Change of plans. The Rewrite is now.

Beneath the stadium was a room, prepared just for him. It wasn't too big or too small, but just the right size to be comfortable without getting too engrossed in, something that he could appreciate. It had the basic commodities of course; a comfortable couch that he was currently sitting on, a TV monitor that displayed the center of the arena, a mini-fridge that was stocked with non-alcoholic drinks of course, and even a locker room and maintenance area that he could prepare himself.

The person, the one sitting on the couch, was a rather young man. Eighteen years old at most with a pale complexion, and rather tall for his age group. His blonde hair met his shoulders and was in a state of both organized and messy. His blue eyes, deep and vibrant as the sky, were focused but not at all unkind. Princely, as his fans preferred to describe him.

His attire could only be described as black, a long sleeved shirt that matched his pants and boots. The only thing that wasn't the dark color was his double button hooded coat. Even then, it was a stark white, making the contrast of color incredibly obvious.

He rather liked the combination. It suited him.

Right now, he was leaning forward on the couch, elbows resting on his thighs and hands folded, his otherwise gentle face holding a concentrated look. His mind was a scramble of everything, one thought after another, some jumping across without even finishing. He was planning for the occasion tonight.

After all, in a few short minutes he would be called up to fight.

This wasn't his first fight or tournament, oh no. He's been in this exact situation many times before. Yet it always felt new and strange to him, no matter how many times it happened. The tenseness of his body, the shaking from the anticipation and fear alike, the roaring and cheering that shook the walls.

To be honest, he doubts he'll ever be able to get used to it. Yet he found himself here as always. He wondered subcounsciously if it was an addiction. Whatever it was.

There was a gentle knock on the door, and it opened soon after. He turned his head up and looked.

There was a rather young woman in a gray uniform. Her brown hair was tied neatly, the organized style contrasting with the rather nervous yet excited look in her matching brown eyes. A small pair of horns crowned the sides of her head.

"Um," she began. Her voice was soft and shaking a bit, doing it's best to keep composure. "Jaune Arc? It's time."

A light shade of pink dusted her cheeks as the young man, Jaune, gave her a gentle smile. "Thank you," he said as he stood up from the couch.

Now it was time. The moment of truth.

Jaune walked past her and made his path down the gray, stone hallway towards the arena. He was interrupted as the young woman spoke to him.

"Excuse me!" she called out to him a bit too quickly. Still, he paused in his step and looked at her. She stood there, one foot behind the other and averting her gaze. She fiddled with her fingers.

"Um, I hope you get to win this time," she encouraged him. "A-And even if you don't… you'll still be my favorite."

Jaune stared at her for a moment, before sending a gentle, genuine smile her way. Another shade of red came across her pale face.

"Thank you," he said. He meant it, he truly did. He still had fans who showed their support for him, even with all his shortcomings. "I'll try and do my best, but I can't make any promises. You're support is very appreciated though. I hope you'll keep on cheering for me too."

And with that, he bid her farewell and continued his walk to the arena.

As he walked down the empty passage, the cheers and sounds become louder. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. He felt his hands flex and clench over and over again. He took deep calming breaths, but still walked forward.

Jaune remembers the day he first entered this tournament. He remembered fighting to his limit and making his way up the bracket. Each foe was tough, but he stood up in the end, and each victory lead up to this moment. This time. This night.

He wanted to win. Like the tournaments all before, he always strove to be victorious. To be the last man standing. The true victor that managed to prove his power, his ability, and himself. He never held back, always giving his all that he had, even on the brink of collapse. All his effort would pay off, he knew it would. It had to. Maybe… tonight was the night.

That was everything he hoped. Every single tournament. Jaune wanted to win. But want didn't mean that he could. After all…

"...And here in this corner is someone all of you know and adore! The young man who always does his best to attend every, single tournament on Remnant! Despite never being first, his determination and willpower has won the hearts of hundreds of thousands! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! It's the Magician, the Determinator, the Eternal Second Placer: Jaune Arc!"

...He was only second place.

Again.

He lost again.

It wasn't that he didn't try his best or his opponent didn't. They both gave it their all, and in the end both of them were exhausted and tired. From what Jaune learned, he was a retired Huntsman, nearing fifty, with a damaged leg. He remembers the tired smile and aged hand that helped him up, a congratulations on a well, hard earned fight.

Jaune tried to appreciate the sentiment. He really did. But there was still a small amount of bitterness and frustration in his heart wouldn't go away.

It was always like this.

Every single tournament, ever since he was thirteen and allowed to legally participate. Even despite his large Aura, even despite his costly but versatile Semblance, it was always the same. Fighting through countless foes in the bracket, ever on the cusp of victory, only to end up shorthanded every time.

It hurt him. Not that much though, he wanted to make that clear. He liked to think himself a happy and cheerful person in general, but the he kept the pain to himself, and it eventually receded over time, like it always did. But right now, it was present.

It was why he had a smile on his face when he took his opponent's hand and shook it. And it was why he kept on smiling when the cameras were all on him.

"An amazing fight as always Jaune," he heard the woman next to him console him. "I'm sure you'll win next time."

Jaune offered an off smile, still a bit put out from the finale. It was only about an hour after it ended, and it was his turn for the post-match.

"I appreciate it Miss Lavender, and there will be a next time, I can guarantee that" Jaune said as he gave a tired sigh. He brushed a hand through his gold, vibrant hair. He was all freshened up, due to the workings of his Semblance. "Until then, it's just another day in the works for the Eternal Second Placer."

Lisa Lavender was the one interviewing him tonight. They sat on velvet chairs and a small, low standing, glass table was between them. Her leg crossed the other as her hands were neatly folded on the knee of her violent pants that matched her suit.

She laughed at Jaune's small comment at the end, as did the audience, taking it as a joke and being good natured about his defeat. He wished he could call it good natured.

"I'd certainly hope so! Every single tournament you end up coming close, but it's always second place with you. But even then you don't give up! It's why you've managed to capture so many hearts after all!"

At that, Jaune could chuckle and give a genuine smile.

