This is a long chapter, ( For me).
Nicholas Arc was everything Jaune wanted to be. He was a good father, a loving husband, well-beloved by his community, and an awe-inspiring hero. Jaune wished to be like his father. He had pestered Nicholas earlier today about becoming a huntsman. Nicholas dismissed his words as useless ramblings.
"You aren't fit to be a huntsman, Jaune. There is no shortage of people who seek to become defenders against the Grimm. You don't need to worry about it."
"But I really want to be a huntsman! I can do it!"
"Jaune, I really don't want to talk about this. I'm stressed out enough about trying to plan things with Frank."
The dialogue quickly fell off from there. Now Jaune was in his room, upset.
"Why can't I be a huntsman? I'm an Arc. He was a huntsman, his dad was a huntsman, it's a family tradition." Jaune mumbled.
Though, Jaune knew citing tradition was pointless. Jaune had never actually met his grandparents. Nicholas had some unexplained issue with his parents. With pretty much the whole arc family, it seemed. His dad's cousin reaching out to him was deemed as strange, and it took a lot of coaxing to get Nicholas to cross that bridge.
Frank outlived an older sister and younger brother. Both were huntsman and huntress, just like Frank. Much like Nicholas, Frank had settled down, but only recently had a child. Maggie was 3 year old. Preparing to meet a family member who was also a huntsman had made Jaune very excited. As always, his dad snuffed out that joy.
Jaune started to feel cramped in his room. Deciding to get some fresh air, Jaune went outside and walked away from the house. Coincidentally, he aimlessly walked towards where his parents were having an argument.
"Of course he can't be a huntsman! But you could explain why. What good is it hearing it from me, you're the huntsman!" Juniper shouted at her husband.
Jaune paused, and decided to be perfectly still. He could never sneak around the house when his father was around. He didn't have line of sight to his parents, and they weren't using their inside voices.
"It doesn't need to be explained. How long as he had that stupid thought swimming in his head? Yet he's average across the board in athletic ability for a boy his age. He hasn't put forth a single noteworthy effort! If he can't even begin the process on his own, he is better off finding a different career." Nicholas wasn't quite shouting, but his voice was rising.
Jaune tried hard not to flinch at that. He knew wanting to be huntsman was a sore spot for his dad. But this sounded different.
"You are so stubborn. Just tell him to try on his own to get in shape. Dismissing him because he isn't showing initiative is petty." Juniper huffed. Nicholas laughed.
Jaune frowned. Mom wasn't overly in his corner about being a huntsman, he knew she wanted him safe. But she didn't make him feel bad about wanting to be one, like dad. Why was he laughing.
"It's been years, honey. If you were actually so against my 'pettiness' you could have told him to take initiative at any time! Why didn't you, if you are so against my way of handling it?" The anger is still clear in Nicholas's voice, but it's almost outdone by his amusement.
"Because I don't want him to be a huntsman, obviously! We are in agreement there, Nicholas! But..." Juniper was cut off.
"No, no, no, I'm sorry, but no. Neither of us wanted him being a huntsman, I left it to him to show some damn initiative, and he never did. You don't get to sit there, watch, and co-sign on my decision, and then get mad at me about it. You are equally responsible for dismissing him."
Nicholas had a fair point, Jaune had to admit. He should have tried on his own, why hadn't he? That realization didn't take away the hurt of over hearing this, tho.
"Ok, yes, that's completely fair. I'm sorry. Still, I was ok with disregarding his desires when he was a little kid. He is a preteen now. In hindsight, we were wrong to not even throw him a bone. Kids aren't capable of thinking correctly. Of course, he didn't take self initiative, he has a father who could get him started and told him no." Juniper volume had lowered, and Nicholas took some time to think.
"So what now? I just go tell him to take initiative? Juniper, even if he does, even if he REALLY does. He's 14 now. 3 years of dedicated training and studying isn't going to prepare him to be a huntsman. And I stand by that he will have to start off progressing on his own. You don't need a professional to tell you to exercise" Nicholas sighed.
