p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"the new cover art comes from kegi springfield and there are some notes about the story at the bottom/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"DiRunner was unavailable so I apologize for any errors /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ruby limped out of the nurse's office. She had some bruising and soreness on her abdomen where Payback had struck her but was otherwise fine. Turns out wounding people with passive healing wasn't that easy and her and Jaune's aura had started healing them from the moment they were hit. Jaune was still unconscious but the nurse assured her it was normal for a wound as bad as his. Frankly he was lucky to be alive. She was lucky her sister hadn't stormed the nurse's office by now. between the injuries and how she got them she didn't think she could explain it all to her sister. She should probably call her team; the last time they saw her she had sprinted off with no explanation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She realized this just as her sister grabbed her from behind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Ruby! Where have you been!? Why are you limping?! What happened!?" Yang shouted at her. She wasn't sure how angry she was but her eyes were still lilac so that was a good sign, right? Right?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yang I'm still a bit injured here!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Yang set her down gently but didn't take her hands off Ruby's shoulders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You really scared us Ruby. Weiss stormed off, Blake and I split up to look for you. Why didn't you call us if you were in danger?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ruby set her shoulders and tried her best to explain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;" /-/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""That utter dolt!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss Schnee stalked through the halls of Beacon, angrily talking to herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""First she almost makes us late for class and then she rushes out of combat class without even Professor Goodwitch's approval and apparently she can turn into rose petals?! When was she going to share that with us?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She stomped down hall in silence for a while as her anger cooled to disappointment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I really thought she was going to start trying. It doesn't matter. I'll just have to make up for her slack!" she declared to the hallway./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss walked into a nearby training room but paused when she saw it wasn't empty. Mopping the arena was a janitor with high white hair. Before Weiss could leave to find another room, he called out to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'll be finished in a moment mademoiselle."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Thank you. It's Polnareff isn't it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""oui? Oh! Are you not the young lady I met a few days ago?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Weiss Schnee, a pleasure." she said with a curtsey./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Jean-Pierre Polnareff, at your service" he said with a bow. "If I may ask, can I stay and watch your practice? I am a fan of swordplay you see."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss acquiesced and stepped up to the arena. She went through her usual forms and then some fencing drills. She also threw in some aerial maneuvers with her glyphs to make it more interesting for her audience. After a half hour of this she paused to wipe sweat from her brow and to see her audience's reaction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The janitor stood with his arms crossed and a neutral expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Do you have a problem with my technique?" she said tersely. She put on a show for this plebian and he's just going to stand there!?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Just a few questions ma cherie" he said, walking up to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Like what?" she said defensively./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Why do you cock your arm so far back before you strike? It telegraphs your attack ahead of time. And you leave most of your body exposed by standing straight up, you should lean forward and place the guard of your sword in front of your face."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I will have you I studied under a master of the Von Bondi school of fencing! It is the most prestigious school of swordsmanship in Atlas, only available to members of the Atlas elite and high-ranking military officers! Who do you think you are to criticize it?" Weiss ended her tirade by pointing accusatorily at Polnareff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""It can't be such a good school if they have such sloppy technique." Polnareff responded haughtily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What would you even know? You're just a janitor!" Weiss snapped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Well why don't I show you?" he said, annoyed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What do you mean?" Weiss asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I, Jean-Pierre Polnareff, challenge you, Weiss Schnee, to a duel. I'll get a spare weapon from the storage room and we can have a spar. No semblances, only martial skill," he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""As if I would lower myself to fighting a janitor. Do you even have aura?" she said with a huff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Are you backing away from my challenge?" he said, quirking an eyebrow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Go get your weapon." she growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Five minutes later Polnareff emerged carrying a large heater shield on his right arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Is that your only weapon?" Weiss asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""It is all I need" he said cockily "we will fight until one of us is below 30%, agreed?