[RWBY] The Great Temporal Step-Sibling War!

[Trilonias]

It just makes me wonder if one of the Arc sisters will get herself involved with Whitley and Penny... and thus Willow gets the complete set... for her kids at any rate.

 

[zMADLAXz]

I am surprised that none of Jaune and Willow's children came with them.

I mean come on, concessions were made for Glynda, can't similar ones be made for Willow?

Maybe piggyback from CyanideSins and his "It's a Party!" story and instead of taking the latter parts of it just focus on the initial drunk mistake and spiral things from there?

Ok I can kinda see it would be very awkward for all of them but come on, a story like this deserves some of that sweet sweet burn of spicy drama.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I am surprised that none of Jaune and Willow's children came with them.

I mean come on, concessions were made for Glynda, can't similar ones be made for Willow?

Maybe piggyback from CyanideSins and his "It's a Party!" story and instead of taking the latter parts of it just focus on the initial drunk mistake and spiral things from there?

Ok I can kinda see it would be very awkward for all of them but come on, a story like this deserves some of that sweet sweet burn of spicy drama.

Click to shrink...

Dude, we have ELEVEN FUTURE BRIDES and FOURTEEN FUTURE CHILDREN. The cast is packed. We made this a hard limit for a reason. Any more than this and we'd never get anything done.

But! Feel free to write omakes for other potential future brides. As Ozpin said, they're lucky a child didn't pop up for every unattached woman at Beacon.

 

[zMADLAXz]

But 11 is such an odd number.

A nice even 12 sounds really good, like an arc for every month.

Though I do agree with your point, especially seeing that Jaune's parent's reactions would be more furious than comedic especially considering Isabelle towards Willow.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

But 11 is such an odd number.

A nice even 12 sounds really good, like an arc for every month.

Click to shrink...

Sorry, that's what we went with. I'm just the cowriter, after all.

 

[zMADLAXz]

Sorry, that's what we went with. I'm just the cowriter, after all.

Click to shrink...

It's alright man, honestly seeing how long this thing has been going and how much on an interconnected world has been made, this truly may be the largest and the most explore RWBY fanfiction world in the RWBY fandom.

I wouldn't traid it for anything.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It's alright man, honestly seeing how long this thing has been going and how much on an interconnected world has been made, this truly may be the largest and the most explore RWBY fanfiction world in the RWBY fandom.

I wouldn't traid it for anything.

Click to shrink...

Thank you. And again! Feel free to write omakes and such for it.

 

[Muramasa]

But 11 is such an odd number.

A nice even 12 sounds really good, like an arc for every month.

Though I do agree with your point, especially seeing that Jaune's parent's reactions would be more furious than comedic especially considering Isabelle towards Willow.

Click to shrink...

I generally agree with you, we need a 12th bride, but definitely not the aging slut Willow. Neo would have been perfect both in terms of plot and context. Honestly, it's a crime that she's left out of this story.

 

[Stormfury]

I disagree, 11 women is way too many already, adding more to just make the story less focused wouldn't help at all.

Especially since the one suggested, willow, clearly has a different route that she is actively walking, and tossing aside her attempts at Nick just to fuck Jaune seem out of character and would be a bizarre plot change that would be hard to explain

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Neo might aim for mistress. It's a lot less stress.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The building wasn't a warehouse, hadn't been for a long time. It was currently an underground nightclub so it was functionally closed seeing it was now daytime, with a little bit of money out of Roman's pockets making functionally closed officially closed. The fact that it used to be a warehouse meant it was ideally positioned between the docks and the current safe house she was sleeping at, meaning it was as good a place as any for her to meet the help Lionheart had scrounged up.

"I don't like this," Roman complained as he lit a new cigar and leaned back into a lounge chair. "I mean everything about this screams bad idea."

"Your objections are noted," Cinder replied from the slightly raised chair she was poised upon like a throne, radiating an indifferent queenly confidence that masked the uncomfortable churning that was buried within her core. "However we need more people to pull off our plans. People with proven records of fighting on the level of elite huntsmen and huntresses, people you haven't been able to find or recruit on your own."

"Proven records," Roman scoffed, "That's a funny way of putting it. Zhu may have been a legend but she's been out of the big leagues for almost two decades now, playing enforcer for a mid-level kingpin in a second rate gambling town. Sebastian might have been one of the Kauravas' top dogs but he's been lying low since those guys got kicked out of Pandu, so his records are just as old as Zhu's. On top of that the guy's old enough for him to get mentioned in the last couple of chapters of my high-school history book! Now I've never heard of Caliban before so you can't tell me his record is proven, and Thanh's record is enough to say we should kill him the instant he walks through that door."

"Zhu and Sebastian aren't any more rusty than the targets we want to point them at," Iridescent explained from where she stood slightly behind and to the right of Cinder, all businesslike with her scroll opened like a tablet in front of her. "Lionheart kept a close enough eye on them for us to be sure of that."

"And Caliban's been working for one of Mother's inner circle for some time now; his effectiveness is something I've personally observed," Cinder added in a deliberately board tone. Her curiosity was still piqued; Roman considered killing bad for his brand, so to hear him say he wanted to kill a man off of reputation alone was new. "I will admit I'm unfamiliar with Thanh's record. What have you heard about him?"

"The big thing is that he doesn't particularly care how willing the women he sleeps with are," Roman's face curled in disgust. "In fact the majority of his paramours were of the unwilling variety. And if the lady in question got pregnant and wasn't too keen on rearing his spawn he'd employ his preferred method of birth control: a luau serving long pork cause the man's a cannibal on top of all that." Roman took a long and angry draw from his cigar before he continued, smoke billowing from his lips with every syllable, "The wretch has left a trail of traumatized and broken women in his wake alongside a bushel of unloved bastards. So yeah, this is a bad idea."

Cinder allowed herself to frown as she looked to Iridescent, "What do Lionheart's files say about him?"

"That Thanh's too valuable of an asset to liquidate, irregardless of how detestable his behavior is," Iridescent answered as she scrolled through the file. "His regeneration is so potent that he'll recover from any attack that doesn't destroy his heart or brain; as long as his aura is active he can recover from light wounds within a couple of seconds and grievous injuries in under a minute. Lionheart kept a close eye on Thanh's progeny hoping that some of them would inherit the big lizard's semblance so they could replace their progenitor and... Huh, that's interesting."

"What is it?" Cinder turned a bit to more fully look at Iridescent.

"Apparently Thanh's children have been systematically disappearing for the last twelve years and Lionheart's still looking for the culprit; the trail just goes cold too fast after each disappearance," Iridescent sounded genuinely impressed. "My old acquaintances in the Fighting League would have paid a king's ransom to know how to vanish someone that thoroughly." She scrolled through the file faster, "And at such a scale. Each of his offspring that have developed regeneration powers have gone missing within a week of discovering their semblance. That's more than-"

"Is relevant," Cinder interrupted as her frown grew deeper. "Unless his disappearing spawn are the key to managing him?"

"Oh, no," Iridescent actually looked a bit sheepish at the question. "The man hasn't done anything to check up on his offspring; odds are he wouldn't care. Sorry for the tangent, I'll look into it on my own time." The sheepishness fell away as she continued, "If you want to manage him you need to project unassailable strength; he's willing to follow someone that can come down on him like a ton of bricks, so as long as you can do that you can point him at anything and he'll fight it for you."

Unassailable strength. A two word summary of Cinder's life goals. The illusion of such strength was how she had cowed Roman and Neopolitan into her service, and Iridescent undoubtedly expected a repeat performance with Thanh.

A repeat performance had been prepared. The Grimm within her twisted in anticipation. The odds that Thanh wouldn't be intimidated were greater than zero, but not by much.

"Do you anticipate any problems from the others?" Cinder pushed forward.

"Zhu has a few buttons you shouldn't press," Iridescent answered as she flipped through the assassin's file. "But they're small buttons and she'll send clear signals when you're getting too close to one. That's about it."

"I see," Cinder turned away from Iridescent towards the doors Neopolitan and Mercury were supposed to bring their guests through and silence fell over the room as they waited. The wait wasn't particularly long as within the next ten minutes they could hear voices approaching from the other side of the door.