What? Why wouldn't 3 years be enough? He was 14, he could really feel the effect of growing up now. How much training could he really have done when he was younger?
"There isn't technically an age restriction for being too old. But I mean this in the best way possible. It's on the board, that Jaune will take it seriously, unlike almost everything else he has tried out. But taking it seriously, and taking it seriously enough that he will be able to bear the embarrassment of going to a huntsman prep academy while being years older than everyone else? That's legendary levels of dedication." There was silence.
His father had no faith in him. He was acknowledging the possibility Jaune would take it seriously, but not out of faith, just as a technically possible reality. And bringing up his occasional hobby was low. None of that stuff mattered. Jaune no longer wanted to ease drop. There was a growing pain in his gut, and he just wanted to be alone.
The silence was disturbed when Jaune moved to turn around.
"Huh?" Nicholas said. Jaune realized he was heard, and took off, maybe they wouldn't know which of their kids heard this talk.
Jaune wasn't that close, but his parents were so far into the woods, they hadn't thought to keep their voices down. Given this distance, and Jaune's slow and aimless walk, Nicholas hadn't noticed Jaune's arrival. But since he was no longer in heated discussion, he very clearly noticed his son's sprint back to the house.
"Shit." Nicholas swore, turning to walk towards the house.
"What?" Juniper asked.
"I'm pretty sure I just heard Jaune. So I guess we'll see if he can put his money where his mouth is. Or if he'll drop this silliness."
Breakfast was a tense affair. Neither of them gave it away, but Jaune knew they were wondering if he heard them.
"Jaune, don't forget to bring that craft Jade made with you to Brice's house." Juniper reminded him. He actually had forgotten he needed to take that with him, and there was no telling when he would have remembered on his own.
"Yeah, I've totally got it." Jaune responded a bit upbeat, genuinely appreciating the reminder, before remembering he was upset. Juniper noticed the shift of expressions, and giggled, before leaving the kitchen. Nicholas had already left the house.
Jaune wondered, would I still be so forgetful as a huntsman. He realized yet again, how useless he was.
"Jaune, are you not excited to hang out with Brice today?" Sabel asked him. Jaune groaned, the day just stated, and he was already failing to hide his emotions.
"I had a rough night." Jaune said, then he felt someone glaring at him.
Lavender was facing him, and pointed at his plate. He had left about a quarter of it, and wasn't making any progress. He snorted and pushed it her way. She didn't even thank him. Hazel laughed and got up to snatch a piece of bacon from the plate, barely dodging a hit from Lavender. Sabel was smiling at him, and he remembered he was supposed to be upset. Her smile dimmed, but she didn't say anything else to him.
It wasn't Jaune's day to worry about breakfast cleanup, so he left the kitchen.
Entering his room, Jaune began thinking about how to fix his problem.
'I don't see why 3 years isn't enough time to become ready for a huntsman school. I know it's like, a high school for huntsman, but who really needs more than 3 years of elementary?' Jaune thought to himself. He turned on his scroll, and began searching. His stomach sank.
Is 10 years old far too late to train to...
I didn't put my son in Secondary...
The benefit of Primary Huntsmen sc...
Website after website. Article after article. Jaune couldn't believe how dumb he was.
Before ever going to a proper Huntsman academy, most Huntsmen at least went to a tertiary combat school. A lot went to a secondary school before that. Some even started off in primary schooling. The closest tertiary school to Ansel was Signal. the average Signal academy student joined their first year at 13. Jaune was already 14. That would mean he was only 1 year behind, except, The proper academies shouldn't be compared to high schools. They were more like colleges. Which means Jaune was a year behind on high school. But even that wasn't true. Jaune had zero huntsman training. Some people started studying the lifestyle in primary at 5 years old. Basically huntsman kindergarten.
Further digging eased some of his tension, it wasn't like he would be starting from 0. Huntsman still had to learn math, history, and all the other boring stuff. In fact, in a lot of areas, they learned less of it, so in some ways Jaune was ahead. But in huntsman specific knowledge and physical training, he was over 4 years behind. Jaune had to reach the level of a Signal graduate, in 3 years, or settle for being behind on the typical age that a huntsman in training went to a major academy.
