Dreams Do Come True

by DragonoftheEastblue

Do you believe in destiny? I certainly do, and so do two young Huntsmen-in-training who are about to have their lives changed forever. A retelling of events from the end of the Beacon Dance where Jaune realizes and accepts Pyrrha's feelings, and takes the first step on a journey he never knew was waiting for him. World-building/Canon-Restoration. Arkos, Boop, BlackSun, Iceberg, etc

21. Chapter XXI: Love of Family and Kingdom

Chapter XXI: Love of Family and Kingdom

Jaune breathed heavily with sweat dripping down his face as he glared at Lawrence, who was of course no worse for wear, and maintaining his dazzling smile. He was too out of breath to speak, so he resorted to communicating with his eyes, cursing Lawrence and the situation at hand. This did register with the older Arc, causing him to laugh.

"Good to see you still have fight in you, cousin!" he cheered. "You truly have a lion's heart."

"And you look like you're barely in the fight" Jaune retorted with laboured breaths.

"I am in the fight. I just go about it exuding just the right amount of energy needed, and making full use of my equipment."

"Yeah, that damn shield..."

"Oi!" Lawrence scolded, pointing at the younger Arc with his sword, before tapping his shield with the flat of it. "Do not bad mouth the shield. The kite shield is the greatest shield ever made, and that is a fact, sir!"

"As you've repeated ad nauseam since we were kids..."

"Good to hear you haven't forgotten. Now then" the taller blond began, sheathing his sword before grasping the top of the shield to pull his arm free from the straps. "Let's have ourselves a little chat, shall we?"

Jaune looked at him in confusion, watching him rest his shield against one of the fallen trees, which he then seated himself upon.

"Why are you stopping?" he demanded. "The fight isn't over."

"Oh cousin, it very much is, and we both know it. The entire point of the fight was for me to judge your progress since you left home, and honestly, minus the Majesty issue, you've done incredibly well" Lawrence explained calmly, leaning forward and resting his arms on his knees. "What I want to do now, is learn how you've been since you left. How are things with your friends, your teammates, Pyrrha. Pull up a seat and talk to me, cousin."

The Arc men looked at one another in silence for several moments, before Jaune finally dropped his guard. He raised the point of Crocea Mors so that it entered the slot at the top of his heater shield, causing it to collapse around the blade. He didn't reattach it to his sword belt however, as he just took a couple steps forward, before falling onto the ground into a cross-legged sitting position. He then rested his sword onto the left side of his chest, with the chape of the scabbard between his legs, touching the ground and pressing against the back of his greaves. Copying his cousin, he rested is arms on his knees, and hung his head as he tried to fully catch his breath.

Lawrence waited patiently, never dropping his charismatic smile. Jaune, finally recovered, raised his head and looked at the taller blond with an unamused expression. Lawrence raised his eyebrows, expecting Jaune to speak first, which he obliged despite his annoyance.

"Things have been tough" he admitted. "I've had to catch up with all the things I'm bad at. Lots of regular training with the school, with my team, and then private training with Pyrrha—both day and night. She's been the one I've relied on for the entire year to teach me how to fight correctly, and she's invested so much time into me, that only now knowing the truth, that she loves me, does it make sense why she did it. Then there's Semblance and Aura training, which...isn't going as well."

"Hmmm" acknowledged Lawrence. "And she's done a wonderful job, as you've clearly shown during both our fight and in the tournament. You've achieved a much better grasp on your swordsmanship. However...the Majesty situation is troublesome."

"You're telling me" laughed Jaune tiredly. "Pyrrha is a great teacher, and her knowledge on Aura control and manipulation is huge, given how her Semblance works. I've been giving it my all, but there's just something that's been getting in the way, and neither one of us know what it is."

Lawrence paused for a moment, examining his cousin, before his kind smile turned into a playful smirk.

"Well, you've always had trouble focusing on that training. And with Pyrrha as your teacher, you would only be distracted further. Tell me cousin, have you been training or have you been training?"

Jaune's face instantly turned red, understanding what his cousin was insinuating.

"We've been training to improve my swordsmanship and my Aura control! That's it!" he defended.

"Really? And which sword have you been training with?" Jaune's embarrassment grew, causing the taller blond to throw his head back and laugh. "Now I know that the second kind of training is far more fun than the first, but investing the time in the first ensures that you can invest plenty of time in the second."

"We only just got together!" Jaune shot back. "We started dating a few days ago, so it's too early to do stuff like that! And what's with this sudden disregard for our chastity vows by encouraging me to have sex out of wedlock? I haven't been the most devout as of late, but I've at least kept to the rules—the same rules that Pyrrha follows, by the way. So just because I made her wait for us to become a couple, doesn't mean either of us will break those rules."

"Really? What took you two so long?"

"I..." he began, but just sighed in defeat. "I was just an idiot. Let's just leave it at that. So what about you? What have you been up to the past year?"

Lawrence kept smirking for a few moments more, before leaning back, folding his arms as he looked to the sky.

"Hmmm, let's see. I got engaged recently."

When he looked back at Jaune, he grinned from ear to ear, as Jaune's mouth was hanging open and his eyes were bulging out of his skull.

"What!? When did this happen?"

"A couple months ago."

"With who?!"

"You know who—Moira."

Jaune blinked in shock. "The tavern owner's daughter? I didn't even know you two were dating. I mean, you've always been friendly with her—we all have, but I didn't know it was something more with you. Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I did!" Lawrence countered. "In fact, I told you that I was going to marry her. Don't tell me that you've actually forgotten about that?"

Jaune was again flabbergasted, as he did remember Lawrence telling him, but with one important piece of context that made it all the more harder to believe.

"You were ten!" he cried. "I wasn't even eight, and we just met her for the first time the day you told me! How could you have possibly known she was the one for you at that age?"

"I just did" Lawrence stated matter-of-factly. "All it took was one look, and I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her. She felt the same way, and when I told her that on completion of my training at the Service Academy I would ask her to marry me, she said yes. As soon as I received my CoA, I jumped on Julius and rode to the tavern, went through the front door to tell her the news, and asked her to marry me right on the spot. Obviously she said yes, and after kissing her, to the thunderous applause of the patrons, I picked her up, carried her to Julius, and we rode right for home to tell my parents. We're thinking of a fall wedding, and I'd like for you to be my best man."

"I...I-I'd be honoured" was all Jaune could manage, still beside himself.

For as long as Jaune realized that girls weren't as gross as he thought, he noticed just how popular Lawrence was with them. He always had a flock of girls chasing after him, and everywhere he went, he would catch the eye of any and all women. What shocked Jaune as an impressionable young teenager, was that his cousin was always calm and collected, never embarrassed or overwhelmed by the attention, and acted exactly as a Knight should. Now learning that he was engaged to Moira, Jaune understood why Lawrence never let any of it get to his head. His heart already belonged to Moira, and clearly, no woman could ever take her place.

"Cousin" Lawrence cooed, "you look as if I slapped you in the face with a fish. Don't act as if you don't understand. I saw what you did at the end of the tournament—which was nearly exactly what I did. Do you not feel the same for Pyrrha? The moment you laid eyes on her, you knew she was the One?"

"Only after she told me" he confessed, his eyes dropping in shame. "She knew I was the One for her the moment she met me, but I didn't notice. I chased after Weiss Schnee instead, who didn't want anything to do with me. Even when it was clear she wanted to be with Neptune Vasilias, I wouldn't give up, and asked Pyrrha and the rest of my team for advice. It was such a stupid thing to do, and finally Pyrrha couldn't take it anymore, and told me at the Dance that I was the guy she was waiting for. I made up for it, obviously, but I still feel ashamed."

He looked up at his cousin, and saw him slowly nodding.

"You, dear cousin, are an idiot. Now as your cousin, I must applaud and praise you for swinging for the fences, but you're still an idiot."

"I know..." Jaune groaned.

"And yet, you course corrected, fell in love with her, and now, don't you want to marry her?"

"I would go to Hell and back for her" Jaune responded, his shame replaced with seriousness and pride.

His cousin gazed back at him, reading his eyes and facial expression. He seemed to be considering something, though to Jaune's eyes, it was unclear of what. After a few moments, Lawrence began to laugh.

"I couldn't have asked for a better response. However, I do need to ask why didn't you tell Pyrrha about needing to be tested by the family? If you knew she was the One, then you knew it was your duty to inform her."

Jaune inhaled deeply, knowing once again how right Lawrence was, but could only exhale slowly.

"Like you said, I'm an idiot. I should have, but I got caught up in everything. I was enjoying just being with her and finally able to relax. It's not a good excuse, but when have I ever had good excuses for anything?"

The taller blond eyed him carefully, seeing something flash in his cousin's eyes. It gave him slightly more insight into Jaune's mindset, or at least that something was still bothering him about the family. Lawrence had been as open and patient as possible, especially in regards to Jaune's aggressiveness to his and Octavia's arrival. Seeing him dig in his heels and bare his fangs was a great improvement, though it also revealed that there was still bitterness in his heart; a bitterness that had been building for a good while. Should he address it, or was it better to leave it to his uncle? Only time would tell.

"You're being too hard on yourself. We live and we learn—especially at our age. Now!" he announced, clapping his hands against his poleyns, before pushing off of them to rise to his feet. "How about we return to your friends? I believe that Pyrrha and Octavia have concluded their duel by now. How do you think it went?"

He extended his hand to help Jaune up, who accepted it, gripping the top of his forearm.

"Pyrrha won" he said without hesitation. "She rises to any occasion, and Octavia is just the kind of challenge she thrives against."

Lawrence laughed again. "Well said!" he praised, and pulled his cousin to his feet. "Now let's go and welcome my new cousin."

After attaching their gear, the blond young men made their way back towards the road. To their surprise, they found that they had arrived first, with neither girl to be seen.

"Jaune!" cried Nora, bolting forward with Ren by her side. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm good" he replied with a small smile, easily seeing the concern on the ginger's face.

"More than good, I'd say" Lawrence added, clapping his cousin on the back. "He's come a long way from the last time I've seen him. I couldn't be prouder."

Jaune felt his cheeks burn from the praise. Lawrence noticed of course, and began to ruffle his hair like a proud brother, which Jaune tried to stop him from doing, but that just prompted the elder Arc to pull him into another headlock. The earlier uneasiness that the group possessed, especially Ren and Nora, was beginning to subside once seeing how the Arc boys acted. It seemed that Weiss was correct in that this entire ordeal was simply a test, and never meant to be anything malicious. The remaining half of Team JNPR was especially relieved, given that Lawrence was very difficult to hate, and clearly loved Jaune like a brother. Nora was still on the fence regarding Octavia, but with Lawrence at least, she could acknowledge that there was a possible friendship to be had.

At that same moment, the sound of grass being rustled became audible, and caused the group to look to their right to see Pyrrha emerging from the trees, carrying Octavia across her back.

"Pyrrha!" shouted Jaune and Nora, and bolted for the two swordswomen, immediately joined by the others. "Are you OK?"

"I'm alright" she informed, passing the unconscious blonde to Lawrence, who carried her towards Julius.

"Are you sure?" Jaune asked, cupping her face as he could see the scratches, scrapes, and overall state she was in. Her clothes were dirty and her hair was a mess, showing just how hard the fight had been.

"Yes, I look worse than I am" she assured, taking his right hand and squeezing it reassuringly, smiling. "I think that Octavia was hurt more so, however."

The blond's anxiety didn't lessen by much at her words, especially with his guilt of not warning her about his family sitting like a large stone in his gut.

"I'm sorry..." he said in a low voice, "I should have warned you about this. I just didn't think they would come here to test you. I thought I'd have to deal with them myself over the summer, and then maybe next year they'd ask to meet you. I'm sorry, I just thought we had more time...I thought we could finally spend time together in peace and q–"

Pyrrha, smiling that her assumptions had been correct, gently pressed her lips against his, halting his prostration.

"I had a feeling that was the case. I won't pretend that being suddenly challenged by your family was a pleasant experience" she explained, taking care not to sound harsh. "However, I learned through Octavia some context, as well as guessing it had something to do with you still having reservations. I still had a very good fight, though I would like you to promise me you'll give me warning of such things next time."

Jaune shrunk at her words, his guilt gnawing at him once again, but managed to steady himself thanks to Pyrrha's reassuring smile.

"I will. I promise" he vowed, causing her smile to widen. "Are you sure you're OK? Octavia doesn't hold back."

