[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[TheFabulousCustodes]

My RWBY Short Idea

"The Beacon Cultural & Culinary Festival"
​

Ozpin - "Well Glynda, you've certainly outdone yourself organizing the festival this year, given the constraints on your time recently..."

Glynda - "You mean Team RWBY's antics? Like the docks blowing up? The chase through downtown Vale with Atlas's stolen military equipment? An field trip turned into a anti-terrorist operation? Or the paperwork for said incidents that mysteriously wound up on my desk, instead of yours?"

Ozpin "Oh...... look over there! I believe that Tai's daughters have a barbeque stand set up.

Yang - "Hey, Mrs G! Ready to taste some authentic Patch barbeque?

Ruby- "It turned out pretty good considering we couldn't find the exact kind of wood Dad and Uncle Qrow use!"

Glynda - *stomach rumbling*

Glynda - "I suppose we could break early for lunch. That barbeque sandwhich special does look tempting....."

Yang - "One BBQ sandwhich on Remnant's best bread coming up!"

*Jaune Approaches*​

Jaune - "Ha! Remnant's best bread comes from Radian, and the Valoise province!"

Yang - "Patch sour dough is the best in the world, Vomit Boy!"

Jaune - "Vomit is a good word to describe it, since its sold in a plastic bag that can be reused after you taste the bread!"

Jaune/Yang - "Grrrrrr..."

​

Ozpin - "Now, now, its good to see people excited about Vale's rich cultural heritage preserved by the wise King Ozwyn during the Great War, but lets not brawl over it. Where is the rest of your team, Miss Rose?"

​

Ruby - "Um, Weiss said she was bringing something from Atlas, fish related I think..... Ohhh! There they are! Hi guys!"

Weiss - "Headmaster, Headmistress. Welcome to our stand!"

​

Blake - "Can I put the bag down before my spine gains a permanent injury?"

​

Glynda - *Sigh* "I will assist you with my semblance, Miss Belladonna. Now, Miss Schnee, what have you brought?"

​

Ozpin - "Indeed, I'm curious as to what's inside all of those cans."

​

Weiss - *starts monkeying around with a can opener* "I was able to have my father's company ship a number of very traditional Atlesian fish dishes here to Vale at great expense so the plebian masses could experience them!"

Blake - "Fish?"

Weiss - "Indeed! The cold waters surrounding the continent of Solitas are some of the richest fisheries on Remnant! Now just let me finish opening these cans of Hakarl, and Surstromming!"

Jaune - "Wait, isn't that....."

*Some time later..."
​

Lisa Lavender - "In other news, The Beacon Cultural and Culinary Festival will resume tomorrow after the location of what has been described as "Remnant's worst raw sewage leak" has been found, and cleaned up."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Dust Class was usually Weiss' favorite. Despite all her issues with her parents and her intense training, there was still a small childlike glee in getting to use Dust in new and creative ways. As well as showing off her talents.

However, there was one small wrinkle in this semester's class.

Professor Peach looked around the class, as her eyes settle on Weiss. She smile warmly.

"All right, Miss Schnee. Today, you'll work with Miss Valkyrie!"

Weiss's face fell.

"Oh no... Not in Dust class," she mumbled.

Conversely, Nora was ecstatic, shouting, "WOO! All right Weissy, let's get to work!" As she leaped over and landed right next to Weiss.

Weiss twitched a bit.

"Save me... I'm too young to die..."

Nora and Dust almost always ended in explosions. Endless explosions.

"Weissy? You okay?"

"I…" Weiss shook her head. "Let's just get this over with, huh?"

Nora beamed.

"Right to work! Just fine for me!"

Give me strength, Weiss prayed as they began.

An hour into their session…

"So you adjust the mixture to 1/45. Add it in with a little shake of your wrist each time for even distribution," Nora said.

Weiss blinked a few times. She sighed and nodded in resignation.

"All right..." She did so. Nora beamed happily and grinned.

"Ooh! We should add some Lightning Dust in this layer to ensure that the detonation is within 1.2 milliseconds!"

Weiss could only muster an "Okay..." as she added the Dust to their concoction.

Maybe I'll just get a failing grade and nothing will blow up… Weiss thought.

Professor Peach cleared her throat and got everyone's attention on her.

"All right. Let's test your mixtures in the test chamber. Goggles, everyone!"

Each team's Dust combination was loaded into the detonation chamber, and tested. Several small explosions followed, contained within the blast chambers. Weiss winced as their mixture went in. Peach hit the ignition button… Weiss prayed again…

The mixture went off like a small but perfectly controlled star, before fading away. Weiss blinked rapidly as Nora beamed. Peach turned to the two women and grinned.

"Perfect score, Miss Schnee and Miss Valkyrie! Your mixture was spot on for precision!"

"YAY! Do we get gold stars?" Nora cheered. The professor chuckled.

"Just A-pluses, Miss Valkyrie."

"Oh. Guess we gotta do better next time for those!" Nora surmised with an optimistic smile.

Professor Peach, with a warm laugh, said, "Keep it up and I'll see what I can do."

Weiss stared at her lab partner in utter disbelief. They both went back to their seats to do the post-test write up. Nora then stared back at Weiss, still smiling.

"Something on my face?"

"How did you learn so much about Dust?" Weiss asked.

"Oh!" Nora hummed, then with a smile, explained, "Well, we learned the basics of Dust from some old books we found in the village ruins"

"Village…?" Weiss questioned. Nora shrugged.

"Our village. My mom… Dropped me off when I was baby and ran. Renny's folks raised us… Until the village was destroyed by Grimm."

She said it so matter of factly, yet Weiss couldn't imagine how painful that must have been. Losing your entire world and only having one other person to rely on.

"I… I'm sorry," Weiss whispered, shame in her voice. Nora shrugged, her face sad for a moment before she continued on with a small but genuine smile.

"Renny's good but I really took to it! I had to learn to help keep Renny safe! To support us!" She grinned and winked at Weiss. "Nearly blew myself up a few times but it was worth it!"

Weiss, not sure how to feel about that, nodded slowly.

"O-Oh... I see... You learned very well," she said softly.

"Thanks!" Nora beamed. "You're really good too! Do…" Here Nora hesitated for a moment, before her grin returned in full force, "Do you think we could work on Dust more in the future?"

Weiss slowly smiled and nodded.

"Of course," she said.

Nora squealed.

"YAY!"

She then hugged Weiss tightly.

"URK! Nora… Too tight! Too tight!"

"Oh! Sorry!" Nora apologized, letting the slimmer girl go.

As Nora got to scribbling, Weiss studied her. Honestly, she'd started the year dismissing Nora, Ren and Jaune. All in favor of Pyrrha. All just to make a connection that could be beneficial to her.

Sure, Jaune had started as an annoying admirer, but after the Dance? He'd become a lot more mature. Weiss had gotten used to her team. She had begun questioning a lot of her previous assumptions.

Before, she'd come to the conclusion Nora was just a brainless nutjob. A little maniac filled with energy. Working with her though… Sure, she was a bit much, but she didn't deserve the scorn her mind heaped on her.

None of her friends did.

Weiss smiled. She'd been making amends with everyone. Maybe it was time to be more active in doing good things for her friends.

As soon as class ended, she opened up her Scroll and made a few calls.

- - -

"Uggggh," Nora moaned, her head lying on the table in the common room between RWBY and JNPR's dorms, "Free Period suuuuucks if you're not free!"

"We do need to study," Jaune pointed out. Nora pouted.

"I wanted to bake cookies with Ruby!"

"She's also studying," Pyrrha observed with a smile, as Ren took notes next to her, "Yang's orders."

"But she's team leader!" Nora groaned. She then grinned. "Wait! Can I also bully my team leader to do stuff?"

"No," Jaune said firmly.

Nora scowled.

"I'm gonna!"

"No."

The door opened. All four Hunters-in-Training looked and saw Weiss enter. She beamed and nodded.

"Hello all."

"Hey Weiss," Jaune said with a smile. "This is a nice surprise!"

Weiss walked up to Nora, and handed her a letter.

"Nora! Here!" she said.

Nora, puzzled, opened it to find an official looking letter. She looked up at Weiss in confusion. The Schnee heiress cleared her throat.

"It's a job offer. Would you like to become an SDC Dust Quality Control Engineer?"

Jaune and Pyrrha's eyes widened. Ren raised an eyebrow. Nora hummed, then held the letter out to Jaune.

"Is this a lot, Jaune?" She asked.

Jaune's eyes widened in disbelief. He then nodded.

"That's a LOT, Nora."

Excited, Nora declared, "Really? HEE! Renny! I'm the breadwinner of the family!"

"I knew you could do it, sweetheart," Ren observed in his usual deadpan.

"YEAH!" Nora cheered, throwing her hands up in the air. "I'll expect a hot bath, dinner, and you naked except for an apron every day!"

"Of course," Ren again deadpanned, not even twitching.

"Er... It seems kind of sudden, Nora," Pyrrha pointed out carefully.

"Also, don't you need to finish schooling and become a Huntress, Nora?" Jaune pressed a bit.

Realization dawned on Nora. She pounded her palm with her fist.

"Oh yeah!" She smiled and handed the letter back to Weiss.

"Sorry Weissy, I wanna be a Huntress!"

Weiss' face fell.

"But I... Oh..." She bowed her head.

How foolish of her. She'd just… Barged in with her assumptions again, hadn't she? Just tried to do things without thinking about Nora's feelings. It was stupid, impulsive…

Nora beamed.

"The job sounds neat though, so maybe I'll take it in the future?"

Weiss looked up. Nora's face held no resentment, only warmth. She flushed and nodded.

"I... Oh... Um, sure."

"Thanks! You want to work on Dust Class homework together?"

"You wouldn't mind?" Weiss asked, looking over at Jaune, Pyrrha and Ren.

Jaune wore a fond smile. It made him look rather wistful, and maybe the tiniest bit handsome. If Weiss was being charitable.

"We can work on our other homework later," He said. Pyrrha also smiled softly. Ren's face held a hint of warmth, before he nodded and left his best friend to work with Weiss. Weiss let herself smile happily, and relax.

"I... I would like that," she said to Nora.

Nora grinned, full of energy. She pulled up a chair and Weiss sat next to her. She plopped herself down next to Weiss, and pulled out the papers.

"That last mixture was all about precision, which is great! But sometimes you just wanna make a REALLY big explosion! Ooh! Maybe we can add in some Ice Dust and make giant exploding Snowflakes! Wouldn't that be great?!"

"I... Suppose it would be," Weiss agreed cautiously.

"YAY!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was working on some homework alone in the dormroom. Nora and Ren were out doing... Well he honestly stopped asking after they came back with a stuffed giraffe. Pyrrha was off shooting a commercial. He'd offered to come along as support, but Pyrrha had stated that she didn't want to spoil his evening.



Honestly, she could be so weird sometimes.



So he pondered his essay on the history of Dust Mine protection by Hunters, trying to figure out what more he could say on the subject... When the door slammed open. He started and looked up as Yang walked in. She shut the door behind her, panting for breath.



"Yang?" Jaune asked in disbelief.



Yang turned to Jaune and coughed.



"Oh! Uh... Hey VB," she greeted.



"Uh, yeah, hey," Jaune said dryly. His sarcasm faded as she saw her distressed look. He cleared his throat.



"Can I help you with something? Are you all right?" He asked with more concern in his voice. Yang sighed and rubbed the back of her head.



"Well... Ya know, I uh... I do need help," she said.



Jaune blinked. He pushed away from the desk and stood up. He walked over to her and stopped about two meters away.



"How can I help?" He asked.



"Just like that?" Yang asked, blinking. Jaune nodded.



"Just like that," he said.



"It's..." Yang sighed. "Honestly, this... You probably can't even help me. And it's kind of embarrassing."



Jaune's frown deepened.



"Hey," he said, "Whatever it is? I won't laugh. I won't say a word to anyone. Promise."



Yang looked up at him intensely.



"You promise?" She asked.



"On my word as an Arc," Jaune said, pressing a hand over his chest with a small smile. Honestly, given how out of sorts Yang was, he didn't know what it was but he sure as hell wasn't going to leave her in the lurch.



"It's just..." She sighed, "Look, um... You've been on a date before, right?"



Jaune blinked. He very slowly nodded.



"Yeah."



Yang started and stared at him.



"Really?" She asked. Jaune frowned a bit.



"Is it really that surprising?" He asked. Yang held up her hands.



"Ah, no. No! Sorry, didn't mean to come off like... Really?"



Jaune sighed and nodded.



"Yes."



"How many?" Yang asked.



"I dunno... I lost count? Twenty? Thirty?" Jaune guessed.



"With the same person?" Yang asked. Jaune nodded.



"Yeah, mostly," he said. Yang blinked a few more times.



"So, wait... You've had a girlfriend before?"



Jaune nodded.



"Yeah. I did."



Yang winced.



"Oh... Sorry," she apologized. Jaune shrugged.



"It's fine," he sighed, "She uh... We didn't work out. We agreed it wouldn't work out and broke up."



"So you've gone through the whole... Whole thing?" Yang pressed. Jaune blinked rapidly.



"Yes? Why?"



"Well..."



"Yang, you're not usually like this," Jaune pointed out as gently as he could, "Maybe I could help if you told me what's going on?"



He didn't want to be pushy but this was, frankly, starting to weird him out. Yang heaved a large sigh and crossed her arms under her chest.



"Well... I've been chatting with some ladies from the other teams. Going out, gossiping a bit. And well... Every time it comes to talking about boys, I uh..." She shrugged. "I have to make stuff up."



Jaune blinked.



"What? Why?"



"Because I've never been on a date," Yang said tersely. "Not a real one! Not with-with a guy! Hell I've never even been..." She trailed off and her cheeks colored. Jaune blinked a few times.



"Been...?"



"Kissed," Yang admitted with a sigh. She seemed to be bracing herself for something. Jaune blinked a few times, then shrugged.



"Oh. Because you had to take care of Ruby, right?"



She started and shot a disbelieving look at him.



"Wha-?!"



"Well," Jaune said, "The way you had to take care of her and all... I mean, she said you did go out and party from time to time but always alone. And that you never brought a boy home. Or to anywhere she spied on you-Errrr..."



Jaune winced as Yang growled. She clenched her fist.



"That little...!" She flushed, coughed, then sighed.



"Yeah," she said with a shrug, "I mean... I love to go out and dance. Have fun. But Ruby..."



Jaune nodded.



"Yeah. I get it," he said.



"And it's not like I didn't have a lot of guys asking," she said, "Especially after puberty."



Jaune nodded, not trusting his mouth to say something stupid.



"But they... They were the same guys who were jerks before I got boobs. And the girls? Geez... Catty as hell. And they aren't even Blake," Yang joked. Jaune snickered. Yang sighed.



"These girls though... I do like them. But whenever the subject comes up," Yang shrugged helplessly, "I just... I smile, I nod... I lie if I'm forced to say something and then wait for things to move on. So uh..." She squeezed her bicep nervously.



"I-I mean... I was..." She sighed and shut her eyes.



"It seems really stupid right now."



"What?" Jaune asked. Yang shrugged again.



"I dunno, if you could... Help me out with... With things? Maybe tell me about your dates with your ex? So I could make up more-"



"You probably don't want to use those," Jaune said with a small laugh, "We mostly went out to barn dances, the rodeo, tractor pulls, movie nights-"



"It's still more than what I have," Yang grumbled. Jaune paused for a bit. He then smiled nervously.



"Hang on."



"Eh?" Yang asked, blinking. He turned and rummaged around in his closet. He pulled out a box of candies, and turned back to Yang. He then headed to the windowsill, where Ren was keeping a garden of herbs. He pulled a few of the flowering ones (resolving to make it up to Ren), and then turned to Yang. He walked up to her, and held out the candy and flowers.



"Yang, would you do me the honor of going on a date with me this evening?"



Yang's jaw dropped. Jaune flushed and coughed, as his sudden inspiration ran into the wall of his self doubts and reality.



"I-I mean... You don't have to tell them it's me. You can make stuff up. And-And it would just be as friends, but I'd pay for everything," he clarified quickly.



"Jaune..."



"Look, you're my friend," Jaune said, "Ruby's my best friend. If you need help with this, I will. I mean, I know... I'm a... I mean, I know I'm Vomit Boy and all that. But if you want to impress your friends-"



"It's... Not just that," Yang sighed, "Though damn, I feel really freaking shallow."



Jaune shrugged.



"Sometimes it's okay to be shallow."



"I..." Yang sighed. "I don't resent Ruby. I don't. I love her. I just... There's so much I missed out on taking care of her. And yeah I've got a juvenile record but... All of that was just to find..." She glanced to the side. "Nevermind. Point is, I just... I wanna experience normal girl things, I guess."



"Well," Jaune shrugged, holding out the candy and flowers, "Normal girl things are going out with some loser and then deciding to dump him."



"I wouldn't do that!" Yang laughed, taking the candy and flowers, "We-We'd have a messy, mutual break up. Totally public. I'd break a lot of things because I'd be sooo devastated!"



Jaune laughed as Yang grinned.



"Yeah... Not my style. I'd probably just mope dramatically. Maybe stare at the moon all poetically. Sit in the rain."



"Ha! You'd look like some poor drowned golden retriever."



"I think you'd look more like that with your hair."



"Ah, but I'd never let my hair get wet," Yang pointed out with a smirk. Jaune shrugged.



"Shame. You'd look even better like that."



Again Yang blushed, and she stared at him with a shocked grin.



"Wha... You're flirting with me!"



"I..." Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "I-I guess I am! It's uh... It's been a while."



Yang giggled. Jaune sucked in a deep breath.



"But I mean it. You. Me. Friendly date. We just go out and have fun. What do you say?"



Yang stared at him.



"Why aren't you this smooth with Weisscream?" She asked.



Jaune sighed and rubbed his cheek.



"I guess... I dunno... I wanted to impress her. You? I just... I want to make you feel better."



Yang stared for a long moment. before she nodded.



"Okay. You're on," she said.



Jaune blinked rapidly.



"Really?"



"Yeah. Really. Let's go out. Right now," she said.



Jaune shrugged, and extended his arm. She took it.



"All right... But uh, please no blowing up a warehouse? I got in enough trouble last time."



"I make no promises~!"



- - -



Just something fun and off the cuff. It's a little headscratching for Yang perhaps but again, off the top of my head.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The cathedral on Beacon's grounds had stood for centuries. The original building was constructed during the heyday of the First Emerald Dynasty as a place to worship The Brother Gods, but that changed during the accession of the Third Emerald Dynasty with the arrival of the ship known as The Dawn Chaser: the ship traditionally believed to be the first vessel to circumnavigate the world, though some historians dispute this.



The Dawn Chaser carried several missionaries seeking to spread the good news of The Table Breaker, and many members of the royal family believed the teachings of these missionaries. As a result the house of worship was remodeled into a Church of The Broken Table.



Yet over the centuries, as the King of Vale abdicated and more power went to the city rather than Beacon, the cathedral had fallen into disuse. The faith itself was strong and vibrant, but without a royal family at the castle, it had fallen into disuse. It was preserved by charity and the students, but seldom opened save for Yuletide celebrations.



Here, Arslan Altan knelt in front of the broken table statue in the sanctuary. Her head was bowed in prayer.



Her ears twitched very slightly. She sucked in a slow, low breath.



"There is no need to hide," she spoke, the acoustics of the church carrying her voice far, "None can hide from God, after all."



A pause. Arslan opened her eyes and looked up. Blake Belladonna had landed in front of her. She scowled slightly at Arslan.



"Can I help you, Miss Belladonna?" Arslan asked politely.



"You're a Faunus," Blake accused her. Arslan nodded.



"Yes. It is on my ID card."



"But you look...!" Blake looked her over. Arslan smiled softly. She took a deep breath.



She unleashed a roar, so harsh and powerful that Blake nearly jumped out of her skin. Arslan stopped, her smile widening just a hair.



"My vocal chords are that of a lion's," she said, "That is my family trait. Though my uncle Raw has ears."



"You don't smell like a Faunus," Blake growled. Arslan stared at her.



"What do I smell like then, Miss Belladonna?"



"Incense," Blake stated, "Very strong..." She trailed off. She shook her head.



"Why... Why are you hiding what you are?"



Arslan closed her eyes and resumed her prayer.



"I'm not. My mother and father are Faunus, this is public record," she said.



"Yes," Blake admitted, "But they've never spoken on Faunus rights, despite being famous! Despite being-!"



"Able to influence things?" Arslan asked. She felt Blake's scowl. "Have you sought me out to shame me for my inaction then?"



"I..." Blake paused. "I wanted to understand why. You're rich, you're well regarded..."



"We work," Arslan said, "through the Church. We reach out to all who need a helping hand, Faunus or human."



"But you could do so much for your people!" Blake insisted. "So much for the welfare of-!"



Arslan opened her eyes and turned to Blake. She narrowed them at the black cat Faunus.



"Tell me," she said, "Does every human child have a mother and father?"



Blake blinked.



"What do you-?"



"It's a simple question," Arslan pressed, "Do they all have mothers and fathers? Do they all live together in homes, happily?"



Blake blinked a few times and shook her head.



"No, but-"



"I believe your own partner lost both of her mothers," Arslan continued, "Abandoned by one, and the other taken by death. Is this not so?"



"It is, but what does-?" Blake scowled. "I-I do care about that but she's not a Faunus! She wasn't enslaved-!"



"Were you?"



Blake gaped.



"What?!"



"Were you enslaved?" Arslan asked. "Were you put in chains and made to work?"



"No," Blake allowed, "But the SDC does it to Faunus all the time-!"



"Agreed, it is a terrible crime," Arslan nodded, "My mother spoke out against the SDC's abuses on many occasions. It even cost her an acting role."



"I..." Blake scowled, "But you don't just-!"



"We don't just what, Miss Belladonna?" Arslan asked softly, "Just care for the welfare of Faunus? Focus all our efforts only on Faunus?"



Blake glared.



"I just don't understand how... How you've done so well and yet you don't speak in favor of Menagerie."



"Or the White Fang?" Arslan asked.



Blake winced.



"They're not the same-!"



"And yet," Arslan said quietly, "They are still connected. Your father may have denounced them, but they still fight. And are still supported by Menagerie. Not all of them, and not by your family... But they are still connected. And any support of Menagerie will be used by the White Fang as a means of justifying more terrorism. Is that not so?"



Blake opened and closed her mouth several times. She then bowed her head, ears flat against it.



"I suppose... I suppose that's fair," she murmured.



Arslan looked at the statue of the Table Breaker. As expected of the Third Emerald Dynasty's artistic tradition, even bound and shaven, even covered in welts and bruises, and even with a knife stuck in his chest, Aslan's face was a study in beautiful nobility. The sculptor had captured it perfectly.



"Aslan came in the form of a Faunus because he came for all of us," Arslan stated, "For at the time, the Faunus were a minority under a mighty empire. Subjugated and under martial law. But His disciples were humans and Faunus. He lived as a Faunus, and died as a Faunus, and the first two to see His return to life were two human women. He spoke that he had come for all of us with souls, to save them."



Arslan looked back at Blake, who was staring at the statue herself.



"Because the world is dark and cold and full of monsters," Arslan said, "And in the end? We all need to stand together against it. I have not hidden what I am... But in light of the larger responsibility to the world? Being a Faunus is secondary compared to having a soul."



"I've heard this many times before," Blake stated, "I've also heard that the Table Breaker was stolen. Based on our Animal God."



"From the White Fang?" Arslan asked, almost amused. "Are they not the ones who also claim Faunus discovered fire? Discovered Dust? Invented writing and civilization itself? What incredible misfortune our race has, to create everything for man but to never claim power that would come with such things."



Blake grimaced. She glared at one of the stained glass windows. Arslan followed her gaze and nodded.



"That's one of my favorites," she said, "When Saint Reepicheep's tail was restored by Aslan."



Blake studied the stained glass intently. She sucked in a breath.



"He had lost his in a great battle. His followers were willing to cut off their own tails, because they could not bare to have such an honor while their Chief went without," she murmured. "And so Aslan restored it, not for Reepicheep's honor, but for the love his people had for their chief."



Arslan nodded solemnly, though her smile grew.



"You know it?"



"I do read a great deal," Blake admitted. She sighed. She sat down on a pew next to Arslan, and slumped a bit.



"I'm... Struggling to find my path," she admitted. "I don't... I don't think this is mine."



She gestured to the church. Arslan nodded.



"Why?"



"Because... There's so much hatred and injustice in the world," Blake sighed, "So much anger. Even when I thought I was doing good... I was doing worse. I tried. I tried so hard to-to change things. To not make people fear and hate us..."



She shook her head.



"I failed."



"You did then," Arslan said, "But it also brought you here. Has that been a disaster?"



Blake thought about it.



"... No," she admitted.



"Then maybe this is where you are meant to be," Arslan said. Blake snorted.



"What? Did the Tablebreaker bring me here?"



"If He did not want you here, you would not be," Arslan said calmly. Blake huffed.



"I don't need a sermon."



"Then what do you want, Blake Belladonna?" Arslan asked quietly.



Blake stared intently at the statue for a long time. She sucked in a breath.



"I... I want to stop the White Fang from doing bad things... I want to make up for my... My mistakes."



Arslan nodded.



"Then perhaps you are exactly where you need to be."



Blake sighed heavily.



"... I'm sorry I interrupted you," Blake spoke. Arslan shook her head.



"You did not. After all, I should help my fellow beings when they are in need."



"Why?" Blake asked, a bit sharply, "Because you'll get into Heaven?"



Arslan smiled wryly.



"Because it is the right thing to do."



- - -



Yeah I'm picking on Blake a bit more. And yeah I'm using Arslan as a Warrior Nun to do it, as well as Christian theology. I've been reading a lot more C. S. Lewis, give me a break. My muse just insists upon being heard, and so, here she is.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It was a beautiful Saturday. Team RWBY found Team JNPR outside on Beacon's main lawn at the picnic tables. They sat together, enjoying some tea out of some thermoses. With them was an elegant older woman, dressed in a blue and white dress, sipping her tea from a very old fashioned set. Her white hair was elegantly tied up in a bun with blue ribbons, save for a single ahoge standing on the top of her head, and her blue eyes crinkled with smile lines.

"Hey guys! My uh... My Nana came to visit," Jaune explained.

Weiss breathed a small sigh of relief. Finally, a normal Arc!

"Aren't you going to introduce me to the rest of your friends, Jaune? It's very rude," Arturia gently scolded him, a fond smile on her face.

