Edited as of: (3/20/15)

"…" – Spoken

'Italics' - Thought

(Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or its characters, they belong to Monty Oum of Roosterteeth Productions, and those characters you see not from the show like the main character are my own OCs for the purpose of the story. Enjoy) - Mojo1586

THE AMBUSH

-Joel-

"So Joel, how's it feel to be the celebrity everyone's talking about." Nora asked animatedly between bites of her fourth cereal bowl. Lucky Ren's not here, he'd flip out if he knew we let Nora have this much sugar but neither me or Pyrrha could say no when she pulled out the puppy dog eyes.

I ceased drowning my poor eggs in hot sauce and looked up. "Great so far Valkyrie, I've either got people staring daggers at me or avoiding me like the plague for that whole stunt I pulled with Cardin." The last few days since that incident had been okay if I was completely honest with myself, aside from the stares anyway. I'd actually gotten time to hang out with friends, Blake even tried teaching me meditation to help me control my temper and open my mind or something like that. 'We hadn't talked about that time in the locker room and I couldn't stop my heart pounding every time I saw her but hey, baby steps right?'

"It was a little bit surprising wasn't it."Pyrrha cut in glancing at the surrounding tables. "You stood up to a known bully, and weren't too subtle about it either, people don't know what to think. Trust me it'll pass in time." That's right Weiss said something about her being some sort of mascot or celebrity, I guess she would know what it's like. I noticed her grimace as she shot a look over my shoulder.

"They're staring again aren't they?" I groaned putting my head down on the table.

"Nope different group, looks like their Faunus though." she replied, a concerned look crossing her face.

'Fuuuuuck' I slammed my head on the table "They're with the Faunus Rights Group on campus, probably want to shower me with more gratitude and congratulations over helping Velvet." I muttered darkly.

"Why is that such a bad thing?" Pyyrha looked at me surprised, "I thought you'd support them?

"I do, it's not that. It's just they really just want me and Velvet to become the poster children for Human-Faunus relations at the school, which neither me or Velvet particularly wants. WHICH WE'VE BOTH MENTIONED A DOZEN TIMES!" I shouted glancing over my shoulder at the offending table noticing eyes shift to away as soon as they saw me looking over. "It's too much attention on the both of us and Velvet doesn't feel comfortable doing it so I won't force her, she gets enough people messing with her as it is. Anyway new topic..." I turned back looking at both of them. "What's with Jaune? He hasn't been himself recently. You guys are his team, know what's up?" Nora shook her head but I noticed Pyrrha's expression darken a bit.

"Jaune's dealing with his own issues right now and wants to be left alone." She said bitterly, she refused to say anymore despite questioning looks from the both Nora and I."

"I saw him talking with Cardin after history yesterday." Nora said quickly, tapping her lip with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Wonder when they started hanging out?"

I gave her a surprised look, 'Okay didn't know that'. "You sure it wasn't just more bullying? Jaune just doesn't really seem the type to hang around Cardin, hell I was under the impression they could hardly stand each other."

"Maybe we didn't know Jaune as well as we thought." Pyrrha said picking up her tray and standing up, "Jaune's an adult, he can look after himself without us to watch him." She walked with an angry, and somewhat sad, expression.

"Shit what did you do Jaune?" I muttered watching her leave. "Anyway see you Nora, Yang wants another rematch, plus I still have to finish that Grimm studies paper before that field trip tomorrow." Nora nodded waving to me happily as I left, feeling the eyes of just about everyone else in room following me as I passed. 'I hope Pyrrha's right and this'll pass soon.'

Anyway this whole thing with Jaune must be serious if Pyrrha was acting like this, I knew that the two of them had been partners in the Emerald Forest and had been pretty close ever since, and if Cardin was involved things couldn't be good. "Maybe I'll drop by after Yang's finished kicking my ass across the gym and see what's up." I said to myself. I'd been walking for a few minutes when I realized something was off.

I was in one of the many side corridors that made up the strange castle like architecture of the school, one of the less commonly traversed ones, I personally only used it because of the view, large windows lined the hall looking out over the cliffs and out to the sea beyond, but I still should have seen someone walking around at this time. I felt a strange prickling at the back of my neck that I'd learned to trust signaled trouble. 'Shit...' A loud bark of laughter rang down the hall as figures stepped from behind some of the large columns ahead of me. Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark, Team CRDL members, along with a three more thugs.

"Well if it isn't the freak lover." Sky commented eliciting more laughter from the group, I noticed Dove moving behind to flank me, and me without my weapons damn it.

