Shadows of Survival

by Gavin Tyson

After seven years of surviving in the wild, battling Grimm and the unforgiving elements, Jaune finally arrives at Beacon Academy to become a Huntsman. As he grapples with the harsh realities of his past and the friendships he will form, Jaune must confront the sacrifices he made for his dream and redefine what it means to be a hero. Will his family ever forgive him?

3. Chapter 3: Early Experiences

Fanfiction was being dumb. I uploaded this chapter earlier today (27/01/25), but something went wrong and the chapter didn't upload right. So i removed it and decided to upload it later when I had access to my PC. Sorry for the story notification spam...

A/N:Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll, you champions! The poll was closed (24/02/25) and the results are in! And the winner is…

Find out later! Woooooo, yeeeeeeah!

To be honest, you'll probably guess who won by the end of this chapter.

Small note, I do sometimes go back to previous chapters and correct issues, for example, in chapter 1 and 2 I referenced the Forever Falls when I meant Emerald Forest. I'm honestly surprised no-one mentioned this mistake. I know it's not a big issue, but it bugged me so I updated the chapters, apologies if a notification went out and people were excited for a new chapter. I'll try to keep it more limited to major changes, and not just indivdual minor ones.

I do add a dated authors note when i do make changes however, so if you're curious, you can see what has changed.

But to make up for that. Here's a new chapter!

Also, if anyone is interested in being a Beta reader for this story, I would be most grateful if you sent me a PM

Holy Jeepers Creepers! 162 faves and 209 follows (27/01/25). You absolute champions! I hope I can continue to entertain!

Chapter 3: Early Experiences

---

It turned out, a scroll was the communications device Jaune had seen on his many travels. How he had never heard its name before now was kind of absurd in his opinion. But, he knew now, and that was all that mattered. Honestly, it was all kinds of surreal for the young traveller, as he followed his team down winding white walled corridors, still quite exhausted, he didn't engage in much conversation as they walked. Nora talked enough for all four of them it seemed. He didn't quite understand most of what she spouted, but he gathered 'pancakes' would somehow be involved, Ren acted like a man who had and would persist through Nora's antics with his head held high, and sanity somehow intact.

It was almost admirable.

Pyrrha stayed beside him, and made sure Jaune didn't collapse back to his knees. It was appreciated, whilst his legs were no longer numb, they did ache painfully, and all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep the rest of the day away.

Eventually, the newly named team JNPR found their room number, Jaune watched in amazement at how Pyrrha casually used her scroll to scan the keypad on the wall, next to the door, and the door just opened, it was… kind of mind-blowing to Jaune how versatile the small device was. It could also be used to browse the internet and even buy things to be delivered directly to them.

It had been so long since he'd been around such technology. Most villages he came across had a single CCT receiver, unable to send off long range transmission, but merely receive them in cases of kingdom wide emergencies. But now he held such a device capable of feats better than he had seen since his… journey began. It was a shame he was so bad at using the damn thing. He damn near crushed the scroll when he had been issued it, only Pyrrha's understanding instructions made him realise how delicate the things were. Still, he was surprised all students were just given such a device on enrolment.

Not only that! Each of his team carried a bag filled with school uniforms, books, bags and other useful utensils. They were just handed these commodities for FREE! The idea was insane in Jaune's bartering centred mindset. Nothing was even given for free in the wilds. Only through trade or services were goods given and received. And that wasn't even the craziest thing that Jaune had been given.

All students were given a loan, a Lien loan. To be paid back to the academy when fully employed and earning over a certain amount of earnings. Honest to god Lien being given away for free!

What was wrong with these people? Jaune had never seen as much Lien in his entire life. And each student received such a loan. Jaune didn't know how much the Lien was worth in the grand scheme of things, frontier villages never used the stuff. They thrived off meats, pelts and Grimm exterminations, plastic cards with little numbers on them didn't amount to much. But here in Vale? He actually had a means of payment! He had almost been laughed out of a local smithy when he offered to pay for Crocea Mors's maintenance with wolf pelts.

That had been quite an eye-opener to the young blond.

But, he could ponder his new found wealth later. He and his team entered their new living accommodations for the next four years.

It was… astonishing to Jaune's pragmatic mind. The door entered into a large (by his standards) common room, equipped with various recreational activities, a Tv, what he thought he remembered as a games console, and a bookshelf filled with many different titles. Against one of the walls were their new weapon lockers, each labelled with one of their names. Apparently, his scroll could summon his locker anywhere in Vale and deposit his weapon to him! Across from them was a sliding door that stepped out onto a balcony that overlooked Beacon's grounds.

Further in was their bedroom, four single beds with a nightstand in between the direct partner's beds. And even further in was communal sinks, bathroom stalls and even multiple showers.

Free Gods-damned Running Water!

It was insane just how much space they had to themselves, Jaune would've accepted a shack and a hole in the ground, it would've still been an upgrade from his previous living arrangements. But no, Beacon straight up gave four teenagers a full-blown apartment! He tilted his head and nearly gasped. There was even a small kitchenette in the corner of the common room.

He wondered if his team would appreciate a cooked rabbit one of these days. He was sure he'd be able to make it actually taste of something with some extra spices. All in all, Jaune was gobsmacked, and the first thing he did when he realised the free water was warm, was excuse himself from his team and took a long, long, long shower. Making up for lost time. He caught Nora cackle at his almost desperate run towards the warm water, and Pyrrha let out a small chuckle. He didn't care, they could laugh all they wanted when they lived a life where clean water was a luxury, never mind warm water.

---

Having showered for perhaps a tad too long, Jaune exited the shower room in just his black compression top and torn jeans. He found his team unpacking and chatting amicably… Well, Pyrrha and Ren were amicable, Nora was…

"And that's why me and Ren are together, but not together, together, yaknow?" She was… energetic?

"Who's not together?" He asked, as he brushed his now loose hair from his eyes, when not tied, it reached down to his shoulders nearly. He sat on the only unoccupied bed and damn near shrieked when he sank into its comforting form.

Nora cackled again, but answered; "me and Renny! We've been together all our lives! But not that kind of together, yeah?" Jaune turned to Pyrrha in hope for some kind of translation. But when he turned, he realised she stared directly at his covered chest, red on her cheeks.

Jaune's compression top did not leave much to the imagination when it came to his definitions. Jaune was completely oblivious to this, his view of the compression top purely pragmatic, for warmth, an extra layer from the elements. He then turned to Ren who simply shook his head, and asked him a question. "How are you feeling now, Jaune? I can imagine the shower helped."

"You have no idea", he sighed dreamily, "but, I feel a lot better now, tired. But kind of excited for tomorrow".

Ren nodded, "understandable, you did contend with an Alpha Beowolf and win, most would be quite tired after such an encounter."

Jaune smiled, and rubbed his head, "ah, it was nothing, I'm sure any of you would've handled it much better".

"Actually, we probably woul-"

"Jaune, you haven't put your weapon away yet", his partner reminded him, and sure enough he hadn't even realised he had taken Crocea Mors into the shower with him. It was almost instinctive to take the blade wherever he went. He glanced through the open door into the common room, and spotted the lockers. He looked down at Crocea Mors. The idea of being separated from what was essentially his lifeline whilst in the wilds was… unnerving, it left a vulnerable feeling in his chest.

"Do… Do you think I could keep Crocea Mors with me? I swear it shall stay sheathed… it's just", he trailed off, kind of embarrassed that he needed his weapon to feel safe at night. When he had given Crocea Mors up last night, he had lied to Ruby and Yang, he hadn't gotten more than an hour or two of sleep. His mind kept playing tricks on him, that he was defenseless, at the mercy of wild Grimm, that he needed to get his trusty blade back. The thought of sleeping with that mindset for the next four years rattled him.

Thankfully, his team sympathised and each nodded to his request, he bowed his head in thanks and tucked the sheathed blade against his bed frame, within reach to draw and defend at a moments notice. No one, or no thing would catch him unawares.

Not again.

---

The champion fighter watched her partner almost cradle his weapon, before he placed it against his bed. It concerned her, understandably, for someone of her age to be so against the idea of putting their weapon away, even just in the other room… Just what had her blond partner been through in the wilds. She was curious, deathly so. But the idea of asking the questions that plagued the tip of her tongue felt… intrusive, rude. She didn't want to damage or strain the beginnings to their relationship so soon into its formation.

Not, a romantic relationship of course! I meant a working or friendly relationship. But he does have very nice muscles. The redhead covered her face, and banished those thoughts, she was a disciplined fighter, not a silly schoolgirl with her first crush.

She kind of was though… The whole point of coming to Beacon was to become just another girl, a perfectly normal, 4-time champion fighter, girl. Nothing strange or unusual about that. Not at all. And the fact Jaune was completely unaware of her own accomplishments, and she wanted to keep it that way? Totally normal girl thoughts.

She needed to get off this train of thought stat!

