[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

It was probably not the best idea. No, strike that, it was a terrible idea.

A game night with both RWBY and JNPR? With alcohol Yang snuck in? Terrible.

Jaune's seven sisters had given him an insight and wisdom that told him the truth. An eternal truth.

This could only end one way: Truth or dare. Via Spin the bottle.

And there sat Jaune, looking nervous as hell while the bottle spun in the middle. Yang was grinning evilly.

"Round and round it goes~!"

"I still can't believe you dragged me into this," Weiss muttered.

"I can't believe you won't let me play!" Ruby pouted from the bed, still slogging through her game.

"Big sister veto, deal with it," Yang stated. The bottle came to a stop... On Jaune. The blond felt several predatory eyes on him. Mainly Yang, enhanced with her shit-eating grin.

"Oho~! Vomit Boy is our first victim! So, truth or dare?"

"Dare," Jaune stated instantly. Yang raised her eyebrows and Jaune shrugged.

"Easier to get it out of the way."

"Oho?" Yang grinned. "All right then... I dare you to kiss-"

"Not me!" Weiss cried.

Jaune winced. Weiss looked a bit taken aback, but still adamant. Geez, he said he was sorry.

"Fine, fine," Yang pouted. She scanned around. Pyrrha went bright red for some reason-Was kissing him that bad? He didn't think so but still. At least Ruby wasn't here, that would make things incredibly awkward.

Blake just stared at him intensely, like a cat peeking out of a closet. He couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

At last, Yang smirked.

"Kiss Ren!"

Nora beamed, and then held up Magnhild.

"Try it and die, Yang-Yang," Nora said cheerfully as Ren flushed. Yang coughed.

"Er, um, well..."

Jaune rolled his eyes.

"Nora, Ren, this is totally platonic," he said. He then leaned over and pecked Ren on the cheek. He pulled back and sat back down. Ren blinked. Pyrrha was strangely tense. Nora hummed and nodded in approval.

"That's acceptable, Fearless Leader!"

Yang scoffed.

"Come on, that's not a kiss!"

"You didn't specify," Jaune replied, flushing a bit but holding his ground.

"He's Gallian anyway, so kissing on the cheeks is normal for him," Ruby pointed out.

"Yeah, pretty much," Jaune shrugged, "Everyone in Radian kissed cheeks. Men, women, girls, boys."

"Well then that doesn't count!" Yang declared. "You have to kiss someone for real!"

Jaune blushed heavily.

"Er, um, wait-"

Yang grinned.

"I know~," she said in a sing song voice. She got on all fours and crawled towards him-Which was, if he was honest, an awesome view. She crawled up into his lap with a giggle and set herself down.

"Ah, Yang-" Jaune stuttered. He could smell the wine on her breath-Geez, she was a lightweight?! But he also smelled her. Felt her.

Which is when she kissed him. Her lips pressed against his and all thought just vanished from his mind.

It was like the universe was suddenly reduced to just him and Yang. Her soft, warm lips. Her tongue. Her electrifying skin... Their tongues entwined and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, the kiss deepened and-

"Th-That's enough!" Ruby shouted, red faced, as she pulled Yang's shoulders to get her off Jaune's lap. Pyrrha took hold of Jaune's shoulders and pulled him away.

"Y-Yes, the dare is complete now!" Pyrrha said with a high-pitched voice. Jaune shook his head and got his senses back. Yang, bright red, was suddenly not looking his way.

"Aw, but that was fun to watch!" Nora complained. Blake slowly nodded.

"Indeed," she said, sounding just a tiny bit smug.

Weiss's entire body seemed to burn bright red.

"You-That was-So lewd-!" She kept sputtering like a car that needed an oil change.

"OKAY! JAUNE-JAUNE'S TURN!" Nora cheered. "Come on, give it a spin!"

"Uh... Um, y-yeah," Jaune managed. He took hold of the bottle and waited for everyone to sit down before he spun it... Studiously not looking Yang's way. All the while, Yang watched with a bright red face, even though she tried to hide it with her hair.

The rest of the night was a lot less exciting, thankfully. But it was impossible for Jaune to not touch his lips on occassion.

