The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain as Jaune Arc stood alone on the edge of the Emerald Forest. Below, the treetops swayed gently, their emerald canopies whispering secrets only the wind could hear. The sky above was vast, painted in shades of deep blue and silver, stars flickering like distant beacons.

He was dressed in full armor, as if ready for war. Because in a way, he was.

After the celebrations, the laughter, the shared pride of finally becoming full-fledged Huntsmen, Jaune had slipped away, feeling the weight of something heavier than his armor pressing against his chest. The moment was fleeting, he knew. The world would not wait for them to bask in their victory.

A rustling behind him drew his attention, but he already knew who it was before he turned.

Autumn emerged from the shadows, the soft crunch of leaves beneath her boots barely audible. Her red hood was draped over her shoulders, silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight of the broken moon that overlooked Remnant. At her hip, Sundered Rose gleamed faintly, its edge catching the light of the moon. Beside her, Juniper, their loyal jackalope companion, nuzzled Jaune's armored leg before sitting carefully at his side, ears twitching as if sensing the weight in the air.

Autumn studied him for a moment before giving him a knowing smile. "I see you already knew this was coming."

Jaune exhaled, glancing back at the forest. "I mean… that was the agreement with Master, wasn't it?" His voice was steady, but there was something distant in it, something reflective.

"True," Autumn agreed, stepping closer. "Become a Huntsman, find companions, enjoy your time, then finally do your duty as a knight." She tilted her head. "You've certainly done all three. Rusty will be pleased by it. You've grown into a fine huntsman."

Jaune let out a quiet chuckle. "I wasn't sure about it at first. I doubted if I even could live up to what he expected." He looked down at his gauntlets, flexing his fingers slightly. "But my time in Beacon… everything that's happened… it made me realize how lacking I was."

Autumn frowned, shaking her head. "It's not that you were lacking, Jaune." She crossed her arms. "You know how to fight. That doesn't mean you'll know everything. No one does. But you held yourself together. That's what matters."

Jaune nodded slowly. "I guess." He let out a breath, his voice softer now. "It's fun, you know. Being around people. Before all this, I had this… arrogance. Thought I could do everything. But Menagerie…" His jaw tightened. "Menagerie was a lesson I'll never forget."

Autumn nodded solemnly. "Lessons like that are never kind," she admitted. Then, after a pause, her lips curled into a teasing smirk. "Though, I must say, you've got quite the reputation as a ladies' man."

Jaune groaned. "Stop it."

Autumn laughed, but there was warmth in it. "I mean it. You really don't understand why they're so enamored with you?"

Jaune sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "No, I really don't."

Autumn smirked. "It's not that hard to understand." Her expression softened then. "But I'm glad. That you were able to hold back." She glanced at him, something unreadable in her gaze. "Knowing what lies ahead for people like us."

Jaune turned to face her fully now, studying her carefully. "Autumn…" His voice was quieter, more cautious. "The Blacksmith—the Mother in the Tree… does she really want this?"

Autumn exhaled, her silver eyes reflecting the moonlight. "In some way, yes."

Jaune frowned. "But why?"

Autumn's gaze drifted toward the horizon. "You've seen it, Jaune." She gestured around them. "How broken Remnant is. The Grimm are sad creatures, without thought or life. The people are trapped in their cities, their borders shrinking as the darkness grows." Her voice took on a grim edge. "Dust—the lifeblood of Remnant—is controlled by a megacorporation and is dwindling as the year passes. And then there's Salem and Ozma… two immortals locked in an eternal game, while their creators either watch in silence or simply don't care."

Jaune didn't respond immediately. Because he knew, she was right.

"…The Relics," he said at last, his voice steady. "How will we take them?"

"As fast as we can," Autumn answered. Then, after a pause, she reached into the folds of her cloak. "The Relic of Creation… we can somewhat bypass it using another one."

Jaune's eyes widened slightly as she produced the Staff of Creation.

He took a step forward. "How—" He stopped, realization dawning on him. "Wait. How did you get that?"

Autumn smirked, tilting her head. "You should have an idea."

Jaune's eyes flickered with understanding. His voice was barely above a whisper. "It was Pyrrha, wasn't it?"

Autumn nodded. "Yes. She was."

Jaune inhaled sharply. "Then… she knows already?"

"She does," Autumn confirmed. "Does that please you?"

Jaune was silent for a moment before offering a small, tired smile. "Somewhat," he admitted. "It's just… a shame that it had to be this way. I hate this."

Autumn watched him carefully before blinking. "You don't have to, you know." Her voice was softer now. "Leave it to me."

Jaune shook his head. "No." His grip tightened around his gauntlets. "That was the deal with my Master. He trained me… and in return, I'd carry some of his burdens."

Autumn sighed, crossing her arms. "When that creature was gone, no one could grant the Afterans eternal rest. The balance was broken." Her silver eyes darkened. "Just as I've taken the role of the Curious Cat… you've taken that thing's place. It's a cruel deal... but it had to be done. The Everafter... all must have a role to play."

Jaune didn't move.

"You know what that means, don't you?" Autumn's voice was quiet, but firm.

Jaune nodded grimly.

