Hey there everyone, welcome to another chapter. Thanks to eveyone who reviewed etc, also a special thanks to HelpingHand who gave me the idea for one of the major points in this chapter. Well then, hope y'all enjoy the chapter and will talk to you all later. Peace!

Disclaimer: We here at PanickedMode don't own RWBY, we just like sandboxes.

Chapter Seven: Pieces

The strange figure side-stepped Jaune's incoming attack so easily it looked like it'd been done in slow motion, he was balanced, poised and ready to strike from the moment the kid had rushed in like an idiot and now he was going to teach him a lesson about stupidity. After rolling around Jaune's blind-side to avoid the blade, the man clenched his gloved hand and immediately golden metal unfolded from the glove, covering more and more of the man's arm until a rather large gauntlet had formed over the man's forearm. A trio of draconic-looking fingers erupted from the end tipped with large-blades where the claws would've been on an actual beast and then the only sound across the entire battlefield was Pyrrha's scream of horror.

Jaune's eyes widened, then he dropped. The surprise at the bulkier man's speed evident on the Arc's face. However, it wasn't so much the man's speed that had gotten to him it was the fact that he'd pulled such a powerful weapon out of nowhere...This was no common street thug. Well, looks like it was the end of the road...and everything went into darkness right then and there. The figure released a dark chuckle, then turned his attention to the three girls, "Not much is he?"

Yang went to take a step forward, but a red blur sped past her before she could even get a footing into her fighting stance. Pyrrha had kicked off, lunging at the figure at speeds much higher than usual. Though it was almost entirely unnoticeable to the naked human eye a faint outline of blue aura had surrounded her form, the same that was currently around the blade of Crocea Mors. The ground had completely shattered underneath the Spartan's foot upon her kick off, indicating the increase of power she'd yet to notice that she'd received.

The man in white chuckled softly, Then he crouched some and readied his gauntlets once again.

Clang!

Metal clashed against one another, Pyrrha's Milo meeting the golden metal of the figure's Gauntlets sent sparks throughout the entire battlefield, yet as with Jaune, the figure seemed unbothered by this. He chuckled some, "Well now, you're more skilled than that loser at least. I was worried this was going to be boring."

"Don't you dare insult him again," Pyrrha said coldly, the sapphire trail around her body increasing as her anger rose. Crocea Mors thrumming in response from Jaune's waist. Her emerald irises gaining the slightest traces of the blue around the edges now.

"I'm sorry about picking on your little boyfriend kid, don't worry you'll join him in death soon enough."

Blake had moved from her spot and rushed over to the fallen Arc, immediately she checked for a pulse to make sure that the blow hadn't finished off, then she looked down at the wound and gasped softly. It was deep and she had to do something quickly. Without thinking too much about it, she ripped off part of her outfit at the waist and used it to cover the wound, applying enough pressure that she hoped it would stop the blood. With Pyrrha and Yang no doubt focusing on the fight one of them had to make sure their leader stayed alive. Sure, she wanted to charge in as badly as the other two, but they'd deemed to defend Jaune first and she would instead focus on making sure that he made it out of this mess alive alongside them. Though, it became quite obvious that Jaune had made some bold attempt at charging forward to serve as a distraction so that the other three could make an escape.

"Idiot," she murmured.

The man went to swing again, but Pyrrha raised Akuo, blocking with ease. It was an entirely reflex move, carried out without much conscious thought. Yang finally got over her stupor and charged in, Ember Celica rolling over her wrists as her own gauntlets expanded into their battle form. Crocea Mors thrummed again and Yang's body was slowly coated in the same glow that Pyrrha's body had gained and her lunge increased in speed mid-launch. Yang swung her fist as hard as she could and it inched closer and closer toward the man's face until...All three of the fighters were launched back by a gust of wind. Yang and Pyrrha were able to stay standing thanks to the help of whatever the trail of blue light around them was, but the other figure ended up smashing into a container on the other side of the docks.

"What the-"

Crocea Mors' light around the two girls finally faded, however they were yet to notice this because their attention was elsewhere. Flowing silver hair had appeared at the other side of the docks. A young woman who looked only two or three years older than themselves stood in the entrance way of the docks. Her cold violet eyes glared at the dent in the shipping container the man had flown into.