"How about we get to know each other?" She broached, "Since we are to be a team for the next four years. It serves to reason that we should at least introduce ourselves properly?"

"Ohh, I like that! Good idea super champion!"

Jaune tilted his head, "super champion?"

"Anyway!" Pyrrha plowed over Jaune's question, "does anyone want to go first?" Nora's arm shot up like a rocket, she waved it wildly as if begging for a teacher's attention in a stacked classroom.

It looked more comical in a communal bedroom with four people. But Pyrrha appreciated the enthusiasm.

"Okay, Nora you go-" a knock on their front door cut her off, it also distracted Nora. Who jumped off her bed and ran to the door, and swung it open.

"PASSWORD?" She demanded, fists placed on her hips like a prison guard. A high pitched voice Pyrrha recognised, timidly replied; "uh… cookies?"

"Hmmm… not as good as pancakes, but the queen of this realm will accept!" Ruby let out an offended squeak as Nora dragged the smaller girl into their common room, the rest of team RWBY followed behind.

Yang openly laughed at her sister's misfortune. The blond bombshell turned to Pyrrha and the rest of team JNPR. She stalled as she spotted Jaune in his compression top, and whistled, "very nice!"

"YANG!" Cried her young sister, cheeks flush as she was pressed into Nora's attack hug.

"What, I'm just saying what we're all thinking, right?" She flung her gaze to Blake and Weiss, both blatantly avoided her eyes. She laughed and waved.

"Yo! Turns out we're neighbours, and our dear leader wanted our teams to meet 'properly'".

Ren, who had stepped over to Nora and prised poor Ruby from her grip, nodded. "A sound idea, we were just about to give out introductions ourselves. Please, make yourself comfor-" Yang had already plopped down onto one of the single seater chairs and leant back. The black haired male just shook his hair and let Nora drag him to the large couch placed against the far wall. He was shoved into the corner seat and Nora planted herself snug against him.

The white haired Schnee stepped up to Jaune and Pyrrha, "apologies for the uncouthness of my teammates, my thanks for allowing us to enter". The redhead just smiled, and Jaune looked fairly uncomfortable with the tonal shift from the last time he had interacted with the prim and proper girl. She had berated him when they first met.

"Uhh, sure", he struggled out, "no problem… welcome to our dorm?" The girl inclined her head in acceptance and daintily placed herself into another single seater chair. That left only one remaining single seater, and the rest of the admittedly large couch. The final member of team RWBY just nodded at Jaune and Pyrrha, then perched upon a desk that lay against the wall the couch was pressed upon. Pyrrha wondered why the couch wasn't a good enough seat for the girl, but shrugged it off. This actually worked in her favour. With one single seater left, she could angle it to where she and Jaune had to sit next to each other on the couch, whilst Ruby took the final single chair.

It was an utterly scandalous plan in her mind, being sat next to her maybe crush?

What would the tabloids think? World champion turned harlot! So engrossed in her own devious idea, she had no time to react when Jaune took the last remaining single seater, which left herself and RWBY's team leader to sit next to one another on the couch.

"Okay…" Ruby began, her voice trailed off into silence as seven heads turned to stare directly at her. She shrunk into herself. Suddenly, it seemed like Ruby was having second thoughts towards her initial cross-team introductions.

Thankfully, it looked like her big sister took pity and started.

"So yeah, I guess we should just go in a circle and introduce ourselves, maybe say one thing of interest about ourselves?" The blond looked around the room and noticed no one volunteered. "Okay, I'll go first, I'm Yang Xiao-Long, and I enjoy long walks on the beach, and I am just the best at puns…"

---

Time passed as everyone went and introduced themselves, a few introductions were eye openers to Jaune, apparently Weiss Schnee was super rich, and not just 'I have a successful business rich', but more; 'my family probably has more wealth than the entire kingdom of Vale rich'. And to someone like Jaune, who at most times couldn't rub two Lien cards together? That was pretty rich. Ren and Nora were orphans who have been together since "forever" according to Nora. Blake was a secretive person who just said she was from "somewhere you'll not recognise". Ruby was a cookie lover, Yang had a motorcycle named Bumblebee.

Also, apparently his partner was famous? As in printed on the front of cereal boxes, kind of famous. She was also famous for another reason, but said partner interrupted Weiss's additional information with some tense eye-contact. To be honest, all these names and personalities were a shock to his system, his social interactions usually measured up to, 'how much for these rabbit pelts?' So going around in a kind of introductory game was an 'experience'.

Not bad, just new.

And it was now his turn. And as all seven sets of eyes stared at him, he suddenly found his mouth quite dry. But he persisted onwards.

"Hey, uhhh… My name is Jaune Arc and…" he clicked his tongue as he tried to think of anything to add on, "I've been to every kingdom at least once?"

Ruby sat forward, "that is so cool!" His partner nodded next to the younger teen.

"What did you think of each kingdom, Jaune?" The redhead asked.

He scratched his head, "Anima is nice, decent weather year round to explore, they have really unique trees, odd, but I can't think of any other continent that has pink trees. Solitas is very, very cold, almost impossible to survive in the wilds when winter really sets in." He paused when Weiss nodded in agreement with his opinion. "Sanus is weird because there's Vale and then Vacuo".

"Weird how?" His other male teammate asked.

Jaune shrugged, "Well, Vale is pretty easy when it comes to its weather, it snows in winter, and it's pretty warm in summer. But Vacuo? If Solitas is nothing but snow, the part of Sanus where Vacuo is, is nothing but sand, sand for miles upon miles!" Yang opened her mouth to speak, but Jaune was on a roll now.

"I mean, that wouldn't be too bad, but the entire kingdom is always boiling, and don't even get me started when it's summertime in that place! No wonder most men don't wear tops there, I was sweating my head off within seconds!" He let out a breath once he finished his small complaint, and glanced around the room to see various amused expressions on everyone. Well, 'everyone' was a stretch, Jaune gathered Weiss, Blake and Ren were pretty guarded in facial expressions. Or perhaps Ren was simply unable to smile, as Nora had enough emotions for the both of them.

"Uhh… I get that you were talking about the kingdoms, Jaune, but what were those names you said before?" Asked Ruby.

Weiss huffed, unamused, "they are the names of the landmasses or islands the kingdoms were founded on! How do you not know this!?"

"Hey, I know things, okay! I just have never heard people call them that before!" The caped girl defended herself, silver eyes narrowed in irritated embarrassment.

Weiss just tutted and turned her gaze back to Jaune. "I must say Jaune, I am impressed with your travels, but I must ask how you afforded all these holidays?"

Jaune nearly choked on air, "ho-holidays!?"

Weiss nodded, ignored Yang's, Ruby's and Nora's giggles and carried on. "Yes, to travel between kingdoms is quite an expensive ordeal, whilst I myself have never been to Mistral or Vacuo. I do know coming from Atlas to Vale was not cheap. So I was curious how you afforded it". Jaune was confused, did Weiss honestly think his travels were vacations? He understood they hadn't really gotten to know one another yet. But did he look like a vacationer? He knew he looked more homeless than a holiday traveller.

"Weiss, those weren't holidays… I'm a traveler, I went to those places to explore and train."

Weiss's eyes widened in shock, "you're… you are a vagrant!?" Sounds of angry retorts accosted the Schnee, but Jaune nodded.

"I guess that's one way of describing myself, I prefer traveller, to be fair, but yeah… before Beacon, I was a vagrant." Weiss's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Blake smirked, "I believe you broke her, Jaune".

He just shrugged, "It's the truth, I've been traveling… coming up to 7 and a half years at this point".

Blake's piercing yellowish eyes narrowed, "that would mean you started exploring when you were ten".

Jaune rubbed his chin in mild embarrassment. "Yeah, that's right, I had just turned 10 pretty recently when I struck out on my own".

The blond brawler jumped in with the pertinent question, "Why?"

The vagrant opened his mouth to answer, blushed in embarrassment and mumbled; "I wanted to be a Huntsman…"

He thought no one heard his answer, but Blake responded, "then why not just join a training school?" Jaune recalled how against the idea his parents had been, about why he even set off to the wilds in the first place. He'd rather not say anymore on the matter to be honest. The blond never enjoyed remembering the day he left all those years ago. Thankfully, the other team leader in the room noticed and rushed to change the topic.

"Was there anywhere else you've been?" He smiled at Ruby in silent thanks, and thought of his many travels.

"Let's see… I've been to Menagerie-"

"You've what! How!?" Exclaimed Blake, now stood up, instead of perched on the table. She realised her outburst and shyly returned to her perch.

"That's the island for Faunus right?" Clarified Yang, one eye open as she looked about ready to fall asleep. "How'd you end up there of all places?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Inquired Blake, body expression filled with held back annoyance.

Yang just raised her arms in surrender, "nothing, just surprised a human would end up there, yaknow?" Jaune decided he'd best cut in before an argument broke out.

