I'm really pissed at myself right now. I mean, I know that being awesome at writing doesn't happen overnight...

But I really do hate looking at my spelling mistakes and terrible grammar. And while I may be whining like a little bitch right now, it's no excuse as to why I should give you guys a story published by an author who always forgets to double-check his shit!

So I will change! *Cue dramatic music and rising sun backdrop* I will give you, the denizens of Fanfiction, a decent story with little-to-no grammar mistakes! Or so help me, I will change my name to Linda and move to Finland.

In other news; I stubbed my toe and died after travelling through alternate time lines via wormholes disguised as cardboard boxes. I might have peed in one of those things.

I also realized how useless it is to try and escape the Fandom! :D

DISCLAIMER: I cannot lay claim upon RWBY. All of its contents belong to Rooster Teeth. If I owned it, I would totally write about a girl named Rufie Rosh who gets into Haven academy and gets in a relationship with a dog Faunus named Sway. What? It could happen...

Jaune wished he could sleep a little bit longer.

He also wished Ozpin would share some of that coffee he'd been sipping for the past five minutes since Jaune had stepped in his office. It simply smelled divine...

So... thirsty...

...

...

"Ummm... Headmaster?" Jaune asked, the barest hint of irritation in his voice.

Ozpin gave a sigh, obviously satisfied by the taste of the caffeine. "Yes, Mr. Arc?" The teen being referred to twitched his eyebrows.

Did he not notice a one-armed, unarmed student coming into his damned office?!

"Sir, you asked me last night if I could meet you in your office on the morrow. You also requested to come at a time before anyone else woke up. So," he raised his arms as if expecting something, which he was. "here I am."

"I believe you are mistaken Mr. Jaune." Ozpin countered, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"B-but... you said here! Before anyone woke up!" Jaune exclaimed, frantically waving his hands in the air.

"You are correct on the latter, but you completely missed your mark on the former." Ozpin explained. "I believe I told you to meet me down below, at the vault."

Jaune massaged his temple; Ozpin, even as an old man, always had the uncanny ability to ruin Jaune's day. Especially when Ozpin was drinking his coffee; it always made the eccentric professor more... eccentric.

"Shall we, Jaune?" Ozpin gestured to the elevators as they dinged open. Jaune clenched and unclenched his fist, pondering whether or not he should smack Ozpin upright.

Nah... it'll just get me killed He thought to himself.

He trudged towards the elevators; careful to keep his distance from the nutty professor. Who knew what that guy could do with a mug full of coffee and a cane held by a twitchy hand.

That bastard always did make it seem that crazy equalled to genius.

"Been a while since I've been down here Ozzy," Jaune remarked as he scanned the underground vault. "Or you could say; 'It'll be a while before I go down here', ehhhh~"

Ozpin's glasses shone with an unnatural light; considering that they were underground only served to make it more terrifying. "Amusing Jaune. Truly, you have a way with words" Ozpin countered sarcastically. "Makes me wonder why you aren't knee-deep in women right now..."

Jane's eyes widened at what Ozpin said. "Hey, hey, hey; what's that supposed to mean?" Jaune exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the headmaster. Ozpin simply lowered the offending appendage with the end of his cane. "Have your parents taught you nothing when it comes to manners, or do they simply come out the other ear?"

"I'll have you know that my parents drilled those manners in my noggin, prof!" Jaune proclaimed; an aura of pride around him.

"Maybe they didn't drill deep enough." Ozpin coolly remarked as he took a sip from his mug. "No surprise there; your skull is thicker than Remnant's crust"

"Shut your face!"

"Make me, child."

"I swear, I'll-"

"You'll what, Mr. Arc?" Ozpin cut him off. "Will you charge at me blind? I'd like to see you try." Jaune's eye twitched, but kept his irritation under control.

"Okay. You win." Jaune submitted.

"You bet your stump I did." Ozpin laughed.

"Fuck you Ozpin. Fuck you."

Ozpin wiped a stray tear from his eye at this, his grin not faltering at all. "I can see why I'd take you in as my apprentice. The banter itself is enough to keep me entertained for days~"

Jaune couldn't help but chuckle at that. It was true; he couldn't deny. A conversation with the old man always brought a smile on his face.

Or popped a vein. That only happened on days ending in 'Y'.

Ozpin coughed in his fist as he regained his composure. "Anyway, Mr. Arc. To the matter at hand; what brought you hear? Or, in proper terms, why did I bring you hear?" Ozpin questioned as he leaned on his cane.

