Journeys on the Jellybean

by Mudsaur

Look, this is another reaction-RWBY story, do I really need to spell it out? RWBY, (J)NPR, more to come, watching movies of alternate universes of themselves, you know the drill. I update Fridays, I write more than is probably appropriate for a standard chapter length, and I aim to make my reader's laugh their guts out because what's life without dancing and giggles? Come and read.

4. How to Train Your Dragon I

Okay, so, wow, there was someone last chapter who really threw a lot of reviews at me for suggestions. And, after consideration, I will take him up on one or two of them. He even inspired me for another idea that came to me while I was watching some old anime, so that will be fun. Again, throwing ideas my way through reviews helps a lot. Gives me inspiration and shows enthusiasm that people actually enjoy the crap I write – a fish needs water, I need mild forms of appreciation in the forms of reviews, follows, etc.

I have needs.

Anyway, I also got from someone that they didn't see a lot of Jaune in the last chapter. Again, I really should have made that the fifth chapter. The reason I put him not as the main protagonist role is because the role he plays, if anyone is familiar with Inception, is that of one badass businessman who was honestly my favorite character of the film.

I couldn't resist.

Plus, it shakes up the dynamic a bit. If we just have the main character role be given to Jaune every single time, that's not interesting in itself. Variety is the spit of life. Or is it spice? Regardless, it worked out for me, and will make his future chapters more interesting. Have to think ahead in these things, sometimes.

Thankfully, we'll get more Jaune in this chapter. A lot of people already guessed this one – I need to make my hints vaguer, I suppose. But hey, still a good animated feature. Let's have fun.

\-\ JELLYBEAN /-/

How to Train Your Dragon I (request made by StarFOX1017, thanks for the inspiration)

Being vice-headmistress to a school dedicated to fighting monsters was not easy. Glynda Goodwitch could attest to this.

Nor was it made any easier that the curriculum centered around teaching teenagers, of all things, the lessons they needed to kill said monsters. Teenagers with high-strung hormones, access to explosives and various means of causing bodily harm to anyone and everything, including themselves. Teenagers whose level of respect, as she had seen just a moment ago with seven very precocious youths, was limited to almost non-existent.

This was Glynda's day-to-day. Her norm.

She would have it no other way, however. The misery and stress came with security to the world. She could certainly have had it far worst. And the work she did would pay off eventually, of that she had little doubt. She worked under a great man; one she owed the deepest respect towards. And if she could ease his burden slightly, all the better.

And if that meant dealing with a couple of team leaders who needed to be talked to about decorum, etiquette, and proper handling of an international event that would be occurring a month from now? So be it.

The main office building was a short step away from the library. That didn't mean much for the professor, who always preferred to keep her time and her schedule neatly paced and with side distractions. If a meeting was in five minutes, it was in five minutes. Not six. Not seven. Five. And she was supposed to be at the door of her personal, greeting a pair of teenagers at that exact moment. Were it not for a pair of teams in the library…

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

"Ms. Adel," Glynda greeted the well-dressed young woman who leaned by the wall next to her office doorway. The Huntress-in-training and leader of Team CFVY, Coco Adel. She had been glancing down at her Scroll not a second ago. "Thank you for waiting. I apologize for my tardiness. I had a small matter in the library that required my attention."

Coco smiled up to the woman. "It's cool," she said. "didn't even notice you were late. Was just waiting for Velve to show up. She had a little something to talk about with Profes…uh, I mean, Captain-Professor Lippet, and she said she'll be around soon." Coco waved her Scroll to the professor.

Glynda nodded curtly. Velvet Scarlatina was very punctual. If she was somewhere else, it was not by choice, and dealing with a matter with her fellow staff was an excusable occurrence in such a scenario. While the discussion about the Vytal Festival was primarily for the leaders of each participating team, she did prefer to ask for a secondary member of each team to join in so that no instructions could be forgotten or possibly misplaced. Where Ms. Adel was prideful and smug at times, Velvet played as a good counter to her with her politeness and attentiveness. The two worked well as a duo.

"Very good," Glynda said. "Then all that remains is for our secondary pair to arrive and we can then-"

"WE'RE HERE!"

A call came from around the corner of the hallway. A young man skidded around the bend, looking as if he'd been sprinting not a moment before and continued his hasty dash over to the two Huntresses by the doorway.

The boy was lightly sweating and panting deeply. He bent over to catch his breath, his blond locks falling over his face. His white vest was unbuttoned and well-defined abs appreciated by the Huntress-in-training, who dipped her sunglasses off her face to appreciate the view. And in one last addition to the strange and panting young man was the long yellow tail that creeped out just around his lower back.

"We-we're here," the young man huffed out. "We made it. Right? We're on time?" The faunus looked up to the professor with light blue eyes.

Glynda frowned. "Fortunately for you, Mr. Wukong, I was a little late on my arriving on time, as well. Or we would have words on punctuality and my hopes this will not happen again during the festival…" The boy, Sun Wukong, swallowed a lump in his throat as he stayed at the icy gaze of Glynda Goodwitch. No one at Beacon Academy wanted her ire. That was practically the first unspoken rule of Beacon; don't piss off Goodwitch. It was simple to remember, hard to sometimes implement. "Now, I do believe I asked you to bring your partner, Mr. Vasilias, with you to this meeting, did I not?" Glynda asked with a raised brow.

Sun looked confused. "What do you mean? He's right behiiiiinnnd…me…" The boy turned his head around. The hallway behind him was empty. Not a soul around or following after him. "…He was behind me a second ago…"

Glynda pursed her lips. "Message your partner, Mr. Wukong, and have him here shortly. We have important matters to discuss and I would like him to be around for it."

Sun didn't need to be told twice. "Right. Got it. On it," he pulled out his device and was quickly typing away. "And, uh, by the way, what's this whole meeting thing about anyway? Your message didn't really say." The message had been short. Meet here, at this time, don't be late.

"The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the matters and situations regarding the Vytal Festival," Glynda answered. "It is expected for every student to represent their kingdom with the utmost level of care and respectfulness to their fellow students and to the world at large. This will be a televised event; a slight issue or err could mean repercussions for the academy at fault. As such, the heads or vice-heads of each academy are obligated to set aside the leaders and a secondary member for each team to discuss the matters for how to handle the festival properly."

Sun stopped typing, confused. "Then shouldn't I be doing this with Professor Leo?"

"Professor Lionheart," Glynda corrected, "asked that I provide you with the necessary information you will need in the coming weeks. Seeing as how you left Haven Academy before you were intended to, you missed your opportunity to discuss how you should act in the event ahead of yourself." The vice-headmistress's eyes narrowed down at the boy, who felt a chill crawl down his spine. "Acts that do not include illegally stowing away on a cargo ship, eluding local authorities and being an un-licensed vigilante against local terrorist elements without even considering contacting the Vale Police Force for assistance. Such actions should have had you expelled from the tournament immediately, Mr. Wukong. Or, if I had my way, expelled from Haven entirely and shipped right back to Mistral.

Glynda took a long, deep breath.

"However, your headmaster and Beacon's found reason to be supportive of your actions and turn the other cheek this once." Her cold eyes narrowed further. "Just this once. Do not let it happen again, Mr. Wukong. Am I understood?"

Sun felt a cold sweat add on to the tired one from before. "C-c-c-c-crystal, ma'am…" Coco snickered from the side silently. It was good not to be the one in trouble for once.

"Hmm. Good." Glynda looked down to her own scroll. Time was ticking on by. "We'll have Ms. Scarlatina and Mr. Vasilias join us when they arrive. For now, let's all get comfortable inside, shall we?"

The vice-headmistress led the pair to the double doors of her personal office, swinging them open with all three walking quickly inside.

\-\ JELLYBEAN /-/

Boop.

