Chapter 13: Packmate in Trouble

Packmate in Trouble

From the outside of the beautiful, gothic structure of Beacon Academy, it holds a sense of peaceful, tranquil splendor. A solid and Zen edifice of education towards the protection of all of humanity. However, some teams defy this aura that has been carefully cultivated by its enigmatic headmaster. One, Team JNPR, does it not intentionally, but just from the sheer lopsided mishmash of energies. Starting with their alarm clock, Nora.

"Ren, wake up! It's shower and breakfast time!"

Nora roared, jumping on the poor martial artist who was still tucked soundly in his bed.

"Nora, it's too early…" Ren groaned out, putting his pillow over his face to drown her out.

"It's Pancake Thursday in the dining hall, and I will not be beaten to the punch again by that red caped devil and that brown haired syrup vampire!" Nora yelled.

"What about Azura…?" Ren tiredly asked, looking at her from underneath his pillow.

"You dare speak the name of the Flapjack Emperor of Evil!" Nora yelled.

With almost uncanny timing, Trivia stuck her head in the door, pancake in her mouth, to taunt Nora.

"That's it, you sugar sucking fiend! You shall face the holy wrath of the pancake queen!" Nora yelled, diving full on at her.

Trivia giggled as her illusion shattered like glass. The real Trivia, still in the dining hall, giggled to herself.

"You may have won this battle, but not the war!" Nora roared, uniform and school supplies in hand, saving the shower till after her pancake massacre was through this week.

"Ren. How do you deal with her?" Jaune asked, rubbing his still sleepy eyes.

"You get used to it after a while…" Ren replied with a yawn, sitting up and starting to get his shower supplies.

"Alright, guys. Guess we gotta get down quick. Come on, Pyrrha." Jaune said, grabbing his shower supplies.

"Okay, Jaune." Pyrrha replied surprisingly chipperly, gathering up her own shower supplies.

After a quick shower, and putting on their uniforms, and then wading through the four-way war between the big eaters of the large friend group. Soon afterwards team JNPR had the unenviable schedule so early in the morning of dealing with Professor Port. After what felt like an eternity, both Jaune and Nora fought to stay awake. Trivia in her usual late "cool" fashion arrived 10 minutes before class ended, much to the annoyance of Azura, Rena, Pyrrha, and Ren. However great amusement to Nora, Ruby, and Blake. With the worst part of everyone's days out of the way, they headed off.

"I swear, Pyrrha, how is that man a teacher? Paint dries faster than he completes a sentence." Jaune groaned.

"I have no idea…" Pyrrha reluctantly admitted, equally as bored.

"I've seen old masters in the Sōtora clan who drone on less than him…" Azura admitted with a yawn.

Trivia yawned as she typed, 'I thought that class would NEVER end!'

"You were barely in there for ten minutes…" Azura pointed out in annoyance.

Trivia shrugs, typing, 'And you wonder why…'

"I swear, if it wasn't for the fact that I actually care about maintaining my straight A average, I might be tempted to take a page out of your book…" Azura sighed in annoyance.

"Hey, Pyrrha. You got a minute?" Jaune asked, motioning to her to follow him.

Pyrrha nodded to her partner and team leader. "Of course, Jaune." She replied, following him out.

As the odd pair walked off, it did not go unnoticed in the throngs of moving students. Most did notice but paid no mind. What were two students heading off on their own between classes after all? Two, however, could not keep their curiosity down, and took two vastly different paths to shadow them. Soon Jaune led Pyrrha into a shadowy part of one of the inner courtyards. She noticed the normally cheery Jaune to gain a suddenly sullen and nervous aura about him.

"I need to ask you a question. After what you've seen of me in my classes, and the evaluation Azura gave us… Should I be here?" Jaune asked nervously.

"Of course you should, Jaune. You may not be the best student right now, but you're showing more and more improvement every day. You belong here with us." Pyrrha replied encouragingly.

"Never seems like it's enough…" Jaune muttered.

"If you want, I can help you study and train. We can even get Ruby, Azura, and the others involved if you think it will help." Pyrrha replied, trying to cheer him up.

"You'd do that even if…" Jaune said but cut himself off.

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow at that. "Jaune, is there something you haven't told me?" She asked in concern.

