(Now! After the utter depression of the last chapter, time for some good stuff!)

I Am Not Afraid

Axel's POV, Two Days Since Speaking to Jaune

Yesterday was an utter shitstorm: too say that I am angry and Jaune would be an understatement, but I couldn't help but pity the guy. His motive is understandable...but I just wish he could pull his head out of his ass for this to actually know this.

"What happened Axel?" Roy curiously asks, guess he's awake. I turn over and look at the tinkering kid with golden eyes, I sigh and shake my head. "Roy: if you were having a problem or two, would you ask for their help?" I ask him

"Hmmmm, well of course I'd ask for your help...you guys and the girls are the first friends I've had in. Well ever!" He says chuckling a bit, he hasn't had friends? Geez, now I feel sadder knowing that bit of information.

"You're smart Roy...wish some would listen from time to time." I say a bit sadly.

"Well. I'm sure whoever it is will come around eventually!" Roy says, optimistic as can be. "We should probably get to sleep...professor Goodwitch is taking us to the forest of Forever Fall tomorrow. It'll be fun, so nighty night Axel." He says before heading back to sleep.

"And so the two talk and then sleep." Cheshire yawns, I'm just going to ignore him.

I smile a bit to myself, "Good night Roy." I fall back asleep, no nightmares or dreams tonight. Nothing at all.

Forever Fall, One Day Later

"Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see." Professor Goodwitch states, the forest here is a pretty tranquil place: gray trees all around with red leaves, the leaves falling gently to the ground as the breeze blows and shakes them off. It's Autumn at it's peak

The group here consists of best team ASUR, co-best team RWBY, second best team JNPR, and somehow the shitheads of team CRDL.

"Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so."

We take a stop, Uriah setting down a cardboard box. Opening it up there's four glass jars, lids on them, and four spigots. Me and the guys pull out one each and look back at Goodwitch who's holding up a jar filled with red sap.

"Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here by 4 o'clock. Have fun!" She says a bit cheerily at the end

We all spread out and head to trees, trying to keep to our teams.

"Come on, buddy- let's go!" I hear Cardin say with fake happiness, I could only look at Jaune who's looking over at Pyrrha. He looks over at me with a sad expression on his face, he only drops his gaze and moves on...following team CRDL

I shake my head and follow my own team to a patch of trees, Uriah and Roy attaching two spigots to two different trees. Two others already having spigots in them.

You know what? I'm not going to let Cardin keep harassing Jaune any longer, but I still gotta keep here unless Goodwitch may catch me and uses that riding crop. Wait, I know someone who may love to have a chance at ruining Cardin's day.

Silas.

I walk over to my wolf Faunus friend and tug him by the tail, he yelps and quickly turns around with a glare on his face. "What the hell was that for man?"

"Sorry Si, had to get your attention. But listen: I need you to do me a favor alright?" I ask him, his glare disappears in favor of a curious glance with an eyebrow raised. "What is it?"

"I want you to watch on Cardin. And if you want, you can have a chance at wrecking him. Alright?"

Silas merely grins, "Cover for me then, and I'll be sure to make sure nothing bad happens to Cardin." He says walking away, but he turns his head back and gives a small evil grin. "Yet."

With that he walks right off. And a moment later he's gone.

I sigh and look around, I should try working on the spigot for getting some sap. Heading on over I place a jar under the spigot, alright time to get to work:

I start to twist on the valve, I growl as I keep twisting it and twisting it. And soon enough red sap starts leaking out into the jar, I sigh and nod...perfect.

I place Silas' jar under the other spigot and do the same process, red sap comes out of that one as well. That's when I hear someone clear their throat, looking behind me I see professor Goodwitch standing there with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face.

"Care to tell me where Mr. Silver is at?" She asks

"He's uhhh-"

"He's just heading to the bathroom!" Someone says, looking past Goodwitch I see Uriah carrying a filled jar in hand. "He asked Axel here to cover for him. So he tried doing so, please forgive him ma'am." He says, looking at me and gives a wink.

Goodwitch looks back at me and rolls her eyes before walking away. I sigh in relief, thank you Uriah. And taking a look back at the jars they look to be full: stopping the flow of the sap and putting a lid on the jars.

I take a look at my scroll to see the time, fifteen minutes have passed already? Geez man, sap takes some time.

The sound of a roar breaks through the air, sounding a lot like the a bear growling.

"Did you guys hear that?" Ruby pipes out sounding concerned.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who heard that." I say quietly

Out of the forest, three out of four of team CRDL comes running out looking behind them. No Cardin.