"She certainly didn't, but I still think I dealt more damage than I sustained."

As she said this, Lawrence opened a small bottle and passed it under the comatose Arc's nose, causing her eyes to burst open. She managed to regain her footing, and looked around to gather her surroundings.

"I was beaten" she said at last.

"Yes, you were" confirmed Lawrence, smiling away.

"You keep smelling salts on you?" remarked Yang with an eyebrow raised. "Is that for all the swooning girls you deal with?"

"No, it's for Julius" he corrected, holding the bottle underneath his stallion's nose, who nickered appreciatively. "He's a fan of lavender."

Now fully recovered, Octavia brushed her hair with her hands to make herself more presentable, and faced her younger cousin and his girlfriend.

"Jaune Arc, Pyrrha Nikos, please step forward" she commanded. They complied, and gazed at the elder Arcs, who maintained their usual facial expressions. "Both of you have passed your tests, with you Pyrrha Nikos, passing brilliantly. On behalf of the House of Arc, we accept your courtship of our heir, Jaune, and welcome you into the family. Though you will have to meet Lord and Lady Arc for final judgement, I have no doubt that you will receive their blessings. Therefore, welcome, cousin, to the House of Arc. Ut Lux benedicat tibi, et ut te pareret multos sanum filios."

Pyrrha of course didn't understand the final blessing, but nevertheless blushed at the warm welcome. Jaune was blushing as well, though naturally for different reasons.

"Was that last part really necessary?" he asked.

"Of course" Octavia replied, frowning slightly at his question. "It is an important blessing."

"What does it mean?" asked the redhead, genuinely curious.

"May the Light bless you, and may you give birth to many healthy children" Lawrence translated with a wide grin.

"Of course" commented Yang, as Pyrrha blushed further.

"Quamvis ad esse honestum, ego non puto necesse est benedictio—iudicans per eos coxis– (Though to be honest, I don't think she needs the blessing— judging by those hips)" he continued with a chuckle, but was quickly punished for his words.

"Tene linguam! (Hold your tongue!)" Jaune shouted, sending a punch to his cousin's face. Lawrence reeled backward and clutched his face in pain, turning away from his attacker with his back hunched over.

"Quid enim erat quod quia, patruelis? (What was that for, cousin?)" he asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Scitis cur (You know why)" Jaune hissed.

"Quid? Omnes ego quidem fuit iudex eam coxis (What? All I did was judge her hips)."

"Non potes iudicare eius coxis. Tantum ego tibi iudex eam coxis, intelligere? (You don't get to judge her hips. Only I get to judge her hips, understand?)" he clarified, pointing first to Lawrence, and then to himself, glaring intensely.

"Ha ha! Vae te! (Woe is you)" Lawrence chuckled, standing once more and turning to face the others.

"Can we all just speak the same language, please?" asked Yang in annoyance. "And can you please explain what's going on here?"

"Certainly" obliged Octavia. "This was all a test to see how much Jaune has progressed since he left home, and to see if Pyrrha is worthy of being his woman. We Arcs have high standards, and our Lord wished for her to be tested—which was the task he gave to us."

"Seriously? So Weiss was right? Hang on, isn't the whole worthy to date thing supposed to be for the guys? You know, to see if he's worthy to date the daughter of some high-class noblemen or whatever, right?" she asked, turning to Blake.

"That's usually how it goes—in romance novels at least" the Cat Faunus confirmed. "But she just referred to Jaune's parents as 'Lord and Lady', so unless that's just another form of tradition, there's got to be more to it than that."

"So..." Nora pondered, "Jaune is a prince?"

"No" Jaune cut in. "There is no living monarchy in Remnant. My ancestor was a Knight, and his low nobility status was removed after the King and his family were killed. The Council didn't recognize those titles when they were forming the new government after the war, and they certainly don't now."

"Oh the Council did far more than that" Lawrence added, and for the first time, there was a hint of malice in his eyes. "We once had large swaths of land in the north, and held a great deal of power when the Kings of Vale ruled. But once the King fell, the newly formed Council took control of the House of Vale's holdings and those of the nobility. We now only have twenty thousand acres in the far north of the Kingdom, which we defend with our lives against Men and Grimm. Given our history with the Valian Military, the Council hasn't tried to claim the remaining lands we control, though it was a hot topic of discussion for at least a generation. Furthermore, since they don't recognize the titles of Lord and Knight that belonged to our great-great-grandfather, Jacques Arc, and his descendants, we don't recognize them—symbolically, of course. This drives them up the wall by the way, because our current head of the family, our uncle and Jaune's father, Lord Angus Arc, the Lion of the North, is a high ranking officer in the military, along with our fathers, and there isn't a branch in the army that doesn't recognize our legacy."

"And this is why we were sent to test both Jaune and Pyrrha" continued Octavia. "We Arcs value strength, honour, loyalty, and valour. And as Jaune is the sole son of our Lord, and heir to the House of Arc, only the best possible warrior would be suitable to court and marry him. When word reached us that a possible suitor came in the form of Pyrrha Nikos, there was great excitement and approval, for even we in the north knew of her celebrity status. However, athletic accolades mean little in comparison to true combat prowess; therefore, she would need to be tested properly. As I said previously, she has exceeded all expectations, and we look forward to informing Lord Angus. Undeniably this is all very strange for you fledgling students, but we Arcs value our legacy above all else, and we will continue to preserve and uphold it—to the death if we must."

"In short, to Hell with the Council" Lawrence added with a nod. "We Arcs are Knights, and no matter what anyone says, we will be Knights of Vale; a king on the throne or no. As Uncle Angus says 'Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it'. Anyways, this one is still a Squire, but he'll get there." He playfully slapped his younger cousin's arm as he said this, truly believing he too would join their ranks.

The Huntsmen-in-training were all speechless, with varying thoughts on what they had just learned about the presumably clumsy and plain Jaune Arc. Pyrrha was of course delighted. She had learned a great deal from their date, as well as a few late night conversations of his childhood, but this was much more than she had been let on to. He had underplayed the history of his family, and while she wasn't sure as to why he had done so, her love for Knights and fairy tales, excited her greatly. She was now looking even more forward to meeting the rest of his family, though was still a bit nervous. Ren and Nora could only feel even greater pride in their captain, for learning about his legacy made him seem larger than life. This was the similar reaction for Sun and Neptune, who were from Vacuo, and greatly admired King Alexandre Vale. His sacrifice to defend their Kingdom was a deed all Vacuans would never forget, and in some way having the honour to know someone connected to the King was special, and they looked at Jaune in an entirely new light. Team RWBY were also deeply surprised, with the Xiao Long sisters never have expected for him to have that significant of an ancestry. Blake was surprised due to the vastness of this secret, as she too thought of Jaune of being a good but average teenager. Learning of him hiding such a legacy, one that would come from one of her romance novels, caused even more envy of his and Pyrrha's relationship. Of course, she was also envious that the past he kept secret was nothing to be ashamed of; unlike her own.

It was Weiss however, that reacted differently. As the elder Arcs explained their purpose and heritage, the Atlassian heiress' eyes slowly widened, learning the truth. Yesterday she had a conversation with Jaune on this very subject, and he had told her a different story. That realization caused a cold burning anger to be ignited, and she stared with the ire of betrayal into the blond's back.

"You lied..." she snarled, just loud enough that everyone heard and turned to look at her. "You lied to me!"

Weiss' outrage caught everyone off guard, Jaune most of all, who recoiled when seeing all her fury was aimed right at him, and the coldness in her eyes was like nothing he had ever seen before. In less than a second, he realized why she was so angry with him, and before he could say anything, she turned her back to him and marched away.

"Shit" he cursed, knowing just how badly he had messed up. "Weiss, wait!" Jaune immediately took off after her, leaving the others stunned and plagued with questions.

"Wait? What happened?" asked Lawrence, completely out of the loop.

"I-I don't know" replied Pyrrha, shocked by her friend's reaction and Jaune giving chase.

"It has to be whatever they talked about yesterday" said Ruby, who had noticed Neptune's earlier gaze, and who was now watching the pair disappear from view; anxiousness all over his face.

"Did Jaune ever say why Weiss wanted to talk to him?" Yang asked the rest of Team JNPR, now fired up, knowing that waiting was no longer an option.

"No" Ren replied. "He said that it was between himself and Weiss, and he wouldn't betray her by telling us."

"Well he clearly stabbed her in the back anyways!" the blonde snapped back.

"Hey!" Nora cried. "Jaune would never betray anyone, and you know that!"

"You!" Yang shouted, ignoring the offended ginger and pointed at Neptune. "What the fuck happened during the date? She came back looking like you dragged her through the mud. Did you actually dump her? Did you seriously drag her along for weeks just to dump her again?"

"No!" defended Neptune, clearly insulted by the accusation. "I really like her, and I would never hurt her on purpose!"

"Then tell us what happened!"

The blue-haired Vacuan stayed silent, staring back at the furious brawler, before looking away.

"It's our business" he answered plainly.

This was not the answer Yang wanted to hear, and her patience had finally run out.

"Fine. I'll beat it out of you" she threatened, surprising everyone, and took one step forward with her fists raised.

"Yang, stop" came a strong voice, which succeeded in halting her, for the one who spoke was her own sister.

"Ruby, I can't wait anymore. I told you that if things–"

"And I told you that we should leave them alone for now, and let them figure things out on their own" Ruby reminded her, a sharp and stern expression on her face that neither Yang nor the others had ever seen before. "We don't know what's going on, we don't know what Jaune and Weiss talked about, so I'm not gonna let you to pick a fist fight with the guy Weiss likes. You might be my older sister, but here at Beacon, I'm Captain of this team, so I make the calls. You told me yourself that it's my job to do so, so I am. Got it?"

Never before had any of the Huntsmen-in-training seen Ruby like this, nor had they ever heard her speak in such a tone. Ruby always appeared to be a childish, kind-hearted young girl, choosing to always talk things over than jumping to violence; unless Grimm were in the picture. The only times she would ever raise her voice, was when she would argue with Weiss over weapons and Dust; something that was to be expected given their positions in the team and their backgrounds. There was of course never any hurt feelings after a spat, and more often than not, genuine progress would be made from these arguments. Ruby looked up to Weiss, and could never remain mad at her, even when she scolded her to not act like a child; something that did get under Ruby's skin, as she was the youngest student on campus. Now, she seemed to have rapidly matured, and instead of whining like she usually did with Yang, put both feet down and dug in her heels. It was eye-opening as none of them knew she was capable of acting this way, and if they weren't so shocked, would want to know where it was coming from. Yang on the other hand, did.

For a heartbeat, she no longer saw her little sister; she saw their father. Taiyang was nearly always a very calm man, only acting harsh when catching boys trying to get close to them at Signal. However, when either of them had gotten into any form of danger, he would become what felt like an entirely different man. Tai would not be open to any negotiations, and told both of them directly that what they did was stupid, dangerous, and how much it scared him. Through his eyes and tone of voice, it cemented how serious he was, and it affected them in a way neither could explain.

Never had Yang known Ruby could do the same, as she had always viewed her as a more hyper clone of their mother, Summer. Now, she knew that her little adorable sister was also their father's daughter, and her being made captain of their team, had at last brought it out in the open.

Conceding to her authority, Yang dropped her fists and stood quietly beside Blake.

"You are Lady Schnee's lover?" Octavia asked Neptune, seemingly unaffected by Ruby's disciplinary action. "I remember looking over that article written about the both of you weeks ago, though there was not much to learn from it. You've continued your courting since then?"

"I like her a lot, and she likes me, so I guess so, yeah" he responded, looking as blue as his hair. "She gave me another chance and I've done my best not to waste it."

"And I can vouch for how much he cares about her" Sun added, giving a look to Yang, not at all happy with her trying to pick a fight with his best friend.

"Other than obviously hailing from Vacuo, who were you before becoming a Huntsman?" Octavia continued.

"I'm the son of a fisherman who wants to be a Huntsman" Neptune replied. "I know it's nothing special, but I do care about her, and the more time I spend with her, the more I care."

"How ironic, for you just caught yourself the biggest fish there is" Lawrence remarked, though not in a comical way. "I can tell you are not a manipulative person, and I tend to think I have a talent for correctly judging a person's character. Therefore, I agree with the little captain that we should all keep our noses out of your and Lady Schnee's business."

