Jaune gazed at the shop in front of him, questioning the life choices that led him here.

Vale's Grand Dust Emporium- "If there's Dust in the name, we've got game."

It was no doubt, the stupidest catchphrase he had ever seen, probably made by a lunatic. Or someone super desperate. Or a combination of the two. Jaune sighed before resigning himself to his fate. Not like he had anything else to do anyway.

Jaune opened the door with his left hand and was immediately assaulted by a shockwave, that might have resembled a voice if it were several decibels lower.

"WELCOME TO VALE'S GRAND DUST EMPORIUM- 'IF THERE'S DUST IN THE NAME, WE'VE GOT NAME!"

Jaune blinked and shook his head- trying to dislodge the ringing from his ears.

I'm already crippled enough; I don't need to add going deaf to my resume.

"Uh, isn't it 'We've got game' not, 'name'?"

The man, who towered over Jaune- a feat not many could claim- blinked and suddenly slammed his head down onto the counter.

"CURSES! I KNEW I WAS FORGETTING SOMETHING! OH, THE OLD MAN IS GONNA SKIN ME A NEW ONE!"

Gods, does this person know how to speak normally?

"Uh...I'm sorry?

"PLEASE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT MY IMPENDING DEMISE! WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY, FINE SIR?!"

Oh, he doesn't know. Well, better order some hearing aids when I get back.

"Please, the name is Jaune- none of that sir business. I'm here to buy a BW-220 Drill and a variety of standard safety equipment."

"HA, ALRIGHT THEN JAUNE! GIVE ME A MOMENT TO SORT OUT THE PAPERWORK AND GET THE EQUIPMENT! DO YOU HAVE YOUR DUST PROFICIENCY LICENCE?"

I wonder if being shouted to deaf is covered in my insurance plan?

"Of course. Here, take a look."

Jaune handed over a plastic card that contained his proof of certification along with several other general identification details to the giant of a man.

"HA, THANK YOU, JAUNE! I'll GO CHECK YOUR CREDENTIALS AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER! PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AROUND THE SHOP AND IF ANYTHING CATCHES YOUR ATTENTION, JUST HOLLER!

Drat, it's not. I'll have to switch providers before deafness sets in.

"Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to let you know if anything catches my eye."

"HAHA, VERY GOOD! I'LL BE JUST A MOMENT WITH YOUR ORDER!"

Oh, thank the Gods above! He's finally leav-

"HEY, ED! WHAT IN DUST'S NAME ARE YOU SHOUTING FOR YOU BUFFON? WHY AREN'T YOU GETTING ME MY MEDICINE?"

...Did I do something to the Gods in a previous life? If so, Gods, know that I repent any and all sins I have committed and will join a monastery in your divine name if you make the shouting stop.

Ed's muffled yet still obnoxiously loud voice came from the back room.

"BE QUIET OLD MAN! I'M DEALING WITH A CUSTOMER! GIVE ME A MINUTE, AND I'LL GET YOUR PILLS!

Jaune shook his head in an attempt to snap his neck and when that failed, started looking around the small shop. He stopped by a small rack near the front counter which contained several books on Dust.

" 'Dust for Dummies and other Inadequate Individuals'...'What to do during a Dust mine collapse'... '101 Things to Know about Dust'...Ah, here it is. "Theories on Dust and their Effects on the World. This... sounds like something I would find at Beacon, not a small-time Dust shop."

Jaune grabbed his selection as he browsed the store once more. He noticed that the store seemed rather...overstocked. He sighed.

That would explain his overenthusiasm.

He was roused from his thoughts when a loud slamming noise could be heard from the front of the store.

"ALRIGHT, HERE IT IS! THE BW-220, A COMPLETELY AUTOMATED LASER DUST DRILL AND ALL THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT YOU MIGHT NEED! ANYTHING CATCH YOUR EYE OUT THERE?"

Jaune moved within a respectable speaking distance before responding.

"I found this rather interesting book which I would like to purchase. Other than that, I believe that will be all for now."

Jaune handed over what he owed to the larger man. He paused as he made to grab the drill.

"Mr. Ed, was it?"

Ed looked up from ledger he was currently writing in with a questioning gaze.

"I don't mean to be rude, but I take it you haven't gotten much business recently, have you?"

The larger man sighed before putting down his pen.

"That obvious huh?"

Jaune looked at the man who had dropped his ever-present boisterous persona. He looked...defeated. Jaune felt something rise within him. Not anger, but something else.

"Well, I would get ready. You'll be getting quite an increase in customers soon."

"Oh, what makes you say that?"

Jaune held out his left hand, and a silver ring adorned with a black gem started to glow. A second later, the drill, all of the safety equipment and the book were gone. Ed jumped back in shock. Jaune merely smiled at the man.

