Nicholas Arc in Null

### Relatives

Saphron Arc, Coral Arc, Sable Arc, Jade Arc, Hazel Arc, Jaune Arc, Lavender Arc,

## Physical description

### Gender

Male

**Nicholas Arc's role and characterization in *Null*** is one of posthumous reflection, consideration, and respect due to the fact that he died in the prelude before chapter one.

## Biography

### Beacon Years

According to Headmaster Ozpin, Nicholas had been his student in the 20s BB when he was still a combat tutor. While he was likely not Nicholas's favorite teacher, they had harmonious interactions and could communicate their ideas and concerns effectively. Nicholas would eventually graduate Beacon Academy and marry Juniper Arc before leaving the main city.

### Ansel Years

Nicholas's motivations to move to Ansel in *Null* were likely similar to his motivations in *Not this Time, Fate*, to get away from the rigid authority of his parents, indicated when Jaune states that Nicholas wanted to be a father when he came home rather than a Huntsman. He would acquire a well-paying job as a Huntsman to support eight children, though he never did bounty work. Fortunately, life in Ansel is relatively cheap, likely due to the lower demand from the posed Grimm risk. At some point after establishing all eight members of the Arc family, Nicholas appeared happy in a photograph, which would later be used by a newspaper to report the "death" of the Arc family. During his life in Ansel, he would deal with the misadventures of parenting, such as visiting the lake and having to deal with Jade and Hazel Arc trolling Jaune.

According to Jaune Arc, Nicholas often talked about how being a huntsman meant making difficult choices of who to save, who to leave behind, and who could not be saved even if they tried. This was likely when Jaune was asking for details about his life as a huntsman, since Nicholas kept his job and family life apart, but would tell stories if asked. Nicholas's stories were such an influence on Jaune that even after receiving a handgun and knife as weapons, he wished for a sword and shield like his father's. At some point, Nicholas told Jaune that "only they can decide where the lines lay" with regards to moral boundaries.

At some point, Nicholas unlocked Saphron's aura when Grimm appeared since he was unwilling to take the risk should he fail. It is not known exactly when it happened, but it was likely approximately 6-7 months before his death based on records from Atlas stating the trials had taking place for 4 months, Jaune's statement he received 2-3 months of training after Nicholas unlocked his semblance, and Clover's report that Headmaster Ozpin visited and documented the semblance 2 months before the start of the situation. He later contacted Ozpin after Jaune activated the "Null" semblance, who came by Ansel to visit and examine Jaune as a potential recruit to Beacon. According to Ozpin, this would be the last time he saw him alive.

As Atlesian soldiers raided the Arc family's home in Ansel and captured them to ship them to separate testing sites, Jaune states that Nicholas had not cried when everyone else had.

### Death

Jaune witnessed Nicholas's final moments, stating his father had been bleeding out with soldiers closing in and begged him to protect the rest of the Arc family when he is gone. As a result, Jaune blames Atlas as a cohesive whole for his death rather than the rogue soldiers part of the conspiracy in a case of dramatic irony.

Qrow Branwen remembered "toasting Nicholas" when the news of his death came in, initially believing that Nicholas Arc had been killed by Grimm along with the Arc family. However, upon learning the details conspiracy, he reacts negatively. When talking with Jaune, Qrow states he was a "good friend" and wants the "the bastards behind his death" to be brought to justice.

According to Ozpin, Jaune was 16 years old, almost 17, one month before the Arc family's presumed death to the Grimm, indicating Nicholas died in 1 BB.

### Legacy

Following Nicholas's death, Jaune gave more consideration as to what Nicholas would tell him or do in his given situation. Nicholas would have told Jaune to not hunt for misery, although Jaune disagreed with this piece of advice with the consideration that evil would exist if good actors did nothing. He notes that Nicholas likely would not care about the measures he would take to make sure his family were alive.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162627/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/8/Null
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20200629224913/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/11/Null
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20200524045056/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/10/Null
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162627/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/8/Null
5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/17/Null
6. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200225054656/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/4/Null
7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200629205026/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/6/Null
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20200629222121/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/9/Null
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20200219054043/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/3/Null
10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200219054058/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/1/Null
11. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200213175438/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/2/Null
12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200629225201/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/19/Null
13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200503074159/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/1/Null
14. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200524045056/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/10/Null