[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

It was probably too much to hope that Adam would give up his attempts to get revenge. The guy had a grudge against the entire human race. It wasn't in him to stop even if it was plainly obvious he was not achieving anything.



That said, Jaune was still pretty surprised to go to bed at Beacon without any problems... And then to wake up bound and gagged in a filthy warehouse office. Several White Fang goons stood guard, all with their weapons trained on him-Except for one. That guy was talking on a Scroll to someone, pacing in front of a dirty window looking out on piles of crates, and it didn't take a genius to figure out who.



"Yeah, he's all set for you Lord Adam," the mook, some kind of canine Faunus, reported. He glanced over at Jaune and gave him a nasty sneer.



"Oh, don't worry my Lord. We'll soften him up, good and proper."



Jaune gulped. He felt so damn woozy-It was hard to focus



Drugs, he thought, I've been drugged... Can't focus my Aura...!



The Faunus turned off the Scroll. He gestured to two of the goons, who pulled Jaune up to his feet.



He didn't have time to brace before the head goon punched him right in the stomach. Jaune groaned in pain behind the gag-And did the same as the Faunus proceeded to use his stomach like a speedbag.



"HURK! URK! HFF!"



"Not so tough without a weapon, huh human?" The Faunus sneered. Jaune managed to glance out the window again. His eyes widened.



One of the transfer students was standing in the middle of the warehouse! Long black hair, incredible legs, red dress-What was her name again?



Ah! Cinder Fall! What was she doing here? She was arguing with one of the White Fang goons, while others had guns trained on her.



She got captured, Jaune thought, But why? How? Why would she be out... Here...



It dawned on him.



She was sent out to look for me! Jaune 's thoughts exploded in horror. I gotta help her! I gotta get her out of here! I gotta-!

"HURK!"



Another punch and Jaune bowed his head. The dog Faunus laughed.



"Heh... You know, Lord Adam didn't say how many pieces you were supposed to be in," he sneered. He gestured, and another White Fang flunky rummaged in a crate. He pulled out an object in bubblewrap... But Jaune could tell what it was. He focused on remaining calm even as sweat beaded on his forehead.



The leader ripped the bubblewrap off, unveiling a wicked looking chainsaw. He grinned as he revved it up, the sound almost deafening in the small room.



"Let's see how dangerous you are," the leader chuckled, "Without your hands!"



The goons forced Jaune down, and put his wrists up on an old desk. Jaune struggled, but they held fast. Their Auras were also unlocked, and while the drug was still running in his system, he couldn't use his properly.



The grunt grinned nastily, showing off razor sharp teeth, as he hefted up the roaring chainsaw.



"Nothin' personal, kid," he laughed, "But I think Lord Adam will want you helpless when he kills you..." He glanced out the window, "And the hot chick we caught snooping for you!"



I can't... I can't let them take her... Jaune thought, Come on! COME ON SEMBLANCE ACTIVATE! It's in me! I-I don't need a weapon!



The chainsaw came down and Jaune's Aura flared. He screamed behind his gag as the blades pushed against his skin. They weren't breaking through but it hurt like hell. The goons laughed uproariously at his pain.



Rage surged through him. He clenched his fists and tried not to scream again as the chainsaw was slammed back down onto his wrists.



Okay... Okay... So I need a weapon... I need a weapon... I need...!



He found an eye of calm in the storm of his pain.



Of course... But why isn't it activating?!



He shut his eyes. He focused past the pain.



Come on... Come on... Activate, COME ON!



The chainsaw fell upon his wrists once more.



The canine Faunus laughed loudly over the roar of the engine. He surged his own Aura through the chainsaw. Blood began to spray from Jaune's wrists.



COME ON!



The blood splattered all over Jaune's face... And he smiled.



- - -



Cinder Fall was annoyed. And when she was annoyed, things tended to die. However, being the evil mastermind that she was, incinerating all of these White Fang soldiers, while appealing, was not the wisest move. If she killed too many, well, there wouldn't be enough left for her operations.



"Look sweetheart," the White Fang goon sneered, "Lord Adam is our commander. We're working with you, but what he says goes first!"



Still... Maybe if she only killed ten of them...



"Your master's obsession with the human who bested him twice is adorable," Cinder sneered, and all the Faunus tensed, "But it's drawing too much attention. Half the student body of Beacon is tearing this city apart looking for him, which is interfering with our plans. Return the oaf, now."



No matter how powerful Jaune Arc's silly little Semblance might be? The big picture mattered. She'd let Adam kill the idiot when they sacked Beacon, not before.



The goon snorted and waved his gun in her face.



"We don't take orders from you, whore. Now get, before we gift wrap you for Lord Adam, too!"



All right. These imbeciles were clearly too stupid to live. They'd drag down the rest of their fellow miscreants-Not that they had far to go, but Cinder believed in being efficient. She was doing them a favor: Eliminate the least fit to survive so the majority would prosper.



Before she could summon her flames though... The windows of the warehouse supervisor office exploded. A dozen screaming White Faunus members were thrown out.



Cinder's eyes widened.



Some were missing arms... Legs... And heads.



"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh buddy, did you make a bad decision!" Cackled an almost familiar voice. A blond figure leaped through the warehouse windows, a chainsaw burning with yellow Aura in his hand. A hideously wide grin shone thanks to the golden light, as did manic eyes. Cinder's jaw fell in shock that was not feigned in the slightest.



"Arc?!"



"Hey toots," Arc grinned, "Daddy's home!"



As horrified as the White Fang were, they were hardened terrorists. Their hesitation didn't last long.



"FIRE!" The White Fang lead goon shouted.



A hail of Dust-enhanced gunfire rained down on the grinning maniac from every direction. Arc charged through, unbothered by the rounds, as he cheerfully slashed the heads off three White Fang goons with one blow.



"Not gonna work but keep it up! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"



Cinder fell back on her deceit: She fell to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. She screamed in fright, even all the while she watched the maniac out of the corner of her eyes.



He was... Incredible. His wounds instantly healed in the flames of his powerful Aura. The same could not be said for his shirt-It was torn apart by the Dust rounds and his Aura's power, leaving him shirtless.



Oh my, she thought, her eyes locked on his... Rather pleasing form.



She'd seen plenty of fit, handsome men. Killed plenty of them, too. Arc though... He fought like a force of nature. He charged through without a care in the world, slaughtering the White Fang without mercy while laughing. He even picked up one by the ankle and waved him around like a bludgeon, leveling his fellows. Arc slammed him headfirst through a forklift, before spinning like a demented tornado through a crowd of terrorists.



Another White Fang member, wielding a chainsaw, swung his weapon at Arc. The blond dodged it, then met the next blow with his own chainsaw, sparks exploding from the contact between them. Arc grinned, his teeth looking like a hungry shark's before it lunged to take a bite.



"Ooooh... We got a wriggler!"



Arc playfully dodged around the furious Faunus' swings. He then shook his head and waved his finger.



"Tut tut... That not how you use that!"



He then spun around, flipping right over the White Fang terrorists' guard. The man barely had time to gape before Arc swung around like a top. He burned with Aura like the sun, and his chainsaw glowed like flames!



"AHH-!"



A wet gurgle. A thud. The headless body of the White Fang terrorist slumped to the floor. Arc looked around, pouting.



"Awww... No more?" He shook his head. "Ah well... Maybe next time!"



He waltzed right over to the gaping Cinder. He grinned and held out a hand.



"So... Wanna hit a diner? I've got a craving for some waffles!"



"I..." Cinder blinked.



Arc blinked back. He looked at himself, and shrugged.



"Oh. Gotta wash up first. One sec!" He pranced-quite literally-over to a water sprinkler, and swung his chainsaw. A spray of water fell upon him like rain, washing away all the blood. Leaving him shirtless, wet, and still grinning.



"That better?" He asked.



Cinder Fall was not some pathetic little school girl. She wasn't...



And yet, her face was bright red as she demurely allowed Arc to take her hand and lead her out of the warehouse.



It wouldn't do to break her cover, after all.

 

[SharkCultist]

If you were to ask most of beacon about Jaune Arc one word would come to mind.

Annoying.

The boy with the spiked up hair and bright gold armor and weapons didn't have many friends, but was quite vocal in proclaiming that he knew the people would love him when his "Golden Moment" arrived.

Loudly and often would he boast about using his "incredible skills" to save everyone one day, despite the fact he was ranked dead last in every single form of combat they tried.

No most of beacon saw him as a loud whomp who wouldn't amount to much.

But his team saw more.

Nora saw him take the time to greet all the people of vale he ran into, from the garbage men to the little old ladies. Jaune knew every single name because he cared for the people.

Ren saw Jaune past the gold and gloryhound, how his boasting hid his true goal. "I will save people." Ren heard Jaune.

Pyrrha saw Jaune at work. Training for hours in secret at night until he could barely hold his sword or keep his eyes open in class the next mornings.

No Jaunes team saw more in Jaune than anyone else.

So it didn't surprise them when he became a hero.

As Grimm of all shapes and sizes attacked the city of Vale like a black tide it wasn't Ruby who rallied the hunters.

When the Grimm breached the school it wasn't Cardin who stood as a wall and held back Grimm so more people could be evacuated.

It wasn't Weiss who realized they were failing and gathered all the dust possible in one place.

It wasn't Yang who stabbed their body with countless dust crystals and lit up like a sun.

It wasn't Ozpin or Qrow who tore through the Grimm like a force of nature.

And it wasn't Pyrrha who died.

---

The sun was rising. The fighting had lasted all through the night and though broken Beacon and Vale still stood.

It was a beautiful sunrise with a warm golden glow.

But it wasn't the glow NPR cared about.

Standing before them was their leader a golden glow coming off his body and I tired grin on his face.

"We did it guys. We're heroes!"

"No way, you're the hero! How're you doing that glowy thing? Is it permanent?"

"Kinda."

Flakes of gold started drifting off of Jaune, like fireflies or maybe gold dust.

"Jaune. What did you do?"

They didn't want to believe it but not even Nora could keep up the ignorant act. They'd seen that glow, seen what power he brought to bare. That wasn't the kind of power mankind was meant to have, not without consequences.

"Hey guys, guys no tears. Smile. I finally got my Golden Moment!"

So Pyrrha did the only thing she could do.

She smiled as warmly and brightly as she could.

"You're my Hero Jaune Arc!"

She smiled until he finished fading away on the wind.

And then she cried like she never cried before.

---

Five years later and Beacon and Vale are fully restored. You almost can't tell there was ever anything that happened.

The only difference is in a small park in vale. There's a gaudy gold statue of a teen in armor throwing his head back and laughing.

The statue has a small plaque on it naming the piece.

A Golden Moment.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -



It was with some trepidation that Jaune led his closest friends to the stables. Ruby was bouncing alongside him, beaming like the sun. Yang and Pyrrha kept pace just behind him, Weiss walked on his left side, while Nora, Ren, and Blake brought up the rear.



They soon reached the paddock, where Orleans was calmly drinking some water from the trough. She perked up as she spotted Jaune, and trotted up to put her head over the fence. Jaune reached up and scratched his loyal mount behind her ears, which made her neigh happily.



"Are you sure ya'll wanna learn to ride on Orleans?" Jaune asked. "She's a bit of a challenge for beginners-"



"Come now, Jaune," Weiss smiled, "She is part of the team, after all. We should know how to ride her just in case something happens."



"Exactly!" Ruby said with a nod. She crossed her arms under her chest. "And as your fellow team leader and bestie, I think all of us learning how to ride on Orleans is the best!"



"How will I be a Queen without a noble steed?" Nora added. She hugged Ren tightly. "Aside from Renny, of course!"



"She's still pretty tough," Jaune added, patting Orleans on the back of her neck, "I could always make an appointment at the local ranch and get us a few non-Aura unlocked horses to practice on-"



"Come on Stud," Yang said, leaning in with a grin, "She's got to get used to us some time. Besides! I'm no stranger to having something big and powerful between my legs~."



She added a leer as she leaned in more closely to the blushing Jaune.



"Or I won't be if we just-"



"O-Okay! Okay! That is quite enough!" Weiss sputtered, pulling Yang away. Pyrrha looked rather relieved. She gave Jaune a small smile.



"Besides," she said, "Weiss and myself do have some equestrian experience. We can help you, Jaune."



"Pretty please?" Ruby begged, her eyes wide and shiny.



Jaune sighed, damning his weakness. He patted Orleans on the side of her neck.



"All right," he said. He turned to Orleans and looked her in the eyes. "We're gonna teach our friends how to ride."



Orleans snorted, looking irritated. Jaune shook his head.



"It ain't gonna be like I'm sharing you! Just... Teachin' them so they don't get hurt." He lowered his voice. "You're still my number one gal, promise."



Orleans considered things... Before neighing in reluctant agreement. Jaune gave her a soft smile.



"That's my girl... One more thing. Go easy on 'em..."



Orleans scowled. Jaune's eyes gained a glint of mischief.



"But not too easy."



Orleans whinnied. It sounded like evil laughter. Jaune turned to his friends with a smile.



"So! Who's first?"



"I will!" Weiss insisted, narrowly beating out Ruby, Yang and Pyrrha. It was rather impressive for the slight young woman, Jaune would admit. She gracefully jumped the fence, and without any issues, got up and mounted Orleans.



She sat elegantly on the saddle with the reins in her hands. Jaune raised an eyebrow at how she was positioned though.



"Uh, Weiss, I don't think side saddle is the best approach-"



Weiss smiled demurely at Jaune and shook her head.



"Now Jaune, I'm perfectly capable of handling things. I was trained in how to ride a hooOOOOOOOORRRRRRSSSSE-!"



Orleans bolted and leaped right over the fence, galloping and bucking around in a circle so quickly she began to kick up dust devils. Weiss hung on for dear life, screaming as her entire body left the saddle and bounced up and down... Before she let go and went flying into a hay bale.



Jaune did his level best not to laugh, while everyone else didn't bother. Except for Ren, but his lips were twitching in a mighty suspicious way.



Jaune walked over to the sputtering, hay-covered Weiss.



"You all right, Weiss?"



He helped her up, and kept his face stony and neutral as he beheld the many straws in her white hair. She fumed at Orleans.



"Oooh...! That... She did that on purpose!"



Orleans whinnied and shot her an undeniably smug look. Jaune chuckled, though he patted Weiss on the shoulder reassuringly.



"She does that. Throws me every once in a while, too. Just to remind me that this here's a partnership, and I ain't her master," he said kindly. "Sure you don't wanna try a normal horse first, Weiss? Ain't no shame in it-"



Weiss' eyes blazed.



"No! I-I will not back down from this challenge," she insisted. "I-I'm not just some frail little princess who quits when things get rough!"



"I guess we'll see about that," Yang laughed. She caught Orleans' reins, and led the horse back towards the fence. She smirked at Weiss.



"But first! My turn," she said. Jaune coughed, especially when he saw Orleans' calculating expression.



"Ah, Yang, maybe you could use a refresher-"



Yang mounted Orleans, straddling her back and holding the reins with a grin.



"Come on, Stud! I've ridden my motorcycle plenty! I'm sure Orleans isn't too different," she said. She winked. "You tamed her, after all~. And Bumblebee is plenty temperamental!"



Orleans snorted. Jaune took a deep breath.



"One: 'Tamed' ain't the word I would use," Jaune said slowly, "And two? Yer Bumblebee's got nothing on my Orleans."



Yang's eyes narrowed and flashed red.



"Oh really? We'll just see about that. I can handle her just fine!" She kicked Orleans in the side and swung the reins. "YAH!"



Thirty seconds later... Jaune was fishing Yang out of a large rain barrel. The bombshell blonde coughed and sputtered, as Orleans trotted cheekily nearby and their friends laughed.



"H-HEY! NO FAIR!" Yang growled.



"But I thought you could handle it!" Weiss said mockingly.



"With how you ride Bumblebee, I'm not surprised Orleans didn't want anything to do with you!" Ruby giggled.



Even Blake smirked broadly. Yang growled and shook her fist at the showboating Orleans.



"You're gonna pay for this you walking glue factory!"



"Now now," Jaune chuckled, "easy. That's just her nature is all."



He pulled Yang up by her hips, and set her down next to him. She blushed furiously, but didn't pull away as he let her lean on him. Jaune sighed.



"Sure we can't just go to the local ranch? I've got friends there-"



"N-No Jaune, it's perfectly all right," Pyrrha said. She mounted Orleans next, and patted the back of the horse's neck affectionately.



"I'm sure Orleans is just having some fun, and we shouldn't begrudge her that," Pyrrha said with a small smile. "We should treat her with respect, like any other member of our team."



Pyrrha gently goaded Orleans. The horse stood still as a statue. Pyrrha frowned.



"Orleans? Come on, let's go. Please?"



She again gently goaded her. Orleans didn't move a muscle. Pyrrha sighed.



"Like I said, you've had your fun. We need to train. Please move?"



She dug her heels into Orleans' side. The horse still didn't budge. Pyrrha's eyebrow twitched. Nora snickered. Jaune cleared his throat.



"Orleans doesn't like it when you're too soft. You gotta command her proper like."



"Let's go!" Pyrrha insisted. Orleans still didn't move. Pyrrhas scowled.



"Giddyup!"



Again, nothing. Pyrrha gripped the reins more tightly.



"Go! Let's go!"



Jaune sighed. He left Yang (who pouted) and walked up to Orleans' side. He pulled his hand back.



"Come on girl. GIT!"



He slapped her rump. Orleans let out a deafening neigh, reared up on her back hooves, then shot off so fast she nearly blew Jaune off his feet.



"There we goooOOOOOOOOHHH MYYYYY!" Pyrrha yelped.



Orleans used her Semblance and galloped right up into the air. She ascended very high, and then dove like a falcon for the ground. She galloped into the trees, fast as lightning, as Pyrrha wailed the whole time. About ten minutes later, Orleans burst back through the trees, sans her rider. Jaune glared at Orleans as she trotted up, smug as can be.



"Orleans? Where is Pyrrha?" Jaune growled.



Pyrrha jogged into view a few moments later. The Spartan was panting, covered in mud, branches, feathers, and soaking wet. She glared hatred at Orleans.



"You... You... YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING FLEA BITTEN HORSE!" Pyrrha yelled. She then immediately covered her mouth in embarassment.



Orleans whinnied innocently. Jaune was frankly shocked at Angry!Pyrrha. As was everyone else.



"Now Orleans, that wasn't what I meant," Jaune admonished. Orleans snorted. He walked over to Pyrrha.



"You all right there, Pyrrha?" He asked kindly.



Pyrrha twitched.



"She smashed through a chicken coop," she hissed, glaring death at the horse. Orleans whinnied, unrepentant. Jaune sighed and patted her back.



"She uh... She does like to get rises out of folks," he said.



"No kidding," Weiss growled.



"Hadn't noticed," Yang seethed.



"MY TURN!" Ruby cheered. She hopped up onto Orleans with her Semblance, teleporting right into the saddle. She beamed and held on.



"All right Orleans! Remember all the sugar cubes we shared?" Her eyes narrowed.



"You owe me."



Orleans thought about it... Then using her Semblance, she blasted off like a rocket and sailed up into the sky.



"WHEEEEEEEE!" Ruby cheered.



Orleans then landed... Right in the middle of a gigantic mud puddle. Ruby yelped and with Orleans' added bucking, the little Reaper fell right off with a loud squelch.



"GYAH!"



Orleans again whinnied in evil laughter, galloping off. Ruby got up, covered in muck, and glared after her.



"HEYYY! TRAITOR!"



Jaune once again helped her out. Ruby glared angrily at the very smug horse, who trotted over to Blake, Ren and Nora.



Jaune's eyes widened.



"Wait, Orleans, don't you-!"



Orleans shook like a dog, spraying Blake, Ren and Nora with mud. Blake yelped and used a clone to try and escape, but she still got covered. Nora grinned and cheered, while Ren stoically endured the unslaught with an umbrella he produced.



"WOOHOO! AWESOME!" Nora cheered. "I'M THE MUD QUEEN NOW!"



At Jaune's look, Ren shrugged.



"Nora has taught me to be prepared," he stated.



"You..." Blake hissed as she glared daggers at the very clean (and smug) horse.



Jaune took another very deep breath.



"All right," Jaune said, "Once again, why don't we just go to the local ranch and-"



"Ohhh no!" Yang snarled, wrenching some mud and water out of her precious hair, "It's personal now, Stud."



"You're going down, Orleans!" Ruby growled, trying to look intimidating but failing rather miserably thanks to how cute she was and the mud still covering her.



"You pulled me into this and now you're gonna regret it," Blake hissed.



"I will have my vengeance," Pyrrha sneered, fists clenched as chicken feathers continued to fall from her.



"REVENGE!" Weiss growled.



- - -



Another three hours followed. Jaune stood there in the midday sun, exasperated. He looked over at Orleans, who was placidly eating some oats in her stall. He then looked over at his friends.



Weiss was crying about the filth all over her, ranging from mud to even more chicken feathers.



Pyrrha was done, so tired and so upset she just radiated anger through the dirt and grass caking her.



Ruby was passed out, but still kicked and growled like an angry chihuahua through the dirt and muck covering her.



Yang looked resentful and exhausted, her precious hair now full of muck, feathers, and twigs. One of which was on fire.



Blake was curled up in a corner and rocking back and forth, soaking wet and caked in mud, mumbling about "Not the water again! Not the water!"



Ren had not escaped unscathed-He was covered in white paint when Orleans crashed through a supply shed. He still bore it stoically, though one eyebrow was definitely twitching.



Nora beamed, covered in filth and wearing a broad smile.



"I think we're getting better!" Nora cried.



Jaune sighed. He turned a glare at Orleans.



"No treats for a week."



Orleans neighed in angry surprise. Jaune scowled.



"You know what you did," he stated firmly.



Contrite, Orleans snorted and slunk back to her oats. Jaune then turned back to his human/Faunus friends.



"We're going to the ranch first thing tomorrow," he stated firmly. "I will teach you all myself... Any objections?"



"I object!" Nora cried.



Everyone else shook their heads if they were able.



"Good!" Jaune said brightly. "Let's hit the showers."



Nora pouted.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -



Despite everything she had been through, despite her maiming... Yang still couldn't help a little smirk when she saw her little sister staring at the toweled bodies of May, Arslan, Nora and Velvet as they slipped into the hot springs. Ruby's pout was a common occurrence when the subject of 'development' came up. She was able to wrap her real arm around her little sister and squeezed her comfortingly.



"Someday," she said gently, even as Ruby glared enviously: Especially at May, who flushed under the scrutiny.



"Um... Is-Is something wrong, Ruby?" The shy sniper asked.



"No. Nothing," Ruby sighed. Yang patted her on the head again, and Ruby scowled. "Yang, knock it off."



"Just being a good supportive big sister," Yang said quietly, her smile soft. Ruby huffed and crossed her arms under her chest.



"Ahhh," Nora sighed happily, slipping into the hot water, "It's so relaxing~... Beats that little bathroom at the farmhouse any day~!"



