When I realized I was going to have Jaune try to heal Amber in this story, I wasn't sure what route I wanted to take it. I could argue how it would work, how it wouldn't work, and everywhere in between. I planned outcomes for each route and decided this one gave me the most to work with. For what I plan to do in the end, this route was the best option. Not spoiling it up here for you though. You have to actually read the chapter. Other than that, there's some build up for something I really was looking forward to.
Thanks to nBappo for betaing.
If you continue to enjoy my stories, feel free to check out my p a treon.
P a treon . com (Slash) DarkBetrayer
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
"All of this was built under the school?!" Jaune gasped, looking around as he and the adults stepped off the elevator.
"If you ever need to talk about this place, just mention the Vault and we'll understand." Ozpin informed him.
The Vault sprawled expansively, bathed in a dim glow emanating from torches affixed to the walls, casting a subtle green hue. Situated at one end of the corridor, an elevator descended to the underground, seamlessly connected to Ozpin's office. The corridor, towering multiple times Jaune's height, stretched ahead, revealing a faint blue light at its farthest point. As Jaune, accompanied by Ozpin, Ironwood, Glynda, and Qrow, traversed the solid stone floors, the resonance of their footsteps reverberated. Along the way, they passed shadowy side passages branching left and right, veiled in darkness due to inactive lights, leaving Jaune curious about the mysteries concealed within.
"This way." Ozpin continued, noticing Jaune slowing down to look. "There will be time afterwards, but there's nothing down there you need to worry about."
"Focus on things one step at a time." Qrow added, putting a hand on Jaune's shoulder.
The life support pod had this half-glass, half-metal setup, like something out of a sci-fi flick. The glass part was up top, giving it that futuristic vibe. The metal section below was hooked up to this larger machine, flanked by a couple of big screens showing blinking life signs. Ozpin took a glance at those while Jaune headed over to check out the pod.
The glass was kind of misty, but Ozpin pressed a button, and suddenly it cleared up. That's when Jaune got his first real look at Amber.
She had a light brown skin tone, with brown hair falling straight to her shoulders. Her eyes were shut, and she was dressed in what seemed like a white wrap around her chest and shorts. For a moment, Jaune felt a bit warm seeing her so vulnerable, but he shook it off. Now wasn't the time to get flustered about seeing someone half-naked. Amber was in trouble, and she needed his help. All he had to focus on was making her better. Ignoring her outfit, Jaune just rested his hand on the glass.
It was cold.
"Amber has been unconscious since she arrived here," Ozpin explained. "We've been monitoring her lifesigns constantly, but every day, she's slowly getting worse. We doubt she'll survive by the end of the year."
"She doesn't really look hurt," Jaune examined the woman. Amber couldn't be more than a few years older than him.
"Damage to the soul is hardly noticeable." Ironwood nodded. "But that's why it's so difficult to treat. As much as we know about Aura, there's a lot we don't. It's why we constantly experiment with it and Semblances." The man glanced at Amber and put his hand on the glass. "It's also why we don't fully understand how to treat her."
"Can we open the pod up?" Jaune asked, looking around. "It's easier for me to amplify Aura if I can make physical contact."
"No, we can't. Not yet." It was Ozpin who shook his head this time. "Remember, that capsule is what's sustaining her. Not only is she hooked up, the air in there is laced with medicine. If we open it, she'll lose a large chunk of the limited time she has left. Should your Semblance not work, we need time to think of other options available to us."
"Based on what Qrow and James reported, you can amplify at a distance, correct?" Glynda asked Jaune.
"Yeah, though it works better with direct contact.' The boy answered. "A lot of Aura is lost when it travels through the air. A couple inches drops its effectiveness quite a bit." He had tried amplifying Ruby's Aura from a distance in their travels, but to no avail. It was a shame when he imagined reaching out and boosting people all around him as he led a large group of Huntsmen someday.
"We'll have to make do." James decided. "If we see a positive change, then we can justify opening the medical capsule. For now, we need verification that it is worth the risk."
"Listen up, kid." Qrow's hand landed reassuringly on Jaune's back. "No matter what happens, just give it your all."
"I plan to." Jaune's tone was resolute, lacking boastfulness but steeped in determination. He wasn't exuding confidence; it was more a steadfast commitment. His motivation wasn't driven by a desire for fame, glory, or affection. The sole purpose fueling him was the urgency to rescue the person before him from an unfortunate destiny, one she had no control over.
Placing both hands on the smooth surface of the glass, Jaune summoned the familiar heat welling up from deep within him. A soft radiance emanated from his palm, gradually unfurling in a gentle glow. The once-chilly glass swiftly warmed under his touch, though Jaune pondered whether it was simply the result of his body heat or the manifestation of his Semblance. Ruby had mentioned a similar warmth when he amplified her, but she was a living being, not an inanimate object. In the realm of non-living things, the absence of Aura left him uncertain. Concentrating, Jaune observed that the distance between the glass and Amber was too substantial for his usual flow, requiring him to exert considerable effort to harness his Semblance. The downside loomed—pushing his Semblance to such limits meant a rapid depletion of his Aura.
His solution? Amplify himself simultaneously.
This is what you trained for, Jaune.
Taking a deep breath, Jaune shifted his focus inward, directing his attention to himself with a level of intensity beyond his usual passive regeneration. This time, he aimed to actively push his Aura to its limits and then go a step further. Rather than concentrating on Amber initially, Jaune began to channel his Aura into himself, layering wave upon wave of energy. The accumulating power surged within him, infusing him with unprecedented strength and vitality—far beyond his usual experiences, except in the heat of battle. It felt akin to removing all the air from a soda bottle and filling it to the brim with effervescent soda.
