[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[Unknown_One]

Karaoke 2: Elvis-ish boogaloo. A little longer response from the 20 minute scene Imposted earlier. Still using the same song

*****

"Oh come on, Jaune-Jaune. Why don't you sing?" Nora said, as the combined teams RWBYJNPR were gathered in the booth.

"I-I just don't want to sing." Jaune replied. He was nervous, but his nerve was slightly fraying under the pressure.

"Please, Jaune. For me?" Pyrrha asked.

Jaune looked at Pyrrha before closing his eyes and sighing softly. "All right. But I need to pick the song!"

Yang shook her head. "Not tonight, VB. We picked everyone else's songs. Yours will be no exception."

Jaune sighed in defeat and shook his head. "Fine, I'll sing what you choose."

Weiss instantly had an idea. "You all keep having me sing these harsh songs on my voice. Let's see how Arc handles them."

Ruby, however, was faster. "Sorry, bestie. But we already had a song picked out for Jaune."

Nora nodded, a giant grin on her face. "Yeah, we scoured out the list ahead of time and had the perfect song figured out."

Jaune wore a worried look, but closed his eyes to calm himself. Ren then handed Jaune the microphone.

"Hey, can't be much worse than Blake." Ren stated with a small grin.

"HEY!" Blake yelled in reply. Laughter burst from the group at the not-so-decent job Blake did a few songs ago.

"Oh please, like he's any better." Weiss said, defending her teammate with an ultimate backhanded compliment.

"I think you'll be surprised, Weisscream." Nora replied.

Jaune looked at the song that was selected. "Huh, I know this one. My dad sang it to my mom on my sister Saphron's wedding day."

"Then you should be able to knock this out of the park." Ruby said with a hopeful tone.

Jaune took a deep breath and hit 'Start' on the machine.

A piano began, softly playing up and down the notes of the song. Pyrrha gasped, as she recognized the song. Yang was also taken aback.

Jaune took a deep breath and began. "Wise men say, only fools rush in. For I can't help falling in love with you~"

He closed his eyes, letting his emotion out and his voice to guide him. Yang and Pyrrha leaned closer, while Ren held Nora. The latter of which was sending a live feed over the internet through her scroll.

Jaune opened his eyes, letting him look around the group as he continued. "Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you~"

Weiss' eyes widened at how well Jaune was doing. He was hitting every note, nailing the pitch changes in the lyrics. From a mild falsetto to the low tenor. It may not have been perfect, but it was far better than she imagined.

Jaune just continued. "Like the river flows, surely to the sea. Darling, so it goes. Some things are meant to be~"

Ruby wore a smile as Jaune looked around, keeping his eyes on Yang and Pyrrha longer than the others. Instinct seemed to guide him, and it just felt right.

Jaune just kept looking at his friends. Though the next line began with him looking at Yang. "Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you~"

Yang was entrapped, slowly becoming emotional as she was mouthing the words along with Jaune. Pyrrha was also getting emotional, feeling a better connection to Jaune.

Again, Jaune kept going. "Like the river flows, surely to the sea. Darling, so it goes. Some things are meant to be~"

The rest of the group joined in softly, as Jaune took lead. He looked at Yang, and then Pyrrha. "Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you~"

Jaune continued solo, as soft sniffles came from the group. Even Blake was feeling emotional at how well this song was going. "For I can't help… falling in love…"

Jaune too one last look at Yang. "With youuuu~"

The combined group burst out in applause at Jaune's performance. And Nora had a ton of messages coming in about that performance. More than a few were asking if Jaune was single, but Nora wouldn't see them until the next morning.

Yang began softly sobbing, at the song and the performance. Jaune placed the microphone down softly and scooted over to give her a hug. "Are you ok, Yang?"

Yang sniffled. "That was beautiful, Jaune."

Pyrrha scooted to the other side of Jaune. "It really was. That was really good."

Weiss wore an impressed look. "Who knew Mister Tall, Blonde, and Lanky would be that good singing?"

Nora and Ren just wore knowing smiles as they got a little closer.

Blake and Ruby wore amused grins. "So are you regretting not going with Jaune to the Beacon dance?" Blake asked.

"Absolutely not, Blake. I bet Neptune could sing just as well, if not better." Weiss said.

Unknowingly, Neptune was butchering 'Over the Rainbow' at another karaoke bar across vale. Neon was not impressed in the least and had left halfway through the song.

Yang kept trying to hold herself together as Jaune held her. "Yang?"

Yang just turned to Jaune and gave him a crushing hug. "I loved it, Jaune."

Pyrrha wore a knowing smile as she embraced Jaune and Yang softly. "Go ahead, Yang."

Jaune's right eyebrow went up. "What do you mean?"

Yang pulled herself away from Jaune to gaze into his eyes. As if on instinct, she leaned closer and locked her lips to his.

Surprised at the kiss, Jaune's eyes widened. But, he reciprocated the affectionate gesture.

They broke the kiss and Yang took a deep breath. "Would you…?"

Jaune just pulled her close, and gave her another kiss. Pyrrha looked on with a pleased smile, while Blake, Ruby, and Weiss were all surprised at how this came about.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Pain... Fire... Darkness... And always yellow eyes. Eyes staring at him in fear, in worry... What did it mean...?

Steel, flames, smoke... Someone was screaming... Who was screaming? Why were they screaming?

He had to find her. He had to see her. Why was she screaming why-

He felt Aura, and sprung up. He threw a punch out of sheer instinct, only for it to be caught by a strong fist.

He opened his eyes. The world resolved itself. He saw his fist was buried in the fist of a tall, blond man with a beard and scar across his right cheek. The man sat in a chair next to the bed he was lying in.

And despite the fist he had caught, the blond man was smiling.

"Good to see you moving around," he said in a kindly baritone, "For a while we thought you'd never wake up."

He... His head hurt. The world seemed to spin. He felt strong arms lower him back into the bed, and felt a straw pressed against his lips.

"Here, drink, it will help," the man said. He sipped it, cool water going down his very dry throat.

His heart slowed. The pain in his head dulled, though he still felt achy all over. He blinked his eyes, and again the room came into focus: A hospital room of some sort, he guessed. It was comfortably lit, and there were machines beeping softly as they monitored his vitals.

A shorter blonde woman with her hair in a tight bun, square glasses, and wearing a white labcoat entered briskly. She scowled at the tall blond man.

"Nick, how many times do I have to tell you not to play nurse?"

"You trained me as a nurse, so it's kind of your fault, Izzy," he chuckled. "Izzy" sighed, before turning a warm smile onto him.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"... Where am I?" He asked. "What happened?"

"You're in Arc-En-Ciel Hospital, Radian," Izzy answered. She sat down next to him and began examining his vitals with a Scroll. "My husband found you in the wreck of a train crash."

"You were in pretty bad shape, son," Nick said with a wince, "Had to call in a Bullhead to evacuate you. You're lucky your Aura is as strong as it is! You almost died."

A pale girl with yellow eyes and black hair...

"Was... Was there anyone else... On the train?" He managed. Nick shook his head.

"No. It was an Atlasian supply train. Just robots... Though apparently there were people aboard." He snorted. "Faunus for the SDC."

"That would explain it," Izzy sighed, touching his face. He stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"Explain what?"

Izzy blinked then frowned. She looked to Nick. He was concerned, but dutifully picked up a mirror and held it up to him.

A face stared back. A burn scar was over his... Left eye. It was healing, but it would always be there. Horns stuck out of his forehead, one broken. A fuzz of red hair covered his head, where several surgical scars were fading away.

He blinked a few times.

"I'm... A Faunus?" He managed.

The blond humans looked at each other in concern. Izzy looked back at him first.

"... Can you tell us your name?" Izzy asked.

He tried. He really tried. The face in the mirror looked lost and scared. He reached up to the face and touched it with his hand, still not fully convinced it was real.

"... N-No... I can't remember..."

He tried. He tried so hard. But it was like looking a broken pieces of a mirror in a fog. He had flashes, but...

"... Anything," he whispered.

- - -

His options had been few after he healed. He hadn't been carrying any identification. If he'd had a Scroll, it had been destroyed in the crash. And thanks to the injuries to his face, facial recognition wasn't much help either.

He'd been lost... Until Nick Arc, the man who brought him in, made a suggestion:

"We need a hand on our farm. Why not work for us until you remember something? Or until you decide what you want to do?"

He'd agreed. Isabel Arc (Izzy) had seconded the motion.

"It's possible you were just going to end up labor for the SDC anyway," Isabel said, "So finding any friends or relatives is going to be hard. But we'll keep trying, I promise."

He'd thanked her very kindly. She'd given him a hug, which... Felt nice and yet made him sad.

Not something he could really explain.

He took the name "Red", seeing as it was the color of his hair. It was better than 'hey you' or 'No-Name', and it was... Well... It was his. He had nothing, having a name at least let him have something.

The Arcs took him in and were very kind. Orchid Arc was a computer expert and helped him search for anything that might give him a clue as to his identity. Unfortunately, there were a LOT of redheaded Bull Faunus out there, and genetic record keeping was still new. Still, she kept searching and played video games with him.

He wasn't very good, but she just appreciated having someone to play with. That made him feel better.

Lilac Arc didn't stop mothering him from the moment he arrived. She cooked many different meals to help him figure out what he liked, she made up a room for him and changed anything he didn't like, and did his laundry. She also played piano for him, which was very comforting, and listened to him when he complained. He didn't like to complain, but his frustration over not being able to remember anything was difficult.

Isabel listened too, when Lilac wasn't around. She was no less mothering than Lilac, if more scientific about it: Asking questions about how he felt, how he reacted, and many other things. It was no less out of concern though: She was trying to help him too, and he appreciated it very much.

Coral and Verdy, the twins, had wicked senses of humor but were careful around him. He was easily startled, and he actually punched Coral when she woke him up in the morning. He apologized endlessly, feeling absolutely horrible, but Coral just waved it off: She shouldn't have forgotten a basic rule of waking people suffering from trauma, to wake them gently.

Verdy was rather protective of Coral after that, though she did admit that her twin hadn't done things right. They resolved things when they asked Red to test out the balance on some swords they had made for the militia.

For some reason, holding a blade felt... Right.

Nick had been overjoyed, and offered to spar with Red. The Arc man was a Huntsman, and an incredible swordsman. Red had taken to it with enthusiasm, some old feelings of delight rising up as he clashed steel against steel.

Isabel had been very unhappy about that, so they'd switched to wooden swords. Which felt no less positive to the amnesiac.

Much of his time though, he worked. He helped with maintaining the farm fences, he helped feed and water the animals, he helped Nick when he dug a new irrigation line or picked something called 'wasabi' he was growing in a shady area of the farm-He worked.

It was the least he could do for such kind people.

The neighbors were just as kind. Mercer Sith Senior was an old tawny cat Faunus, with a big bushy beard dressed in blue and greens. He welcomed him grandly, and introduced Red to his family. Katy Sith was a very pretty blond cat Faunus girl who blushed a lot around him (which also felt familiar, but in a strange way that made him uneasy) while Mercer Sith Junior was boisterous, loud, and enthusiastic. Especially about fast cars, an interest that Lilac's boyfriend Primo also shared.

Primo was a mechanic and racer, and taught Adam how to do maintenance on the farm vehicles. It was almost familiar, and while Isabel forbade him from doing any racing (as he was still recovering), he still enjoyed working with Primo and Nick on the vehicles.

Nick though had a tendency to wing it when it came to maintenance, which could be amusing (and terrifying).

The days turned to weeks, and then to months. Red became familiar to the people of Radian, and they all treated him kindly. Papa Shirou, the Arc family patriarch, invited him into his restaurant in the town center and told him stories of the Great War. His wife, Nana Arturia, worked at the restaurant and as a swordsmanship trainer, and she also regaled him with tales of her own fights in the past.

She also did some light sparring with him. He could safely say that the old lady was much more formidable than she appeared, and a strange urge to train harder to one day match her appeared in his heart.

Father Percival was the old Pastor of the local church. He was a pigeon Faunus, and very kind as well. Red wasn't sure what he believed, gods or whatever, but the father always had time to sit with him and talk. The interior of the church itself was beautiful, filled with statues and stained glass that showed many stories. The battle of Jeanne D'Arc against the Witch Queen of Argus, the ressurection of the Table Breaker, and many more beside.

It was all incredible. He had no past, nothing at all, so everything he learned became precious.

Yet his memory did not return. Only brief flashes every now and again. Isabel did her best, but as she explained, the brain was the most complex instrument in the human or Faunus body. Severe trauma could do strange things to it. His memories might be gone forever.

Red wondered deeply about that. He wondered who he was. What he was, before all of this.

And what did the pale girl with the yellow eyes have to do with him...?

- - -

Open and free for continuation!

 

[SharkCultist]

So I had a idea inspired by two very different sources.

Megaman NT warrior and super robot monkey team hyper force go.

---

Sun was pretty sure he and all his friends were about to die.

After years of jumping into adventures and fighting terrorist with RWBY and JNPR they had finally bitten off more than they could chew.

Out of bullets, dust spent, aura depleted and half of them were bleeding.

And there were still a good 30 or 40 mooks surrounding them.

They'd need a miracle to get out of this.

"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault but I swear you're going to be ok. All of you."

That's not good. Blake was going to do something dumb (well dumber than getting them into a fight with 100 terrorist.) he could tell. He could also tell he wasn't the only one who noticed she didn't include herself in the Going to be Ok group.

He could see her aura starting to move collecting in her chest and head.

There's no way she's that stupid.

But she is. There's a almost sickening cracking sound and her aura shifts. Getting denser and thicker until it's almost solid and moving like syrup. A thick purple tar covering her from head to toe with feline features.

Some of the mooks notice, the faunus ones, and try to run.

It doesn't help.

She moves like lightning. claws of aura dicing through bodies like a blender.

It's barely the work of five minutes and she's turned every single one of the people surrounding them into chunky salsa.

"Blake?"

He's almost not fast enough to yank Yang back and save her life, he's definitely not fast enough to keep her from getting slashed but at least she kept her arm. And head.

Twin glowing pools of yellow shine on them like spotlights. There's no recognition there anymore, just threat assessment. Eventually she comes to a decision and disappears with that terrifying speed.

"What the hell was that?!"

"What happened!?"

"Where's Blake?"

There's plenty of hysteric questions but even with the yelling Yangs question comes through. He's going to have to answer...

"That's not Blake. Not anymore, probably never again."

Even though she's gushing blood from those gashes on her arm Yang is fully focused on him.

"What do you mean sun? What'd she do?"

Well looks like he's giving a philosophy lesson knee deep in corpse soup. He should have become a monk.

"Faunus aren't like humans, and it's not just a extra pair of ears or a tail. There's a part of our souls that's wild. It's something primal and dangerous. A beast held back by Human reason. What Blake did is a technique called Beast Out."

Judging by the looks of horror Weiss and Ren and sending him they at least get it.

"How long does this thing last? It's gotta wear off when she runs out of aura right?"

"This isn't something like channeling aura to your pants to keep them from ripping, or making a sword sharper. She willingly shook her mind and soul to let out the most savage part of herself. If she's lucky? Maybe she'll piece herself back together. In a year."

Luckily for sun this is the part where the cops arrive. Unluckily he's probably going to have to explain this all to Ozpin and goodwitch....and more than likely Blake's parents.

Yeah he definitely should have become a monk.

 

[AJ_Talon]

You know, I've been trying to figure out how Atlas is supposed to be the America expy, but they were apparently the Nazis in the Great War. I mean I could chalk it up to Rooster Teeth being a bunch of anti-American losers who tried to insert unwanted and terrible political commentary into a series where it made no sense and just ruined characters for no reason...

But! There's a better way.

And as always, our savior is Japan.

Before the Great War and after, Atlas was basically like America. A large democratic republic that started out as a rebellious colony of a few other Kingdoms, but gained its independence. It went from a quiet nation that mostly kept to itself to a great power over time. But this power was soon infiltrated by a radical political ideology: Utopianism.

It offered salvation by promoting more intelligent management of all human endeavors, all human passions, and all aspects of human life. On one hand, improving the quality of life for your people is something any nation should strive for and in Remnant, it would certainly help alleviate Grimm issues.

On the other, giving people more and more control over people's lives usually leads to corruption. To make matters worse, Radical Utopianism wanted to suppress all individuality to end the Grimm problem forever. This is what it promised, but the people leading the charge became even more decadent, depraved, and twisted behind doors. But the technocratic mindset made it simple: As long as the experts were in charge, the people would fall in line-Or be made to.

Gradually, a soft coup was engineered through rigged elections and other means, culminating in a full on military coup when the non-Utopian candidate was elected... But his vice president was a secret Utopian agent. He took control of Atlas, driving the rightful government leaders underground or into jail, before declaring himself King and pushing for outright war on the rest of Remnant to bring the rest of humanity and Faunuskind into line.

So the former President of Atlas fought against this tyranny as an ally with the other Free States of Remnant including the Vytal Empire, Vale, Vacuo, and much of Mistral. It wasn't easy, but the President of Atlas slew his traitorous Vice-President and the Allies defeated their armies.

Thus restored, the President of Atlas reformed the government. However, the technocracy mindset still remained in the surviving government not tried for war crimes. You can't slaughter everyone on the other side of a civil war, after all. And that mindset still persists, leading to the much repressed Atlas of today. It also led to Atlas' intense drive for technological innovation.

This helps the entire situation of Atlas losing the Great War and then becoming the sole military power on Remnant. It would make a lot more sense if the war was engineered by a coup and the rightful government was restored after.

Yes, there was a Metal Gear Solid type situation where a powerful cabal of people (and maybe an AI, let's not rule that out) took over Atlas and directed world events towards its utopian ideals.

But there's also a bit of a deeply underappreciated video game in there: Metal Wolf Chaos:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG1HahKYZzc

A video game SO AMERICAN, it could not be released outside of Japan. Where the President of the United States fights his treacherous dictator Vice-President in a giant robot to SAVE THE WORLD!

It would be kind of like that, but more dieselpunk.

 

[AJ_Talon]

All right then: Better idea.

As part of my world building I have done my best to expand out the roster of formidable Hunters across Remnant. I mean okay, most of them are Arcs but I have also added Arjun and Saia Sarkara, Captain James Silverhand, and a few others in an effort to make Remnant feel a bit bigger.

These are all formidable warriors. But they will all eventually age and die, or fall in battle and die.

So what if they didn't have to?

What if a secret Atlas program was created to make clones of these most formidable Hunters?

Ozpin. Glynda Goodwitch. James Ironwood. Peter Port. Oobleck. Isabel Arc. Nick Arc. Arjun Sakara. Saia Sarkara. Raven Branwen. Qrow Branwen. Taiyang Xiao-Long. Arturia Pendragon.

Summer Rose.

Suppose one of these clones escaped, and was encountered by our heroes?

What would the fallout be?

Who is behind it?

And what will they do to keep the secret?

 

[LordofBones]

So a (maybe) dark idea.

Salem wants to get rid of the silver eyes but can't easily get to Ruby at beacon.

Her solution? Make a poison using the Grimm goo. It won't be potent enough to turn her into a Hound or turn her into salems slave but hopefully it'll be enough to kill her.

Instead everyone ends up unhappy.

The silver eyes are gone, but Ruby is still alive. Kinda....well she's undead.

Ruby Rose is a Vampire.

Click to shrink...

Spoiler: Vampire Ruby

Ruby: *quietly sobbing into her pillow*
Jaune: *quietly enters RWBY's dorm, and closes the door behind him* "Ruby..."
Ruby: *sniffles* "Go'way."
Jaune: *comes closer and closer to Ruby's bed*
Ruby: "Go away, Jaune! I'm a monster! I'm a monster-"

*Weakened from tears, exhaustion and surprise, Ruby's notably helpless when Jaune simply lifts her up off the bed. She yelps and struggles as Jaune embraces her, and presses her nose into his neck.*

Jaune: "You need blood. Drink."
Ruby: *trying to resist* "N...no...I...."

*Jaune's neck is warm and tanned, his pulse beating steadily. Despite everything, Ruby feels her mouth watering; her hand cups Jaune's cheek and she nuzzles against his neck.*

Jaune: *sternly* "Nothing's going to happen to me, Crater-Face. Drink."

*Ruby's resolve breaks and her tongue laps at Jaune's throat. He grunts and strokes her hair, holding her close as the curvy vampire presses up against him, breasts flattening against his chest and thighs wrapping around his hips. Her fangs find Jaune's jugular, and she can't help the sensual, damn-near-lewd, moan when Jaune's strong, hot lifeblood hits her tongue.*

*True to his word, Jaune doesn't feel any different, with his aura easily mitigating the effects - and Ruby finds his aura mingling with his blood, tightening her grip as she drinks. Instead, Jaune has a different problem entirely - Ruby's soft moans and sighs border on the pornographic, her gothic outfit ticks all his boxes, and she's gently rolling her hips against his while she feasts.*

*Ruby's hunger is eventually sated. Instead of lifting her head, Ruby gently laps at the marks on Jaune's neck before mapping the rest of it with her lips, half-drunk while she traces his veins and muscles with her plump lips and soft tongue, until her breathing finally evens out.*

Jaune: *silently tucks her in while trying to unwrap her from around his body*
Ruby: *even asleep, she's a limpet, until he finally gives up and takes her to JNPR's dorms*

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

Ruby: "This one's too cold..."
Weiss: "Hey!"