Jaune winced.

"Sorry. Um, Nana? This is Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao-Long, and Blake Belladonna. Everyone? This is my Nana Arturia."

The members of RWBY gave polite greetings back. Weiss even curtseyed, which Arturia seemed to approve of before she turned back to Jaune.

"I'm very proud of you, Jaune. Getting into Beacon! First try, too!" Arturia complimented him. Jaune flushed and looked around gratefully at his friends.

"Er uh, well... I had a lot of help," Jaune admitted modestly.

Ruby smiled back, before she asked the most natural and socially appropriate question she could think of.

"Oh... Wow. Your Nana? So she's your grandma?"

Nailed it, she thought.

"Great-grandmother actually," Arturia clarified.

"WOW! You must be super old!" Ruby exclaimed in awe.

"RUBY!" Weiss scolded.

Yang couldn't help but snicker, even as she put Ruby in a headlock.

"URK! YANG!" Ruby complained.

Arturia laughed, sipping her tea at the antics of the two sisters,

"I am!"

"Er, yeah," Jaune confirmed, looking a bit embarrassed.

Pyrrha was visibly starstruck.

"She fought in the Great War!"

"Oh, I did my part," Arturia responded modestly.

"Well, that's very impressive," Weiss acknowledged.

"You don't actually look that old," Yang commented, letting Ruby go.

"Healthy living! I keep in shape!" Arturia said, then turned her attention back to Jaune. "I hope you are keeping up with your training, Jaune?"

"I am!" Jaune assured her.

Arturia looked thoughtful as she sipped her cup of tea.

"Hm... Mind if I test you?" Arturia proposed.

"Ummm..." Jaune hesitated.

"It would be wonderful, Jaune! Can she test me, next?" Pyrrha chimed in eagerly.

"Me too! She seems SUPER fun!" Nora added excitedly.

Ren nodded, "It would be an honor, ma'am."

RWBY was left feeling confused. Though they all noted the large metal briefcase near the old woman. Arturia chuckled, and patted the case like it was an old, familiar friend.

"Oh, I'm deeply flattered! Honestly though, I don't know how much fun I'll be. I'm old, after all. And I do want to check on Jaune's progress."

Jaune looked extremely nervous, which Blake, Yang, Weiss, and Ruby noticed.

"Well uh... I mean, Pyrrha is training me—"

"Hmmmm..." Arturia eyed Pyrrha with a keen expression. "I see. I'll test her first then?"

Pyrrha's eyes seemed to shine. Ruby frowned.

She's that excited to fight an old lady? She thought.

"Wonderful! Is here and now good?" Pyrrha asked excitedly.

"Perfectly!" Arturia agreed.

"Uh, Pyrrha? You sure you want to do this?" Ruby asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I mean uh... Maybe Jaune's Nana needs to take a break? It must have been a long trip from uh... Where are you from?" Yang questioned.

Arturia finished her tea, then rose, "Radian."

"Right, there," Yang echoed. Weiss's manners took over as she stepped nearer with a smile.

"Yes! Surely we can wait, have some more tea-?"

"No, no. I do need to know just who is teaching my great-grandson," Arturia insisted. Jaune sighed, looking resigned. He then got up and picked up the briefcase. With some difficulty, he lifted it.

"Nngh… All right," He handed the heavy briefcase over to her. Arturia took it, the small old woman barely even noticing the burden she carried. Jaune sucked in a deep breath.

"Um... Just remember, Nana—" Jaune tried. Arturia reached out and patted Jaune's bicep with a fond smile.

"Oh Jaune, you worrywart! You're such a sweet lad. But your partner will be fine." Arturia chuckled and stretched, "Mmm! Honestly, she seems like she'll give me some trouble. But I like trouble!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Arc!" Pyrrha gleefully.

"Call me Nana Arturia!" Arturia replied with warmth.

"Hee!" Pyrrha giggled, her cheeks red.

As Arturia and Pyrrha walked off onto the grassy knoll, Ruby frowned deeply.

"Um... Why are we letting the... How old is she?"

"One hundred and five," Jaune answered blandly.

"One hundred and five year old woman fight the best student in Beacon?!" Ruby asked.

Jaune shook his head.

"Honestly? I'm more worried about Pyrrha," he confessed. Weiss frowned.

"Her?! What about your great-grandmother?! She looks... Well, she's well preserved but she's still really old!" Weiss countered quietly.

"Ah. So you don't recognize her," Ren noted. Weiss scowled.

"Recognize who? I'll admit she looks... A little familiar," Weiss pondered.

"Waiiit for it!" Nora anticipated with a broad grin.

Arturia then pulled on gray armor, which expanded and locked around her midsection. She donned gauntlets and greaves that automatically locked into place. She then drew a sword that glowed with Aura Energy, her eyes reflecting the same power. In a moment, Nana Arturia had transformed from a sweet old lady to a deadly knight, her face and eyes grim with the promise of battle.

Pyrrha was practically beside herself with excitement.

"Wha...?! No.. No way-!" Weiss gasped.

Blake's eyes widened in disbelief.

Arturia's sword turned invisible, and in a split second, she was hammering her mighty blade against Pyrrha's Milo and Akoúo̱ so fast that sparks flew. Pyrrha tried to rally and go on the offensive, but Arturia's speed, precision, reach, and strength were phenomenal. Pyrrha feinted and tried to flank Arturia, but the elderly woman parried her strikes, giving ground slowly as Pyrrha became more mobile.

Pyrrha then feinted and side-flipped to get behind Arturia. The knight swung her blade behind herself, unleashing an Aura Slash that Pyrrha barely dodged, cutting a tree behind her in half and sending it falling over.

All of RWBY was gobsmacked; Jaune looked relieved, Nora cheered, and Ren smiled softly.

"Haa... Haa... Haa... Very impressive, young lady." Arturia raised her sword in salute.

"Haa... Haa... You too, Nana Arturia!" Pyrrha panted, unbelievably happy.

Arturia hummed thoughtfully, turning a critical eye over the young woman.

"That said, you rely very heavily on your Semblance to fight. If you were blinded or distracted by loud noises, it could throw off your concentration. It is admirable you are so gifted and train so hard... But do not forget that true battle does not have rules," Arturia advised.

"Yes Nana Arturia!" Pyrrha responded eagerly. Arturia looked at her great-Grandson.

"Hmmm... Also... Jaune? While Pyrrha is very good at swordplay... I don't think emulating her style suits you, at least in that way. She's very mobile, you are not," Arturia observed.

"Er, well, not really," Jaune admitted. Arturia nodded.

"I will teach you my own style while she trains you in more general combat. You should know how to fight like a proper knight: Great cunning and calculation, but speed and strength are just as important!" Arturia stated.

Jaune nodded, "Um... What will Mom say though?"

Arturia sighed.

"I may have respected her wishes when you were a child, but you have clearly chosen your path."

"Thank you Nana," Jaune smiled.

Ruby got her mouth working first.

"That armor… That sword… That style…?"

Ruby's silver eyes widened.

"Nana… Arturia…P-Pendragon-Arc?!" She gasped.

Arturia chuckled softly and nodded.

"Pendragon is my maiden name. I took my husband's last name: Arc!"

Dead silence ensued until Blake broke it.

"Your Nana... Is Empress Arturia Pendragon?! Queen of Albion?! The Saber Queen?!"

Jaune coughed. Pyrrha looked like she was holding in a squeal of delight. Nora grinned broadly. Arturia chuckled, holding a hand to her cheek.

"Oh my, that was a very long time ago. I abdicated, after all," Arturia replied modestly.

"Y-You slew over ten thousand enemy soldiers in ONE DAY during the siege of Camelot!" Weiss exclaimed.

"Did I? Huh! I didn't really keep count. Couldn't afford to," Arturia said nonchalantly.

A tall old man with tanned skin, white hair, and golden-brown eyes approached, carrying bags of fast food. He wore plain black and white clothing, save for a long red coat. He smiled warmly as he came up to Arturia. He bent down to kiss her, which she happily returned.

"Mwah! Hello darling!" Arturia greeted.

"Hey," Shirou returned.

"Hey Papa Shirou," Jaune added with a wave.

"SHIROU?!" The RWBY girls gasped.

"That's me. Nice to meet you!" Shirou introduced himself. He then smirked a bit. "As for that battle? I got about half of them, but I wasn't keeping count either. Too busy watching you, beloved," the man said with a smile to Arturia.

Arturia blushed and giggled like a schoolgirl.

"Aw! Sweet as always, my beloved Shirou. Did you get-?" Arturia asked.

"Yes, just how you like them. I see you worked up a sweat!" Shirou confirmed, handing her a bag.

Arturia took out a burger and sat down with her husband at the picnic table, happily eating as Shirou smiled and joined her with his own burger.

"Shirou Arc, of Unlimited Blade Works?!" Weiss gasped.

"Holy crap...!" Yang muttered, looking back and forth between Jaune and his great-grandfather. Shirou smiled at Blake and nodded.

"Heh. Been a while since I was called that. You're a good student of history!" Shirou complimented.

"Th-Thank you sir!" Weiss thanked with a blush.

"Call me Papa!" Shirou insisted.

"O-Oh my," Weiss murmured as Blake smirked.

Ruby grabbed Jaune and dragged him aside, with the rest of RWBY and JNPR joining them a short distance away as Shirou and Arturia enjoyed their burgers. Ruby then grabbed his arms and glared up at him with adorable little pout.

"When were you going to TELL ME your great-grandparents were some of the most incredible fighters in history?!" Ruby demanded.

"You're of THOSE Arcs?!" Weiss gasped. Jaune coughed and shrugged.

"I-I mean… You didn't ask?" Jaune replied in exasperation.

"I-But-THEY'RE SO COOL!" Ruby gasped. "INCREDIBLE!"

"Yes. I know. But to me, they're just my great-grandparents. So please..." Jaune sighed.

"O-Oh, um, sorry," Ruby blushed deeply, pulling away from Jaune.

Weiss cleared her throat.

"You know, um... It is curious you didn't bring them up. With me," Weiss noted.

"Oh, so now you're interested in him?" Yang teased.

"In his family history!" Weiss clarified.

Jaune sighed heavily.

"Because of this, okay? I love them to death... But I'm not using them to get attention. I want to earn my way through life myself... Not thanks to their names," Jaune explained.

"... I... I can understand that, Ar-Um... Jaune," Weiss conceded.

"Same," Blake agreed.

Jaune smiled warmly at his friends. Pyrrha smiled back and cleared her throat.

"Completely, Jaune. I just... It's such an honor to fight her! She's still so incredible!" Pyrrha said, thrilled.

Yang grinned.

"You think I could fight her next?! Or your Papa? Damn, he still looks amazing! I am seeing the future and I like it~!"

Pyrrha turned a very brittle smile onto Yang.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do you think I mean, P-Money?" Yang countered, her eyes flashing red as she grinned like a hungry dragon.

Weiss cleared her throat and held up her hands.

"Hey! There's no need to fight! Especially not over Arc!" Weiss interjected, though her voice lacked her usual ire with Jaune. Blake smirked.

"Says the girl who's been eyeing his great-grandpa with lust in her eyes since he showed up?" Blake teased.

"I have not!" Weiss retorted, bright red.

"DID YOU SEE THAT ARMOR?!" Ruby asked in awe.

"IT WENT ALL SWOOSH AND CRANK AND WHIRR-WHIRR!" Nora mimicked the sounds with some elaborate hand gestures.

"Indeed," Ren deadpanned dryly.

Pyrrha and Yang glared at one another over their smiles. Weiss and Blake argued, while Nora chanted "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" Ren continued to sip tea from his own thermos, looking faintly amused.

Jaune sighed. He walked over to his great-grandparents and sat down. Ruby joined him, deciding to let her friends deal with their problems herself. Shirou handed them some burgers, which they both began to dig into.

"If it helps, son, I've been where you are. With your great-Aunties Sakura and Rin," Shirou offered with a small smile. .

"What happened?" Jaune asked.

Arturia swallowed a bite of her burger, a bit of ketchup on her cheek. Shirou automatically wiped it clean with a paper towel, which she smiled thankfully to before she spoke.

"I beat them into submission and made it clear Shirou was my man and I was first wife. This will work itself out," Arturia said confidently.

Jaune groaned… While Ruby got a speculative look on her face.

"Ruby?" Jaune asked.

"Oh, um, nothing!" Ruby quickly lied with a big smile.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

On the roof of their dorm, Pyrrha and Jaune were engaged in a training session. The sun set, painting the sky in hues of purple and orange. The first stars began to twinkle above them, casting a peaceful, almost romantic ambiance over the scene. Jaune managed a skillful move, catching Pyrrha's blade and knocking it aside while sliding into her guard. With his sword at her throat, both were panting from the effort, but Pyrrha's face was lit with a smile.

"Wonderful, Jaune! Much, much better!" she exclaimed.

Jaune lowered his weapons, his own smile breaking through.

"All thanks to you, Pyr. Am I actually getting better?"

"Much! You know how many people could actually get their blade on me?" Pyrrha responded.

"We are just training—" Jaune began, but Pyrrha cut him off, her hand gently resting on his chestplate.

"Jaune... You're really doing well. Please, take the compliment."

Flushing, Jaune nodded.

"Pyr... Thank you. Thank you for everything."

They stood there in silence, just enjoying the moment as the setting sun backlit them. For a moment, Jaune almost imagined a loving look in Pyrrha's eyes. Which of course was ridiculous. She was just his friend. His dearest friend… A super attractive woman who was touching him… Staring into his eyes…

Suddenly, a voice broke the tranquility.

"KISSSSSSS!"

Both Jaune and Pyrrha jumped back in surprise, looking around to find the source of the interruption.

"Who was—?!" Pyrrha looked around, while Jaune groaned.

"Oh no..."

A beautiful woman, blonde with a veil over her face, dressed in black, floated down onto the roof. She huffed in mock annoyance.

"Is that any way to greet your great-great Auntie, Jaune?"

"Hello, Aunt Morgan," Jaune said wearily.

Pyrrha flushed.

"O-Oh? Um... Hello, ma'am?"

Jaune gestured to Pyrrha.

"This is-"

Morgan snorted.

"Of course I know who she is! Pyrrha Nikos!" She beamed at them both, "And you two could make some amazing babies together!"

Pyrrha turned bright red, stuttering rapidly, while Jaune scolded her.

"AUNTIE! You do this every time! Stop it! You're weirding out my friend!"

Morgan continued unabated, "Well it's not MY fault that your bloodline would allow your progeny to become immensely powerful and let me reclaim the throne of Albion and rule the world! Of course, I could always use a Black Knight!"

She beamed as she hugged Jaune.

"What do you say, Nephew? You'd be at my side, helping me conquer all the world! And you'd give me not only lands, but grandbabies!"

Pyrrha squeaked, her cheeks burning as red as the setting sun. Jaune scowled.

"For the last time, NO."

"Come on!" Morgan protested, "If you don't like her, how about that blonde brawler? Or the catgirl? Or the Schnee heiress? Or the silver eyed girl, when she grows up a bit? Or all of them at once?"

Jaune sighed as his shoulders slumped.

"Can't you go bother any of our other family members?"

"They keep throwing salt at me! And cold iron! Can you imagine the nerve?!" Morgan whined.

"Yes. Yes I can," Jaune deadpanned.

Morgan then dramatically fell to her knees and grabbed his hand.

"Please Jaune! Ever since the divorce with Lot I had to do Only Fans just to make ends meet! Please be my Black Knight?!"

Jaune gaped in disbelief before yanking his hand away.

"You have so many other skills, Auntie! Why are you doing THAT?!"

Morgan shrugged.

"It feeds my ego and my capricious vices!"

Suddenly, another voice boomed, "SISTER!"

Morgan gasped as Arturia leaped up onto the roof. The former Empress of Vytal brandished her sword as Morgan growled.

"SISTER!" Morgan responded in kind.

"I told you to leave my great-grandson alone!" Arturia growled.

"And I told you to leave my great-grandnephew alone! Especially when I'm scheming!"

"I told you, NO MORE SCHEMING!" Arturia shouted.

"I'm the older sister! I'll do all the scheming I want!" Morgan shouted.

Arturia swung her sword, unleashing an Aura blade. Morgan jumped over the energy blast, and summoned up a staff to fire Aura-powered Dust blasts back.

As the two fought furiously, Jaune turned to the still blushing Pyrrha. He patted her shoulder gently.

"I'm really sorry about that. She's been really hurting ever since the divorce and falling out with Nana... You okay, Pyrrha?"

"S-So many babies…"

Jaune blinked.

"Pyr?"

Pyrrha, still a bit dazed, coughed and shook her head.

"I-I'm fine!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune peered at the locker, struggling with the jammed door. He had just arrived at Beacon and was already struggling with his rocket locker.

"Geez... This locker is really freaking…"

He caught sight of a pale girl with black hair and a bow on her head walking to another rocket locker. It took him a moment to place her. He had seen her a few times around Beacon campus, but the way she walked, the way she moved…

It clicked in his mind in a second.

"Wait a minute... Blake?!"

The cat Faunus in disguise turned around and blinked in surprise. Her eyes then widened in recognition.

"... Jaune?!"

"BLAKE! It is you!" Jaune exclaimed, wrapping her in a joyful hug, his laughter echoing in the locker room. "It's been so long! I missed you!"

Blake blushed, slightly taken aback by the sudden affection.

"Oh, uh... Um... Y-Yeah... It's been a while, huh? How... How are you?"

"I'm great! Made it to Beacon! How about you? You're also a Huntress, huh? Or, uh, gonna become one?" Jaune asked, still beaming. Blake managed a small smile back, though she remained stiff in his arms.

"Sure am... I didn't think your parents would let you train?" Blake responded, her curiosity piqued.

Jaune's eyes suddenly darted to the side.

"Oh, uh... I mean, I wore 'em down," Jaune admitted with a less than convincing smile.

Blake raised an eyebrow. She then hummed as she looked him up and down. He had certainly filled out. However…

"You did get your Aura unlocked though, right?" Blake asked, probing further.

Jaune hesitated.

"... Surrre... Sure did!"

Blake gave him a knowing look.

"... Jaune. Your Aura isn't unlocked, is it?"

"Ummm... Maybe?" Jaune confessed.

With a sigh, Blake continued, "... Do you even know how to use your sword?"

"Of course! The pointy end goes in the Grimm," Jaune said with a nervous chuckle.

Despite everything, Blake couldn't help but laugh.

"You're still so hopeless... Still. I guess I can't really speak." She placed her hand on his chest, unlocking his Aura with a gentle touch.

"For it is in deliverance that we achieve change. Through this, we become a paragon of justice to share with all. Infinite in truth and unbound by the past, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, redeem thee…"

She could feel the surge of power radiate back through her. Her entire body seemed to warm up, and she shivered.

Memories long thought gone filled her mind. Her mother had been suffering from a rare illness between protests. The only doctor who could treat it was down in Radian. It had been a long trip and there was the fear that they wouldn't treat her. Her father had said there was nothing to worry about… Yet the whole time, he had been stone faced.

They managed to make it to Radian. She still remembered the city walls, the mountains, and the beautiful forests. They'd entered the town, guided by the white castle gleaming in the sunlight. That was the hospital.

They came to the hospital. They waited in the lobby, Blake holding her mother's hand. Eventually, a kind looking blonde woman in a green dress and white labcoat came. She smiled and told her that her mother would be fine, before she led them away.

Blake was shown to a courtyard to stay in. And there… Was a little boy her age. Blond, wearing a red shirt and blue shorts. He was playing with some toys, and had some books in a bag nearby. There was a fountain gurgling happily nearby.

"This is my son," the kind woman said, "Jaune? This is Blake. Her mother is getting treated. I want you two to play together, okay?"

Jaune smiled.

"Okay Mama!"

"Be good," Isabel said.

"Be good," Dad had told her. They had left. Jaune then walked up and took her hand.

"Do you like books?" Jaune had asked.

Blake blinked, her ears twitching.

"I do…"

So he'd pulled out some books and they'd read them together. They were all fairytales, and tales of adventures. Jaune smiled happily as they read together, but it was hard to relax.

"What's wrong?" Jaune asked.

"... Will my mama be okay?" Blake had asked.

Jaune nodded eagerly.

"My Mama is the best doctor ever! She'll be fine, I promise!"

"You do?" Blake had asked. Jaune nodded again.

"Yeah! We're Arcs, and Arcs never go back on their word!"

He was right. Her mother had recovered, though it had taken a few weeks of rest. They'd stayed at the Arc Farmhouse. That summer, Blake had gotten to play for the first time she could remember. It had seemed like the fight for Faunus Rights was far away. Some kind of dream.

Jaune… He was the first friend she'd ever had at her age. Leaving him… She had cried so hard. He had cried even harder. He'd drawn her "the best picture ever" and given her a book and…

She took his hand now, and smiled warmly up at him.

"There. Just stick with me. We'll do all right, I promise," she said.

Jaune smiled back, and her heart beat a little faster.

"Thanks Blake. Where did you go off to, anyway? One day… You just stopped sending letters. Your parents kept calling, hoping you'd show up at our farm. I... I really missed you," Jaune said, his voice softening with sincerity.

"And I... I missed you," Blake sighed, her expression… She looked away.

She had run off to join the White Fang. She had abandoned everything she had known to fight humans directly. She had left… Everything behind. Including his gifts.

Including him.

"It's... Complicated. I'll... I'll tell you when I'm ready. Can you... Can you be patient with me please?"

Blake almost couldn't bare to look up at him. She didn't know how she could even begin. Where she could even start…

She felt him hug her. She looked up in surprise. He smiled warmly.

"It's okay. Whenever you want to… I'll listen. I promise. We're gonna get married, remember?" Jaune reminded her, his tone light but earnest.

Blake gave an exasperated chuckle, "You proposed when we were six."

"And?" Jaune asked with a teasing smile. "An Arc-"

"Always keeps his word," Blake sighed, "Same old Jaune..." But her chuckle suggested she wasn't entirely displeased by the reminder. She pulled away, still holding his hand.

"Let's go!"

Jaune smiled and nodded.

"Ready when you are."

She had been told by Ozpin that she was safe from the White Fang here. That they couldn't get to her.

She wanted to believe it. She wanted to think she didn't have to run anymore.

She might have to leave Jaune behind. If Adam knew she was close to a human, if he even suspected…

No, Blake thought to herself as they made their way out to the Initiation, He… He won't find me. He won't take him away from me…

She had to hope. She had to believe.

She had to.

 

[SharkCultist]

Adam Taurus. Was tired.

He'd spent years running on nothing but rage at humanity convinced of their evil for their betrayal of him.

And then he was betrayed by Faunus. Left alone by the person he trusted most in the world, and when he went back and told others of her betrayal they brushed him off.

Adam was done. It wasn't humans he couldn't stand, it was just people. So Adam took his blade and marched into the mountains without a backwards glance or a word to anyone.

---

It's been about three years and Adam was a much different man. His rigid posture had relaxed without his constant anger and burden of leadership.

His hair has grown out and lost its spikiness when it reached shoulder length. Haircuts seem low in the priority list, it gets cut when it gets in the way.

His eyes still retained their sharpness but their wasn't any anger in his gaze, just discipline.

Living alone in the mountains had its benefits.

Well not totally alone.

"Dad we caught a boar!"

"Didn't even see us!"

Two little girls who did more for me in three years than all the comrades and togetherness in the white fang.

Crystal a little antelope faunus, quick as can be without aura. The little amber eyed, green haired girl was a menace.

Juniper while calmer and easier to catch was no less a troublemaker. Despite not having quite a few advantages that her sister did (after all she didn't have night vision). Still the blonde haired green eyes tomboy gave him a few grey hairs. (Figuratively. He checked.)

"And how did you kill this boar? Hopefully not with the knives I told you not to touch?"

The girls like always conveniently forget rules when they're trying to be helpful or have fun.

"No stories after dinner tonight and you both get to help me dress the boar."

"Eeew but daaaaaad it's all sticky!"

"And smelly!"

"That's why it's a punishment girls. Now go get your raincoats (a purchase from a rare trip to civilization) this is going to be a messy one."

As he watches the little girls race to their small mountain cottage Adam can't help but think that pulling the two surviving little girls out of a ruined camper was the best decision he ever made.

The second being coming to the mountains in the first place. Peace agrees with Adam.

But unfortunately a old unwelcome figure was about to bring him war, as team RWBY lost while away from beacon stumble across his cottage and daughters.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

We have had Jaune as Batman in this thread before. And hey, I love Batman. But I also love another superhero who could use some love, and whose movie is coming out this year.

To that end...

- - -

Jaune Arc was fourteen years old. Like many teenagers, he had taken to spending time on the walls of Radian to get a break from his parents. He sighed as he looked out over the Albus Mountain range, lost in his thoughts.



Thoughts that a certain cat Faunus girl interrupted when she placed her hands over his eyes.



"Guess who~!" She teased.



Jaune sighed.



"Katy?"



"Aww..." Katy pulled back with a little pout. Jaune smiled at her expression, then turned back to looking out at the valley. Katy frowned and leaned over the wall with him, staring intently at her boyfriend.



"You okay?"



"Just..." He groaned. "I can't believe they won't let me go to the Hunter School! I passed all the physical tests!"



"You totally did," Katy giggled. Jaune gave her a glare without much heat. She smiled and nuzzled him. "Come on, Jaune. You're gonna be a shoe-in at medical school! Why do you want to be a Huntsman so bad, anyway?"



"Because I want to help people," Jaune insisted, "I mean... Really help them. All my ancestors were great Huntsmen, heroes... Why can't I?"



Katy shrugged.



"I dunno... Your parents have always been weird. Maybe it's because you're the baby of the family? The only boy?"



"Maybe," Jaune muttered, "I just can't help thinking there's something they're not telling me..."



He heard a loud metallic screeching. He winced and held his ears. Katy gasped.



"Jaune? Jaune, you okay? You-?"



He looked out. He saw a Bullhead airship falling towards the ground.



"Call it in! It's an airship crash!" Jaune shouted. He leaped off the wall and slid down the bricks, before he got to the ground. He ran for it, hearing Katy shouting for help to the militia on the wall.



He saw the airship crash, heard the boom. He raced through the trees, everything becoming a blur. He skidded to a halt near the wreck. The Bullhead was very tough. Its hull was mostly intact. He could hear crying. He rushed to the hatch, and grabbed onto the metal. It burned his hands, but it gave way to his fingers like tissue paper. He tore the door open and tossed it aside. He dashed in, covering his face against the flames and smoke.



