In this chapter: Jaune decides to deal with Cardin and also give the grimm a taste of genocide by finally letting loose. Words of wisdom from Ruby and disciplinary actions on Goodwitch's part. Jaune apologizes to Pyrrha.

"Damn Rapier Wasps, they hurt like hell." Jaune muttered as he resisted the urge to scratch the bulging stings on his arm.

Jaune had been stung by Rapier Wasps when he was little. His face had almost swollen up so badly that he had not been able to speak for days. It was a common reaction to the stings and future stings tended to be much worse. Jaune was counting his few blessings in that his recent stings only itched like hell rather than swelling to the size of his fist or flat out killing him.

Cardin and his team had called him aside after a lecture and taken him along on a 'bug hunt'. Only they had not planned to kill the wasps, but instead they wanted to capture them. Of course they had had him to do the actual work, not daring to approach the nest themselves.

Cardin and his team had been talking behind Jaune's back, thinking themselves out off earshot. They wanted to keep the wasps for a while to get them hungry. For what purpose Jaune did not know but it could not be good.

The stinger wasp were aggressive at the best of times. When hungry they would attack anything that came between them and their food. Jaune knew that from another assay Cardin had him write.

His team had been surprised when Jaune had left them to their own devices all of a sudden as he had gone to the library to write the damn thing.

Even Nora had thought it was strange. "Wait, didn't you finish that thing yesterday?"

"Oh, I told Cardin that I would help him with his, he simply doesn't have the time. Being team leader and all"

"Aren't you a team leader as well? How do you have the time?"

"I guess I am just that good." Jaune had lied, trying to pass it of as a joke as he scurried off.

"Could have fooled me." he had heard Ren say.

Those words had stung worse than the wasps for Jaune.

Jaune was certain that he could find a way out off him problem. If he only could think clearly. Ever since Cardin had began blackmailing him it had become hard to think. All Jaune wanted to do was to grab Crocea Mors and show it through the bastard's gut.

And Jaune's fangs, Dust, his fangs. Whenever he thought of Cardin it was like he had an itch in them, almost like a throbbing sensation.

Jaune paused in the corridor, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Murdering Cardin would not solve anything, unfortunately.

He let out his breath in a snarl in frustration, fangs bared like an animal. Some people had backed away from him, fearful looks on their faces. Jaune moved along as he did not have time for them.

With a slightly clearer head he contemplated his situation, beyond the noose Cardin had around his neck. He spent less time with his team than any other team leader and it was starting to have adverse effects.

There were tensions in his team. With him gone someone had to step up but the question of who it should be. Pyrrha would not like the position - for all of her talents, leading people was not one of them. Nora was too reckless while Ren had his hands full looking after Nora. In an engagement they would all pull towards different directions. Jaune was aware of this and he felt terrible for it.

Even Ruby is going better as team leader than him.

Jaune meant no offence to the red reaper who had gotten into Beacon two years in advance but COME ON!

After mending the issue of leadership, that Jaune had deemed foolish, Team RWBY had gotten along just fine. And now Jaune could not mend his own team's issues that he had caused.

His pride, what little he had left of it, was hurt.

'My team look to me to lead them but I can't lead myself out of a wet paper bag. What would Father think of me now?'

HANG ON!

Why was he thinking of 'Father'? Should he not be thinking of what his 'dad' thought?

Images of a great, golden figure flickered in Jaune's mind. It was very unlike the mental image of Jaune's dad, Augustus Arc.

'It must be the stress. That must be it' Jaune thought and settled down in the library.

That had been a day ago.

"Okay, I'll bite. Where is Jaune?" asked Nora as she jumped on her bed.

"He has been running late since he started hanging out with Cardin." Ren answered while cleaning his weapon.

"Sheesh, doesn't he know we are going on a field trip tomorrow? We need to sleep."

"Then why are you jumping on your bed?"

"To tire myself out so I can get some sleep."
With that Nora landed flat on her back on her bed, ready to call it a day.

"I am sure our leader knows what he is doing" had said Pyrrha sourly.

She had offered him help that he had refused. Until he got over his own hurdles she couldn't and wouldn't help him. Pyrrha did have limits to her kindness.

