My Little Ruler
Jeanne marched through the wood, her most loyal knight marching just ahead of her with his sword drawn, ready for combat. Jeanne herself carried the flag of her nation, Arctopia.
"The path is clear, my Ruler!" Jaune called out.
"Perfect, nothing will stand before our conquest to make the perfect world!"
It was not uncommon to find the twins playing Knight and Ruler, either going to the town or woods and planting small homemade flags that Jeanne carried, claiming shops, homes, parks, and even trees as a part of their kingdom. The townspeople found it adorable when Jeanne gave one of her many speeches about how the town will be better under her rule. No more long work hours. Pizza for dinner. She really got cheers when she decreed no more taxes. So, everyone just allowed the twins be, not even bothering to clean up the flags they had left behind.
"Sir Jaune, Look!" Jeanne pointed, following her finger, the pair stared at the cabin in the woods. "Mr. Kai's Castle! We must conquer it!"
And the pair marched to the worst mistake of their lives. The area slowly got darker with each step they took, the leaves growing more dense overhead until the only think keeping the area lit was the light form the wide open cabin door. The twins poked their heads in, spying the empty cabin. A bright smile formed on Jeanne's face as she entered the cabin and planted her flag.
"We have conquered the Land of Kai!" She released the stick of her flag, which promptly fell over. Jaune walked deeper in with his sword at the ready.
Jeanne bent over to pick up her fallen flag and realized she was standing on the door of the cabin, she let out a gasp. "I want a draw bridge door. That would be so cool."
"Jeanne…" Jaune called out softly, and walked forward to see her brother staring forward. Following his eyes, she freezes as she sees what he is locked on A pair of legs lying in the doorway of an adjacent room. Blood slowly spilling past the threshold. "… We need to leave."
A growl rattled out as a tall shadow slowly stepped from the darkness into the light, it's red eyes glaring down at its next meal. The beast howled. The children ran.
Hand and hand, the twins ran as fast as they could. Their small bodies giving them the edge over the large beast, letting them avoid low-hanging branches while the monster slammed right through. Running around a tree Jaune jerked Jeanne into a small hole, pushing her in. "Count to ten, I'm going to get it to follow me, you go find mom and dad. Ready?"
"No."
"Go!" Jaune took off, and the beast let out a roar as it quickly gave chase. Jeanne started to count but didn't even reach three before her legs started to carry her forward.
She knew she had to find their mom and dad, she knew they could take down the beast in seconds, it was a good plan. She knew it. But twins stick together, she couldn't leave him. No matter how hard she tried, her feet carried her after them. Pushing through the brush she found her twin's back to the base of a cliff starting down the Grimm. The beast took a step towards him, ready to pounce until something hit it in the back of the heading causing it to stop and turn towards her just as the second rock left her hand hitting the beast in the face, annoying it.
The beast slowly started to stalk towards her, blood foaming from its jaws as it growled. Jeanne wanted to run, but her body didn't listen, making her slowly back away from the beast.
"Stay away from her!" Jaune jumped onto the beast's back and jammed his wooden sword right into its ear, causing it to howl in pain before reaching back, grabbing the young boy and throwing him, sending him skipping across the ground and into a tree.
"Jaune!" The beast's snarl snatched Jeanne's attention away from her brother as it stormed towards her. Jeanne quickly ran out of space as her back hit a tree, sliding down she could only look up at the towering beast. The Grimm opened it jaws just as a foot swung up, kicking it close and knocking it away.
"Get away from my sister!" Jaune roared.
Thick black smoke erupted from his body as he stood before Jeanne, his wooden sword still in hand. The Grimm quickly recovered and glared at Jaune before letting out a roar, only for Jaune to match it as the two rushed at one another.
