A/N: EDIT: I'm afraid I might not be able to update this story next week, not just due to lack of feedback, -reviews really dropped off this chapter -but because things clearly need more polish.
Really breaks my spirit...T_T
Apologies if this chapter seems rough, I ran out of time, also overworked lately ... I'll go back and add more later.
As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others. I own no references, quotes, memes or themes! They're all tributes to legends far greater than me. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know in the comments~!
Once more, hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode from the old days. I'll leave that to you, the reader, to determine. Do tell me what you think! It really does matter!
As a reminder for the Arc Children, I'll list them up here once more: Saphron, Sabrina and Sable, Child, Vaylin, Jaune, Jeanne, and Azula, quite literally the black sheep of the bunch with her dark hair. We haven't seen the ninth yet...nor the tenth.
I'm sure you're all wondering what Vaylin and Child(Chelsea) are up to.
Remember, last we saw Child, she was chasing Port...who is now out and about and NOT being chased by an aggravated Arc sister while subsequently claiming to have had a lovely chat with said Arc that none of us saw. Surely that's not ominous at all.
As for Vaylin, she's off doing what she does best. Lurking.
In any case, hope you enjoy the chapter~!
Minor verbatim from Just a Dust Shop.
Away we go~!
"Saluations! I have found them!"
"Penny?! How did you find us so quickly-no, nevermind. I don't need the details. Ruby, Get us out of here!"
"...Weiss...why are you hanging upside down from the rafters?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Ruby."
"But then why are Yang and Black knocked out over there?!"
"You dolt! I just SAID I don't want to talk about what happened!"
"Sooo...do you not want me and Saphron to cut you down now orrrrr...?"
"Ruby Rose! Get me down this instant or so help me I will-wait, who's Saprhon?"
"Oh, that's Jaune's big sister over there. She's got a red cape, like me, but she can fly and shoot lasers from her eyes. Say hi to Weiss, Saphron."
"Hello, there~! You must be the rest of Team RWBY. My future sister-in-law told me all about you. I do hope you've been treating my baby brother well."
"Nevermind! I take back everything I just said! GIVE ME THE DETAILS NOW!"
"Yeesh, not so loud, Weiss. Yang's gonna flip when she wakes up...
"Does this mean I will have more cousins?"
"PENNY NO!"
~The Rescue Party.
Just a Little Breakdown
Pyrrha was avoiding him.
Jaune noticed her absence, naturally.
To be fair, it was rather difficult to miss his partner, but still.
It wasn't as though she vanished, either. They still trained together, ate lunch in the cafeteria, attended the same lessons, slept in the same dorm. By all outward appearances everything appeared exactly the same as they had been before Pyrrha's accidental confession.
They just...didn't talk.
Hell, her face got red whenever she looked at him, something he reciprocated!
Things were awkward. Not bad, not broken, but awkward. He didn't know how to fix them.
Or much of anything, really.
Three days passed by in relative obscurity with only a single ominous text message from his mother-
"Nice try, young man."
-and the ominous realization that his entirely family was presently in Vale. Oh, and his great-great-great something or other Grandmother was the Queen of the Grimm. Great! Ha! Haha! Hahaha! Everything was peachy keen! He wasn't having a crisis of faith. No problems here! Not him! Nope!
Stranger still, Team RWBY returned from the city the other day looking positively haunted, for reasons he didn't understand.
Well, everyone except Ruby. For some reason she had the opposite problem of Pyrrha; in that she kept giggling whenever she saw him.
Weird.
He tried catching Pyrrha's eye just now, but she wasn't having; it she kept her face determinedly buried in her textbook as Port droned on. Something about a story involving ninja and raising people from the dead. More nonsense. At least he could ignore the old man and his silly stories without repercussions...
Inevitably, his mind wandered to Pyrrha.
He tried passing her a note -can we talk?- and while she did look at it, her face burned brighter than her.
The swift shake of her head that followed sent his spirits falling faster than Mountain Glenn.
And all this, all of it, stemmed from a single word.
