[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

Another idea we had on the Discord? Atlas has developed prototype mind diving technology that allows you to go into another person's head. They actually manage to capture Cinder, and Jaune volunteers to dive into her head to learn what she knows. Turns out that thanks to the Maiden Power Transfer, a tiny bit of Pyrrha's Aura got into Cinder when she died, and Jaune's Aura was awakened by Pyrrha. And Jaune has an enormous amount of Aura so he could, in theory, hold his own when it comes to sheer power.

So in Cinder's head it's a battle of wills. Deception, illusions, fighting against one another with memories and emotions. Each using the other's pain and worst memories against each other.

But Jaune gets a helping hand from what's left of Pyrrha's Aura. He thinks maybe there's a chance to save her, to get her soul out and into a robot body. To bring her back to life. With her help, he's able to break Cinder, and find her core: A scared, abused little girl in the Glass Unicorn.

He helps her see she doesn't need power or to hurt people to feel safe. And she agrees to work with them. He turns to Pyrrha's remnant to get her out with him... But.

Pyrrha's remnant isn't trying to get herself saved.

Pyrrha: "I'm sorry... I'm dead. When this is over... I'll be gone. Except in your memories."

Jaune: "No... No, please... Please... I can't..."

Pyrrha: "I know... I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to say... Goodbye Jaune. I love you. And please... Find a way to be happy. Find a way for all of you to be happy..."

Jaune: "I was only strong because you... You made me that way."

Pyrrha: "You became strong for those who needed you... And they still do."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

For Titanmaster_117



Training with Arslan



- - -



It wasn't that Jaune was unhappy with more training. Pyrrha had helped him improve by leaps and bounds in combat. Nora had helped him with exercise and how to get the most out of his work outs. Ren was invaluable in helping him learn to control his Aura and how to meditate to maintain his calm. Even RWBY helped out here and there where they could. All so he could get better



Arslan Atlan's training was a bit different though. She was the one who had asked him to train with her. But what Jaune could teach her? He hadn't the foggiest.



Pyrrha had said Arslan was her toughest opponent and self-declared rival at Sanctum Academy. He also knew she was a Stonebreaker, a Warrior Nun of the Tablebreaker church. Jaune was part of that church too, but given her Sash of Mastery, there was nothing he could teach her.



Still, while Pyrrha said she could be very aggressive, she never said anything bad about her character. So he went to meet her in the Star Maiden Garden near the main courtyard of Beacon proper. It was very pretty, with several white marble tables and benches nestled amidst trees and rose bushes.



Arslan was sitting in a meditative pose on the grass in front of a fountain, looking as peaceful and serene as her surroundings. A few birds and squirrels were scampering around her, as though she was one with creation. Combined with her beauty, it was a picturesque scene.



He walked up and stopped a few feet in front of her. He waited nervously, holding in an awkward cough.



Arslan opened her eyes and looked up at him with her amber eyes.



"Hello Jaune," she spoke in a melodic, smoky voice. Jaune nodded politely.



"Hello, um, Sister Altan."



Arslan frowned, her expression familiar: Disappointment. Jaune winced-What had he done?



"You don't recognize me, Jaune?" She asked softly. Jaune coughed, and wracked his brains.



"Er, um... No, I don't," Jaune said, "I'm sorry."



Arslan sighed softly.



"I suppose it was a long time for both of us," she admitted. She then stood up. She walked up close to him, her expression serious. Jaune gulped, worried at what her next move would be.



She then... Held up her hands like kitty paws, smiled, and tilted her head. She winked cutely, and opened her mouth enough to show off a snaggletooth.



"How about now, nyah~?"



Jaune's jaw dropped. A summer or two of fun and adventure with a fun girl came back to him.



"Arsly?!" He gasped. Arslan chuckled and hugged him tightly, a hug he eagerly returned. "It's been so long! I'm so glad to see you-How are you?!"



"I'm wonderful, thank you," Arslan said with a happy smile. She nuzzled him, which made him blush deeply. "Mm! I'm so glad! How are your parents?"



"Great!" Jaune said happily. "I didn't know you'd achieved your dream!"



"Well, almost," Arslan said, her face becoming serious again, "Though your father and uncle helped me with part of it."



"Part of it?" Jaune whistled. "You're a Level 11 Stonebreaker! That makes you one of the strongest fighters in the Mistralian church! Pyrrha says you're absolutely amazing!"



Arslan flushed lightly, then smiled.



"That was part of my dream, and I'm very proud to have made it so far," she said, "But there is another part of my dream. That part involves you."



"Me?" Jaune asked. He flushed. "I uh, I can't say I know how I can help you-"



"Jaune," Arslan took his hands between hers, looking intently into his blue eyes, "You showed me so much kindness and sincerity those two years I was in Radian. I never forgot it. You swore you would become a great Huntsman, who would protect the weak and save people."



"I did," Jaune said with a nostalgic smile. Despite all the difficulties and stress, he did remember the promise he'd made. "It was... Impulsive and childish-"



"But you are making it happen nonetheless," Arslan said fondly. "And my dream was to be a great Stonebreaker. And we promised... We would do it together."



Jaune's cheeks went a darker red.



"O-Oh... Well, um... I'm sorry I forgot that part," Jaune said quietly.



"It's all right," Arslan said warmly. "I just want you to know that I'm happy we can fulfill that promise together."



"Oh!" Jaune chuckled. He sighed in relief. Arslan blinked.



"Hm? What?"



"Er, um... I was just worried that I uh... I might have promised to marry you or something! And you might have been angry that I forgot!"



Arslan raised an eyebrow.



"Really Jaune," she said with a fond smile, "That's a bit too far, don't you think?"



"Yeah, probably," Jaune said with a nod.



"Besides," Arslan said warmly, "I haven't even asked you to be my boyfriend yet. Marriage is a step too far right now."



"Yeah, it is," Jaune chuckled. A chuckle that died as his eyes widened. "I... Wait what?"



Arslan smiled gently.



"Will you be my boyfriend, Jaune Arc?"



