So, this idea came to me when I was working on the newest chapter of Stopping a Knight's Fight. What if Salem came across Jaune after the experiments? What if she took him in and trained him? I hope you all like this story. I do not own RWBY.

Chapter 1

Salem's POV

Pitiful humans, they cling to the Arc clan like parasites. If this clan were to leave the town would follow instantly. This family has been a thorn in my side for so long, so many lifetimes that have been unable to succeed thanks to the Arcs. While the Arcs are powerful this generation has grown complacent, their strength hasn't wavered but a fool is now the patriarch. A twig snaps and I shoot launch an energy ball to where the noise originated. A little figure jumps over it and makes to scurry away only for a Beowolf to block him. He turns around and I see a minature little Arc, the characteristic blond hair and blue eyes standing out. However, this boy is dressed in secondhand clothes at best and looks thin. It's like looking at Cinder when I found her all those years ago.

"Who are you little boy and what are you doing here?" the boy looks around as if searching for an escape route but he gives up after seeing that the rest of the pack that I had prowling around has returned.

"My name is Jaune Arc and I smelled a dead man on you, I wanted to know how his scent could be here." Oh, he doesn't look like a Faunus. And he carries the Arc name yet I was just using a telescope to spy on his family. Interesting.

"I've killed many men, you'll have to be more specific."

"His name was Watts." How does this little slip of a boy know Watts? Now that I think about it Watts once mentioned a boy whose family offered him up as a lab experiment. They didn't know what it was for but merely wanted him to suffer, Watts didn't bother learning the name or even cared about the details he just wanted a lab rat.

"So you're the little Halfling he created." The boy's eyes shift into a Grimm's and then spikes rush out of his shadow and pierce every Beowolf around him. In the second it takes for me to register the attack he makes a move to escape. It's futile as I catch him easily but that was an impressive try for a whelp. To have a semblance so young and for it to be so powerful, he's barely tapped the surface of what he could probably do. I grab him by the neck and hold him up while he struggles.

"You said your name was Jaune, correct?" The boy continues to struggles in my grip and his shadow makes to strike me but I merely bat it away while his struggles are nothing but wasted energy. I tighten my grip and raise him to my eye level.

"I asked you a question, I won't ask nicely again." The boy quits struggling and nods to show his answer. I let him go and his Grimm eyes glare up at me. I can see he plans to run the first chance he can.

"Now then what if I could offer you a place to go, a place where you could grow strong, and the chance to make all those that wronged you pay." That last one is what makes the boy's eyes stop darting around and focus on me. I have to hold back a smirk.

Watts told me that Ozpin was the one to destroy his lab. The fact that this boy is alive means Ozpin decided to spare him, he probably thought the boy would be useful one day. Well he will be most useful, for my forces however. I must thank you for handing me a perfect little solider Ozpin.

Timeskip- 5 years later, Salem's fortress.

Jaune's POV

Ugg, another boring meeting. I don't see why I'm even needed at these things, Salem is insistent on me staying out of sight. Tch, there's only so much training a guy can do before he wants to stretch his limbs. I go in and see Watts insulting Cinder, the only person at this table I would consider a friend, for what happened at Beacon. I cover my hand in bone and shoot a shard at him. He dodges obviously but it gets him to shut up.

"I already want to tear you're throat out Watts, Salem's orders are the only reason you still have a pulse. Don't push it to the point that I'll be willing to disobey her." He wants to argue, I can see it in his eyes, but we both know I would win.

"Oh, lover boy is here to protect the little princess, how cute." Another bone shard is launched only this one is aiming for Tyrian. He ducks under it and I take my seat at one end of the table while smirking at Watts, the hatred between us will never go away. He covets this chair that marks me as Salem's favorite, she's openly acknowledged that Cinder and I are her most valuable pieces for the next couple stages of her plan at least. I look at Cinder and see her wince in pain from where her left arm brushes against her chair.

"How have you been feeling Cinder?" She looks at me with her remaining eye and Emerald, her own henchman, before I wave her off. "Don't worry about that, I'll hear whatever you say." Emerald looks towards Cinder and she waves her off. Emerald moves back to join the other one, Mercury I think. Cinder then starts speaking, normal ears can't hear it but I can with a little modification. Enhancing my senses is so easy now I can do it on a whim.

"As long as I don't hit anything with it my arm is usually fine but sometimes it rebels. Phantom pain is common." I expected it to happen when I saw what Salem did for Cinder, it took me forever to get my own Grimm side to settle down and he's sentient. Cinder's arm is barely conscious, let alone capable of actual communication. I glare at the arm and place my aura coated hand on it, trickling in some aura I force it to settle down for a while. Cinder nods her thanks towards me and I smile back at her.

"Pathetic why did you even…" Watts shuts up as the door behind him opens and we stand at attention. Salem glides in and starts moving to her throne. The woman that saved me looks the same to this day, her body containing an ethereal beauty thanks to her looks being a mix of Grimm and Human/Faunus. She reaches the head of the table and turns to face us.

