"Another day, another battering."
That one phrase perfectly encapsulates my short time here in Beacon Academy, a place meant to train the next generation of Huntsmen and Huntresses. A place I had no business being in, yet here I am.
It's been two months since classes started, and I was seriously falling behind in combat class. Which isn't really even my fault, to be honest. I never intended to come to Beacon in the first place. So what am I doing here? Well, I'm glad you asked!You see, earlier this summer, our village was attacked by a horde of Grimm (the monsters we're trained to seek and destroy here), and we had seen it coming.
Thankfully, we had called for a Huntsman or two to come help us out. One of them happened to be Professor Port here at Beacon.
I guess I impressed him somehow because a week after everything was said and done, we received a letter saying I was accepted into Beacon Academy!
And with no money to get me huntsman grade gear, I had to show up with a heavy and outdated set of armor and the old family sword that I have zero idea how to properly wield and belongs in a museum rather than the field.Taking the family rifle was out of the question because Dad still needed a method of putting food on the table and protecting our home.
Too bad combat class doesn't let us train in the Emerald Forest against Grimm... My bow would actually get to see some use! But up on stage, in close quarters? Yeah, melee or firearms were the way to go. A bow simply wasn't practical in that setting.
I would go to Beacon's armory to get myself set up with something I ACTUALLY know how to use, but apparently there's some sort of rule that says I can't go in there to get a replacement until either I prove I can fight with what I have, or that my current weapon is damaged, lost, or something of that nature.
Yeah, I'm in a bit of a tight spot.
Thankfully, I was able to go down to the city of Vale and find a hardware store to acquire some things I was much more familiar with. They may not be huntsman grade, but they should hold up long enough for me to pull at least one win.
Right now, I was sitting in Professor Goodwitch's combat class watching Ruby speed blitzing some guy with a flail.The match was over fairly quickly in Ruby's favor as Professor Goodwitch called for another pair of combatants to the stage.
"Jaune Arc and Cardin Winchester!"
Great... Just great... Why couldn't I have been put up against one of his teammates instead?
With a sigh, I got up to go get changed.
"Welp, time to face the music..."
(-Line Break-)
As I put on the gauntlets that went with the rest of my armor, I looked up at the chestplate and pauldrons. They were heavy, uncomfortable, and kind of clunky, to be honest. I was much more comfortable and agile without all that unnecessary weight, and with Cardin, I would need every advantage I could get.
Speaking of advantages... Cardin also wore armor. And had the Aura training to go on top of it. Combined with his physical strength, if his large mace was any indication, this was arguably the worst possible match-up for me if I stuck to my "usual" kit.
Cardin Winchester wasn't the fifth best fighter in our year for nothing. My only saving grace in the past was that his Semblance, while powerful, drained his Aura fairly quickly and was used sparingly.
As far as my training went, all I had was the basics when it came to Aura so I could hold my own if it came down to it on the Frontier. Most of my "training" was just farm working, hunting, and local wrestling competitions. Everything else was pretty much trial by fire and mental fortitude training so that I don't lose it whenever I eventually unlock my Semblance.
My eyes turned towards Crocea Mors in its scabbard-shield-thing. While it was undoubtedly still functional after standing the test of time, in my untrained hands, it was little more than a sharp club. I would love to learn how to use it properly, but I simply didn't have anyone to turn to for training. Pyrrha's got enough on her plate with her sponsors, I only just started getting to know Blake on Team RWBY, and Heaven forbid I ask Weiss for help...
She'd probably spend more time attempting to flirt or score a date with me than actually teaching me anything.
Yeah... I have no idea what it is about me that has the former freaking heiress of the world's largest Dust Company to have such an interest in me... I'm just some farm boy from the middle of nowhere in the Valean Frontier... I don't have anything against her. Really! In fact, I think she's a really sweet girl! It's just that I don't think we're as good of a match as she would like to believe. We come from totally separate worlds. That, and I'm pretty certain that since she's now out of her father's reach and is experiencing some measure of freedom from his control Weiss wants to "experience" some "things" and is simply targeting me as the only "available" guy in our year due to a process of elimination.
Ren is "ace." Apparently. Everyone on Team CRDL is out simply on principle, and almost everyone else is either taken or too far removed to have any real regular interaction with our group. Thus leaving me as her only option.
Or it could be some ploy to get closer to Pyrrha...
