More of my stress relief inspired idiocy. Enjoy :)
/==/
As the chaos and atmosphere, in the cafeteria, evolved into a full-blown rave; Cardin Winchester was rushing to the infirmary, a bath towel pulled tight over his head. It hurt, but he couldn't risk anyone else seeing what Dove had. Bursting through the swinging doors, he looked around in panic, until he saw her. Anabelle, the raccoon faunus doctor and head of Beacon's medical program.
"Help me!" Cardin screeched, "I've been infected!"
"Slow down, slow down. Now what is the problem, young man?" Ana asked as she moved towards Cardin using a calming tone. "Why are you saying you're infec…"
"I woke up like this!" Cardin started to cry as he pulled the towel from his head revealing a pair of ginger furred donkey ears parched on top of his head, "I'm a freak!"
"Oh, my!" Ana exclaimed.
"Help me, please?" Cardin dropped to his knees, pulling on the hem of Ana's laboratory coat.
"Let's conduct some tests, sweetie." Ana guided the broken Winchester heir to his feet, and then towards an examination room. "We'll figure this out."
/=/
Weiss sat with a still almost complete catatonic Pyrrha on some benches that had been shoved up to the cafeteria's walls, to make room for the ever-growing number of students who were succumbing to the infectious energy that Jaune was broadcasting. Using one of her notebooks, to fan the panting, and drooling champion; Weiss watched as light dimmed, a DJ system appeared, glow sticks, and hoops started being passed around. In the centre of it all, was the blond girl that was slowly eroding a place in her heart.
Not far away, Ren also sat against the wall. His face buried in his hands, and his shoulders shaking. Weiss wasn't sure if her was crying or laughing, seeing as Nora had vanished and then reappeared with a case of body paint. Someone else, she wasn't sure who; had magically made three steel drums appear, which were now surrounded by students randomly beating on them with drumsticks, causing body paint to splash over themselves and anyone in the nearby area.
Then of course there was the raised stage, that somehow was created from cobbled together tables. How it was surviving the energy of Jaune and her new multiple dancing partners; without collapsing, was a mystery of the universe. She spied in the corner Professor Port, and Doctor Oobleck watching the anarchy, and for some reason just typing away on their scrolls.
"Freaks!" someone shouted, and Weiss was pretty sure it was Jaune, as a dark skinned young man in an Atlas uniform carrying a trumpet half climbed, was half shove up onto the raised platform that made up the jury-rigged DJ booth.
"FREAKS! FREAKS! FREAKS!" the chant built up around Jaume as she bounced about, her Beacon jacket and blouse long discarded, leaving her in only a tank top.
Edged on by the low steady bass, and chanting of the assembled students, he brought his trumpet to his lips.
Weiss had never, in all her life, been part of or even seen such a spectacle as she was witnessing. The sharpness tone of the trumpet cut through the yells of the crowd as the bass kicked up and Weiss was treated to her first ever cover of Timmy Trumpet's "Freaks". The crowd exploded, and lead by Jaune who not only was feeding the crowd with her own energy, but seemed to be thriving on it as well.
Weiss looked towards the Beacon staff, who should have been stepping in, but none of them, from Port and Oobleck to the actual kitchen staff, seemed to care. Many had scrolls out, most likely videoing the complete madness that had taken over the student population.
/=/
"Okay, you are in?" Coco's brown eyes regarded the student standing before her, in a corner, away from the chaos and utter joy Jaune was bringing to the Beacon student population. "And you SWEAR that this isn't a move to get close to Jaune?"
"I like girls, but she just… just…"
"Just what Merc?"
"Makes me want to make sure she's safe. Makes wish I had a little sister, to protect. If that makes sense? Besides, I'm pretty sure Jaune has an eye for only one person." The kick boxer of CEMN fidgeted as he gave his reason for speaking with Coco.
"I think I know who you mean, and I accept your reasoning."
The crowd roared as a new set of students armed with instruments climbed onto the stage. Before, they literally exploded as the first chords of "Smells like teen spirit!" ripped through the air, which was supernaturally accented by Jaune's declaring "I LOVE THIS SONG!"
