Jaune couldn't help but let the gasp of pain slip past his clenched teeth as he hit the wall of the arena that was his training area. He landed in a crouch and threw himself sideways as lighting, ice, and fire slammed into the place he had just been. His body glowed with white aura as he literally punched a dust icicle out of the air. He manipulated his aura for a few moments to form a sword out of his aura and glanced at it for a second as it was a dark red rather than his pure white. He was still having trouble instantly making any weapon form, which he should have been able to do. He slanted his sword in front of him as he blocked a spurt of lighting and forced it sideways. He watched as vibrant purple flared from the other end of the ring, his eyes widening as he leapt upwards only to be slammed down into the ring by a hail of jagged debris.

Glynda was a harsh teacher, within the first training (Jaune inwardly scoffed, training? This was torture!) session, she literally began to blast him with dust spells and whipping attacks from her crop, telling him to only use his aura to block it. Sooner than his aura dropped into low levels, he had gotten more than mildly irritated. Nonetheless, fought down the urge to rage and throw himself into an offense that would probably fail anyway. Growing increasingly irritated, he ducked around and evaded - unable to even form a semblance of an assault through the storm of spells - it had taken him a while to notice his white aura had splotches of red, purple, and gold bleeding through it. Finally as one blow broke through his crumbling white aura, his anger surged and he roared forward, glowing with his secondary aura flaring. He had actually startled Glynda with the sheer speed and power he attacked with.

Nevertheless, Jaune was still outclassed and outmatched, despite his power and speed, he lost one of his most valuable assets, his tactics and strategy (he inwardly lamented that trade-off, his only real asset was his ability to strategize). Without that, he was nothing more than particularly stubborn bull, trying to tackle and beat down whichever opponent he was facing. Glynda had faced much more able opponents, and even though it took a decent amount of firepower, she unceremoniously beat the charging first-year down into submission with a particularly vicious combo of elemental spells.

Over the weeks of grueling training though, Jaune had discovered there was an interesting way to bleed sanity into his usual rage. He had to let himself slowly flow into his second pool of aura, it was difficult and he would have to occasionally hemorrhage his white aura, but the lower his first circle of white aura was, the easier he could tap into his darker aura without losing his mind. He sometimes was instructed to meditate and focus and draw out his deeper aura. Jaune was improving, but it was difficult, his second and denser aura would occasionally overwhelm him and he would struggle to retain his presence of mind. But with all the training he was definitely getting control and was able to better restrain himself.

He had managed to hold out on his defensive for an hour, which was at least ten minutes more than any of his previous defenses.

Which got rare encouragement from the usually stoic Glynda.

"You're learning fast," she commented, "which is good, but remember to not throw out using your second aura like a party favor. It can help you if people don't know it's there and you are at a disadvantage."

Jaune nodded and struggled to his feet, he had almost collapsed as he blocked her last attack, a massive wave of debris that he had to blow apart using a huge amount of aura, "Maybe, I should invest in learning a few dust spells..." He panted.

Glynda nodded, "There will be times where your bow and arrows won't be able to compensate for a spell, Arc. It would do you good to throw in some more variety in your long range attack capabilities. How have your hand-to-hand combat classes been going?"

Jaune shrugged and winced at the slight sting of his wounds before answering, "I am learning more every day, Ren been teaching me how to augment my punches with good form and stances. We should move into aura strikes soon, but I am still lacking in control necessary. As for weapons, Pyrrha is really pleased, she says I am learning to read my opponents much better, and I've been working on fighting with only my sword, no shield, I am figuring out how to use my agility to my advantage."

Glynda nodded, a rare glint of approval in her eye, "You really have come far since you've been here. You should be proud of yourself."

Jaune blinked, slightly surprised, but then nodded and grinned, "I couldn't have done it alone, I had a lot of help."

He bid Glynda goodbye and hurried off to dinner, he was starving.

Everyone watched as Jaune speed ate his way through his tray and plates of food.

