Don't Mess With An Arc

by Phonius Pwnage the 3rd

Ever since the beginning of time the Arcs have been known throughout history for three things; their courage in the face of adversity, their charity in times of hardships, and their overwhelming power. But now it was time a new Arc taught the world a valuable lesson it won't soon forget.

11. An Arc's Lesson

Greetings everyone,

Welcome back to the eleventh chapter of "Don't Mess With An Arc".

Thank you to those that have been reading this story so far. I really hope you all are enjoying the story just as much as I enjoy writing it. And if you can't already tell, I am drawing tons of inspiration from such works as "My Hero Academia", "One Punch Man", "Mob Psycho 100".

But, sadly, this marks the end of October's story of choice as also starting day will begin November's story of choice. That being "The Arcful Dodger"; another Jaune-Centric story in which Jaune, now called Dodger, becomes a gentleman thief. I highly recommend you all check out the story and give me your opinions on it. Each chapter will be released every Sunday in the morning, unless I've run into any problems beforehand.

Next Scheduled Release:

To Be Announce In 2019.

Make sure to Favorite, Follow, and leave a Review.

Till next time!

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Chapter Eleven

It's been just a few short months since Jaune had "fought" against Cardin Winchester. If one could even call it a fight to begin with. And ever since that day Jaune's usual joyful expression had slowly become dull and faded. It was as if fighting was no longer offering the thrill Jaune was so desperately searching for.

When he had defeated his first Beowolf with a single punch at the age of seven he'd never felt such amazing power before. And then when he defeated the rock monster that same feeling only doubled in size. But after a while that feeling of power was slowly but surely fading away and Jaune was left with a sense of boredom and reluctance to do much of anything meaningful. After all, what was the point in fighting if there was nothing that could challenge you?

And so, Jaune was content to lay on the soft padding of the grass just outside Beacon's exterior. His cerulean eyes cast upwards towards the endless azure sky above. The fluffy white clouds grazed the blue much like cattle graze the grasslands. His usual combat attire had been exchanged for a basic white t-shirt and sandy brown shorts as his magnificent weapon, Dawnbringer, lied beside him waiting for it's moment when it's lust for blood would be satiated once again.

He hadn't even bothered going to his usual seminars with Prof. Goodwitch nor had he with Weiss's lessons. It was as if all sense of excitement he'd first felt when arriving at the so-called illustrious Beacon Academy was little more than first day excitement.

A slowly but gentle sigh barely escaped between the gap in his lips as he continued to stare up into the sky above. There were times when he wondered if having such power was a curse rather than a blessing. He was born to be warrior. To vanquish evil and become a symbol of hope and peace. But, now all he wanted to do was sleep on a beautiful day much like he had many years ago.

The soft wind brushed against his bare skin and tussled hair wild blonde mane as the soft warmth of Remnant's sun basked him in an ever-glow of glory. It wasn't until a lone shadow cast itself above him, blocking the warm rays, that Jaune's drifted to the one standing above him with a cane in one, a mug of coffee in the other, and a pair of transparent spectacles resting upon the bridge of his nose as he smiled down at Jaune's form.

"I take it you're having a relaxing day, Mr. Arc?" asked Prof. Ozpin, his brown eyes practically shinning with mirth as Jaune reluctantly pushed himself off of his back into a sitting position.

"I don't get it, sir." he said softly, his right hand reaching out to grasp some blades of grass between his fingers. "I worked hard to get this strong. I read countless books from the library. From the tales of my ancestors in every battle they fought to the lessons they passed down."

"Hmm, one does learn more about themselves from the teachings of their ancestors." said Prof. Ozpin, raising the mug of black liquid to his mouth. "But I regret to say that I'm afraid I don't quite follow your words."

"I wanted to be strong just like them." he said, craning his head to gaze into the azure sky. "I wanted to be so strong that nothing could ever hope to beat me. I thought that if I was strong then I could protect everyone from any danger that arose. But... Is it possible to be too strong?" he asked, turning his head to his headmaster as he lowered his mug from his lips.

"Hmm, I suppose it's possible." said Prof. Ozpin, casting his eyes to the horizon that rested beyond his academy. "But perhaps it is not that you are too strong but that we are too weak?" he asked, turning his head back to meet Jaune's confused expression. "Humanity, as a whole, is resilient and resourceful. They will work to gain their strength and they will fight to preserve their futures. They will use tools, weapons, knowledge and many more in order to achieve their desires. You are not much different, Mr. Arc."

"Then what do I do?" he asked, lowering his head to the blades of grass that rested beneath him, their bodies being gently pushed by the soft hands of the wind. "If everyone is too weak to fight me then how am I supposed to get back that feeling of excitement?"

