Act I

9 years…

9 long years have passed since that night. In those 9 years Jaune... XIII trained to become an outstanding hunter. And during those years of training he made friends with his fellow members.

They were all killers and had no hesitation to kill. But they were still children, and children often form bonds with those their age.

But it doesn't change the most important fact about the Jaeger Program. Not only were they children and hunters in training…

They were also assassins.

The dull gray metallic training room was littered with disassembled AK-130 Androids. In the center of this destruction was a blonde teenager with beautiful ocean eyes. He was wearing clothing consisting of black pants with a black belt that had a large silver buckle, a black V-necked shirt that was worn underneath a black trench-coat with gray lining going down the sleeves and black boots with silver plates to protect his shins and a pair of black fingerless gloves.

Despite the destruction of the large amounts of androids Jaune was weaponless.

"Looks like my daily warm-up is finished, and in record time." The blonde teenager says in a boorish manner. He leaves the training room.

When he leaves the boring gray room Ozpin greets him with a smile.

"You finished in record time." Ozpin places his hand on Jaune's shoulder in congratulations. "You've gotten stronger, Jaune."

Jaune smiles at the man who has taken care of him for so many years. "Thanks Uncle, but I couldn't have done it without you and the Jaeger Program."

"And where is my gratitude Mr. Arc" Jaune looks to where the origin of the voice was and it was Glynda with a knowing look. "Well?"

Jaune laughs "Sorry Aunt Glynda" He bows slightly "Thank you for all your help."

Glynda sighs "Jaune don't bow, it was a pleasure training you." Glynda looks at Ozpin and clears her throat "Ozpin I believe there's something you need to show to Jaune.

"I was getting to that." Ozpin motions Jaune to follow him. Jaune does so, he and Glynda following Ozpin to his studies.

Ozpin's house was grand with the modeled knights rowed together. The red colored walls with golden scrollwork adding to the look of sophistication.

"So what is it that you wish to show me?" Jaune has his hands in his pockets.

They reach red double doors and open them. It reveals Ozpin's office that was just as nice at the rest of his home. Ozpin looks back at Jaune. "Something that your father would want you to have." They enter the room and Jaune was indeed curious and a little anxious to know what it was that Ozpin was going to show him. Ozpin sits down on his chair and takes a brief case out. On the case the Arc family crest was on it.

Jaune looks at the case in anticipation "What's in the case?"

Ozpin looks at Jaune for a moment before responding and the looks at the case. "Like you it is a legacy of your family." Ozpin opens the case and inside was a white sheath which is directly below a sword. The handle of the sword is wrapped with blue material. Jaune looks the contents of the case not knowing what to say.

"Its name is Crocea Mors. This belonged to your great-great- grandfather, or so your father told me." He smiles at the memory. However, despite how pleasant the memory was his smile was filled with pain. "It also belonged to him. And it's now yours."

Jaune gently touches the blade. "My father used this? And you're giving it to me?"

Glynda joins the conversation. "It never belonged to us Jaune. Crocea Mors was always meant for you. We were only taking care of it until you were ready."

Jaune looks at Glynda with curiosity. "Ready for what?"

Ozpin answers the question "For you to enter my school." He stands from his chair and takes his hand out. "Jaune Arc I am proud to announce your enrollment in Beacon."

Jaune stands up to shake Ozpin's hand, a smile on his face. "Thank you Uncle, this means a lot."

Ozpin returns the smile "I know it does. And I'm happy that you're going to my school. Now get ready. You'll be leaving today."

Jaune bows slightly and runs out of the room to go to his room. Jaune was excited to finally go to his uncle's school. He was ready when he graduated from the Jaeger Program but Ozpin insisted that he train for another two years. Jaune complained at first but knew his uncle only wanted the best for him.

Ozpin, who was still looking at the open door where Jaune ran off to, was still smiling about Jaune's entry into Beacon. It was a smile that radiated unwavering joy. This did not go unnoticed by Glynda.

"I haven't seen you smile like that in quite some time." Ozpin looks back at his fellow professor with a curious expression. She continues. "It's nice, to say the least."

Ozpin's eye brow rises at her statement "I see, well I'll make it a point to smile more often. Now enough about that… is Ruby Rose on her way to the dust plane."

Glynda now has business like expression. "Yes, she should be there now in fact. Why do you ask?"

"I'm curious if she and Jaune will get along." Ozpin walks out of his studies. Glynda sighs and follows her old teammate.

Jaune was in his room packing for Beacon. The case that the twin pistols were in was opened. Jaune examines his handy work and smiles.

