I had wanted this chapter to come out one to two weeks ago, but all my betas had real life things going on. Sorry about that, but we all know fanfiction is just a hobby and gets put on the backburner sometimes. The emotional scene between Jaune and Pyrrha last chapter was actually pretty difficult to do. I didn't want Jaune to be completely overtaken by anger. At the same time, we all understand he wouldn't be calm in this situation. Pyrrha laying on why she did it didn't help his emotional state either. Kids make mistakes, some of them big. Time is supposed to heal all wounds and maybe one day, they will get a chance to make up. For now, Jaune and Ruby are off on their journey at last. Fighting their most dangerous foe.

Motion sickness.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

The Bullhead finally touched down at their destination. A pungent odor creeped out of the travel compartment as the doors to the vehicle opened. The black-haired professional hunter stepped out, waving his hand to rid himself of the smell.

"You need to learn how to hold that in!" Qrow shouted angrily. "That smell is probably strong enough to be a weapon of its own against the Grimm!" The man coughed a few times, feeling like he himself needed to empty the contents of his stomach after the grueling flight.

"S-Sorry!" Jaune mumbled, rushing out of the Bullhead and dashing toward a bush to finish emptying his breakfast across the grassland.

"Next time, you help him deal with his motion sickness," Qrow growled at Ruby.

The girl shook her head vigorously side to side as she left the vehicle. There was a lot she would do for her friends, especially Jaune. Putting herself in the splash zone was not one of them. At least Jaune had made it to the trashcan on board the ship. If he didn't, things would have been a lot worse. The smell had still overpowered the small cramped space, causing the trip to be miserable for all of them.

"If you need to take another Bullhead, please choose a time when I'm not on duty." The current pilot told Qrow as his green face twisted in reaction to his ship being defiled by the blonde boy.

"I'm knocking the kid out first next time." The man tossed the pilot a couple of Lien. "Sorry about that."

"It happens more often than you would think. Not that you ever really get used to it. Anyway, thanks. Most people just leave without care, forcing me or the janitors to clean up the mess."

The pilot left, leaving Qrow and his two wards at the airfield. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Qrow wondered if it was his bad luck that led him to this moment. Once Jaune had managed to settle his stomach, the boy made his way over, though he still looked a little green. Ruby and Qrow quickly added a few extra steps between them.

Just in case.

"So where are we?" Ruby asked, looking around as they made their way toward the center of the town. The Bullhead docks weren't very big, only capable of accommodating a couple of ships. There were solid metal walls on the far side, surrounding the town. Set up to protect the people against Grimm. It was standard protection in any major settlement.

"Welcome to the city of Requiem." Qrow introduced. "The largest settlement on Vale's northern territory. Enjoy it while you can. Once we leave we'll be roughing it out in the wild. There are only a few scattered towns brave enough to be further into the Grimm Lands."

"What are we here for?" Jaune asked.

"To stock up on some rations, along with figuring out what level you two are at," Qrow reminded him. "I told you this already. Don't make me repeat myself."

"Sorry." Jaune apologized.

"Don't be so mean," Ruby mumbled, glaring cutely at her uncle.

"Not being mean, just efficient." Qrow swiveled his head to look at a passing woman with a very short skirt before remembering Ruby was right behind him. "I can't keep repeating myself."

The man seemed to know where he was going, so Ruby and Jaune followed him in silence. Jaune was lost in thought, barely registering his surroundings. Now that he wasn't distracted with trying to avoid throwing up more than necessary, he was beginning to remember last night's conversation with Pyrrha. He felt like trash and knew he messed up big time. All the ways to handle that situation and the way he chose to do it was one of the worst.

Ruby on the other hand was super excited to be here and kept spinning around, taking in the sights as they passed. Her silence was mostly just because she was too focused on whatever caught her eye. The city was smaller than Vale, much smaller, yet it reminded her more of the market at her hometown of Patch. Stalls of various food, goods, and…

Weapons.

"Cool!" Ruby zipped over to a stall to take a look at the Dust Ammo. "You actually got the new Electric Dust Rounds out here?"

"Of course," the vendor replied, giving a short laugh. "Vale wants us to remain well armed after all. We're the first major line of defense."

"How much-…eep!"

Qrow had grabbed Ruby by her cloak and pulled her after him.

"I wanted to buy that!"

"Not now, Squirt," Qrow told her. "These stalls are overpriced. If we need ammo, there are better places to get it."

"Why sell them at higher prices then?" Jaune asked, glancing back at the stall with the vendor glaring at them.

"Because of convenience," Qrow gestured to the stands with his free hand. "Tourists arrive on Bullheads, see the shiny objects and buy them… like the Squirt here…"

"Hey!"

"Once you spend your money, even when you discover you can get the exact same shit cheaper…" Ruby flinched at her uncle's swearing. "…it's too late. Let this be a lesson for you. Sometimes, the first thing you see isn't always the best choice. Taking a 'wait and see' approach can be more beneficial." He turned to Ruby. "We also need to keep a low profile. Don't make a scene."

"R-Right." Ruby seemed to shrink under Qrow's reprimanding after he let her go. Jaune patted her shoulder and she seemed to relax slightly.

They just left the main market street and were heading to the residential area when they were interrupted by a loud gruff voice.

"Hell! Didn't I tell you what would happen if you showed your ugly mug around here, Qrow?"

Jaune and Ruby spun around on the spot to see a large muscular man with shoulder-length dirty white hair and sporting a hefty beard of the same color. Wearing some old patched trousers and long sleeve plaid shirt, he looked like a stereotypical lumberjack, which was only completed with the axe slung over his shoulder and missing tooth in his yellow teeth. Ruby instantly reached under her clothes for her weapon.

Jaune quickly did the same with the sword at his hip.

"Well if it is Manny!" Qrow turned around without missing a beat. "I thought I smelled you nearby. Damn, have you gotten uglier since we last met?"

"I warned you if I saw you again, I was going to take your arm." The man named Manny growled. "Left or right, asshole?"

Ruby slowly removed her rifle from under her cloak when Qrow burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

A second later, the man started laughing too.

Ruby and Jaune shared a look of utmost disbelief as the two men slapped their hands together in a quick handshake.