"Agreed," Arslan said softly, adjusting her hair in its neat little bun. She laid back in the hot water against the concrete bench. May sat beside her, her arms tight around herself as she looked around in some anxiety. Arslan, noticing this, smiled and squeezed May's shoulder.



"Relax," she said.



"Trying to," May sighed. Velvet smiled across the baths.



"Are you afraid that Neptune will try to peep on us?"



"N-No, I'd see that coming in a heartbeat," May said quickly, her cheeks burning a brighter red. Nora grinned at her.



"Does that mean you'd be okay with it then?"



"N-NO!" May shook her head rapidly, "Not at all!"



"Besides," Arslan stated, "If he tried? I'd beat him black and blue."



"Same," Yang nodded.



Isabel entered the baths, now in her own pink towel. She had her hair up in a nice bun and her glasses on. She strode in and slid into the water near Ruby, Yang and Velvet. She sighed happily, enjoying the heat.



"That's much better," she nodded, leaning back on the concrete bench opposing May, Arslan and Nora. She breathed deeply of the hot spring mist then let it out as a long breath. She pushed her glasses up and rubbed her tired eyes.



"So, what news have you heard?" Ruby asked, almost shyly. Isabel smiled at her.



"It's mostly good, I promise," she said warmly. "Ruby, Yang: Your father and uncle are all right. They're fighting in Vale still. The Valean Defense Force has gotten its act together and is providing proper support. However, only about 20 percent of the city has been retaken."



"Two weeks and only twenty percent?" Arslan asked with wide eyes. Isabel nodded.



"Vale City is very large. The White Fang also hit several key areas with their bombs and the slaved Atlas units to maximize the Grimm invasion numbers. It's going to take a while, I'm afraid."



Velvet glared down at her reflection in the water. Yang clenched her fists. Arslan was grim while May looked even more morose. Nora frown deeply, and stared down at her hands. Ruby took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.



"What about... What about Professor Goodwitch? Oobleck? Port?"



"They're all alive, thankfully," Isabel said with a smile, "They joined up with the only high ranking member of the Council to survive: Rufus Winchester."



"Cardin's father?" Velvet asked in shock. Isabel nodded.



"Mm. He was a Huntsman Captain before he retired and went into politics. He was able to get a lot of people out of chambers when the Atlas guard drones opened fire." She shook her head in disgust.



"As it stands, he is the Chairman of Vale: Though he's been so busy with retaking the city he hasn't been able to issue many orders to anyone else. Just general emergency bulletins and a request for aid."



At Velvet's frown, Isabel gave her a soft smile.



"Your mother and siblings got out to Arminius on one of the evacuation flights," she said, "Nick got a hardcopy from the City Hall command center today."



"Oh..." Velvet trembled, her eyes filling with tears, "Oh thank God..."



Nora smiled and patted Velvet on the shoulder. The older girl nodded in thanks. She looked back at Isabel.



"Anything... Anything on Coco Adel? Or my other teammates?" She asked eagerly.



Isabel shook her head slowly, her face sad.



"Nothing yet," she said. "They aren't counted among the dead though."



Velvet bowed her head. Her lips became a thin line as she stared at her hands.



"I see," she murmured.



Isabel looked at Arslan.



"Your team is Vacuo, in the city of El Cid," she said, "Nadir is injured but appears to be stable. Reese and Bolin have been working with the city militia."



Arslan sighed softly.



"Thank the Breaker above," she whispered.



Isabel turned to May. She worried her lower lip.



"May, I-"



"I know," May whispered, staring down at the water, "I... I saw them all..." She shook her head.



Yeah. Yang remembered that all too well. Remembered seeing Brawnz, the leader of his self named team, kicking May away as he tried to pull Nolan and Roy free from a Nevermore. It was burned into her mind how May had screamed for them... And how they'd all been splattered by the bird-like Grimm.



It was one of many nightmarish images from that day that... That just weren't going away.



Arslan wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her. Yang felt the need to do the same for Ruby. Nora again looked down.



"Well," Isabel sighed, "I'll... Have something to talk to you in private about later. Okay?"



May, confused, nevertheless nodded and fell silent again.



Velvet sucked in a deep breath.



"How... How did it go unnoticed for so long?" Velvet asked shakily. "How did no one stop all this?!"



She glared at Ruby.



"You-You and JNPR snuck out and fought the White Fang so many times!" She seethed. "How did you never figure this out?!"



"Hey!" Yang growled, "Don't even think of trying to pin this on us!"



"Why shouldn't I?!" Velvet snarled, even as Ruby flinched, "Your own teammate was the White Fang's princess! How do you know she wasn't making sure you didn't find the proof needed to shut this down?! To stop this-?!"



"She didn't!" Ruby insisted, shaking her head, "She was just-Yang! You saw what that creep did to her, right?!"



Yang tensed. Yeah... She had seen Blake at Adam's feet. At his mercy. Injured.



She'd seen the fear in Blake's eyes. She'd rushed in to stop him and... And...



"Blake wasn't behind this, all-all right?" Yang forced out, her metal arm trembling, "She wasn't! Adam was going to kill her-"



"How can you trust anything she did?!" Velvet demanded. "How do you know it wasn't-wasn't all staged, huh?! She lied to all of you about who she was! How can you trust a damn thing she said?!"



Isabel stood up and stepped between the two furious young ladies. She shook her head.



"That's enough," she stated, calm but firm. "Tearing each other apart isn't going to help."



Velvet growled and glared up at Isabel.



"Their teammate-!"



"Was White Fang," Isabel said gently, "Yes. And she's run off to Menagerie. That's true. That doesn't mean she was behind this attack Velvet."



Her eyes narrowed.



"But even if she was? Her teammates were just as fooled as everyone else. So don't take out your anger on them. They don't deserve it."



Velvet worked her jaw. Yang seethed, yet she hesitated. She was going over everything in her mind again. Everything to do with Blake.



She'd told Blake to slow down. To not push herself so hard. To not become obsessed with the White Fang.



They had intervened at a Dust shipment. At that rally. At Mount Glenn, though too late to actually stop the Breach from happening. Every time, they got there just at the right time. Even when the adults had failed to find anything.



As though Blake... Blake knew-



No, she thought to herself angrily, No! You saw how that guy... That guy was going to kill her, or-or worse! She couldn't have been faking it! She couldn't!



But then... Why was she alive? Why hadn't Adam finished her off? She'd passed out, been helpless. Had... Had Blake pleaded for her life? Offered to join Adam again for her?



What the hell had happened back there?



Why couldn't she just... She just deny it all? Flat out? Defend her friend?



The friend who abandoned you? Her mind asked treacherously.



She opened her mouth, but Ruby stood up. She pulled away from Yang's arm and marched into the center of the bath. She met Velvet's eyes firmly and when she spoke, her voice barely shook.



"I-I know what Blake did looks bad. I know... And we're going to talk to her about it when we see her again. But she couldn't have been faking! And she couldn't have-have done anything to let it happen! It's not... It's not her fault, all right?"



Velvet opened her mouth to retort, but Ruby kept plowing on.



"And I get it... I get it... I failed. You failed. Everyone... We all failed that day," she mumbled, "But it's not going to do... To do any good if we fight amongst ourselves."



She sucked in a breath. She reached out a hand and held it as steadily as she could.



"And we both want... We both want justice, don't we?" Ruby pressed. "For... For everyone?"



Velvet stared at Ruby for a long, tense moment. She tensed. Arslan leaned forward as Nora moved to stand up.



Velvet let out a soft sigh. She slowly reached out with her hand and took Ruby's. She bowed her head.



"... Yeah," she murmured, "Yeah... I-I do."



Ruby smiled through shining eyes.



Yang stared at the scene, feeling like she was a million miles away.



First Vomit Boy... Then Ruby... Then... All of this...



She stared at her artificial hand. She clenched it into a fist.



... What the fuck am I even doing here?



- - -



A bit short but what did you think?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I am bored and insane. So I got to thinking about a REALLY stupid idea:



- - -



I made Nick Arc an orphan with no clue as to his origins, save that he came from Albion and was raised by some crazy old paladin. Which is good and something I'll use in serious fics.



However... The fact he has no family can also be used in a rather demented way:



Nick Jonathan Arc is approached one day at his home in Radian by a man in a long white coat, a white schoolcap with the back torn off, and plenty of bling. He's extremely stoic and serious. Yet despite this... He looks rather familiar. His build is very muscular, and his face and chin resemble Nick's.



Man: "You Nick Jonathan Arc?"



Nick: "That's me. What can I do for you, stranger?"



Man: "Tell me... Do you have a five pointed star birthmark?"



Nick: "Eh? Oh... This thing?"



Nick shows it off, turning and baring the back of his neck to the man.



Nick: "Yeah. Are you that dermatologist Izzy said she was gonna get?"



Man: "No... You see, I also have that birthmark. My name is Jotaro Kujo. And you... Are part of a rather... Bizarre bloodline."



Nick: "Eh?"



As it turns out, Joseph Joestar (The second Jojo from "Battle Tendency" and Grandpa Joseph from "Stardust Crusaders"/"Diamond is Unbreakable") and his wife Suzy Q had a daughter besides Holly Kujo. Her name was Mary. She ran off from home when she became a teenager to live a party lifestyle. Unfortunately she got in too deep and before Joseph could find her, she died of a drug overdose.



But before that, she gave birth to a son she left in an orphanage. A boy who would be given the name Nick. He would later take "Jonathan" as his middle name, and Arc as his surname when he got married to Isabel.



But he is a Joestar. Same age as Jotaro, roughly. Indeed, during the battle with Dio, he too gained a Stand... But...



Jotaro: "You knew you had a Stand but didn't think anything of it?!"



Isabel: "Nick... Why exactly didn't you say you had some kind of soul projection Semblance?"



Nick: "Well... I didn't know it could go past my body. I just thought my fighting spirit was so awesome it increased the power of my sword strikes and punches! Wait, you mean it can actually go outside my body? COOL!"



Jotaro: "..."



Isabel: sigh "Only you, Nick... YOU IDIOT!" BONK!



Of course, here's the real kicker... Jaune Arc is also a Joestar. He has the birthmark. He has the bloodline.



And he's gonna be a target for anyone with a grudge against the Joestars...



So he's set for a Bizarre Adventure.



- - -



Yeah. Told you it was stupid.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Ruby sighed in relief as she sat down on her bed with her Scroll rolled out. The dormroom was finally deserted, and she could get some game time. She adjusted her headset and grinned as her stream began.

"Hello Roseheads!" She greeted her fans as she went to the log-in menu for her favoritest MMORPG ever: Fantasy Galaxies of Conflict: Shadow Raids of Legend, "Sorry it's been a while! I just started Hunter Academy early, so I haven't had as much time for streaming! But I'm still here!"

She beamed as the comments section lit up with supportive messages... And some angry ones. She rolled her eyes at those. Her cute doggy girl anime avatar wagged its tail as she logged in.

"Anyway! Today we're gonna be doing a Shadow Fortress Dungeon!" Ruby announced, as she guided her Level 130 Space Wizard Shadow through the catacombs of a dark Space Wizard's lair, "This one was ruled by Lord Gorbaz, who in the expanded lore was a master of Space Wizard Necromancy trying to bring back his deceased wife and son, who then had to be slain by the Light Space Wizards in a laser sword duel! He turned back to the Goodside at the end and was reunited with his family's spirits in the afterlife! It's a really touching novel and comic! And it was in Paladins of the Ancient Republic, too!"

She made a face as she killed some low-level undead.

"And in the Wizney-verse, he was turned into an abusive wife beater and child abuser," Ruby groused, "Because Wizney hires people with major daddy issues. I don't have daddy issues! I could write a way better novel! Especially the tech parts! In fact, I-"

She paused as she entered the antechamber of the dread fortress. Her eyes narrowed, and she hissed into her microphone.

"You."

A painfully familiar game avatar turned to face her, wielding a red laser sword in each hand. The avatar was, unlike her red and black wearing Light Space Wizard Shadow, in bright white and black armor. He wore a samurai-like face mask and helmet and was tall and menacing.

It was her nemesis. A nasty, mean, sarcastic jerk of a gamer who had dogged her since she'd started streaming two years ago. He always toed the line, never becoming truly abusive so that he'd get kicked and banned. And she had to admit, quietly, he was quite competent. His streams, while filled with invective and insults, were very informative and showed a deep love and passion for the game and Fantasy Galaxies of Conflict.

But he was still a dick.

The worst part was? Whenever she encountered him, her streaming numbers went way up. Even as unpleasant as it was... Well... She did want to make her fans happy.

Even if it meant she had to deal with this jerkoff for a while.

"Lord Darkarc!" She growled as the avatar sent a very insulting emoji her way.

"Hello RoseScythe," a digitally altered voice greeted her, "Still min maxing your way through everything, I see."

"It's the only way to really play the game!" Ruby sneered, "It's intelligent gaming!"

"Or maybe you just pay to win," Lord Darkarc said mockingly.

"I DO NOT!" Ruby shouted back, as her comments section went crazy, "I only buy skins! And I got a really good one for completing Quest of the Doom Nova!"

"Everyone did Quest of the Doom Nova," Darkarc snorted.

"Back when it was easy, yeah!" Ruby growled, "But then they made it way harder!"

"In the dumbest ways possible!" Darkarc replied, "I guess that's why you liked it! You just min maxed your way through it like you do everything! Honestly, your streams are so boring!"

"THEY ARE NOT!" Ruby shouted. "You're just jealous I get more views!"

"You only get more views because you pretend to be a cute girl!" Darkarc taunted, "I bet you're a fat ugly cow in real life! Goes with your gaming skills!"

"AND I BET YOU'RE A-A TOTAL FAT LOSER WHO LIVES IN HIS MOM'S BASEMENT!" Ruby snarled.

"Ooh, so scathing! What ya gonna do, uwu at me?" DarkArc laughed.

"THAT'S IT! PVP MODE, RIGHT NOW!" Ruby snarled.

They did fight... And Ruby's Stealth mechanics did let her get in some good hits. DarkArc was only two levels above her-It shouldn't have been an issue!

But then he called down an Aetheric Lightning Storm, and she was hit with every status effect known to man.

"Wha-NO! NONONONO-!"

Her character went down. DarkArc's synthetic laughter filled her headphones as she gaped at the GAME OVER: RESPAWN? screen.

"YOU CHEATING-HACKING-SON OF A BITCH!" Ruby shouted angrily. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"I'll have beaten the quest before you even respawn!" DarkArc taunted, running out. "Later sweetheart! Drown your sorrow in shitty cookies, ya fat hag!"

"MY COOKIES ARE NOT SHITTY!" Ruby bellowed. "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

"HA! My best friend's cookies would wreck your shitty cookies any day of the week!"

"WHO'S YOUR BEST FRIEND?! YOUR RIGHT HAND?!" Ruby shot back.

"Oh, that'll burn really bad when I finish the last boss," DarkArc jeered. "LOSER!"

"ASSHOLE!"

"BITCH!"

"DICKHEAD!"

"FEMCEL!"

Ruby respawned and chased after DarkArc. She avoided most of the mobs to get to the main boss-She was at a high enough level, she'd be fine.

She confronted Lord Garboz and fought him, summoning her companion characters to aid in the fight. It was honestly pretty rough, but she'd practically automated the AIs to work with her timing perfectly.

She finished off the boss, and whooped loudly.

"YEAH! GOTCHA!" Ruby cheered. "HA! Seven minutes, twenty seven seconds! Beat that!"

She heard DarkArc's taunting voice again.

"Read your messages and weep."

She checked the messaging channel. Her jaw dropped at the screenshot.

"Wha-FIVE MINUTES?!" She screeched.

"Oh! Oh! Is that the sound of despair?" DarkArc mocked her. "What a pity! What a pity! Guess your autistic screeching didn't avail you, sweetheart!"

"OOOOH! YOU'RE GONNA REGRET THIS, DARKARC!" Ruby snarled.

"I'm shaking in my boots!"

"You-!"

She froze. She studied the screenshot a bit more. She caught sight of a familiar Scroll desktop wallpaper behind the game window. It looked like the corners of a picture... A picture she'd taken for...

"Sorry Roseheads, BRB," she said, pausing the game and the stream. She pulled off her headphones and opened the door.

She walked across the hallway and opened the door to Team JNPR's dorms, slowly and quietly. She peered inside.

"Well DarkArc Fans," Jaune Arc cackled, "I guess we'll see RoseScythe another day. And kill her. Now! Who wants to go to the lobby and murder some overconfident newbs?"

Ruby gaped in shock. She shut the door behind her, loudly. Jaune started, and slowly turned to stare at Ruby. He paused the stream.

"Ruby?" He muttered.

"... DarkArc?" She whispered.

Jaune stared in silence for a bit longer... Before his eyes widened.

"... RoseScythe?" He croaked.

The silence filled the room, heavy as a curtain. It was Ruby who broke it with wide eyes and a gasp.

"How could you be DarkArc?! You-You're so sweet! So kind-!"

Jaune stood up, staring in utter disbelief at his best friend. His jaw opened and closed before he found the words to respond. He pointed his finger at her in accusation.

"How could you be RoseScythe?! You insulted my mom, my dad, and my lesbian sister!"

Ruby clenched her fists and held them up to her chin in anguish.

"YOU INSULTED MY COOKIES!"

Jaune shook his head furiously, holding his hands up.

"I didn't know they were YOUR COOKIES! YOUR COOKIES ARE AWESOME!"

Ruby blushed deeply.

"W-WELL THANK YOU! AND I LIKE YOUR PARENTS AND SISTER! I DON'T CARE ABOUT HER SEXUALITY!"

Jaune leaned forward and threw his arms up in disbelief.

"THEY LIKE YOU TOO!"

The little reaper shut her eyes tightly and wailed:

"WHY ARE WE STILL YELLING?!"

Jaune's jaw dropped again before he shrugged.

"I... I don't know! It's just... Normal..." He chuckled, and slowly reached up to scratch the back of his head, "Geez."

"Y-Yeah," Ruby giggled nervously, "Um, sorry."

"Yeah, uh… Same," Jaune said quietly.

The silence fell. Ruby sucked in a deep breath.

"... I um... I don't really do much streaming anymore. Beacon and all, it takes up so much time."

Jaune nodded, smiling in commiseration. It made her heart warm.

"Same. And uh... Training and fighting is a lot better for dealing with anger and frustration than video games."

Ruby nodded slowly.

"Oh... Is that why you were so nasty?"

Jaune winced. He again rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Yeah... I didn't... I really didn't mean it. It's just hard not to let loose when you've got so much… Frustration. Family, friends... You know."

Ruby nodded again.

"S-Same... Really. I know how it can feel."

"Yeah," Jaune murmured softly.

Silence again fell, though it was far less awkward than before. Jaune cleared his throat. Ruby looked up at him, shaking a little.

"Sooo... Um... Y-You know, I liked all those indy horror games you played through. I'd never even heard of a lot of them!"

Jaune nodded with a warm smile.

"Yeah, my sister Orchid is really big into indy gaming. She's made a few that are artsy horror games, so I promoted them by playing through 'em."

Ruby smiled and rubbed her upper arm nervously.

"That's really nice of you. I liked those games too."

Jaune looked to the side and coughed softly. He then looked back to Ruby and smiled warmly.

"... Want to try playing one together some time?"

Ruby blushed.

"Y-You mean… Together together?"

Jaune nodded, utterly oblivious to the maelstrom of emotion he'd woken up in Ruby.

"Sure! I mean… It would be fun! Don't you think?"

Together!? As in... T-Together together?! Like Blake with her boyfriend? All... Kissy kissy?!

She fretted. She twisted and turned like a leaf in the wind, making Jaune stare.

"Ruby? You okay?"

Ruby, bright red, slowly turned back and focused on Jaune's face. The storm settled as she remembered that this was Jaune. Her best friend. Her... Well, best everything really.

As much ire as she'd directed at DarkArc... She could have gotten him banned or removed him at any time. She never did though. Not to someone who, despite his words, was so much like her. So passionate and so skilled.

Now that she knew he was her best friend...? It made her next words easy.

"... S-Sure. I'd like that."

"Heh, yeah," Jaune chuckled. He looked to the side. "Though um… It might make things… Awkward."

"Awkward?" Ruby asked, suddenly worried.

"I mean, um, since we, you know…" He shrugged. "We keep getting shipped together."

The little reaper nodded furiously as her cheeks burned red again.

"Haha... Ahaha... Y-Yeah, that's... That was weird, huh? I mean, they started doing that when I turned 14. So weird!"

Jaune's own laughter now became nervous.

"Y-Yeah... Heh... Weird."

"But um... Not so weird now, huh?" The reaper asked, though she immediately covered her red cheeks.

Jaune blinked in confusion but managed a nod.

"N-No! No…" He tilted his head. "Right?"

She reached out to take his hand.

"Definitely not!" Ruby giggled.

"So uh..." He led them towards the bed. Ruby squeaked.

"Ah! I-I'm not ready!"

"Ready for what?" Jaune asked, blinking in confusion. "We can just talk on the bed, right?"

Ruby froze. Her entire face burned bright red.

"R-Right! T-Talk! S-Sure! Talk about... Our plans! And... And nothing else!"

"Er... Yeah," Jaune said, confused but still smiling.

- - -

Made it extra shippy for our girl!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Of course things couldn't be Slice of Life forever. That would make for a very boring anime...

Jaune met with Cinder in a secluded part of the Library Archives.

Cinder: "We have a major operation commencing soon-"

Jaune: "Yeeeeah, about that... Cinder? I don't think it's a good idea."

Cinder: scowl "What do you mean?"

Jaune: "I mean... Whatever you've been stealing all that Dust for? It's best to wait to use it. Any terrorist activity now will just heighten security. We've already got Atlas deploying a substantial force here for Vytal. We don't need to put them even more on guard. What if they increase their cybersecurity or something?"

Cinder: "Heightening fear and uncertainty is a key part of the operation-"

Jaune: "True, true, but it's better to save that Dust for the main thing. Unless we could achieve some kind of strategic victory with... I dunno... Rigging a bunch of Dust bombs? Better to save it for Vytal. Plus, Roman's got enough heat on him. We lose him, we lose a vital asset."

Cinder sighs in extreme annoyance.

Cinder: "... I suppose you have a point." scoffs "However... The main proponent of the operation are our furry little friends. In particular, a certain bull wants to show the world they mean business."

Jaune's Brain: Huh. So Cinder isn't totally braindead in this universe. Aw shit, I gotta be even more careful now!

Jaune: "I see. Can't you tug on his leash? Make him heel?"

Cinder: sigh "I've been trying but he simply refuses to obey. I think the loss of his little girlfriend has really hit him hard."

Jaune's Brain: Ugh, and he's a total simp still. Wait, I want him to be a simp! That makes him predictable! Or do I? If he's got dimension to his character then maybe I could reason with him at some point? Ugh, which would be more helpful? Badly Written Canon Adam, or Adam who is actually written like a human being? Er, Faunus.

Cinder: "Anyway, I will do what I can... Just as long as you provide me with a distraction for the Dance. You'll be my date, of course."

