Hello and welcome back to another chapter! I hope you enjoy it!
I do not RWBY. Please support the official release.
WARNING: Jaune fans probably won't like this chapter! I apologize if you don't!
3rd Person POV, Forever Fall
The Bullheads flew over the forest below, fairing the first year students of Beacon Academy. They were near the drop off point, some were checking their equipment, others chatting amongst their friends, wondering what they will do when they land, but it was a different story altogether in one Bullhead.
'This is real awkward.' Weiss thought to herself, sitting with her hands folded in her lap, staring straight ahead and trying not to look in Team JNPRs way. The reason being, the absolute tension that radiated from the four.
Ren looked annoyed but more awkward than anything, wanting nothing more than to be anywhere else than here. Pyrrha looked heavily concerned as she looked between her three other teammates, trying, but failing, to come up with something to break the ice. Nora looked and felt pissed off, not at Ren or Pyrrha, but at her team leader, Jaune. She was sick and tired of him ditching and setting the team to the wayside in favor of Cardin and his team.
When they left to find Jaune the night before, they looked nearly everywhere. From the cafeteria to the library. They searched for over an hour, but there was no hair or hide of him anywhere to be seen. They soon realized that they weren't going to find him, and resigned themselves to stay in their room and wait for him. He eventually did return, and Nora blew up at him as soon as the door was closed.
She berated and chewed him out, demanding to know why he didn't show up for training with Team RWBY and why he never answered his scroll. All Jaune did was lower his head and not say a word, taking the full brunt of Nora's berating. After she calmed down a bit, a look of great worry spread across her face, and with no energy to speak of, she collapsed onto her bed, just feeling tired.
She tried to get Jaune to open up and ask for help, she really did, but Jaune remained stalwart in his silence, refusing to meet her gaze or respond to her words. Pyrrha and Ren joined in soon after, it looked like it was working, but Jaune remained stubborn, turning away from them and voicing his intention of going to sleep.
Nora spluttered with fury at her team leader, wanting nothing more than to ring his neck for his incompetence and stubbornness, but she held herself back from blowing up on him. She hasn't said a word to him since, still mad at him.
Jaune for his part looked like a corpse, the only thing separating him from that notion was his still beating heart. The cold dead look in his eyes, along with his slouched form didn't help his case whatsoever. It looked like he weighed 100x than what he currently does.
Team RWBY looked to one another in slight worry for their friends, not liking seeing them like this at all. They wanted to help and ask what they could do to help, but something was telling them that would be the wrong decision. Instead, they decided to let all their heads cool before confronting them about the matter.
The Bullheads finally landed and the doors were open for the students to depart. One by one, the first year students left their Bullheads and stared in awe at the beauty that was Forever Fall.
It truly lived up to its name, with every tree in sight having completely red leaves from their bases to their canopy, not a single green leaf in sight.
It has always been a matter of great discussion of why this was the case, but most arborists agreed that the sap inside the trees gave them their colors year around.
For most, it was a beautiful sight, for another however...
"Wow! This place is so beautiful! Why haven't we ever came here before!" Ruby squealed in absolute joy, loving the atmosphere the and beauty of the forest.
The only thing stopping her from taking off into the forest at the moment was awaiting the instructions from their liaisons for this trip.
It seems that she wouldn't have to wait long, as out from another Bullhead came their escorts for this trip, Professor Goodwitch and Winter.
Seeing that the students were being a little rowdy and needing their attention anyway to explain to some why they were even here, Professor Goodwitch took out her riding crop and with a *thwack*, she got just what she wanted.
After making sure that everyone was actually here, she started talking, "Alright, for those of you who didn't pay attention, you are here to collect sap from the trees. Now pay close attention, and observe how it is done." Goodwitch said, turning towards Winter and giving her a nod to go.
Winter then went up to a tree, took out the necessary tool, and plunged it into the bark. Taking out a mug, she placed it near the tree and not long after, red sap started spewing from it.
After collecting a sufficient amount, she screwed the lid back on showed it off to the students for demonstration.
