Amplify (A RWBY Story)

As the day went on, Ryder wondered what Kairos was really like. He wonders If his almost harsh and unfriendly exterior is a façade. Right now, he and the others were in History class which was being taught by Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck. He just calls him Oobleck as he knows he'll mess up the poor guy's name. He's done it before with other people and he felt so bad about it. That's why he comes up with nicknames as they're harder to mess up. Now, what can he say about Oobleck. Well.... he's on something. This dude looks like he drank way too many energy drinks as he is more hyper than Nora and Ruby combined. Mainly he speaks REALLY fast. He was moving around at almost light speed as he talked about the Faunus Rights Revolution or more commonly called, the Faunus War. Ryder understands the plight of the Faunus and honestly feels bad for them. 

"Yes, yes. Before the Faunus Rights Revolution—more popularly known as the Faunus War—Humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing the Faunus Population in Menagerie." Oobleck explained. 

As he mentioned Menagerie, he points to it with a stick and then zooms off to take a sip of coffee before zooming back to his desk. 

"Now! While this may feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day!" Oobleck explained. 

Oobleck took another sip of coffee before quickly going around his desk and standing in front of it. 

"Now! Have any among you been subjugated or discriminated against because of your Faunus heritage?" Oobleck asks. 

A few Faunus Students in the room raised their hands. One of them was that girl from before, the one that Kairos helped. He found out that her name is Velvet, apparently Kairos knew her. 

"Dreadful, Simply Dreadful! Remember students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence!" Oobleck said before taking a long sip of coffee. "I mean, i mean, I mean just look at what happened to the White Fang! Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point in the third year of the War?" he asks. 

Weiss raises her hand. 

"Yes?" 

"The Battle at Fort Castle." Weiss answers. 

Ryder's jaw dropped. What the hell kind of name is that!? 

"Precisely! And who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?" 

Ryder raises his hand. Ruby and Yang saw this and got worried. They knew that Ryder knew little about Remnant and figured he was taking a gamble. 

"yes, Mr. Falcone?" Oobleck asks. 

"Night Vision." Ryder answered. 

"care to elaborate?" Oobleck asked, dashing over to him. 

Ryder was caught of guard by his sudden appearance but continued. 

"Faunus have more than just animal appendages. Some of them possess other abilities animals do too. Like Night Vision. Some Faunus can see in the dark. For example, a Cat Faunus." Ryder answered. 

A laugh was heard. Both Oobleck and Ryder looked over to see it was Cardin. 

"Nerd." Cardin said. 

"dumbass says what." Ryder said quickly. 

"What?" Cardin asked. 

"Nothing." Ryder said, smiling. 

Ruby and Yang held in laughs. Cardin then realized what he did and glared at Ryder. Oobleck dashed over to him. 

"Well seeing as you're so eager to speak and get involved. Care to share your thoughts on the subject?" Oobleck asks. 

"Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal then a soldier." Cardin said smugly. 

"That so? Well history said that General Lagune tried to ambush the Faunus in their sleep. His massive army got outmatched and the General was captured. Perhaps if he paid more attention in class, he wouldn't be remembered as such a failure." Ryder retorts. 

Cardin gets up from his seat, fist clenched. Ryder knew this as in his spare time, he looked into Remnant's War history. What? He likes history. That's why he was glad to be in this class. 

"Mr. Winchester! Please take a seat." he said before zooming over to Jaune who wasn't paying attention at all. "You and Mr. Arc can both see me after class for additional readings." 

"Ooohh." Jaune said, sadly. 

The lessen soon ends and everyone leaves, all except Cardin and Jaune. While Kairos kept walking, Ryder stayed outside the class with Pyrrha. Those two have become great friends and Ryder appreciates it. Pyrrha is one of the nicest people he knows in this new world. He then thinks about his secret. He should really tell the others his secret, that he's from another world. But as he stands there, he thinks about Jaune. The guy really needs the right push to grow. 

"Jaune really needs a push." Ryder said. 

"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asks. 

"To get stronger. The way things are going, he won't survive in real combat. He needs the right push to get him to grow." Ryder explains. 

Eventually, Oobleck dashed out of the room at high speeds. Cardin and Jaune come walking out but Cardin pushes Jaune to the ground which makes the bully laugh before walking away. Pyrrha helps Jaune off the floor. 

"You know I really will break his legs." She said. 

Jaune just sighs. Pyrrha then thinks about what Ryder said and gets an idea. 

"I have an idea! Here, come with me." Pyrrha said. 

