Black Paladin

Chapter 6: Jaune, and Alternate Plot.

Instead of the rope and books that were originally planned to make bunk beds, I levitated the beds into position, and grew elegant spires in red, white and black. Then I took some yellow spray paint, and finished up the color scheme making a stable and awesome looking bunk bed system.

After one particularly memorable and bad day class, Jaune changed, and unfortunately not for the better.

It started with a particularly nasty blow sending Jaune to the ground, Cardin stopped to gloat, "This is the part where you lose."

Jaune begins to argue, "Over my dead-!"

Jaune's statement cut short as Cardin knees him in the gut, making Jaune drop his sword and fall to the ground, again. Cardin raises his mace and is about to slam it down on a defeated Jaune just when the buzzer rings, the lights swell back on, and Glynda demands, "Cardin, that's enough!" After a tense moment, he relents and walks away as she comes onto the stage, tapping her tablet.

"Students, as you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament-styled duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle, and that the official may call the match." Glynda continues, while Jaune lays on the floor in defeat, Glynda turns her head to look at the warrior as he pulls scroll, to look over the stats it collects. "Mr. Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your Scroll during combat. Gauging your Aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it is better to move to a more... defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowulf, now, would we?" She finishes with what I believe is sarcasm.

Cardin mutters, getting off stage "Speak for yourself..."

Glynda turns to the rest of us, saying, "Remember, everyone, the Vytal Festival is only a few months away! It won't be long before students from the other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!" Yang, pumping up; Weiss, cheerful movements with an excited smile, and Ruby Rose, shaking her entire body with enthusiastic energy while squealing softly. While Blake and I are more, controlled.

The bell rings, and we all start leaving.

After combat class, we all had lunch, team RWBY and JNPR get lunch together most days.

Nora telling a story, about a recurring dream "So! There we were, in the middle of the night..."

Ren, comments dryly, "It was day."

Nora turns to us, continuing "We were surrounded by Ursai..."

Ren comments dryly, "They were Beowolves."

"Dozens of them!" Nora screams, as she stands at the table of both teams while Weiss and Jaune all but ignore her.

"Two of 'em." Ren comments.

Nora continues, only growing more boisterous "But they were no match... And in the end, Ren and I took them down and made a boatload of Lien selling Ursa skin rugs!"

Ren sighs, "She's been having this recurring dream for nearly a month now."

Pyrrha asks, "Jaune? Are you okay?"

Jaune's head snaps up, "Huh? Oh, yeah! Why?"

Ruby continues, "It's just that you seem a little... not okay..."

Jaune, growing more concerted as attention turns to him, "Guys, I'm fine. Seriously! Look!" he gives us a lame thumbs up, while laughing nervously. Until our attention is turned to CRDL, standing around Velvet, pulling her ears, as Cardin laughs at her and Sky holds up his hands to his head in a mock interpretation of her ears.

Pyrrha continues, "Jaune, Cardin's been picking on you since the first week of school!"

Jaune bluffs, "Who? Cardin Winchester? Nah... He just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes!"

Ruby comments, "He's a bully."

Jaune bluffs, "Oh, please! Name one time he's 'bullied' me."

As Ruby and Pyrrha share several stories of Cardin being a jerk, I look to see if I ever got anyone from CFVY, but I don't.

Jaune attempts to laugh it off, "I didn't land far from the school!"

Pyrrha consoles, "Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask."

Nora suddenly excited, "Ooooh!" as she stands, "We'll break his legs!" Then suddenly her hammer disappears from her hand, and in mine. To Nora's dis, and Ren's pleasure.

Jaune defends, "Guys, really, it's fine! Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me; he's a jerk to everyone."

They all look over as the laughing grows louder, mixed in with cries of pain from the rabbit girl when one of her ears are tugged on by Cardin.

Velvet cries, "Ow! That hurts!" grimacing, "Please, stop..."

Cardin laughing, "I told you it was real!"

Russel guffaws, "What a freak!"

