So I thought I'd need a couple more chapters to get into the main plot but I managed to squeeze it in here :) After this we get to the actual main story. For the sake of a bit more reader feedback I've shifted over to a new poll asking which faction you guys want to focus on. Read the ending Authors Notes to see what each faction plot entails before picking.

Also, I've been getting a lot of 'harem!' reviews lately :/ Others claim it's because of the title making it sound like a harem work. This is not a harem, like I said before. We either go for one romance or none. And if people think the title sounds to harem-y I'm open to suggestions. And yes, I've heard of 'Four Maidens, One Arc' from a friend, so try that joke elsewhere.

A quick shower later and Jaune was showing his new (but technically old) friend around campus. Without having to worry about team RWBY it was actually really relaxing. He wondered if this was what it would've been like if he passed Initiation. Exploring the school, maybe even partnering up with a cute girl. He wondered who his partner would be. Pyrrha was really nice and really pretty, he would've been lucky to have her. Mecury was cool too, and he wasn't nearly as much of a jerk as he said he was even when he wasn't pretending.

Not that he hated being with team RWBY or anything. They really calmed down the past semester and he didn't have to worry about keeping his Aura up actively whenever he went to bed (the rest of the team already knowing how to keep it up passively from years of training). It wasn't perfect, of course. They still had some arguments here and there, but what team didn't? They didn't need him to play mediator nowadays.

He wondered idly if it meant Ozpin would change his mind on his stay at Beacon. He didn't want to quit anymore - or at least it wasn't his first resort anymore - so he didn't know how to feel. He was only ever here because Ozpin wanted someone to keep on eye on his world saviors. Without that he really didn't have much use left for him.

Shaking his thoughts away, he continued to lead Penny around the school. She smiled and hummed politely at every single place he showed her, always shaking her head and telling him that she had no questions every time he asked.

"Heh, if I didn't know any better I'd think you already knew everything about this place," Jaune joked.

Penny stiffened for just a microsecond and laughed, "Oh, that's silly, friend-Jaune! I absolutely didn't download the school's schematics and study them thoroughly in preparation for my transfer!" She hiccuped, "You are so funny to even suggest such a thing!"

"O...kay?" She was obviously lying about something, but he didn't push her on it. Everyone had their secrets and as long as she wasn't a former terrorist or assassin or whatever crazy thing he could think of, she could keep hers.

"But this is an enjoyable activity, isn't it?" she continued, still as quick as before, "A boy and a girl spending time together partaking in shared underaking. This is what normal people do with their friends."

"Yeah, I guess." The girl was probably sheltered. Made sense why she was so desperate for friends and overprepared when transferring. Weiss told them some stories of what it was like to grow up in Atlas high society. Both Ruby and Yang shuddered at the idea of being so controlled and having to watch themselves 24/7. They even vowed that they wouldn't transfer to Atlas for the next Vytal tournament if it came down to it.

"Exemplary!" She grinned, "Would you mind if we spent more time together of this nature? I was told that the bonds of friendship could be deepened with continuous exposure."

"Wow, sounds like you're asking me out on a date."

She blinked and tilted her head to the side. He was about to tell her he was just kidding when her smile lit up brighter than before, "Oh, that is when a boy and a girl partake in couple-type activites, yes?" She barreled on before he could reply, "If so then I find it very agreeable! Friend-Jaune, let us go on a date. Perhaps by the end of the encounter I will call you Boyfriend-Jaune."

"Penny-"

"I am boyfriend ready!" She suddenly picked up her scroll and muttered a soft 'oh', "Apologies, but something has come up! I will be back soon." And she was gone, leaving him alone in the hall leading to the outside courtyard.

Okay, so he just got asked out. Cool. Penny was cute, she was nice (if not quirky), and he didn't have any subconscious worries that she'd kill him when she stubbed her toe. He could see it working out. And besides, he needed more friends outside of team RWBY.

Speaking of his team, "Hey, Jaune!" Ruby zipped to where they were and looked up at him with an expression of utter glee, "Guess what, guess what?" She hopped in place excitedly. She only got like that for a few specific reasons and the lack of cookie crumbs on her face narrowed down his choices.

"Guess it has something to do with my pistol you're hiding behind your back?"

"Yup!" she said, popping the p. Ruby presented the gun to him with both hands like a holy relic and spoke in a reverent tone, "I upgraded it to fire different kinds of dust bullets. We should go on a test run soon."

"Thanks, Rubes." He took the gun and hefted it with his right hand. There was a bit more added weight on the frame so it could afford the increased force and feedback, but besides that it was as wieldy as it always was. Not that he'd be shooting dust bullets a lot. Bullets were expensive, "Hmm." He turned it around to inspect it and smiled slightly at the small rose emblem on the slide, "Leaving your mark, huh?"

"A rose's guarantee." She winked then wrung her fingers together, "Don't forget I'm going to be teaching you about weapon maintenance. Every student should be able to make their own weapon."

"I didn't make this, though. You were there when we bought it."

