Jaune Age: 14
Location: Mistral's Hanging Temples
"Mystake, why are we here?" Jaune asks, looking around at the temple.
"I know I told you we would work to further your Elemental Mastery, but there is one facet of Spinjitzu that I had forgotten about," Mystake explains.
"Okay, but why are we here? This place was abandoned decades ago," Jaune says, seeing the decrepitated state of the temple.
"Yes, I know, but it's the only place I'm aware of that still has a specific scroll we need," Mystake explained, reaching for some old scrolls on the self.
"Scroll, but we have a lot of them back at camp," Jaune says, a strange shiver going through his back.
"Not this one. This is a scroll placed here by a former Alliance for safety reasons," Mystake told him.
"But why here? This place was abandoned because of the Grimm. How could this place possibly be safe?" Jaune asks, seeing the damage on the walls.
"When the scroll was placed here, it was considered safe," Mystake told him as she led him to the temple library. "We're here. Wait here while I find the Scroll," she tells him.
"Got it," Jaune responds, curious about the Scroll's content around him.
Mystake nods and goes deeper into the library. Jaune begins to look around in the section he was left in. Suddenly a shadow passed and, going unnoticed, hid in the space within the books.
"Hmm," Jaune looked up from the Scroll he was reading after feeling strange. Seeing nothing strange, he returned to his Scroll.
The shadow observed Jaune. It had been trapped in the temple for centuries and wanted out. It saw Jaune as its way out to be released finally. However, there was something that made its plan nearly impossible. Mystake, the spirit, was able to recognize the Oni sensing the powerful magic within her and how she would be able to end it if it tried anything.
But it hadn't survived for so long without learning a thing or two, and it realized that Jaune wished to learn, so it knew what to do. It used its power to create an illusion to make Jaune's scroll blank.
"Huh?" Jaune saw that the Scroll became blank as he closed it and opened it again.
The spirit crept closer and closer, ready to possess Crocea Mors as a means to escape. Until Jaune turned around, rolled up the Scroll, and placed it on the table he was supposed to be staying at.
"That's strange. I should try a different one," Jaune says, going for a different scroll on the shelves.
The spirit hid beneath the shelves fuming at its failure, but it got a different idea.
Jaune reached for a different scroll before he had a strange feeling to recheck the Scroll. He turned around and saw the Scroll unrolled and its contents returned.
"Huh, I could've sworn it was," Jaune began before trailing off, seeing the Scroll had its writing back. "oh, I must have imagined it," he said, picking it back up.
The spirit had possessed the Scroll and was changing its contents to keep Jaune entertained. He was fascinated by the Scroll that told of times before the Alliance, the earliest period of humanity.
"Found it!" Mystake said, coming back with an ornate scroll larger than any of the other scrolls in the library.
Jaune quickly used his training to hide his Scroll, created a small fireball, and attempted to shape it to make it look like he hadn't been reading the Scroll. "Oh hey, what took you so long?" he asked, dispelling the fireball.
"Did you think this thing was left out in the open or something?" Mystake sarcastically asked, gesturing to the Scroll. "Anyways, I had to disable a few safeguards, and they were tedious," she explained.
"Neat, so what's so important about the scroll anyways?" Jaune asked, staring at the fancy Scroll.
"This is the 'Scroll of Airjitzu,'" Mystake says, holding it up.
"Airjitzu?" Jaune asks. In the stories and scrolls he's read, he hasn't heard of it.
"Airjitzu is an evolution of Spinjitzu created by Master Yang. It gives one the ability to fly. It was made for the Spinjitzu Masters, that once fought alongside the Alliance before it became only the six Masters," Mystake told him, using 'Storytellers Tea' to create a smoke illusion behind her as an example while she tells her story.
"Cool, I'm going to learn how to use Airjitzu?" Jaune asked, bouncing on his feet.
"Yup, normally Elemental Masters don't bother learning this since most can learn how to fly using their Elements, but because of your motion sickness, I think it will be better if you learn this instead," Mystake told Jaune.
"Cool," Jaune said excitedly.
"Now tell me what this is?" Mystake asked, holding up the Scroll Jaune was reading.
"What, but how!?" Jaune asked, patting his pants pocket.
"Kid, I'm a master. You seriously thought I didn't notice?" Mystake asked with a cheeky smile.
"Ye-yeah…" Jaune said bashfully, looking down.
"Heh, cute, but seriously what is this?" Mystake asked, examining the Scroll.
"It was a scroll full of stories I thought were interesting," Jaune answered.
"Is that it?" Mystake asked, her eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, that's it," Jaune said nervously.
*Sigh* "If you want to take a scroll, ask. The Alliance and their allies used this temple. You're allowed to use any resources within it," Mystake said, tossing the Scroll back to Jaune.
"Thanks. Now I feel silly for trying to hide it," Jaune said, catching the Scroll and scratching the back of his head.
"Don't worry about it now. Come, the sooner we start training, the faster you can master this," Mystake said, leading him out of the library.
"Alright, let's go," Jaune said, putting the Scroll in his back pocket.
'Ha ha ha ha ha,' the spirit laughed to itself since it had managed to sneak past Mystake. Using Jaune's lingering Elemental Radiation to mask its presence, it finally escaped.
Jaune Age: 15
Location: Training Island on The edge of Mistral
Jaune had been left on the island for a few months. He'd spent the longest time away from Mystake. He needed to learn how to survive on his own. Jaune was in a small camp he had made on the island. It was a few hours before midnight.
Jaune was wearing a Gi he called 'Island' yes, he is very good at naming things, thank you for asking. His Gi was worn and tattered with a few stitches to fix any tears. His hair had also grown uncontrollably, with part covering one of his eyes.
*Sigh* "This one's for you, Mystake," Jaune said, lifting a cup of 'Remembrance Tea' and drinking it. "Happy Day of The Departed," he said, placing the cup down.
*Hum*
"Huh," Jaune says, standing up and looking around. "Who's there?" he asked, igniting a fireball in his left hand.
"How noble of you," a high-pitched voice said.
"Who are you?" Jaune asked, looking around.
"I am a forgotten ally of your ancestors," the voice responded.
"What does that have to do with me?" Jaune asked his right hand on Crocea Mors's handle.
"When I finished helping your ancestors, they imprisoned me!" the voice said, getting aggressive.
"My ancestors would never do that without reason," Jaune countered calmly.
"Your ancestors betrayed me! I WANT REVENGE!" it said as Jaune was sent flying back.
"Ninja-Go!" Jaune used his Airjitzu to fly up and land safely.
The spirit took form and approached Jaune rapidly. Jaune saw this coming and dodged before sending a wave of Fire. The spirit countered, using its Staff and magic to dissipate the Fire.
"Who are you!" Jaune shouted, charging a fireblast.
"I am Invierno. I was betrayed by what I thought was my family!" she shouted, her form now clear to Jaune.
She was young, around the same age as Jaune. She wore a mostly blue dress, gold chain accessories on her dress, blonde hair, and dark eyes, and had a strange staff.
"I shall make you pay descendant of Enflammer Arc," Invierno yelled before launching magic bolts at Jaune.
Jaune dodged and launched the fireblast at her, but it went right through her. She then raises her Staff and sends more projectiles at him. Jaune realized his Elemental Powers wouldn't work, so he unsheathed Crocea Mors.
He then rushes at Invierno. She shoots small blasts of magic at him. Jaune uses his Spinjitzu to dodge and gets closer to Invierno. Her eyes widened, but before she could be hit, she turned herself intangible. She grinned wickedly as she saw Jaune's shock before she blasted him in the chest.
He was sent flying and crashed into a hill. As he collapsed on the floor, a Beowulf emerged to attack him.
"NO!" Invierno blasted the Grimm, destroying it. "Only I shall kill the Arc!" she yelled, not wanting anybody to take her to kill. She looked back to where Jaune was and saw he was gone.
"Ninja-Go!" Jaune used his Spinjitzu to attack Invierno, sending a flurry of punches and launching her back.
"Damn it, that Spinjitzu was always damn annoying!" Invierno yelled as she stabilized herself in the air.