When his mother said they should have thrown him a bone, she meant it. This wasn't a minor issue. Even the huntsman that lacked some proper training were trained outside the schools. He literally had no huntsman training, he was fucked. And he wouldn't start off with help. He would have to start on his own, which would set him even further back.
"Why have I never looked into this? Am I that fucking stupid!" Jaune couldn't help but rant verbally.
He felt so embarrassed. He had mentioned to more than just his family his dreams of being a huntsman. It wasn't so bad, in the past. Sure, 2 years ago to start wasn't on schedule, but he didn't sound like a lunatic back then. But now, he sounded so stupid, he was a year behind signal, with no training. Everyone probably laughed at him behind his back.
So what did he do now? Spend a year training so that he could barely qualify to not be a complete embarrassment at Signal? Somehow squeeze 4 years worth of Signal teachings into 2 years? Or just accept being behind a bit on the average Academy starting age of 17? Starting at 19 didn't seem too bad. He would still have to push himself very hard, and even when his dad was being charitable, that seemed to be the outcome he suspected for Jaune. Start busting his ass off now, so that he can start attending proper huntsman schooling before he reached 2 decades of age.
Jaune did not feel good about himself. But he remembered his parents words. All he needed to do was try, actually try. There was nothing else Jaune could see himself doing with his life. He didn't want a boring job. He didn't want to be a wage slave. He wasn't smart enough, like Saphron or Coral, he couldn't study his way into some engaging intellectual career. He was decently tall, he was an Arc, all he could do was be a huntsman, be a hero. And nothing would stop him.
"Wait, you haven't been training this whole time?" Brice stared at Jaune in horrified shock. Jaune had thought his friend was either just as ignorant as him, or mocking him in his head. Now he realized it was something else. Brice thought Jaune had been doing what he was supposed to, and just not talking about it. Brice was an idiot.
"No, of course not! How often have I complained about my dad not wanting to train me?" Jaune responded.
"Dude, I just thought that meant you were doing it on your own. Jaune, it's cool to start now, I guess, I wouldn't really know. But your dad is a huntsman, shouldn't you trust his judgement?" Brice.
"I do trust him. And he said it's possible. He doesn't actually believe that I have what it takes, but I'll prove him wrong. And when I do, he'll help me."
Brice looked into Jaune's eyes, and saw something that made him laugh.
"Well, I sure as hell don't want to be a huntsman, but why don't I do you better than just helping you plan? I've been trying to make gains, so we can workout together. Oh, you like, don't have your aura unlocked, right? I seriously thought you were just being an ultra gentleman about your super human abilities, dude." Brice started laughing at his own silly assumptions. Jaune groaned, he hadn't even known what aura was until this morning.
"No, and dude, I would not have been humble about having aura!"
Brice paused.
"Wait, so your sisters don't have aura either? No way they've been training without you." Brice stared at Jaune, and Jaune laughed.
They were both idiots.
Frank's family would be visiting today. Frank, Maggie, and Chloe Arc. Saphron was out of the country, and wouldn't be here, but everyone else was.
Everyone was in the living room when they heard the knock on the door. Nicholas and Juniper went to answer, while the kids got up and stood behind them.
"Nicholas! This is a cozy village!" Frank was boisterous. He opened his arms for a hug. Nicholas returned it.
"Happy to have you, Frank. Nice to finally meet you, Chloe." Nicholas seemed pleased, and waved them into the house.
After everyone else said their greetings, the family went to the living room. Jade, Lavender, and Amber had set out some board games. Juniper was playing with little Maggie, and Chloe was asking Amber how Brain Games worked. Only six people could play it.
As the board game situation was worked out, Nicholas and Frank were talking, and took their discussion into the kitchen.
"Yeah, for sure. I won't try to encourage Jaune about the whole huntsman thing. It's way too early for me to really have any thoughts about if I like the idea of Maggie being at risk like that."