Neo and Mercury pushed the doors open and led Lionheart's recruits into the club's lounge. Neo quickly broke from the group and skipped to Roman's side, casually leaning against his chair's back. Roman's subtle non-reaction to this was enough for Cinder to guess that Neo was actually somewhere else in the room, undoubtedly a precaution if things somehow went south.

Mercury didn't break off as quickly, as the muffled conversation she could hear before the door opened was apparently between him and Sebastian Zaroff.

"-And then Marcus decided the mission was supposed to have no witnesses," Sebastian recounted even as his servant Asok took the tiger faunus' hat and jacket. "So he started chasing the fleeing groundskeepers. He failed to notice that they had dropped their tools as they fled, and so the instant he ran into the tall grass he stepped on a rake and smacked himself in the face."

"Really?" Mercury started grinning like he had received the best birthday present.

"Oh, yes," Sebastian grinned back. "And after he stepped away from the rake he stepped on a draw hoe and smacked himself in the face again."

"No!" Mercury gleefully interjected.

"It gets better: there were twelve more rakes and fifteen more hoes in that field," Sebastian chuckled in a reminiscing way. "Your father managed to step on all of them."

Mercury's laughter joined the old tiger's, "You know, you're the first person that's ever told me about the old prick's screw ups."

"Well there are very few witnesses to his early career," Sebastian shrugged as he approached one of the lounge chairs opposite of Cinder and Roman. "And you could probably count on one hand the witnesses who both saw him fumble are willing to tarnish his legend by sharing it. I saw him screw up more than most. I'd be willing to share more stories if you're willing to tell me where you buried him."

"Uh, why do you want to know that?" Mercury tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.

"Well a man needs his hobbies in retirement so I took to hunting and taxidermy," Sebastian explained. "One of my more memorable hunts saw me pursue the assassins involved in the murder of Duchess Diana, and your father was the only one that got away. I have an empty place over my mantle where his head was supposed to go and I'd still like to see it filled. I have many ways to compensate you and I'll be sure to credit you for the kill on the placard."

"Oh... Ah... I'll think about it." Mercury managed with a complicated frown.

"That's all I ask," Sebastian cordially replied as he finally took a seat opposite of Cinder. He looked her up and down appraisingly as he addressed her, "So word is you have a job that will let us settle some old scores."

"Yes, I was promised a shot at Qrow Branwen and Isabel Arc," Zhu exclaimed as she found her own seat, perching on the backrest instead of sitting on it properly. "How does this job let me do that?"

"We'll get to that soon enough," Cinder answered as she looked the new arrivals over. Caliban had opted to stand ominously behind the chair that had been set aside for him, while Thanh slinked into his and lounged across it in a way that looked casual but was actually tense and ready for movement on a moment's notice.

"Soon enough? That better not be hours from now, smoke hair," Thanh needled as he shifted in his seat and barred his teeth in a challenging grin. "We've all come a long way in vehicles made for speed instead of comfort, my patience runs thin and I doubt anyone else's is running thicker."

Cinder met Thanh's challenging gaze with her own piercing stare, allowing the most subtle trickling of magic into her eyes to remove the need to blink. Silence stretched for several moments as Cinder waited for him to blink first, only speaking after he inevitably did.

"There are several persons of interest connected to the former Teams AARN and STRQ currently at Beacon Academy," Her voice cut through the air like a fine razor. "This brought all of them to the school yesterday, and even if they fail to stay in the area these persons of interest can easily be used to draw them out into any trap you desire."

"The boy who looks different in every photo is one of these persons of interest, no?" Sebastian asked. "What's his deal?"

"That boy's name is Moses Nebogipfel, and his deal is that he is a time traveler," Cinder explained, taking note of the various levels of disbelief that crossed the mercenaries' faces. "He accidentally arrived here two days ago with several children of one Jaune Arc in tow, each Arc child from a different timeline where Jaune married a different woman. This has stranded the time traveler in our present, giving us an opportunity to seize his power..."

Cinder had thought long and hard about what how much she needed to reveal to Lionheart's mercenaries, and the tale she ultimately spun was the full truth as she understood it with the more personal details omitted or glossed over. The necessity of taking the time travelers alive was emphasized, alongside the potential risk of collapsing space-time should the central figures of the paradox suffer unrecoverable harm in their future operations.

"...So special care must be taken with Moses, the other time travelers, and Jaune Arc," Cinder put as much steel into her voice as she could muster. She could see how skeptical the fours' expressions were, and if they weren't going to take the contents of her words seriously they should at least take her tone seriously.

"You expect us to believe tales of time-travel at nothing but your word?" Thanh complained, "It sounds like a rather convoluted scheme to limit our options on the field."

"Yeah," Zhu agreed, "All my favorite toxins are off the table if you want us to be so carful!"

"If you need evidence consider this; Teams AARN and STRQ are at Beacon right now because they believe it," Cinder crossed her legs to help keep her frustration from her voice. Sebastian and Caliban appeared to actually consider that point even if Thanh and Zhu seemed less than impressed by it. "And if that isn't enough for you then it should be enough that we your employers know it to be true, and we are paying you to act accordingly."

"We do have many ways of compensating you and making any and all restrictions worth the hassle," Iridescent helpfully chimed in. "Lionheart promised you more than money after all, and we can provide you with all of it."

"Are you aware of what he promised?" Caliban spoke up, "I was promised the proper restoration of my flesh. I've seen many strange and powerful things in this world, yet I admit part of me doubts your ability to deliver on that promise."

"Lionheart forwarded his promises to us, and they are well within Mother's ability to grant," Iridescent reassured the cyborg swordsman.

"These rewards require obedience of course," Cinder firmly added, her gaze panning over the mercenaries to look each of them in the eye. Most of the things the four were expecting were simple enough. Each one of them wanted to fight specific members of Teams AARN and STRQ while getting payed good money to do so. Trivialities. Some of them wanted things beyond that, not all of them things Cinder felt inclined to grant.

Particularly Thanh's, now that she had heard Roman's opinion of the reptilian faunus.

But the promise of those rewards should help keep them in line over the course of this delicate operation, so she would pretend to entertain the ones she found distasteful for now.

"Though it should go without saying that you won't see any promises fulfilled if you step out of line," She warned. "You will strike where and when we want you to strike and destroy what we bid you to destroy, but you will be more scalpel than hammer and go no further than we command. Understand?"

Sebastian Zaroff frowned a bit but nodded in acceptance that this was just part of the job. The others failed to follow suit.

"So you want us to sit around when we're not on the job? BORING!" Zhu squawked as she rocked back and forth. "Boring, Boring, Boring! How about you let me wander the slums when you don't need me? Finding drug labs and poisoning the supply is a great game that shouldn't interfere with your operation so long as I pace myself. You don't need to keep me on a tight leash!"

"And what qualifies you to act as leader, little girl?" Caliban Testoasa inquired harshly. "You are demanding a very stringent adherence to your vision. Do you really posses the foresight necessary to command the likes of us?"

"Nah, Smoke Hair's too new to the scene." Thanh chuckled darkly before licking his lips, "She'd be better off letting one of us take charge of this operation, and of her."

This blatant disrespect right out the gate was helpful; it showed her how hard she needed to come down to ensure compliance.

The demonstration she had prepared would be a sufficient start.

"You seem to be under the impression that we're just another set of Lionheart's acquaintances," Cinder frowned as she uncrossed her legs. The instant her foot touched the ground she allowed the full arcane might she had obtained from the Fall Maiden to flow through her. Mystical smoke trails bellowed from her eyes as molten glass spread out from beneath her feet. The glass pooled and took shape according to her will, lifting her chair into the air like a throne upon a dias. As she ascended she rose a hand dramatically, "Let me disabuse you of that assumption."

She snapped her fingers.

The sound of hidden cage doors bursting open immediately followed, along with the growling of Beowolves filling the air.

The four mercenaries were quick to respond to the presence of Grimm. Caliban drew his sword, toxins coated Zhu's hands, Thanh barred his teeth and brandished his sharpened nails. Sebastian pulled a hidden gun from his pocket and pointed it towards the leading Beowolf, an Alpha with the scars of many past battles.

