The semester progressed, and so did the lives of the freshman at Beacon. Friendships were formed and strengthened, dorm cultures rose into being, and the general level of camaraderie was satisfactory. It didn't mean that everyone got along, though-for Jaune Arc, the day-to-day routine of school was dampened quite a bit because of one boy: Cardin Winchester, who led Team CRDL. Cardin was a regular bully, and made Jaune's life quite difficult, due to things like stuffing Arc in one of the rocket-lockers and sending him off.
It was not helped that, in today's class, Jaune was squaring off against Cardin in the sim program, their Auras being roughly simulated for the exercise. Jaune, in his Exia, was losing badly against Cardin's Gyan, even though Jaune was trying his best.
The grey-with-dull-red Gyan's heat mace slammed against the Exia's sword, the blade holding, but constantly being pushed away. Cardin's MS was strong in close combat, and it showed as it overpowered Jaune multiple times. Another swing of the vaned mace was stopped by the sword, the blade being pushed closer to the Exia's torso.
Jaune held against this attack, but the Gyan's foot lashed out and kicked Jaune's Gundam in the leg, knocking it off-balance and sending it tumbling to the ground. Cardin's taunt of "this is the part where you lose" became a reality as the Gyan raised the heavy mace, intending to deliver a killing blow, when the simulation suddenly faded away, the dim, featureless arena giving way to the lecture hall of Glynda Goodwitch.
After being strongly reminded to strategize more often by Glynda, a defeated Jaune slinked back to his seat. Not even the announcement of the Vytal Festival would raise his spirits. Later that day, at lunchtime, Teams RWBY and JNPR were sitting together and chatting, with Jaune being the least jovial of the bunch. Cardin hung over him like a dark storm cloud.
It wasn't helped by the fact that, even later, during Professor Bartholomew Oobleck's history class, Jaune fell asleep during the history lesson on the Faunus War and Menagerie, subsequently failing to give the correct answer when called upon by the fast-paced Oobleck. Cardin, who laughed at Jaune's spontaneous answer of "binoculars," was called upon next, and didn't give much of a better answer either.
That earned the both of them an extracurricular essay to turn in for the professor.
With Jaune's enthusiasm dampened significantly by this, Pyrrha thought it'd be good for the two of them to practice sparring on the dormitory roof that night. Jaune was putting up a good fight as usual, though he was still trying to diversify his tactics, even if it wasn't much. Pyrrha often saw combat and dueling to be an effective communicator and a way to enrich one's life, so even if it was strictly hand-to-hand fighting, it still had some value.
After they finished up a round where Jaune went 1-to-3 against his teammate, he asked Pyrrha, "why did you want to this, exactly?"
"Well, Jaune, it's after classes, we're alone, and this is the best way I can help you."
"You think I need help?" he asked, uncertainty in his voice.
"Jaune, everyone 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!"
"You're wrong," Jaune murmured, "I wasn't really accepted into Beacon."
"W-what do you mean?" Pyrrha asked, taken aback a bit.
"I mean, I didn't go to combat school, I didn't pass any tests, I faked my transcripts, I lied about everything! I didn't even inherit that Mobile Suit I use!" He sighed. "I stole it."
Pyrrha, now quite shocked, kept trying to reach out to Jaune, who now completely brushed her away and asked to be alone. He didn't want to be helped or feel like he was constantly in need of help. Pyrrha didn't think much about whether it was pride, ego, something else, or a combination thereof, but she decided to respect his wishes and left him alone on the rooftop.
As soon as she left, however, Cardin climbed up from the top-floor window where he'd been eavesdropping, to Jaune's shock.
Jaune had even more trouble staying awake in Ozpin's class today. It'd been two days after Cardin forced Jaune to start doing his homework for him under threat of blackmail, and the workload got bigger as it began to include the rest of Team CRDL's homework. All of this was taking a toll on Jaune. After being woken up suddenly by Ozpin's voice, Jaune was asked to see the professor after class.
When that time came, Ozpin waved off the other students who were trying to ask him more questions so that he could speak to Jaune alone.
"Mr. Arc, I've noticed you seem to be more exhausted lately. Care to tell me why?"
"Well, uh, you see, uh, I've been taking, uh, long walks at night, you know!"
"Hm. Do these long walks involve working on the assignments of your peers?"
"H-huh?" Jaune was utterly surprised by this. Did Ozpin know? How did he know?
"Mr. Arc, I've noticed some similarities between work turned in by you and by one Cardin Winchester. I hope you are aware that it is quite a strong academic offense to do the work of others. Now, is there some incentive behind this?"
"Uh..." Jaune stammered for a minute, and couldn't come up with anything that could deflect suspicion.
"Mr. Arc, I think I can guess at why. For quite some time-in fact, ever since you came to this academy-you have been concealing some inner secret which you are striving to keep secret, even as the repercussions of it are now becoming a reality."
"Uh, translation?"
"I think you know what I'm talking about, Mr. Arc. I may as well be more blunt. While I am greatly disappointed that someone such as yourself did not come to Beacon through the usual, legitimate channels, I am not going to expel you from the academy."
Jaune's jaw dropped at this statement. "R-really?"
"Well, yes, but that brings me to why I might not have to in the first place: your family has found out who took their experimental Mobile Suit and they are coming to Beacon within the week to take it and you back."
"Oh. No..." Jaune groaned. When he took the Exia, he made sure to cover his tracks as much as possible. For all his family knew, he went off to some other school where he could actually apply himself usefully. Now that they found out, it was all over.
