Hello everyone I'm back sorry I haven't updated this story, asides from working on my other stories, I had some issues on why didn't do it... But my motivation is back. Well time for the chapter.

(Two Years Ago)

(*BOOM*)

The teen was sent flying from the explosive hit he had taken.

"You won't win!" The teen grunted quickly recovering from the attack

"You wanna bet asswipe!" Another teen challenged, retaking a fighting stance. The two stared at each other with ferocity before they leaped at each other to continue.

"Menma!"

"Laxus!"

The two roared out before colliding once again.

(Cue THE DAY by Porno Graffitti)

(Shizukesa ga shimikomu yō de iki o tometa gozen goji) Menma is kneeling and slowly gets up. Ace, Nozomi, and Laxus slowly walk up next to him. The four of them look outward.

(Hijō kaidan de tsume o kamu asu wa docchi da?) It reveals that they are looking over a cliff an infestation of Grimm.

(THE DAY HAS COME!) It shows them one by one as they reach for their respective weapons.

(Instumental) The word MANL appears.

(Guitar instrumental) It shows the members of team MANL, RWBY, JNPR, CFVY, and CRDL one by one in various poses.

(Keshite akenai yoru mo furitsuzukete yamanai ame mo) It shows Menma as he walks around the school with a far off look on his face.

(Kono rokudemo nai sekai ni wa aru nda yob) He walks passed Ace who is sitting down as he looks at his hat before putting it on.

(Sukoshi mo hen de wa nai no madoromi ni ashi o torareteru) It shows Nozomi as she looks off the cliff at Beacon before turning to look at Laxus.

(Anata o semete iru wake ja nai nda yob) Laxus is seen laying in the grass with his eyes closed before he slowly opens them.

(Hitori kūsō ni asobu) It shows Menma and Ace back to back. A silhouette of two boys one that looks like Menma with blond hair and another with a small scar on his cheek behind them.

(Soko de omoiegaita koto made) It changes to Nozomi and Laxus. Behind Nozomi shadows of thirteen people with purple glowing eyes and behind Laxus is a strange symbol.

(Hajiru no kai?) It shows Roman as a pair of yellow eyes appear behind him.

(Instrumental) The team smirks and splits off.

(Karamiau meikyū meikyū soredemo yuku to iu no?) It shows Nozomi as she takes a stance and in one swift move moves across the field and unleashes her sword taking out multiple Grimm while Laxus begins having a punching contest with a large Beringal that gets faster and faster.

(Chīsaki tabibito ga kanaderu hajimari no kane no ne) It shows Menma and Ace moving around the field wildly as they burn or cut through Grimm of all sizes. They both leap up and smash the head of a Nevermore with their feet at they make a dynamic entry pose on either side. Both of them with wild grins on their faces.

(Yuku ate mo DON'T KNOW DON'T KNOW!) Nora is on Magnhild as she looks forward with a smile and launches forward. Ren appears next and spins rapidly with stormflower out before aiming forward.

(Hontō wa kowain ja nai no?) Jaune is seen falling forward before being caught by Pyrrha as she leaps forward. Yang shoots Ember Celica behind her to launch herself forward.

(Fumidasu sono ippo ippo ga)
Blake is seen swinging by as she take a slash before Weiss zips by in her fighting stance. Roses gather and Ruby appears from them as she slashes with Crescent Rose

(Kaete yukeru sa) It shows Laxus running before changing to Nozomi as she lifts her sword and then Ace as he heats up his body and finally Menma thrusting an open palm forward.

(THE DAY HAS COME!) It shows Menma's hand with Spiraling sphere activated before changing to Ace's fist covered in fire then to Nozomi's hand holding her sword and finally Laxus's fist covered in lightning.

(Instrumental) It shows team MANL in fighting stances along with the other students from beacon.

(Sparring Room)

It has been three weeks since Menma help Ruby with her problems since then team MANL has gotten along great with the younger freshmen, they hang out with each other and study when Nozomi forces them so.

Three weeks had passed since the semester had started when Ruby met Menma. The two leader's friendship had spread to their respective teams as well as team JNPR. The freshman usually found themselves hanging out with the members of the older team quite often. Though some of them tried to scatter when Nozomi and Weiss made them study.

