The Centerkeep, Beacon Academy.
Jaune took a deep breath to steady himself, closing his eyes as he leaned on the wall at the top of the very ornate grand staircase. A steady stream of boys moved past him and down the stairs, wearing black suits like himself with varying degrees of comfort, or strange looking robes making them look like they had come straight out of a adventure novel set in the Far East, or boasting immaculately tailored longcoats and dress uniforms.
On the opposite side of the large hall another grand staircase also swept downwards as a graceful mass of polished white marble steps, on top of which a constant stream of girls and young woman dressed in wildly different arrays of vibrant dresses, tunics and robes also made their way to the bottom floor, talking as loudly as the boys were.
At the bottom where the two staircases met and the twin groups mingled and chatted, Glynda Goodwitch and Professor Port stood off to the side, the both of them overseeing the chaotic scene to ensure everything went smoothly.
The blonde woman was dressed in a bare-shouldered white dress, glimmering in the light as she adjusted her glasses and scowled at one of the students. Professor Port dragged the offender out of the crowd, grabbing the black axe he had tried to hide behind his back.
"Aw, come on!"
"Weapons stay in their lockers, mr Lumber!"
Professor Port dragged the boy behind him, moving away from Professor Goodwitch into a shadowy side passage built into the base of the grand staircase.
She sighed and drew another slash in her tally.
Beyond them lay a gargantuan hall, its walls reaching high above into a vaulted ceiling with great stained glass windows letting in the setting sun's rays through as rainbow bursts of light. More crowds of people milled about on the checkered black and white stone flooring, dressed in all different sorts of outfits and boasting all sorts of different complexions and accents as they chatted and laughed.
Near the corner of the hall the black-clothed man he met in the alley leaned against a column, talking quietly with a mousy-haired man looking disheveled in his black suit.
Qrow's intense purple eyes met Jaune's. And he directed a nod in the boy's direction before turning back to the man next to him, who was now attacking the banquet table nearby.
Golden-clad warriors in smoothly-swept plate armor were scattered about the place, with three of their number boasting purple cloaks standing guard around a man and a woman, both of them pale in complexion and boasting flame-red hair. Jaune couldn't help gulping at the sight of the absolutely massive crimson and gold claymore strapped to the man's impossibly broad shoulders, almost missing the slender rapier the woman carried on her hip.
"Hey, Jaune."
Jaune turned away from the hall to see Cardin standing there, towering over him. Oddly enough, he wasn't dressed in a suit or robes like everyone else, instead he was in his armor. The golden cardinal on his breastplate caught the lights hanging from the vaulted ceiling above.
"...Hey, Cardin." He quickly realised he had nothing else to say to Cardin, and fell silent for a few moments. His eyes flicked to the side, catching sight of Lie Ren and Sun Wukong in the crowd. He focused back on Cardin. "I'm sorry that you and your team didn't get picked to represent Beacon."
The big boy shrugged sheepishly. "It's probably for the best."
"...So, why are you wearing your armor?"
Cardin blinked twice, his jaw clenching for a moment before he glanced to the side. "I come from a family of warriors. This is our formal wear."
Jaune nodded. "Oh. Cool."
"...Well. I guess I'll see you around." Cardin gave a stiff nod. "Enjoy the party. You earned it."
"I will." Jaune watched as he moved back into the crowd, towering head and shoulders over the majority as he made his way down the steps.
"Was that a civil conversation with Cardin I just saw?"
He turned around to see Lie Ren standing there, dressed in black and green robes. His hands were hidden in voluminous sleeves. "Yeah. I'm surprised too. And a little weirded out." He glanced at Sun Wukong as the three of them moved down the staircase. "I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Spill it."
"Have you actually been placed in a team yet?"
Sun went to answer before his eyes moved over the heads of the crowd to look up at the top of the other staircase. "...Hold that thought."
Jaune followed his gaze. His breath caught at the sight of them.
The six girls made their way down, all of theme exchanging knowing grins and smirks as they stopped for a moment on the middle flight of the grand staircase, knowing exactly how much of a effect they were having on the boys.
