The motorway was in chaos. Broken cars littered the asphalt, their metal frames twisted and mangled. Smoke billowed from some vehicles, and the air was filled with the acrid scent of burning rubber. In the distance, a bus teetered precariously on the edge of a collapsed section of the motorway, its front end hanging over the edge.
Amidst the wreckage, Jaune Arc sprinted towards the scene, his senses heightened by the urgency of the situation. His heart pounded in his chest as he weaved through the wreckage, the echoes of distant sirens adding to the mess. The ground beneath his feet was uneven, scattered with shattered glass and debris.
Jaune's eyes scanned the area, taking in the sight of injured and disoriented people. He briefly halted to assist a trapped couple, using his amped-up strength to lift a piece of debris off them easily. "Get to safety!" he urged them, pointing towards a slightly less hazardous area.
As he approached the edge of the collapsed section, Jaune's gaze locked onto the bus, its weight shifting dangerously as the mangled bus dangerously teetered close to the edge. The sounds of screeching metal and distant shouts echoed through the air. Jaune's heart raced as he took in the dangerous situation. His eyes then widening as he saw the stolen Atlesian Paladin still wreaking havoc with a team of girls trying to fend it off. Not daring to waste more time, Jaune sprinted towards the bus. Ignoring the pit in his stomach when he saw those familiar forms fighting.
He was a blur of blue streaking across the motorway as he reached the back of the bus. There, he was met with a chorus of desperate voices. The orphanage kids trapped inside the bus spotted him and cried out, hope in their eyes as they saw Jaune, "Help us, big brother Jaune!" they called.
The urgency in their voices fueled Jaune's determination. Without a single thought, he channeled his aura, the blue hue transforming into a vivid crimson red. His bare fingers glowed with as he approached the damaged bus.
Boots skidding against the asphalt, Jaune planted himself firmly. With a fierce determination in his eyes, he extended his hands towards the twisted metal exterior of the bus. The crimson glow intensified as Jaune's fingers pierced through the wreckage. Grunts of effort escaped him as he began the herculean task of pulling the bus away from the edge.
The strain on Jaune's face was clear, but his willpower remained unbroken. The combination of his raw strength and the empowering effect of his Semblance caused the damaged metal to creak and groan. Slowly, inch by inch, Jaune shifted the bus away from the perilous edge, providing a momentary respite for the trapped children.
With the bus shifted away from the precarious edge, the trapped orphanage kids scrambled to safety, their desperate cries turning into relieved cheers. However, a lone figure on the bus immediately drew Jaune's attention.
One kid, smaller and more fragile than the others, was at the driver's side of the bus. Fear reflected in eyes, clinging desperately to the bus driver, whose head had collided with the windshield during the collision. The child's voice trembled as he called out, "Big brother Jaune! Help him!"
Jaune's eyes widened with concern. Without a second thought, he rushed towards the injured bus driver and the frightened child. The crimson glow of his aura intensified into a pale gold as he reached them, and he gently knelt beside the injured driver.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay," Jaune reassured the child, his voice calm but determined. He carefully assessed the bus driver's condition, noting the severity of the injuries. The shattered windshield and the bloodied forehead were grim indicators of the impact.
Channeling his aura with precision, Jaune extended his hands over the injured bus driver. The glow enveloped both of them as Jaune focused on healing, a skill he had honed through training and experience. The warmth of his aura seeped into the wounded driver, mending injuries and alleviating pain. The driver may not have aura, but Jaune's Semblance still worked on him. Aura is the one heals, but Jaune lent a piece of his soul to act as the aura for the driver to use so he can then boost it.
As the healing process unfolded, the child's grip on the bus driver slowly loosened. The fear in the child's eyes transformed into gratitude and relief. Jaune continued to concentrate, his expression focused and determined.
Unable to hold its position because of its damaged frame, the bus slid forward again, shattering the momentary relief felt by Jaune. Reacting swiftly, Jaune gathered the injured child and the bus driver into his arms. His pale gold aura, previously intense in its yellow glow, now shifted to a calming shade of blue as a different aspect of his semblance came into play — amping up his speed.
