To: Mike, the Remnant Paladin, ZH_Steven, Random O Panda, and Wanderer. This chapter is for you four, who were there since this fic's birth, and helped me breathe life into this great adventure.

I couldn't have done it without you.


Chapter 35: So Long, Young Huntsman


"Are you listening, Glynda?"

Glynda looked up, meeting brown eyes. Her brain thought one thing; a millisecond of realization reminded her of reality. Ozpin's glazed stare brought her back, and she instantly handed him another sheet of paper to review. Ozpin took another sip of coffee. "87 Practical. 80 WT… she has Tai's semblance?"

"No, Miss Xiao Long's has a higher upper limit, as well as not being held back by Tai's drawback in that he must release all the energy at once."

"Evolved then." Ozpin scribbled something on the paper before putting in a stack, "Approved, high marks and high grades. Attitude problem though - your favorite."

Glynda scowled. Not her favorite, though certainly satisfying when a haughty student tried their antics against her. They never lasted long.

"No transcripts?" Ozpin said as he observed three new ones, "How did three children with no apparent history pass the Signal Practical?"

"I could not say for Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie. Very likely not born in the Kingdoms. Miss Belladonna however…"

"I knew Ghira had a daughter. Though I'd have assumed she'd be with the rest of the faunus who went to Menagerie after Sienna's succession." Ozpin's eyes narrowed at the results before him, "She's skilled. Very skilled. Ghira was not a fighter, at least not like this."

The two exchanged looks. There wasn't an answer, but theories, suspicions - the golden amber eyes looking back at them through the paper held secrets. Whether those secrets would affect the school was anyone's guess, but worth considering nonetheless.

"The Fang are beneath our jurisdiction; hopeless zealots with guns. I doubt they'd be stupid enough to infiltrate a Huntsman Academy."

"Man and Faunuskind are stupid. And unfortunately, that's when they are the most dangerous." Ozpin put Blake in the pile, "I'd like a detail on her, keep your eyes open - if we're lucky, maybe this will just be a case of us overthinking."

Time passed, an hour of endless, copious work. It became easier to zone out over the years, after doing it long enough that it was practically muscle memory. But it was a peace shortly lived, as Goodwitch stopped on a paper that puzzled her. "Jaune Arc."

"Joseph's son?"

Indeed it was. That in and of itself was hardly surprising, Joseph and Joy were Beacon sweethearts, and it was no mystery the amount of children they had. But Glynda had only heard about girls, not a son.

Nor had she heard of any of them attending prep academies.

"68 Practical. 70 WT. That's average. Painfully. Are we sure we're talking about the same Joseph and Joy?"

Unmistakably. Jaune Arc had his mother's looks in spades, not quite a spitting image, but Goodwitch saw her there when she looked at him. But his statistics, his combat and general knowledge - it met the bare minimum of passing marks. Close combat, ranged application, Dust manipulation and many others… all average. Everyone had a niche though, generally every student, regardless of talent had at least one category that they excelled in. To have none? A child of Joy's?

"This is strange - it says he attended Wave, which is the closest to Lore for certain. But the courses, they're outdated."

"Possibly a mistake, that happens from time to time."

"By thirty years."

Ozpin's eyes widened, and everything was immediately clear. He shook his head with a grin. "Well, there isn't much we can do for falsified transcripts. Be rid of it."

Glynda let out a breath through her nose, staring over the transcripts as she passed Ozpin the next one. So he'd never gotten to go to an academy? That made sense, Joseph and Joy would surely not allow it. Their faith in the Huntsman system had been shattered far before they had children, was it so surprising that one of their children might try to become a Huntsman regardless?

Glynda swallowed, the anxiety and uncertainty was plain in the child's eyes. Desperation. Sure, it was not unlike any other person who tried to lie their way into Beacon's walls. That happened normally, but as they should be, they were all cast aside. Not even entertained with the idea of punishment unless their attempt was foolish enough - the disappointment of failure would humble them yet.

People who didn't earn, didn't deserve. Plain and simple.

Glynda crumpled the paper with a huff, sentenced it to the trash can. Ozpin quirked his eyebrow at her, and she did her best to ignore it. Passing him the next transcript, Goodwitch did her best to push Jaune Arc out of her mind. She trained her eyes onto her clipboard.

They didn't stay there for long.


~Tournament Arc~


"Where are you going first?"

"Atlas."

Land of the old, cold and pompous. Well, according to her uncle anyway. Yang nodded as she leaned against the door, watching Jaune pack the last of his things. Of course, he wasn't the only one, as Yang could practically feel the rumble of thousands of feet parading through the halls. The school was in a bustle; late packers warring against time as they rushed to meet their teammates in the courtyard.

Ready to return home.

It was funny how packed everything seemed when they first arrived, how hectic the distribution and accommodation of dorms had to be in light of thousands of new students staying for months. Those first few days were pure hell, and Yang remembered hoping their stay would feel shorter than it was. To her credit, that hope was rewarded.

And now, punished.

When had it become so easy to forget that they all went to different schools? Came from different cultures and backgrounds? As it were, faces she was used to seeing, like Dew and Marg would soon be returning to their school of choice and Beacon would feel all the emptier for it. But perhaps she could handle that - she made sure to get the numbers of those she wanted to stay in contact with, even if she expected them to forget about her.

