Here it is, the longest chapter yet. I'm a little nervous about this one, not entirely sure it's up to scratch. But i digress, i hope you enjoy it all the same.
Jaune was awake long before any of his teammates, he had work to do. Slowly and with painstaking care so as not to wake her, he extricated himself from underneath her and repositioned the red-head so that he might be comfortable. Content that he was now free he made is way over to the desk and set his scroll upon it. He typed in a few figures and the device displayed a like-for-like representation of the town he was in, he scrolled through the map getting committing every detail to memory.
The minutes slowly crept by as he stared at the map doing his very best to remember as many details as was possible. His plan relied solely on his team's ability to out-manoeuvre 'Ursula' at every opportunity. As he worked he way through the town's planning he drew together a strategy for how he and the rest of team Juniper might be able to bring down the Mega-Grimm.
The Knight gave a satisfied sigh as he at last shut down the map on his scroll contented that he could effectively recall his mental map no matter what. His scroll reverted back to its home screen displaying a photograph of Jaune and Pyrrha together. Pyrrha had a dab of ice cream on her nose and was blushing feverish red. Next to her the blonde was giving a cheesy grin as he reached out with his free arm to take the picture.
He smiled recalling the events, it had been from their second date. Jaune had taken her to a quaint little ice cream parlour in Vale, he could still remember the smell of the different flavours. He had waited until she had gone to taste her's before tapping the bottom of her hand resulting in her cone shooting up and dabbing her nose. He had snapped the photo before she knew what had happened.
Jaune sat quietly watching the sun rise through the gaps in the boarded up windows as he waited for his team to stir from their respective dreams. He didn't want to wake them, they were shattered from their flight the previous day. They deserved the rest.
A single beam of sunlight came through a gap in the hastily boarded window. Jaune's eyes traced it to find it illuminating his partners face. He gasped at the sight. Her vibrant hair seemed to glow in the early morning light, illuminating her corner. In response to the sudden light she opened her eyes, they became an iridescent wash of every imaginable shade of green. He tried not to stare but whenever he tried to avert his gaze his eyes were drawn back.
The Champion had an adorable look of confusion on her face as she noticed Jaune was missing. She cast her eyes searchingly around the room, they locked onto her leader. The blonde watched as his partner shimmied out of her sleeping bag and made her way over to him, straightening her clothes out as she went.
"You been awake long?" she inquired, clearing the sleep from her eyes and suppressing a yawn.
"A couple of hours, I've been busy" he replied.
"Doing what?" she slumped down next to him
"Planning. I have an idea about how we can deal with 'Ursula', but I'd rather wait until the others are awake so I can tell you all at once." He smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around her, lightly kissing her head
The pair sat in companionable silence, each content to simply be in the other's presence. Jaune heard a soft sobbing, he turned and was surprised to find that it was Pyrrha. He gave her a reassuring squeeze and drew her in rocking slowly back and forth in an effort to soothe her.
Pyrrha internally berated herself for her lapse in control, she had accidentally opened a floodgate of emotions and there was no way she could shut it off now. She leant into her boyfriend and cried silently.
"Hey now, Pyrrha, what's wrong?" He rubbed her arm as he spoke in a soft voice.
She pulled away slightly, her eyes glistening with tears, some of which had escaped and were in a mad dash down her cheeks.
"I-I'm scared Jaune. All throughout my life I've embraced combat challenges willingly and with no real fear, sure I was nervous but never afraid. My parents always saw me as the champion and never just Pyrrha their daughter. It was a cold and harsh existence but I came to Beacon, then I met you. Our team became the loving family I had never truly had. For once it felt as though people truly cared about me for who and not what I am. And then I felt something for you, it was a totally new experience for me. Love."
The champion caught his shocked expression.
