REVIEWS:

Phantom117a: The chance to mend all bridges will come.

Xerzo LotCN: I mean, you do have a point. However, from what we know, Ren and Nora did attend a Combat School since I assume a Huntsman team found them after Kuroyuri and helped them. As for Nora being possessive? They are, if I am to say, stuck in a more or less sibling-type of love, currently. The two grew up together, and I think they have a hard time moving forward out of fear they might ruin the friendship they have. As for Blake? It is believed she cut a deal with Ozpin, since I doubt he was that sloppy to just let her in. Ruby was allowed in two years early, yes, but she still has training, yes.

Discord Link: /FVXgdXtMUv

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Roughly one week after Ren's and Nora's trip to Bella Dia, the two returned to Beacon with the first available Bullhead. However, to say they got a warm welcome would be a strong delusion. While Pyrrha was ok with not ratting them out, Alice was not. She told Professor Goodwitch about their unauthorized trip outside the Kingdom, and both of them found themselves in front of Headmaster Ozpin together with the rest of their team.

"I must say, I expected such reckless behavior from Miss Valkyrie, but you Mister Lie Ren? You surprise me." Ozpin said, not sounding as disappointed as he just sounded intrigued by the turn of actions.

"Headmaster, they lied to us and left Beacon without authorization," Alice stated. "As Team Leader, I highly suggest they be punished for their actions."

"Now, leaving Beacon's grounds is hardly a punishable offense," Ozpin said, pointing out the truth. "This is not Atlas Academy, where one needs a permission slip to so much as go to the shop."

"However, they also skipped class and left the kingdom altogether to travel to the island of Bella Dia in Vacuo!" Professor Goodwitch pointed out. "They were required to ask for a leave of absence, but no such document was requested or approved. Even then, they were also required to inform their team of their absence."

"That…You're right, Glynda, that IS a punishable offense." Ozpin said, not able to defend the two in that case. "But first, I want to hear the reason why they left without informing anyone."

"Sir, with all due respect, is it necessary?" Alice questioned, and unaware to her, Ren's sight went to her. "Their deeds are clear as day, so is there any need to ask for their justification?"

"Miss Arc is right, Ozpin," Glynda added, siding with Alice. "If they had a good reason for leaving, I am sure they would have tried to argue it already, yet they have barely said a word."

"Which is why I am asking them." Ozpin pointed out, making sure to put a bit more pressure on his voice. "Please, Nora, can you tell me why the two of you went to Bella Dia?"

"W-well…" Nora began, but then, surprisingly, Ren stepped in.

"We went to find Jaune, Sir." His words shocked the people in the room, even Nora since she didn't think Ren would reveal the reason for their visit so easily. "Nora here, actually, wanted to see him. I just tagged along to make sure she was alright, but talking to him again helped me understand something."

"And what did he help you understand?" Ozpin asked, a sly smirk on his face.

"We are not ready," Ren said, vague at first about the meaning of his words, but then he continued. "When his actions were revealed, we all judged him harshly for it. However, despite some truth being told, when I met him, he was not angry with us. If anything, he told us we were right in hating him…But that made me see it was not right. Our judgment of him was made based solely on his actions, not on his character."

"What character?" Alice asked, eyeing Ren with narrowed eyes. "My brother never amounted to anything, and he will stay that way!"

"Miss Arc, I will ask you to refrain from speaking ill of your blood right now," Ozpin told her, but he kept his attention on Ren. "Elaborate."

"Even now, Nora and I used strategic attacks he designed for us. Jaune might not have been perfect, but he listened and saw what we were capable of. He didn't force us to be what we are not." Ren continued.

"What do you mean by that?" Pyrrha questioned, unaware that Alice was keeping her gaze on Ren like a hawk.

"What I mean is the fact I now see the forest past the trees, Pyrrha," Ren replied. "Sir, I believe Alice Arc is unfit as the leader of this team."

"Bullshit!"

"Miss Arc!" Ozpin warned Alice, raising his voice.

"He doesn't get to make such claims!" Alice said, pointing at Ren.

"As a member of your team and having experienced your leadership style, I believe I can do it. Isn't that right, Sir? It is stated in Beacon's rule code, chapter 11, section 5, paragraph 8. Suppose a team member is able to provide objective, non-biased reasons as to why they believe their current team leader is unfit. In that case, they can forward their complaint to you directly to review the person in question and their leadership position."

"Hmm. That is indeed correct, Mister Lie Ren." Ozpin replied. "And what would your reasoning be in this situation?"

"Alice Arc has been preventing improvement in mine and Nora's training and development of our skills," Ren stated.

"That is untrue! My training methods are effective, and my partner, Pyrrha, can confirm that they work to improve our battle efficiency!" Alice argued.

"That is true! Alice's training is effective!" And Pyrrha backed her up.

"Effective for you, maybe," Ren argued further, however. "Your styles are similar enough that you do gain benefits from this training, but what about Nora and I?"

"What about you?" Alice asked. "You are simply not adapting to the new training methods, and this is nothing less than you throwing a tantrum."

