Jaune shook his head. Hard. As if he were trying to dispel his thoughts. As if that could get rid of the voices.

Now was not the time for such things. Now wasn't the time for such weakness. He couldn't be weak. He wasn't allowed to be weak. He had to keep fighting. He had to keep fighting. If he stopped fighting, what was he good for? That was his worth. As long as he could stand, as long as his arms could hold his blade, he would keep fighting. Injuries meant nothing as long as he could keep fighting. He had to keep fighting. He had to keep fighting for them.

Avenge us.

Jaune's eyes fell as his lips twisted slightly, feeling a cold shiver run down his back. .

Find them, torture them, exterrminate them.

Jaune closed his eyes, taking a heavy inhale as his hands turned to fists. The dead, they want to be avenged. They needed it. They wish the same agony they had to suffer be inflicted before they would be silenced.

Seek revenge

"Jaune?"

The boy finally exhaled, Ruby's voice luring him back into reality. Schooling his features into calm as fast as he could, he turned to see her, noticing how her eyes were running over, to ascertain his condition. "I'm sorry, did you need me for something?"

He blinked when Ruby's finger poked him between the eyes, making some wrinkles fade.

"I don't like when you make that face…" She muttered, her hand going back to the maps as her attention stayed on her partner.

"Ah...I see," He offered a sheepish smile, although it wouldn't reach his eyes, so he closed them. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

He was alive. That was better than any other Arc could boast. And with that thought, came the terrifying memories and images that always accompanied. Faces he could never forget flashed across his vision. Those faces never ceased haunting him.

Ruby knew his smile was genuine, but his words and eyes were not. Even now, she could see gleams of..something in his eyes. Whenever he would open them that is.

She knew that Jaune was not fine, but could she afford to bring that up? Was that her place? If not her, then who?

"Jaune?"

She waited, until he was actually looking at her. "Can I hug you?" She asked, her tone as sweet as could be.

Jaune stared at her silently for what felt like forever, making her feel slightly self conscious for her request. He nodded, trying his best to forget the image of his father's empty stare as his head fell to the ground. He mechanically opened his arms, only to let out a small grunt as Ruby barrelled into him.

"Can I really do this?" Jaune breathed, so quietly that Ruby wasn't even sure that he had said anything. His eyes were darting around, trying to meet all of the empty stares directed at him.

Ruby felt him trembling, raising her head to try to see what Jaune was looking at. His face was paler than usual, and his pupils were shrinking.

"Nope."

He bit his lip. He knew that. He was afraid of that. He couldn't do it. He deserved whatever punishments they would give him for surviving-

"We can do it though. You're not alone Jaune. I will keep you safe. Our team needs us," she said, making sure that he could see her eyes, and hear what she was saying.

"Do...you see them?" He dared to ask.

She shook her head no, wondering what he was seeing. She wished that he would tell her. "I see you though," She whispered.

He sniffed, feeling warm at her response. "See me?" He asked, almost breathless, as a few tears finally started to flow, but he didn't sob, he smiled instead.

"Always, my friend." She promised.

"My friend…" He repeated as his arms let go of her, in order to wipe his eyes, although his smile remained. When he stepped back from her, Ruby was pleased to see that the smile he was giving her did reach his eyes this time.

That night was the first night that Jaune slept peacefully.

Jaune stared stoically at his opponent as he leered at him. He had managed to avoid being called on for combat class so far, but it appeared that his number was up. Fortunately, he wasn't facing anyone to tough.

Despite what his opponent thought.

Cardin Winchester had burnt orange hair that was combed back with a slight peak at the front. He wore standard silver gray armor, with a gold trim. He held his mace over his shoulder, still leering at Jaune in a possible attempt to intimidate him.

Amateur.

"Are the two of you ready?" Glynda Goodwitch asked, receiving nods of acknowledgement from both of the fighters as their aura levels showed up on the screen behind them. At their nods, she set up the barrier that would keep any stray attacks from hitting the audience and let them begin.

"Hope you're ready to eat the dirt Jauney Boy!" Cardin roared as he leapt at Jaune, hoping to score a blow as he swung his mace at Jaune with a sideways blow.

That was smart. It would make it more difficult for Jaune to knock his mace out of his grip if Jaune could manage it. But that wasn't Jaune's aim at this point in time. By the time Cardin charged at Jaune, swinging his mace, Jaune's shield was already moving in place to meet it.

