Dante cleared his throat. "Now then, I believe you came for your in-law?"

"Oh. Right." Jaune then stretched his arm past Dante to grab the lamp, snapping it back to normal while holding his sister-in-law.

"You HAVE to let me study you," Dante went.

"Uh, no. That sounds kinda creepy, old friend." Jaune then looked at the lamp before looking at his wife. "Want to say something before I bring her out?"

Nimueh blew a raspberry at the lamp before flipping it off with her left hand, making sure the ring on her ring finger was fully visible. Also, she made sure to cover Argent's eyes. The two used to jokingly blow raspberries at each other all the time, so Argent was allowed to see his parents do something as childish as that. Flipping the bird, not so much.

"Man, you hate your sister."

"She. Ruined. Your. Proposal. To me."

Jaune sighed. "At least she didn't ruin our date."

"It still wasn't as romantic as it should have been when you proposed to me because of her."

Jaune shook his head before he activated his Semblance. The lamp began to glow before it started to levitate. Moments later, Jinn took physical form, but this time, she had more human clothes. "Mm, a bit more and I can have a human body," she said as she looked at herself.

"Wait a minute. Those look like my clothes," Nimueh yelled.

"What can I say? You have good taste," Jinn said as she crossed her legs, her black jeans hugging them tightly. She had the same heeled boots as Nimueh, a lighter blue blouse as opposed to Nimueh's dark purple, with her bracelets and earrings still visible. "Now then, my dear, legal brother-in-law, what questions can your dear big sister answer for you?"

Jaune held up the Aura Battery. "Would this be of any help to you and Nimueh?"

"Not in its current state. It needs to be modified to its completion. That thing fully charged would only get you one question from me," Jinn giggled. "Plus, I wouldn't have these clothes on."

"Good to know," Jaune blushed. "Ow."

"Don't look at my sister that way," Nimueh grumbled.

"My, my, you sure need to keep your husband on a short leash, don't you, Nimmy?"

"Call me that again and I'll destroy you."

"Oooh, scary," Jinn said playfully. "Family sure can be frightening," she giggled.

Jaune looked down. "Family." He then looked up. "Jinn, I need to know."

"Hm?"

"When the God of Light told me how I would need to protect Remnant from Darkness-"

"Come again," Dante went.

"He mentioned something before vanishing. He said... that I had daughters. Two to be exact." "

"I have two older sisters?!"

"Please, would you tell me who they are?"

Jinn smiled before she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I know who they are... but I can't tell you."

Jaune's eyes widened, but Nimueh understood why and sucked her teeth.

"W-WHY?! YOU'RE THE SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE! I ASKED A QUESTION, AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER EVERYTHING! WHY WON'T YOU TELL ME WHO MY DAUGHTERS ARE?!"

"Because He won't let her."

Jaune looked at Nimueh, immediately noticing how annoyed she looked. Realization hit Jaune immediately before he growled. "Light. So, he's preventing Jinn from telling me somehow? Why?"

"Because..." Jaune looked at Jinn. "He believes you would do everything in your power to meet them, distracting you from your task of becoming stronger."

Jaune stared at Jinn with wide eyes before he growled. "So, he's forcing me to become stronger by keeping me from my kids?!"

"That's kinda messed up," Argent said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Come now, Jaune. Is it any different from how you kept my dear nephew from his mother," Jinn asked?

"Hm? But mom's right next to me," Argent said as he pointed at Nimueh. He then realized what his aunt meant. "Ooooh. But does that really count? I pretty much call Ruby my mom out of respect. Nimueh is my MOM mom, you know?"

Jinn giggled. "Don't you have him wrapped around your finger?"

"Watch it, sister. Don't think Arie putting me in a good mood means I won't hurt you."

"Hm. Well, Jaune, anything else you need to know?"

Jaune sighed. "Is there anything else Light won't let you tell me?"

"Well, he won't let me tell you where Roman Torchwick hid his stolen Dust."

"Oh, come on!" Jaune sighed. "Is it at least undiscovered?"

"Oh, yes. Your dear Trivia is the only one who knows where it is. She's willing to give you clues for certain prices."

Jaune sighed. "That sounds like Trivia alright," Jaune said as he thought of his ex. The beauty was tipping her hat with a giggle before blowing a kiss.

"Oh, would you be so kind as to give me more of your Aura? I'm almost out." Jaune then without thinking grabbed Jinn. "Oh. Grabbing my ankle?"

"Hm? GACK?!"

"And here I thought you a gentleman," she teased.

Jaune's eyebrow twitched before he concentrated. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Jinn was smaller. "A few more charges should do, but questions first."

Jaune sighed. "How should I approach Ambrosius about my new armor?"

