Crossroads of the Cumulonimbus

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Everyone is in shock as they look at the much older Jaune Arc.

Jaune: It... It's really you, right? When I saw you in the market...

Jaune hesitantly pauses and looks down. The group looks at each other before looking at Jaune.

Ruby: Jaune. It's us.

Team RWBY and Leia warmly hugs Jaune. Little, who appears on top of Jaune's head, also hugs him. Jaune smiles with tears of joy. Fred walks up to Jaune lastly. The two clap hands and Fred pulls him in for a hug as well.

Fred: Missed you, man.

Jaune breaks a bit but hugs Fred tightly. The two step back from one another.

Ruby: How did you find us?

Blake: How are you the Rusted Knight?

Yang: And when did you get so...

Leia: (grinning with her hand on her chin) Mature?

Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang all stare at Leia; Ruby raises her brow while Weiss, Blake and Yang smile wryly at Leia.

Leia: Shut up, you idiots.

Ruby: What happened in Atlas... after the rest of us fell in?

Jaune: (sighs) I, uh... Guess we've all got a lot of catching to do...

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Later, Team RWBY, Leia, Fred, Jaune and Juniper have already left the Gardens Acre and arrive in a flower field.

Fred: So, we don't even know if the others are down here or not.

Leia: Well, considering how the only reason we didn't run into Jaune immediately was because of the clock fruit, I think it is safe to say it is just us down here. Nora, Ren and Oscar are back on Remnant.

Weiss: Which doesn't get us closer to finding a way out of here.

Leia: It's reassurance at least.

Yang: Better than nothing. At least for now.

Jaune: You done?!

Jaune waves his arm and Juniper prances behind him and stops.

Jaune: We need to move before the weather turns, or it's gonna take us a lot longer to get to safety.

Team RWBY is silent, and Jaune takes a deep breath, exhaling.

Jaune: There'll be plenty of time to lick your wounds later. Come on.

Jaune, Juniper, and Team RWBY are seen walking in a large field of grass.

Yang: So... Where're we going again?

Jaune: My village. Heh. I still can't believe you made it all the way from the Crimson Keep on your own.

Blake: Not on our own. We had help. The... Oh. (notices the Curious Cat isn't with them now) I hope the Cat is okay.

Jaune stops as the sound of thunder is heard.

Jaune: (grimacing) What Cat?

Blake and Yang turn to each other, confused.

Little: (jumps and points in their direction) That Cat!

The Curious Cat is running towards the group through the grass, their bottom half picking up the rear before reuniting with the top half, causing them to tumble.

Curious Cat: Oh! Woo! I found you. (catches their breath for a moment) Why is it you always find the thing you're looking for in the very last place you look, hah!

Everything Stays: Frederic Scorch X Yang Xiao LongWhere stories live. Discover now