"Oh, just a feeling that someone's going to really shake up the market soon."

With that, Jaune walked out the door.


Jaune was in a good mood. He was currently walking through a forest deep in the wilds outside of Vale. It was around midday, and all that could be heard were the sounds of the forest- birds chirping, trees swaying in the wind, small forest creatures scurrying about the treetops...

And, the obnoxiously loud footfalls that had been following him for half an hour.

I can't wait until they reveal themselves and I can lecture them on how to actually sneak up on someone.

Still, Jaune wasn't going to let that ruin his mood. Not one bit. So, Jaune stayed his course, only making a small detour towards some...entertainment.

Jaune cleared the undergrowth and emerged within a clearing, startling its occupant in the process. He smirked as he looked at the Beowulf.

He gazed indifferently at the beast as he settled into his usual fighting stance. His right hand gripped his weapon tightly as he waited for it to make its move.

The Beowulf lunged at Jaune.

Jaune dodged to the left as he brought his right hand up to strike the beast and he…

watched in amusement as his cane hit and he managed to knock it across the clearing. A low Thud sounded out as the beast hit a tree. It didn't get back up.

Didn't even need my brace for that one.

"That was awesome!" A high-pitched shout sounded out from the forest behind him.

Ah, there's my stalker. My-my I can't believe I have a fan already. I haven't even started anything interesting yet.

"So, my stalker finally decides to reveal themselves! Tell me, who taught you how to sneak? Because I'll have them fired for incompetence."

A loud "Eeep!" sounded out as he turned around and the first thing he noticed was a head full of black hair. Well, it wasn't completely black, it had red tips at the end that made it stand out in the well-lit forest. The second thing he noticed was the pure, silver eyes that stared back at them- a mixture of determination and fear flashing through them.

The girl, because of course it was, walked away from the tree she had been peaking around. She had her weapon at her side in an iron grip as her bright cloak flew in the breeze.

"So, what brings a fair maiden such as yourself to these dangerous Grimm-filled Wilds? Surely it can't just be for Lil'ol' me?" Jaune asked with mock innocence.

The cloaked girl snorted in amusement before staring down at her feet. She looked up briefly before back down again.

"I...I was out with my team scouting the area for Grimm. I-I was acting as the rear guard as we patrolled and I noticed you walking...alone. I-I got kinda curious and followed you…" The girl stammered out.

Jaune merely smiled. Not a malicious or scheming smile, mind. But, a very light-hearted and amused one.

"So, given that you're part of a team of I assume trainee Huntsman, you decided that the best course of action when seeing an unknown person on your mission was to go off alone? Did you even inform your team what you are doing?" Jaune asked.

The cloaked girl opened her mouth to speak, and then promptly clicked it shut.

"From your silence, I take it you didn't? That's a shame, considering you're patrolling in a Grimm-infested forest. If you suddenly disappear without warning, what do you think your team will believe happened to you?"

The girl's eyes widened in horror as the realization of what he was implying dawned on her.

"Yeah, they aren't going to be happy when you meet back up with them. So, how about this? I help you find your teammates, and you'll help escort me back to Vale. Even though I can fend for myself, it's always way more fun with other people!"

And like that, a switch seemed to have been flipped. Gone was the meek girl that was embarrassed like she had her hand caught in a cookie jar, in her place stood a leader- one that took care in evaluating a potential addition to her party. The girl looked at him appraisingly. Her eyes roamed over him quickly but stopped at his cane. He noticed her gaze and shrugged.

"Old injury. Not much I can do for it, I'm afraid. I have a brace that lets me use my legs at full power via Aura consumption, but it's quite a strain. Besides, you've seen how strong I am." Jaune said.

"Against a single Beowulf." The girl said, disbelief filling her voice.

Jaune merely smiled at her.

"Hey, I'm not forcing you to do this, but what's that old saying again? 'The more, the merrier?' or something."

There was a tense stillness within the clearing. The two locked eyes as they tried to find a fault in either's story. They remained for a moment before the girl sighed.

"I suppose escorting you out of these woods wouldn't take too long…"

Jaune smiled as he gestured with his free hand.

"Lead the way, O' Guardian Angel."


Jaune followed behind his seemingly-mysterious-but-actually-awkward, cloaked stalker as they laid waste to another Beowulf pack. Honestly, the beasts were everywhere in this part of the forest.

Even with my brace, going against so many Grimm in a row…

Jaune cringed at the thought.

No, not going there. Focus. This is the perfect opportunity to make some early connections.

Jaune steeled himself as he moved his cane back to its normal walking position. He looked at the girl as she folded her weapon away. They walked in silence for a moment before Jaune decided to break the ice.

"So...I take it you're attending Beacon?"

The girl snorted.

"Nah, I'm just a little girl that really likes running through Grimm-infested woods ."

