Gamer4 in. Look, there are more protagonists in Jojo than total characters period in RWBY, we're gonna have to either double up or touch on other fandoms at some point if we're gonna do this thing. And no, I'm no dirty part skipper, we're not doing that. I hope you can forgive me for my transgressions, and let us continue.

Disclaimer: Dedue Molinaro and associated characters belong to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

Episode LIII

Jaune's Bizarre Adventure: First Episode at Hienton

The Guardians of Hienton

The sun was starting its descent over the town of Hienton- one of the oldest areas of the kingdom. It was surrounded on all sides by soaring cliffs, and opposite of the tunnel serving as the main entrance was a large castle where, it is said, an ancient prince once lived- surrounding the grand construction were the houses of the many people carrying on traditions dating back hundreds of years. It was secluded from much of the rest of the world and its problems- until a month ago, when a stranger in a black cloak had appeared.

"It's so pretty..." Ruby grinned. "Like something out of a fairy tale!"

"And now Adam's hiding there..." Blake reminded them darkly.

"Renny! Blakie's raining on our parade again!" Nora whined.

This time, when Jaune, Torchwick, and Qrow emerged from the tunnel, it was not to an army of the living dead, but to farmland as far as they could see from their lower position. They scanned around, searching for any sign that anything was amiss.

"I don't see anything wrong," Jaune observed. "Only farmers hard at work." His gaze went up to the castle that stood over the town. "I'm sure that's where Adam will be."

"Where else?" Yang narrowed her eyes. "Big bad dark lord man isn't gonna settle for hiding in some random shack."

He heard a crack and a grunt, and turned to find Torchwick on the ground, Qrow standing over him with a look of mild concern. "What happened?"

"Well, I obviously don't have time to train him," Qrow rubbed at the back of his neck, "Torchwick here asked if I'd at least give him the same primer I gave you. Doesn't seem to have worked, though."

"Torchwick using Hamon?" Ruby pondered. "...Nah, can't see it."

"Actually, did we ever learn what his semblance is?" Weiss asked.

"I... don't believe we did," Blake realized.

"Almost like someone out there didn't give a single iota of a crap," Mario commented drily.

"Hmm... at a guess, it's that smoke of his. It affects the lungs- not ideal for channeling Hamon. Sorry about that."

"You son of a..." Torchwick grunted out between gasps.

Before he could finish his vulgarity, a blur swept by- Jaune only barely caught what it was. A boy had tied down a tree to form a makeshift catapult, and just cut the rope- it flung him past them, seizing on to Jaune's bag before soaring over a pond towards a nearby cliff.

"Thief!" Nora cried.

"You don't think they're working for Adam, do you?!" Jaune asked nervously.

"I don't think so- they're out in the sun, so they're definitely not a vampire or zombie," Pyrrha surmised.

"Ah, just a normal crook, then," Weiss rolled her eyes. "I'm sure that's of great consolation to them."

Jaune didn't seem angry, however- if anything, a gentle smile crossed his face. "Just a kid."

"A little young to be snatching purses," Qrow frowned.

"Need I remind you two..." Torchwick grunted as he forced himself to his feet, "that all our money is in that bag?!"

"Try not to worry so much, Mr. Torchwick, unless you're looking to die young," Qrow advised as he approached the pond. He knelt and pressed his hands into the water, which began to ripple and glow at his touch. On the opposite end, the boy threw a glance back to see Qrow stepping onto the pond, his feet crackling as they connected with the water, and failing to sink.

"Hamon is so coool!" Ruby's eyes glowed. "He can even walk on water!"

"Wasn't there a story about a guy who could walk on water, Renny?" Nora pondered with a finger to her chin.

"Yes, there was," Ren sighed. "I'll retell it later... again."

Jaune hesitated only slightly before following. He wasn't as graceful as his mentor- his feet did sink a little beneath the surface,at least covering the top of his boots, but he didn't sink to the bottom as he set off in pursuit.

"More Hamon, kid!" Qrow called back. "If your feet are getting wet, you need to steady your breathing!"

Jaune checked himself, and over the next few steps, his feet rose until he, too, was walking on the water's surface.

