Another day, another learning experience. This time it was a combat class run by Mrs. Goodwitch(which would become the group's favorite class). Jaune was facing Cardin. Jaune looked exhausted while cardin was laughing at him. Jaune then proceeded to charge and swing his blade at him causing cardin to jump out of the way. Cardin then swung at jaune causing him to fly back and him losing his shield. Jaune tried attacking again, but cardin blocked it causing their weapons to lock. Cardin then began towering jaune.
"This is the part where you lose." cardin said.
"Over my dead-" Jaune said but cardin cut him off by kneeing him in the chest making jaune fall over in pain. Cardin was about to strike him again but a buzzer ran.
"Cardin, That's enough," Mrs. Goodwitch said, causing cardin to stop his assault. She walked up to the stage and began explaining something. "Students, as you can see, Mr. Arcs's aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament style duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle, and the official may call the match." Jaune was still on the floor and Mr. goodwitch looked at him. "Mr Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your scroll during combat. Gauging your aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it's better to move to a more... defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a beowolf now would we?"
"Speak for yourself..." Cardin commented. Mrs Goodwitch looks at the rest of the class which were definitely excited for something. Sean and his team didn't know what but they knew it was important.
"Remember, everyone, the vytal festival is only a few months away! It won't be long before other students From other kingdoms start arriving in vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!" She said right as the bell rang. Later they were in the cafeteria where Nora was telling them an unbelievable story.
"So! There we were in the middle of the night..." Nora said.
"It was day." Ren said.
"We were surrounded by Ursai..." Nora continued.
"They were beowolfs" Ren said.
"Dozens of them!" Nora screamed to everyone listening.
"Two of 'em," Ren said. Pyrrha, Ruby, Chris, and Hailey looked at Jaune with concern.
"But they were no match... and in the end, Ren and i took them down and made a boatload of Lien selling ursa skin rugs." Nora finished.
"She's been having this recurring dream for nearly a month now" Ren sighed. Sean was about to say something but pyrrha cut him off.
"Jaune? Are you okay?" Pyrrha asked him. Jaune snapped out of his trance and turned toward them.
"Huh? Oh, yeah! Why?" he said.
"You just seem a little... not okay" Ruby added.
"Guys. I'm fine. Seriously! Look!" Jaune said as he held a thumbs up.
"Jaune, Cardin has been harassing you since the start of school." Chris bluntly stated.
"Who? Cardin winchester? Nah... he just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes!
"He's a bully." Ruby said. Jaune scoffed at this.
"Name one time where he bullied me," Jaune said.
"What about that time he knocked you books out of your hand?" Hailey asked.
"Well..." Jaune tried to speak.
"Or that time he got your shield stuck in a doorway." Chris said. "And you asked me to help you get it out?"
"I..." Jaune again tried to say something but was interrupted again.
"And finally that time he used one of our lockers to shoot you out of the school," Sean stated.
"I didn't land far from the school!" Jaune said.
"You landed in the middle of the emerald forest and me and Dakota had to go save you." Sean said.
"Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask." Pyrrha Said. Nora looked excited Presented a plan to break cardins legs. Sean liked the idea, but didn't say that out loud. Mainly because he tried to harass Dakota again which caused Sean to crack two of his ribs.
"Guys, really it's fine! Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me; he's a jerk to everyone." Jaune said. That was when they noticed Team CRDL Harrasing a girl with rabbit ears. This of course angered them, but this affected one person more than the rest, that was Chris. He got up and headed over there. when everyone else looked back Yang noticed he was gone.
"Hey, Where's Chris?" Yang asked. They looked around and noticed Chris heading right for them. That got Sean worried, but the others looked on in anticipation. The reason why Sean was worried was because Chris had told him something that he didn't tell the rest of them. Chris was relentlessly bullied throughout his life, so much so that it works like a trigger for him. He knew Chris was more than likely seeing red and would probably kill Cardin. So he excused himself and ran to them. Not that he cared about Cardin, he just didn't want Chris expelled. When Chris reached cardin he yelled out "hey" which got everyone's attention.
"Well, Well, Well, if it isn't one of Hart's Friends." Cardin Said really confidently not knowing what he was in for. "Can't you see i'm Busy."
"WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE, HUH?!" Chirs screamed at the top of his lungs shocking everyone in the cafeteria. Especially To everyone that knew him because he seemed like a chill guy.
"Well can't you see. She's a fre-" Cardin was cut off by Chris grabbing his head and slamming it on the table. His aura took most of the damage though. Team CRDL was shocked but they were put back into reality and started to attack Chris. However Chris was fighting them pretty well. The girl was a little scared before she heard a "hi" and jumped.
"Sorry about my friend, but I think you might want to get away from this." Sean said to the girl. "There's a seat over there you can sit at."
"Thanks," The girl said and sat down next to RWBY and JNPR. Meanwhile with Chris, he absolutely floored team CRDL. They were on the ground in bruises. It was not long before Mrs. goodwitch came up.
"What happened here!?" she said. Before Chris was about to answer Sean came up.
"Well, Mrs. Goodwitch, these fine gentlemen on the floor were harassing a girl so Chris took it upon himself to put a stop to that." Sean explained. Mrs. Goodwitch began to ask other people and they told her the same story. So she called people to get team CRDL to the infirmary and told Chris to never do that again. After that was over they walked back to the table and sat back down with everyone else in shock. Jaune left in shame. Later, they were in history with their teacher, prof- I mean doctor oobleck. Which was speeding around the classroom.
