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[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

Reader mode
Having Winter be a mentor for Jaune in a potential V10 makes pretty good sense, though.

Helping a man who has gone through that much mental trauma to finally find a way to come to grips with it would be a good story for V10 underneath the other story elements such as getting strategic on Salem and company.

Granted, I think Winter should be helping train him in more facets (physically and discipline, honing what he's learned from his experience and from Pyrrha). But being a confidant and a friend outside of the teams would do him a world of good. I think it would be much better than if he tried to talk more with Oz/Oscar and/or Qrow.
 
R/FNKI is the best RWBY subreddit next to NSFW2

Most people hate on Jaune because of the hentai/smut but again in the show he is the White Mage, you do not FUCK with the White Mage and BROKEN in Grimm Eclipse so we have seen his full canonical strength
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half this thread is lore and crack fuck those fake fans

meanwhile FNKI
Maria is the Best SEW and Huntress so far
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Glaze the Best

make fun AU
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alot of AU on FNKI
RWBY and JNPR reacting to the 'based on a true story' fanfic shows and movie based off there adventure
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atleast the actors are funny
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you can tell the photographers focus
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also Ren and Nora wear less clothes
Yang Timeline jokes
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the Rusted Knight
Cinder wore the same outfit alot
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Glynda and Ruby not recognizing her still bugs me
 
Secret Father Winter New
RWBY, JNPR, SSSN, and a few others were all in a Secret Father Winter... And so...

Nora: "Ooh! Money? Who gave me this?"

All: "Weiss."

Weiss: blush "What?! Everyone could use some money!"

Nora: "Aw, I wanted pancakes!"

Nora's Brain: Money can buy many pancakes!

Nora: gasp "Explain!"

Nora's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services.

Nora: "HOORAY! THANK YOU WEISSY!" Hugs her

Weiss: blush "Well... At least someone appreciates me!"

Yang: "Uh huh. Well... Let's see... What did I... Huh? Goggles and a headscarf? And a tool set?"

Jaune: "That's from me. My dad and sister both ride motorcycles, so I asked them what you needed. I mean, your hair is really pretty when you're riding your bike in the wind and all, but keeping it covered means it doesn't get caught or ruined."

Yang: blush "Ah, well... Thanks, VB. Heh. Maybe I'll give you a special gift later~."

Jaune: "But that's not how Secret Father Winter works-"

Pyrrha: "Jaune! How about you open my gift to you?"

Jaune: "Oh, thanks Pyr!" opens it "Oh wow! Swing Dance lessons! Great! But I already know how to do it."

Pyrrha: "Oh, um, I don't! You could take me!"

Jaune: "It would be nice to teach you something, even if it's useless."

Pyrrha: "Oh, it isn't!"

Yang: "Or you could take me, Stud. I'd love to learn how to swing it with you."

Pyrrha: "I-I need the lessons more!"

Weiss: "You're seriously arguing over who gets to spend time with the Dolt?"

Jaune: "We could go dancing, Weiss!"

Weiss: "Fat chance!"

Jaune: "Aw..."

Sun: "Let me see my gift... Ooh! A weapon cleaning kit! Let me guess Blake, you got me this?"

Ruby: "What? No! I did! Everyone needs a good weapons cleaning kit! Especially you!"

Sun: "I... Oh. Thanks kid."

Ruby: pouts "I'm not a kid dangit! Blake! Open your gift!"

Blake: "Very well..." She opens it. She blinks "This is just a link to Neptune's Flashygram page."

Neptune: "Of course! What would be a better gift that the gift of moi?"

Sage: "That's a non-refundable gift, isn't it?"

Neptune: "HEY!"
 
Remember part 3 New
Remember part 3

For this one I decided to try intersect two povs hope it works.

The ceremony moved forward whether Ozpin was ready or not. Students stood in neat rows across Beacon's great hall, faces bright with excitement, nerves, and ambition. Banners hung high above them, stirring faintly in the air. Glynda stood at the edge of the stage, posture perfect, eyes sharp and observant.

Ozpin held the scroll. His voice was steady as he spoke, practiced over lifetimes. But his mind was not in the hall. It was elsewhere, during a time far older than Beacon. Far heavier than the moment demanded. How many times have I stood here? he wondered.

The ruins did not fall silent. They listened.
Stone still thrummed beneath their feet, echoing lives that had never truly ended. The air was heavy with memory, pressing down until breathing felt like wading through water.
Ruby was the first to break. She dropped to her knees, hands clutching at her chest as if something vital had been torn free.
"I..." Her voice cracked. "They were calling me Mom." Yang froze. Weiss sucked in a sharp breath. Blake staggered, catching herself against a broken pillar. Pyrrha's knees buckled, and she sat hard on the stone, eyes wide and shining. Jaune felt it then, the final lock breaking. "They were ours," he said quietly.

Ozpin's gaze drifted across the crowd, and for just a heartbeat, the faces blurred into others.
People who had trusted him., who believed in him. They followed him. All the People he had failed. Villages passed by because they were inconvenient. Communities that did not fit neatly into the gods' design.

Souls who only wanted to live quietly, raise children, grow without judgment. He had told himself it was necessary. That obedience was wisdom. That the Brother Gods knew better.
That his role was to guide humanity within their rules, not question them. Coward, a quiet voice whispered, not accusing, just true.

Yang turned on Jaune, eyes blazing and shattered all at once. "You knew?" "I didn't," Jaune replied. "Not until now." The memories surged. Not visions imposed by magic , but lived experience finally returning home. Ruby remembered teaching a little girl how to hold a wooden scythe, too big for her arms.
Yang remembered lifting a boy onto her shoulders so he could see festival lights.
Weiss remembered arguing budgets not for kingdoms but for schools.
Poor Winter alone on an airship, looking out the window remembering different lives, including standing watch so children could sleep without fear.

Blake remembered bedtime stories and lessons on listening, to danger and to hope.
Pyrrha remembered guiding small hands, never pushing, always believing.
And Jaune...
Jaune remembered holding them as the world collapsed. Not one child but Several looking up for him to protect them. His children, Their children together. To his his greatest rage and sorrow he failed.

He dropped to his knees, hands pressed to the stone like it might keep him from breaking.
"I tried to keep them safe," he whispered. "We all did." Ruby crawled to him and buried her face in his chest, sobbing. Yang wrapped her arms around both of them, shaking with silent rage.
"They were taken," Blake said hoarsely.
"No," Pyrrha said, voice trembling with certainty. "They were erased."


Ozpin thought of Salem.
Not the witch she became, but the woman she once was. The one who begged him to stop accepting divine cruelty as fate. The one who wanted humanity to move on, to live without being corrected. If only you had been allowed to move on, he thought. If only I had chosen differently. The scroll felt heavier in his hands.
How many tragedies had been born not of malice, but of inaction?
Of choosing order over compassion?
Of following commands instead of conscience?
His eyes drifted, unbidden, to a blond boy near the center of the crowd. Jaune Arc stood straight, expression calm, almost thoughtful.
Too thoughtful for a first-year. A soul that wants peace, Ozpin thought. And yet... Fear coiled quietly in his chest. If they remember… will it already be too late? And worse, should I even try to stop them?

A quiet footstep echoed through the ruins.
Ren and Nora stood apart from the others, near the heart of the ancient stone. Nora's usual brightness was gone. Ren's calm held devastation beneath it. "We remember too," Ren said. Nora knelt, pressing her palm to the stone. "Ours were different." Jaune looked up. "You and Nora." Ren nodded. "Always." "Same souls," Nora whispered. "Different names. Different laughs." Her voice wavered. "But they always ran toward him first." Ren closed his eyes. "And they always slept better when she sang."
The ruins seemed to breathe with them.

Ozpin inhaled, grounding himself. The present demanded his attention. "Ruby Rose," he said aloud. The girl stepped forward, wide-eyed but determined. "From this moment forward," Ozpin continued, voice clear despite the storm inside him, "you will be known as Team RWBY."
Applause followed. Smiles. Relief. Names continued to be called. Partners assigned. Teams formed by chance, by fate, by forces Ozpin could no longer pretend to understand.
"Jaune Arc. Pyrrha Nikos. Lie Ren. Nora Valkyrie."Ozpin paused, just a fraction of a second. "Team JNPR."

