Hey, hey people, King here.

No I'm not dead...yet. And neither are my stories. Hoping to update others as soon as I can.

Sorry, Just been stuck in a bit of rut when it came to writing and been dealing with real life shit. Not to mention things have gotten even more crazy and hectic recently with the whole Virus thing going on. Hope you'll staying safe.

Anyway, this the story idea was birthed from my short Omake I made in my last chapter of Jaune's new foxy wife. The story is inspired from that Omake but is going to go differently then in that little skit I made. The premise is pretty simple, a story where our favourite blonde Arc gets stuck along with Proto Merlin (A female Merlin which served King Arthur/Proto Saber.) aiding him (Making his life difficult) Along with maybe other charters from the Fate series, who may or may not be changed in some way.

*COUGH* FEM GIL! *COUGH*

Anyhow, Just testing out this chapter for now and we'll see how it goes from here. If people like it, probably get around pumping more chapter out.

Warning: My spelling and grammar is bad, read at your own risk. (But you probably knew that)

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

Disclaimer - I don't own RWBY or the Fate series.

Chapter 1 - Humble Beginnings

What does it take to become a king?

Some would say that a King is a person who can gather those around him and lead them forward to a better future. A figure who could rally anyone behind them, become his people's ruler and command them with his just charisma alone to follow him as far as the ends of the earth. Another would claim that a King is chosen by his people, anointing the best individual to become their ruler and guide them. Saying that the fact that they chose to follow and listen to their King is what gives him his true power and without them, he would have nothing. A person who could conquer and take whatever they wished could claim the title as King as well.

Or would that make them a tyrant?

Is there a difference?

For if a man holds dominion over the land he has taken grasp of along with its people that kneeled under his castle and called himself a King, then wasn't he? Odd, how the title of King could be used for a person who lives only for himself, grasping all he could in his lifetime and at the same time be compared to a person with the same title who was selfishly serving his people for their sake and not his own. Of course, one could simply argue that most Kings are merely born into rule. Gaining leadership by the line of succession because of the past deeds of their ancestors and they were just lucky to win the genetic lottery.

Another funny kind is…

The people who never wanted to be King or any kind of role of leadership ended finding themselves with such positions thrust upon them anyway.

Life was kinda funny like that.

"Being a King sounds like a lot of work." A voice of a child stated, sounding unusually grumpy. "Too much responsibility and seems boring. A Knight is way cooler, getting to go on adventures, slay monsters and be a hero!" Now that sounded a lot more appealing to the boy than having to sit on a throne and make tough decisions all day. Shame that the profession of Knights had long gone out of practice into irrelevance nowadays with the fall of the old Kings

'Guess the next best and closest thing is becoming a Huntsman now for that kind of adventure.'

The blonde child's eyes peered into the book he was reading with little interest at the text on the pages. Tales about the Kings and rulers of ancient times that had once governed the four Kingdoms of Remnant, the words inside the tome were mixers of fiction and real events. Not the sort of literature that one would expect a young boy of his age to be reading.

Jaune had picked out the book for a homework assignment given to him. 'Stupid history class, what's the point in leaning stuff that had happened ages ago anyway? It's not like the past is important. Who cares about what the old kings did?'

He'd much rather be out with his father and have the man helping him train to become a huntsman. Doing more of the stuff that they had done before in his father's spare time like learning more swordplay, doing an exercise routine, working on speed...

Or finally going ahead and unlocking his Aura!

Something that his old man was reluctant to do, saying that he wanted Jaune to wait until he was a bit older first. Along with mention that maybe he shouldn't be trying to train so much at such a young age.

'Your only eight years old, Jaune. Don't be in such a rush to grow up. Enjoy yourself, there's plenty of time for you to train later.' Were the older man's sage words to his son before heading out on his mission. Unfortunately for the man, his only male child was far too young to fully understand what his father was trying to convey and simply pass it off as adults being unfair.

"Stupid dad," He muttered with an annoyed voice, going into a bad mood. "If grandpa was in town right now he would have let me go."

Going back to his book, still in a brooding mood, Jaune kept on reading, trying to forget about it and work on his homework that was meant to be handed in next week. At least he could enjoy the nice rays of sunlight out here in the empty park along with the gentle breeze as the hours passed by.

With each page the boy found himself getting more and more bored and evenly began daydreaming.

Imagining himself as one of the knights that got a mention in the book every couple of pages.

At least that was what the boy was doing until a shadow suddenly blocked out the sunlight which promptly brought him out of the book that he had gotten more than halfway through at this point. Raising his head, the boy paused upon finding the shadow belonging to the figure of a man. A youthful tall bloke that had an unyielding sheepish smile stuck to his face and a very cherry air about him, as if the man was always happy and like to live a very carefree life.

Long snow-white hair was what caught his eyes first - tied up at the back into neat straight tail while at the front was the opposite, a freely unkempt tangled curly mess which a bird would likely be at home at using it as a nice nest. Wearing what looked to be expensive travelling clothes consisting of a fine white coat, a brown patterned scarf, and black trousers. The most eye-catching bit about him by far was the pure purple eyes the man possessed.

The fellow looked like some kind of upper-class rich elite with his fine clothes and odd handsomeness that appeared almost unnatural.

He looked out of place like the man didn't belong here.

Something right out of a dream.

Most likely a young woman's one of the charming gentlemen with gentle features.

Purple eyes met ocean blue.

"Ah, why are you sulking, child?" The strange joyful man asked while taking in the scenery. "It's such a nice day out, no need to ruin it with such a sour face."

Jaune kept his mouth shut and simply stared at the man.

The unknown well-dressed gentleman raised an eyebrow. "Oh, what's with that look? Didn't your ever mother tell you not to stare." The boy's glare could cut glass with the sharp unnerving look that he was sending out.

"She also told me not to talk to strangers."

The comeback got the overly happy man chuckling. Young Jaune didn't bother to mention the advice that his mother had given about strangers being friends that he hadn't met yet. He was pretty sure the woman hadn't been implying for him to befriend a strange older man that had come up to him alone in the park when she had told him that saying.

