Doctor Knowall 4
AndrewJTalon
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- - -
Well, Doctor Jaune "Knowall" could certainly appreciate Ozpin for one thing: He kept his assembly speeches short. He sat in the front row of the auditorium with the other teachers, the huge masses of students all staring, enraptured, as Ozpin finished his spiel.
"... So remember: The time may come when everything will be asked of you, and more. You will find your courage then, if you seek it out," Ozpin concluded. He waited for the applause to die down, before he nodded.
"There are a few staff changes this year," he announced, leaning slightly forward on his cane, "To start with, Professor Peach will be leaving on maternity leave at the end of the semester. Let us extend our congratulations."
More applause followed, as the blonde, pink-wearing professor blushed with a proud smile. Knowall contributed to the applause politely.
"Nurse Tsune will be taking a leave of absence to finish her doctorate," Ozpin continued, "So our new Head Medical Practitioner will be Doctor Jaune Knowall. Please come up, Doctor."
He nodded to Jaune. The time traveler hesitated, then looked to Glynda on his right. The combat instructor nodded in encouragement, again giving him a small smile. Knowall stood up and walked up on stage.
He scanned the crowd. He immediately noted many young ladies were staring intently at him. Several were gossiping quietly, shooting him looks and giggling. Mentally he groaned. That was the last thing he needed.
He found his younger self in the crowd. Even from this distance, it was easy to tell that the younger Jaune had definitely toughened up: His shoulders were a bit more broad, his armor was a bit worn, he wore proper boots instead of sneakers and there was a more confident look in his eyes.
So he followed my advice, Knowall thought, That's good.
On his left side was... He frowned a bit at the cat Faunus girl who was badly disguised with a hair bow. She stared back at him in some confusion with her yellow eyes.
Blake Belladonna? That's a surprise.
On his younger counterpart's right was a small girl in red with black hair and silver eyes. A very familiar girl, who grinned happily back.
Ruby Rose? Right, this is where she went, Knowall thought. He paused.
Wait, if she's here then that means...
He found a shock of blonde hair in the audience. His heart nearly stopped.
She was younger. Had both arms. Was shooting him a cocky smirk.
Yang...
He clenched his fists briefly. The memories just seeing her caused him to recall...
She's not her, he reminded himself firmly, She's not her. You can't do anything with her here. Nothing but save her. Save everyone.
He took a deep breath and looked out at the crowd. He used a calming technique his mother had taught him to suppress his emotions, and keep control.
"I'm Doctor Jaune Knowall. I look forward to working with you," he said in a calm, even voice. He added a small, crooked smile: "But let's hope I don't have to see you too often, unless you're training to be medics."
It was a corny joke his mother had told often. It got some laughs, which broke some of the tension. He nodded, then turned to walk off the stage. The meeting broke up after that, and Knowall made for one of the exits.
"Hey! D-Doctor Knowall!"
Damnit.
He turned to his younger self. The teenager grinned and waved in a friendly way.
"I see you made it to Beacon," Knowall said quietly. Jaune nodded.
"Yeah. That-That training really helped!" He said enthusiastically.
"Good," Knowall stated firmly. Jaune flushed.
"Though uh... I had some help along the way," he said. Blake Belladonna walked up, stopping at Jaune's side. She studied Knowall carefully.
"Blake Belladonna," she introduced herself. "Jaune and I travelled here together."
"And she helped me train," Jaune continued with a grin, "She's really good!"
"That's good to know," Knowall replied in a neutral tone. He nodded to her. "You two should go and rest up for the Initiation tomorrow."
"Already?" Jaune frowned.
"It's going to be tough," Knowall stated firmly.
"A cat nap sounds good to me anyway," Blake said with a soft shrug. "Nice to meet you, Doctor."
She walked off with Jaune in tow. Knowall watched them go, and then shook his head.
"I take it this is going to be difficult for you," Ozpin asked, walking up behind Knowall without making the slightest noise. Knowall nodded curtly, his eyes again finding Yang in the crowd.
"You might say that," Knowall said quietly.
Ozpin leaned on his cane, and hummed thoughtfully.