It was silence that greeted Jaune's question. And it was silence that caused Jaune's heart to sink further into his chest. It wasn't until Jaune felt a dark looming presence behind him that Jaune's body reacted on instinct. His head ducking just in time to avoid a surprise sneak attack before his body rolled forward, crushing the blades of grass as his hands reached out for his weapon's shaft. In an instant, Jaune was on his feet, his weapon poised to strike at the one who dared his owner.

But, instead, all Jaune saw was the cheeky smile of the elderly man standing before him with his cane poised and ready as wisps of dark green energy radiated off of his body. And for the first time since Jaune was but a baby born into an unforgiving world he was afraid of the enemy that stood before him. It was as if the gentle man that had spoken to him was no longer there and instead all that remained before him was man that cast fear into his heart. Adrenaline pumped through his body as his headmaster slowly raised his mug of coffee to his lips with a grin.

"Then perhaps it's time you faced a new challenger." said Ozpin, lowering the mug of coffee from his lips with a cheeky grin as several alarm bells echoed in Jaune's mind. "One that can properly hold their own against someone of your caliber."

Jaune's eyes scanned the man that stood before him, the wisps of dark green energy that radiated like fire before vanishing into the air filled him with a sense of danger. A foreign feeling that Jaune hadn't felt for many moons before. But, now, as his sense of fear was slowly fading away what soon replaced it was a feeling he'd been yearning for ever since he defeated his first opponent.

The thrill of battle.

"You want me to hit you?" he asked, trying to sound calm even as millions of goosebumps raced across his bare skin as his professor once again smiled cheekily at him.

"I want you to try." said Prof. Ozpin, a sense of satisfaction running through his own body as Jaune's own body began to glow a bright white fire. The wisps of white energy radiating from his core like that of a roaring wildfire in a dense evergreen forest.

Silence fell between the two warriors as gusts of wind raced around them, their emotions set off due to the surge of power each of them were emanating. It was as if nature itself was wondering which of them would win their match.

Suddenly, Jaune form vanished from his spot. The motion was so sudden not even a blade a grass had been effect by his movement. But Prof. Ozpin was quick to react as his body twisted on a dime, raising his cane to block the surprise blow of Jaune's flag spear. The black shaft of Ozpin's ornamental cane held the god weapon at bay as the two men locked eyes with one another. The resulting clash causing the very wind around them to crack with a boom that blew the surrounding grass away from them.

Excitement coursed through Jaune's body like rivers of boiling lava as his witnessed his own professor block his attack without so much as a wince. Normally, an opponent of his caliber was something many would avoid at all costs. But for someone like Jaune it was a like a lure, drawing ever so closer with it's tantalizing motions until it's true objective was met. And like moths to a flame or Grimm to settlements, Jaune was more than willing to brave the storm against his professor.

In one fluid motion, Jaune leaped away from his professor's personal space, landing just a few feet back with his weapon ready for it's next strike. He made sure to hold the spear at a downward angled level as his professor lowered his cane to his side before, once more, raising his mug to his lips. The thick black java flowed past his lips giving Jaune the opportunity he needed to launch another attack. Instantly, Jaune appeared at Prof. Ozpin's backside, his spear poised to strike his head.

But at the very last second, Prof. Ozpin had craned his neck just enough that Jaune's attack could merely hit only air. The resulting action causing the air around them to rocket forward into the distance, creating a powerful gust of wind that raced through Vale before coming to a stop at the edges of it's protective walls. Several alarms from the many parked cars echoed in the distance like a choir as Prof. Oz lowered his mug and turned his head to see the look on Jaune's face.

"Oh, come now, Mr. Arc, you know you'll have to do better than that." said Prof. Ozpin, catching Jaune off guard as Prof. Ozpin jammed his cane's end into Jaune's stomach. The force of which practically launched Jaune away from him before crashing and rolling a few feet away from him. But Jaune rose with no trouble and still with a smile on his face even as his immense pool of Aura healed the grazes on his bare skin. "I may be old, Mr. Arc, but do not think that means you have an advantage. Remember that with age comes experience and with experience comes knowledge."

"Yes, sir!" shouted Jaune, smiling like a pupil listening to the words of his mentor, raising his weapon in his hands as he charged at his headmaster once more only for Ozpin to leap into the air, place his boot on Jaune's right shoulder and, with the force equal to that of a goliath, pushed Jaune, face first, into the dirt before flipping into the air and landing on the other side. His mug of coffee remaining fresh and in it's cup despite the ordeal it had just undergone. And even as Jaune rose from the grass, clumps of dirt falling from his face, a smile remained plastered on his face.

