'Means Thinking'
The morning had graced the academy grounds with awe inspiring light. Jaune was sitting on a bench near the landing zone for arriving airships, in the night he had gone to Ozpin's office to retrieve his burnt-out sonic trying to salvage what he could.
"Blazes,"Jaune said to himself," I really should have thrown the sonic when I started to regenerate".
"Yes you should have, "Ozpin replied as he approached.
Jaune looked up to see the Headmaster drinking his trade-marked cup of coffee.
"You keep drinking coffee Oz you will end up regretting it, "Jaune remarked.
Ozpin let out a laugh and sat beside the timelord.
"Doc you know you can join as a staff member and not go through training,"Oz stated.
"I need to do this old friend, "Jaune replied," I need to do this, I have a feeling this will help. I haven't been a student for so long not since my Academy days".
"Yes I remember the stories my father told me of you Theta Sigma," Ozpin said with look of sincerity.
"Your father, "Jaune started," He may have been a notorious timelord renegade but the one thing he did right was you young one. Even though you have timelord blood your human side lets you transfer your soul to another when you are close to dying for some strange reason."
"Yes I have been around for so many years and teaming up with you time to time reminds me of heritage and the horrors my father created".
Before Jaune could reply the first shipment of new recruits had landed. With this Ozpin got up and turned to the old timelord who was his only family still alive.
"See you at the announcement ceremony, "Ozpin said before walking away.
'Oz, 'Jaune started,' Only if you knew the truth about Salem and yourself'.
Jaune went back to trying to rewire the screwdriver into another form. After many minutes he had figured out how to split the wiring into half and decided to wear them as gauntlets. He placed the wiring and the broken shell into his pockets and got up from the bench until he could get gauntlet, he decided to leave his screwdriver in its current state. A few new students walked passed him and a few of them were girls and winked at him.
Jaune started to quickly walk away from the new students and towards to the main hall, when he heard an explosion happened 30 feet and with a grin he stated," Well I'll start there then".
He walked over and a girl wearing some form of a white dress arguing with a small girl wearing a red hood who looked like an old friend.
'Ruby, 'Jaune thought with guilt in his thinking,' Come on Smith go over there and defused the situation'.
When Jaune was a feet away he heard the girl in white talk about how Ruby had knocked over Schnee dust.
"Need a hand? "Jaune asked offering his hand.
"Thanks," She replied taking his hand to get up and she then turned to the girl, "I'm really sorry".
"Sorry?, "She mocked, "Your sorry?!"
"I'm sorry but you are?, "Jaune asked.
"Weiss Schnee, "She stated proudly, "Heiress of the Schnee Dust company and who are you."
"Jaune Smith, "He replied, "Pleasure to meet you Miss Schnee."
He extended his hand for a shake and she shook it and then left to catch up with her baggage handler.
"Now then who are you?, "He asked as he turned to face Ruby.
"Ruby Rose, "She replied, "Jaune Smith that's what you said right?"
He nodded. As this point Jaune had gestured to the way of the great hall and the pair started to walk in the direction.
"Ha weird my father knew a Smith once,"Ruby thought aloud," I think or it was apart of night time stories he would tell me so I would fall asleep. Gah you must think i'm a little young for Beacon huh?"
By this time they had started to walk in the direction of the great hall.
"Oz told me about how you fought Roman and his goons, "Jaune replied," It takes a lot to defend yourself against one of Remnant's most wanted."
"You know Headmaster Ozpin? "She asked, "Wait why did you ask me my name if you already knew it?"
He froze, he didn't know how he would explain it but then he realised how.
"I'm his ward,"He started," It is part of a trial program for some teachers across remnant,"He finished 'explaining', "He told me of several students who would be interesting students you and Yang were two of the names. I couldn't just start with I know your name as it would be dead weird."
"That is so cool,"Ruby Squealed," I don't worry I won't tell anyone".
"Thank you," He replied," I take that metal pack on your back is your weapon."
"Yep,"Ruby said with a simple smile," Its a battle-ready fully transformational Sniper-rifle and Scythe."
She transformed it into its Scythe form.
