wedding!"



Jaune: "Wait what?! It's only been around six months and you're already-?!"



Velvet: beams and nuzzles Cardin "We're having babies! Triplets at least!"



Coco: "And Cardin here actually stepped up to the plate and proposed right on the spot! Didn't need to shoot him or anything."



Fox: "Yet."



Cardin: winces



Russel: "HEY! Cardin's a stand up guy you jerks! He'll do the right thing! Seriously though, why ask him to be Best Man?"



Cardin: sigh "He did give me the advice that let me ask her out, Russel."



Velvet: "Besides, you're already gonna be godfather!"



Russel: "True."



Cardin: "So uh, what do you say, Jauney?"



Jaune: "Well, sure! I'd be honored!"



Cardin: "Thanks!"



Jaune: "I uh... I hope your parents are as cool with this?"



Cardin and Velvet look at each other worriedly before looking back.



Cardin: "We... Had some issues..."



Velvet: "But we're working them out! Oh, I hope you'll all come?"



Ruby: "Of course! Weddings are awesome!"



Cardin and Velvet hand out some wedding invites (Cardin hands out some cigars) and their teams head off to spread the news. Jaune smiles a little.



Jaune: "I suppose life finds a way..." He looks over at Blake "Blake? You okay?"



Blake: sniffles "Once... I would have hated the idea of a human and a Faunus marrying. I thought it was nothing more than slavery... But they seem so happy."



Jaune: smiles "Yeah! I'm glad they do."



Blake: "And gives me hope for the future~." Warm look at Jaune



Jaune: "As... Friends. Totally friends."



Yang: "The best of friends." Grabs Jaune's arm and pulls him close



Blake: "For now."



Ruby: "Blaaaaake! Stop being all weird and seducer-y!"



Weiss: "Indeed! Have some self respect not to go after a taken man!"



Blake: "Says the woman who scribbles hearts with Jaune's name in them."



Weiss: "I DO NOT!"



Pyrrha: bright red "O-Oh my..."



Jaune: sighs "Thank God summer break is coming up... Nothing ever happens during that time... Except hot girlfriends in swimsuits."



Yang: "You're aware you're saying that out loud, right?"



Jaune: "Yup."



Yang: beams "Just making sure~."

Click to shrink...

As it turned out, a lot more time and things happened in the real version of Remnant than was depicted in the show. Which, to be fair, had a limited runtime and budget. This was the full world.



That said, the show served as a rough timeline for most of the major events and even if it had been a while, Jaune did remember most of them.



He'd gotten the timing down just right for Cinder's team to get into the CCTNet Tower. They had still run into Penny and Ruby, but had escaped. This meant Ruby learned that Penny was a gynoid, just like in the original timeline. Ruby had been fixing Penny when Jaune "accidentally" barged in.



Ruby: "Um... Uh... J-Jaune! This isn't what it looks like-!"



Jaune: smiles and closes the door behind him "Relax Ruby, Penny. I can keep a secret. It's what friends do."



Penny: "We... We are friends, Friend Jaune?"



Jaune: "I think so. Do you?"



Penny: "Of course!"



Ruby sighs in relief.



Jaune: "Don't you worry about a thing, Penny. We're friends and anything you don't want revealed? Won't be. I promise."



Penny: "Are... You certain you are fine with being friends with a... A robot?"



Jaune: "I've always wanted to be friends with a robot! Or rather, gynoid."



Ruby: "Really? Me too?!"



Jaune: "So you don't have to... Try so hard around us."



Penny: blinks "Am I not supposed to apply 100 percent of my efforts to all things to learn, grow, and become the best person I can be?"



Jaune: "Well... Not every aspect of life requires 100 percent effort and how you apply that effort is just as important as how much you use."



Penny: "Really? Sensational!"



Ruby helps Penny fix herself up. They wave goodbye as Penny heads back to meet with her team.



Ruby: beams "Thank you so much, Jaune. That... That means everything."



Jaune: "I meant every word."



Ruby: "So... Um... There is a dance before summer break."



Jaune: blinks "... Oh. Shit. Right. I forgot."



Ruby: "You forgot?" giggles "Yang's not gonna be happy about that!"



Jaune: "I just have a lot going on."



Ruby: "Yeah, about that: Why are you going off to meet with Professor Ozpin so much, anyway?"



Jaune: "I can't tell you. It's... Important."



Ruby: pouts "Yang's already got a lot of worries... Ya know... With your harem and all-"



Jaune: puts her in a headlock and noogies her "You're not helping with that either!"



Ruby: "ACK! EEP! O-OKAY OKAY! SORRY!"



She dashes away with her Semblance and pouts at him.



Jaune shakes his head.



Jaune: "Seriously Ruby. I would tell you if I could but... I can't. It's very important."



Ruby: sighs "All right... Just... It's not anything I did, right?"



Jaune: "No, of course not."



Ruby: "And... We're still going to Radian for Summer Break?"



Jaune: "Wha-" groans "How did you find out?!"



Ruby: "I hacked Yang's Scroll."



Jaune: "Seriously?!"



Ruby: "I do it all the time!"



Jaune: "That doesn't make it better! But... Yes. We're taking a trip to Radian. You, Nora and Ren can come along. And so can anyone else who wants to. But it was going to be a surprise."



Ruby: "I thought you wanted to take things slow with Yang?"



Jaune: "What?"



Ruby: "I mean, your whole family is in Radian, right? We're gonna meet your parents?"



Jaune: "... Okay... So it could look a little... Fast, but that's why we're all going. It'll be a fun trip with my friends and family. And besides... I can't just leave you all alone here for the break."



Ruby: "Yang's hoping you two can suck more face together."



Jaune: "Yeah, that's accounted for."



Ruby: beams "And the rest of your harem? Is there room for sucking face with me-?"



Headlock and noogie



Ruby: "OW OW OW OW OWWWW OKAY I'M SORRY!"



Jaune: "Seriously Ruby! I love ya, but until you're actually legal and unless Yang goes insane, we're NOT going that far, okay?"



Ruby: pouts a little "... Okay... But... If I was legal and I'd asked you out first...?"



Jaune: long sigh "... I would have said yes."



Ruby: beams



Jaune: "Now... I've got another appointment. I'll see you later, okay?"



Ruby: "Sure!" hugs him



Jaune leaves and heads to dorm A12. Pyrrha was waiting dutifully outside.



Jaune: "Sorry I'm late."



Pyrrha: "It's all right. I got to get out of a magazine shoot, after all." smiles.



Jaune smiles back. They both enter the room. The lights flick on as Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald all stare intently at them. Cinder for her part looks annoyed.



Jaune: "How did things go?"



Cinder: glare "According to plan... Except for the part where Rose and Atlas' pet gynoid intervened."



Jaune: shook his head "Random chance is as much a part of this job as anything else. On the plus side, you delivered the package?"



Emerald: "We did, but how do we know it wasn't a trap?!"



Jaune: "Hey. All you had to do was switch out one of the general system holodrives for another that I prepared with the virus. That holodrive has the exact same maintenance schedule, wear and tear as the original. Unless they were specifically looking for the few manufacturing differences between it and thousands of others, they will miss it. The little hack my friend did to the system will include documentation to explain any anomalies and I personally forged paperwork that I slipped into the maintenance archives. We're in the clear."



Emerald: glares "I don't trust him, Cinder. Not one bit-!"



Cinder: "Quiet Emerald."



Emerald: "Y-Yes ma'am."



Cinder: eyes narrow "... Rose and the gynoid happening upon me in the middle of the operation could be a bit of bad luck. But you can understand why we thought it was a trap. You said you were working on her."



Jaune: "Well I can't have her on a leash all the time, can I? She's underaged, it would attract too much attention. Plus her sister has abandonment issues. I'm playing no less deadly a game than you are, Cinder. There are going to be little set backs from time to time. The important thing is, you got the virus into the system, yes?"



Cinder: "... Yes. The first half."



Jaune: "Oh?"



Cinder: "It's a binary virus. Both sets of code are meant to look benign on their own, but when the activation code is issued, they link together and give us total control of Vale and Atlas' computers."



Jaune's Brain: Wow, that is ingenius and I have no idea how it would work. Wish I was a computer programmer in my past life. Still, Ozpin assured me that Penny's Dad and Atlas' cybersecurity guys can unravel the virus since they know what to look for from the holodrive I got them. So hopefully that will work..."



Jaune: "I see. Forgive me, I'm more of a people person than a technical guy."



Cinder: nods "I can see that. In any event the most opportune moment to deliver the second half of the code will be the Beacon Dance. I assume you can come up with a good cover?"



Jaune: "Lemme work on that."



Cinder: "Good... Mercury? Emerald? You're dismissed."



Mercury gives Jaune a savage but approving smile, while Emerald scowls at him. They both leave.



Cinder: "Your pet can go too."



Jaune: looks over at Pyrrha. He reaches up and pats her head



Jaune: "I'll be fine, go."



Pyrrha: smiles "Yes Master."



She exits, leaving Jaune and Cinder alone.



Cinder: "How did you get the security systems to drop for us?"



Jaune: "Hacker friend again. The security systems are run on a different server than the rest of the systems. I was able to use a drive she gave me to send it into maintenance mode from Ozpin's office terminal. He went to get some coffee and I ran it."



Cinder: nods approvingly "Smooth. Very, very smooth. The old wizard must be going senile."



Jaune: "I don't know. He's suspicious. That's why I've played it so carefully... But there is one incident in my past that is why he looks so closely at me."



Cinder: "Oh?"



Jaune: scoffs "Don't pretend you don't know. Any competent operator would have researched everything they could about me."



Cinder: "... You got me. I believe it has to do with your childhood illnesses?"



Jaune: nods "Officially my mother figured out how to beat it with conventional, if ingenious, medicine."



Cinder: "... And unofficially?"



Jaune: "Queen Salem offered my parents a deal: Save my life, and in exchange serve her."



Cinder: eyes widen "Quite the price they paid."



Jaune: "They did it gladly. And you can appreciate how delicious Salem found it. After all, the founding matriarch of our house, Joan D'Arc, defeated her servant the Witch Queen of Argus. She hasn't forgotten about that."



Cinder: "Indeed... But you'll forgive me if I don't entirely trust you."



Jaune: "I appreciate the honesty."



Cinder: "Still..." She walked up and rested a hand against his chest "Perhaps when this is all over... I might re-evaluate a few things?"



Jaune: "Such as?"



Cinder: "Our relationship, of course~."



Jaune: smiles "... I'm a professional, ma'am. After all... We're in the middle of a deadly operation. No matter how tempted we might be... We have to keep our eyes on the prize."



Cinder: sighs, draws her hand away "True. Pity. I wonder if either of us can ever truly relax with another person?"



Jaune: "That's the price we pay... But... You never know. Maybe one day, we'll find out."



Cinder: smiles "I suppose so. Goodnight, Mister Arc."



Jaune: "Goodnight, Miss Fall."



She leaves. Jaune heads out... And meets Pyrrha on the roof. Pyrrha channels her Semblance again.



Pyrrha: "We're clear... This is kind of exciting! Like a spy movie!"



Jaune: sighs "Yeah..."



Pyrrha: "Jaune?"



Jaune: irritated "Just... Ugh. I hate this spy shit. It's much more fun to watch it than be a part of it."



Pyrrha: "... Jaune? I um... I hope you don't mind but... I was listening in. So was Emerald. Nobody else though."



Jaune: "So... What did you want to talk about?"



Pyrrha: "... Your childhood. What you said... Was it true?"



Jaune: "Nah. I mean... Yeah, I was very sickly and spent a LOT of my childhood in the hospital or my room. But my mom was the one who saved me. Not Salem."



Pyrrha: "I see... I'm sorry."



Jaune: "No! No, it's good. I mean you shouldn't be too paranoid when you're dealing with this stuff but... It's good that you're keeping me honest."



Pyrrha: "One... Other thing."



Jaune: "Sure?"



Pyrrha: "Something that's been bothering me since we met, Jaune. You've acted so strange. Like you're... Older than us. It doesn't match up with what you've told us. You immediately knew so much more about me when we fought in the Initiation than had revealed... And you knew what my Semblance could do. Nobody knows that except for my trainer, my mother, and me. You've had incredible knowledge about people you've never even met before, not just me."



Jaune's Brain: Oh boy...



Jaune: "So... What do you think is going on?"



Pyrrha: "Well... I entertained a few possibilities. I-I do actually like to read scifi, have since I was a little girl... I thought about it. And I guess... I just have to ask..." She stared at him "Are you from the future?"



Jaune's Brain: Ah, right, I forgot she's not just a pretty face with a good sword arm...



Jaune: "... Sort of. I..." sighs "I'm not at liberty to tell you the whole thing. You can probably guess why... But I do have knowledge about the future."



Pyrrha: "... Was it bad?"



Jaune: "Is there another reason people might try to send information back in time to change things? Yeah... It was bad. Very bad."



Pyrrha: "... And what happened to me?"



Jaune: takes a very deep breath "... You died trying to save me... Save us all."



Pyrrha: "... Did Cinder do it?"



Jaune: "... Yeah."



Silence falls. Pyrrha sucked in another breath.



Pyrrha: "Did... Did I ever tell you how I felt?"



Jaune: "..." sighs "Just before you died."



Pyrrha: staring out into the night "... I see..."



Jaune: hugs her "Pyrrha. It's not going to happen this time. I promise."



Pyrrha: "... Is that why you... You've been so open with me? In most things. And well... So caring?"



Jaune: "... Partially. I do genuinely love Yang... You? I care for you too but..." sighs "I guess part of me blamed myself for... For your death."



Pyrrha: "What?!"



Jaune: "If I'd gone with you, Pyr, I-I could have at least been a distraction-I could have done something, anything-!"



Pyrrha: "Jaune! If I did go to fight and I did leave you behind... It wouldn't have been because I was sure I was going to die. It would have been so I wouldn't have worried about you. It wasn't your fault!"



Jaune's Brain: I can't believe that... I just can't...



Jaune: "Yeah well... You promise me if things get bad, you won't send me away."



Pyrrha: "Jaune, I-"



He grabs her shoulders and stares into her eyes.



Jaune: "PROMISE! I will NOT lose you or anyone else ever again. You're not sacrificing yourselves for me. Never. Again. Understand?"



Pyrrha slowly nods.



Pyrrha: "I... I promise."



Jaune: nods "..." sighs "I'm... I'm sorry."



Pyrrha: "... You keep telling me I say that too much. For things that aren't my fault."



Jaune: "Yeah, well... I never claimed to not be a hypocrite."



Pyrrha: "... Can you tell me anything else about the future?"



Jaune: "Only that we need to stop Cinder. So much is... Is different, Pyrrha. If I tell you too much, everything might change. I just... I just ask that you trust me."



Pyrrha: smiles with tears in her eyes "I do... I always will."



Jaune: "Thank you..." sighs "And... Well... Again. Same thing, okay? If I break up with Yang... Give me two weeks and... And we'll try."



Pyrrha: "... The future was incredibly hard on you, wasn't it?"



Jaune: "On all of us... But... Yeah."



Pyrrha hugs him tightly.



Pyrrha: "... We'll find our happy ending. I promise."



Jaune: "..." hugs her back "Yeah... Yeah. We will."



- - -



Well that got fucking serious all of a sudden!

 

[SharkCultist]

Weiss was upset.

"I can't believe we're all going to fail this semester because of Movies. It's ridiculous!"

She seethed as she flipped on her bed with a small poof of displaced snow.

Ruby paused her juggling attempts to try and comfort her friend(?).

"Cheer up Weiss, it's not like anyone else is doing better than us, ouch!"

Ruby had fumbled her juggle and ended up hitting her head.

"Still we're some of the best first years in the greatest academy for our craft, and yet somehow we've all been shown up by...

Weiss pauses to look at a DVD case.

"Jaune fucking Arc! Who even is this guy?"

For this Blake put down her book tail whipping in annoyance at having to listen to her cold teammate.

"Jaune Arc is a descendant of heroes and hunters who went into film craft instead of the family business of killing things. You'd know this if you actually paid attention to Yang and I during team movie nights."

"Well excuse me for not expecting one human to counteract over four hundred years of monster tactics and training with a few movies!"

