{Author Notes}
Hey dudes and you small percentage of women reading this story. At least I assume it's a small percent of women reading this story, I would be slightly surprised if the gender ratio of females reading this story would be above thirty percent.
Going off tangent. My bad.
Anyway some of you may have noticed that I changed the title of this story.
I felt that was kind of needed since the romance in this story is as much as one would think. Don't worry there will be more soon, I just need to work on a few more things.
As such, I felt the previous title was slightly misleading so I changed it.
Anyway that's it and I hope you enjoy this chapter and some bonus content I promised ya.
"Alright sir, it's been a minute, what did you notice?"
"A minute? T-they're just fighting?" Jaune unsurely answered.
Jared sighed as he didn't take his eyes off the sparring match between Pyrrha and Yang with the two girls dueling each other. "Pyrrha asked me to practice your information gathering. And this is how I'm going to sharpen it. It's been one minute; what do you see in the fight? Look closely."
Jaune looked again, it just looked like Yang and Pyrrha were fighting really good. Then he tried again and looked closer. "Pyrrha is on the defensive, while Yang is on the offensive?"
"Getting there... What else? Maybe elaborate on how their being on the offense and defense? How are they using their weapons? What are the expressions on their face?"
"Umm… Yang looks kind of frustrated not being able to land a clean hit on Pyrrha, but Pyrrha looks like she is handling her defense by dodging a good majority of blows. I think it's because even blocking her hits will be hard. But she is counter attacking every once in a while…"
Jared nodded. "13."
"Huh?"
"Pyrrha counters after Yang fires one her gauntlet thirteen times, or at least get's ready to counter. Yang get's fourteen shots of fire on either one of her gauntlet. I noticed and I think Pyrrha noticed after fourteen shots, Yang had to reload. I kept track of how many times she fired her bullets and I counted fourteen on each hand unless she unloads the entire belt in one punch for some real firepower. Pyrrha has been especially wary of that and also capitalizes if she unloads her entire chamber." Jared elaborated well.
"… You got that from a minute?" Jaune asked.
Jared simply continued staring at the fight as if he was on autopilot. "I have been trained to look at things people don't usually do. Pay attention to the small things, Sir, they may just save your life."
Jaune slumped. "Why are there so many things to rememb—"
"DUCK!"
CLANG!
…
Jaune's heart rate skyrocketed. Apparently during the fight, Pyrrha had accidentally knocked Yang's punch mid fire and a misfire flew into Jaune's direction.
Resh quickly armed his gauntlets and moved it in front of Jaune to intercept the fire, but someone else had the same idea.
Resh was surprised to see Ruby also having unfolding her scythe to deflect the bullet, but placing it between Resh's gauntlet and the misfire.
"Sorry!/Are you alright!?" Yang and Pyrrha asked.
"Uhh… fine!" Jaune called out then looked to both Ruby and Resh. "Thanks guys."
"No problem Jaune!" Ruby chirped.
Resh only gave him a nod before looking back into the continuing fight.
Jaune then noticed something odd with his friend. He couldn't place his finger on it, but he seemed… vacant and out there. It looked like he was being bothered by something.
Meanwhile, the purple clad boy let his mind wander back to last night…
[Flashback]
It was in the dead of night. Jared quietly made his way out of his team's room and made it a good distance to one of the main courtyards in the eastern section of Beacon. He saw one of the lampposts open under a bench and sat down there. as he settled in, he took out the blue envelope he and Ruby had retrieved from the mansion they totaled.
He stared at it. A letter that seemed old, older than him, but it still had this preserved state since it's vivid blue color never paled.
He hesitated opening it for a second. Just what exactly did this letter hold? Why was it hidden and protected?
However, there were just too many unknown factors into all of this. What exactly was the point of all of this? Why was he here in the past? How did he actually come here in the first place? And why were these strange group of people making him stay here?
The only clue he had was right in front of him and if he wanted at least an idea of what to do next…
Jared opened the letter.
He found two things in it: one was obviously a piece of paper with something written on it, but the second item he found interested him greatly.
It was a USB drive.
Jared quickly checked the letter.
"Hail and well met kiddo. We figured you would try to trace us via phone bill. Clever ain't cha? You have no idea how annoying it was to cover so many details to keep you from finding us too soon. We're in a super secret cold war with our enemies, so you finding us now would be rather… detrimental to us in the long run. Let me get to the point: that USB Drive we gave you? Give it to Ozpin. Tell him that it's a gift from Chronos. You're free to look it up yourself before giving it to him. Huh? Why give it to him? Believe it or not, he's sort of in the same boat as you. That's all I'm going to say.
