Ch. 54 Intervention-s

Everyone is walking outside as they go towards their next class. They will start outside in the gardens and be tested, then go to the garden house where the climate is carefully controlled to allow plants from across Remnant to be grown. And then they get to go to the classroom for a written test.

But for now everyone is taking their time in getting to the garden.

Blake is walking while looking down at her book.

"Hey Blake" Sun grabs Blake's shoulder. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Blake shuts her book and turns towards Sun. "Yes, I'm sure"

"Cool…. So I hear there's this dance thing going on this weekend…. If uh, sounds pretty lame, but uh, I'm thinking you have some friends. And I'm thinking… you hook me up with someone it won't be so lame. Eh?" Sun awkwardly asks.

Blake blinks a few times. "What?"

"The dance! This weekend! You're going with Alabast right? I want to go, but I don't have anyone to go with. And I figured, you know, you have friends. And maybe you can help me get someone to go with?" Sun awkwardly

"I don't have time to try and play matchmaker. The only reason I'm going is because Alabast asked me to go with him. I don't even really want to go to the 'stupid' dance" Blake turns back around and opens her book back up as she walks past her teammates.

Ruby, Yang, and Weiss nod to eachother as they follow behind Blake. They plan on talking with her after their last test and class.

Sun slumps his shoulders. "Aw man…"

"You're telling me" Alabast walks out of the building and goes next to Sun as he watches team RWBY walk away.

Sun lets his head drop down lower. "You heard that?"

Alabast closes his eyes. "Yeah"

Sun looks up at the sky. "Guess I can just ask Neptune for help then, right?"

"Probably should have started there" Alabast rubs the back of his head. He doesn't understand why Blake would agree if she really truly didn't want to go. Maybe the dance will be good for her. Kinda force her to take a night off at least.

"I just wanted to talk with Blake. She's been out of it lately and…. I don't even know man. I'm her friend and she doesn't even want to talk to me" Sun puts his hands on his hips.

"Blake is just… trying to do what she thinks is right. Even if she has a bad case of tunnel vision" Alabast says in a low tone.

"Right. Look, I'm sorry Alabast. You probably know what's going on with her more than I do. I'll get out of your hair. See you around" Sun waves goodbye to Alabast and then goes to meet up with his team.

Alabast's team has already left and so he is left alone as he walks to his next class. He isn't in a rush and takes his time as he isn't looking forward to this test.

——————

That night in team RWBY's dorm room.

"Blake, we're worried about you. This investigation is starting to mess with your head" Yang says as she sits beside Blake.

Across from Yang and Blake is Ruby and Weiss. All 4 girls are sitting on the bottom bunks and having a convention. Alabast and Pyrrha are also there but they are sitting in chairs that would normally be at the desks.

Weiss starts counting off her fingers. "You can't sleep, you hardly eat, and to be honest, your grades have been suffering. The only time you do sleep or eat is when Alabast forces you" She says, exasperated.

"You think I care about 'grades'?" Blake gestures out the window. "People's lives are at stake! You understand right?" She turns to Alabast.

Yang puts her hand on Blake's and lowers it. "We know, and we're all still trying to figure out what Torchwick is up to"

Alabast has his arms folded across his chest. "We all understand Blake"

"Thanks to you and Sun, we know they're operating somewhere outside of southeast Vale" Ruby says.

"AND…" Weiss points her index finger up at the ceiling. "…. the Schnee company records singled out Vale as the primary 'target' for Dust robberies over the last few months"

"Don't forget about their missing military tech too" Yang tosses her two cents in without any enthusiasm.

"But there's still unanswered questions!" Blake quickly counters.

"Blake, you won't be able to find anything if you can't even keep your eyes open!" Ruby informs her friend and teammate.

"All we're asking is that you take it easy for one day" Yang asks as she leans back on her hands.

"It will be fun! Yang and I will make sure of it" Weiss says with no small amount of pride.

"I already said I would go! What else do you want!" Blake fires back.

