The Arc Knight VS The Dark Ninja

by SpiritWolf313

Hello, and welcome to my first FanFiction. In this story, Jaune Arc and Adam Taurus once knew each other in their past life. However, Jaune can not fully recall their acquaintance by some misfortune. It is not until they reunite that Jaune gradually discovers secrets in the Arc and Taurus family. To discover the hidden truths, the hunt for each other ignites. I hope you all enjoy.

3. Chapter 2: Sisters In Arms (Part 2)

Hello once again, folks. My apologies on this being published later than I said it would be. One thing I would like to tell you all about myself is I am a Marine in the United States Marine Corps. I had business to attend to that made my progress on this story delayed. Right now, that business is taken care of, and I managed to get through it. It still remains that I have work and school to go through. Judging by the little reviews, I'm not entirely sure if many folks are invested in this story. However, I am grateful of what I have, no less. Writing this story was fun. Especially towards the end. So I hope you all enjoy it more than I did!

Chapter 2: Sisters In Arms (Part 2)

(1 Year Ago…)

Catherine and Jaune enter through the door of the one-way mirror wall. On the other side of the wall is the controls for simulating the previous room's battle ground, as well as music. Behind the controls is a regular basement chill spot. Necessities, such a carpeted floor, washer and dryer, and a couch, as well as a mini-fridge, TV set, video games, and a book shelf are displayed to establish a standard basement. A standard basement with the exception of a high technological simulation room built in.

The Arc siblings fall down to the couch, covered in sweat, and still breathe heavily. Catherine looks at Jaune with his grinning face.

Catherine: "Hehe. You cheater!"

Jaune: "How… How was that cheating?" Jaune sits up, leaning on his knees, and catches his breath.

Catherine: "You know the rules; Once your aura is depleted, the match is over."

Jaune: "And it was, before I took you down! Haha! You're just jealous that my aura replenishes faster." Jaune gets up and walks toward the mini-fridge. "Besides, if I can take my opponent down with little to no aura, and some smooth moves while I'm at it, I'm sure I can get into Beacon Academy." He passes Catherine a drink, and she takes it.

Catherine: "The goal is for you to be accepted into Beacon, but by abiding the rules. You can be as limitless and ruthless with all your grooves after graduation. But for now, you need to learn how to fight like a Noble Knighted Huntsman. Not a choreographer."

Jaune: "I thought the goal is for me to get stronger, so I can work my way passed these hand-me-downs."

Catherine: "You will. It's just that you don't know how to use your aura properly right now. It replenishes so fast and so much, that it leaks out of you, leaving you with less containment for control. Nobody's ever had that kind of imbalance, Jaune. So you'll just have to kiss up to them until we, or maybe they, can figure that out, as well as teach you more than what you know. Maybe they'll help discover you're semblance. And THEN, you can acquire new armor."

Jaune: "Yeah, you're right. But that doesn't mean I have to kiss up to you!" Jaune playfully punches Catherine's shoulder. "And when I get my new gear, I'll look like a real Huntsman." Catherine non-playfully punches Jaune in the shoulder, hurting him passed his shoulder-plate. "Ow!"

Catherine: "You already look like a Huntsman in the armor you have now! And you'll still be a student even in your new armor. The gear you have now isn't just some hand-me-downs, as you might call it. They're a family heirloom that our great great grandpa fought in. He passed that down to our great grandpa, then our grandpa, then daddy, and now you. The girls and I would've worn them if they weren't so, you know, 'top-tightening', so we just stuck to Crocea Mors until it was your turn. And if mom and dad can stop multiplying like Pumpkin Pete Rabbits…"

Catherine and Jaune: "Eww!" Catherine and Jaune shiver in the thought of parental procreation.

Catherine: "... you can pass them on to your children in the future too. So have some pride!"

Jaune: "Yeah, you're right, again. Thanks, sis." Jaune pats Catherine's head, and she adorably smiles.

From the ceiling, Jaune and Catherine look up and hear footsteps creaking from upstairs.

Catherine: "That must be daddy upstairs. I'll be right back." Catherine hops off of the couch, and goes toward the stairs.

Jaune: "Okay. We still need to hit the weights. I'll be down here." Jaune sits up on the couch and starts removing his leg armor.

Catherine: "Okay. No problem." Catherine goes up the stairs, leading to the kitchen, and heads to the living room. "Hey, daddy? Is that you?" She looks into the living room, and instead of her father, she finds someone else's back facing her. The person's back bares a mark of a symbolic rose. The person slowly turns around to face her. "Wait… Adam, is that you?!"

Behind Adam, what was previously in front of him before slowly turning around, is the family's rack display of various different swords. In his grasp is a white and red chokuto, sheathed in a rifle. The weapon set currently in his possession leaves the sword display behind him with one empty rack. Around this time, Adam's appearance is only slightly different. His dominant black color scheme is a light shade of grey, from his faunus trait horns to his tribal outfit, and shoes. He still has the now notorious White Fang mask on. And this comes to Catherine's caution, as well as the weapon in Adam's grasp. It changes from its previously white and red color to matching his shade of grey and a darker red.

Adam: "Hey there Catherine. I won't be here long. Just taking back what's mine." Adam smirks and makes short talk nonchalantly. However, Catherine can not do the same.

Catherine: "Oh… Okay. Well, I mean… it's been four years, Adam! We haven't seen you, or your parents, and you guys just disappeared, and… You're one of them… aren't you?!" Hesitantly, Catherine questions Adam's apparent affiliation. Adam catches on to her questioning, seeing his terrorist mask.

Adam: "Hehe. We were kids back then, so it's no wonder our folks kept secrets from us… But it wasn't until I put this on, that I now see the world for what it truly is!" Adam starts walking, looking at the busted door behind Catherine. "You shouldn't trust your father. We didn't just disappear. We were forced to leave. And that's what I'm doing now."

Catherine: "Adam, wait." Adam stops. "I don't know what's going on, or what happened when we were kids, but you can't just break into our house and steal from us! If you've really fallen to those terrorists out there, if that's what you've really become, then maybe you shouldn't be welcome here! But I can not let you go out there with Wilt and Blush! They're not yours anymore."

Adam: "I did not come here to fight..." Adam takes out a magazine and inserts it into Blush. "...so do not provoke me." Adam holds his weapon behind his back with both hands and walks passed Catherine.

Catherine: "Adam, stop! That belongs here! I said you're not leaving with-!" Catherine grabs Adam's arm. He twirls his arm out of her hold, and grabs her by the neck. He throws her a few feet across the living room. At the same time she slams into to the wall, thunder roars outside, and rain falls. The clouds cover the sky, dimming the sunlight through the window.

Adam: "Stay out of my way! Last warning." By stealing from her family, and being tossed to a wall, Catherine's assertiveness goes into aggression. Getting up to one knee, she extends her arms toward Adam. With her gauntlets, she shoots multiple bullets at Adam's rear. However, without turning around, Adam diagonally unsheaths Wilt across his back, catching a few rounds. In three fast movements, invisible to the average eye, he slashes the remaining rounds and assumes his previous position. It is as if he had never moved. The only apparent change is his brief red glow, and his grey complexion darkening slightly. He then sheaths Wilt back into Blush, now matching his darker grey complexion. "...Fine then. Come and get it!"

Catherine gets up, and engages her weapons in boxing mode. She charges at Adam, with his back still turned. Catherine leads with her right(sword) fist, but misses. Adam does a backflip to kick the back of her head. She hits the floor, and he lands with his feet at the sides of her head.

With little hesitation, Catherine gets back up. Adam steps back, now further from the door. Her sparring match with Jaune earlier leaves her still tired, while Adam is assumed to be in top condition with full dust rounds in Blush. His confidence with his hands and weapon still behind his back, and his arrogant smirk strikes irritation as well as worry in Catherine's heart. Still, she continues to fight.

Catherine approaches Adam, and delivers missing punches, all aiming for his smug face. Better yet, she is aiming for the disrespectful mask, hiding the soul she once knew. While feeling a sense of irritation developing a strategy, she reaches out for his face. He leans back, thinking her effort failed. However, her effort prevails as she grabs his face by his blood system inside.

With the little aura replenished in her body, Catherine pulls Adam's head down to her knee, hitting him back up. She then hooks her sword fist at his cheek, and jabs her shield mitten straight for the front of his face. She goes for another sword hook, but he ducks down and dodges it. Using his momentum, he twirls and springs back up to kick her in the abdomen. She goes back a few feet, while still standing.

Catherine tries to catch her breath, while Adam grits his teeth, now agitated. He then bends his knees in a more ready fighting position, but with his arms and weapon still behind him.

Catherine engages her gauntlets into sword and shield form, and swiftly dashes to Adam for an attack. Unfortunately, Adam twists his body sideways to avoid her swing. At the same time, in a reverse grip, he cuts through half of her waist on her right side, nearly splitting her in half.

Behind Adam, Catherine temporarily stands, with her legs shaking. She stumbles toward the wall, dragging against it, trying to hold herself up. As she moves, blood streaks upon the wall and she falls on a small table, knocking it down. With too much pain, she cannot even scream for help. Only go into shock. Barely breathing, she holds her wound that is trying to open up to her damaged organs.

Adam walks up to Catherine, grabs her by the top of her chestplate, and slams her up against a wall, sitting up. She screams in agony. He gets down to one knee and faces her.

Adam: "I warned you, Catherine. You should've just let me leave. You're just as arrogant as your father. Full of pride and selfishness. You'll go so far, that you can't even spare a few weapons, with all that you already own." Adam stands up, looking down at Catherine. "That's all that matters to you all. Protecting your own. So long as you all cover your own asses, but have no regards for your comrades. Hehe. I suppose I can relate, considering what I've become... Now if you'll excuse-."

(Present Day...)

Jaune: "Rr- Grr- Gah!"

Catherine: "Jaune? Jaune?!" Catherine looks at Jaune, holding his head with his hands in agony.

Ren: "Jaune?! What's wrong?!" Ren runs from the sink to Jaune.

Jaune: "Aagh! Er- Grr!" Jaune falls off of his chair, and crawls toward the living room. His head throbs, as if it were about to explode. Memories flash within his vision. As quick as they came, they seem far more clear to Jaune's perception than his other breakdowns.

Nora: "What's happening?! Jaune, say something!" Nora drops to her knees at Jaune's level.

On two knees, Jaune slowly gets up to one knee, touching his temple. The visions seem to go away, but leaves the memory still feeling incomplete. Either way, the pain is sustained for now.

Jaune: "I-I-I… remember! The living room! Catherine, you were right there, below the window. I was down stairs. And then I heard noises. Bumps and shouting. And he… he hurt you!"

(1 Year Ago…)

Catherine goes upstairs, while Jaune stays downstairs. He takes off his leg gear, and replaces his toe plated boots with sneakers. While removing the armored helmet attached to his hood, Jaune looks for his scroll, unsure of where he last placed it.

Jaune: "Crap. Where did I put it?" He removes parts of both gauntlets, exposing his orange sleeves, but leaves small plates on the top of his wrists, under his brown gloves. Right then, he finds his scroll on top of a bookshelf. "Oh, there it is. Why'd I put this up here?"

Jaune attaches his headphones to his scroll, and turns on his music. His music is loud enough to block out any outside noise. And then, there is a loud noise that he just heard. Seeing as it is raining outside of the basement window, he just shrugs and assumes it is only thunder. While dancing to his music, he tries to take off his gloves. But before he does that, he bumps into the same bookshelf, knocking down a few books.

Jaune: "Aw man." Jaune gets down and picks up the books. He puts them back from the mess pile he made. At his feet and underneath the pile, he sees a folder that might have been hidden in between the books. The folder reads 'CLASSIFIED - OPERATION: FREE OF SCHNEE'. "Huh? What's this?...Is this one of dad's orders from work?" He looks at the date to see how old it is. "This was like… more than seven years ago. This should be with dad's studies. What's it doing down here?"

Jaune opens the folder, and sees three sections of papers held in paper clips. There are numerous details in the papers, but the profile names is all he focuses on. The biggest stack of papers has a name that identifies as "High Leader Belladonna, Ghira".

Intrigued, Jaune takes off his headphones. He looks at the other section of held papers, being less than the other's. The front paper identifies as 'Agent CODENAME: RedBull'.

Jaune: "RedBull? That must be..." Suddenly, Jaune hears bumps and glass breaking. Before he can recall the possibilities of who that agent is or even look at the other section of papers, he drops the folder. Not just by hearing bumps and glass break, but by hearing coughing and loud hyperventilating. "Catherine?!"

While only wearing the partial gear he had at Beacon Academy in the future, Jaune springs into action. He grabs his Crocea Mors set and runs upstairs. On his way up, he can hear a male voice talking.

?: "-as arrogant as your father. Full of pride-"

Jaune makes his way through the kitchen and stares into the living room. There, he sees Catherine sitting up against the wall, below the window in bad condition. In front of her is an ominous, yet familiar trespasser interrogating her; Adam Taurus, with Wilt and Blush, dripping with blood.