"Is it?" Ren turned to the Headmaster. "Headmaster, can we request to see recordings from the training areas?"

"No need, Mister Lie Ren. I actually long since observed your training methods, Miss Arc, and I highly agree with your teammate here."

"What?" Alice said, completely surprised to hear such words. "W-what are you saying, Headmaster?" Her composure was breaking, and Ren knew why. It is, as Jaune said. Alice had a mentality that their father imprinted, and it couldn't be broken or changed easily. And right now, her views were being challenged. Due to Ozpin, who is a figure of authority she sees as equal to her father, agreeing with him directly brings undeniable facts before her.

"Your training methods favor a specific weapon combination, specific footwork, and above all, a specific physical constitution. All of them elements you and Miss Nikos possess, but which Mister Lie Ren and Miss Valkyrie do not." Ozpin pointed out to her. "Truly, your brother was better when planning training since he took the differences among his teammate's styles into account and worked with them instead of trying to change them."

"Do not bring him up!" Alice shouted, standing up from her seat. Her outburst surprised even Glynda, not to mention Pyrrha. "He knew nothing, and I refuse to believe he was a better huntsman than me!"

"Not for a lack of trying, that is." Ren suddenly said, which surprised Alice.

"What do you know?"

"What he told me. And what was confirmed." Ren said again, keeping himself vague. "Jaune wasn't reckless in his dream, was he? He long since wanted to be trained, but your father barred him from it while giving you and other of his sisters a chance."

Ozpin's eyes widened slightly after hearing this, with Glynda obviously not being aware of such details either. "That is not what we heard from Lionel Arc…" Ozpin said slowly.

"Those are lies, Headmaster!" Alice argued. "Slander! A made-up story by Jaune to divide us and try to win back the good graces of those in Beacon!"

"Oh, get over yourself!" Nora suddenly shouted at Alice. "Fearless Leader was ten times the leader you will ever be, and that is the truth! You just cannot accept the fact he slipped between you and your dad's fingers and got to breathe for once!"

"Enough!" Alice shouted. "I am the leader of this team, and the two of you will listen to me! To me! You are forbidden from bringing him up, and I will ensure that-"

"Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie." Ozpin suddenly spoke. "You are hereby being granted the permission to separate from the current Team AVLN if you so wish. You will be given a separate room in the dorms."

"What?!"

"Sir, are you sure about this?" Pyrrha asked, clearly distraught by everything happening.

"This display before me confirms it," Ozpin added, and only now did Alice realize she stretched further than her blanket covered. "Of course, this is an unrelated matter to your excursion to Bella Dia. 2 weeks of detention-"

"Ozpin! That is the bare-bones minimum punishment!" Glynda argued.

"Handled by me, personally," Ozpin added, giving Glynda a narrow gaze that spoke of his current emotions. Glynda saw it. Ozpin was calling her judgment into doubt, given that, even now, Glynda was likely siding with Alice. "So, what do you say?"

"We agree!" Ren and Nora said together at once.

Ozpin merely chuckled at this. "Very well. You are free to go pack up in order to move to another room in the dorms; I will be coming to you shortly with a new key. As for you, Miss Arc, you and your partner are likewise free to go, but I strongly advise you to mind your temper when in my office next time we speak. And Glynda? Stay behind. I believe we have some things to clear."

"Yes, Sir," Professor Goodwitch said. Before long, the students left the room, leaving the two adults alone to talk.

"Now, out with it," Ozpin said, his tone changing, becoming more serious, almost angry.

"Sir, forgive me, but I still see Miss Arc as the preferable option in terms of leadership. Despite her training methods being…Ill-matched, I do believe she could have seen the error of her ways and corrected her methods given time."

"Given time, you say? Funny. If given time, I am sure Jaune Arc would have made for a fine huntsman as well." Ozpin retorted.

"He faked his transcripts to get into the Academy, Sir." Glynda reminded him. "He lacked any form of training, and his aura was not even unlocked when he arrived.

"Yes, and now we know why. We also know we had been lied to by Lionel Arc, Jaune's father. Never once did he mention Jaune asking him for training in his younger years. Yet, Lie Ren's statement seems to provoke that painting Lionel had painted so carefully." Ozpin said. "Alice Arc claimed slander, yet it seems it was her and her father who were really slandering Jaune's good name."

"Yes, it would seem so…" Glynda replied slowly.

"This is Lionel's worst offense yet," Ozpin said, reaching into his desk and pulling out a thick file. "Do you know what this is, Glynda?"

"A Huntsman File, Sir. They contain a Huntsman's details." She replied.

"Yes, which includes complaints made against them. And Lionel has several that Haven made for attacking the school to get to his daughter, Coral." Ozpin added, which seemed to surprise Glynda. "It seems Coral was not suited for the fighting style Lionel forced on her, yet with aid from her team, she eventually renounced the shield and sword, switching to a new weapon and new style of combat…Lionel could not accept it, and when Coral sent back the shield and sword she was using, Lionel stormed Haven to demand she go as far as melt her new weapon!"

