A/N: Suprise! Got Chapter 3 done already! This chapter, sadly, won't reveal the role of Sakura, Julian, or anybody else yet. They will be in the next chapter though, and I have an author's note at the bottom to talk about it. This chapter ended up being pretty long and a little tricky to write (as are all emotional scenes), but it turned out pretty decent! Anyways, on with the show!
Fun Fact: My favorite part of this is coming up with cool titles. Sure, recognition and writing are fun, but making awesome chapter titles is a whole new level of enjoyment.
Oath Forgotten, Born Anew
Chapter 3: Will of Iron
Hospitals, nursing wards, and medical wings are all considered to be places of order, cleanliness, and care, where people should get their jobs done as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing the patients of these locations. The Beacon medical wing would normally be no exception.
Except the Beacon medical wing had to deal with Nora and Yang.
"Honey, I'm home!" Yang announced through the door as Nora kicked said door open with the force of a breaching charge. "Did you miss meeeee…?" Yang tapered off, losing her enthusiasm as she quickly saw the room was occupied by more than just a comatose blond. It was now also occupied by a grey-haired coffee addict and a very angry blonde.
Headmaster Ozpin and Vice-Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch, to be specific.
"Good afternoon, students." Ozpin greeted the rapidly paling duo as Glynda took a deep breath, trying not to shout at the two problem children. "May I ask whose idea it was to bring a movie setup into a hospital room?"
"Umm…" Yang tried to come up with an explanation that would avoid getting her or her teammates in trouble."
"It was Ruby's idea!" Nora accidentally threw her friend under the bus, getting a betrayed look from Yang. "It's to help cure Fearless Leader!"
"What was my idea?" Ruby asked as she walked through the doorway, the rest of Teams RWBY and JNPR following behind her. The first thing she was greeted with was an apologetic Yang, an ignorantly smiling Nora, a smirking Ozpin, and a glaring Goodwitch. "Oh poop."
"Oh poop indeed, Ms. Rose." Glynda berated her, now calm enough to not blow up on her students. "Would you care to explain yourself as to why you thought it would be a good idea to turn a medical facility into a private movie theatre?"
"Well, you see…" Ruby began, trying to find an explanation that makes her sound like she hasn't been hit in the head one too many times in combat class. She stopped shortly after, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation that wouldn't land them all in detention. "We're trying to cure Jaune." She explained with determination. "The letter Jaune got said that if we watched the movie he would get better, and since the doctors don't have a solution we decided it was worth a shot."
"A letter?" Ozpin asked as he stepped out from behind his second in command.
Ruby simply gestured to the table behind him, where he found an empty box, two letters, and an ungodly amount of tissue paper. He ignored the box and paper and picked up the two letters, reading them both rapidly, a skill picked up from being a huntsman academy's headmaster and all the paperwork and liability forms associated with the job.
"This letter claims that the author, Zelretch, intentionally sent this letter and package to put Jaune into his current condition, all so you can watch this movie since there is no other way to cure him?" Ozpin asked, trying to confirm the insanity he just read. Ruby nodded with an embarrassed blush. "And you decided that it would be best to do so by setting up a theatre inside the school's medical wing, which I'm assuming you've already put to use?" Ruby nodded again, blushing deeper as she realized telling the truth may have been a worse choice than she originally thought. Ozpin sighed. "Normally I would tell you all to pack up this mess you've made and not to fall for such nonsense, but the results show that what you've done has actually helped."
To say that everyone was surprised by his words would be an understatement. Most of them thought it would be a way to kill time while keeping their friend company, not that it would actually cure him!
"Sir?" Glynda questioned. "What do you mean by that? How is it possible that a movie is capable of curing him?"
Ozpin nodded as he reached into his back pocket to reveal a set of doctor's forms. "It seems that his condition has improved since earlier today around noon, which is when I'm assuming you all began your treatment method?" Ozpin asked Teams RWBY and (J)NPR, to which they nodded. "His heart rate has calmed considerably and the glowing from the marks on his body seem to have decreased in regards to intensity. Who am I to scold them if what they're doing is proving effective?"
"See Renny! Alternative treatment methods do work!" Nora cheered, giving Ren several unpleasant flashbacks.
"As much as I agree with helping an injured student, we can't just let multiple students mess around in a recovery room alone." Glynda reminded her boss.
