First of all, I have bad news for everyone. This chapter… doesn't have a cliffhanger. Nbappo would get really mad at me if I did it again, so it ends on a simpler note. Based on the comments I know most of you really love them and can't wait to see how I top the ones before. I promise to make sure you get some amazing cliffhangers in the future. Trying to decide where our heroes are going after the last chapter was the hardest part of this chapter. Qrow and Jaune's conversation was actually really fun to write. Qrow is someone I really enjoy exploring his character when he takes the limelight. He has so much potential and his asshole attitude really impacts other people.
Again, thanks to nBappo for betaing. He's been stepping up lately to get these chapters out.
If you continue to enjoy my stories, feel free to check out my p a treon.
P a treon . com (Slash) Dark Betrayer
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Silence settled heavily between them as Qrow's piercing gaze locked onto Jaune. The sudden question had caught him off guard, and he struggled to mask his surprise. Jaune's impassive expression only deepened the tension in the air. Qrow's mind raced, contemplating the best way to respond without revealing too much. He understood that Jaune's astute observation had already hinted at the significance of Salem, someone he couldn't dismiss lightly. With a sigh, Qrow chose his words carefully, balancing honesty with the need for discretion.
"Well?" Jaune finally pushed, after a couple minutes had passed.
"Who's Salem, a girl you met?" Qrow finally asked back. "Thought you and that Vernal girl were a thing."
Jaune's impatience surged, but he hastily reined in his temper, mindful of Ruby's peaceful slumber nearby. He exerted a considerable effort to lower his voice, ensuring his words remained a mere whisper. Thankful that Ruby remained undisturbed, he emphasized the urgency of his question.
"I'm dead serious," Jaune urged, his tone barely audible. "Who is Salem?"
Qrow's eyebrow arched in response, sensing the intensity behind Jaune's inquiry.
"And Raven mentioned that name?" The man asked, still avoiding the question.
"Yes." A scowl formed on Qrow's face at Jaune's words, lit only by the moonlight. "After I helped heal someone for her. It was a reward."
"What else did she tell you?" Qrow asked. "Anything important?"
"A lot of things," Jaune admitted. "More than you could know."
"Why don't you tell me then?"
"Tell me about Salem."
An intense silence hung between them as their gazes locked, each wary of divulging their full knowledge. Jaune had a distinct objective in mind for their conversation, but he knew that expecting Qrow to willingly reveal all he knew about Salem was wishful thinking. Sharing every detail would grant Qrow the power to confirm or deny anything, leaving Jaune without a means to verify the truth. Attempting to deceive or selectively omit information seemed plausible, yet he understood his own limitations, knowing that manipulating others was not his forte. That left him with a solitary recourse, one that would require careful consideration and a well-crafted approach.
Have Qrow spill all he knew before him.
Though, that was easier said than done.
"Kid, listen, tell me whatever lies Raven filled your head with and I'll let you know if there's any truth to her words." The man sighed heavily. "I can't help if I don't know what she told you."
"So you can just avoid telling me anything important!" Jaune hissed back. "Qrow… I need to know about her so I can see for myself what's the truth and what Raven was lying about. The way she acted when she told me about Salem… I don't think it was acting… but it's difficult to imagine what she said was true."
"If you tell me what she told you, I can tell you what's true or not."
"Would you though?"
The words spilled out of Jaune's mouth before he could rein them in, his impulse overpowering his better judgment. Qrow's initial surprise gave way to a frown, a clear indication that Jaune had crossed a line. Despite instantly realizing his mistake, Jaune couldn't retreat now, not without forfeiting any chance of unraveling the truth. Qrow had often hinted at his secretive endeavors on behalf of Ozpin, leaving out vital specifics. If Raven's insinuations held any weight and Ozpin was indeed aware of Salem, then it was highly likely that Qrow possessed knowledge about her as well.
"What's that supposed to mean, kid." Qrow's voice was not amused, passive, or determinately forced. The low guttural growl signified the Huntsman was rather annoyed.
Jaune gulped, but tried to keep his gaze steady.
"You don't always… tell us important details. Remember Tyrian?"
That was a low blow and Jaune would have felt bad using it, if it wasn't for how important it was to learn this information. Qrow was not amused and didn't say anything, though it looked like a vein was throbbing in his head.
"I tell you what you need to know, no more, no less." Qrow huffed. "You agreed to this when you started. Don't go second guessing my training now after you've come so far."
"That's just it!" Jaune pushed. "I need to know this! To know if what Raven said about her mission with Ruby's mom-..." He slammed a hand over his mouth. That piece of information was supposed to be his trump card, preferably not to be used at all.
A strong hand instantly grabbed his shoulder so hard, fingers were sinking into his flesh.
"What. Did. You. Say?" Qrow's words were slow and deliberate.
Jaune remained silent, gritting his teeth to avoid being tempted.
"What. Did. You. Say?" Qrow repeated, a little louder.
"Who is Salem?" The boy finally asked back.
"I'm not playing around, Jaune!" Qrow's voice rose again before he got his anger under control. His other hand grabbed the boy's other shoulder in a vice grip. "Tell me what Raven said about Summer."
"Not until you tell me about Salem!" Jaune pushed back angrily. "What she told me about Summer… It has everything to do with Salem. If I can't verify Salem is real and what she is, then it doesn't matter what Raven said about her mission with Summer."
The hands released their grip on Jaune and the man's arms fell limply by his side. Qrow let out a long slow breath and looked up at the stars and the broken moon.
"I told you there are things I wouldn't be able to tell you."
"This is something I… we need to know." Jaune countered.
"It's far above my paygrade." Qrow continued. "Ozpin should be the one to tell you, not me. When you're older. Just enjoy being a kid for a little while longer."
"It's too late to backtrack now, Qrow." Jaune stated firmly that she was fully aware of the irreversible nature of the situation. Ever since Raven abducted him and brought up Salem, there was no escape from the path he had set upon. "Wouldn't it be wiser for me to hear the truth from my own mentor, understanding the true gravity of the situation, rather than stumbling through it alone, attempting to uncover it myself? Someone like Tyrian..." A sudden realization sparked in his mind. "Wait... the goddess... the queen that Tyrian mentioned... was it her?"
"Probably." Qrow admitted. "Ugh, fine kid. I'll tell you everything I know about Salem, and in exchange, you tell me about what Raven's mission entailed with Summer. Deal?"
"Deal! You have my word!
"Everything you hear here, you can't repeat to anyone except me and Ozpin." Qrow's tone was deadly serious. "Not even Ruby."
"But-..."
