RWBY: Knight of the Fallen Order
He could not remember his home planet, or even his family, only the name stitched to his clothes. He was found, raised and trained by the Jedi Order. As a Padawan, he fought in the Clone Wars, survived Order 66 and escaped with his life. Now he has crashed on a strange alien planet that has never heard of the Empire, space travel, the Jedi or even the Force itself. What will Jaune Arc discover in the world of Remnant?
A/N Okay, so...I know it's been a while...a long while. But I am not dead, so there's that.
I have been super busy with work, Uni and all sorts of other family stuff. I also got vaccinated for Covid so that was a fun little sickness to deal with as my body adapted to the Vaccine. Plus recently I had been feeling less pull with RWBY, mostly because of how messy it is. So I decided to reevaluate my planning and started using Google Docs, and started putting down my plans on paper.
I also am working on creating my own Manga/Comic, still in production and thinking about posting it when I've worked out all the kinks, backgrounds and systems for a functioning world. But I am back, and hopefully, I can post a bit more now that I start to organize my thoughts better. So without further adieu, here is the latest chapter of Fallen Order...
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
RWBY
Knight of the Fallen Order
Episode VI: The Locals
After slowly becoming adjusted to the familiarities of Beacon Academy, Jedi Padawan Jaune Secura has found a friend in his partner, Pyrrha Nikos.
With her, he can confront the demons of his past and help find a strange peace in this familiar place.
However, many things are still unknown to the Padawan, such as the strange culture of this undiscovered world that he finds himself in. Why they speak perfect basic yet have no evidence of Galactic Lettering.
Many more questions plague the Padawan in hiding, but with every step forward, he begins to unravel the mystery of this forgotten world…
8 Years Ago – Jedi Temple Archives
It was late at night, as Jaune once again found himself in the ancient Archives of the Jedi Temple. A hobby he had developed over his years living in the temple, mostly due to his lack thereof knowledge of the Galaxy. He loved studying the cultures of another civilization, their customs and their languages. Learning something new about the Republic and its ever-expanding development.
But another reason was that he himself lacked a culture to call his own.
He had no idea of his own people, who they were, how they lived or how they interacted with other species. What was their culture, their beliefs? Were they friendly? Hostile? Were they a philosophical society or a warrior caste? Did they have Art? Literature? A different language or did they speak basic? So many questions but he found few answers.
He read over a holodisk of the planet Alderaan as he reviewed the customs and culture of the peaceful planet.
"Alderaan, one of the Core System Worlds and one of the Founders and supporters of the Republic. The planet has an estimated population of over 2 billion inhabitants. Known for their democratic beliefs and respect for the beauty and nature of their home planet, it's often referred to as the 'Planet of Beauty'. Hmm…it looks promising. Maybe I came from here, while my family was on a trip to another planet? But master Secura said the slavers came from the Outer-Rim. No way those slavers would come anywhere near a Core World, and if I was from a Core World, surely someone would've reported it." He placed the pad down and picked up another.
"Maybe, Lothal?" he questioned as he read over the planet's history. "No, it's too grassy, not enough forests. The best memory I have was lush green forests, not dried grass. Maybe Dantooine? No, that's the same as Lothal," He continued to read the Datapad as he learned about the natives, the culture and the Jedi Connection to it. Taking note of the Old Temple buried there.
"Burning the late-night Holo Light, youngling?" He heard a voice speak out as he turned to see a balding grey-haired man, wearing traditional Jedi Master robes, walking into the Library. He was unfamiliar to Jaune, as he only ever saw his combat master's, Master Yoda, Windu, Obi-Wan, Vos or Aayla, the last two that saved him from the Zygerians.
"Oh, I'm sorry master…uh?"
"Cordova, Eno Cordova, and you are?" the man said with a chuckle.
"Right, forgive me, Master Cordova. I'm Jaune…uh, I don't have a last name." Cordova nodded. "And I'm sorry, I know I should be in bed now. But I like to come to the library, it's a bit of a hobby of mine." Jaune admitted as the older man hummed.
"I see, and why is someone so young, so interested in knowledge? Most of the children I meet are more focused on getting their first lightsabers and becoming Jedi Knights than learning about history or culture. I'll admit my former Padawan could've learned some more patience and fascination with history. So, why are you different?" He asked as Jaune looked conflicted.
"Well, you see it's…what have you heard about me?" he asked as the man hummed.
"If I recall, Master Vos and his Padawan found you amongst a group of kidnapped children aboard a Zygerrian slave ship. Most of the other children were returned to their homes, but you were the only one that could not be returned. If it wasn't for the fact you turned out to be Force Sensitive, you'd have been left into the foster care system." Cordova explained as Jaune nodded.
