Heeey what's up everyone! I ended up taking the full two weeks for this one, and it is the Biggest chapter to date! Can't promise I'll make them all this long, but at least a few here and there. I've also hit over 100 faves and follows each! That's so amazing and humbling that so many people like my story, and it keeps me motivated to write even more, so let's keep the perpetual motion goin'! Alright, onto the review responses!
MereC55 Chapter 15:It's kinda funny how the ones who are called saints or heroes are usually the last to see themselves as one. Those titles... should be given, almost never self-proclaimed right? But yeah, further context for that will be in this chapter!
MultiversalCosms Chapter 15: Yeah I see both of your previous reviews, I guess the site is being a bit weird. And on the aspect of forgiveness, you have a valid point. There are those who've never been forgiven for less and worse, as well as vice-versa. My take on it is this. Never forgiving someone can be easy to say and do in an emotionally compromising moment. But after that moment fades, and you choose to hold onto that instead of letting it go... will it be worth it? For some people it is. Others... well. There are plenty examples of both sides to that debate, and everyone is entitled to what works best for them. Neither inherently wrong, it just depends on the person. But in this story... well, you'll see.
And now, without further ado, let's begin!
Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by RoosterTeeth
Remnant's Greatest Loser
Chapter 16
A Loser's Loose Ends
The talk between Taiyang, Qrow, and the Arcs was... subdued and somber. While the two men could empathize with how they felt, their actions were still over the line, and they all knew it. While there certainly could be a case made for abuse in Jaune's favor should he wish to pursue it, he refused.
With Jaune's permission, (and the sister's extreme reluctance,)Tamara Arc transferred a bit of her Aura into his system, which brought him back enough so he wouldn't be on the edges of consciousness. He wanted to be fully cognizant for what he had to say.
"I understand to a certain extent, why things got to this point, and I know that all of this... was well intentioned. I still love you both, and I always will."
His small smile dropped a bit as he pondered how to say his next words, Ruby and Yang on either side of him, giving him their silent support, squeezing each of his hands with reassurance.
Taiyang and Qrow saw this with pride, knowing they did a good job with their girls, silently thanking the boy inbetween them for helping them all grow closer.
"I don't hold any resentment, not anymore at least. I know... that if I did hold onto that, and let it turn into hatred... loathing..."
Jaune's parents flinched at this, his mother even tearing up, but both remained silent.
Jaune looked up at them, no longer smiling, but his eyes still held a bit of warmth in them.
"Then all I'd have done... is end up alone, pushing away all those who came to care for me, and while I might have gotten stronger that way... I don't think I would have had a happy life overall. And that's not the kind of person I want to be. And if for some reason... that does start to happen..."
He glanced at his new family, the sisters, and the... well, uncles fit for them. (One dad's good enough for me.)
Ruby and Yang picked up on what he meant immediately, beaming at him from both sides.
Yang spoke first.
"We'll keep that from happening, no sweat! Though honestly..."
Her eyes flashed red and her hair ignited briefly as she glared at her little brother's pathetic excuses for parents, which caused them to pale slightly in response.
"I feel you're a bit too nice for your own good sometimes."
"I agree," said Ruby, smile still on her face as she too glanced at the older Arcs, but her silver eyes were sharp as steel, thinking of all the things she wanted to really say... and do to them if they ever dared to hurt him again in any way.
"But don't you worry. We'll balance him out just fine, keep him loved and safe the right way."
Her eyes flashed brighter for just a moment, emphasizing a point that the parents immediately understood, making her even more terrifying than the older sister!
(With those two around, he definitely won't end up like my brother.) Tamara was reassured of that fact, which she was grateful for despite the current situation.
Johan however, was thinking a bit differently.
(To have two women so fiercely protective of you... you truly are doing the Arc name proud!)
Qrow and Taiyang watched with proud yet humorous smiles.
"Careful Tai, seems he might follow in your footsteps after all."
The blond man snorted in response.
"Pshh, the kid's got potential for sure, but I know his mind doesn't work like mine did. See how flustered he is? I would have been far more bold in that situation! Although... the fact that it's my daughter's around him would make me very pissed off if he was like me at his age."
Qrow barely held back a loud bark- or caw of laughter at that remark, shaking his head in amusement.
Jaune sweat dropped as he felt the slightly scalding heat from Yang on his left, and the almost cutting breeze from Ruby on his right.
(Glad they're literally on my side right now!)
Jaune lightly cleared his throat, which caused both girls to snap out of their anger a bit, reigning themselves in... slightly.
"So, in light of all that, I will apologize one more time, for lying to both of you, no matter how justified I thought it was."
He bowed to them, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
He felt Ruby and Yang shift uncomfortably next to him, hearing them mumbling above him.
"wouldn't apologize for sh-"
"shut it Yang!"
"we're all thinkin' it!"
"yeah but it's rude, hold it in for now, for Jaune!"
"fine... for Jaune."
Despite the tense situation, he smiled slightly as he bowed.
"Please raise your head son, you... you did what you had to do," Johan said, a sad smile on his bearded face.
Tamara nodded in agreement, reaching an arm out to him, but seeing the two girls zero in on that arm immediately, eyes narrowed, muscles tensing for a fight, she thought better of it.
"There's nothing to forgive sweetheart. Though... we understand if it won't be so easy to forgive... us."
Jaune sighed at that, before slowly nodding.
"You're right. I want to, I really do... but..."
Memories of the years of neglect, feigning perfection, the facade of the perfect student, perfect son, came flooding back. The strain it put on him over the years had taken its toll, and now that he was truly free of it, he hadn't realized how much till now.
He staggered slightly, causing Ruby and Yang to grab his arms and back to hold him steady.
Jaune's parents instinctively stepped forward, but the sisters were having none of that.
Ruby spoke up first this time, managing to keep her voice even despite the stern look on her face.
"We got him, you two just... stay where you are please."
Tamara was about to protest, but one look at Yang's snarling face shut her up.
Johan put an arm around his wife, reassuring and holding her back.
"You got it Ru-"
"Rose," Ruby growled out before she composed herself.
"Sorry... just call me Rose."
"R-right, Rose then. I... think I speak for both of us when I say..., that we are truly sorry for what we put you through son. We... got lost in our demons, and took it out on you and your sister."
Johan bowed low as he said this, his wife doing the same, tears still dripping from her face.
"I-I'm so sorry that we hurt you for so long Jaune... and I know that won't be enough... so we... we'll get grief counseling, work on ourselves, try to be better people. Give us some time, and I swear we'll make it up to you... please..."
Tamara began to cry again in earnest, with Johan holding her close to his chest, looking at his son with a broken gaze.
Jaune stared back, searching for a hint of deception in his eyes, doing the same to his mother, who stepped back from her husband, eyes bloodshot and puffy from crying.
