Edit 4/26/15: I apologize for my six month absence, many problems have come up as of late, including my computer completely breaking beyond repair. But, I promise that reviews will come more often, the next coming sometime next week. This is a revision of the first chapter, as the original version had little to do with what I have planned for this story. If you have read this chapter before, I recommend rereading it.
Edit 11/27/15: So remember when I said that updates would be coming more often? Me neither. But that said, updates will be uploaded at a faster rate. I'm going to try for at least bi-weekly, but will attempt to get everything out as soon as possible. I'm going through the chapters and adding more details that I missed the first (and second) around. I've also added a new prologue scene, which will tie-in later in the story and revised some things. Again, if you have read the story thus far before, I would advise reading it again.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it.
RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and the late Monty Oum. Rest in Peace.
2:57AM, April 4th, 2371
New Haven, South Atlas.
The woods of New Haven were usually as alive during the night as the town was during the day. The gentle wildlife, calm rivers and flickering fireflies adding a serene atmosphere to the area. But the night of April 4th, almost all activity had ceased, scared off by the sudden arrival of 4 individuals, and their powerful yet varying auras. They all gathered in the ruins nearby the small town, a reminder of the battles that raged during pre-Great War times. 3 of the figures wore cloaks, white, green and red, the hoods covering their heads, while the 4th wore a mask resembling a Grimm. The one wearing white lit a match a dropped it, igniting a small bonfire that illuminated their faces.
"I suppose you know why we came here." said the figure in green, his left hand resting on a cane he used to support himself.
The figure in white lowered his hood, revealing his long blonde hair that covered the right side of face. A large scar that began at his chin and went up past his lip to the upper part of his cheek stood out against his skin; a sign of a close encounter with a ferocious creature known as a Grimm. He looked into Green's brown eyes before replying. "Yes, of course." the figure in white replied simply.
"And is it as we've feared?" asked the red cloaked figure. On his back rested a large sword, with what appeared to be gears in the hilt.
"I'm afraid so, the mark appeared on his hand." said White, his voice but a somber whisper.
Green extended his arm and placed a hand on White's shoulder. "I am so sorry John. But we must now decide what to do."
"I'm doing the only sensible thing I can think of, protecting my son. If his aura is left unlocked, it will attract all kinds of unimaginable beasts. That's not a life I'll force him to bear." That's insane. How will he protect himself when he encounters a Grimm in the wild?" said Red.
"I'll think of something. I have to protect him. It's a better choice than letting him throw his life away.
"But if don't let him choose his own path, than aren't you taking his life away from him." said Green.
"I can only hope that he doesn't want to be a Hunter."
"That's ridiculous Arc, your entire family are Hunters. Even your oldest Daughters are learning swordplay as we speak."
"Things are changing, we are in a time of peace. There's less incentive than ever to join this line of work."
"But what about when she comes of age? Her rise to power will bring chaos to the entire world." the masked woman exclaimed, her red eyes glowing through the holes in her mask.
"That's my concern, Raven. I don't care what he said. His visions don't mean I have to willingly throw my son into harm's way. Chances are that we're misinterpreting them anyway. Just because my boy shares his Semblance, doesn't mean he's destined to the same fate as him. I refuse to sacrifice my family."
"Don't you dare speak to me about sacrifice. I had to leave both my daughter and husband in order to protect them."
"Key word being protect. I won't let his fate be decided before he even gets the chance to live. This conversation is over. I will keep you updated on his status as agreed." said White, turning on his heel back towards the village.
Red picked up a nearby bucket of water and extinguished the fire. He pulled down his hood, revealing slicked back black hair and brown eyes.
"I'll start the preparations. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, we need to be ready for the coming years. I'll be in contact." Red said as he turned away from Green and Raven, snapping his fingers before vanishing in a cloud of black smoke and feathers.
"Brother's always been on for theatrics hasn't he?" sighed Raven. She began walking towards the motorcycle she rode in on "I understand where John is coming from. It's not fair, what we have to put his son through, but it's for the good of Remnant, right?" she continued
"We need to protect him as much as possible. But at the same time, he needs to be ready for the approaching war." said Green, slowly following behind Raven.
"I should be going. Have more research to do. See you around, Oz." said Raven, before getting back on the motorcycle she rode in on and driving away.
Green looked up, towards the shattered moon.
"Dark times are coming, spawn of Arc. I hope for us all that you're able to stop them."
9:56PM, December 8th, 2388, Beacon Academy, Vale.
17 Years Later
Jaune groaned as the stream of water from the showerhead hit his body. He looked down at the newly made cuts that had riddled his chest. Pyrrha had been getting more aggressive with their training, something she said was important if Jaune wanted to make progress. Jaune, in his humble opinion, was in much better shape than he was when he arrived at Beacon. But still, he was miles below any of his teammates or peers.
9 days ago, there was a sudden surge of Grimm in the city of Vale. Jaune was about to board the airship to the mission he and his team had chosen, to shadow a Huntsmen in a nearby village, when he had saw the smoke rising from the city. He had told the pilot to reroute the ship, towards the destruction. When they had landed, Jaune had found himself confronted by an Ursa Major. At first he had been paralyzed by fear, having absolutely no idea what to do. As soon as he discovered Pyrrha's semblance was Polarity, he had put two and two together and knew that what happened in Forever Fall, decapitating that Ursa, had not been his own doing. Everything was off, his stance, his arm movements, it was impossible to have incapacitated a Grimm of that size with random slashes. Pyrrha had magnetically moved his sword to line up with its head, and had 'forgotten' to mention her involvement, most likely to boost his confidence. But, even knowing that, Jaune put his fears aside, and went at the Grimm with all he had. Words couldn't describe the happiness he felt as the beast slowly fell down.