And equally impossible to miss that Yang did the same thing.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It might be funny if they keep trying to pretend they're not involved after they get together, and unfortunately nobody believes that Cardin is actually bullying Velvet anymore.

Jaune: "I mean, you've got hickeys."

Cardin: "M-Mosquito bites!"

Jaune: "Through your Aura?"

Cardin: "Y-Yeah! Grimm Mosquitos!"

Nora: "The fact you keep going out on dates?"

Velvet: "N-No! Those aren't dates! He's uh... He's just taking me out to apologize! For being a jerk!"

Jaune: "Why are you lying? It's obvious!"

Cardin: "N-NO! I'M A RACIST BULLY AND I DON'T LIKE HER AT ALL!"

Velvet: "Y-YEAH! HE'S STILL A TOTAL JERK AND I DON'T LIKE HIM AT ALL!"

Coco: "Velvet, everyone knows you two are banging."

Velvet: bright red "E-Everyone?!"

Cardin: "EVERYONE?!"

Yang: "Everyone in the dorms heard you two banging! INCLUDING RUBY!" glares "You perverts! Stop corrupting my baby sis!"

Ruby: "YAAANG! I know what sex is!" blush "Though um, Cardin and Velvet definitely made it a lot more clear-"

Yang: "YOU FREAKING EXHIBITIONISTS!"

Weiss: "Y-You're so lewd! Stop denying it!"

Blake: Is busy writing a massive epic about a racist human master becoming kind and warm to his submissive rabbit Faunus slave girl... While her nose bleeds...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I got this very interesting idea from a guest poster over on Ao3, so here it is:

Cardin' struggles with his Semblance called "Empathy" that allows him to void the pain and emotions of others by taking them on himself through touch. Dove broke his leg and freaking out? Cardin can numb his pain while he fireman carries his teammate to safety even as his own perfectly healthy limb groans in discomfort! He can't heal people, but he can take away their pain or keep them from panicking.

The problem really starts when he goes to the local hospital to visit his Nana, only to overhear a sobbing couple whose kid won't make it through the night and don't know what to do.

So Cardin offers them the chance to take away the pain and allow their kid one more night filled with bedtime stories and silly games free from pain with Mommy and Daddy before she drifts to sleep one last time...

Cardin spends the next day in Beacon's combat room trying to forget how it feels to die scared and all alone.

Eventually other parents with terminal kids find out...and Cardin?

...Cardin just doesn't have it in his heart to say no.

Not without remembering that first night of panic and dread and realizing what saying no would do to those kids. Because what kind of manly, heroic Hunstman would give up on them?

So everyday Cardin ends up leaving the hospital a little more angry, a little more absentminded, and a little more scared cuz he doesn't know how to process it.

Eventually it gets so bad that Blake chews Cardin out for accidentally knocking her over in the halls before Cardin loses it and trashes her stuff before leaving.

Dove and Sky finally accept that something isn't right with their friend and call in the "big gun" to help him out.

Cue Velvet finally putting her foot down with her boyfriend who unsuccessfully tries to shrug her off, and pinning him down in the arena until he comes clean with his problem.

Eventually, Cardin goes from feeling frustrated, to angry, to finally feeling lost before he can't hold hold it in any more and confesses, weeping tears and all. Feels so ashamed he isn't strong enough to help the kids with their burdens or strong enough to say no, only for Velvet to hug and comfort him back, holding him.

Fic ends with Cardin going a clinic for therapy and nearly chickening out before he feels Velvet holding his hand and the loving encouragement/support she sends him. Proceeds to take one last breather before getting some well-earned help.

Click to shrink...

What do you think?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Been working with an AI on some brainstorming. It gave me this for the Quitalan Empire (Which would have been the equivalent of the Romans in Remnant):

The Quitalan Empire began as a city-state on the continent of Sanus, formed by various tribes united for mutual defense against the Grimm. It evolved from a republic into an empire, expanding through conquest, diplomacy, and the establishment of a centralized power structure.