"What was the first bit again?"Jaune asked scratching his head even though he knew what she had said.
"It is also a rifle,"She said cocking it," Hey look we are, you have got to meet my sister".
Before he could argue she had grabbed his hand and dragged him to where she saw Yang,all alone, in the massive crowd.
"Yang,"Ruby called out.
Yang turned to see Ruby dragging a guy around.
"Not even here 30 minutes into being here and you already have a boyfriend Rubes,"Yang joked.
"Gah Yang no," Ruby said blushing,"This is Jaune Smith he helped out within minutes of landing".
"I only helped her up,"He quickly stated.
He feared that Yang would have the anger of her mother.
'Those cybermen,' Jaune thought,' They didn't stand a chance.'
"Yo Remnant to Jaune, "Yang said.
"Sorry,"Jaune apologised.
"No need, you seem to be a stand up guy the name is Yang Xiao Long,"She replied she stuck out her and he shook it in return, "Strong grip you have there."
"You would be surprised by my training, "He stated.
"Please I bet I could beat your ass, "Yang stated smugly.
"Alot of people thought that and they were wrong, "Jaune smirked.
They both burst out with laughter; they knew this could have gone on longer but they left it there; This cemented a friendly rivalry between the two.
"Awesome that the pair of you have met," Ruby squealed.
"Ruby that was a bit loud,"Yang said.
"Sorry," Ruby replied with her head down.
"You!", A voice behind Ruby screeched causing Ruby to jumped into Jaune's arms. Ruby apologised immediately while Jaune stated he was used to it.
"And you are?, "Yang asked.
"Weiss Schnee," She replied with coldness," That girl caused me to lose some of my dust and some needs to pay. Besides she is to young to even be here."
"Everyone has a right to be here," Another voice said joining the conversation.
They turned to see a black hair male with a jumpy orange hair girl at his side.
"Well this is a brilliant shock," Jaune said as he put Ruby back onto to the floor," Mr Lie Ren and Ms Nora Valkyrie, I have heard a lot about the pair of you . Didn't they have a nick-name for the pair of you in Anima?"
"Yep," Nora said with a massive grin slapped across her face," The calm before the storm".
Yang, Ruby and Weiss turned in shock. They had all heard about them, about how they would sneak into a Grimm hive and annihilate them all from within. Jaune had to look impressed even though he was appalled by that tactic even though he had used the same tactic in the time war. Before they could carry on with their conversation, the lights had dimmed and all eyes were glued to the stage.
After Ozpin's speech and after when the teenagers are getting changed for bed.
Jaune, Weiss, Ruby, Yang, Nora and Ren were all sitting at one of the few tables in the great hall. Jaune had convince Weiss to see that she shouldn't have just been blatantly rude by asking what she would be like if she was at Beacon two years before she should have even been accepted. Weiss apologised to Ruby and the pair starting to get talking and realised they had a few things in common. Nora and Yang were arguing about who had a better Grimm slaying story and Ren was trying to meditate. Jaune was trying fuse the sonic wiring to some old copper gauntlets Oz had given to him after his speech.
"Hey Jaune what are you trying to do?," Nora asked him making the others turn and look at the strange wiring even Ren looked.
"Well my Screwdriver was completely burnt out a couple of days ago so I thought no time like the present to try to fix it. Alas I couldn't so I salvaged as much as I could and I redesigned the wiring with some of the old casing to make Sonic Gauntlets, "Jaune informed as a spark jumped out.
"Sonic gaunlets?," Weiss said with interest," Why not recreate it into a Sonic Screwdriver as I presume you that is what it was called?"
"Yes it was called that," Jaune replied with a look of sorrow," But I can only rebuild it if I had a time machine. Still it hurts slightly doing this, I had such a strong bond with that screwdriver it has been with since I began my journey, well most of me life but I always thought it would be with me to the bitter end."
"You must have had it from a young age?," Ruby asked with curiosity.
"Yes," Jaune started as he remembered his life on Gallifrey, "I remember being in my room as a young child, I had gotten hold of my fathers designs. Every time he had tried to make it work it would just explode in his face. But with me I just knew what was going wrong and I did what my old man couldn't."
