Destination Vale! A Hero is Born!

Flying over the world of Remnant, a lonely crow comes to the continent he nicknamed Dragrah. Deep in it's unexplored and dangerous forests, a boy sits in meditation with his eyes closed in a lonely clearing…

He unsheathed his sword and jumped doing a backflip just as an Ursa Major rushes him, landing and slicing it in two, the boy looks at the kill as suddenly the forest comes alive with the creatures of Grimm. He smiles as three Beowolves run and jump at him, rolling out of the way and allowing them to hit each other. While they are dazed, he stabs each through the heart. A Death Stalker and King Taijitu work together to surround the warrior, but he just turns his sheath into a shield and shouts at them.

"Come on! I don't have all day!" The King Taijitu takes his bait and attempts biting him while keeping away from the boy's blade. He runs and the giant snake gives chase, never letting the boy take a moment's rest until he jumps onto the Death Stalker. The scorpion prepares its stinger for when the boy tries to dodge the next attack, giving the King Taijitu the time to aim and strike. Just as the snake goes for the kill, the boy tosses his sword up and pulls out a revolver, jumping back to avoid the deadly attack and shooting up at the stinger above. The bullet rips through the Death Stalker armor like butter and lets the poisonous stinger fall onto the head of the King Taijitu. The boy grabs his sword as it was falling and uses it to slice off one of the King Taijitu's teeth and impale it into the eyes of the Death Stalker. Leaving the huge beasts to die, the boy yawns and stretches, until a slight flapping noise makes him turn and cut down a line of trees.

"Anyone ever teach you to respect nature?" The boy sighs and turns to see a man with graying black spiky hair, red eyes, and slight stubble along his jawline. With a red, tattered cloak, he wore a gray dress shirt with a long tail, black dress pants, and black dress shoes.

"You taught me everything I know, so who is really the bad guy here?" The boy smiled at his mentor and friend before walking away a bit and leaning against a tree. "So tell me, old man, are you going to drop me off at another place that would love nothing better than to kill me or is this a visit out of the kindness of your heart."

Qrow Branwen rolled his eyes and pulled out his ever-present flask. After a nice long drink he started, "Why is it Sunflower that when I come to see you I always feel the need to drink?"

The boy, Jaune Arc, smirked and crossed his arms proudly. "A special talent I got from watching you, besides you always are looking for an excuse to be drunk."

Qrow shrugged, unable to deny the truth, but looked around at the mess Jaune had made. "In another world, you're a maid and they just had a heart attack at this mess."

Jaune rolled his eyes and frowned at him. "Tell me why you're here Qrow, has something happened?"

Qrow sighed and pulled out a folder from his jacket, tossing it to Jaune. "I'm impressed you're not dead after all I put you through, so I decided that you're ready." A long silence dragged and Qrow walked to Jaune and waved his hand in front of his face. "Sunflower, you okay?"

Jaune hugged Qrow as tight as he could and cheered jumping up. "YES! It's time I get off this damn island! So where am I going? The mountains of Mistral or the deserts of Vacuo?"

'Damn kid is as hyper as Ruby when he wants to be!' Qrow dusted himself off and put a hand on Jaune's shoulder to stop him. "No, I'm sending you to Vale."

. . .

Qrow didn't answer any more of Jaune's questions and told him to get to the edge of Dragrah since no airship was willing to go this far into the unexplored region. As Jaune ran his way towards the exit, Qrow decided to be lazy and just turn into a bird to have Jaune carry him the whole way. After finally reaching the ocean, Jaune took a moment to catch his breath and Qrow turned back into a human to drink.

"Y-you didn't think you could run with me old man? Afraid that I would leave you behind?"

Qrow finished his flask and hit Jaune on his back, accidentally too hard and sent him face first into the dirt. "Sorry Sunflower, but I didn't want to leave you in the dust as I know your pride is fragile."

"We'll see what's fragile when I punch you in the-"

"Well now, I see my silver tongue rubbed off on you too. Hurry up and get in." They boarded a bullhead and started their way to Vale. "So kid, tell me are you nervous?"

Jaune rubbed his face and sighed. "Don't I have the right to be? You had me training for the last ten years in the most dangerous places in Remnant and I haven't met another person, not counting you, for eight years. I don't know if I'm ready for all this."

The image of a small blond boy in bloody and torn clothes running through the woods goes through Jaune's mind and he closes his eyes, allowing the memory to continue.

. . .