Jaune's jaw dropped.



"I uh... Um... I-I mean uh... I-I need to think about it-"



She pulled him into a warm, gentle kiss. It sent electricity shooting through him, and his arms went around her waist.



Is... Is that her tongue? Jaune thought in amazement.



Arslan pulled back, panting for breath. Jaune wasn't much better, gasping like he'd run a marathon.



"Still need to think about it?" Arslan asked, a bit smugly.



Jaune opened his mouth. He really should say 'no'. He'd had a disaster of a romance (if you could call it that) with Weiss. It was too soon, he was just getting his head on straight and taking school seriously-



"Okay."



Arslan purred happily, and kissed him again. He mentally sighed and hugged her back as he deepened the kiss.



Well... It's not like this could be a bad thing, right?



Somewhere, Pyrrha crushed her Scroll between her fingers and wasn't entirely sure why.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The Hunters-in-training of Beacon were enjoying a day out on the quad, just soaking up the sunshine. Ren and Jaune had even prepared a picnic lunch for their team and RWBY, and they were enjoying it. Though not without some complaints.



Pyrrha: "Ruby, you've spent long enough in Jaune's lap."



Ruby: "Nuh uh! I called it!"



Nora: "Nobody's taking Ren's lap! Everyone take Jaune's!"



Jaune: "It's fine guys, it's fine! It's not that big a deal."



Yang: "Well then, it's my turn next~."



Jaune coughs.



Weiss: "Ugh. Nobody's around, you don't have to fake that you like him!"



Blake: "You don't have to fake you don't like him."



Weiss: Blush "SHUSH!"



All of a sudden, a saucer-shaped airship flies overhead. It soon lands, scattering many students. RWBY, JNPR, and some other teams stand up, alert and ready in case things got ugly.



Weiss: "They can't land here! It's a no fly zone!"



Yang: "Yeah, that's the main takeaway, Weisscream."



A hatch slides open on the side of the craft, a gantry extends... And one at a time, dark skinned men in red, white and blue jerseys and shorts, dribbling basketballs, emerge and line up on the lawn outside the craft. Their leader, a man with keen eyes and an incredible afro, walked out last and took the center.



Ethan "Bubblegum" Tate: "People of Vale! I am Ethan "Bubblegum" Tate, leader of the Harlem Globetrotters!"



Many gasps fill the air.



Blake: "The elite sports warriors of the independent kingdom of New Harlem?!"



Weiss: "The Sultans of Swoosh?!"



Ruby: "The Thunder from Downunder?!"



Tate: "All of those but the last one, yes! For years, we have lived in peace with Vale! But now, we have come for a reason!"



He points at Jaune.



Tate: "JAUNE ARC! COME FORTH!"



Everyone stares at him. Jaune gulps.



Ruby: "Why is it always you the cool stuff happens to?!"



Jaune: "You call this cool?!"



Pyrrha: "Why do you want him?"



Tate: "For he is the son of the only Valean Man who Could Jump: NICHOLAS ARC!"



Jaune: "Wait... Uncle Bubblegum?!"



Tate: "YES!"



Weiss: groans "Of course Jaune knows these weirdos! Is there anyone strange he DOESN'T know?!"



Jaune: "Er... Well, it's nice to see you again."



Tate: "IT IS! But now that you have begun the journey to become a Huntsman like your father, we have decided to test you in a game of basketball! You will assembly a team and engage us in a game of skill and hilarious antics! We shall see if you have the same level of game as your father!"



Yang: "What happens if he loses?"



Tate: "NOTHING! There are no stakes and no consequences, save the ignominy of defeat!"



Jaune: "Well, I-"



Nora: "YOU'RE ON! WE WILL DEFEAT YOU IN THE UPCOMING SPACE JAM!"



Tate: "A NAME FOR THE GAME HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED, YOUNG HAMMER GIRL!"



Nora: "Oh."



Tate: "But we'll use that one instead because I like your spirit!"



Nora: "YAY!"



- - -



Given the crossovers the Harlem Globetrotters did in various cartoons and Futurama, and given RWBY's own crossovers, I thought... What the hell?

 

[SharkCultist]

Yang Xaoi-long got her ass kicked.

Oh don't get her wrong she had lost fights before, but she never got torn apart as badly as she did by that mute shorty on the train.

She needed more training. Beacon classes are great but they're both generalized combat instructions and half the classes aren't even combat focused.

She needs specialized hand-to-hand brutal training. And she ain't getting it here.

So half joking Yang put in a request for leave with the reasoning given being "training trip".

She was surprised that it was approved within the hour. She was even more surprised it came with directions.

Guess Ozpin has a since of humor since he sent her on a wild goose chase. Nobody finds the Master of Fist. But fuck it we ball.

---

Resin was a hot ass town. Situated at the top of a small mountain surrounded by a lake. It was hot, humid, and a tiring climb.

And to make it worse.

"You ready to show me your rhythm?"

She'd been followed since the bottom of the mountain by this weirdo!

Super thick coke bottle glasses, a pink colored afro, and clad in nothing but platform shoes, pink boxing gloves and orange boxers shorts. The man was a walking disaster.

His name is Boogie and he's been waiting for someone to "dance" with him forever. Nobody ever takes him up on the offer.

Gee I wonder why.

But at least now she was at the top of the mountain. She could ditch this clown, get a shower, and start looking for the master.


Eeeeexcept the town is empty. Well there's the big ass beringel with cement fucking boxing gloves in the middle of the square. Oh and it's starting to rain. Humidity. Yay.

"What the fu-"

He hits like a train. Or a 600 pound creature of darkness with cement hands.

"Oh dang, helluva wipeout girlie. Guess tango ain't your dance."

AND THEN THERES THIS ASSHOLE.

Before she could unleash the language she learned from her drunkle the big beast was upon her again. With a god damned power bomb!

Who the fuck has been teaching Grimm stuff like this?!

Luckily her aura was enough to tank it. Unfortunately that was about all it could do since it started flickering immediately after.