"Ebony and Ivory" Jaune says in a hush voice.

Ebony was the black pistol that was directly below its white twin. Both pistols are in fact identical in their appearances. The handguns resemble Desert Eagles, with stylized grips twisting into sharp points. Near the bore of the pistols were engravings of scrollwork. They also sport a ring hammer.

Jaune diverts his attention over to one of his other creations.

This was truly a work of art in his opinion. It was a long sword; the blade moonlight white. The handle wrapped in a white material. Its hilt was similar to that of a rapier's. Both sides of the hilt were in the form of silver wings. Under one of the silver wings was a curved silver wing that goes down and connects to the base of the hilt giving it the resemblance of a rapier. Another thing to note about the base of the hilt was the white chain that connects to it. At the end of the chain was a single golden arc. In the center of the hilt was a single white crystal that shines holy light.

The holy white sword completely contrasts with Jaune's black clothing. Yet even so they match perfectly with one another. Jaune places the sword in the sheath that's on his back. "Time to go" Was all Jaune says before leaving.

Jaune walks outside meeting with Ozpin and Glynda. The dust powered car was ready. However, it was only a two seated car. "Um, where do I sit?"

Ozpin chuckles while Glynda sighs in agitation.

"Jaune I'm afraid you're not coming with us. You'll be on a dust plane with the rest of the students. But we'll take your bags." Before Jaune could protest Ozpin and Glynda drive off leaving the poor boy all alone.

Jaune blinks a couple of times. "But I don't know where to go." Suddenly Ozpin sends him a message on his scroll with the instructions on how to get there. The last part read.

'By the way the plane to Beacon will leave in 10 minutes so I suggest you get a move on. See you at Beacon my boy.'

Jaune starts twitching his left eye completely stunned that his caretaker would do this.

…

"DAMN YOU OZPIN!" Without a moment's hesitation the aggravated teen runs over to the garage. He quickly rushes inside, a black motorcycle (which is identical to Yang's save for the fact that his is completely black) in front of him. He gets on and puts a black helmet on that conceals his entire head and starts the engine. He speeds off in hopes of making it in time.

Jaune makes it to the dust plane location. But to his horror the plane was about to take off. The plane was making its way through the run way. "I better hurry!" He accelerates and speeds his way towards the plane. He notices that the plane was about to take off. 'I won't be able to make it unless someone opens the door.' By some miracle he sees a young girl with black red hair and a red riding hood outfit. He waves at her motioning her to open the door.

Minutes before Jaune chases after the plane.

Ruby was currently being crushed by her half sister Yang who was two years her senior. "Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me! This is the best day ever!"

Ruby pleads to her elder sister in a hush voice. "Please stop."

Yang's excitement for her younger sister was, to say the least was not unchecked. "But I'm so proud of you!"

"Really Sis, it was nothing." Ruby said trying to calm her energetic sister.

"What do you mean? It was incredible! Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees.

Ruby expresses her discomfort with the attention stating that "I don't want to be the "bee's knees" okay! I don't want to be any kind of knees. I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees".

"What's with you? Aren't you excited"? Yang asks.

Ruby replies with a sad tone. "Of course I'm excited… I just… I got moved ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything."

Yang wraps around her younger sister's shoulder to try and comfort her. "But you are special."

Ruby decides to look out the window to hopefully clear her head. But she didn't expect to see some random guy in black clothes riding a motorcycle of the same color.

Now Ruby Rose has seen and done crazy and odd things before. Like taking out a pack of Beowolves all by herself, fighting off armed robbers, one of them being Roman Torchwick one of the most notorious criminals in Vale.

But this had to top everything she's ever done or seen. Right now at this moment she's looking at a stranger riding a motorcycle chasing the dust plane she was on. That said stranger was motioning her to do something.

"Yang, you better come and see this."

Yang looks at her sister. "What is it little sis?" Ruby motions her to look out the window. Yang does so and her eyes widen at the sight. "Oh, well that's something you don't see every day."

Ruby looks at Yang and back to the person on the bike. "Yang what do you think he's trying to tell us?"

Yang shrugs "I don't know, but I have to admit this guy is pretty cool."

Ruby and Yang look at the stranger trying to decipher what he was trying to tell them. Their responses were only shrugs.

"GOD DAMN IT WOULD YOU OPEN THE DOOR!" Jaune shouts hoping that they would somehow hear him. Of course that didn't work out for him. The dust plane was beginning to ascend and Jaune was running out of time. He sighs knowing he has no choice but to force his way in. He speeds up at a ramp in hopes of trying to make the jump. The Dust plane starts flying off.

