Ren smiled as he defeated another Beowulf with a combination of Storm Flower's blades and his own Aura powered martial arts. The reason why he was smiling was because he was back in his home village, doing exactly what he wanted to do when he entered Beacon: destroying Grimm so his people could have a bit of peace. His team being there was a plus, as he saw his childhood friend Nora using her overpowered hammer-grenade-launcher to send a Beowulf flying through the skies. He notice how elegantly yet efficiently Pyrrha dispatched three other Grimm, and he understood why she was the best warrior at Beacon and a four times champion.

He was especially happy with his team leader, Jaune Arc.

At the very first moment that Ren set his eyes on Jaune, he knew that Arc boy had no proper training whatsoever. The fact that despite that he fought with them and in fact created a winning plan against a Deathstalker after mere minutes of observation of their abilities made Ren curious about someone that despite not a proper warrior had such tactical mind and the courage to risk his life for others.

When Ren learned the truth about Jaune entering Beacon, he was a bit disappointed at first. But seeing the boy giving a sincere apology and how Pyrrha and Nora supported him, made him realize that a leader don't need to be the best warrior, but the one that people would rally around. The fact that Jaune dedicated so much to improve himself made Ren happy they stuck around with him. The fact they were there because Jaune almost begged Ozpin to give them a mission close to Ren's home was another plus.

Jaune cut the arm of the Alpha Beowulf, which howled in pain and tried to use the other claw to hit the blonde boy. The knight blocked with his shield and using Crocea Mors he cut the head off and turned around to see his team defeated all the Grimm. Jaune sat on the ground exhausted but happy. That was the 10th Grimm he defeated, the 7th all by himself. He knew Pyrrha interfered with the Ursa Major he decapitated while saving Cardin, but he never told her because he swallowed his pride and wanted her help. And now he could proud say he was a Huntsman in training, and that he deserved his spot.

Pyrrha smiled and rushed to his side, the side of his partner that she was helping mold in the warrior he wanted to be and she knew he could be. She almost hugged him, but stopped and just patted his shoulder. Ren saw that and groaned. To everyone but Jaune it was clear that Pyrrha was in love with her partner, yet he was oblivious to it, or maybe unable to believe someone as amazing as Pyrrha would feel like that for him. Meanwhile Pyrrha didn't blunt said how she felt, and while the duo become even closer after the dance, they still haven't moved of the friend zone.

"Renny, I will tell them. I can't take this anymore!" Nora half shouted half whispered to her partner. Ren was actually thinking about the idea but decided that Pyrrha would be unhappy if her feelings were made public for her.

"Nora, don't. It is up to them to work about their feelings. The best we can do is providing our support." He smiled as he saw Jaune gently holding Pyrrha's hand as he took care of a scratch she had, while Pyrrha blushed and smiled. "Besides, I think things are working out very well for them."

"Jaune, my Aura will heal it in a few minutes." Pyrrha said, not actually complaining ad his hand felt amazing on hers. Jaune finished the curative and smiled.

"I will not wait if I can take care of my partner. You are too important to me Pyr."

That one phrase made Pyrrha almost blurt out her heart to Jaune, but them they heard a whimper. Jaune made a sign and they got in defensive position as the knight walked towards the sound, sword and shield ready. He walked behind a bush and saw a small red fox with a cut on its right pawn. Jaune sheathed his weapons and crouched. The fox looked wary towards him.

"Come on little one, I just want to take care of this cut."

As if the fox understood what he said, it allowed Jaune to get closer. The boy cleaned the cut and put some bandages around it. The small fox gave a small lick on his nose before darting inside the forest. Pyrrha felt her heart getting bigger at the scene, and Nora was using the little willpower she had to not jump on Jaune and praise him.

"That was a nice gesture of you, Jaune, helping a forest critter." Ren commented as they got closer of their leader. The feeling was shared by everyone.

"Well, if I want to be a good Huntsman, I need to protect everything I can, right?" He spoke and scratched the back of his head thinking on how sappy that sounded.

"I will be by your side as you do it, Jaune." Pyrrha said making the boy blush. The mood was broken by Nora though.

"That is why you are our noble leader!" she said giving him a bear hug. Ren needed to separate them before she crushed Jaune's ribs.

As Jaune caught his breath, he saw what seemed to be a stone lantern of sorts dropped on the floor. He examined the stone piece and saw that it was knocked out from its stone base nearby, and that it actually was a beautiful sculpture. Ren noticed the piece too and smiled.

"In the old times my village believed that the spirits of the forest protect them from the Grimm, and this was an offertory to them. We would bring food to it and believe that the spirits would take it in exchange of their protection."