They never made it far.

All, was well for the young would be huntsmen…Well most of them.

For example,

Currently, Jaune was in the arena fighting against a fellow student. Well, fighting was a subjective term for what was happening.

His opponent in question had burnt orange hair combed back with a slight peak in the front. He was wearing a light grey armor with gold trimming. A bird with its wings outstretched was sported on the chest plate. Underneath the armor was a blck shirt with matching pants with a red belt on around the waist.

This was Cardin Winchester. And currently he was toying with Jaune in the fight.

Cardin had his mace perched on his shoulder and Jaune Arc opposite him with Crocea Mors drawn, leaning on his weapon as if exhausted. Which he was.

"This is not looking good." Jaune grunted mentally. Not that he was surprised. But it was still frustrating. His eyes narrowed as he heard Cardin chuckle to show how he wasn't taking this seriously at all. "Well Granpa always said go down swinging."

Then the blond charged at his fellow team leader once again. Jaune went in for a slash but Cardin easily dodged. He stumbled but recovered to go for a stab only for it to be deflected. Again and again he tried to attack but nothing was working at all.

Cardin decided to finally go on the offensive and brought his mace down but Jaune managed to block albeit sloppily. Cardin used his superior height and strength to put pressure on Jaune who was barely standing his ground

"This is the part where you lose." Cardin said.

"Over my dead-!" Jaune began but was cut short when Cardin kneed him in the gut. Oh he was gonna feel that later. Jaune dropped his sword from the pain and went down.

Cardin smirked before raising his mace to go in for the final hit just when the buzzer went off. Cardin seemed to ignore it and continued to bring the Mace down. Only to stop when something hit it.

"That's enough,"

Cardin turned to look over at team MANL none of them looked like they had moved but he knew something had hit his weapon. Cardin seemed to grip his weapon tighter in defiance as if not caring but another voice stopped him.

"Is there a problem Mr. Winchester?"

The ginger haired teen looked over at Professor Goodwitch who's was giving him a watchful look.

"No problem," Cardin shrugged before backing away from Jaune to show that he wasn't going to try anything.

Glynda huffed before walking onto the stage, tapping her tablet. "Students, as you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament-styled duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle, and that the official may call the match." She informed as she turned her head to look at Jaune as he pulled out a smaller tablet with his low, blinking stats and that of his entire team "Mr. Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your Scroll during combat. Gauging your Aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it is better to move to a more... defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowolf, now, would we?" She stated.

"Speak for yourself." Cardin mumble not knowing he had been heard by someone. Laxus narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

"Yeesh I was sure Jaune was going to do better." Menma said, scratching his head. Next to him Ace was snoring loudly.

"Well Menma not everyone can get stronger in just three weeks." Nozomi pointed out.

"I know but still." The M of MANL muttered as he eyed the younger leader. Then the bubble coming from Ace's nose popped.

"Huh! What happened did the class end. Did I win." He asked sleepily.

"Remember, everyone, the Vytal Festival is only a few months away," Glynda spoke. "It won't be long before students from the other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing, those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale." Glynda informed the seated and standing students, such as team RWBY Yang, punching the air in anticipation; Weiss shaking her fists with an excited smile, Ruby shaking her entire body with enthusiastic energy while squealing softly and Blake simply smiling.

The students stood up as one and slowly filtered out of the room, chattering away. Team MANL stood up and watched as RWBY and JNPR gathered together. "Don't worry Jaune you'll do better next time." Pyrrha encouraged patting her partner on the back gently.

"Yeah I guess." Jaune said quietly. Suddenly young knight felt an arm sling around his shoulders. He turned to see Ace giving him a big grin.

"Don't worry Jaune, some people have slower start than others," The A of Manl grinned. "Besides your loss wasn't nearly as bad as Menma's in our first year," He joked. "Or Weiss's fight against me."

"That was one time!" Menma roared glaring at his partner.

"Because you decided not to check the expiration on the milk." Laxus grunted.

"It was over a week old I thought somebody would have thrown it away!" Menma defended.

"A leader should have better observation skills," Nozomi stated blandly.

