Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter! This one... wasn't the easiest for me write, since confrontations aren't my strong suit, but I hope I did a decent enough job. Alright, let's get to the review responses!
Essiter1987 Chapter 13: Glad you liked the changes to Port, and yes, the plot around Ozpin and the Alistair-Arc family thickens... the Armstrong thing is an interesting idea I'll admit.
Immortal Chapter 13: Thanks for the review, glad you like it! And yes, things will continue to heat up as we get closer to Beacon! And we love lore, yes indeed!
And without further ado, onto the Chapter!
Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by RoosterTeeth
Remnant's Greatest Loser
Chapter 14
How a Loser Fights Part One
Once all the excitement from the morning's events calmed down, 4 applicants were chosen from the Exam. The first was the monochrome young woman with the bow, named Blake Belladonna. She nodded curtly at the Headmaster, her face set in a neutral expression.(Guess she knew she would get in without a doubt.)
Jaune waved to his fellow examinee, giving a thumbs up and a smile once she turned in his direction.
She blinked, then a ghost of a smile formed for just a moment, before she nodded at him and looked back at the instructors on the podium.
The next to be called was Lie Ren, who was easily identified by the pink girl cheering for him by his side.
Jaune was able to get a better look at him this time.
He wore 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. Along with this, he wears a black, long-sleeved shirt beneath the suit and light-tan pants with black shoes. His hair is tied back in a low ponytail.
His black hair also has a pinkish-red (Magenta maybe?) streak on the left side, his eyes being the same color.
"Hey Golden Boy," The ginger haired girl stage whispered next to him, a cheery smile on her face as she waved at Jaune, causing the green wearing boy to glance at him too.
"Ah, it's nice to meet you, Mr..."
"Arc, Jaune Arc, you can just call me Jaune though."
"Right, I am Lie Ren, but I prefer to go by Ren."
"Of course, Ren it is then."
The pink wearing girl joins their whispered introduction just as her name was to be called.
"Well my name is-"
"Nora Valkyrie, You are the third to pass the Field exam!"
"YEAH! What he said," shouted Nora as she jumped up and down in victory.
Jaune and Ren watched as Nora continued to cheer.
"She reminds me a little of someone."
Ren looked at the half blond boy, one eyebrow raised in mild amusement.
"You know someone with similar energy?"
Jaune chuckled a little in response.
"Yeah, she's like a sister to me. She'll be going to Beacon along with us."
Ren's eyes widened in slight surprise. (Is he perhaps... a kindred spirit?)
"Is she a childhood friend then?"
Jaune nodded.
"Yeah, I guess that does fit doesn't it? She's-"
"And last but not least, the 'Golden Boy' himself, Jaune Arc has passed as the fourth and final applicant! Honestly after a display like that, we'd be fools not to!"
This caused a light trickle of laughs and applause as Jaune became the center of attention for a moment, which he hated almost as much as a certain Reaper he knew.
"Ah man, I really hope that doesn't stick! I was trying to keep a low profile," Jaune griped, rubbing his hands through his locks anxiously.
Nora laughed and Ren chuckled at this, which made Jaune smile despite his worries.
"I'll probably still call ya that sometimes, but is Jaune-Jaune ok? I reeealy feel like it just works Y'know?
"Nora, using his name as he wishes would definitely be more respectful, especially if you wish to be friends."
Nora wilted slightly at the soft rebuke.
"Ah, I guess you're right Renny. Sorry Jaune, I don't mean to-"
"It's fine, You can call me whatever you feel like," Jaune interrupted, an easy smile on his face.
"It's a term of endearment right? My friends and family have their own nicknames for me too! Although..."
He turned to Ren as he spoke to him next.
"I appreciate you for wanting to be mindful of my feelings."
Ren and Nora stared for a moment, not sure how to respond to the equal validation from this boy.
"So," Jaune asked, holding his hands out to them.
"Wanna be friends?"
Ren felt a small warmth in his chest at the gesture. None since Nora had been this genuine about giving the hand of friendship to him. Ever since he lost his parents to the Nuckelavee, (a horse-like Grimm with a humanoid torso fused to its back, a cross between a centaur and horseman) which killed his family and village 10 years ago, he kept his emotions under lock and key, only allowing some to flow through for his childhood friend, who shared that same trauma.