Qrow's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "No one!" He interjected firmly, refusing to entertain the idea of Jaune revealing the truth to others. "The only reason I'm even considering telling you is because you stumbled upon it, and I can't have you putting yourself in danger by delving into information about her. I'm dead serious, Jaune. Ruby will learn the truth when the time is right, but not now. Let her savor her childhood a little longer; preserve that innocence. She has already come to terms with her mother's death. Do you want to reignite that pain?"
Shaking his head, Jaune conceded that point.
"Okay… I won't tell her. But this doesn't feel right."
"Trust me, it gets worse." Qrow muttered and then shook his head. Taking a deep breath, he began. "Most people on Remnant believe the Grimm are a mindless horde that simply attacks humans and Faunus alike. For the most part, this is true. Older Grimm can learn a little, but they don't have structures between groups. Most you get are alphas and things like the Queen Arachna. However, there's a group of people who think the Grimm have a leader, a legendary Grimm that rules over all others."
Qrow looked Jaune directly in the eye.
"That is Salem." His words were cold. "An ancient force leading a shadow war against Ozpin and the four kingdoms. Actually, all of humanity. Her purpose in life is to wipe us all out and she lives out on the Dark Continent, in an ancient castle. Biding her time until the Grimm overwhelm us. Only a handful of people know she exists, including each headmaster of the four Academies."
"Why doesn't Ozpin disclose the truth about her?" Jaune asked with a serious tone, deliberately avoiding any mention of immortality, hoping that Qrow would broach the subject himself. Raven had emphasized the importance of keeping it a secret. "Wouldn't it be better for the kingdoms to have a specific target rather than just battling random Grimm?"
Qrow let out a dry chuckle, his voice tinged with bitterness. "There are many reasons," he replied. "To reach Salem, we would have to face hordes of Grimm that even the most fortified areas in every kingdom can barely fathom. Ever heard of Mt. Glenn?" Jaune shook his head, prompting Qrow to continue. "It was Vale's ambitious attempt at expansion. They built walls, fortified the area, and established a thriving settlement. But as more people flocked there, the Grimm took notice. Eventually, the city was overrun, and everyone perished. It became a grim reminder, sealed off as a massive burial ground." Jaune's face drained of color as the gravity of the situation sank in. "And that was just a fraction of the Grimm infesting the Dark Continent. Imagine the panic and fear that would consume the populace if they knew an ancient evil controlled it all."
Qrow paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle before continuing. "And that's not even considering the prospect of confronting Salem herself."
"Is Salem powerful?" Jaune could feel himself getting closer to his goal. "Have you faced her?"
"I haven't seen her myself, but Ozpin told us stories." Qrow admitted and looked into the forest for a moment. "As a Grimm, she doesn't have a soul, so she doesn't have Aura. Instead, her dark powers come from the very essence of Destruction itself."
"Destruction?" Jaune asked.
"Right, you aren't someone who pays much attention to religious stuff, do you?" Jaune shook his head at Qrow's words. "There's a lot of religions with myths about the birth of man, but Ozpin tells us about two gods. Brothers. The older one of light and the younger one of darkness. The God of Light was responsible for creating life on Remnant, while the God of Darkness, jealous of his brother's work, created things to destroy life. Disease, famine, Grimm, everything. Eventually, the two worked together to create mankind who embodied the power of Creation and Destruction. Along with Knowledge on how to do it, and Choice so we can decide if we want to."
"So Salem is something the god of Darkness created?" Jaune asked.
"I assume so." Qrow shrugged. "She's an entity that existed long before the recorded history of mankind. Her power's are vast, one of which is to make and control other Grimm. Even if we rouse all four kingdoms' full military might against her, we would probably fail."
"Even with Atlas' fleet?" That was hard to believe.
"Even with Atlas." Qrow nodded. "Their warships seem powerful, but they can't cover an entire continent at once. Ozpin mentioned once Salem can wave her hands and destroy anything in front of her. I don't know how true that is, but I trust Ozpin completely. If he says her power dwarfs ours, I believe him. It's thanks to his planning over the years, we have as much safety as we do."
"Do you know any other powers or abilities she might have?" Jaune asked.
"Probably any power other Grimm have." Qrow shrugged. "I told you, I never met her. If I have, I probably wouldn't be here talking to you. Why?"
Jaune gulped as the man examined him closely.
"I told you what I know about Salem, now tell me what you heard about Summer." Qrow crossed his arms and stared intently at him.
"You might not like it." Jaune warned.
"Kid, I don't like most of what I do, but I do it because every bit helps. Ozpin gave me purpose and saved me from being just a bandit in the Branwen tribe. While our task to kill an ancient powerful being may be near impossible, every step we move forward is one step closer to ending her reign."
"What if she can't be killed though…" The words came out softly.
"Everything can be killed. That's the one ironclad rule in this world."
"Then you're going to hate what I'm about to tell you…" Jaune took a deep breath. "This is all what Raven told me, so I don't have any other information to answer questions."
"Just get on with it, Kid." Qrow waved his hand in irritation.
"Summer came to Raven with the idea to go and kill Salem." Jaune recited and Qrow's eyes widened.
"Damn it…" The man spat out quietly. "That's just like her. Always so reckless without thinking things through. Just like Ruby…" They had already talked about Summer's personality a bit after Ruby almost died to Tyrian. Jaune understood that Qrow saw that same quality in Ruby as he did in her mother. "Then what happened?"
"They found her." Jaune continued. "Raven described her to me. A nightmare incarnate. Pale skin with black veins, red eyes, and a sinister voice. The closest thing a Grimm could get to a human. They fought her and then Raven said…"
The boy took a deep breath.
"That Salem can't be killed."
Silence followed those words.
"Ozpin told us how powerful Salem was!" Qrow's voice was full of anger and bitterness. "Summer and Raven knew this. They shouldn't have tried. Her power probably overwhelmed them."
"That's… not quite how Raven described it." Jaune admitted. "She said Salem let them try to kill her. Just stood there and let them try. Beheading, cutting, crushing, they tried it all and nothing worked. Did Ozpin ever say Salem is immortal?"
"Immortal?" Qrow scoffed. "I told you, that is impossible.''
"Raven said she was."
THAT stopped Qrow for a moment.
"You're saying… Raven said she was immortal?" The man finally questioned, looking unnerved. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, she specifically said that." Jaune confirmed. "You believe her?"
"Kid, Raven has never once mentioned anything about immortality," Qrow replied, his unease becoming apparent. "It goes against everything she believes in. If someone can't win, it's because they're weak or unprepared. We've faced formidable Grimm in our lives and had to retreat from battles that seemed hopeless. But Raven never labeled them as immortal. For her to actually say that about Salem, that's deeply unsettling. If Salem truly were immortal, Ozpin would have informed us, no doubt about it."
