Jaune Ashari in Arc Royale

Ashari depicted with sigil by Jack Wayne (published 2018 April 27)

In *Arc Royale*, **Jaune Ashari** is Jaune Arc from *Relic of the Future*, linked with Emerald Sustrai, who he treated like his daughter despite the divergent timeline. Of the Jaunes' in Salem's faction, he is the most mentally and physically advanced, described as about twice Emerald's age by Grimm.

## Arc Royale from Ashari's Perspective

### Background

*The following contains spoilers for Relic of the Future*

Jaune Ashari, like other Jaunes', was born in 17 BB as Jaune Arc in Ansel, Vale, during the initial *Relic of the Future* continuity. After listening to stories by Nicholas Arc, he acquired an ambition to become a huntsman, although due to a lack of physical training from his father, he had no practical skillsets, and opted to forge his transcripts to enroll in Beacon Academy. There he encountered Ruby Rose, along with other members of the cast, and engaged in several adventures before Beacon was destroyed during the Battle of Beacon following the Vytal Tournament. Ashari experiencing great loss and sacrifice since the tournament, including the deaths of Pyrrha Nikos, Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna, Sun Wukong, Neptune Vasillas, Weiss Schnee, Lie Ren, and Nora Valkyrie before coming across Salem suffering a fatal case of Crescent Rose in her chest. The two engaged in a dialogue before Salem offered Ashari a way to remedy the situation by sending him to the past. Ashari agreed, and Salem sent him to the past.

Ashari had unexpectedly been sent to 10 BB and engaged in further hijinks in the past including adopting Emerald Sustrai as his daughter, interacting with cast members under different identities, accidentally traumatizing Ruby Rose, marrying Winter Schnee, and conceiving a child with both Winter and Raven Branwen. His main motivation during his adventure was to set the scene and help defeat Salem in the past. He later achieved this goal before returning to the future and encountering a weakened Ruby, who begged him not to go to the past even though he already did that. Ashari and Ruby vowed to help fix their broken world, likely until Ashari was unexpectedly transported from his timeline to the *Arc Royale* timeline.

### Discovery

It is not known when Ashari was transferred from his timeline to *Arc Royale*, but it is suggested to have happened near the end of the story following the death of Salem, as Ashari affirms that he killed two Salems' from different worlds. Ashari was likely discovered near Emerald Sustrai before the beginning of the story. It is not known how Emerald or Salem's faction initially reacted to him, but it is known that Emerald believed having a champion would grant her Cinder's attention, while Salem likely had more interest in his title of Ashari. At some point, the Jaunes' of Salem's faction introduced themselves, but Cinder states that Ashari did not provide many background details other than his longevity, other-worldly travel, and killing Salem. During the introduction, Null informed them of his semblance, and Ashari likely first observed Null's desperation and willingness to win after Jinn explained the rules. Ashari also observed Jaune Salem Arc, the Jaune Arc from *White Sheep*, and the disconnect from his heritage and personality.

### Death of Ash

Ashari, along with the rest of Salem's faction, observed a fight between Null and Ash. Due to a mistimed parry, Null lethally stabbed Ash. Ashari ran across the floor and threw Null from the scene before tending to Ash. Ashari saw the injuries were lethal, and pronounced Ash dead after he dissipated into light. As Null exclaimed it was an accident, Ashari did not believe him, accusing Null of murder. As Cinder recounted the situation to Ashari, Ashari made for further criticism, but was interrupted by Salem, who he held little regard for. Salem commented that the Ashari people once served her, and threatened Emerald to keep Ashari in check. Ashari responded, stating he killed the Salem of two worlds, and could do it a third time. Ashari observed that while Hazel Rainart, Arthur Watts, and Tyrian Callows looked concerned, Cinder appeared confident, likely due to him being surrounded by multiple foes. Ashari posed in an attack position, to which Salem responded with a threatening display, and Tyrian and Hazel responded in kind. Grimm interrupted the two, commenting that Ashari was in the right, and that there was no need to threaten Emerald. Ashari noted that Grimm looked to Salem with adoration despite her rejection, and assured Ashari that Salem would not harm Emerald, while compelling Salem to relax. Ashari contemplated this before sheathing his weapon, as did Tyrian and Hazel.

