They thought they could
Beat me with those rigid movements
Uninspired, unoriginal, uncreative, and predictable
While I flowed like a river, unending
Unstoppable
-Fluss Arc "The ways of the Spinjitzu Master."
Time Skip - a few days
"This is the day he comes back, and now I can only sit back and wait for what happens," Jaune told himself, sitting on his bed.
Jaune hadn't been able to get a chance to get a new scroll all week. He also hadn't been able to train as much as he'd like, but that was mainly his sister's fault for constantly bugging him.
*Knock knock knock*
"Jaune, your father is going home in a few hours. I know you two haven't been getting along but be there to greet him, ok," Arturia informs Jaune.
"I'll be there, don't worry," Jaune reassures his mother with his signature smile.
"Alright, but please put your grudge aside while greeting," Arturia asked her son.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure of Arc's word," Jaune reassured her.
"Thank you. I'll call you down when your father's close," Arturia told him as she left, closing the door behind her.
*Sigh*. 'If mom can convince dad to help me train, that's the best scenario. The worst case is one of my sisters somehow found out about the scroll, and dad destroys them as a result,' Jaune thought to himself, going over the many scenarios that could happen.
He gets up and goes to where he keeps the scroll and rereads it. After about a week, the process where the images appeared to him stopped. However, the images on the scroll still moved.
He looked over the scroll and read the stances for simple sword stances.
'I've been able to learn a few of the stances and sword swings,' Jaune thought, reading the stances he hadn't been able to learn correctly yet.
"Jaune, your father, is back in the village, and he'll be back in a few minutes. Come down to greet him," Arturia calls him down.
Sighing again, Jaune closes the scroll, gets ready, and goes downstairs. His mom and sisters are already waiting. He takes the last free spot, coincidentally the farthest from the door.
"Huh, didn't think you'd be here," Magenta called out to him.
"Why would you think that?" Jaune asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Jaune, I've told you already we know about your and dad's recent arguing," Saphron reminded him.
"Huff, could you make your arguments a bit quieter, by the way," Magenta asks sarcastically.
"Sorry for being this close to having a falling out with our dad," Jaune responded with an eye roll while holding his thumb and index finger close together.
"Only that close," Magenta remarks.
"Still, it is surprising that you came down, brothers. May I inquire why," Azur asks?
"I might have had a few arguments with him, but he's still my dad, and it's not like I hate him. I'm down here because I still want to know he's safe," Jaune answered.
"Children, quiet down your father is approaching the door," Arturia tells them.
They are all quiet as the doorknob starts to turn, and John is welcomed by his entire family when he opens the door.
He was pleasantly surprised at the fact that Jaune was there and was the loudest in the greeting.
"Well, at least I know I'm still loved here," John jokes, hugging everyone.
"We'll always love you," Jaune tells him.
"How was the mission, dear," Arturia asked him.
"It was successful. We were able to clear the Grimm and relocate the people while the buildings were reconstructed," John explained. "I'll give the full details later, but I'd like to rest now."
As everyone disperses, Arturia takes John to their room to rest and talk. The siblings took care of the house while their parents rested and talked.
"Bordeaux and I will take care of lunch. You all decided who does what," Saphron tells the rest as she and Bordeaux walk to the kitchen.
"We'll take care of sweeping," Lapis and Lazuli declare together, running off to get the brooms.
"I shall prepare the bucket for mopping," Azur stated, leaving for the garage to begin.
"I'll take out the trash," Jaune told the rest going upstairs for the trash.
"Well, it looks like we have to make sure everything is where it goes," Magenta said, dragging Olive behind her.
Meanwhile, in the parent's rooms.
"So, how's it been in the time since I've been gone?" John asks, putting away his gear and grabbing some clothes for a shower.
"It's been fine, but there is something that I've wanted to talk to you about," Arturia responds.
"Is it about Jaune?" John asks, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, I've wanted to talk about this for a long time now, but I've already talked to Jaune, and I think you should give him a chance to train," Arturia tells him.
"You know exactly why I haven't trained him. You supported my decision at the beginning. Why change now?" John asked.
"I supported your decision, but now I've seen that it's making a rift between you and Jaune, and I don't want that," Arturia answers.
"I know Jaune and I have had some arguments in the past, but I think calling it a rift is a bit much," John retorts.
"It isn't an exaggeration, Jaune doesn't look up to you as much, and it feels like he's trying to avoid you," Arturia tells him.
"I understand that, but he's still young. He'll get over it eventually," John reasons.
"And how long will that take, weeks, months, years. Jaune's an Arc. You know how stubborn they can be if he puts his mind to it, he can stop talking to you, and there isn't anything you can do about it," Arturia tells him.
"I know what I'm doing!" John responds.
"I don't think you do. What you're doing will create a permanent rift between you!" Arturia warns him.
"What do you suggest then train him and see him fight and die at a young age," John suggests sarcastically.