He spotted two people: Faunus by the look of them. They were in the pilot and co-pilot seats, unconscious. Jaune quickly ripped their belts off and carried them both out on his shoulders. He raced away from the wreck, hearing Radian's own airships and recovery vehicles closing in. He set the couple down, and they coughed as they began to breathe again.



The pilot, a man, looked at Jaune, then at the Bullhead with wild eyes.



"Our daughter-She's still inside!"



Jaune turned and dashed back into the wreck. He scanned around through the flames, searching frantically. He heard the crying again, in the back. The ship's bathroom...



He tore the door off the bathroom. A little girl, strapped into the emergency harness over the toilet, sniffled and cried when she saw him.



"It's okay!" Jaune shouted. "I'm gonna get you out of here!"



He tore the straps away, and pulled the little girl into his arms. She clung to him like a barnacle, and he kept her surrounded by his strong arms. He turned and ran out of the Bullhead, towards the hatch. He emerged into the sunlight. He could see his father with Militia troops some distance away, securing the area. He could see his mother already tending to the injured parents.



He saw both of them look up at him. His mother's eyes widened.



"JAUNE! RUN!"



"I-!"



The engines of the burning Bullhead exploded. He fell to his knees, hoping to protect the little girl with his body. Hoping his death let her live, offered what protection he could!



Jaune felt the flames, felt the heat wash over him like a wave at the beach. He felt metal shrapnel hit his body... And bounce off.



He felt his clothes burn... But not his flesh.



He heard the little girl scream, cry. He held her tighter as the flames subsided.



He stood up, the girl safe but shaken in his arms. He blinked and looked down at those arms.



His shirt was burn away. His jeans and shorts were burned to a crisp, barely staying on him. Yet his flesh looked as unblemished and clean as though he'd just gotten out of the bath.



He gawked in disbelief. He looked up. His parents, the militiamen, even Katy... All stared at him in varying degrees of wonder and shock.



What... What just happened...? His mind asked weakly.



- - -



That night, he was back at the Arc farmhouse. He'd gotten checked out, gotten new clothes, and then slipped away to the barn to think.



He sat up in the top rafters, which held a variety of items he'd collected: A telescope, a desk, posters of Huntsmen and images from the Very Large Telescope. A Valean Flag in one corner. All familiar, all comforting. The sounds of the night filled the barn as the stars and broken moon came out.



His parents came up into the rafters, his mother leading. She took a deep breath.



"Jaune? I... I'm sure you have a lot of questions about what happened today," she began. Dad stood nearby her, looking uncharacteristically grim. Jaune slowly nodded.



"I... Yeah," he said. He looked at his hands. "I mean... Did my Aura activate? Is-Is that my Semblance?"



"No," Isabel said quietly. Jaune jerked and stared at her. She shook her head. She walked up to him, and held out her Scroll. She presented an Aura scanning app, something most medics had. She held it over Jaune. It gave no reading. Jaune blinked rapidly.



"But... If I don't have Aura or a Semblance then... What's going on?"



Nick sighed heavily.



"Son? It's time you learned... Well... The truth."



They took him down the stairs, and out of the barn. They went into the nearby copse of trees. In here, Jaune's grandfather had built his wife a replica of a Fuujin-style hotsprings. Next to this was an old storage shed, which had been chained shut as long as Jaune could remember. Nick brought out a key, unlocked it, and pulled the chains loose.



Isabel hugged him tightly.



"Son... I want you to know," Isabel said softly, "We love you. No matter what, okay?"



"Mom, you-you're scaring me," Jaune managed, "Dad too."



Nick opened the shed door. He reached for an old lightswitch, and turned it on.



The light flooded the shed. Jaune blinked rapidly... Then gaped.



It looked like a sleek vehicle-A cockpit in tinted black glass dominated it. Behind the cockpit was a white engine assembly, with fins. At the front of the thing was what almost looked like a radar dome. The metal glistened and almost seemed to move, like a living creature.



"Fourteen years ago, this crashed several miles outside of town," Nick murmured, "Your mother and I were driving home from a Hunter job. We investigated the crash site... And found you inside this thing. We took you with us, hid the thing. We said we'd had you on the mission-It had been a very long one, about a year, after all..."



Jaune's jaw remained dropped. Isabel took over.



"We took a sample of the thing to a friend of ours at Lutetia University. He asked if we got it from a meteorite-He'd never seen the materials in it before. He thought it might have come from... Outside the solar system."



Jaune slowly shook his head.



"You..." He backed away from his mother's embrace. "You're kidding. You're kidding!"

He looked between his father and mother. He looked for the slightest hint that his parents were playing a prank on him.



His father remained stoic. His mother cried silently.



Jaune shook his head and stared at the craft.



"You're not kidding?!" He gasped.



Nick reached down and pressed on the side of the craft. The cockpit swung open. He picked up a small box, and handed it over to Jaune.



"We found this, along with a few blankets," Nick said softly, "We tried to open it, but... It wouldn't budge. Even a hammer didn't break it."



Jaune took the box in shaky hands. It then lit up with blue lines. Lines that danced over the surface of the box, before turning into a strange symbol: An S embedded inside a diamond-shaped shield.



The box emitted a beam... And in an instant, Jaune was elsewhere. He gasped and looked around himself: He was standing in a dark but warm looking home, wide open spaces with what seemed to be open windows looking out over a vast, alien landscape. The ground was burnt orange, with black plants and green and blue crystals jutting out in various shapes. In the distance, he could see buildings made of the same material, stretching up into a yellow sky. Overhead burned a red sun.



"Hello, Kal-El."



Jaune started and turned around. He saw two figures: A man and a woman. The man was tall, athletic, and proud, with blond hair and brown eyes. He wore a black bodysuit underneath a red robe, with the S-Shield symbol on his chest. The woman, also blonde but with blue eyes, had her hair in a neat bun and wore a similar bodysuit. Her robe was blue, with a similar S-Shield symbol on her chest.



"Kal-who?"



"I am Jor-El," the man introduced himself.



"I am Lara," the woman introduced herself, "We are your parents."



"Wha-What?!" Jaune gasped, his knees shaking. Jor-El continued as though Jaune hadn't reacted.



"This is a recording we left for you. For when you learned the truth of your origins," Jor-El said. His face became sad. "I wish we were there with you, son. But this was the only way to save you."



"Save me?! From what?" Jaune demanded.



Lara spoke, her eyes compassionate.



"You are the only survivor of a planet called Krypton. It is approximately 17 lightyears away from the planet you now inhabit. We call it Earth, for its ancient name, but the inhabitants currently call it Remnant. We sent you here to escape Krypton's destruction."



"By now, you will have noticed you are stronger and faster than humans," Jor-El continued, "Even with their ability to enhance themselves with Aura and other means, the yellow Sun of Remnant gives you incredible powers."



"I know this must be a lot to take in, son," Lara said softly, her face heartbreaking beautiful in her sorrow, "I know this must be a great shock. I wish I could be there with you to-to comfort you. To guide you. To love you. Please, tell me... Are you loved? Did kind people find and raise you?"



Jaune took a few deep, calming breaths. His eyes were filled with tears as his entire life seemed to flash before his eyes. He slowly nodded.



"Yes."



Both Jor-El and Lara relaxed. Lara herself smiled.



"I am so glad," Lara spoke softly. "So glad... There is so much for you to know."



"So much we need to tell you," Jor-El added, a slight smile on his face. "I know this world isn't perfect, son. Krypton wasn't either. We were destroyed by our own hubris. We reached such heights, did so many incredible things... But we failed. We fell to our pride, our arrogance."



He shook his head. In a flash, thousands of years of wonders went through Jaune's brain. Art, science, culture-All incredible...



Yet he also saw images of the last days of Krypton. Stagnation, corruption, oppression and xenophobia. He saw his parents fight for what was right and try to do good... All for naught.



Yet most importantly, he saw images of his parents loving him, caring for him, and smiling down at him. He felt a smile come to his own face, despite his tears.



"Beyond survival, Kal, that is why we sent you to Remnant," Jor-El said. Lara nodded.



"They have great potential, Kal," Lara spoke, "Greater than they know. They reached such heights, then fell, then climbed again, then fell... Yet still they try to become greater. Better."



"They can break this cycle, Kal," Jor-El said, "They can be a great people, they wish to. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, we have sent them you..."



He felt hands hold his. He felt his heart fill near to bursting.



"Our only son."



The vision ended. Isabel and Nick were holding his hands, both looking concerned.



"Jaune? Jaune, are you all right?" Isabel asked.



"Son?" Nick whispered, his eyes shiny.



Jaune sniffled... But his smile remained.



"Yeah... Yeah, I'm all right," he said. He glanced up at the stars.



"Everything will be all right... I promise."



- - -



Because hey. He's already a farmboy and a bit of a cornball. Why isekai Superman into this world, when Jaune Arc could fit the bill?



Argh, I really gotta work on all my other stories, but hey: Sometimes you just gotta get a silly idea out.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -



Okay. He had a sidekick now. Wonder-Zwei said he was a partner, which was different than a sidekick, which Jaune accepted. Zwei was just picky like that.



The thing was, he had no idea how to summon Crimson Reaper to aid him in his war on injustice. She just kept showing up!



He was on patrol late one night on the Huntscycle (patent pending) with Zwei in the sidecar, thinking over the many changes this new wrinkle in his superheroic career.



"Hey, how did you get this motorcycle anyway?" He asked.



"Woof."



The Huntsman rolled his eyes behind his mask.



"'It fell off a superhero vehicle truck?' You expect me to believe that?"



"Woof!"



"I'm not complaining, but you could have come up with a better excuse than that!"



"Woof!"



"I'm just saying, if we're superheroes, we shouldn't do bad things for a greater good! That's like a slippery slope!"



"Woof! Woof!"



Jaune blinked.



"Wait, your owner tried to be a superhero? This is his old bike? How did that go?"



"Woof."



The Huntsman winced.



"That bad, huh? Well! Fear not my canine crusader, our own superheroic career will do far better than that lackluster yet worthy war on wantonness!"



"Woof."



"I am not bad at alliteration!" The Huntsman protested. The police band went off, and he listened to the transmission. "Sounds like trouble at the ice rink! Huntsman and Wonder-Zwei, AWAY!"



They raced to the Elsa Memorial Recreation Ice Rink and leaped off their bike. Huntsman dramatically stormed into the rec center. He marched up to the front counter and posed with his hands on his hips, Wonder-Zwei next to him.



"Good citizen! You called 9-1-1?"



The receptionist, a middle aged woman with bushy hair, blinked twice at the masked man and his dog, and then shrugged.



"Er... Well, one of the patrons did. She's in the food court."



"Thank you, good citizen! You should evacuate immediately!" Huntsman declared, rushing past the desk with Wonder-Zwei in tow. The receptionist shrugged and packed up.



"Well I did want a half day anyway, sooo..."



Huntsman and Wonder-Zwei dramatically burst into the food court of the ice rink, fists, weapons and paws ready for action!"



"Halt, evildoer!" Huntsman cried. "You will...!"



He blinked. An ethereal beauty sat on one of the tables, dressed in icy garments that seemed to flow. She wore a blue and silver masquerade ball mask, and held up a rapier badly disguised as an ice wand.



"Hello, Huntsman," the icy woman greeted with a sinister smirk, "Here to melt my icy schemes?"



Huntsman pointed dramatically at the ice woman.



"What manner of diabolical plot have you brought about... Uh..."



"Ice Queen!" The woman declared, "And my sinister plots are-!"



A little boy in a green parka and blue knit hat walked up to her. He smiled with a gap in his front teeth.



"Miss Ice Queen, can I have another snowcone?" He asked.



Ice Queen beamed and patted him on the head.



"Of course sweetie! Here you go!" She used Ice Dust to create snow, which she then packed into a simple cone. She then drizzled it with very expensive looking syrups and handed it to the boy. "I hope you enjoy it!"



"Sure will!" The boy said, "You're the best!"



She cooed over him cutely licking the snowcone. He turned and headed off, waving at her. She waved back cheerfully. She then turned to the Huntsman and smirked.



"Behold! My evil scheme!" She announced.



The Huntsman gasped in horror.



"You-You're using snowcones to mind control small children!" He accused.



Ice Queen blinked, then flushed.



"What?! NO! I would never do something that terrible!"



"Then..." Huntsman racked his brain. "You're making snowcones to turn them into ICE ZOMBIES! Admit it!"



"NO!" The Ice Queen shook her head. "That's even more horrible!"



The Huntsman grumbled and rubbed his chin.



"Then what is your dastardly plot, Ice Queen?"



Ice Queen smirked and spread her hands wide.



"Isn't it obvious?"



Huntsman and Wonder-Zwei looked at eachother, shrugged, then looked back at Ice Queen.



"It is not," Huntsman said. Ice Queen cackled.



"I am giving these poor orphaned children snowcones! So that while they will know happiness from something simple, the sugar will make them hyper and cause tooth decay!"



"YOU FIEND!" The Huntsman cried. He then blinked.



"Wait, they can just avoid that with proper dental hygiene!"



"OF COURSE!" Ice Queen cackled, holding up some toothbrushes and packs of floss, "Which is why I gave each of them some tooth cleaning kits for free!"



"Which contains mind control chemicals to make them your slaves! YOU FIEND!" Huntsman cried again. Ice Queen blanched and shook her head.



"NO! No mind control is involved!" Ice Queen huffed. "But who likes to floss? Certainly not children!"



The Huntsman blinked.



"Is that all you've done?" He asked. Ice Queen cackled again, putting her hands on her slim hips.



"Foolish superhero! I've also put recommendations in for them to be adopted by wonderful families across Remnant! So they will no longer be orphans but happy foster children!"



"YOU..." Huntsman blinked several times. "That's not remotely evil! I mean... Are you sure you're a supervillain?"



Ice Queen stomped in her extremely fashionable boots.



"Of course I am! Indeed, I arranged this entire trap for you, Huntsman! So that you would fall into my clutches!"



Wonder-Zwei, long since bored with the conversation, went to go be cute and steal some snowcones from the happy orphans.



"Okay, so... What diabolical plan do you have for me?" Huntsman asked. Ice Queen blushed and poked her fingers together.



"Oh... You know... Someone so incredibly heroic, uh... Um... W-Well, I was... Thinking we could go for... Ice Cream? On the beach? Sometime?" She cleared her throat. "As part of my evil scheme!"



"WHAT?!"



Huntsman jumped. Red Huntress stormed in, looking furious.



"Red Huntress?!" Huntsman gasped. "So you're in on this too?"



"WHAT?! No!" Red Huntress snarled, glaring at Ice Queen, "I-I have my own evil plots to make you take me for ice cream and a walk on the beach!"



"That... Doesn't sound like an evil scheme," Huntsman pointed out. Red Huntress blushed. Ice Queen growled.



"It is when Red Huntress is horning in on my evil plots with Huntsman! GO GET YOUR OWN!"



"NO! He's MY arch nemesis!" Red Huntress shot back.



"I mean, all you've really done is just come in on Roman and Neo's schemes," Huntsman pointed out. Red Huntress huffed.



"I-M-My entire thing is stealing other villains' schemes to try and get my hands on YOU! That's WAY more evil than some-some ICE BIMBO pretending to be a villainess!"



"HOW DARE YOU!" Ice Queen shot back, shaking her wand, "I'm going to buy all these orphans cookies and sweets so they'll have tummy aches!"



"YAY!" The orphans cheered, "ICE QUEEN IS THE BEST!"



"You're going to have tummy aches!" Ice Queen cried, "It's not a GOOD THING!"



The Huntsman sighed and rubbed his forehead.



"Wonder-Zwei? Have any laws been broken?" He asked his canine compatriot.



Wonder-Zwei paused in eating some pizza off the floor, thought about it, and then replied:



"Woof."



"AHA! A fraudulent 9-1-1 call!" Huntsman cried, pointing to the ceiling. He then pointed it at the two supervillainesses. "Which one of you made a false 9-1-1 call? That's a serious offense I would have to bring you in for!"



Ice Queen and Red Huntress both raised their hands.



"I DID!"



They turned and glared at eachother.



"YOU LIAR!" They shouted in synch.



"I was here first! Clearly I made the call!" Ice Queen declared.



"AHA! But I knew you'd be here so I made the call FIRST!" Red Huntress smirked.



"YOU DID NOT! THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!" Ice Queen snarled. "You-You balloon chested bimbo who can't think of your own evil schemes!"



"You stick girl loser! You're practically a philantropist!" Red Huntress sneered.



"YOU BITCH!"



Ice Queen tackled Red Huntress. Red Huntress fought back. It wasn't much of a battle, to be honest: Red Huntress was much taller and stronger than Ice Queen. However, Ice Queen made up for this with extremely dirty fighting.



"ICE DOWN YOUR CORSET, YOU STRUMPET!"



"EEEEEP! YOU BRAT!"



Huntsman again cleared his throat.



"Ah, excuse me, you two-?"



"WHORE!"



"SKANK!"



Huntsman growled, stalked over, and grabbed both supervillainesses by the napes of their necks. He held them apart like he had fighting kittens at the farm back home.



"That's enough!" He barked. "You two should know better than to act like that in front of children!"



"We think it was great!" One of the boys cheered, before one of the girls socked him. "OW! HEY!"



Huntsman set them both down and gave them a very stern glare.



"Now, I know you're supervillains... Sort of... But we will do things properly around here! You don't see Roman Torchwick flashing skin in his fights with me, do you? Or using such harsh language! You two better act properly!"



"Yes Daddy," Red Huntress and Ice Queen answered in unison.



Both young women blushed bright red. Huntsman blinked.



"Wait wha-?"



A burst of rose petals announced the appearance of-



"CRIMSON REAPER is here to save the day!" Huntsman's sidekick, who dramatically swung in with her oversized scythe. Huntsman held up his hands.



"Uh, thanks Crimson Reaper, but we're actually sorting this out peacefully."



"NO!" Crimson Reaper cried, putting herself between Ice Queen and Red Huntress and Huntsman, "They're just luring you into an unspeakable trap!"



"N-No! It's not unspeakable!" Insisted Ice Queen with a blush, "Just not in front of children!"



Huntsman gasped.



"Then... You're going to lure me into a trap involving meat grinders and poisonous spiders?"



"N-No!" Ice Queen cried. "Of course not! I was thinking um, silk sheets and-"



"THAT'S WAY MORE DANGEROUS!" Crimson Reaper cried. Huntsman shook his head.



"I don't think it is. What is she doing to do with silk sheets? Tie me up?"



Ice Queen's face turned so red her mask looked like it might melt off. Red Huntress began to drool. Crimson Reaper, bright red, spun her scythe around and hit Huntsman in the stomach.



"URK!"



"OH NO!" Crimson Reaper cried, jerking about in an unconvincingly fashion, "THOSE EVIL SNOWCONES ARE FILLED WITH MIND CONTROL JUICE!"



"Wait what?!" Ice Queen cried. "No they aren't-!"



"I had FOUR and I'm totally doing her will!" Crimson Reaper cried, again smacking Huntsman in the stomach with the butt of her scythe.



"ARGH!"



"OH NO! THIS WAS THEIR EVIL PLAN!" Crimson Reaper shouted desperately, "FLEE HUNTSMAN! YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED!"



"I will not!" Huntsman grabbed Crimson Reaper, disarmed her, and tossed Wonder-Zwei the scythe. The Corgi of Justice caught it in his teeth, as Huntsman restrained Crimson Reaper in a fireman's hold. He glared at Ice Queen.



"You got me to drop my guard and now my sidekick is under your control!" He accused.



Ice Queen flushed.



"N-No, I didn't-!"



"That's so diabolical!" Huntsman glared at her. "From now on, you're my number one archnemesis!"



"WHAT?!" Red Huntress cried angrily. Ice Queen gaped... Then smirked at Red Huntress. She cackled again.



"BWAHAHAHAHA! Yes! See how truly evil I am?! Huntsman, you'll have to put your all into stopping me! Put all your effort into stopping my nefarious plans!"



"Oh I will!" Huntsman declared. Ice Queen flushed.



"And-And I'll make extra special death traps, just for you, so we can be alone together and-ACK!"



Red Huntress punched Ice Queen in the back of the neck, and she dropped like a puppet with her strings cut. Knocked to the ground, Ice Queen crumpled to the floor. Red Huntress cackled.



"And once again, I have stolen another scheme from another pathetic supervillainess!" Red Huntress guffawed, spreading her arms out wide, "Now I will be the one to make orphans smile happily and have tummy aches!"



"You absolute fiend!" Huntsman swore. "I knew no villainess could be as conniving, twisted, and pure evil as you, Red Huntress!" He glared. "You're always going to be my number one!"



Red Huntress... Giggled.



"Y-You mean that?"



"HEY!" Crimson Reaper cried. "I'm the one with mind control juice in me! Take me back to your secret lair and cure me already!"



"Oh, sorry old chum!" Huntsman apologized. He'd nearly completely forgotten! He shot one last glare at Red Huntress and the recovering Ice Queen. "You two are going to be very sorry you disturbed the peace of my city and tried to put my sidekick under mind control! Wonder-Zwei! AWAY!"



The two ran out of the food court. Red Huntress sighed happily as Ice Queen got to her feet. She rubbed the back of her neck and scowled at Red Huntress.



"I don't know who the hell you are, but I'm gonna make you pay!" Ice Queen seethed. Red Huntress giggled. "Hey! Are you listening?!"



"I'm his number one archnemesis again~!" Red Huntress giggled.



"He said BOTH of us!" Ice Queen growled.



"But I'm his archnemesis!" Red Huntress sighed happily.



"Yeah," said one kid, "But Crimson Reaper's his sidekick."



Both supervillainesses paused. They rushed out of the ice rink and onto the street. Huntsman was already driving away with Crimson Reaper in his arms, Wonder-Zwei having called the sidecar after winning rock-paper-scissors.



The Crimson Reaper looked back at the two supervillainesses... And smirked the smuggest smirk they had ever seen.



Ice Queen and Red Huntress growled.



"New plan," Red Huntress stated, "We eliminate the sidekick."



"Agreed!"



- - -



Yeah, this? This feels more my speed.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -



Jaune sighed as he got off the Bullhead onto the Beacon airship dock. It was already raining buckets. He knew the weather was going to turn ugly, but he just had to get the latest issue of Kamen Vale! He was supporting independent creators!



He opened up Crocea Mors and held it over his head. He walked out into the rain, the plinking of the raindrops against his shield already very annoying. He could make out some other students running for cover, or walking slowly with umbrellas.



Why didn't I think of that? Jaune sighed. His nana had hundreds of umbrellas, why hadn't he taken one of hers when he left Radian?



He made it into the Elphaba Gardens, a series of ruins and flowerbeds just outside Beacon proper, and took some refuge under a few pillars. He sighed and pulled out his Scroll: He was going to let his friends know he had made it but it might be a bit because of the rain...



"Meow..."



He paused and looked around. He spotted a black cat a few feet away, sitting on some marble bricks. It was soaked and looked deeply unhappy, as it too sought shelter from the downpour.



Jaune's heart melted.



"Aw..." He knelt down and smiled, holding his fingers out. "Here kitty kitty. Here."



The cat stared at him with bright yellow eyes. Jaune kept smiling.



"It's no fun being cold and wet in the rain, huh?" He asked in a low, even tone. "Come with me and I'll get you dry, warmed up, and fed. How's that?"



The cat considered things for a moment, as though staying out in the rain might be preferable. It then hopped off its bricks, and slowly approached with its tail and head held high. It paused to sniff Jaune's fingers curiously. Jaune kept smiling.



"That's it... You know I mean you no harm," he murmured softly.



The cat again turned up its nose... Before it dashed up to him and leaped into his arms. He cradled the cat against his hoodie, and it nestled into the warm fabric. Jaune chuckled.



"Told ya. Come on, let's get inside."



He held the shield up and ran. The cat curled up against his arm, but still dug its claws into his skin. Geez, even with Aura it smarted!



"You're pretty strong," Jaune said with a smile, "You have to be, to be here."



The cat purred.



- - -



Jaune got to JNPR's common room. He set the cat down, pulled some towels from a closet, and dried it off. It yowled a bit, but soon was purring happily as he gently warmed it up. He then headed to the kitchenette, rummaged through the cabinets, and pulled out some tuna cans. He smiled and opened them, dumping the contents onto a plate he set down on the floor.



"Blake really likes these, so I'm sure you will too," Jaune said, "You're both cats of discerning tastes."



The cat meowed in a way that almost sounded like laughter. Jaune blinked, then shrugged. It was pretty cute, after all.



He poured the cat some cream in a saucer as well, which it lapped up eagerly.



"You must have been starving," Jaune chuckled, "Poor thing."



He sighed as he looked over his clothes. Despite his best efforts, he was soaked.



"I'll be right back," he told the cat. He headed into the dormroom proper. He knocked first, just to ensure no more embarrassing moments.



(Why Pyrrha had THAT sexy a nightie, he had no idea. Nor why she didn't seem all that upset he'd seen her in it.)



He opened the door and looked around. Nobody was in. He frowned, then spotted a note on the desk. He walked over and read it.



Dear Jaune. Nora ran off to the zoo again so Ren and I are going to save her. We'll be back soon. Sorry. Lo-Sincerely Pyrrha.



Jaune smiled and sighed.



"Well, at least I don't have to talk to the cops this time," he sighed. He pulled off his armor and hoodie, then his undershirt. He looked over at the open door: The cat was staring at him. Jaune chuckled as he kept stripping.



"I guess nudity is fine with you-You've only got that fur coat on," he joked. The cat meowed. Jaune shrugged, then went into the shower. He turned it to scorching, and cleaned up. He exited about ten minutes later, feeling refreshed. The cat was still there, watching him. He dressed in a shirt and jeans, and picked the cat and some textbooks up. He walked out into the common room, intent on doing some studying and maybe figuring out what to do with the cat later. It claimed his lap, and he dutifully scratched behind its ears and stroked its back until it was purring happily.



He had just sat down at a desk and broken out his books and Scrolls... When the dormroom door burst open. Blake stood there, sniffing the air.



"Oh, hey Blake," Jaune said with a smile, "I thought it was game night?"



"It is," Blake confirmed, "But I smelled something..." She trailed off as she caught sight of the cat. The cat glanced at Blake with a smug look. Jaune looked down at the cat and then back up at Blake.