"That's right Jaune, I love you. You were the first person to ever treat me like just another human being. It wasn't for nothing that I pinned you to that tree during initiation. And now here we are about to face off against some titanic hell beast and I'm scared. I had a nightmare last night that Nora, Ren and you all got killed by this Ursa and it wouldn't stop. I couldn't bare the idea of losing you."
The Champion was shaking in his arms. In the most gentle of motions he swept a curtain of her red hair out of her eyes and caught her tears with a thumb. He cupped her cheek in one hand and gave her his famous Arc smile. The Spartan sniffed softly and stared straight back into his eyes, their swirling depths had an almost hypnotic affect and helped calm her nerves.
"Pyrrha,I didn't know you felt so worried, you don't need to y'know? We can't back out now, we have an obligation to help these people but I promise you one thing. We will kill this 'thing' and we will all go home together. And what's more, when we do I'm taking you back to that ice cream parlour for the biggest sundae of your life!"
She smiled slightly and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, he leaned in and kissed her most sweetly upon the lips, their moment was interrupted by the ferocious sounding growl of Jaune's stomach. The knight scratched the back of his head nervously as his face turned red. Pyrrha giggled at the sound.
"S-sorry. How bout I set about making us breakfast?"
"Did someone say 'breakfast'?" Nora sat bolt upright faster than Jaune could blink.
"Yes Nora, Jaune is just about to start making it. You'd best wake up Ren, we have a big day ahead and much to discuss."
The Valkyrie nodded with enthusiasm and went about waking her partner up, a process that involved her prodding him repeatedly in the face until he sat up groaning.
Their rations sat in their small camping stove and bubbled away animatedly, despite Jaune adding a few sprigs from his personal supply of seasoning ingredients. Despite his efforts their rations looked far from appetising, but what could you expect of something that had come out of a bag. All they knew was that it contained all the energy they would need.
They all sat around their small stove eyeing the orange mush they had been served, it was labelled as a carrot and coriander stew but that was optimistic at best. No-one made a move to start eating, instead they all just glanced between their teammates and their 'food'. Jaune was the first to attempt eating.
"Well, down the hatch..." He loaded up his spoon and took a mouthful of the broth, all eyes were on him as he sampled the cuisine. His face lit up at the explosion of flavours across his palate. And began to eat with ferocious speed.
"Mmm! Guys, this is good! It tastes far better than it looks. Eat up!"
The rest of his team took tentative tastes of their ration breakfast and reacted much the same as their leader, wolfing down the food with the speed of a charging Boarbatusk. The kitchen staff at Beacon had worked a miracle, packing mountains of flavour into what could only be described as slop.
Not long after they had eaten, they prepared themselves. Jaune straightened out his trusty hoodie and slung on his armour and belted Crocea Mors around his waist. He undid and re-tightened his laces ensuring they were tight and that the excess wouldn't cause problems for him.
Across from him Pyrrha smiled in recognition at the hoodie. Whilst he was straightening its hood she noticed a ragged fist-sized hole torn into the fabric. It was the same one he had worn for initiation, the one he referred to as his 'lucky' hoodie. The red-head busied herself in pulling on her leg plates and straightening out her combat clothes, finally with gentle precision she placed her simple golden circlet upon her head. She slung Miló and Akoúo̱ into their usual place across her back where she could reach them. Content that she was ready for their upcoming battle the Champion began to pack her sleeping bag away.
Ren unclipped the magazines from his Storm checking that the dust-rounds were lined up correctly to reduce the probability of a jam. Content that they were in order he slid them back into his twin pistols and pulled the slider back to chamber the first rounds, he double checked the safety catches as was good practice and concealed them within his voluminous sleeves.
Nora was the odd one out, rather than carefully checking her weapon and preparing herself, she was sat cross legged surrounded by small cases of her custom grenades, each one was marked with a squiggle of a different colour. The Valkyrie sat resting her chin on her hand pensively muttering to herself.
