Hey everybody, JRC1700 here!

I've been a beta for blue-eye for over two years now. Hard to believe, huh? Anyway, I finally came up with an idea for a fanfic that I thought was good enough to try to guilt-trip blue-eye into making with/for me. Surprisingly, he agreed. Probably because he's awesome! It's fitting, in a way. Before blue-eye, I didn't even know what RWBY was!

I probably ought to mention that this is slightly AU. The major differences are that Jaune is one year older than in the show, he also has one extra sister a year younger than him (Joan). Oh, and a few of the characters are just a little different than canon (Ozpin, in particular, comes to mind). Anyway, enough with my disclaimer. I'm pulling out all the stops on this one, kind of have to when it's your own idea. I hope a lot of you enjoy it as much as I do! Which is to say, about half as much as our man Jaune will! XD

A\N - I don't own RWBY! Sadly...

BTW!

I have create treon . account to help and support my hobby! If you want you can support me or just feeling generous so I can get the chapters out faster and maybe something more if anyone is interested so go and check it out! :) Ps - some new stories over there!.

P a treon . com (slash) blue_eye_white_wing

You will need to close the spaces on the below and write it into your browser.

X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X

Chapter 1: The Road To Beacon

'Heroes are amazing!' a young, blonde boy declared. He couldn't stop smiling, he loved hearing about them. The young boy was always enthralled by the tales his mother, and his sisters, told him. On the nights he couldn't sleep, or when he simply had too much energy, his family had learned that the best way to soothe him was an exciting tale. He particularly enjoyed stories involving his ancestors. Arcs throughout the ages, committing heroic deeds, saving lives. Being the sole male heir to the Arc lineage had left him all the more determined to follow in his ancestors, and his father's, footsteps. He too would become… a huntsman!

"Jaune, honey… it's time to go to sleep" his mother advised, smiling broadly at her only boy. Olivia Arc had just finished a story that she now knew by heart, having told it to her son countless times.

"What?" his voice cracked, clearly disappointed by his mother's words. He glanced towards the clock on his nightstand, his eyes sliding across a picture of himself and his sisters. The young boy was Jaune Arc. Short, messy blonde hair. Piercingly-bright cobalt eyes, staring out of a chubby face. Atlatian traits seemed to run strong in his family, as every member sported blonde hair and blue eyes. One of the reasons Jaune loved hearing these tales so much, was that they were the closest he could come to being a hero himself. His small body was still not strong enough to handle the rigorous training his father had insisted upon. Until Jaune was deemed adequate, all he could do was wait.

"Don't you "what" me, young man…" the Arc matriarch chided, her smile never faltering. "I already told you, one story is all you get, didn't I?" The woman had admitted to her son that she had no issue with reading him a bedtime story, but only a single tale per night.

"I-I know… But I-" the boy attempted to plead. When he felt her hand come to rest upon his forehead he fell silent, simply staring at her.

"I don't have a problem with reading you another one tonight… But, I'm obligated to see if your sisters need something first" his mother explained.

"I-I know… I'm sorry Mom…" he apologized.

The older blonde woman couldn't help but almost melt at the sad, hurt, puppy-dog eyes her son was leveling at her. She wasn't sure if they were incidental or deliberate on his part, but that look was WAY too effective on her. Or her daughters, for that matter. Even the ones younger than he was! Whenever he did anything wrong, or if he really wanted something, Jaune would almost always bring out the "big guns". Her resistance was about to shatter, like it had so many times before, when she heard a knock on the room's entrance.

"Mom?" prompted a female voice, coming from the hallway.

The older blonde and her son glanced to the doorway, seeing one of Jaune's younger sisters standing there. She was dressed in her light blue pajamas, staring at the two of them.

"Oh! Joan!" the Arc matriarch greeted, a small smile appearing on her face. "Good timing, honey. I was just going to check if you, or one of your sisters, could help Jaune fall asleep."

Joan was Jaune's younger sister, but only by a single year. Despite that, she was actually taller than him. She also had the most vibrantly blonde hair, her shining blue eyes sparkling with a bit more clarity than the rest of her family.

The young boy crossed his arms and huffed in annoyance. "Mom… I'm not a baby…" he pouted, glancing away.

"I know, sweetie…" She smiled to herself at his childish response, before looking back towards her daughter. "Could you stay with your brother, until I come back?"

The girl in question didn't wait, nodding for conformation immediately. "Okay Mom!" she exclaimed, voice betraying her eagerness. She quickly moved to sit next to her sibling, who was still sulking cutely.

