Phantom of Beacon
The JBRY dorm was filled with the peaceful sound of…snoring. So much snoring. A loud series of thumps on the ceiling sent Jaune leaping off his bed, transforming as he hit the ground. He clenched his fists, ghostly energy surging through them as he heard a voice from above.
"Hey! Keep it down, freshmen!" The voice of Coco Adel rang out.
Blake looked over from her bunk and sprang up, placing a hand on Jaune's shoulder. His head darted her way with a blind fury until green met amber and his face quivered. "Jaune, it's okay. We're back at school. You're safe now. We're all safe." Her voice was calm, soothing to the sound. She turned him towards her and gently wrapped her arms over his shoulders in a hug, slowly pulling him tight.
Jaune stiffened at first, memories of the night before clouding his thoughts, but Blake's embrace brought him back to clarity. His arms slowly rose under hers, hands clasping around her back as his eyes faded from green to blue, body shifting back to human form.
"It's okay, Jaune. Look, why don't we head down early, take out some of this post mission aggression?" She suggested, pulling away and already donning her bow and combat gear.
Jaune's cheeks flushed as he turned from her. "Blake! I'm right here!"
She smirked. "Yes, I know. But I know you wouldn't try anything, and I know I could still beat you." She strapped Gambol Shroud to her back, quietly walking to the door. "Come on, let's let these two sleep. I couldn't get much more with Yang's snoring anyway."
RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYRWBY
Blake ducked under an energy blast and went into a back handspring. "You're getting better with those! A bit more training and-ah!" She was cut off as Jaune hurled an orb of energy at her, slightly singing her bow.
"Ah! Blake! I'm sorry!" Jaune ran towards her only to phase his neck as her blade pointed right at his throat.
Blake grinned, retracting her blade and sliding it into the sheath. "You're getting faster. Now, no phasing!" She swung her blade from the sheath, sending it vertically towards Jaune's chest.
His eyes widened before his body split into two, both versions shouting out "Blake!"
She grinned widely. "See! I knew you could do it! Now hold that clone for a few minutes this time. Try to use your powers a bit!"
Jaune 1 and 2 spent the next several minutes practicing phasing, firing off energy blasts, and turning invisible. Eventually he felt his energy begin to wane, and the two clasped hands, merging back into one. This time, Jaune didn't fall to his knees, rather exhaling loudly instead.
Blake moved to hug her partner when a loud series of claps signaled panic in the two. She turned her head towards the training room entrance to find a blonde girl staring back at her, blue eyes gleaming in a familiar way.
"Well Jauney, seems you've grown up quite a bit. Now are you gonna stand there staring, or are you gonna come hug your sister?" Jen Arc said, smirking as her brother ran towards her.
"Jen! What are you doing here?" He shouted, his eyes switching back to blue and his white hair returning to its natural blonde state. Jaune skidded to a stop as he reached his sister, arms wrapping around her in a hug.
She returned the hug, ruffling her brother's hair, earning a muffled groan in response. "Surprise! Ozpin asked me to come in as a favor for the Vytal Festival!"
"You? Really? What for?" Jaune asked.
Jen raised her eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's wrong, little brother? Don't think I'm qualified to be here?"
Blake let out a laugh as Jaune stammered. "From his weapons, I'd say you're more than qualified."
"You must be Blake, Jaune's partner? Thanks for whipping him into shape. As for what I'm doing here, Jauney, you're looking at the tech adviser for the tournament! I'll be inspecting all weaponry beforehand, and offering emergency repair services, as well as upgrades for a small price." Jen smirked, eyes glinting at the thought of profit.
Jaune grinned a wide smile, pumping his fists in the air. "Awesome!"
"So it looks like you've got a pretty good handle on your powers, little brother. Much better than when your pants were falling down all the time. What else can you do?" Jen said, looking her brother up and down.
Jaune scratched the back of his head, looking off to the side. "Well, you know about the intangibility, flying, and invisibility. Besides that I've got energy blasts, splitting myself into two, energy shields…oh, and this cool ghostly wail that can wreck things!" He said a bit excitedly, bouncing a bit until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"By things he also means himself, considering that he can't use it without collapsing back to human form. But we're working on his stamina, and he's improving every day." Blake said the first bit sarcastically, but caught Jen's suggestive glance at the end.