"I hope this works." Jaune jumps up from the ramp and is as high as the plane. Jaune redirects himself so his bike his facing the plane. He uses his aura to propel himself at the plane's side, he simultaneously pulls out his handgun Ebony with his left hand and blasts a hole on the side of the plane and enters through there making it inside. Jaune quickly brakes and does a power slide in the plane. All the students watch in awe at the display.

Ruby gets a hit of realization "Oh you meant open the door to the plane."

Jaune mentally face palms.

'It took all of that for you to understand? Whatever, at least I'm on the plane.' Jaune removes his black helmet. The moment his flawless face is revealed he hears the blonde brawler voice her approval.

"I'd definitely want to make out with you."

Her flirting did not go unnoticed by the innocent blond. "Excuse me?"

Yang looks at the boy with interest. "I gotta say hot stuff that was impressive."

Jaune was still confused by the girl's words. "Come again."

"Um guys…" The two blondes look at the owner of the voice.

Ruby along with dozens of other students were currently holding on for dear life, due to the threat of being sucked out of the plane because of the hole Jaune created.

"COULD SOMEONE PLEASE FIX THE HOLE!?" Ruby shouts in panic.

It seems like the only ones unaffected by the fierce vacuum were the two blondes.

Jaune walks forth, his body radiating moonlight aura. He brings his left hand forth. Only a second later and the vacuum is no more and Ruby along with the other students fall.

Where the hole once was, was a transparent wall of white aura. The creator of this wall being none other than Jaune Arc.

"Whoa…" Was all Ruby says as she looks at the transparent wall in slight awe.

Jaune smiles. "Now that that's settled we can all enjoy the ride… uh…" Jaune's eyes widen.

"Wait a minute…" Jaune begins sweat pouring down his face out of fear. "We're… we're on… a dust plane…"

"Yeeeeeah." Ruby says with utter confusion. "Is there a problem?"

Growl…

"Oh no!" Jaune covers his mouth with the very same hand used to create the wall, the reason for his action being the unpleasant feeling of his breakfast threatening to be vomited out in his stomach.

Ruby walks up to Jaune "You okay?"

Jaune shakes his head no. "Motion sickness"

Yang laughs. "Wait you mean to tell me you can ride that badass bike without problems but you can't handle a dust plane?

"That's exactly what I'm implying!" He shouts, feeling his stomach about to give out. "Oh god, I hate this so much."

Suddenly a monitor turns on showing Roman Torchwick. A news lady was talking about the said criminal and also went on about the White Fang. 'If I remember correctly he's a member of the White Fang.'

Jaune's train of thought was broken when his stomach growls yet again. "Oh Dust!"

Ruby and Yang leave Jaune alone and walk somewhere else. "Well that was interesting." Yang said with amusement evident in her voice. "Now what was I saying again before vomit boy came in."

"Hey I haven't thrown u- oh god!" Jaune wasn't able to finish when his motion sickness threatens him again.

"Anyways" Yang begins, starting to ignore the fellow blonde.

But before Yang can utter another word Professor Glynda Goodwitch appears as a hologram. "Hello, and welcome to Beacon!"

"Who's that?" Yang asked.

"I am Glynda Goodwitch." She says, as if she magically replied to Yang's question.

"Oh" was Yang's reply.

Glynda continues speaking "You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy! Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future huntsman and huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now, it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and training to protect our world. "

Jaune was paying close attention to Glynda's words despite his motion sickness. But one thought did cross his mind. 'Why the hell did they make me do all this!? God damn it I thought we were supposed to go together!' Jaune's motion sickness went into overdrive causing Jaune to almost make a fool of himself. 'It's okay Jaune just a bit longer.'

Ruby's face lightens up with joy "Wow" the sight she was currently witnessing was simply breathtaking to her. "Look, you can see Signal from up here! I guess home isn't too far after all".

Yang smiles and places her hand on Ruby's shoulder "Beacon's our home now."

Jaune didn't necessarily hate the view. He just… didn't like the ride. Jaune kept telling himself 'Just a few more minutes and I can kiss the sweet ground that Monty has blessed me with!'

However… Monty did not answer his prayers in making it. 'Oh god I'm gonna be sick!' Jaune runs towards the exit to free fall off the plane. But before he could do so he pukes his breakfast out.

Yang snickers "Well… I guess the view isn't for everyone."

Ruby nods her head in agreement "It was a nice moment while it lasted."