Ozpin nodded yet again. "That is why we will be supervising."
Glynda raised an eyebrow. "We, sir? We have duties to attend, especially with the Vytal Festival coming up so soon. I'm fairly sure we have a meeting with General Ironwood later today as well."
"Excuse me?" Pyrrha politely interjected. "The film is being shown to us in parts, so it most likely won't interfere with your work. The last one didn't even last half an hour."
Glynda thought it over. She could use a break, and with how short the videos were it wouldn't get in the way of classes or meetings. "Very well." She replied, getting several smiles and cheers from her students. "Shall we get started?"
Once everybody was seated, with Ozpin and Glynda having pulled extra chairs from an empty nearby room, Nora clicked the play button on the projector and the projector quickly whirred to life.
The scene began by revealing a large western-style house in the city of Fuyuki. The sky was clear, birds chirping in the distance. A young Jaune was shown walking down a hallway. As he turned a corner, his eyes widened slightly in surprise. He quickly dashed back behind the turn and took a deep breath, relaxing his nerves. He then continued walking towards his destination: Ruby, who was sitting on the porch staring into the yard with her ball resting on her lap.
"Um… so your name is Ruby, right?" Jaune awkwardly greeted her.
"Fascinating," Ozpin whispered in shock. "The letter claimed that the film would show you all, or at least alternate versions, but I didn't quite believe it."
"I know right!" Yang replied, her gaze locked onto the baby Ruby on screen. "And they're so cute!"
Glynda just stared at the screen with her mouth wide in disbelief.
"I'm Jaune Arc." He introduced himself as he kneeled next to the younger girl. "Let's get to know each other, okay?"
"Jaune… Arc?" Ruby repeated, voice just as monotone as when they first met.
"Yep. That's my name." Jaune encouragingly replied.
"Jaune Arc." Ruby repeated again, this time sounding slightly more certain of herself.
Jaune smiled awkwardly. "Just call me 'Jaune'."
"Jaune." Ruby said quickly and certainly, her understanding noticeable even through her blank expression and mostly monotone voice.
"They're both so adorably awkward!" Nora exclaimed at the cuteness before them.
"Based on their appearances, I guess it's safe to assume this isn't long after the events of the last scene." Weiss theorized.
Glynda, who had finally gotten over her initial shock, turned to her students. "What happened in the last part?"
"Jaune and Mr. Ironwood, who's Jaune's dad in the movie, went to a city to find Ruby's family, who can apparently grant wishes," Blake explained. "They found the city being destroyed until Ruby managed to stop it. Jaune saved Ruby from getting crushed by a collapsing house and then Mr. Ironwood decided to take Ruby with them to use her to save the world."
"That's quite an exciting story," Ozpin replied from behind his coffee mug.
Blake shook her head in exasperation. "You have no idea. It's even more strange when you see it on screen." She paused for a second. "You can watch the previous parts later if you want. We were planning to leave the projector here, so you can just stop and play it whenever you have time.
Ruby shot her teammate a questioning look. "Wouldn't that slow down how quickly we can cure Jaune? You know, since we have to wait between viewings."
Blake lifted up the Beginner's Guide. "I found a note in here…" she told them, pointing at the book, "that says that the timer only applies to watching new scenes, so we can rewatch old ones as much as we want."
Ruby nodded, making sure to remember that bit of information for later.
Yang and Pyrrha mentally cheered, planning to get as many pictures of Young Jaune and Ruby as possible.
"Yeah." The blonde boy replied. "From now on, we're going to be living together in this house as…" He turned to the side in embarrassment before turning back to Ruby with a kind smile. "...well, uh, kind of like a family of sorts!"
"Like a family," Ruby repeated in confirmation. Jaune nodded as he sat next to her.
"So I guess they adopted her," Ren said, before narrowing his eyes. "The way Ironwood said he was going to 'use her' to save humanity still puts me off though."
Blake nodded, fully agreeing with her fellow ninja. It helped that she had extra context now that she had read more of the guidebook, especially the parts where it depicted how far some Magus were willing to go for their own goals.
"By the way, that guy who's cooped up in his study right now is Mr. Ironwood," Jaune told her, leaning forward in eagerness to talk about his father. "He's my savior and a hero of justice."
"They keep using that term, 'hero of justice'." Nora pointed out. "Why not just say hero?"