"Not gonna lie girlie I was expecting a bit of flare. Coulda at least shown me your two step."

Fuck this heat, fuck this trip, fuck this guy, and fuck this damned monkey!

Aura or not she was going to throw hands. So she put everything she had in one punch. Every scrap of instruction from her dad and every dreg of aura she had left. One amazing punch that the Grimm tried to counter with its own massive punch.

Their fist connected. Time seemed to stop.

And the cement glove shattered.

Yang was hit with a sense of pride. And then the other fist. Which sent her flying back into a wall.

"I guess a shuffle is a good enough start."

The Grimm had jumped at her while she was dazed but was stopped in its tracks less than five feet from her.

"Lemme reintroduce myself kiddie."

Standing in front of her was boogie except without his stupidly thick dumb glasses revealing calm purple eyes ringed with red. The rain had flattened his afro leading to a shaggy mane of curls trailing down his (as she just now took notice of) very muscular back.

""My name is Childman D'rosa. My friends and students call me Boogie!"

He flashed her a shit eating grin.

"Well the ones who can talk. BoBo here just kinda screams. Shame I'm gonna have to kill him, he was one of the better training partners. After a few weeks of work."

The Grimm tried to run. (Yang didn't know Grimm even had self preservation instincts?) It didn't get far before a hole was punched through it.

No weapon, no dust or aura or Semblance. Just a punch strong and fast enough to violently displace air.

"Now then girlie Ozzy sent me a message that you were looking to learn how to dance."

"Dance? No I- Ozzy? I came looking for help being a better fighter."

"kid lemme tell you a truth. Everything is dance. Movement, motion, rhythm, matching and mixing between people. So I'm gonna ask you again. You wanna dance little girl?"

Well there's only one thing she could say to that.

"Let's Boogie!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The sky above Atlas was a maelstrom of fire and ash, the once-proud city crumbling into a frozen grave. The flying city groaned, its hull splintered and tilting, a dying beast plummeting toward the icy tundra below as Grimm reigned supreme above and below it.

Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos stood on a warped bridge near the city center, the Staff of Creation pulsing faintly in Jaune's grip, its light a flicker of hope amidst the chaos. Thousands were dead, Atlas's gleaming spires reduced to rubble, and Team RWBY and JNR had fought to their limits to stop Pyrrha—once their friend, a champion, now a cyborg enforcer forged by Jacques Schnee's cruelty and reprogrammed by Arthur Watts to serve Salem's will.

Yet they'd gotten most of the population away through portals generated by the Staff. The Staff Jaune now kept from Pyrrha. Kept from Salem.

Pyrrha's emerald eyes, once warm and kind, glowed with an unnatural crimson, her cybernetic limbs gleaming under the flickering lights of the city's failing systems. Her movements were precise, mechanical, yet carried the deadly grace of the warrior she'd been. Jaune faced her, Crocea Mors trembling in his hands, his aura flickering like a candle in a storm. He was battered, bloodied, his armor dented from her relentless assault, but his blue eyes burned with unyielding resolve. The fight had been brutal, a dance of desperation and memory, each blow a plea to reach the Pyrrha buried beneath the programming.

All to let the people of the city escape. To be safe.

She lunged, her spear Milo a blur of crimson and steel, its Dust-infused tip crackling with electricity. Jaune parried, the impact jarring his arms, his shield absorbing the brunt of her enhanced strength. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the deck buckling beneath them. Pyrrha's cybernetic arm whirred, pistons hissing as she drove a fist toward his chest. Jaune twisted, his aura flaring to deflect the blow, but the force sent him skidding across the deck, his boots scraping against warped metal.

"Pyrrha, please!" Jaune shouted, his voice raw, cracking with emotion. "This isn't you! You know who you are!"

Her head twitched, a glitch in her movements, as if his words pierced the fog of her programming. But Watts's code surged, her crimson eyes flaring brighter.

"Target: Jaune Arc. Objective: Retrieve the Staff. Eliminate resistance," she intoned, her voice a chilling blend of her own and the machine's monotone. She hurled Akoúo—now a disc of deadly precision—at Jaune, its edges spinning with lethal force.

Jaune dove, the disc grazing his shoulder, tearing through his armor and drawing blood. He rolled to his feet, gripping the Staff tighter, its warmth a reminder of what was at stake.

"I know you're in there, Pyr!" he yelled, ducking as Milo's spear form stabbed toward his heart. He countered, his blade slashing across her cybernetic arm, sparks erupting where steel met steel. "You're my partner! My friend! You're Pyrrha Nikos! You... You love me! And I love you!"

Her movements faltered, a flicker of green in her eyes, but the programming snapped back, relentless. She shifted Milo to rifle mode, firing a barrage of Dust rounds. Jaune raised his shield, his aura straining under the onslaught, each impact driving him back toward the ship's gaping edge. The deck tilted further, gravity pulling at them as the city's descent accelerated, the roar of wind and creaking metal drowning out all else.

Jaune saw an opening and charged, his Semblance surging, amplifying his aura to bolster his strength. He tackled Pyrrha, pinning her against a bulkhead, their faces inches apart. "You saved me once," he whispered, his voice trembling, blood dripping from a cut on his brow.

"Let me save you now. Please."

She knocked him back with an elbow, and he stumbled. He stood on the bridge, the flying city shuddering as it fell.

"You must be eliminated," Pyrrha stated coldly, mechanically.

His shoulder drooped, exhaustion hitting him. Emotional, physical. He took a deep breath. He'd done... He'd done all he could.

He shook his head.

"... I won't fight you anymore," Jaune whispered. He dropped his weapons, only holding onto the Staff.

Pyrrha's eyes again glowed red as she charged. She slammed him into the bridge, pushing his head off the edge. She seized his throat to choke him, but her grip hesitated, her eyes flickering between crimson and green.

"Jaune…" she murmured, her true voice breaking through, fragile and pained. The city shuddered, a massive groan signaling its final collapse as the bridge began to crack and splinter around them. Jaune's grip on the Staff slipped, and Pyrrha's programming surged, her spear arm rearing back.