It was odd, everyone thought so, that a person who hasn't managed to win a single tournament, only second best, got so much attention. Perhaps it was because his name came up in the exact same spot in tournament results from all over, or because people were truly entranced by his never ending desire to win and to never give up. They all showed him their support, and cheered him on. That he would treasure and cherish.

"I am truly blessed that so many people can still be my fans and cheer for me, even though I just can't seem to win. I know that after every tournament, a lot of folk feel disappointment, and they have every right to. But I hope that I can still rely on your support for every fight."

"Those were very endearing words Jaune," Lisa smiled. "It amazes everyone how you can go to every tournament and be so full of hope, taking every defeat in stride and as a means to get better. Can you give any words of encouragement?"

"I don't see why not. Let's see…" Jaune leaned back in the soft chair as he contemplated his next words. He felt the words form in his mind, and soon came to a satisfactory result.

"Everyone knows that I first became a part of the competitive world when I was thirteen, which was the minimum age requirement. I wanted to start as soon as possible to see exactly how far I could go. I remember the first tournament and everyone's faces when someone so young could rush so quickly ahead. I was sure that I could win."

Jaune sighed in remembrance.

"And then I didn't. At first I was crushed, who wouldn't be? But eventually, over time I managed to come to terms with it. I moved on and thought about what I could have done differently, and just… acted on it. I trained in new ways and thought differently, then came the next available tournament and I made it to the finals there, too."

At that, his smile lost a bit of energy and brightness. A small bit of bitterness was there.

"And I lost that one too. For me, the cycle just repeats itself over and over again. Always on the edge of victory only to end up short. Second place every time. It's my title after all. But really it can be a bit sombering." He placed his hand over his chest. "I have a very fragile and sensitive heart that only take so much."

A small round of laughter came about, and he found himself chuckling a bit too. But he got back to his message.

"It can hurt y'know. Doing your best but still not being good enough. I have to face that every single time I participate. But still, I don't let it get to me, at least, not for long anyways. As important as it is to strive for victory and your utmost, failure is equally important. Failure means getting knocked to the ground seeing it all from another angle. Failure means knowing what and what not to do and finding improvements in yourself. Failure is learning, and I am very good at failing."

Jaune concluded with a smile before realizing what he just said. "That… did not sound as cool as I thought it would."

The studio laughed and Lisa had to cover her mouth out of etiquette. Jaune sighed and leaned back in his chair again, his cheeks and ears a bit red, but smiling nonetheless.

"I-I think we get the message Jaune," Lisa managed to get through her laughs.

"Alright, alright, let me try again. The point is, don't let your defeats, your shortcomings, get in the way of your happiness. Take it all as a lesson to improve yourself, and keep advancing. Every misstep, take a look back, and learn. Do what you have to and you can win, no matter how small it is. Stand up again, and turn your defeat into a victory."

As he ended his revised message, the audience and studio clapped, some even whistling in approval.

"That were very beautiful words Jaune. That's all we have for tonight, everyone give another round for our special guest!"

Jaune took a breath and felt the cold, night air upon his skin. The chill that touched him sent slight shivers down his spine. Not too cold, but just enough to emphasize the warmth that his coat gave him.

After the post match interview, he bid farewell to Lisa Lavender and the studio of the Vale Central News Station, and was currently walking down the streets, lights of all sorts of colors blinking and flashing around him.

Vale's nightlife was something that he had gotten used to over the last two years. At the age of sixteen, he decided to purchase property managed to secure a home in Vale's Residential District. Though it took a lot of convincing for the Arcs to accept his decision, they supported him in the end. He should call them when he had the time, they no doubt saw the match.

Regardless if he won or lost, they still treated him as if he was their own, even letting him adopt the name. Before that, he was just an orphan on the street, doing whatever he could to get by until they found him.

But that is something for another time. Back to the nightlife.

Vale had stores for just about everything. Clothes, supermarkets, electronics, music, woodworking, restaurants, even weapon and Dust shops for Hunters and civilians alike. But what Jaune realized during his first year, was that the night was the time to unwind.

The streets were packed with all sorts of people, human and faunus alike. He saw three men in business suits carrying their friend who was clearly intoxicated, though all three of them were merrily singing some sort of song, if Jaune could surmise from the distorted lyrics.

Nearby he saw what seemed to be a dog faunus spinning a sign for a store he was advertising, and was doing so rather well if Jaune might add.

Further down the street, he saw a young human male attempt to flirt with a faunus woman in a business suit, who merely raised an eyebrow at him, but it seemed like she was humouring him.

The woman sighed and wrapped an arm around the young man and dragged him into a nearby hotel, a grin on his face as he pumped a fist in the air. She rolled her eyes, but Jaune could see a slight smile, alluring in nature, begin to form.

Well, Jaune thought, love came in many forms.

Another thing about Vale was the activities that were only available during the night. He had no idea how many bars, clubs, or casinos he came across in only a five minute walk down a street, but he was sure that there was a lot. In fact, there was one club in particular that caught his attention during his first year.

It was a mix of a dance club and bar. He knew when he made the rather risky decision of ordering alcohol when he was only around seventeen at the time. The man however, just raised a brow and made him his requested drink. If he recognized him, he didn't show it. Jaune was curious at the time, and though it was a bit strong it had a delicate taste.

He should visit again sometime soon. It also helped that he was entertained by two girls who decided to talk with him. They didn't really talk about anything specific, just a bunch of small nothings that they shared between each other. What were their names again?

Ah, that's right. The man's name was Hei Xiong, but he went by Junior, for some reason. The two girls were Miltiades and Melanie Malachite. Sisters.

One thing Jaune could say for certain, Vale knew how to live.

"Um, excuse me?" Jaune heard a voice behind him and turned. He saw a girl, sixteen at most, who barely reached his chest. She had short black hair, reaching her shoulders, and emerald eyes that lied behind glasses. She wore a school uniform, what school he couldn't tell, and she was blushing slightly.

"You're Jaune Arc, right?" she asked nervously.

Jaune gave her a disarming smile.

"Sure am. What can I do you for?" he offered. He learned that a casual, yet friendly attitude was the best thing he could adopt for a crowd such as her. Nervous yet clearly didn't want to make any offence to him.