"You'll barred them from any form of afterlife," she continued. "Or perhaps… you'll simply cease to exist entirely as well. Just as you can grant that, it'll be the same."

Jaune clenched his fists, but his voice remained steady. "Then so be it."

Autumn studied him, her expression unreadable. "…You're just as stubborn as ever."

Jaune exhaled slowly, looking back toward the forest. "Can I… grant Salem that?"

Autumn tilted her head. "Who knows?" she admitted. "But that's how things are for us. Our role must be played." She smirked faintly. "Well, blame Rusty for messing things up."

Jaune chuckled dryly. "I'll be sure to let him know if ever wakes up.."

Autumn sighed, shaking her head, before stepping closer. "Yellow Death," she murmured.

Jaune glanced at her.

"Crocea Mors," Autumn continued. "The Blacksmith reforged it using the essence of the Jabberwalker."

Jaune swallowed.

Autumn met his gaze, her silver eyes steady.

"…And now, you must wield it like a vorpal blade."

Jaune nodded, his fingers brushing against the hilt of his blade.

The wind whispered through the treetops, rustling the leaves of the Emerald Forest below. Jaune stood at the cliff's edge, his full armor gleaming faintly beneath the broken moonlight, his grip tightening on Crocea Mors at his side.

Autumn remained by his side, her red cloak billowing gently in the breeze, silver eyes watching him carefully. Juniper, nestled beside them, flicked its long ears, sensing the shift in the air.

Jaune let out a slow breath, glancing at her. "You already slipped them the tea, didn't you?"

Autumn smirked faintly. "Of course."

Jaune nodded. "And it'll make them feel like I'm still around… but just an illusion."

"That's right." Autumn's voice was steady. "They'll sense you. Hear your name and still believe you're here. Their memories will hold on to you, but they won't know why they can't find you."

Jaune exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You really are good at this whole thing."

Autumn chuckled softly. "I did take over for the Cat. Destiny is a strange thing, Jaune."

Jaune frowned slightly, looking at her again. "Why didn't you just give them the tea that makes them forget?"

Autumn's teasing demeanor faded. She studied him for a long moment before answering.

"…Because it's not fair to them." Her silver eyes held something deeper, something heavy. "And it's not fair to you."

Jaune's expression softened.

She was right.

To erase his existence from them entirely, it would have been easier. Cleaner. They wouldn't have to carry the weight of wondering where he went.

But it wouldn't be right.

Because even if he was leaving…

They deserved to remember.

Jaune inhaled, his fingers curling around the hilt of his blade. "Thank you."

Autumn simply nodded.

A long silence stretched between them, the weight of their choices settling.

Then, Jaune straightened, adjusting his stance. He looked toward the horizon, past the endless treetops of the Emerald Forest, toward something unseen.

"Jaune, I have something to ask," Autumn turned her head slightly. "Through the looking glass, what did you see?"

"Friends... I saw my friends," Jaune's voice was quiet, but certain. "It was fun."

"I see."

"But our destination is not a place we go," he murmured." It's a place, we know."

With that, the space around them began to shift.

The cliffs, the trees, the very air itself seemed to fold inward, as if the world were merely layers of a story turning its next page.

And then, in a swirl of multi-colored leaves…

Jaune, Autumn, and Juniper disappeared.

The dorm room was bustling with energy, filled with the rustling of fabric, the zipping of bags, and the quiet hum of excitement mixed with nervous tension. After years of training, of trials and hardships, Team RWBY and Team JNPR stood at the precipice of something far greater than missions and classes.

They were finally stepping out into the world, not as students, but as fully licensed Huntsmen and Huntresses.

Backpacks, duffels, and weapon cases were scattered across the floor as the two teams finished their final preparations.

Nora swung her bag over her shoulder, eyeing Jaune with a quirked brow. "So, fearless leader, how much did you actually drink at the celebration?"

Ren, standing beside her with his usual calm, nodded slightly. "You did seem… overly relaxed."

Pyrrha, already packed, and standing near the door, crossed her arms with an amused smile. "You were acting strange, Jaune. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

Jaune, adjusting the straps on his bag, let out a laugh. "It's nothing, really." He grinned, though there was something tired behind his eyes. "Just taking it all in, you know?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, we know. You're a real Huntsman now. Do try not to let it go to your head."

Jaune smirked. "Too late."

Ruby clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on the heels of her boots. "Alright, enough chit-chat! We really need to get moving or we're gonna miss our airship!"

Yang stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Yeah, yeah, bossy." She slung her bag over her shoulder with ease. "It's not like we're that late."

Blake, already packed and waiting, merely raised an eyebrow. "We're late."

Yang sighed. "Alright, fine, we're late."

Ruby huffed. "Then move!"

The teams quickly grabbed their things, making their way out of the dorms and down the long hallways of Beacon. The Academy had become home to them, but today marked a new beginning.

As they stepped onto the transport shuttle that would take them to the airship docks, the conversation naturally shifted to their next objective.

Once everyone was settled into their seats, Weiss pulled up her Scroll, tapping through files with sharp focus. "Alright, let's go over this again."

Jaune groaned. "Really?"

