SO! I uh know it's been a while (5 years yikes) but I am back! Shortly after I posted this chapter I lost the notebook I kept everything in, then my hard drive got corrupted, and then college started to kick my ass. In short life grabbed me by the balls and drug me through the streets. BUT! I have found my inspiration again! I've got all my little notes and this whole story is planned out! I've gone ahead and revised some details in this chapter and added a new part to the beginning. I've also posted a second chapter and am currently working on the third! Anyway, on with the show!
Hey all, welcome to my first story! Yay! A few things before we get into it. For the sake of the story, I had the Great War end about 300 years prior to the begging of the show just because it makes my life easier. Also, this story is a semi-crossover with Final Fantasy XV. I say semi-crossover because it has three or four characters from the game as well as a few story elements. The pairing is undecided though I am leaning towards Lancaster for this. Anyway, enough of me. Let's start this show!
"Talking"
'Thought'
Scroll Call
'Memory/Flashback'
The Blood of Kings Chapter One
[Throne Room Antechamber, Vale, 4 years After Color War (4 ACW)]
"Your majesty, are you sure this is what is best for the Kingdom?" asked a tall thin man with blonde hair and flowing green robes to another man with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore what appeared to be some form of ornate silver armor lined with gold highlights. The two men stood in an ornate, if simple, antechamber of the Valean King's Palace.
"Please, Regulus, you should know by now to call me Ozmuim," said the second man. "Besides, we have had this same discussion countless times. As far as I can tell, monarchy has no place in this modern age of peace between nations. If we are to foster it, let it grow the way it should, then it is far past time I set aside my crown."
"As you wish your highness," Regulus said with a bow. Standing up straight and moving to the door separating the main throne room and the antechamber he spoke again.
"Are you sure that this will work? What will you do once this is all said and done?"
Ozmium let out a humored chuckle, "I am very certain old friend. Even in the event that this doesn't, that the peace we fought so hard for starts to crumble, I will leave a way for my descendants to lead our people to the other side. The journey will be difficult but not impossible, and each step will have its own reward."
Regulus' eyes widened in understanding, "The Armaments? You would give up your greatest weapons so quickly?"
"That is correct. I have no use for them now, and I pray that we won't again, but in the event that their power is needed, they will be there."
Ozmium walked forward, placed his hand on Regulus' shoulder, and chuckled, "As for your other question, once the dust has settled from my abdication, perhaps I'll pick up teaching."
[Downtown Vale, Night, Present Day]
A hooded figure walked through the dark and rainy streets of Vale. He was wearing a dark black hoodie with blue jeans and sneakers, looking like a completely ordinary teenager aside from the sword strapped to his waist. As he walked, the figure passed by a store with numerous televisions all playing the same station. He paused for a moment, dull cerulean-blue eyes looking at the news cast in an attempt to take his mind off the events of the previous weeks.
A well-dressed woman with lavender colored hair turned towards the camera and spoke, "In other news, yet another Vale councilman has been outed for corrupt and fraudulent practices causing even more citizens to rally for a return to the Valean monarchy. A recent poll shows that approximately 63% of the populace wish for the old government to return. According to legend, one day a descendant of the Warrior King Ozmium would return to reclaim the throne and bring Vale to a new golden age. No one knows for sure how to identify the coming king, but it is said that he will have the mark of his family's house and be able to produce the four royal arma-."
Jaune heaved another sighed before continuing his nightly walk through the busy streets. The night was the only time that he was able to get to himself anymore, the rest of it was spent being team CRDL's errand boy.
'Hmph,' he laughed to himself, 'Not like I've much else to do anyway.'
It had been about two weeks since he revealed the truth behind his transcripts to Pyrrha. He could still remember what happened like it was yesterday.
[Beacon Rooftops, Night, Two Weeks Earlier]
Turning away from his partner, Jaune raised his voice, "I'm a fraud Pyrrha! I lied! I didn't go to any school; I didn't pass any tests! I got my hands on some fake transcripts and I lied." When he looked back at his partner, he could see the shock on her face slowly change to anger. "You did what?" She said it quietly, near a whisper, but that didn't change the fact that it hit like a truck. "I-I trusted you. Your team trusted you! I get not being the best, lagging behind your peers, but this? Jaune your lack of training could've gotten yourself killed! And for what!? To fulfill your own ego?!" Her voice got progressively louder with each statement.
