2.19
[bonus scene 1, check additional chapter work for scene]
The door shut with a quiet -click- and for the first time Ruby began questioning the wisdom of her plan. She had a great deal of 'sneakering' to do and she did not want to get seen doing it.
She helped her girlfriend into the shower and they enjoyed… some quality time together. That part was very much a bonus, something the Reaper did not plan on, but it did none the less provide a perfect cover for what she was trying to do. After leaving Weiss, who really looked like she had just given everything she had, was a bit of a challenge for Ruby. She was immensely proud of her partner and girlfriend. She succeeded in summoning with the helpful proverbial shove from Mrs. Arc. Ruby of course realized that Weiss had done it all for her too.
She had always believed in Weiss, similarly to what Pyrrha always spoke of what she saw when she looked at Jaune all those many months ago. Ruby saw a good person, a big heart in Weiss. Somebody who could help each other as they progressed through their schooling. Sure the Heiresses attitude at the start was troubling, but none the less it worked out great. She still had not thanked Jaune for that favor…
Eh he would deny a favor or anything is owed, which of course does not mean that the sneaky weapon crafter was not determined to think of something for the good hearted Knight. She would just need to put her mind to it.
She never intended for Weiss to get upset by her comments about Katherine's body. True, Katherine possessed a physique the likes of which a sculptor would struggle to better. Not surprising given the work ethic of that girl. For that matter Jaune filled out a damn fine form too, but well, he was a guy. She can't claim to have had such a … revealing view of Katherine like Weiss did, but she knew enough to know the obvious. The only person she knew to accomplish the same stature aside from the twins, is somebody she knew already. That person of course being Pyrrha Nikos. Ruby's team was apprehensive of meeting the youngest Arc sibling. After they did, it was like she was meant to be with them all along. The girl had her quirks, but she was a damned hard worker and was overall somebody who was a pleasure to be around. She inspired people to do more and be better just like her twin however different they are.
Now that Kate would likely have to enroll at Beacon, she just hoped that she ended up in a friendly place. She might even ask Ozpin to let her room with RWBY itself. She was certain that Yang and Blake wouldn't mind and after today she didn't believe really anybody would object to the attractive girl joining in. She had yet to ask Ren about his feelings on the matter but if Nora was to be believed, well, he wouldn't object either.
Normally Ruby wouldn't need to babble and think to herself for this long. Typically with her semblance she would already have arrived at her destination and be working on her scheme… plot… plan. She hadn't reached her destination yet for two distinct reasons. Firstly, the snow. It seems like whenever there is a winter break at Beacon the weather just decide to place a blizzard above the campus. It might not result in a snowed in environment like last year, but it still resulted in it taking a great deal of energy to push through the snow drifts given that the Beacon staff hadn't been able to clear all the passages yet.
Secondly, and most importantly. Her cargo was really… Blasted…. HEAVY! Seriously Weiss called her stupid Ruby more times than she could remember when they first meant and she was starting to think that maybe Weiss was secretly some genius savant. Oh well, she had lugged her heavy burden nearly the entire way and she did it without being seen heard or observed… never mind the trailing footsteps left in the snow… they could be anybody, right?
Finally arriving at her destination the Reaper set about her work. This was going to take awhile, best get started. She doubted Jaune would keep them entertained for long, intentionally or otherwise.
*** Target Range ***
It is a good thing, Jaune decided, that he had not spent any of his limited funding on ammunition. For one, he still sucked at aiming with Bracer. He had a name for it… but well, he just wasn't comfortable telling everybody it just yet. None the less he admitted it wasn't easy aiming the contraption. For all it was considered a gun, he decided a cannon was a better label for it. The barrel seemed rather large when he first viewed the included module. He later learned that was because it was the truth. The cannon did not have many shots before it needed to be reloaded, and he now knew why. The thing used huge shells for ammo. Never mind that Ozpin had enough foresight enough to leave room for other adaptive modules for any adjustments needed in the future.
Kate's bracer Toxo, to be honest he was still a smidgeon annoyed at the name, it was the first thing that came to mind for his own bracer. However he couldn't name his the same thing. For one, she would never let him hear the end of it. For two, it would continually hurt him, literally every time he said that his cannon, was named bow.
None the less the time he had spent with Ren had proved to be an enormous boon to him, however much it was obvious that he needed help Ren never was anything but patient with his novice student. Now, he could actually hit things… occasionally.
"Thanks for letting me try out Stormflower first Ren. I would probably still be missing if I only had my Bracer to use." Jaune said kindly as he lined up another shot.
"Think nothing of it, it is fun to have a partner for this. There is a reason Nora uses a grenade launcher. She doesn't care about delicate aiming, in the vicinity is close enough for her." Ren replied with a smile as he reloaded his weapon. The school supplied shells for target practice were not as … awesome as the more expensive Dust shells the SDC or its rivals supplied but for the purposes of learning they were fine.
-BANG-
"Ugh, wide right again." Jaune lamented with a sigh.
"Hey Jaune, Nora and I have been thinking-" Ren began openly.
"I warned her about that." Jaune stated in jest.
Ren just smiled, and continued "We were thinking. At first, we were apprehensive of the idea. However, we cannot deny the results."
Jaune stopped what he was doing and looked at his friend "What are you talking about?" He asked.
Ren mirrored his team leader, and replied "Jaune, it boggles my mind how much work you have put in at Beacon. Never mind that you had a… Grimm in your chest all last year. I thought for sure that you were some anomaly to be able to do that. But, your sister works just as hard. We have seen you and her train and practice. It is crazy how far you have come so quickly."
Ren's praise was rare, and Jaune had to admit he was touched "Ren, you are trying to ask me something. What is it?" He played a hunch.
"Jaune, Nora and I want to join in, at least in the mornings. She gets to work out and get near Kate. The training can be good for the team, and well can help each other improve. I get some wonderful eye candy and can try to get stronger too. " Ren looked almost like he was making a joke as he grinned a bit.
Eye Candy?
"I might regret this Ren, but, eye candy?" He felt like he might regret inquiring.
"Jaune, there is no denying your twin. Don't take this the wrong way but as a red blooded male, you cannot deny that she has an amazing figure. I would say… well I think you know what I would say but I don't think I need to say it. She has worked incredibly hard. Nora and I think that as a team we should work more. If Kate is going to be joining us at Beacon she would fit right in."
Jaune made to speak, but when Ren's grin became a full on smile he paused.
"Nora would say that your sister has an ass to die for, but thankfully that's her not me." And so the grin became a bigger smile.
Jaune groaned.
"You know if I had a lien for every time somebody said my twin had a great butt I would probably be able to retire." Jaune despite his groan had long given up fighting against the continuous stream of compliments and comments about his sister, and just took aim with his bracer again.
"The man code has ruling here Jaune, there is no denying the truth in this." Again, Ren was smiling.