Expansion and Military:

• Legions and Early Huntsmen: The Quitalan military was known as the Legions, with an elite cohort of Huntsmen and Huntresses, the Praetorian Guard, who were skilled in Aura techniques but did not have the advantage of Dust. Their combat methods would focus on tactics, strategy, and the use of Aura for defense and offense against both human foes and Grimm.
• Fortifications and Roads: Without the benefit of Dust, their expansion relied heavily on their ability to construct defensible positions and safe routes, like the famous Quitalan Walls and roads, to facilitate travel and trade while minimizing Grimm encounters.
• Naval Strength: Their navy was crucial for coastal defense, but without Dust, their ships would be more traditionally built, relying on speed, ramming tactics, and boarding actions to fend off sea Grimm and rival navies.

Governance and Society:

• Aura Utilization: Aura would have been a significant aspect of Quitalan life, integrated into governance, sports, and daily activities. Training in Aura might have been widespread, with special academies for those with strong natural talents to become Huntsmen.
• Legal System: Their legal systems would have addressed matters related to Aura misuse or the handling of Grimm threats, without reference to Dust.
• Cultural Assimilation: As the Empire grew, it assimilated various cultures, adapting their religions, myths, and Grimm-fighting techniques into its own. This cultural amalgamation would strengthen the Empire's resilience against Grimm through diversity in tactics.

Infrastructure Against Grimm:

• Coliseums: Beyond entertainment, these could serve as training grounds for combat against Grimm, where citizens could learn to fight or watch Huntsmen demonstrate techniques, turning public spectacle into practical education.
• Aqueducts and Water Management: Water was a deterrent for many types of Grimm, so aqueducts would not only supply cities with water but also create barriers or traps against Grimm.
• Lighthouses and Signal Towers: These structures would also serve as watchtowers for Grimm sightings, allowing the Empire to mobilize defenses quickly.

Decline and Fall:

• Defensive Overreach: The Empire would have reached its limits in controlling vast territories without Dust, leading to vulnerabilities where Grimm could exploit weak spots in their defenses.
• Internal Decay: Similar to historical Rome, decline could come from within due to political corruption, economic troubles, or a breakdown in the societal structures that maintained their defenses against Grimm.
• Natural Disasters and Grimm: Without Dust or advanced technology to manipulate the environment, the Quitalan Empire would be more susceptible to natural disasters, which could also trigger Grimm outbreaks due to the resulting fear and negative emotions.
• Barbarian Invasions: Tribal groups or rival nations outside the Empire's direct influence might have developed their own anti-Grimm tactics, which could prove effective against the Legion's Aura-based strategies.

Legacy:

• Cultural and Technological Contributions: The Quitalan Empire would leave behind a legacy of advanced architecture designed to withstand or deter Grimm, legal systems that influenced future governance, and a cultural blend that would influence art, literature, and religion across Remnant. Their methods of dealing with Dust and Aura might have laid the groundwork for later Huntsmen academies.
• Ruins: Ruins of Quitalan cities, roads, and forts would be scattered across Sanus, some still functioning as defenses against Grimm or repurposed by later inhabitants, while others stand as haunted reminders of the past.
• Myths and Legends: The heroic deeds of Quitalan Huntsmen and leaders would become legends, with stories of their battles against monumental Grimm woven into the cultural fabric of Remnant, inspiring future generations.
• Breakdown into Smaller Kingdoms: Post-Empire, the provinces of Quitalan would have fragmented into smaller kingdoms and city-states, each potentially maintaining elements of the Quitalan military and cultural practices, adapted to local conditions.
• The Arc and Other Noble Lines: Families like the Arcs might trace their prestigious origins back to the Quitalan era, with their ancestors perhaps being notable Huntsmen or political figures during the Empire's height.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Spoiler

[/s

Courtesy of RxgueSensei on X, here are Nick and Isabel Arc.

 

[Eclipse Staro]

RWBY and Nier: Automata crossover.

A bit rush and I did take some from other fics to make this.

=====

He remembered.

He remembered falling.

Jaune remembered as he and Winter trying to escape to the portal. He tried to jump into the portal as the path was disappearing but he wasn't strong enough and instead fall down into the void.

He woke up at a forest. For days, he ate what he could found there. Deer, wild fruits and fish. It wasn't until an old human couple who seems to be animal hunters found him and decided to help him. They took him to their home, let him bath and gave him clothes.

It took some time, but he was finally able to communicate with them through one of the main language of the new world, English.