Weiss wiped her eyes at the ruins and forced herself to think. "If those towns existed… then the vaults existed too." Jaune's head snapped up. "Yes," Ren said. "Our vaults." "And the original one," Jaune added. The stone beneath them answered, vibrating deeper, older than memory. "Before Maidens," Ren explained. "Before keys. A vault hidden not just from humanity…" "…but from the gods," Blake finished. "Is it still there?" Ruby asked softly.
Ren closed his eyes, sensing. "Yes. Anchored outside the cycle. Untouched." "So they didn't take everything," Yang muttered. "No," Jaune said, standing slowly. "They never could."

Ozpin watched the newly formed teams settle together. They laughed quietly. They exchanged looks of trust. They looked like they can be the next hope for the people.
They could be a good batch, he thought. Strong. Kind. Capable.If the world allows them to graduate. If I allow them.
For the first time in centuries, Ozpin did not feel like a man guiding humanity forward.
He felt like a witness...
Standing at the edge of a story that might finally move beyond him.

At the ruins, Jaune felt it again. Not metal or magic, but only a single glorious purpose.
Something being forged deep within his soul, not to destroy creation, but to end judgment.
"It's almost ready," he murmured. Ruby looked up. "What is?" Jaune met her eyes, steady and unafraid. "A way," he said, "to make sure no one ever loses their children to the will of gods again."

Far away, Salem stirred.
And in a way, a wizard felt a grief he could not name...
And feared a reckoning he might finally deserve.
 
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Jaune Arc was Dying.

Pyrrha had pushed him into a rocket locket to try to save him from the big battle at beacon and he got smacked out of the air like a fly.

So here he lies on the ground a mangled mess of hamburger and bone shards slowly bleeding out.

And apparently hallucinating.

One second he's bleeding out starring at a rock the next second a girl is sitting on it.

She wears a gothic style dress full of frills and ribbons in various shades of grey, red, and purple. Her hair is ash colored and moves in strange ways. But the part that made Jaune absolutely certain he was dying was her eyes. Completely black and darker than any other darkness, they seemed to almost suck the light and leave her face partially in shadows

Why is the grim reaper a loli?

"You are dying sir squire."

Yes. Wonderful dedication. 10/10.

"How fortuitous for you that I am here."

Shes standing over him now and he can see some sort of purple glow just barely visible on the dark pits of her eyes.

"I come to a world without Gods and find a sad broken little thing playing at being the Devil. It is....vexing. like watching a fingerpainter copy a masterpiece you created."

She held her hands over him and dark blood seeped from her skin without any wound to create it.

"I have been many things sir squire, not many of them have been nice. But if I am to pick a fight with the Devil of this world I suppose that makes me God? And gods need a champion. So will you rise sir squire?"

He didn't have a clue what she was talking about. It didn't matter anyway, just the mad ramblings his dying brain cooked up. So not seeing the harm.

Jaune nodded as best he could.

"Wonderful. Then take this gift of blood sir Knight. Rebuild yourself in a image befitting my Knight and get to work."

The blood that she had held over his wounds finally began to obey gravity and dropped down onto his mangled mess of a body.

And Jaune Arc Knew Pain.

His body began twisting and contorting ruined fragments of bone coming together seamlessly and whole. Pulped flesh and organs returning to a pristine and pale state.

It should have felt nice being whole again. But there was a icy feeling in his chest. Like his heart was pumping slushy through his veins. But the transformation was not yet done.

The blood and broken bits of his armor and the locker began to break apart into metal sand and flow across his body leaving behind new armor for him.

Dark in color and far too organic looking it followed every contour of his body up to his chin. Around his lower body was a armored kilt and in his hands was a weapon not meant for a hero.

It was a blade the color of bone run through with jagged veins of purple. There was no guard, no decoration. This was not a blade for showing off, this was a blade for killing.

Jaune Arc stood with his eyes closed and took in a deep breath. Reality seemed to shudder with his inhale as he opened his purple eyes and left without another word.

There were beasts to slay.

That which twists the light watched him leave before she too disappeared without a trace.
 
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JerkRyanShadowWanker said:
Cool, vampire knight. Don't know if she's a reference to anything, I thought Feath the endless at first but not her.
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Not exactly? Jaune is more similar to a Revenant than a vampire. So no sunlight weakness but he does have a almost manic need to kill his killer. Which in this case has been set to be Salem and by extension all of the Grimm.

The armor was supposed to be similar to Riku's dark form from kingdom hearts.

She's a Eldritch creature. Not really a god or a demon but she has a habit of breaking other people's toys.
 
Arc Family Aslanmas New
Another reason Glynda dreaded Jaune Arc being at Beacon... His family.

Nick: bursts into a classroom "PROFESSOR PORT!"

Port: "Nick, old boy! How are you? Merry Aslanmas!"

Nick: "YOU TOO! Come on, Jaune! We're going on a Holiday Train Ride! All your friends are invited! There will be eggnog, hot cocoa, candy canes, cakes, and plenty of Grimm to kill! I even got you an autocannon!"

Jaune: "WOOHOO!"

Ruby: "What kind?"

Nick: "The kind that shoots 20mm rounds 1000 times a minute of Aslanmas cheer!"

Ruby: "YAY!"

And Isabel, surprisingly... Is almost as bad.

Isabel: "All right everyone! Our Aslanmas Sweaters are all ready, and all ugly! Let's take fun photos while wearing them!"

Weiss: glares at Yang and Pyrrha... And Ruby... And Blake... And May... "Why are they all so tight except on me?"

Blake: "You know why."
 
I am sorry if I have asked this question before but seriously, what is stopping Glynda from picking a person up with her Semblance, and then crushing them like a grape?

Is it some inherent thing to her that she cannot do?

And what if she just yanks your weapon out of your hand? Like can you overpower the effects of another person's semblance by waging a "Tug of War" with their aura or something?

Otherwise literally how can anyone beat her other than a surprise attack, one shot one kill move?
 
zMADLAXz said:
I am sorry if I have asked this question before but seriously, what is stopping Glynda from picking a person up with her Semblance, and then crushing them like a grape?

Is it some inherent thing to her that she cannot do?

And what if she just yanks your weapon out of your hand? Like can you overpower the effects of another person's semblance by waging a "Tug of War" with their aura or something?

Otherwise literally how can anyone beat her other than a surprise attack, one shot one kill move?
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When Glynda applies telekinesis to someone or something with Aura, it is akin to interacting with an object many times heavier and denser; the more Aura the target has, the greater its psychic weight and density (Source: RWBY - After the Fall novel).

It is more efficient to just hurl an object at the target for the same level of impact.
 
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A Visit to Father Winter New
The Saint Lucy's Orphanage had transformed its main hall into a proper winter wonderland for the fundraiser. Warm wooden walls glowed under strings of golden lights, shelves overflowed with donated toys, and hand-painted Aslanmas banners fluttered gently overhead—lions rampant, stars of the north, the whole bit. At the center sat an honest-to-goodness carved oak throne piled with furs and pillows, flanked by a massive evergreen draped in paper chains made by the kids.

Jaune Arc—decked out in deep red and blue robes trimmed with white fur, silver embroidery swirling like wind and snow, an ushanka atop his head, and a very authentic-looking beard—was in his element. Father Winter, Remnant's own guardian of joy and miracles, boomed with laughter that echoed off the rafters as each child climbed up, whispered their dreams, and scampered off with candy canes and wide eyes. Arslan Altan, in a deep green tunic, green cape and pointed hat that somehow still looked dignified on her, stood at his side handing out small wooden toys and offering the occasional dry remark when a kid got too grabby.

During a brief break, Jaune sighed and slumped back in his throne.

"I still can't believe I got 'voluntold' to do this by Professor Goodwitch."

Arslan smiled gently.