"You'd better get your friend out of here," she said calmly, "I'll take it from here. You've all done wonderfully, but I'm afraid if you leave it much longer your friend isn't going to make it."

The woman reached to her waist and unclipped a short sword from he back of her belt and immediately readied herself for the battle ahead, "Go!" the woman ordered. Her gaze still on her own task, "He doesn't have much time!"

Overcoming the shock they were all in, Pyrrha, Yang and Blake all rushed over to where Jaune's fallen form was and quickly positioned themselves to collect him, "Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine," she assured them, "It'll take more than one goon in a white coat to stop a fully trained Huntress."

A loud groan emitted from one Jaune Arc's lips as his cerulean pools slowly opened up once more. He could barely remember the events of the past twenty-four hours, aside from a lot of pain that is. His vision came into focus and Jaune realized that he was an entirely unfamiliar place, yet it seemed quite nondescript, aside from the fact that everything was bathed in white or grey and there was several beds lining the walls...he was in an infirmary of some kind?

"There's no need to panic, Mr. Arc, you're inside Beacon Academy's infirmary."

Jaune's head lifted slowly to come across the form of someone he'd only met in passing before. Deputy Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch was stood beside the office to the infirmary discussing something with, what Jaune could only assume was the head of medical staff here at Beacon.

"H-how did I get here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she said, a sigh dropping from her lips, "However, given the predicament that you were in I suppose you wouldn't have any choice but to remain ignorant of your situation. Miss Nikos, Miss Xiao Long and Miss Belladonna brought you in. After the encounter you had in Vale two days ago."

'T-two days!? The hell did that guy stab me with!?'

"According to a Huntress that dealt with the situation after you fell unconscious you were attacked by a rather unique weapon that ignores the existence of aura entirely. In essence, it can break right through it as if it doesn't exist."

"That sounds...dangerous."

"And yet you thought it wise to charge in there with absolutely no idea what you were getting yourself caught up in? Wanting to stop the situation is all well and good, but you didn't even wait to ascertain what the enemy was capable of and charged in like a blundering idiot."

"S-sorry Miss Goodwitch. It won't happen again."

"It better not," she said firmly, "You've been accepted into a school that takes only the best and therefore you need to act like it."

"Yes ma'am," he nodded.

Goodwitch didn't see it, but Jaune had felt the impact of her words rather heavily, particularly the last point about being accepted into a school that takes only the best. He wasn't accepted, he'd just lied about it and got in on those lies. So far he'd done nothing but get by on either the prowess of others or the sheer dumb luck of Crocea Mors kicking up and saving his ass whenever he was in such deep trouble that he would've died without the swords help. However, he didn't have much time to consider this, since something else the deputy headmistress had said that caught his attention.

"Miss Goodwitch, you said that weapon was unique, I know you said you didn't know much about it...but is it possible that there might be others like it?"

Ozpin was right, though he's not much of what I was expecting there is potential there. He must be wondering...Though, how much should I tell him? Ozpin would likely prefer me to relay as little information as possible...but...

She sighed, knowing she'd been put into a difficult position, she didn't want to lie to her student but she knew the importance of secrecy, given Arc's limited abilities right now, it would be dangerous to give him any more information than absolutely necessary, "I am not entirely sure, it is rumored that there are seven of these weapons in total, though this is the first instance of one's existence being proven to my knowledge."

"Thank you, Miss Goodwitch."

"You're welcome , now I must take my leave and if the Nurse clears you to leave you may do so as soon as you're discharged. Good day."

The moment Goodwitch had exited the room, Jaune's thoughts immediately went back to not the thoughts about the weapon that had stabbed him, but the other things that had been said and it hit him, perhaps even harder the second time the thoughts hit his brain. He didn't belong here. He was fooling himself by coming to Beacon, his father had been right about him from the very beginning and as much as that hurt to admit, Jaune knew it to be the truth. He'd come here to try and prove the man wrong but where had that gotten him? Not even the first day of classes and he'd already been on the brink of death. If that wasn't a new record he'd eat his sword.

Jaune had been so distracted by his internal thoughts that he barely heard the nurse saying he was allowed to leave if he felt like he could walk. He stood up from the bed and took Crocea Mors from its spot leaned against the chair beside his bed and clipped it back to his waist. A sigh left Jaune's lips and he exited the infirmary in silence. Now one might expect that Jaune would've gone straight back to the dorms in search of his fellow team-mates, however he did not. Instead he made his way to the one place he knew he could be alone without anyone bothering him. It took some effort to slip past unnoticed but he managed to do so and ended up on the roof of the dorm building.

