Jaune Age: 14
Location: Vacuo's Dessert of Doom
"Hey, Mystake, why are we here again?" Jaune asks, seeing the dessert.
"Jaune, after an Elemental Master unlocks their True Potential, the next step is to learn how to shape their element into different shapes," Mystake says.
"Like the Elemental Golem?" Jaune asks, remembering the story of a thief trying to steal the Elemental Powers.
"Sorta. The Elemental Forges made the Elemental Golem, not the Elemental Masters. Still, you have the right idea," Mystake tells him, remembering the time a previous Alliance had to fight the Golem.
"Cool, so how are we going to do this?" Jaune asks excitedly for this training, his eyes glowing subconsciously.
"Well, the short answer is you can't," Mystake tells him, causing the teenage Arc to pout.
"The long answer is it's possible to shape the Elemental Radiation around you, and afterward, when using your Elemental Powers and concentrating hard enough, it will come out in the shape of your desire. The only problem is it has to stay attached, or it will lose its shape and power unless you overcharge it, causing a massive drain in Elemental Radiation," Mystake explains.
"Uuh…" Jaune said, not fully understanding what Mystake said.
*Sigh*. "It means yes, you can, but you'll have to use a lot more power than Masters who unlocked their True Potential," Mystake said deadpanning.
"Ohh, alright, so why here, though?" Jaune asks again.
"Simple, no one ever goes to this desert, so it's the perfect place to train your more destructive abilities," Mystake tells him.
"Oh, cool, alright, let's get started!" Jaune yells.
"Slow down there, kiddo. This training is unlike anything we've done before and will require you to remember all your training up until now, so I ask, are you ready?" Mystake told Jaune in a serious tone, looking at him directly in his eyes.
Jaune looked back, his eyes shining brightly, not with fire but with pure raw determination. The determination of the Arc family. The determination of someone with too much to give up now.
"Mystake, you know me, and I will do anything as long as it means I can achieve my dreams. I am more ready than you can ever understand," Jaune responded. His tone reminded Mystake of an Arc she knew a long time ago.
"Very well then, we shall begin," Mystake responded with a proud smile.
Jaune says nothing. His face reflects Mystake's with his smile.
"So what do we have to do?" Jaune asks, ready for anything.
"First, you need to feel your Elemental Radiation. It surrounds you, and you need to learn how to visualize and shape it. I suggest simple shapes to understand how it works," Mystake explained. She used her element to demonstrate this by forming a cube of dark energy.
While she explained, Jaune closed his eyes, pulled some of his Elemental Radiation into his hand, and focused on how it felt. He couldn't correctly visualize it but could feel its size and what he could do with it.
Jaune concentrates on trying to shape it, but instead of shaping it, he ignites it causing a fireball. "Dang it," Jaune exclaims as he shakes his hands, dispelling the fireball.
"Don't worry about it. It usually takes about a year for a Master without their True Potential to fully master this ability," Mystake reassures Jaune.
"I guess that makes sense, but it's still a bit disappointing," Jaune responds.
"You shouldn't put that much pressure on yourself. It's bad for your health," Mystake tells him as she prepares some tea.
"I know, but it's hard not to. After everything, I feel like I do it without knowing," Jaune responds, looking down.
"Trust me when I say this, Jaune. I know what it's like. I've lived through what you're going through, so all I can tell you is it'll get better, but until then, do your best not to think about it and try to move on," Mystake tells Jaune as she pours herself a cup.
"Thanks, but sometimes I use it as motivation, so I'm not sure if it's a bad thing or not," Jaune said, pouring himself a cup of tea.
"Trust me. You might think that at first, but if you keep using it like that, it will only hurt more when you eventually have to confront it," Mystake warns.
"I'll get there when I get there," Jaune said.
"Maybe, but for now, get back to training," Mystake said.
"Fine," Jaune said, finishing his tea and sitting out in the field with his hands out to repeat his training.
Jaune Age: 17
Location: Vale Beacon Academy
"Jaune…" Pyrrha repeated, holding her partner's hand.
"Fearless Leader, don't go," Nora begged, her head on her leader's chest, crying.
Ren just stared, unsure of what to say or what to think. All he could do was silently beg that Jaune wouldn't end up like his parents.
Team RWBY and CFVY stared at the unconscious blonde in worry at the injuries on his body. His injuries hadn't healed in the last fifteen minutes. They knew this meant his Aura had probably shattered and wouldn't be able to help their friend.
"Alright, is he in here? Cause I swear to the First Master, the person who made this map will be destroyed," the three teams heard a voice say from outside the door.
The door opens, revealing an elderly lady with a straw hat. She looks around before locking onto Jaune and walking towards him.
"Ahh, I see you've been keeping my student company," Mystake said with a smile.