"You're perfect at it: Your gestures, your kind eyes, the voice-"

"It's rough on my throat," Jaune mumbled, rubbing his Adam's apple.

"The children adore it," Arslan said. She rested a hand on his forearm, "And you're bringing joy to them. Hope. That is the core of the season, and the mission of Father Winter."

Jaune blushed, and slowly nodded.

"Thanks," he murmured. "Still, why did you volunteer?"

Arslan flushed slightly, and cleared her throat.

"I too enjoy making children happy," she said quietly. "Sometimes I can be intimidating."

Jaune chuckled.

"Not as an elf you aren't."

Arslan made a face.

"That is another issue. Elves weren't in the Good Book. How did they get added in? It feels sacrilegious somehow."

"Well," Jaune tried… But he trailed off as his eyes went wide behind his half-moon spectacles. "Oh no."

Team RWBY and the rest of JNPR walked into the main lobby of the orphanage, all decked out for the cold weather.

Why are they here?! Jaune thought frantically.

Jaune's stomach dropped straight through the throne, but Father Winter didn't flinch. He just adjusted his beard and boomed,

"Ho ho ho! Welcome, young huntresses and huntsmen! Come, come, the night is merry and full of wonders!"

Arslan raised one perfect eyebrow at him. "Subtle," she muttered under her breath.

"Not like I have any choice," he muttered back.

First came Ruby, practically vibrating with excitement. She bounced right up and plopped onto his lap without hesitation.

"Hi Father Winter! Okay, so I've been really good—mostly—and I'd like some of those new high-precision micro-tools for Crescent Rose, the ones from Atlas with the adjustable torque settings? Oh, and…"

She paused and worried her lower lip. She glanced back at her friends beyond the garland covered fence, and looked back to Father Winter.

"... And I wanna be a good leader. Like, a really good one. My team's kinda crazy and I'm scared I'll mess it up. Since I've messed it up a lot."

Jaune's heart squeezed. He rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

He didn't know what Jaune Arc should say, but he knew what Father Winter would.

"Little Rose, you'll do fine. Sometimes leading means laying down the law with love—and you've got friends who'll stand with you. That tall blond boy on your sister team, Jaune was it? He'll help. He believes in you."

Ruby's eyes went comically wide. "How did you—?!"

Father Winter tapped the side of his nose. "Wouldn't be much of a winter spirit if I didn't know these things, now would I?"

Ruby squealed, kissed his cheek, and zipped off shouting "BEST TRADITION EVER!"

Weiss approached next, arms crossed, cheeks pink. She perched on the edge of his knee like she was afraid of catching something.

"This is absurd and I am here under protest. You'd better not be some pervert in a costume."

"Only the finest volunteer, my dear," Jaune assured her in his deepest Father Winter rumble. "No judgment here."

"Indeed," Arslan said.

Weiss huffed.

"I'm only doing this because Ruby insisted. But... fine. Can I be a better friend? To Ruby, to... to my other friends? I don't always know how."

Beneath the beard, Jaune smiled softly.

"Ice can hide the warmest heart, child. They already see the good in you. Meet them halfway when you're ready—no rush. Friends are patient."

Weiss blinked, then gave the tiniest smile. "That's... actually decent advice for a holiday volunteer." She stood, smoothing her skirt. "Thank you."

Yang sauntered up next, grinning like a cat in cream. She dropped into his lap with deliberate flair.

"Hey there, big guy. Got room for one more?"

Jaune coughed, cheeks burning under the beard.

"There are children present, Miss Xiao Long."

Yang laughed. "Relax, I'm good. Motorcycle could use a tune-up—maybe some new shocks? And..." Her voice softened, just a touch.

"What?" Jaune asked softly.

"A boyfriend would be nice. Someone who gets me. Not a jerk, not a creep. Someone I could maybe ride across Remnant with someday. There's this dork at school—total goof, but he's sweet. Real sweet. Competition's fierce, but I play to win."

Jaune chuckled warmly. "Sounds like this fellow's denser than a fruitcake. Subtle hints won't work on an idiot like that. Just tell him straight, my dear. Courage is the best gift."

Yang's grin turned sharp and hopeful. She kissed his cheek. "Direct. I like it. Thanks, Father Winter."

Blake lingered at the back until Ruby literally dragged her forward. Ruby then skipped back with a smile. Blake scowled at her and then back at Jaune. She coughed.

"Ruby blackmailed me," she muttered, ears flat under her bow as she sat stiffly.

"You never have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable," Jaune said gently.

Blake exhaled. "She made this feel like a confession."

She looked over at Arslan, who stared back impassively.

"No judgement, and nothing leaves here," Jaune said gently.

Blake shook her head, worrying her lower lip.

"I just... I want to know if I can ever forgive myself. For everything."

"That's a heavy gift to ask for," he said softly. "But running from it won't make it lighter. You've got people who care—people who'd stand with you if you'd let them. Maybe start with one. That monkey boy over there donating toys? He looks like he'd listen."

Blake followed his gaze to Sun, arms full of boxes, laughing with some kids. Even though he wore a parka, he still had it open to show off his bare chest.

Something softened in her eyes.

"Yeah. Maybe I will." She stood. "Thanks."

As she walked toward Sun, Jaune leaned toward Arslan. "Exhausting, but good-hearted."

"Agreed," Arslan said dryly.

Ren approached next, expression calm but faintly pained. He lowered himself onto the throne with the dignity of a man attending his own execution. Jaune coughed.

"You don't have to sit if—"

"Tradition," Ren said simply. "I'm Pathist, but Nora loves Aslanmas. I just want her to be happy. All of them happy. I don't want to lose this family." His voice dropped. "I'm afraid of losing them. I bury it."

Jaune rested a hand on Ren's arm. "Burying fear doesn't kill it. Face it with them—train, grow, stand together. That's how you keep what matters."

Ren nodded slowly. Then, quieter: "It's absurd no one else has noticed it's you."

Jaune's eyes crinkled. "Right?"

Pyrrha came last among his friends, shy and hesitant. She sat carefully, hands folded in her lap.

"I um… I've never done this before," she admitted. "Well not outside staged events. I just wanted to… To do it for myself, you know?"

Jaune nodded slowly.

"It's all right," he said, "Say whatever you want."

Pyrrha was silent for a bit, before she began to speak, slow and soft.

"I just want courage," she whispered. "To be honest with the people I love. I'm so used to being the Invincible Girl... I'm not sure who I am without it. And there's this prophecy from when I was young—that I'll rise high but fall, live bright but burn out fast. It's hard. Because there's someone I… I really care about and he has no idea and I just…"

She paused and shook her head.

"I feel like such a coward for not being honest."

Jaune's heart ached. "Prophecies are just stories until we write the ending. Fate brought you friends who love you—all of you, not just the champion. Be brave enough to show them the real Pyrrha. You've got the courage. You've always had it."

Pyrrha's eyes shimmered. She kissed his cheek gently.

"Thank you." As she stood, she smiled at Arslan. "Hello, Arslan."

Arslan inclined her head. "We should spar sometime."

Pyrrha took a breath, wore a glamorous smile.

"I never wanted to continue our rivalry-"

"I do, but as friends," Arslan said softly, "That's all I have ever wanted from you. I am sorry I did not explain it properly."

Pyrrha blinked, surprised and touched. She beamed.

"I'd... like that very much."

After Pyrrha left, Arslan murmured, "I thought she knew I considered her a friend back at Sanctum. Clearly I was not direct enough. She should not feel so alone."

"She's lucky to have people who notice now," Jaune agreed quietly. Arslan flushed and smiled gently.

Then came Nora—full launch, arms wide, nearly knocking him backward even with the bulk of the throne holding him up.

"Father Winter! I want Renny to smile more and be super happy! And for me to be happy with him! And Jaune-Jaune to stop being such a sad sack! And Pyrrha to open up! And pancakes forever!"

Jaune laughed, hugging her tight. "All reasonable requests. Consider them delivered, little thunderbolt."

Nora hugged back fiercely, then whispered in his ear, "You're the best, Jaune-Jaune. Secret's safe."

