A/N: Hey look at this I got another chapter out only two days after the last chapter. But anyways I really hope y'all like it!
Monday's class was just finishing up and Doctor Arc was having his Dust Chem. students clean and put away the equipment they had used during the day's Lab. Even though class had gone on as usual, something seemed a little off with their teacher. Pyrrha could tell, he seemed… crestfallen. But despite him clearly being upset about something he still managed to be the fun and happy teacher he always was, making jokes and being fun even while teaching his class what they needed to know for the future.
"All right guys, class is about to end!" Jaune announced loudly "Please remember to do the assigned reading for tonight and finish the worksheet with it!" he says with a smile, even if his eyes didn't reflect it.
A minute passes and the bell rings, all of the students begin to collect their things and walk out, but Pyrrha was surprised when the Doctor called out to her.
"Miss Nikos… please hang around for a few minutes." he says, almost hesitant.
"Of course sir" she said with a smile, she could see him almost wince at her smile. What was wrong?
"Pyrrha, want me to wait?" Jane says looking at her partner
"It's fine, I'll meet you all back at the dorm." she says with another smile. She waits by the front counter while all the other students shuffle out, Cardin giving a quick jab of "oh look who's in trouble!" he was surprised to see a glare from his teacher as he quickly left. After everyone was gone, Jaune got up and closed his classroom door returning to his desk he sat down gesturing for Pyrrha to also sit.
"Please sit."
"Thank you sir. Um, did I do anything Wrong Doctor?" she says nervously.
"No you didn't, don't worry Pyrrha." her teacher said with a smile, but somehow he seemed… sad. He sits back in his chair with a smile sigh taking off his glasses and cleaning them.
"How are you Pyrrha?" he asks leaning forward.
"What?"
"How are you? Since our lunch conversation I have been thinking about you." he says with a smile. This was a genuine smile and made Pyrrha's heart fly, he was thinking about her.
"I'm doing quite well Doctor, thank you." Pyrrha says with a smile
"I'm glad, I hope none of your classes have been too challenging for you." he says "Including mine." he chuckles.
"I will admit, at times they can be a lot of work, but with my team I have been managing fine."
"Good, you haven't been having any trouble as leader I hope?"
"No, all my teammates have been nothing short of wonderful."
"I hope you have been able to handle my sister's… unique personality."
"Of course, Jane has been one of my greatest friends since being here."
"I'm happy you two were able to make friends. And you haven't had any trouble with fans since coming here I hope." he says looking a little concerned.
"No not really sir. I had the occasional excited student or insult due to my winnings."
"I'm sorry miss Nikos." he says with a sigh
"To tell you the truth I have been watching over your team, not just due to my sister but also I was worried about you, I understand the pressures of being not just a champion but a leader… It can be a lot. But I have been nothing but impressed with how you have handled both, with ease you won over your team and have led them valiantly. You have never cracked under pressure and I respect that." he says with another smile. Pyrrha had to look down to hide her blush, the man she was infatuated with just gave her so much praise. It felt wonderful.
"Thank you Doctor." she says quietly.
"Unfortunately." He starts his face going from a smile to a frown, his eyes lost some shimmer and dipped a little. "This small check up is not the reason I have called you here today."
"Is everything alright Doctor? Have I done something wrong?"
"No no. you have not done anything wrong. I was told to inform you. Starting tomorrow you will begin personal training with myself." he says, his voice not sounding exactly thrilled about it.
"What?" she asks surprised, of course she was happy to spend more time with him, but why personal training? "Am I falling behind in advanced combat or something?" she worriedly says. Jaune shook his head.
"No it's not that… you see Headmaster Ozpin has instructed me to begin personal training you." he explains
"Why would he ask that of you?"
"It would seem he has also taken an interest in your career. As many people want to see you succeed Professor Ozpin saw fit to talor you to be the absolute best you can be." Jaune says with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I understand sir." Pyrrha says with a nod. "I look forward to training under you."
Jaune only smiles and closes his eyes for a minute.