"Okay, that's it, I'm practicing Hamon!" Ruby decided. "...What's the pattern of breathing to build it up again?"

"Try holding your breath for as long as you can," Weiss rolled her eyes.

"Gotcha!" Ruby beamed, taking in a large gulp of air before closing her mouth and puffing her cheeks. Everyone stared at Weiss, who shrugged.

"It'll keep her quiet for a little."

The boy was making progress up the cliff- Jaune took a deep breath, summoning a glow to his fist before he drove it into the wall, which began to tremor. Qrow raised a hand to his ear, and nodded in approval. "That's a good sound- your Hamon went through perfectly."

"It's still not quite as effective as I'd hoped..."

Qrow reached out and touched the wall himself. "Hmm... try a couple steps to the left. I'll put two hundred lien on-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, the rocks the boy was holding onto began to glow, then crumble- the boy lost his grip and began to fall. He let out a scream as he fell through the air- right into Jaune's waiting arms.

"Good," Pyrrha smiled. "Of course he wouldn't let a child die, even if he did steal his wallet!"

"He's... a good man," Weiss admitted.

"Good catch," Qrow praised as Torchwick finally waded ashore.

The boy's eyes opened, revealing a pair of brown irises matching his brown hair. "Huh? Wait- what's going on?"

"Oh, don't play stupid, kid," Weiss glared.

"Don't be hasty, Weiss," Ren advised. "Looking at his eyes, I think he sincerely doesn't know what's happening."

"Maybe he's not a zombie," Blake assessed, "but plenty of vampire literature sees them with the ability to brainwash humans. If that's what happened, he could make the boy steal from them without making him vulnerable to the sun..."

Ruby finally let out her breath in a panic. "But wait, it's not like Adam would need Jaune's money! If Adam made him do that, wouldn't... wouldn't that mean this is a-"

"TRAP!" everyone realized at once.

Jaune didn't seem to recognize the danger, however. "Hm? Did I use too much Hamon?"

"No..." Qrow was looking towards the horizon... where the sun was giving the day's last light. "Look where we are."

Jaune looked around, and his blood went cold as he beheld the numerous tombstones. "A graveyard..."

No sooner had he made the realization than a rotting hand burst from the ground and seized his leg.

"Adam knew we were coming," Qrow realized gravely. "He set up a trap, and we sprang it gloriously. The boy was bait- under a low level of hypnosis to lead us to this spot."

"KID! UP THERE!"

At Torchwick's cry, Jaune and Qrow looked up to see a large pillar of rock, atop which stood Adam Taurus, his cloak cast away, all signs of injury gone in the moonlight. He smirked, his eyes concealed behind the bone mask. "The sun has forsaken you... and with it, your last hope."

"He really likes that damn mask, doesn't he?" Yang growled.

"A symbol of his transcendence over humanity? Yeah, he's never going to willingly take that off," Blake agreed with a glare.

As Adam spoke, the ground roiled as countless zombies broke their way onto the surface.

"What's going on?!" the kid screamed in terror.

Torchwick's cigar fell from his lips into the pond below. I... I thought I'd prepared myself for this... but that monster, summoning his army of the dead... even I'm shaking in my boots a little! But...

He glanced to Jaune, who was trembling- in fear or anger, it was difficult to say. But vampire or no, he's the one who betrayed the kid, repaid his father's kindness with blood. Hell if I'm gonna let that go unpunished!

"Uuurrrggghhhhh!" Yang screamed to the ceiling, running her hands frantically through her hair. "I know! I know I'm repeating myself here, but I hate that this world is making me like Torchwick so much!"

"You and me both," Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Who'd have thought he'd be Fearless Leader's first real friend besides Pyrrha?" Nora contemplated.

Qrow's brow knitted- for the first time, he looked genuinely angry. "So, this is Adam, huh? Nice to finally put a face to the name."

He turned and kicked one of the zombies as it made a lunge for the boy in Jaune's arms. "Stay sharp! Don't let him spill any more innocent blood!" Within seconds, the attacking zombie and several of its cohorts were ashes.

"Uncle Qrow, on the other hand, I could watch all day!" Ruby grinned, leaning back in her hands.