But Jaune didn't flinch. His cupped her face.

"I'm with you, Pyr," he said, his voice steady despite the blood and pain. "Til the end of the line. I won't... I won't leave you again. Never again..."

His Aura flickered and broke, as he fell unconscious.

The words shattered something inside her. Pyrrha's eyes widened, green overtaking crimson, her cybernetic arm trembling as Watts's code battled her will... And lost.

"Oh no, no, no, wha—what have I done?" she gasped, her voice breaking. She stroked Jaune's bloodied face, pulling him close, her metal fingers gentle despite their strength. Her mind felt like it was splitting apart, memories of Beacon, of laughter, of love, clashing with the cold directives implanted in her brain.

A deafening groan tore through the air as the part of the bridge Jaune was lying on gave way, metal twisting and snapping. Jaune slipped from her grasp, his body tumbling toward the icy plain far below, the Staff falling with him.

"Jaune!" Pyrrha screamed, her voice raw, human. She leapt after him, her cybernetic limbs propelling her through the air. In free fall, she caught his limp form, pulling him close, her arms wrapping around him as the wind roared.

"I'm with you, Jaune!" she cried, tears streaming from her eyes, mingling with the frost. "I'll always be with you!"

Together, they plunged into abyss, the impact a shock of cold and darkness, their fates entwined as the wreckage of Atlas burned above, the Staff's faint glow sinking into the depths with them.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It wasn't often that Pyrrha asked Jaune to accompany her on her "celebrity work". He understood that she wanted to keep that part of her life and her life at Beacon firmly compartmentalized. He wasn't stupid.

... Totally. Completely.

Okay in this instance, he wasn't stupid. He got that she wanted to be more than just a face on a cereal box. She wanted to help people, protect them.

He didn't think he'd really fit in at a commercial shoot anyway. Nor would Ren or Nora. Well mostly Nora. He loved her to death but taking her out in public was sometimes fraught with peril.

Pyrrha though had asked him to come with her. And so he'd agreed.

They'd been taken in a private limo to the Canta Children's Hospital in downtown Vale. Pyrrha had gotten out in a hat, sunglasses, and a trenchcoat, along with Jaune, and they'd gone up to the fourth floor. Jaune's jaw tightened as he read the sign on the ward entrance:

Terminal Section.

They went into a small room filled with stuffed animals, toys and cards. Along with several posters, holos, and even figurines of Pyrrha. In the center of all this was a little bald girl who looked no more than eight. She had a pink headband on, the only spot of color in her white bed. She looked up from a book with wide brown eyes that lit up, despite the breathing tubes in her nostrils.

"M-Miss Nikos?" She asked, awestruck. Pyrrha smiled and pulled off her baseball cap and trenchcoat, revealing herself in her full armor.

"You can call me Pyrrha, Melody," Pyrrha said warmly. She walked over and knelt next to Melody. She reached out and hugged the child, who eagerly returned it. She looked up in curiosity at Jaune, who smiled and waved back.

"Who's he?" Melody asked. Pyrrha chuckled.

"He's my team leader at Beacon. His name is Jaune."

"It's nice to meet you, Melody," Jaune said warmly. Melody gave Pyrrha a shy look.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

Pyrrha flushed. Jaune chuckled and shook his head.

"Nah. She's too good for me," he said. "She's amazing, isn't she?"

Melody nodded eagerly.

"Oh yeah! She's just the coolest! Like when you fought Ragriz Harodrim in the finals last year! It was so scary! He was super strong and threw rocks around-Were you scared?"

Pyrrha smiled gently.

"A little here or there," Pyrrha said. Melody's eyes widened.

"You?"

"Everyone can be scared sometimes," Pyrrha said softly, "But being brave is about pushing past that fear. It's not that you're not afraid. It's that you need to fight past it. That's what being brave is."

Melody frowned.

"Everyone says that's what I am, brave," she said glumly, "I don't feel brave."

Pyrrha smiled and hugged her again.

"It's not always a feeling, Melody. It's just what you are. And I think you're very brave."

Melody's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really really," Pyrrha agreed.

Melody smiled. They chattered eagerly for a while. Pyrrha let Melody hold and examine Milo and Akou, even let her transform them. She got to take pictures of herself with Pyrrha, and their weapons. Pyrrha also told her about her early fights, and training, and even some of her misadventures with RWBY. Jaune hung back, quiet, letting them have this moment.

Pyrrha had a lot of smiles. Some when she was trying to hide her anger, some when she was trying to be nice. Here though... She felt more genuine, more sincere. Yet she also felt very sad.

He couldn't blame her.

Finally, Melody was exhausted. Pyrrha helped her lay back so she could sleep. Melody smiled back up at her.

"Can... Can I see you again?" She asked quietly. Pyrrha nodded.

"I'll make time for you, I promise," she said. She beamed. "Before I go though..."

She pulled out a red sash from her trenchcoat. Melody gasped in delight, and took it reverently. She looked at Pyrrha in worry, but the redhead's smile soothed her.

"It's all yours," Pyrrha said softly. Melody beamed, and laid down. Her eyes slowly shut as she went to sleep, holding the sash in her arms with a content smile on her face.

Pyrrha slowly stood up. She pulled her trenchcoat, sunglasses and hat back on. Jaune waited for her as she gave Melody one last hug, before she turned and walked towards him. He joined her as they walked out, down the hallway, to the elevator, and then out the lobby to the limo. They sat in the back in silence, as the driver took them away.

Her hands twitched in her lap as they sat... And Jaune reached out rest his over them. She started, and looked at him questioningly. He smiled sadly.

"... I read her chart," he said quietly, "Her parents were killed in a Grimm attack. Their estate is funding her treatment but... She doesn't have long."

Pyrrha looked ahead, silent.

"No," she admitted softly. "I... I don't know if I'll make it, with the tournament coming up and... And..."

"We'll find the time," Jaune said softly, "I promise."

Pyrrha sniffled. She bowed her head.