"Oh, there we go," the Captain sighed happily. "New universe up and running. Two in a row, even. I think that might even be a record. I really am having a lucky day."

"I take it you don't get to watch many universes, then?" Blake spoke up as their host took his seat again.

"Not too frequently, but I've been on this ship for…awhile," he said. "And you tend to watch a lot over time. Takes a while, but I've gleamed a fair number of universes from this theatre room alone. Lots of Jaune Arcs, lots of worlds and galaxies and events. Plenty of time to watch – always watching. Watching watching watching…"

"Do you have a favorite movie? Or, uh, universe?" Ruby asked, curious. "Anyone you want to see again?"

The Captain thought about it. "I have a few favorites," he eventually said. "And far too many I would be more then happy to watch over again. I might be familiar with the adventures of these other Jaune's, but I assure you, I never get tired of them. Never get bored. It's always exciting to watch – and with new friends, too! It's a treat!"

The figure in the cloak seemed positively delighted with everything going on. Weiss, however, had a habit of killing moods, even unintentionally. "What do you mean by 'new friends?'"

Every turned their heads from the giddy Captain, who went very stiff at those words, and turned to their resident heiress.

"Wow, Weiss. Wow."

"That was kinda mean, not gonna lie."

"Boo, Weiss! Boo! Stop being mean to the Captain!"

"What?" Weiss squawked. "I wasn't trying to be mean, I was simply attempting to understand what he- I was just trying- Nora, stop throwing those nachos!" Her cheeks were flustered red now, her hands swatting at the cheesy projectiles. "What did I say that was wrong, hmm? I was being honest. We are guests, at best. Kidnapped parties, at worst. And I for one am not so hasty as to extend a hand of friendship to someone I barely know, l-let alone understand!"

The nachos stopped after a bit. And maybe Weiss had a point. Friendly as the Captain was, he was still…odd. And this situation was weird.

"…You still could have been more tactful. The guy looks like he's about to start crying."

It was then that the Captain seemed to jump out from his frozen-state. "I-I am not c-crying, Ms. Belladonna. A-and there is no harm in what M-Ms. Schnee said. I u-understand," he was stuttering heavily. "What I-I-I actually meant by f-fr-friends was that we are…that is to say, we are c-companions in this situation, i-if nothing else. A-and I am…I…" He went quiet again. His cloak shifted and shook as if he were about to cry. "An-and I…I'm sorry. For all this."

He was quiet, then, still turned to the teens. Then his head raised, looking out to some of the concerned looks from the others, then turned his head around and back to the screen.

"Perhaps we should begin now."

He lifted his hand, snapped his fingers and the lights dimmed.

A light fog sat over a vast ocean. The stars were bright and numerous. The outline of great, stony mountainous island lingers in the distance.

"This is Vytal," A voice spoke up. Male, young, slightly squeaky. "It's twelve days north of Hopeless, and a few degrees south of Freezing to Death."

"Is Jaune…monologuing?" Ruby wondered.

Nora smirked, huffing a laugh. "You know, I think he is."

"Ah. Wasn't sure if that was him or not for a sec. His voice is…squeakier, then usual," Weiss didn't look like she was trying to be mean, but… "Regardless, I suppose this universe is taking place in Vytal. That should be a treat."

"I've never actually been to Vytal before," Pyrrha remarked, looking over to the local Valean's on Team RWBY. "What's it like?"

Ruby and Yang thought for a moment.

"Cold."

"Freezing."

"Bleak."

"Cloudy."

"Lots of rocks."

"Sheep everywhere."

"One tried to eat Yang's hair."

"It did. I wanted to have lamb chops for dinner."

"It wasn't a fun place."

Pyrrha wasn't sure what to make of that glowing review, nodding uncertainly before turning back to the screen.

Closer inland, two massive statues of two bearded, enormously broad-shouldered men in heavy armor held a pair of torches out over the dark ocean. The waves battered against them as a large village stood behind the pair. It appeared dark, quiet, almost lifeless.

"It's located on the Meridian of Misery."

"Yep. That's Vytal."

A closer look at the town showed a large population of sheep, firstly. The buildings appeared quickly made and stone-built. With a nearer view, small torches do span out of the walkways and houses located about, though the light does not stretch far or brighten much.

"My village. In a word, sturdy. And it's been here for seven generations, but every single building is new."

Weiss raised a single ashen-colored brow. "Brand new? How is that?"

"I've heard that some villages out in Mistral have to remake their homes pretty often because of the Grimm," Blake offered. "Maybe they have to deal with the Grimm, too."

"Grimm weren't actually that big a deal from what I remember," Yang said. "Vytal is so rough and harsh that there weren't many Grimm. At least, that's what I remember. Just Nevermore and maybe the occasional Griffin. Nothin' a couple of the local Huntsmen couldn't take care of without any problems."

"We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunsets."

A pair of sheep amongst a large flock are grazing under the dim moonlight. They don't seem to mind the chill or anything about their environment.

"The only problems are the pests."

A pair of taloned claws swooped down and struck one of the sheep before it had time to even bleat out a cry of panic. The only thing that remained of it was some light wool that fell off its backside. The other sheep beside it looked remarkably bored by the event and decided to continue it's grazing.

"Ah. The pests are Grimm, I guess," Yang shrugged. "Guess we were bound to get another universe with them in it at some point. 'Though, points to it for getting rid the sheep." She smiled viciously, stroking her hair absentmindedly.

Some of the others nodded. Pyrrha, however, looked uncertain. "Those didn't look like any Grimm feet that I've ever seen." She only caught the quickest of glances at it. But the feet seemed too…scaly. And no white bone. Professor Port had given lengthy lectures on the many sub-categories and groupings of Grimm in their class sessions. Always black-skinned, always white-boned expenditures, always evil.

Those scales seemed almost bluish.

Ruby caught the same. "Yeah," she whispered. "Something doesn't seem right here…"

"You see, most places have mice or mosquitoes. We have…"

Sheep were panicking now. Men and women of considerable size were screaming and running through the village. A large, fanged monster hovered with vast wings over them. Its yellow eyes gleamed through the dark, looking over it's prey and panicking masses. Then, it spotted a door opening suddenly. It's scaled maw opened wide and from its jaws poured forth a terrible torrent of fire and heat!

The young man who opened the door, wearing a light bit of clothing and a brown wool vest, slammed it quickly behind himself. His blue eyes wide, shocked, and blond hair almost fringed by the fire. His brow sweated only slightly as the door was closed and volley from singing him to a crisp.

He swallowed a lump in his throat. They were under attack.

"Dragons…"

There was a mixed reaction to the scaled beasts.

"What? Dragons?" Weiss asked. "You mean those fire-breathing lizard things?"

Nora gasped excitedly. "Holy cow, dragons?! We got actual dragons?! Renny, did you hear him right? Did Jauney say dragons?!"

"Yes, I believe he did."

"Oh, so cool!" Ruby gushed. "Real, actual dragons! Just like the stories! Ooooh, I want to see more of the dragons! Show me more of the dragons! Hey Yang, did you hear what he-"

"OH MY GOD, FUCK YEAH! WE GOT DRAGONS!"

There was a shriek in the room that trumped every other excited shout before it. A cry of joy that made everyone else's reactions seemed mild and tame by comparison.

Yang jumped from her chair and onto the cushion with cheer. Her smile threatened to split her cheeks, her eyes were wide and vibrant, while her hair seemed to almost glow brighter with her new found excitement seeping into her roots. She jumped up and down from her place and made little effort to hide her jubilation.

"THIS UNIVERSE, BEST ONE SO FAR! NO CONTEST! IT'S GOT DRAGONS! SCREW VYTAL, WE STILL GET DRAGONS!"

She clapped her hands then threw them in the air.

