A/N: The Arc Household is back! Good to see ol' Jauney back... for now.
I've been working on a Batman fan fic, so King of Grimm will go on another hiatus once that one is finished.
Oh, and just in case you don't know, I've got a Deviant Art page. Just search DevlinDracul and my A.I. art should pop up. And yes, SilentKnightFam, Anita has officially been rendered by A.I.
I plan on rendering other characters in the future, so look forward to them, 'kay?
Anyway, BACK TO CANON!
Nimueh and Kali were cooking dinner while Blake was in the dining room, grading papers and thinking of new assignments. Then, the front door opened.
"I'm home," Jaune called tiredly.
"I'll never get tired of that," Kali said with a smile.
"Just don't get used to it," Nimueh sighed as she walked to greet her husband. "Hey, babe, how was training? Wow, you look exhausted," she laughed when she met a hunched Jaune walk in. "WHOA," she went when Jaune fell onto her, making them both fall with a heavy thud.
Blake looked up, her ears pinning back at what she saw. Kali curiously looked into the room from the kitchen, her ears sticking up as she covered her mouth. "Oh, my."
Nimueh sighed as she looked down, resting her cheek on her palm. "You absolutely did this on purpose."
"I confirm and deny nothing," Jaune muffled, his face between Nimueh's breasts. "Blake?"
"Yes?"
"I'm strong, right?"
"You're literally the most powerful person I know."
"Ahem," Nimueh went.
"One of the most powerful people I know. Why are you asking me this?"
"Then why do I keep getting my ass kicked by the Beast Gods," he asked as he looked up from his wife's breasts. "Mahina is a freaking grandma."
"Is that an insult towards older women," Kali asked as she popped her head in from the kitchen.
"Oh, please. You're still hot enough to look like Blake's sister and still attractive enough for me AND Nimueh to want to sleep with you!"
"HEY," Nimueh went.
Blake broke her pen, face completely red out of embarrassment. After all, she just heard her mother get hit on by her nephew's father.
Kali just gave a cat smile. "I approve of that," she said before vanishing back into the kitchen to add the finishing touches.
"By my old man, you must be exhausted," Nimueh went with a twitching eyebrow.
"Beyond," Jaune went as he buried his face back into the Nimueh Mountains. "Seriously, the Beast Gods are monsters. How was I ever considered the Strongest in the World with them around?"
"Well, you were holding back weren't you, Jaune," Blake asked.
"Obviously. You know I could accidentally destroy the village if I wasn't."
"Well, there's one answer," Blake said as she graded the last paper.
"But I'm talking about before I got my powers," Jaune said as he turned his head towards Blake, using Nimueh's pillows. "I meant before when I was still human. I'm almost positive all the Beast Gods could kick my ass."
Blake sighed. "Well, Jaune, in your defense, you were the strongest human to have ever lived."
Meanwhile.
Yang's eye turned red before she punched a robot so hard, that it shattered. Not only that, her rage activated her Semblance to a blazing level, and the metal of the robot already began to melt. "WHO'S THE STRONGEST HUMAN TO HAVE EVER LIVED, BITCHES," she roared as she flexed her guns.
The crowd cheered, the Huntress becoming a fan favorite in the underground fighting ring.
Fisk punched behind him so hard that he turned the servant's head into red mist. "SHE JUST DESTROYED A 300 MILLION LIEN ROBOT LIKE IT WAS NOTHING!"
"I thought Ultima was supposed to be a super-intelligent android with super-repair functions," Lady Deathstrike said.
"Guess that's useless against the lass's brute strength and rage. You were goin to use dat ahn Arc," the leprechaun asked Fisk.
Fisk just roared in rage as he threw his chair through a wall, accidentally killing another employee.
"Of course the majority of the world would name you the strongest," Blake said.
"Plus, you're practically unbeatable with a sword," Nimueh added.
"Are you bragging, babe?"
"Honey, you took out an entire crime syndicate with a rusty sword while Arie and I were on a mother-son trip to Vale Land."
"Oh, yeah."
"So, don't worry about it, Jaune. Besides, once you learn all four styles, you really will become the strongest," Blake said. "I mean, you're doing well in Wolf God Style, right," she asked as she took out a planner to make preparations for the next lesson.
"I've mastered it."
Blake jolted before rigidly turning towards him. "Eh?"
