[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

Lilac Arc and the Bull

---

The White Fang's operations often involved taking hostages, and this time, Adam Taurus himself led the mission. He seized a woman from Radian, bringing her to their hidden headquarters with a clear purpose.

"Her mother is holding three of our agents in her hospital after they were captured," he told his guards right outside the cell in the abandoned building, his voice cold and commanding. "We use her to compel their release. Keep an eye on her, but do not harm her."

"Sir!" the guards responded in unison.

Adam departed for another mission, leaving the guards with Lilac Arc, who sat calmly in her cell, her demeanor surprisingly serene for a hostage.

One of the guards coughed harshly, the sound grating in the dim corridor. Lilac tilted her head, her expression softening with concern. "That sounds bad," she said gently. "I know a remedy for it, if you have a kitchen."

The second guard snorted, his eyes narrowing. "Ha! Nice try! What's the remedy, rat poison?"

"No, of course not," Lilac replied, unfazed. "It's too salty."

The first guard coughed again, wincing. "Ugh…"

"You can keep suffering, or you can feel better," Lilac said, her tone earnest. "I much prefer people to feel better. Besides, I would never poison someone."

The second guard's scowl deepened, but the first guard's pitiful coughing grew worse. With a heavy sigh, the second guard relented. "Fine…"

They escorted Lilac to the kitchen, where she gathered local herbs with practiced ease and brewed a fragrant tea. As she worked, she glanced at their meager supplies. "Hmmm… You all look like you could use a good meal," she mused, her face brightening. "Do you have any venison? I can make a great stew!"

The second guard scoffed. "Oh, please, like we're going to fall for that!"

The first guard, however, took a cautious sip of the tea. His eyes widened as he inhaled deeply. "Wow! It… I can breathe! Cough's gone! And… And it tastes great! Try it!"

"Oh, come on, you can't be serious!" the second guard snapped.

"Serious as a heart attack," the first guard insisted. "Besides, she's one woman without her Aura activated. What could she do even if she poisoned it?"

Grudgingly, the second guard sipped the tea. His skeptical expression melted into disbelief. "It… It's amazing!"

Lilac smiled warmly. "Old family recipe! Like this stew!" She was already stirring a pot, the rich aroma filling the kitchen. Other White Fang members drifted in, drawn by the scent.

"Oh! Hello!" Lilac greeted them cheerfully. "Grab a bowl, it should be done soon!"

The first guard hesitated. "Hey, hang on a second, even if it smells good, we should test it!"

"Come on," Lilac said, her voice light but firm. "I would never poison food! Then you wouldn't get to enjoy it."

The second guard's eyes narrowed. "You… Do realize you're our hostage, right? If you don't cooperate, we'll kill you."

"I am cooperating," Lilac replied simply.

The first guard nodded slowly. "She's got a point."

"Wonderful!" Lilac beamed.

When Adam returned, he found his guards noticeably relaxed, their usual tension replaced by an odd ease. "Sitrep?" he demanded.

"Oh! Lord Adam!" the second guard said, straightening. "Uh, everything's fine, sir! The hostage is safe and compliant."

"Good," Adam said, his tone clipped. "Her mother is proving difficult. We'll need to make a video to show how serious we are."

"Errr… I see, Lord Adam," the first guard mumbled, exchanging a glance with his partner.

Lilac approached, her demeanor as warm as ever. "Hello, Lord Adam! Let me take your coat. It's freezing out there, hm? Here, have some hot tea!"

Adam accepted the cup absentmindedly. "Ah, thank you." He took a sip, then froze, spitting it out. "Wha—Why are you out of your cell?!"

"Well, I couldn't finish my knitting in there, My Lord," Lilac said, presenting him with a red scarf. "Here you are! Goes with your hair."

The first guard let out an involuntary "Aw…"

Lilac turned to him with a playful wink. "I didn't forget you, sweetie!" She handed him a green scarf. "Goes with your scales!"

"Oh, sweet!" the guard said, catching Adam's furious glare. "I-I mean, um… Thank you, you pathetic human!"

"You're welcome!" Lilac said brightly.

---

A day later, Adam found Lilac in the kitchen again, cooking for the entire camp. She hummed a soft lullaby under her breath, unaware of his approach until he stood beside her, alone. "Oh. Hello, Lord Adam," she said, pausing. "Is there something you wish of me?"

