Moving On and Getting Back Together
Chapter 1
"Are you almost done?" Ruby asked, restless and tired from standing in one place for so long.
"Almost." Jaune and Coco automatically said.
Currently, Ruby, Pyrrha, and Velvet are in Team Cfvy's room. The day of the famous Beacon Dance was right around the corner. And they needed dresses for the event. Unfortunately, because it was so highly anticipated, with nearly the whole school looking forward to it, every physical and online store was sold out in a matter of moments.
Fortunately for them, Coco had the materials on hand to make the dresses. Plus, Jaune also had some stuff on hand and had experience making and tailoring a dress to one's desires, as he had done so before for his sisters. However, despite the two of them working together, it was still taking a long time. A glance at the wall clock told Pyrrha, Velvet, and Ruby that four hours had passed since they started.
"You said that two hours ago." Ruby whined, tired and slightly hungry.
"Yup." Jaune said, finishing with the bottom part of Ruby's dress. Initially, Ruby had asked for a dress that was a little more mature, but only slightly. However, after a not-so-subtle warning from Yang, Jaune and Coco agreed to make Ruby's dress as modest as possible. But to compensate, they added a few more decorations to Ruby's dress.
"Does it always take this long, Velvet?" Pyrrha asked, remembering the few times she saw Velvet wearing a custom dress that Coco had made.
"It depends on what is being made. It can take from one hour all the way to nearly twenty-four hours. But the longest I had to stay in place was about six hours." Velvet answered.
"Wow." Pyrrha and Ruby said, surprised.
"Yeah. It was long. But it took longer because we took breaks, and Coco needed to refix a few things after the break was over."
"Makes sense." Pyrrha said.
"And is it true that you used to make dresses for your sisters, Jaune?" Ruby asked.
"Yup. I made, I believe... two or three dresses for each of my sisters for different events." Jaune answered.
"Did you ever make outfits for other people?" Velvet asked, curious.
"A few times."
"Are you self-taught, Arc? Or did you take courses?" Coco asked as she moved onto Pyrrha's dress.
"My mother taught me, actually."
"Really?" Ruby asked, surprised.
"Yup."
"Did you ask her to teach you, or did she just say you were going to learn?" Pyrrha asked.
"It's slightly more complicated than that."
"How so?" Coco asked, curious.
"Well, for starters, my family is pretty big. While lien wasn't always tight, we did have to find ways to cut costs and save as much lien as we could. And one of those ways was to try to make our clothes last as long as possible. But we all knew tears and holes were inevitable, especially when we go on... adventures. So, my mum taught us how to patch our clothes. But then I asked her to teach me how to make some clothes from scratch when I wanted to make some dresses for my sisters because they couldn't afford the ones at the store for their prom. And from then on, I just kept practicing until I could do this with minimal effort."
"Oh, that's nice." Velvet said, surprised.
"It really is." Ruby added.
"Well, they are my sisters. And I want them to be happy." Jaune said, smiling, as he remembered his sisters' smiling faces when he presented them with the dresses that he made.
"But even then, knowing how to patch and create clothes is a useful skill, especially when you are trying to save some lien." Coco said.
"True." Jaune said, shrugging, as he finally finished with his friends' dresses. He then stood up and stretched. "Alright. That's my part done."
"Fina-" Pyrrha, Velvet, and Ruby said, sounding relieved.
"None of you are done yet." Coco said, holding up her hand. "Now, keep that position unless you want to start over."
"But Jaune said we were done." Ruby said, confused.
"No. Blondie said his part was done. However, I'm not done. There are a few things I need to do before we are actually done. And let's just say we need some privacy for this next part." Coco explained.
"Oh, alright."
"So, what are you going to do, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, curious.
"I'm heading into town to pick up the tux I ordered." Jaune answered.
"Alright. Just be careful, Jaune. And take an umbrella since it might rain later."
"Right. Thanks, Pyrrha." Jaune said, smiling and happy that he got paired with such a caring partner. "See you guys later. I'll text you once I have my tux."
"Alright." The others said as Jaune exited the room. But as soon as he did, Coco turned to the others.
"He's not only going for the tux, is he?" Coco asked as she resumed working on the dresses.
"Nope." The other three answered with a sigh.
"Figures." Coco said, also sighing.
"Yeah. Jaune's going to try asking out Weiss again." Velvet said.
"I really wish he stops before he gets hurt." Pyrrha said, worried for her partner. While she knew Weiss wouldn't physically harm Jaune, she could get pretty nasty with her words. And they all knew Weiss would not hesitate to cross some lines.
"Yeah. I mean, Weiss is nice and all. And she can be a good friend at times. But sometimes, I feel like she is too harsh in rejecting him." Ruby added.
"And despite rejecting him numerous times, I feel like she also wants Jaune to continue pining after her for some reason." Velvet said.
"Isn't Weiss also crushing on Neptune?" Coco asked.
"I believe so, but I'm not sure." Pyrrha answered.
"She is. And while I'm not entirely sure, I think she might make a move on him during the dance." Ruby said.
"We should probably have a talk with Jaune once he returns." Velvet said, with the others agreeing.
"But speaking of crushing on someone, don't you three also have a crush on him?" Coco asked.
"We used to." Pyrrha answered, surprising Coco.
"Really? What happened then?"
"We used to have a crush on him. But that changed over time." Ruby answered.
"Yup. Now, we see Jaune as an older brother figure."
"An older brother that we always wanted but never had." Velvet added.
"Aren't you older than blondie, bun-bun?" Coco asked, raising an eyebrow. "So, wouldn't that make Jaune a younger brother?"
"Yeah, but Jaune still feels like an older brother despite being younger than me."
"Which doesn't surprise me, considering he does have seven sisters." Pyrrha said.
"Which, I must say, must have been a nightmare growing up. One is tolerable, but seven is just too much." Ruby said, remembering the time Yang messed with her. And thinking about timing it by seven caused a shiver to go down her spine.
"True. But I think having gone through all that will just make Jaune a better father in the future if he ever wants kids." Velvet said.
"Maybe." Coco said, shrugging. "Anyway. Let's move on to the next part of your dresses."
"So... how long do you think it will take before you are finished?" Ruby asked, almost nervous about the answer.
"I would say... another two hours." Coco answered, causing the others to groan as they could feel their legs getting tired.
Meanwhile
"Alright. I got the flowers... and I got the chocolates... I really should have prepared better for this." Jaune sighed.
Standing up, Jaune looked over the few... haphazardly thrown things on his bed. Everything that was there was what he hoped would allow him a smooth and enjoyable next few days. However, Jaune knew there was a big hurdle he had to overcome first for those days to even be enjoyable. And the stuff he brought would only marginally help him. Sighing, Jaune grabbed the chocolates and flowers before moving to stand in front of the mirror.
"Alright. You can do this, Jaune. This is it. You're going to ask Weiss out to the Beacon Dance. And hopefully, you will be in a relationship with her after today."
Breathing out, Jaune steeled himself before exiting the dorm. He then crossed the hall to Team Rwby's dorm. Thankfully, for Jaune at least, he knew that only Weiss was in the dorm and the others were out at the moment. Steeling his nerves, Jaune knocked on the door and waited.
"Coming." Weiss said after a moment. Jaune waited with bated breath as he heard Weiss get closer to the door. He then heard her unlock the door before opening it. However, Jaune wondered why she looked pissed the moment she saw him. "Hello, Arc."