Ruby picked her head up off the ground and joined the conversation again.

"But it's not a few movies, he's only been making movies for like four years and he's already made seventeen! All of em horror movies."

Weiss groans releasing a chilling wind into the room.

"Great, and all of them show people how to run away from us since he's got actual accounts from his family about our tactics."

"Could be worse, least hunters are still keeping to the spooky in the shadows rules so we don't have any mobs after us!"

"Oh yes that's great Ruby, at least we aren't being murdered. The bare minimum is our bright side, speaking of bright side where is Yang?"

"...."

"...."

"She's at one of these movies isn't she?"

"Premier tickets. Cost a arm and a leg, Nora was pissed yang stole her back-ups."

---

It's a AU!

Welcome to the Salem school for supernatural spooks. Catering to everything from silly friendly ghost to cannibalistic inbred zombies, there's even a few human mad scientist around.

We've got
Ruby the dullahan
Weiss the snow woman
Blake the werepanther
Nora the Frankenstein (along with her creator/boyfriend the mad scientist Ren)
And Yang (I didn't actually settle on something for Yang. I was torn between succubus, fire spirit, and just a Jason style unkillable serial killer with a weird hair fixation)

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was hanging out reading comics in his room alone as Nora had dragged Ren away for something about a sloth, and Pyrrha was meeting with her agent about this commercial they would like her to do the coming weekend.

That is when he heard a knock on his door. He glanced up from his comic, "It's open!" he hollers.

The door opens and a fidgeting Ruby slowly enters and gently closes the door behind her.

"Hi Jaune," she quietly says as she tries to keep making eye contact to only shift her vision away after a second or two.

"Hey Ruby," Jaune replies as he looks at her over his comic perplexed by her current behavior. He had known Ruby for months now, hell they had even just celebrated her birthday! Even though Yang could be a bit overprotective she decided to get Ruby a drink for becoming a legal adult. But Jaune didn't want to pressure her into saying what was wrong if she was struggling.

So Jaune sat there in the awkward silence as she stood a few feet from the door fidgeting, after 5 minutes of this Jaune decided to take some initiative. He put the comic down and sat on the edge of his bed. "Is there something you want to discuss?" he gently asked.

Ruby shook her head viciously and slapped her cheeks. Which already had some red on them but now shown brightly. She moved to him with a purpose, but he could still see some hesitation with the movements. Like she was just powering through the doubts and fears.

She sat down next to him, straightening out her skirt as she did. Jaune being quite a bit taller looked down to the girl sitting next to him. She had updated her wardrobe a bit after her birthday (Vol 4-Vol 6 outfit). He was getting a good amount of cleavage shown to him right now, and he just realized she had been showing off recently. So, he averted his eyes and went to her face. Where he would always be astounded by how beautiful she was. The cute round face and button nose, full lips, stunning silver eyes, and unique hair.

"Jaune," Ruby suddenly spoke shocking Jaune of his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"I have a major favor to ask you, and you are the only one to go to for this," Ruby says as she starts playing with her fingerings talking despite her nervousness.

"I'll help," Jaune replied without hesitation. "Anything for you Ruby."

The red that had been going down in her cheeks had flared up again.

"Then… I need you to kiss me." She said as she turned her head to look up and meet his eyes.

Record scratch sound

Jaune blinked once, twice, and blinked a third time.

"What?"

"I need you to kiss me Jaune."

"…May I ask why?" Jaune asked as he was doing everything in his power to not outwardly freak out at this very moment like he wanted to.

"I haven't ever kissed a boy before." Ruby quietly admitted as she still looked deeply into his beautiful sapphire eyes she had always loved looking into. "I have always been saving it, for the some I truly had feelings for. But I'm already an adult and haven't kissed them yet. So, I want to get it out of the way. And I know you have some experience because of your last girlfriend, and I trust you more than anyone. So, I want you to kiss me Jaune."

Jaune could only stare into her nervous but determined silver eyes. His mind a mile a minute as he processed her confession. This was a big deal to her, and he couldn't in good conscience take away this first she had been saving from her.

"Ruby, this kiss is special for you. I can't take it." Jaune said with all the sincerity in his heart.

Instead of looking upset at him, Ruby just smiled lightly as her eyes filled with affection. And another emotion that Jaune had picked up on but couldn't quite place.

"And that's why I can do this," Ruby quietly said as she shot up and met her lips with his.

The whole world froze for Jaune as he felt her warm soft lips against his. The taste of cookies on her lips from some she probably had before coming over. He could she was trying to lead but didn't know what to do, so on instinct, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close causing her to squeak into his mouth causing him to smile lightly in their kiss. He decided the milk was already spilled and might as well make sure she enjoyed it. He began to kiss her back and soon took the lead as he moved his lips against hers almost like giving them a massage that practically had her melting against him. She moaned softly as he went to work and not wanting to be shown up tried to match his movements with her own.

After a few minutes of this Jaune tested the waters and brought his tongue into play and gently prodded at her lips. Ruby readily granted him access opening her mouth for him. Jaune's tongue shot forward to meet her and began a battle he had far more experience in and quickly subdued her tongue and soon began to conquer every corner of her mouth. Ruby moaned in delight every moment of it. But she couldn't take this defeat lying down and pushed them back onto the bed and put herself on top of Jaune as they continued their make-out session. Jaune's arms wrapped securely around her waist making her feel warm and protected.

Soon they broke apart each panting heavily as they looked into each other's eyes.

"Thank you Jaune, I love every minute of this." Ruby quietly said as she nuzzled the crook of his neck.

Jaune sighed lightly, "Well I will feel bad about the guy you will have feelings for, for taking this away from him."

Ruby stopped her nuzzling as he said that and pulled herself back so she could look him in the eyes again. She could see he was completely serious with that statement.

"Pfft," Ruby began to giggle then laugh at his words. This was Jaune after all.

"No need to laugh, I think it is a serious issue," Jaune commented with mild defensiveness.

Ruby finished her giggle session and looked back down at him with a loving smile. And kissed him gently again.

"You are as dense as a gravity dust crystal," Ruby lightly replied. "Jaune, you are that someone special. I love you."

Jaune blinked at her, "Wha?"

Ruby giggled lightly again, "I have loved you for a long time now, I don't know exactly when I got these feelings, but they have been there for most of the year. I was just waiting until my birthday to do anything since I wanted to be able to pursue you without any restrictions."

Jaune could only look at her dumbfounded for a minute before he tossed his head back and groaned loudly.

"I have had feelings for you too, Ruby." He admitted with his head still tossed back so he couldn't see her. "I just thought I would never have a chance."

"You big dummy, of course you would have one. Well let's make up for lost time, shall we?

Four hours later Ren opened the door to find them still making out but without any clothes on their top halves by then. He stood frozen for 2 seconds before he quietly closed the door and turned to Nora who had seen the same thing by peaking from behind him.

"Protect fearless leader from Yang?" Nora asks

Ren nods, "Yes, and from what we have seen they will escalate quickly and so will Yang's ire."

"Cause it's Ruby or because it isn't her?"

"Yes."

 

[LordofBones]

Salem: "So, here you are at last. Mankind's greatest heroes. Do you even know who you fight alongside with, Ozma?"

*Salem stands alone at her castle. She smiles and looks over the assembled heroes; teams RWBY and JNR, Qrow and Ozpin, Arturia and the Knights, Nick and his team, Tai, and countless others.*

Salem: "The King of Knights and the Round Table. The great heroes of the Mahabharata. The Child of Light, so far from the lands of the Tuatha. The Iron Wrought Magus, who sought to save everyone. Shall I go on?

*Jaune wonders at some of the names, but starts as he realizes that Salem is staring at his Grandpa Shirou while his Uncle Arjun is staring at her in undisguised shock.*

Shirou: "We've never met."
Salem: *chuckles* "Oh, but we have, Emiya Shirou. Your father rejected the truth that I showed and you were baptized in my mud and fire. Now, All the World's Evil shall become the World."

*A blast of destructive crimson power crashes into Evernight Castle. Mordred huffs and charges another Clarent Blood Arthur, and the dust clears Salem is regenerating, streams of Darkness swirling into her.*

Salem: "A poor copy of your Noble Phantasm, Knight of Treachery. Let me remind you what a true one is capable of, and know me by my true name once again!"

*Salem lifts her hands to the air in mocking supplication*

Salem: "LET ALL HONOR ME. LET ME BE EXALTED OVER ALL ELSE. THE DAEVAS SHALL SING THE GATHAS. THE PERI SHALL PERFORM THE YASNA.

DESPOIL THE SKIES. RAPE THE EARTH. OPEN FORTH THE GATES OF AHRIMANABAD. SHATTER THE SEALS OF DAMAVAND.

TRUE NOBLE PHANTASM: AJA'IB AL-MAKHLUQAT WA GHARA'IB AL-MAWJUDAT; DJEBEL QAF!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I'm also thinking of doing more with Jaune's biological aunt and uncles on the Arc side, but I'm gonna make them more their own characters. Some thoughts:

-Uncle Alex is still going to be a take on Father Anderson from Hellsing. He'll go by Father Alex which is more, well, copyright friendly so to speak. His Semblance will be Shadow Duplication: He can create shadow clones of physical objects he touches, primarily his knives. It will be a form of Semblance similar to his grandfather Shirou's Unlimited Blade Works. Paired with his powerful Aura and combat training, he's a very effective paladin for the Church.

-Uncle Nanami Kento from Jiujutsu Kaisen is getting a significant name change. Nanami is in fact his surname, Kento (meaning "sword") is his first name. So I'll use the Old Germanic word "Brand" for his name which means "sword, fire, torch" depending on context. Brand Arc also functions as a bit of a pun given his focus on finances. His Semblance is "Division"-He has superhuman precision with cuts and objects, as well as in conceptualizing mass and volume of objects. This helped him with finances and allows him to strike very precisely once he figures out a weakpoint. Again, somewhat based on his grandfather Shirou's abilities.

-Aunt Irina from Assassination Classroom is relatively simple: Her name is a Slavic form of the Greek name "Irene", meaning "peace". So now she's Irene Arc. She's got more actual combat training and ability given she lives in Remnant. Her Semblance is "Crescendo": She is able to increase or decrease sounds around her. It's a bit of a wildcard Semblance that resulted but paired with Arc Aura reserves and stamina it makes her a deadly threat and a very effective assassin.

-Uncle Sanji is also fairly simple: "Sanji" means "Third son" in Japanese, so we'll go with the English name "Trey". It also serves as a bit of a fun reference to Sanji's nationality, France, if he was in the real world (and Jaune's inspiration). Trey Arc is a world class gourmet cook and a great fighter with his feet only. His Semblance is Tough Body: Not unlike his eldest sister he has superhuman toughness. He can't really turn this on or off, so he uses Aura fighting techniques to maximize what he can do with it, such as igniting his Aura around his feet to deal more damage in combat.

 

[Eclipse Staro]

If SI Jaune decided to go streaming 2


Inside JNPR Room.

Jaune: Testing, testing. Are we online?

Miss Ara Ara: He's back!

Cream and Pie: Our dashing knight is here!

Kabedon: Kyaa. Jaune-sama

Three Scoop:

Jaune: Man, people in Remnant need some drink.

Jaune: "Guess we are."

Cough.

Jaune: "Hello my squires. I'm Jaune Arc and this is my channel, Knight Arc. So today, as requested by many of you, I'm gonna talk about Semblance."

Jaune: "But first, today we got an all huntress team with us as my guests. Squires, let me present to you, Team RWBY."

Jaune shows four girls.

Ruby: "Um, hello. I'm Ruby."

Weiss: "Greetings. My name is Weiss."

Blake: *Nods and gives a wave with her hand.* "Blake."

Yang: "Sup. Call me Yang."

Preach Bro: Holy Monty. Bro got two celebrities with him.

Hazy Memory: Which ones is the celebrities?

Tough Time: I recognized the white hair girl. Weiss Schnee right? The singer and heiress of SDC.

Camo Girl: And Blake. The daughter of Chieftain of Menagerie.

While the girls were introducing themselves, Jaune had one thought.

Jaune: Was it really worth it to make that deal with Ozpin?

.....​

Flashback Starts.
A day before.

Ozpin: "Mr. Arc, I will give you 1 000 lien if you can keep team RWBY away from the city for a day." *Holding money in his hands.*

Jaune: "Make it half a day and you got a deal."

Ozpin: "Done."
Flashback Ends.

.....​

Yang: "I got a question. What's with the squire thing?"

Blake: "You mean why he call his watchers squires?"

Yang: "Yeah, that."

Jaune: "Oh, I heard from someone that every knight needs a squire. Thought it might be nice."

Terra Top: Guess we're squires now.

Saphron Spice: I don't mind.

Jaune: "Alright back to topic of today, Semblance."

Jaune: "If Aura is a general power that masses can use, Semblance is like a personal power. Your very own superpower if you will."

Dine Dime: I suppose there's a reason why they call Huntsman and Huntress heroes.

Climb Fool: Having your own superpower certainly qualifies to be a superhero.

Dark Green: Or a supervillain.

Climb Fool: Must you ruin my dream?

Jaune: "Would our guests wants to share anything about Semblance?"

Ruby: "Semblance is fueled by Aura. Some Semblance takes time to discover."

Jaune: "Some Huntsman and Huntress never awaken their semblance, so don't feel too bad if you never found yours."

Yang: "Fun fact, you can name your Semblance when you fill out the application form for entering a Huntsman Academy."

Weiss: There's an old legend that Man is born from Dust. That's why some Semblance require Dust to function.

Jaune: "Whether that legend is true or not, some Semblance do use Dust to work well."

Blake: "Some book I read says that Semblance is a power that you wanted or needed most and develop in dangerous situation."

[TIME ELAPSED: 5 MINUTES]

Jaune: "Semblance are usually divided into two types, Hereditary and Non Hereditary. For example, Weiss is Hereditary while the other member of RWBY possess Non Hereditary Semblances. Weiss, can you make a small Glyph and show it to our audience?"

Weiss: Of course. It would be my honor.

Hihehahohu: So formal.

Rise Mantle: There's the Atlas elite etiquette.

Tiger Claw: Down with SDC!

The last comment actually made Blake snorted.

Jaune: "Each type comes with its own advantage and disadvantage."

Jaune: "For Hereditary Semblance, the user will have an advantage in knowing what semblance they have and generations can continue to refine it further. The disadvantage on the other hand is that your enemy will know what semblance you have and there's a limit to how much you can refine your semblance."

Weiss: "True, I had years of practice. Some of my technique came from what is passed from my family."

Jaune: "Non Hereditary are a surprises which can be good and bad. Some can be more powerful than Hereditary Semblance while others may seem less powerful. Most Semblance are simple in nature like telekinesis and super speed."

Ruby: "Yup, mine allows me to move fast."

Jaune: "Chuckles.* "Yeah, Ruby would be Mover 7."

"Mover 7?"

Jaune: "Ah sorry. So I created categories for Semblance to help with ratings. Here."

Jaune shows a board which has 10 categories o them.

Maker
Mover
Mind
Might
Blaster
Ruler
Mirage
Chance
Effect
Trump

Jaune: "I might add more in the future but for now, this is what I got."

Jaune: "So some explanation. I'll try to keep it simple."

Jaune: "Maker is like those that creates something with their semblance. For example, clones and summon defeated Grimm."

Jaune: "Mover involves moving from one place to another. Speed, Flight and Portal. Speed is about increased movement beyond normal pace, Flight is about able to fly without equipment and Portal is basically Teleportation. I'm pretty sure it was also Doctor Oobleck also possessed a speed semblance."

Jaune: "Mind is like being a Planner which makes plan either long term or short term, read mind or enhanced intelligence."

Jaune: "Might is either Brawn which increase strength as a focus and Tank which increased defensive or regenerative focus."

Jaune: "Ruler usually refer to either a Creator which creates the minions in question and Controller which controls assets already present for minions. Ruler must have control over target. Point is, they can command beings with their Semblance."

Jaune: "Blaster is about offensive ranged attack. Some Semblance allows their user to create Aura Arrow or coat object with their Semblance."