Jaune pouted.

"Well, sorry if I'm just trying to break the ice here. You don't have to go and attack me like that!" Jaune said with mock sadness.

This time, the girl outright laughed. Though, it was cut short when he responded.

"Although, now that I think about it, I am technically a civilian since I never went to a Hunter school nor do I have a license. Hmm, I wonder if I should fix that?"

The girl just looked at him curiously.

"So, you never went to Hunter school, yet you fight Grimm easily with an injury many would consider retiring from. If you aren't a Hunter, what are you?"

Jaune opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a loud shout.

"LEADER! WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Ah, I take it that's your team?" Jaune said.

The girl merely rolled her eyes before responding.

"GUYS! OVER HERE!"

Jaune could hear the underbrush around them being trampled on and disturbed as angry shouts responded.

Soon, three figures entered their little section of the woods. A blond, a dark-haired woman, and a sword-user looked towards Jaune for a moment before redirecting their gazes at an incredibly sheepish-looking girl.

"What do you think you were doing? Running off by yourself like that!"

"We're a team, Rose!"

"Look, don't run off like that next time. We're a team for a reason."

Three separate voices all shouted at once, yet each one carrying the same message.

The girl had the decency to look ashamed as she tried to meet their gazes.

"Look, guys, I'm so sorry. I promise this won't happen again. I just saw…"

She stopped and looked towards him, embarrassment coloring her face.

"I can't believe I didn't do this earlier, but, uh…" She trailed off before sighing.

"What's your name?"

Jaune blinked and then laughed.

"My name is Jaune, Jaune Arc. And what is yours, fair maiden?"

She rolled her eyes at his antics before responding.

"My name is…

Summer, Summer Rose. And this here is my team- Team STRQ."


Jaune walked through the cold, dreary cave. It was utterly silent, save for his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. He kept walking and noticed a faint light source directly ahead. He steadily approached the light before realizing it wasn't just a light. It was another cave.

He stepped into the cave and tried to calm his sudden vertigo. The tunnel he had been walking in opened up into a...well it was best described as a massive hole- headed straight down to the center of Remnant. The hole was more a chasm. It was around half the size of Beacon in diameter. The sides of the pit were covered in every Dust crystal imaginable. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, White, Orange, Cyan. A kaleidoscope of the most potent and expensive resource on the planet.

That wasn't the goal though. They were useful, sure. But, the goal?

Not by a longshot.

Jaune stood by the edge of the abyss…

...and jumped.


Thirty seconds…

One minute…

Five minutes…

Jaune put away his golden pocket watch as it reached five minutes after he jumped.

He loved the sensation that falling gave him. The adrenaline rush, the wind blowing at his face and through his hair- it was incredible.

Too bad most falls on Remnant were relatively short; or metaphorical.

Jaune snorted before activating his ring, producing a purple Dust crystal in the process. He looked at it for a moment.

Gravity Dust; known throughout Remnant as one of the most expensive and rare Dust types.

One of them being the key phrase.

Jaune tossed the crystal up into the air as hard as he could before clicking the heels of his boots together. A low hum sounded out from his footwear as they glowed a familiar purple hue.

He felt his descent slow as his boots were pulled towards the crystal. It wouldn't be enough on its own. The mass of the crystal was too small to slow the man at his current airspeed completely.

That's what the gravity Dust lining the cavern walls was for.

As Jaune reached the crystals, he activated the device attached to them. He watched as the gravity Dust began glowing and felt his momentum slow. After a moment, he had completely stopped and hung suspended in mid-air. Jaune clicked his heels together and the Dust deactivated.

Once he landed, he gazed at the treasure-trove that awaited him. There, at the bottom of the pit, was the largest single Dust crystal Jaune had ever seen.

It was golden. Not yellow, but gold. Like the rare metal that had been used as currency in the past. It was entrancing to look at. The crystal took up most of the space within the pit, except for the black crystals covering the ground and leading up the cavern walls.

Jaune sighed after a moment and took the drill out of his ring.

"Well, this Time Dust isn't gonna mine itself."

Thus, Jaune started on a journey that would see the rise of the most powerful company on Remnant-

Arc Dust.


Welcome to my new story, Arc Dust! I've spent quite a bit planning out this one, hopefully, everyone likes it!

Sorry about the lack of Phoenix this week, I wasn't feeling good and couldn't concentrate. (I think whatever I had last week came back to spite me). Luckily I had most of this chapter done and all I needed to do was edit it, so there's something.

I've updated my profile and set a release schedule of sorts for my fics. I might not adhere to it completely, but it's something to keep me motivated.

Also for those wondering, that little scene with the gravity dust was inspired by Maria's weapons in V6. God, those things are so awesome.

Anyways, that's all for today.

Review, Favorite and Follow if you enjoyed!

See ya next time!