The edge of Jaune's shield met Cardin's mace and Jaune tilted his shield, catching the mace, and moving it aside as Jaune's blade swung out in the same motion. Cardin, unable to stop his attack, without releasing his mace, which he refused to do, had no choice but to take the attack, in this case, a probing slash that chipped at his aura. Cardin completed his charge and whirled around to face Jaune immediately, a frown on his face.

Jaune could see his opponent reevaluating him as he started circling Jaune, probing him for weaknesses. As his weapon was a mace, Jaune expected him to mostly aim for his shoulders or hips more than any other area.

And on the off chance he missed those areas, it would probably hit somewhere else, thereby chipping at his aura.

Jaune adjusted his stance, holding his shield at a forward angle to the left side of his body as his other hand held his sword at the ready.

"You're better than I thought Jauney boy!" Cardin goaded as he continued to circle Jaune, looking for an opening. Not that he would find one. And to stop the boy from circling, Jaune would have to go on the attack.

The next time Cardin was in front of him, Jaune swept his shield out in a bashing motion at Cardin's chest, forcing Cardin to either meet his bash with his mace, or avoid it altogether. And since Cardin wasn't fast enough to dodge Jaune even if he hadn't been surprised by the move, he was left with no choice but to block with his mace.

Which is what Jaune wanted. As soon as the mace met Jaune's shield, Jaune pushed against it at an angle, forcing Cardin to ground himself as he tried to match Jaune's strength. With Cardin forced to either remain there or drop his weapon, Jaune used his sword to slash at Cardin's legs, the only pieces of Cardin he could reach without compromising the binding position that he had forced Cardin into.

Cardin eventually grew tired of all the free hits Jaune was scoring and his mace exploded, catching Jaune completely by surprise. That gave Cardin the chance to back away and grounds to try again, if Jaune would let him.

Like Jaune would let him. This time he ran forward, pulling on his sword for a thrust, watching as Cardin quickly backpedaled, trying to avoid the thrust that he was sure was coming. When Jaune was close enough, he dropped his sword and his shield swung upwards, the tip of his shield bashing Cardin on the chin, making his teeth rattle. Jaune continued the motion, tackling the boy and straddling him before he could get his wits together. Using his shield to pin Cardin's body in place, Jaune used his other one to punch him in the areas that weren't covered by the shield; namely his face.

Jaune only punched him three times before he looked down at Cardin. "Do you yield?" He asked flatly. "Your aura can still take some damage," He noted, checking that Cardin's aura was a yellow forty three percent, "And I don't mind bashing on you but…"

Before Cardin could answer, Glynda interfered. "And that is enough! Jaune Arc is the winner!"

Jaune stood up, making no move to help Cardin, instead going to retrieve his sword. Cardin pulled himself up, growling to himself. He glanced at the board, seeing himself at forty three, and Jaune at eighty seven. He snarled.

He needed to do better.

"Mr. Winchester. I would suggest being more mindful of what your opponents have at their disposal. You saw a shield and assumed that Mr. Arc would only be blocking with it, and that is a dangerous mistake to make. We are Huntsmen and Huntresses. Everything and Anything can be a weapon and you need to treat them as such."

Cardin scoffed, but said nothing, for she wasn't wrong. And then she turned to Jaune. "I don't have much to say Mr. Arc only you played defensively for far too long. I see no reason why you couldn't have opened with any of the moves you eventually used,"

At Jaune's sharp nod, she dismissed them both. Jaune quickly walked back to his seat, only to have his arm snatched by his partner.

"Jaune that was awesome! You totally kicked his butt!"

Yang gave Jaune a punch to the shoulder as she grinned. "That was a mismatch if I ever saw one! Goodwitch should have put you up against me or Pyrrha! That would be something!" She grinned viciously as Jaune hummed in acknowledgement.

"Good job." Blake threw in her two sense. A lady of few words that one. In public anyway

He wouldn't have them any other way.

There was someone waiting for them when they got out of class that day. A familiar someone.

"Sup?" Sun greeted, with a blue haired companion with him. "Been a long time Red? And who's this lovely lady?" He asked, winking at Blake, ignoring his friend face palming and the weird looks he was getting from Ruby.