Joan grabbed one of Jaune's favorite books, starting to read it out loud. Their mother left the room, making a beeline for her youngest daughters. The younger boy's scowl quickly morphed into an excited smile. He leaned against his sister's side, enjoying her soft voice. He knew that she loved these kinds of tales, almost as much as he did.

…

The Arc matriarch opened the door to her son's room once more. She fully expected the boy to still be awake, ready for her to read him another story. One that would invariably only leave him wanting more. To her great surprise, and delight, she found both her boy and his younger sister sleeping together. The two had clearly slipped into slumber, probably from reading one too many tales. Both of her children were hugging each other, Jaune's small blanket barely covering their small forms. She moved quickly, very gently adjusting the covering to envelope both of them. She wouldn't want them to get cold, although they seemed to be doing a good job of warming each other.

'They both look so cute!' the older blonde marveled, holding herself back from squealing in delight at the adorable sight. She instantly regretted leaving her scroll on top of her dresser, as she was unable to take a picture of the two. She moved silently out of the room, closing the door behind her, before moving to her own bed. She needed to have a very important talk with her husband regarding their only boy, she was already worried about his future.

X-=-=-=-=-=-=-X

"Again!" the loud voice boomed, filling the empty field. Said order had been issued by none other than the father of Jaune, Nicholas Arc. He towered above his son's smaller form.

Jaune was currently lying on a carpet of soft grass, the cold wind blowing over the mountains helping his sweaty body relax. His muscles ached, the recent activity more than enough to make him collapse. The blonde teen noticed his father's large shadow, the man leveling a disapproving look at the younger boy.

"Jaune, what are you doing?" his father asked. "I told you to try again, not to keep loafing about" he admonished, his tone stern and serious.

"But I'm tired… I can't even move my body…" the boy whined.

The older man sighed, his face appearing haggard. "Jaune… we've barely started, you haven't even finished your daily conditioning!"

"But you said that it'll take time to build up my strength and endurance…" the younger boy reasoned.

"Jaune… that was half a year ago… at least! All that time, and I have yet to see any improvement. And before you argue with me, just look at yourself. Right now, you're barely capable of standing… And that was with me going easy on you…" The older man sat down next to his son. "Look, Jaune… maybe-" He had to say it, there was no point in delaying the inevitable. "…you should give up on becoming a huntsman…"

"W-What?!" The boy finally hoisted himself up, sitting down properly next to his father. "B-But Dad! I-I've always wanted to be a hero! That's why I wanted you to train me!"

"Jaune… you have less than three months to apply to a feeder school as a potential freshman. Even if I train you as hard as possible… you won't make the cut" the older Arc assured, the blonde boy staring at him in horror. "Your mother and I… We've been patient, willing to wait and see if there was hope for you. But, as you are now? You won't even make it past the application process… I personally know the headmaster, I can guarantee that he won't even look at you. Not as you are now."

"B-But, I-" Jaune's lips quivered, his body shook. He stared numbly at his father.

"I'm sorry… but we've already decided to stop your training. Your sister Joan's asked us to begin teaching her, it's only fair we give her the same chance we've given you." He got up and started to move away from his devastated son.

'I'm not going to be a huntsman?' the blonde boy wailed, watching his father walk away from him. To add insult to injury, he was sure that he hadn't imagined the expression on the face of his old man before he'd turned his back on Jaune. He'd looked relieved! Not even at the prospect of training his sister… but at the idea of Jaune never becoming a huntsman! Was his dad really so certain that he wasn't strong enough? That it was simply too hard, so far beyond his capabilities?

The boy wasn't sure what his father's reasons were… But he WAS certain that no matter what he'd say… the result would remain the same.

Jaune wiped his now-red eyes, wincing as they burned slightly. He couldn't rely on his father to train him… Jaune could only trust in his own strength to make his dreams real! Maybe this setback was a blessing in disguise, one that would make him even more like the ancestral Arcs he idolized. He'd become a hero, no matter what it took!

That, he swore!

X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X

"W-What?" Jaune questioned, his voice pathetically weak. His jaw went slack, the words he'd just heard stunning him. After failing to live up to his father's expectations, Jaune had decided to train himself. When he'd felt he was ready, he applied to a local school. He couldn't wait to go. Not only was it in his home-kingdom of Vale, but it was a well-known feeder school. Some of Remnant's best huntsmen had trained there, before moving on to Beacon! He simply HAD to get into Signal!

