Hello, world!

It's a wonderful rainy day in my neighborhood and what a surprise! It's another "Family Ties" chapter. What a coincidence. Yeah right. Here's another chapter in the life of the blond sister loving bastard that is Jaune Arc.

Another chapter of Emerald and Neo trying to outclass each other to gain the affection of their brother. Then to be utterly destroyed emotionally when he 'dies' He also has a mother or another one at least. But this one isn't trying to track the poor bastard down so they can smother them in love and pain. So much pain.

I started this chapter on Monday so it might be a little longer. Then the others but not by too much. Most likely another thousand words than the goal of four thousand each. Which is the usual for this story.

Yeah, I'm just going to slow down on the rest of my stories except this one. That is until my mind finally slows down from having the ideas fly out of my brain. And by fly out, I mean it. I need to stop writing these or my fingers just might fly off my hands.

So there we are. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I did writing this damn beast that destroys a man's fingers.

Jaune Branwen, er, scratch that Jaune Goodwitch was currently in a bullhead heading back home to Beacon. For the past year, Jaune Branwen lived with his two sisters and mother. From a distance, you couldn't tell that Jaune was the adopted son of the Glynda Goodwitch. The only difference in traits is his blood red eyes. Jaune had been training with the professors at Beacon academy or as his sisters so lovingly call them 'Uncle Peter and Uncle Barty'. Jaune refused to call such esteemed huntsman his 'uncles'

The reason Jaune was actually on the bullhead was a completely different story. After begging his mother, Jaune was able to secure his place on a mission in Atlas. Ironwood specifically sent for Jaune's mother for her semblance. Let me tell you, it comes in handy to have a semblance to control things with your mind.

Speaking of semblances. Jaune still hasn't gotten his. Much to his annoyance. Even though his two little sisters had somehow managed to figure theirs out before him. Neo learned she could teleport as well as make hard copies of her or anything she teleports. While Emerald was able to create illusions to multiple people. The pranks they played on him had gotten worse and worse over the years. After starting their teenage years they started to become more rebellious much to Jaune and Glynda's horror. Jaune had spent an hour screaming at the two girls for somehow getting into a club and started to drink! At thirteen! That's something for a senior at Beacon! Not two petite little girls!

His big brother instincts had also gotten stronger. He knew his sisters were cute. They were always teasing him about how he had 'Such amazing love interests' as they put it. Jaune however, had to literally beat off boys left and right trying to hit on his precious younger siblings. Sure they could take care of themselves, but what if they were a huntsman. Or worse!

The roar of the bullhead hitting turbulence shook Jaune from his thoughts on his sisters as he looked to his mother. Glynda, in the simplest terms. Was an amazing mother, for Emerald and Neo that is. Her maternal instincts made her a 'mama bear' sort of person with his sisters but not him. Never him.

And it annoyed him. Raven always treated her three children equally. But Jaune knew his mother had her favorites, and he wasn't it. Did she care for him? Yes. Did she care for him more than she cares for Emerald and Neo? No. He didn't know what it was but Jaune and his mother just didn't click.

Maybe it was because he was stronger than the two girls. Maybe it was because he was more mature. He didn't know, but over time, the rift between mother and son grew and grew. She would cuddle and snuggle the two girls much to their annoyance but never him. Sure, he never asked to be hugged or anything. But neither did Neo or Emerald.

Jaune wanted to rekindle his relationship with his mother and fast. So when she had finally said yes to take him on a mission with her, he jumped at the chance. He really did try his hardest to impress and get on his good side of his mother, but nothing worked! From buying her dinner with his pocket cash to trying to impress her on the mission, she would just scowl at him.

As the two blondes entered the bullhead. Jaune's mother took the seat next to him. Jaune being the one closer to the ramp on the machine. After giving a thumbs up to the pilot the bullhead took off, destination Vale.