Pyrrha pondered for a moment before responding. "Maybe it has a special meaning to them?"
Ruby tilted her head in confusion, one of the few times she's moved throughout the conversation. "Your savior and a hero of justice…?"
"Yeah!" Jaune replied enthusiastically as he leaned back on his hands and thought back to their first meeting. "When I was young, I was the victim of a disaster like you were. It took both my parents. My life was saved by a single man. And that man was Mr. Ironwood."
Jaune thought back to that moment, the one that made him who he is and gave him his goal, his dream. A slightly younger yet significantly less haggard Ironwood searched through the rubble of a house searching for survivors, finding a small blond boy looking up at him from under the debris. Ironwood was shocked, yet relieved to the verge of tears that he found at least one life to save.
Glynda, while touched by how much Ironwood obviously cared for the child, had several concerns. "How is he smiling when he mentions the event that killed his parents? That's… somewhat disturbing."
Ren nodded in agreement. He may have found Nora the day his parents died, but that didn't mean he thought it was a good memory in the slightest.
"He's probably just focussed on the hero part," Yang suggested, knowing her sister had a similar tendency. "People in disasters and Grimm invasions may not like the event itself, but they still smile when they think of the Huntresses and Huntsmen that saved them."
"That's quite perceptive of you Ms. Xiao-Long." Ozpin complemented her. "You are most likely correct, and there's also a high chance the Jaune on-screen has forgotten the negative parts of the disaster since he was so young when it occurred."
"Actually, he's kind of a strange guy." Jaune looked to the sky with a bright smile on his face. "His dream is to rid this world of all pain and suffering by creating an era of true peace. He's really dedicated to it. That's why I call him my savior and a hero of justice." Jaune then stopped, noticing he was hero-worshiping. He turned back to face Ruby, who was staring at him just as blankly as before. "But maybe this is all a little too much for you to understand right now."
Pyrrha chuckled into her hand. "He does have a tendency to go on and on about certain heroes of his, especially his ancestors that served in the Great War."
DONG! ...DONG! ...DONG! ...DONG! ...DONG! ...DONG!
A bell rang six times in the distance, letting all the locals know it was getting late in the evening. Jaune took it as his cue to leave. "Uh oh, I gotta get started on making our food." He rose to his feet and began to walk away, but quickly stopped and turned to look at Ruby over his shoulder. "Is there anything you want to eat?"
Ruby stared at him before turning to look out at the yard. "Not really."
Jaune, confused by her answer, turned back to fully face her. "Okay then, is there any food you dislike?"
"No."
"What kind of kid doesn't have a favorite food?!" Nora shouted. "That's half of your childhood memories!"
Ruby simply stared at her alternate self in abject horror.
Jaune stared at her for a moment. He then turned to the side, scratching the back of his head in thought. Eventually, he just decided to go with it. "All right." He began walking back into the house. "Well, just hang around here until I've gotten things ready."
Ruby looked back up at him quickly, seeming surprised that he was already leaving.
"Awww!" Yang cooed. "She's acting all distant but she's actually trying to get close to him!"
Ruby just looked down embarrassed. "It's not my fault I'm socially awkward…"
Jaune walked down the hallway, planning what he was going to make for supper, when he heard a familiar jingling behind him accompanied by footsteps. Jaune stopped and turned around to find Ruby several paces behind him. She tilted her head with an ever so slightly expectant look on her face.
"She's like a puppy!" Nora exclaimed. "Don't you just want to hug her?!"
Yang nodded enthusiastically, wishing she could hug the alternate Ruby. Then she remembered she had her own Ruby right next to her and proceeded to crush her ribs in the most intense sisterly hug she could manage.
"Help… me! Ack!" Was said sister's response.
Jaune turned to face away from her, once again unsure how to respond to or interact with the girl. He decided, ultimately, that dinner was his priority at the moment and began to continue towards the kitchen.
Ruby wordlessly dropped the ball to the ground and kicked it to the back of Jaune's feet. Hearing the jingling, he turned around and was surprised to see the strange girl's toy rolling at his feet.
Jaune quickly picked up the hint and began kicking the ball up into the air. He juggled it for a moment, getting a feel for how much it weighed. "Here!" he called out before kicking it lightly towards Ruby, throwing it through the air.
