Jaune and Ruby sat awkwardly at a Cafe in Mantle, their earlier encounter quickly morphing into unease. Penny, noticing their expressions, tilted her head slightly, her vibrant green eyes scanning their faces with curiosity.

"Oh dear, did I do something wrong?" Penny asked, her tone filled with genuine concern.

Jaune immediately shook his head. "No, Penny, you didn't do anything wrong. Nothing is your fault. You didn't know... I understand."

"Not at all," Ruby added quickly, waving her hands. "It's just…" She exchanged a knowing glance with Jaune. "Complicated. Well, his, not mine."

Penny blinked, then beamed, visibly cheering up. "Ah, I understand! If I did not do anything wrong, then all is well!"

For a moment, it seemed like the situation was settling, until Penny's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"But, Friend Jaune…" she said, staring at him with genuine curiosity. "Why do you have a Faunus appearance by the way?"

Jaune winced, knowing full well that Penny's biometric scans had likely already flagged his altered physical traits.

Ruby sighed, pulling something from her pocket, a small vial filled with a faintly glowing blue liquid. She held it up to Jaune, shaking it slightly.

"Welp, guess there's no point keeping up the disguise anymore. Here. Take the antidote. They already know how you look as a Faunus."

Jaune sighed, taking the vial from her fingers. "Was kinda getting used to the ears, though."

Ruby smirked. "Sure you were. Now drink up, Knighty."

Jaune rolled his eyes but uncorked the vial and downed it in one gulp. A tingling sensation spread through his body, his wolf-like Faunus ears twitching before fading away, his blonde hair returning to its natural golden shade with tasteful white streaks.

Penny clapped her hands together, her eyes widening in excitement. "Oh! That's fascinating!"

Jaune rubbed his head, still feeling the strange sensation of shifting back into his true form.

"Alright, Penny, do us a favor, yeah?" Ruby said, leaning toward her with a wry smile. "Tell the group chat we have a world-saving mission or something. Just… you know, something that sounds really important so they don't get that mad. I mean they already know Jaune's alive and well so might as well shock them more?"

"Really helpful… Ruby."

"I know right? Come on, Penny! Onward!"

Penny nodded enthusiastically, her fingers moving in a blur as she typed.

Then, Penny suddenly gasped. "Oh! I have a wonderful idea!"

Jaune and Ruby exchanged a look.

Penny beamed brightly. "We should take a selfie! Like friends do!"

Ruby grinned, pulling Jaune by the sleeve of his coat, forcing him into the frame. "Come on, Knight Boy, let's give them something fun to freak out over."

Jaune sighed dramatically, raising his hands in a halfhearted peace sign.

Penny positioned the camera, her excited smile practically radiating through the screen.

"Say "Friendship!""

The camera snapped.

A second later, Penny sent the photo to the chat.

The moment the message delivered, Ruby's Scroll vibrated violently with incoming notifications.

She peeked at the screen of scroll, her silver eyes widening.

"Ohhh boy."

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Ruby turned her Scroll toward him, and there, in the group chat, was a storm of messages.

Weiss: WHAT. IS. THIS?!

Weiss: PENNY POLENDINA. EXPLAIN.

Weiss: IMMEDIATELY.

Blake: Is this real?

Yang: HOLY SHIT. HE'S ALIVE?

Nora: WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!

Ren: I… I need to sit down.

Weiss: DO NOT IGNORE ME, POLENDINA.

Pyrrha: …How?

Ruby grinned. "Welp. You're screwed."

Jaune groaned, rubbing his temples. "Maybe it isn't so bad…?"

Ruby laughed. "Ohhh no, they are absolutely going to murder you."

Penny, meanwhile, tilted her head innocently. "Friend Jaune, why would our friends attempt to murder you? That does not seem like a very friendly reaction."

Jaune sighed, looking away. "It's… complicated."

Penny's expression brightened. "Oh! Are you a clone, then?"

Jaune nearly choked. "What? No!"

Penny frowned, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "That is peculiar… because the person we buried ten years ago had an identical biometric signature to you."

Jaune winced. "Yeah, well, let's just say my 'death' was more… illusionary than anything."

Ruby groaned, scrolling through her DMs, only to freeze when she saw a message from Yang.

She read it aloud.

"'Oh my god, Rubes, were you following in super-mom's footsteps?!'"