Nora flounced off, joining the rest of their friends. He smiled and waved back at them as they headed for the exit. He leaned back in his throne, his heart light and full of joy.

He was riding high—actually feeling pretty darn good about himself—when a local mother guided her fussy toddler forward. The little girl, maybe two, clambered up his knees. He reached out to hold her when she grabbed a fistful of beard for balance, and yanked.

The entire fake beard came off with a loud rip of spirit gum.

Arslan lunged, throwing her elven cape in front of Jaune's face just in time to block the kids' view, but every single one of his friends—gathered near the exit with hot cocoa and cookies—saw everything.

Dead silence.

Jaune coughed awkwardly, beard dangling from one hand.

Nora's eyes narrowed into a terrifying glare at the oblivious toddler.

"YOU BROKE THE SPELL! NOW I WON'T GET MY WISH! THANKS A LOT, KID!"

"NORA, STOP YELLING AT CHILDREN!" Jaune shouted, voice cracking back to normal.

"NEVER!"

Ruby's mouth hung open. Weiss looked like she'd been slapped with a fish. Yang was gaping, her entire face bright red. Blake's ears were straight up in shock under her bow while Sun doubled over laughing hard. Pyrrha's hands flew to her mouth. Ren just closed his eyes like he was praying for patience.

Arslan sighed, long and suffering.

"Happy Aslanmas, everyone."

- - -

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

And elves on Remnant have capes because I say so.
 
AndrewJTalon said:
"A boyfriend would be nice. Someone who gets me. Not a jerk, not a creep. Someone I could maybe ride across Remnant with someday. There's this dork at school—total goof, but he's sweet. Real sweet. Competition's fierce, but I play to win."

Jaune chuckled warmly. "Sounds like this fellow's denser than a fruitcake. Subtle hints won't work on an idiot like that. Just tell him straight, my dear. Courage is the best gift."
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Denser than Nora's hammer, but we love him!

Aslanmas short idea, Team RWBY finds out they were on the naughty list for all their escapades, what do they receive?
 
Jaune Arc, Single Father 5 (Revised) New
Mia had her own little bed wedged right next to Jaune's in the JNPR dorm, a tiny fortress of blankets and stuffed animals. He was trying (really trying) to let her stay there all night, to give her that sliver of independence she'd need someday. Most nights she still ended up crawling in with him anyway, but tonight she'd stayed put.

Until she didn't.

She woke up groggy, eyes sticky with sleep, and padded barefoot out of the room on a mission she only half-remembered. Down the hall, past the correct kitchenette, straight into RWBY's.

The only light came from the open fridge door. Yang stood hunched in front of it, hair tied up in a messy bun, tank top and shorts, muttering to herself.

"Where did Ruby put the eggs now?... I keep telling her those are for protein…"

A small voice, soft and uncertain, floated up from the doorway.

"Mama…?"

Yang spun around. "Wha—?"Her eyes landed on Mia, barefoot in her pajamas, clutching her teddy bear, rubbing one eye with a fist.

She dropped to a knee instantly, voice hushed. "Mia? What are you doing up so late?"

"Mama… Had bad dream… Want water…"Mia toddled forward and wrapped both arms around Yang's neck.

Yang went very, very still.This had happened before, years ago, with a much smaller Ruby.But Mia wasn't Ruby.

"Sweetie… I'm not…"Mia just hugged tighter.

Yang's heart cracked right down the middle. She scooped the little girl up with one arm, settling her on her hip. "Do you want it extra cold?"

"Yeah… With lemon…"

Yang smiled, small and shaky. "Alright… let me cut you a lemon then…"She set Mia on the counter, sliced a wedge of lemon, poured cold water into a plastic cup with little crescent moons on it, dropped the lemon in, and carried both cup and child to the couch.

"…Do you want to tell me about your dream?"

"Mmhm… Daddy was fighting… He was fighting darkness… It all got dark… And I screamed for him… He didn't come…"

"Darkness?" Yang pulled Mia into her side; the little girl burrowed in without hesitation, face pressed to Yang's ribs. "And then you woke up?"

"Mmhm… I saw Daddy. He was okay… He's tired. And sad."

"Sad? Why is he sad?"

"He misses you… He works really hard for me and stuff…"

Mia lifted her head, eyes huge and earnest. "Why'd you have to go away…?"

Yang's throat closed. Raven's back as she walked away. Summer's grave. A hundred nights asking the exact same question.

"I…" Her voice came out strangled. "Sweetie I'm… so sorry…"

"Daddy says you didn't wanna go…"

"No… No I didn't. But I… I didn't have a choice." The words spilled out before she could stop them, raw and aching. "But every day… I miss you… and your father so, so, so much, Mia. And I'm so proud of you… for who you've become. And I… I…"

Breaker, Jaune, I'm so sorry for this.

"I love you and your father so much… and I'm so sorry…"

Her eyes burned. She was losing the fight against tears when Mia wriggled up and settled herself in Yang's lap, arms around her neck again.

Snuggled close, Mia's voice faded into a sleepy whisper. "Love you Mama…"

A single, broken sob slipped out of Yang. "…I love you too Mia…"

She didn't go to the gym. Didn't move an inch. She sat there on the couch until her own eyes drifted shut, Mia's warmth anchored against her chest, and slept.

- - -

Morning came soft and gray.

Jaune woke, saw the empty cot, and didn't panic. He'd done this dance before. Hoodie on, hair still a mess, he checked their common room, then padded to RWBY's door and eased it open.

Thank the Breaker.

Yang was curled on her side, cheek resting atop Mia's blonde curls. Mia's arms were still looped around Yang's waist like she'd never let go.

Jaune's shoulders sagged in relief. He crossed the room quietly and crouched, gently shaking Yang's shoulder. "Yang?"

She didn't wake at first—just tightened her hold on Mia with a sleepy murmur. He tried again.

"Yang."

Her eyes fluttered. "Huh… wah…" She smacked her lips, blinked up at him, and then everything crashed back in at once. "Jaune?! Um… it's… I didn't—"

"It's okay. Mia wanders off sometimes when she sleeps."

"I… yeah… ok…"Yang's voice shook. She didn't make a single move to dislodge the child glued to her front.

Jaune carefully slid his arms under Mia and lifted her. For a second Mia clung to Yang, tiny fingers fisted in her tank top.

"Hey sweetie… Time to wake up…"

"Nnngh… Mmph…" Mia pouted, curled into Jaune instead, and promptly went boneless again.

Jaune chuckled under his breath. "All right. Another hour."

He carried her back to JNPR, tucked her into the little bed, and returned to find Yang exactly where he'd left her—curled into a tight ball on the couch, arms wrapped around herself.

He sat on the coffee table in front of her. "Everything okay?"

She was quiet so long he thought she wouldn't answer. Then, hoarse and barely audible:

"…She called me Mom."

Jaune froze. "…O-Oh…"

Yang nodded, slow. "I was… getting ready to go work out… since the gyms are usually empty at that time… And I guess… since she was so tired… her kid brain saw my blond hair… and… everything… and thought I was her."

"I see…"

She swallowed hard. "I wanted to tell her that I wasn't her… just… her Auntie Yang… but she… Jaune, I'm so sorry."

"I… I'm sorry, Yang."

"No! Nonono, it… It's okay."

He sighed. "…You know, when she looks at pictures or vids of Katy? It's like… It's like she's looking at a stranger."

"…I get that actually…" Jaune blinked, confused. Yang turned to him with a sad, tired smile. "This happened with Ruby too once… when we were younger…"

"Oh? Oh," Jaune's tone changed as he realized. Yang slowly nodded.

"Yeah… when Dad shut down after Summer died… I took care of everything y'know? I cooked, I cleaned… Heck, I helped teach Ruby how to read so she wouldn't make a fool of herself at school… Learned how to make a mean omelette at seven…" She tried for a laugh; it came out wet. "And Ruby? She idolizes Summer… or at least the idea of her… because Summer died before she could ever really meet her in a sense."

Jaune stayed silent, letting her spill.