"So you can only stay intangible if you focus. Good to know," Jaune said, sending waves of Fire to distract Invierno.
Invierno counters using her magic, dispelled the Fire, not noticing that Jaune had retreated. When she did notice, she released an ear-shattering screech.
'So my powers didn't work before because she was intangible, but I can still hit her as long as she's distracted,' Jaune thought, getting to a different part of the island. 'It's a good thing that Mystake put a bunch of weapons on the island to force me to learn how to use them,' he thought, picking up a bow and quiver.
"Found You!"
Jaune heard her scream and immediately used his Spinjitzu to dodge the incoming attacks. He drew the bowstring, nocked an arrow, and launched it at Invierno.
She swiped it away before noticing a large volley of arrows approaching her. Jaune had used Spinjitzu's increased speed to shoot multiple arrows in a single second.
Invierno used her magic to summon a gust of wind sending the arrows flying in different directions. Jaune managed to sneak up behind her, Crocea Mors in hand, and he slashed at her. Invierno quickly turned around and blocked the attack using her Staff.
"How predictable you, Arcs, never learn," she cackled.
"Are you sure about that," Jaune responded with a cheeky smile.
"What!?"
"Hellzone Grenade!" Jaune yelled. All around, the two fireballs appeared and zoned in on them.
"You fool, they will hit you as well!" she yelled with a wicked grin.
"Yeah, but I'm immune to Fire! Are you?" Jaune asked with a smug look on his face.
Invierno's eyes widened in horror as she was assaulted by the fireballs from every angle, the pain making her forget to turn intangible. Invierno was on the ground when the attack stopped, too injured to do anything. Jaune was okay with his immunity to fire, leaving him with only his Gi being damaged.
"Now tell me, why did you attack me?" Jaune demanded the tip of Crea Mors's blade, pointing at her neck.
"I-i s-shall tells yo-you nothing-g," she struggled to reply.
"Then perish," Jaune responded, swinging Crocea Mors at her before disappearing. "What the Cursed Realm?" he said, looking around for where she went.
'This is not the last you've seen of me, Arc,' he heard her voice from within his head.
Jaune returned to his camp exhausted, collapsing onto his sleeping bag, trying to forget this night.
Jaune Arc Age: 16
Location: Atlas Snow Island
Much like his time in Mistral, he was doing some survival training. However, instead of being on the resource-rich island close to Mistral, he was on one of Atlas's many snow Islands. He was sitting in a makeshift campsite an hour before midnight, and it was The Day of Departed.
He was wearing a Gi made for the cold. He called it 'The Arctic.' The Gi was padded to maintain body heat and had more muted colors for better camouflage.
Jaune raised his cup of Remembrance Tea in a toast. "To you, venerable ancestors, may your wisdom assist me for years to come," he said before drinking his tea.
"The way you worship them makes me sick," A voice Jaune recognized spoke up. He quickly got up and unsheathed Crocea Mors, igniting it.
"So that's what you meant when you said not the last you'll see of me, huh," Jaune retorted.
*Scoff!* "Of course, Arc. What did you think I meant," Invierno said, appearing she looked a year older and the sarcasm evident in her voice.
"I don't know. I thought you would haunt my family, not just me," Jaune said, shrugging.
"I was being sarcastic, you idiot," Invierno deadpanned.
"I know. I just wanted to distract you," Jaune said before taking a breath and sending a wave of Fire from his mouth.
Invierno raised her Staff and used her magic to send a gust of wind before Jaune appeared in front of her, kicked her Staff away, and punched her in the face, sending her back. Jaune created small bursts of Fire under his feet and tried to rush her; unfortunately, his control slipped, and he crashed.
Invierno got up and saw Jaune crash into the ground. Using this opportunity, she went to retrieve her Staff.
Jaune quickly recovered, saw what Invierno was trying to do, and charged at her, sending a few fireballs to distract her. Invierno dodged the fireballs and retrieved her Staff.
Quickly turning, she sent a volley of magic bolts at Jaune. Jaune dodged the bolts, used his Spinjitzu to increase her speed, and sent more fireballs at Invierno.
Invierno used her magic to summon wind, allowing herself to fly and counter the fireballs. Jaune then detonated the fireballs causing massive explosions obscuring Invierno's field of vision.
Jaune used the distraction to retreat toward his camp and retrieved his other weapons, including his bow. Invierno summoned a miniature tornado to clear the explosions.
"Ninja-GO!" Jaune yelled, using Spinjitzu to send a volley of flaming arrows at Invierno. Crocea Mors sheathed on his back.
"This again! Don't you ever have anything new!" Invierno yelled, summoning a large shard of ice and throwing it at Jaune.
Jaune saw this and dodged, but Invierno created a hail storm.
"I call this Heavenly Realm Storm!" Invierno yelled, sending the hail at Jaune.
"Did you just rip off my Hellzone Grenade!" Jaune yelled, enraged, and created Fire underneath his feet to fly upwards.
"So what if I did? You can't beat me anyways!" Invierno yelled back, sending another wave of hail at Jaune.
"No, but I can stall you!" Jaune responded, creating Fire in his hands to help boost his mobility allowing him to dodge most of the hail.
"Why won't you die!" Invierno yelled, overcharging her magic to create a large thundersnow cloud, sending blasts of lightning, ice, snow, and gusts of wind at Jaune.
"Because Ninja Never Quit!" Jaune yelled, charging as much Fire as he could in his fist.
"Then you can be the first one!" Invierno created a massive bolt of magic. "Take this Nature's True Wrath!"
"Dragon Fist!" Jaune countered the image of a Fire Dragon surrounding him.
The two attacks clashed with each other, neither one wanting to lose. However, Invierno's hour was up, and midnight had passed, signaling the end of The Day of The Departed.
'No! I thought I had more time, damn it!' Invierno thought as she felt herself fade back into the Scroll.
Before Invierno could fade away, she detonated her attack, launching her and Jaune back. Jaune landed on the ground.
'See you soon,' Jaune heard Invierno say in his head. He then headed back to his camp and just went to sleep.
Jaune Arc Age: 17
Location: Vale
It was a few days before everyone's favorite holiday Halloween, and all-around Beacon students were prepping for the festivities.
Team RWBY was out in Vale getting costumes when they ran into their honorary sister team, JNPR.
"Oh hey, guys, what are you doing in Vale?" Ruby asked, seeing her friends.
"I'm here for private reasons," Jaune responded before pointing at his teammates, "They're here because Nora wouldn't stop bugging us for costumes."
"But Fearless Leader, it's only five days till Halloween. We need to get costumes now, or else they won't have any good ones," Nora said.
"I know, I know, but I don't get the appeal of Halloween," Jaune said, waving her off.
"Jaune, do you not like Halloween?" Ruby asked, her eyebrow raised.
"Not really. Let's say I haven't had the best Halloween experiences," Jaune said, shrugging.
"That sucks, Blondie, but you're missing out on all the candy," Yang said, pulling out some candy before throwing it up in the air, but it disappeared before she could eat it.
"Yeah, but I can still get candy through other methods," Jaune said as Yang's candy appeared in his hand as he ate it.
"How did you-" she was about to ask before cutting herself off. "No, never mind, don't say it."
"Nin-" Jaune started.
"I'm serious, Blondie, don't say it,"
"Ninja," Jaune said. Yang charged at him, but Jaune had disappeared.
"Damn it," Yang said, realizing Jaune was gone.
"You walked into that one, Yang," Blake said, looking up from her book.
"I know," Yang said, gritting her teeth.
"So, Pyrrha, where does Jaune go when he does that?" Ruby asked.
"We're not sure, but he should reappear after a while," Pyrrha said, looking around.
"Ruby, don't forget our true objective," Weiss told the reaper.
"R-right," Pyrrha responded, pulling out four pieces of paper and handing them to Pyrrha. "Do you guys want to go to my party?" Ruby asked, using her best puppy dog eyes.
"Of course, we'll be there, Ruby," Pyrrha said. Nora and Ren nodded in agreement.
"Sorry, I can't make it," Jaune said, reappearing next to Ruby.
"Ahh!" Ruby yelled, landing in Yang's arms.
