So many of you wanted me to continue this. Why? It's so bad! But, what the hell? This is the story that got me into writing RWBY fan fiction. So, maybe I oughta update every now and then.

On another note, this is going to take place in the Arisen-Verse, as I like to call it. For those of you who don't know what that means, (so like 99 percent of you) it means that it takes place in the same universe or timeline as my OC story, Arisen I: For Those Who Stand. Don't worry, you don't have to read it to understand what's going on in this story. This takes place in Jaune and Yang's first year, so it actually takes place two years before my OC story. But you'll see a cameo or two. Maybe the main character shows up in this chapter, maybe not. I dunno.

Chapter 4: Powdered Ribs

And for the second time that semester, Jaune Arc was in the infirmary with a serious fracture to his rib cage. Once again, it wasn't really his fault. Ruby had decided to go psycho on him because Yang had messed with his head.

Jaune felt stupid for thinking that Yang could like him. Like he had told himself earlier, Yang liked strength and muscles. Jaune had neither. He was a failure.

Did he have muscles? Well, Crocea Mors was pretty heavy, but when push came to shove, he couldn't budge Ruby's Crescent Rose an inch when it nailed his hoodie to the ground.

He was so weak that Ruby, a little girl two years his junior, was able to trap him and crush his favorite bone structure.

He was so weak, that he couldn't make it to Beacon on his own.

He was so weak, that he couldn't fight a practice drone on his own.

He was so weak, that he couldn't make Yang his own.

Just thinking about his failure made him feel sick to the stomach. Or maybe that was a side effect of the sedative the doctor had given him before they reset his bones. Jaune looked to his left and saw a styrofoam cup of water. He reached for it, but stopped when his whole upper torso wracked with pain. Damn. Ruby had hurt him pretty good.

He delicately used his legs to push his body upright, so that the water was easier to reach for. Slowly, Jaune inched his way towards the cup. He grasped it. The styrofoam felt as tough as iron in his feeble hand.

'She could never settle for someone as weak as me.'

Slowly he brought the cup to his lips. As the cool water flowed down his throat, his hand shook as if it couldn't support the weight.

'She would never settle for someone as fragile as me.'

The little cup was too heavy for his hand. It slipped and fell. The remaining water splashed on his lap, and the cup fell silently to the floor below.

"She should never settle for someone as 'me' as me."

He closed his eyes and turned his head away from the mess.

"What does that even mean?"

The voice shook Jaune from his self loathing. It was one he knew from his childhood. He looked up.

To his surprise, it was one of his old friends, Richard Prey. Richard was only fifteen, but he looked like he could be eighteen. His black hair met his shoulders and was brushed back. Blue eyes gazed fiercely into his own as the young warrior smirked. He wore a simple grey hoodie over a blue v-neck shirt, and a pair of denim blue jeans. A black sword strap crossed his right shoulder and held a blade not dissimilar to Jaune's.

He walked over and removed his sheath, gently propping it up against the wall, before taking a seat in a nearby chair.

"Man, it's been a while buddy," He said with a grin.

"Yeah it has," Jaune said suspiciously, "What are you doing here?"

"My dad's forcing Lilac to give me a tour, you know, so I'm familiar with the place before I attend. Heard you were in here, so I took a chance to get away from my damn sister."

Jaune actually snorted at that.

"So, Lilac still hates you for being the favorite, huh?"

He sighed, "Yeah," before shaking his head.

"So what's your problem?"

"Nothing. Just-"

"Nah screw that. You looked pretty down man. What's up?"

It was Jaune's turn to sigh.

"Do you know who Yang Xiao Long is?"

"Yeah, Ruby's older sister right? Rubes introduced me to her last year during our class's Ranking Tournament."

"I forgot you two were in the same class, did she beat you?" Jaune asked, hoping to segway into another conversation entirely

"I forgot how evasive you were."

Damn.

Richard just stared him down, like a bull would a matador.