Alabast stands up. "Sunday. That's what I, we, want from you. No books or journals. No criminals. Just us. ALL of us. And you being exhausted and drained will only make us worried about you. Take this as a chance to take a break and then we will all help again after we get back from the field trip. Just enjoy Sunday with us"

Blake looks at Alabast. She can tell he's worried about her. Not only because of his ears and tail, but through his tone as well.

"Yeah! We will make it the best dance Beacon has ever had! Because we're planning the whole event!" Yang pumps her fists into the air, just below the top bunk, and bounces the bed.

"'Excuse' me?" Blake turns towards Yang and narrows her eyes.

"Run that one by me again. I think there was some fur in my ears or something" Alabast swipes at his wolf ears.

Pyrrha grabs his arm and gently pulls him back down to his seat.

Alabast sits down again and sighs.

Weiss has a small smile. "Team CFVY's away mission lasted longer than expected"

Yang grins mischievously and points at Blake. "So, Weiss and I were asked to pick up where they left off. And now we can make sure you have the perfect night"

Weiss closes her eyes. "And once it's all over, we'll return for our search, rested and ready"

"So what do ya think?" Ruby practically falls off the bed she's leaning forward so much.

"I think…" Blake looks at everyone. "… this is a colossal waste of time"

Blake stands up and goes towards the door. She opens it and looks back into the room. "I already said I was going. So if you need me I'll be in the library" She closes the door.

"Haaaah~. Great" Yang sighs.

Weiss looks to Alabast. "She can't keep going on like this"

"I'm aware" Alabast rubs his forehead with his right hand. "She's just so…. stubborn and headstrong"

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Weiss stands up and opens the door.

Outside the door there is a random black haired student.

The black haired student puts away a slip of paper. "This is the right room! Great. Weiss Schnee, would you go to the-"

"No" Weiss closes the door in his face. She turns around and crosses her arms over her chest. "Doesn't everyone know that we all are dating Alabast? How can someone be so-"

The guys voice can be heard from behind the door. "Wait! You didn't even hear me out fully! Can't you at least reject me after?"

Weiss opens the door.

The guy smiles brightly when he sees the door open again. "Thank you. Weiss Schnee, will you go to the dance with me? And before you reject me, I just want you to know that our fathers-"

Weiss glares at the guy. "I don't care if our fathers know each other or work together or whatever else. I'm going to the dance with him" She points into the room at Alabast. "So goodbye, and kindly never speak to me again"

Weiss forcefully closes the door and turns around.

"And that is why they call you the Ice Queen" Yang points at Weiss before putting her hands on her hips.

"Gah!" Ruby falls from the bed finally and lands on the ground.

Weiss rolls her eyes. "All my life, boys have only cared about the perks of my last name. Besides, I already have a date"

Ruby sticks her finger in the air. "Date or no date! None of this will matter if we can't get Blake to go!"

Alabast goes over to Ruby and picks her up and holds her like a child holds teddy bear. "Right. It wouldn't be the same if we all didn't go together"

Pyrrha stands up and walks over to Alabast. "I have to get going. It's almost time to train Jaune"

Alabast leans forward and kisses Pyrrha as Ruby silently tries to get free. "Don't go easy on him"

Pyrrha tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. "It wouldn't be training if I didn't push him"

Ruby accepts her fate and rests her chin on Alabast's arms that are around her chest. "Alabast, why don't you also help Jaune? Your sword is only a bit bigger"

Pyrrha pokes Ruby's cheek with her right hand. "Because Alabast already tried. It's just that Alabast isn't able to teach"

Alabast shrugs, which causes Ruby to rise and fall with his arms. "He was learning when we sparred in class. I figured fighting would help him learn"

Pyrrha goes up on her tiptoes and pats Alabast's head. "You weren't completely wrong. But you just beat him up and called it training"

Alabast brings his head down and puts his chin on the top of Ruby's head. "That's how I was trained…."

Pyrrha takes her hands back and moves some of Alabast's bangs out of his face. "You mean you were beaten up by the members of the White Fang and they called it training? How old were you?"

