Ahem…..sorry for keeping you guys waiting...I was busy…

Author dude is back with another chapter, Finally! Also if you want to know what Jaune looks like in his combat attire, pretty much looks like Kakashi Hatake when he was in the ANBU Black Ops. (With my added aspects of it of course)

So yeah just wanted to point that out, thank you to everyone who gave me feedback for my story, Seriously it really helps to know if I'm messing up bad. This chapter will begin the divergence of canon, finally putting my writing skills to work, and I'm very excited to write this arc...PUN NOT INTENDED. Of course though I need to set it up.

Also Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or any other concepts of other shows I put in my story.

So onto the rather short chapter, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3 - Darkness Beyond Walls

"They stalk us in the endless cold, fire, frost, lightning, forces of nature itself won't hinder these beast...what is it can we do...hide behind walls and hold on long enough to delay the inevitable? This question runs through my head every night I hear the howls."

Book 1: Mantle's first shout

Ozpin was baffled, the reports he has been getting from forever fall have been coming in for a need of aid. A Grimm surge, if things are frequently popping up, missions will have to come out earlier for the students...he read again.

"Recent spike in Grimm activity near the mountain sides of the Valean outer territory "Forever Fall" Settlement's Primus, Anic, and Luna. Huntsman and Huntresses along with trainee's 2nd years and above needed."

Ozpin ran a hand through his hair. Forever fall frontier settlements are almost never under siege, nothing big was happening right now. He could spare a few assets and assist the settlements, they are vital after all, and they stop the majority of Grimm storming up the Valean walls and slaughtering her people.

'Oobleck would be fitted to due an assignment with the students like this, but he is interested in mountain glenn, possibly Port would be a nice assist' Ozpin thought, 'Or maybe…'

"On your right Fen," shouted a man bashing the face of an Ursa with a shield who got too close to someone's neck. "Formation Anchor, Shield's up, Spears through!"

The dozens of men and women formed together and threw up there shields with their spears at ready to bash any threats, the purging of Grimm near the settlement Ansel was coming to an end. "Taijusu spotted!" shouted Rier with blond hair in a ponytail and blue eyes glowing with a fierce fire.

"Hold!" the group held their defense, trust with the leader of the group nearly unbreakable, and it held true with the land serpent's tail bouncing off the shields that would have shattered their arms if not for the aura that instantly encased there shields. "Break!"

The men and women shouted, with the warriors in armor, white cloaks flowing behind them, charged the stunned serpent, Rier jumped onto the serpent's back dodging a fang that just barely hit her chest. She jumped into the air flicking a switch that heated the spear's blade, she thrust it through the snout of the white snake and into the ground charging it with gravity dust. "Twin grounded, GET THE MAIN ONE!"

The man with the shield, twin crescent moons emblazoned on it already doing so, men stabbed at its sides, there was no need for dust in this weapon, with great strength he sliced the serpent's throat, but it wasn't enough that he knew. He dodged a fang and vaulted over the body that thrashed, he mounted the snake thrusting his sword deep into the red eye, the snake fell to the ground, it stopped moving.

And then cheer's erupted, another Grimm gathering was stopped, the positive emotions, the boost in the people's morale, this is what strengthened the frontier settlement Ansel. Everyone knew or was at least aquantined with each other, this forged bonds and overall trust. "Always being a show off old man."

"Okay Rier, last I saw you were sliding around the Taijutsu like you owned it." Nicholas arc told the middle child, "Be Careful when your doing that, you're always so reckless."

"Oh yeah, watch when I tell mom how you mounted a Grimm not caring about your own safety, eh" Rier told the man with a smug grin.

The father sighed, "Rier that's not gonna work, and plus your safety along with everyone else comes first, especially you." Nicholas said to the girl who was waving her hand around. "You never learn Rier."

The group of warriors started their trek back to the settlement, "So what do you think Jaune is doing at Beacon?" Rier questioned, the brute of the man always wanted Jaune to steer clear of Beacon but he soon figured it might help him of what he has.

"Hopefully playing it safe, you know what happened last time when he and...Gabe, went hunting for Grimm that one time...and what occurred." the man said bringing up an unwanted memory.

"You didn't have to bring up that incident," Rier thought back to a sword through a dark haired boy's chest no older than ten, and a boy in a half mask kneeling with his forehead to the floor bowing, with Grimm fleeing around the area, a few collapsed around him.

