Ren looked at Jaune, that was crying on the ground.
'I guess I can understand what happened...'
"You faked your way to Beacon, wasn't it?"
Jaune opened his eyes wide.
Ren sighed.
"I thought as much... that talk Tepes gave left it implied and that would explain a lot too" he looked at Jaune in the eye. "You were silent when you defeated Tepes, but between him and me, I at least deserve an explanation, Jaune".
Jaune bit his lip and looked at the ground.
"It's... true".
RWBY: Against All Odds
At another street during the night...
Tracy felt they were finally alone.
The girl stopped walking, and since Vladimir couldn't even walk on his own, so did he.
"Vlad, I didn't interfere there, but I at least deserve to know what happened".
"I..." Vlad's eyes were dead. "Lost".
"The battle?"
"No... myself".
A Hurt Heart
Jaune's side...
It took come time until Jaune could explain everything.
How he wanted to become a hero...
How he faked his way to Beacon...
How his aura and Tepes' resonated and they saw each other...
How he saw Tepes' past...
And how he realized everything...
At the end, Ren only muttered:
"I see..."
Vlad's side...
"And that is what happened" finished Vlad. "I lost the battle and finally realized how reality truly is".
Tracy bit her lip.
"I expected something similar, but not that much..."
Jaune looked at Ren again, but couldn't see his eyes on that darkness.
"I guess you hate me now, huh?" Muttered Jaune. He smiled dryly. "Well... it actually feels good to be hated... this is what I deserve".
"I don't hate you".
"What?"
Jaine looked at Ren. His pink eyes were finally visible, but Ren was expressionless.
"I..." the green youth started to speak. "I can't really admit that you did the right thing Jaune. Faking your background to enter Beacon is something very serious... it really is taking the easy way to achieve what most did with effort".
"I... know" Jaune looked at the ground again.
"But... I can't really hate you".
Jaune opened his eyes wide and looked at Ren.
"What?"
"You didn't stand there and do nothing. During the initiation, you survived and triumphed where many fail. When you realized how out of place you were, you seeked Pyrrha for help. When you noticed how many others worked hard to achieve so much, you started to do so during the nights, training and training to become who you are".
"But I-"
"You cheated, yes. But you at least worked hard to stay here. It doesn't justify that, but you at least tried to do something.
"And what about Tepes?" Asked Jaune. "What about people like him?! People that try their whole life to deserve such place? People that... weren't lucky like me?"
"Well... Tepes admitted it when he lost, didn't he? He said it himself: life isn't a..."
"Life isn't a fairy tale" said Vlad to Tracy. "This is merely the truth. I tried and tried, but it's how things are natural. I didn't have talent. I wasn't chosen. I have no future in a battleground".
Tracy averted her eyes.
"But Ren-"
"This is reality, Jaune" said Ren. "Vladimir Tepes knew it all along. It's the sad and cruel reality; some can, some can't. That guy is... he is the sad example that sometimes, effort isn't enough. Not everyone can achieve the top. If everyone could, don't you think our world would be much better?"
"That... but still..."
"Look around, Jaune. He is the proof of how wrong our world is. We still make conflict due to race. We still have the vast majority that lives in poverty and the minority that lives in riches. We still have a need for heroes".
Jaune opened his eyes wide. Ren nodded:
"He was different. He was the living proof that we can cease conflicts between races. That we can unite ourselves to fight against common enemies. However, at the same time, he is the proof that some people just can't reach the top. And also that even if some conflicts cease, there will be always a need to fight".
"This..." Jaune punched the ground. "This is... so wrong".
"Yes, it is" Ren agreed grimly. "But he knew it. In the end, Tepes realized there wasn't someone to actually blame for his reality. He even said that he doesn't blame you nor hold a grudge against you, Jaune. As much as it hurts, there are somethings that aren't easy to accept. Looks, gender and talent really matter... conflicts will always be there and so will corruption. That's why we are here in Beacon, to make it better".
"Ren..." Jaune looked at the broken moon. 'So this is... the reality I never looked at...' He looked at Ren. "Ren... but what can I do... what will happen..."
