Queens play

Chapter 14 the first challenge.

Jaune and Neptune shot forward at full speed towards each other as the match started. Jaune was taken by surprise as Neptune closed half the gap between them in seconds while he barely even made it ten feet. The most surprising was that Neptune had yet to change his weapon into its glaive or trident but left it in its gun form. 'Shit what's his plan?' the blonde knight thought as he closed in on the blue haired spearman. As the two reached each other he went in with a horizontal slash only for Neptune to jump over him with practiced ease. "Got you." Neptune said as he flipped over Jaune's head as he aimed his rifle and fired. As the Neptune fired Jaune stopped and spun with his swing as he lifted his shield up above his head blocking the two shots. 'Damn his defense is impeccable.' Neptune thought as he continued with his flip as he landed. As Neptune feet hit the ground Jaune spun around going for a thrust, aimed for Neptune's back. As his he finished his spin he thrusted forward for his sword to stop short as the shaft of Neptune's spear extended and slammed into his inner elbow stopping his thrust as well as forcing him back a step.

As the spears shaft slammed into Jaune sending him back, Neptune turned around and brought up the head of his glaive only for the knight to bring his shield up to parry the strike as it came across the knights shield sending sparks flying as he held the strike back. 'Shit I need to get past that damn shield.' Neptune thought as he pushed hard against the shield to try and knock the knight away, only to see that Jaune wouldn't budge an inch. As he held his ground against the spearman he took his chance as Neptune Paused in slight surprise, he thrusted forward again aiming for the center of Neptune's chest. Neptune fixed his misted quickly though as he lifted the shaft of his spear to parry the thrust causing it to fly over his head. As Jaune's arm was lifted up he used the momentum of thrust to shoulder charge the spearman knocking him back. 'Damn he reacts fast.' Neptune thought as he began to back pedal as he righted himself after the shoulder charge. As he back pedaled he readied himself for further attacks only to find that Jaune was still where he was last holding his shield at the ready. Neptune stopped his back pedal as he took his spear in hand switching it into its trident form as he took a low stance and readied for another charge.

'What's he playing at?' the spearman thought as he took a heavy breath. Jaune kept himself hunkered down behind his shield as he watched the spearman closely waiting for his chance. 'Damn I should have known what he was planning. If one has three different types of weapons he need not stick to one, when he is capable of switching between each.' He thought as he watched Neptune closely. As Neptune examined Jaune he tried to find an opening that he could exploit, as he followed the rim of his shield he saw that Jaune's legs were still exposed to an extent making them his only visible target other than the blonde's head. He let out one last breath as he shot forward again as he closed the distance with ease, only to find that the blonde knight began his charge as well Neptune took the chance as he started to close in on the knight he thrusted forward as the knight lifted his shield causing the glaive to grind across the face of the shield as he lifted it over his head as he slashed at the spearman's gut. Neptune felt as the sword slashed across his stomach he started to back pedal to put some distance as he went to jump over the knight again. Jaune watched as Neptune jumped and flip over him and spun so he could swing his sword aiming for the spearman's chest only for it to crash into the shaft of the glaive and get knocked to the side.

Neptune was forced to land in an odd way after blocking the strike as him stumble back falling into a back pedal to correct himself but this time he didn't have much room for correction seeing as Jaune didn't give him any space as he kept him within his reach as he started to slash at the spearman. He wasn't going to give Neptune the chance to change his weapon back, and he wasn't letting the spearman even swing his glaive as he stayed close enough for his sword to still be effective but rendering the longer weapon useless. 'Damn it he isn't going to give me a chance is he.' Neptune thought in frustration as every time he tried to mecha shift or slash at Jaune only to get slashed at as he dodge by a hair. The fight was beginning to become one sided as Jaune started to force Neptune to the edge of the ring. As Neptune back pedaled he finally felt his back crash into the arena force field as Jaune shot forward to try and slash at the spearman, only for him to see a smile spread across the spearman's face as the knights sword slammed against the force field to his surprise as Neptune leapt overhead of him again, this time mecha shifting his glaive into its trident form. As he landed he spun quick as he trusted his trident forward pinning Jaune's neck to the force field as the knight turned around, he then activated the electric dust within the head of the trident as it began to electrocute Jaune. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jaune began to scream out in pain as the volts of electricity passed through his body causing him to thrash about violently against the force field. He force himself to move through the pain as he brought his shield up and bashed the trident away using all the force he could muster as his shield slammed into the shaft of the trident knocking it away from him.