"Oh, yeah!" Yang grinned, slapping a high-five with her sister.

Jaune dodged another zombie, who's head was swiftly bashed in by Torchwick, advancing with his cane. He looked to the boy in his arms. "What's your name?"

"O-Oscar, sir... Oscar Pine."

"Alright, Oscar- hold on tight!" He swung the boy around onto his back, giving him a second to brace himself before joining the fight against the zombies, his arm cracking as it extended to deliver a punch to one that toppled several over in a line, Hamon crackling through them like a circuit, until they had all crumbled to dust.

"Wow!" Oscar's eyes widened.

"Jaune always has been a fast learner!" Pyrrha beamed proudly.

Qrow was ascending the cliff, jumping from one jutting rock to another, never taking his eyes off of Adam, who met his gaze steadily.

"Adam Taurus, is it?" Qrow greeted with a scowl. "I've never met you, but to the mask you're wearing... we meet again."

Adam smirked, showing off his fangs.

Qrow snapped his fingers. "Hey, baby, do you plan on hiding in your perch all night, or will you come down and fight?!"

"'Hey, baby?'" Weiss snorted. "That's certainly not what I expected to hear from a vampire slayer."

"Oh?" Ren quirked a brow, glancing her way. "And what did you expect a vampire slayer to sound like?"

"I... oh, I liked it better when you were just quiet all the time!" Weiss flushed.

"You speak boldly for an insect standing before a god," Adam brandished his arms dramatically.

"A god, huh?" Qrow narrowed his eyes. "I expected an ego from the man who willingly donned the mask, but this..."

Adam turned his smirk to Jaune as he ascended the cliff after his mentor. He raised his shirt to show the pristine skin beneath- with the exception of a mass of scar tissue where the Arc family guardian had pierced him with her spear. "This is the last injury I have to heal from our battle, Arc," he sneered. "An eye for an eye, that was the old law. Ascend, Arc, and pay your pennance- let your blood be that which restores me to my full strength!"

"Yeah, sure, I'll get right on that," Jaune commented drily.

"This guy's head is so big I'm surprised the mask fit in the first place!" Nora giggled.

Qrow took a different view of the situation. "Only one scar remaining... how many innocent lives did you take to heal those wounds?"

Adam stroked his chin, as if in thought. "Hmm, I'm not entirely sure. How many slices of bread have you eaten in your life?"

Dead silence fell across the room. Finally, Nora broke it. "Nope. Even I can't think of a joke to make about that."

"Atrocious... evil..." Pyrrha was looking down, trembling.

"He's a monster," Blake stared, wide-eyed. "Even compared to our Adam, he's a monster!"

"Jaune..." Ren said through steepled fingers, "I truly wish my other was there to help you fight this... creature."

"I... wish that, too," Jaune agreed.

Jaune's other was faring little better. "ADAAAAAAM!" He was moving forward, until Qrow stopped him with an outstretched arm. "M-Mr. Branwen?"

"This one is mine," Qrow hissed, his eyes filled with rage. He struck a pose as he drew a deep breath, his body beginning to glow as he continued his bounds up the cliffside. Within seconds, he was even with Adam and driving a fist right towards his face-

That Adam blocked with one hand. Qrow grimaced, his arm crackling with energy- until Adam's arm was encased in ice, seemingly halting the energy in its tracks.

Adam smirked. "Muda, muda, muda!" He closed his fingers around Qrow's fist as the ice began to spread up his arm, freezing it solid.

"Oh, bullshit!" Yang roared.

"HAAAAACKS!" Nora agreed.

"That's supposed to be Weiss's thing!" Ruby objected.

"Did you really believe I wouldn't research any possible weaknesses?" Adam jeered. "Hamon, a power born from the flow of blood! Thus, if your arm is frozen, incabale of transferring blood, your power is rendered muda muda MUDA!"

"So... he's been doing his homework as well..." Weiss nibbled on her nails. "This isn't good... not at all..."

"Compared to you apes, I have absolute control over every aspect of my body!" Adam continued to boast. "It's as simple as eliminating moisture from my arm, causing it to freeze- and your arm on contact. Now... shall we see what happens if I smash it?"

