Gamer4 in. I do have one more big series I was considering, but I think I'll save that for next chapter and instead throw out that, at one point, I was considering Senran Kagura. I throw it in as an afterthought, not because of the series itself, but because of my own perspective- it was less a serious consideration, and more of a 'Wouldn't it be funny if' thing. Alright, let's get to it.

Disclaimer: Now it's time to say goodbye to the things we loved, and the innocence of youth!

Chapter XXV

Jaune Arc Returns Home

As it transpired, Jaune Arc did not immediately go to the airport after his falling-out with Emerald. Instead, he made his way to the house of another friend of his, Sage Ayana- a tall man with dark skin and similarly dark-green hair. He had been planning on taking the first plane to Vale that was available, only to remember, partway down the road, that Emerald was the one in charge of most of their finances. Not to say that he had nothing to his name without her, but probably not enough to hop on a flight at such short notice.

In college, Sage had joined a fighting team alongside his friends at the time, Sun Wukong, Scarlet David, and Neptune Vasilias, but this aptitude proved to not be destiny. Nowadays, he mostly made a name for himself as a commentator on various issues, from psychology to sociology to politics, upon which he had some opinions many would dub 'controversial.' Nevertheless, he kept on expressing them, continuing even in the face of intense criticism, or even the occasional outright banning.

His friendship with Jaune was an odd one- the two hadn't met until several years out of college when they met at a bar in the heart of Vacuo. Jaune was temporarily retreating from Emerald, who had just taught him another one of her 'lessons,' and had been drinking alone when Sage appeared and offered to buy him a drink.

"Thanks, but no," Jaune had responded. "I don't want to cause any trouble..."

Sage had sat right next to him, gazing into his blue eyes with his own- a bright shade of gold. "No trouble," he shook his head. "I can tell when someone needs a drink, buddy, and you..."

Jaune smiled weakly before finally nodding. "If you're sure..."

They had remained silent until their drinks arrived, at which point Sage finally took the initiative to begin a conversation. "So, what brings you out here tonight?"

"A little trouble in paradise, I guess you could say," Jaune shrugged over a hard soda.

"A married man, huh?" Sage guessed as he took a swig of ale.

"Not married- not yet," Jaune denied. "Though you'd think we were, sometimes."

Sage had fixed him with a penetrating gaze- a gaze that was oddly familiar. It was only now, back in Vale, that Jaune realized why- it was uncannily similar to the gaze that Ren fixed others with when they were trying to hide something. "Was that her?" he asked lowly, indicating the large, dark bruise forming around Jaune's eye- he hadn't wanted to dive right into it, but that bruise was what had drawn him to Jaune in the first place.

"She's a little... high-spirited, sometimes," Jaune shied away.

"I see," Sage frowned.

Jaune tilted his head. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Sage Ayana," Sage had immediately responded- on the one hand, he wasn't sure what rumors Jaune might have heard about him, but on the other, he firmly believed that honesty was the best policy. "Here's hoping that doesn't put you off."

He extended his hand, and with a wan smile, Jaune accepted it. "Should it?"

"Well, people like to say things about me- I wasn't sure what your first impressions might be."

Jaune shook his head. "I don't rely on rumors- I like to judge people for myself."

Sage smiled. "Smart man. Personally, I believe that's an issue plaguing us today..."

That had been the start of a lengthy conversation. By the end of it, Jaune was thoroughly drunk despite the relatively low amount of liquor he'd consumed, while Sage came to realize two things.

First, this man stood opposite him on just about every issue he could think of.

Second, in the small amount of time they'd spent talking, he was already coming to care for him.

"Come on, buddy," he muttered, patting Jaune on the back. "Let's get you home, shall we?"

"Yeah...I... I think Em should be calm by now..." Jaune slurred slightly.

"Yeah, about this 'Em,'" Sage nodded, hoisting Jaune over his shoulder. "Maybe you ought to stay away from her for a while, okay?"

"Nah," Jaune waved him aside. "She's... she's good... just a little... free-spirited, is all..."

Sage narrowed his eyes again, but from his previous experience, saw little point in pressing the issue. Throughout their conversation, Jaune repeatedly denied that his injury had been caused by this 'Emerald,' and while Sage doubted that proclamation, he didn't have enough evidence to the contrary.

XXXX

That night had been the start of a long, beautiful friendship, one that Sage still valued, always readily accepting Jaune on nights that Emerald got particularly angry, prompting Jaune to leave their house. Repeatedly, Sage tried to convince Jaune that he should turn away from her, and repeatedly, Jaune leapt to her defense. Sage desperately wanted to do something about it, but found himself unable to- without any proof of Emerald's actions, there was very little he could do.

