A/N: An AU is in order, well another, I guess. This was going to be J in the ABC's of Lancaster. It took on a life of its own as I started writing.
It was really crappy weather if you asked Jaune, the sun was setting causing the temperature to drop even farther. He was soaked to the bone, hungry, tired and really, really over the week long rainfest mother nature seemed intent on having. On the bright side the inn of this town was within sight now, a few dozen more yards to a dry sanctuary. The blonde was wearing an old plaid hat, it wasn't much to look at but it at least kept his head dry. He felt the top of his hat begin to lift and he smiled despite himself. Raising a hand to his hat he lifted the brim a bit and out popped a little head covered with red black hair, large silver eyes blinked taking in the sights of the world around them. "Your hat is too heavy and I'm hungry!" The little pixie passenger whined at him.
He chuckled and ruffled her hair with one finger. "We'll eat once we check into the inn, and if my hat is too heavy you could use that transformation spell you learned last month and become human sized and walk with me, ya know"
She darted under his hat again, he couldn't see her, he could picture her puffing her cheeks and shaking her head no furiously. "Nuh uh! It's too wet out there! If my wings get wet I cant fly!" She whined, managing to sound quite pitiful.
Jaune shook his head, laughing, the angry protests coming from his hat making it clear his pixie friend wasn't impressed with her impromptu carnival ride. "Sorry Rubes" He calls out to his little passenger. "We're going in, behave yourself, okay?" He winces as she pulls his hair in retaliation for her bumpy ride. "Knock that off." He whines, gently thumping his hat, he was rewarded by a tiny foot stomping his head. Ruby was always grumpy when she was hungry. The inn wasn't anything special as far as inns go. It was painted in warm colors, nondescript landscape paintings adorned the walls of the smell of the dining hall filling the place however made the little inn seem infinitely more upscale. Jaune was met at the check in desk by a middle aged man, he was chubby with a receding hairline and a smile warmer than the sun on a mid spring morning. "I'd like a room for two please."
The inn keep raised his eyebrow a bit, his welcoming smile not wavering. "Will there be someone joining you later? A traveling companion perhaps?"
Jaune was prepared for this question, he was asked it nearly every time he rented a room. "Oh, my travelling companion is already here." He lifted his hat to reveal a tiny pixie, making tiny braids in his hair. Her face lit up and in seconds she was zipping around the room checking out every nook and cranny. The air around her glowing with her red magic, the scent of roses floating the air.
The inn keeper chuckled. "Your fairy friend gets a whole bed? Mighty generous of ya!"
Jaune shook his head. "She's a pixie actually, and, yea, she likes having her own bed."
The innkeepers eyes widened. "A pixie? I thought they'd gone extinct."
Jaune shrugged. "Ruby, come introduce yourself properly."
A streak of red light zoomed towards the check in desk when the light was within feet of the desk it stopped. The tiny figure of a tiny young woman was visible for mere seconds before a swirl of rose petals engulfed her. The tiny tornado of flower petals erupting in every direction fading out to reveal Ruby in human size. The innkeeper's mouth gaped in astonishment, her hair was jet black with vibrant red ends almost the opposite of a wilting rose. She was tiny only coming up to Jaune's stomach. She wore a black corset dress with red accents a single embroidered red rose adorned the waistband of her outfit, no tights or shoes. She had silver shimmering wings, their shape looking more like butterfly wings than he had imagined they would, and her eyes were liquid silver. She held out her hand, smiling at the innkeeper. "I'm Ruby Rose, nice to meet you!"
The innkeeper extends his hand in return accepting the handshake. "You can call me Armin, that's a pretty advanced spell you're using, where'd a little thing like you learn something like that?" He wondered aloud.
"We picked it up a town over, traded a bit of dragonstone for it. Rubes really has an affinity for transformation magic." Jaune explains, taking a large hunk of iridescent purple green stone from his pouch and handing the valuable gem over to the owner.
An appraisers eyepiece is somehow on the innkeepers eye in seconds as he examines the gem. He scratches his chin, apparently not believing his own eyes if the look on his face was anything to go by. Ruby and Jaune looked on amused as the innkeeper cast an illusion dispelling spell, then an appraisal spell. Ruby held up three fingers and did a little countdown. Three, two, one.."HOLY CRAP, ITS REAL!" A few moments of hyperventilating later the innkeeper finally settled, his warm tone of voice changing to threatening. "I don't know where you got this kid, but if you're a thief you best get out now. I wont abide criminals."