Ruby came down first, a red rose pinned in her hair, wearing a simple black-and red dress, with crimson frilling on the interior of the knee-length skirt. She waved at the three of them as she moved past with a slightly embarrassed smirk.
The three of them then watched Weiss sweep past with a honest-to-god smile, dressed in a slender dress as pale as ice, and wearing elbow length gloves. Somehow they managed to looked away from the pale beauty as Yang approached with a definite sway in her hips, wearing a very low-cut tan sun colored dress, sleeveless. Behind her Blake followed with a red tinge to her cheeks, wearing a decidedly modest black dress compared to the others.
Sun stared at her the entire time with a very dopey grin.
Lie Ren rolled his eyes at his behavior. "Oh brother-" he stopped in his tracks as Nora skipped into view, her dress white and pink. He trailed off very quickly as the energetic girl grabbed him, pulling him behind her and the others.
Sun slowly walked away as well, leaving Jaune standing there alone when Pyrrha came through.
Once again, his breath caught.
Her brilliant crimson hair tumbled over her bare shoulders, completely covering them and the nape of her neck, nearly reaching as far as the small of her back. Her dress was a earthy brown, the neckline of which plunged to a stop just under her collarbones. She moved very easily in the dress, courtesy of the long slit running halfway down her legs and showing off a glimpse of her milky thighs. Elbow length gloves covered her arms as she came over with a shy smile, stopping in front of him with hands clasped, the wavy golden circle she always wore in her hair shining with a inner fire matching her hair in brilliance.
"Jaune, pick up your jaw." Sun quickly came back and elbowed the starstruck boy with a hissed whisper before moving after Blake.
Pyrrha paid the faunus boy no mind, settling for extending her hand to him. Very slowly and moving with a stricken pace, he gently grasped it, unable to stop the huge smile on his features.
In the hall beyond, Ozpin's voice filled the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen. As Headmaster of Beacon Academy it is my honor to welcome you all to the Vytal gala."
"You look stunning."
Pyrrha's cheeks flushed as she quietly nodded. "You too."
"Your sons and daughters, wards and charges have been hard at work the entire year. Training their minds and honing their bodies in the name of joining the ranks of Hunstmen and Huntresses protecting our civilizations across the globe."
Jaune's steps grew more and more confident as he led her down the stairs, her hand holding his the entire time. They reached the edge of the crowd, near where Ruby and the others stood. He stared at the tightly curled petals of the golden flower she wore in her hair, remembering it from the bouquet.
She glanced at him with a knowing grin.
"For now, I invite all of you to enjoy yourselves this fine evening."
Qrow watched the rich golden Firenzan wine swirl around inside the glass, before looking up to see yet another attempt by a woman, sometimes a really old woman, to engage his brother-in-law in a innocent chat.
The dark-haired man folded his arms with a sigh as he took a deep sip of the fine wine, amused at his flailing attempts to once again get away from the conversation wherever possible.
Over the tops of the heads of the laughing and chatting crowd he noticed a disturbance coming through. A pair of excited indigo eyes came into view for a split second before disappearing back down into the throngs of wildly colored dresses and extravagant styles.
Qrow began the countdown. "One..."
One of the woman in the crowd had, with impressive subtlety despite the huge gulp she just took of her red drink, slipped closer and closer to Carmine with movement almost befitting that of a predator, soon leaning towards him from the side.
"Hi."
"Uh..." Carmine rubbed the back of his neck. "Hello."
He slowly backed away from the woman, before grunting as his back hit the edge of the table. She grinned. Even before she grinned he knew exactly what she wanted. "Look, you're very beautiful-"
"And you're ridiculously handsome-"
"Thank you, but I'm really just here for someone else-"
"It's probably me." The woman smirked, a definite purr in her words. Carmine gulped as she lightly brushed her fingertips against his waist, glancing down with a growing flush as she leaned forwards, giving him a very complete view of her dusky... curves.
