Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth. I own nothing.

9. Beacon Days 03

Beacon Combat Class, 1st Day of Matches

"Winner, Blake Belladonna."

Jaune watched on as the B of RWBY coolly walked back to the stands. Her opponent, a girl with long, green hair, stumbled dizzily from the whirlwind she had just survived. Jotting down a few final notes on both combatants, Jaune thanked Lady Luck that he did not face the raven-haired woman.

He just needed to avoid being called on today, giving him time to establish a better idea of which students he stood a chance against. A string of victories would cement his status as an actual Beacon student.

"Jaune Arc!"

The sharp voice of Glynda Goodwitch rang out, proclaiming the death knell of Jaune's plans. He wanted to glare at her, if only she didn't have the scariest eyes he had ever seen.

Jaune panned his gaze along the room. He didn't have a chance to see how anyone other than JNPR and RWBY performed during Initiation, so most of the students' capabilities remained unknown. Fighting any of them was a risk. And of those familiar to him…

Should he challenge Ruby? No, she has an honest-to-Oum Ultimate Move. That poor Giant Nevermore. Nothing deserved to be so brutally guillotined like that.

Weiss? No, she was some sort of Dust magical girl, throwing around fire, ice, and lightning. Her casting time presented an opportunity, but she came across as especially skilled in field control during Initiation. A terrible matchup for a close-range fighter like him.

Pyrrha? Jaune glanced at his partner, the girl who thought she could 1v1 a Deathstalker. No.

His eyes slid to next person over, only to quickly twist his head away. Those lilac orbs, that excited smile. The monster had been staring at him on and off ever since the night in the ballroom. He avoided her as best as possible back then, aided by the fact that she seemed just as keen to stay out of his path. The battle maniac became much more comfortable around him after Initiation, leading to hints in the last couple of days that a rematch would not be unwelcomed. She said 'someday' back in The Club! He thought she meant years down the line, not a month later. Jaune needed to find someone to challenge before the monster volunteers herself!

And before Professor Goodwitch chose someone for him.

Nervous sweat pouring down his face, Jaune considered all possible paths to victory. His best shot at winning will be to challenge anyone except those on JNPR and RWBY, and trust in his training. It didn't matter who, just blindly choose.

Jaune's hand lifted shakily, about to point at random.

Then, he had an idea. A mad idea.

He wanted to win, because a loss meant the end of his image. But would not struggling to defeat a weak foe do the same harm?

Conversely, would it harm his reputation, if someone undoubtedly strong trounced him? Jaune posited that there may be honor in defeat against an overwhelming opponent.

And the strongest in the room, could only be her.

"Professor Goodwitch?" Fingers hovering over her tablet, Glynda Goodwitch turned her attention to Jaune.

"Yes, Mr. Arc?" Matching her intense gaze with his best impression of a determined youth, Jaune declared.

"I challenge you."

The audience, half-bored from sitting in the stands, dropped their jaws. The whispers started, with some students laughing at his idiocy. Others appeared very intrigued by the possibility of dueling an actual Huntress, none more so than Pyrrha and Yang Xiao-Long. They, and Jaune, awaited the professor's answer.

Glynda Goodwitch exhaled a suffering breath.

"Every year." She tucked away her scroll, and pierced Jaune with her fiercest gaze. "Very well, Mr. Arc. Come down here, now."

Jaune obliged her, making his way to the stage. Every honest 'good luck' was met with a nod, every mocking insult ignored. He kept his expression serious, hands clenched tightly. He walked with crisp steps. To show any sign of cockiness or arrogance here may invite Professor Goodwitch to teach him a lesson in humility, drawing out his punishment in front of the class. Catching her eyes across the stage, he noted a hint of approval at his quick arrival.

Good, she wasn't annoyed with him yet. Which allowed him some leeway to set the atmosphere.

Jaune respectfully bowed to his opponent, drawing a raised eyebrow from Glynda Goodwitch. Rising up, he unsheathed his long knife, hooking his index finger around the hilt and flicking his other fingers to twirl the blade in a flourish. A simple spin that nevertheless appeared flashy, and suggested a modicum of skill in the weapon. The knife came to rest, pointed down, as Jaune took a loose stance.