Love.
Pyrrha loved him.
Sure, they'd gone on a date and practically shared a kiss 'an all back in the park, but...
.
..
...love?
Jaune touched two fingers to his lips, considering.
Did he feel the same? That was the question, wasn't it? He wasn't quite sure he knew what that kind of love was just yet. Sure he liked her, but he also liked spending time with Ruby, liked fighting Yang, liked helping Blake, and kinda liked riling up Weiss, to be honest.
He'd liked helping out Velvet, too. And Amber...gah. The list went on and on...!
"Oh, that's an easy one. Your parents have been going out like rabbits, and if Pyrrha feels that way, there you go. That's love."
Little children running underfoot. Red hair and blue eyes. He sputtered. 'Lalalala I can't hear you!'
Ren and Nora were of absolutely no help on that front; the former had few words for him and while Nora...was, well, still Nora, even she wasn't unfazed by his recent revelations. Her smile seemed just a little more forced these days, her cheer feigned instead of natural. She hadn't had any pancakes in days. Now, Jaune would be the first to admit he was dense, but he wasn't quite that dense. Given what happened in Kuroyuri...and their parents...and the Grimm...
Wait, did they think he was responsible for that?! Because he was related to Salem?!Or was he reading the room wrong again...?
"Its possible," Kurama chimed in. "You humans...your minds go to strange places during trauma, often laying blame at the feet of those least responsible for your pain."
A number of textbook pages crinkled noisily in his hand as his fingers furled into a fist. "Spoken from experience?"
"More than you know. Mortal souls don't react well to stress...or rejection."
Urk.
He was right on that front. He felt trapped. Confined. Beacon was supposed to be his escape, where he wanted to be, yet with this most recent revelation things were beginning, he didn't want to say break, but they were starting to fracture. He didn't feel comfortable here. He didn't feel happy. He didn't feel safe.
Isn't this what I want? To be a Huntsman? A hero...?
"Jaune Arc!"
His head snapped up. "Ha?"
Professor Port stared him down from across the room, fist on a hip, bushy brow furrowed in visible concern. "I know my tale is quite riveting, but please refrain from destroying school property."
He looked down, abashed to find several pages torn in his grasp. He'd been so distracted that he'd failed to notice. "I didn't mean-
"Ah, ah, ah!" The rotund huntsman wagged a finger at him. "That'll be a detention with me this weekend, young man."
Ruby tilted her head behind him; he could hear it in her tone. "Since when does he hand out detentions?"
His head whipped her way. "Do I hear two detentions, miss Rose?!"
She slumped with a sigh. "No, sir."
"Two detentions it is!"
"Whyyyy?!"
"Since you're so keen on talking back, your entire team can share in your detention with young Arc."
...ooops?"
If looks could kill, Ruby would be a pile of ashes on the floor.
Jaune forced a smile to his face.
Inwardly, however, he'd begun to bristle.
This wasn't the carefree school life he'd wished for. Something had to give.
He had the sinking suspicion it would be him.
Or the door.
Wait, wha-
His head snapped up as the door the classroom flew free from its hinges and crashed into the wall, propelled by a long shapely leg. The owner of said leg was someone he knew all too well.
He'd healed her, after all.
Amber stalked in, eyes ablaze. "Is Jaune here? No, nevermind, I see him...
He tried to sink down into his seat, to no avail.
Pyrrha glared holes into his back.
Port meanwhile, managed an awkward laugh as he scratched the back of his head. "Miss Amber, I'm afraid you haven't have class with me for some time-
"Didn't ask, don't care," even as she spoke, she stalked up the steps to his seat, seized him by the arm and yanked him upright. "Oz wants a word. That's not a problem, is it?"
For a moment, he almost thought it was. Port looked...angry. It was hard to tell with those bushy brows and that great merry mustache of his, but he could sense it. A flicker of fury burning within. It vanished with a sigh, however, gone quick as it came. "Well, I suppose that's fine...do give the headmaster my regards."
"Yeah, sure, whatever. C'mon, Arc."
