"Again."

Jaune panted, using his shield as a crutch to lift himself off the ground. His father, Ferrum, stood opposite of him, his longsword held to his side. The weapon he used to utterly thrash him just a moment ago.

There was a stoic mysticism that graced his father's features. "You wanted to be a Huntsman, right? Just like me? Just like all the rest of the Arc men of old?"

Jaune just barely mustered the strength to nod.

"If you do not even have the strength to say it, then we are done here."

"Y-Yes." He gasped out.

"Yes what?"

"I want to be a Huntsman!" His lungs burned. Everything burned. His body screamed for rest. His mind did not allow it.

"Then you must be better." Ferrum pointed his blade at him. "Every generation must endeavor to be better than the last. You must be better than me, better than your grandfather. Better than the Golden Arc. That is the stipulation of the path you wish to follow."

Jaune staggered to his feet, pushing off the ground with his shield and falling into a defensive stance. His shoulders heaved with every breath. His sword arm struggled to keep the tip of his sword off the floor.

Ferrum sighed. "You could have been anything, Jaune. You could have become a wandering minstrel, a scholar, even a common farmer. I would have loved you just the same. The entire family would." His eyes hardened, taking a menacing step forward. "But you chose the path of the Hero. You chose the path of unending danger, of endless sacrifice."

Jaune just barely raised his shield to ward off his father's thrust. It didn't matter. Ferrum switched his grip, holding his sword by the blade and hooking his cross guard over the shield. With an effortless grunt, he yanked the shield down and bashed his son's face in with the pommel. Jaune was knocked to the ground for the umpteenth time.

"Again." Ferrum commanded.

The Arc scion laid against the floor of the training area, drool seeping out of his mouth. He couldn't get up. Labored breathing was the only thing he could manage. His body gave up, even if his mind hadn't. He closed his eyes, trying so very hard to fight back tears.

"Again!" His father roared. "This is the way of the warrior! This is the hardship we must endure! This pain you feel is nothing compared to what you will face in the future! You must overcome it. You WILL overcome it!" Ferrum raised his longsword over his head. "Because you are the last bastion against injustice. If you fall, so too shall everything that you love and hold dear!"

He swung down. "So get up and FIGHT!"

Jaune rolled to the side, dodging his father's strike by a hair's breadth. He got to his feet, crouched low and charged his father shield-first. Ferrum met his charge head on, ramming his shoulder into it. He expected to meet resistance, to send his son flying backwards with his raw strength.

He felt nothing.

The shield flew back, but its wielder was not behind it. The veteran huntsman heard his son roar from below, then felt a fist impact his chin. His Aura flared as he staggered back, but Jaune allowed him no time to recover.

Pressing his assault, Jaune flew at his father with a determined rage. He swung at Ferrum's right flank, digging his blade into his Aura. He ducked below his father's wild swing, then headbutted him to prolong his blindness and confusion. Blood dribbled from Jaune's forehead down into his swollen eye, robbing him of his depth perception. He sidestepped his father's thrust, flowing around him and to his exposed back. He thrust his blade forward, a victorious cry on his lips.

Ferrum's ears perked up.

At once, his father moved slightly to the side and caught Jaune's sword in his armpit. He twisted violently, driving his elbow into his son's temple and wrenching the boy's weapon out of his grasp. Jaune struck the ground just as harshly as his father did him, falling lifelessly like a puppet with its strings cut.

That was it. He was done. His body had tried to deny the second wind, there was no way it would allow a third. Even his mind had said it was enough, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

Through his wheezing, he heard his father walk up to his prone form. Through the haze of pain and agony, he felt his father roll him onto his back. He could barely see the proud smile on his face through his blurry vision. He felt a hand lay against his chest, over his heart.

"For it is in sacrifice that we find salvation. By our example, we become a beacon of hope for the people. Sworn to martyrdom, bound by honor, I release your soul, and by my hand, entrust this duty to thee."

A warm, soothing feeling washed over him as he finally fell into unconsciousness.

{ I }

Jaune awoke to the smell of edelweiss and snowdrops. It was a sweet smell, fragrant but not overpowering. It reminded him of Weiss. He breathed it in deeply.

Something tickled his nose, and he made to brush it off. His hand found something, tangled in a mass of… hair?

"Hmm..." He heard someone hum from within his arms.

He opened his eyes to find Weiss snuggled up against him, her back against his chest. She was sleeping still, a content and peaceful expression on her face as she held one of his hands over her stomach.