With the surplus of Aura bubbling over within him, applying his Semblance to her became a smoother process. The radiant light flowed effortlessly from his hands, resembling waves cascading over Amber's chest. Even with the enhanced boost, Jaune maintained an unwavering focus, pushing out every drop of Aura he could muster—knowing that Amber required every ounce. However, as he concentrated solely on amplifying her, Jaune noticed his own Aura flickering and weakening, depleted as he poured it all into his Semblance. Amplification, while not as draining as direct Aura transference, still consumed a substantial amount of Aura to activate and sustain.
Jaune faced the challenge of maximizing his own Aura while simultaneously amplifying Amber's, surpassing his accustomed limits. In battle, he could never regenerate his Aura as swiftly as when fully amplifying someone else, and now was the moment to do so. Amber's injuries extended beyond mere physical wounds; he was endeavoring to mend the very essence of her being.
Concentrating intently, Jaune shut out all external distractions, including the conversations unfolding behind him. The only thing of consequence was maintaining his Semblance for both himself and Amber. Everything else faded into insignificance.
"He's been amplifying her for fifteen minutes straight," Glynda announced softly to the others, as to not disturb Jaune. "The fact his Aura is still holding out is quite impressive."
"I made sure he learned how to amplify himself constantly, under any circumstances," Qrow replied with a smug look. Another beeping sound came from his pocket and he pulled out his Scroll to see what was so important. He glanced at it and then turned to continue talking to Glynda, when his eyes darted back to his Scroll. Widening in surprise, Qrow just stared.
"Something wrong?" Glnda asked, noticing his expression.
"The kid's Aura… is regenerating above his normal maximum capacity." Qrow held up his Scroll toward them. "I'm still linked to his Scroll's Aura monitoring."
"Hasn't he amplified his Aura above the maximum before?" Glynda was confused. "Why is it different now?"
"He has when he's purely concentrating on himself," Qrow explained. "Which is something we've practiced many times. But he's actively amplifying Amber right now." He pointed toward the white light washing over Amber from the glass. "The most he has done to himself was increase his regeneration so his Aura was kept steady while amplifying others. Right now he's amplifying her and himself simultaneously above their ceiling."
"He's pushing himself as far as he can go to help." Ozpin realized. "Do you know if this is safe for Jaune's body?"
"As far as we know, there has been no ill effect on his body using his Semblance," Ironwood answered, monitoring the screen overseeing Amber's condition. "We've only ever seen Aura exhaustion if he tries to use his Semblance on others when he is with little or no Aura."
"Jaune always seems to surprise us when he needs to." Ozpin nodded with a pleased expression. "His family has done that for generations."
"Family?" Glynda raised an eyebrow. "Have you met them?"
"A long time ago." Ozpin gave a small smile. "That story is for another time though."
"Ozpin…" Ironwood looked up from the screen.
"Is something wrong?" Ozpin walked over to look at the display.
"No, in fact… it seems as if Jaune's Semblance is working…"
"It is?" Glynda rushed over while Qrow crossed his arms.
"Knew you could do it kid. Keep it up."
"It's almost unnoticeable, but some of her vital signs have increased slightly." Ironwood reported. "The computer has even calculated she'll live 3.2 days longer than she was before Jaune started to heal her."
"Fifteen minutes of healing for several days of life." Ozpin contemplated this. "Can we tell yet if the healing is permanent, or only if she's being healed?"
"No, we'll have to monitor her condition after Jaune stops his healing." James replied. "I think we should continue as long as he's able, to see if we can stimulate the regeneration of her soul."
"We should be careful and not overdo it." Ozpin warned. "The last thing we want to do is shock her system so that the moment Jaune stops healing, she'll relapse into an even worse condition than before. It's what I fear might happen. Jaune can't keep healing her forever."
"How long can he keep this up?" Glynda asked Qrow.
"You'll have to ask him, and I don't think you should interrupt him right now." Qrow pointed at the kid. "Have you noticed how bright he's glowing?"
While the vault was well lit, Jaune's white Aura was washing over his entire body, showing strain as it flared up.
"Yes, it's noted that Jaune's Aura can glow when amplifying himself." Ironwood stated. "Individuals being amplified tend to glow too where his Aura was activating theirs."
"Yeah, but it just feels… I can't say he's amplified mine before, but is anyone else feeling something?"
Glynda frowned and pulled out her Scroll. Her eyes widened and she looked up.
"My Aura is being affected by Jaune's Semblance too." The woman reported. "It's faint so I didn't notice."
"He's actually amplifying multiple Auras at once?" James stared at the boy, who was completely oblivious to everyone behind him. "He never showed this potential while in Atlas."
"It's because Jaune is not only young, he just discovered his Aura and Semblance in a remarkably short period of time," Ozpin spoke up, submitting his theory. "Then during his apprenticeship with Qrow, he was made to use his Semblance constantly, every day, including during dangerous situations that forced him to rapidly evolve or survive. It's not uncommon for Semblances to change as one develops, but for Jaune, it was quicker due to necessity." The man examined Jaune for a moment. "I think he's pushing himself more to help Amber, so he's not aware of what's happening."
"Imagine him standing among multiple Huntsmen, amplifying all of them beyond their limits." James looked up at the ceiling. "The potential his Semblance has…"
"Relax, Jimmy." Qrow held up a hand. "One thing at a time." He turned back to Ozpin. "I'm going to head out then. Don't want my bad luck to be amplified down here. The last thing we need is this place to collapse."
"Go ahead." Ozpin agreed, still watching Jaune. "We'll let you know how things go. Keep an eye out though. We know Salem's forces are operating close by, but we need more information on where."