She felt betrayed in a way. Jaune had been her friend, her first and best friend at Beacon only to turn his back at her. She had hoped that he would be different from the others but she had been wrong.

She believed she had been quite clear with Jaune about everything after their last talk. Until he apologized she would not lift a finger for him. She would not help him train, she would not help him with his assignments, she would not even talk to him.

Little did Team JNPR know that the door to their dorm was not closed but stood ever so slightly open with Jaune behind it. He had heard everything.

He had failed them. He knew that.
He slumped down by the wall, not wanting to face his teammates now.

"Hey Jaune. Got yourself locked outside again, huh?" There was Ruby, ready for bed in her night clothes.

"For once, no, I didn't lock myself out again."

"So what have you been up to lately? Been hanging out with Cardin? Can't imagine why?"

Jaune sighed. He had already alienated his team, he would not alienate Ruby as well.

"I screwed up. I screwed up badly. I messed up and did something wrong. And when that came to bite me in the ass I took it out on Pyr and now… Now she won't even talk to me."

Jaune could almost feel his heart breaking when he thought back to what he had said at the rooftop. For all of his thinking he simply didn't have the courage to just walk up to his partner and say 'sorry'.
"I'm a failure."

"Nope." Ruby just dropped the word on Jaune like it was nothing.
"You can't be a failure because you cannot afford it. Your team needs you to not fail, so just don't."

"But I-"

"Chill. We all mess up sometimes, some more than others. But like my dad likes to say: "It's okay to mess up just as long as you learns something from it… and clean up after yourself." And by the looks of things it seems like it's time for you to get the metaphorical mop."

Jaune looked up at her. Bloody hell she was right! He had messed up and he would have to fix it. His team needed him. He had come to Beacon to prove himself and if that meant being team leader then he would do it. He had a team to look after and he would not lose it just because he was having troubles.

"Thanks Ruby, I needed that."

"No prob."

Jaune was silent for a while, thinking.
"Your dad, he seems like a wise man."

Ruby shrugged. "Kinda had to be, raising me and Yang on his own."

"Heh, I can imagine." The mental image of a single father looking after the two on his own when through Jaune's head. Dust, the man must have had a few tricks up his sleeve.

"Umm, are you okay? You keep glaring at me and your fangs are sorta creeping me out. No offence but…"

Jaune snapped awake.
"Yeah, sure, I get it. Good night, Ruby."
The throbbing in Jaunes fangs had returned and his throat felt like a desert.

"Night, Jaune. See you tomorrow."

Jaune pulled himself up from the floor. Ruby was right. It was time he got his shit together. He would find a solution once he has rested and dealt with this damn thirst. He would think of something.

He had to but he just couldn't think clear enough for that.

...Bloooood
...Driiink

Jaune shook his head, ignoring the ideas that had just gone through his head. Was the lack of sleep driving him mad?

Forever Fall was a beautiful place. The trees there were forever red, like the forest was going through a never ending autumn. Professor Goodwitch was overseeing the three teams: RWBY, JNPR and CRDL.

"Indeed the forest of Forever Fall is wonderful. Alas we are not here for the sights. Professor Peach has asked that you to collect samples from the trees deep inside the forest. I'm here to ensure none of you die while doing so."

Jaune did not listen to what the professor said as he brought up the rear. He had slept badly again and the thirst had not subsided since yesterday. He had downed several bottles already but it would just not go away.
It was maddening. He almost felt like taking the box with equipment he was carrying and bashing someone's head open or bludgeon them bloody.

He accidentally slammed into Cardin when the group stopped. The bully growled as he tightened his grip on the box he carried.
Why did Cardin carry it? All of the groups actual equipment was in Jaune's box.

At least the bump had snapped him out of his bloody daydream so that he could hear what Goodwitch was saying.

"You are all to collect one jar's worth of red sap each. Mind though that the forest is crawling with grimm so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will meet back back here at 4 o'clock. Find me if something happens. Have fun!"

Jaune made to follow the rest of his team. Today he was going to try to patch things up. Before he had even gotten a few steps someone from Team CRDL grabbed him and pulled him with them, away from his team.

'Damn it!'
Jaune held back an urge to start tearing up throats.