The Beowolves marched past them, ignoring the four of them completely. Zhu tilted her head in confusion. Thanh looked from Grimm to Grimm with bewilderment. Caliban remained at the ready, though his sword lowered a fraction of an inch with surprise. Sebastian frowned as his eyebrows rose with distant recognition at the utterly bizarre behavior of the soulless predators.

The Grimm gathered at the base of her tower of glass, and as one they kneeled as best as they could with their inhuman forms. Cinder flexed the Maiden's power again, growing sharp glass spikes from the floor directly in front of the wolflike monsters. She snapped her fingers again, and in response the Beowolves grabbed the spikes and broke them off of the floor with their elongated inhuman hands. Each of the Grimm then took the spikes and in perfect sync drove them into their own eyes, killing themselves almost instantly.

Zhu's hands fell to her side as she tried to comprehend the impossible thing she had just witnessed. Thanh's eyes bounced back and forth from the ground where the Grimm's corpses were evaporating to the raised obsidian throne Cinder had crafted with the Fall Maiden's power, his jaw working up and down as sounds that were supposed to be words died on his lips. Caliban slowly lowered his sword but was otherwise still as a statue.

Sebastian returned his gun to its' hidden pocket as he looked up to Cinder with a newfound wariness.

"Ol' Duryodhana and some of the other Kauravan leaders could tell Grimm to do things... and the Grimm would listen... though they wouldn't have killed themselves if ordered..." The tiger faunus muttered as he connected present events with old memories. "You serve The Dark Mother, don't you? And she's granted you far more power than the Kauravas were ever blessed with."

"Mother is very interested in what's happening here and now," Iridescent smoothly answered before Cinder could. "The two of us are her mouthpieces and hands in this affair, and we will see her will done." She took a step out from the shadow cast by the freshly made obsidian throne, her smile seeming too wide in the lounge's light. "Your respective revenges fit within her will, so long as you respect the will that makes it possible."

"Now are you lot ready to be our scalpel?" Cinder slid herself back into the conversation, satisfied with the shock the mercenaries displayed.

They now looked at her and saw unassailable strength. Just a little more work and she'd be able to lead them about and have them strike at what she wanted them to strike, and only what she wanted them to strike.

She had the power, and through this power she had control.

She had control.

She had control of the things happening around her.

The distant smell of burnt flesh and twin screams drifted through the back of her mind.

She had control.

She had control of the things happening around her.

She would't hear twin screams or smell burning flesh again.

She had control of the things happening around her.

 

[FinalFormer]

Cross-posted From the SpaceBattles Thread

Glimpses Into Another Timeline: Dammit
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Beacon Academy, Vale. 4 Weeks Before the Fall of Beacon.

This should've been easy. And yet, it wasn't.

"I... I know it's a bit early..."

This wasn't supposed to happen.

"But... I know in my heart that what I feel for you is real..."

She wasn't supposed to let this... this farce go on any further. She couldn't!

"Cinder Fall. I love you."

Cinder Fall couldn't let that idiot Jaune Arc steal her heart.

She furiously tossed and turned in her bed out of frustration. So much that she couldn't hear Mercury complain about her making too much noise.

The plan was simple. It was always supposed to be simple.

After she had accidentally seduced the blonde buffoon, Cinder was advised by that nuisance Neopolitan that latching onto his arm could help them. She knew what the girl was suggesting: Seduce the idiot. Get information on The Invincible Girl, the red one, and the bimbo by inserting herself into his love life. Wrapping him around her finger and get him to talk his big dumb, luscio-- ugly lips about what makes his friends tick.

As much as it disgusted her to debase herself like that, Cinder played along. A flirtatious line here. A hand feeling up his muscles there. It was easy enough.

At first.

The plan had gotten complicated.

It all started with a kiss.

A damned kiss.

After The Breach, she, in a brief moment of weakness, had been worried for his well-being. So much so that upon seeing that he was safe from the invading Grimm, Cinder had kissed him.

She didn't know what had come over her. What compled her to kiss him like a lost lover.

From then on, the remarks from Mercury had gotten worse. He had the nerve to suggest that Arc had some kind of hold on Cinder's heart. That if Arc had been more of a 'badass' (His words), Cinder would dragged him to the nearest love motel.

But it somehow got even worse when Arc had asked her to go on a 'real' date with him.

"Ooooh~. Look at you getting all dolled up for your man~." Mercury mocked. He shared a smug grin with that pipsqueak Neo.

"Shut up, Merc!", Shouted Emerald. She wouldn't let any insult befall her mistress. "Maybe if you tried to schmooze up with Xiao-Long or something, Cinder wouldn't have to throw away her dignity!!"
"That's enough!", Cinder snapped at the two of them. Neo had quickly put her attention on her scroll, not caring about whatever threats Cinder would make. "As much as I don't like this, it's necessary. The more I indulge in Arc's little fantasy of our 'relationship', the more useful information we can use to bring this kingdom to its knees."
"Oh, I get that," Mercury said, leaning back into his bed. "But I think you need to remember where the line is drawn. If you get too close to Arc, this whole operation will be a bust."
"How dare you suggest that!", Emerald shrieked. "Cinder would never let that happen! She has that hick right where she wants him! Right, Cinder?"

If only she had known.

He had taken her to some park in the city. Apparently, it had some cultural significance that was probably tied to that skinwalker Ozpin, no doubt. The weather was also terrible that day. It was too hot. She kept suggesting they just go to a restaurant instead of some street festival but Arc making those ador-- stupid eyes!

They ended up staying in the park. They played a few games. Ate some rather fattening festival foods. He even won her a stuffed animal. A brown rabbit that he stupidly named 'Rumi'.

They walked around the city for awhile until they ended up at the pier. The sun was beginning to set. She knew what was happening. The fool was going to confess his feelings for her. All apart of the plan.

And yet... it didn't feel right.

"I... I know it's a bit early..." Arc stammered. She was taking in every detail of him but not in the way she used to. His jawline. His neatly combed hair. His brilliant blue eyes. She wasn't looking at him as a mark. But as a man.

"But... I know in my heart that what I feel for you is real..." He continued. Why? Why was she doing this? She never did this before! Why now!? And just what did he mean by that!? What was he--

"Cinder Fall. I love you."

Three words.

Those three words were all it took to break the walls of Cinder Fall.

She kissed him, her body acting on its own accord.

"I love you, too." She said, her heart speaking for her.

She couldn't say anything to Mercury or Emerald when she returned to their dorm. She couldn't trust her own words. She didn't even have the heart to indulge in Emerald's ego-stroking praises, simply wanting to be left alone for the rest of the night.

Because deep down, she knew it.

She meant every word she said.

She was in love with Jaune Arc.

Cinder felt the tears go down her cheeks. Try as she might, she couldn't snuff out the embers of love that had sparked in her heart. It yearned for him. His laugh. His eyes. His love. She wanted it all.

But she knew she couldn't.

Cinder belonged to The Queen. There was no happy ending for her. Only a throne. A lonely throne made from the bodies The Queen's enemies. And among them was the man she loved.

And as she silently wept, she simply let out one word;

"Dammit"

----------------------------------------
A little on the short side but I really enjoyed writing this one. Having Cinder realize her feelings for Jaune and overcoming Salem's hold on her will always be my favorite aspect of this timeline.

 

[FinalFormer]

Cross-posted From the SpaceBattles Thread

Glimpses Into Another Timeline: First Date

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Vytal Festival Grounds, Vale. 6 Weeks Before the Fall of Beacon.

"I think you should go. He seems like a great guy!"

"Yeah, May! You're worrying over nothing!"

"If he tries to pull any funny business, we'll kick his ass!"

Those were the.... 'inspiring' words that May Zedong heard from her team when she asked for advice about her date with Jaune Arc. She knew it was a longshot, but she still felt like they had some kind of advice to give her. Roy and Brawnz had been on dates before! Couldn't they say something other than 'Wear something pretty'!?

'I mean... technically they're right." May thought, looking at her attire. She was wearing a white sundress that was given to her by Beacon's resident fashionista Coco Adel. The third-year had heard about her outing with the knight (How she found out in the first place was beyond her) and decided she needed to wear something that would make him "worship her like a goddess'.