P.S. You're going to have to deal with the no answers for a bit. Use that need to learn the truth as a drive to motivate you especially in the later times, you're going to need it. Good Luck kiddo, I'm rooting for all of you."
Jared carefully placed down the letter back into the letter and took out his scroll. He placed the USB port into his scroll and waited for it to download.
The electronic ping and an open window was all the invitation the future child needed.
Jared stared at the first window open in his screen. "… Professor Zordon Jekyll and Professor Rita Shelly? The leading researchers in Aura and Grim studies join forces to help eliminate Grimm?"
It was a picture of an old newspaper article about one hundred years ago. There was a rather high definition black and white picture of a tall clean swept man who must have been this Zordon while another professional woman just as formal as the man beside her who must have been Rita. The article briefly talked about how Zordon was one of the leading researchers in Aura and semblance studies while Rita was the expert in Grimm Biology.
According to more of the public side of the article, the two were hired by Atlas some time ago to help with the rising Grimm population of that time. It also seemed to be a very newsworthy article because it emphasized how the two different scientists, being from Mistrial and Vacuo respectively, were sent to Atlas when it looked like around the time the four kingdoms looked to be at each other's throats.
… Then the file got weird.
The next document read, "Confidential: Atlas Report of Project Pantheon."
Jared just stared at that. Did… did this USB have government files? Crap! Would he be traced for this!? Jared's mind screamed for him to put it off, but his body wasn't listening. His fingers pressed for the next page while his eyes started unblinkingly as he read intently the excerpts of the clearly labeled secret files.
'Project Pantheon is the experimentation of augmenting all Human and Faunus people with powers to annihilate the countless Grimm numbers.
With Professor's Jekyll and Shelly scientific expertise, along with Billionaire Entrepreneur, Blanc Schnee's funding, they began to work on a way to empower even a civilian to combat hordes of Grimm. Professor Jekyll offered the solution through Aura and a device that would theoretically amplify one's aura and ultimately make anyone capable of super human feats.'
Jared paused a bit and let that first part sink in a bit. Then he looked to his buckle. That 'theory' sounded awfully like his Armaments of Raijin. Jared kept reading, glossing over the advance schematics and formulas he didn't seem to understand until a new log caught his eye.
'For Test Subject # 66 volunteer, renowned hunter Arthur Arc was recruited to wear a new experimental device coined by Zordon as the 'Armor of Zeus.'
"What?" Jared exclaimed in surprise. "D-Dad never told me great, great grandpa Arthur. I don't think he knew about this either… did he? And did he actually meet Mother Weiss' great grandfather?" He was later surprised to see the sudden shift in writing from an organized secret file.
'Meanwhile, Professor Shelly continued with her research on Grimm studies. While Jekyll continued in increasing Aura, Shelly theorized that there was a way for Grimm to be controlled. She coined the idea since all Grimm seemed programmed to killing humans while seemingly having some strange hive mind to ignore other animals, it would be possible to telepathically rewrite a Grimm's mind.'
Considering the fact there is no such thing as current Grimm mind control, something obviously did not sit right with Jared about that excerpt, even more so when the file claimed it was a success.
'Rita, thanks to studies from Jekyll, was able to access her semblance and reveal it to be telepathic related semblance. For the beginning experiment, she refused other telepathic hunters because she believed only she would have the education needed to do what needs to be done. While she was new at her powers, after some training from other telepathic hunters, Shelly was able to conduct her first experiment on a captured Ursa cub. The results were amazing, the Ursa was commanded to her will like a puppet and Shelly finished the experiment by asking the cub to kill itself.
The device used to activate this scenario were…'
Jared absentmindedly glossed over the design schematics of some odd necklace and helmet and continued on until it went back to Professor Jekyll.
'Arthur Arc was given the armor empowered unit, along with a Thunder Dust Crystal, a unique crystallized dust that never expires from usage, but can only be attained from centuries of crystallization. He was asked to place the orb into the buckle.
However… (FILE UNSEALED. WARNING INFORMATION IS HIGHLY CLASSIFIED AND IS REQUIRED A LEVEL 17 CLEARANCE TO READ.)'
"Well I am seventeen years old, does that count?"