It wasn't until Jaune turned to face his headmaster again that he noticed a sight he hadn't seen before. Just behind where his headmaster stood with a cane in one hand and a mug in the other, several multi-colored heads were sticking their heads out of the windows that littered Beacon's walls and all of them were cheering his name.

It both shocked and confused Jaune as his ears were bombarded with cheers from his peers. He had been so preoccupied with his own self-turmoil and now his fight against his professor that he hadn't even realized that enormous group of students that had stopped to watch him. But the most prominent voices were those of his friends, all of whom had exited the confines of their academy to witness him.

Ruby was practically screaming his name was she jumped into the air with her arms raised high above as if she was trying to grab the very sky itself. The wind tussled her hair, blowing several strands against her face as her gothic combat skirt ruffled in the wind. Standing beside her was Nora, who was matching Ruby's own height as she, too, cheered his name while also shouting for him to break his headmaster's legs. Meanwhile, both Ren and Blake were waving tiny flags with his name on them as each of them smiled at him. Most vocal of all was his own co-leader, Weiss, who was acting so out of character that Jaune was half tempted to stop his fight to see if she was alright. Her shouts of combat tactics and advice was nearly loud enough that Jaune was almost sure that people in Vacuo could hear them. standing beside her was Pyrrha, who was content with clapping and cheering his name as the wind brushed her flowing red hair. But it was the words his own partner shouted at him that Jaune took note of. As her flowing blonde hair thrashed against the wind and her bombastic personality shinned through that it was nearly blinding, Jaune listened, over the roar of his fellow warriors, to his partner's cheers.

"You got this, Lady killer!" she shouted with reckless abandoned as her hands cupped her lips to provide extra oomph to her voice. "Remember, I've always got your back!"

It was in that moment that Jaune realized a simple truth. One that he had been so idiotic to forget. As his name echoed through the air brought to him by his fellow students and his professor waited, cane in hand, for his next attack. The world practically slowed around him, his heart beats becoming little more than soft beats of a drum as the adrenaline that coursed through his body slowed to a crawl.

Jaune realized that while he had originally come to Beacon in search of a challenge, he had instead found something much, much more. He had made friends that would always have his back. And though he was stronger than them, it was their determination and drive to match him that Jaune respected more than anything it this world. His cerulean eyes drifted back to his friends, their motion all but still as the multi-colored wisps of energy radiated from their slow-moving bodies.

Ruby Rose, whose love for the heroics and sense of justice had become a beacon a hope for his dark days. Weiss Schnee, whose tactical mind and harsh criticisms encouraged him to better himself in an effort to become the leader his team deserved. Blake Belladonna, whose love for books and her desire to see the Faunus free from the hardships that bounded them bonded them together in hope for a better future. Nora Valkyrie, whose excitement and thrill for combat nearly rivaled his own, only out done by her love for all things pancakes and sloths. Lie Ren, whose wise words and sense of tranquility that had Jaune wishing that they had been born brothers. Pyrrha Nikos, whose combative skill and competitive spirit constantly had him constantly desiring a match with the champion of Mistral's Regional Tournament. And lastly, Yang Xiao Long, whose puns had him rolling upon their floor in fits of laughter. Her kindness and loyalty only match by her bombastic attitude. They were all so different from one another than anyone would be confused as to how any of them were friends. But for someone like Jaune they were everything he loved about his life at Beacon Academy. They had become the symbol of what Jaune desired to protect.

As the world sped back up and the sounds of his name being cheered rushed into his ears, Jaune's gaze fell upon his professor's still held his ceramic mug against his lips. Jaune's grip on his magnificent weapon tightened as he lowered his body towards the ground, kicking his right leg forward until it rested just beneath his body and his left hand stretched outwards to touch the soft blades of grass.

A hush fell over the crowd as Jaune's body began to glow brighter than ever. Many of the students had already been prepared as several of them had put on sunglasses to protect them from his blinding light. The overwhelming sense of power that Jaune held over them was roaring louder than a thunderstorm as many of the weak-willed students were practically falling to their knees under it's force. And yet, Prof. Ozpin remained where he stood, unabated by the force of Jaune's power as a sense of reminiscence filled his body. His mind running back to the very moment he had first witnessed Jaune's power. It was one that day that Prof. Ozpin knew that Jaune was their key to winning their war. But without proper guidance he was little more than a disaster waiting to happen. Even now, Prof. Ozpin could sense the many dark figures that called the Emerald Forest home. It was then that Prof. Ozpin knew that in order for Jaune to grow both a warrior and a person that a lesson was needed. And who better to deliver that lesson if not himself?