"Yes and no. Some were part of the White Fang, and others were just people in the city that knew how to fight. I wasn't technically beaten and they called it training. It's just that I was 6ish and that's what it felt like. Slight exaggeration on my part" Alabast tries to remember those days. But he was very lost during those times. His mind wasn't exactly on right, even with his previous memories.

"I am glad that you weren't actually beaten" Pyrrha lovingly holds his face. "I don't mind helping a friend out, especially if you were the one to ask me to help him" Pyrrha was slightly surprised when Alabast first asked her to train Jaune, mainly because Alabast rarely ever asks her for something. And she doesn't mind doing it because Jaune is a friend. He also didn't care about her name and fame.

Pyrrha then walks to the door. "Please let me know how things go with Blake"

Weiss folds her arms across her chest. "Of course"

Yang gives a thumbs up and a wink. "Will do!"

"Yep" Ruby says while she attempts to get free again.

Alabast gives Pyrrha a nod, and then she walks out and closes the door behind her.

Alabast moves his face on top of Ruby's head and just stands there for a few seconds.

Weiss looks at Yang. "What 'are' we going to do about Blake?"

Yang taps her chin with her index finger while looking at the ceiling. "I might have an idea"

——————

Jaune swings his sword down towards Pyrrha who blocks it with her own. Jaune leans into the clash some more and smirks as he gains a slight upper hand. But then he sees Pyrrha smirk.

Next thing he knows, his legs are swept out from under him and he lands on his butt.

Pyrrha swept Jaune's legs out from under him and then stands back up. "Ahahaha. Well done! Your swordplay's improved immensely" She puts her sword on her back where her shield is.

Pyrrha extends her hand down for Jaune and helps him up to his feet.

Jaune starts dusting himself off. The dirt and grass like to stain and stick to his clothes. "I couldn't have done it without you" He says sarcastically.

"So" Pyrrha puts her hands on her hips. "Are you ready to move on to Aura?"

Jaune rubs the back of his head and turns his shoulder towards Pyrrha. "I'm actually thinking maybe we just skip Aura for tonight? Might go on a jog or something" He gives a weak alternative.

"Come on, I know you get frustrated, but you must keep trying. I'm sure you'll discover your Semblance any day now" Pyrrha encourages. She remembers how embarrassed Jaune was when he admitted he didn't know his semblance yet and that he only had his Aura unlocked for a few months.

"That's not it. It's just..." Jaune drops his arm and turns back towards Pyrrha. "… it's dumb"

"What is it?" Pyrrha inquires as she puts her hands behind her back. "Jaune, you know you can tell me. Even if we aren't on the same team we are still friends right?"

"Right" Jaune closes his eyes. "It's…. I don't know. It's Ayaka. I don't know how to approach her most of the time. I can talk with Nyx and Dazz no problem! I understand how they fight and use their Semblance, so I can make decision and rely on them easily even if they are a bit lazy. But when it comes to Ayaka…. Things get a bit weird. Her fighting style is more suited for one on ones and her semblance barely makes sense to me. And…"

Pyrrha walks to the tree line where her team and team RWBY normally rest when they train in the secluded field. "Jaune, are you sure that's the reason why you are having difficulties with Ayaka?"

Jaune follows her and he leans his back against a tree across from Pyrrha who does the same.

"I know it's my fault. My brain just short circuits sometimes when I talk with her. She is the strongest person in my team, she's patient, kind, beautiful, just…. Absolutely amazing. And the dance is coming up…." Jaune lightly taps the back of his head against the trunk of the tree and gazes up at the tree's canopy. "Sorry"

Jaune takes a deep breath in and slowly lets it out before continuing. He smiles helplessly. "I even made a dumb bet with her. Of course I made it half-hazardly, but she took it personally. It seemed to upset her a bit, but also amuse her? I just don't understand how girls think…."

"What was the bet?" Pyrrha asks. She is trying to think of some advice and has an idea of Jaune's situation.