"Well if it isn't Cardin's muscle." I said conversationally grinning, "Did you guys set this up for me?" I looked around, shit, they're behind me, I stayed cocky though, keeping the anxiety I felt off my face. 'No need to panic, no need to panic…'

"We got a little tip saying you like coming this way after breakfast" Dove's voice said from behind me, "pretty simple thing to keep students and teachers distracted and out of the way while we work." I could hear knuckles cracking. "We aren't murderers so don't worry about dying, we just need to send a message about what happens to people who cross CRDL and mix with freaks."

"Smart set up, Cardin come up with this? Wait he'd have to, you guys don't have the brains do you." I laughed, my eyes darting to each of them, 'Maybe I can break through, outrun them...'

"You calling us dumb?!" The one to my left, a large tattooed student with spiked black hair, Earl Greenwood, some minor bully from one of my classes I think, growled threateningly stepping forward.

"Hey a smart one, good job, you figure that out by yourself." I said in a condescending tone, the student's face contorted.

"GET HIM!" Sky shouted loudly, his men springing in to motion, before I could move a pair of huge arms wrapped around me in a crushing hug holding me still as Earl delivered a hard blow to my sternum knocking the wind out of me. As I doubled over in pain heaving, Sky brought my head up face to face with him smiling. "You know I heard you spar with Xiao Long right? Though I'm guessing your fights are a little different, huh?" I glared back at him, stay calm, peaceful thoughts... "Lucky bastard, what I wouldn't give to pin that, if you get my drift" The words got a few grins and cat calls, I shut my eyes, 'Stay calm, stay cal...' Sky delivered a blow to my face, stars dancing in my vision. "That was for Russell, he wasn't happy with getting thrown and all, not so tough now I see."

"Hey Sky, if he's tight with those RWBY girls." Earl asked grinning as I spat out a glob of blood onto floor, I had tried aiming for Sky's face but I was still dazed from the previous punch. "Team full of babes like that, think he's close to any of them."

Sky nodded and looked at me quizzically, cocking an eyebrow, "So big guy, is he right? Maybe all these "sparring sessions" are an excuse to get at that ass huh?" I stayed quiet, Sky gestured to another of the thugs who stepped forward hitting me in the stomach again. "Maybe one of the others girls, you don't strike me as being into kids like Rose. Maybe Schnee, she'd be a meal ticket, but a bit cold isn't she, or did she warm up just for you huh?"

Dove laughed tightening his grip, "You know I think it might be Belladonna." I stiffened gritting my teeth. "He hangs around with her a lot after classes and in the practice room."

"You're right Dove I think we have a winner!" Sky noted seeing my reaction. "You got a thing for the bookworm huh; you know I hear the shy ones are more fun." He leaned in close a smug look on his face, remember what Blake had said, she didn't want me fighting, not worth it. "You know maybe after we're done with you, we'll go visit her, show her what real men look like." Sky whispered quietly voice oozing with menace. I stared right back at him. Judging from the sudden fear in his eyes it wasn't pretty. 'Fuck it...'

"You know what you guys were right about this being different from grappling with Yang." I said softly, grabbing their attention. "She can actually pull off a decent hold!" I planted my feet on the ground and thrust my head back into Dove's face, the guy was so surprised he couldn't get his Aura up in time to block, I heard a sickening crunch as his nose broke, feeling a warm feeling on the back of my head and felt his arms loosen their grip as they sprung to his face on reflex.

"Ah yes…" I sighed euphorically as I felt my Aura come to life, doping the pain left from their early blows and flooding my limbs with energy, this time I would fight angry, and I would enjoy it. "Sorry Blake, I tried." I muttered softly as I quickly scanned the room. Sky and the others had barely registered I was free when my knee impacted with Earl's chest my Aura shattering his with an audible flash, sending him reeling and sputtering to the ground nursing a cracked rib.

"Stop him!" Sky yelled trying to run down the corridor, a coward at heart, he would be last.

"Break them?" The small nagging voice in my head asked, I shook my head. No, I wouldn't break them, they were still people, shitty people but people all the same. 'No breaking, just hurting, enough to send a clear fucking message of my own!'

The students coming at me now had their own Aura's up, it wouldn't help, compared to fighting Yang this here was child's play. I sidestepped the first one sending him toppling to the ground and redirected the second ones blow away easily, I delivered two sharp blows to his side before delivering a knockout punch to the side of his head. The first got up and tried to grab me from behind again like Dove had, props for nerve after seeing how that had worked out the first time but I was ready, dropping below his outstretched arms I spun crouching low and punched the back of his leg forcing him to kneel down groaning in pain before cutting him off with a sharp rising elbow to the face.