He studied her for a long moment. "If they refuse to pay the ransom, your life is forfeit."

"I know, Lord Adam," she replied calmly.

"You aren't afraid of that?" he pressed.

She shrugged, her eyes steady. "I am."

"Yet you still persist like this."

"Yes, Lord Adam."

"Why?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation.

"Your men needed good food," she said simply. "Your men need kindness. Everyone does."

"We are holding you hostage," he snapped.

"Yes."

"We are criminals by your estimation."

"Yes."

"We are Faunus, and our goal is to overthrow your oppression and tyranny."

"Have I oppressed you, Lord Adam?" she asked softly.

He faltered, then glared. "You annoy me."

"I'm sorry, Lord Adam."

His patience snapped. He seized her long hair, forcing her to her knees with a yelp. Drawing Wilt, he pressed the blade to her throat. "I could end your life in an instant."

"Yes, Lord Adam… I-I know," she whispered, trembling.

"So drop the act," he snarled. "You're just trying to manipulate us with lies and deceit!"

"No, Lord Adam! I-I assure you, I am not—!" she pleaded.

"Then why this?!" he roared, the blade digging into her skin. "Why all of this?! You're trying to make us drop our guard! Allow you to escape!"

Lilac winced, her voice strained. "Even if I tried… I know I'm too far away from anywhere civilized to escape. I'd be killed by Grimm or brought back."

"Then why?!" he shouted. "WHY ACT LIKE THIS?!"

She closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. "Because it's the right thing to do!"

Adam froze. "What?"

"I firmly believe…" she said, her voice steadying, "that people in pain need help and kindness. That it's the right thing to do to help others, even if they want to—to kill me or hurt me. To try, at least."

"What makes you think I'm in pain?!" he growled.

"You are," she said softly. "We all are… It is why the Tablebreaker came, is it not? To heal the hurt of the world—?"

"That religion is nonsense!" Adam spat. "Just a means of control of the masses! It turns a Faunus into a martyr, just to try and pretend to be fair! All the while the church and governments oppress Faunus!"

"No… No, it isn't," Lilac countered. "Corrupt priests and churches can do bad things in the name of the Emperor Above, but it doesn't change the good at its core!"

Adam's voice dripped with venom. "And so you would do this? Be kind, even to your captors? Even if it meant your death?! All because of your belief?"

Lilac, shaking, met his gaze. "Y-Yes… Yes, I would."

Silence hung between them. Adam's grip slackened, and he pulled the blade away, stepping back. "You're confined to your cell," he said, his voice low. "You will not do anything else but sit and be silent."

"As you wish, Lord Adam," she replied, rising slowly.

---

Days later, Adam summoned her from her cell. Three Faunus escorted her to a small chamber where a camera waited. "On your knees," he ordered.

Lilac complied without protest. Adam turned to his guards. "The negotiators are trying to buy time. We need to send a stronger message. We have other hostages… We'll kill her to show we mean business."

The first guard hesitated. "S-Sir… Um, she is the most prominent. Maybe we need to—"

"Those are my orders," Adam snapped. "Set up the camera."

Reluctantly, the guards began preparing. Adam waited until the camera was ready, then spoke, his voice cold. "You have ignored our demands. This is the price you will pay."

Lilac's voice broke the tension, soft but steady. "Lord Adam… May I have a request, please? W-Well… Two requests?"

He glared at her. "What?"

She reached into her dress pocket, producing a small photo. Adam snatched it, his eyes widening behind his mask as he saw it. "You—!"

"My fiancé… Mercer," Lilac said, her voice trembling. "He… If you could return that to him…"

"You… You're engaged?! To a Faunus?!" Adam demanded.

"Yes, Lord Adam…" she said, wincing.

He glared, his jaw tight. "And the other?"

"May I please pray?" she asked. "Before you… You execute me?"

Adam gritted his teeth but stepped back. Lilac bowed her head, folding her hands. "Tablebreaker, merciful Lord… Please… Forgive them. They know not what they do… And… And please look after my family. I… I won't be there for them anymore…"

The room fell silent. One of the guards sucked in a breath. "Sir… Lord Adam, please," he said. "We-We don't need to kill her."