"Is that a good idea?" Weiss asked. "She's supposedly been raised by only her mother, so wouldn't she not know how to play, right?"
Blake raised an eyebrow at her. "Her mom probably played with her, since she was Ruby's only company."
Weiss blinked, the idea of interacting with her parents in a manner as casual as playing catch having been a completely foreign concept.
The ball bounced harmlessly off her chest and onto the floor. After a couple of bounces, she carefully hit it upward and back to Jaune.
Jaune, surprised that she had the skill to hit it back, looked at her in slight awe as the ball flew towards his feet. He quickly kicked it up and juggled it a couple of times before sending it back. This continued for several minutes, Jaune with a gleeful smile at having someone to play with and Ruby with curiosity and joy only visible through her eyes, before Jaune once again had to leave to get started on supper.
Jaune entered the kitchen and immediately set out for the fridge, pulling out whatever vegetables and sauces he needed. As he walked over to the counter to start preparing the meal, he noticed Ruby watching him from the doorway. Jaune blinked, unsure of how to interpret the situation, before continuing his task. As the evening went by and Jaune prepared dinner, Ruby slowly snuck her way closer and closer to where Jaune was cooking.
"Is our Jaune this good at cooking?" Ruby asked Team NPR.
Pyrrha hesitated a second before nodding. "Yes, but he doesn't usually want to. He apparently had to cook quite often at home, so he tries to avoid it whenever he can."
Ren, in a moment of realization, dropped his fist into his palm. "So that's why he avoids the kitchen area during meals." He then paused for a second before coming to a second, less pleasant moment of realization. "He dumped all the cooking work on me!"
Everyone chuckled at Ren's discovery.
"If only Mr. Arc was as good at fighting as he was at cooking." Ms. Goodwitch grumbled. "I'm never going to win the pot for best test average with the way things are now…"
Only by the time he'd moved the stir-fry onto a serving dish and moved onto finishing the soup did he notice that Ruby was practically leaning over the counter to watch him. "Want to try?" Jaune asked, trying to find out what the silent girl was trying to do.
"Yes," Ruby responded. Jaune inched to the edge of the step-stool he was using to reach the stovetop to make room for Ruby. After she stepped up beside him, he quietly showed her how to hold the ladle, which Ruby ended up having to hold with both hands due to her small stature. After loading the ladle with spices and other ingredients, Jaune instructed her to lower the ladle into the soup. Then they just stood there. Ruby stirred and Jaune watched, both in content silence.
Yang almost cried with how sweet and wholesome the moment was, reminding her of several moments between her and Ruby when she had to teach her sister how to do things in the place of her parents.
Weiss sighed, wishing she had a sibling like that. 'I can give Arc this, he's a good friend.' she thought. 'But if he asks me out again, I'm using lightning dust on him.'
Pyrrha thought back to all the times she and Jaune had shared. Evenings on the rooftop teaching Jaune how to fight, Jaune returning the favor as often as he could by sharing his comics with her, and staring out at the stars after a long sparring session. She blushed, realizing just how much those moments with Jaune meant to her.
The scene cuts to the inside of a study, with Ironwood sitting at a desk reading an old notebook while smoking. Scattered throughout the room are dozens of other books, diaries, manuscripts, and records all related to Ironwood's work and Magecraft.
"Aww…" Nora cried. "Bring back the wholesome stuff! Not the angsty old man!"
"Angsty old man… heh." Ozpin chuckled into his coffee mug, remembering to use that against either Ironwood or Qrow later.
Blake squinted at the books shown. 'Mage… craft? As in magus?' Her eyes went wide as she connected the dots. 'He's a magus! Then that means Jaune is a magus too!' She then remembered just how young that version of Jaune is. 'Or at least he will be.'
Knock, knock, knock!
"Hey, Mr. Ironwood, the food's ready," Jaune announced as he entered, not waiting for his father to respond to the knocking. In his hands was a tray holding several bowls holding the stir-fry, soup, and rice along with a cup of fresh tea.
"...Sure." Ironwood curtly responded, too absorbed in his research to say more.
"It's kind of strange how Jaune is cooking for his father, and at such a young age." Pyrrha pointed out. "It seems irresponsible."
None of the others were quite sure how to respond. None of them had what could be called a 'normal' childhood apart from Jaune.
