RWBY: Moon Reflection

The cafeteria buzzed with the lively chatter of students enjoying their meals. Crimson sat at a table with Team RWBY and Team JNPR, casually observing the interactions around him. He appeared relaxed, though his sharp eyes missed no detail.

Nora suddenly shouted at Crimson, "How do you not know Pyrrha? She's the Pyrrha Nikos! You know, the invincible girl from the Mistral Regional Tournaments?"

Crimson blinked, his expression blank. "I have never watched the tournament."

The collective gasp from the group was palpable. Jaune leaned in, animated. "She's not just the champion! She's the face on the Pumpkin Pete's cereal box! You've seen that, right?"

Crimson's face remained neutral. "Sadly, it's not the healthiest. I've forbidden Ruby and Yang from eating it."

Yang chuckled while Ruby groaned. "Crimson always insists on homemade food only!"

"It's for your own good," Crimson smiled at Ruby.

Pyrrha, the subject of the conversation, smiled softly. "It's alright. Honestly, it's refreshing to meet someone who doesn't recognize me. Thank you."

Crimson chuckled. "This is the first time someone thanked me for not recognizing them."

The group's chatter was interrupted by loud laughter from another table. Cardin Winchester and his team sat nearby, boasting about their recent antics.

"Did you see the look on that mouse Faunus's face when we cornered him? He was shaking like a leaf! Priceless!" Cardin crowed, slapping the table as his team joined in the laughter.

The mood at Team RWBY and JNPR's table darkened. Yang clenched her fists, her golden hair sparking faintly. "I'll teach that jerk a lesson," she growled, starting to stand.

Weiss placed a hand on her arm, frowning. "Yang, don't. You'll only make things worse."

Crimson, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Weiss is right. You shouldn't go over there. Besides, it's apparently the mouse Faunus's fault."

Yang blinked, surprised by his statement. Blake narrowed her eyes. "How can you say that with a straight face? Do you not see how hateful and racist you're being?"

Crimson surveyed the table, noting the similar reactions from everyone, including his sisters. He smiled faintly, amusement evident. "You are all surprisingly naive for students training to be huntsmen and huntresses. Though, I suppose my sisters' reactions aren't surprising. I've sheltered them from this kind of thing. But consider this a good opportunity to learn a lesson about life."

Yang frowned. "What do you mean?"

Crimson leaned back slightly, his expression calm. "Go over there and beat them up, Yang. I assure you there will be no consequences as long as you don't permanently damage them."

The sudden shift in his tone caught everyone off guard. Weiss spluttered in protest. "You can't be serious! That's completely against the rules!"

Crimson glanced at her, unperturbed. "You are missing the point. As huntsmen and huntresses in training, part of your role is to stand up for the weak, isn't it? No school worthy of its name would punish someone for doing the right thing."

Yang hesitated, then grinned. "Well, if you're sure…" She stood, ignoring Weiss's protests, and marched toward Cardin's table.

Some time later, Yang returned, cracking her knuckles with a satisfied grin. Cardin and his team sat sullenly at their table, avoiding eye contact.

"That felt good," Yang declared, sitting down.

Crimson turned his attention back to the group. "By attacking Cardin, she'll only force him to be more covert in his bullying. He'll likely target those around Yang who are less capable of defending themselves. Outside this school, someone like Cardin would aim for her family or friends, and the results would be far worse."

The group shifted uncomfortably at his words. Yang's expression spoke volumes. "So why did you say it was fine to beat them? What do you suggest, that we just let people like him get away with it?"

Crimson explained, "Because in school, the damage he can cause is limited and is a nuisance at worst. Besides, when dealing with him, it doesn't matter whether one can win or not. What matters is that you're willing to punch back. A united front, as a team or as friends, is often enough to deter someone like him. If he sees no cracks to exploit, he'll move on."

Crimson's gaze shifted to Blake. "As for the Faunus boy, it's his fault this happened. Not because he's a Faunus, but because he's too weak to stand up for himself or ask for help. My opinion wouldn't change if he were a human."