Ruby paused, her face twisting into absolute horror.

"WHAT. THE. HELL. YANG!?"

Jaune blinked, utterly confused. "What does that mean?"

Ruby turned to him with a deep sigh, rubbing her temples.

"Okay, quick family history lesson."

She held up a hand, counting on her fingers.

"Raven Branwen is Yang's mother. Summer Rose, my mom, is Taiyang's second wife. Both Raven and Mom were on Taiyang's team alongside Uncle Qrow."

Jaune nodded slowly, putting the pieces together.

Then he groaned, rubbing his face. "Oh. Oh, that's awful."

Ruby threw up her hands. "Right?! It's ridiculous! Why would they even think that?!"

Jaune sighed, resting his head against the table. "I think we might need a new plan."

Ruby grinned mischievously. "Nah, I say we let them stew a little longer. This is too good."

Jaune groaned. "Ruby… can you not try to increase my chance of being murdered?"

Ruby laughed, kicking her feet up on the table. "Relax, Knight Boy. You're gonna die for real once we meet them anyway. Might as well have fun first."

Jaune groaned loudly, letting his head fall onto the table with a dull thud.

"This is a nightmare," he muttered into the wooden surface.

"Of your own making?" Ruby grinned, spinning her Scroll in her hand. "Oh no, this is hilarious. You're totally screwed, man."

Jaune groaned again. "Why did Penny have to send that picture?!"

Penny blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Was it not an appropriate response? I believed that sharing the joy of your survival would bring happiness to our friends."

Jaune sighed, lifting his head slightly to meet Penny's innocent gaze.

"Penny, I get that. And I appreciate it. Really. But, uh… people don't always react well to finding out that their 'dead' friend isn't actually dead."

Penny looked at him with genuine curiosity, then her expression softened into something almost… melancholic.

"I see," she murmured, folding her hands together. "Even though I am not… a real girl, I understand that sometimes, things are best settled by sitting down, explaining, and talking it through."

Jaune blinked.

Something in Penny's voice, that tiny flicker of sadness, made him somewhat guilty..

He straightened up, resting his forearms on the table, his blue eyes watching her carefully.

"Penny," he said gently. "You're a really good person."

Penny's eyes widened slightly, her fingers twitching as if she didn't quite know how to process the compliment.

"Thank you, Friend Jaune," she said after a moment.

Jaune hesitated, then tilted his head slightly.

"Would you… want to be human?"

Before Penny could answer, Ruby slammed her hands on the table, narrowing her silver eyes at Jaune.

"Hey! Watch it, Arc!" she snapped. "Penny is Penny! Real or not, that doesn't matter! If you say something like that again, I swear I'll sock you in the face."

Jaune raised his hands in surrender. "Whoa, whoa! That's not what I meant!"

Ruby crossed her arms, still glaring. "It better not be."

Jaune sighed. "I just meant… I technically have a relic that can turn her into a real girl. If she wants it."

Ruby blinked. Then frowned.

"Oh. Right. That's a thing."

Penny, for her part, looked genuinely surprised.

"You could… make me human?"

Jaune nodded. "If you wanted."

Penny seemed to REALLY consider it, her expression unreadable. Then, she shook her head with a bright smile.

"I appreciate the offer, Friend Jaune, but I am happy and combat ready!"

Jaune smiled softly. "You're amazing, Penny. I can see you're not even tempted... truly amazing."

"I know!" Penny beamed proudly.

Ruby rolled her eyes, smirking. "Alright, enough about Penny being awesome.. We need to focus on the real problem."

Jaune sighed dramatically. "Which is?"

Ruby grinned wickedly.

"How you have to beg for forgiveness from Weiss and Pyrrha at the same time."

Jaune froze, then groaned again. "Well… I mean… they shouldn't be around yet… so I may have a chance to do what I want to accomplish first before confronting them."

Penny then shook her head. "Actually… Friend Pyrrha and Friend Weiss are in Atlas. They often work together, as Friend Pyrrha serves as Friend Weiss's personal bodyguard sometimes. The role of the SDC's CEO is quite dangerous, after all! Especially with the disgruntled White Fang as of late!"

Jaune paled.

Ruby clapped her hands together mockingly. "Oh, that's just great, Jaune! Not only do you have to deal with both of them at the same time, but maybe, if they forgive you, Weiss will be kind enough to send you to the Land of Darkness in one of her airships in one piece.!"