"And then one night… when I turned off the lights and told Ruby good night? I heard her in the dark say 'good night mom' back…"Her whole body shook. "I… I was seven years old, Jaune…"

"Oh God… Yang…"He pulled her into a hug without thinking. She folded forward and cried quietly into his shoulder while he stroked her hair—slow, careful, the way he did for Mia.

"I… I was seven years old… doing laundry for three… cooking for three… while doing my homework, homeschooling my sister… Ruby never called me that again… I don't think she even remembers it but… but when she said that… I didn't know what to do Jaune…"

Jaune kept stroking her hair, trying to pour every ounce of comfort he had into the motion.

"…I… I wouldn't know what to do, either…"

Yang didn't answer, just relaxed a fraction and inhaled shakily. "So when Mia called me her mom? It was… it was like I was seven all over again… but this time it was…"

"…It was?"

"…I don't know Jaune… wrong? She… I get that she was tired and confused but… with Ruby… Ruby is my sister. She's family. But with Mia? She's… gods I don't know how to explain this. She's yours Jaune. She's not mine. But when she hugged me tight… told me she had a bad dream… about how much you miss Katy… I panicked… and for five minutes, to her… I was Katy Arc. And I'm so sorry Jaune."

"…It's okay, Yang… Look. I don't… I don't know if it's wrong. I just know… I mean… She was smiling in her sleep after a nightmare. And you did that."

"We will have to talk to her about her Mom… Being gone. It's like, she kind of gets it? But she doesn't… Really understand it."

He sighed. "I just… I'm sorry if it brought back bad memories, Yang."

"It's… It's fine. There's no way either of you could have known."She forced a grin that wobbled hard. "I just wish Ruby fell asleep as easy as Mia does, y'know? When she was younger?"

"Yang…" He looked at her, worried. "…If you don't want to be a mom I—I get it."

"You kidding? I'd love to be a mom… have my own kid you know? Smother them with so much love they'd never be afraid of me leaving them…"She winced. "I just… I wish I didn't have to get an early access pass to it y'know? No offense! I—oh gods that sounds so messed up given the context…"

"No, no… I get it." His voice went dark, quiet. "I do… I feel like I grew up ten years overnight when Katy…"

"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. She just… Even if she doesn't know her, she misses her. So… Thanks for being there for her."

Yang's smile turned soft, real. "For her? Anything…"She rested her head on his shoulder. They sat in silence a moment, then she added, small smile against his hoodie, "You know… from one single parent to another?... You've done a mighty fine job, Mr. Arc."

"Well… You did a great job with Ruby, Miss Xiao-Long." He smiled back.

"Heh. Don't I know it…"

"Thanks though, Yang. Um… Look. My team, you guys… You've been helping me out a lot. I know it's selfish to bring her with me…"

"Not really… Again, I'm probably the only one who can kind of, maybe relate to what it's like… being you. And if right now, Ruby was still five years old? I wouldn't want her anywhere else but with me here either. Besides… she's adorable! Who wouldn't be okay with her around here, livening up the place?"

She nestled deeper into his shoulder. "We're here for you… I'm here for you. And always will be…"

"…Thanks Yang."He wrapped an arm around her and held her close.

"…Just… Don't let me do anything stupid. I promised I'd always be there for her…"

"Don't worry… even without her around, I'd be doing that anyways I think. And honestly, just like how I'm here for you, I'm here for Mia too."They sat, comfortable, quiet. Then: "….Hey do you think Mia would want to come to the gym with me at some point? No, that's crazy right?"

"I think she'd love it. Just take it easy on her, huh? She just figured out jump rope."

Yang snickered. "Can you imagine Mia throwing Weiss around like a ragdoll at… what is she now? 4? Or better yet, Cardin?"

Jaune actually laughed. "That would be funny."

"Maybe I'll ask her… once her hour is up."She tilted her head to look up at him, cheek still on his shoulder, his fingers still threading gently through the ends of her hair. "You wanna join us? Could be fun."

"I would love to."

"Cool." She smiled, turned forward again, and tried to hide her red cheeks.

It's… a date I guess. I mean… not a date-date, a friend date. With a friend and his adorable child. Totally not a date.

…Probably.
 
Remember christmas interlude New
Remember christmas interlude
Set in the not to future.

Snow fell differently on Beacon now.
Not heavier. Not colder. Just… slower, as if the world itself wanted to linger. Lanterns lined the upper walkways, glowing gold and soft blue, their light reflecting off frost-kissed stone. Someone Ruby, inevitably, had convinced the faculty to allow decorations that absolutely did not meet standard academy austerity guidelines. Paper stars, ribbon-wrapped railings, even a small evergreen growing in a reinforced planter, adorned with mismatched ornaments from every kingdom.

They called it Aslanmas now, not Christmas, not anymore. For many its a remembrance day, others a defiance day, but to the few a promise.
Team RWBY and JNPR sat bundled together near the courtyard fire pit, mugs steaming in their hands. Velvet perched on the low wall, sketchbook forgotten in her lap. Cardin leaned against a pillar nearby, arms crossed, expression unusually thoughtful. Winter stood slightly apart, posture formal out of habit, but she hadn't stepped away.
Not tonight.

Ruby broke the silence first, voice soft. "Do you remember… the first one?" Yang snorted quietly. "Which one? Before the gods? During? Or after everything went wrong?" Ruby smiled faintly. "All of them." The fire popped. Snow hissed as it touched flame. Jaune stared into the embers. "Before… it was simple. No speeches. No meaning layered on top of meaning." His voice warmed with memory. "Just food, bad songs, and kids trying to stay awake." Velvet nodded eagerly. "They'd fall asleep everywhere. Under tables. In boots. Once, I found one curled up in a basket of yarn." Blake smiled at that, eyes distant. "Stories mattered more than gifts. Not the ending, just the telling."

Weiss exhaled slowly. "After the gods came…" She hesitated, then continued. "It became controlled. Measured. Approved." A bitter edge crept in despite herself. "Joy with limits." Winter closed her eyes briefly. "I remember standing watch while children slept," she said. "Armed. On a holiday." A pause. "I thought it was duty."
Yang glanced at her. "You kept them safe."
Winter opened her eyes. "I tried." Ren spoke quietly. "During the worst years… Aslanmas was forbidden in some places." His fingers tightened around his cup. "But people still lit candles. Quietly. One per child." Nora leaned into him. "And sang," she added. "Soft. So the gods wouldn't hear."

Cardin surprised them all by speaking. "We hid bread," he said gruffly. "If you shared food, you shared guilt. So we did it anyway." He shrugged. "Didn't know why, just knew it mattered."
Jaune finally looked up. "They couldn't erase it," he said. "That's why it scared them."
The fire crackled brighter for a moment, as if agreeing. Ruby stood and lifted a small, crooked ornament, a wooden scythe carved by hand. She hung it on the little tree. "For them," she said simply. No one needed clarification.

Far from Beacon, in a place untouched by seasons but still marked by time, a table stood between two immortals.No Grimm. No weapons.Just tea and two still grieving parents.
Salem set a small candle between them and lit it with a snap of her fingers. "Ten years already," she said quietly. Ozpin adjusted his glasses. "You're early." She gave a humorless smile. "So are you."

They sat. Silence stretched, not hostile, just careful. "She loved the snow," Salem said at last. "Even when it hurt her lungs." Ozpin nodded. "She used to steal my cloak. Said it smelled like old books and safety." Salem huffed softly. "She was wrong about the books." "She always was," he replied.

Another pause.

"The other one," Salem continued, voice softer, "used to hum when she thought no one was listening." Ozpin's fingers tightened around his cup. "I remember." They drank, no accusations tonight, No blame against eachother. Just memory and their own guilt.

"They call it Aslanmas now," Ozpin said.
Salem looked at the candle. "Good. Names matter." "Yes," he agreed. Then, quietly, "They're still alive, in them." Salem didn't answer immediately. When she did, it was almost a whisper. "Then perhaps… this time… we let them finish the story." The candle burned steady between them.

