Autumn Arc

This was an idea which came to me recently. The basic idea itself isn't exactly new, but as far as I know it hasn't been put into a real, multichapter format story. If I am incorrect, I apologize, but I won't let that stop me from writing my own iteration of it.

I do not own RWBY. Rooster Teeth is the sole proprietor of this franchise. The world was given birth by Monty Oum. May he rest in piece.

Every aspect of life is connected in some way. Each step, each breath, each contracting of a muscle can have effects which change the lives of everyone in the entire world. In this way, all living creatures shape the path of the future.

And altering even a single event can have significant consequences on the fate of the entire world.

In one world, as a butterfly struggled to escape its chrysalis, it was silenced, and became food for a praying mantis before it ever knew the joys of flight. In that same universe, a great power was stolen. A kingdom fell. A terrible creature awoke, but was frozen in time by a legendary warrior.

However, one thing was changed in this world.

The praying mantis in this world was not as quick. And before it pounced on the butterfly, the creature managed to escape its cocoon.

In this world, before it was devoured, the butterfly managed to flap its wings once.

Patience had never been Mercury's strong suit. This was all the more obvious as he leaned against a tree, tapping his foot against the trunk. Mercury could swear that he'd actually started drilling into the bark with this motion over the past few hours.

A message lit up on his scroll, and he held it up. Meet by the road. There has been a setback. Mercury pushed off the tree, and sauntered over to where Emerald was waiting. Cinder was approaching as well, a look of distaste on her face.

Emerald turned to Cinder in confusion. "What's going on? The target should have passed through here hours ago!"

Stalking past them, Cinder input a few commands into her scroll. "It would appear she has made a last minute change of plans." She motioned to the horizon. "I would assume that would be why."

Mercury squinted and looked in the direction she had indicated. "Ohhh...damn." A massive storm was brewing off in the distance...right where the target was supposed to be headed! I guess that explains it.

Frowning, Emerald spoke up "But doesn't she have the powers of the elements? Shouldn't a storm like that mean almost nothing to her?"

"It would seem that even her powers have limits." Cinder crossed her legs and sat down.

Shrugging, Mercury made to do the same. "Maybe she just didn't want to be rained on. So what's the next move?"

Off in the distance, a Bullhead could be heard approaching. Cinder pulled out her scroll and activated her map function. "From what we heard at the last village, the target was headed this way initially. She must have received a weather report and decided to change paths at the last moment." Cinder maneuvered the map to get a better look at the roads in that direction. At this, she smiled. "Fortunately, it would seem like there is only one obvious path for her to take. We will attempt to intercept her on this road."

She motioned to the Bullhead, and the three of them stood up to board it. Even as it began to rain and thunder around them, Mercury grinned as he jumped on board. It would seem they would finally get to see some action.

The hell with this weather! Qrow squinted, looking ahead at the road he was traveling on, the wind whipping at his eyes. Ozpin had told him he should meet up with the Fall Maiden while he was in the area. He had never personally met her, but Ozpin had given him a photo and her general route, so it shouldn't be too hard to find her.

Although it would have been nice to have clearer skies for the meeting. Qrow reached for his flask, only to wince as he realized it was empty. Right, I used it all up on my way here, from my last mission. Oh well, he could always restock at the next village he stopped by.

Stumbling along (Hey, he was used to walking while drunk! Imagine trying to get used to being sober!), Qrow realized he could hear something. Looking up at the sky, he saw a Bullhead flying off into the distance. "Flying? In this weather?" Qrow shrugged. "Doesn't seem too smart to me."

A buzz from his scroll distracted him from these thoughts, and he opened it up to check the message from Ozpin. Autumn has changed course. On road to Vale. Beware possible ambush.

Instantly, Qrow's eyes sharpened into focus. No more screwing around. It would seem someone else is aware of our little friend. Immediately, he sprinted into the woods. A resounding caw could be heard as a crow flew off into the distance.

Jaune sighed for what was possibly the millionth time in two hours. When I left home to go to Beacon, I didn't think I'd be walking there! Originally, he had planned to hitch a ride on a Bullhead to the city. However, due to some freak storm, all of the flights had been canceled, just to be safe. Just my luck.

Oh well. His ancestors probably walked to get everywhere like he was doing now. Maybe this would help him to become a better hero? Some form of training perhaps?

I think I would rather have taken the Bullhead...My legs are killing me! Although now that Jaune thought about it, the last time he had been on one of those vehicles...

"Mommy look! What's that?"

"Why that's a Bullhead, Jaune. Your father is going to fly us all to Vacuo for our vacation."

"Wow, this is so cool!"

"Strap in, Jaune...Jaune?"

"I...don't...feel so...blreeehhhh"

Yeah, maybe walking is the better choice after all. Jaune shook his head. Well, as long as he got where he was going...

