[RWBY] Cuts of RWBY

[AndrewJTalon]

Just a place for my stray RWBY Plot bunnies and ideas to go.

- - -

"Pyrrha. We need to talk."

It had come out of the blue. Jaune had looked uncharacteristically serious one afternoon after classes. He had taken her aside as they stood out of the way of the other students shuffling out of the classroom.

"We do?" Pyrrha asked quietly.

Jaune nodded.

"We do. Roof. Ten minutes."

It was so surprising, and for that reason it's why Pyrrha found herself on the roof where they trained. Jaune stood there, looking a bit awkward but very serious. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking very serious. Far from the usual goofball he presented himself.

She had to admit, it was very handsome on his usually goofy, handsome face.

"What is it, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked politely.

Jaune took a deep breath and hesitated… But he pushed through that to speak seriously.

"... For days now, you've been acting like you've got the fate of the world on your shoulders. Normally, I'd let it pass... But you're my friend, Pyrrha. My partner. I can tell it's bothering you."

He looked at her gently.

"So... Are you going to tell me what it is?"

Pyrrha, remembering Ozpin's words of secrecy, tried to deflect.

"It's... just the tournament and everything involved with it, there's a lot of expectations and-"

Jaune shook his head.

"Pyrrha. I know I can be dense... But I know when you're hurting from a deadly secret. I've carried one myself. We're partners. If you're compromised in some way, it might get both of us killed. So please... Tell me."

Pyrrha was still reluctant. Again, Ozpin's words to keep this secret flashed through her mind.

She was strong. She could handle this on her own.

That is why she was chosen, wasn't it?

"I... I can't really say it. Ozpin, everyone... it's something very sensitive..."

Jaune walked up, and rested his hands on her bare shoulders. He looked her right in the eyes, and she flushed at how close he was.

"Pyrrha. This isn't some copyright dispute with your cereal company. This is life or death."

Pyrrha breathed in deeply. Her feelings warred with her duty. Having Jaune this close made the decision much harder.

Yet… What should she choose in this situation?

The man who put this weight on her shoulders… Or the man offering to share it with her? Her partner?

Pyrrha very slowly nodded.

"... Okay... but I'm only telling this because... you have a right to know. You're my teammate, my partner."

She sat down on a crate they'd dragged up to the roof as a chair. Jaune sat down with her on a matching crate. He left one hand on her shoulder, and leaned forward.

"So?" Jaune prompted.

Pyrrha looked aside, awkwardly, before she slowly looked back at him.

"Professor Ozpin is trusting me with the powers of a woman named Amber. She's dying, and the person who put her in a bad way already has half her power. They're hoping that if they can give me what power she has left, I can get the rest of it back."

Jaune blinked.

"What kind of power?" Jaune asked.

Pyrrha shook her head.

"I don't know exactly, but they're incredible. Powerful enough to kill people over. To work with Roman Torchwick and the White Fang to get at."

Jaune's jaw dropped. His eyes looked back and forth, processing this. The keen mind that vanished behind his goofy antics was hard at work behind his eyes.

"It seems like... A lot of things are happening. All these Grim attacks. These powers... White Fang..."

He shook his head.

"I don't know what it all adds up to. But... You're involved in it now. And I want to help you, however I can."

He took her hand, and squeezed it tightly.

"So... How do you feel about all this? I mean... It's obviously a lot, I uh... What I mean is, how are you handling this?"

Pyrrha smiled softly. He could still be a goober, but his was so sincere.

"Honestly? I'm scared."

Jaune stared at her, and pulled her back into a hug.

"... I'd be scared too. Hell... I'd be crying. Like a baby."

"I feel like doing that sometimes," Pyrrha admitted softly. Jaune tightened his hug, and she breathed out a soft, happy sigh.

She would have killed to have him this close before! But now… It was cast in this melancholy shadow.

"So, uh… Have you been training your new powers?" Jaune asked.

Pyrrha shook her head.

"I haven't even gotten them yet."

Jaune blinked.

"... Did Ozpin tell you what they actually are? Or how to use them?"

"No, and... there's a huge risk in even transferring the powers."

Jaune's eyes narrowed.

"What kind of risk?"

"... That I might lose myself," Pyrrha admitted, with some difficulty, "That I might stop being Pyrrha. I-I might just… Become someone else."

Jaune stood up, furious. Pyrrha leaned back in shock as he got up and swore.

"What the fuck... What the hell is he playing at?!"

He stomped around angrily.

"Who does he think he is, some wizard in a children's book?! This is life or death and he's-What, playing fucking games?!"

Honestly, she'd never seen him so furious before... On her behalf! Her heart fluttered.

"J-Jaune..."

He turned back to her, and took her hand. She rose up back onto her feet as he held her palms between his. He was so… Empathic. It made her head feel light, how intense he was!

"Damnit... Pyrrha? Tomorrow we are going right to Ozpin, and we're getting some damn answers! Nora and Ren too! You shouldn't have to carry this burden all on your own, without knowing all the details! We're a team! And we support eachother!"

Pyrrha smiled warmly, fighting back some tears. She'd felt so alone, so worried, and yet… Her partner was there for her. Like he always had been.

"Thank you. Thank you so much Jaune."

Jaune was angrily muttering, distracted.

"Goddamnit he's so... Urgh... I'd... If he doesn't tell us all the details, I'm gonna sic Nora on him! I'll tell her he's gonna ban pancakes from the school! I'll let her break his LEGS! Erasing you, what does he think he's doing putting this all on you?! I'll!"

She hugged him tightly.

"Thank you," she said, much more firmly. She smiled lovingly into his eyes. He stuttered, and then flushed.
"I... Oh… Well... You're my partner, Pyrrha. I'd do anything for you. Because you'd do anything for me."

He was so close to her... He was warm... And well... Given her emotional state… She pressed forward with pursed lips.

They met together. With the setting sun, the stars peeking out of the twilight overhead, the silence, and the warmth of his skin and body… It was magical.

Everything was perfect… Then Jaune jerked back with a start.

"Ah... Sorry-!"

"N-No, no, I'm sorry," Pyrrha said quickly, shaking her head. "I-I just couldn't-!"

"It was my bad and I'm… I didn't mean to-"

"I wanted it!"

Jaune stared at her. She had never felt more terrified in her life than at this moment. She felt like she was holding onto him for dear life.

"I wanted it," she repeated firmly.

Jaune stared at her in silence for a long time. He blinked. He blinked again.

"Pyrrha, I…"

He coughed.

"Do… Do you want to kiss some more?"

Pyrrha laughed.

"Y-Yes! YES!"

He pressed his lips to hers, and everything was perfect again.

- - -

Feel free to post your own, as I've got a lot more coming.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I also had an evil idea for a short: Blake and Yang take down Adam, Blake tries to confess to Yang... But...

Yang: "Oh, sorry. I'm with Jaune."

They share a messy kiss as Blake gapes.

Blake: "Wh-What?! YANG!"

Yang: cuddling with Jaune "Mm?"

Blake: "Wha-How could you be dating Jaune?!"

Yang: "Well, he was there for me when I lost my arm. We stayed in contact. We bonded over our trauma... I mean, I did have to jump him to make it clear I wanted him but..." Silly perverted grin "No complaints there. He always knows how to ARC my back~."

Jaune: blush "Yang..."

Yang: "What? I always wanted a little Jaune in me. Or not so little."

Jaune: blush "Yang...!"

Sun also shows up. Blake is like "Oh hey, he's simping for me, we can get back together!" And he just says hi to Blake before he kisses Weiss.

Blake: "Wait what?!"

Sun: "Oh, hey Blake!"

Blake: "Wha-How do you know each other?!"

Sun: "We've been texting and emailing each other since Beacon."

Blake: "Huh?! But you were-You were all about me!"

Sun: "I helped you out, but you just wanted to be friends. Weiss didn't want to be."

Weiss: "He's a good man, he's hot, and he pisses off my dad!" Smirk as she snuggles with Sun

Qrow appears, and hands a baby over to Yang and Jaune.

Qrow: "Picked him up from the babysitters."

Yang: "Thanks Uncle Qrow!"

Jaune: "Thank you so much!"

Blake: "WHA-YOU HAVE A BABY?!"

Jaune: "Uh yeah."

Yang: "We're also married."

Blake: "MARRIED?!"

Jaune: "We sent you a text but you never answered."

Ruby: "Awww... Hey baby Nick! Auntie Ruby is here!"

The baby giggles.

Blake: "I... Did I seriously not notice?! How?!"

Weiss: evil smile "You do tend to be utterly oblivious to anything that doesn't directly involve you, after all."

Blake: "No I'm not!"

Nora: "YAY! I'm pregnant!"

Blake: "YOU'RE WHAT?!"

Nora: "What, didn't you know? I-"

Blake: "ARRRRGGGHHHH!" She storms off

Nora: "-just found out right now! Way to go, Renny!"

Ren: looking like a dried husk "Y-Yeah... I'm... So happy..."

- - -

I mean, it can't go past a short because any more would come off as bashing, but it would be funny to just play up Canon!Blake's self-absorption until it's completely ridiculous.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Now, I don't mind Jaune Harems. I like them when they're well done, but I don't take them too seriously. This idea is that rather than Jaune starting it up... His mother, after learning he's at Beacon, storms in and makes things clear:

If he's going to be a Huntsman, he had BETTER give her GRANDBABIES!

And so she decides to "help" him...

- - -

Isabel: "Glynda! You're going to turn into a spinster!"

Glynda: "I'm only thirty-!"

Isabel: "YOUR EGGS ARE DRYING UP! HERE!" shoves Jaune at her "MY SON IS VIRILE ENOUGH TO KNOCK YOU UP UNTIL YOU'RE FIFTY!"

Glynda: "But-But he's my student-!"

Isabel: "That's spinster talk! GIVE ME SOME GRANDKIDS!"

- - -

Weiss: "Ah, Mrs. Arc, I don't really-?"

Isabel: "Listen, I understand my boy didn't do a good job of courting you. I'm so sorry. But look!" Hands her photos and video "Take another look, hm? Now that you're at least friends?"

Weiss: looks at the images and video of Jaune shirtless and doing farm chores... Blushes "O-Oh... My... He's so... Filthy!"

Isabel: "Yes. He knows how to do a man's work! Get his hands dirty and rough, work up a sweat, and survive in the wild! Better than any prissy Atlasian noble your father's tried to force upon you, right?"

Weiss: "I-I well, um, I-I mean-!"

Isabel: "How about you hold onto these... And think it over, hmmm?"

Weiss: bright red "I-I just, I mean, oh...!"

- - -

Pyrrha: "Mrs. Arc, I... I'm so glad to meet you. Your son is my partner, my friend, he's such a wonderful person-!"

Isabel: "And you're in love with him but he can't tell and you can't say it, right?"

Pyrrha: "..." Bright red

isabel: laughs "Oh it's all right, sweetie! I was the same way with Jaune's father! He was so dense and I was so shy, it was ridiculous! But you know, there is a way to get past his obliviousness and your own fears."

Pyrrha: "Wh-What?"

Isabel: "Are you sure? You don't seem very strong willed-"

Pyrrha: leans forward, eyes wide "Mrs. Arc. I swear... I want him. I WANT TO HAVE TWELVE CHILDREN WITH HIM."

Isabel: "WONDERFUL! That's the proper attitude, young lady! It's very simple: Be absolutely direct. Sit him down and make it clear you love him and want to have his children."

Pyrrha: "That... That worked?!"

Isabel: "Of course it worked! ... Though some bondage did help."

Pyrrha: pulls out her notepad and a pencil "Tell me more, Mother-in-Law!"

Isabel: "Certainly my dear!"

- - -

Yang: "So, you're Vomit Boy's mom?"

Isabel: "Aw, you have pet names already? Wonderful!"

Yang: "Er, no, I mean, we're-we're just friends! Sort of-"

Isabel: "Yang Xiaolong, my dear. I was once in your position, long ago. A mere Double-Dee cup."

Yang: "Eh?!"

Isabel: "Just coasting through life having freedom and adventures and bar fights... But then I realized that what I really wanted? Was a family. My parents both died when I was young, I had to fend for myself. I was all alone... And then I met Nick. Here was a man who would never, ever abandon me. Who would love me and give me a home, and family. I mean, I still enjoy a proper bar brawl, but it's far better with a home of love and family to come back to. It really is."

Yang: sniffle "... H-How do you...?"

Isabel: "Raven Branwen is just that big of a cunt, Yang. She is the universal example of the worst mother in Remnant. It's okay." hugs her "It's all right... I'm here for you."

Yang: "Holy... Shit... What's happening...?" cries as Isabel comforts her

After a good cry and a pep talk...

Yang: "Thank you... I-I just... I could never put all that into words with anyone..."

Isabel: "It's all right, dear, it's all right... But of course, this is why I must forbid you from dating my son."

Yang: "Wait what?!"

Isabel: nods gravely "Yes, even though I think you two would be perfect together, there's no way a rebellious girl like you would ever be tempted to settle down with him, or share your life with him, or have nine children with him. Sorry, but I must forbid it. You're just not the sort of girl who would be interested in that kind of thing with him."

Yang: "I ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE! I-I'D BE THE BEST WIFE AND MOM EVER! AND I'D HAVE PLENTY OF KIDS WITH HIM!"

Isabel: "Pyrrha says she wants twelve kids with him."

Yang: "WHAT?! THAT SKANK-I'LL HAVE FOURTEEN WITH HIM!"

Isabel: "I'll believe it when I see it!"

Yang: "YOU'RE ON, YOU OLD HAG! YOUR SON IS GONNA BE CALLING ME MOMMY!"

Isabel: smirks on the inside "Sure you will~!" Kukuku... Just as planned!

- - -

Blake was reading in the library, trying to escape how weird everything had gotten...

Isabel: "Hello Blake!"

Blake: "Oh. Hello Mrs. Arc."

Isabel just sits there. Blake frowns but goes back to her book. Isabel keeps sitting there.

This persists for about two minutes before Blake sighs.

Blake: "... Can I help you with something?"

Isabel: "I just wanted to visit with you, since I'm getting to know all of my Jaune's friends."

Blake: "We're... I mean... We're sort of friends? But we don't really talk."

Isabel: "Ah. That's unfortunate."

Blake: "I'm not really in the mood to date, what with my ex being... Uh..."

Isabel: "A murderous psychopath?"

Blake: blinks "How does everyone keep finding out about that?"

Isabel: "Blake, dear, you didn't even change your name when you joined the school."

Blake: "Oh... Right..."

Isabel: "Hmmm..." Peers over to see the book Blake is really reading behind her book "Oh! I recognize that! Ninjas of Love, right?"

Blake: "I uh... Well, yes. I happen to like it-"

Isabel: "Oh good! So do I! My eldest daughter wrote it!"

Blake: jaw drops "What?!"

Isabel: "Saphron Terra-Cotta? That's my girl! She did need some references for some of the artwork and dialogue, so she used Jaune! Poor boy, having to go around in ninja gear..."

Blake: "W-Wait... Which character?"

Isabel: "Oh, um... Hmmm... Sora, I think?"

Blake: turns bright red

Isabel: "Dear, are you all right?"

Blake: The character I've written the most smut for...? Oh no...

Blake: "F-Fine!"

Isabel: "Well, I don't want to make it seem like I'm pressuring every girl to give me grandbabies, mind you. That would be ridiculous! I suppose that's the Faunus in me."

Blake: "Faunus?!"

She sniffs... Yes... Isabel has a trace of Faunus in her scent.

Isabel: "Oh, yes. We're distantly related to Lowe Aslan, the Lion Lord of the Faunus? It's not a big deal, really. His kingdom is long gone, after all, but it's a nice mark of pride for us. No pun intended."

Blake: slightly faint "Y-You... You mean you're descended... From Lowe Aslan, the Golden Lion Lord? The Breaker of Chains!? The one who started the Faunus Revolution?!"

Isabel: "Yes! We are very proud to have such a lineage. It's regrettable how things have gone between Faunus and humans in recent years, don't you think? It would be nice to make progress towards a more equal future again."

Blake: bright red "... Y-Yes, that would be good..."

Isabel: "But as I was saying, there's no need for me to push you at my Jaune. It would be completely unnatural and unfair."

Blake: "Y-Yes... Yes, very unfair..."

Isabel: beams "But you know, one whiff of a fertile girl and I can't help thinking about grandchildren. Sorry about that."

Blake: "D-Don't apologize for your Faunus roots! That's totally fine! Absolutely fine... Just out of curiosity, where is your son now?"

Isabel: "He's in training at the gym."

Blake: "Excuse me." She hurries off

Isabel: Waits... Then dials a number on her scroll "Kali?"

Kali: "Yes Isabel?'

Isabel: "Operation Grandkitties is go!"

Kali: "HUZZAH!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Our heroes are working in the weapons maintenance class. Jaune is working with Ruby to reforge Crocea Mors.

Ruby: "Don't worry, Jaune! I'll make your sword even better than before!"

Jaune: "Thanks Ruby, I don't want my family weapon to just fall apart."

Ruby: "It's not that bad, but it could use some tender loving care! Don't you, baby?"

Jaune: "Uh... Yeah."

Ruby: "Ooh! And I can add a gun to it!"

Jaune: "Er... No."

Ruby: "What? Come on! What's wrong with a gun? It'll be a big help-!"

Jaune: "I know Ruby, but uh... It's an Arc Family thing. See, whenever we get a gun? We... Change."

Ruby: "Change? Change how?"

Jaune: "Uh, forget it! I shouldn't have said anything! Just-No guns, okay?"

Ruby: looking suspicious "Hmmm..." Brightens "Okay!"

Jaune: sighs in relief

Later... When Jaune isn't looking... Ruby gets a Winchester Arms 45 pistol, and sneaks it with her when Teams RWBY and JNPR go on a training mission into the Emerald Forest.

She waits... She waits... She waits... Gets bored, eats cookies... Waits... But then...!

Jaune: "GRIMM INBOUND!"

They fight a pack of Beowulves. Jaune is doing pretty well... But a lucky strike from an Ursa knocks his sword out of his hands.

Jaune: "Shit-!"

Ruby: "JAUNE! CATCH!"

She throws the gun. She also gets Crescent Rose into sniper mode, to shoot and defend Jaune in case whatever happens is dangerous to him.

He catches the gun without thinking, and... A change comes over his. His eyes harden, then widen. He shoots the Ursa in the limbs, then blows it's head off with expert marksmanship.

Jaune: "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET, MOTHERFUCKER!"

The other teams kind of... Pause, as Jaune rampages with the pistol: Blasting apart Grimm while cursing.

Jaune: "YEAH MOTHERFUCKER! THIS IS FOR LIBERTY AND FREEDOM! FUCK YOU, BALLDRAGGERS! RUBY! GET ME MORE CLIPS, DARLING!"

Ruby: "S-Sure!" She tosses them

Jaune: "FUCK YEAH!"

He gets hit by a King Taijitsu, but Jaune just gets right back up and shoots the Grimm in the eyes before punching into its throat and ripping out various organs.