"Oh! I found this little guy outside, soaked to the bone," Jaune explained, "So I brought him inside to warm up and have some food. I fed him some tuna you like-Hope you don't mind?"



Blake's jaw dropped. She gaped in disbelief at the cat. Jaune blinked.



"Um... Blake? You okay?"



"I... Well..." Blake tried. "Um..."



The cat... Poofed into a cloud of smoke. In an instant, there was something else in Jaune's lap. A very female, very naked something else."



Jaune stared into yellow eyes. Yellow eyes in a heart-shaped face. A beautiful face attached to a very curvy, athletic and dark-skinned woman with cat ears, purple hair and a very smug expression.



Jaune felt like his entire body broke out in a blush, and he willed his eyes to stay on the cat woman's. She grinned.



"Well! He's certainly an improvement over your last boyfriend, Blake dear," Yoruichi chuckled, "He knows how to handle a pussy very well!"



"AUNT YORUICHI!" Blake screeched.



Jaune's eyes rolled back into his head as he fainted.



- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -



Jaune sighed as he got off the Bullhead onto the Beacon airship dock. It was already raining buckets. He knew the weather was going to turn ugly, but he just had to get the latest issue of Kamen Vale! He was supporting independent creators!



He opened up Crocea Mors and held it over his head. He walked out into the rain, the plinking of the raindrops against his shield already very annoying. He could make out some other students running for cover, or walking slowly with umbrellas.



Why didn't I think of that? Jaune sighed. His nana had hundreds of umbrellas, why hadn't he taken one of hers when he left Radian?



He made it into the Elphaba Gardens, a series of ruins and flowerbeds just outside Beacon proper, and took some refuge under a few pillars. He sighed and pulled out his Scroll: He was going to let his friends know he had made it but it might be a bit because of the rain...



"Meow..."



He paused and looked around. He spotted a black cat a few feet away, sitting on some marble bricks. It was soaked and looked deeply unhappy, as it too sought shelter from the downpour.



Jaune's heart melted.



"Aw..." He knelt down and smiled, holding his fingers out. "Here kitty kitty. Here."



The cat stared at him with bright yellow eyes. Jaune kept smiling.



"It's no fun being cold and wet in the rain, huh?" He asked in a low, even tone. "Come with me and I'll get you dry, warmed up, and fed. How's that?"



The cat considered things for a moment, as though staying out in the rain might be preferable. It then hopped off its bricks, and slowly approached with its tail and head held high. It paused to sniff Jaune's fingers curiously. Jaune kept smiling.



"That's it... You know I mean you no harm," he murmured softly.



The cat again turned up its nose... Before it dashed up to him and leaped into his arms. He cradled the cat against his hoodie, and it nestled into the warm fabric. Jaune chuckled.



"Told ya. Come on, let's get inside."



He held the shield up and ran. The cat curled up against his arm, but still dug its claws into his skin. Geez, even with Aura it smarted!



"You're pretty strong," Jaune said with a smile, "You have to be, to be here."



The cat purred.



- - -



Jaune got to JNPR's common room. He set the cat down, pulled some towels from a closet, and dried it off. It yowled a bit, but soon was purring happily as he gently warmed it up. He then headed to the kitchenette, rummaged through the cabinets, and pulled out some tuna cans. He smiled and opened them, dumping the contents onto a plate he set down on the floor.



"Blake really likes these, so I'm sure you will too," Jaune said, "You're both cats of discerning tastes."



The cat meowed in a way that almost sounded like laughter. Jaune blinked, then shrugged. It was pretty cute, after all.



He poured the cat some cream in a saucer as well, which it lapped up eagerly.



"You must have been starving," Jaune chuckled, "Poor thing."



He sighed as he looked over his clothes. Despite his best efforts, he was soaked.



"I'll be right back," he told the cat. He headed into the dormroom proper. He knocked first, just to ensure no more embarrassing moments.



(Why Pyrrha had THAT sexy a nightie, he had no idea. Nor why she didn't seem all that upset he'd seen her in it.)



He opened the door and looked around. Nobody was in. He frowned, then spotted a note on the desk. He walked over and read it.



Dear Jaune. Nora ran off to the zoo again so Ren and I are going to save her. We'll be back soon. Sorry. Lo-Sincerely Pyrrha.



Jaune smiled and sighed.



"Well, at least I don't have to talk to the cops this time," he sighed. He pulled off his armor and hoodie, then his undershirt. He looked over at the open door: The cat was staring at him. Jaune chuckled as he kept stripping.



"I guess nudity is fine with you-You've only got that fur coat on," he joked. The cat meowed. Jaune shrugged, then went into the shower. He turned it to scorching, and cleaned up. He exited about ten minutes later, feeling refreshed. The cat was still there, watching him. He dressed in a shirt and jeans, and picked the cat and some textbooks up. He walked out into the common room, intent on doing some studying and maybe figuring out what to do with the cat later. It claimed his lap, and he dutifully scratched behind its ears and stroked its back until it was purring happily.



He had just sat down at a desk and broken out his books and Scrolls... When the dormroom door burst open. Blake stood there, sniffing the air.



"Oh, hey Blake," Jaune said with a smile, "I thought it was game night?"



"It is," Blake confirmed, "But I smelled something..." She trailed off as she caught sight of the cat. The cat glanced at Blake with a smug look. Jaune looked down at the cat and then back up at Blake.



"Oh! I found this little guy outside, soaked to the bone," Jaune explained, "So I brought him inside to warm up and have some food. I fed him some tuna you like-Hope you don't mind?"



Blake's jaw dropped. She gaped in disbelief at the cat. Jaune blinked.



"Um... Blake? You okay?"



"I... Well..." Blake tried. "Um..."



The cat... Poofed into a cloud of smoke. In an instant, there was something else in Jaune's lap. A very female, very naked something else."



Jaune stared into yellow eyes. Yellow eyes in a heart-shaped face. A beautiful face attached to a very curvy, athletic and dark-skinned woman with cat ears, purple hair and a very smug expression.



Jaune felt like his entire body broke out in a blush, and he willed his eyes to stay on the cat woman's. She grinned.



"Well! He's certainly an improvement over your last boyfriend, Blake dear," Yoruichi chuckled, "He knows how to handle a pussy very well!"



"AUNT YORUICHI!" Blake screeched.



Jaune's eyes rolled back into his head as he fainted.



- - -



Let's be cool, mods. It's just how Yoruichi rolls. She is a massive troll and tease and she can't help appearing naked when she transforms.

Click to shrink...

Jaune awoke to Blake violently shaking his shoulder. He blinked and looked around: He was lying on a couch. Yoruichi was nowhere to be seen.



"Wha-Who-What-?"



"She's getting dressed in the dormroom," Blake hissed quietly.



"Wait, that was real?!" Jaune gasped in disbelief. Blake nodded with a sigh.



"Yes. Her Semblance lets her transform into a cat, apparently."



Jaune blinked several times, before his face turned bright red again.



"O-Oh... Um... Listen, I had no idea-"



"I know," Blake muttered. She sighed and rubbed her face. "Look: It's really complicated but I need you to... To play along, okay?"



"Play along with what?" Jaune asked, getting back to his feet. Blake opened her mouth to speak, but the door opened. Yoruichi entered, now dressed in black pants, sleek boots, an orange Mistral-style tunic over a black shirt , and her hair tied up in a ponytail.



None of this diminished her attractiveness in the slightest. Jaune's blush was a testament to that.



"Well, now that I'm decent," Yoruichi smirked, winking at the bright red Jaune, "Let's get the important stuff out of the way."



Blake opened her mouth.



"Auntie, I-!"



Yoruichi was in front of Blake in an instant, hugging her tightly. She beamed and nuzzled into the top of Blake's head.



"I'm so glad you're safe. You have any idea how worried we've all been about you?! Your mother is still crying herself to sleep every night! But thank God you're safe and away from those monsters."



Blake stammered.



"A-Auntie, I didn't-I mean-They weren't monsters! At-At the start," Blake allowed.



Yoruichi gave Blake a grave expression. She lifted her Scroll and activated the holographic projector. A beautiful tiger Faunus woman in a tanktop and robes was sitting on a throne and smiling. Next to her stood a tall young man with horns and spiky hair, wearing black robes and a mask over his eyes. Blake's eyes widened in horror as the recording began.



"Your daughter is doing well, Ghira and Kali," the woman spoke, a slight smirk on her face, "She serves our mission very well. She is in excellent health. She will continue to do so as long as you abide by our agreement." The tiger Faunus' smirk grew just a bit.



"Have no fear. When you are ready to step down, Blake will be more than ready to assume your leadership role... With myself as advisor, and Adam her worthy consort and protector." Sienna gestured to the man. Her smile became outright venomous as Adam nodded.



"We will purge the weakness from Menagerie, and humanity will be where they should be: Under our feet. I look forward to the day I can call you Father and Mother."



Blake's jaw dropped. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. Jaune, unable to think of anything better, put an arm around her shoulders to support her as her knees wobbled.



Yoruichi shut off the Scroll, her face grim.



"They... All... All this time...?" Blake whispered, shaking.



Jaune guided her down to the couch as she trembled. Yoruichi knelt down to look Blake in the eyes and took her hands between hers.



"I've been trying to get in and rescue you for years, Blake," Yoruichi said softly, "But Sienna was trained in my arts too. And with the threat to your life? All I could do was keep an eye on you. If I could have gotten you out, I would have... I am so sorry, Blake."



Blake cried. She cried ugly, and loudly. Jaune, again bereft of ideas, pulled her into a hug. She sobbed into his chest, her shoulders shaking. He awkwardly patted her on the back, trying to sooth her.



"It's okay... It's okay," Jaune whispered.



It took her some time to pull herself together, but Blake managed it. Her eyes were red, and she was still sniffling, but she managed to face Yoruichi.



"No... I-I'm sorry," she whispered, "I-I was so stupid...!"



Yoruichi smiled and squeezed Blake's hand.



"We all are when we're young," Yoruichi said back, "But wisdom is acknowledging it, and striving to do better."



Blake nodded slowly. She sucked in a few calming breaths. She looked up at Jaune and flushed, before glancing away.



"Th-Thank you," she mumbled. Jaune smiled and shrugged awkwardly.



"I uh... It's okay," he said, "It's what you needed."



Yoruichi smiled.



"So... I take it Ozpin let you in?"



Blake nodded.



"He-He said he would offer me sanctuary... A chance to start over. He... Has he told my parents?"



"Yes," Yoruichi said, "But they wanted me to make sure you were all right. And that you were happy. Are you happy, Blake?"



Blake was silent, considering. She took another deep breath.



"I am," she said, "Happier than I was. Adam though-"



"We'll deal with him," Yoruichi said firmly, squeezing Blake's hands between hers. "He's dangerous, yes, but we will stand up to him."



Blake slowly nodded. Yoruichi smiled.



"So... Would you like to talk to your parents now?"



Blake's ears flattened against her skull. She slowly shook her head.



"I... I can't. Not right now," she said quietly.



"They will forgive you," Yoruichi encouraged, "They love you."



"That's what I'm afraid of," Blake muttered. Yoruichi sighed then shrugged.



"Well, it is up to you. I will just tell them you're all right," she said. She then smirked devilishly. "And that you have a handsome human boyfriend."



Jaune's eyes widened.



"Wait what?!" Jaune yelped. Yoruichi glared, a knife suddenly appearing in her hand. A knife she now had pointed at Jaune's throat.



"She is the princess of Menagerie, after all. No man should be so familiar with her unless he's seeking marriage."



Jaune gaped.



"N-No, I mean, we're friends-sort of-I'm just-!"



Blake took his hand and nodded frantically.



"Y-Yes! He's my boyfriend!" She babbled.



Jaune's eyes widened.



"Wha-?!"



"In fact, we're engaged!" Blake cried again.



"Blake, wha-!"



"I'M PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD!" Blake blurted out.



Yoruichi pulled her knife away, all smiles.



"Well well! Good for you two! I'll report that to your parents! They'll be thrilled! I'll check up on you from time to time to see how the baby is coming along~! Bye~!"



With that, Yoruichi threw down a smoke bomb. When the fumes cleared, she was long gone. Jaune opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again as he turned to stare at the mortified Blake.



"Blake what in the fu-?!"



"I PANICKED!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Name: Warden Schnee
Allusion: Yukon Cornelius, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Naming Process: Warden means "to watch" or "to guard". It comes from the Old French word wardein, which means "guardian".
Age: 30s-40s
Background: The Schnees were once a family of modest means, until Nicholas Schnee discovered a new process of mining Dust that made him rich overnight. His two children, Warden and Willow, took different paths as their father founded the Schnee Dust Company: Warden went to trade and engineering school and became the top man for mining in the company, while Willow went to university and received training to become an upper class lady. The siblings, however, were inseparable and loved one another very much. With Willow handling the social arena and Warden the no-nonsense chief of operations, the SDC grew into one of the biggest companies in Atlas. However, all was not well. Nicholas died, and Willow's husband, Jacques Schnee, took over as CEO. He and Warden butted heads on almost everything. While Jacques had the backing of the board of directors and Willow (in most things), Warden had the backing of the workers and laborers. Things remained tense between Jacques and Warden: Even more so when Winter, Weiss and Whitley were born. Warden was very protective of his nieces and nephew, and acted as more of a father figure to them than Jacques ever did. At some point during a security breach, Warden was killed by White Fang terrorists. Jacques subsequently took direct control over the mining operations and while his efforts made the SDC into one of the richest companies on Remnant, it also ruined its reputation. Willow always suspected Jacques had something to do with Warden's death, but could never prove it.
Race: Human
Emblem: The Schnee Family Emblem
Weapon: "Lucky Strike" - A Dust Enhanced Pickaxe
Semblance: Schnee Family Semblance "Glyphs"
Allowed Warden to summon Glyphs he could combine with Dust to produce a wide variety of effects for combat, though he mainly used it mining.
Appearance: Tall, broad man with a bushy white beard, white hair, blue eyes. Slim jaw he hid with his beard. Heavily muscled. Scars on his hands and face from a Dust explosion years back.
Outfit: Dark blue coveralls, heavy boots, heavy leather gloves, hardhat. Simple trousers, button up shirt, tie and jacket when casual.
Personality: Stoic and professional, most of the time, but could be very hot blooded and courageous. When angry, was terrifying to behold. Deeply loved his family. Was not particularly concerned with wealth or appearances but did dress properly for public events. Valued his employees very dearly, even got heavily scarred saving several from a Dust explosion in a mine. Hated Jacques and never trusted him. Was said to be able to smell and taste Dust when it was near, and was an exceptional Dust miner and prospector.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Nora and Ren had fled Amity Stadium when the attack began, calling their rocket lockers to get their gear. After that? They had charged into the fight. There was no shortage of enemies to engage, after all.

The library already had several small fires,

"YEEHAH!" Nora cried, bringing Magnhild down on the head of a small Ursa. Ren, as always, covered her, firing Stormflower to take out a few Beowulves flanking them. Several civilians ran by, and Nora cheerfully waved them towards the evacuation route with her hammer.

"That way! No, THAT way! You got it!"

Nora sighed and shook her head and scanned around as the civilians ran. Ren slowly nodded. He reached out to pat her forearm. She smiled and reached out to pat his back. It was reassuring. He didn't need to say anything at times like this.

"Think the VDF will help?" Nora asked, her eyes scanning the skies overhead.

Ren shook his head.

"I don't know. The Atlas fleet left." His eyes widened slightly as he saw a Nevermore fly towards them. Beacon's autoguns were supposed to be firing, but there was no cannon fire to keep the airborne Grimm at bay.

Ren held up his guns and opened fire on it. Nora quickly dashed forward and swung her hammer to deflect a feather it launched. She hit the feather away, as Ren's Dust rounds tore through the Grimm. It fell, dissolving into smoke and dust before it hit the ground.

"KEEP GOING!" Nora shouted at the civilians, who ran as hard as they could.

A platoon of Atlasian drones walked around a corner, their guns raised. They pointed their weapons at the fleeing civilians. Ren scowled.

They're intentionally targeting civilians. Not Hunters, he thought.

"NORA!"

Nora swung around and unleashed a series of grenades at the drones. She aimed them to explode just ahead and above them, targeting their heads. Multiple drones fell back, their sensors and fronts damaged, but the ones behind began to open fire. Nora charged in with the smoke as cover, breaking some Lightning Dust in her fist to charge her Semblance. She swung her hammer down and unleashed her grenades on the first Drone she could hit. The grenades went off and propelled her up into the air. With great practice, she flipped and twisted around as she flew over the heads of the drones.

In unison, the robots pointed their weapons upwards and opened fire. Dust Rounds shot all around her as Nora unleashed another barrage of grenades at the top of her arc. Several drones went up in the explosions as Nora landed behind them. She charged into them, swinging her hammer as hard as she could. Drones went flying as wrecked chunks of metal.

She heard a Grimm snarl behind her. She glanced back over her shoulder-A Beowulf charged.

Ren's Stormflower was going off nearby. She could imagine him charging to try and get a shot off on the Beowulf. Trying to save her, as he always did. She grinned.

Nora knew death. She knew it all too well. She knew it could come at any time and life was cruel. It was why she tried to make the most of life, to have fun and spread joy.

To grin in the face of death, because tears had never done anything for her or Ren. Whether she lived or died, she would refuse to yield to Death and cry in the face of it.

"YEEHAAAAAA!" Nora cheered, pulling up her hammer to fight on!

- - -

Everyone stared at Nora. She sniffled softly, but smiled like the sun.

"Geez Nora," Yang murmured. Nora nodded.

"Which is when Jaune-Jaune and Maya came in," Nora said.

- - -

Jaune couldn't tell if the screams he heard in the distance were from civilians, students, or members of the White Fang. He hoped that most of the screams came from the attacking terrorists getting their just desserts, but that was mostly angry wishful thinking. Everything was a mess, and despite all the time he had spent at Beacon, things had gotten very chaotic with all the damage.

They ducked into a heavily damaged administrative building and ran down a hallway. There weren't any enemies in here but the constant sounds of destruction followed them.

Over those sounds of battle, he was able to hear something very familiar:

Nora screaming.

"May!" Jaune shouted as they scrambled through the ruins of some study rooms, "I hear Nora! Can you see her?"

Jaune almost immediately regretted asking: He was hoping the sniper's sharp eyes or hearing would help zero in on things. She was, after all, a sniper. That required good senses and May had been incredibly on the ball in their fight at the tournament. But they weren't even near a window! What was he thinking? He expected her to tell him off.

Instead, May turned her head and her visible eye began to glow gently. She scanned around and looked right through the solid wall to their left.

"There!" She pointed. Jaune had a few questions but they could be solved properly with some violence. He charged and smashed through the wall, bashing a large hole through the wall. He could see Nora all right, on the promenade around the library. She was battling some drones. A Beowulf charged her from behind. She turned to swing her hammer at the monster, but even from this distance Jaune could tell she wouldn't make it in time.

"MAY!" Jaune shouted. May raised her rifle as Jaune moved to the side. She locked on and pulled the trigger. The Dust round shot through the air and pierced the Grimm through its head. It dissolved into dust, as Nora swung around. The bombastic orangette turned and grinned as she spotted them.

"JAUNE-JAUNE!"

Jaune and May headed across the promenade towards Nora. Several Beowulves raced around a corner, snarling.

The first was a scout, Jaune reasoned, May can't fire on the move…!

Ren's Stormflower rang out, and several of the Beowulves fell. Nora charged to meet them, swinging her hammer and unleashing several grenades. More Grimm fell to the blasts, but a few raced through and zeroed in on May. Jaune stopped and stepped in front of May. He swung his sword, slicing the first lunging Grimm's head in half. Another tried to flank him, but he bashed it in the head with his shield and sent it flying.

Nora charged past Jaune's right side and swung her hammer down, unleashing another blast against a pair of Beowulves, reducing them to ash. Ren appeared out of the smoke, taking Jaune's left side and unleashing more fire on the Grimm.

"Great to see you!" Nora shouted happily, swinging her hammer around to punt a Grimm up and away.

"Getting to the tower is going to be difficult," Ren said, "There's a lot of Grimm and White Fang concentrated around this route."

Jaune nodded and glanced at May, who was staying behind him and taking shots at Grimm.

"Can you find us a way, May?" Jaune shouted over the gunfire. May bit her lower lip, and her eyes began to glow once more. She scanned around, as Jaune gutted a Beowulf that got through Ren and Nora's attacks.

"There!" She cried, "Back towards the Elphaba Courtyard! We could try that way! We would need to cut through the library!"

"Wait, what?!" Nora shouted, punching a Grimm out while swinging her hammer through another, "Do you have future sight?!"

"Um, uh, I can see Aura. M-My Semblance is Aura Vision!" May quickly explained.

- - -

"That's a hell of a Semblance," Yang observed. May slowly nodded, having recovered her composure somewhat. May sighed.

"Y-Yeah… I can see people's Souls and…" She bowed her head.

"I can see when they…"

Ruby tightened her hug around her fellow sniper. May sniffled. Yang's face fell.

To see people's souls leave their bodies? To see the moment they die?

God… I can't even imagine that. I don't think I want to.

"Anyway," Jaune said gently, "This is when we… We found you. With Blake."

Yang sucked in a deep breath. Everyone looked over at her. She shrugged as her eyes went down to the coffee table.

"I was in my dorm, under house arrest still," Yang muttered. "I tried to find my team. I fought through some Grimm. I got to the library. I saw that… That Adam guy standing over Blake."

She paused again, a flash of pain going through her artificial arm.

"I charged… Then I…"

She reached over and squeezed her artificial forearm. She clenched her synthetic fist and took another deep breath.

Ruby squeezed her hand again. She could feel Jaune's hand rest on her forearm. She looked up into Jaune's eyes. He had nothing but empathy in his expression, a heartbreaking understanding.

Yang took a few deep breaths to calm down.

God…

"I… I passed out when he…" A heavy silence fell, as the logs in the fireplace crackled.

"Maybe we could take a break?" Neptune suggested quietly. Yang slowly shook her head.

"No. No, we keep going," she stated. "Jaune?"

Jaune nodded back, his face grim.

"Right. Anyway, we tried to figure out a way to get to Pyrrha…"

- - -

Another Grimm charged through the melee, snarling. Ren stepped forward and thrust his open palm out. A flash of Pink Aura erupted from his hand and knocked the Grimm towards Jaune. Jaune swung his sword through the Grimm, cutting it in half.

Nora pouted, kicking a Beowulf in the face and sending it flying.

"Awww! I wanted to meet someone who could see the future!"

"That would just spoil everything," Ren deadpanned. Nora beamed, firing off a few grenades at a few more Grimm trying to come around the corner. They exploded from the force of the explosions, as Ren fired more rounds to take out the survivors.

"You're right Renny! Welcome aboard, May-May! We're gonna save Pyrrha!"

"Absolutely!" Jaune stated. "Nora! May! Which way?"

May pointed towards the furthest door of the library, parts of the building on fire. Well, nothing for it. Jaune nodded. He rummaged through his packs and tossed Ren some spare clips.

"MOVE! Ren! Give us cover!"

Nodding gratefully, Ren swapped out the clips and fired a barrage. May and Nora rushed behind Jaune and Ren, heading into the library. Ren went next, still firing, while Jaune brought up the rear with his shield and sword up. They made it through the door into the library. The tall windows were broken, furniture was broken and books were in piles all over the place. May had come to a stop in the middle of the library, scanning around, while Nora had charged ahead to the other side of the reading room, looking around.

"Lotta bad guys this way, Jaune-Jaune!" Nora said.

"Agreed," May said with a wince, "A lot of White Fang, Grimm and…"

She looked over at the door into another reading room. She narrowed her eyes to focus.

"Someone's in there!" She cried. "Two people! I-I think one is Injured!"

Jaune headed in, his sword and shield ready. Ren followed, Stormflower at the ready. Nora maintained cover to their rear as May lifted her rifle up, both Huntresses following into the reading room.

The first thing Jaune noticed was a shock of blonde hair on the floor. His heart clenched as he made out Yang's fallen form on the floor and ice seemed to drop into his stomach. There was a pool of blood underneath her. Her face was pale and her eyes were closed.

No… Oh God, please, no…!

He wasn't as close to Yang as he was to Ruby, but to see her on the ground like this? Missing an arm?

A familiar black and white clad girl was kneeling by Yang, trying to wrap up her arm with torn strips of fabric she'd gotten from the curtains. She looked up in alarm, her breathing labored and blood dripping from her lips.

"Jaune?" She gasped.

"Blake?!"

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The poster says you shouldn't take this too seriously, and you take it too seriously. Freaking nerds, all of you.

That said, however...

- - -

Jaune Arc checked the address. He looked at the apartment building that had definitely seen better days. He checked the address again. He shook his head.

He walked up to the door, and knocked on it. He waited.

The door opened a crack.

"H-Hey, so, um, the rent's gonna be a little late and I know you're angry but-"

"Ruby?" Jaune asked. The door fully opened. The girl's silver eyes widened. She was in nothing but her panties and what looked like her old uniform shirt from Beacon-Which had been patched several times.

"Jaune?!" Ruby gasped. Her face brightened, and she hugged him. "JAUNE!"

He hugged her back tightly, laughing. He swung her around. He then set her back down. Ruby pouted up at him.

"You keep getting taller! It's not fair!"

"Sorry, it's how it works," Jaune said with a shrug. Ruby beamed.

"What brought you here?"

"Oh, well, uh, my sister Lilac is finally getting married and I wanted to invite you all," he said, "I couldn't seem to find your Scroll number anymore, so I tracked you down."

"Ruby? Who is it?" Yang's voice echoed from inside. "If it's the landlady, I'll handle it! What's one more concussion to her-?"

She came around the corner and gaped. She too was in very little.

"J-Jaune!" Yang gasped happily. Jaune waved, keeping his eyes on her forehead.

"Hey Yang!"

"Jaune?!" Weiss gasped. She poked her head around the corner. Her eyes widened. She then sped up to him, dressed in a house dress that had seen far better days. "Please! Come in! Don't mind the mess! Or our state of dress! Have some tea!"

"Hey Weiss! I uh, sure, no problem...?" Jaune managed. He took in the state of their dwelling with a growing sense of disbelief every step he took. Spartan was a good word for it. Cluttered as well: Pieces of weapons, mending or drying clothes, and endless job applications. It was amazing how it seemed so barebones and so messy at the same time.