As Jaune told his story, he wasn't surprised that Ozpin wasn't surprised. He had come to know this man very well, and knew that it took a lot to trip Ozpin up. Or a cup of coffee.

For a few minutes, all Jaune heard was the echo of Ozpin's fingers tapping on his cane; his face a complete mask, but Jaune could see it clearly. The fears turning inside the head master's head; processing and calculating the data presented to him like a computer.

Then Ozpin broke the silence with a sigh. "I'm still a little surprised that I'm still around in that time line Jaune." Said teen rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, well you were still a prime target in the war."

"I suspected no less." Ozpin remarked, albeit there was no pride on his voice. He was merely stating a fact.

"Me neither. But yeah, you lived through it all and became a pretty big political figure prof," Jaune explained. "you pretty much brought Vale back up since the depression."

Ozpin nodded absent-mindedly; not surprised at all at what he would - could - become in the future.

"I see..." he said. He then returned his attention to Jaune, his eyes narrowed in a menacing glare. "But I suspect that you're here for another reason. A much more... selfish reason."

Jaune's eyes met Ozpin's with an even glare. "Call it like you see it, right Ozpin?" Jaune's expression became uncaring as he waved Ozpin's observation off. "Doesn't matter what you think, anyway. All I needed was your advice, but seeing as how you won't seem to cooperate..."

Jaune left that threat hanging in the air. This was a what others might call a 'suicidal move'. Right now, Jaune needed Ozpin as much as Ozpin needed him; but Jaune was pulling a bluff. He knew that Ozpin had many ways of making him cooperate.

Yes, Jaune wanted to see Remnant safe as much as the next guy, but he had a fatal flaw; Personal Loyalty. He was willing to sacrifice the world for those he cared for. It didn't matter what the cost was to him, and he knew that it was dangerous.

Right now, all he cared about was seeing his friends and family safe. He was selfish that way, and Ozpin could clearly see that. But he was still Ozpin's apprentice. The man was a pathological gambler, and right now Jaune was showing him who had the better cards in the game. Or at least, that's what he wanted to seem.

Fortunately, it seemed Ozpin had relented. "Selfish or not, I need you right now Jaune. So I will concede to offering you any possible way I can help you."

Jaune nodded. "Thank you Ozpin."

Ozpin smirked. "Don'the thank me yet, child. Our safety still isn't assured, and I'd like to be properly compensated for my troubles."

Another round of silence enveloped the two as they stared each other down.

One Crescent Rose...

Two Crescent Rose...

When suddenly the room was filled with the echoes of both individuals, as they clutched their stomachs and leaned to the wall for support.

"G-good one Arc!" Ozpin chuckled.

"I - I swear" Jaune gasped as his stomach clenched from laughing. "You crack me up!"

As the two let their laughter die down, they shook hands with enthusiasm.

"So, deal Oz?" Jaune questioned.

"Deal" a smile adorning Ozpin's slightly weathered face.

Jaune was about to take his leave when a question popped in his head.

"Say, Ozpin?"

"Yes?"

Jaune gestured to his stump; a clean cut at the shoulder, (A/N: Or whatever. Please comment on what part of the arm needs to be cut to severe the entire arm. I know I'm Asian, but not that Asian) covered in bandages. "I pretty much get that you transferred my mind and soul to my younger body, but how come I still have my scars?"

Ozpin did not hesitate to answer. "Your mental state."

"My mental state?" Jaune repeated, confusion evident in his voice. Ozpin nodded "Allow me to explain; I transmitted your mind and soul to your younger body, correct? Well, allow me to ask you, what is aura, Jaune?"

"A manifestation of one's soul" Jaune stated matter-of-factly, still not being able to follow.

"One-hundred points," Ozpin said "Just as you said, it manifests outside our body. When properly utilized, aura enhances all of your body; your reflexes, physical abilities, etc;"

"Uh-huh"

"But it also affects the body in more ways then you can imagine. Tell me Jaune, did all of your wounds return?" Ozpin asked. Jaune shook his head, which prompted Ozpin to continue. "Then what did come back with you?"

That was when realization hit Jaune straight in the face. He had a photographic memory, so he knew exactly how many scars he had now; which was significantly less than his future self.

"Seven..." Jaune answered.

One stab wound in his abdomen.

One scorch mark located at his back.

Three slash marks on his chest.

A rib that never properly healed from a very large impact...

And one severed arm.

Ozpin tutted. "I see. Do those wounds mean anything to you?"

"Y-yeah. They do..."