"But it can still be yours. Blake got Gambol Shroud from scavenged parts but she still modified it. Besides, we can't all be rich and pay people to manufacture our weapons like Weiss." Ruby still teased her partner about how she spent so much Lien to get Myrtenaster forged for her. He couldn't throw stones considering his own weapon was a family heirloom, "We really should get you a mechashift weapon, though. Using a sword and a gun separately feels so...old."

"Hey, didn't you say the classics were cool too?" he asked with mock offense.

"That was before you went and turned into a weirdo who uses two weapons." Her eyes widened, "Wait, why don't we make you a new weapon?"

"From scratch?" He blinked. That was a big thing. It literally took a whole year of maitenance and adjustments to make Crescent Rose just right.

"Sure," she chirped, "I helped Yang make Ember Celica so you shouldn't be much different. Maybe a sword that turns into a rifle? It'll get you a lot more range than just a pistol."

"Maybe." It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the offer. It was just...even with a whole semester of training he wasn't even close to catching up with the rest of the students. They weren't sitting on their laurels and continued to get stronger so he felt just as weak as when he started no matter how much better he actually got. He didn't want to waste Ruby's time making weapon he wouldn't even be able to use effectively.

"Come on, Jaune." She crossed her arms and gave him her serious look. It wasn't very intimidating, "You're literally the only person in school with a classic. Time to step up."

"Fine." He sighed then smiled, "So should we ask the rest of team RWBY for help? I know at least Weiss designed her weapon and Blake's got experience with field modification. They could help us brainstorm."

"Oh, uh..." She looked away suddenly, "I was thinking maybe it'd be just the two of us?"

"Why? We could get more done with more people."

"Hey, are you doubting my weaponmaking skills?" Ruby frowned. She continued before he could reply, "Besides, it's better to actually limit people when making weapons. Too many heads and suddenly you get a Frankenstein thing that just doesn't work." She shuddered. It sounded like she spoke from experience, "Trust me, just the two of us should be enough. Rose's honor."

"Hey, that's my line!" He laughed and she laughed with him, "Alright, fine, when?"

"I think we should-"

"Apologies for my sudden departure, Friend-Jaune!" Penny suddenly said behind him. Jaune absolutely did not jump and scream. Ruby did though, which he wasn't ashamed to admit, "There was a situation that I have now resolved- oh, you were the one who took Friend-Jaune away before." Penny enthusiastically shook Ruby's hand, "Did you find your teammate with ties to the White Fang?"

"Wha-"

"Ahahaha, Penny! That's not something you should be saying out loud!" Jaune plastered a forced smile on his face and thanked the Gods the hall was still empty, "Our teammate left her old group behind and she doesn't like talking about it."

Penny blinked, "Oh, you're attempting to tell me that a subject is taboo using implications and social clues." She made a zipping motion, "Don't worry, I've deleted all references and connections to it from my mind."

"Uh...good to know."

"Wait, you're the girl who was with Jaune before." Ruby slowly pulled her hand back from Penny's own, "My name's Ruby. Um...I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

"My name is Penny Polendina." Her mouth parted in an O shape, "Wait, Jaune told me before that friends are just strangers that you haven't met yet." Ruby gave him a look that promised future teasing and he cringed. Of course that'd come back to bite him, "Now that we have introduced ourselves does this mean you wouldn't protest at the idea of us becoming friends?"

"Um...sure?"

"Exemplary!" Penny leaned in close just like she did to him before, "This has increased my total number of friends by one more. Father will be thrilled to hear this."

"So, um, how did you meet Jaune?" Ruby asked.

"We met in Vale the same day he was sick and vomited all over you." Of course she'd bring that up. Both he and Ruby winced at the memory, "He was my first friend, and if things go well that relationship may change to boyfriend."

Ruby suddenly froze, face heating up a bit at Penny's blunt declaration. Jaune sighed. He got the feeling Penny's definition of a boyfriend didn't match a normal person's, "Wh-What?" she sputtered.

"I asked Friend-Jaune out on a date and he agreed. If things go well, I may be able to update my 'relationship status'." Huh, that reminded him of how long it'd been since he went to facetome. Wonder what those updates would look like now. 'Just survived almost being burned alive, harsh vibes'.

"Y-You're going on a date with her?" Ruby turned to him now.

"I guess I am." He shrugged. Not that it would lead to much of anything. Three months in and an actual relationship was the last thing on his mind. It wouldn't have been fair to the girl he was dating if he had to cut out every time something bad happened or team RWBY got in trouble. Just because they were better now didn't mean they couldn't do something wrong. Blake was still trying to muscle in on the White Fang investigation even after she captured Torchwick.

Besides, she was a transfer student and long distance relationships pretty much never worked from his experience. Rebecca was still sore about her's.

"But-"

"Oh, classes are about to start. We should make our way there," Penny hummed, dragging along a protesting and sputtering Ruby with both hands, "Oh, I am so excited to get to know you, Friend-Ruby. This will be a fun and productive day indeed."

Jaune shook his head and went to stash the gun in his locker while Ruby squawked and cried. The new term was shaping up to be an interesting one.