Goodwitch nodded in appreciation towards Winter and then turned back towards the students, "If you want, you can earn some extra credit by collecting more jars. It's completely up to you." She said, "that's it, meat back up here when you're done collecting, or in about two hours when we have to leave. Also, please be safe, Grimm activity is pretty high here." With that, the students started dispersing.
Winter and Goodwitch walked along with one another, talking while enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of the red forest.
Ruby took off like a rocket, zooming in between the trees and bushes, absolutely loving every second here. Wiess, Yang and Blake could only smile at their little sister's joyful mood, loving to see her in such a state of bliss.
They nodded at one another and headed off not to far from her, taking out their jars, they started collecting their sap.
After finally calming down, Ruby too found a suitable tree, and punctured it, waiting as the jar was slowly filled. She loved it here, there was nothing that could of ruined her mood.
Jaune's POV
'This is absolute hell.' I bitterly thought to myself. I was tired like nothing else and the company didn't make me feel any better. After de boarding the Bullhead, I wanted nothing more than to collapse and take a nice long, sound nap.
Cardin and his team ran me ragged yesterday, making me nothing more than their personal punching bag and calling it training. My large aura reserves were usually a blessing, but it was an absolute torture device against Cardin and his team. I tried to fight back, letting all the anger I held at them power my body even further, but it only backfired on me. It only extended the beat down further. I already wasn't a match for even just one of them alone, let alone the four of them together.
After throughly beating me down and making sure I had just enough aura to recover any physical injuries, they left me alone. I dragged myself back to my room on the remaining wisps of energy I had left. I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted by the end of it all.
It didn't help that when I actually got back, Nora, rightfully, ripped me a new one. I was only halfheartedly listening to her while she was doing so, absolutely drained from the day I had. Pyrrha and Ren soon joined in, trying to get me to open up to them, but like an idiot, I didn't listen. All I wanted to do was collapse on my bed, fall asleep and forget about the day.
Of course, as irony would have it, despite feeling like I've been awake two weeks, I only got two of sleep. I tried desperately to fall asleep, but no matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn't overtake me.
When I thankfully did fall asleep, I didn't get to enjoy it. Nora woke me up and made sure that we weren't going to be late, my tiredness be damned. She pretty much had to dress me myself, I was just to exhausted to do anything.
The ride over here wasn't pleasant at all either, the less than smooth ride and my weak stomach made it an absolute joy of a trip.
After not paying attention whatsoever to Professor Goodwitch, I was about to collapse on the soft looking dirt below. But luck once again wasn't smiling on me.
"Jaune, come on over! We're heading this way!" Cardin said, waving me over to his direction. I looked back for a brief moment to steady and prepare myself for what I was sure was going to be a dogshit day, and immediately regretted it.
Nora was right there, an unreadable expression on her face. I might of been sleep deprived, but I knew that the decision I make right now would have some long reigning consequences. She was giving me one more chance to come with them, my team. It was more than I would of gave in her shoes and the prospect of forgetting it all and just going with them sounded just as good as I thought. However, the black mail that Cardin had on me rung louder than Nora's look. So, just like every time before, I thought of myself and not my team. With strength I didn't know I have, I painfully turned away from Nora and headed towards Cardin.
The exhale of air and the sound of cracking fingers was all I needed to know of Nora's opinion of me. I don't blame her, I would hate me as well.
When I finally made my way over to Cardin, he threw his arm around me like we were the best of friends, like we knew each other since kindergarten. The absolute rage and hate I had for this man was not to be understated. I despised him, I would like nothing more than to choke the light from his eyes, but I preferred this over the hell that would be my secret getting out. I keep telling myself that this was it, he's finally going to let me go after this, but I was deluding myself. Ruby was more than likely right, Cardin was never going to let me go.
We made our way deeper into the forest, with me carrying all the supplies, until we found a suitable clearing to do our tasks. By that, I mean me doing mine, along with Cardin and his team's as well.
"Well Jaune, you better get started, we only have two hours after all." Cardin said, laying back against a tree with a box sitting beside of him. Where did that come from?
I resign myself and walk up towards a tree and begin the process of collecting the sap. It wasn't even five minutes in until I felt a pebble hit me, followed by the sounds of snickering. I let out a deep calm breath, trying to sooth my frazzled state of mind. 'Just today Jaune, and then you're done.' I told myself.
