Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Beacon Academy is one of the four prestigious Huntsmen Academies, the finest places of learning in all of Remnant when it comes to becoming a Hunter. Beacon Academy is #2 when it comes to teams sticking together after graduation, too (Vacuo is #1)! Not only that, but Beacon has always welcomed recruits from all walks of life. They say that if you apply, you’ll be allowed into orientation, with almost no difficulty…of course, Ruby Rose never thought she’d be invited early! All she did was stop a robbery…and okay, yeah, she’s a legacy, so that might be part of it.

Either way, Ruby is now on an airship to the one and only Beacon Academy! Professor Ozpin invited the 15-year-old girl to Beacon Academy two years early, and now Ruby is attending in the same year as her older sister, Yang.

Ruby looks out the window quietly, seeing Beacon on the horizon. She has her hood up shyly, her suitcase at her side, and her silver eyes glitter in the light. Ruby looks back at the colorful array of students, dressed to the nines in their combat gear with their weapons at their side. Ruby’s eyes, analytic like a sniper’s should be, take in every detail of every weapon she can see, and her ears pick up on the din of conversations around her and pick out a handful of words.

“This is crazy, Ren!” an orange-haired girl laughs. “The bus is actually flying!”

“We’ve already been flying for two hours, Nora,” the calm boy says next to her. “And I keep telling you, this is an airship, not a bus.”

Her weapon looks like it unfolds into a hammer, and the barrels are too wide to be normal bullets…a grenade launcher, maybe? Ruby internally analyzes. And that guy…it almost looks like he doesn’t have any weapons, but there’s a glint of metal underneath his sleeves. Gauntlets like Yang, or just hidden weapons? It’s probably something at least adjacent to close-quarters combat.

Ruby’s eyes trail to other interesting weapons in the room. That airsick guy looks like he has a classic shield and sword. Mundane, but classic. And that’s Pyrrha Nikos! Milo and Akuo are even more impressive up close…not just a powerful bladed shield, but a primary weapon that’s a rifle, spear, AND a sword! All the best weapons have three forms.

“Is someone creeping on weapons again?” Yang hugs her little sister from behind, who AGKS in surprise! “Come on, Ruby, you’ll have time to ogle later! Right now, I just wanna enjoy the fact that I’m going to Beacon with my baby sister!” She grins. “They’ll be calling you a prodigy soon enough. Everyone’s gonna think you’re the bee’s knees!”

“I don’t wanna be the bee’s knees, or a prodigy!” Ruby huffs. “I don’t wanna be any kind of knees! I just wanna be a normal girl with normal knees. I just…being moved ahead two years is an honor, but it’s also a lot, you know? I don’t wanna stick out too much. I just wanna go through Beacon the same way I went through Signal.”

“Ruby, you went through Signal without having any friends!” Yang pouts and shakes her head, keeping an arm around her sister. “Look, your talents are amazing. Everyone knew you’d move ahead sooner or later, and while no one really thought you’d move ahead two years, you gotta face it: you’re talented, sis! And going through school without friends isn’t gonna be an option. You’re gonna be on a team!”

“Well…maybe I can wait until teams are assigned before I talk to anyone…?” Ruby pleads.

“Hmm…nah,” Yang grins and drags Ruby along. “Come on, let’s go meet some people!”

“Yang, noooo!” Ruby whines as she’s dragged by her sister.

“Let’s see, who looks bored and alone?” Yang muses, and her eyes soon land on a girl sitting in the airship window, reading a book. The girl has black hair, golden eyes, and wears a bow.

“Hey, there! Got a minute?” Yang greets the girl, who looks up at them wordlessly. “I’m Yang, and this is my adorable baby sister and soon-to-be best huntress at Beacon, Ruby Rose.”

“Yang!” Ruby blushes and pulls her hood up more.

“What’s your name?” Yang smiles innocently, as if she’s not doing everything she can to completely embarrass Ruby.

“...it’s Blake,” the girl answers quietly as her eyes trail back to her book. She says nothing else.

“So…isn’t the weather lovely today?” Yang tries to break the ice.

“Yes. Almost as lovely as this book,” Blake turns a page, “that I’ll continue to read as soon as you’re gone.”

Yang pouts, clearly a little upset that her attempt to make a friend isn’t working. Ruby decides to take another step, at the very least to make Yang feel better.

“What book is that?” Ruby asks.

“It’s about a man with two souls,” Blake slowly answers, “each fighting for control over his body.”

“The Man with Two Souls,” Ruby reads the cover, “I think we have that book at home…I’ve never read it, though.” Ruby says. “But I do like reading! Stories about heroes and monsters. Those tales of epic heroism are why I want to be a Huntress.”

“The real world isn’t like a fairy tale, you know. There aren’t always happy endings.” Blake says.

“Well, that’s why we’re here.” Ruby smiles, and the purity seems to catch Blake off guard. “To make the world a better place and make a happy ending.”

“Aw, look at my baby sister, being poetic already!” Yang headlocks Ruby lovingly.

“Agh! Yang, you always do this!” Ruby complains, and Blake smiles a little bit at the sisterly display.

“Come on, you never let me headlock you this long! You usually escape by now,” Yang muses.

“My semblance makes a mess! I don’t want rose petals everywhere!” Ruby protests.

As Ruby complains, the nearby news bulletin catches her attention…truly, it catches most people’s attention.

“A riot broke out when members of the White Fang forced their way into a recent Faunus civil rights protest.” Lisa Lavender reports. “Due to suspicions of the White Fang’s involvement in a series of Dust robberies, the Schnee Dust Company is considering fortifying its security division and increasing precautions.”

“The Schnee Dust Company and the White Fang…” Ruby sighs. “I guess they really are all over the news, like Dad said. Is it true that Mom supported the White Fang? I can hardly remember.”

“Yeah, but that was before the violent change,” Yang answers. “I’m more concerned about the SDC. Uncle Qrow says they’re the most corrupt in the world. He says their Faunus labor borders on slave labor.”

“Excuse me,” a voice says from behind the girls, and they turn around to see a prim and proper girl in white with white hair and blue eyes. “What did you just say? You two don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“Who are you supposed to be?” Yang questions.

“I am Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company!” The girl says haughtily.

“Seriously?” Yang’s eyes widen a little.

“Uh…sorry about all that!” Ruby says nervously. “Our uncle just hears a lot of rumors, and he’s pretty much a drunk, so I’m sure at least a few of them are exaggerated!”

Weiss’s eyes narrow as she truly takes in Ruby’s appearance. “Aren’t you a little young to be here? This isn’t your typical combat school, you know. This is Beacon Academy.”

“Hey!” Yang gets defensive. “My sister has earned the right to be here. Professor Ozpin himself invited her!”

“Yang, don’t go telling people that!” Ruby practically hisses in a hushed tone.

“Oh, please. You expect me to believe the Headmaster saw some unforeseen potential in a girl who believes baseless rumors, spread by the anti-human Faunus and that lowlife group of thieves, the White Fang?” Weiss scoffs.

Suddenly, a BAM silences the girls, and they look back to see it was Blake, violently and loudly closing her book with one hand.

“The White Fang were once a pacifist group,” Blake says calmly and stares at Weiss, “at least until your Father’s company started to exploit them with the unsafe working conditions and unsavory business partners that he introduced when he took the reins.”

“Wha- how dare you!” Weiss sputters.

“Alright, hold on!” Yang steps between the girls and speaks to them in a motherly tone. “Let’s try not to let politics get in the way here. We’re all on the same side, right? We’re all students, so let’s get along!”

“Yeah, Yang’s right!” Ruby smiles. “We’re all training to be huntresses, and that means helping everyone. Even hunters who aren’t on the same team should work together, so we should still be friends…right?”

“Oh, for sure!” Weiss says mockingly. “We can paint our nails, try on clothes, and talk about cute boys, like…tall, blond, and scraggly over there!” Weiss vaguely gestures to the airsick guy, whose attention has been vaguely caught by the conversation when he’s mentioned.

“Really?” Ruby smiles hopefully.

“No.” Weiss scowls. “Don’t even speak to me again.” She turns and huffs as she struts away.

“...I’m bad at making friends,” Ruby mutters.

“Hey, don’t be like that! We met Blake.” Yang tries to make her feel better.

“Blake walked away while Weiss was mocking me…” Ruby mutters, and Yang turns to see where Blake was and frowns.

“Well, at the very least, she didn’t seem to hate us.” Yang shrugs. “We’ll call her an acquaintance.”

“And what do we call Weiss? A negative friend?” Ruby pouts.

“There’s no such thing as negative friends! We just made…an enemy!” Yang grins teasingly.

“I don’t wanna make enemies!” Ruby complains, and Yang chuckles.

“Welcome to Beacon,” a woman’s voice rings out, and the screens fade as a holographic display of Professor Goodwitch rises. “My name is Glynda Goodwitch, one of the instructors here at Beacon Academy. As you know, you are here for orientation, and so the airship you are on will not yet take you to the main campus: it will deliver you to the Emerald Forest, the site of your orientation test.”

Mutters surround the airship, a surprise at there being a test before even reaching the main campus, but Ruby and Yang smile a little at each other. Their dad warned them about this…only the best of the best are allowed at academies like these, so each academy has its own style of entrance exam.

“Before we land, though, Professor Ozpin has a few words he’d like to say,” Glynda reports, and the hologram shifts to that of Professor Ozpin, holding his cane and a cup of coffee.

“Greetings, students,” Professor Ozpin greets, “I’ll keep this brief. You have all traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But from what I have seen on the airship's security feed…all I see is wasted energy.” He narrows his eyes. “In need of direction and purpose. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. The first step to growing beyond this need is the Emerald Forest test, where we shall evaluate the true worth of your training.” A map appears to help direct the students; a test of their memories comes first, it seems. “Arm yourselves and place your bags in one of the personal lockers that the ship’s attendants will direct you to. You have twenty minutes until the ship lands. Once the test begins, you must make your way to the old temple and eliminate any Grimm that stand in your way. Proctors will be hidden across the forest to evaluate you and rescue you if you are in true danger…but if that occurs, and your life is truly saved with your aura depleted, you will be removed from this year’s class roster.” Despite the dour tone, Ozpin pushes his glasses up and says one final thing. “I’m sure you’re all wondering how teams will be assigned. Rest assured, that will be explained once you land.” He says, and the hologram fades.

Teams being formed…that’s the one thing Dad never told us. Ruby frowns. He wanted it to be a real surprise. I just hope it’s something we can choose…I want Yang on my team.

Ruby takes a deep breath. “Okay! I’m ready! Not gonna let a few bad experiences with people keep me down. It’s time to let my sweetheart do the talking.”

“You know initiation’s gonna be as much about teamwork as it is about fighting Grimm, right?” Yang crosses her arms and arches an eyebrow.

“Well…I’ll just be on a team with you,” Ruby shrugs.

“Maybe you should try being on someone else’s team?” Yang gently suggests.

“My dear sister Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?!” Ruby shrieks dramatically.

“What? No! Of course I do!” Yang holds up her hands defensively. “I just thought…I don’t know, maybe some new teammates would help you break out of your shell!”

“I-I don’t need to break out of any shell!” Ruby crosses her arms and huffs, and Yang sighs.

~=~

Weiss Schnee walks through the airship’s locker room. She’s already armed herself easily, and it’s here that she sees the person she’s been looking for: Pyrrha Nikos. 

“How do you do?” Weiss greets the Invincible Girl. “I am Weiss Schnee.”

“Yes, I overheard you earlier…” Pyrrha smiles politely as she gets her armor and weaponry in place. “My name is-”

“Pyrrha Nikos, right?” Weiss smiles, and Pyrrha’s expression becomes pensive. Around them, people begin to whisper as they realize Pyrrha Nikos is here, and Weiss smirks with pride as the first person to speak with Pyrrha here.

“Have you given any thought to whose team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself!” Weiss compliments.

“I was planning to let the chips fall where they may,” Pyrrha doesn’t make eye contact with Weiss as she shifts Milo between its three forms to test out the smooth transition.

“Well, I thought that perhaps you and I could team up together!” Weiss suggests.

“That’s a nice offer…I’ll certainly consider it,” Pyrrha says politely.

Perfect! Weiss grins internally. The smartest girl, myself, will work with the strongest girl, Pyrrha! Together, we’ll be unstoppable! I can see it now…popular, perfection, fame, and glory await us! My connections and her growing renown will make our team unstoppable, no matter who else is on our team! Especially if I’m in charge. Nothing can come between us now!

~=~

Pyrhha Nikos has long been called “The Invincible Girl.” For such a high pedestal, Pyrrha wanted to come to a Huntsman Academy, where she might finally be on an equal level to some others, and she chose Beacon because Sanus is a completely different continent from Anima, a place where she could perhaps be unknown. Professor Ozpin’s declaration was admittedly intimidating…Pyrrha has heard that most headmasters let their students spend a single night on campus grounds, but the vicious idea that everyone here must earn their place is genius. Ozpin is using the adrenaline and drive every student is feeling to their advantage. Everyone here earned the right to attend orientation, and Ozpin is dangling Beacon Academy in front of them just out of reach, making it clear that all they’ll ever want will be here if they can earn it.

Of course, Weiss Schnee is causing a slight annoyance to Pyrrha’s hopes. She had hoped to spend at least a day without being recognized, but alas, Pyrrha had no such luck. The girl is clearly opportunistic…well, Pyrrha has heard a rumor that the team-building process for Beacon is “semi-random”, whatever that means, so maybe there’s still hope for some better-suited people on Pyrrha’s team. For now, she’ll be polite, tell Weiss that her offer is nice, and leave it there.

“You know what else is nice?” a new voice says, and Pyrrha arches an eyebrow to see a blonde-haired boy leaning on lockers nearby, wearing armor with a sword at his waist. “Me, Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you ladies,” he says with perhaps the most false bravado Pyrrha had ever seen in her life.

“Ugh, we’re in the middle of something…” Weiss scowls.

“Nice to meet you, too, Jaune.” Pyrrha smiles politely.

“So, I couldn’t help but overhear your fondness for me back there. I hear we’re forming teams, and I figure you and me could make a good one,” he winks and fires a finger-gun at Weiss, who seems utterly appalled.

“I believe each team has four students,” Pyrrha says, amused by his antics, though she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop when he realizes who he’s talking to.

“Oh, is that right? Play your cards right, and you could both be on the winning team!” Jaune says with a pompous facade.

“Hm, is that right?” Pyrrha amusedly ponders his words. There’s no awe to his tone like most people, nor any wish for advantage like Weiss…he couldn’t just…not know, could he?

“Wait, wait, hold on just a second, do you even know who you’re talking to?” Weiss asks, and Jaune looks at her inquisitively. “Top of her class at Sanctum Academy? She won the Mistral Regionals four years in a row? Pyrrha Nikos?”

“Yeah, uh, I have no idea who that is.” Jaune chuckles.

“Oh, for goodness…she’s on a cereal box!” Weiss pulls out her scroll to pull up a picture to show him.

“Wow, that’s awesome!” Jaune says earnestly, his false bravado lowering for a moment, letting Pyrrha see the boy underneath.

He really doesn’t know… Pyrrha smiles to herself. It’s been a long time since someone saw me as a stranger.

“My little sisters like it, but to be honest, I never really liked that cereal,” Jaune says with a little brutal honesty.

“I actually don’t either,” Pyrrha smiles. “It is not very healthy.”

“Yeah, I guess that’d be the sugar, huh?” Jaune talks to her casually. Pyrrha Nikos is having a normal, casual conversation with someone! About cereal, of all things! Such mundane words…she had forgotten how good it felt to speak them.

“Oh, back off!” Weiss pulls Jaune away, and Pyrrha frowns.

“Wha! Bu…why?” Jaune asks, looking like a kicked puppy.

“Because nobody invited you,” Weiss scoffs.

“I…I’m sorry.” Jaune sulks and walks away.

Pyrrha looks toward Jaune and smiles a little bit. She wouldn’t mind being on a team with him.

~=~

Jaune Arc sighs and slumps against a locker.

“Having some trouble there, ladykiller?” A blonde girl approaches with a shorter girl who has black and red hair. “Aren’t you the guy who got airsick? Bold move to follow up vomit with what you probably think are smooth moves.”

Jaune sighs and hangs his head. “My Dad said all women look for is confidence.”

The blonde laughs, and the shorter girl giggles. “Oh, is that what that was?” the blonde chuckles.

The entire airship begins to slow down, and everyone feels the ship land.

“Looks like we’re here. Good luck…Jaune, right?” Ruby says.

“Yeah,” Jaune sighs and stands up. “Same to you.”

~=~

As the students step out of the airship, they find themselves not in the Emerald Forest itself…they are on a cliff overlooking it. Each student positions themself on a metallic dais, which Ruby can tell is meant to launch them into the forest. It’s basic hunter training: landing strategies! That’s probably the first part of the test.

“Initiation will push you to your limits,” Professor Ozpin remarks. “It will test your navigation skills, your memories, your resourcefulness, and most of all, your combat training.”

“Now, I’m sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams,” Professor Goodwitch says next to him. “Allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates today.”

Ruby stiffens up anxiously, but may this won’t be so bad…

“These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well.” Ozpin warns. “That being said…the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years.”

“W…what?!” Ruby exclaims.

“Any further questions?” Ozpin asks.

“Uh…sir-?” Jaune tries to raise his hand.

“Good!” Ozpin ignores him, and the platforms launch the students into the air and into the forest!

~=~

As she soars through the air, Ruby pulls out Crescent Rose. She expertly fires the gun as an opposite momentum to slow her descent, and then she shifts her weapon into scythe form and catches a tree branch to slow herself further and land on the ground securely.