Either way, I'm not playing that game...And I could go on about the "What ifs" for the possibility she is, or at least "thinks" she is, serious about me. But that's neither here nor there.
Bottom line, Weiss and I shouldn't be a thing, and the sword will have to stay in the locker for now. Which led to my more recent acquisitions. Namely, a pair of hand axes. Nothing fancy or special. Just two sharp blades of common steel fixed upon some plain hickory handles.
The two tools sat comfortably in my hands. Their weight and balance were perfect for my needs.
Nodding to myself, I placed them on either side of my hips on my belt and moved on to the chopping block with a deep breath to calm my nerves.
I was done trying to be what I'm not. I'm no knight in shining armor. I am a hunter. A frontiersman. A man of the wild. It was time I fought like it.
As I stepped out and into the ring, I was first greeted with silence. Then, laughter.
"What is THAT?!"
"It's a cute little bunny!"
I should have expected as much. My Pumpkin Pete hoodie was now on full display, but I paid the laughter with no mind. I wore this hoodie for several reasons. First and most importantly, it was given to me by Cheri, my youngest little sister. Second, it was actually quite comfortable. And third, it was several sizes too large. This third reason was actually something of a blessing as it created this illusion that I was scrawnier than I really am. Which led to my enemies underestimating me. Something I will gladly take advantage of. The fact that the character of Pumpkin Pete was front and center meant that no one was taking me seriously.
Good. That meant things were going to be easier for me at the start of this match.
"Ss-standard tournament rules still apply!" Professor Goodwitch announced, desperately trying to remain professional. But she couldn't hide the small upwards quiver of her lips as her eyes lingered upon the visage of Pumpkin Pete.
"Begin!"
The time of playing the Rabbit was over. Now was the time of Hunting Wolf.
Cardin was deceptively quick and wasted no time in charging forth. Unfortunately for him, I was far too fast without my armor as he completely whiffed over my head.
I was not fighting Cardin. I was hunting him. He was not an opponent. He was prey. Cardin was not all that different from a trolloc, a type of Grimm back home, and I would treat him as such. He was brutish, somewhat intelligent, and heavily armored.
While his armor was strong at his torso, forearms, and lower legs, it was still open in several other places. Like his joints, hands, head, under his arms, and my current target. His thighs.
I had rolled to the side and right past the bully as he attempted to land the first blow. Axe in hand, I slashed behind his left knee where he was putting all of his weight. Effectively hamstringing Cardin as he dropped down.
"Gah!"
With a cry, Cardin's leg buckled and gave out from under his weight. Immediately, I stood and kicked his back to force him down on his face. Before he could roll over or recover, I pounced and was upon him.
With one knee on his back and the other between his shoulders, I pressed one axe down on his weapon-arm's elbow, and pressed the other axe against the base of Cardin's skull, right where his spine connects to his brainstem.
With Cardin now helpless, I was in the perfect position to kill him here and now. Just a little more pressure, and I would start drawing blood.
Of course, Cardin tried to struggle. But it was useless, and the cold realization that he was completely at my mercy slowly dawned on him.
I looked over at the stunned Professor Goodwitch.
"Are you going to call the match?" I flatly asked her.
"The-the match is over! The winner is Car-er, Jaune Arc!" She corrected herself after shaking out of her stupor.
I stood up and made my way to my locker.
Huh, that was easier than I thought it would be...
(-Line Break-)
"Wow, Jaune! I didn't know you could move like that!" Ruby praised as our two teams had dinner in the cafeteria.
"That was truly impressive, Jaune," Ren added his two cents.
"Thanks, guys..." I murmured, taking a sip out of my drink. I was happy my friends were so pleased with my first victory. And against Beacon's biggest bully, no less.
"We should totally throw a party this weekend!" Nora suggested excitedly.
"I'm down for that!" Yang agreed.
"That does sound nice..." Pyrrha admitted.
"There's no need for that..." I tried to reason.
"Nonsense! You've earned some recognition for all your hard work!" Weiss rebuked with a smile.
"Bullshit!"
Before I could reply, a heavy hand slammed down on the table between me and Pyrrha. I looked over to see Cardin scowling at me.
"This loser just got lucky! And I'll prove it!" He declared before leaning down to get in my face. "I want a rematch. This Saturday. After that, I want you out of here when I beat your ass."I locked eyes with the larger boy. "And if I win?"