She took a small gasp as she realized that, yes, it was the Jaune Arc in front of her.

"Oh, wow," she was at a bit of a loss before she remembered what she was going to ask. On her hip was her school bag that she flipped open rather hastily. A moment later, a small notebook was procured within her hands.

She held it out towards him, who already had a smile on his face as he realized what has happening. This was not the first.

"C-Could you please sign this?!"

Jaune gingerly took the notebook from her and opened to an empty page. He needed no pencil or pen. Not with his Semblance.

A mere thought, and he felt his Aura shift, transferring and giving power to his Semblance, which breathed to life.

He put his right finger on the page and began to draw. The moment his finger touched and moved across the white page, a black substance traced it.

Jaune Arc

For his fans, Jaune would always add an extra step. They always supported him after all.

"So, what's your name?" Jaune asked the girl before him. She looked stunned before realizing he was waiting on her to provide her name.

"E-Ebony Clearhart."

Jaune smiled as he looked back at the page and began to write more.

To Ebony Clearhart,

You might think that it's amazing getting to meet me, but let me tell you that I feel the same way. Knowing that I have your support even when I don't win is something that I will always cherish from my fans. I hope you live a long and happy life.

Jaune gave a dramatic swipe of his finger as he finished, before handing the notebook back to Ebony, who gleefully took it and hugged it close to her chest.

"T-Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Jaune smiled at the girl's enthusiasm, her nervousness replaced with happiness. "It's the least I can do for my loyal fan. If you're happy, then I can be happy too."

What Jaune didn't realize was that this little display managed to draw attention to the both of them.

"Hey, isn't that Jaune Arc?"

"Oh hey, it is! Hey man, you were awesome tonight!"

"You'll get it next time Jaune! I know you will!"

"Can I get an autograph too?!"

Jaune looked a bit overwhelmed at the sudden influx of people turning into a crowd around him. Still, deep down he was happy at having so many supporters, and let out a sigh as he relented.

"Alright, alright, no need to talk over each other, I'm not going anywhere. In fact I've got all night."

This was another thing he had gotten used to, and it didn't seem like it would be stopping anytime soon.

'From Dust Till Dawn, huh?'

Jaune looked at the store from the outside, the streets empty at this part of town. It blended slightly with a residential area, so it would make sense some people were in for the night. There was the occasional few on the streets, but otherwise that was it.

After Jaune finished appeasing his fans, which took a rather long time, he managed to walk a bit by himself afterwards. A quick use of his Semblance told him that it was 10:00 P.M. almost midnight. Right now, he found himself in front of this store.

From the outside, Jaune could already tell that this store was for Dust, but he could also see books and magazines and even snacks that hung on the shelves and stands.

Well, it wasn't like he had a curfew. Actually, he did, it was a part of his healthy lifestyle, but he was just so busy with the tournament and the fans that he didn't realize how much time had passed. Losing sleep didn't really concern him that much, nothing a short use of his Semblance couldn't fix.

Seeing no harm, Jaune entered the store.

The clerk, and Jaune supposed as also the owner, was an old man with graying hair. He had a red apron over a green shirt.

"Welcome," the old man said kindly to him. "It's not much but please, feel free to look around."

Jaune gave a smile and a nod in appreciation. He pulled his hood down and walked between the shelves, looking for anything in particular that caught his eyes.

Oh, Jaune made his way to the back and saw a refrigerated section that held energy drinks and soft drinks, along with different varieties of bottled water, tea, and coffee.

He didn't really drink tea or coffee. What really caught his eye was the apple juice.

Yes, the apple juice.

Was it childish to still be drinking apple juice at his age? Perhaps.

Did it take away the deliciousness? Not at all.

Was he going to stop anytime soon? Probably not.

Jaune grabbed a nearby basket and opened the door, immediately stocking up on all the apple juice he could grab. He might as well grab some lemonade too, and maybe some orange juice as well. The fridge, though still full, was missing a noticeable amount of drinks.

Hey, he was an adult. He lived how he wanted to.

Satisfied, Jaune turned back to the shelves and scouted for other things. Some snacks here and there and some books, but most of the stock was Dust.

Jaune had Dust and he used it well, if he did say so himself. But those were on rare occasions. After all, Dust allowed one to channel nature's wrath, to harness the primordial and powerful forces of the elements such as fire, water, ice and the like. He only used Dust when he was fighting and the occasional experimentation, but otherwise did well without it.

What Dust could do, his Semblance could do as well, though it did cost him precious Aura. Still, the point was there. He was also a bit of a hoarder.

Jaune head a bell chime, signalling the arrival of another customer. It was almost midnight, and almost no one was in the streets, so he peered over the shelves using his superior height, and saw who entered.

She was tiny and red. Those were the primary features that Jaune made out first. Sure, Jaune was tall, but even still this girl seemed to be short even by age standards. She wore a black corset and matching skirt with red frills. Her boots tapped against the tiled floor, and upon her shoulders was a red cloak that had a hood, and was adorned with two small silver crosses that clipped it to the corset.

Another thing Jaune noticed was the small, red, rectangular box that was placed on her back, directly behind her waist.

It was a weapon, of that he was certain. This small girl was a Huntress-in-training.

In fact, now that he observed her a bit more, he could feel her Aura. It was nothing to scoff at, that's for sure. Despite it being young, this Aura had seen combat against actual Grimm. Jaune himself could say that he's only fought a small handful in his life, so this girl was something else.

All this happened within a few seconds. As quickly as he observed her, he went back to the shelves, browsing away. She talked a bit to the owner, before skipping along the aisles.

Good. It didn't seem that she noticed him.

Jaune noted how creepy he must have looked, that he was relieved that the little girl he was staring at didn't notice him.

What he didn't expect at all was the young girl to now be in the same aisle as him. Though, it seemed as if even though he noticed her, she did not have the time to do the same.

This resulted in her accidentally bumping into Jaune, who was completely stationary at the time.

"Oof!" she grunted as she made contact, stepping back. She quickly regained focus and looked at what, or rather whom, she bumped into. She looked up, and up, not realizing how tall Jaune was.

