Edit: for some reason keeps removing Glynda and Blake's name on my fic...

Chapter 7

The vast forests of Mistral was a pain to travel on.

The trees were high and the bushes we're dense. No trail in sight. Despite it being noon the place was dark and damp. It was a pain in the ass. Insects chirped loudly and the occasional rustles in the bushes give off false alarms.

Cloud sighed as he cut through another patch of intertwined Vines and shrubs with a part of his fusion sword.

He was currently in the middle of nowhere in the continent of Anima looking for his son. Prior to this, he had visited the famed Haven Academy. But to no avail. He had stayed on the city of Mistral for about three weeks, asking around some of his old contacts.

No luck though…

He needed to hurry, the mako pulses we're getting more and more frequent. And he had a gut feeling Jaune is involved.

Sure there were occurrences before but not at this magnitude.

His trek through the dense forest ended when he finally reached a cliff overlooking a walled up oriental styled town. He took a deep breath finally reaching his destination after three days worth of traveling on foot in a dense forest infested with all sorts of creatures.

The hidden Kisaragi clan village.

"Yuffie if you aren't here, I swear to the gods that-" He said before he was cut off when he saw smoke rising up from the Village….or town… They just call it village.

Sheathing his sword,Cloud jumped from the cliff and went on his way to help them.

He sprinted towards the main entrance of the town. Once he got closer he saw a few ninja-clad men fighting armed up assailants.

"The entrance is breached! Report to the high leader now! argh!" He ordered before he was shot in the head by a bandit.

Cloud clicked hit teeth and unsheathed the two smaller swords that were a part of the fusion sword. Holding both in each hand he began his assault on the

assailants. These men have little to no aura in them so he was able to cut through them with ease.

They drew first blood… not him.

The bandits reacted too late as Cloud already finished off 13 bandits.

"Kill hi-" A bandit ordered but he was cut off when Cloud slashed his head off.

The other bandits tried to fire their assault rifles at him but it meant little. Cloud just twirled his swords and deflected back the bullets.

The last remaining bandit fell on his but and pissed his pants while dropping the gun he was holding.

The bandit cried for his mommy as a few Kisaragi ninjas approached him with their weapons.

Cloud ignored the last bandit as he was cut down by some Kisaragi ninjas. but instead went to the injured kisaragi ninjas. One ninja in particular had a marked headband signifying her rank.

"Are you alright?" He knelt in front of an injured kunoichi.

"C-Cloud-sama…. I… will live thank you..." A female kunoichi bowed while holding her bleeding stomach as another used some low grade healing materia on her.

Cloud nodded.

"What happened here?" He knelt.

"Bandits." She answered.

Cloud raised his eyebrow.

"They're a bit too well equipped to be Bandits." Cloud said as he looked at the corpses. Metal armor and assault weapons. The blades they were carrying looked like they were well made too.

"Cloud-sama… there is no time. A caravan of them had breached the west entrance of the village. The high leader is in danger! urgh…." She tried to beg for cloud but cloud stopped her by holding her shoulders and calming her down.

"Don't worry. I'll help. Have the civilians been evacuated? this place looks like a warzone."

"Y-yes… The people are currently guarded at the east side of the town."

"understood. Seal off this area before the Grimm come."

The ninjas nodded as he left the Kisaragi ninjas to treat their wounds and went inside the Village.

He began freerunning around the city, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, occasionally saving trapped civilians and killing any bandit that crossed him until he reached the West part of the town...err…. village. He stood on top of a building and surveyed the area.

True enough, there was currently a gunfight between the Kisaragi forces and the bandits. He looked towards the enemy lines to see a ruined tank that crashed on a burning building and some atlesian Paladins marching on the battlefield.

Who are these people?

/0/

On the top of the breached western wall a masked woman clad in red and a younger woman with short brown hair was watching the fight.

The masked woman clenched her fists.

"Who. Gave. The order." She said under her mask as she looked towards a bloodied bandit with long hair.

"I said...WHO GAVE THE ORDER?!" She grabbed the bandit's neck.

"Speak up!" The brown haired woman ordered.

"W-we don't know! we were just given a shit ton of hardware and cash and told us to raid the Kisaragi clan by some white haired asshole!"

"AND WHY DID YOU FUCKWITS ACCEPT IT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?!" She screamed in anger.

"W-we just thought we could take them! I mean that guy just gave us all that stuff! H-he even gave us Paladins and Tanks!" The bloodied up bandit said.

"Take them? heh...FUCKING TAKE THEM?! NOW WE HAVE TO WATCH OUR BACKS FROM FUCKING NINJAS KILLING US IN OUR SLEEP! GET THEM OUT OF THERE! ISSUE A RETREAT!" The masked woman yelled as she slammed the bandit to the ground, leaving him coughing on the ground.

The masked woman sighed.

"Vernal. If you please."

The brown haired girl nodded and raised up her arms.

The sky turned black as rain clouds formed. The sky began to crackle and rain started to pour.

The bandits and the ninjas stopped fighting for a bit.

There were then thunderclaps that boomed in patterns.

The bandits looked at each other and nodded.

This was a retreat signal.

Soon enough the Bandits began to retreat as the Ninjas began firing back.

One Bandit pulled out a rocket launcher and fired at the Kisaragi ninjas.

The Kisaragi clansmen tried to escape but the debris and ruined building prevented them.

The missile was closing in.

But then a black blur suddenly went in front of the incoming missile. He Just merely deflected the missile with one of his swords and sent the missile towards a nearby uninhabited building.

The kisaragi clansmen were speechless for a moment before realizing who it was who just saved them.

There stood a blonde spiky haired man with a myriad of swords in his back.

"Cloud-sama!" The clansmen cheered.

"Quiet!" Cloud yelled.

The ninjas went quiet for a bit before cloud continued.

"Protect the civilians! the grimm will come soon!" Cloud ordered.

The Kisaragi ninjas nodded and left.

On the top of the west wall the masked woman looked down on a new figure standing in between the ninjas and the bandits. Most of her bandits were now retreating a few fools still stayed. It didn't take long before the man began cutting down the fighting few. Soon enough he began to target the retreating bandits.

She clicked her teeth. This man was powerful.

After all. He was once a part of Ozpin's little group.

"Cloud Strife… damn…"

She clenched her fists and jumped down to aid her idiotic clansmen.

/0/

Cloud had just finished off another fleeing bandit. His swords were now bloody from the vast amounts of bandits that he killed and his clothes were sticky from it as well.

The swordsman stood alone in a sea of bandit corpses. How many has he killed in this part of town?... 10?15? 40? it didn't matter. He will kill anyone who dares attempt to hurt the innocent and especially his friends.

Years of fighting had hardened him.

"I swear, when I find you Jaune, I will beat the crap out of you." He mumbled.

He then heard somebody land behind him.

He turned around to see a woman with a Grimm mask, clad in black and red samurai-like clothing and armor.

"Well… if it isn't the traitor herself… didn't think you'd stoop so low as to this." Cloud had his suspicions on the identity of this bandit clan. Turns out he was right.

The woman just looked at him before she spoke.

"This was a mistake. Someone tricked my men into attacking the Kisaragi clan."

Cloud raised his eyebrow and looked around. He could see dead civilians in the buildings all around him.

"A mistake? Making excuses now are we? Look around you Raven." He gestured to the death of bandit's, Ninjas, and civilians all around him.

"This is what you do. Even if this was a mistake, you'd just bring more of this death on the innocent villages here in Mistral… you disgust me. Monster." Cloud looked at her coldly.

Raven snapped, she attacked Cloud with a quickdraw strike with her katana.

Cloud deflected it with his sword and used the other one to strike her.

Raven jumped back.

Cloud just stood there looking at her.

Raven began her attack once again while Cloud just merely countered every strike.

Raven cursed. She knew of how powerful Cloud was. This whole plan of attacking him was a bust from the beginning.

No. She didn't plan this at all.

Cloud began bushing her back with a flurry of slashes.

Raven was struggling to defend herself from the swordsman. She contemplated whether she could use 'that' right now but it was too much of a gamble since someone could be watching her right now.