'It was around this time that the experiments of Shelly were unleashed into the testing labs. Some studies may have suggested sabotage, but during the attack, Shelly, Jekyll, and the Armor of Zeus had been lost in the rampage and the scientists were presumed dead.'
Unfortunately, when Jared hit the next page, he noticed that it was a rudimentary sketch of his Armaments of Raijin.
And it was the last file.
Jared looked over the files hurriedly. That couldn't be all of it! What was the point of all this? This was where his armor came from? It had to be! The similarities were just too scary! His weapon is a secret government experiment? He thought it was a simple gift from his dad!
But what was the point of this? What did learning his Armor's secret history—it was actually over a century old yet still worked—but what exactly did this mean? What did this have anything to do with him being here and helping his dad getting hitched with a hot girl!?
… Oh right that was still a thing…
Jared inhaled.
"SUNNUVAF—"
It was then that creepy tales of an angry beast roaming the courtyard at the dead of night while shouting unknown demonic tongue-speak were born.
After unknowingly keeping lesser hunters afraid of the nights near the courtyard, Jared gasped for air. He looked wearily at his scroll and saw that a new file was just downloaded into his scroll form the USB.
He quickly tried to open it, but a new screen came up instead.
It was asking for a password.
Jared tapped the side of his scroll impatiently. What the heck could the password be? What was under this sealed file? Jared checked the envelope again, but found nothing in it.
Then he tried guessing the password.
Armaments of Raijin?
Wrong.
Armor of Zeus?
Nope.
Jelly Babies?
Incorrect.
…
Open Sesame?
Denied.
Chronos Kolc?
No.
Jaune Arc's Harem?
Dead Wrong.
"Oh luady…"
Jared raised his brow at that before giving up. He removed copied down the files into his Scroll before taking the USB out and going back into his dorms.
He stared at his buckle on the way back, wondering what kind of secrets his weapon actually held as it glowed dimly from reflecting the moonlight.
[End of Flashback]
Jared scribbled random words to his note book. Trying to review over what he should do.
Should he actually go to Ozpin? He wasn't so sure if he could even trust Ozpin with this. Ever sicne there first meeting, there was just something off about him. The message did tell him that the Usb would be given to Ozpin, but Jared had his reservations of simply doing whatever he was told without some kind of idea what was going on.
It annoyed him greatly that he couldn't do anything.
And when he gets annoyed, it gets harder for him to concentrate on his problem solving skills. He has this really strong need to hit something with all of his might.
Then his thoughts flew back down to Remnant, where he seemed to catch Yang once more trying to push Pyrrha back with her full strength.
… Wasn't his Ma's semblance a sponge and reflection of physical attacks?
He could hit her hit her hard enough and she wouldn't get hurt… especially if she was angry…
Jared started scribbling. It was still the morning classes. He could wait a few hours till after noon and after a certain class that both annoys and drains students.
"Hey, Blake, how's it going?"
The bibliophile of team RWBY turned her gaze and smiled. It was the neighbor team leader of the five man team, Jaune. "Hello, Jaune, where's Resh? It's odd to not see you with him."
"He's not my keeper and I'm not his. Yang was feeling annoyed in Doctor… or was it Professor Oobleck?"
"Doctor was right."
"Yeah, well Yang wanted to stretch her muscles and challenged anyone to a spar since she felt fired up from her match with Pyrrha earlier today. Resh took up the offer and by now the two should be sparring." Jaune filled Blake in. Though, at the back of his mind Jaune noted that something seemed to be bothering him lately. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the way his friend was acting was a bit off. This morning's jog was mildly tolerable, which was really weird. He didn't seem as hard on him as usual. Then there was the way he almost seemed relieved when Yang asked for another spar. Was he imagining that?
"Yang and Resh are sparring?" Blake let the idea of team RWBY's powerhouse clashing with Resh's empowered armor into her head. It was not very pretty.
"I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just a spar, how heated up will those two get?"
As he finished, the entire library shook slightly.
The two could help but turn their heads towards the direction where the sparring arenas were because the shocks felt like it came from that direction.
"… Can I just ignore that?" Jaune questioned before sitting down a respectable distance away from Blake with a pile of books.
Blake rolled her eyes. "Ignore what?" She faked innocence.
Jaune coughed nervously. "Yeah, erhm. You don't mind me staying here right? After living with my crowded family, I kind of find it distracting if I'm alone. I get anxious."
"As long as you don't make too many sounds." Blake told him while continuing to read her book.