"You'd think you guys would be used to me doing that by now," Jaune said, eating an apple.
"Arc, how many times have we said not to do that!" Weiss screeched at Jaune.
"I stopped counting after the first time," Jaune responded, the apple gone.
"Wait, Jaune, what do you mean you won't be able to make it?" Ruby asked, hurt.
"Yeah, sorry, but the ghost of a girl who has been haunting me for the past three years will probably ruin the party," Jaune said, completely serious and stone-faced.
No one said anything, trying to figure out whether Jaune was serious. They then noticed that Jaune was wearing a different outfit. Before, he wore everyday blue jeans, a pair of sneakers, and his infamous Pumpkin Pete hoodie.
"Um, Jaune, what are you wearing?" Pyrrha asked.
"Huh, oh, this is my Deepstone Suit," Jaune responded, posing.
"Oh, so that's what it looks like," Ruby whispered, remembering when Jaune's Master mentioned it.
"Okay, Blondie, but what's the real reason you can go to Ruby's party?" Yang asked.
"I already told you if I go, the ghost might ruin the party," Jaune responded again, his face never betraying his emotions.
"Arc, are you an idiot? Ghosts aren't real," Weiss said, glaring at Jaune.
"I have to agree with Weiss. Ghosts aren't real, Jaune," Blake said, putting her book away.
"Says you, but I've fought one twice," Jaune responds, patting himself down.
"Huh, prove it. Do you have any photographic evidence," Weiss demands.
"Pff, haha, haha! Good one, Weiss. Everybody knows ghosts can't be captured on film," Jaune says, still chuckling.
*Gasp*. "Fearless Leader, you must share all the ghost secrets with me," Nora demanded after breaking free from Ren's grasp.
"Sure, what do you want to know," Jaune responds with a smile.
"What do ghosts look like?" Ruby asks, wanting to know.
"What are they like?" Nora asks, latching onto Jaune.
"What can they do?" Yang asks, interested in fighting a ghost.
"Is there a way to know if they are around?" Blake asked.
"Why did they fight you," Pyrrha asked, worried for her partner.
"Wow, that's a lot, but in order. They mostly look like they would be alive but green. They acted the same as when they were alive. Ghosts have the same abilities they did when alive but also gain unique ghost abilities. As far as I'm aware, no. And for the last one, they had a grudge against my ancestors and wanted to kill me to get back at them," Jaune said, answering them with complete seriousness.
"I can't believe you all believe this nonsense," Weiss said, annoyed.
*Sigh.* "Nora, don't you remember what we were doing," Ren recalled. While he didn't believe in ghosts, he didn't want Nora to become obsessed with them, or else she wouldn't stop talking about it.
"Oh right, let's go, Fearless Leader!" Nora yelled, dragging Jaune away.
"Nora, I already got it," Jaune said, pulling out the costumes Nora wanted.
*Gasp!* "Thank you, Fearless Leader!" Nora yelled, hugging Jaune.
"Yo-you're w-welcome N-Nora, but I n-need air!" Jaune said, feeling his ribs break.
"Oops, sorry Fearless Leader," Nora said, giggling as she let him go.
"Don't worry, nothing a bit of tea won't fix," Jaune said, smiling.
"Now, tell me more about the ghost," Nora pleaded.
"Yeah!" Ruby said, walking towards Jaune before Weiss grabbed her by the hood.
"Let's go, Ruby. I have had enough of this foolishness," Weiss said, dragging Ruby away.
"But I want to listen to Jaune's story," Ruby said dejectedly.
"Well, we'll see you later, Blondie," Yang said, following after Weiss and Ruby. Blake just waved goodbye, following after her team.
"So, do you guys want to go watch a movie?" Jaune asked.
"Maybe later we have to get these back to Beacon to ensure they don't get ruined," Pyrrha said, holding her costume.
"Guess you're right. Let's go, team JNPR," Jaune said, leading his team back to Beacon.
Location: Beacon Academy.
Getting back to Beacon academy team, JNPR went to their dorm room to put their costumes in storage.
"Alright, got the costumes, so did I get the right ones?" Jaune asked, separating the pieces for his costume.
"Hmm," Nora was reviewing her costume. It was based on an old superhero show. She couldn't remember what it was called. Was it Power Sentai, or was it Super Rangers? Oh well! It was pink and looked like one of Jaune's outfits, so she wanted it.
Ren didn't want a costume, but Nora forced him into one. It was a Batman costume since Nora thought they were similar. Ren didn't see the similarities but went along with it since there was no arguing with Nora. Not unless you wanted broken legs.
Pyrrha had a samurai outfit. It was primarily red with grayish-black armor. Unfortunately, it was damaged and had a large X on it. Jaune said it was a unique Samurai X costume to spare the store owner from Nora's wrath.
"Yup, these are awesome, Fearless Leaders!" Nora said, starry-eyed seeing all the costumes that Jaune got for them. Before noticing something. "Hey, where's your costume Fearless Leader?"
"I don't need one, Nora. I can go in one of my many Gi's and say that's my costume. Besides, I won't be celebrating with you guys. I have things to do," Jaune said, taking a box out of nowhere.
"What, why?" Nora asked, using puppy dog eyes.
"Jaune, is it something we did?" Pyrrha asked, worried if they had upset him since Jaune doesn't show his emotions often.
"You've never mentioned this before. Did something happen, Jaune?" Ren asked, curious.
"Guys, relax. I don't celebrate Halloween. Besides, I already said I had to go fight the ghost this Day of The Departed," Jaune said, opening the box.
"What's in the box?" Nora asked.
"The weapon that will finally help me defeat the ghost once and for all," Jaune proclaims, pulling out a massive three-pronged shuriken. "The Aeroblade."
"How will something like that help you defeat the ghost?" Pyrrha said, never seeing that type of weapon before.
"This is made of Deepstone, the only material capable of nullifying a ghost's abilities," Jaune explained, examining his Aeroblade and posing with it to help implement it into his fighting style.
*knock knock knock*
Jaune opens the door and sees Ruby and Yang standing outside with curious expressions.
"Oh hey, what's up," Jaune says, greeting the two and showing off the Aeroblade.
"Whoa! What's that?" Ruby asked, reaching for the Aeroblade, but Jaune lifted his hand in the air keeping it out of her reach.
"Yeah, Blondie, what's with the new weapon?" Yang asked, chuckling at Ruby's attempt to grab the weapon.
"This is Aeroblade. It's a weapon made to help defeat the ghost," Jaune said, lowering his hand and letting Ruby examine it.
"Wow! Razor-sharp blades, fully aerodynamic design, and a comfortable hand grip," Ruby listed as she examined the Aeroblade's design.
"So what's the weapon for?" Yang asked happily at seeing her sister happy.
"Fearless Leader says it's for fighting ghosts!" Nora answered before Jaune could.
"Wait, you were serious about the whole ghost thing?" Yang asked incredulously.
"Obviously! I would never lie about that sort of thing," Jaune responded, insulting that Yang had to ask if he was serious.
"Oh, um, I just thought you said that to get out of having to go to Ruby's party," Yang sheepishly replied.
"I would never do something like that. Ruby is my friend. I would never miss one of her birthdays," Jaune said with incredible conviction.
"Alright, alright, I get it. Sorry for assuming," Yang said, her hands up. "So you actually fought a ghost?" she asked with a smirk.
"Yup, and if my hunch is correct, then she will show up again this Day of The Departed," Jaune responds.
"Wow, so the Aeroblade is for fighting the ghost?" Ruby asks, handing it back to Jaune.
"Yup, it's made of Deepstone," Jaune says, putting it on his back.
"You keep mentioning it, but you haven't explained what it is," Ren said.
"I'm getting there; I just need to," Jaune begins before he notices something. "Oh, there it is," he said, approaching his backpack and grabbing something.
"What is it?" Pyrrha asked.
"Storyteller's Tea," Jaune responded, "Follow me," he said before disappearing.
"He does know we can't do that, right?" Yang asks.
*Bzzt*
"Jaune says he's at the library," Pyrrha says, checking her Scroll.
"Alright, team NPR, let's go," Nora said, pointing in a random direction.