"Tomorrow at 5, before dinner we will train for an hour together. This will happen every day most likely for the next four years. With the exception of weekends of course… You are now free to go miss Nikos. Have a good evening." he says with a nod.
"Thank you sir. Have a good evening too."
"Thank you. Oh and Miss Nikos." Jaune says as she walks away. She looks at his face and this time it is unmistakable, there was regret.
"I'm sorry." With that he walked into his personal lab leaving a slightly confused Pyrrha to walk out of the classroom right into another Girl.
"Off" the other girl says as her glasses were knocked off.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Pyrrha says quickly bending down to pick them up.
"It's okay, actually it's my fault sorry. I should have been more careful." the girl says
"I should have also been more careful. It's really my fault. I'm sorry."
"How about we just share blame and say it's both our faults?" the girl says with a smile as she puts her glasses back on.
"That sounds like a fine Idea." Pyrrha now also smiles.
"I'm Casey, Casey Steelburn by the way." she says holding out of her hand.
"I'm Pyrrha, Pyrrha Nikos" She says taking her hand and shaking it.
"Oh cool, You're that first year girl people were geeking about a while ago." she says
"Yes I suppose I am." she says
"Oh, i'm sorry I didn't mean to phrase it like that."
"It's okay I'm used to it. You said I'm that first year person you were talking about, what year are you?" she asks
"Oh me? I'm a third year." Casey says with a bright smile.
"Goodness, I can't even imagine being a third year yet." Pyrrha says
"The first two years go by a lot faster than you would think." she says with a wink
"Do they? Well anyways. I see you're going to visit the Doctor."
"I am, actually I'm training under him to become a dust chemist." she says proudly
"Wow, I like dust chemistry well enough, but I doubt I'll ever be good enough to be a dust chemist." Secretly she couldn't help but be a little jealous, this girl also got to spend time with the doctor.
"Well it's not for everyone, but personally I love it! Apparently my grandpa was a dust chemist."
"I personally believe it's great to have a life passion. It keeps us working to our goals."
"I totally agree! But now sorry I should really get going. I'm late to start studying." she says, looking a little sad. "It was really nice to meet you Pyrrha, I hope we see each other again."
"As do I."
With that the two girls split ways, happy to have made a new friend.
After getting back to her dorm Pyrrha opened the door and was shocked by what she saw. Apparently team RWBY was visiting. What she saw before her was Ruby and Jane Wrestling on the ground, a cookie jar between them, Yang and Nora Cheering them on loudly Ren napping on his bed While Blake sat near Weiss on the ground attempting to pull a small trash can off the white haired girl's head. At the sight Pyrrha lost it and began to laugh. She laughed until it hurt and she cried, her laughing was contagious and eventually the chaos stopped and everyone was laughing (With the exception of Ren who was asleep and Weiss who still had a trash can on her head.)
"What's going on here?" she asked, finally pulling herself together enough to speak in between giggles.
"Well…" Jane started.
"After we left, we all decided to go back to our dorm to study for a while." Ruby continued
"Ruby I was gonna tell the story." Jane complained
"You were taking too long with the dramatic pauses!" she counters
"Dramatic pauses help create tension! Don't you ever read books!?"
"NO THEY BORE ME!" she shouts back
"GUYS I'LL TELL THE STORY!" Nora shouts happily
"NO!" Ruby and Jane say in unison, both knew Nora was notorious for mixing up details
"Fine then," Nora says pouting on her bed.
"Please just tell the story." Blake says finally pulling the can off Weiss' head.
"RUBY I SWEAR TO THE GODS IF YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN I WILL FREEZE YOU SOLID!" Weiss shouts. Ruby just rolls her eyes
"Oh come on it's not like you couldn't breath, you were yelling with it on."
"That's not the point!"
"Please just tell the story." Blake says with a sigh.
"Well anyways as I was saying We came back for a study session, everything was going well. Ren finished first and started napping."Ruby began, as if on cue the Ninja boy gave a small sigh and sat up.
"It's hard to nap with all the yelling," he says quietly.