And while it did look pretty, the white contrasting against her skin, it put too much emphasis on her... 'assets'.

"Don't you think this is a bit much!?" May whined. She felt too exposed in the sundress. She desperately wanted to crawl back into her beloved baggy hoodie (Which Coco had rudely thrown on the ground!).

"Listen," Coco adjusted her sunglasses, eyes narrowing towards May's. "I know Arc, ok? The guy's as dumb as rock when it comes to girls, so nothing short of an all-out assault is gonna get him to fall head over heels for you."

"You're making it sound like I'm going to war!" May argued.

"I've got news for you Mayday! It is war. And you need to use every advantage you have!" Coco readjusted her sunglasses, a wicked grin spread across her face.

May sighed. She still couldn't believe she let Coco get away with this. At least she stopped Coco from messing with her hair.

"HEY!" May seized up. That was his voice. Jaune Arc was here.

She saw him approaching and...

Wow.

He was... he was really handsome. His blonde hair looked like it shimmered like the sun. His aura was so beautiful. His smile was so bright--

"--nd I kinda lost for sec-- Uh, May? You ok?" Jaune asked.

May blushed. She had been so enamored with Jaune that she spaced out... again... for the 3rd time since they met.

"W-what w-were you saying?" May stuttered.

"I saying I hope I didn't make you wait too long." Jaune replied. May frantically tried to remember the advice Coco told her.

"N-no. You didn't! Not at all!," She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. (That was supposed to show interest, right?) Now she has to give him a compliment. "I like your... shoes."

Dammit! She should've said shirt!

"Oh, thanks! My sister got them for me!," Jaune beamed. They were pretty sturdy for a pair of sneakers. "I really like your dre--"

May noticed Jaune's pause. Her sniper's eye had lined Jaune's eyeline towards her... assets. She saw his jaw hesitantly dropping. He... He thought she was attractive?

'Holy crap! She was right!?' May thought. She might actually have to apologize to Coco for doubting her.

Jaune then coughed, snapping the two out of their thoughts.

"S-so. What do you want to do first?" Jaune asked, hoping May didn't think he was being a creep.

"W-well," May stuttered (Again). "L-let's just walk around for awhile? If we see any stalls that look fun, then we'll check it out."

"Sounds like a plan." Jaune smiled.

And so they did just that. Jaune and May walked all around the festival, playing games like 'Pin The Tail On The Beowolf' and eating very unhealthy festival food.

At first, May had thought her timid and shy demeanor would ruin their date. But to her surprise, Jaune had been accommodating to her. He took quick notice to how she reacted when they went to a game or ride that too many people. And if there was too big a crowd at one food vendor, Jaune would suggest they go to another one. All to make sure she was having fun.

He was such a gentleman.

They were having so much fun that she had forgotten her fears. So much fun that she forgot her insecurities.

Once it got late, he walked her back to the dorms for the students of Shade. As they walked, that part of herself, the one that kicked her around and made her feel insecure, crept up.

"So, this is it. Right?" Jaune said. He had lead May back to her dorm room.

"S-sorry." May apologized. Her head lowered.

"Huh? For what?" Jaune tilted his head.

"W-well... you had to drag me around everywhere," She felt guilty about it. The voice was getting louder. "A-and we really couldn't enjoy the festival because I was getting anxious. If y--"

"May, it's ok," Jaune cut her off. He could tell where this was going. " You have no reason to blame yourself. I had fun. You had fun. That's all that should matter right now. Just because you're a little shy doesn't mean you can't have fun."

"But--"

"And I hope we get to have fun again."

May stood there, stunned. He... he really liked her.

*Smooch*
Her body moved before she realized it. She moved close and kissed Jaune. He tensed up, but slowly wrapped his hands around her waist. The kiss went on for ages. But May's heart didn't care. She wanted him to know she liked him in a way that her words couldn't.

Once the kiss ended, May pressed her head against his chest. She couldn't look at him. If she did, her brain might short-circuit.

"S-s-so, I'll see you tomorrow?" She stuttered. Jaune could only nod in response. She turned to her open her room's door... only for it to fly open with extreme force

"ARC!" Brawnz shouted, fury burning in his voice. Roy and Nolan were holding him back. "IF YOU KNOCKED UP MAY, I SWEAR TO THE GODS YOU'RE DEAD MEAT, MAN! YOU HEAR ME!!! DEAD MEAT!!!"

If May's face wasn't already red, then it was now. That (Wonderful, amazing) kiss had May so dazed, she completely forgot her teammates were staying in the dorm to have a lazy Saturday.

"No, wait that's not--" But it was too late.

"He did what!?"

"That guy? Seriously?"

"My man!"

The reactions from the other visitor students from Shade had caused May's brain to fry. They were actually celebrating!?

Overwhlemed by embarrassment, May fainted. She fell right into Jaune's (Strong) arms. Before she lost consciousness, she heard her teammates preparing to attack Jaune. She was told later that Jaune had successfully taken all of them down.

Had she seen it for herself, May would be sure that her heart would skip a beat.

--------------------------------------------

So, Andrew gave me a few prompts and I really wanted to do a first date story. So why not do it with the girl with many anxieties? Also, I just noticed that both my previous side story and this side story are titled after Blink-182 songs. So that's neat. Hope you enjoy.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Radian, Vale

Six Years after Salem's Defeat

- - -

It was the middle of the night when the cries knocked Jaune and Arslan out of slumber. Just as they had for most of the week. Jaune groaned, and slowly pushed himself out of bed. Arslan stirred next to him, mumbling.

"I-I can do it-" Arslan tried, but Jaune shook his head.

"I've got it," he whispered. He kissed her cheek. He got up, pulled on a shirt, and walked out of the bedroom. He headed over to the nursery, where the cries continued. He walked in, his keen senses letting him navigate through the darkness. He found his daughter easily enough-She was in her crib, crying and squirming. He gently picked her up, holding her in his arms.

"Shhh, shhh," Jaune murmured, rocking her, "Quiet Petra, it's okay, it's okay..."

He carried his daughter downstairs, Petra's wails quieter but still persisting. He went to the kitchen, taking some milk out of the fridge. He warmed it up, and while that was happening, he stepped out onto the porch.

The first fingers of sunlight were stretching out across the sky, turned purple and orange by the mountains. The Radian Valley was still mostly in shadow but the lights of the nearby villages were still glowing, like stars at night. Jaune sighed softly. The milk machine beeped, and he turned back. Arslan was already at the machine, pulling the bottle out. Jaune shook his head with a sigh.

"You could have just slept," he said, "You had the baby."

"And I'm fine," Arslan said, handing the bottle to Jaune. Jaune took it and held the bottle to Petra's lips. She suckled, slowly calming down into content silence. Arslan smiles and brushes her hand over Petra's smooth head.

Jaune smiled. They went out to the porch together, sitting down on the warm wood. Arslan scooted up against his side, as Petra guzzled her milk. Arslan wrapped an arm around her wait and rested her head on his shoulder. Jaune shuffled a bit, laying his artificial leg on the porch with a soft sigh.

"How is the leg?" Arslan asked quietly. Jaune snorted.

"I'm fine," he said.

"Are you sure?"

Jaune gave her a weary look.

"Ars... It's fine," Jaune said softly, "I mean, you're the one who carried and birthed her. Why are you worrying over me?"

"Because you worry over me," Arslan shot back. "I believe that is what marriage entails, does it not?"

"It is," Jaune sighed, "So why are we arguing?"

"I wasn't aware we were arguing," Arslan deadpanned. Jaune rolled his eyes.

"Neither was I," he chuckled. Arslan sighed and rested her chin on his shoulder, growling low in her throat.

"Rrrr... You take on so much," she muttered, "The wife should do her part."

"We both do our part," Jaune countered. "Besides... You should worry about yourself. Not my leg."

Arslan sucked in a deep breath and winced quietly.

"You read me too well sometimes," Arslan murmured. Jaune nuzzled her back as Petra snoozed in his arms.

"That's marriage," he said softly. Arslan sighed. Jaune sighed back.

"... Tablebreaker, I pray: Let my wife forgive herself for something she had no control over," Jaune said, "and let her relax from time to time?"

Arslan huffed and snuggled against him.