Then came that night in late November when he opened his front door to find a gasping, panting Jaune at his front step. "Jaune?" he asked, bemused. "Is something wrong?"

"You could say that, yeah," Jaune nodded. "Mind if I come in?"

"Of course," Sage nodded, stepping aside and allowing him entrance. "Want some tea?"

"That sounds good," Jaune nodded, taking a seat in the kitchen.

In a moment, Sage had his teapot whistling. He produced some bags and laid a cup down in front of each of them. "So, what brings you here tonight?" His eyes narrowed. "Emerald, again?"

"No, no, not her- not entirely," Jaune shook his head. "She wasn't- she didn't hit me this time-"

Sage's eyes widened, and he jumped on the opening. "'This time?'" he repeated. "Meaning she's done it before?"

Jaune still seemed distracted, eyes darting around even as he addressed Sage's urgent question. "Yes, she's done it before," he admitted. "She didn't get to tonight, though-"

"That's not the point, Jaune!" Sage frowned at him. "If this has been going on a while, you should have told someone- the police, or at least me!"

"Look, Sage, it's not a big deal," Jaune shook his head. "I usually deserved it, and-"

"No one deserves it!" Sage interrupted. "What has that crazy bitch been telling you?"

"This isn't about Emerald!" Jaune raised his voice. Sage blinked, before slowly motioning for Jaune to continue. "This is about... a friend called me tonight. A friend from a long time ago- I need to get to Vale! Do you know-"

"I think I've heard of it," Sage nodded. "Right near the coast of Vytal, right?"

"That's the place," Jaune nodded. "I used to live there a long time ago, and I'm going to- a reunion, I guess you could say. But... I think Emerald will go out of her way to keep me out of our bank accounts, now, and it's pretty far for anything other than a plane..."

"What happened with Emerald?" Sage asked, fixing him with that very Ren-like stare once more. "You're sure she didn't hit you again?"

"No- not for lack of trying, though," Jaune admitted. "She was coming at me with her belt when-"

"She even has a belt?" Sage asked, aghast. "Holy Dust, Jaune, how long has this been going on?"

"It's not important!" Jaune repeated, shaking his head. "Again, it was mostly my fault- she thought it was one of the girls we're doing a construction deal with, over in Vacuo, and I didn't do a good job-"

"Even if you were, beating you isn't the answer!" Sage put his foot down.

Jaune shook his head. "I keep saying it's not important- I've already broken things off with her."

Sage sighed with relief at that. "Good. It's about time..."

Jaune gave a half-hearted nod. "Yeah... I guess... but now, she's got control over most of the money. I wouldn't mind too much, but I really need to get to Vale- this is important. I hate to ask, but-"

"I'll cover you," Sage cut him off. He didn't know why he was agreeing so readily- perhaps it was something in Jaune's eyes, or his voice- he sounded more serious about this reunion than he had about anything in the past. "Don't worry, Jaune- if this is as important as you say, I'll cover you."

"It is," Jaune nodded earnestly. "And I'll pay you back- I promise."

"Keep your ties with that bitch cut," Sage assured him, "and I'll consider us more than even."

Jaune remained silent for another moment, before slowly nodding. "Thank you."

Sage smiled. "What are friends for?"

XXXX

Such were the memories racing through Jaune's mind as he turned his back on A Simple Wok and started making his way towards the Vale Residential District. Almost guiltily, he reached into his pocket and produced the talisman he already had with him- a photo of Emerald, smiling gently at the camera. Even after their altercation before he'd left, even after his promise to Sage, he couldn't bring himself to turn his back on her altogether.

Holding the photo closer to his heart, he continued his walk. So, aside from the Emerald Forest, where did he have the most memories? He didn't recall spending much time in the parks, socializing in the stores, watching movies at the theater- he hadn't even spent much time at the arcade, as most others around his age did.

He found his mind drifting towards another place- there was Mountain Glenn. An extension of Vale, it had been ravaged and destroyed during the War for Remnant, and left as a memorial for several years, until the town decided to start rebuilding it. It had still been under construction when he left, but he could stop by there again and see- what?

He paused, blinking. A wave of cold seemed to pass over him at the idea of going anywhere near Mountain Glenn. Had something happened there? He stretched his memory as far as it would go.

Chains.

Horns.

Branches.

And above all- Thrush.

Thrush? That was right- Team CRDL- something had happened in Mountain Glenn, something involving them. Something involving Russel Thrush- but try as he might, he couldn't remember the details. Nonetheless, he could almost hear the rattling of chains in the distance, and a dark, evil chuckle.

He closed his eyes for a moment, before looking up- and staring.

Practically without his input, his feet had taken him to a building he knew all too well- the very house that he'd grown up in, where the majority of his memories were made, up until the year he was sent away to live with his father instead.