He immediately looked down at the sword strapped to his waist and sighed.

Why didn't you come to the rescue? Why didn't you jump in when it was needed? Was it just to teach me some harsh lesson about relying on you to solve all of my problems? That skill is earned not given?

"Look at me," he said ruefully, "I'm talking to an inanimate object. I'm losing my mind."

'Correction the day I made the decision to come to Beacon was the day I started losing my mind. Today's the day I've lost it entirely.'

The hours went by, but yet Jaune didn't leave the rooftop, he merely remained up there, ending up seated at the edge of the rooftop with his feet dangling over the edge. He wished he had his guitar with him so he could at least play a couple of songs to keep his mind off things, but without it, he supposed he would just have to make do. He didn't necessarily like singing without an instrument but seeing as he didn't want to face his team-mates right now, this was going to be the best he could do for now.

"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known, Don't know where it goes, but it's only me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams. Where the city sleeps and I'm the only one, and I walk alone. My shadow's only one that walks beside me. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating, Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me, 'Til then I walk alone. I'm walking down the line that divides me somewhere in my mind. On the border line of the edge and whire I walk alone. Read between the lines of what's fucked up and every thing's all right. Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive and I walk alone."

Jaune released another heavy sigh, he leaned back and placed his open hands against the rooftop, looking up the bright sky, the shining sun taunting him, as if mocking his melancholic mood with how happy the backdrop seemed. Perhaps it would be best for him to go to Ozpin directly and admit that his transcripts were fake. He'd get expelled for sure, then he could go home and give up on this ridiculous idea. His father had been right the entire time. He wasn't cut out to be a Huntsman, not even in the slightest.

"You done being sorry for yourself yet?" a voice spoke from behind him.

Jaune cerulean pools widened and he turned his head back slightly, surprised to find them coming to rest upon the form of Yang Xiao Long, but what was less surprising was the glare on her face. Well, he'd been entirely useless in that battle so he couldn't say that he blamed her for being angry at him.

"I would think," she said, without giving him the chance to answer, "That after such an injury and almost dying would maybe qualify for you looking for your team-mates, your friends after leaving the medical ward, friends I might add who were incredibly worried about you. But instead you're up here avoiding us instead making us worry more."

"How did you-"

"I was heading back from the training facility when you walked through the hallway."

"Oh."

"Oh? Is that all you have to say!?" Yang's lilac eyes were threatening to shift into crimson, her anger rising by the second. This...This idiot! How the hell could he not see how worried about him they'd been. How distraught Pyrrha had been, how Blake had point blank refused to talk to anyone, okay that was normal but still, Yang knew she'd been worried about Jaune, it was in her demeanour. How it'd taken Ren, Ruby, Pyrrha, and two rather burly second years named Fox and Daichi to hold her off from quite literally murdering Weiss when she'd had the indecency to make a comment about Jaune's injury which had been less than respectful. Yet, he was...She sighed, using all her willpower to rein herself in so she didn't just punch him off the roof.

Instead she shook her head and took a seat beside him instead, "You're not any less of a person because you lost one fight, Jaune. Even Pyrrha and I couldn't put a scratch on that guy. I think you're being too harsh on yourself, besides, look at what you did in the Emerald Forest!"

"T-that wasn't me, Yang."

"Wasn't? Of course it was, did you bump your head when you fell?"

"I don't know how to explain it...but Crocea Mors...my sword, it intervened when I needed it to. I've never won a fight in my life outside of that sword helping me take down that Nevermore. Before that, the boy on the airship, the loser who puked on your shoes on the air ship to Beacon? That's me. Dead last, as dad used to say. I do not deserve to be the leader of this team and even more than that I do not deserve to be at this academy."

"That's still a bit too harsh, ladykiller. You got into Beacon just like everyone else did, that's gotta count for something, right?"

"Ordinarily yeah," Jaune admitted, "But I didn't get in like everyone else."

"Huh?"