"She definitely inherited her looks from you. So she may very well inherit your spirit too." Nicholas poured Frank a glass of wine.
As if summoned, Coral entered the kitchen. Nicholas had already poured her a glass. Frank rose an eyebrow but laughed when Coral glared at him.
"You should probably know, I checked Jaune's scroll, because something seemed to make him unusually reactive. I am both mortified, and intrigued to say, he has been looking up everything you could possibly imagine about becoming a huntsman. Mortified, because his searches suggest he had a child's understanding of a huntsman. Intrigued, because I'm curious what he'll even do with all that info. Apparently, Brice will be working out with him. And maybe Brice is a bad influence. He said, and I quote,'I still cant help but laugh at myself for thinking all your sisters had aura'." Coral sounded both monotone, and amused.
Nicholas pinched his nose and sighed.
"Coral, stop going through your brother's scroll. I don't want to hear anything from either of you two if you see something you really shouldn't. I'm docking your allowance, again. I'm also making that your only glass. Finally, thank you."
Coral nodded, expecting this outcome, and re-entered the living room. Frank didn't know if he should laugh, or be concerned.
"As you can see, I may have sheltered Jaune a bit too much. And I have no idea how I created Coral." Nicholas sipped his drink.
"You definitely have your hands full." Frank was starting to think Maggie would be his last kid. Maybe one more.
The visit had gone well. Amber and Jade really liked Chloe. Lavender and Hazel got Frank to start talking about some of his more exciting missions. Jaune paid noticeable attention, but Frank succeeded in not bringing Jaune directly into the conversation.
With another visit planned for 3 months from now, everyone felt satisfied with their first real interaction with Nicholas's blood family. Jaune now had no other major distractions. His plan for the week was made.
Jaune was in a rush, but he had looked up the negative consequences of exercising poorly. So him and Brice would jog for 10 minutes everyday, followed by 15 minutes of a variety of other activities. Juniper already cooked well balanced meals and made her kids take their vitamins, so Jaune didn't feel the need to try to get her to adjust the food options for some type of diet.
On his own, Jaune would spend one hour every week day, studying. There were all kinds of small practice quizzes online for huntsmen lessons. After a month, Jaune had increased how long and intensely he exercised. He was still slacking behind athletes his own age, but he was staying consistent.
When Hazel snatched his scroll, and ran outside the house, the end result caught Nicholas's attention. Sometimes, Jaune wouldn't even bother chasing after Hazel. She was an actual athlete, and took it seriously. Jaune did not catch her, but when the two eventually returned to the house, it was not with Hazel walking in smugly, and Jaune panting miserably with his scroll still in his sister's clutch.
Hazel was still smug, Jaune was still panting, and she still had his scroll, but Hazel had ran inside. Jaune had ran back after her. Implying he had been chasing her the entire time, never giving up. Hazel was not in perfect form, as she would usually be, meaning she had to put in actual effort.
Nicholas made time to chat with Brice's parent, who revealed exactly what the two boys had been up to. There was no denying progress, but Nicholas wanted to see if Jaune would keep this up for another month, he was not disappointed.
Jaune had returned home from Brice's house an hour ago. He always showered over there after his workout. He was studying dust safety when he got a message on his scroll. It was from his dad. Jaune navigated to his messages, and saw a link to some type of document, clicking on it, Jaune was confused, but then overjoyed.
Jaune had been using online exercise advice for normal boys, with the occasional input from Brice's father. Nicholas had just sent a seemingly personally made training schedule for Jaune. For a huntsman in pre-aura training. Jaune didn't know when his dad recognized his effort, or how, Jaune refused to mention any of this to his dad til Jaune felt like he would absolutely be taken seriously, and just a couple months of effort felt too soon. But Jaune wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Nicholas didn't mention the document when he saw Jaune, so Jaune decided not to either.
Three months had passed since Frank's last visit. So once again the Arc cousins were united in Nicholas's home. Jaune and Lavender were in the living room try-harding in a fighting game, with Jade declaring she'd fight the winner.