A sharp cracking noise sounded through the area. Jaune instinctively flinched. That sounded like thunder...but the sky was clear moments ago! The storm shouldn't have reached this far yet! Yet, looking upwards, he could see that clouds had begun to spread throughout the sky. They all seemed to center on a spot ahead of him, further down the road.

Huh, that's pretty weird. Wonder what's going on up there?

Jaune began to pick up the pace. Only one way to find out.

Mercury lunged forward, boots extended in a flying kick. The woman before him deflected his kick with a burst of wind, throwing him off balance enough for her to land a strike of her own. Spiraling through the air, Mercury righted himself and landed on his feet, firing his boots to propel himself back towards her.

Emerald smirked and a noise could be heard. The woman looked confused as Mercury came within range, and didn't even raise her staff to block his kick, taking it solidly to the abdomen. He followed up with another kick to the head, sending her to the ground in time for Emerald to land from her jump and punch her in the throat.

However, her aura prevented any major damage. Another burst of air sent Emerald flying, and as the woman turned to Mercury, he could feel the heat rising. Jumping back, he was just in time to avoid a burst of flame from the Earth. This woman's powers are crazy! It's taking all I have just to keep up, even with Emerald's help!

An arrow flew past him, embedding itself in the earth next to the woman's feet. She seemed to ignore it, thinking the shooter had missed. Mercury smirked, and dove backwards as the earth beneath the arrow glowed with unholy power, causing an explosion which sent the woman flying.

Positioning himself on a tree, Mercury launched after the woman in mid-air, delivering a vicious knee to the head and breaking through the rest of her aura. It seems that even with all of the power and skill she has, she's lacking a bit in the aura department.

Sliding across the ground, the woman groaned, and began struggling to her feet. Emerald put a foot between her shoulder blades, and pinned her to the ground. Mercury cautiously approached and helped her keep the woman down. After everything they had just gone through, it wouldn't be wise to underestimate her even without her aura.

And just like Mercury suspected, she made one last attempt to break free, shocking Emerald with lightning and sweeping him off his feet. As she rose, another arrow whistled through the air and connected with her thigh. Crying out in pain, she fell back to the ground. Quickly, Mercury rose and grabbed her arm, restraining it. Emerald did the same with her other arm.

Cinder stalked forward, pulling a glove out of her pocket. Mercury grinned. This was what made Cinder so interesting. Why he choose to follow her instead of just becoming an assassin for hire like his father.

She could control the Grimm. Control the creatures of chaos and darkness, the enemies of humanity. It was only fitting that he join her side. Mercury despised humanity, for the life he had been given.

And just like Cinder, he only wanted to see the world burn.

Putting the glove on, Cinder raised her palm to face the woman's face. A grotesque insect emerged, and the woman's face lit up in terror.

"No...please don't!"

The insect spat out a stream of black goo, which connected with her face. Mercury could feel every muscle in her arm tense up all at once as she screamed.

And in that moment, a blond figure stumbled between them. "No!" His arm grabbed the insect and tore it away from Cinder's glove. Just in time for an orange energy to start travelling up the goo and enter his body.

The look of surprise on Cinder's face soon gave way to rage. "How dare you!" She threw a kick straight at him.

A noise reminiscent of a gong could be heard, and Cinder stumbled backwards, her expression that of shock. From the boy's confused expression, it seemed like he had no idea what had happened either. Mercury dropped the woman and ran towards him, along with Emerald.

And the boy rose from the earth, the elements flashing all around him. Mercury and Emerald stopped in their tracks, disbelief in their eyes. We just fought someone this powerful! How can we be expected to do it twice?

Jaune had no clue what was happening to him.

When he had first seen the three of them ganging up on that one woman, he had hesitated. If he tried to save her, they would kill him! Jaune could see that those three were way out of his league.

Yet, when they had pulled out the glove, Jaune could feel menace radiating from it. It was unnatural. The enemy of all humanity. And without even thinking, he had run forward to try and stop them from using it.

The next thing he knew, Jaune was being attacked by the dark haired woman...and her kick bounced off him. What the hell? Since when do I have a force field?

But that was just the beginning. Jaune felt a rush of power, felt primal forces within him threatening to tear the world around him to pieces with the wrath of nature. He felt that even the weather itself was nothing more than his plaything.

And nothing had ever terrified him more.

On closer inspection, Mercury could see the boy's eyes were not just alight with godly power. They were alight with fear.

And the elements, which the woman had controlled and focused to strike at himself and Emerald, were haphazardly striking in every direction, and the boy's panic showed that he had no idea how to utilize them.

Emerald seemed to notice this as well, casually dodging one bolt of lightning that happened to fire in her direction. "Doesn't seem like our new "maiden" knows what he's doing."

