"Racing? Like with cars?" Ghira asked, a little confused.
"Yeah. a little like Redline." Orb responded, fiddling with some gizmo. Neptune lit up at that. "Redline? Like the show?"
"Yup. you're in for a treat. Anway, the show's starting."
Sun leaned over to his blue haired partner. "What is redline?"
The scene opened up with a bright red and black car being cleaned by a Jaune Arc in a mechanics suit.
"Hello." Came a voice from behind him. The blonde turned to the speaker. Pyrrha Nikos, the Red Spartan, stood there in all her driver glory.
"Hello Ms-?" Jaune said, not sure who he was talking to
"Of course, even in this universe the dolt has no idea who she is." weiss grumbled. Pyrrha only snickered, remembering how they met.
"Me? Oh. my name is Pyrrha. I'm a driver in the race." she smiled, walking over with just a bit of sway in her step, accenting her body tight leather driving suit.
"Nice to meet you Pyrrha. Jaune. Jaune Arc. Nice and short." Jaune smiled, sticking his grease stained hand out for a shake. Pyrrha looked at it and recoiled a bit. "I would shake your hand, but uhh.."
"Oh? Oh!" Jaune realized, retracting his hand quickly, wiping off on his already dirty overalls. "Sorry. Didn't realize. It's been a day and a half. I best get going." He smiled, clearly embarrassed, and tossed the rag over his shoulder. The door opened as he strode past the champion driver, as a little girl in a drivers uniform rushed in. "Jaune! How did the maintenance go on Crescent Rose? Anything weird or strange? Anything I need to fix?" Ruby said animatedly as Jaune just sighed with a smile. "Nah, everythings fine. Just finished checking her out, through and though. Your precious baby is fine."
Ruby gave a sigh of relief as she skipped over to her precious car.
"Even in alternate universes Ruby loves Crescent Rose like a baby." Tai sighed.
"Because she is my baby!" Ruby said defensively, wheeling on her father. The rest of the Xiao-Longs just laughed a little at Ruby.
The scene cut to Jaune walking into a control tower looking thing with Ren sitting next to him, a headset and mic already set up on his head. Jaune put a cup of something next to him and sat down at his own station, loading the schematics of a car up on the screen. "Yang, you there?" He asked into the mic.
"Right here, Loverboy. Are you ready to win a race?" her voice came in over the headset
"Loverboy? Yang asked herself as Ruby fumed a little. Damn it, she was hoping to be with Jaune in this one. Tai and Qrow were prepping for a man hunt
"Roaring to go, Dragon. Stay safe got it? This is the largest race we've been in so far. So be careful. The drivers here are a lot more cutthroat."
"Yeah Yeah Lover boy. I'll come back in one piece." Yang laughed as the engine roared. Jaune smiled. "Well, Good luck Dragon. I'll see you at the finish line."
"And welcome to the Grand Vale Race! The Annual race for the top 12 spots for the International Amity Race! A massive prize payout for top three! All racers are ready and raring to go. The lights are set, aaaannnndddd their off!" A commentator yelled as the roar of engines saw the multitude of cars run off into the racetrack. The camera followed a yellow car with a chinese dragon painted on the sides, and would cut to Yang's face under a helmet as she laughed her way through the race. It also would follow and switch to Crescent Rose and it's driver, Ruby. "and what a race it is! The drivers are approaching the first obstacle, the MineField!" The commentator yelled as the cards drove into a flat land. As a car went over a patch of grass, it exploded, sending the car flying. "And the first car, Car 45, Snake Oil, is out of the race!"
"HOLY!" Sun said, caught up in the exhilarating driving action. Pretty much every male in the room was reacting rather well to the scene, along with Nora and Yang. it must have been a male or close to male thing. Good Witch could only roll her eyes.
The cars zoomed down the track, riding loops and extreme curves. It was truly exciting.
"And the Red Spartan, Pyrrha Nikos, takes first place as expected. But, wait, what's this? Car number 21 is coming in hot on her tail. Crescent Rose is gaining on the Spartan! They're nearing the final lap! They're neck and neck!" the announcer said as the cars drifted in unison, the Spartan's red and gold just barely inching out the Rose. they were bound for the finish line, with one last turn to make. They took it, and a horrible screeching sound was heard. A black car crashed into the Rose and its driver.