"Damn it!" She yelled as she jumped back and opened a portal, making her escape quick.

Cloud just sighed…

"Cloud?" A voice called out behind him.

He turned around to see a woman in her 30s wearing skin tight jeans, a top which only covered her chest, leaving her stomach open and a short brown Jacket with some metal plating on one arm. Her black hair was fashioned to a bob cut. Even though she was in her 30s she still had that air of youthful energy in her.

"Yuff-"

Before he could say anything he was suddenly tackled by a hug.

"It's good to see you again blondie..." She said.

Cloud smiled and hugged back.

"It's good to see you too."

The two were interrupted when a ninja came with a report.

"Kisaragi-sama! The materia! They're all gone!"

/0/

Glynda couldn't believe what she was hearing from Ozpin.

"... Could you repeat that?"

Glynda said in disbelief.

"I want you to train Mister Arc in controlling the mako energy inside him. I need you to train him to become a SOLDIER."

"SOLDIER? As in those genetically enhanced hunters?" Glynda asked trying to make sense of this.

"Yes"

"... And you say Mister Arc is… turning into one?"

"Yes."

"You want me. To teach him how to control an energy element that we barely understand and treat it like aura?"

"Yes."

Glynda pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Ozpin?"

"Yes?"

"Are you insane?" Glynda asked with a deadpan look.

"Maybe. But we really do need his power for what's to come Glynda."

Glynda sighed.

"Why not ask the ex-Shinra Soldiers at the WRO?"

"They would take him away. And lock him up. Experimented even. Killed at worst." Ozpin answered bluntly.

"And why is that?"

"Have you noticed his eyes?"

His eyes? That's right, they turn to slits whenever he activated his sem- ability…

"Have you heard of the name: Sephiroth?"

"The name of the man who threatened to destroy the world 26 years ago. What of him? Last I heard was that he was killed by a certain unidentified group. You were the one who told us that since the kingdoms are so adamant in keeping what actually happened during the tragedy of Midgar and Shinra a secret."

Ozpin nodded.

"Though this was before your time, do you know what happened during the geostigma incident 25 years ago?"

Glynda pondered. This was before her time.

"I take it it has something to do with sephiroth?"

"Indeed." Ozpin nodded.

"Sephiroth returned in the form of remnants and wreaked havoc on the populace of Edge." Ozpin explained.

"Remnants?"

"Beings formed by Sephiroth as physical manifestations of his will from within the Lifestream, the remnants are each a fragment of his will and serve to enable his physical resurrection into the world."

"I don't…" Glynda was now confused… Remnants? Fragments of his will?

"It's hard to explain, I must admit. Let's just say that they are clones... "

Glynda nodded and cupped her chin, thinking and processing all of this.

"So they are clones of sephiroth… what does this have to do with mr. Arc?" She asked.

"I have a reason to believe that mister Arc maybe something like one of these remnants…"

Glynda dropped her scroll to the floor. Wide eyed and mouth gaping.

"Youre saying...that he's a clone of sephiroth?"

"No. He's no clone I can assure you. I was there when he was born. Remnants are created through the manifestation of infected life stream. However young Jaune was born to a mother and a father. His father was injected with the very same cells which created Sephiroth so it's very possible that these cells were passed on to the male offspring."

Glynda breathed a sigh of relief. She would go ballistic if Ozpin had secretly kept a dangerous being in school… though this would not be the first time. Still the security and the safety of her students were important to her.

"It's possible that he is an inheritor of sorts. Jaune is no monster Glynda. You can see how he acts everyday towards the people he meets. However the abilities he inherited may possibly hurt himself and the people around him. Though, I have to admit... It's the first time I've seen something like this. That's why in addition in helping him in energy control, I want you to look after him. I'm going to be away for a while and I need someone to help the boy so that we can have a fighting chance for what's to come. "

Glynda pondered for a moment, looking down on the floor before looking at Ozpin and accepting the request.

"I'll… try my best… I'm going to have to research a bit about Mako energy, so I'm gonna have to ask your authorization to access the grand archives."

"Very well. Thank you Glynda." Ozpin gave her a smile.

She sighed and bowed before she left.

As the door closed Ozpin took the time to read on the test results of Jaune's blood which he acquired during the incident three days ago. His brows furrowed.

The results disturbed him beyond belief…

Jaune Strife paternity test result…

Cloud strife 43%

Tiffa lockheart 2%

Unkown:55%

This is wrong….. He was there when Jaune was born. He was with cloud as he waited for the delivery of his new son.

….Gods…

/0/

"Think she's really asleep? I have the whipped cream ready" Jaune asked in a hushed voice. Grinning mischievously.

"I think so, quick, ready the camera!" She said excitedly, also in a hushed tone.

Yang was currently snoring on her bed. She was drooling in her sleep. It was currently already 9:35 am by the way.

"I don't think we should do this…." Pyrrha said as she looked on to the mischievous duo.

"Technically this is her punishment for sleeping in despite the plans we made." Blake reasoned, tho deep inside it was just for revenge for teasing her on multiple occasions.

They all planned to have an outing on the weekend after the mock tournament just to hangout in Vale as a group of friends not as students. It had already been four days since then and it was now currently Saturday. While their early morning breakfast discussions were fun, they still needed to unwind a bit. This was supposed to be special too since this would be the first time the group of friends hang out in the city. And this was also the perfect opportunity to get to know Jaune's childhood friend more.

"I got the camera ready!" Nora chimed in in a hushed tone.

"Do you guys always do this?" Velvet asked with a raised eyebrow. She and her team were asked to join team JNPR and RWBY on an outing sadly the rest of her team were off doing their own thing.

"Eh, sometimes." Jaune answered.

"This is very childish by the way." Weiss commented however she also had her camera on for future blackmailing purposes. She planned to use the embarrassing photo or video to make her stop teasing her.

"Hey where's Ren?" Jaune asked wondering where his fellow male was.

"He said he'll just be waiting at the airdocks." Nora answered.

Jaune nodded.

"Alright, let's do this…."

Ruby nodded.

The two of them sneak towards Yang's bed.

The others watched with bated breath as the two tiptoed near her bed.

Ruby and Jaune looked at each other and nodded.

Ruby pulled out a small pink colored feather from an unknown bird while Jaune carefully applied whipped cream on her hanging hand.

Ruby began tickling her sister's left cheek.

*SPLAT*

Ruby and Jaune jumped back laughing as Yang slowly got up with a face full of whipped cream.

Yang looked at them with groggy eyes. She looked at her left hand which was covered with whipped cream.

She licked some of it off before saying something.

"Looks like we got two candidates for the 'Start everyday with a Yang' project." Her eyes turned red and her hair flared up.

Jaune and Ruby backed up and turned to their compatriots….sadly they were not there anymore.

Traitors!

Both gulped as Yang got up with a sadistic smile plastered all over her face.

Elsewhere Ren sat on a bench checking the time on his scroll.

"They should be here any moment no-"

Boom!

A small explosion could be heard from the direction of the dorms which Ren just shrugged off.

/0/

"I told you we were sorry! Plus it was your fault for sleeping in!" Ruby tried to reason with her sister.

Yang pouted as they all sat inside the airship with her arms crossed between her chest.

They were all dressed in casual wear now and were waiting for the airship to land at Vale.

Jaune and Ruby sat beside each other. Luckily they had aura to save them when Yang rained anger upon them both back at the dorms. As of now, team RWBY's dorm window was being repaired.

"'Twas pretty funny though." Jaune and Ruby chuckled.

Yang sent a sharp look at Jaune and Ruby which made the two promptly clutch each other's arms in fear.

"Mark my words Jaune Arc and Ruby Rose… I will have my revenge…" Yang said in a dark tone. The two pranksters gulped.

Beside them Velvet and Pyrrha giggled at the three.

"So what's the plan for today?" Weiss asked.

The nine of them looked at each other, hoping for any suggestions.

Jaune hummed.

Ruby made a thinker pose and wracked her mind for suggestions.

Pyrrha looked unsure.

Blake was just reading her book.