"O-oh, hey, Weiss." Jaune said, coughing to clear his throat. "L-listen. I-"
"Hurry up, Arc. I don't have all day." Weiss growled.
"R-right. You know the Beacon Dance is t-this Sunday. I-I-"
"Of course, Arc. I always keep track of events. I'm not some delinquent that's practically begging to be failed."
"T-true. You're always-"
"For the love of Oum, Arc. Get to the damn point. And why do you have some flowers and chocolate?" Weiss snarled.
"Right. Weiss. Would you care to go to the dance with me?" Jaune asked, somehow not stuttering through the entire thing. But despite this, he felt his anxiety levels were at an all-time high. However, Jaune felt his world come crashing down around him when he saw Weiss laugh.
"With you of all people? Get real, Arc! Why would I go to such a big event with someone who is clearly below me?! I want to enjoy the dance and make an impression. How do you even expect me to do that when I have to babysit a dunce like you?!"
"I-I-I-" Jaune stuttered, not expecting this response and doing his best to hold back his tears.
"Seriously, I wonder what was going on in that empty head of yours! I know, NOTHING! Maybe think next time so you won't waste my time. Now, how about you go back to your dorm before someone sees me conversing with you. And a word of advice: if you're going to ask someone like me out, at least try and put in some work, and don't resort to some cliche, overused tropes like chocolates and flowers. Or, at the very least, try for some better quality like Atlas chocolates and now Vale ones." Weiss said before slamming the door in Jaune's face.
Heartbroken and barely able to keep himself together, Jaune dropped the gifts and left the hallway. But he did not head back to his dorm; instead, he headed out of Beacon to the bullheads.
One Hour Later
Vale
*Sniff*
Wiping his tears away with his sleeve, Jaune struggled to keep himself together while sitting on a bench in the park. Even though the park wasn't anything special, Jaune always came here when he needed to be alone or gather his thoughts. However, despite the quiet and serene atmosphere, Jaune was still a mess.
'Why?' Jaune thought, sniffling.
As he sat alone, Jaune wondered where he had gone wrong and what he did that caused Weiss to say that. Sure, Jaune knew he had very little experience when it came to flirting and nothing with dating. But he always did his best to be respectful and make his attempts as romantic as possible. Yet, Jaune knew that he had to have fumbled the bag somewhere down the line. And now, he seriously doubted he had a chance with Weiss.
But did it matter?
'Should I just give up?' Jaune wondered as he looked up at the sky and noticed the sun was slowly setting.
As much as it pained Jaune to think about giving up on his crush on Weiss, he knew it was for the best. While he didn't know where he went wrong, Jaune knew continuing to pursue his ice princess would be pointless. And if he continued, it would just lead to more heartbreak down the road and even uglier words. Plus, it might ruin their friendship, which he did not want to risk further. Not to mention, if he didn't, it might make things tense and awkward for the rest of his friends and teammates.
'Yeah. I should probably give up on pursuing Weiss. It's for the best.' Jaune thought, wiping away his tears.
Sighing, Jaune pondered what he should do next. He knew he couldn't go back to Beacon since Weiss was probably still mad at him. Plus, he didn't feel like answering the questions his friends might have about what happened. Yet, Jaune also wondered if it would be possible to ask someone else out to the Beacon Dance. The dance wasn't until Sunday afternoon, and it was only Friday.
There was just one thing.
'Who could I even ask? Better yet, who would even go with me?' Jaune wondered.
Jaune then realized that outside of his teammates, he barely had any friends at Beacon. And he did not want to ask some random person out. While one of his friends might be willing to accompany him, it would be highly awkward. Plus, all of them were already on dates with someone else. Well, all to his knowledge except Weiss.
'Great. Well, it looks like I won't have a date for the dance.' Jaune thought glumly. He then turned to his tux. 'Well, that's three hundred lien down the drain.'
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah
"Wow. I haven't heard that song in a long time." Jaune absentmindedly said, thinking someone was playing some music nearby. However, he then realized it was coming from his scroll. "Wait. Could it be?"
Taking out his scroll, Jaune looked at the caller ID and had a hard time believing what it said. For a moment, Jaune thought it was a prank from his oldest sister. But he then remembered that she stopped doing that half a year before he came to Beacon. However, Jaune was still hesitant as it could easily be a scam caller using something to mask their ID. And Jaune did not want to get his hopes crushed again today. Yet, after a moment, he finally decided to answer the call.
"H-hello." Jaune hesitantly answered.
'Jaune. Am I talking to Jaune Arc?' A familiar-sounding voice asked.
"Y-yes. I am Jaune Arc. Who is this?"
'Don't tell me you forgot all about your teammate.'
"Is it really you, Mimi?" Jaune asked, remembering the fun times and adventures he had with Mimi and some other friends. But he also remembered having a crush on her when they were younger.
'Yup. It's me, Jaune.'
"Mimi! How have you been? It's been like what-"
'I've been alright. Three and a half to four years since we last saw each other.'
"That sounds about right. Wow. Time sure does fly. So, what have you been up to?" Jaune asked, momentarily forgetting about his troubles at Beacon and Weiss.
'A lot. I recently got accepted into the college of my dreams. Not only that but I was also scouted by some producers who were looking for singers! If all goes well, I might even land a contract!'
"That's great, Mimi. And don't worry, I know you'll land the contract."
'Thanks, Jaune.'
"Oh, and by the way. Do you still have your odd culinary tastes?"
'They are not odd, Jaune. They are perfectly normal.'
"Mimi. Your favorite food is nattÅ, which is infamous for being something that requires an acquired taste. And you topped a dish with jelly beans and whipped cream."
'Hey, it's far better than you think it is! And it's not my fault for having such a refined palate.'
"Actually, I think your tastebuds packed up and moved to the Digi-World long before we first went there."
'Anyway.' And even though he couldn't see here, Jaune knew Mimi was rolling her eyes. 'But how about you? How's it been going for you, Jaune?'
"It's been hectic on my end." Jaune said, suddenly remembering what happened in the last hour. However, he pushed those thoughts to the side as he did not want them to ruin the moment.
'I can imagine. So what happened?'
"Well, after our last adventure together, nothing really... noteworthy happened for a while. But I did get into Beacon."
'That's great, Jaune. I know you always wanted to be a huntsman.'
"Not only that, but for some reason, the headmaster made me the leader of my team."
'Well, you might not have been the leader of our group, but you always knew how to help us and steer us in the right direction when we were lost or confused.'
"I guess that's why I got the Crest of Destiney."
'Maybe. I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. Then again, we all still have a lot of questions that need answers.'
"That's an understatement." Jaune said, chuckling. He still questioned how a lot of things worked. He tried getting some answers, but with how many inconsistencies and exceptions there were, Jaune ultimately gave up to save his sanity. "Oh, by the way. Have you heard from the others? I haven't seen or heard from anyone since we all went our separate ways."
'Technically, not on our own will since our families had to move.'
"True."
'But actually, that's part of the reason why I called.'
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked, confused but hopeful.
'Well, the reason why I called it two-fold. First, I wanted to catch up with you a bit. But the second is to tell you I'm getting the gang back together.'
"Wait. Really?"
'Yup. It was about time we got the gang back together.'
"True. We can't let a team like ours split apart."
'Yeah. And the others already agreed to get back together. We just need to figure out a time and place to meet up. Any ideas?'