"Been a while," Manny said, all anger completely absent from his tone now. "What brings you out here, Qrow? Can't be the liquor. Vale should have better."

"The ladies, I tell you," Qrow replied. "Can't get enough of them."

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby gasped.

"Ah, crap. Right… I got hanger-ons." The Huntsman flinched. "This… is going to take some getting used to."

"Uncle, eh?" Manny laughed. "Qrow mentioned he had a couple of nieces. The name's Manford Faust, but you can call me Manny. Your uncle and I go waaaaay back." He glanced at Jaune and then looked at Qrow. "Both of them yours?"

"Short one only," Qrow replied. "The tall one is… technically an apprentice? He's shadowing me to learn a few things."

"Ah, so how to drink and get rejected, got it." Qrow punched Manny in the shoulder for that comment. "Names?"

Before Ruby and Jaune could answer, Qrow opened his mouth.

"Brat 1 and Brat 2."

"Hey!" Ruby and Jaune protested indignantly as the two men roared with laughter.

"My name is Ruby! Ruby Rose!" The girl's cheeks were puffed out indignantly, but she didn't really approach the man. Ruby wasn't the best with strangers.

"I'm Jaune Arc," Jaune stepped forward and shook Manny's calloused hand. "Good to meet you." He almost added sir, but Qrow's earlier lessons stopped him.

"An Arc, huh?" Manny asked. "You Bill's boy?"

"William Arc is my grandfather," Jaune confirmed. "Did you know him?"

"Yeah, got to fight by his side a couple of times," Manny reminisced fondly. "Good man, good man." He nodded as he talked. "So, following in his footsteps, huh? No wonder you're already shadowing Qrow here. I bet Ol' Bill taught you everything you know."

Instantly, the mood hanging over them began heavy as the man realized he said something wrong. Jaune's eyes lost their glow and Ruby looked away at the ground. Qrow rubbed his face and then met Manny's gaze.

"Sort of a sore spot," Qrow mumbled to him. "Drop it for now."

"Right," Manny quickly agreed. "So, what brings you all here?"

"One of our last stops before we go out into the thick of things," Qrow told him, as they began to walk together. "One last reminder of civilization before those two hate me forever."

"You already told us what we're going to experience!" Ruby protested. "We didn't step into this blind. You need to have faith in us."

"Oh, I have faith in you," Qrow assured her, ruffling her hair as she protested. "You can handle it, but trust me. You won't enjoy it."

"Long-term excursions into the wilderness, never a fun time." Manny agreed. "Word of advice, try to keep your spirits up. Moping just makes everything worse."

"Of course!" Ruby nodded vigorously. "We're killing Grimm and keeping the world safe for people. It's important."

"We know we have a lot to learn and this will be a new experience for us," Jaune added, solemnly. "It's just, we chose this and there's no turning back. We have to take the good and the bad."

"Good attitude," Manny told them. "Too many Huntsmen are too focused on killing that they forget what their real purpose is."

"That's one of the reasons I figured we would stop by while we're here," Qrow informed him. "Since we were going to be in the area, I was hoping we could catch up tonight." For a split second, they shared a look before Qrow continued as if nothing happened. "Also… your house has a nice fenced yard for some privacy. I need to spar with the brats to understand their current level before we head into the field."

"Sure, no problem." The man agreed instantly. "Nothing back there except a pile of firewood. Just… avoid shooting anything. The city gets upset if you fire guns here. Caused a panic when people thought Grimm got in."

"Understandable," Qrow knew that already, but the kids didn't. "Though, it shouldn't be too hard for one of them. No ranged weapon."

"What?" Manny rounded on Jaune and Ruby. "You want to be a Huntsman without a ranged weapon? Which one of you doesn't have one?"

"Me." Jaune raised his hand. "I have a sword and shield passed down in my family. Ruby has a rifle that transforms into a scythe."

"Jaune!" Ruby rounded on him and Jaune was surprised. "Crescent Rose is a Scythe first, gun second!" The boy blinked and looked confused.

"There's a difference?"

Both men and the young girl all facepalmed.

"Think about it like this," Qrow explained at last. "Two people go into the wilderness to fight Grimm. One has a sword, and one has a rifle. What do you think will happen?"

"Er, the one with the rifle can handle flying Grimm?" Jaune replied, thinking back at the initiation. The giant bird Grimm, a Nevermore, that had attacked needed to be shot. He couldn't do anything against it, so he and his team had to fight the scorpion Death Stalker. "With a sword, you have to try to get them to land."

"That's true, but not the main point," Qrow conceded. "What happens if you keep shooting at a large number of Grimm?"

"You… run out of ammo?" Jaune guessed, noticing Ruby nodding behind her uncle, indicating he was on the right track. "So if you just had a gun…" His eyes widened as it dawned on him.

"Got it faster than I would have bet." Manny snickered.

"He's got a decent head on his shoulders," Qrow complimented. "It's the lack of experience. Going to cram a year's worth of training into a month." He turned back to Jaune. "We can't restock out in the field. We bring what we can, but once we run out of ammo, that's it. Until we get back to a city, we have to make do without guns. It's why we always need a durable melee weapon." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at Ruby. "She's going to have the worst time. Her fighting style relies on using high caliber rounds to increase the power of her swing and change directions while in midair."

Ruby stiffened.

"You mean I won't be able to use my baby to her full potential?" The small girl asked horrified, pulling the red rifle from under her cloak and clutching it tightly.

"Nope." Qrow's tone betrayed his amusement as he winked at Manny. "You're going to learn how to swing your scythe the old fashion way."

Now it was Jaune's turn to pat Ruby on the back. Manny shook his head and muttered something about 'kids' and 'overly complicated weapons.' Luckily, Ruby didn't hear him, too busy stuck in her own world thinking about how Crescent Rose wouldn't be fired very much. Qrow and Manny decided to catch up a bit as they walked through the town before arriving at the residential area.

"Home sweet home." The man told them, stopping in front of a two-story house with a high fenced yard. "Make yourselves comfortable, I don't have much but what's mine is yours. Though it's also a little cluttered, so excuse that. Ever since the wife passed away a couple of years ago, I just can't get the motivation without her nagging me."