"Are you questioning my orders?!" Adam roared.

Another guard spoke up, voice shaking. "Sir, she—Please! Yes, humans are our enemy, but—Please, maybe she's one of the good ones—!"

"There are no good ones!" Adam snarled. "It's a trick! A deception! She's still trying to manipulate you for her life! SHE'S THE ENEMY!"

Lilac continued praying, her body trembling but her voice steady. A third guard stepped forward. "Sir, please! Look… I've known many a bad human, but she's done nothing!"

"Humans have done plenty to us!" Adam shouted. "Especially when we did 'nothing'! YOU THINK SHE ACTUALLY CARES?! YOU THINK THIS IS REAL?!" He struck Lilac, sending her sprawling to the floor. "SHE'S A LIAR! A TRICKSTER!"

He seized her by the collar, lifting her off the ground as she choked. "You're just manipulating us! You don't believe we're good! You don't believe a word! Say it! SAY IT!"

"N-No!" Lilac gasped. "I won't! And I won't stop!"

Adam's grip tightened, but he sensed the growing unrest among his men. They were on the verge of turning against him. After a tense moment, he dropped her to the floor. "Take her back to her cell," he ordered, his voice low.

"Yes, sir…" the first guard said, helping Lilac to her feet.

---

The next day, Lilac awoke in a forest clearing, the air cool and quiet. Adam stood nearby, his expression unreadable. He tossed a canteen at her feet. "You're a day's walk from Matron Village. There are no Grimm around. They'll get you home."

Lilac blinked, stunned. "… You're letting me go?"

"You're too disruptive as a hostage," Adam said coldly. "My men are threatening to mutiny. Your manipulations are too strong… You're too dangerous to keep. So… Go."

Lilac smiled softly. "Thank you, Lord Adam—"

"Stop that," he snapped. "I don't believe you for a second. This was all an act to get me to release you… And you won."

"No… No," she said, her voice gentle. "I mean… I'm glad to be free… But you're still in pain. And still lost."

Adam scoffed. "I don't need you to save me."

"We all need someone to save us," she replied. "We're all in this together, human and Faunus."

He stared at her, silent for a long moment.

"If more humans thought as you do…" he said finally, his voice quieter, "… maybe I wouldn't have to do what I do."

Lilac nodded. "I know."

Without another word, Adam turned and vanished into the woods, leaving her alone in the clearing.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

A fun and silly idea: In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Earth Ponies can channel their magic into the Earth to make plants grow stronger and better.
Not only that but imbue the food with, essentially, status effects. Good ones. Improved health and such (mainly in the MLP RPG but hey). Earth Ponies also live for a VERY long time. Granny Smith, the matriarch of the Apple Family, is well over 200 years old but she only looks like she's in her 70s or 80s.

Might be amusing if the Arc Family is like that. They just have ridiculously powerful Auras but they've mainly been using it for farming. And they didn't know what they were doing, just putting energy into the ground and the food. Which made it grow stronger, better, and more delicious.

Ruby: "Uggghhh... I tried to grow my own mint for cookies but it's dying!"

Jaune: "Hang on..." He pushes a hand down onto the potting soil, and the mint plant springs back to life, practically glowing "There you go! Though try not to water it so much from now on."

Ruby: "... Wait what?"

Jaune: "Well I did grow up on a farm. I did this all the time with my family when he grew stuff on our farm. Though, this was a lot easier! Usually it takes me like an hour to get a plant back up. Maybe it's because my Aura is unlocked, huh? Cool!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was busy cleaning his guns and relaxing in the JNPR common room. Nora was making a card house, while Ren watched. Pyrrha was doing some weapon maintenance... Which is when Weiss charged in.

Weiss: "JAUNE!"

Nora's card house collapsed.

Nora: "NO! MY BABIES!"

Weiss: "I'm sorry, but um... Jaune? I need some help."

Jaune: "You do? What with?"

Weiss: "Um... First... Please, forgive me. I got a little... Carried away."

Jaune: "... Carried away how?"

Weiss: clears her throat "Um..."

A blue haired young man in fancy clothes walked in, the very picture of foppish arrogance.

