Chapter 13: Cowardice Breeds Bravery

Title Song: Jaune and the Ursa by Steve Goldshein (RT4C)

It had been a few days since Lilo discovered Jaune's story, and things were not improving. Jaune had started hanging out with Cardin and the rest of Team CRDL more than his own team thanks to Cardin's blackmail threat. This definitely had caused a rift to grow between them, and it was becoming apparent to both Teams KOLD and RWBY.

Nightfall had fallen upon the four members of Team KOLD, all were sleeping peacefully, well, all but one. Jasmine whimpered as she slept.

Flashback

"Ok, let's get ready," Doctor Krys said to her team, before she turned back to her latest subject. She held up her scroll, and quickly went over the details.

Name: Jasmine Diali. Age: four years old. Obtained: Melodious Village. Family: None, all deceased. Aura active: No. Race: Faunus (Fox).

Krys looked up, and looked into the young, scared, wide eyes of Jasmine. "W-what are you going to do to me?" The girl asked, she was shackled to a medical table, with two energy coils beside her, one on either side.

Krys hated her job, but she did so, because if she didn't, Adam would just find someone else to do it. And she would die.

So, with her heart heavy, Krys turned to one of her fellow scientists. "Begin procedure."

Suddenly, lightning sparked from the top of the energy coils, before the lightning rods at the top arced the lightning straight at Jasmine, who screamed endlessly as the electrical surge charged through her body.

"I'm so sorry," Krys mumbled, before getting back into the mindset of chief scientist of Adam Taurus' branch of the White Fang.

Flashback ends

Jasmine woke with a start, gasping suddenly as she shuddered, remembering the unspeakable horrors she underwent as a prisoner. Her gasping had woken her team, who looked at her with varying expressions of worry.

"Jas?" Koa asked, first to get up and see her. He saw the sweat, and it was all he needed to see. "Another one?"

She nodded, and hopped down to go into the bathroom to splash her face with water.

Koa watched her go, his fists clenched. "She has these nightmares at least once a month, sometimes more, and they're always the same. The torture she went through…"

"What happened to her?" Lilo asked, her voice extremely soft.

"I don't know. She keeps that information very deep in her closet," Koa sighed. "All I know… is that it almost broke her."

Next day

After finishing their final class, then handling the most important homework, Team KOLD decided to go and do their own things. Koa returned to the dorm to continue with his models, Onyx went to the library to continue his conquest to read every book they had, Lilo went to shoot something, and Jasmine returned to the dorm, just to change.

She emerged a moment later, wearing a yellow tracksuit, before heading out again, running the entire perimeter of the school. As she ran, she thought. I can never stop improving. She thought.

Jasmine did this routine twice a day, once in the morning, before she showered and got ready for class, then once when she finished class. Then, when she finished, she would try to break her silence, try to get ONE syllable to form from her lips, using vocal chords she hadn't used in years.

She would always try this whenever she was alone. Ok, just… say something… She thought, before trying to say 'yes'. All she could do when she opened her mouth was a pathetic sound which sounded like a yip.

Jasmine sighed, looking out at Vale from the landing pad she had sat down on, her legs hanging over the edge, and her tails hooked around a landing light behind her.

One day, I'll find my voice again… I won't give up.

When she returned to the dorms, she found Ruby in her pyjamas, looking at Jaune, who had just come from his own dorm room. She would have pass them, but Ruby noticed her and smiled. "Hey Jasmine, back from your evening run?"

'Yup', Jasmine had her pen in hand. 'I was about to head back to the dorm for a shower, then go for some food'.

"Ah," Ruby nodded. She looked back to Jaune, "Anyway, where have you been lately?" She asked the blonde boy.

"I uh…" Jaune started, then sighed. "I messed up."

Clearly, Jasmine thought, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah… I did something I shouldn't have… and now Cardin has me on a tight leash, and Pyrrha won't even talk to me," Jaune said. "And Lilo…" He sighed. "I don't think she likes how much of a wimp I am. I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea," Jaune said, sliding his back down the door and sitting on the floor. "I'm a failure."

How long did it take for you to figure that out? Jasmine thought.

"Nope," Ruby chirped.

"Nope?" Jaune asked, and both looked at the Scythe user.

"Nope. You're a leader now Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure," Ruby said.

"But what if I'm a failure at being a leader?" Jaune asked.

Ruby gave a small thought, before speaking, "Hmm… nope." She walked over and sat down next to him.

"Heh, you know, you're not the easiest to talk to about this sort of stuff," Jaune sighed.