As the trident released its hold on him he fell forward onto his knees in Neptune's guard just barely dodging a second thrust that most definitely would have locked him back up against the force field and ended the match. As he fell to his knee he lifted up his shield and shifted his grip on it to have the point aiming forward with his knuckles as he used it as a gauntlet and punched Neptune in the gut sending him flying back. The strike had caught the spearman off guard he didn't expect the knight to still have any strength left, let alone enough strength to send the spearman flying into the air and ten feet back. Jaune spared a glance to the aura meters only to see he barely had enough aura to let him keep fighting if Ozpin or Glynda didn't stop the match, Neptune though was only just forced to half his aura. 'Damn if I block or take any more hits I lose I have to get one good hit at his head to force his aura to zero with a knock out.' Jaune thought as he turned back to Neptune as he stood back up after taking the hit. Jaune shot to his feet against his bodies will as it scream in pain as he exerted his aching muscles as he could still feel the burn from the current that had just passed through him. As the spearman righted himself after trying to reclaim all the air knock from him such a powerful hit his vision was blurred as well, so the sight of the knight to charge him was surprising.

As he stood back up he shifted his trident back into its gun form and took aim and fired, but with his blurred vison his shots were both wide. "Damn!" He cursed as he shifted his gun back into its trident form being unable to shoot straight. He readied himself as Jaune closed the distance and thrusted forward only for the knight to fall into a baseball slide letting the trident pass over head as he came up under the spearman's guard and slashed into the spearman's stomach and following through with another punch with his shield sending Neptune flying away again. He bent forward from the force of the hits as he folded onto the shield and was sent flying back several feet, this time he stayed standing as he watched Jaune close in only to swing his trident in a wide sweeping motion aimed for the knight's feet, forcing him to jump over it. Sadly as he did the spearman shifted the trident back into its gun form and took aim. With only him only 4 feet in front of the spearman he couldn't do anything but block the shots as he brought his shield up as Neptune fired at the still airborne knight. Sending him back as he fell onto the ground and rolled as a ding rang out signifying Neptune's win.

Jaune was sprawled out on the floor as he stared up at the aura meters to see that he only had but a sliver of aura left as it was red just behind the line indicating when a normal match would end, while Neptune had but a small sliver aura left ahead of the line showing that Jaune had just lost by a hair. Neptune stood panting as he looked at the aura meter as well. 'Damn just a hair that was a close fight.' He thought as he looked back to Jaune who was still laying on the ground. He began to make his way over to the sprawled out knight as he stood over him as he reached his hand out for him to take. "Thanks." Jaune said as he took Neptune's hand and stood. "Bravo that was a splendid fight both of you." Ozpin spoke as Glynda deactivated the force field so Ozpin could walk over to the two boys. "Indeed you two did magnificently, all though Jaune I have told you to watch your aura when fighting." Glynda said as she walked up beside Ozpin as the two professors walked up to their students. "I know Ms. Goodwitch, but I figured if I got one last good hit I might have won, but I was wrong."

