Chapter 13: Life Lessons

In which lunch is troublesome, class is hectic, and detention is life-changing.

"…and Ren and I, triumphant heroes, returned to the village to claim the trillion lien reward! Ren squandered his share on pancake batter and investments in a startup sloth sanctuary, but I was smart enough to spend mine on our continued education at Beacon. I had to spare Renny some dough so he could join me, but it was worth it to get him to stop wailing like a baby."

"Nora, that's not how it happened…" Ren began exasperatedly.

"Let me guess," said Sky. "It was the other way around?"

"No," Ren stated. "Nora stole mine and spent it all on the pancakes and sloths. We had to rob a bank to get funding for Beacon."

Yang cackled. "Didn't know you could make a joke, Ren!"

The TV in the cafeteria chimed as the Vale News Network came on. "Lisa Lavender here. Please continue to be on the lookout for these dangerous criminals who are accused of having robbed the Vale Central Credit Union. Eyewitnesses describe an emotionless ninja wielding two submachine guns aided by his accomplice, a young woman with orange hair armed with a grenade launcher. Suspects are considered armed and extremely dangerous. Please report any sightings to the VPD."

"What about you, Yang? Any crazy stories to share with the table?" Nora asked, munching on the full baguette she was eating. Teams Rainbow, Adventure, and Castle were all sharing lunch before their midafternoon Grimm studies class.

"Well, one time, I went to this super seedy nightclub to get some information on someone I was tracking down. Now, this was very cloak-and-dagger business. So, I went up to the bartender and asked for a drink. The owner, a real giant of a guy, comes up to me and calls me sweetheart."

Weiss chuckled. "I'm guessing you really told him off."

Yang smiled. "Nope. Tore the guys balls off, wasted his entire security force, beat the shit out of two teenage girls, and blew up the entire club with my semblance. He'll think twice about calling me sweetheart again. Assuming he survived and continues to have the capacity for speech."

The table fell silent.

"Fuck yeah!" Nora yelled, drawing the attention of several nearby students with her volume. "The Queen of the Castle names you Duchess of the Rainbows."

Ruby perked up. "Wait, was that what you were doing two weeks ago when I found you in downtown Vale? Hey, you said it was a long story – that took, like, all of ten seconds to tell."

Weiss' face fell into her mashed potatoes. She seemed to regret this overdramatic action when they got in her hair, though. "I'm surrounded by criminals. At least I have a partner who's on the right side of the law." Blake impassively continued to sip her orange juice.

"So, Blakey-Wakey-Eggs-and-Bakey?" Yang asked. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"You must have been doing something before Beacon. What's your story?"

"…"

Everyone stared at her curiously. "Blake?"

"I–"

Thankfully, a shrill yelp from across the cafeteria took the attention off Blake. She was about to praise the Brothers for giving her a way out of answering when she saw the yelp's origin. Cardin Winchester, the missing member of the three teams, was yanking on a rabbit Faunus' ears.

Everyone around Blake tensed.

"What a freak!" Cardin shouted for all to hear.

Fucking piece of–

"–Beowolf shit!" said Sky. "I can't believe that asshole is my partner. Why'd you make me, Nora?"

"We needed the C!"

Ruby rose (thank the Brothers Yang couldn't hear Blake's thoughts) from her seat. "Let's stop him."

Good idea, Ruby, Blake thought sarcastically.

Pyrrha placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "If you stop him, he'll only do it again later when you're not around."

Right on schedule. A perfect excuse so humans can walk away happy without having done anything. Meanwhile, the Faunus suffers.

"But…she's being hurt…we could stop him," Ruby whined.

Dove looked towards the scene of bullying. "She needs to protect herself, Xiao-Long. Scarlatina is a third year student at the top of her combat class. If she wished it, she could reduce Cardin to a smear on the floor." Dove's gaze fell squarely on Cardin. "Though it would not be a significant change."

Cardin continued harassing the Faunus, and Blake's teammates continued to watch and make excuses. As long as they voiced how much they disapproved, they were of course good people.

"Ha, I knew they were real."

"Ow, that hurts!"

