Jaune has no idea what is happening
"…so we are here but it does not matter, as of now."
One moment everyone's excited about the Vystal Tournament and now they are afraid of it.
"But these key people are working for her. And unfortunately for all of us, one of them is here."
"Are you certain about it?"
"General, I faced her enough times to recognize this bitch"
The Vytal Tournament is at risk of a terrorist attack with the aid of the Grimm, or The Mother of the Grimm itself.
Jaune normally would have felt Pyrrha's hand on his shoulder by now, especially since he is fidgeting in front of the Headmasters of two academies and a team who they were told are esteemed and highly skilled hunters.
But when he looked at his team, he didn't see the encouraging smile of Pyrrha, the silent and companionable nod of Ren, or the unlimited energy of Nora. But the constant turning of their eyes towards him and to the leader of the esteemed team presenting the pictures of dangerous people.
Confusion, fear, and simple shock filled their eyes, and the eyes of the other three teams.
"Now that is out of the way, Sir." The leader said with authority, yet humility to the General of Atlas, "why do these teams need to even know this?"
He was tall, easily over 6 ft, has a strong and firm built with broad shoulders, strong arms which his armor only highlighted more, and possibly thunder thighs and a huge ass if the baggy jeans are not lying. He also had blonde hair like him, eyes like him, and well, also a face like him but tempered with age and experience.
"Well, Mr. Arc I believe that maybe they can be of assistance in our mission, especially since you intimately know one of their members." Headmaster Ozpin said without a beat.
However, the leader continued to look at General Ironwood, he didn't even acknowledge what Ozpin said! This got Jaune nervous until.
"General Ironwood, why do we need these teams to be here?" the leader asked again
"Didn't Ozpin answer your question,"
"With all due respect sir, he has no authority over me, and I don't recognize him as such." The Older Jaune Arc said with a straight face, "and since I don't see him as such, allow me to tell you all the flaws of this plan. Number 1, you are compromising these children's lives, number 2 this mission will take carefulness which I don't think teenagers can handle."
"Aren't you a soldier?" Qrow said while leaning on a wall, "why not just do as instructed?"
"Professor Qrow," a tanned woman with quiet confidence finally spoke, she was some simple jeans and a red sweater which highlighted he rather, mature structure. "you were the one who taught us to question everything because no one is omnipotent. Arguments of you and the General saved our asses more times than we can ever count."
Being called Professor shocked Qrow, and the idea that arguing with free-spirited drunk saved life gave some insight to Ironwood.
"Then you have to trust me," Ozpin said, "I have years of experience and I kn…"
BANG!
"You!" a cat Faunus banged the desk of the headmaster, "had centuries of experience, and what has that led you to!"
"Neon." The older Jaune Arc said firmly. The older Neon Katt slowly stepped away from Ozpin while the younger one is now pale.
"Although I don't approve of my partner's actions and I apologize for that, she is right Headmaster Ozpin; we know the truth, we don't like how you handled it, and from our experience your decisions are flawed." The older Jaune Arc raised a finger before anyone can protest.
"Flawed. Not wrong. Ozpin." Then the older Jaune walked in front of the Headmaster of Beacon, "you must change how you operate. You have skills, knowledge, and insight which are and has been important in our success in our world, but you must drop" then he raised his hands to present the four teams called, "this all-knowing attitude and that everything is in control"
Ozpin and Jaune Arc stared down at one another as tension slightly rose. No one, not even the adults in the know has the audacity to say that to the old wizard and master of Beacon Academy.
Standing tall with broad shoulders and the eyes of a soldier, no one, not even Ozpin has ever anticipated that Jaune Arc, the weakest of Beacon can have all of it and not flinch at the mysterious eyes of Ozpin.
"And what, do you propose…?" Ozpin asked slowly
"Trust each other." The tanned woman, "I know why you choose this way for years Headmaster Ozpin, but the time has come that you must rely on others too. You cannot do this alone."
"And I don't trust my allies?" Ozpin asked while looking at Glynda, Ironwood, and Qrow.
"You trust them as wardens and guards Sir, not partners." May shook her head, then looked at the sky full of military ships of Atlas, "this is an example of General Ironwood merely forcing his hand because you don't listen to him."