Back at Beacon, snow continued to fall.
Jaune closed his eyes and felt it,deep, quiet, unwavering. Not wrath. Not vengeance.
Resolve. Aslanmas was never about what was taken, It was about what endured, what to give and to bring hope.
And finally somewhere beyond gods, beyond cycles, something long denied was finally learning how to breathe again.
 
Twas the night before Christmas and all throughout Salems castle
Her minions were dealing with quite the hassle.

Traps were lain, designed to inflict maximum pain.

They would capture that magical ball of holiday fat.

Santa clause would regret calling Salem a brat!

Alas as the villains plotted and toiled they didn't know that their plans were already foiled.

For Santa had a special gift to give from his sleigh.

A thermonuclear detonation that turned night to day.
 
Team RWBY's Not So Jolly Early Aslanmas! New
Team RWBY's Not So Jolly Early Aslanmas!
​
Ruby - "Stupid early morning mandatory Nondescript Winter Holiday assembly!"

Yang - "When I find the person that started the war on Aslanmas, those holiday backstabbers better be ready to catch some hands!"

Ruby - "Ditto!"

Weiss - "Honestly, this worked up over an assembly, and having to open presents an hour later! You're acting like someone stole the gifts from the team gift exchange before we leave for our respective homes later today."

Blake - "Those of us that are leaving. Personally, I'll be enjoying the peace and quiet with virtually everyone gone."

Ruby - "The presents! Team RWBY to the common room!"

A short time later in the Team RWBY/JNPR Common Room
​
Blake - "Is it just me, or do our presents look..... different?"

Ruby - "Did Jaune, and his team open ours by mistake?"

Yang - "Our names are on them though...."

Weiss - "The White Witch took our presents! I knew your shenanigans that you kept dragging me into would land me on the naughty list! Now her servant Krumpus has stolen my gift, and left a punishment instead!"

Ruby - "Weiss, I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything. Look, I'll open my gift first, and I'm sure everything will be fine!"

*Ruby opens her wrapped Aslanmas box, and reveals a collection of freshly baked cookies*
​
Ruby - "See, nothing wrong at all! Just a box of freshly baked, perfectly normal, non evil cookies."

*Ruby proceeds to take a big bite of a cookie*
​
Ruby - "Gggghhhkkk!!!"

Weiss - "See, I told you they were punishment!"

Yang - "Rubes, are you ok?!? Are they poisioned?!?"

Blake - "Those don't smell like poision, I think they're...."

Ruby - "Even worse than poison! They're oatmeal raisin, and I need milk to wash my mouth out!"

*Ruby vanishes in a cloud of rose petals in the direction of the cafeteria*
​
Blake - "Well, who's next?"

Yang - "I'll go next, it's not like anything bad can come in a card."

*Yang tears open her envelope*
​
Yang - "Motorcycle license suspension!?! How many points?!? Oh crap, they notified Dad too?!? I've gotta go!"

*Yang darts out of the Common Room*
​
Weiss - "Well, It's just the two of us now that those dolts are gone, and an envelope each."

Blake - "Open them at the same time?"

Weiss - "I suppose we may as well."

*Riiiiiiip*
​
Weiss - "SENSITIVITY....."

Blake - "TRAINING?!?!"

*Elsewhere at Beacon*
​
Ozpin - "Ahhh, there you are Glynda, I see you've received some presents already!"

Glynda - "You might say that, Headmaster."

*Ozpin stares at the pile of presents, and baked goods which Glynda is currently munching on*
​
Ozpin - "Glynda, are you playing at being Krumpus again? I know Team RWBY's antics this year have been...."

Glynda - "Excessively disastrous? A tsunami of paperwork? The looming cause of carpal tunnel in my wrist?"

Ozpin - "......can I have a cookie too?"

*Flicks her riding crop at Ozpin's hand*
​
Glynda - "No."
 
Last edited:
Sewing Circle - Another Aslanmas Special New
Weiss Schnee stormed into the JNPR common room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, cheeks flushed with irritation. Ruby was late—again—for their study session, and with midterms looming, Weiss had zero patience for her partner's chronic tardiness.

She shoved the door open, ready to unleash a tirade, only to freeze at the sight before her. The room looked like a textile explosion: cotton stuffing scattered everywhere, bolts of cloth draped over chairs, and plushies—dozens of them—in various stages of completion littered every surface.

Jaune, oblivious to her entrance, was scolding Ruby with mock severity. "Ruby, you can't just make puppies. You have to make other animals too!"

"But puppies are the best!" Ruby protested, holding up an adorably chubby beagle plush.

Weiss finally found her voice. "What the heck are you two doing?!"

Jaune looked up, startled. "Ruby, look—oh, Weiss. I thought Ruby told you? We're making plushies for the orphans."

"Yeah!" Ruby chimed in, beaming.

Weiss blinked. "The orphans?"

"St. Lucy's," Jaune explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I volunteer there sometimes, and they asked if I could round up some plushies for the upcoming Aslanmas."

"Pyrrha's even going for a visit," Ruby added proudly.

Weiss narrowed her eyes, folding her arms. "Is this some kind of effort to ask me out?"

Jaune recoiled. "What? No!"

In the corner, Nora was happily stitching together something with far too many heads.

"NORA!" Jaune barked. "Real animals!"

Ruby glanced at Weiss sheepishly. "Sorry, Weiss. Ruby was supposed to tell you. She can study with you now if you want..."

Nora held up her creation triumphantly. "It is real! It's a hydra!"

"Not Grimm!" Ruby cried.

"But Grimm are real!" Nora countered.

Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose. "We want animals that won't scare the kids, Nora. Try a pony."

Ruby turned to Weiss with a hopeful grin. "You wanna join in?"

Weiss hesitated, glancing at a small plush dog on the table. "...Well." She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. "They are rather cute."

"Yeah," Jaune said, shooting Ruby a pointed look. "All the animals are cute. Dogs and otherwise, Ruby."

Ruby huffed. "Dogs are awesome! Cats suck!"

The door creaked open again, and Blake stepped in, her expression darkening instantly.

"What was that, Ruby?" she asked, voice low.

Ruby's eyes widened. "I didn't mean cat Faunus! I mean cats!"

Yang, trailing behind her sister, smirked. "She meant all cats. Especially you, KitKat."

Jaune gasped theatrically. "How could you, Ruby? I thought you loved all animals. I was gonna invite you home to meet baby Archie, thought you'd make good friends with him..." He let out an exaggerated sad sigh.

"He's such a hard worker," Jaune continued, voice trembling theatrically. "Keeping the farm clean of rodents."

Yang snickered. "Uh-oh, Rubes. Looks like you stuck it to VB there."

Ruby flailed. "Ah! I didn't mean to! Sorry, Jaune!"

Jaune turned away dramatically. "No, no, I get it. Too much to ask. Maybe Blake would like to come tour the place..."

Blake's lips curved into a sly smirk. "Why, I'd be happy to, Jaune."

Ren, having just wrestled the multi-headed abomination from Nora's grasp, gave Jaune a flat look. "Hey. You having fun making Ruby feel bad? Because I thought we had a quota to meet."

Nora, undeterred, held up a new set of plushies. "I also made a whole sloth family! See? They have claws—for hugging!"

Jaune held up a particularly derpy-looking hippo. "That's... great, Nora. But one sloth family is enough. Look, isn't this hippo adorable too?"

Nora wrinkled her nose. "Not that one."

Jaune groaned, then turned to the newcomers. "Can you all give me a hand? You can see the talent I'm working with here."

Yang flexed her fingers. "I'm pretty sharp."

Jaune tossed Blake a calico cat plush, then handed Weiss a corgi that bore an uncanny resemblance to her own beloved pet. Weiss stared at it for a long moment.

"...Hmph," she muttered. "I'll give it a shot."

Jaune beamed and pulled both Weiss and Yang into quick, grateful hugs. "Thank you both so much! We need a lot more plushies. All Ruby and Nora want to make are puppies and sloths. I need variety."

Weiss stiffened. "Don't—don't touch me!"

Yang just laughed. "No problem!"