"Emperor Above, please make my husband realize I do it because I love him so much, and he's even more stubborn than me?"

"Impossible," Jaune countered, "Nobody's as stubborn as you."

Arslan snickered.

"And yet you won't give up. I believe you are more stubborn, my dear husband."

"Hmph," Jaune mumbled, "I thought you liked stubborn men."

"I do, but too much of anything is never a good thing," Arslan giggled. "Lord Aslan, let my husband realize he is not being funny."

"You laughed. I'm still funny."

"It was out of exasperation," Arslan defended herself, leaning in and closing her eyes.

"I could tickle you," Jaune suggested.

"Not when she just got to sleep," Arslan mumbled.

Jaune sighed, his smile impossible to remove.

He looks out at the sunrise, his daughter and his wife snoozing against him. He watches the golden orb rise, bathing the valley in color. He leaned in and kissed the top of Arslan's head, and then Petra's.

"Tablebreaker... Thank you for everything," he murmured.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Radian, Vale

Two Months After the end of the Vytal Festival

- - -

The Arc farmhouse was full of a hundred little sounds that put Emerald on edge. All unknown, all potentially threatening, save for Jaune's breathing in the bed they shared. She stood up silently, pulled on one of the Arc's provided robes, and stepped out as quietly as she could into the hallway beyond.

The Arc farmhouse was... Warm. From the greens and blues of the wallpaper to the dark red of the floors. The endless pictures on the walls, tapestries from ancient times and photos from now. She walked past them silently, staring almost blankly ahead.

It was alien. Strange. So many signs of sincerity, a sincerity she could not believe in.

It was overwhelming, all of it. Too overwhelming-

"Hello Emerald."

She froze. She turned and looked behind her. Isabel Arc was standing there, her face grim. Emerald sucked in a breath.

"Hello Doctor Arc," she managed. The older woman held an old fashioned lantern, its faint light shining off the walls and windows and picture frames.

"Can't sleep?" Isabel asked. Emerald remained silent and unreadable. Which didn't seem to matter to Isabel, who nodded. "I see."

"What?" Emerald asked, trying not to snap but she was so uneasy. Isabel hummed.

"You know, when I can't sleep, there's a place I go to in the woods over there," she said, gesturing to a small grove out the window. "Would you like to come with me?"

Is that... Is that an order? Emerald wondered, trying to dissect the woman's tone and body language. It was so controlled she couldn't get anything from it.

"... Okay," Emerald said softly. She was at a disadvantage... But she was used to it.

"Good," Isabel smiled. She turned and headed downstairs. Emerald followed silently.

They went out into the night, the chill of winter in the air but not overwhelmingly so. There hadn't been a lot of snow this season, so they walked through the fallow fields to the grove. They walked deep into the forest. Isabel paused on the path, one made of old stones that once fit together into something more grand.

"Let me get us a little more light," she murmured, channeling more Aura into the Dust. The light burned brighter, and Emerald looked up. Her eyes widened.

What she thought were trees were columns, arches, and battlements. Ruins from long ago, illuminated in the lamp's glow. Isabel led her deeper into the ruins, old stained glass and solemn statues with swords, shields, and spears glowing faintly.

They came to the center, a great tile mosaic floor where several statues stood in silent watch. Isabel turned to Emerald, her face still blank as she held up her lantern.

"This is Arcadia," Isabel explained, "Once our family's great fortress manor. It burned down eighty years ago, and we never had the funds to rebuild it. But we still maintain the crypt, and our family memorials."

Emerald sucked in a breath, amazed at how many statues and monuments there were. Isabel turned and pointed behind her, and Emerald turned. Isabel's lantern illuminated a statue of a nervous but determined young woman in armor with wings made of flame.

"That of course is Jeanne D'Arc, our founding Matriach," Isabel explained, unprompted, "she defeated the Witch Queen of Argus and liberated Gallia."

She pointed to another statue.

"That's my namesake, Queen Isabel II," Isabel stated, this one a stern woman in stone with a spear, "She defeated the Vacuoan invaders at the Battle of Rounders, and the Grimm hordes at the Three Turn Bridge. Almost the entire family was wiped out, save for her one infant son Louise I. She sacrificed herself to save him and the kingdom."

She turned, illuminating another statue: This of a solemn looking man with a beard, cloak, and sword.

"And that is Roland III, the last Arc to be a king," Isabel said, "He had to slay his own father, Louise XV, who had become a Grimm cultist and dictator. He abdicated the throne after, to atone for everything his father did and retired here."

"I..." Emerald shook her head. "I don't understand... Why you're showing me this."

Isabel nodded.

"It can be hard to find your way when you have nothing and no one," Isabel said softly. She gestured to a statue of a couple, a man and a woman: The man wielded a sword and shield, the woman a shotgun. "Those... Are my parents. Jonathan and Elizabeth Arc. When I was eleven, they were killed in a Grimm ambush on their way home. They... Sacrificed themselves to protect everyone else in their group."

Emerald grimaced.

"I... I'm sorry," she tried. Isabel shook her head.

"At the time... I hated them for it. For abandoning us."

Emerald started and stared at her. Isabel shrugged.

"Anger is a natural part of grief. It's why I despised being a Huntsman. I... Saw it as just a way to pay for medical school and make real money-Support my family."

She let out a soft sigh, and a wan smile full of nostalgia spread over her face.

"But... I was lost. And I was lucky I found Nick and my other friends. Who... Taught me that to be a hero was more important."

Emerald was silent. She slowly shook her head.

"I... I'm still feeling lost," she admitted.

"Because you can't believe that our family is genuine?" Isabel guessed. "That love isn't transactional? That this is real?"

Emerald was silent, still. She slowly nodded. She waved her hand at the statues.

"All of this legacy, I... I can't understand it. I had nothing, grew up with nothing... I was so dumb that I-I sold my soul to the first person to show me even the smallest bit of kindness..." She sighed. "I... I care about Jaune. I really do... But this... Where do I belong in all this? Can I... Can I ever belong? After all I've done?"

Isabel chuckled. Emerald shot her a confused scowl. Isabel smirked.
"All of these heroes? They were still people. Jeanne was a ditzy farmgirl who accidentally burned down half of Argus. Isabel II was a terrible queen and relied on the Sith Family to run things-She couldn't figure out a financial report if she tried. Roland... He could never forgive himself for killing his father... Or not killing him sooner. And my parents..."

She sighed.

"My parents were human... And good people, who did the best they could. And I love them,," Isabel said softly. "In the end, Emerald, what you are is up to you. But no one is beyond redemption, if they want it. That's one lesson I have learned from my family... And I hope it's one you learn, too."

Emerald studied the statues. Weather worn, damaged... But still standing, despite everything.

She clenched her fist and slowly nodded.

"I will... Jaune... Jaune is teaching me it."

Isabel smiled at her.

"Then I hope that one day... Though not for a very long time... Your statue will be here, too."

 

[TheFabulousCustodes]

Two Months After the end of the Vytal Festival

Click to shrink...

Wait, so did the Festival finish in the Topaz timeline, or did Beacon/Vale fall like in canon?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Wait, so did the Festival finish in the Topaz timeline, or did Beacon/Vale fall like in canon?

Click to shrink...

The Festival finished here. Emerald went with Jaune to Radian to lay low for a while.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Beacon, Vale

One week after the Party

Three Months Before the Vytal Festival

- - -

Glynda sighed, her shoulders tight and her mood dark. Everything seemed to hurt. Even though Emerald Week was over, she was still catching students with contraband booze. She practically stomped to her office, any remaining students out this late wisely getting out of her way.

Her mood was foul and dark, and all the paperwork she had to deal with in her office was making her cringe on the inside.

I might need some of that contraband for myself, she thought. Maybe Arc's gotten somewhere with some of the paperwork...?

He had stepped up and taken the blame for a party he clearly had nothing to do with planning. So she'd made him her assistant for a few weeks as punishment. She winced a bit as she approached her office.

I hope he's not too overwhelmed... I'll do what I can, let him take off early, she promised herself.

She opened the door. Jaune was working at her desk, looking over some reports on the holoscreen. He looked up and smiled.

"Oh! Hello Professor!"