"Oh really Ms. Belladonna? Working on Jaune's stamina? Been keeping him up late on that?"Jen waggled her eyebrows, causing Blake to blush and Jaune's face to drop.
"JEN!" Jaune shouted, causing his sister to laugh.
Blake stared at the two, watching Jen poke and prod at Jaune, teasing him. "It's like watching him with Yang as his sister…" She thought to herself.
Jen adjusted her bag, still on her back. "Well, you can show me everything later. For now, let's head to the armory. I've got some upgrades for your gear that are gonna rock the tournament!"
RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYRWBY
Jaune watched as Jen tinkered with his gauntlets, taking note as she rewired the circuits and added a cylindrical device into the main chamber. "Wait, what's that for?"
Jen looked around before continuing her work. "You mentioned in your letter that you've run across a few Omegas. I haven't figured out a way to destroy them yet, so I came up with a capture unit instead. You'll need to change it after every few captures, but I'm adding a quick change mechanism so it won't be too difficult." Jen released the soldering iron, setting it down next to the gauntlets. She removed her goggles, her eyes being the only part of her face not covered in soot. "Plus there's a few tricks in these to help channel your powers discreetly."
"Well that's good. I can only play off intangibility as my semblance for so long until someone gets suspicious about everything else…especially Ironwood…" Jaune said, nervously running his hand along his forearm.
"Wait, Ironwood? GENERAL Ironwood? As in the man who helped the SDC with the project that caused your accident?" Jen shouted, covering her mouth until she remembered the armory was abandoned.
Blake nodded, though cocked her eyebrow. "The SDC? Weiss' father's company caused your powers and the Omegas?"
Jen nodded, taking Jaune's look of shock into account. "I take it you know the younger Schnee then? But yes, her father is responsible. Jacques Schnee is…not a good man. Mom and Dad always told me about how the SDC used to be a kinder company. Nicholas Schnee, the founder of the company worked hard in Dust mines while training at combat school, learning everything he could so that he could venture out and help find Dust, spreading the Schnee name across Remnant."
"But what happened? If the SDC was so great, what changed?" Jaune asked, looking both at Jen and Blake.
Blake chimed in, crossing her arms and scowling. "Jacques Schnee happened. He took over the company and started mistreating workers. The Faunus became second class citizens to the SDC, hence the change in the White Fang and the animosity."
"The sad thing is, Jacques married into the family, taking on the Schnee name from his wife. How he convinced Nicholas that he would be a better head than his own daughter, we'll never know. What we do know is that he's bad news for everyone. Ironwood reports to him, so I'd steer clear if you can." Jen paused, looking at the uneasy glance the two shared. "He already knows who you are, doesn't he?"
Jaune's face paled whiter than his ghostly hair, his eyes cast downwards. "Well, yes and no. Ironwood does know who I am, but that's due to an attack on my team. He doesn't know that I'm the phantom, that much we know for sure."
Blake's eyebrow cocked at the name. "Phantom? Did you just give yourself a nickname?"
"Well it's better than everyone calling me 'ghost boy'…besides…that's reserved…" He blushed, earning a grin from Blake and a smirk from Jen.
"Ah young love. You two really have been doing some extra training then!" Jen announced.
Before Jaune could say anything in protest, the door swung open, revealing Ruby and Yang, both with an odd glint in their eyes. "Jauney! How's it going loverboy? We sure did miss you this morning! Ruby here was even gonna put on a show!" Yang said.
Jaune and Blake stared at their teammate, mouths open at her forwardness. "Yang…you do realize you just offered Ruby up as a piece of meat…right?" Blake's voice rang with a tone of pure confusion, Jaune nodding in agreement.
Ruby waved her hand at the two. "Pshh, I'm old enough to make my own decisions about what I want and who I want, and I want Jaune. So leader, care to head back to the dorm, deflower this Rose?" Ruby said suggestively, adding a wink at the end.
