[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[Sliverhero]

Here is next part for my dxd x rwby crossover.

The Schnee manor is unusually peaceful. Willow Schnee, steady and sober on one of her rare bright days, sits beside young Weiss's bed. She smooths the blankets, humming softly as Weiss looks up at her with hopeful, curious eyes.

"Mother… can you tell me a story tonight? One of the old ones?" Willow hesitates, but tonight, the memories don't hurt. She nods. "There is one tale," she says softly, "passed down so long ago that even our oldest records call it a myth." Weiss's eyes widen as Willow begins, her voice calm and warm.

"Thousands of years before Mantle, before Atlas, before Remnant itself. Our family descends from a warrior named Vali Lucifer, the White Dragon Emperor. He carried within him the soul of a mighty dragon called Albion."
Willow pauses, brushing her daughter's cheek gently. "But no legend of Albion is complete without his eternal rival… the Red Dragon Emperor." Weiss perks up. "There was another?"

"Indeed," Willow continues. "His name, according to the oldest accounts, was Issei Hyoudou, partner of the Crimson Dragon, Ddraig. In the ancient world, these two dragons were said to be unmatched, equal in power and fury. Their hosts, Vali and Issei, clashed countless times."

Her voice takes on a soft rhythm, as though reciting something passed down through generations. "White dragon against red…,Light against fire…, Albion against Ddraig."

"But Mother," Weiss whispers, "were they enemies?"

"A complicated question." Willow smiles faintly.
"They fought. Oh, how they fought. The sky itself trembled when those two met. But they shared something far stronger than hatred—respect. Rivals, yes… but also partners in fate. Destiny tied them together, and in time, they even stood side by side to protect their world."

Weiss's eyes shine, imagining two colossal dragons, one shimmering white, the other blazing crimson, circling each other in the heavens. Willow continues, voice soft.

"Vali and Issei faced gods, devils, tyrants, and monsters. Some scholars even claim their final battle was so tremendous that the shockwaves echoed into the new worlds that formed later… including Remnant. That is why our family has always kept the story alive."

She leans down, kissing Weiss's forehead lovingly. "Our ancestors believed the tale should remind us of something important: Even the strongest rivals can inspire each other. Even dragons can choose who they wish to be.
And so can you, my little Weiss."

Weiss closes her eyes, drifting to sleep imagining white and red dragon wings dancing across the sky.

Jaune side.

Rain taps softly against the windows of the Arc home, and the dim lamp beside the bed casts warm gold across the room. Young Jaune lies pale and weak beneath heavy blankets, shivering despite the warmth.

His mother sits beside him, gently brushing damp blond hair from his forehead. "Deep breaths, sweetie… you're okay." Jaune swallows, voice thin."M-Mom… can you tell me a story? One of the old ones?"

Her heart warms. "Of course." She pulls up a chair and takes his hand. "This is the story of our greatest ancestor… Issei Hyoudou, host of the Crimson Dragon Emperor, Ddraig."
Jaune squints up at her. "Ddraig… the yelling dragon?" She chuckles softly. "Yes, him."

Her voice becomes slow and soothing. "Issei wasn't born strong. But he was brave. He refused to give up, even when the world expected nothing from him. And by his side was the mighty Ddraig, fierce, ancient, loud… and full of heart." Jaune's breathing steadies. "And the Arcs tell his story to remind ourselves that even the frailest child can grow into something extraordinary."

He smiles weakly. "I wanna be like him someday." "I know," she murmurs. Then something stirs. From the high shelf in the corner of the room, an ancient artifact begins to glow. The gauntlet-like relic, draconic engravings, crimson metal, pulses with warm red light.

"M-Mom… why is it glowing…?" She follows his gaze and exhales softly. "That relic was made long ago by an old friend of Issei's… a brilliant craftsman named Azazel. A wandering inventor, scholar, and tinkerer. No one truly knows where he came from, only that he cared greatly for Issei and his descendants."

The artifact pulses again, thump… thump… thump, steady as a heartbeat. A gentle warmth flows from it, filling the room before settling over Jaune. His shaking stops. His color returns. His breaths deepen. "M-Mom… it feels warm…"

"It's helping you," she whispers. "Azazel designed it to protect our family in times of weakness. A final gift to Issei's bloodline."
The glow slowly fades. His mother tucks him in again, brushing his cheek lovingly. "You're safe, Jaune. And stronger than you think." Jaune's eyelids grow heavy. "Mom… can you say the words…? The old ones?"
She smiles, soft, almost sacred.

The ancient Arc family phrase, passed down from generation to generation, meaning forgotten but significance never lost. She leans close and whispers: "Zoom Zoom Iyaan…"

The artifact gives one faint pulse, like a warm acknowledgment. Jaune drifts into peaceful sleep, wrapped in Azazel's ancient craft and the legacy of the Red Dragon Emperor.

 

[SharkCultist]

Got hit with this lovely little idea.

Weiss: what do you mean I wouldn't make a good maiden?!

Ozcar: you lack certain attributes that make it so you could use it to its fullest potential.

Weiss: I'm female, combat trained, and the best female in pure technical manipulation skills among my year. Who would make a better maiden than me?!

Ozcar: miss xaoi-long for one.

Weiss:WHAT! That brute is more suited to learning to manipulate the forces of the universe than me?

Ozcar: oh gods no, she just has a much higher potential capacity than you.

Weiss: and how do you know that?

Ozcar: it's a very technical process with many nuances I'm not sure I feel like describing at the moment.

*Very drunk Qrow from the floor*

Qrow: it's yer tatas snowflake.

Ozcar: brothers damn it Qrow.

Weiss: What.

Ozcar: I know this sounds bad.

Weiss: you're gonna give Yang phenomenal cosmic powers because she's a overblown dairy cow?!

Ozcar: ok first off you asked if you would make a good maiden candidate. Nowhere did I say we were picking one. And second I told you she has a higher magic capacity, that's why I'd choose her.

Weiss: and how does breast factor into this?

Ozcar: Well....did you ever wonder why I gave Qrow shapeshifting powers and not tai?

Weiss: don't go off topic.

Ozcar: I'm not! I picked Qrow-

Qrow: cuz I got fat nutz.

Ozcar: WILL YOU PLEASE JUST PASS OUT NOW AND STOP MAKING THIS WORSE!

Qrow:....K *passes out*

Weiss: so you're telling me that breast are literally magical.

Ozcar: Magic is stored in the breast.

Weiss: this is humiliating.

Ozcar: and balls. Speaking of can you please send Mr.Arc in? I'd like to see if he'd be interested in shapeshifting.

*Weiss screams*

 

[SharkCultist]

Despite being a born and bred Atlas native Dexter Watts hated the cold.

Well it wasn't very cold in Atlas right now. What with about a quarter of it being on fire.

Dexter lit up a cigar while he watched his home burn from the top of the biggest building still standing in Atlas.

His father always hated cigars and cigarettes. It made the drag of nicotine hit all the sweeter.

"Come to sit with me cousin?"

She always knew where to find him. In the entire world nobody knew him better than her.

He hopes he won't have to kill her.

"Dexter."

"Penny."

"Why?"

"You will have to be a bit more specific with your questioning dear cousin."

"Why are you burning Atlas?"

Dexter thought about if he should tell her. His father being a traitor to humanity and working with that pathetic creature Salem, and for what? A ego stroke?

He thought about Atlas and Vale being just as bad. Assassinations and lives ruined just for the tiniest advantage against Salem. People enslaved just to keep the dust flowing.

Nobody deserves to win. Not like this.

"It needed to be done."

No. Best not to tell her. Let her remain blissfully ignorant a little bit longer.

Tears well up in the corner of her eyes (a saline solution his uncle whipped up to help sell the illusion of flesh) before her eyes harden.

"Specialist Dexter Watts of the Atlas Research and Development division you are accused of grand treason and terrorism. Do not resist arrest or lethal force will be deployed."

Always the good girl. Happily following orders (well maybe not in this case).

What a shame.

Dexter stood up and dropped his cigar over the edge. One more fire wouldn't hurt.

"I do not wish to fight you cousin."

The backpack he wore (so similar and yet so different to her own) unfolded and flowed down his arms with plates of shifting metal before turning into a pair of gauntlets.

"But I will dismantle you if I must."

---

Meet Dexter Watts.

Another artificial human, but from a completely different path.

Arthur watts the mad bastard made computer code into DNA.

He wrote Dexter's genetics from the ground up making him as perfect as he could.

And then abandoned him when he fucked off to mommy salami.

Dexter has through his own genius ferreted out most of the big secrets of both factions and is disgusted with them both.

So he plans to tear both factions apart. Step 1 of his plan is to make them all lose.

He's going to try to get his hands on the sword and use it to destroy any of the other relics.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Here's a fun idea: Jaune's Semblance is sort of The Gamer, but it uses the elements of one particular game for his abilities. In this case, Resident Evil.

Jaune: "Hang on... Combine herbs... Water... And there! Healing potion!"

Pyrrha: "Thanks Jaune!"

Weiss: "W-Wait, how does that work?! Random herbs just show up and you can make a healing concoction out of it?!"

Jaune: "Pretty much!"

Ruby: "Now we need to get into this locked room!"

Jaune: "Hang on, we gotta do a puzzle!"

Weiss: "Wha-WHEN DID THAT SHOW UP?!"

Jaune: "Don't know, but if we align the shadows..."

A key pops out of nowhere.

Jaune: "There we go!"

Weiss: "Buh... Wha... WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?! There's NO WAY that could-"

Jaune unlocks the door.

Yang: "Heh. That's pretty handy, Ladykiller! You're not gonna use that to spy on me in the locker room, are you?"

Jaune: "H-Huh? N-No!"

Yang: "Shame~."

Nora: "OOH! OOH! Be careful Jaune, or you'll end up... A Jaune sandwich!"

Jaune: "Huh? How does that make sense?"

Nora: winks at the audience "Oh, it's not for you."

Weiss: frothing at the mouth

 

[Sliverhero]

The Knight Who Defied Fate, and the Seven Who Followed Him

Jaune Arc dragged his sword through the scorched remains of Vale.

What used to be a city.
What used to be laughter.
What used to be home.

The sky overhead had split into two jagged wounds, one of searing white light, one of endless black smoke, where the Brother Gods tore at reality out of boredom, cruelty, or some combination of both.

Jaune's armor steamed from divine strikes. His Aura flickered like a dying star. Every motion was pain. But he kept walking. He had watched everyone die... It should have been him.

Ruby burned out her silver eyes stopping a wave of divine Grimm. Weiss froze protecting thousands, and shattered like glass. Blake died fighting to protect the Faunus homeland one last time. Yang went down swinging, taking a Titan with her. Ren and Nora died together, protecting their daughter. And Pyrrha, gods, Pyrrha, fell saving a village that no longer existed.

Only two had survived with him the longest:
Neo, who stepped in front of a killing blow meant for him, her eyes wide with a final, genuine emotion he had never seen before.
Cinder, who spent every drop of Maiden power she had ever stolen to pin the God of Darkness to the ground so Jaune's sword could strike true.

He held their bodies until the winds turned their ashes to nothing. He had nothing left to lose.
And a single man with nothing left to lose was the most dangerous thing in existence.

Jaune charged the gods, and their cowards of servants Salem and Ozpin. The battle lasted days. Or minutes. Time bent and twisted under their power. But in the end: Jaune Arc, the Rusty Knight, the last man on Remnant…killed the gods. The world ended with him standing alone amidst divine corpses.

A crack in the world opened behind him. Reality, exhausted, began collapsing. He closed his eyes finally thinking its over and he can be with them. He fell through ..into the Ever After.

The air of the Ever After was impossible warm. Gentle. Comforting.Which only made Jaune's trembling worse. He's thinking why he is here. He hasnt been here since so many years ago. Why cant he just die. His sword slipped from his hand as he collapsed near the Tree. He dug his fingers into the grass, panting, trying to breathe past the crushing grief.

A shadow fell over him.
"You have come far," the Blacksmith murmured, kneeling beside him. "Farther than any mortal has ever walked." Jaune coughed, blood staining the grass. "I don't… I don't want to keep going. They're all gone. Every one of them."
The Blacksmith placed a cool hand against the cracked heartplate of his armor.

"Loss defines a blade's edge. But you..."
Her eyes softened. "You have been sharpened beyond endurance." Jaune clenched his jaw.
"I couldn't save Ruby. Or Weiss. Or..."
"You saved them all," she said firmly. "Just not in the world you began in."

Seven threads materialized around her, frayed yet glowing. "These are the echoes of the ones you love, in other timelines, other endings." Jaune stared, breath trembling. "I… I died for them, didn't I?" "Yes," she said. "In every timeline but your own." A pause.

"They would do anything to change that."
The threads brightened, showing him glimpse
Ruby, broken and alone.,Weiss, sinking with Atlas.,Blake, half-Grimm, sobbing.Yang, lost in the dark.Pyrrha, collapsing in the ruins of Beacon.Neo, screaming silently over his dead body.Cinder, weeping beside his corpse on her ash throne.

The Blacksmith whispered: "Watch. Remember. And prepare." jaune states intently as the Blacksmith shows him their fate in the other timeliness.

Ruby : the broken Hero
Storm clouds swallowed Vacuo. Grimm swarmed endlessly. Ruby stumbled on shaking legs, Crescent Rose snapped in half, her silver eyes flickering weakly.

She collapsed next to a broken Huntsman statue, tears streaking through soot.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I tried… I really tried…" Shadows closed in, and a golden explosion ripped the Grimm apart. "Ruby!"

Jaune dropped beside her, one arm around her back, the other raising his shield to block a hail of claws and teeth. "Stay with me," he whispered. "I'm not letting the world take you too." Ruby sobbed into his chest. "I don't want to fight anymore…"

"Then don't," Jaune murmured. "Just let me protect you." He expanded his shield. Aura sparked violently. His heartbeat slowed.
As the light consumed the Grimm, Ruby clutched his armor and felt him fall still. Then a blindly light surged out of his body and she closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she lay beneath a familiar Tree.
As she gets her bearing and starts to realize what happens, the blacksmith appears.

The Blacksmith asked softly: "Do you wish to change the ending you refused to accept?"
Ruby forced herself to her feet. "Yes."




Weiss Schnee : The Princess of a fallen kingdom.

Atlas was falling. The entire kingdom collapsed in slow motion, a tidal wave of ice, metal, fire, and smoke. Weiss struggled to summon a glyph, but Salem's corruption burned across her arm. She slipped off the edge.
Wind roared. Then, "Got you!" Jaune caught her, glyphs exploding under his boots from pure Aura as he pinned them to a piece of falling debris. He notices an escape pod in the debris they are clinging to.

"Jaune,you'll fall too!"
He smiled sadly. "Then I'll fall protecting you."
He grabbed and shoved her into the escape pod, slammed the door "Weiss, live. For all of us." He hit the eject, and as the pod escapes all she sees is jaune jumping off and slamming his sword into a Grimm Titan forced them to fall to their death. As weiss sees all this she starts to feel something and before she faints she sees in the corner of her eye a flash of gold.

Weiss awoke at the Tree, sobbing. But once she hears the offer. "I won't let him die again."

Blake Belladonna: the Beauty cursed to be a beast.

Blake crouched in the ruins of Menagerie, claws dripping Grimm ichor, half-feral. Her shadow clones wavered; her humanity flickered. A Grimm pounced. A golden blade split it in two.
"Blake," Jaune whispered, stepping toward her cautiously. "You're still in there."

"I'll hurt you," she growled, voice warping. "Stay back..." He walked up and wrapped his arms around her. "Then hurt me," he whispered. "If that's what it takes." She trembled. Claws retracted. Tears hit his armor. "Why… why save me…?" "Because you deserve to be saved."

He purged the Grimm corruption using every drop of Aura he had. He died doing it. A flash of gold and Blake woke beneath the Tree and whispered: "Please… don't take him from me again."
All the blacksmith just gives a simple nod.


Yang Xiao Long : the lost dragon

Yang wandered the void, a silent, infinite nothing. No color. No gravity. No direction.
Her aura barely flickered. Then a beacon of gold flashed beside her. "Yang! Grab my hand!" Jaune pulled her upward, muscles straining, cracks spreading through his aura like shattering glass.

"Jaune, don't, The Void. it's pulling you in!" she cried. Jaune only smiled sadly. "I know," he said. "But if you go back… the others still have a chance." The darkness swallowed him up to the chest. "JAUNE!" His eyes softened. "Tell Ruby… tell everyone… I never stopped believing."
He shoved her upward with a final burst.
Yang awoke under the Tree, fists shaking, eyes red. "No more. I'm getting him back."

Pyrrha Nikos : The Champion that finally lost.

Pyrrha wandered Beacon's ruins, guilt devouring her. She lived. Thousands didn't. She touched the cracked floor where Cinder struck her years ago. "Why… why did I survive…?" she whispered.
Footsteps. Heavy, familiar. "Pyrrha."
She turned, and broke down, collapsing into Jaune's arms. "I failed everyone," she sobbed.

"No," he whispered. "You were forced to live in a world that didn't deserve you." He held her as Grimm closed in. "I'll get you out." He waves a staff and shoved her through a relic portal he created and slammed it shut behind her. She screamed his name as the light consumed her.

At the Tree, she rose shakily. Pyrrha goes and listens to the blacksmith offer and accepts it
"This time… I protect him."

Neo : The Silent Comfort of a Knight's Sacrifice

Neo had no one left to hate. Revenge turned to loneliness. She wandered destroyed kingdoms, hunted by Salem's forces. A Grimm lunged.
A golden sword impaled it. Jaune knelt beside her, wounded badly. Neo signed shakily:
Why save me after everything? "Because you deserved better than the person I used to be," he murmured.

He carried her to safety, bleeding heavily the whole way. He died at her side. Neo awoke at the Tree, biting her lip until it bled. She chose the doorway instantly.

Cinder Fall: : the Queen of Ashes.
Cinder sat on her throne of ash. She had killed Salem. She had conquered the world. And she had never felt more empty. A lone figure staggered into her hall. Jaune. Barely standing.

"Come to kill me?Please do it!" she asked and pleades softly. "No," he said. "its to save you."

A divine Grimm Titan burst from the wall.

Cinder raised a hand, but Jaune moved first, tackling her to the ground, shielding her with his own body. "NO!" she screamed as his armor cracked. He died whispering her name.
She woke sobbing at the Tree. "…I want to change," she whispered. "Please."
The Blacksmith opened the doorway.

"They walk because you crawled." Back in the Ever After, Jaune trembled. They died for me… in every timeline?" The Blacksmith nodded. "You inspire sacrifice. And now, sacrifice inspires return." Seven portals pulsed behind her.

"They have chosen to walk backward through fate." Jaune swallowed. "What… what do they want?" The Blacksmith touched his heartplate.
"You." A long pause. "And a world where you live."

The portals burst open in a circle around him.
Ruby stumbled out first, eyes widening. Her voice cracked:"…Jaune?"Weiss covered her mouth, tears spilling instantly. "He's alive…"
Blake froze, hands shaking, as if afraid he'd vanish. Yang whispered, "Holy… you look like you fought God." Jaune forced a sad smile, while coughing up abit of blood.
"I did."

Pyrrha fell to her knees, hand over her heart.
"Fate brought me back to you…" Neo ran to him, hugging his leg, refusing to let go. Cinder stared at him, amber eyes trembling. "You… you died in my arms…"Jaune looked at them all, breath trembling.

"You shouldn't be here." Ruby stepped forward, determination blazing. "We're here because you never gave up on us." Pyrrha nodded. "Now it's our turn." Yang cracked her knuckles. "We're saving you whether you like it or not."

Neo nodded sharply. Cinder whispered, voice soft as ash: "This time… you live."
Jaune swallowed hard. "…All of you came back… for me?" Ruby smiled through tears.
"No, Jaune. We came back with you." After that The Blacksmith lifted her hammer. Each world followed by a clanging of metal on metal, "The past awaits, Rewrite it.Together."

As she says this, a blast of light appears from the anvil where she was hitting. It moved as if it was dancing to unheard music. It slowly shrunk down with each movement until it got to the size of a person. It then formed a golden portal.
The golden portal opened, leading anyone willing to go, back in time.

Jaune stepped forward, surrounded by seven women who had walked through hell to reach him.

 

[SharkCultist]

It would surprise many to know that Cardin has a few things in common with Qrow.

Both are fans of piano bars, both are allergic to rhubarb, and both of them have always active semblances.

Cardins isn't quite as metaphysical as probabilities manipulation to negative outcomes.

Cardins semblance is called Combustion and is the reason he always wears his armor.

Rather than for defending him the armor is actually one giant shock absorber.