In an instant, Jaune became a blur of motion, a streak of blue rushing away from the unstable bus. The wind whistled past as he traversed the distance with unparalleled swiftness. The child and the injured driver held tightly against him. His boots made a harsh sound as they skidded across the pavement, leaving a trail of displaced air in his wake.
With each passing second, Jaune distanced himself from the danger, putting the bus and its perilous position far behind him. The blue aura continued to envelop him. As he slowed down, Jaune carefully set the child and the bus driver on the safer side of the highway, away from the immediate danger.
Breathing heavily, Jaune looked at the child and the injured driver, ensuring they were stable. The child, wide-eyed but unharmed, looked up at Jaune with a mix of gratitude and awe. The injured bus driver, though still in need of medical attention, was now out of immediate danger.
With a nod of reassurance, Jaune turned his attention back at the ongoing battle. His aura, once again shifting to its crimson hue, reflecting the quiet seethe in his eyes. He couldn't stay on the sidelines — there were still lives to be protected. Jaune took a deep breath. This was no time to for grudges.
The deafening roar of cannon shells and rounds alerted Jaune. The few civilians who hadn't evacuated were taking cover, and the orphanage kids, overcome with fear, were retreating to a safer distance. Jaune's eyes narrowed in determination as he observed the imminent danger and approached it with a calm practice.
With Crocea Mors drawn in its greatsword form, Jaune moved swiftly to intercept the loose shells raining down on the area. The shimmering aura hued in red and blue surrounding him intensified as he unleashed an amped up aura slash, creating a protective blast that deflected the projectiles away from the vulnerable bystanders.
As the air cleared momentarily, Jaune noticed a larger round hurtling towards the vicinity. Without hesitation, he shifted Crocea Mors, the greatsword transforming into a shield with hard light extending on its side. The crimson glow of his aura resonated with the intensified blue color of the hard-light, his shield creating a formidable barrier that absorbed the impact of the incoming round.
The shockwave rippled through the air, but Jaune stood unfazed, the shield holding firm against the onslaught of loose rockets and missiles. He scanned the area with a determined expression, ensuring that he neutralized the immediate threat. The civilians, still cowering in fear, began to peek out from their cover, cautiously assessing the situation.
Seizing the moment, Jaune approached the group, his aura returning to its calming, pale glow. "It's going to be okay," he reassured them, his voice a steady warmth amidst the chaos. "Stay low, keep moving towards safety. I've got this." His gaze met the eyes of those around him, conveying both assurance and a silent call to trust that they can endure this and reach safety.
As the civilians gradually resumed their escape, Jaune turned his attention back to the ongoing battle. The Atlesian Paladin loomed ahead, and that team still fought valiantly against its relentless assault. Not caring about the collateral damage and clearly focused on the fight. He understood the need to focus on the enemy, but hated it. The safety of people should be their priority.
Jaune, with Crocea Mors still in hand, took a step forward, determination etched across his face. However, the orphanage kids, gripped by fear, clung to him. A civilian hold the kids back seeing Jaune trying to fight the Paladin.
"Jaune... don't die," one of the kids sobbed, their voices filled with desperation and worry. Seeing them like this, Jaune crouched down to their level, looking into their frightened eyes. With a gentle smile, he spoke reassuringly, "Hey, I promise I'll be back. But I need you all to be brave for me, okay? Imagine that monster is the Jabberwalker, and I'm the Rusted Knight trying to stop it. You know I can't let anything happen to all of you, right? I have to help them to stop it."
The kids, though still scared, nodded in understanding. Jaune continued, "Keep safe, okay? Find a place to hide, and don't come out until it's all over. Trust me, I'll make sure it's over soon." With a last pat on their heads, Jaune directed the children to a safer spot, urging them to stay low and out of harm's way.
