Chapter 5:
Surprise, surprise!
Ruby Rose loves to be surprised! Whether she is the one being surprised or doing the surprise, she loves it! After all, a lot of good things come from surprises. Surprise birthday parties, surprise presents during Dustmas, surprise training from Uncle Qrow, surprise pranks on Yang….. though we don't talk about her sister's pranks back on her, the point is she loves surprises! And today has just been a lot of surprises. Mainly caused by her very first friend in Beacon, Jaune Arc, her fellow team leader and member of the socially-awkward club.
It all started at breakfast when Jaune said he wanted to do some things differently. He tried to preach the superiority of fish as brain food, but really everyone knows that cookies are the best! Still, she'll let him off this time for the sake of their friendship. After that, he actually defended Blake's books. Really, he defended those books! She didn't even know Jaune read those. That was certainly a surprise. And then when they were walking towards Professor Port's class of Grimm Studies, she saw him talking to Blake! Blake, their resident dark, broody, and quiet girl! Not just talking, but they actually agreed to discuss her books some other time! What?! How?! Where did her socially awkward buddy go?!
Still, even if he surprised her, he also surprised their other friends as well. It's always fun to see others' reactions to surprises! It's always so honest and funny! Seeing Yang take a moment to register that Jaune could actually defend Blake's books was honestly funny for her, she sure didn't expect that huh.
That was nothing compared to Weiss' face though when Jaune managed to answer Professor Port's question. I mean honestly, even she was shocked that Jaune actually listened to Professor Port's storytelling, the both of them would usually just nap or doodle things in their notebooks through it. But seeing Weiss widen her eyes and drop her jaw when Jaune managed to answer the question before her was so hilarious she almost laughed out loud.
Don't get her wrong, she likes Weiss. It's just that she's almost always strict, proper, and can be pretty cold, that sometimes she needs to chill, heh. Chill, Weiss, get it? Ha! And Yang said Ruby Rose cannot pun. Regardless, she knows that icy, cold exterior is a girl that is soft, kind, and loving. She is definitely sure that her partner is just hiding it deep down her exterior…. definitely… probably….. Maybe? Look, it doesn't matter! Whether it's deep deep deep down inside her or not, she knows that her partner can be kind and caring…. Her surprised face was still really funny though! Hahaha!
But really, who can blame her partner though, Jaune Arc just kept surprising them. But when Professor Port called him to demonstrate for the class, she still became worried for him. After all, fighting grimm is different from just defending books or answering questions in class.
Looking at him preparing himself, she still feels nervous for him even if she knows Professor Port would be ready to intervene. Really, with Jaune's track record of surprising them for the day she shouldn't have been worried.
When the cage opens up and releases four grimm, she thinks she could probably get two of the regular beowolves with sniper rounds from Crescent Rose before they even reach her. A quick use of her semblance to rush the third regular beowulf and a quick slash of her scythe, instant decapitation. Then finally face the Alpha on its own. But Jaune doesn't have those options. He doesn't have a range weapon, he doesn't have the speed to rush them. What he has are a sword, shield, and fortunately a huge amount of aura to tank the hits.
Watching Jaune stand there waiting for the beowolves, she prepares herself to grimace in second hand pain. Instead of a grimace, the next sequence of events leaves her speechless.
Slash!
Block!
Bash!
Slice!
In just a short amount of time, she sees her friend eliminate two young beowolves. Her eyes widen in surprise, while she hears Weiss beside her let out a breath of surprise. While they were taking in the moment her friend broke their expectations, she hears Professor Port yell a warning to Jaune. The next move has her friend tripping to dodge the swipe from the third beowulf and stab it through its chest.
"What?" How?" Weiss gasps quietly beside her, not because Jaune did something extraordinary, it's more because Jaune did something successfully.
Cheering Jaune supportively, Ruby Rose then watches her friend dance around the remaining Alpha Beowolf. If she didn't know any better, she'd think Jaune was trained in Signal Combat Academy. But she knows better, she saw him fight Cardin last time and he did not have these moves back then.
Seeing him decapitate the Alpha after pushing it down and throwing a smile towards their direction, Ruby Rose thinks to herself, she really does love surprises. And today, Jaune Arc is surprising them all.