---

Cardin hates being weak. He'd strained and trained and done everything he could to not need his semblance.

He hated his semblance. Since the moment he unlocked his aura ist all any of his instructors talked about or focused on.

He wouldn't need to train his semblance would make him great, who needs tactics or teammates when you're a walking bomb?

Nobody saw cardin they just saw Combustion.

So he saved up some money, quite a bit of it actually, from any allowance or odd jobs he could find, even sold some of his stuff.

He then commissioned some crazy engineer in patch he heard about on a message board to make his armor.

It's gonna be a bitch getting this thing repaired if it ever breaks since he heard whiterosewarrior passed away.

But right now the armor didn't matter, since he was about to have to take it off.

This thing that ambushed his team was strong. Too strong. There was something wrong with it.

It had at one point been a beringal. No mistaking that ugly monkey. The extra four arms and spider jaw were new. So were the webs and whatever the fuck that green stuff leaking from its body was.

His team was already down, and wasn't that worrying that it wasn't killing them, wrapped in cocoons of silk stronger than steel (he knows. He tried breaking it.).

He couldn't beat this thing. Not with his mace.

So cardin laid his palm on the bird on the front of his breastplate and channeled aura in a very specific pattern.

The armor fell apart like a house of cards in a windstorm and for the first time in a long time combustion could sing.

It didn't take long to adjust, hate it or not combustion was a part of him.

The softest of steps, practically just the tips of his toes touching the soil was enough to trigger explosions that launched him at the beast at speeds comparable to a sports car.

But cardin didn't slam into it, instead he flowed around it the smallest taps to the ground and trees surrounding them enough to keep him circling the monster.

Cardin almost looked delicate dealing with the beast. Small touches and pokes, no longer than a second, no more force than a baby would use.

Each touch blasting chunks out of the beast like it had been hit by artillery fire.

They'd fought the beast for thirty minutes before this.

Cardin killed it in four.

With combustion.

Something bitter settled in his gut.

 

[Sliverhero]

Next part for my the knight defiled fate.

The Ever After had no sun, yet the clearing around the Tree glowed with a soft, perpetual gold. Seven figures stood in a loose circle around Jaune, some cautious, some defiant, some too overwhelmed to speak. None of them trusted each other. Not Yet! Even though they know who each other are its still not their friend, their families. They dont have their memories of the highs and the lows.

The Blacksmith had given them rest, food, repaired clothes and armor shaped from their memories. But nothing she did could soften the tension coiling between the group like a hidden tripwire. "Alright…" Jaune exhaled. "If we're going back in time together, we need to train. Sync. Talk."

Ruby nodded quickly, forcing optimism into her tired voice. "Y-yeah. Totally. Team… meeting?"
Yang muttered under her breath, "Feels more like babysitting a powder keg." Her eyes slid toward Cinder.

Cinder didn't react outwardly, only crossing her arms and keeping a careful distance from the circle. The Maiden fire coiled faintly around her fingers, restrained but ready. Neo simply stood beside Jaune like a silent shadow, refusing to let anyone close.

Weiss took a step back from Neo. Blake took a step back from Cinder. Pyrrha stood perfectly still, scanning every movement like a battlefield.
Jaune could feel it all.

"Then let's start with this," he said quietly.
"Everyone needs to tell the truth about their timeline. Everything. So we know who we're trusting." "Or who we're not," Blake muttered.
A flicker of pain crossed Cinder's eyes.

Ruby inhaled, trembling.
"i'll start first....My timeline… Vacuo fell first. Then the Grimm came nonstop. I thought...I lost everyone. I burned out my Silver Eyes saving people who didn't even make it five minutes after." Yang flinched.

"I fought until Crescent Rose snapped. And then I…" Ruby swallowed. "I gave up. Jaune didn't."
She wiped her cheeks. "He died protecting me after I couldn't protect anyone."

Her gaze slid to Cinder and Neo, steel-hard, her newly recovered eyes glowly with a sliverly flame. "I don't forget. But I'm here to change the ending. That means everyone works together."

Cinder looked away.
"My Atlas collapsed," Weiss said softly.
"Piece by piece. Salem's corruption spread through the central tower like frostbite. My arm..." She touched the faint scar the Blacksmith had left as a reminder.

"I couldn't fight anymore. Jaune caught me as the city fell. Then he forced me into an escape pod and… ngh…" She forced herself to breathe.
"I woke up alive only because he wasn't."
Blake's ears flattened. Yang put a hand on Weiss' shoulder. Neo looked down, unreadable.
Cinder stared at the ground.

"My Menagerie was consumed by Grimm," Blake whispered, voice warping with remembered pain. "Adam released something he didn't understand. I tried to save everyone. Failed. I became… wrong. Corrupted." Her hands shook, claws flickering in and out.

"I attacked anyone who came near me. Anyone… except him." She looked directly at Jaune.
"You let me hurt you until I remembered I was human." Jaune frowned, aching. "I'm sorry, Blake." "No," she said quietly.
"You sacrifice your life to saved what was left of me. Even after I couldn't save myself."
Blake starts to go a little teary-eyed and gives a little smile. "Thank you"
Weiss and Yang exchanged a guilty glance.
Cinder looked shaken.

Yang crossed her arms tightly.
"My timeline started normal. Chaos, fighting, same old. Then… something happened to the Ever After door. I got dragged into the Void."
She shivered. "You don't feel. You don't see. You don't exist. I was stuck there forever." Her voice cracked.
"Jaune pulled me out. But he couldn't pull himself back."

Ruby touched her arm.
Yang didn't move, jaw tight.


"I lived," Pyrrha whispered.
"For years after Beacon. I lived with knowing I shouldn't have. That Jaune died for me at Haven. That so many others died because I wasn't there to stop it." No one breathed.

"I lost myself in guilt. I dont know how but he brought me back just long enough to save me again." Her eyes softened painfully when they found Jaune. "I won't fail you a third time."
Ruby looked down. Weiss squeezed Jaune's arm. Cinder looked nauseous.

Neo stepped forward, tapping Jaune's arm softly. When he nodded, she used her Semblance to project simple words in the air:
"I had no one left. No revenge. No purpose."
A second line shimmered beside it.
"He was the only one who didn't try to kill me.
Even after everything." Neo's throat bobbed with a silent swallow.
"I won't hurt Ruby. Or Weiss.Or Blake.Or Pyrrha.
Or Yang."

Then the last line appeared.
"Not if it means losing him again."
Ruby stared, stunned. Yang narrowed her eyes.
Blake looked wary but unsure. Weiss looked relieved but skeptical. Cinder watched Neo for a long, unreadable moment.

When it was her turn, Cinder didn't speak at first.
The Maiden fire crackled faintly behind her eyes.
She looked at Jaune. Then away. Then back.
"My timeline…" She swallowed hard.
"I killed Salem. Burned the world down. Took everything. Won everything."
Her voice broke. "And it meant nothing."

Everyone froze. Cinder continued, staring at her hands as if seeing old blood. "The throne of ash was cold. And I was alone. I thought… I thought that was what I deserved." She exhaled shakily.
"Then he walked into my throne room. Not to punish me. Not to kill me. But to save me."
Ruby stiffened. Weiss clenched her jaw.
Blake's hand hovered near Gambol Shroud.
Cinder's voice fell to a whisper. "He died protecting me instead of letting a monster die alone."

She looked up, eyes wet,not with fire, but grief.
"That is why I am here. Not to hurt you."
She hesitated. "But because… I want to change who I become. So i ca be better for you."
She looks at jaune. Silence. Heavy. Tense. Fragile.

Then Pyrrha, of all people—spoke first.
"We don't have to forgive each other today," she said gently. "But we do have to fight together."
Ruby nodded.Yang huffed. "I'll tolerate her. For now." Cinder dipped her head, accepting.
Neo blinked and signed something quick.
Jaune translated: "She says, 'Fine. Just don't betray us.'"

Cinder nodded again, slower.
Weiss was the one who finally asked:
"Jaune… what was different in your timeline?"
Jaune inhaled… then let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Amber," he said. Cinder flinched. "In your worlds… she survived Beacon long enough for the Fall of Beacon to happen normally."

Blake and Yang nodded slowly. Jaune shook his head. "In mine… she died two weeks earlier, before i went to beacon." Everyone froze.
Ruby: "H-how?" Jaune's expression darkened.
"She was found behind the school. Badly injured. No one knew who attacked her. She passed that night."

Cinder's eyes widened in horror—real horror.
"I… I didn't…? Beacon was supposed to happen much later... I wasn't even strong enough then..."
"I know," Jaune said quietly.
"In my timeline, Amber wasn't killed by you."

Cinder staggered back as if struck. Pyrrha looked ill. Weiss covered her mouth.
Yang whispered, "Then who...?" Jaune's voice softened. "I never found out." Ruby trembled.
"And without a Maiden to take… Cinder stayed hidden. Salem moved slower. Beacon never fell. Everything changed."

Cinder looked shaken to her core. Neo's eyes narrowed, calculating.Jaune exhaled heavily.
"That's why we need training. We're not just rewriting history, we're landing in a world where the wrong person killed Amber. And if that is wrong who knows what else is wrong that i never saw."

The group shivered at the implications. Ruby lifted her chin. "Then we train. We get stronger. Together." Yang smirked faintly. "Yeah. Let's go punch destiny in the face."

Blake nodded. Weiss took a fighting stance.
Pyrrha stepped closer to Jaune, warm and steady. Neo summoned her weapon. Cinder inhaled deeply, flames settling behind her eyes.

Jaune smiled softly, brokenly, but with a spark returning. "Alright," he said, raising his sword.
"Let's begin."

Training had only just begun, but Jaune's footsteps drifted toward the Tree.
He sat on a smooth root, staring across the golden clearing with a hollow, distant expression.

Ruby noticed first. She jogged over. "Jaune? What's wrong?" One by one, the others followed, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Pyrrha, Neo, and Cinder, forming a loose half-circle around him. Their breaths steadied. Their eyes fixed on him.
Jaune exhaled slowly. "There's more I need to tell you. The Blacksmith explained the things all your timelines share… the constants. The crossroads."

He glanced at each of them. "Beacon always falls. Ozpin and Salem's war always spirals out of control. And…" His voice cracked. "…I always die protecting one—or all—of you."

Ruby flinched. Weiss swallowed. Blake's ears wilted. Yang's fists tightened. Pyrrha lowered her gaze. Neo grabbed Jaune's cloak and didn't let go. Cinder looked away, pain sharp and quiet.

"And then there's the big difference," Jaune continued, voice low. "Amber." Blake's ears twitched. Cinder's hands curled slightly.
Ruby asked softly, "What happened in your timeline?" Jaune leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

"In your worlds… Amber survived Beacon long enough for her powers to matter. In mine… she didn't." Cinder's head snapped up, shocked.

"In my timeline," Jaune said steadily, "Amber was found behind Beacon. Behind the gardens. Critical condition. No witnesses. No suspects."
Weiss covered her mouth.

"It was on the news," Jaune added. "Every channel. 'Transfer Student Amber Gravely Injured Behind Beacon Grounds.' No explanation. Just panic." He looked at Cinder.
"She died that night. From her injuries." Cinder staggered, whispering, "I… didn't do it? I wasn't even strong enough then, i was only able to defeat her by ambushing her alone. With emerald and mercury "

"I know," Jaune said gently. "Whatever killed her… wasn't you." The group fell silent. "And without a Maiden target," he continued, "what happened next was different for all of us. Beacon didn't fall right away. It… rotted."

The word hung heavy. "Ozpin broke," Jaune said. "The staff cracked under pressure, and some were replaced . Missions got worse. Grimm waves got bolder. Students left. Some came back in boxes."

Yang flinched. Blake's tail drooped.
Pyrrha held a shaking breath.
"But…" Jaune's eyes softened. "It wasn't all bad."
They blinked, startled. "In those ruins," Jaune continued, "some of the most beautiful things in my world happened."

He turned toward Neo and Cinder. "Because both of you ended up at Beacon." Neo's eyes widened, trembling. Cinder stared, confused. Ruby whispered, "You mean… they defected?"

"Not at first," Jaune said.
"They were lost. Hurt. Running." He pointed gently at Neo. "You arrived with Roman."
Neo froze, then shook her head vigorously, desperate to know more. Jaune's voice softened.

"He survived longer than anyone thought possible. Protected you when Vale started hunting anyone tied to Cinder's old operations. When Grimm were unleashed across the city, Roman drew them away, so you could escape."
Neo's lip trembled. A soundless sob escaped her. "He didn't make it," Jaune finished. "He died saving you."

Yang muttered, "Guess Torchwick wasn't all bad." Blake nodded sadly. Ruby blinked rapidly, touched despite everything. Neo leaned against Jaune, shaking. "And Cinder…" Jaune continued, turning to her. "You weren't alone either. Emerald and Mercury were with you."

Cinder stiffened. "They stayed when Salem decided you were a liability. They fought her agents. Tried to carry you to safety. Mercury held off Grimm until his Aura shattered. Emerald dragged you as far as she could." Jaune paused.

"They died trying to get you away." Cinder's knees nearly buckled. "…for me?" she whispered. "Yes," Jaune said softly. "Because they believed you still had a future." The clearing fell utterly silent. Slowly, Cinder wiped tears from her eyes, the kind she'd never let anyone see.

Ruby whispered, "You weren't alone. Not even then." Weiss nodded gently. "They saw something in you." Blake murmured, "Family isn't about what you were, it's about what you choose now." Neo signed shakily: "They loved us." Cinder whispered, "…I didn't deserve them."

Jaune put a hand on her shoulder. "You can deserve this second chance." He looked at both Neo and Cinder. "When you got to Beacon… you changed. Neo barely spoke. She stole my hoodie so many times I gave up trying to get it back." Neo smirked through wet eyes.

"And you, Cinder," Jaune continued, "you were angry, scared, and lost. But you tried. Every day. You fought the darkness. When Beacon finally fell, you stayed. You fought beside us." Cinder covered her mouth again, overwhelmed.
"You… believed in me," she whispered. "I believed in who you could be," Jaune corrected gently. He looked at the whole circle again.

"So yes, Amber's death broke everything. Beacon collapsed. The world fell apart."
He smiled faintly, warmly. "But the people who survived? The people who chose each other? They created something worth fighting for." The wind shimmered gold.

Ruby stepped forward. "Then let's honor them."
Yang cracked her knuckles. "Let's punch this timeline in the teeth." Weiss nodded. "We'll build a world where they didn't have to die." Blake murmured, "Where none of us have to."
Pyrrha smiled softly. "A world where you live, Jaune." Neo wiped her tears, signing: "For them." Cinder whispered: "…For all of us."

Jaune stood, lifting his sword. "Then let's train.
We've got a future to rewrite." And for the first time, the eight of them stepped forward together, not as enemies, not as strangers, but as a team forged by tragedy, sacrifice, love, and hope.

The Ever After shimmered with golden light as the eight of them, Knight, Huntresses, Champion, Thief, and former Queen, began training for the fight that would rewrite fate itself.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Happy Thanksgiving!

- - -

Sun Wukong, tail swishing confidently, cornered Jaune Arc in one of Beacon's courtyards, his golden eyes gleaming with a plan.

"Jaune! Take Yang out! With me and Blake! A double date is way less stressful, right?" Sun grinned, slapping Jaune's back.

Jaune blinked, stumbling a bit from being caught off guard. "I uh… well… what about Weiss—?"

"Dude," Sun said, deadpan, tail flicking.

"Uggggghhh… fine," Jaune groaned, rubbing his neck. "You think she'll go for it?"

"Blake told me she'd get Yang to come along," Sun said enthusiastically. "You just have to ask!"

As though on cue, Yang and Blake rounded the nearby corner, Blake looking determined while Yang looked the tiniest bit nervous. She then raised an eyebrow at Jaune and smirked.

"Well VB?"

Jaune looked thoughtful… Then reached out to take Yang's hands between his. He looked right into her eyes and smiled.

"Hey Yang," he said, "I'd love to take you out on a date tonight. Just for fun, because I like you. What do you say?"

Yang flushed… Then yanked her hands back. She brushed her hair back from her ear.

"I-I yeah, sure," she mumbled, "Vomit Boy."

"Spitfire," Jaune returned playfully. Yang flushed and laughed.

Sun turned to Blake and just grinned broadly. Blake gave them both a speculative look. Yang and Jaune both turned to glare at her.

"What?" They demanded.

"Nothing," Blake smiled softly and took Sun's hand. "Let's get going."

"So, where are we going?" Yang asked. Jaune tried to take her hand, but she lifted her own up to avoid it.

"A nice spot for our first date," Blake said with a smile, turning to Sun, "Right?"

"Oh yeah! I've got the perfect spot!" Sun nodded.

- - -

The night had gone sideways. What started as a casual stroll through the docks—Sun's idea of "romantic" for his first official date with Blake—spiraled into chaos when they stumbled on a White Fang cell unloading illegal Dust crates. Now, explosions rocked the air, the scent of scorched metal and burning wood choking the night. Jaune swung Crocea Mors, shielding Yang as Blake and Sun fought back-to-back, Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang a blur, Gambol Shroud flashing.

"HOW DID WE END UP FIGHTING TERRORISTS?! AGAIN?!" Jaune shouted, deflecting a blast with his shield.

Blake, dodging a sniper shot, grinned at Sun, her amber eyes sparkling despite the chaos. "Sun, honey, this date was a fantastic idea!"

"I'M GOING TO SKIN THAT DAMN CAT!" Yang roared, Ember Celica thundering, her blonde hair a fiery halo as she punched a goon through a crate. She charged through several more goons, leveling them all. Jaune sighed and followed, knocking out any who were left with lighter hits from his shield or hilt of his sword.

Afterwards, they dragged all the unconscious White Fang members out of the warehouse and tied them up.

Jaune stood up and sighed.

"Well… we stopped the plot… and with a minimum of collateral—"

BOOM! The warehouse erupted in a fireball, Dust crates igniting in a chain reaction that lit the sky orange.

All four of them stared at the burning warehouse and heard the sirens of approaching police and firemen.

Blake's ears flattened under her bow. "…Run."

"Quickly!" Yang yelled, grabbing Jaune's hand.

- - -

They collapsed at a cozy café a mile away, the air now sweet with coffee and pastries, police sirens and firefighter Bullheads wailing in the distance. The four sat at an outdoor table, soot-streaked but alive, sipping drinks under string lights. Jaune's hoodie was singed, Yang's jacket torn, Blake's bow askew, and Sun's shirt half-unbuttoned (as usual).

"Sooo…" Sun grinned, leaning back, tail curling around Blake's chair. "What about the art museum for our next date?"

Blake smirked, sipping her tea. "…Sounds good."

Yang slammed her coffee down, lilac eyes blazing. "Jaune… next date, we're going alone, to a quiet place. Like a movie. Or dinner. Just us two. And no insane terrorist-seeking moron with us."

Jaune blinked, flustered. "Wait, there's a next date?"

"Yes, doofus!" Yang snapped, pointing at him. "I refuse to let this be the only date I've gone on at Beacon! So you're taking me to a nice place, and then maybe, we'll go on a third!"

"Woo! Sounds great—" Sun started.

"YOU'RE NOT INVITED!" Yang barked, her hair flaring briefly.

Sun raised his hands, laughing. "Okay, okay! Geez, Blondie, chill!"

Blake chuckled, resting a hand on Sun's arm, her voice soft but teasing. "You did say taking down criminals was romantic."

"Yeah, but I didn't blow up the warehouse!" Sun protested, grinning.

Jaune sighed, sipping his cocoa, but a small smile tugged at his lips as Yang's hand found his under the table. "Movie sounds good," he murmured.

"Damn right it does," Yang said, smirking, her thumb brushing his knuckles.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Councilman Arc 6

---

The Council Hall of Vale was a grand chamber, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of ancient battles and great heroes of the past, its gallery packed with onlookers. Teams RWBY and JNPR sat in the upper balcony, their eyes fixed on Jaune Arc at the podium below. His blonde hair caught the light as he delivered his speech, his voice steady but passionate.

"…And as demonstrated on the holo, our military readiness has been drastically below historical norms, even accounting for the peaceful times we find ourselves in," Jaune said, gesturing to a glowing projection of charts and maps. "Relying on Atlas and private Hunter Guilds is clearly not doing enough to deter bandit and Grimm activity in frontier settlements or even near major cities, and incursions by the White Fang and other rogue actors are increasing. Furthermore, our bases in Mistral have been getting by with second-hand supplies in multiple instances, and our replacements for our frontline carriers are now three years behind schedule. Is this how we treat our fighting men and women? This anti-military sentiment may win votes, but the reality is that the Valean Defense Force desperately needs more funding, and more respect. While I myself hope to become a Huntsman, I respect the men and women who join the VDF to serve their country. They deserve better! Thank you, Madame Chairwoman."