As Jaune rocketed towards him at sub-sonic speeds the energy that had surrounded Prof. Ozpin's body roared to life, creating a wildfire of dark green wisps as several green orbs surrounded his body, invisible to all but himself. In an instance, Jaune's spear struck the outer most orb that Prof. Ozpin had conjured up before being popped due to Jaune's power only to hit another orb in succession. The resulting force was enough to send gusts of wind around them, kicking up several clumps of dirt and grass that flew through the air. Many of the students had already covered their bodies with Aura in preparation for Jaune and Prof. Ozpin's clash.

Finally, it was when Jaune's attack had struck the very last orb that was protecting Prof. Ozpin's form that a mixed sense of victory and disappointment began to fill his spirit. But unlike his other altercations with the many Grimm that fell to his power it was here that Prof. Ozpin had made his move. His right hand reached out, grasping Jaune's weapon with his bare hand as he willed the invisible green orb around him to expand beyond his personal space, enveloping Jaune's form. And in that moment, a strange sensation began to fill Jaune's very soul as his eyes locked onto his headmaster's own. In that instance Jaune's entire body was bombarded with hits from all sides, all of which was bypassing the protective shield that was his Aura. But still he remained enveloped in Prof. Ozpin's dark green orb as his hand remained unmoved from his weapon's shaft. Thankfully, that barrage of attacks upon his body was ended when Prof. Ozpin thrusted his cane upwards, hitting Jaune's jawline with a resounding crack before he was subsequently launched from Prof. Ozpin's dark green orb and into the sky above.

The students watched in awe as Jaune's limp body flew into the air before plummeting back down with a crash, creating a small cloud of dirt that rose to the air above. Shock and confusion was all that was met on that day as the students of Beacon Academy witnessed Jaune's first ever defeat at the hand of their own headmaster.

Immediately, Jaune's friends rushed to his aid, each of them just as shocked as their fellow classmates upon seeing Jaune;s defeat. Never had they thought they'd ever see the day when Jaune, who completely obliterated three gigantic Grimm and a mountain, would be beaten. And yet, here they stood beside Jaune's side as he struggled to raise himself from the ground. But even as they voices exited their mouths they were denied entrance to his ears as his cerulean eyes locked onto the back of Prof. Ozpin.

"Let this be a lesson to you, Mr. Arc." said Prof. Ozpin, turning his head to gaze upon Jaune's defeated form. "No matter how strong you become... There will always be someone stronger."

And with that as his final words, Prof. Ozpin walked off back into the school where his aid, Glynda Goodwitch, stood in waiting with a clipboard tucked in her arm and an expression of shock plastered onto her face. She had been recieving numerous calls from Vale's city hall, all of which were in the belief that their precious kingdom was under attack from the Grimm or worst another kingdom. It certainly didn't help that the cause of her migraine was both her student AND her very own employer.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?" she asked, her green irises glaring a hole into her employer's head. "What would you have done had Mr. Arc's control over his power weakened? What if he had destroyed the entirety of the school along with everyone with it? You practically bet the sanctity of our school on what amounted to a death match!"

But it was silence that greeted her as Prof. Ozpin's right arm, which had gripped Jaune's weapon, shook at a rapid pace as several droplets of blood flowed down his arm and fell to the ground in little droplets that then began to pool together forming a crimson red puddle. Without warning, Prof. Goodwitch reached out, grabbing his hand by force before pulling up the sleeve that covered his arm. Her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. Rivers of red ran down his arm that flowed from the scars that littered his skin. The skin of his right hand was practically burned away leaving only a bloodied palm as the blood pooled into it before falling in a waterfall to the ground below. But was when she raised her head to meet his own that shocked Prof. Goodwitch more than she'd ever been in her entire career as a Huntress. An expression that a teacher would wear upon seeing the achievements of their pupil, who had struggled constantly from hardships before finally realizing their true potential.

A smile.

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And so, the day had finally come for ole Jauney-Boy. His defeat at the hand of Ozpin. Will this foreshadow Jaune's future in this story?

Man, it's be a while since I'd last wrote a proper fight scene and I have to say that I am really happy with how this one had turned out. I really wanted to end this month's chapter with a bang and I'm really glad I did.

Now, I know that I've already established that Jaune was incredibly strong but I'd also like to point out that we've also yet to see Ozpin's full strength as well. And besides, we all know the inevitable truth that comes with life. One may be the biggest in the pond but it's in the ocean where they realize just how small they truly are.

Thank you all so much for reading this month's story of choice and I hope you all join along for November's story of choice, "The Arcful Dodger". It's sixth chapter ready for your viewing on this day.

Till next time!