"We all have our demons," he said gently.
"Some more than others," Knowall muttered.
"Let's get to the office," Ozpin said quietly, "We're going to need every scrap of information you can give me."
Knowall nodded.
"Understood, sir."
- - -
"Seriously," Yang enthused to Ruby as they headed for the ballroom, "I think I'm gonna catch a fever with Doctor Knowall around!"
"Yang, ew!" Ruby gagged, "He's like, old!"
"Mature is more like it," Yang giggled, "And did you see the way he looked at me? So intense!"
"Isn't that kind of weird though? For a teacher to be staring at a student?" Ruby asked. "I mean, if he actually did anything, he'd be a creep!"
"Pfft, please, a guy like that couldn't be a creep if he tried!" Yang scoffed.
"Well, he's not a creep but he is... Weird," Jaune contributed, walking behind with Blake in tow. Yang looked back over her shoulder at the strange pair.
"Really?" Yang asked with a grin, "You know him?"
"Course he knows him," Ruby stated, "Jaune told me about him!"
"He just helped me get to Beacon and trained me a little," Jaune said, a bit nervous with Yang's intense scrutiny on him.
"So, what, is he like a relative of yours?"
"He does look very much like you," Blake opined, her frown deepening. Jaune shrugged.
"He might be? My family's big enough I've got cousins I don't even know about."
"Well then," Yang grinned, taking Jaune's arm and leading him towards the ballroom, "You're gonna give me all the deets on Doctor Studly, understand?"
"Er, sure?"
Ruby and Blake followed, both looking rather annoyed with the blondes. Though for different reasons.
- - -
Blake Belladonna had fled the White Fang. She'd left her entire life, even her boyfriend, behind. All for her principles. Principles she had forgotten, but remembered when she'd seen the fear in the eyes of those humans.
She'd found refuge in a barn when she abandoned the train. She'd taken what sleep she could, only to be awakened by loud thunder and cold rain pouring down onto her. With a grimace, she'd left the barn and tried to see shelter out in the cold, wet night.
She'd found the main road, and a truck had splashed a puddle all over her. Cold, exhausted, wet, and depressed, she'd sat down under a tree and curled up.
She had no one. No one at all. She'd run away from everyone who had ever cared for her into a cold, unforgiving world.
She had no one to blame for herself... It was all her fault...
"Hey... You okay?"
She looked up in shock. She hadn't heard the approach of the boy over the harsh pounding of the rain. He was tall, a bit scraggly but well built. He wore white and black armor over a black hoodie, jeans, and boots. A large backpack carried his supplies and a sword was at his side. He smiled kindly and held an umbrella up over her.
A knight? She thought.
"I..." She bowed her head and stared down at the ground.
"H-Hey," the boy tried, "You don't have to answer. I just... Look. I'm going to the local inn. I've got money for a room. If you want to share it..."
He blushed and shook his head rapidly.
"N-Not that I mean to-I mean-I'm not-!"
Blake stared at him in disbelief. He resembled the protagonists in her fantasy books. So kind, so warm. She could feel his Aura from here and it was like a beautiful bonfire. She could see nothing, hear nothing but kindness and sincerity in his heartbeat and his body language.
"Um... My name is Jaune Arc. What's yours?"
Her life was so cold, so empty. Here was a light in the darkness. A source of warmth.
Maybe... Maybe Heaven had not abandoned her. Maybe... This was another chance.
One she didn't deserve, but she'd been given all the same.
She reached out and took his hand.
"Blake Belladonna..."
He'd been as good as his word. He'd gotten them a room at the inn. He'd slept on the floor and given her the bed. He'd gotten her a hot meal. They even went shopping for new clothes-She'd paid for them, even if he'd insisted on it.
He was so kind and genuine... A little too kind and genuine, at times. She'd kept him from falling for a few scams from bandits. After that, she'd finally asked where they were going.
He said he was going to Beacon, to become a Hunter like his parents.
Mysteriously, an offer from the Headmaster to join Beacon hit her Scroll soon after.
So she'd gone with it. They had the same goal, after all. They began to train together.