By the time I was done with the first jar, a little over a dozen rocks of various sizes hit me. I wanted nothing more than to go over to Cardin and his lackeys and unleash all my pent up anger, but I knew it would all be for naught. I just wasn't strong enough and I hated it.
The time ticked on and on, with me filling up the jars all the while. Cardin and his team got bored chucking stuff my way after the third jar was filled, that, or they ran out of stuff to throw. Instead, they then stated to just talk amongst one another, thankfully not speaking to me while doing so.
I nearly fell over in exhaustion and tiredness halfway through the fifth and final one, but I knew I was nearly done, I would soon hopefully be rid of Cardin.
My sense of peace was immediately shattered by said persons voice, "Say, Jaune, I don't like sitting here anymore, let's go somewhere a bit different, yeah?" He said, getting up and picking up the box as well.
I was this close to voicing my discontent but held it back, I was nearly done anyway, I'll just finish up were he wants to settle his lazy ass.
Cardin took the lead, marching like he already knew where he wanted to go. It wasn't long after that Cardin suddenly stopped and turned with a malevolent smirk on his face, glancing down at the box like it contained the secrets to permanently getting rid of the Grimm. I didn't like it whatsoever, my heart rate began to pick up.
I couldn't see behind him, but I knew there was a small clearing behind it. He was purposefully blocking my vision to see into it, not wanting me to see it at all. What could he be hiding?
He handed over the box to one of his teammates, whose name I couldn't remember, then turned towards me, his smirk remaining steadfast.
"Now Jaune, all I need you to do is throw one of those jars above my head, and then you're done, you won't have to deal with us ever again. Don't worry, I'll catch it." He said, his tone of voice now teasing.
I didn't like the way he said that, but I was too tired to care at the moment. So, taking one of the jars, I lightly tossed it slightly above his head. He did as he said he would and caught it, but the frown on his face told me I apparently done something wrong.
"What was that pussy ass of a throw? Put some more arm strength into it, damn." He said, roughly tossing it back to me. I fumbled with it in my hands, but I eventually caught it. My heart rate surged again, the red hot blood in my veins pouring energy back into my tired frame.
I tossed it again, slightly harder this time, and just like before he caught it. Just like before, he had an frown on his face that was more a snarl than anything.
"I said, put some power into it you bitch! Can't you do anything in your life right you gods damned cheater!" Cardin spoke once more, his anger getting more and more prevalent. He tossed it back at me again, but I didn't fumble with it this time.
'Fine, if he wants it to go over his head, then so be it, I'm sick and fucking tired of being treated like a dog.' Reeling back, I threw it right over his head, making sure that he couldn't catch it. I don't know why he wanted me to do this anyway, but I really didn't give a shit at the moment.
I was taken out of my thoughts when I heard the sound of glass shattering followed by the surprise yelp of a girl. All the while the jar was flying, Cardin's teammate with the box suddenly threw it open, and what came out made my heart stop.
Rapier Wasps. At that thought, it felt like a haze that was over my brain was suddenly lifted, and I was finally all too aware of what I just did. He tricked me into throwing a jar full of sap that was a beacon to Grimm at someone... and I fell for it.
"RUBY!" The yell of three very familiar voices brought me back to reality. Cardin as well it seems, as he was just as surprised as I was when we heard those voices, and was that fear in his eyes?
It was at that moment that it clicked for me, and my eyes widened to the size of saucers at what I just done. The Rapier Wasps were already half way to their target when we heard the voices. I only had time to realize the awful discussion I made before I heard the worst pain filled scream I've ever heard.
3rd Person POV
It's funny how quick a situation can turn on its head. One moment, everything could be going swimmingly, not a single wrong in the world. The next, it could be absolute mayhem and carnage.
All was going well for Team RWBY. Ruby herself was on her own, getting some extra jar's of sap because it seemed like the nice thing to do. Weiss, Blake and Yang were separated from her, but they weren't far away, only shouting distance in fact.
They were talking amongst one another about whatever came to mind, from past relationships to their time at Beacon so far, they were enjoying the little break they were having.