After a few minutes of very uncomfortable silence, Glynda put a hand on her son's leg. Surprising the boy. Before he could respond in any way she started to speak. "I'm… I'm sorry, I know you were trying to impress me out there. But I am your mother, you don't need to impress me. I'm already so proud of you. I know I'm not the best mother for you and your sisters but I'm trying. And I'm sorry if it doesn't feel like I love you. Because I do! You make up for in what I lack when taking care of the girls. They look up to me, yes. But they look up to you more." She stopped to wipe some tears away. But before she could continue her son butted in.

"Thank you. I love you too. For me, your the best parent I could've asked for. Especially for the girls. I love them, a lot. I have to say, a year ago, I was jealous of the girls longing for you. They needed a parent. And you're it." Jaune reached to hug his mother who met him halfway

"You're right. Let's try to make up shall we?" Glynda said as she broke away from her son. Before he could respond the Bullhead started to shake. Uncontrollably. "Pilot, what's going on here?"

"NEVERMORE!" He screamed. As the bullhead started to shake the ramp broke off. Wind rushing out the two blondes grabbed onto whatever they could. Looking out you could see that the two were still in Atlas land as a ginormous Nevermore started to shoot feathers at the bullhead. Almost two feet in length feathers were embedded into the bullhead as the nevermore cawed at its prey.

Glynda took no time before she started to use her semblance on the giant raven creature. Feathers from the bullhead were launched back at its sender. Gaining a screech of pain. The nevermore lost its balance and lurched forward slamming its head into the bullhead. The resounding shock caused the two blondes to crash into the front of the bullhead. A railing slammed into Glynda as she lost consciousness she looked to her son. Who was sent flying forward.

Out of the bullhead.

/-\

Qrow was not one to get attached to things. He lost too much. So when a year ago, his sister came out of the portal with a blade to his neck asking where her son was. He got scared. He left Jaune with her for his own safety. He didn't want him to get involved. But as it turns out his son ran away. Looking for him, he and his sister traveled Remnant, looking for their son.

So that's why we find Qrow flapping madly towards a bullhead in Atlas. He wasn't sure how or why. But Glynda had his son. In Atlas of all places! Now being able to turn into a crow did have its perks. But flying the speed of a bullhead was not one of them.

So as he chased the bullhead in a mad dash he looked on in horror to see a certain blonde boy fly out of the bullhead as the ship continued to fly away. Without him. He knew he wasn't going to make it in time. Even aura couldn't save someone falling hundreds of feet into a forest near a dust mine. He knew he wasn't going to be able to save his son. Who was falling because of himself. He knew he was going to watch his son die. He knew he would have to explain to his sister. His son's mother that he didn't, couldn't save their son.

As Qrow watched his son flail through the air. He stopped. He stopped and stared at his son fall. He didn't even scream. His son, his own flesh and blood fall. Qrow just flapped in the air. He didn't even hear the crash of his body. Closing the blood red eyes of his he starts towards the bullhead.

After a few minutes, he found the downed bullhead. The pilot sitting next to an unconscious Glynda Goodwitch. The ladder lying down in the snowy hill of outer Atlas. He landed a few meters into the treeline. Already calling Ozpin. As he entered the clearing that the bullhead made he nodded at the pilot who nodded back. Ozpin picked up. "What is it Qrow I have a meeting with the council in a few minutes."

"I followed Glynda, her bullhead crashed I'm with her now," Qrow said. On the other line was silence as he waited for a response he looked to the pilot who was currently trying to salvage whatever he could get from the ship.

"The council can wait. What's the situation? Is she alright… Is her son alright?" Ozpin hesitated to ask about Jaune.

"Glynda's fine. Just took a hit to the head. She should be up and about in a few. The kid… not so lucky." Qrow started.

"How badly is he injured? Unless...No… For the love of god, Qrow tell me he didn't…"

"He fell."

"Damnit! Just… Let me know when you're heading back. I'll send a bullhead over to you."