"Ah, you've got some wit to you I see. Good, that can make things fun." Grinning, shaking his head which caused the long hair tail to sway back and forth like a pendulum. "Well, I guess I'll introduce myself first so we'll no longer be strangers." The white-haired man took a seat next to him on the bench, something Jaune was none too pleased with. "My name is...hmm well..., call me...Emrys."

Unsure at first the blonde slowly replayed back with. "Jaune,"

"There, that wasn't so hard, was it? So, are we friends now?"

"No! You're weird and old, I don't want you to be my friend!"

"Old!? W-why-wha- NONSENSE! Do your eyes even work, child!? Look at me, do I appear before you like an old fart?" Placing his hand under his chin the man struck a pose that was meant to emphasise his dashing features.

Such a shame that his current company was too young, and not to mention of the wrong gender, to appreciate his looks. A fact that was soon brutally found out upon the child's yelling.

"Yeah you do, your hair has already gone grey. Not even my granddad has lost all the colour in his hair yet and he's old so that must make you ancient."

"Ah! What a rude boy!" The man now known as Emrys yelled with a scowl but Jaune could see his lips curving up, fighting back a smile. "Fine then, don't be! It's your loss missing out on someone as amazing as me being your friend. We'll just call ourselves acquaintances and leave it at that."

"Fine!" The eight yelled back, smiling after finding the odd man to be a bit silly.

Though Jaune couldn't shake the strange feeling of being so on edge next to the fellow who had just shown up out of nowhere.

Grinning wide, looking deeply pleased with himself. "Good, now what's the matter with you?" Emrys questioned, leaning back on the bench taking a very relaxed position draping one leg over the over.

Jaune puffed his cheeks and looked down to the ground. "Why do you care?" He muttered in a low tone.

The man just shrugged. "I don't. Wellllllll…. not particularly - I have a hard time empathising with people you see…" Shaking his head, Emrys face dropped into a small frown. "But enough about that! Here I was enjoying the day, taking in the scenery, visiting the sites and whatnot." He said with joy, throwing out his hands at the scenery around him.

"Everything was beautifully uplifting…" The joy died down in his voice. "Until I saw you running it with that depressed face of yours... like a small mutt had just jumped up and kicked you right in the face after you helped it." A hand curled into a raging fist, all the while Jaune stared at the sieving man like he was a weirdo.

Heck! What was he thinking? This guy WAS a weirdo!

'What kind of dog can jump up so high and can kick someone in the face?'

"Anyway!" Emrys resumed in a jolly tone as if nothing had happened. "Finding a young boy moping about with his head in a book fleetingly caught my interest. And now here we are." Gesturing with his hand at Jaune. "Now explain your troubles...or don't. Either way, I won't be here long, got important stuff to do and can't give away any more of my precious time to the likes of you."

The young Arc noted that this fellow seemed to be a bit full of himself and maybe loved the sound of his own voice a little too much.

Eventually, the blonde relented. "My dad went out on a Huntsman mission, I asked him to take me out with him so I could finally get out there and get to experience a real scenario but he wouldn't let me go. Now I'm stuck here waiting for him to come back for me to do any training." Jaune hung his head and crossed his arms.

"Oh, is that it?" Emrys asked, trying to sound understanding and not judgemental but couldn't hide the disappointment in his tone. "Sounds more like a parent being responsible and not taking their child out into a dangerous environment where they could die. Then again, I've never had any children so I can not say much on the matter but it would seem to many that your father made the right choice in this situation. "

"But how I am meant to become a Huntsman if I don't push myself and experience the dangers they have to face." The eight-year-old fired back keeping his arms crossed and then turned his head away in a huff. "At this right, I'll never be a hero, I haven't even got my Aura unlocked yet damn it."

Clearly, the young blonde was just being childish and unwilling to understand. Which was to be forgiven as it was expected from many children his age.

"Becoming a hero you say, haha." A gleeful smile broke out on the man with amusement busting out from his whole body.

"Don't laugh! One day, when I become a huntsman I'll be a real hero just like my ancestors and save people from great monsters." The boy had grown up listening to glory filled stories from his grandfather. Now he wanted to live up to those tales and have his own adventure of heroism to pass down to his own descendants.

"An interesting dream, one built of great ambition for one so young…" Emrys's eyes peered into Jaune's as if the man was looking at an object that held something of slight interest to him. "However, all dreams disappear when the dreamer finally wakes and you'll find that reality never lives up to that dream." Jaune didn't understand where the man was going with this. Was he saying that he would never achieve his dream? Or that it wouldn't be what he envisioned?

"I see that you don't understand...so, Jaune, tell me this. Which would you rather achieve in becoming… a Huntsman?" Raising one hand as he asked the question before bringing up the other. "Or a Hero?"

"Why not both?"

"Because sometimes in life you can't achieve everything you set out to do. Sometimes you may only be able to succeed in one of your goals by sacrificing the other." The older man sagely informed. "So, which one would it be? Huntsman or Hero?"

"Aren't they the same thing?" Was the boy's innocent response.

Smiling lightly, "No, they are two very different things." Emrys informed the young boy breaking the idea that the two were one and the same. "A Huntsman is a profession, a job, something that many people pursue simply because of the high pay. Sure, some choose the life of a Hunter because they believe it to be a righteous cause to defend humanity but for most it's simply the money, power, increasing of one's social status or the thrill of adventure that draws many in."

A true fact.

After all, you couldn't expect dozens of people just to join up and risk their lives based only on the fact that they would be given a pat on the back for saving lives, protecting the kingdoms from harm and being viewed with respect. None of that paid for food, water, and bedding. Most people expected to be compensated for putting their lives on the line. While others would at least want to gain something out of it for their own benefit in some form in exchange for such risks.

"Now a Hero, that's not a profession at all. You can't train to become a hero, nor expected to be rewarded for your deeds. Usually, they must experience great sorrows and burdens living lives of tragedy." The man grimly explained, the child taking the words with wide eyes and a sad puzzled look.

