A/N: I hope you're ready. This is the LONG chapter I've been building up to, where everything kicks off. Looking forward to your reviews!
That said...
...can anyone see this chapter? Do let me know! We've got site errors again! New chapters/new stories take forever to show up; half the time they won't appear for HOURS ON END.
I've been waiting to write this chapter for so long now. Maiden fights are so much fun to write! To say nothing of the other portions of this chapter...
Writing such a long chapter exhausted me, but it was worth it to bring joy to you, the reader(s).
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 me. 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~!
Once more, hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode from ye olden days. I'll leave that to you, the reader, to determine.
Do tell me what you think! It really does matter! Hope you enjoy the Cooler's Revenge tribute in here. You'll know it when you see it.
In any case, hope you enjoy the chapter~! Away we go~!
"Flirting was far less destructive in my day."
~Ozpin.
Just a Little Maiden
The storm cometh, my son.
Juniper Arc -Mom!- had uttered those five fateful words to Jaune once, a long time ago, back when he was but a boy. During a snowy day in Ansel; she held him in her arms and together, they'd watched a mighty blizzard tear across the yard, blanketing everything from the comparative safety of their home.
Winter reminded him of that storm.
Indeed, it was no exaggeration to say that she'd become the blizzard itself. She was the storm was approaching, engulfing everything before her in icy isolation. Cold lightning crackled across across her fingertips as she swept a hand before her; held aloft by an icy gale. Thunder boomed from on high and the wind cried out alongside it, flinging stinging sheets of sleet and snow striking in every direction, forcing him to squint just to see her.
Had she sought shelter in the storm, and tried to ambush him, this might've become difficult.
But wasn't even trying to hide, she was flinging out cold magic with reckless abandon.
There was just so very much of it, filling the air. It reminded him of Salem.
And yet her power felt so...very, terribly sad. Lonely, even.
"Jaune Arc!"
Wuh-oh.
A towering pillar of ice nearly the size of a building was conjured by Winter and summarily launched his way, casting him in his shadow. Planting his feet, he swung his smoldering sword and cleaved clean through it. No sooner had he done so than the sneering Schnee rushed through the severed halves, braving a frozen blade with both hands. Not a blade he realized, but a katana, a weapon forged entirely from ice itself, honed to a razor's grace and currently whistling in at his face.
No time to evade her!
He stamped down, tilted his blazing blade and blocked.
Winter hit him like a frozen missile; momentum did the rest; physically ripping from his perch to smash him through an abandoned building. At least, he hoped this place was abandoned. If not, he'd have some explaining to do...
His aura flexed, held, and dropped by three percent.
Not bad. Not bad at all, really. Not nearly enough to beat him, but he could respect the spirit of it.
Righting himself, he shook his head, pushed a bit of crumbling masonry out his hair, and jogged back outside.
Winter was waiting for him, blade in hand, blue eyes burning, body still hovering in the air. "You hardly took any damage from that, didn't you?" Humming once, she closed her eyes and spared him a brief nod. "Good. I would be disappointed if you fell for such a rudimentary trick.
Amber sucked in a sharp breath somewhere off the side of him and hissed it back out thrice as fast. "Ohhh, you sneaky bitch. When did you become a Maiden?!"
Jaune craned his neck, quietly confused. What was that it, then? He knew Amber was one, but Winter seemed so much stronger than her...
Against all odds and despite the storm, Winter heard Amber's voice.
"I've been one for quite some time now." She craned her beck down to regard then primly. "Not that you ever noticed."
The recently resuscitated girl growled up at her, eyes burning. "And you never told me?!"
A slow blink. "I did not think it relevant."
"We were on a Team, damnit!"
"Correct." Winter granted her a demure nod. "And that is the only reason I tolerate your continued existence."
Amber's face closed down. "You killed Freya, didn't you?!"
Here at last, a shadow of sorrow crossed the older maiden's pale visage. "It was her final wish."
"Bullshit! How long has she been dead for?! Five years? Ten?!
"Easy there, sparky." Qrow staggered up, hands in his pockets, still slouching as always. "Lemme handle this."
Despite his desire for battle, Jaune found himself taking a step back. At a glance, Qrow seemed unchanged; his usual tipsy self, drunken and wholly out of sorts. Nothing at all to show he'd taken any real interest int his bout.
He knew better. It was his eyes. They were sharp, like a bird of prey.
sometimes, it was easy to forget that this man, regardless of his murky habits, was a tried, and true Huntsman. One that Amber trusted dearly.
And right now, the suicidal bastard was walking right up to Winter without a care in the world.
"Alright, frosty fingers." he turned a withering glare her way. "Does Jimmy know about this?"
She growled at him, bearing pearly, white teeth. "Be quiet, Branwen. I've come too far to atop now. I will not be denied."
"Still didn't answer my question...
Winter paused, then rallied. "General Ironwood is not your concern."
"That'd be a no, then." he fished his Scroll out his pocket and dialed a number. "Right, I'm callin' Oz, somebody's gotta put you two in timeout...
Winter absolutely hissed at him. "You will call no one. I've waited years for this.
He scoffed, wholly afraid of the icy terror. "Oh, yeah? Watch me~!"
Jaune moved a split second before Winter did.
Ice sprouted up from the ground all at once, entrapping Qrow's entire body just shy of the neck, leaving his scroll exposed. In the same instant, Jaune reached out, tore the phone from his grasp, and crushed it in his fist. It crumpled outright, showering him with bits of metal and plastic.