Ones again Jaune ended up having to do all the work while team CRDL lazed around. In truth, Jaune did not mind the work itself. It helped him focus, to keep his mind away from darker things. He did not keep count of how many jars he had filled.

He got down from the tree with the jar he had been filling up and looked at the progress he had made. Six jars in total. Odd.
Himself included the group only numbered five.

"What's the spare jar for?"

Cardin looked at him, a wicked smile on his face.
"Ain't that the million lien question of the day? Come along now and you will know."

The group headed towards where they had separated from Team JNPR and RWBY. Before they got to the meeting place they headed up a hill overlooking the rest of the surrounding area.

"Here we are and just in time."

Jaune looked around. There was nothing there. All he could see was his teammates down bellow. Was this some sort of sick prank?
"In time for what?"

"Payback. Miss-Invincible-know-it-all is gonna learn what happens when you mess with Cardin Winchester."
Cardin said and pushed a opened jar with sap into Jaune's hand.
"And you will be the one to dish it out."

The rest of Team CRDL snickered and looked down at Pyrrha who was collecting her sap from a tree. Russel readied the box they had been carrying, it buzzed. It was the wasps Jaune had collected. They were hungry from their time in captivity. Just the sweet scent from the jar in Jaune's hand was enough to make them almost break loose from their prison.

Jaune's eyes widened in realization.

He couldn't. Not even Cardin could be so touched in the head as to think this up. That many stings could kill a person, regardless is they had been stung earlier in life or not. And Pyrrha's armour would offer little to no protection from the wasps. They would be all over her!

"No." Jaune said in defiance.

"What was that?"

"I said no. I am not doing it."

"Now is not a good time to be stupid, Jauney boy! I've got Goodwitch on speed dial. One word from me and you are out off Beacon."

"So be it then."

Surprising Cardin and the others Jaune threw the jar at his tormentor. The glass shattered and Cardin stood there covered in sap.
"Don't open the box, idiot!" Cardin hissed at Russel who was fidgeting, not sure how to respond to the sudden development.

Cardin grabbed Jaune by his armor and lifted him up so his feet dangled in the air.
"You will pay for this, Fangs. And then I will send you to your momma in a box."

"Do what you want with me, but you will not lay hand on my legion."

"What did you say, you little runt?

"You heard me. Do what you want with me. I don't care."

"Not that, something about a legio-"

Cardin was interrupted by, not one, not two but three, roaring Ursai Majors, attracted by the negative emotions the boys were giving off.
Anger, disgust, fear, it was like sweet nectar to them. The sap on Cardin's armor was just icing on the cake at this point.

And more grimm were coming. There had been someone radiating negative emotion in the area all day and they could no longer resist.

Russel dropped the box and made a turned around.
"Ursa! Run for it!"
Dove and Sky took him up on his advice and started to run for the meeting point.

Cardin, realizing he could not outrun the grimm, let go of Jaune and hefted his mace, ready to make a stand.

It was folly on Cardin's part.

With a heavy swing of its paw the nearest Ursa Major threw Cardin sideways, disarming him in the process. Downed and unarmed Cardin was defenseless. He tried to get up but was too disoriented to do so. And the other grimm were headed for them.

Cardin saw the Ursa loom over him, saliva dripping from its jaws.

It readied to strike, to put him down for good. He closed his eyes and started to mutter a small prayer.
The blow never came.

THUNK!

There was the sound of claws hitting metal.

Cardin looked up. Jaune had gotten between him and the grimm, protecting him.

He saw Jaune push the massive claws away with a grunt only to turn to Cardin.
Cardin lost his breath. He had never seen a person so angry with him as Jaune was.

His pupils were pinpricks, his veins were bulging in his temples and the fangs, good Dust, the fangs! They looked like they were meant for Cardin's very throat.

With a snarl Jaune turned back to the grimm, eager to take his anger out on something.

Damn Cardin! Damn him and his Dust forsaken team to hell!

Damn them for their bullying! Damn them for their racism!

Damn them for blackmailing him! Damn them for having him do their work!

Damn them for wanting to hurt Pyrrha!

And damn them for making him save this piece of shit!

The Ursa Major roared in annoyance only for Jaune to answer with a roar of pure hate and anger. He wanted nothing more than to gut Winchester himself but he couldn't do that if the grimm got Cardin first.