"What? No, Pyr that's not-!"
"No! Don't…don't call me that." She heaved a frustrated sigh before looking at him with pity, "Look Jaune, you've lied to us. All of us, and it's time you take responsibility. Right now, you aren't even fit to be in a prep academy, let alone lead a team at Beacon. Maybe with a few years of training at home you could be a passable Huntsman but you aren't there right now and I can't risk the lives of our friends because you want to fulfill some childhood fantasy. You had better tell the rest of the team. If you don't, then I'll do it for you." With that she stormed off, red hair swaying angrily behind her. A few moments went by before he heard someone climb onto the roof behind him and speak. "Well, well, Jauney-boy, who knew a punk like you could do something like this." Jaune whipped around and narrowed his eyes. "What do you want Cardin?"
"Can't a guy just come and hang out with his friends?"
"Friends? I highly doubt we qualify as that."
"Oh yeah. We're friends all right. After all, friends keep each other's secrets, don't they?" Cardin asked. Jaune's eyes widened in fear. "Don't worry Jauney-boy as long as you stick with me Goodwitch won't hear a thing. Oh, and before I forget, I need you to do that paper Oobleck gave us in class. Your old pal Cardin has got more important things to do."
After that things just continued to go downhill. When Jaune returned to his dorm he told the rest of his team about his transcripts. Nora thought he was joking at first but after a few moments of silence, she realized that what he said was true and her eyes lost a little bit of their usual light. Ren, on the other hand, was visibly angry at his team leader's lie as his inexperience could have gotten himself but, more importantly, Nora hurt or killed and, though he did not become loud or brash, berated Jaune for betraying their trust and asked him to leave.
The next two weeks were filled with doing anything that team CRDL wanted from him, dodging his team members, sneaking into his dorm room for clothes and other amenities, and sleeping on the roof or empty classrooms which led him to where he was now; walking the streets of Vale, in the rain, at night. For what seemed like the millionth time that night he heaved a heavy sigh and drew his hood further over his head.
'I should probably head back; we've got the Forever Fall trip tomorrow.'
After boarding the airship and fighting off his motion sickness he once again made his way to an abandoned classroom to sleep in.
[Forever Fall Forest, Afternoon the Next Day]
As the group of Beacon students walked through the falling red leaves of the Forever Fall forest Professor Goodwitch spoke. "Yes students, the Forever Fall forest is as beautiful as it is deadly. Now, Professor Peach has asked each of you to gather a single jar of sap from the trees and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so. Stay close and return to this spot by four o'clock. You are dismissed." Jaune shot a longing glance at his team only to receive a small glare from Pyrrha. He sighed and shook his head and proceeded to follow the rest team CRDL to their spot in the forest. After collecting the sap for himself and his new…friends…Jaune collapsed onto the ground. "Ugh, I think I'm allergic to this stuff," he said with a sniffle. Cardin looked at him with disinterest and spoke, "That's great Jauney-boy. Now you may be asking yourself, 'Why did my old pal Cardin ask me to get six jars of sap when there are only five of us,'?"
"That is one of the many questions that I have asked myself today, yes."
"Well, allow me to show you."
They climbed a small hill overlooking a section of the forest as Cardin pulled a small cardboard box that made a weird buzzing noise from somewhere and started speaking.
"Thanks to our buddy here, we have an entire box full of rapier wasps and, according to the essay that you wrote for me the other day, rapier wasps are extremely attracted to sweet smells. Now, Jaune," Cardin handed him the sixth jar of red sap that he collected, "I need you to throw this at that redheaded partner of yours."
It took Jaune a moment to register what Cardin had just said but when he did his eyes widened in shock.
"What!?"
"You heard me. Throw it."
Jaune gulped and slowly stood up, preparing to throw the jar. He closed his eyes, thinking of everything that led him to this moment and realized that no matter what he'd done or how distant he was from them, team JNPR was still his team. His friends. After taking a deep breath he lowered his arm and made possibly the dumbest decision up until that point.
