Chapter 12: Bravado Leads to Blackmail
Title Song: And I Knew - Feint (DeadlyDnB Music Promotions)
It had been a few days since the events in the cafeteria. Team JNPR, as well as RWBY members Weiss and Blake, and KOLD members Jasmine and Lilo were sat in Doctor Oobleck's class. Oobleck was a rather tall man, with messy green hair and a pair of seemingly opaque glasses on the bridge of his nose. He wore a white shirt that was partially tucked in to his dark green pants and the collar of his shirt was raised, showing a slack, yellow tie, as well as mismatched brown and black shoes.
The doctor taught History of Remnant, and he was darting around the room as he spoke, a cup of what must be coffee in his hand, causing his erratic behaviour, speech and movement patterns. While most students were trying to keep up with the speed of his words, Jaune was snoring away in his seat, causing Jasmine to sigh quietly, but do nothing more, her eyes watching their teacher, afraid to miss a single important detail from his lecture.
"Yes, yes, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution, more popularly known as the Faunus War, humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing Faunus population in Menagerie," Dr. Oobleck quickly said, taking a sip from his cup.
And I thought Koa and Professor Ozpin drank a lot of coffee, Jasmine thought. He must have put twenty packets of sugar in that mug before the lesson even started.
"Now, while this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is important to remember that these are relatively recent events. Why the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day," Oobleck continued after another sip. "Now, have any among you been subjugated or discriminated because of your Faunus heritage?" He asked.
Jasmine, Lilo and another student raised their hands at this. The rabbit Faunus, Velvet Scarlatina was also present in this class, and noticing her fellow Faunus being strong, she hesitantly raised her arm as well.
"Dreadful, just dreadful. Remember students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence. I mean, I mean, just look what happened to the White Fang," Oobleck stated, shaking his head.
Jasmine grit her teeth so hard they almost chipped, and her hands were balled into tiny fists, furious with the mention of that name.
Lilo glanced at her teammate, and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Yeah… the peaceful protest group turned violent terrorist organisation. They allowed the anger and thirst for revenge they held for the humans to cloud their thoughts, swallowing their souls and turning them into the monsters mankind saw them to be.
"Now. Which of you young scholars can tell me what many theorists believe to be the turning point in the third year of the war?" Oobleck asked.
Jasmine was first to raise her hand, already typing a response on her scroll with the other hand. "Yes! Miss Diali!"
Jasmine pressed play, and an automated voice spoke from her scroll. "The battle at Fort Castle."
"Very good! And who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?" Oobleck asked.
At this point, Cardin flicked a small piece of paper onto Jaune's head, causing the boy to wake up, and he looked back at the bully with a small glare. "Hey!" He muttered.
"Mr Arc! Finally contributing to class I see! This is excellent. EXCELLENT! What is the answer?" Oobleck was suddenly right before the blonde boy.
"Uh, the answer…" Jaune began, glancing around, and seeing a glowing answer, provided by Lilo, who had borrowed Jasmine's pen. She had written two words, and Jaune quickly gasped as if he had the answer. "Night Vision," He said.
Oobleck glanced around, seeing nothing, Lilo having fanned away the light dust by the time he had turned her way. He looked back, surprised. "Excellent!" He smiled.
"Well, personally, I think it's easier to train an animal than a soldier," Cardin voiced his opinion, causing every Faunus in the room to glare at him. Oobleck just shook his head for the boy's racial comment.
"You're not the most open-minded of individuals, are you Cardin?" Pyrrha rhetorically asked, getting irritated by Cardin. Jasmine could tell it by hearing her voice.
"What? You got a problem?" Cardin asked begrudgingly.
"No, she just making an observation," Lilo said. "And I would politely ask that you do not insult my great-grandfather. He was THERE, on that battlefield!" She fumed at Cardin.
This caused a few heads to turn. "Grandaddy would tell me when I was a kid that his pappy believed in equality for humans and Faunus alike, and he died knowing that such equality, however small, had taken effect."
"Faunus have near perfect sight in the dark," Blake said. "General Lagune 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."