More than a weeks frustration was set loose on the Ursa Major.
The grimm did not last long. Jaune turned to the newly arrived ones. They were drawn to him by the sheer amount of hate and anger he was going through.

They would have to do for now.

Team RWBY and JNPR were having some R&R at the meeting spot, all their sap collected. It was nice since there was no sign of CRDL, or of Jaune. All had been sad to hear Ren say that he had seen them pull Jaune along with them. Oh well, nothing they could do about it.

A roar went through the trees. Ruby bolted up from her resting place.
"Did you guys hear that?"

Yang nodded, trying to get a twig out off her hair.
"Yeah, sounded like grimm."

"Run for it! They are coming!"

All turned to see Team CRDL come running out of the woods. Russel collided with the blond brawler and fell to the ground.
"Out off the way, you bitch! The Ursai are coming!"

Eyes turning red Yang pulled the annoying shit stain up by his hair.
"What was that about Ursai?" she asked.
When she didn't get an answer she put more tension into her grip. Tears started to swell from Russell's eyes.

He tossed out his arm and pointed.
"Ursai. That way. Got Cardin."

There was the sound of shattered glass as Pyrrha dropped her jar of sap on the ground. "Jaune! Was Jaune with you?"

She got no answer. Yang added even more tension to her grip.
"YES!" shouted Russel as he tried to get out off Yang's iron grip. she merely tossed him aside.

There was another roar, unmistakably that of an large Ursa. But then there was another roar, human, but much more savage.

"That's Jaune!" said Pyrrha, heading towards the source of the sound.

Ruby got her weapon ready and turned to both of the teams, once again taking joint command of them.
"Yang, Blake, find Goodwitch! Ren and Nora, go with them. There could be more grimm coming!"

Weiss, Ruby and Pyrrha got up the hill in a rush. The sound of fighting had been getting louder since they had left the meeting place. They saw Cardin crawling on the ground towards them, away from the fight.
Despite not being hurt he was trying to run away.
He reached out to them only to be ignored as they just walked past him. They readied their weapons, ready to assist their friend but found it to be unnecessary.

On the ground there were grimm. Not dead ones, but wounded ones. The trio looked at a Beowulf, one of its hind leg skewered, trying to escape into the woods. Ruby did not let it.
It was not the only one. Throughout the clearing there were others, wounded in similar ways. And they were all trying to crawl away like something had traumatized them.

The sound of fighting came from just outside the clearing. It was dying down but was still ongoing.

"Wow! Is this Jaune's handiwork?" Ruby asked as she picked off stranglers with her scythe as she ran along.

"I can't imagine how but there is no other possible answer." Weiss answered.
"Oh sweet dust!"

They came across Jaune facing off against a Ursa Major, as large as the first ones that had showed themselves.
The bodies of his previous opponents were disintegrating around him.
The Ursa reared up, ready to strike its foe with its mighty claws.

Weiss lifted Myrtenaster, locked and loaded with dust. She did not care that Jaune had managed to cut down all these grimm on his own. He was clearly exhausted.

Pyrrha grabbed Weiss by the wrist. "Wait!"

"Why, can't you see he is in trouble!"

"Let him! Can't you see? He has been holding back on us!"

Indeed, it was clear that Jaune had been holding back on them. There may have been glimpses of this during class but then Jaune had always frozen up. Now there was no holding back.
But it was clear that he was tired and low on aura.

Jaune faced the grimm with his shield up, Crocea Mors ready to stab into the monster.
Dust, he was tired, no, exhausted. He had cuts and bruises all over his body, letting him know his aura was in the red. Any blow landed on him by the Ursa would kill him for sure.
But he did not run away.

He backed away from a swing from the grimm, and another, and another. He had to end this soon. He stepped closer, spinning around to gather speed for his sword swing. He could see a clawed paw head towards him. His shield arm was tired, too tired to get the shield up in time.
If he only could land his blow first…

Somehow he got his shield up, making the claws glance of it. Crocea Mors cut into the Ursa's neck and kept on going.
The grimm almost looked surprised as it looked at him with its beheaded head, the puny prey that had killed it. Then it faded away.

