Lifting up

Author's note: Back with another chapter, I am just letting you guys know the reason for all this suffering Jaune is going through is to show when someone is at their lowest, they can rise back up. And I am putting the rape allegations to tell a story of what people in real life go through when they are falsely accused. That goes the same way for those who are falsely accused of sexual assault, stalking, and the like. Most of those times are misunderstandings, wrong place wrong time, and like with how I wrote this in the story, when a woman wants to hurt someone.

With that out of the way here we go!

Thank the gods it was a warm sunny day, with spring going on it's good weather to start swimming. But not when your tackled hugged in a lake. As Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ruby sat together on a nice sunny patch of grass, being looked at an amused Ilia, and Ruby, Jaune was confused. He didn't mind having his best friends hug him, especially, with some of the most beautiful women he has ever known. But also confused why were they all here.

He was glad to see Ruby and Pyrrha after sometime, but it was only almost a month, granted a lot can happen in one month, in his case it did. From bullying, confronting his family, and rape allegations, yeah he can say a lot has happened. He was also afraid that with Yang here, she is going to beat him up so badly and make it so Ruby won't have any contact with him. So he had great fear of her. With Ilia he had no idea why she is with Pyrrha. He remembers that she is Pyrrha's partner at Beacon, but he is still afraid if Ilia will give him the same treatment, so he prepared himself to either run, or grit his teeth, or both. What he didn't expect was a hugging, and a weepy eyed Ruby, and Pyrrha hugging him, even if they were still a little wet from their sudden plunge.

"Jaune we missed you so much!" Ruby exclaimed to Jaune hugging his side like he was like a body pillow. "We were so worried!" Pyrrha said the same thing hugging his other side. Jaune was surprised to see them like this. In the back of his mind, he assumed that they wouldn't want anything to do with him. With all the bad experiences he has gone through, kind of gave him PTSD, with always assuming people will not like him, and so quick to judge him. So he was afraid.

"Why haven't you called us, we would have helped." Said Pyrrha now looking at Jaune with some tears rolling down her cheeks. Jaune looked at her with a sad look. "I felt that you didn't want anything to do with me. A lot of people here are so wary of me, I believed that you two didn't want anything to do with me. With the message Yang sent me, I thought that you two didn't want to talk to me anymore." Jaune said while looking down to the ground. He looked very defeated and sad. Yang flinched when he said that, and she looked away, she felt so guilty.

She was worried for Ruby because of the allegation, and she was being petty due to the puking on the air ship. She was about to say something when she head a smacking sound.

Jaune felt a small stinging pain, and felt a soft palm on his face, but it was it was also small, and he turned to where the hand came from. Ruby looked at him with a small angry look, with tears threatening to leave her eyes. "You idiot, do you really think I would care about that. I know you are not some kind criminal like that. The way you talked to me and Pyrrha, I can tell, that you are an amazing guy. I am so blessed to have you as a friend. A thing like this, will not make me abandon you, you are an amazing guy, and I am so glad you are my friend. And, I am so glad to have you in my life." Ruby said to Jaune with tears coming down her cheeks. After her little speech, she gave him a big hug in his front. Jaune looked shocked, he felt another hand on his face, but not a smack, but a caress to his other cheek. Pyrrha was looking at him with a smile with tear in her eyes too.

"She is right, as a celebrity I have seen it all Jaune. From creeps, stalkers, manipulators, etc. And, I know by knowing you, and talking to you. You are not like that. You are an amazing guy, one of the most kindest boy I have ever met. Your reasons of wanting to be a Huntsman, listening to me, and Ruby's problems, days, and school life. You were always there for us. But we were never there for you." Pyrrha said to Jaune, with Jaune's eyes widening, tears started to form.

"When I was back in Mistral, all my life I was put on a pedestal, with everyone seeing me as an unobtainable goddess. I know I was blessed with amazing gifts for fighting. And, don't get me wrong I love fighting, and competing, I feel alive when I'm in the ring, fighting strong opponents, and helping others by being a huntress. Meating you, Ruby, Ilia, and everyone, I felt like an equal, and no one seeing me as someone overly special. I can be me, and truly be happy again. And I will never lose that. And, that happiness comes from you, and all the friends and family I have met since coming to Beacon. I will never abandon you Jaune, and neither will Ruby ever." Pyrrha said with tears coming down her face.