"Qrow!" He hissed out of the side of his mouth, the woman too deep in her drink to notice. "Need a bit of help! Now!"
Qrow smirked in answer, getting a look of desperation from his brother-in-law. He noticed that the two girls had gotten closer now, almost on the verge of getting through the crowd to them. "Two..." he whispered under his breath with a smile.
Both Ruby and Yang were in full view now, pushing and shoving and apologising their way through until they were in launch distance.
"...Three."
"Dad!" Ruby flew in from the flank, giggling as she wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly making him fall to the floor. The woman stood back with widened eyes, before Yang tapped her shoulder and jerked her thumb towards the crowd.
The woman silently nodded, pale as a ghost as she stumbled away.
"Woah! Hey, Ruby!" Carmine ruffled her hair, laughing with parts happiness and relief. "Great to see you!"
Yang slowly approached with a wicked grin, getting a brief groan from their father before she wrapped the both of them in a massive bearhug.
"Ribs! Ribs!" They both yelped over Yang's evil laughter, before being placed back on the floor by her.
Yang winked at her father and sister before she noticed Qrow standing in the corner. She beamed and waved. "Hey uncle, you showed up!"
Qrow came over out of the shadows with a small smile, nodding at the two of them. "You think I'd miss this?"
Ruby was already sprinting, having unlatched from her father she bounded towards the dark-clothed man, stopping with a skid in front of him and staring up at the giant black scythe strapped to his back. "Oh my god, you brought Crow's Eye too?! This is too awesome!" Her words collapsed into a series of joyed squeaks as Qrow smirked and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Breathe, Ruby."
She nodded, almost bouncing up and down on the spot from her excitement as she gazed lovingly at the roughly hewn blackwood shaft, the fine temper of the vacuul-steel's spider-like matrices on the folded twin-scythe blade. Ruby breathed a single breath of pure bliss before windmilling her hands, until finally she regained her composure.
The entire time Qrow watched his niece with a amused smile. "Done?"
"Done." Ruby whispered, before giggling and hugging him. "I... I'm glad you made it."
Qrow raised a eyebrow, remaining quiet as she grinned at him. He frowned at her wet eyes. "You okay?"
"It's just-" Ruby closed her eyes and smiled to herself. "Without you there to train me and kick my butt, I never would have made it here."
He was still for a moment, before giving a nod. "I only gave you a few pointers. The rest was your work, Ruby."
Ruby's smile could have lit the entire room then.
"Oh, right... I'm thinking you'll probably want to introduce your father to your teammates. If I'm not mistaken?"
The girl frowned. "Um..." Then she beamed. "Oh, yes, you're right! I should probably go and do that!" Ruby shot forwards and wrapped her uncle in a vice-like hug, knowing he really wasn't one for conversation. "I love talking to you Uncle Qrow."
He settled for a smile and a nod, returning the hug before she stepped back and run to her father and Yang. She skidded to a stop and hopped up on the spot, getting a few curious looks from them as she tried her best to spot where Blake had chosen to stay since they arrived.
Ruby began to think she had searched the entire room when she spotted the black tips of the girl's ears, which drew more than a few glances, partly the reason why she had stayed put.
She pumped her fist in triumph and turned to her bewildered father. "Dad!"
Yang arched a eyebrow until she looked over Ruby's head and realised what she was doing.
As did her father.
"Ooh! Come on, you have to meet her!"
Ruby's father sighed. "Ruby..."
"- no, not that kind of meeting! She's my teammate!"
"I'd love to, but unfortunately there's a entire crowd of thems in the way."
Ruby frowned at the very vague childhood memory that had just come up when she realized exactly what her dad meant. "Oh. Oh." Her face fell as she nodded. "Fine. But I'll bring her over here then!"
She turned on her heel and marched away, dragging Yang away before she knew what was happening.
They made their way through the crowd until they reached her. "Blake, hi, there's someone we want you to meet-" Ruby stopped and realized that Blake was completely alone.
"Where did Sun run off to?" Ruby glanced at the crowd around them, finding no sign of the blonde-haired monkey thief.