“Alright! Gotta find Yang-” Ruby begins to mutter to herself, but she suddenly hears screaming above her. She looks up and sees a figure thunk into the large tree she landed at the bottom of: that Jaune guy! It looks like Pyrrha fired her javelin to save him, since, based on his flailing, he had no landing strategy to speak of.

“Well…at least he seems nice, aside from the fake confidence.” Ruby shrugs and uses her Petal Burst to transform into a cloud of roses, twirl around the tree to scale it, and then land so she’s sitting on a branch next to where he’s hanging. “Hey!”

“Wha! Where’d you come from?!” Jaune exclaims.

“Need some help?” Ruby asks.

“I…” Jaune struggles a little to get free, and then sighs and slumps, defeated. “Yes.”

Ruby smiles and pulls Milo free from the tree and catches Jaune before he falls, carrying him to the ground.

“Jeez, how are you so strong?!” Jaune exclaims.

“Hey, it’s not like you aren’t heavy!” Ruby huffs as they land. “But hey! We’re teammates now.”

“Yeah!” Jaune smiles a little. “Uh…guess we should introduce ourselves properly.”

“Right! I’m Ruby Rose,” Ruby holds out her hand for him.

“Jaune Arc,” Jaune shakes her hand. “Short, sweet, rolls on the tongue…ladies love it!” He winks with false bravado.

“Do they?” Ruby smirks skeptically.

“They will! Probably. Maybe…” Jaune sighs. “Anyway, uh…we should probably get moving, huh?”

“Right! We gotta find the temple Professor Ozpin mentioned.” Ruby says.

“Any chance I could have my weapon back?” a kind voice asks as Pyrrha emerges from the treeline.

“Oh, you’re Pyrrha!” Jaune smiles. “So that was your javelin, huh? Thanks for the save.”

“Here you go!” Ruby holds out Milo to Pyrrha. “Milo’s even more impressive in person.”

“Not many people know the names of my weapons,” Pyrrha smiles and takes the weapon back. “I suppose you two are a pair now, so I’ll just need to find my own partner.”

“Well, good luck! Maybe we’ll see each other later!” Ruby smiles.

“I’d certainly hope so,” Pyrrha gives the duo a nod of respect, and they part ways.

~=~

Pyrrha has to admit, she’s a little disappointed that she didn’t get to Jaune first…he seemed quite nice. Alas, that young lady found him first. She seems quite nice, too…an eye for weaponry, Pyrrha surmised, and quite young. Being allowed into a huntsman academy so young is quite unusual, no matter your skill level. Pyrrha knows that personally. Perhaps they’ll both make good friends.

“Pyrrha!” a jovial voice says, and Pyrrha looks over as her eyes meet Weiss’s. “I found you!”

Pyrrha takes a deep breath, but smiles politely. “Oh, Weiss! How lovely to see you.”

Well…this might be a bit difficult. But maybe it won’t be so bad.

Chapter Text

Ruby and Jaune walk through the Emerald Forest quietly.

“So…what have you got if we run into any Grimm?” Ruby asks, and Jaune gulps nervously.

“Right, the Grimm…uh…I got this sword,” Jaune pulls a sword out of its sheath, and Ruby oos as she looks it over. It looks to be made of a pretty good material, even if it’s made in a pretty ancient way. “Yeah, I’ve got a shield, too!” Jaune displays that the sheath can transform into a shield.

“So…what do they do?” Ruby asks curiously. Looking at the items, they seem pretty mundane, other than the shield’s transformation.

Jaune fumbles with his shield and sword a little to sheathe it again. “The shield gets smaller, so when I get tired of carrying it, I can just…put it away…”

“But…doesn’t it weigh the same?” Ruby asks.

“Yeah, it does…” Jaune mutters dejectedly.

Ruby chuckles. “Well, I’m kind of a dork for weapons. I guess I went a little overboard with Crescent Rose,” she unclips her scythe from her waist and extends it into full form.

“Whoa!” Jaune steps back, intimidated. I-is that a scythe?”

“It’s also a customizable, high-impact sniper rifle,” Ruby says proudly.

“A wha…?” Jaune blinks blankly, and Ruby cocks Crescent Rose.

“It’s also a gun,” Ruby amends.

“Oh, wow…wait, did you say you went overboard? Are you saying you made that?” Jaune gawks.

“Of course!” Ruby nods. “All students at Signal forge their own weapons. Didn’t you make yours?”

“It’s a hand-me-down,” Jaune says. “My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the Great War.”

“Whoa! That sounds more like a family heirloom to me,” Ruby laughs. “I like it! Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days.”

“Yeah…the classics.” Jaune smiles a little. “So, uh…where are we going?”

“Huh? Oh, uh…I dunno. I was kinda following you.” Ruby says.

“I was following you!” Jaune sighs. “Oh, man, we’ve been going in circles…”

“Don’t worry! I grew up in a forest, so I know how to navigate,” Ruby says. “Look, the moss growing on these trees means…that way is north!” Ruby points north. “But, uh…we can’t just head to the cliffs, we need to find the temple. Not sure how to do that.”

“Oh! I might have something for that,” Jaune fishes his scroll out of his pocket. “Remember when they showed us a map of the forest on the airship? I took a picture on my scroll!” Jaune pulls up the picture, but he grimaces a little. “You don’t think that’s against the rules, do you…?”

“Hey, they wanted to test our resourcefulness, and I think taking a picture of a map is pretty resourceful.” Ruby grins. “So I think we’ll be fine.”

“Yeah…but I don’t see any of the landmarks on this map. The forest is too thick.” Jaune says.

“You let me take care of that!” Ruby says and immediately starts scaling a nearby tree.

“Whoa…” Jaune looks in awe as Ruby finds herself at the top of a high tree in a few seconds. “Uh…do you see any mountains or hills? Something on here looks like ruins, and…it looks like there’s a small mountain nearby?”

“I see the mountain!” Ruby says. “No ruins, though, but it’s a good start.” She says and heads back down to Jaune. “We’re about…here.” Ruby points out where they are on the map.

“In that case, to find the temple, we just need to go…this way!” Jaune smiles and points the way.

The two of them head into the forest, map in hand and plan in mind.

~=~

In the aftermath of a precise and quick battle against a pack of Beowolves, Weiss smirks. Pyrrha called out her moves ahead of time, Weiss did so in turn, and together, the two of them were able to make light work of these pathetic Grimm.

“A simple and effective battle. Well done, Pyrrha!” Weiss smiles.

“And to you, Weiss. You did well,” Pyrrha smiles warmly, and they hear gunshots in the distance. “It seems we are not the only ones to encounter the enemy.”

“Then let us proceed and finish this tripe challenge and find the temple,” Weiss smirks and leads the way.

~=~

Ruby cleaves through a few Beowolves at once, and Jaune gawks at her skill. “Hey, Jaune, you want in on this? I just realized I’ve kinda been taking…all the kills.”

“Uh…” Jaune blinks. “Sorry! Yeah, I, uh…have never killed a Grimm this big before. Usually I’ve only fought little ones, like Bulwarts or those tiny Nevermores.”

“Oh, geez,” Ruby blinks. “I haven’t fought one of those since I was like…single-digits in age.”

“How long have you been training?!” Jaune gawks.

“Pretty much my whole life,” Ruby shrugs.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask, how can you possibly swing a scythe like that? It’s probably super heavy, right, especially if it’s a gun, too?” Jaune asks.

“Well, despite my size, I am very strong,” Ruby sticks out her tongue. “But…I dunno, my aura probably helps, too.”

“Your what?” Jaune asks.

“My aura,” Ruby repeats, and Jaune stares at her blankly. “Jaune, do you…not know what aura is?” Ruby’s expression becomes very concerned.

Jaune waves the question off with a nervous smile. “Psh, of course I do! Do you know what aura is?”

“Jaune…” Ruby stares into him with her silver eyes, her expression serious, and Jaune sighs.”

“...no…” Jaune sheepishly admits.

“Jaune, this is serious! You need aura for this level of combat!” Ruby insists. “I don’t get it…if your great-grandfather fought in the war, why wouldn’t anyone…?”

“Look, I don’t know, okay?” Jaune snaps a little, but sighs. “Sorry…what is it?” Jaune asks.

“Aura is the manifestation of the soul,” Ruby explains. “It’s a barrier to protect you from harm, the battery for your semblance, a force to heal your injuries. It’s like…an immune system manifested on a more powerful scale.” She says. “Aura heightens your strength, your speed, even your instincts! All living creatures have an aura and can manifest it through training, even animals?”

“Whoa…” Jaune listens closely to Ruby’s explanation. “Then…what about monsters?”

“No,” Ruby shakes her head, “the Creatures of Grimm don’t have aura. The prevailing theory is that, since animals and people have aura and the Grimm don’t, that means that the Grimm don’t have souls at all.”

“And that’s why we fight them, right?” Jaune asks.

“Right!” Ruby smiles. “The Grimm are drawn to negativity and crave only destruction. They don’t need to eat; they choose to. My Mom used to say that the Creatures of Grimm are the only true evil in the world.”

“Whoa…” Jaune frowns. “I’ve always felt like I’ve had someone watching my back, even when I was alone, but…my aura doesn’t do anything like that.”

“Well, that’s probably because it hasn’t been activated yet!” Ruby says. “Most people activate their auras subconsciously, but some people can train to do it themselves…but there’s also another way…” Ruby slowly realizes and stops walking with a smile. “Here, get on one knee.”

“What?” Jaune blinks.

“I said, get on one knee! You’re too tall otherwise.” Ruby puffs out her cheeks.

Jaune, confused, slowly gets on one knee. Ruby places a hand on his chest and his forehead and breathes slowly. Her red aura flows across her body and flows onto his, and his white aura begins to manifest.

“Let’s see, I’ve never done this myself before…” Ruby mutters. “Uh, I think it goes…for it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a…a…a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death.” As Ruby talks, she gets into a groove as she remembers more of the prayer. “I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee.”

Ruby’s aura flickers as she winces, and Jaune’s white aura manifests across his body.

“Ruby!” Jaune stands up. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine…just need a second for my aura to regenerate,” Ruby smiles. “That’s something you do to activate someone’s aura. Using some of your own to draw someone else’s to the surface. At Signal Academy, it’s usually tradition for fourth years to unlock the aura of first years. But my parents unlocked mine and Yang’s auras as soon as we were born. I’ve had my aura all my life!”

“Whoa…that’s a pretty big jump. Why so early?” Jaune asks.

“I dunno,” Ruby shrugs. “Training? Though sometimes, when my Uncle’s really drunk, he says it was to make sure we’d be safe. I guess my parents were a little overprotective.” She chuckles and watches Jaune’s aura trail across him. “So…how does it feel?”

“It feels…good,” Jaune smiles. “I can’t really describe it. I feel…stronger, I guess? No…safer. Yeah, I feel safer.”

“You’ve got a lot of aura, Jaune, I can feel it,” Ruby says with a smile. “Generating it on your own will come naturally soon enough, but until then, I can show you how it works!”

“Thanks, Ruby,” Jaune smiles and draws his sword. “So…what were you saying about me having a turn fighting some Grimm?”

~=~

“The last pair has been formed, sir,” Glynda reports on the cliff. “Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren. Poor boy…I can’t possibly imagine those two getting along. Still, he’s probably better off than Miss Rose.” She clicks her tongue. “I don’t care what his transcripts say, that Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat.” She takes a deep breath. “I suppose we’ll find out soon enough. Those two are, admittedly, rather resourceful together, and they’re bound to arrive at the temple in just a few minutes.”

“Indeed…” Ozpin nods. “Of course, there’s no sign of our guest’s prey.” He turns, and the two face the hunter that approaches from behind, an androgynous figure in a witch’s hat and a dreamcatcher staff.

“There are Nightmares here…” Shion Zaiden smiles gently. “I know it. But I won’t interfere with your entry exam, Professors. Instead, I shall wait for my prey to reveal itself, and I shall ensure that your students are safe.”

“Much appreciated, Shion,” Ozpin smiles and looks at his tablet. “Would you care to join us in watching the climax of the exam? I believe it’s going to be quite interesting.”

~=~

As Ruby and Jaune walk through the forest, they suddenly hear some kind of booming in the sky.

“Is that…thunder…?” Jaune wonders aloud. “I don’t see any clouds.”

“No, thunder doesn’t sound like that. It’s to…uniform…” Ruby’s eyes widen. “Jaune, hide!” She orders and pulls Jaune into hiding in some bushes.

“Hey! Wha-?!” Jaune gasps as Ruby covers his mouth.

“Quiet…” Ruby says quietly, and she and Jaune look up. Above them, a massive figure soars through the air. What Jaune had mistaken for thunder was the monster’s wings beating!

“What…is that thing?” Jaune whispers in terror.

“A fully-grown Nevermore…” Ruby whispers.

“T-they can get that big?!” Jaune exclaims.

“Quiet!” Ruby insists. “Jaune, you need to try to calm down. If you don’t, it’s going to…”

They all hear a screech, and look up as the Nevermore dive bombs at them!

“...sense your fear.” Ruby pales.

~=~

Yang and Blake walk into the ruins of a temple, displaying several chess pieces. Despite a shaky start back on the airship, Yang really likes Blake! Her weapon is cool, and the two have gained a quick respect for each other on the battlefield.

“Looks like we’re not the first ones here,” Yang says, noticing a few pieces missing.

“Which one should we pick?” Blake wonders.

~=~

Pyrrha is…really trying her best with Weiss Schnee. Weiss is intent on keeping charge, which means they’ve been walking in random directions for a while now. Pyrrha can easily determine which way magnetic north is, but whenever Pyrrha tries to get a word in, it’s always “Worry not, Pyrrha, I know exactly where we’re going!”

Soon, they arrive at the mouth of a dark cave. There are ominous markings on the outside of the cave involving men against giant beasts.

“Hmm…this must be it,” Weiss leads the way in, and Pyrrha hesitantly follows her. Weiss draws out her blade, and the tip of it lights with fire like a candle, lighting their way forward.

“I’m not sure this is it…” Pyrrha mutters as they travel through the deep, dark cavern.

“Oh, have some faith, Pyrrha!” Weiss insists. “What better place to put a temple than hidden in a cave?” Weiss gasps as she trips and drops her sword, and she scrambles on the ground to find it.

“Weiss? Are you okay?” Pyrrha asks.

“F-fine!” Weiss struggles to maintain her dignity. “I just need to find Myrtenaster! Give me just a moment…”

As Weiss scrambles on the ground in the dark, Pyrrha’s eyes narrow. “Do you…feel that?” Pyrrha asks.

“Got it!” Weiss laughs triumphantly as she gets her weapon. “Wait, what are you saying?”

“I feel something…warm,” Pyrrha says, concerned.

As Weiss lights the tip of Myrtenaster again, they all suddenly see the source of the warmth…a Deathstalker Grimm, just a few feet away.

~=~

“How about a cute little pony?” Back at the temple, Yang picks up the White Knight chess piece, and Blake nods, clearly okay with picking whatever.

“YEE-HAW!” they suddenly hear, and an orange-haired girl rides in on an Ursa, taking it down in the process. It dissolves as a calm-looking guy catches up, and the girl pouts. “Aw, man…it’s broken.”

“Nora,” the man breathes deeply, “could you please try to fight a little more normally?”

“Was she…riding an Ursa?” Blake blinks.

“Well…that was crazy,” Yang gawks.

The orange-haired girl skips up into the temple and takes a White Rook piece. “Looks like I got the castle relic~” She sing-songs. “I’m Queen of the Castle~ Ren, you’re the King~” she boops his nose, and he smiles.

“That’s nice, Nora,” he responds.

Interrupting that display is an even more insane display of rose petals emerging from the treeline, and Ruby emerges from it! She points Crescent Rose backwards, in rifle form, and unleashes a barrage of attacks on the massive Nevermore, chasing the much slower Jaune through the treeline, destroying any trees it comes across in the process!

“Oh, hey, Ruby!” Yang smiles seeing her sister, and Blake immediately pulls out Gambol Shroud and aids Ruby in providing covering fire. Put off by the combination of attacks, the Nevermore circles back into the air.

“Ruby, you’re okay!” Yang says, and the sisters, hug.

“That…was…terrifying!” Jaune gasps for breath as he leans against one of the temple’s walls. “What are we supposed to do here again…?”

“We need to take a relic…and hurry!” Ruby gasps as the Nevermore flaps its wings, sending a barrage of feathers that dig into the ground, and they all have to dodge! “Jaune, grab one! Doesn’t matter which!” Ruby orders and shifts Crescent Rose into scythe form and swings it, cutting through to the landed feathers to give her a clearer shot of a monster.

“On it!” Jaune nods and runs into the temple, grabbing the first relic he sees: the second White Rook.

Suddenly, a black glyph appears, cushioning the fall of Weiss and Pyrrha as they’re knocked out of the forest! The two land gracefully, and the Deathstalker Grimm emerges from the forest. Pyrrha defends against the Deathstalker’s attacks.

“Weiss, hurry, you grab the relic!” Pyrrha says.

“Right!” Weiss rushes to the temple, ignoring everyone else, and grabs the White Knight, and with her aura a little bit recovered, she immediately raises a wall of ice with her glyphs to protect Pyrrha from the Deathstalker.

“Eyes on the sky!” Ruby calls, and Weiss is barely able to raise another barrier of ice to protect against another volley of feathers from the sky.

“These things are trying to corner us!” Jaune whimpers.