Jaune starts to cry hard and just hugs, his two best friends he has ever made in the world.

Ilia, and Yang, watched with tears coming down their faces. Seeing such love, and friendship between these three, and how Ruby, and Pyrrha felt towards everyone, it truly moved them. Yang felt even more guilty, to see that this tall lanky guy, can make a Mistral champion, and her own little sister, feel such emotions, how can she not feel moved.

Yang stepped up to him looking very vulnerable. Jaune looked up, along with Ruby. Ruby was about to say something to defend Jaune, but Yang stopped her.

"Vo-Jaune, I want to say I'm sorry to you." Yang said in a slight shacky voice. "I am so sorry for the threat I have said to you. For threating you, for trying to get away from Ruby. I love my sister more than life itself. I was just so worried if she ever got hurt, and when I heard of that allegation, I was scared for her." Yang said, looking away a little, with tears starting to leak a little. "I was scared that she might be tricked, and taken advantage of, she has gotten into Beacon so early than anyone else, she essentially entered adulthood early like I did. When we lost our mom, I was there to watch her grow, along with our dad, I was trying my best to be a mother figure for her, and seeing her in danger, in anyway scares me." Yang says in a shacky voice.

"Another reason is, when you puked on my boots, I thought that 'oh Ruby can do so much better than him.' And, 'she doesn't need a dork like him, she needs someone that can help her grow more.' That was petty of me, puking on me was not a very good first impression." Yang admitted rubbing the back of her head. "But, hearing how passionate, she was in wanting to keep knowing you, and have a great friendship with you, I was surprised, how she was." Yang said now looking at Jaune. "When I first saw you, I saw this skinny guy, is going to slow us down, get himself, or others killed. But Pyrrha, and Ilia here told us how you led them to victory during initiation, and that is something I can respect, you may have not have the muscle, and look of a huntsman, but you have the mind, and will of one, I am sorry for not giving you the benefit of the doubt, and I'm sorry for not being, and I am so sorry for wanting to hurt you." Yang said to him balling her eyes out.

Jaune looked at Yang with surprise. To see this bombshell of a young woman apologize to him, it broke his heart to see her cry, and was surreal to see this proud girl beg for forgiveness, he was about to get up to hug her, despite being still wet. But he was interrupted by Ilia who was quiet until now.

"I too want to apologize to you to." Ilia said to him looking sheepish. She wasn't the most vocal, and the least guilt looking one among them. "I went through the thought when I first met you, like Yang, you are just going to slow us down, we will have to protect you, and your going to get yourself, or others killed." Ilia looked down guilty, freckles turning blue in sadness. "When I realized that you didn't have an aura during the initiation, I was scared, scared that you were going to die, and I was about to get you back to the cliffs to save you." Ilia, confessed to him. Jaune was scared when saying that, but calmed him down. "Don't worry we all know, Pyrrha, and Ruby told us about it. After the allegations, we wanted to know more, and when they told us how you got there we were surprised. At first Weiss, Ruby's partner, wanted to get you arrested, but we all talked about our problems, and issues, and we came to an understanding. And, please don't be angry at them, everything was coming out so we had to confess." Ilia said to Jaune. He looked at Pyrrha and Ruby, and looked sad, and apologized to him. "I understand you two, but I just wished that I was able to talk about it. And, I was afraid that everyone will hate me more for lying about that, I have enough of that right now." Jaune said to them, all of them there flinched at hearing that.

Ilia continued to talk. "But when I saw that you are gifted with your aura , and your willingness to keep moving forward, even with no training or aura was inspiring. With going through hardships for being a faunus, being in the White Fang. Yes me and Blake were in the White Fang, we wanted to have equality. But, I wanted vengeance, and I seen what I have truly become. We wanted to be better. And seeing you wanting to be more, and to lead us into battle, inspired me to be more. I strive to be better, even with the rage that is still in my heart, but coming out to tell my friends, of who I was, it helps so much. So please forgive me for that, and I would love to be your friend." Ilia said to him bowing a little. Jaune was shocked, and then he seen Yang approached him,