"Well, technically, I am away from my hometown because... well, I'm attending Beacon."
'Maybe we could meet there?'
"Well, that depends entirely on one thing."
'What's that?' Mimi asked, sounding curious.
"Are we going to bring our... special partners?"
'Of course. Tai already has Agumon with him. And the others are getting their partners back. I am about to do the same. I can't wait to see my Palmon again.'
"Through the gate or the other way? 'Cause if it's the first one, then we have to be really careful to ensure no one else sees them. We don't want to risk another threat rising to the digital world. Plus, I don't feel like causing Vale a power outage again."
'True. We should also grab our crests and tags before we meet up just to be on the safe side.'
"Good thinking."
'So, where should we meet up?' Jaune looked up from his scroll and looked around. While this part of Vale didn't have as much to offer as other locations, it still had plenty to do. Plus, there were a few areas they could head to that would offer them privacy should they need some.
"You know, this might be a long shot. How about you all meet up with me?"
'You mean at Beacon?'
"Well, technically, yes. But there are a lot of places around Beacon we can use. There are food, arcades, movie theaters, parks, and some places we can use to escape should we need to. We can meet up at Grave Park." Jaune answered before an idea popped into his mind.
'True. Sure. I'll let the others know. But we probably won't be able to make it until Sunday since Tai and Kari live in Mistral now.'
"Right. But that should also give us time to get everything we need and for me to plan out a few things we could do."
'Alright. I have to go now and get ready. I'll also let the others know where we are meeting. It was nice talking to you, Jaune.'
'It's now or never. Plus, it would be nice to spend some more time with her and move on from Weiss.' Jaune thought. "Mimi. Hold on. Don't hang up yet."
'Why? What is it, Jaune?'
'Here goes nothing.' Jaune thought before sighing. "Mimi. You know about the famous Beacon Dance, right?"
'Of course. Well, mostly. I don't know everything about it, but it's hard not to know about it since nearly every huntsmen-in-training that wants to go Beacon talks about it at one point.'
"Well, it's this Sunday afternoon."
'Oh. So do you want to reschedule our meeting?'
"Actually, no."
'Then what about it?'
"Mimi. I was wondering... if you..."
'If I want to what, Jaune?'
"I was wondering if you would like to be my date for the dance." Jaune said before clenching his eyes and preparing himself for another rejection.
'Of course. I would love to be your date for the dance, Jaune.' Mimi answered after a moment, causing Jaune to let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. And if his ears weren't playing tricks on him, Jaune could have sworn that Mimi sounded excited and happy that he asked her out.
"Really?"
'Yes. Of course.'
"Thanks, Mimi."
'You're welcome, Jaune. But wait. Isn't the dance exclusive to Beacon Students?'
"Well, yes and no. Beacon students can bring their date to the dance even if they don't go to the academy or are just civilians."
'Alright. I will go as your date, Jaune. But where should we meet up and at what time?'
"The dance doesn't start until three. We can meet up a bit beforehand at Beacon's entrance to talk and catch up a bit before heading to the event. We can stay there for a while before meeting up with the others."
'Alright. See you for our date, Jaune.' Mimi said before hanging up. Once she did, Jaune leaned back on the bench and felt his whole body relax. Yet, he could not help the smile that grew on his face.
'Well, it looks like I have a date for the dance. And it is with Mimi of all people. I'm sure if I were younger, I would be jumping up and down like a goofball in love. Then again, I did have a crush on her. I wonder if I still do.' Jaune wondered. 'And even if I don't, it would still be nice to spend some time with her and the others again. Maybe I can even introduce my Beacon friends to them. However, I'm not sure if we should introduce them to our partners. That will end in nothing but disaster. But speaking of which, I wonder how my Dorumon is doing.'
Curious, Jaune grabbed his scroll but stopped when he saw the time. Even though he had time, Jaune knew he didn't have much to spare. He still had to take a bullhead home to get everything he needed. Plus, it would take some time to meet his partner again. Then, adding in the time to get back, answering his family's questions, and getting ready would take up even more time.
'Shoot. I better get to the bullheads now. But first, I should text Ren saying that I needed to head to my family's home and that I won't be back until Sunday.' Jaune said as he sent a message to Ren. Once done, he got up and ran to the bullheads while ensuring he did not mess up his tux.
Nine Hours Later
Saturday Six Am
'Damn. I forgot how long the trip was to Beacon from my hometown.' Jaune thought, yawning.
Getting up, Jaune stretched a bit before disembarking from the bullhead. And instantly, he felt a wave of cold air hit his face. Despite it only being fall, the cold was already starting to set in. Yet, it didn't come off as too much of a surprise since his hometown was a bit more up north than the rest.
'I guess this is why some of them decided to move.' Jaune thought as he walked home.
Thankfully, his home wasn't too far from the airport. While it typically didn't take long to get there, Jaune took his time as he wanted to reminisce since he didn't know when he would be able to visit again. After another ten minutes of walking, he finally reached his home to see that most of the lights were on. While some might be concerned, Jaune wasn't, as he knew that two of his sisters were very early risers.
'I will never understand how they wake up this early. Then again, I'm a bit of a night owl myself.' Jaune thought as he walked up to the door. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his keys and unlocked the door before opening it. 'It's good to be-'
"JAUNE! YOU'RE BACK!" His second oldest sister, Scarlett Arc, shouted as she rushed out of the kitchen to pull him into a tight hug.
"Yes, I'm back. But only for a little bit." Jaune said, chuckling at the sight of his sister's bat ears twitching side to side.
"Well, then we have to make the most of it." Scarlett said before pulling him into the living room. "You must tell me everything. I need to know about my little brother's time at Beacon."
"In a little bit. I'm still a little tired from the trip. Are the others still asleep?"
"All except Amber. She's downstairs in the basement, cleaning up after Violet's party yesterday."
"Let me guess. It was the three months since Jaune finally moved out of the house party." Jaune said, chuckling as he knew his younger sister would always try to find any excuse, no matter how small, to throw a party.
"Nope. It was her way to celebrate the mayor setting up a spot for writers to use."
"And that was despite not being able to skate or knowing how to use spray cans."
"Yup." Scarlett said, chuckling. "So what are you going to do now? And what's with the sudden visit?"
"I'm going to take a nap. I'm exhausted from the trip. Once I wake up, I'll tell everyone why."
"Alright. But can't you give your big sis a hint, at least?"
"Nope." Jaune said, knowing it would just end in him being teased. But that was the life of having siblings. "All I can tell you is that I'm meeting up with some childhood friends tomorrow."
"Childhood friends? Oh, you mean those kids that you hung out with and called yourselves the Digidestined?"
"Yup. Those are the ones. We are finally getting together again after four years."
"You guys had such an imagination growing up together. I still remember all of you talking about this digital world and how there were monsters that could evolve into monsters with guns."
"Oh, yeah. Such crazy imaginative times we had."
"Anyway. Go take a nap. I'll whip something up for all of us when you wake up."
"Okay. See you in a bit, Scarlett." Jaune said, standing up.
Nodding, Scarlett got up as well before heading out of the room. Once she left, Jaune headed to his room while being thankful that he had the foresight to buy a bag to hide his tux in. Once on the second floor, Jaune headed to his room and entered. But as soon as he did, he closed the door and locked it.