"NO!" Ruby and Yang screamed.

Adam raised his other fist and swung it towards Qrow's frozen arm. Qrow raised his hand to block, only to find another hand doing so on his behalf- that of Jaune Arc, glaring at his former brother. "Adam, it's time to end this madness."

Adam smirked. "Madness, is it? I'm not surprised your vision remains clouded by ignorance. Though I am impressed you managed to stop my fist. You're not the same sniveling creature I left behind at the manor."

"The sniveling creaure that beat you!" Nora retaliated on Jaune's behalf.

"Let go of him, Jaune!" Qrow warned.

"Good advice, Arc," Adam agreed. "Didn't father teach you to keep your hands to yourself?"

Qrow watched as Adam's arm began to freeze, ready to take Jaune's with it. No! He lashed out with a kick- a kick that Adam interrupted with his own leg, breaking Qrow's and sending both opponent's flying.

Oscar came tumbling from Jaune's shoulders- it was only Torchwick's interference that kept him from slamming into the ground. Qrow hit the ground, arm frozen, leg broken, unable to get back up.

"No... he's stronger than they are..." Blake fretted. "Last time, Jaune only won because of the fire, this time, he doesn't have any advantage! Not while Adam can freeze things!"

"He'll find a way," Ren said calmly, despite the fire raging behind his eyes. "Don't you worry, he'll find a way."

Jaune was on his knees, his good hand grasping the frozen one. "It's... it's so cold that it burns!"

Torchwick was looking over Qrow's arm. "It's dead... if it doesn't get some blood going, it's gonna fall off!"

"All from a single attack..." Pyrrha gasped.

"But... we have to use Hamon, or there's no stopping him!" Jaune continued rubbing his hand, attempting warm it.

"Hamon!" Adam threw his head back and laughed. "A simple parlor trick! If all you have are such feeble toys, allow me to provide you with playmates!"

The he raised his hands theatrically once more, and the ground began to violently shake. "Dedue! Legume! Guardians of Hienton, I call thee to my side!"

"Legume?" Jaune tilted his head. "Isn't that the guy who got jumped by all the faunus in the world?"

"That's the one," Blake snorted. "Hardly a threat to them, I should think."

"I wouldn't jump to conclusions," Ren shook his head. "Especially since I don't think we've ever heard of this 'Dedue' person."

"He's not from your level of the Tower," Mario confirmed.

A vast fissure opened in the earth, and from it emerged two hulking figures, larger than two of Jaune combined. One was dark-skinned and white-haired, kept in a short ponytail. He wore two weapons upon his back- a normal-sized sword and an axe as large as Torchwick's entire body. Bearlike claws emerged from his nails. Behind him was an even larger brute, wearing a horned helmet over his blond hair, a scar over one of his blue eyes.

"...Okay, they might be a problem," Blake begrudgingly admitted.

"Who... who are these spooks?!" Torchwick gaped, stepping back.

Jaune raised an arm. "Oscar... run."

Oscar didn't have to be told twice.

The bear faunus knelt. "We are knights, previously in the court of His Majesty, Prince Blaiddyd. I was Dedue Molinaro..."

"And I was known only as Legume," spoke the other.

"Yes... I know them!" Jaune stared, his hands trembling. "We studied them in school- I never thought I'd encounter them myself!"

"Prince... Blaiddyd?" Weiss repeated.

"Not from your level of the Tower, either," Mario confirmed. "I believe Jaune's about to explain."

"They protected this land..." Jaune recalled. "Protected it from an invading army, until one day, their prince was taken captive."

"We swore we would do anything to see him return safely home," Dedue stepped in. "Even offer our lives. That cowardly witch accepted our offer, but just as the executor raised his axe, we looked up... to see our lord's head on a spike."

"I see..." Ren nodded. "Dying with such anger and hatred in their hearts, it makes sense that Adam was able to corrupt them."

"It's kinda sad that Jaune-Jaune has to take 'em down now..." Nora looked down for a second... before looking back up with fire in her eyes. "But he's gotta do what he's gotta do! Tear 'em apart, Fearless Leader!"