"That doesn't sound like any of the stories that Granddad tells me."

"I would imagine not. Humans tend not to wish to do anything that may harm a child's 'innocent view' of the world." Scrunching his face. "Always found that odd, at times I really wish I could understand your lot a bit better." He whispered offhandedly to himself.

"B-But a hero always carries on no matter what, right?"

"Yes, indeed." Emrys' smile returned. "Anyone could be a hero, you don't need to be Huntsman to be classed as one, only the will to persevere and endure the overwhelming obstacles that lay before you. When there is nothing to be gained, rising to the challenge in such dire times is surely the mark of a hero. Even if at the end of their journey there is no happy ending for them."

"Oh," Jaune said, looking down thinking hard on what he had been told. "I-I think I understand now." The boy muttered.

"Good, but you still haven't answered the question." The stranger pointed out. "Given the choice which one would you pick?" He pressed, appearing almost desperate to know the boy's answer.

The small Arc thought of the answer for a few minutes until coming to his conclusion. "If I had to be one but not the other then I'll pick becoming a hero."

"Really? Even after hearing what I said? Such a choice is much more difficult and longer than the alternative."

"Yep, I'm sure." Jaune nodded, looking out to the nice view of the town in front of him. "I'd rather be a hero, something for people to look towards and are inspired by then risk becoming a Huntsman that would never achieve much."

Emrys took a moment to absorb the boy's answer. Looking to be conflicted on something for a brief second before possibly coming to a conclusion going by the now-dead set look on his face.

"Hmm, I see. Well, some say that taking the easy path's reward is only that. It's easier. Thanks for your answer, Jaune. It's helped me come to a decision as well." The blonde watched as the white-haired man turned towards him on the bench.

"If you're really going to get anywhere in this life you have chosen then you'll need this to start you off."

Holding out his hand the man had pulled out a mysterious item away from Jaune's viewing. It was a metal cover shaped for a sword, scabbard if he recalled correctly. Recognising the object designed for holding one's blade due to his father and grandfather possessing one's for their own weapons. The hollowed-out sheath appeared to be perfection personified, a luxurious piece forged magnificently from gold and topped off with blue enamel decorated around it. The thing seemed more like a valued treasure rather than something one would store a sword inside. However, it got Jaune wondering that if the scabbard was so eye-fetchingly perfect then what did the blade crafted to fit along with it look like?

"What is that?" Jaune asked, his eyes never once leaving the golden object after it was revealed.

"Oh, this?" Tilting his head Emrys appeared to be thinking up an answer. "Well… this thing right here is going to help you unlock your...Aura? That's what you lot call it around here, correct?" The white-haired man simply answered nonchalantly.

"Liar,"

Blinking, "Excuse me?"

"I said you're a liar." The blonde's eyes narrowed in suspicion at him and the boy now began shifting to the far edge of the bench, away from the older male. "That's not how someone gets there Aura unlocked."

"Oh?"

"Yeah! My dad said that the only way you can unlock your Aura is either by naturally gaining it randomly growing up, forcing it out by being in a dangerous situation or by getting another person to activate your Aura through theirs." Jaune should know all this as he had pestered his father for days on the subject of Aura and how he could get his unlocked.

The answers hadn't been satisfying to hear from his father. Lacking the patience to wait and see if he would gain access to his Aura naturally or not and being smart enough not to throw himself into danger to attempt forcing it out left Jaune with having to wait until his father would unlock it for him.

"Ah, I see…" It appeared the white-haired man wasn't expecting the child to call him out and had thought the boy would jump at any chance of that benefit him without query. Quickly thinking of a follow up to the rebuttal he now weaved his words more carefully. "Well, those are methods that work and are well known but what I'm proposing is a... hidden way of going about gaining your...Aura. A... secret method that only a few are capable of performing but with much greater benefits!"

Emrys responded fast and with a voice filled with confidence and charisma that it sounded like the truth. Many would find it hard to argue or speak up against the man even if they knew that his words were wrong, there was just... something about him that made you feel compelled to believe what he said. A rare talent and skill for someone to have such a strong charm using just their words.

A poor child like Jaune stood little chance of not even being the slightest bit swayed.

"R-Really? There's another way? And that thing can help me with it?"

"Of course, I would never tell a lie." Smiling at the young child a little too sweetly. "This thing right here is an ancient artefact from a time long before those great kings of Remnant." The man searched for the right words to spin his tale. "Objects like this were how people during the age of the twin gods unlocked their Aura. That's why this method is no longer used, these items are rare and knowledge of them has been lost to the sands of time."

Emrys' words came across as quite convincing to the eight-year but Jaune couldn't help but feel like something about all this didn't seem right.

And the man saw this.

"You can trust my words, child. I only wish to help you."

Still feeling unsure about all this Jaune mutely nodded his head in acceptance. Putting his faith in the strange man, who while didn't feel malicious with his words and actions still had an air about him that put the hairs on Jaune's body standing on their edges.

The man just seemed far too happy and...not 'real' for the lack of a better word.

A hand soon gripped his shoulder in a tight hold, the other bringing the golden sheath towards his chest.

Anxiety quickly took hold of Jaune's mind as quiet words left the man's lips and the sheath made contact with his body. Freezing up, Jaune felt his eyes widening, feeling an overwhelming surge take hold of his body as the scabbard slowly sunk further into his chest.

It was indescribable.

The best the poor boy could think of was that of a bubbling feeling that kept on rising within him, threatening to burst at any moment.

Fearing like this was a mistake, Jaune attempted to pry himself free from the man's hold. Before he could, however, the sheath had already been inserted by this point and the pressure simply kept building up with no sign of stopping.

Very soon a grand white light filled the area.

And with that Jaune's whole world soon went dark.

When his eyes opened the young Arc found himself laying down on the bench, due to him only being eight his body didn't take much space from the public seat. By his feet, Emrys was sitting where he had been before, looking down at Jaune with a mask of perplexed interest layered with satisfaction. There didn't appear to be a hint of concern or guilt on the man about what had just happened.

