(A/N) So, for this story, I'm taking the Harlequins of Warhammer 40k and putting a twist on them. Instead of Slaanesh, Salem was created during the Fall along with the Grimm. The Harlequins are humans and faunus instead of Eldar, and Jaune is going to play the Solitaire. It's a bit of a stretch on the fluff of 40k, but I like the idea.

In the world of Remnant there are many people of many factions.

These factions have gone against one another since their foundings.

But even as these factions wage war each other ruthlessly,

When the blizzard of lights appear on the battlefield,

Both sides know there will be a grisly end far worse than they could do to each other.

They come in dazzling blurs of light and color, impossible to follow as they bounce gracefully around the warzone with nearly inhuman speed and flexibility, slaying the fighting forces indiscriminately.

None are safe when they come...

The warring forces only see a fractal storm of light before their life is ripped from them brutally.

The face of these fierce warriors unknown as they are hidden behind masks often times designed to be smiling or crying.

Years have passed and the various factions of Remnant have developed into full kingdoms and have ceased war almost entirely. Now the Harlequins come every year to perform for the people of Remnant, organized in groups known as Masques, showing dazzling displays of beauty telling the tale of the Great Fall and the creation of Grimm and She Who Thirsts. This wonderful performance is known as the Dance Without End.

They are the Harlequins, and they are the beauty of Art and War combined, waging beautiful war while their great god, Cegorach the Laughing God watches gleefully.

Among the Harlequins are terrifying beings known as the Solitaires. These men and women are the strangest and most dangerous of the Harlequins for they are Doom Incarnate. The Solitaire plays the great role of She Who Thirsts in the Dance Without End. Once these men and women choose this path, none can stay their hand. The Solitaire roams Remnant alone, only joining a Masque for a performance or battle when the fancy takes them. The simple act of speaking to one of these damned souls outside of the Dance Without End is tantamount to death, for the Solitaire treads the Path of Damnation, His soul forfeit to She Who Thirsts.

Indeed, a Solitaire's role is afforded the utmost fear and respect by other Harlequins and people of Remnant, for only the bravest, strongest and most incorruptible of their race could play the part of their greatest nemesis and remain sane. Like all Harlequins the Solitaire wears a holo-suit during performances and in battle. Where other Harlequins are garbed in vibrant, bewildering domino suits, the Solitaire wears an austere hooded coat to disguise his appearance, revealing his Daemon-faced mask only moments before he strikes down his foe.

Solitaires are incredible warriors, able to move faster than the naked eye can follow. Their impossible acrobatics are such that no blade can strike them, nor bolt or blast find its mark upon their flesh. In battle they are utterly lethal, their scything kicks and hammerblow punches coming so fast that most foes are dead before they even realize the fight has begun. Indeed, each individual Solitaire is the equal of a host of lesser warriors.

The first sign the foe knows of the Solitaire's onset is a shimmering blur of light and color streaking through their ranks. Then the killing begins. Soldiers fall, eyes widening as heads are severed, throats opened, and hearts pierced. Blood falls like monsoon rain in the wake of a killer too fast to be seen. Only when he pauses for a moment amid the slaughter do his victims get a glimpse of their executioner - a domino field swirling around his lithe form, his grotesquely masked head tilted at a curious angle as he regards those he hunts. This is the Solitaire, and as he leaps into motion once more, his victims' deaths are but seconds away. None, even amongst the Harlequins, know the limits of the Solitaires' abilities. Tales exist of these supernatural killers running up sheer fortress walls, spilling from the shadows inside locked bunkers, even slowing time itself. How much is hyperbole and how much the truth, few can say for certain. To those who stand in the Solitaire's path it matters little, for their deaths are assured either way.

Solitaires are the strangest of all Harlequins. They conceal themselves amongst the people of Remnant, hiding their true nature as they wander from place to place. Only occasionally will these dread figures reveal the monster that lurks beneath the facade, joining a masque for a performance or battle before drifting on once more. At such times they speak and are spoken to only in ritual form, and are feared by most people as an ill omen. This mien of horror stems from the fact that, alone among the Harlequins, the Solitaire plays the role of Salem. As a result, the Solitaire's role commands ultimate fear and respect.