Yang, however, felt mildly insulted for her father's sake, but quickly brushed it off. Sure, Tai had neglected his parenting for a short while after Summer had died, but he quickly got past it and went above and beyond for her and Ruby since then.
Jaune looked at his father with concern. "Aren't you getting a little too absorbed in all this stuff?" he asked, trying to share his concerns while not coming across as rude or dismissive of Ironwood's work as he closed the door behind him.
Ironwood took one last puff from his cigarette before pushing it into his ashtray, which was filled with dozens of other cigarette butts. "I'm so close, there's only one thing left to figure out."
"That can't be healthy," Blake said as she pointed out the ashtray overflowing with used cigarettes. "He already looks worn out and uses a walking stick, smoking that much in his condition can't be good."
Ozpin was surprised to hear his friend's counterpart also used a walking stick, before wondering if he gave the impression of a weak old man when he used his cane. He stopped that train of thought quickly though, he'd had Long Memory for almost as long as he could remember and he wouldn't stop using it now. Plus, using it as a walking stick charges up its kinetic energy stores.
Weiss looked at the alternate Ironwood in surprise, which was quickly replaced by contemplation. "I've never seen our version of General Ironwood smoke, but then again he would probably avoid doing so in public due to his position in the Atlas government." She then turned to her professors. "Would either of you happen to know if he smokes?"
Glynda shook her head. "He did during his early military career but had to stop due to… medical complications." She responded as accurately as she could without saying 'he had half his torso and an arm ripped off, which resulted in severe internal organ damage'. People needed to believe their leaders were strong and having a leader with half a lung missing usually didn't help people feel safe, or at least that's what Ironwood had said.
Jaune gave his father a concerned look. "Okay, but-"
"We've gotten our hands on a literal reservoir of wishes that can save everything and everyone." Ironwood cut him off as he rested his forehead on his hand in frustration. "But the only damn thing I don't know is how to actually use it!"
Jaune paused, realizing that the conversation had turned south. "Say, Mr. Ironwood?" He began, trying to change the subject. "Tomorrow is Ruby's birthday, right? She's turning six, I think."
"Yeah, that's right." Ironwood nodded, not acknowledging the change in subject.
"So… how are we going to celebrate it?" Jaune asked, trying to keep the conversation alive.
Ironwood stopped what he was doing the instant Jaune said the last word. He slowly stood up, posture tense, and turned to face his son. "...Are you being serious?"
"Uh oh…" Ruby whispered.
"Uh, well, yeah," Jaune replied, not fully noticing that Ironwood was walking towards him. "I thought we could do something for… her…" He stopped and looked up, where he saw his father now loomed over him. Ironwood looked down at Jaune with a mix of anger, disappointment, and frustration. "Mr. Ironwood?" Jaune asked, wondering what he did to make his role model so angry.
"Remind me not to get on the general's bad side," Yang said, trying not to show any obvious signs of fear.
The other students nodded, equally intimidated by the man.
Ozpin sighed. 'Intimidation has always been his strong suit. I just wish he would know when not to do it.'
"You want to celebrate? The fact that it's becoming human and losing its holy nature?" Ironwood questioned his son. "We have no idea how long its ability can be utilized once it has been taken outside the barrier. Its power may come from the land of Fuyuki itself. Or it may depend upon its age. The possibility exists that we lose our chance the instant we make it aware it has turned seven years old."
Jaune looked down at the floor, angry both with himself and with what they have to do for the greater good.
"It…" Blake repeated angrily. "He keeps calling Ruby 'it', like some kind of object!"
"He's avoiding getting attached," Ozpin explained. "While it seems cruel, he's simply trying to lessen the burden placed on himself and Jaune. He's doing what he believes to be necessary to succeed."
"It still doesn't make it right!" Yang argued. "It's not like the world is in immediate danger, so why do they have to do this to her?! It's unnecessary and cruel!"
Ruby, the center of this conflict, was unsure what to think. She liked to think she wouldn't hesitate to do whatever it takes to save the world and everybody in it, even if it meant sacrificing herself. Despite that, what Ironwood was doing still felt wrong, especially where he decided to only think of a child as a tool. 'Is this what is necessary to be a hero of justice? Or just a hero at all?' she questioned.
"Caring for it is something that we must continue to do." Ironwood continued, his steel-eyed gaze not changing in the slightest. "I'm willing to give all the food and toys that it wants, so long as they don't risk any lasting changes. But keep your priorities straight. In the end, it's nothing more than a tool we are going to use to bring salvation to all."