"Even if I can't ever live up to my heritage? That I can forge a path through the long shadow of my ancestors?" Jaune asked.

"Jaune, you don't have to follow the path of your ancestors. You are not them; you are you. All you should do is try to be the best version of yourself you can be." Pyrrha told him honestly.

"Would you still help me even if I did things in my past I'm not proud of?" Jaune asked, probing a hint with her offer.

Pyrrha then surprised Jaune by pulling him into a hug. When she broke it, she made him look her in the eyes. "Of course I would, Jaune. You're more than just my partner and my team leader. You're my first real friend in years, not to mention my best friend." Pyrrha told him honestly.

"Thank you, Pyrrha… Are you up for starting Friday after class?" Jaune asked.

Pyrrha smiled in response. "Of course. If you want, I can talk to Azura to see if he'd be willing to help." She replied genuinely.

With a smile, Jaune and Pyrrha walked off. However, both a red furred angel and brutish devil overheard this. On the left side of the courtyard, red wolf ears twitched at all of this and immediately created concern. In a burst of rose petals, the red protector darted off. Opposite her, a much more imposing figure let out a devilish grin and swiftly pulled out his scroll.

"Hey, Donny. How's things going back with the clan? Oh, I'm doing good over here. Yeah, yeah. Listen, buddy. I need you to put those private detective skills and sticky fingers of yours to work. Who's the target? His name is Jaune Arc, here in Beacon. Don't worry, your check will be in the mail." A tall and imposing figure said, before turning to return to class.

The weekend passed without too much in the way of incident for Jaune. He started training more seriously with his friends, which resulted in him taking way more lumps than he thought. Between Trivia nearly kicking his head off, Ruby ballpark smashing him through trees, and the less he said about what Nora tried to do to him the better. However, with a patient guiding hand in Pyrrha, and the attempts of trying to push up Azura meditating on his back, he felt like he started something. Sunday night rolled around however, and his scroll lit up with a message.

"Cardin? How did he get my number? Whatever, I'll make this quick. I got to get some sleep." Jaune muttered, heading down the hall towards a study room.

Cautiously, Jaune made his way to the study room the text told him to go to, where team CRDL was waiting at a table. Cardin gave him a smile, though Jaune could see through it as being not very genuine. A fifth chair was set out for him, and nervously he sat down in front of them.

"Good evening, Arc. Have a good day with your friends?" Cardin asked, unfurling his legs off the table and properly sitting in the chair.

"What do you want, Cardin? That scared of losing to me you got to try and intimidate me before Glynda's class tomorrow?" Jaune asked, trying to put up a brave face.

"Not bad, Jauney Boy. I almost bought your bullshit on that one. Looks like Tiger Boy's lessons about trying to look strong and confident are paying off." Cardin snarked with a smirk.

"If this is just going to be bullshit in kind, then goodnight." Jaune said as he was about to get up.

"So, what were you holding back from Pyrrha in the courtyard, Lover Boy? Honestly I'm surprised she bought that from you." Cardin answered, getting snickers from his team.

"How did you-" Jaune asked before Cardin cut him off.

"Could it be that you're not supposed to be here? Because you lied, cheated, and forged your way in?" Cardin asked, leaning a bit forward into the dim light.

"If you're so sure, then prove it." Jaune said, crossing his arms.

"Look familiar, Arc?" Cardin asked, putting a piece of paper in front of him, but keeping his hand on it for safekeeping.

The blonde team leader looked down at the piece of paper, and his eyes opened wide in shock and horror. It was his transcripts to get into Beacon. Looking up at Cardin, he simply looked into his eyes.

"It's just a piece of paper. How is that supposed to prove that it's fake?" Jaune asked, steeling himself.

"Which combat school did you go to Jaune?" Cardin asked calmly.

"Flare. You can check for yourself if you want." Jaune replied, trying to remain calm.

"I did." Cardin answered, pulling up another piece of paper with said inquiry.

"What, so you're invading my privacy now? I can tell Ozpin and get you expelled for that." Jaune said, though his resolve was weakening on the inside.

"Sure, you can, but he's going to do his own investigation into all of these claims, including the transcript. Do you want to take that chance, or do you want to let down all your friends by showing them who you really are?" Cardin asked, leaning ever so closer to him.