"I don't... It's so hard," she whispered, "They look to me like I'm some kind of goddess. Like I'm something... Something special and I can't even... I can't..."

"You make them smile and laugh," Jaune insisted, "you made her happy. That's the important thing. So that they know they are loved and someone cares about them. That's amazing and wonderful, Pyr."

Pyrrha sniffled again, her shoulder shaking.

"... It doesn't make it any easier," she whispered.

"No," Jaune agreed, "But it makes you kind and strong to keep doing it."

She leaned in against him, sobbing softly. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and held her hands with his. All the way back to Beacon.

- - -

I just thought that this might be an interesting thing to do with Pyrrha's celebrity status.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune woke up the next morning to see Pyrrha emerging from the shower. She was wrapped in a towel, and as usual it was very tight on her. As usual, Jaune did his best to keep his eyes on hers: She was his partner, after all. And she was probably tired of guys leering at her.



Jaune: "Hey. You're up early."



Pyrrha: "I just went out for some early training. You were fast asleep and I didn't want to wake you. You had a rough day yesterday."



Jaune: "Yeah but... Well... It had a bright spot."



Pyrrha: "Oh? How so?"



Jaune: "I uh... I asked someone to the dance."



Pyrrha: "Oh. I'm sorry that Weiss didn't-"



Jaune: "Oh no! No, they said said! It wasn't Weiss, it was Yang!"



Pyrrha: "What? Yang?!"



Jaune: "Is... Is there something wrong with that?"



Pyrrha: "I... N-No, of course not."



Jaune: frown "Nobody's asked you yet?"



Pyrrha: "I... W-Well, um... No."



Jaune: "Ugh. They're all idiots! Any guy would be lucky to have you on their arm! They should praise the Tablebreaker for it! Jerks."



Pyrrha: pleased flush "You mean that?"



Jaune: "Absolutely! Hey... I'll help you, Pyr. You deserve to have someone take you to the Dance."



Pyrrha: "I-No, I don't really need-"



Jaune: "It's okay, Pyr! I'm going to help you. It's what a good partner should do, right?"



Pyrrha: "No, I-"



Jaune hugs her.



Jaune: "Don't worry. I'll find you the best date I can."



Jaune goes into the shower as Pyrrha stares after him forlornly.



Pyrrha: "... You are the best date I could find..."



Nora: "Seriously. Why can't you just tell him?"



Pyrrha: "No... I would never know for sure."



Nora: "Then... How about I break Yang's knees so she can't go?"



Pyrrha: "..." shakes her head rapidly "N-No! Of course not!"



Nora: "Oh! So you want to do it yourself?"



Pyrrha: "Y-NO!" sighs "Is there anyone else as bad at romance as I am in this school?"



Elsewhere...



Ruby: "Wha-What do you mean you can't take me to the dance?!"



Sky, cringing back in a hallway that Ruby cornered him in: "I-I just can't, Ruby!"



Ruby: "Is-Is it me? Am I not pretty enough or-?"



Sky: "No! You're very pretty, Ruby! Totally! And I liked gaming with you!"



Ruby: "So why?! I mean, my sister's going with Jaune so she won't get mad!"



Sky: "Yeah, during the dance. But what about after? I don't want her to punch my head off! I'm sorry Ruby, I like you, but I'm just not brave enough to risk your big sister kicking my ass. Sorry."



Sky heads off. Ruby pouts.



Ruby: "Hmph..."



Instead of crying though, Ruby comes up with a plan.



She messages Jaune.



Ruby: Jaune?



Jaune: Yes Ruby?



Ruby: I need you to make sure Yang is so lovey dovey and happy during the Dance that she won't even think of punching off my date's head!



Jaune: ... Okay... How do I do that?



Ruby: You had a girlfriend before! Just do what you did then!



Jaune: But



Ruby: Pleeasssseee?



She made sure to send a gif of herself with puppy dog eyes on full.



Jaune: ... I was going to do it anyway.



Ruby: Thank you!



Ruby beamed. Now to find someone not afraid of her sister who could take her to the dance!



Elsewhere, Whitley Schnee, visiting Beacon on business for his father, felt a shiver go up his spine.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

On a lighter note, Prunella Glocken would be a regular adversary of Councilman Jaune Arc. Mainly because he misunderstood her intentions.

Prunella: "Now Jaune-May I call you Jaune?"

Jaune: "I guess."

Prunella: "You're brand new to politics! Your star has risen quite dramatically! But stars do need guidance to navigate, don't they?"

Jaune: "Yes."

Prunella: "And you need to be careful with who you ally yourself with. Or who you learn from. You need to embrace a larger viewpoint, so you're not led astray. Get everyone's viewpoint so you can be well informed! I can help you gain wisdom, so you'll be a fine Councilman."

Jaune: "Uh... I appreciate that."

Prunella: "Indeed, we could form a very close relationship."

Jaune: Wait... Is she coming onto me?

Prunella: "A very close bond that would benefit us both!"

Jaune: Oh Breaker she is!

Prunella: "You can always benefit from a woman with more... Experience, yes?"

Jaune: "Ahhh... Councilwoman Glocken, I'm very flattered. Maybe even curious. But I think that's way too fast for me! I-I mean we've just met!"

Prunella: "... Did you think I was coming onto you?"

Jaune: "Uhhhhhh..."

Prunella: "Well! It is flattering for me to still get a young man's attention, but I'm married... Unless you were interested?"

Jaune: "Um... No."

Prunella: scowl... All smiles "Of course! Just a little joke, ahahaha!"

Jaune: "Hahahaha! Haaa..."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The grand ballroom of Mistral's elite gala shimmered with opulence, chandeliers casting a golden glow over silk-clad nobles and clinking glasses. The air was thick with perfume, ambition, and the faint hum of Dust-powered ornaments. Pyrrha Nikos stood at the bar, her crimson gown hugging her athletic frame, her emerald eyes scanning the crowd with polite detachment. She was here as a guest of honor, her status as the Invincible Girl a magnet for attention, though she longed for the quiet of Beacon's dorms. A familiar, sleazy voice slithered into her ear, and her stomach churned as Jackie Arc slid beside her, his smirk as oily as his slicked-back blonde hair.