Around this time, while Jaune still can not use his aura at will, he is aware of its times of breakthrough. In certain heated moments, it activates, and he knows how to use it for the most part. Seeing his family in danger counts as one of those moments. Without letting Adam finish speaking or leaving, Jaune has the scene fully assessed. He focuses the anger of seeing his sister being harmed into his weapon. While holding Crocea Mors, without advancing from his position, Jaune unsheathes his sword, and at the same time, slashes a white projectile aura slash at Adam's back.

Adam: "-have no regards for your comrades. Hehe. I suppose I can relate, considering what I've become... Now if you'll excuse-. Ahh!"

The attack cuts diagonally, leaving Adam with a bloody back, and the rose symbol on his outfit divided from the stem. With the first draw, Jaune now advances at his intruding opponent. He slashes downward at Adam, and he tries to block the attack with Wilt. However, the strength upon Crocea Mors pushes Wilt down. Jaune then slaps Adam with his shield, while reaching to grab one of his horns. Holding the Bull by the horn, Jaune swings him further from Catherine. Adam remains on his feet, and Jaune instantly approaches him in a sword lock.

Jaune: "What are doing here, Adam?! What did you do to Catherine?!" Jaune and Adam break sword locks and start their duel in between conversation. "Seven years… no visit… no calls… We don't know where the hell you've been, and the first thing you do after coming back… is attack one of my sisters?!"

Adam: "I have no obligation… to you… or any of you Arcs! Not me… not my weapons… or my family! Your father was the one that left and turned his back on us. And with my family gone, I'm here… to pick back up… where they left off!"

Jaune: "RedBull?..." Looking back in thought, Jaune reminds himself of the folder downstairs. Adam cuts his train of thought off and ends the sword fight by forcing Jaune's sword sideways. Then, he cuts down at Jaune's left knee, tearing his jeans and making him bleed and bend slightly. "Ah!"He sheaths Wilt, and looks down upon Jaune in pain. "...So the White Fang, is that it? Well, that's what I assume, judging by the mask. Hehe. I never would've thought you and your family would stoop this low… They're not dead, are they?"

Adam: "Tsk. Hypocrite… No, they're not dead. Only disbanded. All the more reason why I will allow noone to stand in my way. I will succeed where they failed years ago. Their first mistake was leading faunus and themselves to believe that humans like you can be trusted."

Jaune: "What are you talking about? We've done nothing but welcome you, Mr. and Mrs. Taurus to our home! We loved you guys! You were all like family to us, and then you just disappeared! Why?! What happened?!"

Catherine, still conscious, slowly has her aura restore her vital organs partially. This allows her to speak up.

Catherine: "Look, Adam, I'm not sure what daddy did, but it was wrong. Okay? So just take the sword and gun, and leave us alone! It's yours! Go!"

Adam: "Hehehe. You see that?" Adams points at Catherine. "Mercy, pleading, submission. You see what one swing of a blade can do? This will be the power humans recognize, so they'll know their place. Your sister surely knows her place." Without revealing to Jaune's sight but Catherine's, Adam slowly and silently clicks Blush in the ready to fire.

Catherine: "Adam, stop! You got what you came for. Just don't-!"

Adam: "I could make her do whatever I want, couldn't I?" Adam gives a sinister grin that ticks Jaune off even more.

Catherine: "Get out!" Jaune closes the distance with five steps, sprinting with his sword in both hands. He is unaware of the trap Adam had set, and that Catherine can see. "Jaune, no!"

Adam sticks out Blush, united with Wilt, and shoots Wilt at Jaune's head, making him stumble backwards. While Wilt twirls in the air, Adam jumps up and kicks the handle. The blade penetrates Jaune's lower abdomen, under his armor, and passing through his spine. Because of this, Jaune's aura depletes, once again.

Catherine: "Jaune!" Catherine watches her brother scream loudly in pain, while still unable to move and help.

Adam lands with Jaune behind him, having wide eyes and dilated pupils. He falls to his knees, attempting to disconnect the intimacy with Wilt. Before given the chance to, Adam grabs Wilt by the handle, slapping Jaune's hands away.

Jaune: "(whisper) Shld y wsh t b svd, y wll rpnt fr y ctns!" Adam could not make out what Jaune says, so he leans in closer. "You remember what your father told us years ago; 'Should you wish to be saved, you will repent for your actions.' But what you did to my family, I'm gonna do to you. Remember that!"

Adam: "I have… and I will." Grasping Wilt, Adam aggressively pulls his sword up and out of Jaune. The thrust lifts him up in the air, as well as split the rest of his torso unprotected by his armor.

Jaune's paralyzed body makes it way near the floor. But before he could land, Adam holds Blush out in firing position. He shoots him, dead shot in the head, slamming his back against the wall. He then hits the floor with his face first, and remains motionless.

Catherine: "JAAAUUUNE!" Catherine screams and cries, watching her brother fall in a bloody mess. More bloody than her condition.

With his blurred vision, Jaune watches his sister in an emotional wreck. Progressively, her body gains little strength to move. From her sitting up position, she falls to her front and slowly crawls toward him. However, blocking his sight is Adam's grey and red shoes walking his way.

Then, the grey on Adam's pants and shoes seem to fade to a lighter shade of grey. To even more of Jaune's surprise, Adam falls to his knees. Even after his actions, Adam looks devastated and even remorseful. His words were an even greater surprise.

Adam: "Jaune…? Catherine…?! Oh no… No no no! I went too far! I shouldn't have… I could've… I-I needed my weapons! That's all I-!"

Jaune's vision becomes even more blurry and fading red. Everything starts to get dark for him. The front door, still letting in rain, sheds the most light in the house. Then, that light dims after seeing a shadow step up to the front door.

?: "What are you doing?" A long pause. "Wh-What's going on here?!"

Adam speaks, but is unheard by Jaune's damaged head concentration. Along with the shadowy figure, Adam disappears into the rain and light outside.

Then, everything goes completely black as Jaune shuts his eyes. His whole body is numb, including his head with a fading ache. But slightly, he can feel a hand, and hear a faint sob getting quieter.

Catherine: "Jauney… *sniff*. It'll be okay. Please, just hang on!... We need to get… We need… to get…"

Hearing, feeling, and seeing nothing more, the young Knights black out.

(Present Day…)

Jaune: "That's all I can remember." *sniff*" Jaune wipes the tears from his forgotten, now partially remembered, amnesia. "That whole day, I can remember all of it, up until I got shot in the head. I can almost… feel it still." Jaune touches his forehead, while in a chair, no longer on the ground. A cup of warm tea lies in front of him, prepared by Ren. Nora fans away Jaune's profuse sweating, while Catherine massages out the tension in his head and shoulders.

Ren: "The brutal attacks from Adam must have caused severe damage to your brain and spinal cord, resulting in amnesia. That may be why your memory is incomplete."

Jaune: "Yeah. But none of this tells me how I know Adam. How does he know us and our family? How do WE know him and his family?!"

Catherine: "Adam was your sparring partner when we were all kids. The Taurus family were our close friends back then. They were like a second family to us. Does that help at all?"

Jaune: "Yeah a little, not that I remember. But if they were like family to us, then why did he nearly kill us? How am I even still alive?"

Catherine: "An emergency team came and picked us up while we were unconscious. I don't know who called them for sure, but my guess would be Adam himself, after getting upset before he left. Maybe. As for why he's with the White Fang and the way he is now, that, I don't know. He seems… way darker than when we were younger. Maybe he really did become something. Or maybe this has to do with why daddy took advantage of your memory loss at the hospital and made me keep you in the dark. He told me to keep that day between him and I." Catherine had always known Jaune's previous abilities and affiliations, and Jaune now only remembers some of them. Even still, he, as well as Ren and Nora, become even more clueless knowing there are secrets within even the household. "Before daddy showed up at the hospital, I woke up a little while after being unconscious. It took a few stitches, but I pulled through, as you can see. But the results for you were too hard for me to even bare. The doctor said the sword penetrated your abdomen all the way to your spine, making your LumberJacked up. The sword went up-."

Jaune: "Wait, hold on. What did you say, Catherine?" Jaune loses his concentration after hearing the last part of Catherine's sentence.

Catherine: "Your LumberJack-... *sigh*. Right… she's got me all messed up…"

Nora: "What's wrong?"

Catherine: "Back then, and to this day, Punkelman had became our doctor, and I assume you all know how she is. Because of how she explained your injuries, I got all messed up myself just now… I meant 'lumbar'. The lower part of your spine."

Jaune: "Oh, okay. Hahaha. That must've been an interesting conversation."

(1 Year Ago, Hospital…)

At the hospital, Catherine sits in a wheelchair while bandaged up, and wearing a gown. Before her is Jaune, unconscious in bed, and their doctor with a scroll pad. She continues explaining the rest of the results of his injuries in puns.

Dr. Punkelman: "Anyways, the blade then went up to the Thoracic Park of his-."

Catherine: "The thoracic part, you mean?"

Dr. Punkelman: "Yeah yeah, of the spine. The blade leaves out of him from there, thanks to his armor. However, the damage is only halved. The aftershock of this attack continues the rest of the way up to the Surgical Anime, making this scene kinda look like a Cervical Vertebrae… Or, the other way around I mean. Sorry. Hehe."

Catherine: "...I'm sorry, what? I don't get- What?!... *sigh*"

(Present Day…)

Catherine: "Hehehe. Anyways, they got ahold of our files from our annual check ups. They were aware of your rare aura system. And according to Punkelman, the aura activated hours after patching you up at the hospital and restored your body's injuries. It would've taken years for you to make that recovery. But this time, after it restored all of your wounds, your aura didn't leak while growing like it did before. It stayed grown, in the bone."

Jaune: "...Huh? 'Grown in the bone'?"

Catherine: "Sorry, Punkleman again. Hehehehe. What she meant was your body keeps on growing aura, and it holds it. That's how you have a lot of it now. But when you were done healing, it re-locked itself as it grew in you."

Jaune: "Oh. So that's what you meant when you said I wouldn't have as much aura as I do now if it weren't for you. I mean, that's not so bad, but, that wasn't your fault. You did everything you could to protect us." Jaune approaches Catherine and places his hands on her shoulders. "And we're still alive. That's what matters now, Catherine. We're all just fine."

Catherine: "Yeah, but not really. You lost your memory, which means I lost the brother I grew up with, and all daddy wanted to do was hide it all. And I helped! I kept everything from you up until now. I wasn't allowed to unlock your aura again. I had to lie and tell you the circulation in your feet was cut off because you put them on the wrong feet, and you passed out."

Jaune: "Yeah, I remember…" Nora and Ren leave the their seats and motion to Jaune to get ready for the day. "Speaking of which, I should put them on, because we do need to start heading out."

Catherine: "Yeah… Good idea. By the way, Jauney, I fixed your armor and sewed up your hoodie while you were all asleep. It took me some hours last night, but you should be fine now."

Jaune: "Great. Thanks." Jaune goes back to his room, and Catherine follows. He takes his shoes, revealing the writings "Left" and "Right" on their designated soles. "Because she told me that long ago, I thought it'd be important if I wrote this down. Hehe… Maybe Adam's right… Maybe dad isn't the man we thought he was…" Jaune feels sad and confused after hearing his sister's long awaited confessions. But still, he finds the urge to seek resolution. "And while that might be the case, that makes Adam no better. Which is why I need your help Catherine. Right now, something bigger is happening out there. And Ren, Nora, and I need to take action, or at least find some way to support others. This is a lot to take in, and I don't even know the half of it, but we'll find out what dad got us into, and tried to keep out. For now, we've got to head out and touch base with some friends, and see how they're holding up. Maybe they'll know something we don't."

Catherine: "Okay. I'll go with you guys."

After getting themselves ready for outdoors, Team JNPR and Catherine head out, following Jaune as he leads the way. As they walk, Jaune continues to speak of memories he recalls.

Jaune: "So I guess the past that I can actually remember after the amnesia started after waking up at the hospital. All I can remember before that is the times I wasn't fighting. I had thought at first that I took a nap after you and I were playing 'World of Remnant: Online' in the basement, doing a team battle. Hehe. We were ChlJrenofArc71813, and we went up against taiYangsistRs6113, whoever they were. Good times... Next thing, I'm at the hospital."

Catherine: "Yeah. Then when you woke up, I had you put back on the armor. And you just stuck with the gear you have now, without bothering to put on everything else. Not even your leg armor."

Jaune: "Yeah, well I didn't know about them at the time, and it is pretty light like this. I tell ya, if I had the skills I had then, I wouldn't have had to cheat my way into Beacon."

Ren and Nora stop walking and look at Jaune in surprise.

Nora: "Wait, you what?"

Jaune and Catherine then stop walking.

Jaune: "Oh… right. I told Pyrrha, but I didn't tell you guys."

Ren steps up to Jaune, looking at him shamefully.

Ren: "Jaune, we've never questioned you on how you got into Beacon because we trusted our Headmaster's decision, and you have proven yourself a wise leader. But now I must ask: how DID you get into Beacon?"