"So, here's the deal." Coco slid her sunglasses down her nose, so she could look Mercury eye to eye. "Jaune is innocent, and a little dense. So I know someone may try something, especially considering her OnlyFans has one hundred and twelve subscribers as of twenty minutes ago."
"Shit." Merc exclaimed, "How many did she have the other day?"
"None. I set up her page less than twenty-four hours ago." Coco cleared, her throat before continuing, "So with her growing popularity, and as you can also see with her overly friendly personality, someone may try something. That's where you come in."
"Bodyguard?" Merc asked.
"Yep."
"So that's why you asked to talk to me?"
"You seem put together, and I checked your combat scores. You're good, but more importantly…" Coco gave them both a Goodwitch calibre look, "as you just told me, you have no designs on her, so that means you won't get distracted from your duties."
"Which are?"
"Keep her safe, and get rid of anyone trying to take advantage of her, with extreme prejudice." Coco let her brown eyes roam between the two young men. "You up for it?"
"No issues here." Mercury responded, "But I do have a question."
"Ask."
"So if some makes a move on her… how much prejudice is acceptable? Because I have no issues with you know…" Merc made a throat cutting pantomime.
"No morgue, but a total curb stomp is acceptable. That good?"
"Works for me."
"So of course we'll need to get you suited up and a permit to carry…"
"Don't need one." Merc replied.
"You can't do this job, unarmed. You'll need permission to carry your weapon everywhere, because there will be travel involved."
"I have that covered."
"Covered? How?"
"Amputee clause." Merc answered her as he lifted his leg and pulled up his pant leg to show Coco his prosthetic. "I need my legs to move around and be independent, so they are considered an integral part of my body, and therefore I have no need for a permit; even though they are weapon grade, and capable of using dust rounds."
"Both?"
"Yep."
"Okay. So you start tomorrow. Seven am, bullhead pads. We need to go shopping, and yes, you are getting an upgrade to your outfit." Coco pushed her glasses back up her nose to Their customary position. "So a hundred lien a day, double if we have to pull an all-nighter away from Beacon. Plus full benefits and all expenses are covered. Deal?"
"Deal." Merc replied, reaching out and shaking Coco's hand.
"Perfect welcome aboard, looking forward to seeing what you bring to the team, and now go enjoy yourself. Early start tomorrow." Coco laughed, as she saw over Mercury's shoulder that Jaune with Neon, Ruby, Yang and Emerald's assistance had dragged Weiss and Pyrrha to the paint barrels, all while an eardrum busting bass beat echoed about the former cafeteria, now rave dance hall.
"All gold… all gold." Coco started to cackle as she saw Vel close by, her scroll out recording as Jaune nudged the SDC Heiress and the Invincible Girl to strike the liquid covered tops of the drums with the paint splattered mallets they held in their hands.
/=/
Glynda had reached her apartment and was in the process of turning it upside down. She had a small overnight sized gym bag on her bed and was randomly shoving articles of clothing into it, along with loose lien cards that she kept hidden away in case of an emergency. She paused in her frantic movements and bit the nail on her thumb, trying to consider what else she would need.
"I'll get Jaune and Coco new clothes when we get to Vacuo…" she muttered to herself, as she returned to her bag and started pulling out articles of clothing. "I'll get myself clothes as well… I'll need the room in the bag… clean out my accounts, and Jaune's and Coco's. No need of them, better to be off grid, less chance to be tracked down."
Having emptied the bag of clothes, Glynda grabbed it and rushed out of her bedroom, and headed straight for the entryway.
"Jaune can't use her weapon, but Coco can protect her, so I have to make sure Coco has her handbag… what else… what else." Glynda again was chewing on her thumbnail. "We'll make due. So west to Vacuo, resupply and then north. She has to be up there somewhere. She'll be able to keep us safe."
Still muttering to herself, Glynda yanked open her door and rushed down the hallway. It was around lunchtime, so Jaune and Coco should be in the cafeteria. She'll just grab them and commandeer one of the bullheads. She was sure she could teach Jaune and Coco both how to pilot one during the flight to Vacuo. Her scroll buzzed, and she froze. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled it out, and sighed when she saw the caller ID as the Infirmary.