"Watt's, do you find such malignance necessary?" She motions for us to sit and everyone around the table but Watt's does so.

"Forgive me my lady, I'm not particularly fond of failure." He sits down as well and I hiss at him.

"And yet from what I hear you haven't shown any results in making another like me. I thought you were a doctor not a one-hit wonder." Watts glares at me but wilts under Salem's own glare.

"Settle down everyone, we shouldn't fight." I hold in a scoff and relax back into my chair.

"As Jaune has pointed out you have been failing in that regard while Cinder in fact succeeded. She's claimed the Fall Maiden's power, taken Beacon, and most of all she's killed Ozpin. So tell me what failures could you possibly be referring to?" I'm not sure how to feel about that last success, Ozpin saved me from hell but then took be back to another. I suppose I'm somewhat grateful to him but he stood against Salem so in the end he would have had to die anyway.

"Well what about the girl with Silver Eyes." Hazel chimes in, its moments like these that assure me he isn't a mute giant.

"Yes, we've dealt with their kind before. How was it that a novice was able to best one of us?" I sneak a glance at Cinder once more, if a novice could do that then I'd hate to think about what a master could have done to her.

"It is because of the Maiden's power, make no mistake when I say that Cinder holds the key to our victory however with that new found power comes a crippling weakness. That is why she will remain by my side for her treatment." So these Silver Eyes are a counter-measure for rouge Maidens. Interesting.

"Dr. Watts, you will meet with our informant in Mistral. Tyrian, continue your hunt for the Spring Maiden. And Hazel, Adam Taurus has arranged for a meeting with Sienna Khan. You shall be meeting him, ensure the organization becomes as loyal as Taurus is." Cinder signals Emerald and starts whispering into her ear. Salem sees this and focuses on the two of them.

"Speak child." Emerald looks scared but looks Salem in the eye, an impressive accomplishment.

"Oh, she wants to know about the girl." Watt's scoffs at the question.

"What about her, it's clearly Cinder's problem not ours." I growl at him once more, how I'd love to put my claws into his throat and watch him bleed out.

"In case you're forgetting Watts what affects one of us can affect us all. Cinder earned her place here and I suggest you respect the suffering she's gone through in service of Lady Salem before I give you a few more scars to add to the others." Salem recognized I needed to get some anger at Watts out of my chest so a year ago she let us have a fight. I gave him quite a few wounds that should have been fatal if not for his skill, as it was he gained quite few scars on his chest and stomach.

"That's enough. Jaune, it is time you made yourself known." I perk up at this. "Find the girl that did this to Cinder and keep an eye on her, harasses her at times and yet always let her go." I tilt my head to the side and frown.

"Why would I need to do that my Lady, I can take her and any little friends she has." Salem laughs and smiles at me.

"While I think you'll find that there are many people who could give you a good fight I want those that know of her power to feel a sense of hope, to feel as though she'll be around to save them, and when they need her the most that will be when you take her." Oh, that is good. Build up the need for her, the dependence on her, and then strip away the enemy's hope right at the climax. Salem focuses once more on Cinder.

"It's because of your efforts Beacon has fallen and soon Haven will be next. Jaune stay with me for a moment. Cinder head to my chambers for your next treatment with Mercury and Emerald, they must wait outside however. The rest of you should go get started with your tasks." Everyone else leaves while I move towards Salem and kneel before her while a Seer brings her a folder.

"What is it my Lady?" Salem gestures for me to rise while placing the folder on the table and I do so.

"I felt you should know that the girl is traveling with your twin and her team, JNPR is the name I believe." Her tone hardens. "I hope this won't make you deviate from the mission, I want them to feel she is invincible. Losing no allies would go a long way towards accomplishing that." I nod in response.

"Of course my Lady, I will ensure that all of her allies survive. But what if any of Ozpin's inner circle should interfere? It might be better to take them out, thin the enemy ranks of those with experience or knowledge." Salem smiles at me and pats my cheek. I try to keep my grin from showing. Salem is a mother figure to me and I carve any action like this.

"It's good to see all that schooling didn't go to waste, kill them if you can but don't take a chance with your life." I nod and make to leave but Salem stops me and hands me the folder ."Do feel free to take those two girls with you, a little mind game to put them at unease." I let my grin show this time, Cinder has her two followers and I picked up two of my own when I went to extract Cinder from Beacon. Both are highly dangerous and completely loyal to me and by extension Salem. I start walking to my quarters where the girls should be and skim through the folder to find it filled with information on my target and any allies she has, even ones she might not know of.

I hope you're ready little Rose, because I while I do have to leave you alive I think I should get some payback for Cinder.

So, short chapter but this is mostly to see how people like this idea. Let me know what you think in reviews. Hope you all liked it though.