Which was why they were greatly surprised and terrified when they heard the sound of glass shattering followed by the a very familiar yelp. Their heads turned at breakneck speeds, promising a world of pain and suffering to whoever hurt their little sister.
It was at that moment that they observed multiple different things at once. One, it seemed as if the world came to a crawl, like time itself stopped ticking.
Two, they noticed Cardin and his team, along with Jaune, was right above where Ruby was, just out of hearing distance and sight to them if you weren't paying attention. They also noticed a box in one of Cardin's teammates hands and also Jaune carrying multiple jars of red sap that Ruby was now covered in.
Finally, and most importantly to them, a horde of Rapier Wasps were making their way right towards Ruby. It was at that moment that it clicked for all of them. The absolute dread they felt at the moment couldn't of been stated.
"RUBY!" They screeched out to her, but it was useless, she had some earphones in, listening to music while she was collecting the sap. It didn't stop them from springing into action though.
Blake drew Gambol Shroud the fastest she has ever done so, but it was to late. The Rapier Wasps swarmed Ruby, intent on feasting upon the sap from the tress. They noticed however that a human was covered in it, and paying attention to their instincts and hatred, they started immediately stinging her.
The absolute pain filled screams from her sounded out like a bell, attracting all nearby attention to it. Ruby was attempting to swat the Rapier Wasps away, but there were to many of them. For every one she swatted, three took its place and delivered the most excruciating stings known to Remnant.
By the time the safety on Blake's weapon was off, Ruby had already been stung a near dozen times. She fired her first shot, taking out one of the Wasps that was swarming her baby sister. She fired again and again, all her shots ringing true. The only thing on her mind at the moment was to help Ruby, her sisterly instincts hammering in her veins.
Weiss and Yang wasn't ideal either. They knew they didn't have the best advantage at long range, so they did the next best thing. They blitzed towards Ruby at breathtaking speeds, their instincts firing the same as Blake's. By the time they arrived, Blake had killed nearly a dozen in rapid fire succession with her pistol part of her weapon, and more were soon to follow.
Weiss's rapier flew out like a rocket, dozens of precise stabs were launched in the span of a second, all intent on alleviating Ruby of the Rapier Wasps. Yang was throwing punches at blurring speeds, each impact imploding a Rapier Wasp.
They all were near catatonic in fear and dread. Tears were streaming down their face like rivers. They've never heard Ruby scream like that before. The absolute pain and misery in her voice made their hearts sink to bottom of their stomachs.
Ruby fell to the ground in misery, the venom of the Wasps doing what it was designed to do. She was convulsing on the floor in mind shattering pain, every muscle in her body clinched together as the venom flowed through her veins. It felt like molten lava was flowing through her blood stream, every part of her felt like it was on fire. The places were they stung felt like gunshot wounds, making the already horrible pain dial up to a hundred.
Rapier Wasps were special. They weren't the biggest, strongest or most intelligent, but they were considered the most deadly of Grimm for one little detail. Their stings. Unlike most other Grimm, they are able to bypass a person's aura completely with their stingers. They were the only known Grimm to do that, and they were deadly for it.
However, it wasn't the sting that would kill a person, no, that was just to torture the poor victim. They would be paralyzed in pain and agony and because of all the negative emotions radiating off them, it was pretty much a dinner bell for all nearby Grimm.
That was what was happening to Ruby, and Weiss, Blake and Yang knew it. They throughly studied the multitude of Grimm on Remnant and knew the Rapier Wasps reputation. Which was why their tears were streaming. They heard all about the pain these little devils could cause and they were witnessing it first hand happening to their little sister. By the time the last of them were swatted out of the sky, Ruby was flopping on the ground in agony, barely holding in a pain filled scream.
Blake took off like a bat out of hell as soon as the last one fell, making a straight path to her little sister. Yang and Weiss collapsed right next to Ruby, trying to keep her still and sooth her as much as they could.
"It's alright Ruby, we're here, we're here!" Yang tearfully called out, the vice like grip she held couldn't be broken. She was panicking and starting to breath heavily, such was here fear at the moment.