"Hello?"
"Professor Goodwitch, is this a good time, because we have a situation with Mr Winchester you should be aware of, and the Headmaster Ozpin isn't picking up."
/=/
Jasmine Arc, and her daughters Bleue and Rouge, got themselves situated for the multi-hour overnight private flight from Ansel to Vale. While not as influential as the Schnees, the Arc and Goodwitch family names did hold some sway with the general populace. So it wasn't much trouble to get a pilot to volunteer to take the three Arcs to Vale. Of course, Jasmine wouldn't ever let someone do something for free. So even if money was not exchanged, a favour would be.
"So, is Aunt Glynda in trouble?" Rouge asked, as she twisted a few strands of her silken blond hair around her fingers.
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll see when we get there, sweetie." Jasmine replied.
"And Jaune?" Bleue asked.
"Don't you want to see your brother?" Jasmine asked. "If I remember correctly, the pair of you haven't stopped whining about going to see him since the beginning of the month."
"I want to see, him… but…"
"But?"
"You brought Punishment with you." Rouge stepped in. "You only do that when you're getting ready to whoop ass."
"Bleue, ladies do not use such language." Jasmine admonished the youngest of her three precious triplets. "But we are also going on a long flight, that may run into grimm. So I want to be prepared. Now, did you both take your pills?"
"Yes, mom." the pair replied in unison.
"Good, now just relax, and have a nap. We'll be in Vale soon enough. We'll visit Aunt Kathrine, and then go to Beacon and surprise Aunt Glynda and Jaune."
"Jaune is really happy right now." Rouge idly commented.
"Yeah, he was being real strange early." Bleue added. Jasmine didn't say anything, as she had long become accustomed to the quirk of her three darlings. They always seemed to know what the others were feeling, and it wasn't a notion, or a guess. They actually knew. It had come in handy more than once, when using her rights as a mother of eight, she leveraged one of the triplets against the others to get the truth about something. Most often the bullying happening to Jaune.
"Any thoughts on why he's happy?" Jasmine asked, mainly to keep her darling's minds occupied as the bullhead started to take off.
"No, just he feels fantastic…" Rouge started to speak.
"Like he's finally comfortable." Bleue added.
That was another quirk of the trio, and while it wasn't as bad with just Bleue and rouge, once Jaune was added to the mix, have a conversation became distracting with them all speaking on behalf of each other. Those thoughts put a smile on Jasmine's face as she gently squeezed the girl's hands, to calm herself. She may not get motion sick like the triplets, but she sure as hell did not like flying. But she would handle it. Only a few hours and she'll have her baby boy back. Her trio of trouble will once again be complete.
"Jaune is…" Bleue's hand tightened about her mother's.
"Scared." Rouge, finished the statement while also crushing her mother's hand
"Girl's?" Jasmine asked, her hands throbbing from the pressure her two precious gems were exerting.
"Jaune's…" Rouge started.
"Heart is breaking." Bleue finished.
A sense of cold dread flowed up Jasmine's spine, as a ball of burning fury boiled with in the pit of her stomach. If anyone hurt her family… she'll show them why the Goodwitch Triples were known as the Harpies of Haven.
/=/
Glynda had hung up on the infirmary, as soon a picture of Cardin Winchester's additions was shown. This was too much. She had enough with just Jaune she was NOT going to be running interference for Ozpin in regard to the Winchester family. He was on his own, besides, she needed to gather Coco and Jaune. They needed to leave, like yesterday. Her heels clicked against the tiled floor as she jogged her way towards the cafeteria. The sound of very loud music growing in volume as she closed on her destination. Slowing to a walk, she approached the double doors of the north exit, and hesitantly stepped inside.
It was the end of Beacon, it had to be. Her mind thought as she took in the utter anarchy taking place. Her green eyes scanned about, taking in the insanity of what was transpiring. Ms Valkyrie was on a pile of tables, bouncing to the music in nothing but her boots, a part of gym shorts, and her sports bra. While not far away, she actually saw Professor Port, several glow rings draped around his neck and head as he moved through the writhing crowd of students, his head bouncing in time to the beat. Glynda shivered at the thought of him trying to dance, as she started to panic. Her eyes desperately looking for her two targets.