It also makes him the most dangerous of all Harlequins, for a Solitaire treads the Path of Damnation, his essence doomed to be devoured by She Who Thirsts. During the First Vytal Festival, it was the Masque of the Dance Without End who gave the first ever performance of the Fall. Their audience was horrified, not least by the disturbing figure of the Harlequin's first Solitaire as she brazenly bestrode the stage.

Knowledge of his soul's forfeit means a Solitaire will ensure the cost to his foes is dear indeed before he meets his end. Despite the dark fate that awaits them, it is said that Solitaires are touched by the Laughing God - that they have his insight into the Fall, and even the nature of the universe. Many people believe that to speak to a Solitaire is to invite a grisly demise, and that should an individual accidentally address or touch one of these lonely beings, they would be better to take their own lives there and then.

The Harlequins have continued to perform for the people of Remnant even to this day.

Now, a new Solitaire joins the Dance.

Fear the man who damns his soul for he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

His name is Jaune Arc, and he will join the Dance Without End.

Beacon Academy, Noon.

Jaune Arc, student of Beacon Academy was an interesting person. He looked like nothing special, his combat skills were subpar, and he lacked any social grace whatsoever. While he may seem worthless, Jaune Arc has a tactical mind that far surpasses that of even the most experienced generals. Jaune Arc also may not show it, but he is also very flexible and fast on his feet, a hidden grace found in years of dancing during his childhood.

Jaune Arc had also faked his way into Beacon Academy with the intention of becoming a Hunstman to continue his family's legacy. During his time in Beacon, he became leader of a team named Team JNPR. This team consisted of his partner, Pyrrha Nikos and two people he quickly became friends with named Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren. Jaune Arc also made friends with Team RWBY.

Things seemed bright for the young man at first, but things quickly changed. His lack of skill, both in combat and socially, caused him to be looked down upon by his peers. Often times bullied and abandoned. His own friends had begun spending less time with him as well.

At first it was subtle. They spoke to him less, preferring to talk between each other more of the time. But it slowly developed to them going to Vale without him, "Forgetting to invite him" and leaving him out of team training. Throughout this, Jaune Arc never hated them for it. He got them all presents on their birthdays, even when they forgot his birthday entirely, still made breakfast for everybody even when they "forgot" to invite him out with them. Led them the best he could even when they ignored him for the sake of their own plans.

He still stayed by them when they revealed their darker secrets. When Blake revealed her past with the White Fang, Jaune put it behind them. When Yang told them about how she nearly got Ruby and herself killed, Jaune told them that she did what she thought was best. When Ren and Nora revealed how they were orphans, Jaune told them that they had a family here at Beacon.

Everything changed when Cardin Winchester revealed his great secret. Jaune Arc was a fraud. He was more heavily bullied by his peers. He would be beaten and tormented endlessly. His "team and friends" did nothing but watch, continuing to ignore him.

Jaune quickly learned the truth. He had no friends, nobody to trust. He always was there for his friends when they needed him. But when he needed them, they were nowhere to be found.

He doesn't know why Ozpin had let him stay even after learning that he was a fraud. But Jaune couldn't take the abuse anymore. The teachers of Beacon tried to help him, but the students were ruthless and unforgiving.

It wasn't until Jaune was sitting alone in the park at Beacon when flyer landed in front of him. He grabbed it and saw that it was telling about the Harlequins and their performance that would take place during the Vytal Festival which was coming in a few months. With this, Jaune made an important decision that would change his life entirely.

Jaune stored the Flyer in his hoodie and made his was to the Headmaster's office.

Ozpin's Office, Midday.

Ozpin was enjoy a nice cup of Hot Cocoa while sorting some paperwork for the upcoming Vytal Festival. The festival was being held in Vale this year, therefore it was up to Ozpin to organize the event. He stopped his work when the door to his office opened and Jaune Arc walked up to his desk.