"I know all ten techniques of the Wolf God style. From the First Fang's Slash to the Tenth Fang's Full Moon Howl. Lady Mahina was proud of me. Said she would happily name me her successor if I wanted to be. Turned that offer down, though. She did give me some banana moon pies as a reward though."
"Y-YOU MASTERED ONE OF THE BEAST GOD STYLES ALREADY?!" Blake's eyes widened again. " AND HAD ONE OF LADY MAHINA'S LEGENDARY MOON PIES?!"
"Legendary? No wonder it was so delicious. Even asked if she could share the recipe, only for her to flick my forehead. Guess I deserved that," Jaune chuckled.
"IT TAKES YEARS TO MASTER THE MARTIAL ARTS, YET YOU'VE BEEN NAMED A MASTER BY ONE OF THE GODS?!"
"Actually, she named me a candidate for the Wolf God position, along with Murua and someone else. Lady Mahina wouldn't tell me who the other one was, but she's apparently quite young and talented."
Taria then sneezed.
"Are you alright, cub? Are you feeling ill?"
"No, mother. I'm fine. It was just a sneeze," Taria assured her mother, her blue eyes twinkling at the slightest touch of moonlight.
"You need to remember, Blake, I already knew how to use the Wolf God Style. I had a head start."
"STILL, IT TAKES YEARS TO LEARN ANY OF THE STYLES! SOMETIMES DECADES! YOU'VE ONLY BEEN TRAINING FOR A DAY!"
Jaune tapped his head. "King of the Grimm. They learn and evolve quickly. Guess I'm no exception."
Blake fell back on her butt before slamming her head onto the table. "You're an unfair monster."
"No argument here. Hey, where's Ghira, Verde, and Arie?"
"Ghira's still in his office," Kali said as she brought in a tray of tea. "Could someone get him?"
"On it," Blake said as she got up to fetch her father.
"Verde should be in her room. I think she's studying for a history test. As for Arie, I honestly don't know," Kail admitted. "He should have been home by-"
The door opened. "I'm home," he called.
Kali shivered in ecstasy. "Oh, I love hearing one of my kittens say that."
"We're not- Oh, forget it," Jaune said as he got off of Nimueh, helping his wife up.
"Welcome home, Ar-" Jaune began before seeing his son.
Nimueh blinked. "Arie? Sweetie?"
"Yeah, mom?"
"Why are you soaking wet?"
"Hm? Oh! I was just learning the Shark God Style from Ms. Kai," he said with a toothy smile, hands behind his still wet head.
"YOU'VE BEEN WHAT," Blake and Ghira yelled in unison as their heads popped into the room.
"Hm? What," Argent asked as he cutely tilted his head.
"Argent Arc," Blake began, towering over the boy with her hands on her hips, looking down with judgemental eyes. "Why were you training with Kai, and in Shark God Style of all things?"
Argent looked nervous, thinking he was in trouble. As pretty as she was, Blake was an incredibly intimidating person, especially since Argent liked Blake. She was his teacher in stealth tactics, after all. She actually babysat him more than Yang did. "Uh, well, she's actually my swim class teacher. We sort of started to train by accident when I found out she was one of the Beast Gods."
"Your teacher is one of the Five Beast Gods? Shouldn't she be too busy for that," Jaune asked as he picked up Blake and sat her next to her dejected father, the man's face on the table.
"THAT'S WHAT I SAID! But it turns out she has a lot of free time since there aren't a lot of Sea Faunus left in Menagerie."
Jaune jolted.
"SO IT'S YOUR FAULT," Blake yelled at Jaune.
"Oh, come on, Xiao Long! You can't blame me for this!"
"You LITERALLY helped BUILD Atlantica! Nearly every single Sea Faunus left Menagerie for that new kingdom! And thanks to you, my nephew is learning Shark God Style!"
"Oh, what's so bad about that?! The kid is learning a new martial art and apparently excelling! Shouldn't you be proud that a human is mastering a Faunus martial art?!"
"I'd be happier if he was learning Tiger God Style! Or better yet, one of its subsidiaries, like Panther Style!"
"YOUR DAD'S STYLE?!"
"YES!"
"OH, NOW YOU'RE GOING TOO FAR! I RESPECT YOUR DAD, BUT HE'S MY KID!"
"AND MY NEPHEW!"
Jaune and Blake continuously argued, everyone watching them.