Sighing, Jaune went over to his bed and placed his bag on it. He then went over to the corner of his room where one of the electric sockets was. Taking out his keys, Jaune placed one of them into the socket's hole before turning it to the left and heard a clicking sound. He then pulled his arm back to reveal that it was a hidden storage compartment made to look like a typical socket in the wall. Reaching inside, Jaune felt around a bit before finding what he was looking for.
"So many memories." Jaune said as he pulled out the tag, which still contained his crest and a Digi-Egg that also had the Crest of Destiney.
Even four years after his last adventure, Jaune still had trouble accepting that everything had happened. Yet, it did. Granted, only he and his friends remember anything relating to the Digital World since something happened that made everyone else think it was a fever dream. But Jaune and the others knew that was for the best, as they did not want something else threatening the Digital World.
Standing up, Jaune was about to head to his bed but froze when he heard a low humming sound. It sounded eerily similar to an early computer booting up. However, as suddenly as it began, it went away. Yet, not even a second later, it was replaced by some light growling. While some might be worried about Grimm being nearby, Jaune wasn't, as he recognized the growling. Turning around, he smiled when he saw a small with purple fur on most of its body. It has two large legs and two arms, each of which has three black claws and a large, vulpine tail. The fur on its chest, paws, snout, and the end of its tail is white. It has two pointed ears with black stripes and two tiny black wings. On its brow is a triangular red gem, indicated to be an old-style Digicore Interface. A strange sight for many, to be sure, but a familiar and welcomed one for Jaune.
"Hey, Dorumon. How have you been?" Jaune asked, reaching behind and scratching Duromon's ear. While some Combat Species Digimon were more aggressive and typically wouldn't like this, Dorumon allowed his partner to do it as he immensely enjoyed it.
'Fine.' Dorumon answered. And to this day, Jaune still did not know if Dorumon, or any other Digimon for that matter, could actually speak or if it was just their bond or status as a DigiDestined that allowed them to communicate with each other. Although, unlike his friends' Digimon, where they talked a bit more, Dorumon was always more to the point.
"How did you get here?"
'Through the Gate and corridor. I sensed you were here.'
"Alright. How's everything in the Digital World? It's been a while since I have been there."
'Fine. Everything is okay.'
"That's good." Jaune said, relieved.
'Why did you come back to your birth home?'
"I just needed to grab my Digi-Egg and Crest."
'Is something happening?'
"Yeah. I'm meeting up with the other DigiDestined for the first time in four years. And they are bringing their partners along as well."
'Long time. It would be nice to see the other DigiDestined again. The others, not so much since I see them every day.' Duromon said, stretching a bit. 'So, when do we leave?'
"Not until later tonight or maybe early tomorrow morning."
'Great. What are you going to do until then?'
"Well, first, I am going to take a nap. And then answer a lot of questions my family has for me. After that, I'm not entirely sure."
'Alright. Wake me if you need anything or if anything exciting happens.' Duromon said before hopping onto Jaune's bed. It then went to the pillows and fluffed them a bit with his feet before curling up on one. Rolling his eyes, Jaune went over to his side and pulled a pillow out from underneath his bed. He then placed it on the mattress before getting on himself and falling asleep a second later.
The Next Day
Beacon Academy
'Okay. Okay. You can do this, Jaune. Just try and keep calm. Remember, this is Mimi. She's your friend. You don't have to be nervous despite going on a date with her. Oh, Oum. This is so much more nerve-wracking than I thought. Hopefully, I don't run into Weiss.' Jaune thought as he waited at Beacon's entrance for Mimi to arrive.
'Will you calm down? I can practically hear your thoughts.' Duromon said, sounding annoyed. Thankfully, despite it being such a big event, hardly anyone was outside. Yet, Jaune was thankful for that.
"I'm pretty sure that's because of our bond or my status as a DigiDestinted."
'Either way, calm down. I'm already restless as it is. And your loud thinking isn't helping.' Duroman said.
'Right. I keep forgetting that Duroman doesn't like to be idle for any amount of time. But that reminds me. I wonder what other Digimon might be a good fit for my Beacon friends.'
Sighing, Jaune placed his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall. He hoped Mimi didn't have any trouble getting a bullhead to get her here, especially of the Grimm type. While the Digital World and the threats within mainly were subdued for the most part, the dangers in Remnant were still very much present. And even though Jaune was positive their Digimon might be able to handle the Grimm, especially if they were Digivolved, he did not want to take the chance.
'Hopefully, it's just a-' Jaune began before stopping when he saw a Mistral bullhead touch down.
Thinking this was the one, Jaune pushed himself off the wall and waited with bated breath. After a few moments, the doors finally lowered. And what Jaune stole his breath away. Mimi was about his height, with her hair now shoulder-length, free-flowing, and a light brown as opposed to pink that one time. She wore a long, light green flowing sheath dress and black kitten high heels. And right where her heart was was her crest's symbol. Granted, it was slightly darker than it was on the crest, so it could be easily seen.
'Woah.' Jaune said, stunned.
'Finally, your date arrived. And with Palmon. At least I won't be bored while you two have fun.' Duromon said, stretching.
"Be nice, Duromon." Jaune said.
'Don't worry. I will.'
'Alright. Here goes nothing.' Jaune thought as he gave himself a once over as Mimi and Palmon made their way over to them. "H-hey, Mimi. Hey, Palmon."
"Hey, Jaune." Mimi said, smiling. "Hey, Duromon."
'Hi, guys.' Palmon cheerfully said.
'Hey.' Duromon said.
"I'm glad you could make it, Mimi." Jaune said.
"You know I wouldn't miss it, Jaune." Mimi said, smiling. "Now. Are you ready for our date?"
"Y-yeah." Jaune answered, blushing. From their close proximity, Jaune could tell that she was wearing some perfume. And while he couldn't tell what scent it was, Jaune felt like it suited her a lot.
"Take care, Palmon."
"Don't cause too much trouble, Duromon. And you know what to do if you hear or see someone coming."
'Yeah. Blast them away.' Duromon said, causing Mimi and Palmon to giggle and Jaune to roll his eyes.
'Don't worry. I'll keep an eye out.' Palmon said, much to Jaune's relief.
"Thanks. And just try not to get into much trouble. Let's go, Mimi." Jaune said.
However, before he could think about what he did next, Jaune offered his arm to her. Mimi seemed surprised by this gesture but smiled warmly before accepting it and wrapping her arm around his. Then, to his surprise, Mimi leaned into him and laid her head on his shoulder.
'So far so good.' Jaune thought, barely able to suppress his blush. Yet, as they entered Beacon and walked to where the event was held, memories of the times they spent together came flooding back to Jaune.
"Is Duromon still his old self?" Mimi suddenly asked.
"Pretty much. Although, I blame that on him spending too much time with my sisters before the event."
"Yeah. I still remember the first time your sisters met Duromon. But anyway. Tell me a bit more about your time here at Beacon. You only told me that you're the leader of your team."
"Alright. Is there anything specific you want to know?"
"How about your new team?"
"My Beacon's team's name is Jnpr. I'm the leader. And the rest are Pyrrha Nikos, Lie Ren, and Nora Valkyrie."
"Wait. The Pyrrha Nikos? The same one that's the mascot of Pumpkin Pete's cereal?"
"The very same."
"And let me guess. You did not even know it was her despite having the cereal nearly every day when we were younger."
"Nope. It was not until Nora told me about it that I finally pieced it together. And that was two months into the semester."
"Figures. But outside of your teammates, have you made any other friends?"
