/==\ Chapter Nine /==\
It had been about forty-five minutes since Ozpin had stabbed his right arm, and Jaune was still feeling it. Say what you will about the Headmaster, after that one needle Jaune knew he had no bedside manner. Ozpin sat in the other chair of the room, as Cocco sat on the bed, and Pyrrha occupied the chair just across from the pair.
"Why is it still bothering you Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, "Your aura should have taken care of it by now."
"Aura, yeah."
"Jaune?" Cocc asked, her brown eyes narrowing. It was at that point Jaune noticed that Cocco was without her trademark shades, or beret. "Are you have issues with your aura?"
"I guess you could say that."
"Could say that?" Cocco leaned forward staring directly into Jaune's dark blues. "Explain."
"I had to suppress my aura to... you know." Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, with Cocco's getting even slimmer. Obviously showing thier displeasure at his recent action, "Well it hasn't come back yet."
"What do you mean, hasn't come back yet?" Ozpin butted in. "Are you still actively suppressing your aura?"
"No."
"That what you are saying shouldn't be possible. It takes effort to hold back aura, and also to project it, but normally it is always in a state of partial activity. So if you are not holding it back on purpose then it should be at least passively working on your injuries." Ozpin stood up and moved closer. When he reached the bed he leaned in. He reached out and using his thumb pulled down on Jaune's eye lids one after the other before standing up straight, "The doctor did make note that you seemed to be subconsciously suppressing your aura, as it was remaining in active even when you were sedated."
"Is there a way to fix it?" Pyrrha asked concern tinting her tone.
"How do we fix it?" Cocco asked almost at the same time as Pyrrha spoke.
"Aura exercises." was Ozpin's simple answer.
"That's all?" Cocco asked a little surprised at the simple answer.
"That's it. Jaune has to flex his ability to control his aura. Those exercises will force her body to adapt and will make her aura reemerge." Ozpin explained, as he stood before Jaune and Cocco. "I will make a suggestion that Glynda pairs you with a student that can guide you through some basic and intermediate levels of manipulation exercises."
"So more stu..." Jaune cut himself off as he bent over double, and groaned. He pushed both his arms into his stomach and squeezed his eyes closed.
"Jaune, what's wrong?" Cocco asked nervously.
Jaune tried to answer, but nothing came out from his open mouth aside from a pained gurgle. He tried to move but collapsed to his knees and bent himself over double pressing his forehead to the cool tile floor. Pyrrah was out of her seat and Cocco was by his side fraction sooner. The pair of young ladies placed their hands on Jaune and felt him shivering, but hot to the touch.
"He's burning up." Pyrrha commented as she tried to assist Cocco in pulling Jaune off the floor.
"What is happening?" Cocco snapped as she turned her attention to Ozpin. "You were supposed to be helping!"
"Ms Adel, Ms Nikos; please restrain yourselves. This is expected."
"Expected? Did Jaune go through this every time the transformation happened?" Cocco snarled, as she rose to her feet, and faced off against the Headmaster. "You fucking bastard!"
Pyrrha had also risen, her emerald eyes flashing dangerously. She had no idea what the change entailed, but if Jaune had suffered like this each time, she could only imagine the suffering he and she suffered through alone. A faint wispy light wrapped itself around Jaune. It drew everyone's attention and they watched in shock as Jaune's body morphed. His features softened, hips broadened, and his behind became rounder. His chest expanded pushing out the loose blouse Jaune was still wearing. The light flowed down Jaune's back, causing blonde hair to become golden and extend. Slowly the light died, and Jaune was now properly filling out the woman's uniform he had been wearing ever since the incident. A waterfall of golden blond hair cascaded down her back and around her face.
"Fuck." she cursed in her soft musical voice.
"Jaune?" Cocco asked, dropping to her knees, her anger at the Headmaster forgotten at seeing her sweetheart, once again before her. She reached out and gently placed and hand on her shoulder, confirming she wasn't having a hallucination. "Are you okay?"
"That hurt so much more." she groaned. "So much more."
"Pyrrha help me." Pyrrha didn't hesitate and instantly reached down and assisted Cocco in getting Jaune to her feet and back on the bed.
"How are you feeling Ms Arc?"