"You and dad don't argue that badly, do you, mom?"
"Well, actually, we sometimes do, but it usually ends with..."
"Ends with what?"
Nimueh didn't answer her son. Instead, she walked up to the still arguing duo before grabbing Jaune by his collar and yanking him away.
"Wha?! Hey! We're not done," Blake yelled.
"Yeah! I was winning the argument!"
"LIKE HELL YOU WERE, ARC!"
"OH, PLEASE, XIAO LONG! WE BOTH KNOW THAT I WAS MAKING MORE- MRRGH?!"
"NYA," Blake went when she saw Nimueh smash her lips onto Jaune's shutting the man up. Blake turned bright red when she heard the passion behind their kiss. When Nimueh parted, Jaune looked dazed.
"Uh... what was I saying?"
"That you didn't want tea for dinner," Nimueh said as she sat down.
"Uh-" Blake went, but she quickly clamped her hands over her mouth when Nimueh looked at her.
"Really," Jaune asked as he sat down next to his wife. "Would I really say that?"
"Yes, because Kali taught me how to make her favorite pina colada recipe and you want to try it."
"I beg your pardon," Kali said as she popped her head out of the kitchen. "Nim, sweetie, you know I like you, but my pina colada recipe is serious business. I don't give it out to just anyone. Not even you."
'Wait, there really is a recipe,' Nimueh thought with a sweatdrop.
"Anyway," Kali began as she brought in the food. "It's time for dinner."
"Uh, where's Verde," Jaune asked.
"You rang?"
"WHOA," Jaune went before looking up behind him to see said lioness standing behind him. "How... did you sneak up behind me?"
"You sometimes let your guard down in certain situations, say when Aunt Nimueh 'calms you down'."
"Oh, she's good," Nimueh praised.
"Why, thank you," she said as she sat down between her mother and grandfather. "So, besides Uncle Jaune mastering one of the Five God Styles and Arie beginning his training in another, anything interesting happen," Verde asked as she started to fix her plate.
"Well, the settlement is well underway," Ghira reported as he took a sip of his tea before eating off his plate. "It's already beginning to look like a proper oasis, with a village not too far off."
"Village? You're carrying wood over the mountains," Jaune asked.
"Oh, no. We have an Geko Faunus named Fyto. He has a Semblance called Rapid Growth. With some seeds, water, and his Aura, he can grow an entire forest in a matter of hours. With his Semblance and you discovering the remaining oases, Menagerie will become a rainforest in no time."
"Before being turned into a thriving country for the Faunus, you mean," Jaune said with a smile.
Ghira shrugged. "Villages need to be built out of something."
Jaune chuckled before he sighed. "Let's just hope I don't make any more Diabolos angry."
"Daibolos are vegetarians. You and Fyto might as well be growing buffets for them," Blake said.
"That doesn't make it better, Blake. I might give them a reason to be on the surface more often and make them even more territorial. Those things are tough, you know."
"Well, as you might have noticed, so are Faunus," Kira said proudly.
Jaune chuckled. "Can't argue with that. So, Ghira, are Ilia and the others ready for another mission into the desert? They were pretty banged up after that last one and definitely deserved some rest."
Ghira chuckled. "Don't worry, Jaune. They're fully rested and ready to venture back into the desert with you."
"Alright. Hopefully, Wolf God Style will make things a bit easier. Snake God helped out against that overgrown bulldozer, after all."
"Maybe you should have learned Eagle God Style," Blake said. "There aren't a lot of flying dangers on Menagerie, on though the Diablos have wings, they're mostly for maneuverability through the sand, not actual flight."
Jaune groaned. "That could have been useful to know. Well, Ghira, how long until the new settlement is ready?"
"At the pace they're going, unless a storm of some kind hits, they should be done by tomorrow or at the very latest, the end of the week."
"Alright, more than enough time to find one of the oases. After that, we come back and rest for a few days, I learn Eagle God style, and we repeat the process," Jaune said as he drank his tea.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Nimueh said.
"No arguments from me," Blake said as she raised her cup. "To the prosperity of Menagerie."
"Cheers," everyone went, everyone toasting.
Except for Argent. He was too short. Everyone laughed as they saw him trying to reach.
Meanwhile, in one of the farthest buildings away from Kuo Kuana, a dark bar is seen. The bar was infamous, known for being the frequent choice of former White Fang members. Because of their crimes, many of the members were stigmatized, especially the ones who still believe they did nothing wrong.
