Living in Patch.
A/N: Here we are on the next chapter of Moving Forward. We will see what Patch is like, I will be honest with you, I know somethings about Patch, sure, it looks like a small Island, but, I can tell inside it is very beautiful, and pretty big on the inside, for it's size, so I will do my best explaining everything I can here, so without a further ado, let's get this started.
Jaune looked around the pier that boats come in and out of Patch to deliver goods, if Bullheads can't get it in, and for people to leave the island, and goes more into the mainland. The Island itself is small, pretty good community with a town, almost bigger than his own hometown but, a pretty decent size. Yang, and Ruby practically dragged Jaune around town to show them the hotspots, with Pyrrha right behind them, laughing a little, their eagerness was adorable to her, especially with Ruby.
"This is where we go to when we wanted a burger, the spices, and sauce they use are to die for. And you can customize your own burger, but on what you want, and take off what you don't want!" Yang said to them, with her drooling slightly, with Ruby slightly so too.
That actually sound really good to Jaune, a good bacon burger will always be good, and Pyrrha had to admit, she likes that, she can take off anything she wants, make to portions smaller, etc.
'I am defiantly doing research on that when we get back, I wonder, if there is a place where I can go for food just as customizable?' Pyrrha thought to herself. Ruby then dragged him to her favorite spot for food.
"And this is my favorite." Ruby said calmly at first, then she lit up like a Christmas tree. "This is Bubbba Bubba Boba! The flavors, The milk cheese, the smoothies, the Boba!" Ruby finished with her voice turning somewhat husky in the end, but saying boba(I swear every time I hear that now, it feels like she is saying, booba). Jaune and Pyrrha, looked on with slight amusement, with Ruby's enthusiasm when it comes to this bubble tea. They were a little unsettled with the quick blow up, from her being calm.
Pyrrha on the other hand was more amused than Jaune, since they have bubble tea in Mistral, it originated there anyway. And she will admit that, that seems nice, she likes a bubble tea herself. That had Pyrrha gain an idea.
"Let's get some right now, I can give Jaune a few advise of getting the right flavor, I assume this is your first time have bubble tea am I right" Pyrrha suggested to everyone, and looked at Jaune to see if he wanted to try some. Jaune thought of it for a little bit, it's true he hasn't tried it yet. He never had a chance to hang out with friends, in a long time and he didn't know when he would be able to see all three of them for some time. He just hopes they can talk more, so he will take any chance to be with them as much as he can.
"Yeah, lets go get some." Jaune agreed, with that Ruby jumping with joy, getting good height with her leaps, Yang was just shaking her head fondly at Ruby. As they made their orders, Jaune made an order for a Matcha Tea. Everyone was enjoying their teas amazingly. He chewed on his boba, and it was oddly good. He had to get used to it, but it was delicious!
"Ah this is so good, the boba took me some getting used to, but, this is really good, I need to try the other flavors of this." Jaune practically gushed at his drink. Ruby was so happy that her friend, had liked something she, and her sister like. Ruby nodded enthusiastically.
"See I told you, I love the strawberry flavor." Ruby said to Jaune. Yang piped in. "I love the mango flavor." Yang said chewing on her own boba.
Pyrrha was pleasantly. She never gotten to do this with friend either. If she had to drink she had to drink more of the healthier options, nothing too much sweet. Her sponsors didn't want her from gaining too much weight. She loved Wintermelon flavor, she would even go to brown sugar flavor, the tiger striped look was absolutely amazing to look at, especially the taste, she could squeal at that.
But, there was something else here that made it super good, it felt more lively, and welcoming. Pyrrha looked to see Yang, Ruby, and Jaune all laughing with each other. That was it, your enjoying something with others. You can arguably eat the most delicious food in the world by yourself, it will taste amazing, but it will feel lonely, and empty. But enjoying it with others, makes the taste and experience, explode in taste, and time, truly, being with others, and those you care about makes things better. People would ask Pyrrha, was it worth it to come to Vale, and Beacon. Seeing the man she liked, and some of the two people she has come to adore, yes….yes it was worth it."