For some reason he couldn't quite explain, he felt he could trust this boy... seeing similarities in him that he could feel within himself. Almost despite himself, he cautiously put out a hand to grasp his, wanting to believe in that genuineness he felt, a small smile crossing his neutral face.
"I would gladly welcome that... Jaune."
Nora's eyes grew misty as she saw her friend grasp Jaune-Jaune's hand with no assistance. This clinched it for her. Golden Boy was a keeper. To get Renny to have such a genuine look on his face with so little effort... The normally vibrant girl quickly wiped at her eyes and leapt in between them, grabbing both boys in a firm, but gentle embrace (at least for her)
"I welcome it toooo! That settles it! We gotta celebrate! Ya know any place to eat around here Jaune-Jaune?"
Jaune and Ren lightly struggled against Nora's grip, but both had smiles on their faces regardless. Ren spoke up first.
"M-maybe we should invite the fourth one of us to pass for this... impromptu celebration?"
Nora blinked at that.
"Oh yeah! The one with the bow right? What was her name again? Slake... Rake..."
"Blake."
The three teens looked up to see said girl looking at them with a mildly amused look on her face.
"As... fun as I'm sure you're celebration would be, I've got other plans. I appreciate the implied offer though."
She nodded to them, her eyes lingered on Jaune's slightly longer before walking off, waving an arm as she left.
"See you at Beacon."
They watched her go for a moment, eyes blinking in unison, before Nora spoke up.
"She's got a big a-"
Ren quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, his cheeks lightly blushing at the implication.
Jaune shook his head in exasperation.
"I guess you'll find out later if she heard you or not."
With the way her bow seemed to twitch and her movements stiffened ever so slightly, it's almost a certainty she did.
Jaune eventually said goodbye to his new friends, also having to leave due to a previous engagement, but not before trading scroll numbers this time (Yes! Proper social etiquette ftw!) and giving them directions to a few good restaurants and pastry shops in the area.
Once he was on his own again, walking towards the Bullhead Station at the Academy entrance, he thought about the last obstacle in his path; owning up to what he's been doing to his parent's faces.
(After all I've been through up to now... especially on the last few days... what do I have to fear now? I've faced hardships, near death experiences... and my own fears with self-doubt sprinkled in. I made it through all of that... with all their help.)
The faces of his new friends, new family, his teachers, his sister all flowed through his thoughts, bound together with the knowledge... that he had actually done it. His dream was before him at last, and with that... there was no running away, no turning back. He would move forward with this, while the momentum was still there.
He sent a group text to Fireballin17 and Lostreaper15 as he walked toward the Bullhead.
Joalosers16: I passed. Going to them now, while I still have the nerve. Come when you can... and thank you both so much for all the support you gave me. Just for a little bit... I wanna try facing them on my own, to see for myself, and to show them... that I really have changed these past 10 years. Here's the address.
Jaune sent the location of his parent's home before putting the scroll on silent and in do not disturb mode. He hoped they would understand, just this once.
He got on the Bullhead heading to Domremy, settling into a calming meditation, allowing traces of Aura to flow throughout his body. His breathing calmed, his mind went blank, and he felt himself relax into a peaceful state of mind, preparing for what was to come.
Meanwhile... Back in Patch...
"DAD! UNCLE QROW!"
Ruby practically teleported downstairs to the living room, fully dressed and wide awake despite how early it still was, panic on her face.
Taiyang and Qrow looked up at once, faces lined with worry.
"What's goin on Ruby?"
"Everything alright?"
The crimsonette spoke quickly, words in a jumbled mess.
It's Jaune he passed the exam buthewenttohisparentsalonewhatiftheysaymeanstufftohimwhatifheneedshelp-"
"What Ruby is trying to say is..."
Yang had run down the stairs, vaulting the last few and putting an arm around her sister to calm her down. She too was wide awake and fully dressed, but was much less worried looking about the situation... though her slightly shimmering hair and flickering eyes may hint at a bit of anxiety.