Velvet looked at her new friends.

Ren was trying hold Nora and prevent her from opening the airship doors.

Nora was trying to open the airship doors saying that the view is prettier to look at if there was no glass.

Weiss facepalmed at the lack of plans this outing has.

It was then the holo-tv program suddenly went to a commercial.

The commercial was going on and on about a new mall opening downtown and are currently announcing a first day sale.

The girls looked at each other and the guy looked at each other.

"Oh no…" The two males muttered.

"SHOPPING!" All the girls cheered, surprisingly Blake as well.

The other passengers on the airship gave their silent condolences to the two.

/0/

Jaune slumped on a nearby bench outside of a myriad of different shops. Both of them were taking turns in assisting the girls in their shopping.

Yang was currently accompanying her sister in a weapon shop just near the bench.

Blake was checking out different bookstores.

Weiss was dragging Pyrrha around different fashion oriented shops.

Ren was also being dragged around by Nora to who knows where.

While Velvet accompanied him. Though she was currently getting some smoothies for the both of them.

A lot of his friends assumed that he would have at least gotten used to it by now since he had 7 sisters to deal with but no. He still was not used to it. He never really understood the appeal of shopping. If it we're him he'd just go to the shop, buy what he needed, and then leave. That was it. Girls however…

"Oh! Let's try that other shop! There's a 20% off of their jackets!" Yang pulled her sister towards a shop adjacent to where they sold clothes.

"Yaaaaang! I still want to check the weapons shop!"

"Hush Rubes! You're not gonna get noticed if you keep on wearing that outfit that you always wear!"

Ruby pouted then noticed Jaune.

"Help me brother!" She extended her arm as the other was held and pulled by Yang.

Jaune just hugged and smiled smugly at her as he gestured towards the many bags and boxes that he was guarding.

"Designated security guard remember?"

Ruby gave him a distraught look before yelling "Traitor!" Before the shop door closed as they went in.

Jaune shook his head and chuckled. It was currently his turn to guard the items they all bought. Though admittedly he had bought nothing during this trip because he was currently broke at the moment. He actually planned to look for any hiring posters during this trip to earn some lien during his time at beacon. He wanted to tell his friends though he sometimes forgets due to the things that clouded his mind like school and all that SOLDIER stuff… Glynda's training hasn't started yet simply because she still needs to prepare it when he asked her and this second person hasn't arrived yet too. When he asked about it from Ozpin, the headmaster simply told him that he was currently dealing with things on his end. Other than that nothing peculiar really happened after that.

He sighed on the bench and opened up his scroll.

11:35 am..

It was almost time for lunch.

He wondered where they would eat in this mall but shrugged it off to let the others decide where they would go next.

"Hey you doing all right there?"

He turned his head to see Velvet holding smoothies in both hands.

She offered him the mango flavored one which he thankfully accepted.

"Yeah, I'm doing good. Thanks." He smiled at her.

Velvet smiled and sat down beside him.

"Who would've thought that you were a year older than me. I mean back when we were kids you were adorably shorter than me and tended to cry a lot."

Jaune let out a small laugh before Velvet gave him a light punch on his arm.

"Most of the reason why I cried a lot was because you kept getting into fights for me! I couldn't bear to see you get hurt! Idiot…"

She pouted.

"But it worked didn't it? Those kids never bothered you and your sisters ever again."

She sighed.

"I guess it did. But that still doesn't excuse you for getting yourself hurt idiot…" she looked at him with a sad look.

He just smiled and rubbed her head like he always did.

Velvet's drooped and her face flushed. It seemed to have calmed her down alot. Jaune still wondered why that was.

She was currently wearing a black sleeveless top beneath a light brown jacket to cover her shoulder. On her neck was a cute rabbit shaped pendant, Jaune recognized it as pumpkin Pete's mascot.

"Hey isn't that?..." Jaune looked at the pendant.

Velvet blushed.

"You still remember this?"

"Of course I do! How could I forget it! Oh wait here look…"

Jaune pulled out a carrot shaped pin which he pinned to his wallet.

"We exchanged this back when you were leaving for Menagerie… we swore that when we would meet, we would meet as Hunter and huntress! Saving lives and taking names hehe…"

Velvet giggled. She used to put that pin on the beret that her father gave her when she was a child.

"I guess we met too early huh?" Velvet said.

"Yeah, but it's not a problem. I got to meet my childhood friend."

Velvet smiled.

"That reminds me, how are things back at Argent? How are the others?" She asked before she sipped from her straw.

Jaune flinched for a bit before he hid his discomfort quickly.

"I… don't really know. A Lot of our old friends left Argent a year before you left. Haven't heard from most of them. But there are still a few that stayed."

Jaune gave her a somber smile.

Velvet gave him a worried look. Friends come and go… Velvet understood that, she had a hunch Jaune also knew that too so she just put a hand on his shoulder.

Jaune touched her hand on his shoulder. Velvet has always been there when they were kids whenever he would feel bad. In fact back when he was rejected by his first crush it was Velvet who comforted him and another one of his close friends encouraged him to not give up.

"Was Amber one of them?" She asked.

"Yeah…"

Amber was one of Jaune's closest friends. The big sister of his little circle. She was often the one who encourages Jaune to pursue his crushes despite being one of them earlier on. Velvet knew that he used to have a thing for that girl. Though it hurt. She still supported him.

Jaune's circle of friends were kids that shared the same dream as him. All strived to be hunters and huntresses. He didn't tell others about his parents' strictness when it came to preventing him any contact with the Hunter's world though. Eventually each friend left to become hunters and Huntresses. They all left until it was only him.

"Don't worry Jaune… I'm sure we'll see her sooner or later. But right now we gotta focus on becoming the hunters that we always dreamed of." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Velvet." He said to her.

Velvet smiled but then frowned.

"I've been meaning to ask…"

Jaune noticed her expression and immidiately knew what she was going to ask.

"... Jaune… why do they call you Arc?"

Jaune felt his stomach contract and his chest tighten.

"I'm not going to judge you… I just need a clear answer why… you changed your family name… did your mother remarry?"

Velvet looked concerned. She knew Jaune's family. They were a great family! Albeit too over protective. She had actually doubted that he was actually her childhood friend at first because of it. Though now that she knows that he is who he is, she couldn't help but wonder why he changed his name.

"What? No! No!... Of course not! It's…"

Just before he could explain he felt something tug on his sleeve. He turned to see a white haired little girl clutching a small stuffed rabbit. Her hair was fashioned to a little ponytail and her eyes were teal blue like his. The expression she gave was that of a bored look. It was strange to say the least since he felt like he knew this girl.

"Oh hello. Are you lost little girl?" Velvet asked the little girl.

The little girl shook her head. She tugged Jaune's sleeve again and pulled him.

"Umm… can I help you?" Jaune asked with a questioning look.

The little girl nodded.

He looked to Velvet but Velvet just shrugged.

"I'll watch over the stuff. You go help that little girl. We'll continue our talk later." Velvet smiled.

Jaune sighed and gave her his thanks before letting himself get pulled by the girl.

/0/

The little girl guided Jaune towards a small cafe after going through a dozen or so turns. Jaune kept asking her where they were going but the girl didn't answer.

As the little girl guided him his mind was once again in turmoil whether to tell his friend the shameful truth or make a believable lie. He didn't want to lie to Velvet. She was one of his best friends. She was a person he could trust. He knew her even before he went to Beacon.

The little girl kept guiding them until they reached a certain cafe.

[Loveless cafe]

'huh… what are the odds…'

Jaune had been looking for the continuation of the old poem. He had been looking for awhile but his current monetary problems and school prevented him from progressing.

The both of them entered the cafe and the girl motioned him towards a table that was occupied by three girls.

One was wearing a long hooded shirt that reached to her thighs, there was a miniskirt but it was covered by the long hoodie. She was wearing black leggings and had headphones on. The hood was pulled up and her white hair covered half her face.

Another also had white hair though this was tied to a formal bun. This girl was spectacled and looked older. She was wearing a black turtleneck shirt and an office skirt above her black leggings and heels. She was currently reading a book.