Sadly, things hadn't gone as he'd expected… First they'd requested his records, asking if he'd received any sort of training up to this point. He couldn't lie… But Jaune had insisted that he could make it, if only he was given a shot!

A lack of formal qualifications was hardly unusual, not among the oddballs that often sought out the hazardous life of a huntsman. In the end Signal had gone the usual route, offering a practical exam administered by one of their teachers. One who'd insisted on giving him a chance. The man was either in his late thirties, or his early forties. He had dark black hair, a huge blade strapped to his back.

Jaune was tested on his strength, endurance, as well as his swordsmanship. At least that would give Jaune a fighting chance. After all, the Arc family was relatively well known for their skill with a sword. Along with tactical acumen and their enormous Aura reserves. The results hadn't been promising.

The man who stood in front of him looked vaguely uncomfortable, but maintained a firm expression on his face. He slouched, huffing, before shaking his head once more. "Like I said, Kid… I'm sorry, but you didn't make the cut." The older, dark-haired man didn't look like he enjoyed breaking the bad news to the young Arc. Nonetheless, it WAS his job.

"B-But why? I-I worked so hard, and-" The blonde boy refused to accept the verdict, trying to successfully argue in his favor. After his initial talk with his father, Jaune had promised that he wouldn't give up… But the damage was done, his old man refusing to train him any further. No sparring, not even instructing him on his stance! The most he could do was to continue to increase his strength and endurance. But his father had already informed him that it was a useless exercise, unless he had the skill to back it up.

The man placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Kid- Jaune…" he corrected, upon noticing the boy's expression. "Look… Honestly, I wasn't even supposed to test someone with no training OR experience in the field… But, I wanted to see if maybe you could make it… Even IF I gave you a pass, it would only end up making things worse… With your current level of skill? You'd only end up hurting yourself, or worse…" He glanced at Jaune, his posture radiating mild exhaustion. 'Just my luck, to be the bearer of bad news…' the older man groused, even if he was used to it by now… However, that didn't mean he had to like it. He'd attempted to soften the blow, as much as he could anyway… Jaune was perhaps one of the worst recruits he'd ever seen, in all his time as a teacher. He didn't have any sort of real training, he'd never learned to survive out in the wilds, he wasn't even all that knowledgeable about the history of Remnant. Hell, the kid hadn't even had the foresight to get his Aura unlocked… Not that a kid his age NEEDED to have it unlocked yet, most students at Signal didn't get theirs until their second or third year. Still, at least an unlocked Aura would have been able to stave off some random Grimm ending him at a moment's notice.

The kid seemed to accept the explanation, before turning around. "Thanks anyways…" he groaned in defeat, slumping away.

The older man WANTED to say something, he scratched his head in annoyance. "Damn it… Hey kid!" he called. "If you're really serious about wanting to be a huntsman, then you need to keep working until you drop! And even more after that! You can still make it, if you work your ass off! You don't need to make it through a feeder school to get into Beacon, and I'm living proof!" he called to the blonde. It looked like the blonde boy nodded, before walking away.

The older man glanced to the side, before slumping into his seat. "Damn it… Taiyang just HAD to take a day off today, didn't he? Blonde bastard left me looking like an ass…" he mumbled to himself. He pulled a silver flask from his pocket, taking a long sip from it. At the very least, he could take comfort in the fact that the kid would live a much longer life not becoming a huntsman.

X-=-=-=-=-=-X

A few months had passed since Jaune's rejection from Signal, his failure still weighing heavily on his mind. But, despite that, there was still light at the end of the tunnel. The blonde boy took the words of his assessor to heart, using them to better himself.

'He wasn't like Dad… He said that I can make it, if I train hard enough and show some results!' His dream wasn't lost yet! He could still be a huntsman! Be a hero!

His training continued, from dawn to dusk. Activity so intense, that his hands would often turn red. On particularly bad days he was left with blisters, ones that threatened to pop if he didn't let up. But, despite all that, he kept swinging his makeshift sword. Over and over again. There was very little technique involved, especially when his muscles ached and screamed at him to stop. But his stubbornness still refused to let up. He just kept ignoring the pain, focusing on what was in front of him.

"Jaune!" called the familiar voice of one of his sisters.