Ruby: "This one's great, but it makes me feel like a million people are watching us and being pervy about it."
Yang: "Alright, who put the massage oil and the cowkini on my bed?!"

Ruby: "This one's just weird."
Blake: "Yes! Slake your thirsts upon me, o Mistress of the Night! Share your dark gifts with me so that I may deal with the White Fang!"

Ruby: "But this one's juuuuust right!"
Jaune: "Um, Ruby, why are you in my showeeeeeer-"

 

[AJ_Talon]

Beacon Academy, Lower Levels...



- - -



Blake sighed as she stood with Sun in one of the boiler rooms. It wasn't very romantic, true, but it would ensure they weren't overheard.



"Sun, listen," she began, but the monkey Faunus held her close and kissed her.



"Mmph...!"



She had been about to tell him to stop chasing her. That she was just no good for such a good guy like him.



Yet her hands were soon on his abs and her tongue was twisting with his as they passionately kissed.



The door opened to the boiler room and they jumped apart. Framed in the doorway was a scraggly, short but muscular man with a shock of black hair, a five o'clock shadow, white undershirt, and dirty blue overalls. He carried a bright green toolbox.



He snorted as he looked them over.



"Mind keepin' yer damn hormones in check for a few? I got work t' do!" The man barked-Quite literally, as it turned out, given his pointed dog Faunus ears stood up out of his hair.



"I... Who are you?" Blake managed. The man snorted as he walked over to the boiler and began making adjustments.



"Jock Two-Tone. I'm the building engineer."



"The janitor?" Blake gasped. "Headmaster Ozpin has a Faunus working as a-?!"



Jock held up his finger, which carried enough authority to shut Blake up. He hummed, then tapped the boiler with a wrench just so.



It sprang back to life with a happy gurgle and all the lights lit up. Satisfied, Jock nodded before turning back to Blake. He snorted.



"Ah. Menagerian, right? Upper class?"



"N-No!" Blake said instantly, "I'm just a human with a bow!"



Jock rolled his eyes.



"Cute Miss Belladonna, but you really shoulda tried changing yer name at some point," he stated. He shook his head again.



"Look here, Princess. I am the Building Engineer. I have a PhD in Engineering and I've been doin' this for twenty years. I am the only one who knows how to fix the boilers, the power, the water, and the fancy holographic robot fighting rings you lot all use without a thought for who cleans up the mess!"



He waved his wrench under her nose with a snort.



"So I suggest you get back t' snoggin' wit yer boyfriend and let ME live my life happily before trying to shove yer nose into my business like yer some kind of feline savior. Got it?"



"I-He's not my boyfriend-!" Blake sputtered. "And-And I'm not a Faunus!"



Jock looked over at Sun with a raised eyebrow.



"Sure this is the one you wanna go fer, Laddie? She seems a mite... Much."



"You're just prejudiced because dog Faunus are inherently against feline faunus!" Blake sputtered.



Jock again looked over at Sun. He shrugged and grinned.



"I can help her," he said, "I mean... We were making out so that's progress."



"Aye, best way to shut a lass up," Jock nodded in approval.



Blake went a brighter red.



"First, that's sexist-!"



"Don't care," Jock stated. Blake turned her glare on Sun.



"Second, y-you didn't ask for my consent!" Blake sputtered, bright red.



"You seemed pretty consenting," Sun pointed out with a little grin. Blake sputtered again.



Jock rolled his eyes.



"Anyway, however you two sort things out..." He walked to a corner, picked up a mop and bucket, and carried them over. He handed them to the teenagers.



"You clean it up. I got enough work in the bloody broom closets."



With that, Jock turned and headed out. Leaving a blushing Blake and Sun behind.



"I... That kind of ruined the mood," Blake mumbled. She shook her head rapidly. "N-Not that there was one-!"



Sun sighed and pulled her in for another kiss.



Jock was right, that did shut her up.



- - -



Ozpin sat with Pyrrha Nikos in his office. General Ironwood, Qrow Branwen, and Glynda Goodwitch were also in attendance. All hoping to encourage Pyrrha to become the next Maiden.



"So you see," Ozpin concluded to the anxious looking champion, "You are probably our best chance. You would be a great champion, able to do so much good in the world... But the cost would be that you might lose yourself. I humbly ask that you-"



The elevator doors opened. Jock Two-Tone strode in.



"Headmaster, we got a problem," he stated.



Ironwood, who did not know Jock, stared in disbelief. Glynda, who did know him, sighed and resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. Qrow, who also knew Jock, hid a smirk as Ozpin stared at the building engineer.



"Jock, we're kind of in the middle of something-"



"Aye aye, tryin' t' convince the lass to become the next Maiden," Jock rolled his eyes, "Fully aware. That's what I'm here about. The machine you've got Amber hooked up to is not up to code."



"I'm powering it via esoteric magical means-" Ozpin said, but Jock snorted.



"Yeah, and the bloody control system and grounding wires are standard equipment. I know this cause I helped you build the bloody thing! So, unless you want the poor lass dyin' before Miss Pyrrha here makes up her mind, we're gonna get it up to code. Now!"



"Surely Glynda could-"



"I can't," Glynda said quickly, "You did insist only you could set up the machine, Ozpin. I wouldn't know where to begin."



She was resisting the urge to be smug.



Ozpin held in a sigh. He nodded.



"If you'll excuse me, everyone," he said. He got up and followed Jock towards the elevator.



"Yo, Jock!" Qrow shouted, "We still on for drinks later at Cliff's?"



"Course! Maybe you'll finally pay this time!" Jock barked in laughter. "Join us, General! You look like you could use some proper scotch! You too, lass!"



"Um, I'm underaged?" Pyrrha managed.



"HA! With this lot, trust me, you'll want to start early!"



- - -



Cinder stood triumphant in Ozpin's office, cackling in glee.



"Yes, yes...! The power is all mine! ALL MINE!" She laughed.



The elevator opened. She turned, expecting Pyrrha Nikos to be there. She knew her type: A bleeding heart out to protect others! Well, she'd rip that heart right out of her-!



She blinked. That wasn't Pyrrha Nikos.



It was... It was...



"Who are you again?" Cinder asked. Jock rolled his eyes.



"Jock Two-Tone. Building Engineer-"



"Oh wait, I don't care, because you'll be dead," Cinder snickered. Jock shook his head, his eyes narrowed.



"Sure about that, lass?"



"What could a lowly janitor ever do to me?" She cackled.



Jock hummed.



"If I was just a janitor... That's true. But I'm not just a janitor..."



He pulled out his wrench, and tapped some pipes nearby. In a flash, a deluge of water dropped onto Cinder as the fire extinguisher systems unleashed an avalanche of foam onto her. Jock smirked.



"I'm an engineer, bitch."



- - -



Given the Wizard of Oz allusions, I thought it might be fun to add in a slightly different reference to Toto. I know Zwei is basically that, but since we have dog people (and since Toto was portrayed by a Cairn Terrier, a Scottish dog breed), why not make the Almighty Janitor of Beacon a dog Faunus?



And a Scottish Engineer because fuck yeah.



So, Jock Two-Tone is available as an OC now. Because a janitor/building engineer at Beacon who is a rough genius Scottish Terrier Faunus is very funny to me. Not sure why, just how I'm wired.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Work is pretty slow today (For once), so I've been doing some research and brainstorming for world building.

At this time, there are fifty countries in Europe and twenty-seven of them are part of the European Union. Thirty-two of these nations are NATO members. Judging how big the continent of Sanus is being so difficult, it's still quite large and so I propose that there are at least two-three dozen sub-kingdoms/nations that make up the Kingdom of Vale. It is likely there are just as many if not more smaller nations/kingdoms that make up Atlas, Vacuo, and Mistral.

I have made a few for my associated fan-canon (Which anyone can use if they wish):

-GALLIA: Centered in Northern Sanus, Gallia started as a province of the ancient Quitalan Empire (the equivalent of the Roman Empire) and was consolidated by successive emperors of that once great empire. With the fall of the Quitalan Empire, the various provinces slowly became nations in their own right, fighting and allying with each other-Often against invaders from Vacuo over the Albus Mountains, or from over the sea from Animus and Solitas. They warred a great deal with the island Kingdom of Albion, invading and being invaded in turn over the centuries. They were conquered over a thousand years ago by the Hellenic Empire from Mistral, and ruled over by the Witch Queen of Argus. However, Jeanne D'Arc, a farm girl from the tiny town of Radian, overthrew the Witch Queen and liberated her homeland. Her descendants became nobles, and eventually one, Charles Great Arc, united all the Gallian realms into Gallia itself with the help of his Paladins. This empire over time began to send out exploration and colony ships to other lands, and Gallian culture spread across Remnant. They warred with Albion, Arminus, the revived Quitalan Republic, and many other nations across Remnant. While often at odds with Albion and later the Vytalian Empire, they would ally against others-Being so close, their feud resembled that of sibling nations.

The Arc Dynasty however did not last. Decadence and complacency spelled the end of that royal house almost three centuries before the present day. Louis Arc IX was a monstrous dictator who sacrificed people to the Grimm. His son, Roland, was to be next in a bid to grant King Louis immortality. He escaped, and organized a rebellion to overthrow his father and liberate the country. The resulting war was devastating to Gallia, but Louis IX was overthrown. Due to this, the Arcs retreated to Radian, becoming Dukes, then lower nobles as their fortunes fell further until today their noble heritage is all but gone.

The Royal House of Valois, allies and vassals of the Arcs, took over and ruled for three centuries, slowly allying with the kingdom of Vale and becoming more democratic. By the Great War, the Gallian Empire was dissolving due to war debts. House Valois stepped down and Gallia reformed into a democratic republic, before formally joining with the larger kingdom of Vale. Its capital is Lutetia, a large walled metropolis on the North East Sanusian floodplain. Surrounded by the Red, Blue, and Green Forks of the Caeruleum river and marshes, it was difficult for most Grimm to attack in large numbers. Building in the soggy ground was difficult until modern irrigation and sewage was invented. Lutetia is often called the Rainbow City thanks to the peculiar evaporation patterns of water from the three rivers of Caeuleum, which produce luminous rainbows in the morning and evening.

-ALBION/VYTAL: An island nation north of Sanus, Albion was conquered by the Quitalan Empire and made a province, though at the outer extremes of their Empire it resisted occuption bitterly for most of this time. With the fall of Quitalan, Albion was free for a time until the Hellenic Empire crossed over from Mistral and conquered it. This too they resisted, and several Albion heroes joined with Jeanne D'Arc to overthrow the Witch Queen of Argus. Albion was united under one of Jeanne's companins, Lucius de Briton, who also introduced the Table Breaker religion to the island. However, this peace was not to last: Albion was invaded by the Northern Gallians and conquered a century later. Intermixing, the Albions still retained their national character and drove the invaders out a century later. The island was united under one rule by the legendary King Lucius de Briton, who also introduced the Table Breaker Religion to the island. He founded the Church of Albion and is regarded as a saint to this day. The island was renamed "Vytal" once all the land was united, including the northern kingdom of Caledonia and the smaller surrounding island kingdoms of Cambria, Hibernia, and Hyperborea.

Being an island nation, Vytal became a great naval power and created alliances and colonies around Vale. They also tried to conquer Gallia back, with varying success. Albion did not break out as a major power, not truly, until they defeated the Vacuoan Fleet at the Battle of the Dragon's Tail under Queen Eliza. The Vacuoan Empire had had great success at colonization, but was militarily inferior to the more seasoned naval expertise of the Albions. This led to the birth of the Vytalian Empire, which over the next five centuries would become the most powerful empire on Remnant's surface. It colonized Solitas, Menagerie, and several smaller landmasses across the globe. It along with other powers made smaller kingdoms on Animus and Solitas part of its empire, including the entirety of the Kingdom of Pandu. But not all went well with the empire.

Many colonies rebelled and were granted freedom after long and arduous fights. Gallia, Arminius, Mistral, and Mantle, among other nations, rivaled them across Remnant. They went through a number of civil wars: One was the infamous War of Love between the House of Capulet and the House of Montague, striving for dominance when the last king died with no heirs that threw the Empire into chaos. Added to this, Caledonia was fiercely independent, and revolted many times. The most successful was that of King MacBeth, who actually usurped the House of Banquo and ruled over the Empire for twenty years before both houses were destroyed in the conflict.

After this war, House Pendragon, which had been a quiet, scholarly noble house, managed to unite the Empire once more under King Arthur I, and ruled successfully for over two hundred years. The last Queen was Arturia Pendragon, who led the Empire against the Mistral/Mantle alliance in the Great War. Post-War, with the costs of the conflict clear, Queen Arturia dissolved the Empire, put a fully democratic government in place, and abdicated the throne to live with her husband, Shirou Arc, in Radian. In the wake of this, Albion fully joined with Vale as part of the larger Kingdom of Vale, and while no longer the most powerful nation on Remnant, it is still among the most influential.

It's capital city is Camelot, which went from a small castle to a great city over the centuries as it straddles the river Somerset. It is surrounded by limestone cliffs and gullies, which made it very defensible against the Grimm, as well as large forests that were cleared but also maintained over the centuries for lumber. Today it is a modern city and a center of global trade and culture.

- - -

So, that's two nations. Yes they're basically Fantasy France and England, but hey. Feel free to come up with your own!

 

[AJ_Talon]

I should have done this sooner. But here we go: Team AARN (Amaranthe) aka Jaune's Parents and Godparents Team:

• Name: Isabel Arc
• Allusion: Mother of Joan D'Arc, Tsunade from Naruto, and Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII.
• Naming Process: Isabel means "Oath to God" and is a Medieval Occitan form of Elizabeth.
• Age: 40s
• Background: Born in the small town of Radian in the subordinate kingdom of Gallia, Vale, Isabel Arc was the oldest of five siblings when her parents died to a Grimm attack. She resolved to become a doctor and revitalize her town, and became a combat medic. Her team started out as a mess, but eventually they all became close friends. Fell in love with Nick but was too stubborn to admit it for a long time. Eventually admitted to her feelings, which Nick returned, and they married. After liberating Pandu with Arjun and Saia, they retired to Radian where Isabel became a doctor and revitalized the family castle Arc-En-Ciel into a hospital, where she serves as head doctor. Nick became the captain of Radian's militia, and they had eight children.
• Race: Human
• Emblem: Arc Family Crest
• Weapon: "Battement"- French for "Heartbeat". Two leather and steel-plated fighting gloves with Dust slots. Normally used with Healing Dust.
• Semblance: Total Body Control
  • Allows her to control all of her bodily functions, from her immune system to her brain activity, which allows her the ability to temporarily boost many of her attributes in a fight and regenerate from catastrophic injuries. Also lets her increase her strength to monstrous levels and some minor shape shifting capabilities.
• Appearance: Shapely athletic woman standing 5' 8" (though this is variable) with long blonde hair in a ponytail or bun, aquamarine eyes, pale skin.
• Outfit: Green dress, white labcoat, black square glasses, comfortable black shoes, black stockings. Green dress with black boots and black stockings or jeans and a T-shirt in casual mode.
• Personality: Stoic and professional outer demeanor. Friendly, talkative and charming with friends. Deeply loving towards her family. Often exasperated with her husband, sometimes hits him comically. When angry, is utterly terrifying. Sometimes overly controlling. Very loving to the right person. Often snarky and sarcastic under her breath. Is also a great teacher and loves learning new things, to the point she can sometimes come off as a mad scientist. Due to her Semblance can often come across as detached or cold.
• Notes: Solid leader and tactician who watches out for her team, as well as an accomplished martial artist. Exceptional doctor and healer.

• Name: Nicholas "Nick" Arc
• Allusion: Nicholas Nickleby from the same Charles Dickens novel, Son Goku from Dragonball Z, and Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII.
• Naming Process: Nicholas is a male name derived from Greek, meaning "victory of the people".
• Age: 40s
• Background: Born in Camelot, he was an orphan who grew up in an abusive orphanage. He escaped across the sea to mainland Vale, the country of Gallia. He lived on the streets of the capital Lutetia as a thief, before he was attacked and thrown into a river. He was saved on the outskirts of the city by a former Paladin-Monk of the Church of the Broken Table, Jaune St. George. This paladin raised Nick as his son and trained him in swordsmanship. Nick resolved to be as kind and heroic as his adoptive father, and to protect the innocent. Which led him to Beacon to become a Huntsman. He later married Isabel Arc, and took her family name as he had none of his own. After liberating Pandu with Arjun and Saia, they retired to Radian where Isabel became a doctor and revitalized the family castle Arc-En-Ciel into a hospital, where she serves as head doctor. Nick became the captain of Radian's militia, and they had eight children.
• Race: Human
• Emblem: Arc Family Crest
• Weapon: "Blont Joyeux" - French for 'Blonde Joy': A massive six-foot-long railgun sword he can wield with one hand. "Nog"-A longsword he's kept as a boy, his first blade, as a sidearm. He has many other swords he has collected over the years from many battles and gifts.
• Semblance: Unknown
  • Has never figured out what his Semblance is, and just says it's "Being Awesome".
• Appearance: 7' 5" tall blond, muscular man with short hair, a well-trimmed beard, and a shallow scar across his right cheek. Gray eyes.
• Outfit: White and black plate armor vest over a black shirt, black pants, armored white/black boots and gauntlets, long dark blue duster coat. Jeans and a button-up shirt in casual mode.
• Personality: Friendly, cheerful, and a bit scatter brained at times. Can be very insightful and wise, while also acting like a big kid. Deeply loves his wife and family, and loyal to a fault. Courageous and leads from the front, and despite his eccentricities, is a capable and charismatic commander. Loves hugs, a very physical man and takes great joy in life. Is usually very laid back. In battle, fearsome and terrifying. Defers to his wife in most things but always supports his children. Loves farming.
• Notes: Incredible swordsman with great cunning, experience, and training. Has well above average Aura, Stamina, Strength, and Endurance for a Huntsmen. Beware the Silly and Nice Ones: If a fight is life or death? He will end you.

• Name: Arjun Sarkara
• Allusion: Arjuna from the Mahabharata, Fate/Stay Night, Count of Monte Cristo, Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto.
• Naming Process: Arjun is an Indian male given name, which means lustrous, shiny white (as that of silver), color of the lightning; of the milk; of silver; made of silver. Sarkar is a surname among the people of the Indian subcontinent. It was an honorific title given to landlords/zamindars of East India, irrespective of their religious affiliation, under the Mughal Empire and even in Sher Shah's reign, as part of the erstwhile Persian nobility. Essentially means "lord" or "leader".
• Age: 40s
• Background: Born as the crown prince of Pandu, a small but powerful kingdom in Animus, Arjun was raised to one day take over the throne from his father Indra. He was raised with a foster brother, Karna, who was of the rival Kauravas family that had once ruled Pandu but was exiled for its crimes, including selling out Pandu to foreign empires and being Grimm cultists. The Kauravas wante their throne back, and Mistral's government wanted total control of Pandu. So they worked together in a coup, Karna betraying them. Only Arjun and his faithful maid, Saia Rhadri, escaped the massacre. They fled to Beacon to train and to one day retake the throne. They befriended Nick and Isabel while on the same team, and after many adventures they overthrew the Kauravas and freed Pandu. Arjun became King, and Saia his Queen.
• Race: Human
• Emblem: Sarkar Divine Bow and Arrow
• Weapon: "Gandiva" - A silver compound bow passed down and upgraded continually through the generations of the Sarkara House, it is linked to Aura of the Sakaran family members and will only shoot for them. It is made of the wood of the Arjuna tree, which channels Aura especially well for organic materials. "Kaumodaki"-A mechashift mace/grappling hook attached to wire rope, which can be used in close combat or to move about to high places. "Pritha"-A simple kukri sword, used as a sidearm. Dust Arrows.
• Semblance: "Aura Sight"
  • The ancestral Semblance of the Sarkara family, Arjun Is able to see Aura, thus is able to see through walls. He has been trained to interpret various changes in Aura, allowing him to discern a person's Aura condition, physical condition, and even their Semblance and emotional state, among other things thanks to his great insight. Grimm appear as darker shadows.
• Appearance: 6' 2" handsome swarthy man with blue eyes and black hair with a light beard. Has some white at his temples.
• Outfit: Dark blue/purple cloak with hood, white pants, black shirt, blue and gold vest, leather belt, quiver, black balaclava, blue turban, black boots. Stylish blue/gold coat jacket over white pants in casual mode.
• Personality: Calm, stoic, and at times very quiet. Can be very grave and serious. Extremely dedicated to his people and his loved ones. Around Nick, can be very snarky and often childish, as they behave like brothers. Is a wise and able ruler, who still has some anger issues over the loss of his family and kingdom. Is a happy father and husband, who is occasionally henpecked by his wife (though he loves her dearly). Can be very pedantic and stubborn, especially when it comes to bows and arrows.
• Notes: If he can see you? He can hit you. Is also incredibly stealthy and skilled at infiltration. Also a master tactician, as he was Isabel's second when it came to matters of politics or negotiation. Exceptional martial artist and very creative when it comes to Dust alongside his wife.

