White Knight Errant
A RWBY fanfic by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and WB Animation. Please support the official release.
Around three months before Jaune arrived at Beacon...
Jaune got thrown roughly into a cage by the two goons. Jaune groaned as he hit the straw covered floor, and slowly pushed himself up. He turned around and glared out into the gloom of the large circus tent.
"Hey... I haven't fully healed yet from that fight," Jaune called back, fiddling with the Aura suppression collar on his neck, "Can't I get a little more time?"
"Yeah right, nice try kid," one of the goons laughed, "You ain't getting out that easy."
"Maybe when you've paid off Iridescent's debt we'll let you go. Shouldn't take more than a few years, a few hundred more fights," taunted the other, "Boy, was she lucky to find such a powerful sucker!"
They laughed, walking away, as Jaune glared hatefully after them. He punched the straw covered cage, hard, and was rewarded with a sharp pain. He hissed, and rubbed his sore knuckles. He fought back tears.
He had been trying to help... And then ended up fighting a pack of Beowulves for a baying crowd's bloodlust. And he was going to have to do it for the rest of his life...
"I was so godsdamned stupid," he whispered angrily, "Stupid!"
"Ah... Lured in by a woman," a smooth, baritone voice spoke behind him, "Yes, that is a tale I am quite familiar with."
Jaune looked back, eyes wide.
"Huh? Who's there?"
Out of the gloom, into the dim torchlight, a man stepped forward. Jaune looked him up and down.
He was a Faunus, a cat he thought-His hair and ears were almost entirely white from age, with only a streak or two of red left. He wore a striking mustache and beard, brushed to perfection that, with his cat-like ears poking out from under his broad feather crested hat, made him look like a musketeer. His clothing was worn, but had once been quite fancy: Leather tunic, breeches, and very tall boots. A tattered cape hung from his shoulders, and he wore bracers upon his wrists inlaid with gold.
His eyes were green, and glowed lightly in the dim light. He smiled, doffed his hat, and bowed dramatically.
"You may call me Ser Gato Zapatos, my young friend," he spoke, "You?"
"Jaune Arc," Jaune admitted, slowly rising and giving an awkward bow back. "What are you in for?"
"Ah, sport," Gato shrugged, "Alas, I was on a trip to see my grandchildren in Vale. My wife had gone to see them, but I wanted to go out on my own."
He chuckled self effacingly.
"I suppose I wanted to prove I was still capable in my dotage. I too was lured in to save the innocent... And was thus imprisoned. And you, young Juan?"
"Jaune," Jaune corrected him, before he winced, "Sorry. Uh... Well, I'm making my way to Beacon. I want to become a Hunter, and well... This girl said she needed help. I fought off some goons, she asked me to help deal with the boss..."
Jaune bowed his head in shame.
"She... She slapped some Aura suppression cuffs on me, knocked me out... And here I am."
"As I said," Gato said with a nod, "A familiar tale. One I fell for again. Even after all this time... I cannot resist the urge to be a hero."
He smiled at Jaune kindly.
"Neither can you."
"I was stupid," Jaune sighed, "What am I even doing? I got into Beacon but... I-I have no training! I don't belong there! Not if I got caught so easily-!"
"Do you regret having your dream?" Gato asked. Jaune looked up in shock.
"Huh?"
"Do you regret your dream? Do you forsake it?" Gato asked calmly. Jaune glared.
"I-I don't! I want... I do want to be a hero-!"
"Then accept that you are going to run into obstacles on the path to your dream," Gato said, sitting down with a slight groan. "You knew the path wouldn't be easy, si?"
"No... No, I knew it wouldn't be easy," Jaune admitted, "But... Captured like this?"
"Think of it... As an opportunity," Gato said, his whiskers twitching with his smile. "Me? I have been in worse spots. Far worse. And I have gotten out again."
"Then... Then you know how to get out of here?" Jaune asked quietly, though he was hesitant. What made him think this random old man would be any better than Iridescent?