"No"
"Excuse me? You wanna repeat that Jauney-boy."
"You heard me, I said, NO!" Jaune threw the jar of sap at Cardin and it exploded all over his chest plate. He looked down at the sap slowly spreading over his armor and shook his head, chuckling darkly before looking back up at the blond knight. When he spoke all traces of humor were gone from his voice, "You really shouldn't have done that." Dove and Sky grabbed him as his ginger-haired tormentor started to pummel Jaune when the boy smiled contently and spoke, "I don't care what you do to me," his smile changed into an unrestrained look of fury and he glared at Cardin, "but you are NOT messing with my team." The larger of the two looked shocked for a moment before his rage returned.
"You think you're some kinda big shot now, huh!? Well, let me show you what you really are!"
As Cardin swung his fist a bright white light enveloped the blonde-haired boy. "GAHH!" Cardin yelled as he dropped Jaune and gripped his fist tightly. "Why you little-!" The boy was interrupted by the loud roar of a large Grimm that had just lumbered into the clearing. It was massive, easily twice the size of Jaune, who was six foot one, and had large bone spikes protruding from its back as well as heavy bone plating on its face, arms, and legs. It lifted its head, sniffed the air, and smelling the tree sap, looked directly at Cardin and began to lumber towards him.
"That's a big Ursa!"
The rest of team CRDL began to heroically run away while Cardin was slowly shuffling back from the Ursa Major. As Russel, Dove, and Sky were making their way through the forest they ran into NPR and RWBY. When Yang grabbed one of them and asked what was happening the frightened student yelled Ursa over and over. Pyrrha gasped and dropped her jar of sap. "Jaune!" She may have been angry with him but that didn't mean she wished for him to die. "Nora, Ren. You go get Professor Goodwitch! I'm going after Jaune."
"Blake, Yang. Go with them!" Ruby said, "Weiss and I will go with Pyrrha."
Meanwhile back at the clearing as the Ursa Major was about to swipe his paw down onto Cardin who had his eyes closed he heard a loud metallic clang. When he opened his eyes, the ginger haired student saw Jaune standing over him blocking the Ursa's paw with his shield.
"GRAAAH!"
The boy let out a loud war cry as he dodged to the side. He rushed in with his shield up only to get smacked back down by the large Grimm's paw. At this point, Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha arrived and saw what was happening. The red and white duo were about to rush in when Pyrrha stopped them.
"Wait, I want to see what he'll do."
The red and white duo looked at each other for a moment before Ruby turned back to the champion and nodded. As the three of them watched, Jaune glanced down at his scroll and noticed that his Aura was almost in the red.
'This is it. One last do-or-die attack.'
He closed his eyes and remembered back to a few moments ago when that white light enveloped his body and attempted to do the same thing again but push it into his sword. As he did this, he felt a tingling sensation in his arms. When the blond knight opened his eyes, he saw that he was successful, and his sword was now coated in a brilliant white light that seemed to swirl like flames.
'Alright, time to finish this.'
With a mighty yell, he rushed forward and swung his sword at the beast, but the attack fell just short.
'Gah! Come on, just a little farther!'
As if responding to his mental command the bright light swung off his sword in a large Aura slash bisecting the Grimm from shoulder to waist.
'Wow, I can't believe that actually worked.' As he stumbled his way forward, Cardin looked at him in surprise.
"Holy crap, Jaune!"
The blonde-knight caught his balance and turned toward his bully. Jaune grabbed him by the chest plate and yanked him off the ground. With their faces inches apart, he spoke, "Don't ever mess with my team – my friends – EVER again," Jaune looked him dead in the eye, "Got it?"
"Ye-yeah, I got it."
"Good." As Jaune stumbled away he heard Cardin speak once more. "Jaune, wait!" The boy turned to look at him.
"I just wanted to tell you that your secret is safe with me." Cardin must've seen his confused look because he clarified. "No one else knows about your transcripts. I only told my team that I had dirt on you and nothing else. I won't tell anyone; you don't have to worry."
Jaune breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "That's good," before collapsing to his knees.
A voice cried out, "Mr. Arc! Are you alright?"