In short order he found himself dragged from the classroom entirely.
"Hurry up," she hissed. "That won't fool him for long."
"I thought we were meeting Ozpin?"
"Nope."
He frowned. "But you said-
"I lied." she grinned up at him, eyes flashing with fresh fire. " Its a thing I do. Lying. I just dealt with the absolute worst meeting in my life and I am over it. You and me, we're going drinking."
Doubtless she was feeling just as stir crazy as him. But stilll..." Don't we need a chaperone for that?
"Yup." she bumped her hip against his as they hastened around a corner, skirting a group of older students. "Luckily, he wants to meet you."
"Who?"
"You'll see~!"
See he did, because she opened the next door she found, leading them to one of the guest rooms meant for transfer students.
Someone awaited them.
A haggard-looking man with red eyes, dark hair and a decidedly gloomy disposition l. He had a red cloak. Reminded him of Ruby.
"Yo, Sparky." He taised a hand in greeting. This the guy? I thought he'd be taller.
"Don't start, Qrow."
"And this is...?"
"Qrow Branwen. He offered him his hand. "Heard about your little ordeal. How you holdin' up...?"
Finally, someone who cared enough to ask!"
"I'm hanging in there." he shook his hand without thinking. "Thanks for asking."
Good. Because apparently my nieces have a crush on you.
Amber squawked unhappily. "Excuse me?!"
"You're excused, sparky." He looked back to Jaune. Frowned, now, when he saw how pale he was. "Huh. You didn't know, did ya?"
He did not.
Jaune wilted.
"Aw, crapbaskets...
(.0.0.0.)
"How did Amber recover?
Ozpin had been expecting that question from James the moment he landed; that he'd held out long enough until said Maiden left was a credit to him.
He took another long drink from his mug to mask his grimace; because you see, he found himself somewhat reluctant to answer.
He was a man who had his bets, who kept his cards, close to his chest, who never divulged his secrets, unless it was absolutely necessary
Take Salem's immortality, for instance. Alone, she was a threat, perhaps, but the knowledge that she could not be killed, contained, or otherwise. If he told everyone that, the world would go mad. Worse, many might side with her in an attempt to gain her favor
Eternal life, or something much sought after, even to this day.
Fools, the lot of them! Immortality was not a blessing, but a curse. To live, and live, and live again, unable to die, yet powerless but to watch as those around, you inevitably aged or fell battle, or lost faith in the cause and abandoned you...there could be no worse fate in this world.
So many mistakes...
There was nothing more that he longed for to lay down his cane and rest, join their children in the afterlife, and beg forgiveness. For his foolishness.
At least he was able to experience some small semblance -ha!- of life. through his many reincarnations.
Salem was not so fortunate.
So, yes. Secrets. He had a lot of them. Mistakes. He had made many. But the fact remained that he was an ally of humanity, and she was not. No matter how much he might wish otherwise.
Salem had started wars, killed powerful Huntsman destabilized the very balance of power as they knew it. For the longest time he'd resolved to kill her, or barring that, find some way to contain her, keep this world safe as best he could from the one he'd once loved above all.
Until this week happened.
This infernal, blasted bloody week.
Perhaps he shouldn't be so angry; this was a good thing, wasn't it?
Monster though she might've become, Salem was, above all things, a mother. She loved her -their!- children and losing them had sent her over the edge. He was to blame for that. Not the gods, not her curse, him. Now, to discover that one had survived and from her she had descendants, however far removed from their bloodline...there could be no greater joy from her. And if anyone should hurt those those children...
Rip and tear, maim and rend, throw them in a volcano!
He shuddered just to think of it.
Such must not happen.
Drinking deeply from his mug to settle his nerves, Ozpin returned his attention to his steadfast ally, seeking to distracted him. "I can't help but notice the absence of Miss Schnee today. She's usually glued to your side."
Alas, James didn't rise to the bait as he wished. "Winter wished to tour Vale."
Where Jaune Arc would soon be, if Qrow and Amber had any say.