Jaune groaned, rubbing his beard. "You're really mean, you know that?"

Ruby grinned devilishly.

"I'm not the one who 'died' ten years ago and just suddenly decided to come back."

Jaune just groaned again, burying his face in his hands.

Penny tilted her head innocently. "I am sure they will not actually murder you, Friend Jaune."

Ruby snorted. "Penny, you sweet summer child… you have no idea."

Jaune sighed, running a hand through his hair, his fingers brushing against the familiar strands of gold that had once been hidden beneath a wolf's disguise. Despite the impending doom of dealing with Weiss and Pyrrha, there was a small comfort in knowing that at least Penny understood.

Even if she cheerfully delivered him to the wolves in the first place.

"You know, Penny," Jaune said, his voice oddly light, "I really do appreciate your optimism. Even if you did just set me up for a world of hurt."

Penny beamed proudly, as if she had done the best thing in the world. "I am always happy to assist my friends!"

Ruby snorted, crossing her arms. "Oh, we know. You're so helpful, Penny. Just the best."

Jaune groaned again, rubbing his temples.

"If it happens, it happens," he muttered, his voice resigned.

He had accepted his impending fate.

Still, there were more pressing matters.

"Regardless of what happens with Weiss and Pyrrha, I still have a mission to do," Jaune said, his tone sharpening slightly. "I can't stop, even if things get messy."

Ruby shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, yeah. That's the Jaune I know."

Penny, however, perked up, her bright emerald eyes filled with enthusiasm.

"Is there any way I can help?"

Jaune chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't suppose you have an airship lying around?"

Penny pouted slightly, tilting her head. "Alas, Friend Jaune, I do not have that kind of dough."

Ruby snorted. "She means money, Jaune."

"I'm not that out of touch... I think," Jaune rolled his eyes. "So, I got that."

He then turned to Ruby, raising an eyebrow.

"What about General Ironwood? Think he'd lend us one?"

Ruby grimaced immediately, sitting up. "Yeah, that's a no from me."

Jaune frowned. "Why not?"

Ruby leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table, her voice dropping slightly.

"Because if you walk into Atlas and ask Ironwood for an airship, he'll probably interrogate you first. And then ask you fifty thousand questions about what you've been doing, what you're planning, and knowing the General… he probably won't agree with what you're doing."

Jaune thought about that for a moment and slowly nodded.

"Yeah… that sounds about right."

There was a long pause.

Then Jaune sighed. "So it seems I'll have to go with Juniper if I can't get an airship."

Ruby grinned wickedly. "Or… you could just beg for mercy."

Jaune groaned loudly, slumping in his chair.

"I hate you."

"I know you don't," Ruby said, her smug expression practically glowing.

Penny clapped her hands together cheerfully. "This is a wonderful bonding moment!"

Jaune, however, remained firm.

"I have no regrets about what I did," he said quietly.

Ruby's grin faded slightly. She studied him, her silver eyes searching for something in his expression.

Then she sighed, shaking her head.

"Well, if that's what you think, then that's what you think," she muttered. "Still, it'd be best if they knew you were alive. Problems like this are best faced head-on, you know?"

Jaune smirked slightly, leaning forward with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Look at you. You've become really wise, Ruby."

Ruby blinked, surprised at the compliment. Then she smirked proudly, flipping her hair dramatically. "Of course! I'm a grown woman, Jaune. I have experience. I have wisdom."

Penny nodded eagerly. "Oh yes! Very wise, indeed! It's not long when I still remember the time Friend Ruby ate an entire cookie cake in under five minutes!"

Jaune choked back a laugh.

Ruby froze.

Her smugness instantly vanished, replaced by an expression of pure, unfiltered horror.

"Penny." Ruby turned her head slowly, her eyes wide. "WHY WOULD YOU BRING THAT UP?!"

Penny tilted her head innocently. "Did I say something wrong?"

Jaune, despite himself, grinned wickedly.

"Oh, please. Do go on."

Ruby groaned loudly, covering her face with both hands, while Penny happily recounted the entire story of how Ruby had demolished an entire cookie cake and then immediately regretted all of her life choices when her tummy started aching.

Jaune, for the first time in a while, laughed.

"Well, aren't you guys having fun?"