"For all it happens I cannot say I am fully used to it. Kate for one, however much we are similar was never shy about her figure. She doesn't walk around naked, however while she doesn't try to show off her body, she never has really tried to hide it."
-BANG-
"Hey I hit it that time." Jaune said with a huge grin on his face.
"Yeah nice shot, you need to be more patient, and the iron sights included on your bracer you might want to adapt more. You have it set for 100 yards. You might want to set it to about 20." Ren advised as he started picking off targets with each hand at ease.
"What do you think about the news report Yang showed us at lunch?" Jaune asked as he made the suggested change.
"About the White Fang luring hunters into ambushes? Beyond I dislike it I am unsure what you want me to say. What do you think about it?" Ren asked right back.
"I just do not understand the point to it all. I understand that people will not always agree but some people I just do not understand. 'This is Mercury Blake with another episode of Justice'. It is enough to make me question the sanity of the world." Jaune fired again, another hit.
"Some people do not make sense to the rest of us Jaune, that's why people disagree." Ren stated calmly.
"This is different. The White Fang are suppose to be a Faunus movement. Trying for a better world. All those broadcasts promote is hatred, not peace or acceptance."
-BANG-
"Gah missed that time." Jaune complained.
"Take my sisters for example. Even Jewel, we do not and have not ever gotten along. I do not however think she is evil. Misguided maybe, but not evil. These… White Fang people are just destroying for the sake of wanton destruction. At least Jewel does what she does because she believes it is her duty to do it and believes she is doing good as she does it." Jaune claimed.
Ren just looked at him crossly "I never thought you would have said that about a sister of yours Jaune, especially Jewel. She… She certainly seemed evil to me, and to the rest of us." He claimed.
Jaune looked down at the floor for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Ren I do not deny that by your thinking that makes logical sense to what you know of her. I know her more than you do on the subject. For all she tormented me, she did it with logic that made sense to her. It was a discussion she had with me, mother, or others many times. To her, if you are weak, you exist to serve those stronger than you who take it upon themselves to protect you. Regardless of her personality quirks she is still a huntress in training, which means she is still trying to protect people. Regardless of her views of morality or a comparative lack of kindness. She can still do good, she has the potential in her. These… White Fang… I don't even know the word. They and who supports them IS evil, they kill because it's fun and destroy things because it is a nice way to decorate the world in those broadcasts. I doubt there is any way you can change my mind on that." Jaune claimed.
Ren just looked at him in a contemplative mood "Are you finally ready to tell me what you will do when you meet Jewel? You have to know a meeting with her is inevitable." He asked.
Jaune looked back to the ground. "No, I do not believe I am yet. If I go through with mom's plan, which before you ask I cannot tell you about. The manner in which we meet will be radically different. I do not want to turn into the bully and toss whatever power I carry around in the same manner she sometimes did." He sounded conflicted.
"You still think of her as a sister, don't you?" Ren asked.
Jaune nodded.
"Why? How is that possible?" Ren asked very surprised.
Jaune met his gaze "Ren, you are my friend, in fact you are a brother to me. I tried, I tried as hard as I know how to stop loving my former sisters and family members. I just, could, not, do it. We are Hunters in training Ren. All hunters will not agree with each other all the time. That much is obvious from Cardin last year. I am not saying that Jewel and I are ever going to be on speaking terms and I don't even know if I want to be on speaking terms with her. But like everything else I do I will listen to my heart and my conscious and try to do what is right. If I have to fight her I will fight her. I might not seek out a fight but I cannot tell you what I will do when we meet." Jaune did not look conflicted now, not quite certain but he did not doubt the words.
"I want peace with my sisters Ren. I will fight them if I must. I will fight them more than once if I have too. I do not want to be at each other's throats for the rest of our lives. I am not aiming for friendship, or love from them. I want them to leave me alone because they choose too, not because somebody is forcing them too. What I have to do to arrange that is what I want to do. That is the most accurate way I can put it." Jaune claimed again, calmly if intently.
Ren just looked at him and spoke back "If you were a 'harder' person I think this would be a simpler thing for you Jaune." He said honestly.
Jaune just looked right back and replied "I might have relished a chance for a physical confrontation with any of my sisters from my youth Ren. As I said I am willing to fight them, but I do not want a lifetime of constant fights against my own blood. Suppose I do what some people want and openly welcome a fight. Even if I win that fight it does not guarantee the end of the situation. I want a resolution Ren. If I get that through fighting them so be it, but I will not resort to that first."
Ren kept his typical calm and said "Do you think you can honestly get what you want without fighting them?"
Jaune shook his head "With Jewel? No. I believe I will have to fight her if for no other reason she and I always got along the worst. Maybe even her and Crystal. Crystal is not like Jewel but she did always follow her lead. I do not want to fight all of my sisters Ren. Kate and I were close we have always been close. Eve was friendly, but she still signed that disownment paper. I still do not know why she did that, but I suspect she had no choice. That still leaves 3 sisters, 5 if you count Jewel and Crystal. I do not want to continually fight them to do what I want to do in life." He took aim and fired again.
Ren cocked his head as Jaune emptied the clip in his Bracer, and began to reload it.
"You trust your twin and mother then?" He asked.
"Completely." Jaune answered without a thought.
"I confess I do not understand exactly how." Ren stated openly.
"My twin and I know each other well we shared nearly all of our time together and told each other everything. My mother clearly tried, she just… she feels the same way I do in many situations Ren. She was trying to make too many people happy, and in the end succeeded in only a part of them. Do you think she wants her children to constantly fight each other? It is only a matter of time until one of them would kill the other. Do you have any idea what that would do not just to her but to the entire Family?" He did not sound angry, but Jaune clearly recognized the complexity of the problem before him.
"Ren, I can go back over everything she had said or done if you like. I will if you believe I must. Yes, I trust and love both of them. Mom might not have gotten everything right in her life but I never once did not believe that she was trying to do the right thing. Let's talk about a happier topic now shall we?" Jaune again, did not seem angry or out of sorts, but he seemed tired to talking about this.
"Ok, I'm sorry if I bothered you but I do believe you needed to talk about it. You are going to face them at some point it is better to prepare your mind. What would you like to talk about?" Ren stated, he honestly wanted to help Jaune, and facing unpleasant topics was a blessing in a controlled setting. He believed that a fight against some of the Arc's was inevitable, but he could understand wanting to move the situation behind him.
"Let's talk about how you and Nora met each other?" Jaune put forth happily, eager to be on to another topic.
Jaune got the distinct impression that somebody was watching him, but he didn't even need to look around to realize that aside from Ren, the gun range was empty.
"Jaune, I thought you said a happy topic." Ren advised calmly, if unhappily.
That caused Jaune to freeze.
"This is a bad memory or something?" The Knight asked.