Just as they met, Jaune swung his toy blade at the overgrown wolf and shattered it against its head. The Grimm let out a roar of pain as Jaune quickly followed with a left hook, causing the beast to stagger, but That didn't stop it from backhanding Jaune and sending him flying into another tree. Jumping back to his feet, Jaune barreled towards the Grimm, crashing into it with enough strength to knock them both to the ground, and just started pummeling it with his fist.
"Do! Not! Touch! My! S-Ugh!" The beast slammed its jaw down onto Jaune's arm and started thrashing about, slamming the boy into the ground as it picked itself back onto its feet. Jaune threw more punches to the side of the beast's face before it flung him into the cliff base. Bouncing off the wall, Jaune hit the ground hard but didn't stay down long. Stumbling to his feet, Jeanne could see his eyes were glowing a brighter red than the Grimms but only for a moment as it slammed it's claw down onto Jaune's body, sending him to the ground.
"Jaune!"
It slammed down on him again and again until Jaune bit down on the beast's hand as it lifted up. Once up Jaune threw an uppercut rocking the beast's head quickly followed by a flurry of punches and kicks while still holding its hand between his teeth.
"I hear the Grimm over here!" A voice yelled out and footsteps scrambled over.
"Shit, that's an Alpha Beowulf." Another one spoke up.
"What's that thing fighting it?" another asked.
"Help him." Jeanne whimpered, gaining the attention of the small mob of people whose eyes widen at the sight of her.
"What's the Arc kid doing here?"
One of the women from the group ran over setting her spear down to tend to Jeanne.
"Where's the other one?" a different one asked just as Jaune slammed into a tree near bouncing off and slamming to the ground.
"Kid!" the woman yelled and just before she could reach Jaune he let out a hellish roar, a plum of black smoke erupted from body. Slamming his fist down so hard it punched a hole right into the rock, he stood up, his blue eyes now completely engulfed by burning red ones. "Kid...?"
Jaune's head shot towards the woman causing her to jump and pull Jeanne into a protective hug.
"Get away from my sister." He growled, taking a step closer. Only for the Beowulf to howl, snapping Jaune's attention back to it. "Die."
Jaune took off, snatching up the woman's spear as he raced forward. The Beowulf let out a roar as it pounced at the rage-filled child, only to be met with a spear plunged into its chest, driving it into the ground. He shoved harder pinning the beast to the floor, it howl out in pain only for Jaune to punch it, slamming its head into the stone.
"Die." Another punched.
"Die!" A hard punched.
"Die!" A Devastating punch.
"DIE!" He punched the stone where the Beowulf was as its body disinterested.
He just kept punching the ground, chanting die, none of the hunters daring to approach. They all just staring in a stunned silence to the point none of them noticed when the little blonde her girl started walking over to the boy. She reached forward and wrapped her arms around him, causing him to stop mid swing.
"We're safe, Jaune."
"He passed out after that, and we both got taken to the hospital. I only had some minor cuts from the trees and bunches. Jaune broke a few ribs and both hands. And that's how we got banned from playing in the woods."
The group was stunned.
"Damn…" The word stumbled from Yang.
"Yeah, Mom wouldn't take her eyes off us for nearly a month," Jeanne said.
"Jeanne, I'm…" Pyrrha started but Jeanne just cut her off.
"Can we please not make a big deal about it, I know I'm not the only one in the room who went through something traumatic at a young age." She gave them all a smile. "It was a long time ago, I learned to live with it, and accept it for what it is. Plus I got the better end of the ordeal if anything, I only got pity from the town, Jaune… That was when the fear started."
The tension still hung in the air until Jeanne's scroll buzzed. Pulling it out she saw Aunt Glynda's face and a message.
Come get your brother and return him to his room.
"It's Professor Goodwitch," Jeanne said. "She wants to see me."
"Don't you mean Aunt Glynda?" Nora gave a little smug grin which caused Jeanne to roll her eyes.
"She will give you detention if any of you say that in public." Jeanne stood making her way to the exit. "Plus, it's better if the entire school doesn't know, ya know?"