Jaune: "Wait what?!"

Cinder: "It's the perfect cover-"

Jaune: "No. Sorry, but if I suddenly break up with my girlfriend to go out with a random girl, especially one with a lot of attention on her? That will look REALLY suspicious. Not that I'm not flattered, but mission first."

Cinder: scowls "... I see..."

Jaune: brightly "Don't worry though! I found you a date!"

Cinder: raised eyebrow "Did you?"

Jaune: "Eeyup! He's a good guy." Pause "Well he's... Okay. He's... A bastard, actually. He's my cousin. He's an idiot and a scoundrel and you are free to beat him up afterwards because he deserves it. But! As I said, he's an idiot. And as long as Emerald and/or Neo give him some illusions that he actually made it with you, he'll be the perfect cover."

Cinder: grimace "Must we?"

Jaune: "Trust me, if he thinks he made it with you, he'll run off out of fear of a second date. He's a total scumbag."

Cinder: "Hmmm... All right. Still..." Leans in and whispers in his ear "You don't know what you're missing out on."

Jaune's Brain: Gahhhhhhh! Why does she have to be so hot and so evil?! THIS SUCKS! I know she's a total failure but she's actually really seductive! Wait... I know what to do!

After the meeting... Jaune goes to the RWBY dormroom. He slams the door open. Yang jumps from where she was chilling out.

Yang: "Jaune? What are you-?!"

Jaune pounces on her and kisses the HELL out of her. He then pulls back, panting.

Jaune: "Haaa... Haaa... Wanna go to the dance?"

Yang: "Hwah... Ah... Y-Yes?"

Jaune: beams "Cool!"

Yang: "Um... G-Goodwitch is making me organize it and so I might not get to dance-"

Jaune: "I'll help you. I just want to spend my time with you."

Yang: giggles "Maybe if you kiss me again like that, it'll make the time go faster~?"

Jaune: "Maybe! Let's find out!"

They continue to feverishly make out... When the door opens again.

Nick: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: "GAH! DAD!"

Nick: "Hm? OH! Sorry son! Sorry Yang! You should put a sock on the door if you're going to do that!"

Jaune: "I... Y-yeah?"

Nick: "Heheheh... I used to make out with your mom all the time in-"

Jaune: "GET THE HELL OUT, DAD!"

Nick: "RIGHT! SORRY SON!" He shuts the door.

Isabel walks up to him.

Isabel: "Nick? Did you tell Jaune about-?"

Nick: "Yes, yes! All that junk! He's with his girl, Izzy!"

Isabel: "Oh... OH!" bright red "Oh... Well. Ahem... We should just leave them to it."

Nick: "Yup!"

Isabel: "... He is using protection, right?"

Nick: "I didn't ask. But hey! If they aren't, we get grandkids! I say it's win win!"

Isabel: scowls, raises her voice "Jaune! Are you using protection-?"

Jaune: "YES MOM! NOW PLEASE GO AWAY!"

Isabel: "Hmph. Just trying to help-"

Nick: "WE'RE GOING!" He pulls Isabel away

Click to shrink...

Jaune, Yang, Isabel and Nick meet some time afterward in a park on campus. Yang and Jaune are rather mortified. Isabel is a bit uncomfortable.

Nick keeps shooting his son thumbs up when Isabel isn't looking.

Isabel: "Ahem... I am sorry about uh, all that. It was rather thoughtless. I just wanted to make sure you two were being careful. You don't want to start a family before you're ready, after all."

Jaune: "Mom, it's okay. We're being very careful and taking things slow."

Yang: "Y-Yeah..." mutters "Maybe too slow..."

Jaune: flush

Isabel: "Honestly, that's probably for the best. After all, Nick and I have eight children. I think it's safe to say you two should be very careful."

Yang: bright red

Jaune: "Er... Y-Yeah... Eheh..."

Nick: "Yes. I hope you're the one for each other, but if you're not? You don't want to give away your first time to someone you'll just break up with." nods sagely, and takes Isabel's hand "Izzy is the only woman I have ever loved in every definition of the word. When your souls meet with a person who loves you more than anything else in the world? It's... Like magic."

Isabel blushes, deeply pleased.

Isabel: "N-Nick..."

Jaune's Brain: Wow... He really is my father... It's weird but, when I invented this fanon? I just wanted a nuanced take on things. My own take. But it feels so right. Am I the dreamer, or the dream? Either way... I'm glad he's my father. However this happened.

Nick: brightly "Of course, if you two settled down right now, I might have to come out of retirement to train Jaune right! And Adrian could use a cousin for a playmate! And Izzy was back up and fighting in like, a week or two after every pregnancy so it's not big a deal-!"

Isabel: elbows him "NIIIICK!"

Nick: "OW! I'm just saying, Izzy!" pouts "I wanna be cool for my grandkids!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah, I get that Dad."

Yang: "Heh..." smiles "You're dad a complete dork."

Jaune: "Is that really a surprise?"

Yang: "Not really." leans in closer "Still. It's a nice heads up for when we do go all the way."

Jaune: bright red

Jaune's Brain: WHEN! SHE SAID WHEN! YES! WOO! WOOOOOOOOO!

That said, Jaune had a lot of other things to deal with in preparation for the dance. He and Yang worked to decorate, get a band, set up snacks and the punch, and many other things.

For instance...

Jaune: "Okay, Sun? You're trying WAY too hard."

Sun: "How do you mean?"

Jaune: "You flirt non-stop with Blake constantly. She's got the message. You can't just batter her defenses down, you gotta be more subtle."

Sun: frowns "I dunno Jaune... I mean, she keeps saying she's into you and you'll give in-"

Jaune: "No no no! Ugh. Look. She's my friend. My friend. Period! Which is why I'm gonna help you with her. I mean... Blake thinks like a cat, acts like a cat, and so on, right?"

Sun: "Right..."

Jaune: "The best way to get a cat to want something is to make it look like she might lose it. You need to make her chase you, with me so far?"

Sun: nods "Oh... I see... So, me showing up in her dorm room in just speedos is like... Giving a cat a treat? They still prefer getting their own food?"

Jaune: "... Yes."

Jaune's Brain: I wondered why Blake looked so mortified last Monday...

Jaune: "Anyway... If you go along with my plan, you'll also A: Be making up for something Neptune did, B: Getting Blake interested, and C: Piss of Jacques Schnee AND the White Fang."

Sun: "That's quite the trick, Jaune. How do we pull it off?"

Jaune just smiles.

Cut to the Star Maiden Memorial Garden, where Weiss is waiting. Jaune approaches.

Jaune: "Hey Weiss. Thanks for meeting me on such short notice."

Weiss: "Well, I wouldn't mind a break from planning Velvet's baby shower. It's all so adorable and wonderful and-" She coughs and hides her blush "Ahem. Well, what do you want, Jaune?"

Jaune: "About the Dance. You see-"

Weiss: bright red "O-Oh! Well, um, if you wanted me to go with you... I-I mean, I suppose if you wished and Yang was all right with it, I wouldn't mind it too much! You are a bit of-of a degenerate but honestly in a sort of endearing way if you squint-"

Jaune: "Er, no Weiss. I'm going with Yang."

Weiss... Looks rather sad, but hides it quickly with a blank expression.

Weiss: "O-Oh... I see..."

Jaune: "I mean, I'm very flattered of course. But I love Yang, and neither of you would deserve me if I was the type to cheat."

Weiss: growls "Like Neptune. He flirted with every attractive girl he could on our dates! Right in front of me!"

Jaune's Brain: Well, that's not the story he told me... Geez. I gotta keep him from ending up Ron the Slytherin. One problem at a time, focus!

Jaune: "I see. Well, there's someone here who wants to make up for what he did."

Weiss: raised eyebrow "Oh? You're trying to set me up?"

Jaune: "Yup. He's a good guy, trust me. It's just as friends but it beats going along and being unhappy. Besides... If you go out with him? Your dad will be pissed."

Weiss: "Who is it?"

A pause. Jaune looks at a column.

Sun: "... Oh, that was my cue. Right."

Sun emerges, holding a single yellow flower-Which means "friendship" in the floral language of Atlas. He smiles, walks up to Weiss, and holds it out.

Sun: "Would you like to go to the dance with me, Miss Schnee?"

Weiss: "I... Um, well..." scowls "You're usually all over Blake."

Sun: "Yeah, but if she's not interested, why go to the dance alone?" shrugs "Besides, Neptune really screwed up. He thought you didn't want anything serious. He's uh... He's got some growing up to do. As team leader, I should try to make things right. I just want to go to the dance and show you a fun time, that's all."

Weiss frowned deeply.

Weiss: "You're not just trying to make her jealous are you?"

Sun: "I mean... Um... A little?" He winces "But I also think you're really cool. And pretty."

Weiss: "..." sighs "I... I really want to be the better person. Honestly. And... As much fun as it might be... I-I think I'll just go alone. But... I'll save a dance for you?"

Sun: "Oh..." sighs and smiles "Sure. I get it." He hands the flower over to Weiss. "Keep it. Flowers aren't my thing anyway. Later." He heads off, leaving Weiss and Jaune alone

Weiss: "... Did you think this up?"

Jaune: wince "... Yes. I did. Ya know... I just thought that maybe-"

Weiss: sighs "I... Appreciate the thought, Jaune, but... My heart's not that strong. And... You're the last person who should be doing this."

Jaune: "Huh? Why?"

Weiss: groans "You are a complete dolt, aren't you?!" She stormed off

Jaune's Brain: Ugh. Great going, genius. Well... Could have been worse. Maybe I'll just stop trying to matchmake for a while. I clearly just got lucky with Cardin and Velvet...

 

[Eclipse Staro]

I just imagine if Jaune have Big Mom as her aunt.

.....​

Team RWBY and JNPR in class with no Jaune.

Ruby: "Oh hey guys. Where's Jaune?"

Yang: "Yeah, is VB coming late today?"

Pyrrha: "He said he had to make something at the kitchen. It sounded urgent so we didn't want to bother him."

CRACK!

The grounds began to shakes, as books falls to the ground. Students quickly take cover under table.

Ruby: "W-What's happening!?"

Yang: "Is it a Grimm attack!?"

Blake: "An earthquake!?"

Unknown woman voice: "CROQUEMBOUCHE!!!"

Weiss: "What. Was. That?"

Ren: "Whatever it is, the sound seems to be near."

CRACK

Unknown woman voice: "WHERE IS IT!?"

Oobleck: "Class dismissed. Everyone, please get to safety!"

Blake: "It seems to be coming from Emerald Forest."

Nora: "Wanna go there?"

Yang: "You bet."

Both team quickly went to Emerald Forest. Then they saw the source of the voice and shaking. A large woman, wearing a pink dress who was tearing through the Emerald Forest and coming towards Beacon.

Large woman: "Croquembouche! Where is it?"

Nora: "T-That's Big Mom. She's a well known figure on Mistral."

Yang: "So who is she?"

Pyrrha: "Big Mom. She is a former Pirate, inactive Huntress and current largest producer of sugar of Remnant!"

Weiss: "Any reason to why she is tearing through the forest and making way to Beacon while shouting croquembouche?"

Ren: "I heard about it but never seen it. This is apparently one of her Hunger Pangs, a condition where she is hungry and begins to search for a specific dish and won't calm down until she eat said food."

Blake: "In this case, its croquembouche."

Grimms began to come at Big Mom and surrounds her.

Big Mom: "Annoying pests! Get out of my way!"

Big Mom throw away Beowolves, squished Ursa with her hands and tore apart King Taijitu.

Nora: "She just squished the Grimm!"

An Elder Goliath was now in the way of Big Mom to Beacon.

Big Mom hug squished the Elder Goliath before making her way again to Beacon.

Beacon Tower,
Headmaster Office.

Glynda panicking as she saw Big Mom almost to the tower.

Glynda: "Ozpin, what are going to do? She's almost here!"

Ozpin: "I already contacted James for help but the fleet won't be here for at least another 2 hour."

Glynda: "There won't be much of the Academy by then."

Ozpin: "I suppose but I do wonder why Big Mom is here."

Ding.

The elevator opens and Jaune rushed out.

Jaune: "Out of the way!"

Jaune was carrying a large croquembouche with him while heading to one of the glass window.

Glynda: "Mr. Arc! What-"

Jaune opens a window and jumps out to Big Mom.

Glynda: "Mr. Arc!"

Jaune: "Look over here." *Jaune use Aura Burst to leapt in the air.*

Big Mom turned around to Jaune.

Big Mom: "Huh? Don't get in my way!" *Clench a fist and throw a punch at Jaune. Jaune dodge it.*

Jaune: "Eat this!"

Jaune toss the large croquembouche into Big Mom's mouth which the large woman slowly but surely swallow.

The students and teachers of Beacon Academy watch with worried look as Big Mom swallow and eat the large croquembouche.

Big Mom fall to the ground, her face change from hungry to happy.

Big Mom: "It's delicious!"

The students and teachers let out a sigh of relief.

15 minutes later.

Jaune: "So this is my aunt, Auntie Lin-Lin."

Big Mom: Hello everyone.

RWBY and JNPR: *Worried gaze.* "Hello."

Night.

Jaune: "I managed to make her go to sleep. Before we go to sleep, anyone got questions."

Yang: "Yeah, we do."

Ruby: "Is her semblance something that made her big?"

Jaune: "No, she was involved in an experiment by one of Atlas Scientist which caused her large figure."

Nora: "She's really your aunt?"

Jaune: "Yeah, she's married to one of my uncle."

Weiss: "I can't believe the Headmaster is okay with your Aunt sleeping at Beacon."

Jaune: "I believe the word of the Vale councilor was 'Better Beacon than Vale'. Makes sense, the don't want the city to fall to her Hunger Pangs."

Pyrrha: "I heard the headmaster have allowed you not to attend class so that you can focus on ensuring your Aunt full and happy. Is this true?"

Jaune: "Yep, Professor Goodwitch wasn't happy but needs must."

Blake: "Speaking of your aunt, the damage that she needs to pay must have cost a lot."

Jaune: "She's also very rich. Maybe below SDC but only because of her Hunger Pangs attack. In any case, she need a lot of food for her body and has the money to pay for any damage she caused."

Ruby: "She's that rich?"

Jaune: "She got her own several private islands. Her main island is called the Whole Cake Island. I actually learn some cooking from that island."

Ren: "Anything else you want to tell us before we all go to sleep?"

Jaune: "I promised to make her red bean soup and a chocolate chip cookie before she go back."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune Arc's grandfather, Jonathan Arc, survived and taught Jaune how to be a proper gentleman. He goes around with a canesword and a three-piece suit. He conducts himself as a proper gentleman at all times... And when he runs into Roman Torchwick, hoo boy...

Roman: "Ain't it a little past yer bedtime, Red?"

Jaune: "That's no way for a man to speak to a lady! Though judging from your terrible fashion, you have all the manners of a gutter snipe!"

Roman: GASP "How DARE you!"

Roman: "These are custom-tailored!"

Jaune: "Well you didn't pay the poor man enough as it all looks like it's off the rack!"

Roman: "Well those cufflinks are a century out of date!"

Jaune: "They're timeless!"

Roman: "HA! Just another word for 'cope'!"

Jaune: "You sir are a ruffian and a scoundrel!"

Roman: "Those are my best qualities! I'm a handsome Gentleman Thief!"

Jaune: "When ladies faint at your appearance it's out of fright, not passion!"

Neo: Fanning her face as she blushes

Weiss: "Oh... My..."

Jaune: "Also hair gel does not conceal split ends."

Roman: "Split ends-I DO NOT HAVE SPLIT ENDS!"

Jaune: "They're as obvious as your cheap mascara!"

Roman: "Why you-!"

Which is when the two finally began to fight.

 

[SharkCultist]

Well let's throw something spooky out.


Ruby Rose was probably going to die. Through absolutely no fault of her own.

Sure maybe sneaking out at midnight without telling her team wasn't the smartest, but they always treated her like a kid when she talked about magic stuff.

And yeah leaving Crescent Rose behind was dumb but she was carrying a ton of stuff for trying out this familiar ritual thing she found.
(Can you believe the book was only 3.99?)

So here she was surrounded by Grimm sitting in a badly made circle surrounded by birthday candles. Might as well try the ritual out, I mean if she's gonna die anyway.

So Ruby chants the fake latin, waves the burning herbs stolen from the communal kitchen, and just in general makes herself look like a idiot.

And yet....magic answered the call of silver.

A armored form pulls itself from the ground behind Ruby.

A skeleton bleached by age missing it's lower jaw covered in rusted white armor with eerie pale blue flames lighting up its sockets and joints.

The blue flames lit up the clearing (much better than the birthday candles) revealing that Ruby had performed her (fake) ritual right on top of a grave.

Jaune Arc

Beloved Brother and son
You never had anything to prove
May you rest near your heroes

Rubys earnest wish and single spark of magic reached another who wished for only the chance to save someone.

A pact was formed. And the being that would come to be known as the Azure Reaper descended upon the Grimm.

And Ruby the future Crimson Reaper watched and thought nothing of the upheaval bringing her new familiar to beacon would bring, or the truly epic chewing out she would receive from her team and family.

No Ruby had only one thing on her mind.

"Ha! I knew magic was real, who's dumb now Weiss?"

 

[NightDranzer]

Plot Bunny that won't leave me:




Before Ozma and Salem, there was someone else; someone from a time so far before theirs that his story is considered a myth even to them.

Once upon a time, there was a King beyond all others: One whose Power, Wisdom, Bravery and Selflessness were all without peer. He was known as the Savior King who brought about an unprecedented Golden Age to humanity, so prosperous were they that they begun to forget the Brothers and began to worship him.

To the Brother Gods and those that worshipped them; he was known as the Demon King that led humanity astray, the Demon King who made humanity forget their creators. And thus, the Brother Gods and their zealots schemed to uproot that Radiant Utopia and bring an end to that heretical Age of Prosperity.

Lies and slander were whispered in select ears, promises of power and wealth were made, obstacles and enemies were eliminated. To the Brotherhood of Light, anyone who followed The Usurper have relinquished their right to be called human and were merely vermin to be exterminated. To the Brother of Light, only He could guide humans to a True Age of Enlightenment and no Upstart King had the right take that Authority away from Him.

A Kingdom once united now fell through the machinations of envious so-called gods, by the manipulations from zealots who appealed to humanity's worst nature and made them fear the King that so selflessly and tirelessly protected and provided for them; made them believe the King could never hope to understand humans, for he himself was an existence that far exceeded it.

The King, aggrieved by how his people turned on each other so cruelly and tore onto each other so violently; cursed the Brother Gods for the second time, for this was not the first time he had witnessed them destroy great civilizations that did not adhere to Their standards, and destroy an entire race that did not gain Their approval. So the King, in his wrath, went forth and challenged the Brothers.......

.........This is the story of a King, whose Power, Wisdom, Bravery and Selflessness were all without peer; a King who had become the absolute pinnacle of what humanity could achieve, and mastered his Body, Mind and Soul to such an extent that he had long transcended beyond the realm of mortals. The power of Magic, granted to humanity upon its first incarnation. The power of Aura, acquired by harnessing the Light within one's Soul. The power of Lore, acquired by harnessing the Darkness within one's Soul. The power of Bliss, manifested as Silver Eyes, the Light of one's Soul fully materialized. The power of Grimm, manifested as Black Blood, the Darkness of one's Soul fully materialized....

........Humanity, a creation born from the combined powers of the Brothers of both Light and Dark, at their full potential; was far greater than both Brothers. A fact that the Brothers had come to realize as they found themselves kneeling in defeat in the face of the Wrathful King's transcendental power. An event that, unknown to the King, would be the seed that made the Brothers come to secretly fear their own creation's potential and made the Brother of Light plot ways to make humanity dependent on Him.

......Basically, the King was both proto-Ozma (A king that united the entire world under his banner. Unlike Ozma, he did not abdicate) and proto-Salem (challenged the Brothers' Authority and Tyranny. Unlike Salem, the King won that confrontation; even if it ended up planting the seed that would lead to the eventual extermination of First Humanity in the future)


The King's name was lost to time, though he was known by a title: Vortigen Pendragon.


*The king's real identity is actually easy to figure out if you consider the following: this tale involves time travel, involves time loop, involves a ruined future, and the King has already seen the Brothers destroy an entire race before for not living up to their standards and gaining their approval.**

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I've been rewatching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure from the very beginning. I will admit, while I like Stands I also loved Hamon. And of course... Joseph Joestar.

So I like to imagine a Jaune who took after Joseph. Just a bit.

Jaune fights against Cardin in the ring. He evades Cardin's swings and blows with ease.

Cardin: "You-!"

Jaune: "Your next line is 'Why the hell can't I hit you, you bastard?!'"

Cardin: "Why the hell can't I hit you, you bastard?! AH?! Wha-What? How did you-?!"

Jaune: "It's simple really!" smirks as he dodges "Aura, my man, AURA! It's the energy of the soul! All your hopes and dreams are contained in the Aura, and we can't keep everything out of it! It's our SOUL!"

Cardin: "S-So what?!" Tries a feint then a hammer blow

Jaune: "So this!" Jumps over it and charges his fist with Aura "I can see everything you're going to do before you do it!"

Jaune hits Cardin so hard the taller boy goes down, hard. Jaune then beams at Glynda.

Jaune: "How'd I do, Teach?"

Glynda: "Well done, Mister Arc. But try for less showboating in the future please?"

Jaune: "I make no promises!"

Jaune stepped off to his friends with a smile. A smile his friends also have. Though Ren is still stoic, he is impressed.

Ren: "You can read Aura energy?"

Jaune: "More like I can feel it. But he's also pretty predictable."

Yang: "I especially liked the punchline!"

Jaune: "Hey! I love it! But you should see the impact!"

Weiss: "Oh God, there are two of them."

And of course...

When faced with Adam Taurus during the fall of Beacon...

Jaune: "Okay... There's a secret Arc family technique that can definitely help us here."

Blake: "Th-There is?"

Jaune: "Yes. Passed down through the ages. You see my legs?"

Blake: "Yes?"

Jaune: "They're fully intact. Unlike yours."

Blake: "Which means...?"

Jaune: pulls Blake up "That I can run away with you!"

Blake: "WHAT?!"

Adam: "Wha-?!"

Jaune turns and runs as fast as he can.

Adam: "YOU COWARD!"

Jaune: "I'LL KILL YOU WHEN I'M GOOD AND READY, BULL BOY!"

 

[ArsMagna1337]

-Our heroes try to tell ghost stories around a campfire. Who has the scariest story? Who has the lamest? Who has the funniest?

Click to shrink...

All of Blake's ghost stories are probably more romantic tragedy, than actually scary. Yang's stories are most likely things such as Nickelodeon's "Are You Afraid of The Dark" type stuff she read to Ruby. Ruby will probably repeat the stories Yang told her. Honestly, Weiss, growing up in a big, potentially spooky at night mansion might be the best at it on Team RWBY.

Nora/Ren - "Our village is full of nothing but Ghosts now."

Moving on.....