Jaune smiled, nostalgia flowing through him. He and Weiss used to sleep like this all the time when they were younger, often sharing a bed during their sleepovers. It reminded him of simpler times.

He looked towards the windows, finding the sun rising just overhead. Thankfully, the curtains prevented the harsh beams from blinding their faces and forcing them awake. He was tempted to sleep a bit longer, enjoying this comforting moment that reminded him of his childhood.

Unfortunately, his stomach growled in protest, which not only aggravated him, but woke his bedfellow as well.

Weiss slowly stirred from her slumber. She had slept wonderfully. She was encapsulated in an aura of cozy warmth. Her back was pressed against something firm, but comfortable, so she leaned against it.

"Good morning, Weiss," She heard Jaune whisper soothingly into her ear.

"Mmm, good morning Jaune…" Weiss replied groggily.

"It's time for breakfast. We should get up."

She turned over so that she could lay her hands on him. "I don't want to…" She wanted to stay like this forever.

'As spoiled as ever.' He laughed quietly. "You're gonna regret it later if we don't eat now. Come on, I'll make you your favorite cup of coffee."

Begrudgingly, Weiss got up, the promise of coffee too good to refuse. Her long white hair fell around her like a curtain, silken tresses reflecting the morning sun like snow. Jaune helped her to her feet, holding her steady as she blinked the dreariness from her eyes.

Jaune looked to the ground to spy Ruby and Yang still snoozing away. He was debating on waking them, but decided against it. He hadn't meant to wake up Weiss in the first place anyways.

They got dressed with little fuss, though Jaune forewent his full armored attire for just his jeans and Pumpkin Pete hoodie. When they got to the cafeteria, they found it nearly devoid of their peers. It made a bit of sense, considering most of them were still asleep when they left the ballroom. Weiss certainly didn't complain, much preferring the quiet and somewhat private dining experience.

The food offered varied from the classic pancakes, eggs, and sausage; to upper crust selections like omelets, fruit pastries, and more. A little something for everyone, no matter the background. They filled their trays with their preferred breakfast items and claimed a table off in the corner, away from the few people that were there. Jaune excused himself back to the serving area, where he asked the staff if he could use their private coffee machines.

The staff looked between themselves with uncertainty and were clearly hesitant. "I don't think you know what you're asking for, kid." One of the chefs told him. "The machines are private for a reason. Only us and the headmaster are allowed to operate them."

"It's fine, Gaston." A sagely voice said from beside Jaune, causing the blonde to turn with surprise. Ozpin looked at him with a friendly smile. "Mr. Arc has my express permission to operate the private machines." He pushed his glasses up slightly. "On the condition he makes me a cup as well."

Jaune grinned cheekily. "Thank you, headmaster. I promise, you won't be disappointed."

Student and headmaster disappeared into the back, out of public sight. Weiss was curious, having seen the exchange from a distance. 'Where are they going? Are the coffee machines not right there?' She glanced to the self-serve area, where a few students were lining up to grab a cup themselves.

Jaune returned a few moments later, holding two cups of steam hot coffee in his hands. Notably, headmaster Ozpin did not return with him. Jaune placed one of the cups in front of Weiss with a dramatic bow. "One cappuccino with cinnamon, double espresso, and semi-skimmed milk, as promised."

"What was that about?" Weiss asked curiously. "Where did you go to make this?"

He winked at her, taking a sip of his coffee and sighing contentedly. "Arc family secret."

"Why the secrecy?" She questioned, looking down at her cup with scrutiny. It didn't seem out of the ordinary, save for the frankly amazing milk decal of a snowflake. It smelled heavenly as well.

"Drink your coffee, Weiss." He ignored her question. "It's starting to get cold."

"Hmph," She pouted at him, but did as she was told. She brought the cup to her lips.

Jaune looked at her with a teasing grin. "Well? How was it?"

She glared at him as she put her cup down. "It is acceptable. Honestly, why were you so-" The cacophony of chattering and clinking plates finally registered in her ears. The cafeteria was loud and full of people now. Her cup hit the table with a hollow thud. Surprised, she looked down: Not only was her cup, once filled to the brim, empty; but so was her plate of food. "What? But I only took a sip?"

"Weiss, you finished it before we got here." A voice to her right said slowly. Weiss almost gave herself whiplash with how fast she turned her head. Yang and Ruby were sitting next to them, worry etched clearly on their faces.