Pyrrha lowered her hand, the dark energy leaving it. She had managed to get Jaune's shield up just in time.

"Was that your semblance?" Ruby asked in amazement.

"Yes, but I think I will tell you about it later. I have to go fill another jar of sap. I sort of dropped mine."
She turned around and left.

Her partner was safe and sound. A bit battered but that was okay given what he had managed. Jaune had needed a win, she had figured, to get some proof that he was not a 'failure'.
Maybe with this he would get over it. Time would tell.

The two other girls stepped forward to check up on Jaune.
"Jaune, are you okay? You look a bit banged up?" Ruby said shaking her friend.

Weiss pushed back her partner. "Give him some room you dunce. Can't you see he needs air?"

Jaune did need air. He was gulping it down like it was the sweet nectar of life. He got up and kept moving if a bit wobbly. The grimm had been one hell of an outlet but the source for his anger still remained.

He made his way over the clearing, towards Cardin. The bully was leaning against a tree.
"Holy shit, Jaune! I don't even know what to say."

Not answering Jaune held out his hand to pull Cardin up. Cardin took it and felt himself get dragged up but he ended up hanging in Jaune grip.

Jaunes hands grabbed hold of the bully's neck and scalp, pulling the bully's head back.
The almost feral look in Jaune's eyes came back to life and he bared his fangs. They got closer to Cardin's face. With a snarl Jaune pulled his face back but his grip tightened.
All heads turned to watch what was going on. It almost looked like Jaune was about to tear Cardin's throat out.

"I did not save you for goodness's sake Cardin! I did it so I could tell you to stay the hell away from my team, to stay the hell away from my friends!"

"I'll leave them be! I'll leave them be!"

"Swear it!"

Cardin recoiled at the tone of Jaune's voice. Not even Cardin's father had ever used that tone with him.
"I swear! I promise I won't get close to them again!"

Jaune took a deep breath. Part of him wanted to hurt Cardin but that would be going too far. He was better than that, he had to be.
If he actually hurt Cardin he would be sent away, away from his team.
Jaune dropped the bastard down on the ground and left.

Then Jaune got an idea.
Butchering grimm and scaring Cardin had been cathartic but Cardin's punishment had only just begun. But it would not be Jaune who would dish out the pain. No, that would be handled for him by someone much more... experienced in disciplinary matters.

Still, he was exhausted, sure, but he had gotten some clarity of thought back.
He asked where all the others were. The rest of Team CRDL were headed up the hill to retrieve their leader. The remaining members of RWBY had gone to fetch Goodwitch along with Ren and Nora.

"Then where is Pyrrha?"

"She is off gathering a new jar of sap. Hers kind of broke when we came to help out. But I think we are out of jars." Weiss said.

It was true. To save space and lighten their packs only one spare jar had been brought along. And that spare had probably been the one Jaune had thrown at Cardin earlier.

Jaune asked the two girls to wait for a moment as he fetched the box with the jars he had filled for CRDL. They offered to do it for him as he was still exhausted but he insisted on doing it himself. It was HIS screw-up that HE was going to fix.

When they got back to the meeting spot all the others were waiting there with Goodwitch, filled jars ready to be turned in.
All except Pyrrha, the glass fragments of her jar were on the ground. What a stupid thing to get a bad grade for.

Jaune held out one of his jars to her.
"Hey, thought you might need one."

"Thank you." she said.

Jaune looked around at the ground, searching for the right words and the guts to actually say them.
"Um, Pyr, I mean, Pyrrha, could we perhaps talk later? I have something I would like to get of my chest."

"That sounds grand. I'll meet you at the rooftop."

"Thanks. I mean it"

He turned over to Ren and Nora and handed a spare jar to the boy.
"I noticed that this stuff is rather sweet. Think you could make something out of it?"

"Oh, I think I know just the thing." said Ren, accepting the gift and eyed Nora. She had already consumed one jar of the sweet stuff when he wasn't looking.

Jaune handed the remaining jars over to Team RWBY for 'extra credit' earning a suspicious glance from Goodwitch.

"Mr. Arc, are these not Team CRDL's jars you are handing out? Will they not mind that you are just handing out the sap they have collected."

