A/N: Short chapter is short, had to split this one in half! Would you prefer weekly updates again? Do let me know what you think in your reviews!

Sorry for the delay. I'm not well and my health is affecting my work, but I'm still here, still alive, still wading through life. Hope you enjoy this long-awaited chapter.

Setbacks aside -I don't always have co-writers around to help write these chapters and Advent has inexplicably vanished for the last seven days- I'm still kicking and doing my best to move forward on the update front.

As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others. I own no references, quotes, memes or themes! They're all tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know in the comments~!

Hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode here.

I'm talking about the earlier volumes, the good 'ol days...

Get ready to smile, laugh, maybe even cry a little...

"Real hunters talk with their fists!"

"What about their weapons?"

"Hey, whatever works."

~?

Just a Little Bonk

His friends rallied around him.

Jaune was grateful for that, really he was, but he was also terribly, horribly afraid. Team JNPR -Mom really was gonna get a hoot out of their namesake when she and Dad came by- gathered 'round him in solidarity, desperate to shield him from any lingering fallout that might've befallen him after the incident at the Docks.

And he appreciated that, really he did, but it also led to some VERY personal questions; many of which he wasn't ready to answer just yet.

Some, he was prepared to answer. Others he intended to avoid like the plague.

All of this, he had to do alone.

Penny had wandered off to sage knew where and while he knew Child -he'd never understood the need for that nickname of hers- was lurking somewhere, he didn't know WHERE his special sister was. He felt that was something of an important distinction, given that she was chaos incarnate.

And yet for all her powers, she didn't compare to Dad and Mom. Who were probably going to be here any day now. Joy.

At least the authorities weren't asking too much of a fuss about this. That, at least, was a point in his favor. Granted, he hadn't expected Ozpin to actively intercede on his behalf, but at this point he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth, even if the man himself was acting a bit odd about it. Much to his chagrin, he still found himself being praised to high heaven by local media outlets for capturing Torchwick and his accomplice, the lethal Neopolitan.

But that was neither here nor there.

In the end his team had somehow managed to squirrel him away from all those prying eyes and sequester him in their dorm.

Which, again, led to the the questions.

So many questions!

Times like these made him wish he'd never left Ansel, but at the same time he was proud he had; never in all his life had he expected to find such fast friends. People who cared about him, you know? A team.

Alas, said team was currently staring at him, demanding answers.

In conclusion?

Jaune Arc folded like wet cardboard.

He hadn't meant to tell them everything, honest! One thing led to another just...came out. He couldn't help himslef! He was weak to judgemental stares!

Against all odds it felt...good to unburden himself.

Team RWBY were good girls, and he was on relatively good terms with them -surely Weiss couldnt still be cross with him aftet thst last spar-but at the end of the day, they weren't HIS team. They wouldn't understand. Yang and Ruby came from a Huntsman family, Weiss was the bloody heiress to the SDC and Blake...the less said about her, the better. But his team, he knew them. Nora might a bit of a spazmonkey at times, and sure, Ren was unused to speaking with people for prolonged periods, but they understood him. So did Pyrrha. Surely they would understand his reasons...

.

..

...that might be his naivete talking again, but it felt damned good to finally tell someone about his dysfunctional family and all he'd gone through to get here.

Now if they would just stop staring at him like he'd grown a second head...!

"I'm sorry," Pyrrha pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes with a rare frown. "But how do you even function with that many sisters?"

He scratched the back of his head with a rueful laugh. "That's the part you're worried about? I thought you'd be angry about me cheating my way into Beacon with forged documents...

Green eyes fluttered open, shut, open again now in an exasperated blink. "Why would we care about any of that?"

"Because its basically illegal?"

"Jaune, we all have our problems, our secrets." She reached across herself to touch a hand to his and he tried not to notice just how warm her hand was. "I ran away from my family in Mistral to attend Beacon." A tiny flush of scarlet had her blushing. We have that in common, I suppose...

His eyes bulged. "You did what?!"

Nora perked up. "Deets, sister! Now!"

Quite suddenly, it was Pyrrha's turn to flush. "This really isn't that big of a deal compared-

"I'd say it is." Ren chimed in with slightly narrowed eyes. "You never told us you ran away from home."

Nora jumped right in. "You heard him! Spill the beans!"