"Thanks." Jaune then groaned softly as he looked back to the books he brought. It was for an upcoming lesson in Faunus History from Doctor Oobleck's class. Resh had lectured to him that learning some old war tactics would be a wonderful idea to sharpen his mind for future battle strategies, and that studying it would help in that class. What was worse for the young knight was that the purple clad warrior had issued his own 'homework'. Since Pyrrha was working more on his battle skill and styles, Resh's training started branching out into more diverse, mind building exercises, and it was actually kind of fun. In one training course, the two would play Chess with each other, and boy was Resh good! Jaune was in no way a slouch himself, but Resh was really good. It was also one of the few times that the two of them were on equal ground in terms.
Regardless, Jaune's mental training of the day was to base battle tactics with a team formation, so Jaune had to look up historic fights and base a team defensive formation on one of them. And looking at the huge 2000 page, seven inch tall book, the problem was going to be choosing one.
He opened up the page and started looking for anything sounding good.
Blake took a quick glance at the boy reading beside her. "Oh, Jaune," she waited him to turn his gaze to meet with hers. "I just remembered. Thank you for the book recommendation. I really liked it."
"Oh. No problem. I'm just glad you liked it. You didn't look like the type to like comedy."
Blake turned her head away as she remembered the first few nights she tried to read the book in her dorm. Because of her Faunus eyes, she was able to continue reading the text in the darkness. However, it didn't help her that she almost burst to laughter after every other line. Forcing her laughter down, it actually hurt her a bit since she was doing her best to be quiet for her team. (Though Yang swears she heard 'snoring' from Blake—something she completely denies.)
"Comedy isn't usually my preference, but thank you again for the book. It was nice."
"No problem. What are friends for?" Jaune answered.
Before Blake went back into her book, she noticed one of the other books in Jaune's pile that had a specific side label that caught her attention: 'Dating for Dummies'.
Right, Jaune was going on a date with the Schnee Heiress, and he was rather excited for it. She was rather confused about that. Weiss had been rather cold to the blonde knight ever since they met, yet for some reason Jaune still tried pitifully to gain her attention. It wasn't until 'the unspeakable event' that Blake found out from Ren, Resh convinced Weiss for at least one date with him, and the thing was even Jaune didn't ask him to do that. Weiss herself simply explained she had made a 'deal' with Resh which was why she even agreed to go on the date in the first place.
It just baffled Blake that Jaune would go to such lengths for her when he probably deserved better than Weiss of all people. Not saying Weiss was a bad person. It was rather odd for fate to pair her with her old organization's greatest enemy's daughter in the same team, but she was somewhat glad to know that Weiss, while being a little… cold… she wasn't as bad as she thought she was. Still Pyrrha had shown some interest in him and yet he hasn't even noticed that yet! And if he hadn't, did Resh also not notice? Between the two, he certainly was more perceptive, so did he not take her feeling into consideration when that happened? The red head of their team had seemed a little gloomier than usual, so what was his reasoning for this?
Why… why was Balke putting so much thought into this? Jaune was a fellow book lover she could share hobby topics with. It was just odd to see someone with similar tastes as her to like Weiss as much as he did.
A piece of her wanted to ask, but then what exactly would that do?
Hey Jaune, from one fellow book lover to the next, why are you dating the daughter of the very reason my people violently rebelled against all humans? Oh, yeah, I'm also a Faunus! But not just any Faunus, a previous member of the White Fang who might be causing acts of terrorism throughout the world!
"What?"
Blake paled as she heard Jaune's voice. Did she actually say that out loud?!
"I-I can explain!"
Jaune looked away from his book and gave Blake a weird look. "What?"
Blake noticed that Jaune didn't ask 'What' from her, but rather from the book he was reading. "Nevermind! W-Why did you say what?" Blake changed the subject as quickly as possible.
Jaune blinked before looking back at the book. "Oh, well I was just surprised to know Faunus could see in the dark." He motioned to the book he was reading.
Blake held in a sigh of relief. For a second she thought she had accidentally let something slipped. "Yes, they all have a trait that allows that."
"Aww man! That sounds so cool! I wish I had a Faunus on my team." Jaune whined lightly. "I would give up Resh any day of the week for a Faunus!"
Blake smiled at the lighthearted relationship between the two. It was odd to see them almost always arguing, but they seemed to enjoy each other's company. She was secretly jealous of that: having a friend you could be so open with.
But she also seemed a little surprised at what he said, so she asked, "So does that mean you only want to be friends with a Faunus because they can see in the dark?" She was kind of wording it simply, but she wanted to see what Jaune's view on Faunus was.
