The last day of the weekend meant many things. A last chance to finish work that should have been done days ago, to others it was the day to cherish and enjoy before returning to the monotonous grind of schooldays. To team JNPR, it was all of three.
Jaune blocked the next blow and tried to swing his own but it was met with only air. Pyrrha had stepped away from the halfhearted swing and came back with her own restrained strike across Jaune's open back. The blond cried out and stumbled forward but kept to his feet.
"Don't overextend." She warned, taking her stance again. "Don't drop your guard even when you attack."
The leader groaned and got back into his own stance to face his partner. He was winded already, his breaths coming in long gasps. "Alright." He answered. After a pause he lunged again, his shield staying up to block the next blow Pyrrha sent at him. The two danced in the gym, swords meeting shields with light raps of metal.
It made Pyrrha smile to see Jaune putting so much effort into his training. He still wasn't putting real force behind his attacks, but this was light sparring, not a tournament. She parried his overhead blow with her own weapon and shoved her shield against his. He stumbled but caught himself, bracing himself and pushing back with a grunt.
She smiled and struck high next but he parried with his shield. His counter was weak. It only managed to tap her shield. The duel had ended a while ago, now it was just Jaune continuing to push himself. Ever since the incident in the forest he had pressed Pyrrha more and more for extra practice. It was amazing the progress he had made in such a short time, but he was still below the average for Beacon. A gap he was working to quickly close.
For now, Pyrrha ended the duel with a quick decisive blow across his chest. He tumbled across the floor and remained there panting heavily but making no move to get up.
"Ready to call it a day?" She asked, getting her breathing back under control. She wasn't nearly as exhausted as Jaune but the fighting still took the wind out of her. Helping Jaune always made for a good workout and was far less stressful than trying to control Nora.
"Yeah." The boy stayed on the ground, sprawled on his back. He waved his hand limply above his head and twitched violently. "I think my back is broken."
"Sorry." She giggled walking over to her leader. According to the scroll his Aura was still intact but weakened. She offered her hand and Jaune reluctantly took it, staggering to his feet while he put away his weapon.
"How about some food? I'm starving." He suggested, still catching his breath. He was standing which was more than could be said about their first heavy sparring session. Since then they moved the full sparring matches away from their rooftop spot to somewhere with less height and hard rocks.
"Sounds good." She said walking towards the door and tucking Milo on her back. "I know a good place in town. They serve the best chicken."
"I could eat a Beowulf right now." Jaune groaned, jogging to catch up to the crimson haired girl. Pyrrha laughed and the two began the journey down to the dorm. Rena and Nora were there and waved off the invitation to join. Nora was finishing work that should have been done two days ago while Ren helped her and finished his own work, his being preemptive. The pair grabbed money and left.
The partners left the school together, Pyrrha leading them to the restaurant while elaborating on her claims of their cuisine.
"It's not really expensive is it?" The blond asked as they crossed the courtyard. "I'm only rich in laughs." He added with a chuckle.
"Don't worry it's not that bad. Besides I'm paying this time. Nope. I don't want to hear it." She silenced Jaune when he opened his mouth to object. "It's a reward for how much better you've been doing. You deserve it."
The boy smiled as his face began to darken. "Am I really doing better? I still feel like every time I make a move I trip over my own feet."
Pyrrha gripped his shoulder gave him a firm squeeze. "You're doing much better Jaune. And I can tell you're only going to improve. Now come on, We need to beat the rush." She tugged him along.
She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy spending time with Jaune but he was so awkward. It was cute, deep down there was the hope he would get past his stumbling and become the man she saw. There was more to him than met the eye and she wanted to be there when it finally came out. For now she would enjoy getting to be around him without having to beat him up.
"Ahh!" Both turned as a scream echoed across the courtyard followed by an explosion.
"What was that?" Jaune blinked between the source back towards the school and Pyrrha. The warrior woman drew Milo and Akouo.