Pyrrha looked to Jaune for aid.

He couldn't help himself and raised his hands in defeat. "I kinda wanna know too..

"B-But," His partner whined and squirmed where she sat, hands in her lap. "Weren't we just talking about Jaune...? Are you really that interested?" The rest of Team JNPR stared her down, until finally, she deflated with a sigh. "Oh, alright. If I tell you, you mustn't treat me any differently. Its really not such a fantastic tale...

"Pinkie promise!" This from Nora.

Taking a deep breath, Pyrrha steeled herself. A strange flicker of unease dawned in Jaune's gut. He wasn't quite sure why...

"You all know I'm the Invincible Girl, right? Champion of Mistral and all that? Never lost a match?"

Another trio of nods, she'd told each of them at some point or another.

Her green eyes glistened. "Do you know why I left?"

Nora shrugged. "Nope."

Ren shook his head.

Jaune gulped. "We're not going to like this answer, are we...

...you might not." Ah, but Pyrrha had that look in her eye now; that same glint she got when they sparred, she was determined to see this through. "In the beginning I loved fighting solely for the sake of fighting. Mother ensured I was given the finest tutors, the best instruction. And I loved it." she tilted her head back a moment, contemplating the ceiling. "Seeking improvement, testing myself against strong opponents-much like yourself, Jaune." a tiny grin tugged at the corner of her mouth as she considered him anew. "I still haven't managed to best you yet, have I?"

Ooops.

Ren coughed into a fist. "Dense."

"Hey, I heard that! How the heck am I dense!"

Nora giggled and nudged him with an elbow, grinning all the while.

Heat speared through his face and he looked away with a nervous laugh, scratching his cheek. "...I'm sure you will someday...?"

"I'll take you up on that." For some reason, her smile became dazzling. "Now where was I?" she touched a finger to her chin, considering, then recalled. "Right, as time went on, I lost less and less in spars, and by the time time I began taking on tournaments, I hadn't suffered a single defeat." he could just imagine a younger Pyrrha absolutely blitzing her competition, taking title after title, win after win, all with that same smile on her face-a testament to her flourishing skill. "It was grand...at first...

Her face fell.

...until it wasn't.

The fame, the pressure, constantly being seen as some paragon of combat...it was too much. Before I knew what was happening, they'd placed me on a pedestal. I couldn't go out in public without being swarmed, I'd lost most of my friends, and those few who remained became distant." She lapsed into a long silence, then rallied. "I could've had my pick of any academy but I was "expected" to follow tradition and attend Haven. More of the same, just as always. I didn't want that. I wanted to leave. Mother wouldn't have it. We argued."

Nora perked up. "You have a mom?"

"Vanessa Nikos." Pyrrha's smile returned, but Jaune couldn't help but noticed just how strained it was. "A huntress-turned-champion-fighter. Retired, now," she amended at their questing looks. "I think she might've meant well, once, when she first began training me. But she became obsessed with the fame and all the power that came with it. I wanted her permission, but she wouldn't give that. Said I'd dishonor the family.

Jaune winced and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Aw, Pyrrha...

"Its fine, Jaune." she said as much, but made no effort to dislodge him. "I left in the middle of the night. She caught me. It came down to a fight, in the end."

...what happened next?" This from Nora.

Jaune found himself leaning in as well with Ren besides.

Pyrrha's face went redder than Ruby's namesake. "I may have...cheated."

"How so?" Ren ventured.

"I threw dust in her eyes and punched her in the mouth while she was reeling," she mimed the jabbing motion for emphasis, "From there, I kept punching until her aura broke and knocked her out...then I called an ambulance and ran before she could wake up."

Kurama absolutely cackled. "Call an ambulance! But not for me!"

Jaune fell off the bed with a whoop!

"Pyrrha?!"

"I'm sorry!" his partner grimaced helplessly and he nearly laughed anew at her panicked yelp as he climbed back to his feet. "She was still breathing when I left, so I'm sure she's fine! She just...might have a black eye. And a broken nose...and maybe a few facial fractures...

Ren frowned. "Did she press charges?"

"I think I would've known by now if she put a bounty on me." here at last, her truer smile shone through. "Besides, what mother would admit that they were beaten by their own daughter?"