Immediately after the de-escalation, Cinder showed her ambition by asking whether Ashari should be kept around, as she felt unsafe working with someone with "split loyalties." Ashari commented the situational irony. Salem reinforced that Ashari was capable, and that she was interested in winning. Cinder reinforced that little was known about Ashari's background, and wanted him to fight Grimm for science. Ashari remarked that Cinder's ambition was showing. Salem was frustrated at their antics, and demanded they co-operate to defeat Ozpin. To keep them in check, Salem employed Grimm to keep Cinder and Ashari from killing each other.

#### Ashari's Discussions

After Emerald was rejected by Cinder, Emerald made her way over to Ashari. Ashari knelt down, only to be slapped by Emerald, who alleged that he ruined "everything." Despite Ashari likely not being responsible for all worldly ills, Emerald continued to slap him and despair at her perceived uselessness due to Ashari's perceived uselessness. Ashari informed Emerald that if he told her his abilities, she would inform Cinder, and have him killed. Emerald insisted that it was an accident, to which Ashari responded that Emerald was not stupid enough to believe that. When Ashari attempted to assure Emerald that he would remain even if she threw him away, Emerald rejected this notion and demanded he not follow her.

### Leaving Haven

Ashari and another Jaune, likely either Null or Grimm, left Haven with Cinder, Emerald, Mercury Black and were seen on surveillance footage. This footage was collected by Ozpin, who distributed the information to Team RWBY, JNPR, and CVFY. Ozpin and Glynda noted his uniform, as it was only given to Atlesian military personnel, and suspected he had great experience due to his age. Appropriately, they assumed he was dangerous.