"Oh, a simple one." Jinn then snapped her fingers, a piece of paper floating from the pile behind the Arcs, flying past them and into Jinn's grasp. "He would love this design."

"Hey, that's still in progress," Dante went as he snapped the paper out of Jinn's fingers. "I haven't come close to finishing this," he said as he put the paper on his desk.

Jaune looked. "What the? You were developing armor for me already?"

"To help complement your new powers, yes. Enhance your wings, sharpen your claws, add a bit of a shocking kick to your stinger; stuff like that. Still, it's much more difficult than I thought it would be. It doesn't help that most of the ideas I came up with are too advanced. Not even New Mantle has the needed technology for such a project."

"How long would you need to make the tech," Argent asked.

"I'd say about a hundred years," Dante said as he scratched his head.

"WHAT," the family went in unison, Jinn giggling.

"You have to understand that this is theoretical nanotech. The closest comparison would be like me artificially creating Salem's immortality for machines. Nothing is that advanced yet. Even my Titans would pale in comparison to such a feat."

"But you have the beginning blueprints. That's all Ambrosius will need. It would certainly gain his curiosity, especially since it can be improved. He'd love that. See it as a challenge," Jinn explained.

"That sounds like my egotistical brother, alright," Nimueh sighed with her eyes closed.

Jaune took the blueprints before looking at Jinn. "Am I going to need materials to bring for the upgrades?" Jinn smiled with a raised eyebrow. Jaune sighed. "Let me guess..."

"Light won't let me/you tell," Jaune, Nimueh, and Jinn said in unison.

"Nim, I hate your uncle."

"I hate him, too."

"You hate your father, too, sister."

"At this point, I hate my whole side of the family," Nimueh grumbled as she rubbed her head, making Jinn giggle again.

Dante was writing down like a madman after Jinn gave him some advice on some of his current and later projects. "JAUNE, PLEASE LET ME KEEP HER!"

"Please," Nimueh begged.

Jaune sighed. "Jinn?"

"Mm... No." Both Dante and Nimueh groaned.

"So, Jinn, one last question." She smiled at her in-law. "Two more full charges is all you need from me, right? For you to get your human body, I mean."

"That's right."

"How long will you be able to keep it without me?"

"Approximately one month. More than enough time for you to finish your business with my brother. And before you ask, I'd rather stay home."

"That settles that," Jaune shrugged.

"Wait, what is she talking about," Nimueh asked.

"Hm? Well, we've left the house empty long enough as it is."

Nimueh looked at her husband in confusion before her eyes widened. "No. No. No, no, no! You're kidding me! You want her to LIVE WITH US?!"

"Aunt Jinn's going to be living with us?"

"That's your father's plan," Jinn answered in a sing-song tone.

Nimueh grabbed Jaune by his collar. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YOU KNOW I HATE MY SISTER! I'D SOONER LIVE WITH RUBY!"

"Really," Jaune asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, no. I can't stand her. I would TOLERATE her for Arie's sake, but Jinn doesn't get the same luxury!"

"You realize that Argent likes ALL of your siblings, right?"

"Urk." Jaune then pointed, Nimueh dreading what she was going to see. She then looked to see Jinn hugging Argent, the two giving her puppy dog eyes. She then sighed. "Why do I have to be such a good mom," she whimpered.

"You may be unbreakable, but you're not unbeatable, Nim," Jaune teased.

She sighed in defeat. "Fine. You win. She can stay at our place. Least she won't be traveling with us," she said with a wave of her hand.

"Aw, thank you, dear sister," Jinn said as she flew up next to Nimueh. "You won't regret this." She then peeked Nimueh on the cheek.

"Hey, hey, hey! No kissy! That's a privilege only for my husband and son."

"And the women you and your husband bring into your bed," Jinn said as she placed her hand on her cheek.

"Urk."

"Like, say, Raven Branwen?"

"Hey, Raven was a one time... many time thing between me and Ja-"

"Then there was Winter Schnee. Oh, and let's not forget her mother."

"Wait... you... and Great Aunt Willow," Argent asked his parents, looking a bit disgusted.

Jaune was turning red. "We get it, Jinn."

"And we can't forget about our dear Trivia Vanille."

"Please stop," Nimueh said as she facepalmed.

"Then there's Carmine in Vaccuo, Volcana in Northern Vaccuo, Murua Balto on the Vytal Islands," Jinn listed off as she held up her fingers for each woman she named.

"ENOUGH ALREADY," Nimueh yelled. "I get it, Jaune and I were frisky!"

"At least you can say you're only slightly less frisky. The only women you didn't share with Jaune were Ruby and our sister."

"Never going to happen," Nimueh yelled. "Glynda is a definite no. Not into the idea of sharing my husband with my sister. And Ruby. . . I just don't like her."