Cinder smirked. "Then this should be easy. Take him down!"

Mercury launched himself at the boy, who flinched and raised his arms to protect his face. Amateur. The boy gasped as Mercury's boot connected with his midsection. As he skidded to a halt, three arrows buried themselves around him. They all exploded, sending the boy flying again. Mercury made to attack, but a random hailstorm forced him to back off. Just because he doesn't know what he's doing, doesn't mean he's not dangerous.

Emerald motioned with her hand, and the boy looked around like he wasn't able to see them all of a sudden. Mercury closed the distance, dodging around gouts of flame, and struck him with a barrage of kicks. But damn if this guy isn't durable. Too bad he doesn't know how to fight, otherwise this might actually be a challenge. Sweeping the boy off his feet, Mercury smirked as Emerald's knee connected with the boy's head. Another explosive arrow connected, sending him tumbling.

The boy struggled to his feet and drew his sword, the sheath turning into a shield. The glow which had surrounded him before faded, and the berserk rage of the elements around them came to a stop. Mercury grinned. "Is that the best you've got?"

Letting out a battle cry, the boy charged, swinging recklessly at Mercury. Instantly, a kick connected with the boy's wrist, sending his sword flying into a nearby tree, where it embedded itself. A follow-up kick knocked the boy backwards...where Cinder was waiting.

A series of sword strikes caused him to stumble away from her, and fall onto the ground. Not missing a beat, Cinder formed a barrage of glass spears, and peppered him with them. After the barrage finished, Emerald sauntered up to his struggling form and struck him hard with the butt of her pistol, breaking through his aura at last. He collapsed, gasping for breath and clutching his head in pain.

Emerald turned to Cinder. "What should we do with him now?

Cinder stalked forward, smiling deceptively at the boy. "I'm afraid I don't have another glove to replace the one which you ruined." Grasping him by the neck, Cinder lifted him with ease. "So it seems I'll have to take the powers the old fashioned way."

Powers? The old fashioned way? What does she mean? Jaune attempted to ask, but suddenly the hand around his throat tightened, cutting off his air supply.

Oh god...I'm going to die here. She's going to kill me! Remorsefully, Jaune glanced at the body of the woman he had tried to save. And I wasn't even able to save her in the process. I guess I never was cut out to be a hero after all...

The woman in front of him raised her sword, and prepared to strike. Jaune closed his eyes in anticipation for his final moment. I'm sorry Mom and Dad. I guess I should have stayed home after all.

Suddenly, Jaune was thrown to the side, and the sound of steel hitting steel could be heard. Jaune hit the ground hard, and after a moment, looked up to see his savior.

A middle aged man who looked like he regularly took up residence in dive bars. Even as he struck, a flask fell from his jacket.

Still, Jaune wasn't particularly picky. And it looked like this guy was pretty strong. He drove the dark haired woman back with ease, wielding a massive sword which Jaune didn't even think he could lift, let alone use. The dark haired woman scowled as blocked his attacks, completely on the defensive. The other two had stopped dead in their tracks, hesitating about engaging this man. Smirking, the hunter swung his sword once more, driving the woman back a few yards even as she crossed her blades to block it.

Narrowing her eyes at Jaune, the dark haired woman's words dripped with malice. "This isn't over. I will find you, and take what is rightfully mine." Then, her swords connected, and before the hunter could close the distance, she fired an arrow next to the body of the woman, and it glowed. Eyes widening, the hunter dove and rolled with the body, just in time, as the arrow exploded a moment later. The three assailants escaped into the woods, and the hum of a Bullhead could be heard as they made their escape. Jaune collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.

"Are you okay, kid?" The hunter who saved him spoke, although he sounded like he was really far away.

"I...I think so. Just really...tired..." Jaune could feel himself slipping away into darkness.

Even as he drifted into unconsciousness, Jaune could swear that he heard someone calling to him.

"Can you hear me...? I need your help!"

And Jaune would swear that that voice was female. But wasn't the hunter who saved him clearly a man?

Jaune, the new Fall Maiden?

Obviously this could never happen naturally. So I used Cinder's own deux ex machina against her! Although it makes me wonder, why didn't she just kill her in canon? I guess there's always the risk that Amber would have had someone else in her last thoughts. Maybe the bug was just to guarantee that the powers didn't go to someone else by accident. Like Emerald. Heh.

I won't be making this a story where Jaune just becomes OP. He still doesn't know how to fight, he doesn't know how to use the powers properly, and he's actually afraid of them.

Worry not though, after some time Jaune will be a force to be reckoned with. Within reason of course.

Hope you'll enjoy this story! I'll update this every other week, on a rotating schedule with my other story, "Dead Men's Tales". That means I'll put out a story update every week. So in two weeks, chapter 2 of this story will release. Look forward to it!