"You won't." And with that, the bully stormed off.
Looks like I have a hunt to prepare for.
"Ruby?" I asked my fellow team leader.
"Yeah?" Her silver eyes peered up at me quizzacly.
"I need your help making something for me," I informed the little reaper.
"Awesome! What're we building?" She ecstatically asked.
(-LineBreak-)
It was time for a little extra studying in the common room between RWBY and JNPR's dorms. I was preparing a cup of my favorite mint tea to help me relax while I had left a window open to let the cool night air in. I had just taken my first sip and was enjoying the starlit view when a strong gust of wind blasted into the room.
"Oh!" A surprised, feminine voice called out. Just entering the room was Blake Belladonna. My new reading buddy and team RWBY's resident ninja-bookworm.
And cat girl, apparently.
The wind had blown her bow right off.
Looks like my hunch was right after all. Nora owes me five lein.
Blake was stock still in surprise and fear, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Without thinking, I retrieved the girl's bow and handed it over to her.
"Hmmm... Fluffier than I expected..." I mused.
"Wha-what?" The hidden faunus balked.
"Sorry." I calmly apologized. "Just talking to myself... Your ears are fluffier than I was expecting. They're cute. I hope you don't mind me admiring them."
"You... knew? You think they're cute?" Blake asked shyly as she reached up to touch her extra appendages.
"Yeah, I knew for quite some time. You're not the first faunus I've met who felt like she has to hide the gifts she was given by The Creator," I explained before pulling out my scroll and handed it over to her.
"This is my youngest adopted sister, Cheri. She's a fox faunus. So you don't have anything to worry about. I won't say anything."
The image on screen was of Cheri riding my shoulders as we built a snowman with bunny ears together.
"Thank you... And... she's very cute..." Blake admitted with a soft smile. "She looks like a real sweetheart..."
"Thanks," I nodded. "And yeah, she's a little angel. For me, at least."
We both chuckled for a moment.
"So how did you figure me out?" Blake asked.
"Well, for starters, your bow twitches occasionally. And I also have enhanced senses as one of the passive side effects of my Semblance," I answered. "So I was able to quite literally sniff you out as a cat faunus."
"Your Semblance?"
"Yeah, Aura Amplification. It's hereditary, like Weiss's. 'Cept, it's only passed down along the men in my family. It allows me to amplify the Aura and Semblances of others exponentially. Myself in particular. Due to its nature, it modifies my physiology to better handle it. All my senses are enhanced to near-faunus levels, and my base physical abilities are on par with veteran huntsmen," I explained.
Blake's eyes widened at that.
"Sounds powerful, but if that's the case, what are you doing here?" She asked.
"Because I was conscripted into Beacon by Professor Port. He was helping my village with a Grimm Horde, and I guess I impressed him," I said."Up until recently, my "training," if you can call it that was mostly farming, hunting, local wrestling competitions, and the occasional bandit raid. Beyond that, any actual training involving my Aura was just the basics and mental fortitude training."
"Mental fortitude training?" Blake wore a quizzical expression.
"Yeah, my Semblance comes with a trade-off. I'm a literal berserker. The longer I use my Semblance, the likelier I'll snap and go into a borderline unstoppable frenzy," I admit sheepishly. "That's kind of part of the reason why I've done so poorly in Goodwitch's class up until today. I don't want to hurt anybody."
"I see..."
"And if you don't mind me saying this, but I think you look better without the bow..." I admitted with a blush, trying to steer the conversation away from myself. Embarrassed by what I had just said, I turned my attention back out the window to admire the white snowy owl that had perched itself on the windowsill just outside.
I smiled to myself at the sight of her and reached my arm out to her.
This was an omen of good things to come.
The owl flew into the room and now perched herself on my shoulder.
"Evening Skadi, catch anything good lately?"
The owl cooed softly as she rubbed her head against mine.
Stroking the feathers on her chest gently, I sat down at the coffee table and opened a book.
"Is that your owl?" Blake asked.
"Yeah," I confirmed. "This is Skadi, I raised her from an owlet. She must have followed me from back home."
"Enjoy your evening, Blake. I've got some studying to do..."
AND SCENE!!!
I hope you guys enjoyed this first chapter! So what do you guys think Jaune and Ruby are gonna make together?