"I... don't think this is how it ends, Jaune. And I actually think that there really is something you can do".
"Really?" Jaune got up from the ground. "Do... you really think that?"
Ren nodded.
"According to you, Vladimir Tepes really tried his whole life to go so far. Then... I guess it will take a while, but he won't give up. He will return and" Ren smiled. "Maybe he will come after you to 'regain his honor' or something, to prove once and for all that his ideals of effort over talent matter."
"And what about me? What can I do?"
Ren put his hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"Change yourself. Become the person you desire to be, just like Tepes did. At the end of your battle, when Tepes still couldn't accept his defeat, he shouted that he hated you, why do you think he did that?"
"Because" Jaune finally realized it. "Because the Jaune Arc that beat him was just a talented liar".
"Yes... and what would happen if the Jaune Arc he encounters again is different?" Ren looked at Jaune in the eyes. "How would you feel if the future Jaune Arc actually tries hard until his bone breaks? If he is actually someone worthy of all his blessings?"
"What do you mean?"
Tracy spoke to Vlad while smiling:
"That's what you wanted all along, right? That's why you truly tried, to be worthy to fight alongside your people. To be worthy of being their prince. To be the person worthy to send them to battle, because you yourself would fight alongside them".
Tears appeared the corners of his eyes.
"Yes... I really, really wanted to become that person... but it's impossible, Tracy! Only now I can see it... that I will just be another royal that will never do anything for himself!"
"Yes... the Vladimir Tepes that lost to Jaune Arc was never capable of doing so. But the Vlad in front of me can".
Ren smiled:
"What I mean is: become that person. Become the person that is worthy of everything you have. If you have talent, then don't waste it like an idiot. Polish it. If you lied, then apologize and admit the truth, Jaune".
"And what if I am expelled? What if I am exposed to society like that? Branded as a liar?"
"Then, work hard to become the person you want to be and clean your name. It's hard, but the road to success isn't supposed to be easy. If you really are expelled after all that, then return, Jaune. Return as the person worthy of being in Beacon. And become the person worthy of the name 'Hero', Jaune".
"Ren..." Jaune felt the tears flowing from his eyes. "And what if nothing of that happens? Ozpin already knows everything. With this favoritism..."
"Tepes knew he couldn't escape the help from his people. You already know the answer".
Tracy stopped helping Tepes and he fell on the ground.
Unable to stand, he was once again forced to be at the bottom while observing the talented person above him.
"See?" Vlad admitted. "Do you see my state? Pitiful! But I already know that this is all I am and will ever be! Someone forced to depend on the strength of others to live... someone... that either stays in the bottom or climb it through those that love him..."
"Yes" Tracy nodded upon looking down on him. "But do you truly want to stay in there?"
"..."
"Don't you want to come to the top?"
"And what..." he cried. The arrogant prince that fought with a sneer started to cry. "What am I supposed to do? What can I do to cover that gap of talent? Not even technique worked against Nikos. My last resort didn't work against Belladonna. And my willpower, the only thing I was truly confident in, left me to lose against Arc!"
"Yes" Tracy nodded again. "But that's because you became a different person on those occasions".
"What... do you mean by this pathetical and metaphorical nonsense?"
"You were greedy for glory, a glutton for victories and lusted for achievement. You lost sight and went on and fought and fought. Why did you lose against Arc? That's because you couldn't control yourself anymore. Too wounded to use your techniques, too simple-minded to elaborate a strategy. Only looking at the sky, you lost sight of the earth around you".
"Then..."
Tracy smiled.
"Now you can see it. The unfair and corrupted world outside of Chimaera. And the reality that was always there too. You were the wise prince and you hated that side. But the wise prince would never rely on uncertainity. He could have beaten Nikos without a risky move. He could have defeated Belladonna before she gave up. And he would have defeated Arc even with all his injuries".
"Then... I have to..."