Jaune: "YEAAAAHHH! COAT ME IN YOUR BLOOD YOU MONSTER! TEACH THE REST OF THE GRIMM TO FLEE FROM ME LIKE THE PUSSIES THEY ARE!" He fires repeatedly, blowing away more Beowulves "UP YOUR ASSES, YOU ABOMINATIONS! I'M MAKING THE WORLD SAFE FOR MANKIND AND DEMOCRACY! HOOORAAAAAHHHHH!"

The rest of the Grimm are dispatched. Pyrrha hesitantly approaches Jaune.

Pyrrha: "Um, Jaune? Are you-MMPH?!"

And Jaune yanks her into a tonsil twirling, lewd, messy and noisy kiss.

Jaune: "FWAH! THAT'S FOR BEING A GOOD SOLDIER, PYRRHA! KEEP THIS UP AND I'LL PROMOTE YOU TO MOTHER OF TEN OF MY CHILDREN!"

Pyrrha: bright red, stutters, grins like a schoolgirl "S-Sir, yes sir~!"

Jaune: "HOORAH! GREAT JOB, REN! STONE COLD MOTHERFUCKER, THAT'S YOU! KEEP ICIN' THOSE GRIMM!"

Ren: "... Thank you sir."

Jaune: "NORA! YOU ARE MY DARLING ANGEL OF DESTRUCTION AND YOU'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG! KEEP IT UP!"

Nora: "SIR YES SIR!" salutes

Weiss: "RUBY WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Ruby: "I JUST GAVE HIM A GUN-MMPH?!"

And Jaune kisses her too.

Jaune: "MWAH! GREAT JOB, ROSE! KEEP IT UP AND YOU'LL MAKE SIDEPIECE!"

Ruby: dazed, giggles "O-Okay!"

Yang: "JAUNE! WHAT THE FUCK-?!"

Jaune: "XIAO-LONG! GOOD VIOLENCE! WAY TO MAKE THOSE DAMN GRIMM EAT THEIR SPINES! FUCK 'EM UP LIKE THE BOMBSHELL YOU ARE!"

Yang: "I... Well, yeah, but kissing my sister is way past the line-!"

Jaune: "I'LL GET TO YOU LATER ONCE I'VE CHEWED OUT THE DAMN PRINCESS AND KITTY! SCHNEE!"

Weiss: "Arc, what the hell is-?!"

Jaune: "YOUR ONLY ANSWER SHOULD BE 'SIR YES SIR', SCHNEE! THAT WAS A SHITTY PERFORMANCE, DAMNIT!"

Weiss: "But-I-!"

Jaune: "SIR YES SIR!"

Weiss: "S-SIR YES SIR!"

Jaune: "THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING?! YOUR TEAMMATES NEED YOU TO CAST YOUR MAGIC FUCKING MISSILES, NOT DANCE LIKE A BALLERINA! YOU CAN CAST LIKE A MOTHERFUCKING WIZARD! ACT LIKE IT, SOLDIER!"

Weiss: "S-Sir yes sir!"

Jaune: "BELLADONNA! FRONT AND CENTER!"

Blake: "I don't really know what's-!"

Ruby: "YOU HEARD HIM, SOLDIER! FRONT AND CENTER!"

Blake: startled, but obeys

Jaune: "YOUR NINJA SHIT IS GOOD, SOLDIER! BUT YOUR FAUNUS WOE IS ME SHIT DON'T FLY OUT HERE WHEN YOU'VE GOT GRIMM TRYING TO EAT YOU FROM THE ASSHOLE UP!"

Blake: "Wha-What does that even mean-?"

Jaune: "SIR YES SIR!"

Blake: "S-SIR YES SIR!"

Jaune: "YOUR PARTNER WAS GETTIN' SWARMED, BELLADONNA! SHAPE UP AND LOOK OUT FOR HER OR I'LL HAVE YOU COURT MARTIALED! THEN YOU'LL GET A REAMING LIKE ONLY IN YOUR DAMN SMUT BOOKS! IS THAT CLEAR?!"

Blake: "S-SIR YES SIR!"

Jaune: "ALL RIGHT! WE SURVIVED! BUT WE CAN AFFORD TO DO BETTER!! EVERYONE DROP AND GIVE ME FIFTY, DAMNIT!"

Professor Port: "Teams RWBY and JNPR! You passed the test, why are you still here?"

Jaune: "SIR! MY TEAMS ARE NOT PERFORMING AS WELL AS THEY CAN, SIR! SO I AM INSTRUCTING THEM AND HARDENING THEM FOR THE NEXT ENGAGEMENT, SIR!"

Weiss: "Help us Professor, he's gone insane-!"

Port: "Ah! Carry on, Mister Arc! Miss Rose! It's good to see some of the old Valean fire still exists!"

Jaune: "SIR! CAN WE GET SOME AIR SUPPORT ON THE NEXT MISSION, SIR?!"

Port: "I'll see what I can do. I miss the old days. Ah, the smell of napalm in the morning. Smelled like victory!"

Jaune: "SIR YES SIR!"

- - -

Jaune sees Cardin picking on Velvet.

Jaune: "Geez... I gotta do something..."

Nora: "GO ON, SARGE! KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO HIM!"

Jaune: "Nora, I told you, I'm not gonna do that again! It's too freaky-!"

Ruby, Pyrrha, Yang, and Weiss all shove guns into Jaune's hands.

Blake: "Wait, seriously?!"

Weiss: blush "It-It's about time he took charge!"

Yang: blush "Yeah! Vomit Boy's never been better with a gun in his hand!"

Pyrrha: blush "I-I don't want to be kissed again, or-or anything!"

Ruby: blush "I WANT TO GET KISSED AGAIN!"

Yang: "RUBY!"

Ruby: "WHAT?!"

Jaune has gotten up from his seat and stormed up to Cardin, who is unaware of Jaune's change.

Cardin: "The hell do you want, Jaune-?!"

Jaune: "THAT'S SARGE TO YOU, SOLDIER! OR SIR! OR THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD ALMIGHTY! ATTEN HUT!"

Cardin, shocked, nevertheless feels some compulsion to stand at attention.

Cardin: "What the-?!"

Velvet: "J-Jaune, what are you-?!"

Jaune: "YOU TOO, SOLDIER!"

Velvet: "E-EEP!" She does so "Yes sir!"

Jaune: "NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I SEEN SUCH DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT! WE ARE AT WAR! GLORIOUS WAR, FOR THE SAKE OF FREEDOM, LIFE, AND DEMOCRACY AGAINST THE GRIMM MENACE! WHETHER YOU ARE BLACK, WHITE, MALE, FEMALE, GAY, STRAIGHT, FAUNUS, MAN, HOT, NOT-HOT, OR EVEN BRITISH, WE HAVE A COMMON ENEMY! WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS, SOLDIERS! YOU WILL NOT ACT SO DISGRACEFULLY AGAIN! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"

Cardin and Velvet: "SIR YES SIR!"

Jaune: "YOUR ATTEMPTS AT MAKING OUT ARE PITIFUL!"

Cardin: "S-Sir?!"

Jaune: "SCHNEE! FRONT AND CENTER!"

Weiss: "Huh?!"

Jaune: "ON THE DOUBLE!"

Weiss: "Y-Yes sir!"

Weiss quickly rushes up to Jaune's side. Jaune then proceeds to dip her in a tonsil clearing kiss that leaves Weiss bright red and panting happily after.

Jaune: "THAT THERE IS PROPER MAKEOUT PROCEDURE! WHAT YOU TWO ARE DOING IS AN UTTER DISGRACE! IT MAKES ME SICK!"

Cardin: "B-But we aren't-We weren't-!"

Jaune: "BUT! BUT! BUTTTT! BUTTS ARE WHAT I'M GONNA KICK IF YOU TWO DON'T SHAPE UP! NOW WINCHESTER!"

Cardin: "S-Sir!"

Jaune: "YOU ARE GOING TO HOLD YOUR SISTER-IN-ARM'S HAND!"

Cardin: "Sir?!"

Jaune: "ON THE DOUBLE, PUSSY!"

Cardin takes Velvet's hand.

Jaune: "VERY GOOD, WINCHESTER! YOU CAN USE YOUR GODDAMNED OPPOSABLE THUMBS! FUCKING BRILLIANT! NOW SOLDIER, IS IT NICE HOLDING HANDS WITH A HOT ALL-VALEAN BUNNY GIRL?!"

Velvet: "Um, I'm from Atlas, sort of-"

Jaune: "DID I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO SPEAK, SCARLATINA?!"

Velvet: "EEP! N-NO SIR!"

Jaune: "THEN SHUT YOUR YAP! WINCHESTER, REPORT!"

Cardin: "Y-Yes sir, I like holding hands!"

Jaune: "SCARLATINA! DO YOU LIKE HOLDING HANDS?!"

Velvet: "Y-YES SIR!"

Jaune: "THAT'S GODDAMNED LEWD, SOLDIER! THE BEST KIND OF LEWD! WINCHESTER!"

Cardin: "Sir!"

Jaune: "YOU WILL GO BOND WITH YOUR SISTER-IN-ARMS! YOU WILL TAKE HER ON A DATE! YOU WILL DRESS NICE! YOU WILL ENSURE THAT YOU BOTH HAVE A GOOD TIME!"

Cardin: "Uh, sir-"

Jaune: "DID I ASK YOU A QUESTION, SOLDIER?!"

Cardin: "N-no sir!"

Jaune: "GOOD! ASK HER OUT, SOLDIER!"

Cardin: "DO YOU-Er... Do you want to go out?"

Velvet: "I uh... I mean... Sure?"

Jaune: "THAT IS PUSSY TALK, SCARLATINA! YES OR NO, SOLDIER?!"

Velvet: "Y-YES! YES I WILL GO OUT WITH HIM!"

Jaune: "GOOD! NOW! AFTER YOU HAVE A GOOD DATE, YOU WILL THEN ENGAGE IN COITUS! AND YOUR BONDS WILL DEEPEN SO YOU WILL BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE GLORIOUS FIGHT AGAINST THE GRIMM MENACE! AND THEN YOU MAY CONTINUE TO GO ON DATES, THEN MARRIAGE AS THE FINAL STEP IN FORTIFYING YOUR BONDS! IS THAT CLEAR?!"

Velvet and Cardin: "SIR YES SIR!"

Jaune: "GET ON IT!"

The two head off, still holding hands, blushing and looking very confused.

Weiss: "Uh... Jaune, I'm... A little confused-"

Jaune: slaps her bottom

Weiss: "EEP!"

Jaune: "I'M TRYING TO TURN RACISM INTO HAPPY BONDING BETWEEN SOLDIERS, SCHNEE! IF IT WORKS, WE'LL HAVE ONE MORE PAIR OF COMRADES IN ARMS WHO WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR THEIR HAPPY ENDING! A HAPPY ENDING INVOLVING POTENTIALLY DOZENS OF NEW SOLDIERS FOR THE GLORIOUS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY!"

Weiss: "Y-Yessir!"

Jaune: "AS YOU WERE, SCHNEE!"

Weiss: "... Making out with you?"

Jaune: "YES!"

Weiss: blush "SIR YES SIR!"

- - -

Later, after emotions and hormones have died down a lot and Jaune is more clear headed...

Weiss: "But... How? Why?"

Jaune: "No clue. Maybe it's some kind of wacky Semblance for my family? But yeah, the moment we get a gun or smell napalm... We kind of change."

Yang: grins "Hoorah! It's awesome, Jaune!"

Ruby: pouts "You're only saying that because of that kiss!"

Yang: blush "Well, that and the way he fed that Ursa its spleen was art, Ruby. Now, go on and play with your toys, the adults are talking-"

Ruby: "I'M THE ONE WHO FIGURED IT OUT! I GAVE HIM THE GUN!"

Jaune: "LADIES! ENOUGH! Geez...!"

Weiss: "But... Your whole family?! I-I just... It's too insane! It makes no sense!"

Jaune: "Well what else could it be?!"

Blake: "You're mentally ill and just made up that story to appease us for some reason?"

Jaune: sighs "Hang on..." He makes a call "Hey, Terra? Yeah, can you put Saphron on? Give me a second."

Jaune plugs his Scroll into a holoprojector, and in an instant, Saphron and Terra Cotta-Arc, Jaune's sister and sister-in-law, are on screen. They have baby Adrian with them, too.

Jaune: "Hey Sis."

Saphron: "Hey Jaune! What's up?"

Jaune: sigh "I got a gun in my hand and-"

Saphron: nods sagely "Ahhhh. They don't believe you, huh?"

Jaune: "Nope."

Saphron hands Adrian to Terra. Terra hands Saprhon a gun. Saphron sucks in a deep breath... Then glares.

Saphron: "LISTEN YOU STD RIDDEN WHORES! MY BROTHER'S RIGHT! PUT A GUN IN AN ARC'S HAND AND WE BECOME LEAN, MEAN, FIGHTIN' MARINES FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY! NOW YOU BITCHES BETTER BEHAVE YOURSELVES AND GIVE MY BROTHER A HORDE OF NEPHEWS AND NIECES FOR ME TO SPOIL, MOTHERFUCKERS!"

Jaune: "Saphron, woah, I think that's enough-"

Saphron: "DON'T TALK TO ME WHEN YOU'RE BEING A PUSSY, JAUNE!"

Jaune: "FINE!" He grabs his gun "DON'T GIVE ME THAT LIP, SOLDIER, OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MOTHER FUCKING PROBLEMS!"

Saphron: "DON'T GIVE ME LIP, PUSSY! NOT UNLESS YOU CAN BACK IT UP!"

Jaune: "FINE! OLD ARC MARINE TRADITION! WHOEVER KILLS THE MOST MOTHERFUCKING GRIMM IN AN HOUR WINS!"

Saphron: "FINE BY ME! I LOVE YOU, YOU LITTLE FUCKING PUSSY BROTHER OF MINE!"

Jaune: "I LOVE YOU TOO, BIG SISTER BITCH!"

They both run off. Weiss is gaping in disbelief.

Weiss: "Wha... But... WHY DID YOU HAVE A GUN READY TO GO LIKE THAT?!"

Terra: blush "... It's Friday night for us, so-"

Weiss: "NEVERMIND! FORGET I ASKED!"

Blake: "I wouldn't mind hearing more-"

Weiss: "DAMNIT BLAKE!"

- - -

Headmaster Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch wait in the former's office. And naturally, there is a certain subject that Goodwitch would like to talk about.

Goodwitch: "Headmaster, I was dubious at best when you let Jaune Arc in. Now, I think we might be better off expelling him."

Ozpin: "Nonsense! Student morale has never been higher. The use of Dust grenades and air support has greatly improved our mission success and the defenses of Vale! Even the exchange students are getting along! The young man has great charisma!"

Goodwitch: "He firebombed the Emerald Forest!"

Ozpin: "They're trees, they'll grow back."

Goodwitch: sighs "He also seems to have lost his indoor voice."

Ozpin: "Glynda, the Arc Family are fearsome warriors, but to become so, they gained some... Eccentricities. But I assure you, it is well worth it to allow these eccentricities."

The elevator doors open, and Jaune Arc steps out. He walks up to the desk and salutes.

Jaune: "HEADMASTER! PROFESSOR! I HAVE BROUGHT PAPERWORK THAT REQUIRES YOUR ATTENTION, SIR AND MA'AM!"

Glynda: sighs

Ozpin: "What kind of paperwork, Mister Arc?"

Jaune: "PER YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO FIND MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT IN BEACON'S OPERATIONS, I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF ASKING MY SISTER-IN-LAW FOR ASSISTANCE! SHE HAS PROVIDED SOFTWARE PROGRAMS THAT WILL ALLOW PAPERWORK TO BE COMPLETED IN MINUTES INSTEAD OF DAYS, WITH ONLY A MINOR INCREASE IN THE IT BUDGET, SIR AND MA'AM!"

Glynda looks it over. Her eyes widen in shock.

Glynda: "I... They would... Will you sign off on it, Headmaster?"

Ozpin: "Of course! Anything to make your paperwork load more manageable, Glynda. I asked Mister Arc to look into this with you in mind."

Jaune: "SIR YES SIR! LOGISTICS IS THE KEY TO MILITARY OPERATIONS! IMPROVING LOGISTICS IMPROVES EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THE MILITARY LIFE, SIR AND MA'AM!"

Goodwitch: "Well... Uh... Thank you, Mister Arc, Headmaster. It's very much appreciated."

Jaune: "IN ADDITION! THIS WILL GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO DATE, MA'AM!"

Goodwitch: "I'm sorry?"

Jaune: "A BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT, AND POWERFUL HUNTRESS LIKE YOURSELF SHOULD NOT BE CHAINED TO A DESK, MA'AM! YOU SHOULD GET TO ENJOY ALL ASPECTS OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, INCLUDING A HAPPY MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN IF YOU SO WISH! IF IT WAS NOT AGAINST SCHOOL REGULATIONS, I MYSELF WOULD HAPPILY FATHER YOUR CHILDREN IF ALLOWED, MA'AM!"

Goodwitch burns bright red and gapes at him. He's yelling, but he doesn't change his tone.

Ozpin: smirks and hides a chuckle "Very good, Mister Arc, though a bit forward."

Jaune: "SIR YES SIR! I ALSO FOUND MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR FLIGHT TRAINING, TO GIVE US READY CLOSE AIR SUPPORT!"

Ozpin: "Really? That much? From where?"

Jaune: "THE COFFEE BUDGET, SIR! IT IS EXCESSIVELY LARGE FOR THE INSTITUTION!"

Ozpin: coughs "That-I'm afraid the coffee budget is non-negotiable-"

Goodwitch: evil grin "It sounds wonderful to me, Mister Arc! Headmaster Ozpin will sign off on that, count on it." Glares death at Ozpin

Ozpin: coughs "I'll... Consider it. Anything else, Mister Arc?"

Jaune: "SIR! MY FEMALE TEAMMATES HAVE REQUESTED THE OPTION OF MATERNITY LEAVE! AS SERGEANT, I HAVE RESPECTFULLY DECLINED THEIR REQUESTS BUT MUST PASS THEIR REQUESTS TO MY COMMANDING OFFICER PER REGULATIONS! WHILE I INTEND TO HAVE MANY CHILDREN BECAUSE LARGE LOVING FAMILIES ARE THE FRUITS OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE ALLOW SO MANY EXCEPTIONAL FRONT-LINE FIGHTERS TO BE OUT OF ACTION FOR NINE MONTHS AT THIS TIME!"

Ozpin: "Wait, all of them filled out this paperwork?"

Jaune: "SIR YES SIR!"

Ozpin: "Couldn't you just impregnate them one at a time?"

Jaune: "NO SIR! SUCH A THING IS ANATHEMA TO THE ARC FAMILY'S DEDICATION TO FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, SIR! WHEN SO MANY BEAUTIFUL SOLDIERS REQUEST YOU IMPREGNATE THEM, IT'S ALL OR NOTHING, SIR! HOORAAH!"

Ozpin: "I uh... I see... Well, I'll just hold onto that paperwork and file it when it's more appropriate."

Jaune: "YES SIR AND MA'AM!"

