Cowboys of Remnant
A RWBY Fic by AndrewJTalon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and WB Animation. Please support the official release.
Radian, North Sanus
"I tell ya Nick, it's a damn catastrophe!"
Jaune peeked into the family kitchen, his eyes wide. The thirteen year old was used to tall men: His father was nearly seven foot tall, same with his grandfather. Yet here was a man who could barely fit into their kitchen, sitting across the table from his dad.
He was built broad and brawny, with a face weathered by the sun. His eyes were deep blue, his hair was silver brown. His chin was like a lantern made of solid brass. He wore riding leathers, khaki, black, and yellow. A red scarf was tied around his neck, and he wore a tall gray ten gallon hat. A revolver hung from his belt, and a shotgun over his back. He sipped his beer, the same as his father.
"All your hands just up and quit, huh?" Nick asked sympathetically. The tall man nodded.
"Mm. A new Dust Mine opened up, and they all went to go work for the Schnees instead of me! ME! Most of 'em I taught the cattle business when they were no taller than a damn fence post! All my cattle are ready to go down to Bulwark, and they just up and leave!"
"Well, you didn't exactly help your case, Rooster Duke," Isabel observed, sipping some tea at the other kitchen door, "You had a few hands willing to work, if you let them go up to the Schnee mines to see how the work was."
Rooster snorted.
"If you can't trust a man in safety, you can't trust them in the Grimm infested wilds. I've seen men turn tail at the hint of a Beowulf, where only hours before they'd sworn everything to the job in the bar. No, no..."
"You could wait until next year," Nick suggested. "A lot of ranchers wait every two years for a drive."
Rooster huffed.
"Lot of ranchers get fat off government money. Paid to not grow, to not work, all for some politician's pocketbook. Ain't for me, Nick. And it ain't for either of you, even in an old town like this."
Nick smirked. Isabel nodded slowly.
"No more than we have to," Isabel agreed. "So, why are you here?"
"I need hands, and I need Hunters," Rooster stated flatly. "I can pay you top rate, Nick, you're worth it. I can't pay you until we get to Bulwark, but it'll be worth your while."
Nick looked to Isabel. She smiled at him.
"The training school is closed for the season, and I think Sarge can run the militia for a few months without you," Isabel observed.
"Guess I'm your man," Nick chuckled. "As for hands... Well. Mercer Sith is off school. Orchid can handle a horse. The Gaffer boy is old enough."
"Kids?" Rooster made a face. Nick shrugged.
"You got any better ideas?"
Rooster scowled harder. He sighed.
"Ain't like I got much choice, God help me." He looked over. "What about your son?"
His parents looked over, and Jaune winced. Her walked out into the open.
"He's too young-" Isabel started. Jaune shook his head.
"I can ride a horse, and handle a rope, sir," Jaune stated. "I also know how to shoot a gun, though I want to use a sword."
"He ain't even had his Aura unlocked," Rooster growled.
"I'm hoping he'll take after his mother and become a doctor," Nick said. Jaune shook his head.
"Dad, Mom... If Mister Duke needs a hand? I'll be a hand. Let me help."
Nick hummed. Isabel shook her head.
"Nick, please-!"
"It's his decision," Nick stated calmly. Rooster stared at him, hard, with those brilliant blue eyes. It felt like a knife was cutting right through him. Jaune stood his ground.
"I want to protect people, and fight the Grimm," he said, "And working as a hand on your drive will help me do it."
"It won't be easy, and I'll drive you until you can't even see straight," Rooster stated, cold and hard, "It will be rough and tough. No breaks, not even on Sundays. But if you can make it, boy... You'll be paid well in lien, and you'll be a man. What do you say?"
Jaune glanced over at his parents. Isabel frowned deeply. She looked to Rooster.
"You'll keep him safe?"
"I'll teach him to keep himself safe," he grunted. Nick nodded grimly.
"We'll keep him safe, Isabel, I swear."