"I'll check out Vale tonight and see." Qrow waved as he turned to head back to the elevator. "I don't promise much, but if I can at least get a description…"
"Anything you discover will help." Ozpin assured him. "No matter how small."
Cinder found herself wide awake, her eyes flickering open as she slowly sat up.
The reason she woke up wasn't immediately known, as her gaze swept across the dark and silent room. Emerald, Neo, and Mercury were all sound asleep, along with their newest stray, Pyrrha. Ever since Pyrrha had a fight with her leader Jaune Arc, she had been staying over with them. At first, Cinder was hesitant, as it would make it hard to discuss their plans without risking being overheard. However, it kept Ozpin's most likely candidate close to them. That didn't mean Cinder hadn't investigated anyone at Beacon who might be chosen, but Pyrrha was a far better option.
Then Jaune Arc and Ruby Rose came back.
Ruby was allowed into Beacon two years early, which immediately put Cinder on guard. It seemed like Ozpin was grooming her to take the Maiden's power and control her. If that was the case, there was no need to keep Pyrrha close and risk her overhearing their true intentions. That was until she met Ruby. The girl was skilled based on what she saw in combat class, but her maturity probably wasn't inline with what Ozpin needed in a maiden. She would still be watched, but Cinder was sure Pyrrha was still the prime candidate.
If Jaune had been a female… that would have been another story entirely.
That boy was an enigma. Regardless of what Mercury said about his skills, there's no way someone who faked his way into Beacon with fake transcripts could become so proficient in a short time. Sure, Mercury could beat him, but few people could take his blows and be fine immediately afterwards. It just felt like he was purposely hiding his skills as not to draw attention. If he was some secret weapon of Ozpin, then they would have to be on guard.
Mercury was an unexpected asset during all this though. Cinder was sure that boy would mess up at some point and she and Emerald would have to teach him a lesson, but he had been a blessing. Not only did he get a good chance to fight Jaune, but his 'relationship' with Pyrrha was so natural that no one really questioned it. Even Ozpin and his pet teachers couldn't see anything because Pyrrha and Jaune fought long before their team even stepped foot into Beacon. Mercury had already wooed over Pyrrha and then after that fight, Pyrrha came to them.
Cinder was honestly surprised how well things worked out.
Then Neo's antics occurred.
Pissed was an understatement for how Cinder felt when she noticed what Neo was doing in her Mint disguise. She had warned that girl not to cause trouble. To keep a low profile. Cinder had only allowed Neo to try to get close to Jaune to spy on him, not make a scene in the middle of the cafeteria. The random shouting had attracted Pyrrha's attention too much and she seemed worried and angry. After that debacle, she was going to teach Neo a lesson she would never forget, only to receive a surprise.
Jaune had met Neo at Junior's.
That had been an interesting bit of information Neo had kept to herself. Jaune and Ruby just happen to go to Junior's, the most famous information broker in Vale with Qrow? Definitely something suspicious, even if that man was a known drunk. Though Neo did mention Ruby was drunk a good part of their meeting, which was odd if they were really there for work. Ruby being Qrow's niece was an interesting piece of information they picked up. It seemed odd that man would let her get drunk in a club known for shady dealings.
So what was his game?
But all of those thoughts that had made it difficult to sleep in the first place were quickly pushed from her mind when she saw the flickering of reddish-orange light on the sheets in front of her. Raising a hand to her face, she realized what had awoken her and where the flames were coming from. The pale skin on her hand was reflecting the light coming from her face.
Specifically, her right eye.
Panic set in for a moment as Cinder covered the glow with her hand.
Not now. Why was it acting up now!?
Standing up, she silently rushed to the bathroom, hoping she didn't wake up Pyrrha. Not that she cared about the girl's beauty sleep. The last thing she needed was the champion asking questions. One wrong word spoken near others could have Ozpin's entire force bearing down on them. Locking the door behind her, Cinder approached the mirror and looked at herself. Slowly, she removed her hand and stared at her amber eyes.
Her right eye had a ring or orange flames around it.
"What's going on?" Cinder shut her eyes tightly and took a deep breath, willing the power to die down. Opening her eyes again, she stared into the mirror. The fire was gone and her eyes were back to normal, but the woman didn't relax yet. If the power flared up once, it could again. The question on her mind was why now? She had the power for months and never had this issue.
Then it dawned on her.
"Ozpin…"
A single word laced with venom escaped her lips.
Qrow returning and staying at Beacon should have been a dead giveaway the headmaster was up to something. It didn't look like he recognized her, Emerald, and Mercury after their short encounter in class. Probably thanks to Emerald using her Semblance to mess with his senses when they escaped. Cinder made a mental note to reward that girl for that. Calming down after taking a few deep breaths, she was able to ponder what was happening and there was only one thing she could think of.
"That man is trying to heal Amber…"
Her lips tugged into an eerie smile as Cinder began to realize something. She was feeling stronger, more powerful than she had ever before, especially being awoken in the middle of the night with no more than an hour or two of sleep. There was a fire rising within her body as she began to chuckle. Starting soft and sporadic, the sound developed into a full on laugh that Cinder was only barely able to contain.
Ozpin was so focused on healing the broken maiden, he didn't stop to think that he was empowering Cinder too. After all, she and Amber were connected with half her soul. This was a blessing because now she could feel Amber's being nearby. That girl was here. They didn't hide her away in a hidden base somewhere. Now all Cinder had to do was find out where precisely she was. Exactly what she was doing already, but now she could solidly narrow it down.
There was only one thing that changed due to the situation. She couldn't have her eye flaring up randomly when she was sleeping again.
"Mercury is going to have to send Pyrrha back to her room."