"Dammit!" Qrow cursed. "He can't take two enemies at once!" He looked down at his leg, which had already repaired itself. "My leg's fine, but with my arm frozen, I can't circulate Hamon properly!"

Torchwick reached up and adjusted his bowler cap. "And if you could do that, you could help the kid with this fight, yeah?"

"Exactly- with just a little flow, I could channel Hamon and heal my arm- but it's completely frozen!"

Torchwick nodded, and lifted up his jacket and shirt. "Well, lucky for you, I'm feeling generous today- let me show you a technique of my own." He grabbed Qrow's arm and held it to his chest, adjusting his own breathing.

"Whoa, slow down, man, you didn't even buy him dinner first!" Yang smirked.

"Can you at least lay off the insufferability while he's trying to save your uncle's life?" Weiss rolled her eyes.

"What's this?" Qrow raised an eyebrow.

"I've been around the block before," Torchwick grunted. "Found myself in the far north, where sharing warmth is the only way to live- they have a breathing trick of their own, to move their body heat to the most advantageous places. Let's just hope I can warm you up before the kid gets dogpiled."

"I really wish we could have this Torchwick in our world," Ruby lamented.

"That would make things more convenient," Blake nodded.

Dedue raised a hand as he and Legume moved forward. "Two against one is hardly a fair fight. Legume, I ask that you allow me to test this man's mettle first."

Legume grimaced, but did step back.

Dedue turned his gaze towards Jaune. "I do feel it is only fair to warn you that Legume and I have gone through the most rigorous training our kingdom offered. Are you aware of the Trial of 77 Rings?"

Jaune met his gaze steadily, despite having to crane his neck to do so. "No, I am not."

"In this trial," Dedue explained, "we were set the task of climbing the highest mountain in Hienton, defeating seventy-seven opponents along the way, each more difficult than the last, the air growing thinner all the time. Additionally, each opponent bore an iron ring that we were tasked with donning with each victory, until we faced our final battle weighed down by all seventy-seven rings. Most who attempted this trial did not survive- Legume and I are the only two to ever overcome it."

"Okay, that's pretty hardcore," Yang admitted grudgingly.

"He may be Jaune's opponent, but I'm finding it difficult to dislike him," Pyrrha admitted. "Knowing his history... and even now, he refuses to fight Jaune on uneven footing. He's a true warrior."

"If anything, I hate Adam more for corrupting him like this," Jaune agreed.

"Knowing this," Dedue continued, "do you still wish to challenge me?"

"I have no choice!" Jaune remained firm. "I cannot allow Adam's evil to spread!"

Dedue smiled. "Truly, the blood of a warrior runs through you- blood that is now mine!"

He moved, but not in the way Jaune expected- his hair seemed to come to life, lashing out and wrapping around Jaune's arm like a rope, sinking into his skin at the tips. Jaune felt his blood beginning to drain.

"Okay, nobody said anything about him being able to control his hair like that!" Nora objected.

"I know I was complaining earlier that there wasn't enough 'bizarre' with this world," Weiss raised her hand, her eyes spinning, "but I think I've seen enough, I'd like to get off now."

"Actually, kinda just seems like a weird semblance to me," Ruby thought.

"I have never... not once, seen a semblance that could do something like that," Blake shook her head.

Jaune, however, did not waste time wondering about 'hows' or 'whys.' His first thought was, Very well, take my blood- and the Hamon infused in it!

His arm began to glow... but the hair did not. What? It's not working?!

"Does Hamon not work on hair?" Pyrrha wondered frantically.

"That would be an odd limitation," Ren put his two cents in. "Perhaps odd enough that Qrow didn't think to tell him?"

Qrow, however, was still busy getting his arm thawed by Torchwick. "Maybe I didn't give you enough credit," he was saying. "Thought you'd have turned and run by now. Sorry about that."

"Save your apologies for when these bastards are back in the grave where they belong," Torchwick instructed.

Qrow looked back and saw the trouble Jaune was having. "Dammit, I need my arm in working order!"

"I'm warming as fast as I can!"