"Ah! You're finally back with us."

"W-What was that? What just happened?" Jaune demanded, finding it a bit hard to speak after the whole ordeal. Attempting to get used to the new tingling sensation around his body. He felt.. awake, full of energy, like he could run around for hours and not feel drained in the least. It was strange but not necessarily in a bad way, it was just… different.

"I unlocked your…, err what is again?" Clicking his fingers as if that would help the man find his answer. "Ah, Aura that's right...dear me I'm being very forgetful today. "

"Wait, It actually worked?"

"Indeed it did."

Jaune slowly wobbled up to get himself sitting right. Trying to get used to the new sensations his body was going through while trying to not puke his guts up.

"You're experiencing side effects but it worked. The process was a bit hit or miss there for a second, after you passed out I fear the worst but it actually all worked out in the end and you now have access to your Aura." Emrys sounded more surprised than Jaune about it all working. He wasn't sure if the scabbard would accept the boy but those fears were all for nothing, in the end, it would seem. "Think of it as my parting gift to you, child. You were complaining about not having it unlocked, weren't you?"

"I can't believe that I finally unlocked after all this. " Whispered Jaune, finding it hard to contain his excitement while also getting used to this new foreign feeling coming from within his body. "Err, I guess I should thank you, so…"

Jaune shifted about uncomfortably in front of the stranger. Finding it hard to show his gratitude but couldn't just say nothing after the guy had helped him out like that. Even if the whole action was a little odd.

"T-Thank you, sir...I suppose."

"Oh, think nothing of it lad..." The man waved his hand in dismissal and smiled at the blonde, watching the kid experiment with flaring his Aura with absolute wonder. Like someone had gifted him a toy that he couldn't stop messing with.

"Besides, you shouldn't be thanking me for this." Was what the man said out of the boy's hearing.

Emrys' gaze soon found itself wandering over to the sky above.

"I should get going soon." Was his abrupt statement to bring the Arc back towards the white-haired one. "I can't stay for much longer. I've done what I wanted... and much more now after this."

"What! You're leaving?" Jaune didn't know how to feel about that. Sure, the man was weird and gave him a feeling of putting on edge but at the same time, the stranger had been pleasant to talk with, if nothing else. Not to mention had just unlocked his Aura for him, something he had been pestering his father and grandfather about for ages. "Will we see each other again?"

"No...sorry but I'm afraid not, young one. I hail from a faraway place that few if none at all will ever see."

"Really? Where are you from?"

"The far side of the world, you might say. A small garden where I overlook a great many things that only I can see, both close and far away." Emrys' eyes began taking in the scenery all around him, a far off look entering his gaze. "I rarely ever leave it. I was only visiting here because I wished to have a chance to see the sites before it was all gone, forever lost." He informed with less of the hopeful and happy tone he had been using for most of the conversation.

Staring up at the white-haired gentleman, Jaune was left confused by his words. What did he mean by all gone?

"But hopefully I shouldn't have to worry about that now thanks to you." The cheerful mood returned as if it had never left the man. "Anyway don't you have anywhere to be right now? It's getting quite late in the afternoon."

Looking over towards the town's clock tower Jaune's eyes nearly popped. "Crap! Your right! I've got to get back home quickly before mom throws a fit at me." The young lad shot up out of his seat and waved good at Emrys. "Seeya mister! Oh, and thanks again for unlocking my Aura even if you're a bit creepy!"

Jaune began running towards the exit of the park but only made it a few steps.

"Hold on," Emrys's voice came stopping the child in his tracks. "You forgot your book."

Turning to see the man holding the forgotten item, Jaune's face flushed red in embarrassment and quickly rushed over to collect it back. The old lady at the library would have chewed him out if he had failed to return it, she may be ancient but the woman's piercing gaze scared him.

When handing it over, Emrys' eyes caught the title of the blonde's book which the kid had been reading.

"Tales about great Kings?" He read out loud, a mischievous grin overtaking his features at the irony. ""Huh, How fitting."

Once the book was back in hand Jaune dashed off towards his home. No doubt expecting an earful from his mother for being late while all his sisters sat by the sidelines sporting massive grins watching their only brother get in trouble.

Watching the boy make his way off, Emrys dropped his grin.

"Really now, I am truly terrible. Meddling with this world when it was destined to be devoured."

Blinking, a puzzled mask showed itself. "Odd, I can't seem to see a definitive future anymore for this world." Chuckling to himself. "Ah, good, at least that means humanity here might now have a chance."

Getting up, the man stood still and studied the clear sky long and hard.

"Let's see where fate takes you down in the years, little great Knight in the making. At the end of it all will you curse this day that we met? Will you even remember this encounter years later, I wonder?"

Dark clouds started to form and roll in, promising to ruin what was left of the nice evening.

"...maybe not."

Leaving the park about to turn left down the next street, the drowsy feeling Jaune had expected earlier finally vanished, like when one is abruptly awoken from a daydream. Taking one last peek back towards the park the young Arc was surprised to find Emrys missing as if the man had never been there in the first place.

"Huh, where did he go?"

Jaune had only turned his head away for a mere few minutes. Not long enough for the man to walk away from viewing.

It was like he had vanished.

Years later…

It was yet another lovely peaceful afternoon for the whole kingdoms of Vale. The sun was out, shining down across the land with a soft gentle breeze passing through. Much more lovely than the freezing tundra in Atlas or the dry desert wastelands of Vacuo.

Lazily walking down a small dirt path taking his sweet time with his aimless steps was possibly the only person who was not in a good mood to be enjoying this beautiful weather that had been gifted to him.

Jaune Arc, the young boy had now grown up to become a young man now on the edge of halfway there on turning seventeen. Being on the tall side of just reaching over six foot, having sun-kissed messy blonde hair and wearing some simple blue jeans, a hoodie and chest plate on top of it. The Arc looked near unrecognisable compared to his small and scrawny young self.