I gesture, and again, Cardin is pinned to the wall by his shoe. As both teams looks at me, "That's you?" Ruby vocalises.

"No it was the Karma fairies." I respond, calmly finishing my meal. "So Pyrrha, we never did have than spar." I say, "You good this weekend?"

Pyrrha looks stunned for a moment, "Sure."

"K, text me a time." I say, taking up my tray.

After lunch, we have history, and Oobleck talks fast, and during his lecture take zooms around the room, and occasionally take sips of coffee, or whatever is in his thermos, "Yes! Yes, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution-more popularly known as the Faunus War-" *sip*"-humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing Faunus population in Menagerie." smacks the map, with his pointer, in the wrong place, "Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why, the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day!" *sip* "Now! Have any among you been subjugated or discriminated because of your Faunus heritage?"

Velvet and other raise their hands.

Oobleck continues, "Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember, students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence!" *sip* "I mean, I mean, I mean just look at what happened to White Fang! Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point in the third year of the War? Yes?"

Weiss answers, "The battle at Fort Castle!"

Oobleck harps, "Precisely! And, who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?"

Jaune suddenly awake, mutters, "Hey!"

Oobleck suddenly in front of Jaune, "Mr. Arc! Finally contributing to class! This is excellent! Excellent! What is the answer?"

Jaune sputters looking over the us, specifically Pyrrha "Uhhhh... The answer... The advantage... that the Faunus..." as Pyrrha make a vision motion, "...had over that guy's stuff..." less subtle seeing in the dark motion "Uhh... Binoculars!"

The class laughs, and rightfully so, and Oobleck looks disappointed. Pyrrha sighs and facepalms, as Cardin pounds his fist on his desk while chortling.

Oobleck suddenly at his desk, "Very funny, Mr. Arc! Cardin! Perhaps you would care to share your thoughts on the subject!"

Cardin snarks "Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal than a soldier."

I look back, "Well you would know, you unhousebroken b.."

Oobleck demands, "Enough!"

Pyrrha says, "Faunas are well known for their night vision."

Blake comments, "General Lagune was inexperienced, and made the mistake of trying to ambush the Faunus in their sleep. His massive army was outmatched, and the general was captured." she turns to Cardin, "Perhaps if he'd paid attention in class, he wouldn't have been remembered as such a failure." drawing a variety of smirks.

Oobleck calls, as Cardin stands, "Mr. Winchester! Please take your seat." as Jaune laughs, Oobleck is suddenly in front of him, "You and Mr. Arc can both see me after class for additional readings." *Sip* much to their displeasure. "Now! Moving on!"

On Friday, Jaune and Cardin are suddenly inseparable. While Pyrrha looks at him like something the cat dragged in. During lunch the next day, I sit by her, and ask "So, what did Jaune do."

She looks shocked for a moment, before asking, "What?"

"Well normally, Jaune would sit with you, and you aren't angry with him, while Jaune doesn't look like someone kicked his dog. He is also sitting with Carden, so I have to assume that he did something stupid, and either he feels Carden is a safer option that you, which would have to mean he did something colossally stupid, and is a moron thinking that Cardin could slow you down." To her light coloring, "Or he did something fairly stupid, and Cardin is using it as leverage."

She looks at me in parts shock, and concern. "What if he is simply expanding his circle of friends."

"I don't think that any decent common cold would want to be near Cardin, next." I say, drawing a smile, and a small laugh.

"What if…" She begins, before sighing. "What would you do if someone told you a secret that shook your faith in that person. Something unforgivable, something that disgusted you, and made you reconsider if you can be around that person?"

"Well, first why?" I asked.

"What?" She responds.

"Not what, we established that." I said, again drawing a laugh, "Why? Why did this theoretical dumb blond do this unforgivable thing."

"I don't care. What he did was wrong!" She demands.

"Pyrrha. I have found that very few things are unforgivable." I said, before, drawing a deep breath, "Pyrrha, if I confessed I had killed someone, what would you think."