Jaune raised his brow at the odd question. "What are you talking about? You make it sound like there's something wrong with these guys. I mean who wouldn't want a new friend?"
"If only it was that simple…" Blake gave him a soft smile. It was nice to hear about people being nice to others without discrimination, but there was the glaring fact that Jaune or any of her friends knew who she really was.
… What would they think? Would they still say those same things about her if they knew the truth?
Before Blake could think more about this, the two of them heard a voice that seemed directed over them.
"Oh."
They both looked over to see some odd guy wearing a Mohawk coming over to them.
"You, you're the leader of Team JNPR right? The team with five members right?" The boy asked.
"Yeah?" Jaune confirmed.
"Well, um my name is Russel Thrush from team CRDL. You know, the team where your friend made a fool out of our leader?"
"O-Oh! Sorry about him. He's actually pure evil."
"What?" Russel questioned in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Jaune blinked and also seemed confused. "Umm right. Forget I said that. What is it?"
"Well we were looking for him to apologize. Mostly our Leader thought about what he did, and wanted to apologize for acting like a jerk before." A beeping on his scroll caused him to quickly check it. "Oh, never mind, he just found him… in a broken battlefield?" He asked questioningly with his brow raised.
He didn't notice Jaune and Blake go back to their books where it was safe from real life super powered friends and their mistress, Collateral Damage.
"… Sure. Apology accepted. I'm sorry for making fun of you during our practice spar. That was rude of me as well." Jared responded as he wiped his head with a towel from the energy he expended fighting Yang at full strength of his armor.
"You OK?" Cardin asked unsurely as both of them were in the male locker rooms. "You seem out of it."
"Well I went against literally the strongest girl—no, person in Beacon, and did my best to make sure she didn't overpower me. Excuse me if I'm winded a bit from saving my butt from being kicked." He went back into rubbing his face from the sweat. He needed a shower soon.
"Well yeah. So we cool?" Cardin repeated.
"Yeah, we're cool." Jared responded as he shook hands with Cardin. The leader of team CRDL seemed satisfied with his business and made his way out.
Yet Jared was too tired to notice the evil smirk curl up on Cardin's lips as he left the boy.
With him gone, Jared started to gasp now.
He spent a lot of energy in that spar, more than he would have actually wanted.
But he really needed that fight to get his mind off his troubles. He needed something to hit as hard as he could. Ma Yang seemed like the perfect opportunity, but even then, he still felt himself hold back even a little.
So he did the unthinkable.
He 'accidentally' cut off a piece of her hair during the spar.
Yang had one second to realize what had happened, but Jared had used that second to armor himself up and prepare for the fight of his life.
His Ma's eyes turned red from lilac and her hair flared with energy. Like a raging dragon, she blasted off to fight Jared.
That was good. Jared needed to hit something as hard as he could.
The fight was vicious, and Jared was actually able to hold Yang off… for the first five minutes.
Jared's energy was being drained faster, and in the latter fights, Yang started pummeling the boy as his defense wavered. Still, Jared held strong and was actually able to outlast Yang's anger spell. Though even in his armor, he looked quite roughed up.
As soon as she calmed down, Jared surrendered and apologized before making his way back to the male lockers where Cardin was there to meet with him.
Jared felt his entire body ache and let the fatigue momentarily shut down his body. He needed just a few seconds of chilling.
He closed his eyes and leaned his head back into the lockers.
It was then he felt another towel hit his face.
"Man, you look hot when you're sweaty!"
Jared inwardly groaned, but what came out was a sigh since he was too tired to move much. He took the towel off his face and saw what he feared right in front of him.
"Hey, Yang, I figured stalking the boy's locker room would be more of Blake's thing." Jared retorted lightly.
In the back of his head he was wondering why she was here. His subconscious was starting to panic at the thought of her continuing to kick his ass for 'accidentally' cutting a piece of her hair, but he was able to calm those thoughts by simply saying that he might have deserved it. He didn't really act out on his doubts and fears though because if she was acting anything like his Ma in that future, then there was almost no point in running, and that acting out would only make things worse.
"And I figured out that you seemed a little too eager, aiming for my back a lot…" She smirked before striding towards him then sitting on one of the benches and crossing her legs. "One could almost say, you were almost aiming for my hair. … Something that everyone knows by now not to do."
"I'm sorry, I had this weird idea that you're back wasn't as well protected as I thought." Jared answered her before closing his eyes and trying to control his breathing pattern.