It would be a little harder to let Pyrrha and Jaune go. With pursed lips, she asked. "Are you excited?"

"Yeah, definitely."

That was good. That was... yeah, really good. He couldn't miss this opportunity, and Yang really did feel happy for him. It'd just be weird for a while.

A quarter of the family would be gone the rest of the year, and including the three month break, that was two or so months shy of a whole year. It just didn't seem right, it was too early. Like they were newly hatched chicks, not yet strong enough to reject safety. To leave the nest. Sure, it probably wasn't that dramatic, but the jackhammer in Yang's chest didn't concede to logic no matter what she told herself.

Eventually Jaune was done, and he looked over his things to recount it all. He paused then, losing himself in thought and Yang snapped her fingers to bring him back. "Still with us, Vomit Boy?"

Did she tell him? Part of her thought it wasn't necessary, self-serving even, but what would happen if she didn't do it now? Would there be another chance later? Yang wasn't confident in that. "Jaune?"

He looked at her, and somehow that was enough to stop her. The feeling in her chest amplified as she warred with the idea of whether what she felt was real or not. Something she was looking at, or maybe just remembering, sent her heart aflutter. Made her want to grab him, hold him, convince herself that there was a better option than a bittersweet retreat. "Oh... right yeah, I'm ready, Yang. Let's go."

He moved forward, but Yang had yet to move. She stared back though, almost as if she was looking through him. "Yang, uh, the door?"

The door? Oh right, she was in the way. Well, he couldn't leave if he couldn't get out right? Champion or not, Yang didn't doubt her chances against him. If they did fight, she could keep him from leaving. She could.

But would she?

"Jaune," He quirked an eyebrow when she spoke, and Yang took a breath, hoping to find some strength there. Her instincts kicked in, shut off her rationale, and her heart pressed the question she felt was impossible to ask. "Can I kiss you?"

She wasn't sure why she said it, nor did she think she could look at Jaune's face. Desperation? No, she didn't think that's what she was feeling. But perhaps a longing, the wonder that if she had a sample of before the whole was gone, she could at least remember it. Savor it. Would it taste the way she thought? Would it be disappointing? Would it be the thing she recalled until she saw him again?

"I'm…" Jaune fumbled, "Why?"

She almost wanted to laugh. Here she was feeling guilty for thinking Jaune dense. No, he knew, he probably just didn't believe it. "Cuz I… kinda like you, dude."

Yang reached over her shoulder, awkwardly missing the long mane that was no longer there and instead rubbing her shoulder. But she couldn't withdraw her eyes, knowing that they'd be the last time for a while that she'd see them. What would happen after she kissed him? It was so easy to think it was a simple thing. They were friends, some friends kissed each other, right? Well, yes but also no, at least not the way Yang wanted to.

Jaune rubbed his cheek. "That's, uh… shit."

"Sorry to spring that on you all of a sudden, I thought I had enough time to tell you at some point. Silly me, right?" And technically she still did, but so far away? Who was to say he wouldn't meet some other person? Who was to say he even liked her back?

Jaune was quiet, heartbreakingly so. He didn't look away from her, and in fact, did not hide the sure pity in his expression. Damn. An arrow in the chest, breaking the skin and flesh until it ripped her heart to shreds. Yang was sure she could feel it shrink, almost as if the blood was being sucked right out of her. "You can say it."

Jaune's face soured. "I just don't think it'd be a good idea if I don't… you know."

Battering ram. No, more like a concrete ball gone haywire, laying waste to everything that was in its path. Unfortunately, Yang was in it's way, and she was duly punished for thinking herself powerful enough to take the blow. Stifling that growing feeling, Yang forced a smile up. "Can I do it anyway?"

She chuckled, if she wasn't sounding desperate before, she was sure she did now. Jaune didn't say anything, but the way he looked at her didn't give Yang much of an answer. Eventually she shook her head. "Nevermind, sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"Yang."

Jaune closed the distance, very nearly pinning her to the door. There was an immediate… something. Be it the presence or lack of something potent, Yang felt her heart speed up. She thought she should say something, warn him or ask him to do something back. The immediate thought was that she was asking too much. "I normally hate consolation prizes."

"Nice one. I'm sure I'll feel very popular with the ladies now."

"You got two without really trying. If there were any more, I'd say your dice were loaded."

"Two?"

There was nothing else to say, primarily because Yang shut him up. It was cool, like he'd just brushed his teeth. Wet and pinkened lips smashed against her partner's, ate at them, hungrily sought more. Be it by will or instinct, Jaune met her pace, and it reminded her of their fight. Insurmountable strengths warring for dominance, Yang pushed harder, Jaune pushed back. Dead even, heat pooled in Yang's stomach and threatened to travel lower.

The taste of melancholy. Burning hot. Tempting and yearning. Goodbye, it said, however cruelly.

And then cold. A thin string of saliva dissolving in the space that now separated them.

"Damn," Yang said, "You were right: bad idea."

"That bad?"

Worse, it was amazing.


~Tournament Arc~


The walls looked the same.

Well, they'd always had. Wasn't it a bit early in his time at Beacon to be reminiscing about it? Through the hall, Jaune carried his bags. People flocked, bodies pushing through the dorms on the way outside. Assorted colors of the academies blended together and ahead, leaving only him and Yang to man the caboose.