"To be honest, it was less of an intended destination, and more of an accident I ended up there. The ship I was on hit a storm and I went overboard… woke up on the shores of Kuo Kuana".

Weiss snapped in, "I assume your reception was less than kind?" He glanced up at her in shock.

"What? No! Not at all!" Two reactions stood out the most at his answer, Weiss looked practically gobsmacked at the idea, whilst Blake, for some reason seemed just as surprised, but in a more positive light.

"What happened, what happened, Fearless Leader! Did you have to fight to get away?" Nora gasped, "did you duel someone for safe passage, oh! Did they make you a king when you won!?"

"W-What?"

"Ignore Nora, please!" Ren nearly begged.

…

…

…

"Well… no, I didn't fight anyone", he shrugged, "unless you count the Grimm I killed that were attacking the walls, after that, most of the people there treated me well enough. They let me use one of their trader vessels to get back to Anima". Blake smiled at his story and seemed to relax, Weiss for her part looked even more confused.

"But… how?" Weiss' question was simple in premise, but Jaune realised there was a deeper meaning behind it, he was no ignorant fool… Well, not that ignorant, he knew of the White-Fang and their hatred for humans. Hell, he had even encountered them a few times in his travels, none ended… well.

"Believe it or not Weiss, but not every Faunus hates humans, almost all of the ones I met during my short stay were really kind. Kinder than most humans I met on my travels." Jaune tilted his head as he recalled a specific couple he had met. "In fact, there was a couple who were almost too nice to be fair."

Ruby piped up, "how can someone be too nice?" The idea of that being possible seemed to almost insult the silver eyed Huntress.

Jaune chuckled at her expression, "they barely knew me, but let me stay in their house until I could leave. And I'm talking about full food and board".

Ruby smiled at that, "what were their names?" He scratched his chin as he tried to recall them.

"I never got their last names, but they were Kali and Ghira… If I'm right." Everyone jumped as a desk lamp on the table Blake was perched on, was suddenly knocked off and made a loud bang.

The girl in question lowered her head and blushed, "sorry… thought I saw a spider".

"WHAT!?" Cried Weiss as she bounded to her feet and hopped onto the chair she sat at. Yang laughed at the sight, which turned into full belly laughs when Ruby pointed at her feet.

"it's right beneath you Weiss!" The prim and proper girl let out an undignified shriek, leapt from her seat and ran to the door.

"ThankyouforyourhospitalitybutImusetgetsomeSLEEP!" Everyone broke out into chuckles at her exit, even Ren let a small smile across his lips.

After Yang settled down, she clapped her hands and stood. "Right, guess that's our que, we best get some sleep for tomorrow. Say goodnight team RWBY."

"Goodnight team RWBY", Ruby mocked as she pushed off the couch, because she was too short to reach the floor, she landed and waved to Jaune, "see ya tomorrow bestie!" He waved back as she sped out of the room, Blake followed after, inclined her head and smiled politely. Yang grumbled something about cheeky sisters, saluted in a mock fashion, and closed the door behind her.

Nora excitedly wished them goodbye and turned to Ren, "can you believe Renny! Our family has grown so big so soon!"

"I think you mean team, Nora."

"You know what I said! Now, to bed! Carry me my steed!" With that she leapt onto Renny, who caught the bundle of excess energy, with the expression of a man who had done this before, many… many times. Jaune and his partner watched Ren struggle back into the bedroom, Nora pantomimed whipping her steed as he did. He turned to look at Pyrrha who wore a similar bemused expression as he figured he did.

"Please don't tell me you're going to ride me like Nora, are you?"

Pyrrha's cheeks went as red as her hair, her hands raised, waved wildly, "of- of course not! I would never… not that i-I don't think yo-you're cu-"

"Pyrrha… I was just teasing you". Her hands stopped, the blush did not.

"Oh… Oh, I knew that," she cleared her throat, and suddenly looked directly into his eyes, "thank you, Jaune". His brows narrowed.

"For what?" His partner just shook her head and smiled.

"For being you… I guess".

"You're welcome?" he smiled back, admittedly in a more confused manner, "I aim to be me more often then?" She laughed and stood from the couch, and offered her hand, he took it and was pulled from his seat. As they both turned to go to sleep, a question popped into Jaune's mind.

"Pyrrha, your weapon is a javelin, yeah?"

"It is! It can also shift into a sword and rifle. Why do you ask?"

Jaune raised a brow at her, "well, when I was falling during initiation, the craziest thing happened to me."

"Oh?" Did he imagine the sheen of sweat that dropped off Pyrrha's brow?

"Yes, whilst I was falling, someone threw a javelin at me, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Blue eyes met green. Green eyes held their ground for all of one second, before they shifted away.

…

…

…

"I… I can explain?"

"Can you? Can you really?"

The final conversation of that night was indeed quite the awkward one.

---

He trudged down a snow filled path. He was cold, wet, and in desperate need of shelter.

He hated it. Hated it with every fibre of his being! Frostbitten fingers clasped his sides in a futile attempt to keep a semblance of warmth.

Pointless, he wouldn't survive for much longer at this rate.

And to think, he had thought himself prepared for the harshness of Solitas during the winter. He had stocked up on warm clothing and provisions, he had even traded a large amount of supplies for snow goggles.

He might as well have been naked, for all the good his preparations had done him.

A frosted tree branch smacked into his face, he didn't even feel it, too numb from the freezing winds. "S-so, th-this is h-how I d-die… st-stupidly?" He berated himself, why hadn't he just waited for winter to pass and then come to this continent?

You know why, he thought to himself. Flashes of a heavily sick and barely alive child struck his mind, a mother who had begged and pleaded for his help. A plant, herb that only grew in the harshest of wintery climates, the only hope for her recovery. He had agreed without a moment's hesitance. And now? Not only was a sick child going to die, but so was he! His foot caught on a fallen log, hidden by the thick snowfall, his jaw caught a rough stone, and the cold embrace of snow encapsulated him.

He seriously considered just staying there, why push on if only more suffering awaited? He was cold, he was tired. He. Was. Done. He had survived everything up until now, but this was his breaking point. No. More. The sprawled teen was not even scared about death, he had escaped it so, so many times until now, of course it'd have to catch up eventually. No, what he truly feared was the idea of that poor mother, who waited for him with her daughter's cure. He feared a poor Faunus child that cried and wept in agony, and just wanted her pain to STOP. He feared failing them, and failing himself.

He feared failing as a hero.

And in that moment, that moment of certain doom. That moment where he had truly given up, that was when his near snow-blind eyes caught sight of it.

The flower.

The herb.

The cure…

It lay a few meters away from his prone form, as if it taunted him, taunted just how close he had gotten before he had given up.

Like the coward he was!

His shoulders shook. He didn't want to be a coward, to be a failure! His frosted fingers desperately searched for handholds in the snow, he dragged himself towards the flower. Every last remaining ounce of energy he had left; he used it all to pull himself a few metres.

He would save that girl! He would!

He would, he would, he would. He would!

He'd be that hero he always dreamed of being!

His numb fingers finally clutched the flower, they grasped it like his final lifeline. He had done it! He found it!

It was in that deliriously numb state, where he also spotted glowing, monstrous blood red eyes. They also spotted the tar-like substance that made up its towering hunched form, and its bone white faceplate. He spotted its raised claw slashed down to his pathetic form. He closed his eyes in acceptance, he had nothing left in him.

Guess I really was a coward after all.

That's when he lurched forward, breath ragged, body covered in sweat, Crocea Mors drawn and ready to eviscerate any threat.

There wasn't one. He was safe, in the shared bedroom of team JNPR, he was huddled in the far corner of the room, a perfect spot to get a clear view of any potential intruders. His body shook as he recalled his dream. He sighed and forced his startled heart to calm, counted his breaths until he found control of his body once more. He felt how sweaty and clammy he was, he needed a cold shower, something, anything to keep his mind occupied.

He pushed himself onto shaky feet and stumbled to the bathrooms.

"Bad dream?" a feminine voice startled him, he whirled, hand on Crocea Mors' hilt, he stopped when he spotted Nora, eyes wide open as she watched him, an expression he couldn't quite place on her face.

"Just a memory, from a while ago", he waved off her concern, it wasn't the first time one of his memories came to haunt him, and it would not be the last.

"I have a lot of memories like that… a lot of ones back when me and Ren were alone". Jaune stared at Nora, her usual exuberance gone without a trace, replaced with a blank visage of the ginger haired girl. "Most of the time when I sleep, I dream about what might have happened if Ren hadn't found me, or if one of us had died when we searched for shelter."

…

…

…

"I dream about past failures", he swallowed his feeling of self loathing, "about where I had chances to save someone and failed, about how I let someone down". Nora said nothing, she just sat up in her bed and continued to watch. Jaune grasped his left shoulder, just so his right hand was doing something.

"It was about this single Faunus mother, her daughter was sick… it was bad. She needed a specific flower for the cure, but the village she went to didn't…", he paused and gathered his strength, "they didn't care for her unique traits and refused to use one of their preserved batches".