Jaune might have some good ones from his Dad, although I kind of see Isabel poo pooing them since she seems like the sort of person who just doesn't believe in them. Pyrrha probably didn't have time for ghost stories growing up, although that might mean she finds them scarier, which gives me an idea.

After the campfire is extinguished, and everyone goes back to their dorms to sleep, Pyrrha's rest is anything but serene, and her ghost story fueled nightmares make her start projecting her semblance across the dorms, levitating/rattling doors, windows, pots, dishes, light fixtures, poorly made bunk beds....

Click to shrink...

Jaune will pull a Daily Lives of High School Boys tier of a story that will force people to puke in the bathroom... the same goes for the Grimm within earshot.

---

"And so, when they move back and look at the bowl. They saw a centipede wriggling in it."

"Oh god, that story..." Everyone have a strange expression as Yang stood up.

"Guys, I think I'm going to the bathroom." She walked towards the bushes. Then everyone stood up as well.

"I think I'm going too." Ruby nodded at Weiss's words before they went away.

"Me as well." Ren uttered.

"Mushroom made my tummy go rumblies." Nora spoke with a manic expression on her face that looks very fearful for some reason.

"I feel weird and bothered, and not the hot kind." Blake, the degenerate that she is, muttered as she walks away.

"Jaune, you're on watch on the fire." Pyrrha smiled before running.

As the teams walk, they then begin to sprint towards the designated bathroom area, only to find a Geist Grimm attempting to puke in the bowl.

"Oh, my brother gods!"

"A Geist! It must've heard Jaune's story!"

"Scoot over, I want to see some centipede action!"

Thus Jaune was titled the Scariest Storyteller in all of Beacon's history.

Somewhere, in the Dark Continent, Salem blinked. She looked at her drink before shrugging and downing it all up. It was not the scariest story she heard, after all.

 

[NightDranzer]

Another post about a headcanon of mine.


[Rainbow Eyes]

Apocryphally called [The Eyes of The Origin], [The Eyes of The Great Mother] and [The Flame of the Source], can only unlocked by beings who possess the Essences of both Light and Darkness, and only by those very select few [Souls]. All [Souls] are NOT created equal, and the conditions to awaken the [Rainbow Eyes] only makes this fact even more clear.

One can possess both [Silver Eyes] and [Black Blood]; yet, if your [Soul] lacks a certain [Attribute], you will not awaken [Rainbow Eyes]. Alternatively, one's [Soul] may possess the prerequisite [Attribute]; but if they lack both [Silver Eyes] and [Black Blood], they will not awaken [Rainbow Eyes].

While animals DO have [Souls], only [Humans] and [Faunus] [Souls] possess a high enough existential weight to actually possess the prerequisite [Attribute], meaning that even if, for example, Zwei managed to materialize both "The Light and The Darkness of His Soul" and possessed [Grimm] and [Bliss] characteristics; his [Soul] would never possess that required [Attribute] (If the God of Animals or any other entity were to turn him into a Faunus, however....)

The [Attribute] is NOT hereditary, and in fact is simply no different than winning the jackpot in a lottery, and neither there is a reliable way to tell who's [Souls] inherit this specific [Attribute] until the moment they awaken [Rainbow Eyes]. And even IF one were to awaken [Rainbow Eyes], one would not necessarily be strong enough to use them for long without feeling a massive strain ([Rainbow Eyes] are [Divine] in nature after all, of an existential weight far beyond even the [Brother Gods]); that is, if they are even powerful enough to use them at all.

Stealing the [Rainbow Eyes] from their original wielder and implanting them into yourself is a STUPID IDEA!!! There are, in fact, far less agonizing ways to commit suicide.....like dancing the hula naked in front of a pack of frenzied [Beowulves], for example.


****Here's a meta shortlist of the one's who would possess the [Attribute], in my mind. For the record: having all the prerequisites to awaken [Rainbow Eyes] from your very birth is to basically win every single jackpot prize in the superpower lottery****

--The Blacksmith (DUH!!)
--The Brother Gods (if they fused....somehow)
--Demon King Vortigen (see: Jaune Arc)
--The White Lady (see: Summer Rose)
--The Rusted Knight (see: Jaune Arc)
--The Lively Carpenter (see: Summer Rose)
--The Dragon Witch
--The Table Breaker
--Nicholas Schnee
--Klein Sieben (After fusing all 7 personalities)
--Tyrian Callows
--Nicholas Arc
--Summer Rose
--Bianca Prisma
--Gillian Asturias
--Jaune Arc
--Ilia Amitola
--May Zedong/Maia Sarkara
--Zwei (if he becomes a Faunus)
--Ruby Rose
--Oscar Pine (Not Ozma/Ozpin; Oscar Pine himself)
--Penny Polendina (when turned [Human])
--Little/Somewhat (Post-Ascension)

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ruby beamed as she carried her beloved Zwei with her, cuddled in her arms. He had stopped squirming long ago and seemed content to see where they were going.

This is my best idea yet! Ruby thought happily as she traipsed down the now very familiar path to the stables, the sun shining brightly overhead.

"Now remember Zwei," Ruby said, "You'll get extra treats if you help me with Jaune, okay? All you can eat! Though not too much. I don't want you getting fat!"

Zwei let out a little whine, but otherwise was quiet. Ruby appreciated that. It let her get her own thoughts in order.

Honestly, it wasn't like she hadn't thought about boys before! She wasn't some stupid kid! She'd even sneaked a kiss with a boy back on Patch... On a dare. With her eyes closed.

Actually she wasn't even sure if they had kissed. He may have used a feather or something.

That boy was all right even if he hadn't kissed her, but Jaune? Jaune was a man. He'd lived a man's life, fighting on the frontier for survival. He was kind and easygoing, then fearsome and ruthless the next. He loved guns and going fast.

It didn't hurt he was handsome. Actually that really helped.

More than that though? He was her friend. Her first real friend.

She wanted to get closer to him. Hence, she had enlisted her trusty dog Zwei!

Her plan was foolproof! Or at least, it would be the moment she put it into action!

Her silver eyes locked onto Jaune. He was brushing Orleans' fur with a big brush, occasionally patting the horse on the back of her neck and speaking to her. She scowled a bit at Orleans: Honestly, she could be a real butt.

That's what Zwei was here for though.

"Hey Jaune! Hey Orleans!" Ruby greeted. Jaune looked up and smiled, while Orleans whinnied.

"Howdy Ruby! I... Oh!" His eyes lit up as Ruby walked up to only about a meter away. He leaned over to look Zwei over. "Who's that you've got there?"
"This is Zwei!" Ruby said cheerfully. "He's my dog! My dad sent him from Patch! He's Aura activated too, like Orleans!"

Orleans snorted. Zwei looked up at Orleans, then at Jaune. He barked and wagged his tail. Ruby set him on the ground, and Jaune knelt to reach out his hand. Zwei sniffed his hand curiously for a moment, before he licked it. Jaune chuckled, reached out and began to scratch Zwei behind the ears. The dog whimpered happily, his tail swinging around like a metronome. Ruby grinned.

Aha! Gotcha!

"Ain't you a cute little fella, yes you are, yes you are," Jaune chuckled. Zwei barked in affirmation. Orleans, annoyed, stomped her hoof and glared at Jaune. Jaune looked up at her and shook his head.

"Now now, don't be like that, Orly," he said, "Lookit! Ain't he cute?"

"And smart, too," Ruby said with a nod. Orleans snorted again, and shot a glare the dog's way. Zwei barked at her. She neighed unhappily. Zwei barked a few more times, then yipped. Orleans stomped her hooves, and seemed to grumble.

At last, Orleans bowed her head. Zwei bowed his back, very theatrically pressing his paws down like he was kowtowing to the horse. They both rose, before Orleans neighed at Jaune. Jaune nodded.

"Sure... Is it okay if Orleans plays with Zwei?"

Ruby beamed.

"Totally, I..." She frowned. "She's not gonna kick him or anything, right?"

Jaune grinned.

"Nah, she'd have done that already by now. He must have been very flatterin'. She's rather vain-OW!"

He scowled at Orleans, who looked as innocent as she could after nipping him on the back of his neck. Jaune scowled and slapped Orleans' neck.

"Now now, enough of that. Go on, have some fun. And don't you run him over, got it?"

Orleans whinnied. Zwei barked, sounding almost challenging. With that Orleans leaped over the fence and took off running. Zwei easily kept up, despite his far shorter legs. They left a cloud of dust in their wake.

Wait, what?! Ruby thought in shock.

Jaune shook his head and chuckled.

"Well, they're gonna have some fun," he said. He smiled at Ruby. "Thanks for bringin' him, Ruby. Orleans won't admit to it, but it can get awful lonely without other Aura unlocked critters around."

"Y-Yeah, I can imagine," Ruby said with a nod and smile.

Silence fell. Ruby's brain was frantically scrambling. Her diabolically clever plan had fallen apart! Zwei was supposed to help her with Jaune, dangit! How was this helping!? They were alone, true, but... But now what?!

"Ruby?"

Dangit she had so many plans but now... Now they'd flown out the window without Zwei being cute! It was an integral part of the plan!

"Ruby?"

She looked around, grasping at straws. She had him to herself! She'd had him to herself lots of times! Why was this so hard?!

"Ruby?"

"Ah!" Ruby started. She smiled nervously at Jaune. "Um... Y-Yes?"

"Somethin' wrong?" Jaune asked, concerned. Ruby shrugged.

"I um... Er... Uh..."

"Do... You wanna go pick flowers in a pretty meadow?!" She asked.

WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT?! Ruby demanded. I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO DO THAT! THAT'S DUMB AND GIRLY!

Jaune smiled.

"Why not? Sounds fun," he said.

IT WORKED?! Ruby's mind shouted. Wait... IT WORKED!

She beamed.

"That's... That's great!" She said.

Well... Even if it is boring old flowers... It's with Jaune so it can't be all bad, right?

- - -
Meanwhile, Roman Torchwick was checking up on one of his side businesses in the Warehouse District. Dust smuggling was not his only business, after all. He had fingers in a lot of pies. One of them was weapons smuggling. Plenty of people on the frontier needed weapons and didn't mind how they got them. Roman Torchwick aimed to give it to them: For a price, of course.

After all, why go through the rigamorale of the paperwork for a gun when Grimm were bearing down on your homestead? Cut out the middle man, that was Roman Torchwick's motto.

Among others.

He had entered the warehouse expecting to find some lazy assholes sitting around, pretending to work. Like usual.

He opened the door, just a crack, and peeked inside.

He did not expect to find the warehouse on fire, and a horse and dog standing in the middle of his panicking workers. Very dramatically.

Roman blinked. He blinked again.

He very slowly shut the door and sighed. He rubbed his face.

"That wasn't real."

He cracked the door open again. Nope-He was seeing the same thing.

Roman sighed and shut the door. He turned and walked away.

He was entirely too sober to be dealing with this shit.

- - -

I tried to write something scary and this came out.

 

[SharkCultist]

Ozpin is supposed to reincarnate into a "compatible" soul. And for the most part he's perfectly fine with Oscar. There's just one hang up. One VERY big hang up.

"Oz stop trying to make me kill myself."

"You're allergic to coffee! I can't deal with all this without coffee. Hell you're a farm boy how do YOU get up at dawn without coffee?"

"Very strong tea."

"You sick bastard."

"I'm sure you'll adjust to one lifetime out of hundreds without your precious burnt bean water."

*Oscars hand moves outside of his control and bitch slaps him*

"Wait we can do partial control?"

*Second bitch slap*

"Stop that!"

"HERETIC."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

A number of horror protagonists... Simply wouldn't work in RWBY, if we're being honest.

For instance...

A serial killer in a Ghostface mask and cloak sneaks into the Beacon Dormitory, knife raised... Only to be met with several Hunters and Huntresses with their firearms and weapons raised.

Ruby: "Hi! You're the serial killer targeting teenagers, right?"

Ghostface: "... Um... No. I-I'm the plumber."

Ruby: "Really?!"

Jaune: "No. No he isn't."

Ruby: "Oh... Ohhhh!"

Ghostface: "..." Tries to run and gets shot "ARGH!"

Same thing happens with Michael Meyers, et al...

As for the more supernatural killers...

Pyrrha is chilling out in front of the TV. It lights up, and a well appears. She stares at this in disbelief... And yelps as a pale woman with long black hair, a white dress, and gray skin crawls out.

Pyrrha: "Oh no oh no oh no...!"

Jaune walks in.

Jaune: "Hey Pyr, what's-?"

Pyrrha: "JAUNE! It's-It's-!"

Jaune: brightly "Sadako!"

Sadako: smiles happily "Jaune!"

They embrace. Pyrrha gapes.

Jaune: "So good to see you! It wasn't too much trouble to get here, was it?"

Sadako: "No, I have my magic-I mean Semblance!"

Jaune: "Great! Pyrrha, this is Sadako! She's my childhood friend! Sadako, this is Pyrrha, my partner and good friend!"

Pyrrha: "How... How do you do?"

Sadako: "Wonderful to meet you!"

Jaune: "Let me get some food cooking! Meet me in the kitchenette, just give me a bit!"

Sadako: "Sure! Can't wait to taste your cooking again!"

Jaune leaves. Pyrrha smiles nervously at Sadako.

Pyrrha: "So... Um..."

Sadako: "In love with him, too, huh?"

Pyrrha: bright red "I-But-Um-Uh!"

Sadako: sighs "I mean I was gonna kill him, being a spirit of vengeance and all, but... He's just so nice. Kind. Sunny..." drools "And well hung."

Pyrrha: "... How well hung?"

And of course... Our heroes confront IT in its giant spider clown form in a cavern beneath Beacon.

Ruby: "How are you doing this? Why are you doing this?!"

IT: "You see, I represent a great spider god, made of pure evil. I oppose a great turtle god that created the universe and may or may not be dead-"

Blake: "Wait, why are you here just messing around with some teenagers?"

IT: "Well that goes back to the creation of the universe and a covenant I held with some cultists who thought I was the turtle god but really wasn't-"

Yang: annoyed "Can we get to the part where we banish you or whatever?!"

IT: "Have you tried an underaged gangbang? Because I'm really into that kind of thing... Which will banish me, I swear."

All: "..."

Blake: "I'm ready when you are-"

Everyone Else: "NO!"

- - -

Yes, Stephen King actually has an underaged gangbang in his book. And yes the turtle and spider god thing is more or less what he tried to justify things with. No, I don't get it either. Nor do I want to.

But what other horror monsters would not do well here in Remnant?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Freddy: "Herrrre's Freddy~!"

Ozpin: sips his hot chocolate "Greetings. You're the dream demon targeting my students, correct?"

Freddy: "Yeah. Whatcha gonna do about it, Poindexter?"

Ozpin: smiles

Five seconds later, the entity that was Freddy Krueger is reduced to a gibbering pile of madness. Ozpin calmly sits up from his bed, examines the shuddering pile, and shakes his head.

Ozpin: "Oh come now, that was only a thousand years of my memories. That's all that it took to get you out here?"

Freddy: whimpers and foams at the mouth

Ozpin: sigh "Pathetic."

Ozpin calmly blows the monster's head off. He then taps his Scroll.

Ozpin: "Glynda? Would you be a dear and clean up the intruder in my bedroom? ... No, you're not my maid, Glynda, but given it was an attempted assassination I thought it would be best to call you in. And please, bring the pine-scented wood soap."

 

[Snarky_Hastur]

I really can't explain or justify this one. Just take it and enjoy.

The place Ruby had found herself in after drinking the tea was an expanse, an endless stretch of darkness drenched in an eternal twilight, light only by scatter glowing motes. She couldn't help but think back to the arguments made by Jaune and the Curious Cat. Was Jaune right? Was this death, or was it some sort of in between where she would meet who came next? Either honestly felt good right now…

The only break in the endlessness was a familiar banging noise. It had been ingrained in her head when she made Crescent Rose. A memory of a time spent with her father, Taiyang, working together to machine the parts that would eventually become her weapon, her baby.

So Ruby followed it, like a moth to a flame. Up to the towering woman of metal banging away at an anvil.

"I didn't expect you here just yet…", The matronly voice of the Blacksmith echoed out.

"I didn't expect to be here…" Ruby replied weakly as she stepped forward, "...Are you the tree?"

Then the Blacksmith laughed, like one would when a small child said something amusing, and explained in the barest of details what she was. Then The Blacksmith beckoned Ruby to follow, passing through swarms of glittering motes as they trailed off in every direction. When Ruby asked about them The Blacksmith answered as she had been, eased Ruby's questions but giving no real answers.

Then She presented Ruby with a hall of weapons, each more magnificent than the last. She told Ruby to choose, that whatever she chose would be a template from which a new Ruby Rose would come forth, no end or beginning but a continuation. Still, Ruby couldn't pick. It was too heavy a burden, knowing that whatever she chose the new Ruby would still be burdened down by her failures. Then she saw her Mother's weapon…recalled an old memory and gained new insights.

Something about it sparked her soul, made her stronger or the burden lighter. The options then began to fall away revealing Crescent Rose, just as Ruby had built her. With her fighting spirit reinvigorated she was able to approach her weapon once more. Ruby could even swear she heard a tiny little, "I've missed you…" echo out from the weapon in her own voice.

She reached out, decision ready…"WAIT!", another voice called out.

Confused, Ruby turned around to see Crescent Rose. She whirled back around to check the box she walked to and saw that it contained Crescent Rose as well. God, she suddenly felt very sorry for Jaune if this was the sort of bullshit he had to put up with.
With a deep sigh, Ruby turned around to see the other Crescent Rose had moved closer. At that distance Ruby could clearly see the differences, the slight differences that only Ruby, the creator of crescent rose would be able to notice.

Then the new Crescent Rose began to argue the case to become her Ruby. "Okay just hear me out, pick me and you can still be you. Nothing would change, it would be just like if you picked your original Crescent Rose….but with bigger tits."

"Wait, What?" Ruby stuttered in surprise.

"Yep, the only change would be you get bigger boobs!", The other Crescent Rose explained,

Ruby just stood there shocked, before Original Crescent Rose chimed in, "Shit…you should totally take that offer. I can't even be mad about that," before fading into the background.

"Uh…oh..kay…" Ruby mumbled as she reached out towards her weapon, choice made and then revised.

Hell, if she was gonna put up with the ever-after and this reincarnation shit should she might as well take the bigger tits when offered.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune, Yang, Isabel and Nick meet some time afterward in a park on campus. Yang and Jaune are rather mortified. Isabel is a bit uncomfortable.

Nick keeps shooting his son thumbs up when Isabel isn't looking.

Isabel: "Ahem... I am sorry about uh, all that. It was rather thoughtless. I just wanted to make sure you two were being careful. You don't want to start a family before you're ready, after all."

Jaune: "Mom, it's okay. We're being very careful and taking things slow."

Yang: "Y-Yeah..." mutters "Maybe too slow..."

Jaune: flush

Isabel: "Honestly, that's probably for the best. After all, Nick and I have eight children. I think it's safe to say you two should be very careful."

Yang: bright red

Jaune: "Er... Y-Yeah... Eheh..."

Nick: "Yes. I hope you're the one for each other, but if you're not? You don't want to give away your first time to someone you'll just break up with." nods sagely, and takes Isabel's hand "Izzy is the only woman I have ever loved in every definition of the word. When your souls meet with a person who loves you more than anything else in the world? It's... Like magic."

Isabel blushes, deeply pleased.

Isabel: "N-Nick..."

Jaune's Brain: Wow... He really is my father... It's weird but, when I invented this fanon? I just wanted a nuanced take on things. My own take. But it feels so right. Am I the dreamer, or the dream? Either way... I'm glad he's my father. However this happened.

Nick: brightly "Of course, if you two settled down right now, I might have to come out of retirement to train Jaune right! And Adrian could use a cousin for a playmate! And Izzy was back up and fighting in like, a week or two after every pregnancy so it's not big a deal-!"

Isabel: elbows him "NIIIICK!"

Nick: "OW! I'm just saying, Izzy!" pouts "I wanna be cool for my grandkids!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah, I get that Dad."

Yang: "Heh..." smiles "You're dad a complete dork."

Jaune: "Is that really a surprise?"

Yang: "Not really." leans in closer "Still. It's a nice heads up for when we do go all the way."

Jaune: bright red

Jaune's Brain: WHEN! SHE SAID WHEN! YES! WOO! WOOOOOOOOO!

That said, Jaune had a lot of other things to deal with in preparation for the dance. He and Yang worked to decorate, get a band, set up snacks and the punch, and many other things.

For instance...

Jaune: "Okay, Sun? You're trying WAY too hard."

Sun: "How do you mean?"

Jaune: "You flirt non-stop with Blake constantly. She's got the message. You can't just batter her defenses down, you gotta be more subtle."

Sun: frowns "I dunno Jaune... I mean, she keeps saying she's into you and you'll give in-"

Jaune: "No no no! Ugh. Look. She's my friend. My friend. Period! Which is why I'm gonna help you with her. I mean... Blake thinks like a cat, acts like a cat, and so on, right?"

Sun: "Right..."

Jaune: "The best way to get a cat to want something is to make it look like she might lose it. You need to make her chase you, with me so far?"

Sun: nods "Oh... I see... So, me showing up in her dorm room in just speedos is like... Giving a cat a treat? They still prefer getting their own food?"

Jaune: "... Yes."

Jaune's Brain: I wondered why Blake looked so mortified last Monday...

Jaune: "Anyway... If you go along with my plan, you'll also A: Be making up for something Neptune did, B: Getting Blake interested, and C: Piss of Jacques Schnee AND the White Fang."

Sun: "That's quite the trick, Jaune. How do we pull it off?"

Jaune just smiles.

Cut to the Star Maiden Memorial Garden, where Weiss is waiting. Jaune approaches.

Jaune: "Hey Weiss. Thanks for meeting me on such short notice."

Weiss: "Well, I wouldn't mind a break from planning Velvet's baby shower. It's all so adorable and wonderful and-" She coughs and hides her blush "Ahem. Well, what do you want, Jaune?"

Jaune: "About the Dance. You see-"

Weiss: bright red "O-Oh! Well, um, if you wanted me to go with you... I-I mean, I suppose if you wished and Yang was all right with it, I wouldn't mind it too much! You are a bit of-of a degenerate but honestly in a sort of endearing way if you squint-"

Jaune: "Er, no Weiss. I'm going with Yang."

Weiss... Looks rather sad, but hides it quickly with a blank expression.

Weiss: "O-Oh... I see..."

Jaune: "I mean, I'm very flattered of course. But I love Yang, and neither of you would deserve me if I was the type to cheat."

Weiss: growls "Like Neptune. He flirted with every attractive girl he could on our dates! Right in front of me!"

Jaune's Brain: Well, that's not the story he told me... Geez. I gotta keep him from ending up Ron the Slytherin. One problem at a time, focus!

Jaune: "I see. Well, there's someone here who wants to make up for what he did."

Weiss: raised eyebrow "Oh? You're trying to set me up?"