"Wait, wait, wait, you're Jaune's master!" Yang yelled, pointing at Mystake. The rest stared, shocked at the older woman who was the master of one of the strongest of their generation.
"Hehe, is that hard to believe? Well, he isn't as strong as me, so I would see why you would be surprised," Mystake said, chuckling.
"So you're the one who made his outfit," Coco said, pushing her glasses down.
"Yep, I made his trainee, DX, ZX, Tournament, Jungle, Deepstone, Destiny, Fusion, Resistance, Hunted, DM, Legacy, Armor, Digi, Hero, and Island Gi," Mystake said counting the amount on her fingers.
"I didn't know Jaune had so many suits," Ruby said, imagining their looks based on the names.
"Well then, I'll have to ask him to show me," Coco said, pushing her glasses back up.
"You're the one who trained him to be a hero?" Velvet asked.
"Hmm, oh no, I trained him to fight. Jaune wanted to be a hero no matter what I taught him," Myustake responded.
"Not that this hasn't been a pleasant conversation but may I ask why you are here?" Ren asks, staring at Mystake.
"Isn't it simple? I'm here to help," Mystake responded, pulling a kettle behind her back.
"Help how?" Nora asked, standing defensively in front of Jaune.
"Nora, she's Jaune's Master. I doubt she would lie about helping him," Ren told her.
"You don't know she could be with the two guys we saw in Forever Fall," Nora responded.
"What did the men look like?" Mystake asked, having her suspicion but needing confirmation.
"We didn't get a good look at them," Ren replied.
"Did one of them have a staff?" Mystake asked.
"I think so," Ruby answered, having been close to the front and having the best look at the two men.
"Damn it," Mystake muttered before disappearing and reappearing next to Jaune. "Wake up, boy. You need some things to explain," she said, pouring tea into a cup and forcing Jaune to drink it.
"What are you doing!?" Nora yelled, attempting to charge at Mystake only to be restrained by Ren and Pyrrha.
Until she stopped as the group saw that Jaunes injuries were healing at an accelerated rate, 'It's even faster than Aura,' most of the group thought with wide eyes.
*GASP* Jaune took in a large breath before collapsing back on his bed, his body devoid of external injuries.
"There, he just needs a day's worth of rest now, and he should be fine," Mystake said, the tea kettle disappearing behind her back again.
"What did you do to him?" Pyrrha asked, finally saying something other than Jaune's name.
"Relax, all I did was give him some 'Higher Strength Healtea' hell be fine after a day of rest now," Mystake said.
"Thank you," Pyrrha said with a small smile.
"Would all First Year Students please head to the Auditorium? I repeat, would all First Year Students please head to the Auditorium? Thank you," Professor Ozpin's voice rang through the speaker systems.
"Go. I'll stay here to keep him safe," Mystake said as the two teams.
"Don't worry, we'll stay behind too since we don't have classes today," Coco assured the two first-year teams.
"Thank you, Coco," Pyrrha said as she led Ren and Nora out of the infirmary.
"Can you tell us some stories about Jaune after the announcement?" Ruby asks, using puppy dog eyes.
Mystake, not affected, smiles, "Sure."
"Yay, come on, team RWBY, let's go," Ruby says, leading her team to the Auditorium.
"So, can we hear some stories?" Coco asks with a cheeky smile.
Location: Beacon Academy Auditorium
"What do you think we're here for?"
"Does this have to do with Forever Fall?"
"Where is team JNPR's leader?"
"What happened at Forever Fall?"
"Is the Headmaster okay?"
"Professor Goodwitch looks like she saw a ghost,"
"What could've scared her?"
Various students asked all grouped up in the Auditorium after being called in.
Team RWBY and NPR stood close to the exit of the building and had similar thoughts about their Headmaster and Headmistress seeing the states. They chalked it up to the news of Forever Fall.
"Students, please quiet down," Ozpin said into the mic, causing some to stop talking. The ones that kept talking were quickly shut up when Goodwitch recovered and glared at them.
"Now I understand that some of you are wondering why you are here," Ozpin said.
A few students had suspicions but waited for confirmation before any rumors could spread. After confirmation, however, all bets are off, and all rumors will spread.
"There was an incident at Forever Fall in which an Ursa Major almost killed Team CRDL's leader Cardin Winchester after his teammates abandoned him," as soon as Ozpin said this, many students glared at the three members of CRDL, who ran like cowards.
"Luckily, he was saved by the timely intervention of Team JNPR," the students who were glaring now looked at the three members of JNPR in awe. Pyrrha blushed and looked away, Nora smiled and bobbed her head from side to side, and Ren didn't react.