"Yeah, because I was so young, I have no idea of my own culture or even my own race for that matter. I'm aware I'm a humanoid, but there are many different classifications of humans in the galaxy. I could be from Tatooine, Nar Shaddaa or any of the outer rim colonies…" he sighed as he looked over the data pads. "Which is why I like to come to the Library. I want to learn everything I can about this galaxy, its cultures, its people, its history, it helps to clear my thoughts." He explained as the man nodded.
"Ah yes, I understand. I myself would often come to the Great Library when I was plagued with thoughts and doubts. History and culture were always fascinating to me. But what are you conflicted about, young one?" he asked as Jaune sighed.
"Tomorrow, I'm off to Illum for the Gathering, to receive my Kyber Crystal," Jaune said as Cordova nodded.
"Ah yes, the Gathering. I remember my first Gathering; I was no older than you were. It is a difficult challenge, but one that every youngling must undertake before becoming a Jedi." He said as Jaune nodded. "But I can sense fear within you, young one…You're afraid of not passing, yes?"
Jaune sighed as he nodded. "I've already talked to my friends about it, but still…can I pass a test designed to reflect upon yourself…when I have no idea of who I am?"
Cordova hummed in thought. "It's tricky, and I can't give away anything that will spoil the meaning of the trial." He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"But all I can tell you is that you must have patience and focus on the task at hand. Only then will the answers come to you." He said as Jaune starred but nodded. "Good, now if you'll excuse me, I have a matter of importance to discuss with the Head Librarian. I've been exploring a rather interesting and forgotten Force Sensitive Civilization, one that I believe will give me greater clarity into the Force." He said as he walked away.
"Oh, and one more piece of advice," he said as Jaune looked back. "There is more to life than just what's in a holopad. Go out and experience it, you'll find that out soon enough," he said as Jaune nodded and closed off the lamp.
Oobleck's Classroom – Present Day
"Yes! Yes, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution-more popularly known as the Faunus War-" Professor Oobleck stands in front of the class as a map covered in papers stood behind his desk "-humankind was quite adamant about centralizing the Faunus population in Menagerie." He then points at the map of the area with his stick, then zooms off to the side for a sip of his coffee before appearing in front of the desk.
"Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day!" he zooms around the classroom more, sipping his coffee again before continuing to zoom and talk.
"Now! Have any among you been subjugated or discriminated against because of your Faunus heritage?" Some of the students raise their hands. Velvet, after a moment, does the same. "Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember, students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence!" he takes another sip of his coffee.
"I mean, I mean, I mean just look at what happened to White Fang! Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point in the third year of the War?" a hand was raised as Weiss desperately tried to gain his attention and succeeded. "Yes?"
"The battle at Fort Castle!" she proclaims as Jaune raises an eyebrow.
'Fort Castle? Why would they name a Fort Castle? Isn't that redundant? It's like naming a Planet, Planet World…or was it named after someone named Castle?' he thought as he resumed listening to the lecture.
"Precisely! And, who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?" he scanned the crowd looking for an unwilling participant. "Miss Rose," he pointed as the ruby themed Huntress squeaked. "What were the advantages of the Faunus?"
"Uh…" she looked around the room as she pondered for a moment, she noticed Pyrrha as she gestured to her eyes. "Keen…eyesight?"
"Close, Miss Rose. The correct answer is Night vision. It is well documented that most of the Faunus people are naturally born with this ability to see near-perfect sight in the dark. This gave them an advantage over the soldiers at fort Castle." He explained as Cardin scoffed.
"Well of course they had the advantage. It's a lot easier to train animals than it is to train soldiers. After all, I had a mutt that could fetch a newspaper with a snap of my fingers. They're perfect cannon fodder if you ask me." He smirked and got some nods from his lackeys, while the Professor and some of the Faunus and Human students glared at him.
"I do hope you are not serious, Mister Winchester. In this classroom, I will not tolerate any hateful comments or prejudiced views in my classroom." Oobleck strongly advised. "Besides, if you paid attention, then you would be aware that General Lagune was inexperienced and made the mistake of trying to ambush the Faunus in their sleep. His massive army was outmatched, and the general was captured and suffered a humiliating defeat." He said as the older teen growled.
"Now, if we have no further interruptions." The teacher said as he pointed over to the charts, "Then we can focus on the next subject. 'The Lost Kingdoms'." He pointed to the photographs of abandoned ruins and temples. Something that piqued Jaune's interest. "Now these ruins are all that remain of what can only be assumed is a lost civilization that predates our own. Many of these ruins have been found across the planet, even in locations now occupied by the Grimm. This suggests that at one point the Grimm were not as numerous as they are now."
Jaune stared at the ruins as he felt an inkling in the Force as he raised his hand. "Yes, Mister Secura?"
"What happened to them, the ones who came before?" he asked as the man shrugged his shoulders.
"Unfortunately, no one knows? There are many theories and debates about what happened to them. Some suggest a war broke out and they destroyed themselves. Others believe a plague swept across the planet and reduced their numbers by margins. The exact answer is unknown. What is confirmed was that at some point the entire Kingdom just…vanished, without a clue or hint at what caused their destruction."