Jaune reappeared. "No," and then he disappeared.
"Aww," Nora pouted dejectedly.
Location: Beacon Academy Library.
The friends arrived at an odd sight. Jaune was using Blake as a Faunus shield from Weiss.
"How many times have I told you not to do that, Arc," Weiss screeched as loudly as she could get away with in the library.
"And how many times have I told you you can't stop me," Jaune replied before noticing the rest. "Oh, hey, guys over here," he said, waving them over.
They walked over. Weiss saw them and decided to calm down as Jaune put Blake down.
"So why the library?" Yang asked, sitting next to her partner.
"Simple the space," Jaune answered, pulling out his now iconic tea kettle and cup.
"So, can you explain Deepstone and why it's effective against ghosts?" Ren asked.
"I'm starting. Calm down," Jaune said before pouring tea into the cup and gently blowing on it.
"Ghosts, spirits of the dead, returned to the living Realm whether for revenge or from being unwilling to pass on. A ghost possesses many qualities. They can become invisible, pass through solid matter, levitate, and possess a person or object. They can also be granted abilities that mimic those they had when alive but boosted with their ghostly energy," Jaune explains as, behind him, an illusion of smoke appears, illustrating his words.
"This does not mean they are invincible; however, they have only two known weaknesses. The first is water. It is a weapon against a ghost, for though they can pass through solid objects, they cannot pass through what never stands still. What's flexible to us is rigid to them." Jaune explained the smoke showed a ghost pass through a wall, but when it tried to pass through water, it was repelled and disintegrated.
"Their other weakness is Deepstone. The molecules that Deepstone consists of are constantly moving yet still staying solid, making it an effective material for utilization in combat and defense against ghosts," Jaune explains as the image of Deepstone is shown before it shows the material being shaped into weapons and armor. The smoke clears as Jaune finishes his story.
"So, any questions?" Jaune asks with a smile.
"How did you know this?" Yang asked.
"When I was sixteen, I asked my Master to take me back to a particular temple. There It had some information on ghosts and other supernatural creatures," Jaune answers.
"Why hasn't anyone reported these ghost sightings?" Blake asks, having read many different books and other sources of information.
"The Alliance and its many allies take care of the ghosts before they can harm anyone," Jaune responded.
"Who were the allies of the Alliance?" Ruby asked, having read a few of Jaune's books and not reading anything on allies of the Alliance.
"That is something I cannot answer," Jaune responded.
"Where do ghosts come from?" Nora asked, wanting to see more of the magic tea smoke.
Jaune pours another cup of Storytellers Tea and blows on it. "Ghosts can, as I've mentioned, be spirits who escaped from two of the three lands of the dead,"
"There are three afterlives?" Blake asked, never reading about any more than the stereotypical two afterlives.
"Yes, there is The Departed Realm, The Underworld, and The Cursed Realm," Jaune explained. The 'Story Tellers Tea' smoke forms illusions of the three realms. The others nod in understanding. 'Also, I'd like not to be interrupted," he said with a mild glare.
"Most ghosts escape from the Cursed Realm since that is where cursed souls go after death. But after being defeated by water or Deepstone, they are transported back to the Cursed Realm," Jaune explained, the smoke illusions showing the ghost dissipating before reappearing in the Cursed Realm.
"It's still hard to believe that such things as ghosts could exist," Weiss said, skeptical of Jaune's claims.
"Believe what you want, but I know the truth. Anyways Ruby, don't worry. I already got you a present," Jaune said.
"Wait, what I just told you earlier today? How did you already get me a present?" Ruby asked in shock.
"I'm very fast," Jaune responded nonchalantly.
"Well, then we should probably go and prepare for the test tomorrow," Ren said, getting up.
"Well, this was fun? But we have things we need to do," Blake said, getting up.
"Yeah, this was fun. We should do this again," Ruby said.
"Alright, see you guys later," Jaune said. The two teams went back to their dorm rooms.
Time Skip: Halloween Afternoon
It was the afternoon of Halloween or Day of The Departed if you're Jaune. Team RWBY was setting up the party decoration in the ballroom team JNPR was helping.
"A bit more to the left!" Yang told Jaune, who was using his Fire to fly to hang the banner.
"Like this!?" Jaune asked, moving the banner.
"Yeah!" Yang confirmed with a thumbs up.
"Great!" Jaune said, slowly descending back to the ground.
"Thanks for the help Jaune," Ruby said, walking towards him.
"Welcome. It's the least I can do for not being able to attend," Jaune replied, dusting himself off.
"Still, are you sure you can't show up?" Ruby asked with puppy dog eyes.
"No, sorry, but here," Jaune said, pulling something behind his back.
"Huh, what is it?" Ruby asked, grabbing it.
"It's your birthday present," Jaune said, bopping her nose.
"What is it?" Ruby said, examining the wrapped box.
"You can open it now," Jaune suggested.
"It is your birthday, Ruby, and besides, Jaune won't be here when you open it, so you might as well," Yang said, approaching the two. Blake was next to her, but she said nothing.
*Sigh* "It is the courteous thing to do," Weiss said, wanting to see what Arc had gotten Ruby for her birthday.
"Yeah, open it! I want to see what Fearless Leader made for you!" Nora said as she, Ren, and Pyrrha arrived.
"Alright, alright, no need to be so pushy," Ruby said, blushing from the attention.
*Rip* *Gasp*
Inside the present box was a trainee Gi that Jaune wore. The difference was that the colors were similar to Ruby's color scheme. The hood was a dark red similar to her hood, the body part was black with dark red accents, the inner shirt was black, the pants were a dark red with black stripes, the belt was dark red, and the boots were similar to the ones she already wore, and the emblem was in the shape of her emblem.
"Wow. Thank you, Jaune!" Ruby said, hugging Jaune.
"You're welcome," he replied.
"I'm going to change into it right now," Ruby said, walking away.
"Here, let me help," Jaune said, using his Spinjitzu engulfing Ruby. When he stopped, he was in his trainee Gi and Ruby was in her new outfit.
"I forgot you could do that," Ruby said, a bit dizzy from the Spinjitzu. She shook her head, clearing it, and looked herself over. "I look awesome! I love it!" she said, taking the hood off.
"Consider that my revenge for when you used your Semblance on me," Jaune said, smiling mischievously. "Wow, that looks better on you than I expected," he said, looking at Ruby.
*Whistle*
"I don't know how you did it, Blondie, but that looks pretty damn good," Yang said as she looked at Ruby's new outfit.
"Hmm, it's passable, Arc," Weiss said, nodding.
"Look, Renny, you, Jaune-Jaune, and Blake have a new member of the 'Ninja' club," Nora said, tugging at his sleeve.
"It does look good," Blake complimented.
"It is impressive that you managed to make this in only a few hours," Pyrrha complimented.
"Thanks, it was made using ancient Ninja magic," Jaune said, smiling.
"I kinda want to wear it for the party instead of my costume," Ruby said, moving around and seeing how her cape worked with it.
"Absolutely not! I paid for that costume. You are not letting it go to waste," Weiss shrieked.
"Alright, alright," Ruby said in the universal sign of surrender.
"Well, I got to go. There's no telling when the ghost will arrive," Jaune said seriously.
"Aww, already," Nora pouted.
"Yeah, can you stay until the party starts?" Ruby said, using puppy dog eyes.
"Nope, sorry, she always appears before midnight, and it's already five pm. I need to get to a secluded area. Our fights can be a bit destructive," Jaune said.
"Jaune, if you need our help, don't hesitate to ask," Pyrrha said. Ren and Nora nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, just say the word, and we'll be there, Fearless Leader!" Nora said, Magnhild appearing in her hands.
"Don't forget about us, Jaune. All you need to do is ask, and team RWBY will be ready to help," Ruby said, still in her new Gi.
"Yeah, I know, but don't worry, I'll be fine," Jaune responded warmly.
"Bring me back a souvenir, Fearless Leader!" Nora said as Jaune exited the building.
"I still think it's preposterous that Arc is fighting a ghost," Weiss scoffed before going back to decorating.