Jaune closes his eyes. "Me and Ayaka were talking while Dazz and Onyx were busy studying. We somehow got to the topic of the dance. Ayaka asked me if I had a date and I obviously don't. And so I asked her, and she didn't say yes…. but she also didn't say no. She said she was waiting for a certain somebody to ask her. Anyway, I ended up betting that….. that I'd wear a dress if she doesn't get a date to the dance"

Pyrrha can't help the smile on her face so she covers it with the back of her hand. "Have YOU thought about asking her to the dance?"

"Me?!" Jaune quickly looks at Pyrrha. "There's no way someone like Ayaka would go with somebody like me"

"Remember when you came to Beacon?" Pyrrha asks.

"If you're going to bring up the part where I threw up it won't help. It's only doing the opposite" Jaune slumps to the ground.

"No" Pyrrha shakes her head. "You may not have been fully confident. But you still tried to talk with me and Weiss"

Jaune looks at the ground between his legs. "Yeah, but I ended up bumping into Alabast and knocking myself out. That's how I missed initiation. How is this supposed to help me?"

"Jaune, I believe that you just need some confidence. How about this…" Pyrrha points at Jaune. "If Ayaka doesn't have a date at the dance, you ask her to dance with you. If she already has a date then you don't need to worry"

"Sure, but one problem. Because then I get to be lonely…. alone" He laments. "And what about my leadership problem?"

Pyrrha shrugs. "After the dance we will be doing a mission. You have a week before then to talk things out with Ayaka. Or if you want to wait until the mission, you also have a week to talk things out with her then. I recommend you do it sooner rather than later. You might even end up talking things out at the dance, who knows. Be honest with her…" Pyrrha begins walking away. "… women like that. Have a nice jog Jaune"

"Thanks Pyrrha" Jaune waves her off. He puts his arms on his knees and then looks back up and sees the shattered moon through the canopy. "Honesty? Confidence? Why couldn't you give me a bit more advice dad? Because the advice you gave me isn't working out so well…"

——————

Dorm room of team CMES

Seraphina is sitting on her bed while Mercury and Emerald are on the floor. Emerald is on her scroll and Mercury is laying down and reading a comic book while holding it above his face.

Seraphina has black fabric across her lap and on the bed next to her as she sews it together with some other material. "Ah, the Invincible Girl"

"She's smart, but I wouldn't say invincible" Mercury comments as he flips to the next page of his comic.

"Do tell" Seraphina implores as she stops sewing.

Emerald sets her scroll down on her lap. "Her Semblance is Polarity. But you'd never know just by watching"

Mercury sets his comic to the side and sits up. "She only uses her Semblance to assist and complement her fighting style. Moving her enemies weapons around, but she only makes slight adjustments"

"Just enough to make it look like she's untouchable. She doesn't broadcast her power, so it puts her opponent at a disadvantage" Emerald says with a slight smile on her face.

"Hmm... People assume that she's fated for victory,…." Seraphina resumes her sewing and narrows her eyes. "…when she's really taking fate into her own hands. Interesting. Add her to the list"

Emerald taps her scroll and Pyrrha's face is added below a few other students.

"You know. 'You' should be able to take her or Alabast on no problem" Mercury states as he lays back down.

"It's not about overpowering the enemy. It's about taking away what power they have. And we will, in time" She shifts the materials on her lap around.

"I hate waiting" Mercury says as he grabs his comic book and goes back to looking at the cool pictures. "It seems Dazz isn't completely useless, he's got some pretty cool comics" Mercury mutters to himself. He got some comics from Dazz on one of their guys nights.

"Alabast has proven himself to be more tricky than we first thought. His Semblance is too versatile" Seraphina looks to Mercury.

"No kidding, not only can he extend the range of his weapon but he can also hold his opponent in place, fuel dust or whatever that was, increase his own strength, and who knows what else" Mercury crinkles the comic he's holding in his hands. "It's bullshit"

"Bullshit as it may seem, it doesn't make him all powerful. He is still susceptible to Pyrrha's semblance due to his weapons, right? So that just means we need to find and exploit his weakness. And we have plenty of time after our fun weekend coming up" Seraphina holds the needle up in front of her and looks at it menacingly.