"I just fear if the same thing will happen while we are away, it just happened, I don't want it to happen again." the man said sighing looking at the mountain above with walls and people with rifle's slowly opening up the gate's for the defenders of the settlement. "I don't know what even came over him, he just went berserk. The boy didn't have to experience something like that so young and Gabe."

"Let's let this go, this is all in the past." the duo walked through the settlement and into a pub area, or what they knew as the Guild. "Oh there's Mr. Rais, go and tell him the news."

Nicholas sighed walking through the drunken men and women, and up the stairs into the Guild hall where Rais headed to confirm his hunt, like Nicholas was doing. "Search and Destroy complete, no casualties, 2 injured." a bald brown bearded man said, light armor, consisting of one leather pauldron on the right shoulder, a brown flak jacket with an axe and skull emblazoned onto the back , metal bracers, a few armor plates ran down his pants, great axe rested on the counter.

"Well you surely in one hell of a mood today Avern." Nicholas greeted walking up from behind and reporting in on his hunt.

The man turned around, a frown appeared upon seeing the Arc. "Of course I am, not enough Grimm in the area all there is are young beowolves and the occasional alpha, The Hive nest we just destroyed wasn't much of a challenge either."

"Well less Grimm the better, we can worry about the settlement more and spend time with family...how is the family Ave?"

Avern looked at his axe, "Blu is doing fine, at least that's what she told me...Savern is handling his own being a huntsman."

Nicholas knew not to push, his family issues were his own to deal with, especially since that day. Forgiveness never came easy from a woman as stubborn like Blu.

Avern walked away waving, most likely to his cabin. Nicholas confirmed his mission, cash distributing to the group. "Mr. Arc!" a voice called from his side. "You have a call from someone important!"

'Important?'

Motioning the young boy to pass him the scroll Nicholas went behind the pub where all the music wasn't blasting. "You wish to speak to me?"

"Indeed I do Nicholas Arc."

"Ozpin? Why are you calling me?"

"Mr. Arc, I require your assistance."

A boy with a red cloak with his hood up, walked down the mini forest path of the forever fall settlement. Primus, one of the many frontier towns, he usually would be happy but now he was agitated. Wild animals and berries that regularly grew a few miles out started disappearing, just last night smaller grimm started hammering the wall...luckily the wall guards held them off… but some were not lucky. And one of them was his father, the boy swung the dagger at the tree breaking some bark off.

Huntsmen were supposed to be protectors, but everytime we need them they're never here...the boy swung the dagger at the tree again, sap started to poor out...all so powerful heroes that push the darkness away from our world are just simple mercenaries who need contracts to actually do something to help settlements. It wasn't just huntsman and the grimm along with the death of one of his parents as well, to add on top of everything, the settlement supplies were taken during a weekly basis from men in white mask that would sometimes show up. And that was a week ago, rumors spread that they were terrorizing another settlement Anic, several miles from Primus.

The boy thrust the dagger into the tree letting sap run along the blade and drip down into the red forest. He fell on his two knees in despair, he felt stranded and lonely, his own mother couldn't even talk, there was simply no one to confide in...and all he could do was blame the heroes who were never here in the people's time of need.

'I need to survive, stay calm now.'

These were the thoughts of a rather nervous Jaune Arc that pulled out his katana just in time to block a strike that felt like it would've beheaded him. 'I don't know much about this girl, I've only seen her standing around stating the obvious at initiation.' He tried to think back while blocking the girls attacks.

Throwing a left hook with his gauntlet, it sailed above the nimble girl, going in for a strike for the stomach, only for it to be stopped by his aura, Jaune kneed her and swiped her cleaver upwards with his blade, Jaune then went for a downwards slash, only for her to be cut down the middle.

This shocked Jaune, for a brief second, 'A CLONE!?'

Jaune felt a heavy impact across his uncloaked back, Jaune grunted loudly stepping forwards, he spun around swinging at the girl only to miss her, a strand of black haired was seen swaying before his world turned white for a few moments. He felt the wind whistle to his right, he ducked, he aimed to sweep her feet off the ground, but she jumped in the air, and a gun was pointed at his head. A cloak of white aura flared on his upper body as bullets bounced of his mask, and chest. Rolling and somersaulting away, his senses heightened full alert.

