King: First, some housekeeping matters. This is the last chapter I will write until December. For the month of November 2018, I will be attempting to participate in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). For this, I hope to channel my creative work in this into that project and pump out a 50,000 word minimum novel in 30 days. Wish me luck. However, that also means that I won't be writing or publishing any fanfiction during this time. Succeed or fail, I'll be back in December. If I royally fuck up, I'll be back sooner, but (while I love you guys) I kind of don't want that to happen, you know?

Any who~ Side thing really quick. This is a Possible variation with a set inspiration. For these, I'll have the inspiration and then write "(RWBY)" after it to signify it's been RWBY-fied. I hope you enjoy. P.S. Seriously, though, check out the game. It gets a lot of flack for some reason, usually being compared to Overwatch, but the game is good. Like, really good. You can get it for like $10 US these days. And, hey, if you get it for Xbox One, we can play a game or two. Who knows~

Inspiration: Battleborn (RWBY)

/\

Everyone was in a good mood after that, save for the villainous or emotionally stunted. So, of course, the screen had to put something weird into the mix.

The screen was black. But they could hear breathing. "Please… Stay away…"

Pyrrha froze up in her chair. "Jaune? But… why would…"

Nora groaned, "This is too much like the start to a horror movie…"

"Oh no…"

"Please… Get away from me!" His voice seemed to distort slightly, "I don't want to hurt you…" A pair of red eyes formed on the screen. Soon, a white mask formed around it, resembling a creature of Grimm.

Blake had long since associated the mask with Adam, but this was a full-face piece. Regardless, it was a Grimm mask, so whoever wore it had to have something seriously wrong.

Blood splattered onto the mask. "I'm sorry…" The screen faded to white.

When they could see again, they saw Ozpin standing before Jaune in his mid-teens. Jaune was covered in bloodstained clothing and his were a bright red. Ozpin did what he always would in a situation like this. He reached out to this child in need of help. "Tell me," The screen cut again. "Did you want to be a hero?"

Ozpin wasn't sure where this was going. What kind of world did this reality claim?

The screen faded to show Beacon Tower, pride of the Beacon Huntsmen Academy.

Ruby perked up, "Oh! It's one like our reality again!"

Blake calmed, "Been a while since we've seen one of these."

Kali leaned toward her daughter, "What do you mean?"

"Right… I don't think you guys saw one of those. They're supposed to be versions of our reality that could have happened if everything played out a certain way. The versions we saw were where Jaune was Professor Goodwitch's son or where everyone had their gender swapped. But, they all have the same rules as our world."

Jaune stood in the courtyard of Beacon. He was dressed in a futuristic version of his armor. It was likely Atlassian body armor, but clear modifications were made. It was made to resemble a sleek suit of knight's armor, just missing the helmet. Other than that, he just looked like Jaune, complete scragly blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

Yang chuckled, "Hey. Improvement over his usual style. No offence to the guy, but a hoodie and jeans don't really fit what he's going for."

Coco crossed her arms, "I disagree. Arc's style might not be fashionable or knightly, but it does have effects on others. It makes him come across as an everyman, someone you can go up to and just be yourself."

Velvet smiled and nodded.

"It certainly worked on Velvet, here! Not that she's brave enough to actually talk to him. Seriously, girl, you can kill a Beowolf without flinching, but you freeze up just trying to talk to one guy."

Velvet now tried to sink into her chair and hide in embarrassment.

Jaune took a deep breath. "Okay Jaune… moment of truth. You've been training for this… To be a huntsman. Use your skills and powers to help people."

The large drop ship started to dock on the nearby cliff. This was the day before initiation. Zero hour.

Then he heard the explosion. Jaune locked up before breaking out into a run. An explosion?! Are we under attack?! Who would attack Beacon?! Jaune skid to a halt and found a girl lying on the ground. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?!"