"I just happened to be in town for supplies when I found her, she was sitting in the middle of the street, begging for help", his blue eyes fogged over as his mouth replayed what happened, "I offered without thinking, went to find the flower and…" his breath hitched. Nora got out of the bed and wrapped Jaune up in a tight hug, he didn't cry, but he trembled and held onto Nora's durable form desperately.

"I found the flower, nearly died for it, should've died. But I got lucky, an avalanche took out the Alpha Beowolf that snuck up on me…" Nora held him tighter, she patted his back and let him gather the courage to finish.

"The child had died weeks ago by the time I got back, be-because I wasn't strong enough, wasn't fast enough… I was a pathetic failure who couldn't even keep a promise to save a pleading mothers child".

…

…

…

"No". Jaune flinched at the harshness in Nora's voice.

"N-no?"

She gripped him even tighter, almost painfully so.

"You tried your best, you did more than anyone in that village even thought to do". Nora released the hug to stare up into his shiny eyes. "You gave that mother hope, hope that she never got from that village."

"B-but I still failed…"

"But you still tried!" She stressed that final point. "You tried! Do you know how much I wish someone tried that hard for me and Ren?" She planted her head against Jaune's sweaty covered chest, "I wish we had someone like you to keep us safe when we were alone… someone to make sure we never went hungry or cold for the night. I dreamed of someone who would try that hard for us."

"Why're you telling me this, Nora? We've basically just met". Jaune was grateful for her help, but it was still a valid question, why would someone he'd known for perhaps half a day reveal such private thoughts? Nora giggled and pulled back from the hug every so slightly.

"Silly Jaune, we're a team now. That makes us family!" His eyes bulged, they were what? That was insane! How could Nora expect him to believe that? His eyes rounded onto hers and his disbelief fell short. Her eyes were sincere, deathly sincere, she looked up at him with a dumb, happy smile, so… genuine in what she had said. How could someone who had been orphaned at such a young age be so… caring.

"You… You really believe that?" He asked, his mind felt like it was filled with cotton, her simple declaration had damn near destroyed his entire world-view. Even he, with his limited exposure to the ginger girl, realised just how Nora-like that feeling was. His hands absently began to pull the shorter girl back into the hug.

"You're really silly Jaune, I wouldn't 'ave said it unless it was true!" She let herself be pulled into the hug, her well built arms pulled him against her, in what he assumed could only be called a Nora-Hug. It felt good.

It felt safe, and wasn't that a concept Jaune had trouble understanding. But he didn't pull away, he just allowed himself to feel, to accept that yes, in Nora's strange way, she accepted him as part of a weird, confusing family. He briefly imagined this spunky, ginger haired terror in the shape of a human girl meeting his family, but when his mind tried to conjure the images, they failed to picture his blood relatives. He could recall blond hair, a lot of blond hair, but height, weight, faces? They slipped through his mind like sand through fingers. That should've concerned him, should've made him panic, but it didn't.

He was shocked at just how… unbothered he was about that revelation. Instead he just tightened his grip onto Nora, and pushed that disturbing thought to the far recesses of his mind. Where it would stay for… for however long it needed to.

He would not let his past ruin his future. Not now, when he was close to realising it! He chuckled softly and whispered into Nora's hair, "you're a force of nature, Nora." The force in question just giggled.

They stood in silence for a while, Nora's head pressed against Jaune, arms wrapped tightly around him, eventually Jaune realised that Nora began to let out small, quiet snores. He chuckled and pulled her in tighter, and made sure she wouldn't fall.

"Thank you Nora…"

He may not get much sleep on his first night at Beacon, but his mind had not felt as rested in a long, long time. And as he put Nora to bed, after she fell asleep on him. He looked over to see Ren, wide pale pink eyes that watched him. Jaune nodded at the fellow boy, Ren returned the motion and gave a sombre smile, before his eyes closed once more.

Jaune had barely known his new team for maybe half a day. But already…

They were closer to him than anyone had ever been in the past seven years.

What a weird team I found myself in. He walked to the bathroom, and chanced one last look at his sleeping teammates, a small smile forced its way onto his lips.

But they're my team, and I couldn't be more relieved.

---

He hadn't been able to return to sleep after his nightmare, instead he resolved himself to the couple of hours rest he had gotten, and decided to expunge any built up anxious energy, by going through his usual morning exercises. Even if he was in a safe environment compared to any other he had been in, that didn't mean he would lax on his conditioning. And a full lap around Beacon was the perfect way to build up a small sweat. It also helped him gather a layout of the land, he even spotted a few perfect spots to train with Crocea Mors.

It also let him prepare mentally for the culture shock being at a school would be, after so many years roughing it in the frontier wilderness. The idea of set schedules almost gave him whiplash, he had never lived with a schedule since he left. He would wake up when he needed to move on, gather food when he needed, fight and hunt Grimm when required. But he never scheduled these aspects. And now he was supposed to have a specified time, when he would be allowed to eat his main meal of the day? But that wasn't the most galling part of what awaited him in the coming days.

It was just how much free time he seemingly had! Yes the school schedule was packed and rather shocking to the survivor. But what really turned his head was the amount of nothing the rest of the day could be filled with after class. There was no need to hunt or forage for food, not when the cafeteria offered free nourishments. He no longer needed to set up a noise perimeter when he slept at night. Hell! He didn't have to worry about Grimm in general, unless one of the lessons involved them.

It was a lifestyle change so drastic, he nearly ran face first into one of Beacon's many lamp posts that lit the path, which slowly became clear with the rising sun.

His first day at Beacon awaited him.

His stomach grumbled.

But first, he'd try out this cafeteria for all its worth. He recalled they offered hot chocolate yesterday. He wondered what that tasted like.

He also recalled a certain scythe wielding best friend of his was really interested in it as well. He stretched his muscles as he returned to his dorm for another shower, and to see if anyone wanted to grab breakfast with him.

After all, the best way to bond was over a warm meal. At least, that was what he assumed.

---

Weiss Schnee was not a woman to accept less than perfection.

That was her life motto since she had been born, a Schnee accepted nothing less! She acted like the perfect woman, she dressed perfectly, she even trained as a Huntress perfectly.

So why was it that fate decided to kick her square in the ass when it came to her team?

A team that was so far away from perfect, they might as well have gone a full 360 degrees, and still somehow missed the perfect mark! It was asinine, infuriating, galling at just how imperfect her team was.

Yang was a slobbery girl, all breasts, no brain! On their first night, she had called her Ice-Queen no more than four times! Truly the girl thought herself a comedian, but the only joke was the fact she filled the stereotype of a dumb blond!

Blake was marginally better, she was quiet, a trait Weiss appreciated greatly. She kept to herself and pointedly ignored Yang's attempts of what she called puns, Weiss called them 1st degree murder on the English Language.

She was criticizing Yang again. The snow haired girl huffed and resumed her daily routine for brushing her perfect hair. She continued her musing. Blake was better than Yang, and in fact would have been a perfect partner, if not for one glaring issue.

The black haired girl despised the Schnee heiress! And she had no idea why. She had never personally wronged the girl, and she believed her family had never done so. She paused mid brush, at least she hoped her family had not. She would need to confirm that at a later date. However, the fact remained that Blake wanted nothing to do with her, which pushed her out of the perfect bracket quite easily.

A shame really… The contrasted colours of their hair and clothes would have made quite the impact.

And then there was her.

Weiss' brush pulled at a particularly rough knot in her hair, she hissed and very delicately untangled it.

Ruby Rose. The dolt, the screw-up, the child! What had the Headmaster been thinking when he assigned such… such an inexperienced girl as team leader!? In the short time she had known her, the small girl had blown her up, disturbed her rest, left her to die on a Nevermore, and to make matters worse! She had managed to convince the rest of the team to turn their communal bedroom into… into a health and safety travesty. Just the mere thought of that girl made her blood boil. She sighed and tried to relax her petite shoulders.

A knock on the bathroom made her jump.

"Weiss! Are you done! We need to use the showers!"

Speaking of the dolt, she stormed to the door and threw it open to reveal the red fringed girl, hands on her hips, cheeks puffed out in annoyance. "It takes time to look this perfect, something I am sure you know nothing about!" Ruby's mouth opened in shock, even a tiny squeak managed to slip out of the smaller girl's mouth.

"Hey! I know about brushing my hair! It just doesn't take me 30 hecking minutes to do it!" RWBY's team leader stomped her feet and glared, Weiss likened the expression to that of a petulant puppy, having been refused an extra snack straight after dinner. She was about to retort when the burly brute of team RWBY shoved her way past the pair of them.

"Out of the way, mamma Yang needs to wash her hair!" She didn't even acknowledge them as the blond slammed the door in her face. Weiss damn near had a conniption fit at the sheer gall the gorilla in woman skin had. Oh she would have words with the brute, she was certain! But first, she had a dolt of team leader to correct. But when she turned she found no bob haired girl. She was about to ask where she went, when Blake cut in for the first time this morning.