Through them, he discovered the name of this new world, Earth. A strange name, why would the human here named their world after a dirt though it would be a bit hypocrite of him since his world was named Remnant. He learned more about Earth. There was no faunus or dust here. Instead there was only human and mankind have evolved differently here. Oil is used to fuel their transport. Nuclear weapon capable of mass destruction.

A year later and Jaune was now a farmer at the farm belonging to Jacob and Jane, the old couple that helped him. Days after, he heard the news of portals appearing at Japan, he felt hope rising inside him. Perhaps his friends finally found him?

But that hope quickly snuffed out as the news reported sighting of White Giant and Red Dragon coming out of the portals and fighting each other. It was a battle between titans, building fallings and people screaming all around the two. Eventually the giant fell and the dragon hovered triumphantly in the air, only to be shot a minute later by missiles from Japanese jet fighters.

From the sky and from the corpse of the white giant, rain came. Rain of white motes. It wasn't long before reports coming in of people turning into pile of white salt after getting in touch with the what is now called the White Maso. The scientists called this phenomena the White Chlorination Syndrome and from the looks of it, the WCS will be infecting all around the world.

It wasn't long before WCS hit the village where they lived. Jacob and Jane died from WCS. Both turned into pile of salt. The same goes for everyone else that lived there except him. He build two grave for the two near their favorite apple tree.

Jaune theorizes that his aura protected him from WCS or perhaps his body have higher resistant to White Maso.

With the old couple gone, he decided to leave the house to find others that may yet still survive the WCS. He took Crocea Mors with him. The rest of his personal item he decided to left behind inside a small vault in the house.

He traveled all around the continent. The phone he was given by Jacob prove to be useful with the World Map App. Sometimes he met people that need help from monster attacking their villages. Slowly, more people heard of him. A knight that fights monsters and protecting people.

Unfortunately, not all good people heard about him.

He was kidnapped and brought into a lab.

The scientists there experimented with him. They always inject him with some sort of serum before telling him to attack targets.

He did met some kids. Emil and Halua. Both are siblings. He managed to chat with them with what little time he had before experimented again.

They put him inside a chamber. Something was done and he could feel that his strength slowly weakening. He could no longer move.

He never did get to say goodbye.

=====​

He could hear alarms ringing all around him. How long has he been contained in here?

"WARNING: LOW POWER!"

A female robotic voice reached his ear.

"WARNING: LOW POWER!"

"WARNING: LOW POWER!"

'Come on, enough with the alarm already.' Jaune thought with a bit of irritation.

=====​

Computer

CAUTION: INSUFFICIENT POWER.
ACTION: REDIRECTING BACKUP POWER.
BACKUP POWER: FAIL.
ANALYZATION: OCCUPANT WILL DIE WITHOUT POWER.
ACTION: OVERRIDING MANUAL CONTROL.
ACTION: UNLOCKING SEAL.
ACTION: RELEASING OCCUPANT.

=====​

There was a sound of the chamber opening.

Jaune could feel it, his strength slowly returning to him, his senses gradually became less dull and his mind began to clear. After a few minutes, he began to walk out and checking rooms for information.

In another room, he saw a familiar sight on a table. There was Crocea Mors, rusty but still intact. With the weapon back with him, he walks to the entrance door and opens it. It was then he realized that the lab was built underground and he had to walk out.

As Jaune stepped outside, the blinding light enveloped him, momentarily disorienting him. Once his eyes adjusted, he found himself in a breathtaking scene that felt almost otherworldly.

The first thing that struck him was the overwhelming scent of earth and foliage. Sunlight filtered through a dense canopy of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. It seems he has stepped into the edge of what appeared to be a forest, a vibrant tapestry of greens and browns that had reclaimed the remnants of civilization.

The air was fresh, filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. Jaune took a cautious step forward, his senses awakening to the beauty around him. Vines draped over crumbling structures, and trees grew through the remnants of concrete, nature's tenacity evident in every inch of the landscape.

He felt a mix of awe and apprehension. How long had he been sealed? What had happened to the world while he was in stasis?

There was even a wild moose standing near the small waterfall, quenching its thirst from the source of water. Jaune suddenly felt thirsty.

It was also a little cold around here.

