AN: Happy turkey day my American readers. To the rest, I hope you're doing well.

Chapter 19

Jaune and Ruby stood in the Zaku line to take the test in the mobile suits Atlas had shown off. Jaune wanted to see just how well they had replicated the designs while Ruby hoped she would be allowed to fire the machine gun. They noticed Ren and Nora in the other line for the GM. Ruby waved to them and Nora pointed their way and Ren waved back. An unspoken challenge went between the knight and the ninja. Each simulation was shown to the students and was based on the number of Grimm/enemies defeated and accuracy. There was another stat the judges had also included, tactical ingenuity. The first simulation that caught his attention was a GM simulation. The pilot was to push back a hoard of Grimm that had broken through the village wall. It started out simple they shot the larger Grimm while sweeping the smaller with the shield. Eventually, though a stray nevermore feather took their left arm, and being unable to reload they plunged the rifle into a goliaths body causing it to rampage around taking out other Grimm. Using the distraction they grabbed the severed arm and started to use it as a mace before they were eventually overrun. They had taken out 72 out of 120 Grimm and had a B+ for accuracy. Their final grade was 60% of the Grimm eliminated, accuracy B+, and tactical ingenuity A- and given how no one broke 50% so far that was not bad. Staggering out of the GM was someone Jaune didn't expect. Cardin Winchester, hell he barely saw the guy at school anymore.

Coco Adel his sisters' girlfriend was the other one that caught his interest not just because of the score but because she was the first to ask if there was a way to switch weapons. So it was no surprise when the simulation showed her GM wielding a minigun. She was tested against a rouge battalion of Atlesian knights a paladin and an airship. The paladin opened fire causing Coco to duck behind cover with quick thinking that came from being at Beacon a full year and a half she used a bust of rounds to bring down the airship on the paladin allowing her to move cover before the knights surrounded her. She held out the longest using hit and run tactics and the minigun as a bat at times but a stray shot from one of the knights ignited the dust in the engine of the ship and the resulting explosion took her out. She exited the GM with a smirk. Her final score was 85% of enemies defeated, accuracy A+, and tactical ingenuity A+. Neptune in the Zaku wasn't half bad either. He had a similar test to Cardin. His village was a seaport so thinking he would kill both a chance for the Grimm to surround him and also avoid looking at the water Neptune positioned himself in front of the sea. He got into a firing position and aimed when the Grimm got close enough he used burst fire to rip into the front lines of the approaching horde. He was slowing them down but after a while and two ammo packs the sea started churning and off the coast, a large black mass appeared. The weaker grim started to back up making Neptune drop his guard. A nevermore was able to pin him in place and the last thing he saw was the angry face of a Leviathan. His scores were 59% of the Grimm eliminated, accuracy A, and tactical ingenuity B-.

"Wow, this seems rather tough Jaune," Ruby said in a worried tone.

"It can be too hard if Cardin is one of the top scorers." Jaune shrugs. They reach the Zaku and then motions Ruby forward. The soldiers start their pat-down while one looks at her ID and frowns.

"Miss, are you really a student here?" The man asks. The man stops the other soldier and points to his screen.

"Yup," Ruby replies.

"Well, it says here you're only 15. Jeremy, please get the measuring device." the soldier said.

"Sure thing Jack. Send the short one to get the device, ha!" Jeremy jokingly said the last part. He returned a few seconds later and set it up.

"If you could just stand there Miss." Jack directed her to a holographic line. "157cm hmm. I'm so sorry ma'am, you barely miss the required height at 160cm."

"But, but I'll grow. I drink milk." Ruby begged.

"We have our orders ma'am. You could always try next year." Jack sighs. "At least you're taller than Jeremy here."

"Hey, I'll have you know I'm 164cm tall!" Jeremey complained.

"Yeah in boots and a helmet. Remember we measure without that mister 152cm." Jack laughs.

"Is there any way she could take the test?" Jaune asked stepping forward.

"You'll have to ask the General. Sorry. Are you going to take it?" Jack asks and Jaune nods. After passing the search Jaune turns towards Ruby.

"Don't worry you'll be able to try soon enough. For now, keep an eye on my screen." Jaune gives her a wink and gives Jeremy the loadout he wants. After getting the go-ahead Jaune enters the Zaku.

'It's been ages since I've been in a Zaku. This reminds me of my first sortie in the Battle of Loum.' Char nostalgically said. 'Hope you're prepared for bruises. Simulations rock cadets like madmen shaking a soda can.'

'That's reassuring.' Jaune deadpanned.

"All right cadet here is your mission a squadron of Atlesian knights have gone rouge they have two paladins and three airships. Are you up for the challenge?" Yes/No. Jaune presses yes. "The moment your suit is inoperable is the moment you die. For the glory of the Kingdoms!"