Weiss to clung to her baby sister with all the strength she had, running a hand through her short soft hair, trying to sooth Ruby, and to an extent, herself. "It's okay Ruby, everything is going to be fine! We aren't going anywhere, I promise!" Her words came out more as choked sobs than anything, the pain Ruby was in far more damaging than anything that could of been done to her.
Blake was already their, checking over Ruby's entire body, trying and failing to come up with something to do. "It's okay Ruby! It's okay, it's okay!" She muttered to herself like a mantra, voice filled with panic and dread.
This continued on for a moment, until miraculously, Ruby managed to lift her hand despite the agony she was in. "What is it Ruby! What's wrong!" Yang said, her voice filled with panic and worry. She nearly broke down, but she held on for Ruby's sake, intent on being here for here.
Ruby slowly and painfully guided her hand over towards the clearing that held Jaune, Cardin and his team. All three of their eyes zipped towards them and a moment of realization came over them.
Jaune, Cardin and them for their part for some reason didn't move a muscle when all that was going on. Cardin and his team in shock and bewilderment, and Jaune in absolute dread filled self hatred. He absolutely despised every fiber of his being right now, he felt like the worst piece of human trash that has ever walked the face of the planet. He was this close from running away, or at the very least, trying to kill Cardin and his team for what they made him do. But a strange feeling came over him, a feeling that both of those would of been the wrong thing to do, and it seems that felling was correct.
It didn't take long for Weiss, Blake and Yang to piece it all together. Jaune was holding the holding the weapon that caused their little sister so much agony. One of Cardin's teammates, whose name they've never learned, was holding a box that could contain Rapier Wasps quite comfortably. Cardin was in front of it all, like a dear stuck in headlights, he hadn't moved an inch since he heard them scream their sisters name. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened.
As one, it all clicked, and that feeling of absolute dread and worry for their baby sisters pain and agony was transformed into a white hot rage. The adrenaline that was already flowing through them surged once more, wanting nothing more than to unleash a world of pain.
Their already immense hatred of Cardin and his team skyrocketed, if they hated them before, then there wasn't a word to describe the resentment they felt for them now.
From Cardin's and their point of view, it looked like Death itself manifested behind Weiss, Blake and Yang. The hatred in their eyes was near heart stopping to look at. A sense of dread and disparity fell upon them and they knew at that moment that they fucked up. You apparently don't mess with or harm their baby sister.
The only warning they got that pain was soon to become an intimate friend of theirs, was Yangs eyes going red, her hair pretty much catching on fire.
They blitzed them, in the blink of an eye, they cleared the distance between themselves. Cardin had just enough time to regret his life decisions before Yang thrust her arm out with all of her power.
As soon as her fist made contact with Cardin's diaphragm, his aura immediately shattered. His ribs creaked and snapped under the immense pressure they were put under, some of them even nearly penetrating his lungs and heart. But Yang didn't care, instead, she leaned into it and sent him flying.
The only thing that saved Cardin from dying was him slamming into brush and not into a tree, but it didn't really matter all that much. The absolute agony he was in at the moment was only surpassed by Ruby's own and her sisters rage.
Blake hit a flying knee on the one who held the box's face, shattering his aura and his nose. He too went flying but he wasn't as lucky as Cardin, he slammed into a tree back first, nearly impacting his skull. He bounced off the bark and face planted in the dirt, damaging his nose even further. His back was in a world of pain, feeling exactly what you would expect impacting a tree at breakneck speeds would feel like. His velocity was so great in fact that it left a noticeable dent in the poor tree.
Weiss grabbed the last two by the throat and charged straight ahead. She came upon a tree in her way, and using one of the people she had in her clutches, barreled straight through it with him as the battering ram. She continued doing this for about a half dozen trees when their aura's finally broke. Having enough since to not kill them, which took a great amount of restraint, she insisted disposed of them by slamming their faces into the ground, shattering their noses.
It took all of five seconds for the rest of the students to find out why you don't hurt one of the sisters of Team RWBY, and they made sure to take Cardin's and his team's sacrifice to heart.
There was still one person left who wasn't touched yet though, and ironically, it was the person who wanted nothing more than to be hit. Jaune felt like absolute trash, like the worst person ever. He fully expected and wanted to be pummeled into the ground, what he did fully constituted it in his mind.