Jaune looked over the photos as he had this feeling again. Before he could debate it more, the school bell rang. "Ah, we have run out of time. Please read pages fifty-one to ninety-one for homework and write a two-page essay on the subjects by next Friday. And enjoy your weekend." He advised as they began to leave.
"Woo, that was long!" Yang said as she starched her tired arms. "Man, who knew history could be so boring!"
"Maybe if you paid attention, you'd actually learn something, Xiao Long," Wiess said as the brawler merely shrugged.
"Eh, I don't like to live in the past, I'm more of a live in the moment kind of girl." She said with her hand behind her head. "You guys agree with me, right?" she asked as she turned to her friends.
"I totally agree!" Nora said as she high-fived the brawler, while Ruby just shrugged.
"I cannot comment on the subject," Ruby said as she was more worried about getting the essay done on time.
"I found it interesting actually," Blake said as she was reading from one of her books.
"Of course, you would, you've got your face buried in books nonstop. But what about you guys?" she asked Team JNPR, as they walked side by side.
"I believe it's important to learn about our history, those that fail to do so are doomed to repeat it." Ren wisely said as Pyrrha nodded.
"I've always found history interesting, especially when I don't know something," Jaune said as he liked the history classes, it reminded him of his time spent in the Grand Library and the hours he spent going over all the different materials on alien culture and history. Even though he still had trouble reading the language and the teacher was…eccentric with his lessons. "Besides, I've been… 'in the wilds' for so long I need to catch up." He said as Weiss nodded.
"Good, at least he understands the importance of learning our history…" she said as she then narrowed her gaze to Ruby. "If only some of us had that drive for study." She said as Ruby whistled off-key whole avoiding her gaze.
"Now, now, let's not cause any commotion, it's the start of the weekend," Yang said as she pushed herself between the two. "And I've just realised that aside from the initiation exam and classes, we don't really know that much about each other." She said as everyone blinked at that.
"So, I was thinking that maybe we all should head down to Vale this weekend and hang out, get to know each other!" she suggested as she got some raised eyebrows from her two serious members of her teammates.
"Well…that does sound like a good idea. It would be best to get to know each other better, after all, we will be spending the next four years together." Pyrrha suggested as she got a nod from Ren and Nora.
"It sounds like a good idea; I need to learn my way around this place myself. I've been…in the wilds for so long, I've kind of lost my steps here and there. It'd be a good idea to learn the layabout of this place." Jaune said, 'also it will give me a chance to find out more about this planet and where I can find the parts I need to fix my ship.' He mentally thought to himself.
"Then it's agreed, we're all going out this weekend to see the sights and hang out!" Ruby cheered as she got an enthusiastic reply from Nora and Yang, while a more tame reply from the others. "And in the meantime, we can tell each other all about our weapons and how to make-"
"Not going to happen, Ruby." Jaune deadpanned as Ruby crossed her arms.
"Aw nuts."
Beacon Rooftop
"Repeat this to me again, sir. But why are you hanging out with these Meat bags?"
BT replayed over the comm-link as Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Meat bags? Since when do you have to call us meat bags?" he asked as he could've sworn BT was shrugging.
"Apologises, sir. But my core matrix has been acting up more since we crash-landed here…I believe it may knock loose some old programming the Separatist Alliance salvaged from the Old Republic. Back to the topic, why are you hanging out with those meat- I mean children?"
"I need to know more about this planet, and books aren't going to cover everything, even with the translation software you uploaded to my scroll. I need to learn more from the locals. Using the old methods the Jedi used to use. Walk among the people, learn what's happening and maybe find out why they don't know anything about the Force. But I also need to locate the parts to fix the ship and maybe find a place to store the Rustbucket. We can't stay in the forest forever, we run the risk of being exposed every day if it stays out there for too long." Jaune explained.
"I understand. But here is my Question sir. Why do you want to repair the ship and leave? This planet is well out of the way of the Empire and seems like the perfect hiding place. Why do you want to leave so badly?"
Jaune sighed as he leaned against the wall.
"BT, The Empire is encroaching every day into the Outer Rim. More systems, that once stood separate from the Republic, are being forced into servitude. It may be only a matter of time before they find this place and bring it to heel. These people are strong in the Force, but their technology is no match for the Empire or their Starships firepower, if the Empire finds this place...you can bet a massacre will unfold. Not only that, but they're hunting any surviving Jedi. I've seen what they do to planets that harboured a Jedi, the Empire wipes out the population…I can't let that happen to this planet. So, we need to repair the ship and get out of here as soon as possible." He said as silences resonated on the comms.
"…Understood…I shall dig into the network, see what I can find."