"I…I assume he failed?" Glynda asked slowly.

"Badly. The staff at Haven gave him a good thrashing and warned him about doing something like this again. Coral Arc apparently doesn't have a good relationship with her father after that incident, but Lionel does back down. Once home, however, he seemed to have altered the narrative not to let his family know of his deeds."

"But those are-"

"The same schemes and things that abusers do. And not those who abuse their family without knowing it they are abusing them, but of those who abuse them with full knowledge and intent." Ozpin said, pushing his glasses further up his nose. "With what Lie Ren said…"

"Oh no…" It only now dawned on Glynda what everything meant. "You think Miss Arc might follow in her father's footsteps?"

"She already has," Ozpin said with a grim tone. "Lionel is inflexible and believes the style he learned from his father, which has been passed down in his house, is the ultimate fighting style. To him, any other way of fighting is inferior and unworthy. Coral Arc was lucky she had the aid of Haven to make her father back down, as I think his Huntsman License is the only thing providing for him at this point. Or rather, I don't think he believes his ideals are worth risking his career. Whichever the case, I am positive Alice Arc was attempting to force her team to learn the only style she was taught was worth anything in actual combat."

"I didn't consider that angle…" Glynda admitted.

"Then consider this one: Jaune Arc has defied his father and came to Beacon. Lionel saw an official letter and knew he couldn't deny its authenticity. He didn't stop Jaune from coming to Beacon but likely knew something was off from the start. Then Jaune's lie is exposed, and the boy is shunned by his father for bringing shame to the Arc name, having had to send Crocea Mors back. But from what we know already, especially about his priors, do you really believe Lionel would stop there and just forget Jaune ever existed?"

"No…" Realization now struck Glynda, and she began to panic. "Ozpin!"

"Don't worry. Jaune is safe," Ozpin reassured her. "Bella Dia has a list of banned Huntsmen, which I was sure to check. Lionel is on it, meaning he cannot travel to Bella Dia, and if found, he will be arrested and deported immediately."

"Then…Ozpin, forgive me, but I cannot help but question your judgment at this moment. Especially with the punishment those two actually deserved. What you gave them is nothing short of a slap on the wrist." Glynda added, further voicing her doubts.

"Had they gone there and learned nothing, I would have let them face the punishment you believed was due, Glynda. But it seems that was not the case. Instead, they came back wiser and one step closer to becoming Huntsmen in the future." Ozpin replied, a smile on his face. "Lie Ren took an important step. He admitted that he was not ready to judge others. That humility will do him well in life."

"What about Miss Arc?" Glynda asked. "Her reaction and the way she acted worry me, Ozpin. Are you certain she is not going to do anything foolish?"

"Oh, Glynda, I am most sure about that. She will." Ozpin added, which didn't ease her worries but amplified them.

"Ozpin!"

"Lionel ruined his daughter's future!" Ozpin raised his voice. "Even if she graduates, that inflexible way of thinking will see her isolated as a Huntress. Just like him."

"Ozpin…You do care about Miss Arc, don't you?"

"I care about all my students, Glynda. But Miss Arc needs to face the truth. And unfortunately, that cannot happen while the source of her deluded worldview is conforming to her views." Ozpin said, confusing Glynda a bit, but then he clarified himself. "For her to break and be open to reform, Jaune must be the one to do it."

"Impossible." Glynda spat. "Even if…" She stopped and then took a deep breath. "Even if he does agree to fight his sister, he doesn't stand a chance against a trained Huntress."

"Maybe…Maybe…" Ozpin said, nodding his head. "But maybe, just maybe, there are still ways…"

"What ways?"

"You are dismissed now, Glynda," Ozpin told her, returning to his desk.

"What? This suddenly?"

"Well, I do have a lot of work to get back to. You are the one always pushing for me to finish my papers, and right now, with this recent development, I need to change some things regarding the current address of Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie. I also ask that you make sure they successfully move to a new room. Now, if you'd please, Glynda."

"Very well, Headmaster." She sighed, then left his office, leaving the man by himself to finally do what he really wanted to do.

"We are alone."

"Good." Coming out from a shadow, Nocturian stood behind Ozpin. He was there in his actual form, unlike Eros, who needed to use elements to manifest himself. "We do not have a lot of time, wizard."

"I must say, when you contacted me, I never imagined other deities existed," Ozpin replied, feeling uneasy with the deity behind him. "What a tangled web you got yourself stuck in, Jaune…"

"The boy will be fine," Nocturian assured Ozpin. "Did you figure out what the power he has is?"

"The recordings you showed me left me no room for doubt, Nocturian. After a bit of research through some old notes, I confirmed it: it's Origin. A semblance granting its user the power to copy the semblances of others." Ozpin replied.

"So, he is copying powers," Nocturian said softly. "Interesting. That power will do him well in order to survive the ordeals Eros keeps throwing at him."

"Nocturian, forgive me for being so bold, but when you came to me, asking me about him, sharing with me the trouble he got himself in, and sharing your reasons for doing this, you told me you would reward my aid." Ozpin reminded the deity, who didn't forget.