Blake was outside on the cluttered balcony, sunning herself in her bra and panties. Weiss scowled at her.

"Blake! We have a visitor!"

Blake rolled over and paid Jaune with an intense stare.

"Jaune?" She gasped.

"Ah, hey," Jaune said with a smile as Weiss set him down at their ragged table. Blake got up and pulled on her yukata-Which had also seen better days.

"What are you doing here? N-Not that it's not nice to see you, and all," Blake managed.

"It's amazing you know his name," Yang snarked, "Given how little you talked to him since we met."

"It's amazing you treat him nicely, given how you barely acknowledged his existence, too," Blake growled back. The two began to bicker as Weiss brought over some tea and Ruby sat with Jaune.

"They broke up, it was messy," Ruby confided in him. Jaune slowly nodded, and took tea from Weiss with a strained, polite smile.

"Ah. Thank you, Weiss."

"Anything for you, Jaune," Weiss said with a smile.

Jaune sipped the tea and hid his grimace-He'd had to endure his sister's experiments in tea for a long time, after all. An ironing board fell out of the wall, which Ruby caught just in time before it brained him.

"Ah, sorry!" Ruby said, shoving it back into place, "You okay?"

"Yeah, just fine," Jaune said with a smile. "I uh... So..." He looked around, "This... Doesn't seem like where I expected you all to be."

Blake and Yang paused in their fighting. Ruby's smile became very brittle. Blake coughed.

"Ah, well... I mean, with the Grimm vanishing and all... And my parents being voted out of office for gross incompetence..." Blake shrugged.

"What a shocker that was," Weiss snarked. Blake glared death at the Schnee heiress.

"Like you can talk! Your father's entire empire collapsed overnight and left you nothing!"

"Well-I-You-!" Weiss sputtered before she huffed.

"At the very least, we're not Yang and Ruby!"

"HEY!" Yang and Ruby growled.

"So what if he's a deadbeat?!" Yang demanded. "He wasn't pure evil OR a politician!"

"And I'm sure he's totally happy with that rich heiress who won't get bored of him when she gets out of her DILF fetish!" Weiss sneered.

"Why you-!"

Ruby cleared her throat. Very loudly. Yang and Weiss stopped but kept glaring at each other. Blake was also angry but kept silent.

"So... How are things with you?" Ruby managed with forced cheer.

Jaune sipped his tea and debated internally about how to break this... And decided to be tactful.

"I'm good. I'm almost finished with medical school, and my mom's got a residency lined up for me at our hospital," he said.

Four pairs of eyes all looked intently at him.

"You-You're a doctor?" Weiss sputtered.

"Well um, I got into medical school before I ran off to Beacon," Jaune said, "Pretty sure I mentioned it a few times?"

Blank stares. Even on Ruby. Jaune sighed.

Well, it's not like I remember everything they told me about their lives, right?

"But I wanted to be a Huntsman so bad... But uh, yeah. My Semblance makes it pretty easy, too. I've been staying at the family farm while I studied and I've also been working at the brewery."

"You... Your family owns a brewery?" Yang asked. Jaune nodded.

"Yeah. A big one. We expanded it along with the farm last year..."

"Oh... That... That's great, Jaune," Ruby said with a smile, "That's super great! Good for you!"

"Very," Blake muttered, staring at Jaune with a strange expression. Yang blinked rapidly, then looked to the side.

"So uh..."

"Um..."

"Er..."

Jaune looked at all the girls. He really did care for them, honest! Even after everything. How could you not be fond of the people you saved the world with?

"Right, well," Jaune coughed, "Like I said, I'm inviting you all to my sister's wedding." He held out the invitations. Each girl took one.

"Oh, wonderful," Weiss sighed, "I got to work a wedding once! I got to take home some of the cake leftovers... Er... Um..." Her eyes dipped.

"Least you got to keep your leftovers," Yang grumbled. "I came out of a cake at a bachelor party. Couldn't keep anything..."

Silence fell. The ironing board fell onto his head. Naturally, his Aura protected him. But as the ironing board had none, it snapped in two and fell to the floor.

"Oh no!" Ruby cried, falling to her knees. "I'm so sorry Jaune-Oh no! How do I fix this?!"

"We could steal the neighbor's ironing board," Blake suggested.

"They added more pitbulls," Weiss whined.

"And those bites hurt," Yang groaned.

Jaune finally came to a decision.

"You know what? There's a cottage on our land," he said, "That you all can stay in, since we've got so many guests in the house. It's small, but it has four bedrooms. You all can stay."

Four pairs of eyes again stared at him. Jaune smiled.

"I mean, you girls really could use a vacation, with how hard you've been working," he said, "And uh, you'll have to clean it and maintain it. And maybe do some chores around the farm. But other than that? You'd be fine to stay while you... You figure things out."

"We-We wouldn't want to impose," Weiss said, her manners coming into play, "Or be a-a burden-"

"Do you have hot water?" Yang asked, direct as always. Jaune nodded. Yang cheered. "YES! We're in! Um, for the wedding! N-Not that-I mean, work will just have to get along without us!"

"Weddings are more importan than our careers after all!" Blake nodded furiously. "We-We can help with that too!"

"Only if you want," Jaune said with a smile, "You're my guests, after all."

"Absolutely!" Weiss gushed. "I love weddings! Do you think I can keep leftovers?"

"All you like," Jaune said with a nod.

Ruby hugged Jaune tightly. She sniffled.

"Thank you," she whispered into his ear, "Thank you...!"

Jaune patted her on the back with a smile.

"Hey... We world-saving heroes have to stick together, right?"

After all, they were his friends. They'd been there for him in his darkest hours.

... Well okay, Nora and Ren had been there for him in his darkest hours. And sometimes Ruby and Yang. Once Weiss... Never Blake... But the point was, they were his friends, and he was definitely not going to let them stay in a ratty apartment if he could help it. Heck, being here with them like this? It felt like old times.

If he had to massage the truth a little to let them keep their pride? He would do it. It was worth it.

There was a very insistent knock at the door. The eyes of all four girls widened.

"Crap, it's the landlady!" Yang hissed.

"Out the back window!" Blake wailed. "Take everything you can carry!"

"Don't forget the coupons!" Ruby cried. "Or my tools!"

Yup. Definitely just like old times.

- - -

Titanmaster_117 Just a fun little continuation if you'd like to expand on the idea. It would be pure crack and silliness but hey, that is the original premise you went with and I hope I kept the spirit of the piece.

Click to shrink...

They made it to Jaune's car. Which Ruby goggled at for a bit.

"It's a... Truck?" Ruby asked in disbelief. It was a large, four door pickup truck: Dark blue and white coloring. The Weyland Motors badge was proudly displayed on the nose of the mighty mechanical beast, underneath some heavy bullbars.

Jaune grinned and shrugged.

"My parents helped me to buy it when I graduated. And hey, it works very well right now doesn't it?"

The huge pile of belongings they tossed into the truck bed was answer enough. Jaune slid into the driver's seat while the rest of RWBY clambered in.

"I called shotgun!" Ruby protested, struggling with Yang.

"I'm the oldest! I call it!" Yang growled.

"I-I secretly called it!" Weiss shouted, struggling weakly to pull one of the two sisters out.

Blake, not caring, just took the backseat.

A shotgun blast went over the top of the truck. Everyone looked back to see a very angry woman in a bathrobe, hair curlers, and wielding a shotgun shake her fist at them.

"YOU LYING NO GOOD CHEAPSKATES! WHEN I GET DONE WITH YOU I'LL-!"

"Okay, I'm fine with being in the back!" Ruby declared, appearing in the back with her Semblance. Weiss sat down with her while Yang settled into the front. Jaune turned the key and put the truck into gear. He floored it and raced off, the landlady firing off a few more shots at them but thankfully missing each time.

"Did... Did she set it to miss?" Jaune asked as he pulled out onto the freeway. Blake shrugged.

"She's a little blind in one eye."

"Oh, poor thing," Jaune sighed.

A pause.

"Are we going to have to drive the whole way to Radian kneedeep in rose petals?" Weiss asked tiredly.

"Why are you complaining?!" Ruby demanded.

"It's just a bit much, okay?!"

"I got used to it," Yang shrugged.

Blake was batting at some of the petals with a broad smile.

"I'm having a great time," she said. "Can we stop for tuna?"

Jaune burst out laughing. All the girls turned and stared at him. Yang reached out her hand to rest it on his shoulder.

"Are... Are you okay, Jaune?"

The blond young man grinned.

"Oh... Nothing. I just missed you guys."

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

They made it to Jaune's car. Which Ruby goggled at for a bit.

"It's a... Truck?" Ruby asked in disbelief. It was a large, four door pickup truck: Dark blue and white coloring. The Weyland Motors badge was proudly displayed on the nose of the mighty mechanical beast, underneath some heavy bullbars.

Jaune grinned and shrugged.

"My parents helped me to buy it when I graduated. And hey, it works very well right now doesn't it?"

The huge pile of belongings they tossed into the truck bed was answer enough. Jaune slid into the driver's seat while the rest of RWBY clambered in.

"I called shotgun!" Ruby protested, struggling with Yang.

"I'm the oldest! I call it!" Yang growled.

"I-I secretly called it!" Weiss shouted, struggling weakly to pull one of the two sisters out.

Blake, not caring, just took the backseat.

A shotgun blast went over the top of the truck. Everyone looked back to see a very angry woman in a bathrobe, hair curlers, and wielding a shotgun shake her fist at them.

"YOU LYING NO GOOD CHEAPSKATES! WHEN I GET DONE WITH YOU I'LL-!"

"Okay, I'm fine with being in the back!" Ruby declared, appearing in the back with her Semblance. Weiss sat down with her while Yang settled into the front. Jaune turned the key and put the truck into gear. He floored it and raced off, the landlady firing off a few more shots at them but thankfully missing each time.

"Did... Did she set it to miss?" Jaune asked as he pulled out onto the freeway. Blake shrugged.

"She's a little blind in one eye."

"Oh, poor thing," Jaune sighed.

A pause.

"Are we going to have to drive the whole way to Radian kneedeep in rose petals?" Weiss asked tiredly.

"Why are you complaining?!" Ruby demanded.

"It's just a bit much, okay?!"

"I got used to it," Yang shrugged.

Blake was batting at some of the petals with a broad smile.

"I'm having a great time," she said. "Can we stop for tuna?"

Jaune burst out laughing. All the girls turned and stared at him. Yang reached out her hand to rest it on his shoulder.

"Are... Are you okay, Jaune?"

The blond young man grinned.

"Oh... Nothing. I just missed you guys."

- - -

Click to shrink...

These should probably be one chapter but oh well...

- - -

They drove from Vale on the new highway up towards Gallia, the sub-kingdom Radian was in. After the war, with the diminishing numbers of Grimm, construction was massively easier across all of Remnant and new areas opened up for resource exploitation and colonization.

Everywhere they looked along the journey was contruction: Building new homes, new businesses, new lives for people everywhere.

"HEY BUDDY MOVE IT!"

Jaune sighed and rolled down the window of the truck. He poked his head out to stare at the motorist shaking his fist and honking his horn at him in a red sportscar. One vehicle amid hundreds all now moving like snails on the highway.

"I can't! It's a jam!" He shouted back.

"YOU COULD MOVE UP A FOOT!"

"I'm not moving up a foot! A foot is nothing!" Jaune argued back.

"IT'S A FOOT CLOSER TO MY DESTINATION!"

Jaune sighed and pulled his head back. He rolled the window back up.

"This sucks!" Ruby groaned, glaring at the miles of cars ahead of them, "There are five lanes, how are they all jammed?!"

"According to Jaune's Scroll," Weiss reported, scrolling through data on the communications device, "A construction crane stalled and caused some accidents several miles ahead."

"Great," Ruby sighed. She grabbed the Scroll. "I wanna game!"

"No! No! I'm looking into dresses for the wedding!" Weiss insisted. "W-We need to look our best for Jaune...'s sister's wedding!"

"There's a dress shop in Radian," Jaune said with a smile, "And my sisters have a LOT of old dresses, believe me. We'll find you all something great, I promise."

Weiss blushed and smiled warmly.

"I-Thank you Jaune," she said.

"Yeah," Ruby nodded.

"Completely," Yang added.

Blake was trying to sleep.

Ruby pulled on the Scroll again.

"I want to game! It's been months!"

"NO! I'm going to look up the dress shop in Radian!" Weiss growled.

"You can WAIT! I need some stimulation!" Ruby whined. "This is soooo boring!"

"At least it's not aggravating like listening to you whine!" Weiss seethed.

Jaune sighed, reached back, and took his Scroll back. He looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

"Guys? Just share it," he said, "It's okay."

"Besides, he can't exactly turn this thing around and go home," Yang joked. Ruby and Weiss flushed.

"Ahem," Weiss managed, "Sorry Jaune... And Ruby. I guess."

"Hmph!" Ruby huffed. She sighed heavily. "Sorry Jaune. Sorry Weiss."

"It's fine," Jaune nodded, "It's been an exciting day."

He handed the Scroll back and the two friends began to scroll on the device in peace. Jaune looked over at Yang, who shot him a strange little smile.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing," Yang said softly. Jaune blinked, then mentally shrugged as he looked back out the windscreen. Still a sea of slowly moving cars as far as the eye could see, sadly.

The guy behind them honked more loudly. Jaune rolled his eyes.

"Want me to shut him up?" Yang asked with a grin and wink. She held up her fists. Jaune shook his head.

"No. He's just blowing off steam," he shrugged. "Not like he can hurt us or anything."

The horn got louder. Blake grumbled and opened her eyes.

"Idiot," Blake hissed. She opened the window and looked back out at the driver. "Hey! Knock it off! We're all stuck!"

"Stuff it, you cat bitch!" He shouted back.

Jaune growled. Yang's eyes flashed red. Weiss and Ruby scowled.

"HEY! That's racist!" Blake shouted. "Are you anti-Faunus?!"

The man pulled his hat off, revealing dog ears.

"NO! I hate Cat Faunus!"

Blake gasped and then growled.

"You only hate us because we're better than you in every way, you flea bitten mongrel!"

"Uptight feline cunt!"

"TOILET WATER GUZZLER!"

"SAND BOX SHITTER!"

"Okay, that's enough!" Ruby said worriedly, pulling Blake back in. Yang helpfully rolled the window back up, reaching over Jaune's lap to the controls. Jaune coughed.

Weiss smirked a bit.

"Well, well, well... I suppose stereotypes are fine when a Faunus does it?" She snarked.

"NO!" Blake growled. "It's not a stereotype if it's true! Dog Faunus are all bastards! And they're just jealous of us! It's not racism when Faunus do it to other Faunus!"

"I can't imagine how your parents ever lost their election," Weiss drawled. Blake growled.

"I can't imagine how your dad lost his fortune!"

"You little-!"

Ruby winced. Yang turned, reached back and shoved them apart.

"Will you two quit it already?!" She demanded. "It's gonna be a long enough drive as it is!"

"You'd take her side!" Blake sniffed. "You're a dog lover!"

"I'm taking the side that's NOT MAKING EVERYONE MISERABLE!"

Jaune checked the clock and the fading light. The sun was already going down behind the Albus mountains. He sighed heavily.

"Hey," he said, "We're near the exit for Edge. How about we stop there at a hotel and resume the trip tomorrow? The wedding's in ten days after all."

"Sounds GREAT!" Ruby insisted with a strained smile.

"Yes, just fine," Weiss muttered, scowling at Blake. Blake scowled back at her and Yang, but nodded. Yang pulled back and sighed, nodding in agreement.

"Sounds good to me..."

They inched their way to the exit, the dog Faunus in the red sportscar honking the whole way. Jaune sighed in relief as they got into turning distance.

"Finally," he muttered. "Okay, here we go-"

"Just one second~," Weiss chirped. She opened the window and sent off a Glyph which hit the sportscar. It sputtered to a halt and died. The Dog Faunus driver gaped.

"WHAT THE-YOU LITTLE-CAT LOVING-BITCHES-!"

Jaune gaped at this utter abuse of power. Weiss pulled back and smirked.

"Now we can go," she said. Blake smirked.

"Well... Thank you for that."

"I didn't do it for you!" Weiss sniffed, "I did it because he's an annoying cad! No manners whatsoever!"

Jaune put on the gas and prayed the guy didn't have a dashcam. He sighed.

"This is like that time at Tin Town," he muttered.

"Come on," Yang laughed, "This is nothing like Tin Town! Nothing's on fire!"

The sportscar burst into flames behind them. The Dog Faunus man got out and yelped wildly.

Jaune's jaw dropped. Ruby's smile became even more strained.

"Gun it!" She cried.

Jaune complied all too eagerly.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

These should probably be one chapter but oh well...

- - -

They drove from Vale on the new highway up towards Gallia, the sub-kingdom Radian was in. After the war, with the diminishing numbers of Grimm, construction was massively easier across all of Remnant and new areas opened up for resource exploitation and colonization.

Everywhere they looked along the journey was contruction: Building new homes, new businesses, new lives for people everywhere.

"HEY BUDDY MOVE IT!"

Jaune sighed and rolled down the window of the truck. He poked his head out to stare at the motorist shaking his fist and honking his horn at him in a red sportscar. One vehicle amid hundreds all now moving like snails on the highway.

"I can't! It's a jam!" He shouted back.

"YOU COULD MOVE UP A FOOT!"

"I'm not moving up a foot! A foot is nothing!" Jaune argued back.

"IT'S A FOOT CLOSER TO MY DESTINATION!"

Jaune sighed and pulled his head back. He rolled the window back up.

"This sucks!" Ruby groaned, glaring at the miles of cars ahead of them, "There are five lanes, how are they all jammed?!"

"According to Jaune's Scroll," Weiss reported, scrolling through data on the communications device, "A construction crane stalled and caused some accidents several miles ahead."

"Great," Ruby sighed. She grabbed the Scroll. "I wanna game!"

"No! No! I'm looking into dresses for the wedding!" Weiss insisted. "W-We need to look our best for Jaune...'s sister's wedding!"

"There's a dress shop in Radian," Jaune said with a smile, "And my sisters have a LOT of old dresses, believe me. We'll find you all something great, I promise."

Weiss blushed and smiled warmly.

"I-Thank you Jaune," she said.

"Yeah," Ruby nodded.

"Completely," Yang added.

Blake was trying to sleep.

Ruby pulled on the Scroll again.

"I want to game! It's been months!"

"NO! I'm going to look up the dress shop in Radian!" Weiss growled.

"You can WAIT! I need some stimulation!" Ruby whined. "This is soooo boring!"

"At least it's not aggravating like listening to you whine!" Weiss seethed.

Jaune sighed, reached back, and took his Scroll back. He looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

"Guys? Just share it," he said, "It's okay."

"Besides, he can't exactly turn this thing around and go home," Yang joked. Ruby and Weiss flushed.

"Ahem," Weiss managed, "Sorry Jaune... And Ruby. I guess."

"Hmph!" Ruby huffed. She sighed heavily. "Sorry Jaune. Sorry Weiss."

"It's fine," Jaune nodded, "It's been an exciting day."

He handed the Scroll back and the two friends began to scroll on the device in peace. Jaune looked over at Yang, who shot him a strange little smile.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing," Yang said softly. Jaune blinked, then mentally shrugged as he looked back out the windscreen. Still a sea of slowly moving cars as far as the eye could see, sadly.

The guy behind them honked more loudly. Jaune rolled his eyes.

"Want me to shut him up?" Yang asked with a grin and wink. She held up her fists. Jaune shook his head.

"No. He's just blowing off steam," he shrugged. "Not like he can hurt us or anything."

The horn got louder. Blake grumbled and opened her eyes.

"Idiot," Blake hissed. She opened the window and looked back out at the driver. "Hey! Knock it off! We're all stuck!"

"Stuff it, you cat bitch!" He shouted back.

Jaune growled. Yang's eyes flashed red. Weiss and Ruby scowled.

"HEY! That's racist!" Blake shouted. "Are you anti-Faunus?!"

The man pulled his hat off, revealing dog ears.

"NO! I hate Cat Faunus!"

Blake gasped and then growled.

"You only hate us because we're better than you in every way, you flea bitten mongrel!"

"Uptight feline cunt!"

"TOILET WATER GUZZLER!"

"SAND BOX SHITTER!"

"Okay, that's enough!" Ruby said worriedly, pulling Blake back in. Yang helpfully rolled the window back up, reaching over Jaune's lap to the controls. Jaune coughed.

Weiss smirked a bit.

"Well, well, well... I suppose stereotypes are fine when a Faunus does it?" She snarked.

"NO!" Blake growled. "It's not a stereotype if it's true! Dog Faunus are all bastards! And they're just jealous of us! It's not racism when Faunus do it to other Faunus!"

"I can't imagine how your parents ever lost their election," Weiss drawled. Blake growled.

"I can't imagine how your dad lost his fortune!"

"You little-!"

Ruby winced. Yang turned, reached back and shoved them apart.

"Will you two quit it already?!" She demanded. "It's gonna be a long enough drive as it is!"

"You'd take her side!" Blake sniffed. "You're a dog lover!"

"I'm taking the side that's NOT MAKING EVERYONE MISERABLE!"

Jaune checked the clock and the fading light. The sun was already going down behind the Albus mountains. He sighed heavily.

"Hey," he said, "We're near the exit for Edge. How about we stop there at a hotel and resume the trip tomorrow? The wedding's in ten days after all."

"Sounds GREAT!" Ruby insisted with a strained smile.

"Yes, just fine," Weiss muttered, scowling at Blake. Blake scowled back at her and Yang, but nodded. Yang pulled back and sighed, nodding in agreement.

"Sounds good to me..."

They inched their way to the exit, the dog Faunus in the red sportscar honking the whole way. Jaune sighed in relief as they got into turning distance.

"Finally," he muttered. "Okay, here we go-"

"Just one second~," Weiss chirped. She opened the window and sent off a Glyph which hit the sportscar. It sputtered to a halt and died. The Dog Faunus driver gaped.

"WHAT THE-YOU LITTLE-CAT LOVING-BITCHES-!"

Jaune gaped at this utter abuse of power. Weiss pulled back and smirked.

"Now we can go," she said. Blake smirked.

"Well... Thank you for that."

"I didn't do it for you!" Weiss sniffed, "I did it because he's an annoying cad! No manners whatsoever!"

Jaune put on the gas and prayed the guy didn't have a dashcam. He sighed.

"This is like that time at Tin Town," he muttered.

"Come on," Yang laughed, "This is nothing like Tin Town! Nothing's on fire!"

The sportscar burst into flames behind them. The Dog Faunus man got out and yelped wildly.

Jaune's jaw dropped. Ruby's smile became even more strained.

"Gun it!" She cried.

Jaune complied all too eagerly.

- - -

Click to shrink...

Okay, so this one is a little more serious...

- - -

They found a hotel an appropriate distance from the highway-Nothing fancy but it was comfortable and clean. Jaune got them two rooms, and left to go grab some dinner for everyone while they sorted out the sleeping arrangements. He sighed as he came back from the local Biggy Burger with bags of food in a cardboard box he'd been given by the nice staff.

"I'll probably just sleep on the floor or something," he chuckled in some amusement. He walked up the stairs to the second floor, the hallways painted a neutral earth color, and headed for their rooms. He heard some chaos and yelling from the first room he'd bought... And so he headed to the second.

"Or maybe I can have a room to myself by locking the door," he muttered, unlocking the door with the card key and opening it up. He walked in, hearing the shower running. In front of the sink and large mirror was Yang, dressed in nothing but a towel while she was combing her hair. She flushed as she looked over at him.

"Oh! Hey Jaune. Sorry, Blake and Weiss were fighting over the shower so Rubes and I decided to come over here. You don't mind?"

"It's fine," Jaune shrugged, keeping his eyes on hers. "I brought dinner."

"Thanks!" Yang grinned. Jaune walked over to a small table and set the food down. Yang resumed brushing her hair... When her artificial hand jerked violently. She yelped. Jaune rushed over to her.

"Yang? You okay?"

"Urgh, I'm fine," Yang grumbled, gripping her artificial hand with a scowl. The brush she was holding had a chunk of blonde curls on it. "Just this stupid arm. Ruby's doing her best to keep it going but well... Uh..."

Jaune nodded. He gently took the brush from her hand. He then began to gently run the brush through her hair. Yang's eyes widened and her cheeks went red.

"J-Jaune, you don't-"

"I did this for my sisters," Jaune said with a small smile, "It's okay."

Yang sighed softly. She relaxed, a soft smile on her face. She seemed to practically purr under his attentions, the brushstrokes melting all the stress away.

It had never failed to make his sisters happy.

Which is why Jaune didn't know what the hell to do when Yang suddenly burst into tears.

"Y-Yang?!" Jaune asked, bewildered and scared. "You okay? Did I pull too hard-?"

He winced.

Stupid question...

"I-I just..." She turned as she sobbed, putting a hand over her eyes, "God... I'm sorry... I..." She hugged him and bawled.

As a man with seven sisters, Jaune did what came naturally when it came to a sobbing girl: He hugged her and stroked her back. He guided her over to the nearby bed, setting them both down.

"Yang... Yang, it's okay..."

"G-God..." She sobbed hard, "J-Jaune...!"

She kept crying. Jaune held her, murmuring soothing sounding noises to her as she pressed her face into his chest.

After a bit, she got herself under control. She wiped her eyes hurriedly with her organic arm, and avoiding looking up at him.

"Jaune, I... I'm sorry," she whispered. "It... It's just... It's been so hard. We tried and tried and... And we just fucked up everything..."

Jaune sighed. He hugged her tightly. She leaned against him, a desperate need for some kind of comfort.

"I-I mean... I thought I could be a bodyguard or-or something... But every asshole wanted to fight us and the insurance made that impossible... Ruby tried running a weapon shop but she just went overboard and bankrupt... Weiss tried accounting, but she just didn't have the people skills and Blake... Fucking Blake..."

She sobbed again, angrily this time.

"Fuck, what was I thinking?!" She hissed. "That was... Was always going to end in a disaster! I was so stupid hooking up with her!"

Jaune sighed and stroked her back soothingly.

"We all made terrible mistakes, Yang," Jaune said, "I mean, I prevented the Afterans from ascending. I had to... To kill Penny..."

His eyes fell onto the floor, the old shames all springing back up again.

Yang sighed and nuzzled his chest.

"Yeah... But you were always the dependable one. The one who got back up and kept going, n-no matter what... We wouldn't have saved the world without you." She snorted. "Hell, Ruby killed herself. I mean, sort of."