"Ah, hey Ms. Goodwitch. Just…a little…tired." He promptly passed out onto the ground. The stern professor exhaled loudly before levitating him with her semblance.
She glared slightly at Cardin before speaking. "We will discuss this once we return to Beacon and Mr. Arc wakes up."
"Yes, Ms. Goodwitch."
At the edge of the clearing, still hidden between the trees Weiss looked at Pyrrha with a questioning gaze. "What did Cardin mean about Arc's transcripts?"
Pyrrha looked uncertain before swallowing and steeling her gaze. She knew what she had to do. No one except the Professor noticed the small symbol glowing faintly on the inside of his left wrist.
A bright white ceiling is what met Jaune when he awoke. He looked around and saw that he was lying on a bed in one of the rooms at Beacon's infirmary. He'd been in one plenty of times after combat class to know. To his right was a small desk with a chair, his armor and shoes on top. Just past that, a door led to a bathroom, and directly in front of him was a small television hanging on the wall. "Man did anyone catch the number of the bullhead that hit me."
"Good to see you're finally awake Mr. Arc."
"Huh?" Turning to his left he saw the school nurse Kitsune and gulped. He knew about her more…interesting…tendencies. She was a fox Faunus with brown ears and a large bushy tail and wore a white coat over a shirt and skirt trimmed in red with a small brown pouch slung across her body. In her hands was a small brown clipboard with some papers on it, likely his medical data and report.
"Hi, Ms. Tsune. What happened?"
"Well, according to Professor Goodwitch, after a fight with an Ursa Major you collapsed. Apparently, you completely exhausted your Aura reserves and you've been out for about two hours. Other than that, you're completely fine." She looked down and grumbled under her breath "unfortunately."
"Um, w-what was that last bit?"
"Hm, what are you talking about? I didn't say anything."
"But you just-!"
"Oh boy, now he's hearing things. Perhaps you should stay a little longer, just to be safe."
The blonde knight gulped at that. "Y-you know what, on second I-I don't think I heard anything at all." He chuckled nervously as he got up out of the bed and began to put on his shoes and armor.
The nurse eyed him suspiciously, "Mhmm. Anyway, before I forget, Professor Goodwitch wanted you to go to her office when you woke up."
"I'll be sure to do that. Thanks again."
As he made his way down the corridor to the professor's office, he looked down at his hands and thought back to his fight with the Ursa. 'What was that light? I know it was my Aura, but I've never even come remotely close to doing something like that before. My Semblance maybe?'
He shook his head and huffed as he walked. 'I'll just have to experiment with it later.'
Finally nearing his destination, he saw both the Professor and Cardin standing just outside the door.
"There you are, Mr. Arc. I was just about to see if you had woken up. Now, come along, we have a meeting with the Headmaster."
Jaune blinked in confusion before nodding his head and falling in line. When it came to Professor Goodwitch it was always better to shut up and ask questions later. As they began heading towards Ozpin's tower, Jaune started getting nervous.
'T-the headmaster?! Oh man, I hope I'm not in serious trouble. Did Cardin tell them about my transcripts!?'
Almost as if sensing the boy's distress, Glynda continued speaking, "The both of you are not in any danger of punishment. However," she looked at them both severely, her gaze lingering on Cardin for a moment longer than Jaune, "that may change depending on what you tell the Headmaster. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am"
"Yes Ms. Goodwitch."
The rest of the journey to the Headmaster's office was made in silence. When they finally arrived at the elevator, Glynda pressed a small button underneath the intercom.
"Yes?"
"Headmaster Ozpin, I have Jaune Arc and Cardin Winchester, here to see you."
"Ah, good. Come right up."
The elevator doors dinged open, and Professor Goodwitch nodded both boys inside. The space was large enough to accommodate around eight people comfortably. There were handrails at about waist height around the perimeter with glass mirrors being above the rails and a reflective gray metal underneath and on the door was the symbol of Vale emblazoned in green. There was soft elevator music playing in the background.
When the doors finally opened again Jaune was pretty sure that he would die of an anxiety attack. Walking in he looked around the room. It was decorated to look like the inside of a clock tower with actual gears and machinery just above their heads. Other than that, however, the room was incredibly sparse, with only a desk and chair directly in front of them and a small bookshelf to their right. The headmaster was standing behind the desk with a mug of coffee in one hand and his cane in the other.