"You humans are predictable, Ozpin. The reward is often what you think about." Nocturian pointed out, sounding relatively disappointed. However, he swiftly changed his tone. "But I know you are desperate. Is the witch giving you that much of a headache?"

"She is mightier than me…As the years pass, I feel not just my body growing old but also my mind growing heavy. The weight of memories. The knowledge that I let many down…Everything weighs heavy on me, Nocturian. If only I weren't so weak, I wouldn't need to send so many to die in my place." Ozpin told the deity, and Nocturian, in a rare show of emotion, looked at Ozpin with sympathy. Not pity, disgust, or condescending arrogance - sympathy. "Amber was already hurt, Nocturian. This would have not happened to her had I not burdened her with this power."

"You are right…" Nocturian said. "Ozma, know that should you serve me well, I promise you that your rewards will be more than worth your time and aid. Eros wants Kyu Sugardust, and right now, your former student is the only thing standing between him and her. Why? I do not know. But any aid you can provide him is more than welcome. Because by aiding him, you aid me, buying me precious time to figure things out up high."

"I will do my best, Lord Nocturian," Ozpin said, then an idea sparked in his head. "Perhaps there is something I can send his way to help him."

"Good to know your mind, burdened as it might be, remains sharp," Nocturian said. "However, I guess you do deserve a small reward, considering your aid until now. Go below your school and go to your maiden."

"Wait, what did you-" Ozpin turned around to ask him, but Nocturian was already gone. However, his words ran in his head, and Ozpin darted from his seat, going to the elevator and immediately going below the school. He rushed there, and as soon as the doors of the elevator opened, he was met with a sight that cut his breath short.

"Ozpin?" Amber was out of her pod, looking confused but no longer comatose.

"Amber…" He went to her slowly, extending his hand. Amber saw the state he was in, however, and rushed to catch him as he collapsed. "You're…You're healthy."

"What…Happened? I woke up in that pod, and…Is this the vault?" Amber asked, looking back at the vault. "What happened?"

"You were attacked. Gravely wounded. That pod is the latest Atlasian tech, meant to keep you alive until…Until…Oh, Amber!" He hugged her tightly. "You don't know how happy I am to see you out of that machine."

"Attacked?" Suddenly, Amber gasped. "That's right!"

"Easy!" Ozpin raised his voice. "Please, take it easy. It's alright. You are safe here. You can help us identify the ones that did this to you so we can stop them. This is likely her hand, but with you back, we can cut the tree at the roots before it sprouts."

"Alright…What now?" Amber asked.

"Now? Now I have some calls to make."

"Ashley!"Ashley's return occurred at a similar time to the events back at Beaco in Bella Din.

"Hey, guys!" Ashley greeted them as she walked through the door with her luggage. "Sorry for going so quickly. It was a very last-minute gig."

"Took some time, too," Lillian remarked.

"Actually, believe it or not, the delay was due to Grimm. I was done the next day after I got to Atlas, but on our way back, we had a Grimm problem. We were forced to take a detour to the nearest fortified settlement until the Huntsmen cleared them. Took them a while." Ashley explained.

"Oh my," Beli said. "And did you see any Grimm?"

"Nah. They were further away from the settlement, so I saw no Grimm. I only heard the gunshots, though. They must have gotten close." Ashley replied. "So, anything in particular happened while I was gone?"

"Nothing special," Jaune replied, shrugging it off and not revealing the time he spent with Ren and Nora.

"Except someone getting even richer," Aiko said slyly as she put her laptop before them. "You just reached one billion Lien!"

"Ok, I take it back. This calls for some celebration!" Jaune declared, looking around the girls. They were looking at him strangely. "What? Do I have something in my teeth?"

"Looks like you are in a very good mood," Ashley noted. "Did you fuck someone while I was gone or something?"

Aiko averted her gaze slyly at that sentence. However, Jaune was quick to cut in, providing a save. "I just woke up after a good sleep. Come on, this call for a party!"

"Now I can get behind that," Lillian said, liking the idea of a party.

"A party! That's a great idea!" Beli added.

"Yeah, we really celebrate you becoming a billionaire," Aiko added further, but then something came to her mind. "Hold on. Jaune, did you throw a party when you bought the house?"

"Nup," Jaune replied. "At the time, I was still a bit down in the gutter, trying to figure things out, you know. But now? Now, I feel ready to host one of the best parties the island has ever seen! Come on, we even have a pool and a good section of beach! We will make it an open party, too!"

"Ahem!" Ashley cleared her throat, getting his attention.

"Invitation-based?" He corrected.

"More like: Get security." Ashley clarified. "Seriously, dude, if you are to throw a party, you need to be at least considerate of the people under your roof."

"Right!" Jaune connected the dots. "You never know when the paparazzi lurk looking for a scandal. I will look up any security companies that work nearby, but that aside, is making this an open party still a good idea?"

"How about we invite people from places we know?" Beli suggested. "For example, I still have the numbers of everyone in my yoga class."