"Yeah… Thanks, Oz, we'll be waiting."

It didn't take long for the bullhead to arrive. Vale soldiers and medics rushed out. Already tending to the wounded Glynda and the pilot. When they left the clearing Qrow looked out the window. His son. His son. Just died, but he didn't feel anything. Was that normal? Just to lose so much that you can't even feel more pain? Why did it have to be him? His son of all people? He looked to the crash site one last time out of the bullhead's window. Wondering if the Grimm already ate his son's body or if it's just going to stay there. To Rot there for years until they find his skeleton. Maybe they'll never find his body and he'll be left as missing in action. He wasn't even a student Danmit!

"Why did it have to be him?" He asked no one in particular. He wanted answers. But he knew no one would come to give him one.

By the time he reached Beacon Glynda hadn't woken up. The paramedics guessed she should be back and running in a few days. The hit to the head was harder than it looked. Qrow had gone from unfeeling to depression in only a few hours. His flask already empty except for the little droplets of whiskey hiding in there. He didn't even want to leave the bullhead but when both Ozpin and Port dragged him out on his ass he just sat in the courtyard of the academy. Not caring, wanting death but knew he couldn't get it.

He was barely responsive when Ozpin questioned him on what happened. He wanted to be alone. For a long time. Maybe a bottle of whiskey. The guilt he heald in his heart worsened when Glynda's children. Jaune's sisters asked him where there mother and brother were. When he pointed his thumb to Glynda's hospital room they ran towards it. The green-haired one stopped and turned and asked for her brother's room. He answered that "He never got one" She asked if he was alright he only gave her a two answer word. That broke both his and her heart.

"He's dead."

/-\

It had been a few days when Emerald had heard of her brother's death. She refused to believe that he was dead. He survived the fall she could feel it. When her mother woke up she found out almost immediately. Her coworker had told them, what was his name? Quinn? Oh! That's right, Qrow.

Emerald didn't like him. No. She hated him, he was the one to give up on her brother, the brother most likely freezing to death somewhere in the middle of Atlas. Uncle Ozpin had refused to even look for a body. It is "too dangerous". Which is complete Bullshit. If Qrow could survive throughout the Grimm lands without dying, how could he not grab her brother's body!?

Emerald had become the pillar of the Goodwitch family. Neo has gone silent, refusing to talk. Something about Jaune coming back to let her speak or something. Goodwitch has buried herself in her work. Her teaching became colder and calculated. Uncaring, the only thing that makes her happy is the sight of her still living children. The loss of her son brought a hole to her heart. A hole that could never be fixed.

Emerald had been trying to fix her broken family, family dinners were silent. Emerald had tried to drag Neo to Vale with her but to no avail. No one was happy with the loss of the Goodwitch son. Nobody got excited, nobody cared for anything. In Emerald's eyes, it seemed that all was lost. Her brother was gone. It always came back to her head. In dreams, which were more like nightmares she watched as he died without her ability to do anything but stand there and watch.

Emerald looked out her window in her room. Praying, praying to whatever god was still out there for her brother to return to her. "It'll only be a few days Em. Once I'm back we can go on that 'date' you keep nagging on about." Those were his last words to her. A promised date she would never get.

To him, it was a joke his sister kept wanting to go on a fake date. Something silly a thirteen-year-old girl wanted to do to get blackmail material on her brother calling him a pervert or something later on.

But to Emerald. It was a real date. She asked her 'brother' out. To others, it may seem gross. Disgusting even. But to Emerald, she knew her real feelings. He was her savior, someone who took her in for nothing but the kindness of his own heart. He rescued her from her own little slice of hell. She loved him, even if he didn't love her back.

She would find her brother. No matter the cost and she knew her sister was on the exact same page…

/-\

When Neo heard her brother had died. She didn't cry. She couldn't tell why. Her sister told her that he had fallen out of a bullhead after a nevermore attack. Somehow she couldn't come to terms with her brother's death. It just seemed too unreal. To her, Jaune was invincible, even when Neo and Emerald had teamed up they could barely put a scratch on him. Not to mention both girls used their semblances on him.