"-But red would be prettier... hmm... what about the firework rounds? Noo, they're purely for show... The usual pink might work, no...this is a massive Grimm, it needs something special... AHA!"
Nora's hand darted out and grasped one of the high-explosive cannisters from its foam case, she turned it over in her hands and nodded decisively loading her revolving grenade launcher and humming all the while. Looking up she caught her team staring at her wide-eyed in response she simply waggled one of the grenades and chirped out;
"PURPLE!"
All four teens burst into laughter at their exuberant Valkyrie comrade. Not one of them would substitute her for the world. Just as Ren was the voice of reason, Nora was their innocence and freedom of spirit, Jaune and Pyrrha were simply the bread and butter to complete the package and hold it all together.
Once they were all prepared Jaune had them all gather round the desk, again he lay out his scroll and activated the map display hologram. They each watched him intently, even Nora was stood stock-still.
"OK guys, here's the plan."
It had taken the Knight a full hour to explain his strategy to them, and even longer to answer their questions. It had frustrated him at first but he knew it was necessary, better that they understand the idea fully than not and risk harm. He had pointed out using his map the manner in which the streets were organised and how, if necessary, they could use them to their advantage in the upcoming battle.
"Remember, if you find yourself in trouble travel at right angles and turn as often as possible. Most likely 'Ursula' won't be able to follow you. Stick to the plan and with any luck this monster will be dead by dinner."
He led his team out of their accommodation and down the hall to the refugee room from the previous night. There inside they found the townsfolk, although they seemed a little friendlier than they had. Jaune scanned the room looking for the old smith from the night before, he spied him over in the makeshift field hospital helping to tend the wounded.
He set his face into an expression of grim determination and made is way over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. Merlyn turned briefly and grunted at the sight of the four teenagers.
"Can I 'elp you youngsters?" His voice gravelly as ever.
"We are all set to deal with this 'Ursula', would you mind leading us to the exit. We kinda don't know the way out."
The room went deathly silent, all eyes on team Juniper. Merlyn motioned for them to follow and made his way through the crowd of refugees and off towards the door, JNPR following close behind. As they made their way past the survivors they murmured offers of 'good luck' and 'God speed' . In one particular instance Jaune was stopped by a small child no taller than his waist, it was a girl who couldn't have been any older than maybe seven. She was what was once a yellow summer dress from what he could tell, her eyes were an odd colour in between green and yellow. Her hair shone silver In what light there was, she was adorable.
"Good luck out there Mister. Thank-you for the chocolate. Don't let the mean old monster get you."
"Not on your life, we'll get 'em I promise."
He smiled his warmest smile and lightly ruffled her hair. He turned and followed Merlyn out of the door and into the halls. The little girl's speech bolstered his courage for she reminded the Knight of his own sister. Marron was around the same age and they both had a look of hope in their eyes. He would do his best for that girl, for all of the townsfolk.
Their little procession halted in the once-great foyer. Merlyn stood in front of them and looked them all up and down, scrutinizing each and every detail of the team before him. He seemed to pay particular attention to their blonde leader whom was stood his jaw set and a fire burning in his eyes. After a good five minutes the smith finished his inspection and spoke, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"Good luck to you all, each and every one o' ya is far braver than I. We'll all be rooting for you. Be sure to give ol' Ursula one from me! An' then several more fer good measure." Rage burned in the old man's eyes as he spoke.
"Yes sir!" they all replied in unison.
Merlyn simply nodded and hefted the door open just wide enough for them to slip through. Team Juniper took a few deep steadying breaths and stepped out into the bright light of the outside world.
They blinked profusely trying to speed up their eyes' adjustment to the burning August sun. Gradually it became more than a bright white blur and they could distinguish the shapes of nearby buildings. What bothered them was the lack of Grimm, the town still seemed totally deserted. Jaune took a few steps into the square and looked a Nora a mischievous look in his eyes, matched only by the Valkyrie
"Nora, light show."