The scene cut to show Jaune exiting Ironwood's study and entering the hallway, where rain pouring down could be seen through the windows. Jaune walked several paces before stopping and gazing out at the storm. 'He's right. I knew all of that.' Jaune thought to himself. 'Ruby is just a means to an end.' He grits his teeth, forcing himself to accept the words of his father, his hero. 'I shouldn't think of her as human. I can't let myself get attached.'
Glynda sighed. "While I agree that saving the world is of great importance, I would never condone putting this burden on a child, especially one so young."
"Jaune." a familiar, monotone voice called his name and tugged his sleeve. Jaune almost jumped at the unexpected contact. After a moment to regain control of himself, he reluctantly turned and looked down to his left. There he found Ruby, looking up at him with big silver eyes. "Let's play."
Pyrrha covered her mouth, tears forming in her eyes.
Yang clenched her fists as her eyes flickered between red and purple.
Even Ozpin stopped drinking his coffee for a moment.
"This… this isn't right," Nora said, looking down solemnly, imagining being forced to choose between Ren or the world. It wasn't a pleasant thought.
Jaune's eyes went wide. He quickly averted his gaze to avoid the emotions he was struggling against as he warred internally to decide how to respond to the girl.
He was saved from his choice by the sound of something heavy hitting the floor inside Ironwood's study. "Mr. Ironwood?!" Jaune quickly called out to see if his father.
The scene cuts to the inside a bedroom, where Ironwood lies in a bed, paler than any person should be. On his bedside sat a bag of medicine, a glass of water, and several more journals, while Jaune sat directly by Ironwood's side.
Yang blinked, surprised by the turn of events. "Well, problem solved I guess."
"I don't think I've regretted being correct this much before," Weiss said, thinking of her earlier comments about Ironwood's health.
"I don't have much time left," Ironwood told his son, his voice weak and raspy. Jaune's fists clenched at his admission. "Which means that…" He stopped, unable to finish his sentence. Whether it was from his weak breathing and voice or his emotional state is unclear.
"I know," Jaune responded. "Just leave everything to me!" He gave his father the most assuring smile he could through his tears as he tried not to break down crying.
Pyrrha cried, desperately wanting to comfort the younger Jaune on the screen.
"Damn," Yang whispered in respect. "Smiling in that kind of situation takes a whole different kind of strength, especially as a kid."
As the rain continued falling outside the voice of an older Jaune, one much more similar to the voice of the Jaune RWBY and JNPR knew, narrated once again. "It wasn't very long after that Mr. Ironwood quietly stopped breathing and passed away peacefully in his sleep."
With the last words from Jaune, the screen faded to black.
"This was… more than I had expected," Ozpin said as he stood up. "I have my duties to attend to, but if any of you wish to talk to me about what we just watched, my door is always open."
Glynda nodded as she followed her boss's example. "The same goes for me. Would you like to meet up after dinner for the next part?" The students all quietly nodded. "Very well, have a good afternoon." She followed Ozpin out the door, but stopped and peeked her head back through the door frame. "The next part will probably be happier, so don't worry too much." She told them with a reassuring smile before closing the door and continuing down the hall.
Teams RWBY and (J)NPR sat in silence for several moments, the only noise in the room being the beeping of Jaune's heart monitor and cooling fan in the projector.
"I really hope the rest of the viewings aren't like this one." Pyrrha broke the silence, wiping her tears off with her sleeve.
"Yeah," Yang replied. "It was messed up, but Jaune- er… alternate Jaune just kept going marching on. If our Jaune has even half the grit that one does, he's earned a whole new level of respect from me."
Ren, Nora, and Blake nodded in agreement, knowing that they couldn't handle what Little Jaune had, even with all they'd been through.
"Is that what's really necessary to be a hero though?" They all turned to see Ruby, staring straight down at the tiled floor. "Do you need to sacrifice so much just to be a hero? Not just your time, energy, skills, and your life, but also other people?"