"Good to see that you've finally joined the land of the living Mister Arc." Professor Ozpin said with a small smile. He was a tall man, around six foot six, with brown eyes hidden behind small round glasses and slightly disheveled silver hair. He was wearing a green vest covered by a dark green coat with black pants and wearing a green scarf to finish the ensemble.
"It's, uh, good to be here?"
The headmaster chuckled and waved his hands to the chairs in front of the desk. "Please, if you'll both have a seat, we can begin."
Jaune swallowed slightly and looked over to Professor Goodwitch who nodded her head slightly, before sitting down.
"Now, if you can, please tell me exactly what occurred today in the Forever Fall Forest."
Cardin looked at Jaune and swallowed before looking back at the man, "Professor Ozpin, sir, I just wanted to say that this was-!"
"A complete and total accident."
The three other occupants in the room looked at Jaune. Cardin with alarm and confusion, Ozpin with curiosity, and Glynda with skepticism. The boy gulped slightly under their gazes. "Was it now? Do explain Mister Arc."
'Oh man, why am I even defending this jerk.' He then remembered something that his grandfather once spoke to him.
'Boy, I want you to promise me that no matter what, no matter how horrible you are treated or how bad things get, you will never respond in kind. It is never befitting of a man, especially an Arc, to respond to anger with anger, hatred with hatred. It only breeds a cycle of needles violence. Do you understand?'
Jaune steeled himself at the memory and nodded. "W-well, you see, I was helping team CRDL out with gathering their sap when I found that I was allergic to it. And w-while we were walking around I-I tripped over a root after I sneezed, a-and the jar exploded onto Cardin attracting the Ursa. I sent the other three members of Cardin's team to go get Miss Goodwitch and, w-well, you know the rest."
After his explanation Miss Goodwitch opened her mouth to say something but the Headmaster spoke before she could.
"Is that so?"
He paused in thought for a few agonizing moments. Jaune was sure that Professor Goodwitch had caught his blatant lie, but he was surprised to hear the Headmaster continue,
"Hmm, in light of that I suppose I should let you off with a warning. Oh, and please be more mindful of your surroundings, Mister Arc."
With that he dismissed the two boys, waiting for them to disappear behind the elevator doors before turning to look at his Deputy.
"Anything you wish to add Glynda?"
"You and I both know that what Mister Arc said more than likely didn't happen."
"And I am inclined to believe you. However, judging by the shock on Mister Winchester's face, it seems that this was not something he planned."
She nodded and pulled the glasses off her face to rub her forehead. Sitting down the normally stern woman looked at her colleague and friend with a pensive expression. Ozpin, noticing the change in her demeanor leaned forward with a curious expression on his face.
"Was there something else?"
Glynda looked him in the eyes and spoke. "Ozpin, he has the mark."
The man's eyes widened a fraction before he spoke once more, all manner of amusement gone from his tone.
"Explain."
So, she did, starting from when she walked into the clearing where she saw Jaune collapse and finishing when the mark faded from his arm after putting him in the bullhead.
The man frowned and spoke. "I do believe that it is time for Mister Arc to be told of his destiny."
Glynda's eyes widened, "Headmaster, he's not ready! If you send him now, he may die before ever getting the chance to fulfill his calling."
"Glynda, you and I both know that it's been delayed for too long at this point. If the mark is manifesting on its own, then he must learn what it means before others come to take what is rightfully his. And besides, he won't be going alone."
The woman closed her eyes realizing what he meant. "You're calling them in then?'
"Yes, they should be here within the next two days. It's time for the Crownsguard to fulfill their commitment."
The elevator ride down was done with an uncomfortable silence between the two teens.
Cardin glanced over at Jaune and spoke, "Why? Why did you lie for me?"
The boy in question shrugged his shoulders in a non-committal way.
"Honestly, I don't know. It was more on impulse than anything. Something my grandfather told me once when I was a kid. Don't respond to anger and hatred in kind, it only breeds useless violence."
Cardin hummed to himself, unsure whether to say anything more, but he steeled himself and pushed forward.