"Okay, okay, fine! So last night, or technically this morning, I was training. You see, there are these stupid training robots that everyone else can beat, but I can't. Well, I was trying to change that, and it just kind of happened. I beat it. Then out of nowhere, someone just starts clapping from the stands. Turns out it was Yang. I was embarrassed, and got defensive, and she got offensive-"

"Wait, do you mean 'offensive' as in taunting you and insulting you, or as in she started being defensive because you were being defensive and as a result insulted her?"

"Uh the second one I think? She broke my ribs once because I accidentally saw Ruby naked-"

"Nice."

"Anyways," Jaune said resisting the urge to slap Richard for being a typical fifteen year old, "I reminded her that she basically turned my ribs to powder, and she got really mad. She kinda blew up, as Yang typically does, and then I think we sat for awhile. Yang suddenly got up, said that I 'looked good,' and then left. Then Pyrrha got mad, and then Ozpin laughed at me, and then Ruby got mad, and now I'm here."

Jaune took in a deep breath. That was a lot to get out.

"So, let me get this straight. You saw one sister naked, and then the other sister started to flirt with you."

"Yep."

"I hate you. I hate you so much right now."

"Thanks," Jaune said sarcastically, "Because I really needed another person to hate me."

There was an awkward silence, and Richard looked like he was pondering something.

"So what was that about? The "me' as me' part?"

Jaune looked down, and shame filled his being.

"I'm… I'm not strong Richard. I'm not fast. I'm not Huntsman material."

"What are you talking about man? You're team leader!"

"But I'm not a warrior, not like you. I can't fight worth a damn, I used to get picked on by a jerk with a giant mace, and I'm the laughing stock of the Freshman Class. Ask Ruby about 'Vomit Boy.'"

Jaune directed his gaze at the far wall.

"Yang is different. She's beautiful, and strong, and she's tough as a nail. She's everything a Huntress should be," Jaune looked back at Richard, and tears threatened to burst from his eyes, "How could she ever be interested in someone like me?"

"I get it now," Richard said, "This isn't about Yang."

'Huh?'

Richard continued, "This about you, and your self confidence. Or lack of anyhow."

Jaune grimaced at this, but he weakly motioned his hand, telling Richard to continue.

"You think that just because you're not the best fighter, it makes you any less of a Huntsman than the rest of us? Let me re-remind you of something. Only one fourth of the students at Beacon are team leaders, and Ozpin selected you to be one. That means something, Jaune. It means you're the best of the best. It means you have the sense, and the level headedness required to make the tough decisions that the rest of of prospective Huntsman couldn't. It means you have potential. I heard all about your initiation, and how you brought down a Deathstalker by coordinating your team. Ruby told me about how you stood up to Cardin, and then saved him after everything he'd done. Jaune, you are the epitome of what it means to be a Huntsman. And I wish I had half the strength, and the courage, that you do."

Jaune smiled, and felt the all too familiar feeling of shame finally lift from his shoulders.

"Yeah," he said quietly, "I guess I can be proud about all of that."

"You're damn right, Arc," Richard smiled, "Don't doubt yourself. Yang obviously sees something special in you, so stop hiding behind your fear of inadequacy, and tell her how amazing you think she is before it's too late!"

"Yeah," Jaune wiped his eyes, "yeah you're right! I'm every bit the Huntsman everyone else at this school is, and I'll prove to Yang that I can be the kind of man she wants by -"

"RICHARD ARTIERIOUS PREY! I swear if I don't see your dumb ass in ten seconds, I'm going to throw you off the cliff!"

Richard's eyes widened in fear.

"Oh crap, Lilac's mad. I gotta go!"

He grabbed his sword and dashed out the door.

"Good luck with Yang! Lilacpleasedon'tkillmeI'mrighthere!"

Jaune smiled. While he did feel bad for Richard, for having a crazy and angry sister on his case, Jaune felt his confidence renewed. As soon as his ribs healed up, he was going to march right into RWBY's dorm room and tell Yang how he felt.

And if it all went awry? At least he could say he had the strength to tell her.