Authors Note: Why is the story picture the same as my icon

They had finally done it. Years of pain, suffering, trauma.

Some nearly gave up. Some realized how hopeless it all seemed. Some just didn't want to carry such a load on their shoulders, to bear the haunting curse to fight the Grimm. But they still got through. They still managed to become the one thing they dreamed the most about as a kid.

And in the light of that color-changing dust-powered disco ball, they were all dancing. Having fun, and at the same time, they all felt something mutual.

They all felt respect. They all felt happiness.

Some felt love.

There they were, dancing with eachother, having fun just like regular teens. But they weren't the same old kids before. They were hunters, huntresses, all of them, and yet they were having the time of their lives together. Who could of known that such a bundle of once-students were now all officially graduates?

That's right.

All of them graduates. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang. Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, Ren. Even Cardin, Russel, Dove and Sky. As stated before, they all felt respect for one another. If there was a time to tie the strings, to calm the storm, now was a better time than any. And apparently, Cardin was aware of this fact.
"This is the part where you lose."

"Over my dead-Gah!" Cardin had just parried a strike from Jaune's sword and kneed him in the stomach, knocking him back on to his behind. "No, not again!" Jaune cried. He still had his sword and shield in both hands, but Cardin was raising his club. Then, Jaune realized. An opening. He could just kick him, he was close enough. Cardin stopped raising his club, ready to strike. Having been a long grueling fight, Jaune was having difficulty, but managed to gather his strength to raise his leg and thrust it towards Cardin's groin. "Got you!"

"Too slow!" Cardin anticipated his attack, and spun his hips so that Jaune's feet landed on the armor protecting his hips. Jaune yelled in pain, and Cardin did nothing but grin. "Deja Vu, eh, Jauney boy?" Jaune smiled. He was losing, he was going to get clubbed by his worst enemy, but he was still smiling. "You got that right..."

Then came a laugh. From Cardin, but it wasn't that cold, heartless laugh he'd given him so many times before. This one was different, it was a heartwarming one. He dropped his club to his side and held out his hand. Jaune grabbed his hand, and now he was back on his feet. "Better luck next time, Jaune." Cardin playfully punched him in the shoulder, to which he did nothing but grin. "Yeah yeah, give me a moment, will you? I got something to...Sort out, first." He gave Cardin that look again. The look that meant 'My business, please don't intrude'.

Giving a sigh, he shrugged. "Alright, but don't make me come after you. I brought all that juice so everyone would have a chance, and that includes you." Jaune nodded, and turned to go towards the fountain. But then he felt Cardin's hand on his shoulder. "One more thing..." "What is it?" Jaune turned, his face full of curiousity. He wasn't nervous anymore. His fear was finally gone, but Cardin looked like there was a heavy weight on his back.

"I'm sorry." Jaune frowned. He wasn't expecting that. Cardin, the once tough old bully. Cardin, an armored titan that wouldn't let anything get through to him. Cardin, Cardin Winchester, apologizing to little Jaune Arc. "I'm sorry, and...Thanks for that help, if you can remember." Jaune's eyes wavered, mind spinning, trying to find that memory he was talking about, and then-

"Oh...That. You didn't have to thank me, we both would of died if-" "No, it's not just that. I'm grateful for that, and maybe you're right, but...We've both changed. For the better, and I really am thankful for that." Cardin smiled, and lightly punched Jaune on the chest. "Carry your arc strong, Arc." He turned, and walked back to the school.

Jaune stood there, and in the dark, one couldn't make out the expression he was making. But he was grinning. Most definitely a joyful smile. "Alright, then...I will!" Cardin's actions seemed to give him courage, because now Jaune was walking his way around the school to the fountain, where she was waiting.