But that isn't the problem here.

"What had happened?! I swear there wasn't a forest here before!"

When Jaune was getting out from the lab, he wasn't expecting to be at a forest with trees bigger than the ones at Forever Fall or Emerald Forest.

It wasn't long before he met people. To be exact, a tall robot wearing a knight armor with spear. Too bad they weren't friendly because the moment they saw him, the yellow eyes turns red and

"TRESSPASSERS!" A tall robot points a spear at him. "FOR THE CRIMES OF TRESSPASSING INTO THE FOREST KINGDOM, YOUR PUNISHMENT IS DEATH!"

The tall robot then began to charge at him.

"FOR THE FOREST KING!"

He managed to dodge the spear that aimed at his body. The tall robot was no slouch and began attacking again.

He stab the robot right on its eye. It seems to work as the robot began to malfunction and falls down.

"F-FOR...GIVE...ME...MY...KING."

The robot eyes stops glowing and Jaune pulls back his sword.

He looks around and saw a road. He choose a direction and walks away.

....​

Eventually he arrived at what appears to be a ruined city. The buildings already worn out, most no longer have windows. Of course, that's also where he met another robot who wants to kill him.

"Kill." A small robot, its eyes a menacing blood red, says as it hops in his direction. It was then he notices it has a crudely made sword.

"Come on then."

His body was still weak, the fight with the tall robot left him exhausted but that didn't mean he is out of ways to win.

There was a bucket of oil and he used it on the head of the small robot.

"Can't see." The small robot states as it slashes blindly in the air. "Can't see."

Wasting no time, Jaune use his sword and slice the robot in half. Unfortunately, he was also bleeding from the injuries he got from the fight. He decided to rest at one of the building nearby.

[Time lapse]

He woke up to sound of people arguing. Females judging by the tone.

"...pretty sure there's nothing sis."

"...can't be, we heard the sound coming from here."

Peeking a bit, he saw two women looking around. But what made him watch was their hair.

Red hair. It reminded him of someone important. But he couldn't remember who. He decided to approach them.

"Hello?" He speak to the two.

The two turned to look at him.

"You are human." The female with the red straight hair was the first to speak. Her tone filled with hope yet there was fear in her voice.

"Yes." Jaune replied.

"What are you doing here?" The one with the red wavy hair asked. She speaks more confidently than the first one but there was fear when she speaks to him.

"I-"

"I don't know."

Perhaps they saw how he looks and decided to change the topic.

"I'm Popola and this is my sister Devola." The one with the red straight hair said.

"I'm Jaune Arc. Just call me Jaune."

He feels like there was another line he should add but he couldn't remember what.

"Well Jaune, do you require medical assistance?"

"I don't know?" He was healing thanks to Aura. Another minute or two more and his wound would no longer be there.

"I just woke up and everything is so different."

"Why don't you come with us?"

"Where to?"

"We have a camp not too far from here. We can check if you're healthy or not with our medical equipment there." Popola said.

"And let's get you some food as well." Devola said.

"Alright." He agreed.

Jaune followed them.

------​

 

[AndrewJTalon]

All right. Here is the revised Hot Springs chapter. What do you think?

- - -

The sun was setting as the group of Hunters-in-Training made their way to the Arc Farmhouse. The wagon wheels creaking was the loudest sound as they went up the driveway. The front doors opened and Isabel Arc came out with a broad smile, looking fully rested, as the yard lights came on.

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

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

Isabel stared in silence for a moment before she slowly nodded.

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

"Yup," Jaune stated flatly.

Isabel sighed.

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

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

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

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

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

- - -

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

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

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

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

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

Yang opened her mouth but Isabel gave her a smile.

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

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

"Unfortunately," Ren deadpanned.

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

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

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

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

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

"Now, girls to the right, boys to the left," Isabel ordered, as she pressed some Lightning Dust into an electrical receptacle and the entire bathhouse lit up, "Get washed up, grab your towels, and dive in! Once you're all done, we'll have dinner ready at the house!"

- - -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

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

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

He gripped his knees tightly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He looked back up. Jaune smirked a little.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cardin sighed. Jaune slowly shook his head slowly and looked away to the stars above.

"Yeah... Well..."

No one had anything more to say after that.