"Unless Jaune has done anything to dishonour our House; then I shall personally tie him to Aemilius and drag him to the coast" Octavia announced seriously.

"And I can vouch for how much our cousin loves Pyrrha, so he has neither betrayed her nor done anything to bring dishonour to himself, Pyrrha, his friends, or House Arc" Lawrence stated, eyeing his shorter cousin, before looking at the others. "I, of course, don't know the specifics of this situation, and it is not my business to do so. However, what I do know is that my cousin is a good kid. Naive at times, yes, hard-headed at times, yes, forgets to think things through—yes and yes. What he is not, is a person who would hurt his friends or lie to them unless to protect them. He'd fall on his own sword for the people he cares for, and given that he used to like Lady Weiss and helped her get with Big Blue—yes I know about that—he wouldn't hurt her either. So let's wait like adults, because before long, they'll both come back better than ever. I guarantee it."

His words helped them all worry a little less, as well as ease the tension that had quickly erupted between them with Yang's jump to fisticuffs for Weiss' sake.

"Sorry..." Yang apologized quietly, glancing first at Neptune then to the remaining members of Team JNPR.

"It's OK" he replied. "Did she really look that miserable after I walked her back to the dorm?"

"Yeah, pretty much" Ruby confirmed.

Neptune sighed. "Then don't bother apologizing; I deserve all the criticism if that's how she's been since the other night. No, I didn't dump her, and I don't want to. I meant what I said about really liking her. There's just stuff that we need to work out. Like he said, she's the biggest fish. She'll tell you guys the rest whenever she's ready."

Team RWBY nodded, accepting his response, for it was evident to all of them that he was being painfully honest. Team JNPR could sense this as well, though Pyrrha looked down the road, still feeling the anxiety that she had felt the day before.

'You're being overly protective again' she told herself, and she knew that was the truth, even if a little voice in the back of her mind was being childishly worrisome.

λΛλ

"Weiss, wait!" Jaune called desperately.

"Stay away from me!" she snapped back, not halting or looking behind her.

"Please listen to me!" he continued, grabbing her right forearm to stop her, which succeeded, and caused her to look at him with venom in her eyes.

"Let go of me this instant" she hissed, raising her left hand in preparation to unleash her Glyphs.

"Weiss, please!" he begged. "I'm sorry for lying about my family. Yes we were more important than I said, but that was a hundred years ago, and it doesn't change that my father's title as Lord and Knight is honorary at best–"

"That is not why I'm angry!" she cried, wrenching her arm free.

"Then what?"

"I asked you specifically if you were high-born, and you lied to my face" Weiss explained, jamming her finger at the achievement on Jaune's cuirass.

"And I told you that we lost that high-born status when the King died and the Council took over!" Jaune retorted, raising his voice, as he was growing very tired of repeating himself.

"Zum Teufel mit dem Rat! (To Hell with the Council!)" the Atlassian cursed, though despite not speaking her language, the blond understood. "What matters is that legacy! I asked you about your House and its history, and went into great detail about my own. You claimed that your House was formed after King Alexandre's death, but that has to be a lie for your cousin just said that your House once held massive tracks of land that had been reduced with the fall of the King. Your ancestor was far more than a captain in the King's Guard; a nobleman of great importance for certain. The fact that your family carries such provenance in the Valian Army is proof of that. Why are you lying about your family?"

"I'm not!" he defended. "He was a Captain and a Knight, and supposedly a really powerful one, so maybe that's why he had so much land. But it doesn't matter because the Council took control of the Kingdom after King Alexandre's death, since his wife and heirs died too. I've looked into my family, and we don't have a history like yours. There aren't any Arcs before Jacques, since my House was formed with great-grandfather, Pierre, Jacques' son—though our records say Jacques' family name was also Arc. This means he either changed his name before the King died, or after when the records were made—maybe the land belonged to his wife, I don't know. That part of our history has been lost—along with a lot of things thanks to the Great War, so we aren't sure other that the land our ranch is on, was once part of a massive training camp for Knights. I wasn't lying to you, Weiss."

"Yes you did..."

"No! Why is this such a big deal to you?" Jaune demanded, throwing his hands into the air in frustration. "Fine! I'm the descended of a Knight. What does it mean to you? Why does it matter?"

Weiss continued to glare at him, and the swordsman's frustration turned to guilt as he saw tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She looked away, feeling the mountain of words she wanted to shout die in her throat, and was about to walk away, when she felt him take her arm again.

"Weiss, I'm sorry" he apologized, hoping that his tone and eyes proved he was saying this honestly. "I just don't understand. Please tell me why it matters, because I can't figure it out. And the fact that I'm hurting you like this while you're going through what you are with Neptune, makes me feel like the biggest piece of shit possible. I never wanted to hurt you. We're friends aren't we? So I'll listen if you tell me."

The heiress stared back at him, and indeed saw his sincerity, causing her own guilt for yelling at him slowly form. She relaxed, and Jaune let go, standing and patiently waiting for her to speak.

"I have already gone into detail about my love for my family and Kingdom" she began. "I told you of our legacy and importance to Atlas, and how I wish to honour my House with being a Huntress and taking over my family's company when my father retires." Jaune nodded, causing her to take a deep breath. "The stresses of being heiress to both my House and the company are immense, and I have had to work incredibly hard to be the very best I can be, and beyond. When I noticed your achievement, and specific things that you would casually mention about your family, I began to suspect that there was something more. I believed that you understood what I have been going through, which is why I pulled you aside yesterday. The reason I'm angry, is because I thought that given your ancestry, you might be someone I could confide in."

Jaune felt his mouth dry, now gaining a better understanding as to why she had been so offended by his downplaying of his family's history. Nevertheless, his guilt increased, for his family was nothing in comparison to the Schnee's or their legacy and prominence in the world. He knew he had to set things right.

"I'm sorry if I let you on. I never meant to do that. But even if I'd been upfront with that entire history, I couldn't help you or even understand what you're going through. Yes, I'm technically the heir to my House, but it's because I'm the only son of my father. And my House is nothing compared to yours. I can't even pretend to understand what weight is on your shoulders."

"Yes, I realize that now" she sighed, massaging her temples. "It's my own fault for jumping to conclusions and allowing myself to be swept up in my wishes rather than the reality. I'm such a child."

"No you're not" he countered. "You're just one person with a ton of responsibilities, and you're stressed to Hell and back. Like you said, you thought I would understand you, which is why you stopped getting to the core issue yesterday. But I meant that I'm willing to listen to them now. It has to be more than just your dad not liking Neptune, so if you want to, and you don't hate me, I can try to help."

Weiss hesitated at this offer. Jaune wasn't exactly the person she had been fabricating in her mind, but taking her own advice and examining the reality, he was the closest thing to that imaginary person. He had already learned so much from their previous conversation, placing him in the unique position to listen and help with her personal problems. What could she lose from sharing with him the truth, when he had been a true friend and been so open-minded?

"You put it accurately; 'weight on my shoulders'. However, it is far more than that." She folded her arms, though it looked more as if she was hugging herself, as if bracing from a cold wind. "I wasn't the first heiress to House Schnee and the Schnee Dust Company. My older sister, Winter, was to be my father's successor. Her skill with Glyphen des Berglords (Glyphs of the Mountain Lord) or simply, Glyphs, is breathtaking, and she soared through her Huntress schooling and military training, climbing the ranks with ease and grace. I was so proud of her achievements and to be her sister, watching her strive from when we were children. My sister's only flaw however, is that while she can use Dust better than the average Huntsman, she is not at the level my father expects for his heir, nor does she have the same business mindset. Winter is a brilliant tactician, earning herself the rank of Major and becoming General Ironwood's second-in-command; despite not being a General herself. However, she is not a businesswoman, nor an engineer. She cannot carry the company forward, as she would not be able to progress our technological and scientific endeavors. Our father was trying to come up with a plan to correct this, to make sure that Winter could improve her skills, when she announced two years ago that she would be serving in the White Army fulltime—at the behest of General Ironwood. Father has never forgiven him for this, even though it is a great honour, and has only benefited us. Winter then nominated me was our new heiress, as I was better suited for the position. Father hesitated at first, but grandfather immediately approved, giving Winter his blessing to carry on her military career, and I as the new heiress. I had inherited my grandfather's skill for Dust engineering and Glyphs, and my father's business knowhow, so it was the most logical decision.

Nonetheless, I was taken completely by surprise on both accounts. I fully expected to stand beside my sister and help her with the company, but maintain a level of freedom to do as I wished, so long as I did not bring shame to our House. I was shocked, but I did not falter. I immediately began to hone my skills, took what I learned from my grandfather's teachings, and poured myself into my studies. For the honour and glory of House Schnee, I would become the best president the company ever had, rising higher than both great-grandfather Keiser, and grandfather Nicholas. It would be a tremendous task, but I was ready to embark on that long road to achieve it."

"But?" Jaune asked, knowing it to be the most obvious of questions.

Weiss paused, tightening her self-embrace before speaking again.

"It was not long afterwards, that Adam Taurus began his raids. They were small at first, and we were not even certain it was him. We began to lose parts of shipments, and then entire shipments over the course of a year. Afterwards, there were sabotage attempts in the mines. By this point, Taurus and the White Fang were no longer hiding their identities, and made it known that it was them behind the robberies and subterfuge. The stresses that were brought about by these setbacks, attacks, and staining of our name in the public eye, made things very difficult at home. My father would work long hours, trying to get things under control. He would have many arguments with Huntmaster-General Ironwood, which led to the compromise of lending White Army troops to defend the mines and shipments; a compromise because he wanted Winter to head the defense, which Huntmaster-General Ironwood refused to grant. Tension grew and grew, until finally the horrible attack over nine months ago occurred, which has permanently left my father furious with Huntmaster-General Ironwood. Also, for the first time, I saw the Huntmaster-General become angry with him, telling him that the men he lost in the attack, as well as the civilians, were more important than a lost Dust shipment. Obviously he was correct, but my father has refused to accept that the General had done everything he could to stop the attack, and blamed him, saying it was his fault that Taurus had lied about trading hostages for the shipment. Things became so stressful at home that I decided I needed to be away for a while. I negotiated with my father to train to be a Huntress to perfect my Glyphs, and get a better understanding on what one of our major markets needs and will need in future. I chose Beacon instead of Ýdalir as a cover to explore foreign markets, which I do honestly care about, but also wanted to be as far away as possible."

Jaune swallowed as he listened. Never had he expected that all of this was going on behind the scenes. Weiss had managed to keep her cool, and never revealed any of this over the course of the year that he had known her; which he could also tell that she hadn't shared any of it with her team. It showed how strong she was to maintain her composure so well for so long, choosing to dedicate herself to improving rather than collapsing from the weight of her woes. They had both been right that he couldn't fully understand what she was going through; though interestingly, there were some things that he did understand very well.

"I talk about honour and duty, and here I am secretly running away, even if for a short while" she sighed. "What kind of heiress am I?"

"A Human one" he replied sympathetically. "I can't imagine what it's like having that much responsibility, but I do understand more than you think. I lied when I said that the military wasn't for me. My family Semblance is called Majesty, and it's hereditary just like your Glyphs. Everyone can awaken it, and they learn how to at a young age. I on the other hand, never could, which made me feel like I didn't even belong in my own family; which isn't a great thing given that I'm heir to it. Before I came to Beacon, my father made me enlist for basic training, hoping that the discipline there would help me. I didn't make the cut. So I did the only thing I could think of; forge my transcript to get into Beacon to become a Huntsman. I figured that this would be the place to help me awaken Majesty, and return home as someone my family could be proud of. So you being mad at yourself for needing a break isn't the way to go. You're a perfect heiress, one that your father should be proud of if he isn't already. I'm the one that needs a lot of work, since I genuinely ran from my problems. Pyrrha knows the truth, and she keeps telling me that I'm being too hard on myself, but I still feel that shame for lying. It's why I'm a bit mad at my cousins. I wanted to enjoy my time with Pyrrha without jumping head first into the traditions of our House. That doesn't mean I was talking out of my ass about getting married after graduating—I meant it. I truly love Pyrrha and I can't wait to marry her, but I just wanted to do it my way and not rush things. I'm also trying to grow up and realize that things at home aren't exactly what I thought they were; that my father was trying to teach me something, and I just wasn't listening. So who's more childish and the lesser heir—you or me?"