The last one was currently happily eating cake. She also had white hair and teal blue eyes. Her hair was fashioned to twin tails with blue ribbons tying them up.

The all turned towards him once the little girl approached them.

They all had teal blue eyes… like his.

Jaune trembled for a bit. They all looked gorgeous… it made him nervous. Though that wasn't only it. He also felt like he knew them. It was a strange feeling.

"Well well well… who did you bring to us little sister?"

The bespectacled one spoke.

"Oh! He's-!" The twin tailed girl spoke before she was glared at the bespectacled one.

The one in the hood had wide eyes and was trembling as she stared at him. He somewhat felt uncomfortable in her gaze. Like she was eating him with her eyes in an animalistic fashion.

"Uuhh.. your little sister just kinda dragged me to you guys- err… girls."

He scratched his head nervously.

The little girl just looked at him and tilted her head slightly.

The bespectacled woman looked at him and smiled.

"I apologize for that. She seemed to have mistook you for our brother. We're gonna see him and mother very soon, I guess she was just excited."

"A...ah… well it's alright. I just though she needed help. Try to watch over her properly next time."

Jaune noticed the hooded girl was now looking away and was panting heavily.

"Don't worry about her. She's just shy. What don't you join us? Think of it as an apology for taking your time." The bespectacled girl spoke.

"Yes well it was nice meeting you lovely ladies but I… uhh have to go. Yeah… sorry."

He knew that this was being rude but being near these girls, minus the little one, made him uncomfortable… it was like he was being drawn towards him.

The older one noticed his stiff expression and gave him a sultry smirk and leaned her head on her hand.

"Oh… well that's too bad. Come now Lily."

The bespectacled girl looked at the little one.

"So your name is Lily huh? Well you should go off causing problems for your sisters… who knows what would've happened if it were some shady guy who found you."

He knelt beside her and gave her a pat on the head.

The little girl looked like she didn't want to let go. Her eyes looked like they were pleading him to stay which momentarily made Jaune hesitate to leave...

The girl then hesitantly let go of his sleeve and waddled towards the older girls.

"Well then I guess I'll take my leave."

"A shame. Well it can't be helped. Good day to you."

The bespectacled girl nodded while the twin tailed girl wanted to say something but couldn't, the hooded one was now hunched over her seat still panting and trembling.

Jaune left the cafe. As soon as he was out of sight he slumped on a nearby wall and breathed heavily.

"What was that?..." He whispered to himself.

It felt so suffocating there. It felt like something took hold of his lungs and kept squeezing it.

"This feeling… it can't be…"

He quickly went to a nearby bathroom, locked the door and looked at the mirror.

"What?.. h-how?! I wasn't even in danger!"

He saw that his eyes were now slits and were glowing mako blue. Soon, the slits began to raidly shift from normal to slits again. He quickly pulled out his scroll and tried to type in Ozpin's number but he couldn't, his hands went numb and his head began to hurt. He gritted his teeth due to the pain.

He tried punching himself like what he did back at the mock tourney but it didn't work.

/0/

At the same time in the loveless cafe…

"That...was him…" The hooded girl trembled on her face was a euphoric smile.

"Epsilon.. calm yourself… it's disgusting." The bespectacled girl spoke as she sipped her tea.

"You sure that was him? Big sister Alpha has larger mako reserves. He has… eh maybe half of mine give or take." The twin tailed girl spoked as she munched on some cookies.

"He is a catalyst dear sister. The strongest one yet. He may have the highest chance yet… unlike those other failures…" The bespectacled girl replied.

"That was him! I know it's him! I could feel it in every inch of my body! Hehe~ Ah! I want to merge with him now!" Epsilon exclaimed as she stood up. It was lucky that the cafe was somewhat empty.

"Geez! Calm down Epsy! He's just one catalyst! I'm sure those remnants have found more subjects other than that guy already." The twin tailed girl threw a cookie at Epsilon's forehead.

Epsilon growled at the twin tailed girl.

"What do you know Theta? I doubt you even want to meet with big brother and mother. All you ever talk or think about is Big Sis, Alpha."

"What did you say you fucking brocon?!" Theta slammed her hands on the table and glared at Epsilon with slit eyes.

The bespectacled girl just closed her eyes and sipped her tea and let the two bicker on.

Epsilon smirked.

"I don't have to take that from a Siscon! Ohhh Alpha this~ Alpha that~ Oh alpha I wanna-...oh?"

The four of them then felt a huge wave of mako energy. Energy that only they could feel.

"Hehe~"

Epsilon suddenly jumped off her seat and ran towards the source pushing anyone out of her way.

"Hey! W-"

"Theta. Leave her." The bespectacled girl spoke not even opening her eyes.

Theta sighed.

"Hope you know what you're doing. Damnit I should be with Big Sis right now, collecting materia. Damn it…"

/0/

Jaune struggled to stand up, his vision was now blurring, his nose bled from the times he punched his face to attempt to stop the influx of mako energy.

He was beginning to lose hope. Was he going to die? Was this the end?

Such thoughts crossed his mind.

Suddenly the bathroom door opened up.

Jaune turned to see a blurred figure suddenly grabbing him by the collars of his shirt and pushed on to the sink. His eyes widened as the blurred figure suddenly kissed him. And this was no simple and innocent kiss either. This was violent. The blurred figure's tongue fought wildly at his own. He tried pushing the figure off but the figure was just too strong and pinned him to the broken mirror. He didn't even blush. He was more scared than anything.

Flashes of memories began to fill his mind…

Glass tubes…

An assembly line of children…

Men in white suits…

Green liquid being pumped into their veins…

It was horrible…

The children faces contorted into pain…

They were put in pens, being observed from afar by men in white suits…

Slowly but surely, his vision began to return to normal. His strength came back, and the pain was slowly going away. He looked at the figure to see that it was the same hooded girl from the cafe.

The girl's lips parted with an audible smack. The girl looked and smiled a dangerous smile after licking her lips at Jaune's flushed and surprised look.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered.

"You're welcome… brother… hehe"

She stood up straight and wiped her lips with her sleeve and left the bathroom. But not before she said something to him.

"It would be best to keep this from others if you don't want to be taken by them. We'll meet again soon. Bye~ bye~"

She cutely waved her hand and left.

Jaune was there slumped and stunned at what just happened. All he could really think right now was:

"What the fuck?..."

/0/

Epsilon returned to the cafe.

"So how was it?" The bespectacled woman asked.

"Delicious."

Theta scoffed and mouthed a curse.

"Not that Epsilon. How was the compatibility?" The bespectacled girl asked.

"Perfect. The energy inside him became stable instantaneously once I merged with his a little bit. Well. Minus the a little bit part. Gave him my first kiss~" Epsilon smiled.

"What? That's impossible!" Theta was sceptical. Of course she would be. All the other catalysts were incompatible and highly volatile. Supposedly they were just going to touch them and 'merge' with them a little bit, give them 5% or more, never above 10%. Almost all mutated while few were left brainless and a drooling mess. Kissing means that she just gave 40% to that guy. Which was insane.

The bespectacled girl smirked.

"Perfect. Well then it seems that our mission here is done. Let us return Home."

The three girls nodded.

"Oh and next time. Don't stab our guests Epsilon."

Epsilon just pouted and shrugged.

"Ugh.. yes Beta…"

"This guy better not be like that bull Faunus. Fucking damn it." Theta commented.

"He won't be I assure you. That failure ain't got nothing on brother." Epsilon smirked a toothy grin.

"Ugh.. you're even calling him brother now…" Theta looked disgusted.

"Enough. Let's go." Beta stopped them.

"Yes sister." Both said monotonically in unison.

/0/

Jaune returned to the group who was now waiting for him on the bench, they were all carrying different bags of items.

"Jaune there you are! Where have you been?" Velvet waved at him. However Pyrrha noticed something and approached him.

"Are you alright? You look flushed." she asked.

Jaune contemplated whether to answer truthfully however both Ozpin's and that girl's words began to repeat themselves in his head.

'Them? Those men in suits? What did she mean? Could it be what Ozpin was warning him about?'