Weiss, who Blake had specifically noticed was quiet up to this point, raised a hand forward. A bright white Glyph appeared between Cardin and Velvet. Weiss moved her arm, and the Glyph followed, taking Cardin along with it. When Cardin tried to turn the other way, Weiss raised her other hand and formed two more Glyphs. Cardin was trapped in a triangle of floating runic barriers.

"Friends," she said calmly. "Just because we cannot permanently solve the problem does not mean we should fail to address it entirely. We are hunters and huntresses, defenders of the weak. Nora, you especially – you're his team leader, so he's your responsibility."

"I'm sorry, Weiss," Nora admitted sincerely. "I'm still getting used to being Queen of the Castle! Could you keep holding him still?"

Nora strolled over to Cardin with the baguette stick still in her hand. When she got over to him, she drew it back and aimed a swing to break his legs. Cardin (aware like all students were that Beacon food was weapons grade) recoiled in fear, but Nora stopped at the last second before hitting him.

"It's not so much fun when someone's gonna hurt you and there's nothing you can do, is it?"

Cardin rapidly began to stammer out agreements.

"I'm disappointed in your behavior, Cardin."

Cardin cringed. "I'm sorry, Nor–"

Nora raised an eyebrow.

"I-I mean, I'm sorry, Queen of the Castle Nora."

Nora wrapped her arm around Cardin's neck in a headlock and ruffled his hair playfully. "Now apologize to Velvet."

"I'm sorry, Velv–"

Nora raised another eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, Viscountess of the Coffee Velvet."

Nora nodded in approval. "Ren, please let the professor know we'll be late for history. Cardin and I are going to be having some one-on-one therapy." Cardin gulped in fear as Nora carried him off, still in a headlock.

Blake turned back to Weiss as the excitement died down. "I didn't know you cared so much about the Faunus, Weiss. I'm proud of you." To Blake's own surprise, she meant it. The Schnee actually cares. I really would never have expected it in a million years. I wonder if she and I might actually…

Weiss nodded to accept the compliment, resumed eating her salad, and angrily glared as Cardin was spirited away. "I absolutely cannot stand animal abusers."

"Listen up, kiddos. Beacon's history teacher is…dammit. He was a friend of mine, but he won't be teaching anymore."

Pyrrha had heard all about the man who stood at the front of the classroom. Ruby, her closest female friend, had mentioned him time and time again. And she hadn't exaggerated.

"Oz called me in personally. I had to fly all the way from Solitas, if you're wondering why this class's first lesson was two weeks after all the others. Old fucker let me think it was some kinda mission. Didn't say it was to make use of my world renowned teaching skills."

Pyrrha could smell the alcohol.

Qrow Branwen was brandishing an enormous mechanical…sword-thing. He'd initially carved his name into the chalkboard with the blade then tried to use the eraser to wipe the writing off to no avail. Now, he'd apparently given up altogether on writing and decided to orate his lectures.

"So, we're gonna be talkin' about–" he checked his syllabus "–the Faunus Wars? How can anyone not know 'bout that shit by age seventeen? Ruby, yer off the hook since yer a five-year-old, but the rest of you oughta be able to teach me about this."

The sword soared through the air and embedded itself into Pyrrha's desk. Her notebook had the misfortune of being between the blade and its target.

"You."

"Pyrrha Nikos, sir."

"Who was the dumbass in charge of the human army in the Faunus Wars?"

"That would be General Lagune, sir."

"Where'd he fuck his own army so bad that they're still washing the dried jizz off their blades?"

"…t-that would be the Battle of Fort Castle, sir."

"Not bad, kiddo. Glad to see Vale's putting my tax dollars to good use in the public schools."

"Um. I'm actually from Mistral, sir."

"Mistral, eh? One sec. Imma go fly to Leo and shove this up his ass." He grabbed his sword out of Pyrrha's deceased notebook. "Bastard thinks he can make Mistral's schools better than my Signal? He's in for a–"

Professor Branwen crashed headfirst into the closed window he'd run straight into. Pyrrha would've felt self-conscious for her participation in such tomfoolery if it weren't for everyone else in the classroom being equally uncomfortable. Yang and Ruby were practically melting into their seats in embarrassment.