"Ursa! Ursa!" Russel yells out before running into Yang

"What?!" She snaps at the punky guy before picking him up by the front of his shirt, Russel struggling in her grip and comedically still running as he's held up "Where?"

He points back to where he came, "Back there! It's got Cardin!"

Ohhhh...shit

There's the sound of a clink, I look and see Pyrrha standing there. "Jaune!"

Ruby looks to Yang and Blake, "Yang! You and Blake, go get professor Goodwitch!" She orders. Yang drops Russel as she and Blake nod and follow their leader's command. I look back to Roy and Uriah

"Roy! Make sure the three morons don't go and get themselves caught in the same situation their shithead of a leader did." I order him, he salutes and rushes off to where Dove and Sky were running. "Uriah. Come with me."

"Aye aye." He says, the two of us head to where Russel pointed to. Going past the trees, there's Cardin scuttling away from a slowly approaching Ursa: the bear-like Grimm covered in spikes along it's back.

"Crap! Crap, crap!"

"Oh, no!"

Looking behind, Pyrrha, Ruby and Weiss join in to see the scene. The Ursa leans in over Cardin and raises up a paw, before it knocks Cardin's head clean off: the strike is blocked by Jaune's shield. He's struggling to hold back the Ursa

I take my hand around the handle of Cerberus. "Wait!" Pyrrha states, I quilt my eyebrows and stare at her before letting go of the handle.

Jaune takes the shield out from the Ursa's paw and slashes at its stomach, causing it to lash out and try to crush him. He rolls out of the way and jumps over its swipe at his feet, but he is unprepared for when it launches a claw at him in midair. He lands far away, but is immediately back on his feet and passing Cardin as he charges again. The Ursa knocks Jaune behind it when he tries for a leaping attack.

Come on Jaune! You gotta get out of there!

Jaune charges yet again, the Ursa dashing toward him as well. I take a look at Pyrrha, and before I suggest we help Jaune: her hand starts glowing with dark red energy, snapping my attention to Jaune...his shield is covered in the same energy as it raises up and blocks one of the Ursa's swipes. Jaune uses the opportunity to lean on the ground and push his shield up before slicing his sword through the neck of the Ursa.

It's head flies off, and it's body thumps to the ground.

Looking back at Pyrrha, her hand stops glowing and she smiles.

"Uhhh...what?" Ruby asks utterly confused and amazed

"What is? I don't even-" I sputter out

"How did you..." Weiss asks as amazed as Ruby, but Pyrrha interjects

"Well, Ruby has her speed, Axel has his teleportation, Uriah has his portals, you have your glyphs. My Semblance: is polarity."

"Daaaaaaaaaamn." I whisper, that was a big reveal to me. Polarity is pretty cool not gonna lie.

"Whoa, you can control poles..."

"No, you dunce! It means she has control over magnetism!" Weiss scolds Ruby

"Magnets are cool, too..." Ruby whisper still amazed

"Magnets have poles Weiss." Uriah adds in quietly

I smile and look to Pyrrha who's...walking away. "Wait, where are you going?" Weiss asks the spartan

"Yeah! We gotta tell them what happened!"

Pyrrha looks back at us, "We could..." She starts up before smiling, "Or perhaps we could keep it our little secret?" She then starts to walk away again

Pyrrha you cheeky lady. Weiss, Ruby and Uriah follow her in kind...Uriah looks back at me curiously, I shake my head to tell him: 'I'll be there soon'. He shrugs and keeps walking

I watch Jaune sheath his sword and walks over to Cardin offering a hand up, Cardin takes it and is pulled back up.

"Holy crap, Jaune!" Cardin exclaims in surprise to his savior, even from here I can see Jaune give Cardin a harsh look.

"Don't ever mess with my team - my friends - ever again." He threatens the Giant before staring him down dead in the eye, "Got it?" He asks

This isn't the bullied, awkward and dorky Vomit Boy that I've seen him most of the time now. Right now his name is Jaune Arc and he has had enough of this guy's bullshit, I can't help but smirk. Jaune turns and walks away from him.

I turn around and walk away with my hands in my pockets.

Silas' POV

"Ohohhohohooooo! Looks like someone's nuts grew three sizes this day!" The Black Dog cackles, I look to the canid manifestation of him and glare. "Time we give Winchester a more...insightful lesson." I state

"Ooooooo! Transformation time?! Please let me talk to him! Please!" The Black Dog begs, I chuckle and nod. "Go right ahead."