Blake casted a longing look over in the direction of a nearby banquet table, piled high with plates of steaming fish slices that held her attention for more than a second, glistening steaks and beefs, and sparkling glass jugs and pitchers containing juices and beverages of all shades, being refilled by tending waiters or waitresses.
She licked her lips with a sigh before pointing in the completely opposite direction. A part of the room completely barren of the wonders the other direction held. "He said something about getting drinks. Except he went in the wrong direction."
Yang rolled her eyes. "Pretty smooth."
Blake leaned against the column and nodded.
"By the way, you look like you're enjoying yourself."
Shock registered on Blake as she looked at Yang. Yang just smiled. The blonde folded her hands. "Care to share?"
"It's just..." Blake glanced down. "...difficult seeing everyone with their parents."
She frowned. "I don't remember mine."
"Oh."
"It's..." She nervously glanced between the two of them. "I know I'm being insensitive, but your father came alone."
"He brought uncle Qrow with him."
Blake shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, but..."
Ruby blinked twice, while Yang's face fell for a moment. She quickly put up a smile. "Our mother died when we were little." Yang shrugged. "It's kinda just been us and him, and sometimes uncle Qrow since. It's okay."
"Well, uh, if it helps, I kind of didn't really know her, so..." Ruby quickly winced at the look of shock on Yang and Blake's apprehension. "...I guess that's... something... we... share?"
Yang sighed and placed her arm on Ruby's shoulder. "What Ruby's trying to say is that we're here for you. And you're welcome to stick with us."
Ruby glanced at her and nodded quickly. "Um, yeah! That's what I meant!"
A few seconds passed as she slowly, very slowly, began to smile.
"Y'know, I think my dad would love to meet you, Blake."
"I'd like that."
Ruby suddenly smacked her forehead. "Oh, I completely forgot! Weiss is waiting for me!"
Blake and Yang watched as the girl shot off like a bullet, disappearing into the crowd with a hurried squeak and many shouted apologies.
Weiss waited with her arms folded, glancing down at the slim pale glass she held in her grip to check the level of the deep blue wine, just to make sure she hadn't had too much of it too quickly. She lifted the back of her hand up to her mouth, breathing on it and smelling a hint of the minty aftertaste the drink left behind.
She stole a look through a brief gap in the crowd at the silver decanter sitting on a banquet table nearby, quietly realising she had a very intense liking for the stuff. Weiss grimaced, wondering if that made her a alcoholic.
The girl looked down at her drink again and took another sip. Be a shame to waste what she had.
"Don't have too much of that. Remember your father's ball last year?"
Weiss quickly looked down at her feet, setting the glass down on a passing waiter's tray. "Not... really."
Her grandfather chuckled, before noticing the hardened frown that had appeared on his granddaughter's refined features.
"Father couldn't make it?"
He sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The affairs of the company demand his constant attention."
Weiss glanced to the side and scowled, for a moment feeling a twinge of pain from the old scar over her eye. "Figures." The girl clasped her hands and bowed her head, hiding her narrowed eyes from him as she searched for any kind of emotion she had for her father. She found little. Weiss slowly raised her chin with a determined movement.
"Child, you don't need to hide yourself in front of me."
Her eyes widened, before she bowed her head and nodded, chastised. Weiss shot forward in a instant, burying her face in her grandfather's chest. She then looked up with a small tight smile. "I'm glad you're here, grandfather."
"I never would have missed this for the world, child."
"Weiss!"
Ruby burst out of the crowd, hurriedly stopping in front of her. She leaned forwards to catch her breath, and smoothed back a disheveled brown lock as she straightened. "Sorry for keeping you waiting!"
She blinked twice as she noticed the old man next to Weiss, taking in the long silver braided beard and moustached, gracefully reaching down to the middle of his barreled chest. Ruby's mouth opened and closed as she recognized the same icy eyes as Weiss had. "Um... hello."