Instead, not a single finger was laid upon him by the three. Instead, he was given a much worse fate. When he looked to the three of them, he saw rage incarnate, tears flowing from the three of them in anger and sadness. But that wasn't what broke him, it was the look of betrayal in their eyes that done it for him.
They wanted to help him, they offered it, Ruby more so than the others, and he spat on their faces. All for what, his pride? His fear that his secret would get out? He wished for nothing more than that to happen then what he just did. He hurt his friend, someone who wanted not more than to help him, and how did he repay it? He sent her into a world of pain and agony.
The tears flowed down his cheeks like streams, he looked to Weiss, Blake and Yang, wanting to say anything to voice his sorrow for what he did, but nothing came out. Instead, his mouth hung open like a goldfish, wanting to say a million things but not one coming out.
They looked at him with hatred in their eyes and as one turned around and rushed back to their sisters side, openly sobbing at her state. They couldn't do nothing for Ruby, there is no anti venom to Rapier Wasps. The only thing you could do was ride out the storm of misery and pain.
They sat by her side and gave as much words of encouragement as they could, clinging to her like the world was trying to take her away.
"Jaune! What happened! Are you alright!" Jaune's heart sank to the bottom of his stomach when he heard that voice. He turned around and saw his team, running up to him with worry clear in their eyes. The self hatred he felt only grew.
"What the hell happened here! Why are Cardin and his team laid out! What was that scre..." Nora never finished her sentence, from out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Weiss, Blake and Yang huddled over the convulsing form of Ruby, her whimpers of pain sounding absolutely dreadful.
Pyrrha and Ren soon saw that as well, and then looked to Jaune, who still held the jars. Lessons from Professor Ports class flooded their minds, and they soon came to a realization. Ren stared in abject horror and shock at what he realized, piecing the story together.
Pyrrha had her hands over her mouth, just as shocked and terrified as the rest. Tears ran down her face, she couldn't believe Jaune would of done this. The same self hatred that Jaune held started to take manifest in Pyrrha as well, she blamed herself for this, she should of pressed Jaune more, should of made him open up. Now, because she felt like she didn't do enough, Ruby was paying the price.
Nora felt the same thing as her teammates, absolute shock at the situation. But that soon manifested into an unyielding rage. She shook in anger, both at herself and Jaune. She spoke in a low, cold tone of voice, venom dripping out of each word, "Why? Why didn't you tell us!?" She yelled at him, tears of sorrow an anger flowed from her. Jaune didn't say a word.
"What could of been so important that you did this!? Why didn't you just ask us for help!?" She yelled and yelled, her words becoming nothing more than choked filled sobs. She wanted to say a million more things, but she just couldn't get them out.
Nora collapsed to her knees, openly sobbing. She hated herself, she should of done more, she should of done something. But it was to late, and because of it her friend was writhing on the ground.
Jaune opens his mouth to speak, but only got a short breath out before Nora's head shot back up with renewed vigor, the look of hatred she sent Jaune was damning. She didn't say a word, but that was all Jaune needed to know to shut the fuck up.
Hearing the wind pick up from behind them, they turned around and spotted Professor Goodwitch and Winter. They were on the other side of the forest, checking up on the students there when this all went down. They only now just found out about this. A student came running and yelled to them that Ruby was swarmed by Rapier Wasps on the other side of the forest.
The absolute pitfall that formed in their stomachs when they heard that was palpable. They took off at speeds worthy of their reputations, clearing the distance in less than a minute.
Goodwitch looked all around and quickly deduced what happened. The widening of her eyes when she realized what transpired was all that needed to be said for her. She looked at Jaune with such distaste that he finally registered that he still had four jars in his hands. Goodwitch nodded to Winter who took off at Team RWBY like a rocket.
Goodwitch turned her attention back to Jaune, and just when she was about to speak, she was interrupted by the sounds of howling. She turned her attention towards where she heard it and look of steel formed in her eyes, "Get ready, Grimm are coming." She cut straight to the point, taking out her riding crop. She turned to Jaune once more, and spoke in an even, cold as ice voice, "You're not off the hook, as soon as this is dealt with, you're in for a world of trouble young man." She pointedly said, leaving no room for argument.