After his failed application to Signal, he returned home to keep working towards his dream. At the time he didn't really care for the scolding his parents had given him. They had been upset when they'd found out he'd run away, especially to apply for admission to the school. Although they'd been relieved to see that someone there had some common sense, enough to keep just anyone from being accepted. Of course, they chose to ignore their own roles in Jaune's rejection. As well as Joan's own aspirations to apply to Signal herself, next year.

A few of his sisters had given him a stern tongue-lashing as well, impressing upon him how reckless it had been to just run off. Especially without letting any of them know beforehand. He found the fact that all of them had gone to Signal themselves, or were planning to, disheartening. But, he was somewhat comforted that at least ONE of them supported his dreams.

"Joan?" he mumbled, seeing his younger sister approach him.

"There you are… Do you know how long I've been looking for you?" the blonde girl chided, appearing significantly relived to find him.

"Well, I did say that I'd keep training. I won't stop, not until I'm strong enough that Dad will agree to teach me again…" the boy reminded her. It was his short-term plan. As soon as he'd accomplished it, he'd figure out the rest from there.

"You did… But, I thought that you'd run away…" Joan paused briefly, before giving him an annoyed glare "…again."

Jaune had the decency to break eye contact. He moved to rub the back of his head, a nervous habit he'd had for as long as anyone could remember. He winced, his sore palms howling at the sudden pressure.

"Again, Jaune? Really?" The annoyed tone of her voice wasn't anything new to him, Joan would always get angry if he hurt himself.

It didn't matter to her what the reason was, she had no interest in his many excuses… If he was dumb enough to get injured, then he would face her wrath!

"In my defense, I'm a lot better today than the last few times…" he responded.

His misdirection didn't work on his younger sister, she was more than prepared for his nonsense. "You're only saying that because you didn't let me check you those days, not before you snuck up into your room!" she huffed, clearly annoyed with him. "Honestly… why do I put up with you?"

"Because you love me!" the boy replied cheekily. Joan started pulling him away by his forearm, careful not hit his red palm.

"I will neither confirm, nor deny…" she evaded, a blush spreading over her features. She dragged the blonde boy back into the house.

…

Jaune admitted to pushing his self-imposed training until he dropped, in some cases literally. Over the last few years he'd been working on his sword swings, on his endurance… Really, his overall fitness level in general. One of the traits that had helped him over the years, was an inability to stay still. That was even harder now, considering where he was.

The blonde boy had vowed, long ago, that he'd stick to his dreams. No matter what it took! That meant taking drastic measures, if he wanted to make it. All that implied going against his parent's wishes. The boy was currently on his way to the capital of his home kingdom… he was headed for the city of Vale.

But unlike the grand road-trip he'd envisioned, it had basically involved him sneaking aboard a bullhead, praying to Oum he wouldn't get caught and thrown overboard. Either that or brought back home to Ansel, to face the scorn of his parents… He wasn't sure what would be worse.

The blonde Arc teen struggled to hold his breakfast down, terrified of making himself the center of attention. His accursed motion sickness had kicked into high gear, just as soon as they'd taken off. Drinking some water had proved to be a wise choice, the weight helping to settle his stomach a bit.

After an hours-long flight, the bullhead finally landed inside the walls of Vale. He had dreamed of fans, loud cheers ringing out the moment he stepped onto the Jetway. But sadly, the only thing to be heard was the loud, disgusting sounds emanating from the blonde's stomach. He started vomiting within moments, rushing to find a trash can. His stomach had managed to hold it back for so long, he just didn't have the willpower to continue. He darted into an abandoned alleyway.

After a few minutes of emptying his gut, the boy made sure to clean and rinse his mouth of any evidence. He left the alley, now walking inside of Vale proper.

The young boy ambled down the streets of the city, marveling at the huge building off in the distance.

"Beacon Academy" Jaune whispered reverentially, staring at what was perhaps the best huntsman academy in all of Remnant. The very place that would make a hero out of him!

He was excited, and frightened, beyond belief! All he wanted was to run over there, to start his new life as a huntsman! 'What the hell… I'm doing it!' he decided. Jaune broke into a sprint, a smile on his face. He continued on for a few minutes, before stopping and looking around. He only now noticed what, in his excitement, he'd completely missed. The painfully obvious fact that Beacon seemed to be a separate entity from Vale. There was no road he could just walk along, that could only mean one thing…

'Another bullhead ride…' He already dreaded getting on one of the infernal things again, but swallowed his feelings… Or, was that last night's dinner?

Having gotten completely turned around, as well as being out of his element in an unfamiliar city, left him with only one course of action.