"I wonder who we're going to meet". Yang said curiously.

"I just hope they're better than vomit boy." Ruby responded with.

Jaune Arc was currently embarrassing himself. How you might ask? Well to answer your question… he's currently refunding his breakfast in the trash can next to the dust plane.

'I've trained to become a hunter since I was 8. Learning how to execute the Grimm, how to manifest and control my aura, learn the properties of dust and how to use it, and even create my own weapons. Which I might add are my pride and joy. Yet they couldn't teach me how to repress my motion sickness? Why is the world so cruel to me?' Jaune finally felt better after letting it all go. He quickly goes back in the plane to get his bike.

After getting his bike Jaune gazes at Beacon, his new home. "Wow, it's incredible." Jaune was lost in his thoughts.

'Mom, Dad, I'm here. I can finally make you both proud.' Jaune forms a genuine smile and closes his eyes to feel the cool breeze. His blond hair gracefully being blown to the side, his sapphire eyes shut.

Of course… it was all ruined by the noise of an explosion. "What the hell was that?" Jaune goes over to the source of the noise. And to his surprise he sees the girl in red that he met from before in the middle of a lecture. The one giving the lecture is a girl with white hair and ice blue eyes. She's wearing a pale blue bolero jacket over a similarly colored thigh-length dress with a piece of black lace making up the neckline of the dress. The inside of the bolero is red and the sleeves turn blue as they get closer to her wrists. The bolero has the Schnee crest on the back that bears a resemblance to a snowflake.

Realization hits the blond assassin. "She must be Mr. Schnee's daughter."

"I'm really, really sorry!" Ruby says not wanting to argue with someone on the first day.

The heiress starts insulting Ruby. "Ugh, you complete dolt! What are you even doing here? Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?"

Ruby began to stutter "Well… I…"

The heiress continues her verbal assault "This isn't your ordinary combat school. It's not just sparring and practice you know. We're here to fight monsters! So watch where you're going!"

Jaune narrows his eyes at the girl having enough of her insults. However, before he can intervene a girl with beautiful wavy black hair beats him to it. She wears a black buttoned vest with coattails, and a white, sleeveless undershirt that exposes part of her midriff with white shorts that may be connected to her shirt, although it is partly obscured by the vest. Her shorts have a zipper on the front of each leg, but it is unknown if these zippers serve a purpose or are simply decorative. She also wears a detached scarf-like collar around her neck. But other than her wavy hair, her two most notable features was her black bow and amber eyes.

Ruby finally having enough of her insults retorts "Hey, I said I was sorry, princess!"

"It's heiress actually." The girl in black says in a knowing manner. She continues. "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."

Weiss has a proud smile. "Finally, some recognition!"

The girl in black continues yet again. "The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners."

Jaune frowns. 'The same company who funded the Jaeger Program in order to protect innocent people'

Weiss begins to protest, the girl's words obviously angering her. "How dare-! The nerve of-!" Ruby snickers during Weiss's fit. The said heiress walks away angered by the girl's words.

Ruby calls out to her "I promise I'll make this up to you!" Ruby then says something to herself that was incoherent to Jaune.

She turns around to talk with the girl in black but was already walking off. Ruby sighs and kneels down on the ground to then lie down on her back. "Welcome to Beacon" she says in a hush voice.

Despite how silent her words were Jaune was able to hear them. He smiles, knowing that the girl was in need of a friend. He walks up to the girl and when he is over her he takes his hand out and has a gentle smile. "Hey… I'm Jaune"

Ruby gets off her back and has smiles for a moment before telling him her name "Ruby." When Ruby gets up she recognizes who it was. She has a quick laugh "Aren't you the guy who threw up on the ship?"

Jaune's eye began to twitch a little 'Really, that's how you remember me.'

While walking around the campus Jaune had left his bike by the dust plane so Ozpin could have someone store his bike in a safe place.

Jaune and Ruby walk through Beacon together talking about various subjects. Well mostly about how "Motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on!" The statement said being in Jaune's own words.

Ruby giggles "Look, I'm sorry; Vomit-Boy was the first thing that came to mind."

"You mean to tell me, that even though I chased down the dust plane for Beacon in my motorcycle, jumped a ramp and redirected myself to then shoot a hole in the plane just to get inside and did a power slide. The first thing that came to your mind when you saw me again was vomit boy?"

Ruby rubs her head "When you put it that way it is kinda stupid. Again, I'm really sorry."