Jaune spread out several sheets of patterns on the table. "Here are the patterns. Pick an animal, trace it, cut the cloth, and I'll show you how to put it together."

They settled in. Pyrrha, naturally, sewed with machine-like precision and speed, her plushies turning out flawless every time.

Two dozen animals later, Jaune surveyed the growing pile with satisfaction. "Good job, everyone! We're nearly a quarter of the way there."

Yang held up a plush with an extra head or two. "What did you make, Weiss? A tribble?"

"At least it doesn't have two heads," Weiss snapped.

"I gave it character!"

Jaune lightly bonked Yang on the head with a rolled-up newspaper. "Yang. Real animals. No extra heads or limbs."

He leaned over Weiss's work. "Weiss, don't be so conservative with the cloth for the limbs. A little extra length helps them pop out."

Pyrrha held up another perfect creation. "How is this, Jaune?"

"Wow, Pyr," Jaune said, genuinely impressed. "You've made such good plushies. I bet you'll make an awesome mom someday."

Pyrrha flushed bright red.

Yang scowled.

Jaune glanced over. "Uh, Yang, your plush is spewing stuffing..."

"Hm? Oh." Yang looked down, then smiled sweetly. "Hey, mind walking me through the process, Ladykiller?"

Jaune sighed. "Alright, let's go through it again." He gently took Yang's hands, guiding her through the stitches, showing her how to close seams and join pieces properly.

From across the room, Nora muttered to Ren while sewing a reluctant pony, "Ren, you think Jaune will ever get less dense?"

Ren gave her a long, silent stare.

"I mean, miracles happen, right?"

Ren stared harder.

Nora whimpered. "Right?"

Pyrrha's eyes burned with jealousy as she watched Jaune with Yang. Yang, blushing faintly, shot Pyrrha a smug smirk in return.

Ren subtly pointed toward the oblivious Jaune, then at the heart-eyed glares flying between the two girls.

Nora looked skyward. "Oh Brothers, please... make Jaune less dense. For his own sake."

Jaune, missing every cue, reached over and sewed a little pink heart onto Nora's latest sloth. "Hey, I'm not that dense. See? How's that?"

Nora deadpanned.

She prayed harder.

Jaune shrugged. "Whatever. Hey, anyone see where Moo-deng went?"

Ruby hugged a round, squeaky-looking baby hippo plush to her chest. "She's mine!"

Jaune gave her a disappointed look. "Oh... what happened to 'puppies are best'?"

"She's like a hippo puppy!"

"And she's meant for a special little girl downtown who specifically asked for her," Jaune said, holding out his hand.

Yang snickered. "Ooh, Ruby's in trouble."

Ruby pouted. "I know, I know. I just wanted to enjoy her for a little. Appreciate my masterwork!"

"I think you mean my work," Jaune corrected. "I let you sew on the tiny tusks."

"I still helped!"

"Ruby... the hippo, please."

"We're not going right now, are we?"

Pyrrha held up an identical hippo, sewn in record time. "I made you another one, Ruby!"

"Woah! You did it so fast and it looks great... but I'm attached to this one. Hmmm..."

"Think of the children, Ruby," Pyrrha said gently.

Ruby sighed dramatically. "All right." She handed Moo-deng over.

Jaune smiled at Pyrrha. "Thanks, Pyr. I owe you." He turned to the group. "Come on, everyone. Plenty more to go. We're going to make a lot of kids happy this Aslanmas."

Pyrrha shot Yang a smug little look.

Later, Jaune noticed Weiss tangled in a nest of thread and sighed. "Weiss... would you like some help again?"

Weiss struggled futilely. "Ugh. If you're so incompetent—"

"You are," Blake interjected dryly.

"Have you knit anything?!" Weiss snapped.

"Yes." Blake gestured to her pile of lopsided, vaguely feline plushies.

Jaune rubbed his temples. "Weiss! Blake! Come on, ladies, can we try to work together productively?"

He offered help to both. Weiss relented with a huff. "If... if you must."

Jaune eyed Blake's chaotic pile judgmentally.

"I never said I was any good at this," Blake muttered.

"Here," Jaune said softly, taking Blake's hands in his. "I'll show you."

"You have very gentle hands," Blake observed quietly.

Jaune chuckled, a little nervous. "Well, for work like this, you kinda have to. You're making something to bring love and joy to kids. That requires a gentle touch."

Pyrrha and Yang both glared daggers, jealousy flaring bright.

Ruby bounced over, holding up her newest creation: a detailed octopus clutching a tiny gun in each tentacle.

Jaune's forehead throbbed. "Ruby... no weapons on the animals. We're trying to show them the gentler side of nature."

"Nature is kill or be killed!" Ruby declared. "Rules of naturre!"

"Gentler, Ruby!" Jaune pleaded. "I said gentler!"

Nora began humming the tune loudly.

Yang laughed. "Come on, stud, they'll love it!"

"Breaker, save us," Jaune muttered.

He turned the puppy-dog eyes on Ruby—kicked-puppy eyes, really.

Ruby groaned. "Urrgh... fine. I'll just give the guns to these toy soldiers. Happy?" She pouted.

Jaune's smile was serene. "Very happy. Thank you, Ruby."

He glanced at Weiss's growing pile of slightly misshapen but improving plushies, then at Blake's slow but steady progress under his guidance, and finally at the chaotic, joyful mess around him.

They still had a long way to go, but for the first time all evening, it felt like they might actually pull it off.
 
Santa Versus Salem New
SharkCultist said:
Twas the night before Christmas and all throughout Salems castle
Her minions were dealing with quite the hassle.

Traps were lain, designed to inflict maximum pain.

They would capture that magical ball of holiday fat.

Santa clause would regret calling Salem a brat!

Alas as the villains plotted and toiled they didn't know that their plans were already foiled.

For Santa had a special gift to give from his sleigh.

A thermonuclear detonation that turned night to day.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Salem emerged from her ruined castle hold, her minions scattered or now ash I've been told.

"Fly my pretties!" She cried into the night, with pools of Griffons and other monsters taking to flight. "Bring me that fat man from off his sleigh ride, so that I might finally skin his worthless hide!"

Yet Santa was clever and up his sleeve was an Ace, for in the skies formed a new foe to face. As Grimm soon found themselves beset by a blizzard, mighty and conjured by a white winter wizard. He rode atop a most mighty great reindeer, whose blasts from his nose vaporized Grimm who drew near.

"You shall do him no harm with your evil flock, for I," bellowed the man, "am the Winter Warlock!"

From his hands came streams of white snow and great thunder, and it was here that Salem had realized her most unforeseen blunder. Snow had built quickly in these dark lands of Grimm, and it was with panic she knew her chances were slim. From the snow emerged forms that caused Grimm to breathe their death rattle. The famed legions of Frosty had arrived to do battle.

Drums in the deep played on in this night, a tireless drummer beating with all of his might. Her great flock of monsters within the dark skies, soon scattered and trembled as doom filled their eyes. The drummer rode atop claw, beak and feather, this great titan immune to their attacks and the weather. Reformed he had been, for crimes thought unbearable.

"Behold, vile witch, Eon the Terrible!"

The air grew colder as Salem pressed on, believing this battle could somehow be won. Then a voice whispered as Grimm pools froze, and there a bite at the end of her nose.

"Jack Frost," she cried as Grimm fell and shattered, and suddenly survival was all that mattered. Her hordes were used as a last ditch resort, to hold the line while she fled her ruined fort.

Yet her frenzied escape to parts unknown, was soon blocked by the very seeds she had sown. Chunks of coal rained around her as they pelted the ground, and from the blizzard emerged Santa, who with a sigh, frowned.

"Poor little Salem, so broken and sad, yet even on this night, you could not help but be bad. Children all over pray for peace in these times, so that they may celebrate with friends and family without scars from your crimes. Yet plans to destroy and plunder you intended to follow, and this night we decided it was something we would not allow."

"You do this every year, you fat red reprobate, and because of that, once more I must relocate!" Salem was evil, mean and haughty, but in Santa's eyes she was, above all, naughty.