Jaune realized he was panicking. No... no fear. Steady breathing. He raised his other fist, taking a deep breath. "Scarlet overdrive!" He drove this fist into the hair binding his other arm, and this time, the glowing did not disappear. It didn't go up the hair towards Dedue as he'd intended, but it did cause the binding strands to turn to ash, releasing him.

Dedue stepped back, looking far from angry. "Yes... I sense a warrior's spirit in you. I'd have been disappointed if I was able to defeat you with one attack."

Suddenly, Dedue brought out his axe and struck. Jaune dodged- but the axe hadn't been aiming his way, but at the zombie that had attacked from behind- its head was swiftly separated from his body. "This is not your fight," he growled.

"Dang, he's quick for a big guy!" Yang blinked in shock.

"I can certainly see how he became such a legendary knight," Weiss admitted.

Dedue looked up to where Adam stood over them all. "Lord Adam, you may go- I will dispatch him myself."

Adam grinned. "Very well. I put my faith in you, Sir Molinaro." He turned and leapt away.

"Get back here and fight yourself, you coward!" Nora raged.

Dedue turned back towards Jaune and commenced a steady walk towards him. How strange, Jaune thought. This great knight I learned abotu in school... and here I am, challenging him!

"Yeah, I'd say it's pretty bizarre, amirite?" Yang grinned.

"Shut up, Yang," everyone else chorused.

Steady breath... relaxed muscles.

Dedue returned his axe to its sheath at his back, and advanced with his arms behind his back before lunging- whereupon Jaune realized he hadn't actually sheathed the axe at all. It was now being held by his hair, granting it unnatural fluidity that Jaune only barely managed to dodge.

"As I thought, you have quite a keen eye," Dedue praised. He swung again, and Jaune leapt to the side- onto unstable ground that crumbled beneath him, sending over a cliff.

"JAUNE!" both Qrow and Torchwick cried. Dedue, meanwhile, didn't hesitate to leap after him.

"Oof, I felt that," Ruby winced.

"Dark Souls?" Yang asked sympathetically.

"Yeah... I just spent ninety percent of my time falling off of stuff."

"Good for you," Weiss crossed her arms, "but if you haven't noticed... this isn't a game!"

At the bottom of the cliff in question was a small lake into which Jaune and Dedue plunged.

"It looks like he survived the fall, at least," Torchwick pointed out.

"But he can't breath down there!" Qrow retorted.

"Oh, crap, that's right- he needs to breath to build up Hamon!" Nora realized.

Even underwater, Dedue and Jaune faced each other- but, as predicted, Jaune was having trouble. Air... I need air to generate Hamon- just one breath!

He took in his opponent, who almost seemed to be inviting him to try and surface. His armor is weighing him down... He can't exactly swing his axe in this environment...

"Hurry and swim up!" Ruby pleaded. "You're gonna drown!"

"But can he?" Pyrrha fretted. "The way Dedue is looking at him... I feel like, if he goes to the surface, it's a trap!"

Jaune seemed to have similar thoughts. Can I make it up before he does?

He took in Dedue, and his stance. No... no, that's exactly what he expects me to do. So, what do I do?

Suddenly, a memory came to him- a memory of the good days, before Adam had invaded his life- a memory of trying to pull one of Sparky's toys away from him. No matter how hard he'd pulled, the dog had refused to yield.

"What's the matter?" his father had chuckled as he watched from afar. "You know why he won't let go, right? Because you're trying to take it away. Approach this from another angle- try letting him have it."

Jaune had loosened his grip on the toy- Sparky had pulled back a little, then dropped the toy at his feet, looking up eagerly for his master to throw it again.

"That's all well and good," Pyrrha smiled a little at the scene, "but what does that have to do with him no- what is he doing?"

Jaune had turned himself around and begun swimming down, further into the water- a move that seemed to baffle Dedue as much as the audience. What is he thinking? Has he surrendered? No... that look of determination... he has another plan!

Jaune't thinking was revealed as he delved deeper and deeper. Hienton... primarily, a coal mining town! The ground sunk long ago!