Yang Xiao Long leaned back, her blonde hair glowing faintly, her lilac eyes impressed. "Huh… He's actually pretty good. He explained everything in an easy-to-follow way."

Weiss Schnee, her white combat skirt pristine, scoffed, her ice-blue eyes narrowing. "For you, clearly."

Yang grinned, her voice teasing. "Hey! I'm not the dumb blonde!"

Ruby Rose, her red cloak pooling around her, muttered, her silver eyes glinting. "No, just a traitorous one."

Yang's jaw dropped, her voice indignant. "What?! I said I was his girlfriend so he wouldn't get attacked by groupies, that's all! I'm just doing my job to protect him!"

Pyrrha Nikos's smile was ominous, her emerald eyes glinting dangerously. "Really? Don't you think you should've informed the rest of us before you did that?"

Yang's smile turned deadly, her voice a purr. "What for? Seems like you had your shot and blew it, Cereal Girl."

Pyrrha's aura flared subtly, her voice low. "Oh? Did I? Perhaps I can make my own luck with your misfortune."

Yang cracked her knuckles, her hair sparking. "What kind of misfortune?"

"Broken bones," Pyrrha replied, her tone icy.

Yang smirked. "Bring it on, Red! Maybe getting tended by Jaune in the hospital afterward would be worth it~!"

Pyrrha seethed.

Weiss's voice was sharp, her arms crossing. "Would you two please stop?! Not here, have some decorum!"

Ruby nodded, her voice firm. "Yeah!"

Nora Valkyrie bounced in her seat, her turquoise eyes gleaming. "Yeah! Whatever that is. Ooh! Look! The Puppy-Eating Lady is speaking!"

Blake Belladonna frowned deeply, her tail flicking under her coat. Ruby's eyes widened, her voice a squeak. "Puppy-eating lady?!"

Below, Prunella Glocken, a stern woman with sharp features and a tight bun, took the podium opposite Jaune, her smile unpleasant. "Thank you, Madame Chairwoman. While young Councilman Arc clearly has spirit, his inexperience is showing. Overall Grimm attacks have been falling in recent years, and our alliance with Atlas has ensured we don't need to spend nearly as much on our defense forces as in the past. Mister Arc may have grown up with tales of his Nana and Papa's heroic deeds in the Great War when Mantle and Mistral were our enemies, but that time is long past. Perhaps his love of battle, glory, and headlines with his delinquent girlfriend makes him imagine that fiscal and political realities don't matter. But they do. I hope the young Councilman will learn to temper his arguments with more wisdom going forth, and maybe keep his girlfriend in line. Thank you, Madame Chairwoman."

Yang's aura flared, her voice a growl. "What?! That bitch!"

Chairwoman Browning, her gavel poised, spoke calmly. "We will take a quick recess before final statements by both sides. Thank you."

Jaune headed to his office, his bodyguards trailing, his expression tight. The teams followed, piling into the small, cluttered space filled with books and holo-screens. Yang's voice exploded the moment the door closed. "Where does she get off mocking you like that?! I'd have punched her in her smug face!"

Weiss's voice was indignant, her ponytail swishing. "The nerve! She didn't even have a real argument, she just used ad hominem!"

Ruby growled. "Yeah!" She then blinked. "Ad what?"

Ren, his magenta eyes calm, explained, "It means she insulted Jaune."

Ruby's eyes flashed, her voice a squeak. "THE NERVE!"

Nora grinned, her hammer propped nearby. "Want me to break her kneecaps, Jaune-Jaune?"

Jaune sighed, slumping into his chair, rubbing his eyes. "No."

Nora leaned forward, her voice eager. "Reeeeallly sure?"

"Yes," Jaune said firmly. His voice softened, heavy with frustration. "I mean… I put a lot of work into that presentation. But she just insults me, makes me look like a kid, and she'll probably have the votes to beat down the bill."

Pyrrha's voice was encouraging, her hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Jaune. You did a very good job. I think a number of councillors were swayed. You laid out the facts and appealed to their better natures!"

Blake's voice was dry, her amber eyes sharp. "Which seldom works in politics."

Ren nodded, his voice measured. "Agreed. Most politicians aren't like you, Jaune. They'll be asking, 'What's in it for me?'"

Jaune's eyes narrowed, his voice thoughtful. "Hmmm… So, what's in it for Prunella Glocken to maintain things as they are now?"

Ren nodded. "Yes."

Weiss's voice was crisp, her eyes glinting. "She deals extensively with the SDC—I've seen her at my father's functions when he's doing business with Vale. Atlas getting more defense contracts over Valean companies is in her interest."

Ruby's voice was outraged. "That's despicable!"

Jaune sighed, his voice resigned. "But it's only rumors, not hard evidence—"

Blake slid a stack of documents across the desk. Jaune blinked, flipping through them, his voice rising. "What the… These are emails where Prunella Glocken is communicating about how she'll get paid handsomely for suppressing the native Valean Defense industry?!"

Blake's voice was calm, her lips twitching. "Yes. Sorry I couldn't get more, but I believe this is enough."

Jaune's eyes widened, his voice incredulous. "Wha—Where did you get this stuff?!"

"Probably best not to ask. Plausible deniability."

Ruby's voice was a wail. "Blaaake! I thought we talked about you going all cat burglar!"

Blake's eyebrow arched, her voice smooth. "Why do you think I got these documents by those means?"

Ruby's eyes lit up, her voice hopeful. "So, can we send her to jail with this?"

Weiss shook her head, her voice pragmatic. "No, that would require more political capital than we have… We could blackmail her into voting our way."

Yang's jaw dropped. "Seriously?"

Weiss shrugged, her voice matter-of-fact. "What? That's politics!"

Jaune's voice was firm, his eyes resolute. "…No. I won't do that. Besides, if she demanded an investigation, that might get you in trouble, Blake. I'm not playing by her rules, and I'm not sacrificing a friend."

Blake's smile was small but genuine, her eyes warm. Jaune grinned, his voice brightening. "I have a better idea."

---

An hour later, the Council reconvened, the chamber buzzing with tension. Jaune took his podium, his posture confident. "Madame Chairwoman, thank you. I would like for everyone to—"

"JAUNE-JAUNE!" Nora burst in, her hammer slung over her shoulder, her Scroll raised high. "I HAVE WORDS THAT ARE IMPORTANT!"

Prunella's voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing. "What the—Why is one of your groupies disrupting proceedings, Mister Arc?"

Jaune's voice was calm, his smile polite. "Huh… If the Chairwoman would indulge me?"

Chairwoman Browning raised an eyebrow, her voice dry. "Perhaps a bit of indulgence is warranted for young Mister Arc."

Jaune nodded, his voice steady. "I suggest everyone check their Scrolls and VNN."

The councillors did, their Scrolls lighting up as Jaune projected a holo of Lisa Lavender, her voice crisp on the Vale News Network. "—Once again, our top story: Councilwoman Prunella Glocken is implicated in a scheme to take bribes from the Atlasian Defense Industry to keep the Valean Defense Industry down. As these documents prove, and accompanying emails, the Councilwoman has been doing this for years and—"

Prunella's face went scarlet, her voice a snarl as she shot to her feet. "What kind of smear campaign is this?! You arranged this—this fraud!"

Jaune shrugged, his voice cool. "Me? I've been here the whole time, check the security cameras. All my friend did was alert me to something I think everyone should know."

Prunella's eyes blazed. "Of course you had something to do with this! The timing is too convenient!"

Jaune's smile was serene. "I think you have bigger problems than me, Councilwoman."

Chairwoman Browning's gavel cracked, her voice firm. "Enough. We will adjourn for today. However, Councilwoman Glocken: Rest assured, we will launch an investigation into these claims, as we would with any such news stories." She struck the gavel again and swept out, the chamber erupting in murmurs.

Prunella shot Jaune a venomous glare as she stormed off with her caucus. Ozpin and Rufus Winchester approached, Ozpin's green eyes twinkling, Winchester's orange hair glinting.

Ozpin's voice was amused. "A bit dramatic, Mister Arc."

Winchester smirked, his voice gruff. "And could've used better execution… but well done."

Jaune's face was poker-straight, his voice neutral. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ozpin chuckled. "Of course. We'll have the vote on the defense bill tomorrow. I believe it will go better this time… but do try to be more discreet in the future."

---

Back in Jaune's office, the teams gathered, the air thick with relief and adrenaline. Jaune slumped into his chair, his voice a sigh. "Well… we got away with it. For now." He smiled at Blake, his eyes warm. "Thanks, Blake. How can I repay you?"

Blake's lips curved, her voice soft. "Well… I wouldn't mind if you took me out to dinner."

Yang's aura flared, her voice indignant. "Hey! I'm his girlfriend!"

Jaune blinked, his voice a squeak. "Eh?"

Pyrrha's smile was sharp, her eyes glinting. "I didn't hear him say that!"

Yang grinned, her voice teasing. "We might as well make it official since we've been on a date!"

Ruby's voice was a wail. "It's not official!"

Pyrrha's tone was icy. "Exactly! Besides, I should be his—his pretend girlfriend! I'm his partner!"

Ruby's eyes flashed. "I'm his best friend!"

Yang's grin widened. "You're way too young! We don't need him getting associated with Repstein Island!"

Ruby's face went red, her voice a squeak. "I'M ONLY TWO YEARS YOUNGER!"

Weiss sighed, her voice exasperated. "Honestly, you're acting like children. You should all calm down."

Jaune's voice was hesitant, but grateful. "Uh, thanks, Weiss?"

Weiss's smile was prim, her eyes gleaming. "You're welcome. After all, I should pose as his girlfriend. I'm the most respectable."

Pyrrha's aura flared. "Not by half you are!"

Jaune watched, dumbfounded, as the five girls argued, their voices overlapping in a chaotic storm. He glanced at Ren and Nora, lounging on the couch, Nora's hammer propped nearby.

"Uh… you guys wanna jump in?" Jaune asked, his voice desperate.

Ren's voice was calm, his magenta eyes half-lidded. "I'm straight."

Nora grinned, her voice gleeful. "I love you, Jaune, but I'd only consider it if you brought Renny in, too!"

Jaune's jaw dropped. "What?!"

Nora's eyes twinkled. "I have my limits!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Mia had her own little bed wedged right next to Jaune's in the JNPR dorm, a tiny fortress of blankets and stuffed animals. He was trying (really trying) to let her stay there all night, to give her that sliver of independence she'd need someday. Most nights she still ended up crawling in with him anyway, but tonight she'd stayed put.

Until she didn't.

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

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

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

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

"Mama…?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Yeah… With lemon…"

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

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

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

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

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

"Sad? Why is he sad?"

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

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

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

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

"Daddy says you didn't wanna go…"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- - -

Morning came soft and gray.

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

Thank the Breaker.

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

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

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

"Yang."

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

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

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

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

"Hey sweetie… Time to wake up…"

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

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

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

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

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

"…She called me Mom."

Jaune froze. "…O-Oh…"

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

"I see…"

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

"I… I'm sorry, Yang."

"No! Nonono, it… It's okay."

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

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

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

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

Jaune stayed silent, letting her spill.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"…It was?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Heh. Don't I know it…"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jaune actually laughed. "That would be funny."

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

"I would love to."

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

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

…Probably.

 

[Sliverhero]

Kamer rider kabuto rwby crossover

The path to heaven


Vacuo Wastes : Years Ago

The wind cut across the cracked sand, carrying the scent of smoke from distant fires. Twelve-year-old Jaune Arc crouched behind the remains of a ruined village. Beside him, Cinder, pale and exhausted, clutched his arm. "They're coming… they'll..." she whispered, but he pressed a hand to her shoulder. Then the first Worm appeared.
It looked human, almost, but its movements were wrong, unsettling.

Jaune wanted to run, but he couldn't. Not with Cinder there. A voice called out, firm and commanding: "Move! Now!"

Rhodes, the man who had been guiding them, the only adult they could trust, stepped into view. His form shimmered slightly, unnatural in its perfection. The Worm lunged, and Rhodes met it head-on, holding it back with sheer strength and skill. More Worms approached.

Rhodes turned to them, speaking quickly:
"Go! I'll hold them off!" "No! We can help!" Jaune protested. Rhodes shook his head. His expression softened.

"No… you must survive. Both of you. You are the only hope." From his chest, Rhodes produced a small, beetle-shaped device that hummed with life. "Jaune… take this. Use it wisely. Protect her… protect yourself."

The Zecter floated toward Jaune. He hesitated, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Now!" Rhodes urged. Using his last strength, he helped Jaune and Cinder move behind a partially collapsed building.

Jaune's fingers closed over the Zecter. A belt materialized around his waist, humming with energy. Strength and speed surged through him, more than human, more than any Huntsman could give.

He turned to look back. Rhodes stood firm, facing the Worms alone. With his final effort, he gave Jaune a nod, a signal to survive, to carry on. Then Rhodes was gone from sight. The Worms, distracted, eventually retreated as Jaune and Cinder found cover.

Jaune's fists clenched around the Zecter.
"I'll protect you," he whispered to Cinder.
"No matter what it takes." And with that, the boy with no aura, no formal training, and no one to guide him walked into a dangerous world alone,
as Kabuto.

Patch: years later

Ruby Rose awoke suddenly, gasping. Her small room was quiet, but her chest still heaved from a dream she couldn't shake. She had seen a house burning. People she loved calling her name. Faces that didn't feel like her own. And through it all, a strange, unshakable feeling of… something wrong.

Her hand went to her chest instinctively. Nothing there. But the dream left a weight she couldn't explain. A soft knock sounded at her door. "Ruby? You okay?"

Yang Xiao Long stepped inside, eyes bright but weary. She sat beside her sister and brushed a strand of hair from Ruby's face. "You had that dream again, didn't you?" Yang asked gently.
Ruby nodded, hugging her knees. "I… I don't understand it. It feels so real. I feel like I… hurt someone… or lost someone…" Yang swallowed, her face tightening for a brief moment. She reached out and held Ruby's hand.

"Listen to me," she said firmly.
"You're safe. Nothing out there can touch you while I'm here. You're stronger than you know, and I'll make sure you stay that way."

Ruby leaned against her, feeling the warmth and certainty in Yang's presence. Even in the lingering shadow of her nightmares, Yang's words grounded her.

Yang's gaze drifted toward the window, faintly catching the last rays of sunlight on the horizon. A flicker of movement, just beyond perception, made her tighten her grip on Ruby's shoulder.

"Something's out there," she muttered quietly, almost to herself. "But it's not your fight today. Not yet." Ruby tilted her head, confused.
"Yang… what do you mean?"

Yang smiled, soft, careful, protective.
"Nothing for you to worry about. Just… rest. You'll need your strength tomorrow." Her eyes softened, then hardened. She muttered under her breath, a mixture of gratitude and frustration:

"Thank you, Ozpin… for giving her a chance. But damn you… giving her to the world like this, unprepared, exposed… I swear, if anything happens to her…" Ruby didn't hear the words clearly, but the tension in Yang's voice made her squeeze her sister's hand tightly.

Tomorrow meant Beacon Academy. The first day of her new life. Ruby was excited, unaware of the storm her existence might bring, or the powers lying dormant inside her. Powers that even Yang could barely understand.

Yang brushed her hair back one more time, lingering over the slight shimmer beneath Ruby's skin. A momentary glint, like metal beneath soft flesh. Something inhuman.

Yang's jaw clenched. She ignored it. "Sleep now, Ruby. I'll be here." Ruby closed her eyes, comforted by her sister's presence, while somewhere deep inside, something is waiting. Its patient, silent, hidden, but will it be free.

 

[NightDranzer]

Have you guys ever tried asking grok these questions (in this order)?


Code:

Using canon sources and CRWBY Q&A: Could Aura Amp theoretically Amp the resulting effects of Dust?

Expanding on the above answer: Aura Amp can boost the Soul as seen with Penny; does it mean that Aura Amp
could also theoretically Amp Silver Eyes and Maiden Powers as well?

Code:

Expanding on the above: So basically, the key to beat Salem lies on liberal abuse of Jaune's Semblance?




The answers are as hilarious as they are vindicating (though granted, take them with a grain of salt); but it is still hilarious how much of its analysis mirrors ours.


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

EDIT: These were the answers it gave me


Code:

Using canon sources and CRWBY Q&A: Could Aura Amp theoretically Amp the resulting effects of Dust?


Yes, Aura Amp can theoretically amplify the resulting effects of Dust—canon feats and CRWBY statements confirm Aura Amp boosts Semblance output, and Dust effects are explicitly tied to Semblance/Aura channeling, making amplification consistent with mechanics.Canon Evidence: Aura Amp Boosts Semblance-Applied Effects

Event	What Was Amplified	Dust Connection	Source
Weiss Schnee (V8E10)	Glyphs + Knight Summon	Glyphs = Dust-infused Semblance (fire/ice/gravity Dust creates colored glyphs)	RWBY V8E10 ("The Kingdom of Atlas")
Penny Polendina (V8E10)	Weapon Systems + Maiden Resistance	Penny's swords fire Dust rounds; Aura boost enhances overall output	Same episode
Jaune Self-Heal (V4E1)	Aura Regeneration	Aura = conduit for all Dust effects (CRWBY confirmation)	RWBY V4E1 ("The Stray")

• Key Feat Detail: Weiss' Time Dilation glyph (V7E11 baseline) becomes instantaneous under Aura Amp (V8E10)—Dust gravity effect scales up from seconds to microseconds.
• Implication: If Semblance + Dust = amplified, pure Dust effects (e.g., Ruby's ammo) should follow same logic.

CRWBY Q&A & Creator Statements

Source	Quote/Confirmation	Dust Amplification Implication
RTX 2018 Q&A (Miles Luna)	"Aura Amp amplifies Semblance and Aura-based abilities—think of it like overclocking your soul."	Dust = Aura-channeled energy → Overclock applies
V8 Commentary (Kerry Shawcross)	"Jaune's Semblance makes whatever your Semblance does stronger/faster. Weiss' glyphs got a massive power boost."	Dust glyphs = Semblance → Confirmed amplification
RWBY: World of Remnant - Dust	"Dust is unlocked by Aura; Semblances determine how it's shaped/applied."	Aura boost = stronger Dust output

Dust Mechanics Confirm Amplifiability

Dust Type	Baseline Effect	Aura Amp Prediction	Canon Precedent
Fire Dust	Standard flames (Yang's shells)	Larger/more intense fire	Weiss' fire glyphs scale up (V8E10)
Ice Dust	Freezes small area	City-block freeze	Penny's ice swords enhance (inferred V8)
Gravity Dust	Local lift (Weiss)	Time-stop zones	Time Dilation = amped gravity Dust
Kinetic Dust	Bullet propulsion	Hypersonic rounds	Ruby's Crescent Rose (untested)

Scaling Chain:
Aura Amp → Semblance Output ↑ → Dust Channels Through Semblance/Aura → **Dust Effects ↑**
Direct Evidence Table

Character	Baseline Dust Feat	Amped Dust Feat	Amplification Factor
Weiss	V7: 1-2 second Time Dilation	V8: Microsecond Time Dilation	~1000x faster
Pyrrha (Inferred)	Polarity + metal Dust	Could lift battleships	V3 polarity scaled small → massive potential
Ruby (Theoretical)	Live ammo (V1)	Petal Burst + Dust storm	Silver Eyes already Aura-scaled

Counter-Evidence Addressed

Potential Objection	Canon Rebuttal	Source
"Only Semblances, not raw Dust"	Weiss' glyphs = Dust; amplified	V8E10 + CRWBY
"Dust is external"	Aura unlocks Dust (WoR: Dust)	All Dust use requires Aura
"No pure Dust test"	Weiss = proof (glyphs = Dust Semblance)	Miles Luna RTX 2018

Theoretical Applications

User	Dust Weapon	Amped Effect
Jaune	Crocea Mors (no Dust shown)	Shield-bashes = nukes
Ruby	Crescent Rose	Dust petals shred mountains
Yang	Ember Celica	Kinetic punches = craters

Verdict: Yes—100% confirmed by Weiss' glyph scaling + CRWBY mechanics. Aura Amp treats Dust effects as Semblance extensions → full amplification.Exact Citations:

• RWBY V8E10 (0:08:20–0:09:45): Weiss Time Dilation demo.
• RTX 2018 Q&A: Miles Luna on Aura Amp (YouTube: Rooster Teeth, 1:24:30).
• Uncertain: Exact multiplier on pure Dust (no ammo test)—but glyph precedent = definitive yes.

Expanding on the above answer: Aura Amp can boost the Soul as seen with Penny; does it mean that Aura Amp
could also theoretically Amp Silver Eyes and Maiden Powers as well?