"Like shit." Jaune swore, "Was it suppose to be that bad?"
"I don't know. This was all a best guess on my part. A stop gap measure if you will; to return you to your natural state until I can reverse the ritual properly." Ozpin replied.
"How long?"
"Again I don't know, but to be safe I suggest you get a booster every two days. I will make the arrangements for you to get the injections here, administered by the hands of a professional."
"Jaune?" Cocco's eyes started to tear up, as she reached up and turned the blond's head to face her. "Are you okay?I mean it, are you okay?"
"I'll be fine, just a little tired now." she replied with a weak smile.
"Well I will excuse myself. Ms Arc, Ms Nikos, Ms Adel if anything comes up during the night please use the secure chat program to alert us all."
"Secure chat program?" Pyrrha asked.
"I will." Cocco responded, without taking her eyes off of Jaune's.
"Very well. Good day, ladies." The click of Ozpin's cane against the tiled floor slowly faded away as Pyrrha watched the door. Cocco paid it no attention, her entire focus on the love of her life, once again in all her natural beauty before her. Pyrrha blushed as Cocco pulled Jaune forward and crushed her lips against hers.
"I think I'll go check on everyone, and let them know what's happened." Pyrrha cleared her throat as she rose from the bed, "Is there anything I can bring back for you?"
"I could use a new uniform, and some shoes." Jaune gasped as Cocco broke her kiss.
"Cocco?" Pyrrha asked the smitten young woman.
"I've got everything I need here." she replied, as she stood up, and started to guide Jaune into the bed.
"I'll be back in a little while." Pyrrha informed the pair as she made her way out the door.
Jaune didn't fight, or resist as Cocco got her to climb into the bed, and then shuffle over to make room. Lifting the blankets, Cocco kicked off her own shoes and climbed in. Letting the blankets settle over them, she nestled herself into Jaune, and wrapped her arms about her waist. Jaune kissed the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around Cocco pulling her in a little closer.
"Please, stay with me." Cocco whimpered. "If you are hurting tell me. I don't want top lose you."
"I'm sorry." Jaune replied, placing another kiss on the top of the brunette's head. She inhaled Cocco's scent, as her eyes closed, and sleep began to overtake her. She felt Cocco snuggle in closer and her own breathing evening out.
/=/
Pyrrha hadn't meant to just walk into Professor Goodwitch's apartment but the newly replaced door was ajar, and as far as she knew the Professor was in class. So she was slightly surprised when she entered and found the coffee table covered with photo albums. Even though Pyrrha was a Champion she had another habit that she tried to hide from everyone; she was a snoop. She liked looking through things, and finding out stuff without people knowing. The array of albums drew her in and her task of getting Jaune fresh clothes was forgotten as she closed, and started to look. It didn't take her long to figure out the photos inside were all of Jaune as she was growing up.
It was rather easy to figure out, as many of the pictures had captions like "Jaune's Sweet Sixteen" or "Jaune's First Tap Recital" under them. Pyrrha was entranced by what she was seeing. She was having a discreet look into Jaune's life before Beacon; and it was slightly intoxicating. The more she leafed through the albums the more she wanted to discover; it was then she saw a smaller, or rather a skinnier album. It looked older than the others, and the embossed cover told her everything she needed to know. "Baby's First Year". Pyrrha almost shook as she opened the album. To a snoop this was pure gold.
"No, it can't be." Pyrrha whispered in awe as she gently turned the delicate pages. The images she saw were intimate in displaying interactions between Jaune and her mother. Pyrrha actually started to feel a little dirty as she continued to examine each page; taking in all the details of the figures she saw depicted.
"What are you doing!" following the apartment door being slammed shut, caused Pyrrha to flinch and hug the album to her chest; fearful of causing any damage by dropping the precious treasure. Her emerald eyes widened in fear as she saw Professor Glynda Goodwitch standing in the foyer. "Put that down now! What are you doing in here?"
Pyrrha gently set the album down, open to the page she had been examining. Glynda gasped, at the pictures that were exposed. She knew who had taken them, it had been Jasmine. There were shots of Glynda holding a pink swaddled baby, others of a mother giving her child a bath. But the most damning was off to the side, over the shoulder shot of Glynda nursing her daughter. Heat rose in her cheeks, and she had to hold back from lashing out with her semblance. The chance of damaging her treasures was too great.