Six-year-old Jaune was scared, more scared than he had ever been in his life, as he ran through the dark wet woods of Vale. The shattered moon was his only source of light as he was dodging trees and thorny bushes, a loose tree branch sent him face-first into the mud. Jaune wanted to cry, he wanted his sister, his mom, his… father. He wanted to be away from the woman with the scary eyes. Growls and howls brought Jaune back to his reality and he forced himself to keep running, dragging his bloody ankle behind him. He remembered his dad once said that fear attracted the creatures of Grimm and if he was ever lost to not be afraid, guess he just failed his father again. He was terrified and the glowing red eyes and shadows around him weren't helping, a swipe from one of the monsters sent him down again. Jaune cried as there were several pairs of eyes watching him, but he wouldn't die without fighting. He took the sheath off his back and pulled out his family sword. The blade took both hands for the boy and he could barely swing it, but he screamed while running at young Beowolf just to get a boot kick him to the ground. Qrow stood there with his blade in the Beowolf's head and he proceeded to kill the Grimm that dared attack.

"Sorry about giving you the boot kid, but that was pretty stupid. Ballsy but stupid, reminds me of me. What's your name?" Qrow held out a hand to the downed boy.

"Jaune… Jaune Arc." Jaune looked at his blade and cried in anger at his uselessness.

Qrow looked at the boy and questioned his reasons for being out for so far and late, but all he got in return was a glare. That glare told Qrow all he needed to know, it was the rage that he had hoped he would never see in the eyes of a child. "Fine Sunflower, how about this? I will help you train until you're ready to tell me why I had to save you okay?" Jaune looked at the man and nodded showing Qrow his blade. "Nice kitchen knife kid, but that blade is old and has dulled over the ages. We will need to sharpen it and you need to grow a bit before you can use that respectfully."

"Why would you help me?"

Qrow stopped as thought about it. "I think I want to help you not become me."

. . .

"Kid! Get your head out of the clouds before I kick you back to Remnant!" Jaune snapped out of his flashback and looked at the one who basically became his father over the years. Sure, he had left him in the wild with no supplies for two years but at least he came back for him. "Good to see you back, but we still need to talk. I have gotten things ready for your glorious return to society and an old friend helped a lot. My friend has given you Vale's old clock tower for your home and new base of operations. I had to call in a few favors, but I think you should have everything you need to start."

Jaune leaned back in his chair and looked through the folder he had gotten earlier. "So I'll be living in a bell tower, I always appreciated your subtlety Qrow."

The drunk rolled his eyes. "Look I trained and basically raised you since you were six, I think a thank you is in order."

Jaune looked Qrow in the eyes with a serious expression. "Thank you Qrow, for everything. I know it was hard on you."

'Well, I guess I did teach the kid manners, take that Winter, Tai, Raven, Oz, Glynda! I can raise a kid right!' Qrow smirked smugly and leaned back. "Yeah well, nothing someone like me can't handle."

Jaune pretended to drink some water and mumbled under his breath. "Yeah, thanks for abandoning me in the forest, desert, mountains, and in the middle of the sea. Father figure of the year right there."

Qrow glared at the young man who tried his best to look innocent. "I could have saved Remnant a lot of trouble by killing you myself."

Jaune faked being hurt. "And take me away from the ladies? Have you no soul?"

Qrow chuckled at that one. "I see my perfect charm is starting to rub off, but sorry Sunflower you didn't get the looks."

"Why didn't you tell me that the drunken scraggy man look is in season? I could have prepared."

"Oh har har, I swear I robbed the world a talented comedian."

The two friends shared a laugh, but Jaune was distracted when Vale started coming into view. After all the time he spent away from civilization, it was an incredible sight to see. The second thing to catch his eyes was the CCT tower that presided at the Beacon Academy. Jaune had once dreamed to attend and become a huntsman like his father before him, oh how time changes things.

"Beacon… I imagined it bigger."

"My nieces should be getting there for orientation and after they pass they will be enrolled, one of the bigger reasons I came back here."

"Oh come on, aren't I your favorite student? I thought you came to bring me here?"

"Sorry kiddo, but they came first and Ruby is my favorite. Besides if I'm honest I kinda forgot you were out there for that last year." Jaune glared at the man and sulked, causing Qrow to roll his eyes. "Okay okay, no need for that what will it take for you to stop being mad? An apology?"

Jaune smirked and Qrow felt like he wouldn't like the answer. "How about you give me the names and numbers of your nieces?" Silence flooded the room and Jaune snapped his fingers in front of Qrow.

"You want my nieces' numbers? Fat chance in hell and you don't even have a scroll!"

"Sheesh, you can be a buzzkill, how about their names then? I can do any damage with a name."

"Yang Xiao Long and Ruby Rose, both their father and I trained right so I think they could give you a run for your money. I'd like to see you try dating either."