Henry Marigold: "Well well well! You're the man I have to kill for Weiss's hand in marriage, are you?" sniffs "You don't look like much to me!"

Jaune: "And you are, sir?"

Henry Marigold: "Henry Marigold, of the Atlas Marigolds. And Weiss will be my wife, you-you homewrecking barbarian!"

Pyrrha: "What?!"

Nora: "What?!"

Ren: "What."

Weiss: clears her throat "Henry, please wait outside. Jaune will... Will be out soon."

Henry: "He'd better hurry! I want to have lunch after I kill him!"

Henry walked off. Jaune glared at Weiss, as did the rest of JNPR. Weiss wilted.

Pyrrha: "... Weiss? Explain."

Jaune: "Quickly."

Weiss: "He's courting me, my father approves of him, I do not, I told him you were also courting me-Again, courting, nothing more formal! But under Atlasian and Valean law, he can challenge you to a duel! And I... I am sorry I didn't tell you, Jaune! I will do anything you want after, but please... Please... Do not let this man take me away. Please?"

Jaune takes a long, deep breath. He lets out an equally long, deep sigh.

Jaune: "... Do I have to kill him?"

Weiss: "I... N-No, I don't think so. Just beat him in a duel."

Jaune: "All right. That makes things simpler."

Five minutes later, JNPR and Weiss leave the dorm for the quad. Henry is standing there, looking smug.

Henry: "I'm looking forward to ending this, but first... Jaune Arc, was it?"

Jaune: "Yes sir."

Henry: sniffs "Of the former Royal House of Gallia? Your family's been long fallen from grace. I hear your mother's some quack with an ancient hospital and your father's a brute with more swords than brains. And you! A cowboy? A lowlife, ignorant cowhand?" He looked to Weiss, shaking his head "My dear, your tastes have been corrupted by this... Huntress lifestyle. Come back to Atlas, and become the Lady of Beauty and Grace you were meant to be! My wonderful wife! Free of responsibility, care... And ruffians like this."

Jaune: "..." takes a deep breath "Mister Marigold, was it?"

Henry: smirk "Yes?"

Jaune: "As much as I would like to start shootin', I would like to politely offer you to withdraw."

Henry: "Oh? You're giving up Weiss?"

Jaune: "Weiss is my friend and her own person. I would never make her do anything she didn't want to. I'm just saying that you have the opportunity to walk away from her and this situation, sir."

Henry: "And why would I do that? I will slay you in this duel and resolve everything!"

Jaune: "All right then. Draw." In flash, Jaune draws his gun and shoots Henry in the knee.

Henry: "GAH! WHA-YOU-YOU DIDN'T EVEN WAIT FOR THE DUEL TO BEGIN! DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING?!"

Jaune: "My mistake. By all means, draw your piece sir."

Henry tries to draw his gun, and Jaune promptly shoots the gun out of his hand and then in the other knee.

Henry: "ACK! YOU-FINE! YOU WIN, YOU WIN!"

Jaune: "Would you like me to go three for three, Weiss?"

Weiss looks severely tempted for a moment, before shaking her head.

Weiss: "I-I... No, that's... That's quite sufficient. I have no interest in you, Henry. You've lost, so please leave."

Henry: "ARGH! YOU-YOU CHEATED!"

Jaune: "Ah, you'll have to forgive me, sir. I am, after all, just an ignorant cowhand." He twirls his gun and holsters it. "Weiss, I do believe you have some explaining to do."

Weiss: "I... Y-yes... Yes, I do..."

Jaune: Lower voice "But I understand how it is to be put into a desperate situation and need to ask forgiveness rather than permission. So I ain't holdin' that against you, especially when the matter of your freedom was at stake."

Weiss: "Really?"

Jaune: "Weiss... I ain't lettin' anyone I care about get sold off like cattle. Hell, I'd shoot him again on principle."

Weiss: smiles warmly "Thank you Jaune..."

Pyrrha: "You know, I would also be willing to shoot him."

Weiss: "Hm? What's wrong, Pyrrha? Jealous that Jaune would maim a man for me and not you?"

Pyrrha: terrifyingly plastic smile "He'd do it for me in a heartbeat without being coerced."

Nora: "Renny, when are you going to maim a man for me? It's so romantic!"