In this bar was Creed, sitting at a table, a mug full of beer in his hand.
"You're actually being patient?" He looked up to see three shadowed figures. One looked to be of average height with a lean figure. The one next to him was hunched over, a fly buzzing past him before his tongue shot out and caught it. The one behind both of them was HUGE. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"You idiots are late," he growled.
"You can blame Toad for that," the lean one said.
"Hey! Come on, Kala. You don't have to rat me out like that." He then snickered. "Rat. Even though you're a cheetah. OW," he went after Kala smacked the back of his head.
"So, what do you need, Creed?"
"Take a seat. We need to talk."
The three sat down. The lean one was a Cheetah Faunus with slicked-back hair. It had an oddly silver tone to it. He had a cheetah tail and the perfect physic for a runner. Next to him was a Hippo Faunus. He was a big, blob of a man, with messy brown hair that was still dripping with water. Finally, a Toad Faunus. He had sickly green skin, stringy hair that reached his shoulders, and yellow eyes. Unlike his friends, he didn't really sit in his chair. More like squat in it.
"So, Creed, buddy, drinks are on you," Toad asked. Creed just glanced at him. It wasn't a glare, but it was still intimidating enough to make Toad shutter. "J-Just askin' man. Yo, Misty, can I get a cold one?! WHOA," he went after ducking a thrown knife. He looked at the utensil stuck in the wall before looking at the bartender.
"Be careful who you talk to, Toad. Snakes eat smaller creatures," the blue beauty said before going back to cleaning her counter.
"Man, I still can't believe you were able to get with that, Creed. How's your kid doing, anyway?"
Now Creed glared at Toad.
"You must REALLY want someone to kill you tonight," Kala said to Toad, the Faunus sinking into his chair. "Alright, big guy, what do you want? You haven't spoken to us since we were released from prison after we pleaded for bail and were given community service."
"And all because we were White Fang," the hippo said.
"Pulu even lost some of his glorious blubbers because of that," Kala said as he patted his friend's flabby arm.
"You idiots done," Creed asked as he guzzled down his booze before slamming it on the table, a scarred Hawk Camel Faunus with a half-burned face walked up and took the mug so it can be refilled. "Because I have a proposition."
"You? Since when do you do that kind of planning," Kala asked.
"Yeah. When we were a team, you only ever listened to either Misty or Magnus," Pulu said.
"Well, Magnus is dead. That idiot brother of mine made sure of that. But now, I have a new boss."
"Guy must be a badass if he can order you around," Toad said.
"He's not some human, is he," Pulu asked.
Kala used his Semblance, Quickstep, to steal someone else's freshly brought beer and gave it to Creed before he could lunge at Pulu.
"Be grateful to Kala, you fat fuck," Creed said before guzzling down the booze.
Kala smacked Pulu upside the head, one of the few places he can get hurt. "Are you TRYING to get him to kill us," Kala whispered through gritted teeth.
"Sorry."
Kala sighed before sitting back down. "So, this new boss, who is he?"
"The God of Darkness."
The table was quiet for a bit before Toad snickered.
"Really, Creed? You're into religion now? YOU? And a human religion at that," Kala went.
"How do we know you're the real Creed," Pulu asked.
Pulu's eyes widened when a blast shot past his face with such intense heat that it left a sunburn on his cheek. Everyone looked towards the tavern's ceiling to see a burning hole in it, moonlight flooding in. The three Faunus at the table looked to see Creed pointing his palm towards Pulu, heat actually visible around his palm. He then finished the rest of his beer before dropping the mug. However, he spun his hand, the mug falling on a coaster of air.
All three were shocked, only Kulu able to move, which he did by standing and pointing. "T-That's not your Semblance! You're supposed to have Hyper Recharge like Howl! Both of you practically have unbreakable Auras that give you healing factors so advanced you're both practically immortal!"
"A-A-A-A-A-And you don't u-u-u-u-use Dust. You always said weapons were for weaklings l-l-l-l-l-lower on the f-f-f-f-food chain," Toad stammered.
"Thanks for the lesson on my powers. Anyone who isn't these three morons or Mist, get the hell out before I make you feel like you're in the Menagerie Desert at high noon."