"Ruby they're being mean to me!" Menma cried running over the hood wearing girl catching her by surprise. "Make them stop he cried and he embraced her in a hug.

"Wh-wha- huh- I- wha!" Ruby blubbered out at the sudden attention and embrace. Her hands moving around frantically.

"Anyway just focus on finding your strengths and playing off those for now," Ace chuckled bringing attention back to him and Jaune.

The teams got ready to leave but stopped at Glynda's call. "Team MANL can you stay after I need to speak with the four of you." The blonde professor said.

"Sure thing Glynda." Menma replied having recovered. Goodwitch narrowed her eyes at the black haired student.

"That's Mrs. Goodwitch." She stated in a stern voice.

"Hey you say tomato and I say grape juice." Menma shrugged. The professor noarrwed her eyes even more.

Ace smirked at the display. Nozomi put her face in her hands and sighed, and Laxus didn't care.

(Cafeteria)

"So! There we were, in the middle of the night." She said

"It was day." Ren corrected her.

"We were surrounded by Ursaaaaiiii." Nora continues Blake, paying no attention as she kept reading her book. Yang, was cupping her face hanging on to every word from the peppy girl. Weiss was ignoring Nora and filing her nails. Pyrrha were listening politely. Ruby was still recovering from the ordeal with Menma in the arena. Jaune was messing with his food.

"They were Beowolves." Ren added taking a drink from his cup.

"Dozens of them!" she screamed slamming her hands on the table.

"Two of 'em." Ren wiped his mouth.

"But they were no match... And in the end, Ren and I took them down and made a boatload of Lien selling Ursa skin rugs!" She said.

"She's been having this recurring dream for nearly a month now." Ren sighs. "I'm honestly concerned."

Pyrrha look smiled softly before looking over at her team leader noticing hi forlorn look, "Jaune? Are you okay?" She asked.

Jaune snapped out of his thoughts and looked over at the amazon "I'm fine why are you asking." He wondered.

"It's just that you seem a little... not okay..." Ruby stated catching the other occupant's attention. They all looked over at the blond leader who became slightly frantic.

"Guys, I'm fine. Seriously! Look!" Jaune held up his thumbs though he could tell he wasn't convincing anyone.

Suddenly they heard a slight squeal and laughter. They turned to see Team CRDL standing around a girl with brown bunny ears signifying her status as a faunus. Cardin was pulling on said girl's ears hard causing the girl to whimper in pain but the team didn't seem to care at all.

"Jaune, Cardin's been picking on you since the first week of school." Pyrrha said glaring at the scene.

"Who? Cardin Winchester? Nah... He just likes to mess around!" Jaune dismissed. "You know, practical jokes!" The young knight explained weakly.

"He's a bully." Ruby said bluntly.

"Oh, please! Name one time he's 'bullied' me." Jaune scoffs.

"The time he knocked your books out of your hand." Ren said.

"The time he opened your shield so you couldn't get through the door." Weiss supplied.

"The time he pushed you in a locker and launched it." Yang mentioned.

"I didn't land far from the school!" Jaune said trying to laughs it off. He wasn't succeeding.

"Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask." Pyrrha

"Guys, really, it's fine!" Jaune reassured. "Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me; he's a jerk to everyone." Jaune pointed the problem that was still taking place.

They all looked over as the laughing grew louder, mixed in with cries of pain from the rabbit girl as Cardin continued to pull her ear.

"Ow! That hurts!" She said as Cardin grab her ear "Please, stop..." She begged, her eyes tearing up from the pain.

"I told you it was real!" Cardin chuckled ignoring the girl's plea.

"What a freak!" One of his team members laughed.

"Atrocious. I can't stand people like him." Pyrrha scowled as she continued watching the spectacle.

"He's not the only one." Blake said angrily.

"It must be hard to be a Faunus." Yang said, as she leaning her head.

Ruby having seen enough got up and began making her way over but stopped halfway when she realized someone else beat her to the punch.

"Seriously what a-" Cardin only to see a shadow overtake him. The C of CRDL turned to see Laxus giving him a neutral expression.