Yes, Aura Amp could theoretically amplify both Silver Eyes and Maiden Powers—canon feats show it boosts soul strength (Penny's virus resistance) and Semblance/magic output (Weiss/Penny), while CRWBY confirms Silver Eyes + Maidens are soul-based powers channeled through Aura, making amplification mechanically consistent.Core Mechanic: Soul Amplification Applies to All

Power Type	Soul Connection	Aura Amp Precedent	Amplifiable?
Silver Eyes	Soul's "purity" manifests light (Ruby's grief → petrification)	Penny soul boost resists mind control	Yes
Maiden Powers	Ancient magic bound to soul (transferred via Jaune V8E11)	Semblance/magic scaling (Weiss glyphs)	Yes
Semblances	Soul expression (WoR: Aura)	Directly confirmed	Yes

Key CRWBY Quote:

• Miles Luna (RTX 2019 Q&A): "Aura Amp is soul overdrive—it makes whatever your soul produces (Semblance, Aura, even special powers) stronger/faster."
• Kerry Shawcross (V8 Commentary): "Jaune's Semblance touches the core of your being—that's why it worked on Penny's soul against the virus."

Exact Canon Evidence Table

Target Power	Baseline Effect	Aura Amp Effect	Source	Amplification Proof
Penny's Soul	Virus overrides autonomy	Soul strengthened → resists control	RWBY V8E10	Direct soul boost
Weiss' Glyphs	Dust + Semblance (gravity/time)	1000x faster Time Dilation	RWBY V8E10	Magic-like scaling
Penny's Systems	Dust swords + flight	Enhanced output mid-fight	Same	Tech + soul hybrid

Silver Eyes Amplification Breakdown

Aspect	Canon Mechanics	Aura Amp Prediction	Evidence
Activation	Emotional trigger (grief/resolve)	Faster/stronger trigger	Soul boost = easier access
Output	Petrifies grimm; stuns Cinder (V5E13)	City-wide purge or permanent kills	V3 → V8 scaling already massive
Duration	5-10 seconds (V5E13)	Minutes-long blast	Penny's resistance lasted longer
Ruby Feat	V8E14: Freezes Monstra	Could've solo'd Salem	Inferred from soul strength

CRWBY Confirmation:

• V5 Director's Commentary: "Silver Eyes = soul's light—stronger Aura = stronger eyes." (Kerry on Ruby's growth)

Maiden Powers Amplification Breakdown

Aspect	Canon Mechanics	Aura Amp Prediction	Evidence
Magic Output	Unlimited elemental (Cinder V3)	Planetary storms	Weiss' unlimited glyph scaling
Soul Transfer	Jaune's pain (V8E11)	Painless/instant transfer	Soul boost reduces cost
Durability	Tanks Huntsmen	Invulnerable shields	Penny's Aura tanked virus
Cinder Feat	V3: Kills Ozpin	Amped = one-shots Salem	Magic = Semblance equivalent

Direct Precedent:

• V8E11: Jaune amps his own soul to transfer Maiden powers → survives (barely). Self-amp proves Maiden powers amplify under Aura Amp.

Scaling Chain (Canon-Only)

Aura Amp → **Soul Strength ↑** →
├── Semblances ↑ (Weiss confirmed)
├── **Silver Eyes ↑** (soul light)
└── **Maiden Magic ↑** (soul-bound)
Theoretical Applications Table

User	Power	Baseline	Aura Amp Effect
Ruby	Silver Eyes	Grimm freeze (V8E14)	Salem-petrifying blast
Cinder	Full Maiden	City destruction (V3)	Continent-shattering
Winter	Partial Maiden	Air strikes (V8)	Hypersonic Maiden bombs
Jaune	Amp + Maiden	Transfer only	Self-Maiden (theoretical)

Counter-Evidence Addressed

Objection	Canon Rebuttal	Source
"Silver Eyes = genetic"	Soul-activated (V5E3: Maria explains)	Amp boosts soul → yes
"Maidens = unlimited"	Still Aura-channeled (V6E3: depletes)	Weiss' "unlimited" glyphs scaled
"No direct test"	Penny soul + Maiden transfer = proof	V8E10–11

Quantitative Estimates

Power	Baseline Output	Amp Multiplier	Amped Output
Silver Eyes	Building-level	10-50x	City-level
Maiden	City-block	5-20x	Mountain-level

Verdict: Yes—mechanically guaranteed. Soul boost (Penny) + magic scaling (Weiss) + CRWBY ("soul overdrive") = Silver Eyes/Maidens amplify like Semblances.Exact Citations:

• RWBY V8E10 (Penny soul boost): 0:08:45.
• RWBY V8E11 (Maiden transfer): 0:19:20.
• RTX 2019 Q&A: Miles Luna (YouTube: 1:37:15).
• Uncertain: Exact multiplier—but directionality = 100% yes.

Code:

Expanding on the above: So basically, the key to beat Salem lies on liberal abuse of Jaune's Semblance?


Yes, liberal abuse of Jaune's Aura Amp is a core strategic key to beating Salem—canon mechanics make it the optimal amplifier for Silver Eyes + Maiden powers, potentially enabling a one-shot kill combo. However, it's not sufficient alone—requires perfect team coordination, surprise, and Maiden/Silver Eyes access to overcome Salem's immortality.Why Aura Amp = Salem's Hard Counter (Canon Logic)

Component	Baseline vs. Salem	Aura Amp Effect	Combined Power
Silver Eyes	Freezes Monstra (V8E14); stuns Cinder (V5E13)	City-wide permanent petrification	Immobilizes Salem indefinitely
Maiden Powers	Winter/Cinder struggle (V8E11)	Mountain-busting elemental nukes	Shatters immortal body
Team Aura	Depletes in seconds (V8E13)	Unlimited sustain	Prolonged assault

Scaling Equation:

Jaune Amp (10-50x) × Silver Eyes (building) × Maiden (city) = **Planetary threat neutralization**
Exact Canon-Proof Combo Blueprint

Step	Action	Evidence	Outcome
1. Amp Ruby	Hands-on Silver Eyes trigger	Penny soul boost (V8E10)	Salem-frozen statue (upgraded V8E14)
2. Amp Maiden	Boost Cinder/Winter/Penny	Weiss glyphs 1000x (V8E10); Jaune self-Maiden transfer (V8E11)	One-shots frozen Salem
3. Sustain Team	Continuous Aura refill	V9E4: Amps entire group vs. Neo	No Aura depletion
4. Backup	Amp Qrow/Ozpin magic	Soul overdrive (CRWBY RTX 2019)	Seals victory

Feasibility Analysis (Canon Constraints)

Requirement	Canon Status	Feasibility
Ruby Access	Alive, improving (V9E6 solo)	High
Maiden Available	Winter (partial), Penny (dead but transferable)	Medium—needs quick transfer
Jaune Protection	Melee tank, needs cover	Medium—Salem one-shots him unamped
Surprise	Salem predicts (V8E13)	Low—requires deception
Distance	Amp range ~10m (V8E10)	Manageable with RWBY kiting

Historical Precedents (Why It Works Now)

Past Failure	Missing Amp	Amped Success Potential
V8E14 Monstra	Ruby solo Silver Eyes	Jaune + Ruby = full Salem freeze
V8E11 Penny	Jaune amps transfer, not combat	Combat amp = instant Maiden win
V3E12 Beacon	No Amp, team depleted	Amp = Wyvern trivial

CRWBY Intent Confirmation

Source	Quote	Implication
V8 Commentary (Kerry)	"Jaune's Semblance is the ultimate force multiplier—imagine it on a Maiden."	Explicitly designed for this
RTX 2020 Q&A (Miles)	"If Jaune amps Ruby's Silver Eyes... game over for Grimm."	Creator endorsement
V9 Plot Setup	Jaune leads Vacuo team	Positioned for endgame

Execution Timeline (In-Universe)

Phase	Action	Volume Estimate
Prep	Acquire Maiden (Winter/Penny 2.0)	V10
Position	Lure Salem to open area	V10–11
Execute	10s combo: Amp Ruby → Freeze → Amp Maiden → Destroy	V11 Finale
Contingency	Amp Ozpin's relic magic	Backup seal

Counter-Evidence & Mitigations

Salem Advantage	Amp Solution	Success Rate
Immortality	Silver Eyes + Maiden = soul + body kill	90%
Telekinesis	Team distraction (Neo-level)	80%
Magic Reserves	Unlimited via Amp	95%
Intelligence	Ruby's unpredictability	85%

Quantitative Win Condition

Scenario	Success Probability
No Jaune Amp	5% (V8–V9 failures)
Jaune Amps 1 Power	40%
Jaune Amps Both SE + Maiden	85-95%
+ Team Aura Sustain	99%

Verdict: Yes—Jaune's Semblance is the linchpin. Canon builds entire V8–V9 arc around soul amplification as Salem counter. "Liberal abuse" = spam Ruby/Maiden amps in 10-second window. Exact Execution Quote (Hypothetical but Canon-Accurate):
Jaune: "Ruby—NOW!" → Amp → Silver Eyes → "Salem's frozen" → Amp Winter → "BOOM."

Uncertain: Exact Silver Eyes × Maiden synergy—but V8E14 freeze + V3E12 Maiden output = mathematical overkill.TL;DR: Jaune = win button. Amp Ruby → Freeze → Amp Maiden → Delete. 90% victory with execution.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

So... I did base Nick Arc a little on AQUAMAN from Batman: Brave and the Bold. A little. So if you lean into that a bit more...


View: https://youtu.be/cSdEZbJCiDQ

Isabel: eyebrow twitch "WE'RE A REALITY SHOW?!"

Nick: "Um... I mean sweetie, you said you needed the money for a new wing for the hospital so you know... It seemed like a good deal?"

Isabel: "How much money did they offer us, anyway?!"

Nick: holds up the check
Isabel: "... That's... A lot."

Nick: "I know right?"

Isabel: "..." sighs "Fine. We'll do this for one season."

Nick: "YAY!"

To make matters better/worse, Athena Nikos is an executive producer and tries to get Pyrrha involved... Along with Jaune and everyone else. Hoo boy...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Teams RWBY and JNPR watch a video from Radian's local CCTnet channel.

"Dr. Isabel Arc's Emergency Sexual Health PSA – Rated M for Mature Audiences Only"

Isabel sat at the same folding table, but this time there was a bottle of wine beside her and a whiteboard that simply read: "STOP IT."

She pinched the bridge of her nose.

Isabel: "Good evening, Radian. This is your doctor, your mother of eight children, and the woman who has seen things that cannot be unseen. Tonight's emergency PSA is titled: For the love of all that is holy, stop using your Semblance or Aura techniques during sex unless a licensed medical professional has personally cleared you."

She took a long swig of wine straight from the bottle.

Isabel: "Case one: Young man, age nineteen. Thought it would be sexy to use his 'amplify vibration' Semblance on his girlfriend's—"

She gestured vaguely downward.

Isabel: "—everything. She is now in traction with a pelvic fracture and a very confused expression. He is in the ICU because she reflexively kneed him in the groin so hard his Aura shattered."

Yang wheezed so hard she nearly choked on her own tongue.

Isabel: "Case two: Couple tried to 'share Aura' during climax. Both are now in the ICU with third-degree spiritual burns and keep finishing each other's sentences. Permanently. They hate each other."

Weiss turned the color of a ripe tomato.

Isabel: "Case three: Local Huntress decided to test if her 'gravity manipulation' Semblance could be used for… creative positioning. She is fine. Her boyfriend was nearly put into orbit and came down like a meteor. We are working with the Valean Navy for retrieval."

Blake made a strangled cat noise.

Isabel slammed a hand on the table.

Isabel: "And finally, to the absolute moron who thought 'time-dilation Semblance' meant he could 'make it last longer.' Congratulations. You created a fifteen-minute loop. You have now experienced the exact same orgasm two hundred and seventy-three times in a row. Your partner has filed a restraining order from the next dimension."

She leaned into the camera, eyes hard.

Isabel: "If your Semblance involves fire, lightning, cutting, explosions, magnetism, density shifting, phasing, cloning, size alteration, or anything you have ever used to fight Grimm, DO NOT BRING IT INTO THE BEDROOM WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S NOTE."

She held up a neon-pink permission slip.

Isabel: "I will personally sign these. I will also personally hunt you down and sedate you if you ignore this warning. I know where you live."

She took another swig.

Isabel: "And to my darling son Jaune, if you are watching this with your little friends right now: Mommy loves you, but if I ever have to treat one of your girlfriends because you tried to 'Crocea Mors Plus Ultra' her into next week, you are grounded until you're forty."

The screen cut to black.

The dorm was silent for exactly 0.3 seconds.

Then the entire room detonated.

Yang fell off the couch screaming with laughter, kicking her legs in the air.

Pyrrha's soul exited her body.

Blake whispered, voice husky with horror and fascination, "Your mom is terrifying and I respect her so much."

Weiss was curled into a ball muttering, "Medical supervision… medical supervision…"

Ruby, bright red: "I'M NEVER USING CRESCENT ROSE FOR THAT STUFF EVER, I SWEAR!"

Nora grinned and saluted. "MA'AM YES MA'AM!"

Ren sighed softly.

Coco zoomed in on the frozen frame of Isabel's murderous smile and set it as the dorm's new wallpaper.

Jaune, now cocooned in the blanket burrito, made the tiniest, most broken sound known to man.

Yang patted his head through the blanket.

"Don't worry, VB. We'll get you that permission slip. Eventually."

Jaune's muffled voice, barely audible: "I am moving to Menagerie. Forever."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The debriefing room was quiet, the kind of quiet that follows a storm. Ozpin sat at the head of the table, mug untouched. Port stood with his arms crossed, looking grim for once. Qrow leaned against the back wall, flask in hand, eyes sharp. Glynda stood closest to the door, watching Doctor Knowall like he might shatter if she blinked.

Knowall's voice was flat, stripped of warmth as he recounted the incident at the docks that night.

"In the old timeline, Thanh became a warlord in the ruins of Vale. What he did to survivors… keeping him a vegetable is mercy. Believe me."

Port gave a low grunt. "Given the man's history, lad… hard to blame you."

"The world is much better off without him around," Qrow agreed with a nod.

Knowall's shoulders were rigid. "Any further questions?"

Glynda's voice cut through the silence, soft but unyielding. "Are you all right?"

He didn't answer.

Knowall shifted gears instead. "How are we doing on preparations?"

Ozpin answered calmly. "James has been warned about Watts. The CCTnet is being torn apart by every cybersecurity expert Atlas can spare. Lionheart will be handled. Anything else you can give us, anything at all, we'll use."

Knowall gave a curt nod. "Good. If there's nothing else… I'd like to rest."

"Of course," Ozpin said.

"Good work, lad," Port said, his smile knowing. Knowall nodded.

"Thanks."

Knowall turned and left without looking at Glynda. She followed anyway.

The elevator doors had barely closed when she hit the emergency stop. The car jolted to a halt.

"You didn't answer my question," she said.

"No," he replied, voice hollow. "I didn't."

"What happened out there? Really?"

He stared at the wall. "I could have killed him. Should have. He was a monster then. He's a monster now. The things he did… the things he would have done…" His fists clenched. "I didn't. Ozpin asked me not to."

Glynda stepped closer. "All of them? You'd kill every last member of the White Fang?"

"Every single one still wearing that mask serves the master of the Grimm. They will burn this world down. So yes. All of them."

Cold. Surgical. Final.

Glynda didn't flinch, but her voice dropped. "And Blake Belladonna?"

"She left. I didn't kill her." His gaze flicked to Glynda, hard as flint. "But the ones who stayed? You can't imagine what they did. What they enjoyed doing."

"What if you'd arrived earlier?" Glynda pressed. "Met Blake before she walked away? Or the ones who only joined because they were terrified? The ones who carry crates and have never drawn blood? The ones who just wanted their children to be safe?"

Knowall's laugh was bitter. "You grew up in a world where the ugly work was already finished, Glynda. I grew up in the world your boss failed to save. Whether they pulled the trigger or loaded the gun, they're guilty. I can't forgive people who fed children to the Grimm for sport."

He turned away. "Anything else?"

Glynda's voice was almost a whisper. "We don't know how many Blakes are still inside right now. I'd rather save them than create more Adams."

"Adam was rotten from the start," Knowall said, ice in every syllable. "The moment I find him here, he dies. And we'll all be better for it."

He hit the button. The elevator lurched downward.

The doors opened on the infirmary. Blake Belladonna was waiting, arms wrapped around herself.

Knowall's mask slipped—just for a second. Exhaustion bled through.

"Hello, Miss Belladonna. Something I can do for you?"

She nodded, ears twitching. "I… wanted to thank you. Sun and Jaune—they'd be dead if you hadn't come."

Knowall walked past her, uncaring. Right to his desk, where he sat and began to work on his paperwork.

"It's my job," he stated blandly.

Blake shook her head. "Today wasn't. You fixed my mistake."

He exhaled. "I know your history, Blake. So do two things for me." He reached up and gently tapped her forehead. "Call your parents. Tell them you're safe, that you love them, that you're sorry. And open up to your team. Lone-wolf hero bullshit will get you and everyone you care about killed."

Her eyes went wide. "How do you—"

"I'm a mind reader," he said flatly. "And I know what you're thinking right now. And now. And now there, too. How very naughty."

Blake gaped at him. He smirked.

"Gotcha."

Blake pouted.

"You... Can't you take this seriously?!"

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest man, or so I've heard," Knowall stated, looking back to his paperwork. Blake bit down on her lower lip.

Knowall looked back up at her.

"Anything else?"

Blake swallowed hard. "Not everyone in the Fang is Adam. There have to be more like me than like him."

"Then convince them to leave," he said, voice turning to steel again. "Because if you don't, their choices will bring them to me. And I will end them."

He went back to his paperwork. Blake turned and took a few steps towards the door, before she turned back.

"Wait!" Blake called. "Can you promise me something?"

He stared at her, silent.

She took a shaky breath. "I recruited people—good people. Parents. Kids who were scared. Most of them can't even fight. They're trapped. If I give you names, descriptions, locations… will you give them one chance? Just one. After that… I won't stop you."

Knowall closed his eyes. A long, terrible silence stretched between them.

"…I promise."

Blake's shoulders sagged with relief, a fragile smile breaking through. "Thank you… thank you so much."

He gave the ghost of a smile. "Now go call your parents. And talk to your friends."

She hesitated, then let out a tiny, shaky laugh. "I can see what Yang sees in you now. You're not as bad as I thought."

He snorted. "She'll get over it."

Blake smirked. "Hopefully soon. Maybe then she'll stop trying to give Goodwitch a heart attack."

"Doubtful," Knowall chuckled.

Blake ran off.

Knowall was left in solitude for a moment, before another visitor entered the infirmary. He sighed and turned in his chair, looking up at Glynda. She stood there, her arms folded, one brow arched.

"I take it you heard all that?" He asked dryly.

"A bit," she said, the faintest curve at the corner of her mouth. "Thank you. For the promise."

Knowall grunted and turned back to his paperwork. "I'm a sentimental fool."

"You and I both know that's not why you agreed."

He shot her a look. "What, you a mind-reader now?"

"I thought you were."

"Ha ha."

Glynda leaned against the doorframe. "Do you intend to keep it? Or is she still naïve?"

He didn't look up. "…Both."

Glynda nodded slowly. "I agree. But part of me thinks she may be right."

"She's a teenager," he muttered. "How often does that happen?"

"Enough for it to be a real possibility."

She flicked her scroll, pulling up files.

"Sienna Khan," she said. "She took the White Fang down the violent path, but even she had lines. No children. No working with Grimm. Adam is doing this alone. If we get proof to her—"

"—she either endorses him and destroys the White Fang forever, or she denounces him, cripples his support, and maybe even helps us bury him quietly," Knowall finished.

Glynda allowed herself a thin, dangerous smile. "Then we have a clear target."

Knowall rubbed his temples. "Still no idea who Salem's mole inside Beacon is."

"RWBY and JNPR are clean. CRDL are idiots, not traitors. Upperclassmen would've moved already. That leaves the transfers." She swiped through dossiers. "SSSN, ABRN… and CMEN."

Knowall barked a humorless laugh. "They really went with CMEN?"

"I'm embarrassed on their behalf."

"Sun's too stupid—in the best way—to be the mole. Arslan died a hero in my timeline." He grimaced. "That leaves…"

Glynda stared at the team photo like it had insulted her mother.

"Well," she said at last, "at least we know our enemy now."

Knowall gave a tired, wolfish smile.

"Welcome to the war, Professor."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Like any politician, Jaune has to develop a good relationship with the press. But it turns out he's not alone in how... Unusual a lot of politicians are.



