The dorm room of Team JNPR buzzed with the steady rhythm of preparation, the air alive with energy as the team readied themselves for their mission. It was a morning like many others at Beacon Academy, but to Jaune it was a chance to go on a 'field trip'. The chance to go on a mission that was not on their own, but with the supervision of the Professors
Jaune sat on the edge of his bed, tightening the last strap on his boots with a firm tug. His Crocea Mors lay beside him, bathing in the morning light. Across the room, the lively voice of Nora cut through the air.
"Hey, fearless leader!" she called out playfully, her tone full of curiosity. She was holding up the helmet that sat by Jaune's bed, its surface catching the sunlight. "Why don't you ever wear this thing? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"
Jaune looked up, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He gestured dramatically at his face. "Because, Nora, it would hide this handsome face," he declared, his tone dripping with mock vanity that he usually doesn't dare to do. "And besides, it kind of messes with my vision. Ever try fighting with a helmet on your while it's hot?"
Nora giggled, slipping the helmet onto her own head. "Oh, no!" she cried in an exaggerated imitation of Jaune's voice, pretending to stumble around the room blindly. "The noble knight is blind! Whatever shall we do?"
She struck an overly dramatic pose before plopping onto Ren's bed with a laugh. Ren, who had been meticulously inspecting their gear, raised an eyebrow at her antics, but said nothing. His attention turned to Jaune's armor, his keen eyes taking in the intricate details.
"This is impressive work," Ren remarked thoughtfully. "The craftsmanship is exceptional. Where did you get it?"
Jaune smiled, a hint of pride shining through. "The Blacksmith Mother made it for me," he said, his tone warm. "It was her parting gift before I left for Beacon."
"The Blacksmith Mother?" Pyrrha glanced up from her weapon maintenance, her emerald eyes glinting with curiosity. She was seated by the window, Milo disassembled on the table before her. With careful precision, she ran a cleaning rod through the barrel, ensuring every speck of Dust was removed.
"Yeah," Jaune replied, his gaze turning distant as he recalled the memory. "She's one hell of a blacksmith. Her work speaks for itself. You could even say she forges her work with soul."
It was the truth… Jaune had seen the Blacksmith reform those killed by the Jabberwalker, transformed into a new being. Creating weapons and upgrading them was a far easier task to her... probably.
"She sounds remarkable," Pyrrha said with a soft smile as she reassembled her rifle, the pieces clicking together with practiced ease.
"She really was," Jaune said, his voice tinged with reverence. "She taught me a lot about life. And wisdom I'd carry forever."
Nora leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Do you ever clean it?" she asked, nodding toward Jaune's armor. "I mean, it's shiny and all, but I've never actually seen you do anything to it."
Jaune grinned. "That's the beauty of her work. I don't have to. It just... stays this way."
Nora huffed in mock exasperation. "Of course. Our fearless leader has the good good stuff. Must be nice!"
"So how did she do it? is it like a Semblance?" Ren asked. "I don't see any tech on it that does self-cleaning."
"Maybe i's magic?" Jaune chuckled, shrugging good-naturedly. Across the room, Ren finished inspecting the supplies and shifted the conversation to more practical matters.
"So, what's the plan for today?" he asked, his tone calm but curious. "Did Ms. Goodwitch give us any specifics?"
Pyrrha took the lead, her voice steady as she recounted the mission details. "We'll be heading into the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall to restart the defense systems. Some of them have been offline for a while, and it's our job to get them back up and running."
"Will Ms. Goodwitch be coming with us?" Nora asked, her enthusiasm bubbling over.
"She'll be overseeing everything from the control center so she can turn it on," Pyrrha explained. "And don't worry about not being managed."
With a mischievous smile, she straightened her posture and lifted an invisible glass, imitating the stern demeanor of their professor. "'I have trust in Team JNPR. Just try not to go wild.'"
Nora burst into laughter. "Maybe she secretly likes us!"