Waking up early to hunt Grimm with Professor Port was a new experience for him. Technically his detention ended last semester and he didn't have to spend time with the guy anymore, but he still liked him. He wasn't a jerk like Professor Branwen and the stories he had actually had a lot of tips in-between the lines. It was pretty cool to find out that some Grimm were attracted to certain scents and not just the feelings of despair.

Which they were putting to the test right now.

"That's it, lad! Lure it over to me!"

"I'm trying, Peter!" Jaune huffed and tried to ignore the Creep Grimm literally inches from his back. Ahead of him was Port who was waving his hands and gesturing to the very large and very obvious open cage that they were supposed to put said Creep in.

Now or never.

He turned at the last second and hurled himself off to the side. The Creep's charge kept it running forward and it stumbled over the tripwire set in front of the cage, "Haha, success!" Port slammed the cage door shut and ignored the Creep ramming at the reinforced metal in a rage, "Not quite as impressive as a Boarbatusk, but live Grimm demonstrations should make for a quite a show for our transferees!"

"If...you say so..." Jaune panted and desperately drank from the water on his canteen. He couldn't blame Port for this. He was the one who offered to help him out and he figured it was the least he could do for all that training. And maybe he felt bad cause everyone except Yang still thought spending time with the guy was some kind of war crime. Like Weiss 'let's study for at least two hours every night' Schnee and Blake 'I'm the only one who can stop the White Fang in all of Vale' Belladonna had any room to say anything.

"Ooh, he's a feisty one!" He put a tarp over the cage and loaded it up to a nearby cart without Jaune's help. Don't let the gut fool you, the guy was packing some muscles on those arms, "Thank you for your help, Jaune."

"No problem, Peter." He smiled weakly and sat on the ground. It was odd calling a guy older than his father a friend, but this is where he was at. Besides, he really needed more male buddies. Mercury was nice and all but he wasn't exactly normal. Neither was Port, but at least he didn't kill his father...as far as Jaune knew, "I needed some time away from the room anyway."

"Missing the masculinity that comes with a good old hunt in the wilds, lad? Can't say I blame you." Port chuckled and sat down next to him. The sun was just coming up so they had a couple of hours left till classes started, "Though, I'm certain more than a few of your male peers would envy your position. Team RWBY are a fetching group of ladies." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Ugh, Peter, don't be gross." He knew he didn't mean anything by it - it was just part of his old adventurer vibe - but he still didn't wanna think about that.

"Haha!" Port let out a full belly laugh and Jaune laughed with him, "But what about you? Have any of the fetching ladies of team RWBY drawn your eye?"

"Yeah, right." Jaune rolled his eyes. Even if he wasn't still kinda scared of them, they were way out of his league. Weiss was the heiress to the largest corporation in Remnant, Yang was one of the hottest and strongest girls in school, Blake had relationship issues because of her ex, and Ruby was a prodigy who got into Beacon two years early, "They're gonna be dating someone more in their league. Weiss is eyeing this Neptune guy from Mistral."

"You put yourself down too much, lad." Port clapped his shoulder, "Being serious for a bit, how are you?"

"Same as usual. Not as scared for my life as I usually am." The last time was when Weiss got some bad news the same time she was on her time of the month. Thank the Gods she didn't know how to change the weather like Blake so all that happened was the room freezing over like someone broke the thermostat, "...When's Ozpin gonna tell them about who they really are."

"I'm afraid that's not my place to say." He rubbed his mustache thoughtfully.

"They're gonna notice that it's not just Secondary Semblances when their powers get stronger." Which was why he agreed with Blake about telling them as soon as they came back from their first official mission. Mercury and his team already left for theirs and they were going to go on their own in a couple of days time. He'd talk to Ozpin about it and make his argument.

The lie was already fraying. Yang, Weiss and Ruby started mixing elements together and Weiss was experimenting on amplifying her powers with ice dust to...scary effect. It was better if they were told rather than finding out themselves. They'd probably be hurt, they may even hate him for lying to them for so long, but it was better than the alternative. He couldn't really call himself their friend if he was keeping a secret like this.

"I agree." The Creep banged against the cage again, cutting through the somewhat somber mood, "Perhaps this is a conversation you might have with the headmaster?"

"Guess so. Thanks, Peter."

"Any time, my boy. If you need any help in the future you need only ask." He paused, "...And if you should run afoul of the headmaster's ire, I would still be willing to train you in the ways of a Huntsman."

"Wow, um...thanks." Jaune gulped. He felt a bit bad hearing such an earnest offer considering how he started, "I should probably head back. Gotta get ready for classes you know." He stood and stopped, "You're not gonna get me to demonstrate in front of the class for later, right?" Port just laughed, "Peter, I'm serious, I'm really exhausted and I don't wanna make an idiot of myself in front of the transfer students."

"I have the utmost faith in you, Jaune."

"That doesn't answer my question! Hey, Peter!"

He did end up fighting the Creep. Jaune only sort of hated Peter for it.

He was going to train with Weiss the next day afternoon when trouble began.

"Oh, Neptune." Weiss smiled at the blue haired boy in question who was hanging around the training room. Jaune looked him up and down. The guy just oozed style from head to toe and it was no surprise Weiss was smitted. He was definitely a looker, and a charmer too judging by how Weiss gushed - "I do not gush," she said when Yang teased her - about him. Perfect for someone like her.