Ren just sat down and started to clean his weapons. Jaune joined him, as he sat down as well.
"It isn't the happiest memory ever." Ren admitted after a time.
"I know that you two are friends, if you don't want to talk about it I won't inquire further. However to use your own words against you, it is best to speak of things before they become problems." Jaune stated hopefully. He knew his reputation for dealing with people. Ren… might not be included in that. Ren was a good friend a good guy, but he dealt with emotions differently than almost anybody else Jaune knew.
"Jaune, I am from a small village, which you will not find on any map." Ren stated evenly.
Jaune cocked his eyebrow at that, but otherwise listened to his friend.
"You will not find it on any map because it doesn't exist anymore." He finished.
"What happened?" Jaune asked.
"It was a fringe settlement. My family knew that it was dangerous to live out where they did. It was even more out of the way than Patch. Grimm happened Jaune, that is what it comes down too." Ren still spoke in his quiet and reserved way, but it was obvious inside, he was hurting.
"Want to talk about it?" Staying silent was often more easy, in Jaune's experience, but also in Jaune's experience was more harmful in the long run.
Ren put his two weapons together and placed them back in their places before he continued, when he saw that Jaune was still cleaning the large barrel he picked up a piece and started to help out.
"Jaune. There is not much to say. I could make it some elaborate tale of how my village fought and fought and make it seem like some epic story. The truth is much more dark. I respect your mother. I truly do. She spent her time out on the fringe territories because she knows that Hunters do not make it out there often. A Duchess out in the fringe territories? If somebody would have told me that a few months ago I would have called them a liar. But there is no denying the absolute truth that is your mothers skills as a hunter. That alone is evident at Patch. If she was around my village might still be standing. But my home was not as lucky as Patch. No hunter showed up to help us. We fought and fought and fought until we could not fight anymore."
Ren continued to speak in his typical calm and stoic manner, but to somebody who could read people like Jaune, he knew this was not easy for him.
"The most experienced people we had were retired hunters. People who might have been taught, but were trying to live out their time in relative peace and quiet. They at first lead and assisted us. But the pack that attacked us was just too big. For every person we lost, we had nobody to take their place. When it was clear the village would not stand, the adults tried to push past the pack so the younger people could have a chance to live. It was that or wait until the Grimm battered down our doors and killed us all. I was the only person from the village to live."
Ren handed back the piece he was cleaning, and took a deep breath.
"Nora's family was not hunters, but they were in the military and they were trained fighters. My village bought me a chance to escape with their lives, and I ran. I could not fully escape the pack, some did chase me down. Luckily I ran right into Nora's father who was quite literally hunting, not Grimm, but deer. He managed to kill the two Grimm that was chasing me and took me in. That is how I met Nora. Ever sense then I had wanted to be a Hunter so as to prevent what happened to my home from ever happening again. I envy, I truly do envy Ruby and Yang. They would have suffered the same thing were it not for your Mom and Twin. I hope to have a chance to sit down and speak to them so I can properly thank them. Be it my home or no, I do not want anybody to suffer through what happened to me."
Ren smiled, and did something Jaune rarely saw him do, dry his eyes.
"So that explains why you are here. Did Nora want to be a hunter to be different?" Jaune asked.
Ren chuckled "Different, might not be a terrible word for it. Her parents wanted her to enroll in the military. She is intelligent. She just… well I don't think the military would have suited her. When she heard my story she decided to become a Hunter with me to serve the public. I imagine it is similar to why you and your twin want to be a Hunter. You two are nobles, if you wanted to you could live a comfortable life without facing Grimm. I still am a bit unsure why so many Arc's are in training to be a hunter. Katherine could literally do anything with … what she was given. That takes away nothing from what you or she had earned in terms of skill and talents or physicality. I just confess I find it odd that so many of your family are hunters." Ren concluded, likely trying to steer the conversation to a less painful topic.
Jaune shrugged "It is hard to say. True most noble family's only have one child be put into service as a Hunter to keep up appearances. I guess… it is just too engrained into who we are Ren. Katherine and I only ever wanted to be a Hunter. I am glad that people can see how we are talented at it. Believe me Kate knows full well that she could have been anything she wanted. It was our dads influence that even brought fashion into our home. It is the only thing either of us wanted to do, to be a protector of the people. People tell me I am nothing like my dad, I guess we all just tend to take after our mom a lot." He finished with a smile.
Jaune put his Bracer back together and it formed back into the armored gauntlet it normally is.
"Well, we should probably be getting back. I'm sure Katherine has obtained at least 200 more compliments on her figure and at least another 12 on her posterior that are just waiting for me to just get within earshot, might as well not make them wait." He said with good humor as he stood.
Interestingly that feeling of being watched just vanished as he stood up…
From there He and Ren began the slow march towards their dorm.
***Right outside gun range***
Katherine was many things. She was sneaky, she was cleaver, she was a hard worker, and she was crafty. Right now she was also amused, and… very sad.
She knew that the constant compliments she received about her figure… especially about her butt made her brother uncomfortable at worst, irritated at best. Especially in their youth. Everybody they met would do nothing but give praise to her, and he would be the one everybody tried to forgot. Or worse pretend that he never existed. She was glad that Jaune had filled out into fine figure of a man, possibly more so than he was at the knowledge that both of them were being allowed to pursue their dream of being a Hunter.
Of course to go along with that, is the trauma that Ren was subject to as a youth. Listening to that story and keeping her semblance running was a challenge to not allow her focus to waiver as she stood nearby listening. She liked Ren as a person, what little she had seen of him. He was one of the few people, never mind males that did not instantly try to get her into bed when it was clear she would be around for awhile. She never would have guessed that the stoic Ren had been through that as a child or young adult. She would have to talk to him about it later.
The knowledge regarding Ren and her childhood experiences with her twin were something she was determined to remember and act on later. Right now however, she had a job to do. She always believed her semblance could be used for good. Today she was proving that right. She almost thought that Jaune suspected she was nearby given his flinching. In fact he looked right at her multiple times, were she not invisible she might have thought she could be seen. In any case, the two boys were heading back now, and that means she had a second job to do.
*** Ambush site ***
"Jaune and Ren are on the way" Kate said through her scroll currently in comlink mode. The entire group had their scrolls on in the same way.
"Good, it is about time to do this." Yang advised.
"I still think this is a mistake. Renny wouldn't steal anything much less my hammer. He knows better." Nora claimed.
"Or my Sword." Weiss input, she felt better after Mrs. Arc refreshed her enough to move around, though the attempt at healing her scar had not occurred yet.
"None the less our weapons are missing." Pyrrha claimed, eager for some fun in the snow. She smiled at Kate as she arrived next to her.
"That doesn't explain why you believe that Jaune and Ren took them. They certainly were not with them when I scouted it out." Kate exclaimed.