Location: Emerald Forest
Jaune had decided to wait in the Emerald Forest for Invierno to arrive. This would be the year he would send her back to where she came from. He was ready with his Deepstone suit and his Aeroblade ready.
A few hours went by, and Jaune was bored. He checked his Scroll and saw it was already ten pm, only two hours until midnight. He poured himself a cup of 'Remembrance Tea.'
"Happy Day of The Departed," Jaune said, raising his cup in the air before he noticed something strange.
"Took you long enough," Invierno said mockingly.
"Were you waiting for me to toast to my ancestors?" Jaune asked, noticing she appeared a year older. "Also, why are you older? I thought ghosts stayed the same age they had when they died?" he asked.
"You're not wrong, but the writer thought it would look bad if he had you fight a ten-year-old," Invierno responded.
"Make sense - Wait, are we allowed to break the fourth wall?" Jaune asked, confused.
"This story is non-canon. We can say whatever we want. It doesn't matter," Invierno responds, flipping Jaune the bird.
"Fair point, also rude," Jaune responded, flipping Invierno off.
"Shouldn't we fight now?" Invierno asked, noticing the lack of action.
"We have to get the pre-fight banter out of the way, then we fight," Jaune said. A few minutes went by as Jaune and Invierno stared at each other, Invierno coughed, and a tumbleweed passed by.
"Alright, now we can fight," Jaune said, pulling his hood down, grabbing his Aeroblade, and throwing it at Invierno.
Invierno jumped to the side, dodging before being punched in the face by Jaune.
"Ahh! Son of a bi-" Invierno was cut off as Jaune uppercut her and threw her at a tree.
"Just cause it's non-cannon doesn't mean we can curse!" Jaune said as his Aeroblade flew back into his hand.
"Fine," Invierno said, summoning her Staff and flying upwards.
Jaune used his Fire to fly after her.
Invierno smirks. Using her magic, she summons a thunderstorm, sending lightning bolts at Jaune, who dodges and throws his Aeroblade at her. Invierno realizes what the weapon is made of and uses a gust of wind to throw it elsewhere.
'Damn it! No way she'll let me try and go for it again. I'm going to have to switch up my strategy,' Jaune thought as he began to charge some Elemental Radiation.
Jaune creates and throws fireballs at Invierno. She then draws all the water from the cloud before launching it at the fireballs, extinguishing them. She then notices that Jaune is gone before he reappears above her and kicks her downwards, crashing her into the ground.
"Take this Meteor Burst Fall!" Jaune yells, creating a massive ball of Fire above him before turning it downwards and launching a massive fire beam that splits into smaller fire blasts.
"Did you copy my Nature's True Wrath!" Invierno yelled, creating a magic shield to protect herself from the fire blasts.
"So what if I did? What are you going to do!" Jaune responded, pushing more power into his attack.
"If you're not going to be original, then neither should I!" Invierno responded as her shield grew and warped, changing shape.
"Wait, is that my!" Jaune started before.
"Dragons Charge!" Invierno yelled as her shield took the form of a Dragon as she flew upwards, charging at Jaune like his attack was nothing.
"Then take this! Dragon Pillar Blast!" Jaune said as he concentrated a large amount of Fire into a Dragon and launched it at Invierno.
Jaune and Invierno struggled against each other, but Jaune's attacks were beginning to weaken. The two attacks collided in the air. All the nearby Grimm fled from the area at the amount of power they could feel.
'What's happening? Why are my powers weakening!?' Jaune thought before noticing that Invierno was holding something.
"So you finally realized, huh, Jaune?" Invierno taunted, showing what was in her hand.
"That's Vengestone! Where did you get Vengestone?!" Jaune demands, creating bursts of Fire underneath his shoulder blades to keep himself in the air.
"Alchemy," Invierno answers vaguely.
"When did you learn to use alchemy?" Jaune asks, his attack slowly being overpowered.
"While you and those idiots you call a team, we're gone," Invierno replied mockingly.
"What I thought you could only manifest on the Day of The Departed!" Jaune said, shocked. 'Dear First Master, how long is this attack struggle going to go on for,' he complained in thought.
"No, I can manifest any day, but I'm at my strongest on The Day of The Departed! But enough of that, this is over, Arc!" Invierno yelled as the Vengesone surrounded the magical construct canceling out Jaune's attack.
"Oh, thank the First Master, that's over. I mean. Oh, First Master!" Jaune said as the dragon collided with him. Invierno launched the attack in the direction of Beacon.
"Ah, hahaha! This will be the night I finally get my revenge!" Invierno cackled, flying in the direction of her attack.
Location: Beacon Ballroom
"Man, this party is awesome!" Nora said, dressed in her costume.
"Yeah, I still can't believe this many people showed up," Yang said, dressed in a dragon costume.
"Yeah," Ruby said, still shocked at the number of people who arrived. "It's a shame Jaune couldn't be here," she said, a bit depressed. She was dressed as a nature spirit from a book series she had heard about.
"Hmm, he made his choice when he decided to fight ghosts in the woods," Weiss said, dressed in an ice queen costume. (not by choice)
"But Fearless Leader would never lie about that. The ghost must be real," Nora said, getting defensive.
"Please, there is no way ghosts are real," Weiss said, crossing her arms.
"Wanna bet?" Nora asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Hmm, normally I'd say this is beneath me, but it depends on the stakes?" Weiss asked, her arms crossed and exuding confidence.
"If I'm right, then you have to do whatever I say for a whole day," Nora said, her manic smile radiating the same confidence level as Weiss's.
"Fine then, but when I win, you will have to do everything I say for the whole day," Weiss said, holding a hand.
"Deal," Nora said, taking it, and the two sealed the deal with a shake.
"Umm, how will you two prove that Jaune is or isn't fighting a ghost?" Blake asked in a mermaid costume. (get it because she's a catfish)
"Please, like Arc is actually fighting a gh-"
*Crash!*
Suddenly, something collided with the Ballroom wall, causing everyone except team RWBY and NPR to flee. They clear out the smoke and stare in shock at seeing Jaune embedded into the wall with numerous injuries. His suit was ripped, and part of his chest showed his hood had been ripped, revealing part of his face.
"Holly, smoke, Blondie!" Yang yells, seeing Jaune's state.
"Jaune!" Ruby yells, seeing the state of her male best friend.
"Fearless Leader!" Nora yells, worried for her leader.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha yells, worried for her partner.
*cough cough cough* "H-hey guys, hope I-I'm not crashing the p-party," Jaune said, chuckling. "Oh, First Master, it hurts to laugh," he said before falling to the ground and being caught by his partner.
"Jaune, what happened to you?" Pyrrha asked, worried.
"G-ghost too st-strong," Jaune said, fighting to stay conscious.
"You were serious about the ghost!?" Weiss yelled, seeing Jaune.
"ARC, GET BACK HERE. WE'RE NOT DONE YET!" a booming voice came from outside.
"Th-there s-she is," Jaune said, getting up, taking off his hood, and throwing it to the side.
Everyone readied themselves and faced the hole that Jaune came in through. Until the wall beside it blew up, revealing Invierno. She then creates magical barriers to trap everyone in the room to ensure no outside help or for people to try and escape.
"That's the ghost that's trying to kill you!?" Most of Jaune's friends yell, except for Blake and Ren.
"Y-yeah, I know th-this is a lot to a-ask but can y-you guys distract her for a bit?" Jaune asked, reaching for something behind his back.
"How only Deepstone can hurt it," Nora said.
"Remember, it can also be hurt with water," Jaune told them.
"Right!" Team RWBY's leader said, charging in and using a modified FreezerBurn combo.
"Jaune, what do you need to do?" Pyrrha asked, seeing her leader pull out his teak kettle and a cup.
Jaune poured himself a cup of 'Higher Strength Healtea, ' causing most of his injuries to get healed.
"I need you all to destroy that thing," Jaune says, pointing to the Vengestone.
"What, why?" Nora asked, seeing team RWBY distract Invierno using a 'Ladybug' and another 'FreezerBurn' combo.
"She used her magic to enchant it. As long as it's around, it cancels out my 'Semblance,'" Jaune told them.