"Hello Mister Arc," Glynda sighed. She shut the door behind her, and sighed. Her shoulders sagged a bit, the scent of warm tea filling the air. Jaune frowned.

"You okay?"

"Today was... Difficult," she said. She walked over to the desk. "You have the financials?"

"Hm?" Jaune blinked. Glynda frowned.

"I did give you access to them? If you haven't gotten to them, I... I understand. It's quite a lot-"

"Ohhhh! Those!" Jaune smiled. He brought up the financial forms. "They're all done!"

Glynda blinkded. She blinked again.

"I... What?"

"Yeah! I triple checked them. I haven't sent them yet, I wanted you to look them over first," Jaune said. He stood up and moved behind the chair, holding it out for her. She frowned and sat down.

"Mister Arc, after my day, I don't appreciate practical jokes," she said, "What do you mean you finished them? It takes days to get them all done!"

Jaune walked back from the tea kettle. He held out a cup of tea with a smile which Glynda took and sipped from. Red Leaf Tea with honey, just the way she liked it.

"I'm serious!" Jaune insisted. "Also, geez, your shoulders bothering you again?"

"I... Yes," Glynda managed. Jaune moved behind her and began to massage her. She bit back a moan-His abundance of Aura and bad control with it, plus his skilled fingers, made her relax instantly.

Granted, it might be a bit inappropriate for him to give her a shoulder rub or two... But given everything she'd been dealing with lately, she hadn't had it in her to refuse. And he was very sweet. Just like his father, really.

She opened the files and scanned through them very quickly. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"They... They're all done?" Glynda whispered.

"Yeah!"

"I... How?" Glynda managed, flustered for the first time since she graduated from Beacon. Jaune nodded.

"I asked my sister-in-law, a computer programmer, to send me some financial software. I used it to sort it all out." He beamed. "I've mostly been taking care of anything else finance related. I haven't sent anything yet, like I said, so you can make sure it worked."

"How... How much?" Glynda asked softly. Jaune pointed at the holoscreen.

"I took care of the quarterly financial report, the budget proposal, the tax accounting... Again! We'll need to look over it all but I hope you're happy-MMPH!"

It took a moment for Glynda to realize what she was doing. Her lips were on Jaune's. Her arms were around his shoulders. His arms were down at his sides, but slowly going up to her hips. Her tongue was pressing against his lips for entry-

"Ah! Haa!" Glynda pulled away like Jaune was on fire, panting hard. Jaune panted as well, his cheeks bright red. He stared at her in shock.

"Um, uh... P-Professor, um-"

"Okaythankyouwe'llcontinuethisnever!" Glynda cried, waving The Disciplinarian and sending Jaune flying through the door with her Semblance.

"UWAH!" Jaune cried.

Glynda slammed the door behind him, breathing hard, her chest heaving.

"Okay... Okay, I kissed my student and assistant," Glynda murmured, "This isn't the end of the world... This isn't the end of the world...!"

She sat down at her desk and bowed her head. She held her hands to her temples.

"It is the end of the world," she groaned.

- - -

 

[RandomDragon]

oh boy...the day Jaune came as the Rusted knight? Glynda married Juanes ass and then proceeded to probably break a few beds.
poor man would not have mercy from his new wife.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Professor Goodwitch firmly believed that everyone could learn something from any fight, so It was a bit of a surprise that she had allowed him to slip out of the room before combat class was over when he had vaguely hinted at a need to use the restroom...

...Okay maybe it wasn't. Professor Goodwitch... Glynda. He should be thinking of her as Glynda when he wasn't in class...

Glynda had been sending looks his way even as she supervised and critiqued the fights of the day, not exactly scowling as she saw his other future brides vie for his attention between bouts. Whether her annoyance stemmed from the mild disruption to the class this was causing or if it stemmed from the fact that her duties were keeping her from joining in was currently a mystery to him but it was a mystery he would dwell on later, not now.

Jaune splashed cold water on his face. It was refreshing and grounding and just what he needed; just a few moments alone to reorient himself before going back out there and taking things head on again...

...And maybe brainstorm a few ways to subtly introduce a few more boundaries going forward. Cuddling wasn't supposed to be that aggressive, and his left arm was questioning its' virginity right now so yeah a few more ground rules wouldn't hurt.

He heard a brief and muffled exchange of formalities at the public restroom's doors between Penny and someone else before the doors opened and two sets of footsteps made their way to the urinals behind him. Jaune ignored this and kept washing his face in cold water, soothing his nerves and clearing his thoughts.

Then the two newcomers joined him at the sinks, and apparently thought it was socially acceptable to start a conversation in the bathroom.

"So your life's taken a turn for the weird, hasn't it Jaune?" His sink neighbor asked while starting their faucet and putting soap on their hands.

"I suppose it has," Jaune glanced towards the speaker, having already identified them as Hex Skavader. The other team leader could be a bit of a boor at times, but Hex hadn't ever really directed that boorishness towards him and had actually been one of the first team leaders after Ruby to take him seriously in their leadership classes. So as long as Hex was going to be polite Jaune could be polite back.

"I don't know if I should be congratulating you or offering my condolences," Hex said as his teammate Kupa pulled paper towels from the dispenser and handed them to Hex. The rabbit faunus dried his hands as he continued, "I mean they're all gorgeous girls but there's almost enough of them to make three different teams and you got some pretty headstrong personalities in the mix. Managing three different teammates is already enough of an uphill battle that I can't imagine keeping track of that many women."

"It may be daunting, but it can work if you put in the right amount of effort," Jaune shut off his faucet and was only slightly surprised when Kupa handed him some paper towels as well. He sent the turtle faunus a thankful nod before drying his face. "And since it can work we've agreed to try and make it work."

"I guess it could," Hex acknowledged. "But do you really need to?"

"Yes," Jaune emphatically replied a bit more forcefully than the meant to. "I mean, the marriage contracts were very explicit in their wording," He bashfully supplied to cover the outburst. He continued with a more subdued tone, "None of them can be dropped lightly."

Hex had quirked an eyebrow and his rabbit ears had twitched when the words marriage contracts had left Jaune's lips, while Kupa silently nodded on the side like someone making note of something.

"It's still eleven contracts," Hex crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall between Jaune and the exit. "With that many you could cancel some of them without losing face, and even the most stringent legal agreements can be dissolved under the right circumstances. I highly doubt any judge would hold you to all of them, especially since most of these contracts would have had to of been made back when your parents could have expected to have more than one son. So why would you try to honor all of them instead of cutting things down to a more manageable size? I mean does each contract stipulate that the girl it's about has to be a full blown wife? Or would making a girl a consort or concubine fulfill the contract? I could picture things being manageable if you could do that, especially if some of them are willing to act as handmaids for a proper wife. But that does raise the question of who would be willing to do that," Hex brought a hand to his chin and rubbed it thought. "Emerald would have done that for Cinder if Cinder hadn't blown up on her Saturday and then pulled the runaway bride act... The Schnee sisters would probably need to be proper brides, same with Blake Belladonna. Would Ruby be willing to be a handmaid for Weiss...? Yang for Blake...?"

Jaune closed his eyes and sighed. Hex trying to be helpful was the last thing he needed right now.

"Look," Jaune interrupted the rabbit boy's musings, "I'm planning on making everyone a proper wife. We're all going out on dates this week to see if everything can work out like that, so speculating about alternative arrangements is pointless unless that doesn't work out."

"You are?" Hex stepped away from the wall with an inquisitive look that Kupa mirrored. Hex proceeded to chuckle in amusement before he went on, "I don't know why I'm surprised; every leadership class you've worked to go above and beyond to prove yourself to everyone. Just don't wear yourself too thin trying to prove you can do this to yourself okay?"

Hex started walking to the door before looking over his shoulder and adding, "I'll be keeping my ear to the ground to see how things play out. See you around!"

With that Hex and Kupa were out the door.

Jaune let out an aggravated groan before turning the sink back on as cold as it would go and splashed more frigid water on his face. It wasn't as refreshing as before.

Roughly ten minutes later Jaune exited the bathroom felling somewhat put together.

"Combat Class will be over by the time we return to Professor Goodwitch's classroom," Penny observed.

"We can still meet up with everyone else there," Jaune replied as he shoved his hands in his pants pockets. "Let's go."