Hell! Jaune could even beat her mother to a standstill. And he was fourteen! He was a god in her eyes. How could he have died? She didn't understand. Her thirteen-year-old mind couldn't comprehend it he was coming back. She knew it. And Emerald knew it too. When her sister told her she wanted to go looking for him, Neo thought she was crazy. What about their mother? She would be broken beyond what she already was.

Neo could tell that her mother was was destroyed about her son's death. She couldn't do anything to save him. Then again, neither could Neo. It wasn't her mother's fault that he died. No, it was the Grimm. The creatures of darkness took away her only light. Her savior… Her love. And Neo made it her mission to destroy them. If they wanted to make her mad. Then she was furious. The only thing that stopped her from jumping into the emerald forest to kill as many Grimm until she died was her uncle Peter. The portly man had told her to live on for her brother. Because the only thing they had left of him was his memory. That he lived on in his family's hearts. What a bunch of bullcrap.

Yes, Jaune was her love. No, not some silly child crush that a girl had on her 'big brother'. Neo liked Jaune. A lot, it seemed to be they were fated for one another. From the moment he saved her up until the moment he left her. "You're always yelling! How about this, we'll play a game, if you stay silent the whole time I'm gone I'll treat you to however much ice cream you want for as long as you stay silent. Okay? Starting… Now!" Those words were the last he gave to her. To him, it was a silly game, a way to give their mother a break from all that yelling. To her, it was a promise. A promise to stay silent until he returns her brother. Her love.

And a whole lot of ice cream. Hell, even that wouldn't satisfy the poor girl. If -no, when- he returned she would get a lot more than just ice cream from him. She was going to force that blonde idiot to buy whatever she damn well pleased.

/Three days earlier\

Glynda's eyes fluttered open. The emerald orbs looked around. She was in a white infirmary room. A bandage wrapped around her head. Just below her bun. She had been changed into a hospital gown. Her brain felt like it was oozing out of her ears. The pain was unbearable. She assumed she suffered from a heavy concussion? Why though? What happened? All she could remember was flying in a bullhead than a Nevermore than it crashed into the bullhead and…. Jaune.

Oh gods, where was Jaune? Was he alright where was he? He was closer to the crash then she was. And if she suffered from a concussion? How badly hurt was he? He couldn't possibly be dead? She got flung backward, but what if the bullhead crashed? Was she the lucky one to not get hurt? She prayed to the gods themselves that her son was alright.

When the sound of a door creaking open reached the dean's ears she snapped her neck to see Neo, her second daughter of the two. She was so relieved that she said no to those two coming with her. Snapping out of her thoughts she greeted her youngest daughter. "Hello, sweetie…"

"MOMMY! I'm so glad you're okay! Your weird coworker said you were in here! But where's Jaune? Is he in here too?" Neo asked. As she comedically and frantically searched the hospital room for her brother.

"I'm sorry sweetie, I… I haven't seen your brother? Do you know if he's okay?" She was happy to see her daughter and especially happy to know that her daughter thinks Qrow as weird. He may be reliable to get things done. But that doesn't mean he's a good person outside of fighting the creatures of darkness and those who threatened the peace.

Before her daughter could respond. The door opened once again to reveal her boss and close friend. "Ozpin…" Glynda started. Before she could continue, he put a hand up to stop her. He looked to Glynda's daughter.

"Neo… Could you give your mother and I a moment? I have some very… disturbing news." Neo nodded and scampered out of the room. Before the door could close completely she saw her eldest daughter, Emerald wrapping the younger Goodwitch into a hug.

"Where is Jaune?" She interrogated.

"That's what the news is about-"

"Where. Is. My. Son?" She seethed through her teeth.