"Well, I don't see the harm in trying. Come on Nora, help me put this back in place." Jaune said and Nora saluted, the strong girl easily handling the task. As soon as the old offertory was put in its position, Jaune unwrapped a cereal bar and put it inside. Ren smiled satisfied at it, and offered a quick prayer. "OK, time to go. Sorry we can't spend more time at your village, Ren."

"You made more than enough by convincing Ozpin to allow us on this mission. I am… thankful for that, Jaune." The knight patted his friend's arm and they started walking back to the village where a bullhead would take them back to Beacon at night. Jaune was one that would always fill his promises, and that again made Ren proud of having him as a leader.

As they happily chatted and walked back, they didn't noticed that something took the cereal bar, and now curiously looked at them walking. The small figure let out a small yelp before following them, its bright eyes focused on a certain gentle knight.

…

"You need to come back soon, Lie Ren." A man very similar to Ren in appearance, except slightly older and bulkier said as he patted Ren's shoulders with a great deal of strength.

"I will try to, Lie Ran." He answered to his brother with a smile. Nora giggled as she found it funny how the two brothers treated each other. "Your leg better be healed next time so we can fight together."

"Damn Beowulfs took a taste of me, but I am sure he died of food poisoning." The big laugh Ran let out made Ren smile. Despite being brothers they were wildly different from each other. "Next time though, don't bring blonde, handsome and lady killer there."

Ren looked as many of the village girls surrounded his leader and openly flirted with him. Maybe it was because most people in the village had dark hair and eyes, with exception of Ren and his magenta eyes. Maybe it was because Jaune acting casual was quite charming to the girls that were used to the men in the village acting all proper. But Ren and Nora knew one person that would support the idea of never bringing Jaune there again.

Pyrrha looked at Jaune with a mix of sadness and jealousy, which was obvious to Ren and Nora, but probably would completely escape Jaune's mind. The Spartan couldn't help it after seeing Jaune growing into a great warrior and becoming more confident, and she dared to say, more handsome. Pyrrha had a very real fear that one day some girl that just met her knight would take him away from her, but she didn't knew how to deal with it.

Her whole life was spending training and competing, and her mother always said to her that she had no time to seek for a relationship while she was in the prime of her physical prowess and that if Pyrrha wanted to be a champion, she needed to sacrifice some things. That was one of the reasons Pyrrha accepted the invitation to Beacon, to have a bit of freedom for herself, off the pressure of her mother, her fans and the competition.

But in the moment she found someone that treated her as just another girl, she became curious, about that blonde boy that didn't oozed confidence as everyone else, which completely ignored her celebrity status. And even after discovering all the things everyone said were special about Pyrrha Nikos, still looked at her as his friend, partner and mentor. And now she have no idea on how to clue him she wanted more.

"Go get our fearless leader Pyrrha, before some of those girls marry him on the spot!" Nora whispered to her and pushed the Spartan towards the circle of girls that surrounded her knight. Caught by surprised Pyrrha staggered towards the circle of people and almost fell down, that being when she felt a pair of hands helping her up. When she looked up a pair of blue eyes locked on hers, that one silly smile in Jaune's face making her smile.

"How unusual for the amazing Pyrrha Nikos to trip." He spoke in a teasing tone and the girl could only smile more.

"That is why I have my powerful knight to help me." She answered and both stood like that for a few moments before someone called for them.

"Hey, lovebirds, better you board this shit or I will leave your asses behind!" The old bullhead pilot called, making Pyrrha separate from Jaune and blush madly. She also cursed the pilot for ruining the mood and would have used her semblance to Force choke him if she wasn't too nice for that.

The duo gave their final goodbyes and boarded the bullhead, that didn't wait for long before taking off. Ren looked sadly as he village once again disappeared at the distance, and he promised to himself that once he graduated he would come back and become the guardian he always dreamed to be, and protect his family and friends from anything and anyone that dared to threaten them.

Nora spoke happily about the few days they spent together, and Jaune and Pyrrha smiled at her, now knowing how exactly they met and how they remained friends, as Nora's parents worked as medics at the village, while Nora 'saved' Ren from kidnappers, actually the boy's brother and some friends, and since them they become inseparable, as Ren was the only one who could control Nora and Nora the only one who could make the boy have fun.

At that moment Pyrrha felt a sudden need to sleep. She wondered why, as it was still early and the job wasn't that hard to begin with. A few times she felt her head dropping but tried her best to stay awake until she felt a hand moving her head. She looked to her side and saw Jaune making her rest her head in his shoulder.

"Come on, partner. No need to stay awake if you are tired. I will take care of you."