Branwen granted him a flat look. "Seriously, kid? You owe me a new phone."
"I'll pay for it."
"Damn right you will!" Qrow growled. "Darn dirty Schnee and their crushes...
The tiniest hint of pink touched Winter's cheeks, there and gone before he blinked. "Not another word!"
Were Qrow and Winter a thing? She could do much better than the old bachelor.
Weiss would be disappointed.
"Not him, you dolt."
'Then who?'
"You know what? No. This hand grenade is yours to hold, m'boy, not mine~!"
Flabbergasted, he turned his head to find Winter preening, or rather, smiling at him.
He tensed, half-expecting another sneak attack.
It never came.
The storm dimmed, just for a moment, enough to let him hear her words.
"Thank you for stopping him." She made an approving noise as he looked on. "Shall we continue?"
Amber raised a hand, eyes blazing with her own flames of molten gold. "Wait, both of you! You'll wreck everything!"
Was she that worried about collateral damage? He hadn't thought her the type to care. Or was something else at work here?
Evidently Winter agreed; because she turned away. "No, Amber. I am done waiting."
"Then I'll stop you!"
A pale brow arched. "How so?"
Amber conjured a towering fireball and flung it at her.
"Weak!"
Winter swept a hand out and a massive iceberg sprouted atop the street to intercept it. The blast glanced off the crystalline surface, bounced back, struck Amber in the chest and flung her across the block.
She struggled ultight, auta crackling, eyes terribly wide. "How did you...?"
"Surprised?" Winter scoffed at her mounting fury. "Don't be. This is what a fully realized Maiden is capable of. I've long since mastered this power; taken it to heights most mortals couldn't dream of. Unlike you," her lips curled in derision, "you who abandoned your duty, wandered the wilds, hopping from village to village, never honing your gifts."
"I did what I thought was right!"
"Lies. You wanted freedom. Bah!" she slashed a hand through the air, causing the storm to strengthen briefly. "Where did that get you? Down a leg and nearly shortened by a head. If not for Jaune Arc, you would've been dead, your power stolen away by a wretched thief." When the Fall Maiden recoiled, unable to counter her claim, she tutted once. "Worry not, I will find her. And I will kill her. But first...
The baleful burning beauty turned to grace him once more with her gaze.
"We've delayed long enough, Arc."
Kurama hissed a warning.
Well that he did, too; because frozen lightning -how was that a thing?!- arced down from the heavens, faster than sound to strike him.
Once again, dodging wasn't an option.
Deflecting, however, was.
Stowing his sword, he caught the heavenly thunderbolt in an open palm. Sparks sizzled harmlessly over his armor and grounded themselves in his body, leaving his hair standing on jagged end. His eyes glowed, lit from within as sparks shot across his teeth. This was so much worse than Hazel's dust attack; not dust, but raw, primal energy. The pain alone threatened to knock him out in an instant. Every muscle in his body locked down all over again; until he stomped a boot down, swept a hand over his stomach-up now-set his chakra ablaze, thrust two fingers at her and-
The sound thet followed left his ears ringing.
Winter's body jerked to the side as her newly-redirected attack came howling back up at her with a vengeance; she evaded it by the merest margins. Had she blocked, she would've lost on the spot. As it were, having successfully evaded the bolt, she watched it strike a distant weather vane and render it so much slag.
Facing him once more, she smiled. "Good, good. It would be incredibly disappointing if you went down that easily. What else do you have in store for me?"
"Just you watch...
Kurama perked up. "Time for full power? Give the word and we'll have her eating asphalt."
Jaune blew out a breath, gaze gleaming gold as orange dusted his eyelids. 'Not quite yet...
"Battle maniac just like your mother, I swear...
He chuckled a little, a puff of steam escaping his lips. "Sorry."
"Don't be. Just don't take any reckless risks."
Even in a blizzard, even in a city like this, there was still natural energy aplenty. Winter's maiden energy only amplified it. Storms were nature, no matter their...well...nature. The pun would've made Yang laugh. He drew in the cold, filled himself with it, turned it into heat; careful to channel it outward before it could become too much and turn him into stone. Instead he let it burn it through his armor and blade, harden his skin, warm his muscles that had begun to quake in the cold.
Winter quirked a brow. "Oh? Just how much have you been holding back on me?"
He could've said something snappy; knowing Winter, she was probably waiting for it. Instead he stomped down, kicked up a manhole cover and whipped it at her like a frisbee.
The Schnee couldn't dodge in time.
She caught it instead, and the dense metal became so much ice in her grasp. A simple flex of her fingers thickened it, created more from it, adding substance and mass that hadn't been there before. In an instant she had a wicked-looking chakram clutched tight in her palm, carved from the coldest of ice.
Looked like she knew how to use it, too...
"Such a lovely gift." She crooned coldly, eyes widened with glacial glee. "Allow me to return it to you!"
Not a chance; he was already lunging forward, dodging aside in a flying leap as she threw it. The discus passed harmlessly under him as he whirled in the air.
Unfortunately, it also caromed off the street, struck a wall, and slammed into his back, briefly staggering him.
Result?
Face meet ground.
Much embarrassment to be had.
Qrow groaned behind him. "Kid, that's the oldest trick in the book. How did you not see that coming?"
Jaune didn't have the chance to answer; because a towering spire of ice erupted underfoot, flinging him into the air.
Winter met him there, frozen saber thrusting for his throat.