Ruby watched as Jaune and Rens Simulations started. Ren was doing a Grimm invasion while Jaune was doing an Atlesian Coup. Jaunes suit had a custom Salmon and Red paint job that got her to smile. Her chest felt tight she knew this was a simulation but a primal part of her was still worried for Jaune. Jaune immediately ran up a tilted building and Ruby noticed the odd funnel-shaped devices on the back and legs move before lighting up sending Jaune into an assisted jump. He pulled out a hand ax and drove it into the cockpit of one of the airships and without thinking Jaune jumped again slicing the next one the long way. As he rode the second one down he fired two rockets into the third and he threw the empty cannon away. He pushed off and slammed the ax into a paladin then he used the paladin as a shield when the second fired. He threw the corpse at the partner machine and used a sweeping kick to clear out the nearby Knights allowing him to draw the machine gun. The knights fired but Jaune used the shoulder shield to block most of the fire. Raising his weapon Jaune began firing a spray of bullets that quickly tore through the Knights.

"Jaune!" Ruby yelled seeing the other paladin was still moving and had grabbed his ax. Jaune spun around and twisted the arm with the ax while shoving his gun under the cockpit and firing. Once the machine stopped moving Jaune picked up his ax and looked around. None of the knights stood and the airships lay destroyed. Ruby looked over to Ren and saw his suit finishing off a Geist with a pair of SMGs and looking around as well to see there were no more enemies. Both Jaune and Ren's suits knelt as the simulations ended.

"Renny that was amazing! You showed those Grimm!" Nora jumped on Ren as he exited.

"Please Nora, I'm sore from being knocked around so much," Ren said in his usual monotone voice but his eye's shown with deep excitement. Ruby turned when she heard the Zaku open.

"Man, that was so cool kid! Even those of us who have piloted these since the prototype phase haven't been able to push the Zaku as you did." Jeremy slapped Jaune back.

"Yeah, you were like a Red Comet tearing through the battlefield," Jack said with amazement.

"Jaune!" Ruby ran up and hugged him as tight as she could. "That was amazing you have to tell me how you did that!"

"Ruby, please… I need… Air." Jaune gasped. She loosened her grip and Jaune hugged her back. "Don't worry you'll get your chance." He whispered while resting his forehead against hers. Some of the soldiers let out some wolf whistles and the two broke apart. After what seemed like ages Ren and Jaune's scores appeared. . Jaunes final grade was 100% of the enemies eliminated, accuracy A+, and tactical ingenuity S. Ren's was 100% of the Grimm eliminated, accuracy A, and tactical ingenuity S. Jaune pumped his fist as he had done just a smidge better than Ren. Someone started clapping their hands, and everyone stood to see Ironwood and Ozpin.

"I just had to come to see the two that passed with flying colors." Ironwood smiled. Ren looked at Jaune who smiled.

"Thank you very much, sir." Both boys said in unison.

"Your students are quite well-trained Ozpin," Ironwood commented.

"Indeed. It's like they were born to pilot these machines." Ozpin took a sip from his mug eyeing the two.

"I look forward to seeing you two in the training courses," Ironwood said before turning around to face the crowd and clearing his throat. "The tests will conclude in one hour! If any of you haven't completed them yet you will still have a chance. Any only who can break the 50% mark will be added to the training courses while many others will have to go through a few more tests to determine your aptitude!" Ruby took the opportunity to raise her hand.

"Yes, Miss. Rose?" Ozpin asked.

"What about those who are, well vertically challenged?" Ruby asked shyly.

"Ah I see you had wished to try as well but you weren't tall enough." Ozpin chuckled.

"Mmhmm" Ruby nodded.

"Well, the General made the rules for this test." Ozpin started. "I'll forward him your information. From there it will be his choice please understand that these after all are on lone from Atlas so I have no control over who can and can't join." Ruby nodded and went to join Nora, Jaune, and Ren. by the end of the tests only a handful had passed 50%. There was Cardin, Coco, Neptune, Jaune, Ren, two students from Atlas, and oddly enough Nora.


The dance was getting closer and Ruby was worried she had never been to one before. She had never bothered with such things but now she had a boyfriend and she wanted to as yang would say knock his socks off. Yang and Weiss were too busy dealing with the actual planning of the dance to help her so she went to the only other person who knew about fashion. She stood outside a door marked CFVY, taking a deep breath she knocked. A giant of a man answered the door making her feel like a child.

"Yes?" The man asked in a similar way to Ren.

"Uh, I was, um wondering, if uh Coco was here?" Ruby asked.

"Sorry, she's already in a relationship." The man was about to close the door.

"Oh, I know. I'm kinda dating her girlfriend's younger brother." Ruby said quickly.

"Ah, one second." The man went into the room and shortly Coco swaggered to the door.

"So your Jaune's girlfriend I heard of." Coco looked her up and down making Ruby a little uncomfortable. "Gotta say he doesn't have bad taste darling. Are you here for some advice or something?"

"Uh well as you know the dance is co..." Coco raised a hand stopping Ruby.

"You want to impress him so you came to me," Coco stated. Ruby nodded as Coco pulled out her scroll. "Iris, tell Nila to clear the schedule. We have a project."

"Haha, I'm in danger," Ruby said scared. Velvet just nodded from the room.

AN: Have a happy turkey day and enjoy your food coma. The test took a lot longer than I thought.