Jaune: Mirage usually refer to those with illusion or stealth semblance. can usually be listed under two categories, Hider (invisiblity, shadow cloaking, and other methods to avoid direct detection) and Faker (pretends to be someone else, usually in a position of power or access).

Jaune: "Chance involves with probability manipulation. Luck or Misfortune. Again, there's a good reason to activate your Aura inside a safe place."

Jaune: "Effect Your semblance have an effect on yourself or others. Poison, heal, bypassing aura."

Jaune: "Lastly Trump. Trump fall under a wide variety of options, however common sub-designations are Nullifier which nullifies powers used against them or in an area, Copier which copies powers to some extent, Modifier for semblance alterations in others, Stealer which allow user to steal semblances and Lot which means having lots of semblances to use by self or for others."

Dommy Mommy: Twice now you impressed me. These categories is certainly useful.

Ding~

*Dommy Mommy has donated 2 000 lien.*

Jaune: "Oh wow, that's a lot of money. Thanks Dommy Mommy. I hope I can keep impressing you."

Ding~

*Three Scoop has donated 200 lien.*

Jaune: "Thanks Three Scoop. Appreciate the lien."

Ding~

*Melon Lady has donated 500 lien.*

Ding~

*Banana Split has donated 1 000 lien.*

Ding~

*Need Cucumber has donated 700 lien.*

Jaune: "Thanks for the money, but please don't force yourself to donate if you can't. The money is nice but prioritize yourself before me."

Meanwhile Team RWBY who just watch Jaune getting thousands of money.

Ruby: "Cookies. Giant sized cookies. All the cookies."

Blake: "More book. Ninja's of Love volume 10."

Yang: "Bumblebee could use some tuning up."

Jaune finished thanking his donators.

Jaune: "Back to those categories, I put ratings on 1 to 10. 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest."

Jaune: "Here are some videos of team RWBY fighting with their semblances."

Blake: "You're playing video of our initiation test?"

Jaune: "Only some of it."

Plays video of RWBY and JNPR doing their initiation test to the point where they are fighting Nevermore and Death Stalker.

Jaune: "Like I said, Ruby would definitely be Mover 7."

Weiss: "You may be on to something Arc."

Jaune: "Let's go next with Yang. Obviously Might since her strength increased when she is using her Semblance but numbers?"

Bold Luck: I give Might 5.

Kaboom: No, Might 6. Don't you see how she just one shot those Ursas? I'm taking consumption of Aura and stamina into account.

Winter Cold: Might 7 if we're counting the Dust use as well.

Weiss: "What about Blake?"

Jaune: "Let's see. Blake can create solid clone that doesn't move. She can even infuse Dust to her Clone. That makes her Maker 3."

Blake: "And Weiss?"

Jaune: "Ruler 3 to 7. Depends on the summoned Grimm and the amount she can summon. Maker 3 to 7. Again, it depends on what type of Grimm she summon and how long she can maintain it. Mover 4 since she can use Dust to speed up her movement."

Easy Oz: This categories might be useful for classes at Hunter Academy.

Lemon Goodness: I will adapt these categories to my lesson.

Cold Iron: I'll start using these categories on my students.

Real Girl: Let me help you Uncle Iron.

[TIME ELAPSED: 15 MINUTES]

Weiss: "It's a combat skirt."

Ruby: "Yeah."

Ruby instantly went to Weiss and the two slap their hand.

Bun Bun: Adorable.

Pish Posh: Cute.

Kunoichi: Kawaii

Blake: "I only said you two wear skirt into combat, why are so many people liking it?"

Yang: "Not gonna stop them?"

Jaune: "Nothing exploded yet so I think this is still safe."

BOOM!

Stream Ends.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

As it turned out, a lot more time and things happened in the real version of Remnant than was depicted in the show. Which, to be fair, had a limited runtime and budget. This was the full world.

That said, the show served as a rough timeline for most of the major events and even if it had been a while, Jaune did remember most of them.

He'd gotten the timing down just right for Cinder's team to get into the CCTNet Tower. They had still run into Penny and Ruby, but had escaped. This meant Ruby learned that Penny was a gynoid, just like in the original timeline. Ruby had been fixing Penny when Jaune "accidentally" barged in.

Ruby: "Um... Uh... J-Jaune! This isn't what it looks like-!"

Jaune: smiles and closes the door behind him "Relax Ruby, Penny. I can keep a secret. It's what friends do."

Penny: "We... We are friends, Friend Jaune?"

Jaune: "I think so. Do you?"

Penny: "Of course!"

Ruby sighs in relief.

Jaune: "Don't you worry about a thing, Penny. We're friends and anything you don't want revealed? Won't be. I promise."

Penny: "Are... You certain you are fine with being friends with a... A robot?"

Jaune: "I've always wanted to be friends with a robot! Or rather, gynoid."

Ruby: "Really? Me too?!"

Jaune: "So you don't have to... Try so hard around us."

Penny: blinks "Am I not supposed to apply 100 percent of my efforts to all things to learn, grow, and become the best person I can be?"

Jaune: "Well... Not every aspect of life requires 100 percent effort and how you apply that effort is just as important as how much you use."

Penny: "Really? Sensational!"

Ruby helps Penny fix herself up. They wave goodbye as Penny heads back to meet with her team.

Ruby: beams "Thank you so much, Jaune. That... That means everything."

Jaune: "I meant every word."

Ruby: "So... Um... There is a dance before summer break."

Jaune: blinks "... Oh. Shit. Right. I forgot."

Ruby: "You forgot?" giggles "Yang's not gonna be happy about that!"

Jaune: "I just have a lot going on."

Ruby: "Yeah, about that: Why are you going off to meet with Professor Ozpin so much, anyway?"

Jaune: "I can't tell you. It's... Important."

Ruby: pouts "Yang's already got a lot of worries... Ya know... With your harem and all-"

Jaune: puts her in a headlock and noogies her "You're not helping with that either!"

Ruby: "ACK! EEP! O-OKAY OKAY! SORRY!"

She dashes away with her Semblance and pouts at him.

Jaune shakes his head.

Jaune: "Seriously Ruby. I would tell you if I could but... I can't. It's very important."

Ruby: sighs "All right... Just... It's not anything I did, right?"

Jaune: "No, of course not."

Ruby: "And... We're still going to Radian for Summer Break?"

Jaune: "Wha-" groans "How did you find out?!"

Ruby: "I hacked Yang's Scroll."

Jaune: "Seriously?!"

Ruby: "I do it all the time!"

Jaune: "That doesn't make it better! But... Yes. We're taking a trip to Radian. You, Nora and Ren can come along. And so can anyone else who wants to. But it was going to be a surprise."

Ruby: "I thought you wanted to take things slow with Yang?"

Jaune: "What?"

Ruby: "I mean, your whole family is in Radian, right? We're gonna meet your parents?"

Jaune: "... Okay... So it could look a little... Fast, but that's why we're all going. It'll be a fun trip with my friends and family. And besides... I can't just leave you all alone here for the break."

Ruby: "Yang's hoping you two can suck more face together."

Jaune: "Yeah, that's accounted for."

Ruby: beams "And the rest of your harem? Is there room for sucking face with me-?"

Headlock and noogie

Ruby: "OW OW OW OW OWWWW OKAY I'M SORRY!"

Jaune: "Seriously Ruby! I love ya, but until you're actually legal and unless Yang goes insane, we're NOT going that far, okay?"

Ruby: pouts a little "... Okay... But... If I was legal and I'd asked you out first...?"

Jaune: long sigh "... I would have said yes."

Ruby: beams

Jaune: "Now... I've got another appointment. I'll see you later, okay?"

Ruby: "Sure!" hugs him

Jaune leaves and heads to dorm A12. Pyrrha was waiting dutifully outside.

Jaune: "Sorry I'm late."

Pyrrha: "It's all right. I got to get out of a magazine shoot, after all." smiles.

Jaune smiles back. They both enter the room. The lights flick on as Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald all stare intently at them. Cinder for her part looks annoyed.

Jaune: "How did things go?"

Cinder: glare "According to plan... Except for the part where Rose and Atlas' pet gynoid intervened."

Jaune: shook his head "Random chance is as much a part of this job as anything else. On the plus side, you delivered the package?"

Emerald: "We did, but how do we know it wasn't a trap?!"

Jaune: "Hey. All you had to do was switch out one of the general system holodrives for another that I prepared with the virus. That holodrive has the exact same maintenance schedule, wear and tear as the original. Unless they were specifically looking for the few manufacturing differences between it and thousands of others, they will miss it. The little hack my friend did to the system will include documentation to explain any anomalies and I personally forged paperwork that I slipped into the maintenance archives. We're in the clear."

Emerald: glares "I don't trust him, Cinder. Not one bit-!"

Cinder: "Quiet Emerald."

Emerald: "Y-Yes ma'am."

Cinder: eyes narrow "... Rose and the gynoid happening upon me in the middle of the operation could be a bit of bad luck. But you can understand why we thought it was a trap. You said you were working on her."

Jaune: "Well I can't have her on a leash all the time, can I? She's underaged, it would attract too much attention. Plus her sister has abandonment issues. I'm playing no less deadly a game than you are, Cinder. There are going to be little set backs from time to time. The important thing is, you got the virus into the system, yes?"

Cinder: "... Yes. The first half."

Jaune: "Oh?"

Cinder: "It's a binary virus. Both sets of code are meant to look benign on their own, but when the activation code is issued, they link together and give us total control of Vale and Atlas' computers."

Jaune's Brain: Wow, that is ingenius and I have no idea how it would work. Wish I was a computer programmer in my past life. Still, Ozpin assured me that Penny's Dad and Atlas' cybersecurity guys can unravel the virus since they know what to look for from the holodrive I got them. So hopefully that will work..."

Jaune: "I see. Forgive me, I'm more of a people person than a technical guy."

Cinder: nods "I can see that. In any event the most opportune moment to deliver the second half of the code will be the Beacon Dance. I assume you can come up with a good cover?"

Jaune: "Lemme work on that."

Cinder: "Good... Mercury? Emerald? You're dismissed."

Mercury gives Jaune a savage but approving smile, while Emerald scowls at him. They both leave.

Cinder: "Your pet can go too."

Jaune: looks over at Pyrrha. He reaches up and pats her head

Jaune: "I'll be fine, go."

Pyrrha: smiles "Yes Master."

She exits, leaving Jaune and Cinder alone.

Cinder: "How did you get the security systems to drop for us?"

Jaune: "Hacker friend again. The security systems are run on a different server than the rest of the systems. I was able to use a drive she gave me to send it into maintenance mode from Ozpin's office terminal. He went to get some coffee and I ran it."

Cinder: nods approvingly "Smooth. Very, very smooth. The old wizard must be going senile."

Jaune: "I don't know. He's suspicious. That's why I've played it so carefully... But there is one incident in my past that is why he looks so closely at me."

Cinder: "Oh?"

Jaune: scoffs "Don't pretend you don't know. Any competent operator would have researched everything they could about me."

Cinder: "... You got me. I believe it has to do with your childhood illnesses?"

Jaune: nods "Officially my mother figured out how to beat it with conventional, if ingenious, medicine."

Cinder: "... And unofficially?"

Jaune: "Queen Salem offered my parents a deal: Save my life, and in exchange serve her."

Cinder: eyes widen "Quite the price they paid."

Jaune: "They did it gladly. And you can appreciate how delicious Salem found it. After all, the founding matriarch of our house, Joan D'Arc, defeated her servant the Witch Queen of Argus. She hasn't forgotten about that."

Cinder: "Indeed... But you'll forgive me if I don't entirely trust you."

Jaune: "I appreciate the honesty."

Cinder: "Still..." She walked up and rested a hand against his chest "Perhaps when this is all over... I might re-evaluate a few things?"

Jaune: "Such as?"

Cinder: "Our relationship, of course~."

Jaune: smiles "... I'm a professional, ma'am. After all... We're in the middle of a deadly operation. No matter how tempted we might be... We have to keep our eyes on the prize."

Cinder: sighs, draws her hand away "True. Pity. I wonder if either of us can ever truly relax with another person?"

Jaune: "That's the price we pay... But... You never know. Maybe one day, we'll find out."

Cinder: smiles "I suppose so. Goodnight, Mister Arc."

Jaune: "Goodnight, Miss Fall."

She leaves. Jaune heads out... And meets Pyrrha on the roof. Pyrrha channels her Semblance again.

Pyrrha: "We're clear... This is kind of exciting! Like a spy movie!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah..."

Pyrrha: "Jaune?"

Jaune: irritated "Just... Ugh. I hate this spy shit. It's much more fun to watch it than be a part of it."

Pyrrha: "... Jaune? I um... I hope you don't mind but... I was listening in. So was Emerald. Nobody else though."

Jaune: "So... What did you want to talk about?"

Pyrrha: "... Your childhood. What you said... Was it true?"

Jaune: "Nah. I mean... Yeah, I was very sickly and spent a LOT of my childhood in the hospital or my room. But my mom was the one who saved me. Not Salem."

Pyrrha: "I see... I'm sorry."

Jaune: "No! No, it's good. I mean you shouldn't be too paranoid when you're dealing with this stuff but... It's good that you're keeping me honest."

Pyrrha: "One... Other thing."

Jaune: "Sure?"

Pyrrha: "Something that's been bothering me since we met, Jaune. You've acted so strange. Like you're... Older than us. It doesn't match up with what you've told us. You immediately knew so much more about me when we fought in the Initiation than had revealed... And you knew what my Semblance could do. Nobody knows that except for my trainer, my mother, and me. You've had incredible knowledge about people you've never even met before, not just me."

Jaune's Brain: Oh boy...

Jaune: "So... What do you think is going on?"

Pyrrha: "Well... I entertained a few possibilities. I-I do actually like to read scifi, have since I was a little girl... I thought about it. And I guess... I just have to ask..." She stared at him "Are you from the future?"

Jaune's Brain: Ah, right, I forgot she's not just a pretty face with a good sword arm...

Jaune: "... Sort of. I..." sighs "I'm not at liberty to tell you the whole thing. You can probably guess why... But I do have knowledge about the future."

Pyrrha: "... Was it bad?"

Jaune: "Is there another reason people might try to send information back in time to change things? Yeah... It was bad. Very bad."

Pyrrha: "... And what happened to me?"

Jaune: takes a very deep breath "... You died trying to save me... Save us all."

Pyrrha: "... Did Cinder do it?"

Jaune: "... Yeah."

Silence falls. Pyrrha sucked in another breath.

Pyrrha: "Did... Did I ever tell you how I felt?"

Jaune: "..." sighs "Just before you died."

Pyrrha: staring out into the night "... I see..."

Jaune: hugs her "Pyrrha. It's not going to happen this time. I promise."

Pyrrha: "... Is that why you... You've been so open with me? In most things. And well... So caring?"

Jaune: "... Partially. I do genuinely love Yang... You? I care for you too but..." sighs "I guess part of me blamed myself for... For your death."

Pyrrha: "What?!"

Jaune: "If I'd gone with you, Pyr, I-I could have at least been a distraction-I could have done something, anything-!"

Pyrrha: "Jaune! If I did go to fight and I did leave you behind... It wouldn't have been because I was sure I was going to die. It would have been so I wouldn't have worried about you. It wasn't your fault!"

Jaune's Brain: I can't believe that... I just can't...

Jaune: "Yeah well... You promise me if things get bad, you won't send me away."

Pyrrha: "Jaune, I-"

He grabs her shoulders and stares into her eyes.

Jaune: "PROMISE! I will NOT lose you or anyone else ever again. You're not sacrificing yourselves for me. Never. Again. Understand?"

Pyrrha slowly nods.

Pyrrha: "I... I promise."

Jaune: nods "..." sighs "I'm... I'm sorry."

Pyrrha: "... You keep telling me I say that too much. For things that aren't my fault."

Jaune: "Yeah, well... I never claimed to not be a hypocrite."

Pyrrha: "... Can you tell me anything else about the future?"

Jaune: "Only that we need to stop Cinder. So much is... Is different, Pyrrha. If I tell you too much, everything might change. I just... I just ask that you trust me."

Pyrrha: smiles with tears in her eyes "I do... I always will."