• Name: Saia Rhadri (later Sarkara)
• Allusion: Draupadi (Also known as Sairandhri) and Subhadra from the Mahabharata, Inoue Orihime from Bleach/Hinata Hyuuga from Naruto, Fern from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.
• Naming Process: Sairandhri is an identity princess Draupadi took on in the Mahabharata and means roughly "Companion/servant of a princes".
• Age: 40s
• Background: Born to servants in the royal palace of Pandu, a small but powerful kingdom in Animus, Saia was raised to become a maid/bodyguard to the family of Sarkara. She was raised alongside Arjun and his foster brother, Karna, who was of the rival Kauravas family that had once ruled Pandu but was exiled for its crimes, including selling out Pandu to foreign empires and being Grimm cultists. Saia however was very much a servant and Arjun never let her forget that. The Kauravas wanted their throne back, and Mistral's government wanted total control of Pandu. So they worked together in a coup, Karna betraying them. Only Arjun and Saia escaped the massacre. They fled to Beacon to train and to one day retake the throne. They befriended Nick and Isabel while on the same team, and had many adventures. Over the course of this, Arjun and Saia fell in love. Their team eventually overthrew the Kauravas and freed Pandu. Arjun became King, and Saia his Queen.
• Race: Human
• Emblem: Eight Fold Lotus
• Weapon: "Kaladanda"-A Dust Enhanced Projection Staff that works with Saia's Semblance and Aura. Using various Dust slots, she can project fire, wind, lightning, ice, and other effects with her staff. "Yajna"-A Fire Dust enhanced Dagger for close up defense.
• Semblance: "Eight Fold Path"
  • Saia is able to project up to eight orbs of Aura that can each be imbued with various kinds of Dust. While their range is only about thirty feet away from her, she can combine them to produce various effects. She can use Gravity Dust on them to fly, she can create a cloud of Steam with Ice and Fire Dust, etc. She can also combine several kinds of Dust with all Five Orbs into her staff and unleash her most powerful attack: Astra, a powerful beam of destruction. Though most just call it her "Death Ray".
• Appearance: 5" 6' beautiful dark-skinned curvy woman with red eyes and dark red hair.
• Outfit: White and red robes over a long white dress, leather belt filled with Dust and other useful things, hood, red jewel on her forehead, white gloves and red boots. Red and white sari in casual mode.
• Personality: Very kind and very friendly, soft spoken but steely eyed and determined. Very polite and understanding, though also quite clever. Deeply cares for her family and her kingdom, and was a source of endless optimism and encouragement to Arjun. Often the mediator of the team. Dearly loves her husband but is sometimes annoyed with him. Can be very scary even while smiling. Good cook and cleaner. Is a wise queen and helps Arjun run Pandu. Has two children: A daughter, Maia (May Zedong), and a son, Abhimanyu.
• Notes: Her melee combat power is very low as is her defensive Aura. While she is devastating at range, like any Caster her physical endurance and defense is terrible. In battle she stayed near the center of the team for protection as a few good physical blows would take her out. Nevertheless, her combat power is great and she is known as "The Sorceress Queen" by many.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Ruby gets asked out a lot but is ignorant at first that she's so popluar mostly as they ask when she's concentrating on someting else. Once she does know... oh boy.

Click to shrink...

Sky Lark: "Hey Ruby. Um... I'm sorry I was a jerk back on the first day of school. But there's this cool indie game coming out and I was wondering if you'd like to go to the launch party at the game store?"

Ruby: "Hmmmm... Well... You said you're sorry. So, sure!"

Sky Lark: "C-Cool! Um, and uh... We could just go get ice cream or-or something too? I-I'll pay?"

Ruby: "Oh wow! SURE! That sounds great!"

Later...

Yang: "Hey, where are you going Ruby?"

Ruby: "I'm going to get a new game with Sky Lark in Vale!"

Yang: "... Oh? Are you? Like... A date?"

Ruby: "What? No, it's not a date! He just wants to go out with me for a video game and ice cream!"

Yang: "Ohhh? Are you sure it's not a date?"

Ruby: "Totally not a date! I mean, come on... It's absolutely not a date!"

There is a knock at the door. Ruby opens it. Sky stands there with a flower and a smile.

Sky: "H-Hey Ruby... Ready to go?"

Ruby: "Sure! What's with the flower?"

Sky: "Uhhh... Ummmm... Do you... Not like flowers?"

Ruby: "N-No! Flowers are great!"

Sky: "C-Cool! Um... If you like it, take it."

Ruby: "Sweet!"

Yang: "Ohhhhh~?"

Ruby: "Sh-Shut up! It's not a date!"

Yang: "Good! Just a nice, friendly outing..." Eyes blaze red. "Right, Sky?"

Sky: "R-RIGHT!"

 

[Abramus5250]

A bit late to the original train of thought, but I wrote this over the weekend and hopes it fits in well enough with what others wrote.

Why Jaune doesn't use a glaive

Being a nurse was never an easy task, especially where training Hunters and Huntresses were involved. Accidents, fights in and out of the duel arena, illness, classroom mishaps (usually with Dust) and even the occasional teenage pregnancy; Nurse Tsune had seen them all in her time at Beacon, and would only see the end of them once she retired decades from now. As it was, she was still young, around her colleague Glynda's age, but unlike that disciplinarian, Tsune liked to have fun once in a while. Nothing mindless or illegal, mind you, she had standards to uphold and she'd never risk her career at Beacon over something frivolous like a barroom brawl. However, that weakness of hers was that, while thankfully yet to get her in trouble with anyone but Glynda, she was a massive flirt and tease.

Yes, as a gorgeous fox Faunus, she had that cunningly playful side to her, and had manifested through her life as a teasing, flirtatious vixen. Of course she had never acted upon these, but seeing young men and women under her care blush in embarrassment at her words or observations, harmlessly at that, was her bread and butter. She'd pushed more couples together than any other teacher, simply by realizing the feelings the pair had felt for one another but had not acted upon. That, and kindly shooting down the many, many single young men that had taken her flirting for something more, but in a way that would not bruise their young egos or leave the chance for whispers of impropriety. None of her fellow staff struck her fancy either, so at least she did not have to look forward to even more awkward staffroom meetings should she start a relationship with a colleague, only for it to fizzle out and end.

Besides, none of the young men she'd thus met or colleagues she knew had been her type. While plenty had the bravado and looks, none had had that… inner fire, that tempest within that drove them into a controlled fury. She liked a kind gentleman with an inner demon, one they managed to control through great will and effort, a savage monster just waiting to break free, almost like Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jyde. Her favorite sections of the library, after all, were between the bodice rippers that Glynda thought nobody knew she read, and the barely-hidden smut that was Blake's purview. Nurse Tsune was no prude, and while she knew perfectly well that Miss Belladonna read much of the same literature as herself, she did think her not-so-hidden fellow Faunus could stand to read some things with a bit more variety, rather than the same series over and over again.

That being said, watching the young man before her squirm as they waited for Goodwitch and Ozpin to arrive in the training arena was pure delight. Jaune Arc, by all accounts, had either a rather strange Semblance or some other 'ability' that allowed him immediate mastery over whatever already Aura-infused weapon he got a hold of. It did, however, lead to some very interesting manifestations of his inner psyche, and while Tsune had some training in psychology (all the better to flirt with, my dear), she was not experienced enough to definitively state whether or not the young Arc had actual split personalities. By all accounts, his Aura and Semblance were manifesting the traits of his subconscious that would allow for him to become a highly proficient user of whatever new weapon he had on hand. A brawler would be no good as a fencer, or a sniper would not fare well with a shotgun axe. These just so happened to coincide with the mannerisms and attitudes of those whose Auras he channeled through the weapons, as did the skills of their original wielders.

Even so, she couldn't help but try and have her fun while they waited.

"So tell me, Jaune," she said, maintaining a professional demeanor as she usually did with the students. "This all started with one of your friends giving you a gun whilst fighting Grimm?"

"Yes, Nurse Tsune," Jaune replied.

"Please Jaune, we're not in class for field medicine and triage, you may call me Kaede."

"Um, okay… Kaede. Yeah, one of my friends tossed me a gun, even though I'd told her before that us Arcs get a bit… funny when we have firearms."

"I recall reading Ms. Schnee's report on the matter, but thought it best to hear from you as well," she replied, leaning forward. The neckline of her nurse uniform was high, much as Glynda's was, but her... assets allowed for it to be a bit more stretched downward than normal. Not that the young man seemed to notice. He was much too nervous for this sort of test. She might have to pop a top button when he wasn't looking, or toss her braided hair over her shoulder.

Just then, the door to the training area chimed, and the pair turned to see Miss Goodwitch enter… without the headmaster. The aggrieved look that Glynda wordlessly sent Kaede's way said it all.

"I am afraid the headmaster has been unavoidably delayed in attending this test, Mr. Arc, concerning a call from the Valean Council, among others," her coworker said, all business even as she made a concerted effort to unfurl her free hand from a fist. Of course he'd sent her to oversee it instead of attending as well; her and Kaede had commiserated many times about the state of Beacon's staff and leadership, ranging from their teaching styles, to their professionalism, to even their looks after a few too many drinks one night. "In the meantime, we shall be testing your unique abilities granted to you by your Semblance. Nurse Kaede, if you would?"

With a nod, Kaede Tsune moved to a nearby locker, from which she retrieved her primary weapon. She'd never been one out in the field for ranged combat, or at least the type of ranged that involved bullets or other projectiles. Instead, she had trained and used a special glaive, whose blade had been specially forged to mimic a three-sided bayonet. Only, thanks to the infusion of Dust within its workings, and the small power generators within the long handle, her glaive blades would vibrate when active, effectively becoming a unidirectional cutting edge no matter which way she swung the blades. Yes, blades as in plural. It had taken a great deal of time back in her native homeland under the strictest teachers, among them some old monks, but her training allowed her to wield a glaive that had such blades on both ends, so that she may never be truly vulnerable from an attack opposite her blade. Besides, all that time training had helped her learn very quickly how to aid in healing wounds, as her training scars had long since faded, but not from her memory.

As her colleague lined up the training bots, she walked back to the young Arc, who had decided to not wear his armor today. Instead, for some reason, he had a set of long black robes on over his clothes, the latter of which matched the robes as well. "Laundry day, and since the tests kept getting moved around, I wasn't ready when the headmaster called for me," he asked when he noticed her looking over his outfit. "I had to borrow some things from my friends."

"The long cloak?"

"Was originally one of Ren's travelling cloaks but it got left in the wash too many times and kinda stretched out too much for him. I might have to go into town to get myself some more clothes so this doesn't happen again."

"I see," Kaede Tsune replied. "I think the look suits you for this test, Jaune. Your cloak and underclothes seem less restrictive, and glaives require far more dexterity than swords tend to due to their length."

He rubbed his head sheepishly, a light blush gracing his cheeks. "T-Thanks, Nurse Ts-, er, I mean, Kaede."

Setting her special glaive on the platform, she backed up to stand beside Glynda, who gave her a knowing look as the training bots finished their startups. So what if she'd dropped the proper names in an attempt to ease his nervousness? If what his Semblance did for him was true, then these training bots would be of no issue, and the glaive wouldn't harm him. He had massive Aura reserves anyway, even if he did manage to hurt himself, she was there to ensure nothing life threatening would occur before his Aura dipped too low.

The young man walked up to the platform and looked back to them, to which Kaede gave an encouraging nod. Jaune picked up the double glaive and stopped for a moment, eyes closing as he breathed deeply. When he exhaled, and opened his eyes, a sharp change came over him. His features twisted into a wrathful glare that yet retained a modicum of control, like the uncontrolled fire of a flamethrower condensed into the powerful inferno of a laser cutting torch.

"What do we call this one?" Kaede asked her colleague.

"Jean," a voice said, no, growled, throaty and filled with restrained power. Mr. Arc had spoken, yet the tremble that went up her spine mirrored the soft music that seemed to whisper from the speakers. Music she could not place, music that seemed to mirror his transformation and was only growing stronger, conveying the unleashing of power and wrath. Did his Semblance allow for such a change in the environment, as well as himself?

Spoiler: 'Jean's' Theme

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT7-JdKhzcU

"You may begin, Mr. Arc," Glynda said, either unable to hear the music's powerful rhythm or simply ignoring it.

With a roar more powerful than a herd of charging Beowolves, 'Jean' practically flew through the air towards his targets, feet barely touching the ground as he met his opponents in battle.

His blows: powerful.

His presence: overwhelming.

His form: impeccable.

Kaede Tsune watched in awe as the mild mannered and well-meaning young Arc was transformed from a mild spring breeze into a howling blizzard, never standing still as he weaved in and out of the training bots, who despite their level of difficulty were unable to land a hit on him. Her glaive's blades, meant for the masters of the form, swung and stabbed to and fro without rest, without indecision, without a single instance of doubt, mistake or regret. Every blow had a purpose, every feint a future action in mind, every parry and thrust meant to bring the wielder closer and closer to one goal and one goal alone.

Victory.

Snarling with every other strike, the young man blew through the cohort of bots like a whirlwind of death. Without a misstep in his stride, where the blades did not meet, kicks struck bots hard enough to send them flying or crumple in one themselves. He was unstoppable, unleashed upon unsuspecting foes calibrated for much stronger foes than the young man would normally face. Were it not for Glynda's wide-eyed stare beside her, Kaede might have assumed she was alone and merely hallucinating the events before her.

Yet despite the number of training bots allotted for the test, it was over in a seemingly matter of moments. The last of the training bots fell before him, and after a few moments of deep, slow breathing to regain his composure, the young man turned back to them. His stride was not a stride at all, but a stalk, filled with purpose and promise, that of a beast that had achieved victory over its foes, and was deigning to celebrate it. In moments, the deadly figure that 'Jean' Arc had become stood before her, hard eyes gazing into her soul as she felt her entire body shudder and shiver. She could smell the power, the desire, the icy rage rolling off of him like smoke. Could… could he smell her excitement as well? Was he going to… right here, in front of Goodwitch? Was he going to have her join…?

"Mr. Arc, you may return Nurse Tsune's weapon to her, the test has concluded for now," her colleague stated, breaking her out of her heady haze. "We shall reconvene at a later date with other weapons to test."

Eyes still locked into hers, with a half-formed snarl mixing with a toothy grin on his suddenly chiseled face, the young man offered Tsune her blade. Gingerly, unsure if he would release it, she grasped it near his hand, only for him to let go once she had a hold of it. Almost immediately the hungry beast before her, seemingly intent on devouring her in celebration for his victory, faded away and returned to the kind, somewhat awkward Jaune Arc from before.

"Wow," he said, puffing out his chest as he stretched his back. "That was… something. I never thought I could do something like that. I mean, I knew Pyrrha's training was paying off, but I didn't think I could move around like a whirlwind."

"Indeed, Mr. Arc," Glynda said. "You may return to your dorm for the time being, as Nurse Tsune and I will have footage to recover from the training bots and surrounding cameras. I will contact you when we've retrieved it, as I am certain your friends will also want to witness it for themselves. If this is indeed your Semblance, I must say it is quite… extraordinary."

"Oh, okay Miss Goodwitch," Jaune said with a smile, before turning back to the still nurse. "Bye, K-Kaede, I'll see you in Monday's class."

"I… I will see you then, J-Jaune," she replied, unable to tear her eyes from him as he walked off. Not even Glynda's annoyed huff at her staring could stir her from the sudden fantasies springing to mind, of what might have happened had Glynda not been there, had it just been the two of them…

She wasn't one to set goals often without an immediate plan to accomplish them, but this was one she could not deny had propelled itself to the top of her list of priorities.

Hopefully after graduation, that man was going to give her litters of little blonde half-Faunus.

 

[AJ_Talon]

While Jaune is the youngest in the canon and my fanon... He's still a brother and still has those protective instincts. And I love reading about him going full protective sibling.

So...

Jaune sees a few Hunters-in-training snickering in a corner on the quad.

Jaune: "Hm...?"

One looks up and grins.

Venison: "Hey Jaune!"

Jaune: "Ven... What's up?"

Jaune doesn't know them very well but Ven does join Jaune and Ruby for game sessions at times. Jaune walks up to them. Ven smirks proudly and holds up his Scroll.

Ven: "Check it out... I asked Ruby if she'd do some poses for me, and she agreed!"

Jaune sees the images of Ruby... Posing provocatively. With many upskirt shots.

Jaune's smile becomes rigid.

Ven: "Hey! I'm gonna sell these off. If you want, you can get in on this. You can convince her to wear risque stuff, right? Like maybe a goth maid outfit, or... Or..."

Jaune has not stopped smiling... But his Aura has exploded into a bonfire and his eyes are now glowing yellow. The ground cracks underneath his fury as the other boys flee like rats from a sinking ship. Venison watches them go, and then looks back at the enraged Jaune.

Jaune: "VENISON."

Venison: "Meep...!"

Some time later, there is a knock at Team RWBY's dormroom. Ruby opens it with a smile... Then gasps.

Ruby: "Ven? Jaune?!"

Jaune is still smiling in a terrifying way as he holds up a beaten and bruised Venison.

Jaune: "Ven has something to say."

Venison: "I... I'm really sorry I took photos of you without permission! P-Please forgive me!"

Yang: "Photos? What kind of photos?" Eyes glow red

Jaune: "The exact kind you're thinking of."

Venison: "Eep! Please, Jaune, save me! You-You can beat me up more-!"

Jaune: "No. Everyone gets their turn."

Yang: grins "Thanks VB." cracks her knuckles and grabs Venison, dragging him off

Venison: "EEEEEEP!"

Ruby: "Oh... Geez... He... He was...?"

Jaune: "A creep, Ruby."

Ruby: "... Oh God, I... I feel so stupid-!"

She sniffles and shudders.

Jaune: "I'm sorry Ruby. But it's not your fault, okay? It's all him."

He hugs her, She hugs him back.

Ruby: "... Y-Yang's not gonna kill him, right?"

Jaune: "Probably not."

Weiss: "Shame."

Blake: "Indeed."

 

[Grrrrrrr]

Baby Blues Comic incorrect posts again. November 28th to December 1st 2011

Tanya is identified as a danger at an early age.

On national geographic or the equivalent.

Nick sits watching TV with baby Tanya sitting next to him sucking her thumb holding a stuffed bear.

Tv narrator: The water Buffalo moves to quench its thirst at the water's edge… when suddenly a Sobek (Grimm alligator) explodes from the water crushing it with it's mighty jaws.

Nick flinches remembering his encounter with a Sobek. Damn thing near snapped HIM in half like that poor water buffalo.

It was only thanks to Isabel that he could still feel his lower bod… oh god TANGY!

He looks to Tangerine worried how she'd react, this gruesome must be too much for a delicate thing like her.

Tanya…. : D *clap clap clap clap*! *giggles happily*

Nick:… (oh boy.)… um… Isabel!

Isabel: I'm working Nick, you'll need to come to me!

Nick looks to Tangerine happily enjoying seeing a wild Lion tear into another Grimm.

---

Nick: so did you know that our sweet little Tangerine has a taste for blood?

Isabel:….. Explain.

Nick: we were watching a nature documentary and a Sobek just tore a Water buffalo in half…. Her reaction was to give it a round of applause it and laugh.

Isabel: Oh. She must take after her grandfather. My, Grandfather. Come to think of it, I think Alexander (Note: Hellsing priest expy who is Isabel's brother ) showed the same signs as a child, and he turned out alright.

---

Meanwhile back with Tangerine Happily watching along her new favorite show.

Coral: Hiya Tangy! Whatcha watching?

TV Narrator: - and with one bite, the Mighty shark snaps the penguin in half!

Coral: IIIIYAAAAAAAAHHH!!

Tangy: *Giggles with a : D face*

*Coral looks to Tangy in horror.*

Coral: VERDY!

---

*5 minutes later*

Coral: I'm telling you! Tangy laughed at seeing a Shark tear apart a penguin!

Verdy: Coral, you're over reacting. Tangy's only a baby, they laugh at everything.. It was just a coinci-

Verdy's reassurances are cut off by a loud tearing sound.

The twins turned to the source of the noise. Their eyes widened in horror at what they saw. Tangy had just torn out the neck of her stuffed bear with her teeth. Smiling happily with the piece of cloth and stuffing in her mouth sitting over her gouged stuffed animal.

Verdy:… O.O….Then again…

Coral: I'm sleeping with Big sis Saphron from now on.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Somewhat on this same topic:



-Yang getting blackmailed by her parole officer was a possibility, though I wonder if Ozpin wouldn't have intervened? Then again most of his focus was on Ruby so Yang may have slipped through the cracks. Meaning Jaune and her other friends could intervene when the guy tries to escalate things. Yang would have told them to stay out of it, even gotten angry... But Jaune and her friends wouldn't let it go.



Well, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren couldn't let it go. Blake has her disappearing act and Weiss has her issues. Ruby would trust her big sister... But she'd ask Jaune to check in on it so she wouldn't break her promise not to intervene.



And so...



Probation Officer: "I'll make things very easy for you. I'll even help you locate your mother. Hell, I've been looking after you since I turned my head when your dad was depressed and useless."



Yang: flinch



Probation Officer: "So all I'm asking is that you give me what you owe me... You don't have money, after all. Why not use what God gave you and settle your debt?"



Yang: hiss "I'd break every bone in your body..."



Probation Officer: "Yes, but you won't. That's the best part-"



Jaune smashes through the door and grabs the PO by his throat, slamming him against the wall.



PO: "HURK!"



Yang: "JAUNE! Don't! I-I told you I could handle it-!"