"Let's find out. Come on." Jaune didn't waste a second drawing his own weapons and following on her heels. Another explosion sounded with a cloud of smoke from another exit. Tumbling through the smoke a familiar face came running away turning to face the exit expectantly. Her legs stumbled and she nearly fell to the ground.
"Velvet!" Pyrrha called to the faunus girl gaining her attention. The mage looked to Pyrrha and her partner panting. She bore several dark marks across her combat uniform. Her weapon was in hand, dust floating around her.
"What's going on?" Jaune asked, helping the girl to stand.
"Some kind of monster." Her high voice gasped between gasps. "It's in the school. When I found it, it attacked me." She managed to stand on her own and looked back at the exit.
"A Grimm in the school?" Jaune asked, facing the vanishing smoke cloud.
"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this before. Nothing I did seemed to work."
Pyrrha gave the girl a quick glance before turning back on the exit. The smoke was gone but there was no trace of any enemy. "Is there a chance you got it?" She asked.
"I-I don't know. I didn't see I just used my strongest spell to get away."
In answer, a deep drawn hiss slid out of the hall ahead of them. Then the shape appeared, taking form. It wasn't a Grimm, at least not any that Pyrrha had ever seen. It had long legs and arms, hanging down near the ground. Every inch of skin was smooth dark black, a shade darker than the tattered clock that hung off its back and shrouded its face. With another low hiss to tilted the hood on the three standing before it, flexing the cloth covered arms at its side.
"Velvet, go and get the first teacher you can find." Jaune said stepping beside Pyrrha, his shield raised. "Bring them back here."
"No! I can help!" the faunus cried.
The leader shook his head. "You're hurt. Pyrrha and I will watch it. Get a teacher." It was hardly the time, but the way he gave the command made Pyrrha a little proud.
The rabbit girl hesitated but conceded. "I'll be back. Be careful, no matter how much I hurt it, it didn't stop." With that the Faunus darted off with impressive speed. Pyrrha returned her gaze to the creature. Its head tuned to follow the fleeing the girl. It coiled its body for a lunge but Pyrrha lunged first, diving in its path and swinging Milo in a wide arc.
She felt the blade tear through the attacker but there was almost no resistance, like cutting through jello. With a snap its arm the attacked raked across Akouo. Jaune's cry came from behind, but the cloaked man swung on the boy with a sharp backhand. His shield absorbed the blow but it still knocked him to the ground.
"Jaune!" She yelled as she switched Milo to the spear and drove the weapon at the enemy's back. It made a guttural hiss as the blade sank into its back again meeting only the slightest resistance. There was substance there but it was so weak it gave no resistance to the blow as a Grimm's hide should.
She blocked the blind swing with Akuouo and tore Milo from the creature's side spinning to stand beside Jaune as he rose up. "Are you alright?" She asked without looking away.
"I'm fine. He's got blades in his sleeves." The blond reported taking a deep breath before raising his weapons. "We just have to keep it here until Velvet gets back."
She nodded, still not wanting to look away even as the hood turned on them. Then she couldn't look away as it defied the laws of nature.
With a bone splitting crack it changed. The cloak seemed to melt into its body revealing a thin pitch black form of a rounded head. The yellow eyes were the only color change as its arms wavered, the fingers each extending to sword like blades, scratching the concrete. Its thin frame suddenly bulged, muscles quickly defining themselves. A bright white smile appeared under the eyes, long rows of white fangs gleaming in the light with a manic grin.
"That is terrifying." Jaune's voice was little more than a breath as he spoke, rising in pitch.
"Is it a Grimm?" The huntress asked herself as the beast shifted its stance. Its body bulged again, giving it more muscle. It wasn't like anything she had ever seen or read about. With a snap, the beast lunged again this time on longer legs.