Getting to my feet, I looked around barely winded, grinning at the four groaning bodies on the ground, world practically glowing with detail as my enhanced vision took in the scene. Damn I felt good, I felt as if I could take on an Ursa barehanded and win, my body glowing blue with Aura as I wiped at the flecks of blood dotting my face, "Sky!" I roared, voice ringing hollow through the hall.

I found him cringing behind a column, he gave a small laugh as I stood above him. "C'mon Joel, buddy" he gave a small squeak as I picked him up one handed by his armored chestplate and started walking to the window, with the level of Aura I was exerting he felt light as a feather. "Hey that stuff I said, that was all bullshit you know that, I was never gonna hurt anyone" he said frantically as I opened the window. "Hey it was all Cardin's idea please let me go, c'mon man don't do this, we weren't gonna do anything!" He was crying now, I really didn't care. I shoved him out the window holding him still as the winds buffeted him. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!"

"And you actually expect to fight monsters?" I said snarling. "Stop crying and listen up, all of you!" All of my opponents still conscious stared at me, terror clear on their faces. "I gave Cardin one pass, a pass I'm giving you now! Leave me and my friends..." I glared directly at Sky "and her..." I whispered to him "alone! Otherwise I come after you, understand?!" They all nodded frantically, "Good." I said simply, throwing Sky back against the far stone wall with a rough thud. I left them in the hall where they lay and continued my walk, sending a note via scroll to Yang that I'd have to cancel our session.


I don't know how long I walled myself up in the spare practice room working off my aggression on the robotic drones but it was dark as I left, a few hours maybe? Jaune was sitting crouched outside the door to my room and jumped up when he saw me coming, face probably registering my haggard appearance and the blood I still hadn't managed to wash off.

"Joel I..." I grabbed him and shoved him into the wall holding him still with a hand pressed into his chest.

"Jaune, why?" I said slowly, not looking at him. I'd thought about it a long time over who Sky, Dove and the others had gotten their tip from and had come to only one conclusion.

"It's complicated." He said hesitantly, at least he didn't try denying it. I shot him a stern glare.

"Explain it then."

"Listen Cardin he...he has something on me, something that, if it gets out, will get me kicked out of Beacon." He explained, his expression darkening. "If I don't do what Cardin wants, whether it's working on homework for him or selling out a friend…I have to do it or I'm exposed." Jaune's face hardened as he stared at me eyes gleaming, "I want to be a huntsman, it's all I want, to be a hero. But when I learned what Cardin was going to have his team do..." He looked down ashamed.

"Then don't." I said simply, releasing him. "I won't tell anyone your involved if they ask what happened, but you need to choose Jaune, if I wasn't able to deal with this, people could have been hurt, your friends!" He lowered his eyes crest fallen before slumping to the ground. "What's more important, becoming a huntsman at the cost of your team and being Cardin's dog for the rest of your life, or your friends and teammates who would sacrifice themselves in a heartbeat for you."

"Funny, Ruby said something like that to me a bit earlier, about putting my team first." Jaune said laughing, "That girl's a better leader then I'll ever be, and a better friend then I deserve." He continued on sadly. I knelt down and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't be so sure, we all make mistakes sometimes, it's how we learn from them, you're a good guy Jaune, if you weren't I'd have put you through a wall." I left him with that entering the room, stripping off my sweaty clothes and taking a long shower, feeling waves of exhaustion wash over me as the water hit my skin. My Aura had dealt with the worst of the bruising by now but I still felt like I'd been hit by a large armored truck that had just kept going. 'Damn it, I still have that essay.' No rest for the wicked after all huh. But for a short time, I let my troubles fade away.


-Ozpin-

"I was afraid of this" I muttered as I examined the files Glynda had given me, a look of concern crossing my face. I turned to Glynda who was standing at attention behind the desk. "These are accurate?"

She nodded glancing at the file, "Every one, Headmaster, that's all we could recover even with our resources, and there is a lot we still don't know, but it definitely is him." I placed the file on the desk, the boy's picture staring at the ceiling. "To think he would be from there of all places, you don't think he was actually there when it happened?"

"It would explain his scarring." I said glancing out the window. "And considering his lineage, his strange aggression makes sense too. Especially if he's related to a man like Kenneth." I noted with a frown.

"Do you intend to tell him?" Glynda asked looking worried, "I would almost say it would be a mercy to forget something like this, and then there's his file to consider."

"Not right away, no. You are correct, I would give him time to forget such things, but I can't hide this forever, and his past may come back to bite us eventually." I sipped my coffee and placed it on the desk. "I just hope he's ready for it when the time comes."

-END