They made eye contact, and blue met silver.

Jaune gazed back at the wide, silver eyes that were on the small, round, pale face. Now that she was up close, he actually astounded him given how youthful she actually was.

The girl recovered.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, a small blush on her cheeks. "S-Sorry about that! I wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's fine," Jaune reassured her with a smile. "It was an accident after all. No harm done."

"Still, I should have been paying attention," she insisted. On what, Jaune wasn't so keen on. "I'm training to be a Huntress after all. We're supposed to be aware of everything around us."

"Oh, you are?" Jaune did his best to sound interested. Not that he was bored or had any other intent, but to humour her and just for the sake of talking. "For someone so young? You must be quite capable."

The girl looked bright at that. "Yep! You're looking at a genuine Huntress-in-training of Signal Academy!" She brushed her fingernails on her skirt, a prideful smile on her face. "Not to brag or anything, but I'm one of the best in my class."

Jaune raised an eyebrow at the display, amused but believing her. He felt her Aura earlier, after all. "Is that right? Well then, I'm glad that our future is being protected by such a capable fighter."

Ruby looked even more prideful and happy. "You can count on me! I gonna be the best Huntress the world's ever seen, and everyone will know the name Ruby Rose!"

Ruby Rose. So that was her name? It was very fitting given her attire. Jaune also noticed that this girl seemed to be the type to get excited easily and talk when she is. She was also honest with herself and made no attempt to hide it, something Jaune could find admirable.

"Being a Huntress huh?" Jaune let out. "It must be nice, having such a clear and defined goal that you've set yourself to."

"Yeah, ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a Huntress. Being able to fight Grimm and protecting everybody; It's everything I wanted. I only have two more years at Signal before I apply to Beacon Academy."

He had heard of Beacon of course. After all it was once of the prestigious Hunter Academies and was considered the best of the best. It also helped that his house was rather elevated, in a way that he could see the school from a distance, even if it was only a small image.

"Is that right? Well, if you do plan on attending Beacon Academy we might be seeing each other, since I live here in Vale after all." He gave her a hand to shake, the other obviously still holding his basket of juices. "I'm Jaune Arc by the way."

She happily took it, satisfied at making a new friend. "Ruby Rose, but you already knew that." She smiled, before a certain look came across her face. "Your name sounds… familiar."

Jaune raised a brow, and it had occurred to him that Ruby didn't really recognize him at all. At the corner of his eye, he saw a magazine stand that showed all of Vale's celebrities and individuals of public interest.

"I actually get that a lot. I hate to cut this conversation short, but I need to get back to browsing."

"Oh, right!" Ruby exclaimed as she lost herself talking to Jaune, realizing that she was here to buy as well. Sure it was late, but it was a weekend. Dad wouldn't mind that much right? Still, she should hurry up.

She quickly walked around Jaune and went to browsing the shelves, specifically the magazine section. Jaune watched her hand to reach out to the stand…

...Which grabbed a small booklet about weapons. It was small, but went into detail about the inner workings of certain weapons and schematics for them. Ruby, at this point, put on her headphones and quickly indulged herself.

Jaune would admit it, he felt a bit of disappointment. Oh, well.

Seeing as how he was finished shopping, Jaune made his way to the front of the store, ready to check out his items.

"I'll just be having these tonight."

"Certainly." The old man quickly took in the items and gauged the prices before putting them in a bag. The speed of which he did so made Jaune think that this older gentleman may have had his Aura unlocked.

"That'll be 100 Lien." The old man finished, not all shocked or phased that Jaune was buying practically 100 Lien worth of juice.

"Of course." Jaune reached into his pocket and with a thought, activated his Semblance. A moment later, a rather generous amount of Lien was found between his fingers, and he brought it out for the clerk, who was surprised at the amount.

"You can keep the change." For a person like him, money was something he had in abundance. Did it seem like a waste to spend so much each time he went shopping? Perhaps, but Jaune didn't really mind that much. Either out of generosity or believing that he wouldn't run out anytime soon.

"Thank you very much! Have a nice night!" The clerk was happy to have received the Lien. And if anyone was happy, Jaune was happy. He could smile at that.

He heard the bell chime behind him, along with a rather large amount of footsteps.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mister Second Place himself."

Jaune's eyes widened. He remembered that voice, that tone that was always condescending towards everyone. He smelled the air and sure enough, there was a new scent of tobacco.

He turned around and saw him. There was a large group of men in black suits, but it was the leading them that caught his eye. A man just as tall as him wearing an expensive looking jacket, white in color, along with equally expensive looking pants and shoes, both black. Around his neck was a gray scarf, tied in a neat knot that fit comfortably. His orange, cared for hair was topped by a black bowler hat. A confident, arrogant smirk on his lips.

He knew this man. During his time in Vale, Jaune made it a point to be an upstanding citizen, in any way possible. Helping the less fortunate, donating to charity, even attending parties. But one of the most active was the capture of dangerous criminals, with the permission and assistance of the Police of course.

But this man was the one who always slipped past him, someone who was definitely different than the other criminals. This man was not just a thief, but the thief. And he made it known in his taunts. To the public, to the police, to the Hunters, and to him.

"Roman Torchwick?!" Jaune gasped.

Roman smiled. "So nice to see that you still remember who I am, Golden Boy. I was beginning to think that you've forgotten." He held a hand over his chest, the other held firm on his cane that Jaune knew was more dangerous than he let on. He was on the opposite end of it more than he'd liked to admit. Struck by it just as much too.

"And here I was thinking that you've forgotten. I mean, you come home so late and we never really talk that much anymore. But I'm glad that's not the case, given our history. Think of all the little memories we shared together."

Jaune's eyes narrowed and he felt his Aura come forth, ready to fight. "Like that time you punched me in the throat when you were surrendering? Or the time you threw me into a pile of Dust and proceeded to shoot me with an explosive shot? Or the time you ran me over in your escape car?"

Roman sighed. "Ah, good times." He no doubt reminisced. "And just to be clear, you jumped in front of me, alright? That was all you."

"...What, do you want?" Jaune's voice was tense, something that Roman seemed to pick up on, given his smile.

"Do have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late?"