Nora giggled as she locked a special cartridge into Magnhild and aimed it up, she pulled the trigger sending her projectile whistling on its way above them. It reached the height of its arc and exploded into seven micro-cannisters which spread out before each exploded individually sending showers of multi coloured sparks, ranging from bright greens to deep purples, raining down on the town square.
The sound of the explosions died down and all was still once again, briefly. From off in the distance came a roar which chilled the blood in their veins. They felt a low rumbling and saw off in the distance the tops of the trees flex out of the way as their quarry came hurtling towards them amidst the sounds of creaking and cracking wood.
They adopted their respective stances and prepared themselves. Nora shifted Magnhild into its hammer form, the colossal weapon providing some comfort to the team. They had yet to see any Grimm go head-to-head with the hammer for more than three swings and live. Many of the creatures in Beacon's emerald forest ran scared at its sight, not that they ever got far, Nora would always chase them down in the end and convert their once solid bodies into a substance that she lovingly called 'Grimm Jam'.
They watched in a mixture of fascination and horror as the flexing trees got closer and closer. Jaune tightened his grip on his sword and shield, he shot reassuring glances to his teammates. With the exception of Nora who seemed genuinely excited, they all had a sombre yet determined look to them.
Another deafening roar sounded as the beast burst into the clearing and made a beeline directly for the teenagers. Merlyn hadn't exaggerated, Ursula was huge, roughly the size of one of the smaller log houses. The plates of bone armour were chipped and gouged, a particularly deep set of claw marks marred its face-plate. The spikes on its back were colossal ranging from four feet long at their smallest up to around twelve feet at their biggest.
"Holy shi-"
He was cut short by the sound of splintering wood as the Ursa Major swiped a powerful paw straight through the side of a cabin blocking its way.
"RUN!"
He barked his command and sped off at fill tilt to the nearest cross-roads, it was a small area just big enough to house the Ursa. He shot a quick glance behind to find his team hot on his heels and behind them their monstrous foe. The ground shook with every step it took, and the stone paving cracked under its feet.
"BREAK!"
Once more the Knight's voice rang forth,struggling to be heard over the sound of the Mega-Grimm chasing after them. His message was received and his team split up each taking a different direction on the cross-roads. As hoped Ursula came to a stop in the centre, baring its teeth in a feral growl.
"PYRRHA! DISTRACTION!"
He heard his partner grunt behind the massive beast, and caught a brief glimpse of gold as Akoúo̱ collided with, and ricocheted off of the Ursa's skull armouring with a deafening clang. Ursula released another earth shattering roar and reared up turning to face the Champion. Pyrrha retrieved her shield via her semblance and prepared to defend herself. The Ursa towards her and sent a series of heavy swipes, The Spartan's aura flared as one of the paws impacted sending her sprawling. Concern swept through Jaune as he watched her regain her feet and swipe Miló at the inbound claws of the Ursa.
"NORA! DO IT!" He yelled.
In a flash of orange and hyperactivity he watched the Valkyrie dart forward, in its rage the gargantuan Ursa missed her dart forwards, missed her raise her hammer... Once, the beast howled in pain. Twice, it attempted to turn on the Valkyrie. Thrice, a loud explosion was followed by a resounding and sickening crack as she. Broke. Its. Leg.
Ursula let loose a piercing screech in pain as its left leg crumbled beneath it, folding in a way that it was never designed to. It felt as though the whole world shook as Ursula hit the deck, shattering the paving slabs on impact and leaving a sizeable crater. He winced almost empathetically, as Nora finished her job and shattered its remaining knee. The fight was far from over, but if anything was certain it was that Ursula would never be getting back up.
The Valkyrie surveyed her work with a savage smile as she retreated over to Jaune, the Ursa having blocked off her original street. She had a slight spattering of gore on her face only serving to accentuate her savage grin.
"YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IVE WANTED TO DO THAT!"