"That does not mean they do not know where they are." Blake stated.
"Why exactly am I here for this? My weapon wasn't taken." Mrs. Arc put in, knowing full well that her weapon couldn't just be taken.
"Because we needed 4 people who can lift the heavy bolder class snowballs. Also… I like to cheat" Yang answered smugly.
"That still doesn't explain why Velvet and I have to be here." Coco complained.
"Yeah It was nice and cozy in our rabbit hole… I mean dorm room." Velvet grumbled in agreement.
"Because we need more people to complete the trap and ensure we can barrage them with snowballs no matter which direction they try to run." A happy Brawler answered.
"Shh quiet, I see them" Kate put in over the call. She at first did not like the idea of ambushing her brother and teammate with a torrential downpour of snowballs, but… meh. He hit her with a pillow, doesn't matter at all if she gets her revenge with a pillow, or a snowball… or 10.
*** En route to Ambush site ***
Jaune, felt as though it had been a good day. He got in a tremendous workout with Kate and Pyrrha. The 3 of them are going to make it a permanent thing, which is great for all parties involved. His sister and girlfriend appear to be bonding, and there is no way he can overstate how relieved that made him feel. The last thing he wanted to do is have to relegate a fight between two of the people who he loved the most.
"So, how exactly did you know when Kate lost her virginity?" Ren asked holding back a laugh.
"We are twins… It is hard to say, but I just knew. Even if we tried to hide things from each other it never lasted. One person always found out and it was normally awkward. So we just decided to tell each other everything. For a long time we were the only friends the other had so it was….. natural….." Jaune halted in his walk, something felt wrong.
It was too quiet, much too quiet.
"I think it is a good thing that you and she are so close. I am fairly close to Nora but even so she and I cannot communicate silently like you and Kate can….." He looked at Jaune, he looked… occupied. "Is there a problem?"
Jaune gave Ren a single hard gaze, and appeared deep in thought. Something did indeed seem off. What is more, he continually thought he caught glimpses of hair on the upper pillars around the courtyard where he and Ren was. Red and Black hair on one side. Blonde Brown and Black elsewhere. Bunny ears and Blond hair on other side. It always vanished the moment he thought he was certain. But the more he thought about it.
"Ren, laugh. Now." He commanded.
Ren just looked at him confused.
"Ren trust me, laugh like I just told you the funniest joke of your life." Jaune stated in total seriousness.
Ren just looked and mouthed "Why" silently.
"Because we are in mortal peril." He appeared deathly serious.
"Trust me just laugh!" He sounded quiet, and Jaune tried to follow his own advise, and laughed… not really believing the sound of his own deception.
***Ambush Site upper pillars***
"He knows." Kate worded quietly into her scroll.
"No way." Coco claimed.
"Trust me, I feel it. He knows." Kate insisted.
"You will have to explain that to me sometime Kate." Yang stated playfully.
"I agree with Coco they just stopped to talk, that could be perfectly normal." Pyrrha claimed, though, the laugh did seem strange… maybe Kate was right.
"I tell you, nobody knows Jaune more or better than I do. He knows, count on it." She sounded totally serious and spoke with conviction.
"… You seem eager to hit your brother with a snowball." Blake chimed in.
"I owe him one of a sort, enough of that we need to act or trust me, they will get away." Kate claimed again.
"I suggest you listen to my daughter. I cannot claim to know how, but when one of those two claimed something about the other, it was always correct." Deborah stated still hunkered down.
The group waited for Yang's input, this entire ambush was her idea, they would give her the job of deciding when to start the ambush.
"We will let them move forward a bit more to try and get them surrounded, if they don't take the bait block off the exits and proceed to barrage." Yang commanded.
"You are making a mistake…." Kate said quietly… none the less she continued to hide, and stayed out of sight.
***Ambush Site on ground***
"We are in mortal peril? That is a bit of an exaggeration isn't it?" Ren asked amused.
"Ren, we are surrounded in all 4 directions and they have the high ground." His team leader claimed confidently.
That succeeded in getting his attention and focusing his mind. He had never known Jaune to make a tactical claim like that and be wrong.
"Ok, so what do we do?" He asked.
Jaune thought for a moment "They are probably waiting for us to get into a central position. Do you think they would have had time to get enough snow to block off the exists?" Jaune asked.
Ren thought back "With Pyrrha, Nora, and Yang? Yeah, I think they could have made a snowball, or boulder big enough to do that."
Jaune cursed inwardly. He might have taken more time to strategize, unfortunately fate would not grant him that.
"ATTACK!" A voice boomed out from above.
"AHH I KNEW IT! Run Ren Go!" Jaune yelled as a torrent of snowballs were being flung in his direction.
He and Ren took off in different directions, he reached up and pulled out his shield and switched it to tower shield mode as he sprinted to a tree he could use to provide some cover. Snowballs continued to pepper the area around him including his shield as he sprinted towards that tree.
"HEY THATS CHEATING!" Another voice complained from the upper level.
Jaune slid in the snow for cover as he reached the tree and moved to take a look of his surroundings. From the relative safety of the tree Jaune saw that Ren had made it to one of the 4 exists in the courtyard. He was about to see his friend escape when a … snow boulder of impossible size descended on the staircase and blocked off the passage. Ren literally skidded to a stop, then took off at an angle to another exit.
"ENJOYING YOURSELF JAUNE!?" Somebody asked from up top.
The pitter-patter of snowballs hitting his shield was starting to make a song as Jaune replied back "NOT REALLY!" He could see the ambushers now. Not all of them, but a good deal. They were on the upper pillars and crossbeams of the open roofed courtyard. The assailants were starting to circle on him in a coordinated attack. He would need to move soon or his back would be exposed to enemy fire.
Ren had reached another exit by this point and just like before, a huge pile of snow soon took the place of the path to safety.
Ren called Jaune's scroll via comlink mode. Jaune answered.
"Ok what's your plan Jaune?" Ren asked slightly winded.
"Aside from trying to run them out of snowballs I confess I don't have one." Jaune admitted.
Jaune took off at a run on a diagonal path across the courtyard to give himself more time to think and because people were starting to get a good angle on his back.
"HE MOVED AGAIN THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Another voice form on high complained.
Well, at least I am going to make them work for it. Jaune thought to himself with a humorless grin.
At this point Ren had reached the third exit, and like before it was blocked off.
"We are quickly running out of options, is it time to fight back?" He asked.
"Against superior numbers who have the high ground? I don't like our chances." He answered, in deep thought himself for what to do.
"Don't head to the forth exit just yet. They likely can block it off too and we do not want to be trapped here." He instructed.
"Ok, what then?" Ren asked as he tried to find a place to hunker down, and even go as far as to toss the occasional snowball back at his assailants.
