(3rd Person POV)

In the continent of Anima, currently Ren and Nora were having a debate while Neo silently watched and listened and Jaune, looked as if he was seemingly looking for something.

(Neo's Outfit remains the same for Volumes 4-6)

Nora: I'm just saying, there's more members of JNPR in the team than RWBY or RCST. It just makes sense to go with THAT one.

Ren: But Junior isn't a color.

Nora: Ugh, how can I be more CLEAR?

She held out her hand, causing the letters JNNRRR.

Nora: One... two... three! That's more than one, or two.

Ren: But we're helping Ruby with her objective.

He held out his hand, spelling RNNJRR

Ren: Wouldn't that make her the leader?

Jaune: Guys. We need to focus.. Also, JNNRRR sounds way cooler.

Nora: EXACTLY!

Ren just sighed as Neo rolled her eyes, seemingly in annoyance. Suddenly, the ground began to shake.

Jaune: It's here...

From the forest, Ruby and Celeste flew out of the trees, shooting at something behind them; turns out it's a massive rock golem Grimm.

Ruby and the Grimm fell directly off the cliff while Celeste dived down. Ruby, began to fall through the trees.

Ruby: Bad...! Landing...!

Before she could hit another branch, Celeste swooped in, caught her and gently put her on the branch.

Ruby: Strategy...? *looks at Celeste* Thanks partner!

Celeste gave her a thumbs up and a cheeky smile before rushing the Grimm. As she did, the Grimm tried to attack Ruby, but she jumped out of the tree and charged it as well.

Jaune: Let's get that thing off them!

Jaune ran off towards the left and Ren and Neo jumped into a tree.

Nora: Don't forget me! WHOOOOO!!!!!!!

Nora shot a grenade from Magnhild underneath her, launching her up to the tree Ren and Neo were in.

Ren: We need to draw its attention away from Ruby and Celeste!

Ruby: We could use some help!

While Ruby blitzed around using her Petal Burst, Celeste stayed in the air and continued firing Dust shots from her Indigo StormCrest in twin revolver mode but all her shots just deflected off its rock body. Nora began to fire off grenades at is as Ren hopped from tree to tree, shooting it with his Stormflower. Neo, being one of two who doesn't have a ranged weapon, ran in circles in the forest, looking for a weakness. Ren attempted to slash at it, but the Grimm blocked with its arm.

Jaune: We gotta get in closer!

Ren: My Blades don't hurt him!

Ruby: How about THIS!?

Ruby pulled out a Lightning Dust round magazine and loaded it into Crescent Rose. She then fired which hit the Grimm's arm, ultimately doing nothing but aggravating it more and causing it to punch the ground, sending everyone flying back. Nora and Ren caught each other, Ruby stabbed Crescent Rose into the ground to slow herself down, Celeste spread her wings wide to slow herself down, Neo opened Hush's umbrella for her to safely and gracefully land and Jaune... well... he went flying... crotch first... into a rock... and he began whimpering... ouch... that hurts...

Jaune: YoU'Ll bE fINe WiThoUt A weAPon, yOU'rE tHe STrATeGisT...

(Lol I tried!)

Nora: THAT'S IT!

Nora ran at the Grimm, throwing her Magnhild into the air as it transformed into is hammer mode and caught it before slamming it into the Grimm's right arm, completely breaking it and sending more rocks flying, one of which hit Jaune in his face... (Poor dude). Another rock, this time went flying towards Nora but Celeste dashed in front of her and slashed it apart with Indigo StormCrest in scissor mode. All of a sudden, a strange red Glyph appeared where the missing arm is and a Grimm arm popped out. Then it picked up a tree and began using it as its new arm.

Jaune: His arm is a tree! HIS ARM IS A TREE!

Ruby: Big Mistake!

Ruby then loaded her Fire Dust Rounds into Crescent Rose and fired at the tree arm, setting it ablaze. Before she or Jaune could celebrate, the tree arm turned out to be fine and the Grimm began swinging it!

Jaune: BIG MISTAKE!

As the Grimm got closer to Jaune, Neo suddenly blitzed at the Grimm and landed a strike on its face, causing it to tumble over. She quickly regrouped with the others.

Jaune: Okay, how do we do this?

Ren: His body is too thick to break through.

Jaune: It doesn't care about its body...

Nora: Plus, it can keep adding new limbs!

Jaune: But it's protecting its face...

Ruby: We can't break it!

Jaune: If we knocked all its limbs off at once then went for the... *gasp* Guys! I got it! We hit it... harder!

Celeste and Neo: -_-

Ren: Is... that is?

Jaune: No, seriously! It's trying to keep us from its face! If we kill the limbs, we'll have a shot to kill the whole thing!

Ruby: Alright. Come on team! Let's do this!

Nora: Yeah!

Ren: Right!

