Bullies Always Pay, For A Price
We don't own anything except OCs. Rights to RWBY goes to Viz Media
Beacon Dorms: Dead of Night
Nights in Vale were never quiet. The hustle and bustle of the city reached even all the way towards Beacon. For many it was an annoyance, for some it was a form of comfort. Weirdos. Some, however, saw this as an opportunity, as Team CRDL were to find out far too late. As the quartet of gigantic lugs snored their brain cells slowly to an early grave, the window slowly unlatched. Soon two gentle feet gently landed on the shag carpet. Slowly the interloper scanned the room, on the hunt. Soon after finding a small filing cabinet, they flipped out a paper clip. After a bit of lock picking, frankly the lock was as cheap as chips, and slid out slowly.
Flipping through various files, they eventually found what they were looking for. Putting it in a handbag, they then left something behind in the file cabinet for the enterprising buffoons to find in the morning. After locking the cabinet back up, they snuck out and locked the window behind them. It was as if no one was there. Well, not yet anyway.
Early the Next Morning
Jaune, as for the norm as of late, sluggishly got up before the rest of his team. He had to get ready for the field trip that day and had to be with Team CRDL as per their "agreement." As he rounded the corner past a common space, he saw Azura. However, curiously, he was meditating. Normally at this point he would be doing some form of physical training.
"Isn't this out of routine for you, Azura?" Jaune asked.
"There is more to training than the physical body, Jaune. To truly become a great warrior, one must train the mind and soul as well as the body." Azura explained calmly, not opening his eyes to look at his friend/student.
"Must be nice…" Jaune muttered.
"Why don't you join me for a little morning meditation before breakfast, Jaune? We have made substantial progress on your body, so we should begin working on your mind and soul." The azure shogun offered.
"Are you sure it will not take too long?" Jaune asked.
"That will depend on you, my friend." The blue swordsman told the blonde knight.
"I guess I can for a bit." Jaune nervously said, "What is this mediation for?"
"Communing with one's animal spirit in an attempt to harmonize with it and find inner peace." The azure samurai calmly explained.
"Is this some eastern Mistral thing?" Jaune asked, confused.
"Technically, it is more of a warrior clan thing, especially the Zodiacs. Now find your center… relax… and breathe. Look inward and try to find your animal spirit, then try to contact it." Azura replied with a smile, not opening his eyes.
With a sigh, Jaune sat down and crossed his legs. He let in a deep breath after he got as relaxed as he could get in the current circumstances. Slowly but surely, he tried to look deeper into himself, his mind swimming in a sea of darkness, trying to find any form of light. However, it was not an animal spirit that contacted him.
'Yes, harmonize with your innermost beast. Let it out. All it will do is consume you.' A familiar voice rang through his mind.
"Shut up." Jaune audibly growled.
"Remember, Jaune: Drown out all distractions and look deep within. Look past your outer self and into the depths of your soul, to find the most primal part of it…" Azura's voice encouraged Jaune, more distantly this time but loud enough to be heard.
'How much deeper can you really go before you lose yourself? How do you know he's telling you the truth? Look what all his advice has gotten you so far. Nowhere closer to salvation. Nowhere closer to what you truly want.' The voice continued.
"Shut up!" Jaune growled harder, Azura sensing rage building up inside his friend.
"Jaune, is everything okay…?" Azura's voice asked, becoming much more distant.
Suddenly, Jaune felt as though he were slowly falling. Sinking deep into the depths of… something. When his feet made contact on what felt like solid ground, he opened his eyes. However, he was no longer in the communal area. Instead, he was in an empty black void.
Looking around, Jaune tried to find sight of anything except the void. In the distance, he caught sight of something. A white and pale-yellow light, struggling against the darkness. Running towards it, he tried to get closer and see what it was. Soon, he caught sight of it and was shocked by what he saw.
A light yellow, four-legged creature of some kind made of pale golden light, glowing a brilliant white. It was canine in shape. A dog, its form shifting and changing between different breeds. Its jaws were biting and snapping at strange, inky black tendrils coming out of the darkness. It was fighting something… something dark… something… evil…
"What… what are you…" Jaune said, his voice hitching in fear.