Isabel sighed. She looked to Jaune.
"Is this really what you want?"
"Yes Mom, it is," Jaune said.
Isabel slowly nodded. Rooster looked to Jaune.
"Well then, Mister Arc," Rooster stated, holding out his hand, "Welcome aboard the Duke Ranch Company."
Jaune shook Rooster's hand. The grip was stronger than steel, but Jaune held back his wince.
"Yes sir!"
Two years later...
Ruby Rose trudged around Beacon in tears. First her older sister had abandoned her right as they touched down, then some snooty white-haired girl had blown her up with some Dust and yelled at her, and now... Now...!
"Now I'm lost!" Ruby wailed, looking around her surroundings. There were some old stone stables painted in white and green, the scent of horse and manure in the air. There were some paddocks and fences around, and a gorgeous view of Vale proper.
She hadn't thought Beacon would have stables, but she stood corrected. She sighed and bowed her head.
"Not where I want to be," she muttered.
A few notes from a guitar filled the air. She blinked and walked over to one of the stables. She looked in curiously.
She met a horse: A rich, chestnut mare with inquisitive eyes. Ruby yelped as the horse whinnied at her.
"Easy, Orleans, easy," a male voice said easily. She looked over in the other stable. A blond boy, two years older than her, sat on a hay bale. He was thumbing his guitar. He wore a black wide brimmed stetson on his head. He wore old white armor over a black shirt and dark blue pants. His boots were rugged and worn, but tough leather. A revolver hung from his belt on his right side, while a sword hung from the left. A well woven blue and white poncho hung over his shoulders. He looked at her with intense blue eyes.
Ruby flushed.
"Well miss, you appear to be lost," the young man said with a polite smile.
"I am, on my first day here at Beacon," Ruby sighed. The young man snapped his fingers and put his guitar aside.
"Oh, damn. I forgot all about that," he muttered. He stood up. "Begging your pardon, miss. I can get you right to Orientation, don't you worry."
"You can?!" Ruby gasped happily. The boy nodded.
"Sure can," he said. "My name's Jaune Arc, what's yours?"
"R-Ruby Rose!" Ruby said cheerfully. "It-It's great to meet you!"
Jaune smiled.
"Same."
He hopped over the stable door, and walked over to his horse. He patted her as she neighed in frustration.
"Now now, Orly, I'll be back here soon, promise," Jaune said. Orly huffed but seemed appeased. He looked over at Ruby and offered his arm.
"Shall we, Miss Rose?"
"O-Oh! Yes!" Ruby stuttered, blushing hard. "Um... Wh-Where do I...?"
Jaune reached out and took her hands. He gently put them around his bicep and smiled.
"O-Oh," Ruby mumbled, "Um..."
"I know it's a bit old fashioned, Miss Rose, but it will ensure you don't get lost," Jaune said with a smile.
"N-No! I really appreciate it!" Ruby said. "I-I like old fashioned! Like... Um... That revolver! It's a Smith and Winston 686!"
"Yes miss," Jaune nodded, guiding Ruby up the path.
"And that shotgun! A Winchester 76! They're classics! Any mechashift options?"
"'Fraid not," Jaune said, "They're a little too finicky for my taste. Sides, I switch to my sword if I run outta rounds."
"But-But mechashift weapons are the coolest!" Ruby insisted. Jaune nodded.
"I'm sure yours is amazing, Miss Rose. But dust and grime gets in the works and suddenly, your gun can't shift into anything else."
Ruby pouted up at him.
"Maybe if they do it wrong, but I can do it right!"
Jaune nodded and chuckled quietly.
"I'd be happy to see you do it, Miss Rose."
"You can just call me Ruby, you know," Ruby insisted. "I-I mean... If we're friends, and all? Er... If we can be friends?"
Jaune smiled.
"I'd be happy to be your friend, Miss Rose."
"Ruby!"
"That may take some getting used to, Miss Rose."