Celeste and Neo nodded.

Jaune: Ren, Neo, left! Ruby, Celeste, right! Nora... ready to try out the new upgrade?

Nora grinned and stepped back before charging up electricity in her Magnhild. Ren and Neo jumped to the left, the former shooting the Grimm from afar while the latter constantly dashed around it while striking it. Ruby and Celeste came from the right and started to swing at it with their respective weapons, before Celeste flew them up into the air and dived down to the Grimm and performing multiple slashes before backing away from Nora.

Nora: Ready!

Jaune: Use everything you've got!

Celeste holstered Indigo StormCrest before grabbing Ruby with one arm and speeding towards Nora, with the help of Ruby's Semblance. Then once up close, Celeste grabbed Nora and the trio turned into a swirl of red, pink and magenta rose petals, heading straight for the Grimm. Once up close, Nora swung Magnhild, destroying the Grimm's body completely. As everything settled, the ghostly Grimm flew out of the body and began to flee until Ruby, shot it with her Fire Dust Rounds.

Jaune: Another victory for Team JNNRRR!

Neo and Celeste: -_- *rolls eyes*

Jaune: Alright you know, okay... Ren, I think you're on to something... It... It's just not sounding great anymore...

After that whole fiasco, the team of six returned to the village they originally got the commission from, and began speaking to the mayor.

Mayor: We truly can't thank you enough.

Ruby: Just doing our job sir!

Mayor: That Geist had been plaguing our village for weeks. We were beginning to wonder if we'd have to relocate.

Ruby: Well, we are on our way to Mistral... You could always come along with us if you don't feel safe.

Mayor: *chuckles* I take it you're not from these parts. Anima is a large continent... I'm afraid our people would never survive the long trek to Mistral. It may be safer in the Kingdoms, but we prefer our way of life. I just wish we could pay you more.

Ren: Our pervious arrangement is more than sufficient.

The all bowed respectfully to the mayor before making their way to a black smith, where Jaune was getting some... upgrades. The blacksmith, who was a Faunus with horns came out and put down an upgraded chest plate for him.

Blacksmith: There you go son! Its gonna be heavier than you're used to but you'll thank me the next time you go up against a set of claws.

Jaune: Wow... I... I don't know what to say...

Blacksmith: Don't gotta say anything! Just put it on! I'll go get the rest.

He left the room as Jaune looked at the new chest plate in awe.

Nora: So... what are you waiting for?

Jaune: Oh! Uh... right!

He walked up to it before taking off his old one.

Jaune: Guess I was going to grow out of it eventually...

Ren: A sign of progress.

Jaune: Progress.

He turned around to look at his teammates but then Ruby and Celeste began to giggle.

Jaune: Huh?? What is it?

The two pointed at his hoodie, which had a bunny on it.

Ruby: What is THAT!?

Jaune: What, my hoodie? I've always had this.

Ruby and Celeste looked at each other while trying to hold in their laughter before failing miserably as they both looked at Jaune, slightly cross-eyed.

Ruby: IT'S GOT A CUTE LITTLE BUNNY RABBIT!

And the giggles started as Neo, Nora and Ren looked at them, smiling. (Take note that Celeste's laughs and grunts are becoming audible now)

Jaune: It's Pumpkin Pete! You know, from the cereal!?

The giggles intensify...

Ruby: What did you do!? Send in box tops for a prize!?

Jaune: Yeah! 50!

That did it! Ruby and Celeste burst out in laughter, with their heads becoming HUGE and Jaune slouching in embarrassment.

Eventually, Ruby and Celeste fell over and their laughter died down.

Ren: Well... I suppose we don't have to grow out of everything.

Ruby and Celeste began giggling again as they pointed their legs straight up before the Blacksmith came back, putting Jaune's Crocea Mors.

Blacksmith: Can't have a Huntsman without his weapon! Made all the modifications you asked for. That was some fine metal you brought me. Accents the white nicely. Where'd you get it?

Jaune looked at his shield, only to see Pyrrha's head band in betted in it... The others walked up and looked at in solemn.

Jaune: From a friend...

After waiting outside for Jaune, the door opened, revealing Jaune in his new gear.

Blacksmith: He cleans up alright, don't you think?

Ren: He certainly does.

Nora: I still think a grenade launcher would've REALLY brought the look together.

Ruby: Nothing's gonna stop Team RNNJRR now!

Nora: Team JNNRRR!

Ren: Still not a color...

Jaune: It doesn't matter what we're called. As long as we're together.

Blacksmith: You sure you kids won't stick around? You've been real good to this town.

Ruby: Sorry, but we've got another mission.

Nora: Make it to Haven Academy, no matter what!

Ren: We've heard the next village over has a working airship.

Blacksmith: Hmm... No way to know for sure... Scroll signals were bad enough out here when Beacon Tower was still up; haven't heard from Shion Village in a while.