“The test only requires bringing back a relic, not fighting these things!” Blake says.

“But Ozpin said to destroy all Grimm in our path!” Yang protests.

“Yang is right, we can’t just-!” Ruby protests with her sister.

“I don’t care what Ozpin said, we have the relics, we are moving!” Weiss demands.

They all start to run, and Ruby sighs and hops up onto a wall.

“There’s a road straight to the cliffs, through here! Everyone move!” Ruby orders, and Yang beams with pride at her sister’s leadership.

The Deathstalker and Nevermore follow the group, and the Nevermore fires down more feathers while the Deathstalker continues to gain on them.

“We need to spread out!” Jaune cries out, and everyone divides to get some cover from the monsters. The Nevermore perches on a tower over a deep ravine and unleashes a vicious CAW!

“We’re being pincered!” Yang growls.

“Then it’s time for action. Ready, Nora?” Ren asks.

“Oh, more than ready!” Nora rushes out of her hiding place. As she rushes forward, sparks of pink lightning course across her muscles as she pulls out her grenade launcher and fires a barrage of pink grenades at the Nevermore! As they burst against the feathered hide of the Grimm, it stumbles backward from the attack and takes to the sky again.

Behind Nora, the Deathstalker charges for her, but Blake and Ren emerge from the shadows and slash against the chitinous shell of the Grimm, defending her! Weiss comes next to Nora and uses a glyph to propel them both away from the fight.

“Keep moving!” Ruby orders and shifts Crescent Rose back into rifle form, and then shoots back at the Deathstalker to slow it down as much as she can, joined by Ren and covering fire from his pair of unique weapons. They keep moving, and their attack is slowing the creature down.

The eight of them keep running, but the Nevermore crashes through the bridge, separating them! Yang, Nora, Weiss, Pyrrha, and Jaune end up on one side while Ruby, Ren, and Blake are cornered by the Deathstalker on the other. Blake is knocked back, and Ruby shifts Crescent Rose into scythe form and rushes at the Deathstalker, ready to counter its attacks head-on.

“We need to get over there!” Jaune gasps.

“Then let’s do this!” Nora grins.

“Yeah, but, uh...I can't make that jump.” Jaune admits as he gazes into the misty abyss below them.

Nora just smirks and knocks Jaune onto his back, shifts her weapon into hammer form, and slams it into the bridge to make it break and launch Jaune across the chasm! Nora, meanwhile, pulls the trigger and uses the explosive weapon to launch herself to join him. Jaune lands on the other side of the bridge, and Nora slams her hammer into the Deathstalker’s skull! Nora launches herself back to avoid the Deathstalker’s stinger, but the force causes her to slam into Blake, knocking the girl into the chasm. Blake gets her bearings quickly and uses Gambol Shroud to swing upward and join the others on the other side of the bridge, cutting into the Nevermore before landing perfectly.

“It’s tougher than it looks!” Blake says to the others.

“Then let’s hit it with everything we got!” Yang grins and primes Ember Celica.

Blake, Yang, Weiss, and Pyrrha unleash a barrage of dust rounds that pierce into the Nevermore! The damaged Grimm caws and slams into the building the four of them are on, trying to knock them into the mist below. These huntresses-in-training, however, are too skilled for it. They leap across the collapsing debris and get to safety while continuing their assault.

“None of this is working!” Weiss complains.

“We need a way to keep it still,” Pyrrha advises, and Weiss looks around to try and figure out a plan.

Meanwhile, the Deathstalker aims a claw at Ruby, but she counters it with Crescent Rose! She pulls the trigger, and the Deathstalker hisses in rage as the claw is torn off! It tries to get Ruby from behind with the other claw, but Jaune deflects it with his shield, letting Ruby cut at the creature’s face, cutting across its red eyes. Ren leaps onto the stinger and fires at it and the body below, but the Deathstalker uses its one remaining claw to force Nora and Jaune back, but Ruby transforms into rose petals and shifts to be behind the Grimm. The Deathstalker uses it’s tail to knock Ren loose and slam him against a wall, and Jaune notices something.

“Ruby, the stinger is loose!” Jaune calls.

“On it!” Ruby uses her petals to rush right up to the Deathstalker’s tail, and then she fires her scythe through it, bringing the stinger down onto the Deathstalker’s head! “Nora, hammer!” She lands next to Nora, who happily hops onto Ruby’s scythe, and Ruby swings Crescent Rose before firing to launch the girl into the air.

In the air above the Deathstalker, Nora laughs happily, and pink lightning trails across her body as she somersaults downward with her hammer, slamming the stinger into the Deathstalker’s skull like a nail! She pulls the trigger on her hammer and creates an explosion that launches her away and the Deathstalker into the misty abyss below.

Jaune lands on his back, Ren collapses in exhaustion, Nora lands on her butt, and Ruby’s rose petals allow her to land gracefully and pose dramatically with Crescent Rose.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bridge, the Nevermore is still being peppered by gunfire. The Nevermore dives for Yang, but she counters by lodging herself in the monster’s beak and sending round after round of burn dust ammunition down the creature’s throat. Then, she leaps out just in time as the Nevermore crashes into the cliffs and crashes on top of a ruined building. It starts to recover, but before it can fly away, Weiss catches its tail feathers with a jagged block of ice.

“This is our chance! Hey, you!” Weiss looks at Blake. “Use your ribbon to drag its neck to the ground!”

“Right,” Blake nods and fires Gambol Shroud upward to tie it around the Nevermore’s head like a noose! “Little help here?” She calls to Yang, who lands next to her.

“Sure thing!” Yang grabs the ribbon, and together, the two girls pull the Nevermore downward, slamming it into the ground.

“Pyrrha, finish it!” Weiss encourages, and Pyrrha leaps forward and lands on the back of the Nevermore’s neck. She shifts Milo into the sword form and digs it into the monster’s neck, and then uses her semblance to force the sword deeper and deeper as she cuts, using most of her aura to cut the creature’s head off and kill it.

Grimm smoke roses from either side of the ravine like a pair of smoke signals, signifying mutual victory in the orientation.

~=~

Yang is waiting next to Blake with a hesitant smile on her face. The two of them are standing in Beacon’s auditorium, where Ozpin is rewarding the students who succeeded.

“What’s wrong?” Blake asks.

“Oh, nothing, it’s just…” Yang sighs. “Look at how few people made it. It looks like more than half the attending class failed.”

“Well…it’s not like they’re dead,” Blake says. “You heard what Ozpin said, there were proctors-”

“No, no, that’s not what I mean!” Yang clarifies. “I just mean…I had friends at Signal Academy, you know? Pretty much the whole graduating class wanted to come to Beacon. And now…I hardly recognize anyone.”

“Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Sky Lark,” Ozpin announces from the stage. “The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL (Cardinal), led by...Cardin Winchester!”

“Yeah, like these guys, I don’t know any of ‘em!” Yang sighs. “Some of them look preppy enough to have gone to Pharos, though.”

“Well, at least your sister made it, right?” Blake shrugs.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Yang smiles.

“Blake Belladonna, Pyrrha Nikos, Weis Schnee, Yang Xiao Long,” Ozpin announces.

“Ope, we’re up!” Yang says, and the girls step onto the stage.

“The four of you retrieved the White Knight pieces,” Ozpin continues. “From this day forward, you will be known as Team WYBP (Wisp). Led by…Weiss Schnee!”

~=~

Ozpin internally sighs at his decision. It truly is a shame. Miss Nikos remains too eager-to-please, Miss Belladonna is too raw and untrusting, and Miss Xiao Long is still working on listening to her heart and mind in equal measure. Miss Schnee herself is hardly an ideal choice, but…perhaps leadership will give her the chance she needs to become better.

Weiss smiles and stands haughtily and with pride as the crowd applauds her.

“Well done, Weiss.” Pyrrha smiles politely.

“Alright, I say we celebrate!” Yang laughs as the new team leaves the stage.

“And now, we have one last team,” Ozpin smiles. This one is bound to be quite interesting. “Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, Ruby Rose.” Ozpin calls, and the four come to the stage. “The four of you retrieved the White Rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RNJR (Ranger). Led by…Ruby Rose.”

Ruby’s eyes widen in surprise, shock, and joy.

“Whoo! Yeah, Ruby!” Yang cheers from the sidelines.

“You really deserve it, Ruby,” Jaune smiles politely, and Ruby grins.

“I won’t let you down, sir.” Ruby bows her head politely to Ozpin.

It seems like things are shaping up to be quite the interesting year. Ozpin muses to himself as the new teams celebrate and prepare to head to their new dorm rooms.

~=~

In a dark warehouse, Roman Torchwick glares at his map of the city. His deal with the Xiongs had gone sour, and now, all he had left was these brutes in the White Fang that Cinder is making him work with. Roman’s got nothing against the Faunus, per se, but a man can only take so much talk about “dirty humans” before he feels the need to start returning the favor.

Roman hears jovial skipping behind him, and Roman sighs. “Well, you were right,” he turns to his adorable partner in crime. “We need more men. I was stopped by one girl whole you were gone. Speaking of which, what did you get from your little field trip?”

Neopolitan grins and snaps her fingers, revealing what she had brought here while under her illusory cover: a massive, imposing machine. Presumably, one of Atlas’s latest toys, not even announced yet. Roman whistles, impressed.

“And this, Neo, is why you’re the best in the business.” Roman smirks.

Chapter Text

"This Will be the Day" starts playing.

As the song begins, we see rose petals in a snow-covered forest, with Ruby looking down at her Mother’s grave. The broken moon looms overhead, and the hooded Ruby turns to face the camera. Her eyes reflect in the dark like a wild animal. A flurry of snow changes the season and brings us to Beacon Academy.

They see you as small and helpless

They see you as just a child

We see the clear rivalry between Ruby and Weiss: Weiss shuns Ruby while Pyrrha tries to keep the peace, Yang crosses her arms and stands protectively between Ruby and Weiss, and Blake stays on her own. Meanwhile, Ruby is paying little mind, seemingly oblivious of the apparent rivalry, while she enjoys her time with Team RNJR, seemingly carefree.

Surprise when they find out

That a warrior will soon run wild

The perspective shifts, and Ruby stands determined in front of a horde of dissolving Grimm. Jaune stands nervously determined with his sword, Nora wields Magnhild with a maniacally gleeful grin, and Ren stands on guard with Stormflower.

Prepare for your greatest moments

Prepare for your finest hour

Teams RNJR and WYBP stand in front of Beacon Academy, and in front of the school, the many Professors stand and observe them. Standing to the side is Shion Zaiden, who flicks their Dreamcatcher Staff, and the strings transition to the next part.

The dream that you've always dreamed

Is suddenly about to flower

Jaune and Weiss are infected by the Nightmare Grimm, and the Nightmare rises between them in Shion’s Dream Web.

We are lightning

The rest of the teams prepare to aid their respective teammates.

Straying from the thunder

Miracles of ancient wonder

We see an ominous view of the Ice Queendom, and a depiction of Weiss’s family tree. Weiss holds a Schnee Glyph in her palm, Whitley stands bitterly in her shadow, Winter stands above Weiss with a Schnee Glyph in her palm, Willow stands above Winter with a Schnee Glyph hovering shakily in her hand, Nicholas Schnee holds an intricate Schnee Glyph in his hand, and above him is a silhouetted individual. This woman doesn’t hold a Schnee Glyph, but instead, an Ice Dust Crystal hovers over her palm.

This will be the day we've waited for

This will be the day we open up the door

Team RNJR runs through the streets of Vale happily, while Team WYBP argues in the shadows, ending with Blake running off.

I don't wanna hear your absolution

Hope you're ready for a revolution

Roman Torchwick leads the White Fang operation on the docks, where he fights against Ruby and Penny.

Welcome to a world of new solutions

Welcome to a world of bloody evolution

Blake and Sun leap over rooftops, and on the streets below, Ruby has her hood pulled over her face forcefully, as if trying to hide something, as rose petals peel off of her cloak and body.

In time, your heart will open minds

A story will be told

Ozpin looks over the city from his office and sips his coffee. Glynda, Qrow, and Ironwood are behind him.

And victory is in a simple soul

Ruby is surrounded by her friends, and she grins.

Your world needs a great defender

Your world's in the way of harm

Pyrrha trains, and Amity Colosseum hovers on the horizon, but it practically vanishes behind Beacon Tower as Pyrrha turns towards it.

You want a romantic life

A fairytale that's full of charm

Jaune is admiring Weiss from afar, and we find ourselves at the dance.

Beware that the light is fading

Beware as the dark returns

Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury loom on the second floor of the dance hall and smirk down at the unsuspecting students. Cinder’s eyes flare with half-maidenfire.

This world's unforgiving

Even brilliant lights will cease to burn

In a flash of light, we see Amber sealed beneath Beacon Tower. As we back up, we see Ozpin, Glynda, Qrow, and Ironwood showing the Fall Maiden to Pyrrha.

Legends scatter

Day and night will sever

The Team STRQ photograph flies by, Raven is torn out of the frame, Summer burns up in silver fire, and Tai and Qrow fall away, going different paths.

Hope and peace are lost forever

Ruby and Yangs have their backs to each other, but lean on each other. The silhouettes of their Mothers loom over them.

This will be the day we've waited for

We are lightning

Welcome to a world of new solutions

Yang stands and leaves, and Ruby falls back as her rose petals flow upward. Ruby is drifting through darkness and rose petals as memories and scenes from her adventures fly by. When the beat drops again, her silver eyes open again.

This will be the day we've waited for

This will be the day we open up the door

Team WYBP investigates criminal activity and fights the Paladin Prototype.

I don't wanna hear your absolution

Hope you're ready for a revolution

Team RNJR, however, are looking into something else as things grow more serious. On a screen in front of them, an “M” appears in a hexagonal symbol.

Welcome to a world of new solutions

Welcome to a world of bloody evolution

Team WYBP takes on the threats of Mountain Glenn and the train, but Team RNJR takes on monstrous Grimm on another side of Mountain Glenn.

In time, your heart will open minds

Amity Colloseum looms overhead, and the Vytal Festival is marked to begin.

A story will be told

Cinder looms in a silhouette over the entirety of Vale with a grin.

And victory is in a simple soul

Ruby is engulfed in rose petals. All that’s visible is a crimson silhouette, and when the song ends, her eyes open and fill the screen with silver light.

Chapter Text

“Good morning, Team RNJR!” Ruby cheers, and she’s glad to see how awake her new team is. Ren and Nora seem perfectly used to waking up early, and Jaune, at the very least, doesn’t complain about Ruby’s early bird nature. With everyone in their school uniforms, she has a grin on her face.

“Now that you’re awake, we can officially begin our first order of business!” Ruby says.

“Business? Wha- what kind of business?” Jaune asks blankly. “Aren’t we just in school now?”

“Oh, Jaune, my sweet summer child,” Ruby stands on a bed so she can pat him on the head without reaching. “We’re not just any students in just any school! We’re Team RNJR, in Beacon Academy! We’re gonna be the best huntsmen and huntresses in Vale, and that’s gonna start…with unpacking.”

Ruby leads her team to unpack. Ruby was surprised to find that she had the most to unpack compared to everyone, but then their problem came to privacy. A co-ed room brought with it plenty of worries, so Ruby had a great idea: bunk beds!

No, seriously. By turning the beds into bunk beds, the girls could stay on one side of the room, the boys on the other, and they could hang a curtain across the room for privacy when it’s needed. It’s admittedly very ramshackle, but it’s enough!

“We did it!” Ruby sighs in relief and sits on her bed with a docket in her hands. “Second order of business is…classes.” She sighs sadly. “Now, we have a few classes together today, starting at 9…”

“Um…it is 8:55 right now,” Ren informs her.

“...uh-oh,” Ruby pales.

~=~

Team RNJR are the final ones through the door into Professor Port’s classroom, rushing quickly with rose petals in their wake.

“Ah, Team RNJR, is it?” Professor Port chuckles. “Cutting it rather close, but you are technically just in time for class. Now, take your seats!”

“Yes, sir! Sorry, sir,” Ruby says, and her team starts to find empty seats.

“Ruby, over here!” Yang encourages, making it clear she’s saved a seat next to her.

“Hey, sis,” Ruby sits down and sighs.

“What took you so long?” Yang whispers as class begins. Her own teammates sit next to her. “Ice Queen over here got us to class early.” Yang teases, and Weiss scowls.

“I got us all unpacked, but then we had the problem of it being so co-ed, so I had to figure out a plan for that, so I got sidetracked and kinda lost track of time while I was fitting the room together like a puzzle…” Ruby explains, and Yang ruffles her hair.

“At least I got my team here on time…” Weiss huffs, and Ruby pouts.

“We do still have a lot to unpack, though. And clean.” Blake says.

“T-that’s besides the point!” Weiss huffs.

“Yeah, the point is that we had to leave as soon as the Princess here woke up, since she had to get a lot of beauty sleep.” Yang teases, and Weiss growls.

“Oh, quiet, you. I’m trying to listen to the lecture.” Weiss crosses her arms.

~=~

Weiss has quite mixed opinions on her teammates. Pyrrha is, of course, perfect. She’s perfectly organized, perfectly ready for class, and by the way she pays attention in class, she’ll have perfect grades!

Blake is…an enigma. Weiss is willing to overlook her foolhardy support of the anti-human faunus, but the girl is quiet and brooding. She’s hardly spoken a word to anyone except for Yang, who has somehow seemed to make a good impression on the quiet girl. However, she keeps to herself and hasn’t spoken out against the SDC since that first day, and she followed orders well enough during orientation, so there’s that. Honestly, Weiss will be glad to leave Blake and Yang behind after graduation. It’s not unusual for students at Atlas Academy to consistently change team orientations for the sake of learning how to work together as a larger whole. They’re not a series of teams, they are a military, and the concept of these four-person teams is quite archaic by this point compared to Atlas. Alas, Weiss will put up with it, for the sake of her own prestige and the prestige of Team WYBP.