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha squeaked as she tried to melt into the couch cushions.
"What are you doing in here?" Glynda snapped.
"The door was open! I came because Jaune asked if I could get her a change of clothes!"
"She?" Glynda's anger and embarrassment lessened, "So it worked?"
"Yes." Pyrrha stuttered. Pyrrha blinked as she watched the authoritarian of Beacon suddenly looked like she was going to cry. The blond woman clasped a hand over her mouth, and her light green eyes grew watery. "Are you okay Professor?"
Glynda just nodded in response and pointed towards Jaune's room with her free hand. Pyrrha got the message and vanished into the indicated room. Glynda took the solitude as a chance to get control of herself; and once she had settled she moved to start packing up the albums. After she had left Jaune that morning she had come back and started to look through her most valuable of possessions. She was afraid. She had almost lost her. She was also fearful of stepping out of the shadows of Aunt Glynda, to be what she really was. So she sought solace in the one thing that always brought joy to her heart. Her hand paused as she was reaching for the baby album. Tears again started to well up in her eyes as she took in the aged pictures that Jasmine had taken of Glynda and Jaune during their first year.
"You and that damn camera." Glynda whispered, becoming lost in memories of her happiest of moments. She never heard Pyrrha return from Jaune's room.
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha offered, before biting her lip and just outright asking, "You're Jaune's mother, aren't you?"
"Why would you say that?" Glynda tried to keep her voice strong, but ended up just squeaking with pent up emotions.
"The newer pictures are all labelled, and I can see the resemblance of the girl in the pictures to Jaune," Pyrrha set the pile of clothes topped with a set of heels on the seat of a nearby chair. "And those older ones with the baby are obviously you. Are you really Jaune's mother?"
"You shouldn't be going through people's private things without permission, Ms Nikos." Glynda barely kept from sobbing as she spoke.
"She doesn't know, does she?"
"No she doesn't, at least not yet. I'm planning on telling her... very soon."
"I wont, say anything. I promise." Pyrrha offered, feeling her own shame at being caught looking through something so private and sentimental. "But you are her mother?"
"Yes."
"Why doesn't she know?"
"That is none of your concern, Ms Nikos." Glynda cleared her throat, her voice regaining some strength. "Now I'm assuming Jaune is back to her true body?"
"Yes."
"So the injection Ozpin talked about worked?"
"It took some time, but yes it did, though..."
"Though, what?"
"It seemed to be really painful when the transformation happened."
"And where is Jaune now?"
"She's still in the infirmary." Pyrrha answered, before adding, "Cocco is there with her."
"See to it that Jaune gets her change of clothes, and Ms Nikos..."
"Yes Professor?"
"I expect you to hold my confidence, in what you discovered today. Understood?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Now hurry along." Glynda waited for the door to close, before taking a seat on the couch, and picking up the thin album. She placed it in her lap, and turned back a few of the pages towards the front. Jasmine should have been a photographer, with how well her pictures turned out. Glynda smiled and held back her tears as she looked at the eight by ten photo that took up the full page. It was a black and white picture of her when she was much younger, in a hospital bed, cradled in her arms a new born child. The caption "Face to Face for the first time" written in elegant script under it.
"Pray you will understand, baby. I love you so much." Glynda whispered to herself as her finger traced the edge of the picture, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. "I regret so much, I missed so much, and it hurts."
/=/
Pyrrha ignored her scroll as she made the return trip to the infirmary with Jaune's change of clothes. She knew who was trying to get hold of her, and had made the decision to wait before letting them know more than the simple message; saying that Jaune was back; that she sent by chat to Ruby. As she walked, her mind tried to digest the new information she had just learned about Jaune. Added to the revelations about Maidens, magic; and the big one that the boy she felt she could love was actually a girl, the additional discovery of Glynda being Jaune's mother was threatening to melt her mind.
She wanted to tell the others, and ask Jaune but she had made a promise. Glydna had also told her that she would be telling Jaune herself, so Pyrrha was able to suppress the impulse. But it was still there. Her mind grabbed onto a random thought as her trip was closing on her destination. Semblances. Jaune had yet to discover hers, and there was some proof that semblances could run in families. A prime example being Weiss and the so called Schnee Semblance. So she wondered; would Jaune also have Professor Goodwitch's semblance?