Before Jaune could do anything, Roman closed the distance and delivered a strong left jab into his gut, before picking him up by the collar, and promptly threw Jaune out the window.

CRASH!

Jaune grunted as he hit the gray road, rolling off the shards and letting the force carry him. He spun his body and used the momentum to right himself into a standing position, if a bit disheveled. He saw Roman's companions come out the store, from the door and from the shattered window. They all carried swords and guns.

Jaune wiped his mouth as the men surrounded him, ready to attack if he made a move. He observed them, making sure that all of them had an Aura, and sure enough they all did. There was a lack of people anywhere on the street.

Good, it meant that he could fight without worrying that much.

With a quick flick of his finger, a bolt of lightning shot out and struck one right in the chest. He yelled before he was blown back, and Jaune took the opportunity to capitalize on the confusion.

Another use of his Semblance and Jaune felt his body move faster. A glow appeared over his limbs, and as it died it revealed segments of armor, protecting his arms and legs. He rushed to the nearest criminal, who tried to swing his blade on him. Jaune quickly stepped to the right and closed in, striking him twice in the face before giving a powerful blow to the stomach.

The man gasped and let go of his sword, but Jaune wasn't finished.

He quickly grabbed the criminal's arm, and sped over to another criminal, who was shocked at the speed. With a grunt, Jaune turned his body, and swung.

The man's legs struck the other one in the face as we was being used as a literal human weapon. He went down immediately. The person Jaune was using as a weapon screamed again, just as Jaune did, as he spun in place and built up momentum, before throwing him at another criminal. The bodies collided painfully, if the groaning was any indication.

Four down.

Jaune turned and quickly brought his hand up to block the bullet aimed for his head. Then again at his chest, then his legs, shoulder, neck, knees. Each bullet was stopped by an armored palm. He saw the one shooting him, and Jaune disappeared.

The criminal was shocked that the target vanished right before his very eyes. The shock soon became a fleeting thing, as he felt a sharp pain in his left side, before another hit him in the back of his neck.

As the man fell, Jaune quickly stepped back and repositioned himself. Now, his back was against the buildings and he faced his opposition, only a few remaining. He was in a less than ideal position, but at least he could see all of them. And if he paced himself, he could take them on, of that he was certain.

Not sure if he could take on Roman afterwards. That would be an issue.

His thoughts were interrupted as a criminal came crashing through the other window. Ruby Rose's feet were connected to his face as she came flying out as well.

When they hit the ground, she kicked off his head and stepped gently on the gray road. Jaune watched as she reached for the strange, red object at her waist, and opened it. A symphony of metal gears and clicks, and the rectangular object revealed itself.

It was a scythe. Red in color, just like it's wielder, but much bigger than her as well. He saw that there was a scope and even a clip for guns attached to it, no doubt meaning that this weapon could change into a ranged form. She watched as Ruby, who was so small, twirl and spin the scythe around her body, unafraid of hitting herself, like a small dance.

She planted the scythe's blade into the road. Jaune couldn't help but marvel at her, as did the remaining criminals on the street.

"...Okaaay," Roman drawled as he observed as he walked out the store, looking at Ruby and the fallen men that Jaune took down. He didn't seem all that affected, but Jaune could tell we was getting tense. Roman looked at his men. "Well, I don't pay you to stand around and look pretty! Get them!"

At that, the remaining criminals rushed out the store and went to fight them. The two of them sprung into action as well.

Jaune shot two more bolts of lightning, which struck their targets. He leapt out of the way when they began to fire on him, and placed a hand on the road. A wall, the same texture and composition of the road, erupted from the ground, dividing them.

The young man took a moment to breath, before quickly taking his next actions. He called upon his Semblance yet again, and felt his Aura go down yet again. He felt everything within his vicinity. Roman and his men, Ruby Rose, the people inside their homes waking up to the sounds of the fight, the individual leaves on the trees.

Now that he knew their locations without having to see them, he could act.

Another use of his Semblance and Jaune took up a stance before he began to punch the wall at rapid speeds. Segments the wall shot out and hit the criminals, Roman quickly stepping back inside the Dust shop to avoid getting hit. Their bodies were pelted mercilessly as Jaune refused to lessen his strength or speed. He could hear flesh being bruised and even some bones crack. He winced at that, but these people brought it upon themselves.

Aside from that, though he couldn't see her, he could feel Ruby fight.

As a criminal approached and took a swing, she dodged by jumping over the shaft of her scythe, still embedded in the ground, and spun her boots made contact with the man's face. She jumped back and took her scythe with her, twirling it until the blade was behind her.

With a finger on the trigger, Ruby fired.

The recoil of the gun proponent of her scythe was enough to make her spin, but Jaune realized that she actually turned it into an advantage. Her scythe spun with her as she used the force to crash the blunt end of her scythe into a criminal, sending him flying into the air. She didn't lose any energy as she slammed another one into the ground, with so much force that it ended up breaking the road.

Jaune felt her quickly fire again, dashing across the road and towards another hapless criminal, who she tripped and sent into the air. As she sped past, she planted her scythe into the ground yet again, and used it to turn herself around. As she did, she brought her scythe from out of the ground again and leapt up into the air and kicked the man back into the ground.

He wished that he could have seen it with his own eyes.

With a final punch, another bit of earth was sent flying out. A grunt was heard soon after, followed by a thud. Feeling no one else standing, save for him and Ruby, he collapsed the wall, which turned into a pile of rubble.

He could tell that he and Ruby were a bit out of breathe, but the work was done. Unconscious bodies littered the street, weapons also thrown about everywhere.

"You were worth every cent," Roman said sarcastically as he walked out the store, looking at his fallen men. "Truly, you were."

Jaune walked forward and Ruby looked at him with wide eyes, then at the men that he had taken down. Huh, it didn't seem like she realized that he was fighting too. Oh well, it didn't really matter that much.

"Give it up Roman," Jaune ordered the dapper thief to stand down. "You're outnumbered two-to-one, and I'm sure that people are starting to wake up. Someone's bound to call the police, or perhaps even a Hunter. Stand down while you can."

He only received a chuckle from the orange headed man.