"BEST! DAY! EVER! WHOOOOO!"

She started to do a little dance on her seat. Shaking her hips, singing a little toon that sounded like 'we got dragons, yes we do, we got dragons, yes we do' on repeat, and generally ignoring the others who were openly gawking at the display of dragon-love from their friend.

Some eyes turned towards the sister of their now crazed teammate. Ruby looked only slightly mortified at her sister's actions. "Dad bought a big stuffed dragon toy for Yang when we were little," Ruby tried to explain over her sister's singing. "And she really loved it. Like, really really loved it. Almost as much as her hair, I think. She kind of obsesses over them now – lunchboxes, movies, video games, anything. If there's a dragon on it, she wants it. It was cute when we were kids, but now? It can get a little embarrassing sometimes…"

"Dragons, bitches!"

Little known fact: Yang Xiao-Long was a fantasy dragon fangirl.

Ruby got up from her seat and moved over to her still-dancing sister. She reached up for the girl's skirt and tugged on it gently. "Uh, Yang?"

"Yeah, sis?"

"You're making a scene."

"And?"

"You're making a scene about dragons."

"Yeah, you're point? Dragons rule – I'm doing my dragon shimmy."

"Yeah, sure. But you're still making a scene about dragons and everyone's staring."

This made the dancing blond pause. Her attention seemed to refocus back to the theatre room. Her eyes went down to the floor, out over the seats and the people around her.

Everyone was, indeed, staring at her.

Weiss looked like the cat who caught the Nevermore. Blackmail in its most beautiful form. Blake just shook her head, embarrassed for her partner. Nora giggled, Pyrrha smiled politely, and Ren nodded in her direction, which was somehow worst then his teammates. Even the Captain seemed mildly surprised by the sudden excitement, his cloaked face tilted and staring.

Yang started to feel her cheeks reddening under all those eyes.

"What?" She asked abruptly. "What, what's up? Anything…anything wrong here?" She coughed into her hand, shaking her shoulders and trying to look casual on top of her seat. The room still stared. "I, uh, I don't know…you know what? Screw it. You can all shut up. Dragons are legit the coolest animals ever and I will fight anyone who says otherwise!"

Some of her friends were still smiling at her teasingly. The red in her cheeks was growing. Yang decided it might be best to simply sink back into her seat again and think of revenge later on.

"You all suck major…"

Scaled creatures, varying in size but easily larger than the finest specimen of ox, fell over the sheep herds with great leathery wings. Their breath lit the fields and scattered the frightened livestock. Men and women of Vytal, carrying axes, spears, shields, and even some farming implements ran to challenge their home invaders.

"Most people would leave. Not us. We're Vytalians. We have, stubbornness issues."

A particular Vytalian, stout and tall, jumped onto one of the dragons which had procured one of his sheep. He started to beat it's head in with a crude hammer, screaming all the while as the monster lifted itself further and further into the air.

The boy ran out from the burning house and into the chaos with a smile on his lips. Excitement in his eyes. The fact the village had become a warzone seemed to only make him giddy.

"My name is Jaune. It's an uncomplicated, straightforward, hard to forget name. Pretty sure it's Valean. But it could be worst. Parents believe a foreign-sounding name will frighten off gnomes and trolls. Like our charming Vytalian demeanor wouldn't do that."

"I can vouch for that," Ruby chimed in. "They're a pretty mean looking people. Scary and big. And some of them didn't look like they've ever held a toothbrush before. It was pretty messed up."

"My word…" Weiss looked positively appalled by the notion. "To think an entire tournament was named after such a rough place in the world. I suppose history and society will forget the more negative aspects of the world and focus on only the brighter parts."

The teenager darted around various warring parties with an awkward or klutzy step. The size difference between those around him and himself was particularly noticeable. Skinny and lanky compared to broad and vast. He stuck out like a twig amongst logs.

And apparently, the islanders noticed him too.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Get inside!"

"What are you doin' out?"

"Get back inside!"

The lanky Vytalian ignored the commands of his fellow warriors. He raced up the hill, shielding himself from the heat and woodchips from exploding houses as he went. This wasn't his first raid. He knew what he was supposed to do – supposed to be, but wasn't. And he was in need of a reminder.

"Jaune!"

A single, massive arm reached out and plucked the boy by the back of his shirt. Heaving Jaune clean off his feet mere seconds from running straight into a torrent of new fire being thrown down by one of the dragons.

The owner of the arm pointed his other, quite significantly sized finger at him. "What is he doing out aga-?! What are you doing out?!" The owner of the arm, hands and voice shouted, addressing his fellow Vytalians before glaring down at the boy in his grip. Jaune could only cringe. "GET INSIDE!"

The small Vytalian was put on his feet and shoved in a direction away from the other warriors. The man, now undistracted, stared out at the war ongoing.

"That's James of the Ironwoods."

"Hey, I know that guy!" Nora said, smiling. "I saw him at the dance! He was dancing with Professor Goodwitch! He brought the robots from Atlas!"

"General James Ironwood," Weiss chimed in. "Head of the Atlesian Military, Headmaster of Atlas Academy, and one of the most important members of the entire Kingdom. He's something of a star amongst the upper class, as well. He really has helped make Atlas known for its safety and military efficiency for a long time now, before I was even born. He's a hero whose saved countless lives from the Grimm and someone due every respect." The Schnee's eyes shined with respect and Atlesian pride. "I almost decided to go there just because I might have had the chance to meet him like my sister. I'm sure he's a great man."

"He managed to get Professor Goodwitch to dance with him," Ruby muttered, thinking over that interesting night. "He can't be all bad. She even looked happy. And, actually, I don't think I've ever seen her smile before, which I guess says something about him, too."

"Phht, anyone who can get the stick out of Goodwitch's bum sounds like an A-okay guy to me," Yang laughed and sat back in her seat. That woman needed to get laid. And if there happened to be a guy with a very appropriate name of 'Ironwood' walking around, well…

Blake pursed her lips and muttered quietly to herself. "My people have a slightly different opinion of him," she said to herself. "He's no hero. Just another cog in the machine."

"Hmm? Did you say something Blake?"

"No. Nothing…"

James was a figure of stature. Big and built from crown to sole, every piece of his stature expressed control, strength and command. His face boasted a thick black beard, trimmed and sharp, hiding pursed lips that frowned at the chaos all around him. His brow furrowed as he scowled at every single dragon in the air. The fires lit up his armor like embers which covered him from neck to foot. His eyes, a crystal blue, were focused and dangerous.

"They say that when he was a baby, he popped a dragon's head clean off of its shoulders. Do I believe it…?"

One of the dragons closed precariously close to the top of Vytal's hill. Blue in scale, skinny at the neck, wings for arms, body like a raptor and eyes a glowing yellow. Its tail was filled with quills that it through down at the passing Vytalians with unbelievable precision. From its wide and many-toothed maw came a cry like that of a chicken mixed with a screaming seagull; unnatural and unnerving.

James chucked a cart several feet into the air at it.

SMASH!

"SQUAAAARRRKKKK!"

"…Yes, I do."

"Bullseye!"

"Right in the kisser!

"Oh-ho-hoo! Nice!"

"What have we got?" James asked, looking down at another stout Vytalian who seemed almost modest in size next to the chieftain.

"Gronckles, Nadders, Zipplebacks," the man listed off. An explosion in the distance caught his attention. "Oh, and Marrow saw a Monstrous Nightmare."

"Any Night Furies?" James asked, eyes narrowed.

"None so far."

BOOM!

A building gave way behind the pair. While the smaller of the Vytalians took cover and hid behind his shield, James stood rigid and tall. Even as a bit of burning timber fell on his shoulder, the chief paid it little mind beyond simply brushing it off.