Ren: "I'll get around to it."

Nora: "Yay!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune enters an ancient temple his great-grandmother brought him to.

Jaune: "What's this?"

Nana: "A test. One all Jedi must face."

Jaune: "What's in there?"

Nana: "Only what you take with you." frowns "I sense... Someone else is within... But how?"

They enter together... But the walls shift, and suddenly Jaune is cut off from his Nana.

Jaune: "Nana?! NANA!"

He takes deep breaths... Calms himself... And then hears footsteps in the ancient temple. He turns... And sees him.

Adam: "... To think, I would once have been content with power over this small world. That is a good start... But only a start."

Jaune: "Adam... How did you find this place?!"

Adam: "My mother left me a memento. Before a human killed her." He held out a pyramid shaped object that glowed red. Jaune sucked in a deep, horrified breath.

Jaune: "A Sith holocron?!"

Adam: "Yes... Did you really think your great-grandmother was the only one to survive? Did you think this world untouched? Long ago, Force Users unto the Gods fought on this planet, and above it. Shattered the moon, devastated civilization. This Temple was left by the Jedi... But the Sith left one behind, too. The Force flows through this world. It is strong... With the Darkside of the Force."

Jaune: "The Light is still stronger! The Grimm are nothing but distortions of the Force! The Darkside twisted life into something horrible, unnatural!"

Adam: "Unnatural? Or the next step in evolution? You are locked in the old ways. The Jedi create order... It become complacent, corrupt, weak and feeble. The Sith, sensing weakness, seize upon it and the galaxy is torn apart in war. Foolish Jedi... We are part of an unending cycle. But... We can end it."

Jaune: "... How?"

Adam: "Join me. Our combined strength can end the Dark Witch AND the feeble Wizard. Can end the conflict between Man and Faunus! We command the Force! The greatest power in the universe! Why suffer these weaklings to hold any power? They abuse it! Together, Light and Darkside, we can prove we are the true rulers of this world! We can bring peace, order-"

Jaune: "Tyranny! Slavery!"

Adam: snorts "Weak people, who cannot hear or feel the heartbeat of creation, are responsible for those things."

Jaune: "Like the Sith?!"

Adam: "The Sith I have been learning from had a similar, revolutionary spirit. She saw the endless conflict for the stupidity it was. Her conclusion was wrong though. This power cannot be destroyed... But it can be used to bring about true balance. You are soft, weak... But kind. I am cruel and strong... But willing to compromise. We would be the perfect choices to rule this world!"

Jaune: "... Oh no... The holocron of Darth Treia?!"

Adam: smirks "The same... But where she betrayed, I offer my hand. My friendship. What do you say?"

Jaune: ignites his lightsaber

Adam: "... So be it." Ignites his own red lightsaber, and the battle is joined

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune fought Adam... But despite his training, Adam was still the better swordsman. Their sabers clashed, burning in the temple, their scream of static as they forced their blades against eachother.

Jaune tried to use the Force to get the upper hand, but Adam matched him, blow for blow.

Adam: "You seem to have some assumptions, Jaune. You think I'm just another Force user driven mad by the revelation of my power. Intoxicated by the Darkside. No... No, I see things clearly, Jaune."

Jaune: "Do you?!"

He flips over Adam, striking from above. Adam blocks the strike, and swings behind him. Jaune uses the Force to dive out of the way and launch stones at Adam. Adam deflects them with his lightsaber and charges, forcing Jaune back.

Adam: "Yes! I see the battle for what it is! It is not human and Faunus, it is not Grimm versus the Souled, it is not Grimm Witch against Ancient Wizard! It is order versus chaos! The Force gives us the power to bring true order and freedom! FREEDOM from this endless conflict!"

Jaune: "Haa... Haaa... People will fight you! I will fight you!"

Adam: "We could stand together! As brothers in the Force! Darkside, Lightside, what does it matter?!"

Jaune: "It matters to me! It matters to the people of this world!"

Adam: "So does freedom from this war! Think of it! Our powers combined could free the people of this world from the Witch and Wizard's squabble! And we could guide them! With the power of the Force, there is nothing we could not do!"

Jaune: "We still have limits, even with the Force!"

Adam: "We are blessed with the power of the universe! Its very essence! We should be in charge! We should rule!"