"There is this really wild adult comedy show from Vacuo that will be in Vale in a few months. If you're interested, I say we make a double date out of it. I'll cover travel costs and everything." Frank and Nicholas were outside.
"It sounds fun, but even for a day I don't think it is a good idea for me to step away from Ansel." Nicholas explained.
"Why just a day? We can make a weekend out of it." Frank began trying to sell the idea to Nicholas.
Nicholas and Juniper had been successfully sold on at least trying to make the visit to Vale work. As things turned out, the adult show would be Friday, with Frank planning to take Nicholas and Juniper to a more family friendly event on Saturday. Frank got his hands on an extra free ticket, and asked if any of the kids would like to go.
They would babysit Maggie on Friday, and join the adults on Saturday. Coral wasn't interested, Sabel and Jade had to work Fridays and Saturdays. Amber was too scared to leave Ansel. Hazel had a date. And Lavender had a school group project. Leaving only Jaune available to come along.
Two weeks before the trip to Vale
Nicholas told Jaune he wanted to talk privately. Jaune had his hopes up, but tried to stay calm.
"Jaune, first, I want to say that I'm proud of how seriously you have been taking your training. Given your argument with Coral last week, you know she's been snooping in your scroll. Sorry about that that, I swear I've discouraged her from doing that. Anyway, You've spent a fair amount of time not only training, but studying. It's been a little over 5 and a half months. Sure, you are still way behind schedule, but you've definitely put the work in, and that leaves a very important question." Nicholas stared into Jaune's eyes.
"Do you understand why every single person doesn't have their aura unlocked?" Nicholas asked.
"Yes, having your aura unlocked is like unleashing your soul. It doesn't just give you power, but also turns you into a beacon of emotion. Someone who has aura, but no training, would just attract more Grimm, without being able to defend themselves, or others." Jaune answered, heart beating heavily in his chest.
"Jaune, if I unlock your aura, there is no turning back. I will be directly taking over your training. You will be pushed to your wits end. I will not accept anything less than your full effort, at all times. Huntsmen die, Jaune. And they don't die pretty. They see others die, they fail, or they show up to late. It's an important job, humanity wouldn't exist without trained aura fighters, but it is not an easy job. I am the only surviving member of my team. My only sister died in this line of work, all of Frank's siblings died. Jaune, you very well may die before your time, leaving me, your mother, and your sisters to grieve your lost. I need you to understand this."
Jaune swallowed. None of this was new information. But it didn't detract from the gravity of this decision. Jaune wasn't going to turn back. That his father was even having this discussion with him, proved to Jaune that he could do this.
"I understand." Jaune spoke. Nicholas closed his eyes for moment.
"Then I will unlock your aura." Nicholas laid his right hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"For it is in honoring our true essence that we unlock the boundless potential within. Through this sacred journey, we become beacons of joy, protectors of divine light, and unite as one harmonious force, transcending the limitations of mortality. I unleash your spirit, and by my words, I guide and shield thee." Nicholas chanted, and Jaune's aura was unlocked.
For the next two weeks after having his aura unlocked, Nicholas had put Jaune through the grinder. Both father and son were surprised to discover that Jaune had an unnaturally high amount of aura, but that simply meant Nicholas could get away with pushing Jaune hard.
Jaune was glad to finally have the full support of his dad. Nicholas had made Juniper aware that he unlocked Jaune's aura, and her joy for Jaune was bittersweet. Neither parent told the girls about it, however. There would soon be no need to, as, when Hazel ran away with Jaune's scroll a week after his aura was unlocked, he not only caught up to here, but tickled her into submission. He got his scroll back, and took hers. By the time they made it back home, Hazel was sweating, and glared at Nicholas.
"Jaune was the last person who needed to be a superhuman!" Her expression made Nicholas burst into laughter. All of Jaune's sisters began questioning him, excluding Coral.
"We should call Saphron, and tell her Jaune is actually going to be a huntsman." Sabel said. Jaune groaned at how she phrased it. Lavender and Hazel giggled at his expense.