(I... what is the right thing to do here? Walk away, leave them be? They deserve that... don't they?)
He looked to Qrow and Taiyang, who gave him a neutral look.
Taiyang spoke up first.
"Whatever you decide, we support you 100%."
Qrow nodded in agreement.
"The choice is yours kid. Not my place to weigh in."
Jaune then looked to Yang, who lightly snorted, eyes still red.
"You already know what I think. But yeah, I've got your back regardless, 'nuff said."
Jaune figured as much, giving her a nod in acceptance, before turning to Ruby.
She let out a short huff, brow furrowed for a moment before looking at her bro bestie with a sad smile.
"Like Yang... my opinion is a bit... biased, so I can't really give you an objective answer like Dad or Uncle Qrow, so I'll just ask this."
She turned to him, and lightly put her hand on his chest.
"What do you feel in your heart about this? Maybe thinking logically is the smart thing to do... but is it the right thing? Best fitting who you are as a person?"
Jaune took this in, weighing his options by the way he chose to live his life. He was just about to reach his decision when Ruby spoke up again.
"Just know that whatever you choose, I'll stand by it as firmly as I stand by you, cuz I... no, we... believe in you."
For a moment, as he looked back at the rest of his new family, all nodding firmly at what was said, he saw a brief image of Gepetto, Terra, and Saphron, imagining they'd say the same thing. He focused back on his parents. he knew what to say now.
"I'm not ready to forgive just yet. If I did so too soon, it would trivialize all that I've suffered up to now, and I need time to work through that, now that I'll be free from it."
The elder Arcs wilted a bit at that, but understood nonetheless, nodding in acceptance.
"But... I do acknowledge that, while it was flawed and flat out wrong... I know it was good intentioned, warped by what you went through as Hunters, the fear of loss. Tai... no, Uncle Tai helped me understand that perspective."
Said 'Uncle' lightly gasped at that, with Qrow clapping him on the back softly.
"I... I know how it feels to be truly accepted for who I am, regardless of what I choose to do with my life, to be loved unconditionally, and to be in a safe space full of laughter and warmth. To have genuine friendship and bonds. My new sisters-"
Jaune pulled Ruby and Yang closer by the shoulders, a grin showing on his face.
"They showed me what that feels like, and I'll be forever grateful for it."
Said sisters both blushed at the sudden closeness and declaration, but didn't pull away, linking their arms with his, both showing their own big smiles.
"Uncle Qrow was the first to truly show me what it means to push your limits, to give more than what I thought was possible. It's because of him I was able to even use my Semblance."
Qrow sputtered awkwardly as Tai patted him on the back in return, a big smile on his own face.
"And of course, my teachers, Gepetto Polendina and Terra Cotta, who helped with my foundation and creating my weapon... Joa."
As he spoke her name, his pendent glowed in response, as If to show her own beaming happiness.
The adults raised their eyebrows at this, the parents making gasps of recognition at the names, while Qrow and Taiyang were more surprised at the pendant responding to his voice.
"And of course... My Big Sis Saphron... who was the first person to ever believe in me. It was thanks to her... that I never gave up on my dream as a child."
Jaune's parents felt a great sting in their hearts upon hearing all of this, that their son thrived in a way they never could have imagined, and were so blinded by the wounds of their past, that they never got to be apart of his present. And now... they may lose out on being in his future as well.
Johan spoke up at the end of this, voice soft and broken.
"you... you've done so well for yourself son. you've thrived, and led a life just fine without us... simply because we didn't see you for who you truly are..., we only saw you needed protecting... saving from a world that you... you've proven to succeed in regardless."
Tamara spoke up next, tiredness showing on her face, making her look a bit older than what she appeared.
"We... have no right to... to be proud of who you've become. You've done that without us... and that's something we can never make up for... I know that but..."
She looked at her son, somber eyes glinting with a determination that no longer held the madness of the past that had claimed her for so long.
"We're willing..."
Johan gripped his wife's hand in support as he looked at his son as well, the same look in his own eyes.
"To spend the rest of our lives in the effort."
Jaune's eyes widened slightly as he remembered saying something similar to Ruby. The tone and atmosphere were different, but the intention... the desire was the same.
Johan spoke once more, his voice with a bit more strength in it.
"We truly see you now Jaune, and we'll never turn away from you again."
A small smile grew almost unbidden on the young man's face, as he knew without a shadow of a doubt that his parents meant every word.
"I believe you. And while you work on grief counseling on yourselves in general, I'll work on forgiving you. Just... make sure to let Saphron know too, ok? Though... she may not be as... open to it as I am."
The older Arc's sighed at this, knowing their daughter's ire was far more pronounced.
"That's fair," Johan said, rubbing the back of his neck in a similar fashion to his son. "We'll accept whatever decision she comes to."
Tamara nodded somberly, seeing as their daughter went no contact for the past several years, there probably wasn't much hope for reconciliation.
There was a light clapping as Taiyang stepped forward, slightly startling everyone but Qrow.
"Well, now that things are... mostly resolved, we should probably get going. The day is getting on, and there's only one week left till school starts for the kids."
Jaune nodded at this, as Taiyang gave the Arc's a card for the grief counseling service, specifically for trauma pertaining to the Hunter lifestyle. They took it gratefully, thanking the man in soft voices, expressing how grateful they were for he and the rest of his family looking out for their son.
"Like I said before, I can understand very well what you're going through. They helped me when I needed it, and I know they can help you. Besides... He's a good kid, he takes care of himself well enough. He's earned his place in our family after bringing us all together. And maybe someday... you folks can too."
Yang couldn't help but scoff at this, but an elbow from Ruby kept her from commenting.
Qrow chuckled gruffly.
"Might be a longer someday for a few of us."
The Arc parent's nodded in understanding, knowing full well the long road they needed to take.
As Taiyang and Qrow began to walk away, Jaune held his hands out for his parents, who grasped them with their own.
"Please... take care of yourselves. Maybe... someday you can tell me about the good times in your Hunter careers?"
Johan lightly chuckled while Tamara shook her head softly with a rueful smile.
"It would take some time but... yes, we can definitely do that," said Johan, looking at his wife for confirmation.
"Right Tammy?"
Tamara nodded, a flicker of fondness in her eyes at the memories.
"Yes sweetheart, we'll make sure to tell you the whole story sometime. The good, and the bad. Both of you deserve that from us."
Jaune nodded, small smile still on his face.
"I'll be looking forward to it. I... love you both."
"We love you too son."
With a final squeeze, Jaune turned to leave, Ruby and Yang followed suit, when Tamara spoke up one last time.
"U-um... Miss Rose... Miss Xiao-Long? May I ... talk to you two for a brief moment... please?"
The sister's were surprised at the request, but were all set to refuse, turning to Jaune for his input. He was watching his mother's eyes, but feeling no ill intent, he nodded to them.