"W-What? When did you two get here?!"

"We've been here for half an hour now, Weiss." Ruby said hesitantly. "Is… Is everything okay?"

"I-I…" She felt fine. Great, even. Her hunger was sated, her tongue held a delectable aftertaste, and her body had been completely relaxed until just now. She looked to Jaune, who was giving her a small smirk. "I don't know."

She stood up after a moment. "P-Please excuse me, I… I need a moment to myself."

The sisters stared at Weiss's retreating form, even more concerned than they were previously. "Jaune, are you sure she's gonna be all right?"

Jaune took a moment to finish his coffee. In his periphery, he noticed Ozpin stagger out of the kitchen with a goofy grin on his face, hair and clothing disheveled but with a spring in his step.

"Yeah, she'll be fine."

{ II }

Things proceeded rather normally after that. Jaune, Ruby, and Yang enjoyed each other's company for a little longer before they had to get ready for the initiation test.

"636…" Jaune murmured, scanning the nearby lockers for the number. "Did I really put my gear in there? I don't remember counting so high…"

"… thought to whose team you'd like to be on?" He heard Weiss's voice from a bit further ahead. "I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual, such as yourself."

"Hmm…" Someone replied. He thought he recognized the voice, but couldn't quite place it. "I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may."

Curious, Jaune made to approach. He turned the corner, coming face to face with his friend and a familiar redhead.

"Well," Weiss continued. "I was thinking we could be on a team tog-" She paused once she saw Jaune step into view. "Oh, Jaune! You came just in time."

"Did I?" Jaune said. The redhead turned to meet him. Their eyes widened slightly in recognition. "Oh, hey there, Pyrrha!"

"Hello again!" Pyrrha returned warmly with a cute wave of her hand.

"You two have met?" Weiss asked with surprise.

"During the welcoming speech," Jaune explained. "She offered me a spot next to her when I couldn't find you." He bowed his head slightly to her. "Sorry for just up and leaving like that, by the way. That was rude of me."

"Oh, it's fine." Pyrrha waved him off. "You seemed so happy to find each other. I wouldn't have wanted to intrude on that."

"This is perfect!" Weiss exclaimed, startling the other two. "If the three of us are on a team together, we'd be unstoppable!"

"You seem excited." Jaune noted with a smile.

"But of course!" Weiss replied eagerly. "This is the Pyrrha Nikos, after all. Her combat prowess and accolades are legendary!"

Jaune noticed the subtle thinning of Pyrrha's own smile, becoming less warm and more polite. "Are they?" He asked, shocking the both of them.

"Jaune…" Weiss said slowly, disbelief clear in her tone. "You can't mean to tell me you've never heard of her?"

"I haven't, actually." He admitted sheepishly. "I, um, I haven't really been keeping up with that kind of stuff. Too busy with training, you know?"

"Even then!" Weiss scolded him, then proceeded to list off the redhead's achievements in hopes of jogging his memory. "She graduated as valedictorian of Sanctum Academy?"

"You did?" He asked Pyrrha, who nodded shyly. "That's great! Congratulations!"

"Thank you." Jaune noticed Pyrrha standing just a bit straighter, her smile becoming just a bit less plastic.

"She's won the Mistral Regional Tournament four years in a row?" She continued, her voice rising. "A new record, might I add?"

"Again, congratulations." Jaune repeated. "But I'm afraid to say I've never heard of it."

Pyrrha's smile brightened a little more. Was she… Was she happy that he's never heard of her?

Weiss was grasping for straws at this point. "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box, the same Pumpkin Pete that's on your hoodie!?"

Jaune slammed his fist into an open palm. "Now I remember!" He proudly exclaimed, causing Weiss to facepalm. He turned to Pyrrha with a look of awe. "Wait, that was you? I thought you looked familiar, but I wasn't sure!"

"Of course, that would be what you would know her from." She sighed in exasperation. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Hey, this hoodie took a ton of box tops to get!" Jaune defended himself.

"I could have bought you that same hoodie for less than the amount you spent on cereal!"

"It's not the same!"

A low, quiet giggling interrupted their argument, drawing their attention to the Amazonian girl. She had a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter in vain, an act she soon gave up entirely. "I'm sorry," She apologized in between fits of laughter. "But that was just too funny to me!"