—
Yang Xiao Long is a lot of things. She's popular, confident, gifted, strong, beautiful, smart enough to get into Beacon, and an overall badass huntress-in-training. She's also a very straightforward and direct person. She's the type who would teach a person how to swim by pushing them into the water. Finally, she's an extrovert who loves socializing with people and being the life of the party. So you see, Yang is the type of person not afraid to look for something entertaining then dive head first into it. And right now, Jaune Arc is shaping up to be quite the entertainment.
Jaune got her attention at breakfast when he started doing some things differently. Him defending Blake's pervy books showed her there could be surprising depths to the young man. Answering Professor Port's question was nothing special, anybody could think of solutions on how to effectively fight against multiple opponents. It was the fact that Jaune was the one who answered that was so entertaining, not because of how and what he answered but more of the reactions he caused to their friends.
It was really funny seeing Weiss, the ice queen, get beaten to an answer by Jaune. It looked like she was gonna have a meltdown. Ha! Get it? Ice queen, meltdown. Looks like Yang Xiao Long still has it. If getting Weiss to react that way made her laugh, then the next thing he did got her interest. Sure beating three regular beowolves and one Alpha Beowolf is nothing special, but the fact that Jaune was the one that did it made it special.
Suffice to say, Yang Xiao Long is now interested in what Jaune Arc is gonna do next. Leaving Professor Port's class and heading towards Doctor Oobleck's History Class, she can't help but wait expectantly on what kind of entertainment Jaune will bring next.
–
"... while both factions were mostly hostile towards each other during the Faunus Rights Revolution, there were some isolated cases that show us that peace was restored in small areas where both factions could interact peacefully. Can anyone give an example of these cases and what led to their formation?"
"Professor! ("Doctor.") I believe most of these cases were brought on by both factions needing to work together to fend off the grimm in their area of operations. An example would be when Faunus Commander Tano of the Menagerie 501st raiding party worked together with Colonel Azula's of Atlas' Blue Dragons Corp to secure the port town of Gondor from a massive grimm invasion." Jaune Arc answers Doctor Oobleck's question from the row behind her.
….Again, that dolt is doing it again. He's…. challenging me. I admit that he did get better in terms of combat prowess, but he is still no match for me. Still, I cannot let him beat me in the field of academics! A Schnee does not lose so easily!
"Sir! While I agree with Mr. Arc that the main reason for such cases to happen is the necessity for both factions to unite in order to repel the grimm, it would be a mistake to count the situation of Gondor as one of its examples. Some sources believe that Commander Tano herself lured the grimm to the town as a means of attack against Colonel Azula in the first place." Weiss Schnee fires her opening salvo, putting holes into Jaune Arc's answer.
"Some sources do believe that, while others suspect that Commander Tano was only in Gondor to save Faunus innocents captured and tortured by Colonel Azula. If we follow that reasoning, the grimm were lured into the town by the negativity produced from the victims of Colonel Azula. Regardless of which version is true, it is widely documented that both Commander Tano and Colonel Azula fought side by side to repel the grimm horde." Jaune engages, redirecting the argument to shield his answer.
"Even if they did fight together, the peace still did not last. Gondor was still razed to the ground. Therefore that particular case fails as an example for what the Professor ("Doctor") was asking for." She finishes, turning her head to give the Arc a narrow look. Check and mate. Another win for the Schnee.
"Capital! Excellent arguments from the both of you! While Ms. Schnee is indeed correct that Gondor was still razed and did not last in the long term, Mr. Arc was also correct in saying that it was an example for at least the time it existed." Doctor Oobleck yells excitedly from the front of the class.
She looks back to the Arc, seeing a smirk that infuriates her.
What?! I should have dominated that argument! The nerve….
"Why, Gondor itself was actually used as an example for future cities containing both Mankind and Faunuskind. For the time it existed in peace in the middle of the Faunus Rights Revolution, both man and faunus lived in harmony. Seeing that resources were becoming scarce because of the war, they worked together equally just to survive. Sadly, that setup did not last because of racists and warmongers from both sides that caused the city to divide itself into ruin." Doctor Oobleck adds in support of his decision.
Hmmph, with that explanation I guess I could give some consideration to the dolt's answer…. I still won that though. Weiss thinks to herself haughtily.
"With that said, I could see that the two of you are interested in this topic. So I am giving the both of you an extra assignment to be submitted next week. The better report will be presented in front of the class in order to support their arguments. Ms. Schnee, you will focus on the effects and response of the Four Main Kingdoms to the end of The Faunus Rights Revolution. Mr Arc, you will focus on the effects and response of Menagerie and the global faunus population in winning the war."