- - -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Relax," she said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Same," Yang nodded.

Nora sighed dramatically and held a hand up to her forehead.

"I wouldn't mind if Ren peeped on me~! I'm right here, ready to be peeped at!"

Silence fell. Nora pouted.

"Maybe if Pyrrha was here we could have…"

Nora slapped a hand to her mouth as her eyes widened. Her shoulders began to shake. Everyone stared at her. Ruby sniffled. Velvet winced. Arslan bowed her head, while May looked away. Yang could see the tears in her eyes.

For her own part… Her heart clenched tightly. As tightly as her fists.

"Oh… I-I forgot," Nora mumbled softly, "Isn't… Isn't that funny? How… How could I forget something so horrible… I f-forgot that…"

She slowly looked up at everyone else. Tears spilled out of her aquamarine eyes.

"That she was dead."

That she was dead.

That she was dead.

That she was dead.

It echoed so loudly in Yang's thoughts she half-thought Nora was repeating the words. Her face twitched. A tear threatened to spill from her eyes as all the death, the suffering, the loss flashed through her mind again.

Everything she had gone through that day seemed to scream at her from inside, and she trembled as she clenched her synthetic fist.

Ruby, shaken and pale, still struggled up to her feet. She walked over and hugged Nora tightly.

Velvet stared back down at the water in silence for a time. She sucked in a deep breath. She tried to say something but nothing came. She closed her mouth and looked back down.

Yang slowly got up and hugged Ruby and Nora. Nora clung to them both tightly, sniffling and sobbing quietly.

Arslan sighed softly. She closed her eyes. She spoke a prayer in a thick voice, even as she held the silently weeping May's hand tightly.

"Domine sancte, accipe nobilem animam Pyrrhae Nikos in regnum tuum ut in tuo complexu requiescat. Amen."

Yang blinked away tears as Ruby and Nora hugged her tightly for comfort. She hesitated… But years of instinct took control and she wrapped her arms around them.

It was all she could do. It was the right thing to do.

Yet she had never felt more lost.

- - -

Isabel Arc was working in the kitchen with Lilac on dinner. Having to feed a large family of nine had taught her much about managing the household while also being a doctor. The front door opened and her eyes widened. She enhanced her senses of scent and hearing and listened to the footsteps of the person entering the house. Her heart rate slowed and she relaxed as she recognized who it was in an instant.

She dashed out of the kitchen, the red light of the late afternoon sky shining through the windows. She rushed through the living room, every creak and pop comfortingly familiar, right to the front doors. She beamed broadly.

"Nick!"

Nick smiled at her happily.. He was filthy, his hair askew, his beard dusty, his clothing covered in dirt and leaves. A ragged messenger bag hung at his side.

She still hugged and kissed the heck out of him, one he returned eagerly.

"Mmm… Kisses and hugs are nice," Nick chuckled as she nuzzled him.

"Come on, sit, sit!" Isabel said eagerly. She led him through the living room right into the kitchen. Lilac's eyes lit up.

"DAD!"

Lilac hugged Nick next, one he gladly returned. He then let her down and sat down at the table. He sighed happily. He then set down a leather messenger bag on the table with care though-As though it held something precious.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isabel sighed in relief.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isabel sighed.

"Any word from them?"

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

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

Isabel steadied her nerves with her Semblance.

"How bad?" She asked.

Nick heaved a long sigh.

"Mistral's civil war went hot. Everything's going to hell," he said tiredly.

Isabel's eyes widened.

"Everyone?"

"Arjun's trying to keep Pandu out of it, but looks like certain factions are trying to draw them in," Nick said quietly.

"All of this happening at once…" Isabel shook her head, "It can't be a coincidence. It's like it was all set up."

"Has to be," Nick agreed, "But proving that is the hard part."

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

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

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

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

"Arjun will need proof."

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

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

Nick nodded.

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

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

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

"He is our son!"

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

The healer and the paladin stared at one another. Isabel's gaze was tight, anxious, and angry. Nick's was grave but serene.

Isabel sighed and looked out the windows. The group of young Hunters in Training emerged from the forest. All dressed, and all looking glum.

After a tense silence Isabel slowly shook her head.

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

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

"I know."