As the kids moved to safety along with the few civilians who cared enough to escort them, Jaune turned back to face the Atlesian Paladin. The rockets and missiles still continued to rain down, causing destruction in their wake as the team of four girls skirted around dodging and deflecting the mech's fire. The main cannon of the Paladin loomed large, a constant threat that needed to be dealt with. Jaune took a deep breath, channeling the calm blue aura around him, and mixing it with a crimson red - the color of his Semblance when it focuses solely on boosting his strength.
Jaune advanced towards the metallic behemoth. With a swift motion, he leaped into action, blocking incoming projectiles with his Crocea Mors and maneuvering around to defend the kids from the stray rounds while they retreat.
As Jaune remained steadfast watching for any more loose rounds. He turned to the orphanage kids who, now from a safe distance, watched with hope in their eyes. With the kids in cover, and the civilians helping them stay low. And without anything holding him back from engaging the paladin directly. Jaune immediately closed the distance with the Atlesian Paladin. Launching himself into a powerful tackle that sent the metallic behemoth reeling. The impact created a momentary opening, catching the attention of those on the battlefield. Roman Torchwick's voice echoed through the chaos, wondering aloud where Jaune had come from.
"Great! Another one! Who the hell are you?"
However, Jaune remained eerily silent, his focus solely on the task at hand. As he rose from the tackle from a combat roll. Crocea Mors gleamed in his hands as he channel his aura into the weapon, the greatsword amped up with a surge of aura, intensifying the calming blue into a bloody red. Vine always did say that he needed to learn how to extend his aura. Huntsmen tools were conduits for aura and decades of practice made him understand how to use it properly
Jaune then moved with a calculated precision, the greatsword in his hands striking with an almost effortless grace. The main cannons of the Atlesian Paladin, previously wreaking havoc everywhere, was now solely pointed at him as Roman learned the controls. Jaune's each swing and maneuver was executed with a blend of skill and calculation. As he tapped into his aura reserves, the shimmering aura surrounding Crocea Mors easily intercepted the projectiles from the main cannons. Jaune's movements were a dance of agility and strength, as he systematically disabled the main cannons, rendering them useless. The fearsome weapons now hung limp, their threat neutralized.
The voice of Roman Torchwick fell silent, and the attention of both allies and enemies shifted to Jaune, who now held the upper hand in the fight.
As Jaune continued his relentless assault on the Atlesian Paladin, his movements became more methodical and purposeful. With each strike, he tore through the armor, his aura-infused attacks systematically dismantling the formidable steel protecting the paladin. The calm blue glow of his aura intensified to a vivid red, a reflection of the heightened intensity his aura amping his strength up.
Executing a precise aura slash at the legs, Jaune brought the Atlesian Paladin crashing to the ground, its once towering form now laid flat on its back. The battle seemed to be reaching its climax when, suddenly, Roman Torchwick, the thief, tried to emerged from the wreckage of the Paladin.
With a surge of red aura amping his strength, Jaune's left hand glowed intensely as he tore through the Paladin's metal shell and seized Roman. With an almost primal rage, Jaune slammed Roman onto the concrete, creating a deep crater upon impact. The sheer violence of the move left a resounding sound around him.
Viciously, Jaune continued his assault on Roman. Letting this man get up and fight will make things harder. He knew that, so using the flat of Crocea Mors, he disabled Roman's limbs with ruthless efficiency as his aura shattered with ease. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the air with each pummel, the once confident and cunning thief now at the mercy of an angered man who almost lost the kids he had grown to care for. Jaune knew it bitterly he was looking at the kids like they were the paper pleasers... he knew it well. And to Jaune at this moment this monster didn't deserve to live.
Before Jaune could deliver the final blow, a sudden drop kick caught him off guard. However, to the surprise of his attacker, Jaune barely moved, his unwavering and formidable aura rendering him unfazed. He recall his aura only breaking a few times. A hit from that colossus in Argus, Salem's magic blast, and that gut-rending punch the cat did to him in one of their battles. And even then he had been battered, blasted with a fire ball and beaten before it broke. Standing tall, snorting, he turned to face the expected assailant with cold and flat eyes.