"Well, I have this shield, it is proving to be handy. We might as well link up. Head back my way. That might lure them away from the last exit point so we could make a dash for it and get away." He stated with a plan starting to form in his mind.
Ren for his part ran over to Jaune, and for the most part dodged the vast majority of snowballs he had been targeted with though he had taken a couple hits.
Jaune listened, they had stopped shouting above. They must be more collected now and using scroll communication he decided.
Ren had reached him and slid into cover utilizing the shield as he continued to toss snowballs back.
"OW! HEY!" A voice boomed.
"Oh god, that was Kate…" Jaune stated with a worried expression.
"Is that bad?" Ren asked cautiously.
When the amount of snowballs per second aimed at them seemed to quadruple Ren decided to answer his own question.
"Yes, yes it is. Silly question." None the less he threw another, and scored another hit.
"AHH THAT'S COLD!" Another voiced explained.
Ren prepared another snowball, he didn't recognize the voice.
"Ren, might want to think again about that. You just hit Kate and Pyrrha." Jaune warned, a clear worried expression on his face.
Ren gulped, and tossed his snowball in a very much different direction, thinking it best not to hit them again.
"Yes your right, but I cannot just sit here and-" Ren started saying after throwing his ammunition.
"AHH! MY HAIR! GET THEM! GET THEM NOW!"
Nobody could have mistaken Yang's voice.
AT that point, both men looked at each other, and made a frantic B line for the final exit.
"NO! DO NOT LET THEM ESCAPE!" Yang's voiced boomed through the area again.
The snowballs were coming in from all angles as they ran. 20 yards away, they kept running and still more snowballs were directed at them. 10 yards away almost there, nearly out of snowball range. SHINK CLANG!
No more exit. It was not a mass of snow which blocked their path. It was a guarded door. Something which only happened when a teacher put in a special code to enable the door.
"Ren my friend, we are screwed." He of course realized that his mother had to be part of the ambush.
Now trapped between the door, and no way out Jaune did the only thing he could think of. He dove in the snow put his back to the ground and brought his shield in front of him. Ren ended up at his side very quickly.
"Any idea why they are doing this?" Ren asked.
"No idea, but I know they aren't going to back down now that they took a hit." Jaune advised/complained.
"WHAT HEY! THAT ISNT FAIR!" Yang complained again, seeing that the two really couldn't be hit as they are.
"I GOT IT!" Nora's happy voice yelled.
Ren and Jaune shared a look, and their mutual confusion was answered by Ren's scroll ringing.
"Hello? Mind telling me why you all are attacking us?" Ren asked.
"Renny, I cannot answer your questions. However I do have one question for you." Nora asked happily.
"Ooookay, and that is?" Ren prodded.
"Do you want to switch sides?" She asked.
"What!?" Jaune complained aghast.
"Excuse me?" Ren asked.
"You heard me right, you can stay there, freeze and eventually get pummeled by snowballs. Or you can switch sides, and throw snowballs at Jaune." She claimed still all smiles and happy voices.
"What hey why am I even under attack?" Jaune complained.
Nobody answered him. Ren just looked at him with an increasingly guilty expression.
"Ren don't you dare!" Jaune warned.
"Sorry Jaune." Ren stated, not appearing unhappy.
"You are kidding me Ren really? They clearly are just trying to lure you outside!" He claimed logically.
Now normally Ren would agree, but Nora advised "Ren, I promise you that nobody will throw or otherwise hit you with snowballs if you leave."
"Whelp, ok sorry Jaune gotta go." Ren advised.
Jaune literally just let his mouth fall open and watch as Ren left his protective shield in a hot second and scampered up the pillar to the upper level. He and Nora even hugged before they appeared ready to go back on the attack.
"I am willing to negotiate!" Jaune yelled.
"You hit my hair!"
"You hit my face!"
"MINE TOO!"
Yang Pyrrha and Kate objected vocally.
"But I didn't throw anything!"
"There will be no negotiations. You are found guilty of vicious crimes against the females of RWBY and JNPR and your sentence is barrage by snowball!" Velvet yelled.
"VELVET?! You aren't even in that group? What crimes?" Jaune barked out.
"Enough talk! Pyrrha, if you would." Kate requested.
"I don't want to, but I will." She answered.
Jaune had to think about just what exactly they had in mind, until his shield started to move.
"You have to be kidding me!" Jaune complained again.
He struggled against her semblance valiantly, he even considered igniting in his to fight it, however he realized he wouldn't be able to outlast it. Kate and his mother were involved, they could just recharge Pyrrha's aura. He really had no way out in his mind. Wait… the teacher code light was blinking, it would not remain in lockdown much longer. If only he could hold out a few more minutes he could get away.
Unfortunately, it was not to be.
He did not notice it given how much he was concentrating on fighting against Pyrrha's pressure, but the group had assembled around him in the snow.
"PYRRHA NOW!" Kate yelled.
A tremendous force was brought to bear against his shield. He might have been able to resist it if he was in his semblance. Sadly, he was not, and the shield was ripped from his arm as he was tugged to his feet.
Jaune did not have any time to speak or think, as a maelstrom of snow was unleashed at close range.
Jaune's clothing might be white and red normally. For the next few moments, it as pure white, white and a sheet of snow.
When the barrage ended Jaune took the time to brush off his face so he could open his eyes, when he did he took in the sight of the group around him.
"When I am able to move again, somebody owes me an explanation." He claimed oddly calm about it.
Kate looked rightly pleased with herself, as did the majority of the group, even his mother had a smile on her face.
"Jaune, I think you know what you did. If you admit to it we won't hit you with another round." Weiss claimed.
"Guys, I think I have built up a little equity by now, tell me what I did. Please." He finally had cleared off his face fully.
He got hit by another snowball as the door behind him was opening due to the teacher override code expiring.
"Sorry I missed him all the other times." Weiss complained.
"Jaune, you hid our weapons. Where are they?" Yang demanded.
"Yang, I did not touch your weapons. I was at the gun range with somebody who could vouch for me fairly well were he not also on your side." He answered playfully.
"That does not mean you were not involved." Blake claimed with a smile.
"Where is Ruby? That is my question. She was always the one to have a thing for weapons." Jaune spoke words of wisdom still trying to get the snow off of him.
That, for some reason, the group did not question.
"She said she was going to go to the library for some reading." Weiss advised in defense of her partner.
"Maybe but Ruby was the weapon nut of the group." Kate stated, cause she was obviously a neutral party.
It was at that point, that a series of grunts stole the groups attention. As they approached it got louder and more clear, even so they all were able to hear.
"HERRRGGUFF. Stupid Ruby. HERRRGGGUFF" Each word was punctuated by something colliding with the ground as if a heavy load was lifted up step by step.
"You, just had to try and do them all a favor." The voice said again punctuated by another bump on the ground.