"I also still have the contacts of some of my former students. They are going to flip when they hear that you, of all people on the island, are throwing a party." Aiko added.

"I don't think Lillian and I have anyone we can invite…" Ashley said slowly.

"No shit! My friends are all the way in Vale, and it's not like rich boy here has a private bullhead!" Lillian remarked.

"I mean, could I afford one?" Jaune asked, looking at Aiko, who had run the numbers.

"Looks like you would, but you sure you want one?"

"Not sure. Yet." Jaune replied. "But what about inviting some of the people we know? Like Kyanna, Lola, or heck, even the girl from the hotel, Lailani."

"The more the merrier!" Ashley said, not opposing the idea. "So, what do you all say?"

"I say…"

"LET'S PARTY!" Jaune shouted as the crowd of people cheered in turn. His home was full of people who were now dancing and enjoying themselves, either in the living room, at the pool, or even outside and around the house! Of course, he was not going to let them in their rooms, so every room was locked.

This included the basement being locked.

Everyone was enjoying themselves to the fullest, especially the girls. This was a good chance for them to reconnect with some acquaintances on the island and for Jaune to improve his reputation as well! Granted, there were some faces here he didn't think he'd see.

"Mister Mours!" Jaune greeted them, seeing the old lawyer together with a woman who looked to be roughly around the same age as him. "Fancy seeing you here! This is not exactly a high-society party!"

"Haha! There is still some party left in those old bones, my boy!" Adon Mours replied with a laugh.

"Ahem." The woman next to him cleared her throat.

"Right! Jaune Arc, meet my wife, Constance Mours."

"A pleasure to meet you. My husband told me quite a bit about you! And look at you, such a charming young man, throwing an open party where anyone is invited!" Missus Mours said, giggling a bit after. "You sure don't cheap out!"

"What reason do I have to be cheap? Come on, I have so much money the children of my children will be able to throw such parties on the weekly!" Jaune boasted. "Still surprised you would come to such a party."

"Well, my husband used to be quite the party animal in his college days," Constance said, making her husband uncomfortable as she began to ramble about the old days. "Believe it or not, that is how we met!"

"Really? At a party like this one?" Jaune asked.

"Dear, perhaps saying that story is not appropriate," Adon said, trying to save himself, but his wife had him cornered.

"We woke up in the same bed the next day, both of us hungover and naked." She said, and Jaune could piece two and two together.

"Oho! Adon Mours, you were wild!" Jaune told him.

"Those were other times!" The man added. "After marriage, things tend to calm down, you know? I do not have the age nor the time to seek out parties anymore, and those we do go to are, as you said, the high-society kind."

"The boring kind," Constance added, then sighed. "I loved that wild man, and yet, I just had to go ahead and tame him."

"Dear, please…"

"He can't even perform like he once did!"

"Oh no…" Kyu said, understanding the situation. "Looks like the old man can't quite use his law pencil anymore to lay down the law as he used to."

"Well, have you tried…Medication?" Jaune asked.

"I don't need it!" Adon Mours said in his defense.

"Honey, you know I love you, but quite frankly? You do." His wife rebuked the poor man, taking the wind out of his sails.

"Dear, at least not in front of Jaune, please?" Adon Mours pleaded, but by now, it was a bit late to ask for privacy regarding this talk.

"I am not disturbed, Mister Mours. Trust me, it's alright." Jaune said, cutting in to save the poor man. "Plus, I am sure this party here is bound to wake up some youthful vigor in you."

"Ohoho! I understand what you are saying here. I should have a bit to spare for this old timer." Kyu said with a sly smirk, then a small orb of pinkish light was sent to Adon Mours. The old man couldn't see it, but he sure began to feel energetic.

"You know what Jaune? You are bloody right! Woman! By the night's end, you will be tired out!" The old lawyer said, surprising his wife a bit before taking her and going into the crowd. "Come on! The bar is open tonight!"

"Oh my, Adon!"

"Well, I hope the two of them have a good evening," Jaune said, nodding as he saw them start having fun.

"The old man should have more to offer soon," Kyu said with a smirk. "Too bad I cannot gain mana from it. But hey, this is a party! Go out there and party!"

"Way ahead of you!"

"So, you lost half your team." Lionel Arc said to his daughter as they were speaking over the scroll. "And they think our training methods are wrong?!"

"Not wrong, just unfit for others," Alice said, offering a correction. "Apparently, because those two cannot see the better alternative, they now requested to leave the team entirely!"

"And what are you planning to do?" Lionel asked.

"During Combat Class, I will show them why the Arc training is superior," Alice said, retaining the pride she had in the fighting style she received from her father. "But that is my secondary worry. They spoke with Jaune. He, somehow, managed to convince Lie Ren he was still a better leader than me!"

"The boy is good with words, Alice." Lionel sighed. "I will admit that much about him."

"Can't you get rid of him already?"

"I cannot set foot on Bella Dia, Alice." Lionel reminded her sternly. "The moment I do, I will be arrested and deported. I am on their blacklist."