The blonde would-be knight was in a very depressed rut right now as he slowly walked down the path with nothing but trees and wildlife around him.

He had failed.

That was the sole cause behind his foul glum mood.

He failed at what could have been his last chance at becoming a huntsman. A childhood goal of his that had been with the blonde for as long as he could remember. Something he had pursued relentlessly but for some reason, some sort of misfortune would always befall him every time setting him back in some fashion. Be it little things like injuries that slowed him down during training while he waited for his Aura to heal him back up or the big incidents such as the one which had prevented him from attending combat school.

A Grimm horde had assaulted his hometown four years ago. The attack had seriously damaged the settlement and a lot of good men and women had lost their lives that day. One of them being Jaune's own grandfather.

While Jaune had been held up in the house with instructions of guarding his mother and sisters by his father who had been stationed out in the streets helping civilians to safety and working with town guards to drive back the Grimm. His grandfather had taken himself to the front lines, the ageing man had been very insistent on it. The old grandpa Arc bastard had died at the gates, defending his home till his last breath, taking as many of those damn creatures with him as he could.

Jaune had only ended up slaying one or two Grimm that day which wandered close to the house. A pitiful accomplishment considering what the old Arc had achieved with an ageing and failing body.

A tiny smile broke out for a moment thinking of how his granddad had gone out like a damn badass and hero. Knowing him like Jaune remembered the man wouldn't have had it any other way. 'At least he's with grandma now.' The blonde could take solace in that at least.

The timing of the death of the elder Arc had hit the family hard back then. Coupled with the death of a dear family member, the town in need of repairs and low on people who could actually fight and defend the place meant Jaune had ended missing out on his window of attending one of the local combat schools as they were no longer taking any more students in. A sad outcome but Jaune didn't regret choosing to stay with family in their grief nor staying around to protect his home until it was secure again. Besides, at the time the Arc told himself that he still had the chance to attend one of the academies if he worked his butt off, he had been told that attending a combat school wasn't always required to make in.

Evidently, that didn't turn out to be the case this year.

A split in the road ahead had the young man stop.

Looking at the old wooden road sign sticking in the ground the blonde read the post pointing to the left on the split roads. It read Venzor, one of the many villages and towns Jaune would need to pass through on his long depressing journey home.

If you were still wondering what had happened to the young Arc that had him on his journey in the middle of nowhere back to his hometown on foot. The answer was simple.

Jaune had failed to get accepted into Beacon.

He still had the letter of rejection in his back pocket as proof.

Signed by the headmaster and a Miss... Goodwench?

Or something like that anyway. Not like Jaune cared enough to remember their name now.

When he had gone to the city of Vale about three months ago to partake in an aptitude test held in a facility within the city he had high hopes. The test was needed since Jaune had never attended a combat school before and the academies would need to know that wasn't about to just let in anyone off the streets. The test consisted of some theory work on things like his knowledge of Grimm and what Huntsman's responsibilities were. The other half of the test had been evaluating Jaune's combat prowess. Once done the results had been sent off with his application to an evaluator at Beacon who had the final say if he could enter one of the four huntsman academies or not.

It had only been a few weeks later when the letter was finally derived to Jaune informing him that he did not make it and that he wouldn't be among the new students whose first lessons would begin in around the next six or so months.

It had said some stuff about thanking him for applying along with an apology stating that maybe he could try applying next year as a late entry if there was space.

It had all been really a bunch of unfortunate circumstances that had befallen him in a way

Jaune's failure wasn't because he couldn't fight. On the contrary, Jaune would say he was at least competent and somewhat skilled from all the training he had gotten from his father and (when the man had still been with them) his grandfather. It just turns out that even with all the training that he had done it didn't stack up well with the dozens of other people's applications who had spent all their time at a combat school. Seemed that training by yourself with only a few controlled combat encounters against the odd Grimm overlooked by his father didn't amount to much for the people looking over his application over the other candidates.

It wasn't that Jaune was bad, it was more that everyone else's application outshined his when put side by side and the fact that most other people had the word of their last combat schools backing them up, which went a long way as a reference. Add in the fact that there was an odd influx of applicants and limited spots this year meant many, not just Jaune, out there failed to get in.

It didn't help that Jaune still hadn't found his semblance even after all these years, not for a lack of trying though. At first, he and his family had merely believed that his semblance was some kind of minor type of passive healing, speculated from the fact that Jaune always seemed to heal much quicker than what was expected from someone with Aura. That theory had proved to be fruitless once it was found out that his quicker than normal healing rate still remained even after his Aura supplies ran out, meaning there should have been nothing to keep fuelling it if that had been his semblance. No one knew then why Jaune healed so fast and the whole family just chalked it up to his genes, convincing themselves that the young lad was just born naturally with a faster acting healing factor.

Add all those issues together and it was no big surprise that Jaune had not been accepted.

There were only so many spots available after all since Beacon was a very popular choice for many.

'Now what am I meant to do?' He asked himself, feeling lost with what to do with his life with failing at one of his long life goals.

'You don't need to be a Huntsman to be classed as a hero.' Haunted Jaune's mind suddenly.

A hazy old memory of a stranger in the park. The one who had unlocked his Aura in the first place. Gods, that felt like so long ago. Honestly, the whole encounter felt more like a dream to the teenager, with his Aura unlocked being the only proof that the meeting between him and the stranger had actually been real.

Man did his explanation to his family not go down well for the reason for why younger him suddenly having his Aura unlocked.

A lot of shouting happened that day. Stuff about 'stranger danger' and how he shouldn't be speaking with creepy old men in the park by himself.

"Still... despite coming from a creepy stranger hanging out in a park those words do hold some truth in them…" Just because he had failed in one goal didn't mean it locked him out of another. But the sixteen-year-old didn't even know the first steps of even going about such a task.

He couldn't do it on his own, he knew that much.

He needed help.

But how?