Oh, and then there’s Yang Xiao Long. Yang is…perplexing all on her own. She’s reckless and in some ways seems like an adrenaline junkie, but at the same time, she’s other caring and warm in a way that’s unfamiliar to Weiss. Regardless, she seems to be a legacy and very skilled, but she’s a bit too much for Weiss’s taste.

But then, of course, there’s Yang’s little sister, the leader of Team RNJR, and a girl that it seems Weiss will have to get used to seeing a lot: Ruby Rose. The girl seems admittedly skilled with that scythe of hers, but that’s no reason to make her leader, and certainly no reason for her to be in Beacon! At the very least, she’s in appropriate company, if the rest of her ramshackle, mismatched team is any indication.

But something about Ruby Rose just…angers Weiss. Weiss is the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, and yet, she has still had to work hard to get where she is. She’s had to be crafty enough to trick her father into a bet to let her become a Huntress in the first place, she had to be strong enough to defeat the Armor Gigas, and she had to be fast enough to leave for Vale before her father realized that she had chosen Beacon over Atlas.

Meanwhile, here is Ruby Rose. A completely mundane girl in every way, save for the little detail that she uses a scythe and is presumably a legacy like Yang. The girls hardly look related at all, but Weiss isn’t going to be the one to say it. Ruby Rose is probably just here for that very reason, because her parents were powerful and she thinks that makes her special. It’s painfully ironic, that Weiss had to work this far while a girl two years her junior gets in just because she’s a legacy. Weiss is the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, the largest dust company in the world! But Professor Ozpin has never shown any interest or care in that, but the pride he beamed with when he rewarded Ruby with leadership made Weiss feel bitter inside. Ruby Rose is just a girl getting special treatment she doesn’t deserve, and Weiss’s feelings only solidify every class that goes on! She sees Ruby doodling in class, giggling with her classmates, and goofing off. She’s not acting like a leader, she’s acting like a child.

Ruby Rose doesn’t have what it takes to be a Huntress…and Weiss is going to prove it.

~=~

The final class Teams RNJR and WYBP have for the day happens to be the same class: Glynda Goodwitch’s Combat Class. Here, they are given lessons in front of a small sparring ring with hardlight dust monitors acting as display screens for Professor Goodwitch.

“The Creatures of Grimm are the truest foe that a Hunter will face in their journey…but they are not the only threat to this world,” Professor Goodwitch says. “Who can give me one example of a non-Grimm threat that the average hunter may need to face?”

Weiss Schee proudly raises her hand. “The White Fang,” she says proudly, and Glynda narrows her eyes.

“...you are half-correct, Miss Schnee,” Glynda says, and Miss Schnee’s nose turns up at the implication of imperfection. “But an average hunter statistic would also account for faunus hunters, and the White Fang rarely, if ever, attack the faunus,” she instructs, and Weiss leans back in her chair and crosses her arms with a grumble. “Does anyone else have an answer?”

“Organized Crime,” Ruby Rose raises her hand. “People like the Xiong Crime Family, and Roman Torchwick.”

“Very good, Miss Rose,” Glynda nods, her stern expression not leaving her face at the reminder of the night she met Ruby. The girl may deserve to be at Beacon, but she is far too young to risk getting embroiled in the war her Mother probably died for. “Organized Crime is the largest in-Kingdom threat a hunter will face, but outside a Kingdom’s walls, there is also the threat of bandits, rogue mercenaries, and…on a slightly happier note…rival teams in the Vytal Festival.” 

Glynda pulls up basic displays of these various threats, ending with the symbol of the Vytal Festival Tournament. “These lessons will be particularly important to you students, since the Vytal Festival will be held here in Vale later this year. In these classes, I will teach you practical combat strategies, how to monitor your aura in combat, and the strategies you must use to combat an opponent capable of higher thought. These lessons will not only serve you well in fighting other people, but also in how to combat old and powerful Grimm. So, that being said…” A pair of blank aura reading displays appear at either end of the arena. “Who would like to go first?” She asks, and many of the students are intimidated by the immediate invitation to combat.

“I volunteer, Professor!” Weiss Schnee stands up and raises her hand.

“Very well, Miss Schnee,” Glynda nods and presses a few buttons. Weiss’s aura is read and appears above. “Now, let’s find you a suitable opponent…”

“Actually, Professor, I believe I have an opponent in mind,” Weiss says, and Glynda arches an eyebrow. “I would like to challenge Ruby Rose.”

“Wha…?” Ruby blinks in surprise, and Glynda arches an eyebrow.

“...are you certain, Miss Schnee?” Glynda asks.

“I am quite certain,” Weiss crosses her arms and huffs, seeming insulted at Glynda’s hesitance. The Professor sighs.

“And what say you, Miss Rose?” Glynda asks.

“Uh…sure, I guess,” Ruby nods and stands up.

Weiss smiles confidently as Glynda puts in the order for the girls’ weapons to be delivered here, and she sighs. With Miss Schnee’s personality, this won’t end well, no matter who wins.

Weiss draw out Myrtenaster and takes the time to load it up with dust. Ruby takes a few mundane dust cartridges, nothing elemental, and gets Crescent Rose unfolded into scythe form. The two stand on opposite sides of the arena, and Glynda keeps an eye on them.

Miss Schnee has trained her aura usage well, and she’s a skilled combatant…but Miss Rose has had her aura since she was born. Her parents’ worry about the fight against Salem means that Ruby knows her aura more intimately than most. Glynda thinks to herself. It’s time to see how that translates in a controlled setting.

“And…begin!” Glynda orders.

Immediately, Ruby spins Crescent Rose around and fires, blasting herself toward Weiss in a flurry of high-speed rose petals, nearly too fast for the naked eye!

“What the-?!” Weiss’s eyes widen as Ruby unleashes a flurry of attacks with her scythe. Weiss is forced back, but she quickly gets her bearings.

Caught off-guard by Miss Rose’s semblance…a novice mistake. A simple inquiry with Yang would have allowed her to learn about it. Ruby makes no effort to hide or keep it secret. Glynda marks her tablet.

Weiss uses her glyphs to launch herself forward and into the air, trying to get at Ruby from multiple angles. However, Ruby’s mobility is impressive. She swings around on Crescent Rose like it’s a form of mobility, not just a weapon, and kicks Weiss backward. Weiss grits her teeth and conjures glyphs that unleash a barrage of ice spikes at Ruby, but she starts to dodge them with her semblance, even if one impacts her. Weiss continues to send this flurry of icicles, but Ruby gets on the offensive. She turns into rose petals and weaves between them expertly before manifesting with Crescent Rose in rifle form and firing on Weiss, who is barely able to leap back and dodge the attack!

“Come on, Ruby, you got this!” Nora cheers from the sidelines.

“Keep fighting, Weiss!” Pyrrha encourages.

Weiss and Ruby are locked in close combat as Ruby shifts Crescent Rose back into scythe form. The two of them trade blows, but Weiss’s mistake is relying entirely on her weapon. Yes, Ruby is unable to fight without Crescent Rose, but with Crescent Rose, Ruby uses every piece of her body, usually by swinging around and kicking her opponent with both feet. These repeated attacks are effective on human combatants, who usually only have their eyes on a hunter’s weapon…and Weiss is no exception. She seems increasingly annoyed by this.

“Stop fighting dirty!” Weiss leaps up, lands on a glyph she conjures, and shoots herself at Ruby blade-first!

Ruby dodges out of the way in a flash of rose petals and chuckles. “Fighting dirty? Come on, Weiss, it’s not like a real opponent is gonna fight fair!”

Weiss growls as the two continue to trade blows, and soon, Weiss creates a large number of white glyphs that surround Ruby. Ruby’s eyes widen as Weiss swiftly trails from glyph to glyph, striking past Ruby and assaulting her from every angle, eating into her aura!

“It still won’t be enough to beat me!” Weiss declares as Ruby is knocked to the ground. Her aura begins to strain, signifying that it’s entered the yellow. It won’t be much longer until she hits the red, and Glynda will have to call the match…

Weiss continues her assault, and she elegantly dances out of the way of Ruby’s attacks as she fires upon Weiss. Weiss creates an ice wall that Ruby has to dodge, disorienting her, and so the heiress continues to leap across the battlefield with poise and grace as she creates a burst of fire that shatters the wall of ice and creates a smokescreen across the battlefield.

Glynda watches closely as Weiss tries to use the smokescreen for cover, but Ruby’s eyes glitter in the fog. Weiss’s eyes narrow in confusion, then widen in shock as Ruby rushes right at her, and she leans back, barely dodging Crescent Rose’s attack. Weiss creates a burst of wind with another glyph, and Ruby tries to enter another petal burst to avoid it, but the wind blows her and her petals to the opposite end of the arena.

Weiss launches forward to stay on the offensive, but Ruby shifts Crescent Rose into rifle form and, uniquely, uses the thicker form to block and parry Weiss’s attacks, staying defensive. Ruby then petal bursts behind Weiss and launches another barrage from the rifle at her, but Weiss creates a row of spikes that Ruby leaps into the air to dodge, and she keeps firing! When Ruby lands, she shifts Crescent Rose back into scythe form and launches herself at Weiss to return to old form, countering Weiss’s attacks and using her whole body with Crescent Rose to strike at the heiress. Weiss’s own aura flickers now, and Glynda arches an eyebrow.

It’s a close battle… Glynda internally muses.

Weiss notices she’s running low on dust with how much she’s been using her glyphs, and she clicks her tongue in annoyance. She raises another array of glyphs to surround Ruby, and charges…

Ruby smiles. “Oh, that’s not working twice…” Ruby spins around and transforms into a cloud of rose petals, and Weiss gasps as her first attack completely phases through Ruby! Tripped up and caught off-guard by her attack not connecting, Ruby gets the chance to manifest back and swing Crescent Rose at Weiss’s legs, tripping her up! Then, before she hits the ground, Ruby spins around and kicks both legs squarely into Weiss’s ribs, throwing the Schnee across the arena and causing her aura to flicker weaker.

“Ugh…why, you little…” Weiss coughs and stands up as Myrtenaster’s barrel spins. “I’ll show you…”

“That’s enough!” Glynda steps in. “Miss Rose is the winner.”

“What?!” Weiss exclaims.

“Miss Schnee’s aura has dropped into the red,” Glynda announces. “In a tournament-style match, this would indicate a dismissal from combat,” she turns to Weiss and narrows her eyes. “We will be using the same rules in my classroom. Is that understood?”

“...yes, ma’am,” Weiss looks at the floor and doesn’t make eye contact with Glynda.

“WHOO! Yeah, Ruby!” Nora cheers, and Jaune and Ren applaud their leader a little more politely.

Glynda sighs. “Return your weapons to their lockers, children, and then return to your seats.”

As the children return to their seats, Glynda continues her lesson. When class ends, she notices Weiss glaring at Ruby, and the innocent Rose is completely unaware that she’s become the target of the Schnee girl’s ire.

This isn’t going to end well at all…

Chapter Text

Several weeks later, another match is called after Jaune’s aura is brought into the red by Cardin Winchester.

“Enough, Mister Winchester!” Glynda sighs. “And Mister Arc, it has been weeks now. Today was meant to be a training exercise, where each team would send in one combatant at a time until all opponents were defeated. However, tagging out is allowed, as I had explained. You need to understand as a teammate when it is appropriate to attack, and when it is appropriate to take a more defensive strategy or a tactical retreat. This strategy extends to the rest of your training as a huntsman.”

“Yeah, I was trying to message you to tag out!” Ruby huffs from the sidelines.

“And that is another point, Mister Arc. You must know when to listen to your leader. Miss Rose, who is next in your roster to fight Team CRDL?” Glynda asks.

“I’ll do it,” Ruby steps forward, and Crescent Rose extends into scythe form.

~=~

“I don’t know why you abandoned the plan like that,” Ruby sighs in the cafeteria, and Jaune looks guilty. Team WYBP sits across from Team RNJR, and Weiss glares daggers at Ruby, though the girl doesn’t notice, too deep in her own funk.

“What was your plan?” Pyrrha asks curiously.

“We were gonna use Jaune as a scout,” Ruby explains. “His large aura reserve meant he could take a few hits and play defense while the rest of us observed Team CRDL’s fighting styles. Then, we’d trade into whoever had the best counter for that fighting style and beat them!”

“I didn’t expect them to send in their leader first like that! I just…wanted to try and make things a little easier for you guys,” Jaune sighs.

“And…this has nothing to do with the fact that your opponent in question was Cardin Winchester?” Ren asks, and Jaune groans a little.

“O-of course not!” Jaune lies nervously and blatantly.

“Such little command over your team…” Weiss says passive-aggressively, and Ruby pouts.

“I’m working on it!” Ruby huffs, but she doesn’t seem to take it as much of an insult as Weiss wanted.

“Are you…ever going to tell your sister that Weiss is trying to make a devoted enemy of her?” Blake whispers to Yang.

“Hey, as long as Weiss doesn’t actually start bullying my sister, I’ll let Ruby take care of herself,” Yang whispers back.

“What constitutes bullying?” Blake mutters.

“Assault outside of a sparring ring,” Yang says.

As if on cue, they all see Team CRDL picking on a faunus girl named Velvet.

“Jaune, it’s okay if you have a score to settle,” Ruby frowns. “We know Cardin’s been picking on you since the first week of school.”

“It’s…it’s not like that!” Jaune claims. “Cardin just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes.”

“Jaune, you’re being bullied,” Pyrrha frowns.

“Oh, please,” Jaune scoffs. “Name one time he’s ‘bullied’ me.”

“I saw him knock your books out of your hand once,” Yang says.

“He activated your shield in a doorway to get you stuck,” Ruby says.

“Let’s not forget the locker incident,” Ren adds.

“Alright, alright, I get it!” Jaune sighs.

“Jaune, if you need help, you can just ask! Team RNJR sticks together.” Ruby says proudly.

“Oh!” Nora stands up and grins. “We’ll break his legs!”

“Guys, really, it’s fine!” Jaune says nervously. “Besides, it’s not like he’s only a jerk to me…he’s a jerk to everyone.”

As if on cue, they all hear and see Velvet’s ears being pulled, and she whimpers in pain.

“Alright, that’s enough of that…” Yang growls and stands up.

“Yang, sit down,” Weiss huffs. “The last time you defended that faunus, didn’t her girlfriend pay you in thanks and then beat you up in a sparring match out of jealousy?”

“Hey, it’s like Uncle Qrow always says; make a pretty lady smile and worry about the consequences later!” Yang says.

“He always says that?” Blake mutters confused as Yang leaps over the table and immediately punches Cardin Winchester in the face.

“Whoo! Go, Yang!” Nora cackles, and Weiss facepalms as Yang starts fighting the entirety of Team CRDL with her bare hands.

“I’d help, but I can only fight with my beloved Crescent Rose,” Ruby pouts.

“Ruby, you already swept Team CRDL back in class. I think you’ll be fine,” Ren pats her on the back.

“I admit, I like to keep my fights professional,” Pyrrha says, “but it is quite vindictive to see Yang at work.”

“Yeah, Yang’s never liked bullies,” Ruby says. “Whenever someone tried to bully me back at Signal, she’d make it clear that wouldn’t fly. Well, if Uncle Qrow didn’t get to them first. He’s never been afraid to challenge a child to a fight.”

“Well, I suppose that’s not too unusual for a combat instructor-” Pyrrha says.

“Uncle Qrow was the history teacher,” Ruby interrupts her, making Pyrrha gawk. “He teaches students everything they need to know about the World of Remnant. Combine that with teaching me how to use a scythe, and he was basically the best teacher I’ve ever had! It was nice to have family watching my back.”

“Well, now you’ve got us watching your back!” Nora grins. “And yours too, Jaune!”

“Guys, really, it’s fine…” Jaune looks away.

“No, it’s not!” Nora crosses her arms and huffs. “If anyone tries to pick on us, they’re gonna regret it! Team RNJR united! We’ll get ‘em if they try to pick on Ren for being quiet, me for being loud, Jaune for being a little bit of a novice, or Ruby for being a faunus!”

“That’s really nice, Nor- wait, huh?” Ruby questions, and Blake, Pyrrha, and Weiss across the table also gawk. “You think I’m a faunus?”

“...are you not?” Ren arches an eyebrow. Nora, Ren, and Jaune all seem confused by Ruby’s statement.

“No!” Ruby says. “Wha- why?!”

“I mean, you don’t look like a faunus,” Nora says, “but your eyes glow in the dark!”

“We noticed it one evening,” Ren says. “Your eyes reflect in the dark like a nocturnal creature’s do. Most faunus share this trait.”

“Oh. That. Yeah, that kinda just…happens.” Ruby shrugs.

“...what?” everyone around her questions.

“I dunno!” Ruby says, exasperated.

“What are we talkin’ about?” Yang comes back to the table with a grin on her face. Her eyes are burning red, and her hair is ablaze.

“My own team thought I was a faunus ‘cause of the eye thing,” Ruby pouts.

“Oh. No, yeah, that kinda just happens,” Yang shrugs. “But Ruby’s not a faunus.”

“Yeah, I can just see in the dark pretty easily. Mom could, too,” Ruby says.

“Hmm…” Ren strokes his chin. “And night vision can’t be a singular born trait of a Faunus, since most Faunus have night vision, regardless of their additional trait.”