"But then Yang pulled out the cookie Jar and all hell broke loose. We all got one to begin." Ruby conutined ignoring him
"You forgot they were the cinnamon chocolate chip I love!"
"It's not that important!"
"It's why we were wrestling! Just let me tell the story!"
"Fine." Ruby says with a huff
"So, we were eating my favorite cookies, and Ruby loves all cookies, and after a while there was only one left. So naturally both me and Ruby wanted it. We played 8 rounds of rock paper scissors because Ruby was cheating."
"How do you cheat at Rock paper scissors?" Pyrrha asked smiling
"Really carefully." Ruby replies
"Then we decided to arm wrestle for it. But while we were arm wrestling Ruby tried to take the Jar! So I Tried to take it back and we fell on the floor. But then Weiss came up and took it from us saying because we were bad now no one gets it."
"So of course I shoved her head into the trash can." Ruby says with a shrug.
"Which you will never do again." Weiss threatens
"Oh whatever Weiss cream." Ruby teases.
"But anyways then Ruby tried to semblance her way out of here with the jar so I tackled her and grabbed it. And now here we're are."
"Like I said it's still your fault it started, and it's your fault the chair broke. Ruby Jabbed
Pyrrha hadn't noticed that before the chair was missing both legs on one side.
"Wait how did that happen?"
"When Jane pulled me out of the chair." Ruby says casually
"No it's because you struggled." Jane says
"Hey you wanna go again!?" Ruby says puffing up
"Bring it crater face!"
"Yeah? Vomit girl!?"
"MOTION SICKNESS RUNS IN THE FAMILY!"
Pyrrha just starts Laughing again and walks over to the Jar on the ground picking it up. It was a cute Jar in the shape of a smiling cat. She took of the top and promptly took out the cookie taking a bite of it.
"WHAT PYRRHA!" Both Ruby and Jane yelled in unison, their jaw's dropping.
"What? Don't I get a cookie too?" she says with a teasing smile on her face.
"We have been betrayed!" Jane says tears in her eyes
"Why didn't we just spilt the cookie?" Ruby says also crying
"Oh Ruby I'm so sorry!" she cried grabbing the reaper girl
"Me too, Let's never fight again!" wrapping her own arms around Jane
"I love you Rubes!" Jane says still crying over their lost snak
"I love you too Janey!" Ruby agrees crying also
"Pyrrha continues to laugh.'' After everyone calmed down they finally began to question Pyrrha about her whereabouts.
"Hey anyway what did Doctor Arc what to talk to you about?" Jane asks, sharing a bag of chips with Ruby who was leaning against her. Pyrrha had seen how close they had gotten, they were clearly best friends maybe even more. That didn't bother Pyrrha. She liked Jane and was a great friend but not like that and besides, she had eyes for another person.
"Oh nothing important he just wanted to check up on me."
"Really? Pyrrha tell us the whole truth please." Jane says with a smirk before quickly biting a chip out of the air Ruby tossed her.
"Fine, Doctor Arc is going to start training me personally." Pyrrha says quietly
"OOOH Pyrrha has a boyfriend!!!" Jane teases making Pyrrha Blush madly.
"No I don't! He's engaged and doesn't even notice me like that!!!!" Pyrrha sputters before clapping her hands over her mouth realising she basically just confessed to liking her teacher.
The entire room was silent for a moment before Nora broke the silence.
"And here I thought only Yang was thirsty for the Doc."
Pyrrha Blushed madly and hid her face from the group wanting only to crawl under a rock and die
"Hey it's okay Pyrrha, no one could blame you after all no one could deny Doctor Arc is hot." Yang says.
"And he's really nice too so I get it." Ruby also tries to be nice.
"Even I can see why my sister loves him" Weiss also adds.
"My brother is really charming. Pyrrha doesn't feel bad about it, but we all have crushes in our lives sometimes." Jane says secretly looking at Ruby. she couldn't help her own feelings after all.