Blake's anger faltered as she processed his words. While she didn't like them, she couldn't deny they had some truth behind them. A twinge of guilt for her earlier accusation rose within her, but she also began to understand him better. He wasn't racist against Faunus; he was coldly pragmatic.

The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances, a sense of estrangement settling over them. They too shared Blake's feeling. Crimson's perspective was vastly different from theirs, shaped by experiences they couldn't begin to comprehend.

________________________________

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Students began filtering into the combat arena, the atmosphere crackling with anticipation. For most, the next class with Professor Glynda Goodwitch was one they all looked forward to—except for Jaune. His eyes darted nervously as he joined his friends, aware of the upcoming combat exercises. His lack of formal training often left him feeling out of his depth.

Professor Goodwitch stepped into the arena, her sharp gaze scanning the students. "Today we will have a series of matches," she announced crisply, "focusing on both strategy and combat skills. I expect all of you to give your best efforts."

Crimson watched with interest, his eyes glinting with amusement, though his posture remained relaxed. The class began with a few matches, each one showcasing different levels of skill. Some students struggled, while others seemed to be competent combatants. After a few matches were over, it was time for Jaune's turn—he was up against Cardin.

Jaune stepped forward, his knees wobbling as he faced off against the much larger Cardin. The two squared off in the center of the arena, with Glynda watching attentively.

"Let's see how you do, Jauny boy" Cardin sneered, waving his mace. The audience around them murmured, sensing that Jaune was in for a rough time.

The fight began with Jaune throwing a few hesitant slashes. Cardin, however, dodged easily and countered with a heavy blow that knocked Jaune to the ground. The group watched, uncomfortable, as Cardin continued to dominate the match. Every time Jaune tried to get up, Cardin would glance over at Team RWBY and Team JNPR, smirking at them. He'd throw in a taunt, causing his team to laugh and the others to scowl.

It was clear Cardin was enjoying every moment of humiliating Jaune. He knocked Jaune down again, using his superior strength to effortlessly toss him aside. Jaune struggled to regain his footing, but the damage was done. His pride was bruised, and his team's frustration was mounting.

Crimson's voice cut through the tension, calm and almost amused. "This is a perfect example of how the target of bullying shifts. If you beat Cardin again, he'll just find a new target or go about it more covertly."

Ruby, frustrated by the sight of Jaune being humiliated, turned to Crimson. "So what do we do to stop someone like Cardin?"

Crimson's eyes locked onto hers, his expression unchanging. "You make him afraid to raise his head. You make him walk on tiptoes around you."

Ruby tilted her head. "Isn't that just beating him up again?"

Crimson raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Not exactly, he needs to remember you every time he picks on someone"

The words seemed to hang in the air as the group processed his response, none of them quite sure of the meaning. 

As the match continued, Crimson was increasingly surprised by Jaune incompetence, who is supposedly the leader of one of the best teams. Crimson Couldn't help but comment on it "No offense, but Jaune's performance is abysmal. How did he even make it into Beacon Academy?" 

No one could answer that including his team, they also had some doubts about Jaune qualifications.

Jaune, battered and bruised, was finally thrown aside like a discarded ragdoll. He lay on the floor, unable to stand, his breath shallow and ragged. Professor Glynda, her lips pressed into a tight line, stepped forward.

"Jaune," she said with a disappointed frown, "your performance was less than desirable. You need to train harder if you want to make it as a huntsman."

Turning her gaze to Cardin, her eyes narrowed. "And as for you, Cardin, your behavior is unbefitting of a huntsman. If you act this way on a real mission, you will endanger your entire team."

Cardin simply shrugged, his grin unfazed. "It's just Jauny boy, Professor. Even a toddler is more dangerous than him"

The words barely registered when Cardin suddenly threw a challenge into the air. "Professor, my aura is intact, how about another match? Maybe with our resident big-mouthed guest?" he then looked toward Crimson mockingly.