Hello once again. I really am awfully sorry about the delay on this one. Much like Jaune in this chapter I've been stuck with my head in the books the last couple of weeks working on assignments. Things are more or less done now so I do have a lot more time to work on my fics etc.

I would like to give a big shout out to Barzu for helping keep me sane lately, a good friend and if you haven't already already go check out his work. It is phenomenal.

Now without any further ado I present unto you the next chapter.

Studying, the one thing that Jaune had come to hate more than anything else in the entire world. It had deprived him of weeks worth of restful nights with him often staying up until the very crack of dawn just to cram another few chapters of textbook knowledge, and yet for all of his efforts he was making little headway.

In the past month since Ozpin's announcement and warning of the upcoming exams he had been burying himself dutifully in the books, loathe to take breaks lest he should waste the time he had left before the finals. But progress was slow, far slower than he had hoped. His teammates and friends both had tried to help him but often he ended up more confused than he was to begin with.

Even his nightly training sessions with Pyrrha had been cut-back to just two a week. She hadn't seemed to appreciate the idea but had relented in the end. Initially Jaune had intended to sleep in this new-found free time but had ended up studying on into the early hours of the morning.

The toll that his studies were taking on him was evident, he had become more haggard than ever before, hunching over when he walked. Long gone was his usual tall and semi-confident stance. His footsteps were slow, clumsy and shuffling. It was often the case he would misjudge distance and end up walking straight into a door frame. His once crystal clear blue eyes became bloodshot and hazy, lacking the intensity they once had.

Even the professors were beginning to take notice, it was hard not to after all when one of your students regularly falls asleep in class yet rather than anger they seemed to treat him with pity and empathy. It was no secret the lengths to which he was going to try and guarantee his graduation into the second year at Beacon.

Events came to a head however when he was summoned to speak with Ozpin, Beacon academy's enigmatic headmaster. With a sigh Jaune left Port's class, once again having been woken up by his partner, and made his way across campus towards Ozpin's office set high within the signature Emerald tower. The bright spring sun hurt his eyes after so long couped up in the dorm room.

He stepped into the elaborate lobby which months earlier he had entered accompanied by both his parents and team, yet now he shuffled on alone, on the verge of collapse. The shuffling knight was waved through by the secretary as he continued on. He reached the bright elevator doors and hit the button calling it down.

The car arrived and the doors opened revealing a very brusque Professor Goodwitch. She gave her student a brief nod and walked away, shooting the younger blonde a look of concern as she did. Jaune stepped into the elevator and hit the button labelled simply 'O'. It was a quick trip to the top and Jaune stepped out into the office the moment the doors opened.

There sat behind his desk was Professor Ozpin himself. He looked up from his work and set down his pen beckoning Jaune over and gesturing to one of the empty chairs across from him. Jaune took a seat, relaxing back into the plush cushions. The Professor pressed his fingertips together looking over at the student across from him.

"Y-you wanted to see me professor?" Jaune asked, his tongue struggling to form the words.

"Yes Mr. Arc I did. Both your team and your teachers have raised concerns for you and seeing the state you are in, I'm beginning to understand why." This was typical Ozpin, no beating around the bush, rather he was blunt and straight to the point.

"I'm fine Professor, just a little tired is all I've been studying really hard lately."

"Mr. Arc, while that is indeed admirable and however much I wish other students might take these exams more seriously, it is clear to see that all of this study you are doing is having a detrimental impact on your health. When was the last time you had a decent night's sleep? Or a proper meal?"

"I-I can't afford the time Professor, I have to pass or I'll lose my team..."

"That doesn't answer my question, I asked when the last time you had a decent sleep or a proper meal was."

"I don't remember..."

"Mr. Arc that is a problem far more formidable than your exams. We are only human, and we have needs. We need food and sleep in order to recharge our bodies and stay healthy. You say that this is to do with a desire to not let your team down and yet do you think this is what they would want? You are so tired that you can barely walk."

"But if I don't study I'll fail and be held back a year and I can't do that not after everything I've been through to get here."

"I understand your concerns and I am not asking you to stop studying altogether, far from it. I am just asking you to slow down and take a break. You can't study all of the time, there is only so much information you can take in in one go. I'm asking you for today to get a proper meal in you and have an early night. If anything do it for your team, they're worried about you."