"It's perfectly natural to like someone you admire." Blake adds trying to help
"And who knows maybe you'll meet someone you like just as much as the Doc." Nora says smiling. Pyrrha smiled, she was thankful to have such good friends, they didn't tease her they just tried to help. But sadly this moment was ruined when Ren let out a semi loud snore. With everyone now laughing Pyrrha couldn't help but hurt inside, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to move on from the man known as Junae Arc… she couldn't understand why but she felt a real connection with him and it hurt her.
After finishing with his lessons for Casey, Jaune made the trip back to his quarters. Only teachers were allowed to have alcohol on the campus and Jaune needed a drink. So he passed his door and made his way down to port's room knowing the older man would be sure to have some burning whisky. He knocked on the door and waited till he heard the loud voice of his fellow teacher saying
"You may enter!"
"Hello Peter." Jaune says entering the room. It was similar to his own room slightly different and rearranged. And with a lot of animal skins on the floor.
"OH hello Jaune!" Port says with a smile "How can I help you lad."
"I was hoping I could bother you for a drink." Jaune asked
"Of course my friend. Rough day Huh?" Peter asked, walking to his liquor cabinet. Pulling out some strong whisky and two glasses. He walked to an ice chest and opened it putting some ice in one cup "On the rocks?"
"No thanks I'll take it straight."
Peter closed the chest and walked over the table sitting down and pouring the hard beverage.
"Thanks," Jaune said, taking the glass as he sat down at the table.
"Now tell me friend, what is troubling you?" he said heartily
"Oh nothing much. I'm just tired Petter. These last few weeks we've had a lot of catching up to do. And then the testing for my combat classes… just drained me is all." he says taking a sip of the hard liquor enjoying the burning feeling that went down his throat.
"I understand that, when I was younger I often found myself tired with all the work from teaching. It took a while to get used to. Heh, are you familiar with a man named Qrow Branwen?"
"Unfortunately yes, I have had the… pleasure to work with him a few times." Jaune said with a smile. It's not that he hated the man, he was just hard to get along with sometimes. Also it didn't help that his Winter basicly hated him.
"Hmm, Well I was a TA back in the day when he was still a student here. Him and his sister along with the rest of his team were an interesting bunch." Peter started. For the next few minutes while they sipped their drinks Peter told Jaune a story about Qrow wearing a skirt to initiate Jaune laughed and felt a bit better. Thanking him for the drink Jaune went back to his quarters. He still had about an hour before his usual call with Winter so he sat back on his couch and with a frown on his face reflected back to last friday when he got back from his testing grounds.
Jaune had never been such a mess of emotions inside, he had learned so much in only a few hours. Glynda and Ozpin had revealed to him not only does magic exist but there were four powerful maidens in the world, along with a witch known as Salem… the immortal Queen of the Grimm. He learned about the gods, about Ozpin's reincarnations. About so much of the world he never knew existed. And he was afraid. He learned about the relics and so much about everything. Even about Qrow, Ironwood, Leo and the headmaster of Vacuo… all of this was too much. And then they got on the elevator. He took a step out of it and found himself in a large chamber presumably under the school. And then he saw her. The girl known as Amber.
"Amber is the fall maiden." Ozpin revealed to him.
"What happened to her." Jaune said speechless as he approached the tank the girl was held in.
"What have you done?" he says turning on the headmaster.
"Please make no mistake Mr Arc, we have done nothing but help her." Glynda quickly says sensing Jaune's aggression. "Qrow tried to save her, but only got to her after this happened."
"Somebody attacked her Jaune." Ozpin explained. "We presume it was someone allied with Salem and with the marks on her face I think it's safe to assume we are right."
"Will she live?" he asked, turning back to the girl. She seemed about the age of his sister… she reminded him of Saph and it scared him more. Ozpin was quiet for a moment.
"It is unlikely. To have the power of the maiden forcibly taken like it was, it put too much strain on her body. She is dying Jaune."
"How could you let this happen?" he asks as he felt a wetness on his cheeks. She was no older than Saph… she was no older than Saph and she was dieing.
"We didn't intend to let it happen Jaune." Glynda says "We wanted to give her independence, but it seems we let our guard down a little too far."