As they finished their treat, Yang and Ruby continued showing Jaune around Patch, from some food stalls, a farmers Market, a small bar. That was Yang's choice, much to Ruby's annoyance, she didn't like her sister drinking. To a building for smithing. It was arguably, Ruby's most favorite place in her home. She can be herself, and go nuts, when it comes to this place, she is in her element. The way to create weapons, breaking them down, bringing them up, fixing them, she felt truly alive, right next to killing grimm, and saving people, it just felt so right to her.
"You should really come here Jaune if you need a place Jaune, especially when you want to tune up your weapons, and add those features on your baby, and for Crocea Mors. The owner inside will help you. He taught me how to smith, but Signal polished it." Ruby gave Jaune an explanation. She became passionate when it came to telling people about weapons, armor, and crafting.
Seeing this made Yang made her sigh, and shake her head amusingly. Pyrrha looked on with appreciation, she was helping Jaune out, and to see Ruby so passionate made her feel pride in her fellow leader. They all found something in their lives to make things so passionate, for her it was fighting, and slaying grimm. She also loved to have a good fight, and doing good for others, it made her feel alive, and she knows it is the right thing to do, and she will help the world, by protecting others, and inspiring them with her actions, as a huntress, and a tournament fighter.
Jaune looked on being grateful to her, she and Pyrrha truly did help him, in so many ways, including Yang, she wanted to improve herself, and she is doing that in stride. She was training herself in patience. Trying to see how she can really more on her technique without using her semblance. She even asked advice to Ms. Goodwitch of all people. This shocked Goodwitch to no end, but she was happy for a student like Yang Xio Long for advice. It was hard at first since, her semblance comes to her like second nature, especially in battle.
Probably like something fight or flight, but she is starting to work on it better. She already figured out, her anger is the biggest trigger of course, but she is still learning how to control her emotions better. So she decided to talk to Ren, and with meditation, it was starting to work. She didn't have the patience at first, and it felt like she would fall asleep at almost any chance while meditating, so she gave up early so she wouldn't pass out, but she kept returning to it, even though she fell asleep a few times, she did not give up. She eventually got the hang of it.
It was a surreal experience, she can feel her aura all over her body, like a warm blanket, and wearing an armor, that no matter how little she wore, she will always be protected. She can feel it moving, in her, she dug deep, and felt it. It was like a raging inferno, she felt that she had to release it, when she did, her semblance activated briefly. She found the core of her semblance. Sure she always felt releasing something for her semblance can activate, but she felt the source, and now it was time to work on how to operate it properly, and make sure she will not let it activate when ever she gets…..heated.
It was hard every time she got angry she felt it about to burst out, and she couldn't control it at first. It was hard, she eventually got the hang of it for the most part. This was during the week before, she met Jaune in Ansel, and after they returned to Beacon. She still feels that she has a long way to go. But, it is great progress.
Pyrrha felt truly at peace, being around these wonderful people, meeting Jaune, and Ruby, coming to Vale, to Beacon. It was the best decision she has ever made. And she will protect that.
When she was at Beacon, she really confided in Ruby. As a fellow leader, and one of the most dearest person in her life, right next to Jaune. Ruby convinced Pyrrha to share her semblance to her team more, and her team. Let's just say everyone was shocked of how she was able to fight. It was the reason she was called the Invincible Girl, she can move weapons just in time to make sure she won't be hit. Sure it felt like cheating, but the semblance is a tool, and it can truly help oneself, but it can also be a crutch. Pyrrha is so reliant on it, that when she was doing some hand to hand training with Yang, she felt almost naked, and almost naked, and not being able to fight at her highest abilities.
That's when she realized…she was truly limited. So for the last month, she has been training herself, to make sure she doesn't use her semblance subconsciously, but like Yang it was second nature to her, almost like breathing. She essentially had to start from scratch. It was difficult but yet, she loved it.
The struggle, the drive, the goal, she truly wanted it. Again, she loved the competition, and she the fighting, which is one of the reasons why she is a fighter. This was a new challenge for her, and she loved it, and took it head on. It's working hard to see your accomplishments, your struggle, to end in something spectacular!
