Still Month Four
Fluss and Saxum Are both stubborn.
I, as the Master of Wind, Understand that the two may
Share some features, but they fail to realize
They are nothing compared to Joules Arc,
She is a true Force of nature
-Bagyo Arc "Tales from the Alliance"
Later that day
'W-was t-that T-the Fi-first S-spinjitzu Master,' Jaune thought, shaking and hyperventilating. 'Okay, never opening that scroll again!' Jaune thought, calming himself down, closing the Scroll, and putting it away.
Jaune was terrified but also intrigued. The First Spinjitzu Master was a figure that only appeared briefly in a few books and even fewer scrolls, but the way people and the books and scrolls describe him is almost god-like. To see him appear and fight the Oni, one of if not the only beings to be able to counter Spinjitzu naturally. It made him want more, but at the same time, seeing the Oni face to face was terrifying.
"Okay, no need to be afraid the Oni are long gone. Gotta keep training to clear my mind," Jaune told himself.
Jaune spent the rest of that day in the training course to help clear his mind. When his family came back, they all had a nice dinner. That night Jaune had a nightmare for the first time in a long time.
The Next Day
"I'm going out!" Jaune calls out to his family.
"Alright, honey, stay safe," Arturia responds, sitting in the living room.
"Where do you think he's going?" Magenta asks her sisters.
"Probably to the tea shop," Saphron responds, reading something on her Scroll.
"Tea shop?" Arturia asks, starting to worry.
"Yeah, it's in the marketplace. Jaune likes the place," Saphron tells her mother.
"I've never seen a tea shop in the marketplace before," Arturia responds, having lived in the town most of her life.
"It's new. According to Jaune, the shop is a traveling one, and it's only going to stay here for a few more months," Saphron tells her mother.
"As long as it's safe," Arturia says, calming down.
At Mystake's Tea Shop
"Something troubling you?" Mystake asks.
"Yeah, how did you know?" Jaune responds
"Us old people can always tell," Mystake says, handing Jaune his tea. "That and you're biting your lip, and you only do that when something is bothering you."
"Huh," Jaune lifts his teeth from his lips, not noticing he was doing that.
"See, told ya," Mystake says with a smug grin.
"Thanks," Jaune says, taking a drink from his tea.
"Now that's over, what's bothering ya?" Mystake asks, taking a seat by Jaune.
"It's a bit weird. I saw something, and now I can't unsee it," Jaune said, staring into his tea before taking a sip.
"Oh, did you see your parents doing it?" Mystake asks.
*Pffff* "NO!" Jaune yells, putting down his cup.
"Heh, just messing with you. In all seriousness, what did you see?" Mystake asks in a serious tone.
"It had dark purple eyes, two giant horns, and four arms. It looked skeletal and had white marking all over its body," Jaune tried to explain, knowing that no one would know about the Oni.
"So you saw an Oni? Bah, you have nothing to worry about. They aren't around anymore," Mystake assures him.
"You know what an Oni is!?" Jaune exclaims, surprised.
"Heh, of course, I've been around for a long time, Jaune. You don't get to be as old as I am and not see some strange things," Mystake explains in an amused tone.
"But I've read all sorts of history books, and there has never been any mention of the Oni," Jaune tells her, confused.
"Huh, I Wouldn't expect you to. You've only been in Vale when you've traveled around the world like I have you learn many things," Mystake informs him.
"Wow, I wouldn't expect that," Jaune admits, sitting back on his chair.
"Why? Is it cause I'm a tea seller," Mystake asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, kinda … I just realized you could help me!" Jaune exclaims.
"Help you how?" Mystake asks with a raised eyebrow.
"If you know about the Oni, you might know how to read the older scrolls!" Jaune exclaims.
"Scrolls?" Mystake asks.
"Oh, they're a bunch of old paper scrolls I found, and I've been reading them to help in my training," Jaune explains.
"Using old scrolls to help train, why not use more modern methods?" Mystake questions.
"Because they have the condensed knowledge of my ancestors. If they worked for them, then they'll work for me," Jaune explains, finishing his tea.
"That's a good reason, all right. Bring me some scrolls tomorrow, and I'll see what I can do," Mystake tells him, grabbing the empty cup and taking it to wash it.
"Why tomorrow?" Jaune asks, getting up from his chair.
"Because it's late, you need to get home," Mystake tells him.
"Alright, see ya," Jaune said, leaving.
'I hope he turns out better than him,' Mystake thought to herself, remembering a bad memory. 'Another mistake added to my name.'