"I know of a way... But I do require your help," Gato said calmly. "Not to say you will not gain something other than freedom! I saw your performance in the ring."
Jaune leaned forward.
"Yeah?"
"It was..." The old cat faunus worked his jaw, "Not terrible... Exactly."
Jaune slumped.
"I know. I suck. All I've got going for me is my aura-"
"Ah, but that is a good place to start," Gato said eagerly. "To have the means of going on past the point others quit! Do not underestimate the power of that, my boy. Still... As a swordsman myself, I must say..."
"Yeah?"
"You handled it like a club," Gato winced, "I had to shut my eyes at many points, seeing how clumsy you are. Your poor weapon, she weeps in her humiliation."
Jaune slumped again. Gato chuckled, and rose. He picked up two wooden sticks from the floor, and tossed one to Jaune.
"But you are in luck! For I know how to handle a blade, and can teach you how not to embarrass yourself and everyone else who wields weapons!"
"Gee, thanks," Jaune said wryly, "But are you sure? I mean..."
The old man looked frail, and he was shorter than Jaune. Gato chuckled.
"Well, I appreciate your concern, my young friend. Why don't we see how well I've held up over the years, mm?"
Jaune had seen plenty of kung fu movies. He knew this had to be a bad idea, but... He still charged and thrust the wooden stick at Gato.
"YAAHH-!"
He ended up flipped onto his back, his wooden stick knocked right out of his hands, and a smiling Gato looking down upon him.
"Seems I might know what I'm talking about, hm, young Juan?"
Jaune just groaned.
Jaune could say with complete honesty that training under Gato and fighting Grimm in death matches? Was the worst experience of his life.
Even worse than cramming for the medical school entrance exams.
They'd been allowed out of their cages to train, but always under heavy armed guard and only with wooden swords and shields.
Gato didn't look like he could hit Jaune that hard, but the spry little Faunus could move like a flash of lightning, and took him down with almost no effort. Underneath the circus-like tent of the arena, Gato trained Jaune harder than Jaune had ever been pushed before.
"Show me your stance," Gato said, on the first day they were out in the sandy pit of center ring, which was lowered like an elevator, and surrounded by automatically erecting electric fences for the fights with the Grimm. All around them were empty bleachers, save for a small observation box perched in front of a lot of recording and power equipment. Oh, and the armed guards, of course.
Jaune took a combat stance. Gato clicked his tongue... And jabbed Jaune in the gut.
"URK!"
"You're standing too stiffly."
He jabbed Jaune in the knees.
"ACK!"
"Knees are too far bent, and too close together."
Gato slid around like a dancer, even included a pirouette, before he stabbed Jaune in the neck.
"GAH!"
"Lower your chin."
He slapped the wooden sword against Jaune's butt.
"HEY!"
"You're too tense! Loosen up a little!"
Gato then slapped and pushed on Jaune's arm joints.
"H-HEY! WATCH IT!"
"There, much better," Gato said. "Show me a strike."
Jaune swung his sword. Gato sighed heavily.
"No no no, Juan, no! Here, like this."
He made a thrust, a swing, and a parry, as fluid as water. He nodded to Jaune.
"Now you try!"
Jaune copied. Gato hummed.
"Little better. Again!"
He smacked Jaune's butt again with the flat of the sword.
"OW! What was that for?!"
"The look on your face," Gato snickered as Jaune scowled. "But hey, you'll be thanking me when you're not Grimm chow, si?"
It continued on. It felt like Jaune had to make his body perform a hundred different things all at once perfectly. He did it over and over, and every time he made a mistake, Gato hit him or put him on his back.
"Again!"
"Urgh... R-Right!"
Two weeks of this and Jaune did feel like he was improving a little. Gato didn't look as disgusted with his movements. And the Grimm we going down more easily. Though those were still a challenge.
Ursas, Creepers, Beowulves, Boarbatucks, Reynards, and dozens of others! He was certainly getting a crash course education in what he would fight as a Huntsman.