"It's ok, you're welcome to hear her out, but only if you're willing to, it's up to you."
After that, Jaune turned and walked toward his new uncle's, while Ruby and Yang(With obvious annoyance, since she didn't want to leave her sister alone with them) stayed behind for a moment.
Ruby spoke up since Yang refused to engage.
"What did you want to talk about Mrs. Arc? Something to do with Jaune?"
Ruby's tone was neutral, and so was her expression, though her eyes still held a bit of hostility toward them. She hoped it was important enough to stick around, since she didn't want to be in their presence any longer than necessary.
Yang had no trouble showing her displeasure with her arms folded and accusatory eyes glowing red as blood, yet she stayed silent.
Tamara Arc nodded at the question.
"Yes. He's... he's a lot like my brother... his late uncle was when he was his age... before the Hunter life did its work on him. Made him colder, bitter... isolated. I wasn't... able to reach him, no matter how hard I tried, and that regret stayed with me, bleeding into how I treated my children... but maybe... for you two..."
Her eyes shined with hope as she spoke the last words to them before they left.
"Please... watch over him for us. I-I can already tell from earlier that you will, but I just... want that reassurance... that you won't let him end up like that... like him..."
The desperation in her voice struck a chord in Ruby, who nodded in response.
"Of course."
Yang nodded sharply to that, already turning away herself, muttering darkly.
"as if we'd do anything else... obviously."
Tamara shook her head in a soft chuckle, expressing her gratitude as Johan sighed next to her, head bowed as he slowly steered his wife toward their home.
As they turned away, Ruby couldn't help but hear her whisper one last line.
"Don't let the eyes you have consume you. His... or yours."
The trip back to Patch was done in silence, more than a few things were on the minds of the group of 5. Memories of the past, hopes for the future, cryptic messages... and cookies. Before they all knew it, they were walking back up to the house, all except Qrow, who stayed at the entrance.
"Seems my time off is at an end for now. Gotta get back on the road and all that."
Taiyang huffed in response.
"About damn time, I've got enough mouths to feed as it is, freeloader."
A tick mark appeared on Qrow's forehead at the insult.
"What was that? I come out here as a favor to my niece and this is the thanks I get? Some blood brother you are."
Taiyang sniffed at the jab, turning his nose up in a haughty manner.
"Blood brother? Who'd be stupid enough to make that bond with a dusty old bird like you?"
Everyone except Jaune just stared at the older Xiao-Long in deadpan silence for a moment.
A sweat drop formed on his head as he chuckled awkwardly.
"I uh... keep forgetting that was my idea in the first place."
Everyone burst out laughing at that, though Jaune was still a little confused.
As Ruby rushed forward to swing on Qrow's arm one more time, Yang took pity on her brother figure and explained a little.
"It's an old joke between them, they act like they hate each other sometimes, but they really don't, trust me."
"O-oh... sorry, I still don't quite get it, but they're basically playing around?"
"Yup!"
Jaune smiled at that, seeing Qrow muss up Ruby's hair as he said he 'wouldn't miss her' or something, making Taiyang chuckle a bit.
"I really... won't be an outsider looking in anymore, will I? This'll be my life now... it almost feels like a dream."
Jaune said this softly, but Yang heard it, her eyes turning a light blue as she softly bumped his shoulder with hers.
"Hey, ya gotta stop sayin' all that tearjerker stuff, makes my chest hurt, and like I gotta hold you in my arms n' never let go y'know? I gotta badass reputation I need to uphold when we get to Beacon, so if you're gonna get all sappy..."
Yang grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the rest of the family as they said their goodbyes to one of their own.
"Make sure to do it when it's just us... okay?"
Jaune could only nod, a small smile on his face as he went up to the Branwen.
(Well, I guess he's my Uncle Qrow too now isn't he?)
"Hey kiddo," Qrow said as he regarded Jaune with a big grin. "You really showed initiative today. Passing the Exam and fightin' your folks! I dunno if even I could've done all that at your age!"
Jaune blushed at the praise, looking down a little in slight embarrassment.
"I just... I really wanted, to be free y'know? To live my life, chase my dream, and not have to hide it anymore."
Qrow's eyes softened as he put a hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"I know all about that Jaune. Someone once believed in me, and helped me do the same thing. Never thought in my wildest dreams that I could do that for someone else. Especially being a new nephew to boot."
Ruby (who was still hanging on Qrow's other arm) cheered at this declaration while Yang and Taiyang had matching smiles on their faces.
Jaune felt his eyes grow wet at this, but fought to hold it back for now.
"Thank you... for helping me like you did, I'll take what you taught me to heart, and I'll get stronger. We'll have a proper spar next time!"
Qrow nodded at this as Ruby slid off his arm so Yang could hug him next. "I'm counting on it... HandyGuy."
Jaune blinked at this for a second, before making the connection, face palming in response.
"Considering how he is in the comics... I can't deny how well that fits."
Everyone laughed again, though this time Jaune joined in, feeling the warmth from all sides, and deep in his heart.
(This is what family is supposed to feel like huh? I can definitely get used to this.)
Qrow dashed off into the forest, where he vanished, and a single crow flew out of the trees, circling the remaining 4 for a moment, before letting out a final caw and flying off out of sight.
Jaune blinked at this, wondering if the crow was-
"Yup, that's Qrow alright," Ruby chirped, giving Jaune a knowing look.
The boy was flabbergasted at this.
"I-Is that his Semblance?!"
Yang shook her head with a smile.
"Nope. It's still 'Bad Luck' remember? Why do you think he seems to trip over nothing and stuff gets knocked down around him sometimes? It's why he doesn't stay in one place too long."
Now that he thought of it, it was odd that the experienced Huntsman seemed to be oddly clumsy at random times.
"True... but then, how does he do it? Some kind of advanced Aura manipulation? Faunus ancestry where you turn into an animal instead of having an animal trait?"
Ruby and Yang were intrigued by his guesses, turning to their father to see if it was true or not.
With a rueful smile, Taiyang just shook his head.
"Interesting guesses Jaune, much more creative than what my girls came up with."
Ruby scoffed at this remark.
"Oh c'mon Dad! I think my guess that he's a crow with a human transformation Semblance was pretty good too!"
Taiyang laughed at this while Jaune thought it was a solid guess too. He turned to Yang next.
"What was your guess Yang?"
Yang was actually... embarrassed at the question, tugging at her scarf awkwardly before mumbling softly.
"thought it w.s... ma..c...?
"Huh? What did you say?
"mag.c..."
"Still couldn't catch that. One more time?"
"MAGIC! I thought it was... magic ok?"
Ruby chuckled at this which caused Yang to sulk a little.
"Aww my big sis still believes in magic, how cuuuute!"
"Sh-shut up Rubes! You don't know either, since dad refuses to tell us!"
