Author's Notes: Well I've gone ahead and written out 8 more chapters of this and I intend to keep it that way. I'm working with a system where I finish write a few chapters which constitutes an 'Arc' pun intended. This means that I publish said chapters weekly and once that Arc is finished I go on a kind of hiatus until I finish another Arc and continue the process. It's kinda like how they do with mangas and volumes.

So as it stands with this new approach, I will publish two chapters this week to make up for last week's absence, sorry about that by the way. Right now we're at the 'Initiation Arc' so going by weekly standards it would be until the end of December before the Arc finishes.


Chapter 4: The Beacon Initiation Part 2

"Our last pair has been formed sir" Glynda walked up to Ozpin with her scroll in hand.

The device showed a video of Nora hanging upside down 'booping' Ren on his nose.

"Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren, poor boy, I can't imagine those two getting along" she sighed before continuing "I fear he may be worst off as far as having competent partners go" she slide the scroll as it showed Jaune and Pyrrha "unlike Miss Nikos and Mr. Arc who seem to be the most competent partnership I've seen."

Ozpin hummed while giving her a side glance.

"It would seem that the letter of recommendation from the Arc household held true to its word. That Jaune fellow has a good head on his shoulders along with excellent combat proficiency" she complimented remembering his earlier fight with the Beowolf and his clever use of everyday commodity as means of survival.

She sighed again "I guess we'll find out soon enough" she turned and began to walk away. "At their current pace they should reach the temple in just a few minutes." She stopped to look at Ozpin "speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year? Professor Ozpin?"

Ozpin didn't respond, he had an amused expression while watching the video of Jaune, Ruby, Pyrrha and Weiss. A simple "Hmm" came from him.

Meanwhile Weiss took the lead from Jaune, not that he even cared since they weren't in a competition for leadership. Instead he found himself reading his book with one eye on the page and one hand in his pocket.

"Hey Jaune" his gaze was averted to the younger huntress-in-training for a split second in acknowledgement.

"Yes Ruby" he answered

"What're you reading?" Ruby asked because she can't understand the words written on the cover.

Jaune looked forward to find Weiss having a conversation with Pyrrha and the Spartan actually seemed interested. Jaune leaned closer to Ruby.

"Secret ninja stuff" he whispered to her ear. Ruby was about to squeal but Jaune put a finger to his lips "shh, it's a secret remember?"

Ruby immediately covered her mouth and nodded then whispered "what kind of secret?"

He frowned "I'm sorry I can't tell you."

Ruby was crestfallen "aww" she held both hands to her chest and gave him the sad eyes.

Jaune narrowed his eye "no"

Ruby countered his 'no' with a puppy dog pout.

Jaune's eye widened 'oh no' he thought in panic.

"The answer is still no" he answered adamantly while folding his arms and looked away.

Ruby could see a bead of sweat running down the side of his face 'just one more push' she thought. "Jaune" she called

Jaune turned to look at her and his eye widened more with his mouth half opened. Ruby lips were now quivering and she looked closed to crying.

Jaune gritted his teeth 'I've stared into the eyes of a goliath and had no fear' he thought adamantly but he could feel his grip slipping. 'I will not bend. I will not break. I will not shift. I will not shake.' He began chanting this mantra.

Ruby sniffled and it was Jaune's breaking pointing he opened his mouth "I-Ruby I.."

"Hey you two, we're here" Weiss called out

"will get right back to you on that" the blonde finished before rushing to meet Weiss and Pyrrha.

Ruby was left to mutter under her breath about 'stupid Weiss' and how she 'was so close' before dragging her feet to where the rest of them were.

Jaune stood with Weiss and Pyrrha at the entrance of "a cave?" Jaune said in disbelief.

He looked to Weiss who nodded with pride and then to Pyrrha who shrugged looking a little put off by the heiress' claims. Ruby burrowed through Jaune and Pyrrha

"You think this is it?" the cloaked girl asked

"Um"

"Of course it is!" Weiss answered before Jaune.

Ruby looked a bit apprehensive and turned to the only boy there "Jaune?"

Jaune rubbed the back of neck looking from Ruby and Pyrrha's expectant faces to Weiss' glare.

"Uh" he coughed in his fist "it looks more like an, uh," his eyes began shifting "Deathstalker's cave" he said the last words quickly and in a lower voice.

"What was that?" Weiss asked coldly.