With his arms crossed and a pensive expression on his face, Qrow appeared deep in thought. Jaune realized he didn't need to disclose to Qrow that Summer perished on that mission; that connection could be made without explicit mention. What Jaune did need to share was the sequence of events leading up to Summer's fate. The claim of immortality remained unverifiable by either of them, and it seemed Qrow was genuinely surprised by Raven's assertion. However, Jaune understood that Qrow wouldn't be thrilled about what he had to reveal next. Nevertheless, he had made a promise, and if Qrow and Ozpin were truly confronting this enigmatic Queen, they needed to be fully aware of her true powers.
"After they failed at killing her," Jaune continued. "Salem locked Raven up, monitored her so she couldn't escape. Summer was taken away and Raven didn't see her for days. When they finally reunited, she wished they hadn't…" Jaune looked at the ground, dreading finishing the story.
"Jaune, just tell me," Qrow pleaded, his hand gently patting Jaune's shoulder. "I came to terms with Summer's death a long time ago." They both knew it was a lie, as many late drunken nights had often crumbled Qrow's emotional defenses, but now was not the time for pretense. "What happened?"
With a heavy sigh, Jaune summoned the strength to reveal the unimaginable truth. "Salem transformed Summer into a hybrid, part human and part Grimm."
Qrow's face contorted with shock; his features drained of color under the moonlit sky. His eyes conveyed the immense pain and horror he felt, unable to find words to encapsulate the depth of his anguish.
"Salem played a sinister game with them," Jaune continued, his voice tinged with a mix of urgency and a desire to break the oppressive silence, with a hint of bitterness. He knew his words would only further worsen the atmosphere, but there was no avoiding it. "She allowed them to exhaust themselves in battle, only to capture them and subject Summer to this transformation. Salem then released Raven, setting Summer against her purely for her own amusement."
Qrow remained silent, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the night sky, his face a mask of indiscernible emotions.
"The transformation made Summer even stronger—far stronger than Raven," Jaune felt compelled to emphasize, his voice filled with a mix of reverence and sorrow. It was crucial for Qrow to understand that even in her transformed state, Summer's heroic spirit remained untarnished. "Raven would have perished if it weren't for Summer, the real Summer, finding the strength to halt herself momentarily, giving Raven the opportunity to strike her down."
Crack.
A rock in Qrow's hand broke as the man squeezed with Aura enhanced strength. His face may have been passive, but his rage was burning wildly within him.
"Raven… killed her…?"
His words were soft and not directed at Jaune, but the boy felt a shiver run down his spin.
"She said Summer begged her to, to stop herself from being used by Salem." Jaune added quickly, trying to calm Qrow down. "She refused to be a weapon and rather be stopped than kill innocent people. If Summer is anything like Ruby, then you know that."
"Of course I know that!"
Angry and bitter words flew from his mouth, much louder than he had planned. They both flinched and turned toward Ruby, who didn't seem to have gotten up. The girl was still laying down in her bag in the distance. No sounds of Grimm or other intruders were evident in their surroundings, so they both went back to focusing on each other.
"Of course I know that." Qrow repeated, his voice low. "Summer was one of my closest friends. She would never hurt an innocent person. Having Raven do it… was probably harder for Summer than Raven. She would know how much it would hurt Raven, or at least what she believed. Raven's definitions of attachments are… skewed." His hands gripped together like vices. "So Raven says Salem's immortal and can turn people into Grimm. How many Grimm we fight may have actually been people?"
Jaune didn't think about that. Really, were Grimm once people? Or were only some Grimm? Was it the Alphas or the stronger, smarter Grimm once a person? This led to so many questions. But Summer was only half Grimm according to Raven, so maybe Salem couldn't turn people full Grimm?
"I don't think so," Jaune whispered. "It sounded more like an experiment. If people were being turned into Grimm, there would be more rumors about that. There's rumors about the Grimm leader."
"Ah, don't mind my ramblings, kid." Qrow waved his hand. "I just talk to myself when I'm thinking. I agree with you. It sounds far-fetched and it's still possible Raven was saying this part to confuse you or push you away from Ozpin and me. Lies mixed with truths are the hardest to unravel. When you want to manipulate people, be honest at first to gain their trust and then mix in lies to direct them to the conclusion you want."
"So you think Raven really wanted me to join her tribe?"
The man inhaled slowly and deeply.
"I don't know… but I think, yes." Qrow looked at Jaune. "There's a reason Ozpin wanted you to go on this apprenticeship. Combat skills were one thing, but it was also to train your mind." He tapped his own head. "You're smart Jaune, or at least you can put pieces together to understand things. It's one of your strengths. Part of the training was to help nurture that. Why do you think when we're discussing things, I ask more questions to get you to think things through? The combat skills were secondary… but you've absorbed things like a sponge. Your training is coming along surprisingly quickly."
"It's not like I had a choice." Jaune admitted. "And I'm still not as good as everyone else at Beacon.'
"You've been training for a month with me, starting from near 0 real combat training." Qrow told him. "And you survived an Arachna Nest, killed the Queen, didn't die to Tyrian, killed a Chill to save a kid, and discovered your Semblance after just unlocking your Aura at the beginning of the year. Comparing yourself to students who trained for years in a controlled combat class is stupid. Raven saw your potential and as big of a bitch as she is, she can identify potential."
"If you had said something to me like that before I started training with you, I would have gotten a big head." Jaune admitted. "Now? It's just nice to know I can make a difference if I keep working toward my goals."
"That's why I didn't tell you that earlier."
"But now I have to tell Ruby about this-…" Jaune started to say.
"NO!" Qrow's voice was sharp and barely contained. "Don't!"
The boy flinched at the sudden attack and was shocked. Then anger and disbelief overtook him.
"What do you mean don't tell her?" Jaune shot back. "If anyone deserves to know, it's her. You can't keep sheltering her!"
"I don't want to shelter her, Jaune!' Qrow growled. "But tell me, what will telling her about that accomplish? Ruby already knows her mother died on a mission against the Grimm. She's accepted that and while she still misses Summer, it doesn't haunt her. What do you think will happen if she knows the actual story? Or a possible lie Raven made up to turn you away from Ozpin? Will Ruby find peace knowing her mother was turned into a Grimm and struck down by her Aunt?"
Jaune felt like he had been slapped.
Everything Qrow said resounded in him as truth. What would be accomplished telling Ruby the truth? Jaune was used to telling Ruby everything; the good, the bad, and the ugly. It allowed them to work through problems. In this case, Ruby actually knew the main facts. Her mother died against the Grimm. Did she really need to know the details? The details that cause haunt her dreams? Summer did fight back to the end as a true warrior. If anything, Ruby could respect that. Though she would probably be hurt knowing how her mom suffered.