"A few. There's Coco Adel and Velvet Scarlatina from Team Cfvy. They are second-year students, though. Then there is Team Rwby. And it's comprised of Yang Xiao Long, Ruby Rose, Blake Belladonna, and... Weiss Schnee." Jaune answered. But he tried to hide all emotions when he saw Weiss's name, as the memories of yesterday still hurt.
"I bet you go on all sorts of adventures, just like our times in the Digital World."
"Well... sort of."
"What do you mean?"
"We don't go on missions by ourselves yet since we are still first-year students. The closest we get to that is supervised assignments."
"That sucks. But do you at least get paid? I heard that all huntsmen-in-training get paid."
"Well, yes and no. When we complete missions, we get paid. But since we don't have missions yet, we get a weekly stipend to cover our basic costs."
"That sucks. Tell me you can at least work a side job or something for extra lien."
"Nope. First-year students cannot work side jobs. Only fourth-year students can do that, which is kind of messed up since they have a lot of missions available for them that pay pretty well."
"Wow. That's messed up."
"Kind of. But what else do you want to know?"
"Tell me a bit more about your friends and teammates." Mimi answered as they passed by some Beacon students. They seemed surprised that Jaune had a date, but otherwise, they paid them no mind. Well, except for one who seemed happy and gave them a gentle nod.
"Okay. Lie Ren, but we just call him Ren, is the calm one of the group. He's a bit reserved but friendly once you get to know him. Then there's Nora. She is happiness and joy incarnate. She basically has a limited amount of energy, which is why we don't allow her to have caffeine. Oh, she also has a giant hammer/grenade launcher hybrid weapon that she won't hesitate to use against someone who hurt her or her friends. So, be careful."
"Noted."
"And last on my team is my partner, Pyrrha Nikos. She's great, friendly, and a little socially awkward."
"Like you?"
"Yes. Like me." Jaune said, rolling his eyes while Mimi chuckled. "But either way. Aside from that, I'm sure you and the others would get along with her."
"What about the others?"
"Coco is a no-nonsense type of person. But she knows when to take a joke and likes to tease a bit. But she is also fiercely protective of her partner, Velvet, who is a rabbit faunus. Velvet is pretty shy and doesn't like to be the center of attention. But don't let that fool you. They will tear you to shreds in an instant if you get on their bad side."
"Like some Digimon?"
"Faster... and more painful."
"Wow."
"Yeah."
"And what about the other team?"
"Team Rwby?"
"Yes. Them."
"Well, Ruby is sweet and adorable. She was the first friend I made here. And we bonded over how socially awkward we were and our love for comics and superheroes. Although, our first meeting could gone slightly better."
"What happened?"
"Well, we first met on the bullhead heading to Beacon, where I accidentally threw up on her sister's shoes."
"Because of your motion sickness?"
"Yup. And we then met up again after she accidentally created a crate in front of the school when she sneezed on some fire dust, which created a small explosion."
"I wish I could have seen that." Mimi said, chuckling.
"Anyway. Next is Yang. She is Ruby's older half-sister. She's kind and strong, loves to tell bad puns, and will generally have your back no matter what. But if you get her angry, run for the hills. Oh, and never mess with her hair."
"Her hair?" Mimi asked, confused.
"Yeah. She's proud of her hair, and rightfully so. But she also destroyed several Grimm in less than a minute when one cut a strand of her hair."
"Wow. Talk about an overreaction."
"Eh, they had it coming." Jaune said, shrugging. "Next is Blake. She's... a friend. To be honest, we're not that close. She's really reserved but nice once you get her to open up a bit. She's also a cat faunus... and that's honestly all I know about her. We hardly talk or interact with each other."
"That's okay. Some people you will be closer with than others."
"True."
"And the last member?"
"Oh... That's Weiss Schnee." Jaune said, struggling to keep his tone in check. But while he thought he did, Mimi caught the cracks and forcefulness in it.
'I wonder what happened. Hopefully, nothing bad.' Mimi thought. "What do you know about her? Or are you two not as close as with Blake?"
"It's... complicated."
"Did something happen, Jaune? You know you can tell me, right?"
"Of course. Alright. Can you keep a secret?"
"Of course, Jaune. Whatever you say stays between us."
"Okay. Well, Weiss was initially a bit cold to everyone. But despite that, I still had a crush on her."
"Did you ever ask her out?" Mimi asked, slightly jealous. While she did have a minor crush on Jaune, she wasn't going to step in and ruin it. She would let it play out.
"Yes. Several times."
"Did she ever accept?"
"No. She rejected me each time."
"Did you ever feel like she was just not into you?"
"No. I was that dense-headed. I thought she just playing hard to get."
"But you didn't stop. You just kept going."
"Yeah."
"When was the last time you asked her out?"
"Two days ago. I asked her out to the dance."
"And what happened?"
"It ended pretty badly. She said some... nasty words that I don't feel like repeating or even remembering. It really stung. It really did. I could barely keep myself together until I made it to Vale."
'I know Jaune should have stopped, but I feel like Weiss went a bit too far. Or took some pleasure in it. And it wouldn't surprise me if she did since she is the daughter of Jacques, after all.' Mimi thought, suppressing a snarl. While she did agree that Jaune should have stopped after the first few attempts, Mimi knew Weiss could have handled it better. Rather than insulting him, she could have just talked with him about how she did not want to be in a relationship with him. "What happened after?"
"Well, I went to the park since I always go there when I need some time alone. I contemplated everything and decided it would be for the best to move on from Weiss."
"I think that was for the best, Jaune. While I don't know her personally, I can tell that she is not the best person nor deserving of someone like you." Mimi said, smiling, causing Jaune to smile as well while his heart sped up ever so slightly.
"Thanks, Mimi."
"You're welcome, Jaune. And what happened next?"
"Well, what happened next is you calling to get the gang back together."
"Right. And they should be here in a few hours."
"Which means we have a few hours to enjoy ourselves." Jaune said, causing Mimi to blush as she knew that could be interpreted in several different ways. But she doubted Jaune meant it in that way since he had a pure soul.
"Oh, before I forget. Do you have classes tomorrow?"
"Nope. I don't have classes until Wednesday."
"That's great. That means we can spend a few extra days hanging out. Perhaps we can even meet your other friends."
"Sure. I think that would be a good idea." Jaune said, not entirely convinced they should meet all of his Beacon friends. But some they definitely could meet. "But let's not show them our partners. I don't know about you, but I don't feel like getting in trouble."
"Same." Mimi agreed as they arrived.
"Alright. We're here."
"Do I need to know anything or steer clear of anybody while we're here?"
"Not really. Just be your beautiful self." Jaune absentmindedly said before blushing along with Mimi. "B-but you should probably avoid Team CRDL. They're the school bullies."
"Alright."
"Now, let's go enjoy ourselves."
Pushing the doors open, the duo entered the room and were greeted by the sight of the event in full swing. Smiling, Jaune and Mimi entered the room and began enjoying what the event had to offer. First, they went to get some light refreshments. But they made sure not to drink the punch and only take any drinks that were sealed in bottles. Even though they doubted someone would spike the punch, Jaune and Mimi did not want to take a chance. Plus, they already made plans with the others yesterday to eat something at one of the nearby restaurants.
"Is it true, Jaune?" Mimi suddenly asked as they nibbled on some snacks.