"Well" he began as he approached the cave "see those tracks on the ground' he pointed to the big faded holes in the dirt barely noticeable, leading to inside the cave "then there are those scrape markings at the cave mouth up there" they followed his gave to see the top of the cave mouth and the sides "probably from its stingers and claws" he added "and finally, that" he pointed to the cave drawings of stickmen with spears fighting a giant scorpion.

Okay that last bit, they definitely saw it, but a certain white haired huntress-in-training was getting more than a little irked that a scraggly boy was showing her up. Her pride as a Schnee will not have it and so even though his explanation made sense Weiss decided to go against him

"We'll see about that" she said before walking inside.

"Wait Weiss! Ruby shouted frantically "what're you doing, Jaune said that it's a Deathstalker's cave."

"So?" she began, turning around to glare at Jaune "Professor Ozpin could have disguised it as one to throw us off. Haven't you ever heard of an underground Temple Ruin before?" She turned on her heel and left.

Ruby turned from the withdrawing heiress to Jaune and Pyrrha. Jaune sighed and picked up a piece of dry wood then scratching two stones together to ignite it. He handed the torch to Ruby

"Go after your partner and watch your step"

She accepted it and Ran after Weiss "Weiss, wait for me!" she yelled.

After Ruby was out of sight Pyrrha looked at her partner with concern "are you alright Jaune?"

He sighed "have you ever heard the saying 'Pride Goethe Before a Fall' Pyrrha?" he turned to her, she nodded "well Weiss is about to fall" he finished turning away from her to re examine the cave entrance 'and from the looks of the size, she's going to fall hard.' He thought darkly.

"Do you have a plan for if there is a Deathstalker in there?" Pyrrha asked.

"Yeah, I do" he said still examining the cave entrance he stopped to glance at his partner who was looking at him expectantly "I'm going to need your help setting a trap for it." He finished seriously.

Her expression became serious as well and she nodded, Jaune smiled at this and reached into his back pouch. Pyrrha was slightly confused when he took out rectangular shaped red paper with a symbol written on them

"I'm so glad I went with my gut and brought these" he commented counting them off.

"What're those?" Pyrrha inched closer to get a look at them

"They're explosive tags" Jaune answered "and they are really expensive" he added much to Pyrrha's confusion.

'How could paper be explosive?' she questioned internally 'unless.' "Are they Dust powered?" she questioned.

Jaune looked at her then at the tags "you know" he began with a far off look "I've never got around to actually ask how they explode" there was a pause as Pyrrha watch him in deep thought.

Jaune came back to reality with a blink and turned to Pyrrha "what I do know is that it doesn't use Dust" he said with confidence "but that doesn't mean they aren't effective." He gave her two "now come on, we have to set them."

She glanced at the tag before taking it, trusting her partner whole heartedly "alright where do I put them?"

Jaune scoped the landscape and stood in front of the cave "okay, if there is a Deathstalker then I know that Weiss and Ruby are going to come out to try and fight it so put them ten paces apart on the ground starting from those trees." He pointed to two trees just at the mouth of the cave.

Jaune went in the cave and jumped when Pyrrha had her back turned, using chakra he knelt upside down on the cave ceiling and placed one of the tags on the ceiling out of Pyrrha's view. Jaune placed another one at the mouth of the cave afterwards he saw Pyrrha was finished

'I pray to Monty I don't have to use all of them' Jaune thought morbidly, just then the sounds of Weiss and Ruby's scream was heard.

"I'm finished Jaune" Pyrrha said readying Milo and Akuo.

Jaune ran up to her and ushered her further away "you need to stay clear of those tags Pyrrha, they pack a helluva punch." He informed her.

"Looks like I was right" Pyrrha saw him take the last tag and wrap it around the hilt of a kunai.

Jaune and Pyrrha were surprised to see a red blur zip out of the cave leaving a trail of rose petals behind her. Ruby stopped a few meters away from the cave with crescent Rose in its sniper mode; she looked around confusedly trying to find Jaune and Pyrrha

"Ruby!" they both yelled and the red cloaked girl turned to see them ushering her over, just then Weiss seemed to skate out the cave next to Ruby with her rapier pointing at the cave.

Ruby grabbed Weiss who protested "hey what are yo-" she never finished her sentence as Ruby grabbed her hand and zipped over to where her friends are.

There was a low rumble that gradually got louder, Jaune stood in front of the girls who had their weapons out and ready

Jaune looked to Ruby "Deathstalker?" he questioned

"Huge Deathstalker!" Ruby answered.