"He must be proud of ya,"Yang chirped.
"Yes he would have,"Jaune said rubbing his left eye and sniffed.
"I'm sorry didn't mean,"Yang apologised.
"I did something in the village I was branded a renegade. I left but I always seemed to return to help the village, never meeting a family member. It was a long time ago when my village was destroyed, "Jaune 'lied' without thinking," My family, friends and people they live on in my heart".
The rest of the table looked at him then they heard someone slightly crying, they turned to see Nora was crying. Jaune was right next to her and embraced her in a hug, Yang followed suit as she sat on the otherside of her.
"Nora," Jaune started," What is past is just prologue. We always grow with each passing day, it is the present that defines us to make us better ourselves so we are on the path to the future we need to be apart of".
Nora sniffed and turned to face the hiding timelord," How can you do that?"
"Do what?" Jaune asked.
"Just talk about one truly sad memory and then move to give an inspiring speech?," Nora asked.
The others looked at him wondering the exact same question.
"People who I used to travel with a couple of them used needed a few words of encouragement, "Jaune said wiping a tear out of Nora's left eye.
"So what should the gauntlets do?," Nora asked returning to her cheery nature as she rubbed her eyes trying to shift the conversation back to the original topic.
Before he could reply, a voice on the tanoy system said it is light's out time.
"I'll tell you all in the morning," Jaune replied with a cheery smile," Its time to go to bed".
"A bit forward aren't ya," Yang teased.
"Funny Yang real fun," Jaune said trying not to laugh, "Almost as funny as my run with women."
With that, they all separated and went where they were sleeping for the night. Jaune went to sleep (Due to his regeneration) with ease, unaware of a red hair young woman watching before she went to sleep.
The following morning.
Our heroes had slept great, the rest hadn't. The six of them were sitting in the dining hall, battle ready, enjoying breakfast.
"Excuse me," A voice said to Jaune.
Jaune turned to see a red hair women with a breakfast tray in her hands.
"Can I sit with you all?," She asked.
"Of course," Jaune replied with a cheery smile and offered her the space next to him.
As soon as she sat down Weiss let out a small scream only their could hear it.
"You're Pyrrha Nikos!," Weiss said.
Everyone at the table except the Jaune was speechless.
"Oh yes famed fighter," Jaune said," It is a pleasure to meet you".
"Why thank you,"Pyrrha replied," And you are?"
"Jaune Smith," He started," Then in the speechless brigade you have Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie and the one at the end who snuck onto the table when we were talking is Blake Belladona".
The others turned to face Blake.
"How do know my name,"She asked in a bored yet shocked tone.
"Well after the speech I asked Oz your name," He replied with a smile.
"He had no-right to do that,"She replied with bitterness as she stood up.
"Actually I saw you talking to the teacher who guided us to the sleeping hall and I heard you give your name to him when you asked a question," Jaune replied lying with ease.
"Oh," She said as she sat back down.
"Sorry if I push any of your buttons, "Jaune said while rubbing his head," I thought it would be a good ice breaker".
Before Blake could reply they heard someone in pain, they turned to see large man pulling on a girl with Rabbit ears.
"Excuse me," Jaune told the group," Just have to teach him a lesson".
Jaune got up from the table and walked over and pushed his little finger into the man's neck. He froze and released the girl.
"Are you alright?," Jaune asked her while still in position.
"Yes thank you," She replied.
"You may want to get back," He warned her.
She did as he ask, by this time everyone was watching this. Jaune jumped back away from the large man while he was unfrozen.
"What did you do,"He bellowed at Jaune.
"Trade-mark secret,"Jaune replied," Whats your name?"
"Why?",He asked.
"I want to know the name of the man I'm going to teach a lesson to."
The entire hall went quite wanting to hear the outcome of this war of words.
"Cardin Winchester," He answered," You are going to eat your next meal through a straw. Boys"
Three other students got up and stood beside him.
Yang was about to get up before Jaune spoke," Yang please these aren't worth any of you wasting your energy."
Yang was about to argue but she saw his fierce eyes and brilliant smirk and just sat down knowing the coming outcome.