"Keeping Salem a secret though…" If there was a great threat, wouldn't it be better if they knew about her in case they ever met?
"She hasn't left the Dark Continent," Qrow pointed out. "The only reason you know of her is because of Raven manipulating you for her own gain. Trust me kid, it's best you forget about her for now. This is something you and Ruby don't need to know. Let her be a kid a little while longer and enjoy her youth. Let the adults do what we're supposed to do and protect that. There's plenty of time for her to grow and discover the truth of the world."
"I don't feel right lying to her." Jaune mumbled, looking at the ground and feeling dirty. "I told her I would tell her after I talked with you about it."
"Why didn't you tell her immediately?" Qrow pushed back suddenly. "You kept it a secret until now."
"Because I had to verify what Raven said was true!" Jaune protested, confused at this sudden question. "It didn't seem real, no matter how good her acting was."
"Why did you have to verify it?" Qrow continued, staring at him. "You could have told Ruby the truth and said you didn't know if it was true or not. Why keep it a secret?"
"I-I… d-didn't want to upset her, to make her lash out at Raven and make a scene when we were in their camp." Jaune stammered. "She was already upset as is. There was a chance this was all a lie and it would confuse her. The truth would just make things worse and not… help… anyone…" His eyes widened. "Because there's nothing we can do to change the past…"
"See what I mean?"
Jaune's mouth went dry.
"I don't keep all these secrets because I enjoy the feeling of knowing things other people don't." Qrow explained, exasperatedly. "If Salem is known to the kingdoms, it's going to cause mass panic. How will people react when they realize the monsters we fight have a powerful ruler that could destroy our strongest fighters? We barely hold the lines in the kingdom just defending. You've seen how dangerous it is out here. How hard it is to expand and keep settlements."
"No… I've seen that first hand." Jaune nodded slowly. "How they make do with so little and what they face." Hsi hand formed a fist as he gazed at the ground. "But this is Ruby's mom…"
"I know, kid. I know." Qrow put a hand on his shoulder. "You won't believe all the stuff I want to tell her and Yang, but I have to keep it a secret. People are happier not knowing. It makes it easier to repel the Grimm. If the entire kingdom is scared and frightened about Salem, it's going to draw all the Grimm in the continent at once."
"These kinds of things tend to find their way out in the open." The boy knew this all too well. "Then it just makes things worse."
"You can blame me." Qrow told him. "If Ruby ever finds out, tell her I made you keep it a secret. Then if there's ever a situation where she needs to know for her own safety, then you can tell her. But until then, this stays between us. You're not an idiot. You already told me the reasons why we have to keep this a secret."
"I hate lying to her." Jaune kicked the ground in misplaced anger.
"I do too," The man agreed with a nod. "So just… don't tell her. It's easier than making something up. You don't have to remember the lie."
"I hate you."
"I hate myself more."
"I will tell her if something happens." Jaune told him. "But for now, I'll keep it a secret."
"Thanks…" Qrow rubbed his face. "When we get back to Beacon, I'll tell Ozpin you found out about Salem. I'm sure he will want to talk to you and answer questions you have. He'll be able to answer better than me. I already told you more than I should have."
"I have a feeling I'll end up with more questions than answers." Jaune admitted, thinking about his past interactions with Ozpin. "He always seems like he knows more than he's letting on."
"Oh, that's a no brainer." Qrow actually let out a short bark-like laugh. "I can't guarantee what he'll tell you though."
"Ugh… how do you keep your sanity dealing with all this?"
"Alcohol." There was no joking tone this time. "It helps dull my thoughts. But what most helps me? Remembering Yang and Ruby. Those two are my world and there's nothing I won't do to protect them. Find something important to you, Jaune. Whenever life starts kicking you in the balls, remember what you're fighting for. A better future for people you care about."
A shiver ran down Jaune's spine at those words as his head automatically turned around slightly to gaze at the small ball in the distance.
"That's not hard to do.'
"Get some sleep, I'll take most of the night shift."
As Jaune walked away, Qrow observed him closely, his mind swirling with a mix of weariness and contemplation. Ozpin's warning echoed in his thoughts, reminding him of the revelations he would encounter during his journey—secrets shared among only a select few. He could never have anticipated that Salem would be brought into the discussion. Tyrian's deranged actions had been troubling enough, but Qrow could dismiss him as a crazed murderer. It was Raven, always managing to complicate matters, who had disrupted the fragile equilibrium. Why would that woman reveal such crucial information to Jaune? And to divulge the details of Summer's final moments... Qrow had sought that knowledge, aware that Summer's demise wouldn't have been a peaceful one, considering his understanding of Grimm and Salem. He had steeled himself for it.
Gritting his teeth to avoid yelling and punching a tree was just part of dealing with it.
Ozpin was going to be upset with how much Qrow spilled too.
'Well, looks like Jaune's going to get into the inner circle faster than I thought.'
The following morning, Jaune groggily emerged from his sleeping bag, his rest having been anything but peaceful last night. Tossed and turned by the weight of his worries, even the hard ground beneath him seemed more forgiving than the turmoil in his mind. Just a few feet away, Ruby laid sleeping, blissfully unaware of the secret he carried, and it gnawed at him like an insidious ache. Ruby was one of his closest friends, and the knowledge of her mother's hidden truth burdened him, making him feel like an unworthy companion. Should he surrender and reveal the truth, risking the potential damage it could cause to their friendship? The dilemma plagued him, leaving him torn between the urge to unburden himself and the fear of shattering the innocence and trust that Ruby held so dear.
"Morning!" A bright voice echoed in his ear.
"Morning, Ruby." Jaune looked up at the girl beaming down at him.
"You must have been tired," Ruby pointed out as Jaune stood up and stretched. "Uncle Qrow said to let you sleep a little longer. Bad night?"
"You could say that." Jaune admitted, rubbing his head. The next moment, the girl was hugging him tightly, arms wrapped around his back. "Huh?" He blinked in surprise as his arms wrapped around her in response.
"Hugs make everyone feel better." Ruby told him. "Especially between friends. I know we are going through a lot, but just remember, no matter what happens, I'll never hate you."
"Huh, where is this coming from?" Jaune blinked. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"Maybe…" Ruby's arms tightened slightly before finally relaxing. "I may have needed that hug too."
"What for?" Jaune asked, confused. "Was it a bad dream?"
"It's a secret." Ruby continued her hug. "I'm just glad you're my friend."
"Same, Ruby. Same," Jaune replied, returning the hug gratefully. The embrace brought a sense of warmth and comfort, reminding him that sometimes even the occasional bad dream could be softened by a morning hug.