He tried to put some humor behind his words, but all of them could feel the sadness hidden beneath.

"Don't think you two are getting to slack off already!" Qrow's sudden shout caused Ruby and Jaune to jump. "Brats, get your weapons and meet me out back. It's time for your first arms training. Throw your bags away into the bedroom."

"Second floor, to your right." Manny directed as the two kids rushed into the house.

A few moments later, Qrow was stretching in the back area with Jaune and Ruby standing about ten feet in front of him. Manny had left to complete a couple of errands after he and Qrow had a short talk. This was the first opportunity Jaune had to see his new teacher's weapon. It was a grey single-edged greatsword with a clockwork mechanism built into the space above the hilt. A pair of shotgun barrels were situated on either side of the main blade,

Jaune didn't know anything about Qrow's weapon, but the gears indicated it could transform like Ruby's weapon. Speaking of her, Jaune glanced over at Ruby's impressive weapon. No matter how many times he saw it, that thing still amazed him. Crescent Rose, Ruby's red rifle with black trim, was currently transformed into its scythe mode. How the small girl could wield a weapon larger than her like that so easily, astounded him.

Looking down at his own weapon, the boy had to hide his disappointment. Crocea Mors was a sword and shield set passed down through his family. The Arcs were a family of warriors and this weapon belonged to his great-great-grandfather. It was incredibly durable, lined with gold trim and the Arc crest embellished on the front of the shield. It couldn't really transform besides the shield turning into a sheath.

"First things, first." Qrow declared. "I need to test out your current levels before we head out into the field. To see what we're working with. Oz already gave me a rundown on you, Jaune. Still, I need to verify it with my own eyes to figure out where we start."

"Okay." Jaune gritted his teeth and clenched his sword handle tightly. This was it. His first step to becoming a real Huntsman after leaving Beacon.

'I'll show everyone I can be a hero.'

"I kind of know where you are at, Ruby." Qrow moved his gaze toward his niece. "With you, I'm going to see if you've corrected a few issues with your style and see how much you've improved since last year."

"You're going to be amazed." Ruby shot back, sticking out her tongue. "I still remember the last time."

"Next time, don't turn your back toward your opponent." Qrow shot back. "Sit out first, Shorty. Going to test your friend out now."

"Good luck," Ruby whispered as she headed to plop down on a pile of firewood. It was really the only good place to sit out here. "Do your best!" Her encouragement did help Jaune's nerves.

Just a tiny bit.

"Since this is just a spar, I'm adding a few other rules for us," Qrow informed Jaune, as they tossed their scrolls over to Ruby. "Ruby will let us know when one of our Aura's hit 30%..."

"That will be me." Jaune tried to joke.

No one laughed, though Qrow rolled his eyes.

"Obviously, you can't expect to stand up against a trained Huntsman yet. We just don't want to risk any injuries, which is why we're ending a little higher than Beacon. We, well Ruby and I, won't use our guns, as we're within the city limits. Don't want any stray bullet accidents." That seemed reasonable to the two kids. "Okay, get into position. I'll start off slow, but once we get going, I'm going to be testing you, so give it your all."

"Reminds me of the time my dad and I sparred," Jaune commented, raising his shield and holding his sword tightly. Qrow held out his sword in front of him, preparing to strike.

"Huh?" Ruby spoke up, interrupting them while looking confused. Something didn't make sense to her. "I thought your parents didn't want you to be a Huntsman? Why would they spar with you if that was the case?"

"When my dad got tired of me asking, he said we could spar to see if I had potential," Jaune lowered his weapons slightly as he answered. "So we spared and he wiped the floor with me. Couldn't get a single hit in." Jaune sighed. "That was the first time my dad said I didn't have talent for combat and I should go into another profession."

There was no immediate response to his statement and he frowned.

"Did… I say something wrong?"

"J-Jaune…" Ruby's face paled a bit as she talked, her voice shaking. "Are you saying your dad spared you as a kid, before doing any kind of training? Then said you didn't have any talent?"

"Yeah?" Jaune tilted his head in confusion. "Don't you spar with people to see how good someone is?"

"Yes, but not like that!" Ruby exclaimed. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was so wrong.

Jaune felt he was missing something and couldn't figure out what. Luckily, Qrow was there to explain in a way he would understand. Though, the man looked a little disturbed, as he lowered his sword. The boy was confused as he kept turning his attention from Ruby to Qrow.

"Kid…" Qrow said slowly, sounding like he was trying to decide how to word this. "Sparring has a couple of uses. One, it helps keep people from getting rusty. If you don't practice fighting, your skills will decline, just like most things. Two, it lets you practice new techniques and skills in non-life-threatening combat. After you learned some of the basics. Three, what we're doing now, is to learn someone's current level. What it doesn't do, is allow a complete amateur to gain or show off combat skills sparring against an expert."

"At most, you might learn how to dodge a bit," Ruby piped up. "Yet, it's not a great way. You learn how to dodge a specific opponent, so if you face someone with a different style, you'll be at a disadvantage. Especially if they are faster than what you're used to. It's not training in that way but for your dad to just knock you around as a kid."

The sword from Jaune's hand clattered against the ground as it slipped from his hand.

"So he never meant to train me…" Jaune croaked out. "I knew my pops didn't want me to be a Huntsman, but he wasn't even willing to give me a chance." The memory of being beaten and bruised by his old man without Aura swam to the front of his mind. He hadn't been able to get out of bed for two days. "It wasn't that he thought I didn't have talent. He just didn't care."

The shield on his arm felt heavy with the weight of the new information.

"That's not…" Ruby tried to say, but the words froze in her throat. What could she say? She didn't know what Jaune's dad really thought. If he didn't want Jaune to be a Huntsman, that was one thing. To actively lie and pretend to give him a chance? That was just downright cruel. Her arm shook and she grabbed it with her other hand, not sure what to do.

'Nothing could prepare me for this.'

"Sucks, doesn't it?"

Jaune and Ruby looked up in surprise, neither expecting those words from the old man standing before them.

"Having family think you're useless," Qrow continued. "That you can't amount to anything. So much so that they do whatever it takes to keep you down."