That night Jaune slept better, knowing there could be someone to help him decipher the language of the older scrolls.
The Next Morning
Jaune had awoken early, got a backpack, and stuffed as many books and scrolls as he could. He told his parents where he would be and left, not knowing that his sisters wanted to spend the day with him. Getting to Mystake's tea shop, she closed that day.
"So I get the scrolls, but why the books?" Mystake asks.
"The books because they have tales about my ancestors. I want to know them better," Jaune responds.
"Hum, I respect that," Mystake concedes. 'This one is called "Elements, and you" better not show him that one yet. "Spinjitzu and you," no, not that one. Oh, what about.'
"ahh, here's one I think you'd like," Mystake tells Jaune grabbing a different scroll.
"Hum, what is it?" Jaune asks, looking over to Mystake.
"It says "The Fundamental Understanding of The Balance," I think this is necessary for your training," Mystake says, holding out the Scroll.
"Thanks, Mystake, I'll use this to help," Jaune exclaims, grabbing the Scroll.
"Anytime, kiddo. Now since we spent all day here, why not some tea?" Mystake asks, heading towards her shop.
"Oh, um, I don't have any lien on me right now," Jaune says with a sheepish smile.
"Heh, don't worry about it. It's on the house," Mystake tells him.
"Oh, thanks. Can I have some lemon honey tea?" Jaune asks with an excited smile.
"Of course," Mystake says.
The two spent the rest of the day drinking tea and Mystake telling him the translated stories from the books Jaune couldn't read. Jaune returned home and would sleep, and for the remainder of the month, he would use the scrolls Mystake had suggested to read and continue his training.
Month Five
This month was more of the same. Jaune increased his training weights to 45 pounds each. Jaune had already chosen a fighting style similar to the one used by his ancestor Julius Arc, a simple one-handed sword style. With the help of his sisters, the course was now four-fifths of the way done, and Jaune was using it even more. Jaune still had time for his family, but with all the new training he was doing, he was ignoring his family, but he still did well with his school work.
Jaune had switched the training sword he was using from the first one, which the sword now wore, and Jaune felt it was too light for him. So he switched to a bigger, longer, heavier sword like Crocea Mors.
"Today, we have a nice family outing, and everyone has to go," Arturia announced at breakfast.
"Aw!"
"Come on!"
"Really!"
"Can't we do this on a different day!?"
"I had plans today!"
"Nope, we are having a family day, and everyone has to go!" Arturia says, leaving no room to argue.
"Fine!" everyone in the room sans Arturia exclaimed.
"So, what are we doing, honey?" John asked, unaware of his wife's plans for today.
"Oh, nothing fancy, just a nice picnic out in the park, so you all don't have to worry about a thing," Arturia informs them.
"But we just had breakfast." Lapis and Lazuli both exclaimed.
"That doesn't matter. It's an afternoon trip. I'm just letting you all know," Arturia told them.
"Alright, so when do we leave?" Bordeaux asks the only one that didn't have anything planned that day.
"Well, leave at around 1 o'clock, so you all have time," Arturia tells them, cleaning up the table.
'Well, there goes a training day,' Jaune thought, slightly disappointed. 'But this is fine. I have been ignoring them a bit,' Jaune thought, looking at his sisters.
"Well, I think that's a good idea, mom," Bordeaux said, always up to spend time with her family.
"If we have to, then I'm okay with it," Magenta said, wanting to spend time with Jaune having spent the least amount of time with him since he started to train.
"Well, I was going to go jog at the park anyway. Anyone wants to join?" Jaune asks, looking at his sisters.
"I'll join you," Magenta responded with a smile.
"I'll join you too," Olive added.
"Great, I won't get bored now," Jaune said, looking at them with a smile.
"I'll let you all know when we'll be leaving," Arturia told them.
The time between breakfast and noon passed quickly, or at least it felt like it. Everyone left to prepare. Jaune prepared for his jog by putting on his usual blue jeans, red shirt, a tube of sunscreen, and BorgIndustries Borg Pods 3™ loaded with his favorite songs.
"Everyone, it's time to go!" Arturia calls out from the first floor.
"Coming!" Everyone in the house responds.
"Alright, is everybody ready?" Arturia asks, looking at them.
"I know I am. You helped, my dear," John says, holding the food basket.
"I'm ready to spend some time with you all and share some college stories," Bordeaux says, looking at her siblings.
"As the one to go to college next, I like to hear those stories," Saphron responds, looking ready to spend the day out in the sun.