His old house was practically unchanged since then- it seemed no larger than before, and still bore the same basic white paint, though it now seemed older. Nerves coursed through him- could it be that his mother was still living there?

On some level, he didn't want to know- but more prevalently, he had to. Moving slowly, he approached, stepping up onto the front porch before slowly reaching out and knocking.

For a moment, he hoped- almost prayed- that no one would answer.

He almost breathed a sigh of relief when no one did.

I worry about you, Jaune, I really do. Just because you are a boy doesn't mean you have to look like one...

He had to be sure. Feeling as though someone was dragging his hand against his will, he raised his hand and knocked again.

A face appeared in the window- a rather old, female face. After a moment, it disappeared, and a second later, the door creaked open.

"And who might you be, young man?" the woman asked.

Jaune had to stifle another sigh of relief- whoever this woman was, it clearly wasn't his mother. She was far shorter, and far older even than his mother ought to be at this point. Her long white hair was kept in a braid down her back, and her skin was far darker. What seemed like a pair of goggles was attached to her face, a necklace lay around her neck, and she was leaning heavily on a large cane.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he inclined his head. "I was looking for the Arc residence..."

"I'm afraid there's no one named Arc here," the woman shook her head, turning back inside, only to pause just before closing the door. "Unless... wait... you aren't Jane Arc's boy, are you?"

"You know her?" Jaune asked, unsure whether he was more excited or scared.

"I knew her..." the woman corrected, a note of sadness entering her voice. "...Perhaps you had better come in... I can make you some tea."

Jaune nodded, stepping over the threshold into an all-too-familiar hallway.

"Maria Calavera," the woman introduced herself, smiling briefly up at him.

"Jaune Arc," Jaune reciprocated, bowing lightly.

Maria smiled. "You're every bit as well-mannered as she said."

Looking up, she added, "Feel free to use the water closet, if you like- I'll get the tea on."

Jaune tensed, but ultimately nodded, heading up a brief flight of steps and coming to a stop just in front of the bathroom door.

He didn't know what he expected to be on the other side- a room full of blood, perhaps? Given how this day was going so far, he wouldn't be surprised if he were to open this door and unleash a torrent of blood on the rest of the house, as Neo- as It- cackled away in the bathroom mirror. But he had to know.

It seemed to take several hours before his hand finally touched the knob, and even longer before it finally pushed the door open.

There was nothing of note on the other side- it was the bathroom he remembered, almost precisely as he remembered it- still as clean as he, Pyrrha, Weiss, and Blake had left it on that day so many years ago. Maria clearly kept up with her cleaning- he could even see the wallpaper, which had been replaced with a pattern of owls- he couldn't shake the feeling that they were watching him as he nervously began running the water in the sink. In an effort to calm himself, he splashed some of the cooling liquid back into his face.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Maria called up from the lower floor. "I always have some food ready in case my grandkids decide to visit!"

"No thank you!" Jaune called back. "I'm going to meet with some friends soon!"

"A snack, then? I think I have some ice cream in the freezer!"

Jaune found himself wincing at the mention of the frozen treat- looking into the mirror, he could even see himself turning pale. "Just- just tea, thank you!"

"Suit yourself..."

Finally, Jaune turned his back on the room, descending into the kitchen, where Maria was just removing the teapot from the stove.

"Any preference, dear?" she asked, turning and browsing through her cabinets. "I've got green tea, earl grey, a few different herbal teas..."

"Earl grey sounds fine," Jaune smiled, taking a seat.

Maria nodded, and produced two teabags for each of their mugs. She sat across from him, before shaking her head. "Well, I'm sure you've already worked it out, my boy, but your mother... she's been dead these past five years."

Jaune wasn't sure how to react to this news- true to Maria's assessment, he'd already mostly worked it out by now, and of course, he'd had to entertain that possibility...

But at the same time, even after twenty-seven years of separation, the revelation seemed to hit him like a train.

Perhaps reading some of the emotion on his face, Maria shook her head sadly. "I hate to have to be the one to tell you that, son..."

"No, it's okay," Jaune shook his head slowly. "I kind of... I think I kind of knew already."

Maria smiled slightly. "If it's any comfort to you, she always spoke very highly of you- I can only imagine how much she loved you."

Jaune felt something in his throat.

"There was that thing she always used to say- 'I hated to see him go, you know. I worry about him, I really do. I worry a lot.'"

Jaune tensed up again, gripping his mug tighter than was strictly necessary. "Did she?"

Maria nodded, taking a sip of her tea. "Won't you drink?" she prompted.

Jaune looked at his tea, and realized he hadn't actually drunk any yet. "In a bit," he muttered, for reasons unbeknownst even to himself. He looked back up. "So... you knew her?"