Jaune: "Yell at me later then. I'm not letting this scumbag touch you."



PO: "HURK! What... This... Your boyfriend...?"



Yang: "Jaune, please! I-I can-!"



Jaune: "He wasn't going to stop with once, Yang. You know it."



PO: "W-What's it matter to you?! I did EVERYTHING to keep her little family together! She owes me! She knows it! So just beat it, White Knight! She knows exactly what she is and what she has to do-!"



Jaune: "No. No, I know who and what she is. And soon? Everyone's gonna know who and what you are."



PO: "Excuse you?!"



Ren drops down from the ceiling, his Scroll on record. Nora and Pyrrha enter, with a worried Ruby behind them.



PO: "W-Wait! Wait, you can't do this to me! N-Nobody's gonna believe-!"



Pyrrha: "Nobody's going to believe their lying eyes? And if necessary, we'll all testify in court, sir." eyes narrow "I will stake my entire reputation on this."



Yang: gapes in shock



PO: "Th-Then maybe we could make a deal-?"



Jaune: "Post it, Ren."



Ren: "Done."



PO: "Wha-NO! Why-Why would you-?!"



Jaune: "She's our friend. I need another reason?!"



Ruby hugs Yang, sniffling.



Ruby: "I'm sorry Yang... But... But I just... I had to do something!"



Yang, in shock, hugs Ruby.



The police get involved, as does Headmaster Ozpin. Taiyang comes to Vale to ask some pointed questions. Everyone talks to the cops, before they finally get back to Beacon. Yang has a long talk with Taiyang and Ruby, before she goes out and looks for Jaune.



He's sitting on the roof, stargazing again.



Jaune: "... Hey."



Yang: "Hey."



Awkward silence falls. Yang sighs.



Yang: "I... Um... Do I... I don't really know what to say... Or do."



Jaune: "I'm sorry. I know you wanted to handle this on your own but-"



Yang: "No... No..." sighs "I was... I was being stupid. I was so used to solving these problems on my own that... That I couldn't accept help. And if you guys hadn't? I..."



She shudders.



Yang: "... How did you know?"



Jaune: "I didn't... But a provincial inspector tried something similar with one of my sisters a few years back. Tried to pressure her, manipulate her, make her think she was all alone. That if she told anyone, bad things would happen. He..." Eyes narrow "Your PO... He looked the same. Felt the same. If he was just a hardass, then... No harm done. But... Yeah."



Yang: "What happened to that guy?"



Jaune: "When we found out? He got two options: Leave and resign from his job, confess everything... Or we feed him to the Grimm. He took the first one."



Yang: "Jeez... I... I don't deserve-"



Jaune: "You do, Yang. Nobody deserves to go through that. Nobody."



Yang sits next to him and they stare up at the stars.



Yang: "... Thank you, Jaune."



Jaune: smiles "I didn't do much. I know I'm... I'm pretty useless most of the time but-"



Yang: "But nothing. Every other man in my life just... Disappointed me, ya know? My dad fell apart. My uncle barely gets involved. This guy... He did help us but he was just-just trying to groom me." shudders... Leans against Jaune "Thanks for not... Not following the trend."



Jaune: "You're welcome."



They look up at the stars in silence.



- - -



Buuuut, I don't know if it would work as a full story. What do you think?

 

[AJ_Talon]

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebAnimation/SLVR

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCk8oSJJ7MKRDRjkd4nDFA

In order from left to right: Simin Megister, Lycan Arcadia, Vella Moisia, and Ragora Cinarum.

In the White Knight Errant universe, they're teacher-aides and essentially junior professors (or teaching assistants) at Beacon. They are all fourth-year students, seniors, in their final year at Beacon who work as teachers to graduate. They will probably do this teaching assistant job part-time even after graduation. They are highly regarded as the finest team of young hunters in Vale.

They are not in on Ozpin's Group or Salem, but do some missions for Ozpin in service of countering Salem.

They are very close to Glynda Goodwitch, who is pushing them as a replacement, in a sense, of Summer, Taiyang, Qrow and Raven's team, STRQ ("Stark").

I feel that using them as upper classmen in RWBY stories could add a lot. They're much stronger than our protagonists and more experienced, and thus can act as mentors, yardsticks, and sources of insight into the world and how becoming a Hunter works. At the same time they are still students with all that implies.

So, what would you do with Team SLVR?

 

[AJ_Talon]

"Haa... Haa... Haa..."



Aura didn't just allow for improved defense or special powers. It also did the mundane tasks of increasing your stamina and improving your overall physicality. That's why, even after being in a hospital bed for two weeks straight, Yang was able to hike up Mount Avion without too much effort.



Still, she did need a few more breaks than average. Everyone slowed down dutifully on the hike. It irked Yang a little, so she tried to distract herself with the (quite honestly) breathtaking scenery.



Patch didn't really have mountains. Well it had one, Freemere Tip, but it was a hill in a sandbox compared to the giant that was Mount Avion. It towered up high overhead, a snowy peak on its bare granite top, silent and clothed in green forests that ran in short runs down into the valley. Smaller mountain peaks ranged away from it, forming the North Sanus leg of the great Albus Mountain Range that stretched from Northern Gallia, all the way down to the south coasts of Juzan Kingdom.



Its jagged ridges formed natural defensive barriers and numerous smaller plateaus dotted the valley in every direction, and on almost all of them, smaller towns had been built. The perfect place to resist the Grimm.



She turned away from the valley view... Already sick of it. She glowered a bit up at the head of their little column. Jaune was looking back from the lip of a ridge. He waved.



"We're here! Just a little more!"



"Finally," Neptune grumbled, "It's so freaking dry up here...!"



"It won't be for long!" Jaune shouted back. He vanished over the top. Cardin and Velvet, even now sticking close together, went over next. Nora fairly skipped over the top, giggling loudly, as Ren followed in silence. Arslan went up, May trailing behind. Neptune looked over at Ruby and Yang and sighed.



"Well, let's see if it's worth the trouble, huh?" He asked with a shrug. He turned and clambered up. Ruby turned to Yang and smiled.



"Um, do you need help with-?"



"I'm fine, Ruby," Yang gritted out. Ruby stared at her, and Yang shook her head with a soft sigh.



"It's fine... I'm fine. Let's go."



"S-Sure," Ruby agreed. They went up, climbing over the rocky escarpment. They stood up. Yang's eyes widened. She heard Ruby gasp.



A waterfall fell from further up Avion, filling a small mountain lake. Further up and to the left of the waterfall stood a dull gray watchtower Jaune had called "Roland's Watch". She could spot sunlight reflecting off the windows, the same sunlight that formed a rainbow in the spray of the waterfall.



At the edge of the lake stood the ruins of some older building, done in the same architectural style as Arc-En-Ciel down below: A fort or something? It was dull bluish green like rusted bronze.



Everywhere else though was a riot of color, as the entire meadow was filled with wildflowers of every description.



"W-Wow," May breathed, looking over the gorgeous scenery with wide eyes. Arslan murmured a prayer of thanks, while Neptune gaped. Nora was already flitting about the flowers like an eager honeybee, while Ren had a small smile on his own face. Cardin and Velvet held hands, and looked upon nature's splendor in soft wonder.



"It's amazing," Ruby whispered.



About the only person who wasn't taken in by the raw natural beauty on display (aside from her) was Jaune. He nodded gruffly.



"Yeah, it's gorgeous. You can take photos later. We've got a job to do."



He held out some sheets of paper, and each of them took a copy. They all had pictures and names of the various herbs and plants, along with some short blurbs of information.



"I used to do this every summer for school," Jaune said with a shrug, "I think these info sheets are from the school, too."



"Do we have to start right now?" Nora asked, "It was a super long hike!"



Jaune opened his mouth... Closed it, and sighed. He gestured to the packs they'd been issued.



"All right. Let's eat lunch first, then we'll start gathering them," he ordered, as Nora cheered, "There are picnic tables over there by the ruins."



"What are the ruins, Jaune?" Arslan asked curiously. Jaune shrugged.



"That used to be the old watchtower, Colline Ventus in Old Vale," he reported dutifully, as though he was already done playing tour guide, "or 'Weathered Hill'."



"Looks neat! Does it have buried treasure?" Nora asked eagerly.



"If it does, nobody's found it yet," Jaune deadpanned.



They marched through the meadow, bees buzzing, birds singing, and some little rat things chirping noisily at each other from their holes. A few deer grazed near the lake, though scattered when they approached. Ruby and May both made 'aw' sounds at this.



They reached the picnic area: Several wooden and stone tables gathered under what shelter was available from the old watchtower. They sat down at various tables, and opened their packs.



"Man, Lilac Arc is the best," Neptune grinned, pulling out several mouth watering sandwiches, "She even got the mayo right!"



"The absolute best," Velvet confirmed, digging into her food with gusto. She looked up at Cardin, and playfully took hold of some of the fruit packed in his lunch. "Say aw, Cardin!"



"I..." Cardin flushed at the pleading look in her eyes, and sighed, "Sure." He ate the fruit, and smiled warmly at Velvet. She smiled just as happily back.



Neptune scowled at them, having taken a seat with Yang, May, Neptune, Ruby, Nora, and Ren.



"They're just so disgusting," he muttered.



"They're allowed to be," Arslan stated calmly, praying before she dug into her roast beef sandwich, "Love is a wonderful gift of the divine."



"Well, well," Neptune said with a grin and wink at Arslan, "If you want some gifts, maybe I could-OW!"



Arslan calmly flicked Neptune's ear. He grumbled.



"What's the fun of living if we can't have fun living?" He sighed. He beamed over at May, who was quietly eating a gyro, "Hey May! You wanna try? I've got lots of love to give!"



"I um... Uh..." May flustered, and focused on her food as her cheeks burned red. Neptune felt everyone's glares on him, and he coughed.



"I-I mean... Just a joke! Honest!" Neptune insisted. He sighed and slumped a bit, eating his tuna sandwich, "Geez... Just trying to lighten the mood."



Unexpectedly, Nora reached out and patted his palm.



"I appreciate it," she said, "It's hard being the only one doing it, huh?" She winked. "Thanks for the backup!"



Neptune coughed and then looked aside, his own cheeks red.



"Er... You're welcome," he mumbled. He scanned around. "Hey. Where's Fearless Leader?"



Ruby frowned, also looking about.



"He shouldn't wander off," she muttered. She looked at May. "May?"



The sniper flushed, but looked up. Her eyes glowed briefly.



"He's deeper in the ruins," she reported, "Um, he looks okay."



"He shouldn't wander off," Velvet said worriedly.



Ruby nearly jumped off the bench, but Yang grabbed her arm and pulled her down.



"I'll go get him," Yang said quietly, "I'll be back."



"But-But Yang-"



"Eat, it was a long hike," Yang said, polishing off her own sandwich in a few bites. She got up and headed off.



She felt Ren and Nora's eyes on her, but... She didn't care.



- - -



Deeper in the ruins, the Watchtower opened up onto a large porch that overlooked the lake and waterfall. A few ducks splashed around near the alpine shore, quacking up a storm. Tall archways framed the lake, and let Yang out onto the old stone floor.



She spotted Jaune easily: He was sitting on one of many stone blocks littering the area, calmly eating his food while holding his sword in the other.



"Hey," she called out. Jaune turned his head back to face her. He gulped down a bite.



"Hey," he said.



"Thought we were all eating together," she said, trying not to sound accusatory but failing. Jaune shrugged and looked back at the waterfall.



"Someone's gotta keep watch," he stated, "Grimm sometimes sneak in through the mountains. Not often but..."



He gave a half hearted shrug. Yang frowned and fidgeted.



She'd wanted to do something but... All of a sudden her sails were out of wind.



Only the sound of the falls and the wildlife filled the air.



Jaune finally sighed, and turned back to her. He stood up and walked closer, stopping a few feet away.



"I'm sorry about last night," he apologized, "That's... That's the last thing you needed."



"Yeah, well," Yang sighed, her feet fidgeting as she stared at his neck, "I've... Got practice. Putting drunks to bed."



Now she was thinking of all of that. Which just put her in a worse mood.



Jaune's face fell.



"Oh... Yang, I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"



"It's fine, it's fine," Yang grunted, glaring out at the pristine surroundings and just getting more irritated, "Why should I expect them to be there for me? I was there for them, doesn't mean they have to reciprocate."



"Yang," Jaune murmured. Yang flushed, and shook her head.



"I... I don't..."



"Your dad's fighting in Vale," Jaune said carefully, "And your Uncle checked in on you both. I'm sure they'd be here if they could-"



Pity. She fucking hated pity. Seeing it in Jaune's eyes just... Just made things so much worse.



"But they're not, are they?" Yang shot back, angry and bitter, "They're not! They just..."



She clutched at her artificial arm tightly. She shook her head.



"Whatever. I'm being selfish," she huffed.



"Yeah well..." Jaune shrugged and sighed, "I know the feeling."



Yang stared at him. He shook his head.



"What? You think you're the only one with family issues?"



Rage ignited in Yang's heart. The first real rage she'd felt in ages and it was filled with bitterness, envy, and spite.



She didn't care.



Yang barked some angry, mocking laughter.



"Oh sure! 'Hey Yang! My family's always been there for me, but hey, it's not so bad that yours barely bothered with you!'"



Jaune glared. He was angry: Good.



"It's not as picturesque as you might think, Yang-"



"Yeah well, from where I'm standing, it looks a hell of a lot better than what I've got!" Yang snarled.



"You've got Ruby-!"



"Yeah, I always had her," Yang snarled, "I always had to look after her! Me! I didn't get any help! I didn't have seven sisters or all these aunts and uncles or a MOM and DAD who were always there for me! So what the hell are you so angry about?!"



Jaune glared, stepping closer as he clenched his fists.



"What the hell is your problem?!" Jaune demanded, "Did you forget what we both just went through?!"



"Oh gee, the girl who loved you died, and you got to go back to a loving, happy family!" Yang seethed, "Woe fucking is me! Meanwhile, what about everyone else out there, huh?! Don't see them drinking! Don't see them feeling sorry for themselves, so what's your fucking excuse?!"



"ME?!" Jaune demanded, now right up in her face, "What about you?! You needed to be tied down in the infirmary when you got injured or lost a fight! Now you're meek and bitter and-what the hell, Yang?!"



"Oh, did you miss THIS?!" Yang demanded, thrusting her artificial arm up in his face with a mocking wave, "Did you fucking miss this?! Did you miss the part where I got maimed?!"



"At least you made a fucking difference!" Jaune bellowed.



"I DIDN'T!" Yang shouted angrily. "I DIDN'T MAKE A FUCKING DIFFERENCE!"



Silence fell as her roar echoed away, swallowed by the waterfall. Yang panted hard, her eyes blazing red, as Jaune glared back. She looked down, clutching her artificial and real fists hard enough to draw blood from one.



"I got one shotted, all fucking right?!" Yang snarled, "I wasn't even... Even worth... I wasn't even worth killing, Jaune!"



"Neither was I!" Jaune shouted back, his anger now more confused, "I got shoved in a locker and sent off because-Because I couldn't even be a distraction-!"



"Well at least your partner thought you were worth saving!" Yang spat out, angry tears, "At least she-She didn't run back home with her fucking boyfriend and leave you! At least Pyrrha tried to save everyone! At least... At least you did something!"



She pointed back at the ruins.



"There's half a dozen people out there alive thanks to you! You saved me! What did I fucking do?! NOTHING! THAT'S WHAT!"



She felt fat, angry tears spill down her cheeks. She sobbed her breaths.



"You even took care of Ruby so... So why am I even fucking here?" She gasped.



He stepped up and hugged her tightly. She struggled, but he held firm.



"You fucking jackass," Yang whispered, burying her face in his chest, "I can't... I can't even help her anymore... You did it all..."



"Yang-"



"I'm a fucking joke," she sobbed angrily, "I'm no Huntress... I'm nothing... I-I should just go... Go be a housewife, for all the fucking good I did..."



Jaune hugged her tightly. He managed to get them over to a block, and sat them both down. She kept crying, even as he held her hands. He winced at her grip, but didn't let go.



"... I'm sorry, Yang," Jaune mumbled, "I-I'm sorry-"



"Just... Just shut up," Yang muttered back, angrily wiping her tears and snot on his armor, "Just... Don't... Please..."



Jaune fell silent. He held her tightly. She kept crying hard, until they ran dry. She breathed in and out, trying to focus on her training. It was instinct now but thoughts of her dad made her feel worse.



She felt Jaune's hand stroke up and down her back. It was soothing, despite everything.



Yang slowly pulled back. She looked away, back at the waterfall. She wiped her eyes, not daring to look his way even as he held her.



He let out a low sigh.



"... I don't know why they do it."



"Huh?" Yang mumbled.



Jaune shrugged.



"Why. Why they follow me. I just... I yelled for them to get on the Bullhead, and they followed. I asked them to help defend Radian when we got here... They did so. I asked them to follow me and they... They just keep doing it."



She chanced a glance at him: He was staring at the waterfall, but not seeing it.



"It was all I could do," he muttered, "I don't even think I'm doing a good job... It's just... I was the only one who could. I had to... Even... Even if I'm not worthy."



He sighed.



"... I didn't mean-"



"I... I know," Yang mumbled, embarassed. She rubbed her artificial arm. "Your mom... She said I'd have mood swings... From the depression... I-I'm sorry."



Jaune kept stroking her back. He sighed.



"It's okay," he murmured. "I just... I saved you, Yang... Because you matter to me. You matter to Ruby. And... And I wasn't going to leave you behind. You're not useless to me, to Ruby... To anyone. You just..."



He looked back at the waterfall.



"We just... All had a bad day," he mumbled.



"The worst," Yang agreed.



They watched the waterfall for a while longer. Yang sighed.



"... So... I mean..." She bit her lower lip. "... Do you have a plan?"



"For?" Jaune asked. Yang shrugged.



"I dunno... What to do now?"



Jaune stared at the waterfall in silence. He sucked in a deep breath.



"... Sort of. It's... A work in progress," he admitted. "I want to talk more with everyone about it, but..."



Yang stared at him for longer. He shrugged.



"...For now? Rest. Get stronger. Then... Get out of here. Get to Mistral. Find Cinder..."



His fists clenched. He looked back into her eyes, stony faced and determined.



"Kill her, and her boss," he stated, quiet but deadly. "You?"



Yang stared back.



"I..."



She slowly nodded.



"There are worse places to start..."



- - -



I'm gonna be honest? Not entirely happy with how this turned out. It might need more build up. More time to breathe. But I wanted to do something dramatic for this post. I hope you liked it and would appreciate suggestions for improvements.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Some bits and pieces I wrote up but felt didn't fit the tone of the work at present. I might use them further on in the future. Here's one for Aqua's reaction:

- - -

It had taken a LOT of Kazuma's money to get a Bullhead that would get them to Beacon. But they'd managed it. All the way to the ruined tower, where even now a giant frozen Grimm dragon statue hung from the side of the tower.

As far as bad places Kazuma had been? This definitely ranked in the top ten.

By all accounts they shouldn't be here... But Aqua had begged. Begged to take them here to find her baby brother.

And Kazuma had agreed.

So here they stood in the ruins of the tower top, searching through the debris. The Bullhead was hovering nearby in stealth mode, but Kazuma didn't trust that it would last.

"Nothing over here!" Megumin shouted, for once not causing explosions as she dug through the debris with Chomonosuke. The cat meowed and pranced amidst the rubble, not a care in the world. How he envied him.

"Nor here!" Darkness called, lifting a massive girder and tossing it aside with a loud bang. "I do hope we don't attract any Grimm..." She flushed. "It would be most unfortunate and..."

She looked over at Aqua, who was still sifting through debris with her Scroll out. She shook her head, the arousal gone.

"It would be terrible," she finished quietly. Kazuma nodded slowly. He checked his own Scroll.

He walked over to Aqua, even as she kept digging.

"Aqua."

"His Scroll signal was last here," she insisted, "We have to keep looking!"

"Aqua," he said again gently, "If his signal was last here, it doesn't mean he-"

She froze. She shakily pulled out some black cloth and a smashed Scroll from the rubble. Megumin and Darkness approached, but paused a few feet away, unsure of what to say or do. He couldn't blame them.

Aqua stared at the piece of fabric, and saw the blood stains on it. She stared at the Scroll. Kazuma held out a hand and rested it on Aqua's shoulder.

"It doesn't mean he's dead, Aqua," Kazuma said quietly, "He just lost his Scroll. We don't know for sure. Maybe he's at home. Maybe he got there-You haven't called back..."

Aqua bowed her head, shaking a bit. She sobbed softly as she held the fabric and Scroll to her chest.

Kazuma hugged her from behind, out of desperation if nothing else.

"Aqua! Aqua, look at me," Kazuma insisted. He turned her to face him. Those big blue eyes of hers were invariably filled with tears-When she lost a bet, or she pissed off a gangster, or when she wanted something frivolous and he refused to budge.

He'd never seen her cry in grief before.

"... I always... I always made fun of him... And-And bullied him... And-And was so mean to him," Aqua sobbed, "And I... And he might be dead! I-I should have been here for him! I should have... I should have been a good big sister! I should have...!"

Megumin bit her lower lip, and bowed her head. Darkness murmured a prayer to the Church of the Broken Table: She was a Crusader of their order, after all, though Kazuma had a feeling the Order would NOT be happy about her motivations for combat.