"Is that right?" Roman grabbed the cigar from his mouth and dropped it on the floor, using his cane to put it out. "Well Golden Boy." He turned to look at Ruby as well. "Little Red. If it's all the same with you, I think tonight was plenty of fun. So much excitement and flare and unconscious bodies all around! But I think we've all had enough, and all of would like to get back to our own business." Roman shrugged. "So, how about we just walk away from all this, hm?"

Jaune shot him an incredulous look. "Do you really think that you can get away with this? That either of us are just going to let you go?"

Roman laughed again. "Good old Jaune, always playing the hero to the everyday people. Always the voice of justice just aching to put away and punish the no good felons like me."

"We live in a society Roman," Jaune spoke back. "People need to come together to survive and live, but for that to happen there needs to be rules. What is and isn't allowed. What's good and what's wrong. There needs to be standards and laws in place so that there can be security and morality. Laws and regulations are what bind us, and by committing crimes you must be punished. That's how it is."

Roman laughed even harder, before sending him a condescending yet burning look his way. "Man, I knew you liked to play pretend hero, but this is just rich!," Roman said scathingly. He gestured to the bodies of his men. "Alright then, tell me, do you think that what you did just now is heroic? Beating my men up until they were unconscious, battered, and bruised? How it this form of violence any better than mine?"

"That's different," Jaune defended himself, but Roman didn't let up.

"Really? I don't think so. Okay, what about the fact that the so called 'government' does whatever it can to help the big businesses like the Schnee Dust Company flourish and cash in on the winnings, but does nothing when they bully smaller competitors into submission? Or how about the fact that the police are willingly let things go when you just flash them the right amount of Lien in their eyes like a prostitute? And why not, let's get race into it. How about the fact everyone can just avert their eyes whenever they see a faunus get the life kicked out of him, but the moment he hits back all of a sudden it's a scandal? Where's your justice then?"

"..." Jaune was silent at the volley of questions Roman hurled at him, unable to find a true answer. His silence made Roman smile.

"The big companies get what they want while stepping on the little people. You can't rely on the police when money is the only language people can understand. And you certainly can't count on the so called 'goodwill' of others when all they can do is hate each other just because they look different. See, that's the thing about living in a society Jaune; It only appeals to those who can afford to live and play by the rules."

Roman sighed as he brought both hands on his cane, leaning on it.

"And even then, that's not true. It's the people who have connections and sway that make the rules. It's the people's opinion whether or not something is right or wrong. A man will be hated if the public thinks he deserves to be hated."

He sent a dark glare to the both of them.

"The popular will win and the hated will lose. You kids want the truth, here it is."

He brought his cane to the air and pointed at them.

"There's no such thing as truth or kindness in this rotten world."

…

"You're wrong."

Roman and Jaune turned to look at the girl in red, a fierce look in her eyes and determination on her face.

"Care to repeat that, Little Red?" Roman said, irritated at being questioned.

"I said you're wrong!" Ruby said even louder. "There is such a thing as truth and there is kindness in the world, you just don't want to see it! You act like it's natural for everyone to be cruel and selfish just so you can do whatever you want without caring about anyone else! I've seen bad people brought in and faced justice, and I've seen the kindness of others, so don't you say things like it doesn't exist at all!"

Roman was amused that a young girl held such a childish view of the world.

"Were you even listening to what I just said? Like I just told you-"

"Shut up!" She yelled, and Roman actually did, his eyes a bit wide at being so blatantly ordered to stop talking by someone so young.

"Of course I was listening! I'm not saying that there aren't bad people in the world, I'm saying that you're wrong for believing that there isn't any good in it at all!" She gripped the shaft of her scythe tighter. "My family, all of them are Hunters. My dad's a Huntsman and so is my uncle, my sister is training to be a Huntress and so am I! We're all Hunters because we want to fight Grimm and protect everyone, to make this world a better place! My mom… she died fighting. She died doing what she loved, giving hope to others and never giving up, and I'm proud to be her daughter!"

She readied her scythe and faced off Roman.

"So hearing you talk like truth and good not existing is something I can't just sit here and take! You're going down, and you're going to face justice!"

Roman stared blankly at the girl in front of him, unable to comprehend how someone could say such things and earnestly believe them.

"Even if it's pointless," Roman turned to Jaune. "Even if we end up not changing a single thing, it's not worthless. We'll do whatever we can until we can find the truth. It's what gives meaning to life, to keep searching for something real. And it's kindness from others that give us the strength to push on. It's kindness and acceptance from others that's kept me going on, even when I fail every time. For myself and for them, I am not giving up. Stand down Roman," Jaune ordered again, a strong look in his eyes. "It's over."

Roman's head snapped back and forth between the two of them, wondering if this was actually happening right now. Sure enough, it was. He sighed as he brought his left hand up to rub his eyes.

"You stupid, childish kids. Always saying that you can be the hero and save everyone. Alright then," he looked over at Jaune, before he smiled maliciously. "How about you go and save her."

The effect from Jaune's Semblance was still active. He felt Roman reach into his pocket, and he felt the Red Dust Crystal that he placed within his fingers. He was planning something, he knew that.

It was proven true, when Roman turned to Ruby and threw the Dust crystal at her, and brought up his cane.

Jaune's eyes widened, before he dashed over to Ruby in a panic, who was taken off guard by the quickness of the actions. He stood over her and activated his Semblance once more.

Roman fired, and the missile stayed true to its target and hit the crystal directly.

BOOM!

An explosion of fire came forth, a wave of heat spreading over the entire street and neighborhood. Windows from homes and cars were shattered and alarms were set off. The two were at the center of it all, completely engulfed by the blazing inferno.

Roman observed the scene of catastrophe before him, before quickly sprinting off to make his escape. Those two were definitely still alive, so long as they had Aura. They'd be in a world of hurt, but regardless, he had an exit to make before they could notice.

The flames died and soon enough, the smoke did as well. At the center of the explosion was a strange, golden sphere that might have glowed vibrantly if it didn't take on the attack. It was transparent enough that one could see Jaune Arc, his hand stretched outward, and Ruby Rose, who closed her eyes and shielded herself from the direction of the shot.