Jaune sighed, "I got my hands on some fake transcripts, I didn't get in like everyone else, I just lied. I wanted to prove to my father that I could do something to prove him wrong about me, but I have been proving him right this entire damned time! I'm a useless idiot who doesn't know the first thing about combat. My dad, My grandfather and his father before him were all heroes and I just...I just wanted to be like them!"

"You still can, just let your team help-"

"No!" Jaune snapped, his eyes flickering with a shimmering blue around the cerulean for a single moment before they returned to normal, "If I can't do this on my own then it means nothing! I'm done being the damsel in distress who relies on others or some magical sword that I barely understand!"

Yang didn't say anything for a moment, nor did her anger increase, She gave Jaune a few moments of silence, then she shook her head and thumped him on the arm. There was some of the useful playfulness there, but there was also a modicum of something a little more serious.

"You done?" she asked, "Jaune, everyone needs a little help sometimes. Hell, Ruby would still be an extreme novice if it wasn't for our Uncle Qrow, and there's no way in hell I'd be anywhere near the level I am now without my dad's help. Admitting that you need help sometimes isn't a weakness, Jaune. It's a sign that you're willing to learn, to improve. As for your transcripts, well, they're null and void now anyways."

"What do you mean?"

"It's to do with intiation, a very old rule, but one that still stands. Transcripts are only the first part of the process, to weed out the weak of will and all that. However, if you can get past the initation with or without transcripts then you're officially counted as a student of Beacon. No one can do anything about it. I mean sure, you'll be frowned upon a little bit if anyone finds out, but unless you do something monumentally stupid they can't kick you out."

"They can't?"

"Nope. Also, stop acting like you're the only person in the world who's had to do something underhanded for the right reasons. It doesn't make your methods any less wrong or whatever. But at the end of the day, I'm guessing from the little you just said about your father that you wouldn't have been able to come to Beacon in another way, so who cares? Just let Pyrrha, Blake and I help you."

Jaune hesitated, his gaze still on the skyline.

"Look at it this way," Yang pressed on, "How would you feel if it was one of us needing help and you could help, but we were unwilling? Don't bullshit me either, your whole saving people complex wouldn't let you leave it alone and you know it."

Jaune sighed. He hated how easily she hit the nail on the head. Had it been on of his team-mates or literally anyone else in this position and needing his help, he'd jump at the opportunity to help and it would be very hypocritical of him to deny the help that Yang and potentially Pyrrha and Blake were offering him, when he would expect them or whoever else to accept the help he offered.

"I see where you're coming from."

"I won't pretend that it's going to be easy, between classes and homework we're going to be busy as it is, adding this means you're going to have to work two-to-three times harder than everyone else at Beacon Academy, but I guarantee you that if you're willing to put the work in we'll get you to a point where you're where you should be or even further along, because even at such a low skill-level, that fight with the Nevermore proved you have a raw talent for this and have just been lacking someone to hone it. Whether it was you or the sword in control, the fact your body can move like that proves you can get to that level of skill on your own someday."

Jaune was silent, but the steady determination in the young man's eyes spoke volumes. He was willing to do anything to prove that he could do this. Not only to prove his father wrong, but also to prove to himself that he deserved to be here. That he deserved to follow his dream just as well as anyone else. He was a little far behind, but that didn't mean he couldn't catch up. There was also the fact that Goodwitch had said that the person they'd fought had a special weapon able to break through aura, which meant he really shouldn't have let it get to him as much as it had. Sure, the weapon didn't change how lacking in skill he was, but still, it felt a lot better knowing there was literally nothing else he could've done in that situation.

"Now," Yang said, interrupting his thoughts as she returned to her feet and offered him her hand to help him up, "If you're done feeling sorry for yourself, I think that Team ABYN would like it's leader back."

Jaune reached up and took the offered hand, allowing the Brawler to pull him back to his feet. There was a silence that fell between the two, however Jaune didn't feel like it was an awkward or foreboding one. He fell into step beside her and the two of them walked back inside, heading into their dorm in silence. They crossed the hallway and Yang stepped back slightly, allowing Jaune to open the door, knowing full well what was to come next. The moment the door opened, Jaune was met by an intense stare courtesy of one Pyrrha Nikos, who said nothing, but she merely got up from her desk and approached him. She waited a moment then reached up and clutched his shoulder gently.