She jumped down from the tree she was on and picked up the unconscious forms of Team CRDL, wincing at the poor state they were in. She set them next to Team JNPR, not having to say a word to get her point across. They didn't want to do what Goodwitch wanted them to do, wanting to throw them at the Grimm more than anything, but they resigned themselves and took guard.
Jaune groggily dropped the jars, and with great difficulty, took out his sword and shield. He was shaking like a leaf, completely and utterly drained from the day he's had. It didn't help that he knew it was somehow only going to get a lot worse.
From Winter and Team RWBY's side, Winter looked to the four of them, absolutely hating that this has happened to them, but more mad at herself that she didn't see this coming. She saw the looks they sent Team CRDL's way and vise versa, but she didn't speak up and now she was paying for her passiveness.
She knew that Weiss, Blake and Yang were in dire straits right now and weren't thinking straight, the look of sorrow and protectiveness that they held said everything that needed to be said. She would of normally had them disperse to better take care of Ruby, but something told her that would of been a futile effort, so she instead stood guard over them. It wasn't like she could do anything anyway, Rapier Wasps were a damn menace.
A Beowulf charged out of the clearing and straight at them, she was about to end the son of a bitches life, but she never got the chance. Clearly taking note of their soundings more than she them credit for, Weiss, Blake and Yang gained a look of pure fury and with a yell turned around unleashed an arsenal of hell on the Beowulf. Shotgun blasts, pistol shots and ice dust assaulted the Beowulf with reckless abandon, tearing it into absolute shreds.
Angry tears poured from their faces, their hatred for the creatures of Grimm only growing. Winter was mildly concerned, but she didn't blame them at all, she would of done the same thing if she was in their shoes.
Seeing that Goodwitch needed some help, and knowing that the three of them wouldn't leave Ruby's side no matter what happened, she turned to them and spoke, "I'm going to go help hold off the Grimm, it might be redundant to say, but protect Ruby, get her out of here and back to the Bullheads." She told them. They looked to her with tears still flowing but they nodded and carefully picked up their precious little sister.
Winter sent the best sympathetic look she could and charged head on into the horde of Grimm, intent on letting some of her frustration out. She made a promise to herself that she would visit and make sure they all were alright as soon as she could.
Weiss, Blake and Yang carried Ruby like she was made of porcelain, like if they weren't careful she would brake. They were a jumble of all sorts of different emotions, their minds racing a mile a minute. They despised Cardin and his team for what they did to their little sister, hating every facet of their lives. They didn't care if they might of caused them permanent harm, they didn't care that they might get expelled for the harm they caused them, they didn't care about any of it. They only cared on making sure Ruby, their little sister and light of their lives was safe and cared for at the moment.
They made a silent vow to themselves, they vowed that this would never happen to Ruby or any of them again, consequences be damned.
Well here it is, another chapter!
Now, I'm going to hazard a guess and say that this will probably be my most controversial chapter to date. If I had to guess, you either loved or despised this chapter, I don't think there will be an in between.
I liked the chapter honestly, the only gripe I have with it is that I felt like I didn't portray it well enough, I am still a new author after all, but maybe I did, who knows. Let me know what you think.
This is what I meant by a big decision, this right here. From the very beginning when I got this idea, I always knew that I wanted Jaune to throw the sap. I've always like that idea when I first read it in Optimistic Gamer: Revised. If you haven't, I would go check it out, it's one of the best written fics I've ever seen.
But back to the chapter, I knew I wanted Jaune to do it, it just so happened to change how he did it. I done this for plot progression to be honest, I wanted Team RWBY's relationship to progress even further, kick it into a higher gear you could say, and this seemed like a great way to do so. But I could be wrong, maybe you have a better idea, if so, let me know, I would love to hear it.
Jaune is going to be in for a world of pain to come, but he will come out stronger for it, I promise I done all this for a reason. Now, Team CRDL? Yeah, they probably aren't going to be at Beacon in a little bit.
Next chapter will be the fallout of all of this, so look forward to that I guess.
So, until next time, and have an amazing day!