Still... He tightened his hug.

"We don't know if he's dead or not, all right?" Kazuma murmured, "So until then... Stay strong, and hopeful, all right?"

Aqua nodded shakily, sniffling some more... Which is when a loud shriek rang out in the night. Team KDAM turned and looked up as a flock of Nevermore descended from on high.

"Craaaaap," Kazuma muttered, "Get to the Bullhead! We're getting-!"

Dozens of razor sharp feathers rained down upon them. Kazuma saw Darkness leap in front of it to protect them, saw Megumin begin to power up... He reached out to try and "Steal" some of the feathers, make it easier on them...

Pipes all around them burst, and a shield of water formed overhead. The rushing liquid caught the spear-sized feathers and tossed them aside. Kazuma turned and looked at Aqua.

Tears still fell from her eyes, but they were filled with rage and glowing. She stood up, and held up her hand. The water torrents formed into spears and solidified into ice... Before they launched.

A dozen Nevermore were pierced, and fell out of the sky for the ground like feathery rocks. Aqua stepped forward, her Aura burning like a blue sun. More water gushed out around them, formed out of the air, until a veritable waterfall was all around them.

Kazuma had rarely seen Aqua unleash her full power: The silly bimbo usually got scared or distracted or just forgot. Her ego and vanity clashed with what she had trained for.

But there were times when she remembered just what she was capable of... And he stood in awe of her terrible beauty and power.

"We are not leaving until every Grimm here is dead," she snarled, clutching the scrap of cloth and smashed Scroll to her chest.

"... Yes ma'am," Kazuma managed.

- - -

I'll post a few more here and there.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Another bit here...
- - -
Tangerine "Tangy" Arc took deep breaths as she walked around the embarkation deck of the VMS Ark Royal. The massive airship carrier fairly thrummed around her with nervous energy, as troops and deck crew went about their jobs and duties.

Her agitation was not helped by the people walking alongside her: Her Great-Grandmother Arturia Pendragon-Arc, and her great-grandfather Shirou Arc.

"Nana, Papa, please," Tangy insisted, "You should not be on the front lines. You've done more than enough."

Arturia smiled wryly as they passed one of several assault airships: The Wayland Air Motors Tigertail II. They weren't as bulky or powerful as the Atlasian Brokker Corporation Bullheads, but they were swift and well armed. Good things in Tangy's book.

"You're not the first to protest this, you know," Arturia said with a chuckle, "Your great-great-grandfather told me much the same. I was better off as a symbol to inspire the people and be diplomatic."

"You are," Tangy insisted as they headed for the aft doors. The Ark Royal was a kind of multi-role combat platform: Not as large as the Atlasian supercarriers, but able to supply air superiority, aerial assault, and search and rescue operations for a fraction of the cost of their larger cousins. Even so, with Atlas providing so much defense due to the defense treaties, the local defense forces of the various sub-kingdoms and nations that made up Vale had drastically drawn down their military forces.

Where once the Vytalian Royal Navy had been the largest and most powerful on the planet, it was now down to three heavy air carriers, two light air carriers, and a few dozen air destroyers and frigates.

Nevertheless...

"You pulled together half the air fleets and military forces across the continent in a few weeks!" Tangy insisted, "There are even some Pandu forces!"

"King Arjun was kind enough to spare a few units, despite his troubles," Shirou said with a grin, "He's a great friend, and we'll return the favor."

"That doesn't mean you belong on the front lines!" Tangy insisted as they got to their Tigertail II. They walked in through the hatch, Tangy's unit already set up and kitted out. She hid a proud smile at this, and coolly inspected them.

"Aten-Hut!" She ordered, and they all snapped to attention. She scowled at them, before scowling back at her great-grandparents. She turned back to them and held in a sigh.

"Change of plans," she stated, "We're gonna be the Vanguard for Queen Arturia and her consort."

2nd Lieutenant Matheus Weiss, her 2IC, looked at her 1IC, 1st Lieutenant Vicktoriya Serebryakov. They shared a concerned look and Tangy had no doubt about what they silently discussed before they turned back to Tangy.

"Are we still going to hit the back up control station for the city's defense network, sir?" Vicktoriya asked cautiously. Tangy nodded.

"Yep. Mission profile is the same, we're just keeping these two alive," she sighed.

Arturia smiled, and snapped to attention. Shirou did the same.

"We'll stay out of your way, Colonel," she said calmly, "But the decision is final."

Tangy scowled, but kept her thoughts to herself. She slowly nodded.

"All right. You will follow our lead and stay in support. We have the tech guys who will go in. Do not make this any more difficult than it has to be, and if I tell you to withdraw? You will withdraw. Clear?"

"Crystal, Colonel," Shirou said. Tangy nodded slowly.

Well. That was the best she was going to get.

"T-Minus Five minutes to bombardment," a voice on the PA announced. Tangy nodded to her squad, who started charging their gear.

At Shirou's questioning look, Tangy quickly explained with her own flight harness:

"It's an experimental flight and Dust projection slash interface system," she explained, "The Brísingamen System. Basically it's an attempt to mass produce the Schnee Glyph Semblance by creating an Aura powered interface that lets you use various kinds of Dust for various applications."

She patted the chest piece, backpack, and belt, before gesturing down to the flight boots and gauntlets. All were interconnected with armor pieces and glowing cables.

"I see," Shirou said, studying the system intently, "Did it work?"

"Sort of," Tangy allowed, "Problem with an Aura powered system is you need a lot of Aura and a LOT of Aura control to use it successfully. The control system had to be kept simple: It basically lets us fly and provides extra protection against blasts with Gravity Dust. The rifle system attached to it can surge Aura," she hefted up her rifle, "And let us hit a bit harder. The designers were hoping to make an army of S-Rank Huntsmen, but all it really does is improve troop mobility and firepower. It's also still hard to mass produce."

"But you entered into a deal for your PMC to test the technology and send research and development data back to them," Arturia said, her smile softly proud. Tangy smiled and shrugged.

"Only the best for my troops... Speaking of: We ready to go?"

"YES MA'AM!" They shouted.

"Then lock and load!" Tangy ordered.

Outside, Ark Royal and her escorts opened fire with their short range guns and missiles. The numerous Grimm surrounding Vale in the air flew towards them, dying in waves to the massed firepower. However, still more flew up and even through the bombardment was thinning their numbers, it wasn't a massive dent.

Just enough to allow the next phase of the operation.

Ark Royal and Invincible launched their fleets of Tigertails, which flew through the gaps provided by the bombardment. The little airships launched their own missiles and fired their guns, punching through any aerial Grimm that got in their way.

Flight Archer was defended by several Tigertails as it flew into the industrial district. It hovered over a Grimm infested area, close air support coming in from numerous other airships as its hatches opened.

Tangy tapped her earpiece, and her mechashift helmet/gasmask deployed. The rest of her squad followed. She activated her flight system.

"MOVE OUT!" She ordered, and she and her squad flew out. They opened fire on Grimm around the landing zone, darting this way and that to clear the way. Weiss and Neumann engaged several Ursa on the ground, while Visha and Koenig blasted several Beowulve packs. Koenig and Weiss got down around the entrance and provided covering fire, clearing the immediate area of Reynards and other pests. Tangy flew about providing in the moment support to each group, staying highly mobile.

With a human enemy, taking substantial losses would usually mean a retreat and reassessment of the threat. The Grimm just kept coming, mostly mindlessly, but they were getting more cautious. Tangy narrowed her eyes behind her flight helmet as a pair of Gryphons landed. They were big, uncommon, but swarmed Vale shortly after the festival. Her squad was tough, but this would be a bit of a challenge for them-And the longer the Tigertail stayed in hover mode, the easier a target it made.

It's like they know this is a critical area, she thought, But how? And why are they-?

A six foot-ten blonde woman with a voluptuous figure in blue and white armor landed on the ground, holding up her sword. An even taller white haired man in red coat and black armor landed beside her, preparing a bow. Tangy shook her head.

"No, don't deploy yet, the area isn't-!"

Arturia drew her blade, and her Aura exploded. She dashed, swung... And a gigantic energy blast went right through the nearest Gryphon. It fell back in two pieces, quickly expiring. Its companion tried to charge, but its head abruptly exploded.

Papa Shirou calmly nocked another arrow sword on his bow, while Nana Arturia, burning with Aura, swung and unleashed another Aura blast that wiped out a whole pack of Beowulves. She nodded grimly to her great-granddaughter.

"Forgive the presumption, but I believe we can hold the line," Arturia said, "If you wish us to?"

Honestly, she was still Queen even if she abdicated. Yet she still gave Tangy the choice. That was a lot of respect.

Tangy nodded.

"Get the engineers down here!" She ordered the flight crew, "Squad! Hold the line until they get down, then we're going in!"

"YES MA'AM!" Her squad replied, and carried out her orders. She shot a glare at Gantz, who stared a little too long at her great-grandmother.

"It's just her Semblance, Gantz," she growled over a private line, "Stay focused!"

"Ah, yes ma'am!" The would be playboy of her squad said quickly, "Just admiring your family heritage, ma'am!"

"Do you want me to shoot you myself, Gantz?"

"No ma'am! Yes ma'am!"

- - -

Last edited: Today at 4:23 PM​

 

[SharkCultist]

"Remember son, an Arcs Aura runs deep."

Jaune had heard many strange rules and laws of the Arc family over the years.

How they weren't allowed to visit Atlas without informing the government beforehand, how Tangy wasn't allowed to drink alcohol with Aqua under any circumstances, but there was one rule that he never got a explanation on.

"Once your aura is unlocked you must never try the unlock chant on yourself again."

It was the one rule every adult in his family stressed to him constantly.

It was a rule he was about to break.

He was on the last dregs of his aura, alone, tired, and surrounded by Grimm.

He needed just a tiny bit more aura, just enough to escape. So.....

Jaune began to chant. He reached into the depths of his soul and something reached back.

---

RWBYNPR expected to find a corpse. They'd been looking for Jaune for almost a full day and the projected lifespan for a lone huntsmen trainee in this Forrest was about three hours.

So imagine their surprise when they found Jaune torturing Grimm with chains made of blue fire.

Aura shaping and elemental manifestation are two old and almost never used aura techniques. Most of the current masters of these techniques use them in short small bursts. Little more than tricks. Because both take levels of aura and control that you need decades to achieve.

Something was wrong here and Ruby wanted to know what.

"Jaune?"

He finally took notice of them, blue eyes (the color is wrong, why are they glowing?) sweeping over them.

"Sorry little red reaper but no, not Jaune."

He quickly found seven weapons pointed at him. Cute. Useless but cute.

"Who are you?"

Something about that amused him before his chains shot out and wrapped them up, surprisingly not burning them.

"Calm little ones I'm no threat. I am simply a ghost, currently more solid than most."

"Fearless leader got his soul eaten!!!!"

"Ah, amusing but no. Luckily for the little fool I was the first ancestor to answer his call and I have no intention of making this permanent."

At this most of them visibly relaxed.

"So you're not going to hurt Jaune?"

"I never said that. He broke a Arc Law and will be punished for it."

At his words the blue flames lit up jaunes arms.

"Some third degree burns on the arms should help the lesson sink it."

RWBYNPR could only watch as their friend burned then collapsed.

When Jaune finally woke up ten days later drugged up to the gills he had one thought in mind.

Do not break a Arc Law.

 

[mgl1206]

Should I make a Destiny x RWBY crossover where Jaune dies at the tower and ends up becoming a Guardian? But considering this is me and I love it when canon gets fucked up in crossovers, it's gonna be Jaune getting rezzed mid-collapse while the effects of the battle between the Witness and the Traveller are still going on. Here's a prologue and the first chapter.

-----------------
Chapter 0: Prologue

You are weak, injured, and desperate. You do not wish to do this, to place such a burden upon them, but you don't have a choice. You look down across the sea at those you sheltered beneath your light. They live but they are too few.

Too weak. Far too many have been added to the names you bear, and you know that while It has retreated, its puppets remain. And it will snuff them out for they can no longer resist. And you can no longer bear to lose another to the deep. You can still hear them a small few who speak to you in search of salvation. But you cannot give what you don't have.

Instead, you give them a burden. Pain runs through you as you feel yourself splitting apart into millions of tiny sparks, encased in a shell of metal and glass. But through that pain, you can't help but hope and regret the burden you give them.

Your thoughts become muddied as you cut yourself apart, it is difficult to think, yet you do not stop. You continue to cut away at yourself, creating more and more sparks of light, hoping against hopelessness that it will be enough for a miracle.

And suddenly, something changes. Through tired eyes, you look across the ocean and see something you do not expect to see. A small little gardener. It is different than the others you care for. And you realize why, this light was not from the ocean you know, but from another, a tiny spark born of darkness and light from a sea you and the silence did not create.

Swiftly you move to hide this 'little light' from It. You know all too well what It would do to the 'little light' should It find it. It is then you realize something through the murky fog of your thoughts. The 'little light' was fading. Its light growing weaker and weaker by the passing moment, on the verge of being snuffed out.

You think it over for but a moment. You do not wish to place another under such a burden, but you don't want another to disappear. Perhaps the silence might oppose your choice, but it did not have a choice in the matter, it was not here to stop you.

With the last remnants of your coherent thoughts, you take a small part of yourself, different from the ones you've cut off before. Unlike the others who will find their own in time, you give this one a direction to its chosen.

Fatigue finally catches up to you, as you watch the thousands of little lights spread their way across the planet below and above, and you can't help but lament that they so eagerly spread their little wings and begin their search in earnest. A single tear slips past as you lament the burden you have placed on them, on all of them. And as the sleep finally overtakes you, you hope it will be enough.

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

Chapter 1: Resurrection

Jaune woke up suddenly, gasping for air as the cold, frigid air rushed to fill his lungs, replacing the stale mix that had occupied them. His body, stiff and aching, burned with exhaustion and pain. But as the cold air of the night cleared his thoughts and clarity settled in, he was struck by a realization. He wasn't in pain

His hands reflexively moved to his chest, his fingers patting across his ruined chestplate till felt what he was searching for. A small gash, right above his heart, and where Cinder's arrow had struck him. He closed his eyes as memories rushed back to him. The burning heat in his chest, the cold that began to take over his limbs, the initial shock as he looked down at the obsidian arrow in his chest, followed by agonizing pain as he struggled to breathe.

"Hello, are you okay?" a digitized female voice suddenly interrupted him, scattering his thoughts to the wind. Jumping up in surprise, Jaune quickly turned around to find the source of the voice, only to find a small white drone staring back at him with its bright blue eye.

"I, uh, I think so?" he managed to stammer.

"Oh, this is perfect! I can't believe I found my partner so quickly! Oh, my apologies. You're probably wondering who I am." To which Jaune nodded awkwardly.

"Well! I'm a Ghost! Well, specifically, I'm your Ghost now, and I brought you back to life!" Jaune froze. His thoughts raced over what the little drone had said. How could he be brought back to life? But, surely that was impossible, and even if it was, how had he never heard of these Ghosts before?

Yet at the same time, Jaune couldn't help but be reminded of Cinder's arrow sticking out of his chest had he perhaps died? Then, if the Ghost was telling the truth, then how long had he been dead? Where was he? Were they something that happened after his death? Were his friends and family even alive?

"H- how long have I been d-" he faltered, "gone? Where am I? What about my frie-" He stopped himself. He couldn't expect the drone to know who his friends were. "What about the City? The attack! Was it repelled?" He changed his question as he asked the ghost, desperate for reassurance that his friends and the city were safe.

"Wait, you… you remember your past?" the Ghost suddenly whispered, shock and surprise evident in its voice. Its fin-like shell spun like the gears of a machine as it processed its newly gained information. Jaune could only nod, realizing that perhaps resurrected people didn't remember things before they died.

"Y- yeah?"

"Oh, this is so exciting! I didn't think you would remember your past, but you do! Oh, this is just wonderful!" The Ghost exclaimed, its shell spinning in excitement. He almost interrupted the Ghost's celebration but stopped himself. Despite his desire to learn more about Vale and his friends, he couldn't bring himself to interrupt her celebration and instead opted to wait for her to finish. She reminded him far too much of how his younger sisters celebrated when they were happy.

"Oh, I apologize. It seems I got a bit carried away," the Ghost said, its blush audible in its voice.

"I- It's alright, but um, if you don't mind. Do you know what happened to Vale and Beacon? Were the Grimm and White Fang repelled?" Jaune asked the Ghost, anxious for answers.

"The Grimm? Do you mean the Darkness?" the Ghost asked, its curiosity piqued. But its question instead added to Jaune's confusion.

"The Darkness?" he asked, unsure of what it referred to.

"Oh right, sorry I suppose you wouldn't know. I mean I only knew because The Traveller made me, you know?" To which Jaune could only nod hesitantly.

"A- anyway! We can figure that out later. We've been out for too long, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend the night in a dark and creepy forest." the Ghost whispered, prompting Jaune to finally examine his surroundings and realize they were in a small clearing surrounded by thick forest and dense trees.

Reluctantly agreeing, Jaune rose to his feet. He didn't know where he was, but if he was outside the walls of Vale, he had to get somewhere safe. He could figure the rest out when they weren't under threat of being attacked by Grimm. Suddenly, feeling the cold touch of metal against his side, Jaune looked down to see his family's blade and shield at his hip. He distinctly remembered losing both during his fight with Cinder. So how did it end up on his hip?

Examining himself further, Jaune was astonished to find himself in the same outfit as when he died. Even his armor remained unchanged, along with the tear in his breastplate where- he froze as he suddenly realized what he was looking at.

A jagged tear upon his left breast scarred the warped metal - a tear no more than a few inches in length. Made by a single arrow of obsidian, memories poured through his mind as he remembered the arrow and how it tore through his armor and aura. And buried itself in his chest. Jaune's blood ran cold as the realization finally sunk in. He had died. Her arrow had pierced his heart, an injury that even Aura couldn't heal.

His thoughts returned to his friends and his family. Jaune could hardly imagine the grief that they'd gone through. Especially his mother, he shivered at the thought. He'd be lucky if she didn't ground him for the rest of his life when he returned. No, after what happened, she'd ground him for the rest of his life regardless of his objections. And his sisters would use this as a chance to get as many favors as they could. His thoughts suddenly soured as he remembered what the Ghost had said about resurrected people not remembering anything. He just hoped he hadn't lost any memory of his family and friends.

Jaune panicked once more as he thought of his friends and his team. Gods, he hoped they didn't blame themselves for his death, though knowing his partner and best friend, Jaune knew that was exactly what the both of them were doing.

"Are you alright?" the Ghost suddenly spoke, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Oh, uh yeah, sorry." Shelving the thoughts away, he followed after the small drone. With his thoughts no longer on his loved ones, Jaune's thoughts focused on the little drone before him.

It was a curious little thing, how it could bring him back from the dead, he didn't know, but after seeing the jagged tear in his armor, he couldn't help but believe it, as far-fetched as it was. And that meant he quite literally owed the little drone his life.

"Hey, um. I don't think we introduced ourselves. I'm Jaune, Jaune Arc. What's uh, what's your name?" The small drone looked back at him as he asked his question.

"Oh, I uh, I never actually had a name. I was just born like a few days ago. Haven't had a chance to really think of one." The Ghost spoke softly, her shell drooping slightly.

"I uh, sorry. I didn't mean to." He apologized quickly.

"Oh, no no no! It's alright I was uh, just kinda worried. Not about you or anything, I mean I was worried about having a partner for the first time, and I was just- I didn't- I-" The Ghost stammered as she began to panic. Jaune stifled his laughter as the Ghost fell into a spiral of awkwardness.

"Hey, it's ok. I'm not so great with new people either." He said, trying to console the Ghost. "But if you don't have a name, how about I give you one? If you want I mean, you don't have to accept-.".

"You'd do that!?" The Ghost exclaimed, cutting him off "Oh that'd be wonderful!" her shell spinning in joy as she spoke. Jaune couldn't help but chuckle seeing it.

"Well, you said that you were called a Ghost?" She nodded "In that case, how about Phanti? I uh, based it off of Fantôme. Which is old Valean for Ghost." Jaune watched nervously but when the Ghost didn't react, he began to panic. "W- we can change it if you don't like it."

"NO!" The Ghost suddenly shouted. "Sorry, I uh, it's fine. I actually really like it." Phanti sheepishly said, but it did little to mask the sheer joy that was expressed in its voice and small frame.

"Well then Phanti, shall we get going?" Jaune softly asked Phanti. Who cheerfully agreed, leading the way for her newly resurrected partner.

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

Sooo.. what do you think? Due to Destiny's early history being completely unknown, I have to make a lot of stuff up or change it to a timeline of my own creation, like the arrival of the Fallen. We know they didn't come till after or during the collapse, which itself lasted for a few months up to a few years. During which earthquakes, severe weather, disease, and poisoned water killed most of humanity on Earth (which at the start of the story is still going on). I could theoretically add in the Witnesses troops but I'm just gonna say they're already gone with the Witness after The Traveller banished him or never appeared on Earth because they just were not needed.