"Yeah can we please start over?" Yang asked. Jaune looked at them, and approached the two girls, and gave them a hug. This shocked those two to no end. "I will love that." Jaune said with happy tears. Ilia hugged him, with Yang being more forceful, due to her strength, her being naturally rough, and for her own guilt. Jaune walked back, gave a genuine and goofy smile. "Hi I'm Jaune Arc, Short Sweet, Rolls Off The Tongue." Jaune said, he knew it was a cringe move, but he wanted to make them laugh. I worked. "Hello Jaune Arc, Yang Xia Long, Ruby's big sister." Yang said giving Jaune a strong handshake giving a genuine smile. With Ilia joining in. Her freckles started to grow pink, with bashfulness. "And I am Ilia Amitola, a Chamelian faunus." She said to Jaune, with his eyes widening. "At least now we will know how you are feeling now huh?" Jaune made a joke which caused her to giggle.

"Good luck with that. I learned how to bring it down." Ilia said with a cocky smirk. All Five laughed. Pyrrha, and Ruby was glad that they were all getting along. It felt so quick for Jaune to forgive Yang so quickly. But, it was because he has seven sisters, and he put himself in her shoes, and understood her fears, as a brother, he can understand her fears. He would be over protective of his sisters, if a guy was truly like that.

They all started to calm down, and Pyrrha, and Ruby started to feel dry, but Jaune gave Pyrrha an extra Towel, he was going to give it Ruby, but she denied, and said her semblance can get the water off her, due to how fast she is going. Pyrrha wrapped the towel around her head to dry it off, but things changed when they heard someone called out Jaune's last name.

"Hey Arc!" Yelled out a voice that sounded teasing. "I don't think the fish like you being near them, their afraid you might try to get with them." A boy his age from his school yelled out at him. He brought friends with him too. Jaune forgot sometimes this is a hang out spot for some kids, they don't really bother him, since he was normally on the peer, but, since because of Catherine, attention was towards him.

"They probably think he's a worm, from this far away, I would be confused if he was even a human." One of the other guy's friends said, making them all laugh. The laughing stopped seeing he was near women. Then they came running over pushing Jaune away from them. And, they gave him a hate filled glare.

"Trying to take advantage of girls again Arc. Cath wasn't enough huh?" One of the females in the group leered at him. "Don't worry he won't hurt any of you, not with us here."

"You really think a limped dicked freak like you, can even think of getting even near one of these beauties, you got another thing coming." One of the guys said so close about to hit him.

Ruby, Yang, Pyrrha, and Ilia, were just surprised and disgusted of how these people were acting toward him. Yang was slowly getting angry, at first they were teasing him, but not her kind of teasing. She always did it with a flirt, but it was playful, unless if those creeps try to do anything to her. These group of kids were harassing him, bullying him, it made her angry because, seeing how these pricks were acting, it reminded her, of herself. After the evidence came out in the benefit for Jaune, she really started to look back at her life. She did always tease, but she also bullying those who were not as strong as her, or her friends. She would make a joke about it, but she saw that she was making fun of those who weren't technically at her level. And, that pissed her off. Seeing who should could still be, if she not have known Jaune, or get to know him, and make assumptions.

One of the guys turned toward Yang. "Hey don't worry he won't do anything, he has to corner someone just to make himself seem powerful. For what he did to Cath, he has always been pathetic, he better hope that Jermey doesn't get out soon. Name Carl by the way." The now named Carl, looked at Yang, giving off his best suave look to her, with a hand out. "After we are done with this scum here, you and your friends want to come with us, we know a great place to eat, maybe, we can know get to know each other better what do you say?" Carl said to Yang trying to be smooth.

When he first saw her he thought that, he has just got to get with her, and all the girls there were beautiful! He felt that he could get with her, with the others thinking the same about the other girls, the two girls in the group, thought they looked cute, and see if they could get anywhere with them too. They were all eager to get with them, in both a sick form of friendship, and intimate play.

The boys were about to move on Jaune, but the girls from Beacon stood there with blank faces, Yang looked his hand, then his face, she gave a grin, but a grin Ruby knew that it only meant pain.

"Sure, I don't mind, and I'm sure they don't mind either, right girls?" Yang turned towards them with a smile, and winked to them. The others girl smirked with agreement. Yang wasn't done yet.