The hammer wielder shouted over the pained screams of the now crippled Ursa Major.
"WELL DONE! WE'RE NOT DONE YET! THAT THING STILL HAS CLAWS!"
And it was true, even as he spoke the beast was flailing wildly tearing swathes out of the nearby buildings with powerful strokes of its claws.
"PYRRHA, PIN DOWN ITS RIGHT PAW!"
The Champion drew her arm back switching Miló from its Xiphos form into its javelin and threw it with all her might, complimenting her throw with the recoil from one of her dust-rounds. It flew straight and true, but in its process of flailing the Ursa flung its right paw out and swatted the spear out of the air and sent it shooting into the wall of one of the nearby houses. She flared her aura and activated her semblance but the spear was truly stuck.
With a grunt the Spartan sprinted towards her prized weapon, ducking and leaping to avoid the furious onslaught of the utterly furious, although now paraplegic Ursa. Using her momentum she threw herself at the cabin, planting her feet on the wall and securing a sturdy grip on the half of Miló. Straightening her legs and giving a powerful heave the spear's blade came free in a shower of splinters.
Rage burned in her eyes as once again Miló took on its Xiphos form. Raising her shield she charged the downed beasts arm, Ursula saw her coming and launched a swipe. The Champion caught the blow on her shield and was knocked back to the ground. She flipped to her feet and charged the beast again, Ursula howled as a barrage of green bullets flew into the armour plating around its eyes temporarily blinding it, Off in the distance she watched as Ren unloaded both clips towards the beast's face.
Taking a leaf from Ren's book Jaune charged the Ursa's flank bringing his sword in a sweeping arc and rending the monsters flesh. Again and again he swung loosing jets of blood from the beast's hide. Each swing sent a shower of droplets flying from his blade.
Pyrrha saw her opening and leapt up onto the beasts arm, stabbing Miló deep into its flesh to gain hold and grabbing a handful of black fur with her free hand. The Champion worked her way up the beasts flailing arm in this manner until she reached its shoulder, there she set to work hacking and slashing at the joint, aiming to sever as many tendons as possible. Her savage attack sent sprays of pitch black blood flying, marring both her armour and the street around them. With each swing she felt the arms movement reduce ever so slightly, until eventually it ceased to move at all, the shoulder joint in tatters a river of gore pouring out and pooling on the cold stone below. She leapt down and ran to her leader, drenched in blood and sweat.
Across from her Ren made his move, covered by a volley of grenades from a certain hyperactive Valkyrie. Clouds of bright purple smoke engulfed Ursula's head as it flailed its one remaining arm in an attempt to cease the explosive barrage.
"REN YOUR TURN!" Jaune barked his commands.
Employing a similar technique to his teammate the martial-artist used the twin blades of Stormflower as mobile hand holds, stabbing them alternately to climb his way up. He was swung about like a rag doll as he poured his aura into his hands to sustain his grip. Once at the beast's shoulder he swung his fist, glowing magenta, into one of the many bone spines on the beasts back. It snapped launching the great spike into the air. The Lotus leapt and angled himself above it, in an act of pure grace he swung his foot around in a wide kick, it flashed as he connected one of his famed aura-strikes with the bone spike launching it as supersonic speed. A loud boom echoed as it broke the sound-barrier. It flew straight into the beasts shoulder and embedded itself. Ren landed in a three point pose and made his way over to his leader. The beast threw a clawed swipe at the martial-artist. Ren tried to dodge but was too slow, it connected with a dull thud and sent him through the wall of a nearby house.
"RENNY NO!"
Nora gave an anguished cry as she saw her teammate fly.
Jaune sprinted over to where his teammate had landed. He found him against the wall, even as he watched the Lotus staggered to his feet and made his way towards him. His clothes were tattered and torn, as well as his arms being covered in a wide collection of small cuts and grazes. From outside came a series of explosions as Nora vented her rage and unleashed a multi coloured hell onto the downed Ursa.