"I'm glad to be of service, milady," Jaune bowed dramatically, tipping his metaphorical hat and sending Pyrrha into another giggling mess. The blonde smiled, quite liking the sound of her laughter. He held his hand out to her. "So, Pyrrha, what do you say? Wanna join my team?"

It took her a few moments to compose herself, but she grasped his hand in a firm grip. She smiled at him. An honest, genuine smile full of mirth and merriness. "That sounds grand!"

"Your team?" Weiss quirked a brow. "If I recall, it was my idea to begin recruiting! If anything, I'd be the leader."

"I'm the one who she said yes to!" He countered with a grin. "Obviously, my natural charisma makes me the prime candidate to be team leader."

"I think you'd make a great leader, Jaune." Pyrrha agreed.

"See?" He gestured to the redhead in an over-the-top manner, reducing her to giggles once more. "Pyrrha agrees! That's a two-to-one vote!"

Weiss rolled her eyes at his antics, crossing her arms and trying in vain to keep the smile off her face. "I suppose if you were team leader, it wouldn't be the end of the world." She raised a finger to his lips before he could respond. "But I would expect you to be the very best of the best! No slacking off!"

It was his turn to quirk a questioning brow. "Wasn't it me who had to coax you out of bed this morning?"

A heavy blush crossed her features, unable to deny the statement. Her eyes scanned him for anything to find fault in, then immediately locked on to his hip. "At least I have my weapon for initiation!"

"Who needs a weapon when I've got these guns!" Jaune deflected, flexing his biceps for emphasis and having Pyrrha in stitches. "But, uh, yeah. I actually really need to find my locker. Help me, please?" He awkwardly raised the slip of paper in his hand.

Weiss grabbed it from him, took one look at it, then pointed to the locker behind her. "It's right here you blind oaf."

"Thanks Weiss, you're a lifesaver!" He said appreciatively, immediately rushing to open it.

Withdrawing his armor, he donned it quickly and efficiently, having years of practice in doing so. The girls watched in fascination as Jaune slowly transformed into the spitting image of a gallant knight, his body covered from the head to toe in white plate armor with gold accents. He finished his ensemble with a visored barbute helmet, his royal blue eyes vibrantly visible from within. He strapped Crocea Mors to his hip, nodding to himself once he found everything satisfactory.

"You look quite dashing, Jaune." Pyrrha complimented.

Weiss nodded in agreement. "Dashing indeed. Now, if only you could act like it."

"Heyo!" Yang greeted, sauntering up with Ruby close behind. "You feeling better, Weiss? You were kinda-woah." She paused, seeing Jaune's armored form. "That, uh… That you, ladykiller?"

Smiling behind his visor, Jaune put his leg back and bowed in an old-fashioned manner. "It is indeed, fair maiden."

His exaggerated formal tone made the brawler snigger. "Damn, Jaune. You look ready for war!"

Ruby's silver eyes were sparkling with awe. "You look awesome!" she exclaimed giddily, rushing over to inspect every last bit of his armor. "It's like you came straight out of a fairy tale!"

Jaune laughed. "Thanks Ruby. Are you guys ready for initiation?"

"Super ready!" Ruby said confidently, pulling her weapon into her arms and cradling it affectionately. "My sweetheart is rearing to strut her stuff!"

"I'm excited to see you in action, then!" Jaune exclaimed. "You know, Weiss, Pyrrha, and I were planning on forming a team. We could use a fourth, if either of you wanna join?"

Ruby shuffled her feet awkwardly. "T-Thank, Jaune, but I was hoping to be on a team with Yang."

"Hey, don't let me stop you." Yang's voice lacked its usual playfulness. Ruby looked to her with a betrayed expression, causing her to sigh and explain herself. "This is a good chance for you to step out of your comfort zone, baby sis. You can't always expect me to be around."

"Yeah, but…" Ruby's crestfallen expression made everyone feel bad for the girl.

An armored hand on her shoulder drew her attention. "It's okay Ruby." Jaune comforted her. "It's perfectly normal to want that kind of familiarity, especially when dealing with new experiences. Your sister may have a point that you'll need to get used to not having that," He glanced at Yang. "But that doesn't mean you should be forced to do it so abruptly."

Yang began to fidget in place, guilt washing over her. "Sheesh, why do I feel like the bad guy here?" Yang murmured. "I didn't mean to upset you Rubes, I just… I'm worried you might get too reliant on me, ya know? I wanna see you grow into your own person. Without my help."