Ruby groaned.
They made it to the orientation hall, a large auditorium filled with chattering students. Ruby beamed.
"Oh, thank you Jaune! Uh... Um... So will I get to see you around?"
Jaune nodded.
"I expect so. You're a new student, ain'tcha?"
"Yes!"
Jaune beamed and winked.
"So am I."
Ruby gasped.
"You... You are?!"
"Yes miss." Jaune shook his head. "I near plum forgot it was orientation day! Thanks for that!"
"Wha..." Ruby gaped. "Have you been living in the stable? How long?"
"Well... I had to take the long way with Orly. I wasn't going to leave her behind," Jaune said. He then shrugged. "About two weeks?"
He smiled.
"Hey, hunting's all done outdoors, right?"
Ruby blinked, then giggled.
"Oh geez... You're... You're kind of weird, aren't you Jaune?"
Jaune shrugged.
"If you say so, Miss Rose. But would it be all right for us to be weird together?"
Ruby beamed.
"Yeah!"
"Works for me..."
It had been a long day, even for Pyrrha Nikos. Getting into Beacon and finding people who had no idea who she was was probably the most liberating experience of her life thus far. Meeting her new partner was just... Wonderful.
Oh, he had some need of refinement and training. A great deal of it. That said, his shooting, his riding, and his keen tactical mind had all shone through his rugged exterior. Jaune Arc had been made her team leader, and honestly? She was grateful for it.
She could trust him. He could trust her.
Though his horse could be a little... Aggravating.
Pyrrha had just landed in the Emerald Forest, and was scanning around. She'd adjusted her trajectory from the launch just right... And judging from how fast her target had been flying, he should be along right... About...!
The sound of hooves clopping hard filled the air. Pyrrha turned and smiled genuinely as she saw Jaune Arc ride through the trees on his beautiful chestnut mare, Orleans. He smiled back at her and tipped his hat.
"Mornin' Ms. Nikos. I reckon we're partners now."
Pyrrha blushed softly.
"That seems to be the case, Mister Arc. I look forward to working with you."
Jaune grinned and holds his hand out for her to take.
"Likewise, Ms. Nikos. Now hop on up here. Orly can- WHOA!" He was forced to grab his saddle as Orleans suddenly burst into a gallop, carrying him with her into the forest. "Orly! ORLY! Stop! Dammit girl, what's gotten into you!?"
Pyrrha sprinted after them, narrowing her eyes at the horse. "So, that's how it's going to be."
Her dreams were filled with joy and possibilities otherwise... Until she was woken up by soft guitar strumming. She blinked and pushed herself out of REM in seconds, looking around in confusion and slight alarm.
Near the open window, she saw Jaune sitting on the sill. He was strumming his guitar softly, and sang a song very nearly under his breath.
"Go fetch me some water, a cool cup of water
To cool my parched lips, then the poor cowboy said
Before I returned, his spirit had left him
Had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead~"
"Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong~..."
She glanced over at Nora and Ren. The two were cuddled together on their bunks, having pushed them together some time after Pyrrha went to sleep. The two were snoozing away, both utterly at peace.
Jaune stopped playing, and looked over at her in concern.
"Sorry, Miss Nikos," Jaune murmured, "Didn't mean to wake you."
Pyrrha shook her head and smiled. She rose, and, silent as a cat, padded over to Jaune. She sat some distance away on his empty bunk.
"N-No... It's all right," she murmured back, "Why are you still up?"
Jaune shrugged. The faint sound of crickets from the campus came through the open window, as did the rustling of the leaves by the wind.
"I couldn't sleep," Jaune explained softly. "Same for Mister Lie and Miss Valkyrie. We... We're all too used to sleeping outside, I suppose."
"On your cattle drives?" Pyrrha asked. "I-I mean... You did those. Them, I don't know..."
Jaune nodded with a smile.
"Yes miss. The bed is comfortable, no doubt. It's nice and quiet..."