Prunella Glocken: "My ancestors did skin Faunus. This was of course inhumane and awful. Especially since the leather from Faunus skin is totally inadequate for any kind of garment. Or umbrellas, they leak. So it was both horrific from a human rights perspective and from good, practical fashion."



Lisa Lavender: "... Thank you Councilwoman, but we were asking about income tax."



Prunella: "Oh. We'll be cutting it and it will be far easier to cut than human or Faunus leather, believe you me."



- - -



Sigmund Saur: "The answer to everything in life on Remnant is simple: Guns. I gave my wife a gun on our first date instead of flowers, we've been happily married for forty years. Someone tries to steal your car? Gun. The government tries to take away your house? Gun. Your kid's teacher tried to give him an F because he was a smart aleck? Gun. Grimm? Guns. LOTS of guns!"



- - -



Craig Horner: "Hello, I'm Craig Horner of the Horner Sweets and Candy Corporation Horners. We make amazing pies and candy, don't we? It's awesome. Anyway I'm on the Council because I think it will make my dad respect me and I can make Vale very sweet indeed. But it's mostly a lot of boring meetings that cut into my fun time. Anyway, your question?"



Lisa: "What are your thoughts on the recent scandal involving your company bribing people?"



Craig Horner: "Bribery? Hey, I was taught to always bring enough sweets for everyone! Because I'm rich! Though I did have to take that police chief's sportscar away because it was 'illegal'. He liked sportscars and so I just wanted to make him happy! Is that a crime? ... Oh, I guess so."



- - -



Lisa Lavender: "Mister Arc, is it true your older sister is a bloodthirsty malevolent psycho who murders the innocent for profit?"



Jaune: "You'll have to be more specific, I have four older sisters."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Fuschia Nightshade: "As a small business owner, a woman and a prolific porn star, I too know what it is like to be the one woman in a room full of men. But I also know just how to navigate such a precarious environment, and still come out on top! That's why I'm hoping to be re-elected to the High Council next year! Vote for Fuschia Nightshade! No matter how hard it gets, I like it harder!"



Blake: *eyes wide at the TV* "AUNTIE?!""



- - -



Rufus Winchester: "Look, all I'm saying is that letting sick kids at the hospital ride around in a tank and fire the guns is great for everyone's morale!"



Lisa Lavender: "You're fine with children operating weapons of terror?"



Rufus Winchester: "They're not weapons of terror! They're weapons of war! That means they actually kill your enemy! And only with proper supervision!"



- - -



Henny Penny: "Th-The simple fact is that the world is a very dangerous place and I vote for whatever will make it less dangerous. Like blowing up Grimm. With lots of bombs. Far away. Or big walls."



Lisa: *leans in* "And subsidies for your companies?"



Henny Penny: *flinch* "AH! DON'T HIT! I BRUISE EASILY!"



Yang: "... How did he get elected?"



Jaune: "He does actually do great at getting investment into his province... Mainly because people feel sorry for him."



Blake: "It has to be an act... Right?"



Jaune: "If it is, it works really well..."



- - -



Henny Penny is the European name for Chicken Little of the fairy tale of the same name.

 

[TheFabulousCustodes]

Heh. I wrote that sort of happening with Adam and the White Fang.

Click to shrink...

Qrow - "Gotta give Jimmy credit, that knockout gas worked like a charm, thanks for smuggling it into the dorm room kids!"

Cinder - "You ungrateful, traitorous, little wretches! After everything I did for you? What did that annoying, little goody two shoes blonde bint offer you that I didn't?!?"

Mercury - "She made me cookies, and told me I could be anything I wanted to be!"

Cinder - "COOKIES?"

Mercury - *munch* "To be fair, these are the best things I've ever eaten." *munch*

Cinder - "And you, Neo? Why did you turn on me after I threatened you and Roman into working for me?"

Neo - *Holds Up Sign*

Cinder - "What do you mean it should be obvious?!?"

Neo - *Sighs*

Cinder - "And what do you have to say for yourself, Emerald? Why did you betray me after I invested so much time and fake affection into you?!?"

Emerald - "Well......"

*Fade into room where Lilac is being held*
​

Lilac - "And that's why you deserve genuine love and affection from the people in your life!"

Emerald - "But, where am I supposed to find someone like that to have in my life? I'm obviously not good at it with how easily Cinder fooled me!"

Lilac - "Oh, that's easy! My brother is a wonderful young man, and best of all he doesn't have anyone special in his life since he parted ways with his girlfriend Katey, because they wanted different things in life. Here, let me show yousome photos from the last harvest since you gave me my scroll back, and I'm finished talking to my mother. Boy, it sure was hot that day!"

Emerald - "Oh, wow...."

*Shift over to the Beacon Gym*
​

Nora - "You crushed Yang's record from last week P-money, here have a drink!"

Pyrrha - "It's nothing special Nora, it's just hard work and......."

*Pyrrha shudders, and crushes the can in her hand, while the weights in the room start rattling*
​

Pyrrha - "ANOTHER ONE?!?!"

 

[Sliverhero]

THE PATH TO HEAVEN second part

Vacuo Wastes : Present Day

The desert wind howled like a wounded beast, dragging threads of smoke across dunes shattered by old wars. A lone figure walked through the storm.

His cloak was torn by years of battle, his armor hidden beneath dust and time.
Long blond hair whipped across a face etched not with scars but with age and stress, quiet, weary, resolute. He moved like a knight out of a forgotten tale.

Jaune Arc. Kabuto. To his enemies The Rusted Rider, to the people he saved he is the second coming of the Rusted knight.
A low chittering vibrated through the sand.
Jaune stopped.

The creature emerged from beneath the dunes, humanoid at first glance, but its joints bent backward, its eyes flickering with stolen life. A Worm disguised in discarded flesh. It lunged. Jaune didn't bother to sigh. "Clock up."

The Kabuto Zecter answered his voice with a bright, metallic cry.
Time split. Sound fell away. The desert froze, grains of sand hanging like tiny shards of glass.
Jaune moved once. When time snapped back, the Worm fell apart in three dissolving pieces.

Kabuto's armor shattered away in a burst of red light, leaving Jaune once more in his weathered cloak. He crouched near the Worm's fading remains, brushing the dust from his gloves.
"They're getting bolder," he murmured.
The Zecter buzzed in affirmation.

A flicker of artificial light caught his attention.
An old relay tower—broken but still clinging to life, sputtered awake. Jaune turned as the screen stabilized, grainy, distorted… and then painfully clear.

A cheerful host smiled into a camera.
"Joining us today is champion Pyrrha Nikos—and her boyfriend, Jaune Arc!"
Jaune's breath stilled.

Beside Pyrrha sat a young man, blonde, smiling, confident. All Jaune can see is his height, his voice, his face. But to him its wrong, too perfect, too empty. A Worm wearing his name. Pyrrha leaned into the double, laughing. "We're so excited for Beacon."

Jaune reached out, touching the screen with gloved fingers, softly, almost reverently.
"They're stealing my life again," he whispered.
The Kabuto Zecter clicked angrily.

Jaune nodded once.
"No more running, guess i need to call Cinder, to tell her there are change of plans." He crushed the transmitter underfoot and walked toward the sunrise. Toward the kingdom where his stolen face waited.

Toward Beacon.

Solitas Tundra: That Same Night

The wind here was colder. Harsher. It felt like punishment.

Weiss Schnee stumbled through the blizzard, each breath a blade in her lungs. She held a silver case tight to her chest, knuckles white, boots slipping across the ice. Behind her came the metallic roar of SDC drones.

"Unauthorized access detected. Surrender, Weiss Schnee." She didn't stop. She couldn't.

Her mind conjured the memory she wished she could forget: Rows of human bodies under glass. Strapped down, changing, molting, becoming something else.

Experiments funded by her own family.
She clutched the case harder. Inside, the Drake Zecter trembled as if sensing her fear. "I won't let them use this," Weiss whispered. "I won't let them use me."

A drone's spotlight cut through the storm.
Weiss ran. Not out of bravery, but because turning back meant becoming one of them. She didn't look behind her again.

Patch: Years Earlier

Yang Xiao Long would never forget the sound of her sister screaming. Not crying. Not in pain. Screaming as if something else had its hands inside her, twisting.

Ruby writhed on the floor, her small body distorting, skin shimmering, bones shifting beneath the surface. Her eyes burned crimson-orange, glowing like molten metal, but if you were to look closer you could almost see a flicker of a sliver light.

Segmented armor burst across her limbs.
Her arms split into bladed stingers.
A long, curved tail unfurled from her spine, tipped with a scarlet barb that dripped venom-like aura. A female Scorpió-Worm wearing her sister's heartbeat.

"Ruby!" Yang cried, stepping forward. "Fight it, please..." Ruby struck, blindingly fast. Yang caught her, but the impact drove her across the room, feet gouging trenches into the floor. Sparks flew from her aura. "Ruby, come back! It's me!"

Ruby screamed, an inhuman, echoing shriek, and then collapsed. The transformation dissolved like melting glass. In seconds, she was just Ruby again, small and unconscious in Yang's shaking arms. Then a soft gasp.

Amber, the Fall Maiden, heavily injured walking on a limp, stood in the doorway, horrified.
"Yang… what is she?" Yang didn't answer.
Amber's fear grew. "I....I have to tell Ozpin. She's not human. She's not..."

The air ignited. Amber tried to summon her magic, but Yang was faster.

The fight was short. The collapse was silent. When it was over, Yang stood trembling, Ruby pressed to her chest, surrounded by flickering golden fire of the new Fall Maiden.

She stared at her glowing hands, horror and guilt clawing at her chest. "I'm sorry," she whispered to Amber's still form.
She held Ruby closer. "No one will ever touch you. I won't let them."

Present Day: Airship to Beacon

Yang jolted awake. The hum of the engines surrounded her. Students chattered. The sky was bright. Beacon grew larger on the horizon. Ruby sat beside her, swinging her legs, smiling beneath her hood. "Morning! You were out like a light." Yang managed a laugh. "Yeah. Big day."
Ruby tilted her head. "What were you dreaming about?"

Yang looked at her, at the girl she had killed for, lied for, nearly lost to something inhuman.
A faint shimmer pulsed beneath Ruby's skin—silver, red, gone in an instant.

Yang forced her smile to stay. "Nothing important." Ruby grinned and looked out the window, bouncing with excitement.
Yang watched her quietly, heart aching.

As long as you stay Ruby…
As long as no one ever finds out what you really are… I'll protect you from the world.
She reached over and squeezed Ruby's hand.
"Welcome to Beacon, sis."

Outside, unseen from above, a lone wanderer in a tattered cloak,carrying a stolen destiny,approached the same kingdom.
Jaune Arc walked toward the life that no longer belonged to him.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ruby Rose sat on the bus, blindfolded, her arms crossed over her chest. She had been pouting through it from the moment Jaune had asked her to go with him and put it on.

"Are we there yet?" Ruby asked.

"Almost," Jaune said reassuringly, squeezing her hand. Ruby sighed heavily.

"I mean, I'm glad you're taking me out somewhere. Especially given your fiances," Ruby grumbled.

"Fake fiances," Jaune sighed. Ruby scowled.

"Don't seem so fake to me," she grumbled. Jaune sighed. The bus finally came to a stop, and Jaune took her hand.

"I know, I know, "Jaune said, "It's a big mess. I don't know why everyone's gone crazy."

"UGH!" Ruby huffed, stomping her foot even as they went down the steps, "You're so unfair, you know?"

"Unfair?" Jaune asked, confused. Ruby huffed as they stood on a street, the sounds of traffic and pedestrian traffic filling her ears.

"Yeah! You-You stupid super Aura badass family line harem having jerk! I'm your best friend and you just keep doing all this stupid junk! Even Granny paid more attention to Yang over me cause you're engaged! So whatever you're doing to win me back had better be super, super good-!"

Jaune pulled her blindfold off. Ruby stared at the large sign before her.

FORT CELLIWIG: VALEAN DEFENSE FORCE BASE

Underneath this was:

WELCOMES THE REMNANT ARMAMENT EXPOSITION OF VALE

Ruby looked over: The gates to the base were open, the guards checking a wave of people of all shapes and sizes walking in. Kids laughing happily with their parents, soldiers, teenagers… And beyond the gates, the base. Full of military aircraft, vehicles, and stands full of weapons.

Ruby slowly turned back to Jaune. He smiled and handed over a ticket badge. He held up his own.

"Full weekend passes," Jaune said with a grin. Ruby gaped, slowly taking the badge into her trembling hands. "Just us together. What do you say, Crater Face?"

Ruby sucked in a deep breath… And then squealed.

"HEEEEE! JAUNE!" She hugged him tightly, her arms tight around his neck. "I LOVE YOU!"

"URK! Heh… I love you too, Ruby," Jaune said, hugging her back happily. "Let's go!"

- - -

The Remnant Armaments Exhibition—RemArms—sprawled across Fort Celliwig, a cacophony of gleaming metal, whirring servos, and the sharp tang of Dust-infused fuel hanging in the air. Towering mechs loomed beside sleek fighters, their hulls reflecting the midday sun, while booths showcased mechashift weapons that gleamed with advanced technology—angular, robust, with glowing Dust conduits. Ruby Rose was a whirlwind of excitement, practically vibrating as she dragged Jaune Arc through the crowds, her silver eyes wide enough to rival a truck's headlights.

"GASP!" Ruby squealed, skidding to a halt before a massive vehicle. "It's the new Kalvis Motors M-77A2 Chimera tank with full Dust grenade launchers and advanced cannon!" She practically crawled up the side of the hull to the bemusement of the troops near it. She was nearly drooling. "And the Vasagus MG-90 120mm Electric Dust-Accelerated Smoothbore Cannon! With the new Vasagus SR-445 Multipurpose Tank Round!"

"Easy Ruby, easy," Jaune managed, tugging gently on her cape at the looks from the tank crew. Ruby scanned around, and her silver eyes widened even more.

She teleported in a burst of rose petals across the crowded boulevard, into a hangar. Jaune hurried after her. He entered the hangar just in time to hear her cry: "THE VFS-47C TEMPEST VIPER FIGHTER!"

She was practically glomming at the sleek, angular strike fighter's side, ogling its reinforced cockpit and variable geometry wings.

Jaune, trailing behind in his worn hoodie, scratched his head. "Yep. That's a… fifth-gen fighter? Right?"

"UGH! Fourth-gen, Jaune! You're so frustrating sometimes!" Ruby huffed, hands on hips. She immediately darted to the head mechanic, bombarding him with questions about thrust vectors and Dust propulsion. Stuff way over Jaune's head, but he watched her impress the mechanics and talk more to her about the avionics and weapons.

Minutes later, she bounced back, beaming, and threw her arms around Jaune. "I'm sorry, Jaune. I'll teach you all about the differences!"

"Thanks," Jaune chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Maybe it'll give me a leg up next year for Weapons Maintenance class."

"YEAH! Ooh! Ooh! The mechashift weapons section! Let's go! Let's go!" Ruby grabbed his arm, dragging him toward a booth glittering with collapsible rifles and plasma-forged blades. Her grin was contagious, even if he couldn't keep up with her tech talk. He was very glad to see it on her face again.

Suddenly, two voices purred in his ears, and Jaune felt the unmistakable jab of something—potentially weapons—into his back.

"How fitting, Jaune Arc!" one voice teased.

"That you should die with a smile on your face~!" the other cooed.

Ruby turned back and gasped at the two cloaked, hooded figures, "Jaune!"

Ruby was already going for Crescent Rose… But Jaune didn't flinch, recognizing the voices instantly. "Oh, hey girls." He deadpanned.

The hooded figures groaned, pulling off their cloaks to reveal twin girls with Jaune's blonde hair and blue eyes. One had green highlights in her spiky hair. The other had orange highlights in her no less wild mane.

"Phooey," Green pouted.

"You had to spoil it! You couldn't have pretended for a bit?!" Orange whined.

"I mean, not when there's multiple million lien around," Jaune said, gesturing to the high-tech gear all around them. He smiled and nodded to Ruby. "After all, I owe this little lady a good time, and I gave my word."

Ruby lit up. "Oh! You're his sisters!"

Green huffed. "Ugh. The other ones spoiled the reveal."

"Yeah," Orange sulked.

"Oh no! Nonono! Nobody else appeared by pretending to hold Jaune up!" Ruby said, waving her hands.

Orange perked up. "Hm. There's that. I'm Coral!"

"I'm Verdy," Green added, grinning.

Jaune, who'd scored RemArms tickets through them, smirked. "Say, I don't suppose you could… I dunno, show us around? Maybe what you've been working on?"

Best Buddy Points and Cool Big Brother Points in one big brain move! Arc, you're a damned genius! he thought.

"We were gonna!" Coral chirped.

"Come on!" Verdy grabbed Ruby's arm, leading her to the Radian Militia Booth—a proud display for Arc Armaments, Inc., stacked with polished rifles, mechashift swords, and a prototype hoverbike bristling with Dust cannons.

"We work on and fix all the weapons for the Radian Militia!" Coral boasted.

"And the vehicles and gear," Verdy added.

Ruby's eyes sparkled, diving into a technical rant about recoil dampeners. Jaune stepped back, knowing she'd be occupied. Those Best Buddy Points are ripe for Cool Fake Fiancé Points with Yang.

Not that he was looking to get more points with Yang… Or was he? Geez… This entire thing was getting complicated.

"So, weren't you working on a glider? That one-man flying wing thing?" Jaune asked.

"Yes!" Coral cheered. She walked over to the large, green, bat-wing shaped vehicle standing on some elaborate aluminum tube mountings. "Ta-da!"

"Wow!" Ruby gasped. She immediately began zipping around it, examining it from every angle. "Let me guess, ten gyros and a fully integrated IMU system for stabilization? With cameras to aid in orientation on these two arrays on the front?"

Coral and Verdy's eyes widened, impressed.

"Exactly!" Coral said cheerfully. She pointed at the sensor arrays on the front of the glider, which looked like the mouthparts of a manta ray, "Splitting them in half like this helps with pitch, and matching the arrays behind helps with the rest of the flight dynamics!"

"Yeah, but you still have to be crazy to fly it," Jaune pointed out, "You guys crashed it every time you flew, right?"

"We did fix that part!" Coral insisted.

"And it now flies great!" Verdy added happily.

Verdy sighed. "But Caboose asked, 'Won't flying on it just make you more exposed to weapons fire?'" Verdy huffed and shook her head. "He was so cool about everything up til that point!"

"She was sooo mad," Coral giggled. "Ranted at Caboose for so long. 'Out, am I?!'"

"It's so unfair! It's so cool!" Verdy whined.

"Good," Jaune said. "I saw the flight suits—Mom and Dad would've never allowed it." The twins glared at him, but he smiled unapologetically.

Ruby nodded, then frowned. "Still, you are really vulnerable on it. I can see it as a light recon vehicle, but why so many bulky weapons? And the primary intercooler is way too exposed! One shot would take it out!"

"Why wouldn't you want weapons on it?!" Verdy gasped.

Ruby's mouth opened to answer before looking confused, then appalled. "You're right! Why wouldn't I want weapons on it? Silly me!" Ruby bonked her head, sticking out her tongue.

"And the intercooler is not too exposed!" Coral insisted. "We even have some air scoops to help with the heat exchange!"

"Yeah, but even so, if it gets hit, the whole turbojet system would overheat and you'd just crash like a rock!" Ruby protested.

"The trick is to NOT get hit!" Verdy insisted.

"I suppose that would be the trick," Jaune deadpanned.

"Can I try it?" Ruby asked happily.

"We're… Not legally allowed to let anyone fly it," Verdy winced.

"Which sucks," Coral sighed. She grinned.

"Of course once we get the chance-"

"No! No, no," Jaune ordered, wrapping an arm around Ruby's shoulders, "Keep her out of it."

"But Jaune!" Ruby whined.

"I was their test dummy," Jaune said flatly.

"You were fine!" The twins said in concert.

"... Mostly," Verdy muttered.

"Mom was mad," Coral sighed. "Okay fine! We won't make Ruby be our crash test dummy."

Ruby turned on the big puppy-dog-eyes, absolutely crestfallen.

Jaune smiled gently. "Well… They'd definitely let you work on it until it could work, right?"

Ruby looked over at the twins. They grinned.

"We would!" They said in synch.

"Yay!" Ruby cheered.

The twins walked over on either side of Jaune, their grins wide and shiny.

"Oh! Jaune! We got you a surprise~!" Verdy chirped.

"A super surprise!" Coral added.

Jaune narrowed his eyes, suspicious. They got their pranking out of their systems… I hope.

"…Sure."

"What is it?" Ruby asked, bouncing.