Jaune: "Yup. He's a good guy, trust me. It's just as friends but it beats going along and being unhappy. Besides... If you go out with him? Your dad will be pissed."

Weiss: "Who is it?"

A pause. Jaune looks at a column.

Sun: "... Oh, that was my cue. Right."

Sun emerges, holding a single yellow flower-Which means "friendship" in the floral language of Atlas. He smiles, walks up to Weiss, and holds it out.

Sun: "Would you like to go to the dance with me, Miss Schnee?"

Weiss: "I... Um, well..." scowls "You're usually all over Blake."

Sun: "Yeah, but if she's not interested, why go to the dance alone?" shrugs "Besides, Neptune really screwed up. He thought you didn't want anything serious. He's uh... He's got some growing up to do. As team leader, I should try to make things right. I just want to go to the dance and show you a fun time, that's all."

Weiss frowned deeply.

Weiss: "You're not just trying to make her jealous are you?"

Sun: "I mean... Um... A little?" He winces "But I also think you're really cool. And pretty."

Weiss: "..." sighs "I... I really want to be the better person. Honestly. And... As much fun as it might be... I-I think I'll just go alone. But... I'll save a dance for you?"

Sun: "Oh..." sighs and smiles "Sure. I get it." He hands the flower over to Weiss. "Keep it. Flowers aren't my thing anyway. Later." He heads off, leaving Weiss and Jaune alone

Weiss: "... Did you think this up?"

Jaune: wince "... Yes. I did. Ya know... I just thought that maybe-"

Weiss: sighs "I... Appreciate the thought, Jaune, but... My heart's not that strong. And... You're the last person who should be doing this."

Jaune: "Huh? Why?"

Weiss: groans "You are a complete dolt, aren't you?!" She stormed off

Jaune's Brain: Ugh. Great going, genius. Well... Could have been worse. Maybe I'll just stop trying to matchmake for a while. I clearly just got lucky with Cardin and Velvet...

Click to shrink...

After that, Jaune decided against any more matchmaking. It just wasn't going to end well. He couldn't get a Nat 20 every time, after all.

So he helped Yang and Ruby with setting up the decor for the dance in the Grand Ballroom. Hanging streamers, setting up the lights, and the bandstand...

Jaune: "Okay... We didn't get the Achieve Men, thank God, but we got a nice Fuujin band on their Valean tour to perform."

Yang: "A heavy metal maid band?"

Jaune: grins and shrugs "They're pretty awesome to listen to, gimmick aside. Also, nice color choices!"

Yang: "Thanks! I did actually learn some charm school stuff from Sister Lucy on Patch."

Jaune: "Wow... What's she like?"

Yang: "She's pretty awesome for an old lady. She helped Ruby and I with our homework when Dad couldn't do it, taught us cooking, cleaning, knitting, all sorts of things. She helped Uncle Qrow get Dad back into shape too... Mostly by yelling at him and waving her cane."

Jaune: "Heh... She sounds incredible."

Yang: "You wanna meet her? I mean... I did meet your parents."

Jaune: "I'm uh... I mean, sure. Shouldn't I meet your dad first?"

Yang: "I thought we were taking it slow? You wanna start picking out rings, VB?" winks "I could give you a ring right now~."

Jaune: "I-You-But-!"

Yang giggled. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "Geez..."

Yang: "Gotta keep you on your toes, VB." She nuzzled him "Mmm..."

Jaune: "Thanks. I just... I mean... How do you feel about this? I feel like I'm making a lot of decisions here and maybe I'm not listening to you as much as I should."

Yang: "You act like this stern alpha male in battle but now you're asking about my feelings?"

Jaune: "Says the biker chick who knows how to make amazing pancakes and has an apron that says-"

Yang punches him lightly in the side with red cheeks. Jaune snickers.

Jaune: "Owww...! What? It's cute!"

Yang: "Just-Not so loud, okay?"

Jaune: "Why? I like that you don't fit into any one box."

Yang: "Y-yeah, well... I like that about you, too." Smiles and nuzzles him "Hmmm... I mean... I'll admit I kind of... Worry... About you getting stolen away."

Jaune: "Yang-"

Yang: "But the fact you actually care about me so much and aren't just rushing to... To the good parts? That means everything."

Jaune: genuinely confused "These are the good parts, Yang."

Yang: bright red "..." She kissed him deeply and wrapped her arms around him "Mmmm~..."

Jaune: "Mmph?! Mmmm...!"

Jaune's Brain: Holy shit this is amazing I love this so much...! MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE-HOLY SHIT!

Glynda: "AHEM."

The two blonds separate, blushing brightly.

Glynda: "I believe you two have work to do? Which doesn't involve making out?"

Yang: "C-Come on, Professor! We were just uh... Getting in the spirit of things!"

Jaune: "T-Totally!"

Glynda: "That requires your tongues to be in eachother's mouths?"

Yang: "... Yes."

Glynda: "Please Miss Xiao-Long... Wait for that until your senior year at least?" Glares at Jaune "Even your parents were able to graduate before full consummation."

Jaune: "Shows what you know. My oldest sister Saphron was born exactly nine months after the liberation of Pandu. So she was at the graduation ceremony too."

Glynda: "And if you want to see your own graduation ceremony, you'll both get back to work!"

Yang and Jaune: "Yes ma'am!"

They do get back to work. Jaune is under a LOT of scrunity by Goodwitch... While Yang watches him with a dreamy look in her eyes.

She recalls a fairy tale Sister Lucy and her mother read her... About a Knight and a Princess.

"Take my hand," said the knight to the princess, "for the world is a big and scary place. I will protect you from all danger, and you will protect me when I fall. And we will walk this world, hand in hand, together."

It was just a childhood story and so much in her life made her doubt it... But when she was with Jaune? She wanted to believe.

 

[SharkCultist]

Salem was lonely. It's a odd thought but true, you can only sit around stewing in your own anger for so long before it starts to get to you.

Thirty thousand six hundred and twenty four years in her case.

Salem wanted a break so for the first time in a long time she put her mind towards something other than fucking over Ozma.

Firstly was making a disguise, she had learned after much....stress testing that she was immortal but not immutable, she could change as long as some criteria stayed the same.

She couldn't become a man (she could however temporarily do a change into one of the women with extra equipment as seen in mistralian manga), she also couldn't for some reason get rid of red and black in her color palette, she couldn't become a animal permanently and....that was about it.

So off she got to crafting. She wanted to be nonthreatening and someone who in general would be overlooked. A young girl form would do, black hair with some red in it to cover her color requirements. A false spell to make her eyes appear silver (to further disconnect the disguise from her). perfect.

Now that she had a disguise she needed to craft a long term memory spell, nothing too invasive. She just needed to pick some border town and insert memories of her disguised self growing up and living there, just tossing herself in the background of a few memories is enough, most people will assume she's a orphan or socially awkward.

The nature of the human mind should fill in the blanks well enough.

Now comes the tricky parts. If she just disappears Ozma is going to be frantically searching for her and any chance of this working is dead in the water.

So she makes a Doll. Animated alchemically with basic commands and made in her image to keep directing the Grimm in her usual patterns and to occasionally let itself be seen by a atlas drone or one of Ozmas spies.

And finally a spell to cast on herself once she's out of the grimmlands and her disguise is active.

A sort of acting assistance spell like what bards and showmen from the previous era of humanity would use to get into character. Suppressing her true self and letting the character take control until either it's preprogrammed time ran out or she suffered a strong enough shock for the spell safety to kick in and undo itself.

With her preparations complete Salem the Grimm Queen walked out of her castle.

And Summer Rose walked into the world.

 

[Abramus5250]

Why Jaune doesn't use a shotgun

It wasn't supposed to be like this. He'd found a place he could be safe, away from the kind of life he'd left behind. But of course, the organized crime of the area just had to come calling, trying to extort him for protection money, lest they burn his business down. Tukson had said no, and now here he was, trapped in some random building, locked in a cell and bruised from their beatings. Apparently their boss was interested why he'd said no, but after that, the Faunus had a pretty good idea what'd happen to him. People 'left town' or 'disappeared' no matter where organized crime was a problem, and he wouldn't be the last to find himself on the wrong end of such an organization.

At least he'd managed to get a message to Miss Belladonna on his situation before he'd been taken in the middle of the night. He'd informed her of his hidden shotgun, one he'd sadly not been able to reach before being grabbed, that would be easier to use as its serial numbers and identifying markers had been filed away long before he'd had it.

He had a past too, after all. Hopefully it'd be less conspicuous than the weapons she and her friends had used down on the docks, even with the less-than-lethal Dust rounds he had with it.

"Well well well, whatta we gots here?" a voice said.

Looking up from his 'cell', Tukson saw a man, flanked by a pair of large goons, step into the light. He'd not even heard them enter.

"My boys tolds me ya didn't wanna play ball, Mr. Tukson," the apparent leader of this gang said, pulling up a chair and lighting a cigar. After blowing a smoke ring into Tukson's cell, he smiled grimly. "See, we's run this side of town when it comes to protection from certain 'accidents' than can befall businesses such as yours. Other bosses, they's focus on gambling, prostitution, smuggling and the like, but me? I's figure it's safer ta just have yous shopkeepers pay to keep us outta your hair, and in return? We make sure them other outfits don't go sniffing around those under our protection."

This guy was straight of out an antiquated gangster film, yet given his life was currently in this greaseball's hands, Tukson thought it wise to say nothing on the matter.

"So," the man continued. "You turned down our generous offer of protection of your little bookstore for… what? Pride? Thinkin' yer better than us, Faunus boy? That them friends of yers that make trouble for Roman down by the docks might comes and make us leaves ya alone?"

"They aren't my friends," the shopkeeper muttered. "What do you want?"

"Wells, we was gunna just lets ya go after roughin' ya up a bit, but see, after lookin inta things, yer bookstore could be worth a lot more as our property than just bein' burned down for the insurance," the man said. "One of two things can happen. You sign over the deed to your little store ta us, and then leave town to never return while we's turn it into something else. Yous can even take yer books with ya, and we's won't tells the White Fang yous was here."

"And the other option?" Tukson asked, an icy feeling in his gut already telling him the answer.

The man gave a wicked smile. "Or we's collect the insurance on your place after we burn it down with yous inside it, and get the White Fang on our side for a change. Some of the boys are pretty good with their scrolls and could have one of us as your life insurance beneficiary in less than two hours. Shame that you'd lose all them books in the fire too, but hey, that's life. So, whattaya say, Faunus boy? Do we's got a deal?"

Before Tukson could respond, there was a loud noise at the far end of the building. The boss turned to his goons, likely to order one to investigate, before a far door didn't just open, but was blasted off its hinges. Silhouetted by smoke and the light of the full moon behind them, a figure stepped forward, one of the gang's goons struggling vainly in his grasp.

"What the-," was all the boss managed to say before the struggling goon was tossed aside like a bag of potatoes, a sickening crunch echoing as he bounced off a support pillar and lay on the ground, twitching in agony. The figure, Tukson's shotgun suddenly appearing in one hand, steadily marched forward, their slow gait echoing on the floor like small claps of thunder.

The two goons drew their firearms, the sharp staccato of the gunfire echoing as the figure continued to close the distance. Either they were missing horribly, or the guns… had no effect.

After two rounds of gunfire were emptied into the figure, with no affect other than some holes in the leather jacket, he was upon them, a blast from the shotgun sending one flying into the wall, where the goon landed on the floor in a crumpled heap. With a quick twirl, the figure reloaded and unleashed another blast into the other goon, the man skidding across the floor and into the darkness beyond. The boss tried to run, but in a flash, he'd been grabbed by the throat and hoisted into the air, feet kicking uselessly as the figure looked into Tukson's 'cell'.

The young man seemed familiar, save for the large sunglasses he was wearing… at night… and indoors… for some reason.

"Tukson?" he asked, his garbled accent an odd mix of several distinct dialects from across Remnant. Was that old Atlasian?

"Y-Yes?" he replied. "W-Who are you?"

"John," the young man answered as he leveled the shotgun, and with a blast, blew away the lock holding the bars in place. Holstering the weapon across his back, he offered his free hand, even as the gang boss began to choke and splutter. "Come with me if you want to live."

Quickly, Tukson accepted and was hauled to his feet, only for the man to turn around and lead him away. Stepping through the door first, the Faunus found the outside was a scene of disarray and pandemonium. Crumpled shipping containers, a hole in another wall in the rough shape of a man, and even a car that looked like it had rammed into a concrete pillar. The cops were pulling up alongside some of the local militia, and as Tukson blinked away a bright searchlight casting onto the doorway, a familiar face appeared.

"Tukson!"

"Miss Belladonna?"

She quickly supported him, as even the act of walking out with his number of bruises was not easy. From behind them emerged the young man from before, still carrying the choking gang boss and dragging the other three goons by the backs of their jackets. Tossing them in a heap, Tukson noticed what was hopefully the rest of the gang either tied up or being carried away on stretchers to awaiting bullheads.

Blake's entire team was talking to a number of police, and another group of what had to be their friends were assisting in clearing some rubble from atop a few of the criminal's vehicles. One of the more damaged vehicles was missing a door, though a bit of it was still dangling from where it had been ripped clean from its hinges.

"Here's the ringleader," the one called 'John' said as medics began to tend to Tukson, dropping the boss at the feet of several police. Before the man could try and get up, the familiar student placed a boot on his chest and pointedly stared down at him.

"Enjoy your stay in prison or else… I'll be back."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ozpin sends Nick to meet with Sienna Kahn to defuse tensions with the White Fang, Sienna spends most of her time trying to seduce Nick to hilariously little effect.

Click to shrink...

Sienna, dressed in silk robe that's see through and very little else, smiles seductively at Nick.

Sienna: "Hello Nick~. What do you think? Come to catch a tigress by her tail~?"

Nick: "... You don't have a tail, Sienna. Also, aren't you cold in that get up?"

Sienna: "Why don't you warm me up~?"

Nick: "Okay!"

Nick walks towards Sienna... Closer... Closer...

Sienna: Yes, yes...! He's finally going to be mine!

Nick then walks right by her... To the thermostat. Which he turns up.

Nick: "There we go! All better!"

Sienna: "..." twitch

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Blake Belladonna had fled the White Fang. She'd left her entire life, even her boyfriend, behind. All for her principles. Principles she had forgotten, but remembered when she'd seen the fear in the eyes of those humans.



She'd found refuge in a barn when she abandoned the train. She'd taken what sleep she could, only to be awakened by loud thunder and cold rain pouring down onto her. With a grimace, she'd left the barn and tried to see shelter out in the cold, wet night.



She'd found the main road, and a truck had splashed a puddle all over her. Cold, exhausted, wet, and depressed, she'd sat down under a tree and curled up.



She had no one. No one at all. She'd run away from everyone who had ever cared for her into a cold, unforgiving world.



She had no one to blame for herself... It was all her fault...



"Hey... You okay?"



She looked up in shock. She hadn't heard the approach of the boy over the harsh pounding of the rain. He was tall, a bit scraggly but well built. He wore white and black armor over a black hoodie, jeans, and boots. A large backpack carried his supplies and a sword was at his side. He smiled kindly and held an umbrella up over her.



A knight? She thought.



"I..." She bowed her head and stared down at the ground.



"H-Hey," the boy tried, "You don't have to answer. I just... Look. I'm going to the local inn. I've got money for a room. If you want to share it..."



He blushed and shook his head rapidly.



"N-Not that I mean to-I mean-I'm not-!"



Blake stared at him in disbelief. He resembled the protagonists in her fantasy books. So kind, so warm. She could feel his Aura from here and it was like a beautiful bonfire. She could see nothing, hear nothing but kindness and sincerity in his heartbeat and his body language.



"Um... My name is Jaune Arc. What's yours?"



Her life was so cold, so empty. Here was a light in the darkness. A source of warmth.



Maybe... Maybe Heaven had not abandoned her. Maybe... This was another chance.



One she didn't deserve, but she'd been given all the same.



She reached out and took his hand.



"Blake Belladonna..."



He'd been as good as his word. He'd gotten them a room at the inn. He'd slept on the floor and given her the bed. He'd gotten her a hot meal. They even went shopping for new clothes-She'd paid for them, even if he'd insisted on it.



He was so kind and genuine... A little too kind and genuine, at times. She'd kept him from falling for a few scams from bandits. After that, she'd finally asked where they were going.



He said he was going to Beacon, to become a Hunter like his parents.



Mysteriously, an offer from the Headmaster to join Beacon hit her Scroll soon after.



So she'd gone with it. They had the same goal, after all. They began to train together.



He was... Incredibly unprepared and untrained. But he was strong, had enormous Aura power, and was quick to learn. His sheer power was honestly staggering-He had more Aura than Adam and his top five lieutenants, her included, combined.



He had so little control over his Aura it just radiated everywhere, and she felt so warm and happy around him!



But Blake refused to put her neuroses on him. Her last romance had ended terribly. She... She couldn't afford to be selfish. Not to such a kind, loving, warm young man.



Her... Her friend.



Her partner. Or rather... Who she thought would be her partner.



Jaune walked along in the Emerald Forest, scanning around carefully as Blake walked at his side... Pyrrha on his other.



"Thanks for pinning me to that tree, Pyrrha," Jaune said with a laugh, "Uh, I'm still working on landings with Aura."



"Oh, think nothing of it, Jaune!" Pyrrha giggled.



Blake dug her nails into her palm. She grit her teeth.



Yang was following along too, Blake's partner. She was... Fine. Aside from the puns and the bounciness, the fact she wouldn't stop talking...



"Yeah, but it's good we got up and leafed, right?" Yang giggled. Jaune actually laughed, and Blake bristled.



Don't laugh at her jokes! They're terrible!



"Anyway," Jaune said, "Blake? You smell or hear anything dangerous?"



Blake sniffed and listened.



"Yes. Eight Beowulves, and Four Ursas are in our way," Blake said.



Jaune nodded. Shortly after, they came across the Grimm gathered in a pack. Jaune pulled out his sword and opened up his mechashift shield.



"All right. Yang? We'll be up front-Hit them towards me, we'll keep them boxed in. Pyrrha and Blake? On the flanks. Let's take them down."



"Of course Jaune!" Pyrrha said cheerfully.



"Sounds fine by me! You be the anvil, and I'll be the hammer!" Yang grinned.



"Just fine," Blake muttered as she drew Gambol Shroud.



They made quick work of the Grimm. Jaune was the strong, support tank, Yang was the strong offensive tank. Pyrrha was fast and mobile, hitting hard at all ranges, while she swept through the stragglers. They finished them off in no time. Jaune grinned.



"Wow! We did great work! Even faster than when it was just you and me, Blake!"



"Yes. It was," Blake grumbled. Pyrrha beamed.



"I think we're going to be a great team!"



"The best!" Yang laughed, bumping Jaune's shoulder with her own.



Blake ground her sharp teeth.



Yes. It was good. So good...



"You okay Blake?" Jaune asked, frowning in concern, "You're gripping Gambol Shroud pretty hard."



"I'm fine," Blake hissed. Jaune took her hands in his, and massaged some pressure points.



"Don't overstrain your muscles, we've got a ways to go," Jaune said firmly. "Here: My mom did this for my dad all the time when he fought. Does it feel better?"



She saw how stiff Pyrrha's smile became. And how Yang raised an eyebrow.



She smirked a bit smugly as Jaune's warmth was once again solely hers.



"Just fine..."



- - -



Doctor Knowall watched the Initiation play out on the holoscreens with Ozpin and Glynda. Ozpin sipped his hot chocolate, while Glynda made some observations every now and then.



"Winchester's team seems well suited to close-range combat. None of them have any stealth or much range, though Sky's Voice Imitation Semblance might come in handy for distractions."



"Miss Rose and Miss Schnee are an unlikely pair... Hopefully they won't kill eachother."



"Zalbar's team is a bit light on muscle, so we may wish to shuffle them around. Plus, what name would you make out of ZXXZ anyway?"



There was an alert and a few red-tinged holoscreens appeared. Ozpin looked at this cluster as several people in white masks and black outfits walked into the woods. He frowned.



"Intruders in Sector 56," he murmured.



"White Fang," Glynda growled, "In such numbers?"



Ozpin looked over at Knowall.



"Knowall? Anything to add to this?"



His eyes widened in shock. Glynda's soon followed.



Knowall's face was locked in a cold, furious snarl. His fists were clenched and glowing with Aura energy.



"... I'll handle this," he growled.



"You will need backup-" Glynda protested, but Knowall shook his head.



"No. I will not," Knowall stated, firm and angry. He turned and headed out.



- - -



Rathbone peered down the sights of his sniper rifle. A black bowed girl in white and black was running along with a bunch of humans.



Not that there was any shortage of them around.



"That's her," he muttered to his comrades, "Adam's main squeeze. If we bring her back after killing all these students... He'll reward us greatly!"



"Sure those Dust Rounds won't kill her? We can't bring back a corpse," he comrade grumbled.



"They'll be just fine-"



Something blocked his view. He scowled.



"What the-?!"



Someone yanked his rifle out of his hands. That same someone crushed the rifle between his hands like it was made of tinfoil. Rathbone looked up in shock at the tall blond human in a simple blue suit, red tie, glasses, and white lab coat.



He grinned furiously, his blue eyes burning with Aura.



"White Fang, huh? Here to kill a load of innocent students for your master?"



Rathbone gasped.



"You-Kill him-!"



His comrades pulled their guns and opened fire. Rathbone's eyes widened in disbelief as the man caught every round with his hands. The White Fang members stopped firing, and gaped as he dropped the bullets in front of them.



"Yeah. Not today,"



Jaune punched all of them, so fast he was only a blur. He then stepped back. Rathbone gaped, and felt his stomach.



"I... What... What did you do?! I didn't feel-!"



Pain filled his entire body. He coughed and covered his mouth with his hand. He looked down at the blood and gaped in shock.



"I just triggered your immune systems to consume your bodies from the inside," Knowall snarled. "Your lungs, your liver, your heart-It will all tear itself apart. Your brain, lungs, and heart will be last, along with your nervous system so that you will die in the worst agony possible for anyone to experience."



Rathbone gaped as his body went numb. His comrades gasped in horror as they too began to shake and cough blood.



"But... But why-?!"



Knowall glared. His hatred seemed like heat from a fire that was threatening to consume him.



"Because you took everything from me," Knowall snarled. "You destroy all life just for your selfish hatred, consumed by your idiocy and rage. You never look beyond your own pain, you just inflict it upon others. Well... Guess what? You get to experience a fraction of what you've caused the innocent."



"N-No, please!" Rathbone begged, falling to his knees. "Please! We-We'll tell you anything! Help you give up our plans! Please! J-Just... Just don't! PLEASE! You're a doctor, right?! You-You're a doctor!"



"You're a doctor, right?"



Jaune had looked up to his fiancé from some notes he was taking. They were sitting in their small apartment in Atlas. She was full of concern for him. He shrugged.



"Yeah, I am," he said.



"So, aren't you supposed to do no harm?" She asked. "You've been doing a lot of harm in a fight."



Jaune frowned.



"I... I can't let you fight alone," he said. "Besides, if I'm with you... I need to help."