"Y-yeah, I'm just feeling a little bit under the weather. Don't worry."

The girls looked at each other doubting his words but let it go because it seemed like he didn't want to say anything.

"How was the little girl? What did she need help with?" Velvet asked nicely.

"Huh? Oh yeah… uhh.. Just a case of mistaken identity. Her guardians apologized after that. Dont worry she's fine" Jaune gave her a reassuring smile.

"Right…" Velvet looked worried. Jaune looked like he had run a marathon.

"So uhhh…where do you girls wanna eat?" Jaune asked trying to change the topic.

"Ugh I thought you'd never asked! Renny and I found this sweet Mistralian restaurant!" Nora quickly chidded in. She continued saying that this restaurant sold all sorts of Mistralian foods including all sorts of sweets that involved either ice cream or waffles.

"Can't we go to a place more…. Healthier?" Weiss looked disgusted at what Nora was describing. She needed to watch what she ate so that she could maintain a body worthy of a Schnee heiress and a huntress.

"Well I think this place sounds nice!" Yang mused.

"Oh! Do they have an assortment of cookies too?!" Ruby asked excitedly.

Nora grinned and gave Ruby the thumbs up.

Ruby's eye sparkled and went beside Nora putting her arm around the Valkyrie.

"Lead the way my compadre!"

Jaune looked to Ren hoping for a different suggestion.

Ren just stared blankly at jaune and shrugged.

"Queen's orders."

Jaune sighed and grabbed the shopping bags, Weiss groaned, Blake was indifferent, Yang followed Nora and Ruby while Pyrrha and Velvet helped Jaune and Ren carry the bags.

As they all went on their way they all noticed Jaune behaving strangely. They all knew that Jaune tends to think a lot about stuff but this was new. He was literally deep in thought as they walked.

Pyrrha and Velvet looked at each other in worry.

/0/

Qrow took a sip of his flask as he inspected another mangled body in Forever Fall. The fed were now clearing the area out and put barriers all over the place. The train tracks were shut down too.

The body was cut up in half. It's remains were not gone, probably some kind of animal already scavenged it. The whole area was torn up. Some trees were cut and there seemed to be weird markings on the ground. Not footprints. Markings. Looked like something dragged itself in an erratic fashion and drew shapes and other weird stuff as it moved.

Qrow sighed.

Unexplained killings over the forests and mountains on each continent. Weird reports of monsters other than grimm. Dead bodies strung all over places...

Ozpin had said that this kind of shit's been happening all over remnant, especially on Vacuo and Mistral. No reports on Atlas though, Atlas seems to be tight lipped on the subject of weird unexplained events.

So far though the Cities and the larger towns have been untouched. Small villages however…

Qroe sighed and once again began to survey the area.

On the side was a backpack and a discarded scroll which seemed to still be recording.

He picked it up and reviewed all the found footage which these poor victims left as they died. Hoping it would would be a lead. But all it showed was a blurred and shaky footage of something chasing them.

People liked recording their outings. Especially hikers and treasure hunters. Why people would think to hike so far away from safety baffled him.

Good scrolls were incredibly rare to people on the outer kingdoms, usually only held by the upper class and hunters, occasional bandits and criminals too… but to common folk, these were rare. That's why all he could dig up on found footages were from old or cheap knock offs of scrolls that are sold in the cities. Also the reason why there are still courier mail services all throughout the frontiers…

It's already been a month since Ozpin had found that ransacked warehouse... Most escaped grimm where already dealt with by the professionals.

The current scene may look like something out of a grimm attack but Ozpin had his doubts… Which is why he sent him. There was supposed to be that other assignment but right now his hands are full.

He picked up a stick and poked around the body parts. The lacerations dont look like claw marks, rather they look like lashings. Like someone used a huge metal chain and whipped the poor sod to pieces.

Normally he would just let the WHA's forensics team to analyze the scene, make a report and issue a quest or whatever... but this wasn't normal. Vale is just 20 miles from here. Older reports stated the same type of killings 50 miles away from here….

This thing was coming closer and closer to Vale as time passed. There was still no confirmation of there are more of these things which is why it was worrying him.

He then heard an engine's hum from afar. He jumped up a tree and squinted to see a few bullheads with the World Hunter's Association's logo on it.

"Hmph...Late…Like always."

He jumped down and took a long swig off his flask.

The area was already cleared of Grimm. He made sure of that. The scent of the sap from the trees managed to attract hundreds but it wasn't a problem for him really. The most dangerous Grimm in forever falls was a larger Variant of an Ursa...

He sat on a fallen tree to wait for the WHA agents to land and inspect the scene.

As soon as they landed Men and Women in white and blue suits quickly dispersed after their security team inspected the area and gave their ok.

Qrow stood waiting with his arms crossed to his chest. To his surprise, there was a lone WRO agents among the WHA that came out of the bullhead. He had brown somewhat messy hair and green eyes.

He approached Qrow.

"I take it that you're Qrow? Ozpin had contacted the WRO and requested support on the case."

Qrow nodded.

"My name's Denzel. One of the chief medical officer at WRO and forensics expert." He extended a hand but Qrow just turned his back and motioned The WRO agent to follow.

/0/

"So what do you got? Any leads?" Qrow asked as Denzel sampled the area around the scene after examining the bodies. He was currently crouching with a device in his hand, sampling the dirt, blood, flesh and debris.

"There's a large concentration of corrupted life stream here as well as infected mako fluid on the bodies... Like all the others. Same type of injuries like those bodies found a week ago near Pine woods..."

Qrow raised an eyebrow.

"Infected mako fluid?"

Denzel nodded. He stood up and looked at Qrow

"Look Qrow right? I'm sorry but your services are no longer needed here. The WRO can handle this situation from here on out. Tell Ozpin that it's a code C, he'll understand."

Qrow's eye twitched.

"You want me to leave? Well Denzy, I happen to be informed on those so called codes. So it's a mutated sephiroth clone? Is that it? That's what's been killing people here?"

He's been on this case for good three weeks, he wasn't going to leave this case just because some WRO official says so… what went Ozpin's mind when he asked for those corrupt assholes help?

"Oh? So you know about the code? Well then you should know that protocol states than whenever a Mutant appears, it is to be dealt by the organization's SOLDIER squads not Hunters. Those things are too much for hunters. If you were to deal with this then you would die. Also we do not refer to them as mutated sephiroth clones anymore, try to get up to speed with your info. There's a difference between a clone and a mutant."

Blunt and honest. He's gotta admit, the suit had guts.

Qrow clicked his tongue in defeat.

"Ah whatever…" Qrow kicked a fallen log in frustration before he left. All that work for nothing.

Denzel pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Hunters… really…" He commented before he did some more inspection.

/0/

The group now sat on a large table waiting for their food to be cooked, during that time the girls took their chance at chatting with each other, Ren being the most quiet one besides Blake was currently correcting some discrepancies on Nora's 'awesome stories that totally happened'.

Jaune tried his best to hide his uneasiness and discomfort due to the incident earlier, faking a laugh and a smile occasionally.

It seemed to work. Velvet and Pyrrha were chatting happily While Weiss was reading a Magazine. Ruby and Yang listened on to Nora's story about the time when she met a talking Ursa. Jaune doubted it. Blake sat opposite to him reading a book.

It was strange.

Jaune thought that she went to that new bookstore and bought some books but he noticed that she wasn't really carrying anything other than the book she brought for the trip.

"Hey Blake, how was the new book store?" He asked.

Blake didn't look away from her book when she replied.

"It was fine. Though I didn't really see anything that interested me."

Jaune raised an eyebrow.

"Huh… not enough raunchy books for you?" He teased.

Blake sent him a glare in which he just laughed it off.

Blake sighed.

"At least you don't call them smut."

Jaune chuckled.

"Still though, I thought for sure you bought at least something. The new volume of Ninjas of Love just came out."

Blake just gave him a smirk and shrugged.

"What can I say? I have a lot of self control."