He giggles like a little kid and soon enough I am now a twelve foot tall...'werewolf' you could say. I'm in the backseat so my voice and actions aren't my own, the Black Dog is in control.

It giggles and pounces on Cardin before leaping twenty feet to a different location. "O-O-Oh God!" He says, I can smell the scent of his piss.

"Awwwwwww, wittle baby had an accident?" The Dog mocks in a baby voice, before laughing.

"Oh what fun I can have with you!: I could peal the skin off of your hide like a potato!, I could play soccer with your head!, I could rip out your guts and watch the steam rise up!, HELL! I COULD JUST FUCKIN' EAT YA! SO MANY CHOICES!"

I sigh as Cardin is trembling and whimpering like a scarred toddler, "Dog. Let me have control now."

"What's that?"

"Let me talk with him for a bit."

"But-"

"NOW."

It sighs, "Fiiiiiine. Here you go." It mumbles, I'm in control now. I smile at Winchester and give a wave, "Hello Cardin Winchester." I plainly state.

"Wait a minute- y-your voice! Y-you're that one Faunus Axident has! S-S-S-"

"Silas." I sigh and finish for him, I grab him by the legs and hold him upside down. And smile as evilly as I could.

"Listen well Winchester, because I will say this once. And ONLY once." I start up, "You have two options: either you clean up your act and quit your shit, or continue the way you're going and I will happily take your arms next time, then I will make sure that you will be paranoid of me taking another part from you until you go nuts and be sent away to the bedlam house. Am I understood?" I coldly tell him.

He nods with a terrified smile on his face, I nod. "Good. Now then: as compensation for all the misery you've caused. I need to...punish you."

I then snap one of his legs like a celery stick, he screams out in agony. I growl and drop him to the ground and smack him.

"Don't cry you stupid boy!" I growl angrily at him, "Your wounds will heal. NOW STOP!" I snap his other leg, "SCREAMING!" I toss him over my shoulder and rush my way back to where he was and set him down.

"Oh and Cardin?" I ask him as I slip back into my more regular form, "If you speak about this to anyone?: I'll let the guy from before do good on his threats."

I then walk off. A minute or three later I look back and smile, before I bump into someone:

Blake.

I feel heat course through me and awkwardness take hold. "U-U-Ummm, hiBlake."

"Silas...I was just uhhh, j-just coming to look for you." She says looking flustered.

"I-I actually had a question for you." I stutter out

"Yeah? What's that?"

"I-Is there...anyone you like here?"

"L-Lots of people! There's my teammates and-"

"N-Not as in the friend way! M-More like the..." I can't handle all these emotions I'm feeling "AH SHIT I CAN'T HANDLE IT! I LOVE YOU BLAKE!" I can probably guess that my face is red as my blood, I immediately cover my mouth and then my face.

Shit! Shit! Silas you moron! What were you thinking?! What were you-

I can feel her face bury into my chest. And my heart skips a beat.

"I- umm-...I-I love you too..." She stutters out

I feel my chest start swelling up, I hug her. Blushing like crazy.

"You know I always-" we both say in unison, "Sorry I- I'll just let you..."

"Let's stop talking...alright?" Blake asks.

"Sure...sure..."

I spent so much time dealing with hating Adam, I became just lost in bitterness and hatred, all sorts of stuff. It poisoned my mind and- I can't even think right now.

I love this girl here, I love Blake Belladonna. Simple as that.

"FINALLY!" A voice yells out

What?

I look and see people standing around: Jaune looking a bit nauseous along with Goodwitch, Ren and Weiss. Uriah looking utterly exhausted, while Yang, Pyrrha, Axel, Ruby and Roy are just watching on. Nora nodding along like a bobblehead

Axel's POV

We were all just coming along to collect Cardin, his team opting to not go back on the count of something else coming out and maybe eating them. We all came across on Silas and Blake getting lovey dovey and shit.

It was so sweet I have stomach cramps: some have it more badly than others.

Uriah just nudges me, "Yesh. Can you believe those two?" He asks rolling his eyes.

"I uhhhh...I can actually." I awkwardly state looking at Yang for a bit.

Jaune feeling counter:...shit I've lost count, not that there's many I just forget.

"Sooo can I." Pyrrha says, she then turns her look to Jaune speaking of which.

At least I'm not alone in that regard. That's for sure.

(And there you have it! Now I ask two questions: was Silas breaking Cardin's legs to confessing to Blake JARing? And was said confession SAPpy? Eh? Ehhhhhhh?...Don't worry reader, I hate myself too.)