"Accept yourself" Tracy extended her hand. "The man I fell in love with accepted his weaknesses. It's about time for you to accept your origins. Not your bloodline, but your status as a prince. And once you do so, what will happen? Once Prince Vladimir and The Impaler Vampire become the same person, what will become of you?"
"I will..." Vladimir extended his hand, but stopped. "I..."
Tracy sighed, but smiled.
"You never change... the same arrogant man that strangely lacks confidence" she grabbed his extended hand.
And Vladimir finally accepted Tracy's hand.
Jaune's eyes finally acquired light
"Become..."
"Yes!"
"The person..."
"That's it, Jaune!"
"Worthy of all that".
Ren smiled and hugged Jaune.
"Now, what are you going to do?"
Jaune hugged Ren back.
"First, I will honor Tepes' wish and apologize in his name for what happened. Then, I will become it... I will become the person worthy of all the blessings I received in my life! I will become the person worthy of being a hero! And I will fight Tepes again, as the opponent he deserves to have!"
Vladimir got up with Tracy's help.
"I will become a warrior".
Tracy smiled. Vladimir did so too.
"But you see, Tracy?"
"Huh?"
"You still did something very mean by throwing me on the ground".
Tracy flinched. Vlad smiled, his red eyes shining with mischief.
"Here is your punishment!"
Fast!
But he could be easily blocked or evaded in his state.
The girl didn't choose to do so and received his 'attack' at full force.
A kiss in her lips.
After a few seconds, he released her and she grabbed him before he could fall to the ground again.
"Just that?" Tracy mocked him after he finished the kiss. "I can handle it far longer".
"After I am cured of these wounds, you will regret such naïve words. The kiss of the reformed Vladimir Tepes will leave you on. The. Ground." he answered with a strange arrogance.
"Ha! You are underestimating me, little bat. You are the one that shall end on the ground".
They smiled at each other and stopped.
From afar,they could see the mechanical abomination coming after them.
"Of course" muttered Tracy. "Someone had to come with a robot to ruin the moment".
"I will make up to you".
"Last time you said that, you bougth me a bunch of plushies, Vlad".
The Impaler Vampire blushed.
"... Newton thought you would like it".
"And the time before you acted like a tsundere the whole day".
"It was Luna's idea!" Complained the boy red like a tomato.
"And the time before you impaled hundreds of grimm in front of the school" said the girl while snickering. "What was that for? Show me the results of training with me? People in Beacon think it was an example of what was coming to them in the tournament, you know?"
"I-I shall concentrate in the enemy at hand for now". The machine was coming and Vladimir identified it. "An Atlesian Paladin. Modified and seems to have a few scratches..."
Tracy nodded.
"Probably related to the girl of red hair and also the incident of scattered roses. Seems like they noticed we were after her. Guess we failed that mission, huh?"
"Does not matter. In the end, a war is a problem of those pure bloods, not ours" Vladimir's red eyes shone. "And this Paladin will be merely a stepping stone in the path of my glory. And one day, I will defeat the peon that is Jaune Arc and regain my honor!"
Tracy and Vlad smiled at each other and the girl said:
"Now, how about saying those words? Whenever you had a serious battle, you would say them, but you stopped recently''.
And the Paladin was getting nearer and nearer, the prince said:
"Understood" he looked at the enemy and with an arrogant smile shouted: "let us begin! The rite of combat!"
Heretic notes:
A happy chapter for a change!
Yaaaay!
Finally this is getting good.
Yes, only after you fall to the bottom is that you can notice how bright the light of hope truly was.
And I bet you people noticed it too. Jaune finally lightening up and his contrast, Vladimir too.
Tracy is anti-Ren, which gets a bit more evidencied here. She dates Vlad which parallels Jaune's relation with Pyrrha, but she truly is anti-Ren in the end. A calm, wise girl that knows what must be done and when it must.
On the other hand, she is also quite merciless and cold.
Well, I already have the next chapter the start of Arc 2 written out, but I'm not updating yet. I will wait until there is some sort of news about RWBY. So that it will be way cooler this way!
Next chapter: An Unforgivable Light