"I would be shocked." Pyrrha said, after a moment of consideration, "But I would want to know the situation."

"When bandits attacked the town I lived in, there were times when they refused to surrender, or were doing something truly unforgivable, and I killed them." I said, feeling lighter, "Does that make me a bad person?"

"No, you were defending yourself and others." She says, consoling.

"Thanks." I smile, grateful for her acceptance, "Now let's say this blond, Jaine, let's go with Jaine." She smiles, and hits my arm at the subtle association. "Did this unforgivable thing, why did he do it?"

"He wanted to have an opportunity beyond his ability. One that he felt would validate him." She says, coldly.

"Beacon?" I asked, to her shock.

"How..? I..um..what are you insinuating?" Pyrrha stutterd, growing red, and flustered.

"I admittedly had my suspicions, given his grades and combat prowess." I say, "Now I didn't say he didn't make it, but doubts."

"No, I was just optimistic." Pyrrha said, really down.

"So, you finished, I finished, and I don't think you have any more classes today. You want to spar?"

She perk up slightly, "Sure."

"May I take your bag on this fine day, milady?" I ask, overdramatically, drawing a laugh.

"Why, yes good sir you may." She responds, just as exaggerated, and we leave the cafeteria.

We talk on our way to the practice rooms. As we both sync out scrolls to our auras and the room.

"So, the room offers first blood, first strike and redzone. What do you want?" I ask, setting up the duel program.

"I never actually learned how those work." She says. "My duals have just always been red."

"First blood is the first person to take a single hit to their aura, first strike mean the first person to take a heavy shot, a direct strike to the aura, and redzone is standard. Also don't worry, the program in the room was designed by some kind of monsters. I have one calibrated on my scroll. It detects a 1% drop in aura for first blood, a 10% in one go for first strike, and then the standard 12% for red zoned."

"Lets see how long first blood lasts." She says.

"Never long." I say, activating.

The light in the room flash, and on the wall, our auras, the dual conditions, and a blank bar in the middle, for the victor. "Beginning program: First blood." Comes from the speakers, shocking both of us.

"This place had speakers?" I say, looking at Pyrrha, who shrugs.

We get into position, and I push the begin button my scroll, "Three, two, one, begin!" The room says, and we begin. I have Diva out, and Pyrrha flips out the rifle mode on Miló, and begins to fire. I get my knives out, and begin to intercept them, one at a time. After 8 bullets, she stops, shocked, "When did you learn that?"

"I lived in a small town where combat determined status, and for years, I couldn't afford to have ammunition that I didn't make myself, and that was viciously exploited by others. So I learned to use my daggers to block bullets, everything from sniper to sub, however a heavy machine gun, nor a minigun are within my capabilities. If Coco decides to put holes in me, I can stop about half of them. Which will give me time to respond, but still down like half my aura." I shrug, getting closer, then striking, slightly utilizing the striking properties of the KT, and lash out with powerful rapier strikes. She stumbles back slightly, before fully drawing Miló into its sword form, and her shield into position. She blocks left, and arks to the right. I twist, and catch her sword with my rapier, forcing her sword towards the hilt, then I extended the fangs.

These are small teeth looking structures that visually are for decoration, until they spring forward, and impact the base of my sword, pinning an opposing sword allowing me to disarm. She hits the trigger on the bottom of my sword, and finds her sword stuck. She pulls, looking up at me, before I twist, and disarm her. I unclamp her sword, and toss it, catching it, and ready my two swords. I move to swing and miss. Her sword refuses to hit her, and her shield covers my Diva. We stand in a standstill, as one refuses to hit her, and the other can be blocked.

I gain new inspiration, and go for just enough force to end this, with the flat of her sword. Then as I shift directions, I push down and feel physical force preventing me from getting any closer. I pause, and just push, and suddenly it slipped through and hit her, as she stands. Looking embarrassed, until it clicks. "Polarity."

She nods, slightly embarrassed. "I know this was a simple first contact.."