Which was why he was so stunned when he glared at her and turned away with a scoff. Weiss was just as stunned too, freezing in place and her eyes going wide with hurt, "...Did you two have a fight?" Jaune whispered.

"I...no, I don't think so." Her brows furrowed worriedly and she walked closer to him. Jaune hung back and watched a short distance away. Just because he was her friend didn't mean he should butt in on everything, "Good morning, Neptune."

"...Morning," he said sullenly. Jaune winced just being in proximity of the frosty gesture.

"Is something wrong? I'd hate to think I offended you somehow."

"It's nothing, just...I don't think we should be talking to each other anymore."

Now Weiss definitely looked hurt. Jaune debated stepping in to try and defuse the situation when another blonde walked closer, "Hey, Nep! We should get outta-" The new figure stopped and shouted, a monkey tail swinging erraticaly behind him, "You!"

"You!" Weiss shouted back at the same time.

Alright, time to step in, "Hey, let's all calm down. No need for yelling," Jaune said with a practiced smile.

Weiss pointed, "You're that...that..."

"Ah man, of course I'd run into you again." The monkey Faunus groaned.

"Wh-What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be-"

"In jail? Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Surprisingly enough it was Neptune who answered, "Man, I had you pegged all wrong. Didn't think you'd be the girl who put my best friend in jail."

"Excuse me?!" Gone was the look of hurt, replaced with red-faced indignation, "He stowed away on a ship and ran away from the authorities! I was fully in the right in that situation, thank you very much!"

"Nep, come on, I told you it's not a big deal-"

"And when you handed him over to the authorities, did you have to call him a dirty Faunus? Were you right then?" Weiss flinched back like she'd been hit and Jaune hissed through his teeth. Yeah, he couldn't exactly excuse that, and judging by the look on her face, neither could Weiss, "If you just handed him over to the cops then fine, you were right, but you didn't do that, did you. Or was Sun lying that you said that?"

"I...that is..." Weiss stumbled over her words, "I'll admit that I was wrong, but I've changed my views recently."

"...I've heard that before." He sighed, "Look, I'm sorry, but I really just don't want to talk to you anymore."

Neptune walked away. Weiss didn't say anything and turned to leave at the other end of the training room. He didn't go with her. Jaune could tell she wasn't in the mood for a pat on the shoulder and needed time to cool off. Hopefully not literally.

"Man, that was awkward..." Sun sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah..."

"Sorry about that." He offered a hand out and smiled, "Name's Sun Wukong. Wanna say nice to meet you, but...well."

"It's fine. Name's Jaune Arc." He shook his hand, "Maybe it's not my place to say, but Weiss is definitely trying to change and she'd probably apologize for what happened if she wasn't so hurt."

"I get it." He shrugged, "I'm used to to that kind of thing and I didn't really hold a grudge, but Neptune's different." He sighed, half exasperated and half fond, "We go to Haven Academy and a lot of people there don't treat Faunus very well." It was one of the biggest targets of the White Fang next to Atlas, according to Blake, "I learned to have a thick skin. Neptune's kinda protective, doesn't like his partner getting slurs thrown at him."

"Yeah, I know someone like that." Yang was just as protective over Ruby and, to a lesser extent, the rest of their team.

"But I didn't mean to ruin whatever it was they had. Guy thought he hit the lottery till I opened my big mouth and said she was the one who arrested me. Then he does a complete 180."

"He cares about his friend. You can't really blame him for that."

"Guess not. Hey, maybe I'll see you around, huh?"

"Sure."

Jaune walked back to their shared room with a weight on his chest. Weiss sat there alone with her textbooks propped open. Great, he knew what that meant, "Room for one more?" he asked. She hummed and didn't say anything as he popped open his own notes.

This time she didn't wait an hour to ask, "I should apologize, shouldn't I?"

"That's really up to you," he said, "You were right that he broke the law-" and so did Blake, but that was neither here nor there, "-but you can get why the guy would be mad, right?" She nodded, "I can tell you feel bad."

"If only it were that simple." She sighed bitterly, "I understand that my behavior wasn't right and I do feel terrible about it...but a part of me doesn't." She closer her book with a loud snap, "That part of me that screams that I did nothing wrong, the part that was raised hating the White Fang and thinking each and every Faunus hates me and my family so why shouldn't I hate them? And every time it does I have to fight to push it back down."

"You're already doing better, trust me." Trust the guy who was still lying to her, "And if you need anything else, just tell me."

"It's fine. You and Ruby listening to my whining is more than enough," she sighed again, though it sounded far less bitter than before, "I'll talk to Neptune again in a few days time and try to apologize. My behavior when handing Sun over to the authorities was shameful and unbecoming of anyone, especially a Schnee. Thank you, Jaune."

Their first official mission was sort of anti-climactic. Ruby, Yang and Blake wanted Grimm extermination while he and Weiss were more interested in the one about shadowing a Deputy and getting into the finer points of Huntsman legality. His time at Beacon taught him that Huntsmen did more than just fighting Grimm. They were being trained to be the protects of both Human and Faunus kind.