Their tender moment was abruptly interrupted by Qrow's grumbling voice. "Okay, you two, quit flirting," he muttered, pushing bowls of mushy oatmeal their way. Jaune felt his cheeks grow warm, and he could see the flush on Ruby's face as well. It was an intimate exchange that perhaps others shouldn't have witnessed. The embarrassment settled in, especially considering Ruby's tendency to become flustered easily. While Jaune was accustomed to such interactions with his sisters, there was something subtly different when it involved Ruby. Qrow's comment only added to the awkwardness, as their connection was far from romantic. They were simply best friends, looking out for each other during moments of sadness or worry. They would never deliberately hurt one another.
Telling Ruby the truth would cause her to suffer…
Keeping a secret this big could cause her to suffer…
Why was there no good option?
There was at least a silver lining in their journey. With Qrow there, the two kids didn't have to worry as much about what would happen if they were attacked. Of course they kept an eye open, but they weren't jumping at shadows. Celosia's wise words were kept close to their hearts. Just like Manny's. They meet so many people in their travels, even if it's just for a short time. Everyone had so much experience and wisdom to share if they were willing to listen. Though sometimes the lessons were hard to put into practice.
Jaune and Ruby were both a little quiet over the next few days, something Qrow noticed. He knew why Jaune was off, and assumed Ruby was picking up on it. It's not like he didn't understand the boys' thoughts. After a couple days, when they reached the next town, he did seem to lighten up a bit and the two kids were joking around more with each other. Time tended to dull most wounds. The Atlas Bullhead was also there waiting for them. At that point, one quick flight later and the three of them were back at the Atlas Lumber Yard.
A familiar man greeted them, even if none of them were that happy to see him.
"I'm glad you all returned safely." Ash said.
"You're still in charge?!" Ruby blurted out before covering her mouth.
"I told you he didn't get fired." Qrow grumbled. "He may be an asshole, but he runs a well oiled machine."
"I'm right here, Qrow." Ash sighed. "But I understand why you're upset. However, the situation with Raven should never have happened. Our Security should have interfered at a moment's notice."
"You'll have a hard time dealing with her portal Semblance," Qrow admitted. "As long as she can target someone, she can get through any defenses. We won't be sticking around very long though. I need to contact Ozpin and then figure out where we are going from there."
"You're free to use the communication room as long as you need," Ash assured him and then turned to Jaune and Ruby. "Your belongings have been gathered and taken to the barrack storage area. Feel free to collect it at-..."
His words died off as a blur of rose petals were all that was left of the girl before him. Wind blew his jacket and hair back as Ruby vanished into the distance.
"She really missed her cloak." Jaune laughed.
"I see." Ash rolled his eyes at the childish display. "As for you, Jaune Arc. Due to your clothes being destroyed in your battle with the Queen Arachna, feel free to take a new set for the road. At Atlas' expense of course. You more than earned it."
"Guess I should go see if anything fits me." Jaune joked as he shrugged.
"Good, why you two brats get ready for the party, I'm going to make a call." Qrow told him, turning and heading off with Ash to ring Ozpin.
"Good to hear from you, Qrow." The picture on the monitor showing an image of Ozpin said when Qrow finally called him back "It's been a while. Did something happen?"
That took some explaining from what happened with the Arachna's, Raven, and finding Jaune and Ruby.
"The biggest problem is Jaune knows about the Queen." Qrow finished up. "Raven spilled the secret."
"That is concerning, but not life threatening," Ozpin considered. "Mr. Arc knows the importance of keeping things a secret. More than most people."
"I stressed that to him and as much as he hates it, he agreed."
"He's matured quite a bit then." Ozpin changed the topic to the reason he called Qrow. "I need you back in Vale, Qrow."
"Why? Did something happen?"
"As you know, the White Fang used Mt. Glenn as a staging point with the stolen Dust to try to blow a hole in Vale's defenses to lead the Grimm into the city proper. If it wasn't for team RWBY and JNPR stopping them, we could have had huge casualties."
"But… huh?" Qrow blinked and shook his head. "Again, are you sure White Fang did that? That's not their usual M.O. Was it a set up?"
"No, we checked thoroughly. They were definitely in charge, along with Roman Torchwick, who was taken into custody."
"Bet Jimmy is pleased," Qrow commented mildly. "He's been after Torchwick for ages."
"James volunteered to take charge of security procedures for him." A shadow of a smile flickered on Ozpin's face before he grew serious. "This isn't like Roman Torchwick either though."
"No, that guy is a thief, not a terrorist." Qrow agreed with a nod. "So both he and the White Fang are acting out of character."
"From the sounds of it, if it wasn't for Team RWBY and JNPR discovering them, they wouldn't have made a move for months." Ozpin stated. "They were creating a base of operations in Mt. Glenn. But destroying the barrier around Vale was always part of their plan."
"So they were waiting for a signal…" Qrow grabbed the table he was standing in front of tightly. "Is it her?"
"I believe her pawns were planning to use them as a distraction." Ozpin confirmed solemnly. "It's why I need you back in Vale. I want you to investigate Torchwick's allies and see if there's any information on the pawns."
"That's always a fun job," Qrow groaned loudly. "People in the underworld just love Huntsmen walking around and questioning them. I'm going to be welcomed with open arms…"
"Heh, I know." Ozpin gave him a pitying look. "Think of it as a way to teach Mr. Arc and Miss Rose about socializing."
"You want me to take them?" Qrow raised an eyebrow.
"You might find them useful." Ozpin pointed out. "Besides, if Mr. Arc knows more than he should… it's best to keep him close by."
"Right, we'll head there as soon as we can."
"Thanks, Qrow. I'm counting on you.
"RUBY!"
"YANG!"
Ruby lay on her stomach in the barracks, relieved to have finally changed out of the unpleasant bandit attire. Without wasting a moment, she reached for her Scroll and immediately dialed her team. It had been nearly two weeks since they last spoke, and she knew they must have been worried sick. Ruby yearned to share her exhilarating adventures, to catch up with her teammates, and to revel in the precious moments of downtime they had while in town. As she nestled herself in her red cloak, she couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of well-being.
"About time you called!" Yang gasped from her Scroll. "Do you realize all the stuff that's been happening?"
"Probably not as much as here." Ruby giggled.
"We've been investigating information on the White Fang since their failed attempt at breaching Vale."
A gasp escaped Ruby when she heard that. After all their adventures with Faunus, she had completely forgotten about that organization. To her, Faunus were just people trying to live their life. Now she recalled all the stories she had learned from the towns they visited and from their last team call.
"What did you find out?"