The girl sat up and clutched her head, "I'm fine…" As she hopped back up, the group could see this was Ruby Rose, with a twist. Unlike her counterpart, this Ruby wore attire in white and red. It looked the same, just a different base color.

Ruby blinked in surprise. The white and red was a nice esthetic, but it just seemed weird to her. She was so used to her own theme that it was strange to see an alternative style like that.

Ruby picked herself up and brushed off her skirt. "Sorry about the scare. I tripped over some girl's luggage that just happened to be filled with dust. Everyone's okay. Worst damage is to the ground."

Jaune sighed in relief. "Oh good…"

Ruby turned to Jaune, "I'm Ruby, by the way."

"Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."

"Hey Ruby!" Yang suddenly appeared behind Ruby and draped her arm over the younger sister's shoulders, "I was wondering where you went~"

"I've been right here, Yang."

"Well, we need to get inside to the orientation!"

"Oh! Right! Hey do… you?" When Ruby looked back, Jaune was gone.

"Who are you talking to?"

"He was… he was right here a second ago."

Nora gasped, "How did he do that?! That was so cool! You know, as long as it doesn't happen to you."

The camera panned back to show Jaune was now hidden away behind a corner. "Damn it… Stupid habits…" He sighed. "I'll need to work on that…"

The camera moved upward showing the sky turn to night. Then it panned back down to show Ruby and Yang sitting opposite to Coco and Fox in the cafeteria.

This got Coco and Velvet's attentions.

"Thanks again for helping us find this place. The school is like a maze, I swear…" Yang picked up a French fry from her meal and bit down.

Coco chuckled and waved it off. "No problem. This place is pretty massive and its easy to get lost. So, you both first years?"

Ruby nodded, "Just need to pass initiation tomorrow."

"Well, good luck. It's pretty tough."

Fox smirked, "Especially with the Wraith sneaking around."

"Fox! Stop that. The Wraith isn't real."

Ruby looked between the two, "Wraith?"

Coco sighed. "It's this stupid rumor around Beacon. Supposedly, the school is haunted. Training rooms end up torn apart, people have this notion their being watched, all that ghost story stuff."

Weiss thought out loud for a moment, "So, it's likely Jaune is this Wraith."

Neptune crossed his arms, "But ghosts aren't real. This follows our world's laws, and ghosts don't exist. Right?"

This got the intellectuals thinking. Could apparitions exist in their world or was this just hysteria and rumor?

The scene changed to show Yang slamming her locker shut, "Seriously Ruby?"

"Think about it!" Ruby was walking beside her sister as they approached the cliffside site, "I know what I saw, but when I asked anyone else, they said they'd never seen him! He just appeared and disappeared!"

"But, a ghost?"

"Stories have at least some level of truth, Yang. I'm not saying he's a ghost, but he might be the Wraith Coco told us about."

The two reached the cliffside and lined up by the rest of the students. Ozpin looked over the group, scrutinizing the initiate students. "Welcome to Emerald Forest. Below is your initiation trial. To the north of the forest is a set of ruins where you find a series of relics. Gather that relic with your partner and return here to the cliff to pass. Now, for partners, the first person you make eye contact with in the forest below will be your partner for the next four years. Am I understood?" Everyone nodded. "Good. Let's begin."

"Sir!" A hand raised, and the camera pulled around to show Pyrrha Nikos, her hair cut short under a helmet with blue horsehair draping down the back. "Something is wrong here."

Pyrrha blinked before a slight frown formed. Her attire was similar, save for being silver and blue as opposed to bronze and red. She didn't know why, but she never liked that color combination. She respected it as esthetically pleasing but didn't like it.

Ozpin raised an eyebrow, "How so, Ms. Nikos?"

"Sir! There are an odd number of students among us. How can we all form partnerships in this fashion?"

Ozpin took a sip from his mug before answering, "There are an even number of students this year. One student is already in the forest below, at my request. He remains an option for partnership, however. Now, if all questions are answered, we can begin."

He didn't wait for more questions before launching them all into the forest.