Ruby nodded in understanding, standing up a bit straighter. "Yeah, I get it. But can I please just grow at my own pace? I can make my own friends, Yang. I just need time and a little help here and there."

Her sister looked between Ruby and Jaune with a small smile. "Yeah, okay. Sorry for being annoying."

In a rare moment of sisterly affection, Ruby wrapped her arms around Yang's waist, surprising her. "It's okay." She said in a quiet voice.

Yang quickly returned the hug, her smiling taking on a motherly warmth. She turned to Jaune, a small dusting of pink on her cheeks. "Guess we'll both be declining, Sir Ladykiller."

"Hey, it's cool." Jaune waved her off. "But even if you guys are on a different team, Team Jaune is always welcome to you."

They both giggled. "That sounds so lame!"

Weiss groaned. "Team Jaune? Really?"

"I think it's a nice name…" Pyrrha said supportively.

"I couldn't think of a better one on the spot, okay?!"

{ III }

Ozpin looked over his prospective students with a calculating gaze. He was certainly blessed with a good batch this year: A championship fighter, the heiress the SDC, the children of Team STRQ, and the Arc family scion. His eyes lingered on Jaune's armored figure a tad longer than the others, a shudder running down his spine. He'd have given the boy a full scholarship for his coffee making skills alone, never mind his heritage.

His aspiring applicants looked to him with anxious expressions, some of them bouncing on the balls of their feet in excitement. To his side, Glynda waited for him expectantly, scroll in hand. He supposed that was his signal to get started. He took one last sip of his coffee before he began.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors. And today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." He nodded towards Glynda, passing it off to her.

"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams." Her jade green eyes scanned the crowd of would-be Huntsmen, meeting each and every one of their gazes. "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates… Today."

He noticed the worried looks on some of their faces, glancing at their friends and peers with nervous stares.

Ozpin took over once more. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon, so it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." The applicants began to whisper amongst themselves, quietly formulating plans to meet up with their friends.

"After you've partnered up," he continued, "Make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path," He paused for dramatic effect. "Or you will die."

That definitely shook some nerves. "You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one, then return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

No hands were raised, only determined and eager stares. He smiled, taking another sip of his coffee. "Good! Now, take your positions."

All of his hopeful students readied themselves, getting into low stances. One by one, the launch pads beneath their feet sprang forward, sending them careening through the air. Some were startled and yelled in fright, others laughed joyously and enjoyed the adrenaline high.

He locked gazes with Jaune Arc, who stood on the last launch pad. "Mr. Arc, I must thank you again for this morning's coffee. It was delicious."

"You're welcome, headmaster."

"I have high hopes for you, young man. The men of your family have achieved a great many things during their lifetimes. There is much to be expected from you."

The boy's armored form tensed subtly. "I know."

"Are you afraid of failure, Mr. Arc?" Ozpin queried.

"Isn't everyone?"

"Some more than others." He took another sip. "Your forefather, Aureus, was deathly afraid of it. Even more than that, he was afraid of disappointing those he cherished and held dear."

Jaune's gaze hardened. "How do you know so much about the Golden Arc?"

"We have plenty of records of our own, Mr. Arc. Considering he was Beacon's first headmaster, is that really so strange?"

"… What's your point?"

"Despite his fear, Aureus never let it rule him. He used it to motivate himself to be better, to maximize his chances of success. You would do well to learn from his example."

"I'll find my own way." Jaune replied resolutely with an edge to his voice.

Ozpin smiled. "I'm sure you will. Good luck."

With that, the Arc scion was launched away. Ozpin followed Jaune's arc until the boy disappeared beneath the forest's canopy. Glynda stepped up to the edge with him, tapping away at her scroll. "You seem awfully fixated on Mr. Arc, headmaster."

He did not meet her questioning gaze. "You could say I've a vested interest in his future." He made to take another sip of his coffee, frowned when he realized he had already finished it, then turned to her with a question on his lips.

"Do you believe we could make some room in the budget to hire Mr. Arc as my personal barista?"

{ IV }

Weiss soared through the air like a graceful white dove. She tried to keep in the air as long as possible so that Jaune or Pyrrha might see her, but as her upward momentum began to slow, she had no choice but to prepare her descent into the forest below. Using her semblance, Weiss created a glyph in her path, angling it so that she could use it as a platform to slow her fall. She kicked off of it, changing her trajectory and slowing her momentum ever so slightly. She repeated this process until, at last, she landed safely on the forest floor.