The Atlassian Huntress-in-training, stared in shock for several reasons. She hadn't heard that he was aware of his Semblance, nor that it was a hereditary type like her own. It was also surprising for her to learn he had also lied to get into Beacon as did Ren and Nora, though it certainly explained a great deal. He truly did understand her feelings, even if there was a limit to how far that comprehension went. This was why Weiss had secretly felt envy towards him and Pyrrha, and now she decided that she no longer needed to hide it.

"I am" she replied, which by the expression on the blond's face, was not the answer he was expecting. "I have not just left home to distance myself from my family. I have even refused to answer my Scroll, as my father has been trying to reach me for weeks. You will be able to return home with your head held high, no doubt with your family seeing your growth since your departure, wishing to meet Pyrrha and discuss about the future..."

This change in the white-haired rapierist's voice caught Jaune's attention immediately, and the entirety of their previous conversation echoed in his mind at lightning speed.

"This is about Neptune, isn't it?" he realized aloud. "And not just because of who he is and your father's standards." Weiss nodded, and bit her bottom lip, with her eyes displaying the turmoil churning within. "Tell me, Weiss, please."

She took a deep breath, trembling slightly as she did, and looked down at the ground.

"When I came to Vale, I never thought for a moment that I would find a boy that I would like. I had planned on dedicating myself to becoming a Huntress whilst perfecting my flaws to become the best president for my family's company. However, the moment that I laid eyes on Neptune, I felt emotions I never had before, and like anything else, I pursued what I wanted. I knew that I would have to face the reality of my situation, but I became so smitten with him that I didn't care. After you convinced him to return, we began to hit it off. We kept in touch during the break, but it was after his victory in the Team Round that we began to message one another very frequently. We engaged in many conversations, and I began to feel my feelings for him deepening with each passing day. He began opening up as well, and I began to see who he really was past the flashy exterior—and I loved what I saw. As our date drew near, I knew that I needed to tell him what dating me would mean, and I told most of what I have shared with you...except..."

"Except?" Jaune asked, sensing the difficulty she was having.

"...As heiress to both my House and company, I must marry and have children of my own" she began, hugging herself even more tightly. "It is my responsibility to do so, as it was for my mother, for she could neither summon Glyphs nor properly manage the company. I want marriage and children. I've known ever since the day my brother was born, but because of those responsibilities, I must choose a proper suitor that would further the company's and House's image. Neptune is the son of a fisherman from Vacuo, and my father will no doubt disapprove of him. But I do honestly have strong feelings for Neptune, which is tearing me apart between choosing to do what I want and what is best for the Schnee legacy."

"You can't be serious?" Jaune exclaimed. "You can hear what you're saying, right? Does your family legacy matter so much that you would throw away a chance to be happy with a guy you like?"

He believed his words would bring clarity to her anxiety, but quickly realized that he had done the exact opposite, for when she turned to look at him, he could see tremendous pain in her light blue eyes.

"Have you not been listening?" she replied, the trembling in her voice growing. "I love my Kingdom and my family's history, and I want more than anything to honour them. But what might need to be sacrificed to do so, scares me." Jaune's eyes widened, seeing her eyes beginning to water once more. "My mother married my father because she knew that he would be the best security for the future of the company and House, while also believing that he loved her. But that wasn't true. My father took the family name; not as a sign of respect for my grandparents and mother, but for his own gains. He doesn't respect the legacy of Schnee, honouring it by making sure to protect it, especially that it is not his own—he sees it only as a path to monetary gain. And now that my Opa's health is failing, I now know why he began to speak to Winter, Whitley, and myself about honouring the name of Schnee. You were entirely correct—he doesn't want us to make the same mistake as my mother."

Tears began to flow down her cheeks, as she was no longer able to contain her true feelings.

"All my mother does now is distance herself and drink wine, paying no attention to the company or the rest of us. It's only gotten worse with my Oma's death, my Opa's health, and the White Fang's attacks. All I'm beginning to see in her...is myself. The future of the Schnee is with me, and for it and the glory of Atlas, I will defend it. But what terrifies me is entering into a loveless marriage like my mother, because as much as I love my family and what we have done through the centuries, I can't do it alone. And yet, not a single suitor on the list my father has prepared has moved me emotionally or intellectually—not a single one. I don't want to sacrifice my happiness, but I don't want my Opa to die thinking he failed my great-grandfather, my Oma, my mother, my sister, my brother, and me."

Jaune felt as if his tongue had swollen large enough to fill his entire mouth, halting any words from escaping his throat. She had not been lying when she claimed that he couldn't understand what she was going through, but he now knew that it was far more complicated than he could have ever imagined. Standing before him was the so called Ice Queen, the heartless heiress of Atlas, crying. Her life wasn't the easy one that so many thought it was, but was instead filled with trials and struggles that she kept hidden below a thick layer of ice and snow. But now he knew more than ever, that the Ice Queen of Atlas, was still just a young woman, prone to all the same fears and anxieties of any other teenager, and capable of making all the same mistakes. He realized he had just shoved his foot into something that was much deeper than he thought, and he knew that it was up to him to pull himself out.

"You love Neptune, don't you?" he managed in a gentle voice, trying his best to sound as steady and comforting as possible.

"Yes" she sniffed, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. "I shouldn't have let myself fall for him, but I did. I really am a child. I let myself get too emotional, so I've tried over the past two years to be as composed and strong as my sister." Weiss fixed her hair with her left hand, the tips of her fingers passing over the scar on her face. "However, when things got worse at home, I actually began to resent Winter for saddling me with all of this without warning. I love my sister, and I began to hate her. I refused to let myself behave so egotistically and childish again, so I bridled my heart and dedicated myself to my studies. And then there he was..."

"Weiss" the armoured swordsman said, more strongly than before, and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up at him. "You've done nothing wrong, and you aren't a kid. There's nothing wrong with going after a boy you like, especially when he clearly likes you back. I said before that your dad is an ass, but now I'll go further and say that he's a right bastard. You said that you can leverage your position as heiress, so do it. When Neptune gives you his answer, and I know it will be a yes, you'll go back to your father with your head held high, showing him how you've grown and kept your oath to be the best heiress possible. If he cares as much about the family and the company's perception, then removing your position as heiress won't be an option for him. And all of us are here for you. You're not alone, and never think that you are. I nearly blew it with Pyrrha because I thought it wasn't possible for us to be together, so don't make the same mistake. Neptune knows that, which is why he's put so much effort in making things work. I know I'm gonna sound like Pyrrha, but that's what happens when you date her...have faith."

Weiss looked into Jaune's azure eyes, and saw his genuine concern for her, showing he meant every word he said. He might not have been the high-born heir she had believed, who could sympathize via experience, and yet he understood her fears, and comforted her the only way he knew how; honestly and honourably.

"You're right" she replied at last, a small smile forming. "I really should tell the others, shouldn't I?"

"They're worried sick about you, so yeah" he agreed. "How much does Neptune know?"

"Not my family problems. I do not want him to feel pressured into a relationship with me. I want his love, not his pity."

"That's fair, but it would let him know that you love him."

"I know, however, I want him to come to that conclusion on his own, and be certain of his own feelings without feeling an obligation" she sighed, the statement clearly hurting her to utter aloud. "I will wait, and I will do so with faith, as you have suggested."

"Hope isn't a plan, but you can always use some" Jaune admitted shrugging. "I'm sorry again for leading you on, and making you think I was something I wasn't."

"Don't apologize, Jaune. You too have done nothing wrong. You needed to figure things out on your own, and you found the correct path. I will do the same. I should be the one apologizing for shouting at you. I owe the others an apology as well" she acknowledged.

"It's fine. As long as it helped, then there's nothing to forgive" he said with a smile, before it turned slightly sheepish. "No hard feelings about an untrained guy like me outscoring you on that history exam?"

Weiss pursed her lips at this, trying desperately to stop herself from laughing or smiling, but failed.

"Credit is due where it is due" she replied, folding her arms in mock crossness. "But at least I can use my Semblance, unlike yourself."

"Welcome back, Ice Queen" Jaune mumbled. She genuinely laughed at his sour expression, which alleviated the last piece of guilt he had for hiding his family history. "We should head back. I have a feeling the others aren't in the best of moods with how we took off like that."

"Yes, you're right" Weiss agreed. "Thank you again, Jaune. You truly are a good friend. Tell me, what did Ruby call you the first time you met? Vomit Boy?"

"Yeah...?" he replied, not sure as to why she was bringing this up.

"You've come a long way since then" she said softly. "You've become a son and heir your father will be proud of."

Jaune began to blush shyly, never expecting her to compliment him in such a tender fashion.

"I-I still have a ways to go. Maybe you can join my Aura training with Pyrrha so we can master our Semblances together—a big study session, I guess."

Weiss' smile grew at his offer. "I would love to; so long as I can bring Neptune along."

"And turn it into a dance class while we're at it."

"I'll have him dancing as well as you can before Pyrrha gets you to awaken your Semblance."

"I'll take that bet."

The heirs smiled at one another softly, glad that things were finally in the open. However, a thought that had been lingering at the back of Jaune's mind was now on the tip of his tongue. He wasn't sure if this was exactly the proper time to bring it up, though all things considered, he thought it would be better to come truly clean.

"Weiss" he began, "we're...friends...aren't we?"

The Atlassian blinked in confusion, unsure as to why he was asking such a question, or why he was suddenly being so timid.

"Of course. Why would you think otherwise? Jaune, if you believe you are in any way in the wrong in all of this, please don't think so."

"No, not about that exactly. Well, kind of. I'm...sorry for not getting a clue and chasing after your tail for months. I can only imagine how annoying that must have been, and even though we're seeing different people, that doesn't mean I can sweep it under the rug and not address it. It obviously hasn't made you hate me—which I was really scared of—but I still want to apologize for my behaviour. I'm already doing my best to make up for my stupidity with Pyrrha, so I should be thorough and do the same with you. I should've apologized the night of the Dance after I did so with Pyrrha, but I got caught up in everything. I'm sorry for taking so long."

Weiss' mouth opened for a moment, taken aback by his expression of regret, before it turned into a smile.

"Despite not needing to, I fully accept your apology, Sir Jaune" she replied. "If there is anyone who needs to apologize, it would be me. I should have confronted you like an adult, and made it clear that I wasn't interested. I have to play such delicate games when dealing with my suitors, that when you tried to court me, I forwent the tact and acted like...an Ice Queen. It is far more likely that you would not wish to be friends with me given my actions."

"No! I deserved it—all of it. I deserved to be told off for not giving up, just as I deserved Pyrrha telling me directly that she'd run out of patience with me."

"And here we are. You and Pyrrha are together, and I with Neptune. Which reminds me, please allow me to thank you for speaking to him and changing his mind. That, Sir Jaune, is far more overdue than your apologies." She ended that with a bow, wanting to be as clear as crystal with him.

It was now Jaune's turn to be speechless. After how much stress she'd been through recently, he'd honestly expected for her to show him animosity. Then again, Weiss had just admitted that she was in love with Neptune, therefore despite the trials, she was still grateful. He honestly had never seen her as happy as when she was with the Vacuan. The heiress' previous proclamation to stand by him if he said he would continue to date her echoed in his mind, causing him to sigh in realization.

"You're welcome, Weiss" he said at last. "Just...don't call me 'Sir Jaune', please" he continued, scratching his cheek sheepishly. "It's kinda embarrassing..."

The rapierist eyed him for a moment, seeing that he was still resisting his heritage, but she nevertheless nodded at his request.

"As you wish. I suspect that only Pyrrha has the right to call you that now."

Jaune blushed but smirked. "Just as much as Neptune is the only one who gets to call you 'Snow Angel'."

"Correct. Friends?"

Weiss held out her left hand, smiling genuinely. Jaune nodded and took it gently but firmly.

"Friends. Speaking of which, we should really go back to the others. We must of scared the Hell out of them by shouting and running off like that, especially with how much you must be worrying them with that's going on with Neptune."

"Yes, we should" Weiss sighed, her smile fading. "I...I've never had friends before coming to Beacon, you know. Being part of a family like House Schnee leaves one rather alienated from others. I had only my siblings to play with, and I was homeschooled. All of this has been rather new to me, especially with how I've had to keep my feelings to myself. I'm not trying to create excuses, but I do feel that some context is needed."