Seeing Coco, she pointed at her and then the floor next to her. The order was given, and the fashionista nodded, before making her way towards her aunt. Now all Glynda had to do was locate Jaune, and then the three of them could escape. She saw a couple shocks of blond hair, picking out Ms Xiao Long.
"Aunt Glynda? Is something wrong?" Coco sounded timid, obviously knowing that Glynda would normally not be tolerating this type of foolishness, but Glynda had reasons to ignore it.
"Your Aunt and Mother are coming to Beacon."
"Why?" Coco sounded stunned and scared.
"She saw your pictures of Jaune, and talked to your Aunt Jasmine; and apparently Jaune hasn't returned any of his moms messages, or answered any of her scroll calls… so you know."
"Shit!"
"Language." Glynda gave Coco a look, before returning to her search, "Have you see Jaune? We need to get out of here. All three of us."
"Go? Where are we…"
"We'll be going to vale. You and Jaune will empty out your bank accounts while I do the same… then we are making a run for Vacuo, and after we get there I'll make contact with someone I think can protect us."
"Are you sure? Maybe they want to just talk?" Coco tried to offer. "And I last saw Jaune over by the paint drums."
"Do you remember the fiasco with the critique who made you cry, after your first fashion show?" Glynda asked as she attempted to locate the pain drums that Coco had mentioned, not that she really knew what they were. "Is that her? Over next to Ms Nikos, Ms Schee and Ms Rose?"
"Yep!"
Glynda repeated the point and point process, but something felt off as she looked at her paint covered niece. By some miracle, Jaune had seen the motions made by her aunt, and was in the process of making her way over, her friends in tow. Glynda sighed, feeling slightly relaxed. Beside's being covered in paint splatters from head to toe, Jaune looked none the worse for wear, and at least now, they would soon would be making their escape. Then it clicked. Jaune was different. Sharp green eyes grew wide in shock as her mind finally noticed the paint splattered ears and tail. Glynda felt a tightness in her chest.
"Aunt Gylnda!" she heard Coco and Jaune scream, as the world began to spin and then suddenly went quiet and black.
/=/
Ozpin sat at his desk, hungover, and terrified. Glynda had abandoned ship by now, which meant he needed to step up and try to come up with some plausible excuse to keep Jasmine Arc pacified. A peace offering would be useful, but he was doubtful he had anything she would want… aside from his head. He looked at the empty bottle on his desk, and then let his eyes roam his office. He spotted his discarded cup, beside the open window. Laying on its side, the three-eighths filled bottle of Atlean Rye. In the centre of his floor, another glass, and if his foggy memories served him… it was Qrow's. He pinched his nose above his glasses. There had to be something. He could do. His scroll started to buzz again, and he sighed. He had been trying to ignore it all day, and in one final show of petulance, he reached out and shoved the offending object off his desk.
He needed sleep, painkillers, and liquids. Then he needed to decipher that damnable book without being drunk. The answer to his issues, was within its pages, he was sure of it; but right now he couldn't give a rat's ass about it. Leaning back in his chair, he searched his top drawer for his bottle of painkillers. Finding it, he popped it open, and found it empty. Dropping it to his desk, he leaned forward, cradling his throbbing head in his hands. From the floor, his scroll started to buzz again.
The ding of his elevator made him look up. He tried to look less hungover that he was, as Bart strode past into his office.
"Bart?" Ozpin croaked, his throat dry.
"Oz, we have problems."
"I don't…"
"Mr Winchester now has donkey ears, and is currently under sedation in the infirmary." Ozpin crooked an eyebrow. He was positive that was his fault, though he wasn't going to admit it, and on a side thought. Mr Winchester was a jackass like the rest of his backward thinking family. Having a set of ears that matched his personality was poetic, or at least Oz felt like it was.
"You said problems."