"Oh, Weissy was right. This guy's a badass…"

"Good," the chief said, nodding. "Light the torches."

"HOIST THE TORCHES!"

Two massive braziers were lifted from their spots on the ground, illuminating the night skies and showing the dozens upon dozens of swarming reptiles. It would make the situation only slightly more manageable.

Jaune ran as he was told and came into a building where the sounds of hammers to steel rang loudly over the fires, the shouting men and women, and even the roaring beasts in the air. A gruff man, light stubble on his face, thinning blond hair, wearing a light wool parka and holding a hammer made of stone worked at an anvil with a harshly bent sword. He was broad like seemingly everything else in Vytal (save Jaune), but with a noticeably more rotund belly for himself. One of his legs was missing, replaced with a simple wooden peg, and the arm that continued to work on the misshaped metal appeared mangled and scarred but no less capable in its duties.

Regardless of all that was happening, the blacksmith offered a somewhat sarcastic smile as his helper arrived. "Ah! Nice of you to join the party!" He shouted. "I thought for certain you'd been carried off!"

"What, who, me?" Jaune asked, throwing on his apron. "Nah, come on! I'm waaaay too muscular for their taste! They wouldn't know what to do with all…" he gestured down to his less than impressive form. "…this!"

"Well, they need toothpicks, don't they?" The stoutly man was sardonic to a fault but was already moving the sword, newly straightened, back onto the shelves and working at another to be redone just as quickly. Jaune just shook his head, huffing a laugh and getting to work himself.

"That meat-head with the bad jokes and gut is Clover. I've been his apprentice ever since I was little. Well…littler."

"Huh. Jaune as a kid," Ruby muttered to herself. "Wonder he was like back then?"

"Probably still scraggily," Weiss remarked, rolling her eyes.

"Quiet, I guess," Blake added with a shrug. The two didn't interact much. Mostly because of her.

"Goofy, I bet," Nora responded with two thumbs up.

"Thoughtful and concerned," Ren nodded.

"A dreamer and kind," Pyrrha said behind a hand that covered her lips, hiding her small blush.

"I bet we he was still a pretty good guy," Yang said with confidence, before being met again with curious eyes. "What? Hey, we might not be the best of bffs, but that guy went to an international dance in a dress for P-Money. As far as I'm concerned, that makes him braver then any other guy I've ever known."

Her words were met with some nods, some acknowledging and some hesitant. Pyrrha's smile grew a little, though. Someone else was seeing her teammate's worth.

Outside the smithy, James barked orders to his men. "We move to the lower defenses!" He shouted. "We'll counter-attack with the catapults!" The top of the village was secure, or at least as secure as a defense could be amongst flying opponents. Now it was time to push the beasties out for good. The men of Vytal hefted great stones and sheep under the arms and ran through the fires and dragons all around them, making a dash for the lower positions.

The defense was impressive, all things considered. Still, the village was made largely of wood. And wood burned.

"Like I said; old village, lots and lots of new houses."

"FIRE!" One of the men shouted, waving his arm in the direction of the newly alit home.

Out of the corner of the smithy, Jaune turned his head out one of the many windows to see four sprinting figures running to the call. Varying in size and statures and carrying buckets each, the four were teenagers themselves just like the blacksmith's apprentice, though that was largely where the differences ended.

"That's Dove."

A baby-faced teen. Tall in stature, nicely built, his face hadn't lost all of it's youthful fat yet but his full and smoothed blond hair covered it nicely. His eyes were shut tightly from the flames, but he ran with intention with a large bucket between his fingers. He wore light clothing and a vest that seemed as if it belonged on someone three or four years younger than himself. He sweated under the heat of the fires.

"Wait, I know Dove," Nora said, pointing. "He's from Team CRDL! Cardin's teammate!"

"Cardin."

"And there's the asshole too!"

The muscular Vytalian was right behind his friend. Broad shouldered, arms growing nicely from intensive exercise, and a determined scowl on what might have been a handsome face only further complimented by neatly cut auburn hair. Like Dove, his clothes were simple and effective for running in, with an additional helmet on top of his head with a pair of horns sticking out of them. A common Vytalian fashion icon. He ran dutifully towards the fires with bucket in hand.

"Wait, so Cardin – freakin' Cardin – actually beat me to the big screen?!" Yang shouted, then looked down to the Captain's chair. "What the hell, man?! How did those two beat me here?!"

"Sis, I'm trying to watch the movie!"

"The twins, Melanie and Miltia."

Yang scoffed. "Are you shitting me?! Seriously?! Even those two beat me?! They weren't even on my level!"

"Yaaaang!"

A pair of young women. Skinny and covered in soot, green eyed, long black hair on each of them. The only distinction between them was how one had opted for a lighter bit of cloth for her dress (Melanie) while the other seemed to have tussled around in a dragon's guts to get hers to look a stark red (Miltia). The two had opted for a single bucket to carry between themselves, though that didn't stop them for fighting over who would toss it onto the burning houses.

"And…"

The last of the teens. Long blond hair, tied in a tight braid, lithe but with a firm muscle behind her figure, and with a pair of unique and beautiful violet eyes to compliment a remarkably beautiful face. The young woman tossed her own bucket onto the burning building only seconds before another fireball relit it for her troubles. She didn't seem to mind. Probably even expected it. She simply turned away from the eruption, ensuring her outfit of an armored skirt, pauldrons, and tightly-drawn shirt would not catch the explosion and made back for another bucket as quickly as she could.

Jaune, face aglow with both amazement of the scene and the fires, showed nothing but devotion in her direction.

"Yang."

Yang stared at the screen. "I take back everything I said. I look awesome here!" She stood up and pointed to herself on the screen. "I mean, look at me! Younger me! My hair's still great! I look like a badass next to that fireball, and I'm doing the good work of fighting against actual dragons! I know this may sound weird, but I'm kinda jealous of myself right now."

She laughed to herself, admiring her image on the screen with delight. The first of Team RWBY to make it up and she was going to appreciate every second of it.

That is, until Blake smiled from her seat and pointed herself. "I think someone's got a little crush on you…"

"Wha?" Yang replied intelligently, staring back to the screen. "Who?"

It didn't take long to find who Blake was pointing to. Jaune the blacksmith's apprentice looked on at his peers from the window of the smithy. The absolute delight of his face, illuminated greatly by the burning house's light, seemed to glow all the brighter as he stared over at his Yang's Vytalian form.

There was more then admiration in those eyes.

The Yang in the theatre actually blinked at the discovery. "Oh," she said, "well that's…a thing, I guess. I mean, I guess the Jaune in this universe doesn't have bad taste." She laughed awkwardly, with Weiss beside her thinking on her words before glaring to the side.

"And what, exactly, is that supposed to mean, Xiao-Long?"

"Oh, nothing, Weiss-cream. Nothing at all."

"Oh, their job is so much cooler than mine," Jaune remarked silently, watching as they continued to fight on against the seemingly never-ending fires that came up routinely. There was jealousy, want, and respect in how he looked on, until Clover's hand reached out and plucked the boy up by his shirt collar before he could get any ideas.

"Ah ah ah! Nope, none of that!" He said, placing the boy back further into the smithy.

"Oh, come on. Let me out, please?" Jaune begged. "I need to make my mark!"

"Oh, you've made plenty of marks." Clover poked his apprentice in the chest. "All in the wrong places!"

"Please, two minutes! I'll kill a dragon. My life will get infinitely better!" He gestured to the warzone that was his home. "I might even get a date."

"Phht. Priorities."

"A date with Yang, maybe?"

"Partner, put a sock in it."

"You can't lift a hammer, you can't swing an axe," Clover lifted up a bola, thick-stringed and with three heavy stones attached, "you can't even throw one of these!" With a fast toss, the blacksmith threw the weapon out the nearby window, snagging an incoming dragon by the wing and bringing it to the ground.