Jaune: "*sigh*...Enrollments were in session for Beacon Academy. Despite being the only family member who didn't know a thing about aura at the time, (or I guess forgotten what it was), I wanted to be a Huntsman, no matter what. When I had given up trying to convince everybody I could do it, Catherine helped me get ahold of some fake transcripts. And I used them to attend Beacon." Jaune's friends give an expression of shock and disappointment. "I'm… I'm sorry you guys. I shouldn't have… I should've told-!"

Catherine: "Actually, Jaune, that's not ENTIRELY true." Everybody looks back at Catherine with her objection.

Jaune: "What do you mean?"

Catherine: "See… before your amnesia, in between sparring at home and the free time that you remember, we were students at Signal Academy. The three of us; you, me and Adam were some of the top students there. Even then, you talked about going to Beacon… But before our incident with being at the hospital, daddy still had… YOUR transcripts. They were right out in the open on his desk, waiting to be sent. But he hid them. They might be locked up in his studies somewhere, but he was afraid that you would get hurt if you went to Beacon without your skills. That, and the transcripts would be evidence of your past. We've had a lot of fights over you… Then that one night, when orientations were close to closing, I saw you mourning over how you almost lost your chance. So then I got in touch with a Headmaster."

Jaune: "What Headmaster?"

Catherine: "The Headmaster of Beacon."

Team JNPR become shocked recognizing that identification.

Nora: "Wait. You mean Professor Ozpin?"

Catherine: "Yup. The Headmaster that's been watching us since we were kids. Him and daddy were close friends. He was so impressed with our skills and our family reputation, that he already had a copy of your transcripts before you even graduated Signal Academy. Even he was waiting for you to be his students."

Jaune: "Wait, MY transcripts?! That's impossible! Ruby and Yang went to Signal Academy. They would've recognized me at Beacon, wouldn't they?"

Catherine: "We were pretty popular with our skill levels, but still pretty distant and socially awkward. Almost all semester, you kept your hood on, Adam even then kept his eyes shaded with sunglasses, rather than a mask now, and I favored in tall collars to cover my mouth and nose. So we were hard to really identify. Outsiders, some might say."

Jaune puts his hands up to his forehead and continues on walking to their destination while spaced out. His team and Catherine follow and continue on. "So… Ozpin knew this whole time. He thought I'd be a leader from the start. I really did earn my way into Beacon Academy…" While smiling, a tear falls down his face. "Thank you, Catty, for believing in me this whole time." Catherine walks up to him under his shoulders as he gives her a half hug. "All this time, I thought you did these things just to watch me come back home, so you could tease me, and rub it in my face. Hehehe. But you were supporting me, despite what mom and dad said… And I thought Pyrrha was the first to ever believe in me..."

Catherine: "Of course, brother." Catherine hugs Jaune while still walking. "I mean, you did come home after all. Just sayin'..." Jaune playfully punches Catherine's armored ribs hard as a retort. "Hahahaha! But you're becoming more of a man than any of us had anticipated." The siblings squeeze tighter, strengthening the hug. "I'm also quite jealous. This Pyrrha girl trained you at Beacon, and you can still have the memory of what she taught you. And I haven't even met the girl."

Jaune: "Well, if it makes you feel any better, Pyrrha was like a sister to me. She kind of reminded me of you and our other sisters… Well, she did at first." Jaune lightly touches his lips, remembering their last moment.

Nora: "(whisper) Unfortunately. Haha!"

Minutes after Team JNPR and Catherine's hike, they reach the top of a grassy hill with a satellite in the center. Behind them, they see a full view of the village that they came from.

Jaune: "Let's hook up to this satellite. I'll try calling each of your scrolls. Then answer when it rings." They all take out their scrolls and look down at them, waiting for a call. All three of the scrolls ring and show Jaune's face. They answer and interact in a four-way call, showing three faces on each scroll. "Great! Now let's try contacting Ruby. She lives in Patch, so hopefully the satellite at this height should reach her local area."

Catherine disconnects her call, being that she is not really acquainted with Ruby. Team JNPR however put their Scrolls on speaker and call their comrade.

Ruby: "(scroll) ...Hello, Jaune?! ...Ren?! Nora?!"

Jaune: "Hey, Ruby!"

Nora: "Hiii!"

Ren: "Hello, Ruby."

Ruby: "Hey! Where are you guys?"

Jaune: "We're at a satellite not too far from my house. Are you okay?"

Ruby: "Yeah. I'm fine. My dad and uncle told me what happened last night. What about you guys?"

Jaune: "We're fine. Ren and Nora saved me from yesterday after you and I fell from the Tower."

Ruby: "The Tower? You were up there, Jaune? We fell from the Tower?!"

Jaune: "Yes, Ruby. I found you unconscious, and..."

Ruby: "Jaune. I… I…"

Jaune: "...Ruby, who all was up there with you? Who did you see?"

Ruby: "...I saw Cinder. And… Pyrrha was there. When I got up to the Tower, Cinder shot her with an arrow… and turned her to dust. *crying* Jaune, I am so sorry! I didn't get to her in time. You asked me and Weiss to help her, and we… we...!"

Jaune: "Ruby… It's okay. You guys did all that you could. She's gone, but… you're still here. We didn't lose everybody… Tell me, did you see anyone else there?"

Ruby: "No. No one, except for that Grimm."

Ren: "What was the last thing you remember before blacking out?"

Ruby: "When I saw Pyrrha disappear, everything went white. My uncle said that I caused that Grimm to be paralyzed with my… eyes. My… Silver Eyes."

Jaune: "Strange… So Adam must've arrived at some point after she passed out… Silver Eyes? That seems a bit… nevermind." Okay. So how is Yang?"

Ruby: "She's fine. She just needs some time is all."

Jaune: "Okay. Good. Look, Ren, Nora, and I are gonna come to you guys. We have some things we need to discuss. Could you send me your address?"

Ruby: "Yeah, of course. Let's meet up in about a week. Is that okay?"

Jaune: "Sounds good. Goodbye, Ruby."

Nora: "Bye Rubes. See ya soon."

Ren: "Be safe, and take care."

Ruby: "Bye you guys."

Team JNPR end their call.

Catherine: "So, what's your next course of action?"

Right then, Team JNPR receive a picture message of Ruby's house and her full address. They all look at it and note the location.

Jaune: "Okay. A week from now, Ren, Nora, and I will make our way to Ruby. Patch won't be too hard to travel. Ruby's dad and uncle are Huntsman, so she might know what to do from what they've told her. In the meantime, before we leave and figure things out, I've been thinking, and if you guys are willing, I would like to start picking back up where I left off a year ago."

Ren, Nora, and Catherine look amongst each other and wonder what Jaune means exactly.

Ren: "What do you mean?"

Jaune: "I want you guys to train me. With everything that Pyrrha's taught me, I'll apply that to reach your levels… Well, to get back at my level. The level that went away, now that I know most of what I could do. Will you guys help me?"

With telepathic communication, Ren, Nora and Catherine look at each other, grin, and nod their heads.

Ren: "We'll make a stronger Knight out of you yet, Jaune."

Nora: "A mighty Knight!" Nora flexes her arms in excitement.

Catherine: "You'll be the heroic brother I've been waiting to bring back for so long!" Catherine hugs Jaune, and he hugs back.

(Day 1: Ren's Training Session)

Early in the morning, in the backyard of the Arc's home, Ren and Jaune face each other. The instructed clothing is bare feet, bare backs, and the pants they normally wear. Joining them is Nora and Catherine as the audience. Jaune shivers in the breeze, touching his skin and apparent scars from his past battles. They seem to have been healing more efficiently than the average human body with aura.

Ren: "Before Pyrrha's passing, she mentioned how you always turn down practicing your aura every time she speaks of it. And from what you and Catherine have told us, you've never been able to fully utilize your aura at will. Surely, you wish to use it, and discover your semblance as much as we all do. So Jaune, are you ready this time?"

Jaune: "Yes." Jaune faces his new teacher with confidence.

Ren: "Good. To start off, you will drink this." Before him, Ren holds out a tall glass of green liquid. "The usual; herbs, vegetables, and algae."

Jaune: "Uh… okay…" Jaune hesitantly takes the drink.

Nora looks at the drink with disgust, after seeing the revolting drink once again. Catherine feels slightly disgusted, but mostly confused. Jaune takes the glass to the head, and drinks it clean.

Jaune: "...*exhale* That wasn't so ba-. Oh, Oum!" Jaune's face turns green, his eyes become crossed, and his mouth becomes filled.

Ren: "Here, this will help." Ren pulls up a bucket for Jaune, who is about to throw up.

Jaune takes the bucket, and throws up his breakfast, and Ren's special juice.

Jaune: "Ugh! There goes my breakfast… Sorry, Catherine. Sorry, Ren. Thanks for the bucket."

Ren: "Don't thank me just yet." Ren's face becomes serious. "You're going to eat all of that back up. I will not have you waste perfectly good juice, or the meal your sister cooked for you."

Catherine: "Hahahaha!" Catherine laughs at first, but then becomes concerned. "Wait, he's not serious. Is he Nora? ...Nora? ...Oh no!"

Shaking off his ill feeling, Jaune stands up, and takes the bucket. He lifts it up under his chin in preparation.

Jaune: "This marks a revolutionary chapter for the tales of Vomit-Boy."In just a minute, with his face in disgust, Jaune drinks the bucket clean, and refills his stomach. He throws the bucket down, and cringes in his revolting action. The food almost leaves his mouth again, but he swallows it back. Nora and Catherine stare in disgust, feeling like they themselves might puke as well.

Ren: "Good. Now we can move on."

Moments after Jaune regains his composure, he mimics the movements that Ren demonstrates. The movements resemble Tai Chi and yoga, but may deem a different name in the world of Remnant, opposed to the real world. For now, the name will be dubbed…

Ren: "Mindful Arts are much like Martial Arts, except more focused on the mind and soul..."

Jaune: "...By using our bodies."

Ren: "Exactly. Your internal organs will receive a more natural healthy flow. And that in turn should persuade your aura to go from potential to kinetic."

With their eyes closed, both companions gracefully move in sync, and Jaune feels something within himself.

Jaune: "I feel something… in my core."

Ren: "That's good. That should be all of your stress being repressed. Soon, your body will work to gain-."

Jaune: "Wait, I… I can really feel something!" Their eyes remain closed and they continue their movements, until Jaune's 's bowels growl abominably. His eyes open wide, and he grabs hold of his rear."...Bathroom!" Jaune sprints inside the house to relieve himself.

Catherine: "Is he gonna be okay?" Catherine stands up from her seat.

Ren: "That's only the juice filtering out all of the bad supplements in his digestive system. *sigh* Unfortunately, that also means he defecated good supplements. His insides weren't strong enough to tolerate and hold it in long enough."

Jaune did not leave the bathroom until it was already dark.

(Day 2: Nora's Training Session)

Early in the morning, once again, small gleams of the sun start to show and rise. Nora is a mile away from the house in her athletic attire.

Nora: *inhales, exhales* Nothing like a jog in the morning, 'ey Jaune? If your sister can run for days like she said she could, then you probably could keep-."

Jaune: "(hollering) Noooraaa! How are you training me if you're all the way there?!" Jaune is dressed in a tucked in t-shirt with sweatpants. After a few moments of jogging with full energy, the gap between Nora and Jaune is a good 300 meters up a hill.

Nora: "(hollering) Well, OBVIOUSLY, you're supposed to be up here, running with me!"

With a cup of coffee in her hand, Catherine, wearing a pink Pumpkin Pete onesie, steps out of the front door, yawning and rubbing her eyes. Her hair is down and nappy. She approaches Ren, fully dressed, sitting down on the ground with his legs folded, holding a cup of tea from the bottom, and watches Jaune and Nora's training.

Catherine: "*yawn* Morning… How long have they been running?"

Ren: "They just started. You just woke up, so it may seem like Jaune is not keeping up with Nora. But really, in terms of giving Jaune a handicap, Nora is the one who is truly not keeping up."

Almost instantly, Nora appears in front of Jaune, jogging backwards to face him.

Nora: "Boy, this day is gonna be longer than I imagined it in my head."

Jaune: "I think that's the problem." Jaune starts to break minor sweats.

Nora: "Come on! You wanted a trainer, well you got one! And you couldn't have picked better than me to get stronger. Now hurry up! We got a hundred miles to knock out."

Jaune: "Yeah. I'm sure it is going to feel like a hundred miles."

Nora: "Well of course. We're running 100 miles. Duh!"

Jaune: "Gulp!... *gulp*" Jaune states the literal word 'gulp' right before actually gulping.

(6 Hours Later…)

Nora and Jaune reach the half point at 50 miles of their run. Nora then finally understands that Jaune still can not keep up with her. She may be at the half point with him, but that is after reaching it for the 36th time after doing extra laps. This is, however, Jaune's first time reaching it. He pants and sweats hard while she remains completely dry and energetic. Then, Nora takes out a partner running resistance strap, just in case such a misfortune were to happen. She ties it around her waist, and before Jaune can even notice, she ties it around his. Afterwards, she happily dashes off, and brings Jaune along with her.

Jaune: "Nora? Nora, what is th-? What are yo-? Ah!"

(10 Minutes Later...)