'This is serious, I've never seen someone fight like this, other than dad…' Jaune narrowed his eyes as he pulled out shuriken from his utility belt pouch and threw it at the girl, she blocked some of them dodging and jumping out of the way of some, Jaune then threw more to the ground around her, '3...2…'

*Boom*

The lights in the room flickered as the mini explosions went off as a black smoke filled the air, shrapnel flew around Jaune as he flared his aura in front of him already getting into position. His heart was pumping in his chest, the adrenaline of the fight catching up to him, he was scared The girl could have killed him several different times if she wanted to.

"Get up boy, people don't hesitate to pull the trigger on your ass if you stay on the ground." His father scolded swinging the unfazed blade Crocea mors at lighting fast speed and precision, at the 7 year old boy's throat.

The boy rolled out the way with fear, a determination not to get hurt by the blade, a test of blades, if Jaune wanted to be a huntsman, he needed to learn what it was like to fight a huntsman. "But dad aren't we supposed to be fighting Gri-"

"Quit your whining, emotions in battle against anything, against things, monsters, and people, will get you killed, you hear me, now fight me or else you'll DIE!" a blade rose up into the air coming down to slice the boy in two.

A glimpse of the past filled him with a boost of energy, it's been a long time since he thought of the test his dad had put him through, Jaune watched through the smoke, watching his prey, waiting for it to make a move, he waited, and waited, his breath was as quiet as it can be, the once nervous and frightened spirit calmed, like he has done many times before.

Jaune heard coughing to his right, in an instant he withdraw four kunai into his fingers and launched them into the girl's direction. He heard the impact and a very loud grunt, the girl was most likely wounded, he threw another barrage of kunai, the girl grunting with every movement she made.

*Bang*

*Bang*

Two gunshots were fired at his direction, both shots whistling right past his ears. He started moving around lightly, quick and quiet, he had been adept at it for many years, against the Grimm and his dad's gruelling training...But the gunshots still followed wherever he went.

'No, Heightened hearing? Clones?' questions popped up into the blond ninja's boy, this girl was a wildcard, unpredictable, she can counter most things Jaune threw at her way.

Jaune saw the smoke clearing, the thickness was slowly disappearing, and through it, he saw the glare of amber eyes, the girl was charging at him, Jaune saw no other option then to run towards her as well, blades clashed, punches were thrown and Clones were cut in half. The girls cleaver and katana glowed a light purple, the last of her aura charging into an attack. She slashed upwards cutting through Jaune's defense, the clever impacted his jaw and a blade slashed at his chest sending him across the arena. Katana flipping and sticking to the ground away from him.

Ears rang, bruises, and a little blood hidden behind his mask. It hid it all, he pulled his dagger out drawing it while crouching. The girl with Amber eyes was surprised, glancing at the aura bars. Jaune's aura at a whopping yellow after a strike so hard.

'And there's the Arc charm, somehow this curse cannot seep away from the arcs.'

Jaune had what he needed...taking a beating from the girl and analyzing her attack style, abilities, and clones. 'Ruthless fighting with long range, Clones as distractions, Heightened senses, and aura control with her weapons.'

'A tactical fighter, analyzed me and probably knew I needed time to strike, cheeky, but large aura reserves come in handy, but the bruises do not.' Jaune thought and narrowed his eyes. A fire was lit, 'Experience or Not overcoming impossible odds was just my thing thank my dad for that.' Jaune looked at his katana behind the girl.

Drawing an explosive kunai in his hand essentially duel wielding just like she was, 'I can beat her...easy huh,'

All you needed was confidence right.

Jaune charged at her with aura focused on his feet and body he jumped straight toward her slashing his dagger downward forcing her to block. She went for a strike at his abdomen…he blocked with his dagger and a spark lit. Dark slits in the mask glowed a fierce blue, Amber eyes widened at the sight of it. 'Thanks for the idea Crater Face.'

*BOOM*

"I'M A DAMN IDIOT I JUST ANALYZED SHE HAD CLONES AND I RAN RIGHT INTO ONE EXPLODING MYSELF, I WAS SO SURE IT WAS HER AND THEN SWOOSH VANISH! BAMM, JAUNE ARC ELIMINATED HIMSELF -"

And the rant went on, call Jaune a whining asshole but the plan would have caught anyone by surprise, Nora of all people was caught by surprise by such a Nora like plan. Call it a day of discovery this was damn history.