"Oh, right. Grandfather, this is my team leader... and friend I suppose.. Ruby-"
"Ruby Rose! Oh I'm so glad to meet you!" She whipped out her hand, getting a surprised yelp from the old man as she vigorously shook it up and down with the hugest smile she could muster.
"My, you're quite spirited!"
"I've gotta say, Mr Schnee. Do I call you Mr Schnee?"
"Wilhelm will do just fine."
Ruby tipped her head with a smirk. "Wilhelm. Your daughter has been the greatest teammate ever. She's been a absolutely crucial part of my team and- and- and- she's the only reason I knew how to lead a team in the first place."
"Oh?" Wilhelm glanced at Weiss with a very amused smirk. "My granddaughter was very firm in her belief that the first thing she would at Beacon Academy was become a leader of a Hunting Team? Didn't you, Weiss?"
Weiss's cheeks colored and she looked away with a angry scowl and a huff. "Maybe. I was arrogant back then."
Ruby nudged Wilhelm in the side and he leaned down to hear what she had to say. "Sometimes she still is." Ruby whispered, getting a snicker in return.
Weiss turned to them both. "Hey, stop that!"
Wilhelm straightened and beamed at her. "What? I'm just having a talk with your friend. She is very bright, you know."
Weiss fumed silently.
Ruby folded her arms with a proud look before glancing up at him. "So... got any stories to spill about our little princess, Wilhelm?"
Weiss's grandfather barked with laughter, before wiping a tear from his eyes and calming down. To Ruby's surprise he shook his head. "Actually, I'm afraid I do need to take my leave soon, ms Rose."
Weiss folded her arms. "Grandfather?"
"There a few potential trade partners I wish to charm into opening up new routes for our family to trade product. The King and Queen of Mistral in particular are at the top of my list."
Ruby looked over at the large red-haired giant and the slight yet powerfully built woman by his side. She also noticed Pyrrha hugging them both. "Pyrrha's parents?" She said slowly.
"But they don't control where Mistral's export goes. Only the Magos from the City-States do."
He chuckled. "It always pays to have friends in high places, my child."
Ruby was already lost. She started tugging on Weiss's sleeve.
"Ruby? What?"
"C'mon, you need to meet my dad!"
"Is he hyperactive and just a little bit strange in the head?"
The girl shook her head. Weiss raised a eyebrow. "Nope. Nothing like me."
Weiss saw the determined look in the girl's eyes and slowly plucked her hands from her waist. "I'll join you soon. I promise."
Ruby narrowed her eyes. "You better." She leaned in close and pointed her finger at Weiss for a few long seconds, before grinning and running off again.
Weiss's grandfather watched her go with a raised eyebrow. Weiss sighed. "My team leader."
He didn't look at her, instead a amused smile grew larger and larger on him.
"What?"
"Nothing... I assume Professor Port gave you a good talking to?"
Weiss scowled as the old man grinned with a slyness. "You talked to him didn't you?"
"I may have. He and I are old hunting buddies after all."
"There's no need for you to be stuck with my company the whole evening, Weiss. Go have fun with your friends. Enjoy yourself."
The red-haired giant stared silently at him, his pale green eyes unerringly locking onto Jaune's with complete and total discipline. The man didn't blink, didn't move a single bulging muscle.
Jaune gulped. "Uh... so. My name is Jaune Arc. I'm the team leader of Team Juniper... your daughter's team?"
Still no blink. Or even a single little movement. The red-haired giant continued to loom over the boy, completely overshadowing him as a silent muscled mountain.
"So... King of Mistral. Gladiators and Coliseums and togas... it sounds like a pretty cool... and violent... place." Pyrrha facepalmed as Jaune showed the biggest grin he could muster.
But the giant man still only stared at him. Soon a golden-robed aide approached, having to stand on his tiptoes in order to whisper in his ear, before pointing at a barrel chested old man waiting near the central banquet table, busying himself with picking specks of food out of his elaborate silver moustache and beard.
The man leveled one look at Jaune before turning and moving towards Pyrrha. She looked up and smiled at him as he clasped a giant hand on her shoulder, before following his aide away through the crowd.