At this point, the group was getting curious as they got closer to Jaune. The Knight… getting some idea for what happened, started to develop an eye twitching.
"Ugh, these OOFF, things are heavy." Now the voice was easily identified as Ruby, as she had entered view reaching the topmost stair well.
"Ruby! What are you doing!?" Weiss exclaimed.
"Oh Hiya Weiss." Ruby answered back initially very happy, then remembered her luggage. "What are uh.. you all doing here?" She only looked slightly guilty.
"Somebody stole the girl's weapons, you wouldn't know anything about that do you? That heavy pack says otherwise." Ren asked… knowing the answer already.
Jaune prepared his plan for revenge while the next things happened.
"Why would you take our weapons you dolt!?" Weiss demanded.
"I was just cleaning them! Honest look. They are all cleaned, tuned up and fully reloaded! See!" Ruby was only partially pleading.
"So wait, Jaune wasn't in on it?" Kate asked sounding slightly disappointed in her brothers innocence.
"Uh… no, he didn't know anything. I might have kind of put a path to the gun range and covered it up thinking you guys would blame him and give me time to finish my surprise, but I didn't think you'd ambush him!" Ruby stated nervously.
After the team reclaimed their weapons, and vouched that Ruby had done exactly as they claimed Pyrrha sprinted over to her boyfriend and dusted the snow off him as she tried to warm him up uttering a slew of apologizes. Even going as far as to summon back his shield so he didn't have to go and grab it.
"Jaune I am so sorry I should have known better sorry sorry sorry!" The redhead claimed all the while she worked.
"Jaune I'm sorry, no hard feelings?" Ruby asked hopefully.
In answer Jaune just reached down and started to accumulate some snow into a tight ball.
"Ruby, I will do you a favor." He said.
Ruby gulped, and said "Yes?"
In answer, Jaune simply said "Run."
Ruby took off at a spring down the stairs with Jaune in hot pursuit.
"Jaune don't you hurt my sister!" Yang bellowed back into protector mode.
Jaune for his part, didn't hear the warning. He was not a vindictive person, but he owed Ruby a snowball. That much was certain. The reaper was faster than he was, none the less he was persistent. They chased for a good bit of time until Ruby slipped and stalled her sprint sliding into a pillar, unfortunately for Jaune, a sound distracted his aim as he missed.
"ow let go!"
It was distant. They were still outside near the outer wall of the Beacon grounds. The sounds could literally be anywhere, but they sounded close. It could literally be anywhere, thankfully for him, he did not have to find the voice.
The group had followed him, which of course included Velvet, and Blake.
"Ow I said let go!" The voice said again.
"You clumsy buffoon you ran into me!" A voice answered.
"Wait a moment I recognize that voice!" Velvet exclaimed, not sounding at all happy about it either.
Velvet lead the way, following her ears obviously and they soon came to the source of the commotion. If anything she was even more upset at the sight.
She saw her sister Lavender, that was a positive.
Unfortunately, with Lavender, was Jewel Arc, grabbing her ears hard in swift jerks. Jewel Arc, somebody who of course had been sent to Beacon to be a nuisance to Jaune, was kept away from that by the actions of their mother. That did not stop her from being a bother to anybody she could while also avoiding getting into trouble for her actions. Everybody in the group had their run ins with her over the last term and nearly everybody in the school could claim the same. It was not an experience any of them looked back on fondly.
Jaune did not even have time to think before things escalated quickly.
"LET. GO. OF. MY. SISTER!" Velvet demanded angrily taking a few steps towards Jewel.
Jewel looked up, saw Velvet, and didn't overly react.
"Really Jewel let's just go." Another voice claimed as it rounded the corner. Crystal Arc came into view.
"I suggest you let go of the girl." Coco suggested/threatened.
"Well you all do seem to travel in packs." Jewel responded as she looked over the group.
She saw Jaune, and appeared to scowl.
"YOU!" A voice screeched, it was Kate's.
The tall girl took several purpose filled steps towards Jewel.
"Katherine! What are you-" She started to say, when it seems like Katherine was rather accurate in her guess with what she would do when she saw Jewel.
A sound punch hit Jewel square on the face.
The group mostly just nodded appreciating the quality of the punch.
Jewel, did not as she responded "You never were the best puncher-" She like her father, just did not know when to not say something. This time to silence the other girl, she was kicked, square on the face. The kick forced Jewel down to the ground briefly.
"How was that? Would you like me to try my right leg next time? See if that is up to standard?" Kate asked/taunted.
Jewel stood up and cleaned her face off with a balled fist. "I don't have anything to say to you nor do I need to explain myself."
Kate acted like she wanted to kick her sister again, even Crystal looked like she wanted to get involved. A different body became involved however.
"LISSETTE JEWEL ARC!"
Deborah sounded very, very angry in her shout. Her eyes blazed like a blue inferno as she fixed her gaze squarely on her daughter.
Jewel's eyes got big very quickly as she answered back quietly "Mom".
Kate had decided to act again at this point as she took a running break towards Jewel and shoulder checked her backwards activating her semblance at the same time, essentially pulling both of them through the wall to the ground beyond.
"Damnit" Crystal groaned as she ran towards the middle of the courtyard, lit up in her semblance and jumped up onto a pillar then again to propel her above the outer wall to follow her two sisters outside.
Deb issued several curses as she followed in a similar manner, igniting in her semblance before she also jumped over the wall to follow them.
The wall in question was tall, well over the ability of the group to leap over in most cases.
"Lav are you ok?" Velvet asked out of concern.
The two sisters continued to speak to each other while the rest of the conversation went on.
"Damn I missed my chance to punch that bi… girl." Yang claimed somewhat irked.
"Jaune I am sorry but I just do not see how you and Jewel are related, at all." Weiss grumbled.
Several others spoke and many even asked Jaune a question. He didn't hear any of them. He was too deep in thought. When he came to a conclusion he spoke capturing the groups attention.
"I suppose I should follow them. If they are going to have a talk, I should be there." He claimed with a cautious, but determined voice.
Pyrrha was absolutely brought to full alarm "If you are going near Jewel then you are going to carry me. I have wanted to face her for a very long time."
"No it was my Bunny Rabbits Sister that ape threatened you are carrying me!" Coco demanded.
"But I want to break some legs!" Nora complained.
"I think I am owed a swing or two at that girl." Yang claimed.
"You both could just use your dust shells to clear the wall." Ren advised
"Enough."
A curiously stern voice claimed.
"This is a family concern. Velvet, Lavender I'm sorry for my sisters actions." Jaune stated.
"All due respect to you but sorry my eye. That was my sister that gorilla was picking on if you are going after them you are going to carry me!" Velvets normally cute and adorable features blazed in anger.