Jaune stared at the man's handiwork. "Okay, fine," he'd allow that, "but this will throw it for me." From the youth's own personal space, a small wooden device laid just out of the way for even the peg-legged Clover to maneuver around easily.

Jaune tapped his hand proudly over his own contraption, until a spring came undone and the device opened. Like a miniature catapult, a bola was shot through the air, right past a dodging Clover, out the window and smack-dab right into the face of an unsuspecting Vytalian.

"Arggh!"

The bola'd man went down without even knowing what happened.

"Oof. Weapon malfunctions," Ruby cringed. "Never fun. Never easy to explain. I feel your pain, Jaune. I feel your pain."

The apprentice had the good graces to at least cringe when Clover's anger gaze fell on him. "See?! This, this is right here? This is what I'm talking about!"

"I-it-it was just a mild calibration issue…"

"Don't," Clover would have none of it. "No, Jaune. If you ever want to get out there to fight dragons, you need to stop all…" The man paused before gesturing in Jaune's general vicinity. "This."

"B-but you just pointed to all of me!"

"Yes!" Clover nodded, proud his simplicity made it through the boy's thick head. "That's it! Stop being all of you!"

Everyone stared at the screen.

"Okay," Ren, surprisingly, was the first to speak. "I think that's something no one ever wants to hear. Especially growing up."

"Oh yeah."

"Definitely."

"That really can hurt to hear that from a friend."

"I hope Jaune doesn't take that too hard…"

Jaune narrowed his eyes. "Ooooh…"

Clover did the same. "Oooooh, yes."

"You, sir, are playing a dangerous game," Jaune said dramatically. "Keeping this much, raw…Vytalian-ness…contained? There will be consequences!"

"Ah, nevermind. He seems fine."

"I'll take my chances," Clover looked non-plussed by any future 'consequences' as he handed the boy a weapon from rack. "Sword. Sharpen. Now." Jaune took the handed sword with a gruff but did as he was told.

"One day, I'll get out there. Because, killing a dragon is EVERYTHING around here."

Out over the village, numerous dragons had taken to the ground levels to conduct their raid schemes. It wasn't enough to simply burn everything to the ground; even mild forms of property damage seemed all too interesting for the winged creatures. Such as the raptor-like blue-scales, who had seen fit to rip apart one of the sheep pins by the stone and timber. Intelligent category of dragon, they made off with a few sheep as the rest scattered.

"A Nadder head is sure to get me at least noticed."

"A Nadder, huh," Yang remarked, scratching her chin. "I kinda like that one. Hey, you think if I killed one, dad would be cool with putting its head up over the fireplace?"

"Uh, no, I don't…actually, he might," Ruby admitted after some thought. "He'd probably think it was pretty sweet to show off to the neighbors."

"Phht, of course it would be. I'm the one who killed it! Xiao-Longs and awesomeness go hand-in-hand, you know that."

"And Roses! Also Roses!"

"Haha, absolutely!"

Weiss looked between the two sisters before leaning over to Blake. "I might just be speaking for myself," she whispered, "but these two scare me sometimes."

Blake thought on that. "Ditto."

Large, beefier dragons, who looked as if their bodies had absorbed nearby stones to form its scales and had their wingspans atrophied as a result, had found the fish hanging off the nearby harbor podiums. Their wide mouths plucked the wooden beams right out of the dirt and took off further down the hill.

"Gronckles are tough. Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend."

"Ahh, Jaune," Pyrrha smiled and rolled her eyes to the screen. "I do enjoy the enthusiasm, but do try to keep your priorities straight. Especially in the middle of a battle."

"Phht, like that'll happen," Nora laughed. "Boys always have one thing on their mind, and you know it. Right Ren?"

Ren went stiff in his seat. "I can neither confirm nor deny that."

"Phht, I think you just did."

"Excuse me," Weiss shouted. "Jaune's non-existent dating possibilities aside, is anyone actually wondering how those, those 'Gronckles' can possibly fly?!"

"Pretty sure we were all wondering that," Yang replied. "But they're dragons, so it's either magic or by the power of sheer awesomeness. No further questions need to be asked."

"No! No, that is not true! Magic is not an answer and just adds more questions if it were!"

Lastly, an unusual dragon had found interest in one of the homes that still remained unlit and dark. Twin-headed, one of the long necks rafted up to the ceiling and had glowing green eyes look inwards to the vacant property. Its wide mouth poured forth a greenish smoke and poured it generously inwards. The other head went around to the front of the house, and when the jade-colored smog made its way to him, the head clicked its teeth and sparks flew out to touch.

BOOOOOOOM!

The house went up in a great explosion. The dragon, unaffected by its work, took to the skies on vast wings and searched for more timber to implode.

"A Zippleback? Exotic. Two heads, twice the status."

"I kinda like that one."

"That doesn't surprise me at all, Nora."

"They found the sheep!" A man on the catapult shouted, pointing to a group of Nadders who were coordinating with one another around a small grouping which had lost its way from the main herd.

James was beside the man in an instant. "Concentrate fire over the lower bank!"

The operator nodded, turning the catapult ever so slightly. "Fire!"

A stone easily as large as any of the Vytalians flew over the village. A testament to the chief in charge and the expertise of the catapultier, the rock nailed one of the beasts, sending the rest into a panicked retreat away from the sheep.

But their activities were not unnoticed.

A great shadow, easily larger than even the wide and long Zippleback, had flown right under the catapult's main building. James, even in the dark, saw its shadowed shape easily.

"And then, there's the Monstrous Nightmare…"

The buildings below the catapult blew up in flames.

"Only the best Vytalians go after those."

James's eyes narrowed at the sudden light but he did not turn away. Only reaching out for the hammer at his side.

"They have this nasty habit of setting themselves on fire."

From the fires and through the walkways, a dragon of such growth, stature and ill-intended eyes leapt out to meet the chieftain, eye-to-eye.

The Monstrous Nightmare; several rows of teeth with a great jaw to hold them all in, wings the span of its entire body, red-scaled and flickering brightly with the fires that seemed to hold themselves to the creature. It seemed like a beast straight from hell and its presence would have caused lesser men to run for the hills, screaming and in hives.

Not James of the Ironwoods, though.

"Reload!" He barked back to his men. "I'll take care of this…"

"Okay! Seriously, I want to grow up to be half as badass as he is!" Yang laughed herself silly, slapping a hand to her knees. "Hahaha! Holy shit! James the dragon slayer is awesome! Dragon slayers for the win!"

James handled the Nightmare with caution and brutality. If it went for a bite, he'd retaliate with a swing. If the creature pulled back, the chief would shout and beckon it forth, goading it forward. It was a practiced touch; this was not the first Nightmare that had met with James. Nor, as the chief would have it, be the last to fall to him.

"But the ultimate prize is the dragon no one has ever seen."

The battle between both sides of the raid came to a sudden halt. Dragons paused ontop of roofs and in the skies. Men and women turned their eyes upwards, widened and alert. Jaune turned his gaze away from the sword and to the window. James and Nightmare both stopped, with the dragon deciding then that now was as good a time as any to beat a quick retreat from his relentless foe.

In the night skies, a cry was heard for miles around.

"…eeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Quiet at first. Then the sound rose. And rose. And rose.

"We call it the-"

"NIGHT FURY! GET DOWN!"

From the dark skies, a shape flew into the catapult. Barely a blur, barely even seeable with the sharpest of eyes. One moment, it was over the city. The next, it hit the machine and erupted into a violet explosion. The weapon of the Vytalians was destroyed in barely a moment – and above it, a shadowy winged form, nearly as fast as the bolt of deadly ruination, flew past unseen.

James leapt from the crumbling ballistic with his men. It was all they could do. Their position had been routed so easily. The battle only that much harder with their new foe.