Coincidence? He thought not! Nay, not a bloody chance!
You'll have to try a little harder than that, old friend.
"Any particular reason?" he inquired.
"I didn't think to ask."
Meh, he had Qrow and Amber guarding him. Even ok the off chance Miss Winter wished to pick a fight, He should be fine...in theory...
.
..
...bah, who was he kidding, the boy was a magnet for trouble. Just as he had been at his age.
He thought of intervening himself, then decided he couldn't be bothered with it.
The lad already had one Schnee out for his blood. What was one more?
It would be something to rub in the face Jacques the next time he saw him, if nothing else.
Honestly, that boy was either the luckiest or unluckiest soul in Beacon at the moment
He wasn't sure which.
Maybe he could give Salem a few more children to mother.
It wouldn't make up for his tragic mistake on that tragic night, not entirely, but it might go some way to bridging the divide between them.
Hmmm, perhaps he should perform a headcount. Team RWBY makes four. Plus miss Nikos equals five. Add Miss Scarlatina and you had six. Amber made for secen. And if things went the way he suspected they would with Winter, that would make eight. Assuming he had at least one child with each -if not more- that would be very distracting.
Which meant, of course, that he needed to bite the dust-bullet and tell James.
"I suppose I should tell you," he stalled for a moment, then bulled forward, throwing caution to the wind. "She was healed by a young man known as Jaune Arc." Why had James twitched just now? "He, and his family may be related to me. Distantly by now, of course, but the fact remains. You understand why I asked you here now, naturally...
Ironwood started coughing harshly into a fist, choking on the very air in his lungs. "N-Naturally...
He did not react with surprise, shock, or any such explosion. Almost as if he knew.
Ozpin frowned. "Do you know something about these Arcs already, James?"
"Not a thing."
He was lying. No matter. Their goals still aligned.
Well, at least someone seemed keen on protecting Jaune Arc just as much as he...
Ooops. Had he spoken that last part aloud?
"Protect?" James, rounded on him, eyes wild, lips peeled back, hair in disarray from the sudden force of his movement. Gone was the distinguished general, in his place stood someone who had seen death; or the closest approximation to it. "That boy's father nearly massacred my best team of specialists. My best team! The Ace Ops were bandied about like children. Vine is dead. I am not going anywhere near that man. Insofar as I'm concerned, my job is to keep him away from anyone or anything that might set him off!" he paused, comporting himself briefly. "Also...
"Also?"
His old friend turned away coughing into a fist once more. "Penny may or may not be empowered by him."
"The Polendina girl? Isn't she that machine created by Pietro? But what would imply...
Oh. A bead of sweat ran down Ozpin's brow.
Gods save them...
(.0.0.0.)
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Qrow slung an arm around Jaune's shoulder -to his infinite chagrin- and dragged him ever forward into the city. "Hey, ain't nothing wrong with a little drink and interrogation between friends.
His brow furrowed, catching that third-to-last-word. "I think you meant drink and fun."
"I know what I said. So like I said, a little drink and interrogation...
"You said that twice!"
"Semantics!
"Might as well give up, rookie." Amber had his other arm, preventing him from escaping without hurting her. There's no stopping him when he's like this...
Against his better judgement, he'd let Qrow and Amber take him back out to Vale. Nowhere near where he knew Dad was, thankfully, somewhere on the outskirts, a seedy little dive Qrow had recommended. Just a hop skip and a jump from Beacon, he said. It'll be fine, he said.
And if Dad did show up, they could rabbit back to the academy.
This was stupid. This was reckless. This was the very height of foolishness.
But he needed to get away from his team. Just for a little while. Long enough to clear his head and find a way to settle things.
And if alcohol was involved...well...he wasn't a fan of the stuff, but he was an Arc. Arcs never backed down
Just a little confidence would be more than enough, right?
Practices Makes Perfect and all that, yeah?
Something passed overhead with a low whine of turbines, diverting his thoughts.
An aircraft?" Amber balked up at it. "Here? Who would dare..."