Jaune's face turned beet red, his eyes wide as dinner plates. "Ruby! What's gotten into you?!"
"Oh nothing yet, but I'm sure your sword would just love it inside my sheath. Another great sword of the Arc family I assume?" She licked her lips hungrily, causing Jaune to jump behind Blake.
Yang grinned, crossing her arms over her chest. "And when you're done with Ruby, you're all mine." Her lilac eyes were glazed over with a slight red tint, not the usual of her semblance.
Jen's eyes darted between the two before turning to her brother. "Jaune…this is combat school, not the PlayDust Mansion!"
"Jen, I swear I don't know what's gotten into-" He paused as Ruby and Yang went to interrupt. "What's wrong with them." Jaune's eyes glinted green before a strange wisp of cold air blew out of his mouth.
Blake glanced towards him, eyes wide. "Jaune, you don't think…"
Yang and Ruby's eyes turned full red, filled with a carnal hunger. "You're mine, Jaune!" The sisters lunged for Jaune, Yang for his waist and Ruby for his face.
"Ah!" Jaune phased the pair through him and ran, pulling Jen and Blake with him through the door.
Blake kept pace as the door shattered behind them, speeding up a bit as she looked back at the sisters, both lost to primal nature. "Jen, any chance the gauntlets could help us here?"
Jen grinned. "Of course! If there's any ghostly anything going on with those two, the gauntlets should fix them right up! Jaune, use the new attachment!" She said as they rounded the corner towards the main courtyard.
"Got it! New attachment…and they're sitting back at the armory..." Jaune pulled the pair behind a pillar, ducking as the sisters entered the area.
"Oh Jaaaauuuunnnnneeeee, come out to plaaaayyyyyy! We won't bite! Well, Ruby won't. I like the biting!" Yang shouted, causing several students to stare at her.
"What's with Xiao Long and Rose?"
"Guess JBRY is just a harem now."
"I like biting too!"
"Coco! Well actually now that you mention it…" Velvet and Coco's eyes glinted red, joining the sisters.
Jaune paled, his hands shaking nervously. "Blake!" He whispered. "What are we gonna do?!"
"Can't you just fly through everyone and grab the gauntlets, zap everyone back to normal, and save the day?" Jen suggested.
Blake let out a sigh. "With all the new Atlas security around? They'd pick up his ghostly signature and Ironwood would be down here faster than you could say Schnee."
"Crap! Well, we're going to have to sneak back there and get them, Huntress and Huntsman style." Jen added the last bit as Jaune opened his mouth to protest.
The pillar exploded behind them as Yang fired off a round from Ember Celica. "Jauney! Knew you couldn't hide forever! Get him, ladies!"
Velvet and Ruby sprang forwards, the rabbit Faunus rivaling Ruby's speed. Blake tugged Jaune downwards, watching as the pair sailed just inches overhead.
"You can't just keep him all to yourself, Blake!" Ruby drew Crescent Rose, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. She swung her baby behind her, firing off a round and soaring towards Blake, eyes clouded red with lust.
Blake drew Gambol Shroud and the blades rang out as they collided, metal against metal. Ruby's face was scrunched as she struggled against Blake. She fired another round, sending her sailing backwards towards Yang and Coco.
"Jaune, we need to go, now!" Blake shouted. She drew a cartridge from her pack that Jaune charged with ecto energy and slid it into the chamber of the blade. "This may help, a bit, now let's move!"
Jaune nodded and charged a tiny bit of energy in his hands before throwing it at the ground, a green dust cloud covering the trio as shouts rang out.
"Jauney!"
"Get back here, loverboy!"
"Yo Arc!"
Jaune, Blake, and Jen ran to the east entrance of the building, barging through crowds of students still exhausted from their missions. They slammed the door behind them, Jen grabbing a bench from the side of the hall and propping it up against the door.
"Okay, so we're in the east wing, and the armory is just down below us. Maybe if I phase in here, the Atlesian tech won-"
"Ah, Mr. Arc, Miss Belladonna, how good to see you again. And Ms. Arc, glad to have you here. I'm sure Ozpin wouldn't have called for you if he didn't think that you'd do a better job than my Atlesian technicians." Ironwood nearly spit out the last words, his seething tone not going unnoticed.