He caught it easily, only to grunt in annoyance as the blade shattered into ice and raced up his arm, all but binding his limb to hers in frozen matrimony.
What does she gain by entrapping each of our right arms...?
The answer came swiftly enough; baffled by her unorthodox tactics, he was quite unprepared for the punch that followed. She caught him in the chin, breaking past his defenses to strike true. Stars flashed across his vision as his head snapped back and he bit his tongue, spitting blood.
Winter reeled him in for another blow. "Did you think I was lacking in unarmed combat, Arc?!"
Jaune caught her fist in his remaining palm.
There would be no second blow.
"No."
Winter balked, alarmed to find both her hands trapped.
"From the moment this fight started, I never once underestimated you."
For the first time since the battle began, her stoic confidence wavered. "Then you were waiting for this moment...?!
He beamed. "Sure, why not."
Panic bloomed across her face.
Jaune's grin became downright feral.
He drew a deep breath through his nose, chakra swelling in his lungs with intent. He let the excess energy build there, reaching critical mass. No need for handseals here. He knew this jutsu by heart; Dad had ensured it after seeing it once firsthand, and the sheer, devastating destruction it brought to the battlefield.
Winter realized what he was up to and struggled to extricate herself from him to to no avail. When that failed, she rocketed into the air, no doubt intending to somehow shake him loose and hurl him down to the ground, thereby bringing an end their fight outright.
It was a sound plan. Even the strongest Huntsman couldn't defeat gravity.
There was just one problem; he was no Huntsman.
Jaune opened his mouth and screamed.
Flame flooded his throat and burst forth from his jaws to fill Winter's vision, the reflection of which momentarily rendered her eyes red as the jutsu went off in her face. This time, there could be no hope of evasion or any kind of defense. She flung up her aura and prayed. In her final moments before impact, she might have heard three little words. Something along the lines of:
Majestic Flame Destroyer.
Chaos took the world.
An inferno erupted.
(.0.0.0.)
"Port" considered himself a rather mellow fellow these days.
Such was a far cry from the monster he'd once been.
That said, some habits were hard to shake.
He was still rather proud of his eyes, for one. Keen to begin with; they'd only grown sharper since he first donned this damnable disguise. Second came his patience. Whereas once he might've lost his patience, he'd long since learned to watch and wait. Third...well. That last one was a secret, much like his research -not all legal mind you- done through trial and error.
After all, fun wasn't something one normally considered when one hid one's identity and faded into obscurity, waiting for the promised moment amidst the dregs of a ruined and broken world...but this?
It did put a smile on his face.
Just like what he was going to do to that stubborn, annoying Uzumaki...he was going to enjoy THAT, very, very much.
But until then, he'd enjoy watching the younger generation clash.
And what a clash it was! It made his blood boil!
From the distant vantage of of a rooftop he watched it all unfold; as the youngsters clashed. Streaks of blue-silver clashed with unfaltering gold again and again and again, two stars burning so bright they were on the verge of burning out entirely.
His lips parted, revealing a toothy grin beneath his bushy mustache as he watched the two youngsters unwittingly make war like the shinobi of old.
"A toast!" he chortled softly, raising a crimson saucer of sake into the air, "To your prowess!"
He drank deeply, uncaring of his comrade's sullen sigh beside him.
"Is this necessary?"
"Necessary?!" He scoffed, refilled his saucer and drank again. "But of course! This is my life's work!"
Hazel grunted sullenly, arms crossed before his broad chest.
Therein lie the trouble with pawns; you couldn't always trust them to act in your best interest. You had to make them believe their goals were best aligned with yours.
"No, no, no!" he waved a hand. "Don't interrupt them. They're having too much fun. Hell, I'm having too much fun!"
"Still, to think she was a maiden..."
Port chuckled. "Quite so! She did a rather admirable job of hiding it all these years, I must say. I'm quite impressed."
It was just like her to reveal herself in such a manner; a testament to the powerful blood in her veins.
The resurrected brawler glanced at him out the corner of his eye. "You sound proud of her."
Port sniffed indignantly. "And why shouldn't I be? She's my daughter."
Hazel did a double take. "What was that just now?"
Oops. He'd said that last bit aloud, hadn't he?
Perhaps he'd drunk too much after all.
Hazel frowned. "She is a Schnee."
"Bless you."
"Port...
He sealed his lips and refused to speak of the matter further. Wouldn't do to reveal his hand now, would it?
He'd put quite a bit of work into cultivating that girl, raising her from afar, creating hardship after hardship, forging her in the fires of battle. Adversity bred strength, after all, albeit not quite in the way he'd intended. And she'd become strong indeed. But strength wasn't enough. She had to be smart. Worthy. Through careful manipulation and illusion alike, he carefully set out the path before her and like a good daughter unaware of his guiding hand, she trod it without complaint, blind to his machinations.
Such a shame that all those who came before her were failures.
Like the Branwens. Ach! Such potential! Wasted!
Ah, but Winter? Winter was perfect.
Hazel considered the spectacle before them and stepped forward, a heavy boot biting into the rooftop's edge. He had no doubt the man would survive a fall from this height. He might not be a Huntsman, but he was that madwoman's equivalent of one, even with his semblance snatched and so not to be underestimated.
"My queen would want me to take her."
Old habits died hard, it seemed.
A pity.
"And do you still serve Salem, Hazel?" he quirked a bushy brow his way, letting a hint of his true self shine through. "Will she give you what you want? Or have you considered my offer?"
