Shorter idea, this time around, but I've had it floating around in my head for a while, so I figured that I'd best get it down onto paper... Or, er, electronic paper, I guess.
Disappearing Act
(Inspired by Pineapple by Imyoshi)
Just like with Pineapple, this story begins with Jaune Arc entering Beacon Academy on his own, without Teams RWBY and (J)NPR at his side.
However, the story does not begin at the end of their initiation, but at the beginning of the first day, when Jaune Arc arrives at Beacon, on his own.
Teams RWBY and (J)NPR did not finish the initiation, because they did not ever go to Beacon's initiation.
So, as much as this story is an expansion on Pineapple as Jaune is sent into Beacon as the only first year without a team- Showing him being targeted by CRDL, as well as eventually befriending CFVY and the incoming transfer students for the Vytal Festival- So to is it a mystery, seen through Jaune's eyes, driven by the question of why the rest of the canon cast were not able to go to Beacon.
Soon, as the story progresses, and the canon plot is mixed and mashed, with the entire first half of the White Fang plot chucked into the rubbish due to Jaune not having any incentive to go to the docks, we slowly begin to piece together the various fates and alternative paths that the peoples of Team RWBY and (J)NPR have taken instead of coming to Beacon, as well as their reasons as to why.
But, ultimately, those decisions are up to you. I'm just typing out an idea for you guys to indulge in. The fates of all of those characters, wherever they are hero or villain, protagonist or antagonist, are up to you. I'm just coming up with ideas, so who knows?
Maybe Blake stayed with the White Fang?
Maybe Weiss was influenced more by her father than previously thought?
Maybe Yang was picked up by Raven in the barn all those years ago?
Maybe Ruby was taken along with them, or found by Ozpin instead, moulded into his best agent?
Maybe Nora and Ren found their way to Raven as well, or even that old mad scientist obsessed with Grimm in the mountains?
Maybe Pyrrha found her way to something much, much worse...
But, ultimately, the decision is yours to make.
I'm just giving it to you.
As always, if you want to use this idea, send me a PM and it's all good.