"Excuse me? Could you give me some directions?" the young boy asked, to the first person he saw.

It was an older man. Not as old as his father, but still a few years older than Jaune himself, he seemed to be in his late twenties. He was leaning on a wall and looking around, as if waiting for someone.

"Huh? You talking to me?" the man replied, his voice gruff. He'd just noticed the blonde boy approaching him.

"Yeah, I-I was wondering if you could help me? I need to get to-" Jaune began to explain, when the man cut him off.

"Oh, sure thing! Just follow me!" the man advised, before glancing around some more. He started walking away, making sure that the young Arc was trailing behind him.

"Oh, thanks a lot! I'm Jaune-" he started to introduce himself, before noticing that the man was leading him into a dark alleyway. "I-Is this a shortcut to Beacon?"

As soon as the question had been posed, the man stopped completely. He turned to face Jaune, looking slightly worried. "B-Beacon? A-A-Are you a huntsman?" he asked, voice quivering.

The blonde teen scratched his cheek and glanced away. "N-No, not yet… But, as soon as I-" Jaune admitted, before spotting something silvery flashing in front of him. The man who had led him into the alley was now brandishing a small knife in one of his hands.

"S-Shit! You think just because you're a huntsman, you can take me?!" the man called out in anger. He grasped the small weapon with both hands, readying himself for an attack.

"W-What are you-" the blonde boy's question was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming from behind him- No… from all around them! Glancing to his sides, he saw several individuals surrounding both himself and the man with the knife.

"What took you so long?! I was nearly about to get killed by this guy!" the man yelled in fear.

'What is going on?!' Jaune wailed, acknowledging that most - if not all - of them were holding weapons. Everything from knifes to clubs, all looking quite dirty.

"Don't worry… Even if he's a huntsman, he's still only a student! We can take him, if we all attack together!" one of the new men spoke up. The group nodded and smiled, a viscous look in their eyes.

'Take me? They're all going to jump me at the same time?!' The blonde boy could feel horror bloom in his core. He was sure that he could take one, maybe even a few. Understandable, considering all of the time he'd put into his training. But all of them? There was just no way!

"W-Wait!" he suddenly shouted, lifting his hands to show he was no threat. "I'm not a huntsman! I was just asking for directions, I'm not looking for any trouble! Please!" he pleaded, trying to defuse the situation.

They all stared at him, as if to ascertain if what he'd claimed was true. After a moment their tension seemed to drain.

"You know what? I believe you!" assured the man who'd led him into this predicament in the first place. "Here I was, mistaking you for someone dangerous… But seeing that you're just unlucky, and hearing that pathetic plea, this is gonna be all too easy!" He started snickering. "Now I wish I'd just stabbed you when you weren't looking… Would've saved me loads of time…" he mused, before readying his knife and rushing forward.

"Wha-" Jaune dove to the side to avoid the knife, crashing onto the dirty floor of the alleyway. He attempted to get up and defend himself, when a strong pain washed over the back of his head.

"Just stay down…" advised a low voice from behind him.

The blonde teen glanced back to see one of the men who'd surrounded him, he'd kicked him while he was down. His assailant attempted to kick him again, forcing Jaune to pivot back and quickly draw his family sword. He'd stolen it from the mantle, right before he'd run away that morning. Jaune had expected the action to make them wary, perhaps even back away from him. Their only response was the hungry looks they began sporting.

"Oh… now THAT looks like it'll fetch a pretty penny!"

'Shit!', what was he supposed to do? At the moment, Jaune was heavily outnumbered. Even worse, there was no way to run. He was trapped in a narrow alley, his only escape route was blocked off completely. He glanced around hurriedly as they started closing in, drawing the noose he was trapped in tighter and tighter.

One of them attempted to throw his knife at Jaune's face. The blonde boy swung at the projectile, batting it out of the air.

A second later the air was knocked out of his lungs, he'd failed to notice another man slipping into his guard until he'd punched Jaune in the gut. A kick landed on the back of his leg, another punch contacted his face.

His fingers loosened as a club knocked his sword away from him. It fell helplessly to the dirty ground, before being kicked far beyond his reach.

'No!' he screamed, before three sets of arms shot out to restrain him. His eyes opened wide in terror, the man he'd asked for help preparing to stab him. He was sure to land his attack, now that his target was defenseless and unable to move.

"Sorry…" the man said with a smile, not looking the least bit apologetic. "Nothing personal…" he chuckled, before rushing forward.