Swaying as he pulled himself upright, the professor mumbled, "I shoulda been Beacon's combat teacher. Why couldn't Goody Goodbitch have died instead of…'stead of…"

He trailed off and wiped his mouth. To Pyrrha's amazement, the man straightened up, stowed his weapon on his back, and grabbed a stick of chalk. It looked like he was sobering up right before her very eyes.

"Sorry about that, buddy. Just some first day jitters. I'll take care of yer class." Pyrrha had a feeling the words were not directed at her or any other student.

What followed had to be the most thorough lesson on the Faunus Wars that Pyrrha had ever received. Even if the man giving it smelled like a walking distillery.

Weiss moaned in pleasure. Jaune cupped his hands around her petite breasts and gently squeezed. Ecstasy overtook her, and she passionately kissed Jaune on the lips.

"J-Jaune."

"What do you need, Snow Angel?"

"Please, say…say…"

"Say your name, Weiss?"

"Say…say…say the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces!"

Jaune woke up with a start. The scruffy guy was so close to Jaune's face that he couldn't be sure he hadn't actually just gotten his first kiss.

"Don't worry, kiddo, I'm not gonna tear you a new one for passing out in public. If anything, I could give you some pointers on yer technique. But this shit's gonna be on the final, so I'll need an answer."

Jaune looked around frantically for clues. Dove was looking away from Jaune (he'd been doing that since their first day of Plant Studies). Russel shrugged, apparently as clueless as him. Pyrrha was making some sort of hand gesture over her eyes. Was she mocking him for falling asleep in class? Rude.

Jaune decided to wing it. "The Faunus…had…had…" C'mon, how do you win a siege?

"C'mon, not getting any drunker here, kid!"

"They had catapults!"

Professor Branwen stared at him, then smiled. "Spot on, kiddo. He's right, class – the Faunus loaded their catapults with night vision and launched it over the walls of Fort Castle onto the human forces outside." The class snickered. Pyrrha hung her head in disappointment. Oh, that was the eye thing she was doing!

"Sorry, but that's gonna be detention this evening, buddy," the teacher said sympathetically.

The lecture continued, but Jaune's heart wasn't in it. He was no closer to being a hero than when he'd come to Beacon. If anything, he was more like a villain now. He'd cheated his way into becoming a team leader and stolen the job from Dove.

Jaune wasn't stupid. He knew that Dove had wanted to be leader. Russ was content to follow, and Pyrrha seemed happy for Jaune. But Dove, one of his very first friends at Beacon, one of his first friends ever, had called the shots. He found out where the cave was, he got them food, he did…he did everything. Jaune had one good idea during the fight with the mutated Grimm. When it came time for detention, a minor punishment didn't seem so bad compared to the guilt that was eating away at Jaune.

He went to sit in the furthest desk from Professor Branwen, but the bearded man wasn't having it.

"Get over here, kiddo."

Jaune approached him. "Sorry about falling asleep, sir. It won't happen–"

"S'not that. I spoke with Goodbitch. She's saying yer not up to snuff in combat."

Oh, shit.

"I looked over a recorded fight you had with one of the other brats, Carleton Worcestershire or whatever. You don't fight too hot. At all. How tha' fuck did you even get into Bea–"

"Now, now, Qrow. Go easy on the poor boy." Student and teacher turned to see the headmaster standing in the doorway

"Oz? What're you doing here?" asked Professor Branwen.

"Let's just say you weren't the only one to take an interest in young Mister Arc's combat class scores. I'll take it from here, Qrow. Why don't you fly off and roost somewhere?"

"Hardy har har. I'm gonna go get sloshed. Try not to molest John too hard, old man."

Ozpin sat next to Jaune as Qrow left, pulling a flask out of his syllabus binder.

"Headmaster, I–"

"–cheated. Lied. Forged."

Oh, Dust. No, please, not like this.

"Don't worry, Mister Arc. I've known for a while. Since I first saw your fake transcripts, as it so happens."