Jinn just shrugged. "So, still against me living in your house?"

Nimueh stared at her sister before she gave a heavy sigh. "Fine! You win! But bring up all the women Jaune-"

"And you."

"DON'T PUSH IT, SIS! I WILL DESTROY YOU!"

Jinn giggled. "You are too fun to tease. Well, I've had my fun." Jinn then stretched. "Dear brother-in-law, do be sure to charge my lamp when you have the Aura needed to do so. Ta-ta. See you at home." Jinn then disappeared back into the mist and back into her lamp.

Jaune then grabbed the floating Relic. "Man, your sister's a hand full."

"I hate her. I hate her so, so, SO MUCH!" Nimueh groaned. "Wait, we can drop her off with Glynda!"

"Nim."

She looked at Jaune, who gave her a raised eyebrow. She sighed. "Fine, fine. . . But Glynda is a good backup. You have to admit."

"I can't deny that," Jaune said as he buckled Jinn onto his belt. "Well, old friend, now's a good time for us to leave," he said to Dante.

"Actually, I'd like you to stay for another hour or so," the scientists said.

"Oddly specific."

"I'm just about finished modifying your King's Glaive. Another hour is all it would take. I'd also like to speak with Argent."

"Me?"

"Yeah. It's a secret between you and me, though," he said putting a finger over his lips and winking.

"Dante."

The scientist held up his hands defensively at Jaune's judgmental gaze. "He'll be fine. It's nothing too bad."

"With you, I doubt that."

"Just relax. Enjoy some of New Mantle while you can. You'll only stay about one more hour. Then you can go on whatever crazy adventure you Arcs go on. Oh, and before I forget," he said as he handed Jaune some sheets of paper.

"What is this?"

"The list of materials you'll need to upgrade the Aura Battery, as well as the theoretical materials needed for your armor."

"Theoretical?"

Dante shrugged. "Hey, I said that the technology needed to make that armor is about a hundred years away. Even I can't think up of the correct material needed to make something that won't exist until next century."

Jaune neatly folded the paper before nodding in appreciation. "Hopefully Ambrosius can. Still, thanks as always, Dante. I always could rely on you."

Dante chuckled. "What are friends for, hero? Now, go on. I've got work to do," he said as he looked at his new papers. "These experiments won't make themselves; you know."

"Um, what about me," Argent asked.

"Hm? Oh! How silly of me."

Jaune and Nimueh chuckled.

"Don't cause him too much trouble, Arie," Jaune said as he walked out of the office, first.

"Come on, dad. We're Arcs. How much trouble can we cause," Argent asked with a mischievous smile, father and son snickering at their inside joke.

"FOUND YOU!" Jaune looked towards the yell. "Oh, crap. You had to ask, Arie."

"Wasn't that mom's voice," the boy asked.

"TAKING OUR SON OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ROOM, SCARING ME HALF TO DEATH THINKING SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HIM, GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN ROOM WITHOUT LETTING ANYONE KNOW?! OH, YOU'RE MINE NOW, PRETTY BOY!"

"Wait, Ruby. Hold on! NOT THE SEMBLANCE!"

Before anyone realized it, Jaune disappeared, a path of floating rose petals being the only indicator he was there.

Nimueh sighed. "Dammit. Those two together never end well." She then walked out of the room, looking to see a path of rose petals. "Time to get my idiot before something stupid happens again."

Ruby sped through the complex until she found an empty room. She zipped into it, dropped Jaune, and landed on a bed with her legs and arms crossed, looking down at Jaune in annoyance.

Jaune, on the other hand, was face-first on the ground, twitching comically. He then looked up at Ruby. "And this is why Blake hates being in your Semblance."

"Shut up. At least I was being nice."

"Oh, I know when you're being nice," Jaune said as he got up, rubbing his face. "So, what's got your strawberry-printed panties in a twist this time?"

Ruby blushed both in anger and embarrassment before she growled and got up.

"Uh-oh."

Ruby then grabbed Jaune by his collar. "I have a promise to keep," she said as she raised her hand.

"Crap."

SMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMAMAMAMACK

Jaune was wobbling as his Aura was actually beginning to flicker. He then shook his head to regain his composure before rubbing his cheek. "What did I do?"

"What did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO?! YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH, YOU JERK," Ruby yelled with tears in her eyes.

"Huh?"

"YOU! ALMOST! DIED! Do you have any IDEA how terrified I was?! I thought I killed you in that fight against that Elder Grimm! How was I supposed to explain that to our son?! 'Sorry, Cookie! I killed your dad because he ordered me too?!' My son almost lost his father!"

"Hey, hey, calm down. At least he'd still have his four moms."

"WHAT?!"