"Let her go,"

"Why should I?" Cardin challenged. Laxus didn't answer he just continued staring at the younger teen.C ardin scowled at the blond before smirking. He preceded to pull on Velvets ear harder. The rabbit faunus squeaked once again causing Laxus to narrow his eyes. "What are you gonna do about it," Cardin taunted. His team were suddenly closer to him. All four staring down the bigger man.

The whole cafeteria had gone silent at the confrontation. The tension could be cut with a knife.

That is until Cardin felt a tugging on his ear.

"Ow!" he yelped. "Hey! What gives!"

"What, you're doing it," A voice chuckled. "I thought I'd show you what it feels like,"

Cardin turned to see Menma was the culprit as he continued tugging on the underclassman's ear.

"Let go!" Cardin growled.

"But why?" Menma asked in mock curiosity.

"Come on man this hurts,"

"Pretty sure Velvet said it hurt too," Menma retorted as he led Cardin around by the ear literally. "But you kept doing it so that must mean it's fun for you," Menma laughed.

So the dance continued on for a few more minutes as Cardin was pulled around by the ear while the cafeteria laughed at the display. His teammates tried to intervene but were stopped by Laxus who gave them a withering glare that froze them in place.

"Alright I think that's enough for now," Menma said as he finally let Cardins ear go. "Hope you learned from this," Cardin gave the older teen a baleful look. "You okay Velvet," Menma asked.

"I'm fine," Velvet answered. "Thanks for the help Menma," The rabbit girl looked over at Laxus and there was a distinct pink in her cheeks. "You too Laxus,"

Laxus merely grunted before deciding to look around at the cafeteria that was still laughing.

"Your all pathetic,"

The silence that followed was deafening as all eyes turned to look at Laxus.

"Your all supposed to be huntsman in training and yet it only one of you got up to do something," He said. His eyes trailed over to Ruby who slightly shrunk as all the attention landed on her. "She's a freshman and 15 years old yet she was the only one willing to actually do something instead of just watching,"

There was electricity in the air as Laxus gazed at the entire cafeteria.

"If you can't even stand up to something as small as this than none of you deserve to become huntsman," Having said his peace Laxus walked away and over to his table were Nozomi was reading and Ace was sleeping. He stopped short when he was by Ruby and looked down at her. He reached out and patted the girls head a few times before walking off.

"As always he has such a way with words," Menma chuckled. "You can come eat with us Velvet," Menma welcomed. "We have a mission with your team later on anyway so I need to talk with you about it,"

"Thank you," Velvet smile before walking with Menma. As they passed the still standing Ruby Menma reached out and ruffled her hair just like Laxus had.

"Good job kid," Menma grinned ruffling her hair slightly before continuing to walk off.

(Forever Fall)

"So this kid was bullying Velvet." Ace muttered as he shot off a beowolves head. "And Laxus intervened," He swayed slightly as another one attempted to hit him with his claws. Ace held a hand to the beowolves face and burned it off. "How is this kid alive."

(*SLASH*)

"Oh that wasn't even the best part," Menam chuckled as he walked by Nozomi cutting a grimm in half. "You should have seen him lecture the entire cafeteria when only Ruby actually got up to do something,"

"Chibi Captain did?" Ace asked. "Ah man I wish I could have been there to see it,"

"Ace! Don't encourage such things!" Nozomi scolded cutting down an, Ursa, "Besides I am happy that you didn't got involved this time." She said looking at her leader.

"Oh no I definitely got involved," Menma corrected kicking a beowolf onto Nozomi's sword killing it instantly. "I grabbed Cardins ear and pulled him around," The whisker faced teen laughed.

"Of course you did," The green haired girl sighed. "You're such a hassle to deal with,"

"Oi! I'm not that bad," Menma defended, offended at the accusation

"Oh really," The swordswoman scoffed. "Capture the flag?"

"Oh yeah good times." Menma laughed, "Anyway, it's not like we went too far right Laxus." Menma backhanded a beowolf coming at him from behind

(*CRACK*)

Laxus punched a hole into an Ursa that came at him. Arcs of electricity coating his arm. "He wasn't worth the time,"

"I seriously can't believe I had to leave lunch early for this," Menma grunted kicking an beowolf into the air. "I want ramen," He groaned.