“Maybe you’re…half-faunus, or something?” Jaune asks.

“That’s not how the genetics work…” Blake mutters.

“She’s right,” Pyrrha says. “Faunus genetics are dominant beyond scientific understanding. It doesn’t matter how much…forgive the lack of a better word…cross-breeding there is, no matter how much human is in the DNA, the faunus trait does not diminish.”

“See? The science checks out! Not a faunus,” Ruby says. “Dad and Uncle Qrow always say it’s ‘just a thing that happens’, so…that’s what we tell people, too.”

“How perplexing,” Pyrrha blinks, and Weiss narrows her eyes at Ruby, seemingly even more suspicious of her than before.

“Anyway! I’m probably gonna book it before Professor Goodwitch finds me,” Yang salutes and sprints off.

“Yang Xiao Long, you get back here!” Weiss scowls. “I will not have you evading your punishment and marring this team’s record!” She chases after her, her ire at Ruby momentarily forgotten…but Ruby looks concerned at Jaune, her worry for her teammate far from forgotten.

Chapter Text

In the night, a lone figure wanders in the Forever Fall Forest, their eyes trailing at Beacon Academy. The androgynous figure hums and sighs.

“So…there are two this time.”

~=~

The following day, Jaune sighs sadly. He doesn’t know why he keeps denying his team’s attempts to help him…honestly, lately, he’s just been feeling very tired. He doesn’t want to bother them. And now, he’s sitting in Doctor Oobleck’s classroom after the day’s classes ended, being lectured by the History Teacher for the disruption he and Cardin inadvertently caused today.

“You two have been struggling in my class since day one,” Oobleck sips his coffee. “Now, I don’t know if it’s a lack of interest, or just your stubborn nature, but whatever it is…it stops now,” Oobleck says with an authoritative sense of finality. “You’ve worked hard to gain entrance to this school, and we only accept the best of the best, so…I expect you to act like it.”

But you didn’t earn your way here, a voice that reflects Jaune’s own whispers in the back of his mind. You cheated. You don’t deserve to be here. You’re weak.

“History is important, gentlemen! If you can’t learn from it…you’re destined to repeat it. Pages 51 to 91, I want an essay on my desk on Monday! Now, run along.” With his words spoken, Doctor Oobleck races out of the class, passing Ruby in the hallway.

Jaune emerges from the classroom first, but Cardin shoves past him, knocking Jaune to the ground with a smirk as he walks away. Ruby offers a hand to Jaune and helps him to his feet.

“You know, I can just sic Yang on him again. Or Nora.” Ruby suggests with a small smile, and Jaune sighs. “I’m kidding! Come on, Jaune, I had an idea I wanted to show you.” She starts to drag him with her surprising strength.

Ruby leads Jaune to one of Beacon’s rooftops, with a beautiful view of Beacon Tower. Jaune, however, can only focus on how high up they are.

She’s telling you to jump. You should do it. You’d be better off gone. You’re weak.

“Ruby, I know I’m going through a hard time right now, but I’m not that depressed…” Jaune shudders from the horrible, intrusive thoughts he’s been having lately.

Ruby’s eyes widen in fear, and she immediately pulls him away from the edge. “N-no! Jeez, Jaune, that’s grim…no, that’s not why I brought you here.” She sighs. “Jaune, I know things have been pretty hard, and you’re feeling pretty down on yourself ‘cause of your fighting skills, but I want to help you! I’ve trained with like, every kind of weapon before landing on a scythe, so I could give you some pointers.”

She thinks you need help.

“W-what?” Jaune asks. Despite Ruby’s sweet and kind voice, his thoughts just feel so…clouded.

“We can train up here!” Ruby smiles. “We’ll come up here every night, and no one will bother us.”

She’s calling you weak.

“You think I need help?” Jaune frowns.

“Uh- well- n-not in a bad way!” Ruby sputters a little.

Lies.

“But that’s what you said…” Jaune says.

“Jaune, listen,” Ruby tries to comfort him, “Everyone needs to train! There’s always something to learn. It doesn’t make you any less than the rest of us. I mean, you’re here! At Beacon! You and I made it past orientation! You belong to be here, just like anyone else.”

But you don’t.

“You’re wrong…” Jaune mutters. “I don’t belong here.”

“Jaune, don’t say that, of course you belong here,” Ruby insists.

“No, I don’t!” Jaune snaps.

That’s right. Tell her. Tell her that you’re a cheater. Tell her you’re weak.

“I wasn’t really accepted into Beacon…” Jaune turns away from Ruby. “I didn’t go to combat school, I didn’t pass any test. I didn’t earn my spot at this academy! I lied.” He turns back towards Ruby, tears in his eyes. “I got my hands on some fake transcripts, and I lied.”

“Jaune…I-I don’t understand,” Ruby gawks. “Why-?”

“Because this is what I’ve always wanted to be!” Jaune snaps and turns his back on 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.”

Because you’re weak.

“Then let me help you,” Ruby reaches up to put a hand on his shoulder.

She knows you’re weak.

“I don’t want help!” Jaune turns around and smacks her hand away. “I don’t want to be the damsel in distress, I want to be the hero!”

“Jaune, I-”

“I am tired of being second best!” Jaune clutches his head. He feels a headache. “I hate being the idiot stuck in a tree, the lovable fool, the meat shield, useless while my friends fight for their lives! Don’t you understand? If I can’t do this on my own…then what good am I?” He turns away from Ruby again. “Just…just leave me alone.” He shies away from Ruby.

Ruby hiccups a little, and Jaune’s eyes widen. He turns, and he sees tears streaming down Ruby’s face. Guilt tugs at him.

“I…I’m sorry…” Ruby blubbers out. “I-I didn’t mean to…I’m sorry.”

“Ruby-” Jaune’s eyes widen as Ruby vanishes in a cloud of rose petals, rushing through the door and leaving a few drifting petals behind that flutter away on the wind. Jaune falls to his knees and clutches his head.

You’re a horrible person. She only wanted to help you, and you yelled at her. She’s a child, two years younger than you, and you made her cry. You’re weak. It’d be better for everyone if you went to sleep and never woke up.

Jaune can feel something crawling beneath his clothes, beneath his skin…

Jaune is snapped out of his downward spiral by the sound of cruel laughter as Cardin Winchester climbs onto the roof. Jaune gasps and falls backward, crawling away from him.

“Oh, Jaune…I couldn’t help but overhear you two from my dorm room,” Cardin smirks. “So, you snuck into Beacon, huh? I gotta say, JAune, I never expected you to be such a rebel!”

“Please, Cardin, please, don’t tell anyone!” Jaune shakily gets to his feet and begs.

“Jaune, come on! I’ve never rat on a friend like that.” Cardin grins.

“A…a friend?” Jaune asks doubtfully.

“Of course!” Cardin traps Jaune in a headlock. “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 finally lets Jaune go, and the young man collapses to the ground. “That being said, I really don’t have time to do those extra readings Doctor Oobleck gave us today. Think you could take care of that for me, buddy?” Cardin chuckles.

You’re weak. Weak enough to snap at your only friend. Weak enough that you’re willing to accept this. You are weak.

Jaune’s head lowers, giving no resistance to Cardin’s demands.

“That’s what I thought,” Cardin grins. “Don’t worry, Jaune. Your secret’s safe with me.”

~=~

It’s been almost a week since Jaune yelled at Ruby. Since he made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want Ruby’s help, almost a week since Ruby has felt like a failure as a team leader. Her own teammate, whom she hoped would be able to come to her for anything, instead wants to do everything alone. And that’s not even the worst part.

“How come Jaune’s been coming back late, lately?” Nora asks in the dorm one night.

“He’s become rather scarce since he started fraternizing with Cardin,” Ren reports.

That’s right. Jaune has been hanging around Team CRDL lately. Ruby can’t imagine for the life of her why. Is this another instance of his false bravado getting the better of him? After that night, Ruby couldn’t even be sure how false that bravado was. Jaune has this toxic masculinity in him, but it seems so much more serious than she thought. Something about being around Jaune, something about that night, something about how he’s been acting lately gives Ruby a headache that burns behind her eyes. Like there’s something she should be seeing, something she’s missing.

Nora huffs and crosses her arms. “I don’t get it. Doesn’t he know we have a field trip tomorrow? We need our rest!” She flops down onto her bed.

“I’m sure Jaune knows what he’s doing…” Ruby says quietly. Her hood is up, and she’s scarcely pulled it down since that night. “I’m going for a walk.”

Ruby leaves, ignoring the look of concern Nora and Ren give each other at the distance that’s been growing between their leader and their teammate.

Ruby walks through the dark halls of the dorm campus with a deep sigh.

“Ugh, it’s you…” A voice says, and Ruby looks up to see Weiss Schnee walking through the halls.

“Hey, Weiss,” Ruby greets. She’s pretty sure Weiss is just a snippy girl, so she doesn’t take Weiss’s jabs to heart.

Weiss sneers, as though mildly annoyed that Ruby calls her by her name. “What are you doing out here? Did you somehow manage to lock yourself out of your dorm?”

“Nah, I don’t really need a key…” Ruby says. “I’m just trying to clear my head. What about you?”

“If you must know, I’ve been doing some extra studying,” Weiss huffs haughtily, then smirks. “Has your team grown tired of you already?”

“I mean…maybe?” Ruby sighs. “I think I insulted Jaune by accident. And now, he’s hanging around Cardin, and I don’t even know if I want to talk to him, but…I’m supposed to be the leader.”

Weiss scoffs. “Don’t you get it yet? You shouldn’t be a leader.”

“Eh?” Ruby blinks.

“You’re a child!” Weiss scoffs. “You acted like a child, and from what I’ve seen, you’ve only continued to do so. The people of this academy are here because they’ve studied and trained, not because of family connections. This place is only for the best of the best. You may have beaten me in a one-on-one fight, but a team is only as strong as its weakest link. You need to understand that Ozpin made a mistake inviting you to this academy, and a bigger mistake appointing you as leader.” Weiss struts into her room, and Ruby hangs her head.

That…that was really mean. Moreso than usual…or was it? Maybe I’m just in a bad mood. I don’t know anymore. Ruby thinks to herself.

“Well, that didn’t seem to go very well,” a voice says, and Ruby gasps and turns, seeing Professor Ozpin approaching from not far away.

“Professor…” Ruby wipes the forming tears out of her eyes. “...is she right? Did you make a mistake?”

“That remains to be seen,” Ozpin chuckles a bit, looking down at Ruby gently.

“What do you mean?” Ruby asks.

“I mean, it’s only been one month,” Ozpin says. “You have four years ahead of you. Ruby...I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child on this planet. But at this moment, I would not consider your appointment as leader to be one of them.” He leans down to look her in the eye. “Do you?”

Ruby looks back up at Ozpin, and the man continues talking.

“Being a team leader isn’t just a title you carry into battle,” the Professor says, “but a badge you wear constantly. If you’re not always performing at your absolute best, then what reason do you give others to follow you?” Ozpin turns and starts to walk away. “You’ve been burdened with a daunting responsibility, Ruby. I advise you to take some time to think about how you will uphold it, and determine the kind of leader you will be.”

As he walks away, Ruby clenches her fists, a determined expression crossing her face.

The kind of leader I want to be, huh?

~=~

“...and that’s when I realized that this isn’t just about me!” Ruby monologues in the Forever Fall forest the next day. “I’ve got a team now, and if I fail, I’ll just be bringing Team RNJR down with me! So I’m gonna do what I can to put my teammates first and myself second. My team deserves a great leader, and that’s gonna be me!” She grins triumphantly as she collects tree sap, monologuing with Nora and Ren admiring their leader, and most of Team WYBP looking in awe, but Weiss is scowling.

“...let me get this straight,” Weiss says, “after I spoke to you last night, you took my words as encouragement?”

“Yep! You were right, Weiss! Everyone here worked hard, and so I gotta work twice as hard to prove that I belong here!” Ruby grins, and Weiss’s eye twitches.

“You were right, it is funnier if Ruby doesn’t know,” Blake smirks at Yang.

“Told ya,” Yang snickers, then smiles warmly. “Ah, I’m really proud of Ruby, too. She’s really coming into her own.”

“Students, please focus on your work!” Professor Goodwitch says loudly. “This is not a free period. This is important work. The sap in the trees of the Forever Fall Forest has a unique and dangerous property. Can anyone tell me what it is?”

“For reasons unknown, they attract the Creatures of Grimm,” a new voice says, and a white-haired androgynous individual emerges from the treeline.

“Ah, so you’re here,” Glynda says. “Class, this is Shion Zaiden. They are a Hunter presently residing in the Beacon area.”

“A pleasure to meet you, students,” Shion bows their head respectfully.

“In any case, Shion is correct!” Glynda says. “Professor Peach not only uses the sap in her classes, but the sap must regularly be drained for everyone’s safety. Furthermore, Professor Peach will show you tomorrow how to use the sap in several dishes a hunter can make while on the move, and to practice, you will each be given one jar of sap tomorrow.”

“As an additional precaution, I do implore you to tell me if any of you or your classmates find yourselves craving the sap,” Shion Zaiden says mysteriously and keeps walking.

“What do you think that means?” Yang asks with a frown.

“No clue. But it is pretty weird, hm?” Blake ponders. “The Creatures of Grimm only ever go after living things. What makes the sap so special?”

“Some people say the Forever Fall Forest remains as such because it was the site of an ancient massacre,” Pyrrha says ominously. “Legend has it that the mourning death of the slaughter remains as a stain that attracts the creatures of Grimm…of course, there’s no scientific basis to the story.” She chuckles.

“It doesn’t matter,” Weiss huffs, “let’s just keep collecting! Don’t stop now.” Her eyes trail to one of the jars of sap, and she licks her lips subconsciously, and then keeps moving to collect sap.

~=~

“Come on, buddy, let’s go!” Cardin snickers as Jaune is forced to come with Team CRDL and help them collect sap. Jaune looks away from his team, and Ruby frowns in concern as he walks away with them.

You’re weak. You’re doing all the work, and they’re not even your teammates.

Dark thoughts swirl in Jaune’s mind while Team CRDL forces him to do their work. He manages to collect six jars full of sap from the trees around the clearing before he collapses. It’s a lot harder than it looks, and Jaune just feels so…tired.

All you had to do was collect sap, and you’re exhausted. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong anywhere.

“Hey, great work, Jauney boy!” Cardin says mockingly. “Now that wasn’t too hard, was it?”

“I think I’m…allergic to this stuff, or something…” Jaune says. He feels dizzy and tired.

“Great, great, great,” Cardin says dismissively. “So, Jaune, I bet you’re asking yourself, ‘Why did my buddy Cardin ask me to collect six jars of tree sap when there’s only five of us’?”

Of course you didn’t. You’re so worthless that you follow orders without question. You’re weak.

“Uh…to eat?” Jaune asks as his stomach growls. For some reason, some of that sap sounds pretty appetizing right about now. He could really use a snack. As Jaune gets to his feet, he feels like his armor is heavier than usual today.

“Hah! No. Come with me, and you’ll find out.” Cardin grins and leads Jaune and his team to a hilltop overlooking everyone else.

“What are you…?” Jaune wonders weakly.

“It’s time for some payback,” Cardin smirks. “Now, where is that little scythe-wielding freak?”

“Ruby?” Jaune’s eyes widen.

“Little Miss Red Cloak thinks she’s so smart and special,” Cardin scoffs, “so we’re gonna teach her a lesson.” He takes out a box filled with buzzing. “Last night, Jaune, you managed to bring me an entire box of Lancer Wasps. And now, we’re gonna put them to work.” He grabs Jaune by the shoulders. “The Grimm are attracted to this sap. I don’t know where that girl crept off to, but by the way she was talking before, she won’t be far from those two.” He looks down at Ren and Nora. “As soon as she’s back, you’re gonna hit her with the sap and let the Lancers loose.”

“No…” Jaune mutters.

You’re going to do it. You can’t resist. You’re going to shut out everyone positive in your life. Because you’re weak.

“Oh, yes, you will,” Cardin grins. “Either that, or I’ll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you’ll be on the first airship out of Beacon.”

“So that’s what this is about?!” a voice exclaims, and everyone looks around. Ruby spoke, but…where is she?

Suddenly, from the leaves on the ground and in the trees, rose petals begin to flow forward and lift up, swirling around and merging into each other, changing and taking the shape of Ruby as she emerges from her petal cloud. Jaune’s never seen Ruby spread her petal cloud out like that before.

“You’ve been blackmailing him?!” Ruby exclaims, her face an expression of pure rage.

“Ugh…you meddling little brat!” Cardin scowls.

“I’m not letting you get away with this, Cardin!” Ruby growls.

“Oh, look at that, boys, Jauney boy needs a little girl to fight his battles for him!” Cardin mocks.

He’s right. You needed her to find you. You couldn’t go to her yourself. Because you’re weak. Don’t you understand? Nobody needs you. You need everybody. Look at how angry she is. It would be better for her, better for your team, better for everyone, if you just stopped existing.

“Ruby…” Jaune says weakly, and tears fill his eyes. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright, Jaune-” Ruby keeps talking, but Jaune can’t hear her words.

All of this is your fault.

Cardin talks, but Jaune can’t hear him either. Everything is muffled.

You’re weak.

Jaune can feel something crawling under his skin, and Russel’s eyes widen. He backs away from Jaune in fear, and soon the rest of Team CRDL follows suit when they get a look at Jaune, but Ruby’s eyes widen in concern.

There’s only one way to make it right.

