One Good Turn Deserves Another

Chapter 13

Here we go, it's been a while. I've been exceptionally busy lately so writing fell onto the back burner. And I have to say that will continue for a bit. Next week I am taking a girl out in London on Mon-Wed. Then the Thurs-Sunday I am doing business meetings (working all through weekend) then the following week I am training two new staff, while also needing to do my writing for work... Fit into this that I also have to write a review on the hotel I will be staying at (in exchange for me getting a few nights in London for free)... Crikey. I might just write the hotel review in advance... cheating, but meh.

Thanks to everyone for the love for the new story idea on my profile. I've already written the preview and chapter 1, 50% of the way through chapter 2, and Super Saiyan Cyndaquill has kindly offered to beta it on top of this. I'll be looking to have 5 chapters fully written before I start releasing it, so I can keep on top of it. Maybe 2 months from now it should be out?

I've tried to address points some reviewers had in this (and future) chapters, mainly that my focus is so heavily on certain characters that I am neglecting others. As a romance fic, obviously the focus will be on Blake and Jaune, and Yang is Blake's partner... so she gets a lot of time too. But that's no excuse to miss other people out. Hopefully this will address that a little.

This is kind of a two-part chapter though, with this being part one. Otherwise the full thing would have taken a week or two longer, and been about 20k words.

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Beta: Super Saiyan Cyndaquill

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Chapter 13

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Pyrrha shuffled slightly as another Beacon student bumped into her, accepting the mumbled apology as they all squeezed their way into the confined auditorium hall. The room had been spacious enough to accept their full year group when first organising their teams, but clearly hadn't been designed to accommodate every student in Beacon.

Jaune looked to be faring no better beside her, the press of bodies forcing him to stand hip-to-hip with her. Something she was secretly quite pleased with, despite how uncomfortable she was. Ren and Nora stood in front of them, one of them waiting patiently, while the other visibly shook with excitement.

"This is a little ridiculous!" Jaune huffed as the team fought to maintain their cohesion among the press of bodies. Pyrrha hummed her agreement, even as she strained her neck to see the stage over the heads of her peers. Glynda Goodwitch stood there, her firm expression giving away little. But the fact that she stood off-centre in the stage suggested she was waiting for the Headmaster to address them all.

There was no way this was just a regular announcement. This had to be related to the Grimm incursion.

Many others seemed to have realised the same, since the thrum of chatter among the student body was almost deafening. It was impossible to pick out any detailed conversation; such was the level of noise. It was almost comparable to the deep humming of a large machine.

It all went silent though, as the Headmaster walked slowly across the stage. His cane echoing loudly on the wooden floor as he approached the centre of the platform. To Pyrrha's eyes he looked no different from usual, whether that was tantamount to the level of control he had, or the news he was about to give – she had no idea. Though she supposed they would soon find out.

"Students of Beacon." The white-haired man began, as he looked out over each of them. "Thank you for attending the call here today. I realise the situation here is a little cramped. So I will be as blunt as possible." The man paused here, stepping to the side and pointing a small remote at the wall behind him as a large projection splashed across the wall. Many in the audience gasped, and Pyrrha was surprised to find herself amongst them.