"Hmm, we'll just have to hope I see them in the city. So why Vale?"

"My trusted colleagues and I believe that Vale and Beacon will soon be threatened and I want you to try to keep peace down in the city. The White Fang and a guy named Roman Torchwick are making big claims that change is coming and I don't like change. I think Roman may know something about what happened that night. For your first outing, I will give you a job, destroy a shipment that we believe is coming in for the White Fang."

"Why not send a huntsman for the job?"

"A huntsman draws too much attention and we want this done quietly, no fatalities."

"You know how I feel about killing people."

"Just had to make sure that Dragrah didn't drive you crazy… well crazier."

"I'll be fine after I get something to eat." Looking down at Vale, Jaune caught eyes of two people who seemed to be out of place. One had a head of bright yellow hair and a respectable bust, but the other intrigued him. A young girl in a red cloak who seemed to have a weapon on her side. Jaune smiled and looked at the city that he would call home. "I think I'm gonna like it here."

. . .

Qrow led Jaune through Vale, showing him the important places such as the arcade, and towards the old rundown clock tower.

"Tell your friend that I said this is great, I love it." Sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Stop whining and be grateful that I even got you a place."

"It has no food!"

"Oh one more thing Sunflower, I got you a job at a local tavern. I can't be paying for everything! He will help you out and already knows about what you're doing. Byyyye!"

"Qrow, you old drunk get back here!" Jaune groaned and went into the old tower, climbing to the top and finding a handprint scanner. Touching it caused the walls around him to shimmer and glow a deep blue, a handful of gadgets, dust of various colors, a weapon customization bench, and his crown jewel all came into view. Jaune thanked Qrow under his breath and grabbed his new suit.

. . .

Later that night, down at the pier several groups of the White Fang were moving shipments of dust from a boat that just came in. Looking down at them from the shadows was a man in black armor that covered his entire body. It was expertly crafted with white trims and when he moved didn't make a sound. A masked covered the lower half of his face and red contacts made him almost unrecognizable, except for the blond hair that refused dyeing. Jaune took photos of the gang members, the dust, the symbol that was on the containers that said they were from the Schnee Dust Company, and of the bigger threat. They were moving weaponry, military grade stuff.

Jaune smiled as he finished the boring part and could get on with the fun. One member that needed to relieve himself, separated from the rest and was met with an armored punch to the face. A four other members heard the punch and cautiously approached, freezing in fear as their friend was thrown back at them.

'Time this right Jaune, don't screw up!' Jaune walked out of the shadows slowly and saw the fear on the members faces, even with the masks on. 'Damn I'm a badass.' Jaune thought as one member tried to hit him with a mace, just for the attack to not do anything. Jaune smiled and grabbed the mace. "Was that your best? Let me show you mine." Jaune elbowed the member in the jaw and threw the mace at another who caught it, just for Jaune to punch it into the man's chest. The last two attacked together, making Jaune backflip and smash their heads together.

A small army of the White Fang came rushing and Jaune smiled, vanishing in the shadows. When they all came together to look at the knocked out men, Jaune aimed carefully and blew up a big shipment of dust that was far enough to not kill anyone, but hurt them. The explosion knocked out all, but one member who looked to where the shot had come from to see a dark knight looking at him with red eyes.

"Tell the White Fang that they aren't allowed here anymore, by the decree of the Shadow Knight!" Jaune jumped at the man who screamed and ran into a shipping container, knocking him out. "That was easier than I thought it would be." Jaune left and a few hours later the members were waking up, to be met with the sight of a beautiful, if not gorgeous woman, with long hair and amber eyes.

"What happened and who did this?" Her voice had a seductive edge to it.

"I-it was some sort of man or monster! We all didn't see it, but he might have." The member in question pointed to the youngest who he had seen to be conscious still at the last moment."

"I see, well this just got easier then. This little incident should get the huntsmen and Adam Taurus off us for a bit." Cinder stabbed the member she had been talking to in the throat with an arrow and turned to the shocked faces of the others. She smiled and slaughtered them all, but the one who had seen Jaune and took him back to give his recount of things.

. . .

Ozpin looked down at the city of Vale, happy to know that they now had their own version of a huntsman, but he had yet to meet this boy that Qrow had told him about. A boy with the heart and will to brave what he went through and to want to become a hero, he sounded like a worthy huntsman to Ozpin. Qrow said that the boy was seeking another path though, one that may come to become Ozpin's ace.

"Looks like fate has given me a nice hand for once." Ozpin chuckled as he thought of his two aces, this mysterious knight and Ruby Rose.