Most of the patrons and employees didn't hesitate to leave. Creed was one of the scariest Faunus on the island. No one was dumb enough to piss him off on purpose. In mere moments, the bar was empty.
"You realize you're paying for my ceiling, Creed," Misty said.
"Put it on my damn tab."
"Tch. That's your answer for everything. I'm surprised you didn't want to put HER on a tab."
"LEAVE MY KID OUT OF THIS!"
"SHE'S MY DAUGHTER, TOO, FUCKER!"
"Heh, and yet she's never once called you mommy," Creed smirked, shutting Misty up immediately as she stormed into her tavern's storage room.
Creed then looked at the three remaining patrons. "So, as you can see, I got one hell of an upgrade. That's right, asshats. I'm fuckin' magic now," he said as he raise both of his hands, blazing hot wind swirling above his palms.
"You mean the gods are real," Pulu asked.
"Does that mean the God of Animals is also real," Kulu asked with wide, hopeful eyes, the man a devout follower of the god.
"Yeah, he is." Kulu smiled at that. "But he ain't shit compared to Darkness. I wasn't even one of his believers until he showed up. The things he showed me. The things he promised me." He then looked at his hand before clenching his fist. "The tiny present he gave me."
"Tiny?! Creed, you're MAGIC now! You call that TINY," Toad asked.
"Compared to making the Faunus the rulers of Remnant? Hell yeah, I do."
The three were shocked.
"That's what Darkness promised? True Faunus Supremecy," Kala asked.
"Yeah, and I like the price."
"What is it," Toad asked.
"Simple. We gotta kill Jaune Arc."
Toad fell back and crashed to the ground, the other two too shocked to react. Toad then popped back up. "KILL JAUNE ARC?! THE JAUNE ARC?! THE SAME GUY WHO TOOK OUT SALEM?! THE GUY ON THIS ISLAND RIGHT NOW WHO DUG UP A WATER FOUNTAIN IN THE DESERT AND SAYS THERE ARE FIVE MORE?! THE SAME GUY WHO IS LITERALLY THE STRONGEST GUY IN THE WORLD BEFORE BECOMING THE FREAKIN' KING OF THE GRIMM?! THAT JAUNE ARC?!"
"That's him, genius."
Toad forgot who he was dealing with for a moment. At that moment, he terrified his friends by grabbing Creed by his jacket collar and trying to shake the larger, stronger Faunus. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?! IF MAGNUS WAS ALIVE, NOT EVEN THAT EEL WOULD WANNA MESS WITH ARC! HE'D TELL US TO STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM UNTIL WE GOT MORE FIREPOWER! EVEN BEFORE HE BECAME A MONSTER, THAT MAN IS A MONSTER!"
Toad almost wet himself when he saw Creed... smirk. "Then he's the ultimate prey," he said before licking his lips.
Creed was watching the three in front of him, literally smelling the fear from them, but also the excitement.
"So, Creed, my guy," Toad began.
"Don't push it," he said.
"Uh..." Toad then ate a fly. He then took a deep breath. "Ya make killin' Arc sound easy, but even in the desert, he's gonna be tough. And we ain't exactly wizards like you."
Creed raised an eyebrow. "Wizards?"
"Well, it was the first thing that came to my mind."
Creed sighed. "Idiot. Just... pray. It's how Corsac convinced me."
"Corsac started this," Kulu asked.
"Is he a part of this," Pulu asked.
"Said he wasn't ready, but I am," Creed said as he got up. "Arc is leaving to look for the next oasis in a day. Make your decision before that," he said as he walked away.
"Creed, where the hell are you going," Misty yelled. "You still owe me for my booze and my roof!"
"Take it out of my child-support."
"What," Misty hissed through her fangs.
"You don't have to pay me shit if you cover all this. After all, I've been taking care of that cub for ten years without you in her life at all. And you never even gave me so much as a penny," he said with a smirk before leaving, cackling.
"MOTHERFUCKER," she roared as she threw another knife, the blade stabbing through her door. She was now huffing and puffing, panting out of sheer rage.
"I don't get you, Misty," Toad began. "You never even wanted the kid, but Creed convinced you to at least give birth to her so he could raise her. Why do you care so much about a kid you never even wanted?"
Pulu and Kulu groaned.
"What?"
"You're such an idiot," Kulu groaned.
"Get. Out."
"SHIT," Kulu and Pulu went as they bolted, Kulu vanishing while Pulu was making a small earthquake with every lumbering step.
"Um, what," Toad asked nervously.
"GET THE FUCK OUT," Misty roared as she took out more knives.
Toad screamed like a little bitch before crashing out of a window, hopping away like crazy.
Misty was panting heavily again as she held the knives, ready to throw them. Then, she began to shake as she dropped them. She leaned onto her bar for support as she tried to regulate her breathing when she saw something. Water dripping onto her bar. She reached up and touched her cheek to feel tears running down her cheek.
She then fell back onto her wall, somehow not knocking down a single bottle, before sliding down onto the floor. Unfortunately, when she looked up, she saw the one and only picture she had of her daughter, the girl smiling as she held up a 1st place medal.
Misty then broke down, huddling in a fetal position as she began to sob. "Why didn't I want her," she asked softly through her tears.
Meanwhile, in a hut with only the kitchen light on, a lonely girl was eating a fairly humble meal. A single fish, about the size of a Sea Bream, some grilled pineapple, a bit of rice, and a bread roll. As usual, the girl was sitting alone.
That girl was Uju.
She was used to eating alone. Her dad was usually busy and came home late for whatever reason. Still, she would stay up until at least eleven before going to bed to sleep at midnight.
Then, the door opened. "I'm home, Cub."
Uju's eyes widened. She then ran to the entrance to see it was true. "Papa!"
"I was hoping I was wrong. Why are you still up, Cub," asked... Creed.
Uju's smile lessened. "I... I wanted to welcome you back home, Papa."
"You need to get some sleep, Cub. This is why you can never beat Nala." Uju jolted at that. "Have you eaten?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Good," he said as he walked past and rubbed her head, one of the few interactions she gets from him. Still, she liked having her dad rub her head. . . She just wished he would hug her again.
"Uju, I thought you said you ate! Why do I see a half-eaten meal?!"
"S-Sorry, sir! I just ran when I heard you come in!"
"Finish your dinner then go to bed! You have school tomorrow!"
"Y-yes, sir," she said as she ran back to her table and sat down to eat the rest of her food.
"I took a whiff of it. You're getting better at cooking."
Uju blushed. "T-Thank you, Papa." She finished her roll.
"So, I heard around the village that your class was taught by Kai." Uju jolted, nearly dropping her fork right as she was about to eat the last of her rice. "So, what did she have you do? Hold your breath underwater?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
Creed scoffed. "That's all she can do. I can't believe she's one of the Five Beast Gods. Ah, whatever. Did you at least beat Nala?"
"N-No, sir. I-In fact, I lost to... Banzai."
It got awkwardly quiet, the silence feeling like claws on the Honey Badger Faunus.
Creed then chuckled before he laughed, surprising Uju. "Banzai?! That little runt?! He actually beat you at something?!" He slammed the table as he laughed harder. "Who knew that punk had it in him?!"
"Y-You're not mad?"
"Mad?! NO! Kid's finally showing off that he's a proud Faunus! I'm proud of that little shit! Especially since my little girl is gonna humiliate him again and show who's boss!"
Uju's eyes and smile widened before she got determined. "Yes, Papa!" She then went back to eating her food until she saw the pineapples. Unfortunately for her, they looked just like the Arc Symbol, reminding her of her failure.
"Hm?" Uju shuttered when she heard her father sniff. "Cub? Why do I smell fear from you?" Uju shuttered. "Cub." She looked up, and was terrified when she saw her father's shadowed face, his eyes glowing in the darkness. "What aren't you telling me?"
"I... I..."
"Uju."
She yelped a bit as tears began to form in her eyes. "I... I lost... to Argent. . . A-And he... he beat Nala in... the class," Uju admitted as her voice began to break, tears flowing.
She became terrified when she heard Creed's claws scratch across the table.
"WHAT?!"
Creed threw the table with one hand, making it break into pieces as it slammed against the wooden walls of his hut. "YOU LOST TO A FUCKING HUMAN?! WHAT'S WORSE, A FUCKING ARC?!"
Uju fell to the ground, crying. "Papa, I'm sorry!"
"SORRY?! YOU'RE A FAUNUS! HE'S A FUCKING WEAK, HAIRLESS CHIMP! YOU ARE SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY! HOW THE FUCK COULD YOU LET YOURSELF LOSE TO HIM?!"
"B-Banzai and Nala also lost!"
"ARE YOU TELLING ME A HUMAN BEAT NALA BEFORE YOU?!"
Uju winced as she hugged herself in fear and defense, afraid her father might hit her.
"HOW DARE YOU SHAME THE FAUNUS LIKE THIS?! I WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN YOU KEPT LOSING TO NALA, BUT AT LEAST YOU LOST TO A FAUNUS! BUT TO LOSE TO A HUMAN?! THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE! AND FOR NALA TO LOSE?! SHE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO RISE TO THE TOP OF THE VILLAGE AND LEAD THE FAUNUS INTO SUPREMACY, YET SHE LOSES TO A HUMAN?! HOW DARE SHE?!"
"P-Papa," Uju began as she reached out to her father.
He smacked her hand away, not using his claws, but still hurting the young girl enough for her to subconsciously activate her Aura to heal herself.
"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!"
He growled, sounding like a tiger preparing to pounce on his prey before looking into his daughter's eyes, calming down just a tiny bit, but not enough to quell his rage.
"Go to your room."
"Pa-"
"I SAID GO TO YOUR FUCKING ROOM, UJU!"
Uju ran away, sobbing as she quickly slammed her door shut.
Creed was standing there, panting. "Lost to a human. . . To an Arc. An Arc! AN ARC!" Creed roared as he started to tear apart his own kitchen, rage taking over. "AAAAARRRCCC!" It was fortunate for him that he lived in an area where there are few other huts, and the only nearby "neighbors" he had were fellow White Fang extremists.
Most of his neighbors were used to Creed's outbursts, but the few who heard his hate-filled roars towards Jaune didn't care. They didn't like the hero either, and for the exact same reason. He's a human.
Many believed that he shouldn't be on the island, let alone with his family. They felt like he was just a human going on a vacation on a tropical island. The bigger insult was that the Belladonnas were hosting him, and some found it disgusting how they were doting on his son. Yet, worst yet, was how they've been hearing how Jaune, a human, was improving Menagerie.
This island was theirs. If anyone was to improve it, it should have been a Faunus, not a human hero. They hated Jaune nearly as much as Creed did, but not AS much as he did.
Creed was panting, finally getting the rage out of him before looking up at his kitchen window, and seeing his own reflection. In the window, Jaune appeared, making Creed growl. He then punched the window, his fist shattering the glass. "I'm going to make sure you DIE in the desert, Arc. Menagerie will be your grave."
In her dark room, Uju was in the fetal position, sitting on her bed, which was nothing more than a wooden floor mat with animal pelts covering it, a banana leaf blanket her father taught her to make, and a pillow she also made when her father taught her.
"We are Faunus. We can survive nature much better than those weak humans. We don't need soft beds or knitted blankies. Nature provides more than enough comfort," she remembered her father teaching her.
Honestly... she agreed.
She actually likes her wood mat and was proud of her leaf blankets. She especially loves it when her father praises her for them since he himself uses the blankets she made for him.
Creed taught her so much. How to hunt, how to endure, how to survive, and even taught her how to cook.
"We can eat things raw unlike humans, but why should those maggots be allowed to eat better than us?!"
One of her happiest memories was when he laughed and praised her for making "damn good food", and on his own birthday at that.
She then looked up... and saw the other happy memories.
On her shelf were medals and awards. Most of them were made of wood or beautifully crafted stone, but they were more valuable than gold to her. Even more precious were the pictures near them.
The first picture was when she was just about four years old. She was holding a 1st place medal for a crafting contest, her winning creation being a chair that her father still uses. The second picture was of her holding up a fish bigger than her, Creed smiling behind her as he ruffled her hair. The final picture... was her holding a second place medal in the Cub Beast God Tournament three years ago, her first ever loss, and the beginning of her rivalry with Nala.
She remembered that day, not only because she lost, but because her father lost in the Beast God Tournament. What's more, it wasn't even the semi-finals. He lost in the third of five rounds... against the strongest Faunus on the island, Byakko himself.
That was the first time she had ever seen her father look so defeated... and terrified, telling her just how powerful the Tiger God truly was. The fact she got to hug her father to comfort him told her that even more.
She then looked down at her feet, tears falling on them as she hugged herself even more. "I'm sorry, Papa. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I lost," she sobbed. "I'm sorry I'm a loser."