Jaune paused, the Professor had struck him right at his very core. His team were truly the most important thing to him in the whole of the world and the last thing he wanted was to have them worry about him and to distract them from their own studies. He hung his head slightly in shame.

"Mr. Arc, I have watched your progress through your first year here and for someone with no formal combat training and no education within any of the preparatory combat schools you have done remarkably well. Should you continue on the way you have been, and apply your very best to your subjects I have no doubts you will do well. Whilst it is true that our exams take into account both combat and academic skill they are not taken as separately as you might think. Your grades for each are taken and combined together to provide a single grade, so even if you didn't do as well in the academic side yet showed a marked improvement in the combat assessment you could still graduate."

Jaune stared agape wondering just how long Ozpin had known about his fake transcripts. The Professor smirked slightly at his reaction, chuckling quietly to himself as he took a sip from the ever-present coffee mug. Yet despite his initial shock the fact that his graduation into Beacon's second year didn't entirely rely on academics gave him some small comfort. He would still have to study of course, but he could lay off a little and focus upon his

"What? You thought you were the first student to ever be admitted to Beacon with false transcripts? I believed you may have potential given your heritage and the stubborn nature your family has so I took a gamble and as of yet you haven't disappointed. You have come a long way since the nervous young boy in initiation and I can only hope you will continue to progress onwards to bigger and better things."

The blonde looked at the headmaster with new-found respect. He had known about his false transcripts but had deigned to give him a chance to prove his worth. That was something he would owe the old huntsman for for the rest of his life. It was because of that one man's decision that he had got into beacon, met the greatest friends he would or could ever make including his girlfriend.

"T-thank you Sir...I won't let you down I promise." He said, his voice clear and determination burning deep within his cerulean blue eyes.

"I'm sure you won't Mr Arc, now I suggest you take the rest of the day to catch up on some sleep. You are dismissed."

Jaune nodded and left the room, a fire burned deep within him a determination that he didn't even know he had. He made his way across campus back towards the dorm room,smiling as he knew it was no longer his self imposed prison.

He opened the door and walked over to his bed, its duvet was messily strewn over it and there were piles of books and clothes around it but Jaune didn't care. He collapsed unceremoniously and wrapped his arms around the pillow, he closed his eyes and within moments his fatigue caught up to him and he fell into a deep sleep.

He awoke a few hours later to the sound of the door opening. He felt far better than he had thought he would. Rolling over with a yawn he saw his team looking at him in surprise. He sat up and looked back to them with a groggy expression.

"Jaune? Where have you been all day, we missed you." His partner was the first to speak, her voice was laced with poorly hidden concern.

"Hey Pyrrha... Ozpin wanted to see me, he said he'd heard I wasn't doing so well so he gave me the afternoon off on the condition that I get some sleep and some food. I haven't got round to the eating part yet. Sorry for worrying you guys." He whispered, looking down at his feet once again.

Pyrrha made her way over to him and pulling him to his feet wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his cheek softly sending shivers down his spine. In the weeks he had been 'studying' he had neglected her, and longed for her touch.

"I'm glad you're alright Jaune." she whispered into his ear.

"I'm sorry Pyrrha, I've not been very good to you these past couple of weeks. I promise that tomorrow I'm going to take the day off studying and take you out. What do you say?"

"I-I'd like that Jaune but it can wait. I have an idea for how I might be able to help you study. Meet me back here after class and we will see if it works or not, is that alright?"

"S-sure. It's worth a try." He smiled kissing her lips softly and feeling joy rush through his body, how good it felt after so long to simply hold her in his arms, feel her flawlessly smooth skin against his own and her lips pressed to his.

"Good." She nodded, pulling away. "Now lets get you a decent meal." She took his hands and led him off to the cafeteria with both Nora and Ren close behind them. The four teenagers chatted enthusiastically, glad to have the old Jaune back at least for a short while.

The entered the huge dining hall and collected their trays, Jaune's teammates ensuring that his was stacked high with a mountain range's worth of food from; Roasted vegetables, sweet meats, pasta dishes and everything in between. The combined scents of these gourmet meals made Jaune's mouth water with anticipation.

