Author's Note: As I'm sure you have all noticed, this story is massively AU. My thoughts on how people's semblances behave, how the people behave, and how interactions would occur will not be to everyone's tastes.

I would like to state now that Jaune for the most part will not be dumb(my way of writing won't allow it. I like using varied and uncommon words and stretching my vocabulary as much as possible.) He may misunderstand or not fully have all the information about other characters or events and that can lead to different outcomes. He also, as you may have noticed, will not act particularly in character thought-wise or action-wise as far as canon goes. This goes for most of the other characters as I have a particular writing style that makes it difficult to follow their canon personalities.

The final point I would like to add is that I will attempt to update this story once every two weeks. My personal life has me quite busy so the only time I have to write is on the weekends.

Thank you all for the reviews, follows, and favorites! Enjoy the chapter.

As my new team made our way towards the cliffs I couldn't help but think of what this new order of teams could mean. The test's difficulty had been in finding our team mates, and considering the different amount of pieces given to the large amount of people in the test, I shouldn't have so easily found my partner—much less the rest of my team. Then there was Ozpin's intentions. Why had he changed the test? What did he have to gain from changing the future I knew?

There was the possibility that because my future had failed that Ozpin had decided to cause changes as early as possible so as to ensure the failed timeline wouldn't come to fruition, but...I had told him little so far. Other than some information on Cinder I had not revealed my team or anything of the sort. It was worrisome to a large degree. Then there was what the order of the Maidens would mean for me. I had not learned of the order until Ozpin seemingly revealed all at the end of the war for Beacon; Or could it be termed a beginning considering where I was now? The event had brought me here to apparently relive my life. Then there was also the matter of the kind of tasks I would be assigned to by Ozpin or who was part of the order. Another heap of stress and worries. Then the final area of contention being my various enemies. My odds of success were already slim and the challenges were seemingly only able to keep mounting. Thinking about these problems, and then rethinking about them, and examining them mentally over and over just lead to a similar conclusion each time. It was all but impossible. Yet, I would have to try anyway. To save my friends there was nothing I would not give.

Cinder Fall. Leonardo Lionheart. Hazel Rainart. Tyrian Callows. Arthur Watts. Salem. My enemies were many and their power as well as their reach far. There also was tertiary threats such as Adam Taurus, Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, Neopolitan, or Roman Torchwick. These individuals who were not as much of a threat as the previously named individuals but they still remained as massive thorns in my side. In both the past and future. As I was now, I could perhaps keep up with one of these lesser, and even that seemed ill-fitting term to deem them, threats but the question of if I could win...it was not in my favor. I needed to become stronger, strong enough to kill them all. Training could solve that, or a least lessen the gap. The real problem was my lack of a semblance. Or lack of a combat oriented semblance.

The topic of semblances had never been one which left me feeling happy. While I would never fault my teammates, or any of my friends for their powerful semblances, I could still feel somewhat envious. The thoughts of what I could manage by being able to move faster than the eye could follow or to be able control metal objects were practically endless. The ability to mask my or others emotions from grimm and human foe alike from Ren, while not necessarily combat oriented, was still powerful. Then just thinking of what I could manage with Blake's clones or Weiss's glyphs was a path that felt far too bitter. Even Nora's rather strange semblance was powerful in many ways. The ability to absorb electricity and use it to empower yourself was limited in the ways it could be initiated but the strength she wielded afterwards was amazing.

The semblance that was the most impressive of my friends was still Yang's however. The ability to take the damage inflicted on oneself and turn it into strength and durability was a powerful tool. I could easily manage to shorten the gap between myself and my foes just by being hit. Just taking their damage I could then hit twice as hard back at my foes. My only solace lied with the one trait Pyrrha said I had in spades. My tenacity. Whether she was just trying to make me feel better for my failings or if it was true, I would need every advantage I could gain.