Jaune sighs, but smiles soon after. "It's fine. You don't need to apologize." He places his hand on Ruby's head in a brotherly manner. "Just call me Jaune, okay."

Ruby blushes from Jaune's action which was unnoticed by the said boy. "Okay… Jaune."

Jaune smiles "There, now I don't need to call you crater- face."

Ruby begins to throw a fit waving her arms around. "Hey, that explosion was an accident!"

Jaune laughs "Well I won't call you that so long as you remember my name. Remember, name's Jaune Arc! Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it!

"Do they?" Ruby questioned.

Jaune chuckles at the girl's response. "I don't know, you tell me."

Ruby giggles at Jaune's sense of humor, somehow repressing a blush to appear. "Well I like it!"

She then thinks about comparing weapons. "So I got this thing." She suddenly pulls out Crescent Rose, the scythe's blade piercing through the concrete leaving a hole in the ground.

Jaune inspects the fine craftsmanship of the weapon. He nods his head in approval. "It's well made. It reminds of- never mind. So a scythe is your weapon of choice?

Ruby smiles at her piece of art known as Crescent Rose. "It's also a customizable, high impact velocity sniper rifle."

Jaune looks at the scythe and its wielder with interest. "So it's also a gun."

"It's also a gun." She says while nodding in confirmation.

Wanting to know what her new friend has in his arsenal, she decides to get to know his weapons. "So what've you got?"

"Oh, well I guess it's only natural I show you my equipment since you showed me yours." Jaune's hands go to the back pockets of his black pants which are concealed by his black jacket. He grabs hold of two objects.

In a quick and fluent motion he takes Ebony and Ivory out of their holsters which were in fact located above his back pockets. Ebony in his left while Ivory was in his right.

Ruby looks at the twin pistols in awe. The design of the pistols were simple overall, taking the appearance of desert eagles, the difference being the grips that twist into points, the scrollwork engraving near the bore of the pistols and the use of ring hammers instead of the usual hammer like design. "Can… can I hold it?"

Jaune chuckles "Here" he gives her both Ebony and Ivory causing Ruby to fawn over the handguns.

"They're so heavy which means they pack a huge punch. Not only that but they look really cool with those designs at the end of the barrel of the pistols. The stylized grips are also really cool." She looks at the twisted grips more thoroughly. Her eyes widen at her discovery.

"Wait, there's no magazine release! There's no way for them to be reloaded unless…" Her eyes widen yet again. She looks at the grips a second time, finding her answer in the process.

"You channel your aura through the grips which allow you to fire aura infused rounds!"

Jaune smiles, finding her knowledge of weapons to be impressive. "Good eyes, and you're most certainly right. Ebony and Ivory don't fire normal or dust rounds. By channeling aura to my girls I can fire high powered aura rounds."

"Or you can fire multiple, low powered aura rounds to take out weaker enemies at a fast rate!" Ruby finishes for the maker of Ebony and Ivory. She then catches Jaune's use of the word "girls"

"Girls? Are you referring to these?"

The boy clad in black has another smile. "Yeah, they're my girls after all. By the way, you really know your weapons. I'm impressed, Ruby."

She returns the guns and Jaune puts them in their holsters.

"Now to show you my other weapon." He draws his long sword. The white blade glows a divine light of the same color. "My sword's name is Dark Repulser. Its blade is specially made to be infused with my aura. When I channel my aura through the blade its attack power is greatly enhanced."

Ruby's eyes were glued to the beautiful rapier style sword. "Does it do anything else?"

Jaune sheathes his blade and ruffles the young girl's hair soon after. "It does have other abilities but I'm afraid that I have to keep that a secret."

Ruby's removes his hand and begins to pout. However, knowing that she wouldn't be able to sway him she drops the topic.

She then notices Crocea Mors. "Oh what's that" she points at the heirloom that was strapped to his black belt.

Jaune gets startled at first. He looks at Crocea Mors and gently touches the hilt. A radiant smile that displays pride and joy was present. "This… this is the weapon I'm most proud of."

Ruby tilts her head to the side. "Why's that?"

Jaune draws the sword and turns the sheath into a shield. "Because this belonged to my great-great grandfather…" he looks down on the ground "and my father."

Ruby looks at Jaune in worry. "Jaune, are you okay?"

Jaune's thoughts were interrupted and he smiles hoping to show her that he was fine. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

Ruby looks down at the ground too. "Did… did something happen with your dad?"

Jaune sighs "I'd rather not talk about it." Ruby nods her head with understanding. "Thank you… Ruby. And I'm sorry for being so private."