"Get up, Ruby!" Yang tugged at Ruby's bed that following morning.
"No!" Came the muffled response as the girl was rolled up in a ball under the covers and holding them tightly around her.
"What's her problem now?" Weiss sighed. "Isn't she used to being up early?" The memory of their leader using a whistle as soon as the sun rose was common before Ruby left on the apprenticeship.
"Nah, she's just embarrassed to see Jaune after yesterday." Yang laughed. "It's adorable."
"No I'm not!" Ruby's anguished voice came from the ball of covers. "I'm… I'm sick, yeah! Cough, cough!"
"Uh huh." Yang rolled her eyes. "Guess I have to tell Jaune that Ruby was so excited about their date she was up all night talking about him."
"Don't you dare!" Ruby stuck her head out and glared at her sister.
"You know I wouldn't do that to you, Ruby." Yang smiled kindly at the red faced girl. "I'll tease you, sure, but I would never try to sabotage your relationship." Ruby opened her mouth, closed it, and then hid back under the covers.
"Wouldn't you?" Weiss asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I have limits, Ice Queen." Yang huffed and crossed her arms. "Ruby actually asked someone out. That's a huge step from the shy awkward girl she used to be."
"I can hear you!" Ruby's muffled, irritated voice came from her bed.
"You're being complimented." Yang called back.
"Still, you don't want to be late for Goodwitch's class." Blake commented, looking up from her book. "She won't accept embarrassment as an excuse."
"Tell her I'm sick!" Ruby begged.
"No, I won't lie for you when you're perfectly capable of going to class." Weiss stated firmly. "Now get up. You don't have to talk to Arc, but don't be a child. Besides, after classes, we're going shopping for you. You're the one who asked him and you wanted to go shopping for shoes to match the dress you have. And I quote; 'Let's get the torture out of the way as soon as possible.' Am I wrong?"
Ruby let out a groan and sluggishly sat up. She had made that declaration the night before. The idea had been to tackle this task early to avoid lingering worries and focus on more important matters. While she did own one formal dress, it wasn't matched with a suitable pair of fancy shoes. Weiss, being a fan of elevated footwear, had a variety of choices in the closet. Even Yang and Blake had at least one pair each. It occurred to Ruby that she probably should have a pair too. Moreover, she reasoned that having them might make Jaune perceive her as more mature.
Her cheeks burned slightly.
I wonder if he thinks of it as a date or just us going as friends?
Either way, it didn't really matter. This was the first step regardless. Maybe they could discuss their relationship after the dance? They were the best of friends, but after seeing Mint ask him to the dance, she had realized she wanted to be more. Much more. All those weird feelings she had when women were fawning over Jaune had made sense at last.
Jealousy.
She didn't like that feeling.
"No… you're right." Ruby finally answered Weiss. "I don't want Jaune to think he did anything wrong either, so I should go. Thanks for the pep talk."
"Anytime. I got one for encouraging you to catch up on all your homework too." Weiss smirked as Yang laughed.
Ruby groaned in response as Blake shook her head, though there was a shadow of her own grin.
"Ugh, I wasn't showboating!" Mercury complained that day after combat class. "I'm just naturally offensive orientated."
"Uh huh." Emerald rolled his eyes. "Is that why you did a little dance after winning your match?"
"I had a wedgie, I needed to shake it loose." Mercury protested
Pyrrha couldn't suppress a giggle as she strolled alongside them. A faint blush colored her cheeks when Mercury winked at her. She was aware that her boyfriend had a somewhat juvenile side, but she found his humor, kindness, and unwavering support endearing. Mercury had even persuaded Cinder to allow her to stay in their dorm, sacrificing his own comfort by taking a cot so she could have his bed. Yes, he had a penchant for comics and goofing around, but Pyrrha couldn't find it in herself to mind.
"Mercury, you should pay attention to the constructive criticism Professor Goodwitch gives you," Cinder remarked sternly. "Not all fights will end with a bell. If you drop your guard when you think you've won, you set yourself up to defeat."
"Defeat, nah." Mercury shook his head. "Hardly know her. I've never had anything to do with it before in my life."
"That overconfidence will get you killed," Cinder admonished him.
"Oh, the agony!" Emerald dramatically placed a hand on her forehead and feigned fainting. Mercury rolled his eyes, and Pyrrha shook her head. Having spent enough time around Emerald, Pyrrha recognized that she wasn't being entirely serious. It was all part of the playful dynamic between her and Mercury. They enjoyed teasing each other, and Cinder tolerated it unless it veered into problematic territory.
During a moment when Pyrrha wasn't looking, Cinder and Mercury exchanged a brief nod. They had already discussed what needed to be done. It was time for Pyrrha to vacate their room, but Mercury had to execute it in a way that wouldn't jeopardize their relationship. Entrusting Mercury with such a delicate matter was a risk, but so far, he has been handling it well.
"Emerald, you mentioned you needed to make a quick trip to Vale to resupply some ammunition, did you not?" Cinder turned to her companion.
"Ah, yeah." Emerald nodded. "There's a sale in Vale so I wanted to go today."
"If we hurry, we can return before the afternoon classes and grab some lunch in town." Cinder checked the time on her Scroll. "I wanted to get some group training tonight, so doing it now would work out better than waiting until this evening."
"Sure, I don't have anything else going on." Emerald beamed, happy to be alone with Cinder, even if it was part of their plan.
"Have fun." Pyrrha waved goodbye to them as they left.
"So Pyrrha?" Mercury asked, with a slight nudge of his elbow. "Anything you want to do with just the two of us?"
"What about Mint?" Pyrrha looked around for the small girl.