My focus returned to my surroundings as we came to the base of the cliffs. The large craggy rocks reached high above my head, my neck straining to look of the rock face. As my gaze returned level I let my eyes roam for threats. The simplicity of the majority of the test was still bothering me. The known threats like the ancient deathstalker—which should still be in the cave it was resting in seeing as how Pyrrha and I had not even come near to it—and the giant Nevermore were nowhere near. Even with that information I still expected it to come bursting from the bushes with engorged pincers out and multiple eyes glaring. The giant Nevermore on the other hand was still circling the forest and thus a visible threat but it appeared other students had engaged it, or at least were proving a distraction for the murderous bird. Perhaps it was Yang and my old team? Or there were some new poor saps being dealt their own poor hand by fate. Regardless, Blake and I, as well as Weiss and Ruby, were stood here before the cliffs with our goal in sight. Now we just had to scale it.

Ruby was the first to speak.

"Any ideas on getting up guys? I could probably run up it with my semblance and Crescent Rose but," Ruby looked towards us, "I couldn't carry anyone."

Ruby's eyes trailed the tall wall of rock as she finished speaking, her eyes possibly spotting footholds or perhaps imagining the scenario of her running up. Either way, the uncertain look she bore gave me little confidence. I turned to the others only to see both Blake and Weiss look at each other with uncertainty before returning my gaze. Ruby's silver orbs had also slid over to watch me. It appeared I would need to form the solution.

"Weiss," I called.

"Yes?" The short and succinct reply.

"I heard that the Schnee family is famous for their glyphs and summons. Would you have any glyphs that could help us? Perhaps to help us move faster so we could climb quickly or have them act as platforms for jumping?" I questioned though I already knew the answer for the most part.

"While I could summon some that would allow faster movement or platforms, I fall into the same problem Ruby has. The amount of speed glyphs I would need to make would be far too many for all of us. The same could be said for platform glyphs. I could use a combination of two to make my way up. Even then, the cliffs are rather high. I would rather not risk it for myself, much less all of you."

I sighed and turned to Blake. "Anything you can think of or have in store? I don't know your semblance or anything." That was a lie but I didn't have the ability to fall back on saying her family was famous. Even if it was, semblances usually weren't hereditary.

"Not particularly. My clones are able to act as very temporary platforms. I wouldn't attempt to use them to scale something this high though. My weapon—gambol shroud—has a long ribbon we could use as a slingshot or could be used as a grappling hook of sorts to make my way up. That would leave some of our people down here however since it would only help me."

I nodded at the answer. It had been made clear as I thought about our options that they were few. I didn't know how we would get up without leaving someone behind or instead having to climb the old fashioned way and risk falling. If there were stairs or something similar we could make use of them, but if any existed I did not have any knowledge of them. If we took too long searching for them it could also result in a fail. So I would need to figure out how we could combine what methods and powers we had. My mind could not help but drift and imagine if only this was my old team. Using the knowledge I had now of my previous team would of allowed for easy climbing. With team JNPR I imagined we could have made use of Nora's explosives and Pyrrha's semblance to make it to the top easily. The last time I was in the forest with team JNPR we had managed to climb up the cliff face the hard way, but the amount of times I or the others had nearly fallen had been disturbing to say the least. The large abyss below us had been heart pounding for myself back then. Even now it made my stomach do uncomfortable flips.

Then came an idea to make it to the top. A horrible one.

"I think I have an idea...how do you guys feel about revisiting our avian friend?"

Instantly I regretted my question as the three before me instantly responded.

"Absolutely not!/Heck yeah!/I don't like the sound of this." The three looked at each other with questioning—and in some cases read as glaring—eyes before returning to me.

I couldn't help but blink in consternation at how quickly Weiss had shot down the plan. Ruby agreeing was mostly expected. I hadn't really had an idea of what Blake would think about it but I guess her answer fit the little I knew of the girl.

"The fact of the matter is that unless you all want to rock climb over an open fissure that we can not see to the bottom, we don't have much options." I casually kicked a stone into the open void. Several moments of silence revealed no sounds of the rock hitting the bottom. "Not one of you three felt confident on if you would be able to make it to the top using your methods you mentioned. The fact that you all did not think you could easily make it up by yourself speaks for itself."