His combat instructor did not look impressed. She merely brandished her riding crop in hand. Then, with a half-smile that the audience do not see, she copied his movement. Her weapon spun with far more grace.

What was a mere bout, played out like a ceremony.

"You are not the first student to challenge me, Mr. Arc." She waited for a response from Jaune. Hesitantly, he asked.

"Did any of them defeat you?"

"No, they did not."

"Oh." Her tone became pitying.

"Would you like a different opponent?" Jaune shook his head.

"I want to do this. No one else will do."

Not a lie. That nobody has defeated her wholly convinced Jaune that he made the correct choice. Better students have tried and failed. Losing to her was simply natural, doubly so for a first-year. And who knows, maybe he'd get in a lucky hit.

Emboldened, he analyzed his professor for any openings. She took no stance, adopting a casual pose. One hand loosely gripped her riding crop, the other on her hips. She displayed a regal demeanor. The woman looked like a model at a photoshoot, revealing no hint of what she intended to do.

"Do your best, then. Are you prepared?"

Jaune nodded. He'd just have to trust in his training. One leg slid forward, prepared to close the distance as soon as the bout begins.

Hang on, didn't Uncle Hei's file mention...

"Begin!"

Jaune took a knee.

He did not mean to. He did not want to. He planned to dash forward. Instead of his feet pushing forth, his back knee met the floor. Jaune tried to stand, and met a wall. It ran along the contours of his body, legs, and arms. A pressure that pushed back on any efforts he exerted.

The click-clack of heels drew his attention. Peering up, Jaune beheld the sight of Glynda Goodwitch strolling forward, her riding crop pointed at him.

Right, her Semblance. Telekinesis. The ability to grasp and move anything within her range. No stance or fighting style needed.

He never stood a chance.

The combat instructor turned to the spectators, a few of whom have begun laughing and mocking Jaune. Her glare silenced them.

"I will say that not a single person here would fare better than Mr. Arc. That he willingly faced me speaks well of him." She returned her focus to Jaune. "Practically every year, an incoming student requested a battle with me in the first week. Most were overconfident and believed themselves invincible, and they soon learned otherwise. You were more well-mannered than most. For that, I will give you an advice."

Jaune listened with rapt attention. His professor's stern gaze softened.

"You have four years here at Beacon. Know your limit, have patience, and study diligently. Your honest efforts will be rewarded."

Her words slapped Jaune in the face. Lips bit down, hard enough to draw blood. Blue eyes narrowed to slits. Had he not been immobilized, Jaune would swing for her throat.

For her, it was a heartfelt suggestion made out of concern. For Jaune, he only heard a rejection of his Way. She spoke the words of someone strong, deriding the path Jaune, Uncle Hei, and his teachers took to claw their way through this world. Honest efforts were for those very lucky few. The kids that went to combat schools. The students that were properly taught how to harness Aura, Dust, and mechashift. The ones whose parents believed in them.

Fools like him must cheat and lie for all they're worth, seizing every advantage and taking every risk to grasp their dreams.

In spite, Jaune attempted to flex his arms and legs again, not that anyone could see with the professor's Semblance holding him in place.

"Thoughtlessly trying harder won't help you here, Mr. Arc."

Or perhaps someone could. How did she do that?

Jaune mulled over the woman's Semblance. His knowledge of Telekinesis came from comic books, a dubious source at best. The artists generally depicted Telekinesis acting like a wave or field, omnipresent within a certain range yet requiring constant concentration to maintain. She may need to continuously apply Aura to fuel her Semblance, with more resistance taking more Aura to control. It explained how she noticed his movements, if her Aura dipped unexpectedly. Trying harder can literally help him break free. It just won't work fast enough.

A passing thought came to Jaune. Recordings from Uncle Hei's files showed his professor lifting people, Grimm, cars, rocks, and trees, and much more with her power. Solid things, material things.

Can she hold a soul?

Jaune experimentally evoked his Aura, pushing strength throughout his body. He jerked upward, his attempt mashing his flesh against the woman's Semblance, and he nearly screamed from the pain. His shell of Aura proved too thin.

Glynda Goodwitch tilted her head, amused.

"In untrained hands, Aura can hurt more than it helps, Mr. Arc. Do not rely on it overmuch."