Yang did not seem to beak her character. "What was more surprising was that you quickly armored up instead of apologizing…"
"May I say that this is the least exciting alone time I've had with a girl all alone in a locker room?" Jared voiced out, trying to change the subject.
"Oh? I can make it quite memorable…" Yang teased in a very inviting manner.
Oddly enough, had it been anyone but Jared that would have made them blush at the thought, but as it stood, Jared felt his mind shiver at the thought of committing incest.
"Unless you can beat the time some other girl forced me into a clown suit, I highly doubt that." Jared kept his composure as he said that.
Finally Yang sighed and relaxed. "Alright then. Enough beating around the bush, what the heck is wrong with you? And don't give me that 'I'm fine' bull crap. You wanted to hit something hard and not regret it later because you were recently pissed off. I get it; there were times I wanted to do that too."
Jared paused for a few seconds. Busted again by his Ma. "… Was it that obvious?" He asked her.
"Rubes and the others didn't seem to notice. Can't say the same for Ren, but it was sure as hell easy to see when you were right in front of me, trading blows," Yang folded her arms strictly. "I do not like being used as a stress reliever."
Jared groaned. "Right. I'm sorry about that. I really am." The he opened his eyes and stared back at her. "… I… I honestly have no idea what's going around me. And I can't help but feel that things are moving along without my consent!"
"Drama queen. That's life, no one can control it." Yang strictly responded.
Jared slumped back into the locker. "But I feel as if someone else is controlling it."
"What the heck are you even talking about?" The frustration in her voice seemed to be rising. "We're your friends, aren't we? Why aren't you telling us what's wrong instead of trying to punch something!"
Jared felt himself feel shame. He probably could have done better in just letting his steam off on Grimm or something else. But he didn't have enough time, and just jumped the gun at the first opportunity.
But then again this was a bad situation to say the least. Yang was demanding to know what was bothering him and what was bothering him was how things just made little sense when he was trying to find answers to why he was in the past.
Jared felt conflicted. What could he do? He wanted to apologize, he really did, but how exactly could he without revealing his secret? Actually, he wouldn't do it now, especially if she was angry right now. At worst case, not only would Yang not believe a single word of the truth, there would also be a chance that the truth would actually estrange them from even being friends.
Jared stopped thinking for a moment and decided to just tell her what he felt, but not explicitly say what was bothering him.
"Look, Yang, I'm sorry about that. I really am. There is something bothering me a lot, but I promised someone I would keep it a secret. I know, I know that doesn't at all sound like a good thing, but there are things I can't tell you guys yet. That doesn't mean I don't trust you guys—hell no! It's just that I got myself in something deep… and I promise not to drag any of you guys into it. You're my friends."
Yang's glare froze at Jared while the boy in the future simply patiently waited for her answer.
After a few, long lasting seconds, Yang sighed dejectedly. "Look… just… just be sure to actually call us for help when you need it, alright? We'd rather have you alive to owe us than dead in some random ditch."
Jared nodded. "I'll… think about it. … Just… I will tell you all one day, just not today. Not now."
A few seconds past between them. Jared felt the annoyance behind Yang's unreadable stare rising.
"Welp!" Yang exclaimed as her tone shifted one eighty. She stood up quickly. "You totally owe me for acting like a jerk back there."
She wasn't over this. He knew that, but now she was going to hound him for it.
The future boy sighed inwardly. "Fine. What do you need?"
Jared should have never said that.
Yang smirked an evil smirk. She couldn't get Resh to react in any way she wanted to with her advances, which as impressive as that was, simply meant that she would have to play her A-game in making him uncomfortable as possible. Especially for acting the way he did today for some Grimm infested reason.
"Turn that date with Ice Queen and Vomit Boy into a double date with you and me."
Yang smiled elatedly at the amazingly soul shattering look on the purple boy's face.
{Author notes.}
Back To The Future reference anyone?
No?
… Well it's not exactly a direct reference but…
Screw it. I bet some of you don't even know it. I feel old.
Anyway the story is a little slow again. Boo!
Curse you planning to incorporate fluffy romance in later chapters!
So Cardin acts suspiciously kind all of a sudden… ain't that shady?
Yep. Definitely yep.
And that ending… so Incest?
Erk! Hak! Oh God no! I feel dirty even thinking about it. *Shudders*
Well this should be one very interesting date which Jared unknowingly set up and burned slowly to the ground.