"Got it, Fearless Leader!" Nora said, readying Magnhild.
"Wait before you go. Ninja-GO!" Jaune uses his Spinjitzu to equip his team with Deepstone suits. The difference is the secondary colors, with Pyrrha getting a bronze suit, Nora getting a pink suit, and Ren getting a dark green suit.
'For some reason, I feel insulted by Ren's suit,' Jaune thought, seeing the green ninja suit.
"Whoa! These are awesome!" Nora said, noticing something else. *Gasp* "Did you use Deepstone on Magnhil too!?"
The two other members notice their weapons have been altered as well.
"I coated them in Deepstone, but the process isn't stable, so be careful the process made the Deepstone more fragile!" Jaune warned them, unsheathing a Deepstone-coated Crocea Mors.
"This is incredible, Jaune!" Pyrrha said, seeing her Miló and Akoúo̱ coated in Deepstone.
"Yes, with this, we'll be able to defeat this specter," Ren said calmly, observing StormFlower.
"Right, let's go, team JNPR!" Jaune said, leading his team into the fight.
Invierno used her magic and ability to go invisible to dodge and counter team RWBY's attacks.
"Ren! Nora! [Insert Attack Name Here]!" Jaune ordered as Nora shot multiple rockets at Invierno, and Ren used his bullets to distract her, allowing them to create a smokescreen.
"Jaune, you're fine," Ruby said, relieved.
"Yup," Jaune said as he ran over to the team. "I'm here to upgrade you all," he said, his eyes glowing.
"What does that mean?" Yang asked.
"Ninja-Go!" Jaune used his Spinjitzu, engulfing the four girls, gifting them with their own Deepstone Gi, and coating their weapons with Deepstone.
"Cool, I got two suits! And Crescent Rose got a nice upgrade," Ruby said. Her Deepstone suit was dark red, and her cape and hood were attached to the main body suit. She was examining her weapon, seeing the black blade.
"This is a nice gift, Blondie!" Yang said her suit until she noticed something. "Hey, why didn't you do anything to Ember Celica?" she asked, seeing that her gauntlets hadn't changed. Her suit had yellow as its secondary color.
"What exactly can I do with shotgun gauntlets? The gloves have some Deepstone so that you can punch her already," Jaune responded.
"Arc, I hope you can reverse this!" Weiss said, holding the black Myrtenaster. Her suit used white as its secondary color.
"It is, and I will after we're done," Jaune said calmly.
"Just go along with it, Weiss," Blake said. Her suit used dark gray as its secondary color.
"Right then, let's go," Jaune said, pointing at Invierno, who was fighting off NPR. Team RWBY and Jaune all rushed toward Invierno.
"Oh, great more rodents!" Invierno yelled as she created a tornado and flung it to team RWBY and JNPR.
"Pyrrha, did you manage to get rid of the Vengestone?" Jaune asked, reuniting with his team.
"No, sorry, she's been protecting it too well for any of us to get close to it!" Pyrrha replied.
"Damn! Guess I'll have to use the old fashion way!" Jaune said.
Jaune signaled to his team to follow his lead. He charged and then signaled toward team RWBY to distract Invierno. Ruby understood and called out for a 'Checkmate' combo. Weiss combined her Dust with Blake's Semblance to create a few ice clones. At the same time, she hides somewhere in the back to use Crescent Rose in its sniper form.
Invierno saw this and went to use her magic to create a shield thinking this was an attack. JNPR got behind her Nora and Pyrrha used their ranged weapons, and Ren and Jaune went in for close combat.
Jaune swung Crocea Mors at Invierno's head while Ren went for her legs. Luckily the barrier had been released. Unfortunately, Invierno saw their attack in the reflection of her Staff.
Invierno used a burst of wind to launch herself upwards, sending Jaune and Ren backward, Crocea Mors flying out of Jaune's hand and causing the Deepstone to break off Ren's weapons. However, Nora's, Pyrrha's, and Ruby's attacks connected, sending Invierno back, and Yang punched the Vengestone out of Invierno's hand. The distraction causes the magical walls to weaken momentarily.
"Got it!" Jaune said, catching the Vengestone but immediately feeling himself weakening. "Nora! Do you want to play ball?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
Nora nods, changing Magnhild back into its hammer form as she and Jaune run over to the destroyed section of the wall. "Go long!" Jaune said, throwing the Vengestone upwards as Nora hit it with Magnhild launching it in a random direction.
"Noo!" Invierno yelled, unable to get towards Jaune and Nora because she had been held back by team RWBY and PR. "Damn you! Arc!" she yelled, using her magic to cause a magic explosion sending everyone back.
Invierno recreates the barriers before using her magic to trap team RWBY and NPR into the walls. "Enough of this! This is between the two of us! No more interference!" she yelled, charging a final attack.
"Yeah, I couldn't agree more!" Jaune yells, his Fire engulfing him. Invierno charged her magic while Jaune charged a Dragon Fist.
"Nature's Rampage!" Invierno yells as the magic engulfs her as she charges at Jaune.
"Dragon Charge EX!" Jaune yells. His Fire surrounds him in the shape of a Dragon. All around him, it roars at Invierno as he charges at her.
The two collide, the mix of magic and Elemental Power sending waves of power around them. A bright white light emanates from the two, blinding everyone.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha yelled, worried.
Location:?
'Huh!' Jaune's eyes open as he looks around. He was in a white void.
*sniff sniff sniff*
Jaune turned and saw a small girl crying to herself in the void.
'H-hey, don't cry,' Jaune tried to comfort the girl, but the girl continued to cry. He tried to approach the girl, but he passed right through her.
'What the?' Jaune thought, stumbling before he balanced himself and turned towards the girl.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jaune saw a man in a red Gi ask.
The little girl looked up at the man. "I-i don't know where I am," *sniff* the girl said.
"Don't worry, we'll help," the man said, gesturing to other people in different colored Gi.
The girl looked at the six people. Jaune also looked at them. They were hard to grasp fully, but he then noticed the man in red had Crocea Mors. "what? How?" Jaune then noticed the Arc family crest on their Gi's.
"Wh-who are you?" she asked, still crying.
"We are the Elemental Alliance," the man said as the people finally became clear. Jaune instantly recognized them as one of the former Alliances that came before the last Alliance.
"My name is Enflammer Arc. Who might you be?" Enflammer asked, holding his hand out.
*Sniff* "Invierno," the little girl said, taking Enflammer's hand.
Jaune's eyes widened as he realized where he was. He was watching Invierno's memories. The environment around Jaune changed to show him the Alliance and Invierno fighting Grimm side by side.
Jaune saw a slideshow of different moments of the Alliance and Invierno working together. Still, Jaune noticed that the members of the Alliance kept getting older, and soon he saw their final moments with Invierno.
"Do you guys have to go?" Invierno asked the Alliance.
"Don't worry, little one, we'll see each other soon, don't worry," a much older Enflammer responded.
"D-do you promise?" Invierno asked, tears forming in her eyes.
"I promise and remember an Arc never goes back on their word," Enflammer said, ruffling Invierno's hair.
"Okay, but when will you be back?" Invierno asked, starting to calm down.
"Who can say but know that we will see each other again," Enflammer responded, hugging Invierno before letting go as he faded into the memories.
Jaune then noticed that the memory had changed. He didn't know how long it had been, but he saw the Hanging Temple had withered and aged. Invierno was standing in front of the temple. Jaune saw that she was saying something to herself, so he approached her.
"Where is he?" Invierno continuously muttered to herself, holding something in her hands.
Jaune saw it was a detailed drawing of Enflammer Arc. She stared at it with a dead-eyed stare, tears forming in her eyes.
"Did he leave me?" she asked herself.
Jaune was starting to feel sad, and tears were forming in his eyes. He wanted to hug her and say that Enflammer would see her, but he couldn't. This was just a memory.
"Huh, who's there?" a voice called out. Jaune saw Invierno's head lift, and her eyes filled with hope, only to be dashed when it was a different Alliance.
"Who are you?" Invierno asked with a bit of aggression, summoning her Staff.
"Whoa! Calm down, were the Elemental Alliance," The one in the front said, gesturing towards the other people.