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby gasped in outrage. "That's completely uncalled for! Apologi…"

The young girl went silent as her uncle raised a hand at her. What he was doing was wrong, but Ruby trusted him. Maybe he had a point to make that would help Jaune? It wasn't like she had any ideas. All she could do was hug Jaune and hoped he felt better. Yet, that didn't seem like an appropriate gesture at this moment.

"What are you going to do now that you know?" Qrow asked, stepping forward so he was only standing a few feet in front of Jaune, his sword swung over his shoulders.

"What… can I do?" Jaune asked, his voice barely a whisper. "My family never believed in me, except for maybe my oldest sister. She at least helped pay for my trip to Vale. The rest of them never believed I could be a Huntsman. Didn't even care enough to try…"

"Sounds to me like you have two options then," Qrow pointed out. "One, you can mope here and give up. Go back home and prove them right. You aren't cut out for this line of work."

Ruby's face grew red in anger at her uncle's words and she was about to open her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when he continued.

"Your second option is to prove them wrong." Jaune's eyes moved up from the ground to the man's face. "Show them you do have what it takes. That you aren't a waste of space and they were wrong about you. You want to be a Huntsman? Guess what, kid. It's not all fun and games. There are days when you don't want to continue, but we get up anyway because, without us, others will die. If your family doesn't believe in you, find someone who does."

He pointed over to Ruby, frozen on the log pile.

"You aren't the only one with a fucked up family," Qrow continued darkly. "Lots of us do. So I'm doing the same thing Ozpin did for me so long ago. I'm giving you a chance. A chance to grow, to become better than you were. I can't force this change though. You have to want it. You have to be the one to tell yourself that regardless of what happens, this is the path you chose. Now, are you giving up or will you pick up that sword and get into position?"

Ruby's body shivered as Qrow spoke. It almost sounded like he was talking to her. The way Qrow gave her a chance to follow her dream. Now he was giving her best friend the same opportunity. Just like how she was going to believe in him. Gripping her hands together, the girl wanted to shout out encouragement but could only remain silent. Jaune's face was unreadable as everything he thought he knew turned out to be worse. His right hand bunched into a fist...

…Before he leaned over and picked up his sword.

Ruby wanted to cheer.

"I'm not giving up," Jaune declared, as he raised his shield and sword into his starting position. "Never again. This is my decision!"

The doubt and weakness were notably absent from his voice. His eyes lost the cloudiness and were now only focused on the man in front of him. Yes, it hurt him deeply to know his parents never believed in him. That everything they did was to keep him from his dream. At the same time, he learned it wasn't necessarily because of his lack of talent. It was their belief that held him back, not himself. The only way he would hold himself back is if he gave up.

Looking back, that never actually happened.

Learning from books and random Huntsman who passed through town, even taking the initiative to get fake transcripts to get into Beacon, all of those were steps to reach his goal of being a Huntsman. Now no one could say he didn't make mistakes along the way. Being a teenager, that was bound to happen. He deeply appreciated the people who taught him what he did wrong. It was the only way for him to learn and grow.

Nora, Ren, Ozpin, Qrow, and especially Ruby believed in him.

"That's the spirit," Qrow replied, sweeping his hair back with his free hand. "Let's see what you got."

The next moment, Qrow's sword clattered against Jaune's raised shield.

"Oomph!"

Jaune knew he wouldn't stand a chance, but he didn't expect to be knocked back on his ass with a single swing. His shield skidded across the ground after it flew from his hand.

"Thought so," Qrow mumbled. "Your stance is crap. Get back up and let's fix that first."

"Thought we were going to spar," Jaune groaned, pushing himself up off the ground and picking up his shield. "A single blow hardly seems like one."

"You need to be able to do a few exchanges to get anything out of that," Qrow reminded him. "At least not fall on your ass on the first hit." Once Jaune was stood up, he used the tip of his sword to tap Jaune's legs to show what needed to be moved. "Left leg slightly forward, right leg over. Feel how your balance is better?"

"Yeah, it feels completely different."

"Now, let's try this again." Qrow took a few steps away and then again, without warning, swung his blade downwards, clattering against Jaune's shield.

This time, the boy stood firm, even if his shield and arm shook from the impact.

"There you go."

"Go, Jaune!" Ruby cheered. "That's the way!"

"Here I thought I mirrored what I saw others do," Jaune said to Qrow. "Felt my entire body absorb that blow that time. No wonder Cardin was always knocking me around."

"Unlike Ruby, your style of fighting isn't suited for hit and run attacks," Qrow explained, slashing his sword again, forcing Jaune to block. It was important he got used to absorbing blows. "You take the blows and strike back face to face. A weak stance will only end up with you on the ground. Grimm aren't like me. They won't stop just because you fall. They will keep attacking. Losing your shield and sword? You're a goner. Never let go of your weapon."

"Got it." Jaune agreed, keeping his shield raised in case Qrow tried another surprise attack.

"Remember, keep your shield up," Qrow advised. "I'm going to start attacking you a little more seriously. Last as long as you can and show me everything you're capable of."

"Not the face?" Jaune jokes.

"That all depends on if you keep that shield raised." Came the amused response.

"Dodge, Jaune!" Ruby yelled as she realized what her uncle was about to do.

Jaune ducked behind his shield as Qrow's blade swung horizontally. This could have killed a normal person. The only reason they could spare like this was because of Aura. Aura, the main defense of Huntsman, and the manifestation of one's soul. It was not only a barrier to protect one's body, it strengthened physical attributes. Then, once people gained experience, they could unlock their Semblance. A special ability unique to each individual, though some families could pass their Semblances down from parent to child.

Ruby's Semblance was speed for example.

And right now, Jaune really wished he had that.

"AHHH!" Jaune yelled as he rolled away from Qrow's blow. Every hit against his shield caused pain to ripple through his arm. Qrow was strong and the boy felt that even with Aura, he wasn't going to come out unscathed. "I thought you would go easy on me?!"