"Yes, because flying knives just happen naturally." I say walking over. "Pyrrha, never apologize for doing what you needed to do to win. Especially to me."

"I just, I am.." She begins to defend.

"Supposed to be better? The best?" I ask, to her slightly shocked face. "Pyrrha, I am the only person here. I don't you to do anything except try." I walk closer, and talk almost conspiratorially, "And do you want to see my recorde with my teammates?"

She nods, and I slide something on my scroll. On the wall appear the faces of my teammates, above them, First blood round, below them numbers; Ruby, 6/0/1; Weiss, 19/0/0; Blake, 8/0/1;

Yang, 16/0/0.

Below that was a second set of numbers, Standard Duel, in the same order; 9/0/0; 12/0/0, 13/0/0; 17/1/0.

Then Pyrrha's records pops up next to them. 0/0/1, 0/0/0.

"After 4 or five times Ruby and Blake got the memo, and starting going for a one hit attack. Weiss has too, but she just can't hit me, her style is too predictable. And Yang isn't one for a primarily skill based contest, she is by her own description, isn't a detail oriented person, she is 'a destructive force hammer, like her father before her.' You however, have the skill not only to adapt when I showed abilities you had never seen before, but not to give up when disarmed, against an opponent that you had no clue as to their standing against you. This is an exceptional ability, and why I wanted to spar with you." I finish, and draw my school again, so Miss Invincible Girl, would you like another turn in the ring with the Black Gladiator?" At her confused look, "In Spatrum, I got that name for brutally leaving no one standing in my wake." She nods, familiar with the people around her giving her a ridiculous name.

I drew my sword, and initiated another touch duel, and we began again.

And for almost a month, we trained, practiced, and had a blast. Occasionally joined by Nora, Ren, or the rest of my team. Only Jaune never seemed to show, and slowly, Pyrrha grew less upset.

Then, the trip to Forever Fall changed our dynamic.

Professor Glynda took us on a trip to Forever Fall, named presumably because it is always a red orange color of fall.

Glynda turns to the groups assembled, "Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sightsee. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so."

We stop as she begins to speak.

Glynda continues, holding an empty jar to demonstrate, "Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here by 4 o'clock. Have fun!"

Pyrrha and I can both hear, Cardin call, "Come on, buddy - let's go!" dragging Jaune away, to her frown, and my ire.

I was with my team, and NPR, collecting the jars of sap, and at Ren's silent request, floating all of the jars where Nora can't eat them. The roar of an Ursa can be heard and both teams draw weapons.

Ruby asks, concerned "Did you guys hear that?"

The three of Cardin's flunkies rush out of the forest, one, Russel, I think, yells, "Ursa! Ursa!" before running into Yang.

Yang demands, "What?!" picking him up by his shirt, "Where?"

Russel gesturing wildly back to the direction he came from, "Back there! It's got Cardin!"

Pyrrha shocked, says, "Jaune!"

Ruby commands, "Yang! You and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch!" They nod, and go,

Pyrrha commands, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, as the remaining four of us bring out our weapons, preparing for an encounter, "You two, go with them! There could be more!"

As we get to the clearing with the Ursa, we see Cardin attempting to run from the Ursa, but it leaps over him, clawing him away. He tries, and fails to get up and crawl away.

Cardin chanting, as the Ursa closes in,"Crap! Crap, crap!"

Pyrrha calls, watching "Oh, no!"

We can only watch as the Ursa leans over the not so innocent victim, raising its paw and swiping it down, only to be stopped by Jaune's shield, Crocea Mors. He struggles to defend a stunned Cardin, but as Weiss lifts Myrtenaster as she prepares to go help.

Pyrrha calls "Wait!"

Jaune takes the shield out from the Ursa's paw and slashes at its stomach, causing it to lash out and try to crush him. He rolls out of the way and jumps over its swipe at his feet, but he is unprepared for when it launches a claw at him in midair. He lands far away, yet is somehow immediately up on his feet and running passed Cardin as he charges again. The Ursa knocks Jaune behind it when he tries for a leaping attack and his Aura can't be too high. He grows angry again and starts to run at the Ursa as it also begins to dash towards him.