"Uh, so Jaune, you're hungry, huh?"

Jaune looked up and swallowed his bite of cheese and broccoli, "Er, yeah starving actually, sorry..." He mumbled sheepishly.

Ren chuckled, "You don't need to apologize but-"

At that moment a voice with a dash of cowboy tang cut in, "Howdy, you mind if I it here?"

Jaune looked up to see a kid with a dark blue cowboy hat perched on his head and a mischievous grin, one that said he was plotting to blow up your room and laugh while watching. Not out of spite, but just to see the fire. Jaune blinked, he had seen this guy at the party, albeit drunk, but still. Two katanas hung behind him probably from the battle harness he had strapped on over the school uniform.

"Sure, if it's okay with everyone." Jaune replied.

There were shrugs or nods all around the table. Dante plopped himself down between Lorenzo and Velvet, making Lorenzo sigh slightly, "Dante, shouldn't you be with your team?"

Dante's grin faded slightly, "I would but Vaughn is still too wary of me and is just being a bit annoying, he has tried to tone it down, but his hate for the forces runs deep. Daisuke is practicing his fighting with Drake, they were both cleaning up when I left the arena."

Lorenzo paused and rubbed his chin, "I could talk to him, Vaughn say she doesn't like the police... Never said why, though."

Dante shrugged and put his dinner - which was shrimp - in his plate and took out a bottle of barbecue sauce and slathered it over his shrimp before spearing it with his fork and eating. Everybody stared at him. Jaune poked distractedly at his food, beginning to tune out the conversation until a small nudge knocked him out of his thoughts, he glanced at Pyrrha who was looking at him.

"What?" Jaune murmured.

"Dante asked if you wanted to meet his team." Pyrrha said.

Jaune turned to look at Dante, "How about my entire team and Team RWBY? I think your team and Team VILT have already talked a few times."

Dante nodded energetically, Lorenzo grinned, "Yeah, we were sent on a few joint missions," Lorenzo said, "I know the members pretty well, Vaughn has an issue with the cops and it's a big issue, something from a long while ago... He wished he could trust you Dante, but he was just so mad at the police..."

Dante flung up his hands in exasperation, "I am not even a part of the academy! I quit because the zencocks were cramping my style! Plus they were all racist asses..."

Ruby tilted her head, "What's a zencock?"

Dante grinned roguishly, "Don't ask."

Yang eyed him, she blinked and her pupils became red, "You'd better not be teaching my little sister swear words..."

Dante waved his hands frantically, "Nope! Nada, I got the message."

At that moment, two other boys walked up, Dante visibly brightened and waved eagerly, "Hey guys! Perfect timing! Teams JNPR & RWBY, this is my team members, Drake and Daisuke. Drake is the blue-eyed, red-haired one with the claw shoes; he likes faunus and is calm and cool most of the time. Daisuke is the shorty with spiky black hair that flops over half his face, loves dress shirts, and shares Ren's ethnicity! He was actually interested in talking to him for a while. Don't worry, if he comes off as rude at first, he just doesn't know ya, he is actually a goof!"

Daisuke scowled a bit and flicked Dante's forehead, "Aw shut up, I have to be intimidating! My height doesn't give me a lot of help with that!"

Yang smothered a snicker, "I have to agree with you there."

Daisuke flushed and looked down nodding, "Yeah, I know..."

Ren raised an eyebrow, "So you wanted to talk?"

Daisuke looked up, flashing a small smile, "Yeah, wanted to know where you came from and what you fight with, thought it would be cool to see..."

Daisuke engaged Ren in conversation, which actually flowed very easily between the two.

Dante turned to Drake, "Oi, where's Vaughn?"

Drake took a bit of his dinner, "Had a small bit if work to finish, and should be here any minute now. He was wondering if you got your half done."

Dante popped another shrimp in his mouth, "Gotcha. I almost finished mine, just proofreading."