"His arrogance in believing he could defeat them at night left him vulnerable. You can never underestimate your opponent, otherwise you could walk right into your own defeat," Jasmine's scroll spoke for her, the girl having been typing since the answering began.
"Excellent point, Miss Diali. Multiple factors can lead one to defeat, and history has shown that arrogance leads to downfall," Oobleck said.
"Too bad history seems to be repeating itself, since SOME people still arrogantly think they're better than others," Lilo said. "But by all means Winchester, do try to fight ME in the dark, I'd be happy to re-enact the sorry general's defeat."
"Mr Winchester, for the racist comments this lesson, you can remain for extra readings. Mr Arc, I was thinking of adding you to the extra readings as well, but since you answered the question, I will overlook your apparent lack of sleep," Oobleck said.
When the class ended, Jaune walked out of the class, "You owe me Big Deal," Lilo said. "I swear, if you had said binoculars, I might have strangled you."
"Yeah, just say the word, I owe you one," Jaune sighed.
"You know, we will break his legs," Pyrrha offered.
"Amen to that thought sister," Lilo smirked, seeing Cardin getting berated by Oobleck through the door. The brute then walked out, knocking both Jaune and Jasmine over as he stormed from the room.
"Hey, Cardin!" She called.
Cardin turned, just to get a brutal punch to the gut, sending him flying down the corridor and out a window. Thankfully they were on the ground floor of the academy.
"I have an idea!" Pyrrha smiled. "Follow me!" She said, pulling Jaune along with him.
Lilo glanced at Jasmine, helping the fox to her feet. "Want to follow?" She asked.
Jasmine shook her head, holding up her textbook, "Ah, good point, see you back at the dorm, try not to finish without me." She glanced down at the pups. Snowfall, go with her, Shadow, stick with me.
The fox nodded, walking back to the dorms with the white wolf in tow, while Lilo ran after Pyrrha and Jaune, the black one right behind her.
Following the scent that they left, she found the two on the roof, and slipped out, silently observing the conversation from the overhang above the door.
"…Pyrrha, I know I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not that depressed," Jaune said, looking over the roof edge. "I can always become a farmer or… something," Jaune muttered.
Lilo and Pyrrha's eyes widened, the latter pulling her Leader back, "NO!" She yelled in panic.
"Don't be an idiot," Lilo sighed.
"That's not why I brought you up here," Pyrrha explained. "I know you're having a difficult time in class, and that you're not the best of fighters…"
"That's an understatement," Lilo mumbled.
"… I want to help you," Pyrrha said.
"What?" Jaune asked.
"We can train up here, unbothered by anyone else," Pyrrha said.
"You really think I need help huh?" Jaune asked, rubbing his head in embarrassment.
"Yes," Lilo offered her opinion.
"Jaune, that's not what we meant," Pyrrha said, pointing a look at Lilo.
"But you just said it," Jaune retorted.
"Everyone needs a push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us. You made to Beacon. That alone speaks volumes of what you're capable of," Pyrrha said, being supportive.
Jaune turned away, looking over the rooftops of Beacon. "… you're wrong… I don't belong here," He sighed.
"Elaborate," Lilo said, curious to why he said this.
Jaune bunched his hand into a fist. "I… I wasn't really accepted into Beacon."
"What do you mean?" Asked both girls, Lilo even doing the cute dog thing when they're confused, tilting her head slightly.
"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 said. "I lied. I got my hands on some fake transcripts and I lied," He said.
Lilo finally got down from her perch, "So what if you lied? So what if you didn't pass any tests? It just means that you have a bigger hurdle to get over than the rest of us." She said, walking towards him.
"Why did you lie?" Asked Pyrrha.
"Cuz this is what I always wanted to be. 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," Jaune explained.
"What did you expect was going to happen Jaune?!" Lilo asked. "We are huntsmen and huntresses now. There is no easy path. No shortcuts. By sidestepping all of that and coming straight here, you have given yourself the biggest challenge of all. Not conquering grimm, or helping villagers outside the kingdoms. No. Your challenge is finding yourself, and if you can't even do that… then you really don't have any hope."
"Let me help you," Pyrrha offered again.
"I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!" Jaune said.