"Would an enemy?" Qrow asked sternly, as he hit the side of the shield with his sword, Jaune's arm was forced to the side and his chest was open. At that moment, Qrow shifted his weight on one foot and delivered a kick into the blonde's chest, sending him flying backward, crashing into the ground. Jaune groaned and then quickly scrambled to his feet, getting back into his first position.

It was sloppy, but at least he learned that he couldn't just lay down.

Ruby wanted to say a lot while watching but remained silent. Jaune wouldn't like the real answer to his question.

'Uncle Qrow IS going easy on you.'

Not that those words should be said out loud right now. Ruby was familiar with Qrow's training style for sparring. If he went all out, neither she nor Jaune would last very long at all. What he was doing was slowly warming up. His blows were just heavy enough that they would be forced to block or dodge, but not so powerful they couldn't defend. As the fight continued, he would slowly start getting faster and vary his blows to force them to think on their feet. For Jaune's case, Qrow was seeing how he would adapt and what exactly the boy could do.

Mostly, learning what he was doing wrong so they could quickly work on getting it fixed.

"Keep it up, Jaune!" Ruby encouraged. Shouting advice out wouldn't be helpful right now. It would only be distracting, kind of like what happened with Weiss against the Boarbatusk in their very first lesson with Professor Port. Trying to process strategies suggested by others in the middle of a fight would lead people to hesitate, slowly their reactions. Simple cheering wasn't as distracting. "You can do it! Show him what you got!"

For now, she was watching Jaune get pushed back, blow by blow, but at least he was standing against the onslaught. His shield skills were okay, once he stabilized his stance, but there was one noticeable issue with what he was doing. Even if he didn't stand a chance, Qrow was the only one attacking.

Qrow spun around and flicked his sword the moment it made contact with Jaune's sword hit. In an instant, the sword was ripped from the blonde's hand, flying a good ten feet away and spearing the ground.

"Crap!" Jaune gasped.

"You weren't even using it," Qrow told him. "So it's just dead weight." He grabbed the edge of Jaune's shield and yanked it down, causing the boy to stumble. Then, he slipped his blade against the fallen boy's neck. "It's over, kid." He reached a hand down and helped the boy to his feet.

"I still have plenty of Aura left though!" Jaune protested once he was standing, looking at his Scroll. He was still around 75%. Taking those blows against his shield hurt his arm a little and he only really received like two good hits from the man. "Why did we stop?"

Part of him was glad for the break, but if he wanted to improve quickly, shouldn't he have to push himself?

"Kid, you want me to beat you up while you lay on the ground until your Aura breaks?" Qrow asked, twirling his sword. "Didn't take you for a masochist."

"A maso-what?" Ruby asked.

"Er… not important, forget it," Qrow told her quickly before turning back to Jaune. "Right… if I did beat you up like this, what would you learn? To take a hit? You have a lot of Aura and from what I heard you already know how to do that." Jaune's ears burned thinking of all the times Cardin smacked him around. "No, we don't have time to goof around like that. Maybe in the future. Right now, we need to correct a big problem I'm seeing."

He walks over and picks up Jaune's sword.

"Is this just a decoration or do you plan to use it?"

"Huh?" The boy had no idea what that guy was talking about as he was handed his blade. "It's a real sword."

"Then why don't you use it?" Qrow pushed.

"You never really attack with it, Jaune!" Ruby called out, finally able to give some advice. "The entire spar up until now, you've only been on defense. Uncle Qrow never had to consider defending."

"It was hard enough doing just that!" Jaune explained loudly. "He's way stronger than me. How am I supposed to find room to attack?"

"I was purposely making exaggerated movements," Qrow told him, causing the boy to shut up. "I didn't expect you to see every opening I left, but I expected a sloppy attack at least once in a blue moon. When I realized you never were going to attack, I just knocked your sword away and no longer had to pay any attention to it."

"If I attacked blindly, wouldn't you just have countered?" The blonde inquired.

"Yep, then you could start gaining experience in how to recognize the difference between traps and real openings on your opponent," Qrow smirked and brushed his hair back. "You need to learn to attack. A shield is a powerful tool for defense, but if your opponent realizes you aren't a threat to them, they will just turn their attention to your teammates."

The man kicked the ground.

"There will be times Ruby and I won't be able to reach you when we go out into the wilderness. At that point, you have to be able to handle yourself. That includes being able to strike your enemies. Sometimes we have to fight alone, without backup or support, and the Grimm won't stop attacking just because you won't attack them back. Standing there hoping to tire them out will not work. What are you going to do when they are attacking someone else? Jump in between them?"

"Er…"

Actually, that's kind of what Jaune thought he could do. He could let someone like Nora focus on attacking while he took the blows. It worked against the Death Stalker.

"That attitude will get someone killed." The man's eyes narrowed. "You need to be decisive. Attack me. Show me you can dish it out and not just take a hit."

Jaune gulped, took his stance, and then swung his blade in an arcing motion.

Metal clanged against metal as Qrow raised his own sword.

"Is that all?" Qrow didn't look amused. "You're holding back."

"I'm… not," Jaune grunted, as he separated from him. "I showed you I can attack."

"That wasn't an attack. Fuck…" Ruby flinched again but she tried to ignore her uncle's swearing. "…that wasn't even flailing. You're afraid of hurting others, aren't you?"

"W-what?" Jaune stammered. "I couldn't hurt you no matter what I do."

"I am pretty good," Qrow conceded. "That's not what I'm talking about though. You never seriously fought another person. At Beacon, you may have spared against students, but you never fought in a life or death situation where you had to attack a fellow person. Have you?"

Slowly, Jaune shook his head. The closest he's gotten was during initiation. There he had his team doing most of the fighting with him leading and blocking.

"Didn't think so," Qrow slowly nodded as Jaune verified his theory. "You need to stop holding back, kid. You won't improve otherwise. Show me how strong you are. Tell you what, I won't even strike back. No risk to you so just let it all out."

"You asked for it."

Jaune swung his sword horizontally but Qrow merely raised his own blade to intercept the blow. Vibrations ran through Jaune's arm as the metal met and he gritted his teeth. Pulling back, he tried to change sides. Once again, he was blocked. Qrow didn't even look like he was trying. Again and again, Jaune kept trying to hit the man, getting more and more frustrated with each strike being dodged, blocked, or parried. Qrow was stepping around in a circle, literally keeping Jaune in the same spot while he did all the moving.