Their eyes avoided mine which easily gave credence to my observation. The awkward silence that followed showing their confidence on this dilemma. The confidence being none at all. Understanding what people's bodies told you was a language unto itself, and it had told me much in this case. I let a slight smile overtake my lips for a moment. To be an actually normal huntsman initiate I just had to time travel...and let all my friends die. The smile turned bitter before melting away.

"I don't really have any other plausible ideas but I am open to them. Anyone?" I opened the air to suggestions.

The sound of gunshots in the distance was my only answer as no one spoke.

"As I thought. Let's go then."

A quick jaunt back into the forest in the direction of the Nevermore allowed me to think about our current cliff dilemma again. The task of getting onto the Nevermore would be rather simple if risky, though it would require some luck. The beast was flying rather low so it could peer through the trees as it attacked the various students. With how low it was, several trees actually had their green tops just peeking above the monster. So we just had to make our way to where it was currently thrashing some students, climb up, and jump on. As we entered the clearing where the fighting was occurring, the people I spotted being pelted by six foot feather missiles were not people I remember in the slightest. Either they didn't pass the test the last time or were just those which I never saw. We clambered up several of the tallest trees as the nevermore did it's best to terrorize the others. As the beast passed low we jumped in succession from the trees we had climbed directly onto it's back. I let out a yelp as I nearly fell from the bird. The last second before I fell I had managed to get my sword free of it's bindings and slam it into the thick hide of the Nevermore. I quickly pulled myself up, letting out a sigh of relief. Now that the easy part was over, the hard part was all that was left in the plan. Of course like all good plans, or bad plans, they could not plan for everything. As such, this here was where my plan faltered. I hadn't thought of a good way to pilot the creature. That didn't mean I had not thought of a way. I just don't think the others would particularly be fond of it. Getting to this point had been hard enough.

"What now then?" Blake yelled over the sound of rushing wind.

"We have to guide it!" I returned.

"How do we do that?"

"Well...you guys aren't going to like it," I scratched the back of my head.

"Just spit it out already Arc. I already don't agree with our reuniting with this avian menace and yet here we are," Weiss added acidicly. I guess the goodwill I had formed from my good introduction had lost its effect. Oh well. I never had a real chance in the first place considering my plans to distance myself from them all.

"We are gonna have to act as bait. One of us at a time will need to make our way into its view in the direction we want to travel. So that would mean jumping in front of the beast before crawling back on."

I couldn't help but sweat a little at the dry stares I was gifted for my suggestion. They had agreed easily enough to make our way onto the overgrown grimm even if I received some stink eye but my suggestion to jump off the beast in front of it was the crazy part. Well now that I think about it, the idea was...somewhat lacking in forethought. Or really any thought. Too bad it was now our only recourse.

"Blake! Pass me part of the ribbon on your weapon. I will need a way to get back on." The black haired girl looked towards the others as if expecting them to say something about what I was planning to do, but the buffeting wind was all that sounded.

"Fine, but don't go dying yet. I want to at least pass this test." The cat faunus passed over the ending section of her ribbon which I tied tightly around my hand and arm. The owner took her weapon and stabbed it deep into the grimm below us to anchor it causing a roar in annoyance. I winced as my ears rang, but chose to stay determined with a griting of my teeth. With that, I stood and ran forward before I could regret my life decisions and jumped out in front of the grimm. The goliath roared once more in fury upon spotting me and caused the gargantuan creature to turn in the general direction of the cliffs as I swung scant meters in front of the bird. It's baleful eyes tracked me as the ribbon pulled taut and I vanished from it's sight back onto the large torso of our non consenting ride.

As my feet touched down in front of the rest of my team, I shook a little from the adrenaline. While the drop didn't concern me any more than taking a walk, the thrill of combat was seeping in. Even now I could feel a smile trying to break free. Once more a coping mechanism from the war. If I lost myself in combat, I did not have to think of those who had fallen. As I fought my enemies then my pain from my wounds and loss fell away. What was hunger or an freely bleeding cut to me if I was too distracted by combat or the screams of pain as I tore my blade through others. The harsh breath of my body as my muscles moved acted as the sole consuming sound beyond the combat. The joy I felt from losing myself in a fight did more for me as well. If others could see me unaffected by the death and carnage and feel the motivation to continue fighting, then perhaps to see joy in the face of adversity would help too. I had not got to test the theory for that thought however for by the time I had given in to losing myself in combat, all the others had fallen. But I let it be a small solace for what I had felt at the time as a test in futility.