"Ren! Are you alright?"
The martial-artist nodded shakily, as he checked himself over.
"Nothing broken, but my aura is all but gone."
The Knight followed his friend as they made their way back out and into the fray. At the sight of her childhood friend alive and unharmed Nora ceased her barrage and sprinted over drawing him into one of her signature bear-hugs.
"RENNY! ARE YOU OK? DON'T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!"
The Lotus boy chuckled and raised a hand to her signalling his wish to speak, the Valkyrie paused and looked to him expectantly.
"Nora, I'm fine. I'm a little shaken up but I'm OK. Now about that beast's arm."
With a cocky smirk, Ren raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. Ursula's remaining arm swelled at the shoulder joint around the wound and, with a sickening squelch exploded in a shower of blood and bone fragments as the aura charged spike exploded. The beast gave a howl that shattered the remaining shards of glass within the windows of the nearby buildings. The four teenagers covered their ears at the harsh sound.
"I swear Ren, when we get back to Beacon you're so teaching me how to do that." Jaune spoke in reverence as Ursula finally fell oddly quiet. Cautiously the team made their way over to the creatures head, skirting the ever growing pool of pitch black blood. Its eyes glowed with pure fury and malice. Jaune stepped forward and gave it a glare of his own. Still looking it dead in the eye Jaune spoke so that his team could hear.
"Y'know Nora, after this battle I could kill for some toast...But, do you know what I want on it?"
Ren and Pyrrha gave him a look mixed between confusion and concern.
"Grimm Jam?" The Valkyrie suggested a hopeful look in her eyes.
"Got it in one." Jaune stepped aside with a sadistic smile as Nora stepped up to the plate, she switched Magnhild into its hammer form and leaned down next to the Mega-Grimm's head, her blue eyes only inches from Ursula's red ones.
"You hurt my Renny. That was a BAD move."
The monster gave a pained growl as she raised Magnhild ritually and Jaune could swear he saw something akin to fear in the creatures eyes. With a smile the Hammer user brought Magnhild down upon the beast's armour, it cracked under the sheer force causing the monster to wail, a second blow deepened the fractures and only accentuated the various fractures, but the third strike was just right causing Ursula's bone defensed to cave and give way. As it did Nora pulled the trigger detonating one of her bright pink grenades (long since having run out of purple). The monsters head exploded in a shower of flesh and gore, staining all four of them with its life essence. JPR stood in horror as it rained Grimm chunks. Nora turned to them and hefted her hammer onto her shoulder it was dripping blood and had bits of dissipating brain on it. She beamed her characteristic smile at them.
"Did I do good?"
The four teenagers stood by the body of Ursula breathing heavily as they watched it disintegrate. They turned to find a column of the townspeople, Merlyn was at the head of the group, a terrified look on his face.
"We heard 'er roar a-and some explosions, when it went all silent-like we feared the worst and decided to come and investig-"
He fell silent and eyed the body with a mixture of shock and awe.
"Ya did it... ya actually did it... the whole town's owes ya, if there's anythin' we can do jus' ask."
Jaune looked at his team and then back to the aged smith.
"S-sir, is there anywhere we could have hot showers? A-and maybe a change of clothes?"
The four hunters looked at him hopefully, the smith scratched at the stubble on his chin whilst he thought.
"Well, we can prob'ly dig up some clothes. But for the shower, we'd 'ave to check th' generator."
He gave a whistle and was joined by two of the younger townsfolk, Merlyn dispatched one to try and round up some fresh clothes from amongst the relatively untouched houses and the other to check on the town's generator. They nodded at his request and sprinted off.
The old man took one step aside and a tidal wave of villagers rushed forwards, some went over to the wreckage of the Ursa in disbelief to check it was really dead, others to see if the damage and the extent of the necessary repairs. However a third group crowded the four hunters and hefted them up and onto their shoulders, parading them back through the town and towards the square cheering their names as they went. No-one not even Ren could quell the rush of blood to their faces.