The pale gold and white canine looked at Jaune, its eyes filled with concern as it spoke to him. "Fight, Jaune! Don't let it consume you… consume us…! You must fight it!" The dog told him, a humanoid voice coming from its canine muzzle.
Before Jaune could respond, he was snapped to reality in a cold sweat and breathing frantically. Patting himself to make sure this is reality; he then puts his face in his hands.
"Jaune… are you okay?" Azura's voice asked in concern.
"What did I just see?" Jaune asked, unable to look at Azura.
"Tell me what you saw. I might be able to tell you what it was." The blue shogun offered, trying to help his student/friend.
"You'll just think I'm crazy…" Jaune grimly muttered before he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him look at Azura.
"Jaune, you are my friend. If something is wrong, I want to help." Azura firmly told him.
"I… I just saw a dark void. I just got led astray. Chasing something I thought was there that wasn't…" Jaune said, his voice trembling a bit.
"That is strange. Usually, when this happens, going that deep into your soul takes you to an inner world where you can meet your animal spirit. Jaune… I think something is very wrong. You should speak to one of the teachers." Azura helpfully suggested to the blonde knight.
"I'll be fine. Thank you, though." Jaune said, getting up and heading off to shower.
Azura sat there in worry. He could not go back to meditation even if he wanted to. The only thing on his mind was what Jaune saw. Whatever it was, it was not good.
Half an Hour Later: Dining Hall
As Jaune finished getting his food and shuffled his way to sit where team CRDL usually did, he looked across at his assembled friends. Pyrrha looked back at him mournfully before turning back to her friends. Ruby gently put a hand on her shoulder to calm her. However, soon a commotion caught their attention.
"Well, that's one hell of a fashion statement." Rena said, motioning to the entryway.
"I've heard of a redesigned look, but I don't think that is a good one." Blake said, wide eyed.
In a less than stellar mood Team CRDL walked in, covered in what could best be described as Unicorn Vomit. Or, as the uninitiated in the ways of pranking know it as, Rainbow Vomit. On cue, Neo appeared and looked less than pleased at the sight of them. Though for not the reasons one would expect.
"Neo, do you know anything about why they look like unicorn vomit?" Azura asked, raising an eyebrow.
Neo sighed, holding up a sign that read, 'Must've got the labels mixed up. The bomb was supposed to shower them in anthrax!' Neo pouts.
"... Okay, as hilarious as this is… why were you originally going for anthrax?" Azura asked, mildly concerned.
Neo shrugged, holding up a sign that read, 'They indirectly caused Trivia distress, so, naturally, I had to murder them.'
At this, Trivia looked horrified, signing, 'Neo! You can't just keep murdering people every time they mildly cause me stress! You have a problem!' Neo shrugs in response.
"It is true. Murder without proper provocation is dishono… Wait, this has happened before?" Azura started in a lecturing tone before changing to disbelief.
Trivia shrugged, signing, 'Of course! At least six times a month! She's very overprotective.'
Neo grinned, completely unaware of the severity of what she and Trivia had just admitted to.
"I have several questions." Ren replied.
"I have a feeling none of them will get answered." Zhan muttered, sipping his chocolate milk.
"... Do we have to help hide any bodies?" Yang asked, very worried at that moment.
Neo shook her head, proudly signing, 'Nope! Just don't go searching off the coast of Vale too hard.'
"Okay, that is… more than mildly concerning…" Azura muttered worriedly.
Trivia nodded, casually signing, 'I know, right? It's so annoying that I keep having to come up with excuses for her!' Completely misunderstanding why it is so severe.
"That is… extra concerning…" Azura replied in shock.
"Okay if you people are done ogling at Trivia's inability to keep Neo on a leash, and Neo's inability to not be a borderline crime unit season villain, can we focus, people? We have a field trip today, remember…?" Ruby began to rattle off, trying to desperately change the subject away from this shit.
As the group began to babble on about the field trip to Forever Fall, with the last clear detail Jaune picked up was Nora conscripting Trivia into collecting sap for pancakes. However, all of that quickly drowned out by his thoughts. The more he thought about it, the more there was no way to get out of this. If only he had not told Pyrrha about that.
'When will you finally learn?' The voice said.
'When you decide to shut up. I'm doing this to protect them.' Jaune growled back in his mind.
'All you're doing is putting them in Cardin's way. You're merely but an avenue for him to harm them. Listening to your so-called mentor is holding you back.' It continued.