The silent giant looked away, sulking silently.
His silence proved answer enough.
"Port" chuckled. "I thought so."
So predictable, the people of this world. Dangle what they wanted before them, and like a horse drawn to a carrot, or a monkey clamoring after a banana, they'd make fools of themselves to get it. In that, at least, this world wasn't so different from Home. He raised a glass of sake, and drank deep, savoring the burn in his throat.
"Come, make merry! Watch the new generation dance!"
An almighty explosion filled the sky with fire.
"Port" cackled merrily.
(.0.0.0.)
Winter's world went up in a geyser of flame; the ensuing explosion of which sundered her storm and illuminated the skies of Vale for miles in every direction.
The heat was everywhere, everyone, everything.
She crashed to the street in a smoking ruin.
Jaune alighted after her, careful to keep his distance, feeling quietly proud, yet slightly chagrined all the same. Perhaps he'd overdone it after all. Most people couldn't tank a fire jutsu straight to the face, but Winter had seemed so strong at the time. He doubted she was dead, but he'd probably knocked her out. She wouldn't be getting out of that crater anytime soon, if at all. Certainly not under her own power.
Amber balked at the destruction before her. "Jaune, what the actual fuuuuu-
Qrow, having long since broken free from his icy prison, downed his flask. "Apple doesn't fall from the tree, eh, sparky...?"
He took a step towards them. "We should probably call an ambulance...
...but not for me." a raspy laugh echoed in the quiet behind him.
Kurama groaned. "You've gotta be kidding me...
Jaune felt a smile split his face.
He pivoted in place, surprised -and impressed- to find Winter Schnee rising from the burnt-out crater.
She had not emerged unscathed. Her outfit had been reduced to rags that only barely preserved her modesty; her white hair stood stained with soot, while the left side of her face was marred with burn scars. Her eye was forever closed, the lid sealed shut by a mass of charred skin. Her left arm was in a similar state, red and badly burnt. The pain must be incredible. Anyone else would've passed out by now.
Not Winter Schnee.
Despite the agony she was surely suffering for all that, Weiss' sister did not cry, did not demand his death, nor did she call for reinforcements. Indeed, despite her injuries, she still carried herself with the noble dignity of an Atlesian Specialist. He could see other scars across her body from here, marks that hadn't been garnered in their battle. Strangely enough, they only enhanced her beauty.
The healer in him twitched, aching to heal her. The boy he still was at heart balked at her resilience. The warrior within demanded battle.
The man, however...
.
...
...do I have a thing for battle scars? I'm thinkin' I do...
Winter threw her head back and startled laughed. "What was that just now?! I almost died!"
Against all odds, he found himself returning her laughter. "How else was I supposed to make you let go?"
"Full of surprises, I see!" she laughed anew, uncaring of her injuries. "If I hadn't mustered the last of my aura and wrapped myself in ice at the last second, I would've met my end! That was terrifying. So this is fear!" she clenched her scorched hand into a fist. "The dread that comes with facing a strong opponent! The joy of being dominated! The thrill of breaking through your limits! There's nothing greater in this world!" her burning blue gaze snapped up, still burning with fiery maiden flame, mania cooling for a moment. "Thank you for giving me this experience, Jaune Arc. I shall cherish it.
"But I took your eye...
Her good eye swiveled his way. "I'm told you can heal, can you not?"
He nodded.
"Then would you mind restoring my eye so we may continue?"
Amber choked on her own spit in the background. "Crazy bitch...
Winter tutted. "I never professed to be sane."
He inched closer. "You're not going to attack me while I do?"
She blinked, genuinely flummoxed. "Why would I do that? Such would not be sporting. Moreoever, it would cheapen my victory.
She was telling the truth; he could sense that much.
It was a simple matter to reach out and touch her eye. A bit of chakra set her to rights, restoring the damaged optic nerve, regrowing her sclera, followed by her pupil and iris besides. On a whim-and because he was feeling more than a bit guilty for overdoing it- he restored the rest of her face as well and mended her hair besides.
Really, it was a bit eerie watching her face heal in real time. He'd never quite get used to that.
Nevertheless, he was an Arc.
Arcs did their duty always.
Winter opened her eye, blinked once, nodded her approval now as he looked on. "Ah. Her sigh was sweet bliss. Much better. My thanks." running a hand across her face, she tutted once and shook her head to fully clear her vision. "An arm and an eye are a small price to pay for pleasure, don't you think?"
Heat sprang to Jaune's face, burning hotter than any flame.
Kurama whistled. "Right, that settles it...I guess its true what they say about the stoic ones...
"With your skills, you would be most welcome in Atlas."
He crossed both arms before his chest and stood his ground. "I'm happy here in Vale."
She stared at him, a flicker of something crossing her visage. "That can change."
"Not likely."
"Are you certain?" she pressed, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I can be very convincing."
Her words finally broke through. "Are you...coming onto me?"
"I think so?" she tilted her head, a hint of pink in her cheeks. "Apologies. I am bad at this "flirting" concept. I have never had a paramour before."
Now it was his turn to choke. "You?! You're Winter Schnee! You're...well...
He gestured less than eloquently.
"Beautiful?" she tucked a strand of pale hair behind her ear.
Not quite the word he'd use, but she really was, wasn't she? Even beaten and dirty, her aura nearly broken, she'd never looked more alive. Her eyes met his and lingered a little before they both looked away.