She still slips up, but she is doing better. And she wasn't the only one improving. Ruby, eventually had more than one wake up call. She loved her baby, Cresent Rose, to death, but she is too reliant on it.
She always felt that, she will never lose her weapon in a fight, she is too fast. But, someone with the right amount of training, and experience, can catch her, and disarm her. When that happens, she would always try to get it back, but when she couldn't she would almost always surrender.
Ms. Goodwitch was always disappointed when that happens, she keeps tell her. "Ms. Rose, every time when you lose your weapon, you always feel so helpless, and always give up. You need to learn, that your weapon is a tool in the end. True, our weapons are an extension of ourselves. But, when you are too reliant on it, you become jaded, and cripple yourself when it comes to combat." Ms. Goodwitch gave Ruby the harsh truth. "It's not about the weapon, but the warrior holding the weapon." Glynda Goodwitch ended.
That's what she would say to her. That really had Ruby thinking. She was always terrible when it came to hand to hand. She tried getting the hang off it in the past, but she could never grasp it. Yang, and her dad, eagerly kept trying to get her to fight with her fists. But she never had the talent for it, they always tried to get her to do killer combos like them, but she couldn't keep up.
But that hit her. They were trying to teach them at their level, not at her level! It was so obvious, so simple, but so easily ignored. She then approached Yang again to try to ask her for help again. Yang nearly gave her a hug that almost broke her spine, in her opinion. But, Yang tried to get her in the advance training instantly but, Ruby had a different plan.
"Yang I can't fight like you and dad. Can we start with how to punch?" Ruby asked Yang. But Yang gave her an incredulous look.
"Why start there, you are already great with Cresent Rose, so why start there, you're an amazing fighter Rubes." Yang asked her sister with her hand on her hips, with a cocked eyebrow.
"That's just it, I'm great with Cresent Rose, I can shoot a gun like a master, and slice a grim, like nobodies business, but I never started on hand to hand. I know how to make a fist by watching everyone else, but I don't know the proper technique to throw a good punch. So I need to start at the beginning, so please Yang, as your leader, and your sister, please teach me." Ruby said to Yang. Yang stood there wide eyed, it was almost looking at Summer Rose all over again. That steely eyed look, and that no nonsense attitude when she had to get things done. Yeah, she was shocked, her sister has truly starting to grow up.
Yang then let out a sigh, and smiled.
"Ok baby sis let's start with the basics, and the basics starts with a good stance." Yang said getting in position.
That was the Monday, when they got back from Jaune's, after classes. She started at the very beginning. Yang showed her a basic punch in slow motion, and changing to a straight right cross. She showed Ruby the basics in how to throw it faster, it had to be through training. About 100 punches on each arm. He arms were burning from that exercise, but, that's what you get when you train in only one thing, than expanding your horizons. So everyday after classes since then, she has been practicing her punches, but she noticed something. She can never throw a power house punch like her sister, or Nora. So she decided she needed speed.
She seen how Ren always fought, and fast his fists can go. She went to him for help, in how to throw a faster punch. He agreed, not just because she was eager to learn, that was a big factor. But, she looked led a sad pleading puppy, and he couldn't say no to that face.
So he started her on a basic martial art punch, she trained in to get the proper speed up. At the time, she thought it was weird, he told her, go into a sitting stance, like she was riding a horse. She found that strange, it hurt a little at first, she had some flexibility, but nothing compared to her team. So this also helps to get her flexibility up. Ren told her to keep her body squared(straight), and then, have her arm extended out and make a fist. And put her other fist on her side.
She had to have her palm facing the sky, while still having her fist balled, and kept it at her side. Ren gave her instruction.
"Imagine your fists are on a pully. Your throw a punch forward, your fist on your side, and pull your other hand back to the spot how your previous was." Ren said to her as he demonstrated.