Team Juniper occupied their usual seats next to team RWBY earning more than one surprised look along with their fair share of raised eyebrows.

"The blonde knight honours us with his presence! Good to see you don't look quite as much like a zombie as you have been lately." Yang cried out, earning a frown from Blake and a kick in the shin from Weiss along with a muttered threat of 'Don't be so rude!'

"Jaune! You're looking good... I mean better than before... I-uh..." Ruby's voice trailed off.

"Thanks Ruby, it's good to see you all too." He laughed at the young girl's awkward nature. "I've...well I've had a rough couple of weeks but things are back on the up again." He smiled looking to them all in turn.

"Well, we had best get going. We planned to train this afternoon, and you know how cranky Weiss gets if we deviate from the schedule. I'm glad you're feeling better Jaune." Ruby smiled sweetly to the knight earning a raised eyebrow from the Pyrrhic Champion herself. Weiss elbowed her partner in the ribs and followed her out of the cafeteria.

Jaune finished his sizeable meal under the watchful eyes of his team, then made sure every edible speck of food was gone before they allowed him to push his empty tray away, if he tried at any other time to leave the three would clear their throats and the Champion's strong hand would clamp itself down on his shoulder. In the end his plates were scraped spotlessly clean, the only thing he hadn't been forced to eat was the china itself.

He stepped down from the table with a victorious sigh, accompanied by his team. The four teenagers returned their plates and retreated their way back to the dorm room. They entered and closed the door behind them. Feeling well fed Jaune collected his towel and some fresh clothes before making his way into the small en suite bathroom for a shower.

The hot water cascaded over him washing away the accumulated grime of weeks of hard study, he had really let himself go it seemed. The soap felt so fresh against his skin as all of the sweat was washed away. When he stepped out into the substantially colder bathroom he felt truly clean for the first time in weeks.

He burst into the dorm room in a cloud of steam, its moisture condensing on his body leaving droplets rolling across his skin and sending shivers down his spine. Grabbing some fresh clothes and one of his Juniper hoodies from the closet he dressed himself. It felt good to be clean and in some clean clothes.

The knight stripped the sheets from his bed and drew fresh ones from their small supply. It simply wouldn't do to sleep under such dirty sheets. They smelt and that was all there was to it. Gathering up the books and papers from the piles around his bed he organised them and returned them to their respective shelves within the room. As his final act of cleansing the room his drew open the curtains and cast open the windows allowing for the fresh evening breeze to roll in. The air within the room was stale and unwholesome, this was long overdue.

He looked over his handiwork, glad to see his bed space looking clean and tidy once again. A space that looked as though a human occupied it and not some kind of pig Grimm. He turned to his partner and took his place sitting beside her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, she smiled although otherwise she continued to read. She would answer his questions but her eyes never left the pages before her..

The two spent the evening in that fashion, quietly content to simply be around one another. The only sounds between them being that of their breathing and the occasional page turn. Though he had been told it was rude, he read quietly from his position on her shoulder. It was a fascinating novel about a man attending a school for wizards and falling in love with his teammate. It seemed strangely familiar although he couldn't quite place where he had heard it before.

Ren and Nora however stuck to their usual routine. They sat together on Ren's bed with sharing their headphones, an earpiece each listening to Ren's classical music collections. It always perplexed the blonde just how Nora could be so hyperactive and yet love classical music so much that she settled down to listen to it every night, then again it may not be the music that kept her sitting still, rather a certain boy with a lotus sigil.

As the knight wore on Jaune felt his fatigue returning, his mind growing foggy once more. He stood and changed into a set of lounge pants, climbing into bed. The rest of his team followed shortly after not wanting to keep their leader awake longer than necessary. Even the every exuberant Nora went to bed with little to no resistance.

Pyrrha made her way over to her bed but was stopped by her name being called. She turned around to see Jaune beckoning her over. With a smile the Spartan quickly traversed the distance between them. Jaune lifted the duvet and shuffled over granting her entrance. The fresh linens felt crisp against his skin, pleasant after so long without changing them. Yet it wasn't just the crisp sheets that gave him cause to relax when he was joined by his partner.