"Ah…" seeing the danger pass, Jaune dropped his arms and kneeled, taking short respite. The sphere disappeared as well. His Aura was going down, not even half remaining. Stil, there was work to be done, Roman was getting away.

Ruby slowly opened her eyes, wide and shocked that she was somehow alright. She looked around the smoke and saw the damage, before looking at the ground around her.

A perfect, unburned circle in the center of the street, destroyed and covered in a black layer from the fire. Then, she noticed Jaune who was on his knee.

"Jaune!" she cried as she ran to his side, inspecting him for any serious damage. Luckily she found none. "Are you alright?!" she still thought it was appropriate to ask.

"I'm… I'm fine," Jaune assured her. "I just need a moment to catch my breath, my Semblance takes a lot out of me. You should go find Roman."

Ruby had so many questions, but even she could understand the direness of the situation. "I-I don't know where he went."

Jaune searched deep in his mind, the effect of his Semblance slowly fading away, and the amount of entities and items he could feel was slowly starting to disappear. He could have used it again, but he felt the need to conserve Aura at the moment.

Still, he concentrated and felt a figure running away. To the west it looked like. Then it was gone, the effect had officially ended.

"That way," Jaune pointed, his arm a bit shaky. "I'll catch up when I can, just go on without me."

Ruby looked where Jaune pointed before reaching into the pocket of her skirt and brought out a small white device. She opened it and a holographic screen expanded. She tapped on it a few times before running in the direction Jaune pointed.

"Hello, police?! There was a robbery and my friend needs an ambulance! I'm chasing after one of…" her voice slowly became muffled before she sped into the distance, until he heard no more.

Minutes had passed, and Jaune soon found the strength to stand up again, having recovered what little Aura he could. He looked over the unconscious men before spending the next few moments rounding them up and tying them together, with a little help from his Semblance. Chains of metal held quite firm.

Jaune walked slowly in front of the store, and sighed knowing what had to be done next. He felt his Aura drop again as he willed his desire into the world. The shattered glass on the floor slowly floated upwards, as if being guided by an unseen force, and began to make its way to the frames. They began to cling and mend together, before the windows were fully fixed, as if nothing happened at all.

He walked inside.

"Excuse me, but you can come out now."

The owner shakily stood up from behind the counter that he was hid all this time. He looked shocked at the fixed windows, but also saw the men round up from the outside.

"T-Thank you," he stuttered. "The both of you. The two of you saved my store."

Jaune gave a weak smile. "Don't worry about it. All in a day's work. The police are on their way, so it'll be fine."

He sighed as he bent down to where he put his basket, which was strangely untouched. He picked it up and walked outside the store, before sitting on the sidewalk. He uncapped his bottle of apple juice and drank greedily. A breath escaped him as he put the bottle back down, and observed the carnage.

People were starting to gather, and some were actually taking pictures, both of him and the destruction. They showed concern, and asked if he needed help, but Jaune just gave a smile and wave of his hand, assuring he was fine and that was already on the way. He'd need to fix the street later, along with the cars and the rest of the windows that were shattered. It would use up his Aura, but was something that he needed to do.

He would have went with Ruby, going after Roman. He really would have, but his Semblance demanded much, and he used up it a lot tonight. Both at the finale of the tournament and here. He just couldn't afford to do anything more intense. This was all he could do at the moment.

Still not good enough.

Still just Second Place.

"It was just last night that the infamous criminal and thief, Roman Torchwick, attempted to rob a Dust store at around 10:00 P.M."

Jaune's home was in the residential district, located on an elevated plot of land that gave him a rather generous view of Vale, especially in the morning. It was a moderate size for a three storey house, and had many vacant rooms that he had no actual use for.

He was inside his spacious dining room, in the kitchen and currently making breakfast. His sleepwear consisted simply of black sweatpants and white top. The TV in the living room was on for him to see the morning news, he found himself listening to the incident last night.

"Reports from the police say that the Torchwick and the men that were with him threatened the owner, and demanded that all the Dust was to be handed over to him. Strangely enough, the owner claims that while he offered Lien, it was not taken."

After repairing what he could, the police and ambulance arrived on the scene, apprehending the criminals and patching Jaune up. They were rather familiar with each other, since Jaune had helped the police on occasions, and the questioning and information gathering went smoothly. He was released shortly after.

He removed the bacon from the pan and set it on a plate to the side. He began to grill the sausages next.

"However, his attempt at robbery was interrupted by the actions of two heroic, young individuals who were also in the store that night."

A picture of himself and Ruby were presented on screen, their names directly below their images.

"Ruby Rose; a fifteen year old Huntress-in-training at Signal Academy, and Jaune Arc; known celebrity and competitive tournament fighter, more commonly known by his titles as 'The Magician,' and 'Eternal Second Placer.' Just hours before was also the end of the regional tournament, where Jaune fought in the final round, but unfortunately lost. Hours after the match, Jaune Arc and Ruby Rose found themselves in the Dust store and tried to apprehend Torchwick, who sadly remains free."

It was a shame that Ruby didn't manage to catch him. But then again, this was Roman Torchwick, a self proclaimed master thief that wasn't necessarily untrue. He was a tough fighter as well, and he considered themselves lucky that Roman was content with fleeing than fighting.

Ah, the sausages were done. He put them on the same plate as the bacon, before putting the pan back on the stove and cracked the eggs.

The image on the TV changed to the store, and on it was the kindly old man from last night.

"Could you describe what happened last night for us, in your own words?"

"It was just another night for me. My store sold Dust and other things that people might be interested in and this young man and woman entered the store. About a few minutes after that, Torchwick and his men came in, and punched the young man and threw him out the window. After that he threatened me to hand over all the Dust I had. Then all of a sudden I saw the young man start fighting in the street and the girl in red began fighting and joined him too. I don't know much after that, they all rushed out and I was hid behind the counter. I heard a loud explosion, and everything went quiet. After that, the young man came into my store and just began to fix up everything, he told me the police were on the way. Those two saved my life and my store. If either of them are hearing this, I want you to know that I'm grateful."