"When do the ships leave again?"

"In thirty minutes." Yang answered, "Why?"

"Go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Yang looked about ready to question him, and Jaune wasn't sure he'd have a good answer for it. Luckily, she decided against it, warning him not to be late before diving into the great student sea. He went the other way, passing through the doors that would carry him into the school. Jaune instantly recalled one hot day right after class, the crew gathered under the shade of the nearby tree. Blake was laying on a branch, Weiss and Yang spread out on the grass, Pyrrha fanning herself…

Jaune touched the tree. It was still young, still big and strong. His skin rubbed against the bark and its feeling reminded him all too much of, well, everything. How often did he and the others pass this tree? He saw it multiple times a day, sometimes made a game of tagging it every time he did. To think he wouldn't see it for months… who would keep it company?

Moving on, Jaune entered the school, the halls empty yet not lifeless. It felt as though it was still lived in, that maybe the souls of those who had just been there had left traces behind. He eventually came to a stop, peering into the first recognizable classroom. 304. Professor Peach was wiping down the board.

"Professor Peach?"

She jumped, calming down only when she saw him. "Oh, Mister Arc. Wait, what are you still doing here? You should be catching your ship."

"I've got time." Jaune said, "I was just walking around..."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I think." Jaune shuffled where he stood, remembering it all. Where he and Pyrrha stood and screamed at each other, the chair being knocked over, the tears that welled in both their eyes. More potently, feelings and words that were burned so deeply in his head they were practically tattoos. "I guess I just wanted to say I'll miss your classes. It's gonna be weird not seeing you in the morning."

"I wouldn't fret too much, I will have plenty for you to do when you return."

"I suddenly really want to drop out."

"W-what?" Peach panicked.

"I'm joking!"

"Oh my," a breath staving off a potential faint, "You mustn't aggravate my blood pressure like that."

"Sorry." Jaune really wasn't, even rubbing his nose couldn't shield his smile.

"Are you having doubts?"

"No." And that really was the truth, the doubts of going were gone. It wasn't that which held him back, "But… what if I come back and things are different? What if its not the Beacon I know anymore?" Peach didn't answer yet, she seemed to wait on him. She was right to do so, "What if everyone else is different?"

She stared at him for a moment, the click of her heels was the first thing that told Jaune she was approaching. The second was when she gently lifted his chin. "Then you should be thankful. If things don't change; there is no progression. No evolution. Do want the oceans to stay still? For the grass to never grow? It's within our best interest to change, Mister Arc. You, more than any of your peers, should understand that."

Jaune nodded, he knew it well. He'd always know it.

"Then I won't tell you to not be afraid of change, but rather to know its inevitable. Some of it will be good, some of it bad. But you will have to face it - you have no choice. Understand?"

Jaune nodded again, this time firmly. Those words bit into his heart, it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear. It was, unfortunately, the answer he needed to hear. If only to remind him of that unanswerable reality.

"Now run along. Always forward, remember?"

Always forward… yeah. Absolutely.


"Hey Professor."

"Mister Arc, are you not supposed to be on a ship right now?"

Jaune walked in, smiling on Professor Port greeting him back. "Yeah but, guess I'm just nervous about leaving. Don't think I'll get used to any of the new teachers."

"I'm sure you'll adjust. You're not the brightest bulb in my class, but a dim light is still one going strong."

Did he just compliment and insult him at the same time? Professor Port? No one could know, no matter what. "Thanks?"

Jaune plopped onto Port's desk, staring up at the seats where he and everyone sat. It was weird how he recalled them all - Ruby near the bottom right, Neptune in the upper middle. A chuckle as he recalled the day Ruby and Yang constantly switched seats whenever Port wasn't looking. He'd never comment on it, but there was a momentary pause, a quirk of the eyebrow as if questioning his memory.

The strangest desire came about him, one he didn't think he'd ever ask of his stocky teacher. "Professor? Can I hear another of your stories before I leave?"

"O-oh!" Port visibly brightened. Surely this wasn't the first time someone asked that from him? No wait, it probably was. Was this a bad idea? Raw strength, Port's arm slung itself around Jaune's shoulder while his free hand was raised to the stars to pull a grand tale from the heavens. "But of course, Mister Arc, I have just the story for you! I shall tell you a great, but modest story: about love, corruption, friendship and a week's old calamari!"

Jaune was already laughing.


"Mister Arc? Why aren't you on your ship?"

Three for three, Goodwitch's eyes did all the scolding she could ever need. The beast was seated behind those eyes, strict and terrifying, it usually was. And yet, it was a sure reminder that he would probably not be scolded like that anywhere else. He'd never learn combat from anyone like her. It was times like that where he wondered if he should ever tell Goodwitch that she was his favorite teacher.

If only because he feared the reaction, he kept his mouth shut. "I just wanted to ask you something."

She stared at him for a moment, almost like she was suspicious. "Very well."

Jaune wasn't sure how to phrase it, not as the memory came back, but he decided to just gun it. "Why didn't you call that match before? In the grand finals?"

"You weren't unconscious." Goodwitch stated.

"But I couldn't move for a while. A good while, I think." Jaune didn't repeat the question. It was fully within Goodwitch's right to call the match once he'd stopped moving. She did for plenty of matches, usually didn't give students more than ten seconds from what he remembered. So why him? Why did she seemingly give him all the time in the world?