"She left the minute we got out of class." Mercury laughed as the red haired champion blushed because she hadn't noticed. "Don't fret it. She's really stealthy when she wants to be."
"I never got a chance to talk to her much." Pyrrha looked wistful.
"You got me, so what more could you want?" Mercury chuckled and jabbed a thumb into his chest.
"Hehe, true." Pyrrha giggled fondly. "I really enjoy spending time with you."
"Emerald would say you're nuts." Mercury placed his hands behind his head and whistled innocently. "Especially since you're pretty much living with us."
"Thank you again for convincing Cinder to let me stay with you the last few days." Pyrrha's voice grew soft. "I know she wasn't enthusiastic about it, but still allowed me to."
"Cinder is strict and likes her personal space, but she's still a team leader and makes sure we're taken care of." Mercury explained. "My girlfriend needed help so she was willing to lend a hand..."
Pyrrha blushed at the word 'girlfriend' but didn't say anything to retort.
"...but she did want me to ask about how things are going with your team and when you're planning to return." Mercury sighed loudly. "I wouldn't mind you staying with us."
"Sorry for making you use a camp cot." Pyrrha blurted out, but Mercury brushed off her apology.
"Told you, it's fine." The boy assured her. "But we could share a bed if you wanted?"
"I… er…" Pyrrha's face turned red. "I don't think Cinder would like that."
"Emerald would probably complain while Mint would make jokes about us." Mercury shrugged as the two of them kept walking. "But seriously, Pyrrha. How's reconciling with your team going? Hiding with us probably isn't helping."
"It's…" Pyrrha gulped and didn't answer. How could she? After her fight with Jaune when she pretty much told him she blamed him for her situation. At least partially. The actions of other students wasn't Jaune's fault, but his actions put her into that position. People noticed her even more when Jaune left and she was partnerless. "...not going well."
"Ah… you and Jaune still aren't seeing eye to eye?" Mercury asked.
"I haven't spoken to him since the fight."
"What about the rest of your team?"
"Ren's checked up on me, but Nora… Nora went back to the silent treatment." Pyrrha bit her lip during the second half. "She was really excited to have us all back together, and then I left so she's hurt too. Even though I know Ren has been talking to her."
"You know how I feel about what happened…" Mercury muttered.
"I do and you don't know how much I appreciate you wanting to defend me." Pyrrha smiled at him. "But please don't do anything drastic. This is something between Jaune and me."
"You don't deserve to be treated like that though." Mercury reminded her. "And you definitely don't have to take the abuse from others. Stand up to them when you're right."
"I don't like hurting people's feelings." Pyrrha replied, shaking her head. "Plus I have to keep up a certain public appearance."
"Right, celebrity and all that." Mercury nodded in understanding. "Still, it kind of feels like you're running away from your problems. Taking space and cooling down is one thing, Emmy does that all the time, but you're drawing it out a bit longer than you should."
"Do you think I should apologize to him again?" Pyrrha asked.
"Hell no!" Mercury shook his head. "You did nothing wrong. People just took it badly. Jaune messed up and had to take extra tests and things to prove he could be here. Seems like he does. Few people can take my kicks like he does."
"But he really dislikes me and I doubt he'll be happy to live in the same room…" Pyrrha muttered, looking at the ground.
"So?" Mercury shrugged. "Teammates don't have to like each other. It's nice, sure, like how Emmy finds me handsome and charming, but it's not required. All that's important is completing your mission. People work with others they dislike all the time. That's nothing new. Don't tell me you never worked with another celebrity or actor that you couldn't stand."
"Well…" Pyrrha could name a few if she wanted, but didn't say any names. "You might have a point."
"See?" Mercury patted her on the back. "Even if he's kind of a jerk blaming you when it was his choice, you can still be a team. It's better than having to do everything by yourself during missions." Mercury leaned close after looking around. "I'm not good at the sappy stuff, but I would be really sad if something happened to you because you had to do things by yourself."
A small giggle escaped the champion at this, since Mercury was a guy who said what he meant. Much to Emerald and Cinder's chagrin. Pyrrha appreciated it a lot though, because she was too used to people hiding their true intentions. Mercury really seemed to like her and… she liked him back.
"I know Nora wanted us all to be friends again, but after I left, she's probably not going to be so forgiving." The girl admitted, shaking her head slightly. "Ren will understand. Even if he doesn't fully agree with things, he puts himself in our shoes."
"I'm not going to say it's going to be easy." Mercury warned. "It's about to be hella awkward."
"But time will help." Pyrrha interjected with a quick nod of her head. "I heard it before. Not everyone forgives easily though."
"Choices have consequences, and even the right choice won't make everyone happy." Mercury shrugged. "That's why I told you that you need to focus on you. Don't worry about what others think. Do what you like. I do and I know some people don't like me, some do. The people who don't? F them." Pyrrha appreciated him holding back on swears around her. "I like me and that's what is important."
"I have been taking time for myself," Pyrrha smiled. "More training to be the best Huntress I can be, been reading a bit more, and… spending time with you."
"Awww, I like spending time with you." Mercury grinned. "Obviously you see all the greatness in me, right?"
"Hehe, I do." Pyrrha was honestly smiling. "I know Emerald asked me what I see in you, but I'm sure she knows, even if she won't admit it."
"Can I have that in writing?"
They both shared a laugh and Pyrrha gazed at the boy. Mercury never seemed phased about her celebrity status or combat skills. He was strong himself, but when they fought him in class, she still beat him pretty handily. Most people would get upset and seem dejected, but not him. He just jumped up and congratulated her. Yang did that the first couple times they sparred, but Pryrha could tell Yang was getting frustrated and she had been worried Yang would end up like the others. But after spending time with Mercury's team, she realized that wasn't her concern.