"Yeah we will but first you will have to do something for me first." Yang said in a sultry voice. Carl leaned in with a smirk. Yang gripped his hand easily at first, getting close to his face. Before any of the girls could say something because they knew the game. Yang squeezed his hand hard, and heard the bones pop a little. He yelled a little in pain, with everyone looking at them. Yang's eyes turned red.

"If you walk away now, and not make fun of my future friend!" Yang growled out, then through him over her back and land on the grassy hill. Carl's friends ran towards him to see if he was ok.

Pyrrha and Ruby walked next to Jaune, with Pyrrha, having her hand on his shoulder, and Ruby, wrapping her arms around his, both glaring at the group. The group all got their bearings, looking at the group that surrounded Jaune incredulously. With Jaune looking shocked, but smiled a little, for having these group of girls, look out for him.

"Your defending him?! You already know what he did it was all over the news, how can you defend this freak, this loser?!" One of the girls asked angrily, glaring at Jaune. The others agreed with her. Ruby stepped up with her own glare.

"Because we gave him the benefit of the doubt. I know Jaune, a lot more than any of you do. He is the kindest, and the most dedicated boy I have ever met. He is honest, and always looks out for others. I know by being around him, he is not like that. All of you never bothered to get to know him, he will never do that to someone." Ruby said with conviction, making her sister to stare at her with pride.

"What are you talking about, you saw her confession, you saw what was the outcome of what he did to her!" Carl yelled out holding his very sore hand. Pyrrha then spoke up keeping the towel on her head, don't want anyone saying anything about this. She knows how crazy fans can be, and with how Jaune is being treated, he can get seriously hurt or worse.

"Listen I know when someone is lying. Let's just say I have experience in knowing when someone is being over dramatic, and lying to just get their way. And besides you saw the evidence tape, he is innocent." Pyrrha finished glaring at the others, which they flinched a little.

"Yeah well, anyone can make a fake tape, come on, someone making a video to make them look good! Think about it, he gets accused of this, and out of nowhere he gets evidence to help him, that is suspicious to me!" One of the boys of the group yelled out.

Then Ilia stood up, and her freckles started to turn red in annoyance, and rage for how Jaune was being treated. "Oh please, listen I have seen how people are treated, and I know when someone is harassing, and lying about someone, I lived through it!" Ilia yelled to them, with her body now turned red, indicating true rage. "I know when someone is trying to set somebody up, and it also helps that I know him, when he was at Beacon, and let me tell you, he will never hurt someone like that, he is a caring guy, and willing to fight for others, regardless of who they are, so don't you dare say that about him!"

This made the group flinch as she was stating more facts, but at the same time made them more angry. "That loser right there, tried to do something to her. Cath would never try to do that to someone, and we know Arc can't get with anyone, so it had to be the reason to assault her!" One of the girls tried to argue back.

Yang then spoke up. "Listen, I may have been on the band wagon with accusing Jaune. But that was me just being stubborn, because of me being petty, and looking out for my sister." Yang said to them looking down feeling bad, of how she felt about Jaune at first. "But, I have seen better acting from a porn star, than seeing how she was crying. And if you looked closely, you can tell it was makeup, and no matter how good someone is, you can tell somehow someway, they are wearing make up!" Yang yelled out to them. "And besides, I caused enough black eyes to know when something is real." Yang said with a slight smirk.

Jaune, and his friends looked at her with a deadpanned look. 'Believe me I know.' Ruby thought to herself.

That was a boiling point, and Carl busted out in rage. "Who cares if she lied, that freak there is nothing but a loser, a waste of space, with cock teasing sisters, who just won't give it up! He is a failure at everything he does in life, sports, school, and now Beacon. You all said you went to Beacon with him, I bet all he did was cry in the corner seeing a grim in person. You all probably had to protect him!" Carl yelled out, but then his face turned into something akin to amusement, then starting laughing a little. "Ha ha ha, I get it now. You are all here to pity him, and going to leave him in the end. Well good joke you four, come on, lets go out on the town, we can even through him in the lake a few times, if you want to, lets see how far we can toss him." Carl gave a creepy smile.