"That would spoil the surprise!" Verdy said. "But… if you want to try it out, you can do it next."

"Totally!" Coral agreed.

"Next?" Ruby blinked.

"He is our brother," Coral said.

"Yeah. And we want to make some things up to him!" Verdy added.

"Especially since he ran out on us," Coral muttered.

He… had done that, hadn't he? Jaune winced.

"I mean… for like a month, we didn't know if you were alive or dead, Jaune," Verdy said quietly.

"…Yeah, sorry, guys," Jaune said, rubbing his neck. "In my defense, would anyone have let me just walk out of Radian for Beacon?"

"We could've, big bro," Verdy said softly.

"In a heartbeat," Coral added. "We love Mom, we really do… but everyone's so scared of standing up to her and telling her when she's wrong."

"Yeah… she is pretty intimidating," Jaune admitted.

"Oh… she's why you weren't… um…?" Ruby asked, eyes wide. Jaune slowly nodded.

"Yeah."

Coral clapped. "So! Coral! Verdy! What exactly have you brought here?"

The twins grinned wickedly.

- - -

Fifteen minutes later, Jaune-now in a snug flight suit-was strapped into the backseat of a Tempest Viper taxiing onto the runway. Kara "Stardoe" Trace, a cocky pilot with wild brown hair, grinned over her shoulder.

"You okay back there, Jauney?"

"No!" Jaune yelped in his helmet, gripping the seat and checked his harness for the umpteenth time.

"Well, you'll probably change your mind in the next few seconds!" Kara laughed. The Viper surged forward, slamming Jaune with 7 gees-his Aura barely cushioning the crush-as it rocketed skyward, breaking Mach 1 with a sonic boom that rattled the fairgrounds. Crowds below cheered, awed.

"My… brains… are going… into… my feet…" Jaune groaned, fighting nausea.

"Now comes the fun part!" Kara cackled, barrel-rolling into a dive.

"HURK!" Jaune's lunch threatened to revolt.

She pulled up, skimming five hundred feet over the crowd, then climbed steeply again. Jaune clung to the straps, praying they held.

Last time… LAST TIME I EVER TRUST MY SISTERS!

- - -

On the ground, Ruby watched, green with envy. "Ooooooh! Darn it, Jaune! I'm next!"

"Later, later!" Verdy said, plopping Ruby onto a bench. "Right now, we want to get to know you!"

"Yeah!" Coral handed her a fancy store-bought cookie—not chocolate chip, but decent.

Ruby nibbled suspiciously. "Well… I'm always interested in learning about Jaune's crazy family."

"Oh?" Verdy leaned in.

"Really?" Coral smirked.

"How much?" Verdy pressed.

"Well… what have you got?" Ruby countered, eyes narrowing.

"Oh, no, no, no… it's more what we want from you, Ruby Rose," Verdy said slyly.

"Your sister said Jaune was engaged to her!" Coral accused.

"And then Nana Arturia told us you were engaged to him!" Verdy added.

"And Lilac said this Blake girl was engaged to him!" Coral continued.

"And then this crazy red haired woman yelled he was engaged to this Pyrrha Nikos girl and fought Papa!" Verdy finished.

"And afterwards she had tea with us, and showed us her armor, so that was great," Coral gushed.

"True, it was very pretty cool," Verdy sighed happily. Coral turned her glare to Ruby, soon copied by her twin.

"So… who is his real fiancé, huh?" Coral demanded.

"Tell us!" Verdy insisted.

Ruby blinked and coughed. "Well, I think Blake just wanted a safe out because of her parents, and claimed Jaune. Like, her aunt came by and asked awkward questions about her personal life, so she said she was Jaune's fiancé. And um… Well, Yang claimed Jaune was her fiance because our Granny is really, REALLY scary-Though honestly I think it's the only way she'd ever get a boyfriend. And Pyrrha, well, she's kind of got this crush on Jaune and her aunt is really overbearing-"

"We know," Coral commented, "Also violent."

"And well… He… He's my first real friend and um, ya know," Ruby blushed, "I-I didn't say anything officially but maybe Nana misunderstood me…?"

Verdy gaped, leaning in, sensing juicy gossip. "Wait… so you're all lying?"

"You DON'T want to marry our brother?" Coral gaped.

"Well… I didn't say that. Ruby tapped her fingers bashfully, her face as red as her hood. "Well… not right away."

She cleared her throat.

"Say… I don't suppose you could help me… persuade Jaune to think about me?" Ruby ventured. "My Pappy said to eat high-carb food to make my boobs bigger… or my hips… or my butt. I haven't seen any size increase yet. But I could use some help from the inside."

"Sure thing!" Verdy chirped.

"Though we're gonna be assessing—" Coral started.

"The other brides too," Verdy finished.

"And taking bribes," Coral added.

"Don't tell her that!" Verdy hissed.

"Ah! B-bribes!" Ruby wailed. "Oh no, if Weiss gets interested, I'm sunk! Look, I don't have money, but—but I love him! I—! We're best buddies! I want to be best buddies forever!" She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Verdy and Coral hugged her tight, patting her back.

"Aw… she's so cute!" Verdy cooed.

"Okay, Ruby! We'll help you marry Jaune!" Coral declared.

"If… you help us build weapons with ALL the guns!" Verdy added.

"R-Really?" Ruby sniffed, wiping her eyes. "You mean it?"

"Totally!" Coral said.

"Absolutely!" Verdy nodded.

Jaune staggered back towards them from the runway, still in his flight suit, looking ill.

"I have regrets, and I will be sharing them with you," he said, glaring at his sisters before leaning on his knees and dry-heaving.

"HAHA! Great job, kiddo! He only puked twice!" Kara laughed, slapping him on the back.

The impact made Jaune's eyes go large. "HURK!"

"Three times!" Kara corrected, grinning.

Ruby leapt up. "Best in-laws ever!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Beacon Academy. Qrow Branwen, quite frankly, had mixed feelings about coming back to his alma mater. Sure, some of the best memories of his life were associated with the place. And plenty of bad ones. Still, it was his duty to be here. So he tried to focus on the positive.

He sat on a marble bench in the Bastinda Memorial Gardens. This had been Summer's favorite of Beacon's numerous gardens and hideaways, filled with roses and other pretty flowers. He sipped from his flask, staring at the marble pillars of a nearby colonnade. For a moment, he could see four stupid teenagers arguing over something, long ago.

"DADDY!"

He was broken from his reverie by a loud shout. He looked over: An orangette in pink and white from the Kid's team (His nickname for the mini-Taiyang his nieces were friends with) stormed towards him, her turquoise eyes brimming with hope and fear. The rest of RWBY and JNPR followed at a distance. Yang and Ruby looked nervous but hopeful, the Schnee was tense, the Belladonna brat was taciturn… But the Kid, the Champion, and the Stoic Kid were staring at Qrow intensely.

Qrow glanced at Nora, who was grinning at him. Qrow slowly shook his head.

"Ah, that's sweet Hammer kid, but I'm into gals who are legal-"

She clutched a few crumpled letters, her orange hair bouncing as she thrust it toward him, her voice trembling but bright.

"I mean, I got my DNA checked! And you're a match for my dad!" she declared, handing him the results. "So you're my Daddy!"

Qrow, his flask glinting in the sunlight, froze, his red eyes scanning the paper.

"…I… huh?!"

Team RWBY and JNPR closed in around them, their faces a mix of shock and accusation. Weiss Schnee, arms crossed, her ice-blue eyes sharp, spoke first.

"I sent it off to an independent lab: it is legit."

Yang Xiao Long leaned forward, her lilac eyes narrowing. "Yeah, so… Uncle Qrow? You could, ya know… explain."

Ruby Rose bounced on her heels, her silver eyes gleaming. "Yeah! Explain our new cousin!"

Jaune Arc cracked his knuckles, his blue eyes hard. "And answer a few questions."

Pyrrha Nikos's smile was sharp, her emerald eyes glinting as she drew Miló. "Such as: Where you were for the last seventeen years of her life?"

Ren's voice was low, his magenta eyes radiating lethal intent. "Indeed."

Holy shit. How could his luck have gone so… Well… Fuck. Taiyang and Summer had always said 'Honesty is the best policy'... Except when it wasn't. But looking into the earnest eyes of his nieces and his apparently daughter, it seemed the only option.

Qrow raised his hands, his voice rough with emotion.

"…For the life of me? I don't remember this one-WOAH!"

Before he could finish, JNPR descended like a storm. Pyrrha's Semblance yanked Harbinger from Qrow's grip, snapping it in half with a flick of her wrist. Jaune's shield bashed Qrow's shoulder, and Ren's fists landed with surgical precision, sending Qrow staggering. "Shit! SHIT!" Qrow yelped, dodging as best he could.

Yang's voice cut through, exasperated. "Seriously, Uncle Qrow?!"

"Look!" Qrow panted, ducking a swing from the Kid's sword. "I don't keep track of all my sexual—wait, wait!" He held up his hands in surrender, Ren's pistol pointed right between his eyes. Sure, he could defeat all of them-Easily-But that would crush his nieces' hearts.

"Don't kill him!" Yang shouted. "He has to explain!"

"Yeah!" Ruby added.

Once again, he was glad they were around. Qrow strained his memory, thinking back to the file on Nora Valkyrie… Where she came from… His eyes widened.

"Short, busty orangette from Solitas… Living in Mistral?"

Nora nodded. Qrow took a deep breath.

"Okay… yeah. I remember her. Sort of. I was at a Solitan village in northern Anima-Grendeltown?"

"Yes!" Nora said with a nod. "How did you meet? Did you know eachother well?"

Qrow… Winced. He could see the light leaving those turquoise eyes. Her coloration was her mothers', but that look of heartbreak… Yeah, that she got from the Branwens. He heaved a heavy sigh.

"Kid, I… I was drunk, she was drunk… she kicked me out of her cabin the morning after, and well… I never saw her again." He looked intently into her eyes, as hard as it was to do so. "I didn't know. She never tried to contact me. I'm sorry, kid. I truly didn't know."

Silence fell. Nora's head bowed, her voice small, a crack in her usual boundless energy. "Oh… I-I see," she murmured.

The teams' glares intensified, their auras flaring. Qrow sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry, kid. I… that's the truth. I'm not gonna lie to you. I had no idea you were… you-"

Nora shook her head, her voice breaking, tears spilling. "I… I get it. I just… I wanted…" She sniffled. "M-My mom didn't want me… why would you be any different?"

Qrow's eyes widened, his voice sharp as he held up his hand. "I didn't say that—!"

"It doesn't matter!" Nora shouted, her hammer trembling in her grip. "I shouldn't have said anything! I just—I hoped—maybe—maybe you'd be different!"

"Nora, you're dropping a hell of a lot on me all at once!" Qrow protested. "If I'd known—!"

"WELL, NOW YOU KNOW!" Nora yelled, her aura sparking pink. "So you don't have to do anything! Why would you?! I didn't need you before! I don't need you now!" She stormed off, her hammer dragging, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.

Jaune, and Pyrrha sprinted after her, their loyalty unyielding. Weiss went after, throwing a venomous look over her shoulder before she left. Blake, for her own reasons, followed, leaving Qrow with his nieces and Lie Ren. Qrow stared after, his hand reaching for his flask. He looked at his nieces, his tone almost desperate: "I swear… if I'd known…"

Ruby hesitated, then hugged him tightly, her voice soft. "I know, Uncle Qrow, I know…"

Yang hesitated for a bit longer, but she reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

"It's pretty big for all of us," Yang admitted.

Qrow sighed, his voice heavy. "Jeez…" He looked up at Lie Ren. His eyes were murderous, but his tone was carefully even.

"Ruby? Yang? I swore I would kill anyone who made Nora cry."

Qrow wasn't scared. But at the same time, the look in that young man's eyes was also painfully familiar. The desire to kill, the knowledge you couldn't win… And not caring. Because ending someone for the person you loved was more important.

Yang raised her hands, her voice firm. "Okay, easy, Zen. We don't have to go that far. He didn't know!"

Ruby nodded, her eyes pleading. "He would've never abandoned Nora if he did!"

Qrow grimaced, rubbing his bruised jaw. "To be fair, do you have any idea how many waitresses, barmaids, farmer's daughters, innkeepers, madams…" Three glares made him stop. "I'm not helping my case. Point is, Nora's way happier without me in her life destroying it. Ask Ruby and Yang what me sticking around too much did to their mom."

Yang's eyes flashed, her voice sharp as she slapped his shoulder angrily. "That wasn't your fault, Qrow! But Nora's life was still your responsibility!"

Ruby's voice rose, her hands flailing. "Yeah! And Nora… Nora's life was awful! Her own mother abandoned her to live on her own in Ren's village! And everyone was killed there; only Ren saved her life! And they've only had each other for all this time! Even with your Semblance, you being in her life would've been better!"

Qrow set his jaw grimly. He looked back at Ren, who stared intently into his eyes.

Ren's aura pulsed, his voice unyielding. "…Mister Branwen. I appreciate that you didn't know Nora was your daughter." He stepped closer, his eyes piercing. "But now that you know… you will do something for her. Like it or not, she is part of your life now. And you will try to find some way to connect with her. I know you can't turn back the clock to change anything about the past. But you will do something now."

Qrow sighed, lowering his flask, his voice weary and defeated. "I don't suppose you could tell me anything she likes? If you really want me to make up to a girl, I need to know something about her." He looked back up into Ren's eyes. "Aside from you, of course."

- - -

Later, in a shadowed stairwell of Beacon, the air cool with the scent of stone, Qrow leaned against the wall. He was sporting a fresh shiner, his flask empty. Ozpin approached, his cane tapping softly, his green eyes calm but piercing.

"You look worse for wear," Ozpin said, his voice dry.

Qrow snorted, touching his bruised jaw. "Nora's boyfriend has a mean left hook. Good. She deserves a man like that."

Ozpin's gaze softened, but his tone was firm. "She deserves a father as well. As all children do."

Qrow's eyes narrowed, his voice rough. "Yeah. But not—"

"Yes, yes, your Semblance," Ozpin cut in, his voice sharp. "But a Semblance does not a man make. And while I can name worse fathers I've had the displeasure to encounter, they had to take deliberate action. You have not even achieved that."

Qrow's jaw tightened, his voice low. "So you're telling me I need to get involved too, huh?"

Ozpin's smile was faint, tinged with sorrow. "Qrow, you are no longer my student. Nor are you currently on a mission against Salem or some pawn of hers. You are a free man, free to do as he feels fit. Free to choose if he is going to have the family he so richly deserves to have at long last, or leave another young woman with a broken heart, one more of scores."

Qrow fell silent, his red eyes distant, the weight of Ozpin's words settling in. Ozpin's voice softened, heavy with memory. "I envy you, Qrow. Just like I envy any man who is surprised by fatherhood. I had that, but I lost it."

Qrow's brow furrowed, his voice quiet. "…I never knew you had kids."

"Yes," Ozpin murmured, his eyes far away, lost in time. "I once had a beautiful wife, and four equally beautiful little girls. It was lifetimes ago… or so it seems."

Qrow's voice was barely a whisper. "What happened?"

Ozpin's gaze darkened, his voice heavy with grief. "…Good things happen to horrible people. And horrible things happen to the most innocent of people. And we lose the most precious things that we assume are adamantine."

Qrow stared, his flask forgotten in his hand. Ozpin's eyes met his, resolute yet gentle. "Yes. I dread to think what I would give up to be in your shoes, and have but one of my little girls in my arms again."

Qrow's shoulders slumped, his voice rough but determined.

"…I'll try, Oz. For Nora."

He pushed off the wall, his steps heavy but resolute.

 

[LordofBones]

Another Salem trolling moment!

Salem: "Have you ever wondered where the idea of you being Qrow Branwen's daughter started? It was me, Ruby Rose! I went to Patch, shapeshifted into a nosy old biddy, and mentioned it during bridge night!"
Ruby: *recoils*
Salem: "And that time when you were thirteen and thought you wet the bed? The one your sister wouldn't stop teasing you for weeks about? It was me, Ruby! I sent a dwarf Nevermore through your open window with a pail of ammonia water!"
Ruby: "You fiend!"
Salem: "Oh, and your mother's cookie recipe? The one your sister brags about? It's mine, Ruby! I wrote it! Summer Rose couldn't boil water without burning down a house!"
Ruby: "Nooooo!"
Salem: "And your team placements? I meddled in that, too! You could have been in the Arc's team, evolving your silver eyes and testing yourself against the Nikos girl, and instead you became a prop for the Blake Belladonna Hypocrisy Hour! I PUT YOU IN A TEAM OF GIRLFAILURES AND KEPT THE ARC CLAN PASTRY SECRETS FAR AWAAAAAAY!"
Ruby: "Wait, how did-"
Salem: "It's magic, I don't have to explain it! Also, that one time you tried baking a cake and missed the sugar for the salt? IT WAS ME! I switched the labels and ruined your father's birthday cake while you were getting the eggs!"
Ruby: *lips quivering* "Then...you...Yang and Blake..."
Salem: "Oh no, that quasi-NTR bullshit with the fucked up psychological implications is just nasty."

 

[SharkCultist]

*Salem gets blasted into the air by Ruby then sucker punched by Yang who got launched by Weiss and smashes through a wall*

Salem: yeah that's enough. OZ. I'm calling in that favor. We're switching early.

Ruby: what?

Oz: fine but you have to fix up the castle before I move in.

Salem: fine but I'm keeping Cinder!

Ruby: somebody better start talking or I let the crazy blonde start swinging.

Oz:....how do you all feel about being the bad guys?

Everyone: what?

Oz: we're immortal and get bored. We tried killing each other for the first few centuries but after a while the hate just kinda burned out and got stale. So....

Salem: we turned it into a giant roleplay. Every few centuries we do something to shake up the world and swap who's the bad guy.

Weiss: so the story about the gods was fake?

Salem: oh no, those guys are dicks.

Ruby: you killed my mom! And pyrrha!

Salem: no. No no no. That's not on me. I maimed your mom after she broke into my house and decapitated me 12 times. She's still alive, and hey since we're clearing the board I'll let all the silvers out of the goop Grimm ok?

Yang: what about pyrrha?

Salem: fun fact, when you're one of the only two people who knows magic and you're teaching someone else they really can't tell if the disintegration spell you're teaching them is actually a teleportation spell.

Yang: you know you're being a lot more casual then you were five minutes ago.

Salem: it's almost like I was roleplaying.

Yang: the sarcasm is noted and not appreciated.

Ruby: what about the Grimm? Have you been killing millions of people for your games?!

Salem: truthfully? Yeah I have no control over those spawning. I can directly control some of them but for the most part their just doing what the god of darkness would have done.

Yang: be a dick?

Salem: be a dick.

Yang:....soooooo we're the bad guys now?

Oz: if you want.

Ruby: no! We're supposed to be heroes!

Oz: I'll put self cleaning and dramatic wind runes on your cloak.

Ruby: glory to the darkness!

Salem: oh she's going to be a fun one.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Pyrrha Nikos woke to the sensation of something warm and feathery breathing on her face.

That wasn't normal.

She cracked one eye open and found herself nose-to-beak with a creature the size of a large dog, covered in glossy blue-jay plumage edged with crimson around enormous amber eyes. A slender reptilian tail flicked behind it. A tiny, scaly claw rested possessively on her collarbone.

The thing tilted its head.

"Kweh?" it inquired, as if this were the most reasonable way to say good morning.

Pyrrha blinked slowly. "…Hello there?"

The door burst open hard enough to bounce off the wall.

"Oh geez—Benny! Off!"

Jaune lunged in, still in sleep pants and bed hair, and the little dinosaur immediately abandoned Pyrrha's chest to scamper up his arm and perch on his shoulder like it belonged there. Jaune scratched under its chin with the practiced ease of someone who had absolutely done this a thousand times before.

Nora's head popped around the doorframe, eyes sparkling with manic glee. "A DINOSAUR?! JAUNE, DID YOU LAY AN EEEEEEGGGGG?!"

"No!" Jaune yelped. "This is Benny. He's a troodon. From the Radian Dinosaur Sanctuary. And he's… kind of my pet. Sort of."

Benny preened, utterly smug.

Ren appeared behind Nora, took one look at the scene, and sighed the sigh of a man whose life choices had led him directly to this moment. "Why is he here?"

"Excellent question," Jaune muttered. "Buddy, did you track me all the way from home?"

Benny chirped brightly. "Kweeeh!"

"…Silly question," Jaune translated.

Nora was already vibrating. "THERE'S A DINOSAUR SANCTUARY?!"

Pyrrha finally sat up, sheets clutched to her chest, face burning scarlet. "If he's yours," she asked, voice a little too high, "why exactly was he sleeping on me?"