Ruby scratches her head in embarrassment "I'm the one who should apologize. We've just met and I was asking you something really personal. Sorry for bringing up something painful."

Her apologetic smile shifts into one evoking praise. "Oh and about your weapon. Well I like it! Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days."

Jaune ruffles her hair "The classics huh. I like it."

Ruby removes his hand away from her head using both of her hands having a cute blush in the process. "So why'd you help me back there, in the courtyard?"

Jaune follows after her all cheerful again. "Why not? Someone once told me that, "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." Jaune deliberately avoids mentioning his mother. He didn't want to talk about his parents again.

Ruby was deep in thought about Jaune's response "Hmmm… Hey where are we going"? Ruby stops walking to look over at Jaune.

Jaune stops as well to answer her. "Oh, I don't know actually, I was only following you". After a few moments of standing Jaune continues speaking. "You think there might be a directory? Maybe a food court? Some sort of recognizable landmark?" Ruby snorts at Jaune's last comment. "Is that a no?"

"That's a no". Was Ruby's response to her first ever friend in Beacon.

Jaune and Ruby finally make it to the auditorium where all the first year students were supposed to attend. The moment they enter Ruby's elder sister Yang calls out to her. "Ruby, over here! I saved you a spot! "Yang waves at Ruby for her to come over to her.

Ruby delighted to see her sister obliges "Hey I gotta go! I'll see you after the ceremony"! Ruby runs to her sister.

Jaune waves goodbye to her and cracks a joke to himself "Great, where am I supposed to find a nice quirky girl to talk to"? Jaune walks over to find himself a spot. And little did he know that a girl who matches his description was behind him the whole time.

As Jaune was walking through the crowd, he accidently bumps into a man with long somewhat spiky black hair, his hair ending in a midway ponytail with a magenta streak on the left side of his hair. His eyes matching the streak. The man's clothing seemed to be based on the Eastern culture.

He wears a dark-green, diagonally-buttoned, long-sleeved tailcoat that is red on the inside, with black and gold trimming and pink cuffs. The trimming goes down the right side of his torso and forms a black collar.

This color scheme seems to be influenced to some degree by the lotus flower which was noted by Jaune. He wears a black, long sleeved shirt beneath the suit, and light-tan pants with black shoes.

"Sorry about that." Jaune says in a friendly manner.

"Don't worry about it. Seeing as how this is a big crowd the blame shouldn't be shifted to you." The young man says in a friendly and respectable manner.

Jaune smiles in gratitude "Thank you. My name is Jaune Arc." He takes his hand out so they could shake hands.

The man nods his head "My name is Lie Ren." He accepts the gesture and they have a firm handshake. "It's nice to meet you."

As Jaune was about to further their conversation his vision blackens. The cause being a pair of hands wearing pink fingerless gloves.

"Guess who, Ren!"

"Um... I'm Jaune actually."

Ren sighs. "Nora, you're supposed to cover my eyes and say that."

The girl identified as Nora glances curiously at her childhood friend.

"Oh... okie dokie Ren!" She removes herself from the confused blond, allowing him to have his vision back. He looks behind him, giving him a full view of her.

Her clothing seems to be a mix and match of some sort, with different colors and themes. She wears a collared black vest that ends at her waist. Her signature symbol, a hammer with a lightning bolt, can be found on the back. Under the vest are two layers of clothing, colored red and light-blue respectively.

She also wears a white sleeveless top that forms a tiny heart shape between her cleavage and collarbone, with a white detached sleeve on each arm. She wears matching fingerless gloves on each hand. She sports a pink skirt that starts at the waist and ends mid-thigh. Her shoes are a mix of pink and white with pink laces, and display her symbol on their soles.

She also seems to wear some sort of armor that begins in the middle of the shoulder and neck and ends by the waist. It seems she has a light-gray or off-white bow at the back of her skirt, with ribbon extending to the skirt's bottom.

Nora suddenly appears next to Ren, giggling while hopping around him.

"Can you believe it Ren. We're in Beacon together… I mean not together together but together as in-"

Ren sighs a second time. "Nora, I understand. But you need to calm down. Professor Ozpin is going to be speaking soon."

Nora salutes the calm hunter in training. "You got it, Ren"

Jaune chuckles at the two's conversation. 'They must be really close friends.'.

Suddenly Jaune hears a familiar voice. "You!" Jaune looks over to see Weiss Schnee starting a fight with Ruby. The said girl was currently holding on to her older sister. He sighs deciding it was best not to intervene. "You're lucky we weren't blown off the side of the cliff!" Weiss continues.