Santa then shook his head and took up a pose, an aura of threat running from his head to his toes. "You will learn true power, Salem, by gosh and by golly, for I unleash on you my Stand: MAXIMUM JOLLY!"
 
Abramus5250 said:
Salem emerged from her ruined castle hold, her minions scattered or now ash I've been told.

"Fly my pretties!" She cried into the night, with pools of Griffons and other monsters taking to flight. "Bring me that fat man from off his sleigh ride, so that I might finally skin his worthless hide!"

Yet Santa was clever and up his sleeve was an Ace, for in the skies formed a new foe to face. As Grimm soon found themselves beset by a blizzard, mighty and conjured by a white winter wizard. He rode atop a most mighty great reindeer, whose blasts from his nose vaporized Grimm who drew near.

"You shall do him no harm with your evil flock, for I," bellowed the man, "am the Winter Warlock!"

From his hands came streams of white snow and great thunder, and it was here that Salem had realized her most unforeseen blunder. Snow had built quickly in these dark lands of Grimm, and it was with panic she knew her chances were slim. From the snow emerged forms that caused Grimm to breathe their death rattle. The famed legions of Frosty had arrived to do battle.

Drums in the deep played on in this night, a tireless drummer beating with all of his might. Her great flock of monsters within the dark skies, soon scattered and trembled as doom filled their eyes. The drummer rode atop claw, beak and feather, this great titan immune to their attacks and the weather. Reformed he had been, for crimes thought unbearable.

"Behold, vile witch, Eon the Terrible!"

The air grew colder as Salem pressed on, believing this battle could somehow be won. Then a voice whispered as Grimm pools froze, and there a bite at the end of her nose.

"Jack Frost," she cried as Grimm fell and shattered, and suddenly survival was all that mattered. Her hordes were used as a last ditch resort, to hold the line while she fled her ruined fort.

Yet her frenzied escape to parts unknown, was soon blocked by the very seeds she had sown. Chunks of coal rained around her as they pelted the ground, and from the blizzard emerged Santa, who with a sigh, frowned.

"Poor little Salem, so broken and sad, yet even on this night, you could not help but be bad. Children all over pray for peace in these times, so that they may celebrate with friends and family without scars from your crimes. Yet plans to destroy and plunder you intended to follow, and this night we decided it was something we would not allow."

"You do this every year, you fat red reprobate, and because of that, once more I must relocate!" Salem was evil, mean and haughty, but in Santa's eyes she was, above all, naughty.

Santa then shook his head and took up a pose, an aura of threat running from his head to his toes. "You will learn true power, Salem, by gosh and by golly, for I unleash on you my Stand: MAXIMUM JOLLY!"
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This is by far one of the best Santas I have read about. Matches some of the energy I see from DC and Marvel's Santas. One keeps delivering coal to apokalipse every year to Darkseid while the other is basically strong enough to fight Galactis and Satan.
 
Funny enough it wasn't until large scale industrialized warfare arose, or at least around that time, that you got mass conscription of soldiers amongst ordinary citizens and subjects. The Ottomons of course enslaved massive numbers of Africans and European slaves for their militaries under their devşirme system and there was some conscription across Asia and so on, but the majority of those called into service were those who could fight or be trained to fight. It would be used during times of desperation of course, but if you conscripted your peasants then there was no one to grow food. And if you conscripted your merchants, no trade. As a result, you don't get mass conscription until war becomes such a complex system you need so many people to support it.

And disruptions to your economy from mass warfare would cause emotional issues that might invite more Grimm attacks. So while you would have modern standing armies in Remnant, there is a logic in relying on PMCs, mercenaries like Huntsmen, and non-government paramilitary actors for large scale defense. Yes you defend your civilization and assert foreign policy needs, but when you need to defend regular people against the Grimm, mass conscription is unlikely when you can decentralize military force. This has some issues with local warlords arising, but it also has the benefit of faster reaction times to dealing with issues, lower cost, and less conflict between nation-states as everyone has a vested interest in keeping non-state paramilitary actors honest to avoid escalating tensions.

Though at the same time you could also use PMCs, Hunters groups, or other militant forces as catpaws for your foreign policy, so it's not perfect. But then nothing is.

This would also explain hostility towards Menagerie over the White Fang: They are seen as a catspaw (HA) of Menagerie's foreign policy.
 
Remember part 4 New
Remember part 4 : A meeting of love that can spark a war.
The leaves fell and brushed the edge of the courtyard after the teams left to head to the dorms. Cardin told his team to head straight as he has someone to talk to. Velvet stood apart from the others, to wait once cardin was free. They would look awkward to anyone watching them. But its not because they didn't belong, but because memory had weight, and it settled differently on them.

Velvet was the first to speak. Her voice was soft, almost careful, like she might scare the past away if she raised it. "Do you feel it too?"
Cardin nodded. He didn't cross his arms this time. His hands hung loose at his sides, heavy with things he hadn't carried in years. "Yeah. Not all at once. Just… enough." She smiled faintly. "You always felt it first." He huffed. "You always noticed before I admitted it." They shared a glance, and the world slipped, just a little. It wasn't Beacon.

It was wind and ash and banners torn by fire. A city still standing, barely, at the beginning of something no one yet called a war. He remembered being taller and broader. Horns curling back from his temples, wrapped in cloth so they wouldn't mark him as a target too early. A bull Faunus, standing in a crowd that pretended not to see him. She remembered being human, fully, undeniably human. Brown hair braided tight so it wouldn't catch, hands stained with ink and blood in equal measure. She had stood beside him anyway.
"You're going to get killed," she'd told him then, practical as ever. "You're going to get arrested," he'd replied.They both stayed, no matter what they always stayed. Velvet swallowed. "We were so young," she said. "We thought if we stood between them, Faunus and human. That it would mean something." Cardin's jaw tightened. "It did." She looked at him. "It just wasn't enough."

The reliving memory sharpened.

A child crying in the back room. Hidden under floorboards reinforced with hope and fear. A boy with dark hair and eyes too sharp for his age. Horns just beginning to show. "Run when it starts," Velvet had whispered, pressing a symbol into his small hand. Not a weapon. A name.
Taurus. "Find people," Cardin had added, kneeling despite the pain in his leg. "Don't let them tell you what you are." The boy had nodded. He never cried once, but they could see he wanted to. Velvet's hands trembled now. Cardin noticed, and gently covered them with his own. "At least he lived," she said. "At least one line made it through." Cardin exhaled. "Didn't know what he'd become. Only that he'd survive."

They didn't speak the rest, they didn't need to.
The memory darkened, the wizard from the so called jewel of the world, the leader that is said to be the hearld of the gods. Calm eyes filled with certainty that order mattered more than people. They had stood together then too. "You don't have to do this," Velvet had said, voice steady even as the world burned around them.

"I do," the wizard replied. "Because someone must decide." Cardin remembered stepping forward. Remembered the certainty, not rage, not vengeance. Just refusal. "Then it won't be you." They hadn't won. But they hadn't yielded either. Their stand small, defiant, impossible to erase, became a story, after they killed a leader.

But as things go, it was a rumor, then it become a spark, others took it up. Salem's whispers found the anger already lit. What began as grief became fire. What began as defense became war. The Great War did not start with hatred.
It started with people realizing they could say no.

Velvet blinked, breath unsteady. "We never got to see how bad it became." Cardin looked toward the others leaving the hall, Jaune standing tall, Ruby burning quietly with purpose, Ren and Nora side by side as if they always had been. The others quite in their minds, and mannerisms. "Maybe that's okay," he said. "We weren't meant to finish it. Just… start something." She followed his gaze. "They're better than we were." He nodded. "we get another chance, all of us Together."
Velvet smiled, tears finally slipping free. "I'm glad it's them, with us too." Cardin squared his shoulders, something old and resolute settling back into place. "Yeah. Me too."

Thw leaves falling between them slowly deliberate, unafraid. As if showing whatever gods once judged the world, whatever cycles tried to grind it down.Some things endured.
Not because they were permitted. But because people stood together, remembered their children, and chose again and again, to say no to monsters.
 
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