"Ahem" Then Ironwood coughed on his hand, "although technically you are right Ms. Zedong, please get to the point."
"Learn from your students Professor Ozpin, because they still have some things to teach you." May simply say as the adults of the room resonated to it as the foundation of their education careers.
Ozpin looked down at his desk in deep thought, "I coined that." Then he sighed, "in a time where I focused on philosophy, science, and art." Then he nodded.
"You are right." Ozpin finally said and for the first time, Jaune, the younger Jaune Arc saw light in the eyes of the ever-mysterious Headmaster, "I treated this for so long like chess, but I guess it is time to treat it like a real mission."
And for the first time, teams JNRP, FNKI, ABRN, and BRNZ saw the members of Team JNRZ smile back.
"Now." Jaune Arc said and looked at the younger teams, he observed each member and always had a light familiarity, his eyes landed on Pyrrha as she blushed at the look of fondness from the older Arc, then they landed on his other self.
He saw confusion, frustration, and doubt. And reflected it with understanding.
"Just like looking at the mirror." The older Arc smiled encouragingly, "we have lots to talk about."
"I…" the younger Arc doesn't know what to say as the swirling of emotions swam in his heart. He felt, almost everything from seeing this man who is introduced as his future self.
Bitterness, Pride, Joy, Frustration, Envy, Anger, Humility, Curiosity, and most of all especially with his ever-festering insecurity, and doubt.
Then he suddenly felt a soft hand touch his shoulder and cup his face. He expected it to be Pyrrha again but instead was greeted by the loving and motherly face of the older May.
Jaune got lost in her beauty but failed to notice the intimate care which reminds him of his family.
"It is okay dear." Then she looked to her leader, "we not you youngsters take a walk with us?"
The older Arc realized that he fucked up in some way and nodded as May gathered all the kids to the elevator.
"C'mon I have so much to talk about," Ms. Neon said as she pushed team FNKI to the elevator.
Team ABRN was about to follow until a young woman with green hair spoke to the older green hair woman where an outfit like hers, "are you coming with us."
The older Reese froze, as she looked to the innocent eyes of her younger self. "Sorry, but I am technically Jaune's scrip and 'calculator'. I have to stay for planning."
Team ABRN was shocked, especially since Reese is known to never, stay put.
"Damn." Arslan elbowed the younger Reese, "looks like Arc has a leash on you girl?~" she wanted to tease as Reese merely scoff
Really, Jaune Arc, the weakest of the Beacon with zero social skills. AS IF!
Then she saw the coy smile of her older self. Then she heard a giggle coming from the older May as she led the younger Jaune back to the elevator.
"oh~ You have no idea~" The older Neon said as the four teams, sans the younger Jaune started to think of the implications of their reactions.
The elevator closed with a ding with a blush, shock, and for Pyrrha envy on their faces.
Once the elevator finally closed.
"You guys are sick, you know that." The older Jaune said with a hand on his face.
"Oh, please it is just some teasing you big baby." Reese playfully slapped Jaune's shoulder, which has a ring with the Arc symbol on it."
"Anyway." Qrow finally said, "how the hell should we call you?"
"Please call me Mr. Arc from now on."
"Ms. Chloris or Mrs. Arc."
"Now how about let's started talking about what we know…" Mr. Arc said as the adults gather around for the first time, a real corporative meeting build on trust."
Author's Notes
I dedicate this to DidyoutryDynamite!
This story is great and this is a fanfic of his fanfic. I said that this might be a one-shot, but I decided to maybe make it a longer fanfic. Will it get constant updates? Not frequently. Especially since there is a lot of characters to juggle about.
How old is team JNRZ? Next chapter.
The attires of Team JNRZ in Vale are to make it based on their V3 attires during the Vytal Festival, but more mature, geared for battle, and maybe more practical. I will also make it according to the spirit of their personalities and why they wore their V3 attires in the first place.
Jaune's Attire, it is basically his V7 attire, with more gear. May's is a sweater and jeans because… later.
Anyway. Thank you DidyoutryDynamite! You are one of my inspirations for writing fanfics!