Jaune Arc tried to struggle, but found that three men had sufficient power to hold him in place. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl, now he seemed to have all the time in the world to lament his poor choices. The way he'd left things with his family. The hurt his parents and sisters would feel, knowing that he'd just rushed off and died inside some dark alley. He just hoped they wouldn't blame themselves.

He fought the urge to close his eyes right up until the man was within striking distance, the knife poised to pierce his chest. Jaune expected pain to spread over him, to witness his blood pouring out. Instead he saw the knife explode into silver shards, flying wildly in the air around them.

Was he dying?

Was his mind trying to cope with his own death by making him hallucinate?

"W-What the hell?!" the man who'd attempted to stab him bellowed in confusion.

'So, I'm still sane… and alive!' Jaune used the distraction to his advantage, slamming the back of his head into one of the men behind him. Just as one of the grips on him loosened, he shook the two others off. Jaune made a break for it.

The blonde boy didn't get far as he was grabbed yet again, tumbling down onto the ground.

"Well… what do we have here?" asked a different voice, originating from outside of the circle. It wasn't gruff, like the ones he'd heard so far… This one was clear, with a tinge of amusement to it.

Jaune stared as the wall of bodies before him moved, revealing the tall man standing before them. He wore a white coat, along with a scarf that covered his neck. His legs were covered with stylish black pants, his head capped by an eccentric red and black bowler hat. He held a cane in one hand, though strangely it seemed more like a fashion accessory than a walking aid. His face sported dark-green eyes. Underneath the bowler was bright, shaggy, orange hair. A set of long bangs obscured his right eye, while black eyeliner traced his left.

All in all, the man looked like a model. Or, at the very least, an extremely fashionable individual.

"R-Run away…" Jaune warned, his voice tired. The last thing he wanted was to pull some stranger into HIS mess. He'd expected the men who'd attacked him to mark this new person a target as well. However, instead of moving towards this (much wealthier looking) man, they remained frozen … Truthfully, the thugs were looking a LITTLE pale.

"Y-You're…" one of the men who'd grabbed Jaune stumbled over his words, looking a little terrified at seeing the oddly-dressed interloper.

The orange-haired man twirled his cane for a few moments, before walking closer to the gang. Jaune couldn't understand what was happening, the group of thugs was simply way too big for any NORMAL person to deal with them. The fashionably-dressed man didn't look upset, not even the slightest bit worried… Just amused, and slightly annoyed, at the sight before him. "I think there's been a slight misunderstanding… for I see before me something truly hideous." He eyed the group with his one visible eye. "I'm afraid that I must kindly ask you to leave the area… Otherwise, I'll be forced to… take measures into my own hands…" the brave man advised, a hint of warning buried in his tone.

The group of robbers seemed to hold their breath, before they began to very slowly back off. They insisted on keeping their eyes on the orange-haired man at all times, refusing to look away. It was as if they were terrified that he would come after them.

After a few seconds, the only people left were Jaune and his unusual savior. He glanced Jaune over for a few moments, before moving closer to the boy.

"What are you still doing down there? Come on, get up" the man chided, before pulling Jaune to his feet.

The young Arc was surprised at how strong the man was. He'd just yanked him up off the ground, like it was nothing. "Oh! R-Right!" the boy stammered, now standing in front of his rescuer. "Thank you, Sir…"

"What are you even doing here, Kid? Your kind usually stays near the more popular parts of the city…"

"M-My kind?" Jaune asked, confused.

"Beacon students?"

"Oh… um, I'm not a student… yet" the younger boy admitted.

"Oh?" The information seemed to interest the man. "So, I take it you're looking to join Beacon?" He smiled when Jaune nodded for conformation. "Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news… but I don't think you'll make it, Kid."

"W-What? Why not?" the blonde warbled, his voice steeped in worry.

"Oh, it's simple, really… You see, Beacon only accepts students with formal training. Or, at the very least, some SERIOUS real-world experience. And they don't do it a day or two before the start of the school year… That kind of shit only flies in Vacuo, trust me…" He eyed the boy with a piercing gaze. "…and by the looks of how much trouble you seemed to have with those 'friends' of yours… No offense, but it's obvious that you've never had any proper training. And I doubt you've ever spent any appreciable length of time in the wilds either… So, sorry Kid. But hey, maybe next year!" the orange-haired man razzed, a tiny smile on his face. As if there was a hidden joke, one that only he was aware of.