"No! you're not!" Invierno yelled, her appearance warping as her magic reacted to her emotions.
The members of the Alliance all jumped back and drew their weapons. Jaune was getting ready to see a fight until the memory shifted to Invierno being trapped in the temple.
"Enflammer, you have betrayed me. I will be back, and I will have my revenge!" Invierno yelled from the temple.
Jaune realized where Invierno's rage came from and why she hated him. It all stemmed from a single promise made from a love that, over time, soured into hatred.
"So you know now, huh," Jaune turned and saw Invierno. She was in the form he recognized.
"Yeah, I do. But do you understand what Enflammer meant now?" Jaune asked, turning to Invierno.
"I do now. I didn't back then, but It's just that I was angry and confused," Invierno said, her head low.
"I'm a ghost, and I didn't realize until the other Alliance yelled it out during that fight. I don't know why I'm here or how I became a ghost, but death was something I couldn't understand, at least not back then," She continued, starting to shake.
"I-i, I'm sorry I sh-should've known that th-they were dead, but I just couldn't understand where t-they went," Invierno finished crying before Jaune enveloped her in a hug.
"I don't blame you," He said, hugging her tighter. "Being a ghost is not something natural, and no one should deserve that," he whispered.
Invierno cried into Jaune's arms, slowly changing back into her child form. She looked up at Jaune. "W-will I see them again?" she asked.
"Now that you know why they left, yes, you'll see them again," Jaune said, ruffling her hair.
"Thank you, Jaune," she said, fading away as a strange light enveloped him.
Location: Beacon Ballroom
The light-blinded team RWBY and NPR died, and they saw that Jaune was left standing and Invierno was gone. The only thing remaining was Invierno's Staff. Suddenly the magic keeping them attached to the walls faded, and they fell to the ground.
Before anyone could say anything, the Ballroom doors burst open, revealing Professor Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch, Professor Port, Professor Oobleck, team CFVY, and Mystake.
"Students, are you all okay!?" A distressed Goodwitch asked after hearing and seeing the commotion coming from the Ballroom. All the students nod.
"Do not fear, students! We are here!" Port yelled, his weapon at the ready.
"Yes, there is nothing left to fear. We are professionals," Oobleck added with his weapon in hand.
Ozpin said nothing. He was left shocked at the Staff in Jaune's hands.
"What the hell happened here?" Coco asked, seeing the destruction in the room.
"Ghost," Jaune answered, using the Staff like a cane.
"Yeah, that checks out," Mystake said, nodding.
"I'd be shocked otherwise," Ozpin said, nodding.
"Ah yes, rascals, those things can be," Port said, lowering his weapon.
"Yes, I'd be shocked if it were anything else," Oobleck says, transforming his weapon into a thermos and taking a sip.
"You believe them!?" Coco and her team are shocked at the acceptance of the answer.
"Miss Adel, please lower your voice," Glynda says, glaring at the second year before turning to the destroyed walls and using her semblance to begin the reparation process.
"Yes, Miss Adel, the existence of ghosts is something you will learn in your third year. It is something we don't let the general population know because the existence of the supernatural is not something most are prepared for," Professor Port explains.
"Okay, so both magic and ghosts are real. What're next, unicorns?" Coco asks sarcastically.
"Don't be silly, Coco everybody knows that unicorns were hunted to extinction by Vacuo to use Unicorn hair as a substitute for silk," Jaune said, completely serious.
"I'm done," Coco said, walking out with her team. Her team processed the information they had just learned.
"Well, that happened," Yang said.
"Oh, here, let me help Miss Goodwitch," Jaune says, waving the Staff and fixing the rest of the damage.
"Fearless Leader, you have magic now!" Nora said, seeing Jaune use the Staff.
"Not really. The Staff has magic, and I can use the magic, but I don't have magic," Jaune replied, shrugging and putting the Staff on his back.
*Sigh* "This has been a long night," Weiss said, having to process that magic, ghosts, and unicorns are or were real at one point in time.
"Yup! That reminds me. Ninja-Go!" Jaune used his Spinjitzu engulfing team RWBY and NPR to change their outfits and weapons back to normal.
"Aww, I was hoping to keep it," Nora said, pouting.
"Not until your birthday," Jaune said.
"Yes," Nora celebrated.
"That's all good and well, but we still need to talk about tonight's events," Ozpin said, still staring at the Staff.
"Not much to talk about with them, Ozpin," Mystake said, gesturing towards team RWBY and NPR. "Him, on the other hand," she said, turning to Jaune.
"Yeah, they weren't involved until I crashed into the wall," Jaune said.
"Very well, Port Oobleck can you escort teams RWBY and NPR back to their dorms," Ozpin said, looking at the two professors.
"Will do," Professor Port answered jovially.
"On it," Oobleck responded.
The two professors lead the two teams away, not before Nora reminded Weiss of their bet, causing the heiress to become even paler than usual.
"Now then, mister Arc, if you could please follow me to my office," Ozpin said, gesturing for Jaune to follow as both Mystake walked beside him. Glynda stayed behind to finish the reparation and cleaning of the Ballroom.
Location: Beacon Ozpin's Office.
"So, Mister Arc, can you tell us exactly what happened?" Ozpin asked, seated at his desk with a cup of cocoa in front of him.
"You sure it's a long one," Jaune said, still holding Invierno's Staff.
"Yes, actually, I'd like to know why my didn't bother to tell me that a ghost was hunting him for the last three years," Mystake said in a sickly sweet tone.
"I mean, how did you not know you're an Oni, one of the two most powerful races in all the Realms?" Jaune asked, trying to redact the blame.
"Not the point, but still, I should've sensed them, especially if they had magic," Mystake said, rubbing her chin.
"They were probably using a different energy to mask their presence," Ozpin said, giving Jaune a pointed look.
"Hmm, yes, that would make sense, but they would need to have possessed something close," Mystake said, rubbing her chin.
"I think she possessed one of the scrolls I own," Jaune added.
"That is the most likely scenario and also explains why I wasn't able to sense them," Mystake said, nodding.
"Now, Mister Arc, can you explain what the ghost wanted?" Ozpin asked.
"Revenge and peace," Jaune answered.
"Yes, we figured that out, but could you elaborate more," Mystake said, rolling her eyes.
"Right anyways, Invierno, her name, bonded with a previous Alliance, but because she was a ghost, Invierno wouldn't age anymore. The Alliance she bonded with eventually became too old, but before they died, my ancestor told her that they would see her again," Jaune explained, not noticing the strange face that Ozpin made hearing the ghost's name.
"After I don't know how many years, she met a different Alliance, but this wasn't the Alliance she knew, so because of that and her time in the living world corrupted her causing her anger and hatred to grow. So when the new Alliance showed up, she got mad and assumed the Alliance she knew abandoned her and became a vengeful spirit. Luckily the new Alliance bound her to the temple and abandoned it, leaving her there until we went there to get the Scroll of Airjitzu, where she bound herself to something I owned and escaped through me. The rest is history," Jaune finished leaving Mystake and Ozpin flabbergasted at Invierno's story.
"Well then, it seems that Miss Invierno had quite the afterlife," Ozpin said, taking a sip of wait, what's in his mug again?
"Yeah, it's good that you didn't tell me about her because I would have sent her back to the Cursed Realm. You did a good thing, Jaune," Mystake said, ruffling Jaune's hair.
"Yeah, I like to think it's what Enflammer Arc would've done," Jaune said, rubbing his thumb on the Staff.
"That he would've Enflammer was a kind man to anyone regardless of who they were," Mystake said, reminiscing on her time with the previous Master of Fire. Ozpin smiled, remembering when during his time as Ozlopolas met the previous Master.
"But how did Miss Invierno get trapped in the living Realm?" Ozpin asked, knowing that people in the Departed Realm didn't come back unless summoned back by someone.
"I'm not sure I only received memories of her time with the Alliance, and we can't ask her because she's back in the Departed Realm," Jaune answered, rubbing his chin.
"Don't worry about it. I'll investigate it. For now, we should be glad she won't try to kill you anymore," Mystake said, summoning a cup of tea and drinking from it.