The Deathstalker burst out the cave destroying part of the cave entrance and two trees where the explosive tag was. It did a low screech with its pincers shifting together; ready to attack it's prey.

Jaune did a two finger hand seal "Kah"

At that the explosive tag went off under the Grimm causing it to screech in pain and stumble back.

'Wait for it' he thought as the Grimm shakily retreated a bit until

"Kah" another explosion went off under the Deathstalker causing it to howl in pain. This time it set its sight on Jaune as it reared up for an attack.

Jaune saw this and threw the Kunai with lightning speed; the dagger stuck into one of the Deathstalker's eye "kah" with it exploded taking all the eyes on the left side of its face in the blast. It reared back retreating to its cave

'Alright, time to finish it' Jaune thought before a final "kah." The tag under the Deathstalker went off forcing it further inside, and then the other one on the ceiling went off causing a cave in that buried it under a pile of rubble.

Jaune exhaled slowly before turning to Weiss "told you it was Deathstalker's cave."

Weiss turned her head with a huff and sheathed her Rapier. Jaune saw how confused Ruby was and thought to just save her the trouble of asking the obvious question.

"If you're wondering what just happened, Pyrrha and I set explosives on the ground in case there was Deathstalker in that cave." He turned to Pyrrha "I used my Aura to remote detonate the tags" he lied smoothly "you're not going to find them in any stores, only my family makes them" he added for good measure.

Pyrrha seemed content with the explanation, for now at least. She still felt that he was hiding some of the information but she wasn't one to pry.

"So, is it dead?" Ruby asked curiously while eyeing the rubble.

"Well yeah" he said in an obvious way "I mean I detonated those tags under its soft under belly that doesn't have any armor. Blew its face off and collapse a cave on it. If that thing is still alive then it is one tough-"

*CRASH* *SCREEEEEEEEECCCHHHHH*

'Son of A bitch!' He mentally finished.

Blood was dripping from under the Deathstalker, all the eyes on the left side of its face was scorched and the stinger was barely hanging on, other than that its hard shell was covered with dirt and dented somewhat.

"Do you have any more of those tags" Pyrrha asked, backing up.

"No, I didn't think I'd even need one let alone five and it still didn't kill it!"

"So anymore bright ideas, genius? Because it's staring right at you" Weiss said condescendingly while arching farther from the group.

"No it's staring at all of us" Jaune assured nervously

"Actually Jaune" Ruby said slowly stepping away to the right side with Weiss "I'm pretty sure it's just staring at you"

Jaune looked at Ruby and Weiss who were suddenly farther away and gave them a 'seriously' expression before facing the Deathstalker

'oh my Oum it really is staring at me.'

"Jaune, you do have a plan don't you?" Pyrrha asked nervously very tempted to follow Weiss and Ruby's lead in moving away but decided against it 'he's your partner Pyrrha, you shouldn't lose faith, especially now. He hasn't let you down since you met him.'

"Alright" Jaune announced "run into the forest as soon as you see smoke" Jaune commanded.

"Smoke?" Pyrrha wondered out loud confused.

Taking a closer look at Jaune's hand she saw several black balls in hand. She began to edge backwards until

"NOW!" he shouted throwing several smoke bombs at the Deathstalker.

While the Deathstalker shook off the smoke its prey was already running but still in view. It charged in a bloody rage at one specific blonde, plowing through obstacles that came in the form of trees.

Ruby looked back and her eyes widened before ducking an overhead branch she turned her attention to her friend

"Um, please tell me you have a plan because I don't think we're going to outrun it for long" Ruby asked desperately.

Both Weiss and Pyrrha turned to the blonde while Jaune was looking around with a serious expression and smirked

"Weiss" he began getting her attention since it was the first time he use her real name "how much blue dust does your Rapier have?"

Weiss blinked and looked to be in thought "enough to trap it if that's what you're thinking."

Jaune nodded before turning to his partner "I really hope you're stronger than you look Pyrrha" The Spartan narrowed her eyes a little "not that I think your weak or anyth-"

"Would you just tell us what you have in mind already!?" Weiss interrupted/yelled in frustration

"Okay, geez" he surrendered "alright ladies, here's the plan."


Meanwhile

A certain green themed boy was chasing after his orange haired partner who was currently riding an Ursa.

"Nora!" Ren shouted to his partner.