He quickly scanned the many rocks and boulders at the bed of the lake, until he spotted what he was looking for- a large boulder with a few minuscule bubbles leaking from it. That's it! He swam for the boulder with all his might, until he was able to push it aside, releasing a far larger bubble of air that he quickly pressed his face into. It wasn't a lot of breath, but with it, he could feel Hamon coursing through him once more.

"Yeah!" Nora whooped. "That's what happens when you mess with the Fearless Leader of Team JNPR!"

Jaune began swimming up once more, turning to face a shocked Dedue. Now things are in my favor- Hamon will only be more effective down here! Underwater... Turquoise Blue Overdrive!

The glow of Hamon seemed to fire from Jaune's fist like a beam- when it hit Dedue, it sent him flying out of the water, flopping over onto land. All of the observers watched in amazement as Jaune surfaced the water after him- Torchwick, Qrow, Legume, and Oscar, watching from behind a rock. "He... he did it!" the boy cheered.

Jaune, however, didn't let his guard down. "It's not over yet! He's fast, even underwater- my Hamon only landed a glancing blow!"

Indeed, Dedue was already rising to his feet, a wide smile on his face. "Congratulations on turning that trap against me. Now, let's fight on even footing- no water, only skill, technique, and spirit! Hold nothing back- show me your resolve!"

He leapt forward again, his hair growing to absurd lengths as it spread out all around Jaune. He breathed deep and began punching all around himself. "Overdrive barrage!"

However, it seemed futile- within seconds, his arms had been pinned to his body by his opponent's hair.

"So much for a fair fight," Weiss scoffed.

"Jaune can use his Hamon, he can use his hair- from that perspective, it is a fair fight," Blake pointed out.

"Whose side are you on, kit-kat?!" Yang objected.

"Jaune's, of course- I'm just pointing out facts!" Blake defended herself.

The hair tightened, cutting into his flesh as it began to fling him around, into the ground, into nearby cliffs, and finally, into a dead tree that he was quickly bound to.

Dedue reached up and drew his axe once more. "And now... the killing blow."

He jumped up in the air and brought the axe down, but Jaune didn't so much as tremble. He braced himself, then put all his strength into his legs- with a great pull, he managed to rip apart the hair binding his legs, and use his right to deflect the axe.

"Oh, my!" Pyrrha flushed. "The strength he must have to deflect an axe of that size-"

"There's more to it," Ren pointed out. "Look!"

Free from the hair, Jaune's leg was once more glowing with Hamon- and as he kicked, the glow spread to the axe as well. That was your mistake, Dedue... Jaune thought. Metal conducts Hamon as well! "Metal Silver Overdrive!"

"Checkmate!" Ruby cheered.

"He's done it!" Torchwick grinned.

The glow reached up to Dedue's arm, which melted and collapsed to the ground, leaving only a stump.

The hair binding him to the tree weakened- he was easily able to rip it apart and free himself. He looked towards Dedue- even the loss of his arm wasn't enough for him to give in- he was now leaping at Jaune with his remaining arm outstretched. This is it... my breath is steady... my bloodflow is razor-sharp! He braced his fists. "SUNLIGHT YELLOW OVERDRIVE!" He unleashed a flurry of punches upon Dedue, each punch landing a split second after the previous. With one final punch, Dedue was sent flying onto his back once more.

Qrow smiled. "Now that's music to my ears."

"Jauney wins! Jauney wins!" Nora jumped up and down in excitement.

I take no pride in this victory... Jaune thought to himself as he slowly turned to face his defeated opponent. Once a proud warrior... reduced to this. I did it only because I had to... to stop Adam's evil from spreading.

However, even as he turned, it was to see Dedue struggling to rise, using his axe to pull himself to his knees. "In the name of my lord... I will not fall! This pain is nothing to the pain my lord endured!"

"Oh, come on!" Yang threw her hands up. "Just give up already!"

Torchwick's reaction was much the same. "Stay down, Sir Knight, you've already been bested!"

Dedue ignored him, raising his axe and moving in for another strike...

While Jaune lowered his fists, making no effort to defend himself.

"Now what's he doing?!" Weiss mimicked Yang.