Cardin and his boyband surrounded him but The Doctor was ready. He had anticipated every punch thrown at him and dodged every single one. He then jumped over Cardin and hit pressure points on his back to paralyze him, this was done with succession. He repeated this action for the lackeys. The four fell to the ground like corpses.
"Now then, "Jaune declared," I don't like being violent Chesterton so you do anything like that again you will be paralysed for much longer then 10 minutes".
With that Jaune went back to eat breakfast, everyone else was gobsmacked at what he just done but carrying on eating and talking there groups.
"Who taught you to do that," Pyrrha and Blake asked in awe.
"A crazy friend of mine,"Jaune replied with a half-lie," Right then I need your scrolls".
"Why?, "Blake asked unsure why to trust him.
"I can hack them so when we get dropped into the forest we can locate one of the others so we get a partner we can trust, "He stated.
"Not being funny but why should we trust you and one another?," Pyrrha questioned.
The others were all wondering the same thing, 'Why should we trust him'.
"Pyrrha you could have just asked another table to sit down with them but you didn't. Blake you could have snuck onto another table but you snuck onto this table. Ren and Nora you could have talked to anyone else yesterday but you spoke to me, Yang, Ruby and Weiss. Weiss you could have stormed off yesterday but you listened to me and realised you shouldn't have acted that way to Ruby. I didn't have to help Ruby but I did. Yang we didn't have to try to one up each other yesterday but we did, "Jaune reasoned as they looked at him, " For whatever reason the eight of us met for whatever reason, strangers who barely know each other. I'm a good judge of character and I know you are all trustworthy."
They were looking at each other after Jaune had finished speaking and they all were thinking the same thing, 'He's right'.
"So then, "Jaune started as he got his scroll out of his left hoodie pocket, "Who is first?"
Later just before being Jaune being launched.
"Well then,"Jaune started to say," Here we again".
With that he was launched high in the sky.
"I believe I can fly,"Jaune sung remembering the song that he liked," I believe I can touch sky".
With that joke over he turned his gauntlet's on to slow his descent but they sent out sparks and shut themselves off. He started to panic, he couldn't afford to regenerate once more, he only had a couple of regeneration's left. He tried to think of safe ways of slowing down but couldn't think of any realistic ways. Suddenly he was forced against a tree with much force, he looked up to see a golden spear securing him into the tree.
"Sorry," An out of breathe Pyrrha said as she emerge from some bushes," You looked like you were in trouble."
"Thank you,"Jaune said with a graceful smile, "I don't say this much but I owe you one."
Pyrrha called back her spear and Jaune fell to ground and quickly arose, acting like nothing happened.
He looked at the Spartan before saying," Looks like we are partners".
"It sure does,"She replied.
"I think we need to head this way shall we mil lady,"Jaune joked.
Pyrraha blushed at what he said and nodded in agreement. They started to walked with Jaune leading her. After a while they reached a cave you could only see a feet inside it.
"Come on work already," Jaune said hitting his gaunlets.
"What are you trying to do?," Pyrrha asked.
"My gauntlets should be working so I can check to see if there is a Grimm dwelling within,"He replied angling his gauntlets at the cave.
"Well shouldn't have you checked them properly before we left Beacon,"A voice from behind called out.
They turned to see Ren besides him was Nora, sitting on a mountain of Ursa's. Out of no where, in the distance they heard a blood curdling scream and this woke the sleeping Grimm inside the cave as they heard a roar.
"I love this bit,"Jaune said with a smirk.
"What?", Ren asked whilst prepping his pistols.
"The running,"Jaune replied while starting to sprint.
As the giant 100 meter tall Grimm left the cave ready to eat, the other three decided to follow suit and caught up to Jaune. They were running faster then any of them had run before which none of them could explain.
"How are we running so fast?,"Nora shouted with excitement.
"Fear,"Jaune said as he started to run backwards with a calm face," Fear makes us faster, stronger and cleverer. So let it take over and feel power like you have never felt."