Unbeknownst to the teens, while they weren't looking at him, Taiyang was a bit nervous after hearing his elder daughter's guess, hoping this would be the last time it was brought up.
"Sorry kids, but it's not my place to tell. Sworn to secrecy and all that."
While Ruby and Yang were curious, they didn't bother to push the subject, and neither would Jaune. If they couldn't say, it was probably for a good reason.
"Anyway, I'm sure you're pretty tired after all that excitement eh Jaune? You're welcome to rest inside for as long as you need. There's still plenty of time before school starts, so get that good sleep while you can."
Jaune nodded, a yawn coming out of him out of nowhere, realizing he indeed was tired. The sisters felt like having a sparring session, since Yang was a bit pissed about the dismissal of her 'magic' guess and Ruby wanted to get more practice with hand to hand anyway. Jaune went back to the guest room where his stuff still was, letting it sink in on how long this morning was.
After a quick shower, Jaune got into bed, closing his eyes... letting sleep take him. He dreamed about a clear blue sky, a gentle breeze flowing around him as he seemed to be flying. The sun shining brightly ahead of him, but curiously... it didn't sting his eyes at all as he flew towards it, only feeling a comfortable warmth from its rays.
A murder of crows flew around him, their symphony of caws felt like music to his ears as they all did very un-crow like things, like barrel rolls and loop de loops in the air.
This atmosphere, this... dream in general, was probably the best one he ever had in his life. He hoped almost desperately that he could remember this one... because he never felt this free before.
Up ahead, he saw what looked like a castle of sorts, one that was very familiar... perhaps it was Beacon? Before he thought to get a closer look, he felt a strange... weighted sensation on his chest. He felt the world he was in begin to fade away like a mirage before his eyes.
He tried to fight it, willing the world to stay, just a bit longer, afraid that he would never dream like this again... but it was not to be as he was brought back to waking world with a wet sensation on his nose.
A light groan escaped his lips as he slowly blinked awake, seeing a certain grey Corgi sitting on him, tail wagging and panting happily.
"Hey Zwei... you know, you stole me away from the best dream... I'm a little sad I had to leave it so soon..."
At this, Zwei seemed to wilt a little, ears down, a small whine coming from his throat.
Jaune couldn't help but feel a little bad at this as he slowly sat up, rubbing the dog's head softly.
"It's ok, I'm not mad at you, but I do appreciate the apology."
Zwei perked up a little, leaning into the touch, seeming to want him to start rubbing his head more firmly, maybe scratching behind the ears too.
Jaune chuckled as he began to oblige, one of the dog's hind legs thumping in tandem with said scratches.
A light knock on the door was heard, causing the little guy to stiffen.
"Hey Jaune? You awake? It's ok if you're not, I'm just checking to see if Zwei's in there? It's his bath time and he tends to disappear every time we do this."
It was Ruby's soft yet exasperated voice that came from the other side of the door, causing Jaune to look at the guilty party in a different light.
"So that's why you...nope, you're not getting away."
Zwei tried to to dart away once he realized Jaune wouldn't cover for him, but with a quick Dire Burst, he caught the little Aura user by the scruff of his neck, careful not to hurt him, but firm enough that he wouldn't escape.
"It's fine Ruby, this little rascal woke me up, and I've got him for you, come on in and take him."
The Corgi slumped in defeat as Ruby walked in, wearing her Beowulf pj's, shooting an apologetic look at Jaune, and a stern one at her dog, hands on her hips to show her seriousness.
"Zwei. I'm very disappointed in you buster. To think you'd pull this stunt when I have my bro bestie here too! You think it's okay to embarrass me in front of our guest like that, to try and take advantage of his kindness? Not on my watch."
She turned back to Jaune, eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you so much, last time it took almost 3 hours just to find him! You can let go of him now, I'll take it from here."
Jaune nodded with a small smile, before letting the somber canine down gently on the floor, sufficiently cowed by Ruby's scolding.
The little reaper nodded in approval at Zwei's attitude, pointing toward the main bathroom downstairs.
"Now march."
Zwei complied, moving at a sedate pace toward the bath he seemed to hate so much. Ruby followed after him, but not before giving Jaune a quick hug and kiss on the cheek for his help.
"This'll take awhile, but if you're still up after, wanna hang out a bit?"
Jaune smiled at the request.
"Sure!"
Ruby beamed at him before leaving, closing the door behind her.
Jaune proceeded to stretch a bit, feeling the satisfying cracks and pops in his joints and back as he did so.
(Maybe I'll go outside and go through my stances a bit, get the blood pumping now that I'm well rested.)
After Jaune freshened up in the guest bathroom, he headed downstairs, passing Taiyang who was watching Tv in the living room.
"Uncle Tai? I'm gonna do some image training outside for a bit."
Taiyang blinked a bit at the new way Jaune referred to him as, before a small smile grew on his face.
"Sure thing kid. I'll let the girls know if they ask."
Jaune thanked the man before heading outside, walking towards the fences.
The sun was still out, but it was setting, the hue reflecting on the sparse clouds in the sky. It was a beautiful sight, with the nearby trees making it seem like a painting.
He breathed in the early evening air, so grateful to enjoy little things like this. But alas, that's not what he was out here for.
"Alright Joa. Time for some practice. You ready?"
The pendant glowed in response as the long sword appeared in his right hand. He began to go through different basic strikes, parries and evasive maneuvers.
He imagined different opponents, from Grimm to hostile criminals, ducking and weaving and striking at critical points.
He was just starting to work up a light sweat when he heard some light clapping behind him.
"Look at you go loser! Workin' up an evening sweat just for lil' ol' me? You really shouldn't have."
"Ah Yang," Jaune said, breathing a bit harder from the exercise.
"Come to get some fresh air, or are you simply...enjoying the view?"
Yang mock gasped as she put a hand over her... generous chest.
"Oh my gah- did you just... flirt with me? Well I never! That is sooo inappropriate!"
Jaune chuckled in response, letting the Gauntlets he had out be absorbed back into Joa.
"Hey you started it. Besides, what you're saying and how you're saying it are at odds."
The bombastic brawler snorted into laughter.
" Hahhaha, I mean yeah that's kinda the point Jaune. Your attempt at flustering me could use some work, but you're getting there."
Jaune became flustered himself as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly in response.
"Uh... thanks! I uh... aim to please?"
Yang smirked at this as she slinked a little closer, eyes flashing red for a moment.
"Then why don't you aim those guns toward me for a minute? Put those Gauntlets back on. I wanna play."
With a flick of her wrists, the bangles she wore expanded into full blown Gauntlets of her own, Ember Celica.
Jaune felt a smile grow on his own face as the black Gauntlets reformed over his arms and hands, smashing his fists together before going into a basic stance.