Jaune hid a wicked smile. It was time for part two of Cardin's punishment.
"Oh, I'm sure they will mind but it is mine to give out as I see fit. After all, it was I who collected it, professor."

Goodwitch raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes, all they did was sit around lollygagging while I filled all the jars."

Goodwitch looked around. All jars but one was accounted for.
"All of them? Even the spare?"

"Yes, professor."

"For what reason? What use would they have for it?"

"They were planning to throw it at Pyrrha."

All gasped. Team CRDL that was approaching stopped dead in its tracks. The bullies knew that the game was up for them now.

"And for what purpose would they do that?"

"In Cardin's own words, to get payback on "Miss-Invincible-know-it-all" for outdoing him at one of professor Oobleck's lectures. Cardin's words, not mine." said Jaune, turning to Pyrrha as she gasped in surprise.
Dust, it felt good to get all of this of his chest. And it would feel even better soon enough.

Goodwitch's eyes narrowed on Cardin and his team who seemed to shrink under her gaze. She had already had it confirmed that they had left Arc to fend off the Grimm on his own, not to mention abandoning their team leader.
"Anything else?"

"Yes. After the sap would have been thrown they would unleash a nest of captured and hungry Rapier Wasps at her."

Stones began to shake and lift of the trembling ground around Goodwitch and a small hurricane was forming around Cardin and his bunch.
They were moving closer one another, embracing in a scared hug as their end was nigh.

"Is there any proof?" asked an absolutely livid Goodwitch.

Jaune pointed out that none of CRDL's members had any sap on their hand, something they should have if they had collected any. He also pointed out the wasp-box's last known location.
Instead of sending one of the students to go fetch it Goodwitch used her semblance to do so - preventing any and all chances of anyone meddling with the evidence.

Team CRDL who had tried to dispute Jaune's story with their own fabricated, incoherent and conflicting accounts shut up as the box flew into the meeting place.
It buzzed.

It was at this moment Team CRDL knew… that they had fucked up.

"Team RWBY, Team JNPR, you are free to return to your dorms. Just make sure to turn the allotted jars in to professor Peach in time."
Her word were polite but they were full of anger and disgust.

The two teams made for the school as Team CRDL covered in fear. They had wanted to stay and watch as professor Goodwitch delivered the ass beating of the century to CRDL but had been denied that pleasure.

Instead of having a case of victory entertainment Ruby got an idea. She asked if Ren could make a really big batch of pancakes and other delights with all the spare sap Jaune had given them.

Instead of giving them a simple yes, Ren listed all the different things he could do with it. They were all sugary tooth-killers The kind of treats that could melt down the teeth to the very bone. The teams had agreed for one of each.

As they walked they could hear CRDL scream for mercy but Goodwitch had none to spare. For RWBY and JNPR it was like beautiful music.

It had been a rather rowdy celebration that evening, attracting even the attention of Team CFVY. After a while Jaune decided it was time to head out. By then Coco had tried to start a conversation between him and Velvet five times and Nora was about to reach critical sugar levels.
After getting the other teams to agree to keep Nora from tearing their dorm apart in a sugar induced demolition drive he made his way to the roof.

Jaune had been slightly worried that Cardin would listen in on this as well but his worries were unwarranted.
In the dark of the night he could see Team CRDL, all of them limping slightly, heading to Forever Fall with glass jars in their hands. It was hardly surprising that Goodwitch would not let them get off the hook that easily. The sap collecting was a part of their studies and it was due for tomorrow.

And you know what else, dear readers?
All those essays and stuff Jaune had written for Cardin: complete and utter crap.
Cardin was going to redo a lot of courses for this year.

Suck it Cardin. Suck it long and suck it hard.

Oh, the delicious irony.
It was like Cardin being a hardcore carnivore his entire life only to be reincarnated as cattle that was aware of the fact that it would be eaten by the humans.

Soft footsteps behind Jaune let him know Pyrrha had arrived.
"So what did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry. Sorry for turning my back on my team. That I'm sorry for lying to you. Sorry for getting mad at you when you were only trying to help. You didn't deserve any of that. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. But…"
She tilted her head as if she was waiting for something more.
"... Isn't this the part where one is supposed to give an excuse for what they have done?"