Jaune: "Then you've learned NOTHING!"

Adam: "And you are still bound by the Jedi's chains!"

Adam knocks the lightsaber out of Jaune's hands, and knocks him down a chasm.

Jaune: "AAAAHHHHH-!"

He slows down. He comes to a stop in another part of the temple. Tall pillars stand over him. Nearby, there is an man with angular features, black hair, with a short trimmed beard sitting in Jedi robes.

Man: "You all right?"

Jaune: "I... Yeah... Thank you for saving me."

Man: "It's all right... It has been a while since anyone came here."

Jaune: "Who... Who are you?"

Man: "... I have borne many titles... Jedi Hero, Savior of the Galaxy. Dark Lord of the Sith."

He stands, and for a moment he is dressed in Sith armor with an ominous mask over his face. Jaune's eyes widen in disbelief.

Jaune: "... Revan...!"

The specter returns to the older man with a soft smile.

Revan: "Yes... You know me?"

Jaune: "I do! But... Aren't you dead?"

Revan: "Yes... And no. I became one with the Force long ago. My teacher was the Jedi Master who became Darth Traya. Her holocron being activated... Alerted me, for lack of a better term."

Jaune: "So... Can you help me win?"

Revan: "Perhaps... That all depends on how you define winning."

Jaune: groans "Look, I'm not... I'm not some Jedi Master sitting in a temple contemplating stuff isolated from the universe! I'm here! In the real world! You can't just quibble over crap and think you're wise!"

Revan: grins "Yes... That sounds like your Nana all right."

Jaune: flush "Uh, sorry-"

Revan: "No... There is something to be said for that. The Jedi become locked in a cage of dogma, weak and stifled. The Sith though become locked in a cage of endless betrayal and self destruction. The Jedi seek peace and create stagnation, the Sith seek freedom and create tyranny. It is the tragedy of both Orders."

Jaune: "So... What's the answer?"

Revan: "A fool would say that it is some arbitrary middle ground between the philosophies. The truth is... The Force is. It is infinite, far more beautiful and terrifying than can be put into two arbitrary boxes. The Darkside can destroy you through corruption... But the Lightside can destroy you through stagnation. You must feel the Force, understand it, embrace the greater mysteries of it. Let go of your prejudices and truly seek answers without preconceptions. Only then can you truly know the Force, and yourself. Only then can you be what a Jedi is meant to be."

Jaune: "That still sounds like the Sith are the enemy."

Revan: "They are. But the Jedi too can be an enemy. But if you define a Jedi as one who masters himself while trusting the Force, to do what is right and necessary? Then a Jedi you will be, Jaune Arc. Are you willing to delve into these mysteries, Jaune? To truly understand the Force and yourself?"

Jaune: "... I am."

Revan: "Then let us begin..."

 

[SharkCultist]

Sometimes Ren loves his semblance. The coolness and clarity of mind suppressed emotions brings comes quite in handy sometimes.

Like when mercilessly hunting down his friends.

Ruby and Jaune were first. Too trusting, they were down before they even realized it.

Yang was the second easiest to take down, just had to taunt her a bit and she literally ran face first into his attacks. She even dragged Weiss down with her.

He had to cheat with Blake and Pyrrha, he couldn't catch Blake and there's no way he could beat Pyrrha. So he led them into some tripwire traps and let them do the job for him.

And now was the hardest battle. Nora.

"Please don't do this renny, we can talk this out."

"You know that's not the case."

"But I don't wanna fight!"

"Oh Nora."

He points the barrel at her chest.

"This was never a fight."

And pulls the trigger.

Her clothes are splattered with pink paint.

"Nooooo my sloth shirt."

[Beeeeep]

"The exercise is over. Lie Ren is the victor of the survival exercise. He will be exempt from the next exam. Meanwhile the rest of you will have extra lessons this Saturday because of that frankly embarrassing defeat."

"Aww miss Goodwitch come on!"

"You're the ones who thought you could win a 7 v 1 against the stealth specialist. And miss Valkyrie the next time you don't want to get a shirt ruined perhaps you shouldn't wear it to the paintball maze."

"This was my favorite shirt....."

"Nora you have 9 more."