"Ya know what, just take my scroll and read it for yourselves."
Yang tossed her scroll at the two men, Qrow catching it as the two read the message.
After a few moments, Taiyang sighed while Qrow gave a grim smile.
"I get the gist of things now," Tai said, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
"Wish he would have waited a bit..."
"Right?! Then let's go and-"
"Now hold on a sec," Qrow interjected, putting up a hand to stop any sudden movements.
"Let's give him some time first, see if he can handle things on his own. That's what he asked for right?"
Ruby was fraught with worry, hands itching to wrap herself in her cloak again, anxiety for her bestie's plight in perhaps the hardest situation he could be in...(W-why didn't he wait for us? Doesn't he..)
"D-doesn't he trust us? W-why would he... I-I don't understand..."
Despite herself, her eyes grew wet and she felt her sister wrap her her arms around her from behind, offering a sense of comfort.
Tai was about to speak, but Yang beat him to it.
"I think I do Sis. He wants to prove that he's not... that same scared little boy anymore. If we went with him from the start..."
She glanced at her father and uncle, then at Ruby, who nodded for her to continue.
"Then it would only prove that he couldn't... stand on his own two feet when he needed to... right?"
"You got it Firecracker," Qrow said, standing up to go and put a hand on each of their shoulders.
"This is one of those 'personal battles' that need to be fought mainly by the person it pertains to."
Jaune had messaged Saphron, Terra and Geppeto about what he planned to do just as he was getting off the Bullhead in Domremy, pointedly ignoring the frantic messages from Ruby and the concerned ones from Yang. (I'm sorry everyone, but I gotta at least try to do this one on my own. Cuz if I don't ...)
"Because if he doesn't do it now," Tai said, standing up and putting his hands on his girls shoulders on the other side.
"He may never have the courage to do it again."
Ruby's eyes widened at this, wiping her eyes before any tears fell.
"S-so he's..."
"Facing his fear head on... so he doesn't lose to... or be consumed by it," Yang finished, eyes flashing blue for a moment before settling back to purple.
"That takes guts. And that's what a loser like him needs, right Rubes?"
Ruby looked up her family's smiling faces, and she felt a small one growing on her own.
"Y-yeah, you're right! We'll just be there as back up in case-"
(In case something goes wrong, They'll be there as support if I need them!) Jaune was as ready as he could be, and after a moment of his finger hovering over his parent's landline number, he pressed the call button, putting the scroll to his ear.
The dial tone sounded once, twice, three times. Then...
"Hello?"
"Hey Babe, Gepetto," Saphron said, a note of worry in her tone as she spoke to the two via Scroll on her break.
"You two got his message as well right?"
"That we did Saphron. I suppose the proverbial cat is out of the bag now."
Gepetto looked a bit solemn, wringing his hands in his own show of concern for the boy he grew to care for over the years spent with him.
"It definitely is. That news report on Torchwick was shown throughout the Kingdoms, so it was only a matter of time. I'm actually a bit proud of him for taking the initiative on his own like that!"
Terra tried to lighten the mood a little with her smile, but knew it would be a hard sell, since she was worried sick too.
Saphron nodded at the two Hunter's points.
"It is, and I'm proud of him too but... I wish so badly that I wasn't stuck at this damn job while this was happening! Never have I wanted to be out there more than I do right now. He needs me, and I'm no-"
"I know sweetheart, trust me. I want to be there for him too. But the best way we can help him... is to continue to believe in him, right?"
"I concur," Gepetto said, nodding despite his expression remaining unchanged.
"He needs to do this... to properly move forward."
Saphron forced herself to calm down, taking deep breaths, knowing her slowly rising anxiety for her brother wouldn't help anything, or anyone, especially in her line of work.
"You're both right. I know he does, I know I can't do this for him... as much as I... no, I will, I do believe in him!"
(Oh my little Jaybird... how-)
"How are you sweetheart? I feel like it's been forever since we've heard from you! Johan! get in here would you, Jaune's on the line!"
