*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*
It's Forever Fall time!
Jaune wakes up in his new solo room, filled with all his decorations. Luckily Goodwitch got his possessions back from the JNPR dorm before midnight, otherwise… yeah that would have been bad.
But Crocea Mors and his scroll are still here. He listens to the message that he had missed while sleeping. It's from Cardin.
"Get me some Rapier Wasps bitch boy. They are about one inch long and are black and yellow. Just like your-" Jaune's not letting that one finish.
Instead of Jauney-boy, I decided to use bitch boy instead. Why? IDK, maybe I just love cursing. One thing is for sure, I love bad micropenis jokes.
He gets dressed and opens the door to see a box about 8 inches tall and 1 foot wide. A note is stuck on the top.
Put them in here, bitch boy.
-With love, Cardin
Jesus that guy is a piece of work. But Jaune realizes something, something that he really should have realized the instant he woke up…
He has no power over me!
Since Ozpin apparently figured the transcripts out, so what if he lets out the "secret"? It won't matter, Ozpin's not gonna do anything!
But what about my friends though? Speaking of them, they really have changed, haven't they…
Nora and Ren are out doing something… pancake related, I'm sure.
Pyrrha is… Jesus Christ what is she? She hasn't talked to me once in the past two days! Same with Ruby, Weiss, and Blake!
I tried to talk to Weiss yesterday, not even to serenade her, and she just gave me the most hateful, disgusting look I have ever seen anyone give. And even after I backed away she just continued to stare at me like that with those eyes, staring me down like I was some creep!
Ruby and Blake just gave me the same damn look! Why?! What have I done to them?
This sucks. But I can't dwell on that now. I have to think about Forever Fall!
And there I can one-up Cardin! YEAH! Screw him!
He sets down the box and goes to get a quick breakfast. All of Team RWBY and Pyrrha are there this time, with Ruby and Yang talking about something.
He thinks of sitting down with them, but Pyrrha's death glare scares him into thinking otherwise. He sits down in an empty area nearby, but still within earshot of the conversation.
️
"So where were you yesterday sis! You were gone all day!"
"Out."
"Doing what?"
"Things."
"Wha?"
"I'll tell you when you're older."
"I'm 15! You even let me drink! C'mon Yang, I can handle it!"
"That was me being dumb. And no, you can't."
Ruby starts pouting like a sweet little puppy, but Yang's 15 years of experience with that kind of thing has her hardened to the look.
"Not happening sis. Now finish eating your food. Gotta grow big and strong!"
"YAAAANG!"
But she starts eating regardless. He looks over to Blake and Weiss, both giving her sympathetic looks.
This was going to be a bigger thing than just a ten sentence interaction. What would it have been? Yang would have went to the club, where Roman Torchwick and Neo would have been staying in the back. Yang, being Yang, would have caused a massive ruckus, and that would have annoyed them so much that they would come out and fight her. This match would have ended in a draw.
Luckily, I was barely smart enough not to do that one.
Jaune laughs to himself, but that isn't enough to distract from the soul-crushing loneliness that is starting to creep in. Why are they shutting me out?!
He tries to think happy thoughts. That meal with Yatsu was pretty good… that's it!
He takes out his scroll and dials Yatsu's number. Please be awake!
*ring ring ring* *ring ring ring*
"*yawn* Hello?"
"Yatsuhashi?"
"Jaune?! Hello there! What are you calling for?"
"I'm a little lonely right now. My friends don't want to talk to me."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Very unfortunate. You're going on the Forever Fall trip, aren't you?"
"Yeah, in like an hour."
"I wish you good luck on your adventure."
"Are you not coming Yatsu?"
"No, it's only for first-year teams. My team went last year. It's easier than you think it is."
"That sucks. I'll get it done though!"
"Yes you will. All you nee-
"YATSU WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO HIM!"
"To Jaune?! Sorry, I have to take care of this."
"YES JAUNE! I HEARD FROM-" *click*
"Well fuck..."
Jaune's mood is soured now. He finishes off his breakfast and slowly returns to his dorm to get some last-minute preparations in.
Scroll "in case of emergencies"? (i.e. playing games when bored) Check.
Crocea Mors? Check.
Stupid box Cardin wants me to carry? Check.
Motion sickness pills? Check.
Everything is ready, it's time to go!
At Forever Fall...
-️-️-️-Jaune POV️-️-️-️-
I enter the forest. The first thing I notice is that these trees look really, really plain. The entire thing is absolutely drenched in red. This doesn't happen in real life!
Who would design a forest that looks like- GGGHHH PPPLLL CK CK CK
"This doesn't happen in real life!"
Also, I actually watched part of that Forever Fall episode for this, the forest is literally a grand total of three colors. Early RWBY animation standards :) Also this fourth-wall break is complete bullshit.
Everyone turns to look at me, but turns back around shortly after. I can hear the snickers from here. What the hell caused that?!
We continue walking deeper into the redness, and I'm getting more and more disoriented!
"Alright everyone! Your job is to collect the sap from these trees. Everyone collects one jar each. DO NOT EAT THE SAP!"
Glynda hands all of us tools to punch in the trees for some sap.
I look around and holy shit! I'm still disoriented! This place is fucked up!
But that tree looks nice and thick. It's sure to have tons of sap!
I stick the pick in and hammer it! But nothing happens.
I give it one big WHACK! and the sap trickles out. Score!
I quickly shove the jar under and wait for it to fill. While I wait, I look around to see what's going on with everyone else…
Team CRDL is over lazing around, relaxing as always. Cardin looks to be playing a game on his scroll. But then I see some white hair jump. Weiss pulls out her scroll. She looks over to them and ...smiles?