He was... Incredibly unprepared and untrained. But he was strong, had enormous Aura power, and was quick to learn. His sheer power was honestly staggering-He had more Aura than Adam and his top five lieutenants, her included, combined.
He had so little control over his Aura it just radiated everywhere, and she felt so warm and happy around him!
But Blake refused to put her neuroses on him. Her last romance had ended terribly. She... She couldn't afford to be selfish. Not to such a kind, loving, warm young man.
Her... Her friend.
Her partner. Or rather... Who she thought would be her partner.
Jaune walked along in the Emerald Forest, scanning around carefully as Blake walked at his side... Pyrrha on his other.
"Thanks for pinning me to that tree, Pyrrha," Jaune said with a laugh, "Uh, I'm still working on landings with Aura."
"Oh, think nothing of it, Jaune!" Pyrrha giggled.
Blake dug her nails into her palm. She grit her teeth.
Yang was following along too, Blake's partner. She was... Fine. Aside from the puns and the bounciness, the fact she wouldn't stop talking...
"Yeah, but it's good we got up and leafed, right?" Yang giggled. Jaune actually laughed, and Blake bristled.
Don't laugh at her jokes! They're terrible!
"Anyway," Jaune said, "Blake? You smell or hear anything dangerous?"
Blake sniffed and listened.
"Yes. Eight Beowulves, and Four Ursas are in our way," Blake said.
Jaune nodded. Shortly after, they came across the Grimm gathered in a pack. Jaune pulled out his sword and opened up his mechashift shield.
"All right. Yang? We'll be up front-Hit them towards me, we'll keep them boxed in. Pyrrha and Blake? On the flanks. Let's take them down."
"Of course Jaune!" Pyrrha said cheerfully.
"Sounds fine by me! You be the anvil, and I'll be the hammer!" Yang grinned.
"Just fine," Blake muttered as she drew Gambol Shroud.
They made quick work of the Grimm. Jaune was the strong, support tank, Yang was the strong offensive tank. Pyrrha was fast and mobile, hitting hard at all ranges, while she swept through the stragglers. They finished them off in no time. Jaune grinned.
"Wow! We did great work! Even faster than when it was just you and me, Blake!"
"Yes. It was," Blake grumbled. Pyrrha beamed.
"I think we're going to be a great team!"
"The best!" Yang laughed, bumping Jaune's shoulder with her own.
Blake ground her sharp teeth.
Yes. It was good. So good...
"You okay Blake?" Jaune asked, frowning in concern, "You're gripping Gambol Shroud pretty hard."
"I'm fine," Blake hissed. Jaune took her hands in his, and massaged some pressure points.
"Don't overstrain your muscles, we've got a ways to go," Jaune said firmly. "Here: My mom did this for my dad all the time when he fought. Does it feel better?"
She saw how stiff Pyrrha's smile became. And how Yang raised an eyebrow.
She smirked a bit smugly as Jaune's warmth was once again solely hers.
"Just fine..."
- - -
Doctor Knowall watched the Initiation play out on the holoscreens with Ozpin and Glynda. Ozpin sipped his hot chocolate, while Glynda made some observations every now and then.
"Winchester's team seems well suited to close-range combat. None of them have any stealth or much range, though Sky's Voice Imitation Semblance might come in handy for distractions."
"Miss Rose and Miss Schnee are an unlikely pair... Hopefully they won't kill eachother."
"Zalbar's team is a bit light on muscle, so we may wish to shuffle them around. Plus, what name would you make out of ZXXZ anyway?"
There was an alert and a few red-tinged holoscreens appeared. Ozpin looked at this cluster as several people in white masks and black outfits walked into the woods. He frowned.
"Intruders in Sector 56," he murmured.
"White Fang," Glynda growled, "In such numbers?"
Ozpin looked over at Knowall.
"Knowall? Anything to add to this?"
His eyes widened in shock. Glynda's soon followed.
Knowall's face was locked in a cold, furious snarl. His fists were clenched and glowing with Aura energy.
"... I'll handle this," he growled.
"You will need backup-" Glynda protested, but Knowall shook his head.
"No. I will not," Knowall stated, firm and angry. He turned and headed out.