Weiss leaned in closer to the Scroll, her voice tinged with a mix of caution and anticipation. "Not much," the heiress admitted. "The White Fang pretty much covered their tracks. The stolen Dust was taken to Mt. Glenn for sure, and was used for the bombing. Other than that, some of their leaders escaped and Vale and Atlas have been searching for them since. If we hadn't discovered them in the first place, this could have been disastrous."
"We're just that awesome!" Yang puffed out her chest proudly. "Saving Vale is something we as Team RWBY do easily."
"We helped, but Pyrrha stopped the train." Weiss corrected her and turned back to Ruby. "What's wrong? I thought you would be interested in this."
"Sorry…" Ruby gulped. "That's a really different experience than I've had with Faunus. Jaune and I got separated from Qrow in Mistral and were picked up by a caravan of Faunus who led us to civilization."
"That's because the White Fang isn't a freedom fighting group anymore!" Blake declared from her bed. "They are just a group of thugs! You met normal Faunus who don't buy into their propaganda!"
"We know, Blake!" Weiss called over her shoulder. "Wait, Ruby. You got separated from your Uncle? In the wilderness?'
"Yeah, it's a long story too." Ruby admitted. "But you all need to be careful. Don't get into trouble investigating them. If the White Fang holds grudges, they might try something."
"We'll kick their butt again." Yang shrugged. "Maybe capture their leaders this time besides just Torchwick. Blake was super happy about that after their date at the docks."
"Good riddance." Blake huffed. "And we'll be careful Ruby, but I can't just ignore this."
"We promised to help you find out more info on them, Blake." Weiss reminded her. "IF you don't run off on your own."
"I know." Blake blushed and looked down at her book.
"You three are so close!" Ruby gushed and then guilt washed over her. "I wish I was there. We've missed so much time together."
"Your apprenticeship was only supposed to be a couple months, right?" Weiss recalled. "You're over halfway done already." She gave Ruby a small smile. As much as they were apart, Weiss enjoyed her calls with Ruby. Not only that, Ruby was the one who set the foundation for their team's relationship. "Now, tell us about your adventures and why you went silent for weeks."
"You know how we left Atlas to come to Mistral," Ruby started off. "Well, the Grimm problem was a little more complicated…"
Ruby took her time, sharing the entire sequence of events that had unfolded. She described how that jerk Ash Steele's misinformation had led them astray, the dangerous encounter with the Arachna nest and its formidable Queen, Jaune getting separated from the group, their battles against cunning bandits, and the unfortunate split when Qrow was absent. Ruby tactfully omitted mentioning Yang's birth mother as the mastermind behind their kidnapping, instead explaining that they were attacked by bandits while Qrow was away. As Ruby recounted her tale, Yang's expression shifted from horror to amusement, particularly when she heard about Ruby's great feat of kicking Vernal off a four-wheeler.
"...and then while we were in town," Rub continued. "We discovered an old Grimm had escaped a cave and was terrorizing the town. Turns out it was a Chill! Can you believe it!"
"A Chill?" Blake looked up interestedly. "The possession Grimm from the Fairy Tale?"
"Now you're just making things up, sis." Yang accused.
"No really!" Ruby shook her head. "Uncle Qrow wasn't there, but he heard it from everyone else and they had no reason to lie. If it wasn't for Jaune,we wouldn't have figured out its weakness so easily. The Chill can't possess people with Aura, so Jaune unlocked a possessed kid's Aura, forcing it out, and then he tore it apart with his bare hands."
"Now we know you're making stuff up." Weiss scoffed.
"I'm not!" Ruby sat up and glared at Weiss. "I'm tired of you all not believing me! About Jaune's Semblance, about me almost dying to a criminal, and now this? I've been honest with you all this entire time! Stop treating me like a kid! Our calls are short enough without me having to waste time convincing you I'm telling the truth!"
Weiss looked taken back and even Yang looked a little embarrassed. Blake raised an eyebrow at the outburst. It wasn't like Ruby to shut them down like this. Usually she just whined that she wasn't lying. A small smile graced Blake's lips. Their team leader was really coming out of her shell.
"You're right." The blonde agreed, rubbing her neck. "You're not the type to lie. It just sounds so… unbelievable... Feels like a joke, you know?"
"I'm trying to be serious with you all during our calls since we have limited time," Ruby pointed out. "I want to joke and goof around too, because I miss you all. A lot. But we promised to keep each other up to date with what's happening. I'm trying to do that."
"I know and I appreciate it, really." Yang quickly assured her. "So V-Jaune killed a Chill, huh. Not bad."
"It can't pass through Aura and it's not much more than a paper shadow, so once it's outside a host, it's easy to kill." Ruby explained. "You just can't shoot it or stab it."
"Huh, I want to hear about that in detail when you return." Weiss mused. "Professor Port hasn't talked about them yet. The only information about them is second hand."
"I'll tell you everything, bestie!" Ruby beamed, as Weiss rolled her eyes and looked away. The shadow of a smile didn't go unnoticed and Ruby knew she was happy.
"So you have been busy." Yang commented. "Anything fun happen? Meet any cute guys? Any juicy secrets? Did Jaune find a girl so he won't flirt with Weiss when he gets back?"
"Please say he has." Weiss begged. When Ruby's face turned from cheerful and laughing at her earlier request to serious and somewhat upset, Weiss knew something had happened. "Ruby?"
"It's nothing…" Ruby muttered. She couldn't tell them what secret was really upsetting her. It was something she wasn't even supposed to have heard. Something she couldn't change. Her mind instantly raced for another topic, anything, to take her mind off it.
What came to mind was almost as bad in her opinion. It was inspired by Yang's comment about Jaune. When Ruby thought of it, her stomach churned weirdly.
"Come on, Ruby." Blake noticed this too. "Didn't we say we could talk about anything?"
"It's silly…" Ruby looked away, her cheeks tingling in embarrassment. Her idea worked too well.
"Come on, Ruby." Yang poked. "I promise, I won't laugh!"
"Really?"
"I swear it."
Ruby gulped and went silent. Finally, taking a deep breath, she let it out.
"JAUNE'S WAY TO POPULAR WITH GIRLS!"
The words reverberated through the room, leaving her team dumbfounded. Yang wore a look of sheer astonishment, her mouth agape in disbelief. Weiss, known for her poised demeanor, found herself caught off guard, her own mouth falling open in surprise. Even Blake, typically unruffled, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Ruby's unexpected revelation. Ruby, who seldom broached the subject of relationships, spoke out about it, leaving her teammates utterly taken aback. And the fact that she specifically mentioned Jaune, the friendly dork they all knew—someone as suave as gum stuck to a shoe—added an extra layer of astonishment to the situation.
"...What?" Weiss asked in a deadpanned voice.