For the first time in what seemed all too long a time, they were back in each other's arms. Her head resting on his chest as she listened to his breathing and her vibrant red hair cascading over them both like liquid fire. He kissed her atop her head and closed his eyes tightening his hold of her ever so slightly although not uncomfortably so.

Closing their eyes the two drifted into their respective dreams. Their lips curled up at the corners ever so slightly, the only real outward expression of their happiness, their faces calm and peaceful. Their dreams giving them cause to stir slightly although never awaken. Outside the shattered moon made its way most lazily across the sky before meeting with the horizon and handing over its vigil over the lovers to its cousin the sun.

Jaune woke up to a face full of bright red hair and smiled. He slowly ran his fingers through the strands, admiring them for their beauty much alike he had often done for the beautiful young woman sleeping upon him, his fellow champion.

Pyrrha stirred and sat up, one side of her hair stood out at right-angles to her head (an impressive feat given its length) and a stream of fresh drool running from the corner of her mouth and down her chin matching the damp patch on his t-shirt.

'Well, no-one's perfect.'

Jaune laughed to himself and leant in to kiss his girlfriend. Their lips joined and his cupped her cheeks gently in his hands. This was where he belonged, where he truly belonged. The once familiar rush coursing through him and sending shivers down his spine. Pyrrha smiled to herself and kissed him back passionately, the first since he had begun studying and had effectively cut himself off, she wasn't about to let it end any time soon.

She threw her arms around his neck with a slight giggle, effectively cutting off his chances of escape. Jaune smiled seeing what she was doing and set about deepening the kiss. The two kissed passionately and with hitherto unseen intensity until their lungs burned and screamed out for air. The two champions parted and pressed their foreheads together breathing hard. Cerulean blue eyes met bright emerald ones as the two lovers looked deeply into one another, all apologies being made without a single word being uttered.

She was the first to move, taking steps towards the shower. Looking back at him over her shoulder she smiled before disappearing from view. Jaune remained fixed in place, hazy eyed and still a little dazed from the kiss. He lay back on his pillow, his arms folded and supporting his head with the widest of grins on his face.

Jaune's lessons for the day were noticeably better than those of the previous weeks, he had found his second wind, an all powerful motivation to do his very best, for his team if nothing else. He would be the very best he could be, the best leader they could have. He would prove Ozpin right in awarding him a place in Beacon.

He found himself better equipped for them and perhaps above all else he was able to stay awake and even contribute. When he raised his hand to answer a question in Goodwitch's class the Professor had graced him with a small smile, a near unnoticeable curling of the corners of her her mouth and yet it was there all the same.

In Port's class he managed to concentrate throughout the wily old huntsman's entire rambling story, even taking a vested interest in the exaggerated tale of bravery and courage. He made notes on the encounter and Port's solution for it, quelling his teammates' attempts to drum up conversation or otherwise distract him. Throughout the lecture the Knight could've sworn that the Professor's eyes had never left him, they seemed to hold his smile, a congratulations perhaps.

Even the ever speedy Oobleck didn't completely outstrip Jaune, not today. The blonde's eyes followed him like a hawk as he jotted notes so quickly he thought his pencil might start smoking and burst into flames. He had no time to look down and check his progress, it had become almost a game to Jaune. How much of the lecture could he accurately record. If the Professor shot Jaune a question he would reply with almost lightning speed, Oobleck raising an eyebrow in response and nodding approvingly.

The leader's scroll vibrated as the final bell of the day rang out, its shrill trilling signalling ad end of lectures and the beginning of their down time. He retrieved the device from his pocket and opened the message.

[Text:Pyrrhic Champ]; Jaune, don't forget we are studying tonight in the dorm. Don't come back until 5:00 so that I can make the necessary preparations. I'll see you later. Xx

Jaune sighed, that meant he had to entertain himself for the next half hour. He made his way off to the library taking the scenic route so as to take as much time as possible. Making his way through the huge double doors he walked over to the counter towards the librarian. Her face lit up at his approach.

"Mr. Arc! It's a pleasure to see you again, word has it things have been a little rough for you lately. I trust everything is alright again now?"

Jaune smiled, he had grown quite fond of the librarian during his time at Beacon. She was an older woman in her late forties, her hair had once been black but was not riddled with veins of silver. She wore square framed glasses, pushed up high on her nose. Her clothes were plain, a simple white shirt and black trousers with creases so sharp they could cut a steak.