"Of course, we can't let the school know we have Glynda in our back pockets." Nora rubbed her hands together. "Think of all the advantages."
"We should be thankful we've only been getting off with stern warnings. The number of times I've heard 'I raised you better' I should be considered a martyr for this team."
"Isn't it only ever you and Nora who get in trouble?"
"Shhhhh Ice Queen, let me martyr for my team." This earned her a few chuckles and giggles. "Well, I'll talk to you all later."
Glynda Goodwitch really did miss these simple days.
She reached over and brushed the hair away from the sleeping teen's eyes, something she had done many times over the years of watching over him. She could not hold back a small smile but it slowly faded as she remembered the betrayal she was committing to someone she saw as her big sister. Going behind her back and allowing her children to put their lives on the line for a man she hated. She knows this is their choice to make, but it doesn't make her feel any better when she is the one offering the deals from their devil.
Joan has lost so much and now here they are taking more from her, completely taking advantage of the fact that she couldn't fight back. Ozpin said it is not what they are doing, but that was a lie, and she is a part of it.
All Glynda could do now was look out for her niece and nephew the best she could.
"Professor?" Speaking of which, she turned to see the older twin.
"This place is empty, Jeanne," Glynda smiled at her. "You can call me aunt, just for now. Come sit with me, let's allow your brother to get a bit more rest."
Jeanne smiled as she sat down next to her. "Did it go bad?"
"I wasn't here for it, he seems to have survived and chosen to take a nap."
"Seeing how he hasn't been to sleep yet, he needs it." Jeanne shook her head.
"It wouldn't be your brother if he wasn't a mess."
"Yeah," Jeanne looked at Glynda. "Auntie, can I ask you a question?"
"I'd be a terrible teacher if I didn't allow questions."
"Why…" The young lady looked down for a moment before finding her resolve and looking Glynda right in the eyes. "Why did you let me into the school?"
Glynda was taken aback by the question, so Jeanne continued.
"Not like I'm mad or upset but the first day when I saw you there, I panicked, I assumed you was going to call mom before you took me home yourself. I didn't even know you worked here, I assumed you moved to Mistral to work at Haven or something."
"Well, if I am going to be completely honest Jeanne, I was absolutely furious with you," Jeanne sunk into her seat a little. "My surprise when I saw Jaune's application but with the gender switched from an M to an F, and to see your picture in place of his. Well, I nearly tore Ozpin's door from its frame getting into his room. But that man has a way of explaining things, saying it is your choice and we should be willing to give you a chance, which is true and his decision to make."
Glynda removed her glasses setting them down on the table. Her green eyes looking into Jeanne's bright blue ones.
"Then you arrived, the same little girl with motion sickness, face first in a trash can moments after leaving the airship. I was prepared to walk right up to you and send you home." She wrapped an arm around Jeanne pulling her into a half hug. "But then, you did something I haven't seen from you in a long time. Walked right up to Miss Rose, stepped right out of your comfort zone and made a new friend."
"She made it easy by blowing up and lying down in a hole."
"But then you went and made more friends, Miss Xiao Long, Miss Valkyrie and Miss Nikos all in a day." Glynda then started to hug Jeanne tighter trapping the girl. "Then I learned you never unlocked your aura."
"I didn't know that was a thing!" Jeanne protested. "How was I supposed to know someone could just walk up to you and unlock it for you."
"I shouldn't be surprised, You're parents weren't the most studious when in class." She let out a sigh. "Lucky for you Miss Nikos unlocked it for you and you carried on to not only to find and lead a team but to have them successfully work together to take down a elder Deathstalker. To say I was surprised is an understatement."
Leaning her head on top of the young woman's.
"I was so worried watching you down there, I didn't know how I would live with myself if something happened to you on my watch. Every near hit, every time you were thrown, every swing of you sword, I just had to put every ounce of faith I had into you, and it paid off. You did great, Jeanne."