"Night Fury...ooooh..."

"Yang, you're drooling."

"I know," said girl gushed. "But I think I'm in love."

Jaune watched from the relative safety of the smithy window. His eyes went over the night skies for any movements. Any sign of disruption from the stars. Anything that would point to where the new arrival was. But there was nothing, and it was no surprise.

"This thing never steals food, never shows itself, and…"

BOOOOOM!

"…never misses."

"Holy- was that a plasma bolt?" Ruby asked eyes wide and excited. "Wow! That's, like, fireball 2.0! How does the Night Fury make them? Is it similar or different to other dragons? How does it sour or make a sound like that? Is the sound super-heated air particles?! I want to know it's secrets!"

"No one has ever killed a Night Fury. That's why I'm going to be the first."

Jaune's expression stiffened with determination as the Night Fury's attack continued. This was the moment he was looking for, the moment that would make all the difference. If only he knew how to get past-

"Man the fort, Jaune!"

Said boy blinked himself out of his thoughts, turning to see Clover hobble over to the side of the smithy.

"They need me out there!" The village blacksmith declared, trading his hammer for a well-sharpened battle axe. The weapon was easily meant to be held in two arms but the peg-legged Vytalian found no troubles hoisting it upwards in one meaty palm. He made for the doorway, paused, then turned back to his ward. "Stay," he ordered awkwardly. "Put. There…you know what I mean." And with that, Clover gave a mighty shout and leapt into the battlefield himself.

Jaune was only momentarily behind him.

No one was surprised in the theatre.

"Obvious Jaune move was obvious."

"Jaune, where are you going?!"

"Come back here!"

"Yeah, I know!" Jaune yelled, rushing around greatly larger Vytalians as he went. All the while driving his personal, automated device forward. "Be right back! Promise! Don't wait up!"

While the boy ran through the village, James continued his assault on the raiding dragons. A flock of Nadders had cornered another set of sheep by the upper ring. Right under one of the larger home's walkways, which James had decided would be perfect for a little trap. With a shout and a toss, the chieftain tossed a finely threaded net right over the monsters, catching them and entangling their wings. Vytalians swarmed them quickly, even as they tried to tear and fire their way through the netting.

The giant of a chief himself saw fit to literally drag one of the beasts down to the earth himself, holding its maw shut and the flames at bay.

"Mind yourselves!" James shouted around. "The devils still have some juice in them!"

The mass of Vytalians had encircled and conformed around the higher ring of the village. This made maneuvering Jaune's cart all the easier. Even in the dark and unlit parts of the village, the moon and stars offered enough light to find the perfect spot to set his machine down on; a lone hill, lightly covered with grass, some stones for cover, a clear view of the sky.

This was a preplanned spot. Jaune had spent hours finding it. Several dozen more hours getting just the right route from the smithy to the perch that would be unhindered by either uneven roads, the heaviest of sheep groupings, or even where the village chief made his rounds during any raid.

This was weeks in the making. Jaune would make it count.

He opened the cart and allowed the mechanized machine to pull forth. The bola did not spring out, thankfully. It waited this time. Waited to be fired. The rest of the machine did it's work in unlatching a wide pair of tension prods, setting the springs for launch, and was already pre-pulled and good to go. Just as his designs had calculated they would go. Vytalians were used to making things from wood and iron, but the device of Jaune's own design seemed almost foreign and advance by comparison to the cruder workings of the rest of his home.

It would have been a marvel anywhere else in the world.

In Vytal, it was a space-taker.

"He made a ballista," Weiss remarked, sounding surprisingly impressed. "That doofus actually managed to make a ballista. That is r-remarkably advanced…"

"Why's that?"

"The ballista was invented over two-thousand years ago," Ruby spoke up, looking excitedly at the new weapon. "Based on the designs and materials used by the Vytalians of this universe, I'd say the year this takes place is sometime around then. Iron is the furthest in technological smithing they are capable of. Screws and bolts are probably just being discovered. And iron was a tough material to work with in such times. The fact Jaune could actually make something so sleek and sturdy, not to mention compact and light, at a time where such craftsmanship was just being discovered suggests the Jaune here might be, in fact, a genius at weapons-making for his time." Ruby studied the screen a bit more, then widened her eyes. "That weapon is compact…and I haven't seen anything else like it yet in Vytal. What Jaune made might very well be the precursor to all mecha-shift weapons that will come afterwards in his universe. He is literally making machines and working with iron techniques centuries and millennia ahead of anything even remotely close to it for it's time!" The girl was practically gushing. "This is absolutely amazing…! The Jaune here is amazing!"

Everyone stared over at the local weapons-nut. "Uh, Ruby? Are you…?"

The red-cloaked girl blinked, turning her head to the others. "Oh. Oops. Sorry. Was thinking about weapons." She smiled, kind and simply. The others weren't sure what to make of any of that.

"Yeah, we, uh…we kinda figured…"

But Jaune would prove them wrong. He took position at the back of his machine and eyed the stars.

A shift in the gleam. A stutter in the light. Anything. Anything at all would be enough.

"Come on," he whispered. "Gimme something to shoot at, gimme something to shoot at…"

Jane was patient. Patient, but anxious. The roars of dragons from the village were quiet so far from the action, but he wouldn't be distracted. Eyes to the sky, look for even the slightest shimmer.

And then he heard it. A low cry over the waters.

A familiar cry. The cry of the Night Fury.

Yang smiled. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

Jaune tensed as a shape could only just be made out over the stars. It was moving fast, wings spread and not quiet diving towards any specific spot or target as was the norm. Perhaps it was hunting? Or waiting? Waiting for the moment to strike again? Jaune didn't know. Didn't think about it then. Just focused on the shape down the makeshift sight of his creation and took aim.

The cry grew louder. The sound of its attack. The familiar violet fireball slammed into one of the houses below the hill, lighting up the area in reds and blues. And then, the beast passed by. Its dark shape being shown so clearly down the devices sight.

The Night Fury was close. Closer then ever before to Jaune.

Pyrrha leaned forward in her seat. "Come on, Jaune. Come on…"

"You can do it," Ruby muttered. "Believe in yourself. Believe!"

Jaune was not a practiced shot. The light stung his eyes from the explosion. Instinct took over and he swung the device wide, aiming by only the vaguest of guesses where the fastest, most dangerous beast known to the isles of Vytal might have gone.

The bola launched skyward. The pushback from the machine knocked its owner straight on his rear. He barely had enough time to return his eyes upward when a new cry was heard from the monster.

This time, it wasn't the cry of a fireball. Nor the pre-emptive cry of an attack.

This time, the Night Fury sounded panicked. Surprised.

The whack of the bola also caught his ear.

The teens smiled all around.

"He got it!" Nora shouted, cheering.

"He closed his eyes and everything and still nailed him!" Ruby clapped her hands together and looked delighted.

Weiss pursed her lips. "It was a terrible shot," she said, then shrugged. "But, if it works, it works. Good effort, I suppose."

"Wow. High praise from Weiss here. What's next, are you going to give him a thumbs up for remembering to tie his shoes or remember to breathe in and out every few seconds? Tell him he's a really good boy for doing that?"

"Xiao-Long, your commentary needs work. Or better yet, just be quiet."

Jaune's lips curved upwards. He saw it. The beast. It was a hit. He saw the form, saw the light of the bola's spheres glistening and falling into the woods, saw the creature go down with it towards the far woods.

Jaune couldn't believe his eyes. "Oh, I hit it?" He asked no one in particular. His face split into a wider grin. "Yes! I hit it!" He jumped up, fists in the air, triumphant! "Oh, did anyone see that?!"

Kr-CRUNCH!