She didn't do anything wrong.
If people get upset they lose, that's on them. It's not like Pyrrha rubbed it in or was a poor winner. She would shake their hands and treat them with respect, yet people still got mad. Some disappointment was expected. When she was younger, she didn't like losing either when she was training with her teachers. It's why she worked so hard to be stronger. In fact, she still hated to lose which is why she did her best during every match, regardless of her opponent. Mercury understood this and didn't see losing as a big deal. It was just nature telling him he could be better.
Why didn't everyone else understand that?
When the rest of the class hated her for being born with a powerful Semblance she didn't ask for, Mercury stood beside her. When everyone talked badly about her or spread rumors, he supported her. The rest of her team cut her off due to Jaune receiving consequences of his own actions, but when Mercury heard about it, he wanted to knock some sense into Jaune. Pyrrha put a stop to that real quick, but she appreciated the gesture. He was the friend she always wanted, but either missed out on her opportunity or people weren't serious about being her friend.
Not anymore. She was tired of losing out on things she wanted because she couldn't get the nerve to say anything. If she had spoken her fears to Jaune, they might have been about to avoid the mess they found themselves in. Or she could tell the people who kept insulting her to knock it off and she worked hard to get where she is. No matter how many tournaments she won, deep down, she was still a coward to her own feelings. It had been easier to hide away and pretend nothing bothered her. Not anymore! This was the day the new Pyrrha would start.
This new Pyrrha then did something drastic.
With Mercury right next to her, Pyrrha quickly leaned over and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
Mercury's eyes shot open and he turned to look at her. When her green eyes locked with his gray ones, the weight of Pyrrha's actions finally dawned on her. Her cheeks blushed so brightly they matched her hair. Pulling back, the girl spun around and quickly left Mercury behind, rushing down the hallway. Mercury stood there for a moment as Pyrrha disappeared around a corner, rubbing his cheek, before bursting out into a grin.
"Hell yeah!" A fist pump followed his statement before he pulled out his Scroll and sent a message to his boss.
'It's done.'
A moment later, Cinder replied.
'How did it go?'
'Perfect. She'll be heading back to her team soon enough.'
"Good job.'
Mercury put his Scroll away and whistled to himself as he strutted down the hallway. Cinder made sure to tell him ahead of time what she needed him to do with Pyrrha. First was to get her to return to her dorm room. It would draw attention to them more than just the rumor of Pyrrha dating Mercury if she stayed. Ozpin would notice if Pyrrha was living in their dorm. Second, while returning to her dorm, Mercury needed to make sure Pyrrha wouldn't fully forgive her team and set a boundary that would keep them at an arms length apart.
Pyrrha needed to still rely on Mercury's companionship so they could keep tabs on her. If she got too close to Jaune, then she might move away from them. Having Mercury next to her because of her decision made it much better for them. It left Cinder and Emerald free to examine other candidates. Mercury was fine with doing this too because that kiss on the cheek showed Pyrrha not only trusted him, but had romantic feelings for him.
'I wonder if I can bang her once before we rip her heart out.'
The boy didn't say it outloud, but simply chuckled to himself. You could never tell who was listening in after all.
"Tell me!" Nora whined for the umpteenth time that day, holding onto Jaune's as she piggy backed on him. They had just finished their afternoon history class with Bartholomew Oobleck.
"I told you already!" Jaune sighed, trying not to accidentally get choked by his teammates' super strength. "Qrow dragged me out for some late night lessons since he was free. That's why he did it so late… and maybe something about me getting too comfortable with city life."
"Sounds like a mentor who is used to traveling outside the kingdom walls." Ren commented next to him.
"See, Ren agrees!" Jaune gasped as Nora refused to let go. "Help get her off!"
"Hmm, if Nora thinks you're hiding something, I'm going to have to believe her." Ren replied with a small smile. "She has very good intuition."
"Is this some grudge for having you act as an intermary when I was gone?" Jaune gaped at his friend.
"I would never hold a grudge." Ren remarked, his smirk never leaving his face.
"Hah, he's on my side!" Nora tightened her grip, but still held back enough so Jaune didn't actually choke. "Now I know something else happened! Tell me!"
Jaune returned late last night after dedicating several hours to working on Amber. The positive news was that progress was evident, but they needed to carefully monitor her to ensure permanent improvement. Relying on Jaune to constantly amplify her Aura to prevent her death was not a viable long-term solution. It was an unsustainable effort that way. When Ozpin finally instructed him to cease, he explained that Amber was displaying signs of recovery, albeit minor. If her condition stabilized, it meant Jaune's Semblance was effective, and there was hope they would reach a point where she could initiate healing on her own.
The prospect of an eventual resolution was reassuring for Jaune. After concluding his efforts, he became aware that he was drenched in sweat. His intense focus on the task at hand had caused him to disregard his surroundings, a lapse that Qrow would typically reprimand him for in any other circumstance. However, this situation was far from ordinary. When Jaune turned around, he discovered that Qrow had already left for some reason. Ironwood, on the other hand, appeared genuinely pleased with the progress, offering Jaune a hearty pat on the back, akin to a father congratulating his child.
Glynda accompanied him back outside, suggesting that he inform others that he had been training with Qrow. Despite making significant advancements in his combat skills over the past month, Jaune recognized that intense training for a short duration couldn't compensate for the years of practice he still needed. Consequently, he lied to Nora and Ren about the nature of his activities. While he despised the deception, Jaune began to comprehend the internal struggle Qrow faced each time he avoided divulging the details of his adventures to Ruby and Yang.
"Nora, if you let me go, we can go get some team training in?" Jaune suggested, directly his friend's boundless energy somewhere else.