'My friends are there for me. Neo even tried to kill for me. Not the best idea, but I can kinda appreciate it. And just because Azura's meditation nonsense didn't work, he's still got his heart in the right place.' Jaune said.
'That is where you are wrong, Jaune. It did work. You reached me…' A new, third voice told him, a more distant one that Jaune recognized.
Jaune was about to answer that, when Team CRDL finally arrived and plunked their asses onto their seats. Seething, they looked over at Neo. To their shock, Neo gave them a glare of seething malice. One that made it clear they may have made it out of this round, but she would see how many more they would make it out of.
The other three turned their heads away, while Cardin simply opened his milk. He was not going to drink it just yet. He was going to make sure it was not… tampered with first. Neo grinned as he took his first sip, making him spit it out post haste.
"That's it. I can't take it. I can't take it no more!" Cardin huskily said.
"Boss, why did you go Northern Vale in accent? I thought you were from…" Russel said before being cut off.
"Can it, bird brain. We are dealing with that trio of feminine meddlers, and their illusionary mascot too." Cardin growled.
"What you got in mind, chief?" Sky asked his team leader.
"Since we're heading off to Forever Fall, I think it's time our rivals for Jauney Boy's loyalty got to experience the wildlife." Cardin said before looking at Jaune, "Ain't that right, Arc?"
"R-Right…" Jaune nervously said, before looking a bit at his friends.
The only one that noticed this, or made it known they noticed, was Neo. In response she gave them a sickening grin before pulling out a sign from Trivia's Semblance.
The sign read, 'I only need to get lucky once, you need to be lucky every day.' Neo gave a sadistic grin that would send chills down the spine of even the most battle-hardened huntsman.
Later at Forever Fall Forest
As the airship unloaded its occupants and equipment, Glynda gave it the go ahead for them to return to Beacon. After she gave out the instructions to collect the tree sap, she let out a sigh. How Ozpin convinced her to add this to her curriculum she will never know. Hearing the tapping of a wooden pole on the hard ground.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Professor Shion." Glynda said, turning to face her peer.
"It is always an honor, Professor Goodwitch. However, this is not a social call." Shion answered.
"May I ask what the reason is, then?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at his curtness.
"Though I do not wish to cause alarm, and thereby causing it, it is of the utmost importance. I believe the Nightmare that I have been tracking is amongst this class of students." Shion grimly explained.
"Can you be certain?" She asked.
"Worse than that. I believe it has already infected one of them. The hard part now is figuring out the victim subtly. If we pressure it now, then it could completely take hold and force its host into a rampage." Shion explained.
"How are you certain it hasn't completely taken hold?" Glynda asked.
"Have any of your students attempted to kill another for no reason?" Shion asked.
"No." Glynda said, though an ominous whistling could be heard being carried on the wind, tipped with a hint of nervousness.
"For now, keep this away from the students. I will be in touch." Shion said as he headed off.
Despite this, however, someone did hear. Well, other than the one who was whistling. Indeed Azura, having returned to pick up supplies Rena forgot at the landing site, heard just enough of that. Initially he was not concerned but then began to think about the particular kind of Grimm that was discussed. Soon other points began to run through his head, and soon he rushed back to his friends. When he arrived, Nora had somehow eaten several bottles of tree sap, and Ember was trying to clean it up.
"You shouldn't be eating this stuff, Nora. You need to cook the moisture out to make syrup out of it." Ember said as she tried her best with a rag.
"But it's sooooo good!" Nora moaned.
"I'll make you pancakes this weekend Nora with syrup. Only if you don't eat any more sap." Ren warned.
"You sure know how to drive a hard bargain…" Nora grumbled.
"Hey boss, what's got you so frantic?" Zhan asked, setting down his ax after getting some sticks out of the mechanisms.
"I overheard Professor Goodwitch and another of the staff talking about something. About a Nightmare Grimm having infected someone in our class." Azura explained.
"Impossible. No one could hold up to an infection for this long without showing signs." Rena huffed.
"That is the problem. I have a theory about who it is. I just do not think you will believe me if I tell you." The azure samurai said.
"Go ahead then Azura. At least sit down. You look like you're going to collapse." Blake said concernedly.