"You remember that too? I'm not the only one?" Jaune asked in disbelief. Yang shrugged.

"I-I mean, I think so? That was really weird, right?"

"Totally weird," Jaune agreed. Yang sighed.

"And now we saved the world and... Fuck. We're just a bunch of disasters and screw ups. And you're here to... To save us from our own fuckups again."

"It... Wasn't that bad, right?" Jaune asked with a hopeful smile.

She shuddered.

"I... I was one missed rent check away from... From accepting this guy's offer to..." She trailed off as she shuddered in disgust. She looked to the side, tears in her eyes. Jaune felt a surge of rage, but kept it tamped down as Yang kept mumbling:

"If I was a better big sister... If we weren't just... Just losers... Maybe..."

Jaune, despite himself, tightened his grip around her shoulders protectively. He took a deep breath.

"Hey," Jaune murmured, tilting her head up so she had to look him in the eyes, "You're my friends. I care about you. And I'm going to do anything I can to help you. It's not pity, it's not charity. I care about all of you, and we're going to figure this out." He sighed.

"If it helps? I was pretty lost after we saved the world, too. My family though? They helped me, and I'm doing okay. Sometimes we all need a little help to find our way. From people who love us. And I'm going to do that for all of you, because I love you all."

Yang sniffled again.

"You... You mean it?"

"I do," Jaune said with a nod. "Look, don't worry about anything for now. We're just friends going to my sister's wedding, and having fun. Nothing else needs to be said, or done. I promise."

Yang sniffled again before she hugged him tightly.

"... Sorry I was such a bitch," she mumbled.

"You weren't," Jaune sighed, patting her head. "I promise... I mean, mostly."

"Mostly?" Yang asked, slightly offended. Jaune chuckled and shrugged.

"You did steal my shampoo a few times."

Yang flushed.

"You used the same brand I did," she muttered, "All flowery."

"Floral scents can be manly!" Jaune protested, pretending to be offended. Yang snickered.

"Sure they can... Sure..." She smiled up at him. "You made it so, Mister Rusted Knight."

They smiled warmly at each other.

The door to the bathroom opened. Ruby emerged, drying her hair with a towel.

"H-Hey," she managed, "Um... The food smells great."

"Oh yeah!" Jaune said with a smile, "There's plenty. You should get Weiss and Blake over here, too."

"R-Right," Ruby said with a smile. "I need you to come too, Yang. You should get dressed and I'll fix your arm!"

Yang nodded, blushing a bit before she pulled away and stood up. She smiled warmly at Jaune.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"Don't mention it," Jaune said with a smile.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Over the course of the next few weeks, Doctor Knowall got several visitors. Many of them Huntresses, hoping for some attention. He shut them all down professionally and sent them on their way. They were disappointed, naturally, but he paid it no mind.



He also got a few surprises.



"Doctor?"



He looked up from his studies on White Fang movements to see Cardin Winchester standing in the door way. He was holding his right wrist and wore a grimace.



"Yes, Mister Winchester?" He asked politely.



"I uh... I've been having these pains in my wrist for the last two days," he said.



Out from behind him stepped Velvet Scarlatina. She scowled up at him, her hands on her hips.



"The dummy just refused to go and get it treated," she huffed. Cardin scowled.



"I'm tough! It's gonna go away on its own!"



"Well it hasn't yet!" Velvet insisted, "So you'd better get it looked at!"



Knowall held back a small smile. He gestured to the examination bed, and Cardin walked over to it. The big paladin sat down with a huff, as Velvet stayed by his side. She wore a scowl as Knowall held out his hands and examined Cardin's wrist.



"You're channeling too much Aura through your muscles," Knowall deduced, "Even though it heals and protects you, too much of it can leave your muscles feeling sore. Apply a cold pack, then hot pack, and rest it for a day or two. You'll be fine."



Velvet smiled in triumph. Cardin grumbled but slowly nodded.



"I told you," Velvet murmured.



"Fine," Cardin sighed, "I'll take it easy."



"Good," Knowall nodded, "Also? Focus more on Aura control exercises. I believe Mister Ren is adept at it. You should ask him for pointers."



Cardin grumbled a bit more, but Velvet touched his bicep. He glanced at her then slowly nodded.



"I will, Doctor."



"Good," Knowall stated. He turned away to add some notes into Cardin's file. He heard Velvet and Cardin whisper a bit between themselves. After a few moments, she sighed and kissed his cheek.



"All right. But I'm going to make sure you take care of yourself," she stated firmly. Cardin smiled for a moment before his usual brash expression returned.



"Fine. Just not in front of the guys, okay?"



"Yes in front of the guys!" Velvet argued. "They're just as worried!"



"Hmph," Cardin grunted, "Fine. Now go. I'll catch up."



Velvet smiled and kissed his cheek again. She turned and headed out of the infirmary. Cardin watched her go then looked back to Knowall. He cleared his throat. Knowall raised an eyebrow.



"Yes, Mister Winchester?"



"I..." He shook his head. "Thanks. For-For making me make things up to her. W-We're dating now and uh..." He smiled. "It's amazing. It's like... It's like we just click, you know? I... I feel like a jackass for bullying her. She's really amazing. So thank you, Doctor."



Knowall nodded slowly.



"You're welcome."



"Can I ask a question?" Cardin asked. Knowall shrugged.



"Certainly."



"How did you know?" He asked.



Knowall stared at him. He slowly shook his head.



"I just had a feeling," he said. He smiled wanly.



"Make sure you treasure every moment you have with her, Cardin," he stated, "because it will never come again. Understand?"



Cardin nodded seriously.



"I will, Doctor," he said. He slowly got up and headed out the door. Jaune watched him exit. He closed his eyes.



For a moment he wasn't in Beacon's infirmary. They were in wartorn Vale near the Franklin Kingdom. Artillery was pounding overhead in the makeshift field hospital Jaune had cobbled together. The scent of blood, Dust, and gun oil filled the air, along with the screams of the dying.



On a cot, covered in blood, lay a dying Cardin Winchester. Older, with a scuffy beard and a missing eye, and desperately shoving a locket into his hands.



"Please... My wife and kids," he wheezed, "Tell them I... Tell them...!"



His Aura faded. His soul vanished. His eyes dimmed and he went limp as he let out his last breath. Knowall stood there numbly, stumbling back as the nurses did everything they could for the man... But there was nothing more to be done.



He shakily looked down. He opened the locket. A small hologram emerged, blue and translucent. An older Velvet Scarlatina sat on a couch, smiling with eyes full of love and warmth. Around her were three human/rabbit Faunus hybrids: Two girls and a boy, all smiling broadly for the camera.



Knowall took a deep breath. He closed the locket and shoved it back into his pocket. He was back in Beacon, back in the past.



He still didn't know why he had held onto the locket. By the time he got anywhere near Vale, the city had been left in ruins without a soul alive. The Winchester mansion lay in ashes. He didn't know if Velvet or their kids had survived.



Hell he didn't even know if they would survive this time around.



He clenched his fist around the locket tightly.



"It won't happen again," he swore, "I won't let it happen."



- - -



Jaune Arc had just finished up some training in one of the simulation rooms. Pyrrha had to beg off joining him as she had a meeting with her agent while Nora and Ren were off to have fun. RWBY had gone out into the city for a day trip.



Jaune didn't mind the solitude too much. He loved his friends but every now and again he needed some time to himself.



He got out of the shower and made it to his locker. He dressed then turned around-



"Jaune!"



"GAH!"



Jaune fell back in shock. Blake was standing there, her eyes wide.



"Blake? Wha-This is the boy's locker room!" He whispered, his eyes scanning around frantically, "We're going to get in trouble-!"



"Jaune, listen! I... I need to tell you something," Blake said, her voice thick with restrained emotion.



It only took a moment for Jaune to calm down. Blake was in distress. It had to be important.



"What is it?" He asked quietly.



"I..." She shook her head. "I-I came to say goodbye."



Jaune blinked.



"What?" He asked dumbly.



"I..." She winced. "Weiss... I-I told Weiss that... That I was White Fang. I-I told my team and... And I can't stay here anymore."



Jaune's eyes bugged out.



"What? Blake, I-!"



"I'm sorry I lied!" Blake cried, her voice harsh from holding back a sob, "I-I'm sorry! I was White Fang! I-I did terrible things! I-I don't belong here, all right?! I-I don't deserve your kindness! I don't deserve anything! N-Not until I fix this! Not until I stop them!"



Jaune gaped.



"Blake, I-Wait a-!"



"Goodbye! I... Please forgive me," she whispered. Jaune reached out again.



"I do forgive you-Wait-We can talk this-!"



His arms went through Blake, and she vanished as the shadow clone dissipated. He pulled his hands back with wide eyes.



"Blake. No," he murmured.



His Scroll screamed at him. He picked it up and answered the call from Ruby.



"Jaune! Blake just ran off! It-It's a long story-But can you and your team help us find her? Please?!"



Jaune stared at the place Blake's clone had stood. He slowly nodded.



"We'll be right there."



"Thank you," Ruby sighed in relief, "I'm just... It's a long story. I don't know how much you know but-"



"It doesn't matter," Jaune said firmly, "She's my friend. We're going to find her."



"Yes," Ruby agreed with equal determination, "Yes we will."



- - -

Click to shrink...

It was seldom that Blake Belladonna would ever admit to making a mistake. She wanted to believe they were just setbacks, wrong turns, not full on errors on her part. After all, she was trying to bring justice to the world. She was fighting for her people to be free and equal!



She couldn't afford to make mistakes.



However, she'd started to re-examine that assumption after leaving Adam and the White Fang. With the White Fang she had felt increasingly isolated and alone as she voiced her opinions and desires, and was humored, patronized and ignored. She had felt like she was the only one who had kept sight of their mission: Equality, not domination.



When she'd had enough, she ran away. She found Jaune, and for the first time in a long time? She had felt listened to.

She didn't tell him everything, but she did voice her worries and concerns. He had listened. Even if he couldn't do anything else for her, he had listened and taken her seriously. He had done his best to help her. They had trained together and he had helped her feel safe.

Blake hadn't felt safe in a long time. And for a time, her new team had also made her feel safe. Beacon had felt safe.



So when her team found out she was formally White Fang? That safety was gone. So she had run away again.



She'd run into Sun Wukong, a nice enough Faunus boy. Honestly? Too nice, too flirty. He was confident and sunny, yes, but took nothing seriously. Not as much as she would like. Still, he was kind enough to tell her about a White Fang operation at the docks, and even kinder to fight with her.



She hadn't made a mistake. She was... She was going to fix things. She was going to correct an error. It couldn't be the White Fang at the docks, or if it was? They were taking orders from some human criminal.



Well... As she laid on the hard concrete after taking a powerful hit, her Aura flickering around her, she realized she was half-right.



Roman Torchwick, gentleman thief and gangster, scowled at the tall, hulking reptilian Faunus who swaggered up beside him. He was swinging around a giant monk's spade with Dust-powered flamethrowers attached. He wore only a pair of pants and a White Fang mask around his neck like a collar: He was heavily muscled and covered in scales, bald, with sharp teeth, red eyes, and a long swinging tail behind him.



He was Thanh Qingquong, a gangster and murderer, a Komodo Dragon Faunus... And a former member of the White Fang.



Or so Blake thought.



"Took you long enough," Roman groused, "Kitty-Kat was all over me!"



The reptile Faunus grinned, baring his sharp fangs.



"I had to deal with the monkey whelp," he sneered.



Blake sat up and gasped.



"Sun! What did you do to him-?!"



"Knocked him out," Thanh chuckled, "I'll suck the marrow from his bones soon enough! You though..." He pointed the monk spade at her, "Adam's gonna want you back, kitty." He grinned terribly.



"But not before I get a piece~..."



"You-You can't work for Adam," Blake gasped, "You-You murderer! He banished you! He told me-!"



"He lied, Little Cat," Thanh cackled, "Just to spare his little princess' feelings! How do you like that?"



"But you-you can't work with humans!" Blake growled.



"Said by the cat whoring herself out to humans," Thanh sneered, "I can smell them on you even now. Pathetic."



He stomped over to her. He swung his monk spade down, and she barely rolled out of the way. She got to her feet, unsteady, and unleashed several shots. Thanh ignored the bullets as he charged, swinging wildly. Blake dodged with her incredible agility, but a blast from the flamethrowers forced her to evade in mid-air with a clone.



He twisted his spade upwards, and smacked her across the face. She tumbled through the air and slammed into a crate, smashing it beneath her. She groaned as Thanh stalked over towards her, drooling over his sharp teeth.



"Now... Adam didn't say how to bring you back," he chuckled, leering up and down her body, "But I don't think he'll mind if I have a taste~..."



Blake gritted her teeth. It was... It was all her fault. Everything... She had to get away, she had to...!



Thanh raised his spade over his head, and swung down. Blake tried to move, tried to summon her Aura-



The monk spade clanged loudly against steel. Blake blinked, dumbfounded, as she saw a familiar boy with blond hair and a sword and shield standing in front of her.



"Jaune?!"



"Blake! RUN!" Jaune shouted. He shoved Thanh's spade aside and thrust his blade for his stomach. His sword pierced through, right to the hilt. Jaune looked up in shock. Thanh just smirked, and laughed. He then swung a great arm and backhanded Jaune, so hard he went flying.



"JAUNE!" Blake screamed, as Jaune slammed into some nearby crates with a loud crash. Thanh cackled as the wound healed.



"Another simp trying to help you, huh?" Thanh laughed. "You only attract the weak, just like you..."



She could hear gunfire nearby: Familiar gunfire. Ruby and her friends were storming in, she could hear it. But Thanh was already stalking towards Jaune, twirling his massive weapon around. Blake struggled to her feet and dashed after the brute. She leaped up onto his back and wrapped her arms around his throat. Thanh's tail cracked like a whip, several times, beating Blake on her back as he reached up to grab her. She tried to evade, but a tail whip forced her down and Thanh gripped her arm. He pulled her over and held her up and away from him, laughing at her. She struggled to get free, kicking and punching and biting, but Thanh just kept laughing.



"End of the line, princess!" He snarled. He slammed her to the ground, cratering it under her body. She yowled in pain, and shrieked when he stomped down on her chest. He leered down at her as he reached out for Jaune.



"First, I'm going to eat your little boyfriend," he sneered, "Then? I'll see about you~..."



No... No, please, Blake prayed, please... Someone... Anyone...! PLEASE! Don't let him pay for my mistakes! PLEASE!



Thanh's terrible face leered down at her. He licked his lips, his sharp teeth glistened in the moonlight... And then a fist met the side of his jaw.



His eyes widened in shock. His jaw deformed from the force of the blow. Teeth and blood flew out of his mouth as he was knocked off his feet. He went flying right into a forklift, breaking it in two and making it explode.



Blake stared at the fiery wreck, before slowly looking over at their savior.



Doctor Knowall stood there, cracking his knuckles, his face a stern mask of pure, cold rage.



"Belladonna," he barked, "Look after Arc. I'll handle this."



"Y-Yes sir," Blake managed, too shocked to disobey. She got up and checked on the groaning Jaune as Knowall walked in front of them.



Blake pulled out her Scroll and linked it to Jaune: His Aura was regenerating, and he was conscious. Relief filled her as she squeezed his hand. He opened his eyes and blinked away stars.



"Ugh... You okay, Blake?" He asked.



"Yes," Blake insisted, "How did you-?"



"Heard about White Fang operating here," Jaune wheezed, "Called in everyone to come here when I heard gunfire... I-I'm sorry I couldn't-"



Blake smiled and squeezed his hand, fighting tears.



"There's nothing to apologize for," she whispered.



Thanh burst out of the wreckage, roaring in rage.



"Who has the fucking balls?!"



Knowall eyed him with a bored look, the wind from the ocean making his white coat wave slightly.



"Thanh Qingquong, aka Thanh the Immortal?" Doctor Knowall asked. Thanh sneered.



"That's me!"



"You possess a Regenerative Semblance, correct?" Knowall asked calmly, his sensible shoes making barely any sound as he walked towards him. Thanh cackled.



"YES! I can regenerate from any injury, no matter how severe, little man!"



Elsewhere, she could see the rest of RWBY and JNPR appear, fighting through the White Fang members. She could even see Sun: Unconcious, but being carried by Nora. Relief flooded her.



He's okay... He's okay...



Thanh cackled again and pointed his monk spade at Knowall.



"So you have no chance, little man! No matter what you can throw at me, I'll just keep coming back!"



Knowall nodded.



"Well, that's great news!" Knowall said cheerfully.



"Oh? And why is that?" Thanh sneered. "You happy to die to an immortal, foolish ape?!"



Knowall calmly pulled his labcoat off, and tossed it aside. Weiss caught it, flushing bright red, as Knowall next pulled off his jacket and then unbuttoned his sleeves. He rolled them up, loosened his tie... And grinned the most terrifying smile Blake could ever remember seeing.



"Because I don't have to hold back," Knowall growled, before he lunged.



Blake could admit to making many mistakes. She would deal with that. But it was somewhat comforting to know that Thanh the Immortal had made even worse ones.



- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune approached the infirmary, his heart heavy with dread. While he was not armed, he still felt like he should have girded his loins for battle. Because what awaited him in there was more dangerous than any foe he had yet faced.



His friends were behind him, but only physically. All of them were glaring at his back and pushing him along. He took a deep breath and looked back.



Jaune: "Guys? I am going through with it, promise."



Ruby: "You'd better!"



Jaune: "I will! I promise!"



Nora: "We'll make sure!"



Weiss: "Indeed!"



With a heavy sigh Jaune stepped into the infirmary. Aqua was sitting at the nurse's desk, dressed in a blue maternity dress, and eagerly talking on her Scroll.



Aqua: "Oh yes! Those will look darling! Diamonds? Oh, sure I'm good for it! I just need to take out a loan and-Hello? HELLO?!" She huffed "Must hate children. Oh! Hello Jaune!" beams "What brings you in? Do you need healing?"



Jaune: "No. Aqua, I need to talk to you about your activities."



Aqua: "What activities?"



Jaune: "Well frankly..."



Yang: "You're driving us crazy!"



Jaune's friends all gathered at the door and glared at Aqua. Aqua pressed a hand over her heart.



Aqua: "Me? What have I done?! I'm a single mother in distress!"



Jaune: "Because you ran away from Kazuma! Who would absolutely-"



Aqua: "-R-Reject me! He totally would! He called me the Goddess of Debt! Goddess of Uselessness! I'm doing just fine here as an assistant nurse!"



Jaune: "You bullied Pyrrha into buying things with her credit cards!"



Pyrrha: "It-It's not that big a deal! I mean, they're gifts-!"



Jaune: "What does a baby need with a 10,000 lien liquor cabinet?!"



Aqua: "W-We'll bond over our shared love of spirits!"



Weiss: "You blew the money I gave you at a casino!"



Aqua: "My baby deserves only the finest! I was trying to make more money for him! Or her!"



Blake: "You ate all my tuna!"



Aqua: "Baby has cravings!"



Nora: coldly "You used all my special syrup for your pancakes!"



Aqua: "Which just means my baby has great taste, like you, Auntie Nora?"



Nora: "Hmmm... I'll allow it!"



Ruby: "You pawned my tools!"



Aqua: "I-I just needed to pay off this one little debt-"



Yang: snarls, hair and eyes glowing "YOU WRECKED. MY. BIKE."



Aqua: "H-Honestly, that was more your fault! I'm pregnant! Leaving a motorcycle where anyone might steal it is totally irresponsible!"



Jaune has to hold Yang back.



Jaune: "YANG! PLEASE! SHE DID SAVE YOUR LIFE BY HEALING YOU!"



Yang: snarls "That's why I'm only going to break some bones."



Aqua: "MEEP!"



Jaune: "Yang! Yang, please...? I will make this up to you, promise! Any way you want!"



Yang: "..." sultry smirk "Any way I want, huh~?"



Jaune: "Errrr..."



Pyrrha: "NO JAUNE! YANG! YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY PUMMEL A PREGNANT WOMAN!"



Jaune: "PYRRHA?!"



Pyrrha: blush "I DIDN'T MEAN THAT! SORRY!"



Jaune sighs and walks over to his cowering sister. He pulls her up to her feet and hugs her.



Jaune: "Aqua... Listen. You're my big sister, and I love you."



Aqua: "Really?"



Jaune: nods "But you're being completely unreasonable and you're driving us all crazy."



Aqua: "HEY!"



Jaune: "So I've decided to do the best thing I can for you."



Aqua: "... Convince your harem to send me to that fancy spa I've been eyeing in Mistral?"



Jaune: smile, twitch "Even better... Come on in!"



Kazuma enters with a scowl. Megumin and Darkness follow, with Chomonosuke sitting on Megumin's shoulder.



Aqua: "YOU TOLD THEM I WAS HERE?!"



Jaune: "Yes!"



Kazuma: sighs "Hey Jaune. Honestly? I gotta commend you. Growing up with her couldn't have been easy."



Darkness: "Oh! Hello Jaune! Aqua's told us a lot about you! You're such a sweet, kind boy... But with a hidden rage and sadistic side, clearly! Ooh~! How wonderful to-!"



Kazuma smacks Darkness's chest.



Kazuma: "Knock it off."



Darkness: "Ohh~! So possessive, you brute~!"



Megumin: "We tracked you for leagues and leagues, Aqua! Our journey was epic and perilous! We overcame many dangers, and had to face the darkest parts of our souls to overcome-!"



Kazuma: "We took a public airship. You owe us for the fate, by the way."



Megumin: "Where's the drama in that?!"



Jaune smiles tensely and supports Aqua.



Jaune: "Kazuma, Aqua has something to tell you."



Kazuma: "Pfft. What? You're scamming these people by saying you're pregnant?"



Aqua: "... No... I-I... I am pregnant. With your baby."



Kazuma: "HA! Like I'd ever believe that-!"



Yang: "Um, no, she really is pregnant."



Pyrrha: "Completely!"



Kazuma: "Pfft! Like I'd ever believe-!"



Aqua pulls up her dress and reveals her belly with a scowl. Kazuma stares.



Aqua: "No you idiot! I AM Pregnant, and it IS your baby!" She grabs his hand and sets it on her stomach



Kazuma: "I... I uh... I..."



Darkness: "OH! Kazuma, you brute! Leaving Aqua alone as a single mother after having your way with her... WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT TO ME?!"



Megumin: "You perverted scum!"



Kazuma: "I-There's no way-That's not my kid!"



Aqua: "What?! You think I'm loose?!"



Kazuma: "I-I think I wouldn't believe you if you told me water was wet!"



Aqua: "WELL I AM PREGNANT AND IT IS YOUR BABY, DAMNIT!"



Jaune holds up some test results and hands them over. Kazuma flips through them with wide eyes.



Aqua: "SEE?! WHAT REASON WOULD JAUNE HAVE TO LIE?! He doesn't like me being around any more than you do-!"



Kazuma faints.



Aqua: "AH! KAZUMA!" She drops to her knees and checks his vitals "KAZUMA! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?! SPEAK TO ME!"



Ruby: "Geez... That made him pass out...?"



Kazuma came to. He stared up at Aqua, who had tears in her eyes.



Kazuma: "So... We're... It's our baby...?"



Aqua: "Y-Yes..."



Kazuma: "Our baby?"



Aqua: "Yes... Um..." She looks aside "Y-You know, it's fine. Right? I mean... We barely get along as it is. I-I can just go back to Radian, raise it myself. You-You don't have to worry about us-"



Kazuma hugs her tightly and kisses her.



Aqua: "MMPH?!"



Kazuma: "Mwah... HAHAHAHA! I'M A DAD!" He jumps up and hugs Aqua tightly, swinging her around



Aqua: "EHHHH?! WH-WHAT?!"



Kazuma: "WE'RE GONNA BE PARENTS!" He's all smiles



Aqua: sniffles... Smiles... Laughs "W-WE ARE!"



Kazuma: "YEAH!"



Aqua: "YEAH!"



Kazuma: "Haa... So... Wanna get married?"



Aqua: "I-WHAT?!"



Kazuma: "Married. Right now. There are drive through chapels in Vale."



Aqua: "Buh-But-You-THAT'S HOW YOU PROPOSE?!"



Kazuma: "We can have an actual wedding later. Lalatina's dad owes us all one."



Darkness: blush "M-Making me pay for a wedding to your mistress while I'm your fiance! You-You wonderful brute!"



Megumin: "HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME?!"



Kazuma: "When you're legal. So? How about it, Aqua?"



Aqua: "I... A-Are you sure? I mean, um, we're... Still gonna fight and still gonna have issues-"



Kazuma: "Yeah... But I do love you."



Aqua: gapes "... Really?!"



Kazuma: "Yes. One hundred percent. You saved my life. And... Despite everything... I can't see myself spending the rest of my life with anyone but you three."



Aqua: "..." sobs and hugs him "YES! YES I'LL MARRY YOU!"



Kazuma: "HAHAHA! WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!"



Nora: "CONGRATULATIONS!"



Jaune: "YEAH!"



Aqua: "Anyway... Thanks for everything you guys! You're all invited to the actual wedding when we plan it!" She hugs and kisses every one, before returning to Kazuma's arms "Kazuma, let's rent an airship to take all the baby stuff with us!"



Kazuma: "Does it include a liquor cabinet?"



Aqua: "Yessss...? For when the baby gets older-?"



Kazuma: "No."



Aqua: "But Kazummmmaaaaaaaa-!"



Kazuma: "We'll try to get it as a wedding present. But we won't be too pushy about it."



Aqua: "YAY!" hugs and kisses him "Mmmm... I love you~!"



Kazuma: "I love you... Come on!"



They head out. Ren slowly blinks.



Ren: "... Your family is kind of fucked up, Jaune."



Jaune: sighs "Don't I know it..."



Nora: "Which is why we all get along so well~!"

 

[SharkCultist]

Ruby Rose was not enjoying her current assignment.

On paper it should have been easy, team up with a randomly selected partner and hunt down at least one of the Grimm in the surrounding Forrest.

It got a bit difficult when she was paired with Jaune Arc. He's not a bad guy....at least she thinks he isn't. He doesn't really talk much to anyone outside of his team, heck sometimes people forget he's even there. He blends into the background surprisingly well with that massively oversized hoodie of his.

So communication with her partner is basically zero and to top it off they ran into one of the most annoying Grimm to fight.