Instantly, the arms around his neck vanished and Nora had untangled herself from him.
"Here that, Ren!" Nora cheered. "We finally get to do some team tactics!"
"I take it you have some ideas for us?" Ren raised an eyebrow at Jaune.
"Yeah, I got some plansI wanted to try with everyone…." For a moment, a pained expression appeared on his face but flickered and vanished as fast as it appeared. "But I got some combos I thought of for you two and remember when you bounced off my shield during the Death Stalker fight in initiation? We can practice that and settle on a signal for the tournament."
"You're the best, Fearless Leader!" Nora embraced him in a bone crushing hug. "Now let's stop talking and go train!"
"Here, here!" Jaune agreed with Ren nodding next to them.
The trio made their way to an unoccupied training room, preparing for a practice session. Nora, eager to assess Jaune's progress firsthand, insisted on sparring with him first. Although a part of Jaune harbored concerns about potential broken bones if Nora got too carried away, he had no reason to decline. It presented an opportunity for him to practice against opponents with superior physical strength. While sparring with Qrow had its limitations, and Ruby's forte lay in speed, Jaune knew that, despite his physical strength, Ruby's skills would still outmatch him on the arena floor.
"Ready?!" Nora waved her favorite hammer from across the training arena.
"Try not to hurt me too badly." Jaune half joked, raising his shield.
"Pssh, you can take it." Nora grinned back. "I believe in you."
"Do warm ups first." Ren suggested. "That way you can see everything Jaune's learned."
"Great idea, Renny!" Nora agreed and then bent her knees. "Here I come, Jaune-Jaune!" With a great leap, Nora covered the distance between them with a single jump. Pulling her hammer back above her head, she brought it down in an arcing motion toward her leader. Jaune was more than capable of reacting to her speed and raised his shield.
BANG!
Metal met against metal as the hammer collided against the shield.
Jaune clenched his teeth as a shockwave reverberated through his arm and into his shoulder. Nora's physical strength rivaled that of Qrow, and a direct hit from her hammer would undoubtedly inflict pain, even if his Aura prevented his bones from shattering. The silver lining was that wielding a large hammer required time, and Nora lacked the swiftness of Ruby. Jaune could react quickly enough to block her blows. However, Nora proved to be no pushover. She relentlessly delivered powerful blows, driving Jaune backward. Every ounce of his focus was dedicated to keeping his shield up and maintaining his stance. The force behind each hit threatened to knock him off balance, and the moment his stance wavered, he knew he would be vulnerable.
While Nora was pulling back after an attack, that's when she left herself open at close range. Jabbing his sword forward with a powerful thrust, Jaune aimed for her stomach. Right when he was about to hit her, his sword suddenly stopped. The tip was pressed against the metal handle of her mace a moment before it slid to the side with a shower of sparks. Nora kicked out and managed to get under Jaune's shield, pushing him back.
"Woah, that was close!" The girl looked at him with sparkling eyes. "You almost got me!"
"I have warned you about telegraphing your attacks." Ren reminded her from the stands. "You make exaggerated movements."
"Yeah, that's how I could predict your blows." Jaune nodded. "You pull way back to maximize your hits, but it leaves you open. The number of times I got smacked in training by Qrow for doing that… But I at least have a shield to help defend when I raise my arm to strike with my sword. When I fought Cardin, he did the same thing as you Nora…"
The boy's eyes widened slightly in surprise as Nora clicked a button on her weapon and the handle shot up inside it, turning it back into a gun. She then aimed it at him.
"Did you just compare me to Cardin?!"
Jaune realized his mistake as a pink explosive grenade collided with him.
The rest of the training went well after apologies were exchanged. Jaune continued to spar with Nora and Ren, working on learning to fight against all sorts of opponents. Ren was fast and agile, though not as fast as Ruby, and he had different styles of attacking, along with daggers that turned into small semi automatic handguns. He had good short and midrange attacks that allowed him to hit rapidly, a far contrast from Nora, while altering his attack patterns to throw his opponent off balance. It reminded him of all the spars he and Ruby had together. Who won didn't matter. The goal was just to learn and improve.
Afterwards, Jaune showed them his Semblance and boosted all their Aura's back to full. Nora was so excited about this because it meant they could train and fight more often to be the number one team at Beacon. Though they were careful not to boost Nora's Aura higher than her normal capacity because he and Ren were both worried what she would do if she got over excited with that power. Jaune had shown her his Amplification before, but this was the first time he regenerated her Aura after a training session.
They then went over some ideas Jaune had about team attacks and code names to use in combat. Much like how he and Ruby made Cheat Codes. For some reason, Ren and Nora were confused about the Code Name: Flower Power. Seriously? Why? Ren's symbol was a lotus flower and Nora brought the power! It was perfect.
"We can think of a new name later." Ren assured Jaune after he explained this again.
"Ugh… the name's perfect!" Jaune complained. "Come on, Nora. You understand, right?"
"Er…" Nora looked away.
"Fine whatever!" Jaune tossed his hands into the air. "But what do you think of the attack pattern?"
"It's not bad." Ren rationalized, looking at the crudely drawn picture Jaune made on some paper. "Nora and I can start working on this tomorrow. It shouldn't be tough, but with a code name, our opponents won't expect it."
"It's going to be super awesome!" Nora fist pumped the air. "Can't we start on it now?"
"It's getting late and there's no need to push ourselves too much." Ren replied. "You did that once and couldn't stay awake in Goodwitch's class, remember? She gave you detention for you to 'rest.'"
"Oh, right." The ginger giggled. "I guess we can wait until tomorrow, but I don't promise I'll be able to sleep well since I'll be thinking about it all night."