No, no, no. Pyrrha was upset already. She'd be distraught if he up and ran off to Atlas with a Schnee.
To say nothing of Weiss; she'd go catatonic; right before she went nuclear.
He covered his eyes with a sigh. "Can we fight now?"
To her credit, Winter sound just as embarassed. "That would be for the best."
She didn't acknowledge him further, not truly, not for some time, so busy was she swaying on her feet. He wondered if she might give up. He hoped not.
His wish was granted.
Winter trailed her good hand across her burnt arm, coating it in ice. Soon enough, she did the same for the rest of her battered body. All the while she didn't cry out. Not once. She simply accepted her pain and injuries as a warrior's due, wreathed her entire body up to her neck in icy armor, and moved to face him anew.
He'd definitely heal her completely after this. He owed her that much for showing him a good time.
As though sensing that very thought, Winter conjured another blade of ice and lunged.
'Have at you!"
He slapped it aside; the moment he did an ice-coated fist struck out for his face. Rather than engage as he had before, he stepped in and under her arm, forcing her to abort the punch or risk breaking her limb entirely. Undaunted, he reached around, swung his palms back and brought them down on either side of her ears.
Winter recoiled with a pained hiss. "Still not enough!"
He stepped in and delivered a triple kick; the first hit her head from the right, the second nailed her skull head from the left and bashed her forehead against a wall, opening her up to the third, a finisher designed to dent the back of her head and sent her sprawling.
Aura faltered, failed, faded at the last. That was it, then. She was out. Any sane opponent would've surrendered.
But that didn't stop Winter; she retaliated with a wave of jagged ice, forcing him to hop backward lest find himself skewered on the spot.
Apparently the "Maiden" powers didn't run on aura; a freezing cyclone nearly rendered him a human popsicle, forcing him to grab a nearby fire escape and lever himself up it to safety. From there it was a simple matter to race up the wall proper and escape the ruined streets, taking to the rooftops anew.
Winder gave chase immediately, propelled by a glacial gale.
The moment she reached the rooftop, he struck at her blind side with Crocea Mors. She conjured another blade of ice and parried gracefully, forcing a momentary clash between them, but this time, the moment that their blades touched, he braved his blade anew and pushed down, forcing her to fly upward lest she find herself overwhelmed again.
Perfect.
He spat a grand fireball after her. Not on the level of his last attack, but close. Winter saw it coming, yet unlike last time, there was no panic. Just as she had with Amber before, she sought to reflect it with a sheet of ice, only for the jutsu to smash right through and send her flying, tumbling end over end with a startled cry.
Righting herself in midair, she mended her frozen armor and fixed him with an intent stare. "That's much better. I can actually feel that. Anymore tricks up your sleeve?
Quite a few, actually. Therein lie the problem. "You do realize I might kill you at this rate...
"You will not." she replied instantly. "You're a good man, Arc."
Damnit. Was she deliberately trying to get him all riled up?
It was just too much; he couldn't help himself.
So much for subtlety.
He let go.
Gritting his teeth, he reached deep within himself and unshackled his restraints. His skin shimmered and glowed golden, leaving his already frazzled hair standing on jagged spikes. His already glowing eyes shimmered a molten shade of orange as the pupils within gained a feral slit atop the horizontal iris of sage mode, leaving them bearing the shape of a haphazard cross. A true chakra cloak, just like the one Dad used all the time. He knew he'd never measure up to him, it was enough. More than enough. He stood tall and proud, wreathed in the full extend of his power as scarlet sparks skittered around him.
Drawing his dust saber, the blade blazed like the sun itself, a golden saffron that would've made Saph proud.
Winter looked like she was on the verge of drooling. "Is that it, then? The full extent of your semblance?"
He stomped a foot down, ready to lunge. "Something like that."
"Wait!" she flung up a hand, stopping him short.
Jaune paused, a little irked. "Why?"
"There's an island not far from here." she indicated the coast of the city, easily visible from their vantage point. "I believe its name is Patch. I suggest we take our battle there."
"Why should we...
Winter pointed past him.
Jaune followed her finger and looked back to the city block, currently covered in ice and flames. More than a few folks were only just now peeking their heads out their windows to see the devastation they'd wrought. With his superior hearing, he could already detect sirens in the distance. Many of them had their scrolls out.
He wouldn't be surprised if this was all over the news by now.
...fair enough."
Her eyes lit up. "Excellent. I shall race you there, then. The loser owes the winner a favor."
"Hey, now! I don't remember agreeing to-
Winter shot past him. "Keep up, Arc!"
Jaune shot after her like a missile.
The race was on.
(.0.0.0.)
Weiss leaned back, gawping at the devastation.
She'd seen the tail end of the terrible fight on the news -some golden creature attacking Winter!- and coming racing off to Vale, dragging her team with her. Yang and Blake hadn't been particularly happy to be dragged out of bed at this hour, but Ruby was just fine with it. Honestly, that girl never ran out of energy. By the time they'd reached the city the battle looked to been over. Fire and ice and shattered rubble everywhere, with no sign of the attackers.
Thankfully, no civilians seemed to be hurt, but there could be no denying the devastation.
Yang and Blake had gone one way to search, her and Ruby another.
Movement above caught her eye.
Wait.
Since when could her sister fly?!
Because that was undoubtedly her racing by!
Weiss' jaw clicked open. Snapped shut now as she forced it closed. Scrubbed her eyes for good measure.