"What about his money? Can't you touch it and take it all away?" Alice asked.

"You think I haven't tried? The amount is just too big, and wherever I go, they say they will have to give him a call to ensure this is a legitimate transaction. Bullshit…That money doesn't belong to Jaune! He doesn't deserve it, and I will see it under my control one way or another!" Lionel said, but truthfully, there was nothing else he could do. Legally, that money was not his to spend or anything of the like.

"And until then? I was humiliated by him! And he is not even here!" Alice stood up. "This cannot stand! You might be unable to go to Bella Dia, but I am perfectly able to go there and have Jaune do the right thing for once in his life!"

"Alice, don't be stupid! Ozpin is clearly on your case about this entire ordeal, and most likely mine as well!" Lionel told her. "If he catches you doing something like that, he might even try to have you expelled."

"Why can't he stay out of our family business, anyway?" Alice asked. "This doesn't concern him! Jaune is no longer a student of Beacon - he is barely even an Arc anymore!"

"And what else do you suggest we do? Unless he leaves the island, we cannot reach him. Unless you can find a way to reach him without getting Ozpin to raise an alarm, you cannot reach him. We cannot touch his money, either."

"We could lie." Alice proposed. "Spread rumors about him. Destroy his reputation."

"And expose ourselves to a lawsuit for slander?" Lionel stated, shooting the idea down. At the very least, he didn't seem to be reckless. He knew when to act so as not to expose themselves to the dangers of being subjected to punishment from the law. "Listen here: So far, you are still the partner of Pyrrha Nikos, and she agrees with you, correct?"

"Hearing those two had contact with him and what happened shook her a bit, but she is still the one that exposed Jaune," Alice replied. "She doesn't get why Ren would seemingly forgive him now of all times, even if they spoke. But she still agrees with me that Jaune never deserved to be a Huntsman, and he never will. She still sees what he did as unforgivable."

"Good. What about that other Team?" Lionel asked.

"Things are difficult with them," Alice said. "Their leader is not, let's say, very mature about it. She defends him."

"Hmmm. Does she, now…Well, you did tell me once she was only 15, correct?" Lionel said. "I think I have an idea."

"Woohoo!" Jaune howled as he held a bottle in one hand, the crowd carrying him off as the music blared. "Best party ever!"

"He seems to be enjoying himself quite a bit," Lola said as she was drinking at the mini bar they set up outside near the pool. She was sitting down next to Ashley. "Ever saw him this happy before?"

"Honestly? No, never." Ashley replied. "I haven't known him for long, but this is the first time I see him this happy. And drunk."

"He is a bit of a mystery, isn't he?" Lola added, playing with her drink. "You know, I met him some time ago. He was sitting down with two others at a table."

"Maybe one of the others living in this house." Ashley guessed.

"Actually, no. One of them was a boy around his age, with black hair and a pink strand, and the other was a ginger who was very possessive of the black-haired guy. Their names were Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie if I recall correctly." Lola corrected. "Did he ever mention those names before? He said they were his friends."

"Huh. No, never." Ashley replied. "He did go to Beacon, though. He was kicked out, but maybe those two were friends of his from there?"

"Trainees?" Lola gasped, realizing she was speaking with Huntsmen-in-training. "I didn't even realize! Why would they hide it, though?"

"The island doesn't have laws friendly to Huntsmen, so that might be why." Ashley guessed. "Still, for Jaune to not introduce them properly, it does smell fishy."

"You thinking he lied about the whole Beacon stuff?" Lola asked.

"No, the fact he has aura kind of makes sense if he went to Beacon," Ashley replied. "Plus, he is in good shape."

"I guess…Say, you know if he has a girlfriend?" Lola asked suddenly.

"Why ask that all of a sudden?" Ashley asked, surprised by the question. "Didn't he say before he was single?"

"He did, but I want to make sure there was no one there who might want to lay claim," Lola added, a sly smirk on her lips. "After all, he does look like a catch, wouldn't you say? Good looking, rich, good personality - all I need to do is confirm he is good in bed."

"Oh, way ahead of you," Ashley said, realizing Lola was likely just teasing. However, Lola's reaction was one worth the money.

"No shit," Lola said. "You?"

"Popped his cherry," Ashley said. It was likely the alcohol in her system making her looser in the lips, but she didn't care right now. "And let me tell you: With some training, that guy will be a true danger."

"Is he…" Lola stretched her fingers apart.

"Oh yeah."

"Oh, my! I definitely want to get a taste now!" Lola added, sending Ashley into a small panic.

"Hold on! I thought you were joking around!" Ashley said, confused by Lola's words and reaction.

"Partially," Lola admitted. "I am not particularly fond of the idea of having a man, you know? I can manage fine on my own. But Jaune, there might be a good enough catch to make an exception."

"And you claim to be a strong, independent woman." Ashley scoffed. "At the end of the day, there is only so much a trusty plastic companion can achieve, huh?"

"Same with my fingers," Lola admitted. "But he is also rich…"

"Gold Digger." Ashley accused.