Nodding to herself in satisfaction, she continued northward at a steady pace. She wanted to double back in hopes of catching Jaune, but didn't want to risk passing him and wasting time. She'd meet him at the temple. Hopefully she will be able to avoid anyone else until then.

A rustling of leaves from her left caught her attention. Brandishing Myrtenaster, she leveled its tip in that direction, falling into a combat stance. 'Head up, shoulders back, right foot forward. Slow your breathing. Wait for the right time to strike.'

The dust cylinders on her rapier clicked into place. She was fully prepared to impale whatever it was that lunged at her from that bush.

"Renny~" A bubbly orange-haired girl came forth, eyes closed and arms outstretched to prevent her from walking face-first into a tree. "Is that you?"

"Um…" Weiss lowered her blade and awkwardly stared at the girl. "No, I'm-"

"Nope!" The ginger interrupted. "Sorry, but I've got to keep my eyes closed until I find my Renny." She meandered off into the foliage once more, eyes still shut. "Ren~! If you can hear me, make a sloth noise!"

Weiss stared after her in complete disbelief. 'Is she really intending to keep her eyes closed while traversing a Grimm-infested forest?'

She debated following the girl in case she got into an accident, but decided against it. If the girl suddenly reared on her and made eye-contact, she'd be stuck with her for four whole years. She couldn't risk that! Besides, she has to have some skill to be confident enough to traipse about while intentionally handicapping herself.

"Hey, you're not Ren!"

An Ursa's roar came from the same direction as the girl's voice. Weiss made to run over and help her, but a series of explosions rocked the ground and forced the heiress to stop and keep her footing. A whimpering followed, its timber bass and animalistic, and quickly ended with an audible 'CRACK!'

There was silence for a moment, then came the girl's sing-song voice once more. "Renny~! Where are~ you~?"

Weiss backed away slowly.

{ V }

Pyrrha powered through the forest canopy shield-first, breaking through branch after branch before landing on a particularly thick one in a roll. She brought Miló's rifle form up, scanning the skies for Jaune. She spotted him sail overhead, using his shield as a glider to gain a bit more distance north. Smiling, she made to follow, dropping down from her perch and to the forest floor.

When she had applied to Beacon, all Pyrrha had hoped to leave her fame behind and start fresh as a normal girl. Well, as normal as one could be while learning to fight ferocious Grimm, but that's beside the point. She wanted to make meaningful bonds with her peers, to enjoy her youth… to possibly even fall in love.

She felt that she had that opportunity after meeting Jaune for the second time. His ignorance of her fame was refreshing, and exactly what she sought after. It meant that his words were genuine, born out of honesty and not an attempt to take advantage of her celebrity status. He was kind, polite… tall, handsome… A warmth filled her cheeks just imagining him. And he was funny, too! Gods, she hasn't laughed like that in a long while…

So when she saw how he looked at Weiss, how they teased one another and how happy they seemed to be each other's presence, she was just the tiniest bit jealous.

She wanted that.

She wanted to be the one Jaune teased and laughed with, to be the one who caused his eyes to light up when they saw her.

He had to be her partner. Her next four years at Beacon would be a dream come true if so.

With that goal in mind, Pyrrha pushed even faster through the dense foliage. Jaune couldn't have landed too far ahead of her, so if she kept this pace up-

As she parted the greenery in front of her, a figure in white came into view. It turned around, alerted by her loud entry, and she was suddenly locking gazes with the wrong blue eyes.

"Pyrrha!" Weiss exclaimed with relief. "I'm glad we've managed to find each other so quickly!"

Pyrrha fell into a practiced smile—polite and plastic— as disappointment filled her being.

{ VI }

Jaune landed on the ground in a roll, then rolled to his feet. He scanned his surroundings for enemies before relaxing when he found none. He idly noticed the sounds of gunshots and explosions in the distance, but chose to ignore them in favor of continuing to the temple. He was sure that despite Ozpin's warnings of not intervening, they would prevent any examinees from being killed.

As he began his trek northward, he wondered if he would happen upon either Pyrrha or Weiss. The clarification of team formation somewhat threw a wrench into their plans, especially the part about partners, but he was confident Weiss could think of a contingency.

'She always does.' He thought with a smile.