"Hey, Pyrrha, right? My cousin's partner?" Jackie said, leaning against the bar, his tailored suit slightly rumpled, a stolen glass of champagne in hand.

Pyrrha's smile froze, her voice tight with disbelief. "Jackie?! How did you get here—?"
Jackie's grin widened, his dark blue eyes glinting with smug pride. "I've got my means! Just said I'm related to the former Empress of Vytal! …And
borrowed a ticket. Ya know." He winked, as if his dishonesty was a charming quirk.

Pyrrha's grip on her glass tightened, her voice flat. "I'm leaving."

"Wait! Wait…" Jackie said, his hand darting out, not touching her but close enough to make her skin crawl. "Hang on… Listen. I know you're pining hard for my cousin."

Pyrrha's face flushed, her eyes widening, her voice a stammer. "Wh-What?!"

"Yeah!" Jackie said, his smirk growing, his tone dripping with false sympathy. "I can tell. I also know… He's just too damn thickheaded and dense. He'll never make a move. But…" He leaned closer, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial purr. "You've got me."

Pyrrha's expression went blank, her silence a warning as dangerous as a drawn blade. Jackie, oblivious, pressed on, his ego blinding him. "I'm basically Jauney, but I'm not stupid. If I was him, I would've made you my wife and started making like bunnies! So… How about it? You get to live out your fantasy, and I get what I want, too. What do you say, hm?" He leaned forward, his breath hot and sour. "Want to be with an Arc who won't disappoint you?"

Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, but a sweet, chilling smile curved her lips. Her hand rose, hovering beside Jackie's head, her fingers twitching as if itching to act. Jackie's smirk faltered, his eyes darting to her hand, then back to her face, hope flickering in his sleazy gaze.

"Yes! YESSSS!" Jackie whispered, misreading her entirely.

Pyrrha's voice was honeyed, lethal, each word precise. "If you don't get out of here in the next ten seconds, I'm going to use my Semblance to give you a grand mal seizure and make you die. Do you understand?"

Jackie blinked, his bravado crumbling, but he clung to delusion. "…So that's a maybe?"

Pyrrha's smile didn't waver, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

"Five seconds."

Jackie's face paled, his champagne glass slipping from his hand to shatter on the floor. He turned and bolted, shoving through the crowd, his stolen ticket flapping from his pocket as he fled for his life. Pyrrha watched him go, her smile fading to a weary sigh, her hand lowering as she turned back to the bar, signaling for a stronger drink.

The gala's chatter resumed, oblivious to the near-disaster, but Pyrrha's thoughts drifted to Jaune—dense, earnest, infuriatingly oblivious Jaune—and a small, genuine smile tugged at her lips, untouched by the shadow of his cousin's creepiness.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Spoiler

Type: Airborne Corvette
Manufacturer: Neith Armaments
Origin: Vale
Top Speed: 420 mph
Service Ceiling: 40,000 feet
Range: 10,000 miles
Length: 80m
Width: 94m
Height: 18m
Weight: 1,000 tons
Propulsion:
2 x Beltane P322 Dust reactor-powered turbofan engines
1 x Beltane G14 Gravity Dust Projector Systems
Crew: 5-10
Cargo: 30 tons
Troops: 20
Maximum Evacuation Limit: 40
Armament:
2 x Cappadocia 155mm Dust Round Cannons in mountings on the wings
2 x Redspot Multifunction Small Missile Launchers x 40 rounds each
2 x Winchester M88 30mm CWIS autocannon in retractable turrets (dorsal and ventral)
1 x Hard-Light Dust Pulse Emitter (Optional)
4 x Balor ASM-44 Anti-Ship Missiles (Optional)
Njord QSA-568A Jammer System

Brief: A sleek and efficient corvette, the Phantom is a prolific vessel with the Valean Defense Force. Fast, maneuverable, and fairly well armed for its size, it handles multiple missions from escorting Banshee-class carriers to patrolling Vale's borders to Grimm interdiction. It's aerodynamic shape gives it great range and maneuverability in combat with threat forces or Grimm, and carries enough firepower to threaten even large Grimm. Its sensor suite is also very advanced and the jammer system combined with its small size and advanced engines allow it to be fairly stealthy. Certain models in the VDF special forces are heavily modified with sensor jammers, sound suppression technology, and experimental Hardlight Dust EMP generators.

In concert with strike fighters from Banshee carriers and missiles from frigates, the Phantom provides close air support to Hunters and ground forces and can rapidly deploy small Hunter strike teams. It can also serve as a patrol vessel to engage bandits and pirates, and support strike fighters as a Forward Air Control platform. It does have some weaknesses though: It can only carry four anti-ship missiles in comparison to a frigate's 16-20 on external hardpoints, its range is not as great as a frigate or a carrier's, the standard model is nowhere near as stealthy as the special model, and its main guns are not on turrets, the ship must be turned to target them. It relies on the carrier it is accompanying for refueling of its Dust reactors, or must land at various bases.

All of that said, the Phantom is a popular vessel in the VDF and quite good at its roles.

Note:

Yes, it's the X-70B Phantom from Star Wars: The Old Republic. I thought it would be a good fit for a small combat airship for Vale.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Nora ducks behind Jaune after shooting a arrow at a random girl who just happened to be walking by

Jaune: "Wha- Nora!"

Arslan who was just minding her own business before being shot by an arrow looks up to see Jaune and thinks to herself "MINE!"

Jaune: "Arslan before you try anything, just know there's already three women who are trying to get me as well and they'll stop at nothing to destroy anything or anyone that get's in there way. So knowing that, you should probably... and she's already gone off to fight them. Sigh Good job Nora, now there's gonna even more property damage to clean up."

Nora: "True, but Pyrrha and Yang alone couldn't hold off Goodwitch forever. So this way those two get backup, and we get more time to save Renny from that no good flying orangenette hussie!"