Dedue seemed to wonder the same- his eyes widened at the display, and his axe stopped less than an inch away from Jaune's neck. Jaune didn't so much as blink.

"What... the Hell?" Torchwick looked on in confusion.

"'This pain,'" Jaune repeated. "You feel pain."

Both men looked down, and saw grass growing beneath them- flowers blooming.

"Hamon... it's flowing through Dedue's body," Qrow observed. "Causing the plants to grow once more. He's finished."

As if to drive the point home, Dedue's legs crumbled to dust, and he fell into the small field.

"His humanity is returning to him," Qrow commented. "And with it... a great deal of pain indeed."

"Not just from the fight," Pyrrha realized, placing her hands over her mouth. "The pain of what he's done..."

"There's no reason for us to fight anymore," Jaune knelt next to Dedue's fallen form. "You must sense it, too... that's why you stopped your axe."

"You knew," Dedue commented- all hatred and anger had vanished from his face, leaving behind only a look of peace. "You trusted me to stop my attack..."

He looked down at his dissipating form. "This pain... it proves I'm alive. To feel pain means I can feel joy as well. As a zombie, all I could feel was an endless... oblivion." He smiled. "I feel... an odd tranquility, now. No anger... no bitterness. You... you seem familiar, warrior... a face I saw in the old days. You have the bearing of my one true lord. He who once gave me purpose- he to whom I will now return."

"That's right," Ruby smiled. "Adam's not your lord... that Blabooby guy is."

"That... Blabooby... guy," Blake repeated drily.

"It was a weird name, okay!"

Dedue reached his good hand behind himself, and produced the sword that he hadn't drawn once throughout their encounter. "I have drowned in your reservoir of strength. Please, grant me one request- tell me the name of the brave warrior who vanquished me."

"My name is Jaune Arc," Jaune answered.

"Jaune Arc... this blade once belonged to my master, Lord Blaiddyd. I see his strength in you- I can think of none more worthy to wield his legacy now. Examine the engraving on the hilt, if you will."

Jaune did- etched into the golden handle was a single word: LUCK.

"That... is a fine sword," Ren observed. "The craftsmanship is second to none."

"However..." Dedue continued, "for you, I think I will make a small addendum."

He wiped a finger along the blade just enough to draw some blood, and wiped it along the engraving, adding a single letter:

PLUCK.

"Pluck?" Yang tilted her head. "Isn't that what you do with a chicken?"

"It means 'courage,' you dolt!" Weiss chided, slapping her across the back of the head.

"A perfect gift for Jaune, then!" Pyrrha smiled.

"I... gladly accept your gift... Sir Molinaro." Jaune accepted the blade.

Dedue nodded. "You... you have his... eyes..."

At last, he crumbled into dust, leaving only his armor behind.

"What a wretched fate," Jaune whispered to himself as he reached down and picked up his new sword's sheath. "That I must take his life to save his soul. Curse you, Adam, for twisting such a noble warrior into such terrible madness. Adam... I will stop you, and prevent anyone else from suffering as this noble warrior did."

"So... so beautiful!" Nora sobbed.

"It's touching," Blake agreed. "To have that kind of compassion for a defeated enemy."

He closed his eyes in reverence...

Until he heard Qrow cry, "JAUNE, LOOK OUT!"

Jaune turned, and narrowly dodged out of the way of Legume's swinging blade. Legume watched him go, but seemed to take no interest in him, instead striding over to Dedue's fallen armor and crushing it beneath his feet.

"What the hell?!" Yang growled. "He was supposed to be your friend!"

"What are you doing?!" Jaune demanded, clearly just as taken aback. "Wasn't he your dear comrade?!"

"My comrade? This spineless furry?" Legume laughed. "Always playing the noble, refusing to dirty his hands... I am the master of slaughter!" He turned his blade towards Jaune. "I crush, kill, and destroy entirely through brute force! And I will hear your anguished cries!"

XXXX

Again, I do hope you can forgive me for not using RWBY natives exclusively- I promise I'll keep that only to more minor characters. You won't see any non-RWBY Jobros, I can promise you that much. I'll strive to have the next episode up in a timely manner- until then, don't you dare go hollow! Gamer4 out.