Ozpin nodded "Trauma. Both mental and spiritual. When I sent you to your younger body, your aura clung too much to your wounds; refusing to forget these. You must have subconsciously turned those scars into more than just proof of war. They symbolize parts of you now. And so, your body responded to your aura and... you know the rest." Ozpin explained.

"Is that even possible?"

"Yes. There have been cases where men and women experienced severe trauma, and their auras conformed to this. Some changed the eye or hair color of the body; others became the foundation for Semblances, but your traumas are too painful that they became permanent; inflicting those wounds to your body."

"I - I see..." Jaune swallowed down his saliva at remembering as to how he got these scars. "They mean something to me, and because of that my aura won't heal them."

Ozpin saw the confusion in the young man's eyes, and who could blame him? He just now found out that the scars he was carrying was cursed to stay with him; a constant reminder of his past failures.

Ozpin clasped Jaune's shoulder. "Do not fret Mr. Arc. I will be by your side through all of this, I promise." Jaune chuckled dryly at that, which confused Ozpin.

"What is it? Did I say something?"

"Yeah... you pretty much said the same thing to me when you took me in."

"Ah"

Jaune wiped a tear from his eye and shook the headmaster's hand. "Promise me you'll train me; to make me stronger."

"Of course. Now run along, we don't want Glynda throwing a fit."

"Wake up, lazy bud!"

So much for my sanity...

Ren's eyes slowly opened and was greeted by the sight of his childhood friend, Nora Valkyrie, boring on top of him with her usual bubbly smile. Nora - with her insane speed - dashed to his side as he rose from his lying position "It's morning! It's morning! It's morning! It's morning!"

Lie Ren sighed again and he found himself brushing his teeth in the restroom while Nora continued to talk.

"I can't believe we've been at Beacon for a full twenty-four hours! Not that I thought we'd get kicked out or anything, I mean, you're the perfect student and I'm... well, I'm me! But it's just crazy, you know?"

He was at the ballroom, where the two of them were readying themselves. Nora was brushing her hair and still chattering while Ren was tightening the strings on his sleeping bag.

"We've been friends for soooooooo long! What are the odds we'd still be together? Well, not 'together-together...'; Not that I'm not saying that you're not handsome; you are handsome, but that'd just be weird, right?"

Ren and Nora were in the middle of eating their breakfast; Nora had a pancake hanging from her mouth as she was still talking.

Nora spoke, even when she muffled through her food "Right! What was I thinking? But still, I hope we end up on the same team together!" She slurp ed on her pancake and continued "Oohhhh! We should come up with some sort of plan, to make sure we end up on the same team together! What if we bribe the headmaster? No, that won't work. He has the school."

And now, they were in the locker area; Ren was loading his Storm flower.

"I know! We'll have some sort of signal! Like a distress signal!" She gasped for air, but went on "So we can find each other in the forest! Can you imitate a sloth?"

Ren then decided to reply. "Nora?"

Nora stopped her ranting and dashed close to him "Yes, Ren?"

He sheathed his weapons in his sleeves and answered "I don't think sloths make a lot of noise."

Nora adopted a thinking pose for a minute before gasping in realization "That's why it's perfect! No one will suspect we're working together!"

Ren gave a small smile "Come on Nora, let's go."

Nora giggled "Not 'together-together'..."

But before they could make their leave, Ren sensed a familiar presence.

He glanced to his right and saw the one-armed blonde boy rummaging through his locker, grumbling to himself about vaults and annoying geezers.

Normally, this wouldn't have bothered Ren; except for one thing. He had sensed the gaze of this guy twice already. One was yesterday, during the formal greeting; and now.

While Ren was not normally a guy who would care if someone stared at him, but he had sensed the way this guy watched him. Sure, it was only for a split-second; but he with his aura, he had sensed what the guy was feeling.

Longing...

Ren guessed that the guy wanted a friend or something, and wanted Ren to be that guy. Now, Ren was not offended in anyway; but he had no idea as to why the guy wanted him to be his friend, or whatever.

He gazed at the guy one last time, before telling Nora that it was time to leave.

Maybe later, Blondie.

Somewhere else at the lockers...

"Wonder what those two are so worked up about?" Ruby asked her sister. Yang shrugged in answer "Oh, who knows? So, you seem awfully chipper this morning!"

Ruby beamed "Yep! No more awkward small talk or 'getting-to-know-you' stuff. Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." She then began to stroke Crescent Rose; sighing in content as if she was holding her pet.

"Well, remember, Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation. If you wanna grow up, you're gonna have to meet new people and learn to work together."

Ruby sighed in frustration "You sound like Dad!" she exclaimed, shoving her weapon in the locker. "Okay, first of all: What does meeting new people have to do with fighting? And secondly: I don't need people to help me grow up! I drink milk!"