Upon Nora and Jaune's return, Nora remains as normal as she was before running. Jaune, however, soaks in his own clothes and collapses to the ground once they stop.

Ren, while meditating in the same position as he was before, opens his eyes and looks down at Jaune.

Ren: "Tell us in your own words, how was the run for you Jaune?"

Jaune: "*wheezing* Insane… *wheezing*."

Catherine steps outside, now fully dressed and geared up for work. Before trying to leave, she sees Jaune down on the ground in front of Ren, sitting.

Catherine: "Oh my Oum! Jaune, are you okay?"

Ren: "This is what he asked fo-."

Nora: "Four more exercises, and we're done! Come on, Jaune." Nora interrupts, and yet finishes Ren's sentence in a way. She walks in the house, and drags Jaune in while he still lies down.

Feeling sad, Catherine looks at her brother being dragged, after being worked to near death.

Catherine: "I want him to be stronger, but I don't think he knew exactly what he was getting into."

Ren: "He lived with us for quite a while. I'm sure he knew beforehand. By the way, how far did he normally run before his incident?"

Catherine: "Back then, he could run from one side of Vale to the other, get back home, and only be half as tired as he is now. I'd run with him, for just a warm-up." Catherine smiles, remembering their running exercises. "...But, could this actually work?"

Ren: "If he wishes to take on the discipline that stands before him, he must first discipline himself. If you could come up with something you think is better, then by all means, let us know. He is your brother. You may know something that could help him that we don't. But this is one of the few times I've ever seen Jaune take himself this seriously…" Ren expresses a concerned face. He stands up and faces Catherine, who is more concerned. "Don't worry. I'll make sure Nora doesn't kill him. Now don't be late for work." He pats her shoulder for reassurance and walks into the house.

Catherine looks back at the house, wondering.

Catherine: "He wouldn't be going through this if I were stronger back then…" Catherine faces forward and runs off to work.

Entering the basement training room, Ren watches as Nora continues her training for Jaune.

Nora: "Alright, Jaune. For our first exercise, drop down, and-." Before Nora could finish her sentence, Jaune falls to his face, again. "Wow! One step ahead of me! I like it! Now, give me this many pushups!" With her jittery energy, she holds up all of her fingers.

Jaune: "What, 10?"

Nora: "Yes, I'm shaking them a hundred times!"

Jaune: "...So that means-!"

Nora: "1,000 push-ups! Go! Count 'em out!"

Nora and Jaune engage in doing rapid push ups. Then, Ren gets down to join them, but at his own pace.

Jaune: "1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10! 11! Why didn't you just say a thousand?! 19! 20! 21!..."

(10×100 Push-Ups, No Breaks, Later…)

Nora: "Come on! You think a jelly belly is going to fit in that armor?! Let me see that six pack!"

Ren, again, does the exercise of sit-ups, but at his own pace. Jaune continues to exercise a rapid pace using an unknown source of energy and endurance.

Jaune: "365! 366! 367! Aaah! 369! 370! 371!" Jaune's shirt sweats another layer of sweat on his clothes.

(10×100 Sit-Ups, More Sweat Later…)

Nora: "Don't you quit on me, Funny-Bunny! I want to see those Thunder-Thighs now!"

Doing squats, Ren simultaneously, and impressively, balances the edge of his scroll on his arms folded out. On it, he watches a show that he likes and occasionally chuckles at.

Jaune: "721! 722! 723! That might not be a derogatory term for you, 735! 736! 737, but that sounds minor to having Lightning Limbs! Hahaha! 745! 746! 747!"

Nora: "Haha! Good one! That's the spirit!"

(10×100 Squats, One Punch Line Later…)

Nora: "You got this, Jaune! Just 20 more punches to go!"

Instead of doing their exercises at his own pace like he usually did, Ren trains in his own fighting style. Jaune and Nora, however, punch numerous times in the air.

Nora: "Don't slow down! My grandpa can do better! No really. If you thought my grandma was scary strong like I told you guys, my grandpa is (deep voice) TERRIFYINGLY STRONG!"

Jaune: "...997! ...998! ...999! …*exhausted breathing*"

Nora: "Come on! Just one more, Jaune!"

Jaune: "...1,000! ...Woohoo! Yeah! I did it! 1,000 push-ups, 1,000 sit-ups, 1,000 squats, and a 160 km run! And finally, ONE THOUSAND PUUUN-!" As Jaune cheers out of joy for finishing his training, he collapses before we could finish his last word. On the ground, he falls asleep.

Nora: "1,000 Punches. Welp, he's done… with the warm-up! Wake up, Jaune! We haven't even started the real-!"

Ren: "Nora..."

Nora: "Yeah, Ren?"

Ren: "Take him upstairs to his bed. He's had enough for today."

Nora: "Oh okaaay… Next time, then." Disappointed, Nora walks over to Jaune, and picks him up over her shoulders. Before she could open the door, it opens for her with Catherine entering the simulation room. "Oh, hey Catherine! Welcome home."

Ren: "Welcome home, Catherine. How was work?

Nora's training session lasted up until sunset. Jaune spent that time trying his hardest to keep up with the excercises in hopes of strengthening himself. Catherine occasionally gets off of work around this time, and she was not expecting to see Jaune the way he is now from being worked to the bone.

Catherine: "Fine… What happened to Jaune?"

Ren: "While you were away, Jaune had done Nora's exercises with no breaks… until now. It was actually quite impressive how he managed that much endurance. In the end, he pulled through. Now we're sending him to bed to rest. Tomorrow, I'll cover his fighting skills and hope to improve them. We'll be upstairs if you need us."

Catherine: "Oh… Okay."

Leaving the training room and going up the stairs, Ren and Nora, while holding Jaune, pass Catherine. She looks back with concern, looking at Jaune who is passed out. Going down the stairs, she enters the training room herself. Then, she notes the puddle of sweat left behind on the floor.

Catherine: "They're really working him dry, aren't they? And Ren said that he'll focus on his fighting skills when it's his turn tomorrow. That's good and all, but I don't think he knows Jaune's real potential. For all he knows, Jaune knows a thing or two from Pyrrha. But that was from his time at Beacon Academy. That's not enough. Jaune had his own style back then, years ago. His own groove. His own rhythm." Suddenly, Catherine gains an idea. "*gasp* Of course!"

(Day 3: Catherine's Training Session)

Jaune wakes up, and sits at the dining room table where everybody else is before him. He eats his breakfast, and goes for the same green juice that Ren had prepared. He drinks it clean, and throws it up in his mouth. This time, he swallows it back in disgust before giving it the chance to escape.

Jaune: "*exhales* Let's to do this!"

Ren: "Right. Your next session of training will cover-."

Catherine: "Actually Ren, Jaune will be training with me for today." Jaune and Ren turn their direction towards Catherine, now standing up.

Jaune: "Wait, what?"

Ren: "Don't you have work today, Catherine?"

Catherine: "Nah, I got the day off."

Ren: "But who's watching over the hospital when the Grimm show up?"

Catherine: "Security as usual. Everybody's packing heat over there. Even Dr. Punkelman. Plus, the city's moderately calmed down. So there won't be as many Grimm or troubled patients as it had been before."

Even while the fall of Beacon Academy occured a few days ago, the distress from the majority of civilians in Vale still remain. Given that negative emotions attract Grimm, they continue to approach the city. But with reassurance of Huntsman and Huntresses, their worries have been reduced. Thus, so have the Grimm invasions.

Ren: "Are you sure? Jaune and I didn't even finish practicing aura, and I haven't started his lesson in fighting."

Catherine: "Hey, you two weren't the only ones around when he asked for help, were you? Plus, you said yourself that if I could come up with something better, let you know. And I have!"

Ren: "...I suppose that's fine. But him and I will pick back up on training tomorrow."

Jaune: "Sounds good." Jaune gives a thumbs up on their new designated schedule of training tomorrow. "Okay Catherine, what've you got?"

Catherine: "To the basement!" Catherine and Jaune make their way to the basement, and Ren and Nora follow them. They all enter the simulation training room, except for Catherine, in the control room. She speaks through the microphone, able to see Team JNPR through the one-way mirror wall. "You ready, Jauney?"

Jaune: "Yeah, I'm…" Jaune gets caught off guard by the room's simulation activating. The setting turns into a holographic dance floor. Red lights flash, and hip music starts to play. "...ready?"

After pressing a few more buttons in the control room, Catherine steps out into the simulated dance floor.

Catherine: "Good! Ren, Nora, you can be our judges."

Nora becomes excited and interested, while Ren stands confused. Catherine had told him that she found a method in improving his abilities. Because of that, he wonders on how music and a dance floor will make him a better fighter.

Ren: "Uh, judges of what, exactly?"

Catherine: "Our dance off!" The first verse starts, and Catherine dances first. She does a few cool and elegant moves halfway through the verse. When she finishes her dance, she gives the floor to Jaune next. "Take it, Jauney!"

Jaune: "Uh… Okay, I guess." Right then, Jaune starts to dance in a small freestyle like Catherine's. His moves appear not as feminine, and more masculine, however.

As the verse builds up to the chorus, Catherine takes the floor next, and conducts wider ranged moves. She almost looks as if she were fighting someone, but with no one really there. Once half of the chorus finishes, it is Jaune's turn to dance through the rest of the music. Doing wider range moves as well, he comes off as slightly more aggressive, but coordinated like he is really fighting someone like Catherine was. The chorus ends, and Catherine takes the stage next.

Jaune and Catherine's moves only become more aggressive from their. While the music is not even as intense as their moves are, they get into it while looking like they were in a battle. Nora smiles, and bounces to the music's rhythm. Ren however is not feeling upset, but rather uncertain, seeing how Catherine chooses to play, while casualties could be well at stake. Nonetheless, he is impressed with Jaune's dancing skills. They remark a sense of happiness and effort in his view.

After dancing off to the second chorus, the music slows down. Catherine holds Jaune, and they slow dance with each other. She sings along to the music.

Catherine: "?Close your eyes,

Don't you cry,

Loves around you,

In time, you'll fly?￢ﾀﾝ

The song picks back up, and the siblings conduct a fully insync partner freestyle. Ren and Nora become amazed at their performance. Nora cheers, and Ren just smiles. They seem less aggressive than before, but still intense and coordinated. The song ends, and they strike a pose.

Nora: "*clapping* Woohoo! Yeah! That was awesome! Now we see how you're such a good dancer, Jaune!"

Ren: "That was… pretty impressive, I must admit. You two are very talented, indeed. Just like at our school dance."

Jaune: "Yeah. Our dance…" The school dance was indeed a memorable moment for all of Team JNPR.

Catherine: "Thank you, thank you. Okay, judges. First, how was Jaune?"

Nora whips out a card out of nowhere with the number "10" on it. This shocks Ren.

Ren: "Where did you-?"

Catherine: "And what are your thoughts Ren?"

Ren: "Uh…" Ren holds up 9 fingers.

Catherine: "Excellent! Now what did you all think of me?"

Nora holds up another card, reading "100 ÷ 10".

Jaune: "Wait a minute. That means 10 as well. Why not just say '10'?"

Nora: "Because you were amazing, but she gave it her full hundred!"

Jaune: "Why does she do that? *sigh* Okay, fair enough. Ren?"

After somehow discovering the ways of Cartoonatry within the Animeverse, Ren holds up a card that reads the number "9".

Catherine: "It looks like we have a tie. Alright then. I know how we'll settle this. Come on, Jauney. We're going shopping for some CDs!

Jaune: "Huh?"

Catherine: "That late album came out a few days ago, and I just couldn't buy it without you!"

Jaune: "*gasp* Really?!"

Ren: "What? Shopping? Why are you-?"

Catherine: "Ren, Nora, you guys watch over the house. Lock the doors behind us, please! Thanks! Bye!"

Catherine grabs Jaune's arm, and rushes out of the door.

Jaune: "Hey! Ow! I'm still sore from yesterday! Take it easy!... Okay, let's go to-" Jaune and Catherine's voices fade and silence from going up the stairs and shutting the front door.

Ren: "This is her idea of training? A family dance competition, and buying CDs? *sigh*" Ren faces the floor and shakes his head.

Nora: "Aww! This is no this is no good!"

Ren: "I know, Nora. But perhaps Catherine just-."

Nora: "I wanted to go shopping too! We need to get new clothes, don't we Ren?" Ren puts his hand up to his head from Nora's off-topic comment. Even still, he knew she was not wrong.

Ren: "...Yes, we do Nora. I'm going upstairs."

Nora follows Ren, and they turn off the lights as they leave the basement.

(Evening…)

It has been an hour since Jaune and Catherine returned from shopping. At that point, all day and all night, they have been dancing, laughing, and singing to the CD they bought in the basement. They do this in between daily household errands, allowing dinner to be available, and the house to be cleaned. This reassures that Ren and Nora still enjoy their stay in the house. Nora is happy almost anywhere she is welcomed. Especially when Ren is around. And occasionally, she would join Jaune and Catherine in their dance party.

Although Ren is grateful for their catering, he still ponders on methods in retaliating Vale's catastrophe. As he watches Jaune and Catherine, he can not help but see her methods as being more carefree, and less productive in that regard. Especially to Jaune, considering his lack in abilities and the heartache weighing on him.