Nora growled in agreement. "Yeesh, your mom sounds like a whole bimmrgh?!"

"Witch." Ren planted a hand over her mouth, ignoring her glare. "That's definitely what she meant to say."

She thrashed in his grasp like a wild Beowolf. "Mmmrgh! Hnnrgh! Rrrgh!"

"No, Nora. I'm not letting go-ow! Don't bite!"

Pyrrha scratched the back of her head as they squabbled in the background. "To be honest, I'm amazed she hasn't sent anyone after me yet. I suppose I should thank my lucky stars."

A bead of sweat ran down Jaune's brow. 'Well, that's not ominous foreshadowing at all...

There was such a thing as tempting fate. He knew the feeling well.

"Are you sure she won't chase you?"

"Jaune," she turned a bemused look on him, "I didn't say which academy I intended to attend, only that it wouldn't be Mistral. Besides, I covered my tracks. When I left Mistral I chartered a long-term flight to Atlas first, then Vaccuo, until I finally came to Vale. Granted, doing so exhausted a good bit of my funds, but its bound to have her scratching her head for awhile."

She sounded so sure of herself. So convicted. He envied her that, more than he dared admit.

Sure, he and dad didn't always get along, but they hadn't fought to the death over it.

No, he'd just run away like a coward; the reminder burned.

At least Pyrrha was brave enough to fight her mum for what she wanted, even knowing she might lose...

"Our turn!" Nora wriggled free of Ren and waved her hand. "Since we're sharing secrets, Renny and I are orphans! Pretty sure the Grimm ate his parents and my mom just up and abandoned me, soooo...

Ren gave her a flat stare. "Nora."

"What?" she turned a slightly strained smile on him. "Its true. We're all messed up." quick as her namesake, she rounded on Jaune, not giving him a chance to interject. "So what if you cheated Beacon? You clearly belong here."

"She's right." Pyrrha laid a hand on his. "Everyone has a past. Whether you cheated or not doesn't matter anymore. We've all seen your skills. You deserve to be here."

All this praised flattered, him, really, it did, but it didn't change the truth. "My folks still don't want me here. They'll take me away; they're already on their way."

Here at last, a pallor fell over his teammates, the ghost of concern they'd try to deny for so long.

Pyrrha blinked. "Surely your mother and father can't be that strong."

He heaved a sigh and took his hand from hers. "They are."

Nora winced. "Stronger than Headmaster Ozpin?"

"Mom definitely is, at least. As for Dad...

Juniper Arc excelled in swordplay; he'd learned much of what he new from her. But dad, dad, DAD! How could he possibly tell them? His sisters were scary, sure, but Naruto could obliterate mountains. He'd once seen him rip a massive oak tree ten times his height out the ground with one hand, carry it on his back, and replant it near the house just so the Family could have a bit more shade. He could silence storms with a blast of wind. His fists annihilated Grimm with one punch. Who did that?!

His old man.

And all those feats were without Kurama!

Once he came here, there was going to be a showdown, no two ways about it.

Maybe he would survive the clash. Maybe he wouldn't. He'd come to accept it as inevitable, even if he wasn't best pleased about it. He'd done wrong by running away; worrying his family half to death. Now he had to pay for it. Simple as that; the price he paid simply had yet to be determined and remained to be seen.

"Dad is strong." that was the only was he could summarize his existence. "I went here without his wishes; snuck out like a coward, really. Its my own fault."

"And if you don't want go back?"

Of course he didn't want to go back! But what good would getting angry do him now? Nothing at all.

He granted Pyrrha a rueful smile; because of course she was the one to ask that question. "What I want doesn't matter anymore."

"It should!" Pyrrha sprang to her feet, looking terribly cross, the first real sign of anger he'd seen from her. "You matter, Jaune!" a hand flew to her chest, her heartbeat painfully loud to his sixth sense. "Your more than our team leader, you're our friend! We won't let him take you away-no, I won't! Because I...I...!

She choked, the word lodging in her throat with an unhappy sound as her nerves failed her at the last.

Kurama winced. "I'll just see myself out for the time being...

Pyrrha took a breath, rallying herself. "Can we talk?"

Jaune tilted his head. "Aren't we doing that right now?"

She squirmed a little in place, eyeing Ran and Nora, neither of whom had spoken for some time now. "Alone...?"