Unless, our hero can come up with one of the most ingenious plans to somehow make everyone—yeah—no, he's screwed. GG NO RE.
Now for the bonus!
[Take me out of the ball game.]
Resh: … So it's us two teams versus three other teams in a baseball game?
Jaune: That's the gist of it.
Yang: We're definitely going to kick their collective asses!
Nora: And break their legs!
Ren: Nora, don't.
Weiss: Ugh! I can't believe we are reduced to trivial sports! We are hunters!
Ruby: Lighten up, Weiss! We'll win through the mercy rule: where we automatically win in one inning with over ten points! I'll be able to reach base every time I hit the ball!
Blake: Semblances aren't allowed.
Ruby: (deflates) Aww…
Resh: Oh that makes things better for me! Dibs on that guy who catches the pitcher's throws!
Jaune: You mean the catcher?
Resh: (Rubs chin) I could have sworn that it was called something more elaborate...
Yang: Well I want Pitcher!
Ren: I'll take left field.
Nora: Gimme first base!
Pyrrha: I would like second base.
Blake: Third Base would do.
Ruby: Ooh! Dibs on Center Field!
Jaune: Right field! Yes!
Weiss: … Wait, what do I get?!
Resh: Mascot and moral support!
Weiss: What!? That's Ruby's thing!
Ruby: Hey!
Weiss: It's a compliment.
Yang: I thought you didn't want to play~?
Weiss: I-I j-just don't want to be alo—I mean (Cough) it seems rather unfair to be the only one left out of this.
Resh: … O… K? Umm, do any of you—
Jaune: (Steps in) If you want Snow Angel, you can take my spot. I'd be happy to keep your seat wa—
Weiss: Good luck to you all, I will be waiting here.
Ruby and Nora: (Both cheer) GO TEAM!
[DEFENSE]
(Batter one comes to the plate.)
Resh: Hey dude. Good luck.
Batter 1: Oh thank you.
Professor Port: (The Umpire) And it's time to play the game!
Resh : HEYBATABATA-HEYBATABATA-HEYBATABATA-HEYBATA-HEYBATABATA!
Batter 1: What the F—
Resh: SWING!
(Resh catches first pitch.)
Professor Port: STTTRRIIIKKKKEEEE ONE! (Resh throws back ball to Yang.)
Batter 1: Why you…
Resh: Hey want some advice on when to hit her fast ball?
Batter 1: I'm not believing a thing you say!
Resh: But I'm telling you the truth. Or am I? What if I'm telling you the truth and then you don't listen, you get another strike. But what if I'm lying then and I make you miss anyway? See that is the illusion of free will: we all believe that we have a choice in the matter, but in reality we all walk the same path to death. If people understood this, there would be less wars, more love and empathy to our fellow sentient beings, and we would all come together and shine even brighter in this dark, dark world...
Batter 1: Whoa… that was kind of deep—
(Resh catches second pitch.)
Port: SSSTTTTRRIIIIIIKKKE TWO!
Batter 1: YOU *&%^$## !#%$%^&&((((**!
Resh: Don't give in to hate, brother.
Port: Careful, my boy, you don't want a violation now!
Batter 1: (Turns to Resh) Screw you, I'm not listening to a single thing you, the catcher, says!
Resh: … Don't look at Yang's boobs.
Batter 1: (Distracted) What? OHSH—
(Swings and misses the bat. Resh catches the third ball.)
Port: STRIKE THREE, YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!
(Batter 1 leaves disgruntled.)
Resh: (Lifts mask) Professor, I had no idea you were so different when playing a sport.
Port: My lad, didn't you know? I had many tales in playing organized athletic events back in my youth…
Resh: Huh. Wait up, the next poor sap—I mean victim—I mean virgin sacrifice—I mean batter is coming up to the plate. (Puts mask back on) Bloody speech impediment…
[UP TO BAT]
Resh: Alright, first up is Ruby, followed by Ren, then Me, then Yang followed by Weiss, Nora, Blake, Pyrrha, and last is Jaune. (looks to Ruby trying out helmets) Up you go, Crimson Flash.
Ruby: Ooh! I like that! I'm totally using that as my superhero name when my hunter career takes off!
Resh: I need you to take off from home plate first. (Turns back to the rest of the team.) Alright since we're shorthanded, Jaune you go coach third base and Pyrrha you coach first base.
Jaune and Pyrrha: Right.
Resh: Ren, you know what to do. (He nods) … Let's just see if we can make it.