"Who are they going to believe, you or me? I think you're mistaken about how this is going to work." Jaune said, though he began to show weakness in his voice, his lack of confidence finally showed.

"They'll have no choice but to believe me after Ozpin's investigation is done. I wonder how all your little friends, especially Little Red, your Honorable Samurai mentor, and your Invincible Girlfriend, will react when they know the truth? That you're a liar and a cheat who forged his way in while they all had to work their asses off to get where they are now…" Cardin replied, a smirk on his face like a shark that smelled blood in the water.

"... What the hell do you want, Cardin?" Jaune sighed, admitting defeat.

"Let's just say I'm about to make you an offer you can't refuse." Cardin said with a smile.

Next morning: Beacon Airship Port

A small airship made its slow and hovering descent. Standing in waiting stood both Ozpin and Glynda. As it finally landed and engaged its landing gear, the bullhead opened to reveal its occupant. Out stepped a tall, stoic man of pale skin, silver hair, violet eyes, and an outfit resembling that of an ancient mystic. He stepped off the airship as it began to fly away, toolbox in hand and stepped up to them.

"Greetings, Mr. Zaiden. It's an honor for you to grace us with this temporary assignment." Ozpin said politely.

"I thank you for having me. Though I do wish you would come up with better transportation options. Bullheads are bad on my knees, and please, call me Shion." The man answered.

"They're standard practice here, apologies. Glynda, please show him around for me. I have a meeting with General Ironwood in 15 minutes on a call." Ozpin said, bowing regretfully to his guest.

"Understood. Apologies, the headmaster is a very busy man." Glynda said to the new professor.

"It's quite alright. I do like having a new change of scenery every once in a while, regardless." Shion answered and they were off.

Meanwhile: In the Dining Hall

The great gaggle of friends again were seated at their usual table, though with less vim and vigor as on a special day like Thursday. The big eaters were more measured with less available access to sweets. However, the Monday malaise masked for most a conspicuous absence. All except Team JNPR.

"Where's Jaune?" Nora asked, looking around for him.

Trivia yawned, typing, 'Yeah, where is the blonde himbo? He still owes me twenty lien from our little wager last night.'

"First of all, it would be greatly appreciated if you would refrain from calling my team leader a 'himbo', Trivia." Pyrrha replied sternly.

Trivia giggled, typing, 'Why don't you try making it a little less obvious, when you're sucking his dick?'

Pyrrha blushed indignantly at that comment. "I beg your pardon…?!" Pyrrha called back.

"Well speaking of the blonde devil, it appears he's put himself up on a new horse." Zhan said, turning his head to look at the most unusual sight.

Walking in with Jaune was the unmistakable presence of the gruesome foursome of Team CRDL. This got the rest of the friend group looking at this, and the blue shogun immediately made his opinion of this sight known.

"Are my eyes deceiving me or is our dense blonde knight with Team CRDL right now…?" Azura asked in disbelief.

"No, they aren't. However, now I have more questions than even three wishes on a djinn could answer." Ren said.

Trivia pouted, typing, 'Is he really that desperate to get out of paying me!?'

"I don't believe that's the reason, Trivia. Something else is most definitely going on right now…" Azura replied, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"Whatever it is, he couldn't have picked a worse devil to make a deal with." Zhan muttered.

Pyrrha immediately looked more worried, wondering just what was going on. Soon however a hand gripped hers and, turning her head, she saw the comforting eyes of Ruby. Before she could answer her shorter friend, Ruby said.

"Meet me in study room 7. I'll explain everything there." Ruby said without another word.

Nodding, Pyrrha decided to trust in her. "Okay, Ruby…" She replied, trying to contain her concern.

Later: In Study Room 7

Pyrrha arrived in the study room, promptly on time. However, her nervousness had not died down in the slightest. If anything, it had grown. Looking, she saw Ruby, who waved her over to a table.

"Over here." Ruby said, waving her arms in the air like she just did not care.

Walking over, Pyrrha took a seat across from the red hooded reaper. "Please explain what's going on, Ruby. I'm worried sick about Jaune." She replied, trying to contain her impatience.

"It's about Jaune. I saw you two in the courtyard." Ruby answered.

"You saw us?" Pyrrha asked in surprise.

"Well, more heard you. I at least wanted to give you two some privacy." Ruby corrected.