This caused Jaune to pause; a mixture of pity and guilt twisting in his stomach at the sudden realization. Weiss was just like Pyrrha. It should have been obvious, but unlike how Pyrrha was terrible at lying and hiding her feelings, the heiress had kept her head above water...until she couldn't any longer. Instead of asking for the shoulders of her friends to cry on, she stood proud until her date with Neptune, and then felt she had other chose but to speak to him. Even then she held back, until his lying had pushed her over the edge. It was Neptune's shoulder she wanted, but because of the delicate nature of the situation, Jaune came to the same conclusion as he had before.

"Given what you've told me about your childhood, I can believe that" Jaune remarked, pitying her even more so. "Then promise me you'll tell them what's really been going on—tonight."

Weiss hesitated for a moment, but seeing the supportive sternness in the blond Knight's face, she conceded with a nod.

"I promise you I will speak to Ruby and the others—tomorrow if not tonight."

"Good to hear. Now let's head back. We're burning daylight as it is, plus I have a feeling my cousins have more surprises left for me."

With lighter hearts, the heirs began their trek back to the others, feeling as if they had gained an entirely new understanding of one another, and strengthening their friendship considerably.

λΛλ

As the pair became visible on the road, the others, who had been waiting patiently while listening to a few stories told by Lawrence, noticed them and turned to look. Jaune and Weiss noticed the anxious expressions on their faces, and knew they had to clear things up quickly, for allowing it to permeate would make things much worse. Weiss noticed Neptune's gaze was especially fretful, and she felt her stomach twist guiltily. He obviously knew why she was being so emotional, which only made her feel evermore shameful, as she didn't want to pile on the pressure. She knew she needed to ease him first before telling her team the truth.

"Sorry for taking off like that" Jaune apologized, though he need not to, given that Weiss was the one who ran first.

"Is everything OK?" asked Ruby, eyeing the both of them carefully.

"Yes" Weiss replied, keeping a stern but soft face. "I am sorry for shouting and running off as I did. I overreacted and behaved like a child, which is beyond unbecoming. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Her apology was genuine enough, as far as they could tell, but there was still some uncertainty. Weiss' outburst had been an intense one, and they had all seen how downcast she had been since the other morning, and the night before that with Team RWBY. Of course the one most concerned was Neptune, who was at the forefront of all of this, and took a step forward to ask her directly. He had been silent during the time she and Jaune had been away from the group, alone within his own thoughts, and he knew that he needed to be the one to console her.

"You sure?" he asked in a low voice, his dark-blue eyes filled with a mixture of worry and regret.

Weiss could read him better than anyone, other than Sun of course, and her heart clenched at his gaze. Keeping her word, she reached out and took his right hand, squeezing it comfortingly, and before he could speak, stood on tip-toe to kiss him on the right cheek.

"Yes, I'm sure" she replied softly, doing her best to convey to him she was telling the truth. Seeing his cheeks turn slightly red lifted her self-reproach, if only a little, and felt him squeeze back, letting her know she had succeeded.

This also caused the dark cloud of apprehension that levitated above the heads of the others to be lifted, as that, more than words, indicated that things had been cleared up. Of course Team RWBY knew that only when Weiss and Neptune became an official couple, would they be able to truly breathe a sigh of relief. This would do for now at least, and they were glad it hadn't spelt the end for the couple.

"Wonderful to hear" said Lawrence, nodding approvingly. "Now then—Jaune?" His cousin looked up at him, unsure of what he wanted. "Go away now."

The shorter Arc blinked in confusion, not able to fathom why he was telling him to leave.

"What? Why?" he asked bewildered.

"With your and Pyrrha's tests completed, and all of your friends gathered, the second part of our evaluation will begin" Lawrence explained. "We need to speak to them all in private, in order to acquire a better and honest understanding of how you've composed yourself and grown since you left home. So run along and take up a hobby until we need you."

Jaune stood there, unable to come up with an appropriate response to this, leaving him with no other option but to comply. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not, given there had to be more up his cousins' sleeves than mere chit-chat. Then again, his resisting of his responsibilities had made things rather uncomfortable as it was. As much as his pride opposed it, Jaune knew that he needed to let things play out. How bad could it be?

"Fine I'll...go take up woodworking, or something" he muttered, shaking his head. How bad could it be? Jaune knew very well that those were some of the most famous last words ever spoken. Nonetheless, he too needed to have faith and let the chips fall where they may.

Kissing Pyrrha goodbye before he left, he began to march back towards the main Beacon campus, knowing that this could take a considerable amount of time. When he was out of both earshot and eyeshot, Lawrence began to chuckle in amusement, always enjoying how easy it was to baffle his cousin.

"Well my friends, I hope that you don't mind lending your time to our plight" he asked sheepishly.

"Aren't you supposed to ask that before telling Jaune to leave?" Nora rightly asked.

Lawrence smirked at that, as if he was fully expecting one of them to say such a thing.

"True, however, I knew that you would all say yes. So, let us not delay any further. Right this way, as I think that with us being on an active road such as this, we will no doubt attract the attention of some undesirables. Follow us, barins!"

Without allowing them time to respond, both Arcs grabbed the reins of their stallions, and began to walk into the forest. The Huntsmen-in-training all looked at Pyrrha, as if she alone would be the one to decide for them. This caused the redhead to smile apologetically, knowing that she was partially the cause of this out of the ordinary situation.

"I'm sorry" she said. "I know this is all strange and a great deal to ask, but I hope you can all endure it for a bit longer. Please?"

"Anything for Jaune" Nora replied without hesitation with Ren nodding, and she trotted off after the Knights with her teammates right behind her.

"All of this because Jaune and Pyrrha want to nooky?" Yang asked incredulously.

"No. It is tradition" Weiss retorted, and still holding onto Neptune's hand, began to walk after the others, pulling the blue-haired Vacuan along.

"It's one Hell of a tradition" Sun added with a smirk, shoving his hands into his pockets and followed suit.

"C'mon" said Ruby, encouraging Blake and her sister to join her, finally leaving the road and disappearing into the beautiful red forest.

It only took them several minutes to reach where Lawrence had been leading them. He hadn't announced it, but he had returned to where he and Jaune had their duel, which surprised the others as they scanned the destruction surrounding them.

"Whoa" Yang gasped. "You totally wrecked this place, Pyrrha!"

"Octavia and I didn't fight here" she corrected. "We fought over to the west."

"Aye. Jaune and I fought here" Lawrence informed with a grin. "Take this as a slight preview as to what my little cousin can do once he awakens his Semblance."

The younger members of the group looked at one another with differing levels of intrigue. Pyrrha and Weiss were pleased to see that Jaune wouldn't be left behind as they all grew as Huntsmen, as Majesty would greatly amplify the strong base he had been developing over the school year. Ren and Nora were on the same page, proud that their captain was going to become a force to be reckoned with. Sun and Neptune were grinning from ear to ear, looking forward to future spars and joint Hunts with Jaune, knowing there were many fun times ahead. The rest of Team RWBY were beside themselves, as "Vomit Boy", was not so much a boy anymore.

While they ingested what they had just learned, Lawrence was busy setting the stage. He drew his sword and sliced at the downed maples, trimming them to clean them up, and then hoisted them onto his shoulders. He did so as if they weighed nothing at all, carrying them to the clearing just before them, and arranged the logs into a trapezoid shape without the tips touching. He and Octavia then sat on the shortest of the logs, indicating to the others that he had done this to make seats for them, and smiled as he extended to his handiwork.

"Have a seat" he said pleasantly.

Team JNPR placed themselves at the log to Lawrence's left, Sun and Neptune sat with Weiss to Octavia's right, and finally the rest of Team RWBY sat on the remaining log directly across from the Arcs.

"Now then" Lawrence began, clearing his throat. "As I said just before hand, cousin Octavia and I would like to speak to you all regarding Jaune; not as a Huntsman-in-training, but as a person, a man, and a friend."

"We Arcs live by a code of chivalry, as any Knight should" continued Octavia, placing a hand on her cuirass. "We have done so for countless generations, and Jaune, as heir, must uphold this code, or die trying."

"To fight for the King and the Kingdom, for one's kith and kin, for valour, for faith, for honour, for glory, to defend the weak, for the welfare of all, to guard the honour of fellow Knights, to respect the honour of women, to never refuse a challenge from an equal, never to turn your back upon a foe, and never surrender" he listed without a stutter, displaying that he knew it as well as the back of his hand. "It's the code of chivalry that dictates how we act; and by result, how we are perceived."

"How we are perceived by others is important, because as an Arc, you represent the family as a whole. We care very little of those who speak poorly of us out of jealousy, or mock us because we continue to armour ourselves like the Knights of old. However, we do care deeply on how we act. If any member of our House acts like a coward, betrays their friends or their allies, or is lured by money to sell out secrets, then the punishment shall be severe."

"So what we want to know from all of you, as individuals from all across Remnant who have never heard of our House" arrived Lawrence, "is what do you think of Jaune? And we demand complete honesty from all of you. No sweetening the truth because he is your captain or lover."

"I swear to speak the truth and solely the truth" Pyrrha returned with a smile.

"Glad to hear it. You may have the floor."

"Thank you. When I first met Jaune, he seemed timid despite his attempt to be commanding. He tried to behave like a leader, but it was clear that he lacked confidence" she admitted, recalling their meeting at the team placement. "And yet, I saw a spark in his eye that told me there was more to him than what he showed to the world. I saw a bright potential in him that if kindled, would grow into a fire that would forge a strong and valiant warrior. As an athlete and former competitor in the Historical Mistralese Martial Arts guilds, I have developed an eye for spotting that laden talent. I was proven right when we were all attacked by both a Nevermore and a Scorpion Grimm, as Jaune took charge and commanded us to victory. No doubt Huntmaster Ozpin saw this act of leadership, and selected him to be our captain over myself. There have been some missteps during the first half of the school year—I cannot pretend that there weren't—but when the time came for Jaune to step up, like the hammer meeting the anvil, he dedicated himself as if it was all he knew. The man that I knew that lay beneath the nervous boy finally stepped forward, and he hit his stride with all the grace and valour that a Knight should possess. His kindness and humility shone through his doubts, and never again has he shied away from his flaws, choosing to meet them head on, even when I admittedly tried to 'sweeten the truth'—as you've so rightly put it. As a captain, I will follow every order without hesitation, as a friend, I trust him with anything and everything, and as a lover, I will never leave his side, in this world, or the next."

Lawrence grinned at her words, as it met all of his expectations. Even Octavia smiled, proud to see that her cousin, who she had always been hard on because she knew he possessed great potential, had finally begun to tap into it. Ren and Nora were also grinning, agreeing with every word that their lieutenant had said, and loved every time that she expressed her deep devotion for the blond who had at first been so blind to her feelings. The others all had the same reaction, to varying degrees, especially Yang, who again was made self-conscious with the redhead's openness regarding marriage.

"A great flame follows a little spark, as they say. You'll be a riot with the family when you finally come to visit" Lawrence informed, ruffling Pyrrha's hair like a proud sibling, which caused her to blush in both graciousness and embarrassment. "Miss Valkyrie, your turn."

"Pyrrha kinda said everything I could say" she confessed. "I just felt that Jaune was a person I could trust. Sure at first he wasn't so great at school—I mean, my grades are bad outside of fighting—but when he started training with Pyrrha seriously, he became the best captain ever. He'd come up with lots of great strategies, and he would explain them really well. I don't know if he learned that from Pyrrha or he always knew how, but it's thanks to him that we won the tournament and made it this far. I can be a bit, well, over the top sometimes, but it never seemed to bother him, since he'd always laugh and play along. I think he's a really good person. He's kind, and honest, and resourceful, and loyal. Jaune is a great leader, and a great friend. I couldn't have asked for better, or be prouder of him."

"Wonderful. Sir Ren?" asked Octavia.

"I won't repeat what my teammates have already stated, but I will speak on Jaune's standing and dedication as a Huntsman and captain" he replied. "Jaune was clearly the weakest link in our team, and while he wouldn't say it aloud, I could tell that it was eating away at him. Given we share a dorm room, I would have to be blind not to see it. The night he returned from the Beacon Dance, we discussed how things were going to change now that he and Pyrrha were becoming involved. He spoke openly about how he needed to take things seriously, and on how a captain's responsibility to his teammates is more important than anything else. He realized how much his performance as a Huntsman and team leader was attached to our success and wellbeing, that he said–he swore, that he would remove all of his flaws, and be the best possible leader he could. He acknowledged that our lives will be in his hands for as long as he commands our team, and that he wouldn't take that lightly. Since then, he has striven to become a great leader, showing wisdom, patience, tact, and maturity. As Nora and Pyrrha have already said, Jaune is an outstanding captain. As a friend, Jaune considers me to be like a brother to him. I have no family other than Nora, but just as I have come to see Pyrrha as a sister, I see Jaune as the brother I never had."