"You can just get some when we get back" Ace said aiming his guns at the beowolf his partner kicked into the air. He fired and the beast disintegrated from the heat of the flames. "But why are we doing this,"

"Glynda plans on bringing the freshman out here to extract sap from the trees," Menma explained. "So we have to clear out at least most of the area since the stuff attracts wasps

"You know one of these days Menma, Glynda is going to get you back at you for not addressing her by her title." Ace back fist a Beowolve that was behind him.

Menma just waved him off, "Please what is she going to do, put me in detention," The leader scoffed. "I'll just break out of the slammer."

(*BONK*)

"Ow!" Menma received a strong fist on the top his head, "What was that for!" He glared at Nozomi.

"You know what." Nozomi deadpanned.

"Apparently he can't get out of the slammer when Nozomi is the security guard." Laxus point out.

"Ahuh." Ace nodded

Menma looked ready to yell at his teammate but stopped short when his scroll beeped. He grabbed his scroll, to see he was receiving a message. "Hey guys it seems team CFVY finished their side."

"Well in that case we should finish this up." Ace stated as he combined his guns creating a staff.

"Yeah, it's getting late and I want to eat my Ramen!" Menma shouted pulling out a couple of his knives.

"Let's go!" Ace and Menma shouted as they dashed into the fray.

"Wait you idio-You know what I'm too tired to deal with them anymore." Nozomi sighed dejectedly, "Laxus let's go make sure they don't destroy the forest,"

"You mean anymore, then they already have," Laxus asked pointing to the barren area.

"Yes,"

"Alright." The blond shrugged. A moment later his body turned into lighting and he was gone.

MANL

"57, I'm telling you that one counts as three points." Ace grunted.

"Like hell it does!" Menma argued back with Ace. "Besides I killed the Deathstalker and it was worth 20 at least!"

"It was a young one so it was only 5!"

"Bull! Shit!"

"Can you idiots not keep score." Nozomi said rubbing her temple's.

"Your just mad because you got the lowest score out of all of us" Menma scoffed.

"Oh my gosh, I don't care!"

Ace leaned towards Menma, "What a sore loser." He whispered.

"I know right." Menma agree.

"You guys can't whisper," Laxus deadpanned.

Nozomi groaned in annoyance, and hit both of them on the head. "Shut it! I'm going to our room to read a book,"

"Kay, we'll be in the cafeteria, ramen here I come! Let's go Ace." Menma exclaimed as he dashed off.

"Alright." Ace turned to Laxus, "What are you about to do" The A of MANL asked.

"I'm fine. I'll be on the roof." The blond responded as he began walking away.

"Alright see you in the dorms," Ace shrugged walking in a different direction.

"Yeah."

MANL

As Laxus laid down on the roof as he observed his surroundings. He had a a clear view of the glowing green orbs in the central tower of Beacon. He was relaxing and watching the sky.

"Pyrrha, I know I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not that depressed." Laxus opened his eyes hearing a new voice on the roof as well. He from his perch to see Pyrrha and Jaune talking to each other.

"What the heck is he talking about?" Laxus thought.

Jaune looks over the edge of the roof, "I can always be a farmer or something..."

Pyrrha realized with horror, at what he meant "N-n-no!" Pyrrha corrected pushing Jaune away from the edge "That's not why I brought you up here!" She dragged her team leader closer to the center, "Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class and that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so... I want to help you!"

"Wh-what?" Jaune asked

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

"You think I need help?" He asked hurt.

"N-no! No, that's not what I meant." Pyrrha said.

"But you just said it." Jaune annoying said.

"But you do need it." Laxus thought, recalling all of the losses his fellow blond had taken in the arena.

The amazon attempted to encourage his teammate as he was feeling worse than before, "Jaune, everybody needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us. You made it to Beacon! That speaks volumes of what you're capable of!"

Jaune turned away from her, lowering his head, You're wrong. I-I don't belong here." He lowered his head.

"That's a terrible thing to say! Of course you do!" The red head defended, trying to reassure her team captain.