Jaune said as he dusted himself off with a shrug as he turned to look into the stands as all his friends started to make their way down to him and Neptune. "Well at least you improved I am glad to see that." She said as the smallest of smiles formed on her face. That wasn't what he had expected but to see her smile was a new and very nice thing that he hoped he would see more often. 'She really should smile more.' He thought as he looked to Ozpin. "Well now with that finish I think you should have the rest of the day to yourself Glynda let's have this count to his "Detention"." Ozpin said as he did the air quotes and turned to a wide eyed Jaune. "Wait really?" He asked confused by why Ozpin would do that. "Because I told you that your detention was more of a consoling time or training to help you improve this was training and Glynda was here for it so I don't see why not." The headmaster waved his hand dismissively as he turned around and began to leave. "I guess I could be a little less strict this time but I still want you to stay after class tomorrow understood." She said as he gave a firm stare at the blonde knight. "Yes ma'am."

He said as he turned back to Neptune who just looked at him with a small smile. "Nice job man you got the rest of the day off." The spearman said as he patted the knight on the shoulder. "Yeah I guess I do." He said with a small chuckle as he turned to see Pyrrha Goggin up to him with the other in tow. "That was amazing I told you didn't I you have improved!" she cheered as she stopped right in front of the knight as she smiled brightly. "I have no doubt the next time you two fight it will be your win." She said confidence spilling from her as she stared at him with great pride. "She's right you did great!" Ruby cheered as she jumped at him, making him catch her as she hugged him with a hug smile. "You were awesome, I mean you were like swish, block, and stab then swish, swish!" she let him out of the hug and began to wave her arms around as she made sound effects. "I have to agree with Ruby you were amazing killer, were you been hiding all them skills?" Yang said as she rested her elbow on top of the little reapers head as she looked to the knight. "I just learnt them." He said as he smiled at the blonde brawler as she started to laugh. "Well, for first time use that was an awesome fight." She said as she laughed some more.

"You did great Jaune." Blake said with a light smile as she walked next to her partner. "Jaune-Jaune you were so cool!" Nora cheered as she bounced on Ren's shoulders. Said boy just nodded with a smile at his team leader. "Dude that was awesome!" Sun said as he jumped up behind the two boys and got them in a head lock. "I wish Jaune here was on our team now he would make a great addition." Sun said as he was pushed off by the two boys. "I must say I am very impressed you both did great." Weiss said as she walked up to Jaune and Neptune as they shoved Sun away. "I had to give it my all or I would have lost." The spearman said as he put his weapon back on his back in its carry form. "He's lying if he gave his all I wouldn't have even stood a chance, hell I still didn't he just let me get those hits in." Jaune said as he dismissed Neptune's claim of giving his all jokingly. Weiss could only sigh as she looked back to Neptune. "Why don't you two go get cleaned up and we all will wait for you?" She said as the two boys looked at themselves to see they did indeed need to get some dirt and grime off of themselves. Jaune had suet from when he was electrocuted and Neptune had dirt and dust all over himself from when he was knocked to the ground.

They shared a look and nodded. "You got it, mom." They said together as the heiress just glared at the two boys as she began to shove them away. "Just go and get cleaned up, I don't want to be seen around slobs!" She growled as she started to smack at them as they laugh and made their way to the lockers. "Alright, alright we get it." Neptune said as he made it into the lockers with Jaune as she stopped her swings and hmphed at them and turned away as she went back to the group. They both laughed some more as they entered the lockers fully. Weiss returned to the group as she strode back over why Ruby snickered and Blake held her book in front of her mouth hiding her smile, as yang laughed at her. "That's not funny!" the heiress said as she glared at her teammates as yang held her hands up in a defeated manner as she snickered. "Well whatever so what did you think about the fight Emer…." Ruby paused as she turned around to find Emerald and her teammates as she looked around to see they were gone. "Hu, where did they go?' She asked her teammates only to get a shrug.

Outside of the arena.