Ruby: Well, there's only one way to find out!

Everyone began to walk away but Ruby and Neo noticed that Celeste wasn't moving. Walking up to the Crow Faunus within the hood, they noticed that she was looking at a picture of her and Dairoku, one they took on their birthday last year... Tears began to fall from her eyes as she help the photo closely but Ruby touched her shoulder.

Ruby: Yeah... I miss him too...

Celeste looked at Ruby before Neo walked up to her and put her hand on her other shoulder before smiling sadly at her. Celeste just pulled the two of them into a hug as she cried on their shoulders; them returning the hug. Neo was doing her best to stay strong while Ruby had shed a tear.

Ruby's thoughts: Dairoku... I miss you...

.....................

Jaune: Food?

Nora: Check!

Jaune: Water?

Nora: Check!

Jaune: How about ammo?

Nora: Locked and loaded, thank you Schnee Dust Company!

Ruby and Celeste began looking down at the mention of the Schnee Dust Company.

Jaune: Got the map?

Nora: Ren's got it.

Ren: No, I don't. You have it.

Nora: Wait what? You sure? No, Neo has it.

Neo shook her head and held her hands up in defense.

Nora: Uh...

Jaune: Guys, please tell me you're joking...

Nora: Uh... Heh... heh... heh...

Jaune: Guys! Guys? Guys...

Nora: Nope.

................(Time Skip to early morning)

(Ruby's POV)

Everything I saw was just black... darkness... I was all alone... But then... the voices started... and they sounded like...

Pyrrha: Do you believe in Destiny?

Cinder: Yes.

Dairoku: And... And you think... you're destined to wield the Fall Maiden powers? Heh... don't make me laugh...

Cinder: We'll see about that.

Pyrrha: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Dairoku: ...P-P... P-Pyrrha...!?

Pyrrha: ...I-I'm... Sorry...

Dairoku: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Me: DAIIRRROOOKKKUUU!!!!!!!!!!

My eyes shot open only to find myself in my sleeping bag, with Celeste and Neo on either side of me... It was just... a bad nightmare... Those haven't stopped since the fall of Beacon... My chest felt pained as a tear escaped my eyes... remembering that day... and the fates of Penny, Pyrrha and Dairoku... I wiped my tears away before I woke up the others; it was time to move...

.....................

We were now walking down a quite sunny path with me holding the map.

Me: So, the next town is... uh... huh... uh huh... We're lost.

Celeste walked up to me and took the map before flipping it and handing it back to me; I had it upside down...

Me: Oh...! Thanks Celeste.

She gave me a thumbs up and a smile before Jaune walked up to me.

Jaune: The next town s Shion. My family used to visit it all the time.

Me: Don't you have... like four sisters?

Jaune: Uh, seven.

Nora: You know, that actually explains a lot.

Jaune: Wait, what do you mean?

Celeste began to giggle while Neo rolled her eyes in amusement; I've noticed something about Celeste ever since this trip started... her laughs... any noise she made was audible... It's just she couldn't actually talk... but at Beacon, her voice wasn't audible at all... Hmm... is it possible that...

Me: What did you guys do there?

Jaune: Oh, all sorts of stuff! Over here is a great hiking trail, and over there is where we went camping all the time. I got my own tent because I was special. Also, so my sisters would stop braiding my hair.

Me: Didn't like the look?

Jaune: Yeah, they just kept doing pigtails, but personally I think I'm more of a warrior's wolftail kid of guy.

Me: That's just a ponytail.

Jaune: I stand by what I said.

Nora: Uh... guys...?

Jaune: What?

Jaune and I looked up from the map, only to see Shino... burning and destroyed... and the once bright blue sky, now a depressing gray. Jaune put away the map and we all began running towards the town or in Celeste's case, flying... Bodies were... everywhere... it all looked so fresh... This... This was just like Beacon...

Jaune: There could be survivors!

Ren: Over here!

We rushed over to Ren's location, only to see a bleeding, barely conscious Huntsman. Celeste landed next to me as we looked at horror.

Me: A Huntsman!

Jaune: What happened? Who killed all the people?

Huntsman: ...Bandits... The whole tribe... Then, with all the panic...

He fell into a coughing fit.

Ren: Grimm...

As Ren and Neo kept an eye on the Huntsman, Nora, Celeste, Jaune and I backed away to discuss our next course of action.

Me: We can get him to the next village and try to find a doctor there!

Jaune: Yeah. Ren and I can take turns carrying him there.

Nora: I don't know if he'll make it.

Jaune: He will. He has to.

Me: If we get going now, our chances will be better. Celeste and I can move up ahead and look for help!

Ren: Guys...

We all turned around, only to see Ren and Neo with somber expressions and the Huntsman, unresponsive and not breathing...