Jaune met the charge with howl. The blow drove him back but his shield held and he made a wild swing at its head. The blade caught across the beast chest, tearing flesh from its frame. It didn't pause as it brought its claws around to rake his unguarded flank. The claws met Pyrrha's shield before she drove Milo through its arm.
"Push!" Jaune called and Pyrrha obeyed shoving her shield with all her might. Beside her Jaune did the same and the beast stumbled back, tumbling over its back. The huntress darted in switching Milo to the short sword before driving it down, pinning the monster through the heart and twisting for good measure.
It felt more solid now but still not quite like stabbing Grimm. The blow it swiped across her chest felt real enough though. She tumbled back, getting to her feet with her weapon in hand. The scratch hadn't got past her aura, but it still hurt. The beast rolled upright, no sign of damage showing on its black skin.
What is this thing? Pyrrha spun Milo in her grip and aimed the rifle at her enemy. The gun spat in her hands, bullets splattering across the monsters face and chest. Each bullet tore a chunk from its body but only black ash erupted from the wounds. With a hiss it lunged through the bullets. Pyrrha stepped back but before she could guard Jaune was there, leaping in the path of the attack and catching the blow across his shield.
The beast followed with another heavy slash that tore at the shield with a grinding scream but Jaune held, only his feet scraping the concrete. With a lunge he swung back, his sword finding purchase along the creatures short neck. It staggered, swaying as black dust spilled from its neck. For a moment it felt back, but after a moment the wound sealed and the beast rose again. A cruel hiss emanated from its core.
"Jaune we have to run." Pyrrha said placing a hand on his back and switching Milo back to the spear. "We cannot kill it." She didn't like the idea of running but nothing was having any effect. If they stayed, with both of them already tired it would wear them down before long.
"We have to wait for velvet." He said stepping back and keeping his shield raised. "We can't let this thing run around the school." As if understanding, the beast rolled its arms with a series of cracks, fanning its claws out like a nevermore spreading tis wings. Then with a swiftness that betrayed its size, it lunged.
The gunshot drowned out everything and left a terrible ringing in the children's ears. In the same instant the creature jerked to the side in a cloud of dust, its remains tumbling over the concrete like a ragdoll.
Pyrrha followed the shot back to the tall, slender man standing in the courtyard, a heavy rifle set against his shoulders. He was much older, his face hidden behind a set of round glasses, wearing a plain white dress shirt and dark pants. It might be the only time Pyrrha was glad to see the man.
"What is going on here?" Professor Artimus asked, stalking towards the fallen creature, cycling the bolt of his rifle. Behind the professor, Velvet stood with him her hands raised in a fighting stance. "That is interesting." The older man muttered.
The monster seemed intent on answering for itself as it scrambled to its feet, the hole over its head stitching itself back together. Pyrrha stood ready but the creature turned its gaze towards the new arrival lunging with hiss at the older man.
The gun snapped to his shoulder before Artimus let another round fly. The bullet tore through he beast's shoulder throwing black ash over the ground but did not deter the charge. He stepped back, flipping his rifle over his wrist. The weapon began to shift, twisting its frame and bending the barrel. With a snap, the older man gripped the new handle and swung. The blade of the saber caught the beast's claws, sweeping them aside and letting the professor twist his sword, tearing the edge through the monster's abdomen.
The black beast stumbled back and hissed again. Artimus shifted his feet and held the saber up, moving himself between the beast and the other two in the courtyard. Velvet stayed close to his back and stepped away when the spectacled man jerked his chin towards the others.
The monster stood to full height, all trace of tis injury gone. It paused and slowly twisted its head, regarding them all with its luminous eyes and a manic, tooth filled grin. With a crack of bones breaking, two black wings erupted from the creature's spine and in the same movement carried it into the air.
"No!" Pyrrha called, turning Milo into a rifle and firing after the creature but the bullets did nothing to deter it as the creature rose into the air and ascended higher than she could see, flying away from Beacon.