Jaune flinched, stopped in his cheer. He turned around, meeting the yellow eyes and wide, many-toothed snarl of the Monstrous Nightmare, standing right under his now crushed bola-launcher.

"Except for you…"

Yang couldn't help but huff out a laugh. "Okay, is it a multiversal norm for Jaune to always have the worst luck ever? 'Cause that's the impression I'm starting to get."

"But on that note," Nora stood up, "run your ass off, Jauney! Run!"

James had just wrestled the last of the Nadders down when he heard a familiar cry in the distance. His eyes turned, looking out of the cinders and fire to see a familiar, lanky form running down one of the hilltops. A Nightmare giving chase, snapping at his shins.

The large man groaned. Of all the times… "Do not let them escape!" He ordered, turning and running off for the hills.

Jaune was not the most agile or nimble of runners on even his best of days, but he found new inspiration from the molten-spewing creature that seemed only too interested in making him a corpse. He ran, wildly, without form or intention on any direction, and the Nightmare climbed on ever surface it could find like a spider while keeping it's target close and within a hair's length from its fire. It was getting closer, closer, closer and with a mouth full of teeth it reached out and-

Was stopped by the timely arrival of James.

The chief practically threw the monster down to the stone floors by its head, rolling with the thing, away from the boy. Both were back on their feet and claws in an instant, one measuring the other up once again. The Nightmare snarled and roared, asserting its dominance and presence. James adjusted his helm ever so slightly.

Then, from the dragon's throat, a heat flowed out. But instead of the powerful, great slabs of molten rock like before, only a trickle of fire came out and simpered to the floor.

It almost sounded like the monster gulped then. Its eyes were definitely wide and worried.

"You're all out," the chief growled out. He would not let his opponent rethink it's strategy; with bare hands and ferocity, James struck the maw of the beast several times, knocking it back away with great weight behind each thrust. The Nightmare, so intimidating before and a threat to the village entirely, cowered under the blows and made for the skies quickly.

"And this James guy just knocked the stuffing out of a dragon, barehanded." Yang laughed, disbelief on her features that mixed with the amazement. "Okay, it's official; this universe is pure awesome and everything is great. I want in it. I want to switch places with that world's version of me, please and thank you."

The Captain chuckled closer to the screen. "I'm afraid that isn't quite doable," he told her. "But I am very glad that you are enjoying the viewing, Ms. Xiao-Long. Very, very glad."

James of the Ironwoods was victorious once again. But he was not pleased with this fact.

"Oh. And there's one more thing you should know…"

One of the braziers Jaune had used to protect himself from the onslaught of the Nightmare had been charred and thinned out towards the bottom. The weight of the metal firepit above was too much for the now-damaged timber. The wood gave way and the metal fell to the side, revealing a wide-eyed and slightly sheepish looking apprentice blacksmith cowering right behind.

James glared down at him. Jaune gulped and watched as the brazier began to fall down the hill and through the village. It hit the walkways. Then one of the houses. Then another house. Then it went through the fencing. Some cries from Vytalians dashing around it. James's ire only rose. In the span of a few seconds, the boy had managed to do just as much damage to Vytal then even the dragons had.

Jaune could only manage a cringe, trying and failing to meet his chieftain's eyes, and gaze mournfully to the dirt. He could only manage a disappointed apology.

"Sorry, dad…"

Nora blinked at Jaune's words. "Wait, did he just call James-"

"Dad?!" Weiss screamed.

There was a mild bit of commotion from that.

"Wait, is our Jaune Atlesian military royalty?!" Ruby asked allowed.

"N-no, that's impossible," Pyrrha denied the idea, shaking her head. "H-he would have told his team. Told me, at least, if he were. A-and they don't even share the same last name, so that's also proof they aren't related."

"Unless it's a fake last name," Blake chimed. "It's not uncommon in old times for parents to send their kids off to foreign schools under pseudonyms for their protection. Can we really be certain 'Jaune Arc' is actually his name?" She raised an ebony brow in question.

"B-but wouldn't that mean James would be married? And he danced with Professor Goodwitch!"

"He might be divorced," Blake offered. "Or, whose to say our professor doesn't have some say in all of this, as well?"

Everyone had their attention on Blake now. Weiss looked positively stricken by the thoughts jumping around the room. Jaune? Related to the James Ironwood? Impossible…surely, it was impossible… "What do you mean, Blake?" The heiress was almost too afraid to ask.

"Professor Goodwitch is always making sure Jaune is alright in combat class," Blake said, allowing her thought to flow freely. "Glynda is always hounding him to do his homework. Pay attention in class. Be better then he was before. And they both have blond hair. General Ironwood and Ms. Goodwitch seem very close to one another, too. Do we really know how long they might have known each other? Ten years? Fifteen? Maybe over seventeen?" The number for Jaune's age went unsaid.

"Jaune did say his parents didn't want him to become a Huntsman…" Pyrrha muttered, intending for the words to be for herself alone but everyone heard her clearly. Her eyes were widening at the implication. "A-and it would make sense for Jaune's m…for a close relationship of Jaune to make sure he was safe and doing well, even if what he was doing was against their wishes. A good paren…a good person would make sure he was alright and succeeding and making friends." Pyrrha's throat was starting to dry out. Maybe she would take the Captain up on his drink offer soon. "It would…it would only make sense…"

"And his forged transcripts," Blake went on, a thought dawning on her. "What if they weren't forged just in the way we think they were? To hide his inexperience. What if they were made to hide his real name? What if Jaune Arc," she paused, mostly for dramatic effect, "is actually Jaune Ironwood…?"

The room was quiet. Too quiet. Like every mind was connecting the dots to some impossible, improbable puzzle in their minds. The full implications of a mystery none had considered even a remote likelihood of occurring.

But the connections were all there. All extreme, but doable. And for the wild minds of the youths, very much possible.

It was quiet. Until the Captain snorted.

"Okay, I'll be honest, Ms. Belladonna," the hooded man chortled, "you should write novels for a living if you ever get bored with being a Huntress. That imagination of yours is remarkable. Truly a gift to be shared."

Blake stared down at the man. Her eyes widened as the implication of what the Captain was saying dawned on her. All those thoughts and hypotheses were dashed in an instant. The bow on her head twitch and the girl felt an overwhelming sensation to run out of the room and find some space in the ship to curl up and die. "I was wrong?"

"Oh, very much so!" He laughed under his hood, waving his hand over to the girl. "But don't worry, I'm sure in the grand scheme of the universe, where all things are, have been, or will ever be, your idea was actually spot on. And that there is probably a version of Jaune who is the heir to General Ironwood's seat of power in Atlas. Who did forge transcripts to hide his identity from Beacon and integrate himself into his mother's place of work. Who did try to move out from the shadow of his father's shadow and become his own man through his own merits and make friends who didn't just see him as the son of the guy in charge of a military superpower," the Captain's tilted slightly to the side, still amused. "But I'm afraid that universe is not your own. Good guesses, though."

They certainly didn't feel like good guesses. More like the assumptions of someone with an overactive imagination.

"But if James Ironwood is the father of Jaune in this version of Vytal," Nora chimed up, "then wouldn't he also be the father of Jaune in our version of Remnant?"

Everyone looked down at the Captain, who looked to Nora and shook his head. "Like I said, every universe has different rules. Very, very different rules. Histories, too. And sometimes, different parents can pop up when the case of Jaune Arc comes up," he nodded. "In this universe, James of the Ironwoods had a son with his wife, now passed. A boy he would name 'Jaune.' And while your universe's version of James Ironwood may not be the boy's father, in this universe, they are blood-related and all." He pointed to the chieftain on screen. "Look at the man's eyes. Don't they look a little like the Jaune's here?"

The teens stared up between the father and the son. Both had blue eyes. While Jaune's were light and filled with innocence still, James's were hard and cold, but not entirely unfriendly. There was a distinction between the two, however. A similarity.