Ozpin: "Dismissed."

Jaune: "YES SIR AND MA'AM!" Salutes, heads out, vanishes in the elevator

Ozpin: "Well... At least he's organized, huh Glynda?"

Goodwitch: staring at the maternity leave paperwork "Why do we even have that paperwork?!"

Ozpin: "Well, it's for the best you know of it now, huh Glynda?"

Glynda rolls up the paperwork and smacks him with it.

- - -

So, what else will Sergeant Jaune Arc do to SAVE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM FROM THE GRIMM MENACE?!

Embark on his own efforts to make propaganda films to fire up the hearts of the citizens?!

Work with Atlas to bring in heavy military weaponry to the curriculum of Beacon?

Jaune: "GENERAL! ROCKET LAUNCHERS SHOULD NOT ONLY BE AVAILABLE, BUT MANDATORY FIELD KIT SIR!"

Ironwood: "... I like your spirit, son."

Jaune: "THANK YOU SIR!"

Use his fiery charisma to inspire the apathetic populace?

Blake: "Okay, we're in the White Fang rally. Everything should be fine if-Wait, why is Jaune mounting the stage?! WHO GAVE HIM A GUN?!"

Pyrrha: "Um... Oops?"

All: "PYRRHA!"

Pyrrha: "I WANTED MORE KISSES!"

Jaune: "SISTERS AND BROTHERS! WHY FIGHT THE HUMANS?! CONFLICT WITH HUMANS ONLY EMBOLDENS OUR TRUE ENEMY, THE GRIMM MENACE! KILLING HUMANS SUCKS! IT INVOLVES ETHICAL QUESTIONS LIKE THE VALUE OF LIFE, THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, AND HOW TO TAKE DOWN A TANK! BUT WITH GRIMM? THE ONLY FUCKING ANSWERS FOR GRIMM IS "OPEN FIRE" AND "RELOAD"! NOBODY'S GONNA QUESTION THE ETHICS OF KILLING A MOTHERFUCKING GRIMM!"

White Fang Members: "Hey, yeah!"

Jaune: "KILLING HUMANS IS BULLSHIT! KILLING GRIMM ADVANCES FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY! AND YOU GET THE MOST BADASS WEAPONS IF YOU WANNA FIGHT GRIMM! LIKE THIS MOTHERFUCKING ATLASIAN PALADIN MECH! WHO WANTS TO SEE ME KILL SOME FUCKING GRIMM WITH IT AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY?!"

White Fang Members: "YEAHHHHHH!"

Jaune: "HOORAH!"

Blake: "... I literally cannot believe that worked."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

-Yang and Jaune are the only members of their team with driver's licenses. Hijinks ensue.

Yang stormed into the common room nearby Team RWBY and JNPR's dorms, her eyes burning red in her anger. She stomped to the cabinet over the kitchenette, and threw it open. She pushed aside the various boxes of snacks and cereal, seeking out her respite... But her search was in vain. She growled angrily.

"Who the hell took my booze?!" She growled.

"Yo."

She turned her fiery glare over at a nearby couch. Jaune Arc sat there, pouring himself a glass of her whiskey!

"That's not yours!" She accused. Usually, Jaune would cringe or even cower when she was really angry. Instead, he glared blearily at her as he held the glass up to his lips.

"I'll buy you another five bottles, but right now? I need it." He threw it back with some familiarity. He still coughed a little, but not nearly as much as she thought Vomit Boy might. He shook his head and made a face. "Gods, this is awful."

"It's my favorite!" Yang growled back, storming over and sitting across from him. She grabbed her own glass and poured herself some. She threw it back, unable to keep one cough from escaping her mouth, nor a wheeze. "Haa... It's supposed to taste like drain cleaner!"

"No, whiskey is supposed to taste like whiskey," Jaune stated firmly, "Not this crap. You're supposed to savor it as you get drunk."

"I don't want to savor it, I wanna be mad and drunk!" Yang growled. Jaune was enough of a gentleman to pour her another, and she was enough of a lady to nod back in appreciation despite her mood.

"Me too, but I'm still a connoisseur," Jaune sniffed.

"That a fancy word for snob?"

"It...!" Jaune paused, and poured himself another glass. "I guess so. What are you mad about?"

Yang sighed in deep anger as she sipped her glass.

"Just because I'm the only one with a freaking driver's license, that makes me the team taxi!"

Jaune nodded.

"Oh Gods, yeah. That's bullshit!"

Yang nodded back enthusiastically, seeing the recognition in his eyes. That mutual sense of being absolutely fucking done.

"YEAH! Why am I suddenly on call 24/7 for every stupid dumbass thing my team gets up to?!" Yang demanded. "Why do I have to risk my dad's car to pick up Blake when she gets in a fight with the White Fang?!"

"I know right?!" Jaune growled, throwing back another glass of the not awful whiskey, thank you very much! "I had to go bail Nora out of jail for trying to steal a sloth from the zoo! THE ZOO! Ren was supposed to be watching her!"

"Why do I have to pick up Weiss's fucking dry cleaning?!" Yang complained, accepting another full glass from Jaune before sipping it angrily. "AND PAY FOR IT?! She's got BUTLERS who can do that for her!"

"As much as I care about Pyrrha," Jaune said, "WHY do I have to pick up her freaking agents and publicists from the airport for her?! They're all so fucking sleazy and slimy and CREEPY! Are they trying to groom her?! If I was her I'd fire them all! OUT OF A CANNON!"

"AND WHY DO I HAVE TO FETCH MY UNCLE EVERY TIME HE'S NAKED AND DRUNK IN PUBLIC?!" Yang roared. She slammed the glass down, almost breaking it as she glared at nothing. "YOU CAN TURN INTO A FUCKING BIRD, DAMNIT!"

Jaune snickered.

"Asshole probably doesn't wanna get cooked."

"I'd cook him!" Yang growled. "I'd cook him with-with fucking shallots and garlic!"

"Crows aren't good for cooking, too lean and gamey," Jaune said with a nod. Yang stared at him, blinked away the fuzzies in her vision.

"But you'd still cook him if I asked, right?"

Jaune finished his latest glass, and nodded, smacking his lips as he wobbled on the other couch.

"Fuck yeah I would. With... With wild mushrooms and field greens. Like Argula... Arugululu... That one."

Yang snorted in laughter.

"You're drunk!"

"Yeah, I wanted to be drunk," Jaune snorted back, giggling a little. He stood up and spread his arms widely. "So I'm drunk! GO ME!"

"WOO! YOU WIN AT GETTING DRUNK!" Yang cheered. She threw back another glass of the whiskey, the burning hitting her so well. "Fuuuuck... Yeah..."

She went to the bottle... Then glared when she found it empty.

"Jaune! Hey, Jaune!"

"Yeah?" Jaune asked.

Yang held up the bottle with a scowl.

"Someone drank our booze!"

"Fuck... I mean... Did we have that much?" Jaune asked, leaning over to stare at the empty bottle. "I don't-I'm drunk, but... I didn't have that much... What proof is this?"

"Realllllyyyy high," Yang giggled, "Fuck! Someone... Someone stole some from us! That dick!"

"Fuck that guy!" Jaune agreed. He looked up at Yang and shared her scowl. "We gotta... We gotta get more, Yang! I'm-I'm not done complaining and being drunk!"

"Me neither!" Yang agreed happily. Jaune stood up, wobbled, and fell over the coffee table onto her. His face landed between her breasts. She laughed uproariously.

"You-Geez, you are drunk!"

"Nuh... Yeah," Jaune mumbled, looking up at her, "Yeah. That's... That's what I wanted... You drunk?"

Yang shrugged.

"Drunk enough," she said. She snickered.

"You went right between my boobs!"

"I couldn't MISS!" Jaune shot back angrily. Yang laughed harder, as Jaune blushed. "S'not funny!"

"So is! I knew you looked at 'em!" She cackled.

"So does everyone else!" Jaune countered. Yang smirked at him, enjoying his anger. It was nice to not be the only wounded party around here, for once.

Like, actually wounded.

"So you admit to it?"

"Yes!" He growled.

"Pyrrha's too?"

"YES!"

"Weiss's..." Yang broke down in laughter. "SHE AIN'T GOT ANY!"

"I KNOW!" Jaune shot back, "She's still hot! You're all so freaking hot!"

"And you go after the slim rich ballerina!" Yang giggled. Jaune scowled.

"What's funny bout-bout that?!"

"Well, if you asked, Pyrrha'd have yer babies," Yang snickered, "Ruby... I'd kill ya, but she'd be down-"

"What about you, huh?" Jaune asked challengingly. Yang smirked back at him.

"Well... That would require you having balls," she teased. "Vombit Oy! Vomit... Bomit Voy..."

"I do have balls!"

"You're on top of me," Yang laughed, "And you're not doing anything-!"

Jaune, driven by alcohol, hormones, and outrage, leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't a childish peck, either-Full tongue action commenced, and Yang was hardly going to let someone invade one of her orifices without challenge.

They made out furiously, sloppily, drunkenly... Before Jaune rolled over and took Yang with him to the floor with a thud.

"OOF!"

Jaune groaned, but he grinned back at her in triumph.

"Who... Doesn't have balls... Now, huh?" He growled.

She pulled him into another kiss, to shut him up.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ozpin calls Jaune into his office.

Ozpin: "Hello my boy. How are you finding Beacon?"

Jaune: "Oh, uh, great so far, Headmaster! Yup! It's challenging, uh, since-"

Ozpin: "You entered as a civilian with no training and falsified transcripts?"

Jaune: "Yeah, I-... Oh shit-!"

Ozpin: "Hahaha! Relax, young man! Do you really think your friends Miss Valkyrie and Mister Ren could attend proper combat schools while living as wandering, homeless orphans? Or that Miss Belladonna had any formal education while she was a terrorist with the White Fang? You passed the Initiation, and that's what matters!"

Jaune: "Oh... Oh thank God. So... So I'm not expelled?"

Ozpin: "Not in the slightest! However... I must request a favor."

Jaune: "Well... I mean, sure? I guess?"

Ozpin: "Jaune. It is a terrible shame your family didn't want you to become a Huntsman, because the Arcs have an incredibly powerful trait: Massive Aura reserves, and Semblances that massively increase Aura in general. Indeed, you have more Aura than me despite our considerable age difference!"

Jaune: "Wow, really?"

Ozpin: "Yes. Properly trained, you will become a great Huntsman, of that I have no doubt... But we must look to the future!"

Jaune: "The future?"

Ozpin: nods "Imagine Huntresses like Miss Nikos, Miss Rose, Miss Xiao-Long, Miss Schnee, Professor Goodwitch and Miss Belladonna. Their incredible Semblances and fighting abilities. Imagine if they had massive Aura reserves to boost their abilities. They would be unstoppable."

Jaune: "Oh... Oh! You think my Semblance might let them become even more powerful?"

Ozpin: "Yes! I suspect that it could! Once you unlock it, if my guess is right based on past members of the Arc family, you'll be able to supercharge them and act as both a Healer and an able Support, while also being tough enough to fight up close!"

Jaune: "Wow... I-I could be... I could be a big help?"

Ozpin: "You could be a tremendous help, Jaune! But you're thinking too small. Again, consider the future. What if there were dozens of such Huntsmen and Huntresses with your massive Aura reserves? Raised by kind, loving parents to protect mankind?"

Jaune: "Uh... Well that would be great, Headmaster. Are you asking me to donate my genetic material or something-?"

Ozpin: "No no no, nothing that impersonal, I'm not some Atlasian mad scientist! No, I think the old fashioned way would be best. And given your parents? You'll have no trouble handling it!"

Jaune: "Handling what?"

Ozpin hands over a book. Jaune reads the title.

Jaune: "... 'How to Manage a Harem'?!"

Ozpin: beams "What do you say?"

Jaune: "..."

Five seconds later, Jaune is at the elevator, frantically hitting the call button.

Ozpin: sighs "I see I'll have to be more persuasive..."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Weiss sighed to herself mentally. Sure, she hated the White Fang. Sure, she understood how Blake wanted to redeem herself by stopping the White Fang's criminal activities. And certainly, she didn't want her company's Dust to be stolen and used for evil purposes.

But this? This was ridiculous!

"Why is Arc with us tonight?" She muttered, as they looked down from a rooftop onto the warehouse where several White Fang terrorists were moving stolen Dust containers. Said Arc was over with Ruby and Blake, talking out their plan while Weiss and Yang kept watch.

Yang beamed.

"Because he figured out the pattern of their heists and where their main Dust gathering place is?" She grinned over at him. "And while Pyrrha, Nora and Ren are in detention, he's got a lot of time on his hands."

"How did they get detention and he didn't?" Weiss muttered.

"It involved Nora, a waffle machine, and I don't want to know more," Yang shuddered. "Still! It's good to have him along. And hey: He hasn't hit on you once, has he?"

Weiss grumbled a bit.

"That doesn't mean I like him at all," she muttered.

"Tsundere~," Yang teased. Weiss shot her a venomous look.

"I am not!"

"Okay! There's the break in the guards," Ruby said, "Torchwick is in there! Let's get him!"

"Right," Jaune said with a nod, "Yang, myself and Weiss will hit the front. Ruby and Blake? Hit the back."

"Make a lot of noise?" Yang asked. Jaune nodded.

"Yep! And Weiss can use her Dust casting to support us from long range and keep us from getting overwhelmed." He gave her an awkward smile.

Weiss huffed.

"I was going to do that anyway," she sniffed.

Jaune nodded quickly.

"Right, right..."

"Let's go!" Ruby said brightly.

- - -

The initial attack went well. Most White Fang operatives didn't have Aura unlocked, so it was a matter of holding back and not hitting them too hard. Yang and Jaune worked very well together: Yang heavy on offense, Jaune heavy on defense. Weiss unleashed Dust blasts of fire, ice, and lightning, darting around to keep them from getting surrounded.

She hated to admit it, but Jaune's strategy was very effective. They soon got to the center of the warehouse, where Roman Torchwick had been barking orders.

Unfortunately, so was the leader of the White Fang.

"Adam?!" Blake gasped. The redhead exuded an aura of pure hatred as he looked around at them. Roman began to back away from him. Weiss couldn't blame him. Adam Taurus was her family's bogeyman. A nightmare who had threatened the most horrible fates imaginable for her and her family. She fought back a shiver down her spine as his masked gaze swept over her.

"I see I'll have to punish you for your betrayal, my love," he hissed. "Starting with..."

He was right on her, his red katana swinging!

"The Schnee-!"

"NO!"

She saw the back of Jaune as he threw himself in front of her. He took the hit for her, but the force of Adam's blow sent him flying right into her. Weiss tumbled away on the pavement, slamming into a crate. Myrtenaster rolled away.

"UGH!"

She slowly looked up, shaking, as she lay on her stomach. Adam stood over her, katana drawn. Behind him, more White Fang terrorists and Roman Torchwick were fighting her friends, keeping them from her. Her blood seemed to freeze as Adam lifted up his blade.

"An unexpected bonus," he murmured. Weiss couldn't help it: She shut her eyes tightly as the blow fell-!

CLANG!

She opened one eye. Her jaw dropped.

Jaune Arc stood between her and Adam. Taurus was a few steps back away from her, seething.

What?! Jaune did that?! How?! Weiss thought frantically. Has he really gotten that much better training with Pyrrha with his shield and-?

Wait. He wasn't holding Crocea Mors, neither the shield or sword. He had Myrtenaster in his hand. More than that... His stance was very different.

Usually, his stance with his sword and shield was somewhat decent, if amateurish. Here, his entire body language was completely different! He stood confidently, his knees bent just enough, his other hand resting on his hip.

"Who the hell are you?" Adam sneered.

"You may call me... Juan Arc," Jaune said, his accent very South Vacuoan (and a guitar riff accompanying him for some reason), "And I believe you will be leaving this lady alone, cow."

Adam attacked furiously, his katana lashing through the air like a burning red laser. Yet every strike was deflected, parried, and countered as Jaune fenced with Myrtenaster as though he'd done it from birth! Weiss's jaw hit the floor as she watched in awe.

She'd only seen her sister fence so well before! What was going on?!

"Slow! Sloppy! Sad!" Jaune taunted, his feet moving so swiftly and skillfully it was like he was dancing. "You swing your sword like a club-!"

Adam used the shotgun sheath of his weapon and fired, but Jaune knocked the barrels aside and so the rounds went into the ceiling overhead. He jumped back and unleashed a red wave of Aura energy right at them, but Jaune flipped back, pulled Weiss up against him with one arm around her slim waist, and leaped up over the blast!

He landed and helped her to her feet with a charming smile that did things to her stomach.

"Are you all right, Senorita Weiss?" He asked as Adam charged him from behind.

"LOOK OUT-!"

Jaune swung Myrtenaster out, deflecting Adam's strike without even looking at him. Frustrated, the bull Faunus attacked even more furiously-Yet every strike was countered, parried, or deflected by Jaune without so much as a glance. Jaune held up a bottle of wine, popped the cork, and sipped it. He hummed at the taste, as Weiss gaped and Adam continued his fruitless assault.

"Mmm... South Sanus, decent year," he hummed after swallowing the wine, "I'm surprised any of the White Fang have good taste. Do you enjoy wine, Senorita?"

"I uh, I've had some?" Weiss managed. "I-I'm not an expert on it outside of my father's social gatherings-"

"Shame, shame," Jaune said, shaking his head, "There is much to recommend in the study of wine lore! Perhaps I could educate you? A beautiful, intelligent woman like yourself should be open to learning all sorts of new things, si?" He smiled warmly, and her cheeks burned bright red.

"W-Well...!"

"RAAAAHHH!"

Adam put all or nothing into his last assault, swinging his katana with as much strength as he could muster.

CLANG!

And his katana went sailing into the air. Jaune held Myrtenaster to his throat. He handed Weiss the wine bottle, before turning and catching Adam's blade in his off hand. He offered a dangerous, confident smile to the seething Adam.

"How?" Adam hissed.

"Your movements are so predictable, a blind man could counter them," Jaune taunted. He poked Adam in his throat significantly.

"Now... In a contest between the bull and the bull fighter... Who is the one who wins, hm?"

I have no idea what's going on, Weiss thought, biting her lower lip, but I have never been more turned on in my LIFE.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Adam had managed to escape-Roman Torchwick's annoying pint-sized associate had caused some explosions, and so RWBY and JNPR had to flee before the warehouse turned into an inferno. They got picked up by the cops, but Professor Goodwitch was able to bail them out.

She was about to let them rot in jail for a night, until they let her know about Jaune's Semblance. She didn't believe it at first, but they did need to cart him off to Beacon to test it, and he wouldn't leave his friends in the lock up.

Which made Yang appreciate the often hapless blond a little more than she usually did.

So they got to spend the night in their beds... While Jaune got to spend the night being tested and examined by the Professors.

In the spirit of gratitude (and since she was an early riser anyway), Yang got up at her usual training time and headed down to Professor Oobleck's labs. Students seldom ventured into these areas save for Semblance testing. Most of the labs were wide and open, with a variety of measuring devices, sensors, and miscellaneous junk to help with the insane variety of Semblances available.