"Oh!" Lola gasped. "I am no such thing!"

"Yeah, right. What does his financial status have to do with anything, right?" Ashley asked sarcastically.

"Look, all I am saying is that he could, maybe, offer my shop a bit of an investment," Lola said, offering some context. "And what better trade is there than a night he won't forget?"

"Hold on, you wanted to seduce him to get him to invest in your shop?" Ashley began laughing. "Girl, Jaune is such a good guy, and he would likely invest in it if you just asked him! No need to spread your legs. Are you that desperate?"

"Well…"

"Holy shit, you are." Ashley realized.

"Ok, I am not heading toward Bankruptcy or anything, but I am encountering some difficulties," Lola finally admitted. Having some additional funds wouldn't hurt, and there is no shame in getting an investment."

"Pretty sure there is if you get it by whoring yourself." Ashley rebuked, drawing a look of annoyance from Lola. "Look, I get it. Rough times. You know, Aiko, the woman handling his finances, actually did that same thing the first time she met Jaune!"

"Really?" Lola leaned in. "And? Did he take her offer?"

"Since I was the one to pop his cherry? Nah. He was a good boy, and he helped her pro bono." Ashley replied. "She said the whole story. This is how we know Jaune is a very nice guy, like…I guess you could say they don't make them like that anymore."

"Definitely." Lola agreed. "So many jerks around nowadays."

"Woohoo!" Jaune yelled as he reached the bar. "Bartender! Give me something to keep going! I am starting to feel the drinks kicking in, and there is only so much my aura can help with!"

"One energy booster coming right up!" The bartender hired for tonight said.

"Hey, girls! What are the two of you doing here? Come on, the party is getting rowdy!"

"We're good, dude. We were just having a bit of girl talk, you know how it is." Ashley said, confusing Lola a bit.

"He does?"

"Seven sisters," Ashley told her.

"Really?!" Lola gasped, amazed at that information.

"Oh yeah, trust me, I know when to back away," Jaune replied. "Well, I will leave you girls to it." His drink arrived, and Jaune downed it right away, feeling a rush go through him. "Woah! What's in this? It wakes you right up!"

"A secret of the trade, amigo." The bartender replied with a wink.

"Well, this is really-"

"Hey!"

"Come on, just a peak."

"I said no!"

Looking to the side, Jaune spotted Lailani getting harassed by one of the guests, who looked like he had a bit too much to drink. "Ah, shucks," Kyu said, with Jaune already moving toward them.

"Hello there!" He intervened between them, looking at the other guy. "Everything good here? I heard a commotion."

"Holy fuck, you're Jaune Arc! Killer party, bro!" The man shook Jaune's hand, but Jaune could smell the booze on his breath.

"Phew! Man, your breath stinks like a brewery! How much did you drink?" Jaune asked him.

"Not much! Just…Just a bit of everything?" They replied.

"It's a miracle I can still understand you. Or rather, that you can still string words together." Jaune remarked. "But I saw you picking on Lailani here. She is a friend of mine, so I want to know what you were picking on her for."

"Shit, man, didn't know she was with you!" The guy said, seemingly starting to back down. "Thought she was a hired girl, you know? Wanted her to show me a nipple."

"Gross!" Lailani shouted.

"Hey, it's your body! What's gross about it!" The guy argued.

"Ok!" Jaune intervened. "Sorry, but I didn't hire any such women for tonight. And you clearly made a bad impression on Lailani here, so how about this? I know a good taxi company that could take you home if you think you need help or to sleep."

"Nah, man, I am good." The guy said, backing away slowly. "I can still party plenty, and I promise not to pick on the little lady here anymore. Deal?"

"Go ahead, party 'til you drop," Jaune told him, earning a double thumbs-up and a smile from him as he returned to the crowd. "Sorry about that, Lailani. I must say, I am surprised you showed up."

"Y-yeah, likewise," Lailani replied slowly. "At first, I didn't really want to come, but then I thought it might be rude not to show up, with Mister Blanc offering me a job and all."

"No way! You actually took the job?"

"No!" Lailani replied strongly. "But…The offer is still there, so I might…I don't know. I just don't see myself as a model."

"Lailani, you are putting yourself down too much!" Jaune said, trying to cheer her up. "You are a cute girl. Plenty of guys and girls would want to see you make use of that charm you have! You are the only one who doesn't see it!"

"Thanks for the nice words, but I am really not very sure about all of that, Jaune." She said further. "I mean, I don't exactly have a sense of fashion, either."

"With that, I can help. Hey, Ashley, Lola!" Jaune led Lailani to the other two. "This is Lailani, and Mark is thinking about hiring her as a model. But she said she doesn't have much of a fashion sense. Do you think you can help her see her worth?"

"W-wait! Jaune, girls, you don't need to do this!" Lailani argued.

"Hmm." Lola hummed, looking at Lailani closely. "She is a cutey, that's for sure. I think a sundress would work wonderfully on her."

"I agree," Ashley added. Come on! Let's go to my room. I have plenty of clothes there. We can try them on!"