"She snuck in with Yang when you were too busy frothing at the mouth", sniped the bow wearing girl. Weiss opened her mouth to absolutely destroy the catty girl, but once more she was cut off. "Also, we have around five minutes to get to our first class".

"WHAT!?"

Blake shrugged as she dropped from her bed bunk, already dressed in her uniform and picked up a black book. Weiss barely caught the title.

I never would have guessed Blake was a fan of Ninjas.

"You were too busy perfecting your hair". The Schnee bristled.

"Don't you dare blame me for this!" The heiress then began to explain to the deluded girl whose fault it was exactly. Completely unaware that by arguing with Blake meant she was indeed the reason they would be late.

How could she have fallen so far, to have been stuck with the worst team at Beacon?

---

By the time team RWBY arrived at their first class, sweaty, annoyed and almost late. Weiss's opinion had not gotten any better, in fact it somehow got worse. The four of them just managed to push through the doorway of Professor Port's classroom, of course they fell over each other, because the dolt deigned to step in before her. But what should Weiss expect from someone like Ruby Rose?

Perhaps that was too harsh, she should at least try to let her team leader prove herself throughout the first day?

She nodded, determined to try and see the small Rose in a positive light, if only to prove to himself that her team could one day… perhaps become close to beginning to be perfect. Then the leader of team JNPR piped up from his seat.

"Hey Ruby, I saved a hot chocolate for you, I remembered you asked about them yesterday". Their team leader had shot over to the scruffy boy so fast, she nearly ran through her big sister to get there.

"Ohmigosh! Thank you! You're the best bestie ever!" The young teen plopped down next to Jaune, and giggled dumbly as she took a sip of the warm beverage in the paper cup. The girl nearly moaned as she snuggled into her seat, her entire weight leant against the blonde's much sturdier one.

"Ahem", everything went silent as the portly Professor Port cleared his throat, the bushy mouth man chuckled good-naturedly. "Now that everyone is here. Could the rest of team RWBY follow their leader's example, and take their seats?" Weiss' eye twitched as Ruby continued to lean heavily on Jaune, the teen himself either comfortable or unable to feel the small girl's weight, as he simply allowed her to rest against him. She stepped up to her seat, next to Blake and decided that she already had Ruby Rose fully understood.

Her team leader was an idiot, and fully not deserving of her respect.

Her eyes narrowed in on Jaune, as well as the other male in team JNPR.

Was that the best they could do when tying ties!? It was a disgrace in her mind! Both Jaune and Ren looked like they tried once, gave it up as a bad job, and haphazardly looped them around their necks.

Was she surrounded by slobs?

Beside her, Yang let out a loud yawn, uncaring of the Professor beginning his lecture.

Yes. Yes I am, she concluded.

---

Grimm studies wasn't exactly what Jaune envisioned it as, instead of a textbook or introductions, the rotund man had leapt into a dramatic retelling of an adventure during his youth.

Jaune listened in rapt attention as the Grimm Studies professor began to regale the class with daring deeds. The man had barely spoken more than a few words before Jaune realised what his rambunctious grandstanding meant. The elder male opened by describing an encounter with a Beowolf twice the size of an Ursa, and how he had to beat it with nothing but his wits, a pointy shoe and a packet of chewing gum. All whilst he defended a fair maiden from its clutches.

To everyone else, it sounded like nonsense, just utter garbage of a man way past his prime trying to impress his students. He could tell because not even a few minutes into the lesson, half the class had already begun to either lose interest, or straight up fall asleep. Hell, Nora had blatantly begun to snore, as she sat in between him and Ren, who at least looked like he was listening, Pyrrha sat at the end of their pew; she had started by taking notes, re-read what she wrote and promptly closed her journal.

Team RWBY weren't much better.

Yang had one hand holding up her head, elbow against the desktop, her eyes were open but no-one was home. Blake was openly reading a book that had nothing to do with Grimm.

Unless the ninjas in her book fight Grimm? Jaune wondered.

Weiss scribbled notes into her book furiously, she hadn't even re-read through what she had written, to realise it was nothing but Port's ludicrous story. She was going to get a hand cramp if she kept that up.

As for Ruby?

A quiet, cute snore came from his side.

The girl had decided he was a comfortable spot to sleep against. She had taken the offered beverage, drank it like a woman starved of water for days, thanked him profusely, and then promptly used him as a pillow. Weiss' glare could've cut glass.

But to Jaune? He could understand what the Professor was really telling them. The towering Beowolf? An Alpha with a specialisation in its sheer size, similar to the one he killed in the initiation. He doubted the Professor killed the Grimm with just a pointy shoe, but that wasn't the point, he was telling them he had no weapon, and only his sharp mind to use against his foe. That sometimes; a Huntsman or Huntress had to do their duty unarmed. And the fair maiden? He couldn't run away because he had to protect innocents, his duty as a Huntsman wouldn't let him leave a civilian to their fate.

"And once the beast had been felled, the maiden offered unto me a reward. But being the brave, humble Huntsman I was, I refused and ushered her to safety".

The woman had been killed by the Grimm, and Port wished he had saved her.

The Professor was retelling his own failures in a way to prevent his own students from committing the same mistakes he had. He was also preparing them for what they might have to deal with on their hunts, but leaving out the true, horrific reality that awaited them.

Jaune was impressed, but perhaps the Professor had hidden the truths a little too much. If the general reaction of the class was indifference or sleep. But Jaune had seen the meaning behind the grandiose speech, to be honest, it felt a little too close to many of his own experiences throughout the years. He started playing with his tie to calm the raging thoughts in his mind, all of them revolving about his own failures.

He needed to do something, stand up, go for a walk, anything besides just sit there! The Professor's retelling had really stirred up unhappy memories.

Damn it! Why did he have to listen to Pyrrha and put Crocea Mors in its locker before they left for breakfast this morning? Its presence would at least calm his building anxiety.

"Would anyone be willing to demonstrate their prowess against the forces of Grimm?" His hand shot up like a bullet, followed closely by Weiss, she glared at him.

What'd I do?

"Ah, so glad to see two eager students, but alas I must choose one!" The man peered at him and Weiss, he lingered a little longer on Jaune than the white haired girl, and something he saw must've convinced him. "Mr Arc! Please, if you wouldn't mind, could you change into your combat gear and join me at the front?"

Jaune stood, Ruby let out a panicked shriek as her impromptu pillow walked away, she just managed to avoid a head-on collision with the floor, by Jaune catching her and placing her back on her seat. Her face was bright red as she stammered out excuses, she poked her fore-fingers against each other. He smiled and headed out the class to gather his equipment. His ears caught the beginning of some intense teasing from Yang towards the poor girl.

---

He came back to the classroom a few minutes later, in the time he had been gone, the Professor had somehow managed to get a massive cage into the room, with a live Boarbatusk inside it.

What… how…

"Mr Arc, I did say to change into your combat gear, why are you still wearing your uniform?" Jaune looked over himself, he had rolled up the sleeve on his right arm of his school uniform, and undone the top two buttons, his tie was stuffed into his pocket. He really needed to learn how to tie that damn thing. Crocea Mors was attached to his hip however. Just where it should always be, a reliable presence no matter what he faced.

"Sorry sir, but my combat gear is totalled I'm afraid. And I don't have any other clothes but these". Most would find it embarrassing admitting in front of a whole class of teenagers, just how poor he was, Jaune just realised it was a fact of his life, and really not worth getting worked up about. He caught a few hushed gasps, mostly from his friends, Weiss looked practically scandalised, and Ruby had a sad frown on her lips. He waved at her and chuckled when she waved back dramatically.

"Ha! Guess they let charity cases in Beacon now!" Jeered a burly looking teen at the back of the class, the other boys around him laughed like the minions Jaune assumed they were. He didn't rise to the bait, what did he care if some teen called him a mean name.

He killed actual horrors. Some harsh teasing was practically a holiday.

Ruby seemed to think differently, she stood on her seat and whirled on the laughing boys.

"Leave him alone, you meanies!" Her hands were propped on her hips, Jaune imagined her cheeks were puffed out as well.

It was adorable, and very touching how far Ruby went for him.

What wasn't adorable was how the ringleader of the boys basically laughed in face, "Ha! And what're you gonna do about it, pipsqueak? Shouldn't you be in day-care?"

Oh! It was a beating they wanted, was it? Well, why didn't they just say so? He would happily oblige.

Jaune started to head towards the victims - bullies! But from how tightly Yang's fists were clenched, he imagined he'd be getting the scraps of what was left of them. Ruby herself didn't seem bothered by their insult, in fact she looked ready to really let them have it, perhaps even call them dummies!

Thankfully - for the bullies - cooler heads prevailed.