"You, Weiss, Nora, and of course, Nimueh. Plus, he'd have Ren for a damn good father figure. And maybe even Qrow. I know he'd be taken care of if anything were to happen to me." Jaune then coughed after Ruby violently punched him in the stomach. He groaned as he buckled over a bit. "Nice right. Yang would be proud," he chuckled before groaning.

"STOP MESSING AROUND! IS YOUR LIFE A DAMN JOKE TO YOU?!"

Jaune sighed as he stood back up. "Ruby, I'm a Huntsman. Not just anyone at that, but one of the highest-ranking Huntsmen in the world. I'm prepared to give my life in any and all situations. I get it, it's not fair to Argent, but he has plenty of families to care for him if anything should happen to me. People I trust."

"AND PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU!" Jaune sighed as he looked down. "Dammit, Arc, when are you going to realize that the more you put your life in danger, the more you're hurting others around you!? Do you have any idea how much it killed me thinking you were dead?!"

"Ruby, please. Calm down."

"CALM DOWN?! HOW DARE YOU ASK ME TO CALM DOWN?!"

"Because it's not that big of a deal. Huntsmen die all the time."

"WELL, I WASN'T IN LOVE WITH THE HUNTSMEN THAT DIE ALL THE TIME!"

Jaune's eyes widened. Ruby's eyes widened as well when she realized what she said, turning her back to Jaune.

"R-Ruby?"

She was silent for a bit. "I'm terrible, aren't I? Here I am, a married woman, admitting to a married man she's in love with him." She laughed dryly. "It was easier before when no one but the two of us knew the truth. Before I knew you loved me before Argent knew I was his mom, before any of this. I could have just been his favorite aunt. . . Why couldn't I have been happy with that? Why did I have to mess everything up by telling him the truth? By telling Weiss the truth?"

Jaune stared at Ruby. "Do you... really regret it? Letting Argent know you're his mother?"

". . . No. No, I don't." She then looked at Jaune, showing she was crying. "Because... my son loves me. Me, the mom who abandoned him. He has every right to hate me or to pretend I don't exist, or just pretend I'm his aunt. Instead, he loves me as his mom. I know he doesn't love me as much as Nimueh, but my son still loves me. I can't even begin to explain how happy I am about that. Yet I'm still not satisfied."

"Why not?"

"How can I be when I can never have him in my life... and not have his father either?"

"What?"

"Jaune, I love you. Ever since you told me you used to love me it's been eating away at me. I've been having dreams about my dad walking me down the aisle again, only instead of my beautiful wife, I see the most handsome man I've ever seen standing there, his Warrior's Wolf Tail somehow fancier than ever." Jaune subconsciously reached for his Wolf Tail, twirling his finger around the end out of embarrassment. "If not a dream like that, it's you and me and Arie doing stuff like having a picnic, swimming at the beach, or sliding down a snowy mountain. But my favorite 'vacation dream' is when I take Arie to the shooting range. He actually likes guns in my dreams," she chuckled.

Jaune chuckled. "Only IN your dreams," Jaune said with a teasing smirk.

Ruby stuck her tongue out at him before looking down sadly. "Then, I have other, weirder dreams. Like how we're the King and Queen getting ready for our family portrait with my little Cookie pouting on my lap."

"What," Jaune chuckled. "I know I'm the Grimm King, but royalty like that isn't for me, Rubes."

She giggled. "Not for me, either." She then turned with her hands behind her hips. "So many dreams of the two of us, living happily, raising our son together... and our other kids..." She then smiled back at Jaune. "You beast." Jaune laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

Ruby then looked down before her smile turned sad. "And after those dreams, I keep asking myself... did I make a mistake... choosing Weiss over you?"

Jaune's eyes widened before he sighed. "Ruby... don't ever say that."

"Huh?"

"We... made our decisions. We love our wives, right?"

"Of course. I'm happy being with Weiss. I love Silber."

"Then you have nothing to regret. We can think about what-if all we want... but we shouldn't regret marrying someone we love."

Ruby looked at Jaune before she walked up and kissed him. Jaune's eyes were wide before he felt the euphoria of the kiss. Then, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, he hugged her, deepening their kiss. Moments later, they parted, a string of saliva connecting them as they stared lustfully into the other's eyes, both panting and blushing.

"I... really wanted to feel nothing," Ruby said. "I wanted so desperately for that kiss to feel no different from kissing a wall or a doll or Zwei. . . Why did kissing you feel better than kissing Weiss," she asked with a breaking voice.

"Ruby." Jaune then kissed her again, the two passionately moaning as Jaune rubbed his hand down to her shoulders, almost removing her hood. Then, he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her away, the two panting with passion. "We... shouldn't be doing this."