"I'm glad Yang found you," she finally said quietly, "I was worried, the fact that you've got so much aura...for it to broken through as though it were nothing...that was quite a shock. To think that someone so powerful exists..."

"It's not him," Jaune said.

"What do you mean?" Blake asked from her bed, her amber eyes had softened at the sighting of their leader, and as much as she wanted to go over and confirm he was real like Pyrrha had done, the information he presented was a little more important and a proper reunion could wait for now.

"That weapon he was using, it has a special ability that can break through any aura in a single strike."

"That...that's insane," Pyrrha murmured, "But...That's kind of resemblant to your Crocea Mors, Jaune. Doesn't it also have a special ability to turn into that giant blue blade?"

"Among other things, I'm assuming. Wait, you think they're related to one another?

"I mean, the abilties are completely different of course so I might be jumping the gun, but-"

"They're both incredibly powerful with unique abilities that go beyond ordinary smithing and customization," Jaune finished for her. This, combined with the small amount of information he'd gotten from Goodwitch further reinforced the idea of the two weapons being related to each other somehow. He didn't know how...but maybe in between classes, homework and his training with the girls, he could work on researching more about the weapons. Perhaps he could just ask the headmaster directly. Okay, maybe he would be better off leaving that particular idea for a last resort if he couldn't find anything on his own.

"There's also something I need to tell you both," Jaune said, "It's about my acceptance into Beacon."

Both Pyrrha and Blake had reacted the same as Yang had, much to Jaune's surprise. Even more surprising was that they were just as willing to help with his training as she had been too. Though, stepping back to look at it objectively, the four of them working and training together as a team would only further to reinforce how well they worked together and not only that, unlike training with someone individually, Blake, Pyrrha and Yang would be training against each other as well, meaning that the three would gain something from these sessions as well and not just be stalling themselves to make sure he got to an acceptable level.

Still, it surprised him that his teammates had been so willing to accept what he'd done. He'd expected for them to be at angry at the very least, or drag him by the ear directly to Ozpin at the worst. Though, knowing the rule about initiation now, he doubted the headmaster would've expelled him. For now though, he had to appreciate that Team ABYN had formed the foundations for a strong and powerful friendship bond that would never be broken.

"Enough about that," Yang spoke up, "we can all talk about drawing up a training plan for the next couple of days, but for now let's all enjoy the last little bit of relaxation we'll have before classes start up."

Blake finally slipped down off the top bunk and approached Jaune in silence. Once close enough in her opinion, she quickly moved into a better angle and quickly shot her fist into his stomach, "That was for making me worry."

A loud groan left the Arc's lips and he fell to the ground a moment later, Blake reached out a hand and Jaune hesitantly took it. He then was pulled back to his feet and finally the Ninja placed her index and middle fingers against his forehead, she said nothing further but the wordless exchange between the two of them had spoken all that needed to be. Blake then backed off again and returned to her bed, quickly picking up her novel from where she left off.

Jaune exhaled a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding in, then looked over at Yang who merely gave him a silent nod and reached over to squeeze his shoulder comfortingly much like Pyrrha had done. Feeling comforted by all of the gestures, okay maybe not Blake's punch so much, but still. It warmed his heart to know that they cared about him so strongly despite their short tenure as a team. Maybe some people just clicked naturally? Either way, there last day before classes was tomorrow and he was determined to make the most of it. His new friends had proved that they wouldn't abandon him and now it was his turn to make sure they didn't regret making that decision.

The figure moved through the shadows, pushing his way through the darkness until he reached the light at the end of the hallway. His dark eyes flicking to the man standing at the end of the room. The room he'd stepped into was large, circular and entirely white. Several cages containing Grimm lined the walls and several sections of the flooring as well. Science tables were seen dotted around the room as well. At the end of the room, a lone figure stood turned away from the man who entered and even at the sound of the man's footsteps he didn't turn around.

"Malach," he said calmly, "Did you retrieve the artifact?"

"Unfortunately not sir, there was some interference in the form of a Huntress. I managed to give her the slip, unfortunately I could not pursue the artifact. However, I found something you might be far more interested in instead."

"Oh and what might that be?"

"I've found another piece of Excalibur, Doctor Merlot."

The figure's head turned finally, revealing an aged face currently wielding a satisfied smirk on his face, "Is that so?"

End Chapter