And who was that golden blur chasing after her, no, fighting her?!
"Ruby! I found her!"
A scarlet streak of petals slammed into her. "You did?! What's going going on?!""
She thrust a finger at the blazing blurs raging above them. "Someone's attacking my sister!
"Oh, no!" Ruby's head popped over her shoulder, chin coming to rest there. "Who would do thhhhhhaaaaaaat is Jaune!" Grinning, she thrust a fist into the air. "Kick her butt!"
Weiss bridled and shook her own fist, shouting after the rapidly retreating blurs.
"Show him some respect, Winter!"
(.0.0.0.)
"James...
Ironwood clapped a hand to his forehead. "I see them, Ozpin. They're headed to Patch."
"Good. And here I thought I was going blind."
...I can explain.
The mug shattered in the immortal's grasp. "Can you, now James? Because that looks like a Maiden out there. Destroying my city.
To be fair, I didn't think she'd do this.
"Bullhead! Now! THIS INSTANT!"
"James practically fled.
(.0.0.0.)
Taiyang looked out his window, grimacing at the black clouds on the horizon approaching Patch.
"Huh, nasty storm. Better steer clear of that."
He had no idea.
(.0.0.0.)
The battle that followed was brutal.
Fire met ice, wind met lightning, it was elemental.
Jaune loved every minute of it; Winter gave as good as she got, and more.
Better than Team RWBY, better than Pyrrha, better than Hazel; she was, quite possibly, one of the stronger foes he'd fought.
Even with her eye and face restored he could tell Winter was on her last legs; out of aura, spurred only by sheer willpower and her Maiden energy. A few good hits would take her out. He knew it. She knew it. They both did. And yet she still hit hard; still believed she would win.
He took no pleasure in shattering that illusion, but someone had to.
Surging through the storm, he dodged a frozen tree and closed the distance with her, clashing blades for but an instant.
He led with a right cross, followed by left cross, knee to the stomach, sweep the legs, then kick her away before she could hit the ground. The resultant combo sent her spinning into a tree, giving him a moment to lunge at her, only to be met by a wave of cold wind and flung away. He planted his feet, fought forward, and bounded over her, slashing her back and breaking her armor as he went. The rest of it shattered soon thereafter, the last of her control gone with it.
Winter buckled with a rare gasp of pain and fell to her knees, leaning heavily upon her blade, stabbed into the frozen earth.
Jaune left here there, leaning against her frozen blade, poised to deliver the final blow.
"You're strong, Winter." he couldn't quite keep the smiling from his face. "There's no denying that, but I've fought stronger. Faster, too."
She hadn't been able to touch him once since he unleashed himself.
"You're bluffing." she glowered down into a pool of frozen mud, jaw set. "There's nothing stronger than a fully realized maiden. I don't believe you."
His whiskered cheeks dimple in a small, sad smile. ""It isn't a matter of belief; its the truth. The stories I could tell you...
She slashed backward at him, to which he dodged nimbly aside, allowing her to rise.
"I can't lose." spitting blood, she struggled upright. "I've never lost. Not once...
Ah.
He understood now.
"She didn't know who she was without victory, did she?"
Had he been like this, once? Blinded by his own strength, his arrogance? The thought shamed him.
"We all lose sometimes, Winter." he held out his hand to her. "We all fall. What matters is getting up again."
"Enough of your lies, Arc!" she brandished her blade at him, a hint of desperation breaking through her cold facade at last. "If you won't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you!"
Even now she impressed him with her spirited stamina. "Now that's more like it! That's the banter I've been looking for! Slipping into a stance, he stowed his sword and beckoned with glowing hands. "You want my tongue that badly?! Alright! "Come take it!"
Winter righted herself, wobbling on her feet. "No more weapons?"
"None." he collapsed his shield for emphasis.
She banished her frozen blade as well.
Silence stretched between them.
The smallest second.
Winter lunged.
As did he.
And then, quite suddenly, someone was between them.
Jaune didn't have time to balk, only to yelp.
"Dad?!"
Naruto stood between them, arms crossed before his chest, wholly unflinching and uncaring of the fists currently denting either side of his face.
Rearing back, he cracked his neck. Hummed to himself. Nodded once.
"Acceptable."
His fists flashed left and right.
Jaune saw stars and crashed down on his arse.
He could only imagine what Winter saw; she went sprawling with a girlish yelp and landed hard on her ribs.
"Not bad." His father considered her prone form for a moment. "You're sturdy for a Schnee. Almost makes me wonder who your father was...
Then those blue eyes swung back to him.
Jaune froze. "I can explain...?"
"I'm sure you can." The Arc patriarch smiled in return, and said smile was all teeth. "You've got some nerve running away from me not once, but twice." he began to crack his knuckles toward the end there. "I hope you're ready to pay the price...
Winter righted herself behind them.
"Still at it?" Naruto quirked a brow her way. "Stay down. It'll hurt...less...?"
He trailed in confused as she pushed past him, stumbled over to Jaune, and helped him to his feet. Naturally, the son didn't think twice. And why would he? Anyone willing to aid him against his crazy old man was alright in his book; even if Winter wasn't quite right in the head, he'd happily have her as an ally over an enemy.
"Is that your father?" she asked.
"Well, yeah, don't mind him, he's a little crazy."
...I see."
As did he; he trusted her wholeheartedly, if not to defend him, then to at least be on his side.
She spun him about, seized him by the face and kissed him.
Errors were made. And they were his. Aaaall his.