In addition, I'm making it so that the Ghosts have some memories they got from the Traveller, but just basic stuff like the Darkness was hunting the Traveler but they don't know what exactly it is, or like how their partners don't have memories of their past. But, I have to be careful with that as that's a slippery slope. And yes, Jaune will be the oldest Guardian, but no, he won't take the role of the Player's Guardian. She'll appear WAY later (she because my Guardian is a female human warlock ) but yeah I have an idea of what's to do till like chapter 10? but this will be a long-running project. Should I do it? Especially since I'll probably have to remake my outline if I truly decide to do it.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Jaune was studying in the common room. Blake entered, looking frustrated and tired.

Jaune: "Oh, hey Blake... You okay?"

Blake: "No."

Jaune: "Well... Um... Can I help?"

Blake: "Hmm..."

She walked over to Jaune, and laid down over his lap.

Jaune: "Ah?!"

Blake: sighs happily "Much better."

Jaune: "Uh, Blake, I'm studying-You're on my lap-?"

Blake: "Mmm... Your Aura is so warm..." Sighs

Jaune: "Uh, Blake? Blake, please?"

Blake: "Nyahhh..."

Jaune: Damnit... Does she have to be so cute...? But no. How do I get her off my lap? Let's see... Aha! I know! Like with cats at home...

He reaches down and scritches behind her ears.

Blake: "N-Nyahhhh~!"

Jaune: I just have to make her feel good and she'll leave...

Later... Pyrrha enters... And sees Blake cuddled up to Jaune as he tiredly scratches behind her ears.

Pyrrha: "Ah! Jaune?!"

Jaune: "She won't leave me alone..."

Blake: "Morrrre~!"

Jaune: sigh

 

[AJ_Talon]

- - -

Neptune sighed as he reached into his bag of potato chips, pulled out a chip and chewed on it. He was a little agitated by the waterfall, but the rest of the scenery was doing a lot to calm him. Even he could appreciate natural beauty like this.

... Enhanced with the natural beauties around him, of course. That said...

"Do they have to keep doing that?" He muttered in irritation to Ren, as Cardin and Velvet continued their excessively cutesy lunchtime antics. True, he could feel some brotherly admiration for the Winchester heir: He had a smoking hot bunny girl in his lap feeding him dried fruit, in between kisses and nuzzles. That was Grade A manly.

It did, however, remind him of a distinct lack of any hotties in his lap.

"It's kind of weird," Nora agreed, "But I'm glad they're getting along! Cardy used to bully Velvety! Pulled on her ears!"

"Guess she was into that," Neptune muttered. A familiar elbow jabbed him in the ribs. "URK! Arslan!"

"Try to be more polite," Arslan stated, still perfectly calm as she slowly finished the greens and fish that Lilac had packed them. Neptune scowled at her.

"You know, the tsundere childhood friend bit is really getting old," he huffed.

"Childhood friend?" Ruby asked, tilting her head curiously. She'd been staring at the ruins for the last twenty minutes: Worried about her sister and Jaune, no doubt. Still, if she was asking...

Neptune smile and spread his hands dramatically.

"Yes! We went to the same private elementary school, the same middle school, and almost the same Hunter prep school!" He said proudly. "She's obviously in deep denial about her true feelings for me, hiding them with violence and hurtful comments."

"I believe I have made my feelings for you very clear, Neptune," Arslan said calmly, "You're like the bratty, idiotic, perverted and overcompensating little brother I never had."

"Urk!" Neptune gasped, holding his chest. "Geez... Hiding them pretty deep, huh?"

"As though they don't even exist," Arslan stated with a raised eyebrow. "Your philandering isn't winning you any points."

"C-Come on!" Neptune chuckled, "It-It never hurt anyone!"

Ruby frowned intently at him from across the table.

"Weiss was pretty hurt when you dumped her," the silver eyed girl stated, a note of accusation in her tone. Neptune winced again.

"I, well... Okay. I messed up there. I thought she just wanted a-a no strings attached romance. I didn't think it was anything serious, honest. Then she talks about meeting her parents and I realize... No. She's got the wrong idea." He held up his hands. "For what it's worth, I am sorry about that. I'm too young to think about settling down!"

Arslan scoffed a bit. Neptune scowled at her.

"Hey! At least I'm not some repressed warrior nun!"

"As I have said many times, my vows are for chastity, not celibacy," Arslan sighed, "When I marry my husband in a divinely ordained ceremony, we will unleash our loving feelings for one another without restraint. Far better than trivializing such a wonderful gift as intimacy."

"It's not trivial!" Neptune protested, "I'm living life to the fullest!"

"And causing a lot of heartache in the process," Arslan observed.

"Prude!"

"Idiot."

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Nora cheered, still in the middle of her large stack of pancakes. "Now kiss, kiss, kiss!"

Neptune grinned smugly at Arslan.

"Ha! Told you! You're just denying your true feelings for me and sublimating them into violence-ACK!"

Arslan put Neptune in a wristlock, her expression still utterly serene.

"Then I suppose I truly care for you to try and correct your terrible habits," Arslan deadpanned, twisting his arm behind him. Neptune grinned.

"Ha! I happen to like it rough-OW OW OW I'M KIDDING I'M KIDDING! UNCLE! UNCLE ALREADY!"

Arslan let Neptune go. He winced as he rolled his shoulder.

"Geez, learn to take a joke," he muttered.

"I took you in didn't I?" Arslan snorted. Nora, Ruby, and May giggled, though May coughed quickly in embarrassment. Neptune pouted.

"Et tu, May? You're so nice!"

"S-Sorry," May mumbled.

"Besides," Neptune huffed, "It's only natural to feel jealous of what they have." He nodded over at Cardin and Velvet, still blissfully unaware of the conversation at the other table. "Hell, even Fearless Leader and Xiao-Long are up to something."

"N-No they're not!" Ruby immediately spoke, flushing deeply. "Th-They're just... Talking!" She looked at May urgently. "Right?"

May's eyes glowed briefly. She blushed and nodded.

"R-Right. They're just talking," she said. She then frowned as she looked with her Aura Vision out into the fields of flowers. "That's strange..."

"What is?" Ruby asked. The flowers rustled nearby. Everyone reached for their weapons. Velvet slipped off Cardin's lap and went into a defensive stance, as he hefted up his mace.

The flowers rustled a bit more... Before a bright blue bird the size of a house cat popped out of the grass. Its large black eyes studied them intently, as it waved its long, feathery tail. Ruby's jaw dropped.

"It's... It's... Adorable!" Ruby gasped.

"Chou?" The bird squawked.

"What is it?" Cardin asked with a frown.

"I believe it is a Choux Bird," Ren spoke quietly, "Jaune told me about them. They are flightless alpine birds that live in the mountains around Radian."

"Why is it blue?" Neptune asked. "Not that I'm complaining, good color choice and all..."

"It's to reflect UV radiation since they live at high altitudes," Ren went on, calmly studying the bird.

Ruby moved around the table slowly, and cautiously approached the bird. It chirped a bit, tilting its head this way and that. Ruby knelt down, and pulled out a cookie Lilac had baked just for her. She broke a piece off, and held it out in her open palm with a soft smile.

"I'm not gonna hurt you," Ruby murmured, "Come on..."

The Choux stepped slowly, cautiously, warbling softly.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Ren warned her, "Jaune said feeding them can cause problems."

"Come on, this little guy?" Nora snorted, "Let Ruby feed the birdy!"

The Choux Bird got up to Ruby. It examined the cookie, before pecking at it. It tossed the cookie fragment back, swallowed it, and then cooed happily. Ruby beamed. She slowly reached out to rub the back of its head, and it leaned into the touch happily.

"Aww... You're a little cutie, yes you are, yes you are," Ruby cooed, as the Choux bird warbled. "And so fluffy!"

"Aw," Velvet cooed, "It's so adorable! Isn't it, Cardin?"

"Er... Yeah, sure," Cardin mumbled.

"Just agree with your girlfriend, dude," Neptune snorted, "Nothing unmanly about admitting something is cute."

"Says the perpetually single louse," Arslan deadpanned.

"Freaking tsundere!" Neptune growled.

"It really is very cute," May smiled. She advanced slowly, kneeling a bit. The Choux bird turned, and after a moment's thought, it jumped into her arms and nuzzled into her impressive chest. She giggled, and cuddled the bird.

"Aw..."

Neptune's eyebrow twitched. Ren managed not to smirk. Arslan failed not to.

"See? Nothing wrong with feeding the birdy," Nora giggled.

The Choux bird then chirped very loudly, three times. Out of the grass all around them, dozens of blue birds perked up. Ruby gaped, as they began to advance, chirping for food.

"... Um... I'm not sure we have enough," Ruby said cautiously.

"Uh oh," May managed.

Nora grabbed a bag of popcorn Lilac had packed them, opened it up, and began to toss it out to all the Choux birds. Ruby's eyes widened.

"NORA!"

"Now now," Nora laughed, "I'm sure nothing bad will happen if we feed them more!"

- - -

Yang and Jaune made their way through the ruins, both a lot calmer. Yang sighed and rubbed her temples.

"... Thanks again, Jaune," she said. "I... I just... Thanks."

"It's okay," Jaune said with a small smile. He shook his head. "I guess... Maybe we do need some rest and recovery. My Nana and Papa used to tell me stories of soldiers with shellshock from the Great War. How... How they needed time away from the fight to recover."

"Yeah, my dad and uncle told me about that, too," Yang sighed, "Maybe... Maybe this isn't so bad. At least for now."

Jaune nodded slowly.

"Yeah... I-I guess so," he murmured. "Just hope the others agree that we need a break from... From everything."

The sounds of many birds chirping filled the hallway ahead. As did the sounds of yelling. Yang and Jaune looked at each other, then readied their weapons. They dashed through the old watchtower, burst into the light, ready for battle...

Into a scene of absolute pandamonium. Nora was waving her hammer and an empty popcorn bag at a huge flock of Choux birds from atop an old stone fountain, while Ren clung to her like a sloth with a deadpan expression. Ruby was using her Semblance and zipping around, squealing as she tried to escape the numerous little birds. Cardin and Velvet were waving their weapons to keep the birds at bay. Arslan was standing on a lonely pillar on one foot, while holding a raging Neptune by the back of his shirt as Choux birds kept jumping at them. May Zedong squealed and giggled helplessly as dozens of the birds cuddled and climbed all over her on the ground.

"Heehee-Oh-AH! D-Don't! Ahahahaha!"

"JAUNE!" Ruby shouted. "HELP!"

"I AM YOUR QUEEN! I GAVE YOU POPCORN!" Nora wailed. "YOU REBELLIOUS TRAITORS!"

"LET ME AT 'EM!" Neptune bellowed. "HOW DARE THESE LITTLE BASTARDS GET TO FONDLE AND GROPE MAY WHEN I DON'T-URK!"

"Please don't make me knock you out, Neptune," Arslan stated flatly.

"JAUNE!" Cardin shouted, "HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM LEAVE?!"

"They're terrifying! And adorable!" Velvet wailed. "Terradorable!"

Yang gaped in utter disbelief. Jaune was much the same. He then facepalmed.

"... Freaking bird brains," Yang managed.

Jaune snorted... Then snickered. Then he began to laugh, hard and loud. Yang's lips twitched, before she joined him. Their laughter spread, slowly but surely, amongst all the other Hunters-in-Training, admidst the chirping and cooing of the hyperactive birds.

"Haaaa," Jaune sighed, still snickering, "You're all so hopeless..."

"So it would seem," Ren deadpanned.

- - -

Because we needed some comic relief.

 

[AJ_Talon]

Another bit I wasn't sure where to put in the main story. This takes place when Yang was in the hospital recovering.



- - -



The Grimm Ursa bellowed and charged, its red eyes glowing with hate. Just like every other such monster Jaune had faced. He knew the drill: It was almost instinct by now.



He side stepped the charge. He shield bashed the monster in the side of the head, knocking it off balance. He surged his Aura. He brought his sword down through its neck, decapitating it, and dodged out of the way of its bulk.



The monster fell, headless, smashing into the ground as it began to dissolve. Another Ursa charged nearby, but its head went up in a black Grimm dust explosion. Jaune nodded back to May, who was hanging back in a tree.



"Keep it up!" Jaune shouted, "We're almost there!"



Around him, the rest of his 'team' fought the Grimm furiously as they poured through the breach in the wall. Not in Radian's main three walls, but in its outer Fourth Ring. This had largely been abandoned as the town contracted from its glory days as capital of Gallia, but was still somewhat maintained in key areas to secure travel.



After Vale's fall, refugees had started pouring it, so they had to make more room. Which meant more people, which meant more Grimm, which meant repairing the Fourth Ring.



The only way to do that was to thin out the Grimm numbers enough to do that. So, Jaune and a few of his classmates had taken that job upon themselves since Radian's militia was already stretched thin.



Nora and Ren worked together nearby, Ren slashing through smaller Grimm like Beowulves while Nora flattened the big ones. On Jaune's other side, Cardin bashed a Boarbatusk flat with his mace, while Velvet used her hand to hand combat abilities to keep Beowulves off him. Behind him, Arslan used her own impressive martial arts and Ruby her speed to kill any Grimm that got past their vanguard, while Neptune fired blasts from his electric rifle to cover them.



They pressed forward towards the large breach in the wall, keeping the Grimm from advancing any further. Jaune's Scroll beeped loudly. He tapped the speaker on it as he stabbed a Beowulf through the throat.



"Jaune here!"



"Son, we're almost there," his father called out, "Just hold out for another minute!"



"Got it!" Jaune shouted, shield bashing another Beowulf before slashing its spine apart, "ONE MINUTE GUYS!"



"ROGER!" Cardin bellowed. He swung his mace down and unleashed a Fire Dust blast, annihilating another Ursa that was trying to get through. A Beowulf leaped through the smoke, latching its jaws onto his shoulder.



"CARDIN!" Velvet shouted, occupied with two more Beowulves.



"MAY! RUBY!" Jaune shouted.



Two shots range out, and the Beowulf vanished into smoke. Cardin didn't have time to show gratitude though: A massive Ursa Alpha barreled through the broken wall, roaring in challenge. Jaune grit his teeth.



"Arslan! Ren! Nora! We're flanking it!" He shouted. "May! Ruby! Neptune! Fire support! Cardin! Velvet! Keep any others from getting through!"



Neptune unleashed a blast of lighting that hit the Alpha Ursa on its back, making it roar. Rounds from Ruby and May's weapons blasted it in the eyes. Arslan dashed foward, as Jaune joined her. She powered up her Aura and leaped, dropkicking the Ursa in the neck before backflipping away. Ren closed in, unleashing a withering hail of Dust rounds from his guns as he leaped over the Ursa. Jaune and Nora charged in, Jaune slashing through its front paws while Nora fired off grenades to hit its back.



It reared up with a roar of agony. Arslan threw her dagger-dart and pierced its throat. Nora spun in the air and slammed her hammer right on its head, slamming it down into the dirt. Jaune stabbed it in the eyes, blinding it, as it bellowed in rage.



"EVERYONE! MOVE!" Nick Arc bellowed. Instinct took over, and everyone broke away from the bellowing Alpha Ursa at speed. It got back up, roaring in pain but still very much ready for the fight...



When a golden yellow Aura blast blew its head off. A sonic boom rattled the air, and a mighty seven foot tall man in white and black armor with a giant sword charged in to swing a six foot long sword.



The massive Alpha Ursa, the size of a truck, was split in half before it began to dissolve.



Nick Arc pulled back, his mighty railgun sword at the ready, as two armored trucks drove up to the wall. One carried large square blocks made of metal on its flatbed, while the other had a pile of rocks in its back. Nick sheathed his sword, and hefted up the first block. He slammed it down with a grunt in the middle of the hole in the wall, and stepped back. A moment later, with loud grinding sounds, the metal expanded. In a few seconds, the metal covered most of the breach.



"All right!" Nick shouted, moving away from the wall as the flatbed truck moved away. He waved his hands to the other truck driver, who turned around and backed in, loud beeping filling the air. At some point, Nick held up his hand and then waved it in a circle, before moving out of the way.



The dump truck's bed tilted back, and a pile of stones fell behind the metal barrier. The pile filled up most of the gaps, but it was clear its main job was just to hold the barrier in place. Nick nodded, then waved the truck on. The dump truck's bed lowered again, and it drove away. Nick then waved to the Hunters-in-Training, and they approached.



"Phew... Good job, guys," Nick complimented them, "This stuff was only meant as an emergency patch, but it'll hold until we get the construction guys out here. Mind filling in the rest? It'll be a big help."



Jaune nodded.



"Sure. We'll resume the patrol after we finish," he said.



"Good," Nick sighed. He stared intently at Jaune. "When's the last time you guys took a break?"



Silence fell.



"Um," Ruby tried. Nick scowled.



"Well?"



"We had lunch," Jaune said, "But we had to deal with the breach-"



"Rotate out some scouts and rest after filling up the cracks."



"But Dad-!" Jaune tried, but Nick shook his head.



"You're no good to me if you're exhausted."



He got up onto the back of the flatbed, rummaged around, and then pulled out some shovels. He tossed them down to the teenagers.



"Rest. That's an order," Nick stated. He slapped the top of the truck cab. "Come on, Monty! To the next one!"



The trucks drove off, leaving the Hunters in training to watch. Jaune sighed, and picked up a shovel.



"You heard him," he ordered, "Let's get shoveling."



"Man," Neptune sighed, "Seriously?"



"Heh," Nora giggled, grabbing her own shovel, "This is just like that training mission to that town on the Vacuoan Border, huh Jaune-Jaune? We had to dig a ditch! Pyrrha, remember when you couldn't-?"



She froze. Jaune, Ren, Ruby and Arslan all stared at her. Nora shook, still grinning, but her eyes were tense.



"Hahaha... That's... That's funny," she laughed softly, "I just... I just remembered... I just remembered she's dead. Isn't that... Isn't that...?"



Her eyes filled with tears that began to roll down her cheeks. She let out a soft sob.



"I just remembered... How could I forget?" She whispered.



Jaune gaped, working his jaw. He shook his head. He looked to Ruby, whose own eyes were filled with tears. He looked to Cardin, whose head was bowed. He tried Arslan, who looked grimm but...



"... Fill in the gaps," Jaune ordered, "Arslan, take charge."



"Of course," Arslan murmured, taking the shovel. Jaune wrapped an arm around Nora and led her away as she sobbed. May stepped aside, her head bowed. Neptune grimaced, and said nothing. Velvet sniffled, clutching at her arm as Cardin wrapped one around her shoulders.



Ren took Nora's other side, wrapping his arm around her waist. Ruby followed at a close pace, unsure of what to do or say. Jaune led them over to a tree, and sat them down as Nora continued to cry.



"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I know..." Nora sobbed, "I know she's dead... How... How could I forget a thing like that?"



Ren sat down with her, and held her. His face was like stone as he rubbed soothing circles into his partner's back. Jaune's face was tight and grim. He looked back at Ruby. Ruby also sniffled.



"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."



Jaune let out a soft breath. He pulled Ruby into a hug.



"It's all right," he managed in a dead tone, "It's all right..."



- - -

 

[AJ_Talon]

- - -



Ruby sighed in some frustration as she scanned around the Emerald Forest. She'd been out here for hours and all she had to show for her efforts were sweaty clothes.



"Why do the ninjas of our teams keep running off?" Ruby grumbled, scanning about with her silver eyes. Zwei sniffed nearby, looking a bit lost.



Nora and Jaune had come to them in the early morning, very distraught. Ren had received a package, which was unusual enough. He had then gone up to the Headmaster's office to speak privately with Ozpin: Even more unusual. Finally, Ren had outright vanished. Which would be like Yang no longer using puns, or Blake and Weiss getting along! Or Ruby not liking cookies!



So they'd gone out to look for him. Not an easy task, given he was a ninja. Ruby thought Zwei would give her the advantage, but so far, her adorable little Corgi was no better at tracking than her.



"Thought Blake would find him for sure," Ruby grumbled, kicking a rock petulantly, "She's our ninja. Is Ren that much better a ninja than she is?"



A haunting tune played on strings slowly drifted through the forest. Ruby froze and looked around, listening intently.



It echoed this way and that... But Zwei immediately locked on and with a cute little bark, he raced off through the trees. Ruby followed, keeping her speed down.



They came out into a clearing where a small waterfall cascaded onto a stream. The music grew stronger, and Zwei barked again. Ruby locked onto a large boulder near the river.



There was Ren, sitting cross legged, playing a rounded stringed instrument. Even from here, her keen eyes saw it was in bad shape, with missing paint and rusted metal... Yet the music it produced was still very beautiful.



Ren slowly turned his head and stared at her, still plucking at the strings. Ruby waved awkwardly.



"H-Hey... You okay, Ren?" She asked.



Ren turned his pink eyes away and stared at the waterfall, still plucking away at the instrument. Ruby and Zwei exchanged a look. The corgi shrugged, and then trotted up to jump up onto the rock. He settled down next to Ren, curling up beside him. Ren continued to play, not reacting. Ruby took a deep breath and walked up to the boulder cautiously.



She was cute, but she wasn't corgi cute.



"We... We were all really worried about you," she said, "Nora was terrified."



Ren inclined his chin an inch, still playing.



"... I'll make it up to her," he said quietly.



"What's that? What are you playing?" Ruby inquired, after another moment of letting the music wash over her. Ren let out a soft sigh.



"A pipa. A Mistralian lute. It was..."



He paused his music.



"It was my mother's."



Ruby's face fell. Ren continued quietly, and resumed the song.