Kali jumped at the sight, "Did they just drop you all off a cliff?!"

Gira sighed, "Kali… It's a school for Huntsmen. They need to pass rigorous tests and be able to handle any adversity thrown at them. They can't even get in without passing either a combat academy course or a set testing from the professors beforehand."

Pyrrha felt a shiver run up her spine. She'd kept Jaune's transcript secret since she'd learned about it. If they learned it now… what would happen?

The camera followed Pyrrha as she flew through the air. At one point during her descent, she fired a bullet from her combination rifle and spun out of the way of the tree line. She impacted the ground and formed a small trench as she skids into the dirt. As she crouched, her eyes darted around at lightning speed, taking in the world around her. This was the kind of environment Pyrrha Nikos thrived in. Her semblance gave her the kind of mind that could process as well as any computer. She took in every detail in an instant. One detail stuck out at her. Something was off to the northwest, a battle. Pyrrha charged through the tree line, avoiding every branch and root without needing to look. After all, she'd already memorized their position.

Yang winced, "Yikes. And I thought you were scary before."

Pyrrha chuckled nervously.

Pyrrha broke through the brush, ready to fight, but stopped in shock at what she saw.

A single armored figure stood in what could only be called a Grimm graveyard. Creatures of Grimm, freshly slaughtered, were dissipating into nothingness. The armored figure carried a great sword and a shield, his shoulders rising and falling. It wasn't exhaustion… No, his pattern matched that of a man calming himself down.

Pyrrha moved her weapon and shield to her side, ready in case he jumped at her, "Excuse me?"

The figure turned toward her, showing his helmet had a Y-shaped visor.

"Are you one of the students attending Beacon this year?"

The faceplate divided in three and retracted into his helmet, showing him to be Jaune. "Yeah. Sorry about any confusion." His eyes, however, were a deep blood red.

Nora hopped up onto her chair, "Okay! Hold up! This version of Jaune! Are his eyes blue or red?!"

Ruby shrugged, "Are Yang's purple or red?"

Yang was about to say something saying her eyes were lilac but conceded the point. She knew her eye color changed as she got angry or used her semblance.

Nora nodded, understanding her point, "So, does our leader have a semblance like Yang's? Is he mad? What's going on?"

Pyrrha's eyes narrowed. She watched his eyes as they faded back to blue. "Your eyes seem to have changed colors. Is this normal?"

Jaune locked up for a second before coughing it off, "Yes! Yes, it is. Totally normal."

"You'll forgive me if I don't believe you."

"Sorry. It is normal, I just… kind of wish it wasn't."

Yang tossed up her hand in a feigned insult, "Really? What's so bad about that? It's cool being able to change your eyes like that. Well…" Yang turned toward Neo, "Most of the time…"

Neo smirked and blinked, swapping the position of her pink and brown eyes.

"I don't follow."

"Kind of wish I didn't either… Anyway, I guess we're partners now?"

"Right!" Pyrrha looked around to the foliage to help her orientate. "North is this way." The two took off toward the ruins.

But they weren't alone. Grimm flocked to the death of their own. A group of Beowolves started to move through the brush before a large, arachnoid leg slammed into the ground.

Sun took in a sharp breath, "Guessing that's the Deathstalker…"

Weiss nodded, "Probably."

The Deathstalker moved over the screen, allowing it to transition to the ruins as Pyrrha and Jaune arrived. They approached the pedestals to find only two chess pieces were removed.

Pyrrha picked up the black rook piece, "Suppose now we head back to the cliffs."

A shiver ran up Jaune's spine and he turned around toward the forest line, "That might be hard."

The hoard of Grimm started to push through the trees, running after a pair of other students. One was a young man with dark hair in archers' robes and a woman in fur and steel armor. The two ran up to the ruins and took a position next to Jaune and Pyrrha.

Nora giggled, "TEAM JNPR'S BACK, BABY!"