"What of the person who did this did you get them at least?"
"No, if we had we might have been able to heal her. But her assailant got away." Ozpin said
"Why tell me all of this?" he says
"We need your help Jaune" he replies
"What?"
"We need your help. To ensure something like this never happens again. We have jobs for you do to." Ozpin explained.
"Why me."
"To be honest it's your semblance and combat power." Glynda commented. "Qrow is currently our only field operative and fighter. We are all fighters but Ozpin and I have a duty to the school while James remains in Atlas and Leo in Mistral and Vacuo has its own problems to deal with currently."
"You want me to be your maiden guard?"
"Yes Jaune it is important to keep the maiden safe." Ozpin said "It is our group's entire reason for existence. If the maiden power falls into the wrong hands then the consequences could be devastating."
Jaune wiped away his tears and turned back around. "Why guard her if she is going to die. He's probably thinking of her attack so if what you explained to me is true why bother protecting it. We already lost it."
"Because we haven't lost it yet," Ozpin says, taking a step forward, placing his hand on the machine before him.
"What do you mean?"
"It's thanks to this machine she is still alive. But it also has another purpose." he continues. "It may give us the chance to take the Aura from this gril and place it in another." he explains
"What?" Jaune asks a little menacingly.
"We could transfer the power this way safely keeping part of it with us as intended." Ozpin says
"I assume Glynda is your maiden choice?" Jaune says looking at the woman.
"No, she has other duties to attend to. We have a different candidate for our choice."
"Who?"
"Pyrrha Nikos." Ozpins says.
"What? No. no no No NO NO!" Jaune yells filled with anger. "You can't, she's just a girl! She's not even a huntress yet! I- I WON'T LET YOU!" Jaune says pulling out Poena and pressing it against the headmaster's temple, Glynda quickly whipped out her riding crop only to be stopped by a hand motion from Oz.
"Jaune please understand what we're trying to-"
"NO DON'T YOU DARE! IT'S WRONG OZPIN. YOU CAN'T PAINT A TARGET ON THIS GIRL'S LIFE!" He yells
"That's where you come in. you are to be her protector till she masters her powers and becomes a true hunter. Even after that I want you to watch over her." Ozpin says
"What?" Jaune questions
"I want you to train her Jaune." Ozpin says "I know You could train her to be a fierce warrior. Ever one better than I could ever teach her to be. Under your guidance and protection I'm sure she will be okay."
"You don't know what that machine does! Don't you dare put that little girl into it and test it on her!"
"We are out of options Jaune. If we could we would do it any other way. I see this as horrible, but necessary." Glynda says, trying to help.
Jaune stands and thinks for a moment.
"No I still can't let you do this, as a teacher I have to protect my students, even from you." Jaune says
"If you have any other Idea to keep the maiden power safe please tell me Jaune." Ozpin says calmly despite still being held at gunpoint. Jaune thought for a moment again before coming up with an Idea.
"Give it to me."
"What?"
"Give the power to me!''Jaune says, more determined.
"We can't weren't you, it has to go to a young girl!" Glynda exclaims
"Explain" Ozpin asks slightly interested.
"You said that machine takes Aura and puts it into something else? Then put it into me." he says determined.
"No that's not how it works" Ozpin's tries to say
"NO, Listen to me. If you take her Aura and put it into me does it really matter what the vessel is like? Even if I am a man and different if we're talking aura and changing its host it shouldn't matter, it was still the first person's Aura so it shouldn't matter what our body is like as long as the Aura is there the power should follow. "
"It's an interesting Idea, but not one we can risk." Ozpin says
"Why not!?" Jaune roars
"First we could lose the power if the Aura rejects you and it could kill you, Two the power could leave and go to a new host, or three the power could go to the attacker." Ozpin says
"That doesn't matter if you have me." He says
"Why not?"
"Cause if it doesn't work I'' kill the Maiden myself You've seen my semblance You know I wouldn't even need the semblance full time to kill a maiden. I would break her Aura and Drive my sword though her heart."