Team Juniper sat on the white steps of the town hall enjoying the late summer sunshine and chatting amicably amongst themselves. The white stone was back to its former glory having been rinsed clean of the staining upon them. They had tried helping the townsfolk in their efforts to tidy the square but had been shooed away every time and told that they were to rest, and so they did.
For the majority of the first hour they had been surrounded by the town's children as they pestered to hear the story of their battle and glorious victory over the big mean Ursa and Nora was only happy to oblige, retelling the story over and over complete with animated hand-motions.
After the third telling the children had all scattered to tell their parents the story, laughing happily as they went. It was a refreshing sight to see compared with the frightened looks they had on the night before.
Jaune stood up as he saw the two youngsters from earlier running towards them. They were both carrying armfuls of clothes and were red faced from their exertion. They set the piles of clothing down on the steps beside them.
"S-sorry it's not much, it was the best of what we had left that should fit. Uhm...we got the generators working so you can take a shower if you'd like."
Jaune took a set of clothes from the pile, it was a plain white t-shirt and light brown pants. Next to him his team did the same. The team made their way back to their room (getting lost numerous times along the way), and retrieved their respective wash kits before being led off to the town's public shower block. The team split down by gender and entered their showers.
Words couldn't describe the feeling of relaxation Jaune felt as the water rushed over him. He looked down and saw the pool at his feet was black as night, clouded with Grimm blood. He set about washing away all the accumulated filth.
When the night left the shower block he felt like an entirely new man. His hair was back to its light golden and scraggly glory, an easy smile played about his lips. The clothes they had fetched him fit relatively well, although the pants were a tad too big around the waist and the t-shirt very 'snug' to say the least. On his left hip was hung the familiar weight of Crocea Mors.
He leant against the block's wall and closed his eyes, content to let the sun warm his face. He focussed on the sensation and became oblivious to all else. In an instant the sunlight was blocked out from his face and replaced with a light pressure on his lips. He opened his eyes slightly to find the familiar red hair of his partner and girlfriend. He returned her kiss passionately until they both separated gasping for breath.
She was clothed in a light green summer dress which complimented her eyes perfectly. She too looked rejuvenated, having rinsed the blemishes of combat from her features. Her eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun in a way that Jaune found entrancing. She tucked her head against his chest and held him tightly, he returned the favour, wrapping his arms around her waist.
They remained so until they were joined by their teammates, both clad in their new outfits borrowed from the townsfolk. The four made their way back towards the town hall, carrying their old blood stained clothes with them. Jaune opened his scroll messaging app and opened up Ozpin as a contact.
'Mission complete, slight complication due to poor intel. Ready for evac whenever convenient.'
He hit send, immediately welling up with dread at the prospect of a return flight in one of the rickety old Bullhead drop-ships. His scroll buzzed in his pocket as he walked, it was a reply from Ozpin.
'Congratulations to both yourself and your team upon your mission's success. Bullhead retrieval organised for 0700 tomorrow morning. Arrival expected at approx 1100 for debriefing.'
He put his scroll back into his pocket at the same moment Ren's went off. He opened his message with a curious look that switched to a wide smirk, the Lotus chuckled to himself.
"What does it say Renny?" Nora chirped to him, trying to read it over his shoulder.
"Ozpin says he wants to bet 50 lien on Jaune throwing up within half an hour on our flight tomorrow."
*tut tut* Ozpin, encouraging betting is bad... Hope you enjoyed the chapter, Just to say, i imagined Merlyn as having a west country accent. I'll admit its not easy to write. Anyway, as always follow, favourite and review. All criticism is welcome, don't be shy. PM me with ideas, 'cause the manatees are on strike. Also don't forget to send me your suggestions for the next ship i'll write. Have good one and i hope to see you all in the next chapter