Nora: Should we... bury him?

Ren: We should go. It's not safe here.

Nora: Ren...

Ren began walking away as Nora followed. Jaune walked up to the Huntsman while I turned away, unable to look at him... Yet another life I couldn't save... I then noticed Celeste walk up to the Huntsman and gently lift him up into her arms.

Me: Celeste?

She ignored my call as she slowly walked over to a nearby tree, with the dead Huntsman in her arms and Jaune, Neo and I following her. As we neared the tree, Celeste's eyes dimly glow Magenta as she activated her Semblance, summoning two ethereal swords. The two swords began to dig away at the soil beneath the tree until the hole was deep enough. She then gently rested the dead Huntsman into the hole, before she used her wings to move the removed soil back into the hole. She then went over and got a rock before using her ethereal blades to cut up the rock into a gravestone. She jammed it into the ground and used one of her blades to en-script some words into it...

"May You Fly With The Wind, Brave Huntsman"
-Death from Protecting Shino Village
Rest in Peace...

As she finished, her blades disappeared and she stared at the grave. I put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a small, sad smile.

Me: Thank you Celeste. I know Dairoku would be very proud.

She smiled back at me before pulling me into an embrace which I returned...

Jaune: Yeah... Thanks. That meant a lot to me.

Celeste smiled at Jaune before pulling him into a hug as well...

........................

Everything was black again... and again, I was alone... Until...

Pyrrha: Jaune!

Dairoku: Jaune!

Then a sword was unsheathed...

Pyrrha: Jaune! Jaune!

Dairoku: Jaune!

I slowly opened my eyes to see that I was still in the camp and it was still night time... most likely midnight... Another Nightmare... I was about to go back to sleep until...

Pyrrha: Jaune!

Dairoku: Jaune!

His... Voice...!? I jolted awake and realized, that wasn't in my nightmare... I looked over, to see everyone sleeping in their sleeping bags... but, Jaune's was empty... I decided to follow the voices... until I spotted the source... I saw Jaune, unsheathing his sword and his scroll, playing a video that had... Pyrrha and... Dairoku...!?

Pyrrha: Alright Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Shield Up.

He lifted his shield.

Dairoku: Keep your grip tight.

He tightened his grip on his sword.

Pyrrha: Don't forget to keep your front foot forward.

Dairoku: Ready?

Pyrrha and Dairoku: Go!

He thrust his sword forward with a yell.

Dairoku: Again!

He slashed again.

Pyrrha: And again!

He slashed one more time. Now he was panting heavily.

Pyrrha: Okay. Now assuming you aren't cheating, we can take a break.

He stood up straight and lowered his head. I noticed Dairoku walk out of view of the camera while Pyrrha remained...

Pyrrha: I know this can be frustrating...

Jaune looked at her.

Pyrrha: ...and it can feel like so much effort to progress such as small amount, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you. I've never met someone so determined to better themselves. You've grown so much since we started training. And I know this is just the beginning...

Pyrrha then looked away, nervous as a slight blush appeared on her face...

Pyrrha: Jaune I... I... *sigh* I want you to know that I'm just happy to be a part of your life. I'll always be here for you Jaune.

I then saw Dairoku walk across the screen, groaning in disappointment and shaking his head.

Dairoku: Angel... you were 'this' close...

Pyrrha looked down and rubbed her arm.

Pyrrha: I'm sorry...

The video then rewind back to the beginning.

Pyrrha: Alright Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Shield Up.

Dairoku: Keep your grip tight.

Pyrrha: Don't forget to keep your front foot forward.

Dairoku: Ready?

Pyrrha and Dairoku: Go!

He then continued his training as I solemnly walked back to the camp. Just hearing his voice again... I barely could keep it in anymore... I lied down in my sleeping bag as I took out a picture of Dairoku and I... we took that when we were alone on his birthday... At this rate, I couldn't hold back and I began to sob quietly into my sleep... I wanted to tell Celeste and Neo but, I don't know how bad their reactions would be...

My thoughts: Please Dairoku... Wake up... I miss you so much...

MYTHICAL ROSE VOLUME 4

https://youtu.be/RCBupigm7tU

That is Celeste's Vol 4-6 outfit and the she'll have on the hood most of the time during this Volume. Only difference is the insides of her "dress" has the same galaxy design from her Vol 1-3 outfit.

She still has the mask on.

She also wears the necklace Dairoku got her for her birthday.
——————————————
So when I said I was gonna take a breather, I'm not sure what I meant. I mean, I took I long nap today and as soon as I woke up, my brain told me to start Volume 4 immediately so blame my brain for not giving me a break but I guess that's good for you lot! Anyways, Volume 4 begins! I'll be doing my best to split screen time between all four POVs equally throughout this Volume so next chapter is going to be Weiss'. Volume 4 lets goo!!!