Ren and Pyrrha smiled. They had to agree that it was nice to see their team together again.

Nora spoke through shallow breathes. "I'm Nora. That's Ren. HELP!"

Pyrrha scowled toward the Grimm and readied her weapon. "What's with them? Grimm don't act like this. Why would they be chasing you two?"

Ren took a deep breath to stabilize his breathing, "They aren't. They just started running here and we got caught in the stampede."

Nora nodded, "It was either run or get trampled."

Jaune took a breath and closed his visor again. "Is there anyone else?"

"Just a giant Deathstalker following the hoard."

Ozpin's eyes narrowed, "Strange. Grimm don't travel like that except when striking at a large settlement in panic. They shouldn't move like that in the Emerald Forest."

Ironwood turned toward Oz, "What do you think it is?"

"I suppose we'll find out."

"Alright… Anyone have any ideas?"

Pyrrha watched the hoard as they started to approach. "Nora, what weapons do you and Ren use?"

Nora looked toward Pyrrha, "I have a spear." She took out a short blade whose handle expanded into a full spear. "Ren uses a bow and arrow set."

Pyrrha nodded, "Okay! Listen up! Jaune and I both have shields. We'll divide with one shield per pair. Ren and I will lay down ranged attacks while Nora and Jaune move in to deal with them as they start to approach. Once their line is weak enough, we make a break for the cliffs. Sound like a plan?"

Glynda took in the moment and nodded, "It is the best plan they could have in the moment. Ms. Nikos seems to be taking the position of leader in this reality."

Nora grinned, "Works for me!"

Ren nodded.

Jaune took in a breath, speaking low enough that they couldn't hear him, "Guess now's as good a time as any…"

Nora and Jaune moved forward as Ren and Pyrrha started their firing line. Pyrrha's rifle was powerful enough to knock a few Grimm out of the fight, so long as she aimed it correctly. Ren, however, had more powerful shots and didn't need to worry about the Grimm's armor. Nora charged in to meet a Beowolf and skewered it on her weapon. She tossed the beast to the side and into another as Jaune sliced them both in two.

"And they already show excellent teamwork." Port laughed. "They'd be a force to be reckoned with in Beacon."

Jaune's breathing picked up pace as he tried to keep himself calm. In time, it was becoming clear the Grimm were focusing their assault on Jaune, almost ignoring the other three. This put him on the front line more often, sword swinging more often. His body seemed to envelop in his dark aura.

Ruby was a little scared now, "What's going on?"

Yang's eyes narrowed, "If its anything like mine, it should be his semblance. But this kind of weird."

"Nora…" His voice was slightly distorted. "Step aside…"

Nora was caught off guard and moved away as he stepped forward.

Jaune roared out, the voice rang with a distorted pain over the Grimm. He charged forward and swung his arm, tossing his shield into a large Ursa. Jaune then kicked up over the Ursa and slashed its head clean off and catching his shield. He became a madman cutting his way through the Grimm.

Yang grinned and slammed her fists together, "Damn! Look at him go!"

Most of the viewers were just surprised seeing Jaune move like that.

Nora was awestruck. Jaune moved like a beast… Perhaps… A monster? She was, therefore, not ready when a Beowolf tried to attack her from behind. Jaune's sword flew over her shoulder and embedded in the Grimm's head. If she had so much as flinched, it would have buried into her shoulder.

Jaune growled as he strangled a Beowolf with his shield, "Focus or move back with the others! We're not done here!"

Nora felt a chill run down her spine. "Right!" She picked the sword from the ground as the Beowolf disappeared and charged next to Jaune. She tossed him his sword and the two continued their work of dismantling the Grimm around them.

With Nora and Jaune's assault being more effective than she expected, Pyrrha made a call, "Alright! Let's get out of here before that Deathstalker arrives!" With that, they were gone. The Grimm moved on to try to follow Jaune but were unable to keep up.

The teaching staff all nodded, content that they made the right choice.