Cinder, Emerald and Mercury all are making their way back towards their dorm, while Cinder carried a smile at the fond memory of what she had just witnessed, even if Jaune wasn't the one to win to still be able to watch him fight was exhilarating it tingle with excitement at the thought of what she could mold him into. Mercury spared Emerald a glance as she watched their queen only for her to ignore him. He let out a sigh as he mustered up the courage he needed. "I am sorry Cinder but I still don't see what it is you need from that boy he is only barely capable and compared to be or Emerald he is far from close, in skill and power." The enforcer said as Cinder stopped in front of him and his partner. She turned around still carrying the smile she had before. "Mercury, can you really not see it?" She asked as she walked up to him as he stared down to his Queen. "I can't so please tell me what are you after with this boy?" he asked even with his questioning tone he was terrified he knew she didn't care if he died by he still wished to have an answer. "It's because he doesn't have any proper training any real skill or guidance, he is a child looking for his teacher to tell him what to do, and I will be that teacher. I will become the sole thing he needs, I will make him into my loyal pawn and mold him into the perfect tool, he already has the power he needs to be of use to us, he just doesn't have the guidance to use it."

She spoke in a soft tone as she looked up to her enforcer. "I will be that guide and make him mine to teach him to never betray me, he will become my greatest pawn." She said as she turned around and began to head back towards their dorm. Mercury just straight were he stood as he watched her leave, lost on what she truly was after but could see she had no doubt in her mind that he would be hers and that bothered him. He didn't like this one bit but how could he go against her, even if her were to fight her she would destroy him without a second thought, 'Damn, I really can't understand any of this.' He thought as he sighed heavily and decided to catch up to her. Cinder continued to walk towards her dorm as she hummed lightly, as she thought about what she had said. She had said the wrong thing by calling Jaune her pawn she just didn't wish to disclose all of her plans at the moment so she had decided to play with Mercury some so not to have him act out again. Though she found Mercury to be loyal he still had a knack for acting out and that was something she didn't like. She let out a sigh as she entered the transfer dorm building and made her way up the stairs to get to her room. She still carried her smile as she remembered the fight piece by piece, she didn't know why but she felt as if she had seen Jaune fight before. She couldn't place were the feeling came from but it was something that made her heart race as she tried to remember what it was that Jaune reminded her of, it was something that felt as if it was all that mattered as if it was what lead to this or more so a dream that only now was being achieved.

As she continued throughout the halls of the transfer dorms she turned to open up the door to her room as she saw Emerald walking up beside her. "Please go and watch him some more I would like to have some piece and quiet for some time so do not call for me unless it is unguent." She said as the mint girl nodded and turned to leave. Cinder let out a sigh as she opened the door and entered the room as she threw the jacket she had on at the end of her bed and laid down as she let her legs hang off the edge of it as she thought more on what it was she had felt from Jaune that was making her think so much. 'What is going on?' she thought as she looked up at the ceiling as she lifted her hand up and reached out. 'I feel like if I reach out he would come and take my hand. I feel like he has to be by my side no matter what. Why?' she was confused she was lost at what it was that she was after she couldn't place the feelings let alone make sense of them. She was so used to being the one who was chased after but never the one to chase after someone. But jaune was the one thing she truly wanted and she didn't know why.

She let her arm fall as she let out a sigh and let her eyes close. 'I should get some sleep before I think about this anymore, it won't do any good if I am not thinking straight.' She turned onto her side and let herself fall into a piece full sleep as she tried to remember a past that had been forgotten.

Memories.

A young girl who looked no older than 13 with ebony black hair, the girl was wearing a red sun dress with decretive designs across it. The girl seemed to be walking down an old stone bridge over a small river, as she carried a bag of groceries in her arms as she made her way home. As the young girl walked down over the bridge at the end of it sat a group of more girls all about the same age as her all sitting at and waited. 'Not again.' The girl thought as she held the bags closer and let out a deep breath as she resolved herself to get past the girls without trouble. She looked down as she started to walk to the end of the bridge. As she came up to the girl's one of them, a girl with long brown hair and a very fancy dress turned with a dark smirk as she looked at the girl. "Well if it isn't the little witch Cinder, I thought we dealt with you already I guess you were just too stupid to learn!" the brunette said as she walked in front of Cinder and stopped her. She didn't look up she didn't want to, she just shifted uncomfortably as the other girls walked up behind their leader. "Now either we teach you a lesson or you pay to pass back into that damned forest you call a home with your little Grimm pets!" the brunette hissed out as she stepped into Cinders space and looked down at her.