"Is what true?" Jaune asked, curious, as he looked around for his friends and teammates. While he would prefer them to meet his other friends all at once, he wasn't against them meeting Mimi first. However, so far, he has only seen Ren and Nora on the dance floor. And poor Ren was having trouble keeping up with Nora and her limitless energy.
"That the food here is terrible like in our old school?"
"Oh." Jaune huffed, rolling his eyes. "Don't even get me started on that."
"That bad, huh."
"You don't even know the half of it. But at the very least, there's more variety than in our old school."
"Always on the positive side. But a positive is a positive." Mimi said, shrugging as she scanned the dancefloor. If she were being honest with herself, if one were to take away some of the weapons some partiers had, you could mistake it for an ordinary dance in a typical civilian school. However, one person caught her eye. "Hey, Jaune."
"Yes, Mimi."
"What does Weiss look like?"
"Pardon?" Jaune asked, confused.
"Weiss. Your... classmate. What does she look like?"
"Well." Jaune said, setting down his drink. "Wiess has a pale complexion, blue eyes, white hair that's usually in a ponytail, and she typically has some fancy earrings. But I'm not sure if she changed her hairstyle or jewelry for the dance, though. Why?"
"No reason." Mimi said, her gaze on the person she now could confidently say was Weiss. While she didn't know if she typically wore that much white, Mimi was still confident it was her. And beside Weiss was a blue-haired guy in a tuxedo. Yet, despite clearly being together at the dance, the guy was still looking at other partygoers.
"Alright. So, what do you want to do now?"
"Let's dance. The main dance, or however it is called when everyone dances together, won't be for another few hours. But by then, the rest of our friends would have arrived. And we would be heading out right after. And as we dance, you call me a bit more of your time here and your friends."
"True and alright. So, may I have this dance, Mimi?" Jaune asked, extending his hand out to her and wondering where this sudden burst of confidence came from.
"You may." Mimi said, giggling, as she placed her hand on Jaune's hand.
Smiling but also feeling his heart quicken, Jaune nodded before leading Mimi to a less crowded area of the dancefloor. Yet, as they made their way there, Jaune began slowly remembering some of the times they spent together outside of their Digimon adventures. He wasn't sure if it was just all that happened in these past few days catching up to him, but Jaune felt like his old feelings for Mimi were slowly returning. Yet, Jaune knew it was too early to tell.
Meanwhile
'Who is that girl?' Weiss thought with a snarl as she watched the dunce lead someone else who was clearly not a Beacon student or huntress-in-training to the dance floor.
"Is everything okay, Weiss?" Neptune asked.
"Yes, Neptune." Weiss answered with a huff.
"Alright. So, everyone is already getting ready to dance. Shall we do the same?" Neptune asked. Yet, as he asked this, he was looking at some other single partygoers.
"Sure." Weiss agreed, hoping that dancing with her crush would clear her mind. However, she was still pissed that the dunce had found someone else to take to the dance and was not still chasing after her.
"Great. Should we go to the center of the floor?"
"Actually, no."
"No?" Neptune asked, confused and surprised.
"I want to go to a less crowded spot." Weiss said, spotting where the dunce and his date were. While only slightly less crowded, there were still enough people there for them to remain obscured. Plus, since it was still a bit packed, it would allow her to save her energy for the main dance. 'I doubt that dunce has really moved on. But even if that is the case, he'll come running back like a love-struck puppy once he sees my dance moves.'
"Alright. There's one-"
"Actually, Neptune. Follow me. I know a better spot."
Not giving him a chance to say anything, Weiss grabbed Neptune's hand and dragged him to the spot that would give her a great view of Jaune and his date. Once there, she gave Neptune some hasty instructions before starting to dance. Yet, Weiss growled in annoyance when it took them a lot longer to find a comfortable pace. And her anger wasn't helped by the fact that Jaune and his date weren't talking about anything she deemed important.
'Just be patient. Good things come to those who wait. And soon, you'll have that fake knight will be chasing after me again.' Weiss thought with a smirk.
Later
'This is nice.' Mimi thought as she and Jaune danced. And his smile as he told her one of his adventures with his new teammates brought a smile to her face. It slowly reminded Mimi of why Jaune was chosen to have the Crest of Destiney. But more importantly, she was beginning to remember why she had a crush on him when they were younger. 'I know this is just a date for the dance, but maybe we can go on a real one soon.'
"And that was how my team nearly got a skylight for our dorm." Jaune said, finishing telling Mimi the tale of what happened when he and his team tried combining dust for a project for Professor Peach.
"I bet the headmaster and vice-headmistress were furious."
"Yes and no. Ozpin was basically, 'So that's what happens,' while Glynda was the one who was furious about the whole thing."
"I take this quite normal for you."
"Yeah. Pretty much. Honestly, it's not too different than growing up with my sisters. The only real difference that I can think of besides the obvious is the lack of dust."
"Is it just as dangerous as our adventures in the Digital World?"
"Yes, but in its own way."
"I hope our partners are okay."
"I'm sure they are. Palmon is smart, and Duromon can protect them if someone tries something."
"True." Mimi agreed as they stopped dancing. "Oh, speaking of which. Do you bring your crest and Digi-Egg?"
"Yup. I have my crest and tag on me while the Egg is in my room."
"Good. I have my crest on me as well. And I'm sure have theirs as well."
"Hopefully. So, what now? Do you want to take a break?"
"Yeah. I could go for a refreshment."
"Alright."
Letting go of each other, Jaune was about to offer his arm again, but Mimi beat him to it by grabbing his hand. Blushing, Jaune grabbed it and gave it a gentle squeeze before they headed over to the tables. They then grabbed a few snacks and a bottle of water before looking for someplace to enjoy their refreshments in peace. Thankfully, they spotted some empty chairs nearby so they could give their feet a rest. Walking over to them, they sat down and watched the rest of the students enjoy the event.
"You know, I still find it hard to believe that you never took any dance lessons." Mimi said, her gaze on Weiss and her date. After a couple of minutes, when she and Jaune started dancing, she felt someone's gaze following them. It did not take her long to figure out that it was coming from Weiss. She seemed vexed about something. And even now, as they were resting, Weiss had subtly moved closer to them, with her date being none the wiser.
"I know. My current teammates say the same thing. I never once took a class. It just... honestly, I just go with the flow and let my body go on its own accord." Jaune said.
"If only everything else was that easy."
"True. It would make life so much easier."
"What time is it, by the way?"
"It is four-thirty." Jaune said, checking the time on his scroll.
"Wow. Time sure does fly."
'Especially when you're having fun.' Jaune thought, blushing as he looked at Mimi. While he still wasn't entirely sure, Jaune felt like his old feelings for her were resurfacing. "What time are the others supposed to arrive? And where was it again?"
"They should be arriving in about an hour. And we agreed to meet up here. They wanted to see Beacon in person before we head into town."
"Alright. So, that gives some time for another dance."
"Yup." Mimi said before blushing when she realized the music became a bit more slow-paced with a slightly romantic undertone. And while not the most ideal, it would be at least somewhat suitable for what she had in mind. "But... uh... Jaune?"
"Yes, Mimi?" Jaune asked as they stood up.
"Do you think maybe we could do a slow dance?"
"S-sure." Jaune said, blushing.