Jen cocked her head to the side, an annoyed grin coming to her face. "Why General Ironwood! So nice that you're able to take time out of your busy schedule to keep finding my little brother and his teammates!"
"Ms. Arc, if there's an issue here-"
Jaune stepped forwards, holding his hands up in defense. "Actually General, what Jen meant was that she appreciates your interest in the students of Beacon!"
A loud thud rang from the door behind them, the wood splintering slightly. "What was tha-"
"Nothing!" The three spoke simultaneously as the door was hit again, this time a fist shape starting to dent the wood. "Nothing at all!"
"Actually General, I was wondering if you could-"
Ironwood's scroll rang out just then. He signaled a 'hold on' motion and answered. "Hello? Yes. Yes sir, I'll be there momentarily." He hung up his scroll and looked at the three. "I'm afraid I have to leave. Something important has come to my attention, and I must handle it personally. Good day, ladies, Mr. Arc." He nodded and headed off down another hall towards the landing strip.
"Well that was lucky, now if we just-"
Jaune was interrupted as the door was shattered, revealing a lusty eyed Yang, Ruby, Velvet, Coco, and now Pyrrha all approaching the trio. "Oh Jauney, look who we found? Turns out cereal girl here has quite an appetite for dorky blondes."
Pyrrha batted her eyelashes and smirked a very un-Pyrrha like smirk, placing her hands on her hips suggestively. "Come on, Jaune. Don't you want to come train with me? I'm sure we can work on your stamina." She winked and the other girls giggled.
"Deja vu right there. Speaking of right…run!" Jaune bolted down the right corridor, Blake and Jen taking off after him as the female mob chased them towards the stairwell.
"Pyrrha! Use your semblance!" Ruby shouted.
Pyrrha reached out with a black glow around her hand as her target was located. Jaune's belt buckle began to glow black as he felt himself slow down.
"Nope!" He phased the belt off and continued running, phasing his body as he hit the stairs. "Blake! Jen!"
Blake and Jen drew their weapons, guarding the door. "Just go, Jaune!" Blake shouted as she clashed with Pyrrha.
Jaune hit the floor and took off running into the armory, spotting his gauntlets sitting on the workbench where Jen left them. As he reached out to grab one, he heard a voice behind him.
"Not so fast, Jaune."
He turned to see a red eyed Yang staring at him, Ember Celica cocked and aimed towards him. He raised an eyebrow, staring at her. "Yang, you know you can't hit me, so what are you planning on doing?"
She snapped her fingers and Blake was thrown overhead in a net. "Give yourself to us, to me, or kit kat here takes a nice warm bath below. Got it?" Her eyes were nearly glowing red, the ghostly energy emanating from them like venom.
Jaune froze, staring at her and then to Blake, catching Blake glancing from left to right. "Oh!" he thought. He split himself into two, sending his copy through the floor unnoticed, headed towards Yang. "Yang, you're right. Clearly I'm meant for you! This has all been but a facade in order to gain your attention!" Jaune spoke with pure clarity, though he was lying through his teeth. As Yang began to loosen her grip on Blake, the clone phased through the floor, grabbing Yang behind the arms, shouting "Now!". Jaune grabbed his gauntlets as the rest of the girls ran down the stairs towards him, carrying Jen above them. "Hope this works!" he shouted as he fired off a blue beam, watching as the ghostly energy in the girls was forced out of them into a capture unit.
Yang's eyes faded to their normal lilac before she went limp, Jaune's clone catching her and setting her down gently before merging with Jaune. The others fell to their knees as they returned to their normal states, Jen landing safely on her feet. As Jaune ran over, he caught a glimpse of a pair of red eyes staring at him from above before they vanished. He pulled the net off Blake who pulled him into a hug.
"Nice wordplay there Jaune. Almost had me convinced." She said smugly.
Jaune let out a laugh as he pulled back. "Well I knew she wouldn't respond to any reasoning, so I had to do something, and I figured why not play into the insanity?"
Yang stirred, grabbing her head as she sat up. "Ugh, my head. Jaune? Blake? What am I doing down here? Don't we have to get ready for the dance?"