Today, Jaune and his parents would be flying to Vale. He looked forward to being able to explore it a bit.
A friend of Frank's was flying them in. There was apparently all types of allowances for non governmental aircraft, given you followed the proper rules.
They met Frank at the landing zone, and conversation kicked off.
"Oh, yeah, here you go." Frank handed Jaune a sealed letter.
Jaune pealed it, and hummed. Nicholas and Jaune had registered the newly aura unlocked teen, and Frank had picked up the ID from a Vale office, as opposed to however long it would have taken to have it sent to Ansel. Jaune shouldn't need this, given how short his stay in vale would be, but you ever know.
Maggie was watching some musical kids show, singing her heart out. Jaune would ask her tiny questions, and laugh with her, The babysitting was going smoothly. She was very well behaved, and unlike Amber, that good behavior didn't come from being silent and shy.
Jaune could no longer feel the aches of his hard work. In a strange way, he couldn't wait to feel that ache again, but also wanted to appreciate his tiny vacation.
Jaune was slowly starting to accept that he was behind, and that being behind wasn't all that bad. He'd become a huntsman, whenever he became one.
It was getting late, and Maggie had fallen asleep. So Jaune decided he should put her to bed.
'Sort of jealous.' Jaune thought.
'You have your whole future ahead of you, Maggie. I can accept things as they are, but I do wish I wasn't so fucking stupid. I should have been more proactive. If I could try again, I would have started sooner.' Jaune thought to himself.
Suddenly, Jaune was stumbling into the couch, barely not squashing Maggie.
Suddenly, Jaune jerked. It felt like he was being, what, tossed? pushed down?
Jaune groaned, he wasn't the best at aura stuff yet, but he new his aura was down, by a lot. In fact, it was draining, right now? Jut a little bit. And, why could he see himself, looking at himself, while looking at Maggie?
Jaune was scared. Where was Maggie? Um, wait, uh? Jaune looked at...himself? But...why was he so big, and why was he so small in comparison. Jaune groaned.
Maggie groaned, Jaune could see it, hear it, and feel it. Jaune stared at Maggie, watched from his eyes, and apparently hers, as she stared back. Slowly, they started to share more than just vision, and each others panicked thoughts swam between themselves.
Jaune and Maggie got nauseous. Jaune's head started to hurt. And his heart was pounding violently. Jaune thought of Maggie, and came up with things he couldn't have known.
What happened to me? Am I high? Why am I looking at myself? In multiple eyes, and...and...
Jaune fainted. Maggie stopped seeing from his eyes and hearing his thoughts. But Maggie still wasn't Maggie.
I'm, am I in Maggie's body?
The tiny, blonde, pig-tailed girl, fainted.
Yeah, this semblance awakening scene, is the entire reason I made Frank and his family. Brice existed purely to have an in between point, to drag it out so I wasn't rushing.
This was inspired by { Insert Wildbow Parahuman Worm style Master power here}
The implications, the potential, and the goofiness. ( And, {ironically? coming from me} I've never seen a Jaune 'mind control' fic, where it doesn't get naughty. This will NOT be naughty).
Future chapters will explain his semblance.
This was supposed to be a quick 2k chapter where Jaune gets his semblance, but the more I worked on it, the more it became natural to make Jaune earn having his aura unlocked, before he randomly unlocked his semblance.
In my head canon, Tertiary (Signal Academy) starts at 13. Secondary schooling is 9 years old. Primary is 5. Secondary and Primary would be far less combat focused. In canon, Signal Academy would be Primary, but I've added 2 earlier levels of schooling. Proper Huntsmen Academies (Beacon), are Quaternary.
- I've yet to actually type the semblance scene, but I am just now realizing I have made a trans character. Oh lord, how do you accidentally do that? I could just make Maggie into Max, but screw it. The focus will be on how Jaune navigates giving Frank and Chloe the daughter they deserve, while literally being a boy injected into a little girl's body. That is too much juicy conflict for me to hand wave away.-
Leave a review, they are appreciated.