Jaune Arc forged his transcripts. In his desire to be a huntsman, a hero, like his ancestors, he forged his way into Beacon Academy and it shows. Not only did he come into Beacon without unlocking his aura, he was also behind in terms of training and conditioning that all his peers trained their entire lives for. It was held against him when it was found out. Forced to do things for the bully, Cardin Winchester, lest his transcripts are revealed. All of it came to a point where Jaune could not take it anymore and didn't care any further.
That was until that Ursa Major came. Drawn to the sap on Cardin's armor, the Ursa sought to harm the bully, now nothing more than a defenseless individual. Jaune could have left him there. Left Cardin to the Ursa. After all, Cardin had caused him much strife. Shouldn't he suffer for what he had done on the blonde knight?
Jaune didn't think so. Despite the things Cardin made him do with that blackmail, Jaune couldn't find it in himself to just leave him there. So he did what a hero does: Jaune saved Cardin. But before he could reprimand the bully, there was a loud growl coming from further within Forever Fall.
Another Ursa had appeared. Probably brought here by the scent of the sap, as well. Low on aura and heavily bruised Jaune was certain that he would not win here, even if Cardin had decided to stay. So he did what he thought best.
"Go," said he, much to the shock of Cardin. "Get rid of the sap and find Professor Goodwitch. I'll take it from here."
Cardin made no arguments and ran. Jaune sighed. It would have been nice if Cardin argued there. But the bully must have been more terrified than Jaune expected.
The Ursa, probably having sensed that the sap was getting further, charged forward. Jaune did the same, only to be stopped by the sudden grip on his shoulders. When he turned, he was faced with red-hair and green eyes.
"It's alright Jaune," said Pyrrha Nikos, his partner and the one person whom he owed many things for getting this far. "They'll take it from here."
Jaune looked behind Pyrrha and was met with the smile of his fellow leader, Ruby Rose and the serious expression of Ruby's partner, the snow angel, Weiss Schnee.
"Yeah, Jaune," assured Ruby. "We'll handle it from here. You go on back with Pyrrha."
Weiss only glared at him for a second before turning to face the Ursa. It was the most he was going to get there.
Jaune, having been relieved, relaxed and nearly collapsed then and there. Pyrrha held him and had his arm over her shoulder as the pair made their way back to where Professor Goodwitch would be. Back to the rest of his team. They slowly trudged through Forever Fall when Jaune broke the silence.
"Hey Pyrrha," said he weakly. "I'm sorry. For being a jerk. For letting my pride get the better of me. I know you were just being nice and—"
"It's alright, Jaune," she interrupted him. "You handled yourself well back there. Saving Cardin and all." Pyrrha couldn't stop herself from being a little cruel though. "I suppose best friends really have each other's back."
"Come on, Pyr." Jaune chuckled, remembering what Cardin referred to him as when he was being blackmailed. Pyrrha giggled with him.
"Your team misses you, you know. Miss their fearless leader."
"Pyr." Jaune didn't hear her. "Do you… do you think you could still help me? To be a better fighter. I think you saw what happened back there and I was wondering why my shield wasn't moving by my choice. I was probably terrible."
"It was," Pyrrha agreed. Jaune didn't mind the agreement there. It was true. "Your stance was all wrong for once. You need to be wider and lower to the ground. When we get back, we can do some sword forms. Yours was rather terrible."
"Thanks, Pyr." Jaune leaned closer on his partner. "I'm glad that you're here. Glad that you accept a guy like me."
Pyrrha, a little red in the cheeks, smiled. "I'll always be there for you Jaune. We'll always be there for you."
Jaune felt warmth from those words. He really had wonderful friends. Wonderful, powerful friends and all of them would have his back. He would never have to be alone. It was then that Jaune's thoughts lingered again on his dream. Right now, all he wants is to be the best huntsman he can be. The one that his friends can count on.
Suddenly, Jaune stumbled. As though he was pulled by an outside force. He thought nothing of it. It was probably the exhaustion getting to him. He chuckled to himself. He had a lot of catching up to do. But he was not alone this time, he would have his team with him. He would have Pyrrha with him. Jaune would be the best huntsman that he could be. For the friends who believed in him, for the professors who are teaching him, even those who would bully him, he would be the best that he could be.
