Beacon Academy Cafeteria
The cafeteria was alive with chatter, laughter, and the rhythmic clatter of trays and utensils. Students from all years gathered in groups, swapping stories, debating strategy, or just enjoying a rare moment of peace.
But at one particular table, there was no peace.
Velvet Scarlatina stood frozen, her ears flattened against her head, as Cardin Winchester loomed over her, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. Her books were scattered across the floor, knocked from her hands by his deliberate shove.
She hesitated before reaching for them, keeping her gaze low.
Cardin clicked his tongue. "Aww, what's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Oh wait—" His smirk widened. "Wrong animal."
His team chuckled behind him.
Velvet flinched, gripping her books tighter.
And then—
"You're a big, stupid bully!"
The voice was tiny. But fierce.
A voice that carried so much righteous fury that even Cardin Winchester hesitated.
He barely had time to turn his head before—
WHAM!
A direct, gut-wrenching punch—right to the groin.
The sound of the impact echoed through the entire cafeteria. Every male student instinctively crossed their legs.
Cardin's entire body locked up. His smug smirk shattered, his face twisting into an expression of pure, unfiltered agony. He let out a strangled, gurgling noise before slowly crumpling to his knees, his hands desperately clutching his crotch as if that alone could save what was left of his bloodline.
His eyes bulged. His mouth opened in a silent scream.
The cafeteria went dead silent.
The culprit?
A tiny silver-eyed five-year-old standing before him, her fist still clenched.
Hemera Thorn.
Her eyes were glowing, her adorably intense glare locked onto Cardin like a judge, jury, and executioner.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Russel, Sky, and Dove were frozen, jaws slack.
Russel whispered, "D-Dude… she just—"
Sky gulped. "She just killed his entire bloodline."
Jaune, standing nearby, paled. "Oh my gods—" He took a step back, as if Hemera was the grim reaper of masculinity itself.
Ren? He just closed his eyes.
"Rest in peace, Cardin."
Nora, on the other hand?
She was on the ground, WHEEZING.
"HAHAHAHA! YES! GO FOR THE WEAKNESS, HEMERA!"
Hemera nodded seriously, like a warrior receiving orders.
"Understood!"
And then—
THWACK.
A devastating kick.
Cardin let out a high-pitched, strangled wheeze that sounded nothing like a man.
Russel winced. "That was… higher-pitched than I expected."
Dove shuddered. "I think I just felt that in my soul."
Velvet gasped. "W-Wait! Maybe you shouldn't—"
But Hemera was NOT done.
She adjusted her stance and—
THWACK.
"A-AAGGHH!"
Cardin's whole body twitched violently.
Jaune flinched again. "STOP! STOP, HE'S ALREADY DEAD!"
Ren sighed. "Not quite."
Pyrrha winced. "That… that was excessive."
Nora was crying from laughter. "NO IT WASN'T! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
Yang whistled. "Wow. That's… actually painful to watch."
Blake crossed her arms, smirking. "Almost makes me feel bad for him."
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Almost?"
Blake shrugged. "No, not really."
Velvet hesitated, then looked down at Cardin's writhing form before turning back to Hemera's innocent yet fierce face.
A small smile formed on Velvet's lips.
"You know what?" she said softly.
"Keep going."
Hemera grinned.
And then—
KICK.
KICK.
KICK.
Cardin let out a new scream with each hit.
The crowd watched in horror and fascination as Hemera delivered TWENTY consecutive, aura-enhanced kicks straight to the groin.
Each one louder than the last.
Each one more devastating.
Cardin's screams slowly faded into a wheezing gasp.
Jaune looked pale. "I… I think I'm going to be sick."
Russel clutched his own crotch. "Dude… this is torture."
Dove swallowed hard. "She's just a kid… how does she have so much power?"
Sky? He was already walking away, refusing to be next.
And then—
Hemera stepped back.
Cardin, barely conscious, whimpered. His face twitched, tears streaming from his eyes.
Everyone thought it was over.
But it wasn't.
Ren's eyes narrowed. "…Wait."
Jaune blinked. "Wait, is she—"
Russel's face paled. "SHE'S GOING FOR A FINISHER!"
Cardin, barely clinging to consciousness, looked up just in time to see Hemera leap into the air—
Her aura flared.
Her tiny elbow gleamed with golden energy.
Cardin's life flashed before his eyes.
"NOOOOOO—!"
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Aura-Enhanced Elbow Drop.
Right into his crotch.
The entire ground SHOOK from the impact.
A shockwave of pain rippled through Cardin's body.
A tiny, strangled "eep" left his lips before he slumped forward, completely unconscious.
The cafeteria fell into absolute silence.
Everyone stared.
Cardin wasn't moving.
Did… did Hemera just KO him?
And then—
Laughter.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Two men stood there, watching the entire thing.
Onyx Thorn and Qrow Branwen.
And they were DYING.
Qrow was clutching his ribs, laughing so hard he had to lean against the wall.
"HOLY HELL!" he wheezed. "THAT—THAT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN!"
Onyx wiped a tear from his eye. "That's my girl."
Hemera beamed. "Thanks, Daddy!"
Ozpin and Glynda had been watching from the steps.
Glynda massaged her temples. "I'm going to pretend I didn't see that."
Ozpin took another sip of his coffee and smiled.
Outside, Raven—**in her raven form—**watched silently.
A small, amused glint flickered in her red eyes before she took off into the air.
Jaune stared at Cardin's twitching body. "W-We should probably get a medic…"
Ren nodded. "And possibly a priest."
Nora, still cackling, pumped her fist. "THAT WAS AWESOME! MY NIECE IS A LEGEND!"
Ruby giggled. "O-Oh my god—Hemera, that was incredible!"
Velvet, smiling warmly, hugged Hemera. "Thank you."
Hemera grinned up at her. "You're welcome, pretty bunny lady!"
Cardin twitches.
His pain-filled eyes finally lock onto Onyx.
And just like that—
Terror.
Because that was not just Onyx Thorn.
To Cardin Winchester…
That was Professor Thorn.
His whole body locked up.
He was dead.
And so, with his last remaining strength—
He fainted.
Onyx just shook his head.
"Pathetic."