Jaune looks down at himself. He notices black markings on his skin. He slowly pulls off his glove, and there are black bramble markings crawling across his hand, like a growing tattoo.

Just go to sleep.

Jaune can feel the markings crawling all over his body, up his neck and across his face. The exhaustion is just…too much. Jaune’s eyes roll back into his head as he collapses to the ground, unconscious. He feels himself caught by Ruby, and he can barely hear her calling for help.

And never wake up.

Chapter Text

Ruby’s cries for help immediately draw everyone else's attention. Yang immediately primes Ember Celica and sprints towards the sound of her cries, and Nora and Ren join her. As Glynda and Shion walk through the forest toward the noise, they see the display before them: Ruby trying to drag Jaune’s unconscious body, and the young man covered in black markings that resemble brambles.

“W-what’s wrong with him?!” Nora exclaims.

“What did you idiots do?!” Yang snarls at Team CRDL.

“Hey, w-we didn’t do anything!” Cardin claims.

“A lack of coordination and an excess of negativity will only increase the Grimm’s influence…the Nightmare found its hiding place during the orientation exam, and has been hiding ever since,” Shion explains.

“Nightmare…?” Ruby wonders.

“I will explain more when we are safe,” Shion says. “I must begin work immediately to save him. We need a large, open area where we won’t be interrupted.”

~=~

Within a private meeting room on Beacon Campus, the tables have been cleared out, except for one. Jaune is laid on the ground, and Shion places a case on the table that unfolds and reveals several strange items and shelves. Some look like superstitious charms or items for rituals, but others are strangely archaic technology that don’t use dust for power. Shion spins their dreamcatcher staff, and strings emerge from it and the spools of thread within their case. The thread weaves around Jaune, blindfolds his sleeping form, and creates a web of thread that he lies upon.

“I am not simply any Hunter,” Shion explains. “I am a Nightmare Hunter. I specialize not in fighting Grimm, but in taking on metaphysical Grimm. I exorcise Chills, I bring joy among the Apathy, but my personal specialty is the Nightmare Grimm.” They turn to face the remainders of Team RNJR and Team WYBP, who have come to watch.

“What is a Nightmare Grimm?” Ruby asks.

“A small Grimm that feeds on aura,” Shion says. “It burrows through the physical body and into the soul, where it takes root and feeds on aura. The victim is trapped in their dreams, and their body becomes a breeding ground of negativity.”

“So we just have to kill the Grimm?” Nora asks.

“Yes…inside his dream,” Shion nods.

“The dream?” Ren blinks, confused.

“My semblance can send you into the dreamscape that the Nightmare has constructed, but this is a task only for his closest friends. If a stranger attempts it, his subconscious heart will reject them.” Shion explains. “Who among you are willing to enter his dream and combat the Grimm?”

“We are!” Ruby says determinedly, standing with Nora and Ren. “Jaune is our teammate! We won’t let him down.”

“Then let us begin,” Shion flicks their staff, and more thread weaves into four voodoo dolls. The dolls resemble each member of Team RNJR and are suspended by thread over the dream web.

One by one, Ruby, Ren, and Nora lay on the dream web, and the thread rose to fasten them to it and blindfold them.

“When you’re inside, you will find a collection of coins. These are manifestations of my aura that can do several things. Simply make a request and flick a coin, and chances are, you’ll get what you need.” Shion explains.

“Good luck,” Professor Ozpin says, standing next to Professor Goodwitch. Shion snaps their fingers, and everything goes black for Team RNJR…

~=~

When Ruby opens her eyes, she stumbles a few steps. She’s never woken standing up before. Her outfit looks the same as it usually does, but her combat dress is plated with metal, and her hood feels rougher, like it’s made of a lightweight leather.

“Whoa, cool…” Ruby mutters and looks back at her friends. Nora looks a little more like a bodybuilder, and Ren is even more cloaked than he usually is, like a real ninja.

“Interesting…” Ren says. “This must be how Jaune sees us.”

“Heck yeah! Oh, where’s Magnhild?” Nora checks herself over and pulls out a hammer that resembles Magnhild slung over her back, except it doesn’t fold up. “Aw, what? No grenade launcher?”

“I think it’s on the tip,” Ren observes.

Nora looks at the tip of the hammer and points it outward before pulling the trigger, and the grenade shoots outward and explodes when it lands!

“It’s like a spear?! I mean, pretty cool, but come on, Jaune!” Nora sighs.

“I believe he’s misunderstood Stormflower, as well,” Ren flicks his wrists, and the curved sickles of his blades emerge from his wrists.

Ruby pulls out and unfolds Crescent Rose. “Hmm…no rifle form,” Ruby observes, “and no place to load my ammo. The rest of it looks right, though, and it looks like I can still fire it.”

Ren retracts his blades and reaches into his pockets, pulling out four coins. “I have some of those coins Shion mentioned.”

Nora and Ruby do the same, each pulling out four more. “Us, too,” Ruby says. “So, twelve coins total…that’s not too bad. I’ll use one to tell Shion we made it and ask what to do next.”

Ruby flicks a coin through the air, and a device that resembles a parking meter emerges from the ground in just the right place for the coin to land in. Then, in a flash of aura, it transforms into a payphone. The three students look at each other, and Ruby picks up the phone. The dial tone begins automatically as it connects beyond the dream…

“Shion here,” Shion says from the other side once the connection is established.

“Hi, it’s Ruby! Can you hear me?” Ruby asks.

“Loud and clear,” Shion answers. “Now that you’re in, you need to find the gate into the deeper dream. Do you see it?”

“Uh…” Ruby looks around, and it’s the first time she’s actually taking a look at her surroundings.

The entire dreamscape is like a forest made of giant blades of grass. They sway slowly like the fragile nature of grass, but they seem to have the texture and density of bark. Not far away, though, the trio sees it: a vault door built into one of the blades of grass with a symbol on it; the same symbol that’s on Jaune’s shield.

“Yes!” Ruby says. “It looks like a rusty vault door and has Jaune’s shield’s symbol on it.”

“Rusty, you say? A vault door usually means that someone is trying to put up their own walls, but wear, tear, and rust could mean that it’s not something they enjoy or want to do.” Shion explains.

“It looks old,” Ren walks forward and observes the door.

“Any suggestions?” Ruby asks Shion.

“The door is the gate to Jaune’s subconscious. To combat the Nightmare, you’ll have to get in. It would work best if you could somehow get Jaune to let you in, then the mind will be more susceptible to your investigation.” Shion informs her. “From there, you must locate Jaune’s inner self and combat the Nightmare. Beware of other perceptions.”

“Perceptions?” Ruby asks.

“The way you and your teammates look is how Jaune sees you. There are bound to be others, and in many cases, they have roles to play in a mind. A Mother could be a protector, a tormentor could be an obstacle, a teacher could be a guide. Look out for anyone or anything familiar.”

“Alright, got it,” Ruby nods, determined, and hangs up the phone. It vanishes in a flash of aura. “Okay, guys! First step is to get past this door.”

“Hm…well, actually-” Ren begins.

“Oh! Let’s blow it up!” Nora grins and holds up her weapon.

“But what if that hurts Jaune somehow?” Ruby frowns.

“Well-” Ren tries to speak.

“Maybe I can cut around the door. They look like trees, and Jaune’s seen me cut down trees before!” Ruby suggests.

“Oh! Or maybe we can use a coin to get a key!” Nora adds.

Ruby and Nora’s jabbering is interrupted when they hear creaking, and they see Ren turning the vault’s immense handle and hearing the lock click open.

“It’s unlocked,” Ren remarks. “It just looks imposing.”

“...ah. False bravado, crumbles when he’s called out about it,” Ruby realizes quietly.

“Good job, Ren!” Nora cheers.

“I guess I thought it’d be different after that argument we had…” Ruby says as the three of them walk through the vault. “But that was all the Nightmare, wasn’t it?” she frowns. “And I never realized it. I just…thought I did something wrong. I never considered that something was wrong with him.”

“It’s not your fault,” Ren says. “We’re all still practically strangers.”

“Except for me and Ren,” Nora says, “but he’s right! It’s gonna take time before we all figure out what it looks like when we’re acting weird. I mean, we thought you were a faunus for a while!”

Ruby chuckles. “Yeah, that’s…a pretty good point.”

~=~

Beyond the vault door, Jaune’s mind is a twisted chamber with statues all around it. There are portraits depicting people all around this place, but black brambles have covered them all, leaving only Jaune uncovered. It’s like he’s being forced to be all alone. Jaune is in the center of this room, sitting down with his knees pulled to his chest. There are three statues around him, but whatever they once were has been covered in brambles and now resembles towering men in armor. The room is partially flooded.

Around Jaune are three items: a set of armor, a sword, and a shield. They resemble Jaune’s belongings, but they each have a vicious face emblazoned on them that speaks to him.

“For generations, the men of the Arc Clan have been great warriors,” The Shield declares in the voice of Jaune’s Grandfather. “We served the Righteous Kingdom of Vale for generations, until the ways of Huntsman and the Last King diminished our glory when the Monarchy was abolished and his servants cast aside. Glory you have no hope of reclaiming for us. You are weak.”

“What a disappointment we’ve been,” the Sword says in Jaune’s voice. “Our wants to be great, tainted by our greed. We stole Crocea Mors from Dad. We lied to Mom. We stole our sisters’ money. We cheated our way into Beacon…and now we’re dragging Team RNJR down with us. You are weak.”

“I tried for years to have a son,” the Armor scowls in the voice of Jaune’s Father. “But it was daughter after daughter. And then you came along. My only son…an incompetent, miserable coward. And as a cruel twist of fate, I had more daughters. You could never be the son I wanted. You’re weak.”

“No, I…I know I can do it…I can do it!” Jaune’s inner self whimpers.

On the center statue behind Jaune, the Nightmare Grimm rises: it’s small, about half the size of a person, but it looks unlike any other Grimm the students of Beacon have seen before. The Grimm Mask resembles a blooming rose with a red eye in the dead center of it, and coming out of the back of the mask is not a body, but a mass of chitonous, thorny black brambles that curl together to give a serpentine form. The red eye glows, and black, thorny vines rise around Jaune, transforming him. Jaune’s helplessness is made manifest, and he shrinks down into the form of a child.

“I’m scared…” Jaune sounds so small and afraid. “Please, someone, anyone…help me…”

The brambles begin to close in on Jaune…but suddenly, the vault door leading into this chamber creaks and opens.

“Jaune!” Ruby’s voice calls, and Jaune gasps.

“Who’s there…?” Jaune mutters.

“It’s Team RNJR, here to help!” Nora grins.

“We’re here to help, Jaune,” Ren says.

“Guys…?” Jaune wonders softly. “But…the vines…I saw you…”

“Ren, call Shion! Nora, cover Jaune! I’ve got the Nightmare,” Ruby orders and fires backward, launching herself toward the Grimm in a flurry of rose petals!

The Nightmare shies away and burrows down, avoiding Ruby’s slash, and Nora lands in front of Jaune to defend him, and then Ren takes out one of his coins and flicks it forward.

~=~

Outside of the Nightmare, Shion’s phone rings for the second time, and they answer it.

“I’m here,” Shion says, “Did you find him safely?”

“Yes,” Lie Ren responds. “The Nightmare is here, too, but it seems like it’s trying to hide. I don’t think it’s leaving, though…”

“When cornered, the Nightmare will attack,” Shion says.

“Um…I think I can see that now.” Ren says, and Shion can hear sounds of chaos on the other side of the receiver.

“You must fight to set him free,” Shion says. “I can pull you out once the Nightmare is defeated, but in the event of an emergency, you must use one of your coins to escape. Try to keep one on hand between you, unless absolutely necessary.”

“Understood,” Ren says and hangs up.

“They found him quickly,” Shion reports as they place the phone down.

“Excellent,” Ozpin says with a nod. “The Nightmare likely hasn’t had the chance to dig its roots deep.”

“They’re a good team who care about each other,” Shion smiles. “It is good to see…better than my team was.”

Ozpin frowns. “Shion…”

“You are not to blame for the downfall of Team PPRS (Peppers), Professor,” Shion says with a peaceful smile. “My memories of this academy were pleasant while they lasted.”

~=~

Within the dream, the Nightmare’s brambles are puppeteering the three items around Jaune to become larger caricatures of the men they represent. Jaune’s teammates, however, are making light work of them. Ruby’s scythe carves through the towering sword!

“Whoa…I didn’t even fire!” Ruby gawks.

“It’s Jaune’s perceptions of us,” Ren realizes. “He believes we’re stronger than he is…”

“And with the Nightmare making him think he’s weak, that’ll only make us seem stronger to him!” Nora grins. “We’re gonna have to talk to him about this later for sure, but for now, we’re gonna show the Nightmare it was a mistake to give us this power!”

Ruby smiles. “Don’t hold back, guys! Take it down!”

In a flurry of attacks and explosions, the caricatures of Jaune’s turmoil are torn apart by Ruby, Ren, and Nora. Then, the diminutive Nightmare emerges and snarls as it tries to wrap Jaune in brambles…but the brambles close in on what looks like a false doll of Jaune. The Nightmare stares down, then looks to the side as it sees Ren holding the small Jaune, having spent his second coin to leave a decoy behind.

Then, Ruby hooks into the thing’s neck (or where its neck would be) and pulls the trigger of Crescent Rose, firing and severing the mask from the vines! The entire dreamscape howls and crumbles as the Nightmare begins to dissolve, and the brambles recede.

Jaune’s happiest portraits are all him with his Mother and sisters. Very few of the portraits have his Mother and Father in the same portrait, painting a picture that makes Ruby frown. Jaune is still curled up, still small, and still shaking.

“So…we did it, right? We’ll be going out soon?” Nora asks and frowns. “Can we do anything else…?”

“We hardly look the part to be comforting…” Ren says sadly.

“Hm…” Ruby looks down at the coins in her hand, and then walks toward Jaune. Rose petals rise around them, and Jaune looks up at her.

In an instant, the girl he sees before him is a little girl, a young Ruby Rose, about the age of his diminished form.

“Hi!” Ruby says. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”

“But…I couldn’t do it…” Jaune mutters. “I couldn’t save myself. I’m a failure…”

“Hmm…nope!” Ruby smiles.

“...nope?” Jaune gawks in surprise.

“Nope!” Ruby says and sits next to him. “Jaune, how many Grimm have you fought alone before? And I mean the really dangerous Grimm, the kind that could actually kill someone with an aura.”

“Well…uh…” Jaune mutters.

“Because I know. Since meeting you, I have seen you fight five Grimm. Three Beowolves I helped you with, the Nevermore you and I escaped, and the Deathstalker that we all worked together against.” Ruby explains. “No good huntsman can really do it on their own. Even when they go off on their own for months on end, the best thing to do is be a team. Being alone, with no one watching your back…it’s not a safe thing to do, Jaune.”

“But…what if I’m a failure at being a teammate-” Jaune begins.

“Nope!” Ruby interrupts. “I’m the leader, and I say you’re not allowed to be a failure,” She smiles and leans on him. “You’re not alone anymore, Jaune. You’ve got us!”

Jaune can’t help but laugh. “You know, you’re not the easiest person to talk to about this stuff.”

“Nope!” Ruby grins. “Jaune, I don’t care if you think you’re a failure or weak. I won’t pretend to know all of what led you to right now, but…what I do know is that you’re not alone. Not anymore. You’re part of Team RNJR now, and nothing’s gonna separate you from us.”

“Ruby…thank you,” Jaune says as the dream ends.

~=~

Shion sees the brambles begin to recede across Jaune’s skin. They take hold of their staff, and when the brambles all draw back into the rose marking, the Nightmare emerges from it, causing the marking to vanish! It’s tiny, no bigger than a sparrow, but Shion is well-versed in capturing the true forms of Nightmares. They flick their staff, and purple strings lined with gravity dust shoot out and wrap around the Nightmare like a net. Then, Shion clicks the trigger on their staff, and it shocks the Grimm with lightning dust. They whip their arm back and guide the Nightmare Grimm into their sealing jar, trapping it within.

The strings recede into the staff, and Shion smiles. “Now it’s your turn to be a captive, Nightmare. Stay in there…and become a seed, once more.”

~=~

With Jaune freed, he’s been caught up on what exactly happened to him. The students observe the Nightmare captive within the jar, which has at this point turned into a small, black seed.

“A seed…?” Blake wonders aloud. “So it’s like a plant?”

“Many Grimm take on the form of a beast,” Glynda says, “but some Grimm are unique. Take this as a learning moment and remember that.”

“I’m glad we caught it before it grew too large,” Shion says as they pack up their bag. “Fortunately, while his aura is plentiful, it is underdeveloped. His lack of semblance combined with this fact to make a perfect place where a Nightmare could feed, but not fight back properly.”

“Maybe it got in before I unlocked your aura,” Ruby whispers to Jaune, “So it thought it found an easy meal, but your aura helped us fight back.”

“That’s a nice thought, I guess,” Jaune chuckles.

“You should all be aware,” Shion says as they stand up, “that there was more than one Nightmare in the forest. I sensed two of them.”

“Sensed them…?” Yang questions.

“A story for another day,” Shion says, “but you must all be vigilant. Nightmares may not be sentient, but their strategies tend to be unique. No two Nightmares create the same dreamscape. Beware…and good luck.”

~=~

“So, to recap my life’s story,” Jaune sighs in Team RNJR’s room, having just confessed everything to everyone. “My Dad and Mom are separated, but my sisters and I still see both of them. My Dad’s…not the best guy, I guess, the Nightmare made him seem worse than he is. Most of it’s my own insecurities, to an extent…but I did a lot of bad things to get to Beacon. I stole Crocea Mors from my Dad. I lied to my Mom about getting into Beacon, and then I stole money from a few of my sisters to get to Vale and pay this guy who got me fake transcripts.”

