Chapter 01: The Wayward Knight's Return

"Where did you get that sword, boy?" the man asked the blonde knight while two policemen restrained him. It was a pity because the mustache prick would have eaten an aura-infused fastball if he had been a few seconds faster.

"Don't you know that makes you the back-stabbing snake in the grass, False Shepherd?" the man told him as the crowd around the raffle began to gasp and murmur. And we ain't letting no false shepherd into our flock!" the crowd cheered, and the blonde noticed instantly how the crowd's attitude changed from cheerful to bloodthirsty. Slow dread soon seeped in as the dozens of people all around the restrained boy became murderous.

"SHOW HIM WHAT WE GOT PLANNED, BOYS!" That was the last thing the blonde could hear as he looked in sudden horror at the rapidly rotating blades of the sky hook inching towards him. The sounds of the small gears rotating seemed to slow down until the hooks were only millimeters away.

"GAAAHH!" Jaune shot up from his bed and pulled out the pistol that he kept under his pillow, only to be aimed at the wall at the other end of the small motel room he was in. he let out a few more gasps of breath before realizing that it was just another dream. His wide eyes soon relaxed as he got up and sat off the side of the bed. He set the unusual-looking pistol on the nightstand and sighed before running his hands over his face and hair.

It had been a month since he got back. A month since he discovered some things that figuratively fried his mind and a month since he was left alone. His hands squeezed tight into fists as he remembered her for a split moment and instinctively went to the bottle of whiskey on the dresser. After pouring himself a glass and downing the drink, he looked back at the gun. It was another reminder of the place he had been, the hardships he endured, and the lives he had taken.

"What the hell am I doing?" Jaune muttered to himself as he got up from his bed and headed over to the window, looking out to see the broken moon illuminating the world of Remnant. "It's been a week since I came back to Vale. Why am I still in this damn motel room?" He looked back to the dresser and let out a sigh. He knew that answer but hated to admit it,

admitting that he was afraid.

He could hardly believe it was only a month since he was abducted by two twins who had a thing for finishing each other's sentences. Before he knew it, said twins somehow warped him to a world that made him vomit from not just the flying city but the sick ideals and twisted minds that inhabited it. During his time there, he fought, he killed, and in a way, he died. But even after pushing through and surviving, after defying the laws of space and time by returning to his world, why did he wait to return to the ones he cared about? The ones that were probably in hysterics about him disappearing.

He went to his folded clothes at the foot of the bed and pulled a photo of him and his team from his black slacks—a photo they had taken just a few days before his disappearance. His heart clenched a bit. He saw their smiles and then immediately clamped his eyes shut.

"You honestly think things would return to normal after worrying them for so long?" Jaune growled, expressing the annoyance in his head.

"No. Things have changed too much."

"You can barely look at yourself in the mirror. Will your friends and family see you the same after they realize what you've done?" Jaune remained silent when the festering voice pointed this out. "I mean, SHE just flat out left you. You really think that the others-"

"I KNOW, DAMMIT!" Jaune shouted while he grasped his head. "Can we just move on from that?!" Silence was the only response to the blonde as he sat back down on the bed with the photo still in hand. He didn't need the photo to see their smiles. He knew he didn't. He also knew deep down that what the voice said was wrong. He knew they would be happy to see him. After all, they were his friends. He would keep his sins buried.

He looked at the scroll charging next to the pistol and opened it. When he returned to Remnant, he was surprised that his scroll was still working. It had shown that it had been exactly a month since he left despite his travel to different realities. His contacts were still there, and he smiled at all the faces.

"Tomorrow." He muttered and set the scroll back on the dresser. "I'll go back tomorrow." He was about to lay back down until a sudden realization hit him. He had said the exact same words the night before. Every night for the past week, he would say, "Tomorrow." Instead, he went out to the outer parts of the city and either got wasted or found food. Every damn day he would stall going back to the people he cared about. He felt his head on the pillow. His synapses assaulted the rest of his mind with a painful jolt. Practically screaming at him to stop this.

"FuuuUUUUCK!" he said as his voice rose. He couldn't tell if it was a new-found adrenaline kicking in or anger at himself, but he threw his legs over the side of his bed and grabbed his clothes. During his time in Columbia, Jaune had to lose his beloved hoodie and settle for the local clothes. He put on his black slacks while fastening his navy blue button-down shirt. After putting on his vest, he wrapped the red sash around his neck and headed towards the front door. He turned the knob when he realized the dark bandage for a knife wound was still wrapped comfortably around his hand. He stared at it momentarily, relishing in a sudden burst of memories. That place was hell on earth, but those few tender moments with her made it worth enduring.