Yang placed her hands on her hips "But what about when we form teams?"

Ruby began to adopt a nervous posture "Um, I don't know, I... I'll just be on your team or something..."

Yang brought her hair around her shoulder and stroked it, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Maybe you should try being on someone else's team?"

Ruby glared at her sister. "My dear sister Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?"

Yang's eyes widened, as if she had committed a heinous crime. "What? No! Of course I do! I just thought... I don't know, maybe it would help you... break out of your shell!"

"What the-?! I don't need to 'break out of my shell'! That's absolutely-"

"Ridiculous!" Jaune suddenly exclaimed nearby. "There's no way that that old geezer switched my locker! When I get my hands on Ozpin, I'll give him what for, I swear..."

Jaune then walked by Weiss and some redhead as they were fixing themselves up at their lockers.

"So, Pyrrha," Weiss referred to the girl "have you given any thought to whose team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself!"

Pyrrha hummed to herself, pondering over the question. "I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may."

Weiss' face was then adorned with an even bigger kiss-ass smile. "Well... I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together."

"Well, that sounds grand!"

"Great!"

Unseen to everyone else, Weiss' mind was clouded in thoughts as she began to plot her rise in Beacon. *Cue thunderstorm backdrop and scheming pose*

This will be perfect! Weiss thought to herself. The smartest girl in class combined with the strongest girl in class! Together we will be unstoppable! I can see it now! We'll be popular! We'll be celebrities! We'll get perfect grades! Nothing can come between us now!

However, fate decided to end her evil train of thought by putting something in between them. A blonde something.

Jaune glanced at Weiss and smiled. "Hey Snow Angel."

Now Weiss was irritated. This guy just happened to ruin her plan to becoming number one, and now he calls her Snow Angel?! "You again?"

Pyrrha, eager to meet Jaune, stepped close to him and smiled. "Nice to meet you!"

"Hello, Miss...?" Jaune trailed off. "My apologies, I haven't introduced myself yet, and neither have you."

Weiss smacked her forehead. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!

Jaune raised a brow in confusion. "Did I say something? Was I being rude again?"

Pyrrha waved both of her hands and shool her head. "Oh no, not in any way," she held her hand out. "By the way, my name is-"

Weiss smacked Pyrrha's hand away. "Pyrrha! You shouldn't introduce yourself to low lives like him! He should know who you are by now" She turned to Jaune and poked him in the chest. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

Jaune scratched his head in embarrassment. "Not in the slightest, snow angel."

"This is Pyrrha."

Pyrrha waved a greeting. Again. "Hello again!"

"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum!"

Jaune shook his head. "Never heard of it."

Weiss scoffed at him. "She's won the Mistral Region Tournaments four years in a row! A new record!"

Jaune blinked, an obvious sign that he had no idea what Weiss was talking about. "Doesn't ringany bells, but congrats Pyrrha"

Weiss began waving her arms rapidly in anger. "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!"

Jaune snapped his fingers as it all 'came back to him'. "So you do look familiar! They only do that for celebrities and star athletes."

Pyrrha blushed at the unintended compliment. "Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you."

Weiss glared at him. "So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?"

"Yup" Jaune answered with no hesitation.

At this, Weiss became an instant stuttering mess. "W-what?! You dare?!" Jaune shrugged at her reaction. "What?" he asked her. "It's no big deal. If I wanna hang out with her, then why should you stop me?"

Weiss' face became redder than a tomato; but her she would not let her pride be wounded. "Because you might have some underlying malicious intent!" she exclaimed. Pyrrha blushed at the thought, but shook herself out of it; but Jaune remained nonchalant.

"Well, I don't" he answered. "Besides, you guys are still people too. Sure, you might be better than me in a ton of ways; but in the end you're still another person with the same weaknesses as me."

Weiss fumed, which was ironic since she was practically ice. "I am better than you in every way!"

"But you still breathe the same air as me, Snow Angel," he countered. "you bleed like me; starve like me; and you have emotions just like me." He then flicked Weiss in the head lightly, which made said person shocked beyond doubt. "Sure, I'm handicapped; and yes, I might not be as smart as you; but in the end, you and I and Pyrrha are all mortal beings with the same mortal weaknesses."

Weiss was at a loss for words, and did the only thing that came naturally to her. "Pyrrha, do something about him!" Which was ordering other people around...

Jaune's last through before being pinned to the lockers by Miló was Dear Oum, I wish I could've recorded that...

"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha called out.