"Yes, Beacon is currently hosting a school wide rave in the cafeteria."
"A what?"
"A rave." Bart leaned forward and looked into Ozpin's bloodshot eyes. "Do you know where you are?"
"Vale. Beacon. Headmaster's office. My chair." Ozpin replied while leaning back from the Doctor's peering gaze. "Is there alcohol involved?"
"No, it appears to be just fuelled by high spirits, but Peter is patrolling, watching for illicit substances."
"Any damages?"
"Nothing serious. Mostly some of the cafeteria tables, that couldn't handle being used as staging for students to dance on."
"Good, not a problem then."
"Glynda had a spell. She's being taken to the infirmary."
"What type of spell?" Ozpin asked, a spike of sobriety lancing through his muddled mind.
"She just collapsed."
"Do we know why?"
"Uncertain, from the looks of it, it could just be stress, but until Ana runs some tests we won't know."
"Shit." Ozpin swore, as he forced himself from his chair. He weaved a bit, but quickly regained his sense of balance. "I should…"
"No, you should go to your room and sleep. Peter, I and the other teaches can keep things under control."
"If you don't need…"
"I came to check up on you, because you won't answer your scroll."
"Sorry, thought it was bill collectors?" Ozpin tried to offer as an excuse, a rather pathetic excuse.
"Go get some rest, and answer your scroll if we call." Bart narrowed his eyes, giving Ozpin a look, "There is something going on, and Peter and I would like to know what is going on… considering we have both noticed yesterday Mr Arc was now Ms Arc… and today Ms Arc now has a fox tail and ears."
Ozpin chocked on air. The feeling he had of someone walking over his grave yesterday, he remembered it, and considering that he knew Jasmine Arc, Jaune Arc's mother, the middle sister of the Goodwitch Triplets, once known as the Harpies of Haven was on her way to Beacon. That feeling became less of a feeling and more of an omen.
"Oz, are you okay? You're looking rather pale."
"Bart, tell me, truthfully…"
"Okay?"
"Do you think we could convince Jasmine Arc that what happened to her son was the work of Salem?" Ozpin gave his colleague a pleading look. "I'm willing
To tell her everything, if that would help."
"Is Jasmine Arc coming here?" Ozpin just nodded in reply. "And I assume that Katherine Adel will also show up?"
"I would hazard to say yes."
"I wouldn't say that is not in the realm of possibility, but you would really, really, really butter up Glynda for her to play along."
"What do you think it would take?" Ozpin pleaded and sobbed, going so far as to grab his the Doctor's hands and prostrate himself across his desk. "I'll even do my own paperwork!"
"That might actually do it."
/=/
Deep in the grimmlands, Salem sat up straight in her throne. She had been feeling bored, and listless, and just that second she felt a rather large amount of unbridled rage well up inside her chest. Instinctively, she knew someone was throwing her under the bus; and it wasn't hard to figure out who.
"Ozpin, I don't know what you did, but you can't keep pinning all your fuck-ups on me!" Salem snarled. "Doctor!"
"Yes, my queen?" Watts asked as he poked his head through the doors of her throne room.
"Contact… wait. Were you waiting outside my throne room this whole time?" Salem's eyes narrowed.
"Well, I, um…"
"I thought you had final touches to make on that virus of yours?"
"Well, um, I…" a loud ding sounded from the scroll in Watts' hands, causing him to look down at the screen. A very familiar cackle echoed from out in the hallway. "Shit! Tyrian, that was my Rata-Grimemon! Go somewhere else to catch your own!"
"I hate to be interrupting your important… work… but I wish to speak with Cinder, about what is happening in Vale and Beacon."
"I'll make it happen." Watts replied, giving the Queen of the Grimm a weak smile. "I should have the connection ready in two hours."
"Please do." Salem rolled her eyes, and tried once again to justify why she bothered with all this world destruction and domination stuff.
She was immortal after all; and if she found herself a hobby she could just wait out everyone, and take the relics after all civilization collapsed. It would be so much less work, let the humans and faunus kill each other off. How hard could that be? It's not like they aren't trying to do that already. She sighed and slumped back into her throne.