"Ahhh!" Jaune yelled, attacking with a jab. Qrow smirked as he batted it away with his sword.

"You're still holding back," Qrow sighed. "There's no power behind these blows. Those arms of yours may be noodly, but you can at least hit harder than Ruby."

"Hey!"

Ruby pouted on her corner as she watched. Jaune was trying hard and she could see that. The problem was her uncle was a pro. There was an insurmountable gap between their skills right now. Someone passing by may have thought Qrow was bullying a boy, but that wasn't the case. Training between a professional and an apprentice was always like this.

"Stand… still…" Jaune gasped, his breathing labored after about ten minutes of trying to hit Qrow.

"Yeah, no." There was some amusement in Qrow's voice this time. "That wouldn't be training then." He sighed and stepped back, causing Jaune to stumble when he overreached with his last attack. "You're just not getting it. Your blows are soft because you're hesitating."

"How do I stop then?" Jaune was frustrated and he snapped a little.

There was one-way Qrow knew he could try. The problem with that idea? It could backfire. Also, Ruby would be upset with him. Thinking about it for a moment, there really was no choice. Not in the limited time they had.

"Maybe your partner was right," Qrow told him. "You're just not cut out for this."

Jaune and Ruby froze as they heard those words. Both of their faces went pale as the blood drained from them.

"You don't have the drive to be a Huntsman," Qrow continued. "You're afraid of killing. Might as well go home, kid. This will be too tough for you."

A thud followed his words as Jaune let go of his shield.

The boy couldn't believe what he was hearing. His last home at achieving his dream was fading before his eyes. The Huntsman that was willing to help him just gave up.

He wanted to throw up.

"What are you saying?!" Ruby howled, jumping to her feet and looking furious. "How could you!? Jaune deserves to be here!" For the first time, she actually looked angry, all cuteness missing.

"There's a limit to miracles," Qrow replied, not taking his eyes off Jaune as he addressed his niece. "Getting you kicked out was for the best. Your partner understood this. Your family understood this. No wonder they held you back. I tried to give you a chance and you blew it. It was just the rest of your team who were delusional."

"Stop…" Jaune growled. It was one thing to talk about him, another to talk about Ren and Nora. The two people who believed in him.

Qrow latched onto this.

And he hated himself for doing it.

"They were idiots," the man pushed. "Or they were just humoring you. You failed them. They probably aren't very smart if they thought you had potential. Maybe I should let Ozpin know so he can get them kicked out-…"

"SHUT UP!"

Sparks flew as the two blades met.

"What do you know?!" Jaune yelled, anger coursing through him. "I'm weak! I know that!" He pulled the blade back and struck again. Qrow frowned as he stepped back, the weight of the blow leagues above what they were before. "But don't you dare insult my friends!" Metal clanged as he struck again. "They are the greatest friends in the world!" He stepped back and swiped upwards diagonally, actually knocking Qrow's sword to the side. "Apologize!"

The next blow was a downwards slice that followed the previous blow perfectly.

A small smile tugged at the corner of the man's lips.

Jaune's sword flew from his grasp and high into the air. He grabbed his wrist as the pain coursed through him from having his weapon ripped from it. Looking up, the boy barely registered through his anger and pain that Qrow's hand had made a fist and was being drawn back. Jaune gritted his teeth by reflex as the man socked him in the side of the face.

There was a small flash of light, barely noticeable, that ran along Jaune's cheek.

"Gah!"

Jaune gasped as he stumbled backward, tripped on the uneven ground, and plopped down on his ass.

"There you go," Qrow stood over him and looked down, actually looking a little impressed. He was shaking his hand as he had hurt it. "Now that was a blow. Sorry about what I said earlier. I needed to get you mad."

"You… didn't mean it?" Jaune asked uncertainly, his head still spinning.

"Nah, it was a trick my old master used on me," Qrow explained. "I hate using it, but it does get results. Can just as easily break people, so I have to use it sparingly."

"So it was just training…" Ruby staggered on her feet and quickly sat down on the woodpile. "I thought you actually gave up on him…"

"If I gave up on him, I wouldn't do it like that," Qrow assured her. "I'll take him to a bar, get him drunk, and leave him behind as you and I head to the next town."

"Didn't dad do that to you once?" Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow. "He said you were too heavy."

"Another thing I need to bring up next time I meet Tai," Qrow muttered before looking at Jaune who was getting up off the ground. "You surprised me there. People tend to hit harder when they are mad. They just leave openings when they do. Your hits surpassed my expectations."

"You were actually being pushed back," Ruby added.

"He was?" Jaune was shocked.

"Just had to make sure my center of balance was stable," Qrow brushed off. "I think you managed to subconsciously push your Aura into your arms. It increased your strength. Master that, and we just might make a Huntsman out of you yet."

"T-Thank you…" Jaune stammered. "But… er… how do I do that?"

"Aura training will be later," Qrow assured him. "It's more complicated than you know. For now, basics first. Swap places with Ruby. You can watch and take a breather while I test her out. Observe her fight because I'm going to question you on it afterward."

"Question me? On what?"

"If I told you now, it would hardly be a good test."

Grateful for a chance to rest his weary arms, Jaune didn't argue at that point. He high-fived Ruby as they passed each other and sat down, letting his shield and sword rest next to him. Without the weight, his body felt free and Jaune sat there, enjoying just being able to take deep breaths to relax. Ruby stood about fifteen feet away from her uncle and pulled out her rifle, shifting it quickly into the scythe mode again. Qrow eyed the weapon with a glint in his eye as he drew his own weapon.

Then they heard a click.

The sword hilt extended as the gears began to turn. The blade of the sword began to split into segments and folded backward while curving into an arc. The blade gained a red sharpened edge once it finished while the outer edge gained a serrated appearance due to the folding. Once the gears stopped, Qrow tapped the base of his large scythe onto the ground, grinning at Ruby, who was looking equally as happy.

'So Ruby learned the scythe from Qrow!' Jaune realized.

"Ready, kiddo?" Qrow asked his niece. "I hope you've been practicing. Otherwise, I'll swat your bottom again."