Jaune finally loosed the breath he had been holding the entire time. He dragged a palm down his face, wincing at every single word that had come out of his mouth. "Great introduction, Arc." he muttered, just Pyrrha and her mother came over.
The woman, her hair a darker shade of red than her daughters but almost as long, offered a apologetic nod. "I apologize for my husband, he tends to do that to potential suitors. He was only sizing you up."
Immediately Jaune's thoughts crashed to a halt, and alongside her mother Pyrrha's cheeks flushed. "Mother!" she hissed.
A chuckle came from the woman just as Jaune recollected his thoughts. "Potential suitor? She's been a real great friend." ... "N- not like that! At all! Or ever! She's been teaching me to hone my skills in combat and leadership. That's... that's what I meant."
Her amused grin made him shut his mouth before anymore damage could be done. He glanced at Pyrrha for help, any kind of help.
"Yes. I believe she has told us about you in a few of her letters. Although with a fair amount of embellishment I gather. Still, it is a pleasure to meet you, mr Arc."
"Embellishment?" Jaune raised eyebrow while Pyrrha's eyes went up to the ceiling and she started humming.
"Quite. She described you as very tall and broad of shoulder with long golden locks. A striking resemblance to the heroes of old. Who wields a ancient weapon and fights against the Grim to protect humanity. Something along those lines, Pyrrha was always very good at telling stories." The strange look the Queen of Mistral gave Jaune made him pause. "And if you don't mind me saying, I think yours will be especially stirring."
Jaune wasn't sure where to look. He gave a glance at Pyrrha before looking at her mother and bowing his head. "I... thank you, ma'am. Majesty. Highness?" He straightened with a wince. "One of those?"
"Athel will do. I've never been a fan of formality and titles." Athel suddenly loosed a sigh. "Unfortunately being Queen of Mistral does demand those kind of things. On of the more unpleasant aspects of it, I suppose." She noticed that Jaune had stopped focusing on her, or even her daughter, instead he was looking off to the side.
Jaune's face was like stone as he stared at the light-haired man and the dark-haired woman standing in the crowd nearby. The man smiled, while the woman scowled and lifted her arm to point at a open balcony door.
Athel and Pyrrha raised a eyebrow. "Who are they?" Athel asked.
"My parents." He murmured, getting a shocked look from Pyrrha.
He turned to Athel and bowed his head. "Will you excuse me?" Pyrrha tried to catch his eye but he absolutely refused to look at her, keeping his head bowed.
Before he lost the nerve to even move he got going, moving away from them with a grimace. He slipped through the crowds, resisting the urge to look behind him. Off to the side the crowd parted as Nora came into view, pulling a absolute bear of a man, most of his weathered face completely obscured by a bushy ginger beard and mountains of twisted braided hair. "Jaune! Hi! This is my dad!"
Jaune stopped and noticed Lie Ren squeezed in between the two of them, with Nora obliviously grinning. He sighed and shook his head as he set his sights on the balcony and the starry sky outside. "I can't right now. Sorry, Nora."
He left the frowning girl behind, coming out of the crowd to the edge of the gigantic hall. He headed through the open doors, coming out onto a long stretch of walkway underneath a series of vaulted columns connecting to the outside of the building.
The boy took moment to collect himself, before moving out on a narrow path of stone leading out to a small circular platform, on top of which a stone rotunda stood. They were waiting for him, silently.
The distant echoes of the voices of the crowd sounded out of the hall, until finally he looked up and broke the long silence between them.
"How did you guys get here?" He managed to keep his voice level, even allowing himself a tight although unsure smile that the man returned.
"Headmaster Ozpin gave us invitations." The dark haired woman said, her words distant and cold. She loosed a sigh, looking up at him with grey eyes. "Are you alright?"
Jaune nodded. "Yeah." He shrugged. "Leading my own team, actually."
She was silent as his father came closer and wrapped him in a hug. "You had us worried."