"Part of my job is knowing my students. What they are good at, what they aren't. What they want and why. I never ask you to tell me these things, I simply watch you all and come to my own conclusions." Goodwitch gestured to the arena, "Miss Rose struggled in close combat, I know her dreams are idealistic... I know that it will carry her far. I know that she will war with that idealism in time."

"I know Miss Belladonna likes to pretend she is collected and resilient. She is not. She is a skilled fighter, incredibly so. She is also emotional, impulsive… prone to mistakes. But I'm sure you never noticed that."

Was she talking about the same Blake? That would be the first time he heard someone describe Blake as emotional, she didn't ever seem like it. Goodwitch continued. "I know you are stubborn, you're less likely to concede than your opponents. I took that into account. That is the answer, plain and simple."

Well that was anticlimactic, but sounded very Professor Goodwitch. Less magic, more science. Jaune shrugged, letting out an awkward chuckle. "Uh, yeah, that makes sense. Sorry to have bothered you."

He would have taken that moment to leave, but he'd barely taken a step back before Goodwitch spoke again. "I know that you did not go to Wave Academy."

Jaune froze.

"Or Harbor, or Signal. You did not attend any of the prep academies, Mister Arc."

Was there anything he could say? Was it possible to say anything? Jaune was sure his eyes were saucers, staring back at the neutral glare of his Professor as if awaiting a hellish sentence. It felt like she held an axe, his neck bent to the plank to await the strike. "I remember it distinctly when we received your 'transcripts'. Not a bad job, but full of holes. There have been many attempts before you that have provided more convincing work. Bribing or Blackmailing staff to advocate for them - you'd be surprised what some will resort to."

Her eyes looked somewhere else. As if they could no longer stand to look his way. "The Headmaster would have rejected it immediately, but a teacher convinced him to give you a chance."

Goodwitch shook her head. "I don't know what got into her, advocating for a person hoping to lie his way into a Huntsman school. Certainly he should be punished for the attempt. Just like all those who tried to bribe, buy and blackmail their way through our doors."

Jaune's eyes fell. "Sorry for disappointing you. There… isn't really much I can say to that."

He didn't see Goodwitch's expression, busy wading through the waves of cold silence cast on him. Eventually she spoke again, a sigh drawing Jaune's attention. "We all do wrong. We all sin." her eyes locked onto his, convincing him not to look away, "It is up to you now, to prove if that this teacher's faith was not misplaced. Don't you agree?"

Jaune was stunned for a moment, jerking himself back to reality as he nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"The concern yourself no longer. Go, the buses can't wait forever."

Jaune nodded, turning to head out of the door. He stopped short, unable to resist the curiosity. "Who was the professor?"

Not quite a stare, not quite a pause. Goodwitch didn't look at him, but she'd stopped in place once the question was posed. It almost felt like years in which she didn't answer. But even from this distance, he could swear he saw the corner of her lips turn up.

"Catch your ship, Mister Arc."


When had the entire ocean washed ashore?

And when had the sea animals been replaced with people? Thin stretches of land were the only parts left over aside from the landing strips. A great mass of his peers were gathered together, most awaiting the ships as they started boarding, and many other bidding goodbyes to those they were leaving behind. In the distance, Amity Coliseum was casting a shadow over the Emerald Forest as it flew away.

"Gonna miss you bud!" A pair of Shade students said to a Haven student. Pure white teeth shone as their smiles proved impossible to keep hidden. That warmth spread through the gentle wind, enveloping everyone in the united embrace that Jaune was sure no one expected when they first arrived.

"Jaune, come here!" someone called out. Jaune didn't know who it was, but with an eager smile on his face, he found himself not caring.

He talked to anyone and everyone he could. Octavia bid goodbye with a handshake, they'd had to work as a pair on an assignment once - cool, spunky, liked comics, strange for a girl that didn't seem very nerdy. Sage, and Jaune instantly remembered their battles all throughout the preliminaries, and as if they were of the same thought, Sage grabbed him in a playful headlock. "Don't get full of yourself now, Champion!"

"I'm not, I swear!"

"Don't be mean, Scarlet!" Ruby accused, Jaune peering out of his deathlock to find a girl's finger pressed on Scarlet's nose. May stood by, doing perhaps the worst job at restaining her laughter possible. In the end, Scarlet gave in, fist bumping Ruby as if to ward off her fury.

Blake shook hands with Nebula, Sun dragging both girls into a big hug, and while Nebula rolled her eyes, Blake couldn't resist a smile. Neon, Nora, and Yang poked and prodded at each other, Flynt stood aside pretending he was above it all, yet the faint smile told any onlookers otherwise.

"Remember that these are fragile, be careful with them!"

"R-right."

Roy looked like he couldn't believe it, a small cartridge of Dust vials held in his hands as he thanked the giver. Weiss nodded, going off about his apparently lacking skill in Dust usage. Had she decided to help him out? Bolin and Ren weren't far away, two young sages talking serenely amongst the mayhem. Some barrelled through, Reese and Neptune, the former latching onto Bolin while the former tried his luck with Weiss.

Jaune couldn't help the warm feeling in his chest. One he didn't think he could, not try to explain.