Jaune: "Thank you..." sighs "And... Well... Again. Same thing, okay? If I break up with Yang... Give me two weeks and... And we'll try."

Pyrrha: "... The future was incredibly hard on you, wasn't it?"

Jaune: "On all of us... But... Yeah."

Pyrrha hugs him tightly.

Pyrrha: "... We'll find our happy ending. I promise."

Jaune: "..." hugs her back "Yeah... Yeah. We will."

- - -

Well that got fucking serious all of a sudden!

Click to shrink...

Classes were relatively easy to keep up with, thanks to the fact that RWBY and JNPR were banned from vigilante excursions. So Jaune was able to keep up with his school work. He was also doing a lot better in Combat Class thanks to training with everyone.

Helping out with Cardin and Velvet's wedding was also fun... Mostly. Jaune, Sun, Ren, and Cardin were chilling out at a sports bar.

Cardin: "Thanks for going out to relax, Jauney. It's been rough. Don't get me wrong, I love Velvet but... I need some guy time, ya know?"

Jaune: "No, no, I absolutely get it." sigh "Ren and I needed some time too."

Ren: "Indeed. Though I am very happy with Nora... I find solitude with guys is quite relaxing."

Cardin: nods "Yeah..."

Sun: "Tell me about it! Blake's just been non-stop riding me! If you know what I mean!" winks and grins

Jaune: "... Uh, Sun-"

Sun: "It's not like my friend JAUNE is the actual object of her desires, now is he?! That would be crazy, hahaha... Ha..."

Cardin: "... Are you okay?"

Sun: "I'M FINE!" shakes his head rapidly "I-I just... It's just like one of her doujins, right? Haha! I just have to NTR her away from you!"

Jaune's Brain: You know, I did want more depth for Sun's character but I'm not sure this is what anyone expected...

Jaune: "We're not in a relationship... But if it helps you two get into one, by all means, please."

Sun: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Cardin: "He means she's crazy, Sun."

Ren: sips tea "Indeed."

Sun: "That's why I love her!" sighs happily

Jaune: looks around at the others "... Okay, maybe we need to find him a better love interest."

Cardin: "Wouldn't that just leave Blake to chase you though?"

Jaune: "One problem at a time!"

Ren: sips his tea "Indeed."

Mercury arrives, grinning in a fake way.

Mercury: "Hey guys! What's up?"

Jaune: "Hey Mercury. How you doin'?"

Mercury: "Just glad to be away from my team for a while. Mint's either doing fingernail painting or she's plotting my death." sits down with them at the table "Probably both."

Jaune: "Yeah. Well, the more the merrier." scowls at the holoscreen "Oh come on! The Lutetia Franks are losing again?!"

Cardin: "Heh. Should have backed a winner, Jaune. Gallia's terrible in all manly sports."

Jaune: "No we're not! We're great at basketball and tennis and sort of okay at soccer-"

Cardin: "I'm not seeing it."

Sun: "Yeah dude, the Franks are a joke team in the Valean League. Even Mistralians know it."

Ren: "The memes are quite devastating."

Jaune: "Ugh... It's not about winning or losing, it's how you play the game and... Okay fine, they suck but they're the home team! I gotta pull for them!"

Mercury: sips his drink "Your loyalty is commendable, I guess."

Jaune: "Yeah well... The Valean Wizards only win because the refs are bribed!"

Cardin: "Are not!"

Jaune: "Are too!"

Nick Arc jumps in with a big, happy grin.

Nick: "HOWDY SON!"

Jaune: "GAH! DAD?!"

Nick hugs Jaune tightly.

Nick: "HAHAHA! How wonderful to see you! You look great! And these are your friends, right?"

Jaune: "R-Right! What are you doing here?"

Isabel Arc walks up, raising an eyebrow.

Isabel: "Well! You went and found our long lost goddaughter so of course we're going to visit our son while we check up on things."

Jaune: "MOM?!"

Sun: eyes wide "... Wow your mom is pretty."

Jaune: "DUDE!"

Sun: "SORRY!"

Introductions are made. Nick happily shakes everyone's hands, while Isabel does the same... She pauses at Mercury.

Isabel: "Hmmm... May I see your legs?"

Mercury: "Eh?!"

Sun: "What the hell-Why not mine?!"

Jaune: "I swear Sun I will punch you-"

Isabel: "Your artificial legs! May I examine them?"

Mercury: "I-How can everyone tell?! I've worked so hard to conceal them-!"

Nick: "Ha! You can't fool one of the world's best doctors!"

Isabel: blush "Aw, thank you Nick! But seriously, may I?"

Mercury scowls but relents, pulling up his pant legs. He thinks Jaune is on their side but still...

Isabel: "Hmmm... Who got these for you?"

Mercury: darkened expression "My dad."

Isabel: "Well he did a terrible job. These are totally inadequate and the surgeon who did the connections was completely incompetent! Hang on..."

She pulls on her fighting gloves and puts in Dust capsules. Her hands light up white and Mercury gulps.

Mercury: "H-Hey, hang on a second-!"

Isabel: "Don't move."

Isabel puts her hands on where metal meets flesh. Mercury yelps... But slowly relaxes as nothing bad happens. Isabel pulls her hands away.

Isabel: "How do they feel?"

Mercury: "I..." He stands up and walks around a few steps "It feels... Great! The pain's practically gone!"

Isabel: nods "I just healed up some of the nerve connections and dulled the pain in a few places. You're going to want better prosthetics though, this is only a temporary fix. You have health insurance through your Academy, right?"

Mercury: "Er, I think so? But isn't it going to be expensive-?"

Isabel: bright smile "I can take pro-bono work from time to time. Especially if it's for one of my son's friends!" Smiles at Jaune.

Jaune: smiles back "Anything to make you be your best, man."

Mercury: "..." frowns and shrugs "Sure. Why not?" He clears his throat and drops his pant legs "Of course, when I kick your team's asses at Vytal, you'll regret it."

Jaune: "Ha! Nah, just making sure you have a fair shot!"

Some more good natured banter ensues. Nick congratulates Cardin on his upcoming wedding. He tells the boys about some of his adventures. Jaune gets pulled away by his mother to talk in private.

Jaune: "Mom... I know you don't like me becoming a Huntsman-"

Isabel: "No. I don't."

Jaune: "But it's my choice. And I'm not changing it. You don't need to hold that return ticket for me: I won't fail."

Isabel: "..." sighs "I don't like it... But if you're dead set on this course, I suppose I can only do my best to support it."

Jaune: "Good..."

Isabel: "And... If it helps? We... Could have phrased that better." sighs "We were not expecting you to fail. You're an Arc, after all."

Jaune: "O-Oh... Then... Why?"

Isabel: "... Because we wanted you to be spared what we had to go through."

Jaune: "Mom, you and Dad are heroes! You liberated a kingdom! You saved so many people-!"

Isabel: "And we paid a terrible price, Jaune. A price we wanted to spare you!" She shook her head slowly, looking very sad "We wanted you to be someone who promotes life, not someone who will have to bring death."

Jaune: "You and dad brought life, Mom! You saved it!"

Isabel: "And we had to take a lot of it, too." She sighed and looked to the side "There's... A lot of things we never wanted to do, but had to, Jaune. I just... We wanted to spare you that. All of that..."

Jaune: "You can't protect me forever, Mom. I'm not a baby anymore." He hugs her "I know... There's a lot of pain coming my way. Just... Just help me to face it. That's all I ask."

Isabel: "..." sniffles, and smiles "We will... Oh..." She cups his cheeks "When did you start growing up? You're so different from how you were before."

Jaune: "Having to keep people I care about safe and alive can age you."

Isabel: "Heh... So it does..."

Jaune: "You still look great, Mom."

Isabel: "Oh stop!" laughs "Well... Your friends seem to think so?"

Jaune: groans "Mom...!"

Isabel: "What? It's nice for a woman to be appreciated by younger men! A little. Makes your father work a little harder!"

Jaune: "MOM!"

Isabel: "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah... So... How long are you guys staying?"

Isabel: "Well... I was going to tell you when we got to Beacon but... Headmaster Ozpin asked us to stay on as part-time teachers!" She beamed "Given all the criminal activity, he thought we'd be great as backup! Isn't that wonderful, Jaune?"

Jaune: "I... Y-Yeah... Sure..."

Jaune's Brain: Oh God... Is this how things went in the original timeline or what?! I don't even know what I did anymore! Crap crap crap crap craaap...!

Isabel: "Besides... I do have to look after my son, don't I?"

Jaune: "We just established that you don't have to-"

Isabel: "At least to see if any girls have caught his eye, hm? And make sure they're good enough for my boy? Ozpin said you had quite a LOT of female attention!"

Jaune's Brain: I'm gonna kill that immortal bastard...!

- - -

Don't you just hate it when OCs take over an original work? I know Jaune sure does...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

There are many stories where the Arcs are descendants of Salem and Ozma. Here's one such idea where they find out... With my fanon.

- - -

Isabel: opens her door, sees Salem standing there "Hello? Can... I help you?"

Salem: tears up, and hugs Isabel tightly "GRANDDAUGHTER!"

Isabel: "Eh?!"

Nick: "Oh, hey Izzy-Who's this?"

Salem: "I am Salem! Your... Your matriarch! Just call me..." sobs "Granny Salem!"

Nick: "Oh." smiles "Okay Granny Salem! Welcome to our home!"

Isabel: trying to struggle out of her grip "NIIIIICK!"

After many explanations...

Isabel: "You're telling me that you, the Queen of the Grimm, are my distant ancestor?!"

Salem: "Yes dear!"

Isabel: "AND YOU UNLEASHED THE GRIMM THAT MURDERED MY PARENTS?!"

Salem: "I didn't know I had any family! That is... That is horrific!" sobs. Nick provides her with a handkerchief which she blows her nose into "Oh, thank you Nick."

Nick: "You're welcome!"

Isabel: "DON'T BE NICE TO HER! SHE'S KILLED BILLIONS!"

Salem: "I know, I know! I regret it all! But now, NOW! I can start anew! Bond with my family-" Isabel punches her in the face so hard she flies through the walls, over the farmlands, and into a boulder the size of a barn which she shatters with her kinetic force

Isabel: "Haa... Haa... Haa...!"

Salem returns with a smile.

Salem: "That was a wonderful hit, dearie! Unfortunately, I can't die."

Isabel: "WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!"

Salem: happily, holds her hands together "My darling granddaughter is so incredible! A mother, a Huntress, and a doctor! You're so amazing!"

Isabel: blush "Well thank you-" Enraged "FLATTERY WILL NOT SAVE YOU GRIMM QUEEN!"

Salem: "Ooh, that's wonderful bloodlust! Show me what you can do!"

Isabel: "RAHHH-!" Nick holds a hand up "Eh?!"

Nick: "Izzy, you keep telling me I can't fight in the house. Why do you get to do it?"

Isabel: "She's an evil immortal Queen of the Grimm!"

Nick: "Yes, but she's also like your grandma! She's family and she's trying to reconnect with you!"

Isabel: "She killed my family!"

Nick: "She's also family! So you two better sort things outside because, like you said, 'I'm not paying to fix the house!'"

Isabel: scowls "... FINE! We'll have our battle outside!"

Nick: "After lunch! It's bad to fight on an empty stomach!"

Lilac: "I've got sandwiches!"

Isabel: "LILAC?! Where were you?!"

Lilac: "I took cover when you started fighting Miss Salem." Carries out a tray of tea and sandwiches "But I managed to make this during the fight. Would you like some, Miss Salem?"

Salem: "Certainly dear! Aw, you're so beautiful and precious!" beams "You know, I know a few single men who might make good husbands-"

Lilac: "Already engaged, but thank you!"

Salem: "Awww! Is he handsome?"

Lilac: "He's amazingly handsome!"

Isabel: TWITCH

Nick: pat pat "Easy Izzy, easy..."

Isabel: "The immortal queen of the Grimm is my ancestor. She murdered my parents!"

Nick: "Yes, and she's really sorry about that. You can tell!"

Isabel: "I shouldn't be sitting down and talking with her! I should be destroying her! AND YOU SHOULD TOO!"

Salem: "You can both try to destroy me after lunch, is that fair?"

Nick: "Sounds fair to me!"

Isabel: "GRAAAHHHHH!"

After much fighting and combat, as well as destruction around the Arcadia Farmhouse...

Isabel, Salem, Nick, and Lilac sit in the living room and have more tea.

Salem: "So you see, I can't actually die no matter what you do."

Isabel: glaring hatred "Grrrr...!"

Nick: "Wow. I let loose the stuff you told me not to use in the city limits and I still couldn't kill you! You're incredible, Granny Salem!"

Isabel: "DON'T CALL HER THAT!"

Salem: "Dear, calm down, it's not good for your blood pressure."

Isabel: "I CAN CONTROL MY BLOOD PRESSURE!"

Nick: "Easy Izzy, easy. I don't think more violence is gonna solve this."

Isabel: "EH?!"

Nick: "Well, again. we hit her with our best stuff and it didn't even phase her!"

Salem: "It's been centuries since I had to deal with a sword that big! And you handled it so well, Nick!"

Nick: "Aw, thanks Granny!"

Isabel: "GRRRRR...!"

Salem: "And wow Isabel! You suplexed me right into the ground!" claps "That was incredible!"

Isabel: "Stop complimenting me on failing to kill you!"

Salem: "Listen Isabel... For thousands of years, I had nothing but revenge on my husband and life itself. Now... All of a sudden, I have family! Family I have missed! Family I have... I have killed!" sniffles "All this time... I wasn't alone and I didn't know it! I'm such a terrible person! I don't blame you for hating me. I know hate. I know it all too well. But hatred... Hatred seems so petty and useless."

Isabel: "Grrrr...!"

Salem: "So... Please. Allow me to at least try to make up a little for everything I've done? It will not be easy but... But I want to try."

Isabel: "... No."

Salem: "I see. Well, I will still keep trying."

Isabel: "Then I'll keep trying to kill you." sighs and walks to the phone "Ugh... I can't believe I have to call him but... Grrr...!" Makes a call

Lilac: "Who are you calling, Mom?"

Isabel: "Ozpin..." grinds her teeth

Salem: "Oh? You don't like him?"

Isabel: "He kept trying to recruit me for some special project but I kept rejecting him, even when he got really pushy! He recruited Summer Rose, who died and vanished and that entire thing stank! I never trusted him!" glares "At all!"

Salem: "Heh. Well, um... About Summer... She's not dead. But as for Ozpin? I agree. He was always a shifty bastard."

Isabel: "Eh?"

Ozpin: On the holoscreen "Hello? Isabel? Are you there?"

Salem: "Hello darling! We have family! Isn't it wonderful?" glares "Of course you couldn't bother to tell me you petty little ingrate!"

Ozpin: "Petty?! You're the one who launched a war on all life on the planet just because she turned us both immortal!"

Salem: "Oh here we go-!"

Ozpin: "No you listen here you two faced bitch-!"

Salem: "Tiny dicked bastard!"

Ozpin: "That's not what you said in bed!"

Isabel, Nick and Lilac are left to watch this rather surreal scene.

Isabel: "... Wha...?

Nick: "Huh! Looks like we all need a lot of family counseling."

Lilac: "Um... Wine mother?" offers a bottle

Isabel takes the bottle, pops the cork, and downs the entire thing in a few gulps.

Lilac: wince "I'll... Keep them coming."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Classes were relatively easy to keep up with, thanks to the fact that RWBY and JNPR were banned from vigilante excursions. So Jaune was able to keep up with his school work. He was also doing a lot better in Combat Class thanks to training with everyone.

Helping out with Cardin and Velvet's wedding was also fun... Mostly. Jaune, Sun, Ren, and Cardin were chilling out at a sports bar.

Cardin: "Thanks for going out to relax, Jauney. It's been rough. Don't get me wrong, I love Velvet but... I need some guy time, ya know?"

Jaune: "No, no, I absolutely get it." sigh "Ren and I needed some time too."

Ren: "Indeed. Though I am very happy with Nora... I find solitude with guys is quite relaxing."

Cardin: nods "Yeah..."