"Better knowing that he went out doing the thing he loves rather than see him live a miserable life forced onto him," Arturia responds.
"Fine, I won't train him, but I won't bar him from training. I will take over his training if he can meet my expectations in one year. Is that ok for you?" John suggests.
"That is fine, but you must ensure that his sisters don't interfere," Arturia compromises.
"That is fine. I will inform Jaune of this decision tomorrow," John tells her.
"Very well, we should probably go eat lunch now," Arturia responds.
"I'll go shower now and go for lunch when done," John says, going to the bathroom.
"I'll see you then," Arturia responds, heading to the dining room.
In the dining room
"I am never helping you do chores again," Olive tells Magenta, both currently covered in random objects stuck to their bodies.
"It was fun, and you know it," Magenta rebuffs, removing a few of the objects.
"Well, at least you didn't almost get stabbed by the weapons in the armory," Olive points out.
"Well, all's well that ends well. Come on. I want to see what Saph and Borde made for lunch," Magenta says.
"I just hope that it isn't a casserole," Olive shuddered, remembering the last time Saphron tried to make a casserole.
"Don't worry; I learned my lesson from last time. Besides, Borde would have stopped me anyway," Saphron says, entering the dining room with plates and utensils.
"Yeah, I would have, seriously. I think you almost gave us food poisoning with that thing," Bordeaux said, wearing oven mitts and holding a pot.
"That smell great what you make?" Jaune asks, entering the room.
"Yes, I too would like to know what you two have made for lunch?" Azur asks, entering behind Jaune.
"We made a nice beef stew with some potatoes and carrots," Saphron exclaims with a smile.
"That's your father's favorite dish, you know," Arturia says, entering the room.
"I know that's why I suggested making it," Bordeaux said, setting the pot down.
"I wanted spaghetti with meatballs, but Borde made a great argument," Saphron explains, passing the plates around the table.
"Well, we're starving, so let's eat," Lapis and Lazuli exclaim together, already sitting down, ready to eat.
Everyone sits down, Bordeaux serves the stew and passes the plates, and everyone gets ready to eat.
"Someone knows what my favorite is," John says, entering the dining room and sitting down for some lunch.
"Yeah, we did. I hope you like it," Bordeaux said, passing him a bowl.
"I already know I will," John says, grabbing his spoon, ready to eat.
The rest of that day was peaceful; the next one probably won't be.
The Next Day
It was the morning around 8 o'clock, and John was pacing around his room, still not wanting to see Jaune become a Huntsman but also needing to keep his word and allow Jaune to keep training.
"Honey, you've been pacing for about an hour already. Just tell him," Arturia tells John.
"I know, but I still really don't want to," John responds.
Arturia rolls her eyes, gets up, and starts pushing John to the hallway.
"Tell him. I know Jaune will surpass your expectations, so tell him," Arturia tells him after pushing John into the hallway.
I guess you're right. I'll do it," John says, heading towards Jaune's room.
Jaune was sitting in his room reading one of the books from the library. "The Great Accomplishments of The Elemental Alliance" was entertaining because it portrayed the members of The Alliance as campy heroes saying quips and one-liners while fighting.
"Heh, I love Joules. She's hilarious and violent," Jaune says, reading about the master of lightning adventures.
*Knock Knock Knock*
"Hm," Jaune exclaims, getting up to open the door.
"Jaune, I want to talk to you," John said on the other side of the door.
'Oh, is this the whole 'I will tell you a true story when I return of why being a huntsman isn't what you think it is' thing he said before he left?' Jaune thought, opening the door.
"So are we gonna talk in the hallway or my room?" Jaune asks, opening the door.
"Your room," John confirms, entering the room.
"So, what do you want to talk about? I already know the answer, but I'd still like to hear it," Jaune says, closing the door.
"It's related to what you're thinking about but not that exact topic," John confirms, sitting down in a chair.
"Ok, so what are we talking about?" Jaune asks, sitting down on his bed.
"Son, your mother talked to me when I got home and a bit more after dinner. I've come to a decision. I will let you train, but before you get too excited, I want you to know I won't help you, but I won't stop you, and I'll make sure your sisters don't bother you," John tells Jaune.
'Thank you, mom,' Jaune thought.
"Really!" Jaune exclaims.
"Yes, you'll get access to the armory and any information on fighting from the library. You'll only get a year before I'll test you, and if you don't meet my expectations, I want you to give up on becoming a huntsman," John said, getting severe towards the end.
"Fine, I accept, but I want something," Jaune also responds in a severe tone.
"What do you want?" John asks.
"The scrolls I found. I know you hid them for a reason, and I want to learn why," Jaune says.
"Very well, I will give them to you, and from this day forward, you can train as much as you want. Arc's word," John says.
"I accept, and I'll give my word that if I don't meet your expectations in a year, I will give up on being a Huntsman. Arc's word," Jaune says, holding out his hand, and his father takes it, and the two shake hands, solidifying the agreement.