"Too quiet," Pyrrha finished his thought. Jaune nodded back.
"Yes miss. I used to play music when I stood watch. It helped the others sleep."
He frowned.
"I-I can stop if you want me to-"
"No!" Pyrrha nearly cried, but she kept her voice low just in time, "N-No. That's all right. I... I like hearing you play and sing."
Jaune flushed a bit.
"Shucks... I'm sure you've heard better singers and players."
"I..." Pyrrha shook her head. "Maybe, but... But I still like hearing you."
Jaune nodded, and smiled. It sent Pyrrha's heart racing, but she stoically kept her face neutral, kind, but polite.
"Well, thank you Miss Nikos."
"You... You don't have to call me that," Pyrrha insisted. "You... You can just call me Pyrrha."
Jaune winced.
"You sure, Miss? You're just such a... A fine lady. Famous, even. Me, I'm just a farm boy trying to become a Hunter-"
"I'm just trying to become a Huntress too, Jaune," Pyrrha insisted softly. "I... We're the same. Please?"
Jaune stared at her for a moment.
"I guess someone like you might want to just be treated normal like, am I right?"
Pyrrha blushed, but nodded.
"Y-Yes... If that's okay?"
"... Sure thing, Pyrrha," Jaune said with a smile. Pyrrha's heart fluttered again, and she held back a giggle.
"Thank you Jaune."
"Though uh... I may slip up from time to time," Jaune warned her, fingering his guitar strings quietly, "It's a habit that got beat into me."
Pyrrha's eyes widened. Jaune chuckled at her expression.
"Nothing too rough, Miss-Er, Pyrrha. I promise. Better to get cuffed by Mister Duke or Dad than get shot cause I offended some village mayor, right?"
"I... I suppose that's fair," Pyrrha muttered. She smiled. "Um... Would you play me a song?"
Jaune frowned thoughtfully.
"If you want. Got a request?"
"Um..." Pyrrha blushed. "M-Maybe... Something romantic?"
Jaune blinked.
"N-Not that I have anyone... In particular... In mind," Pyrrha mumbled.
Jaune smiled.
"Course Miss... Um, Pyrrha."
He began strumming a bit more uptempo than the last song, but still quiet.
"Around her neck she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the springtime and in the month of May
Hey, hey!
And if you asked her why the heck she wore it,
She wore it for her lover who was far, far away~!"
"Far away (far away)!
Far away (far away)!
Oh, she wore it for her lover who was far, far away,
Far away (far away)
Far away (far away)
Oh, she wore it for her lover who was far, far away~!"
Pyrrha sighed dreamily. She had fantasized about some kind, wonderful young man serenading her by moonlight.
Coming to Beacon was truly the best decision she'd ever made...
A boot slammed into Jaune's face from outside the window, and he went sprawling face first onto the floor. Pyrrha barely saved his guitar.
"Jaune!" She cried.
"SHUT UP! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP!" A male voice bellowed from outside.
"Yes sir," Jaune mumbled.
Pyrrha sighed, and reached out to pat his head of messy blond hair.
"I liked it," she said softly, to the unconscious cowboy.
Notes:
I am a huge fan of John Wayne, and his westerns. And hell, people still gotta eat. While railroads would let you get cattle to many major cities, like today, you'd still need to do cattle drives to move cattle around. They'd require Hunter protection and cow hands. Think of Remnant as several fortified islands of light in a vast, untamed and dark wilderness. Where the law barely exists save for that from the barrel of a gun. Where small towns try to make a living as railroad hubs, mining centers, and so on in an often wild and unpredictable frontier.
So basically you could do some Western-style stories in Remnant.
Rooster Duke is naturally named for John Wayne's role in "True Grit" and John Wayne's nickname "The Duke".
Jaune's horse's name Orleans is based upon Joan of Arc's nickname, "The Maid of Orleans".
The two songs Jaune played are: "Streets of Laredo" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon".