DISCLAIMER: MONTY OWNS THIS ALL, CHARACTERS AND EVERYTHING. THE ONLY THING I TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR IS THE STORY IDEA!
Thank you.
ALSO
Apologies for not fleshing out the fight between Ruby and Pyrrha, I hope the ending to this chapter makes up for it.
Jaune had always been good with his instincts, running here and there, not going somewhere when he should, pretty much everything. Seeing as his instincts were almost always right, he had a pretty good idea that the battle between Ruby and Pyrrha would be a little wild if nothing else, since they were both girls, they wouldn't have qualms about fighting to the fullest. Hell, he knew women were more often than naught infinitely more terrifying than men. His mom had drilled that into him at a very young age that, never, EVER, underestimate a women.
'She was so right.' Was his only thought
The area that ruby and Pyrrha had been fighting looked as if a giant monster with claws went to town and had used guns on the field. Potholes smoked and peppered the land like Swiss cheese. Trenches were carved out of the ground like a massive knife had been scraping at it. Jaune paled as he noticed both Ruby and Pyrrha were still going at it though they were much more exhausted. Ruby jumped in the air bringing Crescent Rose down in a whirling arc of red. Pyrrha rolled to the side before flipping back and dashing forward.
Jaune made mental note to never piss either of them off, although he seemed to be doing a bad job of keeping them happy.
The instructor had given up on trying to stop them, and was waiting for them to realize the match was over or collapse.
Jaune, Yang, Weiss, and Nora were all cheering wildly, though Ren and Blake weren't doing so they were observing with considerably less volume. Ruby used her smaller frame and greater agility to try slash at Pyrrha from every considerable direction, but Pyrrha's skill with her shield made that useless. Pyrrha herself wasn't having the opportunity to counter-attack, while her spear did help with having an extended reach, she just wasn't able to match Ruby's reach with her scythe, not to mention the way Ruby twisted around on her scythe was jaw-dropping. Both sides had clearly used up whatever ammo they may have had, judging by the empty shells and castings that littered the field. Jaune was constantly cheering encouragement to both sides, Yang was yelling at Ruby that she could do it, Weiss was telling Ruby she still had a chance while telling Pyrrha that she was still able to finish this ,and Nora was yelling at Pyrrha that she could keep going. Ren and Blake both looked at each other and sighed, rolling their eyes.
Ruby jumped sideways as she avoided a slash and responded in kind with a reverse swing of her Crescent Rose. Pyrrha ducked under the swing and threw her shield which Ruby knocked away. Pyrrha closed in and slashed at Ruby with Miló, before kicking off the shaft of Ruby's Crescent Rose and landing beside Akoúo and picking it up. They clashed multiple times, sparks flying. It had taken several more minutes of intense fighting before both Pyrrha and Ruby had almost collapsed in exhaustion, called it a tie, and get carried to the medical tent. Both teams watched the carry them off with mild worry and slight exasperation.
"You know," Jaune said anxiously, "it was like watching them fight over something, it was kinda scary to watch."
Yang resisted the urge to face-palm and said, "Lets just go get evaluation papers, Jaune."
Fifteen minutes later, Jaune was looking through the papers that were written an evaluation. He looked at the comments written by none other than Glynda Goodwitch:
"Good fight overall, focus more on fine tuning your aura control. You were leaking amounts of aura that could have been used much more effectively if kept within your body or focused in your attack and counters. Your sword skills need to be improved if you are to counter attacks more efficiently, but are more than adequate for now. Innovative use of dust filled arrows, impressive. Your aim is already good, so it won't need much improvement, but do continue practicing. I would recommend you go for less combat classes and more aura control classes, as your excessive amount of aura seems to be slightly erratic in nature. You also lack a definite style of attack, while in some cases this is a versatile and innovative way to keep a foe off balance it, would be good for you to at least be proficient in multiple styles that have distinct counters to certain attack patterns. Impressive analyzation of opponent while in combat. Footwork and dodging was very well used, good instincts. Surprising grasp of aura manipulation.
Overall, a very good job.
I approve of your team to do D-C class missions."
Jaune smiled as he read making sure he would take Glynda's words and put them into practice. He folded them carefully and slipped them into his back pocket. He would ask Ms. Goodwitch what classes she would recommend later. He stood up and walked to the judges desk, he needed to get Ruby's and Pyrrha's papers.
"Um, excuse me," he asked one of the instructors, "I am the leader of Team JNPR, may I have the papers for Pyrrha Nikos and Ruby Rose?"
"Why can't they get them?"
"They are both in the medical tent from exhaustion. If you had seen them they kept fighting for several minutes after what was necessary, you wouldn't doubt they need some time for healing." Jaune said rolling his eyes in mild and amused exasperation.
The instructor nodded and handed Jaune both of their assessments. Jaune smiled and began towards the medical tents. He slapped his hand on the tarp, like he was knocking on a door.
"Um, excuse me, I have Ruby Rose's and Pyrrha Nikos' assessments! Can I come in?" He asked.
Right then the flap of the tent opened, and Pyrrha and Ruby walked out, both looking much better, although slightly tired.
"Oh hey guys!" Jaune said cheerfully, "I got your assessments for you, so here." He said holding out the slips of paper.
"Oh thanks." Ruby said quietly taking her paper.
"Thank you, Jaune." Replied Pyrrha briskly, grabbing her paper.
"Maybe next time, you two should consider stopping once the instructor says so, rather than waiting until you collapse." He joked, grinning.
Ruby and Pyrrha both flushed, and Jaune continued, "Soooo, what was with the grudge match anyway? Did one of you two wrong the other or something? That looked almost like the beginning of the next Great War!"
"N-no, nothing like that." Pyrrha said.
"Is it an argument?" Jaune asked.
"Kinda..." Replied Ruby.
"Can I help? My mom always said I was good at that sort of thing...mediating! Yeah, that." He offered.
"No, actually, it's a girl thing."
"Ah." Jaune said, back-pedaling, "You don't need to tell me twice."
Jaune yawned and felt gingerly at some of the areas where he was sure he had been sporting a cut or too. When he felt no pain, he flexed and jumped on the spot, making sure his body wasn't feeling any kinks. He didn't even notice Ruby and Pyrrha staring at him like he was crazy. He hopped in place for a minute or so until he caught them staring and blushed.
"Sorry," he said rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile, "I was just fighting Weiss and I barely won. I was pretty sore, so I had to go the medical tent and get fixed up."
"You won against Weiss?" said Ruby, stunned.
"Nice to know you were sure I would win Ruby!" he grumbled playfully, acting hurt.
"It's not that!" she backpedaled, "I just know that she is really tough! You are getting stronger!" she cheered.
Pyrrha cleared her throat, "You really are amazing, though. From what I saw of the fight with the Nevermore, she was key in beating it, I wasn't sure you could prevail at your current level."
Jaune laughed loudly, "You're right actually, I was surprised she didn't use more of her motion-stopping spells. I guess she thought she wouldn't need the against me. Well whatever, I guess I did alright, I will have to make sure I research if I can break through those. It might become a necessity in the future..." Jaune trailed off, getting lost in thought.
"So...Jaune who do you think was doing better and looked cooler in the fight between Ruby and Pyrrha?" said a spontaneously appearing Nora asked and had brought along with a group of people Jaune considered friends.
"Um...I guess that they were both equal!" Jaune said hurriedly.
Nora was about to speak but Ren butted in, may god bless him.
"Nora, you already put all of us through the crucible, let's give Jaune some privacy." he stated calmly.
Nora pouted but listened.
"Thank you." he whispered fervently.
"Don't mention it." Ren said under his breath.
Yang slung her arms around Pyrrha and Ruby and crowed, "I bet you really wanted to hear him take a side, huh?"
Ruby turned red and lightly smacked Yang upside the head while Pyrrha turned scarlet and extricated herself from Yang's arm, hiding a scowl.
"Why are you guys here?" asked Jaune, "I figured you would all be in the cafeteria or something."
"We usually would be, but we were down three people!" exclaimed Nora, "How can we eat when the entire group isn't there?"
A warmth blossomed in Jaune's chest as he heard Nora's statement, he began to laugh and slapped Nora on the back, "Alright then, now that the group is together lets eat, I am starving!"
The luchroom was the usual mess of noise and confusion except several people paused and stared for a moment as team JNPR and RWBY arrived chatting as if they hadn't a care in the world. Team CRDL walked up though Russell and Dove hung back, clearly not wanting to be there.
"Hey Jaune." said Cardin.
"Yo, what's up?" Jaune replied, smiling.
Sky sighed, "Jaune a moment please, we need you to step over here away from your friends."
"Sure." Jaune replied, shrugging nonchalantly.
"Hey! Wait a second, why can't we come?" Ruby asked indignantly.
Sky sighed and whispered something in Ren's ear. After Jaune had left to get Pyrrha's and Ruby's assessments, Sky and Cardin approached the team, Sky wanted to talk to Jaune to see if he was alright but instead found Ren blocking his path, eyes narrowed in suspicion. After a brief exchange they had found they shared many similarities, Ren told Sky that Jaune was fine, but needed to talk to Pyrrha and Ruby.
Ren eyes widened and his lips twitched as he attempted not to smile, "It's fine Ruby, I will tell you all about it, though you may want to be out of Jaune's immediate vicinity. That goes for you to Pyrrha." he said, obviously fighting a grin.
Yang flipped out a camera from gods know where, and hit the record button.
Jaune frowned, "Why did I do something wrong?"
"Yes and No..." replied Cardin carefully, "It has to do with what you did after your fight with Weiss ended."
"What, do you mean when I took my shirt off?" Jaune asked looking confused.
Sky, Ren, and Cardin facepalmed simultaneously, Yang laughed, Weiss sighed in exasperation, and Blake and Nora shook their heads sadly.
"You did what?" screeched Ruby and Pyrrha in unison.
Jaune was trying to placate two incredibly angry red-headed females, and so far the outlook on accomplishing that was more impossible than getting Glynda Goodwitch to tap-dance and smile at the same time.
Impossible to the infinith power.
Jaune was backing up, hands up in a surrendering gesture, "Wait, wait, I can see that was...indecent, but I had a good reason!" he pleaded, trying not to make Pyrrha and Ruby more angry.
"What would that be?" growled Pyrrha.
"Well, I had a few burns and cuts, and it was painful to leave my shirt on so I took it off. I really don't see why you guys are mad!" he said beginning to sweat a little as he considered running.
Ruby and Pyrrha though, already were already jealous, and now that he said that several other people, who were mainly girls (as he had also unwittingly mentioned), had seen him beat up and shirtless, he expected them to calm themselves. He really wasn't helping his case.
Of course his teammates would help him right.
Except for Ren, Cardin, and Sky, all of who were currently being restrained, no. In fact, Yang who had a camera and was filming the entire thing, was talking about the Internet. It also didn't help that several of the guys were trying their best not to laugh at his predicament and the girls began to loudly mention how ripped he looked. Jaune was backed up against a wall, literally and figuratively, and began to stutter apologies and promises to try not to do something like that again.
"I am sorry! Just don't kill me, take Dove or Russell's life instead! I have so much to live for!" He pleaded, eyes shut, shifting slightly to the side as Pyrrha's hand slammed onto the wall next to his head.
"Jaune, you are not getting off the hook that easily." Pyrrha growled.
He looked around and pointed at a empty space before yelling, "Oh my god, an Ursa!"
Everybody turned, and Jaune sprang into action. He vaulted over Pyrrha and Ruby's head grabbed an apple along with his canteen which he filled with water, grinned slightly and sped off out the door. Pyrrha and Ruby blinked and screamed angrily before chasing him. Ren sighed and finally managed to twist himself out of Nora's restraining grip as she burst out laughing like the rest of the cafeteria. He sprinted after them, grumbling about Jaune being an idiot. After Nora stopped giggling, she and the rest of the team followed them outside. A they caugh tup they heard Ren grumble about wishing he had known exactly what he had signed up with for the next four years.
Jaune had realized Ruby was one of the quickest people he had ever met. Moments after he tore out if the cafeteria like a bat out of hell, she was right after him. He was glad she was carrying Crescent Rose with her as it weighed her down just enough for him to have a chance. He bolted outside before abruptly stopping and whirling to face Ruby.
"So there is no chance of an apology fixing things right?" Jaune asked hopefully.
Ruby poked his side angrily as she closed in, "No! It won't, you can't just walk around shirtless Jaune!"
"I don't see how it bothers anyone!" He protested, "It was painful to leave it on, so I took it off, I won't let my cuts be anymore irritated than they have to!"
"Ugh, you're impossible to get mad at or argue with, you know that?" Ruby groaned, but she was smiling, "You make it sound logical."
"Pyrrha seems to think so, but judging by how she looks right now, it seems all to easy to get mad at me." He gulped, crouching behind Ruby and her cloak as Pyrrha arrived.
"Jaune stop hiding, I am not too mad, just exasperated." She sighed.
"Somehow I am still not totally reassured..." He murmured.
Ruby flicked forehead and he yelped, "Hey!"
"Payback, for trying to hide behind me." She said smugly.
"When does that require payback?" He asked rubbing his forehead with a mock scowl, and quickly flicking Ruby.
"Hey!" She said as he jogged backwards a few paces.
"Tag you're it!" He laughed before bolting.
"Oh it is on!" She yelled.
Then promptly whirled to tag Pyrrha, "Your it."
By then the rest of the group had come outside to see what had befallen of Jaune, they saw him and Ruby laughing as they ran from Pyrrha.
Nora pranced up to Pyrrha, "What are you doing?"
Pyrrha grinned and tapped Nora on the forehead, "Tag. Your it." with that, Pyrrha dashed off.
Sooner or later everyone got involved in the game and everyone decided to gather at the cliff of the Emerald Forest.
"That was fun." Panted Jaune.
"Worst part, without a doubt, was when Yang was it though." Ren laughed.
"Why is that?" asked Yang, eyebrow raised in amusement.
"You punched the ground to make a shockwave to trip us that nearly made a huge crack in the courtyard!" Weiss said, "That might of cost us alot of money if you let out too much aura!"
"That was so much fun to jump over though! It was like super jump-rope!" Nora squealed.
"At least until you got hit by it..." mumbled Pyrrha, who had been knocked back onto the ground.
"Hey at least we all didn't pull out weapons! Right?" Jaune said feeling the mood lessen slightly.
"True." Blake murmured, "Especially when everybody thought it would be good to try to use weapons to increase speed."
Everybody laughed quietly, just enjoying the moment, and of course that's when things went to hell.
Jaune stretched and fell back, and promptly heard a small 'click' as the ground he was sitting on lowered slightly. He turned and saw everybody staring at where he was sitting, he looked down and paled. He was sitting on one of the plates that launched students into the emerald forest. With the always 20/20 perfect hindsight, he realized it had not been a good idea to sit there. The gears whirred and settled with a small 'clack'.
"You have got to be kidding- GGGGAAAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhh!" Jaune said shakily before being shot into the forest at hi speeds.
"JAUNE!" His friend screamed.
Everybody ran over to a pad and stomped on it, but, as per Jaune's usual luck, Jaune's plate was the only one that had been unsecured. Jaune flipped in the air and righted himself, and managed to yell one thing as he drew his weapons.
"Get help!" He screamed.
Then he hit the foliage and disappear from sight.