Drake looked though he was exasperated, but there was no genuine heat.

They talked for a bit before a cat-eared faunus walked up, "There you guys are! Oum, you guys are hard to locate! Dante, you got your half done?"

The boy had wild, salt and pepper, black and grey hair with a matching colored tail that twitched, flicked, and swished in slight annoyance. He had a grayish choker that accented his hair nicely, he was lean and muscular with black fingerless gloves.

Dante leaned back looking sheepish, "Just proofreading, Vaughn."

The boy - now identified as Vaughn - literally growled, "Dante you said you'd have it done! All of it!"

Dante bristled a bit, "Well, I can finish it in a flash! Besides you're the one who was in the library a minute ago!" He heaved a sigh, and motioned toward the table, "Anyway, meet teams JNPR & RWBY. Guys meet Vaughn."

Vaughn blinked and smiled sheepishly, "Ah~ sorry 'bout that. The professors are pushing pretty hard, usually I don't like or follow orders, but you know how it is."

Jaune agreed.

Blake looked at Vaughn with an amused expression, "You're telling us?"

Vaughn looked at Blake with a fleeting and odd expression before he masked it with a devious grin, "I just did, didn't I?"

And like that, Team JNPR, RWBY, and VILT had a new group to add, Team DVDD or Divided. Dante was just as insane at Nora at times and just as energetic, thanks in no small part due to the ungodly amount of Demon Juice - and energy drink on steroids it seemed - he drank. Daisuke was a bit of loner but warmed up to Ren, jokingly calling him a kindred spirit at times, but if anything his apprehension had lessened. Drake was calm most of the time and Dante warned everyone to try not to piss him off. Dante claimed it was a hard task, but if you managed to piss Drake off, you were in for a hell of torture. Vaughn was friendly with everyone after he determined that they weren't racist. He constantly chatted with Blake, despite his nature almost being Blake's opposite, she warmed to him like a good friend.

Jaune assumed things would be pretty well.

Then he ran into the leader of Team MRDR.

Matchitehew Dalgus.

Jaune was walking down an empty hallway when he sensed the muted bloodlust that was radiating from behind him. He turned his head as if he was cracking his neck and noticed the boy with red hair that hung in his face walking behind him. Jaune slowed until he drew level with Him and then fell behind, eyeing him the entire time. Jaune sighed and made to move past him. The boy didn't respond in anyway, until in a flash he was twisting and throwing a heavy haymaker straight at Jaune's head. Jaune ducked and shifted around the attack, spinning with an elbow that the red-head moved forward to avoid. Jaune took his stance and his hand drifted over to where he usually kept his sword strapped to his waist.

He grimaced as he realized as he left it in his combat lockers, he was going to start bringing it with him everywhere.

"Ah~ sorry, but you were sneaking up on me." The Boy said.

"Who are you?"

The boy grinned, "My name, Jaune Arc, is Matchitehew Dalgus. I am the leader of Team MRDR, and recently transferred here..."

Jaune waited.

"... from a well-known academy."

Jaune alarm bells probably broke with how much they were ringing. That was much too vague of an answer, it answered but it didn't specify anything, this kid knew how to tell a good lie.

"What? Academy?" Jaune hissed slowly.

"Why Should I Tell You Academy." Match joked.

"Why did whoever sent you here send you here? Don't play games with me Match, I know the way people are, someone sent you here for something, and I doubt it was to become valedictorian of the class. You give off a certain feel too, like a loyal dog, you listen to him no matter what."

Match's face twisted into an expression of anger, "Watch it, I'll rip your tongue out of your mouth, Arc."

Jaune gaze became dark, "Why don't you try it, lapdog bitch?"

Match reached for the flail on his back and unsheathed it. Jaune knelt down and pulled out the black combat knife - the one he had gotten from his impromptu hike in the mountains - from a holster on his thigh, except he had it upgraded. Jaune asked Ruby to give him a few tips and he had it added and folded it, even adding an aura shift and endurance enhancement. He pushed some of his aura into the weapon and with a small flick of his wrist, the thick blade unfolded out into a serrated black sword with his aura flowing through it like data lines.