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Agreed. Now ready yourself" Weiss said, assuming her stance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Polnareff moved his left foot back and raised his shield arm, pointing the bottom point of his shield at Weiss' face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"They paused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss charged forward, lunging for Polnareff's torso and delivered a series of thrusts. Polnareff deflected each strike, the barest twitch of his shield enough to send the sword of its' mark. Weiss disengaged and reassessed her target. Polnareff waited only a moment before going on the offensive, going into a lunge and jabbing the corner of his shield at Weiss' head. Weiss bent backwards and moved into a one-handed handspring, she landed in a crouch and lunged low, aiming for his legs, her sword caught his left shin but Polnareff powered through and swung his shield downward, Weiss barely rolling out of the way. She rose to her feet and got two hits on Polnareff's shoulder before he raised his shield and charged forward. Weiss cartwheeled out of the way and managed to hit his exposed back. She had his rhythm now. She moved less now, only dodging enough to get out of the way and then exploiting the time it took him to recover from swinging that heavy shield. Little by little Weiss was wearing down his aura. Polnareff was now at 60% while Weiss was untouched./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You are quick ma cher." He said between pants, his face dripped with sweat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You are skilled as well. Does Beacon require even the janitors to be combatants?" she asked, even more out of breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I have studied swordsmanship most of my life, though aura is a recent addition to my repertoire. Semblance as well." he said with a grin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You'll best use it if you hope to beat me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""We agreed we wouldn't."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'd make an exception for a mere janitor." she said with a smirk./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""A generous offer, but I'll have to decline." Polnareff dropped into a ready stance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Suit yourself." she raised Myrtenaster and charged forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Instead of raising his shield or moving out of the way, Polnareff only took a few steps back. Weiss was a few feet away, she prepared to thrust./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"And then she slipped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss' front foot slid forward putting her in a split./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"'Why is the floor wet?' Then the smell of musty heat hit her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"'Is that sweat? Did he stop to talk so his sweat would pool on the floor? That's disgusting!'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Her thoughts were interrupted by Polnareff's shield. He had pivoted and now swung the shield at Weiss in a wide arc. Weiss was in no position to dodge. Her vision went white as the shield hit her head and she dimly felt herself skidding on the ground. Her senses came back in time to see Polnareff above swinging his shield down at her. Time seemed to slow down, and she barely had the presence of mind to raise Myrtenaster above in a vain attempt to block the blow. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"It never came./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She heard grunts and crashes and she opened her eyes to see Polnareff skidding across the ring./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"A buzzer went of signaling that Polnareff's aura had dipped to 25% and had lost the match. Weiss walked over to her opponent as he picked himself off the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'm sorry Mr. Polnareff, I think I activated my semblance on reflex. The match is yours." she said with a bow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Think nothing of it young épéiste, it was just a friendly spar and you were still trouncing me before then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yes, well, I'm sure I wouldn't have needed my semblance if you hadn't pulled that disgusting trick!" she deflected./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I will not apologize for strategy." He said with a huff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss smiled "Thank you for a productive sparring session Mr. Polnareff." Weiss curtseyed and walked out of the classroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Polnareff watched Weiss leave the room before grabbing his head in frustration./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I can't believe I picked up a shield! If I picked a rapier, I could have used Silver Chariot and played it off as me being faster than her -Argh!" he said. "Still though I didn't expect le petit épéiste to have something like that. JoJo and the others will want to know about this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Because just as she closed her eyes before he struck, something materialized before Polnareff. Something Weiss had no business having./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;" /-/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""So, you and Jaune have more superpowers now-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Well, Jaune's just kind of hangs around making snarky comments"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""-and Cardin does too, and he's the one that hurt you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yep, that's about it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'm going to kill him." Yang said, striding off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ruby appeared ahead of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yang no!