"We didn't steal it! we defeated that dragon fair and square!" Ruby protested loudly, face scrunched in anger.
The innkeeper smirked. "You expect me to believe a twerp like you, and a kid like him defeated a dragon?" He tosses the hunk of dragonstone across his desk to Jaune. "Get out of my inn, I don't want or need stolen money."
Jaune sighed, a long suffering sort of sigh. "Ruby, show the man."
Ruby puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "Do I have to? Dragons stink!" She protested pinching her nose for effect.
"Would you rather sleep in the rain?" Jaune retorted, sliding a hand down his face.
Ruby's wings twitched in annoyance as she hovered her hand over the chunk of dragonstone. A red magic flickered about her fingers, she muttered her spell quietly and touched the stone. Nothing happened for several seconds, with a snap of her fingers the spell was done and the gem was now transformed into a hunk of rotting dragon flesh.
The innkeepers eyes were wide and Jaune's patience was wearing thin. "Satisfied now? I told you, my companion has a knack for transformation magic."
Armin nodded, eyeing the lump of dragon flesh on his desk. "That stinks, get rid of it and you're welcome to stay." Jaune nodded to Ruby, she muttered a few words, another snap of her fingers and the dragon flesh was now a sparkling hunk of shimmering gemstone.
"We plan to stay about a week, will that cover our room and meals?" The blonde scooted the stone across the desk towards the innkeeper. "Since it was transformed a second time the quality wont be as good though."
The innkeeper laughed heartily, picking up the dragonstone. "Young man, even if it were the worst quality dragonstone it would pay for that ten times over! I'll contact a gem cutter and have them break it up."
Jaune shook his head. "It's better if you keep it, that was the last of our haul. If bandits caught wind we were carrying around something so valuable…. Use the rest and stock up for the winter."
Armin shook his head understanding, he took a moment to open a tab for his two new guests, gave them a room key and sent them on their way, they were nearly at the stairs when a thought hit him. "Young miss, might wanna cover your wings. I've gotten word that a rare creatures dealer is in town, would hate to see anything happen to ya."
Ruby looked to Jaune, he nodded to her, a few seconds later a flowing red cloak appeared around her shoulders, her wings tucked safely underneath. The two settle into the room, it's cozy enough, pretty standard overall. Jaune flings his suitcase on the spare bed, he rummages around finding a set of dry clothes to change into. Once in the room Ruby reverted to her normal size, flitting about their accommodations reciting a protection spell. Her spell would keep anyone wanting to harm them out as well as effectively soundproofing it. Jaune was lost in thought when Ruby lands on the top of the opened suitcase, big silver eyes blinking at him curiously. "Why'd you tell the man we were out of dragonstone? We still have tons!" She wonders at him.
"I don't know if I trust him yet." Jaune states simply, closing the lid, sending Ruby flying.
"Hey!" Ruby scolds fluttering around his head in an angry manor.
Jaune holds out his finger for her to land on, she complies out of habit. "Sorry, I'll buy some honey cake to make up for it, just gotta shower and change first ok?" He promises, her eyes light upand she flies circles around him in happiness. Not long after the two are in the dining hall, Ruby in her human size. Jaune is enjoying a hearty stew with pork, root vegetables and hot rolls. Ruby is munching contentedly away on a huge fruit plate, sipping honeyed tea. Armin is wandering table to table checking on his guests. He finally gets around to their table, he's quite curious of the two young adventurers. Friendly greetings are had all around before he finally asks. "What brings ya to these parts?"
Jaune contemplates lying, but Ruby beats him to answering. "We're looking for.. I don't know the proper human word.., Um, the person we are looking for is like me.. but instead of changing shape they turn into an animal."
Jaune is honestly a bit perturbed Ruby had laid the truth out there so easily, and she had forgotten the word again, he sighs kn "We're looking for a panther faunus, one named Blake Belladonna."
The innkeeper's eyes widen in horror. "What do you want with one of those savages?" he half asks half demands.
Ruby's wings twitch in annoyance under her cloak. "She was the last one known to see my sister."
A/N- So this is a thing the muse decided on.