For some strange reason they did as he asked and they were running faster nothing could fazed them. After running for what seemed like a marathon, they arrived at the site of Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang fighting what seemed like the Grimm they legged it from brother.
"Hey team RWBY over here,"Jaune shouted at them," Come on we have think of a plan to take them both down".
Before they ask what he meant they saw a second creature they were fighting and followed what the others were doing.
"What do we do?," Pyrrha shouted as she shot back at the Grimm tired out by fighting team RWBY.
"Grab me," Ren shouted as they looked at him," I need everyone to grab me so I can mask our aura's".
"Do it!, "Jaune shouted to the rest.
They did as Ren asked and they each closed the distanced between each other and each grabbed a part of Ren as he activated his Semblance and they were invisible to the Grimm threat as they carried on running. After they were long gone Ren fell to the floor but Nora caught him. She sat him down by a tree. Jaune into medical mode.
"Ren can you hear me?, He asked," If you can open your eyes and nod for yes and shake for no".
Ren opened eyes and nodded.
"Alright follow my finger alright?," Jaune said carrying on his medical checking," Can you walk?"
Ren shook his head.
"Lets all rest up for now," Jaune said," I think we all need this."
Nora went to Ren's side wanting to stay close to her closest friend, Ruby hugged Yang, Pyrrha went to ask Blake how she was doing while Weiss went to talk with a sitting Jaune trying to fix gaunlets.
"Now what are we going to do?,"She asked.
"I don't know, He started," I think my gauntlets are nearly working so when the Mr and Ms Grimm Death come back we will be ready".
"Why did you called them team RWBY?", Nora asking whilst supporting Ren.
"It just seemed right ya know, "Jaune commented as he went to Ren's otherside,"Ready?"
"Yes",They all said in unison.
"Right then my gauntlets are saying that there is a building in that direction maybe that's were we will find the relics,"Jaune informed the group.
"Right then team let get going,"Ruby said with a face of a leader.
"Lead on boss,"Jaune joked.
Within 5 minutes of walking, Ruby and Pyrrha were cutting a path through the surprisingly dense forest with their weapons, Ren was walking without help but Nora had their arms linked, Jaune was scanning the local area while Yang, Blake and Weiss were watching their backs.
"According to my scans we should see a clearing any second now,"Jaune declared.
He was right, they were in a clearing and they saw a crumbling ruins. They ascended the stairs to where they all saw chest pieces.
"These must be the relics and some of them are taken,"Blake stated.
"Hey Ren look,"Nora said in a very loud voice," I'm queen of the castle, I'm queen of the castle".
With that it set the tone, Jaune and Pyrrha claimed the other white queen whilst Ruby and Weiss took a black rook with Yang and Blake took the other rook. Before they could celebrate the Sonic Gauntlet's started to bleep crazy.
"Rats INCOMING!, "Jaune shouted as he ducked for cover
The Grimm from before had return ready to fight. But one of them suddenly killed the other for no reason and let the body of its fellow Grimm fall to the ground. This sent a shock wave that sent the others backwards into the closest walls to them knocking them.
'Really!,'Jaune exclaimed as his face grew dark,'Well then I have no choice now. I didn't want to enter his mind state. Time to become the Warrior once more. Retro regenerate.'
Jaune closed his eyes and focussed himself. He then opened then and his eyes had changed from blue to crimson red. He charged at the creature of darkness dodging every attack it created, he then started to run up one of the Grimm arm's. It saw this and clawed at its arm, severing it from its body. The Warrior was now on its shoulder and had just run and jump at the Grimms ear. Now he was just at the entrance when he pointed his gauntlets together, he turned them to the highest frequency and then activated them sending a pulse through the Grimm's brain melting it and thus killing the Grimm.
"Another dark creature has fallen,"He spoke to himself in a dark tone filled with hatred he never wanted to feel again.
As the Grimm to fell ground Jaune returned to his current persona and jumped of a good distance from where the eroded building was. He ran back to where the others were and saw they were just staring at him.
"I was really hoping none of you saw that,"He said with honestly and thought, 'Why didn't I regret killing that creature. Is it possible the timewar changed my perspective on death'.