The two made there way through the halls, and just like Penny had predicted students were shuffling out of the room by the time they got there. They were greeted by the smiling faces of his future children and potential brides. They all rushed forward to pull him into their circle, but slowed down and stopped before that actually happened.

The reason why jovially clasped Jaune on the shoulders.

"Hey son," His father grinned down at him, "Are you free now that class is over?"

"Ah, kinda? I need to get ready for my dates in about an hour and a half."

"An hour and a half huh?" Nick nodded in thought, "That'd be enough time to go over the basics." The blond swordsman looked up to his son's fiancees and the grandchildren before asking, "None of you mind if I borrow my son for a little bit of light training do you?"

The future brides and grandchildren exchanged looks.

"Um, I guess you can borrow him," Ruby allowed after nobody thought of a good reason to object.

"Excellent! Let's get going son!" Nick started to drag Jaune in the direction of one of the school's gymnasiums somewhat faster than Jaune expected.

"What's the rush dad?"

"NICK! GET BACK HERE!" Isabel bellowed from somewhere behind them. "THE MEETINGS ARN'T ANYWHERE NEAR OVER!"

"WE'RE WELL PAST THE POINT WHERE I CAN CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING MEANINGFUL!" Nick yelled back as he picked up the pace and picked his son up like a sack of potatoes. "SO I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING MORE USEFUL THAN SITTING AROUND WAITING UNTIL I CAN HIT THE PROBLEM!"

"NICK!" Apparently Isabel thought differently, her bellowing echoing closer through the halls in a way that implied she was picking up speed.

"GRANDCHILDREN!" Nick commanded, "GRANDMOTHER SUPPRESSION MANEUVER 1A!"

Most of Jaune's children reacted immediately, rushing towards the corner Isabell was about to round. The instant she was clear Julian slammed into her chest with the battlecry of "Dogpile!"

"DOGPILE!" Xia agreed as she latched onto Isabell's left arm.

"Dogpile!" Petra proclaimed as she latched onto the right.

"Dogpile!" August shouted as he went for the shoulders.

"CATPILE!" Leander objected as he went for the right leg.

"CATPILE!" Leandra backed him up as she went for the other leg.

"Dogpile!" Xander corrected as he followed after them.

"Dogpile!" Dorothy flew in at top speed.

"Oh! We're doing a dogpile?" Nicholas smiled as he rushed to join in.

"HECK YEAH! DOGPILE!" Theodore cheered as he teleported to come in at an elevated angle.

"Heck yeah! Dogpile!" Ash and Ashley echoed each other as they rushed in.

"Dogpile!?!?" Amethyst squeaked as she ran to not be left out.

Isabel was brought to the ground in seconds beneath the pile, and for a moment the pile was still.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGH!" With a surge of aura and a mighty inarticulate yell Isabel managed to leverage all of her strength to both stand up and throw her grandchildren off of her.

For a moment Isabel stood there panting, her grandchildren scattered around her on the floor. She cast her eyes about trying to figure where her husband and son were as she caught her breath, but before she could catch a hint of them she felt a sudden impact from behind.

"DOGPILE!" Nora screamed as she swept Isabel's legs.

"DOGPILE!" Arslan agreed while Ruby and Yang followed up with "HECK YEAH! DOGPILE!"

"Oh dear, we're doing a dogpile." Pyrrha wasn't sure if she or May had said it. In any case they were both grabbing on with Emerald right behind them.

The grandchildren got back to their feet and hopped back on, while most of the remaining brides pitched in.

Glynda and Winter slowly looked to each other.

"Um... should we..." Winter stammered as she saw her younger sister jump on out of the corner of her eye.

"I..." Glynda was at a loss as her jaw worked up and down.

The pile bucked as Isabel tried to get out form under it.

Winter's expression changed to that of someone biting the bullet.

"Dogpile," she vowed as she marched to her destiny.

Glynda watched her go before sagging in resignation.

"Well, I might never get the chance to do this again," Glynda mused before straightening up and dawning a look of determination.

"Dogpile."

By the time Isabel managed to crawl out her husband and Jaune were long gone and she was forced to admit that Nick had won this round...

"...Why?" Isabel groaned as she finally got to her feet again. "Why did you all hold me down?"

"Oh, ah," Ruby was the one who found her words first, "We were hoping to cut down on any further internet drama..."

"What kind of drama?" Isabel asked while the others got to their own feet and collected themselves.

"Doctor Arc," Arslan began somewhat abashedly, "You punched out your husband on camera yesterday. Some people have claimed you're a spouse beater, and having another altercation with him the very next day would give that accusation a leg to stand on."

"Oh," Isabel suddenly became very still.

"Edits of the punch are also becoming a meme online," Theodore supplied as he held up his scroll. "There are already sixty-four different captions and it was added to the Morning Dose of Internet compilation, receiving almost as much attention as Aunt Weiss' metronome moment."

"Oh no..." Isabel buried her face in her hands. Her own grandparents and siblings watched that channel. Some of her daughters to! She was going to be mocked relentlessly next call home...

 

[Dragon Bob]

I love that Nick knew his future self would have trained his grandkids to dogpile on command and what that command would be.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Beacon, Vale

One week after the Party

Three Months Before the Vytal Festival

- - -

Glynda sighed, her shoulders tight and her mood dark. Everything seemed to hurt. Even though Emerald Week was over, she was still catching students with contraband booze. She practically stomped to her office, any remaining students out this late wisely getting out of her way.

Her mood was foul and dark, and all the paperwork she had to deal with in her office was making her cringe on the inside.

I might need some of that contraband for myself, she thought. Maybe Arc's gotten somewhere with some of the paperwork...?

He had stepped up and taken the blame for a party he clearly had nothing to do with planning. So she'd made him her assistant for a few weeks as punishment. She winced a bit as she approached her office.

I hope he's not too overwhelmed... I'll do what I can, let him take off early, she promised herself.

She opened the door. Jaune was working at her desk, looking over some reports on the holoscreen. He looked up and smiled.

"Oh! Hello Professor!"

"Hello Mister Arc," Glynda sighed. She shut the door behind her, and sighed. Her shoulders sagged a bit, the scent of warm tea filling the air. Jaune frowned.

"You okay?"

"Today was... Difficult," she said. She walked over to the desk. "You have the financials?"

"Hm?" Jaune blinked. Glynda frowned.

"I did give you access to them? If you haven't gotten to them, I... I understand. It's quite a lot-"

"Ohhhh! Those!" Jaune smiled. He brought up the financial forms. "They're all done!"

Glynda blinkded. She blinked again.

"I... What?"

"Yeah! I triple checked them. I haven't sent them yet, I wanted you to look them over first," Jaune said. He stood up and moved behind the chair, holding it out for her. She frowned and sat down.

"Mister Arc, after my day, I don't appreciate practical jokes," she said, "What do you mean you finished them? It takes days to get them all done!"

Jaune walked back from the tea kettle. He held out a cup of tea with a smile which Glynda took and sipped from. Red Leaf Tea with honey, just the way she liked it.

"I'm serious!" Jaune insisted. "Also, geez, your shoulders bothering you again?"

"I... Yes," Glynda managed. Jaune moved behind her and began to massage her. She bit back a moan-His abundance of Aura and bad control with it, plus his skilled fingers, made her relax instantly.

Granted, it might be a bit inappropriate for him to give her a shoulder rub or two... But given everything she'd been dealing with lately, she hadn't had it in her to refuse. And he was very sweet. Just like his father, really.

She opened the files and scanned through them very quickly. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"They... They're all done?" Glynda whispered.

"Yeah!"

"I... How?" Glynda managed, flustered for the first time since she graduated from Beacon. Jaune nodded.

"I asked my sister-in-law, a computer programmer, to send me some financial software. I used it to sort it all out." He beamed. "I've mostly been taking care of anything else finance related. I haven't sent anything yet, like I said, so you can make sure it worked."

"How... How much?" Glynda asked softly. Jaune pointed at the holoscreen.

"I took care of the quarterly financial report, the budget proposal, the tax accounting... Again! We'll need to look over it all but I hope you're happy-MMPH!"