As quickly as the warmth came, it went, with every new body that chose steel over ground. It was that which egged on Jaune's sigh, resolute, yet still even as he stared at the ship waiting for him.

"Jaune," Ruby broke his reverie, the girl looking up at him, "Come on, everyone's ready to say goodbye."

But was he ready? It didn't seem like it mattered, not when Nora broke the crowd the moment he was brought to them. She glomped like a giant, powerful starfish. Ren was next, a brother of few words, but is embrace told him anything Ren could have said better.

"Alright you sluts, outta my way." Coco barged her way through, stopping just before her meal as she sized him up and down. "Damn it, why does such a nice piece of tail need to leave me behind?"

"Is that all I am, meat?"

"You've got some bones too. One in particular..."

"Get your hug Coco." Jaune laughed as he pulled her in. Normally there was the attempt of a feel-up whenever he dared to break the flesh barrier with her. This time, her arms tightened around his back and the faintest sniffle could be heard. Yats, Fox, Ruby, Blake, Yang, Sun, everyone had come up. And each one ripped a piece of his heart away, stole it for themselves. Weiss was the only one hesitant, but settled on a handshake. A cold one still, but the smile was more than enough in her case. Then, the hard part. Velvet.

She was already in tears, though she fought her hardest to wipe them away. And it was seeing her cheeks stained with tears as though a rain cloud was overhead, the pushed Jaune to hug her tightly. They squeezed each other, Jaune hoping to be strong enough to withhold his own tears - this was supposed to be a happy day. It was, but it wasn't.

"You'll you do great. I know it." Velvet said, Jaune nodding on her shoulder before finally letting her go.

Jaune's and Arslan's eyes met, and strangely enough, it was as if he was looking at her for the first time. Sometimes he'd be looking at her and she'd catch him, or it would happen the other way around. Something would always pass between them there, as if to say there was no need for words. Or that words couldn't do what they wanted to say justice.

"Two-one." Jaune started.

"Savor it. I'm not done with you yet." Arslan didn't miss a beat, and somehow that salty smile was more than enough to put a prouder one on his face.

"Is that a challenge?"

"It's a promise."

It was the strangest thing, believing her and yet hoping it wasn't true. His own words, thrown right back at him, igniting a flame that said that to lose to her was as okay as it was not okay. He couldn't let her beat him, but also, if she did beat him, he probably wouldn't be too upset about it either. Did that make sense? Did it even need to make sense?

"Take care of yourself, Arslan."

"Ars." she corrected, giving Jaune pause. Arslan rolled her eyes, "That's what my friends call me, doofus."

Friends… and suddenly it was like two chains had linked together. He'd held out his hand to shake hers, but she broke the distance. Mighty strength, warm flesh, and the instinct to hug her back. A stranger she could have been, an enemy she was supposed to be, now a friend, a rival, that Jaune wouldn't have expected to miss. Something was taken from him, or perhaps he'd decided to give it, either way the lukewarm emptiness had wormed its way inside.

Letting her go proved the next hardest, and with Nadir and the others nodding at her, they were the last to board the Haven ship. It rose high, higher, and higher still, until Arslan and her team couldn't be seen out of the window. A blast of the wind, the light of the risen sun cloaking the ship more and more as it fell over the horizon.

Was that all? Was there nothing else left?

No. There was definitely someone left. The only one left.

The others had gone to her, greeting Pyrrha at the civilian airbus. Yang punched her shoulder, Weiss reminding her of something he was too far away to hear. Ren was the first to embrace her, with Nora coming up right behind them both to pull them in. It was so picturesque, and yet so incomplete… so lacking in the one person who was either not brave enough to join, or smart enough not to.

The joy on Pyrrha's face was reminded him of months ago. Back when he was hugging her, reminding her of things, playing around with her. She'd be gone now. For good reason but still gone.

Should he have been happy? Part of him believed so. Part of him was. Then the traitorous side, the heart that longed, reminded him of all the good and joy. Of what he'd be missing when he walked all new countries alone. He wouldn't be able to call his partner to stave that lonely feeling.

"Maybe its best we stay out of contact. At least for a while?" It was Pyrrha's idea. And one that he'd agreed with. It was the right choice, a choice that benefitted them both. Yes, it was a good thing...

And then, once everyone had gotten their turn, green and blue eyes met each others. Jaune's heart hastened, an overwhelming desire to go and hug her, wish her luck and... anything else he might have wanted to say. But if he did, it would be too early. Too soon to reconnect that string.

Maybe in a year, things would be different. Or maybe nothing would change, maybe everything would feel the same as it did now. Jaune could have crossed the boundary, the invisible line which tempted him to step over. But he couldn't. He wouldn't.

He boarded his ship, Pyrrha going off to jump on hers. He waved at everyone as their ships were carried higher, but Jaune's eyes lingered on his partner. Her hair blew in the wind, but her eyes didn't stray from his. They were too far to say anything, too far for anything to matter anymore. It felt like the world was forcing them to stay apart, that, in raw defiance, they could be like the people in the fairy tales and jump out so they could come back together.

Jaune raised his hand, waving slowly at her. He didn't smile, he didn't think he could. Pyrrha did the same, and he couldn't help but think his expression was not much different. Forlorn, knowing the days would be long, her reconnecting with her family and going to therapy, and he trying to further his training.