She found Jaune in one of the labs, sitting in front of a lot of basic weapons provided by the school. They ranged from staves and spears, to swords, to gauntlets and brass knuckles and nunchucks. He looked exhausted, as he chewed on some toast and eggs someone had brought him.

Yang thought about sneaking up on him... But again, her gratitude welled up and she instead hugged him from behind.

"ACK!"

Which scared him anyway. Yang giggled as she pulled away to stand next to him.

"Morning, Stud! How's it Yanging?" She asked.

"Yang! Hey," Jaune said. He groaned. "They let me have some sleep on a cot after all the testing. I just woke up..." He yawned.

"So, what's the s-word?" Yang asked. "How does your Semblance work?"

"Well... I mean, they think it's a Semblance," Jaune said. Yang blinked.

"They think? What else could it be?"

Jaune shrugged.

"I dunno. I heard Professor Oobleck and the Headmaster muttering about 'magic' and other junk when they thought I was asleep... So, I dunno..." He shook his head. "Anyway, my... Ability is pretty basic. I touch a weapon, and I can use it. Like, really well."

"Well, we knew that," Yang teased, "But... Any weapon?"

"Any weapon," Jaune nodded.

"Why haven't you been using your sword and shield like an expert though?" Yang asked. Jaune sighed.

"They think that it might have to do with Aura. My own Aura is infused into this weapon, so I get resistance when I put my Aura into it. Or something like that, I was half dead on my feet at that point." He shook his head. "There are two problems with my Semblance or something. One, it burns Aura. And the harder the opponent I have to fight? The more Aura I burn through to keep up."

"Oh geez," Yang winced, "So against that Adam psycho... You did look really winded."

"Yeah," Jaune said, frowning, "Which means I have to train the ability. The place exploding when it did was lucky. Sure, I could have had him, but I might have been on empty. If he figures that out next time..." He shook his head.

"And the other problem?" Yang prompted. Jaune sighed heavily.

"The... Personalities," he said, "My personality is different for every weapon I use. They think it's something to do with my subconscious, or some other psychological blah blah blah..."

"So you can be that smooth, huh?" Yang teased. "Weiss was blushing non-stop last night."

Jaune flushed.

"Maybe uh... I mean, we're friends, kind of sort of... I think I'd prefer to stay that way, with everything else..."

Yang nodded.

"Still, I mean... That is you. That didn't come from nothing, right?"

Jaune nodded.

"Yeah... But... It's still weird."

"You remember what happened, right?" Yang pressed. Jaune nodded.

"Yeah... Like I was... I was watching someone else do it," he said. He sighed and shrugged. "He was... I was being the hero I always wanted to be. And it was me, but it... Wasn't me?" He frowned.

Yang frowned at him. She squeezed his shoulder a bit more tightly. He'd saved Weiss from death, it was the least he deserved, right?

"Hey," she said, "Look. I get how scary a new Semblance can be. Mine was pretty scary too. My dad taught me how to handle it, so... How about we train?"

"Ah, uh," Jaune began. Yang shook her head.

"You can keep training with Pyrrha. Relax, I won't make her jealous," she said with a wink. Jaune scoffed.

"Fat chance of that," he muttered.

Sheesh. Even getting such a powerful Semblance didn't help his self-esteem, Yang thought. She was even more determined. She pulled him up.

"Come on, Vomit Boy. You made it. You've got a Semblance that can let you save lives and be a hero. You need to learn how to master it. When you master it? You'll be comfortable with yourself, and you won't have to rely on luck to save yourself-Or us." She patted him on the shoulder.

Jaune nodded, smiling warmly at her.

"Thanks Yang. I appreciate it."

"So," Yang looked around, "Since I'm all about hand-to-hand combat... You got a personality for that?"

Jaune nodded.

"I do. Uh... Let's see..."

He reached for some plain gauntlets, suitable for a martial artist. Yang reached out to stop him and shook her head.

"Let's go outside first," Yang said, "Don't activate it around all this breakable stuff."

Jaune nodded.

"Got it."

Yang picked up the gauntlets, Jaune got up, and they walked outside onto the lawn surrounding the lab buildings. Yang tossed the gauntlets to Jaune. He pulled them on. His blue eyes flashed, and his stance changed. A smile came over his face.

He adopted a loose fighting stance, and began throwing some punches and kicks for practice into the air. Yang frowned in thought-The style was very similar to hers, actually: South Mistralian Kickboxing.

"Jaune?" She asked.

"Call me Johnny, Yang!" Johnny laughed. He did a backflip, and landed with a bright grin. "Wow! This feels great!"

He grimaced.

"Except for this armor..." He yanked it off, and tossed off the rest in a small pile nearby. His hoodie and shirt joined the pile. Now bare-chested, he jumped up and down, switching back and forth between stances. "Woo! That's much better!"

Yang flushed. She was not unaware of male anatomy, of course. But Jaune had... Wow... Okay, so Pyrrha's training had definitely done him a lot of good.

"Okay! We gonna spar now?" Johnny asked eagerly. His grin was infectious, and Yang went into her own fighting stance.

"Yup! Go for it!"

"WOOHOO!" Johnny cheered. He charged like a rocket. She got her guard up, and blocked the strike. She was glad she took this seriously-The force of the hit had his Aura behind it, and that energy was enough to slam her feet deep into the lawn with a BANG!

She bobbed and threw a punch back. Johnny swung his forearm to block, and moved back, continuing to deflect a flurry of testing jabs and punches. Yang then swung a foot for his side, which he had to jump back to evade. She leaped up and dove like a falcon with a fist out.

"YAH!"

Johnny rolled out of the way, as Yang blasted a small crater into the ground with her blow! She got up with her fists ready, only to see Johnny staring in shock and glee.

"WOW! How'd you do that?!" He asked.

Yang grinned and rubbed the back of her head modestly.

"I channel Aura through my fists," she explained, "Then release it into whatever I'm hitting. It works great against Grimm!"

"WOW! That's super cool! I think Ren does something like that! He tried to teach me some of that!" Johnny cheered. "Can you teach me?"

Yang chuckled. "Sure!"

After they put his armor and clothes into his hoodie, which they tied up into a rough bag, she led him over into a small wood on the academy grounds. She found an older tree near the center of the copse, nice and thick. She took his arm in her hands, and pressed a finger to his forearm.

"You want to gather up Aura in these parts of your arms," she said, "Then push it up to your fists."

Johnny tilted his head in curiosity.

"Push it?"

"Yeah," Yang said, "You can control your Aura, right?"

"Hmmmm..." Johnny frowned and looked up, "Pyrrha taught me how to channel it into my weapons, and Ren showed me how he does it with his fists. How do I do it to release it on contact?"

"That is complicated," Yang agreed, "But once you get it, it's easy!"

She hummed, thinking back to her father's explanation.

"The Aura is your soul's power," she repeated, "And so, you have to imagine it happening. You have to feel it happening, and will it to happen. So... You feel the Aura inside your forearms. You pump it up, as hard and high as possible."

She held up her fists, her eyes burning red.

"And when you make contact? You will it to release!"

Yang punched the tree... And her Aura flashed through it, blowing a hole through the trunk with a loud boom! She pulled her fist back, smiling in satisfaction. She nodded to Johnny, who was watching intently.

"Got it?"

"I think so," Johnny said. He grinned. "That was so cool! Can I try?"

"Sure!" Yang said with a smile. Johnny cheered.

"Woo! Awesome!"

Yang moved back from the tree. Johnny walked up to the tree trunk and did some stretches. He hummed and rubbed his chin, thinking hard, before he held up his forearms and closed his eyes.

"Don't get discouraged if you don't get it right on the first try, all right?" Yang said, "It took me a long time to get the timing right on everything, and put it all together-"

"YAH!"

KABOOM!

Yang's eyes went wide. Her face froze. The top of the tree was sailing up, up, up out of sight, crashing several meters away. What was left of the tree's lower trunk was a scattered pile of smoking splinters. Johnny pulled his fist back and frowned. He looked over at Yang.

"Aw man... Did I do it wrong?" He asked.

He looked like a wounded puppy. So much so she couldn't help a little laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

"I uh... Um... It's a good start," Yang giggled, "Mayyyybe we focus on control next, hm?" She grabbed him and his hoodie-bag, "Somewhere far, far away so we don't get in trouble?" She began to run, and Johnny easily kept pace.

"So you're going to keep teaching me?" Johnny asked hopefully.

"Well, why not?" Yang asked with a laugh. If anything, it would keep this potential monster from causing too much collateral damage.

"Great!" Johnny said with that very wide grin. "Ren's been teachin' me hand to hand, but you're a lot more fun! And prettier!"

And now she was blushing from top to bottom. How did he go from Vomit Boy to this?!

Though in all honesty... A part of her really didn't mind...

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Ruby was trying to do some work on Crescent Rose at the desk in the RWBY Dormroom. Her beloved weapon had been making a squeaking sound while shifting between forms, and it had been driving her crazy! She had been working very hard, trying to fix it all Sunday.

'Trying' being the key word, as her sister and Weiss argued behind her.

"We should train Jaune in the rapier!" Weiss insisted, "I-I've already had a custom blade commissioned for him! He already uses a sword, that's the perfect method to strengthen his Semblance!"

"HA! Totally transparent, Weiss-cream," Yang shot back, "Jaune as Johnny obliterated a tree with one punch! That's what his focus should be!"

"You just like him because he's as uncouth and brutish as you, dolt!" Weiss growled.

"He also goes around without a shirt constantly," Yang smirked. Weiss's face burned bright red.

"E-Even so-!"

"UGGGGHHHHH!" Ruby groaned, turning and scowling at her teammates, "Can you stop talking about Jaune's Semblance for five minutes?!"

Weiss flushed.

"What? I'm actually trying to help him!" She defended herself. "He's your best friend! Aren't you going to help him with his Semblance?"

"Yeah Rubes," Yang stated with a smirk, "You haven't really said anything, and now you're upset? Why?"

"You did want us to get along, didn't you?" Weiss pressed.

Ruby growled.

"You don't care about Jaune for Jaune! You care about his Semblance!"

"Well..." Weiss shrugged. "He's finally coming into his own, so..."

"And he's gonna need a lot of help with it," Yang pointed out, "Something wrong with that?"

"N-No! But I liked him just fine before he found his Semblance, and now you only like him for his power! That's my problem!"

"Or maybe you're just jealous," Blake suggested, reading her book.

Ruby went bright red. She glared, and picked up Crescent Rose.

"I don't have to put up with this!" She growled. "And I'm not jealous!"

She turned and stormed out, slamming the door shut. She took a deep breath, and let it out as an angry groan.

"Uhhhhhggggghhhh!"

"Hey Ruby. What's up?"

"EEP!"

Ruby jumped, and turned her head to the source of the greeting. She held her hand over her chest, taking deep breaths, as Jaune stood there with a nervous smile.

"J-Jaune?"

"Shh," he shushed her, "Come on. Let's go."

He took her hand and led her off. Ruby followed, confused but complying.

He led her down to a common room in the dorms. Nobody else was around at this time of night, which Ruby was grateful for. Jaune guided her to a table, and she set down her scythe on the table. He sat down with her in two chairs, and smiled gratefully.

"Thanks," he said, "I've been dodging Nora and Pyrrha all day to test my Semblance."

Ruby nodded with a small smile.

"Yeah, Yang and Weiss won't stop talking about it," she laughed nervously, "It's... It's really getting on my nerves."

She paused and paled. She shook her head quickly.

"N-Not that it's not good you have your Semblance!" She said quickly. "I-I mean, that's great! Really, it is!"

"Y-Yeah! I'm... I'm happy, really," Jaune said with a nod. He looked down at the table, and sighed. "Everyone's... Pretty great about it."

"But?" Ruby prompted. Jaune glanced at her, and shrugged.

"Just... I mean..." He sighed. "I'm... Worried. Worried about... About never coming back."

Ruby frowned.

"Jaune..."

"I mean... Yeah, those personalities come from me," Jaune explained, "But... They don't feel like me. They feel like other people. I want to be a Huntsman... A hero, as myself... But if I can only do that as other people, I..."

He shook his head and sighed.

"Makes me feel like I'm... Nothing," he admitted quietly.

"That's not true," Ruby insisted. She leaned against him with a bright smile. "I... I care about you, Jaune. I did before you got your Semblance. If your Semblance is so amazing, it-it's because you're amazing!"

"You-You think so?" Jaune asked, looking over at her with a hopeful smile. Ruby nodded eagerly.

"Yeah! And, maybe the other personalities are just a side effect! One you can overcome! When I first got my Semblance, I threw up after every super speed jump!"

Jaune laughed. Ruby pouted.

"It's not that funny!"

"It kind of is!" Jaune snickered. She pouted harder at him, as he grinned at her.

"But... You overcame it?"

"Of course! I'm not Vomit Girl!"

"Maybe I should start calling you that-"

"Don't you dare!" Ruby gasped. Jaune laughed again, and patted her on the head. She pouted up at him, as he beamed.

"That... That actually helps a lot, Ruby," he said. "Thanks."

"Hey, we-we're best friends, right?" Ruby asked. Jaune nodded.

"Of course we are," he said.

He shifted a bit in his chair. His elbow nudged Crescent Rose, and the huge Sniper Scythe began to slide off the table. Ruby gasped, reached out to catch it-

Jaune's hand reached it first. He held it up, staring intently at it.

"Oh, thanks Jaune," Ruby said with a sigh of relief. Jaune remained silent. Ruby blinked.

"Jaune?"

His eyes lit up, glowing briefly. Ruby gasped.

Oh no! His Semblance! What if he's a crazy grim reaper?! Or a mad killer?! Or a-?

Jaune shifted Crescent Rose into rifle mode (which produced a loud squeak), and pulled it up to his face. He pulled out a pair of goggles from the school workshop, and tapped it to activate the light on the side. He opened up the mechashift control panel and began examining it.

"Jaune?" Ruby tried.

"That doesn't sound right," Jaune muttered. He tapped Crescent Rose's internal mechanisms for a second. "How long has it been doing zat?"

"Er," Ruby began, "About two weeks? After I did a circuit board upgrade."

"Sanux Systems MSB-55, right?" Jaune prompted. Ruby blinked in amazement.

"Yeah! How did you know?"

"You told me, of course," Jaune chuckled, his voice a bit... Strange. He held out his hand. "Tweezers, please?"

"Oh, right!" Ruby nodded. She pulled out her mini-repair kit from her belt, and handed some tweezers to him. "I already checked for any bad bridges or soldering on my own work. I couldn't find any, but I redid it all anyway-"

"And you couldn't get to the original circuit board after sealing ze entire thing back up," Jaune said with a nod. He scooted a bit to the side and gestured to the circuit board housing. "See the air filter holes?"

Ruby stared intently. Her eyes widened as she saw some specks of solder metal falling out or sticking to them.

"Yeah," she muttered.

Jaune picked up one such piece and held it up to Ruby's keen eyes.

"It looks like your solder material," Jaune stated, "But look-Those gaps in them. You would never let so many air bubbles develop in your solder joints."

She scowled. "Oh geez... I got a bad circuit board?"

Jaune nodded gravely.

"Yes. The Sanux Systems MSB-55's had a massive recall for a lot of solder joints with voids in them," he said. "Enough power running through them damages the joints, then breaks them."

Ruby groaned, and covered her face.

"I assumed it was all in working order!" She wailed. "I feel like an amateur!"

"Now now," Jaune said, patting her shoulder, "Zat's not your fault. They're your go to brand, always have been. But they changed their management and clearly, they're producing kludge. Arschlochs, all of zem."

"Wow, thanks!" Ruby complimented him... Then started. "Oh geez... Uh... So... What's your name?"

"Jaune," Jaune said with a smirk, "But if you wish to refer to my current persona... Johann feels right."

"Wait, you're aware you're a different personality?" Ruby asked, astonished. Johann nodded.

"Yes. I think it may be because my focus is on problem-solving, deduction, and technical analysis compared to the others' more combat-focused personalities." He hummed thoughtfully. "Zat, and you are my best friend. If these personas manifest from me as part of my Semblance, then my existing relationships will influence how each persona reacts and behaves."

He smiled at Ruby kindly.

"For instance. The persona with the rapier is charming, charismatic, and hot blooded-All things we wish we could be for Weiss. The persona with the gauntlets is boisterous, confident, and determined-All things that Yang enjoys."

"Wait, your Semblance is shaping your personas to match with us?" Ruby asked. "Why?"

"Good question," Johann said. He leaned back, tapping his chin. "It may be that we're responding to your Auras. Auras are the energy of the soul and leave a kind of psychic fingerprint on everything we interact with. It could be that my Semblance picks up on zat, and adjusts to fit the Aura remnants. Perhaps to enhance synergy, or to pick up skills from the other-Johnny, for instance, fights in Yang's South Mistralian Kickboxing style, despite us never training in it."

"Oh wow!" Ruby gasped excitedly. "That's so neat! So you're an Aura Chamealeon!"

"Perhaps," Johann shrugged, "Zat is only speculation though. We will need to experiment a great deal to discover all the mechanics of the Semblance."

"Oh, uh... But aren't you afraid of being overridden?" Ruby asked, worried. "That-That is what Jaune was-is worried about."

Johann nodded gravely.

"Yes, it would be a great tragedy," he said, "It will require a two-pronged approach: Reinforcing Jaune's baseline abilities and personality, while also studying what aspects of his psyche our personas are formed from. It is, however, too useful an ability to not train or explore. After all, without it, Weiss may have died."

"Oh, I-I don't disagree," Ruby nodded, "I just... I don't want to lose my best friend."

Johann smiled warmly and hugged her.

"Neither do I," he said. "I will need you for this, Ruby."

"Ah? Eh?" Ruby asked. She gasped as Johann held her shoulders and looked her deep in her eyes, their noses nearly touching.

"Yes. I trust you above all others," he said, "You are... Very important."

"R-Really?!" Ruby squeaked, now turning as red as her namesake. Johann nodded.

"Yes. As much as I care for the others-Pyrrha especially..."

And didn't that make Ruby's heart clench? Though she didn't know why, exactly.

"You were my first friend here," Johann intoned, "I need you."

"N-N-Need me... For what?" Ruby whispered. All of Blake's naughty books she had read in secret began to flood her mind.

Is he going to... Does he... Will he... Take off his pants... Take off my-?!

"To stand by me, and keep me from losing myself," Johann said, "As well as aid me in research, given you do have a scientific background."

He pulled back. She slowly nodded, her cheeks still burning red.

"O-Oh."

He smirked.

"Did you have... Something else in mind~?" He asked, cupping her cheek. Her entire body seemed to be burning up. Hurriedly, she pulled away and scooted her chair to the fair side of the table. Her eyes were locked onto Crescent Rose.

"N-N-No! No! Not at all!" She stammered.

"Oh," Johann shrugged. "Well! Zat's new. Most women seem to develop romantic feelings for me when I use their weapon."

"That-Wha-Who-?!"