"WOAH!" Sun jumped at the sudden crash. Neptune winced.
"NO! RUBY!" Tai yelled, standing up.
Cut to Jaune and Ren in the box, with Ren yelling into the headset. "Ruby, are you ok? Answer me, Ruby! Come in, RUBY!"
"Jaune, what's going on? Yang said over the headset. "I heard the commentator say that Ruby crashed."
"Yeah, she got rammed."
"She got WHAT! WHY, WHICH SON OF A BITCH-"
"Yang! Ruby is fine. She's across the line at third place by some miracle. Medics have already gotten her out of the car."
"But, Jaune-"
"Yang, Honey, listen to me. Breath. The best thing you can do right now is finish the race. Ruby is already in the care of the medics."
"Honey?" Weiss asked, looking at a blushing Yang. Yang was still in minor shock at being in a relationship with the blonde noodle. I mean, he's kind and funny. He laughs at my jokes, apparently is really witty. He's super nice, and surprisingly smart. Not to mention that he makes me feel- oh shit. The realization hit her like a Ursa. Her mother behind her just laughed when her daughter jolted. She too, had come to the same realization not only recently, but many many years ago. And it hit just the same. Like an Oum damn Ursa.
The scene cut to Jaune, Ren, Yang, and Nora all standing around a hospital bed, a patched and asleep Ruby in it.
"She is going to be alright, right?" Nora asked the doctor, unusually quiet and soft spoken.
"Yes, she will live." the doctor said. A visible sigh of relief went through the team. Another scene cut to Ruby returning home to banners that said "Welcome Home Ruby!" and balloons, her father and uncle standing in the doorway of a surprisingly large wooden cabin. A wheelchair bound Ruby was pushed in by her sister as the scene cut again.
"Wait, why is Ruby in a wheelchair?" Blake asked, concerned for her teammate.
"The crash broke her legs. Don't worry, she'll be fine by next year." Orb explained unconcerned.
The scene showed Jaune and what was known as "Arc Racing Industries." The group was divided like so. The Racers: Yang and Ruby, who was in her chair, and The Engineers: Jaune, Nora, Ren (he really was the finance person) and also Ruby.
"Soo, we have an issue." Jaune stated bluntly, putting a gold and blue envelope on the table.
"No shit sherlock. What led you to have that epiphany?" Yang snipped, gesturing to Ruby.
"YANG!" Jaune snapped, glaring at her. "That is enough." Yang shut her mouth.
The theater went quiet at Jaune snapping at Yang. Yang just gulped, both versions of her knowing that they had fucked up, just a bit.
"I rest my case that the kids got balls, nipping at Yang like that." Qrow said, not making eye contact with the screen Arc.
"That is the current problem is not only is Ruby unable to drive, but we have received an invite to the grand Amity Prix. as a team. Meaning two drivers." Jaune said, and silence reigned over the group. It was Yang that broke the silence. "We don't race then." she stated simply
"But Yang! It's the grand Prix! Every racer's dream!" Ruby said, jumping in her seat.
"No, Yang is right." Jaune said, looking at the invitation.
"I am?"
"She is?"
"I am?" Yang asked, confused that Jaune agreed with her. She generally was too hot headed, and her being rational was not a common occurrence.
"You start to act a little smarter once the two of you start dating." Orb said, sensing Yang's thoughts. Pyrrha was fuming red. Damn blonde bimbo hussy. Jaune is MY MAN!
"You are, Yang. Going into the grand Prix alone is suicide, expeccially if its as rough as last year. And we have our second driver out of commision right now." Ren said, sitting down. Another silence reigned over the group. Ruby looked incredibly sad that ARI would not be racing in the grand Prix.
"I can drive." Jaune said finally, not looking away from the invitation
"WHAT?! Absolutely not!" Yang said, cutting him off. "The Prix is a death trap! I am not having you race! No way!" Yang yelled, red eyes glaring at Jaune.
Jaune opened his mouth, about to retaliate. He looked around the table, coming to a decision. "Yang. not here, not now." Jaune said. Yang nodded as the scene cut.
"At least the Arc can control a conversation." Cinder said, noting his mastery of verbal conversation. Emerald just pouted at someone that was not her getting praise.
Another scene saw Jaune and Yang standing in what was obviously their bedroom. They were arguing. "Jaune! You can't drive! You get motion sickness for Oums sake! Going into the Prix would be a death sentence!" Yang yelled at a pacing jaune.