## References

1. ↑ "I thought that with a champion on my side, Cinder would finally pay attention to me!"
2. ↑ "Tyrian." Salem stopped him with a hand. Her eyes remained on the grown man before her. "The Ashari once served me. Think carefully before deciding otherwise. I might think it safer to remove you than worry about a betrayal in that case. You do not fear me. I see it. But…" Her lips curved upward. "As dear Jinn explained, your presence here is contingent on your anchor. Do not force me to take action against her."
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "We don't even know if he is!" Cinder said. "He hasn't told us anything about himself other than that he's lived a long time and he's travelled between worlds. And now that he claims to have killed you. Have him face Grimm and let us test him properly."
4. ↑ "Null wants to fight. He wants to win. I can see in his eyes just how desperate he is. Desperate enough to kill someone who would have loyally followed Cinder just because he *might* become competition." Ashari glanced the way Null and Cinder had gone with narrowed eyes.
5. ↑ Jaune Arc screamed in pain as Jaune Arc drove a knife into his chest. Blood flowed as his ribcage caved in, shattering in one dreadful instant.
6. ↑ "A poorly timed parry on [Ash's] part and a bad interaction. Null warned us what his Semblance could do."
7. ↑ Boots hammered across flagstone floor and a hand gripped the attacker by the scruff of his neck, hauled him back and then *threw* him away.
8. ↑ The wound was too big to do anything with. Directly over the heart, having cut through arteries and with his ribs broken. The Jaune Arc's eyes misted over and rolled upward, as the one above him reached down and gently closed his eyes. "He's gone," he said. Before their eyes, the body dissolved into motes of blue and white light, not unlike a Grimm fading away. The Jaune stood, eyes clenched shut. "He's dead.
9. ↑ "Lies." The Jaune in the centre of the ring snarled and drew his sword, pointing it at the teen. "This was no mistake. This was murder."
10. ↑ The Jaune trembled. "You damn-"
11. ↑ "Ashari." Salem spoke, and the taller, older man let his sword drop. He glared back at the woman atop her throne, the sheer lack of respect at odds with everyone else in the hall. "Stand down. Further bloodshed won't bring Tyrian's champion back. It appears he was too weak to be of much use anyway."
12. ↑ Jaune Ashari sneered and sheathed his weapon, turned, and faced the Queen of the Grimm. "I don't follow your orders."
13. ↑ "The Ashari once served me. Think carefully before deciding otherwise. I might think it safer to remove you than worry about a betrayal in that case. You do not fear me. I see it. But…" Her lips curved upward. "As dear Jinn explained, your presence here is contingent on your anchor. Do not force me to take action against her."
14. ↑ Off in the corner of the room, behind Cinder and beside her taller companion, Emerald Sustrai stiffened. Her reddish eyes glared at Ashari, demanding compliance.
15. ↑ "You should be wary of making threats like that." Jaune Ashari whispered. "I *slew* the Salem of my world." His eyes hardened. "And I've slain the Salem of another. I could make it a third."
16. ↑ Hazel, Watts, and Tyrian tensed, while Cinder, still beside her champion, smiled darkly. It was suicide for one man to make such a threat surrounded by enemies, and yet the oldest of the Jaune's assembled did so without fear.
17. ↑ His left hand had fallen to the pommel of his sword, while his right hung beneath his coat, out of sight.
18. ↑ Salem rose to an impressive height. Her black and red eyes darkening as red veins bulged across her face. "You dare-"
19. ↑ "Alright. Alright!" Another figure strode from the shadows behind Salem's throne. Pure white skin, ash grey hair and blackened eyes with red irises. He was a male mirror to the woman in black, and as he moved into the light his Grimm features only became starker. Despite that, in contrast to everything the Grimm represented, he wore a genial, almost tired smile. "There's no need to start fighting over this. Ashari is right to be upset over Null killing Ash, and there's no reason to threaten Emerald, mother."
20. ↑ "You're still my mom even if you didn't give birth to me this time." He smiled adoringly at the woman who sneered back and looked away. "But that's not important for now. Ashari, mother won't harm your anchor. Please put your sword away. We've already lost one of us and there's no point in losing another. As for you, mother, please calm down. He's just troubled by what happened. I'm sure we all are."
21. ↑ Jaune Ashari regarded the Grimm hybrid for a few long seconds, grunted and sheathed his weapon. Behind him, Tyrian and Hazel did the same.
22. ↑ Before she did, Cinder spoke up. "Is it wise to let him live at all? He's already shown he doesn't want to work with us. Between Null and Grimm, we already have two champions more than capable of defeating Ozpin's. I won't feel safe having someone with split loyalties at my back."
23. ↑ "That's ironic coming from you," Ashari said.
24. ↑ "No." Salem ordered. "Your foolishness has cost us one already. All I care for is our side winning this cursed competition. I do not care who or how, and I won't cut out forces down by a third for your paranoia." Salem glared both at Cinder and Ashari. "He is capable."
25. ↑ "That desperate to see my strengths and weaknesses?" Ashari asked mockingly. "Be careful, Cinder. Your ambition is showing."
26. ↑ "Enough!" Salem roared. "I have had enough. I care not for your petty games, your arguments or your problems. This is a war! You will work together to defeat Ozpin or I will personally kill each and every one of you. Grimm!" she snapped.
27. ↑ "Grimm!" Salem hissed, and that was the end of it. "You will accompany them to Vale. You are to be my eyes and mouth there. You have shown yourself capable of summoning and commanding my Grimm, so you can create a Seer if you need to contact me. Keep Cinder and Ashari in line however you need to."
28. ↑ More pages. This time it was still shots of grainy camera footage. Luckily, it was in colour so the blond hair of the two men was visible. One of them looked up to the camera, clearly acknowledging its existence. It was hard to see him as Jaune Arc because he was much older, maybe over thirty years old. He had longer hair that fell roughly to his shoulders and a face carved from rock with numerous stress lines. A beard had begun to grow, giving him a worn and haggard look.
29. ↑ It was Miss Goodwitch who answered. "That coat he wears is only handed out to Atlesian military personnel of a certain rank or higher. More commonly, it is handed out to members of Atlas Specialist teams."
30. ↑ "Think Huntsmen soldiers," Ozpin explained. "Well-trained, disciplined and used to some of the most dangerous missions Atlas can find. For him to wear it implies he's had a stint in the military. Given his age, I also expect he is far more experienced than many of you here – barring, perhaps, Fate. Be wary around him. He is undoubtedly dangerous."