Sun: "Tell me about it! Blake's just been non-stop riding me! If you know what I mean!" winks and grins

Jaune: "... Uh, Sun-"

Sun: "It's not like my friend JAUNE is the actual object of her desires, now is he?! That would be crazy, hahaha... Ha..."

Cardin: "... Are you okay?"

Sun: "I'M FINE!" shakes his head rapidly "I-I just... It's just like one of her doujins, right? Haha! I just have to NTR her away from you!"

Jaune's Brain: You know, I did want more depth for Sun's character but I'm not sure this is what anyone expected...

Jaune: "We're not in a relationship... But if it helps you two get into one, by all means, please."

Sun: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Cardin: "He means she's crazy, Sun."

Ren: sips tea "Indeed."

Sun: "That's why I love her!" sighs happily

Jaune: looks around at the others "... Okay, maybe we need to find him a better love interest."

Cardin: "Wouldn't that just leave Blake to chase you though?"

Jaune: "One problem at a time!"

Ren: sips his tea "Indeed."

Mercury arrives, grinning in a fake way.

Mercury: "Hey guys! What's up?"

Jaune: "Hey Mercury. How you doin'?"

Mercury: "Just glad to be away from my team for a while. Mint's either doing fingernail painting or she's plotting my death." sits down with them at the table "Probably both."

Jaune: "Yeah. Well, the more the merrier." scowls at the holoscreen "Oh come on! The Lutetia Franks are losing again?!"

Cardin: "Heh. Should have backed a winner, Jaune. Gallia's terrible in all manly sports."

Jaune: "No we're not! We're great at basketball and tennis and sort of okay at soccer-"

Cardin: "I'm not seeing it."

Sun: "Yeah dude, the Franks are a joke team in the Valean League. Even Mistralians know it."

Ren: "The memes are quite devastating."

Jaune: "Ugh... It's not about winning or losing, it's how you play the game and... Okay fine, they suck but they're the home team! I gotta pull for them!"

Mercury: sips his drink "Your loyalty is commendable, I guess."

Jaune: "Yeah well... The Valean Wizards only win because the refs are bribed!"

Cardin: "Are not!"

Jaune: "Are too!"

Nick Arc jumps in with a big, happy grin.

Nick: "HOWDY SON!"

Jaune: "GAH! DAD?!"

Nick hugs Jaune tightly.

Nick: "HAHAHA! How wonderful to see you! You look great! And these are your friends, right?"

Jaune: "R-Right! What are you doing here?"

Isabel Arc walks up, raising an eyebrow.

Isabel: "Well! You went and found our long lost goddaughter so of course we're going to visit our son while we check up on things."

Jaune: "MOM?!"

Sun: eyes wide "... Wow your mom is pretty."

Jaune: "DUDE!"

Sun: "SORRY!"

Introductions are made. Nick happily shakes everyone's hands, while Isabel does the same... She pauses at Mercury.

Isabel: "Hmmm... May I see your legs?"

Mercury: "Eh?!"

Sun: "What the hell-Why not mine?!"

Jaune: "I swear Sun I will punch you-"

Isabel: "Your artificial legs! May I examine them?"

Mercury: "I-How can everyone tell?! I've worked so hard to conceal them-!"

Nick: "Ha! You can't fool one of the world's best doctors!"

Isabel: blush "Aw, thank you Nick! But seriously, may I?"

Mercury scowls but relents, pulling up his pant legs. He thinks Jaune is on their side but still...

Isabel: "Hmmm... Who got these for you?"

Mercury: darkened expression "My dad."

Isabel: "Well he did a terrible job. These are totally inadequate and the surgeon who did the connections was completely incompetent! Hang on..."

She pulls on her fighting gloves and puts in Dust capsules. Her hands light up white and Mercury gulps.

Mercury: "H-Hey, hang on a second-!"

Isabel: "Don't move."

Isabel puts her hands on where metal meets flesh. Mercury yelps... But slowly relaxes as nothing bad happens. Isabel pulls her hands away.

Isabel: "How do they feel?"

Mercury: "I..." He stands up and walks around a few steps "It feels... Great! The pain's practically gone!"

Isabel: nods "I just healed up some of the nerve connections and dulled the pain in a few places. You're going to want better prosthetics though, this is only a temporary fix. You have health insurance through your Academy, right?"

Mercury: "Er, I think so? But isn't it going to be expensive-?"

Isabel: bright smile "I can take pro-bono work from time to time. Especially if it's for one of my son's friends!" Smiles at Jaune.

Jaune: smiles back "Anything to make you be your best, man."

Mercury: "..." frowns and shrugs "Sure. Why not?" He clears his throat and drops his pant legs "Of course, when I kick your team's asses at Vytal, you'll regret it."

Jaune: "Ha! Nah, just making sure you have a fair shot!"

Some more good natured banter ensues. Nick congratulates Cardin on his upcoming wedding. He tells the boys about some of his adventures. Jaune gets pulled away by his mother to talk in private.

Jaune: "Mom... I know you don't like me becoming a Huntsman-"

Isabel: "No. I don't."

Jaune: "But it's my choice. And I'm not changing it. You don't need to hold that return ticket for me: I won't fail."

Isabel: "..." sighs "I don't like it... But if you're dead set on this course, I suppose I can only do my best to support it."

Jaune: "Good..."

Isabel: "And... If it helps? We... Could have phrased that better." sighs "We were not expecting you to fail. You're an Arc, after all."

Jaune: "O-Oh... Then... Why?"

Isabel: "... Because we wanted you to be spared what we had to go through."

Jaune: "Mom, you and Dad are heroes! You liberated a kingdom! You saved so many people-!"

Isabel: "And we paid a terrible price, Jaune. A price we wanted to spare you!" She shook her head slowly, looking very sad "We wanted you to be someone who promotes life, not someone who will have to bring death."

Jaune: "You and dad brought life, Mom! You saved it!"

Isabel: "And we had to take a lot of it, too." She sighed and looked to the side "There's... A lot of things we never wanted to do, but had to, Jaune. I just... We wanted to spare you that. All of that..."

Jaune: "You can't protect me forever, Mom. I'm not a baby anymore." He hugs her "I know... There's a lot of pain coming my way. Just... Just help me to face it. That's all I ask."

Isabel: "..." sniffles, and smiles "We will... Oh..." She cups his cheeks "When did you start growing up? You're so different from how you were before."

Jaune: "Having to keep people I care about safe and alive can age you."

Isabel: "Heh... So it does..."

Jaune: "You still look great, Mom."

Isabel: "Oh stop!" laughs "Well... Your friends seem to think so?"

Jaune: groans "Mom...!"

Isabel: "What? It's nice for a woman to be appreciated by younger men! A little. Makes your father work a little harder!"

Jaune: "MOM!"

Isabel: "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah... So... How long are you guys staying?"

Isabel: "Well... I was going to tell you when we got to Beacon but... Headmaster Ozpin asked us to stay on as part-time teachers!" She beamed "Given all the criminal activity, he thought we'd be great as backup! Isn't that wonderful, Jaune?"

Jaune: "I... Y-Yeah... Sure..."

Jaune's Brain: Oh God... Is this how things went in the original timeline that wasn't the show or what?! I don't even know what I did anymore! Crap crap crap crap craaap...!

Isabel: "Besides... I do have to look after my son, don't I?"

Jaune: "We just established that you don't have to-"

Isabel: "At least to see if any girls have caught his eye, hm? And make sure they're good enough for my boy? Ozpin said you had quite a LOT of female attention!"

Jaune's Brain: I'm gonna kill that immortal bastard...!

- - -

Don't you just hate it when OCs take over an original work? I know Jaune sure does...

Click to shrink...

Yang was out doing some shopping in Vale. She looked over a cute top in a nice store... When she felt a familiar presence. She lowered the top and saw Pyrrha standing across the clothing bin from her.

Pyrrha: "H-Hello."

Yang: "Hey P-Money."

Pyrrha: "Can... We talk?"

Yang was wary, but Pyrrha looked very sincere. So after she checked out, she went with Pyrrha to the mall food court. They sat down and had some food. On Pyrrha, which was nice of her.

Pyrrha: deep breath "I just... I want you to know? I'm not going to steal Jaune away from you."

Yang: "I... I mean, that's good to hear..." Eyes narrow

Pyrrha: "And you shouldn't doubt him. He had many opportunities to cheat. And... And I'll admit, part of me wanted to take those opportunities. But he never did. He never will."

Yang: "I don't doubt him."

Pyrrha: flush "Which is... Which is what I would like to try and change. I haven't had a lot of friends in my life. I-I want... I want to change that. Even if I have feelings for Jaune... If we're friends, close friends... It will make it so you can trust me not to do anything to jeopardize your relationship. Besides... I want to stay friends with Jaune. I can't do that if I... If I'm making you afraid you'll lose him."

Yang: "I..." sighs, grumbles "It's not... Just you, ya know?"

Pyrrha: nods "I know. But I want to at least... At least clear things between us. I do love Jaune, but he loves you. And he doesn't want you to be hurt. It would hurt him. So... If it's all right... I-I want to be your friend."

Yang is silent for a while. She then holds out a hand to Pyrrha. The Amazon takes it with a small smile. Yang manages to smile back.

Yang: "... I'd... I'd like that."

Pyrrha: "Thank you. Besides... Um... Things are getting complicated."

Yang: "What do you mean?"

Pyrrha: "It's something Jaune has to tell you himself. I won't betray his secrets."

Yang: eyes narrow "What secrets?"

Pyrrha: "Nothing bad! I-I mean... Nothing that you're afraid of. I promise, Yang."

Yang: sighs "..." nods "All right. Still... Must be big for you to make the first step like this. Usually you just go along with whatever anyone else wants."

Pyrrha: smiles softly "Part of the reason I'm doing this is because Jaune... Jaune taught me I needed to be more honest. With myself, and others. It's... It's part of why I do love him. And want him to be happy... Even if I'm not the one doing it."

Yang: frowns, feels a bit bad "P-Money, I... I mean, I didn't mean to steal him from you-"

Pyrrha: "I know. I know..." sighs "Just... Treat him right, please. If you don't? I'll be there for him. If you do? I... I'll be happy. For you both. Or... Or at least I'll try..."

Yang sighs again. She squeezes Pyrrha's hand.

Yang: "I will... Also, damnit. Do you have to make me feel bad about having him?"

Pyrrha: blush "Sorry..."

Yang: "Still... Thanks for coming out with it and being honest. Blake is, well..."

Pyrrha: small smile "I think she thinks we could all work out as one big relationship... Judging from her reading material."

Yang: bright red "You're... Familiar with it too, huh? And come on... Only crazy people would think that could work!"

Pyrrha: "Well... We don't seem to be the sanest, do we?"

Yang: stares "... What?"

Pyrrha: "I'm just saying... Um... If it made Jaune happy? If it made you happy?" blush, smile "I-I know it's a fantasy but... Given how lonely I've been my whole life... I-I can... See the appeal."

Yang: bright red "G-Geez, P-Money... I guess it is the quiet ones..."

Pyrrha: "N-Not that I'm saying we do that! He wouldn't unless you agreed! And um, it would be... Complicated..."

Yang: sigh "I can't believe we're even talking about this..."

Pyrrha: smiles and shrugs "Better than fighting over it? I don't like hurting my friends."

Yang: glares "What makes you think I wouldn't be doing the hurting, P-Money?"

Pyrrha: smile becomes a bit dangerous "I believe our combat class record speaks for itself, Yang."

Yang: dangerous grin "Oh? What about outside the class, hm?"

Pyrrha: "I-" She pauses as she sees Jaune "Jaune!"

Yang: "Jaune!"

Jaune smiles and waves. He walks up to them, carrying some bags from some stores.

Jaune: "Hey!" He kisses Yang deeply, which she really gets into "Mmm... What's up?"

Pyrrha: "We're just having lunch. What are you up to?"

Jaune: "Oh, doing some shopping for the wedding. I got my tux fitted already so I'm getting some stuff for Cardin. And trying to dodge-"

Nick: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: twitch "My parents..."

Nick and Isabel walk up. Nick smiles brightly as Isabel smiles politely.

Jaune: "Dad, Mom, this is Yang Xiao-Long, my girlfriend, and Pyrrha Nikos, my partner. Yang, Pyrrha? These are my parents, Nick and Isabel Arc."

Yang: "O-Oh! Um, hello! It's nice to meet you!" She's a bit shy all of a sudden

Pyrrha: "Y-Yes, hello! A pleasure to meet you both!"

Nick: "Wow... You're dating them both?"

Jaune: "Wha-No! Pyrrha's my friend and partner but Yang is-"

Nick: "HAHAHA! No need to be shy, son! Good on you!" He hugs them both "Welcome to the family! The more the merrier!"

Yang: "Ah? No, wait-"

Pyrrha: "R-Really, we're just friends-!"

Nick: "Now now, you can't fool me!"

Jaune: "DAD!"

Isabel: chuckles "Hello! It's nice to meet you two. And relax, Jaune, your great-grandfather did the same."

Jaune: "But I didn't! I don't-!"

Isabel: "Oh I'm just teasing, sweetie!"

Nick: "I wasn't!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

This is by Sift Green over on Spacebattles. I wanted to crosspost it because it is just that cool an idea:

This is defiantly a good psychological horror idea that would be worth exploring. Through I will say I don't think Atlas should have a monopoly on morally dubious science or manmade horrors beyond the average bloke's comprehension: Doctor Merlot was from Vale after all and the four major kingdom's are on a rough technological parity even if Atlas is supposed to be on the cutting edge with everyone else trailing behind.

So I'd think this idea would work better as Mistral based shenanigans, perhaps from a plot primarily centered in Argus and the wider Hellenic League that's been headcanoned around it. I mean Pyrrha's supposed to be an allusion to Achilles, and who did Achilles lead in the Trojan War? The Myrmidons, a race of warriors who were noted for their insane degree of loyalty, ferocity and hardiness that they all owed to their unnatural origins as Zeus created them by transforming ants into people.

So why does this army of Nikoses exist? Well you've portrayed Mistral as being the Kingdom who's central government has the most internal strife and strained relationships with the various sub-kingdoms it rules over, to the point that Lionheart's able to pull strings behind the scenes and start a massive civil war between all the different sub-factions in Mistral once world wide communications break down after Cinder's big attack on Beacon.

With that in mind perhaps Argus and the Hellenic League have been building a secret 'clone' army in preparation for the civil war that may or may not break out within the next decade or so. They take the most promising member of the bunch and put her out into the public to gather fame and the love of the people, to become a champion that the common man would be willing to rally behind if war does indeed break out.

And if the war does start and the situation looks dire? Behold! A Miracle! The Hellenic Gods have graced their people with an army that share the blood of The Champion! Pyrrha Nikos and her Myrmidons will surely lead Argus and the League to victory over their foes! At the bare minimum the League shall gain its' independence from the central government of Mistral...

...But seeing how popular Pyrrha is across the Kingdom perhaps Argus and the League could "liberate" more lands from the evils of Mistral's government. After all the People's Champion herself is coming to save them from the horrors of war and the gathering Grimm! Surly the people can unite under her banner and discard the old and corrupt system that lead to the horrors of war in the first place!


Basically it's a scheme to create an artificial martial messiah in preparation for a possible civil war complete with a holy army the martial messiah will lead. The conspirators are going with this set up partially to play off the beliefs of their people for propaganda purposes, and if they can successfully play off the reveal of their surprise army as divine intervention then they can act like they weren't warmongers contributing to the creation of the conflict. You would of course also have conspirators believing they are acting as instruments of their Gods' wills by creating the God's Champion and the Myrmidon Army that Champion will lead.

(Why an all female army of The Ultimate Huntress Pyrrha's genetic sisters? The conspirators are looking at not just winning the potential civil war but what happens after when the army they're making has won the day and needs to stands down. They can't just get rid of them so they need to make a place for a significant chunk of them in the civilian world, but they're making millions of them so trying to integrate them into civilian life will be stressful. They figured having a massive surplus of fighting age females would be less destabilizing in the long term than having a massive surplus of fighting aged males.)