Jaune looked skeptical. He had known Blake to be quite the Ninja's of Love fanatic. Now that he looked closer, this book eerily looks like the new volume which came out today. Wait, she's been reading that book for 3 days… How did-

"What? Jaune, you read that smut too?" Yang joined in on the conversation.

"It's not smut!" Blake and Jaune hissed at the same time which prompted Yang to raise her hands in defence.

"Okay okay. Jeez."

"Ninjas of Love? Oh yeah that book series that's all the rage nowadays. What is it about anyway? Yang keeps dodging the question and preventing me from finding out." Ruby joined in.

"When you're older Ruby." Yang patted her cute little sister's head.

"Yang, I'm 15 not 12. I know all about the birds and the bees." Ruby crossed her arms and cutely pouted.

Yang gasped.

"Alright, who spilled the beans? Was it you?" Yang pointed at Pointed at Blake.

Blake just ignored her.

"Or was it you?"

Now she pointed at Weiss.

Weiss was startled and then looked confused.

"Or maybe...It was you two!" She now pointed to Velvet and Pyrrha.

"Fess up! It was you two wasn't it?"

Pyrrha put her hands on her lap and looked all serious and stuff which startled Velvet for a bit.

"It was for the best. Yang. Your sister needed to know."

Yang faked being shocked.

"But…. it wasn't me. Though I do know who did it. And he's sitting with us in this very table!"

"Dun dun duuuuuun!" Nora sang for sound effects.

"What? He? I-impossible. But that means..."

"What a naive big sister... The culprit was among us all along. And I've been working with him for awhile now." Ruby smiled smugly at her big sister as she played along.

"Fufufu… so you got it all figured out have you? You couldn't do well enough to just leave it alone." Jaune was now evilly smiling at her.

"But...n-no, h-how could you? She was my little sister!"

"Fufufu… it's too late now Yang, your little sister has learned the true ways of the world."

"You… you monster!" Yang faked a looked of betrayal.

"Pffft….Hahahahaha!"

The group of friends laughed at the skit. Even Blake chuckled a little bit and Weiss seemed to hide a giggle behind her magazine.

"..ha~ I love you guys." Yang wiped a tear off her eye.

"Seriously though, I think it's a little too… graphic for you little sis.

"Aww…" Ruby whined.

"Sorry Rubes the 17+ label is there for a reason." Jaune gave her an apologetic look.

"Not like it matters though…" Jaune laughed a little bit.

"Oh! Food's here!" Nora cheerfully said as a trolley with their food arrived.

It was lucky that Jaune had budgeted what was left of his expenses for this trip.

Though for now, he stuck to the cheapest meal, which was salad and an iced tea.

The others had a variety of foods each to their likings. Luckily everyone shared their meals with everyone, that made eating salad a little bit better.

As they were eating the t.v. caught Jaune's attention.

"-in other news, we are here live at forever fall forest where yet another dead hiker has been found…"

Jaune stopped eating. The other soon took notice and looked to the holo-tv in curiosity.

"-here we have the WRO forensics expert and chief medical officer Denzel Skye with a few words concerning this horrible incident."

"Denzel?" Jaune and Velvet said in unison which caught the attention of the others.

"Someone you know?" Yang asked.

"Yeah… he's a family friend. An uncle of sorts. He often visits us from time to time. Velvet knows him through me." Jaune answered while Velvet nodded.

Denzel was rarely around back when Jaune was a kid. It was because he was always studying with Marlene. Though whenever he was around, he would always take the time to hang out with Jaune and his friends.

"This is surprising… you know somebody from the WRO?" Weiss raised an eyebrow. She was genuinely surprised that Jaune knew a high ranking officer in the WRO.

"Yeah… most of my uncles and aunts work there." Jaune answered.

Weiss hummed.

The group then continued to watch the news.

"- From what we could find, it seems to be just another Grimm attack. Though it is sad, it is very common in these parts. We at the WRO and the WHA have already issued warnings concerning these types of forests. I would like to advice the public to mind the warnings and never go into dense forests without a Hunter."

Gunfire could then be heard in the background.

Denzel looked behind him to see a soldier give an ok signal.

"See? Grimm are very common here in forever fall due to the sap. Please. Don't be suicidal and run off on your own in places like this."

Denzel looked at the camera sternly.

The news reporter then pulled the mic away from Denzel after he was done.

"And there we have it folks. Don't be suicidal, mind the signs. Grimm are not to be taken lightly. This is Vera Violets. Signing off. Back to you Lisa."

The camera then cuts to the newsroom and pans to Lisa Lavender.

"Thank you Vera. In other news: Strange unexplained occurrences in Valean sewers. Authorities and witnesses we're baffled when they heard strange moaning noises in district 7's sewer system. Police have suspected that this may of have been the work of Grimm and have begun to notify the WHA."

The news continued on on the happenings around the city and the rest of the world most of which didn't interest Jaune. Most of it was about politics.

"Lots of things happening in Vale nowadays…" Jaune said as he went back to eating.

"Yeah… it's almost worrying. There's the dust robberies, sightings of white fang, urban legends…" Pyrrha agreed.

"One after another huh?..." Jaune sighed.

"Gotta admit it's been pretty lively here in Vale since school started a month ago." Yang said as she ate her burger.

Blake was silent but agreed with all of them. True, it had seemed like trouble's been converging here in Vale.

It was strange for her. Things like this would have been normal for her but School had actually helped keep them from all of this stuff. The benefit of being a student.

"All major cities have problems like this. It isn't like Vales the only one that has these." Weiss said.

"Well yeah, but it's not like every city out there has organized Dust robberies every night now do they?" Ruby chidded in.

"Still the cities are safer than living outside the walls though…" Ren said.

"Yeah…"

Jaune agreed.

"Ya know, it's weird. These dust robberies happen every night yet the police have yet to catch the perpetrators." Velvet said as she ate her food.

"Predicting these robberies can be quite difficult. It's not only the big shops that are being robbed, also the little ones as well. The authorities tried to monitor dust shops but most of the time the guards were knocked out." Blake added.

"Oooh! Do you guys think that that thing in the sewers is a sewer monster? Makes me want to hunt it down! Let's hu-" Nora was about to make a ridiculous suggestion but was cut off-

"No!"

As everyone declined.

They all continued to chat as they ate until they finished. The rest of the day was spent with them all exploring the newly opened mall. Velvet and Jaune hadn't really continued their conversation earlier but Jaune promised to tell her in private since it was a personal thing.

/0/

The sun was setting now, the group walked out of the mall with all sorts of bags with them. They just came from the mall's arcade and had managed to win some prizes while they were playing around.

Today was fun. That was everyone's thoughts as they now headed to the air docks for the return trip to Beacon. Everyone,safe for a quiet few, were idly talking about today's activities.

"Ah! Today was fun~" Ruby said as she stretched her arms as she walked.

"Yeah we should do this often." Yang added.

"Let's not forget that we still have homework that's due this monday. Today was… enjoyable but don't let it get to your heads." Weiss huffed.

A vocal few groaned.

"Come on Weiss. Ever heard of the phrase 'All work and no play makes you a dull person'?" Yang said.

"A little break can't hurt. In fact it's important for hunters and huntresses to take a break once in awhile. Working too much is very unhealthy, both mentally and physically." Pyrrha smiled at Weiss.

Weiss just sighed in defeat.

They all arrived at the air docks and bought their tickets.

Jaune stared at his ticket and contemplated whether to call it a day or do his 'side-quest' in fiding a part-time job.

As soon as an airship arrived and opened its doors, the group began collecting their things.

"You guys go on ahead."

The others stopped and turned their heads to Jaune in surprise.

"I've got something else to do here in Vale."

"Is everything okay?" Pyrrha asked in concern.

"It's fine Pyr. Well I'm currently trying to find a part-time job right now. It's not everyday I get to visit Vale. My funds are already on the red. You guys know that I'm self sustaining myself in Beacon right?"

"Really? If it's money then-" Pyrrha suggested but Jaune stopped her.

"Pyrrha, no. I can't take money from you. I need my own income while I'm here." Jaune put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. It had seemed to work as she sighed and gave jaune a smile.