"Jaune-!" Pyrrha began, but Jaune cut her off.
"I'm tired of being the lovable 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?" He shrieked at her.
He turned away, looking at the stars. "Just leave me alone," He sighed. "Okay?"
Pyrrha frowned slightly, and glanced at Lilo, showing that she looked hurt. "If that is what you think is best," She sighed, walking away.
Lilo growled at him. "And with that, your challenge has gotten even harder." That was all she said, before she too walked away. Before she could close the door, she heard something that made her sigh.
"Heh-heh-heh, oh Jaune," Cardin Winchester clambered up from below.
"Cardin?!" Jaune asked.
"I couldn't help but overhear you and those other two from my dorm room, so you snuck into Beacon eh?" Cardin sneered, before he chuckled. "Gotta say, I never expected you to be such a rebel."
"Please, Cardin, don't tell anyone!" Jaune pleaded.
"Come on Jauney boy, I would never rat out a friend like that," Cardin said.
"Uh… A friend?" Jaune asked, nervous.
Cardin walked over, and put a massive arm around Jaune, practically choking the poor boy, "That's right! We're friends now Jauney-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," Cardin said, dropping Jaune.
"That being said, I really don't have time to do those extra readings Dr. Oobleck gave me today. Pages 51 to 91. And I need them before the next class," Cardin told him, rubbing Jaune's head like a dog. "Think you could handle that for me buddy? That's what I thought." Cardin began walking back to where he had climbed up. "Don't worry Jauney-boy. Your secret is safe with me," Cardin chuckled, before climbing down to his dorm room.
Lilo could just listen, and she didn't like the situation. So, that is what fate has in store for you is it? Sorry Big Deal, if you want to be a big deal, first you have to overcome your first obstacle. With that, she walked down the stairs, leaving Jaune to himself.
She walked back to her dorm room, and entered to find Onyx reading a textbook at the desk, Jasmine on her bed going over some homework with Snowfall lying comfortably next to her. She could also hear running water, and sussed that Koa was in the shower. "Sup," She said, walking over, kicking off her shoes and hopping up to sit next to Jasmine.
"Hey, where'd you go," Onyx asked.
"I'll talk when Koa's out," Jasmine shrugged.
Koa emerged a little bit later in his night clothes, and nodded at seeing Lilo returned. "Jas told us you went with Jaune and Pyrrha," He said. "Care to share a story?"
"First off, this stays in this room. I just found out Jaune snuck into Beacon," She said.
"What?" All heads turned at this.
Lilo explained what happened on the rooftops. When she finished, all were silent. "I see…" Koa muttered.
"It would explain his … mediocre fighting skills," Onyx said.
'Indeed, now we know how he's been struggling, both in his studies and his combat,' Jasmine wrote out.
"That's not the worst part though," Lilo said. "Cardin Winchester also knows about Jaune's entry methods, and he's turned Jaune into his own personal slave, making him do his work in exchange for hiding his secret."
'That JERK!' Jasmine wrote quickly, her ears flattened and tail swaying in fury.
"I know. But I think that Jaune needs to figure out his own way to escape from Cardin's greasy paws and make it up to Pyrrha. He'll figure it out at some point that he can't do it alone," Lilo said. She turned to her team leader. "What's your opinion of this, boss man?" She asked.
"While I do believe that Jaune needs guidance towards becoming a better fighter, as well as a better person, I agree with Lilo," Koa nodded. "Jaune needs to figure this out on his own, and, although I would love to give Cardin another lesson in manners, we should let Jaune handle his own problems. I've seen this sort of thing before, pointless macho making a boy feel like a man, and they all figure it out sooner or later."
"And what about Team JNPR?" Onyx asked.
"Pyrrha knows the truth, but I don't think she'll share the details with Nora and Ren. And I think this will prove as a perfect test to see how the team as a whole will improve," Lilo said. "Team RWBY has had one, which was Ruby and Weiss' 'disagreement' back on the first day, now it's JNPR's turn."
Koa: And so, the truth about our little golden boy is revealled.
Lilo: Agreed, and he's gonna have to deal with it himself.
All: Next time: Cowardice Breeds Bravery