Drawing back for air, she pressed her forehead to his. "I love you. Marry me."
Kurama howled with laughter in his head.
Jaune recoiled, eyes wide. "Bwuh?"
Winter didn't give him a chance to answer; she dove in for a second second, followed by a third; even then it took a fourth before his brain rebooted enough to allow some semblance of speech.
"Whoa, hey!" he got his hands up between them, fending her off. "We hardly know each other!"
"And?" she blinked, not seeing the point, or choosing to ignore it entirely. "Your father is clearly strong. He must've taught you well to make you his equal."
Me?! His equal?! In what world?!
Winter's hands tightened around his, fingers threading through his own.
"Which means we'll have strong children together." she explained in that odd, distant way of hers. "I enjoy fighting you, and you conduct yourself with honor. I can think of no finer spouse.
He paled and dragged his hands from hers "I need an adult?"
"I am an adult."
"Going for the harem route, eh?" Naruto clasped both palms behind his head. "Well, your grandmother will be pleased if nothing else."
"Can't you take her off my hands, old man?!"
"No can do, son." his father shook his head. "As I said, I'm a one-woman man. Besides, she wants you."
She nodded. "You are correct. I prefer the younger model."
Naruto twitched. "Careful now.
Jaune didn't even have it in him to laugh; winter kissed him again before he could even think to do so. It felt...good. Damnitall, but it felt very good. His body wanted to be a treacherous, bastard and lean into it more than anything, just give in and let her have her way with him, so long as it meant, he could have more of this wonderful feeling.
Winter gasped suddenly.
Jaune looked down, realizing what he'd done. had his hands up to defend himself, and to push her away, but while he was distracted, his hands had wandered. Namely, they landed on her bosom, or squeezing her ample breasts through the ruined tatters of her uniform.
His eyes bulged.
The woman who might-just-become-his-wife drew back, eyes wide, and lips red. "So bold...
I'm really not! Gah, no! Focus! I ain't ready for this...!
A hand clamped down on his shoulder and belatedly, he realized Naruto Arc had gotten behind him. "Consider this is part of your punishment, young man. You wanted to go out and see the world? Congratulations. This is how the world works.
"Like a harem?!"
"Well, no," his father amended, scratching his cheek, "usually not like that. Still, people, respect, strength, and kindness, and you have both in spades. Is there any wonder you have ten admirers..."
Ten?! Wasn't it at nine a few days ago?! Why did the number go up?!
Belatedly, he heard the distant whine of a bullhead's engines.
Someone was coming.
"One last thing, Jaune." Naruto held out a hand, three fingers splayed. "Three days."
Ha?
"You have three days, son." he delivered the words with a smile. "After that, all bets are off; I'll see what you're worth, one way or another.
"Wait, wait, wait! What does that even meeeeeaaaaaargh?!
Naruto whirled and tossed him into the air.
Only then did he deign to face Winter.
"Now, then. About my son...
Winter gulped.
(.0.0.0.)
Tyrian Callows watched a man fly across the horizon.
It was glorious. Such a wonderful throw! That poor boy fleeeew!
He cackled merrily. Soon he would have his own part to play. Oh, yes. Soon...
Wouldn't he? Surely they hadn't forgotten about him. Surely not...
...right?
Perhaps he ought to test these heirs of hers...?
Yes, he liked the sound of that.
It wasn't jealousy.
No, not at all...
(.0.0.0.)
Ground.
Grass in his mouth.
Jaune spat it out, came to with a start and found himself face down in Beacon's grassy courtyard.
.
..
...damn.
Sitting up, he marveled at himself.
Dad had thrown him clear across the city and he'd survived with half his aura intact.
He could've done much worse. Perhaps he would.
Three days. That wasn't ominous at all.
Panic bleated through, wild and hot.
He buried his face in his hands.
"What now...?"
Had he seriously thrown him all the way back to Beacon?! Would he be coming here?! He didn't even want to consider it, but...
"Jaune! There you are!"
He looked up to find Nora looming over him, fists on her hips.
She didn't look best pleased. He tried to smile for her.
"Nora, now's a bad time-
"Hush!" In short order she hauled him to his feet, had him by the wrist and began dragging him toward the dorms at breakneck speed. Or rather, their dorm, he realized. "Listen mister! I don't know what you did, but you obviously did something wrong! Fix this!
"What did I-
Ren came out of nowhere from behind, took him by the shoulders and pushed. Hard.
"Fix! This! Now!
Together, they thrust him into the room and slammed the door behind him. The electronic chime of a lock heralded his doom. Jaune soon saw the reason for their distress.
It was a mess, clothes everywhere, all but one of the beds overturned. And there...
...at the center...
Pyrrha.
He froze.
She was bawling her eyes out against a wall, face flushed, fists scrubbing desperately at her cheeks Even her ponytail was down, her long hair a bedraggled mess that suggested it hadn't seen a comb for several hours now. She looked...well, he didn't have the right for it. Terrible sounded too tame...
"Pyr...?"
Too late, she noticed him.
Her green gaze flitted up to his and shied away almost immediately.
"Jaune?" she shrank back at the sight of him, panicking. "Why are you...when did you get here?"
His throat went dry. "I could say the same...why're you crying...?"
She wilted. "You know why...don't look at me...please...
"To hell with that!"
He lunged forward and drew her into a hug without thinking; she snuggled up against him.
...irst." she muttered under her breath.