Sighing, Azura took a seat. "Alright… I think that the one infected by the Nightmare is…"
As he began, Team CRDL and their blonde lackey began to sneak up nearby. Normally this many huntsmen-in-training centered around a warrior clan samurai would have noticed this, but with the gravity of information being told, no one was in any state to be catching them. Jaune gulped nervously and began sweating. This only increased when they pulled out full jars of sap.
"Alright, everyone knows the plan?" Cardin asked.
"No…" Jaune nervously said.
"I'll make it simple for yah, blondie. We throw them with this tree sap, and then they get to enjoy the wonders of nature. Starting with every stinging insect around." Cardin growled.
"Isn't that going a bit far?" Jaune asked.
'Perhaps you're not going far enough to keep your friends safe.' The voice mused.
"And who gave you the job to question, Arc? One more word from you and Glynda gets to know all about your secret." Cardin said.
'Is that what you're gonna do? Just sit there and take it? Only the weak need the strong to protect them. So…' The voice trailed off.
Cardin stood up over the crouched Jaune to try and intimidate him. Sternly glaring down to try and break his spirit. Jaune looked up and thought about every word that had been said to him. With only two sticking out. Weak. Or Strong. Finally, Jaune stood up to level the playing field.
"If that's what it means to protect my friends from you, then sell it for copies in the Vale Post." Jaune answered.
"Well, well, boys. Looks like we got a tough guy." Cardin said, drawing his mace to "salvage" the situation.
"Shouldn't be too hard. Considering your idea of getting back at people you're afraid of is hiding behind a bush and hoping bugs do the work for you." Jaune answered.
Cardin growled in anger at that. "You're gonna regret that, Arc! I'm gonna mess up that pretty face of yours before making you do what we want!" The oversized bully threatened, walking towards the blonde knight.
"You're not my type, but I'll take the compliment anyways." Jaune said with a smirk.
Biting back a roar, Cardin charged in and swung his mace at Jaune. However, to his surprise, the blonde knight ducked under the swing and swung his sword at the bully. The slash cut along Cardin's chest plate as he leaped back to evade, much to the shock of everyone present. There was a cut on Cardin's armor through his Aura. Jaune had not just dodged Cardin's hit for once, he had even managed to cut him.
'Wait a minute… I hit him. Is the training actually doing something?' Jaune wonders, confused.
'Yes it did, Jaune. Now do not let up! Press your attack!' The third, more gentle voice told him.
Gripping his sword and shield, Jaune obeyed the command and went on the attack. Rushing in at Cardin, using superior speed to his advantage, Jaune slashed at Cardin's wrist in an attempt to disarm him. Surprised, Cardin barely managed to pull back enough that Jaune's cut bounced off on his mace's handle. Reaching out and trying to grab Jaune, Cardin was surprised when Jaune rushed in, getting within his reach and bashed him with a shield rush. Pushed back a bit, Cardin was left open to a stab from Jaune's sword. Moving his head aside, Cardin managed to avoid being stabbed as Jaune's sword nicked his cheek. If it were not for his Aura, Jaune would have cut his cheek.
Jumping back, Jaune smirked at Cardin. He could do it. He could beat Cardin this time! He could win…!
Trivia grins, winding up her throw, shot putting a jar of sap, bouncing off Yang's head, ricocheting off, striking Ren, before ascending, striking a suspicious crow, causing it to land on Cardin's head.
"WHAT DA FUCK!?" Cardin roared, trying to get the sticky substance off him.
Neo, lounging on a conjured lawn chair and a bottle of White Ursa Select totally not potato alcohol. Seeing this from her other part's shot, she held up a sign saying 8/10.
Trivia pouts, signing, 'Some friend you are!'
Before anyone else could say anything about what happened, the two muscle heads felt reverbs through the ground, and a deep growl. The two turned to see a hulking Ursa Grimm sniffing about. It then turned its hulking, fanged head finally at the two, its beady red eyes facing them.
"Uh oh…" Cardin said, getting weak in the knees ever so slightly.
"Don't move. It can't see you if you don't move." Dove nervously said.
A monstrous roar dispelled this, forcing the team of bullies to flee. Cardin however tripped as the Ursa began its charge. Stepping in front of the big bully, Jaune raised his sword and shield with a glare on his face. Azura and the others had been trying to make him strong. Now was the time to prove them right.