Blake and Jaune stared at her, both with confused looks on their faces. "Yang? The dance was a few days ago…remember?" Jaune spoke slowly as she gripped her head in pain.
"No…I don't. What happened?"
"So you don't remember kissing Jaune, going to the dance with both of us, the mission, the innuendo, today?" Blake's face remained stoic, though her tone carried an air of suspicion.
Yang's mouth dropped at the first few words, her eyes widening. "Wait, I did what?! I mean, not that you aren't attractive Jauney, but I'm more interested in someone else. Blake…you were okay with it?"
Blake smirked. "It wouldn't be the first time I've been asked to share, though I knew I'd win in the end."
Yang let out a light laugh before grabbing at her head in pain again. "Ah well, guess you've got claws then kitty cat."
"Let's go check on the others, see if they're okay." Jaune said, hoisting himself and Blake up before the pair helped Yang to her feet.
RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYRWBY
Cinder sat patiently as Emerald phased through the floor, watching as the girl collapsed the moment she became solid. "I take it the plan hit a complication?"
Emerald nodded, red eyes looking weary and bloodshot. "Manipulating one or two minds is easy, but the more it spreads…but the plan was successful. I distracted them long enough to get what we needed, and now there's bound to be tension among them."
Cinder smirked, snapping her fingers as Mercury and Adam entered the room. " Emerald, your ability to manipulate the minds of those around you is an invaluable asset through this. Everything is going according to plan."
RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYRWBY
General Ironwood saluted as Jacques Schnee stepped off his Dust plane, looking poised as ever with an air of superiority. "Mr. Schnee, sir, welcome to Beacon Academy."
"Ah James, a pleasure for you to see me. Now, take me to your ship. I want to know everything there is about this ghost child. It will be mine soon enough." A grim grin was plastered on his face as his eyes shimmered from blue to red for just a moment, before Ironwood led him towards the fleet. "The sooner I have my ghost in possession, the sooner I can leave this place. Such a backwards kingdom."
Ironwood nodded, pointing his hand in the direction of the Atlesian fleet.
A/N: Guys I am extremely sorry for the long delay. I've been crazy busy with cosplay stuff! I made a set of Gunchucks, a new shield, and retouched my sword up as well as some fabric stuff for Paradise City Comic Con! Met Arryn, Kara, Elizabeth, and Vic there and it was amazing! We even won best novice group at the cosplay contest! But anyways, I'm again extremely sorry for this delay.
UPDATE: So I've been reading reviews for this chapter already. Guys, calm yourselves. I said long ago that this would not be a harem. I planned the Emerald thing a ways back, and I didn't want to give it away. I can barely write two people together, so why would I try for three? Just let the story progress!
ON TO REVIEWS.
dracohalo117: And now we have Ironwood AND Jacques.
HaveBookWillTravel: I understand the concern on rushing things, and lately I've been trying to slow it down a bit, and it'll slow down as the Vytal festival comes around. Obviously this chapter showed that a bit? I hope? And yeah, I know I can reply through PMs, but I just like this style. It reminds me rather than keeping up with a bunch of messages between work and cosplay. As for the powers, they're developing more and more! I very much appreciate the review, and the fact that you took the time to go into things! I'm glad you're enjoying what's around so far, so please stay tuned!
Nexus Bladeguard: And now we have Emerald as a ghost!
desdelor97: Thank you!
NinjaFang1331: Thanks!
Quathis: Enter Jen Arc! And I'm starting to split away from pure canon, so don't worry!
gamelover41592: Thank you!
So there you have it! Chapter 11! And we hit 100 reviews! But anyways guys, we now have Jen Arc at Beacon! And Jacques Schnee! I took in a bit from the most recent World of Remnant and threw it in here, kind of playing into Jacques' cruelty and all in all badness. Things are going to get heated! And I promise, I WILL be updating Battle of the Bands soon! I've also got another story in the works, so stay tuned for 'Jaune Arc and the Elemental Masters'!
Oh, and Emerald is a ghost. Did I forget to mention that? CARDINAL OUT!