"We actually haven't fought yet huh? With all the craziness these last few days, that kinda slipped my mind."
Yang's smirk turned into a feral grin as she fell into her own stance, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"I've wanted to fight you ever since you started learning multiple styles to be honest. But after seeing you fight, well..." She dashed forward, hair ablaze as she and Jaune's right wrists clashed.
"You've got me all hot n' bothered Jaune. You better take responsibility!"
Jaune's eyes turned golden on reflex as he was blasted back from the pressure.
"Must you make it sexual?"
"YES!"
Yang cackled as she chased after her prey, using her gauntlets to blast behind her, going into a momentum filled spin kick.
Jaune used Dire Burst to dodge at the last moment, going for a kick of his own to her stomach, which she caught and flipped him with.
Jaune felt the heat of her left fist about to connect with his upside down solar plexus, but he used Joa's shield to help deflect the strike as he landed on his hands before flipping upright again, the maneuver taking a bit of Aura in exchange.
Not to be deterred, this only stoked the young dragon's fire for combat even more as her Semblance began to kick in, the kinetic energy from constant movement starting to make her attacks more powerful.
Jaune was trying to deflect and redirect each strike that he could, but since he was only using the weakest version of his Semblance, some punches and kicks managed to get through.
Yang far exceeded him in unarmed combat no question, choosing to only fight with his Gauntlets wasn't doing him any favors, but he chose to take this as another eventual loss he could learn from, so he would keep it up as long as he could.
The exchange of blows lasted a few seconds longer before they blasted apart with a surge of Aura.
Yang looked like she barely broke a sweat while Jaune was panting lightly, already feeling the soreness starting to creep up. Even so, his stamina was way better than before he fought Qrow.
"I'd say that was a pretty good warmup yeah?"
Yang did a few shadow boxing moves, jabs, uppercuts and crosses. Red eyes alight, hair still flaming and a sunny smile on her face.
"Y-yeah... warmup. Totally feeling the burn over here."
Despite the fatigue creeping up, Jaune got into his stance again, flaring his Aura to show he was ready to keep going.
Yang's smile seemed to grow wider as she flared hers in response.
"Good, cuz I wanna heat things up even more! You know what I want loser. Whip it out so I can feel it."
Jaune shook his head with a chuckle at her scandalous wordplay, but knew what she meant.
Choosing to be a little more cheeky for once, the young man let a small smirk grow on his face.
"Ya sure? We could just keep reving it up bit by bit before going all out."
Yang giggled at the proposition.
"C'mon bro, we both know you don't quite have the stamina for a drawn out session with me just yet. Ask me again in a few months though, and I'll be down for a good long scrap."
Jaune sighed, but nodded at this, knowing she was right. "That's fair, seems you called my bluff."
Despite herself, Yang felt a little bad for what she said when she saw the slight twinge of frustration on his face.
"Hey," Yang said, her voice a little softer than usual.
"I know you're doing your best, so try not to let it get to you too much okay? I know you'll get there. But for now, let's just have some fun yeah?"
Jaune smiled at this, nodding in agreement as he prepared to unleash his Semblance, this time without as much restriction like his previous fights.
The familiar rush of power and emotional dampening happened as before, fully focused on his opponent.
Yang was ecstatic at getting to fight Jaune at his current best, knowing she could really push herself against someone who could keep up with her Uncle(albeit briefly.)
Before they could start, Dire Jaune spoke up.
"Is it alright if I continue to only use my Gauntlets in this spar? I wish to test my ability in martial arts... and perhaps learn a few techniques from you through combat."
Yang blinked for a moment, before a genuine smile grew on her face.
"Thanks for the heads up! Sure, I don't mind. Stickin' with one weapon type might help you last longer! And if you do get better from fighting with me..."
She blasted forward even faster than earlier, hoping to land a lariat while he was still standing.
"It'll be even more fun!"
The empowered teen could already see what Yang had in mind, so he leaned back enough for her arm to sail over his head, before doing a bicycle kick into her vulnerable midsection, sending her tumbling to the ground.
This didn't slow Yang down however, as she almost immediately recovered, darting forward with quick jabs, using the Fire Dust in her weapon to add speed and explosive power to her strikes.
(Continue to deflect her jabs while analyzing her stance. Refrain from putting too much power into attacks. Doing so will fuel her Semblance much faster.)
(Right, it'll go up anyway due to her kinetic energy while fighting, but nowhere near as fast like this. Gotta keep an eye out for any contingencies she may have.)
Yang was indeed aware that Jaune knew about how her ability works, and had a back-up plan to speed things along.
(After 4 years of knowing you, your adaptability rubbed off on me a little!)
Dire Jaune began to notice something strange about Yang as the battle continued. Her body... seemed to have a faint, orange glow around it, and even as he was deflecting her attacks, he started to feel a slight irritation in his upper arms.
(What is thi-)
(Dodge her attacks. Continued skin contact would be ill advised.)
Dire Jaune's eyes widened as he jumped back a few feet, reassessing the situation.
Yang had a knowing smile on her face as she dashed forward, wanting to press her advantage while she still had it.
"Sorry loser, no time to explain! Talk later, fight now!"
"Understood."
(It is plausible that this is a new, unrefined technique. Continue evasive maneuvers until her stance is fully analyzed. Coating arms and vital areas with extra Aura should suffice.)
Dire Jaune did so, as Yang's attacks began to get even faster and more wild, adding knee strikes, elbows, even feints to try and make herself more unpredictable. One such feint managed to land a glancing blow on the bridge of his nose, a stinging cut that made him tighten his eyes a little, the only indication that it was painful.
Yang noticed however, and her smile grew even wider.
(Hell yeah! This burns like a motherfucker, but it was totally worth it, cuz now I'm-)
(Damnit, she's definitely ready to blow at this rate! However...)
(Analysis complete. Initialize 'Mirror Move' strategy.)
(So am I.)
Yang took notice as Dire Jaune's stance began to change, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and even doing a bit of the shadow boxing she did earlier. It did seem like her stance at first glance, but it was slightly different, his arms were positioned a little differently, and the bouncing on his feet was a little faster than hers.
(Huh. So he's not exactly copying me, just incorporating it into his own style. Alright, I can respect that.)
Even with Yang's Semblance fully active, she still wanted to make a show of sportsmanship, so she relaxed her stance for a moment, and stretched out her right fist, sunny smile in full effect on her face.
Even with his emotions dulled, Dire Jaune recognized the gesture, a small smile on his own face as he did the same as her, though he extended his left fist. They closed the distance between them and tapped their Gauntlet covered knuckles to each other.
Yang spoke first.
"So. I'm guessing you're ready to finish things?"
"Indeed. As are you, I imagine."
"Definitely. I take it you're done with just dodging too?"
Dire Jaune nodded.
"It is no longer necessary. Just like that... interesting technique of yours serving its own purpose."