"Thank you, BT, and may the Force be with you." He shut off the comm and looked out to the setting sun as he stared at the dying light. "Well, it's a bit late now but…time to meet the locals…" he thought as he returned to his room.
Vale Market
"So, this is Vale huh?" he asked as he and the others looked around. "It's pretty impressive," he said as Weiss smirked and gestured around.
"Of course, Vale is one of the largest Kingdoms in the world! It's one of the main trade routes for anything and everything the Kingdoms need to survive! It is one of the best safe havens from the Grimm due to its natural defences and was the home of the Legendary King of Vale, who single-handedly brought the Great War to an end almost Eighty Years Ago!" Weiss explained as she crossed her arms. "I swear, it's like you have no idea about anything on this planet!" she complained as Jaune internally chuckled.
'If only she knew half of it.' He thought as he looked around.
"It's also one of the best tourist spots in all of Remnant," Pyrrha said as she walked alongside her partner. "Thanks to its unique trading routes, as Weiss had explained." She said as she gestured to the shops.
"I see," he said as he looked around and smelled the stalls of grilling meat, the smell of iron and smoke in the air. It reminded him of the many planets he had his master visited during the early years of his training. Although, it was a stark contrast due to the lack of spaceships, alien creatures or droids that maintained the streets. It was more…rustic, in his opinion, with just a dash of advanced tech.
'It's almost like one of those holo-games my friends at the temple snuck in once.' He thought as he looked around.
"Still, with all these latest techs and skilful Huntsman, I'm surprised there aren't more Kingdoms like this?" he asked as everyone looked at him strangely. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked as Ren shook his head.
"Not entirely, it's just…while our skill and tech are advanced…the Grimm are numerous and unrelenting. Many who've tried to break free from Kingdom controls, usually don't last more than a few months, a year at the most, alone." He said as he had a look on his face that Jaune knew all too well.
A look of loss.
"I see…I'm sorry. I guess I can say my…village was lucky then? Guess I've been too sheltered from the outside world." He said, after all, most of his time as a Jedi was spent fighting in the Clone Wars. The few peaceful planets he visited with his master were only in the inner core worlds. Life was different everywhere else.
"It's alright," Ren said as he pushed down his lingering inner pain. "We should all be so lucky for a simple life." He said as Nora looked at her childhood friend with concern.
"…Okay…Well, what should we do first?" Ruby asked, not entirely sure what they were doing here.
"Well, I know this club that is off the chain!" Yang said as she smirked. "If you want to have a good time here in Vale, then Juniors is the place to be!" she smirked before Ruby raised a finger.
"Didn't you destroy that place before the Exam?"
"…Oh yeah…whoops?"
'She destroyed a club?' Jaune thought with disbelief.
"Okay, for the record, that was not my fault. Second, I know other nightclubs we can go to. Might be good to show Lady Killer here how to have a good time," she gestured to Jaune as he shook his head.
"I'll pass on the nightclub.'' He had far too many memories of Master Vos taking him to nightclubs on Coruscant for 'Intel Gathering' when Master Secura was away during the War. Many bar fights were held in that place.
'I still have some scars,' he thought to himself. "But, I do like the idea of going downtown. It would be nice to know the locals." Jaune said as they nodded.
"Okay then, let's go check out the weapons smiths. I need to upgrade Crescent Rose's ammo clip for the Vytal Festival. Might be a good idea to see about potential upgrades?" Ruby suggested as they all nodded. "All right then, let's head to the shops! And in the meantime, Jaune is going to show me how his Lightsaber wor-"
"Not going to happen,"
"Poo!" she grumbled as she stomped away, determined to learn the secrets of the Ancient Jedi Weapon.
For the rest of the day Jaune was dragged left and right to the many stores, kiosks and cafes that Vale had to food was different from what he had expected or used back in the larger galaxy. But at least he could eat the stuff. He especially liked these...chicken nuggets?
'Might want to be careful with these, I might gain a gut from eating too many' Jaune thought to himself.
As the day went on Jaune learned more and more about the new planet he had landed on. Its people were scattered but hardworking, they expressed themselves after different colours and meanings. They struggled, but cherished in the peace for the moments they could,
Nora had soon discovered that Jaune had never had a pancake before, and felt that such a saying was blasphemous and needed to be corrected. So they spent the next hour watching as Nora consumed stacks of pancakes at the 'Vale House of Pancakes' or 'VHop' for short.
"...how is she able to stomach all that?" He asked with concern as he watched the young girl consume more than her body weight in pancakes without gaining weight. Much to the jealousy of her fellow female friends.
"At this point, I've learned not to question it." Ren merely said.
"I see…" Jaune merely said as he ate the pancake. 'Hmm...not bad. Almost like the Waffles at that Dinner Master Vos took me to, could use Muja Sauce though.' he thought as he ate the food.