Qrow heaved a sigh. "I've got a pretty good idea...
The craft swept in with frightful speed; it veered past them with a rush of hot hair in the street, angling in gracefully, narrowly avoiding clipping a building as it came in for a hot landing. He frowned, at something of a loss. Who on Remnant would just swoop out of the sky and land tan an aircraft in the middle of the city like this?
He soon had his answer.
As the engines cycled down, a ramp descended and a woman with white hair disembarked, flanked by two...what were those? Robots? Whatever they were, they flanked the woman as she descended at a brisk pace, chin held high, hands clasped behind her back. She stood resplendent in her uniform, but only as the sunlight caught her white hair and blue eyes did he finally make the connection.
She...she looked like Weiss.
Taller, older, curvier -sorry, snow angel- and clearly more in every way, the sight of her momentarily stole his breath away.
"Qrow." she looked past him, noticed Amber, and her lips pursed. "Maiden."
Amber flipped her off. "Winter. Or would you prefer snow bitch?"
Her mouth twitched. "Charmed."
Then, much to his chagrin, she rounded on him.
Winter tilted her head, hands still clasped behind her back as she considered him intently. "You are Jaune Arc, correct?"
He didn't like the way she was looking at him, or those robot guards behind her. "Can I plead the fifth?"
"You cannot." with a flourish, she unsheathed her saber. "Draw your sword."
"Excuse me?!"
"You are excused." she adopted a rigid stance. "I would see the worth of the young man Weiss has spoken so highly of in her letters."
"Now, wait just a second!" Amber thrust herself between them, eyes blazing. "As much as I'd love to wipe that smile of your face, we didn't come here to start a fight-
Winter tilted her head. "Are you implying he's weak, then?"
She changed her tune in an instant. Amber pumped a fist into the air. "Beat that bitch black and blue!"
Qrow cackled in the background. "Good luck~!"
Jaune heaved a sigh and drew his sword.
Pyrrha was gonna murder him...
.
..
...but maybe a fight was just what the doctor ordered.
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto listened with half an ear as his shadow clone dutifully reported back to him.
"Great, great, he's out in Vale again. I'll just nab him while-wait."
The rest of said report caught up to him a moment later.
Aghast, the Arc Patriarch sprang to his feet.
"He's fighting WHO?!"
(.0.0.0.)
Winter was better than Weiss.
Jaune could admit that freely, and without shame.
Her specialist sister had the reach and poise that the surly Schnee didn't, a wealth of experience honed on the field of battle, behind enemy lines. She fought with both power and poise, refusing to let herself be riled by his strikes, nor the counters that followed. If she had a temper, she kept it firmly leashed, refusing to let it dictate the course of battle.
But for all her strength and skill, he outstripped her.
She hadn't realized that, or perhaps she was also holding back the lion's share of her strength.
Regardless, she'd impressed him.
Their blades clashed, twisted, parted in a savage song of steel, forcing a flourish from her as she stepped back. Her eyes were sharp as she warded him away, her smile sharper still, a sword freed from its sheathe, the thin facade of civility falling away to reveal the warrior within.
"Well, you're of passing skill." Up came her arm as she shouldered her blade, dragging a glyph up and over its edge, coating it with hoarfrost. "The blood of a Huntsman must truly run in your veins, Jaune Arc."
He blew out a quick breath to still his hammering heart. "You have no idea...
Still, what was that just now? Her semblance? No, there was something different about it. Sharper. More refined. Not chakra, so she definitely couldn't be related to him.
And yet, that telltale tingle in the air beckoned to him all the same...was that magic...?
She saluted him with her blade. "Shall we continue, then?"
Yes. He needed this. Release.
Something -someone!- to focus on, forget all his worries and woes, just for a little while.
Amber hollered her encouragement behind him, as did Qrow, both of which he accepted it gratefully, but the fact remained.
He wanted to fight.
Winter conjured a glyph underfoot and rushed him, blitzing him with impossible speed. Anyone else would've been hard-pressed to react.
Not so him.