"Sure you will, Nora." Ren smiled at her as he stood up and prepared to head toward the locker rooms. "Coming, Jaune?"
"I'm going to stick around and spar a little with the training drones." Jaune decided at that moment. After getting his ass handed by Nora and Ren during their training sessions, he knew that while he improved, he had to keep working on getting stronger. His friends weren't as strong as Tyrian, but they were still several steps above him. If he wanted them to grow while sparing with him, he needed to reach a level that could present some measure of challenge. "I'm used to doing more while traveling and I'm feeling kind of stir crazy. I promise not to push myself too hard."
"I understand." Ren agreed with a short nod. "Without the worry of being attacked while you sleep, you can relax, but aren't used to it. Your brain is constantly thinking you have to be on guard, even when you know you don't have to. It should wear off in a few days."
"Hopefully, I like having a restful night's sleep." Jaune answered with a light hearted grin to show Ren and Nora he wasn't that bad yet. "Mainly just want to work on some basics with the bots.."
"Okay, just don't take too long." Nora wagged a finger at him. "You still have to show me those hidden chests in Grimm Slayers."
"I would never forget that." Jaune lied instantly. He had indeed forgotten about his promise to show Nora those items in their favorite video game. When his t transcripts were revealed and he had to go on an apprenticeship, the game had slipped their mind. "Tonight, no problem."
"Good." Nora eyed him suspiciously and then skipped toward the locker room with Ren following her.
Jaune watched them leave before setting up the training droids. These mechanical opponents were made by Atlas to help people train since you couldn't expect to fight against other people at all times. They weren't as good as other students of course, as their fighting skills were programmed into them and they followed a set pattern more often than not. For Jaune's situation, that was fine. He just wanted something to work against when practicing his basic strikes and parries. Basic training never really ended and the boy felt that if he didn't keep at it, he would get sloppy.
So the drones were perfect for him.
"Phew." Jaune wiped the sweat off his brow with his arm as he defeated the last robot. He had set up three of them to attack at once since he needed more experience fighting multiple opponents. Classes were always one on one or two on two. Not one against a group. Most he heard about that was when Ren told him about Pyrrha taking on two members of Team CRDL at once. "That was a good warm up. I wonder if I can do five?"
"Hang on, Jauney-Boy. Let's have a talk first."
Instantly spinning around on one foot, Jaune's hand reached down to grab his sword at his hip. That condescending, mocking voice was all too familiar. Being so focused on his training, he never noticed the group of people entering the training room he was in.
The leader of Team CRDL was walking toward him, with the rest of his team grinning by the door, acting like guards.
"Cardin…" Jaune growled. "What do you want?"
"Can't I say hi to my good friend who's working so hard?" Cardin held out his arms to his side, acting like he was going to give Jaune a hug.
"Cut the crap," Jaune replied, managing to keep his voice calm for now. "Now, what do you want?"
Cardin's eyes briefly narrowed in irritation at his remark.
"I'm here for an apology."
Jaune stared at him for a moment before a short laugh escaped his lips for a brief moment . That did not help pacify Cardin's anger though. If anything, it made it worse based on his glare.
"An apology, for what?!" Was he in some sort of twilight zone?
"For being a piece of shit and cheating in class yesterday." Cardin huffed. "We both know you lost to me, but you must have cheated with the computer to mess with the Aura gauges. There's no other explanation after you lost as badly as you did."
"Are you insane?" Jaune gaped at him, wanting to laugh but was in too much disbelief to do so at the moment. "You think I hacked Goodwitch's computer system? No one's that stupid. You lost because you were overconfident. My Aura was untouched, that's why Mercury took so long to beat me."
"Mercury and Pyrrha have been hanging out a lot!" Russel called out from the doorway. "I bet he was in on it and only pretended to fight with Arc."
"Sounds reasonable." Dove closed his eyes and nodded, crossing his arms.
"There you go boss," Sky added. "Proof Jaune cheated."
"Bullshit!" Jaune cursed at them. "I kicked Cardin's ass fair and square. It's not my fault he sucked!"
Those were not the right words for this situation. It was more of what Qrow would have said.
"Fine, here I was trying to be polite, but looks like I'm going to have to teach you your place, Jauney-Boy." Cardin gripped the handle of his mace on his hip and unclipped it. "One on one. You versus me. I'm going to pound you into the ground until you never stand against me again." He slammed the mace into the floor with a loud crash, sending cracks all around the point of impact. "This time, there's no teacher to save you."
Jaune instantly drew his sword and raised his shield, aware of Cardin's team sneering at him and keeping the doors locked. No one was going to come help him as these rooms were mostly sound proof due to loud training sessions. He was on his own. This time, he couldn't run out the clock and actually had to fight Cardin when that bully was serious. Jaune had no idea how strong Cardin was when he gave it his all. All he could do was put all his training to use until one of them fell or he found another way out of this. As he locked eyes with Cardin, a thought passed through his mind.
Fuck you, Qrow.
Petty squabbles like this wasn't what he signed up for as a Huntsman. He should have just fought Cardin seriously in Glynda's class rather than listening to Qrow's suggestion of humiliating him. What was his drunk mentor thinking? Qrow always said he didn't do things without a purpose, so what was the plan this time? To get him extra practice?
Actually… that sounded like a very Qrow thing to do.
Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish to ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter.
Dark: And now, the true fight between Cardin and Jaune. The first one was just an appetizer, this is the real event Qrow helped orchestrate.
nBappo: Can't wait to see Cardin get his ass handed to him. But Dark, the moment Pyrrha gets hurt I'm hunting you down for sport. Oh, and hopefully we see Amber make a full recovery.