Ruby caught her breath before looking down and smiling sadly. "Yeah. We're... doing something terrible. We're both cheating on our wives behind their backs. We're terrible people, aren't we?"

"That's not totally true."

"Huh?"

Jaune then tapped his head. "Wielder of the Sword of Destruction, remember?" She raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Meaning Nimueh and I are psychically linked. What I know, she knows."

Ruby's eyes then widened as she went blue in the face. "You mean she-"

"Knows exactly what we did," Jaune said as he also went blue.

Then, the door slammed open, making Ruby jump while Jaune slumped over in defeat.

Ruby rigidly turned to see Nimueh at the door. The beautiful spirit gave a terrifying smile as she began to crack her knuckles.

Ruby hugged Jaune in fear while Jaune hugged her back for comfort. Then, as Nimueh's shadow loomed over them, they both said the same thing in perfect unison:

"We deserve this."

The door opened. Nimueh walked out, basically glowing, a smile on her face as she let out a content sigh. "Wow, that was satisfying!" She then turned and walked down the hall, revealing Jaune with a black eye and swollen lips, Ruby next to him with swollen cheeks and a huge steaming bump on her head.

"Grad yuu enhoyed yerhelf, hune," Jaune said through his swollen face before shaking his head. That shake alone made his face go back to normal. He then reactivated his Aura before using his Semblance on Ruby, her wounds healing quickly.

"Oh, I did. Smart move deactivating your Aura, babe. Now you can heal yourself and your little bitch."

"Nah?! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BITCH," yelled a fully healed Ruby.

"The married chick who kissed my husband," Nimueh said as she looked back at Ruby with a smirk, her smile growing when Ruby shrunk a bit. "Remember, rose petal, he's mine now. I admit, we may be a bit more open, since we're a bit frisky, and Jaune is, in your own words, a beast."

"Mrm?!"

"But I have standards, and you definitely don't meet them," Nimueh chuckled as she walked off again.

"How do you hide ANYTHING from her," Ruby whispered.

"Oh, I don't," Jaune said at a normal volume. "She decides what she does and doesn't want to hear. She figured out a way to somehow feel my thoughts."

"She what?"

"She got sick and tired of finding out about my plans for surprise dates. The final straw for her was when I was planning on surprising her with a Lover's Night date in Vale to her favorite five-star restaurant. She really wanted to be surprised by that one. So, she found a way to identify 'romantic feelings' in my mind and stays away from those thoughts. If it involves her, be it romantically or sexually, she stays away from it. She also stays out of my dreams. I had a really vivid one of us having a child together. She really hated that one since she can't get pregnant. It's even worse since she loved how our kid looked. She never wants to see what she can't have ever again, so she stays out of my dreams."

"Hm. Well, at least I have one advantage over her, then. I actually can have kids," Ruby said with a bit of smugness in her voice.

"And I bet I'd end up raising those kids, too," Nimueh called.

"NAH," Ruby yelled. "LIKE HELL!"

"Oh, please. If you had another kid with Jaune, I know for damn sure I'd be the kid's mom and you'd just be its aunt again," Nimueh said as she looked back at Ruby.

"That's not true! If I had another child with Jaune, I know for sure I'd be the best mom ever for our child!"

"Well, not like we'd ever know," Nimueh shrugged.

"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" Ruby's eyes then comically widened as she turned as red as her hood. Nimueh just stared at her blankly while Jaune was frozen stiff.

". . . Bitch," Nimueh went. She then looked up at Jaune, appeared in front of him, and flicked his chin hard enough for him to look up towards the ceiling. "No cheating on me with her in your mind."

"MM," Ruby went as she covered her mouth while looking at Jaune.

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

"Think of something else you sex-crazed beast. Like me in the shower or some-" Nimueh then jumped. "Wow, you love me."

"Uuuh."

Nimueh sighed as she turned her back on Jaune and shrugged her shoulders while shaking her head. "I married a pervert. Oh, well. He's my pervert," she said as she walked off.

Ruby sighed as she slumped over with her eyes closed. "Emphasis on mine," Nimueh whispered in Ruby's ear, making her jump. Nimueh laughed as she continued down the hall.

"Jaune, I hate your wife," Ruby said.

"What do you expect me to do? How many husbands do you know can control their hot wives?"

"Can't you be the exception," Ruby pleaded.

"Not happening," Jaune said with a wave of his hand. "Besides... it kinda..."

"You're turned on, aren't you," Ruby asked as she stared daggers at Jaune. He just looked away with a blush.

"THE WIFE WINS THIS ROUND, MISTRESS," Nimueh called.

"I AM NOT A MISTRESS," Ruby yelled, making Nimueh laugh.

"Ruby, a bit of advice." She looked at Jaune with a glare, who was rubbing his forehead. "Take Weiss out for a date."

"A date?"