"Let it go." The cold tone came from right behind her, just before the hand settled on her shoulder. "No need to pursue it now." She turned to face the dark haired professor. He stared down regarding her from behind his glasses.
"Sorry sir." She bowed her head and slung her weapon down. Now she felt winded, her breath coming in deep pants. "Sir, what kind of Grimm was that? I've never seen anything like that."
"It wasn't." The man said slowly turning sword into its rifle form before folding it in and slinging it over his back. "None that I've ever seen. It's interesting." He turned to face them the first smile passing over his face. "You both did well against it from what I see. You as well miss Scarlatina. You all did an fine job."
The blond gave a halfhearted laugh and rubbed his head. "Yeah well, Pyrrha did most of real fighting."
"Thank you sir." Velvet added, giving a small bow.
The redhead jabbed Jaune sharply in the ribs making him wince and fall. She quickly covered her mouth when she realized her playful blow had been a little too hard. "I'm sorry." She apologized, helping her partner to his feet.
Artimus gave a single chuckle. "Miss Scarlatina, they both seem fine to me. We should get you to the nurse and get those injuries examined. I would recommend you two getting some food and rest."
Velvet rubbed her arm where the cloth had been torn and nodded slowly. Pyrrha watched her out of the corner of her eyes. Artimus placed a hand on her back and led the girl away from the pair towards the school building.
"Sir!" he paused, turning his head back to Pyrrha with a raised eyebrow. "What about the enemy?"
He looked up and wrinkled his face in thought. "Let it go." He said casually. "I'll report it to Ozpin and look into it myself. Until then I recommend you keep your guard up. Next time there might not be someone to save you."
Pyrrha watched the man leave, feeling the same strange mix of admiration and disgust she felt with every lesson she had to tolerate the man. "He so strange."
"I don't' know. He seems nice." Jaune still sounded out of breath while Pyrrha had regained her posture. "I'm more worried about the tall dark and creepy. I wonder where it went."
"I'm more curious as to why." She faced Jaune, her face creased in thought. "It wasn't winning, but nothing we did could hurt that thing. I don't understand why it fled."
"Maybe it was just scared?" Jaune offered, beginning to walk urging Pyrrha to follow, albeit slowly.
"I'm also worried about what it was. That wasn't a Grimm Jaune. Grim don't act like that and they can shape shift like that thing did. Whatever it is, its dangerous. And I don't understand why Professor Artimus isn't more concerned. He obviously doesn't understand. Maybe Velvet can make him understand." She touched her chin.
It was dangerous. It had been in the school, not just on the ground. It attacked Velvet for no apparent reason and then fled once the professor arrived and traded a few blows with it. It had regenerated any damage to it in seconds. Now it was out there somewhere. Apparently able to fly.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune's hand before her face made the girl snap back to reality. "You ok?"
The emerald eyed girl smiled. "Yeah. C'mon, I still owe you food." Pyrrha walked ahead pulling Jaune along behind her. If Jaune wasn't worried now there was no sense in making him concerned. The professor could be right and he would handle it. If she was wrong, there was nothing to do now. Now was the time to enjoy the little chances they got.
She looked back to Jaune, stumbling after her with that same dumbstruck gaze he cast at the world. For a little while longer she would let him be Jaune. Before she had to make him be a leader.
Author notes: Ok children, here is team JNPR! Yay. This was a hard point to put in since I needed to get JNPR involved but I find I have trouble writing Ren and Nora. Jaune and Pyrrha however are fun to write though I'm still not that confident I did this chapter well. I did throw in Velvet for little reason other than I needed a student and figured, why not?
Ok. So now we move on. I am still working on this as much as I can but with my car in and out of shops all week I haven't been able to get much work done. So here's hoping for good things there and that I can get more done here.
Well, though I don't deserve it at this point, unless its hate I guess, I would still like to beg like a puppy for reviews. Reviews wrapped in bacon would actually be great. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to work on my novel and get bacon. Mmm bacon.