"Order! I will have order within my classroom!" Port's voice boomed across the lecture hall, instantly everyone shut up and In Ruby's case; sat down. "Whilst I do enjoy the enthusiasm of youth, I would prefer that be held until Miss Goodwitch's class!" He turned back to Jaune, who was collecting the faces of the four boys in his mind for later reference.

It would not be the first time he'd beat someone's ass for being a bully.

"Now, Mr Arc, due to your unique circumstances, I will allow you to continue in your current clothes." The portly Professor opened his scroll, "now, are you ready Mr Arc?"

Jaune didn't even draw Crocea Mors. "I'm ready sir." He stood, almost slouched, arms crossed, most would say he looked uncaring, unprepared for the Boarbatusk. Port recognised it for what it truly was.

A Huntsman fully aware of how little the threat their opponent posed to them.

Interesting, quite the conundrum you are Mr Arc, the Professor thought. But let us see how you fare in action.

The older man pressed a few buttons on his scroll and the cage swung open.

It was time for Jaune to prove his worth, to prove that he deserved to be here, with the rest of these hopeful Huntsmen and Huntresses. He had failed during initiation, he had been too weak to make his own way to the end. His weakness made the academy decide a Bullhead ride was required to keep him safe. An Alpha Beowolf would not stop a real Huntsman from finishing the job. That wasn't the results a hero strived for, that was what a coward accepted.

He would not be a coward. Never again. His blue eyes steeled his resolve as the Grimm stomped its hooves, and lowered its tusks aggressively.

The Boarbatusk was free. And it was angry.

And Jaune was ready.

---

Stupid, dumb, big meanies! Ruby fumed as she sat back down after defending her bestie. So what if Jaune didn't have any clothes? He was still the most awesomest best friend ever! He kicked butt and didn't even take any names!

He also looked really good with his sleeve rolled up and top buttons undone.

Red flooded her cheeks.

Bad Ruby, bad! Think happy thoughts, like cookies! Or hot Chocolate… Hot chocolate that Jaune got me… Oh no! Ruby had that fluttery feeling in her tummy again! The same one that appeared when Jaune gave her the warm, sugary drink. The fluttering turned into a tornado when she recalled how she had just used him as a pillow! Yang would never let her live it down. Even now, she could see Yang grinning like a big dumbo in her peripheral, stupid Yang! She'd definitely put blue dye in her shampoo now.

"Now, are you ready Mr Arc?"

Ruby shook her thoughts away as she focused up to watch the fight. Jaune didn't even have Crocea Mors drawn, his arms were crossed. That was her bestie, too cool for school!

Even she groaned internally at how bad that sounded.

"I'm ready sir!"

The cage opened.

The Boarbatusk let out a horrendous squeal and charged at Jaune, fully intent on skewering him with its razor sharp tusks. Ruby knew he could handle it, no problem. She jumped up to cheer.

"Go Jaune, you can do it-" She hadn't even finished her cheer. The Grimm had charged Jaune, the blond teen had swiped Crocea Mors, still in its sheath, bashed it against the Boar's snout mid-charge with such force the Grimm bounced into the air, it had a second to admire its new found gravitational advantage. Until her bestie stepped around it, and with one clean draw of his blade; split the monster in two. He then re-sheathed his blade, attached it to his waist, and crossed his arms again.

Ruby had started her chant, been unable to finish said chant, and Jaune had already killed the Grimm in what must've been less than 5 seconds. The mist from the dead Grimm hadn't even dissipated when Ruby sat back down in shock and awe. A feeling that was quite mutual amongst the first years.

No one spoke for a moment, Jaune looked distinctly uncomfortable with the silence, his arms fumbled with his school jacket sleeves. Thankfully, the Professor broke the stunned silence.

"Well… Um. Quite the good showing my lad! I dare say that was the swiftest I've seen a first year deal with a beast in such a… efficient fashion!" The large man patted her bestie on the back and laughed. "Why! That reminded me of a time in my youth…" The Professor began another story about his grand adventures, whilst Jaune stood next to him, shoulders hunched as if he wanted to be anywhere else besides front and centre of the class!

Ruby could relate to that feeling.

But also, oh-my-GOSH! He was like 'ha, nothing personal Grimm', and the Grimm was like 'huh!' then SWOOSH! Dead Grimm!

Once again, her bestie showed just how awesome he was.

Now, if she could get him to teach her that trick. Maybe she'd trade a cookie for it?

Everyone loved cookies!

Ruby pointedly ignored that tornado that had become a typhoon in her tummy. She must've needed another cookie or something.

---

Well… maybe I tried a little too hard, Jaune mused as he watched the lecture theatre go silent. He hadn't meant to kill the Boarbatusk so quickly, but instincts honed over years kicked in, and he moved before his mind could think. He'd actually wanted to impart a few tips he had learnt with dealing with the boar like Grimm. Instead he had given it a short flight and bisected it.

And everyone was looking at him. He spotted Ruby, stood on her chair, arms raised to cheer, her cheeks were aflame. She must've been embarrassed to be the only one who stood up.

She's even sitting down now, and look! Her entire face is red!

Port stepped up and clapped his shoulder, he praised his 'efficient' work and began another tale about his younger years. He appreciated the distraction, as he slipped from the hall to return Crocea Mors back to his locker. Personally, he'd rather keep it on him, but one quick read through on weapon policy at Beacon later, and it turned out carrying your weapon on school grounds when not in use for training or lessons was a major violation. Jaune could understand to be honest, a bunch of hormonal teenagers in a school allowed to carry deadly weapons with no restrictions?

It was like building a wooden village on well known Goliath trails.

A really bad idea! What were those villagers thinking? Of course the giant Grimm will use your homes as a footrest.

He turned the corner to his dorm and jumped to side to avoid bumping into Headmaster Ozpin.

"Ah! Sorry sir, I didn't see you there."

The silver haired man waved Jaune's concern away. "No harm done Mr. Arc, could I ask why you are not in class?" His brown eyes peered at Jaune, a shiver ran down his spine. It was the same feeling he got whenever a dangerous Grimm watched him.

"I'm just returning Crocea Mors back to my locker, sir. I was asked to demonstrate by Professor Port". The older man nodded, a small smile played on his lips.

"Ah, it seems Port managed to trap a Grimm after all…"

"He did sir, can I ask… how?" Ozpin's smile turned a bit mischievous.

"Very carefully I presume."

He's not wrong I guess, the blond agreed. He scratched his head, "well, I best get moving so I don't miss Professor Port's lecture," he skirted around the middle-aged man, "excuse me Headmaster."

"You said your blade was named… 'Crocea Mors', Mr. Arc?" Jaune froze mid step, away from Ozpin's vision, his left fist clenched.

"It is, sir." Ozpin didn't respond straight away, a tense silence settled onto Jaune's shoulders.

"It is just… I once knew another man who used a sword with a very similar name, Mr. Arc", the man's emphasis on 'similar' set alarm bells off in Jaune's mind. What was the Headmaster playing at? Did he know his father? Were they close? He couldn't let his family know where he was. Not yet! He cleared his throat to sound as natural as possible.

"M-must be a coincidence, I'm sure Huntsman sometimes have similar sounding weapon names…" Jaune hoped beyond hope the inquisitive man wouldn't push any further.

"Hmm… that is true… perhaps it was simply my imagination. Forgive an old man for his musings, Mr. Arc."

"Of course! H-happens to the best of us Mr. Ozpin, now, I really must hurry up to not get in trouble with the Professor." He rushed off, trying to make his strides as unhurried as possible.

"Very well Mr. Arc. I wish you well on this day. And I must add, I do expect impressive things from one with your… background."

What the hell does that mean!? Jaune panicked as he scanned his scroll into his room, deposited Crocea Mors and took a deep breath to calm his racing chest. The second he left Ozpin's presence, that overwhelming feeling of being sized up disappeared. He couldn't place why, but the headmaster of Beacon made him… uncomfortable for lack of a better word. It really did remind him of being hunted by a very dangerous Grimm.

Probably a normal reaction to having a one-to-one with the headmaster of the most prestigious Huntsman academy on Remnant. The teen reasoned to himself. He shook his head, there wasn't time to get worked up, he had a lesson to get back to. As he walked, his mind replayed the short conversation.

Does Ozpin know my dad? But my dad never said anything about knowing the Headmaster of Beacon… To be honest, he never spoke about anything to do with his career as a Huntsman.

Jaune shrugged, there was nothing he could do about it, hopefully Ozpin bought the excuse and his father wouldn't be coming to get him.

He was not ready for that meeting. Not at all.

---

Jaune returned to his seat mid-way through another of Port's experiences. Or was it the same one the man had started before he left? The blond couldn't tell.

What he could tell was the multitudes of eyes narrowed at him. He leant over to Ruby.

"Why is everyone staring at me?" He whispered, the diminutive girl looked around and leaned in.

"Are you kidding! With how you killed that Grimm?"

"What, did I do something wrong?" Ruby stared at him like he was stupid, and poked a pale finger into his chest.