"silence betrayer! How could you mercilessly gun down your childhood friend."

"There are no friends in paintball. Only targets."

 

[SharkCultist]

Today was a different lesson than usual for beacon academy. They had a guest speaker.

He was old, nobody could tell quite how old because he was also quite large.

If you were to ask Ruby to describe his body she would just say "baymax".

He had a shock of pure white hair and a clean shaven face with a near constant smile along with a very bright pair of green eyes.

You'd be forgiven for thinking he was just someone's sweet old grandpa.

If it wasn't for the hundreds of small nicks and scars all over his hands and arms.

"Welcome class, I will be your guest lecturer today. My name is-

"Santa?!"

"Hoho! I'm afraid not miss Valkyrie. No my name is Marshall Mello. I'm a retired huntsmen and humanitarian worker."

"Oh yeah I think I've heard of you. Kinda. Don't you have a kid who does music?"

"Why yes my granddaughter Enn does do music under the name Mello Melodies, but that's not what we're here to discuss today miss rose. I am here to ask you one simple question. What is the purpose of a Hunter?"

"Kill Grimm!"

"Catch criminals!"

"To serve our kingdoms!"

"To pick up chicks!"

"Incorrect all of you! Especially that last one. See me after class."

"Ah beans."

"No children Hunters exist for a single reason."

He looks at the class and raises his aura, using it to amplify his voice.

"A Hunter exists to help. Nothing more, nothing less."

---

So Marshall is old school. How old? He was teammates with Ozpin two reincarnations ago.

Oz never brought him in on Salem. Not because he didn't trust him but because he was doing far more good in his own then he would getting tied into his shadow cabal shenanigans.

Mallos semblance is the ability to convert body mass into aura. Hence why he's so large (though you won't see him complaining about it).

He's a guy who enjoys as much out of life as he can. And he has a fairly large family. It isn't Arc big but he at least has enough immediate family members to make two sports teams.

 

[SharkCultist]

So I was thinking about Atlas and for some strange reason I get the feeling they're the kingdom with the most patriotic people and holidays.

And I'm just picturing rby waking up one day to Weiss decked out in some kind of super Atlasy outfit and setting up a meal full of stuff they've never heard of and a concerning amount of homemade dust fireworks.

Yang: "What exactly...is this?"

Weiss: "It's a traditional Atlas dish, from back before we were quite as technologically advanced as we are now and had to be much more careful about waste."

Yang: "Nice dodge. But seriously. What the hell is that? Because it's stinking up the common area."

Weiss: "It's a stew made with crispy chittlin, offal, potatoes, and various hot spices in a rich broth made with marrow and a secret ingredient."

Yang: "Weiss I swear to the brothers if I have to grab a dictionary I will beat you with it."

Weiss: "FINE! It's a stew made from blood and bone broth with organ meat and crispy skin strips!"

Yang: "see was that so hard? Also next time cook it outside. Also eew."

Weiss: "I'm sorry THIS is too gross for you? I've seen you eat a burger so greasy it made squishing sounds when you picked it up."

Blake: "yes but everyone eats burgers."

Weiss: "your favorite pizza is pineapple, anchovies, and onion. Nobody puts any stock in your food opinions "

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Written with RedDragonEmpress, a short fun idea: Jaune accidentally summons his ancestor, Jeanne D'Arc of Radian, who destroyed the Witch Queen of Argus. She did this with the help of Ozpin's incarnation at the time, who posed as Ozmas the Wizard.

Unfortunately Jaune managed to get her Alter form. Yes, Jalter!Jeanne is loose.

Jalter: "BURN THE HERETICS!"

Jaune: "But Greatest Grandmama, they're my friends!"

Jaltar: "Then take them as your concubines! That's how we did it in my day!" Raises her flag up high. "Now where is the emerald wizard?! HE OWES ME A NIGHT IN BED!"

Ozpin: "Oh no."

Jaune: "Um, Headmaster?"

Jalter: "YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME!"

Ozpin: Already packing his bags. "Mr. Arc, considering this is your fault, I'm leaving you in charge. Let me know when she's gone!"

Jaune: "ME?!"

Jalter: "FOUND YOU~!"

Ozpin: "WITH MY LAST BREATH, I CURSE JAUNE ARC!"