I'm sure that we can help if you let us! Jasmine thought with a sigh. Never had she wanted to shout at a person more than she did now.

"Nope Jaune. Maybe you were a failure when you were a kid," Ruby began, making Jaune groan and slump down. "You might have even been a failure when we met on the second day," Jaune groaned and slumped even further. Jasmine wanted to laugh at the weird motivational speech Ruby was giving. "But, you can't be one now. You know why?" Ruby asked.

"Uh… because…" Jaune started.

"Because it's not just about you anymore. You have a team. You, me and Koa," Ruby said, looking up at Jasmine with a smile.

She brought out her scroll and began typing. "She's right Jaune. 'There is no I in team.' Just as a leader must trust his or her teammates, that leader must earn the trust of his or her teammates. So, it is time for you to stop thinking about yourself, and start thinking of Pyrrha, Ren and Nora before one of you end up hurt, or worse." The app she used as a paragraph speaker said.

"Jasmine is right, Jaune. If we fail, then we'll just be bringing them down with us," Ruby said, standing and putting her hands on her hips. "We have to put our teammates first, and ourselves second. Your team deserves a great leader Jaune, and I think that can be you. Have a good night Jaune. You too Jasmine," Ruby said, before heading back into her room.

Jasmine gave a smile to Jaune, rubbing his hair, before walking by, heading into Team KOLD's room.

She found the whole team readying for sleep, "Hey, suit up for bed early tonight Jas, we've got that trip to Forever Fall coming tomorrow, and Goodwitch can't protect all of us at once," Koa said.

Jasmine gave a salute to her best friend, before disappearing into the bathroom with her PJs.

Next day, in the Forever Fall forest…

The Forever Fall forest was a lot like the Emerald Forest, but the leaves of the trees, the bushes and the grass were more red, symbolising the 'Fall' part of the forest's name. The leaves constantly were falling from the trees, giving the forest a serene and almost mystical feel. Professor Goodwitch led the field trip, including Teams RWBY, JNPR, KOLD and CRDL, into a clearing.

"Yes students, the Forever Fall forest is indeed beautiful, but we are not here to sight-see," Goodwitch said, but the students were definitely doing that anyway. "Professor Peach has asked you all to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you get eaten while doing so."

Goodwitch turned around, which signalled the group to stop. All but Jaune, who was stuck behind the giant wall called Cardin, so he walked into the back of him, all while carrying seven jars in a cardboard box. Cardin looked back, growling, causing Jaune to chuckle nervously, whistling while avoiding the bully's grasp.

"Each of you will gather one jar's worth of red sap," Goodwitch said, holding a jar full of said substance. "However, this forest is full of the Creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates."

Lilo quickly held her hand up, causing Goodwitch to pause, "Yes, Miss Fuchsia?" She asked.

"Just thought I'd warn everyone, Ursa love this stuff like Bears love honey, so if you spill any, just start again, on the other side of the forest," Lilo said. "Take it from a girl who experienced such an incident."

"Sound advice," Pyrrha nodded. Several of the others also shared their gratitude for the warning.

"Indeed," Goodwitch smiled, glad someone was learning something. "We'll rendezvous back here at 4:00 PM, have fun!" Goodwitch said, before the students fanned out by team, except for poor Jaune, who was dragged away by Cardin.

Lilo and Pyrrha watched the action, and frowned sadly. "Don't worry, I think that Jaune will get his chance to shine, very soon." Lilo said, before getting to work.

The three teams minus Jaune went about their business, Jasmine deciding to take an extra jar to fill, when she was asked about this, she answered, 'For Jaune'.

As they worked, they also had to worry about their sweet-tooth Nora from taking and eating all the sap, which annoyed anyone who fell victim to her sneaky grabbing.

Koa whistled as he worked, the sap getting drizzled into his jar. He then glanced over at Pyrrha, who had a melancholy look on her face as she looked to the sky. Sharing a glance with Ruby, the younger Leader walked over.

"You ok Pyrrha?" Ruby asked.

"Huh?" Pyrrha asked, setting down her jar. "Yeah, I'm fine," She answered. Koa noticed Nora's greedy gloves making a move for the female Spartan's jar, and he lunged over with his semblance, flicking her on the forehead.

"Don't. I'm watching you," He warned the bubbly girl.

Things got relatively quiet after that, until a loud roar disturbed the silence.

Lilo was first to react, "Ursa." She said, Snowfall and Shadow, who had been quietly snoozing next to her quick to awaken and growl.

"Sounds like trouble," Nora observed.