Jaune ignored her and tried again, this time flaring his Aura intensely. Bright energy flowed through his limbs and surrounded Jaune, licking him like flames. The oppressive weight remained as he struggled to his feet, yet the pain felt muted. Taking heart, Jaune radiated another burst of Aura. His attempt was rewarded when his knee managed to raise an inch. Jaune barely stopped himself from laughing out loud. The professor's Semblance exerted her will upon the world, but could be resisted by a strong enough soul. He needed to expend Aura to do so, and a large amount to boot. But in a contest of Aura levels, he outranked most contenders. In lieu of skill, sheer quantity can carry the day.

His Aura dimmed, signaling that the shield he erected was close to disappearing. He drew forth more and more of his reserve, burning off Aura to maintain his fiery shell. His team cheered him on, and RWBY followed suit, as one inch became two, then three, then four. Jaune yelled out his determination, Aura blazing, eyes shining. He forced his legs to strain against the will of his professor.

At the end of it all, Jaune stared Glynda Goodwitch in the eyes, his back ramrod straight, sporting a victorious smile. What good was slow honest efforts, when Aura was almighty. Life itself wanted humans and faunus to cheat, giving them superpowers.

Glynda Goodwitch examined the motes of bluish-white light fading around Jaune.

"A fairly good application of your Aura, if wasteful. Who taught you to manifest it so…wildly?" Jaune let slip a smirk.

"I had great teachers. And I surprised you, didn't I? I don't think it's a waste at all, then." His professor looked at the spectators, many by now clapping and cheering Jaune on.

"Yes, and a good show of camaraderie, too. I may enjoy teaching this batch of students. Are you prepared?" Jaune blinked once, then twice.

"For what?"

"My second move, of course." The blond woman simply lowered the tip of her riding crop.

Instant and unrelenting force slammed Jaune into the ground, shattering the arena floor beneath him. His arms and legs splayed wide, unable to even twitch. His Aura dropped precipitously to withstand the might of an earthquake. His head burrowed deep into the Jaune-shaped crater. Jaune heard Glynda Goodwitch say one last thing, as he slipped into unconsciousness.

"You did well for a first-year, Mr. Arc. But you, and your fellow students, have a long way to go."


Beacon Hallway, Recreation Wing

Jaune Arc swaggered down one of the many hallways of Beacon. Earlier in the week, he has established his presence among the Beacon populace at large. Today, he capitalized on the free time to expand his influence, aimlessly roaming for the purpose of being seen and marking his territory.

His bout with Glynda Goodwitch have circulated among the other years to positive effect, with some of his seniors clapping him on the back and recounting the tales of their own defeat at her hand. The mere act of standing across from her elicited grudging respect from those who've spent more than a year under the woman's tutelage. In his own year, while most acknowledged his daring, a sizable crowd (of mostly men) boasted that they could have performed better. Often, they do so in the presence of his partner Pyrrha, or his friends Ruby and Weiss, vying for their attention and shooting jealous glares towards Jaune. These self-proclaimed rivals have not physically attacked him to show dominance yet, likely wary of his reputation. However, it was only a matter of time before the lonely, envious males make their bid to usurp his position. How inflicting violence upon him would impress his friends, Jaune could not begin to guess, but it was the idiosyncrasies that made these contenders fascinating to witness.

In fact, he might be seeing some of them now.

Four of the most outspoken critics in his year ambled down the hallway from the opposite direction. They've clearly noticed him, but they pretended to be absorbed in conversation. A deception, no doubt, to catch him off-guard. Jaune affected a carefree mannerism in return, brightly smiling and whistling a tune.

The gang, the so-named Team CRDL, drifted into formation as they walked. The space between each member of the gang widened, each boy swinging their arms and legs to take up more space. Jaune curled his lips in a derisive sneer upon witnessing their clumsy gait and spastic movements. When moving as a group, a leader often would, and should, take point to set the pace and provide an example for the other members to emulate. These amateurs walked side by side, constantly adjusting their positions to maintain the same speed. They displayed an unpracticed and uncoordinated strut, outing themselves as a mere pack of thugs rather than Yakuza. A close cousin, but inferior in many ways.

Their advantage lay in their numbers. Jaune, expecting a peaceful day, allowed himself to be caught alone and unarmed. This may be a mistake he will come to regret.