"Being a hero… is a difficult job," Blake told her team leader as she reassuringly rubbed her back. "You give up things to make better decisions. Like how a general makes choices that save hundreds of his men's lives, but still leads to the deaths of a dozen. Choosing to save one means choosing to not save another. Sometimes it's much more direct, like the choice that Jaune has to make. It's not easy, and it's usually too difficult for most people." She put her hands on Ruby's shoulder and turned the younger girl to face her. "But that's what makes heroes stand out." She told her with a smile. "You've shown you have what it takes, and the way you responded and helped at the docks and the Breach proved that.
"Yeah, Sis!" Yang cheered as she locked Ruby and Blake into a painful group hug. "You'll be a hero for sure, and we're here to help!"
Ruby used her free arm to wipe the tears that were building up and returned the hug. "Thanks, Yang. Thanks, Blake. You're the best team a leader could ask for." Weiss lightly slapped her shoulder. "You too, Weiss," Ruby added as she pulled the final teammate into the hug.
Ren smiled, before looking over to the unconscious Jaune with a look of concern. He then turned back to Nora. "I think we should try to help out Jaune more once he wakes up." He told Nora. Nora turned to look at Ren with a questioning raised eyebrow. "Pyrrha helps out Jaune quite a lot, so I thought we should help out too." He elaborated before giving a small smirk. "We need to make sure we all look the part of Beacon's best team."
Nora gave a huge smile as she nodded before giving her partner a bone-crushing (leg-breaking?) hug.
Pyrrha gave a heartfelt smile at their conversation, glad that they were willing to help her partner. She turned to look at Jaune on his hospital bed, her smile becoming even more caring. 'You'll achieve your dream, Jaune. You'll be a Huntsman and a hero like your ancestors. You're already bringing the best out of the people you've met at Beacon, so who knows how much good you'll bring to the world?'
Ren, having recovered from Nora's painful embrace, stood up and walked towards the door. "I believe it's time we all left." He announced. "We have a combat exam with Ms. Goodwitch tomorrow, so I'd like to get some last-minute training in."
Pyrrha stood up and gathered the blankets covering the room. "That sounds like a splendid idea," she responded while she worked. She then turned to Team RWBY. "Would you like to join us as well?"
"Yep!" Ruby responded as she untangled herself from her team. "Training hall or Emerald Forest?"
"Forest, duh!" Nora responded before anybody else could even consider an answer. "I'm still trying to find a bigger Grimm claim as my steed. Ursa aren't intimidating enough!" She then threw the door open and sprinted down the hall. "Onward!" She suddenly stopped and turned on her heels before sprinting back to the room. "And bye Jaune! Be back soon!" Nora bid farewell and walked down the hall.
The rest of the teams smiled and followed suit, giving their own goodbyes.
"Bye, Jaune!" Ruby waved.
"See ya later, Vomit-Boy." Yang gave a two-finger salute.
"Get well soon, Jaune." Weiss politely called out.
"Be back soon, Jaune." Ren told his friend.
"Rest well, Jaune." Blake called over her shoulder.
"Bye, Jaune." Pyrrha said to her partner. She then ran back into the room and gave her partner a quick hug. "I hope you wake up soon." She left and quietly slid the door shut.
Despite the fact that he was unconscious, Jaune gave a small, warm smile.
A/N: Hello hello hello! Time to address the casting.
For Sakura, the most common response was... not Pyrrha. Looking back on it, that wasn't my smartest suggestion. The two are alike in terms of kindness, but they're a little too different to match, and casting a Shinji for Pyrrha would be difficult. But, hey, that's what y'all are for! One of you (MM Browsing) suggested Cinder as a potential Sakura candidate because of her past with her adoptive family. I, personally, thought this was neat and would totally do it if this was either a short multi-source reaction fic, but I didn't feel like she'd work because of the whole sibling thing (although Cinder's step-siblings would work as Shinji, bet I can't tell who's more evil between the two) and that she likely won't be in the viewing cast. This brings me to the next topic...
As you read in this chapter, the cast is expanding! Who will I bring? Probably good guys at Beacon, maybe the rest of Ozpin's inner circle, and definitely anybody that I show in the movie that's at Beacon. I'll probably throw in some surprises!
At this point I would ask who you guys think should fill the other roles, but the comments section seems to have it handled pretty well already. However, I'm going to list it out anyways! The characters that need to be cast are:
Julian, Sakura, Angelica, Erika, Kotomine, and Darius.
I appreciate your help and support and sorry in advance if I end up going against your suggestion.
See y'all next chapter!