He looked around as he watched his new 'friends' interact with each other. Ruby doing something silly to annoy Weiss, Blake busy with her Book while Yang tried to get her attention with Puns. Ren and Pyrrha enjoying their tea, and Nora...well, being Nora.
Jaune had to admit he had fun hanging out with all these guys, it reminded him of his old friends back in the temple. Before the dark times, before the Empire. He shook off the incoming sadness and focused on the moment. If he was to be on this planet, he needed to know more about them.
"So, I know this is a strange thing to ask. But why are you all interested in becoming Huntsmen?" he asked as they turned to him.
"That's a rather personal question to ask, isn't it?" Ren asked, "Why the sudden interest in knowing why we want to be Huntsmen?"
"Well seeing as we're going to be working together for the next four years. I figure it is best to get to know more about each other. I mean, from what I've seen not everyone chooses to be a Huntsman, so what made you decide?" he asked.
"Well, if you want to know about us, it's only fair we know more about you. What made you want to be one?" Yang asked first as Jaune hummed.
"Okay, fair point...well...I don't know, I guess it's what was expected of me?" he replied as they looked confused.
"The….village, where I grew up. It wasn't my first home, they took me in after I was...taken...from my real home. They couldn't find my real family, so they took me in and trained me. The Village had a custom for all of us, to be trained from our earliest years to become 'protectors' and safeguard others from evil. I never really knew my family, and I have no idea where I came from. All I knew was that I had the potential to be a Huntsman and they trained me to fill that role."
"So...you weren't given a choice?" Pyrrha asked as Jaune shrugged.
"Well...Not entirely...I didn't really have anywhere else to go, and it's not like they could throw me out into the cold. No one is that heartless," he said. 'Not even the Jedi would be cruel to do that,' he thought to himself.
Becoming a Jedi was not something anyone could turn down. And it wasn't like there were many other options. If you had Force Abilities, the Jedi believed that it was your responsibility to master them. More likely it was to ensure that one didn't abuse that power and fall to the dark side.
He shook it off as he finished his answer. "So, I guess I'm just fulfilling my role in the universe. Use the training and knowledge I gained to protect others," he said as he stabbed his pancake. "It's the only life I know, and if I'm honest...I don't regret a moment of it," he said as they looked to themselves.
Although he often wondered what the parents had thought about their child being taken by the Jedi Order. Did they approve, or were they just given no other choice?
"Okay, so now that I've answered your question, you answer mine," he said as he looked at them. "What made you all want to become Huntsmen?"
Weiss smirked as she looked up proudly. "As the Heiress to the Largest Dust Mining Corporation in the world," Blake rolled her eyes. "It was obvious that I must uphold the legacy of my family name. Like my sister in the Atlas Military. Once I proved myself capable of fighting, I decided to become a Huntress."
"So, you chose to be fighting rather than having a cushy job in Atlas?" he asked as she narrowed her glare at him.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" she asked as he held his hands up in surrender.
"Nothing, it just surprised me. Most people I've met that come from 'prestigious families' usually go into politics. It's rare to see some wanting to be on the front lines." he explained as she nodded, though inwardly thinking about her reasons.
"What about the rest of you?" he asked as Yang smirked.
"Well, I'm a bit of a thrill-seeker, if I'm being honest. I want to travel around the world and get wrapped up in as many crazy adventures as I can. And if I help people along the way, then that's even better. It's a win-win, y'know?"
"So just for the thrill of it?" he asked as she nodded. "And that's it?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yep, I mean...what other reason is there?" she asked as he hummed in thought before turning to Blake.
"And what about you, Blake? I get the feeling that you seem to carry yourself with a sense of purpose. What purpose do you have to become a Huntress?" he asked the ebony-haired girl, as she sighed and closed her book.
"For me, there's too much wrong in this world to just stand by and do nothing. Inequality, corruption... Someone has to stop it."
"And how are you going to do that?" he asked.
"By showing everyone what I am capable of, of what I am truly capable of..." she told him as he raised an eyebrow when he noticed her bow twitch.
"I see...and what about you Ruby?" he asked as the young huntress hummed to herself.
"Well...I want to make the world a better place? Not really much else I can say about that. Mum was a huntress, dad and Uncle Qrow was too. And I want to be one too. Is that wrong?" she asked as Jaune shook his head.
"No, I think that is very admirable," he said before turning to his team. "And what about you guys, why do you want to be Huntsmen?" he asked as Ren sighed and he set his tea down.
"For us, it wasn't really much of a choice. Nora and I are orphans after Grimm ransacked our home. We lost everything, and being a Huntsman was the only other viable option."
"For revenge?" he asked as he could sense a wave of deep anger inside of Ren when he brought up the Grimm. While he felt sadness in Nora.
"...Something like that…" he finished and Jaune had the feeling that was all he was going to get out of him.
"Hmm...and what about you Pyrrha?" he asked as he turned to his partner. "From what I understand you're a tournament winner four times. What made you want to be a Huntress?"