Yang grinned at that.
"Neat huh? I was saving it for you actually. I promise I'll tell you all about it after this."
Dire Jaune nodded again, small smile returning.
"I look forward to it. Now then... shall we?"
Yang nodded excitedly, flaming blond curls bouncing across her giddy face.
"It almost hurts holding my Semblance back for any amount of time! Let's fuckin' GO!"
At that, the two combatants jumped back a few feet, getting back into their stances, before rocketing back to each other, opposite fists cocked for impact.
Yang used her her Fire Dust and Semblance to power her strikes, while Dire Jaune used his Aura to boost both the power and speed to match, each strike they made bounced off each other, each punch or kick collided with equal force, the energy dispersing around them.
Sometimes it seemed their feet didn't even touch the ground as their limbs moved ever faster, beginning to blur into near invisible flurries of motion. A few hits did manage to make their marks of course, a punch or two hit the gut, a stray knee to the chin, jabs to the face, causing temporary stops to recover, but then they jumped right back in, not caring about the hits, but the fight itself.
Dire Jaune noticed this was a bit different from when he fought with Qrow. This was... it was just pure fun! No need to prove himself or make a point, not even the little rush he got from training compared to this! He could finally understand what Yang meant.
Yang was nearly beside herself with pure joy. She knew Jaune could give her the fight she wanted, and this was just the beginning. Once his stamina improved at Beacon, he'd be a monster. Whether they ended up on a team or not, she'd make damn sure he'd be her sparring partner at the very least! Big Sis privileges and what not.
But of course, all good things must come to an end.
Dire Jaune's strength began to fade, the fatigue from earlier, the hits he already took and his Aura running low all took their toll. He slowed down just enough for Yang to get off a haymaker straight to his jaw, which sent him flying back a few feet into the dirt.
He got back up quickly enough, but he was breathing heavily at this point, his eyes doing their telltale flicker between gold and grey.
Yang noticed this, and knew the fight was over, letting her hair and eyes revert to normal, her Semblance fading away.
"Looks like you're tapped out for now loser. Let's call it a night yeah?"
Almost subconsciously, Jaune struggled with his dwindling reserves, wishing he could go just a bit longer.
"I... can... still..."
He stopped when he saw Yang shake her head.
"I know you can still fight," she said softly, walking up to him and putting a hand on his slightly swollen cheek.
"But this was just a spar remember? A little fun. There's no need to push yourself to black out exhaustion every time yeah?"
Jaune sighed at that, before letting his Semblance fade as well, only keeping his Aura up to heal the cuts and bruises he sustained.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I really wanted to give you my best Y'know?"
Yang smiled at that, pulling her little bro into a hug.
"And you did, trust me. I loved it Jaune. You did even better than I imagined! Here, I'll show you that I'm serious."
Without warning, she pulled back a little to kiss him on each cheek, before pulling his head into her chest, a shit eating grin on her face.
"There. Is that enough proof for ya? I don't do that for just anyone Y'know, so you better be grateful!"
Jaune squirmed in response, arms waving frantically as Yang laughed, pure happiness radiating through it like rays of sunshine.
After things calmed down, the two of them sat on the ground against the fence, Yang's blond mane resting comfortably on Jaune's shoulder. They both looked up at the early evening sky, the sun having set and the stars just becoming visible.
Jaune broke the silence, speaking in a soft voice full of awe.
"I still can't get over how beautiful this view is. And not even a week ago, I couldn't even see it with my own eyes."
Yang blinked at that for a second, before realizing what he meant.
"Ah that's right! You still wore glasses till now huh?"
Jaune nodded, gaining a faraway look in his eyes.
"Yeah, sometimes... I pinch myself to make sure I'm not having some kinda dream. After everything that's happened these past few days, It just feels..."
"Like it's too good to be true," Yang finished, her own eyes gaining a similar look.
"Yeah. Wait, you feel that way too?"
Yang turned to Jaune with a small smile, lightly nudging him in the process.
"'Course I do! Being closer with my family in general, having a closer bond with my sister... and all of that's because of one person."
Jaune blushed a bit at that, grateful his skin tone covered it easily enough.
"I... I didn't really do all that much. I was just being me."
Yang took hold of his arm and gently laid it across her shoulder so she could lean a bit more into his side.
Jaune got a bit flustered at this, but didn't stop her as she got more comfortable.
"And that's enough," Yang sighed contentedly as she closed her eyes for a moment.
"Whaddaya know, Rubes was right, you really are warm and cozy aren't you."
"W-wait, she said that?!"
"Oh yeah, she admitted it this morning not long after you left. I don't even think she remembers though, since she was knocked out a minute or two after she said it."
"Aw man... I swear nothing inappropriate was happening!"
Yang waved him off with a light chuckle.
"I know I know, stop worryin.' I trust you just as much as she does. I mean sure I'm a touchy-feely type a gal, but I still need to feel the vibe of a person first. You more than passed the vibe check with me, and that goes double for Ruby. It's not easy for her to connect with people in general, so I was worried she wouldn't make any friends at Signal."
Jaune vaguely remembered the high school equivalent of combat school being mentioned once or twice over the years.
"Did she? I remember her mentioning school sometimes, but she didn't really talk about the social part too much."
Yang nodded, eyes still closed, smile growing a little at the memory.
"She made a few friends with some girls that were into weapon crafting like she was. They were never as serious about it as she is, but they got along well enough. She always told me they didn't hold a candle to her 'number one bestie' though! I think you being her first friend, helped her build the confidence to make new ones."
Jaune looked down at that, happy that he helped his first friend in such a way.
"I still feel like I didn't do all that much, but I'm glad that I may have inspired her in some way."
Yang opened her eyes at that, holding out one of her arms.
"Oh yeah, speaking of inspiration, take a look at this!"
Yang concentrated, and her arm began to glow in the same orange hue she showed briefly during their spar.
Jaune stared, his eyes going golden for a moment to improve his perception, then his eyes widened.
"Wait... this is...!"
Yang's light lavender eyes twinkled, grin widening.
"Aura manipulation? Oh yeah. It's like a... bastardized version of your Aura Infusion, but I tweaked it to have a bit more heat to it. You felt a bit of a stinging sensation when you were doing your deflecting thing right?"
Intrigued by the process, Jaune nodded.
Winking, Yang continued.
"I was actually feeling it too. That 'stinging' doesn't actually hurt the body, but it tricks the brain into thinking it does, so that's enough to fuel my Semblance as long as I perceive it as damage. Turns out it doesn't have to be just physical. Cool right? Or should I say... Spicy?"
Jaune couldn't help but laugh at the pun this time.
"That's genius! And you thought you couldn't compare to Ruby in combat, look at you! And you figured this out on your own?"
Now it was Yang's turn to blush, looking uncharacteristically shy as she pushed her face into Jaune's side.