"Yes! Yes, prior to the faunus right revolution-more popularly known as the faunus war-humankind was quite adamant about centralizing the faunus population in Menagerie" Ooblek explained. He pointed at a map with his stick and then sped off. "Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why, the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day! Now! Have any of you been subjugated or discriminated against because of your faunus heritage?" A few students raised their hands to that question. "Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember, students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence! I mean, I mean, i mean just look at what happened to The White Fang! Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point of the war?" Weiss raised her hand. "Yes?"
"The battle at Fort Castle!" Weiss said.
"Precisely! And, who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lahune forces?" Ooblek said. Cardin flicked a paper football at Jaune's head causing him to wake up.
"Hey," Jaune said. Ooblek rushed in front of Jaune.
"Mr. Arc! Finally contributing to the class! This is excellent! What is the answer?" Ooblek said.
"Uhhh... the answer... The advenage... that the Faunus." Jaune said. He looks behind oobleck seeing Pyrrha and Sean trying to tell him the answer. "..had over that guy's stuff... uhhh... binoculars!" This caused Sean and Pyrrha to facepalm. Oobleck zoomed back to his desk
"Very funny, Mr. Arc! Cardin! Perhaps you would care to share your thoughts on the subject!" Ooblek said.
"Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal than a soldier," Cardin said. Ooblek shaked his head.
"You're not the most open-minded of individuals, are you, Cardin?" Pyrrha said.
"What? You got a problem?" Cardin said offended
"No, I have the answer! It's night vision. Many faunus are known to have nearly-perfect sight in the dark" Pyrrha said which cardin growled at.
"General Lahune was inexperienced, and made the mistake of trying to ambush the faunus in their sleep. His massive army was outmatched, and the general was captured" Blake continued. She then turned to cardin and said "Perhaps if he'd paid attention in class, he wouldn't have been remembered as such a failure." This made Cardin get up from his seat with his fists clenched, but oobleck ordered him to sit back down. Jaune laughed slightly at cardin, but oobleck heard and zoomed up to him.
"You and mr. arc can both see me after class for additional readings" Ooblek said. After class Sean and Pyrrha decided to wait for Jaune. And when he came out he was pushed to the ground by cardin. This made him laugh until he saw Sean making a threatening mointion.
"You know, I really will break his legs," Pyrrha said, pulling him back up. "I have an idea. Here come with me!" She grabs Jaune and takes him down the corridor. Sean decided to follow and they ended up on the rooftop.
"Pyrrha, I know I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not that depressed." Jaune said as he looked over the edge. "I can always be a farmer or something."
"N-n-no!" Pyrrha said as a realization hit her and pulled him away from the edge. "That's not why I brought you up here! Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class and that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so... I want to help you!"
"Wh-what?" Jaune asked, surprised.
"We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!" Pyrrha said.
"You think I need help?" Jaune asked.
"N-no! No, that's not what I meant!" Pyrrha Said.
"But you just said it," Jaune said.
"Jaune, Everybody needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us. You made it to Beacon! That speaks volumes of what you're capable of!" Pyrrha said.
"You're wrong. I-I don't belong here." Jaune said, Turning away from Pyrrha and Sean
"What do you mean by that?" Sean asked. "Of course you belong here! More than me at least."
"No, I don't!" Jaune said as turns back around, angry. Bewildering the both of them. He turns around again. "I wasn't really accepted into Beacon..."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Pyrrha asked
"I mean I didn't go to combat school, I didn't pass any tests. I didn't earn my spot at this academy!" Jaune confessed, shocking the both of them.
"What? But... why?" Pyrrha said, confused.
"Cause this is always what i've wanted to be!" Jaune explained. "My father, my grandfather, and his father before him were all warriors! They were all heroes! I wanted to be one, too. I was just never good enough."
"Then let us help you!" Pyrrha said. This made Sean jump. Sean was still not experienced enough with his weapon to give lessons on swordplay. Jaune supposedly turned on both of them.
"I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!" Jaune stated.
"Jaune we-" Pyrrha tried to say but jaune cut her off.
"I'm tired of being the loveable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives! Don't you understand? If I can't do this on my own... then what good am I?" Jaune finished. Pyrrha tried to reach out for his arm to console him but Jaune moved away.
"Just... leave me alone. Okay?" Jaune asked.
"If that's what you think is best..." Pyrrha Said, head bowed as she walked away. Sean just shook his head and walked away too, but before he could fully leave he heard Cardin talking to Jaune.
"Oh, Jaune..." he heard Cardin say.
"Cardin!" Jaune Said.
"I couldn't help but overhear you three from my dorm room. So, you snuck into Beacon, huh? I gotta say, Jaune, I never expected you to be such a rebel!" Cardin said.
"Please, cardin, please don't tell anyone!" Jaune said, begging.
"Jaune, come on! I'd never rat on a friend like that!" Cardin said.
"A... a friend?" Jaune asked in confusion.
"Of course!" Cardin said as he put jaune in a headlock. "We're friends now, Jauny boy! And the way I see it, as long as you're there for me when I need you, we'll be friends for a long time." he released Jaune and he started leaning on the ground. "That being said, I really don't have the time to do those extra readings Dr. Oobleck gave us today. Think you can take care of that for me, buddy?" He leaned down toward jaune who gave him a grin. "That's what I thought." He then climbed back down to his dorm saying "don't worry jaune; your secret's safe with me." seeing all this filled Sean with rage, but for now he couldn't do anything so he left for his dorm with the rest of his team waiting there.
"Where were you?" Dakota asked.
"Long story," Sean said. "Do you think we should tell RWBY and JNPR about our origins?"
"What do you mean by that?" Hailey asked.
"Well, we still haven't contacted our families yet," Sean stated. "Also When me and Dakota were going through our scrolls we noticed we had Music, movies, and other stuff from home we could have them check out. We have the evidence for them and also they could really help on our journey." That got them thinking maybe doing this could be useful. So they decided they will tell them as soon as possible.