“I know it’s not easy to admit all this,” Ruby smiles and takes Jaune’s hands. “But we’re here for you, Jaune!”

“Yeah!” Nora says. “And if Ozpin tries to kick you out, we’ll fight him!”

“Nora…” Ren chides.

“Alright, alright, we won’t fight him,” Nora waves Ren off. “But we will go with you! We’ll go rogue!”

Ren shrugs, not objecting to that idea.

“I…really hope it doesn’t come to that,” Jaune cringes.

“It’s not,” Ruby says. “Because we’re gonna get you into fighting shape!”

“Uh…wha?” Jaune blinks.

“I know you said you didn’t wanna train before,” Ruby says, “but that was back when you were getting all your anxieties fed by a Grimm. So! I’ll ask you properly, Jaune…do you want help to train?”

Jaune smiles. “If you’re really willing…then yes. Honestly, I’ll probably need all the help I can get.”

“We’ll start tonight,” Ruby says with a smile. “I’ll teach you everything I know, Jaune.”

~=~

The following day, Team WYBP walks through the halls of Beacon.

“Alright, guys, listen up!” Yang grins. “If any of us are feeling down like Jaune was, we gotta talk to each other about it.”

“You must be joking,” Weiss scoffs. “I hardly think any of us have something to feel down about.”

“Hmm…I dunno, Blake’s seeming a little dour,” Yang teases, and Blake rolls her eyes.

“We should be vigilant for anyone acting out of the ordinary,” Pyrrha says. “Shion said that different nightmares use different tactics. We may not be looking for depression this time around.”

“Grimm feed off negativity, though, so what else would a Grimm try to make in a school?” Yang asks.

“Hm…well, I suppose I’m not sure,” Pyrrha puts her hand on her chin.

Not far away, Team WYBP notices Cardin Winchester walking by, and Jaune approaching him.

“Holy…Jaune? You’re actually alive?” Cardin gawks.

“Yeah. I’m alive. No thanks to you,” Jaune seems nervous, but steels himself and gets in Cardin’s face. “Listen, Cardin. I’m done being your lackey. Just…leave me and my team, my- my friends alone. Don’t mess with us ever again. Got it?” He stares down Cardin, who seems truly surprised and unsure if he should mess with someone who survived the state Cardin last saw him in.

Cardin doesn’t even give an answer before Jaune walks away.

“Well, go, Jaune!” Yang laughs. “You know, we should take RNJR out to celebrate or something. This was a whole big deal!”

“Count me out,” Weiss huffs.

“Alright, ice queen, seeya back at the room,” Yang waves, and Weiss rolls her eyes.

How ridiculous…putting such a big deal over something a child got rid of. A Nightmare likely isn’t a true threat. Weiss thinks to herself.

It’s not like a Nightmare could ever infect you, a voice that reflects Weiss’s own echoes in her mind. After all, you’re not weak like Jaune is…you’re powerful.

Chapter Text

With the second Nightmare still unaccounted for, Shion has decided to remain on Beacon campus until it is found. Shion’s ability to sense the Nightmares can only point in a direction when the Nightmares haven’t found a host. Otherwise, all she can tell is when there are Nightmares nearby, and how many there are. At the moment, the current situation has a benefit and a detriment when it comes to Shion’s hunt.

The benefit is that the Nightmare has made the mistake of coming to Beacon Academy. The faculty is a close-knit series of professional Hunters, and all students are in groups of four that become more familiar with each other by the day. Many will notice if something is the matter with a teammate, and even if they don’t, there will certainly be people around when the Nightmare’s victim falls unconscious.

That does, however, lead to the detriment. The Nightmares have attacked during orientation, which means that it’s so early in the school year that the teams may not truly know each other. This could mean that the only chance to catch the nightmare will be once it has already taken root and made a victim fall asleep. It’s a great risk…but at the moment, it’s the only option they have.

Presently, Shion is staying in one of the empty dorm rooms on Beacon Campus. It’s strangely nostalgic, in a way, to be back in Beacon Academy. Shion sits by their window and looks out across Beacon Campus. Somewhere here, Shion’s prey is hiding…and there’s no telling when they’ll strike next. They’re drinking a cup of herbal tea as they relax.

Soon, there’s a knock on their door. “It’s unlocked,” Shion announces, and the young leader of Team RNJR, Ruby Rose, steps in.

“Um…hello,” Ruby says awkwardly. “I’m Ruby, I don’t know if you remember me…”

“You did well saving your friend from the Nightmare,” Shion smiles. “You’re Summer Rose’s daughter, yes?”

“Uh, yeah. You knew my Mom?” Ruby asks.

“Only as a classmate,” Shion answers. “And by reputation, of course. And I see much of her in you, and much of her team in yours.”

“Aw, well…thank you.” Ruby blushes and smiles. “But I came here to actually thank you. And I wanted to know if there was any way that we could head back into that dream world? Not necessarily Jaune’s dream, but just to train, in case we gotta fight the next Nightmare!”

“That’s a fine idea, Ruby,” Shion says, “but I’m afraid it’s not that simple. The dreamscape only exists for as long as the Nightmare is there to supply the subconscious with form. It will remain for a short time after the Nightmare is beaten…but not long, as I’m sure you’ve seen. Why, even my coins cease to function once a Nightmare is gone, as their abilities can only be used to combat a Nightmare’s influence.”

“Yeah, I guess that makes…” Ruby trails off and furrows her brow. “Wait…but your coins worked for me after we got rid of the Nightmare?”

“Did they?” Shion neutrally arches an eyebrow.

“Yeah!” Ruby says. “After it was gone, I wanted to comfort Jaune, so I flicked a coin away and wished to be a little girl, around the age the Nightmare gave him. I figured it would bea  good way to comfort him.”

“And it worked?” Shion arches their eyebrow. “You saw the coin meter?”

“It did work…and well, no, I didn’t see it…is that for any coin…?” Ruby asks.

“It is,” Shion says. “And not only that, you say it worked? It wouldn’t have even worked normally.” Shion drinks their tea. “My coins cannot be used to alter what you look like. Altering someone’s perception of you is not possible from inside the dreamscape.”

“Then…how did I do it?” Ruby asks.

“That…I do not know,” Shion says with a smile. “Does your semblance alter the mind, Ruby?”

“No, it just turns me into rose petals,” Ruby shrugs. “I can move in unique ways with it, that’s about it. It’s a mobility semblance.”

“Mobility, hm?” Shion chuckles. “Well, I don’t have an answer regarding why it worked, then. Perhaps you should meditate on this event.”

Ruby tilts her head. “Meditate? Like when you sit around and think?”

“Meditating while focusing on your aura is very important,” Shion says. “To introspect and understand yourself is to safeguard your heart and soul. If you understand yourself, it will be you who first notices when you are acting odd.”

“I’ve never bee too good at meditation…” Ruby mutters. “But…I guess Ren might know something. He meditates a lot. I’ll give it a try. Thank you, Shion!” Ruby bows respectfully and leaves the Hunter be.

Simply mobility, hm? Shion thinks to themself with a smile. There was a time when Summer Rose thought her semblance was simply a way to focus. How far we come when our semblances evolve. But a semblance can only evolve if it comes naturally. Let us see, Ruby Rose, how naturally your own potential comes to you. Is your semblance mobility, a way to assess a situation and turn a battle to your own terms…or is it a way to shape your own destiny? Either way, it is curious… Shion hums. Summer Rose’s power also generated rose petals, though hers were white. Semi-hereditary…how peculiar.

~=~

“REN!” Ruby bursts into Team RNJR’s dorm room in a burst of rose petals after class. Team RNJR’s ninja is currently hard at work cooking breakfast for dinner (as he usually does).

“Agh! Ruby!” Jaune flinches from the burst.

“Nora!” Nora throws her hands into the air in glee.

“Good evening, Ruby,” Ren says calmly. “How can I help you?”

“I want to learn meditation,” Ruby says. “Shion says it can help me understand my aura!”

“Hm…are you certain?” Ren asks as he places the pancakes on plates. “With all due respect, you don’t seem the meditation type.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not,” Ruby pouts, “but I wanna be ready for something like a Nightmare attacking us again. And you’re all cool and calm and collected, so I wanna try and learn! It might help me understand what happened at the end of Jaune’s dream…”

“I only vaguely remember everything that happened,” Jaune says. “You turned into a young self, right?”

“Yeah! I thought I used a coin to do it,” Ruby explains, “but Shion said that the coins stop working when the Nightmare was gone, and the coins can’t be used to change what we look like!”

“Wait…then how’d it happen?” Nora blinks.

“I dunno!” Ruby shrugs.

“That’s weird…I guarantee we’ve never met, so I would never have run into you as a child,” Jaune frowns.

“Hm…intriguing,” Ren mutters. “Very well, Ruby. I will meditate with you, and together, we’ll see if we can understand what happened.”

“Yes! Thanks, Ren!” Ruby smiles.

“I’ll join you guys,” Jaune suggests. “It might help me figure out my semblance, and I’m willing to try anything to get a little stronger.”

“Well, don’t leave me out!” Nora says.

“Nora, you hate meditating,” Ren points out.

“Well, I’m not just gonna wait for you guys,” Nora crosses her arms and huffs adorably. Ren shakes his head with a smile.

“Very well. I’ll show you all how to meditate after dinner.” Ren says.

~=~

On the roof where Ruby and Jaune normally train, the four members of Team RNJR sit together and mimic Ren’s meditative position.

“I can’t guarantee results for everyone,” Ren says. “Everyone’s semblance is different, so the method for training it will vary greatly. It all comes down to how a semblance relates to your personality.”

“What do you mean?” Jaune asks.

“There is an undeniable link between a person’s semblance and the kind of person they are,” Ren explains. “Some people believe a person’s personality shapes their semblance, others believe the reverse. Some don’t see a connection at all.”

“What about you?” Ruby asks.

“Even I’m not certain,” Ren says. “I unlocked my semblance in an…undesirable situation. I was once a very jovial child, very unlike how I am now. Was the trauma of my situation what led to my personality shift, therefore leading to me unlocking my semblance? Or did my unlocked semblance cause my shift in personality? I’ve spent years trying to find the answer.”

“What is your semblance?” Ruby asks. “I don’t think it’s come up.”

“I have the ability to mask emotions,” Ren says. “I can render myself and one person close to me completely invisible to the Creatures of Grimm. I call it Tranquility.”

“It’s saved our hides a few times!” Nora grins. “And, well, you guys know my semblance from training. Good ol’ High Voltage!”

“That’s a good combo,” Ruby smiles. “And, well…you guys have seen plenty of Petal Burst. But Ren, your semblance is actually similar to my Mom’s.”

“Really?” Ren arches an eyebrow.

“Well, kinda,” Ruby says. “Silver Petals. It let her create these white rose petals that calmed people down. I don’t know if it made people invisible to Grimm, but it helped her and her teammates focus, not attract more Grimm than the ones they’re already fighting, and keep a level head…she would also use it when Yang or I were having a tantrum.” She admits sheepishly, making her teammates hide some laughter.

“Well, I’ll lead you all in a guided meditation,” Ren says. “Start by trying to follow my breathing…”

~=~

Over the next few days, Ruby learns a lot about meditation! She also learns that when she relaxes in meditation, her rose petals start to peel from her body and cloak. That’s not unusual, per se. She usually wakes up in a pile of rose petals that turn back into her body after waking up in the morning. It’s just semblance things, nothing big! It’s just…something she’s lived with, so she’s never found it odd. She does have to assure her team that there’s nothing wrong a lot, though.

On Saturday morning in the dorm room, Nora is poking one of Ruby’s rose petals. “So…do you feel this?”

“I-I dunno! Kinda?” Ruby huffs and crosses her arms. As if in response, the rose petal flutters through the air and lands on Ruby’s cheek, melding back into her body seamlessly. “It’s like…a phantom touch? I don’t exactly have something concrete to compare it to.”

“The mystery of Ruby’s semblance notwithstanding,” Ren pipes up, “we’re still unsure of why Ruby changed so drastically at the end of Jaune’s dream. I’m beginning to suspect that it could be part of Jaune’s latent semblance.”

“What, you think my semblance is…controlling age?” Jaune wonders.

“More likely something that affects the mind or perception,” Ren shrugs. “But unlocking a semblance is something you feel. You could hardly mistake it for something else…although, how exactly the dreams work is still new territory for us. It could entirely be how you view Ruby’s powers. Of course, you didn’t know my semblance, and I still managed to use it while making my call to Shion…so semblances could be unaffected.”

“Yes, let’s focus on how that happened,” Ruby says as Nora looks over and holds Ruby’s cloak while Ruby is wearing it. “It’s possible that Jaune’s semblance is in his subconscious, even if his body can’t use it- Nora, what are you doing?”

“Is your hood made of your rose petals?” Nora asks. “It’s always the first thing to turn.”

“Wha- no!” Ruby says and yanks it out of Nora’s hands. “This was made by my mom! I…don’t know why it’s the first thing. Maybe cause it’s the reddest thing I wear? Or a subconscious link to my mom…? I don’t know! Stop focusing on my weirdness!” Ruby huffs and flushes red, crossing her arms.

The door to Team RNJR’s room is knocked upon.

“Oh, look! A distraction!” Ruby speeds over to the door and opens it up. She beams when she sees who’s come to visit. “Yang!”

“Hey, Rubes,” Yang smiles. “RNJR,” she nods to her sister’s team. “My team’s planning on going down to Vale to hang out, you guys wanna tag along? It’s been a while since you and I hung out, sis, and I figured I’d invite your whole team.”

“You want our teams to hang out?” Nora arches an eyebrow. “Are you, uh…sure that’s a good idea?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Ruby asks obliviously.

“Eh, it’ll be fine,” Yang insists. “What do you say?”

“Well, we were planning to do some exercises today…but we could meet you in the city, after! Right, guys?” Ruby turns to her team.

“Yeah, that works for me,” Jaune smiles.

“Sounds fun,” Nora shrugs and accepts, and Ren silently nods.

“Cool! See you guys later,” Yang ruffles her sister’s hair and leaves them be, and Ruby sighs.

“Always with the head patting…” Ruby says.

~=~

After running through a few exercises on the roof, Team RNJR sits together in a meditation circle.

“You seem a little agitated, Ruby,” Ren observes.

“What makes you say-?” Ruby cuts herself off when she opens her eyes and sees her rose petals circling around her like the world’s slowest cyclone. “...okay, maybe a little.”

“You nervous about something?” Nora asks.

“Nervous? No. Just…worried,” Ruby frowns. “I really wanna get stronger. I wanna make my family stronger, Yang included! I’m just worried I’ll still be…Rubes, even after we graduate.”

“Yeah, I can understand that,” Jaune chuckles. “I hope that this line of work earns me a little more respect from my sisters, too.”

“Yang cares for you,” Ren says.

“I know! I know she does, more than anyone,” Ruby says. “I mean, for the past ten years, she’s basically been my…” Ruby shakes her head. “That doesn’t change the fact that she still treats me like a kid sometimes, or a puppy with all those head pats.”

“You love head pats,” Nora points out.

“That is besides the point, Nora!” Ruby huffs. “I’m a layered girl! I’m more than just a few adorable quirks.” She crosses her arms as her rose petals curl across her and recede into her body.

There’s silence for a few moments as her teammates seem to gawk at her.

“What? What did I say?” Ruby asks.

“Uh…Ruby…did you…do that?” Jaune asks.

“Do what?” Ruby asks.

“Uh…” Jaune seems like he’s unsure if he should say something.

Nora smiles. “Oh, I am so taking a picture of this.” Nora takes a picture on her scroll and turns it toward her.

Ruby blinks. “...please tell me that is some kind of filter.”

“It is not.” Nora smiles.

“...uh-oh.” Ruby pales.

Chapter Text

In the city of Vale, Ruby rushes through the city with her hood pulled up and tightly around her. She doesn’t dare enter a petal burst, lest that make what she’s done to herself worse.

“Ruby! Wait up!” Jaune calls as her team struggles to chase after her. “Ruby, it’s not so bad-”

“Of course it’s bad! This has never happened before!” Ruby shrieks.

“If it makes you feel better, you look great!” Nora grins.

“That does not make me feel better, Nora!” Ruby shrieks. “This means that wasn’t Shion’s semblance or Jaune’s, it was mine! I…changed myself! And I don’t even know how I’m doing it!”

“Then why are you running like this?” Jaune asks.

“Because I need to find Yang!” Ruby says. “I’ve had my semblance for almost as long as I can remember. Maybe Yang remembers something like this happening that I can’t! It’s too much to fit in a text, so I need to ask her in person.”

“Well, slow down!” Jaune says. “We don’t want you to-”

Ruby takes a sharp turn around the corner, and there’s an OOF as Ruby runs into someone, and both she and the girl she runs into fall down.

“...run into someone.” Jaune sighs as he, Ren, and Nora turn the corner.

“Ow…” Ruby stands up and makes sure her hood is tight around her.

“And that is why you don’t run around corners,” Ren helps Ruby up.

“You okay, Ruby?” Jaune asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine…uh…is she okay…?” Ruby looks at the girl she knocked over.

“Salutations!” the girl says from her prone position.

~=~

On the docks of Vale, people are hanging up banners and streamers celebrating the Vytal Festival. A large banner overhead reads “WELCOME TO VALE!” for the first arrivals to see. The docks are full of ships from Mistral, the sky has airships from Atlas, and the gates of the Kingdom have guarded transports from Vacuo.

