Chapter II: L'Arc-en-Ciel

April 4, 2001 10:45 AM Vale Standard Time (VST)

Jaune Arc picked unenthusiastically at the green monstrosity that sat before him. For years, centuries it felt, he had fought this seemingly one sided war against the verdant abomination that rested unabated in his presence, and it irked him to no end. Weapon in hand, he contemplated how he might finally prove himself victorious. Shall he cut it up into tiny pieces and throw it into some black void, never to be seen again? Tempting. So very, very tempting. Perhaps, while no one is looking of course, he might chuck it into the nearest and largest of fireplaces and let it burn until it was naught but ash. It deserved only the hottest portion of hell, after all. Better still, he could stow it away in secret and leave it alone in the forest to rot alone. No one would ever have to know.

"Eat your broccoli, young master Jaune," came the voice of Noel, the butler assigned to watch the nine-year-old when his father was away. "You know your father will want to know how your breakfast went."

"Why would anyone make broccoli for breakfast?!" the boy asked, exasperated. "Breakfast is for muffins and cereal! What evil mastermind plotted this?!"

"You lord father doesn't want you eating too much sugar in the morning. This is what he put on the menu himself. You're more than welcome to argue the case with him once he returns home. Which should be any moment now." The young lordling gulped audibly. "So, you'll eat your broccoli?"

"I'll eat my broccoli, Mr. Noel," Jaune agreed somberly. "But I won't like it!" he cheered defiantly as he began to force the gross, green vegetable down, drawing a gentle smile from Noel.

"Of course, young master." Long had he and his family served the prestigious House Arc. Though only a man of thirty himself, he was but a boy of twelve when he first began to serve Vincent Arc at his own father's command. For seventeen years Noel had lived and served here in the castle of the Spring Court, Château d'Arc. Back then, Vincent hadn't yet married and the Four Courts were still in the midst of the Hundred Year War, which had only ended in 1989, a short twelve years ago. The houses of Arc, Schnee, Nikos, and Branwen fought for a century with the faunus lords of the world, ending only after new lords took command of their courts and demanded a peaceful resolution.

It was days like today, where Noel had to watch this child begrudgingly eat his vegetables, that he thought back to that dreadful war and thanked the gods that he never had to fight in it, and he silently prayed that Jaune would never lord over a court at war.

"I will defeat you, monster!" the boy shouted as he forced down the last of his hated, green foe, and Noel chuckled softly to himself. Then again, he thought. If he treats all enemies the same as broccoli, he may be a dreadfully powerful lord indeed.

From the main entry hall of the castle, Noel heard the heavy wooden doors swing open, signaling Lord Vincent's return. "I believe your father has returned home, young master."

Jaune smiled brightly. "I'm done with my broccoli!" he proclaimed as he leapt to his feet from the chair, which was slightly too tall for him to begin with. He began to run to the doors, but Noel stopped him fast. "What gives, Mr. Noel?"

"No running."

"Ahhh! Why are you such a rule nut!"

"Your father," was the short and only answer he gave, though he said it was a smile. "Just be safe, young master. Don't trip over your own legs."

Jaune sighed. "Yes, Mr. Noel." He resumed his journey, though only slightly slower as the butler followed close behind. The boy and his servant entered the main entryway in time to see Vincent stand with his back to them, seemingly talking to someone who seemed to be standing between him and his personal servant, Alchemy.

"It's quite all right, child. This is your home now," he said soothingly to someone that Jaune couldn't quite see. "I suppose the first order of business is to feed you some proper breakfast. Apples are good for you, but a growing girl such as you needs more nourishment."

A girl? Jaune thought curiously. "Breakfast?!" was the excited response that he heard in return, the voice sounding small and feminine. With that, an energetic little girl a year or two younger than himself bounced out from the other side of his father. She was wearing rags, no shoes, and was filthy from head to toe. "Where? Where?" she asked before her eyes locked onto Jaune. Her excitement faded away instantly as she ran back to Vincent and hid behind the man's leg.

"Hm? What's the matter, child?" He turned and saw Jaune. "Ah!" he said with a smile. "It's quite alright. You don't need to be afraid of him." Her grip on his pants leg only tightened. "Jaune, come here. I have someone I want you to meet." Curious, he obeyed his father's wishes and approached as slowly as he could so as to not accidentally chase the poor girl away. Somehow, he felt that she needed to be here. "This is my son, Jaune. Jaune, this is our new house guest, Ruby."