In the end they were given a mission to help in construction for a small village. It was so safe and mundane that they weren't even given a teacher as a chaperone cause how were they supposed to screw up doing unpaid manual labor. Yang complained the whole way there and even Ruby, try as she might, had to force herself to smile and assure them that there was still room for excitement in hauling concrete and wood around.

He didn't complaint too much at first. It was a safe mission, which was a nice change of pace from his day to day, and it was important work. Domremy was lucky enough to sit at the center of other villages, meaning Huntsmen tended to wander around often and they had decently sturdy walls. He heard from Professor Branwen that a lot of villages lived and died by how quickly they could erects walls and create a militia to protect them from Grimm...and other people.

Professor Branwen's face puckered when he said that last part.

"Ugh, I'm so booored!" Yang cried as she hauled yet more sacks of cement.

"We know, Yang. You've been saying that for the past hour!" Blake said, surprisingly loud. The sun hanging over their head and the backbreaking work was agonizing. Even with Aura making them stronger, it didn't help with the heat or the feeling of mindnumbing boredom. Literally nothing was happening and they were dying of heatstroke. The only bit of excitement they had was a couple of village teens catcalling Yang and telling her to take her top off.

A quick cock of Ember Celica shut them up real quick, though he did worry they'd get in trouble for threatening a civilian. Then again she somehow didn't get in trouble for trashing a bar so who the hell knew.

"But I'm booored! And hot! And sweaty!" Yang said, even louder than before.

"So help, Yang Xiao Long, if you don't stay quiet I will shove Myrtenaster up your ass!" Oh great, now Weiss was cursing. If Ruby started doing it too the world was gonna end soon.

"Weiss...bestie...can't you use a little of your you know what? Just to cool us off?" Ruby's pout was garnished with tears. She was that desperate.

"Believe me I'm tempted, but I don't want to risk it while there are civilians around." Funny how she didn't seem to have a problem experimenting while he was in the blast zone, "We'll just have to deal with this."

"...I'm bo-"

Blake chucked her bag of cement right at Yang's face. Thank the Gods for Aura.

Jaune shucked off his armor and hoodie before he brought the back of his right hand across his sweat stained forehead. He changed his mind, he'd take dangerous and life threatening over this, "It's alright, we only have...four more hours left." Weiss, Yang and Blake groaned. Ruby actually cried. He felt bad for her. All of them could take off parts of their clothes to at least cool down but Ruby's outfit was so layered and black that it acted like a heat magnet.

And while Yang had enough self-confidence to strut around in a sweaty tanktop and shorts, Ruby didn't exactly like the idea of doing the same in her camisole even if she have the energy to untie her corset. She and Blake chose the wrong time to wear stockings.

"Is there any way we can get back sooner?" Blake asked desperately.

"Says here that we either do the full time or we finish the stack." He gestured to the small hill of construction supplies laden on the carts. They had to move, organize and stack them all in the designated locations. The mayor joked before that at least they weren't doing the hard work of actually using the things to build the wall. Jaune sincerely wanted to tell him to pound sand.

"Ugh, I can't take this anymore!" Weiss brought a hand through her messy hair.

"...I have an idea," Yang said. This time Blake didn't toss something at her, "Rubes, your Semblance should let you do it way faster. You can move the stacks around better than we can if you use."

"It won't stop me from feeling hot and tired!" Ruby shot back.

"But it will let us leave this forsaken place faster," Weiss said, "Ruby, you're our only hope now."

"But-"

"I will literally do your history homework for a week if you do this." Blake said. She looked absolutely serious, "At this rate we're going to pass out from heastroke before the hour's over."

"...Fine, but you all owe me! Especially you, Jaune!"

"I didn't even ask!"

Thanks to Ruby it only took them a couple more hours to finish everything. They trudged like zombies over to the bullhead with Ruby having the worst of it. She was already asleep five seconds into the air with her head against his left shoulder. He let her stay and tried to ignore the aching in his hands and feet. It wasn't that they were strangers to hard work, but did they have to do it in the mother of all heatwaves?

The trip to Beacon was peaceful (thank you motion sickness pills) and despite it barely being four in the afternoon the entire team wanted nothing more than to crash in their dorms after a cold shower. He said his thanks to the pilot and watched the ship leave to pick up more students. He wondered how team PRMN was doing. They'd been no contact ever since they went on their early mission and still hadn't come back.

His scroll rang and Mercury's name flashed across the screen, "Hey, Merc. You heading back to-"

The loud burst of static nearly made him drop it. Mercury's voice cut through the haze, "Jau...need...Gle...TRAIN...Ozp...Vale."

"What? Mercury, I can't hear you."

The only response was a deafening crash before the call cut out. Jaune's brows furrowed, "What the-" An alarm suddenly rang, the blaring klaxons grating against his ears. Jaune looked back and saw smoke rising out from the center of Vale.

Couldn't have been a coincidence.

"What's going on?" Yang asked, all exhaustion forgotten.

"I...I dunno, but I think something's happening in Vale. We should-" His scroll rang again, this time with Ozpin's number. Jaune answered quickly without taking his eyes off the city, "Headmaster Ozpin, what's-"

"Jaune, I need you to take team RWBY and keep them in the school."