"Form 1, again," Gato said, as Jaune struck in the instructed pattern. "Form 2."
Jaune performed it. Gato nodded.
"And Form 3."
Jaune went through it, finishing with a harsh thrust.
"Haa... Haa... Why just these?"
"You're a beginner, and you need to master the basics before anything else," Gato explained. "Now, again, Form 1..."
Jaune performed it... And Gato shook his head with a sigh.
"What? What am I doing wrong?"
"Nothing, you're doing fine," the Cat faunus said, "However... In a fight to the death, you cannot just be a perfectionist. There's so much more to battle than you can learn in so short a time. You can't just be acting like a student in class, Juan. You'll die."
He struck furiously, and Jaune defended. But like a lightning fast serpent, Gato got around Jaune's shield and sword and knocked him flat on his back again.
"UGH!"
"I had hoped to teach you to be an artist with the blade, my boy," Gato said, walking around the groaning teenager with his sword resting on his shoulder, "Elegant, swift, precise. But I am beginning to think that is not who you are!"
"It isn't?" Jaune had groaned, face in the sand of the ring. He slowly pushed himself back up to his feet, as Gato hummed thoughtfully.
"No! You do not fight with cold elegance. That is not truly you. You... Are a brawler. A savage. A tank!" He pointed Jaune in the head with his wooden sword, and Jaune scowled up at him. "You ran away from home in defiance of your mother, did you not? That means there is a punk inside of you! You must bring him out! It is not something that gets all ladies' motors running... But those who appreciate it are worth your time!"
"Okay, so how do I do that?" Jaune asked dryly. Gato chuckled, twirling his wooden training sword between his still dexterous fingers.
"Allow me to demonstrate. I will fell you without using the blade of my sword."
"How are you gonna-?"
Gato drove his pommel right between Jaune's eyes, breaking his nose. Jaune reared back with a cry, as Gato knocked Jaune's sword and shield aside with his gauntlet and then kicked him in the balls. Down went Jaune, whimpering, as Gato nodded.
"Do you get it now, Juan? Or must I promise that when I escape, I shall go fuck your mother-?"
Jaune saw red.
He grabbed some sand and threw it into Gato's eyes, just before he rammed his fist into Gato's balls. The cat Faunus coughed, and fell back as Jaune struggled back to his feet.
"How's... That... You mangy... Bastard?" Jaune had managed.
Gato grinned... And again knocked Jaune's weapons out of his hands with barely any effort and kicked him in the face.
"That's more like it, boy!"
This on top of having to fight Grimm in deathmatches virtually every night.
He barely got any sleep or rest. They did get fed well, with rich high protein meals, but that was the only good thing about the experience!
On top of that was the training Gato put him through in the cage, when they were alone. It was all to channel his Aura, as best he could, through a stick and wave it. But every time he did that, he had to do some stupid salute!
With the aura suppression collar on him, it was all he could do to simply make the stupid stick glow a little!
He did it all though. He trained until he couldn't even move. He channeled his Aura even though he could only feel a trickle. He fought until the Grimm were dead.
The roars of the bloodthirsty crowd started to sound like wonderful music to him, because it meant he could rest.
Finally, one night, after Jaune had put down a Geist Armor (and hadn't that fucking sucked?!), and he and Gato had finished their meals, he looked up from his empty bowl with a smile.
"Good news, Juan! We're going to fight together tomorrow night!"
"Uh huh?" Jaune asked, having long since given up correcting Gato on his name, "How is that a good thing?"
"Because that's when we'll escape."
Jaune looked up at Gato in shock. Gato nodded grimly.
"Si. This little circus is going to pack up and leave after our battle. We may not be aware of where we are after that. The time to escape is nigh," he said. He smiled at Jaune. "You are ready for this, Juan."
"I... Are you sure?" Jaune asked. "All I've done is survive, and make that stupid stick glow-"
"You have come a long way in such a short time," Gato said with a smile, "You say you didn't go to Hunter school?"
"No."