"That's something I definitely object to moreso than the issue of your illegitimate entry into the Academy. Theft of weaponry, especially Mobile Suits, is a very serious issue-"
"But I didn't take it for a joyride or anything! I just wanted something that wasn't a complete antique!"
"Yes, you have not done anything outside the bounds of the Academy, and have followed all the rules for appropriate use and storage. I still do not condone it, but I will wait to deal with this issue."
"Oh..."
"Now, Jaune," Ozpin continued, the tone of the conversation becoming a bit more personal, "I do not think you do not deserve to be here. You came here even though you were likely told you shouldn't or couldn't, you survived initiation, and you have learned and practiced much like any other student here. I think you have potential, and to not exercise that here would be a shame, in my opinion. I will talk to your family in the meantime and see if something can be done to keep you here."
"Thanks, Professor Ozpin. Uh, may I go now?"
"Yes, you may, Mr. Arc. One last thing: don't let anyone try and use this against you. If it gets out to the faculty or the rest of the student body, I will do my best to defend you."
After he left the room, Jaune found Cardin waiting for him. "Hey, Jauney Boy," Cardin called, "where you goin'? Don't you remember we got a side project to work on?"
"Do it yourself, Cardin, I'm done." Offended by Jaune's reply, Cardin stormed after him, getting in his face.
"I'm sorry, did you forget I can destroy your whole career here?"
"Well, I'm sorry, Cardin, but you can't just go and blackmail somebody." Jaune stared defiantly into Cardin's eyes. Cardin responded to this by socking Jaune in the chest, knocking him down onto the cold, hard floor. As Jaune slowly got back up, Cardin grabbed him by the collar and delivered a swift punch to his face. Jaune only looked Cardin in the face again and smiled, feeling a sudden sense of security. This angered Cardin even further, resulting in Jaune getting punched in the face some more.
Cardin was about to connect another punch when his fist stopped an inch from Jaune's face, Jaune's body starting to glow. Jaune's strong Aura was flowing forth now, a subconscious response to the beating he was receiving. Cardin dropped Jaune, clutching his hand in pain.
Cardin was about to resume his pummeling when he heard a voice from behind. "What are you doing to Jaune?" called the accusing voice of Nora, who was suddenly in the hallway. Cardin turned to face Nora and was met by her hard stare, the girl almost ready to wail on him. Looking between Nora and Jaune, Cardin sneered and stormed off.
Going to help Jaune up, Nora asked him "What happened back there?"
"It's a long story, Nora. Short version, I stood up to Cardin and he suddenly got cold feet. Or hands, rather."
After making it back to their dorm room, Jaune decided to tell the others about the whole mess.
"Your family is coming?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah, and I doubt it's just Mom and Dad. I have seven sisters as well, so they're likely all gonna berate me about this." Jaune slumped back on his bed, tired.
"I don't think there's any way out of this, Jaune." Ren commented.
"Well, I guess not. It was nice knowing you guys."
"Come on," Pyrrha interjected, "if Ozpin talks to them, they might give you an alternative to getting kicked out."
"Like what? Miss a year and then come back and have to start all over?"
"No, no, hopefully not that."
"Then what?" Just then, Jaune's datascroll vibrated three times, notifying him of a new message. He grabbed it, opened it up, and saw that it was a message directly from Professor Ozpin himself.
Mr. Jaune Arc,
I have discussed the matter with your family and we have agreed upon a solution that works best for both parties. On the day of your family's arrival at Beacon (estimated to be within two days), your sisters will challenge you to a fight against four of them at once, in Mobile Suits. Should you win, you may remain at Beacon Academy, and you will likely be allowed to keep your current Mobile Suit. Should you lose, you will be forced to leave Beacon and your family will take you and the Mobile Suit back home.
As I have learned that you have seven said siblings, four of whom already pilot Mobile Suits, we have agreed that you may utilize any assistance you can find, so long as it does not extend beyond that of your own team. If your teammates are already aware of your situation, they may likely agree to help you in order to provide an even competition.
I wish you the best of luck in this upcoming ordeal.
Sincerely,
Professor Ozpin
"Oh boy..." Jaune groaned. "Well, it was nice knowing you guys."
NG-001 Exia (Classified Prototype Mobile Suit)
Manufacturer: Unknown (but associated with Arc family)
Operators: Jaune Arc
Operation: Pilot in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions and Weight: 18.3 m. (head height), 57.2 metric tons (current weight)
Design features: Unknown reactor type, unknown particle emissions, 570 m. sensor range.
Armaments: Solid blade+beam rifle (power rating unknown)+shield combo, 2x beam saber, possible integrated weaponry?
There is no information on this Mobile Suit. It is a bespoke design and not, as Jaune Arc claims, a family heirloom (unless he is right and this machine has been extant for a long time, but that is debatable given how little we know of the technology it incorporates). This Mobile Suit, named the "Exia," appears to be a Gundam-type utilizing hitherto-unknown technologies. It appears capable of generating an unknown particle, thought to be Dust-derived, which it then emits in order to generate lift and thrust, but appears to be capable of things such as jamming communications and creating a passive resistance to beam weaponry. Only one other Mobile Suit like this is known to exist, and it is in the custody of Jaune's teammate Lie Ren. An investigation will soon be underway to determine the nature and origin of this machine. The upcoming trial may help to demonstrate more of the Exia's capabilities.