"Yeah but..." Yang frowned, "You're so... Gentle."



"So, what?" Jaune scoffed. It was the same argument his mom had used. "I'm not cut out to fight with you?"



"No, you're actually pretty great," Yang said with a soft smile, "But... I just... I don't want you to become something you're not. I don't... I don't want you to become cruel. The world beats people down... It can destroy them."



She contemplated her cybernetic arm for a moment.



"Don't let the world turn you into a monster, Jaune. No matter what it does... Promise me?"



Jaune turned to her, and smiled warmly.



"I promise..."



Knowall took a long, deep breath. Glynda descended behind him. He could tell she'd been there for a while though, from how concerned her tone was.



"Doctor Knowall?" She prompted. "Well?"



"... You will cooperate with the authorities in every way," Knowall stated. "Leave nothing out."



Rathbone nodded frantically. Knowall quickly touched all of them, and their vitals slowly returned to normal. A few police Bullheads flew up overhead, and cops descended. They began to cuff and secure the White Fang members. Knowall turned away and looked down into the valley. Glynda looked at Knowall in deep concern. She hesitated.



"Doctor?"



He adjusted his glasses.



"... Sorry about that," he murmured, "I'm fine now."



Glynda stared intently at him.



"Are you sure about that?"



Knowall's eyes found a blonde head of hair down in the valley. He was silent for a time.



"... Sure enough," he murmured.



- - -

Click to shrink...

In all honesty, the team selections were still a bit of a mystery to Jaune.



"JNPR and RWBY?" Jaune muttered, as he stowed his gear in his locker, "seems pretty strange."



"I like Junipers!" Nora Valkyrie chirped, the energetic orangette practically bouncing around the room, "Juniper berries go great with Renny's tea!"



"Yeah but..." Jaune sighed. Ren cocked an eyebrow.



"Your friend Blake?" He asked. Jaune winced then shrugged.



"Yeah. I-I mean, no offense guys! I'm so glad to be here with you all," he smiled, "You all did great against that Deathstalker!"



"It was thanks to your leadership, Jaune," Pyrrha said with a shy smile as she sat on the bed opposite his, "You did very well."



"But you wish you could be with your companion," Ren surmised. Jaune nodded. Ren wore the ghost of a smile as Nora plopped down next to him.



"I understand," he said.



"Me too!" Nora said, "But now we'll all become great friends! We just gotta kill some more Grimm together and we'll be the best!"



Jaune laughed. Nora was a handful but he definitely liked her spirit.



"Absolutely," he agreed. "I promise guys: I'll be the best leader you could ask for."



Pyrrha again smiled warmly.



"I know you will," she said.



After that, they got ready for bed. The guys grabbed a shower first since they wouldn't take as long, and they got out and dressed for bed as soon as the girls went in. Jaune laid down to sleep in his twin bed and sighed, shutting his eyes.



If he was being completely honest? He did miss Blake being there. They'd slept cuddled up together in haylofts and in their tent. Nothing had ever happened, of course. He was a gentleman. He refused to take advantage of her, especially after what she had been through.



Still... He did miss her warmth.



I guess I'll just have to get used to going without, he decided.



Pyrrha and Nora emerged from the bathroom, dressed for bed. Nora pushed her bed up against Ren's and immediately plopped down to sleep next to him. Pyrrha watched this, blushed, then carefully avoided Jaune's gaze as she laid down in her own bunk. The lights went out. Jaune relaxed and did his best to fall asleep.



He heard a very faint creak. Something most people wouldn't have noticed. He opened one eye and scanned the room.



Nothing. He scanned for a moment more, before he slowly closed his eye.



Then he felt it: A warm, female, and familiar body slipping into his bunk. His eyes flew wide open as he jerked his head to look. There was Blake, sliding into his bed and wrapping her arms around him.



"Blake," Jaune hissed, "What are you doing-?!"



"Couldn't sleep," she explained softly. "You don't mind, do you?"



"I-Um-But the rules-You-!"



Blake snuggled into his side and closed her eyes.



"Good night," she murmured.



Jaune held back a long sigh. He laid back in the bunk and wrapped an arm around her.



Well, he had missed her company while sleeping.



I suppose this is on me, he thought, as he slipped into dreamland.



- - -



Classes at Beacon started after breakfast. First up was Professor Port's class: HIs stories were very long winded, but Jaune thought he could pick out the useful tips amidst all the blather. He also knew how to keep people's attention by bringing live Grimm into the classroom-Something Weiss handled with ease.



She really was incredible. It was hard not to stare.



They then went on to Combat Class, led by Professor Goodwitch. She called up pairs of students and had them fight. She was extremely stern but definitely knew her stuff. She could pick out everything right or wrong with a students' combat performance at a glance and made sure you knew it.



After a few matches, she gave Jaune a stern look before she called out:



"Jaune Arc, you're up against Cardin Winchester."



Jaune looked over at the scion of the Winchester family. The young man was a lot bigger and taller than him. He wore a cocky smirk as he walked up to the ring in his full armor, holding his large mace menacingly.



"You got this, Jaune-Jaune!" Nora said encouragingly. Blake and Ruby also gave him smiles.



"Show him what you've got, Vomit Boy!" Yang cheered.



Jaune got up and walked into the ring. He drew Crocea Mors and opened his shield up. Glynda looked between the two combatants.



"We will continue until one opponent's Aura is in the red, or there is a ringout. Ready? Begin!"



Cardin charged and swung his mace hard, obviously trying for a knockout right away. Jaune waited until the very last second and danced out of the way of the strike. He swung his blade, charged with Aura, and swung for Cardin's arm.



"GAH!"



The taller boy was slammed back. Jaune pressed the advantage, striking furiously as Cardin began to guard. The redhead swung his mace around furiously, but Jaune was too quick and nimble after training against Blake for months to let it catch him. He deflected one blow of the mace with his shield before he stepped in and stabbed Cardin in the gut. Cardin snarled then charged up his mace.



He slammed it down on the sandy floor, unleashing a massive blast of Fire Dust. Jaune was blown off his feet and slammed onto his back. He grunted in pain, then rolled, just barely getting out of the way of Cardin's next mace slam.



All right... Gotta finish this quick, he thought. He rolled up onto his feet and took a wide stance. He channeled his Aura, toughening himself up. Cardin smirked and charged again, relying on his bulk to steamroll Jaune.



Jaune held his ground, waiting... Waiting...



Now!



He ducked under Cardin's swing and rammed his shield up into his gut. Channeling his Aura to boost his strength, he twisted his hips and swung his blade at Cardin's feet. Thanks to Aura, he didn't cut through them-But the force sent Cardin into a stumble.



A stumble that Jaune used to pitch him right out of the ring. Cardin slammed down on the wooden floor outside the sand hard. He grunted, and got to his feet. He gaped in disbelief as Professor Goodwitch held up her riding crop.



"Winner, Jaune Arc."



"WOOHOO!" Nora cheered loudly.



"YAY!" Ruby added.



Cardin glared angrily at Jaune, who kept his facial expression neutral. He didn't want to appear too smug.



Goodwitch summoned them both into the center of the ring, where she gave them her assessment:



"Mister Winchester: Good to try and take initiative right off the bat, but brute force is not always going to win. Your opponent was able to turn things around with some good tactics and quick thinking. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. In addition, while unleashing a Dust blast at point blank range can work in a dangerous situation, it can also easily backfire and cause yourself damage. Only save it as an absolute last resort."



"Yes ma'am," Cardin managed, shooting Jaune a dirty look. Glynda looked at Jaune with a raised eyebrow.



"Good footwork and tactical thinking, Mister Arc. However, your inexperience shows: You got a bit sloppy. Continue to refine your combat skills, as you will not be able to defeat all opponents with a ring out."



"Yes ma'am," Jaune said with a nod. Goodwitch hummed.



"That strength boosting technique. Did you learn it from your mother?"



"Er... Sort of," Jaune allowed with a shrug. Goodwitch nodded.



"Continue to improve it, Mister Arc. As it is, it can give you a temporary boost in strength in battle but it clearly took you time to charge it up. Had Mister Winchester noticed that, he could have struck before you were ready and then you would be in real trouble."



Cardin looked calculating at that. Jaune nodded again.



"Yes ma'am."



Jaune felt pretty good all said when he returned to his seat with his team. Even Weiss seemed to be somewhat approving.



Blake just sat down on his other side and smiled.



"Good work," she said, "I knew you could do it."



"Thanks to you," Jaune said gratefully. Blake's smile grew by a fraction. Pyrrha, Yang, and even Ruby all noticeably tensed.



Which was strange, but soon forgotten as Jaune watched the next bout between students.



- - -



Lunch was pretty uneventful. Or at least, that's what Jaune had hoped it would be. Cardin was still in a bad mood after his defeat in combat class, and was now tormenting a young rabbit Faunus girl. He tugged on her ears, making her cry out.



"Haha! What do you know? They are real!" He laughed.



"Ow! Pl-Please, don't!" The rabbit Faunus girl cried out.



Jaune was already on his feet and about to intervene. He couldn't stand to see this happen and refused to allow it: He wasn't weak anymore, he had strength...



Which was went Doctor Knowall, as if appearing out of nowhere, calmly grabbed Cardin's wrist and squeezed. The redheaded boy yelped and let go, as Knowall lifted his wrist.



"Now now, Mister Winchester," Knowall stated in a kind of teasing voice, "Save that kind of play with your crush in private."



Cardin and the rabbit Faunus girls' cheeks went bright red. Cardin found his voice first.



"Wh-What?! Professor, I didn't-URK!"



Knowall squeezed Cardin's wrist and the young man grunted in pain. He looked up in fear at the terrifying smile the doctor now wore.



"The alternative interpretation," the doctor stated quietly but still loud enough to be heard, "Is that the son of a Councilman decided to bully a girl a year ahead of him because she was a Faunus. This would reflect very poorly on him and his family, and might even become grounds for expulsion. Further, even if you weren't expelled, it would spread among the student body and later on to any potential future employers you might have. That you are a bully and a coward who picks on others just to make yourself feel big. Now... Which interpretation shall we be going with, Mister Winchester?"



Cardin grimaced. The doctor's grip on his wrist tightened.



"I... I'm sorry...!" Cardin managed. "I-I won't... Do it again...!"



"Now, why don't you apologize to this young lady and offer to take her out to dinner as recompense for your clumsy attempt to woo her?" Knowall asked, all smiles. He finally let go of Cardin's wrist. The young man rubbed his wrist, blushed, and then looked over at the blushing young Faunus rabbit.



"I'm... I'm really sorry... Can I please buy you dinner?" Cardin ground out, shooting fearful glances at Knowall every so often.



The rabbit Faunus girl, oblivious to this, blushed harder and nodded.



"S-Sure! Um... I'm Velvet Scarlatina, what's your name?"



"C-Cardin Winchester," he returned, stuttering in shock. Velvet smiled at him, and rubbed her ears.



"I um... Let's maybe work out when and where?"



Cardin again glanced at Knowall, then back at the rabbit Faunus girl. He sighed in resignation.



"Sure."



They walked off together. Knowall looked around at everyone's stares and raised an intimidating eyebrow.



"Don't you have food to eat? Nothing to see here," he stated firmly. Most of the students did so. Yang watched him with starry eyes as he turned and walked out of the cafeteria.



"Wow... He actually made the bully take her out on a date?" She giggled. "Damn! That is twisted! I kind of like it!"



"Isn't that just rewarding the brute?" Weiss sniffed. "Still... I-I admire his composure."



"Weiss, you're bright red, are you feeling okay?" Ruby asked.



"I-I'm fine!" Weiss said quickly, shaking her head. Yang laughed.



"Careful now, you don't wanna get melt, Weisscream!"



"Sh-Shut up!"



Jaune frowned as he turned back to his food. Pyrrha, ever alert to his moods, frowned with him. As did Blake.



"Something wrong, Jaune?" Blake asked. "He did deal with that bully."



"It's just that... He was using a technique of my mom's," Jaune murmured, "But it's one she's never taught to anyone... No one that I know of."



"Maybe he figured it out himself?" Ren suggested. "Beacon only hires the best."



"Maybe," Jaune allowed. "Still... Maybe I'll sent her an email. Just to ask."



- - -



Doctor Knowall twitched and shuddered. He shook his head and frowned. While not exactly superstitious, even after all he'd been through? That still felt like a bad sign.



Still... He supposed he would deal with it when it came. No sense worrying about it right now. He had a future to save.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ruby Rose was not a peeper. She wasn't! Honest!

She wasn't some kind of weirdo pervert like Blake! She wasn't going to go into a locker room and ogle her best friend ever!

However... She was curious.

On a trip to the pool, everyone else had jumped in and had fun in the water. Yang of course went with a bikini. Pyrrha had too, much to the shock of everyone else. Nora had just gotten a one piece that showed off her curves very effectively, which Ren, Semblance or no Semblance, definitely noticed. Even Weiss had loosened up enough to don a flattering one piece, as had Blake. Ren, for all his serenity, had gone shirtless.

Not Jaune though. He had his swim trunks, a white T-shirt, and a Hawaiian shirt over that. He hung out at the small snack and drink bar at the pool, laughing with them but never venturing towards the water.

This was curious. Curious enough Ruby decided she needed to investigate.

So she approached Jaune at the bar in her cute one piece-Black and red with some nylon laces. She sat down next to him and smiled.

"Hey Jaune."

"Hey Rubes," he returned, smiling warmly.

"You know," she said, "We're starting some volleyball in the pool. You wanna join?"

"Thanks, but no thanks," Jaune said, sipping a fruity concoction of some sort, "I'm okay just chilling out here."

Ruby nodded slowly. Her devious mind considered things and presented her with a possible means of gaining an answer.

And as Ruby often did, her impulse reached her body before anything else. Quick as a flash, she elbowed Jaune and knocked his drink out of his hands. His eyes widened as it fell, spilling strawberry and mango goodness all over his undershirt.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry, Jaune!" Ruby apologized. This wasn't even a lie: At his shocked look, she felt bad. Still... She wasn't going to let this chance escape her. "Let's get you to the bathroom!"

"Ack! Hey!"

Ruby dragged Jaune away insistently. While he was bigger and stronger than her, she was able to use his confusion and her speed to bully him where she wanted him to go. Inside, she still felt kind of bad but also thrilled.

What secret was Jaune hiding under his shirt? Tattoos? Maybe a great big dragon tattoo? Or was he in a biker gang and had their tattoos?

"R-Ruby!" Jaune gasped as she pushed him along, "This is the men's restroom-!"

"Well we're not going into the girls' restroom!" Ruby giggled, "I can't clean you off there!"

Jaune blushed VERY brightly. Her own cheeks turned red as she realized what she had said.

It wasn't enough to slow her down though. She got them into a shower stall, and began to tug at the bottom of his white shirt. He reached down and grasped her wrists, but she was too fast-She dodged his hands and grabbed onto the shirt's hem again!

"Ruby! Ruby, WAIT! I can clean myself-!"

"It was my fault, let me do it-!"

"I don't need you to-HEY!"

Ruby yanked the shirt up, up... Over his head. Her blush intensified as she got a good look at what was underneath.

Oh... My... Pyrrha's been training him really well... Why does he look so good? Why do I like looking-?
She then saw something else. Several something elses. Her eyes widened, and she fell back in shock and horror.

There were... Scars. Ranging from a white round blemish the same size as a 9 millimeter round near his left nipple, to three white ragged claw marks on his left side. Other cuts were all over his body. Ruby's hands went to her mouth and tears peaked at the corners of her eyes. Raw horror and guilt filled her as Jaune yanked his shirt back down. She chanced a glance up at his face.

He looked... Concerned.

"Ruby? Rubes, you okay? Wh-Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"Wha... What...?"

Jaune glanced down at his chest. He let out a small sigh and shook his head.

"Oh. These," he mumbled.

A tense, awkward silence fell. Ruby sniffled.

Oh... Oh God, I... I'm such a terrible person, she thought, He was hiding these... He was...!

"Wha... What happened?" Ruby managed shakily. She shut her eyes tightly and shook her head.

NO! How could you-He was HIDING THEM FOR A REASON, IDIOT! Oh God, he must hate me now! He must think I'm a jerk! I'm the worst friend ever, I can't believe I just-!

She felt his hand rest on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and sniffled. She avoided his gaze... Until he cupped her chin and tilted her head up.

He was smiling gently, still very concerned.

"Sorry," he murmured, "Um... Well. Turns out that hiking all the way out from Radian without Aura was... Not the best idea."

Ruby's jaw dropped to the floor. She stared at the scars again. She closed her mouth, opened it, and then closed it again.

"I... I just..."

Jaune pointed to the three ragged scars on his side.

"I managed to outrun an Ursa, but he got me with his claws," he explained. He pointed to the round scar. "Got shot by a farmer here since I accidentally trespassed on his land. He was really sorry, helped fix me up and let me stay the night."

He pointed to another scar over his rock hard abs that resembled a small, messy star.

"And here I wandered into an electric fence," he said, "Electrified barb wire. That wasn't very smart of me-I ignored the signs, heh."

Ruby trembled. She held back a sob. Jaune, seeing this, immediately put both hands on her shoulders. His shirt fell, obscuring the scars.

"I'm sorry Ruby-"

"N-No! No, I-I'm sorry!" Ruby bawled. "I-I just-I wanted to know why you weren't shirtless and-and I just-I forced you and I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, please don't hate me-!"

He pulled her into a very tight hug. He rubbed her lower back, trying to sooth her. She hiccuped a bit, but managed to calm down. Jaune then pulled away and smiled warmly at her.

"It's okay. I mean... When I got my Aura? It all healed up. I mean, mostly. None of it hurts. And my mom's medical training let me handle it." He shrugged.

"I just... I didn't want others to..." He trailed off. "To think less of me. I mean... What kind of idiot hikes all the way here without Aura? I... I just don't want people to see how weak I am-"

"You're NOT weak!"

Ruby hadn't meant to shout it, but the surge of emotions from her chest wouldn't let her keep quiet. Ruby sniffled and stared intently into his eyes, as Jaune stared back with a dropped jaw.

"You... You survived the whole way here," she whispered, "Without any Aura. All just so you could realize your dream. I... I don't know if I could do that."

She couldn't remember when she didn't have Aura, if she was honest. It had taken years for her to even learn how to use it.

"You shouldn't... Shouldn't be ashamed of it, Jaune," Ruby whispered, "You should be proud. You... You're willing to do anything for your dream. Anything."

Jaune stared back into Ruby's eyes. He smiled softly. He reached up and wiped his eyes.

"I... Th-Thank you, Ruby," he said quietly, "That... That means everything."

She felt so warm inside and out, she had to give him another hug. He returned it happily.

"Um... I'm still really sorry about... About everything," she said with a wince at his ruined shirt.

Jaune looked down at it for a while, before he slowly shrugged. He pulled his Hawaiian shirt and undershirt off, and rolled them up into a bundle. He smiled.

"It's okay," he said. "I... Well... How about we go play pool volleyball together? That... That would be fun, right? Besides, I suck at it and I'll need your help."

Ruby blushed again, looking him up and down. Now that she thought about it... His scars and his very fit and toned body were... Oh wow, very attractive. Like something out of one of Blake's smutty books.

So rugged and determined to fight through the hordes, all for his dream and-

"Rubes? You okay? Remnant to Crater Face?"

"AH!" Ruby turned away, her entire face burning bright red. "I-I'm fine! I'm fine!"

"You sure?" Jaune asked. He reached out to rest a palm over her forehead. "You don't have a fever or anything, right?"

Ruby rapidly shook her head.

"N-No! No! Let's just-um-go! Let's go!"

She dashed out of the bathroom with her Semblance, and reappeared out near the deck chairs and umbrellas where Teams RWBY and JNPR had stashed their gear. She was still bright red, her heart racing a mile a minute.

How... How does he do this to me?! Why?! She demanded of herself.

She wasn't a pervert! She WASN'T!

Yang smirked at her expression from her position on her towel and raised an eyebrow.

"Hey Ruby! You're looking like your namesake. You okay? Where's VB?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Did he do anything-?"

"No! N-No!" Ruby said quickly, waving her hands, "He's totally fine-Nothing-I'm fine! He's fine!"

Yang looked up... And blushed a bit herself.

"You're telling me," she murmured.

Ruby looked up. Her blush returned with a vengeance: Jaune was walking towards her, no shirt, his body practically gleaming in the sun thanks to the sunscreen he had so recently applied. He beamed at her.

"Hey Rubes! Sorry, needed some sunscreen first," he said, "You still want to play pool volleyball?"

Ruby, in a daze, opened her mouth to say yes but-

"Sure is!"

Ruby gaped in shock as her sister got up and walked right up to Jaune. The blonde grinned at the taller blond, deliberately leaning forward.

"Heck, I'll even join your team, Stud. I think we'll make a splash!"
Jaune blinked then laughed softly.

"Stud? What happened to Vomit Boy?"

"You just got promoted," she grinned. She grabbed Jaune's hand. "Shall we?"

Ruby's silver eyes narrowed. She locked her gaze onto Yang. Yang looked back... Then smirked in challenge.

The look in her eyes was clear. As clear as whenever they sparred.

"Unless my baby sister wants to sit this one out?" She asked. "It might be too much for you-"

"Jaune's not too much for me!" Ruby declared. "I-I can take him no problem!"

Jaune blinked. Yang snickered. Ruby desperately wished that Remnant would open up and swallow her whole.

"I-I mean we can-I can-LET'S JUST PLAY VOLLEYBALL OKAY?!"

"Suits me fine," Yang smirked, bumping her hip against Jaune's, "I wanna see how Stud here handles large, round objects. No reason~!"

Jaune blushed. Ruby growled.

Great. First she had gone crazy, now Yang?! Was Jaune really so good looking he turned her into a pervert?

"Coming in, ladies!" Yang called out. Ruby looked at the rest of their teams... And her silver eyes went wide.

Pyrrha was staring at Jaune with the hungriest expression she could ever recall on the Spartan girl's face. Weiss was bright red and trying desperately not to look his way while sneering as best she could. Blake had put aside her book and was openly ogling him.

And they weren't the only ones!

Damnit... We're all perverts, aren't we? Ruby mentally sighed. She then narrowed her eyes and grabbed Jaune's hand.

"Let's beat them into the... Water, Jaune!"

Jaune, confused but smiling, nodded.

"Whatever you say, Rubes!"

They did leap into the water. They did have fun... But Ruby's world had changed. She now saw feminine wiles clashing and calculating around Jaune. Her Jaune. A whole new way of being had emerged...

The way of the pervert.

At Jaune's smile though, Ruby blushed... And made a vow.

Well then... If I am a pervert... I'll be the greatest pervert of them all!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Well, since I wrote an Archer Jaune, why not a Jaune who was taught by his godmother Saia?

- - -

Weiss Schnee was trying to connect with Pyrrha Nikos in the locker room before Initiation at Beacon. After all, linking with such an incredible superstar could only guarantee success!