Jaune raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Likes us, huh? Then why do I always feel like she's waiting for us to mess up?"
Pyrrha chuckled softly, but before she could respond, Ren added his own perspective. "If we're heading out there, there's always a chance of running into Grimm."
"There's always Grimm," Jaune agreed with a sigh, his tone growing serious. "That's why we can't let our guard down. Just because it's a maintenance mission doesn't mean it'll be easy."
Nora waved off his concerns with a grin. "Oh, come on, fearless leader! We'll kick some butt, take some names, and call it a day."
"It shouldn't be too hard," Ren chimed in, his voice calm but measured.
Jaune crossed his arms, his expression firm. "Maybe not, but we should still be careful. Overconfidence can lead to great dangers."
"Shouldn't have thought about that when chasing those gang of thieves," Nora pointed out.
Ren coughed and looked away.
Pyrrha tilted her head, studying Jaune thoughtfully. "You're always so cautious, Jaune. And I've seen you fight Grimm… I can tell you also pull your punches. Why is that?"
"I guess I got used to probing them first, see how much force I need to break them, I want to employ force carefully," Jaune hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor as he searched for the right words. "It's something my master drilled into me," he admitted. "He always said to temper arrogance with caution. Overconfidence can be just as dangerous as fear."
Pyrrha nodded, her expression thoughtful. She didn't press further, sensing there was more to the story than Jaune was ready to share. Instead, she returned her focus to her weapon, inspecting the blade with meticulous care.
The room settled into a comfortable rhythm after that. Pyrrha continued her preparations, her movements precise and efficient. Ren double-checked the gear one last time, his disciplined approach ensuring everything was accounted for. Nora flitted around the room, her boundless energy keeping the mood light with her playful comments and antics. Sometimes, Jaune had to admire Nora's energy.
"All right, Team JNPR," Jaune said, clapping his hands together. "Let's wrap this up. We've got a mission to complete. Let's try to make this one go smooth. We've been rather naughty, you know? So let's impress the Professor."
Team JNPR nodded as they get their stuff and left their dorm room.
The morning sun painted the cliffs in hues of gold and orange as Team JNPR made their way to the docks. The air was cool, carrying the sounds of distant winds against the rocky wall. Jaune walked at the front, his Crocea Mors sheathed at his side. Behind him, Pyrrha walked with an easy grace, her spear and shield on her back. Ren and Nora followed close behind, the former quiet and composed as always, while the latter hummed a jaunty tune.
As they approached, the unmistakable figure of the red-caped Ruby came into view. She stood facing her team, her usual excitement bubbling over, though it seemed to deflate halfway through her sentence.
"Well, alright, then! Looks like we're going to save the world with Doctor Oooobleck—okay, yeah, when you say it out loud, it sounds worse," Ruby said, her voice sinking in tune with her mood.
Nora perked up at the sound of Ruby's voice and bounded forward, her hammer hung across her lower back. "Save the world?" she said with mock drama, drawing the attention of Team RWBY, who turned to face their approaching friends.
Weiss glanced at Jaune, her icy blue eyes lingering briefly before flitting to Pyrrha. She brushed her hair behind her ear and gave them a quick, polite nod.
"Save the world?" Nora repeated, placing a hand over her heart. "You're going on world-saving missions without us? I'm hurt... sad!" Her stomach rumbled audibly, and she winced before adding, "Maybe a little hungry? That last one's not your fault, though, Ren."
Ren crossed his arms and sighed, turning his gaze to the horizon as though trying to distance himself from Nora's theatrics. "We've had breakfast, Nora."
"Not enough breakfast, apparently!" she retorted.
Jaune chuckled, shaking his head before addressing Ruby. "Sounds exciting. Where are you going?"
Ruby hesitated, glancing at her team for support before answering. "Oh, just, you know... outside the kingdom," she said, her tone casual but laced with a hint of trepidation.