"And if the power goes to another new host?
"Then I'll find and kill her two if she doesn't come back with me. And I'll kill every evil maiden I have to find till one will ally with us." he says desperately trying to find a way to protect his student.
"It could take you years to do that."
"I don't care." he says determined "As long as Miss Nikos does not get that power I will do whatever I have to even if it takes my entire life."
"I'm not even sure if it would work to try and give you the power" Ozpin says with a sigh.
"Please I'm begging you." Jaune says, he dropped his revolver, it fell to the floor with a clatter. He then dropped to his knees and said something no one expected. "I Jaune Arc, Pledge my verying being and soul to you… Please leave Pyrrha Nikos alone and I will serve you loyally till the end of my life." he says this while shaking and a few tears fall from his eyes.
"Jaune… while the sediment is appreciated I have no need for a pledge of fidelity." Ozpin starts "But out of my respect for you I will ask James to look into this new idea. I expect you understand the consequences of its failure?"
"I do."
"Good, but as a back up plan I still want you to train Miss Nikos to be greater than the rest of her class. For now use the pretence of us expecting great things from her. But if the time comes she will hopefully still be our fall maiden."
"I understand, and I will obey." Jaune says even though it breaks his heart, he needed this plan to work or else he would be dooming an innocent girl to a horrible existence.
Jaune sighed and opened his eyes and wished he could have another drink. But right now he was going to talk to Winter. And for the briefest of moments be happy. He waited for a while as she told him she was going to call him today. And as if on cue his scroll started ringing. He opened the video chat function and smiled seeing the face of the woman he loves.
"Hello Darling." Winter says with a smile. And from her words Jaune felt his heart soar to the highest heavens.
"Hello sweetheart" Jaune says happily
"How have you been?" she asks her affection still in her eyes
"It hasn't been a great day, but seeing you always makes it a perfect one." He says making her blush
"Don't flatter me so much, I'm sure I don't always make your day perfect." she says, still a little embersed.
"It's true, every day I get to see you is a perfect day." Jaune says flirting
"Well, every day I get to see you is a perfect day too." Winter says flirting back "Anyways, may I ask why your day was bad?"
"Actually, It's classified." he says with a smug smile.
"Jaune." Winter says with a small glare. During their first few months of dating Winter had always had that response for questions he would ask. So now that they were close Jaune started to tease her about that. "That's not funny"
"I think it is." he says with a laugh
"You can be such a boob." she says with a huff
"Heh, you said boob" he chuckles feeling childish.
"Stop it, please let's just do some wedding planning." Winter says with a shake of her head.
"I would love that. Hey Winter." Jaune says
"Yes Jaune?"
"I love you more than anything in the world, I think of you in the morning in the afternoon and the evening, you shine brighter than the sun, look more graceful than the moon and shimmer more than the stars. I do and always will Love you with every ounce of my being." he says looking serious. Winter's face explodes red as she stares at her loved face.
"Oh… I love you to Jaune. I love you more than anything else in the world. And I can't wait to be your wife." she says blushing still but now smiling. For the rest of their call they happily did wedding planning and enjoyed each other's company.
The next day at 5 Jaune stood in the private training room Ozpin reserved for him and Pyrrha. He took the hilt of the I.C.B.S off his hip and looked it over. He attaches it to the sheath and leaves it there. He thinks to himself. If he was going to protect Pyrrha he was going to have to be even better than he is now that meant not only becoming better physically but it was time to update the I.C.B.S again. He looked up and saw as Pyrrha walked into the room fully dressed in her combat gear, and a feeling of fear and sadness came over him. He now had a job to do, no matter what happened he would protect Pyrrha from the fate Ozpin saw for her, he would never let it happen even if it cost him his life.
"Hello Doctor." she says happily approaching him
"Hello Miss Nikos, shall we begin?"
A/N: Hey y'all I hope you liked this. I really tried with the scenes for team RWBY and PNJR so I hope it was good. Slysage if you read this I am always looking forward to your review and advice. Have a great night darlins until next time.