So, first fic after lurking around here for who knows how long. Figure I might as well make an attempt here and contribute something. And while I doubt I'm about to light the world on fire with this, I can rest assured my command of the English language is up to the task of preventing this from becoming another My Immortal. Something I'm sure you're all happy for. Unless you're some sort of weird sicko.

Never the less, this is a concept that pretty much popped up on me while I was bored at work. Considering my job is making sure soda cans are round and dent free before they get filled, it's a safe bet I'm bored often. And before you ask, yes that really, truly, is my day job. But back on topic, we're exploring the idea of a Jaune that attended a combat school and got into Beacon on his own merits, while attempting to stay true to his basic characterization.

I'm not sure if I'll continue this or not, but the intended pairing for Jaune at least is with Pyrrha. Beyond that, the only other one is Nora/Ren, since I plan on spending more time dealing with Team JNPR than RWBY if I continue.

And finally, the disclaimer: RWBY is the property of Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth, and I make no money from this butchering of their IP.

It's funny, Joseph Arc thought as he adjusted the bundle strapped across his back, made slightly more difficult with the small package he held in his left hand, just how much easier this all sounded in my head.

Standing in the elevator on his way to see the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, Joseph couldn't help but cast a sideways glance at his silent escort. Glynda Goodwitch stood like some sentinel of doom and gloom. Joseph had actually seen Ursi that somehow came off as less imposing then Ozpin's deputy, which was impressive in a woman only slightly shorter than himself. Still, he had a job to do, and by Dust he'd get it done.

The elevator came to a smooth halt, before letting its passengers exit into Ozpin's office. The room itself was rather Spartan. A desk, a couple chairs, a window overlooking the grounds, and, for reasons that never made a lick of sense to the Arc, a large overhead window that let one gaze up into the inner workings of the large clock over the headmaster's office. As for the man himself, Ozpin was standing at the window, looking out over Vale like some sort of superhero, drinking from his ever present cup of coffee. Joseph privately thought it was just some sort of prop to beat people with in a pinch, but was never really sure. Ozpin was crafty enough to do something like that, but Joseph also knew Ozpin held coffee to only be slightly less important than air.

"Ahh, good to see you again Joseph. How's the family doing these days?" Ozpin asked as he turned from the window, gesturing to a chair in front of the desk while Ozpin made for his.

"Same as you'd imagine Ozzy," Joseph had to contain a small smirk at the sudden spike of disapproval from Glynda as he unslung his bundle, propping it against the chair and laying his package in his lap, and saw Ozpin struggling to do the same behind the lip of his mug. So that's what it was for. "Mathilda's still the same indomitable soul I married all those years ago. Dust, you'd think she'd have taken a break after losing half her leg in that Hunt, but nope, still going strong.

"Jaune though…he's why I'm here." Joseph let out a long sigh. "Dust, you'd think that his mother would be a fairly good reason on why becoming a Huntsman isn't something that is without risk, though I blame her just as much as I blame myself for not curbing her stories earlier. Long story short Ozzy is that Jaune wants to become a Huntsman and I can't afford to send him to Signal or one of the other schools on my civilian pay. So, I have a deal I want to pitch to you." Here Ozpin put his mug down and leaned forward a bit, while Joseph reached for his long bundle, unwrapping it with the casual ease of the retired Huntsman he was. Joseph's face was grim as he set the newly revealed sword and scabbard, both hilt and scabbard newly wrapped in leather, on the desk between the men.

Ozpin sucked in a short breath as he met Joseph's eyes, question in his gaze. At the Arc's slight nod Ozpin pulled the blade six inches out of the scabbard and looked on the gleaming silver of a sword older then the city outside his window.

"Crocea Mors, one of the last Dust-Forged weapons in Vale, possibly the world, and the blade of legendary hero Luther Arc, my great-grandfather," Joseph stated with an almost grave authority in his voice. "Had the leather redone, since it was beginning to rot in places, but what you see is what it would have looked like on Luther's hip. And this," here Joseph held up the smaller package, "is his personal journal. I'm willing to loan both to Beacon for display in exchange for you getting Jaune into a combat school. Signal is preferred, since it's close enough I can pop by and see him when the time permits, but any of them would do. The only caveat is that Crocea Mors is to be passed to Jaune when he graduates from school. Sword like that is meant to be used Ozzy. It does nobody any good laying around the house gathering dust."

Ozpin was silent for a long moment, contemplating. Truthfully, Joseph's offer was beyond generous really. Dust-Forging was a lost art in Remnant, producing blades that were far stronger than conventional weapons of the day. Modern metallurgy had largely made the secret obsolete, producing metals of similar strength though less heavy. But the newer blades lacked having dust literally folded into the steel, and thus lacked the one thing that made Dust-Forged weapons so sought after before the art was lost. Dust-Forged blades were widely known as Grimmsbane weapons since the dust resonated with the wielders' Aura and granted increased attack power against the forces of Grimm. If the smiths in Beacon's foundry could rediscover that secret…

Eventually Ozpin spoke.

"Qrow and his brother-in-law are currently teaching at Signal. I'll have them send you the paper work for Jaune's enrollment, and cover the costs out of Beacon's funds. You do realize there is always the possibility he won't pass the entrance exam here. We only take the best, and what makes the cut in Vacuo or Atlas doesn't mean he'll make the cut here."

Joseph just grinned at the Headmaster.

"Ozzy, Jaune's an Arc on a mission," said Joseph as he stood from his seat. "It wouldn't be the first time we've done what should have been impossible reaching for our goals."

With that, Joseph saw himself out.

The office was quiet for a long moment as the elevator doors finally closed behind the former Huntsman, broken only by the sounds of clockwork before Glynda spoke up.

"I can't believe you let him speak to you like that Professor."

Ozpin sipped his coffee, looking down at the sword on his desk.

"He saved my life once, back before he had to retire from the field. No, I'm surprised he felt the need to bribe me in order to send his son to school." He took another sip of coffee.

"I'd have done it for free."

I always viewed Beacon as having a bunch more stuff on campus than we see. All those weapons need maintenance and most of them are custom made, which means students would need someplace to produce said parts. Thus, a foundry, with smiths to help out and keep the forge running.

As for Dust-Forging, that is entirely my invention. I needed something that sounded plausible for why you'd want to use a weapon 150+ years old when most Hunters have vastly newer weapons of roughly equal power, and since Monty says you can weave it into cloth, why not fold it into steel?

Lastly, I just KNOW I'm going to get yelled at for the sheath being leather and not the transforming shield it is in canon. Why do it though? Partly because Jaune needs to forge something at Signal, as a sort of rite of passage if nothing else, and I always had problems wrapping my mind around the concept that a sword as old as Crocea Mors would have a transforming shield come standard. Granted, I know Remnant is pretty high tech, but if I can make a collapsible shield, I'd have made the sword telescopic like Pyrrha's spear. So no, the shield was crafted after the fact, and you come back to the problem of why you'd keep a sword of that age around.

Read, review, comment and critique. I have a big bottle of lubricant here, so hopefully this won't hurt too much.