But her plan was rather spoiled when they bumped into a tall blond young man. He wore white robes that had seen a lot of hard travel and carried an old looking Dust Projection Staff.

Jaune: "Oh! I'm sorry!"

Pyrrha: "It's fine, I'm so sorry-"

Weiss: "Why don't you watch where you're going?! Do you know who you nearly ran over?"

Jaune: "Er... No but-" His eyes widen "Oh! Weiss Schnee, right? My godmother told me about you and your cool Semblance!"

Weiss: "Huh?"

Jaune: "Yeah! The things you can do with your Glyphs-She says they're amazing!"

Weiss: "I... Well thank you. It's nice to be appreciated, I suppose." scowls "Still! You should apologize to Pyrrha Nikos! Don't you have any idea who she is?"

Jaune: blinks "Um, no."

Pyrrha stares with a very happy smile.

Jaune: "But I'm very sorry. I should have paid closer attention to where I was going."

Pyrrha: "It's quite all right."

Jaune: "I'm Jaune Arc. I was wondering if either of you might consider teaming up with me? I'm afraid I'm not very good at close range combat yet, only ranged."

Weiss: "Are you or are you not a Huntsman-in-training?"

Jaune: "I am! Really! I just uh, well, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, don't we?"

Weiss: "Hmph!" She storms off

Jaune: "I'm sorry. I ruined your talk with her."

Pyrrha: "It's all right. I um... I don't mind. So, you're only good at long range combat?"

Jaune: smiles "Yeah, but I'm pretty good at it and-"

Speaker: "Will all prospective first year students please head to the Initiation Area?"

Jaune: "Well... I guess you'll see if we team up."

Pyrrha: smiles "I look forward to it!"

Everyone gets to the Initiation area and get flung out into the Emerald Forest. Pyrrha makes sure to angle her flight near where Jaune lands. She watches him... And her interest in the young man only increases.

Jaune: "Crap crap craaaaappp... Okay... Okay... And...!" He fires off several blasts of Fire Dust from his staff, channeling his Aura through it. This slows him down enough he can land, though not very gracefully "Oof! Okay... Okay... That was tough."

Unfortunately, when Pyrrha lands and heads over to him... Ruby Rose is already walking with him.

Ruby: "Oh! Hey! Pyrrha, right?"

Pyrrha: A tiny bit annoyed, but she still smiles "Yes. Ruby?"

Ruby: "Yeah! I found Jaune!" pouts "My partner met with me but then blew me off. So I looked for Jaune!"

Jaune: "Glad you did. My landing was a little rough."

Ruby: "Anyway! Let's go find the relics!"

Jaune: "Sounds good to me!"

Pyrrha: "Yes, let's..."

They got through the forest fairly easily. Ruby and Pyrrha took out most of the Grimm they encountered before Jaune could even get his staff ready. He did shout out warnings and suggestions though, which helped them coordinate. At one point, a Grimm Beowulf broke through and charged him.

Ruby: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: "Hang on, hang on...!" He held up his Staff, slammed a Dust cartridge into it, and unleashed a Fire Blast that reduced the Beowulf to ashes in one shot!

BOOM!

Jaune: "Don't worry about me! I'll handle-PYRRHA!"

Jaune fired another blast, and Pyrrha ducked. It shot forth and took out another Beowulf trying to ambush her.

Pyrrha: Her smile is growing "Thank you Jaune!"

Jaune: "Don't mention it... Again, I'm sorry I'm no good at close range. In this forest my vision is kind of restricted and so it's hard for me to be much use-"

Ruby: "Nah, that was great! I'm sure you'll do even better on open ground!"

Jaune: "Thanks, that means a lot."

They make it to the ruins and meet up with the others. They grab a relic.

Weiss: "You took your time, you bird hitting nutcase!"

Ruby: "Hey, I'm sorry! But I don't see the birdy around anywhere, so it's all good!"

Indeed, the Nevermore from before had crashed in the woods. Unfortunately... The ground began to rumble. A gigantic beast rose from the forest, bellowing in its rage. A long serpent like neck with a white Grimm mask, attached to a large, dragon-like body.

Weiss: "A GRIMM HYDRA?! ARE YOU KIDDING?!"

Yang: "Okay, time to run everybody!"

Blake: "It's closing too fast, we'll never escape over the bridge in time-"

Jaune: "I can handle it."

Everyone stares at him.

Weiss: scoffs, incredulous laugh "You?! How?!"

Jaune: "My godmother taught me a technique. I'll need Gravity Dust and Lightning Dust... And someone to cover me up close."

Pyrrha: "I'll-"

Jaune: "Pyrrha, you'll be more useful hitting that thing in the face and keeping it off guard. Miss Weiss, right? Do you have Gravity and Lightning Dust?"

Weiss: "Yes, but what makes you think you can-?"

Jaune: "Look, if I fail, we can still set off the Dust in a big blast to distract it and hopefully get enough distance between us and it. Please... I know I can do this, if you can keep it in one place for a few minutes."

Nora: "... This sounds crazy..." grins "I'm in!"

Ren: "All right."

Blake: stares "If you're sure."

Jaune: "I am."

Yang: "Then I'll guard ol' Vomit Boy! Rest of you? Hit that thing!"

Ruby: "RIGHT! Follow my lead!"

Weiss sighs, then hands over the Dust to Jaune. She joins the rest of the teens attacking the Hydra Grimm, who roars. Several smaller Grimm charge at the command of the mighty Hydra towards Yang and Jaune. Jaune is mixing the Dust together, and then puts the cartridges into his staff. Yang takes out the small fry with ease.

Yang: "Hate to rush you, VB, but we're on the clock!"

Jaune: "I know, I know, hang on..." He kneels down and channels his Aura, which flares around him. The combined Dust begins to react inside the Projection Staff, and Jaune adjusts some knobs "My godmother can do this with her Semblance, I gotta fine tune it a little manually..."

Yang: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: "READY! Okay... EVERYONE! GET CLEAR!"

Ruby: "YOU HEARD HIM! BREAK BREAK BREAK!"

The teens flee from the Hydra, who roars loudly enough to deafen anyone and everyone around it... Which is when Jaune unleashes a MASSIVE energy beam from the staff.

Pure white from the mixture of Dusts and the power of his Aura, it blasts the body of the Hydra away, leaving only its surprised head to fall to the ground and begin to dissolve. Many trees are on fire or straight up gone behind the rapidly decaying remains.

Everyone stares at the dead Hydra Grimm... And then to Jaune. He wobbles a little, but he's grinning.

Jaune: "HA! ... Second... Try..." He then falls over into Yang's arms, passed out.

Yang: "Woah... Easy there..." She stares at the destruction Jaune did, and then back at the unconscious young man "Holy crap...!"

Nora: "... I WANNA LEARN THAT! I call dibs on him being my Sensei!"

Weiss: "He... He did that with Dust mixing? But the only people who know how to do that are-!"

Pyrrha: "The Kingdom of Pandu." She smiles in amazement and maybe a hint of lust "So that's who his godmother is..."

Ruby: "... Crescent Rose? You're gonna get an upgrade! Yes you are, yes you are!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

A Mother's Sacrifice
​

It was a feeling. One Isabel Arc had associated with dread and fear from the first moment. The first time she met... Her.

She looked out into the darkness of the woods near the farm. She could see the hint of red in the darkness. She took a deep breath.

It was time.

"Izzy?"

Isabel looked away from the window over the kitchen sink at her husband. He smiled in concern, even as he dried the last of the dishes.

"Everything all right?" He looked out the window. Isabel shook her head.

"It's fine," she said quietly. "Just... Could you finish up for me? I need to check on something outside."

Nick frowned. It was a strange look on her spouse's face. Still, he leaned in and kissed her forehead.
"Of course... If you want to talk about what's wrong, I'll listen. I promise."

Isabel smiled, but her eyes were very sad.

"I know you will," she said softly. "I love you."

Nick's smile returned.

"I love you too," he said.

Isabel walked out of the warm kitchen. She saw Jaune pretending to study while reading a comic. Lilac was doing some sewing nearby, not minding his distraction. The twins, Coral and Verdy, were giggling over a weapons magazine. Orchid was working on a programming project.

Jaune started and looked up, as though sensing her presence. He grimaced in guilt and switched to his text book.

"I got it, I got it Mom," Jaune said quickly, "Um, the signs of renal failure are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, swelling, changes in urination frequency-"

"No, no, it's fine," Isabel said gently. She smiled warmly. "I'll be back, all right? Everyone just sit tight... And stay inside, all right?"

Jaune stared at her in concern.

"Mom?"

"Are you all right?" Lilac asked, a gentle frown on her kind face. Orchid stared at her mother intently but said nothing. The twins looked up in concern.

"Mom?"

"What is it?"

"Just stay inside," Isabel said with a voice of maternal authority and force. None of her children moved as she went out, the floorboards creaking in a familiar pattern. She shut the doors behind her and walked off the porch. She walked down the steps, remembering every step's creak and groan. She walked out into the woods, the stars shining clear and bright overhead.

She followed a dirt path deep inside the copse of trees, until she reached a small pond. A Fuujin-style stone lantern stood nearby, lit and casting a faint orange light over the lily pad covered pond.

In the dim light stood... Her. Tall, shapely, with pale skin and blood red eyes. Her hair white as bone with black streaks running through it. She wore a black cloak that waved slightly in the nighttime breeze. Her very presence seemed to chill the air. Isabel took a deep breath and walked up to her. She then knelt before her.

"Queen Salem," she greeted her with a voice devoid of emotion.

"Hello Isabel," Salem said gently. "Stand up, child, stand up."

Isabel obeyed, but kept her eyes downward. Salem hummed.

"Your children have grown strong. I can feel the love you have for them. It is strong."

Her voice was heavy with nostalgia.

Isabel sucked in a breath.

"I have done as you asked," she said, "I have researched all the old magics. I have no power in it-"

"But your mind is like one gifted by the gods, child," Salem said, almost gently, "Your Semblance is an echo of magic... But a strong one. It is why I made that deal with you, in your grief and desperation." She spread her hands out.

"Have I not kept my bargain? Have I not repaid it in full? I saved you. I saved the man you love. I saved your son when your medical arts could not heal him."

Isabel winced at every one of those statements. She nodded but an inch.

"I have done as you asked, searched for weapons to use against Ozpin," she said.

"They are weapons your family will wield for me," Salem stated firmly, "You will free this world from death with me. Your family would not exist if not for me."

"And you would make them your slaves, to be disposed of when no longer needed," Isabel said, holding back her anger with great difficulty. Salem stared intently at her.

"That is the way of the world," Salem said, "This war is older than your family has lived on this globe. I have seen things, known things you cannot grasp in my eternal search... My search for an end to death."

"Yet more than that, you seek freedom," Isabel argued. Salem snorted.

"There is no freedom for me-"

"The gods you gained power from, who made it so you were cursed," Isabel spoke up, "They are not my God. They may have claimed to have created this world, but they were lying. I have found... A loophole."

Salem stared intently at her. Isabel shook and reached into her labcoat. She held out her Scroll shakily. Salem took it, and scrolled through the spell book pages Isabel had scanned.

Isabel took a deep breath.

"Their curse that links you and this Ozma... It does not care who takes up the burden. They do not care, as long as two human souls, a woman and a man, are suffering their immortality."

Salem's red eyes glanced up at Isabel. They widened slightly. Isabel stood her ground and met her gaze evenly.

"You... Would have to switch with someone else. Take their life... Their identity," Isabel said quietly. "But you would be free... You could die. Only naturally, but... You would."

Salem stared at the magic runes and calculations. She slowly nodded.

"Yes... Yes. It could be done. But the other... Would have to continue the war on Ozma. There is no other way."

"That is true," Isabel said, "They would be bound to that fate. They would have to carry it out... But they would be in your place. Whereas you would be in..."

Salem's eyes narrowed.

"Yours?"

Isabel stared back, silent.

"You would give up your life? Your identity? Your family? To take the place of an ancient cursed witch?" Salem asked skeptically.

"To save them from your service?" She slowly nodded.

"I-I would."

Salem stared for a very long time at Isabel.

"What makes you think I would give up my power?"

"Because you are a prisoner of fate, Salem," Isabel said quietly. "You would have freedom at last. You would have... Everything. As long as you lived... L-Lived my life. As long as you didn't break the bargain... You would be free. And I... Bound to your fate."

Salem stared for a while longer.

"... You could not reveal who I really am," Salem stated. "You could not change my plan. You would be doomed... You would accept that all for your family?"

Isabel shakily nodded.

Salem smiled. It was not pleasant for her.

"Then... It shall be done. Thank you, my child. When I am free of this world... You may have it. May you find a way to conquer death yourself, and get revenge on the gods. As for me?"

She reached out her hand, the clearing billowing with Eldritch energies that blotted out the broken moon and the stars.

"I shall know peace at last," she hissed.

Isabel stared at her hand. She closed her eyes. Even now, her emotional control held.

She reached out, grasped Salem's hand... And everything went black.

- - -

Nick had finished the dishes. He joined his children in the living room, looking over his sword and checking its electromagnetic systems with a seasoned eye.

The doors to the Arc Farmhouse opened, and shut. The floorboards creaked in a new pattern. The Arcs all looked up in concern... A concern that vanished as Isabel stepped into view.

"Hey Mom," Jaune greeted, followed by his sisters, "Everything all right?"

Isabel smiled softly. She nodded, a flush on her cheeks.

"Oh, everything is just fine, Jaune," she said, "Just fine!"

Nick frowned in concern. Isabel beamed back at him. He cleared his throat.

"That thing you were worried about-?"

"Oh, it's all been taken care of, Nick," Isabel chuckled. "Everything is... perfect."

For a moment, Nick swore he saw a hint of red in his wife's eyes... Yet it vanished. He frowned but then shrugged as Isabel walked in and began to chat happily with her children.

Probably just a trick of the light, Nick reasoned, Still... Nice to see her smiling again.

- - -

A dark female figure stood at the edge of the woods. She stared at the Arc family through the large living room windows. Her red eyes were filled with tears that ran down her cheeks. She sobbed softly, before she bowed her head.

She turned away and vanished into a dark portal to return to the castle she was now bound to.

The Queen of the Grimm had a destiny to fulfill.

- - -

Bit more spooky but turned into something rather tragic. Still, I hope you enjoyed it.

 

[AllSlayer]

What We Like

​

3 years post AJT's canon

Jaune, Ren, and Whitley watch while nearly a dozen females are locked in what looks like one large fight to the death free-for-all. There were explosions and crashes everywhere. Screams and roars, with glyphs, petals, metal, smoke, shattering, and every different element being thrown around.

Jaune and Ren had quiet acceptance expressions on their faces. The only one looking even remotely concerned was Whitley who actually looked like he wanted to intervene but held himself back as he kept watching the chaos and glancing at the other two. Hell, they looked almost relaxed! Jaune was on his feet at least, even though he was leaning his left side against the tree next to him with one foot planted and the other crossed at the shin behind it the toes touching the ground. Ren on the other hand was sitting lotus position! He even had his eyes closed.

"Uh" Whitely started getting Jaune's eyes to shift to him and Ren to slightly tilt his head to show he was listening. "Are we going to do anything about them?" Whitley asked as they heard Nora roar and slamming her hammer into the ground causing even them to feel the ground quake as the area around her slam cracked and crumbled under the strain of the hit.

Hearing his question Ren opened his eyes and he and Jaune shared a quick look before his eyes re-closed. "No." was all Ren replied.

"B-but they are seriously destroying the clearing!" Whitely replied.

Jaune's eyes went back to the younger white haired young man. "We're aware. But their destruction is isolated and as long as they don't get too far from here Ozpin, Goodwitch, or anyone else won't care." Jaune gained a small smile and chuckled "Hell, Port may even commend them for the destruction." Ren snorted lightly trying to hide it behind a cough but the small smile he had betrayed his amusement for the joke.

"Ok, but they could seriously hurt each other!" Whitely argued.

This caused Ren to open his eyes again as he and Jaune shared another look. Ren at least looked a Whitely this time as he answered, "No, they won't. They are far too stubborn for that."

"Yeah, there is not much that can put any of them down. Hell, your partner is part of my cousin clan, the Fuujin. I know she is the youngest next to Ruby in there, but she seems to be holding up quite fine." Jaune added on.

That is when they heard a shout from a girl in an orange and black coat with an orange version of Yang's black short shorts. She had golden blonde hair similar to Jaune's in color that she had styled in a set of twin tails that went down to almost her mid-back. and blue eyes that were a couple of touches lighter than his but still darker than Weiss's. She threw her hands forward, and a huge wave of wind launched out of them sending most of the others away, other than the couple who could dodge or get some cover. Turning up the ground from the pressure in the process.

The three men had watched the attack. Jaune giving a low whistle seeing mostly successful attack and destruction it wrought. "Look at her go."

Ren nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Kiiro, seems to have gotten quite better with her output the last few months."

His words shook Whitely out of his daze at seeing the destruction his partner wrought. "Of course she has! With our training, I have been working here to get as much out of her wind as possible for as little aura usage as possible. Even though it doesn't matter much for her since she has a ridiculous level of reserves."

Jaune scratched the stubble on his chin in thought, "Yeah, our bloodline is quite known for a huge amount of aura. Glad to see she is getting a more refined control of it." He gets a sly smirk on his face as his eyes go back to Whitely. "Spending a lot of time with her huh?" Jaune asks with an innocent tone.

Whitely, whose eyes had gone back to the brawl, didn't see Jaune's face when he asked the question. "Of course, we're partners after all. I have to make sure the partner of a Schnee is amazing."

Jaune smirk became the grin of a Cheshire cat, "So she's amazing, huh?"

"Without question!" Whitely retorted. "She's more than amazing she's-" Whatever he was going to say tied in his thoughts as he slowly turned to Jaune and Ren sounding like a heavy metal door.

Jaune still had that damned grin of his while Ren had gained a small crooked smile, his eyes full of mirth.

Whitely gained a healthy blush, and on his pale white skin the redness was even more prominent.

"I actually been meaning to ask you both something." He said quietly his eyes aimed at the ground and head tilted that way as well.

Jaune and Ren lost their amused expressions and met each other's eyes again both having a small look of concern.

"Yeah of course man. What's the question?" Jaune gently prodded.

"Why are you guys with your partners? Most are the opposite of you. Like you, Jaune: Yang, my sister Weiss, Blake, Neo, and Cinder seem to be the exact opposite of you. I can understand Ruby or Pyrrha or even both. Both have matching or at least the closest personalities to you, yet you are with all of them where a majority are in "different categories". And you Ren, Nora is just about the polar opposite of you as someone can get. Even if she carried a torch for so long. Why are you with her when it seemed like she didn't work?

He had gained both their undivided attention, and he could see the gears turning behind their eyes. Again, they shared a look, and Ren gave him a slight nod, which Jaune returned. Jaune got up from his leaning position to fully straighten and turn to the young man.

"While it's true our relationships don't fully make sense, hell even I am still surprised by mine. I don't know how I got so many girls interested in me and I am still amazed I have kept all of them happy these last 2 years. But even though they are all so different on the surface, they are all so much deeper than those couple surface-level stuff they show off. All of them are so wonderfully kind and caring, that a couple have to have it coaxed out, but I have seen they are enjoying how much they are helping people now. And if not fully that, I know they love seeing how happy I am at all the good they do. And even though it isn't fully for the right reasons I am still glad they are doing good now."

"Yes, most have some emotional baggage or some issues but who doesn't? No one is perfect. It is seeing all the good and bad of a person and still staying with them through the ups and downs of life as they do the same for you."

Ren nodded his head, "Indeed, Nora and I met on the worst day of my life. And we stuck together for years. We have been to each other's rocks that entire time. I have loved her for as long as she loved me. But I always feared I wasn't good enough for her, that she deserved someone more expressive or emotional than me. But she finally beat into my head she didn't want that and she decided who was good enough for her, and in her eyes, I was the only person good enough."

"W-wow," Whitely stuttered out. Amazed by how beautiful their explanations were. They were so deep and full of meaning it almost him want to lose a few tears for how moved he felt.

"But honestly?" Jaune said gaining a slightly embarrassed expression with Ren matching him. Whitely looking at them in confusion.

"We like a pretty girl that can fight." Jaune and Ren said in almost perfect unison.

Whitely's reality cracked at that as he gave them the best deadpan look he could give. It had nothing on the stoicism that was Ren's been he got pretty close.

"This can't be real life." Whitely said with a groan.

"Yet it is," Jaune responded as they all turned their expression to the brawl that seemed to be finishing up.

"Oh, you break my cousin's heart? I castrate you." Jaune nonchalantly says

"Wait what?!"

Ren nodded, "I'll help if it happens."



Phew this got way deeper near the end there then I wanted it to, I blame the music I was listening to.

Also yes the blonde OC is genderbent Naruto if she was in the RWBY world. Kiiro means yellow in Japanese.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

After that, Jaune decided against any more matchmaking. It just wasn't going to end well. He couldn't get a Nat 20 every time, after all.

So he helped Yang and Ruby with setting up the decor for the dance in the Grand Ballroom. Hanging streamers, setting up the lights, and the bandstand...

Jaune: "Okay... We didn't get the Achieve Men, thank God, but we got a nice Fuujin band on their Valean tour to perform."

Yang: "A heavy metal maid band?"

Jaune: grins and shrugs "They're pretty awesome to listen to, gimmick aside. Also, nice color choices!"

Yang: "Thanks! I did actually learn some charm school stuff from Sister Lucy on Patch."

Jaune: "Wow... What's she like?"

Yang: "She's pretty awesome for an old lady. She helped Ruby and I with our homework when Dad couldn't do it, taught us cooking, cleaning, knitting, all sorts of things. She helped Uncle Qrow get Dad back into shape too... Mostly by yelling at him and waving her cane."

Jaune: "Heh... She sounds incredible."

Yang: "You wanna meet her? I mean... I did meet your parents."

Jaune: "I'm uh... I mean, sure. Shouldn't I meet your dad first?"

Yang: "I thought we were taking it slow? You wanna start picking out rings, VB?" winks "I could give you a ring right now~."

Jaune: "I-You-But-!"

Yang giggled. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "Geez..."

Yang: "Gotta keep you on your toes, VB." She nuzzled him "Mmm..."

Jaune: "Thanks. I just... I mean... How do you feel about this? I feel like I'm making a lot of decisions here and maybe I'm not listening to you as much as I should."

Yang: "You act like this stern alpha male in battle but now you're asking about my feelings?"

Jaune: "Says the biker chick who knows how to make amazing pancakes and has an apron that says-"

Yang punches him lightly in the side with red cheeks. Jaune snickers.

Jaune: "Owww...! What? It's cute!"

Yang: "Just-Not so loud, okay?"

Jaune: "Why? I like that you don't fit into any one box."

Yang: "Y-yeah, well... I like that about you, too." Smiles and nuzzles him "Hmmm... I mean... I'll admit I kind of... Worry... About you getting stolen away."

Jaune: "Yang-"

Yang: "But the fact you actually care about me so much and aren't just rushing to... To the good parts? That means everything."