"W-well, to be honest... I figured it out by accident, trying to c-copy how you explained Aura Infusion Y'know? I flooded too much of it into my s-skin till it started burning and... yeah... that's h-how I got it."
Jaune fully understood how it happened after that, it was simply Yang not properly infusing it throughout the entire body evenly.
"Well hey, they say that necessity is the mother of invention Y'know? I think it's awesome how you made a mistake into an ability that suits you."
Yang peeked a light blue eye out of his side.
"You're not mad? About how reckless I was?"
Jaune shook his head with a soft smile.
"Nope. While I agree it was reckless, and maybe you coulda reached out to me or Gepetto for help, If you had, you probably wouldn't have figured out how to use it this way."
The blonde brawler relaxed into his side again, a sigh of relief leaving her lips.
"Just... don't be afraid to reach out if you wanna experiment further ok? You know I won't judge or laugh at you for it."
Yang smiled at that, giving Jaune a side hug.
"Kay. I promise."
At that, Jaune's eyes widened in surprise.
"Aw crap! I mighta left Ruby hanging! Said we'd hang out after she bathed Zwei! Sorry Yang, but I gotta go now, though she might already be pissed."
Yang chuckled softly as she helped the two toned teen get to his feet.
"You better hurry then, I know how mad she can get better than anyone."
Jaune started to head off before looking back.
"You're not coming?"
Yang waved him off with a soft smile.
"I'll be in later. Got something to think about on my own anyway. I'll tell ya sometime soon."
Jaune nodded, knowing how important self-reflection was.
"Alright, later then!"
Yang stared after Jaune as he ran back inside, though he politely opened and closed the door softly.
She looked back at the sky, thinking about how Jaune dealt with his parents, and how she felt about her own mother.
(We can always talk about it next time. I was... thinking of trying to find her... properly this time but, do I really need to? I'm sure you'd help me if I asked but...)
Yang shook her head, letting the thought go.
"Because of you, it's really not so important anymore. Turns out you're filling that void she left in my heart... though I could never tell you that."
Yang jumped up, starting to do some stretches for a final evening workout.
As things were now, she had all the family she could ever need.
Jaune went back to the guest room first, wanting to wash up a little before messaging her on her scroll to see if she was awake. He opened the door to find... she had fallen asleep on his bed!
(Aw maaaannn, I screwed up, she probably fell asleep waiting for me!)
Forcing himself to calm down lest he wake her, Jaune decided to take a quick shower and change into his pj's before waking her up properly. Maybe seeing him more presentable for bed wouldn't piss her off so much.
He was brushing his teeth after he showered and changed, so deep into his thoughts that he didn't notice a certain crimsonette sneaking up on him.
She wrapped her arms around him from behind like earlier that morning, screaming "GOTCHA" with a big grin.
Jaune shrieked in a decidedly high pitched tone, dropping the toothbrush in the sink and almost choking on the toothpaste.
Ruby darted back into the guest room, laughing as she closed the door behind her.
"That's what you get for making me wait so long dummy!"
Despite the possible choking hazard, Jaune couldn't bring himself to get mad over it, feeling he had something like that coming.
A few minutes later, Jaune exited the bathroom, seeing Ruby was sitting on the bed, her legs dangling lazily over the edge, looking a little sheepish.
"Mayyyybe I went a bit overboard? Sorry about that!"
She subconsciously started to rub the back of her head before stopping herself mid-action, looking shocked.
"Was I just...?"
Jaune chuckled as he sat on the bed next to her, though his legs could easily reach the floor.
"Guess I'm rubbing off on you eh?"
Ruby blushed before smacking his shoulder lightly with an open palm.
"Sh-shut up! It's cuz you do it so much that it just... w-whatever! I'm still mad at you!"
She really wasn't, and they both knew it by now, but Jaune played along.
"I'm sorry! Please don't be mad! I swear I honestly got caught up in a spar with Yang, and it ran a bit longer than expected."
Ruby had her arms folded and made a show of looking away from him, mock pouting for added effect.
"Hmph! I know all that! Dad told me already! Just woulda been nice to... y'know, hear it from you first, but I guess you forgot your scroll huh."
Jaune nodded, soft smile back on his face.
"What can I do to make it up to you?"
Ruby fidgeted, pointing her fingers together, stealing glances at Jaune while looking at the corner of the room.
"W-well... there is something you could do for me, and i-it involves that b-book over there..."
Jaune looked where she pointed and saw a big, tattered looking book that definitely wasn't there before. Standing up, he walked over and gently picked it up.
"Fairy Tales of Grimm," Jaune read softly, before recognition lit up his face.
"This book is-"
"Y-yeah, it was my mother's," Ruby almost whispered, slightly shivering as she continued to speak.
"I haven't... had the strength to read it... s-since, since Dad and Uncle Q-Qrow..."
Jaune immediately went to Ruby's side, gently pressing the book into her hands.
"I understand. Being disillusioned like that... even if it's for the best, can be a difficult thing to deal with. But despite that, you still want to try... believing again huh?"
Ruby nodded slowly, eyes hidden by her bangs, but she took one hand from the book and gripped her bro bestie's hand, interlacing their fingers together in solidarity.
"After what I saw you do with your... parents... sorry that still bothers me-"
"It's ok, I totally get it."
"Right. Anyway... after seeing that, it got me thinking. If you could have the courage to do what you did... what's stopping me from doing it too? But I... I'm still too... too weak to do it alone... so I wanted your help, cuz you... you'd understand how it feels Y'know?"
Ruby was terrified of asking for help with her own personal issues, hating how vulnerable it made her feel. She couldn't bring herself to ask the rest of her family, knowing they'd mean well just wasn't enough. They could sympathize, but not truly empathize, which was what she desperately needed.
(But you Jaune, you're different. You understand, and I feel... safe telling you my secrets. You'll never know how much that means to me... how much you mean to me...)
Jaune sighed, taking in what she said for a moment, before looking towards his struggling sister figure.
"Ruby... can you look at me? For just a moment?"
With a shuddering breath, Ruby looked up at him, silver eyes wet with unshed tears.
"Gepetto... told me something once that stuck with me. He said; 'My boy, let me tell you something. It takes far more strength to admit your weakness, to be vulnerable in front of someone, compared to just about anything else it takes strength to do. To shelve your pride, and seek the help you need when you need it, if someone thinks you're weak for that, then they have no idea what real strength is.'"
Jaune cleared his throat a bit after he spoke.
"I dunno if I did his gravelly voice justice, but yeah, his words. Does that help?"
Ruby blinked rapidly for a moment, tears falling as her brain processed everything.
Then, she made a noise somewhere between a snort and a sniffle before wiping her face with some nearby tissues.
"That was... hic, a lame impression, I'm sure he sounds much c-cooler than that..."