Suddenly, Russel, Dove and Sky ran towards them. "That's a big Ursa!" Russel yelled, as they were running. However, he collided with Yang, who picked him up by his shirt. Likewise, Lilo grabbed Dove in one hand and held Sky down by her foot.

"Where?!" Yang demanded.

"And be quick!" Lilo added.

"Back there! It's got Cardin!" Russel said.

"And Jaune?" Lilo asked.

"He's there too!" Sky whimpered.

"Yang, you and Blake go find Professor Goodwitch!" Ruby went into leader mode, as the two brawlers let RDL go.

"You two, go with them! There could be more," Pyrrha took command of NPR, Ren and Nora nodding as they took off after Blake and Yang.

"Lilo, go with them! Contact us if you run into more trouble," Koa said, drawing his boomerangs. "Jasmine, Onyx, with me!" He said, before forming up with Ruby, Weiss and Pyrrha.

The six quickly arrive on scene, just as Cardin is thrown to the ground by a massive Ursa Major. The bully's armour was stained with red sap, which was clearly why the Ursa was after him alone. Jaune was hesitating off to the side.

"Oh no…!" Pyrrha said, seeing the Grimm get closer, ready to deliver a final blow.

Cardin turned, seeing the Ursa looming over him, a paw the size of his head coming down, but suddenly, a white shield was between him and certain death.

Koa gave a small smile, as Jaune stood bravely before Cardin. Lilo would be proud.

Weiss and Onyx both looked like they were about to join the fight. "Wait," Pyrrha said.

"Huh?" Both asked, baffled.

"She's right. Let Jaune handle this, I think he's got this," Koa agreed, holstering Return to Sender with a twirl.

Jaune pushed the Grimm's claw back, swinging his sword and landing a cut on it's chest with his sword. The blow made the Ursa stumble back, before it attacked again with the same claw. Jaune leapt over it, causing the Ursa major to miss, striking the ground, but the other paw slammed into him while he was mid-air, sending Jaune sprawling.

Jaune ran back in, jumping at the Ursa Major with his sword, but the Grimm swatted him back again. Jaune seemed to pause, maybe looking at his scroll to check his Aura level. Koa glanced at Pyrrha's, which showed Jaune's aura to be in the red.

The young knight charged back in again, as the Ursa did the same. As they got close, everything seemed to slow down as Jaune swung his sword while the Grimm lunged with it's right claw. Koa was alarmed, seeing that Jaune's shield was lowered, meaning he would get hit. Suddenly, Jaune's shield rose, cased in a black glow, which allowed the paw to just deflect off it. Koa glanced at Pyrrha, who's hand was also in the same black glow.

Jaune took the chance, and, placing a foot firmly on the ground, made one more swing upwards that removed the Ursa Major's head from it's shoulders. As the slow effect expired, the head fell away, as the body began to disappear into black smoke.

"Uh, what?" Ruby asked in confusion.

"Could someone explain what just happened?" Koa asked.

"How did you-?" Weiss began to ask Pyrrha.

"Well. Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs, Koa has his Hardlight, Onyx has his Bolstering, and Jasmine has Copy/Paste. My semblance… is polarity," Pyrrha said.

"I see, that is a powerful semblance," Onyx said.

"Oh, so you control poles!" Ruby muttered in awe.

"No Ruby. She has control over magnetism," Koa said, impressed.

"Magnets are cool too," Ruby corrected herself, as Pyrrha turned to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" Weiss asked.

"Yeah, we gotta tell them what happened," Ruby added.

"We could," Pyrrha glanced over at her Leader, who sheathed his blade. "Or, we could keep it our little secret."

Pyrrha turned to leave, followed by Ruby and Weiss. Koa then noticed that Jasmine had been holding her scroll, recording the entire battle. He was about to say something, when he saw Jaune walk towards Cardin, and hold out a hand.

"Holy crap Jaune," Cardin muttered, surprised that the boy who had just saved his life was the same one that had snuck into Beacon.

"Don't ever mess with my team, my FRIENDS, ever again," Jaune said, some strength behind his words as he helped Cardin to his feet.

Good show Jaune Arc, I think you'll be fine, Koa chuckled, before nodding to Jasmine, who ended recording. "Let's take this back. We can edit it and show it to Team JNPR later."

'And Lilo,' Jasmine reminded him.

"And Lilo," Koa chuckled, before wrapping a friendly arm around her shoulder.

Koa: And that is the end of this triple whammy, and the 'Jaune... Arc...' Oops... Pun NOT intended.

Onyx: So, what's next for us to experience?

Jasmine: 'Yeah, what now?'

Koa: Let's just say... it could be interesting indeed.

All: Next time: An Assignment for us?