"How much did you hear…?" Pyrrha inquired in concern.

"Everything. Okay, let's just get to the point. Did it seem like Jaune was keeping something from you?" Ruby asked, getting impatient herself.

Pyrrha nodded at that. "It did. I didn't ask because I wanted to respect his privacy. He'll tell us when he's ready." She replied.

"Isn't it a little convenient than that, after you two had that talk, after the weekend all of a sudden Jaune's buddied up with Cardin and his hooligans?" Ruby asked.

Pyrrha's eyes widened at that realization. However, soon that surprise gave way to an expression that Ruby and the others had never seen on the redheaded champion's face. Pure, boiling rage and blazing fury.

"They're blackmailing him with something, aren't they…?" Pyrrha growled out dangerously, barely containing her anger.

"We are gonna have to investigate that. Dad did always tell me bold claims require bold evidence. On top of that, we need to try and pry Jaune somewhat away from them in the meantime." Ruby said, trying to cover the sudden amount of concern over the change she saw in Pyrrha.

Pyrrha closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them. "I'm in. No one messes with my friends and gets away with it. Especially not my best friend." Pyrrha replied with an unnerving calm.

"Alright. Now in order to do this, we need all the time we can get. Fortunately, I know just the person for the job." Ruby said, before opening her shockingly overstuffed backpack, and pulling out Trivia.

"... How did you fit her in there?" Pyrrha asked in confused shock.

Trivia shook her head, typing, 'I don't wanna think about it! Let's just say, I'll never look at a banana the same way again…'

"Trivia, we require your greatest ability of all for this to work." Ruby said to the brown-haired girl.

Trivia nodded happily, pulling out a rubber chicken.

"Trivia here is going to provide us with time we will need. And all it took was giving her three pecan pies, five boxes of marshmallow bars, and a tub of strawberry swirl ice cream. Also, she hates Team CRDL's guts, and I got a good half off deal from her." Ruby explained.

Trivia types, 'Don't forget one singular Ruby patented hug!'

"Right, right. Remember, Triv. We need as much time as you can buy us. Keep them on their toes and away from Jaune. Also just try not to cause too much collateral damage to innocent property and people. You remember what Glynda did with you after the thongshot incident." Ruby explained.

Trivia pouted, typing, 'Those ostriches had it coming!'

Pyrrha gained a dangerous glint in her eyes for a moment at that. "Trivia, dear. Feel free to make Team CRDL… 'see the error of their ways' for how they're treating our friend. Even if you have to do it the hard way…" Pyrrha told their short, ice cream haired compatriot.

Trivia giggled, holding up a cucumber with malicious intent.

Next day with Jaune: Early in the Morning

With a heavy heart and a big sigh, Jaune hauled himself out of bed that morning. He did not entirely know what to expect from Team CRDL, but he was now more than ever regretting that fateful choice. The entire day he was forced to carry all their backpacks between classes, made easy by mostly sharing the same schedule. Even after classes, they continued to use him like a blonde beast of burden. Yet despite all of that, he tried to put on his bravest face. It is what Azura taught him, and if it were to make sure his friends never found out, that is what he was going to do.

'Do you really think you can keep that face up? You didn't with Cardin. What makes you think you can against your team?' A voice said near Jaune.

"Who the hell said that?" Jaune asked, irritated.

'A great and mighty Arc being brought so low by a simple piece of paper? Oh, how would dear gramps think of that? Probably laugh his ass off at his descendants' overgrown sperm.' The voice said again, this time closer.

"Come out and fight me, you son of a bitch!" Jaune yelled in the hall.

'Like you fought so hard to get here? To lie to all those you think you care about so much?' The voice said, now practically right behind him.

"I swear to…" Jaune said as he wheeled around with a punch, but there was nothing there.

'If this is really all you're capable of, then where did all that so-called "potential" that Azura said he saw in you go? Did you throw it away along with your pride and dignity?' The voice taunted him.

Jaune stood there confused. Who was this? Where were they? How do they know all about all of this? Regardless, he looked down a bit at that. No matter what he wanted to think, no matter how hard he tried to deny it. It was right. What did Azura and the others see in him? Other than a big, dense, lying bastard.