"Trust me, spending time with your spouse and enjoying it will clear your head of crap like this. Remind yourself why you fell in love with Weiss so we can get out of this insanity. Also, tell the truth. The fact I'm honest with Nim is honestly why I'm not crippled."

"HE'S RIGHT, YOU KNOW!"

The two sighed heavily as they slumped forward.

"Can we please just go see Arie," Ruby pleaded?

"That kid will definitely make us feel better."

The two then looked at one another before standing straight and fist-bumping. "Let's go see our son," they said in perfect unison before finally following after Nimueh.

"By the way, who's the better kisser between me and Nimueh," Ruby asked. "EEP," she went after Jaune smacked her butt.

"Don't cause any more trouble, Schnee."

"Schnee-ROSE," she mumbled as she rubbed her now sore butt.

Jaune, Nimueh, and Ruby were walking toward the lab; Jaune was ready to collect whatever Dante had ready for him.

"THIS IS AWESOME!"

The parents immediately took off running at the sound of Argent's yell, arriving at the lab in mere seconds. Argent was seen jumping in surprise before quickly sheathing Crocea Mors and turning towards his parents with a wide and sheepish smile coupled with a nervous laugh.

Jaune raised an eyebrow before crossing his arms. "Alright, kiddo, what got you so excited?"

"Uh... sorry, dad. Buuut, it's a secret," he said as he placed a finger over his mouth. "Ah, and mom, please don't read my mind. You hate having surprises spoiled for you, right?"

"So it's a surprise, is it," Nimueh asked with her arms crossed.

"Mhm. Trust me. You're gonna freak when you see it!"

Jane noticed how Argent was hiding Crocea Mors behind him. "Does it have anything to do with the family sword?"

Argent shuttered. "Uuuh."

Jane sighed. "It's fine, kiddo. Crocea Mors is yours now, so you can modify it however you want."

"ALRIGHT! YOU WON'T REGRET IT, DAD! DANTE MADE OUR SWORD EVEN COOLER! I BET I COULD EVEN BEAT SPARROW WITH HOW POWERFUL CROCEA IS NOW," Argent went as he looked at the sheathed sword.

The sword didn't look any different, though. Jaune didn't see any modifications to the sheath, so he guessed it had to do with the blade. However, when Argent turned the sword just slightly, his keen eyesight caught a glimpse of a line that wasn't on the handle before.

Jaune was then punched in the face. "Ow." He looked to see it was Ruby's. "Why?"

"Hm? OH! Sorry. That was reflex after hearing Sparrow's name."

This time Jaune caught Ruby's fist. "You reflexively punch me after hearing my son's name?"

"Weird, huh?"

Jaune sighed before looking at his pale hand. "Oh, right. Dante?"

Dante immediately threw something at Jaune. He caught it, put it around his wrist, and pushed a button. Jaune then began to glow before the light disappeared, showing his human form.

"I made a few modifications to your watch."

"Hm? Like what?"

"Well, for one, it won't turn your skin red whenever you use fire magic."

Jaune jolted at that.

"Um, what," Ruby asked with a raised eyebrow and a confused look. She looked even more confused when she heard Nimueh snickering and looked to see the beauty stifling her laughter as she was buckled over.

"You... know about that?"

"Camera. Everywhere," Dante said as he pointed upward, emphasizing his point.

"Uh, right." Jaune then tested Dante's word and created a fireball in the palm of his hand. Then, he made a ball of ice, followed by a ball of earth, finishing with a ball of darkness. "No freaky skin coloring this time."

"Guess you can't be like Ilia anymore," Nimueh joked. "EEP," she went after Jaune pinched her butt. "You beast." Jaune just smirked at her.

"And now for your new and improved King's Glaive," Dante said as he pressed a button.

The floor then opened up, Jaune's hovercycle rising above it before the hole closed.

"It's bulkier," Jaune asked.

"It's a convertible cycle now. Right now, it's big enough to carry you and a small passenger, like your son, buuut," Dante went as he walked over and pushed a button on the bike. It then extended. "Now it can hold three more easily. The whole family can be on it now."

"Mm, cute," Nimueh went with her arms crossed.

"That's it," Jaune asked.

"Of course not! I also reinforced the armor, making the bike able to take on more damage. I've also upgraded the thrusters, meaning you can really ride down the road! From what we've gathered in our research, your hovercycle can now reach Mach 1."

"Wow, that's fast," Jaune went with wide eyes. "Will I ever need that? That's pretty extreme, old friend. And the wind pressure would be sure to rip even me up, let alone my kid."

"Ah, don't worry," Dante said as he pushed another button, the front of the cycle converting into a more wind-resistant shield. "You won't feel a thing with this guy. Top of the line Mantle Metal, lined with Electric and Wind Dust, stylish, sleek, and virtually indestructible," Dante said as he walked in front of the bike.