"Alright… just be careful okay?"

He turned to Velvet and stared at her. To others the two of them looked like they were having a silent conversation.

Velvet sighed.

"It's fine Jaune, we can continue our chat later." Velvet smiled at him. Pyrrha looked curious as to what this chat was.

Jaune checked his watch.

"Well times running so I've got to hurry this up. You guys be careful on your way back." Jaune smiled.

They all said their goodbyes as Jaune turned and waved at them as he walked away from the group and eventually disappeared among the crowd.

"It can't be helped. Let's go guys." Ruby mused the others as she got on the airship first.

The rest followed except for one.

Blake stayed behind and stood on the platform.

"Blake?" Yang turned to see her partner standing on the platform not moving and just stared on the ground.

"I forgot the books that I had bought at the store. You guys go on ahead." Blake then suddenly turned. And walked away before anyone could react. The others looked confused. Before they could follow the conductor closed the doors and began to check on the passengers.

/0/

Jaune loitered around Vale, it was lucky that he wore his casual jacket on this trip as Vale was unusually cold at night. He looked around a dozen or so Shops, looking for any 'help wanted' sign.

Tonight Vale was very lively, likely because it was a saturday night and people tended to party during weekends. He could see a few teenagers entering different clubs situated in this block and drunk businessmen singing in the bars and having fun.

"Oh. Sorry." He apologized as he bumped on to a group. The group didn't mind and just went their way.

Truth be told, he was really nervous. He never had any experience looking for a job, he didn't know what to do as he kept looking for a sign. Right now he was currently the perfect example of a country bumpkin trying to belong in the city.

He reached a bench in front of a dress shop and rested there. Today was fun and stressful at the same time. His mind was clouded with worries and anxiety that it had began to cause migraines. The whole deal with that SOLDIER stuff and that incident earlier was affecting his train of thought. It was a miracle that he had held up today and managed to convince his friends that he was okay.

Jaune never thought that coming to Beacon would be this complicated. Though he didn't think that regular hunters-in-training had to deal with all this SOLDIER stuff.

He sighed.

He stood up and grabbed a can of iced coffee from a nearby vending machine.

"Jaune Strife? No way is that you?"

Jaune turned his head to the voice.

Before him was a girl with long silky black hair and purple eyes. She had this seductive look to her. The sexy purple dress that she was wearing added the erotic and mature allure to her. He expression was that of a spoiled brat with narcissistic tendencies. Behind her were a few guys and girls all dressed like they were out partying in some of the more mature clubs around these parts.

"Mira?"

"Who's this babe?" A tan muscular guy dressed with only a tanktop and some blue jeans came and put his arm around her.

She scoffed and smirked.

"An ex."

Mira West was once Jaune's girlfriend during his last year in middle school. She used to be a very plain girl with large glasses and was on the chubby side.

'Why?... why is she here?'

Jaune's stress level rose when he remembered painful memories. He supported her with all he's got yet she still broke up with him. His mind went back to that painful event as he froze up in front of her.

"Eh? You know this plain guy?" A girl behind her asked.

"Only before, don't worry, he's extremely harmless that it's almost pathetic." Mira giggled.

"You dated this guy? Haha look at him! He's practically shivering! Hahaha" The guy which put his arm around her laughed and mocked him. The other laughed with him.

Jaune clenched his fist as he seated.

Kill…

"What are you doing out here alone? Wait! Don't tell me! You got dumped by your "friends' " She made an air quote gesture before she laughed.

kill

"Hey guys, did you know that this guy used to go to his sisters whenever he has a problem? Talk about weak right?"

kill

'No… that's wrong….I never...'

They're nothing more than insects…

"Know who this guy is Jaune? Probably not. He's the son of the owner that club over there. Also a huntsman-in-training from Haven, currently on vacation. Did you know that his family owns several branches of restaurants all around Vale and Mistral? And what do you have?"

They are nothing… kill them

The rest of her group looked down at him.

"Probably a virgin too hahaha" a girl from her group teased.

The group kept teasing him.

Jaune gritted his teeth and stood up wanting to leave.

"And where do you think you're going?" Mira called out as he turned his back on them.

"I've got better things to do than to waste my time on you assholes."

"What the fuck did you say?!" Her boyfriend snapped at Jaune preparing to attack him but Mira put her hand on his chest and stopped him.

"Oh? Like?" Mira smirked.

"Like-" Jaune wanted to reply but a familiar girl interrupted.

"Like meeting with his girlfriend."

A girl with wavy raven black hair with sharp eyes suddenly hooked her arm onto Jaune's. She was wearing a very stylish dress that matched her amber eyes. Her features were gorgeous, her lips were red with light lipstick and light makeup on her face that highlighted her beautiful features. The black ribbon on her hair enhanced her features and gave more detail on her glistening hair under the neon signs.

Jaune, Mira and her group where agape at how beautiful this girl was.

It took Jaune a moment to recognize that this was Blake Belladonna, the silent bookish girl of team RWBY.

"I told you that we would meet at the dress shop by the Three Bears club." Blake told him as she winked at him.

"I..uhh… might've misread it. Sorry." Jaune ad libbed and scratched his head.

"It's alright. I think I might've forgotten to put the club's name. No worries." Blake smiled at him before she turned to Mira andher group.

"Sorry, we don't really have time to waste right now. Now if you please let my boyfriend go before I call the cops for harassing us."

Mira glared at Blake and Jaune before she motioned her group to follow and leave them both alone.

"So...what-"

"Not here. Follow me." Blake didn't let go of Jaune's arm as she guided him through the crowd. As they walked Jaune noticed quite a lot of stares from men. Jaune knew that the thing from before was to stave off Mira, had he been younger he would've looked more into this and assume something absurd. Right now he was used to stave off men trying to hit on her by making it look like she was dating him.

/0/

Moments before the incident…

Blake looked for Jaune right after she parted with the group.

Blake was worried about him. During the time at the mall, she noticed that something was wrong with Jaune. The others didn't noticed but she did. His fake laughs and smiles felt empty. Something was clearly bothering him like before. The past few days, her relationship with him had improved drastically. After their talk that night she and him started to hang out more and more. It felt nice. It felt like it had been a long time that she felt something like this. Having someone who relates to you in some degree. Her old friends never really shared the same interests as her other than her duties and old ideals when she was at the white fang. That's why she was genuinely worried for her newfound friend. The whole day Jaune looked so distraught. Something happened and she wanted to help him.

Jaune had said that he was looking for a Part-time job. She happens to know a certain book shop that currently needed an assistant. She wanted to find him and tell him about Tuckson's shop.

After awhile, she had almost given up trying to find him. Figured that she would just tell him at the dorm when they meet. Though it would've been awhile till he gets the money for the trip to Vale.

It was by chance that her cat ears heard Jaune's name being uttered.

She followed the voice and saw Jaune was currently being berated by some skank. The insulting went on for awhile. She felt anger well up in her.

Tuckson's shop was nearby so she quickly ran inside. She ignored Tuckson as she entered the back room and grabbed a box of old disguises. Right after she left Adam on that train, she wandered around Vale aimlessly. She was scared and distraught. She didn't know what to do. It was there the former lieutenant of the White Fang: Tuckson found her and gave her a place to stay for awhile before she enrolled at Beacon. She didn't expect her uncle to be here in Vale of all places. People at the white fang said that Tuckson died during a mission.

She quickly changed into cheap yet stylish clothes and light makeup and went back for Jaune.

/0/

They both finally reached a small bookstore with the sign.

[Tuckson's Book Trade]

And went in. It was lucky too since rain started to pour heavily outside.

"There you are, I was wondering where you run off to after you-" Tuckson came out from the back room.

Blake didn't say anything as she walked passed Tuckson and went into the back room.

Tukson looked at Jaune questioningly but Jaune shrugged.

"So, who are you?" Tuckson looked at Jaune questioningly.

"Jaune Arc, one of her friends at Beacon."

"She has friends?" Tuckson looked surprised.

"Course she does. Why wouldn't she?"

"Err… right. Well my name's Tuckson, this is my shop." Tuckson extended a hand to Jaune.