As the pair got closer to where Professor Goodwitch would wait for them, Jaune was suddenly hugged by an orange-haired girl. It was Nora Valkyrie, one of his teammates. She was with Lie Ren, a black-haired boy and her partner.
"Jaune-jaune!" Nora exclaimed, sounding understandably worried. "What happened?"
Jaune explained to them the situation, including his false transcripts. This time there would be no lies, no secrets. To be that ideal huntsman, Jaune would have to be honest with himself.
"With that all that being said," he concluded. "Will you guys still have me in the team?"
"Of course!" Nora said before Jaune even finished. "Wouldn't trade our fearless leader for anyone else!"
"What are friends for," said Ren, nodding along.
A tight feeling welled up in Jaune's throat. He truly had wonderful friends. His resolve was firmed there. He would be better. Not just as a better fighter but a better leader as well. Jaune Arc would become the best huntsman that his team JNPR, deserves.
Another stumble. Another feeling of that strange pull. Jaune, now helped by his entire team, checked his scroll. His Aura was still low.
"Focus on recovering for now, Jaune," advised Pyrrha.
"Yeah! We'll break the legs of anyone who would go near our fearless leader until he recovers." Nora readied her weapon, Magnhild.
"So should I go and procure more syrup," said Ren, teasingly. "I don't think we have enough."
"With Nora?" Jaune chuckled. "Do we ever have enough?"
It felt good to be back with his team.
/-/
Later that night, team JNPR had a pancake party. They had invited their neighbor and sister team, RWBY, as well. Ren's words proved prophetic as Nora had nearly vacuum-sealed all the syrup in one go. It was a fun laugh all around. Jaune, on the other hand, was there by the window. He had a small stack of pancakes on his plate.
"You alright, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, concerned for her leader and partner. "You still seem rather out of it."
"Oh it's alright." Pyrrha's eyes narrowed. "I'm serious! Just thinking about how to be a better huntsman and all. I was thinking maybe I should be looking into my Semblance or something."
Pyrrha relaxed at the answer. "I'm sure it will come in time. We could add that to our training if you like. Maybe invite Ren for that, though. He is certainly better at that than me."
"Oh, oh!" Nora jumped in on the conversation. "And I can work on Jaune-jaune's conditioning! After Nora Valkyrie's certified training regiment, you'll be rocking with guaranteed thunder thighs!"
Jaune was about to accept the offer before Ren gripped him on the shoulder. His head was furiously shaking left and right; it was the most emotional Jaune had seen on the usually expressionless guy thus far. Ren was like his brother from another and Jaune trusted him, especially when it comes to Nora. He wasn't going to stop that now.
"Thanks Nora, but I think Pyrrha has got it covered."
"Suit yourself." As if to demonstrate her point, Nora stomped on the floor, causing the whole building to shake and everyone else to freeze. "Just showing you what your missing here, Jaune-jaune!"
Jaune would argue that he wasn't missing anything. Internally, he was grateful for Ren's intervention there. While there was no doubting the girl's raw power. Jaune wanted to live to see that happen. In fact, as he eyes drifted towards Pyrrha, he could swear that even the Invincible Girl was sweating at the thought. And if Pyrrha, of all people was nervous about anything related to training, it had to be for good reason.
The night went on without much issue. Unless one counted a blacked-out Ruby Rose from trying to challenge Nora to a syrup drinking contest. As much as his fellow leader loved sweets, there was no beating Nora at her element. As the two teams said their good nights, Jaune Arc laid on his bed, still awake.
Still did his thoughts linger on his being the best Huntsman he could be. He wasn't lying when he said it would be nice to have found his Semblance. It was the physical manifestation of one's soul if he recalled. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep. No shortcuts this time. If Jaune was going to find his Semblance, he'll take it slowly if he has too. So instead, he pondered on how to be better. Maybe he could do that by getting some help elsewhere.
Jaune felt another pull before he dozed off to the world of dreams.
Admittedly, my experience on the Fate series as a whole is limited to FGO (even then, it's mostly game mechanics. Revisiting Jeanne's Interlude and the Orleans Singularity at the moment) and my memory of RWBY's early Volumes is a tad hazy. So I'm going to be revisiting the early volumes of RWBY and taking a look at Apocrypha just to get a better grasp on the details for this fic.