"Well…thanks. You showed me that the people that I thought were my friends were only there out of fear. So…thank you."
Unused to this side of his, seemingly, old bully, Jaune just said the first things that came to mind. "You're a pretty good huntsman-in-training, but you could be better if you were to just stop and pull your head out of your ass and focus on what's important."
The armored boy looked angry for a moment making Jaune tense before he took a deep breath.
"Yeah, you might be right." Cardin paused for a moment and continued, "You know, you're not a bad guy Arc."
Unsure what to do, Jaune took the compliment for what it was, "U-uh, t-thanks."
At that the doors dinged open once more and the two went their separate ways. It wasn't until Jaune sat on his bed that he noticed the stares of his teammates.
"Oh, um, I-I'm sorry. I just need to grab some of my things, and I'll be out of your way."
Just as he was about to walk out of the door, his partner spoke up.
"I just wanted to let you know. I told them."
"What?"
"Team RWBY. I told them about your transcripts. We saw what happened with you and Cardin, and they asked what he meant about your transcripts, and I couldn't lie to my friends."
She didn't say it, but he heard what she meant, 'unlike you'.
'Oh man, there is no way this could get any worse.'
He spoke too soon.
"So, we decided to tell the headmaster. We have an appointment with him tomorrow."
"O-oh. W-well, I g-guess I'll see you tomorrow t-then." He left without waiting to hear their response, slamming the door behind him. As he was walking, tears, streaming down his face, he ran into the last people that he wanted to see, team RWBY. They were in the hallway that led to the cafeteria when they spotted him. Weiss was the one that spoke first.
"YOU! I can't believe that somebody would even think to do something like this! Oh, wait I can! Only you would be stupid enough to lie and cheat your way into this school. You'll only ever be sub-par, don't try to be something that you're not, Arc." With that she stormed off and Blake came next, speaking just a few simple words that stung, nonetheless. "People like you disgust me."
After that was Ruby. She walked up to him with tears in her eyes and a look of pain on her face. "T-tell me it's not true. Please."
"Ruby, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean-!" He was cut off by a sob and she dashed away in a flurry of rose petals before he could continue. Yang's eyes flashed red at this and she grabbed him by the collar.
"You little punk! First you lie to all of us and then you make Ruby cry! I swear I'm gonna beat you so hard you won't be walking for weeks!" She cocked her fist back and started to swing but before the punch could land Miss Goodwitch came rushing through the hall.
"Miss Xiao-Long! Unhand him!"
"But professor, you don't understand he-!"
"That is enough out of you! Detention with me for the next week. Now go and find the rest of your team and stay out of trouble." She gave the blonde-bombshell a scathing glare before walking over to a cowering and teary-eyed Jaune. "I-I'm sorry Miss Goodwitch, I didn't mean to c-cause you any trouble." The woman sighed before leading the boy to her office while she spoke. "It's quite alright Mister Arc. I just don't understand what would make a person attack one of their friends."
Jaune laughed without humor. "Ha, I doubt that they see me as a friend, not even my team wants to be around me anymore after what I did."
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What you did?" He exhaled heavily and shook his head.
"Don't worry about it, Professor. I'm sure you'll hear about it tomorrow."
Glynda eyed him before shaking her head and letting the subject go. "Well, I suppose this is where we part ways. Have a good rest of your day Mister Arc."
"You too, professor."
[Beacon Tower, the Next Evening]
'Well, this is it'
Jaune thought to himself as he entered the elevator. The ride up was torturous, the blonde-knight's anxiety and fear building up with every second, the ding of the elevator doors like the gavel going down on his death sentence. When he walked in, he noticed that the rest of Team JNPR was there along with Professor Goodwitch and the headmaster.
"Good of you to join us, Mister Arc. Please have a seat." The silver-haired man heaved a sigh before he began. "It has recently come to my attention that, in light of Mister Arc's…situation…the three of you wish to remove him from team JNPR, is that correct?"
Pyrrha nodded, "Yes professor, that is correct."
He looked at them all with an intense gaze, as if evaluating their souls. "And why do you feel that this is the best course of action?"