She grabs Jaune by the arm and drags him along. Ryder follows them as he has an idea what Pyrrha's new idea is and wants to help. Pyrrha leads them to the rooftops of one of the buildings in Beacon. They had a clear view of Beacon tower which stood in the center of the large Academy. Jaune walks to the edge while Pyrrha and Ryder follow behind. 

"Guys, i know I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not that depressed." Jaune said looking over the edge. "I can always be a farmer or something..." 

"no, no, no!" Pyrrha said quickly before she pushes Jaune away from the edge. "That's not why we brought you up here." 

"Not even close." Ryder said. 

"Jaune, i know you're having a difficult time in class and that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so... we want to help you!" Pyrrha said. 

"Wh-What?" Jaune asks. 

"We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!" Pyrrha said. 

"Or in the Arena where we can go all out." Ryder adds. 

"You think i need help?" Jaune asks. 

"No, no! That's not what we meant." Pyrrha said, trying to correct him. 

"But you two just said it." Jaune mentions. 

"Jaune, you just need the right push to get you going. Once the ball is rolling, there's no stopping it. You can grow stronger." Ryder said. 

"Plus, you made it into Beacon! That speaks volumes of what you're capable of." Pyrrha said. 

"You're wrong. I-i don't belong here." Jaune said, denying their claims. 

"That's a terrible thing to say! Of course you do." Pyrrha said, trying to assure him. 

"No i don't!" Jaune shouts. 

This stops both Ryder and Pyrrha. Both of them are bewildered. Jaune sighs before he reveals something. 

"I wasn't accepted into Beacon." He turns around, turning his back on them so he doesn't have to face them. 

"Wh-What do you mean?" Pyrrha asks. 

"I didn't go to combat school; I didn't pass my tests. I didn't earn my spot at this Academy! I lied! I got my hands on some fake transcripts, and I lied!" Jaune said. 

Ryder's eyes widen as he steps back. 

"You did what?" Ryder asks, in disbelief. 

"Why?" Pyrrha asks. 

"Because this is always what I've wanted to be! My father, my grandfather and his father before him were all warriors!" Jaune said, turning to face them. "They were all heroes! I wanted to be one too. I was just never good enough." 

"Then let us help you." Pyrrha said, urging him to consider it. 

"I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!" Jaune said, revealing his goals. 

Ryder's hands shake as he thinks back to Earth. The cheating, the lying, the corruption. He clenches his fists and grits his teeth but he turns around so Jaune can't see that. Pyrrha was too focused on Jaune to notice. 

"Jaune I-" Pyrrha starts but is cut off. 

"I'm tired of being the loveable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives! Don't you understand?" Jaune asks. "If I can't do this on my own... then what good am I?" he asks. 

Pyrrha attempts to reach out to him and console him, but Jaune leans away from her touch. Rejecting it. 

"Just... leave me alone. Okay?" he asks. 

Pyrrha, dejected accepts this. 

"If that's what you think is best." She said, her resolve betraying her true emotions. 

She walks off and leaves the roof. Jaune looked at Ryder who's hands were still shaking. 

"That means you too, Ryder. I just want to be alo-" 

"you LIAR!!" Ryder shouts, snapping at him as he turns around. 

Jaune was startled by this. Ryder marched towards him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. 

"Do you have any idea what damage you could've caused!?" Ryder asks angrily. 

"I-I" 

"No, you don't because you were only thinking about yourself!" Ryder said harshly. "I've seen what lying does to people, to the world. Lying leads to cheating and cheating leads to Corruption. I know what Corruption does and how much damage it can cause." 

Ryder shoves Jaune away, making the blond boy fall to the floor. 

"Heroes don't pick themselves, the people around them do." Ryder said before storming off. 

Ryder saw the door was opened and saw Pyrrha watching this with wide eyes. He walks past her and heads down the stairs. Pyrrha runs after him. When Ryder reaches the hall he begins walking back to his dorm. 

"Ryder!" Pyrrha calls out. 

Ryder stops and turned around to face her. 

"What did you mean by what you said to Jaune?" She asks. 

Ryder sighs. 

"I'm sorry for snapping. I just... I've seen what corruption does to people, to the world. I didn't want to see that cycle again." Ryder said. 

"Cycle? Did something happen to you?" Pyrrha asks, sounding concerned. 

"Not to me. But to the world around me." Ryder said. 

"The world seems fine to me." Pyrrha said, sounding confused. 

Ryder sighed again as he realized the time is now to tell everyone. 

"Can you gather the others into your dorm? There's something I need to tell all of you." Ryder said. "I'll get Kairos."