She poked her head out from behind Vincent, and Jaune was taken aback by the brilliance of her silver eyes; he'd never seen anything quite like it before. "I-I'm Ruby Rose," the girl sputtered out.

And Jaune smiled. "I'm Jaune Arc!" he said cheerfully, extending his hand respectfully as he'd been taught to do. Patiently he waited, but the girl didn't budge another inch. His smile faded and was replaced with worry after a moment. She stared at his hand in confusion seemingly. He approached hesitantly, and she flinched. "It's okay," he said gingerly. "Look." He reached and carefully pulled her right hand off of his father's leg and gripped it tenderly in his own before slowly moving it up and down. "It's a handshake. It's a friendly way of saying hello."

She looked at him with amazement in her eyes, glancing back and forth between his eyes and his hand. "H-hello," she said slowly.

"Hello," Jaune replied happily.

She stared at him longer still before a smile slowly crept into her features. "Hello!" she cheered happily, fully coming out from behind Vincent. Her demeanor was once again bubbly and happy, and this made Vincent, Jaune, Noel, and Alchemy smile uncontrollably.

"So," Vincent interjected, gaining both children's attention. "About breakfast."

"Breakfast!" Ruby shouted excitedly again, having been reminded of the promise of food.

An hour had gone by, and Jaune found himself in his father's office. To Jaune's memory, he had never seen his dad's desk completely clean. It was always blemished with sizable mounds of papers; various letters of mark, requests for assistance, laws needing approval, and various other legal documentations that Jaune didn't understand at all. The room was, by comparison to most rooms in L'Arc-en-Ciel, rather small. The wall behind the large mahogany desk held a single but sizable double paned window to allow natural light, while the other three bore simple landscape paintings that had been in the family for generations. In addition to the wooden desk, there were also a handful of comfortable wooden chairs for any guest of Vincent's to sit in while they talked politics. Jaune sat in one such chair, situated in front of the desk that his father currently sat in as he explained the situation to the boy.

"That's the gist of it, son," he finished. "She'll be staying with us from now on."

"So...is she my sister now?" Jaune asked.

"You can look at her that way if you want, but I doubt the people of Vale, or the rest of the Spring Court for that matter, would like the idea of me granting lordship rights to a commoner girl who was only this morning stealing for survival. She'll be educated the same as you, and treated with the same level of respect as you within these halls, but she'll never hold your title, Jaune."

Jaune titled his head in thought; he was confused. "So, if I'm supposed to grow up to be a lord, and she's to be treated the same as me...what is she supposed to be when she grows up?"

"Anything but a lord, really. She could be your advisor, or she could work with the staff here. She could leave and find her own path when she gets old enough, if she so chooses. That's the way the world works after the Old Kingdom split into four." Vincent took a deep breath, seemingly trying to relax after his trip as he leaned back into the leather backing of his chair. "It may be asking a lot of you, Jaune, but I'd like for you to try and be her friend. She's been alone for I don't know how long, living on the streets of vale with nothing but the rags you saw her in." He smiled. "I've sent a maid into town to grab some proper clothes for her, but for now I've told Noel to dress her in your old clothes. She's small, but I'm sure she can fit into some of them."

Jaune smiled at the thought. A friend! "I'll do what I can, father!"

Vincent laughed heartily. "I thought you'd like the idea." A knock came from the door. "Come in."

The simple wooden door creaked open. "I believe we've misplaced that filthy little girl, my lord. But I did find a flower to replace her," Noel said with a smile. He stepped aside to reveal the little Ruby, dressed in Jaune's old blue jeans from when he was about four or five, a blue shirt that was slightly too big on her, and a pair of chucks on her once bare feet. Her dirt smudged face was gone, and was replaced with a shining and clean pale color, and her once greasy hair now shone with its true red and black colors. She smiled brightly, her teeth now clean and white. "I present the young Ruby Rose, my lord."

"I feel awesome!" she shouted excitedly, throwing her arms up energetically.

Author's Note

Long time no update! I've had to think really hard on where exactly I want this story to go. I knew the ending, obviously as you can tell from the prologue, but I wasn't sure on the meat of it. Now I am sure, and we're good to go! Also, Little Ruby is now my favorite thing ever. Just imaging all of her dialogue in this adorable little voice as her mood shifts from cautious to happy and comfortable. She's found a good home! What future awaits the young Rose?

Till Next Time!