Back with Jaune, who had called his parent's house number while walking towards the house, he felt a small sense of nostalgia from it. (Guess it really has been awhile since either of us properly reached out hasn't it?)
He hoped things would go well, even if that hope felt a bit hollow as he heard his father's footsteps through the receiver.
"Jaune? Is that you boy?"
"Its me Dad. I called because... there are some things we need to talk about."
There was a slight pause on the other end, then the Arc patriarch spoke up.
"Would this have something to do with... the news we saw a few days ago?"
"Yes."
"I see. And when do you intend to have this conversation? I hope you don't plan to do this over the line son."
Jaune closed his eyes, knowing there was no turning back now.
"I'm actually already here. I'm right in front of the house as we speak."
Tamara Alistair Arc quickly spoke up.
"Then why don't you just come in sweetheart? We can-"
"It's ok Mom, I won't be staying long. Can we just talk outside, please?"
"But honey, why would you-"
Mr. Arc cut back in for a moment.
"Alright Jaune, if that's how you want it. We'll be out in a few moments."
"But why-"
"Let's give him this Tammy, how often does he ask us for anything?"
A beat of silence on the other end.
"Alright Jaune, we'll see you outside, just give us a few minutes."
The call disconnected, and Jaune let out a sigh.
(Alright, here goes... well, everything.)
After several minutes, the door opened and Jaune's parents stepped out the door.
He saw the smiles on their faces, but could tell there was a bit of uncertainty behind their eyes.
Tamara spoke first.
"That outfit you have on... you wore that on the news right? When you and that girl... fought those hooligans correct?"
Jaune nodded.
"Yes. That's actually why I'm here. And why I'll be leaving soon after. I'm going... to tell you everything all at once, so please... let me finish before asking me anything. Is thst alright?"
Jaunes parents looked at each other for a moment, something unspoken going between them, before they looked back at their son, faces neutral.
"Go on then son," Johan said, folding his arms.
"Let's hear it."
So Jaune told his parents all the relevant information regarding the past 10 years, his training, how much has changed, and how he was accepted into Beacon academy. He left out the names of those who helped him of course, not wanting to avert their attention unnecessarily (or shift blame to God forbid) wanting them to know that this was all on him.
Jaune kept his eyes up at his parents, doing all he could to impress how serious and truthful he was, wanting them to believe it, maybe even believe in him for once.
Once he was finished, his parents remained silent for a few moments, shock and disbelief on the faces, though that was to be expected.
Johan broke out of it first.
"B-but how did you... you went to school, excelled even, getting a GED at 12! H-how would you even have time to... to train and study as a Hunter?!"
Jaune shrugged.
"I had to learn Polyphasic Sleep(microsleep) in order to get more time to study and practice. I'm no genius, I was just that dedicated to getting things done as efficiently and as quickly as possible. Though I definitely would have burned myself out if I kept doing it after I was done with school. Now I usually sleep 4 hours a night, unless I'm too physically worn out."
Johan was stunned into silence by this, his mind having a difficult time accepting that his weak, frail son, would he capable of all this in such a short amount of time.
His thoughts were broken by laughter, which was coming from his wife of all people.
"Honey... why are you...?"
"Because all of this must be a joke Dear," Tamara said, still chuckling slightly, though the smile didn't reach her sharpening eyes.
"Because I know our son didn't spend the last..."
She turned to Jaune, walking closer to him.
"10 years..."
She got even closer, Jaune feeling an intense urge to back away, but held his ground despite himself.
"Lying to us!"
She was right in his face, looking up at him with eyes filled with anger, betrayal, and a bit of fear underneath.
"I know we taught you better than that."
Jaune felt shame well up in him, making him want to look down at his feet... but then he remembered the last person he let his eyes fall from.
"Eyes on me mister!"
He kept his eyes steadily on his mother, not allowing himself to show weakness in front of her.
"You did teach me... that as I was... I wasn't enough."
Surprise was etched on his mother's face.
"What?"
Johan looked on, wanting to see where his son was going with this.
Jaune steadied himself and kept going.
"You taught me that I needed... to be better than what I was... to be worth anything. That actions speak louder than words. That in order for you to acknowledge me... I needed strength of mind, body... and spirit."