"Relationships can be very different and strange depending on where you look," the Captain continued. "Friends may be enemies. Enemies may be brothers. Or sisters. Lovers or more. The variety of creation cannot be underestimated." The Captain allowed his words to sink into the youths, turning himself back around to the screen. "Don't let yourselves be taken too deeply by thoughts of how everything works. You'll go mad before you go sane. Let yourself just enjoy the ride for now. It's easier that way."

The brazier did finally come to a stop at the bottom of the village and into the harbor. The damage was made worst when it actually managed to unfurl the netting that had many of the Nadders from earlier. Made even worst when the intelligent creatures had opted to use their former capturing ropes to snatch up the sheep and hull them over the burnt houses like some great sack of wool and meat.

No dragons caught. Few sheep remained. Every Vytalian eye glared in Jaune's direction. And what did the boy say in his defense?

"Okay, but I hit a Night Fury…"

As far as responses went, it was pretty poor. James thought the same, grabbing the boy by the back of his shirt and hoisting him again in the direction of Vytal's summit.

"Wait, Dad, it's not like the last few times! I mean, I really actually hit it!" His father wouldn't look him in the eye, continuing to drag him along. "You guys were busy and I had a very clear shot. It went down, just off Raven Point. Let's get a search party out there, before it-"

"STOP!" James stopped pushing his son along. He was not having any more of this. None. His eyes were tired now. The energy of the raid was gone. "Just…stop. Every time you step outside, disaster follows. Can you not see that I have bigger problems? Winter's almost here and I have an entire village to feed!" The responsibilities would only grow with the significant depletion of the herds.

Jaune pursed his lips. "Well, between you and me," he said, "the village could do with a little less feeding, don't ya think?" He meant it as a joke. Several of the Vytalians still looked curiously at their large bellies in response.

"Jaune, sometimes it's better to just keep your mouth shut after messing up like that. Especially when your dragon-crushing dad looks ready to strangle you."

The chief was not amused. "This isn't a joke, Jaune!" He groaned. "Why can't you follow the simplest of orders?!"

"I-I can't stop myself," Jaune answered weakly. "I see a dragon, and I have to just…kill it, you know? It's who I am, Dad." He didn't sound very convincing and James noticed.

"You are many things, Jaune. But a dragon killer is not one of them." He was too tired for this. And he would be tired for a good while longer. He could at least deal with one problem now, as his eyes glanced over the boy and to his friend. "Get back to the house. And Clover, make sure he gets there. I have his mess to clean up…"

The blacksmith did as he was instructed, moving behind the boy and giving him a light slap on the head for his troubles. He didn't appear anymore amused as his chieftain in regards to the boy. The headed away from the mess and the Vytalians, slow and dredging along.

But first, Jaune had to go through his peers.

"Quite the performance," came the sarcastic response from Melanie, who sneered and laugh from the side.

"I've never seen anyone mess up that badly," Cardin chuckled cruelly. "That helped!"

"Thank you, thank you," Jaune said sarcastically, lacking the energy to even roll his eyes. "I was trying, so…" He didn't finish. Why bother? Melanie, Miltia, Cardin and even quiet Dove were laughing at him. The only consolation was that Cardin got a face full of Clover's meaty hand to the face, pushing him over when he got a little too rambunctious for his tastes. Didn't stop the bigger teen from laughing himself silly still.

Only Yang stayed quiet and watchful through it all.

"Well," Yang spoke up, "at least I'm not as big a tool as the rest of those trolls. People make mistakes. It happens."

Blake pursed her lips. "The mistakes we make, though, can affect the lives of so many people if we're not careful. I know for a fact that I'm still paying for mine. I might be paying for them for the rest of my life."

Yang frowned to her partner. "Take it every day, one at a time, partner. That's all we can ever do sometimes. We'll see how long it really takes to clear your conscience."

Blake stared at her partner. The bright and always helpful Yang. She couldn't understand fully what it was like to be a terrorist, former or otherwise, but she was kind and there for her regardless. That's all you could ever be sometimes. And in a way, maybe it was the thought that counted here.

Blake offered a nod to her partner, smiled, then returned her eyes to the screen.

The blacksmith and his apprentice came to a large house at the top of one of Vytal's hills. Wooden like all others, but designed and painted too. It seemed almost older compared to the other, simpler and cruder buildings in the lower village. It had only light burns, for one. And the door was large and impressive to accommodate for its vast patriarch.

And all the while the duo trudged up the peak, Jaune groaned and complained.

"I really did hit one."

"Sure, Jaune."

"He never listens."

"Well, it runs in the family."

"And when he does," Jaune continued, "it's always with this…disappointed scowl. Like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich." He puffed out his chest at the step of the house's door. "Excuse me, barmaid!" He said, tone heavy and exaggerated. "I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring. I ordered an extra-large boy with beefy arms. Extra guts and glory on the side. This here, this is a talking fish bone!"

Weiss pursed her lips. "I feel as if I should speak up in defense of my sister's commanding officer and say that is a terrible impression."

Pyrrha hid her smile behind her hand. "But not inaccurate."

Clover did find the performance somewhat amusing if his smile was anything to go by. "Now, you're thinking about this all wrong," he said. "It's not so much what you look like, it's what's inside that he can't stand."

Jaune stared at his teacher and friend. "Thank you for summing that up…"

"Look, the point is," Clover tried again, he was terrible at this sort of thing, "stop trying so hard to be something you're not."

The words struck harder then Jaune thought they ever should have. He frowned as he opened the door to the cold and lonely house. "I just want to be one of you guys…"

He closed the door after, leaving Clover at the door. The bigger Vytalian, for what it was worth, felt for the boy. It wasn't easy being different. Lost leg and mangled arms were nice trophies for hitting up a good story of his courage against the creatures beyond the mists, but in truth? People did look at you differently. Didn't matter how you lost the leg and fought off a dragon, it still meant painful nights scratching at a limb that would never come back and having to be careful when walking down a flight of stairs. Being different was never easy, no matter how brightly you smiled and joked about it being all good. It was a struggle to pretend you were fine when you weren't.

And with that, Clover, with heavier heart, turned away from the door and went to do his duties.

He didn't hear the back door of the house open. Or the quick steps of the boy heading off to the forests near Raven Point.

"Phht, yeah," Yang smiled, rolling her eyes. "Saw that coming a mile away. Honestly, who didn't actually see that coming?"

\-\ JELLYBEAN /-/

Okay, so, this will be a two-parter.

Sorry for the late-in-the-day update. I worked on this for hours today. Probably already Saturday for some of us. I'm posting near midnight where I'm at.

Thanksgiving was more difficult to write during then I thought it would be. Turns out, holidays can be a tricky time to work around. Worked on this bad boy till late hours on Thursday and most of today because I just wanted to reach a certain point before calling it a Friday. Sorry for it coming out so late, and not being as lengthy as the other chapters, but I promise this won't be the norm. Just a holiday thing.

I'll post the finishing for this next week and start on a new movie the following after. Again, really sorry about this one. I really did want to finish this up nicely, but life got a bit more complicated then I expected. Shouldn't be the norm, though.

Also, I want to say thank you to everyone who has been leaving me reviews, giving my story favorites and follows, and so on. From the reviews, I get inspiration. It helps me figure out what everyone likes and gives me ideas. Plus, it helps others who are looking for a good RWBY story, or at least one to pass the time on, to find my work and possibly also favorite/follow it to pass their time, as well. It inspires me to work more and know that, even moderately, I'm not pissing off someone with my sub-par writing skills. I want to thank everyone here for that.

Anyway, hope everyone is enjoying their week and let's get onto December!

Peace!

Next Chapter: 3rd December