When it was all said and done, would they be able to come back together?

Or would there always be a rift?


~Tournament Arc~


"Jaune?"

Even if it was a whisper, with it right in his ear, it might as well have been an alarm. Jaune stirred, turning over so he could face the girl lying in his bed. Funny how it used to be surprising when they fell asleep together - that awkwardness had quickly been dispelled and replaced with an unstable boundary between just enough and too far for them. Pyrrha's eyes stared into his, which were still adjusting to the sudden disruption. "What is it?"

"Do you think things will always be like this?"

"You mean you waking me up in the middle of the night?" Was he dreaming or something? "Maybe you would be able to sleep at night if you didn't inhale so much chocolate."

"I don't eat chocolate, Jaune." Pyrrha's eyes darted, "My diet - a-anyway, that's not what I'm talking about." She sighed, "I mean this. Us. One day we might not get to do this every night. Might not even have time to see each other later in life, do you know what I mean?"

What the? "Have you been snorting Dust? Why are you talking about stuff like this now?"

"Maybe you're the one snorting Dust. You probably don't even think this is real, do you?"

This girl...

"Alright, Pyrrha: Look, we'll be best friends forever, okay? I know that sounds corny but... seriously. Nothing is going to change that."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really." Jaune yawned. What was she worried about? Staring back, wondering if perhaps her thoughts were floating above her head. But then her gaze lingered, and in those emerald jewels, beautiful and moist, Jaune swallowed a lump of concern. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Pyrrha said, clutching his hand under the blanket. "I was just having some odd thoughts; its nothing. I think I did inhale a bit of Nora's grenade dust in combat class today."

"So those times I caught you snorting white powder?"

"Allergy medicine, obviously."

Jaune had to stifle his laugh, the two giggling like little schoolgirls as they hoped not to wake up their teammates. "Come on," Jaune yawned, "Let's get some sleep, okay?"

"Yeah," Pyrrha smiled. "Keep me warm?"

Jaune grinned. Without really thinking, he drew her close, his arms wrapped around her tighter than the blanket ever could. She hummed, moaned even, her hands warming his as if to lock him there. It wasn't long before she was asleep; Jaune's nose buried in her hair. His stomach absorbed the gentle lift of her back, as if wanting to push their flesh closer together. The savored lull of the dorms at night, the soft breaths of Ren and the mighty snores of Nora.

He wasn't looking forward to tomorrow. The official announcement for the Vytal Tournament sign ups was right after classes ended, and it was all anyone was talking about. Jaune didn't see what the big deal was; well, he did but… was it really as great as people said? No one really cared much about the tournaments these days anymore.

What would be the point in competing?

Of course, telling that to Pyrrha probably wouldn't go over well since she expected them all to enter. And he wasn't any closer to figuring out how to tell her he didn't want to. If he hoped enough, perhaps he'd wake up tomorrow and not have to worry about any of that. Maybe the tournament would pass and there would be no conversation to be had.

Maybe.


~Tournament Arc~


The padding of feet was the only sound to be heard that early morning.

Pyrrha wiped her face as she stepped out of the bathroom, the cool scent of her home as familiar as it had always been. The night had been a long one, and its wear was showing that even after washing up and throwing water in her face, she still drifted in and out of consciousness. By the time she reached the steps, she'd warred with the idea that going to bed for the next ten thousand years was not as bad an idea as it sounded.

But, of course, school.

She'd just gotten to the base, foot halfway into the kitchen before...

"I can't, I have to work, honey."

"Dear..."

Pyrrha retracted her foot, waiting behind the corner as her parents whispers went on. As familiar a thing as the scent of the house; green tea, pine and cinder, the contrastive battle of opposing perspectives. Her stomach sank, and the idea of going back to bad instantly became more appealing. "I think it'd be good for Pyrrha." Nike said.

That brought the silence. Alec paused. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Her mom gawked, fumbling as if she'd forgotten how to talk, "I-I mean yes, I know I'm right but I guess I just thought that we would..."

"Argue?" Her father shuffled, Pyrrha was sure he had his arms crossed. He usually did so when he was frustrated, "Three weeks of couples counseling and we immediately backtrack, huh?"

"Yeah."

Another bout of silence. Pyrrha peeking out to catch them side by side, Nike rubbed his arm, convincing him to look at her. Memories, uniquely their own, passed between their eyes. And Pyrrha could only wonder what things they went through that kept them together, never once, to her knowledge, considering separation.

"It's not a huge issue, Alec. Really. Work is work, so if its that important -

"No."

Pyrrha expected to flinch, expected her father to yell. Instead it was firm, resolute in a way her father was always capable of, but Pyrrha didn't always see. When Pyrrha looked around the corner, her mother looked up at her now stood father, whose gaze was unwavered, yet filled with a raw feeling that he felt the need to set free. "I'll use a vacation day, I'm owed a couple anyway."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "If we're going to the festival, we could visit the Shrines. Its been a long time since I've visited. Could give my grandfather a prayer or two."

Nike chuckled. "You hated your grandfather."

"Still do. But probably better to be in his good graces, or it's going to be really awkward when I see him again."

Pyrrha's heart lurched as they laughed, and only then did she decide to step out. Her mother panicked. "O-oh, good morning baby, how'd you sleep?"