"…Thanks Auntie." Jeanne reached around her giving Glynda a big hug. It's been a long time since Glynda has been hugged and she once again found herself unable to contain her smile.
"I will always believe in you, My little Ruler."
"Auntie." Jeanne groaned.
"And as your High Caster, it's my job to still advise and teach you."
"Auntie!" She hid her blushing red face. "I haven't done that in years."
"Oh, is my little Ruler all grown up?"
"Yes!"
"Well that changes nothing, you will always be my little Ruler." Glynda's eyes shifted over to Jaune. "As he will always be my little Knight."
"That's only because your super tall before the four-inch heels."
"Or maybe you're just short, just like your mother."
Jeanne looked up to her with a smile. "Speaking of mom, she want you to call her."
"Nope."
"She said it's important."
"I still believe she can kill me over the scroll, I'm not risking." Glynda shock her head.
"We can call her right now." Jeanne brought up the CCT line on the PC before them only to be pulled away by Glynda.
"I will give you a year's detention young lady!"
"It's worth it if you're in trouble too!"
Once Jeanne left, Team RWBY returned to their own room for the evening. Yang stepped out of their shared bathroom feeling refreshed after a nice hot shower.
"That's so much better." Yang said as she stepped into their shared dorm room, only to find Ruby sitting at a desk and no one else. "Where Ice Queen and Kitty Cat go?"
"They went to go get something to eat," Ruby answered. "They didn't have lunch and the fight caused them to nearly miss dinner."
"I keep telling them, just have a big lunch and a light dinner." Yang started towards her bed but stopped half way there looking over her little sister's shoulder to see her writing. "Oh, writing back home to your friends?"
"No…" Ruby set her pencil down. "I'm… writing a letter to Jaune. Even if I feel like he was wrong, we jumped the gun taking matters into our hands and I want to apologize."
"So, you're writing him a letter?" Yang asked.
"Weiss says it's the best way to say sorry and show you mean it."
"Or you could just try and talk to him." She noticed her sister lock up for a moment. "Rubes?"
Her body relaxed before turning to Yang. "I… I can't."
"I know Jeanne said he wouldn't want to talk to us but if anyone could get through it would be you."
"I'm scared of him."
"Wha?" Yang looked at her sister in shock, Ruby was scared of him? Ruby Rose, brave enough to fight monsters of Grimm. Willing to stand in the face of anyone stepping out of line, scared of her best friend's brother. "Why?"
"I don't know, just staring into his eyes, it was like facing a Grimm I couldn't stop… one that wouldn't stop. And I feel bad for thinking that way, I know Jeanne hates when people see him as a Grimm but it's all I can compare it too, other than you."
"I'm not scary." Yang argued back.
"Yang, all my friends back at home were scared of you."
"What why?"
"You threw one through a door for touching your hair," Ruby explained.
"He shouldn't have touched my hair, that's a no-fly zone."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "I know you've never seen yourself fight before Yang, but you can be pretty scary in the ring with the whole setting yourself on fire and punching people so hard they skip across the ground."
"You're not scared of me, right?" Yang asked worried.
"Of course not, you're my sister. You wouldn't hurt me." Ruby smiled at Yang which gave her a good hit of reinsurance just before it dropped. "Jaune on the other hand… He wanted to hurt me. Once he got mad, he stopped trying to throw us out of the ring and really went to knock us out. If it wasn't for Weiss, he would've punched me just like he punched you and Pyrrha and… I'm not that strong and that's not even as mad as he can get from Jeanne's story… I just don't want to be on his bad side."
"Huh, guess I never thought of it that way." She wasn't really scared of anything besides… Ruby getting hurt. "Oh…"
"What?"
Yang opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself. "Nothing, So… how are you going to give it to him?"
Ruby froze once again.
"You didn't think that far ahead, did you?"
Happy New Year, two months late. But yeah, I'm back after that break and you'll be getting more RWBY from me and Star Wars from my partner.