Her and the rest of RWBY have all their sap jars filled up nicely. Of course. Man they are good…
I keep on looking. Weiss looks to be typing. She seems to finish the reply almost instantly. Cardin looks like he's about to shit his pants! HA!
But that only lasts for a second. Now he's over there smiling like a kid who outsmarted the teacher!
More typing. Cardin sends another, looking smug as fuck.
All of RWBYP has their scrolls out now. Just what the hell is Cardin planning?
They're taking all their picks and tools out of the trees and leaving?!
Yang looks around in a circle, as if scanning for something. She makes it about halfway and suddenly stops.
Now they fly away like scared little pigeons, taking CRDL with them deeper into the forest. I can't see any of them now.
Glynda is looking in that direction too, clearly seeing what I was seeing, but she sighs and turns her head away. Probably too tired to do anything.
I look back over to my jar and the jar is overflowing! That must have been longer than I thought…
But no matter! The challenge is done! Now I get to relax!
I sit down next to the tree and curiosity strikes me. I just have to know what that sap tastes like! I take a bte and- DAMN! This sap is good! Why isn't everyone eating this?
I fixed some misspellings when actually posting this originally, but I'm too lazy to do it now.
*Ping!* Who's that from?
One (1) message from Cardin
Of course.
Where's the box, bitch boy?
...uggggh. I guess now's the time to revolt!
I look around for team CRDL, and they are over in a faraway clearing. Their jars are already full too! They're not normally ones to finish things early like that…
I fill the box full of rocks and broken tree bark, and close the lid.
The walk is slow. And red. My god this forest is really plain.
As I approach, I pick up on the footprints left earlier from RWBYP.
Let's see where they ran off to...
...Well that's not helpful. After a short distance they split into 5 different directions. Trying to track them all down would take forever.
Didn't find anything helpful along the way either, other than a lonely pick with sap leaking down it. Oh well.
"Let's just get to Cardin." I whisper to myself.
I hold the box out, trying to imitate it being full as closely as possble. Cardin notices me right away and holds his hand out for the box.
It takes all my willpower to hide the smile trying to worm it's way onto my face as I hand him the box. This is gonna be so hilarious!
"I knew you wouldn't do it, bitch boy."
HAHAHA- wait, wouldn't?!
"What do you mean, wouldn't?"
"You really think that fooled me?" He shakes the box, revealing the coverup.
My stomach twists into a knot. I knew that wasn't going to work for long, but that quickly?!
Put random shit in a box and expect someone to believe that box is full of living wasps, when you know they're going to be handling the box and realizing there's no sounds coming from it. Jaune is smooth-brained. Only when convenient, of course.
"Ok I didn't. Now what?"
"Now what? ...Glad you still don't have a spine, bitch boy."
Yep, that confidence I had earlier is evaporated… please have this end soon!
"Nothing, eh? Too scared? Well guess what! I have no need for your co-operation anymore."
"Are you saying.."
"Yep. I told them already. They had some very bad reactions, that's for sure!"
That's what Cardin was texting about! Goddammit!
I am stunned into silence. My body quickly replaces that silence with some ragged breathing, as I realize how much I have been played.
"Already about to cry, bitch boy? I haven't even gotten you beat up yet!"
Wait what? Is RDL gonna beat me up and not him?! That's even worse! They're all better than him! I can just feel my body start burning at the thought…
"p-p-please not them… Oum no…"
I want to slap myself in the face for writing 'Oum no.' That is just awful.
Now he starts laughing… this really is my personal hell. RDL looks like a coiled spring ready to charge at any moment...
"-HAHAHAHAHA! You got it bitch boy! HAHAHAHAHA!"
RDL un-tenses. But that's all I get the chance to see.
A jar crashes against my head and I fall to the ground.
All I can see now is the bottoms of the trees combining with the dirt…
Is this really how it's going to be? Am I really dying to a- OW!
OW! OW! OW! Fucking wasps! Why OW! couldn't it have been OW! the hit from earlier!
Bad separation of the 'Ow!'s.
I can't go out this easy… I have to get help!
My body writhes in pain. I let out one desperate plea!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
A piercing yell bellows through the forest. Goodwitch snaps around in that direction. There aren't supposed to be Ursa here.
It's impressive that I fucked up the plural of Ursa two different ways.
She speeds over toward the source of the yell. With the flicks of her crop, the trees bend out of the way. She runs into RWBY, Pyrrha, and CRDL as she approaches the source.
"Help him please! He tripped and got sap all over him! Now there's wasps everywhere!" Ruby yells, before everyone continues running further away.
She continues on. The clearing opens and she sees a horrible sight.
Jaune is laying on the ground, unconscious. Wasps are all around him, at least 30 buzzing around and stinging him.
With one focused flick, the sap is forced away from him as if being carried by wind. The wasps follow after the sap, now leaving Jaune completely exposed. There are bumps everywhere. She carries him back to the bullhead very, very, very carefully. Definitely don't wanna wake him up before the painkillers are in…
There's one thing she notices as the bullhead speeds toward Beacon…
Where's the concern?
Not a single person has even looked at him the entire ride back!
Huntsmen are supposed to show more care than this!
She's got to talk to Ozpin now…
(A/N: This one took a while. I wasn't really sure quite how far I wanted to "swing the pendulum" so to speak. Once I stopped thinking about restrictions, though, it came to me. And this is not the end of the rope either.)
I would like to reiterate that I warned you that this was going to be a trainwreck.
This chapter is what the sign scene replaces in SOiB. I don't need to explain why I couldn't use any of this, right?