As they are just about to clash and we all see that Jaune has left himself completely open to the Ursa's attack, and Pyrrha lifts her hand out to him, gathering her semblance. Just as the Ursa is about to hit him, the almost invisible glow surrounds Jaune's shield and lifts it to block the swipe. Jaune uses the surprise defensive move to lean on the ground, push his shield back up, and swing his blade right through the Ursa's neck. The head falls to the ground as the body slams onto the ground.

Ruby looking to the smirking Pyrrha, "Uhhh... What?"

Weiss looks to me and asked, "I thought you needed...?"

Pyrrha explains to Ruby, cutting of Weiss's question "Well, Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs. My Semblance is polarity."

Ruby comments, "Whoa, you can control poles..."

"Ruby, what part of Jaune's shield is made of polls?" I ask.

Then she remembers the science notes she has been going over under Weiss' and my unforgiving eye, and mutters, impressed, "Magnets…Right?"

Weiss and I nod happily to Ruby, and Weiss asks, seeing Pyrrha start to leave, "Wait, where are you going?"

Ruby confirms, "Yeah! We gotta tell them what happened!"

Pyrrha asks conspiratorially "We could... Or perhaps we could keep it our little secret?" as she walks away as the three of us smile to each other in understanding, and turn to leave.

That night, in the training room, all eight of us present, we get an interesting surprise. Jaune walks in. Pyrrha stops her spar with Yang, and goes over, but not far enough for us not to hear, "No Cardin tonight? I thought you two were best buds?"

Jaune apologizes, "Pyrrha... I'm sorry. I was a jerk! You were only trying to be nice, and... I had all this stupid macho stuff in my head-"

Pyrrha consoles him, "Jaune! It's okay! Your team really misses their leader, you know."

She begins to walk over, as Jaune asks, "Are you still willing to help me get better?"

"Jaune look around you, what do you think we are doing here?" She asks, waving him over, and waving for me.

I walk over, slam Balta into the floor, and lean on it, and ask, "So Jaune, are you finally taking my advice?"

"What advice?" Pyrrha asks, turning to Jaune.

"On the first day, I recommended he became to very best he could be, in class, and in the ring, and a couple less important things, but that was sum." standing a little straighter.

Jaune blushes under Pyrrha's slightly harsher glare, and motions for me to move over, and drags Jaune behind us, before turning to me and asking in a whisper, "Is that when you realised, or suspected, or whatever vague adjective you would use, about Jaune's problem?"

Jaune looks scandalised, "Pyrrha! I thought that was a secret."

"Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead, Jaune." I say, casually, making him pale, "No, I am not going to kill you, it is a turn of phrase." I roll my eyes, "And Pyrrha, yes, when I mentioned something along the lines of his best being good enough to be here, he visibly looked pained, and showed several markers for shame. I suspected that his problem was there, and knew when I helped him up, to find he hadn't unlocked his aura.

She remembered that day, and nods, "So for training, we can help him, and for studies, what are you doing for Ruby?"

My evil smirk makes Jaune pale slightly, "That would require his consent." I turn to him. "Do you want help?"

Pyrrha turn to him, and nods, and Jaune slowly, nods, I turn and call "Weiss!"

As I just left mu dual with her, she is free, and walks over, "So Weiss," I continue, "Jaune here has volunteered for the same educational treatment Ruby gets. You interested?"

"Snow…" Jaune begins to flirt. Until I smack him upside the head.

"No flirting with Professor Weiss." I rasp, to Weiss, Pyrrha and my own pleasure.

He looks like someone slapped him...Oh wait. I did. Then his face changes to one of fear.

"You don't have class in the afternoon tomorrow." Weiss says, factually, "You will be joining Ruby in our Beacon review class, bring you scroll, and don't be late."