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yang yes." She pushed past Ruby./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She was interrupted by Pyrrha running into both of them, knocking the two of them down and walking further down the hall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What the hell P-money!?" Yang shouted, but Pyrrha didn't seem to hear her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""sorry about her." Ren's voice called from behind them. Ren and Nora walked towards the sisters and helped them up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""she's kind of intent on checking on Jaune right now. She jumped out of our window when we heard the news."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Wow. Jaune needs to take a hint before she just up and jumps him in class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ren just smiled while Nora looked at Ren very intensely./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The four of them walked back to the nurse's office. Nora and Ren tried to ask Ruby about what happened, but she just deflected with "Cardin was being a bully" and that seemed to satisfy them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"They walked into the nurse's office and froze. Jaune was lying unconscious in a bed. That was normal. Ursa Alert was hovering next to him. That was normal to the one person who could see him. Pyrrha was collapsed on the floor with a thin line of blood on dripping from her neck. That wasn't normal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;" /-/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Nora's pov/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"I was fidgeting in my chair while Ozpin and Miss Goodwitch stood around Jaune-Jaune and Pyrrha's beds. Yang had called her teammates but only the white one showed up. Pyrrha wasn't bleeding from the neck like we thought but she was running a high fever and wouldn't wake up. Ozpin and Goodwitch had interviewed them and now they were just. . .waiting. Ozpin had made a call and we were just sitting here! I hated just sitting. That was Ren's thing and as much as I loved but not loved-loved Ren it was not for me. I was about to voice my displeasure when the door opened. A large man in a black coat I saw in combat class entered along with an old, buff guy and a dark-skinned man in red and white robes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""JoJo?" Ruby asked from across the room. That didn't sound like his name, but I'd been wrong before./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The dark -skinned man stepped forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""hello, I am Muhammed Avdol and this gentleman is Joseph Joestar and I believe some of you have already met Jotaro."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"That was his name! But why was Ruby calling him JoJo? Could I also call him JoJo, or should I ask first? I'll just call him JoJo and see if he calls me on it. The JoJo in question was standing over Pyrrha and-hey!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What do you think you're doing to Pyrrha!" I pointed at the molester right in the act. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The brute didn't seem fazed by my opening move and retaliated by walking over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""There was a cut on her neck, right?" a clever diversion but I'd play along for now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""That's right. What's it to you-hey!" the brute had grabbed a Ren-only part of my shirt and hoisted me into the air. So Pyrrha was just a distraction so he could get his hands on me! It was obvious in hindsight. I counterattacked with a right hook straight at his jaw. But he caught with his third hand! It was purple and joined at the elbow of his left arm. Since when could he do that? Well I'll just respond with a third hand of her own! I swung at him with a left and when another purple hand blocked it, I let out a third hand, this one grey with blue markings, and decked him right in the face, sending him flying. Ha! Take that mister. . .wait. Why did that work. How did that work? I only have two hands! I looked at the grey hand next to my left and followed it behind me to a giant man with stone-like skin and bright orange beard. All of my friends were looking at the stranger at I in shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Boop~" I booped it on the belly button./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Boop." He responded with a boop to my nose. His voice was really high and soft./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""All of you check yourselves for small cuts or bloodstains on your clothes!" the pervert shouted from across the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"I checked my shirt and saw a brown-red stain near the area the molester had grabbed me. There was a chorus of affirmatives around so that they must have also found similar stains on them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The old man spoke up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Well I guess that settles it. All of you-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The door to the nurse's office burst open and a white haired man ran into the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Mr. Joestar! One of the students here is a stand user!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The old man facepalmed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"End of chapter/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Just to be clear I'm not shipping Weiss and Polnareff, I just think they're similar characters and would naturally hit it off./span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"the Nora bit was my first attempt to write in the first person so I'm sorry if I didn't write clearly. /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"So RWBY and JNPR are all stand users, though Blake is strangely absent, but I will say now that JNPR will have a very small role in the story. /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Now here's an honest question: what do you think of Polnareff speaking French? I don't think he uses very much in the manga, but I thought it could be a fun change of pace./span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"On a more important note I'm going to be back-burnering this story so I can start some new ones. I also want to start writing longer chapters than what I've been doing. This isn't a Hiatus but don't expect