"Well...being a tournament fighter is great and all, but I feel like it's not my true purpose," she said as Jaune raised a brow. "For me, I believe being a Huntress is my destiny, and that I can help make the world a better place."
"But aren't there risks with being a Huntsman? You could lose your life before you even make it."
"I'm aware of that, my father was a Huntsman and he gave his life for his people...and I too will be willing to lay my life on the line to make it happen. I'm prepared for it. And after hearing about your motivations, I assume you know the same thing?" she asked him as Jaune narrowed his brow.
"Maybe...But you know, there is a difference between 'Giving your life' and 'Throwing it away,' I just hope that you know the difference when the time comes." he told her as blinked at his words.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked, feeling a little insulted until she noticed a sad look in his eyes.
"Nothing, just...something my Master once told me…"
"...Well….that was depressing" Yang broke in, only to get a jab in her ribs from Blake. "Sorry, anyway, how about we get back to the fun stuff? I hear that the Weapon shop Ruby wants to see has quite the arsenal"
Jaune hummed in thought. "Hmm...it would be good to check out. Maybe even buy a new sword to replace the one I lost," he said as Ruby looked confused.
"But, you have your lightsaber. Why do you need another Weapon, not that I am complaining?"
"Well, the Lightsaber is useful," Jaune said as he held the Lightsaber in his hand. "But I get the feeling I might attract the wrong attention if I keep using it. Plus I'd hate to accidentally destroy one of your weapons. This thing can just about cut anything, and I'd hate to see your hard work go to waste." he explained with a small smirk, as Ruby once again pouted in jealousy of the advanced weapon.
"I will learn the secrets of that weapon, mark my words!" Ruby grumbled as her team and friends chuckled. While Jaune, on the other hand, was in thought.
'Not to mention, there's a possibility that someone might recognise it and report back to the Empire, as unlikely as that may seem. I still have no clue about this world, and the less people know about my Jedi History the better.'
"Okay, let's go buy us some weapons!" Nora shouted as she downed the last stack of pancakes, bloated for a second before returning to her normal shape. "Race you there!" she shouted and sped off.
"...How did she do that?" Yang asked as Ren shook his head.
"Trust me, I've given up asking that a long time ago…"
Weapons Shop - 30 minutes Later
Jaune looked around at the display of weapons as he found them rather... lacklustre, in his opinion. So far his simple Blaster was still more effective and powerful than all these weapons combined. And while the mecha-shift function seemed interesting, he questioned about the material it was made from and how structurally sound there were if they were made to fold in half or change function.
Now, Jedi weren't supposed to use Blasters. As most in the order considered them an 'Uncivilised Weapon' compared to the Legendary Lightsaber. But these were troubled times, and the Lightsaber that once marked him as a member of the esteemed Order now marked him as a target for every Imperial, Inquisitor or Bounty Hunter in the Galaxy.
If he was to survive, he had to adapt.
He picked up a weird Mecha-shifting Crossbow that was supposed to change into an axe as he shook his head. No, these weapons were not his style. The Jedi Order may have taught him how to use almost any weapon, but none of them could ever truly compete with the efficiency and power of the Lightsaber.
'But these are dark times,' he thought to himself as he placed the crossbow down.
"Jaune, have you found anything yet?" Pyrrha asked as she walked over to Jaune who shook his head.
"They're all interesting, but I don't fully trust this mecha-shift tech. I may as well just stick with my Lightsaber and blaster. More chances of being singled out, but they are the only ones I…" he paused when he looked over to a weapons rack.
"Know…" he moved over to the rack as he eyed a simple longsword, with faded blue leather, crossguard and white scabbard.
"Jaune?" she asked as he moved over to the sword and ran his hand across its steel.
"Ah, I see you have a good eye my friend." the shopkeeper said as he walked over. "This is a rare beauty. A sword crafted during the 'Great War' and was used in the final battle of Vytal Island. I hear that only a handful of these swords were ever crafted...I...don't know where the other ones are, and the scabbard's shield gears on this one were irreversibly damaged. But I found and bought it for a very modest price." he said as Jaune lifted the blade.
"I could offer it to you at a very reasonable price?" he asked as Jaune stared at the sword.
'Why does it look so…familiar?' Jaune thought as he stared at the sword and then his Lightsaber as the leather, and design was similar if only vastly different.
"Would you be interested in it? I can offer it for about...oh...3000 liens?" he offered as Jaune looked at the blade then shook his head.
"Sorry, I don't have the cash for it…" he said as he put the sword down. "I've only got enough for something simple and effective. While I believe this is an excellent sword. I just can't afford it." he said as he shook his head.
"You know Jaune, you can put it on your Student Tab." Pyrrha butted in as Jaune raised a brow.
"Student Tab?"