He noticed the foliage to his sides begin to rustle, but he pretended not to and kept moving. He swung his sword from side to side in a playful manner, whistling a jaunty tune as he saw red eyes gaze at him from the greenery from his periphery. He flicked Crocea Mors up into the air, sending it spinning before catching it skillfully by the hilt.

'Just a little more…' He tossed the sword up once more. 'Come on, attack the stupid distracted human…" He fumbled the catch, launching his weapon a few feet forward and away from him.

A Beowolf lunged at him from his right, seizing the opportunity to maul the defenseless Huntsman-in-training. Another sprinted at him from his left, while a third leapt at him from behind, eyes trained on the nape of his neck.

Unfortunately for them, Jaune was not nearly as defenseless as he seemed.

With a twist of his hips, Jaune drove the edge of his shield into the mask of the first Beowolf, sending it flying back. Pivoting immediately, he rammed his shoulder into the Grimm attacking his back, simultaneously carrying it away and dodging the left Grimm. He continued in a dead sprint, forcing the Beowolf on his shoulder into and nearly through the trunk of a nearby tree.

He collapsed his shield, pushing its slim form into the gaping maw of the Grimm as it attempted to bite his head off, then expanded it again. The forceful expansion of the shield pried open and dislodged the beast's jaw, ripping it from its hinges and causing it to dangle grotesquely. Dragging its face down, Jaune began to beat the Grimm to death with his Aura-enhanced fist, spraying bone shards and gray matter with each swing.

With the first of its pack still reeling, the untouched Beowolf made to attack Jaune while he was still occupied with the corpse in his hands. Sensing this, Jaune ripped the dissipating Grimm out of the tree trunk and launched it at his attacker. The corpse collided with significant force, sending the Grimm sprawling to the ground and pinning it under its weight. The blonde swiftly strode up to the downed Beowolf just as it rolled the body of its packmate off it, then crushed its skull under his armored boot.

Jaune looked for the last Beowolf, spotting it finally regaining its bearings from when he last left it. It growled and barked at him, its baleful red eyes glowing with fury and hatred.

The armored Arc merely laughed.

The Beowolf charged at him, snarling with teeth barred to chomp down and rip him limb from limb. Its foot falls were heavy and agile, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt in its wake. Jaune grabbed his shield with both hands and tossed it into the Grimm's path, resulting in the following series of events.

First, the Beowolf's front paws landed on the shield with such force that it sent the shield skidding backwards, suddenly robbing it of stability and causing it to trip. Its previous forward momentum forced it to keep tumbling towards Jaune, who used the small reprieve to retrieve Crocea Mors and wait for the Grimm to come ever closer. Finally, the Beowolf came to a stop at Jaune's feet. The last thing it saw was the boy's blade plunging down into its skull.

Jaune let out a sigh, flourishing his blade to clean off any residue. 'That was a good warm-up. Now, where did I leave my Shielthe?'

Eyes scanning the battlefield, he noticed a girl in black and white. His eyes widened as he recognized the black bow on top of her head.

And his shield in her hands.

Her eyes were pointedly looking down at the Arc emblem on its face, her hand coming up to brush off the small bits of dirt on it. "You're an Arc?" She asked, still not looking at him.

"I am." Jaune said, slowly walking towards her. "Why do you ask?"

Amber eyes drew upwards, meeting his royal blue. He noticed her lips curl upwards into the smallest of smiles. "No reason." She held his shield out to him, then introduced herself. "Blake."

He accepted his shield back, collapsing it and sheathing his sword away. "Jaune." He returned. Taking off his helmet and holding it against his hip, he held out his hand towards her with his usual smile on his face. "I guess this makes us partners."

Blake's eyes studied his visage intensely, her gaze boring into him and making him squirm. For a moment, he was worried he offended her somehow. 'Maybe she doesn't do handshakes?'

Luckily, his worries were proven unfounded when Blake firmly grasped his hand in hers. There was the barest hint of excitement in her eyes, having been satisfied with whatever it was she was looking for.

"I guess so," she said teasingly, "Partner."

He could have sworn her bow just twitched.

A/N: Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone! Glad to see some returning readers.

InhumanNexus: No, it's never too early to make that joke, especially for someone like me XD.

Sage Leumas: Why? Because I want to, that's why. I agree that most harem stories aren't too popular or well-received, but that's also because most of the time the harem simply gets too large to handle all the characters within it properly. I plan to keep it relatively small in comparison, and hopefully give everyone their proper screen time.

Hopefully you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please remember to follow and review if you want to see more!