A Rafiki. Those damn things aren't even native to vale! Any time she tries to get away to line up a shot the damn baboon zips up to her and smacks her on the head with that bone club it has.

She swears that thing is laughing at her!

Poor Jaune was even worse off he didn't even have a speed semblance he just had to sit there and tank it.

Eventually however it seems like Jaune was ready to make his move. With surprising speed his hand lashed out.

And grabbed her?

Oh hell no she was not going to get betrayed like in the leopard emperor!

"It's time to hyde."

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

A small storm of rose petals picked up before collecting into a copy of Ruby.

Oh this must be his semblance. But it's not that great. The copy is all off.

Burning long red hair with black tips (not a bad look actually) and a sharp (literally) grin the other Ruby didn't even have crescent rose.

"Finally! I was getting so fucking bored of this keep away bullshit!"

She definitely wouldn't say that! She might think it but she definitely wouldn't say it! What the hell is wrong with his semblance?!

Evidently not it's combat power because the other Ruby sped forward using Rubys own speed. Unlike Ruby she started throwing hands with the Grimm.

And winning. Brutally at that. Brothers she didn't know Grimm could beg.

Eventually the Rafiki was nothing but smoke and the other Ruby shattered like glass.

Mission successful. Yay. Gods Ruby could use a shower. But maybe Jaune wasn't that bad.....shit where'd he go?!

---

So different semblance Jaune. Very different. The basis of this idea is jaunes family were a bit more overprotective.

They tried to teach Jaune of how dangerous the world is but kinda went too far. They forgot to tell him about the good in people.

He still wants to be a huntsmen though but he always thinks the worst of people.

He tries to hide away, hence him getting a oversized version of his hoodie. Like a security blanket (size 10x). He's also very quiet. His team is slowly working their way into his heart.

And that's his semblance. It drags out the worst parts of people and gives them a inverted form and personality without changing their semblance.

Jaune called them Hyde.

A few notes. Jaune can only summon one Hyde at once and their aura reserves are his aura reserves so if he's not careful one of them can bring him down to the red.

A Hyde will never willingly go against Jaune but they will always dislike their source.

If a Hyde is defeated Jaune can't summon that specific Hyde again for at least a week.

Jaune needs skin contact to summon a Hyde.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I know this is supposed to be humor, but I genuinely think it wouldn't get off the floor. Yang would explain herself/her plan, and Jaune would basically explain the whole point of the Jaundice Arc—Manhood, and in her case, Womanhood, is not a "thing" that is "decided." It's not any more or less manly to ask for help despite traditional values, and it's not more or less feminine to prefer less traditional/more physical means of entertainment. If anyone can't understand or appreciate that, (or her) they're as much of an idiotic fool he was when he snuck his way into Beacon, nor should they have the right to be someone she confides in. Cue her being flustered.

Click to shrink...

Jaune Arc got up early. It's just what he did: Years as a farmboy had ingrained the habit into him.



It may have also been a combination of a few other things: The responsibility he felt for his team as their leader, the drive to improve so he wouldn't hold them back, wanting to encourage and motivate them by making them breakfast...



And it was kind of fun to see Nora cuddling up to Ren. No matter what, she always found his way into Ren's bed to sleep next to him. He always seemed a lot more relaxed, too.



Also, perhaps teasing Pyrrha a bit over her drooling?



He shook his head.



No... You owe too much to her to do that, he thought.



Well... Maybe a little. Once he made it clear he did respect her. Right? Right.



He headed out into the common room, silently shutting the door behind him. He yawned then... Sniffed. He smelled cooking eggs and bacon. He looked over at their kitchenette and blinked.



A shock of golden hair greeted him, attached to one Yang Xiao-Long. She was in a purple sundress and an apron, with her hair tied back. She was cooking up a storm. She looked up and smiled at him.



"Hey VB! Good morning!" She whispered loudly.



Jaune blinked.



"Uh... Hey Yang," he greeted, walking towards her, "What's the occasion?"



"What occasion? I just felt like getting dressed up and cooking breakfast," she said with a warm smile. Jaune blinked a few more times.



"You're wearing a lot of make up," he pronounced.



"Yeah? ... Does it look good?"



"I mean, yeah," Jaune said with a nod, "Little thick on the eyeliner though and the lipstick is uh... M-Maybe a little too dark?"



He blushed. Okay, up close she was a lot prettier. Honestly, her in a dress and apron was... Wow. He already thought she was a knockout but... Damn!



Yang frowned and paused in her cooking. She pulled out her makeup kit and examined herself in the mirror.



"Yeah, I guess I did go a little heavy on it," she admitted. She looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. "How do you know so much about it?"



"Seven sisters," Jaune deadpanned. Yang's eyes widened in disbelief. He pulled out his Scroll and flipped to the same picture he showed whenever anyone reacted like that: The one of himself with his seven siblings on a couch, and he was holding a sign that read "Help".



Yang snorted in laughter.



"Wow! You're not kidding!" She snickered. Jaune nodded.



"Yeah. Also? Turn your eggs."



"Ah!" Yang grabbed a spatula and turned them over. She looked over at Jaune with a speculative smile.



"So... You're probably a good judge of what's girly and what's not, huh VB?"



"I mean... I guess?" Jaune shrugged. Yang nodded with a beam.



"Then you're perfect!"



"For?"



"Helping me be more feminine, of course," Yang insisted. Jaune blinked a few times.



"What? Why do you need help with that, Yang?" Honestly, he felt like he'd walked into another universe with that statement.



Yang sighed and shrugged. She didn't meet his eyes.



"I, well... What's wrong with wanting to be more feminine?"



"Nothing," Jaune said with a smile, "But it's a little sudden, you know? And I don't think a purse is great for combat class."



"I would have set it down," Yang grumbled. She sighed and looked back at breakfast, flipping some pancakes off the griddle. Jaune dutifully grabbed a plate and caught them all in a stack. Yang raised an eyebrow and grinned.



"Not bad," she said.



"Thanks," Jaune nodded, "So... What brought it on?"



Yang sighed again.



"... It's stupid," she said, "Neptune said I was a tomboy."



Jaune bit back a growl. That freaking guy that Weiss was mooning over?



"And, well..." She shrugged, "I dunno... I wanted to prove him wrong, I guess." She smiled at him. "So! You wanna help me prove him wrong?"



Jaune held her gaze for a time, before he slowly shook his head.



"Yang? Why do you care what he thinks?"



"I... I dunno," Yang muttered, glancing away again. It felt very familiar.



Jaune sighed and flipped through his Scroll. He held it up to her. Yang stared... And snickered in disbelief.



"I-What?! You're in a dress?!"



"Yup," Jaune said with a nod, "Seven sisters and I was their dress up doll. I also did plenty of sewing, cooking, and other 'girly' stuff."



He flipped through a few more pictures.



"I also helped my dad fix the tractor, put in fence posts, and wrangle livestock," he stated. Yang flushed. Jaune frowned in confusion and glanced at the photo: What was the big deal? He had lost his shirt wrestling that pig in the mud. What was embarrassing about that?



"I guess that, well, what I'm trying to say is: If you want to dress up, cook, and all that? That's great," Jaune said with a smile, "And if you want to be a bruiser with a bike? That's even better. You clearly know how to dress and cook and take care of Ruby."



"I..." Yang looked at him curiously, "How much did she-?"



"A lot," Jaune said with a nod, "It couldn't have been easy."



Yang sucked in a tight breath and glanced out the window for a moment. She returned her gaze back to the food cooking on the stove.



"It... It wasn't," she whispered.



"But that's how I know," Jaune said with a smile, "That you'll be a great mom and wife someday. You don't have to be this... This image of yourself in your head. You just have to be the best you can be. Truly."



Yang glanced at him. Her blush was a bit more pronounced.



"When did you stop being such a... A goof?" She asked quietly. Jaune shrugged, his memory going back to the fight in Forever Fall.



"Let's just say I realized I was trying to be something I wasn't, and I needed to be honest with others and myself," he said softly.



"Well..." Yang sighed. "I... Thanks."



"Any time," Jaune replied with a smile. It made her blush harder for some reason. Weird.



A thought then occurred to him.



"Uh... Why are you cooking in here?" Jaune asked.



Yang coughed.



"Weiss uh... Weiss kind of destroyed our oven when she tried to bake a cake... Wanna join us for breakfast?"



Jaune grinned.



"Would love to. Maybe I could impress Weiss with my cooking? What do you think?"



A flash of annoyance appeared on Yang's face, before her smile returned to normal.



"I don't think she'd appreciate it, Stud... But hey. If it doesn't work out, wanna go blow off some steam training with me?"



"'Stud'?" Jaune asked, confused, "What happened to 'Vomit Boy'?"



"You got promoted," Yang grinned, "What do you say?"



"Sure," Jaune agreed with a smile. Man, did he have great friends.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Also, I finally thought up a potential flaw for Arslan. I mean she is strong, kind, generous, religious, and a good leader and fighter. All good traits to have. She is also calm and wise beyond her years. Her Semblance required her to cultivate her calm, as Pneuma boosts and enhances her Aura and her Aura Control as long as she keeps control over her breathing. It's why she's so phenomenal at Aura-based martial arts (And in the game Amity Park, she can unleash Hadoken-like blasts of Aura).

But at the same time? She can make errors in judgement and misread people. For instance: She made the error that Pyrrha had no desire to be her friend. That she understood Arslan's entreaties for rivalry. As a Stonebreaker, or a member of a Warrior Order in the Church of the Broken Table, rivalries are meant to be friendships. To drive the other towards greater heights and to keep them honest. She thought that Pyrrha understood... But Pyrrha didn't get it. Never reached out or corrected things.

Arslan assumed it was because she was a terrible rival for Pyrrha. After all, she never beat Pyrrha once. And as a result, assumed Pyrrha didn't see her as a worthy friend, either. Which Arslan was very sad about. She found herself lacking and she didn't know in what.

Of course Arslan didn't know that Pyrrha was terminally shy, and that Pyrrha didn't understand what Arslan was doing due to a culture gap. Pyrrha's mother may have known about this but didn't let Pyrrha make friends with Arslan out of paranoia of Pyrrha being used by her.

So Arslan tends to assume that the fault is hers, and she must work very hard to overcome it. She withdraws and while she remains polite and kind, she also stays guarded. She does have a habit of trying to fix things on her own, even though the tenets of her faith demand fellowship. She can be stubborn and too introspective.

So! Other than time travel, how else might Arslan and Pyrrha learn of this misunderstanding and try to become friends?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It was seldom that Blake Belladonna would ever admit to making a mistake. She wanted to believe they were just setbacks, wrong turns, not full on errors on her part. After all, she was trying to bring justice to the world. She was fighting for her people to be free and equal!



She couldn't afford to make mistakes.



However, she'd started to re-examine that assumption after leaving Adam and the White Fang. With the White Fang she had felt increasingly isolated and alone as she voiced her opinions and desires, and was humored, patronized and ignored. She had felt like she was the only one who had kept sight of their mission: Equality, not domination.



When she'd had enough, she ran away. She found Jaune, and for the first time in a long time? She had felt listened to.

She didn't tell him everything, but she did voice her worries and concerns. He had listened. Even if he couldn't do anything else for her, he had listened and taken her seriously. He had done his best to help her. They had trained together and he had helped her feel safe.

Blake hadn't felt safe in a long time. And for a time, her new team had also made her feel safe. Beacon had felt safe.



So when her team found out she was formally White Fang? That safety was gone. So she had run away again.



She'd run into Sun Wukong, a nice enough Faunus boy. Honestly? Too nice, too flirty. He was confident and sunny, yes, but took nothing seriously. Not as much as she would like. Still, he was kind enough to tell her about a White Fang operation at the docks, and even kinder to fight with her.



She hadn't made a mistake. She was... She was going to fix things. She was going to correct an error. It couldn't be the White Fang at the docks, or if it was? They were taking orders from some human criminal.



Well... As she laid on the hard concrete after taking a powerful hit, her Aura flickering around her, she realized she was half-right.



Roman Torchwick, gentleman thief and gangster, scowled at the tall, hulking reptilian Faunus who swaggered up beside him. He was swinging around a giant monk's spade with Dust-powered flamethrowers attached. He wore only a pair of pants and a White Fang mask around his neck like a collar: He was heavily muscled and covered in scales, bald, with sharp teeth, red eyes, and a long swinging tail behind him.



He was Thanh Qingquong, a gangster and murderer, a Komodo Dragon Faunus... And a former member of the White Fang.



Or so Blake thought.



"Took you long enough," Roman groused, "Kitty-Kat was all over me!"



The reptile Faunus grinned, baring his sharp fangs.



"I had to deal with the monkey whelp," he sneered.



Blake sat up and gasped.



"Sun! What did you do to him-?!"



"Knocked him out," Thanh chuckled, "I'll suck the marrow from his bones soon enough! You though..." He pointed the monk spade at her, "Adam's gonna want you back, kitty." He grinned terribly.



"But not before I get a piece~..."



"You-You can't work for Adam," Blake gasped, "You-You murderer! He banished you! He told me-!"



"He lied, Little Cat," Thanh cackled, "Just to spare his little princess' feelings! How do you like that?"



"But you-you can't work with humans!" Blake growled.



"Said by the cat whoring herself out to humans," Thanh sneered, "I can smell them on you even now. Pathetic."



He stomped over to her. He swung his monk spade down, and she barely rolled out of the way. She got to her feet, unsteady, and unleashed several shots. Thanh ignored the bullets as he charged, swinging wildly. Blake dodged with her incredible agility, but a blast from the flamethrowers forced her to evade in mid-air with a clone.



He twisted his spade upwards, and smacked her across the face. She tumbled through the air and slammed into a crate, smashing it beneath her. She groaned as Thanh stalked over towards her, drooling over his sharp teeth.



"Now... Adam didn't say how to bring you back," he chuckled, leering up and down her body, "But I don't think he'll mind if I have a taste~..."



Blake gritted her teeth. It was... It was all her fault. Everything... She had to get away, she had to...!



Thanh raised his spade over his head, and swung down. Blake tried to move, tried to summon her Aura-



The monk spade clanged loudly against steel. Blake blinked, dumbfounded, as she saw a familiar boy with blond hair and a sword and shield standing in front of her.



"Jaune?!"



"Blake! RUN!" Jaune shouted. He shoved Thanh's spade aside and thrust his blade for his stomach. His sword pierced through, right to the hilt. Jaune looked up in shock. Thanh just smirked, and laughed. He then swung a great arm and backhanded Jaune, so hard he went flying.



"JAUNE!" Blake screamed, as Jaune slammed into some nearby crates with a loud crash. Thanh cackled as the wound healed.



"Another simp trying to help you, huh?" Thanh laughed. "You only attract the weak, just like you..."



She could hear gunfire nearby: Familiar gunfire. Ruby and her friends were storming in, she could hear it. But Thanh was already stalking towards Jaune, twirling his massive weapon around. Blake struggled to her feet and dashed after the brute. She leaped up onto his back and wrapped her arms around his throat. Thanh's tail cracked like a whip, several times, beating Blake on her back as he reached up to grab her. She tried to evade, but a tail whip forced her down and Thanh gripped her arm. He pulled her over and held her up and away from him, laughing at her. She struggled to get free, kicking and punching and biting, but Thanh just kept laughing.



"End of the line, princess!" He snarled. He slammed her to the ground, cratering it under her body. She yowled in pain, and shrieked when he stomped down on her chest. He leered down at her as he reached out for Jaune.



"First, I'm going to eat your little boyfriend," he sneered, "Then? I'll see about you~..."



No... No, please, Blake prayed, please... Someone... Anyone...! PLEASE! Don't let him pay for my mistakes! PLEASE!



Thanh's terrible face leered down at her. He licked his lips, his sharp teeth glistened in the moonlight... And then a fist met the side of his jaw.



His eyes widened in shock. His jaw deformed from the force of the blow. Teeth and blood flew out of his mouth as he was knocked off his feet. He went flying right into a forklift, breaking it in two and making it explode.



Blake stared at the fiery wreck, before slowly looking over at their savior.



Doctor Knowall stood there, cracking his knuckles, his face a stern mask of pure, cold rage.



"Belladonna," he barked, "Look after Arc. I'll handle this."



"Y-Yes sir," Blake managed, too shocked to disobey. She got up and checked on the groaning Jaune as Knowall walked in front of them.



Blake pulled out her Scroll and linked it to Jaune: His Aura was regenerating, and he was conscious. Relief filled her as she squeezed his hand. He opened his eyes and blinked away stars.



"Ugh... You okay, Blake?" He asked.



"Yes," Blake insisted, "How did you-?"



"Heard about White Fang operating here," Jaune wheezed, "Called in everyone to come here when I heard gunfire... I-I'm sorry I couldn't-"



Blake smiled and squeezed his hand, fighting tears.



"There's nothing to apologize for," she whispered.



Thanh burst out of the wreckage, roaring in rage.



"Who has the fucking balls?!"



Knowall eyed him with a bored look, the wind from the ocean making his white coat wave slightly.



"Thanh Qingquong, aka Thanh the Immortal?" Doctor Knowall asked. Thanh sneered.



"That's me!"



"You possess a Regenerative Semblance, correct?" Knowall asked calmly, his sensible shoes making barely any sound as he walked towards him. Thanh cackled.



"YES! I can regenerate from any injury, no matter how severe, little man!"



Elsewhere, she could see the rest of RWBY and JNPR appear, fighting through the White Fang members. She could even see Sun: Unconcious, but being carried by Nora. Relief flooded her.



He's okay... He's okay...



Thanh cackled again and pointed his monk spade at Knowall.



"So you have no chance, little man! No matter what you can throw at me, I'll just keep coming back!"



Knowall nodded.



"Well, that's great news!" Knowall said cheerfully.



"Oh? And why is that?" Thanh sneered. "You happy to die to an immortal, foolish ape?!"



Knowall calmly pulled his labcoat off, and tossed it aside. Weiss caught it, flushing bright red, as Knowall next pulled off his jacket and then unbuttoned his sleeves. He rolled them up, loosened his tie... And grinned the most terrifying smile Blake could ever remember seeing.



"Because I don't have to hold back," Knowall growled, before he lunged.



Blake could admit to making many mistakes. She would deal with that. But it was somewhat comforting to know that Thanh the Immortal had made even worse ones.



- - -

Click to shrink...

Doctor Knowall's first attack was a series of jabs, quick and calculated. Nothing fancy, nothing too complex. Thanh contemptuously blocked each one, then let loose a roundhouse kick at Knowall. Knowall took the hit to his temple, and skidded a bit from the impact. He heard his students and his younger self gasp in shock. He heard Thanh laugh, and saw the rest of his White Fang goons cheer.



"HA! Is that the best you can do, doctor?" Thanh sneered, "I'll enjoy making these girls my bitches while I gnaw on your bones!"



Knowall slowly turned back to Thanh. He cracked his neck. He spat out some blood. He resumed his terrifying smile.



"Thanks. All I needed to know," Knowall stated, "You won't be hitting me again."



Thanh laughed mockingly, and swung a clawed hand at him.



"I think not-!"



Knowall ducked under the swing and planted his fist into Thanh's floating ribs, shattering them with the blow. Thanh's laugh turned into a cry of pain, and the big Faunus punched and kicked furiously. With contemptuous ease, Knowall blocked, slapped away, or dodged every blow before he put an uppercut into Thanh's jaw, again knocking out a lot of sharp teeth and blood.



"Attend, students," Knowall said, almost conversationally, as he slammed a palm strike into Thanh's nose, "While Aura can protect you from many injuries, the proper application of force can still let you damage vulnerable areas on an opponent's body."



The Faunus roared and fell back. He swung around, cracking his tail like a bullwhip. Knowall caught it with one hand, not moved an inch.



"For instance, joints are always a potential target in a fight, and only require the proper leverage to exploit," Knowall went on, snapping several vertebrae in Thanh's tail. Thanh roared in pain, and swung back around as his face and mouth healed. He again attacked, this time swinging his monk's spade at Knowall.



The doctor calmly jumped over the swing at his feet, and delivered a kick right into Thanh's face with a bony crunch.



"Other targets are an enemy's eyes, nose, mouth," Knowall went on over Thanh's howl of pain, "Or anything else sensitive and external."



He dodged around Thanh's wild swings with his polearm, and calmly grabbed his wrist. He then thrust his palm against Thanh's elbow, snapping it and making him drop his weapon.



"AARRGGHHH!"



Thanh again retreated, breathing hard. His eye and face repaired itself, while his elbow returned to its previous state. Thanh snarled, bloodlust in his eyes.



"I WILL USE YOUR HEAD AS A CHAMBER POT!" He shrieked, lunging with his claws and sharp teeth. Knowall again dodged out of the way and slammed the people's elbow into the back of his neck, ramming him into the pavement so hard it shattered like glass.



"And of course, keep in mind other weakpoints you can exploit," Knowall went on. He grabbed Thanh's tail and held it out of the way as he stomped on Thanh's left thigh, "breaking the femur is almost always a death sentence to an enemy."



"GYAAHHHH!"



Thanh rolled and slashed at Knowall again. The doctor nimbly jumped out of the way, as Thanh staggered back to his feet. He was panting hard, his femur healing quickly. He snarled in rage at Knowall.



"I'LL EAT YOUR ENTRAILS! YOU CAN'T BEAT ME! I AM IMMORTAL! I AM-!"



His Aura flared around him... And then shattered. Thanh fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, his body twitching sporadically. Thanh gaped in disbelief at Knowall, as did the rest of the White Fang and the students.



"Wha... Whab dib you... Whab...?"



"Funny thing about automatic Semblances," Knowall said almost cheerfully, "If you don't have good Aura control, they'll just keep operating and draining away your energy. In your case, it's to regenerate from damage. So while I hit you, I inflicted a few... Shall we say... Status effects?"



Thanh's eyes bugged out in horror. He began to cough up blood as Knowall continued.



"Kidney disease here, lymphatic function disorder there... Your Semblance kept curing it all! But that all drains Aura." He paused. "Especially the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis I gave you from the start."



"A what?" Blake gasped, having gotten Jaune over to teams RWBY and JNPR (with Sun too, though he was still out). Jaune's eyes widened.



"It-It's a progressive neurological disease," he explains, "It destroys the nerve cells in the brain and nervous system..."



Thanh swung an arm desperately at his troops, drooling helplessly.



"KILL! KILV HIB!"



The White Fang stared at their leader, and then at the doctor. Knowall smiled unpleasantly.



"You have two options," Knowall stated coldly, "Surrender and turn yourselves in... Or you can join 'the Immortal' in the hospital ward of the local prison for the rest of your lives. You have ten seconds."



It only took a second for the terrorists to begin throwing down their weapons and putting up their hands. Knowall nodded in satisfaction.



"Wise decision."



- - -



Yes, Knowall did hit Thanh with the same disease that Doctor Stephen Hawking had.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Ruby liked Range Days. Jaune went with her to practice her shooting, and he was always good fun. Pyrrha went too... And while that would be a little annoying, she did like to learn from the Invincible Girl. Despite everything, she was a very good teacher.

"Remember," Pyrrha said, "Pumping Aura into your bullets does change their performance characteristics. While it does make them go faster, you also have to keep in mind the diminishing returns on range. The Dust will burn up faster the more Aura you use."

Ruby nodded and lined up her sights. She fired another round at a distance holographic target, and it flickered. She grinned as she saw she'd hit very near the bullseye.

"Great!" Ruby enthused. "But given the rounds I use, that's not a huge issue! The mass ratio helps keep it going as long as I manage my Aura properly!"

Pyrrha nodded.

"That's true, but it's always something to be mindful of," Pyrrha said, "I've found that pumping Aura into metal can actually expand it. For a bullet, even a tiny expansion can have massive effects on aerodynamic performance!"

Ruby huffed. Jaune chuckled.

"Honestly, you barely even use the gun mode on Crescent Rose," Jaune said, "You mostly go fer melee and use the gun for propulsion."

"Yeah, but uh... Well..." Ruby winced. "I'm... Not as good at the shooting part as I'd like. Just like I'm really not good at the fighting without him part."

"'Him'?" Jaune asked, raising an eyebrow. Ruby blushed.

"What?! Crescent Rose is a he! I built him myself!"

Jaune and Pyrrha continued to stare. Ruby's blush got brighter.

"WE'RE JUST FRIENDS! HE'S LIKE MY SON!" She babbled.

Jaune chuckled kindly and patted Ruby's shoulder. Pyrrha smiled awkwardly.

"Well, he's growing up mighty fine, ain't he?" Jaune said kindly. He squeezed her shoulder. "It's all right, Ruby."

"You... You don't think I'm weird?" Ruby asked. Jaune blinked and looked thoughtful.

"Well... We're all a bit weird, ain't we?" He shrugged. "Seems to be a requirement of Hunters, I reckon. We all have our quirks and foibles."

"That's true," Pyrrha nodded, "I did read a few papers on how releasing your Aura and using your Soul's energy to interface with the world has all sorts of strange psychological side effects..." She blushed at Ruby's downtrodden look. "Oh... Um, sorry."

"Nah," Jaune chuckled, hugging Ruby brieftly, "Just means we're all in good company. Sides, my mom and dad could be strange at times. Maybe there's something... To..."

He stared at another lane at the shooting range. Pyrrha and Ruby followed his gaze.

Dust-based weapons were funny in that unlike conventional firearms, they didn't "bang" loud enough to cause hearing damage at close range (unless the Dust was overpowered). As a result, nobody needed ear protection while using them. So they could have normal conversations around the gun range.

It also allowed both girls to hear Jaune's soft gasp as he stared at a girl in a hoodie firing a sniper rifle several lanes down. They traced the path of the bullets she was firing, and their eyes widened.

"She... She hasn't missed a shot?!" Ruby gasped. Pyrrha pulled out her Scroll and logged into the accuracy scores. They were available for anyone to see in order to keep track of their progress.

"Oh my," Pyrrha murmured, "She... She hasn't missed once. Since she transfered!"

"What's her name?" Jaune asked quietly. Ruby frowned as she saw the look on Jaune's face: He was seemingly entranced by the girl as she continued to fire.

"May Zedong," Pyrrha said, also frowning. "Is something wrong, Jaune?"

"Scuse me ladies," Jaune said, walking over towards May. He waited for her to finish her magazine before he spoke.

"Howdy, Miss Zedong. I'm Jaune Arc."

"Ah!" May flinched and then turned around. She looked up shyly at Jaune, not able to meet his eyes., "Um, y-yes? I mean, um, hello!"

