Chapter 6

Jaune sighed as he lugged a box of rapier wasps through the halls of Beacon. Another task he had just… done.

He had been thinking about Adam's words for a while now, but the ideas didn't stick. He was trying to be a Huntsman, and they didn't ask their peers for training… right?

They were meant to be great warriors who could battle an army by themselves! But those had just been stories. If Huntsmen were supposed to be an army all by themselves then why were they in teams?

Adam's right… I guess I just don't want to accept it. I don't want to disappoint my friends or drag them down…

And now it felt too late to go back and change his answer. Cardin knew his secret and he had already decided to just do whatever Cardin said. He was a bully, he would leave him alone once he was bored.

Right?

Jaune's shoulders slumped. He already knew the answer.

Cardin and his team were relaxing when he arrived. Cardin laughed as he took the box.

"Oh, these will do nicely. Good work Jauney boy." His friends laughed, as they always did.

"What are you going to use them for?" Jaune hoped Cardin was in a good enough mood to answer.

"Hehe. You'll soon see Jauney boy. We've got that trip this week right?" Well, there went that plan. Jaune nodded. "Good good. We'll need you to come with us that day, okay?"

Jaune sighed again and nodded. He would have to if he wanted to stay with his friends.

They all laughed. "Perfect. We'll see you then!" Jaune took Cardin's wave as the dismissal it was and left, heading back to spend a little time with his team.

He hoped they wouldn't question why he was hanging out with Cardin. But he already knew they would. They were just that nice.

He didn't deserve them.

Forever Fall was beautiful. Just as beautiful as the last time Adam was here. The vibrant reds created a serene atmosphere that just couldn't be found anywhere else on Remnant. Though, unlike the last time he was here, there wasn't a girl he was betraying. Because of that, despite the relaxing environment it was hard to get his mind off Blake, even with his team around him enjoying themselves.

Forever Fall had its ups and downs

Most of JNPR was nearby as well. Excluding their leader who had run off with his new pals.

What school needs sap like this anyway? What does Professor Peach want it for? Adam looked at Nora out of the corner of his eye, seeing her guzzle the sap down as Ren poured more. Do they put this in the food? Is that why Nora is so addicted to the pancakes? And what about Ruby's cookies?

Adam shook himself out of his thoughts. They were better than thinking about Blake, and her beautiful smile, but they were still a distraction. Focus on the tree damn it.

It was easy enough to retrieve the sap, even if it took a long time to fill up the jars. Adam let his senses expand, listening to the forest. The birds chirping, the movement of those around him, the rustling of the bushes in the wind.

It was peaceful. It brought him back to Menagerie. To the time he spent just… enjoying life with Blake. It had been so short before they had gone off to bigger and bigger assignment in the White Fang.

Hmm?

Adam turned and looked around the clearing. Some of the birds had stopped their calls. In the distance, he could hear someone moving in armour. Just another student. Of course, the only students who wear armour are Jaune, Pyrrha and CRDL. And Pyrrha is here...

Adam kept his attention on the sound as it moved. Whoever it was they were moving past them. Once they passed Adam returned to harvesting the sap.

Everyone was almost done when they heard the scream.

This forest is never going to go easy on me, is it?

"No!" Jaune clenched his fists, ready for Cardin's reprisal.

"Oh, you've done it now Jauney boy!" Cardin didn't bother wiping the sap from his armour and instead rushed Jaune, picking him up by the collar. His fist rushed towards Jaune's face and then the world flashed white.

Jaune was safe, fine and healed despite taking Cardin's attack. Cardin, on the other hand, was holding his hand as if it was hurt.

Was that… me? Jaune looked down at his hands in wonder. His Aura sparkled across his skin for a moment. He felt better than he had for a while!

"Agh! What was that!? You!" Cardin marched across the small clearing, looking for a fight. Jaune stood and prepared to run.

I'm sick of this! I just wanted to be a hero! But I can't while they keep bullying me! If I run they'll just get me at school, or tell the teachers about my secret. What should I do? He racked his brain for ideas when it hit him. They tried going after Adam early on, but he beat Cardin in class. I just need to beat them!

Jaune drew Crocea Mors and deployed its shield. Cardin just starting laughing. "You haven't beaten me before, what makes you think you can win now!? I'll deal with him, you guys keep watch." Cardin drew his mace.

Jaune swallowed. This was gonna be a rough fight. But he had to fight. He had to stand up for himself! That was what Adam did, wasn't it? He hadn't taken Cardin's racism lying down, he'd struck back and taught him a lesson!

Jaune rushed his bully shield first. Cardin was stronger, but Jaune was determined. All he had to do was think his way around the opponent. He didn't have the strength, speed or skill for anything else!

What's Cardin's weakness? Jaune roared as he slammed out with his shield, wincing as Cardin slammed his mace down into the attack, throwing Jaune to the side from the force. He's big and strong, but he isn't fast. But I'm not fast enough to use that!

Jaune swung his family's sword only to have Cardin catch it and wrack Jaune's body with pain from another strike of the heavy mace. Jaune pulled back and Cardin let him, content to deal with Jaune at his own pace.

He relies solely on his strength to win and his armour to defend him! He's better than me in pretty much every way, so how do I win? Jaune backed up further, trying to buy time to think.