"However, after their leader killed the Ursa, an even greater threat arrived. An Ursa Gigas," when Ozpin finished a diagram comparing the size between an Ursa, an Ursa Major, a Huntsman, and finally an Ursa Gigas. It caused the first year to shiver at the sheer size difference between the average Huntsman and an Ursa Gigas.
"Jaune Arc, the leader of Team JNPR, chose to stay behind and stall it to ensure that his teammates and Mister Winchester would be able to get away safely," The students all recognized the name since Jaune was considered one of the top first-year students.
"In the end, Mister Arc was able to kill the Ursa but sustained major injuries from the battle. He shall be fine, and to ensure an event like this does not occur again, I have already dispatched a team of Hunters to Forever Fall to take out any remaining ancient Grimm," The students all nodded, understanding the Headmaster. Team RWBY and NPR, on the other hand, were confused. Then they noticed that the Headmistress was signaling for them to stay behind.
"Thank you for your time. You may all return to your classes," Ozpin said as the students left, leaving Ozpin, Glynda, RWBY, and NPR.
"Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I did not disclose the truth about what truly happened at Forever Fall?" Ozpin asked the remaining students. The students nod, waiting for an answer.
"The reason is that if I told the beacon students that one of their classmates was attacked by an unknown assailant, it would cause panic. If there is panic among the Hunters, then there will be panic among the civilians leading to a potential spike in Grimm activity," Ozpin calmly explained, occasionally taking sips from his mug.
"That makes sense," Weiss said, understanding how to form compromises from her time studying to take over the SDC.
"Nevertheless, you all know the truth of what happened. So I ask that you not reveal it to anyone. Understood?" Ozpin asked the two teams.
The two teams agree, seeing the Headmaster's reasoning.
"Wait, what will you do about the two men?" Ruby asks, worried they might come after Jaune again.
"Don't worry, I have my best field agent on the case," Ozpin reassured the small huntress with a smile. "For now, we shall wait till Mister Arc awakens so we can question him for information," he told the other students.
"We understand, Professor," Pyrrha responds. Her teammates nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we understand, too," Ruby said. Her teammates nodded in agreement.
"Good now, please return to class. We will provide any updates on Mister Arc's condition," Ozpin told them with a comforting smile. The two teams nod and head toward their current classes.
"Ozpin, is it a good idea to have Qrow hunt down these individuals while also tracking Amber's attackers?" Glynda asks the gray-haired man.
"Mystake has told me that the man stealing Elemental Powers has a high chance that he may also be working for HER. Besides, who said I sent Qrow?" Ozpin told his second in command, finishing with an enigmatic question.
"Please don't tell me we asked him. He's even worse than Qrow," Glynda surmised.
"He may be Glynda, but he is just as good, if not better than Qrow. Come, we must check on Mister Arc," Ozpin said, heading towards the infirmary.
"Of course, sir," Glynda responded, frowning and lowering her head.
Meanwhile, at the infirmary.
"This is Jaune when I first gave him the DX suit," Mystake said, holding a photo album showing a 12-year-old Jaune in an overly baggy Gi.
"Pfft," The leader of team CFVY struggled not to laugh.
Velvet giggled with a slight blush. Yatsuhashi had a stoic face, but internally he was chuckling at the blonde, and Fox laughed out loud.
"Team CFVY, I believe that second years should be in class right now," Glynda said with a glare.
"Yes! ma'am!" The leader said, rushing towards class, her team following in toe.
*Sigh* "That team is the most troublesome of the second years," Glynda says, watching the fleeing team CFVY.
"Mystake, how is he?" Ozpin asks, staring at Jaune.
"He'll be fine. I gave him some 'Higher Strength Healtea.' While not the strongest, it will get the job done," Mystake replied as she putts the photo album away.
"Good, I can only imagine what Mister Arc went through in that fight," Ozpin says in relief.
"I still can't believe they managed to get past our security," Glynda mutters, partially blaming herself for Jaune's condition.
"Don't blame yourself. One of the two had the book of spells," Mystake told the Goodwitch.
"They had the book of spells? I thought one of the Alliances had destroyed it or at least placed it in one of their vaults," Ozpin said, shocked.
"There was multiple Book of Spells. The Alliance managed to destroy one seal the other, but the third was never found or well until now," Mystake explained.
"Are you sure it was magic?" Glynda asks, not knowing there are more ways to gain magic.
"It was magic. I can smell it coming off of Jaune; I'm not sure what type, but he was hit with some sort of spell," Mystake said, her eye glowing purple as she stared at Jaune.
"Damn, first the Elemental Masters are being taken out, then a Maiden is attacked, and now one of my students was attacked right underneath my nose. SHE is making her moves against us," Ozpin says, glaring at his coffee.
*Sigh* "I'm going out to continue my search," Mystake said.
"Very well, I shall upgrade our security to ensure this doesn't happen again," Ozpin said, gesturing toward the injured Jaune.