"I-I-" Jaune couldn't argue with the man. He was right, after all… But that still wasn't enough to make him back down. "I'll make it! No matter what!" the boy declared with conviction, a bit more forcefully than he'd intended.

"Sorry Kid, not gonna happen… The first thing they'll ask is that you fork over your transcripts, maybe show them what you've got…" He twirled his cane once again, before moving even closer to the boy. "Heck, I can tell from here that you don't even have your Aura unlocked… I'm not sure if you're brave, or have a death wish… But whatever, more power to you!" The older man turned to walk away, a slight flair in his step.

"W-Wait!" Jaune called out to the man, though he failed to stop. The blonde ran past the orange-haired man, turning around and blocking his path.

"Sorry Kid… I'm already taken! Married to my job, I'm afraid." He chuckled to himself.

"Could you help me?" Jaune's asked.

"Oh?"

"You obviously know quite a bit about huntsmen, Beacon too. Also, those guys seemed to recognized you. So, maybe… you know someone who could help me…?" Jaune reasoned, his words trailing off. He felt mortified, asking even more from the man who'd saved him, but what choice did he have?

"Mmm…" The man in the bowler seemed to think for a moment. "Kid… do you know who I am?"

"A very stylishly-dressed man?" the young Arc guessed. Jaune's response seemed to please the older fellow. He nodded at the comment, as if that was plain as day.

"THAT'S a given… You know what? I like you! I guess I could give you a hand…" The man gestured at the blond, prompting him for a name.

"Oh, I'm Jaune! Jaune Arc!" the boy responded, smiling.

"Roman…" The man moved his hand to the rim of his hat, tipping it. "Now then… shall we discuss business?"

X-=-=-=-=-=-X

"So, Mr. Arc is it?" the headmaster of Beacon Academy began. He glanced at the documents sitting on his desk, before looking back at the young man seated on the lone chair in front of him. The older man was intimately familiar with unusual meetings. That was doubly true when it came to bending the rules, if the situation called for it. But even he was more than a little perplexed at receiving this particular young man, one who'd appeared out of the blue. He wanted to enroll in Beacon, when Initiation was starting in less than two days.

It was perhaps the least amount of notice of any potential applicant that had come before him. But nevertheless, he'd given the boy a chance to enter the school. If he wanted to help the people of Remnant, then there was no way Ozpin wouldn't want to lend him a hand. To help the blonde boy fulfill his potential.

"Yes Sir!" Jaune verified quickly, even nodding his head for good measure.

Ozpin smiled at his nervousness, it was hardly unusual. He'd had many students that were jittery in front of authority figures. He was instantly reminded of Velvet Scarlatina. She was an aspiring huntress, one who was coming to Beacon as a freshman this year. She was shy, even awkward. Not just in front of himself, but around her own peers as well. However, she had demonstrated tremendous potential. As well as the inner strength necessary to help her teammates. "Please," he lifted his hand, "I'm not your headmaster yet… Now, If I could be so bold, why do you want to be a huntsman?" the older man inquired. His student's motivations were one of the key things he always wanted to know.

The blonde teen looked surprised for a moment. "R-Really? D-Don't you want to discuss my t-transcripts?" he asked nervously.

The older huntsman carefully sorted the papers into a nice, neat pile. They were impressive-looking, to be sure. Those records clearly showed the boy to be quite strong for his age. Complete with extensive training, as well as grades that were far above passing. 'Too bad they're all forgeries…' the man sighed internally. Whether it was his vast experience working with huntsman, or from meeting so many people, he could easily discern that the records on his desk and the boy before him just didn't match. He had been certain to call a few colleagues, in charge of several of Remnant's more popular prep schools, just to make sure. Ozpin had been hoping that the boy had just been a lackluster student. One who'd falsified his records, in an attempt to make it into Beacon. After all, Beacon WAS the premier academy for aspiring huntsmen and huntresses. Unfortunately, while he'd found evidence for many of the Arc daughters excelling (including a certain Joan that would definitely be applying to Beacon next year), they hadn't had any students going by the name of JAUNE Arc.

'So, they are fake… pity' the headmaster mused, continuing to stare at the young man. While it was a shame that he'd attempted to enroll with falsified credentials, Ozpin couldn't help but admit that it had also inspired a bit of pride. Truthfully, being a huntsman was a relatively thankless job. Dying young, and violently, was a hazard of the profession. The young man before him struck the headmaster as someone who wanted to help defend those incapable of defending themselves. The pieces of white armor he wore, so much like what a knight would use, indicated as much. Meeting someone who wanted to become a huntsman to help others, one who would use whatever means necessary to succeed, reminded Ozpin of a MUCH younger version of himself. "We can discuss them later… I would prefer to talk with you, before making any sort of judgment." However, the headmaster didn't want to jump to any conclusions. He wanted to ascertain if, at the very least, the young man had his priorities straight.