But still, to his refusal of disloyalty and being a party-pooper, Ren did give in to dancing with his friends. He feels there is no sense in dismissing everyone's happiness. Including his own. Jaune still has the rest of the week and more days to reach his abandoned potential. His training would not end after meeting Ruby, Ren is sure of. At the very least, his heart is at ease. And so is Nora's, Catherine's, and his own, despite all that had occurred.

(Midnight…)

While going to bed, Ren thinks perhaps this is what Catherine anticipated: for Jaune to find peace and rest in between his training. Or perhaps she just missed her brother, and wants to enjoy his company while he is safe for the time being. At least, that is what Ren believes. The reasonings behind it all stays on his mind until he finally rests and drifts off to sleep in the guest room.

The music continues on for a few minutes, but is not too loud to disturb Ren's slumber, luckily. Eventually, it dies down, and at that point, Jaune, Nora, and Catherine walk off to their designated rooms in hot sweat. However one might see it, everybody had a good exercise this day.

Jaune: "*heavy breathing* Night, Nora. Night, Catherine.

Nora: "Goodnight, you guys. That was really fun!"

Catherine: "Yeah, it was. We'll do this again when it's my turn next time… Anyways, goodnight." Their doors close, as does their eyes once they've reached their beds.

(Day 4: Ren's Training Session)

Jaune's breakfast was eaten, his green juice was drank, thrown up, and swallowed back in. Unfortunately, from his first day of training, Jaune has to start over on his tranquil training with his teacher, Ren, on the hill with the satellite and the village in view. After an hour of their Mindful Arts practice, they continue on meditation on the ground.

Ren: "Semblances do not come immediately through practices, but it will come in your sense of need. Focus your efforts on the energy you have yet to fully discover. Picture it in your head, and bring it out."

While in their meditative positions for an hour, Jaune focuses on a sense of need that he might recall. Within his deep thoughts, his mind flashes to his battles.

(Fatigue. Stress. Pain. Sadness. Anger… His battles from a recent past during the fall of Beacon Academy. His battle in a further past in his house before attending Beacon Academy. Then, a mostly forgotten past crosses his thoughts, and the cranial stress increases. But surprisingly, he envisions something minor, yet igniting: just a glimpse of a young man's eyebrows, under spiky red hair, and above his unseen, curiosity stroking eyes. It comes close to revealing. But by only anticipating it's view, feared by possibly remembering him again, Jaune wakes from his trance.)

Jaune: "Agh! *excessive panting* ...Whoa! I… I think I went deeper than I wanted to." Ren wakes up from his meditation as well, out of concern for Jaune in anxiety. "It was fine at first, but… it was all so..."

Ren: "...Whatever had crossed your mind, you might not have wanted to see it, but perhaps that is what your mind itself thought you needed to see. Our memories may hold dark times, but it is up to ourselves to face those dark times, should we ever choose to move forward." Ren stands up and helps Jaune up off the ground as well. "But it's best to not strain yourself. So let's move on to our next exercise. Our semblances may be naturally gifted weapons, and yours will come in time. But for now, let's see how you hold up without your original weapons."

*scroll notification*

Jaune: "Wait, hang on for second Ren. My Scroll's going off." Jaune picks up his scroll on the ground, beside his hoodie, armor, and shoes. "It's Ruby!"

Hearing Jaune, Ren runs up to his side and looks at his scroll. Jaune answers the call and puts the scroll up to his ear.

Jaune: "Hello?"

Ruby: "Jaune! What- What happened?! I've been trying to call you guys since yesterday!"

Ren looks at his scroll, and notices multiple missed calls. Jaune does as well, and explains himself and Ren.

Jaune: "Ruby, Beacon Tower is down. Nobody can do much with their scrolls unless they're like in the local area or near a satellite. Ren and I were just training up at a hill that has one, so it's only now that I received your call."

Ruby: "Oh, right. I guess that explains why I couldn't reach her."

Jaune: "Huh? Who were you trying to call?"

Ruby: "Uh, Yang. Yang's gone! Dad and I can't find her!"

Ren: "How long has she been gone?" Ren can hear the conversation, while Jaune holds his scroll up to his head.

Ruby: "Since last night! Please you guys! Dad and I have looked everywhere, and my uncle's not around, and she- I… I just…!"

Jaune: "Ruby, calm down. We'll find her. Ren, Nora, and I will be there shortly. Just stay where you are."

Ruby: "Okay. Thank you, Jaune! Thank you, Ren!"

Jaune: "Yeah. Bye." The call ends, and Jaune and Ren look at one another. "I guess our meeting with Ruby is happening earlier than we intended. Her house isn't far from here. It's just on the island of Patch. You go grab Nora, and I'll meet you guys there after you both catch up. Grab the weapons too."

Ren: "Understood!" Ren grabs the rest of his clothing, and dashes down the hill on one side. Jaune dash's down the other side.

To save time, Jaune clumsily puts on the rest of his clothes and armor. He trips down the hill while blinded by his hoodie, and one of his shoes half on. Still, he manages putting on his attire. Once he reaches the bottom, he is fully dressed, armed, and makes his way to the nearest docks.

(Half An Hour Later…)

Arriving at the House of Xiao Long and Rose, Jaune knocks on the door.

Jaune: "Ruby? Ruby, it's Jaune."

The door opens, and reveals the Little Red Sniping Hood.

Ruby: "Hi Jaune!" Ruby tackles Jaune for a hug. She missed the first acquainted friend she made from Beacon Academy. Seeing him gives her enough reassurance that everything will be okay. It loosens half of her worries.

Jaune: "Hey Ruby. It's good to see you again." They both briefly smile. "Okay. Take me to Yang's room. Let's start there." Ruby invites Jaune in the house, and leads him to Yang's room further in.

Ruby: "My dad's out looking for Yang somewhere. She's been upset since Beacon's fall. And she hardly ever talked to me, or even left her room, until last night… You don't think something happened to her, do you?"

Jaune: "I hope not, but I doubt it. Even with her condition, I still think she can handle herself… Speaking of which, do you know who did that to her? Did she tell you who cut off her arm?"

While still conversing, Jaune and Ruby enter Yang's room. Her room is mostly clean with a few things dropped to the floor. The scent of Yang that Jaune recognizes and Ruby is used to fills the atmosphere.

Ruby: "Well… no. I mean, she said that it was a man from the White Fang. He was hurting Blake, so she tried to stop him. But it all happened so fast, that she couldn't do anything. First thing she remembered was waking up in bed, like me."

Hearing the White Fang puts Jaune at an unease, given his experiences. Both recent and a while back.

Jaune: "Do you think any of that has to do with why she's gone?"

Ruby: "Maybe. Before we went to Beacon, she sometimes went out looking for her mother, Raven. She normally doesn't come back home until midnight. But this time seemed different, I suppose."

At the wall furthest from the door lies a desk covered with unorganized papers and various objects. On the wall itself is what looks like a suspect board picture web that would be seen in detective movies. The wall has pictures of different people, and strings connecting to each other. Some pictures were crossed with a red marker (including one named Junior). What catches Jaune's attention however is the picture at the top center. On it is a masked feminine figure, indicating to be the main target among the others. The person wields a red odachi, brighter than her dark red and black tribal outfit.

Jaune: "Is this her?"

Ruby walks up beside Jaune, pointing at the picture.

Ruby: "Yeah. Raven Branwen."

Seeing this figure provokes Jaune to walk in closer and get a better look at Raven. Her appearance makes him feel that he can relate to Yang's curiosity. Not only do they both have someone deemed essential from their past, but the choice of attire and accessories on the woman seems not too far off from Jaune's own mysterious suspect, Adam. What he does not know is Yang's own connection with him, herself.

Before given the chance to look deeper into this matter, or even Yang's own investigation, the front door receives a few knocks. Ruby leaves to answer it.

Ruby: "I'll get it. Hold on."

Disregarding the picture, Jaune continues looking around Yang's room. It is not until Jaune opens up Yang's closet that the sweet feminine smell before became mixed with foul sweat and alcohol.

Jaune: "Man, it smells like Catherine's room; sweetness and sweatiness mixed! The only difference is how Yang likes her jager. That, and a bunch of Ale."

In between the dirty clothes thrown in the closet floor is various different bottles. Jaune picks up a bottle, and to an unknown curiosity, sniffs it. "Egh! No doubt this is the source to that alcohol smell. Then why'd you smell it, genius? And here, I thought all she drank was Strawberry-Sunrises. But, I guess it is a no-brainer why she likes jager;probably just so she could call them 'Yang-er'. But all these bottles of… 'Hunter Aces Hood's Ale'... Wait, I've heard of that. 'Hunter Aces Hood'. That's a bar at the edge of Vale. Of all places..."

Ruby enters the room again, but with Ren and Nora following her.

Ren: "Jaune. Nora and I are here. Did you find anything?"

Jaune: "Actually, I think I did."

Hearing Ren, Jaune steps out of the closet, and towards the investigation desk. In his hand is the empty bottle of ale from the recognized bar.

Ruby: "You did?"

Jaune: "Yeah. It's a bit of a hunch, but all these bottles in this closet and all this evidence here might be the clue that we needed. Did you guys bring my sword and shield?"

Nora: "Here ya go, captain." Nora tosses Crocea Mors, and Jaune catches the sheathed set and puts them at his side.

Ruby: "Great. So where are we going?"

Unhappy to tell Ruby and his team of their course of travel, Jaune answers.

Jaune: "...To the roughest bar in all of Vale."

(Early Evening…)

The Hunter Aces Hood: a bar so rough in the Kingdom of Vale, it had to be torn down, and rebuilt further towards sea level borders to limit Grimm invasions. With the creatures' approaches toward the bar, every night would become an even darker night. A darker night for the Grimm, that is. So long as negativity stayed at the bar, so would the Grimm. And if that negative energy could be put into taking out the Grimm, none would reach the kingdom's center holding civilized individuals, and the bar would be allowed to remain. Such as its bargain goes.

Using an equally shared amount of lien, Team JNPR and Ruby catch a mobile ride to the border on a coast near the Kingdom of Atlas. It was no wonder why the bar was so rough. Either way, it consumed the day, reaching the end of twilight.

Team JNPR and Ruby reach the bar's entrance with Jaune to lead. Before entering, already, the bar sounds intimidating to them. Glass shatters and arguing must have been a regular minute.

Ren: "Your sister's starting to favor the practices of drinking her problems away. Or perhaps, we just did not know her as well as we thought we did, and she has been drinking her problems away from the start. And if what you say about your Uncle Qrow is true, then she is carrying on his legacy."

Ruby: "Hey, my uncle doesn't drink his problems away! He drinks… in general actually…" Ruby realizes how her retort deeming invalid. "Dad did put us through counseling, but we stopped because he figured that would interfere with us becoming Huntresses. Our training did help us relieve stress, but it never solved our problems."

Jaune: "Right now, let's focus on getting Yang home, before we get any BIG problems."

Before reaching the door, Jaune and everybody else spot a growling Ursa running in their direction. Before they could react, it jumps up in the air ready to attack. Then out of nowhere, a gunshot is heard, and the Ursa splits in half. It hits the ground and starts to disintegrate. The source of the shot came from a drunk old man in front of the bar. His weapon of choice is a sniper rifle with a SMG submachine gun installation under the more lengthened caliber.

Drunk Old Man: "Sorry. My *burp* fiiinger slipped."

The weapon hangs in one hand, pointing towards the ground. Then the old man holds it up right with two hands, now pointing to his side. And spontaneously, it goes off again, but from the submachine guns end. Team JNPR and Ruby take cover, hoping to not get shot. Once it stops, at a distance, they can hear abominable moans, and black smoke rise from the trees in the darker woods. This indicates that the old man's rounds had destroyed approaching Grimm. Just their luck.

Drunk Old Man: "...My bad *burp* again."

Shocked at what had been witnessed, Jaune and his friends briefly stay paralyzed.

Nora: "...Well that was… close, I guess?

Jaune: "...Right! *nervous laughing* So, shall we continue?!" To continue the objective, they approach the door with their lives still intact.

Immediately, as Jaune enters the bar, a gunshot hits right at the door frame, just missing his head. The bar is loud with ignored music, and louder with other low-life hunters and thugs. Half of the space consists of a fight happening, while the other half reads mental boundary signs of 'Beware of Dog'. Nervously, Jaune leads the way after engaging is shield up to his face.

Jaune: "Okay then, hehe. Our search begins now. We can get through this. Because if even I can leave this place alive, it'll be a critical achievement."

The reason for Jaune's shield engaged up front is not just out of fear. Of course, for protection against fleeing bottles, bar property, and ammunition such as earlier. And reassuringly, those obstacles did reach Jaune's shield, as well as his friends' space. Luckily, with Ren's StormFlower, he swiftly deflects the projectiles as well as shoot them while the group walks through the crowd, and toward the bar counter.

