AN: Sorry for the long wait, new job, ON WITH THE EXPLANATIONS (there's quite a few)! :)

So let's start with the big ones. Jaune's story coincides with "The Badge and the Burden" and will also coincide with "The Stray" and "Black and White." That way, it feels less like he just hijacked the show for four weeks. Plus, it makes sense. There are some useful parallels to be drawn. Ruby and Jaune both feel unprepared and are dealing with leadership challenges. And it gives Weiss even more reason to be frustrated with her lot.

Second thing, NO BULLY ARC! Nobody likes bully arcs, so we're not having one. Instead, we're focusing on JNPR's internal troubles, while CRDL remains jobbers and measuring sticks. Like Raditz.

Once again, Jaune is smart in action, not just on paper. If he wanted so desperately to be a huntsman, he would be eager to do his best in every aspect of his schooling. He wouldn't be falling asleep in class just for a cheap joke.

So, let's talk about why I decided to change up the fight scene here. First of all, it shows how Jaune's actions affect others. Second, it makes the fight which would have taken place in Volume 2 make more sense, since it isn't just a Pyrrha exhibition for the sake of a Pyrrha exhibition. And third, it benefits Pyrrha more because of a little thing called Power Scaling. In canon, all we know about Team CRDL's fighting prowess is that one of them was stronger than Jaune in Volume 1, and all four of them ran away from a Grimm that Jaune killed. So Pyrrha steamrolling through all 4 of them doesn't make her look strong. It just makes them look weak. But the way I've done it, we know they're all slightly weaker than Ren and Nora as individuals, but in groups of two or three, they outmatch them. And because we know that Ren and Nora are considered skilled, this makes them look tough, and it makes Pyrrha look amazing by being able to beat what's essentially 3.5 Ren and Noras.

Jaune claims in canon that his family is full of heroes, but nobody ever brings it up. It makes sense that Oobleck would. And it inadvertently makes Jaune feel a little more inadequate.

So I know it feels like we just dodged the conflict of Jaune's mistakes, but here's the thing, him turning down Pyrrha felt like a dumb move in canon, one he seemed to regret almost immediately. And he still needed Ruby's encouragement. Plus, he's going to need Pyrrha's training for what's coming up.

Now some people have commented that they feel like Ren is OOC. I might have gone a little overboard with the snide remarks, but if you feel like him showing emotion before Volume 4 is OOC, well, it's either him, or Nora, or a bully arc. I'll make an effort to make his anger and frustration feel justified and make sense. But also, in a project like this, brace yourselves for some characters feeling a little OOC.

Jaune once again felt his back hit the floor of the roof. After two weeks, he still wasn't able to land a blow on Pyrrha, though she insisted he was getting better, and he had noticed a longer stretch between intervals on the ground.

"Why don't we take a break" Pyrrha panted. She was impressed by Jaune's lack of fatigue. He had a healthy sheen of sweat, but his breathing was steady.

"If you can keep your defense up, you'll be almost unstoppable."

Jaune frowned. "I need to be able to land some hits as well, though."

Pyrrha felt a small swell of pride. "I wouldn't feel too bad about that. Not many people can hit me." She noticed a small smile, which disappeared almost immediately. "Is something wrong?"

Jaune sighed. "I think Ren's still mad at me. He's barely spoken to me since our first day."

Pyrrha tilted her head in confusion "isn't that just Ren being Ren? He's always quiet."

Jaune shook his head. "He isn't just quiet; he avoids talking or even looking at me. And when I do catch him looking, he looks pissed. Nora told me earlier that she was worried.

Pyrrha nodded. "well, maybe you should talk to him!"

"He's been avoiding me."

"Then, we'll find a way to get you two alone together!"

Jaune laughed. "It's generally not a good idea to force these things, Pyrrha. When he wants to talk, he'll talk."

Pyrrha frowned. 'That doesn't seem right,' she thought.

"Remind me again why we're spending our Friday afternoon visiting the stupid docks?"

"Ugh, they smell like fish!" Ruby groaned while covering her nose, not catching Blake's deep inhales behind her.

"I've heard that students visiting from Mistral will be arriving by ship today. And, as a representative of Beacon, I feel as though it is my solemn duty to welcome them to this fine kingdom!" Weiss responded properly.

Blake rolled her eyes. "She wants to spy on them, so she'll have the upper hand in the tournament."

Weiss scoffed, "You can't prove that!"

"You're from Atlas. Why would you be representing Beacon?"

"Whoa." Ruby had looked down an alley to see what looked like an armored truck robbery. "What happened there?"

The rest of the team joined her to observe the scene. A large truck had been turned on its side, while a tow truck parked in it's path. There were three body bags off the side. Two detectives were discussing the scene.

"They left all the money again. Executed all the witnesses."

"Yeah, doesn't make a lick of sense. Who needs that much Dust?"

"Think it was Torchwick again?"

"No way Torchwick could've pulled this himself. They were in and out in three minutes. It would've taken at least five other guys to unload the Dust in that time. And he's never had a crew this professional before."

"You thinking the White Fang?"

"Why would the White Fang work with a human like Torchwick?"

"Yeah, I'm thinking we don't get paid enough."

A scowl had developed on Weiss' face as soon as the White Fang was mentioned "Hmph! The White Fang. What an awful bunch of degenerates!"

Blake's bow began to twitch, "What's your problem?"

"My problem? I simply don't care for the criminally insane."

"The White Fang is hardly a bunch of psychopaths. They're a collection of misguided Faunus."