Pyrrha was incredibly touched by Ren's words, not knowing that he felt that way about her. It especially warmed her, as not having any siblings of her own, she too had begun to see Nora as a sister, and Ren as a brother. It was why she so quickly offered to share her home with them when she learned they had nowhere to go at the end of the school year. An act of kindness such as that was pious and very much in her teachings as a practitioner of Starseeking, but due to her status as a champion impeding on her ability to make friends, she valued them, as well as Jaune, more than anything else. That, along with her sympathies for also losing family to the Grimm, made her feel a kinship with Ren, and she was more than glad it was not one-sided.

"A unanimous glowing review by his team. I expected nothing less" Lawrence replied with a nod.

"We aren't lying" defended Nora, folding her arms.

"I know you aren't. I simply expected that you would praise him so—given that you were so ready to fight in bare-knuckle combat to defend him. As an officer myself, I can say that Jaune is beyond lucky to have you three as his subordinates" the tallest Arc retorted. "Now, to the gentlemen from Vacuo. I take it that you know him the least, but I would still like to hear what you think of him."

"He's a good guy" Sun replied honestly. "He's been nothing but decent, considerate, and honest since the moment I met him. He cares deeply about his friends, and he loves Pyrrha with a passion that burns hotter than a sand dune. He's loyal to his friends just as fiercely as I am to my boys, which as a captain myself, is damn important. I really can't say anything else other than I like the guy, but I'm sure Neptune's got plenty to say."

"A few things I guess" the blue-haired lieutenant remarked. "Jaune's a good guy, like Sun said, and I like him a lot. But the moment that I saw what kind of guy he really was, was when he called me out on my stupidity. I panicked when Weiss wanted to go with me to the Dance, and I turned her down, despite how lucky I am to catch the attention of Weiss Schnee of all girls. When he found out that I said no because of my ego, he told me what an idiot I was for letting my self-doubts blow her off. Jaune hasn't been shy about how much he hated himself for doing that to Pyrrha, so he put his money where his mouth was and told me to get it together, right before doing it himself—in a dress no less. He's got guts, and he's the right kind of cool. Not in a vain way, but in a humble and genuine way. Thanks to that, I got a second chance to be with Weiss, and I still owe him for that. I don't know how I'll pay him back, but I won't stop until I can."

Weiss squeezed his hand, feeling incredibly grateful to the blond, as he had been entirely correct that Neptune hadn't been scared off by the trails of pursuing her.

"Just a moment" Lawrence remarked, holding up a finger. "Could you please clarify the context behind the dress? We saw those photos in the news as well, and we haven't the foggiest idea as to why he wore one."

"Jaune said in passing that if I wasn't able to find a date for the Dance, that he would wear a dress" Pyrrha explained, blushing slightly. "When I told him that I did indeed come alone, and that I had been waiting for him to ask me, he took off to find a dress in town, and returned to ask me properly. He didn't need to go so far, but it spoke volumes of how much he wanted to right his wrongs, and I fell for him even more because of it."

Lawrence and Octavia stared in silence for a moment, before the taller blond doubled over laughing.

"Oh that is hysterical!" he bellowed. "I am so proud of him! Please tell me someone has a photo of that. The photos taken for the newspapers were not as clear as I would have liked."

"Yup" Yang and Nora said in unison, causing Lawrence to clap appreciatively.

"That is going in the family album, I can promise you that! Now then, you ladies" he gestured to Team RWBY. "What say you of my cousin and his skill for theatrics?"

"Well the first time we met him he was vomiting into a trash can, so not the best start" Yang admitted.

"Yeah, I kinda called him 'Vomit Boy' before getting to know him—which isn't exactly nice" Ruby added, scratching her cheek sheepishly. "I'm the youngest one here, since Huntmaster Ozpin let me enter Beacon two years early, so I've had to work really hard to earn my place and be a good captain. I totally get why Jaune tried to take charge right away; to show that he knew what he was doing and could lead despite having flaws. But he quickly realized how over his head he was, and called himself a failure because of it. I guess what I told him worked, because Ren just proved it, with Jaune saying that he can't stay the way he is, and needs to get better for the sake of his team. My dad gave me that advice when I told him that I became captain, since he was the captain of his Huntsmen team—and I've done everything I can to follow that advice. I've got bad habits of my own, and I have a long way to go to become a Huntress my parents would approve of, since they were some of the best to come out of Beacon—and my dad is a teacher at Signal. Jaune's been doing the same, and he's become a much more confident and better person, proving he's on his way to being the great leader I thought he would be."

"Two years early?" echoed Octavia, raising her eyebrows in genuine surprise. "My apologies Miss...Rose, I assumed you were just small for your age, not that you were younger than the rest of your team. You have a long, uphill road ahead of you, and you have my best wishes."

"Hey! I'm still growing! I drink lots of milk!" she defended, earning a nudge from her sister. "But thank you. You don't need to say sorry."

"I'm on the same page as Ruby, though I'm probably the one who's given him the most shit" Yang confessed, throwing her hair over her shoulder. "He's been all over the place, trying to compensate for his bad fighting skills and grades—it's kinda impossible not to tease him. When he finally got with Pyrrha, he quickly started changing, and even began to fire back against my teasing, showing he finally grew a set. Over the past few months, he's become...mature. That's really the only way I can put it—finally acting like a man. It's pretty crazy to see him change so much, but that's what love can due to you, I guess. He's a good guy and a great boyfriend—given how Pyrrha's all over him."

"Yang!" gasped the redhead, her face burning.

"Right, right, you two are anti-bonking for some reason. I meant that she stares at him like one of those romantic paintings where the girl's lost in her lover's eyes. Plus she's super protective of him, not letting other girls check him out" the blonde clarified.

"As any good woman should" nodded Lawrence approvingly.

"Jaune's the same, by the way" Sun added. "Some prick apparently called Pyrrha a whore, and he broke his nose."

"Rightly, though a tad restrained" Octavia remarked.

"He was the captain of another team participating in the tournament" Ren informed. "The Huntmaster could have taken disciplinary action and disqualified us from competing, so perhaps his restraint was a blessing."

"A just point."

"We should probably go find him and his team" muttered Nora.

"Jaune defended my honour and we won the tournament. There is no need to sully our hands in petty squabbles" Pyrrha countered.

"Why use a cannon to hunt rabbits, as they say" Lawrence grinned. "And you, Miss Belladonna—if I've remembered your name correctly?"

"He's a good man" she said softly, nodding ever so slightly. "As everyone's said, he stumbled at the beginning, but he's truly come into his own. I've never seen anyone who stands by their principles as strongly as he does, other than Pyrrha of course, which is why they have such a strong relationship. He's a man of his word, and he has yet to break any of his promises, always looking out for his friends, and keeping their secrets when speaking to them in private. Other than one moment of weakness earlier in the school year, he's been nothing but honest and resourceful. That's how I would summarize Jaune as a person...honest. There aren't that many honest people left in the world, so it's truly refreshing to see."

The Arcs nodded in both approval and agreement, as they valued honesty greatly, and were pleased to see that their cousin was following suit. Unbeknownst to them of course, Blake being the one to say this was a curious one to say the least. She had lied about her race and her past, with her only recently stepping into the light as herself, while still being reclusive in regards to her relationship with Sun. While it was reassuring for the rest of Team RWBY to see her value honesty, as it was a sign that she was trying to better herself, it was still hypocritical given her withdrawn behaviour over the past few days.

"Lady Schnee" Lawrence said politely with a bow of his head. "I left your response for last, as a woman of your status and House, can offer the most critical of assessments."

Weiss nodded, acknowledging his words, but took several seconds of pause before speaking.

"To address the Goliath in the room, though it is a secret to no one, Jaune, from the moment I first met him, attempted to court me. I had no such interest in him, and truly found his attempts to woo me as frustrating, irksome, pseudo-masculine, and boyish. It painted a pour impression of him in my mind, and I had very little faith in him succeeding at Beacon, which only fueled my own vexations of he being made captain over a distinguished athlete such as Pyrrha" she unleashed like a January blizzard, proving that nothing quite burned like the cold. "While I began to accept that my duty as Ruby's lieutenant was to guide and support her, Jaune was proving my initial assumption correct—his grades declining and skill stagnating. I was finally proven how wrong I was at the Beacon Dance where, as Neptune explained, was convinced by him to reconsider my request to be my date, showing that he had done so without resenting my lack of interest in him as a boyfriend. Seeing him dancing with Pyrrha in a dress, willing to humiliate himself to earn her forgiveness, was the most humbling and touching thing I had ever seen. I come from a world where appearances mean everything, and saving face is prioritized when the possibility of tainting one's reputation emerges. Therefore, to see him prostrate himself in such a manner, as he felt truly that sorry for ignoring Pyrrha's feelings, was an incredible display of maturity and humility.

Ever since, he has continued to reinvent himself, throwing away the doubt-laden boy, and embarking on the path to become a man. My initial judgement of him has been thoroughly proven incorrect, and I have never in my life been happier for being wrong. We have had several conversations regarding the future, and he has shown to be an invaluable friend, willing to lend an ear, and be honest in his responses. While he claims that because there is no longer a king on the throne of Vale, that he is not a true Knight, his actions have spoken for him. He has kept to the code of chivalry devoutly, and I can say, without any doubt, that he is indeed a Knight. I still do not fully understand why he struggles with this reality, as well as the legacy of his House, I do understand why he strives to be a Knight—if subconsciously so. I am indebted to him, regardless of his indecisiveness of the title he wishes to carry, and I request that you make it clear to your Lord that his son is a worthy heir—and be sure that I was the one who said so."

There was a heavy silence born from the profoundness of the Atlassian heiress' words, taking them all by surprise. At the beginning of her speech, Weiss had proven definitively that she was the Ice Queen, not holding back on Jaune's shortcomings and her attitude towards him. However, the second half showed how much had changed, and the level of respect she had for him. It was interesting to say the least, and it was only then and there, did they begin to recall those moments throughout the tournament where Weiss had come to Jaune's defense. Jaune had not been the only one to change over the course of the year, and it encouraged the others that anyone could change for the better; if they were so inclined to do so.

It was Pyrrha who was most interested in Weiss' praise, however. For so long, she had secretly been jealous of the heiress for having Jaune's undivided attention, frustrating her to no end that there was nothing she could do to catch his eye. She had felt guilty for thinking so ill of her, and did what anyone would see as foolish; to encourage Jaune to pursue Weiss over her. Envy was not a virtue, and she saw that it would be a more mature and pious act to help Jaune with wooing the one he desired. Of course, this did nothing to ease her own frustrations, until she could no longer remain silent, and told Jaune directly. Since then, it had been like a dream come true, with Jaune's eyes being only for her, and never in her life had she been so happy. However, she too had noticed Weiss' moments over the past couple of weeks. Her behaviour after her night with Neptune had been the first red flag, followed by her private conversation with Jaune, and finally her most recent outburst.

"Don't go thinking that Weiss is having second thoughts about Jaune." She heard Nora's warning echo in her mind.

'She is absolutely right. There is nothing to be envious about' she told herself. 'Jaune loves me, and Weiss loves Neptune—just look how they've been since they returned. You don't know what they spoke of, and you can't read either of their minds. Be better than that.'

"Very well said, Lady Schnee" Lawrence complimented with a respectful bow. "I will let him know. But tell me, what did you mean by Jaune having indecisiveness about our family legacy?"

"He labels it as tradition and nothing more" she replied. "He seems almost trapped between loving your family legacy and being ashamed of it. I don't understand why."

"I do" said Pyrrha at last, causing them all to look at her. "Jaune told me that he felt out of place in his own family for so long. Because he had trouble with his Semblance and Aura, he just felt as if he wasn't an Arc—not until we became a couple and began to train seriously. He expressed how only recently he's begun to feel like a proper Arc, and now he feels conflicted with missing home and wanting to be a son his father could be proud of, given the past conflicts he's had with him. Everything is happening very quickly, and he is feeling overwhelmed. I fully understand, and I know that in time things will settle, and the conflict in his heart will pass."