Jaune and his friends reach the counter of where all the drinks are served. Seeing how orders are slow and everybody is engaging in something else, the bartender of the place has his attention toward his scroll, playing a game. Even with all the indecency and the rowdiness that goes on, he is very nonchalant as if it is a regular night at work for him. He is young, around his twenties, and so far, is dressed the most decent, like any other bartender you would see in cowboy movies.

Jaune: "Excuse me, sir. You wouldn't happen to come across somebody by the name of Yang Xiao Long, would you?"

Bartender: "Aren't you kids a little too young to be at a bar?" The bartender speaks, but without looking up.

Jaune: "Um, you see, we're not here for drinks. We were just-"

Bartender: "Dude, it's not like I care. This is just a rough bar, is all. Again, not that I care. And no, 'cause I don't keep tabs for everybody's name that come in here. Just tabs for their lien. That's all."

Jaune: "Oh, okay. Let's see… She likes to order your ale, jager, and Strawberry-Sunrises…?"

Ruby: "...With cute umbrellas?"

Bartender: "You're gonna have to be more specific, kids. Many folks come in here, ordering different drinks.

Ruby: "Long blonde hair? Missing an arm?"

Bartender: "No bells are ringing, juniors. Seen that many times, and all of them were different customers."

Jaune: "*sigh* I'm gonna go out on a limb for this one (No pun intended): she probably calls your drinks 'Yangers'..."

Bartender: "Yeah, she's at the far corner, to your rear."

Jaune and his friends look back, and find the most golden thing in the bar; Yang Xiao Long. Even from a distance, they can tell she had too many drinks. Especially Ruby, remembering her moping spirit at home. At the very least, even with out her arm, Ruby was happy to see her okay and in her usual choice of attire.

Jaune: "Thanks."

Bartender: "Yeah. Also, when you're done with her, tell her to cough up her lien! She's been in here all day!"

Ren: "We'll be sure to do that."

Jaune and his friends make their way to Yang. With the same procedure, they dodge the crowd and their tussles safely. Approaching Yang's side, Ruby pulls on her arm.

Ruby: "Yang! Yang, what what are you doing here? This place is dangerous!"

Yang: "Oh, heeey Rubes!" I-I'm sorry, I was just… I was just playing with downstairs. But you wouldn't know, because *hiccup* because…" The intoxicated Yang waves her incomplete arm up to express her reference. "Ya know, just gettin' otta town, so I can…" She then puts it down to 'continue'. "Ooh! ...go to town!"

Jaune: "Uh, look Yang, we have to go. My sister is going to be here soon to pick us up, so pay for your-."

Yang: "*gasp* You have a sister?!" Yang grabs Jaune and gives him a noogie with her decapitated arm. "Aww! That is sooo cute, Vomit Boy!"

Jaune: "Ow! If we don't leave now, then you're going to be Vomit Girl! And doesn't that hurt you at all?!"

Yang: "Aww! But I didn't get to finish my Yanger!" Jaune's hypothesis deem correct. "That pain-killer stuff that Dr. Punkelman gave me ain't strong enough, but this is! Just numbs it away... Oh! Di-Did you guys meet Dr. Punkelman?! I swear, she could be like my mom or some-..."

Yang stopped talking all of a sudden, and becomes less happy.

Ruby: "Yang? What's wrong?"

Yang: "*crying* Waaah! Mommy! I miss mommy! I don't know my REAL mommy, either!"

Jaune and everybody stand there awkwardly for a moment. They feel uncomfortable and a little sorry for Yang. Then, Ren decides to step in to take her home so they can all leave as soon as possible.

Ren: "Let's go, Yang. Everything will be better in the morning." Ren puts Yang's arm over his shoulders. Ruby steps up as well and holds her on the other side for support. She gets up, and everybody makes their way towards the door.

Yang: "*sniff* Oh. Okay Ren… Hey, by the way, when are you and Nora going to fuc-?"

Then, as if waiting for their arrival within the crowd, the bartender appears right in front of Jaune and everybody else.

Bartender: "Hey, kids. Blondie here stills owes me a shitload of lien, or did you all forget?! Here's the bill!"

Jaune: "Oh, right! Of course."

Jaune takes the bill, looks at it, and slowly shows it to everybody else. They all have constricted eyes, except for Yang and her drowsy eyes.

Jaune: "Yang… please tell us you can cover this…!"

Squinting her eyes, Yang looks at the bill.

Yang: "Whoa! That's a looot of 0's. Hahaha *hicup*..." Yang gets off of Ruby and Ren's hold, waddles a little bit to catch her balance, and crawls under a table. "Where's my wallet? I could've sworn I left it under my bed."

At this moment, two things are certain: Yang does not have her wallet, and the five of them have a BIG problem.

Jaune, Ruby, Ren, and Nora: "You're WHAT?!"

The bartender snaps his finger, and not only did the bar become quiet, but everyone accounted for literally cleans the place up, and lines up against the wall in a matter of seconds. The bartender, all of a sudden loses his carefree emotion, and becomes extremely serious, as well as angry.

Bartender: "What is the only, and I mean ONLY rule in this bar?!"

Customers: "Every customer accounted for will pay for every drink ordered, or will otherwise be assaulted by security to compensate as payment."

Slow Customer: "-payment."

Bartender: "Precisely! Vinnie! Trigger! Biglet! Igor! Front and center!"

Behind Jaune and his friends, four heavy set, rugged, and armored faunus' charge out of the door near the counter. They line up right in front of the bartender, and speak in unison.

Vinnie, Trigger, Biglet, and Igor: "Good evening, Mr. Christian RobHood, sir!"

The the bartender, Christian RobHood, snatches the bill out of Jaune's hand, walks up to the first security man, presents the bill to him, and speaks silently.

Bartender(Christian): "Vinnie, I want their liters of blood to match this number!"

Vinnie looks at the number on the bill, and chuckles.

Vinnie: "You got it, boss!" Vinnie, a bear faunus with bear ears, where's dirty yellow clothing, a red leather torso armor, and wields a spiked mace. Metaphorically, it almost looks like a honeycomb dipper, but with massive bee stingers attached.

Trigger, a tiger faunus, has a whipping tail, wears black armor with orange abstract paint like streaks across, and wields what looks like a pogo stick. It is not until he gives a goofy laugh that he cocks it and shows that it is also a gun.

Biglet, a pig faunus, has a pig nose and tail, wears a helmet and leather magenta armor for the torso, and wields a bladed coil sword. It rotates around a shotgun barrel within the center.

Igor, a donkey faunus, has donkey ears and hoof knuckles, wears a bulletproof vest over military blouse and trousers, and wields two flat metal bars with a spike sticking out of one end each. The tips tap the ground, and the whole bar slightly shakes.

Ruby: "Uh… any plans, Jaune?" Nervously and cautiously, Ruby slowly steps back, and it leads everybody else to do the same.

Jaune: "Yeah. Yeah, I got a plan; you take Yang. And then, we-."

Yang: "CHAAARGE!"

Security charges at Jaune and his friends with their weapons. They all engage their own weapons, but with little preparation.

Jaune: "No. No. No! Oh fuck!"

Jaune VS Vinnie, Ruby VS Biglet, Ren VS Igor, Nora VS Trigger, and Yang VS Christian… and the Bill.

Yang: "I can't pay your *burp* stuuupid bill! I'm only a kid! My daddy can cover it."

Christian: "Papa's not here tonight. You're in my house now. And I don't take no mess, ya blonde bimbo!"

Yang throws a punch, only to be dodged, and wrapped up in Christian's thin wire that he pulls out of his sleeves. With it, he throws her, and makes her hit her head on the bar's jukebox.

Yang: "Ooh! Music!" In Yang's hand, she has a small collection of lien. She takes one of them and inserts it into the machine. In the middle of fighting, Ruby looks back and sees Yang's actions.

Ruby: "Yang! ...You had ...lien this ...whole time?! *grunt*"

Yang: "Nah. This is Christian's. He wanted to tie me up, so *hiccup* I figured I'd show him a good time! Hehe!"

Christian: "That's for my bus fares! Oh that tears it! Double their liters of blood, Vinnie!"

Vinnie: "With pleasure!"

Jaune: "Oum damn it, Yang!

Nora: "You're a bartender, and you don't have your own ride?" While unfazed, Nora holds her weapon against Trigger's, and he does the same.

Trigger: "Says a lot, doesn't it? Hoo-hoo!"

Ren: "Nora! Don't… antagonize him!" Ren struggles to lecture while holding his own against Igor. "We're in enough trouble as it-!" Igor cuts Ren off by hitting him to the ground. With one of the spike bars, he grabs ahold of Ren's pant legs, and lifts him up. With the other weapon, he smacks him towards the dartboard. Before Ren could fall, Igor throws one of his weapons, and catches the bottom of his shirt, sticking to the dartboard center.

Meanwhile, Nora continuously wings at Trigger, who is bouncing on his Pogo-Gun. Trigger jumps up, and horizontally lands the bottom of the stick(barrel) on the smashing end of Magnhild. It shoots, and throws Nora off balance. The shot also boosts him off to rapidly bounce all around the whole bar. In one direction, the barrel plants on Nora's forehead, and he shoots again. Nora falls back and breaks a table.

With Ruby, Crescent Rose goes after Biglet multiple times. With one swing, her Scythe catches in between his coil blade. He chuckles, engages its rotation, and thus, Ruby and Crescent Rose rapidly rotate with the coil. Biglet swings his sword at an angle to get Ruby in front of the barrels, and shoots her. She then gets sent through the air and crashes behind now broken up debris. Now she lies there, feeling extremely dizzy.

Jaune: "*sarcasm* Oh, this night just keeps getting better, doesn't it!?"

Jaune holds himself behind his shield, bearing with Vinnie's hits. Jaune goes in for an attack. But just like with Ruby, his blade gets caught in between his opponent's weapon's wedges. Vinnie twirls his weapon, as well as Jaune, disconnects their weapons, and smacks Jaune's chestplate. Jaune hits the wall, near the jukebox and Yang.

Yang: "Come on, Jaune! Get back out there! This is boring! Kick his ass! But first…" Yang turns on some music from the jukebox, using Christian's lien. "... Shake that ass!"

Jaune: "*heavy breathing* At some point when you're sober… you owe us… big time for this, Yang. All of us! ...Hehe. I actually do like this song."

Vinnie slams his weapon on the ground, and rolls it on small debris. They attach to the spikes, making it a more painful and hazardous weapon. He charges at Jaune, and he swings it with all of his force. Luckily, Jaune smoothly ducks, causing Vinnie to stubble in Yang's direction. Her hand, snapping to the music's beat, turns into a fist, and awaits Vinnie's slamming face. The motionless punch leads to a kick to the groin. She continues back to snapping her finger, while Vinnie turns around and falls to his knees, and watches as Jaune is apparently dancing.

Yang: "Yeah! That's it! Get down Ja- *hiccup* uney-Boy!"

Vinnie gets up, angry, and starts swinging at Jaune. Smoothly, Jaune blocks the attacks with his reunited sword and shield, and sometimes dodging while still dancing. This causes everyone else engaged in melee to slow down, as they watch him defy against Vinnie in a somewhat dance off.

Vinnie: "Quit taunting me, you little punk!"

Jaune: "I'm not, honestly. This is- This just feels… natural as it comes.

Getting more irritant, Vinnie swings down with full hateful force. Jaune uses his sword to lead his mace all the way down to the wooden floor and it gets stuck. Vinnie tries to pull it back out. While he does that, Jaune takes hold of the handle, and cartwheel kicks Vinnie's nose. He then backhand punches his nose with his shield, and then slashes his sword downward at his head. The slash cuts him, as well as forces Vinnie's head down to hit the bottom handle of his stiff weapon.

Vinnie: "Oh… bother… *delusional* Give me the two-piece special… pots of honey… and all his skills… you can give me… Thank you, thank you..." Vinnie rests his eyes in unconsciousness.

Jaune: "Whoa! ...How'd I do that?"

Yang: "Well now, where is this coming from, Jauney-Boy?! Good job!" Yang slaps on the jukebox to compensate for clapping, while Jaune and his friends are just as amazed. Their opponents, however, seem intrigued on his skills, themselves.

Trigger: "Ooh hoo hoo hoo! This guy is better than I thought he was. He took da boss down like it were nothin' but a game. I wanna play! Lemme' at 'em! Lemme' have a turn!" Trigger disregards his fight with Nora, and pounces toward Jaune.

Nora: "Jaune, look out!"

Jaune looks back, and sees his next predator coming his way. He leans back to avoid Triggers grasp, and catches the barrel of his pogo-gun at the bottom. While on his weapon, he gets tossed in the opposite direction, and flips back up. He springs on every wall, ceiling, and floor in the bar, periodically hitting Jaune and Jaune only.

Yang: "Uh-oh! I guess our Knight-Club-Dancer needs another song. Time to turn up the tempo!"

Yang turns on another song, making sure it goes at a fast pace. Funny enough, Jaune does start moving faster, dancing, as well as dodging every hit from Trigger. Eventually, over a few dodging dance moves later, he starts blocking and swinging back with his eyes now keeping up.

Ren: "Wait a minute. How is Jaune doing this? When was he capable of this form of caliber now?"Ren ponders on the newly seen skills that Jaune distributes. It is only now that he sees Jaune holding his own against skilled fighter with little assistance from his team.