Meanwhile: In Team CRDL's Room

The immediate thing that hit Trivia was how shockingly loud those titanic bastards could snore in their sleep. Sneaking in so quietly you could hear a mouse fart before picking her up, she made her way to their shower supplies. With her light dexterous fingers, she opened the shampoo bottles, and dumped the contents down their toilet, making sure no trace was left. Then she pulled out of her bag four vials of neon obnoxious pink from her bag. Just as quickly, she poured them in, giggling as soft as falling feathers.

With phase one complete, she then put everything back exactly where it was supposed to be and pulled out a straight black Sōtora brand permanent marker. Then with the glee only a seasoned graffiti artist could have, she drew every kind of symbol, slander, and embarrassing image she could think of on their faces. She even made sure Cardin's lips were black as if she put on lipstick. Finally, she daintily put a note on their doorknob and silently left without a trace.

Later: In Professor Port's class

Everyone piled into Port's classroom with the kind of enthusiasm of a pig that has been sold to a butcher shop. Silently, and masked by her semblance, Trivia snuck in as well. Normally she would be late, and though she might be revealing herself early, she had to see it unfold entirely. Jaune for the first time since Monday arrived in class by himself. While it was somewhat comforting to see him away from those four reavers, but also somewhat concerning to Ruby and Pyrrha.

"Are you sure your operation worked properly, Triv? Where are those four?" Ruby asked the short master of mayhem.

Trivia looked genuinely hurt and offended, typing, 'Are you implying that I'm incompetent!? Have patience! You can't rush perfection!'

Ruby, taking her word for it, gave her a nod as the class started. The four horsemen did not show up until half an hour into the class, but not exactly in the flying style they would like. As the doors slowly and nervously creaked open with all the harsh tone of a funeral gong, everyone saw why. The four's normally dark mats they call hair had been changed to the kind of neon pink that even a flagship stripper would not dare touch.

Trivia snickered to herself, typing, 'That's certainly a brave fashion choice!'

Azura smirked, trying to contain his laughter. "Hey, Cardin. Did you and your boys take a shortcut through a paint factory? If you want, I can take a little off the top for you." He snarked, trying to keep from laughing like a hyena.

"I swear to god, Sōtora. I'll…" Cardin said, only to be cut off by the massive Yōjimbō to the blue shogun.

"You'll so what? Strip down all your clothes and love him tender? Because, as far as I'm concerned, that's the only state you're in for today, boys." Zhan shot back, smirking on his face as he and Azura fist bumped.

"Besides, that shade was so last week. You wouldn't even catch me dead in that, and I'd wear that just to make Ren blush! Are you sure you showed up to class, or to go by a shitty Vale sports car!?" Nora shot as well.

"I will break your legs, Valkyrie!" Cardin yelled.

"You sure? You can't even handle a barber shop, apparently. What makes you think you can take me on in any state resembling a fight!?" Nora yelled.

The back and forth continued, but the damage was already done against the four pink crusaders. The class, egged on by Nora and Zhan, quickly grew out of control in laughter. Port tried to stem the tide, but the flood turned into a tsunami. Team CRDL suddenly learned the error of making so many enemies, as everyone now wanted a piece of this action.

As the chaos and counter bullying carnage continued to swell, Trivia sat at her seat in perfect calm and serenity. Basking in the glow of her most recent glory, a smile of prime smugness stretched from ear to ear on her doll-like face. Reaching into her backpack, she serenely and with an uncommon elegance, she began to sip on a juice box. A worthy reward for such a triumph. 

It took a bit for Team CRDL to bully their way through their seats next to Jaune. Cardin looked across the class, and for a moment he locked eyes with Trivia Vanille. The wheels in his head turned for a bit, before gritting his teeth in seething anger at everything that happened. Though this chaos did bring some solace to Pyrrha and Ruby, seeing Jaune still so miserable disheartened them.

In the chaos that erupted however, everyone failed to notice something. Faintly out of Jaune's back were a series of black spikes. If class were fairly normal today, maybe a couple of his friends could have noticed. One person, though she did not really consider Jaune a friend, merely acquaintance at best, did see. Weiss sat in that raucous class, like so many others since that day in Ozpin's office, silent and sullen. She saw the spikes, and it was peculiar, indeed concerned her. She then looked over at Ruby out of the corner of her eye and flinched. Perhaps some things are best left unsaid to preserve the peace.