"Well... Perhaps you were better suited to learning in the real world, as I did," Gato said. "In any event, tomorrow's the night. Once more... Focus...!"
They'd rested. They'd eaten. They'd trained all day, as usual. And they were brought into the center ring, which, with loud mechanical whines, dropped down into a pit they couldn't climb or jump out of- especially not with the electrified fences that stood up to enclose them. The crowds roared in approval, as the announcer warmed up his mike.
"Ladies and gentlemen! We have quite the treat for you! From parts unknown, a swashbuckler and his knightly apprentice, I give you... SER GATO ZAPATOS, AND THE RAGGEDY KNIGHT!"
The crowd roared loudly, through speakers and through the cages around them. One large reinforced box slowly descended into the pit, creaking ominously. It was the size of a small barn, and something growled from its insides.
"Stand fast, Juan," Gato said softly, as the massive crate settled on the sandy floor, "When I give the signal..."
"Right," Jaune breathed.
"And their opponent for the night! We bring you only the very best! A massive specimen from Wallace Island, we give you... THE KONG BERINGEL!"
The crate opened up... And an ape-like Beringel, the height of a two-storey building, emerged with a roar. It beat its chest and began to advance on Gato and Jaune as the crowd cheered and whistled.
"I will distract it," Gato said, holding up his rapier-like sword, "You get ready! Target exactly where I told you!"
Gato shot off like a streak, immediately leaping into the air and thrusting in a blur. He stuck the Kong in its side, and the monster roared as it swung its huge forearms like battering rams. Gato artfully dodged, flipping and dancing through the blows like a leaf caught in a breeze.
"Okay... Okay..." Jaune took deep breaths. He held up Crocea Mors in a duelist's salute. He slashed up and down, right and left, and spun the blade in a a dramatic flourish... Only to drop it. "Shit!"
"AGAIN, JUAN!" Gato shouted, climbing up the back of the Kong Beringel and slashing across it's face. The monster howled, and both hands slammed into its jaws as it again missed the quick Gato.
"Right!"
Jaune picked up the sword. He went through the routine. He channeled his Aura, and the blade began to glow white hot. He completed the moves before he pulled back with the blade. It thrummed with energy, and crackled with it like lightning was trapped within the steel.
"HOLD IT, HOLD IT...!" Gato shouted. The Kong Beringel grabbed his cape, and yanked him back into its grip. Jaune's eyes widened.
"GATO!"
"NOT YET!" Gato shouted. "NOT YET... NOT YET...!"
The Kong brought the Cat faunus right up to its drooling, gaping jaws...
Gato glanced up. He grinned toothily as he saw the Boss of this little affair and most of his cronies were right behind him in the observation box.
"NOW!"
Jaune swung... And a wave of yellow white energy radiated outward, the backlash knocking Jaune right off his feet. It shot through the chest of the Kong Berengil, through the electrified cages surrounding the pit, and through the control box and the surprised boss and subordinates.
The electronics went up in a massive explosion, and the tent caught fire.
The lights failed, people screamed... But thanks to the flames, Jaune was able to see the top of the Kong Berengil fall off its bottom half with a tremendous thud. Gato elbowed his way out of the evaporating Grimm's grip, and rushed over to Jaune.
"Wonderful, Juan, wonderful!" He shouted over the screams of panicking people, "Now, let's get going!"
"I..." Jaune sagged, and Gato held him up.
"Ah, yes," Gato nodded, "The little drawback of that move, Golden Lion's Roar? Someone with as terrible aura control as you will drain yourself into the red if you use it."
"You... Couldn't have told me that... Sooner?!" Jaune demanded as they hobbled their way to the side of the pit. One of the fences keeping them and the Grimm inside had fallen, and Gato easily climbed up with Jaune as a burden.
"You should be more grateful!" Gato insisted, "That's one of my signature moves! I no longer have the Aura to do it so powerfully, but you! Ah, such savage power! You're gonna get a lot of senoritas with that one, believe you me!"