"No, I don't!" He looked at her angrily, before sighing as Pyrrha looked bewildered at the face he had made, "I wasn't really accepted into Beacon..." He turns his back to her so he doesn't have to face her.

"Wait that doesn't make any sense unless he." Laxus thought befofe it became clear. "Oh,"

"Wh-what do you mean?" Pyrrha asked being shock by this revelation.

"I mean I didn't go to combat school, I didn't pass any tests. I didn't earn my spot at this Academy!" He said as his voice got higher as confess. He then looks at her again, "I lied! I got my hands on some fake transcripts, and I lied!"

"What? But... why?" She asked

"Cause, this is always what I've wanted to be!" He turn away from her, "My father, my grandfather, and his father before him were all warriors! They were all heroes! I wanted to be one, too. I was just never good enough."

Laxus eyes listened intently to the underclassmen's words. They were striking accord with certain memories of his.

Pyrrha approaching him, placing a hand on his shoulder, supportive "Then let me help you!"

"I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!" He said with frustration, taking her hand off him

"Jaune, I-" Pyrrha tried to say.

"I'm tired of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives! Don't you understand? If I can't do this on my own... then what good am I?" Jaune said sadly, Pyrrha attempt to reach out for his arm and console him, but he leans back from her touch. "Just... leave me alone. Okay?" He said.

"If that's what you think is best..." Pyrrha said sadly.

Laxus closed his eyes as certain memories flooded his consciousness. "One day I'll be as great as grandpa!" He gritted his teeth at the thought, "Damnit."

His musing was stopped as yet another voice entered his hearing.

"Oh, Jaune..."

Jaune turned around to see Cardin walking towards him.

"Cardin!" Jaune responded surprised the gingers sudden appearance.

"I couldn't help but overhear you two from my dorm room. So, you snuck into Beacon, huh? I gotta say, Jaune, I never expected you to be such a rebel!" He said.

"Please, Cardin, please, don't tell anyone!" Jaune beg.

"Jaune, come on! I'd never rat on a friend like that!" Cardin pretended to be hurt.

"A... a friend?" Jaune got confused by his words.

"Of course!" Cardin grabs Jaune in a headlock under his arm despite his struggling "We're friends now, Jauney boy! And the way I see it, as long as you're there for me when I need you, we'll be friends for a long time." He then releases Jaune, who gasps as he leans on the ground "That being said, I really don't have time to do those extra readings Dr. Oobleck gave us today. Think you could take care of that for me, buddy?" He eans down to rub Jaune's hair and gets up with a grin, "That's what I thought." He then headed back to hang onto the edge, "Don't worry, Jaune; your secret's safe with me." Cardin drops back down to his room.

Jaune rubs his neck in pain and worry, "What did I got myself into." He said.

Laxus watch the scene transpire before scratching his head in annoyance, "Why me off all people."

"Man that was delicious." Menma burped as he walked through the halls, "Right Ace."

"ZZZZ." Ace was sleeping on his teammate back as Menma carried him to their dorm.

"Excatly." Menma grinned. That's when he noticed Laxus standing in the hall seemingly waiting for them. "Oh hey Laxus what are you doing out here. Trying to avoid Nozomi or something?"

"I need to talk to you Menma." Laxus said. "It's urgent,"

Menma raised an eyebrow knowing Laxus well enough to know that if he was calling it urgent than it must be. "Sure thing, let me just get Ace into the room," Menma walked past L and kicked his dorm room open. He proceeded to throw Ace into the room!

(*THUMP*)

"Menma!" Nozomi shouted. "What did I say about throwing Ace into the room when he's sleeping!"

"What you want talk about?" Menma asked while dusting his hands off.

"Don't ignore me!"

(Few minutes later)

"Wow that is serious." Menma cross his arms, "Underclassmen shouldn't be awake at this time of night during school days,"

"Focus jackass." Laxus slapped his leader across the head.