Ruby's face burned brightly as she closed her mouth and looked around in alarm in case someone returned or worse, heard what she said.
"Ruby… spill it." Yang's eyes glittered for multiple reasons. One, she loved gossip. Two, her baby sister sounded really possessive and this interested her. Did Ruby finally develop a crush on him?
"It's just…" Ruby gulped as Weiss and Yang stared at her from her Scroll. Blake was sort of listening, but she didn't care that much about gossip and relationships. "Wherever we go, girls seem to be interested in him. In Vale, one girl was trying to get her mom to date him. In Atlas, Winter seemed to be interested in him…"
"Pssh, she's just helping train him due to his rare Semblance." Weiss interrupted.
"Zip it, Weiss." Yang shut her down. "Continue, Ruby."
"Then a really mean bandit girl was always over him!" Ruby knew she shouldn't be talking about this, but once she started, the words kept tumbling out. "She acted like she didn't care, but she always made excuses to visit. Then when we escaped, Kali went and kissed him!"
Thud.
No one noticed the book fall out of Blake's hands.
"Kali?" Yang asked, confused. "Who's Kali?"
"Oh, she was the leader of the Faunus supply caravan that picked us up." Ruby explained quickly. "She convinced the town to let us in. Jaune and I looked like bandits with their…"
"Hey, Ruby." Blake was suddenly really interested in the conversation for some reason because she actually stood up and approached the Scroll. "This… Kali. Can you describe her?"
"Er, sure?" Ruby shrugged. "She was a Faunus with short black hair…"
Blake's face paled.
"...looked young, but I'm pretty sure she was older…"
Blake bit the corner of her lip.
"Oh, she had cute cat ears." Ruby held up fingers above her head.
Takinga step back, Blake's stomach began to churn.
"But then she and Jaune made out when we were supposed to be doing other things!" Ruby wailed. "He said it was an accident, but it was too coincidental!"
After taking another step back, Blake tripped and fell on her bed, nearly fainting. No one else really paid attention to her anymore though. Weiss was still stunned people found Jaune attractive and Yang was loving the juicy gossip. Still, as a big sister, while she wanted to tease Ruby, it was also her responsibility to help.
"Well, if Jaune finds someone he likes, what's the big deal?" Yang tried to keep her face calm. "Shouldn't you be happy for him?"
"I would be… but, but… he's supposed to focus on training!" Ruby flubbed a bit at first. "Not… do what Yang does and chase after people all over Remnant."
"Hey!" Yang protested. "I dated guys, sure, but I don't chase after anyone. They chase after me."
"Hmm…" Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Is that all, Ruby? Pretty sure Arc realizes that too."
"Yeah, but he keeps flirting with them!" Ruby huffed.
"Because that works so well." Weiss rolled her eyes. "You sure you aren't seeing things that aren't there?"
"Why else would so many girls go after him?" Ruby protested. "I'm not blind!"
"I didn't say that.' Weiss said quickly. "I'm just saying, sometimes we make connections and see things that aren't there to suit another purpose."
"Huh?" Ruby blinked, not understanding what she was saying.
"Oh!" Yang seemed to realize what Weiss was saying, while Ruby was clueless. "I see. Maybe there's a reason you think they are flirting with him."
"But Kali really did kiss Jaune!" Ruby protested. "Jaune was on top of her and they were locking lips."
Blake covered her ears with her hands and shut her eyes as her bow sagged down.
"Was there some kind of circumstance you aren't telling us about?" Weiss pushed.
"Maybe…" Ruby blushed as she recalled their duel. In all fairness, it was sort of an accident, but they were obviously stuck together for far too long. She bet they enjoyed it. "Sort of…"
"See?" Weiss sighed, not needing any more explanation. "There is always a logical explanation."
Everyone there but Ruby knew it.
"What is it?" Ruby demanded to know.
Weiss opened her mouth but Yang quickly put a hand over it.
"You'll figure it out, Ruby." Yang promised. "But it would be best for you to do it and not for Weiss to treat you like a kid."
"Yang, that's not fair!" Ruby cried out. "Tell me!"
"Get off!" Weiss freed herself and pushed Yang away. "For once, I agree with Yang. Ruby, you tell us you're an adult. If you think things through, you'll realize the truth."
"You too, Weiss?" Ruby whined.
"Unless you admit you're a kid, you'll have to figure it out yourself." Weiss crossed her arms and smirked.
"ARGH!" Ruby grabbed her hair as Yang and Weiss shared a knowing look. Even if it was fun to tease the young girl, it really was best for her to figure it out on her own. "Fine, don't tell me! I'll remember this."
"You'll thank us when you realize the truth." Yang grinned and Ruby stuck out her tongue at her. "So, anyways, where are you going next?"
"No idea." Ruby shrugged. "Uncle Qrow is figuring that out now."
"Well, whatever you do, be careful and try not to get captured." Weiss told her. "Blake and I are going to be dealing with Yang constantly worrying about you."
"Hey, my baby sis is strong, I don't worry… much." Yang countered and then muttered the last word.
"Thanks, Yang." Ruby smiled at her. "I'll let you know when I can. I miss you all." She noticed Blake on the bed, covering her ears and muttering to herself. "What's with Blake?"
"Probably ate something bad." Yang shrugged. "She acts weird all the time."
"Well, tell her I said goodbye." Ruby replied. "I"m going to see if Uncle Qrow is out of his meeting yet. Bye!"
"Bye, Ruby." Weiss answered.
"Don't be a stranger." Yang added and Ruby finally hung up. "Hehe, she's growing up so fast."
"You had remarkable restraint." Weiss pointed out.
"Hey, it's time she learns how to sort her own feelings." Yang shrugged. "Wonder when she'll realize she's crushing hard on Vomit Boy."
"Wow, Jaune!" Nora gushed. "You look good!"
"Think so?" Jaune stood back from his Scroll and gave her and Ren a full view. "It's not too much, is it? They hooked me up pretty well, but I miss my sweatshirt."
Jaune's attire exuded a sense of effortless style. A dark gray collared shirt complemented his figure, harmonizing with the pair of dark blue jeans that hugged his frame. Extending almost to his knees, his tall, dark gray boots added a touch of sophistication. Layered over his ensemble, a white long coat commanded attention, enveloping the majority of his torso and cascading gracefully down to the top of his boots. Delicate gold trimming accentuated the coat, mirroring the shimmering shade of Jaune's hair. Securing his waist was a gray belt adorned with a captivating gold buckle, accompanied by a strategically placed strap near the upper section of the long coat. Notably, the coat boasted a practical hood, ready to shield Jaune from unpleasant weather. Completing his ensemble, white and gold arm guards, along with a protective shoulder piece on his right arm, added both a touch of elegance and a sense of readiness. Intriguingly, the jacket even provided ample space to accommodate his breastplate, a testament to his meticulous preparation and unwavering dedication.