"Dead Glynda. He's dead, Jaune fell out of the bullhead. Qrow wasn't able to make it in time to catch him. No one could have survived that fall, not even with his crazy amounts of aura. He's not coming back." Ozpin wanted to be blunt. It was the only way, it would have been worse to keep her in the dark. "The funeral will be in two weeks." Ozpin left before the storm that was to come. Losing a child is hard. He knew she needed to grieve.

He grabbed her two daughters before they could rush to their mother. They looked at Ozpin in confusion. The door shut behind him as he dragged the two girls, tears streaming down both of their faces.

The scream that the mother let out was heard all throughout the kingdom of Vale that night.

/Three months later\

"Hey, John!"

A rabbit Faunus with white ears walks over to a fifteen-year-old teenager. He was originally blond but the dust and soot of the Schnee mines covered his once regal face and hair. Making him look as if he was born with the darkest hair imaginable. His once bright red eyes were dull, over the course of three months was subjugated to torture by the racist asshats that worked for the Schnee's. Really, all of them did, but did they really have a choice?

Up in Atlas the only work you could have if you weren't wealthy was A) Join the military and die by either Grimm or bandits or B) Work in the mines until an accident finally kills you. Both options had the top two worst wages of all of Remnant but as Jaune used to say -er John- "Work is work."

The once blonde boy looked up to see his only friend if you could call him that. He was the only friendly person besides his only sister in the mine. He was the one who taught him the way of the mines when he woke up. His name was Lepus. The arctic hare faunus. The unofficial leader of Schnee mine #14.

"What do you want Lepus? Did you find a crystal and come to gloat?" John threw his pickaxe over his shoulder. A pile of red dust crystals by his feet. None were larger than a quarter. "Because I have a quota if I want to keep big sis and myself fed for the winter.

"Sister this. Sister that. She's not your real sister you know?" Lepus put his hands on his hips and leaned forward. Teasing the boy.

"I took her last name. I consider her the closest thing I've got to a family down here. She's the one who saved me." Jaune retorted. He hated the people who called out to his sister. She was the nicest person he had ever met. He beat all of those he even tried to catcall her. She was his, and his alone.

"Yeah, yeah. Did you here though? The Schnee's themselves are coming next week to inspect the mine! I heard it was Jacques and his eldest daughter coming here. So be sure to be on your best behavior alright? You never know what the bastards will do to us if we're not perfect alright?" Lepus put a hand on John's shoulder as the boy nodded.

"I'll be sure to tell sis that. Thanks." Jaune was about to get back to work when Lepus made the last remark.

"You know, it's kind of ironic."

"What is?"

"Your last name."

"What about it."

"When we found that you fell through a collapsed tunnel your sister took you in. And now your last name is what happened to your dumb ass."

"Shut up Lepus."

"Whatever Mister John Fall."

Whaaaaaat!

Hey guys, let's take a quick recap because this chapter was a real doozy. Jaune literally dies to the Goodwitch family. I mean, I needed some way for him to get rid of him without him booking it again.

Then Emerald and Neo confess their love to their quote-unquote "Brother" and Neo takes an oath of silence because why not? It'll be all the more damaging when he finally comes back. And now she's silent like in canon!

Speaking of damage. Glynda lost her child, making her the cold-hearted woman we all know and love today. Who knows what will happen when she finds out he's alive and singing. Well, maybe not singing, that's Weiss' job.

Also, Qrow shows up, after looking for his son for a year just to find him, and then watch him die. Muhahaha! I'm so evil and mean! Maybe because of this he'll grow more attached to his nieces because of it. Who knows? Well, I do! But I'm not telling!

And finally, Jaune falls into the Schnee mines. And started to work with the miners and found his next sister/lover/something or other. Cinder Fall! Yup! What a doozy, I decided since we don't know her background, why not make it that she worked in the Schnee mines until one fateful day something happens where she meets Salem. But Jaune saves her from that! Yay! No evil people today!