"Just joking man no need to be so stiff." Menma scratched his head, "But if you want my opinion Laxus we can't interfere," Menma asked getting no response, "He wants to act like mister 'I can do everything by myself' then let him, maybe he'll something out of this." Menma said. "Why do you want to get involved anyway"

"I have my reasons," Laxus said. "And I don't like Cardin,"

The whiskered teen looked at the blond with his eye's narrowed. He had an inkling on why Laxus wanted to help but said nothing on it. Instead he said, "Well that guy is somewhat an asshole, but maybe there's a reason for it," Menma shrugged, he then pats the giant of a teen, "Tell you what if Cardin keep this up I will interfere, how's that."

"I guess."

"Good now let's get some zzz's because I want to wake up first so doesn't Nozomi notices I'm up to no good." Menma said as he then walking back to the room.

Laxus sighed as he watched his team leader cackle before following him.

MANL

As a few days pass by, team MANL noticed that Jaune had become earn boy for Cardin. Anything that Cardin ask Jaune did it no questions ask that include if the things was something he didn't want to do.

"So is it me or has Jaune totally become Cardins bitch?" Ace asked.

"Language." Nozomi scolded as she read a book. "And he has,"

"Just making sure," Ace said. "You going to do anything about it fearless leader,"

"Yeah I guess but after another cup of ramen."

"Mmm." Laxus grunted.

"Fine Laxus!" Menma slammed his cup on the table in annoyance. "We'll help him realized his mistake, yeesh! Can't a guy eat his ramen in peace." Menma stood up storming off the rooftop with Laxus right behind him.

"Was that about?" Nozomi asked the fire fist.

"It must about the secret pact we have to get rid of you," Ace said.

"Oh, you mean like the secret pact we have to get rid of you." Nozomi countered. Ace looked at her in surprise.

"What?"

MANL

"I'm sure our leader knows what he is doing," Pyrrha scowled. Nora and Ren looked at each other in concern but continued on with their own endeavors.

"Nora stop jumping on the bed," Ren scolded.

"But I'm almost to 1000!"

"Have you really been jumping that long!"

None of them are aware of Jaune looking at them through a crack in the door. He closed the door and sighed dejectedly.

"Hey, Jaune!" Ruby greets surprising him. "Long time, no see! Did you lock yourself out again?"

"Oh, uh, nope!" Jaune laughs weakly as he pulls out his scroll. "Got it!"

"So! Where have you been lately?" Ruby asked.

"I, uh..." Jaune hesitated as he tried to come up with something, but just sighed and lowered his head. "I messed up. I did something I shouldn't have, and now Cardin has me on a leash, and Pyrrha won't even talk to me, and..."

"I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea." Jaune moans as he presses his back to his team's door and slides down to the floor in depression. "I'm a failure."

"Nope!" Ruby says.

"Nope?" Jaune asks as he looks up.

"Nope!" Ruby continues, "You're a leader now, Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure."

"But what if I fail them?"

"Nope!" Ruby said.

"You know, you're not the easiest people to talk to about this kind of stuff." Jaune says.

"Nope!" She said while she sat on Jaune side.

"Jaune, maybe you were a failure when you were a kid..." Ruby begins causing Jaune to groan and shrink into himself. "... and you might've even been a failure the first day we met!" The blond shrunk even more.

"But." Ruby emphasized, "You can't be one now. You know why?"

"Why?" Jaune asked.

"You have a team now. Both of us do for now! We can't afford to go down because if we go down then they'll go down us." She said passionately. "Your team deserves a great leader, Jaune. And I think that can be you." Ruby said as she began to get up.

Jaune sits there for a moment before getting up and getting ready to go into his room. But just before he can he receives a message from Cardin. "Arc." He looks up and sees Menma and Laxus standing in front of him.

"Uh, Menma, Laxus what are you doi-"

"Grab him!" Menma ordered.

"Hey Jaune I almost forg-" Ruby began opening her door to say one last thing only to stop at what she was seeing. Jaune was struggling to escape Laxus hold as he and Menma were stuffing him into a large sack. His mouth was duct taped so that he couldn't scream out.

Menma and Laxus froze as they made eye contact with Ruby. Ruby blinked before rubbing her eyes to make sure she was seeing what she was seeing.

She was.

Slowly Menma brought a hand to his lips in a shushing gesture. Now normally she would've tried to help Jaune but this was Menma. Slowly the gradient haired girl nodded in understanding much to the dismay of Jaune.