"Sir, I'm so sorry. I should've never –"

"You were right to do what you did."

Okay, that wasn't what Jaune had been expecting. Like, at all. "What?"

"Jaune, I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child on this planet. But letting you come to Beacon was not one of them. I still have contacts in Ansel. I know you were rejected from primary combat schools due to your lack of training, and I know of the argument between you and your parents regarding their refusal to train you to become a huntsman. You were caught in an impossible situation. How could you ever get better if you were denied the chance to learn? You wished to honor your family's heritage as a hero, but you lacked the ability to become one. Beacon can provide you with those abilities. You were right to come here."

"But wasn't it wrong to lie? Don't my parents know what's best?"

"Lying is typically wrong, Mister Arc, but I've been where you are. In an impossible situation where I had to make a choice between turning my back on the people I love and doing what I know is right. I once had to abandon my true love when she sought to steer me astray towards a darker path, just as you had to leave behind your family to join our fight against injustice. You made the choice you believed in, no matter the personal cost. I respect that."

Ozpin smiled. It wasn't a happy smile though. Jaune would describe it as a frail one. "Mister Arc, the way I see it, no man or woman should ever be denied the chance to fight for something as long as he or she truly believes in it. Remnant is at war, Jaune. It's always been at war, even if the world doesn't know it. I'll tell you more in the future, but know that we need spirited, willing hunters and huntresses like yourself. I can teach anyone skill, but I cannot teach heart."

"Thank you, sir! I won't let you down."

"That said, I'm having a bit of trouble teaching you skill."

"I-I'll do better. I'll work harder."

"I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I've a different idea in mind. In my heyday, I was counted among the finest huntsmen Beacon ever spat out. I may need a cane to walk around nowadays, but I still have some fight left in this old body of mine. Enough to show an aspiring young huntsman some combat moves." Ozpin nodded and stood up.

"You mean…"

"I do, Mister Arc," said Ozpin as he stepped towards the door. "Meet me on the west balcony at 6pm tomorrow evening."

Before the headmaster exited, he called out, "And please get a good night's sleep tonight. I'd hate for you to fall asleep and start dreaming about Miss Schnee during one of my lessons."

Omake

Pyrrha: Say my name, Jaune!

Jaune: Night vision!

Pyrrha: What?

Jaune: Sorry, force of habit.

Next Chapter: Forever Fall – Does Cardin have what it takes to be a man?

Author's Notes

It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that I welcome you tonight. And now, I invite you to relax and pull up a chair, as I proudly present: a description of the story that probably should've been put with the first chapter.

Firstly, I don't own RWBY or Rooster Teeth. don't sue me plz I beg u

Secondly, what the fuck even is The Empty Seat? The Empty Seat is a semi-retelling of RWBY with major plot changes and character adjustments. We'll be keeping to the general outline of the story (Beacon Dance, First Mission, Vytal Tournament, etc.) but things will be done differently, as you've already seen so far. Like the original show, there will be comedy, especially in the early chapters, but also action. Things will also get more serious when the plot starts.

Third, what the fuck even is the empty seat? A seat will eventually be empty, but it's way later on.

Fourth, the characters. Warning you now – major character death (original show Pyrrha-level). There is no main character, and everyone gets their own story and POV in this one. That said, Team RWBY, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ren get about double the POV segments as most other characters.

Finally, just a quick note on Team Cardinal. Cardin's bullying and behavior will be brought up and addressed in due time. For this fic, the best answer as to why the others aren't anti-Faunus/bullies like canon is that they were influenced by Cardin, who brought out the worst in them. Sky mentioned that he's a 'yes man,' and Russel will briefly address it. It's hand wavy, but I didn't want to write four anti-hero/redemption arcs. They each will have their own stories, though.

Now, for the logistics. This is my first story, is fully written in advance, and contains approximately 330,000 words and 100 chapters. I will update on Wednesdays and Sundays, but I reserve the right to change that as needed (I probably won't though). Chapters will get longer once we exit Volume 1. Comments and reviews are encouraged, whether they be positive or negative. I will try to answer any questions put forth provided I have an answer and it's not a spoiler. Remember to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon.