Ch-1: A Lost Fable And A New Origin

"This is where we part ways now," He says. "I wish you great luck on your journey, remember our creation is now in your hands, farewell Ozma."

Hundreds of Years Later...

For countless years, countless reincarnations were experienced. Ozma lost count of how many reincarnations he has gone through at this point. In this life, he is known as Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon, one of the four academies that teach their students the path of becoming a Huntsmen or Huntress, warriors meant to fight the dark creatures simply known as the Grimm. Now that dream, that goal is dead for one of his students, Jaune Arc. Jaune was a promising student, while not the most adept in combat.

Strategy and tactics were his strong suit, but when it was exposed that he had faked his transcripts to get in, everything went downhill. Friends stopped associating with him, the whole school turned on him. Ozpin couldn't help but wonder what Jaune was doing now with his life. Ozpin opened his Scroll, its blue holographic screen giving his office a light blue hue of color. As he opened up the VNN News application, scrolling through the app, he then found a news story uploaded an hour ago. It was 5:58 currently as he looked at the time, there was a picture of Jaune as the cover. His eyes then darted towards the caption placed under the picture.

His eyes widened as he reread the caption again, "Former Student Of Beacon Academy, Jaune Arc, Considered To Be Dead After Saving Child From Rip Current" Ozma dropped the Scroll, he covered his face in his hands as he sighed. He couldn't believe it. He dreaded imagining how others at the Beacon would react to this information.

As time passed and soon neared 7:00, in one of the dorms of Beacon Academy resided Jaune's former team, team JPNR, pronounced Juniper, though now it was only PNR.

The first to awake was Pyrrha. She turned her head toward the other side of the room and saw two beds. On one bed lay her teammate Ren as he was still asleep. Her gaze shifted to the one that stood beside Ren's, the bed Jaune slept in when he was still at Beacon. She frowned as her mind began to fill with thoughts of him.

Sitting up, she couldn't help but feel terrible. She couldn't explain why, but she did.

"Pyrrha?"

She turned to see that it was her teammate Nora. Rubbing her eyes, Pyrrha managed to get out a hello as she yawned.

Nora walked over and sat down on her bed. "Is it Jaune?" Pyrrha shook her head in response. "No."

"Then what is it?"

"It's just that... that..."

"You're still thinking about Jaune," Nora stated. Pyrrha shook her head again. "No, it's not-"

"Pyrrha," Nora said as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, don't deny it. I've kinda noticed that you haven't been acting like yourself recently. You don't need to hide your feelings. I'm here for you."

Pyrrha sighed. "You're right. It is about Jaune." Nora rubbed Pyrrha's shoulder, attempting to comfort her. "So, what is it?"

"I feel guilty."

"For what?"

"For exposing Jaune, I feel like what I did then was unnecessary. It's my fault he was thrown out of the academy."

"No, no, it's not you-"

"It is!" She exclaims. "I was the only one he trusted with his most precious secret. But instead of helping him, I threw away his trust. He'll never forgive me for that."

"Hey," Nora hugged Pyrrha. "this is Jaune we're talking about. Jaune wouldn't hold this against you. He isn't the type to hold grudges. Maybe we'll meet him again, later on, visit him or something at his home in Arcadia."

"I guess you're right," Pyrrha said, wiping away a tear from her eye.

"So we're good?" Nora asks. A small smile began to appear on Pyrrha's face. "Yes, thank you, Nora."

"Good!" Nora said happily. She then dashed off to the bathroom. Pyrrha was left alone again with just her thoughts.

After a few more minutes, team PNR was ready in school uniforms and set out to the cafeteria. Soon, they reached the cafeteria building. Like many of the other buildings in Beacon, it had a gothic style to it. Surrounding the outside of the building were other students sitting together in small groups as they ate and conversed. They opened the door and found the room filled with many students seated as usual in the seemingly endless rows of tables.

"They're over there," Nora says, pointing out to a table.

Turning to look in the direction Nora pointed, Pyrrha and Ren turned to see team RWBY sitting there at a table not too far from them, being only a few meters away. Something was wrong. Yang's face was crossed with sorrow and also guilt, not only that but also hugging Ruby tight as her head was buried into Yang's shoulder while she wept. Pyrrha looked at Blake and Weiss. Their expression was the same as Yang's.

"Is everything alright? What happened?" Pyrrha asked as she, Ren, and Nora walked up to them. Yang, Blake, and Weiss looked towards them.

"Jaune is dead," Yang stated.

"What!" Ren exclaimed. Pyrrha shook her head. "No, no, that can't-" Right then, Yang handed her Scroll over to Pyrrha. Taking it, she looks at the screen. She saw it, a picture of Jaune, with the caption that read "Former Student Of Beacon Academy, Jaune Arc, Considered To Be Dead After Saving Child From Rip Current" Pyrrha handed the Scroll back to Yang, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to Nora.

She suddenly hugged Nora as she burst into tears. Nora began to shed a few tears herself. "I'm so sorry," Nora said while she hugged Pyrrha even tighter.

"Attention!" They hear Professor Glynda say in a stern but loud voice. "All students must make way to the auditorium." She announces. With that, the two teams and the other students gather their things and make their way.

Stepping onto the stage, Ozpin fixed his spectacles using one hand and held his cane with the other as he walked towards the microphone. He stood there, patiently waiting. He then saw the first influx of students make their way to their seats and school staff directing other students to other parts of the auditorium. After a few more minutes, every student at Beacon Academy was now assembled. The room was filled with the chatter of the many students speaking amongst each other. Ozpin then cleared his throat and coughed into the microphone, causing the murmur to quiet down. Now all attention was on him.

"There are some present here that are aware of why all of you have been gathered here today. But, of course, some of you aren't sure as to why I requested your presence." Ozpin said into the microphone. He then sighed as he closed his eyes.

"Which is why I am to be announcing this with a heavy heart, that Jaune Arc has passed away." He said. The auditorium was immediately filled with chatter as students began to talk among themselves.

"Now," He said, causing the students to turn their attention back to him. "it is regardless that Jaune had cheated his way in. What is important is that even after many at this school had pushed him away, he still upheld what it meant to be a Huntsmen till the end, putting his life before the ones of those who can't save themselves."

"Let us all hope we can follow his example. May the gods let him rest in peace." He then readjusted his spectacles before finishing. "Thank you, everyone, for your time today. It was much appreciated. You can all have a good rest of your day now, dismissed."

Meanwhile...

"Hey! Get up!"

Jaune sat straight up as he began to cough and spit out seawater. Jaune cringed in distaste as the strong taste of salt enveloped his mouth. As he stopped coughing, he then felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Woah!" Jaune jumped up to his feet quickly and instinctively raised his fists up in defense.

He then saw who he was facing, a boy about his age, dressed as a medieval knight or foot soldier.

"Easy, easy! I'm not trying to harm you!" The boy exclaimed as he backed away, giving Jaune some space.

Jaune lowered his fists, realizing that whoever this boy was, was a friend. He saw that behind the boy was where the beach ended, the sand leading into a lush, green forest filled with tall pine trees. He turned back to the boy.

"Where are we?"

The boy crossed his arms. "You aren't from here, are you?"

Jaune shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not."

"So, if you aren't from here then"- the boy's eyes widened in the realization of something, something Jaune wasn't aware of -"no way... is this really happening?"

Jaune's expression shifted from confusion to curiosity. "What is it? Is there something I said?"

The boy shook his head. "No, no, it's not that. You said you weren't from here, right?" Jaune nodded. "So, that means you're from Remnant?"

Jaune nodded once again. "Yeah, I am. What's the big deal?"

"Well, I don't believe it." The boy said to himself in amazement. Jaune, still in befuddlement, said. "Uh, what?"

"Come on," The boy said as he began walking towards the forest. "I can explain more when we get to the forest where we can sit and relax."

Jaune, still cautious, was hesitant to follow this odd but kind stranger. Do I go or do I stay put? He thought to himself.

"Oh, and earlier, before I found you, I also found some sword that washed up together with some strange sheath made from gold and white iron. Is it yours by any chance?" The boy asked as he continued to walk in the direction of the forest.

Crocea Mors! Jaune thought immediately upon hearing the boy's description. "Where did you put it?" Jaune said as he ran after the boy.

"Ah, so it is yours." The boy tilted his head, looking over his shoulder back at Jaune, and said. "I stashed it away with the rest of my belongings at the camp I set up."

"Okay, cool," Jaune replied as he caught up with him, as they both walked alongside each other. "Uh, so, where are we?"

"Oh, my apologies. As far as where we are is concerned. You aren't in Remnant anymore. We're in Heathmoor now."

End of Chapter One