"Yes, it's a system that was set up by Ozpin and the Vale Council for all Students at Beacon Academy. Basically, the School will front the money for your weapons and equipment, and they take payment from missions the Kingdom Posts that you would've received otherwise. After your tab is paid off, you receive the normal reward fees, minus what the Kingdom is owed." she explained as Jaune hummed.
"...Okay…" he said as he picked up the sword and held it in his hands.
He didn't know why, but for some reason, the sword seemed eerily familiar to him. Like he had seen something like it a long time ago, in the furthest corners of his mind. The same feeling he had when he went into designing his own Lightsaber after the Gathering years ago. But why? Why did this simple sword evoke such feelings for him and why on this strange planet?
'More questions I need answering' he thought to himself as he placed the sword and placed it on his back, thanks to the leather harness that strapped over his chest. He adjusted the straps to make it comfortable before exiting the store.
"Well, now that we've got that sorted. How about we take a walk along the pier? I hear that the sight is actually quite relaxing?" Pyrrha suggested as they all nodded.
In no time they found themselves overlooking the Vale pier as they took in the sight of the many ships and aircraft that arrived from all over the world. Large transport vessels from Atlas delivering Dust, airbuses and seagulls flying overhead as the smell of the salty air was both soothing and relaxing for the wannabe huntsmen.
Jaune had to admit that it was one of the most breathtaking views he had ever seen. Sure he had seen many different planets, sunsets and alien life forms in his time amongst the Galaxy. But there was something about this place that felt right to him. Something that just felt right to him.
"This is...nice," Jaune said as he smiled. "We should do this more often," he said as he looked over to the docks.
"I agree," Ren said as he leaned on the railing. "It's good to remember we're not just Huntsmen and Huntresses. But people too," he said as he took in the moment of peace.
"It's important to take a moment to relax and see the world we're protecting," Pyrrha said as she leaned on the railing, putting herself closer to Jaune, much to the amusement of Nora who smirked at her.
"I prefer a nightclub, but yeah this is nice" Yang admitted as the normally fiery girl was perfectly content with the view. "Kind of reminds me of Patch."
"I don't know, Patch has got nothing on this," Ruby said as she looked over the sea.
"I've seen better, but yeah...It's nice.." Blake said remembering her home of Menagerie and the many amounts of fish she and mother would hunt for.
"I'm more used to the Mountains and the snow. But this…" Weiss said as she breathed in the sea smell. "This I could get used to…" she said as she let her hair flow in the wind.
Jaune smiled as he for a moment forgot he was being chased by the Empire, forgot that he was possibly one of the last Jedi left in the galaxy, forgot that he had seen many hard and horrible things during the Clone Wars and forgot about the pain he suffered two years ago.
Right now...he was at peace.
'Maybe...being on this planet wouldn't be so bad?' he asked himself as he got lost in the moment.
But like all things, it came to an end when he heard a loud bang and triggered Jaune as he reached for his blaster. Only to pause as he saw it was just a trash bin being emptied and he relaxed.
"Jaune, are you okay?" Pyrrha asked with some concern as she noticed Jaune hand resting on the grip of his blaster.
"I'm...I'm fine...surprised me is all," he said as he breathed a calming breath.
"Are you sure?" she asked as he nodded to comfort her, but she didn't fully believe it. Internally Jaune was kicking himself.
'...Who was I kidding, no matter where I go I'll never escape the memories. I'll never escape the Empire…I need to fix my ship and get out of here.'
He looked around as he spotted a warehouse just outside the city limits. "Hey, what's that area?" he asked as he pointed to the warehouse district.
Weiss looked over as she nodded. "That? That's the old Warehouse District that was owned by a rival company that went out of business." Weiss explained. "My father outbid the council for that lot but deemed it unprofitable so he had it shut down. No one goes there anymore."
"Hmm...interesting…" Jaune said as he looked at the abandoned section and took note of it for later.
The Next Day - Professor Peach's Class
Jaune tapped his pencil on the paper as he was in the middle of another lecture with Professor Peach. The class was about identifying basic plants and fauna when out in the field. A useful class for Jaune as he had no idea of what other plant and life forms existed on this planet. Aside from the Grimm that somehow radiated with the Dark Side.
'It's a good thing I did all that studying back at the Temple on Coruscant. Otherwise, it would've taken me years to finally decipher this language.' Jaune thought to himself as after nearly a month of studying he was able to understand and write the language of this planet.
'It was rather simple once I got the hang of it, might have something to do with the Force though. Who knows?' He thought to himself as he wrote down notes in this planet's language.
But while he was listening to the lecture, he was currently working out a way to find parts that he could use to repair his ship as well as get it out of the Forest. The longer it remained out in the open like that, the more chance it would be discovered. The problem was the tech on this planet, while advanced, was nowhere near the same level as that of the Galactic Community. But he was trained to be able to repair ships in case he was ever shot down on a mission for the Jedi.