"What? No, what's going on?!"

"It's too long to explain now, you'll just have to-"

"No!" His yell was loud enough to cut through the blaring siren, "Something's happening and you know what it is! Mercury called me just before whatever this is happened! Just tell me what's going on!"

"...Vale has been breached and Grimm are pouring inside from tunnels connected to Mountain Glenn." A chill ran through his body at the words. Grimm attacks were a fact of life but not inside the Kingdoms. It was supposed to be safe, "Judging by Mr. Black's last message, team PRMN were on the train before it crashed and they attempted to stop it. Unfortunately, they failed."

"Fuck!" Jaune yelled again. Were they even still alive, he thought, "O-Okay, then we need to get down there and-"

"No, Jaune."

"Why not?!"

"Because I believe that this attack was intended to lure out the Maidens." His eyes shifted over to team RWBY, each of them looking at the exchange with worry, "I'm mobilizing all active Huntsmen and the transfer students as well."

"Then we should go too!"

"Did you not hear me, Jaune?" The headmaster's words took a more tired, angry edge, "This attack's timing is too suspect and we cannot risk the Maiden's powers falling into the wrong hands. I'm sorry."

"People are dying! Every second we talk the more people die!"

"I know that, Jaune." Ozpin sounded pained as he forced the words out, "But you don't understand what would happen if the Maiden's powers were to be taken. And if I did allow you to take team RWBY, could you promise me that they wouldn't use their abilities so they won't expose themselves?"

He couldn't. None of them would accept keeping their heads down if they could use their powers to save people.

"...I'm sorry, Jaune."

"No, you're not." The venom in his voice was scathing. Jaune cut the call and looked back at the empty docks. Bullheads were away collecting the students and even if there were any there would Ozpin even let them go after that order?

"Jaune, what's going on?" Ruby asked, grabbing his arm tightly.

"Th-There was an attack on Vale. Grimm are pouring on." They all gasped and screamed in surprise.

"We need to get down there now, then!" Weiss shouted.

"I agree, but the Bullheads aren't here." Blake scowled. She probably suspected what his conversation with Ozpin was about.

Ruby chewed on her lower lip, "We can use my Semblance. Just like-"

"When you took me to Vale," Jaune finished. It was possible, but... "Ruby, how many people can you carry at once?"

"I...I've only ever carried one person." She shook her head, "It's risky, but we have to try!"

"Are you sure?" Yang asked, "I don't like the idea of taking multiple trips here, but if we fuck this up we're gonna fall halfway through and we're not gonna be able to help anyone. That and you already used your Semblance a bunch during the mission..."

"We're all willing to risk it. Right, team?" Ruby asked. They all nodded, "Alright, team RWBY-J, huddle up!"

"The same feeling of weightlessness settled over him as the team flew to Vale. Jaune grit his teeth and tried not to think of Ozpin's words. Was he right? Was whoever planned this trying to lure out team RWBY? No, he couldn't second guess himself here. Team RWBY weren't willing to exchange innocent people's lives in exchange for theirs and neither would he.

The time seemed to pass by in a blink and soon enough they were flying over Vale. The sea of Grimm below him was enough to make him sick. There was so much of them that he could barely see the roads of people.

"Now!" Yang shouted.

Ruby deactivated her Semblance and they fell through the air. Yang went first, shooting Ember Celica so she flew to a horde of Nevermores. Blake and Weiss slowed their falls and aimed for where the horde of Grimm was the thickest, "Jaune, don't let go!" Ruby grabbed his hand tightly and activated her Semblance again, shooting towards a group of fleeing civilians about to be run down by a pack of Beowolves.

Jaune took aim and emptied his magazine of fire dust rounds as soon as they landed. Not all of the shots hit, but it was enough to draw their attention. Ruby swung her scythe and cleaved through another charging one, "Get out of here!" Jaune pulled up the people who tripped and ushered the injured away while Ruby took up the pack's attention, "Get somewhere with shelter! Hurry!"

"B-Behind you!" An old man he vaguely recognized shouted.

He turned around and gasped at the King Taijitu that that slithered towards him. Jaune pushed the old man away from the attack and raised his shield desperately.

"Jaune!"

Ruby sped past him, Semblance activated, and dragged him away just before the jaws clamped down. Ruby let go of him once they were safe and growled, eyes lit up with red flames. The giant snake didn't get a chance to attack against before a tornado came up from under it and slashed it to ribbons.

"And stay down!" Ruby panted and leaned against the wall, barely managing to keep hold of Crescent Rose. Jaune helped support her and cursed when he saw her Aura levels. She was in the red, and carrying them around must've exhausted her. It was a miracle that she was still upright, "I-I'm okay, Jaune. I'm okay. We need to-"

"I know." Jaune shut his eyes in frustration. Maiden powers or not, if she lost her Aura then she'd be just as vulnerable to the Grimm's attacks as anyone. There had to be a way he could help her. Even if he was useless here he had to do at least that!