Jaune's mother came closer as well, her arms folded as she fixed him with a cold stare.
The boy's face fell, but he held her gaze. "Go ahead."
"One. What were you thinking!? Two. What were you thinking?! Jaune, you had us worried! We didn't know what to do when you were gone! We thought you were missing! You know the family name and how many people out there would take advantage of you because of that!" She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "Why did you this?"
"I haven't been sick once since I came to Beacon." Jaune's hands bunched into fists. "Not being locked up in that house 24-7 really did me some good."
"So what? You came here to be Hunstman? Is that it?"
"Of course that's it! I'm a Arc! I'm supposed to be out in the world protecting people. Being a hero! Just like Sol! Just like the two of you! Just like grandpa!"
His mother shook her head, before noticing the look of guilt on her husband. "You gave him the sword didn't you?"
"I... may have accidentally left my dad's old chest unlocked that day."
She grinded her teeth, giving him one withering look. "We'll talk about bringing you back home once this gala is done."
Jaune looked down at the ground with a scowl as she slipped past, refusing to say anything.
His father stood there, looking after her with a sad expression. "Hey. Don't worry about her. Your mother's just glad you're safe." Jaune still didn't reply as he came closer, wrapping him in another hug with a warm smile. "I'm proud of you, son. You're following your dreams."
He clapped his son's shoulder, before going after his wife, leaving Jaune alone on the rotunda balcony. He made a apology to someone as he passed by, letting them through.
Seething with anger Jaune loosed a frustrated grunt as he leaned on the railing, staring out at the lush green gardens nestled in between the soaring spires of the academy's other faculties and facilities. He sighed, just as he heard someone's footsteps behind him.
"Are you alright, Jaune?"
He glanced over his shoulder at Pyrrha, once again being transfixed by her for a few moments. Once again he just couldn't believe he had ever become the leader of Team Juniper over somewhere as smart and strong as her.
Jaune looked away. "I knew it was gonna be tough facing them after all this time..."
"Jaune-"
He stopped her. "I just... I need to stay out here for a while." Pyrra's face fell as he looked at her. "I'll be back in soon."
She stood there for such a long time, before she bowed her head and nodded. "You can talk to me anytime." She turned and went back in inside, leaving him to stay silent and nod.
The boy's gaze ran over the grounds, before settling on the statues standing in the center of the fountain at the academy's main entrance.
A grim look surfaced.
He flicked another stone, watching it bounce off his thigh and come to a rest on the cobblestone path enclosing the fountain. Jaune sighed and looked over his shoulder at the hunter pair statue, once again finding himself more and more unworthy of even sitting near it.
The boy grimaced as he settled for staring down at the ground, just as he heard the scraping of stones on heels.
Jaune glanced up to see Ruby standing there with a smirk. She waved. "Heya."
"Hey... Ruby." She sat down next to him, her legs dangling above the ground. He glanced up at the echoing laughter coming from the brightly lit hall above their heads. "Taking a break too?"
"Eh. Sort of." Ruby glanced away, yelping as her hand slipped a little on the stone fountain. She looked at him and grinned. "I may have tried some Mistrallan wine. Boy does it taste good!"
"Yeah. I just talked to my parents." He sighed and hanged his head. "Didn't go all that well."
Ruby beamed and nudged him in the ribs to get a reaction. "Well, I'm having a real great time! I never realised how much I missed seeing my dad and uncle Qrow!"
"I'm glad for you." Jaune looked away. "It's just... I ran away from home to get to Beacon. So they kind of have a good reason to be mad at me." His shoulders sagged as a unpleasant thought came up. "Ruby. I need to know. Do you think a huntsman would ever stoop to that level just to achieve a goal?"
"The way I see it, you didn't do anything wrong."
He raised a eyebrow. "I really don't follow."
Ruby smiled. "It's simple. As far as I'm concerned you're following your dream. How could that ever be considered a bad thing?" She patted his shoulder. "I may not have known you then, but I'm thinking taking that chance did a world of good for you."
Astounded, Jaune could only nod. "I... you're right."