"Oh, okay… Well I wanted to become a huntsman, like my father, to help people! Saving them from the Grimm, and making Remnant a better place!" The boy's initial fear and awkwardness had given way to his obvious passion for the topic, before he glanced away in embarrassment.

Ozpin smiled upon verifying his suspicions as to the boy's reasons. 'So, he IS one of those rare individuals who simply aspire to help others…' It had been too long since he'd laid eyes on a young man that clearly had their heart in the right place. 'I suppose that makes what comes next FAR more difficult…' Ozpin sighed, before folding his hands and resting his chin upon them. "That is an excellent motivation. I earnestly wish that more of my students would have the same drive as you…" A hopeful smile bloomed on Jaune's face. "However," the blonde's smiled dropped, "I'm afraid that I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to attend Beacon…"

"W-What? W-Why not?!" the young Arc couldn't help but shout, shooting to his feet.

"Please, Mr. Arc…" Ozpin gestured for the young man to return to his seat, before he continued. "While I have always insisted on accepting new students - regardless of their race, creed, or color… I do draw the line at someone who is not qualified to enter my school…" When he saw that the boy was about to argue, he elaborated. "While your records show you to be a very accomplished young man… I fear that to enter this school, you will need something more substantial than these…" He pointed to the stack of forged documents that the blonde boy had presented.

"B-But, I-I have my aura unlocked and everything! I can take a hit! I'm really strong! If you'll just give me a chance, I can-" Jaune pleaded, but was cut off.

"I'm sure you can, Mr. Arc… However, I value the life of my students too much to risk them on, and I mean no offense, a gamble. If I were to let you attend, to be placed on a team… You would be required to watch their backs, just as they would undoubtedly do so for you…" the headmaster explained. The boy in front of him glanced down, Jaune was substantially troubled by the risk that Ozpin had implied he would be posing. Not to himself, but to others.

"I will allow you to apply again in a few more years, if you retain the same drive that you have now… All I ask, is that you take things seriously. That you train yourself, to your absolute limit…" the older man offered, staring at the blond-haired boy. Ozpin could have told Jaune off, or alerted the authorities, for the boy's attempt to fool him with forged records. However, he wanted to spare him what humiliation he could. After all, Ozpin had at least verified that the blonde's heart had been in the right place… even if his head had been firmly up his own ass.

"But I can still make it! I-If you could just give me a chance, I can show you!" Jaune attempted again, only for the headmaster to cut him off.

"Mr. Arc!" Ozpin called out, now slightly perturbed. While he never enjoyed this part of his job, he really DID want to save the nice young man from a future he was most certainly not ready for. "I have already given you my answer… Please, do not conclude that I am a cruel man… But, I will do what I must to weed out those who are not ready to face the world outside those walls…" Ozpin stated firmly, pointing out one of his windows towards the enormous barriers surrounding the city of Vale. The older man refrained from vocalizing the ugly truth hidden underneath his posturing, though the unspoken words hung in the air. 'You are not ready… and you probably never will be…'

Clearly dismissed, the young blonde slowly got up from his seat and glanced down. The silent declaration felt branded onto him like a curse, one that felt far too familiar to him by now. Wasn't that exactly what his father – really, most of his family - had been too soft to beat through his thick skull? What that gruff-looking dark-haired teacher at Signal hadn't had the heart to shout at him, all those years ago? "Thank you for agreeing to see me, Sir… I better be going now…" Jaune nearly whispered, refusing to make eye contact.

"It was my pleasure… I apologize for disappointing you, but I really do hope to see you in the future." The older man made sure to get up and shake the boy's hand, before Jaune exited the room.

'I really AM sorry… But the hurt and disappointment you're feeling right now, is far better than you dying during Initiation. Or, failing that, on your first mission…' Perhaps it was a little selfish of Ozpin, but he had to comfort too many grieving families as it was. The older man sat back down in his seat, hoping that the boy would find happiness in whatever path he chose. Jaune may not have had what it took to be a hero, but at least he still had the luxury of an ordinary life.

X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X

Chapter uploaded on 8 on august.