Jaune: "Fair enough, but you're still grounded after this."

Momentarily, thanks to the fact Penny is not using her rocket boots at full blast, Jaune and Nora catch up with Penny and Ren.

Penny: "Nora! I am feeling such passion for Ren!" Squeezes him "Is this what they call 'love'?"

Jaune: "No! No, it's been magically induced because Nora's an idiot!"

Nora: "HEY!"

Jaune: "Did you not think of just ASKING Ren out?"

Nora: "Of course I did! And I said it! And did it! And it didn't work! So I had to escalate to using a magical set of bow and arrows to try and get him to feel how I do!"

Jaune: "Okay... Ren? If you'd be willing to be honest with your feelings please?"

Yang: "THERE HE IS!"

Jaune: "Maybe hurry? Like NOW?"

Ren: "Nora... I do care for you. But I'm afraid to take that step because I feel guilty."

Nora: "Guilty? For what?"

Ren: "For living while my friends and family died. And... If I lost you, what would I have then?"

Nora: "Oh Ren, you shouldn't blame yourself for something like. What happened was completely out of our control. The fact that we survived it was a miracle in it of itself."

Ren: "That doesn't change the fact that I lived while others more deserving than I did not. Why should I be allowed to have what they could not?"

Nora: "You lived, that's why. Believing that you are unworthy of having the life those people could have had is dumb. If anything you should be experiencing all that life has to offer. Do all the things they didn't, couldn't, and will no longer be able to do. I don't know why we survived whereas others did not, but I do know it would be a disservice to those people if we didn't use the gift given to us to try and live a life free from regret. You deserve to be happy Ren, to have a life, and though I won't force you to do anything, I think I can help give you it."

Ren: "... How?"

Nora: Grins cheerfully "By being with you, silly!"

Ren: "... Then will you be with me?"

Nora: "Of course I will!" Hugs him

Penny: "Oh... I am now feeling sad and jealous. How should I react?"

Jaune: "It's not real, Penny! None of the feelings induced by the arrows are real!"

Nora: "Nuh uh! They're totally real! It can't work with nothing! That's what the little magic man who gave me them said!"

Jaune: "In what world would some of the strongest, most attractive, and highly Intelligent women I know be in any way shape or form attracted to me!? At least to the degree that getting shot with an apparently magic arrow would get them to fall in love with me."

Pyrrha, Yang, Glynda, and Arslan blush at Jaune's statement about them, but are overall angry at his belief that they wouldn't be able to fall in love with him. Which also makes them all pause.

Jaune: "Okay so let's break the damn curse already!"

Nora: "Spell!"

Jaune: "WHATEVER!" Snaps the bow in half "... Did that work?"

Nora: "No idea!"

Jaune: "No idea?! You didn't even ask the guy how to make it stop?!"

Nora: "... Ohhhh... Shoot. I knew I forgot something!"

Ren: "You really should expect this sort of thing from her by now."

Meanwhile...

Whitley: "... Why are we making out?"

Ruby: "Is that a problem?"

Whitley: "... I suppose not?"

Ruby: "YAY!"

Blake: "Oh thank the Horned God, Cardin's off with that rabbit girl... Sun! Sun, are you-?"

Weiss and Sun are making out.

Blake: "WHAT?!"

Sun: "What? You said we weren't a thing."

Blake: "W-WE WERE!"

Sun: "News to me!"

Written with help from Red Dragon Empress

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It had been a very, very long day. Teams RWBY and JNPR staggered back to their dormrooms, exhausted, filthy, and in terrible moods.

Except for Nora and Ruby, who were quite chipper all things considered.

Ruby: "Wow... We totally saved a village from an oil tanker spill, guys! Wasn't that great?"

Yang: "Yes... Except for the part where the tanker blew up in our faces."

Ruby: "I said I was sorry! I didn't use just the right mixture of Dust!"

Nora: "But it sure was awesome to watch it explode, right guys? Right guys?"

Pyrrha: "... I'm not talking to you for a week."

Ren: sighs

Jaune: "No pancakes for a month, Nora."

Nora: "What?! COME ON! We saved the village!"

Jaune: "Yeah! And we got blown up instead!"

Ruby: "It wasn't that bad!"

Yang: "It was."

Blake: "It was worse."

Weiss: twitches as Jaune carries her "S-So... So much filth... So much dirt...!"

Jaune: "We're almost there Weiss, it's okay..."

Yang: "Why aren't you carrying me, your sweet, loving fiance?"

Blake: "Or me? Your actual fiance?"

Pyrrha: "Neither of you are his fiances, shut up!"

Jaune: sighs "Because she won't let go of me."

Ruby: "Weiss!"

Weiss: "So filthyyyyy!"

Jaune groans.

Jaune: "Guys, let's just get to the common room, take some showers, go to bed and-"

He opens the door to the common room. Both teams blink at the interior, which is shining and spotless. There are birds flying about, organizing things, while a few raccoons and deer sweep the floors. A beautiful blonde woman in a yellow dress with an apron over it is cleaning and singing.

Lilac: "Lalala, lalalala-Oh! Jaune!"

The beautiful woman walks up and hugs Jaune happily, never minding how filthy he is.

Jaune: "L-Lilac?!"

Pyrrha: eyebrow twitch "Who is this, Jaune?"

Jaune: "Oh, uh, this is my big sister Lilac. Lilac Arc."

Weiss: groans "Another one?"

Lilac: "Oh, you poor dears! Quickly now, quickly!"

The birds and mice and other creatures all fly up or scurry to the Hunters-in-Training.

Ruby: "ACK!"

Nora: "EEP!"

Weiss: "What?!"

Blake: "Huh?!"

Yang: "HEY!"

Pyrrha: "Wha-?!"

Ren: "Huh?"

The worst of the muck is wiped away by the critters, who run off to put their washcloths in a laundry bag. Lilac beams.

Lilac: "There, much better! Now, you all get into the showers! The baths have been drawn and the temperature should be perfect!"