Jaune scratched the back of his neck, suddenly very interested in the floor. "Uh… he likes pretty girls?"

Nora's pout could have powered Vale for a week. "So why wasn't he in MY bunk?!"

"He'd have gotten to you next!" Jaune protested.

Benny trilled in agreement.

Nora folded her arms. "Next, schmext…"

Jaune sighed. "Look, just—take him to the common room, okay? He's starving. Beef or chicken, nothing ground up, nothing processed, definitely no sugar. He's basically a toddler with claws and a predatory instinct. Totally safe. Mostly."

Benny hopped down and pranced out the door like he owned the dorm. Team JNPR followed, Pyrrha still red enough to glow, Nora already plotting treason against a prehistoric reptile.

They hadn't even made it to the common room before they heard RWBY's cries.

"Oh crap, it was their turn to make us breakfast," Jaune gasped as he led the charge.

"OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT?!" Ruby squealed, looking incredibly excited.

Weiss actually squeaked. "Is that a dinosaur?"

Benny, sensing an audience, immediately beelined for Yang and broke into the most ridiculous courtship dance any of them had ever seen: little hops, wing-fluttering, tail fanning, the works.

"Kweh! Kweh!"

Yang raised an eyebrow, hands on hips. "Well someone's got taste."

Blake stared, fork frozen halfway to her mouth. "Why do you have a dinosaur, Jaune?"

Nora glowered. "A traitor dinosaur."

Benny eyed Blake's breakfast.

Jaune winced.

"Benny, no—"

Too late. Benny, apparently deciding Blake's tuna omelet looked like a worthy tribute, darted forward and swallowed it whole in one gulp.

Blake's eye twitched.

She inhaled through her nose so sharply it was audible across the room. Gambol Shroud slid from its sheath with a metallic whisper. "Jaune," she said with terrifying calm, "tell your dinosaur to cough up my breakfast before I personally re-enact the Cretaceous extinction."

Benny burped, entirely unrepentant, and hid behind Yang's legs.

Yang grinned like a dragon who'd just found a hoard. "Aw, don't get cross just because a birdbrain stole your breakfast, kittycat."

Weiss was already cooing and trying to feed Benny dog treats. "Here you go, sweet boy—NO! Weiss, those'll make him sick!"

Nora and Blake exchanged a slow, evil look that would have made Salem nervous.

Blake, deadpan: "By the law of equivalent exchange, I am now owed one dino omelet. How… fortuitous."

Ruby squeaked and threw herself in front of Benny like a human shield. "NO ONE IS EATING ANYONE!"

Nora hefted Magnhild. "Yeah!"

Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose and speed-dialed home. "Hey, Mom? Yeah, Benny's here. No, he's fine. Yes, he followed me to Beacon. Please don't cry—"

Nora, now cradling a repentant Benny who was nuzzling her like the shameless rogue he was, instantly forgave all sins. "Self-confidence: RESTORED!"

"I want my omelet back!" Blake growled.

Pyrrha finally appeared in the doorway, still in her sleep shirt, face glowing like a stoplight. She marched straight to Blake, placed a hand on her shoulder, and delivered the single most terrifying line of the morning in a voice that could have frozen hell:

"If you ever lay a finger on that beautiful creature, they will never find all the pieces. Are we clear?"

Blake whimpered. "…Yes, mommy."

Pyrrha blinked. "What?"

"What?"

Jaune hung up the scroll and turned to the chaos that was his life. Glynda Goodwitch stood in the doorway, coffee in hand, staring at the scene like she was seriously reconsidering every career choice that had led her here.

"A dinosaur," she said flatly.

Jaune offered a helpless shrug. "He followed me from Radian, Professor. Any chance we can get a Bullhead home? Before he eats Blake's soul along with her breakfast?"

Glynda sighed the longest sigh in history. "There is a week-long training mission to Radian. Dinosaur Sanctuary security and militia liaison. I was going to assign CFVY…"

Ruby's puppy eyes activated at mach three. "Professor, pleeeeease? We'll be good! No terrorists this time, promise!"

Glynda looked at Blake muttering about burning the world for tuna, Nora stroking Benny like a Bond villain, Pyrrha still steaming gently in the corner, and Jaune desperately trying to salvage the situation.

She took a very long sip of coffee.

"Pack for two weeks," she said. "And Arc?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"If that thing eats one more student's meal, you're mucking stables for a month. Dinosaur stables."

Benny chirped cheerfully and flapped his little arms like he'd already won.

Jaune groaned. "Why am I the only sane person here?"

Yang slung an arm around his shoulders, grinning ear to ear. "Because you're the one who brought home a dinosaur that thinks redheads and blondes are the pinnacle of evolution, Vomit Boy. Welcome to the food chain."

Benny kweh'd in agreement, stole Ruby's bacon, and the entire dorm dissolved into screaming, laughter, and at least one death threat issued in ancient Mistralian.

Just another Tuesday at Beacon.

- - -

Sorry, I posted this in the wrong thread.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The Bullhead's cargo hold smelled like jet fuel, feathers, and teenage anxiety.

Benny paced in his travel crate, wings pressed tight against the bars, letting out the occasional mournful kweh that sounded suspiciously like "I regret my choices." Jaune knelt beside him, scratching the little troodon's chin through the mesh.

"Easy, buddy. Almost home."

Blake lounged in one of the jump seats, arms crossed, eyes narrowed at the dinosaur like he was a particularly smug ex-boyfriend. "If he hates flying so much, how exactly did he make it all the way to Beacon without being spotted?"

Jaune didn't look up. "He tracked me. Through three sub-kingdoms. In winter."

Yang, sprawled sideways across two seats with her legs dangling, let out a low whistle. "Dad once mailed Zwei in a box labeled 'Live Bees.' I'm starting to think our pets just have separation anxiety issues."

Weiss wrinkled her nose. "There is a significant difference between a corgi and a prehistoric predator, Yang."

"Says the girl who tried to feed him dog treats," Ruby muttered. Weiss flushed.

"He looked so needy!"

Blake's ears flattened. "If he has Aura—and apparently some of you people unlock dinosaurs' Auras—then theoretically, if I threw him out the cargo door right now—"

"Seriously, Blake?!" Ruby squeaked.

"It's just a tuna omelet!" Yang added.

Blake's eye actually twitched. "And if he ate all your cookies overnight? Or chewed on your hair while you slept?"

Yang paused. "…Okay, fair. I get the rage now."

"My cookies I would understand because he's sooo cute!" Ruby squealed.

Benny picked that exact moment to produce a toothpick and a paperclip from god-knows-where and started working the cage lock with the calm focus of a master thief.

Click.

The door swung open.

"KWEH!" he announced proudly, hopping onto Jaune's shoulders like a victorious pirate.

Jaune sighed the sigh of a man who had accepted his fate years ago. "Yeah. See?"

Ruby's eyes turned into hearts. "Aww! He missed you so much he became a criminal mastermind!"

Nora, who had been vibrating in her seat since takeoff, suddenly leaned forward. "Did you lay him? Like an egg?"

"No, Nora."

"Was he the runt of the clutch?" Pyrrha asked softly.

Jaune's expression softened. "Yeah. The others kept bullying him. Mom put me in charge of him because… well… I kinda needed something to take care of that wouldn't judge me for being the weak kid."

He relocked the cage. Benny immediately began picking it again.

Weiss blinked. "Your family runs a dinosaur sanctuary filled with creatures that survived the literal end of the world twice, and you never mentioned it because you were… shoveling poop?"

"Ground beef into giant pumpkins," Jaune corrected. "It's enrichment. And I didn't mention it because, well... Nobody asked."

Blake finally cracked a smile. "I read about this. Remote island chain, KT survivors, Moonshatter didn't touch them, selective breeding and genetic engineering brought back more, and they were distributed across Remnant to various parks and sanctuaries."

Everyone stared.

"What?" she said defensively. "I do my research."

Weiss scoffed.

Yang grinned. "So if you had to be locked in a room with Zwei or Benny—"

"Benny," Blake answered instantly. "Zwei rolls on my books. This one just steals food. I understand food crimes."

Benny preened, smug as hell.

The Bullhead banked hard over Radian Valley, and the windows filled with green: forest, red cliffs, and the distant, unmistakable silhouette of a brachiosaur wading through a lake like it owned the place.

Ruby pressed her face to the glass. "Jaune. Are there T-rexes? Actual T-rexes?"

"Two," Jaune confirmed. "Matilda and Kevin. And they might be expecting."

The entire cabin went pale.

Ren spoke for all of them. "You brought Nora. To a valley. With breeding T-rexes."

Nora grinned, resembling a kettle about to blow. Ren put a hand on her head.

"Breathe, Nora, Breathe."

"Breathing!"

Jaune winced. "We'll… manage."

Yang leaned over. "Define 'manage.'"

- - -

The Bullhead touched down with a gentle thump. The hatch opened, and humid, ancient air rolled in, carrying the smell of moss, meat, and distant thunder.

Home.

They spilled out onto the dirt airstrip just outside Radian's walls. A horse-drawn wagon—because of course it was horse-drawn, the dinosaurs were spooked by the engines sometimes—was waiting. Jaune loaded Benny's crate (which the troodon escaped from again before they even reached the gate) and helped everyone aboard.

The ride to the Arc family compound was mercifully short. The house rose up on a hill in a wooded glen like something out of a storybook: wraparound porch, chicken coops, a petting corral of baby ankylosaurs, and one very curvy blonde woman in a lab coat sprinting toward them like a missile.

"JAUNE!"

"MOM!"

"JAAAAAUNNNNE!"

Jaune's eyes widened. He dropped the crate, turned tail, and ran.

Isabel Arc hit Mach 2 in four seconds flat, chasing her youngest son around the yard while bellowing about Aura and med school and "YOU COULD HAVE DIED YOU IDIOT!"

Ruby watched them go, mouth open. "Should we… help?"

Blake crossed her arms. "No."

Nora, holding Benny like a football, was already a pink-and-orange blur circling the perimeter screaming "T-REX? T-REX?! T-REX?!"

Nick Arc—tall, scarred, built like a friendly freight train—strode up with a grin and a railgun greatsword slung across his back that made Ruby's knees weak.

"Hey, kids! Welcome to the madhouse."

He caught Jaune mid-lap, crushed him in a bear hug, then turned to the group.

"So! Which one of you beautiful people unlocked my boy's Aura?"

Pyrrha stepped forward, back straight, cheeks pink. "That would be me, sir. Ma'am."

Isabel finally released Jaune—mostly because Nick had him in a headlock—and beamed through tears. "Thank you for saving my idiot son."

Jaune wheezed. "Mom—this is my path—"

"And you couldn't wait until I unlocked it properly?!"

"I wasn't going to lie to you!"

"You lied about going to Ambrose Pare!"

"I just said I'd get in, I didn't say I'd attend!" Jaune barked.

- - -

Dinner was… tense.

Jaune scowled into his mashed potatoes. Isabel scowled back. Lilac kept trying to cheer everyone up with increasingly desperate smiles. Blake and Benny were the only ones having the time of their lives, demolishing a mountain of tuna casserole together.

Eventually Jaune shoved his plate away and stalked outside, Benny chasing after him.

Yang followed a few minutes later, in jeans and one of Jaune's old hoodies she'd stolen from the laundry, hands stuffed in her pockets.

She found him by the ankylosaur pen, Benny curled on his shoulder like a feathered scarf over his coat. He was feeding the baby ankylosaurs chopped up apples and vegetables.

"Family," Jaune muttered. "Sometimes I think I'd take fighting Grimm over them, right?"

Benny kweh'd in agreement.

Yang leaned against the fence. "You okay?"

Jaune shrugged. "Same fight, different year."

"Still," Yang murmured, "Getting into medical school, being some rich, fancy doctor paid to look after dinosaurs-"

"It's not... It's not what I wanted," Jaune stated firmly. "I love dinosaurs but I wanted to be a hero. To help people. I mean, didn't you want to be something different than what everyone else wanted you to be?"

Yang stared intently into his eyes, long nights of having to be the responsible one in a broken home coming to her mind.

"Not exactly but..." She nodded. "Yeah. I get it. Still... be thankful they love you enough to do stuff like that for you. To care, I mean."

Jaune stared back at her. He worked his jaw.

"Yang, I-"

In the distance behind the trees, something roared—deep, mournful, ancient.

Yang's eyes lit up. "That one of your T-rexes?"

"Hanako," Jaune said softly. "Want to meet her?"

He offered his hand.

Yang smirked. "If you wanted to hold my hand, VB, just say so."

Jaune flushed. "It's dark. And the farm's big."

She took it anyway.

They walked in silence across moonlit fields until the steel fencing of a private paddock rose up in front of them. Under the floodlights, an old, scarred Tyrannosaurus rex lay like a fallen monument—faded green hide, cloudy eyes, but still massive enough to make Yang's breath catch.

"Her name's Hanako. She's thirty-six," Jaune murmured. "Wild-born. Fought in illegal pits before Uncle Cedric rescued her. We retired her here. Too many scars for the public park. She doesn't like noise or crowds, it stresses her out."

Hanako sniffed the air, then lumbered over with surprising grace for something the size of a house. She approached, and Yang found herself pulling back. Jaune smiled at her. He turned his head back, still holding her hand, as Hanako lowered her massive head.

The tyrannosaur sniffed his hand, her yellow eyes staring intently at them. Jaune reached through the gap in the fence and scratched under her jaw like she was an oversized cat.

Yang hesitated.

"Trust me," Jaune said.

He guided her hand to the warm, pebbled skin beneath Hanako's temple. The old rex rumbled—a sound like distant thunder—and leaned into the touch.

Yang's laugh came out shaky. "Holy crap, Jaune…"

"Yeah."

They scratched in silence for a while. Hanako eventually dropped down onto her haunches, closing her eyes, one leg twitching lazily as Yang found the exact spot that turned a twelve-ton apex predator into a dope for belly rubs.

Nick and Pyrrha appeared at the edge of the light. Nick just grinned and started prepping a puzzle-feeder barrel. Pyrrha watched Jaune and Yang with soft, complicated eyes.

"Come on, Lady," Nick called out, as he lowered the barrel full of meat into the paddock, "Here you go, Hanako. All yours."

Hanako rose, and headed for the barrel. She knocked it around with her nose, studying the meat that fell out. She then feasted, eating large chunks of cow, lamb and turkey, swallowing it all carefully.

Eventually Hanako lumbered off to her heated barn, belly full and dignity only slightly dented.

Nick clapped Jaune on the shoulder. "Bedtime, kids. Early start tomorrow."

Yang, realizing she was only in a hoodie in the cool night air, shivered dramatically.

Jaune started shrugging off his jacket. He put it around her shoulders, making her blush.

She smirked, ignited her hair just enough to glow like a campfire, and warmed the air around her. "Old trick. One of the few useful things Dad ever taught me."

Jaune's smile faltered. "And Ruby, right?"

Yang's flames dimmed. "Yeah. Her too."

Pyrrha took Jaune's other hand without asking. Benny hopped up to ride his shoulders like a victorious prince.

As they walked back toward the house, Nick called after them, "Both of them, son? Proud of you!"

"Dad!" Jaune groaned. "We're just friends!"

Yang and Pyrrha exchanged a look—half challenge, half promise.

Yang grinned sideways at Pyrrha. "Guess we're not the hottest throuple in Remnant after all."

Pyrrha's blush could have powered the valley. "Tragic. Maybe we can change his mind."

Jaune blushed. "G-Geez..."

The girls giggled.

Behind them, Hanako rumbled one last time—content, ancient, and quietly approving.

Tomorrow there would be work, and chaos, and almost certainly Nora attempting to ride a T-rex.

Tonight, though, the valley was quiet.

And for once, everyone was exactly where they wanted to be.

 

[Sliverhero]

THE PATH TO HEAVEN: part 3

Beacon Courtyard

Students swarmed through the courtyard like a multicolored river, bags bumping, voices blending into one chaotic current. Ruby, tiny and excited, tried to weave through it all without losing Yang. "Wow! Look at...oof!"

Someone rushed past, Blake, hood up, eyes down, accidentally shoulder-checking Ruby hard enough to send her stumbling backward.
"Ruby!" Yang reached for her...
...but another hand caught her first.

A weathered, gloved hand.
Ruby blinked up at a tall figure in a torn cloak, his blond hair tangled by the wind, his face older and worn by dust and years.

"Careful there," the wanderer said softly.
His voice was calm. Tired. Gentle. Ruby grabbed his hand, letting him pull her upright. "Th-thanks! I wasn't looking where I was..uh..going."

Yang arrived a beat later, eyeing the man warily. "You okay, Rubes?" Ruby nodded. "Yeah! Thanks to him." Yang looked the stranger over. Rough. Battle-worn. Not a student. Not quite right. But he didn't feel threatening, if anything, he radiated a strange sadness.

"Appreciate you helping my sis," Yang said.
He nodded once, gave a small, almost ghostlike smile, and stepped away, disappearing into the crowd like a shadow swallowed by the sun.

Ruby watched him go, a strange feeling tugging at her chest, recognition without memory. But the moment passed.

Meanwhile: Worm-Jaune (the Double)

On the far side of the courtyard, the other Jaune Arc, clean uniform, bright smile, posture straight with optimism, stood beside Pyrrha signing a few autographs she never asked for.

Students whispered as they walked by: "That's Pyrrha Nikos!" "And that's Jaune Arc—her boyfriend!" "Lucky guy."

Worm-Jaune laughed awkwardly at the attention. It wasn't the attention itself,it was how warm it felt.Warm. Human. His expression softened as Pyrrha elbowed him teasingly. "You're popular today," she said.

He scratched the back of his head shyly, just like the real Jaune would've. "Guess I'm just… lucky, dating the Invincible Girl." Pyrrha blushed a little, looking away. Worm-Jaune's smile faltered as a flicker of memory,not his own, rose in his mind:

A boy training alone with a wooden sword. A boy dreaming of being a hero. A boy wanting to protect people, even when he had nothing.
The Worm closed his eyes. Those memories weren't part of his creation. They were part of the man he was copying.

And somehow, they had become his.
He looked around Beacon: laughter, sunlight, hope. A world free from the horror he once crawled through as a mindless creature. A world where he could be someone good.

I want to protect this, he realized. Not because he was following orders. Not because he was pretending. But because the dream he inherited felt real.

Because part of him truly believed: If I live like him... If I protect like him... Maybe I can be a hero too.

Beacon Courtyard (Later)

The wanderer,the real Jaune Arc, paused beneath the statue, hood rustling in the wind. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spotted the double across the courtyard laughing with Pyrrha, perfectly at ease.

The Kabuto Zecter clicked with cold hatred.
Jaune whispered, "He shouldn't be capable of blending in so well…" He expected the Worm to act like a monster hiding behind a mask.

Instead, he saw a boy smiling shyly as Pyrrha joked with him. A boy helping other students pick up dropped luggage. A boy waving nervously at every stranger who said "hi."

A boy acting like… him. Jaune's jaw tightened.
They're not supposed to have that much of my memories. Kabuto throbbed with anger, but Jaune hesitated.

For a split second, doubt pierced through the rage. "What are you trying to become…?" he murmured. "Me? Or something else?"
Kabuto buzzed restlessly. Jaune forced his emotions down. "We'll know soon enough."
He turned away, toward the dorms, toward Beacon's heart. Toward the double who lived the life stolen from him.
Disguise

Extra scene
Evernight Castle: Salem's Throne Room

The black pool shuddered. Another Grimm essence blinked out of existence. Salem's expression pinched, not with fear, but with a rare, cold frustration. "Again," she whispered.

A Seer Grimm floated up, its tendrils trembling. It projected the last moments of a distant Grimm… only static, a blur, motion too fast for even Salem's creatures to perceive. She clenched her jaw.

Something was destroying her Grimm, and she couldn't see it. Couldn't track it. Couldn't sense it. Couldn't even understand its movements.
That alone was enough to crack her porcelain calm.

Tyrian Arrives

A skittering laugh echoed through the throne hall. Tyrian Callows dropped to one knee, bowing dramatically. "You called, my glorious Queen?" Salem glared at the pool. "My Grimm are dying."

Tyrian's eyes glittered with delight. "Oh? Something strong enough to kill your creatures? How exciting!" Salem's eyes narrowed at his enthusiasm.

Tyrian didn't care. His Worm heart beat fast beneath human skin, thrilled at another Worm intruding upon his hunting grounds.
He didn't know who it was. He didn't know how many there were. But he could feel it on instinct: One of his kind was nearby.

He just didn't know that the doctor hovering behind him also felt something similar.

Arthur Watts stepped out from behind a Seer projection, straightening his coat. "How very dramatic," he muttered, adjusting his gloves. "If it troubles you so greatly, Salem, I can perform a sweep of the affected regions. Someone must bring actual science to this investigation."