Match grinned, "That small toothpick won't even block one blow from lighting strike."

Jaune took a deep breath, "We'll just have to see about that, won't we? We don't have to this. Walk away."

Match stalked forward.

Glynda wasn't pleased, Jaune wasn't at class, and she knew he wouldn't ditch her class, especially not her class. What worried her was that new transfer student from Simult Academy was also missing from the class. Ozpin had said Jaune had some 'tensions' with the principal and to keep a close eye on the students in case of an altercation. The other three members were sitting in their seats and smiling slightly as though waiting. Glynda's intuition flashed and she knew something must be happening, she would check after class.

Jaune flipped back into a handstand and threw himself away as the flail's club bashed down where he just was. Jaune tried to maneuver away and out of the school onto the grounds to lessen the damage, but Match had guessed this and kept him boxed in.

"Match stop this, I don't need or want to fight you!" Jaune tried to reason with him, "We don't need to continue this!"

Match grinned savagely, "But I want to fight you. My... Associate was very interested in you. Don't try to talk you way out of this."

Jaune angled his blade and blocked a powerful side swing of Match's flail. He jumped back and noticed students hanging out in the hallway. Match followed his gaze and grinned, he shot the club of his flail and toward the shocked students. Sparks flew from the club as it flew.

"No!" Jaune roared.

He shot forward and threw himself in front of the blow, the club bashed his shoulder and there was a loud pop as his shoulder moved out of its socket, despite the aura Jaune had concentrated there. Jaune hit the wall and tumbled down in heap in the middle of the hallway, his shoulder screaming in pain. Jaune screamed as Match slammed his foot down on his chest and began to slowly grind his foot into his chest.

"Ha! You good guys always are idiots! Why save those total strangers?" Match sneered as he mocked him.

Jaune grimaced and slammed his hilt into the back of Match's knee, he grunted as his knee buckled. Jaune managed to roll out and away from him, his arm hung limply from his shoulder. Jaune pushed his shoulder back in with a burst of aura-powered strength. He hissed as pain flared in his shoulder and it began to throb and ache.

"Match, you crazy bastard! Leave these students alone! They don't anything to do with our fight!" Jaune growled angrily.

"Actually Jauney Bombastic, I disagree!" Said a voice.

Jaune turned and saw a familiar dark blue cowboy hat, "Dante?"

Dante strode forward and pulled out both of his blades, twirling them in his hands. "For one thing, you hurt my friend, that already enough for three strikes, you saucy little bastard! Next, you can't fight without pulling cheap trick like attacking other students? Jaune doesn't need to fight you any longer! You'll walk away, or I'll make you!"

Jaune got to his feet, only to feel a hand on his shoulder. Jaune turned and saw Vaughn, Drake, and Daisuke standing behind him.

"Stay back, Jaune." advised Daisuke, "Dante is right, you're our friend and you're not alone."

"Yeah, I'll even help Dante tear that prick a new one!" Vaughn growled.

Match tilted his head, smirking, "Fine. I'm definitely be looking forward to our next fight, Jaune."

With a wave he walked away.

Jaune rotated his shoulder as Dante sheathed his blades in his holster, "You alright?"

Jaune nodded, "Yeah, my aura's already patching it up."

Dante glared at the hallway that Match had been walking down, "Who was that zencock?"

Jaune frowned, "I don't know, but he knows me and is someone who just transferred here, there is no way I am that popular, so he must have had previous knowledge."

Then he glanced at his watch.

"OH. CRAP." he whispered.

Jaune bid Team DVDD good bye and ran down the hall. He was so late. He rubbed his shoulder as he ran feeling the bruise and wincing at the slight throb it gave as he squeezed his shoulder.

He hoped it would heal up before anyone got too suspicious.