"We just want to spend some time relaxing. The school has been a nightmare," Lapis and Lazuli say at the same time.
'I swear they practice that,' Jaune thought to himself.
"Well, I'm going to spend some time with Jaune Jogging," Magenta says, prepared to go for a long walk.
"Hey, don't forget about me. I'm going with you. You think we'll see something cool?" Olive interjects in her "adventuring" outfit.
"I'm hoping we at least set up somewhere with shade," Azur says, already covered head to toe in sunscreen and bug repellent.
"Well, as I said, I was going to the park for a jog anyways," Jaune said, stretching with his Borg Pods 3™, ready to play music.
"Well, everyone can do their own thing after we have lunch together," Arturia says, still happy that her family will spend time together.
"Well then, let's get going. Times a wastin," John said, getting everyone's attention.
"Right to the park!" Arturia announces, and everyone exits.
At The Park
They arrive at the town park and find a nice shaded area as per Azur's request. Arturia had packed food to cater to everyone's preferences. For herself, a simple salad and water. It was still warm steak cut up into cubes and a soda for John. For Bordeaux, a Valian salad and sparkling water. For Saphron simple sandwiches and a soda. For Lapis and Lazuli, she made burgers and a juice, for Magenta some cheeseburgers and a soda, for Olive some hotdogs and a soda, for Azur a Mistrailian salad and water, and finally, for Jaune some sandwiches and some tea.
"Eat up, everyone!" Arturia announces as they all sit and enjoy their meals.
"Thank you, honey. So how has the year been treating all of you?" John asks the rest, taking a sip of his drink.
"Well, the college has been hectic but mainly positive," Bordeaux says before taking a bite of her salad.
"Now that's something I want to know more about," Saphron responds.
"Well, we've been messing with some of the bullies at school," Lapis and Lazuli say together with mischievous smiles.
"Did you leave any evidence?" Jaune asks the twins. His dad and the twins are the only ones he can "ninja" around.
Scoffing, "What are we amateurs," the two respond, mock hurt at the insinuation.
"Please don't encourage them, Jaune, and you two, please don't do anything too extreme," John says, sighing at his kids.
"I've been working at beating some of the records at school," Magenta brags.
"Ha, I'll beat them next year, so why try," Olive responds in a cocky tone.
"Oh, I'd be scared if you weren't a year behind, and even then, I'm still the stronger of us," Magenta.
"Oh, is that a challenge?" Olive questions with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a fact," Magenta responds with a cocky smile.
"We'll see, Jaune. Do you need a training partner?" Olive asks with a plan in mind.
"Oh, uhh, I wouldn't mind any extra help," Jaune responds with a smile.
"Well, that was something," Bordeaux comments on the minor spat between Magenta and Olive.
"Well, my year has been interesting. It mainly started after Jaune was allowed to train. After that, it went into a strange spiral, neither good nor bad, just interesting," Azur says, playing around with her salad.
"Yeah, the past few years have been weird. I've learned so much, and I've got a new favorite drink," Jaune says, taking a sip of his honey-lemon tea. "And I have a new favorite hang-out place, even if it's temporary," he finishes with a smile.
"Well, since we're done, I'll leave you all to do what you wish," Arturia says, wiping her face with a napkin.
Rising and stretching, "well, come on, Magenta Olive, you said you'd join me for my jog," Jaune reminded them.
"I'm going. Give me a second," Magenta says, wiping crumbs off her.
"Yeah, hold on," Olive says, wiping ketchup off her face.
The three rush off, jogging on the path.
"So about those college stories?" Saphron asks Bordeaux with a cheeky smile.
"Oh yeah, let me tell you about this crazy party my roommate took me to," Bordeaux and Saphron talk about college and what to expect when Saphron goes next year and how it can affect her relationship.
"Well, while they talk about that, want to set up a prank for Jaune when he gets back?" Lapis asks Lazuli with a mischievous smile.
"It's like you read my mind," Lazuli responds, holding a bag of water balloons.
"Hm, I should stop them, but I won't. I'm going to need entertainment later," Azur says to herself.
With Jaune, Magenta, and Olive
"So, what exactly is all this training for?" Magenta asks, having the slightest knowledge of Jaune's training.
"Oh, haven't I told you already?" Jaune asks, confused.
"No, if you had, I wouldn't have asked," Magenta tells him with a deadpan expression.
"Oh well, um, I'm using some of the scrolls that I found, and they have some training steps in them, so I've been learning from them. That's the reason I asked Olive and Azur to help me build the training course," Jaune says, taking out one of his Borg Pods from his ear.