Professor (Doctor) Oobleck: (Speaking in front of a microphone) Andit'sthebottomofthefirstinning. Team' 'snowheadinguptoplate. Ozpinwhatisyourtakeonthetwoteam'sbattingstrategy?
Ozpin: … Let me take this time for two things: Team CFVY is taking bets around the Away bleachers, and Bartholomew? Have you been drinking energy drinks? (Oobleck shakes his head like a hummingbird's wings.) Well then, I'm sure we are for a very interesting game. If Teams RWBY and JNPR can play batting as well as their pitching, which was a rather impressive three strike outs, then we are in for a very entertaining game.
Oobleck: —LookathergoevenwithouthersemblancesheistrulyhasearnedthenameoftheCrimsonFlashandshestealsfirstthensecondohshe'salreadyonthirdbasebeforethecatchertakestheballhome!
Jaune: (Coughing due to dust cloud.) Good job… Ruby. Great hustle.
Ruby: (Beaming.) Thank you, third base coach. (Jaune's eyes widen as dust cloud settles.) I told you—
Jaune: Ruby!
(Third baseman tags Ruby for not staying in base.)
Port: AAANNNNDDD YYYOOOUUURRE OOOOUUUUTTTT!
Ruby: W-What?
Weiss: You weren't stepping on the base, you dunce!
Oobleck: Andthetwoteamslosethierleadtoahorribleblunder! Itappearsthismatchcangoeitherwayforallteams!
(Ozpin chuckles as he drinks coffee in a '#1 Sexiest Principal!' mug.)
[Hail Mary]
Ozpin: And we have returned to the Championship Beacon Baseball Games … It all comes down to this ladies and gentlemen… and Ms. Schnee.
(Cue distant Weiss screams)
Ozpin: Just a joke. Bottom of the ninth inning with Teams RWBY and JNPR down by one with 11-12 with the other team in the lead. Ms. Nikkos, Valkryie, and Belladona are filling all bases. Mr. Arc is up to bat with a full count, three Balls, two strikes. It's the last swing of the game and his teammate has called a time out.
Resh: Sir, it all comes down to this. Remember your training.
Jaune: You mean how you sadistically tortured me and expected me to become better from that?
Resh: OK fine, I'll just start quoting random show quotes. I'm going to be the Pirate Hokage! Believe in me, who Dattebayo-s in it!
Jaune: Now that's really not helping.
Resh: Jaune, I am your son!
Jaune: We're screwed, and that wrong quote is from a movie.
Resh: (Solemnly places his hands on Jaune's shoulders and makes Jaune look him in the eye.) Sir, I want you to know something. This has been one of the most fun times I've had in probably my entire life, and I know that because I've been spending it with you guys. Win or lose, we'll all still be your friends, so go out there and give it you all.
Jaune: (Nods) Yeah… YEAH! I won't let any of you down! I'm going to show them—all of them to come—what it means to have fun in professional sports!
Resh: Go, there is nothing more I can teach you.
(Jaune leaves)
(Yang comes up to Resh.)
Yang: We're screwed, aren't we?
Resh: Yep.
(Jaune goes up to the plate, but surprised everyone by pointing his bat beyond centerfield.)
(The crowd gasps.)
Ren: Is he calling that?
Nora: Go Jaune!
Ozpin: What a bold statement from mister Arc before he gets into position. … Here comes the pitch…
…
(CRACK!)
Oobleck: (Just think he says this really fast.) UNBEEEELIEAVBLE! Mr. Arc has hit a home run! The crowds are roaring with applause and sheer shock! What a miraculous turn of events in the entire history of Beacon sports! Do you believe in miracles?!
(After Jaune steps on home base, Teams JNPR and RWBY rush up and do a crushing group hug before lifting him up.)
Resh: Free cheers for Jaune 'Miracle' Arc! Hip, hip!?
Everyone, but Jaune: HOORAY!
(They toss him up and catch him.)
Resh: Hip, hip!?
Everyone: HOORAY!
Jaune: (Gets nausea) G-Guys!? W-wait! I-I think my motion sickness is acting up again!
(Everyone stops tossing him and step away, but they had tossed him up before he finished, so he falls hard into the ground.)
Jaune: ERK! (Grunts in pain before his stomach can't take it anymore.)
(Everyone else winces and steps back again.)
Ozpin: (smirks) Yes, Bartholomew, I am certain no one will ever forget Jaune Arc after today.