another chapter this month./span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"DiRunner was unavailable so I apologize for any errors /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ruby limped out of the nurse's office. She had some bruising and soreness on her abdomen where Payback had struck her but was otherwise fine. Turns out wounding people with passive healing wasn't that easy and her and Jaune's aura had started healing them from the moment they were hit. Jaune was still unconscious but the nurse assured her it was normal for a wound as bad as his. Frankly he was lucky to be alive. She was lucky her sister hadn't stormed the nurse's office by now. between the injuries and how she got them she didn't think she could explain it all to her sister. She should probably call her team; the last time they saw her she had sprinted off with no explanation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She realized this just as her sister grabbed her from behind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Ruby! Where have you been!? Why are you limping?! What happened!?" Yang shouted at her. She wasn't sure how angry she was but her eyes were still lilac so that was a good sign, right? Right?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yang I'm still a bit injured here!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Yang set her down gently but didn't take her hands off Ruby's shoulders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You really scared us Ruby. Weiss stormed off, Blake and I split up to look for you. Why didn't you call us if you were in danger?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ruby set her shoulders and tried her best to explain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;" /-/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""That utter dolt!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss Schnee stalked through the halls of Beacon, angrily talking to herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""First she almost makes us late for class and then she rushes out of combat class without even Professor Goodwitch's approval and apparently she can turn into rose petals?! When was she going to share that with us?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She stomped down hall in silence for a while as her anger cooled to disappointment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I really thought she was going to start trying. It doesn't matter. I'll just have to make up for her slack!" she declared to the hallway./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss walked into a nearby training room but paused when she saw it wasn't empty. Mopping the arena was a janitor with high white hair. Before Weiss could leave to find another room, he called out to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'll be finished in a moment mademoiselle."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Thank you. It's Polnareff isn't it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""oui? Oh! Are you not the young lady I met a few days ago?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Weiss Schnee, a pleasure." she said with a curtsey./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Jean-Pierre Polnareff, at your service" he said with a bow. "If I may ask, can I stay and watch your practice? I am a fan of swordplay you see."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss acquiesced and stepped up to the arena. She went through her usual forms and then some fencing drills. She also threw in some aerial maneuvers with her glyphs to make it more interesting for her audience. After a half hour of this she paused to wipe sweat from her brow and to see her audience's reaction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The janitor stood with his arms crossed and a neutral expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Do you have a problem with my technique?" she said tersely. She put on a show for this plebian and he's just going to stand there!?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Just a few questions ma cherie" he said, walking up to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Like what?" she said defensively./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Why do you cock your arm so far back before you strike? It telegraphs your attack ahead of time. And you leave most of your body exposed by standing straight up, you should lean forward and place the guard of your sword in front of your face."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I will have you I studied under a master of the Von Bondi school of fencing! It is the most prestigious school of swordsmanship in Atlas, only available to members of the Atlas elite and high-ranking military officers! Who do you think you are to criticize it?" Weiss ended her tirade by pointing accusatorily at Polnareff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""It can't be such a good school if they have such sloppy technique." Polnareff responded haughtily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What would you even know? You're just a janitor!" Weiss snapped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Well why don't I show you?" he said, annoyed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What do you mean?" Weiss asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I, Jean-Pierre Polnareff, challenge you, Weiss Schnee, to a duel. I'll get a spare weapon from the storage room and we can have a spar. No semblances, only martial skill," he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""As if I would lower myself to fighting a janitor. Do you even have aura?" she said with a huff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Are you backing away from my challenge?" he said, quirking an eyebrow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Go get your weapon." she growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Five minutes later Polnareff emerged carrying a large heater shield on his right arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Is that your only weapon?" Weiss asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""It is all I need" he said cockily "we will fight until one of us is below 30%, agreed?