"Yes" Octavia agreed softly. "Cousin Jaune has always been behind the rest of the pride. His troubles with our training concerned our fathers greatly, and it only compounded onto him. However, he has changed greatly from when we last saw him, and due to that, and all we have heard from you today, we cannot thank you enough."

"What do you mean?" asked Nora.

"We love him dearly" began Lawrence, "and we've only wanted him to be the best he could be. We, and the rest of our cousins, did our best to help and encourage him, training with him outside of his sessions with his father and uncles. As we got older, we all began to take off, delving deeper into our training, and preparing to enlist in the military. Jaune on the other hand, remained behind. No matter what we tried, we were unable to help him awaken Majesty or improve on his Aura control, which affected his swordsmanship training, as he just didn't have the heart for it any longer. We tried to include him in all that we did, never wanting him to feel left out or that we didn't care about him. Unfortunately, he just began to drift, wandering further and further away, and we felt helpless and out of ideas. When he was accepted to Beacon, we were unsure if the tide had finally turned, and he would begin to come into his own, so we left him be. Then the rumours from the Dance came our way, and we became excited, as this was a big step for him, and a great moment of pride for the family that he managed to get Pyrrha Nikos as a girlfriend. There were some suspicions of course, but we knew that Jaune had at last become the man we always knew he would be when he stepped into the arena, armoured and emblazoned with our family's heraldic achievement. We saw the fire in his eyes, how well he led you three in battle, and how close he was with all of you. We cannot thank you all enough for what you've done for him, so on behalf of the entire House of Arc, thank you. You will always be welcome in our lands, and we are in your debt."

Lawrence and Octavia then bowed, reinforcing their gratitude, and held it for a few seconds before sitting straight once more.

A strange feeling washed over the Huntsmen-in-training. They were all incredibly flattered and humbled by the profoundness of their thanks, and by extension, slightly embarrassed. They were just Jaune's friends, and obviously more in Team JNPR's case, so to have his family say they were in their debt, felt that it might just be a bit over the top. However, none of them would say it aloud, as the sentiment of Jaune's cousins showed how much it meant to them, as well as how much they loved him. Pyrrha was especially humbled, as much of Jaune's improvement was entirely due to her. She couldn't help but wonder how things would go when she did finally visit the Arc home. In that moment, she recalled Jaune's comments regarding his father, and she felt compelled to ask for clarification.

"There is something I must ask you" she said calmly.

"Ask away."

"You said that you all feel proud of Jaune and his growth...then why does his father still not? I was there when you all began to message him after our first victory, and I know that only his father had not congratulated him. Jaune has explained, though only in part, the butting of heads between them, which greatly bothers him. It seems to me no different than any other father and son relationship, but I cannot deny the tension that is there, and the stress it has put onto Jaune. I would like some sort of explanation" she asked, gazing into Lawrence's eyes as she did.

Both he and Octavia paused for a moment, looking at one another, and began to speak in their native language. After half a minute, they turned back to the awaiting redhead.

"Uncle Angus wants the best for Jaune, and expects him to be the best" Lawrence began.

"He, as well as the rest of us, could see Jaune's potential" Octavia continued. "However, Lord Angus, along with the rest of the family, had no idea how to mine for that potential. My father has commented that his brother has expressed that he feels helpless, not knowing what he could do to aid Jaune. When he felt as if he could do no more, he had Jaune attend basic training, hoping that the military could bring out that potential. When that failed, and Jaune announced that he had been accepted into Beacon, Lord Angus decided to say nothing."

"And that isn't because he doesn't care about Jaune—quite the opposite! He backed away because he thought that Beacon would be better than he was in training Jaune, and without him looming over his son, perhaps it would be what he needed to grow. Turns out he was half right, as you were what Jaune needed. It may seem that Uncle Angus has been overly hard on the kid, but he does it because he loves him, and doesn't want Jaune to be left unprepared for the world. When his father, our grandfather, Maximilian, passed away ten years ago, it must have made him feel his own mortality, and fear what would happen to his wife and children if something happened to him. He looked up to Papa Max greatly, and he's let it slip more than once that he wished he was still alive, needing his guidance more than ever. Uncle Angus isn't disappointed in Jaune—he's disappointed in himself. Does that make sense?" Lawrence concluded, the sincerity in his eyes and voice on full display.

His words affected the group more than he could know, especially with Pyrrha, Ren, Neptune, and the entirety of Team RWBY. They all had familial pitfalls and fretfulness, and understood both Jaune's plights and his family's concerns.

"It does" Pyrrha replied with a soft smile. "Thank you—both of you."

"No, Pyrrha, thank you. You singlehandedly turned a mouse into a lion, and I know that when we tell Uncle the good news, he will be beyond pleased. It's as the old saying goes, 'Women make men want to be better men, and better men than ourselves, show us how to be better men'. He's going to be very excited to gain another daughter" Lawrence grinned. "However, I would like to ask you and all to not tell Jauney-boy any of this, as he needs to hear it from his father directly."

Pyrrha's cheeks flushed, as his words caused her heart to skip a beat. The idea of gaining a new father struck a chord within her, and she had to fight to stop tears from flowing.

'Don't get ahead of yourself' she warned, though the tingling sensation she felt remained for several minutes. "I understand completely, and I will keep it a secret—you have my word."

What Pyrrha did instead, was focus on the rest of Lawrence's words, contemplating on them heavily. She knew that saying well, for her father and Master Shadrach, had said them on several occasions about their wives. They resonated even more so for Pyrrha, as not only did she know Jaune had changed for her sake, but she also knew he looked up to Lawrence. It was very appropriate that the taller Arc had been the one to voice that saying, leaving the redhead to assume he knew the role he played in Jaune's growth as well.

The others were also touched by the Knights words, though it very specific ways. Ren, Sun, and Neptune each felt something begin to swell in their chests, resonating to the saying. This wasn't surprising in the least, as each of them had shown great intent in improving themselves for the girls they loved. The Vacuan teenagers had been loud and proud about wanting to win the Vytal Tournament for Blake and Weiss, with Neptune especially showing great shame for his initial performance. It was without any surprise that they glanced over to the girls, feeling compelled to do so, with Weiss unconsciously squeezing the Vacuan's hand. Ren had of course been far more reserved in his approach to Nora, though he had been lulled into confessing during his conversations with Jaune and the other boys. He, probably more than any of them, deeply wished to improve his skills in order to protect Nora. He glanced over to the ginger in question, and a small smile formed on his lips.

Pyrrha noticed all of this, and began to feel the same pride swell in her chest. She had known from almost the beginning she was in good company, but now, it only cemented it further.

"Being a redhead also helps" added Octavia, rolling her eyes, which was the first unserious expression she had made since she had met the students.

"What do you mean?" asked Nora, feeling compelled to ask.

"For some unknown reason" replied the blonde Arc, seeming a tad annoyed, "the men of our family are infatuated with redheads. Aunt Evelyn, Jaune's mother, is a ginger, my mother is a redhead, Aunt Diana, Lawrence's mother, is ginger, Lawrence's fiancé, Moira, is ginger..."

"Of course" moaned Yang, throwing her hands up. "And how old are you? Twenty?"

"Nineteen" Lawrence replied with a smile.

"And it was love at first sight?"

"Nine years ago and counting. We're thinking of an autumn wedding—which you are invited to as well, Pyrrha."

This caught them all off guard, as it was the most shocking expression of love they had seen yet. Pyrrha and Jaune, as well as Teams RROI and LION, had been surprising enough with their approach to marriage, but for Lawrence to fall for a girl at the age of ten, and knowing that they would marry one day, was like a fairytale come true. Pyrrha smiled warmly at this, not only at the implication by proxy that she had always been Jaune's type, but how ingrained his values were in all of his family. Furthermore, such proclamations of romance, always warmed her heart, and it then reminded her of a particular young man also infatuated with a ginger. She quickly looked over to Ren, which almost caused her to burst into a fit of giggles, as she caught him sneaking another look at Nora, which no doubt he had done out of reflex.

"And planning to have lots of kids?" asked Sun with a grin.

"Of course" Lawrence grinned back. "Where does a family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl—no superior alternative has yet been found. It has been a long-time dream of mine."

"Having kids?"

"Yes, but not just children—strawberry-blond children" he informed, causing his cousin to roll her eyes again. "Just imagine, Octavia! How beautiful they will be."

"But you know that it would be in vain, as due to our bloodline, all Arc children, whether their mother or father is an Arc, are blond and blue-eyed" she countered.

"Well then, we'll just keep trying until we succeed—and then keep at it" he retorted with a grin, before pointing at Pyrrha. "I issue you the same challenge, Pyrrha, as strawberry-blond babies with your emerald eyes would be lovely beyond compare."

"As if she needs the encouragement" grinned Nora, causing her friend to blush.

"Where will we put them all, I wonder?" Lawrence remarked, which brought Yang out of her earlier stupor.

"Wait a minute. You said your family has twenty thousand acres of land" she pointed out. "How is that not enough room?"

"After you divide all the land, which is part of the inheritance that every child of Arc is entitled to upon marriage—and there are many of us indeed—it really is a poultry amount" Octavia replied with a sigh.

This caused them all to raise their eyebrows.

"Just how large is your House, exactly?" Weiss asked, the topic of babies piquing her interest, but now it had her full attention.

"Octavia, if you would" Lawrence called, clapping his hands twice.

Without hesitation, the blonde Knight rose to her feet, and walked briskly towards Aemilius. She reached into one of her saddlebags, and pulled out a large paper scroll, nearly two feet across with rounded crowns on the ends, before returning to her cousin's side. Placing one hand on each end of the scroll, she unraveled it and revealed an extensive family tree below a beautifully scribed Arc achievement.

"As you can see" began Lawrence, pointing to the top, "here is our great-great-grandfather, Jacques Arc, his wife, Caroline, and then his son, Pierre, and his wife, Angelica. Following them was their son, our grandfather, Maximilian, and his wife, Samantha—who thankfully is still with us. They then had seven sons—Thomas, my father, Uncle Otto, Octavia's father, Uncle William, Uncle Gabriel, Uncle Winston, Uncle Spencer, and finally, Uncle Angus, Jaune's father—the eldest of the seven. Uncle Angus has eight children with Aunt Evelyn—Bridget with her husband, Bruce and son, Jacob, Lillian, Élise, Jauney-boy of course, Andrea, Sylvie, Ivy, and Aline. Next is my father and my mother, Diana. I'm the middle child of five boys—Randolph, Collin, Oliver, and George. Oh that reminds me, this needs to be updated soon, as Randy's wife, Isla, who isn't on this copy of the family tree, is near due with their first child. Next is Uncle Otto and Aunt Sarah, and their children—Harry, Octavia, Victor, Alfred, Peter, and Blossom. Then Uncle William and Aunt Jane, and their four children—Bernard, Claudia, Albert, and Fern. There's Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Jessica with their five children—Jean-Paul, Fiona, Joel, Jérémy, and Harmony. Uncle Winston and Aunt Clementine with their four children—Marigold, Jeremiah, Brackenreid, and Brook. And finally, Uncle Spencer and Aunt Jacqueline, and their three children—Jonathan, Sofia, Jules, and another on the way. You see? Are twenty thousand acres really enough?"

Everyone's mouths hung open, absolutely bewildered by the vastness of Jaune's family. Hearing that he had seven siblings had been surprising enough, especially given the relatively small families they all came from. But hearing he had six uncles with large families of their own, not only left them speechless, it explained Jaune's seriousness in regards to marriage.

"What?" asked Lawrence, maintaining his charming smile, oblivious to the reason why they were all so shocked.

"I-I see your point" Weiss replied, flabbergasted to say the least.

"Dude" said Sun, holding his hands up as if in prayer, and an open mouthed smile on his face. "As a Faunus, I am beyond impressed."

Lawrence laughed and nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you! Yes, we have received many words of praise from our Faunus partners and friends over the years. Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children make a home—Grammy Sammy always says."

"Clearly. No wonder Jaune is so good at history when he needs to keep track of a family that big" Yang remarked, before looking over to Pyrrha, and saluting her with her right hand. "Pyrrha, best of luck to you, cuz you are never leaving the house after you and Jaune get married."