Ruby: "Ah... Um... W-We all...Bathe together?"

Everyone goes bright red at that, save for Ren, who cocks an eyebrow.

Lilac: "Of course! You're all good boys and girls, and you should save water! But if you don't hurry, you'll miss dinner!"

A veritable feast is being cooked on the stove, and a rabbit is tending the pots carefully.

Jaune: smiles "Thanks Lilac. I appreciate it."

Lilac: "Awww! I'm always willing to help my cute, kind, strong little brother! Now go get cleaned up!"

In the bathroom... The girls all look one way while the boys look the other as they clean themselves up.

Pyrrha: "So, um... She seems very nice?"

Ruby: "Yeah! And her Semblance lets her control animals?"

Jaune: sighs "No, she's... Just like that. She's so kind and nice that almost anything will obey her."

Yang: "That's just ridiculous!"

Jaune: "Then why aren't we trying to peek at each other?"

A moment of silence.

Ruby: "Trying implies that I failed!"

Yang: "RUBY!"

Click to shrink...

They came out, clean and dressed in their casual clothes. A veritable feast was laid out on the tables. Lilac was standing there with a wide smile.

Lilac: "Oh good! Come on, let's eat!"

Ruby: "Where did your animal friends go?"

Lilac: "Oh, I told them they could go. They don't like spending too much time indoors." She picks up Zwei and cuddles him "Except for you, you cuddly wuddly little doggie woggie~! Yes, yes you do~!"

Yang and Ruby: scowl, mutter "Traitor."
Jaune: "Easy Lilac, easy."

Lilac: "Mm? OH! Sorry!" Hands Zwei back to Yang and Ruby "Didn't mean to make you jealous! He's really very loyal!"

Zwei: whines and struggles towards Lilac... Even as Ruby and Yang glare at him

They did sit down, Yang and Blake taking either side of Jaune. Even as Pyrrha sat across from him with Ruby. Weiss sat with Nora and Ren. Lilac began to dole out food, still whistling her happy tune. She sits at the head of the table and bows her head.

Lilac: "Let's say grace!"

Blake: "I'm not a believer."

Lilac: "Oh that's all right! Is it okay if I pray for you anyway?"

Blake: "I... Sure?"

Ren: "I'm a believer in Pathism."

Lilac: "Oh. Can I pray for you too then?"

Ren: "Yes?"

Lilac: "Wonderful! Anyone else?"

Nora: "I believe in pancakes!"

Lilac: "But dear, why believe in pancakes and not the one who makes them for you?"

Nora: gasp "I never thought of it that way! REN! YOU'RE MY GOD!"

Ren: "Not what I think she was getting at."

Nora: "Oh! You're right, Jaune makes me pancakes too! Hrrrrmmm... Miss Lilac? I have a theological issue!"

Lilac: "We'll talk about it after we pray!"

Nora: "Okay!"

Jaune: sighs

Lilac: bows her head "Thank you Heavenly Emperor for this meal, good friends, and wonderful company! And may Jaune and his friends triumph in the Vytal Tournament! But without anyone getting hurt too badly! Amen!"

They dug in...
Yang: "... Jaune? Did your sister teach you how to cook?"

Jaune: "Um... She did, yes. But I'm not as good as her."

Lilac: "Oh don't be so modest, Jaune! You'll get better! I can teach you!"

Ruby: "B-Better...?"

Weiss: deep breath "It's... Incredibly good."

Lilac: "Aw, thank you!"

Pyrrha: "Yes, it's wonderful!"

Blake: "It is extremely good. Thank you."

Nora: "Wow... Like hugs on my tongue!"

Ren: "Yes, it is very good."

Lilac: "You're all very welcome!" beams "Especially Jaune's wonderful fiances! I'm so glad you'll be joining our family!"

Weiss: "Wait-Fiances plural?!"

Lilac: "Yes! I mean, Nana Arturia said you were marrying little Ruby, and Great-Aunt Morgana said you were marrying Miss Nikos, and Mrs. Xiao-Long came by to yell and scream at Mom about you getting engaged to her great-granddaughter Yang, and Uncle Phillip told us that Miss Yoruichi said you were engaged to Miss Belladonna-So welcome to the family!"

Jaune: "I-Hang on-!"

Lilac: "Oh don't worry about a thing, Jaune! Aren't you lucky, four wives!"

Jaune: "N-No, we're not really-!"

Lilac: "Mom and Dad are going to be thrilled when they visit and meet all the parents!"

Jaune: "THEY'RE WHAT?!"

Ruby: gasp "I'm engaged too?!"
Pyrrha: happy gasp "I'm engaged to Jaune?!"

Yang: "Oh, well, um, eheh, yeah! Totally!"

Blake: "I'M ALSO PREGNANT!"

Jaune: "BLAAAKE!"

Weiss: scowls "... And why didn't anyone lie about me being engaged to Arc?"

Zwei: whines and climbs into her lap
Weiss: sighs and scratches behind his ears "At least you're here for me."

Zwei: "Arf."

Weiss: "I am not jealous..."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Nick: "Son? You've come of age and now you're a man. And you now have shown signs of the Arc Family Curse. Just like your mother."

Jaune: "Curse?"

Nick: "The Arc Harem Lead curse."

Jaune: "What."

Nick: "Now... If you can manage the curse effectively, you could have a happy family of several wives and live happily forever after! If you can't? You'll have to fight for your life or die!" beams "Fortunately, your mom and my curses mostly cancelled eachother out! But we did still have to fight a lot of crazy people!"

Jaune: "Uh huh..."

Nick: "And one of them tried to murder your mom! I think she was after her though, not me."

Jaune: "She?!"

Nick: "Yeah! Did you know girls can kiss girls? It's awesome!"

Jaune: "I'm... aware? Wait... That time with that blonde woman with glasses, that tiger lady and Mom in cowkinis and you in a cowboy outfit in the barn-?"

Nick: "Yup! The curse still needs some relief every now and then!"

Jaune: "... I need to go be violently ill in the bathroom."

Nick: "Have fun!"