"That was mean!" Ruby cried out indignantly, remembering their last spar. Qrow had smacked her butt with the flat of his scythe because she let him get behind her. "It won't happen this time. You're going down!"

"That's the spirit!"

The two scythe wielders began to exchange blows. Each hit echoing across the yard as Jaune watched. He was at the edge of his seat in anticipation. The boy had seen Ruby fight several times at Beacon during class, but it was the first time against another scythe. Qrow was stronger and Ruby was faster, which made for an interesting comparison in fighting styles. Jaune wasn't sure what Qrow wanted him to focus on, so he took in as much as he could.

With her small body, Ruby couldn't take her uncle's heavy blows like Jaune could. Instead, she used her mobility to dodge or parry, with minor sparks appearing when Qrow's blade scratched the side of Crescent Rose. Ruby's weapon was durable, or that poor girl would have panicked if her beloved scythe was scratched so easily.

To make up for her lack of strength, Ruby's fighting style seemed to be based on centripetal force. By swinging her scythe around she could deliver stronger blows than simply swinging her arms. Normally the added movements would telegraph her attacks. With Ruby's speed? It didn't make much of a difference. With circular motions, each blow was followed by another one a second later while Qrow continued to deflect each hit, stepping back to give him some breathing room.

Ruby's Semblance also gave her a huge boost. Vanishing in a flurry of rose petals, the girl could move at high speeds that even Faunus with enhanced eyesight couldn't follow. It allowed her to be in front of you one second, and behind the next. Qrow seemed used to it and was able to react quickly enough. Almost too quickly sometimes.

Without using her gun, Ruby couldn't just shoot a blast out to propel her strikes, so the circular movements were the next best alternative. That girl was really good, far above her year. Watching her fight Qrow almost evenly caused a twinge of jealousy to well up within Jaune. He knew he should be happy because his friend was so strong. Yet, if he had been that strong, Pyrrha wouldn't have informed Ozpin.

Then their fight would never have happened and he would be back at Beacon with his team.

"Got you!"

Ruby zipped behind Qrow and delivered a vertical slice downwards. A fatal strike against a normal person. Even with Aura, getting hit by that would hurt.

"Think so?" Qrow sidestepped the blow, almost like he was expecting it. The man reached out, grabbed Ruby's wrist, and twisted. The girl's scythe flew one way and Ruby slammed against the ground. A grunt of pain escaped her lips. Then, purely for fun, Qrow pushed the tip of his scythe blade meeting the handle, into the collar of her cloak, lifting her up and hanging her from the end. "Looks like you didn't."

"Let me down!" Ruby thrashed around wildly as her uncle laughed and then she gave up. Crossing her arms and pointing, her eyes glared cutely at her uncle. "You're so mean."

"You improved a lot," Qrow complimented, wanting to make her feel better. "The problem is, you still have two main weaknesses we need to work on."

"I am pure destruction!" Ruby countered. "Grimm fear me and Crescent Rose!"

"Hey, boy!" Qrow called out to Jaune. "You were watching closely, right?"

"Y-yeah?" Jaune responded, sounding slightly confused. "I tried to at least. Ruby kept vanishing with her Semblance. She's so fast."

Ruby puffed out her chest proudly and it took a lot of self-restraint of Jaune not to laugh because she was still being hung from Qrow's weapon.

"So you didn't notice any of her weaknesses?" The man pushed. "Nothing you noticed that seemed off?"

"Well… when she used her Semblance to flank you," Jaune recalled. "It looked like you knew where she was going to appear. Could you follow her?"

"Nope, my eyes are just like you." Even with Jaune giving him the wrong answer, he was on the right track. "You're close though." He turned to his dangling niece. "Do you know I reacted so fast?"

"Because you're awesome?"

"Obviously, but that's not the only reason," Qrow smirked at the compliment. "Experience can help you predict your opponent's movement, but in Ruby's case… she's just predictable."

"HUH!?" The girl's mouth fell open. "What do you mean by that?!"

"I've sparred you enough times that I know the general location and what action you'll do after using your Semblance," Qrow explained. "Your weakness is your attack patterns are somewhat fixed. I was hoping you would have changed that habit of yours. That's something we will work on. It may be fine against Grimm, but if you fight a person who can recognize your pattern, you're going to be in trouble."

"Against a person?" Jaune interjected. "How common is that? Isn't that a job for the police while we fight Grimm?"

"Yes and no," Qrow wiggled his hand horizontally. "Most of our jobs are against Grimm, but now and then you'll have someone with Aura go rogue. At that point, normal policemen won't be very effective against them. What do you think they can do against a trained Huntsman?"

"Like that guy, Roman Torchwick?" Ruby asked, realizing the criminal she fought to get into Beacon fell into that category. "He was really skilled and had Aura." A frown graced her expression. "No idea why he decided to be a criminal. With his strength, he could have been a great Huntsman."

"Some people are just selfish, Squirt." Qrow told her, shaking her off his weapon. She landed with a soft thud on her feet. "You also need to work out a little bit. I thought the Arc boy was noodly, but you make him look like Yang."

"I'm plenty strong!" Ruby protested. "I can wield my baby in combat, no problem. I almost had you."

"Suuuure you did," Qrow rolled his eyes, sarcasm oozing from his voice. "Look, kid. The moment I took Crescent Rose away from you, you were helpless. That can't happen in the field. If a Grimm knocks your weapon out of your hand, you have to be able to protect yourself. Prepare for some hand-to-hand combat practice, brat." He eyed Jaune. "You too. I know it sounds stupid against Grimm, but you'll eventually appreciate it."

"If you say so, you're the boss." Ruby replied.

"You're the pro, not us," Jaune agreed. "We'll do what you say as we promised."

"Good." Qrow swung his scythe and it contracted back into its sword mode as the gears clicked into place. "Now this time, you're both going to fight me at once. Let's see how good your impromptu teamwork is!"

"Watch it!" Jaune yelled, as he blocked the surprised blow. Metal clanged against metal.

Ruby dashed over and grabbed her weapon as the two students prepared to fight against their teacher. Maybe two on one would give them a chance.