The duo exchanged a long lingering look as the latter -damnitall Nora!- smacked her lips and made a noise reminiscent of wedding bells.

Jaune felt his face flash with fire. Even he wasn't that dense. But why would Nora say...?

Ren betrayed him outright. "We'll go grab a bite to eat."

Nora proved decidedly less subtle. "Use protection!"

Pyrrha's face flamed to match her hair. "NORA!"

"What?! Unless you want me to be an-

Ren all but dragged the excitable girl out of the room before she finished that damning statement, leaving them alone.

Pyrrha closed the door behind her and blocked it with her body. Locked it now, for good measure. Facing away from him, she thumped her head against it. Once. Twice. Thrice. He heard -and saw!- her red aura crackle a little each time and winced, but didn't dare interrupt at first. Finally, after the fifth attempt of trying to knock herself out, he felt he ought to try.

Planting a hand on her shoulder, he -gently!- spun her right round to face him.

He wasn't prepared for the tears glistening in her green eyes.

Jaune froze. "Pyr...?

Nor was he braced for her smile. It was small and shy and sad and he immediately felt like he'd kicked a puppy; a puppy who could dismantle fourth-year students in her sleep, but a puppy nonetheless.

"I've made a mess of things, haven't I?" She sniffled. "I'm sorry...

His arms moved of their own accord and drew her into his chest; he didn't know what he was thinking, much less that he was doing, only that he couldn't bear the sight of her tears for single solitary second. So he hugged her; he hugged her so damn hard he felt her aura flex for a moment. She made a startled noise, more a gasp than anything else, but after a moment's pause, her arms came up behind him and held on tonight. Her body fit smoothly against his, causing his heart to hammer in his chest.

And if he heard her sob, if he felt his shirt grow damp, he ignored it, focusing instead on other things.

Holding her felt...pretty nice.

He never wanted to let Pyrrha go.

Wait. Where had that thought come from?

He sighed heavily into her shoulder. "I don't want to go either."

"Then don't." she whispered. "Stay, fight, do something. Anything is better than just giving up."

On a whim, he defaulted to the very first thing he could think of. Really, it was just an errant thought, a simple, innocent idea.

It would cause chaos; sweet, beautiful chaos in the days to come. Of course, he knew none of that.

"You, ah," his smiled faltered, then returned. "Wanna see a movie this weekend?"

Pyrrha hiccuped into his chest. "That sounds grand."

(.0.0.0.)

Professor Peter Port paused, one fist shy of knocking against Team JNPR's door.

He had heard the noises within, and the words that followed.

He'd heard enough, oh yes, more than enough.

Now he tittered merrily as he walked away from the wooden frame, content to let the two youngsters have their little moment together.

For you see, his mind was on the finer things, the anticipation of the Hunt that was to come and the Glory of the Battle that would surely follow. It seemed He was on his way here after all.

Well then! He would have to prepare.

"Port" chuckled under his breath.

What a lovely day.

And then it got even better. Space, time, no, the very fabric of reality twisted around as the hallway rippled before him.

A small blond girl stepped out of the distortion wearing a scowl and a uniform he didnt recognize. "I don't much appreciate someone eavesdropping on my big brother."

On the outside she appeared to be no more than a mere child, a harmless waif wholly beneath his notice. On the inside however, beneath her disguise, she was so much more. He could see the glimmer of "that" within her as well.

Well, well, well!

It seemed his luck truly had turned for the better.

"Oho? " he thumbed his chin, mustache twitching. "You're one of his, too, aren't you?

Child paused. Her eyes widened. "Who or what are you...?

"Port" opened his eyes and smiled. "That, my dear, is a secret. Wouldn't do to spoil the surprise."

Her hands sparked with scarlet light. "Start talking, now."

"Port" boomed a laugh. "I think not my dear!"

He fled with a cackle and she pursued.

The chase was on!

A/N: Aaaand scene.

Well? Should this remain a story? Yay or nay!

Better yet, would you like weekly updates? Do let me know!

As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" rule. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular, if folks don't like it...well, I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. I'm working two jobs, trying to keep a roof over my family's head, and at the end of the day this is very much a HOBBY. I simply don't have time to write a story no one likes, and feedback sustains me...

Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

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