She proudly folded her arms. "I thought I'd be."
He sighed and shook his head with a growing grin. "You're a good friend, Ruby."
"And the best?"
"I suppose."
Ruby stroked her chin in approval, before indicating one of the paths branching off from the garden and leading to the rest of the grounds. Come on. Let's take a walk. It'll clear your head." She smirked and stood up, holding out her arm.
Jaune loosed a breath. "Fine." He looked up at her with a wry smile, finding himself feeling a little better already. He looped his arm through hers and the two of them moved away from the fountain along the path through the gardens.
They passed more statues, although all of them were much smaller and simpler than the one on the fountain. Ruby had a smirk on the entire time, keeping silent while he struggled to force his thoughts to get their act together.
Slowly they moved away from the bright gold-washed lights that completely lit up the immediate area around the central keep, instead moving under handing globes of soft silver, perched on lampposts position along the path to give enough light to see by.
It was at this moment that Ruby paused, stopping in her tracks and surprising Jaune. He stopped as well as she stared off into the dim dark of the garden fields around them. She glanced at him and pointed to a spot near a cluster of buildings surrounded by a person-high wall of stone and iron.
Someone had just opened the wrought iron gate from the inside, ushering in three others. They were too far from the path to notice Jaune and Ruby, but the two of them quickly ducked out of sight behind a few nearby bushes.
Jaune squinted, following Ruby as she crept across the dark field to another tree and bush, this time right next to the path leading to the gate and buildings within.
He easily recognized the tall and broad-shoulder youth nervously standing guard outside the largest building, right in the middle of the gate with a mace hefted over his shoulder.. "Cardin?"
Cardin watched as his team all came out of the open doors of the armoury, carrying their weapons and dressed in their battle gear. The team leader glanced around nervously, forcing Ruby and Jaune to duck out of sight.
"They're coming out of the lockup." Ruby whispered. She glanced at him. "We can-"
"Up. No sudden moves." A gravelly voice instructed. Both Ruby and Jaune froze for a second, before instinctively moving. Immediately Russel Thrush laid his twin bone-axes on their backs. "I said up. Or these will be resting on your skills."
"Wait, don't-" He felt the axe-head bite a little more through the fabric of his suit and glanced at Ruby, noticing she just scowled at Russel as must as possible. The slight guy didn't show any emotion whatsoever as he urged the two of them away from the shadows of the bush and tree and into the open, marching the two of them through the open gates.
Jaune saw the look of shock briefly show on Cardin before he assumed a stony mask. Russel stayed behind them, keeping them still with the heads of his axes resting on their backs. "Look what I found."
Dove Bronzewing drew the thick falchion on his belt with a growl, while Sky Lark kept his silver and black glaive leveled at the two of them. They were all dressed in their armor.
"You two. Why couldn't you just stay at the party?"
"It's too late for that, Cardin! They know what we're up to! We let them go we're finished! Besides, I thought I'd give you the chance to wallop this 'hero' for showing you up in the Foreverfall."
"You all ran for it as soon as the Ursa showed up!" Ruby glanced at each and every one of them with a furious glare. She looked at Cardin. "I don't like you, but you know as well as I do that they aren't your teammates! They abandoned you when you needed them! You can stop whatever you're doing and nothing bad will happen to you!"
Cardin glanced up at the clear night sky. "I don't think I can." he murmured, just as the far-off roar of burning jet engines filled the air.
Jaune watched as he grimaced, looking away from the two of them at the ground, his mace hanging limply by his side.
"Cardin. Don't do this."
The broad-shouldered boy's eyes flicked up, filled with something Jaune had never seen in them before. Genuine feeling. "I'm sorry. I have to."
"You won't get away with this-" Sky Lark came up and directed a swift kick to the small girl's gut, winding her and turning her words into choked gasps for air.
"Ruby!"
"I'm doing this for my family." Cardin muttered, the flanged iron spokes of his mace rising above Jaune. "For my family. This is for my family..."
His world caved into a series of stars, than to a black void.