Jaune smiled as the old man thanked him. It was always a nice feeling.

The scene changed again to the street, alongside it was pictures from last night showcasing the damage.

"After interfering with Torchwick's attempt at robbery, Miss Rose made to pursue while Mister Arc began to mitigate and repair the damage done in the ensuing fight."

A video began to play, no doubt taken from a scroll, that showed him waving his hands through the air, his hands giving off a slight glow. The rubble from the street began to meld back into the ground, the shattered windows fixed themselves into their frames on the cars and windows, and even the seared and dented cars looked as if time was flowing backwards, the damage slowly reverting until it was gone.

"Though distressed at the incident, the residents are grateful that Mister Arc took the time to repair and control the damage, allowing them to continue their daily lives without having to file any legal forms or payments for repairs and otherwise."

The image changed again to show a variety of online posts, videos, and the like

'Second place on the charts, first place in our hearts.'

'Magic Man knows no bounds.'

'Jaune! Jaune! #1'

'Have you ever looked at a man who was so pure that you started crying?'

Those were a few that he could make out. Jaune put a hand over his mouth and blushed at the praise and display of gratitude, but had a smile nonetheless.

"Many find it relieving that someone so young is dedicated to the public service of others. His strength of character and selflessness has inspired many people of his generations who are aiming for social professions such as police officers, doctors, firemen, and even Hunters-in-training. We're lucky to have you Jaune. This is Lisa Lavender, back to the newsroom."

The tune played and Jaune removed the eggs from the pan into another plate. Satisfied, he brought the pan over to the sink and began cleaned it, before stowing it away and made his way to the dining table, his breakfast complete.

Toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, and a cup of apple juice, freshly chilled. It was perfect.

Jaune took a fork and brought a sausage to his mouth and ate it. He savored the taste as he didn't really eat dinner last night, so this was fulfilling.

Ring~ ring~ ring~

Jaune was interrupted in his breakfast as his home phone began to ring. He looked at it for a moment before swallowing and took a sip of his apple juice before walking over and looking at the caller ID.

BEACON ACADEMY.

Jaune blinked for a few moments before he cleared his throat, and pressed a button, letting the call go to speaker.

"This is Jaune Arc speaking. How can I help?"

"Good morning Mister Arc, it's a pleasure to finally speak with you. This is Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy."

Jaune was silent for a moment.

"...Is this a prank?"

"I assure you this is no jest. Though I understand your disbelief. If you need confirmation, you need but to look outside. Specifically from your bedroom balcony."

Jaune stared blankly, before picking up the phone and walking upstairs to his bedroom. It was a cordless phone that had a wide range, so he could continue talking if he needed to. As he made his way into his bedroom, he opened the balcony doors.

He was greeted by a gorgeous view of morning Vale, the sun shining down on the city. The breeze from his elevation along with from the sea gave a pleasant atmosphere, and there was some chairs that he could sit on to enjoy himself.

In the distance, be could see a small building over a wide ravine that gave way to the water beneath. Beacon Academy.

"Ah yes, very good. I can see you." Jaune heard Ozpin over the phone.

"What are you saying? Seeing me from where?"

"Why, from Beacon of course."

Jaune was silent again. He heard Ozpin chuckle.

"If you're still in disbelief, why not just look closer. Surely your Semblance can allow you to do so."

Jaune moved the phone away from his ear and stared at it, before looking back at Beacon. Look closer? What was he trying to say?

…

Wait…

Was he trying to imply that…

…

Jaune brought his free hand over his eyes, and felt his Semblance come to life. He looked at the top of the tower that stood over Beacon, where Ozpin was said to operate. Then, he felt his Semblance work itself.

His vision became enhanced. The ever distant image that Beacon used to be, became closer, closer, and closer. Soon, Beacon's tower was directly in front of him. Visually at least.

Jaune's jaw dropped.

On the tower balcony was a man with gray hair and eyes the color of the earth, along with spectacles. He wore a neat and refined suit that was a deep shade of green that Jaune believed could only be found in nature.

It was Ozpin.

It was Ozpin who was sitting in his own chair on the balcony, a phone in one hand and a mug in the other.

He smiled, and moved his mouth. The sound carried over the phone.

"Can you see me?"

"...Yeah," Jaune said slowly, amazed and a bit scared.

"I apologize for taking up your time on this fine morning, but I would actually like to meet with you in person. I called you in the hopes of arranging a meeting?"

"...Uh, sure."

"Excellent. Today won't do however. Hmmm…" Ozpin hummed over the phone, and Jaune actually saw him put his mug down and hold his chin as he thought. "How about the day when Beacon becomes open for the new students. Surely you'll be able to meet with me then?"

"...Yeah, I'll uh… figure something out."

"Splendid. Well I'm afraid that's all the time I have. I hope to see you soon."

He watched Ozpin hit a button his phone. He heard the line go dead. He watched Ozpin wave, pick up his mug, and walk back into his office. Jaune let go of his Semblance and his vision slowly returned to normal. He stood there on his balcony alone.

Jaune let out a breath. It wasn't a sigh, but more like witnessing an event so out of the ordinary that you couldn't help but empty yourself in disbelief. He brushed a hand through his golden hair, before walking back inside, making his way to see if he had anything important scheduled for the future.

He needed to get ready. Both for today and for the day he goes to Beacon.

Sorry to disappoint anyone who was following my other story, but I promise that this one will be different. It will relatively follow canon, but there will be differences in the story.

1. There will be no Representative. Looking back, it was a very immature and childish decision, making Jaune seem overpowered and having too much authority.

2. Jaune is still in the competitive world, but has never once won a tournament.

3. There will be no teams. Every student at Beacon can form teams with others, but there will be no actual limit to who can form teams with who, or how many can be on one team. All students have their own personal dorms to themselves.

4. Jaune's Semblance has been brought down a bit. I will try to not make it as overpowered as I had in the previous story. It will be more costly and weaker.

This is the rewrite of the first story I've ever written. I am not an expert on writing and I understand if you have frustrations and disappointment, and I understand if you feel the need to no longer favorite or follow me or my stories.

Please know that I am trying to do my best. Thank you for reading.