"But we need the money. Even for making the top ten, we can get some cash. And in case if you did not notice, Ruby's surgery has left us kind of strapped. We will either go under or race. I wish it was not like that, but it is." Jaune collapsed onto the bed, placing his head in his hands. "If only there were another way."
Yang swallowed, and sat down next to her lover. She sighed as she ran her hand through his hair. "You can drive, under one condition."
Jaune looked at her, floored.
"You don't die."
Jaune laughed as he dragged his lover down to the bed with him. "Deal." he said as he kissed her. The scene faded to black.
Yang was a bright, bright red at the scene. It really was kind of what she wanted out of a relationship. Sappiness, clear love for one another, not afraid to disagree. It was… nice. Not perfect, but nice.
Ruby was conflicted. While she wanted Jaune for herself, she also wanted her sister to be happy. And she's never quite seen Yang as happy as she did on the screen. Despite the arguing, it was the small glances and soft eyes. It was the way they touched and the way their voices sounded when they spoke to each other that convinced Ruby that it might not be so bad if she did not get Jaune.
Pyrrha was going into a bit of shock "Jaune is mine. Jaune in mine. Jaune loves me. Jaune is mine" she muttered over and over.
"Glynda?" Ozpin said, leaning over to his secretary
"Yes, Ozpin?"
"Remind me to get some student counselling and therapy for miss Nikos."
"Of course."
The screen opened up again with a grey racing car on an empty track rushing through. It showed to be late at night as the grey car raced around the track. It drifted to a halt as a shaken but breathing Jaune stumbled out. "This was a terrible idea." Jaune mumbled, leaning on the car.
"Yeah, well, you're the person who wanted to drive in the Grand Prix without any racing experience." Ren said, looking at a stop watch. "Good news, you shaved a whole ten seconds off your previous track. You get faster and faster."
"Yeah, I guess." Jaune said, looking past Ren at the Blonde Beauty that was his girlfriend. "Hey." he smiled, walking up to her.
"Hey yourself, Flyboy. Surprisingly good driving out there." She smiled, wrapping her arms around the tall boy. Jaune groaned as he rested his head on her own. "I'm never growing out of that nickname, am I?"
"Nope." Yang smiled. They looked at eachother faces for a while.
"Ahem." Ren remade his presence aware to the two. They separated, just a little bit flushed.
"I am heading back inside. It is late and Nora will complain about a cold bed. Goodnight." Ren curtly said in a very Ren fashion. "Well then Dragon, want to head to bed?"
Pyrrha twitched as Ruby continued to be conflicted. Yang was just reaching a deeper and deeper state of semi shock, semi embarrassment. Blake just nudged her with an elbow, wiggling her eyebrows at her partner.
"He's a dead man." Tai growled, his wife doing her best to hold him down. "Let her be happy. Different universe Tai. Different universe."
Another scene change saw Jaune in a garage, building a car. A building montage of him and Zwei flashed on the screen. From the frame welding to engine creation to the paint job. A white overcoat with yellow highlights adorned the car. On each side was the arc crescents, the symbol II in the center. Jaune collapsed in a chair, looking at a pooped out Zwei at his feet. "Woah… a whole racing car in 32 hours. Holy hell I am good." the garage door opened to reveal Nora and Yang bursting in. "Jaune! We have news!" they yelled. As the blonde got up from his chair, the scene faded away
Yang muttered someone incoherent as she stared at the currently blank screen.
"Racing cars huh? Sounds fun enough." Ironwood said, secretly giddy. He always liked racing, remembering when he was a young boy, his father taught him how to make toy cars out of soap boxes.
"Good, good. We will see more of that universe later. But now, I have one more person to bring in." a loud pop teleported Penny in.
"PENNY!" Ruby said, semblancing over to her robot friend
"Friend Ruby! Father! Specialist Winter! What am I doing here? I am not getting any geographical readings at all." the poor girl said confused
"I really should just implant the information directly into everyone's brain." Grumbled Orb, preparing another explanation for the girl
One Short Explanation Later ™.
"Okay? I do not really understand why we are watching other versions of Friend Jaune. It, however, could be fun." Penny said, sitting next to Ironwood and relatively close to Ruby. the scene opened up with the Atlas snowscape