That was enough for Pyrrha to just close her eyes and let that sleepiness carry her away, her had incredible comfy at her knight's shoulder. Ren and Nora smile at that, all too knowing what that simple gest meant for Pyrrha, while they also noticed Jaune had a smile different from usual. They said nothing, but to them it was like seeing someone finally choosing his meal after stalling the line for too long.

But none of them noticed that a fifth passenger snuck its way inside the bullhead.

…

"I hope she is not sick." Jaune said as he gentle shook Pyrrha, the redhead sleeping soundly and with a smile in her face. Nora checked her temperature with her hand.

"Nah, maybe the stress finally got her."

"I don't care! I need to take this flying deathtrap back to the hangar, so blondie take your girlfriend out of my ship!" The pilot protested, and Jaune sighed and blushed. He analyzed the situation and decided to be bold. He gave Nora Pyrrha's weapons and took his partner in a bridal carry style. Pyrrha only reaction was to let out a pleased sigh and rubbing her head on his shoulder. Then all of sudden the knight noticed a flash and saw Ren with his scroll.

"Ren?"

"Don't worry, it is for our eyes only." He said, making Jaune stare at him as they walked back to the dorm.

"Besides, there is at least one redhead that will not forgive us if we didn't do it." Nora said as she strode by their side.

"Who?" Jaune asked, making Nora and Ren shake their heads. But they did notice the longing stares Jaune gave Pyrrha as he looked at her peaceful face. Ren and Nora shared a knowing look, and the energetic girl mouthed an 'it is happening!' to her partner, that just nodded in agreement.

They entered their room and Jaune gently laid Pyrrha down. The girl squirmed a bit, even in her sleep not willing to let go. The knight caressed her hair and smiled, not noticing another pic was taken by Ren. He would show them to Pyrrha once she was awake so maybe they could finally start making that ship sail.

"Nora, Ren and I will grab some food for us. Please take Pyrrha out of her armor and into something comfortable AND decent?" Jaune asked and Nora saluted.

"As you command, oh mighty leader!" She waited the boys to leave before starting removing Pyrrha's armor. "You know Pyr, I think Jaune and you might get together-together sooner than expected."

Nora giggled as Pyrrha made a pleased face.

…

The boys returned sometime later, and Pyrrha was already in her night attire, a long red t-shirt that reached her knees, her hair free and flowing on the bed. Jaune sat on her bed and put her food on the side table, and the group talked a bit in a low tone to not disturb the Spartan. Jaune gave his partner a look from time to time, worried on how heavily she was sleeping, but he also appreciated her beautiful sleeping face.

"Well, better we hit the sack too. Hope Pyrrha wake up in the morning, or else I am taking her to Doc." He said as he gently caressed her face with a worried look on his.

"I am pretty sure she is all right. We all are tired." Ren said as he patted his leader's shoulder, Nora yawned and jumped with Ren in his bed, something that Jaune and Pyrrha learned to accept, though Ren itself still tried to convince Nora to stop. Jaune gave on last stare at Pyrrha before getting up.

"Jaune…" He looked surprised at his partner that called his name. She was clearly still sleeping, but that didn't avoid Jaune to blush hard. He smiled back and sighed. He really appreciated all things Pyrrha did for him, and lamented he could not do much for her in exchange.

"Sleep well, Pyr." He said and gently kissed her forehead. He missed the incredible happy smile she gave as he walked to his own bed.

…

Jaune woke up feeling the most refreshed he ever felt. He always had trouble sleeping at Beacon, considering the training pains, the stress of classes and the fact two beautiful girls shared a room with him. He smiled and snuggled something closer to him. It was at that moment that he felt something heavy was on top of him. The first thought it was Nora and her particular way to wake people up. He opened his eyes and didn't saw Nora over his blankets, and he blushed as he looked under it. To his surprise, it was not Nora that was there.

"Pyr?" He questioned, wondered if he was dreaming as he saw Pyrrha's bright green eyes staring at him, and his partner giving him a beautiful smile.

"Good morning, Jaune. Thanks for leaving me some food. I was starving when I woke up in the middle of the night." She said in her usual cordial tone. Jaune smiled at first than gave her a curious look.

"Pyr, why are you in my bed?"

"It looked to comfy to pass up." She replied with her usual smile, her fox ears twitching happily, making Jaune smile warmly back.

Wait…

"Pyr?" Jaune stretched his hands and touched the mysterious pair of ears on Pyrrha's head. She yelped in happiness and smiled as he caressed them gentle. They were warm and moved at touch, and Jaune clear noticed they weren't fake. Jaune tossed the blanket off and saw Pyrrha also had a fluffy red tail ended in a white tip, and that the tail moved too. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the tail moved her t-shirt up revealing her cute but small panties and the most perfect buttocks Jaune ever saw, almost giving him a heart attack.