'Remember your training, Jaune: Plant your feet, shield up, sword at the ready. Keep your guard up…' The gentler voice told him.
Gripping his sword and shield, Jaune did as he was told. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, put his shield in front of him, and placed his sword in an advantageous position to attack. Glaring menacingly at the blonde knight, the Ursa charged as Jaune rushed in as well. The bear Grimm roared as it tried to swipe at Jaune with its claw, only for Jaune to block it with his shield and slash with his sword.
The slash from the blonde knight's sword cut the massive Ursa on its arm, making it roar in pain as it tried to lash out at Jaune with a swipe of its other claws. However, Jaune deflected the second blow with his shield and rushed close. Shield bashing the bear Grimm with his running momentum, Jaune forced it to stumble back a bit before stabbing at its stomach. The blade penetrated, stabbing into the Grimm's hide as it roared in pain. The Ursa tried to bring all its weight down on Jaune to crush him, but the blonde knight rolled out of the way, getting up on one knee before quickly getting back up with a fire of determination burning in his sky-blue eyes.
Seeing his opportunity, Cardin grabbed his mace and made a run for it, leaving Jaune to fight alone. Seeing that he had no distractions now, Jaune faced his foe. He was trembling… he was afraid… more afraid than he had ever been in his life… but he had to remember what he had been taught by the others, by Azura and Ruby: Courage was not being fearless, but standing up and fighting despite it.
Gripping his weapons, Jaune roared as he charged in at the Ursa. Roaring back, the Grimm met the blonde knight's charge with its own. The two combatants rushed at each other like runaway locomotives, each showing no signs of stopping. The two met in the middle as Jaune angled his shield at the Ursa's charging head to launch himself onto its back. Raising his sword high, Jaune stabbed into the bear Grimm's back with a mighty battle cry.
Howling in pain, the Grimm tried to shake Jaune off. Holding tight to his sword's hilt, Jaune refused to be thrown off. Smashing the edge of his shield repeatedly into its back, Jaune attempted to tire the Ursa out. Soon, the bear Grimm stopped its shaking, leaving it open for Jaune to strike.
Pulling his sword out, the blonde knight roared as he continued to repeatedly stab his sword's blade deep into his foe's back. Again and again, Jaune thrust the blade to pierce the iron hard back of the Grimm's hide. Driven to its knees and front paws, the Ursa tried to shake Jaune off and whimpered as it tried to weakly make its escape. However, Jaune would not let his prey off that easily. Ripping the blade of his sword from its back, Jaune swung with all his might, lopping the Ursa's head off with one swipe. The head rolled to the forest floor as the body slowly began to disappear. He then turned to Cardin, hiding behind a tree, and walked over to him.
"U-Um… H-Hey, Jauney Boy. A-About that whole "blackmail" thing… y-you know I was just joking right? J-Just a little harmless prank…" The terrified bully told the blonde knight.
"I'm going to tell you this once, and only once. Stay away from my friends. Hear me?" Jaune sternly said.
Cardin nodded in sheer terror. "I-I hear you, Jaune…" He nervously replied.
As Cardin soon fled, all Jaune's friends rushed out from the tree line to see him. Pyrrha was about to join them when she sensed a presence behind her. Turning around, she saw to her shock Neo standing before her, a large manilla folder at her side.
Neo grins, handing it over, signing, 'I've had this since last night, just wanted to see him squirm a bit.' the look on her face contradicting her, showing an ounce of worry.
"Thank you for helping us save Jaune from Cardin, Neo. Although, based on what we just saw, it looks like Jaune didn't need saving after all…" Pyrrha proudly replied.
Neo sighed, signing, 'He almost stole my kill though…' Neo pouted.
"I'm sure he wasn't intending to. Pleasure doing business with you." Pyrrha replied with a smile, tucking the folder under her arm, and going to congratulate Jaune on his win.
As everyone congregated around Jaune to check up on him and give him praise, Jaune hardly heard it all. He did what he should have, he saved a man who had done so much to him, slayed the monster, got the praise. Yet… it somehow felt hollow. As they all turned to collect their things to head back after that, no one noticed the final bit of spikes poking out of Jaune. And the noble knight's look in his eyes turned from sorrow… to rage.