- - -
Rathbone peered down the sights of his sniper rifle. A black bowed girl in white and black was running along with a bunch of humans.
Not that there was any shortage of them around.
"That's her," he muttered to his comrades, "Adam's main squeeze. If we bring her back after killing all these students... He'll reward us greatly!"
"Sure those Dust Rounds won't kill her? We can't bring back a corpse," he comrade grumbled.
"They'll be just fine-"
Something blocked his view. He scowled.
"What the-?!"
Someone yanked his rifle out of his hands. That same someone crushed the rifle between his hands like it was made of tinfoil. Rathbone looked up in shock at the tall blond human in a simple blue suit, red tie, glasses, and white lab coat.
He grinned furiously, his blue eyes burning with Aura.
"White Fang, huh? Here to kill a load of innocent students for your master?"
Rathbone gasped.
"You-Kill him-!"
His comrades pulled their guns and opened fire. Rathbone's eyes widened in disbelief as the man caught every round with his hands. The White Fang members stopped firing, and gaped as he dropped the bullets in front of them.
"Yeah. Not today,"
Jaune punched all of them, so fast he was only a blur. He then stepped back. Rathbone gaped, and felt his stomach.
"I... What... What did you do?! I didn't feel-!"
Pain filled his entire body. He coughed and covered his mouth with his hand. He looked down at the blood and gaped in shock.
"I just triggered your immune systems to consume your bodies from the inside," Knowall snarled. "Your lungs, your liver, your heart-It will all tear itself apart. Your brain, lungs, and heart will be last, along with your nervous system so that you will die in the worst agony possible for anyone to experience."
Rathbone gaped as his body went numb. His comrades gasped in horror as they too began to shake and cough blood.
"But... But why-?!"
Knowall glared. His hatred seemed like heat from a fire that was threatening to consume him.
"Because you took everything from me," Knowall snarled. "You destroy all life just for your selfish hatred, consumed by your idiocy and rage. You never look beyond your own pain, you just inflict it upon others. Well... Guess what? You get to experience a fraction of what you've caused the innocent."
"N-No, please!" Rathbone begged, falling to his knees. "Please! We-We'll tell you anything! Help you give up our plans! Please! J-Just... Just don't! PLEASE! You're a doctor, right?! You-You're a doctor!"
"You're a doctor, right?"
Jaune had looked up to his fiancé from some notes he was taking. They were sitting in their small apartment in Atlas. She was full of concern for him. He shrugged.
"Yeah, I am," he said.
"So, aren't you supposed to do no harm?" She asked. "You've been doing a lot of harm in a fight."
Jaune frowned.
"I... I can't let you fight alone," he said. "Besides, if I'm with you... I need to help."
"Yeah but..." Yang frowned, "You're so... Gentle."
"So, what?" Jaune scoffed. It was the same argument his mom had used. "I'm not cut out to fight with you?"
"No, you're actually pretty great," Yang said with a soft smile, "But... I just... I don't want you to become something you're not. I don't... I don't want you to become cruel. The world beats people down... It can destroy them."
She contemplated her cybernetic arm for a moment.
"Don't let the world turn you into a monster, Jaune. No matter what it does... Promise me?"
Jaune turned to her, and smiled warmly.
"I promise..."
Knowall took a long, deep breath. Glynda descended behind him. He could tell she'd been there for a while though, from how concerned her tone was.
"Doctor Knowall?" She prompted. "Well?"
"... You will cooperate with the authorities in every way," Knowall stated. "Leave nothing out."
Rathbone nodded frantically. Knowall quickly touched all of them, and their vitals slowly returned to normal. A few police Bullheads flew up overhead, and cops descended. They began to cuff and secure the White Fang members. Knowall turned away and looked down into the valley. Glynda looked at Knowall in deep concern. She hesitated.
"Doctor?"
He adjusted his glasses.
"... Sorry about that," he murmured, "I'm fine now."
Glynda stared intently at him.
"Are you sure about that?"
Knowall's eyes found a blonde head of hair down in the valley. He was silent for a time.
"... Sure enough," he murmured.
- - -
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