Ruby's eyes narrowed a bit. Even more as she saw how Jaune was smiling.

"You're mighty good with that rifle, Miss," Jaune said politely, "It's really impressive!"

May blushed even more deeply.

"Oh, um, I-I just practice a lot... I'm the only one on my team who-who has ranged capability, um... I-I have to be as good as possible..."

"Well, that's mighty commendable," Jaune said with a smile that made May turn bright red, "You wanna shoot with us? We'd love to learn from you."

"O-Oh, well, um," May stuttered, "I-I guess... I um, I'm not very good at teaching but um... I can try?"

"That would be great!" Jaune beamed. He rested a hand on May's shoulder and gently guided her over-Even as she fretted with bright red cheeks.

Wha... She's like one of those cute shy characters in Blake's Mistralian anime! Ruby thought, She even has big boobs!

Ruby looked over at Pyrrha. Her fellow redhead's eyes were also narrowed, even as she smiled.

"Oh yes," Pyrrha said, "We would love to work with you, May."

"R-Really?" May managed with a shy smile. "I-I would appreciate that... Um... Maybe if I worked with M-Mister Arc first?"

"Call me Jaune!" Jaune said happily. May smiled.

"I... O-Okay, Jaune..."

Ruby and Pyrrha shared a look. They scowled a bit.

He got another one! They thought in exasperation.

They then noticed the soft look on Jaune's face... And they narrowed their eyes further.

AND HE LIKES HER TOO?!

- - -

More substantial stuff is coming for Cowboys of Remnant, but I wanted to get this out to possibly use in the future.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Weiss walked out to the stables. It was a familiar path to her by now, something she couldn't have imagined months ago. Going down to see a man working hard. Talking to this man. Even... Being friends with this man.

Said man was hard at work, holding one of Orleans' legs up under his armpit. He scraped away at her hoof with a knife, shaving away curls of keratin. Orleans was nickering softly, then snorted.

"There there, just stay calm girl," Jaune said gently, "Easy, easy..."

Orleans resumed nickering quietly. Jaune then looked up and smiled at Weiss.

"Howdy, Weiss!"

"Hello Jaune," Weiss greeted him warmly. "Am I bothering you?"

"No, just getting some work done," Jaune said. He reached down and picked up a horseshoe. He pressed it to Orlean's hoof, then grabbed a hammer. He pulled some nails out of his shirt pocket, and began hammering them into the keratin. Orleans nickered a bit, as Weiss watched in fascination.

"It doesn't hurt her, does it?"

Orleans snorted, shooting Weiss what could almost be considered a scowl. Jaune chuckled.

"No," Jaune said with a smile, "her hooves are like big fingernails. And her Aura protects her, too."

"Then why the horseshoes?" Weiss asked, walking a bit closer as she tilted her head.

"Same reason we wear shoes, even with Aura," Jaune said, finishing pounding the nails in. He patted Orleans' hoof, and let her go. Orleans trotted off around the paddock, as though showing off. She probably was, the vain primadonna.

"There we go," Jaune said with a smile and nod, "Better, right?"

Orleans whinnied happily, and went off to drink from the water trough. Jaune looked to Weiss with a smile.

"So, what brings you out here Weiss?" He asked.

"I was assigned an extra history project and I was hoping you could help me?" Weiss asked. Jaune blinked.

"Well... If I can, I will. I ain't too sure how much help I'll be, Weiss."

"Well... It's about the nomadic tribes of Vale," Weiss said, "You've met a few, haven't you?"

Jaune frowned thoughtfully, then nodded.

"I have. Some dealings, good and bad," he admitted, "Wouldn't the CCTnet be better for that though?"

"I think a personal touch would be a lot better," Weiss said, "Besides... You tell Ruby plenty of stories."

"I just..." Jaune colored, "I uh... I think Nora's a better storyteller myself."

Weiss smiled warmly. She leaned against the fence.

"Please?" She asked. Jaune shrugged and looked out at the valley beyond.

"Well... They live like most folks, I expect. They move around a lot between fortresses when the weather changes, or go from settlement to settlement following herds of bison, deer and the like."

"Why do they want to live like that?" Weiss asked curiously. "Why not just settle down?"

Jaune shrugged. He rested his hand on the fence, and rested his other hand on his gunbelt.

"Cause their fathers and their fathers before their fathers did it. Plenty of their people are more settled, or civilized. Plenty more don't trust the kingdoms to protect them. Ain't too different from the settlers on the frontier, I suspect: They wanna make their own way."

"Are they dangerous? Like in the old movies?" Weiss pressed. Jaune shrugged.

"They can be. Most, you treat fairly with 'em, they'll treat you fair back. Plenty took to the Church of the Broken Table and are as devout as the Archpriest down in the Holy City." He shrugged. "Some are bandits, preying on anyone weaker than them. They stick to their warrior ways, think that attacking defenseless settlers or travelers makes 'em strong." He snorted. "Never saw no bandit pick a fight with someone stronger than them. Always after easy pickings."

"You hate bandits?" Weiss asked quietly. Jaune sucked in a breath through his nostrils, and let it out as a snort like his horse.

"I try not to, Weiss," Jaune stated firmly, "I really try. It ain't easy."

Weiss held her hands together.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. Jaune shook his head.

"Ain't nothing to be sorry for... You wanted something specific? I dealt a lot with the Rhiannon Tribe. Joseph, King is their leader."

"You mean King Joseph," Weiss corrected. Jaune shook his head.

"No, they always place 'King' after," he said, "Quirk of the language, I believe. He's a crazy old coot, but he deals fairly. Tries to keep his braves from going the bandit route. It never goes well when they do that. Many tribes have been wiped out for trying to relive their glory days."

"All of them?" Weiss gasped. Jaune slowly nodded.

"If they don't surrender? Yes."

"It seems cruel," Weiss murmured. Jaune sucked in a breath.

"It is. Least they get a quick death by the Rangers. They don't extend the same courtesy to their victims," he gritted out, "Or their captives."

Weiss stared at him. She wet her lips. She didn't know why, but...

"You've... Fought them?"

"Once? They attacked us," Jaune said grimly, "Fought them off. Two other times, Mister Duke helped out some Rangers in their assaults on Bandit camps. They were called the Cruálach. They raided settlements. Took everyone who couldn't fight as captives."

Weiss covered her mouth. Jaune kept going, his eyes locked onto the mountain range.

"We tracked them down to their camp. Old ruins from before the Moonbreak, I was told. A great city, whose name is lost to history. The Crualach kept their camp in one of the ancient buildings, like an old coliseum."

He paused, his eyes hardening.

"The captive men? They skinned them alive. Hung their bones as trophies, their skin as banners. The women and children...?" He slowly shook his head. "They were..."

He couldn't continue. He looked down at the ground, his fists clenched tightly. Weiss clutched her hands together, unsure of how to help him. Extending physical comfort wasn't something she was familiar with.

"God... How could such people live around Grimm?"

Jaune snorted.

"They keep moving, like I said. They hide. They use their killing skills on Grimm..." He shook his head, his eyes distant.

"Grimm are monsters... But they ain't cruel or sadistic. They just do what their instincts or whatever tell them to do. Humans and Faunus? Well... Sometimes I wonder if we used monster too hastily for the Grimm..."

Weiss frowned.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I-I didn't mean to..."

Jaune shook his head, his face stony.

"The world's a cruel place, Weiss. But it's also a wonderful one. Besides, I reckon everyone's got pain in their past."

Weiss sucked in a breath. She debated internally, between her instinct and her feelings. She then took a deep breath.

"I... My father wouldn't let me attend Beacon unless I fought an Armored Geist and defeated it," she said. "He watched... Shouting at me to give up. To just accept his orders, his rules. I got this scar," she touched her eye scar, "From it. I managed to defeat it, with next to no Aura left... And he just snorted. Didn't say a thing."

She shook her head.

"I'm sorry. That's nothing compared to-"

"Everyone's got pain in their past," Jaune stated firmly, "It ain't a contest. We're all different." He slowly shook his head back.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Weiss. I know it ain't easy."

"No," Weiss said with a smile, "But I'm... I'm glad I got this scar. It means I got to be here. And meet all of my friends."

Jaune smiled warmly back.

"Well... That's how I feel too, Weiss."

They were staring into eachother's eyes. Weiss again licked her lips.

"Tell me," she began, "Um... How do the men and women of the Rhiannon Tribe express affection for eachother?"

STUPID! Her brain shouted at her. It was getting to be too much, too fast. She was at war with herself.

Jaune chuckled.

"Well... A brave goes and kills a deer. He then brings it to her with flowers and presents it to her. He then says 'I will provide for you, and your table will never be empty as long as we are together.'"

Weiss laughed.

"Really?"

Jaune shrugged.

"Well! It seems to work for them. Of course, now the brave has to keep that up. Can be awful hard on a man if his wife has expensive tastes."

"I-I imagine you wouldn't have any trouble with that," Weiss stuttered. Jaune's cheeks turned red.

"Uh, well... ACK!"

Orleans then grabbed Jaune by the poncho and yanked him up. She then tossed her water trough up into the air, drenching Weiss with water.

"ACK! HEY!" Weiss cried.

"ORLEANS! WHAT IN TARNATION?!" Jaune demanded.

Orleans then stomped on her hooves and neighed angrily. Jaune scowled at her.

"What the hell do you mean your horseshoes are crooked?! You complain about this now?"

Orleans squealed angrily. Jaune groaned and looked back at Weiss.

"Sorry Weiss, I gotta handle this," he sighed. "I'm sorry about the water-"

Weiss scowled.

"Oh, don't you worry about that," Weiss stated icily, glaring at Orleans, "I'll go and change."

"Yes ma'am," Jaune said, a bit pale. She softened her expression for him.

"Thank you Jaune. See you later," she said with a nod. She swore Orleans shot her a smug look as she departed.

"I'm beginning to see why Pyrrha is so aggravated by that horse," she muttered.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Just a short write up of what would probably happen if Cowboy!Jaune met Adam during the fall of Beacon...

Adam: "You can't escape me, my love. You never could, you never will-"

Jaune walks in, his spurs clinking ominously. His hat is shadowing his eyes.

Blake: "Jaune!"

Adam: "Who's this? Your master? Is he here for his pet?"

Jaune: "I believe you're going to walk away from the lady right now."

There is no humor in Jaune's voice, no warmth. Only cold, dead certainty.

Adam: "Or what?"

Jaune: "Or I'll put a bullet between your eyes. As many as it takes to put you down."

Adam: "You think you're some kind of hero?"

Jaune: "Nope... Just a man with a gun, and a friend in trouble. Last chance. Walk away."

Adam: "..." His chuuni heart can't resist "I'll give you until the bell tolls on that clock. Then... You die in front of the traitor as a lesson on what happens when she defies me."

It doesn't even take a second for Jaune to reply.
Jaune: "Deal."

Blake: "Jaune, run!"

Jaune: "We gotta get to the tower to help Pyrrha... This won't take long."

The bells toll... Adam swings and unleashes Moonslice, Jaune drops and fires his revolvers!

Adam falls back, the Dust rounds having gone right through his Aura and stomach. He staggers back, holding his stomach as he bleeds.

Adam: "... H-How...?"

Jaune: "Pump enough Aura into a bullet... They'll punch through Aura just fine."

Adam: "You...! No human can defeat me! No human can-!" He charges and thrusts his sword for Jaune.

Jaune opens fire, putting every round into Adam. He falls.

Jaune: "... Miss Blake? I believe we have an appointment to keep. Can you walk?"

Blake: "N-Not well..."

Jaune: "Then I'll help you walk to the Tower."

Blake: "Is he dead?"

Jaune: "Don't know. Not sticking around to find out."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Naturally, there are many methods the teachers would use to push their particular ship. The most obvious being...



Glynda: "Miss Nikos, you're already tutoring Mister Arc in combat, yes? You will increase your sessions under my supervision."



Port: "It seems to me you need partners to aid you in the Grimm Studies portions of my class! So you will have these 'study buddies' to aid you! You will also go on field training assignments as needed! First pair, Mister Arc and Miss Xiao-Long. Second pair..."



Oobleck: "Group assignments tend to just get all the work shoved onto one person. As a result, this semester project you will be put into pairs to help facilitate your work being efficient. You will also look after the well being of your partner. First pair, Mister Arc and Miss Belladonna. Second pair..."



Ozpin: "While I seldom intervene directly in school affairs, I do manage the Leadership Class. I feel you're all coming under a lot of pressure this semester. Therefore, your assignments will now be split between two. Different leaders of different teams will work together to help handle this increased workload. First pair, Mister Arc and Miss Rose, second pair..."



Peach: "Arc! While you're decent with medical dust, you have almost no experience with the other kinds! Therefore, Miss Schnee will pair with you to bring you up to snuff! This semester long project will help you both, as Miss Schnee is not very adept with Healing Dust. I expect nothing but good results from you both!"



Anne Green: "Miss May Zedong! Your survival skills are adequate but could be MUCH better-Especially for a sniper! As a result, you'll be paired with Jaune Arc: He scored very highly on the survival tests and will be a natural tutor. I expect you both to work very hard and very closely!"



Mombi: "Um... Arslan? Jaune? Since you're both part of the Church of the Broken Table, I could use some help with St Lucy's Orphanage. I think the kids would be very cheered up if they met you while I went down to read to them."



Later...



Neptune: "Is it my imagination or is Arc suddenly very popular with the ladies?"



Sun: "I'm sure it's all in your head."



Scarlet: "Well, something had to be in there."



Neptune: "HEY!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Neptune wandered by a common area in the Beacon dorms... Then walked backwards. He gaped at the scene before him.

Jaune Arc was sitting with Yang Xiao-Long, going over some homework. That was bad enough!

But Blake Belladonna was sitting behind him, laying on the top of the couch like a cat, occasionally pointing things out. Sitting in his lap was Ruby Rose, cheerfully talking about a few other things, while Pyrrha Nikos sat on Jaune's other side, smiling gently as they went over a few other things.

Weiss Schnee sat across from Jaune, looking a bit exasperated but also giving him small smiles. May Zedong was shyly going over some homework herself at the table, looking up and blushing at Jaune every so often.

In a split second, it came to Neptune. He stormed up to them and pointed a finger at Jaune.

"ARC!"

"Ack! Yes, Neptune?" Jaune asked. Weiss turned an annoyed glare at Neptune, as did Yang. Blake sniffed, Ruby huffed, Pyrrha gave him a far too polite smile, and even May looked a bit annoyed.

"What do you want, Neptune?" Weiss demanded, "We broke up, remember-?"

"I know what you're up to!" He growled. "I know all about your grand-grandfather Shirou! He had three wives!"

Jaune blinked rapidly. The gathered women all looked at him curiously.

"Wait, what? No!" Jaune waved his hands, "My Great Aunts Rin and Sakura just lived in the same house and had kids who were cousins and..." He blinked a few more times. "Oh... Oh geez..."

"YEAH! And now-NOW you're starting your own harem!" Neptune growled. "You made a fool out of me to add Snow Angel to it!"

"You didn't need any help doing that yourself, Blue Boy," Yang sniffed.

"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO!" Neptune growled, pointing his finger in Jaune's face. "YOU WANT ALL THE HOTTIES FOR YOURSELF! WELL! I WON'T LET YOU SUCCEED! I'M ONTO YOU!"

He glared.

"I'm onto you!" He turned and stormed out.

The Hunters-in-training stared after him.

"What's his problem?" Yang scoffed.

"Geez," May muttered.

"No idea," Jaune sighed. He rubbed his temples and laughed. "Ha! He almost had me going there though. Like my Papa Shirou has three wives. Pfft."

"And like you're cunning enough to do that," Weiss sniffed, "Let's move onto the next problem..."

"What's a harem?" Ruby asked curiously. Blake smiled.

"Well, it's-"

"BLAKE!" Yang shouted.

Ruby pouted.

"I wanna know! Jaune?"

"I uh... I'm not having this conversation with you in my lap."

"So how should I be sitting on you?"

"RUBY!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune: "Ruby, could you come here for a second?"

Ruby: "Sure Jaune, what's up?"

Jaune shows her the cylinder of his Goldstone Customs.

Jaune: "As a professional weaponeer, what would you say these are chambered in?"

Ruby takes a closer look.

Ruby: "Aren't these just .44's? Wait, no, the cylinder is too long. Some kind of custom loaded .44? But that would be annoying to resupply out in the field and Nell Goldstone made the best Huntsmen arms in the world so she would know better..."

Jaune: "You're never going to guess."

Ruby, pouting: "Give me a second."

Ruby stares at the cylinder for a bit longer before her eyes widen.

Ruby: "No Way! She chambered them in .30-30!?"

Jaune: "One of the most common rifle calibers in the world. Makes resupplyin' at any outpost way easier."

Ruby: "A rifle round. In a revolver. Okay, cowboy..."

Jaune: "What, you questionin' the incredible Nell Goldstone?"

Ruby: "I'm questioning your ability to use Aura to reinforce your wrists. Part of the reason Crescent Rose mecha-shifts into a scythe - a big part - is so I can stab it into the ground to brace it when I fire it."

Jaune: "I practiced with 'em until I could shoot nice and steady... Which admittedly took a damn long time."

Ruby: "We gotta find Yang and have you two spar. I bet you could catch Ember Celica's punches with that kind of conditioning!"

Jaune: "Eh? Well... I don't think I-"

Ruby: "YANG! Jaune wants to catch your punches! He thinks he can!"

Jaune: "Wha-I said no such thing!"

Yang: "Oh does he?"

Jaune: "I did not-"

Yang: "Let's SEE!" She swings her fist right at Jaune's face!

Jaune's hand snaps up and catches her fist. The ground underneath his feet is shattered and wind rushes away from the point of contact. But he stays on his feet.

Jaune: "... Breaker Above Ruby! You tryin' t' get me killed?!"

Yang: "Hey! Not bad cowboy! Now let's see if you can block it when I'm actually trying!"

Jaune: "Uh, thank you kindly-Wait what?!"

Yang raises her other fist.

Jaune: "Now wait a minute Yang I ain't-!"

His hands went back up.

Yang punches him way harder the second time. Jaune catches the blow, but is knocked off his feet by the sheer force.

Jaune: "WOAH!" He is Slammed into a tree... And through it.

Ruby: "Yang!"

Yang: "What? He said he could catch it."

Jaune: Slowly stands up "Urgh... Nice hit."

Yang: "Nice catch."

Jaune: Waves his hand with a wince "You're incredible as always, Miss Yang."

Yang, fingerguns: "Damn straight!"

Jaune: "Geez... My dang fingers..."

Ruby: "Don't worry! I'll look them over! I've been training in first aid!"

Jaune: "Well, thank you kindly Ruby..."

Ruby is looking over Jaune's hands, touching them, massaging them...

Yang: glares "Oh, I see how it is."

Ruby: "I-I don't know what you're talking about! I'm sure Jaune appreciates a girl with a gentle touch..."

Jaune: "I would if I could feel anything."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Jaune was sitting in the ballroom of Beacon at a table. It was quiet this time of day, and he appreciated it. His Nell Goldstone revolvers laid out on the table in front of him, disassembled. He carefully cleaned and checked each part, applying the right amount of gun oil to each.

He held up the cylinder, pushing a bush through each one and making sure there was nothing left.

It was oddly soothing in a way. Ren said that it was a method of ordering the things that mattered in your life, and thus, ordering your life. Allowing you to face the day without worries. Not unlike meditation, which Ren practiced regularly.

Jaune wasn't sure it was quite the same thing. Ren's medtitation was part of his religion of Pathism, after all. Still...

"Tablebreaker," he murmured softly over the revolver as he began to put it back together, "Come down and touch the mountains, make them smoke. Teach my hands to fight, and teach my mouth to speak better. Teach me to aim with my heart, my mind, and my soul, not with my anger, my envy, or my pride. Let me be a shield to those in need, and a protector for those in trouble. Let my bullets find their mark, straight and true. Teach me to be humble, but always remember my greater duty to all that is good."

It was an old prayer, one Mister Duke made at times. He claimed an old Valean general recited it before going into battle.

Jaune held up his revolver, all the parts back where they belonged. He spun the barrel, listening to the sound, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Amen," he concluded. He reloaded the revolver, a barrel at a time, and spun it again.

The lights lit up overhead. Old instincts compelled Jaune to stand and scan around, his gun at the ready. The stage lights went up next, and Jaune looked up at it in confusion.

A shadow appeared on the curtains, a silhouette of a woman in a feathery dress. Hot Vacuoan music began to play as the curtains slowly parted. Jaune's eyes bugged out and his jaw and gunhand both fell.

"R-Ruby?!"

Ruby Rose did indeed stand there... But transformed. She wore a black and red dress, cut short and low to show off her growing female curves and muscular legs. She wore high heels, red lipstick, and black gloves. She lifted up a rose and put it into her teeth as she began... To dance.

Jaune's mouth went dry as Ruby danced to the music, strutting, slinking, so elegant and slick. He was reminded of a graceful crane at a pond edge he had once watched: Especially with the feathering on the hem of her short dress. He was further reminded of the bawdy dancing girls he had caught sight of in many a seedy bar or casino he had peered through on many a stop in towns during drives.

She then approached the stage, her eyes hooded and seductive. She smiled and his heart began to pound hard in his chest.

He had always known that Ruby was cute, pretty. He'd seen her in a sundress after all. She was a girl.

This though? This was the first time seeing her as a woman.

Ruby then took a daring step towards the edge of the stage... And tripped.

Her sultry expression turned into a more familiar expression of shock. She flailed her hands wildly as she went over the edge.

"UWAH-!"

Jaune charged and caught her in his arms. Both their cheeks were red. Blue and silver eyes met.

"Um, h-hey," Ruby managed. "So um... Uh... D-Did you like my dance? I-I worked hard on it."

Jaune slowly nodded.

"Ah... Eeyup," he said softly.

Ruby smiled nervously. She held onto his arms. Her touch was like fire.

"I-I still hate these lady stilts," Ruby softly, pursing her red lips while she resisted licking them, "But uh... M-Maybe they're not so bad?"

She trembled in his arms. She was so warm. His eyes were locked on her face. She pushed her head up towards him. He bent his head...

He shut his eyes tightly and stopped. He then set Ruby down on her heels. He took a step back, and several deep breaths. He opened his eyes and looked at Ruby. Her silver eyes were wide with confusion and hurt.

"Jaune? What's wrong? I-I-"

Jaune shook his head.

"I'm sorry Ruby," he said softly. Tears began to bead at the corners of Ruby's eyes. It felt like a dagger was being driven into his heart.

"Is..." Her head bowed. "I get it. It's Yang, isn't it?"

Jaune blinked.

"Wha-?"

"I'm used to it!" Ruby cried, tears now pouring down her cheeks and ruining her cheeks, "I-I mean, she was the most popular girl in school! The best fighter! Wh-Why would you-You want me-I'm just Ruby and I-I'm-!"

Jaune, alarmed, saw that Ruby's edges were turning into rose petals-About to use her Semblance to jump out. He managed to swing his arms out and caught her by the shoulders.

"NO! Ruby, no, wait! WAIT!"

"It's fine!" Ruby bawled, "It was stupid-I'm sorry-!"

"RUBY!" Jaune shouted, slapping her cheek. Thanks to her Aura, it did no damage. It did shock her out of her Semblance. She gaped at him in disbelief. Jaune bowed his head in shame.

"I'm sorry Ruby," he sighed. "Look... Hit me back first, and then let me explain, huh?"

Ruby blinked twice.

"I-Why would I-?!"

"I hit my friend, and I hit a lady," Jaune stated firmly, "I deserve a hit back in return. Go ahead."

Ruby gaped.

'I-I don't want to hit you! I just... I want to... I just-?"

Jaune took Ruby's hands in his and stared into her eyes.

"Ruby. I love you."

Ruby turned bright red, redder than her namesake. Steam might have shot out of her ears given how high her temperature went.

"Whaaaaaaa-?!"

"I love you, Yang, Weiss, Pyrrha, Blake, Nora, Ren," Jaune went on. Ruby's jaw dropped as she trembled.

"Whaaaaaa-?!"

"Er, not that way," Jaune quickly assured, "For Ren I mean! And Nora, cause Ren would kill me-" He sighed. "Lemme explain?"

"I-I... Um..." Ruby managed a bewildered nod. Jaune took a deep breath and lifted up another prayer to center himself.

"Look: I care about all of you. And if we weren't Hunters on the same teams? Yeah. I'd date you. Marry you. Have a family..."

Ruby gaped. Her face again resembled her namesake.

"A-All of us?!"

Jaune nodded firmly.

"Yes. It's hard enough for you with Yang on yer team. If our teams were on a mission and you got in danger with Pyrrha, and I had to choose between you? I might hesitate. That can get someone killed."

"B-But we're friends and-" Ruby said, but Jaune shook his head.

"Not the same. A friend of mine had a girlfriend on the cattle drives. She and another hand got in trouble during a stampede-Both the same kind of trouble, equal distance between them. He chose his girlfriend... And the hand died."

Ruby rapidly shook her head.

"We would never! I-I mean, my parents were on the same team at Beacon!"

"Like my parents. And they got married after Beacon," Jaune stated firmly, He pulled his hands off her shoulders and shook his head. "I'm sorry Ruby. I love you all too much to risk your lives."

Ruby scowled.

"What about Velvet?" She demanded.

"We did decide we were better off as friends," Jaune pointed out. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm not risking that. I love you all too much to risk that to happen."

He cupped her cheek.

"No matter how much I want to," he said gently, "And I promise? I really want to."

Ruby blushed deeply. She then scowled and punched him in the chin. His head was knocked back and his Aura flared, but he stayed on his feet. He looked back at Ruby, and nodded.

"Well... That's that."

"No! I didn't punch you for-for that!" Ruby growled. Jaune blinked several times.

"Eh? What did you punch me for then?"

Ruby rapidly shook her head and glared.

"I punched you for being stupid!" She growled. She pointed her finger in his face and waved it around angrily.

"You're just being stupid! Or-Or something! Because I'm gonna make you see that we CAN be in love as Hunters and things will be all right!"

Jaune raised his hands.

"But Ruby I-!"

"Nuh uh! I'm gonna prove! You! Wrong! We all will!" She nodded before she turned and vanished via her Semblance. Jaune stared after her in disbelief. He sighed and shook his head, reaching up to rub his chin.

"I will never understand women. Not if I live to be three hundred..."

- - -