For the first time in the 4 years since he'd acquired it, Jaune activated his Aura in front of his parents, a small burst to show he was serious.
Tamara stepped back in shock, Johan's eyes widened.
"No... this is... I don't... I can't believe this..."
Now it was Jaune's Turk to step closer, eyes determined as he looked between her and his father.
"Believe it," he said softly, but with an undertone of conviction. "Do you... truly see me now? I'm not... that weak little boy anymore. My asthma is gone. My eyesight is as good yours... no contacts or surgeries. I can even properly absorb nutrients now!"
His voice gained more volume and strength as he moved forward, his mother backing away from him, never having seen her son like this before.
Jaune's father looked like he was having an inner conflict with himself, struggling to accept what he saw with what he thought he knew.
Both of them still had the image of their weak, sickly child that they needed to protect from the harshness of the world, that seemed to accept what they told him, which kept him safe. But this...
Jaune stopped moving as Tamara stood once again next to her husband, hand gripping his arm as her eyes still held disbelief in them.
"I'm sorry... for lying to you both... I never wanted to hide who I truly was from you... but I had to! I couldn't reveal myself before I was ready, if I had..."
Jaune had begun to shake from the effort, his eyes tight as he struggled to keep them trained on his parents, needing them to understand.
"Then I really would have been the failure you told me I was, and given up on my dream for good."
This snapped his parents out of it, seeing this for what they thought it was... rebellion. This is where that stubbornness and drive that he inherited from them went. This was dangerous, he was going to get himself killed over this. And they would not allow that.
"That's enough boy!"
Johan's Aura exploded from him, the full force of it spreading outward like a roiling flame.
"No child of ours is going to die a worthless death!"
Tamara's Aura also flared, billowing like a category 5 hurricane.
Both hit Jaune full force, causing him to stagger, his breathing growing thin, his eyes shutting on reflex. When he opened them...
It was like he was thrown back in time, he was 6 again, feeling just as small, just as powerless as back then, though things were different this time.
His parents were standing instead of sitting, towering over him, their eyes filled with contempt and malice.
He felt the familiar wheeze returning to his lungs, his vision blurring with unshed tears.
(No... not again, not like this!)
He fell to his knees, the pressure beginning to overwhelm him, just like all those years ago. And this time... Saphron wasn't there to help him.
"You think just because you have a little Aura that you're strong now, is that it? Ridiculous. That paltry amount is nothing compared to the real thing! You think the Grimm, Aura enhanced criminals are going to take that seriously?"
Jaune's father stepped forward, looking like a Titan, his eyes practically glowing like blue will o' wisps in his sockets.
"We saw that footage Jaune, and it was the little girl you were with that did all the work! You were out of breath just from fighting common Aura-less thugs! And look at you now, struggling to breathe on the ground, just like before. Nothing has changed."
Jaune's mother also stepped forward, Aura shimmering about her body, appearing to look like a Wraith as her eyes burned a bright amber in her own sockets.
(nononono it can't end like this, everything I worked for, all those who helped me... I can't..)
Jaune's eyes were brimming with unshed tears as he began to cough and wheeze at different intervals, his fear manifesting as a panic attack. He had to get away from this, had to get back to his room, where he was safe, where he was...
(No.)
(That voice... )
Jaune looked up, and his eyes widened.
He saw... himself? But it was a bit different. He looked... older. Even older than his current 16 year old self was. His clothes, his hair, they had an almost.. ethereal glow to them, slightly blowing from an unseen wind.
And his eyes... glowed a sparking golden hue.
(My... Semblance...)
Dire Jaune spoke as he bent down to eye level with himself.
(We... no. I... am not weak.)
He remembered when Ruby told him this as she comforted him, remembering when he proved it against Qrow.
"I... am not weak."
His parents stopped for a moment, feeling... something beginning to take shape in their son.
(I... am not a burden.)
Dire Jaune began to rise to his feet just as his counterpart did, his body no longer that of a frail, 6 year old boy.
He remembered how Ruby told him he saved her life, that he deserved the opportunity to get into Beacon just as much as she did, how Yang confided in him about her own insecurities, telling her he'd share them with her, relating to her struggles.