He then took out a gun and shot at the shield, his bullets bouncing right off. "Scratch-resistant, too. This thing can take almost anything," he said as he loaded Fire Dust into his gun and shot, engulfing the bike in flames. He then shot a Wind Dust bullet, putting out the flames, not a scratch on the bike.

"Aw, that is awesome," Argent went.

"Okay, I'm impressed," Jaune said as he walked up and looked at the bike. "Hm? You never filled it," Jaune asked as he looked at the gas gauge.

"Nope."

"Why not? You wanna show me how to pump it with gas or something?"

"Actually, or something."

"Huh?"

"Grab the handle and use your Semblance." Jaune raised an eyebrow before complying. He watched as the gauge began to fill. "You...found a way to power my bike with Aura?"

"Indeed, I did! Same principle as the Aura Battery, but on a much easier scale! You never have to worry about gas again! Once I find a way to mass-produce this and fine-tune it, no one will have to worry about power ever again! Dust may be limited, but Aura is practically in an endless supply if at least one family member is a Huntsman! And even if by chance they're no Huntsmen in the family, unlocking one's Aura isn't that difficult at all. Once you have your Aura unlocked; you can charge up your home as much as you want!"

"You're finding a way to decrease the use of Dust," Ruby asked.

"Why not? As I said, Dust is a finite resource while Aura recharges. This project could change a lot of lives, you know."

"It really could. Though, seriously, I have a lot of Aura-based Gear now," Jaune chuckled. "The Aura Battery you gave me, my bike, hell, even my wife is powered by my Aura. And if I remember correctly, I can even charge my magic with my Aura," Jaune said as he thought of how powerful Emerald's fire blast was after he charged her Aura.

"When used properly, Aura can be one hell of a game-changer," Dante said with a proud smile.

"Oh, but King's Glaive's Aura Cannon, what about that?"

"Ah, don't worry. I installed two different engines in the bike, one for powering the bike, and the other for charging up the King's Cannon. Though, some mods and upgrades might change that."

"Huh?"

"Jaune, your bike can be upgraded. I know it can. As I said, Solitas is high in Dust but low on material. We can make amazing things, but they can still be improved. The King's Glaive is an amazing vehicle, true, but it can most certainly be made even greater."

Jaune looked at his bike, tracing his hand over it, smiling. "I bet she can."

"Jaune, don't fall for a bike like you did your sword," Ruby jokingly called, ignoring the annoyed look on Nimueh's face.

Jaune just sighed before looking at Dante. "So, how long do you think before you can make New Mantle an Aura-powered city?"

"Hm? Oh, well, if I had to guess... Maybe... about... fifty years."

Jaune and the others were quiet for a bit.

"THAT LONG," they yelled in unison.

Dante just shrugged with a smile. "Hey, science is a slow process."

Jaune fastened the gauntlets and shin guards Dante gave him, now looking over his new look. "Huh. It somehow feels lighter than my old armor."

"Of course, it feels lighter! I made that out of quality metal," Dante explained. "Made out of my own Mantle Metal, light as a feather but tough as titanium. It should take a few more hits from that Abominable than your old armor."

"Should," Nimueh asked.

"Hey, the only thing that's truly unbreakable in this world are you Relics and the armor Ambrosius will make. Once Jaune's Aura shatters and that gets a few heavy hits from a Leviathan or something, that rust is dust."

"Rust? Did you just give me a failed experiment of yours or did you want to rhyme again," Jaune asked with a raised eyebrow.

Dante shrugged. "I like rhymes. But seriously, don't take too many unnecessary hits. I do have some more gear lying around, but that's the best I got."

"You really don't have anything better," Jaune asked.

"I'm a scientist, not a blacksmith! I can only do so much. Though, I can further upgrade your King's Glaive if you bring the right materials to me."

"You can upgrade dad's bike," Argent asked with twinkling eyes.

"Of course. Greater speed, greater defense, lower charge rate for the Aura Cannon; name it and I can do it. I'm trying to make it airborne."

"You mean the King's Glaive might be able to fly," Jaune asked with wide eyes.

"With the right material, yeah. And your watch will automatically alert you to nearby material. Push the upper right button."

Jaune did so. "A ping?"

"Now hold it."

Jaune did so again. "A list? Whoa, that is a lot of rare ore. I'd need to go all over Remnant to find this stuff, and some of them I might just have to pay out of pocket for."

"As I said, didn't have the material needed to perfect your bike. I barely have the material to upgrade Mrs. Schnee-Rose's scythe; not that she'd let me."

"Nah-ah! No one touches my baby," she went as she hugged Crescent Rose. "Dr. Polendina was the only exception."