"P-please just let m-me pass May I don't have a-any money I just want t-to go home." Cinder said as she turned to walk past the girl now identified as Amber only for the brunette to grab hold of Cinders arm and throw her to the ground causing her to drop all of her groceries. "Then we will teach you a lesson as to why witches don't belong in Eden!" May said as she kicked Cinder in the stomach and started to laugh. "What's wrong aren't you going to fight back, I guess I want to curse us, you want to make us disappear right do it and then watch as the whore of a mother of yours gets killed because of you!" May said as she kicked Cinder again, this time instead of just cowering she balled her hand into a fist as the design on her dress started to glow slightly causing May and the other girls with her to back up. "Your right I want you to disappear so let me burn you to ash!" Cinders voice was cold and empty as she stood up as the girls started to back away as they saw Cinders eyes glowing. The girls all looked scared till a voice came from behind Cinder. "Hey what are you all doing?"

Someone asked as Cinder turned around to find the source of the voice to see a young boy, he looked 13 like her and the other girls, he was were blue cargo shorts with a red t-shirt on with an open black hoodie on over top of the shirt. The boy had a crop of messy blonde hair and ocean blue eyes, in his right hand was a practice wooden sword. "Are you girls picking on Cinder again, you know I asked you to stop." He said as he walked up to the red girl and stepped in between her and May's group. "But Jaune that witch is dangerous she was about to attack us for no reason." May said in a fake act of fanning innocence's as Cinder hid herself behind Jaune while giving the group of girls the finger and smiling. "Come on Cinder wouldn't do that, what is wrong with you, I told you she isn't a witch if she was I would be in danger whenever I was around her." He said making May take a small step back in shock, only for her act to break as she puffed her cheeks and glared at the blonde boy as she ran up to him and slapped him. "Fine than do what you want I don't care if you get burned to death!" May shouted at him as he held his cheek as she ran away wither group of followers behind her.

He just rubbed his cheek as he watched her go. "What did I do?" he asked as he rubbed his cheek some more as he turned to Cinder. "Hey are you ok?" He looked down to her as she smiled at him and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you Jaune, for saving me again." She said as she stared up at him as she let her forehead rest on his chest. "Of course I would save you, I would be keeping my promise to be your knight if I didn't." he said as she let go and looked up at him with a hug smile. "Right!" She said cheerfully as she smiled even wider at him.

End of memory.

Cinder woke from her sleep as she stared up to the ceiling as she remember her dream. 'That was Jaune.' She thought as she sat up and looked out the window as she thought more about what she just remembered. 'I found him again.' She smiled at that as she held her hand to her chest as she thought back on the memories of the person she held dearest. 'I need to tell him.' She thought as she stood up and reached for her scroll only to stop. 'No I must be patient I must first find out if he remembers.' She thought as she sat back down and pulled her scroll out and called Emerald. {Yes what do you need ma'am?} Emeralds voice came through the speaker as she answered the scroll. "Do return I must talk with you." Cinder said as she let a smile form across her lips. {Yes ma'am I will be right there.} Emerald said as she hung up the scroll as Cinder placed it down onto the bed and looked up to the ceiling as she thought back onto her promise with Jaune. "I will always be you knight I will never betray you so long as I remember you so don't forget me, I shall never go back on my word because an Arc never goes back on their words." She couldn't help the smile that came to her lips at the thought of the memory of when Jaune had said those words to her. 'Jaune, I am so glade I found you again.' She thought as she laid across her bed and smiled.

End

An/ yeah quick update. Do leave a review and feedback. Follow and fav if you wish.