At the time I had thought why should I keep surviving and fighting when all I loved had fallen, or when what remained was soon to come to ruin. My friends had already given their lives. A corpse was not worth protecting. Their ideals sustained me at first, but you could only go so far on thought. Even my family was not enough. Without Vale to aid the smaller towns, Ansel and my family were the next targets for Cinder's grimm. For all I knew, they had already been cut down like a scythe through chaff. I had nothing left then. I just wandered through the destroyed building as a walking corpse. My body pumped blood, and my heart still was beating, but I had died along with the others in spirit.

Even now I knew I was just going through the motions. These people before me were not the original people I had come to love. They may of looked the same, held the same dna, perhaps even the exact same thoughts. But by now, my different actions have already caused them to act differently. Their paths had changed already and thus who they were intrinsically as well. They were the same and yet they were not. I was not the same either. I could never be so again. The death throes of Beacon and my actions within during what could only be labeled war had changed me. Being childish could not remain in the view of death. All they remained was cynicism, survival, and madness. No actions could be taken without consideration for the consequences. No move could be left uncalculated considering the amount of my foes and their might. Now that I was given a chance to protect that which I had loss, even if it was not the same, I had to take it. These people, my team and sister-team, were my family as much as my own flesh and blood one. They had stood by me when the fact I was a fraud was outed. They protected me when my own weakness left them open to attack and danger. They shared their jokes, their thoughts, their friendship with one as worthless as me. I had fallen in love. They had quickly overtaken my dream to be a hero. It didn't matter what I did for they were the new goal. Achieving their dreams and their happiness was my new dream. Even though I loved them all, darkness still tugged at my soul. It was small and weak, vile and unworthy of brain power yet I knew I loathed them in some small part of my body. They were why I could not die now; not when they still lived in front of me. They had to be protected even if they were not the same. I couldn't let any harm befall them. A crushed soul, shattered will, and altered mind. This was my end state after association with them and it was my only tools now to protect them from their fate. The question of why I persisted had fallen to the way side of the feelings I held. My mission would be completed regardless of what I felt.

As I cleared my mind of my morose thoughts as I spoke up to the others clinging onto the Nevermore. "Who's next?" I questioned to the three girls whose faces were aghast in what I had just done. Or rather what they were now going to have to do.

"Well?" I asked again.

Ruby began to raise her hand with a somewhat excited fervor to go next but Blake beat her to it by simply taking the ribbon I had wrapped around my arm and following my example. I watched as the girl leapt from the grimm like she had been doing it her whole life. The path she cut through the air quickly put her in view of the Nevermore we had decided to turn into a ride and drew the monstrosity closer to the cliffs. As Blake returned to land next to me, her landing was far smoother than mine. Graceful and composed even in the face of danger. Blake had always held that type of image in my mind. Though I had felt indignant at how the girl's choice was to run away from her friends who had only wanted to help her back when her White Fang heritage had been spread. With focus returned to the cat faunus, the girl looked rather unruffled for what she had just managed. If I had not learn to take notice of small tells of the body, I would have missed the way her hand seemed to grip the ribbon tighter than necessary or the way her eyes had narrowed more than what would be the usual for the ex-terrorist.

"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" I asked glibly. The pointed look I got was quick visual chastisement. Once more I turned to ask the remaining to members of our impromptu squad who would go next in our almost suicidal act to reach the top of a cliff but before I could speak Weiss had snatched the ribbon from Blake and was securing it around her own arm. She turned to me with her pale blue gaze frigid.

"If I die Arc, I blame you."

"Really? I would blame the ground, or the Nevermore if it eats you." Sarcasm rolled thickly.

"You're dead to me."

"I think that would actually be you who is dead to me if you fail during this."