"Not zat I'm returning any of zem at this time," Johann said, his eyes going back to Crescent Rose, "Too complicated. Still! Good to know my best friend isn't entirely driven by her hormones."

"I... Um... Er..." Ruby managed a slow nod.

"S-Sure."

"Now, shall we get to fixing your beloved Crescent Rose?" Johann asked with a smile.

"Y-Yeah! Yeah, that would be great," Ruby said, sighing in a mixture of relief and agitation. He smirked again.

"Good! Working on it together... It will be like we're making a baby."

Ruby's entire expanse of pale skin lit up bright red again.

"A-A-A baby?!"

"Well, I'll have to put in a lot of effort, of course," he said, humming with a devilish glint in his eyes, "To catch up, but I'm sure you'll be patient. I won't require punishment to correct my bad habits..."

He glanced up at her and winked.

"Unless you're into zat sort of thing?"

Ruby fainted.

- - -

Last edited: Mar 30, 2024​

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

A few weeks after the Dance...

Weiss came into the cafeteria a bit later than the others. She'd gotten a Scroll call, which, judging from her scowl, had not been a pleasant experience. Ruby watched her march past her team, right up to Jaune.

Ruby was already on her feet and heading to her partner's side with her Semblance.

"Weiss I'm sure Jaune didn't mean to-!"

"No, no, it's okay Ruby," Jaune said, holding up a hand. He was looking uncharacteristically serious as he met Weiss's gaze. "I just want you to know, Weiss, I didn't know until last week. Sorry if it's giving you trouble with your dad."

Weiss started, then sagged a bit. She managed a slow nod.

"I... I see," she said. She made a face. "No, it's not a big deal... Yet, anyway."

Ruby looked between her friends curiously. Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora were also looking concerned. Yang leaned in, raising her eyebrows, as Blake peeked up over her book for a moment.

"So uh... What's going on?" Ruby asked, trying to sound casual.

"My father asked me to get closer to Jaune," Weiss said bluntly, "And to consider marriage to him."

"WHAT?!" Cried Pyrrha, Nora, Yang, and Ruby. Blake dropped her book in shock. Ren's eyes widened.

"Wha-But-How-?!" Ruby tried, as Pyrrha's face fell. Jaune and Weiss were actually quite calm. Jaune sighed and shook his head.

"I assume you said no?" Jaune asked. Weiss nodded.

"Yes. No offense-"

"None taken! Really!" Jaune said, a small smile on his face, "I-I wouldn't want to get into that with you like this, it would just be awful-!"

"Why would your dad want you to marry Vomit Boy?" Yang demanded.

"Y-Yes! Why?" Pyrrha asked, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Jaune sighed.

"You want to explain or-?"

"You explain," Weiss ordered. Jaune nodded.

"Okay. You guys have heard of the Monarchists, right?"

"Who?" Ruby asked, blinking. Weiss's eyes climbed heavenward.

Blake broke the silence.

"They're a political movement that want to put a King back on the throne of Vale," She said, "It's been growing in strength over the past few years due to how corrupt the Council has been. The thought is that a King would be a counter to the Council and could better represent the people's will, if he was chosen by them."

"Okay, great, thanks Professor Blake," Yang said sarcastically, "What's that got to do with Jaune?"

Jaune sighed heavily.

"My family, the Arcs, used to intermarry with the original royal family before they died out," he stated plainly, looking extremely uncomfortable, "And apparently, I'm the only direct male descendant of the last King of Vale."

Dead silence ensued. Nora gaped.

"So... You're... The Heir to the Throne of Vale?!" She cried. "WE'RE ROYALTY! ROYAL BUDDIES!"

"I'm not royal!" Jaune hissed, holding up his hands, "Look, my family's been getting bothered for years by the Monarchists! They kept wanting my dad or me to agree to-to basically run for King or something! But there is no throne, and I'm not becoming the King!"

"So, your dad thought that getting close to Jaune would be...?" Ruby asked. Weiss sighed in disgust.

"Several Monarchists have influence and power in Vale. My father obviously wanted to court them for business deals using me to connect with their chosen heir." She nodded gratefully to Jaune. "I'm glad to hear that it hasn't gone to your head."

"It's just annoying, really," Jaune grumbled, "I'm seventeen years old, and these people want me to become King! Probably do their bidding and crap!" He shook his head and looked worriedly at his friends.

"You uh... It really isn't a big deal, all right? Please don't... Don't treat me any differently-?"

Yang slid over and wrapped an arm around his shoulders with a grin.

"Don't worry, Jaune! You're still Vomit Boy to me, and always will be!"

"Aw," Nora sighed, "I wanted to be a Duchess! But! It's okay, Jaune-Jaune! We love you even if you're not a King!"

"We... We would never think differently of you, Jaune," Pyrrha said, her eyes shining as she "discreetly" bumped Yang's arm off of Jaune and scooted closer to him, "I think it's very admirable that you haven't-haven't used this for your own gain."

"You're our friend and always will be, Jaune," Ren said with a nod.

"You're... You're still my bestie, even if you're a king, right?" Ruby asked, looking worried. Jaune smiled, and held his arms open. Ruby squealed and hopped into his lap, hugging him tightly.

"Always," He said firmly. Ruby giggled and hugged him more tightly, unaware of Pyrrha's heated glare.

Blake, for her part, stared intently at Jaune with a thoughtful look on her face.

- - -

The next day, Jaune sighed as he put his combat gear into his locker. Combat Class had actually gone pretty well: He'd managed to beat Russel. It wasn't easy, but Pyrrha's training and encouragement from his friends had pushed him over the top. It hadn't been pretty, but he'd definitely won.

There was just one small problem...

"Hey, uh, Jaune?"

Jaune held in a sigh and looked over at Cardin. The taller boy was looking contrite.

"Hey, sorry about... Everything," he said quickly, "I-I didn't know you were-"

"I'm not the heir to the throne," Jaune said in irritation, "All right? There is no throne! And I wouldn't take it if I was offered!"

Cardin frowned.

"Are you sure about that?" He asked.

"Very," Jaune stated firmly.

Cardin shrugged.

"Just that... My Dad's on the Council, and he's actually pro-Monarchist."

Jaune blinked.

"A politician wants to limit his power?" He asked incredulously. Cardin coughed.

"I mean... It's more he's sick of deadlocks, nothing getting done, and the Council going this way and that just for their own benefit," he said. "He told me that a King might be able to help that. Make things better-"

"Or he'd just be a selfish asshole who became a tyrant," Jaune stated with tired anger. "I'm not going to be King, so just... Lay off, all right?!"

Cardin nodded.

"All right, all right," he said. "Just... My family did serve the last kings of Vale. It's... You know...Tradition-"

"Serve me by not being an asshole bully, okay Cardin?" Jaune sighed, "That would be the best way to serve me, and Vale, and everyone else. Apologize to Velvet, make her happy, and be a good person. All right?"

Cardin nodded, bowed, turned and left. Jaune groaned and slammed his forehead against his locker.

Yeah. That was a problem.

He emerged from the locker room a few minutes later in his uniform. He spotted a number of foreign and local girls nearby. All waiting for him, all eyeing him.

Shit...!

He felt someone take his hand and pull him away. He looked ahead, ready to thank Pyrrha or Yang or any of his other friends would be rescuing him this time... And stuttered when he saw it was Blake.

"Ah, Blake-?"

"Come on," Blake said urgently. They went back and forth through several corridors, expertly evading the girls. She pulled him into an empty classroom, and shepherded him in. He sighed in relief.

"Thanks," he said, "It's been a freaking nightmare and-"

The door lock clicked. Jaune slowly looked over at Blake. The secret cat Faunus slowly advanced on him. He wasn't sure why, but a chill went up his spine.

"Uh... Blake?"

"Jaune," Blake said quietly, "Did you know that there are a lot of Faunus who support the Monarchist movement?"

Jaune backed away until the small of his back hit a desk, and he could go no further. Blake continued to advance on him, slowly, like a cat closing in for the kill.

"I... I did not," he said honestly. "I thought that since Cardin's family supported it, you wouldn't-"

"Politics makes for strange bedfellows," Blake admitted, "But his family is more neutral towards Faunus Rights than overly hostile, for the most part. I'm sure with the proper incentives, they could support things like a Universal Rights Bill. More trade with Menagerie. Maybe... An alliance with them, to truly make them recognized as the Fifth Kingdom."

She had closed to a few inches away from him, her yellow eyes boring into his. Jaune gulped.

"I uh... That would be... Niiiice?" He managed. "But I don't know what you expect me to do about it-"

Blake held up her Scroll. A petition app was on the screen.

"Sign this."

Jaune, due to instincts born from being accosted outside markets and stores dozens of times, automatically wrote his signature in an authentication box and pressed his thumb to a reader. The screen turned green. Blake smiled happily.

"Thank you. This should be enough."

"Enough?" Jaune asked faintly, "Enough for what?"

"Signatures," Blake stated, "To get Initiative 47 onto the ballot next year."

"And... That does what?"

"It will allow the citizens of Vale to vote to restore the monarchy, of course," Blake said with a smile, "With you as the King."

"WHAT?!" Jaune shouted, throwing his hands up in the air, "WHY IN THE HELL WOULD I EVER AGREE TO THAT?!"

"You just did," Blake deadpanned. Jaune frantically grabbed for the Scroll, but Blake tossed it well out of his reach.

"Blake-No-I-I don't want to be king!" He shouted. "There is no REASON for me to be King-!"

Blake pressed back against him, her eyes boring into his. She rested a hand on his chest.

"Jaune," Blake breathed, "We have an opportunity to achieve great things, for humans and Faunus. Can you imagine how much good you could do for Faunus rights if you had political power?"

"I-I mean I'd want to, but that doesn't mean I'd be any good at it!" Jaune insisted. "Wh-What would stop me from turning into a power mad tyrant?! Or-Or making terrible decisions that ruined everyone's lives-?!"

"We would," Blake said firmly, "Your friends. If you kept us close, we wouldn't let you go that far! We'd-We'd protect you! My father is a political leader too, I-I would help you-!"

"BLAKE!" Jaune shouted. He grabbed her shoulders and glared at her. "I. Don't. Want. Power! I just want to help people, and make the world a better place! As a Huntsman!"

"You could do so much more as a King, Jaune!" Blake insisted. "In fact, you're probably the perfect choice for this! You don't want power! You're afraid of what you might become with power! That means you wouldn't abuse it!"

Jaune shook his head frantically.

"I don't know that for sure!"

"I do," Blake said firmly. "I mean... I've made a lot of bad choices, bad judgements of people's character in the past... But I know you, Jaune. And if it helps? I would be with you. Every step of the way."

She took his hands in hers.

"I'm willing to do anything to make the world a better place, Jaune," she insisted, "Absolutely anything."

Jaune blinked. His brain finally caught up with his senses as his emotions quieted down. For instance, the fact that Blake was a very attractive woman. Insanely so. And that she was pressed up tight against him and she felt and smelled very good-

"Uhhhh," Jaune managed, before Blake spoke again in a soft whisper.

"An alliance between Vale and Menagerie," she said, "Could be achieved if we got married. Make it a true alliance."

"M-Married?!" Jaune squeaked. Blake stared at him intently and looked a bit vulnerable.

"Are... Do you not find me attractive?"

"Are you insane?! Of course I find you attractive!" Jaune blurted out. "You're insanely attractive, Blake!"

She actually blushed, and smiled.

"And you're... Quite nice too," she said with a nod, "And we're fairly compatible personality wise, so such an arranged marriage would be acceptable."

"Blake, I'm not a King, I'm not-!"

"And I'd even allow you to have other lovers," Blake said quickly, "Weiss would be a useful ally. So would Pyrrha. Ruby and Yang shouldn't be left behind. There are old provisions in Valean law for multiple wives, meaning more alliances-"

"BLAKE!" Jaune shouted. "I'm not going to be King! So we're not getting married, all right?! That's final!"

He had to put his foot down. His father had made that very clear. You couldn't just let your friends get away with anything or everything, it would make them into worse people.

Blake frowned.

"I... Oh..." She murmured. She bowed her head. "Maybe... Maybe I've gone too far."

"Maybe you have," Jaune said firmly.

Blake bowed her head.

"Sorry," she murmured. Jaune sighed, and patted her on the shoulder.

"Look," he stated, "I get what you want. I get why you want it. But I don't. And I never will."

"What if there was a situation where Vale needed you to be King?" Blake asked quietly. Jaune sighed and rolled his eyes.

"If there is such a situation where there's literally no one else who can lead and organize things to save Vale? Then yes. I will take up the role of King. But since that will never happen? It's irrelevant. You'd better just stop your petition and end it, because I'm not going to be King unless the situation is so desperate I can't make things worse, all right?"

Blake nodded.

"All right."

"Good," Jaune sighed. Hopefully, he'd just have to endure some more teasing and weirdness for a while, and then things could get back to normal...

- - -

At the Vytal Festival, some months later...

Pyrrha hadn't wanted to do it. But there was no other choice. Jaune... She loved him, she had told him this before sending him off. But she saw it in his eyes. He would die for her, in a heartbeat.

And she knew Cinder would kill him. Losing him... Was unacceptable.

She knew this fight would be tough... But as she kneeled, exhausted, bloody, with several arrows in her, blood pouring down her body as Cinder cackled in front of her in the burning Headmaster's office, she realized... She had thought she could win.

She had been wrong.

First time for everything, she thought, as she looked up at Cinder with a defiant glare. The massive Grimm Dragon loomed over, as Cinder laughed mockingly.

"So ends the Invincible Girl," she mocked, "Don't worry about your little boyfriend... I'll take good care of him~..."

Pyrrha seethed. She gripped the floor, tried to rally any strength she might have left...!

A Bullhead popped up, and Dust cannon fire erupted from its guns. Cinder threw up a shield of flames to protect herself, as the Grimm Dragon roared. Behind it, several commercial and police airships rose, firing Dust cannons at it in a massive barrage.

Over the sounds of explosions, she heard people running out behind her. She felt arms pull her into an embrace and carry her off, as Dust weapons fired around them.

"We got her, we got her, GO GO GO!" Shouted a familiar voice. She managed to force her eyes open, as a very dirty, very roughed up but alive Jaune stood over her. Medics in white clothing went to work, even as she reached out her hand to him.

"J-Jaune-"

He squeezed her hand and shook his head.

"Don't talk, you're gonna be okay," he said, "Good work."

She smiled up at him as one of the medics put a mask over her mouth and nose. He smiled back briefly, before looking to the pilots.

"Everyone out?!"

"Yes Your Majesty!" One of the pilots shouted.

Your Majesty...? Pyrrha thought.

Jaune nodded.

"Blow her to Hell," he growled.

Pyrrha tilted her head. She could see Ren, Nora, and Coco firing their weapons out of the hatch of the Bullhead. Even with them blocking her view with their bodies and fire, she could see the top of Beacon Tower. Cinder and the Grimm Dragon were both being bombarded with gun and missile fire from dozens of airships. A few warships flying flags she didn't recognize joined the fight, using their large guns. The top of Beacon Tower exploded, as the Grimm Dragon roared, engulfed in flames.

Then everything went black.

- - -

Pyrrha awoke to the sounds and smells of a hospital room. She wasn't entirely unfamiliar with it-She'd lost plenty of fights before becoming 'The Invincible Girl', after all. Her body felt like it was made of lead, she was so tired. Aches and pains pricked at her all over.

She forced her eyes open. It was a hospital room: A fairly nice one, all told. She saw Ren and Nora sleeping nearby on a cot, cuddled up under a blanket. They looked dirty but well, and Pyrrha smiled happily.

"You're awake."

She turned, and her eyes widened. Jaune stood there, in a long jacket over his armor and stubble on his face. A pair of Valean Rangers, their elite policemen, stood outside the doors with their weapons held in salute, though he barely paid them any mind.

He gave her a warm, if tired smile.

"J-Jaune," she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. He walked over and hugged her, a hug she gladly returned as best she could-There were many tubes and devices stuck to her.

"The doctors say you're going to be okay," Jaune whispered, "But it was... It was touch and go for a while."

"How long-?"

"A week," Jaune said bluntly. He caressed her cheek, as though to make sure she was really here. She nuzzled into it, enjoying his touch.

"You... You all right?" She managed. "Is everyone all right?"

"Nora and Ren are fine, just tired," Jaune said with a fond smile towards his friends, "They wouldn't leave your side. Ruby and her team are..." He paused, "They're okay. Yang's... She lost an arm, but she's alive."

"Oh, no," Pyrrha whispered. Jaune rubbed her back.

"She'll be okay," Jaune insisted, "We... We'll get her the best help we can."

Pyrrha nodded.

"... What about Cinder? And the Dragon?"

"Escaped," Jaune said, his eyes dark with anger, "We managed to hit them both hard enough to retreat, but we have no idea where they are now. Or what happened to the rest of her team."

"And Vale?" Pyrrha asked.

Jaune was silent for a moment.

"The Atlasian Navy was taken over by a virus, along with their drones," Jaune said bluntly, "They caused... Massive damage to the city, and turned off the auto defenses. Thousands are dead. Tens of thousands are homeless. We managed to get the defenses back online, just before we went after you. I... I got some help from Menagerie."

"Menagerie?" Pyrrha gasped. While she had no anti-Faunus feelings, the idea that the kingdom of Faunus would aid them sounded ridiculous. They had no love for humans! "How?"

Jaune sighed heavily.

"The Council was killed in the first few minutes of the assault," he said, "Along with Ozpin. The... Vale needed leadership. And..." He smiled sadly, "I'm the only heir to the throne around, so... I'm King now."

Pyrrha's eyes widened in shock. When she learned about Jaune's heritage... She had loved him more. Not because he was royalty, but because he rejected it. He wanted to be himself, not an idol for others to worship. To know how much alike they were? Jaune Arc had a permanent place in her heart after that.

She shakily raised a hand to cup his cheek. He looked so much older now, with his five-o'clock shadow and hardened eyes.

"You did what you had to, to save the kingdom," she murmured, "I-I'm... I'm very proud of you. I know it's hard, but I know you'll do a great job. You... You rallied the people and another kingdom to our cause, that's not easy."

Jaune sighed heavily again.

"Yeah... Well... You're not going to like how I did it," he murmured.

"Why?" Pyrrha asked.

One of the Rangers from outside coughed.

"Your Majesty," he said, "The Queen has arrived."

"Queen?" Pyrrha mumbled, in shock.

"She's not the Queen yet, Ranger, and you know she doesn't like that," Jaune said tiredly, "Bring her in."

Escorted by two Faunus in dark blue armor, Blake Belladonna entered the hospital room. She smiled warmly and wrapped her arms around Jaune.

"You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah," Jaune nodded, hugging her back. "Yang okay?"

"She's... She's not great, but she's doing better," she said quietly. She turned to Pyrrha with a small smile. "Hello Pyrrha. I'm... I'm very glad to see you're okay."

"Queen?" Pyrrha asked again. Blake and Jaune both winced. Blake recovered first.

"My father and mother... Menagerie is a bit old fashioned when it comes to politics, in some ways," she explained, "The only way to convince our forces to come to Vale to aid them... Was with a political alliance. A... A political marriage. And since I'm the only child of my parents, the Chieftains of Menagerie..."