They intended to trap Jaune in a classic pincer movement. Their loose approach cast a wide net, its members ready to encircle their prey. Should he stride between any two of CRDL, he would find himself waylaid and quickly surrounded by all four. The lesser males can then tear apart the lone target.

He needed to counter CRDL's formation. Jaune slid his hands in his pockets, thrusting his elbows outwards to project a larger frame. He shifted his center, left leg taking slightly longer steps. Ever so slowly, his subtle gait moved him diagonally. By the time he reach them, Jaune should stand in front of the right-most thug, a boy with dark-blue hair.

This particular specimen exhibited a goofier mannerism and a much skinnier frame. While that may not be indicative of weakness in and of itself, the boy visibly deferred to the larger male next to him. He constantly needed to catch up to his peers, and never took a single step ahead of the others. Simply put, the quintessential underling.

Already, he spotted the blue-haired Huntsman casting nervous glances and sweating. As befitting of an underling low on the hierarchy, his quick instincts for personal danger has calculated the paths of both groups. As things stand, he strode on a collision course with Jaune. His beady eyes widened, surprised at how much larger Jaune was compared to him.

The hunter realized he had become the hunted.

As the two parties neared, Jaune used one hand to nonchalantly reach into his jacket. He had nothing there, but the mere act gave the impression of a hidden weapon. The underling began hyperventilating, the conversation with his gang forgotten altogether. He scanned for any exit, any way to avoid this altercation.

Mere steps away, the brown-haired leader of CRDL laughed loudly as the signal. As a mark of his incompetence, he never noticed the distress of his subordinate. Arrogant, the boy never learned to recognize the warning signs his subordinate saw, believing their prey to still be unaware.

Within a foot of each other, Jaune abandoned his unworried expression to affix the blue-haired boy with a fierce stare. His happy smile twisted into a predatory grin. Blue eyes flooded with Aura, and Jaune prepared for impact. His augmented shoulder-check would send the rival careening.

The moment never came. As was often the case, the Yakuza and the thug passed each other without coming to blows, with one's display of dominance cowing the other into submission. The blue-haired boy avoided all eye contact, hunching down. Skittishly, he shuffled half a step aside, missing Jaune's shoulder by a hair. Jaune took advantage of the broken ambush to pick up speed, while Team CRDL staggered to a halt in disbelief at their teammate.

Taking a corner, Jaune looked back to see the leader of thugs cuffing all three underlings on their heads and berating them. Jaune smiled evilly, giddy that he so easily introduced strife amongst the gang. Their destabilized cohesion will keep them from mounting an effective counterattack against him. And they will counterattack, of that he was certain. He'd need to prepare for the week to come.

Putting the matter aside for time being, Jaune resumed his walk, greeting students and staff to spread his name and face.

Later that night, Jaune reviewed the notes he jotted down during combat class. The leader of CRDL, Cardin Winchester, seemed to be the strongest of his team and, from the altercation earlier, the one pushing for confrontations against Jaune. Dove Bronzewing and Russel Thrush were of middling skill. In other words, still stronger than him. Jaune would have to build a better file before he challenge them to matches with confidence. The last member of the team was the blue-haired boy, Sky Lark. Jaune skimmed the notes again.

An average fighter like Bronzewing and Thrush, slow speed with strong attack due to the weight of his weapon. Wielded a halberd that turns into a rifle, suited for mid- and long-range combat. His weakness appeared to be a lack of close-range options. Jaune added 'easily scared', 'prone to panic under pressure', and 'cowardly' to the list. Stronger than Jaune on combat training alone, yet rife with weaknesses perfectly suited for Jaune to exploit.

Seems like Jaune found his first victory.

Author's Note: Jaune defeated Yang a month or so earlier, couldn't he just do it again? Yang was nerfed throughout Graduation Day. Ran her through a boss-rush, stripped her of half her Aura and all her ammo, attacked her psychologically, trapped her in a disadvantageous grapple. Can't have Jaune annihilating 100%-Yang before Beacon even starts, where would we go from there?

Glynda Goodwitch fight... was a bit of a fake-out, hehe. This was the only moment such a tactic would work for Jaune, so it had to be written. He will get actual fight next Beacon Days. It sounds a bit too easy, doesn't it?