'Problem is, I need a place to store it so that I can make the repairs I need. That Warehouse Weiss mentioned may be a possible location, but I need to scout it out later, make sure there are no squatters there that could stumble upon it.' he pondered as he planned his next moves.
'Next part is how to move it? I know Jedi can move things with the Force, but as I am right now, I can't move an entire ship all the way from the Forest to the Warehouse. The strain alone could kill me,' he surmised as he felt stumped.
"Now class, I hope you are all excited for next week's excursion," Peach's voice cut him off as he looked up from his notes. "As part of your assignments, you will be heading into the Forever Falls Forest, and you will collect samples of its sap, to see how they affect Grimm," she explained as Jaune blinked.
'Forever Falls Forest? Where is that?' he asked himself as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his scroll and typed in its location. And to his surprise, a familiar set of red leaves appeared and felt a weight was dropped into his stomach.
"Now, I hope you will all be prepared, as there is no telling what may lurk within this forest." Peach said as Jaune only had one thought on his mind…
'Dank Farrik!'
Meanwhile - Far Away
Wandering through the forest was a stranger draped in a long black cloak. A hood firmly placed over the person's head as the stranger moved with caution and ease. Until the individual stopped and looked up into the sky.
"There it is again...that feeling...an echo in the Force...it is a feeling I have not felt in ages…" the individual spoke through a muffled voice, as a mask covered their face, and the stranger looked around.
"Is it possible that others survived? Could I not be the only one who..."
The stranger stopped as familiar Grimm emerged from the shadows and quickly surrounded the stranger. The stranger was calm and collected as he reached into his cloak.
"I know you do not do this out of want, but of need and I understand that…But for my survival…" the individual spoke as a familiar cylindrical weapon was grasped in his hands. "I cannot be stopped here…" the Grimm roared as they rushed at the man and their dying howls echoed out into the night.
Their smoking corpses were all that remained, with familiar burn marks across their chests, as the man sheathed his weapon and walked away.
"Not until I find my true purpose"
Omake: Lockdown
Meanwhile, BT and R6 stood around a small holo chessboard, as the two mechanical beings were keeping themselves entertained. They had finished with as much of the repairs as they could, as they now found themselves bored out of their processors.
Their master was busy with school and they were forced to remain on the ship, lest they draw "unwanted attention". It wasn't fair in their opinion. But what could they do? Nothing. So to pass the time, R6 Suggested a game of Dejarik, a popular game in the Galactic Community. Both players were staring at each other as they focused on the holographic monsters on the board as BT tapped one of his mechanical fingers against his head casing.
"Hmm...aha! I have you now!" He pressed a few keys on the console as one of the creatures moved forward and pummeled another one to death. "Ha! Beat that!" he spoke confidently, as the Commando believed he had triumphed.
R6 only made a few whistling noises as it jacked in and moved another creature and easily overtook his position, much to the Commando Droid's shock and the Astromechs amusement.
"What! That was an illegal move!"
"Beep-Beep-Whoop-beep-Beep!"
"What do you mean it's legal! That play has been banned from the game for 200 years! You cheated!"
"Beep! Bebop-Beep!"
"Yes, it was! And I am not being a sore loser about it! You cheated!"
"Beep-beep-Bebop!"
"No, it is not the fact I am being outplayed by a simple 'Astromech', it is because you are cheating!"
"Beep-beep-beep-Whoa!"
"I am not! And you take that back! My motherboard was a saint!" BT and R6 stared at each other before R6 made a few beeps and BT sighed.
"By the Creator...We've been on this ship for too long…" R6 made a downed whistle noise as he agreed with the Commando Droid. The pair sat in silence before he turned back to the Astromech.
"Best 20 out of 50?"
"Beep-Bebop!"
"You're on!"
And Scene. Well, here is Episode VI of Knight of the Fallen Order. I am really sorry for the long wait, as I said I've been really busy with Uni, work and all other sorts of dramas, on top of being in Lockdown and then out of Lockdown. And as I mentioned before I've been reevaluating my writing method and started putting down my ideas into notes, so I have a better plan for writing this out. Give me a better idea of what needs to happen.
I want to thank Loneonyxwolf and M. again for their help and support in writing this.
And with this Chapter I want to Clarify, no Jaune has NOT, I repeat, NOT found Crocea Mors! That is a similar blade that was Forged during the Great War. And unless the real one has other significance, it stays that way. But it is key to Jaune finding out where he came from. I also wanted Jaune to get to know more about the planet he's on and the people he's met so far.
Now the next chapter won't be the Jaundice Ep, but it is leading up to it. As I need to get the ship out of the Forest and I need him to discover what Aura will do to his Force Abilities.
I want to thank you all again for your love and support, it really keeps me going. And as for the stranger at the end, well...you'll just have to stay tuned for the next time in…
Episode VII: Size Matters Not