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Agreed. Now ready yourself" Weiss said, assuming her stance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Polnareff moved his left foot back and raised his shield arm, pointing the bottom point of his shield at Weiss' face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"They paused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss charged forward, lunging for Polnareff's torso and delivered a series of thrusts. Polnareff deflected each strike, the barest twitch of his shield enough to send the sword of its' mark. Weiss disengaged and reassessed her target. Polnareff waited only a moment before going on the offensive, going into a lunge and jabbing the corner of his shield at Weiss' head. Weiss bent backwards and moved into a one-handed handspring, she landed in a crouch and lunged low, aiming for his legs, her sword caught his left shin but Polnareff powered through and swung his shield downward, Weiss barely rolling out of the way. She rose to her feet and got two hits on Polnareff's shoulder before he raised his shield and charged forward. Weiss cartwheeled out of the way and managed to hit his exposed back. She had his rhythm now. She moved less now, only dodging enough to get out of the way and then exploiting the time it took him to recover from swinging that heavy shield. Little by little Weiss was wearing down his aura. Polnareff was now at 60% while Weiss was untouched./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You are quick ma cher." He said between pants, his face dripped with sweat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You are skilled as well. Does Beacon require even the janitors to be combatants?" she asked, even more out of breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I have studied swordsmanship most of my life, though aura is a recent addition to my repertoire. Semblance as well." he said with a grin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""You'll best use it if you hope to beat me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""We agreed we wouldn't."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'd make an exception for a mere janitor." she said with a smirk./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""A generous offer, but I'll have to decline." Polnareff dropped into a ready stance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Suit yourself." she raised Myrtenaster and charged forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Instead of raising his shield or moving out of the way, Polnareff only took a few steps back. Weiss was a few feet away, she prepared to thrust./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"And then she slipped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss' front foot slid forward putting her in a split./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"'Why is the floor wet?' Then the smell of musty heat hit her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"'Is that sweat? Did he stop to talk so his sweat would pool on the floor? That's disgusting!'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Her thoughts were interrupted by Polnareff's shield. He had pivoted and now swung the shield at Weiss in a wide arc. Weiss was in no position to dodge. Her vision went white as the shield hit her head and she dimly felt herself skidding on the ground. Her senses came back in time to see Polnareff above swinging his shield down at her. Time seemed to slow down, and she barely had the presence of mind to raise Myrtenaster above in a vain attempt to block the blow. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"It never came./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She heard grunts and crashes and she opened her eyes to see Polnareff skidding across the ring./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"A buzzer went of signaling that Polnareff's aura had dipped to 25% and had lost the match. Weiss walked over to her opponent as he picked himself off the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'm sorry Mr. Polnareff, I think I activated my semblance on reflex. The match is yours." she said with a bow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Think nothing of it young épéiste, it was just a friendly spar and you were still trouncing me before then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yes, well, I'm sure I wouldn't have needed my semblance if you hadn't pulled that disgusting trick!" she deflected./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I will not apologize for strategy." He said with a huff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Weiss smiled "Thank you for a productive sparring session Mr. Polnareff." Weiss curtseyed and walked out of the classroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Polnareff watched Weiss leave the room before grabbing his head in frustration./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I can't believe I picked up a shield! If I picked a rapier, I could have used Silver Chariot and played it off as me being faster than her -Argh!" he said. "Still though I didn't expect le petit épéiste to have something like that. JoJo and the others will want to know about this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Because just as she closed her eyes before he struck, something materialized before Polnareff. Something Weiss had no business having./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;" /-/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""So, you and Jaune have more superpowers now-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Well, Jaune's just kind of hangs around making snarky comments"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""-and Cardin does too, and he's the one that hurt you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yep, that's about it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""I'm going to kill him." Yang said, striding off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ruby appeared ahead of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yang no!