She held up her hand. A silver wedding band was on her finger. A matching one was on Jaune's.

"We're to be married to secure the Alliance," Jaune said, quiet and remorseful. Blake looked just as awkward.

Which is when Pyrrha passed out.

- - -

Yeah I don't even know how this came about.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Cardin Winchester strove to be dominant. To be the best, like his ancestors before him. Unfortunately, this year at Beacon had brought so many higher placed competitors that his options for that were slim. Academically? He was smart, sure, but he wasn't a genius like Weiss Schnee. Physically? He was powerful, but not the same level of powerhouse as Yang Xiao-Long or Pyrrha Nikos-Which was grating.

So... That left the social sphere. Which honestly just left bullying.

Picking on Jaune Arc was easy. The guy was a total wuss, and didn't even fight back. Cardin would have respected the wimp if he'd put in some effort, at least: What kind of a Huntsman wannabe folded at the first sign of intimidation?

Arc was no fun though. The appeal of bullying the little twerp was short lived. So, Cardin sought out a new target.

In the cafeteria, Cardin spotted a rabbit Faunus girl walking by. Perfect.

He got up, his team following behind. He headed after her, closing in.

She heard his approach, and turned around. His grin grew wide, he was all ready to seize her ears, call her a freak...

The sunlight came through the tall windows and fell over her. She stared up at him in some confusion, her large, chocolate brown eyes shining. Her full lips were like rose petals, her cheeks like sleek apples. Her skin was like fine porcelain, her nose was cute. Her hair swung in the hair behind her, gorgeous.

And her body... Her uniform barely held back her large, perfect bosom. Her legs were long and perfectly shaped. Her torsoe was a perfect hour glass-His brain pointed out how amazing her ass had been...

"Yes?" The beautiful vision asked, in a voice sweet and delicate as a song in the summer.

Cardin's face went bright red. He opened his mouth... Nothing came out.

Russel glanced up at him.

"Uh, Cardin? You okay?"

Cardin tried again.

"You're... You're...!"

The goddess made flesh looked just as concerned.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"... Beautiful!" Cardin tried. The rabbit faunus girl went bright red. Cardin tried again.

Come on brain! INSULT! INSULT HER!

"Gorgeous!"

WHAT?!"

"SEXY!"

"E-Eep?!" The rabbit Faunus girl cried. His team was staring at him like he'd lost his damn mind.

"Um," the girl tried, "Th-Thank... You?"

MOUTH WHAT ARE YOU DOING! WHAT IS GOING ON?!

"Cardin?" Dove asked. His team muttered behind him. Cardin turned to them, a plea in his eyes.

No! NO HELP ME YOU IDIOTS! GET ME OUT OF THIS!

His team nodded. Cardin felt a sense of relief. Yeah, they'd start bullying her, everything would be resolved-

"He's just shy, ya know?" Sky said, "He thinks you're the hottest girl ever! Uh... Velvet, right?"

The angel had a name-NO STOP THAT BRAIN WHAT THE FU-?!

"He-He does?!" Velvet asked, blushing. Dove nodded stoically.

"He does indeed. He would like to take you out on a date. He's just a little nervous."

WHAT?! NO! NO NO NO-!

"He'll pay for everything, yo!" Sky threw in, grinning behind his shades, "Only the best for a classy gal like you!"

Velvet hesitated.

"W-Well..."

"Look, come on, yes or no girl," Russel grunted, "It's not that hard! You wanna go out with a stand up guy, or you wanna just do nothing this Friday night?"

RUSSEL DAMNIT WHAT THE FU-?!

Velvet blushed, and smiled warmly at Cardin. A white noise filled his brain as he stared dreamily at her.

"Well, uh... S-Sure," she managed. "Um... Is 6 okay?"

"6 is totally cool!" Sky contributed, giving her a thumbs up. "Dress nice! He'll bring roses!"

"I do like roses," Velvet mused. She beamed. "Okay! See you then, Cardin!"

"Y-Yeah," Cardin managed. The rabbit faunus winked.

"You uh... You have a way with words," she said, a light joke. He nodded dumbly. His brain refused to acknowledge anything but her amazing rear as she walked off. When she was out of his sight, he turned and glared death at his teammates.

"What the hell did you just do?!" He hissed.

Sky glared.

"Uh... Set you up on a date? Isn't that what you wanted? I mean, she's a Faunus, yeah, but man, she is hot!" He grinned. "And so we helped you out! That's what bros do!"

"I-That's not-!"

"To think you would have the balls to defy your parents," Dove said with a sage nod, "It will be difficult, but if you want it, we'll support you, Cardin."

"No, I didn't-!"

"Ehhh... I mean, for a Faunus, she is hot," Russel said with a shrug, "There's gotta be an exception for insanely hot Faunus girls, right?"

Sky reached out and patted Cardin on the shoulder with a grin.

"No need to thank us, bro! Just being the best wingmen ever!"

Cardin buried his face in his hands and groaned.

- - -

On Friday...

Cardin stood at the door to Team CVFY's dorm. He held roses, with thorns in them. He was dressed in an okay suit, though certainly not his best. His treacherous teammates had not believed a word he said about not wanting to go on a date with a dirty Faunus-Hell, they were watching him and giving him thumbs up!

Some friends.

The second she open the door, he was going to tell her the date was off, and she was an ugly Faunus freak he hated. Yeah! He'd throw the roses right into her face, YEAH! He'd enjoy her tears! He was gonna-

The door opened. Velvet stood there in a beautiful red dress, that outlined her curves and emphasized her charms better than the uniform had. Her hair was perfectly coiffed. She blushed prettily as she smiled at him. Behind her, Coco Adel, her team leader, smirked with her arms crossed under her chest.

"Can I cook, or can't I?" She asked Cardin. "I'd say I did a good job, Vel. His eyes are about to pop out of his skull."

"Coco!" Velvet scolded with a blush. She beamed up at him warmly. As though his arms were not obeying his brain, he held out the flowers to her.

"Oh my! Uh, thank you!" Velvet said with a smile. She took the bouquet and sniffed them. She beamed at him.

"They're lovely," she said. She put them in a vase, before she reached out to take his arm. "So, uh... Shall we?"

Cardin knew he was gonna do something... But for the life of him? He couldn't remember what it was.

- - -

I mean, in most teenagers, hormones will override politics.

See: Romeo and Juliet.

Hopefully Cardin and Velvet's love story will not involve the mutual suicide...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Set after the Dance...

- - -

Weiss Schnee had worked very hard to cultivate patience. Patience went with control, and control was paramount. It had been a core part of her for her entire life.

Beacon had tested that control, severely. Every single one of her buttons was jammed, jabbed, and slammed on. She had had to re-evaluate herself in many ways. To change.

And as she stormed out of her dorm room out into the night, stomping and gritting her teeth, she felt like none of it had fucking mattered!

She used her incredible speed to get all the way out to a balcony near the unoccupied part of the dorms. She went outside, took a deep breath... And kicked the railing.

"Fuck Blake Belladonna!" She snarled, kicking the railing pillar over and over, until the pain made her stop. She leaned against the railing, gripping it and panting hard to regain her calm. To regain her control.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She blinked furiously, tried to keep them back...

Someone offered a handkerchief. She took it without thinking, as though she was back in the family mansion in Atlas. She dabbed her eyes, careful to not further ruin her makeup.

"Th-Thank you," she said to her benefactor.

"No problem."

She lowered her handkerchief, and looked to her left. Perched on the railing was a familiar blonde monkey Faunus, still with his white shirt wide open. She blinked in confusion as Sun Wukong gave her a small smile.

"Wha-What are you doing here?" She demanded, pulling back out of instinct. He held up his hands.

"Hey, hey! Take it easy! I was just out for some exercise, Princess!"

Weiss opened her mouth to yell some more... Then she slowly closed her mouth and looked away.

"I... Sorry," she murmured, "It... I'm not mad at you. Really."

"Blake, right?" Sun asked. Weiss glanced back at him. There was... A knowing look on his face.

"Yes," she agreed. She sighed softly. "It's... Stupid. I don't have a problem with her as a Faunus. Not really. I promise."

"It's just that most Faunus you've met were part of the White Fang," Sun said with a nod. She stared at him, and he shrugged. "Am I wrong?"

"... No," she admitted. She closed her eyes and sighed softly. "I... I am sorry. But..." She opened her eyes and glared out at the night.

Sun leaned forward.

"You want to talk about it?"

Weiss glanced at him, and looked back out at the stars.

"I... I'm not sure if I can-"

"Hey," Sun said, spreading his arms wide with a smile, "I've got a thick skin. I can take it. Besides," He sighed, "I owe you for Neptune."

Weiss scowled deeply.

"No... No, those were his choices," she muttered, "I-I don't blame you for him being... Him."

Sun chuckled.

"Yeah, but... I could do a better job as team leader," he said, "Keep him from getting himself killed, at least. Anyway, enough about him. What about you?"

"Aren't you with Blake?" Weiss countered. "You sure you want me to talk badly of your girlfriend?"

Sun shook his head with a sad smile.

"She's not my girlfriend. She made that clear."

Weiss blinked, then looked away again.

"Oh... Sorry," she murmured.

"It's better to just get this stuff out, ya know?" Sun asked, scratching the back of his head, "Me, I'm live and let live. You need to vent? I'll listen. You don't want me around? I'll go."

Weiss licked her lips. She stared out at the stars again. Cold, distant, always beautiful. She sucked in a breath through her nostrils, and let it go.

"... She always acts like she's the wounded party, and I am never an equal," she started, "As if the White Fang didn't kill members of my family. As though they haven't tried to kidnap me and my family members. As if they haven't threatened..."

She trailed off, going pale. She shuddered. Sun reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. She started and looked at him. He didn't pull back. His face was compassionate.

"You're right. That's not fair," he said. "You didn't do the terrible things your father did."

Weiss opened her mouth, but her throat was choked with emotion. She blinked back more tears, and dabbed her eyes again.

"I... Thank you," she said quietly, "I-I... I don't approve of what he does. He's... He's a monster to everyone." She sighed. "I want to stop it. I want to change it. I just... I don't really know how."

Sun nodded, smiling warmly.

"That sucks," he said succinctly. She snorted in a most unladylike manner.

"It... Yes, quite," she managed. Sun leaned back, lowering his legs to sit on the railing. His tail wagged a bit as he smiled at her. She managed to smile back.

"She-She can be so self-righteous," she went on, "Like she didn't do bad things! I-I know she's trying to repent! I understand that! But she makes it so hard..."

Sun sighed and nodded.

"Yeah. She keeps lecturing about how the White Fang wasn't supposed to be like this. Well, nobody put guns to their heads to bomb trains. Nobody made them bully Faunus who didn't go along with their bullshit."

"They-They do that kind of stuff to Faunus too?" Weiss asked. Sun nodded.

"Yeah. Lot of assholes will take any excuse to hurt people and feel justified," he snorted, "My best friends are humans. When I was orphaned in Vacuo, a human monk is the one who found and raised me. White Fang members thinks that makes me a bad Faunus. So screw 'em."

"What happened to your parents...?" Weiss asked, then winced. "Sorry-"

"No, it's okay," Sun sighed, shrugging. "Tang-That's the monk-found me in a village hit by Grimm and bandits when I was a baby. Everyone else was dead."

Weiss stared at him in sorrow. He smiled wanly and shrugged.

"Could have been worse," he said, "Tang raised me like his own, with some other orphans he had found. We went around collecting alms for the poor, tending shrines, teaching martial arts. He trained me and my bros, Zhu and Sha. We were all Faunus kids, but he didn't care; He loves us all, and we love him. He had wanted me to become a monk too, but..." He chuckled. "I wanted adventure. He had an old friend at Haven Academy, one of the teachers, and got me a scholarship. So, here I am, all thanks to a kindly human."

"I... I'm really sorry," Weiss murmured. "I... It's amazing that you're still able to laugh and smile after all that."

Sun beamed at her, his tail forming a curl.

"Tang's like the best dad a boy could have ever had! And I grew up with two great brothers! I got to go see the world, meet some great friends, and have great fights!" He winked at her. "And meet some pretty girls, too."

Her cheeks burned red. She shook her head.

"I-Don't flirt, please."

Sun blinked in confusion.

"Who's flirting? I'm just being honest," he said. Weiss sighed and looked away.

"Ugh, do you have to do that?" She grumbled.

"It's my honest feelings," he said firmly with a nod.

"Well... Thank you," she said. She turned and smiled shyly at him. "It... It occurs to me I haven't really talked to you before. I'm sorry about that."

Sun waved his hand.

"Nah, don't worry about it," he said. "I'm just glad I can talk about Blake. I mean... I really like her and all, but..." He sighed and shrugged. "She doesn't seem to like me the same way."

"Then she's an idiot," Weiss stated firmly. Sun glanced at her, and grinned.

"Sure you're not just saying that because of my abs, Princess?"

"I'm sure, and stop calling me that!" She retorted. Sun chuckled.

"As the Princess demands."

"Ugh!" Weiss grunted. "You're so..." She scowled. "You're not very polite for a boy raised by a monk."

"I never said I was a great student," Sun replied with a laugh and wink. Weiss fought another smile.

"I suppose that's fair..."

They talked a little bit more after that. If it wasn't for her team, Weiss didn't think she could have opened up to Sun at all. But he did tell amusing stories, and he really listened to her problems. She found herself losing track of time during the conversation, a complete rarity for her.

"I... I need to get to bed," she said, with a shocked glance at her watch, "I'm sorry. It was... It was great. Really."

Sun yawned theatrically, which turned into the real thing. He rubbed his face.

"Yeah, same. And it was nice," he smiled at her.

"Could... Could we talk again?" Weiss asked shyly. "Just... You know, the two of us. Privately?"

Sun nodded.

"Sure!"

"It's not an imposition-?"

"If it was, I wouldn't do it," Sun said with a nod. "I mean... I liked talking to you."

"Really?" Weiss gasped. "I-I'm not too... Um..."

"Snooty?" He asked. He tilted his head in thought, then shrugged. "Well yeah, you are snooty."

"Thanks a lot," Weiss scowled. He kept beaming.

"But snooty is fine when it's you," he decided.

A furious blush on Weiss's face was his reward.

"I uh... Thank you," Weiss managed, looking away from his. She scowled. "I'm still angry with Blake, but... You helped a lot."

Sun beamed.

"Always happy to help a friend," he said.

"That... That's what we are now?" Weiss asked, uncertain. He grinned.

"Sure! If you want to be?"

"I... I would like that," Weiss decided, after a few minutes of thought. She then gained a truly wicked grin.

"You know... There's another way for you to help me. With Blake."

Her idea was very petty, she would admit it. But she didn't mind Sun's company too much, and he had his own issues with Blake. It might be good for both of them.

Of course, it all depended on whether or not he agreed.

Sun hummed.

"How so?"

She told him. And he laughed.

- - -

The next morning, Blake was with most of her team in the cafeteria, picking at her food in distraction. Weiss wasn't there and neither was Sun. And both were on her mind.

Maybe I should apologize to Sun. I need to explain I'm not looking for a relationship right now, not after what happened with Adam. Maybe I was... Too hard on him, She thought, And maybe I should go a little easier on Weiss. She doesn't mean to be insensitive, but-

She looked up from the breakfast table and sees Sun walking with Weiss hanging off his arm. The entire cafeteria went silent, all eyes on the apparently couple.

"What...?" Jaune mumbled. He had given up hitting on Weiss, but this was a shock to him.

"The fuck?!" Blake hissed, clenching her hand around her fork as hard as she could.

Weiss looked around the table, smiling prettily at her team.

"Good morning, Ruby! Good morning, Yang!" A smirk developed on her face as her eyes came to rest on Blake. "Good morning, Blake. How are you doing? I was just talking with Sun. He was kind enough to escort me to breakfast."

Blake grit her teeth.

"Was he?" She hissed.

Sun beamed happily.

"Yup! We're friends now!"

"Very good friends," Weiss said, practically purring.

"Ooh, plot twist!" Nora gasped over the rage pounding in all four of Blake's ears!

Weiss turned to Sun, and stood up on tiptoes.

"Thank you, Sun." She gave him a peck on the cheek. "Have a good day!"

Sun smiled back, a mild blush on his tanned cheeks.

"Thanks Weiss. Appreciate it! Later!" He turned and waved, heading to his team's table. Neptune was staring daggers at Sun, which the monkey Faunus didn't even seem to notice!

The Schnee heiress sat down next to the gaping Ruby, somehow looking more smug than the actual catgirl.

"So! What's for breakfast?" She asked brightly.

"You-Wha-Why-?!" Blake tried. Weiss's smirk became positively deadly.

"Well, you're always telling me to be more open-minded," she said, almost sing-song, "Aren't you glad I'm expanding my horizons?"

"Good on you, Weiss!" Ruby cheered.

"But you... He... You...!" Blake sputtered.

Yang patted Blake on the shoulder, but clearly was trying not to laugh.

"Snooze you lose, Kitty Cat."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Ruby did not think she could be as mortified at Beacon as she was when she got detention for that food fight. Or getting hit in the face with pudding during said foodfight-That was honestly a bit worse.

This though? This... Was the worst.

"Hello Class!"

Taiyang Xiao-Long, her father, was standing where Professor Goodwitch normally was during combat class. Yang cringed and hissed behind her.

"I'm your Substitute teacher, Taiyang Xiao-Long," he said with a cheerful smile. "I'll be filling in for Professor Goodwitch for this week while she's on vacation!"

"This is your fault," Ruby muttered to Yang, "You finally drove her around the bend-"

"How is this my fault?" Yang muttered back, "Blake's the one who got us into vigilantism!"

"So yeah, this is Blake's fault," Ruby said with a nod.

"It is not!" Blake muttered, "It's just your father, how bad could it be?"

"Says the girl who hasn't spoken to her parents in two years," Weiss muttered.

"Hey!"

"Take your seats, take your seats," Taiyang said, still cheerful. He winked at Ruby and Yang. Both Ruby and Yang smiled back weakly. Finally, everyone sat down. Taiyang looked around.

"Now, I've looked over your combat performance records," he said, "I've seen a lot of great standouts-Miss Nikos, and my daughter, Yang, among them."

Pyrrha waved modestly. Yang managed a weak grin.

"I've also seen some students struggling," Tai said, and Jaune visibly winced all over his body. He smiled warmly at them all.

"Now... To start us off? Let me show my combat records from my first year."

The holoscreen behind him shifted, and showed a much younger Tai grinning awkwardly at the camera. A lot of murmuring picked up. Tai smiled around the classroom. Ruby and Yang goggled at the ratings... Primarily how bad they were.

"What do you think?"

"You were rated deadlast?" Jaune gasped. He coughed. "Uh, sir?"

"Yup!" Tai said cheerfully. "I had been trained in my family martial arts since I was a kid... But I was reckless. Cocky. And stupid. I thought I could just power on through anything on my own." He shrugged. "I was wrong. Got my ass kicked a lot, too."

He looked around.