A wave of warmth ran through his body and stopped at his hands, "J-Jaune...?" His eyes opened once more and what he saw made him gasp. Aura - his Aura - concentrated on his palms and...flowed into Ruby. She gasped in turn, equally surprised, and she asked, "What's going on? What are you doing?"

"I...I think I'm giving you my Aura." His Semblance, he realized numbly. He didn't have time to dwell on it now. His eyes snapped to his scroll and he laughed in utter relief when he saw his own Aura slowly draining while Ruby's increased, "How do you feel, Ruby?"

"Better, I think. Not as tired anymore." She followed his gaze and gasped again, "Jaune, your Aura! You're draining your-"

"I know. I'm alright, trust me." She bit back any more protests and they waited until her Aura jumped back to green, "Could you get out there and help the rest of the team?"

"Y-Yeah, but what about you? You gave me so much Aura..."

"I'm still in the green." Just barely above yellow at this point, but it was an easy price to pay, "Come on, you can do more good than keeping an eye on me." He smiled, "Come on, you're the leader of team RWBY. Go and lead them."

"It's team RWBY-J!" She shouted before speeding off.

Jaune ran through the streets where the sounds of screaming was the loudest and stopped when he saw a pair of kids frozen in shock, staring up at two fully grown Nevermores over their heads. Yang suddenly flew to the Nevermores' side and shot tornados of fire them, "Keep your head down!" He covered the kids as the fiery wind made contact. It was far enough that they weren't at risk, but it was still a terrifying sight.

Ash rained down over them as Yang left, trying to safeguard another group of civilians, "Come on, we have to go..." He grabbed both the kids and forced them to stand. With any luck they could-

Growling from behind.

Another pack of Beowolves charged towards them, drawn by the noise and fear. Jaune fumbled for his belt and tossed the pack of dust grenades before they got too close. He covered the kids again as explosions of fire, ice and wind tore apart the horde. The few stragglers that were left were easily gunned down while the last one was was decapitated with a single swing of Crocea Mors.

It was the same way for however long the attack took. He did his best to shuffle civilians away from the danger zone while team RWBY did all the actual fighting. Weiss froze a group of King Taijutus and protected people with her Glyphis while Blake rushed from one Grimm to the next, slashing, shooting and occasionally claling down lightning on the particularly large ones. Ruby coordinated through their scroll, using her flight and Semblance to tell them the safe zones and where the Grimm were the thickest in-between her own bouts of combat.

The assault finally ended when they got to the train crash. Using a mix of Earth dust and her own magic, Weiss created a makeshift avalanche that covered the breach and any Grimm strill trying to push through. It wouldn't work forever, but it was a start.

By the time they regrouped the other Huntsmen were already on the scene mopping up and he saw paramedics carrying out the unconscious (please just be unconscious) members of team PRMN along with Doctor Oobleck on stretchers.

"It's over...right?" Blake asked first. A quick glance at their Aura bars showed all of them in the Yellow. They must've taken some hits.

"I think so." Weiss answered weakly. Her hair was undone and the long white locks spilled across her back in messy waves, "That was..."

"A fucking disaster." Yang groaned and stretched her arms above her head, "We got really damn lucky there. Holy shit."

"Jaune, are you alright?" Ruby asked. Of course she'd worry about him first before thinking of herself.

"I'm fine. You guys were the ones who did the heavy lifting." He smiled, though it was forced. It wasn't flawless. Even through the panicked haze he remembered seeing bodies scattered around. With any luck they were just injured and unconscious, but if they weren't...

He needed to talk to Ozpin.

At any other day he wouldn't even dream of slamming open the headmaster's door, but right now he was too angry to care.

"Jaune." Ozpin sat at his desk, as calm as always. It only made him angrier, "I see that-"

"No, I'm not here for a lecture." Jaune growled, "When we got there people were already dead." The side of Ozpin's mouth twitched. Guilt, maybe, or was he just imagining it, "A lot more people would've died if team RWBY didn't go there and you know it."

"Yes, Jaune. I know." He looked down at his desk, still painfully neutral.

"Then why the hell did you try to argue otherwise?! We you even sure that this plan involved the Maidens at all?!" No reply, "So many people wouldn't be breathing today if not for them. You said they could save the world, isn't this what you meant?" he asked desperately. He needed answers, something to tell him that maybe Ozpin might have been justified and he wasn't just going to let all those people die.

Instead he stood up and looked out his window, "Have you seen the news? Team RWBY's abilities were caught on camera. Valean news channels are already talking about them, and by the end of the day I expect that all of Remnant will find out."

"So what? You can't tell me you planned to keep it secret forever."

"No, but I had hoped they wouldn't be exposed so early." He sighed, "You disobeyed my instructions and now all of Remnant will know. The public will think nothing of it except that they're Huntresses with uniquely powerful Semblances, but for those that are aware..." Ozpin turned and looked him in the eyes, "They've become targets now, Jaune. So long as they hold the powers of the Maidens they'll never know peace.

"They were training to Huntresses, I think they know the risk." And he knew that not a single one of them would consider the price too high for all the people they saved today.

"Perhaps."

"So what now? Are you going to expel me for not following your orders?"