"Jaune, everything is OK?" Pyrrha asked as she touched her forehead on his, and Jaune blushed even more. Somehow, Pyrrha became even more attractive to him than before. Their clearly moment was interrupted by Nora yelling in happiness.

"Ren, it happened!"

"What happened?" Ren asked as he woke up at the yelling, finally looking at Jaune's bed. He tilted his head at the scene, Jaune and Pyrrha looking back. "Wow, never imagined you too could be so bold. Cosplay?"

"Ren, I don't think this is cosplay." Jaune said as he got the mirror Pyrrha kept in their shared table and showed it to Pyrrha. The Spartan looked at it and finally noticed the ears. She touched them and her smile changed into a worried look.

"What happened to me?"

…

It took a half hour before everyone calmed down enough to talk. Nora couldn't care less, she found Fox Pyrrha adorable, and Ren needed to keep her away from the redhead new acquired ears and tail, while Jaune looked at his scroll for every site possible for an explanation of what the hell happened to his partner. Curiously enough, Pyrrha was not very concerned about it as she examined herself in the bigger mirror inside her closet.

"I will need to fix my clothes. The tail keep pushing my skirts up and showing my panties." She calmly stated, making Jaune having a coughing fit.

"I think we need to be more concerned on what happened to your body, Pyrrha. People don't just go sleeping as a human and wake up a Faunus the next day." Ren said, taking Jaune and Nora's word that those ears and tail were very real. "Did you find something about his, Jaune?"

"Aside the mystic stuff like spirit possession and lycanthropy? No." Their leader answered as he closed his scroll. "Let's go see Doc. I am more worried about Pyrrha's health for now."

"Aww, you are worried about me!" Pyrrha cooed and hugged Jaune, which got surprised at the unusual display of affection coming from the redhead. He got out of the hug and grabbed a long rain coat and hat from the closet, putting them on Pyrrha, which frowned at it. "Jaune, those things are uncomfortable…"

"I know, but until we are sure about what happened to you, I don't want weird rumors around. You know the Faunus think it is in bad taste to cosplay like this, and then we have a whole lot of assholes around that would do all types of gross comments and we can't punch them all to death." Jaune said gaining a hug from Pyrrha. He still was unsure how to deal with her sudden penchant for contact.

"Thanks, Jaune, you are the best partner I could ask for." She said as she nuzzled his cheek and Jaune blushed and scratched his head.

"Better we get going then. The later we go the more people will see Pyrrha." Ren stated as they walked out of the door. Ren scouted around and signalized them to follow, and the JNPR quartet rushed their way to the med bay.

Unaware that the neighbors' door opened and four pair of curious eyes followed them.

…

Dr. Shen Verd saw many weird things in her life, and in her medical career. But that probably would take the cake, as she re-examined Pyrrha one more time. All the exams she had at her disposal (and those were many considering the nature of Beacon) told her that Pyrrha Nikos was as healthy as possible. With the exception of her new pair of fully functional ears and tail, nothing was abnormal with her. The doctor took some tissue samples and would send them in secrecy to more advanced labs, but for now, she had no answer for what happened to Pyrrha and if there was a way to make the girl go back as she was before.

"Of course, you could try surgery, but those tend to be very painful." The doctor said aware many Faunus tried to remove their prominent characteristics in an attempt to blend in.

"Doc, this isn't a disease; I see no reason to subject myself to that. If that is how I am now, so be it. And if people have a problem with it, I don't need them in my life." Pyrrha proudly said, and the doctor smiled. She was taking it very well, but Shen knew that once the fact Pyrrha Nikos was for all effects a Faunus, that she would have a hard time.

"We will do what we can to help you Pyr. And if anyone gives you a hard time, their legs will have a close encounter with Nora's hammer." Jaune reassured his partner, which giggled happily. Nora also giggled, but evilly. Shen shook her head and smiled. She forgot Jaune was one of those that couldn't care less if you were a Faunus or human as long as you were a good person, and so was his team.

"So, Pyrrha, are you sure you want to go out on public about this?" Shen asked the redhead, which nodded in confirmation. "People will not take it as well as your friends."

"My friends are by my side, so I don't care about those who aren't. Besides, better I come clean and tell everyone exactly what happened to me than having them creating all the wrong ideas." Pyrrha stated and the doctor smiled and nodded.

"So, I will call Ozpin and see what he wants to do. Maybe a public statement will be safer than let people discover how you changed and create wild theories about it." They all nodded in agreement, and then Jaune sighed and walked to the door. As he opened it, team RWBY felt down and looked at them with awkward smiles.

"Besides, it is clear that some people can't stop meddling with other's affairs." He stated, giving them a smile. Team RWBY apologetically smiled back.