"You're a good girl," Menma grinned as he ruffled her hair much. Ruby gave an affectionate smile before skipping back into her room.

"So she's your type huh?" Laxus muttered.

"What?" Menma asked confused.

"Nevermind," Laxus sighed knowing his team leader wouldn't understand.

"Now onwards." Menma whispered as Laxus carried Jaune in the sack with ease.

"What are they going to do to me!" Jaune thought scared what the upperclassmen had planned for him. "Why Ruby whhyyyyyyy!"

MANL

"Where here." Menma eye's shadowed as Laxus dumped Jaune out of the sack. Jaune hit the ground headfirst.

"Ooowwww!" Jaune cried mentally before taking notice of his surroundings. "Why are we in the forest!?"

"Menma there area is clear." Laxus said his eye's was also shadow.

"Good, good, that means there will be no witnesses." Menma said. "It'd be bad if someone could hear him scream,"

Jaune mouth dropped at Menma words, "Wait are they planning to kill me!" He panicked.

"So let's begin." Menma spoke.

"Roger," Laxus agreed.

Jaune panicked, "Please don't kill me! I didn't mean to lie about my paper's, I just wanted to be Huntsman I didn't want to offend you guys, please just don't kill me!" Jaune begged with his head on the ground.

"What the heck are you talking about?" Menma asked confused. He looked over at Laxus who looked just as confused.

Jaune looks up at them, "Wait your guys aren't going to kill me."

"W-what? No!" Menma yelled, "Why would you suggest that?"

"But I-"

"Werido." Laxus grunted. There was an awkward silence in the forest for a moment before Jaune cleared his throat.

"I might have…overreacted" He mumbled not looking them in the eye.

"Yeah, you did." Both Menma and Laxus said simultaneously.

"So then what are we doing out here?" Jaune asked.

"We're here to tell you a story." Menma answered with a smile.

"A story?"

"Yep! It's called Menma's path to leadership." Menma talk, "When MANL was foremed and I was chosed to be the leader… not everyone agreed with it," Menma said, "But it was especially hard dealing with this one because he hated me,"

Jaune's eyes widened at the statemen. "What?!"

"Yeah I hated Menma's guts," Laxus explained.

"Yeah it w-"

"I mean it was the worst day of my life," Laxus continued. "This unkempt scrawny sorry excuse of a huntsman was my leader," Laxus sighed as he thought about that day. "I was completely humiliated,"

Menma glared at his teammate before turning his attention back to the othe other blond. "Anyways, it wasn't just Laxus. I had to deal with Ace and Nozomi as well. It was an annoying first year."

"What's does this have to do wi-"

"Hold your questions for the end of the story." Menma ordered chopping his underclassman's head.

"Ow!" Jaune shouted in pain.

"Well one day I had had enough of his attitude and told him to put his money where his mouth is," He explained.

"That was one hell of a fight," Laxus muttered reminiscing about that day.

"But after the fight, Laxus and I came to understand each other," Menma said. "Eventually we became friends because of it,"

"What's that to do to me?" Jaune asked.

(*Chop!*)

"Stop hitting me" Jaune groaned rubbing his sore head. "What was that even for?"

"For not standing up for yourself! Jaune do you think being a leader is for shit and giggles because let me tell you it is not. And do you seriously think you can get stronger on your own." Menma said, "Sure you can but you have team now! They can help you as much you can help them." Menma explain.

Jaune looked up at his upperclassman as his words began to sink in.

"Now that's enough wisdom for one night," Menma smiled. "Anything to ad Laxus,"

"What Menma is trying to say is that if you don't try to improve you'll never get anywhere, especially when you're doing things on your own." Laxus said. "You want be hero then train for it, earn it don't lay down and say you can't do it all because you're weak. If Menma wouldn't have stood up against me, we would have never gotten to where we are now," Laxus finished. "That's is all I can tell you." The blond giant finished before walking away.

"With that done I'm heading to bed," Menma shrugged following his teammate leaving Jaune to think about there words.

I first wanted to say thanks to Drag0n5on for help me with this chapter, and reviews, like, and favourite and see you guys next time peace out ✌.