Rwby: Beyond Two Worlds Chapter 11: True Strength

'Tis a lesson you should heed,

Try, try, try again.

If at first you don't succeed,

Try, try, try again. –William Edward Hickson

On the way back from the Forever Falls I was waiting for the track to come along when I heard someone walking towards me.

I had my eyes closed but I knew who it was, "What do you want Roland." I opened my eyes to see said man taking a seat next to me.

"My, my and what are you doing out so late Fang? And here I thought you students had a curfew?" He said with his trademark smug grin on his face.

"You know, if I didn't know any better I would say that you were stalking me Roland." I told the man who just laughed as he took out a cigar and lit it before he looked at me and held it out which only gained a glare from me.

"You know why I'm here Fang. The offer still stands, and I need people for an upcoming job."

I shook my head at him, "I don't do that line of work anymore Roland, besides. I'm perfectly happy with what I have right now."

He only laughed while taking another hit of his cigar, "Don't worry about the minor details kid, but do remember I got eyes everywhere." He told me making me remember just how kenning this man really was.

"Fang, what are you doing here?" A voice called out to me as I turned to see Jaune standing there, his clothes covered in dirt and leaves with branches sticking out of his hair.

I didn't answer him as I turned towards back to Roland only to find that he was gone, only a thin trail of smoke from his cigar remained.

I turned back to Jaune who had this confused look on his face, "Um, were you talking to someone just now?" He asked, but I shook my head.

"No, I was just…talking to myself," I told him, "But what are you doing out here so late? And what's with the box that's buzzing?" I asked him, he quickly gave a halfhearted laugh as he put the box behind him.

"Um, what buzzing?" He asked me and I just shook my head at him as he tried to hide it but I just twitched my ears and pointed to them as he just gave another laugh as if he forgot that I had them.

He stood there for a moment awkwardly fidgeting at the slightest sound before he sat down pushing the box off to the far side of the bench, as if I didn't notice.

"So," I started, "You've been hanging around with Cardin and his gang from what I hear."

I heard a short gasp escape from him as he turned away from me as we sat there in silence until a few minutes later I saw the light of track heading out way.

"You know," I said to him as the doors opened, "It's not my place to say anything to you Jaune, but your team is worried about you. They need their leader back." I told him walking into through the opened doors.

I felt it needed to be said, but then I heard him laugh, but not in a fake or at me kind of way.

"It's funny. Rwby said the said thing to me just a while ago." He said smiling a bit at the ground, "But's hard. I don't know what to do, but if I don't then…" He paused before shaking his head side to side, "No, just forget it. It's not like you would understand." His tone of voice getting angrier it seemed.

This took me back a bit, I had never heard this tone come from Jaune before but the way he said it angered me slightly.

"And what is that supposed to me Arc." I said in an irritated tone.

Then I saw this scowl appear on his face as he turned to me, "You know what I mean Fang! You're the top student out of all the first years!"

"That is nothing but a title that I was given. It means close to nothing to me." I told him which only seemed to make madder as he balled his fist together.

"You really don't get it. You're strong! You always have been and always will be while me on the other hand, will always be weak." He started his ranting once more, but his tone lowered and I think I could see his shaking slightly, "I'm not as strong as Ruby, Pyrrha or you. And I never will be! You won't understand what it's like to be dead last in everything. My whole life I've been pushed around and picked on. And I have always been saved, and I'm sick of it!"

I bit down on my tongue and tried to reason with Jaune, "Then stop pretending to be someone you're not Jaune." This made me give me a question look, "You're right when you say that you'll never be as strong as Pyrrha, Ruby and myself," This made him mad, but I wasn't doneyet, "You have the potential to become even stronger." This made him really confused.

"Wha?"

"You may think that everyone is strong but there something you are forgetting Jaune. At a point in time we were just as weak as you are now. And believe it or not, I'm not lying when I say that you can be just as strong as we are. You have the potential, it's just that you don't see it. Do you want to know why I am as strong as I am now?" He was hesitant but he nodded his head and I reached into my pouch and pulled out a picture and held it out to him.

"Wow, she's really pretty." He said looking at the photo in his hand but then he turned his head and I guessed he noticed it, "Say, isn't that Hana and you?" He said as I nodded.

"That is Misaki, Hana's adopted mother, and in a way an older sister figure to me." This time I gave a slightly downcast look.

"Where is she now?" He asked which only made me bit down on my tongue once more.

"Jaune, that photo is the only thing that remains of Misaki." I said and he gave me this questioning look before the realization of my words got to him and he let out an 'Oh'.

"I'm sorry." He said handing me back the photo but I shook my head.

"Don't worry about it, I was trying to make a point to you Jaune. I wasn't strong enough back then, I wasn't strong enough to save her. I was weak." I looked him straight in the eyes, "But that is what made me stronger. I became strong not just for myself but for those around me. For those I care for, so that I never have to lose someone again. That is what gives me the strength it's my motivation to keep on fighting. That is my center, and you Jaune." I pointed to his chest, "You can become as strong as me, you just need to find what it is that are fighting for." I finished telling him, and what I said seem to get to him because for the rest of the ride home, he looked as if he was in deep thought.

And once we arrived back at Beacon, we silently walked back to the dorms, Jaune wondered off without another word but I said all I could say to him. But what happens now it entirely up to him. I could only do so much to try and help him.

Once I was back at the dorms, I pulled out my scroll and unlocked my door expecting to find Pyrrha standing the ready to lecture me, but instead I found the room was dark and there wasn't a single sound coming from within.

I turned the lights on and saw the room was empty, Pyrrha and Hana were both gone and there was a note on the table next to me. I picked it up and read it over.

"Fang, Hana is sleeping with me in my team's room. So don't worry over her. See you in the morning. –Pyrrha."

"Somehow I get the feeling that I messed up." I said to myself as I put the paper down and started to remove my clothing and headed to the bathroom and took a quick shower before I called it a night.

Somehow I couldn't shake the feeling tomorrow something big was going to happen.

-TBC

Hey guys, 3ndless here. Sorry that I haven't been posting as much as I said I would. Life has been hitting me pretty hard and I got a job as a secretary now so I'm working full time which leaves me with little time to write between the long days. But I want to thank all those that have been asking me to continue writing since I have been in a rut for a while now about if I should or shouldn't continue my Fanfics. So I want to thank you all once more! 3ndless out.