Atlas really hooked him up. After his original uniform was torn and burned away in the fight with the Arachna Queen and then kidnapped by Raven to be made to wear simple bandit clothing, he finally got a chance to get a new outfit that actually suited him. The tailor told him the clothing was specially made to Atlas durability standards and should survive much better than his old garb. This was thanks for all the work he did in regards to clearing out the Arachna nest and for Atlas' failure to provide adequate security.
When Jaune had called, Nora freaked out a bit as she had been anxious from not hearing from him for weeks. He was forced to explain all of his adventures from arriving in Mistral to killing the Chill. When he explained how he survived inside an Arachna nest, Nora had cheered from hearing him using an explosive to kill the Queen.
"Nope, but I bet if you were dressed like this at the start of the year, Weiss would have been eyeing you." Nora told him.
"Hehe, thanks." Jaune grinned at her compliment. "Though, while I would prefer to be friends with her, I don't think I'm really crushing on Weiss anymore."
"People's tastes change as they grow." Ren agreed. "With everything you've experienced, it's possible you no longer have the same feelings for her. What the future brings, no one knows."
"You're a super awesome Huntsman who kills legendary Grimm and beats up bandits while saving kids," Nora pointed out. "Who wouldn't want to date you?"
"Heh, hopefully not someone I like." Jaune joked. "But enough about me. How have you been?"
"Same ol', same ol'," Nora giggled. "We took our first team mission with Team RWBY to Mt. Glenn and killed thousands of Grimm before fighting an army of White Fang, and stopped a train from smashing in Vale's wall and letting Grimm into the city."
"That sounds like an adventure." Jaune grinned, thinking this was Nora's over exaggeration.
"It's true, Jaune." Ren said simply.
"...Really?" Jaune's eyes widened.
"Except maybe the thousands of Grimm." Ren considered. "Might have been less than that."
"Pssh, I counted." Nora brushed him off.
"Wha… huh… explain!" Jaune finally got a real word out. Ren and Nora spent some time explaining to him what they went through. Jaune had been out from recovering with his injuries after the fight with the Queen Arachna while Ruby had talked to her team. After being kidnapped, she had completely forgotten to tell him about the near Breach situation. "And Pyrrha's Semblance is magnetism? It's a good thing she was there to stop the train."
"Yeah, it was thanks to her quick thinking that a lot of lives were saved." Ren agreed. "But we still don't know why the White Fang was involved. It doesn't make sense that they want to indiscriminately hurt the populace. Faunus would have been caught up in this. Let alone them working with Roman Torchwick."
"Hmm, I wouldn't have a clue about that." Jaune admitted. "We met a lot of Faunus who have sympathy for the White Fang, but they wouldn't go so far as to do something like this. There has to be a reason."
"Blake said the same thing." Nora admitted, looking worried. "It's just we have no clues."
"I'll tell Qrow about this… but wait!" Jaune's eyes widened. "Ozpin had been trying to reach him. I bet this is what they are going to talk about!"
"The timing adds up, but there could be other things we don't know about." Ren commented. "I would still tell him about it."
"Sure." Jaune sighed and rubbed his head. "We just finished a headache and now another one pops up."
"All in the life of a Huntsman." Ren joked.
"All in the life." Jaune agreed and then sighed. "Speaking of headaches… is Pyrrha there. Not that she's a headache!" He realized how his words sounded. "It's the headache I caused."
"She's not there." Nora confirmed.
"She's been spending a lot of time with Mercury Black and his team." Ren explained. "There have been issues…"
"Issues?" Jaune was confused.
"People are jerks thanks to Cardin blabbing his big mouth." Nora crossed her arms and looked annoyed.
"Can one of you please explain things from the beginning?" Jaune looked back and forth between them.
"Cardin found out about Pyrrha's Semblance and told the class," Ren elaborated seriously. "As you can guess, many of them are not thrilled about it. With Polarity, she can control any metal around her, including weapons. She usually uses it to dodge attacks, almost unnoticeable, but a lot of students think she was just toying with them. It didn't help that Goodwitch's combat class is grading based on how well they do. With Pyrrha able to make their weapons useless, they never stood a chance. People have been boycotting fighting her and Goodwitch at this point has given up trying."
"T-that doesn't make any sense!" Jaune spluttered. "Semblances are part of us, right? No one complains about Ruby's speed, or Weiss' glyphs or Nora's super strength."
"Some do after they have been smacked by her hammer." A subtle twitch flickered at the corner of Ren's mouth, hinting at a fleeting moment of amusement before his expression turned solemn. "The main issue was it was kept a secret and Goodwitch knew about it. If the class had known, they would have had a chance to find a way to face her in class. Also, while strength and speed are powerful advantages, they don't nullify other people's powers or weapons."
"Again, that's stupid!" Jaune countered. "Out here… we fight people and Grimm constantly. We rarely know their powers ahead of time. Facing the unknown and trying to figure out what to do on the fly is the only way to survive."
"She tried to explain it, but as long as people's grades are involved, they aren't really listening to logic." Ren sighed. "It's caused her to get bullied."
"Really childish bullying too." Nora growled. "Like messing with her locker, scribbling on our door, and other stupid stuff." She really was upset over what people were doing to Pyrrha. Jaune noted this and smiled at her, glad she didn't completely hate Pyrrha.
"I wish I was there." Jaune mumbled. "If you see her… no… just tell her when I get back, I'm going to apologize to her, face to face. Being out here for so long, fighting all sorts of opponents… I understand why she was afraid for me and told Ozpin. Also, it's not her fault. It's obviously Cardin's upset that he loses to her so he's trying to turn people against her." He looked directly at Nora. "I know you still harbor some resentment for Pyrrha, Nora. But please…"
"Since you forgive her, Jaune-Jaune, so do I." Nora smiled. "You better return soon. I want to give you the biggest hug ever."
"Bigger than the biggest one you ever gave Ren?" Jaune tried to lift the mood.
Nora tilted her head thoughtfully and then turned to Ren.
"It's okay if you do." Ren assured her, amused.
"Then yep!" Nora laughed. "Biggest hug ever and then we can go beat up Cardin's team and hide their bodies in the forest."
"It's a date." Jaune chuckled as he imagined the situation. While he knew they weren't going to do it, a man could dream.
Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish to ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter.
nBappo: First of all… Thank god, no cliffhanger again. A nice chapter overall, got some good info and relaxed a bit. Looking forward to the next one, and hopefully Nora's plan turns into reality.