It took a moment for Glynda to realize what she was doing. Her lips were on Jaune's. Her arms were around his shoulders. His arms were down at his sides, but slowly going up to her hips. Her tongue was pressing against his lips for entry-

"Ah! Haa!" Glynda pulled away like Jaune was on fire, panting hard. Jaune panted as well, his cheeks bright red. He stared at her in shock.

"Um, uh... P-Professor, um-"

"Okaythankyouwe'llcontinuethisnever!" Glynda cried, waving The Disciplinarian and sending Jaune flying through the door with her Semblance.

"UWAH!" Jaune cried.

Glynda slammed the door behind him, breathing hard, her chest heaving.

"Okay... Okay, I kissed my student and assistant," Glynda murmured, "This isn't the end of the world... This isn't the end of the world...!"

She sat down at her desk and bowed her head. She held her hands to her temples.

"It is the end of the world," she groaned.

- - -

Click to shrink...

The next day, Glynda headed into the city. It had been a while since she'd been able to get away. She'd stopped by her small house-Still untouched, still barely lived in. It only made her more depressed.

But it got her out of Beacon. It got her away from her work and Jaune Arc and remembering Jaune's lips-No. Do not think about that.

There was something to brighten her day. She finally had enough time to visit and volunteer somewhere she loved.

The red brick building with a green roof was in Old Vale-The center of modern Vale geographically, if not politically anymore. Nestled between several other older buildings, it had a bit of green around it fenced in with wrought iron bars. The sign outside read "Saint Lucy's Orphanage."

Glynda entered through the twin front doors. A kindly old lady, the matron of the orphanage, looked up from the front desk with a broad smile through her hornrimmed glasses.

"Glynda! It's been so long!" The old lady cheered. Glynda smiled back gently, and walked forward to hug the nun as she hobbled around.

"Sister Margaret, it's good to see you," Glynda greeted her, "So! Am I too late to read to the orphans?"

"Well," Sister Margaret smirked a bit, "You can, but another regular beat you to it."

Glynda raised her eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah! He's a student out of Beacon," Margaret explained, leading Glynda through the side door into the library. It was very well stocked-Glynda, Ozpin, Port, Oobleck, and Mombi Lang (Beacon's librarian) had seen to that. Glynda's eyes weren't focused on that though.

Sitting in a grown up chair, surrounded by children hanging off his every word... And now looking up with a shocked look was-

"Mister Arc?" Glynda blurted out. Jaune flushed.

"Oh! Uh, Professor!"

Sister Margaret looked between them with a raised eyebrow.

"You two having problems?"

"No!" They both said, far too quickly. A number of kids smirked. A girl giggled.

"I'll... Just wait outside," Glynda said quickly.

"No! No, you can-It's all right-" Jaune tried. Glynda shook her head.

"No! No, it's fine. I-"

"Just sit and wait for him to finish, honestly," Margaret sighed, pulling out another chair. Glynda stared back at Jaune, who was bright red. She sighed and sat down.

"Of course," she said, "There's no problem at all."

"No problem!" Jaune insisted.

Margaret looked back and forth between them, and shrugged.

"All right," she said, turning to the kids, "I'll be right outside if you need anything, sweeties."

"Okay Sister Margaret!" They chorused.

- - -

Glynda sat quietly and let Jaune continue. And she had to admit, he had a talent.

"'Now, fools,' cackled the evil Cooboth, 'you and your clone shall fight! Whoever wins will be my apprentice, and let me dominate the galaxy! The two Lucians fought, green beam saber against blue beam saber. Kssh! Krrrsh! Their sabers crackled against eachother, equally matched, as Kara Maid watched helplessly,'" Jaune recounted.

He built up the drama of the fight, doing good impressions of the character voices, and the kids were silent and transfixed. Jaune then rose his hand up.

"Cooboth, seeing everyone was down thanks to his Shwartz scream, declared, 'You have bested my clone! You will be my apprentice! Come with me to the cloning room, and we will dominate the galaxy!' But Kara shot back defiantly, 'Like hell you freak!' Cooboth attacked her with the Schwartz, hurling stones from the roof above. Kara swung the lightsaber, deflecting was she could, but her powers were fading. She was tired. She was injured...'" Jaune looked up to the eager children.

"So?! What happened?!" A little boy demanded. Jaune looked the clock and sighed.

"Sorry guys, we gotta end here for today. I still gotta work on the boiler," Jaune said apologetically, and he was greeted with a chorus of groans. He smiled, "But I'll be back next week!"

The kids brightened up considerably, and took off to play and read and chatter. Jaune stood up, tucking the book into his bag. He walked over to Glynda, looking awkward. She felt awkward as she slowly stood up. They looked at eachother's shoulders.

"Hello Professor," Jaune managed.

"Mister Arc," Glynda said.

Silence fell.

"So... You volunteer here?" Glynda offered.

"Yeah," Jaune nodded. Glynda nodded back.

"I see. That's good."

"Thank you."

Silence. Jaune smiled awkwardly.

"So, um... I'd better go do that. You... You can play with them if you'd like. Not like you can't."

"I..." Glynda sucked in a breath.

You're an adult. Deal with it like an adult.

"May I accompany you?" Glynda asked. Jaune tensed, and slowly nodded.

"S-Sure! Um, yeah. No... No problem," he managed.

They headed out, and descended into the basement of the old building. It was brick and dusty, but fairly well maintained-Many boxes and crates of supplies, along with a thick iron door in case of emergency, were the main features aside from the boiler. The boiler itself was large, old, but fairly well maintained, though there was a rattle. Jaune walked over to it, already reaching for the tool box.

"Well, I can just get started-"

Glynda waved her riding crop, unleashed her Semblance, and the rattling immediately stopped. Jaune blinked.

"Or... You could do that," Jaune managed. He slowly turned back to Glynda. She cleared her throat.

"... Mister Arc," she began, "I am very sorry for... For what happened last night."

Jaune coughed.

"I uh... I-I mean-"

"This is a difficult position for me," Glynda went on with a sigh, "You... You have me dead to rights. You could easily blackmail me over this. A teacher, abusing a student-"

Jaune walked forward, trying to close the distance. She instinctly backed up in shock.

"You didn't abuse me!" Jaune responded angrily. "Look, I'm not some horny 13 year old boy. You're not a monster! I would never blackmail you over this!"

"You're my student and assistant," Glynda responded back, "I-I can't just-!"

"Do you regret it?"

Glynda was silent. Her eyes couldn't meet his.

"Do you regret it?" Jaune demanded again.

Glynda winced. Jaune got closer, his arms twitching as though to hold her, but still he held back.

"Professor," he murmured, "Glynda... You've been so kind, so supportive. You're not a bad person. I-I care about you."

"I'm... A very lonely, frustrated old woman," she whispered, "I'm not someone you should care for-"

"Well I do," Jaune stated firmly, "So there. So... What do you feel about me?"

Glynda was silent. She slowly shook her head.

"I... I don't... I can't feel these things for you," she whispered.

"But you do, don't you?" Jaune pressed.

Glynda sighed.

"... If I did," she murmured, "That doesn't mean we could do anything about it."

She shook her head. She cupped his cheek, looked into his eyes.

"We have to be professi-"

He leaned in to kiss her deeply. She gasped... And didn't pull away.

They broke apart, panting softly for breath. Glynda shook her head rapidly, and pushed him away.

"W-We have to be professional!" She hissed.

Jaune scowled... But nodded slowly.

"Then... That's for kissing me first," he murmured, "We're even... For now."

"For now?" Glynda asked. Jaune nodded and smiled.

"Because one day, we won't have to be professional," he murmured. Glynda flushed.

"Jaune-Arc... I'm an old woman. There are plenty of girls you should chase-"

"And I want you," Jaune said firmly. Glynda sighed and shook her head.

"You're young, Arc... You won't feel like this forever."

Jaune shrugged.

"Maybe... But maybe I won't. I just know... I really care for you. And that's not gonna change."

Jaune headed up the stairs. Glynda watched him go, her cheeks head, her heart pounding.

She rapidly shook her head.

"No! No, it... It's just a crush," she murmured, "It means nothing. He'll grow out of it... He will. And so will I... Right?"

The bricks and boiler had no answers.