Dante shrugged. "When you get your needed materials, just come back here to my lab and I'll upgrade whatever you want on your Glaive."

"Thanks, old friend. This bike has gotten me through some pretty hard spots. I might as well spoil it, ya know?"

"Oh, I know. So, when do you plan on leaving," Dante asked.

"Now would be the best time," Jaune answered.

"WHAT," Ruby yelled.

"What? I need to get Jinn back to my place and then get to Vaccuo. That's going to be a long trip, Ruby."

"B-But you barely stayed in New Mantle!"

"We've been here for nearly a month. I think we've been here long enough," Nimueh said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well. . . I... I barely got to spend any time with Argent," Ruby muttered.

Jaune stared at Ruby before he sighed. "Arie, do you want to stay in Solitas with your mom?"

"Hm? Me?" He looked between his mom and dad before humming in thought. "Why can't mom come with us?"

Ruby sighed. "Sorry, Cookie, but I've been away from New Mantle for too long. I am the best Huntress in the kingdom, so I need to pull my weight around here."

"Really? That sucks. I was hoping you'd join us. We'd finally be a Four-Man Team," Argent said with a smile and his hands behind his head.

Ruby giggled before she looked sad. "So, you don't want to stay in New Mantle with your mom?"

"Sorry, mom, but dad is where all the adventure is. Besides, not only would I get to see Uncle Sun again, but I'd also FINALLY get to meet my Uncle Ambrosius!"

"Oh, shit, you do," Nimueh muttered.

"Hm?"

"Nothing, sweetie," Nimueh went.

Ruby sighed. "Alright. I understand."

"But don't worry, mom." Ruby looked at her son. "After dad gets his new armor, we'll come right back," he said with a toothy smile.

"Wait, what," Jaune went.

"I want to spend more time with you, too. You're my mom, after all, so why wouldn't I," Argent asked his smile widening.

Ruby stared at her son, a single tear falling down her cheek, yet unnoticed by everyone. Instead, she smiled, knelt down, and kissed her son's forehead. "I'm holding you to that, Cookie," she said as she stood back up. She then looked at Jaune. "Keep our son safe, alright?"

"Ruby, it's me." Jaune shuttered when Ruby began to glare at him.

"EXACTLY. So. Keep. Our son. Safe. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She then smiled. "Good." She then walked up and kissed him.

When they parted, Ruby still smiling, she noticed the look on Jaune's face. When she finally realized what she did, she turned bright red before looking toward her son and his stepmom. Argent just looked away, his face a bit red in embarrassment and with the typical grossed-out look boys his age get when they see their parents kiss.

Nimueh, on the other hand, was glaring daggers at her. "I really don't like you."

Ruby looked away, scratching her cheek before looking at Jaune, who was looking away... while covering his mouth... his eyes screaming for more, and Ruby knew it. She couldn't help but smile in small victory.

"Ruby... remember what I said about Weiss."

Ruby's eyes widened before she facepalmed. "I have so much explaining to do."

"And it won't be pretty," Jaune said. "Remember, tell the complete truth, but before doing that, make reservations to Weiss's favorite restaurant. Be ready to make the date nice and romantic, expenses be damned."

Ruby looked at Jaune with a dumbfounded expression before raising an eyebrow. "Why do you sound so experienced in this?"

Jaune sighed as he slumped over. "So many saved relationships... and I ended up breaking up with them for one reason or the other anyway."

"Aah," Ruby went in an unimpressed tone. She then returned to smiling. "You'd better be back soon, hero," she said as she held out her hand.

Jaune looked at Ruby's hand before smiling at the beauty. "With our son in tow."

"Of cour-"

The lab doors were heard opening.

"There you are."

Everyone looked to see Winter walk in with many security guards.

"Winter? What's going on," Jaune asked.

Winter looked at him, a sad look in her eye before she took a deep, calming breath. "Jaune... I'm sorry to do this, but please understand."

Jaune raised an eyebrow.

Winter then looked at him with a resolute gaze. "You're being placed under protective custody effective immediately."

Jaune's eyes widened, while Ruby and Nimueh gasped.

"Well, that was unexpected," Dante said.

"W-What's going on," Argent asked, not liking the atmosphere of the room.

"Winter," Jaune began. "Are you... arresting me?"

A/N: Finally. FINALLY! THE NEXT CHAPTER IS THE ONE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! ONE OF THE FEW CHAPTERS THAT WILL ACTUALLY GET A NAME!

JAUNE VS WINTER!

This was one of my favorite moments to write! That's right, people! The final battle in the New Mantle Arc will be against General Winter Schnee-Branwen herself! And let me tell you, I LOVED that fight! Hope you guys get to enjoy it as much as I did next week!

Until then!