Cardin sighed. "You really think you can just keep running!" He then slammed his mace into the ground and a line of flame exploded its way across the ground to Jaune who jumped to the side, barely escaping the fire but still being covered in the torn-up dirt.

Oh, come on! Since when could he do that! Things weren't looking good for Jaune. Cardin apparently also had some range, even if it was just a straight line of fire and pain.

Cardin was laughing now. They both knew that Jaune had nothing.

And that was when Russel screamed.

They all turned in time to see an Ursa burst through the tree-line. Dove fired a few bullets from his own sword but they didn't seem to pierce the creature's hide. Russel turned and ran, yelling 'Ursa' the whole way. Dove and Sky followed shortly after.

It was just Jaune and Cardin. Nows my time to run too! But he didn't. He waited. Cardin may have been his bully, he may have been a racist and bigot, but Jaune wanted to be a Hero. And the best Heroes saved everyone they could! But Jaune was a fake, wasn't he?

Cardin stood his ground as the Ursa rushed him. He tried to strike out with his mace but the beast just knocked it out of his hand. Cardin fell on his ass and screamed as the Ursa's giant claw came racing down to finish the job.

Jaune ran.

"I thought they were right behind us! It was such a big Ursa!" Russel Thrush yelled as he was pinned to a tree by an angry Yang.

"We should move. Yang, Adam, go and get the teachers! Weiss, let's go!" Ruby was already off running, not letting the others answer.

Yang sighed and let Russel go. Pyrrha turned to her teammates. "Ren and Nora, you should go with Yang and Adam! I'll go get Jaune!" The pair nodded and she was off. Weiss followed close behind.

Adam let out a noise of annoyance. To be left behind while a fight was happening? It had been a long time since that had happened.

"Come on, we should get Goodwitch before something bad happens." Yang patted his arm before running off into the trees. He followed.

Why did she take the dawned Schnee? She should have realized by now that I'm the strongest single fighter on the team! I- He stopped himself. Was he… jealous? Of the Schnee? No, I can't be… but I did want to go instead of her, and not just because it's a fight.

Why did he care that much? It's not like it was Blake that was in danger, just a couple of idiots. One of them was even a racist! The kind of person he would have relished the death of a year ago! But he was different from then, wasn't he? He wasn't the zealot he was back then but he didn't think he had changed enough in such a short time to care about the life of someone like Cardin!

Was it Jaune then? Did he want to make sure Jaune was safe himself? He didn't think so… He had wanted to talk with Jaune while they were here, but he could always talk back at Beacon. Was it just because he didn't want to deal with Goodwitch and her glares? The truth eluded him and it made him angry. Why don't I know!?

Adam growled as he ducked under a branch. This dawned school! Things used to be so much simpler! The SDC and Atlas were evil and the White Fang were just! But now…

"Yo, you should cool it. I can hear the teeth grinding from here." He glanced at Yang. She looked... concerned? "What, you wanted to fight some Grimm?"

He shrugged. She sighed.

"We can always just go into the Emerald Forest and fight some later you know?" He just shrugged again. "Fine, how about we go Grimm hunting this weekend? It could be good team training anyway!"

Adam studied her for a moment. She seemed like she was genuinely worried about him. It was just him being annoyed though… "That… Sounds good."

"Oh-oh! Can we join?! That sounds like so much fun!" Nora yelled from behind them. He had kinda forgotten she was there.

"Uhhh. Sure. Why not." Yang answered. I'm sure Ruby will enjoy their team joining us. And the Schnee will probably hate it too, with how loud Nora is and Jaune's terrible flirting. Well, now it looked like that plan was shaping up to be a good time.

Now if only he could figure out why he felt the way he did.

Jaune panted as he watched the Grimm slowly dissipate into black smoke. He'd done it. Somehow. He'd slain an Ursa Major! Maybe he did have what it took to be a Huntsman!

He looked back at the shocked face of Cardin and breathed deeply. "Cardin…"

"Jaune… you saved me? But… why?" Jaune walked over to him and offered him a hand, pulling his bully up onto his feet.

"Because that's the job of a Huntsman. I'm not just gonna let you die."

"But I was… I was a bully! I treated you like trash!"

"And?"

Cardin was stunned. "What?"

"And? What does it matter how you treated me? Sure, I don't like you, but you're still human. Bullying someone doesn't mean you deserve to die." Jaune smiled and patted Cardin's shoulder. "So how about you just forget my secret and leave me and my friends alone?"

Cardin nodded. "I can do that. Maybe you aren't as much of a weakling as I thought." Cardin retrieved his weapon and took off, probably to look for his team.

Jaune felt both tired and energized. He had fought against Cardin and killed a major Grimm! Even if he had basically lost the fight with Cardin, how many could say that the first Grimm they had slain single-handedly was an alpha!

But I wouldn't have been able to stand up to him or hold my ground without Adam. He inspired me! Maybe I can change my mind… and Adam wasn't the only one who had offered him a chance to get better.

And why have one mentor, when you could have two? It'd be tough, but Jaune would manage. This had been exactly what he needed!

Now he just had to find his friends and probably apologize. Oh, and he was gonna need some more sap… Jaune could still feel how sick he had felt after getting all the sap for CRDL…

Great. Just great. Here's hoping I don't vomit on the way back to school.

A/N: And another chapter! Hope you enjoyed!