"Hello, Coleen, everything is fine thank you, I just studied a little too hard. I was wondering if you had the 'X-ray and Vav' issues I missed?"

She nodded to him and stepped into one of the library's many store rooms before returning with four issues of his favourite comic. She set them on the counter in front of him.

"I've been keeping these aside for you, I know how you like crisp pages on your comic books." She smiled tapping the side of her nose and giving him a wink. "How big is your collection now?"

"Uh... I think I'm up to two hundred issues now." He replied scratching his head in thought "I couldn't have done it without you Coleen."

"Nah, I'm sure you would've managed Jaune, you're the resourceful type. Now go on, you have some catching up to do. What is it at the moment? Is that pesky Corpirate acting up again?"

"Yeah! He's threatening to blow up the world with his 'lethal sun' laser beam. But don't you worry, X-ray and Vav will stop him." Jaune laughed. He thanked the librarian and made his way over to his usual reading spot. It was a well concealed little spot hidden behind a book shelf. With Coleen's permission he had moved one of the beanbags round there and converted it into his own little comic book corner.

Settling down in his seat he opened the first issue, enjoying the feeling of the new pages under his fingertips. There was no feeling in the world more satisfying to him than the untouched pages of a book or comic.

Jaune checked his scroll and found it to be 5:00. He was running late! Gathering up his new comics he dashed out of his hiding spot and out of the library thanking Coleen as he ran past. She laughed and waved after him.

"Always late for something... Be late for his own funeral no doubt." She chuckled to herself.

He arrived at the dorm room later that evening and hastily unlocked the door making his way in. Once inside it didn't take long for him to find his partner. She was sat on his bed, their team's desk chair set out in front of her. At her side was a huge pile of clothes.

The champion herself was in casual dress unlike he had ever seen before. She was wearing a crimson spots vest that fit her well accentuating her natural curves, her usual circlet had been forgone and her combat skirt had been replaced with a pair of white short-shorts.

"Uh... Pyrrha?" Jaune asked, setting his comics down on the desk.

"Jaune, please take a seat and I'll explain." She replied softly, gesturing to the desk chair. He sat and looked back at her as she stood and put the latch on the door before once again returning to her seat on his bed. Her lips curled in a slight smile as she began to speak.

"Ok Jaune, I've seen that you have been struggling with your studies lately and I think I've devised a way to help. Rather than go by the conventional methods which don't seem to be very effective I thought I might make a game out of it. I've arranged for the others to stay clear of the dorm until I give the signal so they've all gone into town for the evening. We shan't be disturbed." She explained as she reached into the pile of clothes and retrieved a t-shirt, hoodie, wool hat and some jeans. All of which she began to put on.

"A-a game?" Jaune asked in confusion.

"Yes, its rules are simple. I will ask you questions on each of our various studies including leadership abilities and combat situations. For every answer you get right, I will remove a piece of clothing. But, for every one you get wrong I will put another piece on." Her face and his both coloured pink at the possible consequences of just such a game. They had been dating for a few months but even so Jaune wasn't sure.

"P-Pyrrha are you sure about this?" Jaune asked, his voice cracking as he shifted nervously in his seat.

"Yes, I think so. We've been together for a long while now Jaune and I trust you wholeheartedly. Besides it may not come to much." She smiled.

"Alright if you're sure."

"Ok now if you're ready we'll start off with an easy one. What was the main advantage that the faunus had over General Lagoon's forces at the battle of Fort Castle?"

"I remember this one! It's night vision." He replied with a grin. She nodded and dutifully removed the hat with a slight smirk.

And so began the strangest and most tense game that Jaune had ever played and it not one he intended to lose.

And there it was. I hope it was worth the wait. Seems to me that Pyrrha's got an idea that could help most of us working eh?Thank you ever so much for reading, as always please do follow and favourite. Leave some reviews to let me know what you think. Please check out my other fic 'A Rose for the Champion' and let me know what you think.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I'm plotting out the sequel. Leave me some Idea's for what I might do in Beacon's second year.

I have been TheFlagshipArkos, you have been the beloved readers and this has been 'The Sword and Spear' I'll see you all in the next chapter.