Beacon had turned him away immediately, just based on a lacklustre application compared to others. Who else could he turn to? His own father perhaps? 'But the old man hung up his huntsman weapon after grandpa's death.' Maybe scrounge some money together and see if he could pay off a Huntsman or someone skilled to help train him.

The young lad knew he was still lacking in places and needed to improve. He required guidance, aid, and someone with wisdom for him to achieve his goal in life. What Jaune needed was a person who could help turn him into a hero.

But who could do that?

It was obvious that a lot was required of him if he wished to continue on and improve.

But for now, Jaune was simply stuck walking the long lonely path home. Having already spent all the money he had left to get him this far by both airship and train. Yes, he should have brought more money but the teen had been so confident in getting accepted that he only brought enough Lien to last him his stay in Vale. Which was all gone now on travelling expenses.

He still hadn't called his family yet to let them know the bad news. He didn't have what it took to tell them the truth, not yet anyway. Besides, it would be better to talk to them in person anyway.

At least that is what he told himself.

What would his family even think of it when he got back anyway? Would they think of him as a failure? Be disappointed?

They had told him before he left not to worry about it if he didn't make it into Beacon. While the words were reassuring now it kind of made him wonder if they didn't believe that could do it. Jaune at least knew that once he told his parents and sisters what happened they would feel sorry for him.

He didn't want that.

No one liked to be pitied.

Even if his family had the best intentions in mind, Jaune didn't want any of it right now as he wasn't quite over the rejection. He just needed some time on his own until he eventually bounced back. Considering where he found himself right now the blonde knight was going to be getting a lot of that for about the next week or so unless he managed to hick a ride at some point.

It was getting dark now, the night sky was showing and the remains of the moon were coming out in its full glory. Looking on the long empty path before Jaune mumbled to himself. "Hopefully nothing else will go wrong today."

Maybe he shouldn't have tempted fate like that.

It was just asking for trouble.

Meanwhile...

In an unsuspecting little clearing surrounded by nothing but trees and sweet berry bushes, everything appeared normal. Nothing was happening here other than the nightly breeze coming in and causing branches to bend and leaves blow about. It was peaceful with absolutely nothing of interest occurring in the little random spot outside the edge of a little town.

!

That was until the temper in the air began to drop, the wet dew on both the grass and leaves suddenly freezing over due to the sudden chill that had taken hold of the area. Birds began fleeing from nearby trees, attempting to get as far away as possible. The wind then grew deathly silent as if something approaching had sent it running off scared. Cracking could be heard, the same as when a heavy-footed fool stepped on thin ice that couldn't support their weight.

It persisted, groaning on until something finally gave way.

*Smash!*

There, in the empty space a glowing crack formed in the air - the anomaly grew until the cracks resembled that of a spider web or a broken mirror. And like a mirror the thing smashed outward into tiny shards, sounding like a rock had been thrown through a window. The crack now appeared like a jagged split, as if someone had cut the air itself and given it a nasty gash.

If one peered into the tear they would only find a dark void showing nothing within. The anomaly looked as though a gab had been open between the space of this world and that of another.

Emerging from the rip in space and time a tall hooded figure limped out.

Taking a few painful paces before falling to his knees. The figure had to use his sacred sword just to prevent himself from falling down on his face, the tear then sealing itself up behind him. The person looked very close to death's door, with blood slowly dripping out from parts of his armor.

"Damn it..." A crisp whisper left their lips.

This wasn't looking good, his wounds were more severe then he had first feared. The consent battles with those creatures had worn him down and when he finally ran into the beast that those abominations served it had left him near death.

"..."

It was taking all he had not to just disappear right now and vanish entirely.

To think, he had spent so long chasing after that great evil - hopping from world to world trying to catch up to it. Only for him to possibly fall hereafter their third encounter. It should have ended the second time, all the way back in that false grail war. But no, that sinister evil formed of the sins of mankind just refused to die, it was unfathomable!

Truly a cruel twist of fate.

But he had to keep going.

Even if there was nothing left for him to fight for. The man had lost his kingdom, his people, his life and... even her.

But If he didn't carry on then the Beast of ten crowns will devour everything. Nowhere would be safe, it's existence threatened everything. He must keep moving forward and hunt down that great evil, it was his final task and he had given his word that he would end it. But…how long could he carry on like this with these injuries? This form of his was already unstable, at any moment he risked dematerializing if he didn't do something.

Sadly, the answer on how to fix himself alluded to him.

A shame that Avalon wasn't in his possession, that could maybe fix him up.

If only it had never been lost.

Despite all that, the dangers and the terrible injuries begging him to rest. The hooded armoured male slowly pushed himself up. Ignoring the cold wind nipping at his exposed face as it blew his dirty golden fringe away from his eyes as well as disregarding all the blood that seeped out of his wounds the second he moved.

This was no time for resting.

He had a duty to fulfil, he was a Knight after all.

"What far off land have I found myself stranded in this time?"

A recurring drawback for the blonde's ceaseless warping from world to world during this hunt was the never-ending feeling of being disoriented and complete loss of where to move forward once dropped off in a foreign land. Where was Merlin when he needed her damn it!? That blasted cryptic mage of his would know where he had ended up.

'Your journey has not ended.' The female mage had informed him when they last spoke.

'What did you feel for her? Light? Radiance? Affection? Or all of them? They all might end up in a whirlpool of gluttony. If you don't continue your journey.'

Those words had haunted him. Every time he was left alone with just his thoughts those words were in the front of his mind, repeated over and over. At the time when he asked for a further explanation that blasted mage of his had dodged the question.

Typical of her.

'I promise we'll meet face-to-face next time, my king, but perhaps not in the way that you're thinking. This time, too bad! Good luck with your task. We shall meet again! Hehe, If you meet another me or you in a parallel universe, be kind to them!' Those had been the last words she had given before blasting off into this mess of a journey.

"I have yet to meet another you, Merlin, or another me for that matter." A small smile tugged at his lips. "But I haven't forgotten what you said. For now at least."