It was Neo, deadly serious and devoid of her usual playfulness. Without a word, she picked up the battered Roman Torchwick, activated her semblance, and disappeared from sight, leaving behind only the lingering echoes of their presence. Jaune could sensed her. His amped up aura allowed him to do so. But he didn't have time for them.
The battlefield fell into an eerie silence as Jaune stood amidst the wreckage, his aura still ablaze in crimson hue. The defeated Atlesian Paladin lay motionless, and the absence of Roman and Neo left a silence in aftermath of the battle. Jaune, breathing heavily, surveyed the scene with a mix of exhaustion and determination, ready to face the four girls who were walking his way. Whose faces he could barely remember.
The four-girl team looked at Jaune with a mix of curiosity and confusion. Unaware of his identity, they asked, "Who the hell is he?"
Jaune's gaze lingered on them, a bland yet pained expression crossing his features as he looked at the team of girls in Red, White, Black, and Yellow. The realization stung, but he pushed aside his personal feelings, focusing on the immediate situation. They weren't his friends. It was not them who left him beaten, broken and begging on the entrance of that tree. He had to think that way. Because he couldn't stand the sight of them. With all iota of his self-control, patience, and willpower. He slammed Crocea Mors on the ground and spoke up.
"Stop right there."
Stopping the team of girls dead in their tracks,. Jaune's voice cut through the air with a flat and pained tone. "Look around you." His eyes bore into each of them, his expression revealing a deadly coldness. The girl in white initially wore an offended look, but as her eyes caught sight of the civilians and the children cowering, and the wreckage of the bus, her demeanor shifted to a somber quiet.
Jaune, now standing amidst the aftermath of the battle, said with a voice that carried the weight of disappointment and frustration. "This is the mess you've made. The consequences of your actions. Look at the innocent lives affected by the chaos you brought upon this place. What the hell were you all thinking leading this thing into the highway?"
His words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the consequences of their action. The once triumphant atmosphere had given way to a sobering reality, and Jaune's stony gaze held them accountable for the destruction that surrounded them.
As the gravity of the situation sank in, the team, who called themselves, Team RWBY stood in silence, confronted by the consequences of their actions. The remnants of the area around them painted a picture of the collateral damage caused by the battle against the Atlesian Paladin, and Jaune, his voice cutting through the quiet, demanded they confront the aftermath of their choices.
The girl in red, with genuine concern, defended her team's actions, saying, "We were only trying to help." The girl in black, held her ground, stated that the White Fang needed to be stopped. Jaune, his frustration reaching a breaking point, lashed out, saying, "Do it without leaving corpses behind! This isn't the way! Or perhaps you're so used to acting without concern for others that you can say that the prices paid here will be worth it by the end result? Are you familiar with these? All for the greater good, does it?"
His words hung heavy in the air, but before anyone could respond, The girl in yellow, in a typical assertive manner, asked, "Who the hell are you to lecture us? We were trying to helped!"
Jaune's hostility flared as he snarled at them, a raw edge to his voice. "I'm someone who saw what you all left behind. You could have killed a bunch of kids for trying to help, but that doesn't matter? The bad guy's gone and you four are victorious. "
"B-but," the girl in red shook. "W-we were just trying to help..."
"Then do it properly. Think about who's going to get involved and what the consequences," he held an accusing eyes on the girl in black.
The girl in yellow's eyes blazed.
Jaune replied by picking up Crocea Mors in a threatening pose.
However, as Jaune's anger simmered to a boiling point, his gaze shifted, and he caught sight of the cowering children and the devastated civilians. A wave of shame washed over him, realizing the impact of his outburst on those who were innocent bystanders in the chaos. No more fights. Not in front of them. His face softened momentarily, the hostility replaced by a mix of regret and understanding.
It was then that Jaune spotted airships from Vale surrounding the area. His demeanor shifted once again as he turned back to the kids, leaving the team of girls behind.
"Take care of yourselves, okay?" he said, voice now carrying a tone of resignation as he crouched down near the kids who were sobbing at him. "I'll wait for the authorities to handle the aftermath. Mrs. Jenkins is going to be so glad you all made it."