As they ran, Jaune's aura subsided.

Once they reached the cliff, Nora chuckled, "Hey! Jaune, was it?"

"Yeah?"

"What was that semblance? I've never seen anything like it."

"Oh! Um…"

"And that helmet is really cool! Does the visor move on its own or is there a button? Come on, tell me~"

Ruby's head tilted slightly. "I might not be as big into armor, but I have to admit, I'd like to know that too."

"It just…"

Nora placed her hands on the helmet, "Oh! Is it like one of those with a switch?"

"No! Wait!" She accidently removed the latches on his headpiece. Once it was free, his aura poured out and over Nora. Jaune scrambled to reseal his helmet, but the damage was done.

Nora shook. The aura was… "What was that?"

Ren moved over and made sure Nora was okay. "What happened?!"

"It… it was like… looking into the eyes of a Grimm."

"What?"

Jaune re-latched his helmet. After a moment, his visor finally moved to show his face with red eyes. "Please don't do that again."

"What… Just happened?" Nora was stunned silent, at least by Nora standards.

With all eyes on him, Jaune took deep breaths until his eyes became blue again. "I… have a condition, to put it lightly. For years now, I've been cursed with some kind of corruption in my body. As I fight, I get stronger, but lose my temper easily. It's hard to contain, but my armor helps me keep it in check."

Pyrrha thought to herself for a moment. Her mind was running at a hundred miles an hour. "This corruption, it's the reason your eye color changes?"

"Yeah. Red eyes are the first stage. Without my suit, you'd see the other stages between first and last. Last stage surrounds me with my aura. Without the suit, you could easily mistake me for a Grimm in the final stage."

Everyone was surprised to hear that, more so because this was a world based on their own. This was possible in their world! And that… was a sobering thought for all involved. Except Qrow. Man's always drunk.

"How did that happen?"

"I don't know. When it happened, my mind seemed to block out everything. All I remember is Ozpin coming to see me and offering me a chance to attend Beacon. He said it would be good to learn how to control myself in that state."

The screen faded to show Pyrrha thinking to herself again. When it reopened, the team was standing before Professor Ozpin as their team was formed. "Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren, and Jaune Arc. You four have done well and collected the black rook pieces."

Nora giggles, "Still Queen of the Castle~!"

"For today, you shall be…"

"Sir. If I may." Pyrrha raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Um… Yes, Ms. Nikos?"

"I'm aware of your plan for our team based on our work together. But I'd like to make a suggestion."

"That's…" This was the first time anyone ever brought this up at the podium. It wasn't uncommon for team setups to be brought into question after this, but never as the team was being formed. "Ms. Nikos? I'm afraid I can't just…"

"I'd like to suggest Jaune Arc be placed as leader of our team." This statement confused both her team and the crowd, causing a murmur through the audience behind them.

Glynda blinked, "But… Why? She's proved herself to be a very capable leader. Why pass that to someone else? Between the two, Ms. Nikos is the superior option."

Ozpin nodded, but kept watching, knowing her thought process.

"Ms. Nikos… If I may, you've proven yourself to be a capable leader for your team and you've already formed a bond with your teammates. So, why place Mr. Arc in charge instead of you?"

"I only offered a simple strategy. This can easily be done from any position on the team. However, Jaune was able to rally our team during an assault by a mass of Grimm. This is a trait best utilized by a leader."

A slight lie. Ozpin knew that. He sighed and smiled. "Alright then. If that's the case, from now on, you shall be Team JNPR, led by Jaune Arc."

Penny's head tilted again, "I still don't get it. Why make friend Jaune the leader if Pyrrha is better for the role?"

Of those they expected to have the answer, it hadn't necessarily been Ironwood. But here we are. "Responsibility. Oz and the girl are hoping the position will help Arc have a better handle on his corruption. To better control his temper, and by extension his power."

"I had not thought of it like that."

The world closed on that note. And so too did the curtain, waiting until next it would open.