It was pretty easy on how to concept of it, but she had to keep her body squared, and put force into her punches. She did fifty of these, and it was tiring. She decided to continue this every day. She can feel it, from her sister teaching her, and Ren. She can be able to throw a punch better! But, to be able to fight bare handed, she had a long way to go. She was a baby learning to crawl, and had to work up to walk(able to do combos, blocking, guard, etc.), and finally to run(Able to fight in battle, with fists, if need be.
This was a few days before meeting up with Jaune to go to Patch. She was still a newbie, like Jaune. But, like Jaune, she will work hard to get back up. They all will, and it was crazy, that he was the reason for them to get better. His traumatic experience bloomed something good. For his friends to be better so they can, support, and help him, and to help others. They will continue to work on how to do everything they can!
As they were all still walking around patch, the beach that is near there, the forests, they noticed some young grimm, and dispatched of them quickly. Patch didn't have any extreme amount of dangerous grimm, a lot just juvenile grimm, with the most dangerous of an alpha Ursa, even those were rare, but it was good experience for him to practice fighting, and doing good around the island, if Tai allowed him to go out.
They eventually arrived at Signal academy. Yang and Ruby both wanted to show Jaune, and Pyrrha their old school.
"And finally this is Signal Academy." Ruby introduced with small Jazz hands.
"The same school, where me and Rubes truly learned our fighting styles." Yang said, doing something similar to Ruby. This caused Jaund and Pyrrha to laugh a little. Their excitement was amazing, and they both were so glad
Signal looked almost like a normal highschool, but Jaune could see a huge out door training area, pretty big, it was like a big obstacle course, and arenas for fighting if they were outside. Ruby, and Yang kept going on how good this place is, the outdoor training,,and the cafeteria, the forge.
Jaune remembered, that Ruby said that all students at Signal, make their own weapons, unless it was theirs was a hand me down, from their family like Jaune's. But even so, she said all students at Signal had to make a weapon, it was in order to pass.
That made him think that, how they were able to make something so complicated. They all had mechashift weapons, and he didn't understand that complexity, while his shield can do that, it only has about 5 moving parts, even then they are simple. That made Jaune look at them with more amazement, they know how to fix their weapons, and maintain it easily. Was he jealous sure, but was he impressed, and inspired most definitely.
"Well that's everything that we wanted to show you two, lets head to our house." Yang said to everyone, and started to lead them. Ruby jumped on Jaune's back wanting a piggy back ride, with Pyrrha clinging to one of his arms, this caused him to giggle a little. He then felt a weight on his other arm, it was Yang giving him a flirty look, and putting his other arm in between her impressive chest.
"Oh getting popular again huh vomit boy? Don't leave me Yangin, I want to feel this love too." Yang gave him mock bed room eyes, while making a pun.
Jaune's face went atomic red, with the other too, gaining a big blush, but pouting at Yang for what she did. Pyrrha then did the same thing Yang did, but was so embarrassed of doing that. Ruby just held him tighter, then wrapping her legs around him. Jaune felt overwhelmed with amazing female bodies on him, surrounding him, he felt almost overwhelmed, but ended laughing a little. The girls joined in, they felt like a family, and they wouldn't have it any other way. They continued their walk, for almost 20 mins going back to the Xia Long/ Rose house.
It was a pretty big log cabin, with two stories to it, Jaune liked that, it looked very cozy, and loving. This is where he will be staying for now on. All was left is to meet the man of the house. Who is also, Ruby, and Yang's father. He just hopes and prays he doesn't kill him for having his daughters so close to him.
Jaune sees a tall man with a slight beard, and tattoo on his shoulder, standing cross armed looking at Jaune, his eyes, had cold, 'I am going to murder you', look.
'Oh brothers have mercy on my soul.' Jaune gave a silent prayer, before feeling the impact of a furry creature, rocket into his gut.
A/N: Hey everyone thank you for reading this far. I do apologize again for most of the story not making since, when jumping to the past, and present times. Again I am making things up as I go, I don't write down anything, then type anything anymore. So please have patience for me, I will try to be better.
But now we meet Tai, and Zwei, who rocketed at Jaune's gut, what will happen next? Let's find out next time.
May God continue to Bless All Of You!