So next week won't have "A Samurai's Journey." Only because I have a bunch of already written story starters that I want to post this week. So other than that that I hope you enjoyed this weeks chapter.

Until next time!

-Nate

A shocking discovery

When Emerald got the invitation for her and her sister to go to Signal academy, both girls immediately went to their uncles. They knew their mother would refuse them. So why not ask your two other legal guardians?

After telling a very angry Glynda Goodwitch that they were accepted to Signal and wouldn't take no for an answer. She reluctantly let her daughters go. They needed the practice if they were going to be accepted into Beacon to become full-fledged Huntress'

So that's where we find ourselves. On the island of Patch. Where the two sisters are introducing themselves to the class of Raven Branwen. There was a blonde girl leaning intently sitting next to a girl with a blood red cloak that reminded the girls of their dead brother's eyes.

"My name is Emerald Goodwitch and this is my sister Neo Goodwitch. She uh… mute. So I'm kind of her translator. But I hope we can become good friends!" Emerald gave a small bow while her sister gave a thumbs up to the crowd.

"Good. Any questions for the girls before we begin class?" Professor Branwen asked. In which a slew of hands shot forward.

"Are you two related?" A green haired girl asked.

"No, we were adopted by our mother. Glynda Goodwitch." Emerald answered

"Glynda Goodwitch? As in the Glynda Goodwitch?" A red-haired boy followed up.

"Yes. Our mother is the dean of Beacon Academy." Emerald's answer elicited a few gasps from the audience.

"Are you two the only children from Goodwitch?" The silver eyed girl asked meekly.

"No, we had a brother." Emerald looked down while the blond smacked the silver-eyed girl behind the head.

"Nice going, Rubes." She whispered.

The professor put a hand on both girls shoulders and leaned down. "I'm sorry. I heard about your loss from your uncles. I had lost my son just two years ago." She was about to let go when Emerald talked.

"It's hard to think that Jaune is gone. I'm going to miss that blonde idiot." Emerald was about to push Neo towards the seats when Raven's grip tightened.

"What did you say his name was?" Raven asked. She thought she called her brother John a blonde.

"His name was Jaune. He was the one who saved me." Emerald answered. Almost too loudly as two more bodies surrounded the two sisters.

"D-Did he have red eyes and a golden necklace?" The blond one asked.

"And a marron cloak?" The silver eyed one asked before Emerald could answer the first question.

Raven suddenly pulled out a picture of what looked like their brother only a lot younger. "Did he look like this?" She asked. Almost like an interrogation.

"Yes. To all of them. How do you know my brother?" Emerald was scared. Was this family he had to run away from? She didn't know much about his past. But he knew he had run away from his previous family two years ago. Was this the family that she figured tortured her brother so badly that he had to run?

"He was my son… But where is he now?" Raven asked.

"Dead. Almost three months ago. He fell out of a bullhead. He was on a mission with my mom when a giant Nevermore crashed into the bullhead. Glynda's coworker, Qrow couldn't save him. And he couldn't he find his body. Because he refused to look.

Both girls broke down in tears. Their brother was dead. And they hadn't even known for three long months. Raven on the outside looked calm. Too calm for someone who found out that their son was dead. But on the inside. She just broke. Her little bandit was gone. And his father was there to watch him fall to his doom.

"That son of a bitch!" She screamed. She turned to her students. "Class is dismissed early today. I have to make a very important call to my brother." She turned to her office. As the students awkwardly shuffled out of the classroom. Trying not to interrupt the now four girls grieving of their dead brother.

It was a sad sight indeed on that day. Six hearts broke over the loss of a family member near and dear to their hearts. Little did they know he was about to have a cold awakening by yet two more families in the very same week.

Oh, poor Branwen family. They lost a child today. Or not. More like poor Qrow, he's about to get the shit beat out of him.

(Next chapter) October 13th.