Now the conspirators are putting Pyrrha Nikos out into the world so she can gain fame and the love of the people. They want her to become a symbol the common man can believe in and it's best to let that process happen as organically as possible. They give her artificial memories because they want her to genuinely believe her role as Argus' Champion is the hand of destiny in play leaving no room for doubts that the events placing her at the head of Argus' armies are the mere machinations of mortal men.



So now why would Pyrrha catch wind of her doppelgängers before ultimately running into one? Well the simulators in the facilities creating the Myrmidons are top notch, but even the best simulations can't fully substitute real field experience. Thinking they can get away with the risk so long as they keep the Myrmidons far away from Pyrrha the conspirators send their best out into the world to test their abilities in real combat scenarios. Some of these Myrmidons prove to be so successful that they are sent on more and more missions and become crucial for advancing the more shadowy parts of the Hellenic League's agenda.

Eventually a mission in the City of Vale comes up that requires the skills of one of these Myrmidon teams. It's risky, but Team JNPR's scheduled missions are accessible by Pyrrha's handler so the Myrmidons should be able to avoid them and get things- Oops Team JNPR's doing off the books missions.

Pyrrha freaks out because she's face to face with a group of doppelgängers. The Myrmidons freak out because they've exposed themselves to the war goddess they are meant to serve before they're supposed to, potently jeopardizing the divine plan. A highly confusing exchange follows that leads to more questions than answers.




You could do all kinds of things with this setup. Pyrrha going through a psychological horror themed mystery that ends with her she learning she's the deluxe model of a mass produced product already numbering in the millions would be quite the mental blow. Even in the best case scenario she's going to have a lot of identity issues and self doubt.

It would probably do her a lot of good if at the end of everything she has people who can pick her out from a crowd of Myrmidons, so she knows she's not a replaceable toy soldier. Jaune, Ren and Nora plus most of the girls in RWBY are a good start, but I'm also picturing Arslan as being one of the people who can distinguish her from the rest of the Myrmidons.

I basically have this scenario in my head where Arslan forces a fight with Pyrrha shortly after her team transfers to Beacon for the Vytal Tournament, and then after the clash Arslan gets up of the ground with a relived "Thank the Breaker you're the real one." Then she reveals how her team ran into a doppelgänger of Pyrrha while on a mission and how Arslan knew this doppelgänger was a fake because she didn't fight like the real Pyrrha. Sure the doppelgänger was trained in the same fighting style as Pyrrha but there were enough subtle differences that Arslan could tell the doppelgänger wasn't the real deal...

...especially since Arslan managed to force the doppelgänger to retreat. And so Arslan forced the fight with Pyrrha to make sure she hadn't been replaced with a body double at some point. Team ABRN then joins Team JNPR and Team RWBY in the doppelgänger investigation.


So yeah this is a great idea to explore at some point.

Click to shrink...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang was out doing some shopping in Vale. She looked over a cute top in a nice store... When she felt a familiar presence. She lowered the top and saw Pyrrha standing across the clothing bin from her.

Pyrrha: "H-Hello."

Yang: "Hey P-Money."

Pyrrha: "Can... We talk?"

Yang was wary, but Pyrrha looked very sincere. So after she checked out, she went with Pyrrha to the mall food court. They sat down and had some food. On Pyrrha, which was nice of her.

Pyrrha: deep breath "I just... I want you to know? I'm not going to steal Jaune away from you."

Yang: "I... I mean, that's good to hear..." Eyes narrow

Pyrrha: "And you shouldn't doubt him. He had many opportunities to cheat. And... And I'll admit, part of me wanted to take those opportunities. But he never did. He never will."

Yang: "I don't doubt him."

Pyrrha: flush "Which is... Which is what I would like to try and change. I haven't had a lot of friends in my life. I-I want... I want to change that. Even if I have feelings for Jaune... If we're friends, close friends... It will make it so you can trust me not to do anything to jeopardize your relationship. Besides... I want to stay friends with Jaune. I can't do that if I... If I'm making you afraid you'll lose him."

Yang: "I..." sighs, grumbles "It's not... Just you, ya know?"

Pyrrha: nods "I know. But I want to at least... At least clear things between us. I do love Jaune, but he loves you. And he doesn't want you to be hurt. It would hurt him. So... If it's all right... I-I want to be your friend."

Yang is silent for a while. She then holds out a hand to Pyrrha. The Amazon takes it with a small smile. Yang manages to smile back.

Yang: "... I'd... I'd like that."

Pyrrha: "Thank you. Besides... Um... Things are getting complicated."

Yang: "What do you mean?"

Pyrrha: "It's something Jaune has to tell you himself. I won't betray his secrets."

Yang: eyes narrow "What secrets?"

Pyrrha: "Nothing bad! I-I mean... Nothing that you're afraid of. I promise, Yang."

Yang: sighs "..." nods "All right. Still... Must be big for you to make the first step like this. Usually you just go along with whatever anyone else wants."

Pyrrha: smiles softly "Part of the reason I'm doing this is because Jaune... Jaune taught me I needed to be more honest. With myself, and others. It's... It's part of why I do love him. And want him to be happy... Even if I'm not the one doing it."

Yang: frowns, feels a bit bad "P-Money, I... I mean, I didn't mean to steal him from you-"

Pyrrha: "I know. I know..." sighs "Just... Treat him right, please. If you don't? I'll be there for him. If you do? I... I'll be happy. For you both. Or... Or at least I'll try..."

Yang sighs again. She squeezes Pyrrha's hand.

Yang: "I will... Also, damnit. Do you have to make me feel bad about having him?"

Pyrrha: blush "Sorry..."

Yang: "Still... Thanks for coming out with it and being honest. Blake is, well..."

Pyrrha: small smile "I think she thinks we could all work out as one big relationship... Judging from her reading material."

Yang: bright red "You're... Familiar with it too, huh? And come on... Only crazy people would think that could work!"

Pyrrha: "Well... We don't seem to be the sanest, do we?"

Yang: stares "... What?"

Pyrrha: "I'm just saying... Um... If it made Jaune happy? If it made you happy?" blush, smile "I-I know it's a fantasy but... Given how lonely I've been my whole life... I-I can... See the appeal."

Yang: bright red "G-Geez, P-Money... I guess it is the quiet ones..."

Pyrrha: "N-Not that I'm saying we do that! He wouldn't unless you agreed! And um, it would be... Complicated..."

Yang: sigh "I can't believe we're even talking about this..."

Pyrrha: smiles and shrugs "Better than fighting over it? I don't like hurting my friends."

Yang: glares "What makes you think I wouldn't be doing the hurting, P-Money?"

Pyrrha: smile becomes a bit dangerous "I believe our combat class record speaks for itself, Yang."

Yang: dangerous grin "Oh? What about outside the class, hm?"

Pyrrha: "I-" She pauses as she sees Jaune "Jaune!"

Yang: "Jaune!"

Jaune smiles and waves. He walks up to them, carrying some bags from some stores.

Jaune: "Hey!" He kisses Yang deeply, which she really gets into "Mmm... What's up?"

Pyrrha: "We're just having lunch. What are you up to?"

Jaune: "Oh, doing some shopping for the wedding. I got my tux fitted already so I'm getting some stuff for Cardin. And trying to dodge-"

Nick: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: twitch "My parents..."

Nick and Isabel walk up. Nick smiles brightly as Isabel smiles politely.

Jaune: "Dad, Mom, this is Yang Xiao-Long, my girlfriend, and Pyrrha Nikos, my partner. Yang, Pyrrha? These are my parents, Nick and Isabel Arc."

Yang: "O-Oh! Um, hello! It's nice to meet you!" She's a bit shy all of a sudden

Pyrrha: "Y-Yes, hello! A pleasure to meet you both!"

Nick: "Wow... You're dating them both?"

Jaune: "Wha-No! Pyrrha's my friend and partner but Yang is-"

Nick: "HAHAHA! No need to be shy, son! Good on you!" He hugs them both "Welcome to the family! The more the merrier!"

Yang: "Ah? No, wait-"

Pyrrha: "R-Really, we're just friends-!"

Nick: "Now now, you can't fool me!"

Jaune: "DAD!"

Isabel: chuckles "Hello! It's nice to meet you two. And relax, Jaune, your great-grandfather did the same."

Jaune: "But I didn't! I don't-!"

Isabel: "Oh I'm just teasing, sweetie!"

Nick: "I wasn't!"

Click to shrink...

Weiss was having some tea with Ruby, Blake, and Nora in an effort to be "less of a meanie". So far, it seemed to be working. Ruby was kept at bay with a multitude of cookies. Nora was stuffing her face with pastries. And even Blake was well behaved... For once.

Weiss: "So... As much as I enjoy a good soap opera, I am slightly concerned for Velvet. Is she really happy marrying that brute?"

Blake: "I thought that too at first, actually. Rabbit Faunus are easily bullied. That's why Feline Faunus rule."

Weiss: "You do realize how racist you sound, right?"

Blake: wince "Sorry. Old habits die hard."

Ruby: "I think it's great! Cardin was a jerk but now he's a good guy! Well, sort of. He's still grouchy a lot of the time and macho."

Blake: "I do... I do like the potentially tragic nature of the romance. It's like that old Albion play: 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Venona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean...'"

Weiss: "I'm hoping it ends better for them than it did for Jomeo and Ruliet."

Blake: "Oh, of course! Just that it's rather romantic..." Starry eyed "A big, strong human, defying all societal rules, falling in love with a Faunus girl-Even if she is a Rabbit Faunus-Defying their social status..."

Nora: "Weiss, why is this called a 'Danish'? I don't feel like going viking any more than I usually do!"

Weiss: deadpan "Good question Nora. I shall have to ask Klein about it."

The door to the common room opens. Jaune enters, along with Ren, Yang, Pyrrha... And Jaune's parents.

Jaune: "Hey guys, we're back."

Ruby: brightly "Hi Jaune!"

Nora: "Jaune-Jaune! You brought... Older people?"

Jaune: "These are my parents, they're going to be teaching at Beacon for a while."

Weiss blushes.

Weiss: Oh my... I suppose that's a very nice future for Jaune to look forward to...

She sees Blake blushing as well, and scowls.

Weiss: Oh of course she'd think something like that too!

Weiss rises... And glares at everyone else to do the same. They do so. Weiss curtsies.

Weiss: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Arc. I am Weiss Schnee."

Ruby: "Ruby Rose!"

Nora: "Nora Valkyrie!"

Blake: "Blake Belladonna."

Isabel: "It's a pleasure to meet you all, truly." smiles and shakes everyone's hands "Also, brace yourselves."

Weiss: "Why?"

Nick then begins to hug them.

Nick: "HAHAHA! Nice to meet you too!"

Weiss: "Eep! Oh my!"

Weiss: Hugs? Oh wow... Hugs are amazing! Especially from a strong, strapping older man-STOP THAT!

Ruby: "YAY HUGS!"

Nora: "WOO!"

Blake: bares with it stoically

Weiss: "So, er, what will you be teaching?"

Isabel: "We'll be taking turns giving Glynda a break from Combat Class, with some Survival and First Aid classes."

Nick: "Yeah! It's been a while since we got to cut loose!"

Ruby: "Woah! Is that a railgun sword?!"

Nick: "Sure is!"

Ruby: "SO COOL! Can I examine it?"

Nick: "Certainly! But you have to marry my son!"

Jaune: "DAD!"

Ruby: "SURE!"

Jaune: "RUBY!"

Nick: "HAHA! Just kidding!"

Blake: "Indeed. After all, I'm Jaune's fiance."

Jaune: "BLAKE!"

Yang: "SERIOUSLY?!"

Isabel: "Eh?!"

Jaune: "She's joking, Mom and Dad!"

Nick: "I dunno, I keep hearing a lot of joking about that and she doesn't seem the type."

Blake: blush "Ah, s-sorry. When we met my parents I um, I panicked. We... We're just friends."

Jaune's Brain: Oh thank God, she can learn...

Blake: small smile at Jaune and Yang "For now."

Yang: grinds her teeth "Blaaaake...!"

Jaune's Brain: She hasn't learned anything!

Later... Jaune is trying to relax on his own in the library. Just reading some comics.

Jaune's Brain: Wow... Shield Saint is awesome! It's like Shield Hero but with a little more editing to really make it work. And Bitch is even more horrible! I didn't think that was possible...

Blake walks up and sits down next to him.

Blake: "Hello Jaune. Um... Sorry about that with your parents."

Jaune: sighs "I'm beginning to expect it from you."

Blake: "Well... You shouldn't. I'm... I'm working on getting better."

Jaune: "I know... Thank you. I appreciate that. Sorry if I haven't been keeping my promise to help you-"

Blake: "No, no, we've been busy! It's understandable. I just... I know you probably think it's me panicking and all that. Or... Or my books."

Jaune: "I don't think it's just that, Blake." sighs "But again... I love Yang. Okay? Besides, Sun's a better choice for you-"

Blake: "Why? Because he's a Faunus?"

Jaune: "No, because he's relentlessly cheerful and sunny. You need that optimism in your life to get better."

Blake: "He also... Has this idealized form of me in his head. He doesn't call me out on my problems, just says I'll get better. Or that I shouldn't think of them as problems but opportunities to get better. He always brings up all my good points but never gives me pushback on my bad." She looks at Jaune "Adam... Adam did the same thing, just differently. Like neither of them could be entirely honest with me. You though? You actually tell me the truth, even if it hurts."

Jaune's Brain: I'm literally just pointing out all the flaws the viewers noticed... Not that I can tell her that...

Jaune: "Yeah. I mean... If people told me I was fine where I was as a person, I'd get killed. Or get other people killed. I'm direct and honest because I don't want that to happen to you, Blake."

Blake: nods "That's... That's why I am honestly attracted to you, Jaune. It's not-not a fetish..." blush "Entirely... I-I mean I did fantasize about a strong, kind human being my master... A lot... Read several books... Wrote some fanfiction-"

Jaune: "I get it, Blake, I get it. But: One, I don't feel that way about you. Two? I love Yang."

Blake: "... I wouldn't like you as much if you did give in."

Jaune: "So... Will you please stop?"

Blake smiles and leans in to kiss his cheek.

Blake: "No... I'll just take a different approach."

Jaune: "I-No, no, Blake, come on. Sun just needs to grow up-"

Blake: "But I've already seen what you'll grow up into, Jaune. And I think that's worth a lot of hard work... And sharing."

Jaune's Brain: Oh goddamnit I am a shitty NTR harem protagonist!

She rises and heads off... Just as Yang storms in.

Yang: "Blake, I swear I-"

Blake hugs her.

Blake: "Sorry about that. Honest. I'm working on it. And some other things. So... Please be patient."

Yang: blinks "I... Okay...?"

Blake kisses her cheek and, with a smile at Jaune, turns and heads off.

Yang: blush "... Wha...?"

Jaune's Brain: Ohhh Goddamnit... No, no... Yang is not thinking... She is not thinking about a harem, she is not, she is NOT. Blake's just messing with us because she's a damn cat. That's all... However... I do have a duty as a boyfriend to attend to...

Jaune gets up, takes Yang's hand, and pulls her into a deep kiss.

Yang: "Mmmm...?" They break "Mwah... Haa... Did Blake kissing me make you-?"

Jaune: "I'd be lying if I said 'no', but it's mostly because I get you now. I'm making sure you know who's woman you really are."

Yang: grins "Maybe you should remind me thoroughly~..."

Mombi: "Excuse me? None of that in the library!"

Jaune and Yang: "Sorry!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune Arc did not regret his decision to become a Huntsman. Nor did he regret his decision to train as hard as he could.



That said, he was regretting that he hadn't trained harder in the past as Yang knocked him down onto the gym training mat again. The blonde bombshell stood over him with a smile as she panted for breath.



"Hey! Good work!" She complimented him, rubbing a red mark on her cheek that was fading away, "You actually got a hit in on me!"



"Nngh..." He found it in himself to smile. He then pushed himself up to his knees, then back onto his feet. He got his fists back up.



"O-Okay... Ready," he managed. Yang winced.



"Hey Stud, maybe you should take a breather, huh?"



"I... I can do this all day," Jaune insisted. Yang chuckled, before she grabbed his forearm and guided him over to the benches along the wall. Numerous other students were training nearby, on weights, treadmills, and various other equipment.