Both naive children had no idea what they were about to experience.

"Jaaaaauuunnnneee, pass the ice pack!"

"You have two, let me keep this one."

Jaune and Ruby were sprawled out on Manny's couch, sore, bruised, and exhausted. For the last hour, they spared against Qrow, who did not seem to go easy on them. Sure, they stopped now and then for him to give them some pointers, grab water, and correct issues with their forms they need to work on, before going back to what many would consider child abuse. When they finally stopped for lunch, the two kids dragged themselves into the house to collapse.

Jaune was sitting up on the couch, leaning back, while icing his head where Qrow had smacked him once with more force than necessary. Ruby was laying across the couch, her legs on his lap, too tired to move them. She was icing her arm and knee.

"You're sturdier than I am." Ruby pushed back verbally, still not wanting to move.

"Pretty sure Qrow focused his attack on me." Jaune countered. They both chuckled and then groaned. "It hurts to laugh."

"Ah, the joy of training," Manny laughed, sticking his head out from the kitchen. "Seems like Qrow was pounding his lesson into you two."

"We don't have much time, so it's a crash course," Qrow explained smugly, leaning against the sink in the kitchen, sipping his flask. "But I got a good reading of both of them now. After lunch, we'll work on Ruby's strength and stamina, while the boy is going to grind the basics."

"Yaaaaay." The two tired kids faux cheered.

"You'll thank him," Manny told them. "Qrow knows what he's doing. You couldn't ask for a better mentor out in the field." He glanced at the stove. "Chili will be ready soon. Hope you're hungry."

"Starving." Jaune confirmed.

"Is it spicy?" Ruby asked worriedly. "I'm not good with spicy food."

"Spiciness builds character, lass."

Qrow chuckled as Ruby moaned. The kids weren't going anywhere after the thrashing he gave them. The training was rough, but what he said was absolutely correct. They were going to be in this city for two, maybe three days. Then they would be heading out away from civilization. There was no time to lounge around. Those kids needed to understand they were going to be tired, hungry, and exhausted.

It was something they would have to get used to.

"I need to talk to you," Qrow muttered to Manny. "Privately."

"Finally getting to the real problem at hand, huh?" The man replied, all amusement gone. "Let's go out back so they won't overhear." The two of them slipped outside and shut the door silently. "So am I going to hear the real reason you're here?"

"I'm searching for information on someone." Qrow muttered, pulling a picture out of his pocket.

"Must be desperate if you're coming to me." Manny muttered, taking the photo and examining it. "Attractive lass. This isn't a booty call, right?"

"I wish…" Qrow rubbed his nose. "Would save a lot of headache. No, that girl there? She was attacked by a group of people. I barely managed to save her, but she's seriously injured and is being hidden at Beacon. I didn't see who attacked her though, at least a good view. I doknow that this girl came through last month. I was hoping you could find out if anyone had information on who was looking for her."

"What's the girl's name?"

In Manny's hand, the picture showed a girl with a light brown complexion, and shoulder-length, straight brown hair, along with dark brown eyes. She was young and the picture showed her wearing a cloak with the hood down. Other than that, there wasn't much to go on.

"Amber."

"Anything else you can tell me?" Manny asked, leaning against the wall of his house. "Or is this one of Ozpin's super-secret missions that's on a need-to-know basis?"

"Is there any other?"

"No… not if you're coming to me."

"I know how you feel," Qrow assured him. "There's a lot of information I only learned recently too. Stuff that if it gets out, would cause a world of problems. This girl though? Is stuck in the middle of it with no choice in the matter. The people who attacked her aren't normal. We need to find them before others get hurt."

"I can't guarantee I can find anything," Manny warned sternly. "Someone actually needs to have witnessed them and if this was a while ago, they might not even be around."

"Yes, but if someone did, you can find out, can't you?"

There was no subtlety there. Both of them knew Manny's Semblance, two of the only three living people left who did. Ozpin knew of course and it's why Manny was under his employment.

Manny's Semblance was Mind Control.

Well, more specifically it was a type of hypnosis with some stringent limitations. As long as he made eye contact with someone, they were under his control in a hypnotic trance. Sort of like they were daydreaming. It only lasted as long as they locked eyes. While under, they couldn't lie, would answer any questions he asked, and could remember details from events at any time in their lives. Once he broke eye contact, they returned to normal and couldn't remember anything that happened.

Years of experimentation led to only these results. Unlike regular hypnosis, he couldn't leave suggestions, make changes to individuals, or add triggers to activate. That limited the use of his ability. Ozpin learned of his Semblance and recruited him as an investigator. Being able to find out information from people without them realizing it had its uses. So far, no one has been able to resist this power. Still, when people hear mind control, the first thing they do is keep their distance. That's why he never talked about it.

Qrow was the exception. That man knew the pain of having a Semblance that was really a curse.

"So I just need to find out anything I can about who was trailing this girl," Manny muttered. "I think I can do that. When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow might be too soon, so I'm going to aim for the day after," Qrow replied, taking a swig from his flask, emptying it. "I can push the time one more day, but if you don't find anything before then, I'll have to bail. Just pass it to Oz from then onwards."

"You know, Qrow." Manny's tone grew unusually serious. "I realize you trust that man, but he's hiding a lot from us, you included."

"I know," Qrow crossed his arms and his face crinkled in thought. "But I trust him. He's the one who gave me a second chance, to prove that I could be more than just a bandit. I never considered myself special before then, just garbage. Heh, it didn't help that my bitch of a sister told me that on a daily basis. Oz? That man saw something in me. Something that could help be part of something greater. I was more than a bad luck charm and I could make a difference."

He put the flask away.

"I trust he'll tell me in due time if it's important and I plan to follow him to the end, Manny."

"You're normally such a pessimist," The older man shook his head. "Yet, you sound so certain now. Well, who am I to judge? Just make sure your faith in that man doesn't come to bite you in the ass."

The two of them went back inside, instantly changing their tone. Mocking kids was technically in the job description after all.

Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish I 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.

Wishez: Maybe Jaune can become more OP here than in canon? What do you think Dark? Also, fuck you, I'm tired, stop asking me to beta.