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Yang yes." She pushed past Ruby./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"She was interrupted by Pyrrha running into both of them, knocking the two of them down and walking further down the hall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What the hell P-money!?" Yang shouted, but Pyrrha didn't seem to hear her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""sorry about her." Ren's voice called from behind them. Ren and Nora walked towards the sisters and helped them up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""she's kind of intent on checking on Jaune right now. She jumped out of our window when we heard the news."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Wow. Jaune needs to take a hint before she just up and jumps him in class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Ren just smiled while Nora looked at Ren very intensely./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The four of them walked back to the nurse's office. Nora and Ren tried to ask Ruby about what happened, but she just deflected with "Cardin was being a bully" and that seemed to satisfy them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"They walked into the nurse's office and froze. Jaune was lying unconscious in a bed. That was normal. Ursa Alert was hovering next to him. That was normal to the one person who could see him. Pyrrha was collapsed on the floor with a thin line of blood on dripping from her neck. That wasn't normal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;" /-/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Nora's pov/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"I was fidgeting in my chair while Ozpin and Miss Goodwitch stood around Jaune-Jaune and Pyrrha's beds. Yang had called her teammates but only the white one showed up. Pyrrha wasn't bleeding from the neck like we thought but she was running a high fever and wouldn't wake up. Ozpin and Goodwitch had interviewed them and now they were just. . .waiting. Ozpin had made a call and we were just sitting here! I hated just sitting. That was Ren's thing and as much as I loved but not loved-loved Ren it was not for me. I was about to voice my displeasure when the door opened. A large man in a black coat I saw in combat class entered along with an old, buff guy and a dark-skinned man in red and white robes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""JoJo?" Ruby asked from across the room. That didn't sound like his name, but I'd been wrong before./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The dark -skinned man stepped forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""hello, I am Muhammed Avdol and this gentleman is Joseph Joestar and I believe some of you have already met Jotaro."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"That was his name! But why was Ruby calling him JoJo? Could I also call him JoJo, or should I ask first? I'll just call him JoJo and see if he calls me on it. The JoJo in question was standing over Pyrrha and-hey!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""What do you think you're doing to Pyrrha!" I pointed at the molester right in the act. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The brute didn't seem fazed by my opening move and retaliated by walking over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""There was a cut on her neck, right?" a clever diversion but I'd play along for now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""That's right. What's it to you-hey!" the brute had grabbed a Ren-only part of my shirt and hoisted me into the air. So Pyrrha was just a distraction so he could get his hands on me! It was obvious in hindsight. I counterattacked with a right hook straight at his jaw. But he caught with his third hand! It was purple and joined at the elbow of his left arm. Since when could he do that? Well I'll just respond with a third hand of her own! I swung at him with a left and when another purple hand blocked it, I let out a third hand, this one grey with blue markings, and decked him right in the face, sending him flying. Ha! Take that mister. . .wait. Why did that work. How did that work? I only have two hands! I looked at the grey hand next to my left and followed it behind me to a giant man with stone-like skin and bright orange beard. All of my friends were looking at the stranger at I in shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Boop~" I booped it on the belly button./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Boop." He responded with a boop to my nose. His voice was really high and soft./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""All of you check yourselves for small cuts or bloodstains on your clothes!" the pervert shouted from across the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"I checked my shirt and saw a brown-red stain near the area the molester had grabbed me. There was a chorus of affirmatives around so that they must have also found similar stains on them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The old man spoke up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Well I guess that settles it. All of you-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The door to the nurse's office burst open and a white haired man ran into the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;""Mr. Joestar! One of the students here is a stand user!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"The old man facepalmed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"End of chapter/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Just to be clear I'm not shipping Weiss and Polnareff, I just think they're similar characters and would naturally hit it off./span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"the Nora bit was my first attempt to write in the first person so I'm sorry if I didn't write clearly. /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"So RWBY and JNPR are all stand users, though Blake is strangely absent, but I will say now that JNPR will have a very small role in the story. /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"Now here's an honest question: what do you think of Polnareff speaking French? I don't think he uses very much in the manga, but I thought it could be a fun change of pace./span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongspan style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"On a more important note I'm going to be back-burnering this story so I can start some new ones. I also want to start writing longer chapters than what I've been doing. This isn't a Hiatus but don't expect another chapter this month./span/strong/p