Weiss shot him a look. "Yes, really. Unlike some of us, I prefer having an actual plan."

Ruby grinned. "She's got a point."

Jaune sighed. "Fine. Go ahead, Princess."

Weiss ignored the nickname, though pleased by it, and projected the map of Solitas onto her Scroll, allowing it to hover for everyone to see.

Ren studied the projection. "So, you really think we can find Dr. Merlot there?"

Blake crossed her arms. "It makes the most sense. We've been tracking his movements for months, and everything points to Solitas."

Pyrrha leaned forward slightly. "It does make sense that he'd go somewhere remote. He wouldn't risk staying in any of the main Kingdoms."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but Solitas? That's basically Ironwood's backyard. If he's hiding there, he's either got huge connections or he's really desperate."

Ruby frowned. "Both could be true. Could be getting help there... but from who?"

Weiss tapped at her screen, bringing up recent intelligence reports. "We do know that lots of places in Solitas are abandoned. If Merlot's looking for somewhere with little oversight, it's the perfect place to continue his experiments."

Jaune leaned back, arms crossed. "Right. And let's not forget the fact that Merlot's Grimm creations are a lot stronger than normal." His expression darkened. "If he's improving them, we need to find him before he unleashes something even worse."

Nora made a face. "Ugh, those freaky hybrid things"

Ren nodded in agreement. "We need to locate him before his experiments spread any further."

Ruby tapped her fingers against her knee. "The problem is, even if he's hiding out there, Solitas is huge. He could be anywhere."

Blake spoke up. "That's why we need to figure out where we start looking. And fast."

Jaune exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "So what's the plan? We land in Solitas, track down any leads, and hope we don't freeze to death?"

Weiss scoffed. "Please. We'll be fine."

Yang smirked. "Easy for you to say, Schnee. You live in the cold."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "I grew up in it. There's a difference."

Ruby waved a hand, bringing the conversation back on track. "Alright, alright! So, first step, we land in Solitas and check out the abandoned facilities, right?"

Weiss nodded. "That's the best lead we have for now."

Pyrrha, ever the voice of reason, glanced between them. "We should also be prepared for the possibility that Merlot isn't working alone."

Ren nodded in agreement. "If he's still operational, then someone is funding him."

Jaune frowned. "Not everyone in Solitas is loyal to Ironwood's regime." His expression hardened. "Someone out there wants Merlot's research to continue."

Nora groaned. "Ugh, great. More rich, evil scientist types."

Blake's ears twitched slightly. "We should assume the worst and prepare accordingly."

Weiss smirked. "Now that is something I can agree with."

Jaune leaned forward, glancing at all of them. "Look, we all know this isn't going to be easy. If Merlot's still alive, that means he's had plenty of time to perfect whatever experiments he's working on." He exhaled. "We need to be ready for anything."

Ruby's silver eyes gleamed with determination. "Then let's make sure we are."

The group exchanged nods.

The mission ahead was uncertain. The threats were unknown.

But they were Huntsmen and Huntresses now.

And whatever waited for them in Solitas, they would face it together.

The shuttle came to a stop at the airship docks, and the teams grabbed their bags, stepping onto the metal platform that led to the waiting transport. The large airship loomed before them, its sleek design reflecting the morning light.

A voice crackled over the comms. "Final boarding call for Solitas-bound transport. All passengers, please proceed to Gate 3."

Ruby beamed. "That's us! Let's go!"

Weiss sighed. "Do not run ahead, Ruby."

Yang chuckled. "Good luck with that."

The group made their way up the boarding ramp, finding their assigned seats near the back of the ship.

As the engines roared to life and the airship began its ascent, Jaune gazed out the window, watching as Vale grew smaller in the distance.

Pyrrha sat beside him, following his gaze. "Are you ready for this?"

Jaune smiled, though there was a weight in his expression. "Yeah." He turned to look at her. "Are you?"

Pyrrha returned his smile, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her green eyes. "I guess we'll find out."

Jaune chuckled. "Yeah… I guess we will."

"Are you okay?" Pyrrha asked. "You feel off."

"Just the drink making me feel... dizzy"

"Even with your Semblance?"

"Even with it."

She had always been good at reading Jaune, better than he ever gave her credit for. And right now, something was… off. Not enough to raise alarm. Not enough for her to call him out on it. But enough for her to notice the slight tension in his posture, the way his eyes lingered just a moment too long on the horizon, as if looking for something beyond what could be seen.

Then—

Something fluttered.

A single leaf drifted across Jaune's chest, floating as if caught in an unseen breeze.

Pyrrha blinked.

For a brief second, she swore she saw it, the leaf passing through him.

She inhaled sharply.

But when she looked again, there was nothing. Just the dim lighting of the cabin and the faint glow of the monitors overhead.

The leaf was gone.

Had it even been there in the first place?

She frowned slightly, rubbing her temple. Must be the light playing tricks on me or the drink.

Shaking off the odd feeling, she exhaled softly and turned her attention back to Jaune. "You alright?"

Jaune blinked, turning to her with a small smile. "Huh? Yeah. Just thinking."

Pyrrha studied him for a moment before nodding.