A/N: so I haven't updated this in months, and in that time, it somehow got more followers than people I know in real life. So… thanks for following a story that hadn't been updated in a while. As thanks, here's some potential… Martial Arcs? Is that seriously the name? Anyway, some Ren/Jaune that nobody asked for.

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Under the command of Russet Rouge, the technologically inferior Vacuan forces engaged in guerrilla warfare against the entrenched Atlesians, led by General Hadrian Steel. Despite the Atlesians winning early victories against Vacuo, including sieging and capturing the capital, the Vacuans crippled the Atlesians with strikes against their supply lines, often spreading their forces over a wide area and making retaliation all but impossible. One by one, the Atlesian forces were defeated by their lack of provisions until General Steel himself surrendered at Bayview. The Bayview treaty in 1646 marked the end of the war, and secured Vacuan control over the mainland, as well as much of Kistan, the large island between the two nations. However, due to Vacuo's near-depleted state after the war, the island was abandoned to the Grimm that ran rampant there, while Vacuo attempted to stabilize what remained of the empire.

Jaune blinked his bleary eyes as he once again scanned the page for elusive answers. The War of Kistan was not particularly interesting. It didn't even involve Vale—why did he have to know about this? Sighing, Jaune pulled the book back up and set his focus back at the top of the page.

Suddenly, a slender finger appeared, indicating the third paragraph down. A quick glance confirmed that it held the answer he had been seeking, and another glance upward revealed Ren attached to the finger, smiling softly at his leader.

"Thanks, Ren."

Ren noded, but did not leave, instead pulling up a chair and seating himself neatly next to Jaune.

"Would you like some help?"

"That would be great," Jaune admitted tiredly, slumping forward slightly. "I've been at this for hours. And Professor Oobleck's gonna be really, really upset if I don't turn this in. Again."

"Doctor," Ren chided softly, his slight smile still in place. "And he's only hard on you because he knows you can do this."

"Yeah, well, that makes one of us."

"Two. You can do it, Jaune."

Unconvinced, Jaune sighed. "All right. Let's get this over with."

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Ren stumbled back, the blow from Jaune's shield enough to completely wind him and nearly knock him to his knees.

"You need to brace yourself, Ren!" his leader called out, lowering is sword and shield. "You're really good at dodging, but you're gonna get hit sometimes. You gotta be able to take it."

"I'd rather just avoid it."

"Well, that's not always gonna happen. Now come on. Let's try this again."

Ren stood, lowering his arms into his ready position. Jaune lashed out again, with his sword this time, and delivered a strong blow that Ren blocked with Stormflower head on, leaving his hands jarred and numb. A quick bash from Jaune's shield knocked one gun from his right hand, and the left was knocked away by Jaune's sword.

The team leader sighed. "You can't just hold out your weapon to stop an attack. Not even with a shield," Jaune instructed as he leaned over to pick up one of Ren's weapons and handed it to him. "You've got to parry it. Hold the blade at an angle, and when the strike comes in, roll with it, not against it. Use their momentum against you—you're good at that. It's the same as when you feint, only you're actually making contact. Here," Jaune once again readied himself. "Hit me with something slow and easy. I'll show you."

Ren obliged, lunging forward with his left hand, directly at Jaune's shoulder. Jaune intercepted the strike with his sword twisting his wrist and deflecting Ren's blade away from him.

"See? Like that. Only, you'd do it with more of an angle and less of a twist, because of how your weapon works. Let's try again."

Jaune swung at Ren. Ren raised his left hand and caught Jaune's blade with his own, though this time bouncing it off and to the side. Ren noticed that his hand was considerably less numb.

"Great!" Jaune grinned. "Okay, that was an easy one. But let's keep at it. You'll get it down in no time."

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