Then, out of nowhere, Ruby, and Pyrrha ran up to him, and slapped him, with Ruby, on one side and Pyrrha on the other. He fell to his knees and cried out at the pain of being slapped. He looked up to look at the cold fury of Pyrrha Nikos, and Ruby Rose. It looked like Pyrrha's emerald eyes were glowing with rage, along with Ruby's silver eyes. Ruby's eyes, did give off a little twinkle, but it could have been confused for a tear, but, her eyes glowed very briefly, that no one could see it.

"How dare you think we will be here out of pity, and hurt him. He is my first friend I have made on my own, and he is one of the greatest guys I know. I am so happy and blessed to have him in my life and that will never be a mistake!" Ruby yelled out, surprising Yang with Ruby's outburst. Pyrrha shook her head in agreement.

"She is right. And don't you dare think that Jaune was not doing anything, he was there with me and Ilia here, and led us to victory. He only failed because he couldn't find a partner, or a relic in out test! He was dedicated to everyone there, and willing to fight, bleed, and die for us, and you included." Pyrrha ended. That confuse the group. Ruby then continued on for her.

"It's true, he told us why he wanted to be a huntsman, and it is inspiring to hear what he wants to do for everyone, even to those who hate him. If me or my friend had the right, we would have him on any of our teams." Ruby said to them, with pride of knowing Jaune Arc.

Jaune meanwhile looked wide eyed, and started crying a little, so happy to have people who care, and love him so.

This stunned the group of school mates. But made them seethe in anger, knowing that they lost, all they can do is be angry. Carl then blew up again.

"OH SCREW YOU STUPID LITTLE BITCH! I BET THAT LIMPED DICK IDIOT CAN'T EVEN SATISFY, HOW ABOUT I SHOW YOU WHAT A REAL MAN IS BY SHOVING MY DICK DOWN THAT PRETTY THROAT OF YOURS! Carl yelled at Ruby, Yang's hair caught fire, and was about to punch his lights out, along with the rest. But froze when she heard a crack happen, and seen Jaune, give a straight cross to Carl's face knocking out a tooth, and cracking his jaw bone. Jaune looked absolutely livid.

"DON'T TALK TO MY BEST FRIEND LIKE THAT!" Jaune yelled out to his stunned classmates. "NOW BEAT IT BEFORE YOU END UP WORSE THAN HIM!" Jaune yelled out to them, they were about to carry Carl away when Jaune stopped them. He put his hand on one of there shoulder's. "Stay away, from my sisters, my family, my friends, ever again got it?" Jaune said to them with conviction. With that they all ran away.

Jaune let out a deep breath he didn't know he had, and turned around to look, at his surprised new friends. "Uhhhh, sorry you had to see me like that." Jaune said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. But was tackled hugged by Ruby, but this time, he didn't fall over. She looked up to him, with happy tears. "Don't be, and thank you for standing up for me, for us." She said hugging him more. Pyrrha then joined them. Yang went over to join in the hug, and gave Jaune a kiss on the cheek, surprising everyone there, and with Ruby, and Pyrrha pouting a little.

"Thank you for looking after my sister, I guess Ruby does know how to pick her friends." Yang said to him with a grateful smile. Jaune came down from his shock a little, and nodded his dumbly. "Y-yeah sure, it's no problem." Jaune said still flustered. Yang laughed at him, she was going to like him.

Ilia looked surprised, seeing someone, who was a human standing up for her so passionately, it made her heart flutter, with happiness, and a little….giddy. She hasn't felt that for a boy before. To mistakenly of others, they all thought she only like girls….but that's not true, she likes both, she just hasn't found any guys who tickled her fancy, and the only woman so far who did that was Blake. But, Blake and her talked about it, and Blake told her that, she can't see her other than her best friend. She was sad with Blake's decision, but in time grew to accept it, even though it still hurts a little.

She was going to just stand there, due to not always being in a group hug, but Yang, and Ruby, just grabbed her and forced her anyway. She yelped in surprise, but fell into the hug, with a content smile on her face.

As all the friends hugged each other out, Jaune thinks of what to do next.

Author's note: So everyone another chapter in the books, and again I'm sorry for my writing style not being creative enough, I'm not that creative sadly, but I will continue to try to grow, but next chapter, they are going to meet Jaune's family, and a new opportunity for Jaune may occur.

Until then everyone, May God Always continue to Bless All Of You!