"Misguided? They want to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!"

"So then they're very misguided. Either way, this doesn't fit their M.O. They wouldn't have executed the witnesses like that! They would have wanted people to know it was them."

Weiss waved her explanation off. "That still doesn't change the fact that the White Fang are a bunch of scum. Those Faunus only know how to lie, cheat, and steal."

Yang tried to calm things down. "That's not necessarily true..."

"Hey, stop that faunus!"

The team turned just in time to see a young man with a monkey tail jumping off a ship on the docks.

"Thanks for the ride, guys!"

"You filthy faunus!"

The faunus made an exaggerated gesture of sniffing beneath his armpit while hanging from a lamppost by his tail.

"Right on both counts, though I might smell better if you guys had a shower in the cargo bay! Or if you'd let me use my room!" he joked while peeling a banana.

"Hey! Get down from there this instant!" One of the detectives from earlier shouted.

The boy dropped his peel on the man's face then ran away laughing. As he passed team RWBY, Blake blushed from the wink he sent her way.

"Officer, there's been a mistake!" The team looked back to the docks to see a young woman with long black hair approaching the detective. "He wasn't stowing away. He's a team leader from Haven like me!"

"Then what was he doing in the cargo bay?"

She rounded on the sailors who had pursued the Faunus. "These men wouldn't let him stay in his room, even though it was paid for by the school! I had to bring him his meals from the mess hall."

"That's ridiculous!" One of the sailors shouted. "Huntsmen academies don't accept those animals."

The detective's partner rounded on him. "They started accepting them this year. Beacon has two Faunus students. Maybe try watching the news some time."

The black-haired girl showed the detectives several documents. "This is his ticket stub from when he boarded, this is a copy of his student I.D., and this is a letter from Headmaster Lionheart which he told me to show any authorities if Sun got in any trouble."

The officers looked over the documents quickly and then turned to the sailors. "I think we need to have a word with you boys on the discrimination laws here in Vale." He then turned to the young woman, "You can go find your friend, just tell him to be a little more respectful of law enforcement in the future, miss…"

"Fall, Cinder Fall." As she began to head down the docks towards the young man.

Yang turned to Weiss with a small smile. "Well, Weiss, you wanted to see the competition, and there it goes..."

Weiss quickly intercepted Cinder as she passed by, "excuse me, we couldn't help but notice your trouble." She turned on her most sympathetic smile. "We're huntresses in training as well! Might we accompany you in your search for your classmate?"

Cinder quickly glanced at the group of four before her, her gaze lingering briefly on Ruby. "I would greatly appreciate that, thank you."

The five of them quickly introduced themselves then began to hurry off in the direction the Faunus had retreated in. Weiss wasted no time interrogating Cinder, becoming so distracted she didn't notice when she ran into an orange-haired girl in a green dress. In the confusion, Cinder managed to disappear.

"No! They got away!" Weiss groaned.

"Uhh... Weiss?" Yang gestured to the smiling girl underneath Weiss.

"Sal-u-ta-tions!"

"I'm combat ready!" Penny saluted enthusiastically.

Weiss looked skeptical, "Forgive me, but you hardly look the part."

Blake continued to send barbs Weiss's way, "Says the girl wearing a dress."

"It's a combat skirt!"

"Yeah!" Ruby joined in, eager for something she and Weiss had in common.

"Wait a minute." Weiss quickly approached the doll-like girl, "If you're here for the tournament, does that mean you know that young woman and that monkey-tailed... rapscallion?"

"The monkey-tailed who...?"

"The filthy Faunus from the boat!"

Blake finally snapped, "Why do you keep saying that?!"

"Huh?"

"Stop calling him a rapscallion! Stop calling him filthy! He's a person!"

Weiss: "Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like me to stop referring to the trash can as a trash can? Or this lamppost as a lamppost?"

"Stop it!"

"Stop what? He ran from the police. Give him time; he'll probably join up with those other Faunus in the White Fang!"

"You ignorant little brat!"

The remaining three members of Team RWBY prepared to head out and look for Blake.

"She's been gone all night."

"Blake's a big girl. I'm sure she can handle herself!"

"Weiss, come on. She's one of our teammates."

"Is she? We all heard what she said!"

"Weiss."

Yang interjected as the three left the dorm. "Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. Either way, she's missing, and we need to find her!"

"Everything okay?" Jaune asked, the rest of his team behind him.

Ruby looked at Yang, who gave her a nod. "No, Blake's gone missing. We're heading out to find her."

Pyrrha interjected, "We'll help you look!"

Weiss hesitated. "That may not be a good idea. You see Blake's…"

"A Faunus?" everyone was surprised by Nora's interjection. "What, you guys didn't notice the way her bow moves?"

Jaune shook his head in astonishment. "It doesn't matter if she's a faunus, she's still our friend. We're going to help you look."

Ruby smiled in appreciation. "In that case, we should split up into groups of two or three!"

Pyrrha saw an opportunity and seized it. "That sounds wonderful! We can take this opportunity to get to know each other better! I'll go with Ruby, Nora can go with Weiss and Yang, and Ren and Jaune can take this opportunity for some male bonding time!"

She sent Jaune a broad grin, which he returned with a look of horror.

He began to protest until… "I'd like to come along too." The group turned to see Cinder coming to join Ruby and Pyrrha. "I still haven't been able to find Sun, so maybe he ran into your teammate."

"It's settled then!" Ruby cheered, "operation 'Find our Friends' is go!"