Jaune blinked, momentarily flummoxed. "Come again...?
"I saw you first," she mumbled, gripping her left elbow with her right hand as she averted her gaze. "Yet now it seems as though the world itself is after you. Its not fair...
Life really wasn't, was it?
She sniffled, looking away.
"Maybe I can't have you to myself, but...it feels like you're slipping further and further away from me. Is that selfish?"
It was too much; he couldn't bear the sight of her tears.
He made his decision.
Jaune took Pyrrha by the hands, drew her in close, and kissed her, gently caging her lips with his. She froze, but only for an instant; then came alive in his arms; her hands hooked around his neck, drawing him closer as she titled her head for better access; when his hands settled on her flank to hold her steady, she made a pleased noise all her own . It took him a moment to realize what it was.
A moan.
The sound set his very blood afire.
He loved it. Maybe he loved her. He didn't know. It frightened him.
Apparently it spooked her as well, because she held tight to him, as though she were afraid he'd disappear. "I'm sorry...
"Don't be." He held her close. "Never be sorry for this."
"You're not tired after what happened in the city?"
He blinked, considering. "Not really."
Right answer.
Pyrrha pulled him him backward, causing him to fall atop her, but not for long. She locked her legs around his waist, did something with her hips and twisted; in an instant he found her atop him; he was the one pinned to the bed. She planted both legs on either side of him, all but pinning him in place.
"Are you sure about-
She reached behind her back, unhooked her bra, and tossed it at him.
Huh. Black lace. Neat...
Any protest he might've mustered withered and died in his throat. Nora had been right. How the heck did she hide those...?
Pyrrha crossed one arm across her breasts and averted her gaze, suddenly shy. "Don't stare at me like that...
He hurriedly averted his gaze. "Great, now I'm sorry...
"Don't be." she leaned in, whispering into his ear. "Nora and Ren said they'll be bunking with Team RWBY tonight. We'll have to be quiet, but...
Oh.
But that would mean...
...they had the room to themselves.
She kissed him heatedly, lips lingering over his own, breath coming in small gasps.
Somewhere between their frenzied kisses, he hooked his thumbs into her skirt and dragged it down, undergarments and all.
Her nimble fingers found his belt and yanked.
From there, the outcome was inevitable.
In short order the rest of their clothes fell to the wayside. Neither of them knew what they were doing; neither had even the slightest experience in this.
Perhaps that was for the best. Some say ignorance is bliss.
One's first time was often much the same.
Pyrrha planted herself in his lap and reached out with both arms, delicately dragging her hands across his chest for balance. From there his hands settled onto her hips, fingers trailing over her hindquarters, the better to hold her in place. She seemed to like that very much; because she flashed him the most dazzling smile. With her hair down she looked like a great redheaded goddess, her gleaming green eyes half-lidded, as though she could devour him with her gaze alone. Gone was the hesitation, the fear, the anxiety; smoldering desire had taken their place, leaving him utterly at her mercy.
It wasn't a bad feeling; heck, he didn't think this night could get any better.
As luck would have it, it actually did.
Pyrrha began to move her hips.
A/N: Had to cut it there for obvious reasons!
Next chapter title should be something along the lines of: Just a little Love.
If you thought this chapter was a smoldering/spicy one; just wait till the next. You're not prepared~!
As ever, these glorious misunderstandings remain glorious. Are we going for the single route, or the harem ending? I suppose that depends on you, the reader. We're not quite done with the story yet, we still have a bit more to go, not to mention the other continents, Lionheart, the Crown, and the like. Or we could just end this after the imminent attack on Beacon.
Your choice!
Find out next time, on Practice Makes Perfect!
Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?
Alas, there are no previews this time.
Next chapter will be bonkers.
Everyone's gonna laugh~!
...alright, some previews.
But just a few small ones!
(Preview!)
Naruto crossed both arms before his chest. "You must be Ozma."
"Its Ozpin now, actually."
The blond tapped his foot angrily.
James winced. "Oz, please, don't antagonize him...
Jaune stared at the ceiling, hands clasped behind his head. eyes bulged in disbelief.
Yup. That settled it.
Sex was the best.
Pyrrha rolled over him, sprawling atop his chest. "You certainly have a lot of stamina."
He grinned. She had no idea. "So...again?"
She laughed. "You're impossible~!"
Nora's jaw clicked open. "You did what?! How many times?!
Jaune muttered a number that was in the double digits.
And you're not tired?!
Well, I'm not, Pyrrha is.
All eyes turned to the redhead, sound asleep at the table, her food left untouched; even in sleep, she wore the biggest smile.
"Yup, that settles it. Out fearless leader isn't human. Hey, Renny, why haven't we tried that yet?"
Nora, no.
"Nora yeeeeesssss."
Salem squealed happily. "Another descendant?! Aiyeeeee! Come here, dear girl! Let me have a look at you!"
The Hound cocked its head. "Friend?"
Zwei mirrored him, tongue lolling out his mouth as he panted happily.
"No!" Ruby flung up her arms. "No friends! This is not happening! Zwei you get back here right now-ACK?!
The Hound licked her, cutting her off. "Gah! Bad doggy! Down!"
The Grimm barked and licked her again.
"Noooooo!"
Oh, gods.
That dress.
And her hair.
She looked...beautiful didn't even begin to describe her.
She held out her hand to him and smiled. "Shall we dance?"
Jaune hesitated. "This isn't a trap, is it?"
"Take my hand, Arc."
~Nz.