Weiss huffed in frustration before giving up on bantering with me. The white haired girl without replying to my final words followed suit with what both Blake and I had established. The Schnee swung in a quick and wide arc in sight of the Grimm. With Weiss's arc in front of the beast we were finally brought above the cliffs. The heiress's return back on to the flying varmint we had propped ourselves upon was fast and rough as she stumbled far more than I had upon landing. I suppose heels on uneven feathers did not really coincide well.

"Quick question Arc," Weiss spoke as she regained her breath, her face tinged red from the blood that had rushed to it from the exertion, "how are we going to land? I am not getting terminally ejected again or jumping like the doofus over there decided to do earlier today." Weiss griped.

"Oh, I er...I didn't really think that far ahead." I admitted sheepishly. I couldn't plan everything out. That was just unfair expectations. Even when I was in charge of Team JNPR I mostly just made vague suggestions for our tactics and decisions. The other three filled in the actual details with their actions and own thoughts or experiences.

The three glares I received seemed to think otherwise as the action decided to be the hallmark of today. Perhaps making them not want to bother with me would be easier than I thought. Just get them all to hate me for poorly thought out plans and rude comments in the meantime and they wouldn't care what I was up to. That would make sticking to my mission easier.

Just before I could speak to ask about our new landing strategy Ruby appeared in the middle of our group.

"I have an idea! Everyone hold on!" The Reaper yelled before dashing forward with Crescent rose in tow. Before any of us could react she had reached a wing of the creature of darkness and dug her scythe into the joint closest to the body. "We'll clip this bird's wings!"

Without any other warning Ruby fired her weapon several times causing her weapon's blade to slice through the massive wing of the Nevermore. Immediately the creature began to fall, unable to stay aloft with one wing. The four of us held on for dear life as the creature plummeted towards the waiting Headmaster and viceheadmistriss below. We were going to land on them! The two teachers glanced up, the only tell that they knew of their fate of having a two ton bird about to squash them being the uptilt of their heads. Like a streaking comet of black we screamed through the air at terminal speed. With a thunderous crash the giant grimm smashed into the cliff, it's large body grinding into the rock a large furrow of torn sunder dirt and rock. The broken body of the creature was a horrid sight as rivers of slimy black blood flowed forth from various wounds. The twisted remaining wing was fractured heavily, large white bone poking through skin in a multitude of spots. The bone was stained in various spots with dark muscle and more black blood. The gargantuan body wiggled in what must of been a torturous movement filled with pain as the grimm made a few woeful caws of lament before expiring. Immediately it began to turn into black dust. It appears falling beak first into solid rock was not conducive to good health. Who knew?

I groaned as I dragged myself from the large pile of feathers and grimm flesh that had served as my, and the others, landing strategy. Let this remind me to never again book a flight on Nevermore international. They had terrible service and no in-flight entertainment. Their way of returning us to the Earth from the sky also left a lot to be desired.

As I groggily stood, I took stock of what had happened. While my body ached, it was apparent my aura had held. Once on my feet, I looked to see if I could spot the others in the actual dust cloud that had been formed by our abrupt landing. A flash of red caught my eye and I meandered towards it as the cobwebs in my head slowly cleared. As I reached the newly revealed Ruby, I reached down a hand to shake her shoulder.

"Hey, Ruby? You alive?" I coughed.

The girl grumbled into her cloak something as she weakly swiped her hand towards my own.

"What was that?"

The girl turned over some to expose her mouth before speaking once more, "I don't wanna go to school Yang. Go away." The girl quickly went back to hiding in her cloak, completely out of it. I felt tempted to let her sleep but the headmaster had said we needed to be awake for the end of this exam.

"I guess I will have to eat all these chocolate chip cookies I happen to have just baked."

The girl was on her feet before I could blink in a burst of petals, her head turning wildly back and forth in search of the baked treats.

"No, not fair! I want some too!"

The reaper quickly realized the situation as she looked back at me once it was clear there was no presence of any cookies. The pout upon her lips was legendary. "That's not cool. You can't trick a maiden with false cookies! It's, like, against the rules of chivalry." The girl turned her nose up from me in slight anger.