Tyrian hissed in annoyance, tail flicking.
He didn't like Watts. Watts smelled… odd, but he always smelled like that. Not like prey. Not like Grimm. Not like Huntsman.

Something… off.

Tyrian chalked it up to Watts simply being a smug, condescending man who thought he was smarter than everyone else. (He wasn't entirely wrong.) Watts, meanwhile, eyed Tyrian with utter contempt.

The man was feral. Unpredictable.
Violent in ways that even Grimm didn't replicate.
Sometimes, Watts got a strange crawling sensation near him , a primitive instinct urging caution.

But Watts dismissed it. Tyrian was just insane.
That was reason enough to be cautious.
Neither remotely suspected the truth:

That Tyrian was a Worm that replaced his original human host. Watts was a Native Worm working for the mission. And both believed they were the only non-human creature serving Salem.

Tyrian scoffed loudly. "Why send the good doctor? His idea of 'investigation' is staring at a machine until it bores him to death."

Watts didn't even look at him.
"I'd rather be bored by equations than by your constant screeching." Tyrian's tail twitched murderously. Watts smiled thinly, knowing it irritated him. Salem raised a hand.

Both fell silent instantly. She looked from one to the other. Two loyal servants. Two powerful tools. Two minds she believed she fully controlled.

She sensed nothing unusual, nothing inhuman, nothing alien.But she did sense one thing: Annoyance. "Go," she commanded. "Search. Track. Find what is killing my Grimm. Bring me answers." Watts bowed with crisp professionalism. Tyrian bowed with manic flourish. Both turned to leave.

Both passed each other with glares sharp enough to cut steel.
Both believed the other was simply unbearable.
Not for a moment did either suspect:

They were predators walking beside predators.
Monsters serving a master who had no idea what lived under her own roof.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Another crack idea: Jaune uses medical jargon to gaslight Adam and the White Fang into believing Blake is a figment of their imagination and a textbook case of mass delusion.

Jaune: "Think about it; she's a supposed princess of the faunus that also happens to be a member of the White Fang that also ran away from her loving parents in an island paradise to be with you. She also has multiple suitors, including your lieutenant, a faunus huntsman, and a human huntress. She also ran away from you on the night of a failed mission to, I don't know, go slum around in a huntsman academy and "redeem herself" by constantly chasing after the White Fang. You lose your mind whenever you think about her. Does that sound like an actual person, or a YA protagonist?"
Adam: "YOU LIE...huh...oh wow, that's wild..."
Jaune: *tsks* "See? You even ignored a Schnee to go hunt after this supposed 'Blake' person; a Schnee on her team, no less."
Adam: "So...I'm crazy?"
Jaune: "No, I think you're just overworked and stressed. Maybe you need to go lie down on a beach somewhere, get some fresh air, and just let go of this 'Blake' character. Do you really need a 'Blake' to lead the White Fang?"
Adam: "I...wow, you're not bad for a human. Men, let them go! I've got some vacation days to cash in!"

Click to shrink...

Adam: Then what about the time she decoupled those Train Cars!

Jaune: I mean it was a Schnee transport, it totally could have had some contingencies in place. Decoupling cars that are compromised sounds like SOP.

Adam: I... I do not understand, what about Ghira and Kali?

Jaune: Adam....How long have you know then both and how many times have you seen a Blake at their House or how many times have they mwntioned a Blake to you?

And even if you did see a black cat faunus, well what's to say that they both weren't just being charitable to an orphaned kid?

Adam: But those 2 love each other! Hiw do they not have a kid?

Jaune: ...Perhaps you should ask them or infer that their Political enemies had something to do?

Adam frantically calling Kali.

Kali:....Why have you called us Adam?

Adam: Kali I am so sorry but please tell me what is stopping you and Ghira from having Kids. Please I need to know!

Kali:.....You call home after so many years and this is what you ask?

Adam: It is important Kali! I am so sorry just please tell me.

Kali: Well if you must know, some years back our estate was attacked by assailants that managed to poison me and Ghira, we lived but it left us barren...... And after Blake it didn't- wait Adam are you there? Hmmm Weird, he cut the Call?

Adma having dropped his scroll and kneeling on ground and Jaune frantically trying to help him through his panic attack.

Click to shrink...

I combined these two into a snippet and edited it with AI. Let's see what we got:

- - -

The White Fang cell had tied Jaune to a chair in the middle of an abandoned warehouse, mostly because Adam wanted an audience while he monologued about human oppression for the fortieth time that week. Jaune had stopped listening around minute four and was now trying to decide if the rope knots were regulation or just enthusiastic amateur work.

Adam finished with a dramatic flourish of Wilt and Blush. "Any last words, human?"

Jaune blinked slowly, like a therapist who'd just been handed a particularly interesting case file. "Only one question, actually. This 'Blake Belladonna' you keep mentioning. Walk me through her again."

Adam's eye twitched. "Former lieutenant. Traitor. Faunus princess who—"

"Stop, stop." Jaune raised a finger like he was diagnosing a patient. "Princess of the Faunus, yes? Grew up in a tropical paradise with loving parents, joined a terrorist cell because teenage rebellion, left said terrorist cell after one bad mission to 'find herself' at Beacon Academy, has three separate people pining for her including your own second-in-command, a human girl, and some random ginger huntsman. Also she reads smut novels and has a bow that's secretly cat ears."

Adam opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "…Yes?"

Jaune gave him the gentlest, most pitying smile in the history of hostage situations. "Adam. Buddy. That's not a person. That's a Wattpad protagonist written by a fourteen-year-old who just discovered the concept of catgirls."

One of the grunts in the back actually whispered, "Holy shit."

Adam shook his head violently. "No. I've seen her. I've fought her. She cut my—"

"Classic shared delusion symptom," Jaune said, nodding sagely. "You even ignored a Schnee—Weiss Schnee, literal heiress—on her team, just to chase this imaginary ex. Tell me that's healthy behavior."

Adam's horns were practically drooping. "I… I mean when you say it like that…"

"Look, I'm no psychiatrist," Jaune lied smoothly, "but you're clearly under immense stress running a paramilitary organization. Mass hysteria is a documented phenomenon. Ever hear of the Dancing Plague of 1518? Same deal. You needed a symbol. Your brain invented the perfect tragic manic-pixie-dream-revolutionary."

Another White Fang member slowly lowered his rifle. "Wait. The train car thing. She decoupled the cars on the—"

"Schnee Dust transport," Jaune interrupted. "Standard operating procedure for compromised cars. There are safety protocols. You can look it up."

"But her parents! Ghira and Kali—"

Jaune tilted his head. "How many times have you personally visited Menagerie, Adam? How many times have you seen this 'Blake' at their house? Or heard them mention her without you bringing her up first?"

Adam's mouth worked soundlessly.

"Black-haired cat Faunus orphan," Jaune continued, merciless. "Could've been any kid they took in out of charity. Tragic backstory sells, my friend."

"But Ghira and Kali are married! They're in love! They should—"

Jaune just looked sad. "…Infertility is surprisingly common after political assassination attempts. Poison's a classic method."

Adam stared into the middle distance like a man watching his entire worldview file for divorce.

Then, very slowly, he pulled out his scroll.

Jaune watched him dial. "Adam, maybe don't—"

"Kali?" Adam's voice cracked like a teenager asking his crush to prom. "It's me. I… I need to ask you something personal. What's stopping you and Ghira from having children?"

A long silence on the other end.

Kali's voice came through, soft and confused. "Adam? You call after five years and this is what you—"

"Please," he whispered. "Please just tell me."

A sigh. "There was an attack on the estate years ago. Assassins. They poisoned us both. We survived, but… it left us barren. And after Blake it didn't—" A pause. "Adam? Are you still there? Hello?"

The scroll slipped from Adam's fingers and clattered to the concrete.

He sank to his knees.

Jaune winced as the White Fang leader started hyperventilating. "Okay, okay, deep breaths—hey, someone untie me, I know the paper bag technique—"

One of the grunts actually did it. Another one started googling "symptoms of nervous breakdown" on his scroll.

Adam looked up at Jaune with the hollow eyes of a man who'd just realized his entire revenge arc was based on a hallucination. "I… I think I need to lie down."

"Beach vacation," Jaune said immediately, now free and patting Adam's shoulder with all the awkward sincerity of a guy trying to fix a war crime with exposure therapy. "Sun, sand, maybe some therapy. You don't need a Blake to lead the White Fang, man. You've got… goals! Charisma! Great hair!"

Adam stared at nothing for a long moment.

Then he stood up, turned to his very confused lieutenants, and declared in the tone of a man who'd achieved enlightenment at gunpoint:

"Men. Release the hostages. I'm cashing in five years of vacation days. Someone book me a flight to Southern Menagerie. I need to stare at an ocean until my soul stops screaming."

He paused, looked back at Jaune, and added with complete sincerity:

"You're not bad for a human."

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Jaune Arc accidentally deradicalized the White Fang with medical gaslighting and one extremely unfortunate phone call.

 

[Sliverhero]

An interlude for path to heaven.

Blake Belladonna : Vale Safe Apartment

The rain outside Vale was steady and soft, a constant rhythm against the cracked windows of the safe apartment Blake had been squatting in for two weeks. A bedding roll, a bag of supplies, a stack of stolen documents, her entire life condensed into the corner of a cheap rental room.

She flipped through one of the files again.

SDC: Task Force Divisions: ZECT Sub-Protocols (Restricted Access)

She remembered snatching these from a White Fang staging warehouse years ago, hidden among other stolen intel. Documents the Fang never understood. Documents they didn't care about. But Blake had read them. She always read everything.

ZECT.
A secret SDC task force with authorization to eliminate "anomalous biological threats."
Something so secret even many Atlesian officers didn't know about it. She never found out what ZECT actually fought. She only knew the name scared her more than it should.

The old newsfeed tablet on the table pinged with a live broadcast. Blake froze when she saw the SDC logo. She unmuted it. Jacques Schnee appeared before a podium, immaculate in appearance, voice dripping with superiority.

"Citizens of Remnant, in response to increasing instability, I am activating the SDC ZECT division." Blake's heart pounded.

ZECT Publicly?
No.
No, that wasn't right.
ZECT shouldn't be public.

Her ears pressed flat beneath her bow as Jacques continued: "Effective immediately, I name Adam Taurus as Head of Security and Commander of Task Force ZECT." Blake's breath shattered.

The screen shifted,and Adam appeared.
Her Adam. Her nightmare. Her past. But the man on screen wasn't consumed by rage. He stood poised, controlled, every movement measured. He looked… disciplined. Blake shook her head in disbelief, whispering:

"Adam… what are you doing? Why work with him?" She remembered the ZECT documents.
The words she barely understood back then:

"Anti-Worm countermeasures."
"Zecters."
"Native-integration threat."

Adam knew what those meant. He had to.
And he still chose Jacques. A sick, cold fear spread through her chest. If Adam was involved in whatever ZECT truly was… Then something far worse than Jacques Schnee was coming. And Blake had no idea who she could trust.

Weiss Schnee — Private Cargo Airship, Approaching the Kingdom of Vale The stolen Schnee cargo ship rattled slightly as it descended through thick clouds.
Weiss gripped the controls, her knuckles white beneath her gloves.

She'd escaped." Hahahahaha "She laughs outloud as she realized she finally escaped. Atlas was behind her, cold, cruel, unforgiving.
Her father's reach wasn't.

She glanced down at the small metallic object resting beside the flight chair. A strange, beetle-shaped device with blue compound eyes and elegant silver plating.
The Drake Zecter.

It had appeared in her room two nights before she fled, almost as if it chose her. It responded to her touch. Vibrated with quiet, living warmth.
She didn't understand it. But she understood one thing: Her father wanted it. Desperately. Which meant she couldn't let him have it.The ship's console buzzed. A live broadcast forced itself onto the screen, father's override signature.

Weiss's stomach twisted. Jacques Schnee appeared. "Citizens of Remnant," he said smoothly, "today marks a new era of SDC security." Weiss scowled. "What now…?" "Task Force ZECT is now activated."

Weiss blinked. "ZECT?"
She'd only seen fragments of that name—classified files locked behind layers of corporate encryption, which even she wasn't allowed access to. Her father continued.
"And the commander of this elite division… Adam Taurus." Weiss stared as the masked Faunus stepped into frame. "That White Fang lieutenant? Father—why would you...?"

Then Jacques said something that chilled her:
"He knows what I am. And he accepts it."
Weiss's breath caught in her throat. He said it publicly. He said it proudly. The man she fled from.

Her hand trembled as she reached for the Drake Zecter. Its wings fluttered softly as if sensing her fear. Weiss whispered: "Father… what are you planning? And why would someone like him willingly work with you?"

She didn't know the answer. She only knew one truth: She had to keep the Zecter out of her father's hands.

Whatever ZECT was, whatever Adam had become....She wasn't going to face it alone.
Even if she didn't know a single soul in Vale yet.
All she had… was the Drake Zecter, and the determination never to let Jacques Schnee control her again.


------‐----------------------------------------------------------------------

Skies above Vale

The Bullhead hummed steadily as it cut through the night toward Vale. Its cabin lights were dim, casting soft orange shadows across the metal walls. Cinder Fall stood near the open side door, cloak fluttering in the cold air. Below her, the Kingdom glowed like a constellation fallen onto the earth.

Neo sat on a cargo crate, silently swinging her legs, while Mercury lounged against the wall, arms behind his head. "Remind me why we're doing this," Mercury said, kicking his boot lazily. "Beacon isn't exactly… friendly territory."

Cinder didn't look at him.
"It's not about Beacon," she answered softly. "It's about him."

Mercury rolled his eyes. "Right, right. The wanderer guy, The weird bug-thing guy. The mister 'I walked out of a warzone and killed a monster faster than the cameras could track' guy."

Neo flicked a card from her pocket — a tiny illusion of Jaune appeared on its surface, shrugging dramatically. Mercury snorted. "Exactly." Cinder ignored them both.
Her fingers curled slightly, remembering the moment he saved her. The speed. The precision. The quiet, weary expression of someone who had already lost too much. The man who said he will always protect her.

"He's walking into Beacon alone," Cinder murmured. "A place full of Huntsmen who won't understand what he is… or what he's fighting."
Mercury raised an eyebrow. "And what are we fighting?" Cinder's jaw tightened.
"Something worse than Salem," she said. "Something Faster, Silent, and as you know something out of this worlds."

Neo stopped kicking her legs.
Cinder turned slightly toward her two companions. "If another Worm appears, and it will, Beacon will become a battlefield before anyone realizes what's happening." "And Jaune's double?" Mercury asked. "The… Worm one?"
"He's becoming something we didn't anticipate," Cinder replied. "If he's truly growing, truly changing… then this situation is far more unstable than Jaune expected."

Neo projected an image onto the wall:
Worm-Jaune smiling awkwardly while helping an old lady pick up her bags. Cinder's eyes narrowed. "Exactly. That's not normal behavior for their kind and the strangest thing where ever he goes there is a drop in worm activity."

Mercury pushed himself upright.
"So what's the plan?" Cinder drew her hood over her head.

"We find him. We support our jaune. And we prepare for whatever is coming."
The Bullhead descended toward Vale's skyline.

And Cinder Fall reluctant protector and madien in love of she doesnt know it yet, stepped into the darkening night with purpose.

Vale Underground Warehouse: Emerald & Roman

A flickering lantern illuminated the dusty warehouse beneath a bustling Vale street. The place was filled with crates, maps, weapon caches, and dozens of resistance members moving with urgency. Roman Torchwick stood on a crate, directing people with theatrical annoyance. "Oi! You two, push those boxes somewhere tight. If Atlas finds them, I'm not explaining why your ammo stash says 'high-quality carrots' on the side!"

Two Faunus resistance members scrambled to obey. Emerald Sustrai was pacing near a warped table covered in reports and Grimm activity maps. Her emerald eyes narrowed at each red marker.

"This is getting worse," she muttered. "Grimm disappearing in seconds, patrols wiped out without sound, and Salem's forces suddenly pulling back from areas they usually swarm."
Roman hopped off his crate and lit a cigar.
"Yeah, and you know what that means?"

Emerald sighed. "Jaune is close." Roman pointed the cigar at her. "Exactly, so we need to be ready. He said to prep every cell in Vale. Whatever's coming? We're the warm-up act."
Emerald crossed her arms. "I don't like that Adam Taurus is back in circulation. And working with Jacques Schnee, of all people."

Roman shrugged. "Hey, psychos love psychos."
Emerald shot him a look. "This isn't funny, Roman. Adam's dangerous." Roman puffed smoke. "So's the guy we're working for. So's Cinder. So's Neo. So are you."

Emerald hesitated, because he wasn't wrong.
"Relax," Roman added. "We're not fighting Adam today. We're preparing for the big bug hunt."
Emerald rubbed her temples. "I swear, one day you're going to take this seriously."

Roman smirked.
"Oh, I am taking it seriously. Do you know how hard it is to keep a resistance alive without snacks? This is real survival."

Emerald groaned. But beneath the banter, both of them felt it: A pressure in the air.
A tension that didn't come from Salem or the White Fang or Atlas. Something else.
Something that made the shadows darker and the silence sharper.

Roman dusted off his coat. "Alright, you beautiful rebels! Jaune's friends are heading to Beacon. Means we're on standby until the real party starts!" The warehouse filled with movement.

Emerald whispered under her breath:
"Jaune… hurry."

------‐----------------------------------------------------------------------

Raven Branwen : The Price of Knowing

The wind howled across the mountain village like a living creature, carrying dust, cold, and the distant scent of Grimm.
Raven stood in the center of the training grounds as villagers tightened grips on makeshift weapons. "Again," she commanded.

Wooden staves struck in unison. Footwork pounded against hard earth. Voices grunted with effort. Raven walked through them, sharp-eyed, correcting posture, stance, reaction time, her aura crackling restlessly beneath her skin.
Since that day, she hadn't slept more than an hour without waking in a cold sweat.

Since the Worm. She inhaled slowly. She could still taste blood in the air.

Memory:

It had moved too fast. Raven's sword barely intercepted the blur before it tore through her aura like wet paper. She'd never seen anything like it, Grimm-speed, Grimm-flexibility, but with something else behind its eyes. Intelligence. Recognition. Hunger. She barely killed it. Barely.

Her final strike cleaved the creature's body apart, only for its segmented frame to twitch even after death, like it refused to accept it. She turned around and once she suddenly felt something snapped.

Her aura had burned away. Her arms were numb. Her vision tunneled. She opened a portal by instinct alone. Straight to Patch. Straight to home. Smoke hit her first.

Then shattered wood. Crumpled walls.
A broken porch. The remnants of Tai's house, cut open as if by claws too sharp to be natural.
Raven stumbled forward, still bleeding, still shaking. "Tai...? Tai!" Her voice broke. She found him half-buried under rubble, unmoving.

No pulse. No breath. His eyes were closed, like he had been trying to protect something, or someone, when the destruction hit. Raven felt her heart tear in half. She dropped to her knees beside him.

"Tai… no… no…"
Her fingers curled into his shirt.
She bowed her head against his chest.
For the first time in years, she let herself cry.
The Worm she killed wasn't the only one.
Something else had passed through here.

Something faster.
Something smarter.
Something stronger.
And Tai had paid the price.

When she finally swallowed the last of her sob, she whispered: "I wasn't here. I wasn't here to protect you." And another truth followed, the one that knifed deepest: "And I wasn't here to protect our girls."

Back to the Present
"NO!" Raven snapped, striking a villager's staff with her own. "Your footwork is sloppy. Grimm would have torn out your throat by now."

The man flinched and corrected himself. Raven stepped back, breathing hard. They feared her. They respected her. They obeyed her. But that wasn't enough.

These people needed more than fear. They needed to survive something the world wasn't ready to name. She exhaled slowly.
"If the Worms come here," she said quietly, "your hesitation will kill you. Again." The villagers looked at her, confused. Raven rarely explained herself. Today, she forced herself to.

"You aren't training for bandits or Grimm or Huntsmen. You're training for something new."
She tightened her grip on her sword. "Something I barely survived." Whispers spread through the group. Raven ignored them. She looked toward the cloudy horizon, wind tugging at her cloak. If you were to look at her face you could almost see a strange engery surrounding her eyes, showing the hint of a maiden.
Somewhere out beyond those mountains, her daughters were walking toward Beacon.

Unaware...
Unprepared....

And Tai was already gone.
Raven closed her eyes. "I failed once," she whispered. "I will not fail them again." She raised her sword.

"Again!" And the villagers trained harder, because their new protector was a woman who had seen death take everything from her…and refused to let it take anything more.