Eventually, Trigger starts to slow down, and allows Jaune to easily pick up his patterns. He waits for the right moment within the pattern to tell…

Jaune: "Nora, 'Thunder-Shield'!"

After Jaune addresses their team attack code name, Nora assembles Magnhild in grenade launcher mode, and shoots at Jaune's bracing shield. The grenade hits Jaune's shield, leaving Trigger's approach with the explosive impact. It hits him, and sets him off balance upon landing.

Acting on Trigger's weakness, Jaune slashes from the bottom up, tripping and throwing Trigger and his weapon up in the air. Jaune tosses his shield above him, and below Nora, who appears up in the air above Trigger, ready to swing down Magnhild in hammer mode. In full alignment, Magnhild hits the Crocea Mors shield, pressing on the pogo-gun's trigger handles, pressing the barrel in Triggers mouth, and Magnhild shoots a grenade. The shot causes the pogo-gun to shoot as well, and throws Trigger through the floor.

Nora lands on the floor, and Jaune catches his shield in the air. All that is left of Trigger is his cartoonishly full shape pressed through the ground.

Trigger: "...Not bad, kids! Hoo hoo hoo ho- *coughing*. Hehe. *sigh*"

Ruby: "Wow. Jaune's really wiping the floor with these guys. And what he did with Nora was… perfect! You guys really do make a good team, Ren"

Ren: "Yeah… He's always been strategic, but his fighting skills from before is what really surprises me."

Biglet: "Oh d-d-d-damn! He took down b-b-both the boss and T-Trigger! Igor!"

Igor: "You're not going to sound intimidating regardless, if you don't get that stuttering in check. Let's take him out all at once."

Biglet: "Oh, why don't you sh-sh-shove those nails up where they b-belong!

Yang: "Next song!" Seeing the last two security men charging (and not the forgotten bartender who disappeared), Yang plays the next song.

Igor and Biglet attack at both Jaune's sides. He manages to keep up with them for the most part, but only to avoid and block. Ruby, Ren and Nora jump in to keep Jaune from being double-teamed. Ren and Nora handle Igor, while Jaune and Ruby fight Biglet.

Biglet shoots at Jaune and Ruby's feet, causing them to hesitate. With that, Biglet skillfully swings his weapon to disarm Jaune and Ruby of their sword and scythe. Their weapons fly behind them at a further distance. At their disadvantage, he goes for Ruby. Jaune jumps in front of her, still wielding his shield.

Jaune: "Get your scythe! I think I can handle him!" Jaune uses most of his force to push Biglet back a few distances. He looks back at Ruby. "When I say shoot, shoot at him!"

Ruby runs back to follow through. With Crescent Rose in hand, Ruby embeds her scythe into the ground, taking aim, and waiting. Meanwhile, Jaune looks at Biglet, and this time, intentionally starts taunting his opponent by spinning his shield like a skilled sign spinner.

Biglet: "Don't think that you can b-b-beat me with a c-c-c-couple of dance moves like the others!" Rest assured, Biglet can not lay one scratch on Jaune. His shield spins and flips in front as well as behind him, avoiding every attack with style. Then, he does different tricks with his shield, causing the spinning coil sword to twirl along with its movements.

Meanwhile, Ren gets knocked back while him and Nora handle Igor. For a few moments, he sees Jaune fighting against Biglet with no sword, and only his shield. Again, all within the music's rhythm.

Ren: "Is Jaune truly at his best when motivated by music? I don't think any of us have seen him in action like this. Not even Jaune himself, for that matter...Maybe Catherine-" Before Ren could finish his thought, Igor picks him up and tosses him at Nora.

Now in control of Biglet's sword movements, Jaune sends the sword's tip to the ground. He helps press it through the ground with his other hand on the handle. While at an awe of his indescribable tactics, Jaune shield punches Biglet in the face, making him stumble towards Yang, just like before with Vinnie.

Yang: "Hey little pig." Yang makes a fist that cracks her knuckles. At the same time of punching him, she says… "Boom!"

Going back to Jaune's direction, Biglet slams into his shield.

Biglet: "Grr! You l-little-!"

Jaune interrupts his insult by stomping on the edge of his disarmed sword on the ground. It twirls up in the air, and while watching it go back down, he gives Ruby the order to...

Jaune: "Shoot!"

Ruby shoots the bottom handle of Crocea Mors, with the tip of the blade pointing to Biglet, and lunges at his shoulder.

Biglet: "Whoa!" Crocea Mors sends Biglet heading for the wall. His head busts through the wall where he can see the night outside, and his body left inside. "Ow…"

Jaune walks up to Biglet's stuck body, grabs Crocea Mors, lodged in the wall and in Biglet's armor.

Jaune: "How'd you like THOSE moves?"

Biglet: "(muffled from outside) Pretty g-g-good, you guys." He gives a thumbs up.

Jaune: "Thanks." Jaune removes his sword and walks off.

Yang: "Good job, Jaune!" For an odd reason, Yang repeatedly waves her hand sideways. "This is me clapping. Hehehe… Now all ya gotta do is pin the tail on the jackass, and it's jackpot! Ha ha ha! Oh wait, that's racist… but funny!"

Jaune: "...Right. Come on Ruby!"

Jaune and Ruby rush to Ren and Nora for backup. They have been able to hold their own against Igor so far. But after the faunus brute notices Jaune approaching, he jumps over Ren and Nora and lands in front of Jaune and Ruby before they could get the chance themselves. He chuckles with the intent to test himself against the one who conducted his team's take down.

Igor: "Alright, funky pants." Igor drops his dual weapons, and cracks his hoof knuckles. "Now it's my turn. Let's see whatcha got!"

Jaune attacks in between blocking Igor's fists. After one more swing, Igor catches his sword with his bare hand, and disarms Jaune. In a slight panic, Jaune shield punches at Igor. But then, Igor catches it, and lifts it up, along with Jaune, dangling.

Jaune: "Oh shit!"

Igor bangs Jaune on the ground three times, until he disconnects from his shield. These actions almost remind him of his latest battle with Adam at the tower, and how he became disarmed without his weapons. Especially while feeling badly hurt.

Luckily, Ruby interacts long enough for Jaune to get himself back up. She slashes at Igor while he dodges every attack. He kicks in her direction, but she jumps high up in the air. While shooting in mid air, Igor swats her away, and turns to Jaune, now achingly standing.

Nora: "Ruby!" Nora jumps up and catches Ruby, falling down to her. She sets her down on her feet, and looks back at the fight. Nora tries to jump in, but Ren sticks his arm out to stop her. He stops her, even while knowing his friend, his team leader, stands alone against an experienced brute. Perhaps to see him in action once more.

Ren: "Uh, Yang…?"

Yang: "*snore* *wakes up* Huh?! Wha-?! Oh, right. Um, that was all the lien the barty had. Kinda sad. Jaune was doing good, wasn't he?"

Ren: "Yes…" Ren whips out one lien from within his sleeve. He holds it like the ninja he is with his index and middle fingers, and shoots it toward the jukebox, like a ninja knife. Impressively, it enters the lien slot. "...he is!"

Yang: "Alright, Ninja-Boy! Okay, Jaune! You got this! It's time to get (burping) HEAVYYY!... 'Cuse me. Let's see some hand to hoof action!" Yang turns on a heavy song to motivate the unarmed Knight once more.

Jaune: "I'm not gonna go down like last time. Not just because I don't have my sword and shield." Jaune cracks his shoulders, goes in a boxing stance, and moves on his toes to the song's rhythm. "Your back feels like crap, but you've dealt with worse. But right now, you need to do as Yang said, and pin this donkey!"

Igor delivers the first punch, and Jaune pushes it sideways. He gives two punches, and Jaune ducks the first. He pushes the second punch away, and goes in for an uppercut to Igor's chin. It does the damage, but not enough, judging by Igor's grin.

Ruby: "Shouldn't we help him?"

Ren: "Not yet… Perhaps… this is what Catherine anticipated. She knows that Jaune is a good dancer… and he's used that to motivate his skills in fighting. And even with his memory loss, that stimulus must still remain. But… could that really possible?"

Over time with dodging and fighting, Igor starts to get tired and slow after never managing a hit on Jaune. He only feels more humiliated from watching Jaune move to the music.

Igor: "*panting*...Cut it out!"

Igor goes in for one more strike. However, Jaune pushes it away with one hand, and elbows him in the face. He then backflips away to where his sword lies, and takes it in hand. In a few music enthused movements, he slashes Igor's torso armor off of his body. With his body now more exposed, Jaune twists Igor's arm inward, and knees him in both sides of his ribs five times. He finishes his attack with twirling himself behind Igor, and kicking his back and releasing his arm.

Then, unfortunately, Jaune's musical momentum ends with Igor's subconscious instincts. He donkey kicks Jaune in the abdomen, reaching his core, and flies toward the floor, in front of Ren, Nora, and Ruby watching. Bare in mind, his leg is a humanoid leg on a faunus body. But none the less, he has donkey like reflects. So to say, his stimulus breaks Jaune's own stimulus.

Ren: "Jaune! Are you okay?" Ren gets Jaune up to his feet.

Jaune: "Yeah, I'm fine... But I'm gonna need you guy's help if we wanna leave here and go home. That kick just gave me an idea, actually. Alright, now listen." Jaune whispers with his friends in a group huddle to reveal his plan. Igor stands there confused and impatient.

Nora: "Alright. We can handle that!" Ren, Nora, and Ruby take their stance in preparation.

Jaune: "Aaand… go!"

Jaune rushes back to Igor. He charges as well, and notices one of Ren's weapons swinging horizontally at him in the air. He dodges it, and strikes a punch at Jaune. Luckily, Jaune jumps up, and places a hand on Igor's fist to push and flip upside-down, over his head.

Jaune: "Ruby, shield!"

Using her semblance, Ruby dashes to Jaune and gives him his shield before landing. Now behind Igor once again, he sees his oncoming leg ready to attack and defend. Rather than getting hit, Jaune uses his shield to block, and hold up his leg.

The swinging StormFlower in boomerang action comes back in time to trip Igor, standing on one leg. Before he could completely fall, while off the ground, Ruby, using her semblance, and Nora attack him on opposite sides, and twirls him vertically in midair. Then, Ren takes his turn to cross slash Igor with both of his weapons, and send him in Jaune's direction. Igor sees the tactful Knight await his approach with his arms crossed.

Igor: "Oh shit!" Jaune greets Igor's arrival with a cross slash of his sword and shield. He finally meets the ground, and stays down. "...Man… you kids are pretty strong… I'm impressed." He closes eyes his in weariness.

Nora: "Thanks. We try."

Ren: "Much obliged."

Yang: "Hahaa! And the winners for this bar fight is-!" With Yang's elbow leaning on one side of the jukebox, the other side falls down after spontaneously splitting in half. "Hey what the hell, Christian!? We already made it through half time!"

Christian, looking even more furious than from the start, holds his thin, barely visible, wire with vengeful intentions. In a few swift movements, he lashes the wire in Jaune, and his friends direction. They all move against their will and end up in midair. Seeing this, everybody within the bar against the walls run out of the bar in fear. In just a few moments, the five of them hang right under the ceiling, almost as if they were levitating. Ren and Nora struggle while facing up, Jaune and Ruby squirm while up straight, and Yang dangles upside.

Yang: "Whoa… I didn't know we were in space! First you turn my heavy metal off, and then you turned off my heavy body?! That's awesome!"

Jaune: "Yang, just- just stop, okay. We're not floating in space. We're just-."

Yang: "Hanging by a thread…? Is that it?!" Yang smiles at her pun.

Jaune: "*deep inhale* Yes. We're hanging by a threat!"

Yang: "Ba dum, tss! Hahahaa! Yes we are, my Blonde Buddy!"

Christian: "You kids have cost me a ton of lien on bar service, my bus fair to get a ride from this shithole, the dignity of my security, and most importantly, our lives for when the boss sees this mess!" Christian takes out a needle dagger with the same long then wire attached to one end. "But I'll have your debt collected before he takes ours!" Slowly, he makes his way to Jaune.

Jaune: "Look, sir, I'm sorry for your security, and Yang, and everything else! I haven't fought like that in years, and I didn't even know I could still do what I-!"

Christian: "Oh, save it, would ya!"

Jaune: "Look, just let my friends go, at least. I don't care what you do to me. My blood should be more than enough, right?! I was the one who did this to your security! My friends were just doing what I told them!"

Christian: "It's too late! All this pain and distress scared the customers away. And now, the Grimm will show up without proper defenses!" Christian puts his hand out toward his beaten up security, and his empty bar that no longer has dangerously armed customers. "If it were up to me, I'd have the five of you fight them off, and pray you all die trying. But we have a reputation to keep up in this bar. And that is…" He holds the needle dagger up, ready to execute. "... punish all non-paying customers. And I'll be damned if I go soft before losing this bar!"

Seeing the hate in Christian's face causes Jaune's vision to schizophrenically change perception. His vision makes Christian with his needle appear as Adam with his sword. The needle dagger/Wilt pulls back for impact, and lunges toward him.