"God dammit," he muttered as he undid the bandage. The scar was a few inches long but stood out nonetheless. He traced the scar on the inside of his hand with his thumb and grimaced a bit. Gritting his teeth, he pocketed the dark cloth and turned the knob, heading out into the night. The prominent lights of Beacon Academy shined in the distance, and after recollecting his thoughts, he took his first true step toward his former home.

#

It was quite the start of a new day for Jaune as he vomited up a hurricane in one of the bullhead's trashcans. Some people were becoming uncomfortable due to the sheer amount of ungodly noises that the blonde emitted. 'For Oum's sake, I fought radical activists on Sky-Lines, for crying out loud! Why is it that the minute I get on a bullhead, I'm back to "Vomit Boy" again?!' Jaune mentally screamed as he was about to go another round with the trashcan.

"Attention, passengers. We will be arriving at Beacon Academy shortly. Please hold onto nearby rails or take a seat for your safety," the intercom blared through the speaker.

Jaune grumbled as he held the trashcan tightly while the ship landed at Beacon docks. When the doors opened, Jaune bolted out of the flying death trap and began kissing the ground animatedly. "Oh, sweet, merciful ground! I know fate brought me to a flying city, but I'm back! Please don't leave me again!" he exclaimed while others looked in awe and confusion. After everyone disembarked, the blonde was left alone. Jaune quickly recomposed himself, looking up to see the familiar courtyard a few meters away. He saw not much had changed since he had left, except that the heat was a little more intense than he remembered. He let out a small chuckle as he got up and headed for the entrance.

As Jaune entered the school, he began to wander through the colossal halls and marveled at how it had only been a short time but felt like years to him. As he continued, though, he noticed that the halls were empty of students or staff.

"Class is probably in session at the moment." He muttered to himself. One of the first things he wanted to do when he arrived was assure his friends that he was alright. That he was alive and not going anywhere else. Unfortunately, he knew well that if he even stepped into one of his classes, that pandemonium from his old team and friends would ensue. Keeping in mind the well-being of the teachers, he decided on another destination. Despite the urge to return to his friends, he had to speak with someone else first.

#

Headmaster Ozpin sat at his desk, looking over the transcripts of the new students enrolling in the next few months, sipping from his signature mug. He flipped through the pages of one student and tossed it aside into the rejection bin along with almost hundreds of others. He mentally sighed at the new addition to the almost towering pile, not knowing why they thought they could get by him with lies on their transcripts. He had taught and watched over this school for many years and could not understand the idiocy of those who thought they could slip through the cracks.

However, this thought gave him a sour look as he remembered a certain individual he willingly took a chance on. The only difference was perspective. He set down a new file and looked at his desk's far-left side. A simple flyer with the word "Missing" in bold print, followed by the picture of Jaune Arc. He closed his eyes and mentally sighed at how things had been since his disappearance. Needless to say, the leader's team was not in the best of moods, and neither were the ones that he truly impacted.

The headmaster was snapped out of his thoughts as his scroll vibrated at the other side of his desk. He shook his head gently, composing himself as he reached for his scroll. He opened it and saw an incoming call from the receptionist on the tower's bottom floor.

"Yes?" he asked politely as he answered the call.

"Sir, a young man claiming to be a first-year student here wants to talk to you. He's not in uniform, and I don't see him in the current records. He insisted that I verify it with you."

Ozpin nodded. Goodwitch was in the middle of teaching combat class, so his receptionist was the only staff member with him. He also understood her skepticism, but the unsureness in her voice didn't stop him from pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It's quite alright. Send the young man up," he said sincerely before hanging up. He brushed aside some of the clutter on his desk and waited patiently for the elevator doors to open on the other side of the room. His cane was within arm's reach should the person get violent.

The doors soon opened, and at that moment, Ozpin's eyes widened slightly at the figure walking out of the elevator. He had definitely changed since the last time he saw him; his new attire was a testament to that. Despite the new attire and the unusual pistol holstered at his side, his distinguishing blonde hair and blue eyes had stayed the same, along with the familiar sword sheathed at his waist. The headmaster stared intently at the boy, who was now scratching the back of his head.

"Hello, Mr. Arc. It has been a while." Ozpin smiled and smirked a bit at Jaune's sudden jolt of surprise.

"So, it has Professor Ozpin," Jaune replied. This response caused the headmaster to lean forward a bit.

"So, would you care to tell me why you have been missing for this past month?" Ozpin asked sincerely.

The boy chuckled. "Where do I even start?"

#

SPARKYDAPPERDAB19 and and I worked on the original story years ago, but they have dropped their account and stories since then. I have taken the liberty of rebooting the story to keep it alive. Thanks to DarkWolf924 for bringing this to my attention.

AN: Special thanks to Jebest4781, Charles, and Seana!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did, please follow or review/comment. See you guys in the next chapter.

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