This was supposed to be a one-shot. Now, I'm not sure. The story is finished, but there are lots of things hinted at that when this had started to pop into my head were parts of the story.

Jaune in volume four, despite talking quite a bit, is mostly a mystery. We don't really know what he is other than angry about Pyrrha. He acts goofy, sad, determined. In the battle with Tyrian he looks useless and in the battle with the Nukalevee he's a bit badass without really ever explaining why. There's a lot of time jumping as well, which leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

Like I said, the genesis of this story in my mind what what I thought *I* would do if I were Jaune and heard about the artifacts; magical wish machines that would let me change the world how I saw fit. Well, to understand that, we have to explore how Jaune would feel (or how I think he'd feel, anyway) to get his motivation.

This is that. It's mostly an internal monologue. I didn't plan it out, so I'm just going to let it flow.

Forest in Anima, the night Tyrian attacked, after Qrow's talk

The nerve of that asshole. Following them, dangling Ruby like bait. Just like Pyrrha, they were using her - his own niece! Qrow was a badass; I was useless in that fight and that dude was pretty creepy. He looked like he might want to rape me or something. It's good he was there; I don't think we could have stopped him. And a scorpion tail! Man, everyone has something but me.

I have to get better. Pyrrha was always telling me I hesitated too much, and that I needed to act and not try to think it out first, and boy did that douchnozzle prove that. I'm such a fool.

Maidens with magical powers, and they were going to make my girl into one. She'd leave. I don't know why she ever stuck by me anyway, but she'd be gone and I'd never see her again. They always left, one way or the other. Mom, Dad, my sisters... There, it's a bit far but I can still see her face. Let me just put this on repeat. I should probably save the battery, maybe just do audio? Not like we've seen a place to charge it in weeks. She's not coming back man. Maybe... maybe just this one more time. I'll listen so she can remind me.

LEFT! Right! Harder, I have to do it harder. STAB! RESET! Catch my breath and... LEFT! RIGHT! STAB!...

"Jaune?" Great. Here comes the fucking lecture. "Yeah Ruby?"

"What's with you? He's hurt, and you were really mean!" Fuck. "Ruby, he's using you. Using us! You're bait, don't you get that? He's using us like they used Pyr... like they used Pyrrha. Am I supposed to just accept that, after everything that's happened?" Yeah, don't say anything. I know you think I'm dumb... useless. Maybe I am. But I think about shit too, Ruby.

"He gave you that tip about going to Mistral, didn't he? Didn't he Ruby? Why do you think he did that; just let it slip? We're here because he wanted us to be here, and he wanted us to be here so he could draw them out. What happens if that scorpion guy killed you, huh? What do I do then?"

"Jaune? What... what do you mean?"

"Nevermind Ruby. Just... go back. I want to be alone."

"With Pyrrha? Jaune, she's gone... we're here. You heard uncle... you heard Qrow. This is bigger than us. If that crazy lady Salem and that bitch Cinder get those artifacts..."

Artifacts. Qrow said she could make the world what she wanted with them... "Just... just give me some time. I'll come back, and tomorrow we'll get out of here and get him some help. He doesn't look good." Good. Guess she's going to listen to me this time. Oh Pyrhha, why did this have to happen? If I could change it...

Artifacts from gods... maybe I can change it.

At this point, in my mind, Jaune doesn't know what the artifacts really are. They're just things that Salem could use to change the world, and that would be bad. He wouldn't know that one of them is in the crown of his ancestor, or that there is a price to pay for their use. He hasn't killed anyone yet, but his heart is already hardening. There's also an inkling here of Jaune recognizing his growing feelings for Ruby, though in my mind they'll never be more than what he felt for Pyrrha.

I'm not really sure where I want to or will go with this, or if I'll go any further. I've got images in my head of meeting with Watts and Lionheart, of figuring out his place in this and how to manipulate it. The affair with Ruby that gets her pregnant, the fight with Watts that costs her the baby, the killing of Tyrian, the killing of Adam and Watts, using sex to manipulate Cinder of all people... A part of me would really like to flesh out Jaune confronting Salem when he has all of the artifacts and making her understand how he's tricked her. The thing is, I wrote the original chapter because it was blocking up the creative juices I wanted for A Stitch in Time, and yet those juices aren't flowing still. And all I have for this story are a smattering of images and thoughts now.

I decided to play with first person perspective in this, and I'm pretty sure it didn't go well. Lots of stuff I wanted to put in here I didn't because it wouldn't make sense. I think I do my best work in third-person limited perspective.