Added to the Maiden's powers, a small portion of which Ozpin told her about during the Headmasters meeting; paired with a telekinetic semblance would in theory make Jaune an exceptionally strong huntress. That was if she wanted to be one, and Pyrrha had a feeling that Jaune wasn't sold on the idea.
Pyrrha smiled to the one duty nurse and went to Jaune's room. She entered quietly, and set the clothes on the seat of the nearest chair. She let a weak smile cross her face, as she took in the sleeping couple. Part of her, deep inside wished it was her in Cocco's place; but she had fallen for the other Jaune. The figment, and while she could see his mannerisms, and traits in her; it wasn't the same. She had made her dream a reality with the kiss. That was all she needed.
Before leaving she pulled out her scroll, and silently took a candid picture. She wasn't part of the girl's chat, for reasons; but she did have Nora's contact information. With a few deft taps of her fingers, the shot was delivered. Putting her scroll away she headed for RWBY's dorm.
/=/
"MEGA UPDATE!"
"Nora, don't use all caps. It's rude." Ruby replied.
"What update?" Weiss asked.
"Is Jaune okay? Is that the update?" Yang also asked.
"Yes, she is okay, but this is EVEN better than that!"
"What could be better than Jaune being okay? What do mean she? I thought Jaune had become a guy again?"
"No Jaune-Jaune is a girly-girl again."
"How do you know that?" asked Weiss.
"Because Pyrrha sent me proof, AND something super cute, that's what!" (heart eyed emoticon)
"Someone really should invite her to this group." Velvet mentioned.
"So what's did she send that was so cute?" Blake questioned.
"This..."
An image of the inside of an infirmary room appeared. The bed was the focus of the picture, and on the bed cuddled together eyes closed in sleep; content smiles on their faces was none other than Cocco and Jaune.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" (crying emoticon)
"Yang don't start." Blake admonished.
"But I could have been a contender!" Yang responded. (crying emoticon)
"Not a chance Yang." Velvet commented. (smirking emoticon)
"AND why would you say that?"
"Jaune-Jaune is too much woman for you." Nora posted. (cheeky emoticon)
"I could still have a chance."
"You versus Cocco?" Velvet asked.
"I'd pick Cocco." Ruby answered.
"Cocco." Nora added.
"Cocco here too." Weiss posted.
"Abandoned by my team and friends! Have you no shame!" (mind blown emoticon)
"I'd pick you Yang." Blake posted.
"At least my partner loves me." (pouting emoticon)
"Fine I'll accept the chat group invite, just to stop you sending me them! Happy Nora?" Pyrrha posted.
"Yes." (cheeky emoticon)
"Pyrrha, quick! Cocco versus me for Jaune's attention, who do you choose?" asked Yang.
"Seriously, this is what you guys are chatting about? Jaune tried to kill herself, her aura isn't working, she's a girl again; AND this is what you are interested in?"
"Don't even think of leaving Pyr-Pyr... I know where you sleep." Nora posted (devil emoticon)
"Just choose Pyrrha. The sooner you do the sooner we can chat about important topics." Weiss advised.
"Okay. Cocco."
"Why?" (crying emoticon)
"Well, she's obviously smitten with Jaune, and she with her. Cocco is also fashionable, normally even tempered, and one other thing that guarantees she can keep her love safe; and everyone should consider before trying to get between her and Jaune." Pyrrha posted.
"And what would that be?" asked Yang.
"Two words." Pyrrha replied.
"And those are?" asked Ruby. (confused emoticon)
"Mini-gun handbag."
"Oh, yeah. That's right, she does have that doesn't she." Yang posted. (sad emoticon)
"That she does." Velvet responded.
"So what is this about Jaune being a girl again?" Weiss asked.
"Ozpin gave her an injection and she changed back from the other Jaune." Pyrrha answered.
"You mean Scrawny Jaune." Yang pointed out.
"An injection? Injection of what?" asked Weiss.
"Hormones of some type." Pyrrha responded.
"You don't know?" Ruby asked.