The sharp voice cut through the air like a blade, freezing the trio mid-laugh.

Jaune, Ruby, and Penny all whipped their heads around, their expressions shifting from amusement to outright horror as they laid eyes on the two women standing behind them.

Weiss Schnee stood tall and poised, dressed in a crisp, tailored business suit that screamed authority. Her white hair was pulled into a tight bun, not a strand out of place, and her piercing blue eyes gleamed with icy fury.

Standing beside her, Pyrrha Nikos was just as striking, though her attire was a stark contrast to Weiss's. She wore a sharp, well-fitted suit, but unlike her wife, armor adorned her shoulders and arms, making her look both professional and battle-ready.

Their expressions?

Cold. Calculating. Unforgiving.

Jaune Arc, for the first time in years, felt true, bone-deep fear.

Weiss crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly, her gaze burning into Ruby.

"Explain."

Ruby gulped, her previous smugness completely gone.

"Uh… well… funny story—"

Weiss's glare intensified.

"Not that funny, actually!" Ruby quickly amended, waving her hands. "I, uh, I was investigating the giant trees sprouting up, right? And I kind of… found Jaune along the way?"

Weiss narrowed her eyes.

Pyrrha, wordlessly, reached into her suit's inner pocket, pulled out her Scroll, and tapped a number. The line rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

"Mrs. Nikos."

"Miss Goodwitch, this is a confirmation call." Pyrrha's tone was businesslike, her green eyes never leaving Jaune. "Can you verify that Ruby Rose's recent movements align with her stated investigation into the mysterious trees?"

There was a brief pause, then Glynda Goodwitch's voice responded crisply.

"Yes. Ruby Rose was assigned to investigate reports of unusual tree growth in various locations. I approved the mission personally."

Pyrrha nodded. "And did she have any knowledge of Jaune Arc's survival prior to this encounter?"

Another pause.

"Mr. Arc is alive? How is that- No. Ms. Ruby Rose, as far as I can tell, she and I did not know this. Nor was anything like that in her reports… which she haven't done yet... please remind her, Mrs. Nikos."

"I see. I'll explain later, Professor."

"Very well."

Pyrrha took a slow breath, then ended the call. She turned to Weiss, nodding once.

"She's not lying."

Ruby exhaled in relief, relaxing ever so slightly—

Until Weiss's icy gaze locked onto Ruby again.

"Then why didn't you say anything sooner?" she asked, her voice dangerously even.

Ruby shrugged weakly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I mean… I kinda felt bad if Jaune got murdered? I mean he's kinda in a world-saving mission and I don't want you guys hurt if he disappears on us again?"

Pyrrha let out a quiet hum, her expression unreadable, but that single gesture alone made Jaune's stomach drop.

"I—"

Weiss didn't even look at Jaune when she spoke.

"Shut. Up."

Jaune froze, his mouth opening and closing uselessly.

Weiss barely moved, just a slight tilt of her chin, but that was all Pyrrha needed.

Without a word, Pyrrha activated her Semblance.

The metal plates strapped around her waist and arms bent unnaturally, snaking around Jaune's wrists and locking them together like shackles.

Jaune blinked rapidly, looking down at his now-bound hands.

"Uh—okay, so, can we at least talk about this?" Jaune tried, half-laughing, half-panicking. "Like, rationally? As adults?"

Weiss finally turned to him.

Her blue eyes burned.

"We can."

There was no kindness in her voice.

"In private."

Jaune turned to Ruby, his expression pleading, his blue eyes wide and tearful.

Ruby smiled kindly.

Then shook her head.

"Nah, you're on your own, bud."

Jaune felt true betrayal.

Penny, ever the sweetest of souls, fidgeted slightly, her expression full of concern at the duo's murderous aura.. "Should we assist Friend Jaune?"

Ruby patted Penny's shoulder. "Nah. Let's just let them have their little chat."

Penny tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "But Friend Pyrrha looks quite upset."

Ruby sipped her boba tea calmly, watching as Pyrrha dragged Jaune out of the café while Weiss led the way.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, Penny. Besides, it's his fault."

"Ruby..."

"Fine, we'll see if he's alright later."

Penny blinked in worry as Jaune was shoved into a sleek black vehicle, the doors locking shut behind him.

The car drove off swiftly, disappearing into the streets of Mantle like it was transporting a high-value criminal.