"What? No! It was super mega cool, everyone's impressed".

Super mega cool? Jaune mouthed to himself, hang on he thought.

"Cool? I didn't do anything special". Ruby shook her head and muttered something about 'dumb boys'.

"Trust me, take it from a super duper mega awesome Huntress like myself. You were cool". Now it was Jaune's turn to stare at Ruby like she was stupid. To start, what the hell did Ruby just call herself, and second; the idea of anyone thinking Jaune was cool was… ludicrous in his mind. But as he glanced around the room, none of the eyes he met as they stared at him were filled with the usual scorn he expected. He sat back as Ruby poked his ribs as if to say 'I told you so'.

"I figured you'd have done much better than me". Silver eyes rolled playfully.

"Well duh! I did just say how mega super awesome I was, didn't I?" Jaune smirked.

"I think you missed out 'duper' there, Ruby". The girl just huffed, a cheeky smile filled out her pale cheeks.

"Ahem!" Both teens jumped in their seats and turned to Port, he grinned. "If the pair of you are done… flirting, perhaps I can continue with my lesson?" Ruby let out an 'eep', and Jaune sunk further into his seat. Both nodded, blushes overpowered their cheeks. The Professor chortled, "thank you, now… where was I. Ah yes, I had just used my shoestrings to garrotte a particularly nasty King Taijitu…"

Jaune glanced at Ruby, who had her face in her hands, legs kicking madly where they couldn't reach the floor from her seat. His eyes turned to the rest of team RWBY. Yang looked like Dustmas came early, she held her scroll underneath the desk, he assumed she had recorded everything for sisterly blackmail.

Poor Ruby… Even with his terrible memories of before his travels, even he knew how brutal sibling teasing could be, especially older sister teasing.

At least Yang's reaction proved better than Weiss'.

The crack in the desk where the petite girl had grasped it, really expressed just what she thought of the pair's lesson disturbance. Jaune was suddenly even more grateful for his team, Nora hadn't even woken up once!

---

Grimm studies ended a while later, students filed out of the lecture hall, Jaune paused at the doorway, Pyrrha turned. "Are you coming Jaune?" She asked, Ren and Nora at her side. Team RWBY had gone ahead, he hoped Weiss wasn't harsh on Ruby, she looked livid at their 'antics'.

"Go ahead, I just wanted to ask Professor Port something!"

Nora jumped in front of the tall redhead, "sure thing Fearless Leader! We shall save you a seat in history, or my name isn't Queen of Pancakes!"

"Your name isn't the Queen of Pancakes", Ren sighed. Nora gasped and pointed a finger at her closest friend.

"How dare you disagree with the Queen! Regent Cereal Girl, arrest this traitor!" Jaune laughed as the rest of his team bickered.

"Wait… am I Cereal Girl?" his partner bemoaned.

"Hush Cereal Girl, you're Queen is punishing Renny!"

"I'm already feeling pretty punished…"

Jaune didn't catch the rest as his team moved on to their next lesson. The Professor was collecting a few documents on his desk when he approached.

"Oh, Mr. Arc, how can I help?" The portly man gave his student his full attention.

"Yes, I was wondering if there were any books or stuff that had every Grimm species in it?"

"Ah! Trying to get a leg up on the competition are you? Learn what makes those nasty Grimm tick?" Jaune already figured he knew enough about the ticking of Grimm, but nodded anyway.

"Yes Professor. I'd like to compare what I've figured out to what professional Huntsmen have discovered." Port leant back onto his desk, the mahogany creaked slightly at his girth. His wise eyes softened at the student before him.

"You've had quite the experience with Grimm. Haven't you my lad?"

"Wha-"

"What I said was true. I had never seen a first year handle a Boarbatusk so effortlessly before, you've dealt with them before." The man stood up, went behind his desk and opened one of the drawers, "In fact, I would hazard a guess you've dealt with far more Grimm than most your age has". Port pulled out a black book from the desk drawer and presented it to Jaune.

"How…"

The Professor smiled, "you understood what my 'tall' tales were really telling, oh sure I may boast and brag a few pertinent details. But I can tell you saw through those". Jaune looked down at the book presented to him.

The Grim Bestiary: Unveiling the Creatures of Darkness

Co authored by Peter Port Rudimus Randolph

Jaune looked back up at Port, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Peter's smile turned sombre, "A dear friend of mine, lost to us I'm afraid."

"Oh, I'm sorry sir-" Port waved his arms.

"None of that Mr. Arc, it was many a year ago now. He and I wanted to help the next generation anyway we could." He tapped the book, "and this is what we agreed on; as many details as we could find about every type of Grimm encountered and logged. All in one journal!" Port passed the book gently into Jaune's hands. "I think Rud would be eternally grateful if this book went to someone like you, Jaune". The blond held the book against his chest, fully aware of the trust he had just been shown.

"But, you barely know me sir, why?" He had to know.

Peter winked mischievously, "consider it a future investment, that book is not complete yet, there's still much of the world we haven't explored, species of Grimm we probably haven't encountered. I'm hoping by the end of your tenure here, Mr. Arc, a third name could be added to the authors." Jaune sucked in a shaky breath and held the Professor's gaze.

"I-I won't let you down, Professor!" The man chuckled and patted the teen on the shoulder.

"Great! Then you can help with the publishing costs", he grinned to let Jaune know he was kidding. "I expect great things Mr. Arc, trust me, you have the markings of a true Huntsman about you".

It was all Jaune ever wanted to hear. It's a shame his father would never utter those words to him. But he would accept the Professor's belief in him. He tucked the book into the crook of his elbow. "Thank you sir, I mean that".

"I know you do, boy. Now, you best be off, Barty doesn't appreciate tardiness in his students!"

"Barty?-" Port waved to the door.

"Off, off with you now! Hurry along!" Jaune smiled and headed off to catch up to his team. He didn't know who this Barty was, but apparently he did not like late students.

He passed Weiss on his way to his next lesson, she did not look pleased, she glared at him as she crossed the corridor to Professor Port's classroom. Jaune stepped out of the way of the petite terror and watched her enter his lecture theatre.

What was that about? He wondered, he shrugged. Ultimately he decided it didn't involve him and carried onwards, at this rate he would be late, and that was something he'd rather not be on his first day.

It was a shame however, that he would be late in the end. As he stepped around the corner he found one Ruby Rose, sat against the wall, legs pulled up to her chest, and small sniffles coming from her.

Oh Ruby. What's happened…

---

Ruby was nervous as she left Professor Port's lecture, not only had she been caught not paying attention, but Port had even said she was flirting! Yang was going to be unbearable for the next… forever! She could already see the cookie-eating grin she had on her face. Ruby wanted to… do something painful to her big sister, like poke her really hard. That'd teach her! To make matters worse, it was with Jaune, her best friend, her bestie! Cool, talented, cute Jaune.

Cute!? Think of cookies Ruby, ignore the tummy flutters!

At least the tall teen had been as embarrassed as she was!

Her silver eyes caught sight of the boy who insulted Jaune in class and frowned, her bottom lip pushed out dramatically.

I don't like him. Maybe I should say he called me mean names to Yang… Ruby seriously considered it, she did! But… that wouldn't be true, and I don't want him hurt. Maybe I should tell a teacher, if he keeps being a bully? She nodded, that was the plan, it was a good plan! She hoped Jaune was okay at least, that the bully's harsh words hadn't hurt his feelings.

Speaking of hurt feelings, Weiss looks ready to hurt mine. The small huntress had no idea why or what she did to gain Weiss' wrath, but from how the white haired girl pulled her aside in the corridor, it looked like she would find out.

Yang spun towards them.

"It's okay Yang, we'll catch up! Weiss just wants to talk." Her sister looked unsure about whether they would talk or shout, but trusted her enough to move on.

"Okay Rubes, me and Blake will go on ahead and save the good seats!" She turned to the black haired member of RWBY, "c'mon Blake! We can tell each other puns as we walk!"

"I don't tell puns", replied the yellow-eyed girl, expression already sour at the 'puns' Yang would inevitably inflict upon her.

The blond girl laughed, and wrapped an arm around her partner's shoulder. "Don't be like that Blakey! Hey, did I ever tell you about the teacher with a lazy eye?"

"Yang…" Blake warned.

"He couldn't control his pupils!"

Blake sighed… she sighed deeply, and painfully.

Ruby watched them depart, for a moment she felt sorry for Blake, but realised she had been the victim to countless Yang 'puns and jokes', so it was actually pretty nice to not be on the receiving end for once. But as she turned back to Weiss, the girl's face scowling up a wintery storm, Ruby wondered if hearing a few more puns was such a bad thing.

"Weiss… what's up?" From how Weiss' scowl deepened and her eyes attempted to skewer the caped girl, Ruby realised that was the wrong thing to say.