Taking a look around. "This world hasn't gone to ruin yet it seems." That was new but not unwelcome. "Scenes like this are uncommon for me but it's a welcome change from the destruction and decay like that of the others."

After the Beast had escaped from their battle, he had chosen to do the same. Less he risks falling foul to that evil's spawn. Those creatures while immensely weak compared to its creator were still a threat if taken lightly, anything that was born from that evil was to be taken with the utmost seriousness even if they weren't the hardest foes to slay out there. But if left unattended to then they risked evolving into much more vicious abominations. At least with it retreating it had informed him that the great Devour must still be weak and hadn't recovered yet.

Meaning it had to still be gathering strength from more sacrifices.

Moving forward, the king took in his surroundings more deeply.

"I don't recognise anything…" That was common for him in these situations, rarely were times he found anything familiar in these other words. "But...I can feel something sinister looming in the air... an all too familiar one."

It was so bad that the feeling itched his skin.

Something was wrong here. 'And I haven't even been in this land any longer than ten minutes.'

This required some investigation. He could only pray that his instincts were wrong and his worries were misplaced. Damn it! He had only just warp here, surely it's presence couldn't have reached out here already?

The further he went in his single direction the less dense the woodland seemed to be, in fact, he could just make out a town not far from him.

Good, that means there had to be humans here. A welcome change which would be a nice refresher than the consent desolate lands left behind by the Beast.

Limping along, it was only when the man's gaze wandered up that caused him to pause.

"What on earth happened here?" The question spilled out upon beholding the view of the scattered moon. He had seen a great many things during his life (and after his death) but witnessing the moon being broken was up there. What could have destroyed a moon? The question was something the king didn't know if he truly wished to have the answer revealed to him.

It did, however, look beautiful, in a sad and ill fortune kind of way he supposed.

Shaking the shock factor off, the wounded individual kept on moving. Eventually finding an old dusty path heading straight to the town and signpost, reading "Venzor" painted crudely on it. The small bastion of civilisation didn't look like much, remaining him of a lot of a village that he and his knights had passed by during one of his campaigns. A place where the common folk could drink, work and live a simple but easy life.

Old memories of days long gone flashed towards his mind. Filled with adventure, happiness, blood, and sorrow. A life of a man who became a king only to lose everything, his comrades, his people and even lost his very own kingdom. A figure whose deeds would only live on as a legend that those thought to be written in fiction.

Breaking out of the pains of the past. 'To think such regrets still plague me. Even though I understand now that my wish was ultimately pointless and would have been an insult to those who followed me.' Hobbling on, the hooded man supposed that letting go of his past regrets and wish of fixing it all wasn't something that he could easily throw away from his soul.

It was rare for him to have moments like this to reflect.

These brief moments of peace were referencing, after all the never-ending chasing and fighting. Such a shame that none of it could be appreciated in his current state. This was no time for sightseeing nor could he allow himself a break. His mission came first and something wasn't right here, and it needed seeing too immediately.

The second that he had warped to this world he could feel it. A foreboding sense in the air giving him a twisted anxiousness of what was going on here.

Still limping on, leaving droplets of blood behind him on the path, the silver great knight suddenly stopped dead. Senses picking up a change in the air with foul magic gathering about in the area.

He had found it.

That sinister presence that had been bothering him since he had warped over to this world.

They were here.

A dark power had been forming, made of evil essence. Converged all together high in the sky above the town. The swirling power twisted and turned until it formed into pitch-black orb resembling an ungodly black sun floating above the heads of the unaware townspeople. Completely unknowing of the great danger that now opens above them in the havens, the likes of which would have them believe that the gods had cursed and sent devils from the great beyond to claim their souls.

From this now open corrupted gateway poured forth a black liquid which rained down like a dark comforting blanket that very soon consumed the town.

Panic screams could already be heard as buildings that made contact with the black ooze caught fire and the wounded sword wilder was very sure that clawing out from that black sea, killing those innocent souls.

Where those same damn types of demonic creatures which he had fled from earlier?

"No!" He yelled as the screams became louder coming across clearly from all the way over here.

It seemed he wasn't the only one that had come to this world. The Beast's little spawns were forming their way here. Either the creatures had pursued him or they just so happened to arrive here by mere coincidence. None of it mattered, right now as he had to hurry up and try to save as many as he could.

Gripping the sword of promised victory tightly the blade glowed with a golden glow as the King of Knights readied himself and rushed forward.

Meanwhile - a short time later...

Hours and many, many footsteps later Jaune was finally gonna come upon the town of Venzor. Thank the gods! Maybe he'll be able to rest his feet and if he was lucky to find a place to sleep, that is if anyone accepted him willing to work off anything that it would cost him as payment. Being broke really sucked when you were in the middle of nowhere.

"I should probably just count myself lucky that the country roads have been dead quiet." Not a single Grimm had crossed his path since passing through some old village a great many miles back. Usually, it was common to at least encounter a young stray Beowolf that wandered off from its pack or a simple Boarbatusk that had been prowling the roads. Nothing too dangerous to folks as long as they were armed and knew how to defend themselves - a very trivial encounter for someone like Jaune.

His unofficial training and unorthodox education, when it came to fighting, may not have been viewed highly by those uppity teachers at Beacon but at the very least it made sure that Jaune didn't crap himself at the mere sight of some of the world's most basic and simplest Grimm. Couldn't really call himself a Huntsman in training and aspiring hero if he struggled to kill one simple measly Grimm now, could he? At least he wasn't helpless when faced with one of the creatures of darkness, imagine if he had never had any training at all? How would have he turned out then?

Still, going back to the main topic. It was odd that there had been no signs of Grimm actively out here. The Arc had been expected to get jumped out here in the exposed and unprotected wilderness. By possible bandits but mostly Grimm. If one of those bone-plated creatures did happen to jump out at him the young Arc had his trusty old family sword strapped to his hip.

But all that seemed for naught now with the whole journey so far being deathly silent with no activity on the roads at all.