"Even unreleased articles?" Lola asked.

"Ummm. Not anymore, no. Sorry." Ashley replied. "Come on!"

"Wait, wait, I-" Before long, Lola and Ashley took Lailani away. The girl might seem against it, but Kyu knew better.

"Hope you know what you're doing, Kyu," Jaune said, sitting down at the bar.

"Please, this will do wonders for her confidence," Kyu replied. "Now, what about that sexy MILF, Kyanna?"

"She couldn't make it," Jaune replied. "Little Philip has a small fever, so she is watching over him."

"Damn, cucked by the kid!" Kyu swore. "Though, I gotta say, you ARE happy. This must be the first time I see you in such good spirits."

"Well, I guess talking with Ren and Nora again after so long and essentially fixing things…It helped, you know?" Jaune replied.

"I can see that," Kyu remarked. "Plus, this is one wild party you are throwing! Before, I doubt you'd have agreed to throw a party of any kind! Come on! This is the perfect chance for you to meet some new chicks!"

"Hey now, I'd rather go see what Aiko is up to!" Jaune argued, getting up from the bar seat. No one was around him as he spoke with Kyu, and the music made it hard to hear him talking as is. Still, that didn't stop him from having fun! Too bad his luck had other things to say.

"Jaune!" Lillian shouted, and turning around, he saw her walking to him. Wobbly walking to him, in fact. "This…This is a good party."

"Lillian?" He called out to her. "How much did you drink?"

"Pff. Just a few shots of Atlasian Vodka." She replied, but Jaune did not have it. "Plus some other things…"

"Sheesh, she's wasted, and the party is not even halfway done!" Kyu remarked.

"Lillian, I think you should go to your room and sleep," Jaune suggested to her, but that didn't seem to sit well with her.

"Bullshit! You're not my mom to tell me what to do!" She argued and then tried to walk away, but one of her legs gave out under her, making her almost fall over if Jaune did not catch her. "Hands off!"

"Lillian, you're drunk." He told her straight to her face.

"You are not sober, either!" She argued.

"I am more sober than you are," Jaune argued, then, seeing no other way, he lifted her over his shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" She kicked her legs and punched his back, but he was not putting her down. "Stupid aura."

"Passing through with a drunk!" Jaune said, moving through the crowd. "Need to put her to sleep, people, before she throws a full-blown tantrum!"

"Jaune!" Aiko and Beli spotted him carrying Lillian off. "Damn, dude, got a nice catch?"

"She drank a bit much, so I am carrying her off to her bed," Jaune explained to them.

"Is she? She doesn't seem-"

Suddenly, however, Lillian made it clear that she was more than drunk enough. How? Well, she began throwing up all over Jaune's back. "Gross!" Kyu shouted.

"Ugh." Lillian shuddered, but now, Jaune felt utterly filthy.

"Those were my good clothes for the party…" He sighed. It looks like I also need to change. Come on. We will first go to your room and put you to bed, and then I will change."

"But I am not drun-" She almost threw up again.

"Not a second time!" He rushed, going upstairs.

"I hope she will be ok," Beli said, having not touched any of the drinks.

"She'll be fine. Jaune is going to make sure of it." Aiko added. "Come on! The night is still young!"

"There." Jaune put Lillian on her bed, and the girl shook her head to shake off some of her dizziness. "Now, time for me to go get changed."

"Hey." Lillian began. "Can you…Stay with me, actually?"

"Huh?" Jaune turned to her, seeing her looking…Scared? Why would she be scared right now? Wait…

"This situation is similar to when she lost her V-card the bad way," Kyu stated, making it clear. "A house full of strangers, and she is drunk and helpless. Hmm. Tricky situation."

It's not tricky for Jaune. With a sigh, he began to strip his dirty clothes off. Luckily, he foresaw something like this might happen, so he made sure to wear a pair of beach shorts under his clothing. "There," He threw his clothing to the side. "Looks like I will be calling it early as well tonight."

"Thank you." Suddenly, however, Lillian began to strip as well, and not just to her underwear.

"Woah! Lillian, what are you doing?"

"Striping? I sleep naked." She confessed, and that surprised the poor boy quite greatly.

"But-"

"Come on." Before long, she was naked before him, and Jaune had to really focus not to make things more awkward. She got under the blanket, calling him to her. The music was still quite loud outside the door, meaning the party was still ongoing. Jaune had the wisdom to lock the door before joining Lillian in bed, making sure to face away from her.

No doubt, once she regained her sobriety, she would be kicking him out screaming and quite literally kicking him in the teeth. Still, right now, she was harmless. She was acting quite…Innocent, almost. Like a young girl relying on others to help her. It really reminded him of his sisters when they were younger.

"Hey…" She got closer, pressing her body to his back. "Are you going to keep me here? Please? I don't want to one day go home."

"It-" He stopped for a second. "It's ok. Stay here as long as you need."

Sleep came easily that night for Lillian, but unknown to them, Kyu felt something.

"Holy shit, mana!"