That was when an announcement began to play on the intercom. Out came the voice of Glynda.

Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately.

Weiss passed Jaune as he hung from the wall of a locker on as as she walked out. Pyrrha followed her, but not before grabbing her spear and dropping Jaune to the ground.

Pyrrha beamed at him "It was nice meeting you!"

Jaune returned with an equally bright smile. "Likewise."

Yang and Ruby approached his seated for. "Having some trouble there, lady-killer?" asked Yang.

Jaune shook his head. "Nah, I think I made a pretty good impression on them; but 'Snow Angel' was definitely not the way I should've gone."

Yang snorted. "You can say that again."

Ruby smiled and held out her hand. "Come on, Jaune, let's go."

She helped him up, and together the three of them set off to start the day.

We now find our heroes atop the Beacon Cliff, overlooking a forest, where several students — some old, some new, and some unseen — are standing on silver tiles in front of a mug-holding Professor Ozpin and Glynda with her tablet.

Ozpin began. "For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of 'teams.'" Glynda remarked. "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates... today."

Ruby was genuinely surprised and scared now. "What? Ohhh..."

Ozpin, seeing no negative reactions, continued. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."

Ruby groaned, which earned a laugh from Jaune.

"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

Ruby's expression easily mirrored a glass breaking and falling apart; just like how her world felt. "Whaaaat?!"

Nora grinned at Ren. "See? I told you-!"

"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest." Ozpin instructed. "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die."

Jaune snickered at hearing this.

"You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?" Ozpin asked.

Jaune raised his hand. "I got one. Do you get kicks out of seeing freshies fly off the cliff, old man?"

Ozpin chose to ignore him, even when everyone else had their jaws firmly planted on the ground. "Good! Now, take your positions."

Everyone striked a pose on their tile; kinda like Power Rangers. Nora crouched low, Ren wielded his weapons, Yang raised her fists, Ruby readied her body, and Jaune decided to flip off the headmaster; to which the headmaster responded with a finger of his own.

Glynda fainted. No questions there...

As the students began to be launched off the cliff, Jaune grinned and asked "So... we're gonna fall?"

Ozpin nodded. "Yes. You will be falling."

"And no parachutes, huh?"

"Indeed. You will be using your own landing strategy."

Jaune laughed heartily. "You are definitely the craziest person I've ever met."

As the last of the students were being watched, he gave a two-finger salute to Ozpin. "See you on the flip-side Oz."

"Good luck to you as well, Jaune. Happy hunting."

Jaune is then hurled into the forest, Ozpin for his part simply sipped his coffee with a small smile as he watched young warriors soar to meet the beginning of their destinies.

All while Glynda was knocked out. Go figure.

"Jaune..."

Said man stopped cleaning his blade and looked at his partner, Pyrrha Nikos. "Yeah, Pyr?"

Pyrrha hugged herself as she shivered under the cold breeze. "I know this sounds crazy, Jaune; but I... I'm a little happy that this war started."

Jaune raised a brow at her words, but remained silent. Taking his silence as a signal to keep going, Pyrrha continued. "I know it sounds terrible, but because of all this... I finally got my wish"

"And that would be?"

Pyrrha gazed at the shattered moon, and hugged herself tighter for warmth. It was understandable, given that they were in the middle of a forest while on a suicidal mission.

"To be treated like everyone else." she answered. "To be seen the way everybody sees each other: an average Joe."

Jaune gave a dry chuckle at that. "P-Money, you're anything but average."

Pyrrha lowered her gaze to the warm fire between them. "My point exactly... But I guess that's why you became my first real friend at Beacon."

Jaune narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Why's that?"

"Because you saw me for me, Jaune." she explained. "You saw me as Pyrrha Nikos: a Beacon student, just like everyone else. You saw me as another normal person..."

Jaune laughed. "Yeah, well... I was pretty stupid back the-"

"OVER HERE!" a voice shouted, cutting off Jaune. "I think I see a fire!"

"On our way!" called a second voice.

"Crap" Jaune cursed. Pyrrha instantly instantly put out the fire and drew her weapons.

"They've spotted us, Jaune."

Jaune drew Crocea Mors and held the shield out in front of him. "Fine by me. I've been itching for a good fight."

Soon after, the forest was filled with the sounds of metal clashing metal and gunshots.

YEY! Another chapter!

Three cheers for... whatever!

And this is the longest chapter I've ever written, so huzzah for that too.

Plus, this chapter now signifies the beginning of some real shiznit; as all fifth chapters do. Also, I hope this chapter answered some questions out there XD

Be a pal and do whatevs.

Bye.