Hmmmm, an opportunity to declare an undisputed victor. Prepare yourself you dolt, because Weiss Schnee shall not lose to you, Jaune Arc.
With that thought in mind, Weiss Schnee prepares herself to study more diligently on her given topic. She does not notice that Jaune Arc, once a pest in her eyes, has now become a potential academic rival.
—
That smile….. That damned smile….
She could still remember the smile her partner aimed her way after killing an Alpha Beowolf. She can't stop replaying the scene in her mind. Her partner, her leader, her crush, Jaune Arc, standing atop his defeated foe, with sweat pouring down his forehead and neck, breathing heavily through his lips, he locks his eyes with hers, and then smiles brightly like she just handed him the world.
Are you trying to get me to swoon?! Why Jaune?! Why do you do this to me?!
Pyrrha Nikos feels her heart beat faster, heat gathering somewhere deep in her body. Sitting here next to him in Doctor Oobleck's History Class, she can't help but confirm her growing feelings for her partner. Watching him currently debate with Weiss, she thinks to herself.
He's not flirting with her. He's actually talking to her, challenging her. Has he accepted her rejections? Has he really moved on?
With that thought in mind, Pyrrha Nikos works herself up to take this chance and not let it go. As they stand to leave Doctor Oobleck's class and head towards Professor Goodwitch's Combat class, she thinks of ways to get closer to him.
Training, it will have to be the training. I want to use it to make us closer but I still need to take his training seriously. I don't want to be his drill sergeant that he can't see me as a woman. I need to strike a balance. I want to be his mentor while still making it clear I'm open to a relationship. How, though?
Just as she wonders to herself on how to solve her dilemma, she sees someone well-versed in teaching and being a mentor, Professor Glynda Goodwitch.
Maybe watching Professor Goodwitch teach would give me some ideas on how to train him? Then I just have to add my own flair? charm? Alright, let's try that first.
—-
Glynda Goodwitch straightens her back as she watches her students enter the classroom. Projecting an image of strength and professionalism, she announces their activity for the day, sparring. Glynda Goodwitch is a firm believer of the thought that you can only get better by training, and then testing yourself against your peers.
Some may believe her to be strict, cold, and unfeeling towards her students. But they would only get the first one right. She's not cold or unfeeling, on the contrary she cares too much. She cares so much that every graduate of Beacon that dies in the field fills her heart with pain.
She's only strict because she wants her students to survive longer in the real world. She says survive longer, because that is the only thing they can do in their line of work. Being a huntsman is dangerous work. They literally fight monsters that outnumber humanity and faunuskind. It is inevitable that some of them die giving their lives to protect others. Combat Class was one of the most important classes for that very reason.
"I'm….. dying… Professor… I'm… Sorry….
"Shhh… save your strength young one."
"Tell me… I helped Professor… Tell me… they're okay…."
Shaking bad memories away, she focuses herself back to the present. Calling students to the arena, watching them fight, and giving feedback to help them be better. She does this every single day she can, in the hopes that the advice she gives saves a life and prolongs the inevitable. Looking at the list of students first to fight, she lets out a sigh.
Mr. Arc. What do I do with you? Might as well get this out of the way early.
"Jaune Arc vs Cardin Winchester, please prepare yourself and come forward." She calls out the expected matchup.
For someone untrained like Jaune Arc, the only opponent suitable for sparring is Mr. Winchester. Someone who favors a predetermined set of moves, with strength enough to hurt, but slow enough that he doesn't run rings around Mr. Arc. Pit him with anyone else and he wouldn't even be able to catch them, he would learn nothing. Let's hope he has learned from his mistakes last time.
Yes, she knows Jaune Arc faked his transcripts. She knows he wasn't really trained and if it were her decision she would have already expelled him, not out of spite but because of concern for his safety.
Looking at Team JNPR and Team RWBY, she tries to gauge who would be too angry to have to fight next or not. She raises an eyebrow in surprise when she sees none of the usual irritation or cringe of pain for the coming matchup. Strange, they would usually react negatively whenever Jaune has to fight. Instead, she sees them express interest and excitement at the coming match. Putting their strange reaction out of her mind, she trains her eyes on her two students about to have their spar.
"Tournament rules as usual boys. Are you ready?" She calls out. Seeing them nod their affirmation she yells.
"Begin!"
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