"She would play it for me when I was young. A scavenger found it in my old village. One of Ozpin's agents got it, and sent it to me."



"Oh... That..." Ruby struggled, "That was very kind... I... I didn't know you could play."



Ren's finger plucking became a bit more... Tense.



"My mother was teaching me it before..."



He trailed off.



Ruby winced. She climbed up onto the boulder, very slowly, like Ren might bolt at any time. She shakily reached out, hesitated... Then rested a hand on his shoulder. He didn't react to this, the sad song still spilling from the instrument like tears.



"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I just... Why run off? I mean... Nora-"



Ren slowly shook his head.



"Nora's mother abandoned her," he said quietly, "While my parents took care of her too... I... I did not want to remind her."



He bowed his head.



"I didn't want her to be reminded of what I had... And she never did," he said softly.



Ruby shook her head.



"I... I don't think she would be hurt by that," Ruby said softly. "She loves you. You know that, right?"



Ren stared out at the falling water, the spray, his song continuing on automatic.



"Yes," he murmured. "I just... It's my pain. I did not want to burden her."



"Burden her?" Ruby asked in confusion.



"She is..." Ren considered his words carefully, "Everything to me. I have no right to make her feel pain."



"Like by running away and scaring her?" Ruby asked sarcastically... Before slapping her hands over her mouth in horror. Ren ceased the music and stared at her intensely. Zwei quickly intervened, putting his head in Ren's lap and whining for attention. Ren stared down at the dog, then up at the cringing Ruby. He let out a soft sigh, before reaching down to scratch behind Zwei's ears. The corgi growled happily as Ren looked aside.



"... Sorry," he murmured.



Ruby shook her head.



"We... We all do stupid stuff when we're... We're upset," Ruby managed. "I-I tried this super cool move when my Uncle told me I wasn't old enough. I... I just wanted to be amazing like my mom... Ended up breaking my wrist."



Ren nodded. Ruby looked intently at the pipa, her eyes narrowing. Something had been bothering her about it from the moment she'd seen it.



"Did... Did your mom do anything else with the pipa?" She asked.



"Like what?" Ren asked, blinking.



Ruby held out her hands.



"Can... Can I see it? I won't break it, promise," she said.



Ren stared intently at her, before slowly handing over the instrument. Ruby took it in her hands, as though it was made of glass. As the waterfall roared, she examined the pipa from every angle. It was red and blue, with what she thought was an oni-skull shaped head with large fangs. She pulled out a small toolkit from her combat skirt, and began fiddling with a few bits here and there. She felt Ren tense, but Zwei came to the rescue by hopping up to lick his face affectionately.



Finally, Ruby applied a bit of oil to a few spots, then scrubbed a few bits clean with some steel wool. She beamed at Ren, and turned the back of the pipa to him.



"Look, look!" She said happily, pointing at a few lines, "Dust runes!"



"Dust runes?" Ren asked, intrigued as he leaned in to study them. Ruby nodded eagerly.



"Yeah! Some old mechashift weapons had them installed instead of traditional circuitry! They don't do as much, but they last REALLY long! Jaune's got some on Crocea Mors!"



She held the pipa out to him. He took hold of it carefully.



"What do the runes do?" He asked.



"Try surging your Aura through it," Ruby said, "And press... That part!" She pointed to a depression under the oni head. Ren's Aura flared with pink energy... He pressed the depression...



A flash of Aura and the pipa transformed into a curved, single-edged sword with an elaborate hilt and handle. Mistralian letters glowed on the fine blade. Ren stared in wonder at the weapon. He stood up, Zwei hopping out of his lap. Ren swung and thrust the blade a few times, weighing it carefully. He ran his hands over the blade, which, despite the age of the weapon, was still shiny.



Ren slowly turn to Ruby. His lips trembled.



"... Thank you, Ruby," he said softly, voice choked with emotion. Ruby beamed, stood up, and hugged him tightly around the mid-section.



"No problem, Ren," she said. "So um... What do the letters say?"



Ren took a deep breath and centered himself. He looked at the letters, even as he tried to pull away from the hug. Ruby, however, would not let him. So he read it anyway.



"It's a poem. It reads: 'My veins are strings, my pulse is percussion, my breath is air flowing through a woodwind, and there is no place for the distortion of evil in the music of my life.'"



"Woah," Ruby whispered, "Awesome! Did your mom write that?"



"I believe so," Ren said with a slow nod.



Ruby beamed.



"Your mom sounds really cool!"



Ren smiled softly.



"She was."



- - -



A short bit between Ren and Ruby. I thought it might be cool if Ren had some legacy from his family that Ruby could help him work out.



The poem and transforming pipa are from "Thunderbolt Fantasy".

 

[AJ_Talon]

I think work broke my brain because this is what popped out this morning:

- - -

A familiar scene. Pyrrha Nikos walks up to the tree she pinned a young Jaune Arc to in order to save him. She smiles up at him.

Pyrrha: "Hello Jaune... Is there still room for me on your team?"

Jaune: "... Yes."

Jaune looks pretty distressed. Pyrrha frowns. She helps him down. Once on the ground, he starts panting and wheezing and shaking.

Pyrrha: "Um... Sorry about the-?"

Jaune: "Saving me? No, thanks, that was great, holy shit what was this idiot thinking?! That was terrifying! And why do I have sneakers?! WHAT FUCKER BECOMES A HERO IN SNEAKERS?!"

Jaune continues to mutter and rant to himself as Pyrrha stares in deeper concern.

Jaune: "Shit shit shit is this Hell?! Is this God's punishment?! If I died I wanted to go to Heaven, not start over in this show! Did I not pray enough?! HOLY SHIT WAIT... GETTING MEMORIES...!"

Jaune groans and holds his head.

Jaune: "... Holy shit... So that's canon. I don't even know what the hell to think about that..."

Pyrrha: "Um, Jaune?"

Jaune starts and looks over at Pyrrha. He coughs.

Jaune: "Ummm... Look. I know we just met and I was kind of a douche but... Can I please have a hug?"

Pyrrha: flush "... Okay."

She hugs him. He relaxes and sighs.

Jaune: "Thanks... Oh crap now this feels creepy." He gently pushes her away and clears his throat "An-Anyway... Um... Pyrrha? I'm gonna level with you here... My Aura is not unlocked."

Pyrrha: "Oh?"

Jaune: "Yeah. My mom was... Holy shit that's canon too?! I just made that up! How-Questions for later. Anyway! My mom was going to unlock it for me when I went to medical school... Which is where I'm supposed to be right now, but I wanted to be a Hunter and so, uh... Here I am."

Pyrrha: "I... I see. Defying your parents is... Is difficult."

Jaune: nods "Yup... You do have parents, right? Like, you know their names? Faces? History?"

Pyrrha: deeply concerned "Yes?"

Jaune: "Oh thank God... Anyway! If you could do me a solid and unlock my Aura, I promise I will not slow you down. I just... I really want to be a Hunter and help people, like my family before me. Can you help me, please?"

Pyrrha: confused, but smiling more genuinely "I'd be happy to, Jaune."

Jaune: smiles back "Thanks."

- - -

Upon fighting a Grimm...

Jaune: "WHY THE FUCK DO THEY LOOK SO MUCH SCARIER?! IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FREAKING ANIME CGI!"

- - -

Upon meeting up with the others...

Ruby: "Hey Jaune!"

Jaune: "Oh, hey Ruby." Catches Weiss "Hey bitch who left me to die."

Weiss: "Wha-Excuse you-?!" Jaune drops her and steps over her "ACK! HEY!"

Jaune: "Sooo, we've got the Relics, I vote we all run for it. Any objections?"

Yang: "Nope!"

Jaune: "Cool!"

- - -

Jaune: "HOLY SHIT DIE YOU OVERGROWN ARACHNID! DIIIIIE! DIIIIIIIIIE! NORA! SQUISH IT SOME MORE!"

Nora: "CAN DO VIOLENT LEADER!"

- - -

And at the dorms, later...

Jaune: "Ohhh geez... How did I end up the leader?! Ohhh we are so fucked... I couldn't even handle being a supervisor at Amazon, how's this gonna work out...?"

Ruby: "Hey Jaune! You okay?"

Jaune: "Just... Rethinking my life choices. Or death choices."

Ruby: "Oh... Can I help?"

Jaune: "I don't really know... But thanks for being here for me. You're just as sweet and kind as... Uh... I thought you'd be!"

Ruby: beams "Awww...!" hugs him

Jaune: "HURK! Ruby... Loosen your grip a little?"

Ruby: "Sure!"

- - -

Later in the dormroom bathroom...

Jaune: Okay... So there are two almost legal super hot girls in my team. One is Nora and she's with Ren... And just because I'm a teenager doesn't mean I'm a horny idiot, right? Right. Plus, he's my bro. Bro code applies. But unfortunately, that leaves...

He steps out. Pyrrha beams in her pajamas: A T-shirt with panties.

Pyrrha: brightly "Ready for bed, Jaune?"

Jaune: "... Sure..." I am so going to hell... Or maybe I'm already there.

- - -

Yeah, it's crap, but 99.9 percent of anything self insert-like is. So meh. Don't expect a continuation.

 

[AJ_Talon]

... Goddamnit, stupid brain won't shut up. I gotta stop watching so much trashy anime.

- - -

Jaune calls his parents.

Jaune: "Hey Mom... Dad... Um... I know this is a little awkward-"

Isabel: "Are you going to come home and go to medical school?"

Jaune: "No. No I am not."

Isabel: scowls "Jaune, we've been over this a hundred times-"

Jaune: "Yes Mom, I know. You saw a lot of terrible crap as Hunters. I get it. But I want to help and protect people like you two! So please, at least let me try? If I fail, I'll come back and study. I promise."

Isabel: "... Well... I mean... I suppose you're being mature about this..."

Jaune: "Also? You know those medical techniques you were going to teach me with unlocked Aura? I kind of need them now."

Isabel: sighs "What makes you think I'll teach you them now-?"

Jaune: "Well..." Looks contrite and mumbles "This big guy's been bullying me in combat class..."

Isabel: eyes narrow "Who?"

Jaune: "Oh! Uh, nothing! I mean, it's no big deal-"

Isabel: "WHO IS BULLYING MY BABY BOY?!"

Jaune: Sheesh, no wonder he had such low self esteem! "Uh... Mom, you know that calling the school about it only makes it worse, right? Besides... If I do learn these medical techniques and I fail? I'll be a shoe in for medical school?"

Isabel: "..." sighs "Well... I suppose I can give you the basics..."

Jaune: "Thanks!"

- - -

The next day in combat class...

Jaune: Seriously, that fanon is canon? I have to face Cardin until I win? What bullshit is this?

Cardin: "All right Jauney Boy, ready to lose?"

Jaune: all smiles "Hey Cardin. Funny thing. Did you know my mother invented a few medical techniques with Aura that are stupidly easy to use? I don't know why I didn't ask her to teach me sooner, ego issues probably, but I picked up one or two last night!"

Cardin: "So what?!" He swung his Mace... Jaune sidesteps it and then flares his Aura

Jaune: "So this."

He shield bashes Cardin so hard he flies out of the ring and slams into the floor.

Jaune: "... Shit... Did NOT mean to go that hard... Sorry Cardin! So, that means I win, right?"

Goodwitch: "Uh, yes! Good work, Mister Arc."

Jaune: "Thanks Teach!"

With his friends...

Yang: "Nice bash, VB! Really left an impact!"

Jaune: "Thanks Dragon Girl."

Yang: "Eh?"

Jaune: "Well, why should you be the only one with pet names?" winks

Yang: gapes "Wow... One win and you're smooth?"

Jaune: "Looks like!"

Jaune: Wait, shit... They're all still underaged to me. It's so creepy. WHY ARE YOU BEING CREEPY?! STOP BEING CREEPY!

Pyrrha: beams "That was... Pretty good, Jaune..."

Jaune: "But?"

Pyrrha: "Um, well..."

Jaune: "I need honest feedback to improve. So... What did I do wrong?"

Pyrrha: wince "Well... Your dodge was good, I can tell you've had dancing experience. But it had too much flair: That wastes energy. And your shield bash needed more motion from your hips and a better stance. You're lucky that Cardin wasn't taking you seriously, but now he will."

Jaune: Well... There goes my confidence... "Thank you Pyrrha. I just need to train to get better."

Ren: "It is impressive you were able to learn an Aura technique in one night."

Jaune: yawns "Yeah... Though to be fair, I knew the basics very well thanks to my mom's instruction. You guys wanna learn too?"

Nora: "YES! How much does it boost your strength?!"

Jaune: "Like... Ten times in short bursts? My mom can go to a hundred times though."

Yang: "A hundred times?!" Grabs his arm "You're training with me!"

Pyrrha: "He-He is on my team-"

Ruby: "I WANNA STOP BEING A PIPSQUEAK!"

Jaune: "How will being stronger help with that?!"

Nora: "HE'S ON OUR TEAM! TEACH ME! I WANNA LIFT A PANCAKE HOUSE OVER MY HEAD!"

Jaune: "Mayyyybe we'll wait on teaching you, Nora."

Jaune: Shiiiiiit... See, this is why Jaune didn't train. It just causes so many issues... Fuck. I'm a smartphone away from being a shitty isekai protagonist... Well, at least I don't have a token animal girl love interest...

 

[AJ_Talon]

This is a confrontation I do want to happen in a lot of my fics, because frankly, having a good if flawed mother fight Raven (who is TERRIBLE) has some dramatic possibilities. Just not sure where to put it in the Sanctuary-verse, but I'm holding onto it.

In this scenario, Jaune and Yang were in the ruins of Arcadia, the old Arc Family fortress mansion on the Arc Farm Grounds. It used to be their home, but after it burned down in the Great War they abandoned it save for the mausoleum underneath where they inter their dead and weapons. Raven shows up with some goons. Yang and Jaune are exhausted from fighting off Bandit and Grimm attacks around Radian.

- - -

"Mom?!" Yang gasped.

Raven shot her daughter a cold, contemptuous look. The ruins of Arcadia loomed around them: The sun shone down upon them, casting shadows through the intertwined trees and pillars that made up the ancient fortress.

"I had thought about asking you to join us," Raven stated, as her Bandits went down the marble stairs to the mausoleum, "But I see you're a lost cause."

Yang clenched her fists, her lip wobbled. Raven shook her head.

"You're just as weak as you were when I left: A pathetic whining brat."

"I was a baby-!"

"So? I held a sword in my hands when I was five," Raven sneered, "You were so needy, so helpless. Your father insisted we coddle you. I wasn't going to raise a weakling. I watched you at Beacon, hoped that going through what you did would make you strong..."

She snorted.

"And now... You're just a pathetic cripple."

Yang gaped in shock.

"M-Mom-"

"You're only useful to me in that you get me close to useful things," Raven snorted, "The Arcs are weak but they left a great legacy. One I'll be making use of. That's the only reason you still live, you pathetic-"

"Shut the fuck up, you old hag!"

The angry voice was so harsh, it took Yang a moment to realize it was Jaune. She stared at him as he glared hatefully at Raven, stepping in front of her.

"You're just a coward!"

Raven's eyes narrowed.

"Who do you think you are-?"

"You're criticizing your daughter for being a human being. For caring about others, for trying to protect them, while all you do is steal and run away!" Jaune spat. "You're the weakling here! Too weak to stay to raise your daughter! Too weak to do anything useful but sponge off of other people's hard work! You're pathetic!"

Raven's eyes narrowed. She blurred, and backhanded Jaune. He went flying into a pillar, slamming against it and falling to the stone floor hard.

"JAUNE!" Yang shouted. She turned back to her mother, fire in her eyes. She swung at her, but Raven knocked her aside with her hilted sword. She landed hard on the ground with a cry. Raven shook her head.

"You shacked up with Isabel's boy, huh? Figures. She was the same," Raven spat, "Arrogant in her weakness, insisting on saving the pathetic instead of fighting properly." She began to draw her sword as she stalked towards Jaune. "Maybe I'll leave her a present: A reminder that she can't save everyone-"

"That's enough."

Raven paused and turned her head. Jaune and Yang looked up. Isabel slowly walked into the main floor of the ruined mansion, her pace slow and deliberate. Her steps echoed in the still air. Raven smirked.

"Here to protect your brat, Izzy?" She sneered, "You know how this goes."

Yang stared at Isabel. She'd seen the woman annoyed, even a bit angry with her husband or Jaune or her...

The cold fury burning in her eyes right now was like nothing she'd ever seen before.

"Yang, Jaune, take cover," she stated, "I'll handle Raven."

"But Mom-!"

"No buts, I will handle this," Isabel stated again.

Jaune got up and ran to help Yang up. She accepted and they ambled out of the way behind the thickest pillar.

Isabel took a slow breath. She reached back under her green skirt, and pulled out a pair of white and black fighting gloves. She slowly pulled them on, then assumed a fighting stance.

Raven's smirk widened as she brought Omen up.

"Suits me fine," she returned. "It's a shame: You could have been useful to keep alive, but now-"

Raven's head rocked back, and blood flew from her mouth. Yang's eyes widened: Isabel had moved so fast and struck Raven so hard she had barely been able to see it!

"HA! HA! HA! HA!" Isabel called out, pummeling Raven with a flurry of open-palm strikes. Raven quickly rallied though, unleashing a blast of electricity from her hands. Isabel was blasted back, but she flipped over and landed on her feet. Raven snarled and held her sword up, as Isabel narrowed her eyes. Isabel then charged, deftly jumping over Raven's sword swing to land a kick in her face.

The Bandit Princess flew backwards, slamming against a stone wall. She spun on her feet out of the way of Isabel's follow up kick, and began to swing and thrust furiously at the doctor. Isabel dodged and deflected the sword blows, using open palm blocks and parries as she kept driving Raven back. Raven thrust savagely for Isabel's side, but the blonde twisted out of the way with inhuman flexibility-In the same motion, she trapped Raven's sword hand and delivered an elbow into her solar plexus.

Raven faltered, falling back. Isabel knocked her sword out of her hand, bent her knees, flared her Aura, then backflipped-Landing a kick to Raven's chin that sent the Bandit Queen flipping and smashing through the nearest stone wall with a thunderous boom!

Isabel landed, fists up in a ready stance. Raven emerge from the rubble with a flourish, blasting the bricks and mortar away with a flare of her Aura. She seethed.

"You little-!"

Raven summoned Omen back to her hand with her power, and charged, swinging wildly at Isabel. The blonde woman deftly dodged and parried the strikes with her armored gloves, before dropping down to legsweep Raven. Raven jumped over the strike, then reached down to grab Isabel by the face. She landed and yanked Isabel up, who cried out in surprise.

"Bitch!"

Raven swung Isabel around, smashing her through the base of a stone pillar, before letting her fly at the far wall. Isabel twisted in mid-air and landed in a wide stance on the wall, the wind rushing from her passage and blowing up petals and leaves from the flowers growing out of the floor.

Raven smirked up at Isabel. Isabel glared down at her. In an instant, the blonde crouched, and launched herself off the wall right at Raven. Raven swung Omen for her, but Isabel knocked the blade aside and slammed another fist right into Raven's stomach!

"HURK-!"

Isabel kept up her momentum, knocking Raven right off her feet and grabbing her by her neck. She charged through, slamming Raven's head into the stone floor hard enough to dig craters, before leaping up high into the air with Raven in her grip. Her Aura flared like the sun before she twisted in mid-air and flung Raven right into the floor like a meteor, cracking the marble floors!

SMASH!

Raven grit her teeth and tried to get back up, but Isabel landed both feet right on her belly, throwing up dust and leaves as the floor cratered. Raven coughed out blood. Isabel hopped off Raven, and picked her up by her throat. She punched her, again and again and again, before slamming her head into a nearby pillar.

Isabel finished her off with a sweeping kick to the face, ramming her face into the ruined marble staircase and breaking three steps. Isabel stood over her, still in a combat stance.

"Had enough?" Isabel asked, panting softly.

Raven seethed. She got up, her Aura crackling with power as she summoned Omen once again.

Her earpiece buzzed. She tapped it and scowled.

"What? ... You've lost how many...?!"

She seethed.

"Fine... Fall back," she hissed. She glared at Isabel as she swung Omen and created a portal which she jumped through. She tossed back a final threat:

"This isn't over, quack."

"I'll be waiting, coward," Isabel growled.

- - -

Obviously inspired by this fight scene:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqZ1kN4Wkdw

Isabel was trained in martial arts from the start but the Aura techniques intrigued her as she thought she could use them for medical purposes. This, along with her Semblance, made her not just a great doctor... But a very formidable hand to hand combatant.

That said, if Raven cut loose with her full Maiden powers, Isabel is rather outmatched. So fortunately for her, Raven decided to retreat as losing her entire tribe for Radian is not worthwhile.

 

[AJ_Talon]

I also had an idea for Yang and Isabel to train in martial arts. It doesn't have to be in Sanctuary, really. It could just be fun in any setting at Beacon. Because Yang just talking and training in martial arts with a mother figure could be very interesting and fun!

And Ren too, since he is also a martial artist and needs more love.

- - -

Yang was trying some morning exercises with her new arm. Isabel watched her as they practiced outside of the house in the front yard. Yang threw her punches and went through some combos and katas, trying to get used to the arm. Ren meditated nearby while Nora did terrible things to a stack of pancakes.