His shouts fell on deaf ears as the girl was too busy whooping and hollering in excitement, much to the dismay of her unwilling steed. The pitiable creature stumbled, jerked and bucked to throw the girl off, however it only served to excite the girl even more. This went on until something else caught the girl's eye and she grinned in excitement.

Ren heard Nora's weapon in the distance, which could only mean one thing he thought as he ran towards where his friend should be. What he found however was the corpse of the Ursa she was riding not too long ago

'She got bored' he thought then a feeling of dread came over him 'or she found something else more fun' he finished morbidly.

"Nora?" he called out as he followed her hurried tracks until he found her crouching under the bushes.

Nora glanced behind her and placed her index finger on her lips before shushing him. "Be quiet or you'll scare it away" she whispered.

Ren raised an eyebrow before slowly approaching her; he crouched down and peered over the bushes. The moment his eyes landed on 'it' the color started draining from his body because 'it' happened to be a giant Nevermore in its nest.

"Nora" he began as he turned to face her, only to see the outline of where she was "oh no".

A loud screech immediately made him turn to the Nevermore which was currently being straddled by Nora who was on its neck. She had one had gripping the feathers while the other hand was waving her grenade launcher around. The Grimm was trying to violently shake her off but to no avail.

"Yeehaw!" she shouted with glee before discharging her weapon point blank at the creatures head, dazing it a little.

The Nevermore shook its head before spreading its wings to prepare for takeoff. Ren sighed before running after the creature that began flapping its wings. Stormflower came out of his sleeves and with an Aura infused leap Ren managed to jumped and hook his blades into the side of the Nevermore, eliciting a pained screech before taking flight.


"You think this is it?" Yang asked.

Her partner glanced her way before silently walking over to the ruins. Yang wasn't one to criticize people for their personality quirks but she did find it a little annoying sometimes that her partner wouldn't engage in conversation much.

"Chess Pieces?" Blake questioned glancing over the black and gold Chess pieces.

"Some of them are missing" her blonde partner commented before glancing at her "looks like we're not the first ones here."

"Well I guess we should pick one" Blake concluded.

Walking over to the Knight piece Yang hummed before picking it up "how 'bout a cute little pony?" she joked.

Blake rolled her eyes at her partner's immaturity but smiled nonetheless "sure".

"Now that wasn't too hard" Yang commented.

"Well It's not like this place is hard to find" Blake informed.

"YAHOO~"

They were both jolted from their musings by the cheers of a third party.

"That sounds like a girl" Yang paused with an incredulous face "cheering?" she questioned.

"What do you think Blake?" she turned to find her partner not paying the slightest attention to her in favor of looking up in the sky.

"Blake, what do you think we should do?" she asked again but still no answer from her partner. "Blake?"

The black hair girl didn't say anything in fact her mouth widened a bit in disbelief as she pointed to the sky.

Yang looked at her "what?" she then looked up and her face mirrored her partner's "what in the-" she paused mid sentence to mirror Blake's expression.

In the sky they could clearly make out what looks to be a girl on top of a giant Nevermore with a boy in green attached to the side. The girl had a grin and waved around her grenade launcher like a sword as the Nevermore dive bombed. Then it hit Blake and Yang that the Nevermore was headed STRAIGHT FOR THEM!

While Yang was still looking at the scene in disbelief Blake dragged her to the side "let's go!" she urged.

Yang finally snapped out of her stupor and ran to the side making sure she was clear from the projected crash landing. Ren unhooked one of Stormflower's blades and began shooting the Nevermore's wing while hanging on for dear life

"Nora!" he shouted as the Nevermore began spiraling out of control due to the loss of a wing.

"Yes Renny!" she shouted still smiling calmly

"Shoot its wing!" he said as he followed the action, unloading an entire clip into the large Grimm.

"Okie-dokie" she replied and fired several rockets into the wing and rendering it useless.

As the nevermore began spiraling out of control both of them jumped off before it touchdown, dive rolling to their feet to look at the results. The Nevermore crashed into the ground before skidding into the ruins, knocking over the chess pieces, it crashed into the back of the ruin where it lay.

"That, was, Amazing!" Nora cheered "we should do it again, but where are going to find another giant bird? Wait maybe we can use something else ooh I know how about-"

"Nora" her partner said calmly while dusting himself off.

"Yes Ren" she replied with a bright smile.

"Please don't do that again" he stated simply.

On the sidelines the black and yellow pair looked at the new arrivals in utter incredulity before Blake spoke out

"Did they just rode on a giant Nevermore and crashed it into the ruins?"

To Be Continued