"How can I help you today, Mr. Arc?" Ozpin asked, taking note of the young man's appearance. His eyes had bags under them, possibly due to extensive lack of sleep. His eyes downcast and defeated, having lost their spark entirely.

Jaune Arc looked directly at Ozpin and mentally prepared himself for what he was about to do.

"Headmaster, I want to leave Beacon." He said simply.

Ozpin nodded and beckoned for Jaune to sit, which he did.

"And why is that?" Ozpin queried.

"I don't belong here. You know it and so does everyone else. I'm a fraud. I can't fight to save my own life and even my own team has left me behind. What's the point anymore?" Jaune vented.

Ozpin stared hard into Jaune's eyes, seeing the pain that was hidden behind his ocean-blue eyes. It pained him to see the young lad, so full of potential, giving up. Jaune was the perfect example of what a Hunstman should be. Fighting to defend humanity, humble, and honest. It was a sad day to see the boy quit.

"Are you sure of this, Mr. Arc? This is a hasty decision you are making. I'm sure that your team has not abandoned you. But to be fair to them, it was revealed that you did not enter Beacon by legitimate means. It is fair for them to be upset about this." Ozpin pushed, hoping to convince Jaune to stay.

"Headmaster, they have left me behind even before this happened. I tried to look past it, I really did. But I can't do it anymore. They were never really my friends. I looked out for them, did everything I could to help them whenever they needed it. And in return, they always left me behind. They clearly don't need me. So I don't need them." Jaune insisted. He was hurt, Ozpin could clearly see it. But what could he say? Jaune had perfect reason for wanting to leave. Ozpin had no other choice. He was greatly disappointed in his students.

With a deep sigh, Ozpin conceded. "Very well. Mr. Arc, for what it's worth. It has been an honor having you attend my academy. I am terribly sorry for what you have suffered. I wish you well in your endeavors, Mr. Arc. Please take care." Ozpin told him, preparing the work to Remove Jaune from the system.

Jaune looked down and sighed. "Thank you, Headmaster. Thank you for everything you and Beacon Academy have done for me. Please don't punish them for this." Jaune requested. He may be hurt by what they did to him, but even now he doesn't want Ozpin to punish them. Life will find it's own way to deliver proper justice.

Without another word spoken between the two, Jaune Arc stood up and left Ozpin's office. He made his way to his dorm room to gather his belongings and leave. He knew his team and Team RWBY wouldn't be in the dorms at this time so he wanted to be quick to avoid any issues.

After Jaune left the Office, Ozpin sighed once more. He filled in the work to remove Jaune from Beacon's systems, but hesitated to finalize the action. Ozpin decided to leave Jaune Arc as a student of Beacon in the case that Jaune may return. He sipped from his cup once more, contemplating his mistake in not seeing any of the pain Jaune was enduring in Beacon any sooner.

Beacon Academy, JNPR dorm room.

Jaune entered the dorm room and began packing his belongings, only taking what was absolutely needed. He grabbed things like his clothes, scroll, and weapon. Leaving his photos of him, his former team and Team RWBY behind, opting to instead throw them in the garbage.

Jaune picked up one photo that he found the most valuable. It was a picture of him and Pyrrha. It was taken before they began ignoring him. He remembered the day clearly, and with a frown, threw the photo in the trash.

With everything Jaune needed in his backpack and Crocea Mors on his hip, Jaune Arc made to leave Beacon Academy behind. With a heavy sigh, Jaune looked to the flyer in his hand before raising his head and looking forward, determined to find the Harlequins.

His new journey has begun, and the Harlequins know he is coming. The Laughing God has set his eyes on the young Arc, and laughs mirthfully as he waits for the newest Player to join the Dance Without End.

(A/N) I hope this goes well, feel free to read and review or PM me with any questions/criticisms. This won't be too grimmdark of a story, but it should be good. I hope you enjoy.