"That's the point I want to make clear," he said, "Some of you struggle at some things, some of you excel at others. That's why you're in teams. You work together to take down things you never could alone. You want to be good on your own, sure, but never forget that you're combining your efforts together. You all contribute different things to the fight: Insight, leadership, muscle, range, stealth. And you grow stronger the more you work together."

Taiyang nodded in nostalgia.

"Me? I thought my Semblance made me hot shit. And it did... Until I got my ass beat by my teammates because I thought it made me invincible. That's the thing about Semblances: They're just one weapon you have at your disposal. You can't just rely on it alone to get better. Like every other skill, you have to train it, hone it. Your team will help you do that. And thanks to that team... Well... Let me show you."

He grinned.

"You're gonna love this. What you're seeing is my normal state."

He narrowed his eyes... And his Aura flashed into existence as a bonfire, and his eyes burned red. Yang and Ruby gasped along with the rest of the class.

"This is my Semblance, Burn. My daughter Yang has a very similar one," he said, "Hers takes kinetic energy damage and turns it into more Aura, supercharging it. Mine does the same, but it can also be activated at will, with enough practice. And... Like any other Semblance, with enough practice... It can evolve."

"Evolve?" Ruby chirped. She didn't know this about her dad! From Yang's look, she didn't either.

"Yup," Taiyang said with a nod, "I don't break this out often. I haven't practiced it a lot lately... But this...? This is to go... Even further..."

He grunted, and his Aura flared brightly.

"BEYOND!"

With a loud bellow and an explosive flash of Aura energy, his power blew up the sand from the pit and made cracks in the railing around it. The students gaped as one as the dust settled, revealing Taiyang. His eyes burned green, as his hair flared and sparked with lightning bolts. He smirked out at the gobsmacked class.

"Sorry about the mess... This is Burn... Level 2..."

He vanished. Everyone gasped. They all looked back, as the bright light was unmistakable. Taiyang waved at them from the back of the class, before vanishing and reappearing back in the ring.

The power died down, and he returned to normal. He smiled warmly.

"So... If I can go from deadlast, to being able to do that? There's hope for you all," he said with a nod.

"Maybe this won't be so bad," Ruby murmured, a smile on her face. Yang though was glowering at their father.

"When was he gonna teach me that?"

"When you grow up," Taiyang said, not even looking their way but still smirking. Yang flushed.

"So! Who wants to spar first?" He asked the room, still cheerful.

- - -

Taiyang shouldn't be some loser who does nothing. We don't even know what his Semblance or Weapon is. That's just ridiculous. He's crucial to the backstory of the fucking plot involving Summer! Which is integral to the entire fucking story! So I gave him some awesome.

He's not able to maintain his transformation as easily anymore, he's out of practice. But he's going to find reasons to get back into shape, very soon.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Let us suppose Ren and Nora worked out their feelings a bit earlier in canon and came to Beacon with...

- - -

After the newly formed teams of JNPR and RWBY defeat their respective giant Grimm... There's a loud, keening cry from a backpack Nora's been carrying all this time.

Nora: "Oh! One sec...!" She opened her pack and pulled out a baby she rocked "Aw, there there, sweetie, Mommy's here!"

Jaune: "... W-Wait... is that a baby?"

Nora: "Yup! Sure is! Good eyes, Jaune-Jaune!"

Pyrrha: "You-You brought a baby with you?!"

Weiss: "WHY DO YOU HAVE A BABY?!"

Ruby: "Did you steal a baby?! Why would you steal a baby?!"

Nora: "Pfft, of course I didn't steal a baby! This is my baby! His name is Thor!"

She begins to breastfeed him.

Weiss: "In-In public even!"

Blake: "H-How... Lewd..." blush

Jaune: "... You-You two-?!"

Ren: "What? We're legally married."

Nora: "We just keep the separate names so things don't get confused!"

Yang: "You... You have a baby-?"

Ren: "He's two months old."

Weiss: "TWO MONTHS?! You're back in action, fighting Grimm, after having a baby TWO MONTHS AGO?!"

Nora: "Sure am! What, like it's hard? I'm not letting my hubby fight alone!"

Ren: "It is appreciated."

Jaune: "I mean... You did bring a baby to fight Grimm..."

Ren: "I activated his Aura. Much easier than figuring it out on your own when you're a child, believe me."

Nora: "Yeah! He slept through the whoooole fight! Who's my good little Thor? Who's my good little boy?"

Jaune: "I uh... Um... W-Wow... Uh..."

Nora: "I know he's young but I swear, Fearless Leader! He'll contribute!" After Thor is finished feeding, and she buttons her shirt back up, she holds Thor up to Jaune "See? He's a fearsome little warrior! Go on Thor, show Mommy's leader how badass you are!"

Thor yawns cutely and gurgles.

Nora: "... He's still learning! PLEASE! DON'T THROW US OUT ON THE COLD STREETS, JAUNE!"

Jaune: "I-I would never-!"

Nora: "YAY!" hugs him "RENNY! WE FOUND THOR'S FIRST UNCLE!"

Ren: nods "The title is not worn lightly."

Nora: "AND AUNTIES! Who wants to be an aunty?!"

Ruby: "ME! I DO!"

Pyrrha: "M-Me too!"

Nora: "HOORAY! I KNEW THIS SCHOOL WAS THE BEST!"

- - -

If Ren had sorted his emotions out sooner and realized "Yeah, I wanna marry my crazy shortstack best friend and have babies with her".

Let's just say they were both over seventeen when it all went down and Nora's going to turn 18 soon, okay?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Ruby sighed in relief as she sat down on her bed with her Scroll rolled out. The dormroom was finally deserted, and she could get some game time. She adjusted her headset and grinned as her stream began.

"Hello Roseheads!" She greeted her fans as she went to the log-in menu for her favoritest MMORPG ever: Fantasy Galaxies of Conflict: Shadow Raids of Legend, "Sorry it's been a while! I just started Hunter Academy early, so I haven't had as much time for streaming! But I'm still here!"

She beamed as the comments section lit up with supportive messages... And some angry ones. She rolled her eyes at those. Her cute doggy girl anime avatar wagged its tail as she logged in.

"Anyway! Today we're gonna be doing a Shadow Fortress Dungeon!" Ruby announced, as she guided her Level 130 Space Wizard Shadow through the catacombs of a dark Space Wizard's lair, "This one was ruled by Lord Gorbaz, who in the expanded lore was a master of Space Wizard Necromancy trying to bring back his deceased wife and son, who then had to be slain by the Light Space Wizards in a laser sword duel! He turned back to the Goodside at the end and was reunited with his family's spirits in the afterlife! It's a really touching novel and comic! And it was in Paladins of the Ancient Republic, too!"

She made a face as she killed some low-level undead.

"And in the Wizney-verse, he was turned into an abusive wife beater and child abuser," Ruby groused, "Because Wizney hires people with major daddy issues. I don't have daddy issues! I could write a way better novel! Especially the tech parts! In fact, I-"

She paused as she entered the antechamber of the dread fortress. Her eyes narrowed, and she hissed into her microphone.

"You."

A painfully familiar game avatar turned to face her, wielding a red laser sword in each hand. The avatar was, unlike her red and black wearing Light Space Wizard Shadow, in bright white and black armor. He wore a samurai-like face mask and helmet and was tall and menacing.

It was her nemesis. A nasty, mean, sarcastic jerk of a gamer who had dogged her since she'd started streaming two years ago. He always toed the line, never becoming truly abusive so that he'd get kicked and banned. And she had to admit, quietly, he was quite competent. His streams, while filled with invective and insults, were very informative and showed a deep love and passion for the game and Fantasy Galaxies of Conflict.

But he was still a dick.

The worst part was? Whenever she encountered him, her streaming numbers went way up. Even as unpleasant as it was... Well... She did want to make her fans happy.

Even if it meant she had to deal with this jerkoff for a while.

"Lord Darkarc!" She growled as the avatar sent a very insulting emoji her way.

"Hello RoseScythe," a digitally altered voice greeted her, "Still min maxing your way through everything, I see."

"It's the only way to really play the game!" Ruby sneered, "It's intelligent gaming!"

"Or maybe you just pay to win," Lord Darkarc said mockingly.

"I DO NOT!" Ruby shouted back, as her comments section went crazy, "I only buy skins! And I got a really good one for completing Quest of the Doom Nova!"

"Everyone did Quest of the Doom Nova," Darkarc snorted.

"Back when it was easy, yeah!" Ruby growled, "But then they made it way harder!"

"In the dumbest ways possible!" Darkarc replied, "I guess that's why you liked it! You just min maxed your way through it like you do everything! Honestly, your streams are so boring!"

"THEY ARE NOT!" Ruby shouted. "You're just jealous I get more views!"

"You only get more views because you pretend to be a cute girl!" Darkarc taunted, "I bet you're a fat ugly cow in real life! Goes with your gaming skills!"

"AND I BET YOU'RE A-A TOTAL FAT LOSER WHO LIVES IN HIS MOM'S BASEMENT!" Ruby snarled.

"Ooh, so scathing! What ya gonna do, uwu at me?" DarkArc laughed.

"THAT'S IT! PVP MODE, RIGHT NOW!" Ruby snarled.

They did fight... And Ruby's Stealth mechanics did let her get in some good hits. DarkArc was only two levels above her-It shouldn't have been an issue!

But then he called down an Aetheric Lightning Storm, and she was hit with every status effect known to man.

"Wha-NO! NONONONO-!"

Her character went down. DarkArc's synthetic laughter filled her headphones as she gaped at the GAME OVER: RESPAWN? screen.

"YOU CHEATING-HACKING-SON OF A BITCH!" Ruby shouted angrily. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"I'll have beaten the quest before you even respawn!" DarkArc taunted, running out. "Later sweetheart! Drown your sorrow in shitty cookies, ya fat hag!"

"MY COOKIES ARE NOT SHITTY!" Ruby bellowed. "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

"HA! My best friend's cookies would wreck your shitty cookies any day of the week!"

"WHO'S YOUR BEST FRIEND?! YOUR RIGHT HAND?!" Ruby shot back.

"Oh, that'll burn really bad when I finish the last boss," DarkArc jeered. "LOSER!"

"ASSHOLE!"

"BITCH!"

"DICKHEAD!"

"FEMCEL!"

Ruby respawned and chased after DarkArc. She avoided most of the mobs to get to the main boss-She was at a high enough level, she'd be fine.

She confronted Lord Garboz and fought him, summoning her companion characters to aid in the fight. It was honestly pretty rough, but she'd practically automated the AIs to work with her timing perfectly.

She finished off the boss, and whooped loudly.

"YEAH! GOTCHA!" Ruby cheered. "HA! Seven minutes, twenty seven seconds! Beat that!"

She heard DarkArc's taunting voice again.

"Read your messages and weep."

She checked the messaging channel. Her jaw dropped at the screenshot.

"Wha-FIVE MINUTES?!" She screeched.

"Oh! Oh! Is that the sound of despair?" DarkArc mocked her. "What a pity! What a pity! Guess your autistic screeching didn't avail you, sweetheart!"

"OOOOH! YOU'RE GONNA REGRET THIS, DARKARC!" Ruby snarled.

"I'm shaking in my boots!"

"You-!"

She froze. She studied the screenshot a bit more. She caught sight of a familiar Scroll desktop wallpaper behind the game window. It looked like the corners of a picture... A picture she'd taken for...

"Sorry Roseheads, BRB," she said, pausing the game and the stream. She pulled off her headphones and opened the door.

She walked across the hallway and opened the door to Team JNPR's dorms, slowly and quietly. She peered inside.

"Well DarkArc Fans," Jaune Arc cackled, "I guess we'll see RoseScythe another day. And kill her. Now! Who wants to go to the lobby and murder some overconfident newbs?"

Ruby gaped in shock. She shut the door behind her, loudly. Jaune started, and slowly turned to stare at Ruby.

"Ruby?" He muttered.

"... DarkArc?" She whispered.

Jaune stared in silence for a bit longer... Before his eyes widened.

"... RoseScythe?" He croaked.

- - -

Jaune and Ruby being rival gamers before they even meet in real life is a very stupid but potentially fun idea.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Blake had not enjoyed this mission at all if she were being honest. Weiss even less so, which made their bickering worse.

They were to accompany Team JNPR on a low-level mission to a village out in East Sanus to protect it from Grimm, and to resolve the issue that caused Grimm to multiply. Apparently the local farm workers were demanding higher wages, and the company that employed them was denying them those raises.

Blake had initially sympathized with the farm workers when they arrived and started killing Grimm. She'd even encouraged a few of them to strike back at the company. Then they'd gotten mad with her, and so had Ruby and Jaune.

Jaune had taken her aside when they got a moment of peace between Grimm raids in one of the fields.

"Blake," Jaune stated, "This isn't helping the mission."

"These people are clearly being oppressed by those with more power-"

"Blake!" Jaune growled. "I thought that a reformed terrorist would have realized the world isn't so black and white."

Blake winced.

"I-How do you-?"

"Ruby told me," Jaune stated, "I asked for information on anything that might compromise the mission. I think that's a pretty big red flag."

"So what, you're going to hold my past against me-?"

"I won't hold anything against you as long as you obey Ruby and I and keep these people alive," Jaune retorted, his voice hard as steel. That took Blake aback briefly.

Blake glared heatedly at him, expecting the goofy young man to back down. He always did when Weiss snarled.

"Injustice isn't something you can just ignore-!"

"The argument between these people is going to get everyone here killed," Jaune stated firmly, glaring back at her, "If we don't resolve it, more people will die. We can fix people being poor or rich later, but right now? The priority is people's lives. Got it?"

She frowned, and slowly nodded. In all honesty, she'd gotten used to Ruby's style of leadership: Get yelled at until they finally did what she wanted done and fight whatever was threatening them.

Jaune... His team obeyed him without question. He didn't have to yell, except when things were loud. Even Nora, the hyperactive ball of energy, followed Jaune's orders. Not always to the letter, but she got it done.

He was very... Focused. Honestly, he hadn't hit on Weiss once. Something the heiress seemed to disbelieve, given the looks she kept giving him.

The real eye opener was the meeting at the village hall, with the company representative on one side of the wooden assembly room, the worker's rep on the other, the village mayor at her desk on the top of the square, and Teams RWBY and JNPR on the bottom.

The farm workers rep began. She was a built woman with her brunette hair in a tight bun and wore overalls. She angrily decried the company not paying them overtime due to the Grimm attacks, accusing them of being like the SDC with price gouging.

Weiss had very nearly leaped to her feet at that, but Jaune had reached out and held her back without looking. All of Team RWBY was very surprised at that. Pyrrha had just smiled warmly, while Ren remained calm and Nora grinned.

Then the company rep, a local, equally well built balding redheaded man in somewhat nicer clothes than the rep, gave his side of things.

"We haven't been able to increase wages because the Grimm attacks are hurting our ability to get resupply through," he stated, "We're not hording anything. We're not being greedy. Those are the damn facts, you stubborn jackass! If we could get spare parts for the farm equipment, we wouldn't have this issue! But you keep attacking us and drawing these damn Grimm here!"

"You're the one who keeps sending our workers out to the fields when Grimm are around!" The worker rep shouted back.

"Would you rather starve?! We paid Hunters to come out here-!"

"Hunters in training! A bunch of kids!" The worker rep sneered.

"And they did the job!" The company rep shouted. He glared. "If I could hire them instead of you bozos, I'd do it in a heartbeat!"

"Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you?! What if we all walk off the job?!"

"Where's the food gonna come from, jackass?!"

"You've got plenty of fertilizer coming out of your damn-!"

Jaune nodded to Nora. She slammed her hammer onto the floor, making a loud BANG! Everyone started. Jaune nodded.

"Okay, now that I have your attention," Jaune said, "We were asked to arbitrate and settle the dispute. So that's what we're going to do." Jaune turned to the farm worker's rep.

"It is true, given all the work I've seen you guys doing under these conditions, you could definitely use a raise," he said, "Fighting Grimm even as a Hunter is difficult, fighting them off while farming? That's really tough. So yes, you're absolutely right. Under these conditions, you should get more money."

The farm worker rep smirked in triumph, as Weiss balked. Blake smirked a little herself.

"However," Jaune turned to the company rep, "The company isn't your enemy here. If they don't have the money and can't get supplies through, then that's the fault of the Grimm, not them. You both need eachother. Plain and simple. The company rep is a guy from your village-You're in this together, he's not some guy with no stakes in this at all."

The company rep smirked nastily back at the farm worker rep. She glared back.

"And both of you need to stop treating this like your own personal feud," Jaune went on, and both reps glared at him.

"How dare you-!"

"You little-!"

"You're divorced," Jaune said blandly. The village mayor coughed, and shrugged as both reps glared at her.

"He did ask about you two before we began," the mayor said.

"So," Jaune said, "With that in mind? Let's work on figuring out what we can do about the current situation, in a way that we can all agree on. At least for the time being."

As it turned out, the farming equipment all required one main component to function: An energy converter for Dust to electricity. Jaune had some of the worn out ones brought in. He handed them to Yang and Ruby.

"You guys know motorcycles and engineering," he said, "Is there any way we can fix these?"

"Hmm," Ruby hummed, "Maybe. The thing is, the conversion coils wear out and get warped over time. If we had a really strong magnetic field, we might be able to get them into some kind of working condition?"

"It wouldn't be a long term fix," Yang warned, "But I've been able to keep Bumblebee running on refurbished converters for a few months longer than they would have lasted otherwise."

Jaune turned to Pyrrha.

"Pyrrha?"

Happily, Pyrrha used her Semblance, with Ruby and Yang's guidance, to warp the coils back into some shape. They then went out to a tractor, and tested it out. The converter failed to start once, but the next time, the machine roared to life.

"Okay," Jaune said, turning back to the mayor and the two reps, "If we can refurbish some converters for you, can you resume work long enough to get the supply chain going again?"

The farm worker rep frowned, but slowly nodded her head.

"I think we can," she said, side eyeing her ex-husband, "We'll have to go slow but it's doable."

"Slow is better than nothing," the company rep agreed, "If you could do the same for a few of the supply trucks, we might be able to get some more from a trading outpost nearby?"

Jaune looked at Pyrrha, who beamed.

"Leave it to me, Jaune!"

"All right," Jaune said with a warm smile, "I'd call that a done deal!"

- - -

Pyrrha worked very hard with Yang and Weiss to fix as many converters as possible. Blake and Weiss had helped out wherever they could, mostly by going on patrols around the village. On one such patrol, she went out with Jaune around the perimeter. They didn't say much until they got outside. Then...

"You were... Surprising," Blake admitted.

Jaune blinked.

"Hm?"

"Tonight," Blake said, "You stayed calm and in control the whole time. You found a solution to the problem."

Jaune sighed and shook his head.

"We bought them some time. Pyrrha, Yang and Ruby figured out the solution," he said, "It's temporary, and it doesn't solve a lot of their other problems-"

"No, but it keeps people alive," Blake said quietly. "Isn't that the main priority?"

Jaune stared at her for a long moment... Then he smiled. She found it in herself to smile back.

"Yeah," he said.