She then looked up and saw her pictures again, seeing one crucial thing that made her wonder about something else. "Is this why Mama never wanted me, Papa? Because I'm an embarrassment of a Faunus? Is that why we're alone? I'm sorry, Papa," she went as she placed her head on her knees, crying a bit more.
Then, his face appeared. His stupid, smiling face, his hands behind his head like a fool as he laughed like one, too.
She then looked up with fierce, enraged eyes.
"Argent Arc."
A/N: As most of you have probably already noticed, the Menagerie Arc characters are HEAVILY based off of Marvel characters, specifically X-Men. However, certain characters are already dead. Professor X is among the deceased. BUT, I give you an omake, showing just what an interaction between Jaune and the wise professor would have been like. BEHOLD:
"Hello, uh, Professor?"
"Ah, the famous Vale Knight," the wheelchair-bowned scientist went as he turned towards the hero. "It is an honor."
"The honor is... wow, that's a lot of degrees," Jaune said as he looked around the Faunus's office. "And in such a small hut at that. You could do a lot of good in Vale with knowledge like this."
"I suppose I could, but Menagerie needs me. You've seen the state my people are in. Much needs to be done on this island, which is why I must thank you for discovering the oases. You've brought much hope to my people."
"I'm a Huntsman, Professor. It's what I do."
Charles smiled at Jaune before it went away. "Tell me, why do you hide?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You don't need to hide. Many already know your identity. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Well, in my defense, I'm pretty damn scary with it out in the open."
"Nonsense. Please, show me the true Jaune Arc. Or rather, I'd like to meet the mighty Jaune Salem Arc, the new King of the Grimm."
Jaune sighed. "You asked for it." He then pressed his watch, deactivating his disguise.
Before Prof. Xavier was the new King of the Grimm, tall and dark, hair as white as snow, eyes as black as the night, save for the glowing red irises as bright as blood. He towered over the crippled Faunus like a dark god.
"Incredible."
"Don't you mean terrifying," Jaune asked.
Xavier sighed. "Mr. Arc-"
"Jaune's just fine."
"Very well, Jaune. I have been all over Remnant. I have spoken to many a young Faunus who feared themselves."
"Because of what they were?"
"Precisely. Innocent children have experienced bigotry, endured slander, and suffered abuse just for being Faunus. Born with the powers of the animal kingdom and blessed with the power of a Semblance should they be awakened. Many a small-minded person would fear that."
Jaune sighed. "I've had to save plenty of trafficked Faunus. Sometimes, I was too late."
"A tragic thing to hear, my friend. But you saved many innocents as well. I have tried to do the same. I help Faunus accept who and what they are. I never would have thought the greatest of heroes would also need such assistance."
"Come again?"
"You fear your own power, do you not?"
"Um, obviously? Look at me, Professor. I'm a freak. An actual monster."
Charles shook his head. "That is untrue. I know of no such monster that would protect the world and save innocents, nor of one who is still beloved by the people."
Jaune sighed as he turned his back towards the professor.
"Jaune, this may be difficult to understand, but your represent the very people of Remnant."
"What," Jaune asked as he turned his head towards the man.
"You were once human. The greatest of them. Now, after your... forced transformation, many people see you as one of us. A Faunus. You hold a unique position where all sides of the world look up to you as what you are."
"And what exactly am I?"
"Many things, my friend. A hero. A protector. A guardian. Maybe even a savior. But in the end, the fact still stands."
"And that fact is?"
"You ARE the Gauridan of Remant. It's hero. The world NEEDS Jaune Salem Arc. We need the Grimm King."
Jaune stared at Charles before sighing and turning towards the door. "Then I'd better do my job."
"Jaune, even though my words are true, there is one thing you must always remember."
"What?"
"You are not alone. You have allies. Friends and family. No matter how powerful someone is, no one should carry the weight of the world on their shoulders alone."
Jaune chuckled. "Sorry, Chuck, but sometimes a man is forced to carry that burden," he said before leaving.
Charles sighed before rolling over to his desk. He then grabbed a picture of himself standing next to Magnus, the men smiling as they stood before a newly built institution. "I know that fact far too well, Jaune."
A/N: That's the end of that chapter. Hope you guys are glad Jaune is back. Be sure to leave some reviews. I do read them. Anyway, hope you guys are back for next week's chapter.
Until then!