"Alright..." Pyrrha said, grabbing a marker to tally off the calendar's day. The end of week three. Her eyes hadn't left them, and with the way they stared back, she had to wonder which one of them would admit to what the heard or said. "Remember when I was talking to Ren, Nora and Ruby on video chat? How I said I wasn't going to stay up late? Uh well..."

Alec snorted. "Oh boy… well, your mother and I were just talking. She - we, want to go to the Festival of the Four next week. How do you feel about that?"

Going out in public? That was concerning but, she didn't think she'd want to miss the festival either. Not if was with her parents. Her father never took off of work. Never. There was a smile on her face before she knew it. "Yeah, I'd... I'd love to go, Dad. It sounds fun."

Her father truly brightened, her mother smiling up at him as if to pass some unspoken message. "That's great. I... I should get ready for work, but this… I'm -"

"I know," Pyrrha kissed his cheek. "I love you. Both of you."

Strong arms brought her in. "I love you too."

There was a pep to their step for the rest of the afternoon, her father seemingly glowing as he bid them goodbye. Her mother stuck around for a bit, but before long she had retreated to her room to read. The living room was Pyrrha's then, and she pulled up her computer, throwing herself into new schoolwork.

Knock, knock.

Pyrrha's eyebrow quirked, heading to the door as she scrounged her head for an answer to who was behind it. The neighbors didn't show up much these days, especially when they made it painfully obvious how much they didn't want their kids around her. So who could it be? She pulled the door open, and found herself glad she wasn't holding anything. "Arslan?"

"Yo." She greeted with a lazy wave. A sunny yellow dress, white sandals and hair casually tied back. It was odd to see her wear a dress, she hadn't worn them much since prep school.

"Cute dress, Arslan." a younger, crueller Pyrrha jeered, "Needs more color, don't you think?"

Arslan didn't drink much juice after that either.

"Remnant to Pyrrha?" Arlsan snapped her fingers, "You with us? Gonna let me in?"

"Oh, yes. Sure."

The house was no longer a sanctuary, as Pyrrha's ears remained all to aware of every step Arslan took. She looked around, seemingly reminding herself of the environment. Not much had changed - the family portraits hadn't moved, the dining room had never changed. The hole in the wall from that time they played to roughly in the house. The paint was the same warm brown, the deck outside let light peek into the living room as if trying to grow plants out of the carpet.

It was strange disparity, how foreign and familiar it was for Arslan to be her house. The sounds of young laughter came back to Pyrrha, the days when they'd both rush inside after chasing each other home. How long had it been since Arslan last visited?

"I heard about Nadir," Pyrrha asked, "How is he?"

Arslan kicked off her sandals, not even needing to look to know where the guest shoes were put. As familiar as home. "It was a little awkward for him to talk to me for a few weeks," she shrugged, though it didn't carry the nonchalance that she likely hoped to give off. "I understand why, and its irritating but… I know he just needs space. Focusing on his training more now."

So he really had done it then? There was a warm feeling, a sense of pride that reflected outward instead of inward. Everyone was fighting their own battles, it was nice to be reminded of that again. "Then it sounds like he'll be alright."

"Yeah."

For a while, not much else was said. Arslan went to the restroom, Pyrrha hoped to forget the awkwardness by diving back into her schoolwork. It was a short lived escape, as Arslan unwittingly kept her attention on her return. With a disruptive flop, Arslan was right beside her. "What are you working on?"

"Classwork. I need to keep up with everyone."

"Can I help?"

"It's fine. I know it all."

A look, then raw strength saw to Pyrrha being pushed over. Her attacker scooted closer so they both see the screen. "I'm helping you. I'm bored, so you're gonna have to put up with me for today."

Pyrrha slowly nodded, falling in Arslan 'helping' her figure out the answers. More intrusive than it was anything else, though it was funny to see how her eyebrows creased when she couldn't figure out an answer. It worked like that for a while, though their focus on the work barely survived the process. "How are your sessions?"

"They… they're hard to get used to. But they help sometimes."

Some sessions were good, others not so much. Pyrrha could easily recall her anger and frustration early on, the very parasite-like way her therapist at first seemed to be felt more intrusive than helpful. Only recently did she find herself able to be less guarded, more willing to work with her. Was that progress? Sometimes it was hard to tell.

She'd just have to keep going.

"Reese and Bolin have been wanting to see you." Arslan said, "We weren't really sure if it was a good idea to bother you…"

Pyrrha's heart jumped, a sudden hope sprang to life. She put it down easily, reminding herself of why she stuck so close to home nowadays. "That's not necessary, I have too much homework to do. I don't really go out anymore."

Arslan gave her a weird look. "So what, you stay locked up in here all day every day?."

"You make it sound like its a bad thing..."

Arslan rolled her eyes. "You're coming with us to the Festival of the Four. No argument. Consider it written in stone."

"I-I can't…" Pyrrha's argument grew weak, "I'm going with my parents."

"Great, my parents are coming too. We can all go."

Where was this all coming from? Pyrrha still didn't know why Arslan was even here. Revenge? To remind her of her mistakes? If so, she was beating a dead horse. There was nothing she could do that would make her feel worse. It was better than she just stayed away.

"Arslan…"

"Pyrrha."