"I know, but let's take a breather, huh?" She said. "You can save that shonen determinator stuff for a real fight."



Jaune flushed. Yang sat down next to him, and picked up their water bottles. She handed his to Jaune, and he took it gratefully. They sipped their water in silence for a few moments, just getting their breath back.



"Sorry," Jaune mumbled. "I just feel like I'm not getting good enough fast enough, ya know?"



Yang rolled her eyes.



"Geez... Who are you comparing yourself to? Hyperman? You're doing fine, Jaune. Hell, you're doing ludicrously well given how you were literally an untrained civilian a few months ago."



Jaune smiled widely at her.



"Really? Y-You mean that?"



"Yeah," Yang said with a nod, "Seriously. Don't be so hard on yourself. Sure, you're not top of the class but..." She grinned, "I'm definitely not wasting my time."



Jaune smiled back. It did a few things to Yang's heart that she pointed ignored.



Come on... He's all over Weisscream... Ruby's got a crush, and Pyrrha... Yeah, come on, she thought to herself, Don't even think about it...



"Well! Good to see you're keeping up on gym day," a deadpan voice drawled. Jaune started and looked up, as did Yang. A middle aged but fit man with curly brown hair, green eyes, and a long face grinned at them. He wore a brown suit with matching trousers and a green button-up shirt.



Jaune's eyes widened and he grinned.



"Uncle Peter?!"



"I'd hug ya, but I think I'll wait til after your shower," he said. He glanced at Yang and raised an eyebrow. "Your girlfriend?"



"J-Just my friend," Jaune said quickly, "This is Yang Xiao-Long. Yang? This is my Uncle Peter."



Yang tolerated the man giving her the once over. It was only natural given she was hot and in her gym clothes. He extended his hand with his eyes on hers though, so she didn't give into temptation to punch him.



"Charmed," Peter said with a nod and a wink.



"What brings you to Vale?" Jaune asked curiously. "The Vytal Festival?"



Peter shrugged, a wry smile on his face.



"It's work related. An old summer camp needs some special care."



"Really?" Jaune asked, looking interested. Peter nodded.



"Yeah. Actually... I think you and your friend would be perfect for the gig. You want in? I can cut you guys in for a fairly decent contractor's fee."



"What kind of job is it?" Yang asked, raising an eyebrow.



"Extermination," Peter stated. Yang blinked.



"Grimm?"



Peter grinned.



"Even worse. Thing is... The nature of the job means we gotta keep things quiet until the big reveal. We think the thing operates based on emotions."



Yang glanced at Jaune.



"What kind of extermination is this?" She asked.



"It's specialized," Jaune said, "Most people don't uh... Don't believe it, but it's the real deal."



Yang hummed.



"And you need me?"



"Trust me, you are perfect for it," Peter said with a grin. "Just requires a bit of acting."



Yang's eyes narrowed.



"It's not porn," Jaune said quickly.



Peter threw his hands up.



"Why does everyone make that assumption?!"



- - -



Despite Yang's reluctance... The money was good and hey: She did trust Jaune.



Going to an abandoned summer camp where Jaune's uncle's associates set up strange equipment around the dock at the lake was weird, but not too out of her comfort zone. Ray, Egon, and Winston were all nice-Though Egon definitely came off as very weird.



The only hitch was the actual job.



"Okay, you told me this wasn't porn," Yang stated flatly, standing in a string bikini on the dock.



"It isn't!" Peter insisted. "It isn't! Really! Jaune's mom would kick my ass if I even thought of putting him into it!"



"Okay, so what is all this?" Yang demanded. She pointed at a towel and picnic basket sitting on the dock as the sun slowly began to set, "What kind of thing are we trying to lure out?"



"We can't tell you all the details because it tracks based on emotion," Ray pointed out, making some adjustments at a computer terminal, "So your reactions need to be genuine."



"But trust us, if we pull this off, we'll be making the world a MUCH better place," Winston added, the dark skinned man checking on a thrower device hooked up via a tube to a heavy looking backpack. They were called "proton packs", and each man carried one.



"The murder and disappearance rate around this area for the last twenty years has been abnormally high, and the PKE readings are off the charts," Egon muttered, typing on a laptop, "Hmmm... The pattern suggests focused and semi-corporeal... A revenant?"



"That would fit with our theory," Ray added. The chubby man smiled warmly at Yang, "Trust us, this is gonna be great! You'll be totally safe!"



"I think I could handle whatever this thing is with my fists," Yang deadpanned. Egon shook his head.



"Unfortunately due to its nature as partially organic, Aura is ineffectual against it," he said. "Given how many Hunters-in-Training teams it's taken down."



"Immune to Aura?!" Yang squeaked. "And so, what, I'm out here as bait?!"



"It only attacks when there are teenagers involved in specific activities around," Peter said, "But don't worry. We'll take it down."



Yang glared harder. Peter sighed.



"Fine. Triple what we promised?"



"... Fine," Yang groaned. "What's one more stupid decision in my life?"



"That's the spirit!" Peter cheered. "HEY JAUNE! YOU READY?"



Jaune emerged from the dressing rooms near the lake... Walking stiffly in a Speedo. His face was bright red.



"Is this necessary?" He demanded. Peter's lips twitched.



"Totally! It's in the literature," he said.



Yang stared intently, her cheeks bright red.



Oh... Oh wow... Okay... I see the training's been paying off...



Jaune locked eyes on her... And blushed brightly as well. He coughed and held his towel in front of his lower half.



"Uh... H-Hey Yang... You look... N-Nice," he managed.



"Y-You too, VB," Yang stuttered.



"Perfect! Awkward teenaged chemistry!" Ray grinned. "How are their pheromone levels, Egon?"



Egon held up another scanner, his blonde eyebrow raised.



"Quite high overall, but closer contact will help."



"In that case," Peter said, as the sun set behind the mountains, "It's showtime!"



They turned on the lights over the dock, and went into hidden positions. Yang and Jaune walked to the towel, and sat down. Peter poked his head out from behind an overturned boat on shore.



"Okay! Just like in the script!" He called out.



"S-Sure," Yang mumbled.



"R-Right," Jaune muttered.



He reached out and pulled her into a hug. One she returned. Their blushes got brighter.



"Um... S-So... I think you're super hot, Yang," Jaune began, "Like... The hottest camp counselor here!"



"Oh... Yeah! It's what comes from being a cheerleader!" Yang replied.



"Ditzier!" Peter hissed. Yang glared.



"I'm not a dumb blonde!"



"You're playing one!"



Yang sighed. She then let out a giggle and cuddled against Jaune. She had to admit, she liked how cute he was blushing. At least she wasn't the only one embarassed.



"Yeah! I'm the head cheerleader! So like, I gotta be hottest! Totes!" She managed. She looked up at him and batted her eyelashes.



"So, since we're here and not doing our jobs to look after the kids," she continued, "You wanna... Smoke some pot?"



Jaune coughed. He then looked her right in the eyes.



"Uhhh... Actually, um... I would rather have pre-marital sex with you," he said.



Yang giggled, though it was a little more nervous than amused. Jaune was very warm and the way he said it, while dorky, had so much conviction...



Geez...



"W-Wow... Me too!" Yang said. "I love pre-marital sex! Especially without protection!"



A pause. Both teenagers glared at Peter.



"Who wrote this crap?" Yang demaned.



Peter pointed over at Ray. Ray coughed.



"To be fair, I used an AI generator to avoid any emotional bias-"



"Don't knock it!" Winston said, looking over at the trees. "It's working."



Yang looked at the trees. Something huge and hulking was stalking through them. Dark and malevolent, like smoke trying to assume a human form. Her eyes widened.



"Don't pay attention to it!" Peter hissed, "Keep focused! You gotta draw it in!"



Normally, Yang was fearless. But the prospect of being bait for something she couldn't fight was intimidating. Still...



"R-R-Right," Yang mumbled, looking back at Jaune, "Um... So... That pre-marital sex, and-and all... Uh... Um... We... We..."



It was very hard to remember her lines as the shadow gained form-A seven foot tall brute of a man with a hockey mask and a machete. It began to stride out of the trees-Relentless, menacing.



Ohhh... Oh shit... Um... What... What do I do?! I forgot everything! Yang's mind wailed.



"He's almost there! Go! Go!" Peter hissed.



What do I do now?! Yang's mind demanded. Something cold and icy was wrapping around her, like the brute was projecting sheer menace. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe...!



Jaune cupped her chin in his hands. He swallowed, and looked deeply into her eyes.



"Nothing will happen to you," Jaune whispered, "I'll never let anything happen to you... Because you're the light of my life."



He leaned in and kissed her. The icy feeling vanished, replaced by warmth. She leaned into the kiss, moaning quietly as he held her tightly.



She'd had so little physical affection in her life: Despite her looks and attitude, she wasn't easy. She had to think about Ruby and so she had virtually no experience. Jaune was so warm and so strong and his conviction even in this situation... It was definitely doing things to her.



But she was still a Huntress. So when the menacing figure stalked over them and lifted up its machete? She grabbed Jaune and leaped right off the dock into the water.



"NOW!"



Four streams of orange energy erupted, projected from the four older men's proton packs. The monstrous figure's rotten, decaying flesh exploded. Something glowed in the center of it, writhing and screaming like a worm from hell. Yang and Jaune surfaced, treading the water as the four men blasted the worm. The orange beams wrapped around it, and it struggled to escape against the pull.



"THE TRAP RAY!" Peter shouted. Ray threw out a small box on wheels that rolled underneath the monster. It opened, and a bright light emitted. The worm screamed like something out of nightmares, before it was sucked into the trap. The doors shut and its lights flashed... Before it beeped twice.



The four men walked up to the trap, checked it over, and grinned at each other.



"One in the box!"



"Ready to go!"



"We be fast..."



They pointed at the trap with smiles.



"They be slow!" They chorused together.



Yang and Jaune got back onto the dock. Yang scowled as Jaune got her a towel and wrapped her in it.



"So... You were using us as bait?!" Yang demanded.



"You were in little real danger," Egon stated, adjusting his glasses, "And it had to be very attractive teenagers with good sexual chemistry."



"Take it easy, Yang," Winston said, waving a hand, "You've saved a lot of lives."



"Yeah," Ray enthused, "Camp Crystal Lake is haunted no more! I can't wait to study this guy!"



Yang scowled. Jaune wrapped an arm around her shoulders.



"And we did have to go in blind since it can sense emotions," Jaune said with a nod. He scowled. "Still Uncle Peter... I hope you're not gonna be cheap."



Peter pointed to himself with an innocent look.



"Cheap? When have I ever been cheap in my life? You should see these guys' research budget."



"Peter," Winston, Egon and Ray all said with varying scowls. Peter sighed.



"Fine. Triple the usual rate... And I'll get you guys a table at Minerva's. Least I can do for my nephew and his girlfriend."



"She's not," Jaune started, "URK!"



And ended with Yang's elbow in his abs. Yang smirked and took his hand, even as he blushed brightly.



"Sounds like a start, Uncle Peter! So uh... What did you call your company again? I swear I've heard of it before."



"Ghostbusters," all four men said in synch.



- - -



I dunno, it just came to me. A Halloween themed Arc Clan entry! Which is something any of you can do!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

And now, for another Arc Clan member...



- - -



Weiss focused her energies as she stood in the ruins nearby Beacon. Her Glyph rotated before her, glowing brightly. She surged her Aura, and focused her mind on what she wanted to bring forth.



In a flash of light, the Geist Knight appeared, towering over her as it had over a year ago. It saluted her with its large sword, then knelt in supplication. Weiss smiled a bit, then heard some footsteps.



She looked and frowned a bit in confusion. A beautiful, voluptuous pale woman with white hair, wearing dark purple robes, walked up the path towards her. A trident-like symbol was engraved upon her forehead and her eyes were dark blue.



"Oh, hello!" She greeted Weiss politely with a small smile. Weiss smiled back just as politely.



"Hello. Can I help you?"



"Ah, forgive me," the pale woman said, "My name is Alice Arc. I've gotten a bit lost. I was looking for the courtyard: I'm meeting my cousin there. His name is Jaune: Do you know him?"



Weiss blinked. Compared to the other relatives of Jaune's that she'd met, this woman seemed... Mostly normal. Still, it never hurt to be cautious.



"We're... Friends, I suppose," Weiss said. "Why didn't you call him on your Scroll?"



"I'm afraid I lost it on my way here," Alice sighed, "But my servants are looking for it. I decided to try and find him the old fashioned way first."



"I'll let him known you're here," Weiss decided, pulling out her Scroll and texting a message to Jaune. When finished, she looked back down the path the woman had walked.



"You came through the Emerald Forest?" She asked in mild disbelief. "Are you a Huntress?"



Alice smiled wryly.



"Sort of. Ooh! A Geist Knight!" Her eyes locked onto the large form, her early worries forgotten, "Totally under your control?"



"Er, yes," Weiss nodded, "It's part of my Semblance. I can resummon defeated enemies from my Glyphs, among other things."



"Fascinating!" Alice enthused, walking over to look over the Knight from every angle. "Do you require additional Dust for specific summons or is it just an Aura Cost?"



"It's just an Aura cost, but Dust can be used to enhance them with elemental effects," Weiss explained, smiling a bit, "You're familiar then?"



"My own Semblance works on somewhat similar principles," Alice replied, smiling back, "Though its utility is more focused on... Uh... Summoning and animation than Elemental manipulation. Could you explain it?"



Weiss spent a rather lovely thirty minutes talking about Semblances and Dust usage. Her worries about Alice Arc diminished. The woman was keenly intelligent and very curious, and had some wonderful suggestions for her own Semblance that Weiss really wanted to try out.



Thank God, a normal Arc relative! Weiss thought happily.



"Oh! Jaune, I completely forgot!"



"So, you said your Semblance was similar to mine," Weiss said, "Can you demonstrate it?"



Alice hesitated.



"Well..."



"HEY BOSS!"



Weiss looked down the path... And her jaw dropped. Two dozen animated skeletons ran up the hill, the lead holding a Scroll in its bony fingers.



"GYAAAAHHHHHH!"



She turned to run... And slammed right into Jaune. He held her and looked down in concern at the panicking Weiss.



"Hey Weiss! You okay?"



"SKELETONS! MONSTERS!" Weiss shrieked. "Th-They must be possessed by Geists! We need to alert the school, we need reinforcements-!"



She turned to direct her Summon to battle... When Jaune laughed.



"Oh! No, it's okay! I know these guys!"



Weiss's eyes bugged out.



"You what?!"



The skeletons came to a stop in front of Alice. The leader, dressed in a tuxedo, held out the Scroll to Alice, who took it gratefully.



"Thank you guys," she said with a smile.



"We'd have been here sooner but JEREMY tried to add some deer bones to himself to look more 'manly'," the leader Skeleton groused. One skeleton, wearing deer antlers on his head, looked as non-chalant as he could.



"I don't know what you're talking about! I'm just naturally horny!"



The lead skeleton sighed then looked at Jaune. He bowed his head.



"It is good to see you well, Jaune."



"You too, Old Bone!" Jaune said cheerfully.



Weiss gaped.



"I... Wha...?!"



Alice turned to Weiss and Jaune with a bashful shrug.



"This is my Semblance: Necromancy."



"No bones about it!"



"Shut up, Jeremy!"



"NEVER!"



Weiss silently moaned.



I knew it! There's no such thing as a normal Arc!



- - -



Based upon this Alice from the Baalbuddy Comics:




View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDAL3u-0NBQ

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Had to write this one down.

- - -



On a training mission into the Emerald Forest, Jaune had stumbled across a magical collar in one of the ruins. It had refused to come off, and from Ozpin's research, it would choke him to death in four days.



He had tried every spell he could think of. Brought in Penny and had her father remotely try to destroy it without harming Jaune. He'd had everyone in the school try something. Glynda had come closest but it just hadn't budged.



Ozpin, feeling the lowest he had for centuries, made the call to Jaune's parents to come and pay their last respects. Meanwhile, his friends gathered with him in the infirmary. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere, even Ren was crying in silence.