"I talked with her quite a few times," Maria nodded. "I suppose I was the closest to her when she finally passed- she left me her house, at the very least. I know it seems small, but it's quite the palace compared to where I lived before."

Maria took another drink before turning her gaze back on him. "Is that what brings you back to Vale? Searching for your mother?"

"Sort of," Jaune half-lied. "Really, I'm meeting up with my friends again. We have something to take care of here."

"It must be important to come all the way here from Atlas," Maria pointed out. "Are you getting into trouble, my boy?"

For some reason, Jaune found himself wincing again. Setting down the cup he'd just picked up, he thought for a moment before responding, "It's just... something between us. We'll take care of it okay."

Maria gave a shrug. "Whatever you say, my boy," she smiled, showing off a set of rather dark teeth.

Jaune blinked, then kept his eyes fixed on his host- had her teeth always been in such poor shape?

"It just seems to me," she continued, "that if it's too much trouble- particularly anything life-threatening... you might be better off simply returning home, my dear." She fixed him with an unflinching gaze through her large goggles. "We wouldn't want you getting hurt now, would we?"

Jaune kept his gaze fixed on her- he couldn't say why, exactly, but he was steadily finding himself repulsed by this seemingly innocent old woman.

She tilted her head again. "Well, come now, drink!"

Jaune kept his eyes on her even as he reached for his cup, pausing only to flick his eyes down towards it- only to drop it in horror.

The tea had been replaced with a mix of red and brown sludge, from which a horrifically pungent aroma emanated and assaulted his senses.

The cup fell and shattered on the floor.

Maria smiled back up at him- she was growing older and older before his eyes, to the point that she began to resemble a living mummy. "Don't you worry about a thing, my dear, I'll take care of it."

She rose to her feet, and so did Jaune, leaping to his feet and pushing the table away, right into Maria, knocking her to the ground and knocking her goggles from her face.

"That wasn't very nice, dearie," she almost whispered, turning around and causing Jaune to recoil once more. She had no eyes- where they ought to be were two dark holes piercing through into her skull. As she steadily rose to her feet, managing to do so without removing her dead gaze from him, she smiled and spoke again- but from her mouth came, not the kindly, elderly voice he had come to expect, but the voice of his mother- "Just because you are a boy doesn't mean you need to act like one!"

Jaune fumbled around in his pocket, finally producing the picture of Emerald- but Maria did not stop her advance. She reached out and snatched the photo from him, laughing as she examined it.

"How sweet," she seemed to reflect, turning the picture over in her hands. She raised a finger and pressed it into the paper, leaving a burn mark as thorough as if her finger were a cigarette. She moved her finger to another spot and burned another hole, before looking back up at him. "Something tells me you don't have quite as much faith in your dearest as you'd like your friends to think..."

She turned the photo around- she had burned out Emerald's eyes, leaving them looking as dead and empty as her own.

The photo began to speak- "Do I need to teach you a lesson, Jaune?"

Jaune turned and ran- right on his heels was the thing Maria Calavera had become, crying out with the voices of both his mother and Emerald- "It won't do you any good to run, Jaune! Come back and take it now- it'll be easier for you if you do!"

Jaune wasted no time in breaking down the front door and barreling out onto the street before finally turning around to finally see what he had already realized to be true- Neo stood in the doorway, cackling, a wicked glee alight in her multicolored eyes. Finally, she stopped, fixing his gaze steadily with her own. Slowly, she raised the central three fingers of her right hand. Just as slowly, she lowered her ring finger. A moment passed, then she lowered her index finger as well.

Jaune came to the realization just in time- working more on instinct than anything else, his legs propelled him backwards a split second before the space he'd occupied was invaded by a large truck. As he slammed into the pavement on the opposite side of the street, the thought registered with him that the horn had been blaring, but he'd been so fixated on Neo that he hadn't noticed.

Looking up, he felt his heart drop- where his house had once been, there now stood a ruin. The paint was gone, the windows were smashed, all entrances were boarded up, and overall, the house was a shell of its former self, more akin to the House on Vickery Lane than the house he remembered growing up in.

A deep horror took root inside him as he staggered away. We can't beat her- she's too powerful, we can' t beat her, with or without Blake! We can't do it, WE CAN'T BEAT HER!

One of his roving hands slipped on a piece of paper- looking down, he saw a small postcard with a very familiar picture on it. Touching it, he recognized it as the same picture on the postcard he'd received shortly before meeting the rest of Team Loser for the first time.

On the reverse side, however, was no love poem- instead, there were four scrawled words in neat, immaculate cursive.

Now you're catching on.

XXXX

Please R&R, constructive criticism and flames both embraced, though not in equal measure, Gamer4 out.