"Now I'm not sure what to call you now, Which one do you prefer, Crater Face or Vomit boy." A giggle followed.

And of course Ruby wasn't going to let something like this get past her radar...ding ding, analyzed possible ways to get revenge on Jaune calling her Crater Face.

"I will not lie Arc, you had me shocked by such a stupid plan that would've worked if it weren't for...Blake's semblance." Weiss said deciding not to let the humiliation continue.

"You really mean it, at least someone gets it."

"Ah cheer up FL her aura went past red to, you just went out first cause. Well you flew out of the arena." Nora tried cheering the Ninja up.

"Yeah but now my everything hurts" Jaune said in the infirmary cot. Sporting new bruises and a hole in his pride.

The school nurse walked in hiding something behind her back but her tail swished, a deep shade of red formed on her cheeks and she was looking at the spot where she injected an aura stabilizing stim in his arm. "Now I know I just finished up giving the shot but another dose wouldn't hurt right."

"Another dose? Ms. Tsune I'm sure I don't ne -"

"Nonsense with your big aura reserves, I'm going to need something bigger."

Jaune's face paled...he gulped "May I ask what."

The crazy nurse pulled out a giant syringe with a big needle and droplets of water dripping… "Why this of course."

No, Team JRVS did not run away in fear dragging Jaune with them...They were horrified

XXXX

Ugh, a short chapter Author dude really, we waited almost all summer for such a mediocre 3,000 word chapter that could be thrown as a filler or omake.

Yes, yes and...yes

And I apologise, this chapter was going to be much bigger 7,000 words but life hit me in summer. I've recently moved into a new house and the house was in need of serious work. My family, some of my friends, My dad's side and my mom's side of the family were ripping floors and walls alike. Sadly my laptop charger was lost upon moving which prolonged my status as being a lazy ass.

But this chapter exist because it'll build up for an interesting arc and I promise on my soul I'll get these chapters out once I'm done settling into my new house.

The rest of this chapter was written on my phone, that is why it is a pitiful 3,000 word chapter...ugh great shame upon me.

But now enough with my soddin boring life story because no one cares about my real life problems and only about my damn lazy ass not posting chapters for this story.

We seen Jaune fight Blake and almost win…and that was because she had clones. What a cheap trick for no semblance boi Jaune. Jaune could have won the fight with the improvise "Thanks Crater Face technique" loads of damage. Aura gauge up. Blake never expected it until the last possible millisecond.

Obviously Blake is a tactical fighter and analyzed him and was one step ahead of him this time because Jaune didn't really have a decent read on the girl until he fought her...he also maybe have caught onto her being a "Secret Faunus" he had questions about her following his footsteps through a smoke screen moving like a ghost.

Jaune is as well a tactical fighter and Blitzer...but overall Blake had:

_A better weapon

_Better analysis of him

_More experience in fighting people

_Semblence

_And overall better advantages

Not that Jaune was helpless but it seemed to look like that. Because he has little experience In fighting people. More in Grimm.

Ohhhh Jaune actually does have a past...and it is why he is currently at Beacon but why is he getting treated normally. Who knows, only time can tell.

More will be revealed in the next chapter…

Chapter 4: Darkness Among Us

Sneak Peak:

"Tyrian, how are plans going in forever fall?" A women asked

"My queen, it is going well...it is already in motion, Cinder my, my, is lacking Skia and Haler are getting the preparations ready." Said man replied kneeling in front of the pale woman.

"Your henchmen are quite the catch, maybe you are of use to me Tyrian your chess piece is quite valuable."

A thump. It was Tyrian's chest. The goddess speaks well of him...of what he had accomplished and soon to be more. The faith he has put in her. The praise of a goddess that promises you a better life and better world, calls you valuable among the others.

Tyrian gasped, and breathed "Yes my queen, they are very special...it took quite a while to catch these beast and there Magic...oh it makes the blood in my body bend."

The widest smile was on his face… when he faced the floor.

"Soon, Mistral will kneel and Vale along with the rest of the kingdoms shall fall."

"By your hand."

*End Preview*