"Oh my god, you really exploded." Yang says realizing that her sister really exploded.

Ruby removes herself from Yang "It was an accident! It was an accident!" Weiss holds a 'Dust for Dummies guide' in front of Ruby. "What's this?"

Weiss starts talking really fast about how the Schnee family is not responsible for any harm. Jaune decided just to turn her out and wait for his Uncle to give his speech to the students.

However, that was not the case when Weiss had caught his attention with her last statement "Yeah, and we can paint our nails, and try on cloths, and talk about cute boys, like tall, blond, and scraggly over there" Weiss points at Jaune.

'Well that's just rude.' Jaune decides to leave it alone, knowing that it was best to handle this at a later time.

Ruby who was excited by the idea had no idea that Weiss was being sarcastic "Oh wow, really?"

Weiss glares at Ruby "No."

"Ahem…" All the students glance up on stage to see Ozpin with Glynda to his left. "I'll keep this brief. You have travelled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate you life to the protection of the people."

The students all had smiles on their faces and were all anxious to start their studies. But all of that disappears soon after when the next set of words were uttered.

"But I look amongst you and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far."

Ozpin then glances at Jaune, his gold gaze warming up for a split second, only to return to his previous icy gaze.

"It is up to you to take the first step." Ozpin walks off stage. Jaune following his Uncle's every move.

Glynda speaks and tells all the students to gather in the ballroom. She dismisses the students. Jaune walks passed Ruby, Yang and Weiss and over hears Yang. "He seemed kind of off, almost like he wasn't even there."

Jaune agrees in a sense, but he pushes the thought aside. He looks over at Weiss and as he was walking passed her. "I'm a natural blond you know."

Weiss glares at the blond in black with an icy gaze obviously not amused.

The boys and girls were all in the ballroom getting into their sleep wear. Jaune was currently looking through his bag trying to find his pajamas. Sadly, no such luck.

"I guess I'll just have to improvise." Jaune takes off his shirt revealing the results of his years of training. His body was sculpted to perfection. He didn't have too much or not enough muscle.

On his left breast was the Roman numeral XIII tattooed in black ink. This earns him a few perplexed stares all coming from the boys while the rest of the staring was done by the girls, obviously infatuated with the young Arc.

As the girls were all staring at Jaune, Ruby was currently writing a letter for her friends back at Signal, only to be interrupted by Yang.

"It's like a big slumber party!" Yang suddenly drops down on her sleeping bag.

Ruby not bothering to stop writing, replies to her beloved sister. "I don't think dad would approve of all the boys though."

Yang looks over at all the boys with approving eyes. "I know I do." She then notices a shirtless Jaune with very approving eyes. "I definitely approve of this."

Ruby waves her hand in front of Yang's face hoping to snap her out of her trance. "Yang, what are you looking at." Ruby looks in the direction where her sister's eyes laid and what she saw made her cheeks as red as her apparel. "Don't stare!" She throws a pillow at her sister's face causing her to break out of her trance.

Yang removes the pillow from her face and returns it to Ruby. "Sorry about that Ruby, I saw someone who was really hot… I mean shirtless… no uh… okay I was ogling at hot stuff over there. Anyways, what's that?" Yang looks at her sister's journal.

"A letter to the gang back in Signal. I promised to tell them all about Beacon and how things are going."

Yang smiles "Aww, that's so cuuuuuute!" Ruby threw her pillow at Yang again due to her comment.

"I didn't get to take my friends with me to school. It's weird not knowing anyone here".

Yang reminds her of a certain blond boy "What about Jaune? He's nice, hot, and shirtless."

"Yang!" Ruby shouted

"Sorry, now where was I? Oh yeah, he's also hot."

"You already said that." Ruby said with slight irritation.

Yang smirks "Exactly".

"You're unbelievable"

Yang giggles "Look the point is that Jaune is your friend. So plus one friend! That's a 100 percent increase"!

Ruby lies down on her back "I'm pretty sure Weiss counts as a negative friend. Back to zero."

Yang in an attempt to comfort her little sister tells Ruby her philosophy on the situation. "There's no such thing as negative friends! You just made one friend and one enemy." Ruby throws another pillow at Yang's face.

"Okay would you stop with the pillow throwing already?!" Yang's eyes shift from their pretty lilac to a crimson red. However, she calms down and her threatening eyes revert back to the innocent lilac from before.

"Look, it's only been one day. Trust me; you got friends all around you. You just haven't met them yet.