The redhead's face flushed at the comment, but she was not embarrassed, as she had of course given thought to having children of her own, and even more so recently with Jaune.

"Well, just as faith fills a home with light, children in the house, make all corners full" she remarked with a sheepish smile. "Though admittedly, more literal in your case."

"Good thing Ren and I talked about moving in to help with the babysitting, eh?" Nora grinned at the green-clad Huntsman-in-training, who chuckled in amusement.

"We also talked about if there would be room for us" he reminded. "Now I'm not so sure there will be."

Giggles and chuckles emerged from the others, deepening Pyrrha's blush, and making a mental note to tease them when the time came.

"Are you planning to have a bunch of kids too, or it is just a guy thing in your family?" Sun asked, referring to Octavia.

"Certainly, if I could find a suitable husband" she sighed. "My height and strength has made the pickings of candidates rather poor, even within the military. There are many warriors in the world, and yet, whenever I have approached these men, I appear to make them–"

"Intimidated cuz they think they can't handle you?" finished Yang, speaking from a place of familiarity, her words laced with annoyance. This caused an immediate change in Octavia's expression, and she cocked her head in intrigue.

"You speak from experience?" she asked.

"Yup" the shorter blonde sneered in annoyance. "I figured after coming here there would be a good dating pool to go through, especially with the Vytal Festival, but I've got to have the worst luck in the world because I haven't found a single guy worth a damn."

Octavia paused for only a moment, before rising to her feet, closing the distance between them, and clasped her hands around Yang's, holding them tightly as she looked into her eyes.

"You understand my plight so well!" she cried, eyes sparkling with admiration. "Will you join me in my search? I promise you I will aid you with your own hunt for a lover in return!"

This was certainly an excepted change in the female Knight, as her stoic nature had been steady since the Huntsmen-in-training had met her. And yet, it was nevertheless relatable.

"Awe, look at that. My sister made a new friend" smirked Ruby, folding her arms.

"Since I'll never live it down if you get a boyfriend before I do" the elder Xiao Long shot back, glaring at Ruby before looking back to the eager Octavia, "I'm down."

"Splendid! May the Light be with us" replied the female Knight, embracing Yang appreciatively, before returning to her seat.

"Getting back on topic" began Lawrence with an amused smile, "all of you have exceeded our expectations. Jaune has been in need of good friends who can be honest with him that weren't his family. As you said Pyrrha, him feeling like an outcast because of his Semblance troubles, and us trying to make him feel more welcome, only pushed him away. Solely by striking out on his own did he learn how much of an Arc he truly was; and your testimonies have cemented that more clearly than the sun in the sky. Armouring himself in our House colours and achievement, upholding the Knightly code, righting his wrongs, all come down to one thing and one thing only—love and the things one does for it. Love for a woman, love for friends, love for family, and love for the Kingdom. I'll try not to repeat myself further, but I will say again, we thank you all deeply for being there for Jaune. If not this summer, than the next or the one after, please come visit us in the north, to show you our gratitude with true Arc hospitality—before we run out of room, of course."

The students all felt the sincerity in his words, returned them with gratitude of their own, with nods, smiles, and words of thanks. Unbeknownst to them, Julius and Aemilius had slowly been making their way around them, grazing upon the rich late spring grass, before finally reaching Ruby, Yang, and Blake. It was then that Julius began to sniff around him, noticing a particular smell; one that was very familiar. Ruby then squealed in surprise, as she felt something press against her back. She turned to see that it was the stallions, who were keenly smelling her as if trying to find something.

"Wh-What do you want?" she asked, trying to stop them from pushing her around.

Pyrrha giggled, covering her mouth, possessing a small inkling to what it could be.

"Perhaps they can smell the sugar" she suggested, which caused the others to join her.

"Do you have sweets on you?" Lawrence asked, causing the rest of them to give him a knowing look.

"You have no idea" Weiss answered.

To further the point, Julius managed to finally get his lips into one of Ruby's many pockets, and fished out a small plastic bag of peppermints.

"Hey! Those are mine!" the short captain cried, jumping for her sweets, but was entirely unable to reach them, as the thieving horse had lifted his head far beyond her grasp. Aemilius then bit the bottom of the bag, tearing it open, and allowing the contents to fall to the ground, where they both quickly ate them. "Nooo!" she cried, reaching out in vain.

Aemilius curled his top lip and whinnied at Ruby, with Julius showing even less sympathy by blowing a raspberry, causing the others to burst into laughter.

"Sorry about that!" laughed Lawrence. "They have strong personalities and stubborn wills...plus a lack of maturity sometimes. Please allow me to cover the costs of your lost belongings."

"Don't sweat it. She has enough to last her for the rest of the year" Yang reassured.

"Fair enough. Though, I think I will take that as a sign that lunch is in order. It would honour us to take you all out for a meal at our expense—as a thank you."

"That is a wonderful gesture, but it really isn't necessary" Pyrrha assured politely.

"We think that it is" Lawrence replied, clearly not willing to take no for an answer. "Go ahead and contact Jaune while we make our way to the Commercial District."

Pyrrha went ahead and did so as the others rose to their feet, joining the Knights of Arc as they made their way back to the road, whilst Ruby kept well clear of their white horses.

---

Author's Note:

So, a pretty heavy chapter (stating the obvious, I know).

The two major facets of this chapter are Weiss' issues and Jaune's family's side of the story. I've always been a critique of how the show handle's friendship, and I've tried my best to show the right way to go about it. What I also wanted to touch on was the differences between these characters, and how they, despite the different worlds they come from, can become the best of friends. To me, Weiss always seemed to be a character that was very different from the others. And while that caused me to greatly dislike her at first, it has since made me see an untapped potential. The show failed to flesh out her family and her worldview, leaving so many pressing matters unresolved. Thus, since the start of DDCT, I've made it a point to show that potential.

I tried to slowly develop Weiss, showing that while she comes from different circles, she is far more than the Ice Queen heiress of the Schnee Dust Company. Many of you were rather shocked by how I decided to make Weiss care deeply for her legacy back in chapter VIII. From where I'm standing, I think it's shocking how little Weiss (in the show) cares in the long run. Instead, I made sure to touch on her pride of her legacy, and how important the Schnee Dust Company is to the world of Remnant. Because of that history, she held back revealing her deeper emotions from her friends (except to Neptune), until she saw someone to connect with in Jaune. In chapter XIX, I showed a large portion of the Schnee back-story, and what Weiss has been dealing with. It took her a while to get to that point, but she still stopped herself when she realized that Jaune wasn't like her. And then the other shoe dropped.

If it wasn't clear by this point, Weiss and Jaune are remnants of the previous era; one that many seem to have forgotten over the course of the past eighty years. It's led to them being alone, living in their own worlds away from the rest of their kingdoms—for separate reasons. Just as Jaune didn't expect to find a place to belong at Beacon and a girlfriend like Pyrrha, Weiss didn't expect to find Neptune and friends. And yet, she was still not willing to fully open up. She did however reach her breaking point with Lawrence and Octavia revealing the history of their family. I wanted to show how she's struggling with both her personal desires and her responsibilities. While the show forcibly drove her to abandon her family (before quickly patching things up with Willow and Whitley without doing any work), I wanted her to genuinely care about it; but still have to deal with her father. Unlike the show, Nicholas Schnee actually has a presence in this story (who I guess was allowed to die in the show; the wiki is unclear), and as I showed in chapter XIX, had a great influence on Weiss. Then there's her wanting to have a family, and knowing she wanted that since she was young. Having to struggle between honouring her family by being the best heiress possible (and genuinely loving Dust engineering), and going against her father to be with Neptune, possibly causing more of a rift between her family, was just too much to keep bottled up for so long.

As I've said before, a number of you were rather shocked by how I changed Weiss' relationship with her family's company, which certainly was amplified by how absurd the SDC became in later volumes. I fully admit that I was unfortunately unable to build this world properly, as I've started DDCT almost two volumes in. In regards to Weiss and the SDC, the best I could do was sprinkle in the Schnee's providence in the world of Remnant. I'm curious to see how Weiss' argument goes over with all of you, as part of me fears it might have been too much too fast. Bear in mind that Weiss never has this conversation in the rewrite this is based on. She leaves Atlas with her grandfather's blessing, and she begins a normal relationship with Neptune while traveling with Teams RWBY, JNPR, and others after the Battle of Beacon. It's only when she returns two years later, and rather battle hardened, does she have to take charge in her family.

Also, because I want it stated for the record, I expected CRWBY to make it that Weiss abandons her family and makes a new Dust company to compete with the SDC, and then buys it or lures the workers away with better pay and benefits (or something to that effect). CRWBY are the kind of people that love having children turn on their families, so I just expected that kind of outcome, whereas I clearly went in an entirely different direction. Never thought it and the whole Kingdom would get destroyed (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ⼺┻━┻

The second facet is Jaune and his family. From almost the beginning, I wanted to show Jaune expressing resentment towards them, and then over the course of the story, slowly realize that he might have been wrong. At long last, he confronts his transgressions by putting his money where his mouth is. He can say he's starting to realize his mistakes and immaturity, but he has to back up those words with action. What's also missing from Jaune's history is his family's side of the story. There is of course much more to it, as Angus needs to say his piece and have a long overdue conversation with his son. However, I wanted first and foremost for his family to express how much they love Jaune. Since the show never bothered to flesh out and explain the supposed bad blood between them, and other fanfics tend to go the bleaker route, I decided on a more hopeful outcome. I'll stop now as I'll end up spoiling things, though I will say that next chapter will shed some more light on the situation.

Then there's of course some smaller things: Ruby showing she has what it takes to be a leader, and the others showing how much respect they have for Jaune. It's difficult to give Ruby moments to shine this far into the story; especially since the point of the story was to focus on Jaune and Pyrrha. Nevertheless, I've done what I could to show there's more to her than what the show came up with, with some more moments to come. As for showing Jaune respect, the man has earned it. I'm really glad I wrote chapters XX-XXII as I have, because I've had private conversations with some of you in PMs, where you think that Jaune's family, especially his father, hate and disowned Jaune. I absolutely haven't written that, and I think it comes from just years of unanimous speculation in the fanbase. I've said it before and I shall say it again: I am not CRWBY; I have no intention to shit on these characters. Enough said.

Lastly, since I've been commenting on the state of things regarding RT and RWBY, RT is now officially for sale. Called it ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). Now, what happens next, I haven't a clue. Will they sell RWBY or other shows individually without the rest of the RT brand? Can they even do that? Is it an all or nothing deal? Why did RT Core get re-branded into "Squad Team Force"?—awful name by the way. All I can say is that anything is possible. Some people have mentioned the possibility of RWBY being saved by it going into the hands of better stewards, with hopes of a reboot saving the show from its fate. RT already licences out RWBY like it's free, and the returns have been almost entirely terrible (have you seen the recent comics?). I mention this because I really don't think anyone can handle the property correctly without devoting years to planning it all out. In that time, they would probably lose all the original voice talent, as well as interest in the show, thus making it a massive financial risk.

In all honesty, as I've said before, the series died with Monty, and I would prefer that it would at last be put to rest. The company is dead, their reputation is in the shitter, nearly everyone that made RT RT is gone, the company's financials are in ruin as they bleed tens of millions in annual revenue—just end it. We'll have to wait and see what happens; and since they [RT and CRWBY] keep lying about everything, I'll only believe what comes out of AT&T, since they seem to be very concerned with their $180 billion debt. Ya know, it shocks me even more that they didn't make Wasp canon at the end of V8 to call RWBY a win before lowering the casket into the ground.

In any case, I'll still be writing my stories. I deeply apologize for taking so long with this one, as not only did I have over two weeks of poor sleep, little free time, and second-guessing everything I wrote, but also lots of yard work; and my phone deciding to commit suicide. I honestly am not fully happy with this chapter, but I have to pull the trigger, or else it will never come out. Next chapter will be another big one, and given that they changed the lock-down rules AGAIN, I'm not sure when it will be out. Either way, I want to thank you all as we have reached over 300k words. It's been one Hel of a run, and despite the stress, I'm loving it. Cheers and see you all next time.

Oh, and before anyone asks, yes, I created an entire family tree for the Arc family...with 81 individual members on it—that's six generations. I also created one for the Schnees...and the Branwens...and the Xiao Long...and the Wukong...and the—do y'all think I'm a bit nuts? I'm not sure...