"It's true I saw him stare at a scroll for fifteen minutes before blinking and then rushing off to the training course," Olive added.
'Huh, that means only the person reading the Scroll sees the process. Good to know,' Jaune thought.
"Yeah, well, some of the scrolls are a bit hard to read, and I need to concentrate on them," Jaune excuses himself.
"Huh, so how far have you progressed?" Magenta asks, wanting to see how she compares to Jaune.
"Well, the weights on my arms and legs are 45 pounds each," Jaune answers with a sheepish smile.
"O-oh um, cool," Magenta responds 'holy shit, how is he still walking?!' Magenta thought with wide eyes after doing the quick math and figuring out that Jaune had 180 pounds on his person.
"You can say that again. Jaune's been beating me at arm wrestling recently, but I've been going easy on him," Olive adds, not wanting to be weaker than a 12-year-old.
"Wow!" 'holy shit,' Magenta responds, knowing that Olive inherited a large amount of natural strength from their father, being able to take on people a few years older than her and still come out on top.
"It's neat, but the weights already feel too light, so I'm thinking of increasing them to 50 pounds," Jaune says with a smile.
"Where do you even get these!?" Magenta asks, wanting to know where Jaune got this idea.
"Oh well, I got them at a huntsman training shop. They use gravity dust to amplify their weight," Jaune responds.
"Huh, and here I thought they were just made of really heavy stuff," Olive says, wondering about the weights, never questioning because it always slips her mind.
"Nah, they're made of this stretchy material and spreads the dust throughout the band," Jaune explains further.
"Huh, like dust-weaved clothes?" Magenta asks, having heard of the clothes.
"Dust weaving?" Jaune asks, confused.
"Oh, um, it's when someone incorporates dust into the weaving process for clothes, and then you can use the dust. I'm not sure how but it's been used mainly in the great war and the Faunus revolution because of the lack of metal for weapons," Magenta told him, explaining as best as she could with limited knowledge.
"Oh, neat, I don't know. I'll ask the guy later when I go for new weights," Jaune responded.
"Uh, guys, how long till we get back to the others?" Olive asks, unsure of how much time has passed since they started walking.
"Oh, um, well, I'm pretty sure that we'll see them in a bit if we keep walking," Jaune responds, only now noticing that they've been walking the entire time.
"Race ya!" Magenta says, running ahead.
"Hey! No fair!" Olive yells back.
Shaking his head, "Wait for me!" Jaune runs after the two, catching up quickly.
'Holy shit, he's gotten fast!' Magenta thinks, having seen Jaune catching up despite her head start.
'Wow, he's improved,' Olive thinks, proud of her brother.
The three race each other and get towards the rest of their family, not noticing the shadows watching from the trees.
"FIRE!" A voice calls out from the trees before *SPLASH* the three are hit with ice water balloons.
"What the hell!"
"Dear Oum!"
"By the grace of the First Spinjitzu Master!"
"Ha got 'em," a now more familiar voice calls out.
"Yeah, did you see their faces? Ha!" another voice calls out just as familiar.
"LAPIS LAZULI!"
"Better make a run for it,"
"Right behind you,"
"Get! Back! Here! You! Two!" Magenta calls out in pure rage, chasing the two.
"You two won't get away with this!" Olive calls out not too far behind them.
"You two have done it this time!" Jaune calls out, pissed that they ruined his Borg Pods3™.
"What is going on here!?" Arturia asks with an irritated tone staring down at her children.
"U-um,"
"W-well y-you see-e,"
"Those two waited in the trees and threw water balloons full of ice water at the three, likely ruining Jaunes Borg Pods3™," Azur explains, having seen the entire thing.
"Is that so?" Arturia asks in a worryingly calm tone.
"Um, well,"
"Maybe,"
"When we get home, you two are grounded for a month, and I'm confiscating all of your prank materials," Turning towards Jaune. "Don't worry, dear I'll take you to get some new Borg Pods, alright,"
"Okay," Jaune responds.
"Well, on that note, it's getting late. We should probably head back now," John says, getting everyone's attention.
"I was getting to that," Arturia responds.
"All right," most of the siblings respond.
"Saphron! Bordeaux! We're leaving!" John calls out to the two who ignored the entire event.
"Oh, um, coming,"
"Right on my way,"
The family headed back home, and the twins had to empty their room of all prank material. Other than that, the rest of that night went by peacefully.