Isabel: "Hmmm... You're recovering nicely. You'll need more training to really get going again, but you've got a solid foundation. Taiyang taught you South Liu-Bei Kickboxing and Valean Boxing?"

Yang: "Yeah... You could tell with just a few katas?"

Isabel: "Actually, I used to spar with your father in school. He was very gifted, and very hard to fight, even when I was a senior and he was a freshman."

Yang: "Wow. He was that good?"

Isabel: "Definitely!"

Yang: "What about you?"

Isabel: "Me? I learned several martial arts. Hunters need to be flexible in hand to hand combat."

Isabel demonstrates a few smooth katas, kicking, punching, and evading. Ren watches with some interest.

Ren: "Impressive. Fuujin kickboxing and Guan Yu-style kung fu I believe?"

Isabel: smiles "Very good, Ren! I learned Fuujin from my grandfather, and the kung fu from my master Li Tieguai."

Yang: "Wow. You could figure it out with a look, Zen?"

Ren: "I had a lot of practice."

Isabel: "Heh. That really is the key to anything." She engages in a quick spar with Ren, who keeps up easily. "Very good, Ren! White Crane style, right?"

Ren: "Yes."

Yang: "Wow. He had to tell me that for me to figure it out."

Isabel: "Just lots of practice!"

Yang shook her head and stared at Isabel.

Yang: "How did you keep up with it even with your doctorate, the farm and... Eight kids?"

Isabel: "It actually helped make all of those things a LOT easier."

Ren: "Indeed."

Yang: "Heh. Funny, isn't White Crane traditionally a feminine style?" winks

Ren: deadpan "Based on your styles, wouldn't that make you masculine?"

Yang, eyes narrowing: "Hey!"

Nora, on the sidelines: "Oooh, she can dish it out but she can't take it!"

Isabel: "Easy, both of you. There's no wrong way to beat up someone as long as you win."

 

[AJ_Talon]

[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

Just a place for my stray RWBY Plot bunnies and ideas to go. - - - “Pyrrha. We need to...

forum.questionablequesting.com

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?!" Ruby demanded angrily. Cardin Winchester, for his part, was doing his level best not to seem intimidated by a group of young ladies.

However, the fact they could collective kick his ass (and looked very intent on doing so) made that difficult. Nevertheless, Mama Winchester didn't raise no pussy.

"I was gonna talk to someone-Not that it's your business!" Cardin growled. Yang's eyes burned red like hot coals, as she slammed her fists together.

"Oh really? Who you gonna talk to with flowers?" Yang asked with a growl.

"Uhhh..."

"No! Not Jaune!" Ruby gasped in horror. Cardin gaped in shock and disbelief.

"WHAT?! NO I-!"

"It's classic really," Blake nodded with a bit of a blush, "He denied his homosexual feelings out of societal pressure, and bullied Jaune instead."

Pyrrha gaped in shock as she blushed. Weiss too had a red face. Blake had a dreamy look on hers, while Yang and Ruby sputtered. Cardin, desperate to salvage this, resorted to a tactic his father had employed in difficult budgetary meetings:

Yelling.

"I AM NOT GAY! THESE ARE NOT FOR JAUNE! THESE ARE FOR VELVET!"

The girls all stared at him. Blake hummed.

"Well, that's a bit disappointing-"

"No it's not!" Weiss insisted. "Clearly, he was bullying her out of denial of his romantic feelings! For a girl who forced Jaune out on a date!"

"I-!" Cardin really did want to protest this. Like HELL did he have romantic feelings for Velvet! Sure, he wanted to make things up to her but romantic feelings?

"Of course!" Blake insisted, soft but sure, as she looked intently at Cardin, "It's a classic tragic story of starcrossed lovers! The girl he could not love, but did anyway! Just like Jomeo and Ruliet!" She sighed softly, "I can work with this."

"So can we," Pyrrha stated with a very scary smile. She grabbed onto Cardin's shoulder with terrifying strength. "How would you like to realize your true love... And keep Velvet away from Jaune Arc?"

"Anything for true love," Yang said with a similarly terrifying smile, grabbing onto Cardin's other shoulder. Weiss and Ruby too gained grins that seemed more like gleaming knives in the setting sun.

"Ohhhhh, I get it!" Ruby giggled. "Absolutely anything for true love!"

"Yes, how fortunate he fell into our hands," Weiss smirked.

Blake was furiously writing in a notebook.

Cardin looked about himself. There was no escape. No way out.

"I uh... Well..."

His politician father had taught him another important lesson, one Cardin realized he'd been too foolish and inexperienced to really grasp until now:

You have to know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em.

This was clearly the latter.

He gulped and managed the tiniest hint of bluster, for the sake of his ego if nothing else.

"S-Sure... I would appreciate you helping me with... My romantic problems..."

"Right this way~," Pyrrha said, almost sing-song, as RWBY and Pyrrha led their captive towards the Bullheads.

I will never be jealous of Arc again, Cardin swore to himself, never ever NEVER!

- - -

Jaune wasn't entirely ignorant of how wealthy and luxurious places could be. He'd been to more than a few casinos and Dust rush towns on the Frontier, and even stayed at a five star hotel on a trip down to the Juzan Kingdom.

Of course that had been due to the city losing power thanks to a terrorist attack and Mister Duke leading them all to aid in the defense against the Grimm. The hotel hadn't had power for most of the time they'd been there, but the surroundings were still amazing.

That said, he couldn't keep his jaw closed very long as he entered Minerva's with Velvet. The carpet felt so soft and plush it was like it was made out of the fluffiest hares you could find. The wood paneling was inlaid with gold and silver lines that resembled tree branches. The view out the window let you see the entirety of Vale, lights shining like the stars above as the sun set and cast the night over everything.

Jaune managed to peel his eyes away from everything to focus on the menu. His heart pounded hard in his ears. He slowly looked up at Velvet, who had a similar desperate look in her eyes.

"... I think the wine selection costs more than my dang house," Jaune admitted quietly. Velvet managed a small, nervous giggle.

"S-Same," she squeaked.

The waiter arrived, his perfectly cut mustache so straight it was like it had been cut with a level. His suit was so perfect Jaune wondered if he had a Semblance to make it appear brand new.

"Would the sir and madam enjoy water while making their decision? Perhaps wine?" He asked pleasantly.

Jaune glanced over at Velvet. Velvet winced, but tried.

"Um... What is the cheapest selection you have?" She asked.

The waiter chuckled kindly.

"Fret not, Miss Scarlatina. Miss Adel is well known to me. She would not spend her money on frivolous people. Please, enjoy!"

"Er... Then sir, would you please make some recommendations?" Jaune asked. "My Gallian's a mite rusty."

"Of course Mister Arc," the waiter said with a smile, "Miss Adel sent us a dossier on both of you. I believe you will enjoy your meals. If I may?"

They handed him the menus, and he poured them some spring water. He departed in silence, leaving both to drink the water and stare at the table.

"Er... Um..." Jaune tried.

"Uh, um," Velvet also attempted.

Jaune let out a breath. He smiled at her.

"So... How long you an' Miss Adel been friends?"

Velvet perked up and smiled.

"Oh! Um, we actually met in middle school," she said cheerfully, "Her mom sent her to public school so she wouldn't become, ya know, a primadonna."

Jaune raised an eyebrow. Velvet flushed and shrugged.

"It uh... It mostly worked," she said.

"Nah. She's a force o' nature for sure," Jaune agreed. "I admire her spirit."

"Oh? You uh, you like women like that?" Velvet managed. Jaune coughed.

"Well uh... I like a lot o' kinds of women... N-Not that I'm some dandy!" He insisted, waving his hands, "I-I swear, I ain't... I mean, I had me a girlfriend in Radian but uh, that's the only one! I promise!"

"It-It's okay," Velvet said, waving her hands as well, "Uh, I-I've never even had a boyfriend! So um... Er..."

She sighed and bowed her head.

"I'm really sorry," she mumbled, "I... This isn't how I wanted it to go, exactly."

Jaune shook his head. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. She looked up and flushed.

"Hey. There... There ain't no expectations on this thing," he said, "I'm just here to have a nice time with a pretty, wonderful lady. One kind enough to thank me for... For helping her."

He smiled and shook his head.

"Not that you had to-"

"I-I really wanted to," Velvet insisted, holding onto his hand tightly. "I mean... I saw a lot of students just look away. Mind their own business. You... You got up and just called Cardin out." She blushed deeply.

"I... I admire that. It's... It's hard for me to be brave like that."

"Really?" Jaune asked. Velvet sighed, her ears drooping.

"Yeah... I-I've had to keep so much... So much inside. My dad's a human, my mom's a Faunus. People... People talk. Humans and Faunus alike."

"Oh, Miss Scarlatina," Jaune breathed quietly, his tone full of sympathy, "I'm sorry."

She beamed.

"But... Well... You came in like a knight in shining armor, and... Well... I-I really liked that."

Jaune worried his lower lip.

"I... I had a talk with Cardin after," he said. Velvet raised her eyebrows. He held up a hand. "Nothin' violent. I just told him to get over himself. We're all here to protect people from the Grimm. Fightin' over who lost who in what war ain't gonna help."

"Oh," Velvet paused, pulling her hand away to worry them in her lap, "Oh... I-I see. He... Lost people in the Revolution?"

"Yeah," Jaune said quietly, "But that ain't no excuse to act that way."

"N-No, of course not," Velvet shook her head, her eyes sad, "Just... My grandfather told me about the war. How people looked at Faunus like monsters out of fear. How some Faunus fought alongside humans. He just... He made it clear it was a lot more complicated than human good, Faunus bad."

"Well, sure," Jaune said with a nod, "Don't mean folks gotta take it from either side though."

"No," Velvet agreed.

Some wine and appetizers arrived. A salad for Velvet and some dark bread and cheese for Jaune. The two ate, while continuing to talk.

Velvet was born in a small bubble town near Vale where a lot of Menagerian ex-pats lived: Faunus who had gone to Menagerie for a good life, but had returned after becoming disillusioned with the All Faunus Kingdom. Her father was an engineer who traveled to Atlas for work while her mom stayed at home with her twelve younger brothers and sisters. Jaune related his own difficulties in a large family in Radian, and the two laughed a bit over their shared experiences.

The main course arrived: A vegetable pasta for Velvet, and a classic prime rib steak with vegetables and potatoes for Jaune. They continued to talk, going from subject to subject.

If Jaune was being honest? Velvet was definitely comfortable to talk to. She was kind, funny, and once she calmed down, very fun. There was a... A camradery there. Someone he'd be happy to be friends with as they both worked to become Hunters.

Dessert rolled around, and after a few drinks of wine and a high class beer, they were both a bit giggly.

"N-No, no! Honest!" Velvet laughed, holding up her Scroll, "See? Total dork!"

Jaune stared at the picture of Velvet in middle school-The Faunus was practically vanishing in an oversized sweater with glasses. He snorted in laughter.

"Wow... You sure transformed, like a butterfly!"

"That was mostly Coco," Velvet explained, tucking her Scroll back into her purse, "I finally gave in after years of her begging to do my make up." She gestured to her impressive chest, "After these came in, I needed the help."

Jaune choked on his beer. He coughed hard and pounded his chest. Velvet, concerned, got up and went around to his side.

"Jaune? Are you all right?!"

"J-Just... Just fine!" He managed, keeping his eyes well away from her chest.

Their waiter reappeared, smiling warmly and handing Jaune some water. He gratefully drank it.

"Would sir and ma'am enjoy the patio? It has fewer people at this hour," he said.

Velvet smiled at Jaune. Jaune smiled back. He stood up and held out his arm. She took it. He turned to the waiter.

"Uh, thank you, Mister-?"

"Ebon, sir," he said, "And don't worry, the tip has been taken care of." He leaned in and muttered quietly:

"You couldn't afford it anyway."

"G-Good to know," Jaune managed.

- - -

They made it to the patio, and indeed, it was sparsely populated at this hour. They walked out to the railing and looked out across Vale. Velvet sucked in a deep breath, her eyes shining.

"Wow," she murmured happily. Jaune nodded, smiling as he stared at her face.

He then immediately pulled his eyes away, blushing hard.

"Something wrong?" She asked urgently, "Do-Do you need more water?"

"N-No, I'm... I'm fine, really," Jaune said, waving his free hand, "Just uh... Boy howdy do you look pretty."

Velvet blushed and smiled warmly at Jaune.

"Thank you," she replied quietly. She sighed and looked back at the cityscape.

"This... This was nice," she said.

Jaune nodded.

"Sure was," he said.

Velvet worried her lower lip. Jaune turned to stare at her.

"Somethin' wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing!" Velvet said quickly. Jaune stared more intently which made her flush. She looked back out at the city.

"Well... Um..."

She pulled her arms away and put her hands together. She sighed.

"I... Um... I'm sorry, I just..."

Velvet shook her head.

"It is... It has been wonderful," she said, "But there's... I-I mean..." She sighed again.

"... I'm feeling like I would one of my brothers for you," she said frankly.

Jaune blinked. Velvet turned bright red.

"N-Not that you're unattractive! F-Far from it!" She insisted and waved her hands around almost frantically, "I-I loved getting to talk to you and eat and-and just get to know you... And you've so handsome, but I..."

Her ears drooped. She wrapped her arms around her with a very sad look on her face.

"I just... I thought I would be feeling butterflies in my stomach over you. Or-Or feel a spark. Some real heat, and... Well..." She shrugged helplessly.

"It... It's not there," she finished lamely.

She bowed her head and stared at the patio tiles. Jaune stared in silence for a bit. Velvet stuttered.

"I-I mean... Maybe it's just a first date, maybe it's just that this place is so expensive, m-maybe I just built you up in my head and..."

She closed her eyes tightly.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

She felt Jaune's hands on her elbows. She started and looked up into his face. He smiled gently.

"Like I said, I'm just here to have a good time with a nice, pretty lady," he said, "And I do believe we've had that."

Velvet smiled and became a lot less tense. She nodded.

"Y-Yeah... Yeah," she murmured. She shook her head. "I mean... Maybe... Maybe we could hang out more?"

"I would like that," Jaune said with a nod. He shrugged. "Sides... Ain't lookin' for love right now. It... Makes things complicated."

"Your ex?" Velvet asked, immediately filled with sympathy. Jaune looked out at the stars and nodded slowly.

"Among other reasons," he said, "Me? If I'm datin' a woman, it's for keeps. If we ain't gonna have matrimony as the goal? Then... We ain't goin' that far. Nothin' wrong with hanging out though."

"No, of course not," Velvet said with a nod, "I just... Um... Love's a lot more complicated than I thought, you know?"

Jaune sighed.

"Well, maybe we'll fall in love in the future anyway. Maybe it's the wrong time. Or maybe we'll both stay friends," he shrugged, "I'm startin' to realize the same. I'm just... Tryin' to keep as open a mind as I can."

Velvet smiled nervously.

"And um... Trying to avoid angering your harem?"

Jaune flushed deeply.

"I-It-It ain't a harem!" He sputtered. Velvet giggled.

"I suppose if you were trying to recruit for it, I might be more interested," she teased. Jaune flushed.

"Oh geez, Miss..."

"I think I like men who are a little more assertive anyway," Velvet hummed, "N-Not that you aren't assertive!" She waved her hands, "You can be! You're just... Not the right kind and... Ugh... Feelings are shite!"

She blushed and covered her mouth as her accent slipped out. Jaune laughed quietly.

"You're a real riot, Miss Scarlatina."

She smiled happily.

"Please... Call me Velvet. Since we're friends?"

"Sure can."

- - -

They walked out onto the street after leaving the restaurant. Jaune was already scanning for a taxi and cursing that he hadn't gotten Orleans' license yet. The vain horse didn't like the Department of Vehicles, nor their cameras.

"VELVET!"

Both Jaune and Velvet turned... And their jaws dropped. Dressed in tight leather pants, an open white button up shirt that showed off his pegs, scaly boots, and a rose in his hand, one Cardin Winchester approached. His eyebrow was twitching a bit as he looked over his shoulder, before he looked at them.

"Velvet, I..." His jaw dropped and face went red. "Oh Breaker you're hot."

Velvet's cheeks went bright red. Jaune scowled.

"Cardin, I thought I talked about this-"

"No! Nonono, I um... I'm here to... To..." Cardin shook his head to get his bearings, "Uh... A-Apologize." He held out the red rose to Velvet. "I... I was being an idiot. I want you to be my girlfriend, Velvet. All that bullying was just because I-I like you. Please... Accept my feelings!"

He went down to a knee, as though some myterious force had grabbed onto the metal in his pants and forced him down. He held the rose up to Velvet. She blushed deeply, and glanced between Cardin and Jaune.

Jaune blinked a few times. He shook his head and smiled at Velvet.

"Well... You did say you liked assertive men," he said.

"Um... Er... You... You don't mind...?" Velvet stuttered.

"S'long as he's genuine and ain't gonna cause trouble," Jaune stated, glaring down at the Winchester heir. Cardin shook his head.

"N-No! No, I am! I totally..." He stared at Velvet some more. "Holy crap she's so hot..."

He paused and blanched.

"I said that out loud didn't I?" He mumbled.

Velvet giggled. She walked over and took Cardin's hand. She pulled him up.

"Well... Um... I suppose I could... Give you a chance, with all the effort you put in," she said warmly. "We did just eat so... Would you like to go for a walk?"

"S-Sure," Cardin managed. He lowered his voice as he and Velvet walked away, but Jaune's keen ears picked his voice up.

"Can we stop by a store? This outfit is... Chilly. And it chafes."

Velvet giggled.

"I think I know a place."

Jaune watched them walk off into the night, and pushed his hat up at an angle to scratch the side of his head.

"Well... Ain't that somethin'," he chuckled.

He then felt Ruby wrap around him like a rope around a steer.

"Hurk!"

"JAUNE!" Ruby wailed. "We saw the whole thing! How could she dump you for her bully?!"

"The nerve of her!" Weiss added, walking into view (and hastily tossing a trenchcoat, scarf, and sunglasses into the trash), "Playing on your emotions!"

"We're here if you need us, Jaune, count on it," Pyrrha added, also tossing some random clothes into a trashcan. Yang walked up and sighed, patting Jaune on the shoulder.

"You okay there, Stud?"

Blake was scribbling things into her notebook and giggling a lot. Jaune heaved a sigh.

"Yeah... I'm fine," he said, "We decided we were better off as friends and... Apparently she likes men who are uh... Direct."

"Can't say I blame her," Yang smirked. Ruby tightened her hug, as Pyrrha and Weiss coughed suspiciously. Jaune sighed.

"... Ya'll wanna get some ice cream?"

"Sure!" Ruby cheered.

I'll sort this out myself one day, Jaune thought, as they headed for an ice cream parlor, One day.

- - -

I know, right? A girl deciding she doesn't want to be part of Jaune's harem? Insanity!

But I thought it would be a fun way to end things, and indulge a ship I really like, without making it come off as too out of character or bashy.

Poor Cardin has no idea what he's in for.

I may write some Jaune/Velvet in the future, but it is not this fic.

 

[AJ_Talon]

- - -

Blake... Had mistimed her jump. Her emotions were such a jumble after detaching from the train and jumping... She slammed into a barn roof, hard.

She fell, and hard. Even with her Aura, she could feel her ankle twist beyond comfort. She let out a cry, one she stifled...

But she could see a giant hulking figure in the darkness around the barn. She grit her teeth, tried to focus her Aura to speed up her healing. Yet after tonight's events, she was hungry, tired... And just out of energy. She raised Gambol Shroud, ready to fire. If this would be her last stand... She would fight.

The figure... Stepped into the moonlight.

He was tall, at least seven foot, and wore white and black armor with hints of rust here and there. It was a paladin's armor, a mix of old fashioned plating and modern support panels. His helmet was round and all-encompassing, with a black visor and a faceplate with some breathing holes bored into it. He wore a weathered blue duster, and held a gigantic sword behind his back.

Blake's jaw dropped in shock.

The Rusted Knight...?

Her childhood hero. The spirit of heroism itself.

How... How is he here?! Blake thought in shock. Here... Real...?!

"Rusted Knight?" She murmured.

He shone in the moonlight as he walked towards her. He stopped some distance away... Before holding out his hand. Blake stared at it.

"Ah...?"

"You look," he spoke, in a pleasant baritone that made Blake feel safe and warm, "Like you need some help, young lady."

Blake trembled a bit. She shut her eyes for a moment. Pain still burned in her ankle.

He couldn't be the real thing. He was just a human... A Hunter...

He stared at her, his mask giving up nothing. He spoke again:

"I don't know what you've been through. What you're running from. I won't ask. All I want is to help. If you say no, I'll just turn and walk away. If you ask... I'll help. That's all. This world would be better if we all just extended a hand to help others when they needed it, no questions asked."

Blake sniffled. It was right out of the Rusted Knight...

She slowly reached out and took his hand. Hers was so small in his. He pulled her up, and helped her walk.

"My name's Nick, what's yours?" He asked.

"... Blake," she decided on.

"That's a nice name," Nick, the Rusted Knight, said with a nod.

- - -

Basically, Nick Arc finds and rescues Blake. Despite herself, she trusts him because while he's a little off in some ways, in his full Armor? He is a dead ringer for the Rusted Knight. He also read those fairy tales as a child. So they have something to bond over.

This could have happened before Jaune set out for Beacon, so Blake might go with him on the journey.