'Come to think of it, I haven't seen a single person travelling down these roads either.' The many hours he had been walking and not a single person travelling to and from all neighbouring towns or a merchant transporting their goods. 'It's just been me out here with nothing but my thoughts.'

Sorta creepy the more the young Arc thought about it. The isolation and not seeing another human or Faunus for so long was starting to become a bit unnerving.

Shaking his head rapidly like a wet dog trying to dry itself. 'I'm just getting paranoid. Been on the road too long and awake for far longer.' He just needed to rest for a bit and regain his peace of mind.

Once he made it to Venzor then everything would be fine.

In fact, once he made out of this dense grouping of trees and undergrowth the town would be right there to greet his sight. After that, all that was left was to try and find a place to rest up in the small little town for a few hours until the sun graced the land again. Then go back on resuming his long boring journey home and see his family again like nothing had happened, as if he had never left.

Trudging onwards, 'What's that smell? Is something burning?' Jaune noted that slowly, with each step taken a thick lingering scent of smoke could be picked up in the air.

Only as he kept on walking out of the trees and up the hill was when he found the cause of the smell.

"Holy crap…" He gasped when his blue orbs laid upon Venzor. The whole town was lit up in a glow of colours made of angry reds and yellows, the old town was set ablaze with flames dancing among the buildings and smoke rising up. Above the town, suspended up the air was a circular black void that when gazed into seemed to be both empty and never-ending.

What was that?

It looked like a hole had been torn open within the sky. And the longer Jaune peered into it the more he felt a great terror bubble up within his core. It was like staring into the abyss, a never-ending void in which light came to die. It was evil, that much was certain and the more he gazed into it the more Jaune feared it would drive him mad.

Whatever that thing in the sky as it wasn't a sign of good omens that was for sure.

The…' black hole' was leaking a thick black red fluid. The tar-like substance kept flowing into Venzor, burning and slowly consuming the small little town.

To Jaune, it looked like the sky was bleeding.

'What am I even looking at?'

The teenage Arc couldn't even begin to hypothesise what phenomenon was occurring before his very eyes. Such a sight of destruction and dark mystery would have much rather fitted into one of the many religious tomes, sprouting such drivel such as the dark twin god one day returning to punish humanity for their sins and wipe them out. Now, Jaune wasn't much of a religious person but nowhere did he remember any of those holy books once mentioning a menacing black moon as a sign of the end times.

So if this wasn't an act of the gods then what was he witnessing right now?

Honestly, the blonde didn't know nor really care as the young teen was instead questioning what course of action to take. The idea of turning back the way he came spring to mind, avoid whatever plight had besieged Venzor and quickly retreat back to any of the neighbouring settlements to possibly get help.

But would that even work?

'No one's going to believe a hysterical kid running into town yelling about an evil gateway in the sky.' They would think that the dangers of the wilds had gotten to him. The Arc would be lucky if they just ignored his cries instead of throwing him a cell to calm down.

What should he do then?

"Aghhhhhh!"

It was the screams of terror that brought the blonde back to reality. The sounds of people crying out in fear left Jaune frowning as an inner battle waged within. Both fight and flight, selflessness and self-preservation clashing at odds with one another. Run to safety or towards the danger?

Faced with the choice had Jaune frozen in place.

If all this wasn't enough a faint aching could be felt deep inside the depths of his chest. It was a pulsing sensation, bizarrely feeling kinda like he had suddenly grown a second heart randomly with how it throbbed. Jaune couldn't explain it but it honestly felt like something inside him was tugging at him towards the burning town. Stirring about and shaking trying to get closer to whatever lay beyond those crumbling walls.

Like a magnet was slowly pulling him towards something so they could be joined together.

'What's wrong with me all of a sudden? Is my body trying to subconsciously tell me something?' His right hand moved towards his chest. Jaune eyed himself up out of curiosity before his attention moved back to Venzor. Remaining himself that he needed to make a choice and act now as most likely the longer he took the more lives that were lost or the risk of himself unwilling getting caught up in all this before he could escape.

At the end of it, all Jaune wound up following his heart over his brain. A final decision many would call foolish.

Brave but foolish.

And unknown to the Arc at the time a decision that would change his whole life forever.

Getting Crocea Mors at the ready the young wannabe blonde knight sprinted head on towards the unknown danger in a vain attempt to save someone.

Well...that's the pilot chapter.

Hope it was okay. Got some interesting ideas for this story (At least I think I do) if I decide to carry on with it.

New Sword is Forged should be the next story to be updated but no promises on that.

Been kinda getting sucked into Persona 5 Royal and Granblue fantasy versus at the moment with the whole lock down here in my country.

Hope you guys are enjoying the first lost belt in FGO. Already got one of my top 3 most wanted servants so far, that being Atalanta alter. It took me age to get her, ended up a np4 Anastasia and Arturia for my troubles before she came to me twice in one roll. Next targets are Okita Souji Alter and Skadi. Christmas and valentines was good for me as well, got Ereshkigal and Semiramis.

Wish you all luck on your wanted servants!

Anyway, have a beautiful Duwang and I'll see you next time.

Small preview clips of what's to come. (Might changed.)

"KiKi…"

"Huh?" Jaune jump at the chilling sound that originated from behind.

"Um... it's Jaune... my name's Jaune Arc."

A frown flashed by the man's face when given the name but in the time it took Jaune to blink the grumpy frown was already gone, replaced back with that kind smile. Although Jaune would swear that he heard the peeved off muttering of, 'He's bloody French?…'

After the moment passed the hooded teen's lips moved.

A tiny whispered left them.

"EX…"

The sword that he was holding up in the air busted out in a torrent of uncontainable energy.

"Enough!" Jaune finally shouted, sounding more commanding and assertive then he ever had before in his life.

The white haired and scantily robed dressed woman's whole frame stilled the moment he spoke and her eyes widen in shock.

Before they soon settled into a warm gleam, treating Jaune with a look of familiarity one would save for a dear friend or lover.

Those purple orbs then began to examine him.