"Nice shop. You've got some really rare book here." Jaune said as he looked around the shop.

"Oh, so youre a book enthusiast."

"Yep."

A moment later Blake came out with the clothes she wore during their trip from the mall.

"Jaune, this is Tuckson… my… uncle." Blake said as she fixed her hair.

"We already introduced each other." Jaune said smiling.

"Oh, thats makes it easy then."Blake said before she turned to Tuckson.

"You wanted an assistant right? Jaune here's currently looking for a part time job to pay for his day to day expenses." Blake gestured to Jaune.

Tuckson looked at Jaune as if he was sizing him up.

"Is that so? Would you like to be an assistant book shopkeeper here Jaune? The pay is alright but it would depend on how many hours you work."

Jaune perked up.

"If its alright with you. Yes! I'll try my best."

"Alright then. Just tell me your class schedule so I can adjust your work shift. You okay with working on Weekends?"

Jaune nodded enthusiastically.

"Good. Just email me your resume and you'll start working as soon as I adjust your shift."

"Thank you sir!"

"Don't call me sir. You can call me Tuckson. A friend of Blake's a friend of mine." Tuckson gave him a toothy grin and pat his back.

"Now if you'll excuse me I have to file some delivery papers. You kids behave here in my shop." Tuckson said as he winked at Blake to which she rolled her eyes.

"So this is where you get your books early." Jaune mused.

"Helps to have connections. That and he's my uncle." Blake replied.

Jaune turned to Blake.

"Blake... Thank you. Really" Jaune looked at her with a soft smile.

Blake almost blushed but she tried to hide it. That sincerity is dangerous...

"I just wanted to help my friend." Blake said with a smile.

"So I guess… you wanted to know what that was about huh?"

Jaune sat on a reading table and Blake sat opposite of him.

"Not really, I already figured out when I heard her say 'Ex'"

'So she didn't hear about my real name?... good.' Jaune said in his thoughts.

"What I want to know is what's been bothering you the whole day."

Jaune looked at her in surprise.

"You may be able to fool the others but not me. Jaune something is clearly bothering you. Just look at yourself. You look so stressed out. I don't think the others noticed before but they will now."

Jaune sighed and smiled in defeat…

"You and your sharp eyes… so you really want to know huh?... do you promise not to tell anyone?"

Blake was the one surprised this time. He trusts her this much?...

Blake nodded.

"I promise..."

"Pinky promise?" Jaune held out his pinky finger.

Blake rolled her eyes to which Jaune chuckled.

"Pinky promise." Blake smiled as she locked her pinky finger with his.

Jaune then turned his expression into somewhat of a serious look.

And so Jaune begins to tell Blake about what Ozpin had told him. About shinra. About SOLDIER. About the life stream and Blake listened on. He left out the parts about his family and his disgraceful forging of transcripts or the fact that he had no training before going to Beacon. He told her about his worries. His fears. His anxiety regarding all of this. He even told her about the incident at the mall. Jaune felt like he could trust this girl. He didn't know why. Though he had a feeling that this was 'that' feeling. The feeling of infatuation with her…

...But past experiences told him to just kill this infatuation…pursuing romance would just end terribly like so many times before... instead he would just like to be her friend. A trusted friend. It hurt but it would hurt more if it continued on.

The rain kept pouring outside the shop. The hour was late. Tucson offered Jaune and Blake to stay for the night. To which they agreed. But their talk continued on.

/0/

As the rain poured on the city of Vale, on a certain condemned building. A silver haired man covered in bandages stood on top of the building's roof. Looking down on the city of Vale. His body was sickly, his hair was greasy even when wet, he had no top on and his pants were on tatters, he was barefooted. His slit eyes glowed in the darkness. His face contorted into rage and insanity.

"They dare… abandon me… They dare throw me away like garbage!"

'Another failure…'

The man weezed.

"I'll show them...I'll show them that I'm the only one! I'm the strongest one! I will be the one to achieve perfection!"

'at least he didn't turn like the others did'

He screamed at Vale.

"You're here! I know you're here!... IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! THEY THREW ME AWAY BECAUSE OF YOU!"

'… a lost cause. Throw him out …you can't even hear his voice can't you?'

"I AM THE TRUE CATALYST! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ALPHA! I'LL SHOW YOU A TRUE CATALYST! AHAHAHAAHAHA!"

The thunder roared as the man cackled madly in the rain.

[=== to be continued]

Sorry for the long wait! I hope you guys enjoyed this!

Now onto the A/N

-We are now arriving at Blake's arc. Skipped Jaune's cannon Arc because it was unnecessary.

-A lot of things happen outside of the school. In a world full of heroes, there are always stories to tell other than the main cast.

-There will be no connection with Red vs Blue in this fic, all the names of the mysterious girls are codenames like RED XIII

-I've wrote Glynda here to be younger than most fics take her. She's 26 here.

-Denzel Skye. Sky relates to cloud so I named him that since he didn't really have a last name to work with.

-"There's a guy with a bajillion swords on his back that combines into a larger sword and had just killed most of our comrades…. Let's attack him!"

-I made a mistake on Cloud's fusion sword I know. It's called a fusion sword. Thank you for pointing it out.

-The kingdoms are keeping secrets from the public? Gasp!

-Not much action scenes on Jaune's group for now. But surely there would be next chapter.

-The girls are not remnants? Gasp!

-There are remnants. But theyre busy somewhere else.

-The past repeats itself if we don't learn from it.

-With great power comes with great consequences.

Comment replies! Yay!

Comments covered: Temp. Announcement and Chapter 6

Announcement comments:

=Blueghast900

- From most fics I read, the authors seem to stop at 3k for some reason. I'm a complete newbie so I don't know much.

=Voidmaster, Ultimate Kuuga, youngsavage

-Thank you very much! I'll try my best!

=Holyknight5

-Thank you for the awesome comment, really gave me lots of encouragement. My friend's the type to read short stories so that maybe it. His attention span maybe low so It can't really be helped. Though that 60k per 3-4 months though. That is a lot. Like, wow. Anyway thank you again. Your comment really helped me a lot.

Chapter 6 Comments:

=Captain SteeleStag

-did you really think that the honey badger was running from the deathclaw?! HA! The honey badger hunted down the deathclaw's family alone bare pawed. The deathclaw was only following it because the honey badger made it its slave. The deathclaw would've left our main characters alone if the honey badger didn't tell it to attack them for its amusement. Our main characters probably saved this poor deathclaw from a life of servitude and suffering by giving it a painful death.

=flamelegendvargas

-Yeah, my mistake. I'll correct it in future chapters. And thank you!

=Axcel

-Wow thank you very much for all these comments! I never really knew the functions between a curved sword and a straight sword since I mostly know them through media. Not much of an expert here so thanks. I just thought that katanas were made for speed. Also yeah I agree. But Jaune is Jaune here, he's still the softie that we know and love albeit modified a bit.

=Xealchim

-Was testing out the features on the Fanfic app. Didn't realize that it doesn't change the settings instantaniously. It will forever be rated M

=Suzululu4moe

-Yeah, there are a lot of paralells on the characters if we combine them. But just to clarify, wasn't Cait Sith an animatronic cat made by Reeve?

Also thank you for your comments!

=Ninjafang1331

-Thank you!

=BlitzNeutral69

-Wanted to show how Jaune would fare without his power. It wouldn't be logical for an untrained person to beat a trained combatant.

=SonatiShinonome

-*Grins evily* Now why do you expect velvet to die?... do you want her to die?

=X3runner

-I know right? Blake hasn't really done much in the group other than go with the flow besides that white fang thing back at volume 1 and 2.

-glad you enjoyed my fight scene. My fights are a bit clunky so im glad you enjoyed it.

-It's true, the only thing the show did to dust was to turn it into ammunition. They never really cared or bothered showing us how they were used outside that.

=meeyaaargh3412

-Thank you for enjoying the chapter!

Thanks for reading guys!~ I hope you enjoyed it! Peace for now! Next chapter will come soon!

See you later space cowboy~~~~~