“Oh, how wonderful! The Vytal Festival is upon us!” Weiss says with glee as she leads her team through Vale.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so jovial, Weiss,” Pyrrha smiles warmly.

“Yeah, it’s weird…” Yang narrows her eyes suspiciously.

“How could you not be joyous?” Weiss faces her team. “The Vytal Festival is dedicated to the cultures of the world! There will be dances, parties, a tournament!”

A tournament where you will lead your team to victory. You are powerful.

“Oh, the amount of planning and organization that goes into this event is simply breathtaking,” Weiss says happily.

“You really know how to take a good thing and make it sound boring,” Yang pokes fun at her team leader.

“Oh, quiet, you,” Weiss huffs.

“Hey, but…why are we hanging around the docks?” Yang asks. “It’s like you said, Weiss, the city is party central right now! Let’s go tear it up somewhere! Or at least find a nice place where we can meet Team RNJR?”

“I can’t believe you actually invited them…” Weiss scoffs. “As for why we’re here, the first wave of foreign students is arriving today! A handful from Atlas and Mistral, but the majority of Vacuo students are arriving today. The road transports will be stopping here at the docks. As a representative of Beacon, I feel as though it is my solemn duty to welcome them to this fine Kingdom!”

“She wants to spy on our competition for the tournament,” Blake says.

“You can’t prove that!” Weiss scoffs.

Pyrrha’s attention is piqued by a ransacked shop nearby. “What in the world…? What happened here?”

“Huh?” The cop looks up and notices that the four of them are Beacon students. “Eh, it’s just a robbery. Nothing you huntresses-in-training need to worry about. Though it’s strange that they only stole Dust and nothin’ else…probably the White Fang up to their old tricks.”

“The White Fang…” Weiss hmphs.

Disgusting Faunus. They’ve been harming your family for years. They have been feeding your Father’s torment of you for as long as you can remember, and for the past five years, it’s only grown worse. But you can rise above those monsters. You are powerful.

“What an awful bunch of degenerates!” Weiss scowls.

“This again…” Blake mutters and huffs.

“Yes, this again!” Weiss scoffs. “I know you’re some faunus sympathizer, Blake, but I simply don’t care for the criminally insane.”

“The White Fang is hardly a bunch of psychopaths,” Blake crosses her arms. “They’re a collection of misguided Faunus.”

“Misguided?” Weiss frowns. “They want to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!” She echoes the dark thoughts in her mind.

“So then they’re very misguided. Either way, it doesn’t explain why they would rob a Dust shop in the middle of downtown Vale!” Blake says.

“Blake is right,” Pyrrha says. “The shop doesn’t match the White Fang’s standard target, either. There is no SDC crest in the window, nor is there an anti-faunus sign. The White Fang exclusively attacks shops and industries that either refuse to serve Faunus or use questionable Faunus labor.” When Weiss glares at her, she clears her throat. “Er…rumored questionable labor.”

“Could be Roman Torchwick,” Yang says. “He’s a human criminal who tried to rob a Dust shop of its Dust with a bunch of Xiong goons, but Ruby stopped him.”

“Your sister stopped a robbery?” Weiss arches an eyebrow.

“Uh…yeah? It’s how she got admitted to Beacon,” Yang says. “Torchwick got away, but Ruby took down the goons and stopped him from getting away with anything. Ozpin was impressed.”

I didn’t expect that the girl actually did something worthy of catching attention… Weiss thinks to herself.

But it’s not like she compares to you. She was just in the right place at the right time, but you orchestrated everything to be here. She’s only lucky…you’re the powerful one.

“None of that changes the fact that the White Fang are a bunch of scum,” Weiss says, and Blake clenches her fists. “Those Faunus only know how to lie, cheat, and steal.”

“Well, let’s try to separate the Faunus species from the White Fang here…” Yang frowns. “Not every Faunus is exactly the same.”

“Hey, stop that Faunus!” they all hear in the distance. They all turn in shock to see a blonde-haired monkey faunus leap off a boat and race away! “You no-good stowaway!”

“A no-good stowaway woulda been caught…” the faunus smiles. “I think that makes me a great stowaway!”

When he races by Blake, their eyes meet, and he winks.

“Welp…there goes our competition,” Yang jokes.

“We have to go after him!” Weiss races after the group chasing the Faunus.

The group all runs after Weiss, who turns a corner too quickly and slams into someone. The person she runs into shrieks as she’s caught by another. Weiss falls to the ground, and an orange-haired girl dressed in green smiles at the bundle and red and black that she’s caught.

“Are you alright, friend Ruby?” the strange girl asks with a perfect smile, holding Ruby Rose with the members of Team RNJR behind them.

“Yeah…ow…” Ruby Rose holds her cloak in a strange way, keeping it up over her face and pulled tight around herself.

“Ugh, he got away…” Weiss stands up and dusts herself off.

“Ruby, you’re here!” Yang grins.

“Yang!” Ruby sighs in relief. “Oh, thank goodness I found you.”

“And, uh…who’s this?” Yang asks.

“Oh, this is Penny!” Ruby says. “I, uh, kinda ran into her. And then I called her my friend, and…now she won’t leave me alone, and I think she’s my new best friend. Is that how friendship works?”

Yang looks to Ruby’s teammates for more of an explanation, but their deadpan expressions tell her that what Ruby said is exactly what happened.

“My name is Penny. Salutations!” Penny smiles. “Friend Ruby is quite unique and fascinating! I would love to be her friend in all possible ways.”

“...right…” Yang pulls Ruby a little closer, protective of her little sister. “So, Rubes, why are you wearing your hood like that? Did something happen?”

“Uh…kinda…?” Ruby says nervously. “I mean, uh, it’s nothing big! Nothing that needs everyone to see.” Ruby says unconvincingly, and she sighs as everyone stares at her. “Okay, listen, my semblance did something…weird, and I didn’t mean to do it, and I’m worried that if people see me, they’re gonna think I’m being offensive!”

“It’s okay, Ruby, my friend! They are ‘cute’!” Penny says jovially.

“I mean, she’s not wrong,” Nora says.

“That is not helping!” Ruby complains.

“Wait…what happened?” Yang asks.

Ruby takes a deep breath and throws her hood back and lets her cape billow out. Team WYBP stares in shock at the girl before them.

Because Ruby Rose has a wolf tail and a pair of wolf ears, all with black fur. They move and articulate normally. If it weren’t for the fact that she has two animal traits instead of just one, she’d be indistinguishable from a normal Faunus.

“Is it noticeable?” Ruby asks with a whimper, and her wolf ears fold back.

Chapter Text

In the middle of Vale’s streets, Teams RNJR, WYBP, and a lone Penny stare at Ruby Rose’s new transformation.

“How the heck did you do this?!” Yang exclaims in shock.

“Agh!” Ruby wraps her arms around her head, covering her faunus ears and human ears. “The wolf ears have good hearing and it’s an adjustment period having twice as many ears, so please don’t yell…”

“Sorry, sorry…” Yang says worriedly.

“So…they work? You made functioning Faunus traits?” Blake looks astonished. “How?”

“We think it’s my semblance,” Ruby says. “I was hoping Yang might be able to remember something weird happening like this when I was too young to remember?”

“Sorry, Rubes,” Yang crosses her arms, and concern never leaves her face. “I have never seen anything like this before. The weirdest thing I’ve ever seen you do with your semblance is get on high shelves for the cookie jar or get through locked doors.” Her eyes don’t meet Ruby’s gaze.

“Urgh, but I know how I did that!” Ruby hangs her head in shame, and she pulls her hood back over her head.

The accuracy is uncanny… Blake thinks to herself. If I hadn’t already met her several times, even I’d never be able to tell she’s not a Faunus. Most Faunus can sense each other by scent, it’s how that monkey from earlier saw through me…Ruby even smells like a faunus. I thought I was mistaken when she approached, but lo and behold.

“So…your semblance is shapeshifting?” Blake asks.

“I don’t know…” Ruby says. “Back at the end of Jaune’s Nightmare, I turned into a young version of me to comfort him, so then I went to Shion to talk to them about it and ask them if we could train in a dreamscape more, but Shion told me their coins can’t make us look different so it wasn’t their semblance, and I started meditating with Ren so we’d be ready for another Nightmare, and today I was kind of excited about seeing you and your team but then I was worried for reasons that aren’t important and basically I talked about how you always pat me on the head like a puppy and I was kinda getting lost in thought and I think my rose petals were changing me while I was talking-” Ruby yammers on without end.

“Augh!” Weiss groans. She’s been wordlessly staring at Ruby, as though trying to determine how exactly she feels about this development. “Does your semblance give you endless lung capacity, too?!”

“Oh, that’s just a Ruby thing,” Yang shrugs.

“Guys, focus! I need ideas here!” Ruby sighs. “I tried meditating back to normal, and it didn’t work. All the…noise that comes from my improved hearing distracts me too much to meditate.”

“Well, we can’t just hang out in the street,” Yang says. “Especially if you want to lay low.”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Jaune says. “Come on, Ruby, let’s get you back to the dorms.”

They all start to walk back to Beacon campus, and Blake observes Ruby as they walk. Ruby’s semblance always seemed to be a mobility semblance, but this? It’s on a whole other level compared to any semblance Blake had seen before. The most unusual thing about Ruby is her having two Faunus traits, but while that is exceptionally rare, it’s more importantly not unheard of. Thoughts enter Blake’s mind of how effective a spy Ruby could be, the ability to change her body to be Faunus or Human. And if age is also a factor that she can change with her semblance, like Ruby implied, the possibilities could be limitless.

Not only that, but Ruby is vicious on the battlefield. It’s so hard to imagine that this little cub is the same girl who defeated Weiss Schnee in single combat, and yet, here she is. Her instincts are also superb…Blake’s learned through subtle questioning that Yang doesn’t know very many Faunus, which means Ruby wouldn’t know any, either. Despite that, with minimal knowledge of the species, Ruby created a perfect tail and a perfect set of ears. They’re expressive, and she’s having as much trouble with them as anyone would. It took Blake weeks to stop her ears from subconsciously expressing her feelings so they wouldn’t move her bow around.

Some part of Blake wants to give Ruby tips, to help her…but should she? It would blow her cover. To make matters worse, she’d be helping a human- no. That’s not worse, she needs to remind herself. It’s just that she’s worried. But Ruby and Yang, at the very least, aren’t racists; Yang is more than happy to beat up anyone mistreating Faunus, and Ruby’s biggest concern isn’t that she’s a Faunus now, her concern is that people will find it offensive. Their hearts are pure…but does that mean Blake should reveal herself to them? She doesn’t know.

As they’re all walking back, and in the middle of Blake’s internal turmoil, Weiss’s eyes trail to Penny.

“So…” Weiss says, “What exactly are you doing in Vale? Despite being in the Kingdom’s colors, you don’t seem like a resident.”

“Oh, I’m not!” Penny says with an innocent smile. “I am from Atlas Academy, here to fight in the tournament.”

“You’re here for the tournament?” Weiss asks, surprised.

“You’re from Atlas?” Blake gawks and looks the girl over. In Blake’s opinion, this girl is too nicely-dressed to be from Mantle, but not nearly monochromatic enough to be from Atlas City.

“That’s right!” Penny salutes. “I’m combat-ready!”

“Hmph…if you’re from Atlas, then you probably don’t know that monkey-tailed rapscallion,” Weiss says.

“The who?” Ruby turns her head to ask as they walk.

“Ruby, don’t start this again-” Yang mutters, but it’s too late.

“A filthy Faunus stowaway who came on the Mistrali boats!” Weiss snaps.

“...I am sorry I asked,” Ruby mutters.

“Oh, relax,” Weiss scoffs. “At least you’re not a real Faunus.”

Blake grits her teeth and stops walking. “Would you shut up already?”

Weiss’s eyes widen, and she also stops walking. “Excuse me?”

“I said shut up! Stop being such an ignorant brat!” Blake snaps at her. “Stop calling the Faunus such awful things, they’re people!”

“Oh, please,” Weiss scoffs. “Would you like me to stop referring to the trash can as a trash can? Or this lamppost as a lamppost? He clearly broke the law. Give him time; he’ll probably join up with those other Faunus in the White Fang.”

“Alright, let’s try to-” Yang tries to get in between this, but Blake marches past her, undeterred this time.

“You are so ignorant!” Blake scolds. “I’ve had to live with this ignorance from you this whole time, and I can’t take another year of it, much less four! You assume every Faunus is bad news, you’d rather assume the worst than find out the whole story! Every time, and I mean every time I try to be the bigger person and give you the benefit of the doubt, you do something to stomp on that hope, the same way your damn Father stomps on the working conditions of his Faunus employees!”

“How dare you!” Weiss’s eyes widen in rage. “You do not talk to me like that! I am your leader!”

“All I see in front of me is a judgmental little girl,” Blake retorts.

“Excuse me?!” Weiss exclaims, insulted.

“You think all Faunus want to be linked to the White Fang? Link to what it’s become?! Assumptions like that make you just as much a scoundrel as you believe that guy to be!” Blake scolds.

Everyone else is feeling too awkward to say anything as Weiss and Blake argue, and the pair argue all the way back to Beacon Campus.

“Does this happen…often?” Ruby asks nervously.

“Never for this long…” Yang frowns. “I’m trying to keep us together, but…I think they’ve both been pushed over the edge.”

Once in Team WYBP’s dorm room, Pyrrha walks over to Team RNJR and Penny.

“I am so very sorry for the conduct of my teammates,” Pyrrha says. “Perhaps you should all come back later…”

“You realize you are defending an organization that hates humanity, don’t you? The Faunus of the White Fang are pure evil!” Weiss scowls behind Pyrrha, continuing her verbal assault on Blake.

“There’s no such thing as pure evil!” Blake returns the shouting in kind. “Why do you think they hate humanity so much? It’s because of people like Cardin…people like you that force the White Fang to take such drastic measures!”

“People like me?” Weiss gawks.

“You’re discriminatory!” Blake accuses.

“I’m a victim!” Weiss retorts, and she grits her teeth and clenches her fists. “Do you want to know why I despise the White Fang? Why I don’t particularly trust the Faunus? It's because they've been at war with my family for the past five years. War, as in actual bloodshed. My grandfather's company has been at odds with the White Fang for as long as I can remember, but five years ago, those monsters dropped all pretense and showed their true colors. Ever since then, I have watched family friends disappear; board members executed; an entire train car full of Dust, stolen.” She explains, and Blake doesn’t look Weiss in the eyes. “And every day, my father would come home furious. And that made for a very. Difficult. Life.”

“Weiss…” Ruby starts to walk forward, as though her desire to help people is drawing her toward her sister’s teammates.

“No!” Weiss waves her off. “You want to know why I despise the White Fang?! It’s because they’re a bunch of liars, thieves, and murderers!”

“Well, maybe we were just tired of being pushed around!” Blake hisses, snarling out a very inhuman noise. Everyone stares at her. Blake shakes. No, no, no, she couldn’t have said that, she was just so…so…

“Blake…?” Yang asks, and Blake can’t take it. Blake runs for the window, jumping out and vanishing through the shadows of her semblance. She doesn’t look back.

~=~

Weiss can hardly hear anything but her own thoughts after that. Everything is…ringing.

She was a Faunus? A member of the White Fang? My own teammate?

A spy.

I…I said such horrible things to her. Horrible things about her. But Blake, she…she’s always been good to me…

All lies to lure you into a false sense of security.

I don’t know what to do.

You just need time to think.

Weiss feels something crawling under her skin.

Everyone around Weiss is talking while she stays perfectly still. Soon, everyone looks at her and gasps.

I feel…so tired. It’s been a long day.

It’s late. You can sleep now, guiltless, and address this in the morning. She is a member of the White Fang. She is a Faunus. She is nothing. And you are powerful. Have your rest and grow stronger.

Weiss collapses backwards as the black markings of the Nightmare crawl across her body, and she’s caught before she hits the ground. Jaune Arc carries her out, and she can barely hear everyone screaming for Shion’s help as she drifts into unconsciousness…

Chapter Text

In an hour’s time, Weiss is wrapped safely in Shion’s dream web. Shion hasn’t been told everything of what transpired, but…

“So, there was an argument, and now Blake has run off?” Shion succinctly recaps.

“Please don’t tell any teachers,” Pyrrha says. “This is between our teammates.”

“Very well,” Shion nods, “but you must understand, this is quite bad. Weiss’s aura is strong, as is her semblance. Combine that with the fact that she seems to be a very opinionated young lady…and this dreamscape will be far more dangerous than Jaune’s. It will be bigger, with more walls, and coated with danger. Weiss’s entire team will be needed. If you are to have any hope of saving her, you must find Blake.”

“But we can’t just leave her like this while we look, can we?” Yang asks. “It’s late at night, and who knows how long this could take?”

“Indeed,” Shion says. “Someone will need to go in alone, purely on a scouting mission. Someone to monitor the Nightmare’s progression and locate the gate.”

“I will do it,” Pyrrha says. “I will venture into the dream and look for more information.”

“And I’ll look for Blake,” Yang says.

“We’ll help!” Ruby says, leading her team forward. “I may be having a little bit of a crisis, but this trumps that by a mile. We need to save Weiss.”

“And I will help, too!” Penny salutes with a smile. “I will not rest until we find Blake.”

“Then it is imperative that we all get started,” Shion says. “Ladies and gentlemen, the plan is to divide and conquer…and we must all hurry before it is too late for Weiss.”