Jaune shrugged.
"What excuse could I have? I had a problem that I failed to take care of and I let it out on you. There is no excuse for that."

"That's not true, Jaune. Something has been eating at you for over a week now. We all have a breaking point. And to be fair, I was being a bit immature as well. I overreacted to what you said because I refused to… see myself in your shoes. I mean, I didn't exactly make things right, now did I?"

"Yeah, but I still let it go that far…"

"Jaune, enough, I forgive you."

"Thanks Pyr, that means a lot to me."

There was still some things Jaune wanted to talk about but for now he was just happy that Pyrrha had forgiven him. It was a huge relief but there was one more thing Jaune had to get off his chest.

"Say, Pyr, would you…"

"Yes?"

"Would you be willing to help me train? To help me get stronger despite what I said last time?"

She turned towards him, a smile on her face. "Of course I would, Jaune."

"Really?"

"Yes! I will not let your talent go to waste!" She almost shouted.
"Sorry, I got a bit worked up."

"It's okay but what do you mean 'not letting my talent go to waste'?"

"Jaune, I have been seeing it ever since we met. You have been pulling of…"

"Trying to pull off." Jaune corrected but Pyrrha paid him no mind.

"... moves that would take years to learn. Not to mention learning them on one's own! And now that I know you are not even self thought! Jaune, I am not going to let that kind of skill slip away. I will see you grasp your full potential or die trying."

"But why?"

"Because we are partners!"
She made a slight cough.
"And also, professor Goodwitch sort of asked me to help you. But mostly because we are partners!"

Jaune was a bit overwhelmed. "Oh, okay. So when do we start. Can we start now?"

"Already? But we just had like a dussin of Ren's sugargeddon pancakes. Each!"

"Well, the way I see it I could do with some exercise after such a calorie bomb. And I suppose I want to make up for turning down your help in the first place."

Pyrrha smiled and stepped towards him. She put her hand on him and next thing he knew he was on his back.

"Wha-?"

"For starters, your stance needs to be broader and lower to the ground. Like it was in the forest."

"Okay, I should have remembered that."

She helped him up, letting him catch his breath. "Say Jaune?"

"Yeah?"

"Your moves, you have never studied them, have you?"

"No. Why do you ask."

"I was wondering. Are... are they from your dreams?"

Jaune was silent for a moment. "Yeah, some of it. How did you know?"

"I've been watching you sleep." she said and then realized what she had said.
"Not with any nefarious objective or anything but you do toss around in your sleep." she hastened to point out.

"Anyway, I couldn't help but notice how you move in your sleep. You do it like you are fighting, fighting well."

"Oh, well, that's part of it. The rest is like a bunch of really old memories that I sometimes reach out to."

"Then let's help you remember them."

"Okay, but there is one thing…"

"And that is?"

"I get angry when I try to remember them, like, dangerously angry. Like with Cardin. I feel like I have to hold myself back so I won't go too far."
He did not mention the thirst though. He did not yet fully understand it himself. His memories about it were fuzzy to say the least.

"Well, if it's anger issues we will just have to deal with it."

"But what if I-"

"Jaune, no offence, but I don't think you could hurt me even if you wanted to. Now get ready."

The two of them kept up with some light hand to hand sparring.

Despite Jaune's eagerness to practice they had eaten a lot.

Moving too much would give them a stomach ache.

Pyrrha's word were true though. He couldn't hurt her even if he wanted to.

She was just that good or maybe he was still just that bad.

And there we go folks. JNPR is whole again. Cardin's butt is sore. Jaune begins his training with Pyrrha but now he will have to deal with the thirst more and more.

Now I know some of you had wanted bigger and more dangerous grimm for Jaune to kill. Problem with this would have been pacing. I still need to save the big ones for later in order to show how Jaune has grown. Still, three Ursa Majors/Ursai Majors plus a bunch of Beowolves is not bad.

As for Cardin: he will still be an ass and Jaune will have to deal with him yet - once he gets the thirst under control. And there will be poorly paced and poorly written Arkos. You have been warned.

But stay tuned for the next chapter where we shall meet everyone's favorite drunkle: Qrow! (oh and Tai is there as well) Not to mention a very important reveal.