"B-but Jaune..." one of the kids hold him as they saw Vale authorities approaching.. "A-are you going to be okay?"
The Vale authorities surrounded the area and had pointed their weapons at them. The team of four presented their student ID's. Seeing they were huntsmen-in-training, they reported to their superior about the situation and then instead turned their attention towards Jaune, shouting at him to get down and come quietly.
Knowing he was a civilian. He could only come with them for questioning. He wasn't sanctioned and there was no academy to protect him. He had nothing.
"I will be okay. Take care kids."
Jaune held his hands up in surrender, smiling at the kids to calm them down as the authorities apprehend him for questioning. The vivid flicker of his aura vanishing as they led him away in cuffs to a bullhead.
Jaune found himself in an interrogation room, facing Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Academy. Ozpin, with a measured tone, opened the interrogation with, "Mr. Arc, you were supposed to attend Beacon's initiation. You did not show up. Sent a letter to apologize for your fake transcripts, but what do I see today?"
As he spoke, the headmaster activated a screen that displayed footage of Jaune in action. The scene unfolded as Jaune chased after a stolen Paladin, Crocea Mors, perched on his shoulder. The display showcased Jaune's agility and skill as he intercepted the machine, his greatsword slicing through the metal leg with powerful and precise strikes.
Ozpin's gaze remained fixed on Jaune as the rest of the footage played, his expression unreadable. The headmaster, waiting for Jaune's response, watched for any signs of explanation or justification for the discrepancies in his actions. The interrogation room hung in suspense as Jaune found himself under scrutiny by the headmaster of Beacon Academy.
Jaune remained silent. It was strange seeing him in this form again.
Ozpin observed Jaune's silence as the footage played, and a subtle smile played on the headmaster's lips. After a moment, Ozpin chuckled, the sound echoing in the interrogation room. "Mr. Arc, your actions may be... unlawful, but I cannot deny your effectiveness in the field. Intercepting a stolen Paladin is no small feat for a civilian."
There was a subtle shift in Ozpin's demeanor as he continued, his words carrying a subtle undertone of a threat. "However, your actions have consequences. It seems you have a unique set of skills that could be of use at Beacon. Consider this both a warning and an opportunity."
Ozpin leaned back, fixing Jaune with a piercing gaze. "You have two choices, Mr. Arc. Face the consequences of your unlawful actions, or join Beacon as a student where your skills might find a more sanctioned outlet. I suggest you choose wisely."
Jaune, frustrated by the circumstances and realizing the gravity of the situation, could only nod in agreement. He had nothing to say in his defense, but a sense of relief washed over him, knowing that the children were safe. It was worth it. His pride, ego, and rage were meaningless if he had let them die. His grudge didn't have to mean he'd let them perish for what others did to him. He was not some juvenile who felt the world against him. He had lived long enough that this was simply choices being made. And now as he contemplated the choices presented to him, Jaune found himself at a crossroads, torn between the consequences of his actions and the path that Beacon Academy offered again. Ozpin would never let him go. He must have known about his Semblance by now and that had put him into the Wizard's crosshair. The interrogation room remained charged with tension, leaving Jaune feeling trapped and cornered.
Ozpin's demeanor shifted. The headmaster leaned forward, a glint of approval in his eyes. "Mr. Arc, despite the unorthodox means, you saved lives today. We've been keeping an eye on you for some time, and your skills have not gone unnoticed. And your Semblance... would be helpful to a current predicament that concerns many."
Of course he'd knew.
Ozpin's voice took on a more reassuring tone as he continued, "Your actions today speak louder than any transcripts. Your potential far outweighs the discrepancies in your past. The fake transcripts were simply nothing compared to the skills you have demonstrated. I simply do not understand why you needed it in the first place."
A subtle smile played on Ozpin's lips as he leaned back, studying Jaune carefully. "We believe you have a unique contribution to make at Beacon. Your abilities, while unconventional, have proven effective. I have faith that you can harness that potential within the boundaries of our academy... after all. It would be a shame to find such potential wasted in the cold bars of prison."
As Ozpin's words settled in the air, he left Jaune to think for himself.