"Jaune was okay with it, so there was no point in objecting at that point."
"Okay, so Jaune is back to normal, so to speak. Do we need to worry about her trying something like this again? I mean we never considered it before, and if she's attempted once." Velvet pointed out.
"I feel that Cocco got through to her."
"I still rather have someone watch her. Keep her from being alone... just in case." Ruby commented.
"I agree with Rubes. We can't take a chance; she needs to know she's important to us."
"What do suggest, Yang?" Weiss asked.
"We all know without a doubt Cocco will be around her as much as possible, but those times she's not able to; one of us should always be close by."
"That's not much different from what we were going to do, before she was outed to everyone." Blake added.
"So no real change, then." Weiss commented.
"You said something about her aura. What's going on?" Blake asked.
"She suppressed it to hurt herself, but it has come back yet."
"What do you mean hasn't come back yet?" Velvet asked. (mind blown emoticon)
"Just what I said. She has aura, it's just not active."
"Are you sure?" Weiss asked.
"Jaune mentioned it herself, when I asked why she was still sore in her arm after the injection."
"So how do we fix that?" asked Ruby.
"Ozpin suggested aura exercises." Pyrrha replied.
"I have a question."
"What is it Nora?" asked Blake.
"Why are we all chatting on here instead of in person? I mean we are all in RWBY's room."
"Huh? She's got a point." Yang agreed.
"But she started it, with the picture Pyrrha sent her."
"Not the point Weiss. She shared the pic, we just all kept this chat going after the fact." Blake commented.
"NIKOS!" (furious emoticon)
"Cocco, is there something wrong?" Pyrrha asked. (sweat drop emoticon)
"Kissing my girl, AND sharing candid shots of us in bed! What do you think?"
"Well she was a he when we kissed, so I didn't make a move on your girl." Pyrrha replied.
"Wait, what?" Weiss asked.
"Just read the message again, Weiss. Its still on the screen." Blake pointed out.
"Pyrrha KISSED Jaune-Jaune! You go girl, stake that claim!"
"I wasn't doing that!" (embarrassed emoticon)
"I could have overlooked the kiss, but not now. Where are you?"
"Heading to RWBY's dorm."
"You shouldn't have told her that Pyr-Pyr." Nora commented.
"Why? We were going to met up there anyway."
"Cocco calm down." Velvet posted.
"I'll met you there Nikos. We're going to have a little chat, girl to girl."
"Pyrrha I suggest you don't come here, and that you just run." Blake posted.
"Why?"
"Two words." Blake replied.
"Cocco, play nice."
"I will Bun-Bun. I will. I'll be real nice."
"Pyrrha take Blake's advice and start running." Yang posted.
"Again why?"
"Two words." Blake replied for the second time.
"And those are?" Pyrrha asked.
"Mini-gun Handbag!" Ryby, Blake, Yang, Nora, Weiss and Velvet all posted at the same time.
Pyrrha's icon instantly went dark signalling she had signed out.
"Think she'll be okay?" Ruby asked.
"You can run but you can't hide, Nikos!"
"No Cocco! Bad Cocco!"
"Jaune? Are you okay?" asked Ruby.
"I'll get back to you on that. I need to calm Cocco down. Brb."
"Do think if I ASKED nicely I could get a kiss?" Yang asked (devil emoticon)
"Do you WANT to have a girl to girl chat with Cocco?" asked Velvet in response.
"Not really."
"Then I wouldn't."
"Okay, that is partially settled. Where are all of you?" asked Jaune.
"In RWBY's dorm." Nora informed him.
"And you're all here chatting with each other, while in the same room?"
"It's a long story." Weiss replied.
"Scroll up, and you'll see why." Blake informed the group.
"No need to do that. I'll just repost!" Nora countered, with a second later the picture of Cocco and Jaune cuddling appeared for the second time.
"So cute! Can you send me a copy Nora?" asked Jaune.
"Of course Jaune-Jaune."
"So Jaune."
"Yes, Yang?"
"Don't do it Yang." warned Blake.
"I hear, you been giving out kisses. You think you could hook up a fellow blond?" (winking emoticon)
"XAIO LONG, I SAW HER FIRST!" Cocco posted.
"Stop using all caps, it's rude, and Cocco..."