Smiling, Mimi grabbed his hand and led him to a spot on the dance floor that was the least crowded. Still blushing, Jaune placed his hands on Mimi's hips while she wrapped her arms around his neck. They then began to awkwardly dance. Yet, neither wanted to pull away, and they soon fell into a comfortable rhythm that was still slightly awkward. However, unbeknownst to them, the DJ had spotted them and decided to help them out a bit by changing the music to a romantic song with the lights dimming a second later. Jaune and Mimi were surprised by this but just went along with it. And with each passing second, they felt their cheeks heating up and their faces becoming redder. Yet, while theirs was because of romance growing between them, another's was because of a different emotion.
Thirty Minutes Later
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. There will be a short intermission before the main event. So use this time to take a break and get ready." The announcer said before leaving the stage.
"That was... fun." Mimi said, blushing as they stopped dancing.
"Yeah. It was." Jaune agreed, also blushing.
"But I think it's time we stop and head out. Our friends should be here soon. Plus, we still have to find our partners."
"Yeah. And I don't know about you, but Duromon can get a bit irritated if there's nothing for him to do."
"True. And I don't want any trouble tonight."
"Too bad we didn't see your-" Mimi began but was interrupted.
"There you are, Jaune." A voice called out. Turning to it, Jaune smiled when he saw his friends walking over to them. But he was also slightly relieved that Weiss wasn't there.
"Actually, you're about to meet them." Jaune whispered to Mimi as his friends reached them. "Hey, guys."
"Hey, Jaune." Ruby said, excited.
"Hey, Vomit Boy. Good to see you." Yang said, causing Jaune to roll his eyes.
"Vomit Boy?" Mimi asked, curious.
"Let's just say that Jaune did not make the best impression when he first met them." Blake said, chuckling.
"But a more important question would be, who are you." Coco said.
"Are you Jaune's date?" Pyrrha asked, sounding hopeful, with Ruby and Velvet feeling the same.
"Yes, I am Jaune's date." Mimi answered.
"Everyone. This is Mimi Tachikawa. She's a childhood friend of mine." Jaune answered.
"Really?" Velvet asked, surprised. While she wouldn't admit it aloud, she always thought that Jaune had a lonely childhood due to not having any friends. But to hear that she was wrong was a great relief for her.
"Yup."
"We've been friends since I believe we were six. We went on a lot of adventures." Mimi added before cutting herself off so as not to reveal what those adventures were. "Sadly, we got separated when my family moved away. But we reconnected two days ago over the scroll, and today is the first day we have met in person since then."
"Oh, that's nice." Ren said, with the others agreeing.
"It is." Jaune said, smiling at Mimi, who smiled back. However, only Ren and Blake noticed the feelings in the air and their handholding.
"Do you have any adventures you could tell us?" Ruby asked, curious.
"Yeah. Tell us, Jaune-Jaune. Tell us all about your childhood!" Nora demanded.
"Oh. And did you have any other friends growing up?" Velvet asked.
"Well, yes. We did have other friends. And they are on their way here, which means we have to go." Jaune said, causing some of his friends to whine, which in turn caused Mimi to chuckle. "But another time, we can meet up. And we can tell you the kinds of... adventures we had in my hometown."
"Alright." The others said.
"Will you be gone the rest of the day, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked.
"Ah." Jaune said, looking at Mimi, who shrugged, as she was not sure either. "Possibly. But most likely, I would return pretty late. And if that's not the case, we'll probably spend the night in a motel. But either way, I'll text you guys to let you know."
"Alright. But be careful."
"Don't worry, I will." Jaune assured.
"And I'll keep an eye on him." Mimi added, causing everyone to chuckle. "Anway. It was nice meeting all of you. But perhaps next time we can get to know each other a bit better. And maybe even share some stories about Jaune's time here at Beacon with me."
"Oh, definitely." Coco said, smirking.
"And we got lots of juicy stories." Yang added, causing a shiver to go down Jaune's spine.
"Anyway. They're going to be here soon. Let's get going, Mimi." Jaune said.
"Right. See you guys-" Mimi began, but a loud, furious-sounding voice cut her off.
"OH, NO, YOU DON'T, ARC! YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"
"What was that?" Mimi asked, worried.
"Oh, this might not end well." Jaune said, recognizing the voice. And while the rest of his Beacon friends also recognized the voice, they were unsure why the person it belonged to was furious.
"What might not-" Mimi began, but yet again was cut off.
"STAY! RIGHT! THERE! ARC!" Weiss shouted as she stomped towards him with a furious aura emanating from her. And behind Weiss was a confused and worried Neptune following her.
"Uh, Weiss. Is something wrong?" Ruby asked, worried, while the others decided to stand to the side of Jaune and his date just in case something happened.
"Is something wrong? OF COURSE SOMETHING IS WRONG!" Weiss shouted. And this time, it was loud enough to capture everyone's attention who was nearby.
"Uh, Weiss. I think it would be best to keep your voice down." Neptune nervously said. But he shut his mouth when Weiss glared at him.
"What's happening, Weiss-cream?" Yang asked.
"What seems to be the problem?" Coco asked, glaring at the heiress.
"THE PROBLEM! IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE IT!?" Weiss shouted.
"In front of us?" Blake asked, confused.
"What do you mean by that, Weiss?" Jaune asked, confused.
"THE PROBLEM, ARC, IS THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FALLING FOR SOMEONE ELSE!" Weiss shouted, surprising everyone. However, before they could say anything, Mimi stepped up.
"Oh, yeah, and the correct way is to have a nice guy chase after you while you are clearly crushing on someone else." Mimi growled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss said, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh, you know what it means."
"No, I don't. So, why don't you enlighten me? And if you can't, then step back."
"I don't need to tell you. You very well know what is happening. Jaune told me the whole thing. And while it might not be obvious to him, it is clear as day to me."
"What's clear as day?" Neptune asked, confused.
"Yeah. What's going on?" Nora asked.
"Tell me. Or are you too scared you will get beaten?"
"Oh, I'm not scared. I will gladly throw down with you." Mimi growled, cracking her knuckles.
"Ah, Mimi. Please calm down. There's no need to fight." Jaune said, worried. While he knew that Mimi could fight a little, she was no match for a huntress-in-training.
"Yeah. This is a dance, not a fighting event. So calm down, you two. Especially you, Schnee." Coco said as she and Yang moved closer to her.
"Oh, I'm not scared of someone like you." Mimi said.
"Someone like me? You mean someone better than you?" Weiss asked, thinking she could goad Mimi into fighting her. However, what Mimi said next shocked everyone, especially Jaune.
"Nope. I mean a prissy, up-stuck heiress who can't stand the idea of not everything going her way. Or the fact that someone has moved on from her."
"WHAT?!" Wiess screamed.
"You heard me. You just can't handle the thought of no longer being at the center of attention. Honestly, you're just like your father."
"WHY YOU!" Weiss growled, about to punch Mimi, who seemed ready for a fight. However, before it could break out or Yang and Coco could stop it, Weiss and Mimi suddenly froze in place. They tried to move but couldn't.
"What's happening?" Mimi asked, confused.
"I do not get paid enough for this." The voice of Glynda said with a sigh. Turning to her, everyone saw that she was the one responsible for stopping the fight before it happened.
"Uh. Good afternoon, Ms. Goodwitch." Ruby and the others nervously said.
"W-what brings you here?" Nora nervously asked.
"Ozpin asked me to bring Jaune and his date to his office. However, he did not tell me why." Glynda answered. "But I also came when I heard yelling. And I do not need to tell anyone here that fighting is prohibited outside of the training area or class."
"Right." Everyone said.