Jaune: genuinely confused "These are the good parts, Yang."

Yang: bright red "..." She kissed him deeply and wrapped her arms around him "Mmmm~..."

Jaune: "Mmph?! Mmmm...!"

Jaune's Brain: Holy shit this is amazing I love this so much...! MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE-HOLY SHIT!

Glynda: "AHEM."

The two blonds separate, blushing brightly.

Glynda: "I believe you two have work to do? Which doesn't involve making out?"

Yang: "C-Come on, Professor! We were just uh... Getting in the spirit of things!"

Jaune: "T-Totally!"

Glynda: "That requires your tongues to be in eachother's mouths?"

Yang: "... Yes."

Glynda: "Please Miss Xiao-Long... Wait for that until your senior year at least?" Glares at Jaune "Even your parents were able to graduate before full consummation."

Jaune: "Shows what you know. My oldest sister Saphron was born exactly nine months after the liberation of Pandu. So she was at the graduation ceremony too."

Glynda: "And if you want to see your own graduation ceremony, you'll both get back to work!"

Yang and Jaune: "Yes ma'am!"

They do get back to work. Jaune is under a LOT of scrunity by Goodwitch... While Yang watches him with a dreamy look in her eyes.

She recalls a fairy tale Sister Lucy and her mother read her... About a Knight and a Princess.

"Take my hand," said the knight to the princess, "for the world is a big and scary place. I will protect you from all danger, and you will protect me when I fall. And we will walk this world, hand in hand, together."

It was just a childhood story and so much in her life made her doubt it... But when she was with Jaune? She wanted to believe.

Click to shrink...

It seemed like it took forever but the night of the dance finally arrived. JNPR was all set and ready. They walked out of their dormroom to wait on RWBY in the hallway.

Pyrrha: "Y-You look great, Jaune."

Jaune's Brain: Ohhh my God she's hot. She's unbelievably hot. Like Starfire drawn by a pro hentai artist hot. GAH! No, no... I am not going to think about it. Don't focus on it! She's beautiful and your FRIEND... That's it! A friend who is madly in love with you-SHUT UP!

Jaune: "You too." He smiled "And I'll save you a dance tonight."

Pyrrha: "Oh, thank you!"

Jaune: "But, you're also going to go out and dance with some other guys, all right?"

Pyrrha: flush "... I mean... If you want me to-"

Jaune: "No, that's not what I meant. I mean I want you to have a good time, Pyr. Really."

Jaune's Brain: That should help...

Pyrrha: "I... I see."

Nora: "We're totally gonna have a great time! Ooh! Ooh! I can't wait for Ren to shoot a bottle and get me a stuffed sloth doll!"

Jaune: "Er, we don't have that at the dance Nora."

Nora: "What?! What kind of a dance is this?!"

Jaune: "But that will be available at the Vytal Festival! You just need to be a little patient, okay?"

Nora: "Hmmm... Renny? Will you shoot a bottle and get me a stuffed sloth at the festival?"

Ren: "Of course."

Nora: beams "YAY! I am appeased!"

The door to RWBY's dormroom opens. Ruby comes out first in her dress and heels. She pouts.

Ruby: "Ugh. I hate lady stilts!"

Jaune: "You still look nice, Ruby."

Ruby: "R-Really?" blush "Thanks!"

Weiss emerges next, shaking her head at Ruby.

Weiss: "You can literally run up vertical surfaces and yet you have an issue with high heels?"

Ruby: "It's totally different pressures and mechanics involved, darnit! Why do we even wear these things?"

Jaune: "Makes you look taller and shows off your legs."

Ruby: bright red "... Huh... Um... I mean, that doesn't sound too bad..."

Blake emerges next, and gives Jaune a smile.

Blake: "Hello Jaune."

Jaune: "Hello Blake. You look very nice."

Jaune's Brain: Ohhh fuck she's hot. She's so hot... WHY ARE THEY ALL SO HOT?! EVEN RUBY IS HOT! HOW DO I DEAL WITH THAT?!

Blake: smiles "Are you sure that's all you want to say?"

Jaune: tightly "Yes. Very."

Blake: "Hmph. Well, here's Yang."

Blake moves aside. Jaune of course recalls how Yang looked in the show and in fanart... None of it does the real thing justice.

Yang: "H-Hey... So uh... How do I look?"

Jaune: "..."

Jaune's Brain: Say something... SAY SOMETHING. SAY THE FIRST THING TO COME TO MIND!

Yang: "Um... Jaune?"

Jaune: "... Humina... Pretty..."

Blake: "I think you broke his brain."

Weiss: "He had a brain?"

Jaune: shakes his head rapidly "I mean... You look amazing, Yang. Like an angel."

Yang: flush "Geez... You don't usually go for the flowery praise, you know."

Jaune: "Oh? Is that a problem-?"

Yang takes his arm and leans against him with a smile.

Yang: "Nope. Keep it up, Wordsmith. After all, a pun is like poetry."

Weiss: "They are not remotely the same."

Yang: "Says you!"

The part heads out to the ballroom. They run into May, who is in a beautiful red and gold sari. Her escort is... A surprise.

Weiss: "Neptune?!"

Neptune: "Hm? Oh, hey Snow Angel. I just asked the princess if she wanted to go to the dance, and she said yes." He grins and winks "I'm gonna show her a great time!"

May: "Oh, um, thank you. Hello Jaune! Hello everyone!" beams

Jaune: "Hey May! You look very nice."

Neptune: grins "Arc. I'm going out with your godsister. Hope you don't mind?"

Jaune: "Dude, it's not me you have to worry about. May is a sniper after all. And her dad is the best archer in the world. He could probably hit you from Vale if you make her cry."

Neptune: gulps "Uh... N-Not that I'm going to! Not at all!"

May: giggles "It's appreciated, Jaune, but don't worry! Neptune's a nice guy... When he doesn't strut so much."

Neptune: "Oh, hey!"

They head off ahead of the group. Weiss scowls after them.

Ruby: "You okay Weiss?"

Weiss: "I'm fine... Jaune? May I also get in a dance with you?"

Jaune: "Er... If Yang's okay with it?"

Yang: "Yeah, I'm okay with it."

Cardin and Velvet show up next. Velvet looks radiant, even as her belly begins to round from her pregnancy. Cardin has an arm around her shoulders protectively.

Jaune: "Hey guys!"

Blake: "Hello Velvet!"

Cardin: "Hey!"

Velvet: "Hey!" She giggles "This is so exciting! I'm glad Coco could adjust my dress in time for the dance!"

Jaune: "You look great!"

Velvet: "Aw, thank you!" snuggles with Cardin "Mmm... Cardin liked it too. We nearly didn't get out on time~."

Cardin: pleased blush "Velv, c-come on..."

Velvet: "Awww... But I wanna show off my wonderful man~!"

Cardin: "Just... Not all the time, huh?"

Velvet: "Aww... All right." kisses his cheek "Mmm... Anyway, see you inside!"

They leave. Nora blinks.

Nora: "Wow. They're really affectionate, huh?"

Ren: "Yes."

Yang: "Why aren't we like that, Jaune?"

Weiss: "Because we'd kill you if you were that disgusting all the time?"

Yang: "Bring it on~! You might get a hit on me if I was making out with Jaune~!"

Weiss: "Why you-!"

Cinder and her team show up. Emerald and Mercury are holding hands. Mint is prancing about in her dress and shooting flirty looks at Jaune. Cinder... Is less than pleased with her date.

Cinder: "Hello all."

Jaune: "Hey Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, Mint... Jack."

Jackie Arc is Jaune's cousin. He resembles Jaune in most details save for his greener eyes, messier shorter hair, and air of douche. He's in a loud green suit and grins back.

Jack: "Hey Cousin Jaune! Wow... You got yerself a whole harem!"

Jaune: "They're friends."

Jack: "Well, maybe they'd like to be my friends too-?" Cinder twists his hand painfully "OW OWOWOWOW! CUZ! HELP!"

Jaune: "I admire your restrait, Cinder. Usually I wanna deck him after five minutes of listening to him."

Cinder: twitch "I'm sure he'll behave himself the rest of the night. Won't he?"

Jack: "Y-YES! YES! TOTALLY!"

Cinder lets him go and smiles dangerously.

Cinder: "Good~."

Pyrrha: "So... You're Jaune's Cousin? It's nice to meet you!"

Jack: "Oh boy, it absolutely is! Man, Pyrrha Nikos in a dress? You know, I do photography for a... Fairly reputable website. I was wondering if I could get you to pose-?"

Cinder looks like she's about to melt Jack's head off. Of course, she can't.

Jaune: "Anyway! Why don't we all go inside?"

Yang: "Yeah, we need to be at the front desk anyway."

Cinder: "Sounds good."

Cinder's entourage enters. RWBY and JNPR head in too. Jaune and Yang take their seats at the front desk and begin to take tickets.

Ruby: "I mean... All those people..."

Jaune: "Relax Ruby. Look! There's Penny!"

Penny arrives with a happy smile. She takes Ruby's hands in hers.

Penny: "Hello Friend Ruby! I am so looking forward to this dance, aren't you?"

Ruby: beams "Definitely am now!"

They head off. Jaune and Yang relax a bit.

Yang: "I'm glad she'll have Penny along... Though it might mean that there's a fire by the end of it."

Jaune: "Oh, I'm pretty sure there will be one..."

Yang: "By the way, why did you set up your cousin with Cindy? You want her to hate you?"

Jaune's Brain: Well I do want to torture her a little since she is evil...

Jaune: "Eh... Maybe she'll whip Jack into shape. I gotta look out for family, after all..."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Ruby was practically bouncing up and down for joy as she stood in the comic book shop line. Jaune was right behind her, similarly excited though not as bouncy.

"Oh my God oh my God oh my God, I can't believe that the Tim Pellegri is here and signing copies of Kamen Vale!" She squealed softly. It was absorbed by the shelves upon shelves of comic books and collectibles around them, but the rotund nerd ahead of them turned around and shushed her anyway. "Sorry!"

"It's cool," Jaune said with a smile, "I'm excited too. Just uh... Easy, huh? Poor Zwei's gonna hear you from here and come running."

Ruby scowled at her best male friend in the whole wide world.

"Are you saying my voice is squeaky?"

"I don't have to say that," Jaune said playfully, "You kind of prove it every time you speak."

"Oooh!" Ruby pouted. "Big talk from Mister Ukulele! It's not even a real instrument!"

"Is too," Jaune retorted, "Kamehameha Island made it its official instrument!"

"I-I'm just saying, nobody uses a weaponized ukelele in comics," Ruby sniffed.

"Well yeah, you couldn't hit anyone hard enough with one," Jaune nodded, "You'd want like, a bass guitar at least."

"Yeah but then you'd just break it," Ruby hummed, "Unless you built it with a proper aluminum frame..."

"I don't think an aluminum guitar would sound great, Rubes," Jaune deadpanned. Ruby shook her head.

"It can just be electric!"

"It doesn't sound the same!"

"Ugh, why are you such a music pendant?" Ruby groaned. Jaune shrugged.

"My mom made us all take piano lessons. Said it would let us do better in school."

"Did it?" Ruby asked, curious. "Cause I can make synth music with my electronics but I don't think it made me better at school!"

"I... Huh," Jaune rubbed his chin, "That is a good question."

"Next!"

Ruby and Jaune looked up. There was an impatient security guard standing in front of the table where the comic book writer sat patiently. Nearby was the entrance into the back of the store, protected by a simple purple curtain. Ruby and Jaune flushed.

"Oh!"

They immediately walked up to the desk and held out their copies of Kamen Vale: Volume 1. The comic creator, a balding man of Mistralian descent in a blue T-shirt with the titular character emblazoned on it, smiled and dutifully signed both books.

"Thanks for coming out guys," Chris said thankfully, "It means a lot! Promoting an indie book is still pretty tough."

"Oh, but this is great!" Ruby gushed, "I love how you present the struggles of a reluctant superheroine! She's reluctant not because of deep personal hang ups but because she's got no experience! And now she has to handle things herself because of all the people who tried to exploit her!"

"Yes, exactly!" Chris said with a vigorous nod.

"I like that she makes friends but also misses out on things," Jaune added. "Makes it feel a lot more, well, real."

"Yes," Chris said with a nod, "'Realistic' has kind of become a buzzword. A lot of people think it means everyone has to be an asshole. But for every bad person being selfish in the world, there are others who act kindly and responsibly. I don't think it's more realistic for everyone to be a jerk."

"Totally!" Ruby grinned. "So uh-Like-Did you base Kamen Vale on anyone in particular?"

Chris sucked in a breath.

"Oh, well-"

A truly drop dead gorgeous blonde woman with curves and a chest that might make even Professor Goodwitch envious stepped out from behind the curtain. She was dressed in the tight body suit and mask of Kamen Vale, her blue eyes glowing with mirth.

"I might have had a hand in it," the woman said in a silky smooth voice with a hint of an Altesian accent, "Isn't that right, Chris?"

"Y-Yeah, yeah," Chris managed. Ruby's eyes widened. She let out a high pitched squeal.

"Oh my God oh my God oh my God-Jaune-Jaune we gotta get a selfie-Jaune-?!"

Jaune's eyes were wide. At first Ruby scowled: Seriously?! Ogling a hot blonde bombshell when she was here?! It was so... Irritating!

"Aunt Irene?" Jaune breathed.

Irene's eyes widened behind her mask.

"Oh... Hello Jaune."

- - -

They met Irene in a cafe nearby as the weather was nice enough for it. She'd switched to more casual clothing: A white skirt, matching jacket, and white blouse that did everything possible to show off her body and made Ruby feel like a stick.

She normally didn't really care about this kind of stuff but... But Jaune was here and somehow that made things different. In a way she couldn't really articulate.

Irene calmly sipped some tea and smiled over it at Jaune and Ruby. The sounds of the city washed over them.

"Sorry I didn't call ahead," Irene apologized, "It was kind of a last minute job."

"No, no! That's totally fine!" Jaune said with a happy smile. He turned to Ruby. "Ruby, this is my aunt Irene. Auntie, this is Ruby Rose, my best friend at Beacon!"

"H-Hello," Ruby managed. She tilted her head. "So um... Are you like a real aunt or an honorary aunt? Because it's a little confusing."

Irene chuckled.

"The Arc family can be like that. But no, I am the younger sister of Jaune's mother. We have three brothers: Alexander, whom you've already met, Ken, and Trey. Isabel, Jaune's mother, is the eldest."

"Oh, I see," Ruby nodded. Honestly, she kind of found learning about families interesting. She knew so little about her own. "So, what do you do for work? I mean, are you a full time model?"

"Oh, me?" Irene chuckled modestly, "No, no. I do it from time to time to pay the bills and help with my freelance work. I actually do a lot of teaching."

"Teaching?" Ruby asked eagerly, "Teaching what?"

"Vytalese, believe it or not," Irene said with a smile and shrug, "It's the lingua franca of commerce thanks to their old Empire and plenty of places still don't speak it. Lets me travel a lot."

"Oh," Ruby said with a nod, "But uh... Um... Why is your Aura activated?"

Irene raised an eyebrow at Ruby.

"You saw that huh?" Irene asked quietly. There was a hint of a deadly edge in her voice, like she was about to pull a knife. Ruby winced.

Oh no... Did I offend her?!

"She has to travel to rough places sometimes," Jaune said with a smile, "That's what you said, right Auntie?"

Irene again was all smiles as she sipped her tea.

"Indeed. But honestly, I don't do much fighting. I'm not as good at it as I could be."

"O-Oh, sure!" Ruby nodded eagerly.

"It's good to see you doing well, Jaune," Irene said with a smile at her nephew, "I didn't think Izzy would ever let you leave the nest!"

"Um..." Jaune winced. Irene raised an eyebrow, then smirked.

"Oho? You ran away from home? That explains why she's been so tense when we talk."

Jaune winced harder. Ruby patted her best friend on his forearm.

"I just... I was going to realize my dream, one way or another," Jaune admitted quietly.

"Good."

Both teens looked up at the older women. Irene smiled proudly.

"When our parents died, your mother insisted on taking care of all of us," she said, "She was always stubborn. She wanted to make sure we could be happy and pursue our dreams. She sacrificed so much to make money and send it back to us. To let us keep the farm, to stay a family."

Irene sighed and shook her head.

"She made enough money to send Alex to seminary. Send Ken to financial school, Trey to a maritime academy. But she acted like our mother more than our sister. She thought she had to control everything we did just to ensure we were safe. That wasn't the case with us, and it wasn't with you. It's high time she learned this lesson."

"Wow... Thank you Auntie," Jaune said with a smile. Irene nodded fondly. Ruby blinked.

"Um... Where did she send you?" Ruby asked.

A dark look passed over Irene's face. It passed before she smiled beatifically.

"Oh, she sent me to Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy For Girls in Vale City," Irene explained, "Where I was to learn how to become a rich, proper lady."

Ruby's eyes widened. Jaune nodded with a grin.

"And Auntie's been an incredible lady ever since!"

"Mm, indeed," Irene said with a nod. "Oh, Jaune? Mind getting us some more tea?"

"Sure!" Jaune said cheerfully. He got up and headed back into the cafe. Ruby stared at Irene in horror.

"So," Irene said quietly, "You know?"

"I... Y-Yeah," Ruby managed in shocked horror, "Uncle Qrow helped with the... The cleanup. He told us stuff when he was... Um... Drunk."

Irene nodded slowly and set her tea cup down. Ruby steeled her courage.

"So... You're-They made you into a-?"

"I'm a teacher, that is what I do," Irene said quietly. "It's what I love doing. But my skills allow me to help out from time to time and ensure what happened to me? Will never happen to anyone else."

She smirked slightly.

"Plus, it pays really well."

"I-I see," Ruby muttered. Her eyes widened again.

"You-You're not-You don't have to kill me-I-I won't tell-!"

Irene chuckled again, an elegant sound.

"Relax sweetie," Irene said, "Do you think my cover so flimsy that you could blow it?"

"W-Well," Ruby pouted a little, "I mean I could! N-Not that I would! Honest!"

Irene nodded slowly. There was just a tiny hint of vulnerability around the woman's eyes.

"I know. I just ask that you don't tell Jaune. I... Do care about his opinion and if I tell him? I want it to be on my terms."

Ruby thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I-I won't. Promise."

Irene smiled.

"Good... I'm glad you're his friend. He was so sheltered for much of his life because of his illness. So shy, so awkward... Thank you."

Ruby blushed bright red.

"I um... I-I'm not much better," Ruby mumbled, "And I'm not very... I don't know if I'm a good friend back. I-I don't really know how to be. I-I think I do? But it's so hard sometimes and... Um, well..."

Irene scooted her chair around the table to sit right next to Ruby. Her smile was full of warmth. She reached out and squeezed Ruby's hand gently.

"Nobody is an expert at anything overnight," she said quietly, "It took me years to open up. To stand on my own. I'm sure you will too one day. So cut yourself some slack on that end, and take it a day at a time. Forcing it will not make it better. It will only make it artificial, a tool."

She shook her head.

"You don't want to become an empty shell who sees interacting with humans as just a game or a job," she said softly. "I almost became that if not for my friends and family. So please... Take good care of them."

Ruby nodded back, very seriously.

Jaune walked into view, carrying more tea on a serving platter. He grinned as he set it out.

"Just the way you like it, Auntie! You too, Ruby!"

"Thanks Jaune," Ruby said, smiling warmly at her best friend. He sat back down. Irene's Scroll went off and she checked it. She sighed in resignation.

"Oh darn. I need to meet with a client," she sighed. She beamed at Jaune apologetically. "Sorry Jaune. I'll meet back up with you and your friend next week?"

"That would be great!" Jaune nodded. Irene stood up and walked over to him. He stood up again and they hugged tightly. She planted a kiss on the top of his head and patted his shoulder. She smiled at Ruby.

"It was nice to meet you too, Ruby. Remember what I said, okay?"

"S-Sure," Ruby nodded with a nervous but grateful smile back. Irene turned and walked away, vanishing into the crowd. Jaune sat back down with Ruby, smiling at her.

"So uh... What do you think?" Jaune asked nervously.

"I think she's pretty cool," Ruby said with a smile.

"Yeah, she is," Jaune agreed. "Sometimes I feel like she's not telling me everything... But that's okay. I still think she's amazing."

"Y-Yeah," Ruby said softly. She scooted a little closer to Jaune. "So um... How did you get into Kamen Vale?"

"Oh, well, Auntie Irene told me about this thing she was doing and..."

- - -

The Amalthea Hotel was one of the jewels of Old Vale: A gorgeous high rise skyscraper, a symphony in glass, marble, and steel that still shone in the skyline like a beacon. It was the hotel, with a ground based casino, five star restaurants, pools, arcades, and many other distractions for eager tourists to the capital of Vale.

One of many penthouse suites on the upper floors was occupied by a black bearded, swarthy man of prodigious girth. He was dressed in a fine red silk robe and held a glass of wine in his hand as he surveyed the city.

He was Aizere Rakhimov, a rich Mistralian businessman from the Temujin Sub-Kingdom. He relaxed as he took in the view of the city, his grin oily and broad.

"Well... If the Valean underworld is gonna lose its head, another must take over," he chuckled to himself. He didn't know how it had happened, but Roman Torchwick had been left the most powerful man in Vale's underworld. Nature abhorred a vacuum, after all. Aizere had invested previously in Vale, and now? It was time to reap the rewards.

The doorbell rang. His grin widened as he licked his lips.

Speaking of rewards...

"Enter!"

The door opened. A beautiful woman in a skintight outfit and mask walked in. She smiled dutifully at Aizere, and struck a heroic pose.

"I believe you called for a heroine, sir?" She asked in a silky, seductive tone.

"I did," Aizere chuckled, "My son is a fan of these comics... I thought it would be good to understand the appeal."

"Oh?" She asked, tilting her head. "You have that kind of interest?"

Aizere shrugged and sat down on the decadent couch. He gestured with his hand, and the woman slunk right up to him. She settled down in his lap with a smile that was pure honey, as the Mistralian crime lord chuckled.

"Well... I'll be coming into Vale more often for my business interests," he said, "I should get to know the people and culture better, mmm~?"

"Of course, sir," she simpered, "A crime lord should know all about what he's getting into~."

Aizere paused. He frowned at the costumed prostitute.

"What makes you think I'm a crime lord?"

"Because my dear Aizere," here the woman's smile became positively terrifying as she placed a finger against his carotid artery:

"I'm paid to kill crime lords. Especially those who profitted off of academies that turned innocent girls into weapons."

A pulse of Aura went through his blood vessels right to his brain. He fell limp, unable to move a muscle. He couldn't even groan as she stood up and continued to smile in that terrifying way.

"A little technique my sister taught me," she said, "But the rest of this? It's just what I was trained to do."

Aizere wet himself in his terror as the woman loomed over him.

"I hope you appreciate it," she whispered as she drew her knives.

- - -

Naturally Irene Arc is based upon Irina Jelavic from Assassination Classroom and Natasha Romanov, aka Black Widow, from Marvel.