Ruby then remembers the words Jaune had spoken to her "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." The words echoing in her mind.

Ruby hears a match and see's candle light. She gets up and sees a girl with wavy black hair and amber eyes. It's the girl from the courtyard. "That girl…"

Jaune comes back to the ballroom to get some sleep. When he enters he notices Ruby, Yang and the girl with the black bow that was at the courtyard. They were talking about something and he didn't want to disturb them. So he gets out of sight to listen in.

Yang who was as bubbly as ever, began pestering the girl with the black bow. "So… what's your name?

The girl looks up from her book "Blake"

Yang persists on trying to socialize with the now identified Blake. "Well, Blake, I'm Yang! Ruby's older sister! I like your bow"!

'How can she be so cheerful all the time'? Jaune thought.

Blake responds but is clearly annoyed "Thanks"

Yang of course due to her persistence keeps talking with the girl. "It goes great with your… pajamas!"

Jaune face palms 'You have got to be kidding me?'

"Right." Blake says in a monotone voice not bothering to look away from her book.

Yang keeps trying to socialize with her but of course each attempt ends in failure. Leaving Jaune with multiple head injuries due to all the face palms he did due to Yang's constant attempts at trying to talk with the girl in black.

"Nice night, don't you think?" Yang asks as a last ditch effort in trying to socialize with the bow wearing girl.

"Yes - it's lovely! Almost as lovely as this book!" Ruby and Yang stand there. "That I will continue to read." Ruby and Yang continue standing. "As soon as you leave!"

'I know your pain.' Jaune says in thought.

"Yeah, this girl's a lost cause." Yang says finally admitting to defeat.

"What's it about?" Ruby asked.

'She must be asking about the book.' Jaune deduces.

Blake was taken aback by the question. Ruby then asks about its name and what it was about again.

"It's about a man with two souls, each fighting for control of his body."

Jaune listens in closely leaning against the pillar with his arms crossed. 'A man with two souls, each fighting for control of his body. It reminds me of myself. I can feel it every day. The scared little boy who desperately wants his parents to come back, trying to take control of my body, but I know that if I do let him take control. Then I'll only drown in despair.'

Ruby continues "I love books. Yang used to read me every night before bed. Stories of heroes and monsters… they're one of the reasons why I want to be a huntress."

Blake now interested in the young girl starts speaking with her "Why is that? Hoping you'll live happily ever after?"

"Well I'm hoping we all will." Ruby replies, both bright and hopeful. "As a girl, I wanted to be just like those heroes in the books. Someone who fought for what was right, and protected people who couldn't protect themselves."

Jaune was at a loss for words. He too, had that same dream when he was a child. He wanted to be like the heroes in the stories he read, to be like his mother and father.

"But the real world isn't like the fairy tales we read". Blake responds with. Her words reminding Jaune all too well, how right she is.

Both Jaune and Blake were expecting Ruby to only sit down in defeat. But the next set of words that the young hopeful girl utters causes them to stop in thought.

"Well that's why we're here… to make it better."

"Ohhh, I'm so proud of my baby sister" Yang hugs Ruby up into the air.

Ruby starts fighting her off "Cut it out!" the two sisters begin fighting. The commotion wakes Weiss and an argument ensues.

While they were busy fighting Jaune was deep in thought with a smile on his face. 'You're an interesting girl, Ruby.' Jaune no longer leans on the pillar and walks around the girls undetected so he could sleep. Jaune enters his sleeping bag and begins to drift off into slumber. But before his dreams could take over he has one final thought. 'These next four years, will truly be something special.

In every journey many decisions must be made. Who to save, who to kill? What weapon should be kept, what weapon should be forgotten? Every decision one makes on their journey is important.

Even something as trivial as what to wear in combat.

Should he take up the roll as Jaune Arc? And wear white armor with simple clothes that hold no form of protection? And take on the appearance of a knight.

Or

Should he remain as XIII? And wear his black clothing that was specially made during his time in the Jaeger Program? And take on the appearance of an assassin.

The decision is up…

To you

As you know this is a revamped version of my story, XIII. Now the last bit that's just above the Author's Notes is in fact a decision you can make in the polls. Just go to my profile and you can make the decision of what Jaune wears throughout the rest of the story.

Canon clothes or the new outfit for Jaune which is all black.

The poll will remain open till the 22nd or 23rd of this month.

Remember to Follow/Favorite it if you deem my story worthy. If not, then by all means leave a review on how I can improve on my writing.

If you're a returning reader of this story then Follow/Favorite.