However, the needle dagger/Wilt does not touch him. In fact, Adam, know fazing back to Christian, seems paralyzed. His motion shows him struggling to move, not advancing any further.

?: "You'll shed no blood tonight, sir. But you'll share some with me for just a moment, won't you?"

Jaune looks behind Christian, and sees his sister, Catherine, holding her arm out, and restraining him with her semblance.

Jaune: "Catherine! *sigh* Just in time. Where have you been?! We've been waiting for you!"

Catherine: "Well sorry! I had to wipe out some Grimm before getting here. Do you have any idea of what the reputation in this bar carries?"

Jaune: "Had you not showed up sooner, the bartender here would've shown us."

Catherine: "Yes, the bartender…!" Catherine forcefully rotates Christian's head and body to face her. "Trying to play puppeteer with my family, I see… Well, let me show you a puppeteer who dominates your bum strings with blood streams!"

Catherine conducts her hands and fingers to control Christian's movements. His movements loosen the strings Jaune and his friends are bound to. They all land on their feet, and face Christian, now more infuriated.

Christian: "That's enough! I've had it with you all! You all will die, whether you give me my lien, or not!" Christian throws his wire to Catherine for an assault. She dodges it, and grabs it with her hand. Christian tries to pull it back, but Catherine wraps it up into a wired fist. The more she wraps it, the closer Christian gets. "Uh-oh."

Catherine punches Christian out of his hold on his wire, now on the floor. With just that hit, he falls to the floor, and loses the strength to get up. Then, she walks up to him, and notices the piece of paper sticking out of his pocket, reading 'Bill'. Catherine picks it up, reads it, and then closes her eyes in frustration and disappointment. Even still, she reaches into one of her pockets, and takes out a thick stack of lien. She drops it on his chest.

Catherine: "This should cover for everything, sir. Including the damages… Have a good night." She turns around and heads for the door, along with everybody else. Jaune, however, passes Catherine, and leans down to Christian's level.

Jaune: "I really am sorry about what happened tonight. We didn't mean to cause any trouble. We were just here for our reckless friend. But the policies of this place just seemed brutal and hard not to handle without defending ourselves."

Christian: "*cough* You kids shouldn't be going out to parts like these in the first place. This is where people can live as freely, and as dangerous as they choose, without the troubles of the system and their laws. Without the paranoia of Grimm as we keep them from reaching even your homes in Vale… You kids are the ones who don't belong out here. I've seen you all fight. You're all students, trying to become something greater; Hunters and Huntresses. I can tell by how you fight. Hehe… *sigh* Shame what they did to Beacon, eh? I was once a student… Vinnie, the gang, and I."

Jaune: "Oh, you were? You're all Huntsman? Really? Well, what happened?"

Christian: "Meh, you know: politics, profit, and all that shit. But a great deal of our struggles had to do with faunus equality. I stood up for my pals while only being human, fixing them up, giving them what they need, raising them the best I can, and I don't regret it, not once. Eventually, we just stopped giving a fuck, forgot it all, stuck together and moved on. And that's how we ended up here."

Jaune: "Man… I don't know how, but why does that feel relatable?…"

Christian: "Anyways, if you kids are looking for trouble, then go out there and face the real bad guys who terrorized our Kingdom. Not folks like us. We love Vale as much as I'm sure you all do."

Jaune: "...You're right. We'll be going now. Thanks."

Jaune walks of to the door and opens it.

Christian: "Hey, kid!" Christian gets up, recovery his strength a little bit. "Sorry about earlier. You know, with the needle, and string, and stuff. Bar policies. You get it, right?"

Jaune: "Uh, yeah. Sure. *nervous laughing*."

Christian: "Though I doubt this is really your taste, but you're welcome here, anytime. I think my guys might actually like you... Just not your troublesome bimbo! We've had enough of her."

Jaune: "Hehe. Yeah. Thanks." Jaune waves off, and leaves the door. Outside, everybody faces him, as if proud and surprised. They all turn around, walking towards Catherine's humvee. He figures he may have some explaining to do, even while unaware of tonight himself.

Yang: "Well, look at you, Jauney Boy! Taking on your first bar fight!" Yang throws her arm around Jaune's shoulder as they walked. "Give us a kiss there, love!" She struggles to give Jaune a kiss, while Jaune holds her back.

Jaune: "Yang, you reek of booze and vomit! Just take it easy for the night! We wouldn't have been in this mess if it weren't for you being careless."

Yang: "I knooow, I'm sorryyy! I really am! …I just miss Righty, and I didn't know what to do, and I was horny, and all the guys were scared of me, so then I beat them up one-handed, which was pretty cool, but I… I just… I don't…" Before Yang could try to finish, Jaune takes her bandaged stub of an arm under his hand, raises it up, and gives it a kiss.

Jaune: "It's okay, Yang-Over. You're gonna be just fine. We got you."

Yang looks at Jaune, and her intoxicated red face grows even more red in bashfulness.

Yang: "Great Knights in Shiny Armor…" Right then, Yang faints in Jaune's arms. Then, he himself grows red in bashfulness.

Catherine: "I got her Lady-Killer." Catherine takes Yang by one arm, and lifts her whole body up over her shoulder. "So is that what really happened? You guys were in a bar fight with security, and it attracted all those Grimm I had to take out on the way here?

Ren: "That would be the case, yes. From what the bartender said, they help sleigh Grimm that become attracted to their bar's negativity."

Catherine: "And how, pray tell, did you all take out their security, who obviously had plenty of experience in battle?" Catherine suspiciously smiles, as if she knew how. Again, the bashfulness in Jaune only escalates.

Nora: "Oh, it was amazing! We were all fighting them separately at first, right? And we got close to losing! But then, Yang was playing with the jukebox box, playing a bunch of music! Jaune was dancing, and he took down their leader, and he was dancing, and dancing again! And then, him and I took out one of them, and then him and Ruby beat the other one up, and he was dancing again, and we all took down the biggest guy! Jaune gave him a jab, sword slashes, elbow, jab elbow! And, the bartender tied us up, and that's where you came in to save us!

Catherine: "Hahahaha! I knew you had it in you, Jauney!" Catherine gives a playful punch to Jaune's shoulder.

Jaune: "Hehe. Yeah. I just didn't know how, until tonight."

Ren: "This was your plan all along, wasn't it? You knew that if Jaune practiced his skills in dancing, he would apply them in fighting like he did years ago. Am I right?"

Catherine: "Aren't you always!? Hehehe" Catherine makes Ren give a little smile.

Ren: "I suppose I owe you an apology for doubting your methods then, Catherine."

Catherine: "Save it. You can make it up to me by working with Jaune in unlocking his aura. And you could do it by using the right tactic; music. I'm sure you'll see some results."

Ren: "Alright then."

Jaune enters the front seat of Catherine's borrowed humvee, while his team and Ruby enter the back. Catherine puts Yang in first, buckles her up, closes her door, and then enters the driver's seat. Then looking at the rear view mirror, it comes to her attention that Yang is not the only new member of the group, but also Ruby.

Catherine: "Oh, hey there, sweetheart! I forgot to ask what smelled like roses. Hahaha. You must be Ruby."

Ruby: "Yeah. Thanks for picking us up… Catherine, was it?"

Catherine: "Yup. Nice to see you again. "She's really grown since Signal."

Ruby: "Hehe. Yeah, you too? Have we met before?... Hey, Jaune."

Jaune: "Yeah?"

Ruby: "I know we said we'd all meet up in about a week, but when we get to my house, I think we should have it then, since we're all together already."

Jaune: "Yeah, okay. Are you guys okay with that?"

Ren: "That sounds fine."

Nora: "Sure. I'm good."

Ruby: "Great."

Catherine: "Alright. Where do you live, sweetheart."

Catherine drives the humvee off along a path of smokey Grimm corpses by her previous doing. In time, they will disappear.

(Winter…)

Ruby: (scroll, whisper) Hello?

Jaune: "Hey Ruby."

Ruby: (whisper) "Hi. Are you guys outside?"

Jaune: "Yeah. Are you ready?"

Ruby: "Yeah, I'll be right out."

Jaune and Ruby end their call. He and his teammates, Ren and Nora, stand outside of her house in the snow with their backpacks. They await the other leader to be welcomed and complete each other's group status. That leader, Ruby Rose, steps outside into the snow with her backpack just as they are.

Jaune: "Hey."

Ruby: "Hey Jaune." Ruby walks up to her companion and fellow leader of his team beside him. "Haven's a long way to go."

Jaune: "I know. But it's the only lead we have."

Ruby: "And you're sure you wanna come along?"

Ren: "The journey will be perilous, and whether we find answers or not is entirely uncertain…

Nora: "...But we wouldn't be here if we weren't up for it."

Jaune: "Exactly. Plus, if Catherine and I ever want to get some closure on dad and the Taurus family, I'll have to do my part out here. She can handles things while in Vale, looking for clues or maybe more documents like those orders."

Ruby: "Then let's get started."

The newly formed team (Team RNJR, or possibly Team JNRL(GENERAL), considering 'Lie' Ren) begin their journey down the path from Ruby's home. Indeed, the journey will be perilous for our heroes. But their troubles will begin sooner than they had hoped. For at a distance, the individual responsible for both Jaune and Yang's despair watches over Team RNJR on a high ledge.

Adam, standing in the snow out out of sight, takes out his sword, holding it over shoulder, to engage Blush in rifle mode. He points it out to aim at the small looking target of blonde attached to an armored body, that is Jaune's head. His finger squeezes on the trigger about to fire. Then suddenly, to interrupt his concentration, a small black blur passes his field of vision, followed by the sound of a caw. Adam drops his arms in annoyance, before sheathing his sword and looking across a further side of the ledge to face the source of his interruption. Not to his surprise, he sees not a crow, but the Dusty Old Crow himself.

Qrow: "Don't you know better than to be hunting Huntsman and Huntresses in training? They might be rookies, but their abilities might surprise you. Especially when traveling in a group. And, who knows, maybe some Guardian Angel could be watching their tail."

Adam: "Is that suppose to be a threat?"

Qrow: "More or less, yeah. But it's mostly a warning. Over the past few months, that kid you grew up with is much stronger than your last encounter. And about half of that strength is saved up for you."

Adam: "Oh, I'm sure of it!" Adam grins in excitement."

Qrow: "(sarcasm) Oh, yes of course. I was thinking your jealousy and obsession lead you to try and shoot him at a distance, rather than challenge him like a real fighter. But I must be wrong." Irritated, Adam puts his hand on his sword's handle, and grits his teeth. Qrow just slowly walks up to him. "Hehe. All jokes aside, this is your last warning from me, Adam." His voice changes in a more serious tone. "Stay away from them."

Adam: "You think I should be afraid you?

Qrow: "Not me. Her."

Adam: "Who, your niece? It shouldn't matter that we both-."

Qrow: "No, not her. I mean HER."

By putting more emphasis on the pronoun, Adam understands who Qrow refers to. It makes him silent for a moment.

Adam: "...Let her do what she wants." Qrow says nothing. He only stares seriously to reassure the seriousness. "I don't see why she would find him so important, nor why a human would try to protect me." Adam walks past him, and stares at Jaune.

Qrow: "Hey, come on now. You can think of our race however you want, but we're all equal in my eyes. Plus, you and I both know there are races far worse than human and faunus combined."

Adam: "Like what? The Grimm?"

Again, Qrow's voice becomes more ominous.

Qrow: "...Second to worse." Adam takes his attention off Jaune, and back towards Qrow. "Look, Adam. With every 'gift' you receive comes a curse. You can absorb as much energy as you can for your aura, but it will never be your own. It won't change the fact that Jaune's ability is his own. He didn't resort to that path and stain himself like you did. He relied on his friends and family to make him stronger. But if you want to go after him, be my guest. Cause I can guarantee you, it's not gonna end well for you at all."

Adam: "...Whatever, old man." The term of course strikes a nerve to Qrow, gritting his teeth. "You're starting to sound like your boss, now." Adam ends their discussion by thrusting downward from the ledge toward the trees. He still remains out of sight from Team RNJR, who are unaware.

Qrow watches as Adam gradually disappears deeper in the trees. His last retort makes Qrow feel a certain way. It causes him to take out a special antique he has been holding; Professor Ozpin's cane in portable mode. Qrow activates it to its full cane mode, and then admires it briefly before staring up in the sky.

Qrow, Team RNJR's Guardian Angel, then jumps down and symbolically takes his semblance form, and he flaps his feather wings, in black.

And so, concludes this chapter, at last. If some of you will, criticize me on my story and my grammar. I had to look over this numerous times to fix my grammar. And everytime I did, I found something that did not seem right. But I figured there would be something there, no matter how many times I looked. And it wouldn't be fair to my viewers to wait any longer. But please do let me know what you all think. It helps out a lot. I do have other ideas in mind for FanFictions. Including RWBY, Sonic The Hedgehog, and even Sanity Not Included. Should I put this project off for a bit and work on those? Or should I continue what I started first? Your choice. Until next time, enjoy the next few months before chapter 3. Semper Fidelis!