With a wry grin, he sidestepped Winter's rush, unfurled his shield and backhanded her with it.
CLONK!
An almighty crunch filled the air and then Weiss' poor sister was past, tumbling arse over elbow to the street. Credit where it was due, she struck the ground, tumbled once, and sprang to her feet with wonderful grace. A thin line of blood ran down her lips, only to be thumbed away by a gloved hand. She glanced at it, frowned a little, and rose to her full towering height once more.
"Impressive," she conceded with a nod. "Most impressive. Its been some time since someone made me bleed. "You're not a normal student, are you...?"
Jaune barked a laugh. "Nope," he grinned. "Just your average everyday hero."
Her gaze became lidded with intent. "We'll see."
A blow like that would've knocked Weiss out cold. Yet her sister was clearly just getting started.
Was this it? Had he found a proper opponent? Could he finally stop holding back?
Winter rushed him, forcing another clash.
He met her head on swept her legs, forcing her to kick backward lest she be knocked down again. He stalked after her, brandishing Crocea Mors before him. With a flick of his wrist and a twist of his fingers, the metal folded inward around the hilt as the reactor sparked to life within; igniting the blazing blade of dust and chakra within.
He brandished it sternly, reveling in the ominous hum it made. "That all ya got?"
Winter smirked. "Not quite. Lets kick things up a notch or two, shall we?"
As he looked on in quiet confusion, she removed her gloves.
"I don't see how that'll change anything-
Something shivered in the air.
Kurama hissed.
Without warning Winter braved her blade with both hands and stabbed it into the street. A white glyph sprang into existence beneath her feet.
He tensed, half-expecting a giant white colossus to burst forth, much like Weiss's own.
Instead he received a massive swarm of white Nevermore.
Jaune flung up his arms with a shout. "No fair!"
The birds blitzed him.
A/N: Anybody notice that this iterations of Winter is a bit more capable? Good. That's deliberate.
Jaune vs Winter next chapter. Its gonna be a blast and we'll see both cut loose.
Pity the city of Vale, ladies and gentlemen. Pity the city.
As ever, these glorious misunderstandings remain glorious. Are we going for the single route, or the harem ending? I suppose that depends on you, the reader. We're not quite done with the story yet, we still have a bit more to go, not to mention the other continents, Lionheart, the Crown, and the like. Or we could just end this after the imminent attack on Beacon.
Your choice!
Find out next time, on Practice Makes Perfect!
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?
Alas, there are no previews this time.
Next chapter will be bonkers.
Everyone's gonna laugh~!
...alright, some previews.
But just some!
(Preview!)
Was this what love felt like? Winter couldn't be sure. But she felt something when their blades clashed. Not anger, but excitement. Expectation...
She ripped her spare dagger free from the hilt and rushed him.
Someone was laughing. It wasn't Qrow or Amber.
Oh, she realized. "Its me."
Their foreheads clashed.
Amber balked at the destruction. "Jaune, what the actual Fuuuuu-
Qrow downed his flask. "Apple doesn't fall from the tree, eh, sparky...?
Naruto cracked his neck. Hummed once. Frowned.
"Acceptable."
Then he saw stars.
He froze.
She was bawling her eyes out, face flushed, fists scrubbing desperately at her cheeks.
"Don't look at me...please...
to hell with that!
He took her by the hands and-
The Hound cocked its head. "Friend?"
Zwei mirrored him.
"No!" Ruby flung up her arms. "No friends! This is not happening! Zwei you get back here right now-ACK?!
The Hound licked her, cutting her off.
"Ack! Bad doggy! Down!"
Tyrian cackled merrily. Soon he would have his own part to play. Oh, yes. Soon...
Wouldn't he? Surely they hadn't forgotten about him. Surely not...
...right?
Oh, gods.
That dress.
And her hair.
She looked...beautiful didn't even begin to describe her.
She held out her hand to him and smiled. "Shall we dance?"
Jaune hesitated. "This isn't a trap, is it?"
"Take my hand, Arc."
~Nz.