"I... am not a burden."
A bright, golden energy began to surround Jaune, giving him the familiar strength he needed, that was there all along as he parents began to step back, they're Aura's flickering in hesitation.
Dire Jaune nodded, a small smile on his face as he began to fade, but not before saying the last few words he needed to hear.
(I ... am not-)
"I... am not... a FAILURE!"
Jaune's declaration came with a blast of his own Aura, enough to push the oppressive Aura of his parents back, staggering them.
They looked at him, eyes widening further as they noticed...
"His eyes Johan... they're just l-like..."
"Impossible..."
Jaune stood firm, his confidence restored, but he knew he couldn't afford to overdo it, so he reigned in his Semblance, the glow fading, his eyes still golden, but without the sparks. He had a feeling of what may come next.
"You're wrong about me. I have changed. And I have no qualms proving it."
Johan blinked at this, but realized the challenge for what it was.
"You... really mean to go through with this... to be a Huntsman, despite all we've done to keep you out of it .. safe from it? We did what we did... for your own good son! To protect you!"
"I know Dad. But I don't need your protection... not anymore... and even if I did, never like that."
The slight accusation in Jaune's tone was like a slap to the face, causing him to go silent.
It wasn't quite enough for his mother though.
"How dare you speak to your father like that?! After all we've done for you and your sister, we loved you, cared for you-"
"When was the last time you hugged me mother?"
This made her stop cold.
"W-what?"
Jaune's face was stone, but his eyes shone with a deep sadness.
"When was the last time, either of you hugged me, held me, told me you loved me? Do you remember? Because... I don't."
Tamara opened her mouth to refute this... but no words came. Her eyes widened with horror at the realization.
"The closest bit of physical affection I got from either of you... was a pat on the shoulder, or pinching the cheeks on my face. It was always... 'good job son,' or, 'as expected from my little boy.' I bent over backwards to keep you both satisfied with school, chores, being the perfect son you wanted, and that was all I ever got."
"That suited me just fine though. Because while it was stifling during those times, I dealt with it, knowing that if I continued to work hard, I'd be free to leave and follow my own path, just like Saphron did. Despite all that, I don't hate you, resent you, or any of that. I still love you both. But I gave up on you two accepting me, for loving me as I really am. I was hoping that would change with this... but I guess I was wrong."
Just as Jaune was thinking to leave, his father spoke up.
"Wait. Were you... serious about proving it?"
Johan looked at his son, a myriad of emotions going through his mind, unsure on how to feel, but knowing that one thing needed to be verified.
Resolve.
Jaune looked to his father, and nodded sharply.
"Yes."
Johan Arc closed his eyes for a moment, and breathed in deeply. When he exhaled, his Aura flared in full force, one hand going to the hilt on his back.
"Then... show me your resolve son. If you're serious about this path, then prove to me that you can walk it."
Jaune's eyes widened slightly as the Arc patriarch pulled out the Greatsword that hung on the mantle in their home: Crocea Mors, the Yellow Death.
The Arc matriarch next to him looked at her husband in disbelief.
"Johan... are you seriously going to fight our son?! I thought you meant to bring our weapons out as an intimidation tactic at most, not to-"
"This is the only way now Tamara," Johan said firmly, getting into his stance.
"You saw... felt the potency of his Aura, even now that power is being contained beneath the surface. Nothing less will get through to him."
Jaune's mother fell silent at that, eyes watering at the situation, not wanting to accept it had to go this far.
Jaune felt a small smile form on his face as he felt the familiar glow from his pendant.
(It's finally happening Joa. They're finally seeing me, acknowledging me for who I truly am! This is a fight I can't afford to lose. Will you help me?)
Joa glowed brighter in response, a black longsword materialized in his right hand, going into his own stance, golden eyes flashing with determination.
"I'm ready Dad. I'll show you..."
They dashed forward, Aura flaring as they clashed, sparks flying from the impact.
"How a loser fights!"
And that's it! Hope you like it! This will definitely be a two parter! Alright, Read and Review, let me know what you think, peace!