Jaune wanted to object, he wanted to stick to his belief that this is a family affair. A part of his being agreed that it was a family concern, even as that same part agreed with Velvet. Velvet after all, is part family to Jaune, and of course is an actual sister to Lavender. His sister, was tormenting her sister, Damnit. The bunny girl's abnormally determined look swayed his mind.
"Fine but I cannot carry you all who want to come. I am sorry Pyrrha but I have to ask you, all of you to stay back this time." He said.
It was telling just how much they trusted him, as they all wanted to object and go with him. No more so than his partner. Even so, they all nodded in agreement.
"Ok… we will see you back at our room. Be careful." Pyrrha moved up to him and gave him a sweet kiss, before she looked at Velvet.
"You too Velvet be careful."
Jaune didn't wait for them all to file out of the room. He got a running start and kept whispering to himself:
'Aura Jaune, aura aura aura use your aura!'
His semblance emerged, he took a running leap, bounded off the pillar, and followed his mother and Twin.
"YEEE HAAA!" Velvet cheered happily.
Jaune just kept thinking 'don't screw up the landing don't screw up the landing' over and over.
***Outside the wall***
Kate did not think of herself as a vengeful person. She in fact thought that she could get along with almost anybody. Jewel, was a notable exception. After she tackled her through the wall she let go of her grip, which of course dropped Jewel from the effects of her semblance as she observed her sister tumble down the hillside to the level ground below coming to rest in the snow. She herself was still under the effects of her semblance and more control glided down to the ground.
Jewel had stood and was obviously furious judging by her red face.
"Show yourself assassin. You were always a disappointment to our family I do not see why people give you chance after chance." She said maliciously.
A voice declared from behind her "Careful, this assassin is tired of putting up with your bullheaded attitude."
Jewel spun around, and ended up on the receiving end of another punch.
"I have more than one bone to pick with you Lissette. You take my brothers weapon when you already have your own. You take his armor plating though you already had your own set and for reasons nobody knows you agreed to follow fathers demands to harass him at a SCHOOL for gods sake. The man is TRYING to PROTECT people you ape. But no you can't just let him have his chance you have to stand in his way at every turn. I would challenge you to come up with a valid reason but we all know more of your bullshit is all you would be able to spew out." Kate genuinely sounded livid.
"Careful sister, I might have to remind you how many times you have beaten me in a fight." Jewel claimed confidently.
"Yeah yeah yeah big talk. You were able to beat up a brother who was sick and a younger sister who was untrained in how to fight back at the time. Big accomplishment. I note you aren't to quick to start something now. Any reason for that?" Kate if anything got even more angry the more she spoke.
Crystal landing from her leap temporarily stopped the argument.
"You both need to stop." She said.
"Do not even get me started on you. Why would you go along with fathers schemes? I thought you had a brain in you!" Katherine shouted at her other sister.
Crystal angled her head weird, and looked like she wanted to respond.
"This is an old argument sister, you will not change my mind. Father agreed with me that it was the right decision, that is all the validation I needed." Jewel said, oddly calm.
"Yeah cause the word of a man who runs away the instant things don't go in his favor are totally to be trusted. Or have you heard from him wherever he is hiding?" Kate demanded.
Jewel and Crystal shared a glance briefly before they both directed their eyes back to Katherine "You lie, he wouldn't run away."
Kate looked like she wanted to kick her again. "I. Do. Not. Lie. I would advise you to keep your accusations to yourself. You have listened to the words of somebody who by all accounts has done nothing but try to divide our family and you not only did it, but you did it with a smile on your face. Frankly I want to wipe that smile off your smug little face of yours." She said back in a deathly quiet voice.
"I am not stopping you doll, if you want to fight by all means lets fight. Your face might not be as pretty when I am done." Jewel responded adopting an unarmed stance.
"You will find that both Jaune and I are not easy targets now. It might be your face that looks less pretty by the time it is over. But if you want to put that to the test, I will happily oblige you." Kate also dropped into her unarmed stance.
The two might actually have fought or come to blows, had a sword not been flung to impale the ground between the two of them.
Deborah landed skidding to the ground level.
"Mom-" Crystal said but was quickly interrupted.
"You be quiet I will get to you in a minute." The Matriarch said with a raised voice with a deliberate pointed arm as she marched up to her two daughters.
"Mom what are you-" Jewel started to speak, which once again it was decided that it just wasn't her day.
The Glare of her mother, the very same that her son had used earlier brought her to complete silence.
"I must say I am disappointed in you Lissette. I knew you were a different person but I believed you to be better than a schoolyard bully." Deborah was not happy, in the slightest.
"It is the same old argument mother we will not agree-" Once again, the Glare stopped her.
"You already had one weapon. You were not satisfied with that that you had to take your brothers?" Deborah demanded.
"My brother was a disgrace to our family dad even disowned him! He did not deserve to carry it-" Kate stopped further conversation as she had moved up to Deb's side wearing a similar glare.
"You are trying my patience Lissette, however despite your making it difficult you are my daughter. As my daughter I still love you. As such I will advise you one time. Be Silent." Deb demanded.
"Why would you make a scene now you went most of our lives without a word and now you suddenly want to claim love?" Jewel/Lissette asked.
"We can speak to your heart's content on that matter later. For now you will listen to me." She still had blazing eyes despite the comment her daughter made.
"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" A voice screamed as it edged closer.
It was then that Jaune landed carrying Velvet who was still issuing her happy cry.
"Why are you even here brother I thought you would lack the strength to move after getting out of bed this morning." Jewel said maliciously.
Kate at this point could not hold her peace "You self-serving inconsiderate pawn of a woman. He was not weak or sick as a child he had a damned Grimm in his heart!" She screamed as her torso heaved in uncontainable anger.
The two sisters who did not know that, looked confused for a moment.
"What's that? Nothing to say after that bully? That never ending belief suddenly cracking? Never learned to think for yourself?" Kate demanded.
"Katherine that is not helping." Deb stated calmly as she could.
Kate was not happy in having to stop her tirade but crossed her arms with a burning glare in her eyes.
They had a great deal to talk about. Velvet was hardly even an expert on the topic. The truth of the Vampire, the fact that James essentially ran away. It was a great deal of information to take in. Crystal took it rather well all things considered. Jewel was not sure what to think.
"You lie." Was what she came up with. Potentially it was honest. What it was not, was wise.
Deborah had held back a slap thus far, following that she could not. It echoed through the area with a clear note in the air.
"I knew you were rather sure of yourself as a child Lissette. You are free to dispute my claim to loving my children if you wish and I am sure you might object to me saying that I did my best for you all. But I would advise you not to accuse me of LYING to you again." Deborah advised.
Finally Jewel seemed to be deep in thought.
"So what is this about then?" She asked as she looked at her former brother. "I assume you wish to challenge me for possession of Crocea Mors?" She asked.
"No, I do not." He answered evenly.