"I do have to ask," Blake continued, "How did you... Keep cool? Negotiate so well?"

Jaune shrugged, scanning the horizon.

"My dad's head of Radian's militia. We don't have a police department, just a Ranger station. They mainly deal with crimes outside the walls, so the militia has to handle a lot of disputes. Domestic stuff, whose cow tramples whose fence, stuff like that. My dad did a lot of conflict resolution, and brought my sisters and I along. My mom's a doctor and pretty well respected, too, so she handles stuff like that as well. And my sister Tanya? She's a really cutthroat businesswoman. She was trading in candy, toys and money since she was like, seven."

"But you're... At Beacon, you're always so..." She trailed off.

Jaune shrugged.

"I guess... I feel more comfortable here," he admitted, "People living their lives, trying to sort crap out. I-I can't afford to be bumbling or a goof here." He smiled and shrugged. "I guess... Here I know how to be. At Beacon? Not a clue."

"I think acting like this would be a good start," Blake said softly.

"Really?" Jaune asked, blinking.

"Definitely," Blake smiled. "Even if you don't know what you're doing, acting like you do? That can definitely make all the difference."

Jaune nodded.

"Maybe... Thanks Blake."

"Any time."

- - -

That... Just sort of happened.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

It was rare Weiss got a call from her father, and never pleasant. In this case... It was confusing.

Jacques: "Weiss. I want to know one thing. Is there a Jaune Arc at your school?"

Weiss: "Yesss...?"

Jacques: "Of the Radian Arcs? Uses a sword called Crocea Mors?"

Weiss: further confused "I... Think so?"

Jacques: "Good. I want you to steer clear of him. Have nothing to do with him at all!"

Weiss: "I-Wait, what? Why?"

Jacques: "The Arcs are our family enemies. They thwarted my efforts to acquire Dust mines in North Sanus! His father insulted me at a town meeting, and mocked my manhood! He convinced the local council to reject my business offer! They are persona non grata to me, and should be to you, too!"

Weiss: "... Really?"

Jacques: "Yes! In addition, his mother is a real... She refused to become our exclusive physician. She refused ME. They are not to be trusted, or associated with. Understood?"

Weiss: "Yes Father."

Jacques: "Good. Remember: Nothing to do with that boy at all!"

Weiss: "Of course Father!"

Later...

Weiss: "Jaune."

Jaune: "Hm? Oh, hey Weiss. Sorry about asking you out all the time-"

Weiss: "Apparently our families are mortal enemies."

Jaune: "... What? They are?"

Weiss: "Yes! My father truly hates your family entirely! And wants me to have nothing to do with you!"

Jaune: "Well... I mean, if you want I'll just-"

Weiss: "So you're taking me out on a date Friday night."

Jaune: "... I... Am?"

Weiss: "Yes, you are."

Jaune: "Even though our families are supposedly mortal enemies?"

Weiss: "Yep!"

Jaune: "... Okay?"

Weiss: "Dress nice. Bring flowers." She heads off with a smile

Jaune: "... What the hell just happened?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

As far as Cinder Fall was concerned? Today was almost perfect.

Vale was in chaos as the Atlasian drones and airships fired on everyone. The Grimm surged into the city like an army of locusts, killing and devouring. The Headmaster lay dead at her feet, and the power of the Maiden was hers.

She heard activity in the elevator to Ozpin's office, and she smirked.

Now the best part of the day was here. The true cherry on top.

That Spartan... She'd been an annoyance to her from the moment she came to this wretched school. Even more than Ruby Rose. Her grace, her poise, her smiles and her strength... She had been looking forward to breaking her. To see her fall into despair and accept how hopeless it all was, before Cinder ended her.

It was a delicious thought, and she turned to the elevator. A good gloat was on her lips, and she prepared to let the so-called Invincible Girl have it...

The doors opened. Out stepped... A blond young man in white and black armor. Cinder gaped, but quickly recovered.

This was even better!

"Oho? What are you here to do, boy? Fight me? Prove you're not the pathetic deadlast? Or do you think your little girlfriend will be impressed if I kill you first?"

Jaune Arc looked up into her eyes. There was some fear, yes, but his gaze was focused and stoic. He began to walk towards her. Cinder laughed again.

"Well... If you want to die so badly, I suppose I should grant you a quick one," she sneered, "Then I can show your body off to your pathetic little friends and watch their faces fall!"

She threw a massive fireblast right at him. He vanished into the blaze, and a massive explosion erased where he was standing. Cinder cackled again, the overwhelming flow of the Maiden powers leaving her almost lightheaded!

"Ohhh this magic is amazing!" She laughed.

"It's not magic."

Cinder started. She looked up. Standing on the edge of the dome of the office, Jaune Arc stared down at her.

"You-Wha-?!"

"It's not magic," Jaune repeated, looking a little shaken, but still incredibly calm. She unleashed another fire blast, and Jaune blurred, clinging to another part of the ceiling as she blasted a hole through where he'd been standing.

"What do you know about it?!" Cinder demanded, preparing a dozen glass arrows to shoot at him.

"My great-grandmother taught me what it was," Jaune said, his tone soft but still filling the room, "It's an energy field generated by all living things. It guides us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together. It's the energy of life itself, with a will of its own."

Cinder sneered.

"What? Your old hag worked for Ozpin? As one of her pawns?"

"No," Jaune said, shaking his head, "She was something else. She didn't want to reveal it to this world... She told me to keep it a secret. Because if I showed it off? If I let everyone know...? There could be terrible consequences."

He dropped to the floor. He pulled his sword from his folded-up shield which was serving as a sheath for the blade. He then did something she didn't expect-He broke the hilt of Crocea Mors and dropped the metal blade to the floor.

"But I don't have any choice left," he said, "And I won't let you hurt anyone else!"

Cinder growled.

"Who do you think you are, you pathetic weakling?! A hero?!"

"No," Jaune said, and Cinder was taken aback. The boy had always been goofy, harmless looking. His eyes bright and wide. Now? Now looking into his eyes, she could only see a mountain there: Implacable, immovable, and untroubled.

He tapped something on the sword hilt... And a blue energy beam burst into life. It formed into a blade of coherent energy, as he took a somewhat familiar fighting stance. Like a blend of Niko's, and something else.

"I am a Jedi."

- - -

Last edited: Yesterday at 2:43 PM​

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yesterday is canonically Pyrrha's birthday! So let's all write some bits to celebrate our shy redheaded Amazon!

For starters...

- - -

Pyrrha Nikos sighed mentally as she kept up her professional smile. This Weiss Schnee was proving quite persistent this early in the morning, and was saying things she had heard a thousand times before in various forms. Nothing new. If she was going to make a fresh start at Beacon Academy, she really didn't think falling into the old ways was going to do it.

"Hey, name's Jaune Arc-"

Pyrrha's eyes widened and she spun around, her ponytail waving behind her dramatically. Her eyes locked onto the speaker-A tall blond boy with blue eyes, white armor, and a black hoodie. Her jaw dropped.

"J-Jaune?!" She gasped.

Weiss Schnee scowled deeply.

"What? Has this idiot bothered you before, Pyrrha?"

Jaune, for his part, stared in shock.

"Uh, have we met before?" He managed.

Pyrrha beamed.

"Jaune, it's me! Don't you remember?!"

Never in her life had she wanted to be recognized by someone more than this moment.

Jaune blinked, blinked again... Then the light of recognition filled his eyes, and he sucked in a deep breath.

"... Pyr?"

"YES!" Pyrrha laughed giddily. Jaune laughed with her and reached out with his long arms to pull her into a hug. One she gratefully, eagerly accepted. She bowed her head and sighed happily at his familiar warmth.

Off to the side, Weiss Schnee gaped at this embrace in utter disbelief.

"It's been so long!" Jaune laughed. "I really missed you! I kept sending you letters but you stopped replying!"

Pyrrha winced, then narrowed her eyes. She looked up at him apologetically.

"I-I'm really sorry, Jaune," she said earnestly, "After my fighting career took off, my mother became very, um, restrictive about my mail."

She hadn't thought that Mother could be so cruel to deny her letters from her childhood best friend. Well... She'd have to re-evaluate their relationship when next they met. Severely.

"W-Wow, looking kind of scary there, Pyr," Jaune chuckled nervously. Pyrrha coughed, and was all genuine smiles again. It felt good.

"Sorry, just... Nothing to do with you," she said quickly. "How are you?"

"I'm pretty good," Jaune said with a nod, "Trying to fulfill my dream. You're doing well, right?"

"Are you kidding?!" Weiss demanded. "You didn't recognize her?! She's PYRRHA NIKOS! Four time champion of the Mistral Regional Fighting Tournament!"

Jaune blinked, then grinned at Pyrrha.

"Really?! That's amazing, Pyr! I'm so proud of you!"

Pyrrha blushed heavily. His earnest praise meant more to her than millions of likes on her Facetagram.

"She's a model for many magazines!"

"That explains how you grew up into such a beauty," Jaune went on, "When we were little you were super cute, but I couldn't imagine how you'd grow up!"

Oh, this was a dream. A dream come true!

"SHE WAS ON THE FRONT OF PUMPKIN PETE CEREAL BOXES!" Weiss shouted, now sounding thoroughly exasperated. Why, Pyrrha didn't know or care.

"Oh cool! I got a hoodie by eating that! Sent in fifty boxtops," Jaune said cheerfully.

Weiss Schnee looked close to a conniption. Pyrrha Nikos could not care less.

"So," Jaune rubbed the back of his head, "Um... I was wondering if you'd like to-"

"Yes," Pyrrha said with a quick nod, "Anything. Including marriage."

Oh Gods why did I say that?! Pyrrha thought to herself frantically, Now he thinks I'm some kind of psycho!

Jaune went bright red but laughed it off. Her mortification vanished.

"Er... That's a little quick on the draw there, Pyr," he said, "I-I mean, last time we met you made me eat mud pies."

Pyrrha flushed deeply.

"They were good mud pies?" She tried.

"I'm sure they were," Jaune said dryly. "Anyway, if you wanted to team up, I think it would be-"

"Of course!" Pyrrha said happily. She took his hand in hers, blushing all the while. "I did say 'anything'."

They walked past the gobsmacked Weiss Schnee. Jaune chuckled.

"Well yeah, but a guy might take advantage of that."

"Not you," Pyrrha said with utter surety, "Definitely not you."

"Well, thanks Pyr," he said. "... So... Did you actually try the cereal before you agreed to be put on the box?"

"Yup."

"Did you know it's actually terrible?"

She laughed and leaned against him as they walked out into the sunlight.

All of her worries about Beacon were far, far away. Where they belonged.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Jaune Arc was... Well, Pyrrha Nikos wasn't quite sure what to make of him. Indeed, most of the student body wasn't sure what to make of the very odd boy, aside from a macabre betting pool on when he would die.

The first thing she had noticed was how he had appeared. He'd shown up at Beacon in an orange gi with a Mistralian character (Fuujin for "Turtle", she believed) on his back, boots, arm warmers, and nothing else save his luggage. He'd made fast friends with Ruby Rose, the other oddball of this year's hopefuls: A 15-year-old prodigy with terrible social skills. Yet she at least had a weapon. Jaune had nothing.

The second thing? Those bunny pajamas. He'd worn them without a hint of shame, right in public That had set a lot more tongues wagging-Quite cruelly, in Pyrrha's opinion.

The third thing that everyone else missed? His easy confidence.

Confidence and ego were not in short supply at Beacon. Young hotshot hunters with incredible power and grades were ready and willing to prove themselves, and trumpeted their abilities loudly to form a hierarchy.

Jaune though... He didn't move like some novice who didn't know what he was getting into. Nor did he strut. He walked calmly, easily, as though he was in complete control and didn't even pay it mind.

It was... Similar to how she moved, if she was being honest.

He took every insult and snide remark with a gentle smile and a nod like it didn't even faze him.

Yet... While she had heard of the Arcs from ancient history (Who could forget Jean de Arc's defeat of the Witch Queen of Argus? Or Roland de Arc's conquest of Mistral?), she'd never heard of one without armor or weapons.

So, her curiosity piqued, she used Polarity to ensure her locker choice was nearby his. She headed to the locker room, and locked eyes on him.

She blushed a bit. He was pulling on his shirt, and-Wow. His physique was... W-Wow...

Ahem.

She walked towards him with her usual casual grace, but made her footsteps just a bit louder. Funny enough, she could see him twitch in response. Curiouser and curiouser-

"Hello Miss Nikos!" Weiss Schnee cried cheerfully, popping up in front of her. Pyrrha kept her casual smile up, even as inside she cursed.

Sneaky little...!

"Hello, Miss...?"

"Schnee! Weiss Schnee, of the Schnee Dust Corporation?" Weiss asked, shaking Pyrrha's hand eagerly. "I'm sure you've heard of us-So, are you thinking of joining a team? Because I believe we'd work together extremely well-"

"Hm? Oh, hey!" Jaune said cheerfully with an easy wave. "Pyrrha? That's a nice name."

Pyrrha blinked, and flushed. It was... A simple compliment, but so earnest.

"So, would you like to join my team?" Jaune asked both girls cheerfully, "Plenty of room."

Weiss made a face.

"Who'd want dead weight like you?" She scoffed. Jaune shrugged.

"Pyrrha might? You're really strong, right?"

Pyrrha blinked. He asked that in such an odd way, as Weiss goggled at him.

"Do you even know who she is?!" She demanded.

"Nope!" Jaune said cheerfully. Weiss gaped, and Pyrrha had to admit, a small, mean part of her really enjoyed that look on the heiress's face.

"Wha-Four Time Mistralian Regional-Professional Model-Pumpkin Pete's-!"

"Oh," Jaune looked sad for a moment. Pyrrha frowned.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Oh, I just lost my Pumpkin Pete's hoodie when I got washed out to sea," Jaune explained, "Along with my family armor and sword." He sighed sadly. "That was my great-grandfather's."

"Wha-You were carrying around armor and weapons from the Great War?!" Weiss demanded in shock. "Are you an idiot?!"

Jaune hummed.

"Master Krillin says it's good to admit you're an idiot because then you can learn to not be. So... Yeah, I guess so?"

Weiss glared.

"Well what do you intend to do without any weapons or armor?"

"Protect people from the Grimm and other threats," Jaune said with a shrug and smile, "Isn't that why everyone's here?"

"I... You...!" Weiss sputtered.

"Would all Hunter-in-Training candidates please report to the Initiation Cliff," Professor Goodwitch announced over the PA system.

Pyrrha grabbed this out like it was the last parachute on a burning airship, and beamed.

"We should really get going!" Pyrrha said urgently, "We don't want to be late!"

"Good thinking!" Jaune said brightly, and all three headed for the cliffs. Weiss walked ahead of them, muttering angrily under her breath.

Again, he never lost that quiet confidence... And while his clothes were baggy, Pyrrha could certainly admit with an internal blush, she liked what she could see. A lot.

- - -

The Initiation was everything she'd been told it would be. Getting launched up into the air to land in the Emerald Forest, and fight your way back to Beacon. She had kept an eye on Jaune the whole flight, wondering what he would do.

He did not disappoint. Much to her amazement, he slowed himself down with his Aura flaring around him and landed easily in the forest.

She landed just as easily herself and made her way towards where he had landed.

She heard a great deal of violence in the forest clearing ahead and increased her pace. She breached the clearing... And stared in horror.

A pack of Beowulves were charging Jaune, at least six. They had completely surrounded him on all sides, and his back was to her. She sucked in a breath to yell a warning as they lunged, and drew Milo to open fire-

"KIENZAN!"

Jaune formed a yellow-white disk of pure energy from his hand, then threw it. It dashed around like a buzzsaw, slicing all of the Beowulves in half, then faded away. The Beowulves all vaporized, as Jaune leaned over, rested on his knees, and panted.

"Haa... Haa... Haa... O-Okay... Still... Takes a lot out of me," He muttered, "G-Good to know..."

Pyrrha's jaw nearly went to the center of the Earth. A warm, hot feeling enveloped her insides. Jaune seemed to sparkle in her vision.

"J-Jaune-!"

"YAH!"

Jaune spun around and punched the air... Which sent a blast of wind right into Pyrrha's face. Dumbstruck, she was blasted right off her feet into a tree.

"Oh... Crap!" Jaune cursed, as she blacked out.

Her vision and senses slowly returned. She blinked away a sudden headache as her Aura healed her, and stared up at Jaune's worried face.

"Oh geez, oh Gods, oh geez, I'm so glad you're okay, Pyrrha! Hey! How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three," Pyrrha managed vaguely, staring intently at him. Jaune sighed in relief, and then stood up. He helped her to her feet, even as her knees wobbled.

"Ummm... I'm really sorry about that," he said, "I'm still working on energy sensing. Master Krillin said I think too much, and uh... Well, I really do, eheh... You okay?"

Pyrrha very slowly nodded.

"Y-Yes," she said, "That was... Incredible."

Jaune grinned.

"Turtle School training!" He said cheerfully. "Though uh, I'm still working on the higher level stuff. So... Wanna be partners?"

Pyrrha had grown up idolizing the ancient Amazons of Mistralian myth and legend. Powerful female warriors, who wouldn't love those tales? The most interesting ones though were when a worthy man defeated an Amazon. Proving his valor and courage, the Amazon allowed herself to become his wife.

It was perhaps a bit strange, but Pyrrha had loved the idea of a noble man who could match and then beat her in combat becoming her companion, her lover, her everything, and becoming stronger and better together.

Like an answer to her prayers, here he stood, goofy, earnest smile and all.

"Yes," Pyrrha breathed, "Forever."

Jaune beamed.

"Sure thing!"

Giddy with excitement, she accompanied the orange wearing blond towards the cliffs, already thinking of what kind of lingerie she was going to order that very night...

- - -

In another world that the hapless Jaune Arc had wandered into and then wandered out of, on a tropical island dominated by a small pink beach house with KAME HOUSE written on the side in English, a bald man with no nose looking out pensively over the ocean water. His small blonde daughter (also without a nose) played with crabs nearby. His beautiful wife, a statuesque blonde with intense blue eyes, relaxed on a beach chair in a bikini, while an old man in an orange shirt, sunglasses, and a large turtle shell on his back paced behind the younger man.

"Do... Do you think I did a good job, Master Roshi?" The noseless man asked.

"Only time will tell, Krillin," Master Roshi said, "But I chose you as heir of this school for good reason. Watching you train that boy demonstrated to me you have that potential. So I wouldn't worry too much about that kid."

"Besides," his wife said with a smirk, "If nothing else? He'll do well with women. You've ensured that much."

"I just taught him to be kind and help people with his power," Krillin argued.

"Worked pretty damn well for you, didn't it?" Roshi laughed.

Krillin beamed at his master, his wife, and then at his daughter who waved at him. He chuckled.

"Yeah... It did. Go forth, Jaune Arc. And I hope you do well... With saving your world, and women."

"MOSTLY THAT LAST ONE! EHEHEHEH!"

"ROSHI!"

- - -

A belated tribute to Akira Toriyama, and hey: The Krill-Master would get along GREAT with Jaune Arc.