"No, Jaune. Now more than ever, they'll need all the help they can get." He smiled. Jaune frowned, "The coming days will be turbulent indeed and while you may hate me for my choices, we're both still on the same side." He doubted that, "For what it's worth, a part of me is glad that you made the choice that you did. I can only hope that you don't come to regret it."

Jaune left without another word. His head was a mess of thoughts, most of them angry. Ozpin was keeping secrets and he knew that he wouldn't spill. Jaune wasn't sure if he'd even accept any kind of excuse or justification.

Team RWBY was at their dorm room waiting for him, "Jaune, where did you run off to?" Weiss asked.

"I...just had talk with Ozpin."

He had to tell them the truth now. Ozpin didn't expel him, but Rwby, Weiss and Yang could still hate him for lying. It didn't right now. He shared a look with Blake and she nodded, understanding. But how could he tell them? Just lay everything on the table straight out? Blake understood because she knew Amber and was there when she died, but the rest of them didn't know why they got these powers.

And then he remembered the words that started it all.

"...What's your favorite fairy tale?"

"General Ironwood, sir."

"Specialist Schnee. I trust you've seen the news reports."

"Yes, sir."

"Maidens. Ozpin has all four Maidens at his school and he didn't think to tell us. One of them is your-"

"Yes, sir, I'm aware. What are your plans now?"

"We go to Beacon. Those four are the best chance we have of ending this war for good."

"Adam, sir, are you-"

"I'm fine. The student I fought was more...tenacious than I expected. What's going on?"

"The news reports, sir. People found the corpses of our fellow members and the Valean council is calling for blood. Sienna wishes to contact you and...I think that she'll disavow you altogether."

"Of course she will. She's always been a coward."

"That's not all. The Huntress team that fought back the Grimm. You need to see this."

...

"Haha."

"...Sir?"

"Hahahaha! Blake's picked up some new tricks since she's last left us, but it doesn't change anything. This will still end the same way."

"Shay where the fuck have you been?"

"At the bar in town."

"I told you to knock that shit off! We need all hands on deck now and-"

...

"Saw this on the news. That's Raven's brat, ain't it? Look at her eyes. She has-"

"Raven's power. Our power. Why does she..."

"No idea, but you know what this means, right?"

"Yeah. We'll make her an offer, and if she says no then we take back what's ours."

"Haha..."

"Cinder?"

"Hahahaha. Oh, this is perfect. I'd only hoped to lure out that thieving cat, but to think that all four Maidens would be sitting there ripe for the taking. What are the odds of that?"

"Does this change anything?"

"No. Obviously we can't fight them all together so long as they're a group, but we have time and they'll eventually make a mistake. By the end of it I'll take what's rightfully mine."

"Brother, you've seen the-"

"I have. To think that the power that was lost to us would resurface so spectacularly. And in four young women instead of one."

"You plan to take them under your thrall?"

"Of course, how could I not? The last of these 'Maidens' was a blessing."

"Until she killed herself and we lost her. I'm not sure if it's due to her abilities or not, but isn't it a risk? What if these ones break free as well?"

"It's a risk we're willing to take. You know how powerful even one of these Maidens are, think of what we could accomplish with four of them. Our dream for Vacuo would come to fruition and all of Remnant would."

"Hm. I'll follow your lead, Jax, as always."

Yeah...maybe Jaune made the wrong choice here. Ozpin's decision might have been callous but now all of Remnant knows how overpowered team RWBY is, and unlike a lot of fics the OP characters don't exist in a vacuum. People are gonna react when a bunch of WMD's are running around and they're gonna want to use, kill, or control them for their own reasons.

With that in mind here are the factions:

General Ironwood: Weiss character focused. Wants to use team RWBY as the Vanguard against Salem...whether they want to or not.

White Fang: Blake character focused. Sienna Khan wants Blake back for her powers while Adam still wants her to suffer. Civil war ensues.

Branwen Clan: Yang character focused. Wants 'their' power back regardless if it means Yang joining their tribe or killing her to reclaim it.

Cinder Fall: Ruby character focused. Wants to steal all the Maiden powers for themselves.

The Crown (bad guys from RWBY novels): Jaune, Mercury and Qrow character focused. Wants to control the Maidens and used them as enslaved nukes.

That's not even getting to the more mundane stuff like the other schools who now try to scout out team RWBY for prestige points and better odds at the Vytal Tournament or the council of Vale's reaction to four demigods who are only going to get stronger with age and training.

And just for the sake of clarification, just because a faction is 'X character focused' doesn't meant Jaune and the rest of team RWBY are no longer present. They're still there, it's just that the character in question gets more spotlight.

Questions:

1. So which arc do you guys want to see? Ironwood will be the first one but the other four can come in a more randomized order. Leave your choice and why that one in the reviews or just answer the poll.

2. What do you guys think of Jaune as a character so far in the fic? Some people still wanna see him in a harem even though I've done my best to avoid the usual wish fulfillment tropes. Jaune isn't overpowered, he's not especially unique, and his backstory is mundane. Part of the humor of the fic stems from the fact that he's essentially a normal guy surrounded by extraordinarily powerful and unique people even outside of team RWBY.