Pyrrha continued, "We cannot in good conscience continue to train with a person that has no experience in combat sir. We all trusted him with so much, our lives included, and he broke that trust as soon as he decided to set foot on campus with those fake transcripts. Perhaps he can become a Huntsman on his own, but not here, not while risking our safety."
Ozpin mentally rolled his eyes and scoffed, 'Hypocrite' he thought to himself. "And why, may I ask, would you not try and train him, help him better himself so that he wouldn't be a hindrance or danger to people on the battlefield?"
Ren was the one to answer his question, "With all due respect Headmaster, I don't believe that Jaune is capable of learning in four years what has taken everyone else most of their lives to learn."
The man gazed at each of them intently. "I supposed there is nothing left to do then. If you are all in agreement?"
Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora all nodded and the Headmaster sighed internally, 'The three of you have no idea what you are doing.'
"From this day forth Jaune Arc is removed as leader and member of team JNPR. Henceforth the three of you will be known as team PNR (Pincer) led by Pyrrha Nikos. Depending on your performance over the next few weeks, I will decide whether or not you need a fourth member. That will be all, you are dismissed."
As the four students stood to leave the silver-haired man called out one more time. "Mister Arc if you would stay for just a moment. There is one more thing that I would like to discuss with you."
Jaune turned around to look at the professor with dull and seemingly lifeless eyes, he already knew what was coming, "Yes, Headmaster."
Ozpin glanced between him and his old teammates with frustration before taking a deep breath.
"Please sit down, this will only take a few moments."
'Well, it was good while it lasted. Huh, guess you were right, mom, dad, looks like I'll become a farmer after all.'
As Jaune sat the Headmaster began.
"Mister Arc, can you tell me about the last King of Vale?"
Of all the things that he was expecting, being asked a history question was definitely not one of them.
"Um y-yes sir. The last king of Vale was called Ozmium the Warrior King. It's been about three hundred years, I think, since the end of the Great War and his reign, s-so his surname has fallen from public knowledge, but, uh, many people believe that after he stepped down his family moved into a small settlement near the city. Before he left though, he gave a prophecy that his descendant would one day return to claim the throne and bring Vale to a new Golden Age. Or something like that, I think. W-Why?"
Ozpin looked at him appraisingly, his eyes filled with an odd mix of mirth and pride
"That is correct Mr. Arc. Right now, as I'm sure you know, Vale is in a state of political unrest and, dare I say, uproar. Now is as good a time as any for the king to return. Now tell me, do you know which settlement he took his family to?"
At this point Jaune was incredibly confused, 'Why are we talking about history and politics, isn't he gonna expel me? Not that I'm complaining, but still, this is weird.'
He shook his head and decided to continue to humor the Headmaster.
"Um, no sir, I don't think I do."
"Legend says that he moved to a small settlement, no more than a few dirt huts really, named Ansel."
Once again this statement made no sense to the blond-knight and he shook his head.
"Um, sir, not to be rude or anything, but why are we talking about some ancient king and modern politics? I mean it's cool to know that he lived in the town that I grew up in but what does that have to do with my transcripts? Aren't you going to expel me or something?"
Ozpin looked over to Glynda who was staring intently back at him and nodded. This was the moment of truth.
"Mister Arc," he shook his head, "Jaune, there is a very specific reason that I let you in, even though I knew your transcripts were fake."
He widened his eyes, 'He knew! But how?'
As if reading his mind, the headmaster spoke, "Oh yes, I knew. They were surprisingly well done too, but we are getting off topic. Now, back to the matter at hand. You know that Ozmium the Warrior King founded your home village, yes? Now, what if I told you that his full name was Ozmium Charles Lucis Arcadia."
Jaune's brow furrowed, and he closed his eyes. 'Just what is he getting at? Ozmium, the last king of Vale, founded the village I lived in and his last name…is…Arcadia. Holy crap!' His eyes shot open upon figuring out what the headmaster was telling him.
"I see that you've figured it out. You, Jaune Arc, have the blood of kings flowing through your veins."
And done! Hope y'all enjoyed the first chapter of this story. Updates will be highly infrequent. Could be a day could be weeks. Just need to find the time to sit down and write. I have this planned into five different arcs already, I just need to find the motivation to actually flush everything out. Hope to see you guys next time!