She turned to Katherine "You. You and I are going to have some things to discuss, I expect to meet you in the combat arena tomorrow. You did not need to tackle or kick me to talk to me." She stated coldly.
"I have an issue with that. This entire situation would never have occurred if you could just have left my sister alone!" Velvet demanded.
"Your sister crashed into me that was not on me." Jewel answered.
"You still are a bigot and a bully and you need to apologize for being a pain in the ass to everybody around you." The bunny girl barked angrily.
Jaune actually looked surprised at Velvet at that. He didn't think she was capable of speaking like that.
"It is the natural way of the world that the weak serve the strong. It is how things have been forever." Jewel stated.
"Yes cause that logic in sound." Kate chided.
"Disagree if you will it has never changed how either of us thought. I did what I did because I believed it was my duty to not let our family be represented by an untrained weakling." She continued by saying.
"This is an old argument you will never change my mind and I will not change your mind. There is little point in debating it." Jewel said with conviction.
"Enough."
It was not Kate, or Deb who spoke, it was Jaune.
"If it is a debate which nobody will be the victor of then I will end this right here. You will not fight Katherine over this. She made her actions on my behalf, if you must fight somebody, you will face me." He said. Kate acted like she wanted to object, but at a look from her brother she held her peace.
Jewel smiled "Fine, we shall soon see just how much this 'Vampire' effe-"
"Shut up." Jaune said.
Everybody around him looked surprised, very surprised even as he continued.
"I was not done. I will fight you if that is what it takes to get you to leave me alone of your own volition. But we will do it right and you will do other things beyond that. Things you will agree too without argument." He said with an absolutely look in his eyes.
"Oh really? Just how are you going to get me agree to anything you tell me to 'brother'?" She asked amused.
"Simple, I will appeal to your sense of self preservation." He smiled right back.
Jewel lost that smile on her face as she demanded "Excuse me?"
Jaune's smile grew on his face "Listen to me and listen well because I will only say this once. You clearly struggle at math as you do not seem to understand just how outnumbered you are. I am however reasonably good at the subject so I will spell it out for you. You have Velvets team, who is at the end of their patience with you, Coco is still probably livid that I left her behind up top. You have my team which of course includes the deadly Pyrrha Nikos. I'm sure you are familiar with how much she has wanted to fight you this year. That does not go into Lavenders team, or Team RWBY. Not to mention my sister who might be a student at Beacon soon or anybody else you might have pissed off including Team SSSN for example. You will leave them all alone. You will do it with a smile on your face and you will not make any complaints about it of any kind." His face remained friendly, but very very hard.
"I will, will I?" She asked right back sounding dubious.
"Yes, you will. Even if we disagree in nearly all aspect of morality or judgment you are still a huntress in training. Which means that in theory some part of you, a small part of you has a desire to protect people. That part of you however miniscule still has some respect from me. That respect means that we will fight as students of Beacon, and it will be done the right way. In a classroom setting, under supervision when the winter term starts up again for the purposes of training."
Jewel made to interrupt, but Jaune rose his voice and spoke over her.
"Because if my dear sister you disagree with my agreement that I am putting in place here. That would mean you have lost that small bit of respect that you have left from me. I would at that point feel no desire of any kind to not encourage all of those aforementioned teams and individuals from defending others not from a huntress in training, but from an overly arrogant bully who has long ignored consequences for their actions. We will do this my way in either case Jewel Arc. One results in you facing me alone. The other results in you facing me plus about 20. Now, you will tell me which of those two you agree with and then YOU WILL walk away as we would have nothing further to discuss." Rigid determination dominated his features as he finished his declaration.
Kate and Deb shared a glance, and seemed pleased with his spine.
Jewel for her part, for the first time in a very long time. Held back her initial reaction to speak on. The muscles in her face clearly objected to following anything to do with Jaune. She was however smart enough to realize that tonight he had her, he absolutely had her beaten in this regard. She had no play other than to agree, win their one on one and call the matter settled in her favor.
"We will meet, come prepared for what history has proven to be accurate." At that she looked at Crystal, who was of course a triplet of hers and was surprised when Crystal shook her head.
Jewel none the less continued on the path back to the Beacon grounds.
Crystal looked like she wanted to speak, "Jaune…".
"Crystal you might as well advise your partner that I am deadly serious with what I say. Pyrrha has wanted to fight you both for a very long time. Keep her in line, or both of you are likely to be in the crossfire." At that, Jaune himself started to move towards home. After a seconds hesitation Kate and Velvet took off after him.
Crystal watched them go, and looked back at her mother.
"You have no idea where Father is? You can prove everything you said?" She asked.
"I have the documents yes. Ozpin's has the medical records, and I have court records physical and electronic copies of each. Yes I can prove it. If you hear from your father I -strongly- suggest you patch me in the call I have more than one subject to discuss with him. His lying to and manipulation of me for a start." That burning angry look crept back into her face as she herself started to walk back.
"Mother…" Crystal really seemed conflicted.
She stopped walking and turned back.
"Save it. You knew what you were doing was wrong yet you still did it. I confess I'm not a perfect parent but I at least thought I taught all my children to follow their heart's. Jewel for all her faults at least believes in her views. You never did and you went about it anyway. I was disappointed in her, I am more so with you. You could have stopped this at any time by just speaking your mind to your sister." Deborah, it seems, still had a fair amount of anger on the subject.
Crystal looked at the ground and spoke "Mom, You have made mistakes in your life. So have I. Am I not allowed to apologize for them?" her voice was neutral, though it was heavily laced with emotion.
Something about the question, seemed to strike a chord with Deb. She had to let go a deep breath, but she walked up to her daughter and embraced her in a hug.
It was several minutes later with dozens of tears being shed before the two of them were able to head back to their rooms. Deb figured that a fight between Jaune and Jewel was inevitable, she was determined to give him as much of a chance as possible. It might take Jaune beating her, for Jewel to realize a few things about her brother. She had already decided on trying to open up the eyes of the siblings that routinely gave him problems. She might as well start with the biggest of them.
Another big chapter, phew that is done. So at the start I indicated that there is a bonus scene. Well that is true, I have not written it yet but I hope to get it done in the next couple days. It will be posted into the bonus chapter work I have setup as soon as it is ready.
How do people feel about the OC's? If you haven't informed me how you feel about Kate and Deb especially please send me an IM or otherwise. I really hope people like them, they are going to be integral to the story.
As ever I will happily discuss this story and answer any questions people may have. Leave a review please! They all help! Tell me what you like/don't like and what you want to see as we go forward. I cannot promise to include everything but feedback is good, it is important, and helps me write better as an author. Of course more favorites and follows helps keep the mind motivated : ).
I still need an artist… chirp chirp/ whine whine. Please let me know if you can help with drawing me a picture.
Thank you all for reading, and I will see you next time.
-Sean