They made it up into the darkened, panicked circus tent. They pushed through the confused crowd, out through the exit as the flames spread. The guards shouted, and some began to open fire as the lights came back on. Gato and Jaune ran, even as Grimm broke out of their cages and started to rampage. A fire ignited, spreading all over the tents.
They turned a corner of this bizarre travelling show, and there she was. She was tall, beautiful, with darkly tanned skin and a shimmering color to her hair, like an aurora. She was dressed in a nice dress, with a jacket over it. Her blue eyes widened as she beheld Jaune, who found the strength to hold his blade on her.
"You?!" Iridescent gasped.
"Iridescent," Jaune growled.
"Did... Did you just slice a Kong Berengil... Right in half?" She gasped.
"Yeah," Jaune snarled, "And I'll do worse to you, you-!"
Iridescent squealed, and held her hands together under her chin. She smiled unnervingly, her pale eyes turning red.
"Ohhh... You were magnificent!"
Jaune blinked. She didn't sound angry, or upset, or gloating. She sounded kind of like she was...
"You did... I knew you were strong, oh, how I knew... And the boss! His subordinates! You sliced them all apart, too!"
Jaune coughed. He felt Gato's hand squeeze his shoulder comfortingly.
Sure... Those guys had been scumbags, but... Killing people...?
"I-I didn't-!"
"You did... It was wonderful," Iridescent giggled. She held her cheeks, her grin shining like a knife.
"Ohhh... I knew you were strong, but to do all that...? I must have you for myself!"
"What," Jaune managed. Iridescent advanced on him, opening up the buttons on her dress with that same unnerving smile.
"Yes... You're a conquering beast... And I'm your prize! Oh, take me, you magnificent predator, you! I'll be your everything, and you'll be my monster."
"I believe she is the wrong kind of senorita for you, Juan," Gato said, "Shall we escape?"
"YES PLEASE!" Jaune shouted. They turned and ran, even as Iridescent pursued. She shouted after them as they fled into the forest.
"DON'T RUN JUAN, MY LOVE! WE CAN DO IT IN THE BLOOD OF MY MASTERS! THAT WAY YOU CAN TRULY CLAIM ME FOR YOUR OWN!"
"LIKE HELL I WILL YOU PSYCHO!"
Iridescent was cut off when several Grimm barreled out of the circus, roaring monstrously. She ran for it, escaping the oncoming Grimm as best she could.
Jaune and Gato kept running, finally breaking out of the trees into a small clearing. They could hear rushing water, and thanks to the light of the broken moons, saw a raging river ahead.
They skidded to a halt in front of the raging rapids, as more howls filled the night air.
Jaune and Gato turned to see many pairs of glowing red eyes leering at them in the darkness. Gato shook his head, and sighed.
"This? ... This is for me, Juan."
"Wha-?"
Jaune looked over at him in disbelief.
"We can take them together-!"
"No... No we cannot."
"Your wife-Your grandchildren-!"
"Your aura is in the red... These beasts will tear you apart..." He brandished his sword. "Get out of here, Juan. I will buy you time to escape."
"I won't leave you-!"
Gato chuckled, and shrugged.
"In the end, Juan... No one can run from Death forever. You must fight for life every day. You must not give into despair, or fear. You must keep up the good fight... That is what heroes do. And you? You will be that someday... If you stay true to yourself. Live your life, Juan Arc. Live it well... And when you meet him? Greet Death with a smile. I will put in a good word for you."
He spun around and kicked Jaune... And the young man went tumbling into the water. He swam frantically, struggling for breath. A log ran into his chest, and he grabbed on. He yanked himself up out of the water with a gasp, barely holding on against the weight of his armor and cloak, and looked upstream.
"GATO! GATOOOOO!" He shouted. He saw a gigantic Alpha Beowulf rearing up over the tiny form of Gato. He saw them clash... Just before he lost sight thanks to the riverbend.
Jaune bowed his head, and sobbed.
"Gato... I swear... I-I'll never forget you," he murmured, as the river carried him ever further.
And from there, his adventures continued...