"'What's up? What's up!?' That's the best thing you can say after embarrassing yourself in professor Port's lesson? After embarrassing team RWBY!? Do you have any idea how… how… immature and brainless you acted in front of everyone? How you demonstrated just how unfit you are to lead?..." Ruby felt worse and worse as Weiss continued to lay into the small reaper, each insult like a bullet against her aura. Her head lowered as her leadership of the team was called into question.

This is not how I thought my first day at Beacon would go…

Later

"And that's basically it", Ruby finished retelling what happened to Jaune, "she said I was too immature to be the team leader, that I had done nothing but be a 'ignorant dolt' since we met". Jaune had sat down next to the dejected girl and simply listened to her rant, it was certainly not surprising to him Weiss had snapped at Ruby, but he was shocked at just how brutal the girl had been. Ruby had been nothing but kind in his eyes, and Weiss had stomped all over the pint-sized reaper.

"Did you try and explain your point of view?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah. But Weiss ignored me and said she was going to try and change RWBY's leader." Her head fell back into her knees, held against her chest. She spoke through a muffled voice. "Jaune, do… Do you think I'm 'unfit' to be a leader?"

Jaune leant back against the wall and fiddled with his tie, still in his pocket. "Well… have you had any experience being a leader before?" She shook her head.

"No…"

"Then do you think I'm 'unfit' to be a leader?"

Ruby's head shot up, "what!? No, you're an awesome leader, you took on that Deathstalker and Alpha Beowolf during initiation!" Jaune smiled at the compliment, but his eyes narrowed.

"Killing some Grimm by myself doesn't make me a good leader, Ruby. Believe it or not, I've never led a team either." Silver eyes bulged in shock.

"But… During the initiation, you told us to run. You set the trap. You had your team hold off the Beowolfs!" Ruby couldn't believe Jaune thought himself a bad leader.

"Ruby… I just shouted until everyone heard me. I didn't wait for other plans, I just did what I always did, and acted in what I thought was best."

"But, what about when we split our teams up?" Jaune chuckled.

"Ruby, that was you who split us up! That was your leadership that made sure we had the best teams for each job. You came up with the plan to deal with the Nevermore." He nudged her shoulder, "you think I would've thought of launching myself at a giant death bird, and cut it in half? That's got 'Ruby Rose' written all over it!" Ruby giggled, her sniffles lessened as she nudged him back.

"You really think I was a good leader during initiation?" He nodded.

"I do Ruby, I really do. To be honest, we're both inexperienced with leading. Of course we're going to get it wrong from time to time." He shrugged, "I figured that's why we were made leaders in the first place, so we can learn to be better ones…" The red fringed girl titled her head in consideration, Jaune did have a point, they were in a school to be better Huntsmen and Huntress', maybe that includes being better leaders?

"I couldn't have put it more succinctly, Mr. Arc". Both teens jumped to their feet, faces flushed at being caught out of class by the Headmaster. They both tried to explain, but the headmaster held his hand up. "Don't worry, neither of you are in trouble, I was merely on my rounds and couldn't help but overhear your plight, Miss. Rose". Ozpin gestured to Jaune, "Mr. Arc has the right idea, I did not make you both leaders of your respective teams because you were already good leaders." Ruby shuffled her feet and lowered her head, hurt at having the headmaster admit she was a bad leader.

"I picked both of you as leaders because of your potential to become great leaders…" Her head shot up and she let out a confused sound, Jaune also wore a confused expression. "Perhaps Miss. Schnee would make a better leader initially, she appears to have all the qualities of a natural leader… However, I truly believe that through perseverance and clear discourse, team RWBY, not just you Miss. Rose, could become something special if led by your hand." Ruby blushed and hung her head, as Jaune playfully nudged her once more. Ozpin smiled, "you are here to learn and grow, both of you. Not only as a Huntsman and Huntress, but as people!" The headmaster took a few moments to stare into each student's eyes. "And that is why I believe you are both exactly where you need to be".

Silence descended as Jaune and Ruby considered the Headmaster's words.

"However, if you truly believe you are not ready Miss. Rose, I can make changes-" Ruby waved her arms frantically.

"No, no! I wanna try, I promise I'll be a great leader!" Ruby paused as she reaslised who she just interrupted. "Sorry…" she mumbled. The silver haired man chuckled.

"Apology unneeded Miss. Rose, I understand the enthusiasm of youth. I am grateful you have decided to keep trying, I am rooting for you." He turned his view to Jaune, "and you, Mr. Arc, are you happy where you currently are?"

"As the leader of my team?"

"I am merely following up on your own belief you might not be a good team leader, far be it from me If I didn't present the same opportunity for change I just gave Miss. Rose". Jaune considered Ozpin's words, did he think he could lead a team? He had been by himself for so long now, the idea of being in charge of another 3 lives was a daunting task, it hadn't really sunk in until now. He was responsible for more than himself now. Could he lead them?

Did he have the right to lead them? After all of his failures… All of his sacrifices.

"I…"

"I believe in you Jaune!" His head snapped at Ruby, who just moments before seemed so defeated. Now? She had a fire behind those silver eyes, not only a fire to be the best leader she could be. But also in the belief that Jaune could also be the best leader he could be. "You helped me! You made me believe I could actually do it." She pouted and poked the tall teen in the chest, "so you can't not take your own advice, or I'll be angry with you!" Jaune couldn't help it, he laughed at the sheer level of cuteness Ruby displayed, which grew even more cute, as her cheeks puffed out at being laughed at. Jaune raised his arms.

"I'm not laughing at you Ruby. I'm just… grateful I have you as a best friend." Ruby's determined expression morphed into an embarrassed one. She swayed back and forth, eyes unwilling to meet his gaze.

"Well… good! You better be the bestest leader ever, if you want to keep up with me!" Arms wrapped around the diminutive reaper, she squeaked, blushed and gargled nonsense words as Jaune hugged her warmly.

"I'll guess I'll have to try extra hard to keep up with you, Ruby, won't I?"

---

"I'll guess I'll have to try extra hard to keep up with you, Ruby, won't I?"

Ruby froze in his grasp, his very warm and safe grasp. She totally didn't blush and squeak, no siree! did not crash! She just had a totally normal reaction to a cute, handsome boy she totally didn't have a crush on, hugging her.

Totally expected, and normal, she wouldn't lie.

She very much did not turn into his hug and wrap her own arms around his waist, nope! Did not happen.

She did not let out a soft sigh as she rested her head against Jaune's well built chest. You can't prove it!

She did however, completely forget that the Headmaster of Beacon Academy was still there!

"Ahem!" The pair jumped away, as if scorched by fire. "I admire the camaraderie, but there is a lesson you must get to, is there not?"

The Headmaster did not have a cookie-eating grin on his face as he strolled by. Definitely not.

Ruby looked over at Jaune when the Headmaster turned a corner down the corridor. Jaune looked back at her.

Both had red faces, both had shy smiles, both had the same thought.

Cute.

---

Later, after classes had finished and most had returned to their dorms. Weiss had just gotten back after some much needed introspection. When she spotted Ruby Rose, her team leader snoozing away over her desk, the heiress had not verbally eviscerated the sleeping teen.

Instead she had stepped over to Ruby to wake her, and perhaps have a much needed discourse about leadership going forward.

That's when she spotted the study book, and the frankly ludicrous amount of notes the little reaper had written. So, the Schnee smiled slightly and pulled a blanket over the resting teen. Then she turned to her bed and began to get ready for the night.

Perhaps I did underestimate her… Weiss paused as she grabbed her essentials and headed to the bathroom.

No. Perhaps I simply was too stubborn to admit I was wrong.

Mayhaps Ruby Rose would be the team leader RWBY needed.

And Weiss Schnee would be right next to her partner; to support her whenever she needed it.

---

14262 (278 words less than last chapter)

Bloody hell! This was meant to be TWO chapters, but I realised I didn't like where I originally cut it, so… sod it, here's another MASSIVE chapter that could be considered the length of a short story! Do not expect chapters near the 15k mark from now on, probably expect around the 10k mark going forward. Also, I realise that this story has been pretty slow going, however, the next chapter features a bit of a timeskip to see how Jaune is settling into Beacon, perhaps there shall even be a combat class!? Who knows!

As well as that, I reckon the major alterations to RWBY's original cannon will begin to show much more opening with the next chapter. So stay tuned!

Once more, thank you to everyone who has read, followed, favourited, reviewed and voted in my poll. Ta muchly you beautiful champions!

By the way, as for Poll results, whilst I won't reveal the winner (it should be pretty obvious tbf). It wasn't even close, 38% to the winner, followed up with 19% with the runner-up. Third was tied with two at 15% and the lonliest of them all in last place had 11%. But what could the order have been!?

With that done, as always;

Please feel free to let me know what you think.

Also, if anyone is interested in being a Beta reader for this story, I would be most grateful if you sent me a PM. Someone actually did PM me, but I accidentally deleted it. If you're reading this, feel free to hit me up again!

Kind regards and have a wonderful day.

From Gavin Tyson.