"Alright, so what do I do with this," Jaune said, gesturing to the Staff.
"As far as I'm aware, Mister Arc Invierno gave it to you. It's yours now," Ozpin said, holding back tears, knowing the origins of the Staff.
"Yeah, kid, I'm already magic, so I have no use for it," Mystake said, creating a small dark magic sphere in her hand.
"Seriously?" Jaune said, astonished that he'd own a powerful artifact.
"Yes, Jaune, now run along. I have a few students that need to have their memories changed," Ozpin said, waving Jaune away.
"Alright, wait, what should I name this thing?" Jaune asked, staring at the crystal embedded into the Staff.
"It's your's Jaune. I have no jurisdiction there. It would be best if you named it what you see fit," Ozpin said with a sad smile.
"Oz is right, kid. That is your weapon. You name what you want," Mystake said, knowing the weapon's origin.
"Invierno, that's its name to represent the legacy of not just her but the Alliance she knew and bonded with," Jaune said, smiling at the Staff.
"that is a great name. Now I suggest you run along now. It's quite late, and after tonight I expect you to be quite exhausted," Ozpin said, pushing his glasses up, the glare of the lenses covering the tear in his eye.
"yeah, this has been the longest Day of The Departed I've ever been through, and that's saying something, so see ya, Headmaster, see ya Mystake!" Jaune said, going towards the elevator.
"You know you could always ask him for the staff back," Mystake said as she left.
*Sigh*. "I wish I could, I wish I could," Ozpin muttered, knowing that Invierno's death was his fault.
With team RWBY and NPR
*Bzzt*,
All of them received a message from their red ninja friend. "Hey, did you guys get a message from Jaune?" Ruby asked her team. she had changed out of her costume and into her pajamas.
"Yeah, he's asking us to meet him at that rooftop," Yang said, exiting the bathroom, her hair in a ponytail and also dressed in her pajamas.
"It's already late. What would that dolt want?" Weiss asked, brushing her hair.
"Maybe it has to do with the ghost? He did mention that she was haunting him for three years," Blake said, reading The Man with Two Souls.
"I say we go. It would be nice," Ruby said.
"I agree, Rubes, but we're already in our pajamas, and I don't feel like changing," Yang said.
"I agree there is no way I will allow Arc to see me dressed like this," Weiss said, gesturing towards her night dress.
"I could be in my pajamas if it helped," Jaune said, appearing at their window.
"Aahh!" Three of the four members of team RWBY screamed.
"What? Is there something behind me?" Jaune said, looking around.
"ARC!" Weiss screamed, shoving Jaune out the window.
"Fair enough!" Jaune trails off, falling from the window.
"Weiss, I think you just killed him!" Ruby yelled. The entire team zooms toward the window and looks down.
"Ruby, a fall isn't enough to kill me," Jaune said calmly in the middle of the room in his pajamas.
"H-how!" Ruby yelled, turning her head between the window and Jaune.
"Ninja," Jaune responds, munching on a cookie.
"Jaune, please explain yourself before I activate my Semblance and throw you through the wall," Yang said with barely restrained fury.
"I came to invite you to my after-party for Ruby's birthday," Jaune said, finishing his cookie.
"Oh, but Jaune, we're all in our pajamas, and we can't change fast enough-"
"Ninja-Go!" Jaune used his Spinjitzu to change all the girls into the Deepstone suits from earlier. "There you go," he said, smiling at them.
"Well, okay then," Yang said, tired but wanting to see what Jaune set up for the after-party.
"Arc, this better be good," Weiss said, irritated, but she couldn't deny that the suit looked good on her.
"Whatever," Blake says, rolling her eyes.
"Alright then, let's go," Jaune said, leading them to the rooftop.
Location: Beacon Rooftop
Jaune and team RWBY arrived at the rooftop and saw a few tables, chairs, food, and drinks.
"Woah, Jaune, you didn't have to," Ruby said, seeing team NPR already there. Also, in their Deepstone suits.
"I wanted to, Ruby. I crashed your party, and in the end, Invierno fight blocked all of you," Jaune said, leading them to his team.
"Still, it's pretty good, Blondie," Yang said, reaching for a cookie.
"It's passable," Weiss said, pouring herself a cup of tea.
Blake said nothing but put her book away and went for some tea.
"Thanks, but there is another reason I made this," Jaune said, sitting next to his team.
"Really, what?" Ruby asked in between bites of a cookie.
"To celebrate The Day of The Departed," Jaune responded.
"What is Day of The Departed?" Blake asks, curious about the holiday.
"It's a day where we take time to stop and celebrate those who came before us and the sacrifices they made that allowed us to be here today," Jaune said, taking out a small lantern.
"And the lantern is a part of this celebration?" Ren asks, seeing his leader's family crest on the lantern.
"Yup, the lanterns represent the spirits of the dead ascending into the Departed Realm," Jaune said as he went to the roof's edge, lighting his lantern and letting it fly away. "To you, venerable ancestors," he says, taking a drink of 'Remembrance Tea.'
"Is the tea significant?" Blake asks, seeing Jaune only drink from the tea after letting go of the lantern.
"Yeah, it's 'Remembrance Tea,' a tea said to help remember the good memories one has of those we lost," Jaune responded, finishing his tea.
"That's cool and all, but we don't have lanterns to light," Yans said, confused at why Jaune would explain all of this.
"Yeah, that's why I made these," Jaune said, revealing multiple lanterns with all their crests on them.
"Wow," Ruby said, grabbing her lantern, knowing who she would use it for.
"When did you make these," Weiss asked, seeing her white lantern.
"Cool," Nora said, grabbing her lantern, wanting to see who the 'Remembrance Tea' would make her see.
"This is incredible, Jaune," Pyrrha said, appreciating her leader's actions.
"It was nothing. It was the least I could do after the party. Besides, this is the first time I can properly celebrate the Day of The Departed without a ghost coming to kill me," Jaune said, making a small flame in his hand.
"Thanks, Jaune," Ruby said, lighting her lantern on Jaune's Fire. 'This is for you, mom,' she thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of her mother.
"It is the proper thing to do," Weiss said, following Ruby's lead and lighting her lantern. 'Grandfather, I will make you proud,' Weiss thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of her grandfather.
"Well, might as well," Yang said, following Ruby and Weiss lighting her lantern. 'I'm sure Ruby already sent this for you, but I still miss you, mom,' Yang thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of Summer Rose.
Blake said nothing but still followed her teammates in lighting her lantern. 'You may not be gone, but by my actions, we have been separated,' Blake thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of her parent when she was young and before the corruption of the White Fang.
The team of four looked content, smiling at the lanterns flying in the sky next to Jaune's.
"Well, come on, are you guys going to light your lanterns?" Jaune asked, turning to his teammates.
"I'll go first," Nora said, lighting her lantern. 'I don't remember either of you, so this is for your mom and dad,' she thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of a man and woman with orange hair smiling at her.
Seeing Nora's content face, Ren decided to follow and light his lantern. 'Mom Dad this is for you, don't worry, I will avenge you,' He thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of his father and mother with him at a festival back in Kuroyuri.
"I suppose it's my turn," Pyrrha said, lighting her lantern. 'Dad, you're the reason why I chose my path. Mom and I miss you, so this is for you,' she thought, drinking the 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving a memory of a red-headed man helping train her when she was young.
"Happy Day of The Departed, everyone," Jaune said, smiling, walking up next to his friend.
"Happy Day of The Departed," they all replied as their lanterns drifted farther away. Taking one final drink from their 'Remembrance Tea' and receiving one final vision of those they lost.
Authors note:
There it is, the Halloween/Day of The Departed special. As I'm sure you've all figured out, it's not canon, but some story elements will be used later in actual canon chapters. Also, this chapter will have a sequel focused on Whipmas.
That said, Happy Halloween to everyone, and remember that this is not only Halloween but The Day of The Departed, a day to celebrate and remember those who have passed and honor their memory. It doesn't matter who they were or what they did. All that matters is what they meant to you and how you chose to honor them, so take some time to celebrate, honor, and remember them for how they affected you.