Jaune lowered his head in mock sadness.
"Yeah, I figured as much."
"But.."
Ruby leaned into Jaune, snuggling into his chest a bit as he put an arm around her shoulders.
"The message was... everything I never knew I needed. Thank you."
Jaune nodded, ruffling her hair a bit with his other hand, her leaning into it with a small smile.
"You're welcome. So I'm guessing you wanna read this till you fall asleep or something?"
Ruby looked up at this, eyes shining with hope in them.
"Can we? It would... it would really mean a lot if we could..."
Jaune smiled indulgently at her, before shifting toward the front head of the bed, Ruby crawling with him.
"Guess we should get more comfortable then huh?"
Ruby giggled in response, it warming Jaune's heart that she looked so much happier than she probably had been for some time.
Once they got situated under the covers, with the pillow propped up on Jaune's back and Ruby's back propped against Jaune, they were ready to start reading the book together.
"So I was thinking, maybe we can switch off on who narrates with each story, and we can act out any male or female voices? I feel like that could be a pretty even split."
"That sounds perfect! Can you start us off then? Bad impressions aside, I think you'd be a great storyteller!"
"How do ya figure that?"
"I dunno, call it... women's intuition."
"Alright, guess I'll take your word for it. Let's see here... looks like The Golden Bird is first."
"Oooh that's a good one! Not my absolute favorite, but it's in the top 3 for sure!"
"Good to know, maybe it'll be my favorite then! Alright, here goes. Ahem! 'A certain king had a beautiful garden...'"
Unbeknownst to the two engrossed readers, two blond Xiao-Long's were listening by the door, tears streaming down their faces as the last Rose in their lives began to blossom once more... and all it took was a stray Arc to help her along.
The rest of the week went by in a flash. There was training, eating, reading, and laughter spread all throughout. Ruby finally got to show Jaune her room, where they geeked out over her comic collection, her weapon blueprints and tools in her workshop, and even did some research on Crescent Rose and Joa.
Both exchanged ideas on future upgrades or weapon possibilities, sometimes these conversations went on for hours, needing to be reminded by the other two that food existed.
Jaune made time to catch up Saphron, Terra and Gepetto on how things went with his parents, all of them were worried to various degrees, Saphron even threatening to leave her job and kick some ass if need be.
"Terra says I'm good enough to be a Huntress too Y'know! I woulda backed you up no problem!"
Thankfully there was no need for Saph's wrath, since things were handled well enough. All 3 of them were immensely proud of his success, knowing there was nothing to stand in his way now.
Gepetto requested Jaune to swing by Domremy the day before he went to Beacon, having a surprise for him that would go well with his setup.
Jaune introduced Tai, Yang and Ruby to Terra and Gepetto finally, and it was a wonderful video call, though the older man was confused with the almost tearful expressions Yang and Ruby made towards him, apologizing and thanking him respectively. Jaune promised he'd explain later as Tai and Terra laughed at the whole thing.
Yang and Jaune worked on different martial art techniques, specifically ones modeled from their favorite fighting game, Kingdom Fighters 3, trying to see if they could mimic their favorite character's moves. They even did a few skits in front of Tai and Ruby, who occasionally joined in themselves, causing absolute chaos and gut busting laughter.
Tai showed Jaune how to fish, having a lake not too far from the house. They never kept any of the fish they caught, always throwing them back, but the experience itself was very relaxing in general. Sometimes Ruby or Yang joined them, but they could never quite get into the practice themselves (Though it could be because they never caught anything.)
The 3 teens also made time for gaming, pulling one all-nighter in the guest room since it was bigger, playing the last expansion that came out for the new Grimm Souls 3 on the Funstation 5. It was an intense game, fighting against the King of the Grimm called Melas the Immortal in order to save the Queen of the Elav Kingdom, Amzo the Returner, who would forever reincarnate until Melas was destroyed, thus breaking the cycle and setting both souls free.
Certainly a thing that could never happen in the real world.
Soon enough, the week was almost over, Jaune already receiving his gift from Gepetto in a small black box, telling him not to open it until before he left for Initiation. Jaune decided he wanted to spend his last night at the hotel he still had a reservation for, feeling it would be a waste if he didn't at least check out from there before he went to Beacon.
"Besides, it's a lot closer to the school so there's a lower chance of being late!"
Yang and Ruby looked a little crestfallen that he couldn't stay one more night, but they understood, one night apart wouldn't make much difference if they'd be together for the next 4 years starting tomorrow anyway.
"Hey kiddos, no need for the Xiao-Long faces!"
Before Ruby could groan at the lame pun, Tai quickly added more context.
"I got you both a room at the same hotel for the night, so all 3 of you will be there on time!"
Ruby and Yang both glomped their father for the surprise final gift.
"Y'know Dad, just this once, I'm gonna let you have that pun with no complaint."
"Love you too Rosebud."
All 3 said their goodbyes to the elder Xiao-Long as they got on a Bullhead straight to Vale. After being dropped off, they immediately went to the From Dust Till Dawn shop for... well, Dust. Even Jaune bought some, a few of each element, wondering if he could combine them with Joa somehow, maybe cycle through elements like he does with weapons.
"As cool as that sounds," said Yang as she had to hold Ruby back from trying to feed the pendant with Fire Dust-
"We should probably wait till we get to Beacon first? And not risk blowing something up?"
Ruby pouted in reluctant acceptance as Jaune sighed in slight relief.
To cheer up the little reaper, the trio decided to go inside the Valean Pancake House nearby, promising extra strawberries on hers. Once inside, they immediately heard a familiar voice (to one of them at least.)
"Is that you Golden Boy?"
"Nora?"
The trio saw an excitable girl waving frantically from one of the booths.
"Oh, is she the one you told us about at the Field Exam Jaune?
"G-Golden B-Boy? *Snort* Hehe! Hahahaha!"
"Nora, you mustn't raise your voice like that in a public restaurant! Though it is you indeed Jaune, good to see you again so soon."
"It is me, Golde- uh, I mean Jaune, good to see you both, Nora and Ren."
From there, introductions began, and the 5 of them shared a booth together, chatting away happily as they stuffed their mouths with pancakes, strawberries, bacon with eggs, and hash browns. Much orange juice, milk and coffee were consumed as well. The day got on a bit, and the 5 of them split off into their original parties, exchanging scroll numbers for those who needed it, and promising to see each other at Beacon tomorrow.
By the time they made it to the hotel for check in, it was already dusk, and the tired but happy trio were eager to take showers before turning in for the night, preparing for tomorrow, which would be the first day of the rest of their lives.
And that's it! Gahdayum I dunno how I wrote this much! Hope it's still good though, and I promise that Beacon and Initiation will be in the next chapter! Alright, Read and Review, and thank you so much for over 100 favs and follows! See ya next time!