Pyrrha stopped, staring back at the eyes of an old friend. One who'd just shown up, for reasons that Pyrrha didn't think would happen. And yet, with resolution and a firm wall that Pyrrha was convinced couldn't be toppled. "Just shut up already," Arslan poked her forehead, throwing up a cheeky grin, "You need people to hang out with. Are you really going to throw that away?"

...no. No she wouldn't. She didn't want to. Arslan seemed resolute, like no one could change her mind. Would it be so bad to accept it?

Would it be so bad to be with her, at least for a little bit?

"My Dad wants to see the Shrines." Pyrrha stated.

"Ugh, my parents take me there all the time. It's so creepy there!"

"I think its kind of nice, actually."

"You like ghost movies, so of course you would." Arslan rolled her eyes, "You know, I still haven't gotten over that prank you did that Halloween? I nearly pissed myself."

Pyrrha stifled a laugh as the memory came back. Very few knew how easily scared Arslan was. "I still have pictures, I think."

"I have this warrant for your house, government approved. Gonna have to nuke it until nothing's left."

"Is it really that serious?"

"Some pictures must never be revealed, Pyrrha."

The girls burst into laughter, Pyrrha's gut aching with every exchange now echoing through her home. Laughter filled the living room, the hallways, enriched the walls with something they'd lost so long ago. And what a reunion, raw joy in Pyrrha's eyes as their laughter put tears in her eyes. The time limit on Pyrrha's quiz came to an end, leaving a score unbefitting of a girl so smart.

But who the hell cared?


~Tournament Arc~


The winds of the harsh Grimmlands battered at Jaune.

The cold, wild winds pushed him and his party back, forcing their boots to drive deeper into the snow. The fur of Jaune's hood blew in the blizzard, thick gloves pushing past the snow trying to beat him down. Frost bit his eyelids and lip as he and the party pushed on through the frozen tundra.

"Grimm!"

He could already hear them.

Lionell and Sherry had pushed ahead, gunshots ablaze that simultaneously were drowned out by the blizzard. Red eyes and wings had sprung forth, black demons covered in slow sprung out of the ground and converged on them.

"And here is our target, Jaune." Professor Lavender said, scruffy beard giving way to an eager grin as he readied his hammer, "We'll go with your Shield plus Haste variant, let's test your ability to move in this mess. What's lesson one in fighting in harsh weather?"

Jaune chuckled, yellow energy ignited his body as he drew his sword. His feet gripped the ground, ready to spring - Velvet's voice, her guiding lesson, played in his head with the motion as lightning coalesced around his form. "No wasted effort."

"And lesson two?"

White lightning began to join the gold, supercharging his flesh and aura as eldritch beasts fell around them amongst a hail of ice and bullets. "Hit them hard."

Red, evil eyes closed in.

Crocea Mors tore their owners in half.


The Team RWBY dorm was peaceful. Another day, another night. Classes came and went - Port span more tales of delusional grandeur, Goodwitch scared teenagers shitless, and Team RWBY winded down from yet another crazy adventure.

In particular, Blake slept soundly in the late night. She had some lovely tuna for lunch, passed her test and a new copy of the Ninjas of Love series would be in her hands by the end of the week. What could be more perfect? In her dreamiest of dreams, Blake smiled, knowing that everything was going right. Perfectly. Absolutely everything was as great as they could ever be.

And then, the dream ended. And Blake discovered the truth.

She shot out of bed, sudden realization dawning on her paling face. "Wait, so you mean Jaune never had a crush on me? Ruby, why didn't you tell me sooner!?"

Ruby smacked her forehead.


~So Long, Young Huntsman~


I'm over the moon, what a journey this has been. I honestly cannot believe I'm here right now, so let's be sure to wrap things up:

Tell me your overall opinion on this fic. What did you like? What did you not like? What do you think were some of this fic's pitfalls and how do you think I can improve in the future? Tell me your favorite parts, what made this fic work for you?

There are scenes I wanted to be in this fic, though they had to be cut for a more concise story. Maybe I'll post those extras one day.

I do feel like this fic relied too much on My Hero Academia inspiration early on, that's for certain. It did cause some readers to fall off, which is completely understandable, and its a good lesson for the fics I will write in the future.

Now, sequel-talk.

At its heart, this fic is a standalone, and there's an inherent beauty in it's self-contained story. Sequels are double-edged swords, just as likely to kill a franchise as it is to strengthen it.

I did leave a lot of things in the background of the main story that have the potential for follow ups, but it'd be a lie to say I planned for them to be explored in the future. TA does not need a sequel. But it does have all the right ingredients for one, so what do you all think? Should I do a sequel in the future?

I also know lots of people wanted a ship, but this was more of a Jaune x Jaune fic. Romance is great, but overdone in the fanfic community. I almost get the impression that people think good stories can't exist without one. To slap a romance onto this fic sends the wrong message in my opinion.

I'll likely be taking a break for a while as I get to planning out other stories, though I can't say which one I'll work on next. It may be fanfics, or maybe I'll start my original work.

Thanks again to everyone, this finally brings Tournament Arc to an end. It has been a wild adventure, and this only pushes me to want to write bigger and better stories in the future. I know I'll always be able to look back on this fic and be proud of myself and everyone who helped me out with it.

As always, I love you all, and I'm glad you have enjoyed this ride and I will see you all in the future.

ImSoAwesome.