"Too bad I don't feel very chivalrous then. Let's find the others."

By the time we had managed to find both Blake and Weiss, who had both been clutching each other in a death grip as they sat in a pile of grimm dust eyes wide and bodies shaking somewhat from shock, the obscuring cloud caused by our landing had dissipated to full reveal the damage we had caused.

The carnage of our landing was great. A massive trench had been carved into the rock by our abrupt landing. The launch pads in the path of our landing were obliterated and those which had survived on either side looked decidedly broken. Only those on the furthest corners had managed to survive.

It was then that I remembered we had landed on our teachers. I wondered it that counted as a failing condition. Not to mention what it would mean for my mission or the order.

"While I give credit for a creative approach to one's problem, I do believe we could have done without the destruction. The launch pads you've destroyed are rather expensive, Ms. Rose."

I turned to see who had spoke just to see Ozpin looking as serene as ever, as if he had not moved from his spot. To his left was Goodwitch who had a trail of sweat trailing down her forehead, her riding crop held defensively before her. The woman flourished her weapon before storing it away, standing up straight and wiping away the signs of her exertion. It was clear now why Ozpin looked like he hadn't moved. It was because he hadn't.

"We'll keep that in mind next time, right Ruby?" Weiss said through gritted teeth, he outwards appearance seemong apologetic even as she attempted to cut down the red reaper with her eyes alone. The fifteen year old looked extremely sheepish as her hood flew up to cover her red face. I returned my gaze to Ozpin.

Ozpin gave a curt nod to Weiss and Ruby before speaking, "Please do. Onto more important matters. Congratulations are in order for passing the test and being the first as well. You may keep the medallions as a token of your accomplishment, and with that your next step is to return to the main hall. The rest of your future classmates will be there shortly once they manage to finish."

A clear dismissal if I've ever heard one, and with that my team began to trek back to Beacon's proper. I stayed behind waiting for the three to exit earshot before sidling close to Ozpin. Luckily Goodwitch had moved away too as she flourished her crop back and forth in what seemed to be her attempt to fix the destruction our landing strategy had caused, her semblance moving earth and stone through the air. By her frustrated look as her redeployed crop made erratic movements I guessed it was not going well.

"When will we meet Ozpin? I have questions. Many of them."

The headmaster let a small smile grace his face. I couldn't help but imagine the blood which had covered his face the last time he had given me such a smile.

"Tonight, Jaune. You know of the meeting place already. I believe the situation reminds me of fall. Now you best catch up with those girls, your team might notice your absence."

I didn't respond as I made my way back to the three who were diligently making their path back. Ruby was making large gestures as she spoke animatedly to both Weiss and Blake, neither of which had much emotion showing on their face. It appeared the girl was already working as a good distraction as i returned to my spot a few feet behind them. From what the headmaster had said, it was clear Ozpin wanted to meet in front of Amber. Luckily his book mentioned how to access the hidden area beneath the school by utilising a hidden panel within his elevator. A quick password and I would be down there in moments.

Slipping away from the girls later would not be too difficult. The difficulties lay with what the meeting would entail. I did not know all who would be present in the meeting, nor what their thoughts on how to handle Salem and her ilk would entail. Being a part of this order might not mean much considering how Leonardo was a traitor and he had once been a trusted individual to Ozpin. Then if Ozpin's allies could be trusted, there was still the question of if Ozpin would answer the burning concerns in my mind. Thoughts about how I could get stronger, what the semblance he had gave me was, what we were going to do about threats like Cinder or Salem, and more.

The large doors to the main hall pulled me from my thoughts. The girls each gravitated together, making small talk as they convened near the stage. I rested my back against a nearby wall as I decided to remain out of the conversation for the moment. I was still trying to figure out the particulars of pushing the others away. At the moment I was kind of failing at the self imposed goal. Being mean to them just felt wrong. Acting uncaring, or not acting out the actions I knew were something which I would or should do was not going to plan. Even now, just thinking on my interactions so far painted a picture of me being far too friendly. The only way to fix that was to truly start now in the direction of being unlikable. This was not going to be fun.