"Sun!" She yelled. "What are you doing here?!" She asked at the same time as Yang growled, "You have a lot of nerve showing your face after ditching us, monkey boy."

Sun shrugged, not sorry in the least. "Hey, we weren't friends, and I DID fight with you. I just didn't stay for the finale. Plus you were chasing me. Can't we let bygones be bygones?"

His blue haired companion smacked him. "Ugh, you always do this!" He turned to the four and bowed, "I apologize for any trouble my partner caused you. Please forgive him."

"And you are?" Jaune asked, stepping forward. Yang was quick to forgive, but he didn't want her to milk this. Sun seemed the type to go on and on and those two together would be a pain.

"Oh! Where are my manners! My name is Neptune. Neptune Vasillas. We're here for the Vytal Festival."

"It's pretty early for that, isn't it?"

Neptune nodded. "Yeah. Some teams are coming earlier to make sure that we're not all bogged down with travel. It keeps everything running smoothly."

Jaune nodded. That made sense. "So...does that mean you actually weren't a stowaway?"

"Oh I was! I totally wasn't supposed to be there yet. No regrets!"

"We still have to bring you in Sun!" Ruby decided, preparing to tackle him. Sun grinned and got ready as well. "You'll never take me alive copper!" With his piece said, he turned and bolted down the hall.

"Ruby, don't let him get away!" Yang yelled, as Ruby darted after the faunus, with her close behind, leaving three bemused students.

"Does...that happen often?" Neptune asked.

"More often than I'd like." Jaune admitted.

"You guys have your own separate dorms that you should be staying at." Blake said, coming up to stand next to Jaune. "Do you know where they are?"

"Yeah, Sun just really wanted to see you guys...or to see them I guess. With that done, I guess I'll see you later." He said as he strolled off, hands in his pockets.

"I don't like him," Blake said as soon as he was out of earshot.

"Him or Sun?"

"Both."

Jaune hummed as he started walking, Blake falling in step readily. "Yeah, they're...quite the characters, but they're not the ones that we're looking for."

"And who ARE we looking for?"

"Junior wouldn't say. He just said that I'd know them when I saw…" Jaune stopped mid sentence and Blake followed his line of sight to see what he was staring at.

It was a group of three people, although Jaune was staring at the male. He was a pale, well built man around Jaune's age with gray eyes and grey hair. His hair was partially slicked back and quite unkempt at the front, giving him a 'I just rolled out of bed' look. He wore slate gray and black partial zip jacket and simple black pants.

"Is...there something wrong with that guy?" Blake asked cautiously.

Jaune stopped staring before they noticed him watching them, and nodded, resuming his walk and urging Blake to follow.

Jaune led them on a winding path, from the main building to the one where their dorms were stationed in. He quickly led them to the room that was quickly becoming their home away from home. Once the door was locked and secured, Jaune let out a sigh. "That guy looks just like Marcus Black."

A long pause.

"Should I know who that is?"

Jaune rolled his eyes, as he explained. "He was a skilled assassin for hire at one point. I tried to hire him...it didn't end well. But he looks just like him, which means he must be his son, or related in some other way."

"And?"

"The child of an assassin? There's a decent chance that there's nothing to him and he's just here as a student, but I don't believe in taking chances like that. We're going to have to get some information on him. And his team too. Even if it's nothing, that means we'll have information for the festival then."

"Is this something that we should tell Ruby and Yang?" Blake asked.

Jaune nodded. "Yeah. I don't want to keep any secrets if I can help it. We can frame it as while they investigate Sun's team, we'll do his. That way they won't give anything up. And with Weiss scouting teams so blatantly, no one will think twice about us doing it."

Blake's nose wrinkled at the mention of Weiss but she nodded. "Do you want me to go start tailing them?"

"Yes please. Be careful. I'm going to go visit Junior."

Jaune's scroll fell out of his pocket as he shoved it in there haphazardly. It bounced along the pavement, until coming to a stop at someone's feet. The girl picked up his scroll and handed it back to Jaune, extending her arms towards him. "Here, you dropped this."

"Penny?" Jaune asked, mildly surprised as he pocketed his scroll carefully this time.

"Uhhh…" Penny said nervously.

"Long time no see. How have you been?"

