Author's note: Does anyone else see Ozpin as a sadist? I mean he launches students off a cliff, expecting them to not turn into a mangled mess of flesh. I did have a different chapter for chapter 12, but I decided that it was a bit out of place and too smutty for this story so I decided to make it a oneshot, it's called "Keep Me By Your Side" and you peoples should be able to see it on my profile.

Jaune sat in the training hall, once again, attempting to activate his aura. Concentrating on trying to heal himself, he watched as the white light that encased his hands began to flicker before going out. Growing more frustrated with each attempt, he blindly threw a punch at a pillar. "Ow, hey," the pillar seemed to talk, but the monkey tail meant otherwise, "I know I can be annoying, but I'm pretty sure it's too early for me to get hurt for being stupid."

"Sorry, Sun, I didn't see you hanging around," Jaune chuckled at his poorly placed pun, "I'm serious though, I didn't mean to punch."

"So what's up?" the two sat down at an empty bench, "Why so violent this early?"

"I've been having trouble with using aura since that giant fight in the middle of town," Jaune paused to sigh, "During the fight I was able to fight and hold off hordes using my semblance, now I can't even heal a simple cut."

"Well, I'm not an expert with aura or anything," Sun brought his hand to his chin, "but I was taught that aura is an extension of your soul, so I'm gonna guess that it has something to do with emotions or motivation, something like that. I'd talk to a teacher or someone about it."

"Thanks anyway, Sun," Jaune sighed, hanging his head in defeat.

"Let me know when you figure out how to use your semblance again, sparring with you sounds like it would be fun," the monkey faunus said before hopping off, leaving the knight to his thoughts.

Jaune entered a training room to release his frustration, activating as much training bots as his student ID would allow him to. While the armed robots came to life, he spent that time releasing Ash from his restraints and raising his sword and shield. Realizing that he didn't need his equipment, Jaune put them away before reducing the first bot to a mangled mess with his bare hands. Tearing off a Gatling gun, ammunition and all, he proceeded to use it to his advantage.

With the amount of training they gone through recently, the bots fell with minimal effort from the pair. With seemingly nothing left to do, Jaune used a robotic arm to play tug of war with the cub. "It seems something troubles you at the moment," Ozpin eyed the mess of scrap metal.

"I wonder what gave that away," Jaune answered, "was it beating a bot with its own leg?"

"So what's got you so worked up and frustrated?" the headmaster asked, ignoring his student's sarcastic answer.

"I've been having trouble using my aura and semblance," Jaune sighed, "would it have something to do with using my semblance too much?"

"From what has been recorded, you'd only feel exhaustion from overusing your semblance," Ozpin recounted while he adjusted his glasses, "but your friend wasn't wrong. A hunter's ability to access their aura and semblance is connected to emotion and training."

"So I just need to train?" he asked, unconsciously loosening his grip for Ash to tear the robotic limb from his hand.

"Not quite, but I might have an idea to restore your ability to access both your aura and semblance," the devilish smirk seemed to look unsettlingly natural on his face. "You're not going to like it."

"Whatever training you have in mind, it can't be that bad," Jaune shrugged.

"If you say so," Ozpin said as he started towards his office, "but know that you asked for this, so don't complain about what you're met with. I'll see you at the arena at six later tonight, don't be late."

"You wanted to see us, professor Ozpin?" Pyrrha cautiously stepped into the office with Ruby at her side.

"Yes, please come in and close the door behind you," Ozpin's appearance was hidden by his chair being turned towards the two, "I noticed your friend has been having trouble with using his aura lately, and I'd like to ask your help."

"He just needs more training, he told us it's nothing to worry about," Pyrrha argued.

"Don't you find it strange?" Ozpin answered, "He was able to fight at the forefront of a battlefield and held back hordes of those God forsaken creatures, but now can't defend himself properly while training?"

"Now that you mention it, his cuts have been taking pretty long to heal, and he does have a barrier semblance," Ruby pondered.

"Precisely, aura can be blocked by a great deal of emotional distress," Ozpin explained, "has he been acting differently? Loss of appetite, irritable, aggressive, or fighting with reckless abandon?"

"Now that you mention it, he did say something about asking to die while we were on our first mission," Pyrrha said, "and he did attack me out of frustration when the morning he woke up."

"But he's looked so happy with Weiss since they started dating," Ruby frowned at the reminder.

"Depression isn't so difficult to hide," Ozpin finally turned his chair to face his students, "Although his abilities are locked by his depression, I might have an idea to help him, but I do need help from the both of you girls."

Ruby and Pyrrha exchanged looks, both determined to help the boy they've fallen for. "Of course we'll help," Ruby answered for both of them.

"That's great," he calmly said, pressing a suspicious button on his desk and pulling on a gas mask, "I just need both of you unconscious for now."

The room filled with gas and the two teenage girls panicked. Pyrrha instantly went to the door in an attempt to break it open while Ruby went to the desk to find a way to turn it off. Ozpin watched the two in their disparity, amused by the sight. The pair finally collapsed while a vacuum automatically turned on to empty the room of the gas.

"Hello?" Jaune called as he entered the dark arena, "Ozpin? I'm ready for training."

"I didn't exactly say that this was training," Ozpin announced over the speakers. The lights turned on to reveal Ruby and Pyrrha on opposite ends of the arena struggling against the restraints on their hands and feet, "I simply said I had an idea to unlock your aura and semblance."

"Ozpin, what the hell is going on?!" Jaune yelled, unsheathing his sword.

"I'm giving you a bit of motivation," Ozpin answered while a hole in the floor opened up to allow hordes of black creatures to pour out, "the objective is simple: free the girls before they're killed."

"What the fuck?!" the knight launched himself at the first few grimm that crawled out of the hole with Ash right behind him, "You're a fucking sadist."

"Well I do try," Ozpin chuckled, "I'll check back in thirty minutes, I wouldn't want my dinner to get cold."