But even that was nothing compared to what the others had accomplished. Ruby had taken out at least a dozen Ursa, and he had lost count at the number of Beowolves she had obliterated. Although her abilities had seemed inhuman to Jaune, almost everyone else present had similar body counts. Jaune had taken down 7 or 8 Beowolves in addition to the Major, and though that was a new record for him, it had seemed pathetic in comparison to everyone else. Jaune knew that if he didn't make himself stronger soon, he would be left in the dust by everyone else. Before Beacon, Jaune's Grandfather had been the only one that was willing and able to train him. Jaune's mother and father were almost always busy, being Hunters, and most of his sisters had move out to start a life as their own. The only sister still at home was three years younger than him.
But, even though every other available Hunter had turned him down, said that he was incapable of being taught, Jaune's Grandfather took him in. To this day, he doesn't know if it was because of obligation, or if he truly saw potential in him. Regardless, even though they had trained for only two years, he still knew the foundations of combat. If he didn't receive training he did, in all honesty, Jaune would probably have been either expelled or dead by now.
Jaune had turned off water, and stepped out of the shower. While drying himself off, Jaune took his hand and rubbed the fog off of the mirror. Taking a look at himself, Jaune could see the changes in his face. His features were more defined, and he was even beginning to grow some light stubble. In other words, he was beginning to look a lot like his father.
John Arc was often referred to as a tank. Standing at 6'4, he had muscles toned from years of hunting Grimm. He was almost a spitting image of Jaune, but had a gray streak in his hair, due to being in his later forties. Although it has been said a look from him could scare off a Nevermore, the real terror of the family, was his mother, Juniper Arc. She was a subtle kind of terrifying. Jaune didn't find out until his early teens that upsetting her was akin to setting off a nuclear bomb. Fun times.
Jaune put on his pajamas, ones that he had bought the other day to replace the…for lack of another word, embarrassing, nightwear that he had brought with him. No doubt that the replacement of the pajamas he had originally packed to bring to Beacon with the footie ones was a prank played on him by his youngest sister, Jill.
When he had had exited the bathroom, Jaune saw that all of his teammates had already fallen asleep. Pyrrha had already finished her shower in the girl's bathroom, and was fast asleep, a drool pile on her pillow.
Jaune grinned at the sight.
'Hard to believe, Pyrrha Nikos, four-time Mistral champion, drools in her sleep.'
But, as Jaune more than anybody knows, Pyrrha was as human as anyone else. Jaune didn't realize who she was at first, as he grew up in a relatively remote village, that wasn't surrounded by media. The only reason why they had Wi-Fi was part because Jaune's dad needed it for his job, other part because his sisters would probably go mad without the internet. Jaune did recall seeing Pyrrha in more than a few of his sister's magazines.
After they were grouped together as a team, Jaune admittedly did research on Pyrrha, Ren and Nora.
Pyrrha, as everyone knows, comes from a famous family of hunters. Practically groomed from birth, she was always miles ahead of everyone in her age group.
Nora's family was a weapons manufacturer, mostly dealing in explosives and heavy weapons. This wasn't surprising, and Jaune guessed that being surrounded by deadly weapons left an impact on the girl. Her family was also relatively well known and wealthy.
Ren came from an area of Remnant located in the Far East. Apparently, his family had moved to Nora's hometown when he was around 13 years old. Ren was taught in the way of martial arts, explaining his fighting style.
All of them came important families, and were taught how to fight from a young age, whereas Jaune had no training until he was 15. He wasn't sure if he would ever reached their level. He hadn't even discovered his semblance, something almost everyone at Beacon had already accomplished. But he couldn't stop trying, for Pyrrha's sake. She had poured so much time and energy into him, and he was sure as hell going to make sure that it paid off.
The Annual Vytal Tournament was soon approaching, and if Jaune even wanted a chance to qualify, he would have to train his ass off and endure Pyrrha's strenuous training. He had to live up to the Arc family name, just like Gramps always told him he was meant to.
He looked down at his dresser, and leaning on it stood his sword in its sheath. The Crocea Mors, the Yellow Death. When Gramps handed the sword down to Jaune, it was like a promise. A promise to withhold the Arc Family name. Now, as soon as Jaune figured out how to do that, it would let him rest a whole lot easier.
The pain in his chest fading as his aura mended the wounds. Not only did his aura act as a force field, it also functioned as a healing mechanism. Handy for when he took a beating his aura couldn't protect him from. Pyrrha wasn't lying when she said he had a lot of aura. It was more than almost everyone else he had compared himself to. He thought it was ironic, that the weakest of all his friends also happened to be able to take the most beating. Pyrrha had said it was raw potential, waiting to be unleashed.
'I still don't know why she goes through all the effort the train me and make me feel good about myself. I know she's my friend, but she's one of the kindest people I've ever met. The only one that compares is…her.' thought Jaune, shaking his head. 'I need to get stronger. I won't ever let someone I love be harmed again. I won't break my promise.'
Jaune laid down on his bed, and pulled his covers over his body. Not wanting to confront his thoughts, he closed his eyes and began to fall asleep. He would get stronger, or die trying.