"I'm s-sorry. I think you're confused." She responded slowly, before hiccupping loudly. "Uh...I've got to go!" She turned on her heel and power walked away.

Jaune stared after her. "Now I can't just ignore that…"

"Are you sure you're alright Penny?" He asked as soon as he caught up to her.

"There seems to be a...misunderstanding." Penny tried, hiccuping again.

"Do you always hiccup when you lie?"

"No!"

Hiccup!

Jaune grabbed her arm as she tried to walk away again. "Penny, stop." At the simple command, she stopped. "I don't know what's going on, but are you sure you're okay? If you ask me to leave again I will, but I have to be sure."

She sighed, then checked the surroundings cautiously, searching for something. She leaned in close. "It isn't safe to talk here. Follow me."

She led him all the way to the commercial district of Vale, to the same cafe that Jaune had talked to Blake to in fact.

"And you're okay? No one is threatening you or anything?" Jaune asked again.

"Oh, no! Nothing like that?"

"Then what was with that whole 'you must be mistaken' nonsense?"

"My father asked me not to talk to...anyone really. You have to understand; my father loves me very much! He just worries a lot."

"That's...unusual." Jaune said.

Before Penny could answer, they heard the sound of megaphones announcing something. They left the cafe to see a platform in the center of a plaza where a holographic image of James Ironwood was seen standing before six androids, were in turn standing in front of two storage cases with the spear and shield emblem displayed proudly on them.

"The AK-130 has been a standard security model for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree?" Ironwood asked the clapping audience as the androids took a jerky bow.

"But the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine', Well, that's just not good enough is it? So with that in mind, I would like to present...the Atlesian Knight-200!" Ironwood announced as the doors opened up, revealing six new, bulkier shinier automatons standing at attention, before knocking down their predecessors to the applause of the audience.

"These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch." Ironwood says.

"Friend Jaune…?" Penny tried nervously as Jaune watched not the presentation, but Ironwood himself.

He continued speaking. "So our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust company, are proud to introduce..the Atlesian Paladin!"

Ironwood's image is replaced with the hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at over twice as tall as the Knights below it.

"Now, we couldn't have him here for you today, but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!" Ironwood announced, without reappearing.

"Friend Jaune?" Penny tried again. "Maybe we should go somewhere else?"

Before Jaune could respond, two armored soldiers saw Penny, pointing her out and calling in backup. Penny saw them, backing away and breaking into a dead run, forcing Jaune to follow her

"I thought you said you weren't in trouble!" Jaune said, as he reached for his sword, giving Penny time to speed ahead of him while he did so. As they ran down the winding alley, the soldiers pursued them.

"Down here! She went this way!"

Jaune and Penny ran down the street followed by the soldiers. As the soldiers ran after them, one of them nearly got hit by a car that managed to slam the brakes on at the last moment. His partner ignored that and continued to follow Jaune and Penny.

Jaune was catching up to Penny, but noticed a stack of crates that was held up by a support that was begging to be cut. Jaune did so, causing the boxes to fall and block the path.

Seeing Penny ahead of him, Jaune muttered, "Amp five percent," And felt the familiar hum of his semblance activating around his body. He quickly kicked off against the wall, ricocheting off the walls to catch Penny. He grabbed her around her waist when he reached her.

Penny was heavier than he expected, and Jaune miscalculated his jump, causing him to land in the middle of the street while Penny bounced out of the street, landing on the pavement.

Unfortunately for Jaune, there was a truck coming at him at very high speeds. Jaune quickly stood up, trying to pull out his shield to hopefully take some of the impact of the truck about to hit him. When suddenly, Penny pushed him out of the way, holding her palms out.

Jaune's eyes widened, and he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, his gaze never leaving the friend that he was sure that he had just gotten killed.

In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny cracks and crumbles into pieces, and the truck is lifted a little ways into the air by the girl's sheer strength. She put it down gently, and the driver stares in awe at the crumples in his hood.

He had just gotten someone killed. A girl. A friend. He had killed a friend. He killed her. He wasn't supposed to do that. Jaune didn't kill friends, classmates. He wasn't like that man. He just wasn't like them. He wasn't like them.

"Are you okay?" Penny asked the driver, who slowly nodded.