"Now. Follow me, you two." Glynda said, letting go of Weiss and Mimi.
"Okay. Come on, Mimi." Jaune said.
"HE-" Weiss began, but Neptune, surprisingly, held her back.
"Don't worry. I'll try to calm her down." Neptune said, trying his best to keep his date under control.
"Want us to come with you, Jaune?" Ren asked.
"You all may come. Just stay outside the office." Glynda interjected. "I really need a vacation."
"Sure." Jaune answered.
Five Minutes Later
"What do you think your headmaster wants?" Mimi asked, curious.
"I have no idea." Jaune answered.
"Alright. We are here. You two head on in. The rest of you stay here." Glynda said before leaving. Turning to each other, Jaune and Mimi nodded before entering the office. And to their shock, the rest of their old gang were there. And to their even greater surprise, so were all their Digimon partners.
"Uh. You wanted to see us, headmaster?" Jaune nervously asked as Mimi closed the door.
"Jaune! MIMI!" The rest of the gang shouted, happy to see their old friends.
"Hey, guys." Jaune and Mimi said.
"Yes. Please take a seat, you two." Ozpin said, motioning to the empty seats.
"So... what's happening?" Mimi asked as she sat in between Kari Kamiya and Taichi Kamiya.
"And why do you seem... familiar with our Digimon partners?" Jaune asked as he sat between Sora Takenouchi and Joe Kido.
"Well, that's a bit of an explanation that I still don't quite fully understand myself, which is saying something considering what I have seen and lived through." Ozpin said, remembering how he reincarnated a few times. "But, to keep it short, while most of Remnant has forgotten, I have not, just like the rest of you."
"What do you mean?" Yamato Ishida asked, curious, as Gabumon sat on the floor next to him.
"Whatever wiped the memory of most of Remnant has not affected me and a few others. I remember the Digital World and the Digimon. I remember how several types of Digimon were used by the military, how some would appear due to glitches, and many, many other things. I have even pieced together clues I found to learn about the Dark Masters opening a rift between the Digital World and the Real World after the defeat of VenomMyotismon."
"Oh, yeah. I remember that. That was a tough battle." Koushiro Izumi said as Tentomon looked around the room, curious about everything he was seeing.
"It sure was." Jaune and Mimi agreed.
"But why gather us here in this room?" Joe Kido asked, serious. Yet, he lightened up a bit when Gomamon nuzzled into him a bit.
"There are three reasons. One is that I wanted to thank you for all that you have done." Ozpin said.
"Alright." Kari said while Gatomon paid attention.
"The second coincides with the third."
"What is it?" Mimi asked.
"As you all are probably aware." Ozpin said, getting up and moving to look out his window. "That there is hardly anything that is certain. But one of those few things that are certain is that a new threat will always arise, no matter the precautions one might take. As such, it is only a matter of time before the Digital World is threatened again, possibly along with Remnant."
"That is true. We might have saved it before, but another threat will come eventually." Takeru Takaishi said.
"But once it does, we will do whatever it takes to deal with it." Taichi Kamiya said, standing up, with Agumon nodding.
"That brings me to the last part. Because it will happen, you will need a safe place to meet and group for such an event. That's why I am opening up Beacon as a sort of sanctuary for all of you to use when it happens."
"Wow." Everyone said, shocked by the offer. Yet, they knew they would need it once a threat eventually arose.
"Thanks, Ozpin." Jaune and Mimi said.
"You're welcome. Now, that is all I have to say at the moment. But if anything comes up, I will inform Jaune so he can tell the rest of you. All of you can leave now. But do be careful on the way out with your Digimon." Ozpin said. Nodding, everyone got up and exited the room. But they were immediately greeted by Jaune's friends, minus Weiss.
"Jaune. Is everything okay?" Velvet asked.
"And who are these people?" Blake asked.
"And these cute creatures." Nora asked.
"These are the rest of my childhood friends." Jaune answered.
"And the little guys?" Pyrrha asked. The group looked toward Jaune for a moment. He hesitated for a moment before shrugging.
"They are called Digimon. It's a lot to explain." Mimi said.
"But we'll be happy to explain everything to you if you want." Taichi Kamiya added.
"Digimon?" Coco asked, confused.
"As we said. It's going to be a long explanation. But since we're heading into town, if you are all willing to come, we can explain it on the way and as we hang out." Sorra offered. The others seemed surprised by this offer for a moment before shrugging/smiling.
"Sure." They answered.
"Great. Let's head out now, then." Kari said. Nodding, everyone began walking down the halls.
"Wait. Do you two have any Digimon?" Ren asked, curious.
"Yes." Jaune and Mimi answered.
"They are outside." Mimi said.
"Can we see them?" Ruby asked, curious.
"Sure. But, uh. Let's swing by our dorm first. I need to pick something up first." Jaune said, smirking, as an idea came to his mind that the others instantly picked up on.
Ten Minutes Later
"Okay. Are you guys ready?" Jaune asked as everyone stood near the cliffs that overlooked the Emerald Forest. In front of Jaune was Duromon, while the other Digimon and his DigiDestined friends stood a couple of feet back.
"Yes!" Nora and Ruby excitedly answered.
"What are you going show us, Blondie?" Coco asked, curious.
"You'll see. Are you ready, Dorumon?" Jaune asked.
'Ready.' Dorumon answered.
"What's with the gold egg, Jaune?" Yang asked. Instead of answering, Jaune and the others smirked.
"Let's go: Digimon Armor Evolution!" Jaune shouted as he gripped the Digi-Egg tightly before tossing it to Dorumon. It seemed to fuse into him, with him glowing a second later. It got so bright that it blinded all of Jaune's Beacon friends. After a few seconds, the light died down, allowing them to see again. And what they saw shocked them to their core. "Everyone. Meet Dorumon's Mega Form: Alphamon"
"THAT IS AWESOME!" Nora and Ruby shouted while the others were too stunned to speak.
"T-that's amazing." Blake said, shocked beyond belief. However, everyone's shock turned to confusion when Alphamon suddenly reverted back to Dorumon.
"What happened, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, confused.
"Why did he suddenly change back?" Velvet asked.
"Did whatever that egg was run out of power?" Yang asked.
"In a sense. We'll explain everything in a bit more detail once we're at the restaurant. But to keep it simple, Digimons have different evolution forms. And to maintain higher forms, they need more "energy." But if they don't have enough, they devolve into a lower form." Joe Kiddo explained.
"That makes sense." Ren said, with the others agreeing.
"But enough about that. Let's get going." Taichi Kamiya said. Nodding, everyone headed to the bullheads. But as they did, Jaune and Mimi held each other's hands. However, while the rest of Jaune's friends were happy at the sight of this, they still wondered why Mimi and Weiss nearly came to blows earlier despite never having met before. They hoped it was just a misunderstanding that could be resolved. Yet, Pyrrha, Ruby, and Velvet knew that might not be the case. They just hope they can convince Weiss to leave Jaune and Mimi alone. But while they thought about that, everyone else was looking forward to learning more about the Digital World and Digimon, especially Nora, and Ruby.
Notes:
A request from volcasiron30.
Apologies if I got some things wrong/incorrect. It has been over a decade since I last saw any Digimon. So my knowledge is a tad bit rusty. Plus, even looking up some things online on the wiki and other articles didn't help a ton as I remembered how their different continuities/versions of how things worked. So, hopefully I didn't do too bad with it.