"I shall have a nurse stationed here to ensure his safety and a quick recovery," Glynda said, pulling out her Scroll.
"That is all I ask," Mystake said before heading towards the door.
"Safe travels Mystake," Ozpin said.
"Good luck," Glynda said.
"Oh, and Ozpin," Mystake looked back, "Ensure that he remains safe if you want to continue to live!" Mystake said, briefly changing into her Oni form.
Ozpin and Glynda both went pale, and their breath hitched, only being able to nod in response. Mystake seeing this smiled and left.
"Glynda, I am going to enact the increased security plan effective immediately,"
"I believe that is a good decision, Sir,"
The two teachers left as a nurse entered to continue monitoring Jaune for the rest of the day.
Time Skip: Later That Day At Night
"Pyrrha, I know you're worried, but you need to get some sleep," Ren told the pacing champion.
"I know, but I can't. It's all my fault. If I had listened to Jaune, then he wouldn't have been so injured," Pyrrha responded, still pacing around the dorm room, wearing her combat outfit since she never changed out of it.
"You don't know, Pyrrha, and besides, you're not thinking straight. Get some sleep. We'll check on Jaune tomorrow," Ren replied.
Pyrrha stopped pacing and stood in front of Jaune's bed, "I think Jaune hates me."
"He doesn't hate you. Jaune does not hate anybody," Ren told her.
Pyrrha looked down, "I don't know for certain, Ren, but I'm not blind. I've seen that Jaune just acts differently when it's just the two of us," she told him.
"That doesn't mean anything. Now go to sleep. It's clear you need it," Ren said with more authority.
"I know," Pyrrha said, heading towards the bathroom. Inside, Pyrrha slumped down on the door, silently crying. But also wondering who Magenta is.
Nora had been quiet throughout the conversation. Her thoughts lingered on her leader. She was worried for the team. She couldn't bear to lose anybody again. She had just shut down and simply kept her thoughts to herself.
Morning.
NPR woke up, and the environment was different. The three headed towards the infirmary to check up on their leader. They saw that team RWBY left for Vale at Weiss's request.
"What do you mean he's missing!?" the team froze, hearing a voice ask.
"I mean that when I arrived, he was missing!" a second voice said in evident distress.
"We have to inform the Headmaster immediately!" the first voice said as two nurses rushed out of the infirmary.
NPR, who went unnoticed, rushed into the infirmary seeing the cot that Jaune had been lying in the day before empty with the sheets scattered on the floor.
Ren quickly began to analyze the area, noting that despite the sheets lying on the floor, there was no other sign that someone or something had broken in.
Pyrrha desperately looked for clues as to what had happened and where her partner was. She noticed his Scroll and the remains of his DX suit were missing.
Nora had begun to hyperventilate, tears threatening to escape her eyes when. *Bzzt* The sound of their Scrolls momentarily distracted them. Ren checked his Scroll and his eyes widened, seeing who had sent him the message.
"Nora! Pyrrha! Check your Scrolls!" He told them. The two did as commanded. Both of their eyes widened, seeing the message.
"Hey, uh, you're probably at the infirmary, and well, don't worry, I'm fine, but there have been things I've wanted to talk to you all about. Meet me here," Jaune had sent the message by their team group chat with an attached location of one of Beacon's rooftops.
They all rushed to the location, hoping it was their leader. They arrived at the location given and saw him. Jaune. He was staring out towards the sky in a different outfit.
He turns to see them, and they see the bandages on his face, head, and left arm. Jaune greets them with a warm smile, instantly sending waves of relief throughout their bodies.
"Hey, it's nice to see you all again," he says, his smile infecting them as they all smile for the first time since Forever Fall.
"Jaune," Pyrrha says, her hands covering her mouth, tears of joy coming from her eyes.
Ren says nothing, only staring at Jaune with a simple smile that Jaune understood meant that Ren was happy to see him again.
"Fearless! Leader!" Nora tackled Jaune, who flinched as he caught her.
"O-ow, hey, Nora," Jaune said in a strained voice smiling at her.
"Jaune, are you okay?" Pyrrha asked, approaching Jaune.
"Never better," He responds, his smile ever present.
"Jaune, you said you had things you wanted to talk to us about," Ren reminded.
Jaune's smile wavers before he sighs. "If I'm going to tell you all, then I'm going to have to start from the start," Jaune says. He looks them in the eyes, "Get ready. This story is a long one."
Authors Note:
Now I know some of you might be a bit mad at where I chose to end, but I wanted to start the next chapter with NPR's reaction to Jaune's story and all of the questions they have.
Also, the next chapter won't be the immediate next part of the story; instead, it will be the Halloween Special loosely based on the events of 'The Day of The Departed' special from Ninjago.