Penny backed away, looking at Jaune's panicked expression, then at the bystanders talking to each other as they discussed what just happened. In her own increasing panic, she ran from the soldiers that had reappeared, and bumped into Jaune, knocking the boy out of his stupor as she tried to flee again.

"Penny? Come back!" Jaune said, running after her again as the citizens look at the destruction that Penny caused with her bare hands and the Atlas soldiers lost their target.

Soon enough, Penny came to a stop just outside of an alleyway, trying to gauge where she should run to next.

"Penny! You're alive!" Jaune said upon catching up to the girl. "Why did you do that? HOW did you do that? Why are they chasing you?

"I-I can't! Everything's fine! I-I don't want to talk about it!" Penny starts to hiccup with each lie.

"If you tell me, I can help you," Jaune tried .

"No!" She yelled, retreating. "No, no! You wouldn't understand…"

"You don't know that! You can trust me." Jaune urged

She finally stopped backing up, marching up to Jaune, studying his face desperately. "You're my friend right? You promise you're my friend?!"

"Of course." Jaune answered softly. "You risked your life for mine. I don't take that lightly."

"Jaune…" Penny was silent for a moment, looking down at her hands. "I'm not a real girl."

She showed Jaune her hands. Part of the skin on her palms had been ripped away, revealing grey metal underneath. She stared sadly at Jaune's face.

"I...don't understand."

"Most girls are born, but I was made." She explained. "I am the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura." She turned her head to the side, not looking at Jaune. "I'm not real…"

Jaune grabbed her hand, taking it into his own. "That's nonsense. Just because you're made of metal instead of flesh doesn't make you any less real that I am." Jaune reassured her.

"I don't...um…" Penny responded, confused, before leaning in close to Jaune's face. "You're taking this...extraordinarily well."

"You're not like those androids we saw back there." He squeezed her hand. "You've got a heart and soul. You wouldn't have aura otherwise."

"Oooo...oh Jaune!" Penny said excitedly as she grabbed Jaune into a hug and shook him back and forth. "You're the best friend anyone could have!"

"I can see why your father would want to protect you!" Jaune laughed as he was shook around.

She finally released Jaune, back to her normal happy self. "Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you would love him!"

"Whoa. He built you all by himself?"

"Well, almost! He had some help from Mr. Ironwood." She admitted

"Ironwood? Wait... Is that why those soldiers were after you?" Jaune asked.

"They like to protect me, too!" Penny answered.

Jaune scoffs. "They don't think you can protect yourself?"

"They're not sure if I'm ready yet." Penny says. "One day, it will be my job to save the world, but I still have a lot left to learn."

"Save the world?" Jaune asked, as his heart rate quickened. "Save it from what?"

"That's why my father let me come to the Vytal Festival. I want to see what it's like in the rest of the world, and test myself in the Tournament." Penny continued, ignoring his question.

"Penny. Save the world from what?" Jaune tried again.

Before she could respond, a voice shouted down the alley. "Check down here!"

Penny grabbed Jaune's shoulders. "You have to hide!" She then lifted Jaune effortlessly.

"Penny, wait! What? You don't have to leave! I can help!" Jaune struggled as Penny carried him towards a dumpster.

Penny threw Jaune in the trash and lifted the lid so that she could talk. "It's okay Jaune. They're not bad people; I just don't want to get you in trouble. Just promise me you won't tell anyone else my secret. Okay?" She stared at Jaune.

"I promise."

Jaune lowered the lid of the dumpster, listening to the scene outside.

"There she is!"

"Salutations, officers!"

"Why were you running? And what happened to the boy?" The soldier asks.

"What boy? I've been by myself all day!" Penny said, then hiccuped loudly.

"You shouldn't cause such a scene."

"Are you okay?"

"Just a scratch."

Jaune smiled as he listened to the conversation, glad that everything was fine.

"Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this."

"Please, just come with us."

"Yes, sir!"

And with that, they left, leaving Jaune in the dumpster. "She said that she was here to save the world...but from what? Could...there be others that know about that man? I need to know more."

Decision made, Jaune climbed out of the dumpster. He would have to go see Junior another time. Hopefully none of the girls had returned to the dorm yet. He didn't want to explain why he smelled like garbage.

Tried to think of something clever to say, but just like in real life...I got nothing. Disclaimer in case we're still supposed to do that, I don't own RWBY. If I did...things would be different! Different I say!