"Yes, Belladonna what is it?"
"No you didn't." (devil emoticon)
"Oh gods, why Blake, why? Brb." Jaune posted.
/=/
Pyrrha arrived twenty minutes before Jaune and Cocco. As soon as the fashionista entered RWBY's dorm, the four time Mistral champion grabbed Ruby and pulled her in front of herself. Pyrrha didn't know if Ruby would be able to make Cocco pause, but she banking on Ruby's world renown puppy eyes to give her a chance to escape it Cocco decided to really have a girl to girl chat. Cocco for her part did her best to remain calm. It was the picture more than the kiss that had her up in arms. That had been a private moment between her and Jaune. Even if it was cute and lovey; it was still a private moment and if anyone understood the frustration of having such moments shared it should have been Pyrrha. With the touch of Jaune's soft hand crdled in her own, she help her annoyance in check.
"So, I" Jaune tried to speak up but ended up rubbing the back of her neck with her right hand. "I guess I should..."
"DOLT!" Weiss snapped as she walked up and in an uncharacteristic fashion lashed out, and punched Jaune.
"OW!" Jaune cried out as she released her hold on Cocco and grabbed her chest with both hands. "You hit me!"
"You deserved it!" Weiss snapped.
"In the tit?"
"You're too tall for me to slap." Weiss retorted.
"Anyone else wanting to abuse me?" Jaune whined as she rubbed her chest, despite her size Weiss packed a solid punch.
"Well what did you expect Jaune?" Yats asked as he sat in the floor in a corner of RWBY's dorm. "You did attempt something that if it had succeeded; would have been unforgivable."
"I'm sorry, I really am; but you have to know how much it hurts physically to go through the change; but to also end up having to be someone who isn't me." Jaune felt her left hand pulled from her chest and squeezed by Cocco. "So I'm sorry I hurt you all; but at the time it was all I could think about to end all of the suffering I was going through. I want to make it up to you, but I don't know what I can do to make that happen."
"I have an idea." Yang commented with a seductive smirk.
"Don;t even think about it Xaio Long." Cocco hissed.
"Cocco." Jaune said gentle as she squeezed her hand.
"Jaune, I need to remember something very important. I and I really mean always remember this."
"Ren?" Jaune questioned not accustomed to the ninja of JNPR speaking out in such a way.
"JNPR would never be the same without YOU. We would have lost our leader, our companion and our treasured friend."
"It would be the same for RWBY, aside from the leader part. Don't take away my first friend here at Beacon. You're one of my besties Jaune." Ruby added.
"I don;t know what to do to make up for all the hurt I caused."
"It's simple Jaune." Blake offered, her amber eyes looking directly into Jaune's dark blue. "If you EVER feel that alone, that hurt... come to one or all of us. Promise us that, please."
"I think I can do that." Jaune responded, with a weak smile. "And an Arc never goes back on their word."
"We'll hold you to that Jaune-Jaune." Nora stated, her arms crossed over her chest.
"If it's okay with Cocco, can I speak to you in private, Jaune?" Pyrrha timidly asked, almost wanting to shrink as Cocco gave her a glare.
"Cocco, it's okay." Jaune whispered to her obviously now girlfriend. "You want to talk in our dorm?"
"Yes, please."
"I'm coming." Cocco stated in a flat tone.
"Cocco trust me. It all be okay." Jaune removed her hand from Cocco's and turned to face her. She draped her arms over the slightly shorter girl's shoulder's and leaned in. Jaune brushed Cocco's lips with a light loving kiss. The pair of girls never noticing that all of Ruby, Velvet and Nora all yanked out their scrolls and started to record the moment as Jaune went in for a second longer kiss, that Cocco readily reciprocated.
/=/
"Qrow, are you available to return to Beacon?"
"I can. Not having much luck out here."
"So no sign?"
"Even lead I've found is cold and dead ends."
"I see. Well make your way back to Beacon when you can."
"Give me a couple days. Is there a situation?"
"Yes. We're going to reverse Jaune's transformation. She'll now remain hidden like we planned. Plus there is a chance we will be doing the transfer."
"So you want to put people in place to step in if someone tries to make a move, on either of them."