Nora's eyes widened, and she let out an exaggerated gasp. "Aw, and we're just here in the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall!" she said, throwing her hands up dramatically. "That's so unfair."
Pyrrha then added with a polite smile, "We're going to restart the defenses and make sure everything's functioning properly."
"It should be easy work," Ren said, his voice even but carrying the faintest hint of relief at the simplicity of their task.
At that moment, Doctor Oobleck emerged from the airship docked nearby, his lanky form and frenetic energy unmistakable. He raised a hand to his mouth like a makeshift megaphone and called out, "Four minutes, ladies!"
As quickly as he appeared, Oobleck disappeared back into the ship, leaving the members of Team RWBY exchanging awkward smiles with Team JNPR.
"Well, uh..." Ruby raised her thumb awkwardly, trying to inject some cheer into the moment. "Wish us luck!"
Team JNPR stood at the edge of the docks, watching as their friends boarded the airship. The vehicle hummed to life, its engines a low, resonant thrum. Nora waved enthusiastically until the craft disappeared into the distance.
"Outside the kingdom," Jaune mused as the group made their way back to the academy. "That sounds... intense."
"It's not exactly a stroll through the park," Pyrrha agreed, her tone thoughtful. "I hope they'll be alright."
Ren glanced sideways at her. "They're capable. And they have Doctor Oobleck with them."
"Yeah, but still," Nora said, a rare seriousness creeping into her voice. "They're out there saving the world while we're stuck restarting a bunch of boring defenses. Talk about all work and no play."
Jaune chuckled. "You know, the last time we had a 'boring' outing, me and Ren ended up chasing down gangs of thieves through Vale's streets. So maybe let's not tempt fate."
Nora smirked, elbowing him lightly. "You make a fair point, fearless leader. Who knows? Maybe we'll end up fighting a giant Grimm or something."
Jaune groaned. "Please don't jinx it."
Pyrrha giggled. "Don't worry, leader. If it does appear… we'll kicked its ass."
"That's the spirit, Pyrrha" Nora slung her arm across Pyrrha.
Jaune and Ren wanted to protest, but recalling their recent chasing down of thieves in Vale, they choose to remain silent.
Their banter continued as they then boarded the airship. The rumble of the bullhead's engines filling the cabin as Team JNPR sat strapped into their seats. The airship shuddered slightly as it ascended from the Cliffside docks, lifting high into the crisp morning air. Jaune glanced out the small window beside him, watching the view transform as Beacon Academy became a distant speck on the horizon. Beyond it lay the Emerald Forest, a vast expanse of green that stretched out as far as the eye could see.
Nora was practically bouncing in her seat, her excitement palpable despite the restraints keeping her in place. "I can't wait to see what kind of defenses we'll be fixing! Maybe some giant laser turrets, or—ooh! Maybe there's a secret cannon that shoots lightning bolts!"
Ren, seated beside her, gave a patient smile. "More likely, we'll be checking terminals and repairing the basic perimeter defenses. Nothing quite as dramatic as a Dust-lightning cannon."
Nora gasped in mock offense. "Ren, you underestimate the potential awesomeness of this mission. Shame on you."
Jaune smirked, shaking his head as he tightened the straps on his armor. "Let's hope it's just simple repairs."
Pyrrha chuckled softly from her seat across from him. "I somehow doubt it, knowing our recent track record."
As if on cue, the bullhead jolted violently, forcing everyone to grab onto their seats. The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, calm but tinged with urgency. "We're approaching the Emerald Forest now. Should be at the LZ in five minutes—"
A deafening screech cut through the air, and a massive shadow swept past the bullhead, its turbulence causing the craft to tilt sharply. The team instinctively braced themselves against the walls and each other as the airship swayed, narrowly avoiding the colossal form of a Nevermore.
"What the heck was that?!" Nora shouted, clutching her seat as the bullhead righted itself.