"How did you do that? What else aren't you telling us? What can do if you had your Sonic Screwdriver?," Where some of the questions he was bombarded with.
Before he could answer his world went black and his only thought was how killed.
Sometime later
Jaune opened his eyes and saw he was looking at a roof of an Airship.
"90 seconds from home base,"A voice said through a tannoy.
He then looked around and saw the others were looking out of windows.
'Brain finally reset," He thought.
"Come on I can't look that,"He joked as he stood as nearly fell over.
"Watch it Ladykiller ,"Yang joked as she caught him.
"How long have I been out for?,"Jaune asked.
"2 hours," Weiss replied," What did you do?"
"Its long long story,"He started," I will probably tell you it all one day".
"Who are you?,"Ruby asked as she turned to face him.
This caused everyone to look at her.
"Rubes what do you?, "He asked staying cool.
"The name Jaune Smith I have heard it before I know have and I am not just saying that but I have seen it on an article dated 20 years ago about how a Jaune Smith help a young Headmaster Ozpin in stopping a White Fang Operation,"Ruby informed them as she took out her scroll and show them an article,"That's you isn't you and it explains the joke about having a time machine. You're a time traveller".
The was indeed this version of himself. It was a future adventure of his, he knew he would find the TARDIS. He looked around at them all and saw looks of shock and wonder on their faces.
"It was my semblance, "Jaune lied as he looked to the floor, "I can access my lineage and call apon any memory to watch. That article is about my father and how he helped Oz in stopping that. Once in a lifetime we could alter one event that happened before we were born. It was a dark and terrible power. When my family died I lost the ability to use my Semblance. But before the last member of my family died, I used my semblance to go back to that event and altered how my father was shot, he missed the bullet causing slight changes to the timeline but it didn't help my father still died when I was 8 years old."
He knew he was lying through his teeth but he had to they couldn't know who he was. He looked up at them all and they were all shocked by his lie.
"Oh, "Was all that Ruby said as she got to the bottom of the screen to see a young Oz and a very weird looking man, "I didn't mean to."
"Its all right Ruby, "Jaune carried on, "We all have secrets from each other that's why one of the little reasons why we trust people. I expect we all have secrets we don't want to reveal."
Ruby hugged Jaune as he finished speaking and he hugged her back, the others followed suit as it seem the right action.
"Ladies and Gents here we are back at Beacon," The voice said over the tanoy.
As they landed the doors opened and Jaune was shocked at who he saw waiting to greet them.
"Uncle Qrow," Ruby shouted as she ran for a hug and he returned the favour.
"Hey Kiddo," As he greeted her.
"Why are you here?," Yang asked as she went to greet her uncle with a hug.
"Business," He replied and he hugged her back," Oz told me about how you two and how you are the last 2 groups back. You missed the team ceremony but Oz went and put you into teams."
By this everyone else was off the airship and Jaune was hoping his old friend wouldn't recognise him.
'I hope Oz hasn't told him who I am, 'Jaune thought, 'Hang on why the hell would he recognise me and I have new face but not a new alias.'
"Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang you are Team RWBY led by you Rubes," Qrow before having a swig of his flask," Pyrrha, Nora, Lie and Jaune are Team JUNIPER led by Jaune. Oz gave me your keys and room numbers, RWBY is 465 and JUNIPER is 466."
With that the keys were given to out and Nora had decided to run to the rooms to mess around everybody but Ruby and Pyrrha chased after Nora.
"You guys go ahead i'll catch up," Jaune said," I'm still slightly dizzy and also I want to stop Ozpin's office."
"Are you sure you don't one of us to help to his office," Ruby asked with care.
"I'm fine Ruby now go imagine the horror Nora will cause," Jaune joked.
Ruby and Pyrrha ran to catch up with the others.
"They don't know do they?"Qrow asked," Oz told me who you when I could see he was hiding something".
"Figures and no,"Jaune replied," Let continue this in Oz's office."
"Lead on Doctor," Qrow responded with hatred laced in his voice.
Next time expect an argument in Oz's office, Tai and Raven find out he is back, what happened him and the return of an old blue friend in this universe.
Til the next time