"I do, but I'm not concerned with someone. I'm concerned about her. There has never been two maiden's in close proximity for eons. It is too tempting a target, she's bound to make a move if they are found out."
"Are you going to bring in Tai?"
"I'm considering it."
"The more the merrier."
"I'm also considering to request some assistance from the other schools."
"I'd stick with just Atlas. Haven seems to be short on hunters, and Vacuo is Vacuo."
"I'll take your suggestion under advisement. Get here when you can."
"I'll be there in a few days. Should I stop by and speak to Tai?"
"No I'll take care of that. Just get back here."
"Consider it done."
/=/
Pyrrha sat on her bed with her hands clasped between her knees; while Jaune sat on hers, leaning backwards using her arms to support herself. Pyrrha had a light dusting of crimson, on her cheeks. She was alone with the female version of her crush, and the memories of the kiss were playing through her mind. While she wasn't actively trying to think of it, her mind still went there; and she wondered if a kiss with this Jaune would feel the same. She shook her head dispelling that thought. She'd had made enough mistakes these last few days. She couldn't compound them by experimenting. She couldn't step between Cocco and Jaune.
"Pyrrha?"
"Sorry." she took a deep breath, "I wanted to talk to you because I think you're the only one that can really help me."
"What's this about, Pyr?"
"You know that power you have?"
"I do."
"The Headmasters want to use an experimental machine to transfer a similar power from a dying girl to me. I don't what to do, so I thought seeing as you have that power... you could help me decide."
"A machine?"
"They called the process an Aura Transfer. They want to put that girl's soul in me; to see if the powers transfer with it."
"And you're scared, of that?"
"Yes."
"Tell me why."
"It's someone's soul. What if it changes me? Makes me different? I don't feel like loosing myself, on the chance to get some strange magical power."
"So that's why you don't want to do it. Why would you do it?"
"To be better able to protect people. If it works I would be a really strong huntress. I could do more to save people. Do you believe in destiny, Jaune?"
"No. But obviously you do."
"I do." Pyrrha turned her head and looked out through the dorm's windows into the partially cloudy sky, "I've always had this feeling I was meant to be more than some championship fighter. I only did that to get the training that would make myself strong, to make me someone who people could look to in their times of need."
"You think it's your destiny to be a huntress?"
"I do."
"Do you know why I don't believe in destiny?"
"Yes."
"Choice."
"Choice?"
"Believing in some unknown power like Destiny or Fate feels like I have no choice in how my life will play out. You chose to train, to become skilled and strong. It was your dream, not your destiny."
"But you recived that power?"
"That wasn't fate, or destiny. It was an accident. A bump on the road for the life I wanted to live. It's something I have to adapt to, nothing more."
"But with that power..."
"This power means nothing to me. I didn't ask for it. I wont let it dictate what I do with my life. If I choose to be a huntress, then it's my choice. It's not some outside entity's decision." Jaune crossed her arms under her bust. "Right now you have a choice Pyrrha. You're already a strong huntress, probably the strongest first year in Beacon. So it's not some invisible power... it's your choice. Are you fears and the risks worth taking this offer? Making this choice? That's all you should be considering."
"But..."
"No one controls you but the people you let control you, Pyrrha. You make your path, not others." Jaune gave Pyrrha a stern stare that Pyrrha instantly recognized as one that Professor Goodwitch used when she wasn't amused with the antics of her students. "I choose to learn the needed skills to take up the mantel of Magistrate when my father retires. I have two other sisters doing the same. When it comes time one of us will choose, nothing will make us."
"But things lead to making specific choices."
"They're still choices."
"But still."
"Pyr, I can't make you disregard your beliefs. I'm just telling you how I see things." Jaune's look grew softer. "So tell me, get all your fears out into the open. That way you can make the choice that's best for you."
/==/
Okay, so before anyone posts about me doing chapters for "Secrets" over doing what I said, with "Monster", I've gotten a sudden burst of creativity for 'Secrets" and while I know what I want to do with "Monster" I just can't get it into words; just yet."Monster" will get some updates, and will be my focus... I just need to get through the semi-writer's block I'm having.
Anyway, little wary of this chapter, but I think it works.
As always comments, suggestions, and critiques always welcome.
Hope you enjoyed.
