Title: Choices We Have Made
Author: ShiroSasaki
Beta: DrummerDancer
Characters/Pairings: eventual Jaune/Blake, entire cast, OCs
Disclaimer: I don't own the series.
Word Count: ~1300
Rating: T
Summary: When an opportunity arises for Jaune to become the hunter he's always dreamed of, will he take it, despite leaving behind everything he's ever known in the process?

There was a school to the north, isolated from the streets and shrouded in as much mystery as there was forest concealing it. Few had ever been allowed to attend, and even fewer knew of its existence. But every once in a red moon, a student was invited to join their ranks. No one knew what criteria he had to meet, but it was assumed he had to be among the most gifted and talented of hunters to even be considered for admission.

As it was, a single woman decked in a dark uniform and a hat appeared early one morning at Beacon Academy. Students watched her file past, with the younger ones staring on in confusion while the older ones whispered rumors and tales about the eagle holding the crest of the wolf stitched on the front of her cap.

But none dared ask her out right what they were all wondering. None dared approach her, make eye contact or even breathe in her direction.

Instead, they waited with baited breath as she disappeared behind the headmaster's door, all harboring a single burning question:

Who had been accepted to the school in the Snowy Forest?

Standing outside the headmaster's door, head down, shoulder's slumped, hand raised in a fist, Jaune hesitated. He knew why he'd been called down—another failed test and the headmaster was probably fed up with him bringing his team down. Headmaster Ozpin was going to tell him to pack his bags, shut his lights off and get the hell out, he knew. It was such a shame, too-he never had got the chance to ask Pyrrha out to dinner.

But when Jaune opened the door, he realized something was different. He'd expected to see Headmaster Ozpin sitting behind his desk, reading his customary Daily Vale while sipping a cup of coffee.

What he saw was a different story.

There by his desk sat a woman he'd never seen before. She was dressed in a black uniform, with two chest pockets bearing silver buttons with hexagons etched into them. Peeking out of the collar was a white dress shirt with a black tie hitched around the neck, and down the middle was a row of buttons that held the blazer closed.

Around her midsection, she carried a brown pistol belt.

On each side of her collar were stripes and a pin that had two initials carved on it: JH. On her upper right just above the chest pocket was an insignia of an eagle with its wings to the side holding a crest, and to her right, she was wearing a red armband with a crest. It had a wolf head holding a bone.

She smiled at him, and he fought the urge to drool when he realized how green her eyes were and how dark her hair was. For a soldier, she sure as hell didn't look like one.

"Ah Mr. Arc. I was expecting you. Come sit." He pointed to the seat in front of his desk next to the uniformed woman.

Jaune did as he was told. He snuck another glance at the woman. Her lips were thin and pink, her chin narrow as she stared ahead, back straight like an iron rod. Maybe she was a soldier after all.

Jaune sat up a little straighter, then wondered if perhaps he'd interrupted their meeting. Guilty, he turned back to Ozpin.

"Is this a bad time Headmaster?"

"Oh no, we were just talking about you."

Jaune swallowed and visibly shrank in size. "You were talking about me?"

Headmaster Ozpin grinned and motioned to the soldier sitting next to them. She turned towards Juane.

"Guten Tag, Mr. Arc," she said. She had a light accent that he guessed came from the eastern kingdom of Vale. "I am Captain Eliza Schwartz. I am the commander of the Jäger Hundes special operations unit created by Headmaster Ozpin to take down any and every Grimm that normal teams cannot. In short…we are the best of the best."

She extended her hand to him as a formal gesture. He flushed but took her hand anyway, taking special notice of how velvety soft her hand was.

"I-It's a pleasure, Captain Schwartz."

"Please, the pleasure is all mine, Jaune."

Flustered, Jaune let go of her hand, then turned deliberately to Headmaster Ozpin to hide how hot his cheeks were.

Ozpin seemed to know how he felt—his eyes were dancing with humor but his face was otherwise schooled. He laced his fingers together and cleared his throat, bringing Jaune back to the matter at hand.

"Mr. Arc, you are here because of the brave example you showed in the Battle of the Emerald forest a couple of weeks ago. You coordinated a successful attack against the Grimm that threatened to destroy the Village of Engel. By having teams come in from the front, left and right, you effectively pushed them back and then had another team set a controlled forest fire that boxed them in. The Grimm were killed and no casualties were sustained. Very impressive for a first year student."

"Headmaster, if I may," Jaune interrupted, embarrassed, "I couldn't have done it without my team or the help of Team RWBY. Really, they should receive the credit."

"And they have Mr. Arc, they have. But they didn't make the plan. You did, you turned a bad situation into a success and that's why you're here. You see, Jaune, you have potential. I see it and Captain Schwartz sees it too. But we both think you won't achieve this potential here at Beacon. So, I am transferring you to the Castle Neuwolfenstein facility where you will be taught personally by Captain Schwartz herself."

Jaune gaped; he was being transferred? To Castle Neuwolfenstein? To train with and become one of the best of the best?

"But...w-what about my friends?"

"They will stay here in Beacon and attend their classes normally." Ozpin's voice was soft but firm.

"But how—"

"Jaune, you wish to become stronger, do you not?" It was Captain Schwartz who spoke up this time. Her voice was smooth and even.

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

"You wish to become worthy of your name?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you wish for people to look at you with respect and not pity?"

"Yes, sir! I mean ma'am!"

"Then join me. Become a member of mien unit the Jäger Hundes. I will make you into a hunter worthy of great fortune and respect."

Jaune had heard enough. He could finally look people in the eye. He could finally get the confidence he needed to protect the people he loved. He could finally be worthy of the name bestowed on him at birth.

But would it be worth leaving his friends behind?

He glanced at Captain Schwartz, who was patiently observing him, her expression kind but unreadable. He didn't know her, not really. They just met; they were strangers, yet she already believed in him enough to offer to train him, in a place he'd never been no less.

Ozpin was watching him too; wise brown eyes warm with encouragement. They both believed in him, and they both wanted him to do this, even if he wasn't sure himself.

He took a deep breath.

"Okay, Captain. I will join your Jäger Hundes."

I would like to thank DrummerDancer for helping me make this chapter. She is a good friend I could have never have made this without her help and guidance. Thanks DD

Also

Words written in italic are either in a different language or are to emphasize something. "Gutten tag" Means good after noon in German. " Jäeger Hundes" Means dogs of the hunt in German.

This is my first ever fanfiction and I would like to apologize if something is written wrongly. If you have any suggestions please PM me or DD

Ahah, I'm updating something's because of misspelled words and names and plus. I just remembered Cinder Fall is a person not a place and so I have changed it!

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

With that I bid you goodnight!