Jaune: choked "Guys...? I'm sorry... There's... There's so much I wish... I had said. Weiss? I'm sorry I bugged you... I genuinely thought you were amazing as a person... Your wealth and name didn't matter. I just... I just thought you were incredible. Smart, kind, determined..."



Weiss: sniffles "I... I'm sorry I didn't see that until... I'm so sorry, Jaune."



Jaune: "Ruby..." smiles "I'm sorry I won't get to see the kind of woman you will grow into. You... You're gonna be amazing... And beautiful. Please... Have all the adventures I-I never got to. Please... Make new friends. Be happy."



Ruby: sobbing too hard to say anything as she hugs him



Jaune: "Yang...? I wish we'd... We'd spoken more. Honestly? I thought you were one of the hottest Huntresses ever, and one of the most amazing. Your tender side and your fighting side... They were both... Beautiful. I hope you find someone who will love you and never leave you. You-You deserve it."



Yang: trying not to cry, but failing "Jaune..."



Jaune: "Blake... Again... Sorry we didn't... Talk much... You're an amazing person. I get that... That opening up is hard when you've been hurt so much... But take it from me... It sucks to be alone. Please... Be good to your friends. Grow and learn... And don't shut others out."



Blake: sniffles, nods



Jaune: "Nora... You've been like a sister to me. Keep up... Keep up the good fight. Keep bringing people smiles... And breaking legs."



Nora is silent, just crying into Ren's shoulder. She manages a nod.



Jaune: "Ren... You're like the brother I never had. I know it's hard... To be strong, but... You're one of the strongest people I know. Please... Take care of everyone."



Ren: stoic manly nod

Jaune: "Miss Goodwitch... Thank you for the chance to... To try and be a hero. To try and help people... I'm sorry I was a fraud-"



Glynda: barely able to control her tears "N-No... It was very brave, Jaune."



Even Cardin showed up.



Cardin: "Hey man... I'm sorry-"



Jaune: "N-No... No... I was weak... I needed to get over myself and stand up... So... Ya know... No hard feelings... Just... Try to be a better man..."



Cardin: "I-I will... I promise..."



Jaune: "Professor Port... I actually liked your stories."



Port: smiles sadly "I shall tell yours forever more, my boy."



Jaune: "Thank you..."



Pyrrha has been trying to hold it together all this time... But when Jaune looks at her...

Jaune: "Pyrrha... I-"



She sobs and falls to her knees. She hugs him tightly.



Pyrrha: "I love you Jaune! I've always loved you! I-I just... I'm sorry... It's all my fault, I opened that tomb and-!"



Jaune: "No, no... It's not your fault, Pyr... It's all right..." smiles "I... I just want to tell you... I cared for you. So much... Please... I just ask that you... You smile again one day. Genuinely... Don't let this... Let me drag you down..."



Pyrrha: "You never did...!" She keeps crying



Then at the door to the infirmary, there is a loud commotion. Isabel and Nick Arc storm in, followed by Ozpin.



Jaune: "M-Mom... Dad..." smiles "I'm... I'm sorry I disobeyed you but-"



Isabel: "Sweetie? Shut up. Mommy's here to fix everything. Nick?"



Nick hefts up a sword which Isabel runs her glowing hands over. He smiles at Jaune.



Nick: "Don't worry son! Everything's gonna be all right!"



Which is when Nick swings his sword and cuts Jaune's head off. As literally everyone screams in horror (Including Ren), Jaune has one last thought:



Jaune: ... What?



Darkness... Then... Jaune wakes up, gasping for breath. He reaches up to his neck: The collar is gone... His head is reattached.



He's in the infirmary. Isabel is sitting next to him, sipping some tea. Nick is grinning.



Nick: "Told ya!"



Jaune: "Wha... WHAT THE FUCK?!"



Isabel: "Language!"



Jaune: "YOU CUT MY HEAD OFF?!"



Isabel: "Yes Jaune. It was the only way to get that cursed collar off of you!"



Jaune: "YOU CUT MY HEAD OFF?!"



Isabel: "Only for a few seconds, then I put it right back on. Don't be such a baby, sweetie!" sips



Jaune: "O-Oh..."



Isabel: "Honestly, they should have just called me from the start! Still sweetie, I'm glad you're all right now." smiles



Jaune: "M-Me too..."



Nick: "And hey! Now you can finally go out with all those girls who were crying over you!"



Jaune: "DAD!"



Nick: "Well most of them. The orangette asked to be adopted and that would be awkward!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Had to write this one down.

- - -



On a training mission into the Emerald Forest, Jaune had stumbled across a magical collar in one of the ruins. It had refused to come off, and from Ozpin's research, it would choke him to death in four days.



He had tried every spell he could think of. Brought in Penny and had her father remotely try to destroy it without harming Jaune. He'd had everyone in the school try something. Glynda had come closest but it just hadn't budged.



Ozpin, feeling the lowest he had for centuries, made the call to Jaune's parents to come and pay their last respects. Meanwhile, his friends gathered with him in the infirmary. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere, even Ren was crying in silence.



Jaune: choked "Guys...? I'm sorry... There's... There's so much I wish... I had said. Weiss? I'm sorry I bugged you... I genuinely thought you were amazing as a person... Your wealth and name didn't matter. I just... I just thought you were incredible. Smart, kind, determined..."



Weiss: sniffles "I... I'm sorry I didn't see that until... I'm so sorry, Jaune."



Jaune: "Ruby..." smiles "I'm sorry I won't get to see the kind of woman you will grow into. You... You're gonna be amazing... And beautiful. Please... Have all the adventures I-I never got to. Please... Make new friends. Be happy."



Ruby: sobbing too hard to say anything as she hugs him



Jaune: "Yang...? I wish we'd... We'd spoken more. Honestly? I thought you were one of the hottest Huntresses ever, and one of the most amazing. Your tender side and your fighting side... They were both... Beautiful. I hope you find someone who will love you and never leave you. You-You deserve it."



Yang: trying not to cry, but failing "Jaune..."



Jaune: "Blake... Again... Sorry we didn't... Talk much... You're an amazing person. I get that... That opening up is hard when you've been hurt so much... But take it from me... It sucks to be alone. Please... Be good to your friends. Grow and learn... And don't shut others out."



Blake: sniffles, nods



Jaune: "Nora... You've been like a sister to me. Keep up... Keep up the good fight. Keep bringing people smiles... And breaking legs."



Nora is silent, just crying into Ren's shoulder. She manages a nod.



Jaune: "Ren... You're like the brother I never had. I know it's hard... To be strong, but... You're one of the strongest people I know. Please... Take care of everyone."



Ren: stoic manly nod

Jaune: "Miss Goodwitch... Thank you for the chance to... To try and be a hero. To try and help people... I'm sorry I was a fraud-"



Glynda: barely able to control her tears "N-No... It was very brave, Jaune."



Even Cardin showed up.



Cardin: "Hey man... I'm sorry-"



Jaune: "N-No... No... I was weak... I needed to get over myself and stand up... So... Ya know... No hard feelings... Just... Try to be a better man..."



Cardin: "I-I will... I promise..."



Jaune: "Professor Port... I actually liked your stories."



Port: smiles sadly "I shall tell yours forever more, my boy."



Jaune: "Thank you..."



Pyrrha has been trying to hold it together all this time... But when Jaune looks at her...

Jaune: "Pyrrha... I-"



She sobs and falls to her knees. She hugs him tightly.



Pyrrha: "I love you Jaune! I've always loved you! I-I just... I'm sorry... It's all my fault, I opened that tomb and-!"



Jaune: "No, no... It's not your fault, Pyr... It's all right..." smiles "I... I just want to tell you... I cared for you. So much... Please... I just ask that you... You smile again one day. Genuinely... Don't let this... Let me drag you down..."



Pyrrha: "You never did...!" She keeps crying



Then at the door to the infirmary, there is a loud commotion. Isabel and Nick Arc storm in, followed by Ozpin.



Jaune: "M-Mom... Dad..." smiles "I'm... I'm sorry I disobeyed you but-"



Isabel: "Sweetie? Shut up. Mommy's here to fix everything. Nick?"



Nick hefts up a sword which Isabel runs her glowing hands over. He smiles at Jaune.



Nick: "Don't worry son! Everything's gonna be all right!"



Which is when Nick swings his sword and cuts Jaune's head off. As literally everyone screams in horror (Including Ren), Jaune has one last thought:



Jaune: ... What?



Darkness... Then... Jaune wakes up, gasping for breath. He reaches up to his neck: The collar is gone... His head is reattached.



He's in the infirmary. Isabel is sitting next to him, sipping some tea. Nick is grinning.



Nick: "Told ya!"



Jaune: "Wha... WHAT THE FUCK?!"



Isabel: "Language!"



Jaune: "YOU CUT MY HEAD OFF?!"



Isabel: "Yes Jaune. It was the only way to get that cursed collar off of you!"



Jaune: "YOU CUT MY HEAD OFF?!"



Isabel: "Only for a few seconds, then I put it right back on. Don't be such a baby, sweetie!" sips



Jaune: "O-Oh..."



Isabel: "Honestly, they should have just called me from the start! Still sweetie, I'm glad you're all right now." smiles



Jaune: "M-Me too..."



Nick: "And hey! Now you can finally go out with all those girls who were crying over you!"



Jaune: "DAD!"



Nick: "Well most of them. The orangette asked to be adopted and that would be awkward!"

Click to shrink...

Jaune's friends are let into the infirmary. Pyrrha, Yang, Weiss, Ruby, and Blake are a bit bashful.



Ruby: "Um... Sorry we attacked you, Mister and Mrs. Arc."



Isabel: "No no, quite all right! If I saw a strange person cutting off the head of someone I cared about, I would also get violent."



Jaune: "Oh. So that's why we're in a different infirmary?"



Pyrrha: "We um... We kind of wrecked the other one... Sorry."



Nick: "It's all right, everyone! That's the kind of thing someone can... Lose their head over!"



Everyone groans but Yang, Jaune and Isabel. Also Ren.



Ren: "Jaune? Your parents are amazing and I am very glad you're alive but... They are also terrifying."



Jaune: "Trust me, you don't know the half of it."



Weiss clears her throat.



Weiss: "W-Well... Um... Jaune? Since you're not going to die... Uh... I was thinking maybe... It would be nice to go out to dinner and talk. As you asked before."



Jaune: "Well I-"



Yang: "Oh really? I think VB would have a lot more fun on a date with me, Weisscream!" She sidles up to Jaune with a wink "He did say I was hot and amazing, after all. I should reward that."



Jaune: "But-"



Pyrrha: "I-I confessed my love for him! He's going on a date with me!"



Jaune: "Well you-"



Ruby: "HEY! He said he wanted to see what kind of a beautiful woman I'd grow into! I wanna show him!"



Blake: "Honestly? He's kind, he's sweet, and he came back from the dead. I think I want to stake a claim here." Starry eyed "It's just like my manga~!"



Ruby: "You don't even know him!"



Weiss: "He crushed on me!"



Yang: "He spent his deathbed speech on praising me! I'm not letting him go!"



Pyrrha: "I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM!"



The girls begin to bicker and tug on Jaune. Jaune gulps and looks to his parents, Nora, and Ren for help.



Jaune: "Uh... Mom? Dad? Guys?!"



Isabel: "Oh my... Think of the grandchildren!"



Nora: "You got this, Fearless Leader!"



Ren: "Good luck, Jaune."



Nick: "You should have quit while you were... AHEAD! Ahahahaha!"

 

[NightDranzer]

Cross-posted from SB

Prompt:


A 10 years old Jaune sneaks outside the walls of Radian to train himself in secret and Isabel notices the absence of Jaune and frantically looks for him. When she finds him, he is surrounded by Beowulves (and notes the dissolving remains of 3 slain Beowulves) and goes full Mama Bear on the Beowulf pack (poor bastards). Once the danger has passed, Isabel slaps her son and asks him why did he get himself in danger like this, only for Jaune to tell her that he wants to be a Huntsman and since Isabel and Nick won't train him he has to train himself.

At that moment, it dawns on Isabel just how far Jaune is willing to go for that dream of his; and while her first instinct was to absolutely forbid him from even mentioning anything related to Huntsmanship another colder, more logical voice tells her that if he already did this at 10, he could do this when he's older, smarter and sneakier enough to evade her notice.

At that point Isabel sighs and tells Jaune to go home and let her talk to Nick about it.

Nick confirms to Isabel that he personally agreed with her in that he does not want Jaune to be a Huntsman either, but he was also against how vehemently restrictive Isabel was regarding the matter towards Jaune. When Isabel asks him why he didn't say anything, Nick simply answered that he as a husband had a duty to always support her. At this, Isabel sighs and decides to bite the bullet and talk to Jaune.

Isabel (along with Nick) agrees to train Jaune but has an initial condition: he must also study medicine under her alongside his training as a huntsman, and tells him flat out that they (Isabel and Nick) WILL go hard on him and that they WILL try to break him to the point he gives up. Unfortunately for Isabel; Jaune was every bit her's and Nick's child and had inherited BOTH of their stubbornness and so, rather than being intimidated what he instead hears is "bet we can make you give up".

Needless to say, Jaune took that as a challenge.

2 months during training; Isabel and Nick quickly notice something: Jaune's learning speed and growth rate (whether in medicine study or in huntman training) made it all too clear that their son was, by every measurable metric, a honest-to-goodness prodigy and find themselves baffled as on how to push their son in their training, since he now can go through the paces without much effort.....

.....and it does not help that Jaune's Semblance is (to quote a certain orange-loving sister who has become more familiar with Huntsman terminology by watching her parents train Jaune) an absolute cheat code that breaks every formerly established rule ("like seriously, Jaune's Semblance is a middle-finger to the law of conservation of energy. Does this mean Jaune basically has infinite Aura?"), and apparently ALSO has a constant passive effect on Jaune himself that apparently further improved his already ludicrous improvement rate.

So far; because of his assitance at the Arc-en-Ciel hospital, his Semblance has evolved into the ability to not only Amplify other's Aura, but can now also allow Jaune to donate his Aura to others with a 99.6% efficiency average. He has come to be known by the locals of Radian as "The Saint of Radian".

When Isabel and Nick can honestly no longer think of anything else to teach their son; Nick gets an idea and off-handedly asks Isabel if they can contact Glynda and ask for her help in training Jaune, since she is an actual, certified Combat Instructor for Huntsmen-in-Training and he also has observed (from what he remembered) that her Semblance and Jaune's have many similarities in how they operate in regards to Aura Control; if not in effect.

Isabel stops at this and opened her mouth to protest (because it would be imposing on Glynda, and because she was not exactly all that thrilled at the idea of Glynda being so close to HER husband, and Glynda was already a busy woman as it was), but just as she was about to list the reasons why not to Nick was already calling Glynda.

.....It took a bit of convincing (even with Nick being the one to ask), but Glynda eventually agreed to visit them during Beacon's Summer Break to appraise Jaune and see if there was anything she could actually help him with that required her personal tutoring......


---------------------------------------------

Yeah, I'm ending it here since my mind kinda blanked out at this point and forcing ideas out of one's mind is like forcing a fart; you risk ending up with shit

But anyways: final set up is the following:

-Li Ren and An Ren survive and move to Radian along with 5 other Kuroyuri survivors.
-The Arc family ends up officially adopting Nora, though she, for all intents and purposes is doted on and practically raised by both the Ren and Arc families.
-Nora takes the Arc name without a thought. She held no love for the Valkyrie name.
-Jaune Arc is officially apprenticed under Glynda Goodwitch, Nora Arc becomes Nicholas Arc's official apprentice and Lie Ren officially becomes Isabel Arc's apprentice (both huntsman-wise and medic-wise). That said, Jaune, Ren and Nora are also trained by the others interchangeably.


-----------------------------------------------

EDIT: Regarding probable case of favoritism in Beacon.......


Here's the thing; you do NOT want to be Glynda's favorite (as Jaune quickly comes to learn the hard way); because due to some of her students dying in missions because of either overconfidence and/or underpreparedness, Glynda has come to associate care with strictness.

In other words, the more fond Glynda grows of you, the harder she will push you; and Jaune quickly becomes someone who is very dear indeed.

Click to shrink...