The pilot's voice returned, terser this time. "That would be a Nevermore. Big one. Quiet old too. Looks like it's interested in us. Would you mind taking care of it before it takes care of us? Shouldn't be far from the LZ, but I can't land with that thing on our tail and you guys definitely need the supplies to repair the defenses.."
Jaune unbuckled his harness, his hand steadying himself on the overhead bar as the bullhead rocked again. "Be careful," he said, addressing the pilot. "Don't do anything reckless."
The pilot snorted, his voice dry. "I'd appreciate it if you killed it quickly, then."
Jaune sighed, his expression exasperated but resigned. He turned to the others. "Well, looks like Nora jinxed us."
With a delighted grin, Nora was already on her feet, her hands gripping the handle of Magnhild. "You're welcome, fearless leader!" she said, her voice brimming with excitement. Before anyone could stop her, she launched herself out of the bullhead's open bay door.
"Nora!" Jaune shouted, but it was too late.
Nora rotated mid-air, a gleeful laugh escaping her lips as she brought Magnhild down in a crushing arc onto the Nevermore's bone-plated head. The impact rang out like a thunderclap, and the Grimm let out an ear-piercing screech as cracks spread across its skull.
Ren exchanged a glance with Jaune and Pyrrha, his usual calm replaced with determination. "Let's back her up."
With that, he jumped, his palms glowing faintly with aura as he infused them with power. Ren's palm colliding with the Nevermore's head, his strike shattering more of the creature's protective bone plating.
Jaune groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Of course." He turned to Pyrrha, who was already standing with her sword and shield in hand, her emerald eyes gleaming with readiness.
"Shall we?" she asked excitedly.
Jaune couldn't help but smile before they jumped together into the fray.
The rush of air roared in Jaune's ears as he descended. Pyrrha spun Milo in a graceful arc, shifting it seamlessly into its spear form mid-flight. Jaune followed suit, Crocea Mors shifting with a satisfying clang into its greatsword configuration, the blade and sheath combining into one solid weapon.
The Nevermore twisted and thrashed as it tried to shake off its attackers, but Pyrrha and Jaune moved in perfect sync as they dived like a bullet towards the Grimm. Pyrrha thrust the tip of her spear into the Grimm's skull while Jaune drove the edge of his greatsword into the same point. The combined force of their strikes sent the Nevermore hurtling toward the ground, its massive body dragging along the forest floor and carving a deep scar into the earth.
The Grimm let out one final, guttural screech before dissolving into a cloud of black smoke, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Jaune planted his boots firmly on the ground and swung Crocea Mors onto his shoulder, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He glanced at Pyrrha, who stood beside him with her spear still in hand, her crimson hair glinting in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
"Well," Jaune said, his voice tinged with dry humor, "we really never have a dull moment, do we?"
Pyrrha laughed softly, the sound warm and genuine. "It certainly keeps things interesting."
Ren and Nora rejoined them, the former landing with practiced grace, while the latter tumbled to the ground with a loud whoop of triumph.
"Did you see that?!" Nora exclaimed, her face flushed with exhilaration. "I totally cracked its skull! That was awesome!"
Ren nodded, though his expression remained as composed as ever. "You were effective, as always."
Jaune shook his head, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "You two are impossible."
The roar of the bullhead's engines drew their attention as it descended toward the clearing. The pilot's voice came over their scrolls, a note of begrudging appreciation in his tone. "Nice work, kids. I owe you one."
Jaune motioned for the team to regroup. "Alright, let's get to the LZ and finish this mission. Who knows what else might show up?"
Nora twirled Magnhild over her shoulder, her grin as wide as ever. "Bring it on!" she said, skipping ahead toward the airship.
Pyrrha fell into step beside Jaune, her spear now folded and secured on her back. "Well done, partner," she said, her tone light but sincere.
Jaune glanced at her with a grin. "Couldn't have done it without you."
Their mission had only just begun.