Jaune hung his head in silence in defeat. The weight of his decisions and the unexpected turn of events bore down on him. Destiny, it seemed, had clawed him back into the fray, a path he had tried to avoid but found himself entangled in, nonetheless.
Alone in the room. Jaune leaned back and recalled a voice.
Maybe it's time for a change, to be the kind of man you always wanted to be.
"I still don't understand...what do you want from me?"
He looked at the reflection on the glass and saw the white stands on his hair.
Then the reflection on the glass changed form and stared back. There, in that reflection, he saw a decrepit old man in rusted armor driven mad and foolishly guarding an entrance inside the base of a tree. Steadfast and witless in his maddened duty to prevent anyone from being consumed by the tree until the final whispers of his life faded, and the tree itself welcomed him to its embrace.
He expected a soulless creature with unimaginable vileness to feast on his soul, and yet what he saw instead was an exasperated being welcoming him into her workshop.
A kindly blacksmith that simply wanted to talk.
I've been waiting a long time for you.
Not with cruelty that he expected, but with a kindness that shattered him.
Then he simply didn't know anymore after that.
What happened in the world he came from had become a faded memory.
After all, those four fleeting years of hardship pale in significance when measured against the decades he had spent in that ever after.
In a world in which the faces faded and the moments of friendship he once cherished turned into a heartbreaking reminder of those who left him behind.
One lifetime should have been enough. Why can't I just give up?
But as he thought of that, a young man's face stared back at him now on that reflection.
Confused and unsure, still trying to make sense of who he truly was.
What kind of man did I want to be before?
"I don't know anymore."
His mind was lost.
Before he could gather his wits. Ozpin re-entered, closing the door behind him. He took a moment to study Jaune's face.
"Mr. Arc, have you come to a decision?"
Jaune took a deep breath. "Yeah, I have. I'll join Beacon.."
A subtle smile played on Ozpin's lips as he nodded. "That's wonderful to hear, Mr. Arc. Your decision will not be taken lightly. Beacon will provide you with the training that will further enhance your talents, and I hope you find the purpose in there."
Jaune's shoulders sagged as he exhaled. "Thanks. But, uh, there's one thing that bothers me. I'll be all alone in Beacon. I don't even know anyone there. If that's the case then I should stay in my apart-"
"Ah, that would be the case usually," Ozpin leaned back in his chair. "But Mr. Arc, as fate would have it, there is a team at Beacon that is currently lacking a teammate. During the initiation, a group of students stumbled into a cave we did not account for, and unfortunately, not all of them made it. They provoked a deathstalker, and the resulting chaos claimed the lives of some students."
Jaune's eyes widened at the revelation. "So, what does that have to do with me?"
Ozpin's gaze bore into Jaune's. "It means that this team is in need of a fourth member. They've been functioning as a trio, but I believe your presence could be the missing piece. "
"Well, I guess I wouldn't be completely alone then," Jaune said with a heavy sigh.
Ozpin's gaze remained fixed on Jaune, a subtle twinkle in his eyes as he spoke with a touch of admiration. "Mr. Arc, you'll find that your new team leader is quite a remarkable individual. A strong champion, exceptionally talented, and above and beyond her peers. I believe her presence and leadership will be instrumental in your growth as a Huntsman."
Intrigued, Jaune raised an eyebrow. "She must be good, to earn your praise."
Ozpin's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "She had proven herself time and again to be a skilled warrior, with a heart that matches her prowess. You could say she is a shining beacon among her peers. And who knows? Maybe she can offer guidance and assistance to what troubles you."
Jaune processed the information. "Sounds like a force to be reckoned with."
Ozpin chuckled softly as he stood up. "Indeed, Mr. Arc. You'll find that her team is a unique blend of strengths, and I have no doubt you will complement each other well. So I'll be looking forward to your attendance this time."
He stopped on the doorway and looked back.
"And Mr. Arc?"
"Yes?"
"Welcome to Beacon."
Jaune bowed his head with a bitter smile on his lips.
It seems that, as ever, destiny remains quite a bitch.
