Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

    "Just weapons? " Ruby repeated, expressing disbelief all over her face. "They're extension of ourselves! They're part of us! Oh, they're so cool... " Her voice trailing in to a excited hum.

    "Well. Why can't you swim over your own weapon? Aren't you happy with it? " Yang asked, grinning, although her tone express zero hints regarding curiosity.

    Ruby didn't respond immediately, instead, she pulled out Crescent Rose from her back, wrapping both of her arms around it. "Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose." Ruby said, squeezing Crescent rose gently at the same time. "It's like meeting new people! But better... " Her tone softened, as her head titled downwards along with her gaze.

    "Ruby, c'mon. Why won't you go try making friends of you own? " Yang asked, playfully tugging Ruby's red hood, pulling it all over her sister's face. 

    "Why would I need friends when I have you? " Ruby asked, her silver gaze peeking out from her hood. Her voice sincere, friends sure doesn't feel like a thing to her when she knows that Yang would constantly and always be by her side.

    "Actually... My friends are around here. Gotta go catch up. 'Kay, see ya, bye!"

    Before Ruby's brain could even process Yang's sentence, Yang was already miles away from her previous location, fading into the crowds. 

    "Not funny, Yang." Ruby mumbled, albeit the complaint didn't provide even the least of assistance towards her now-lonely situation.

    Ruby then shifted her gaze towards Beacon Academy's spectacular castle-like design, the academy was make up by dozens of towers, with the Kingdom of Vale's Cross-Continental Transmit tower located directly in the middle of the campus. The academy's front was occupied by a wide walkway, which was now filled with a tremendous crowd formed by both newcomers like her and also returning students from the last semester. Even then, the crowd wasn't crampy, in fact, there's still plenty of space between people left for her to maneuver through. If used carefully and precisely, she could get past the crowd and enter the hall much earlier than expected.

    But just as Ruby was navigating her way through the crowd, someone sprinting, and most likely didn't make good use of his a pair of eyes as he knocked her off her balance. If under normal circumstances, she would have swiftly, if not instantly regained her balance. But this time, god played a joke on her, a foul joke, her right leg, which was tasked to support herself back to balancing herself, stepped on a rock. Which removed even the last bits of balance from her. But before she had the chance to met the ground, someone caught her arm, pausing her dramatic fall. 

    Ruby let out a sigh of relief, before shifting her gaze from the pile of luggage, carried by a sole luggage trolley like cart which she nearly fell on, to her savior. Her savior was a beautiful white-haired girl, with a rapier strapped to the belt on the girl's waist. "Thank you! " Ruby exclaimed while standing up, before the girl removed her hand from her. But her gratitude instantly shift into embarrassment once she noticed the girl was the only one standing next to the cart. "And umm... Sorry."

    "There’s no harm done." The girl said. "By the way, are you okay? " 

    "I'm... fine." Ruby replied, still navigating herself through the awkwardness from the event earlier.

    "You should watch your step next time. If you had unfortunately fell onto those boxes of Dust—" she gestured towards the luggage on the cart. "It could have been dangerous."

    "Sorry." Ruby replied, hanging her head.

    "Like I said, no harm done." The girl said, smiling, her hand toying with a bottle of powdered Fire Dust, with some particles leaking into the air.

    Just then, Ruby inhaled something, most likely the Fire Dust powder from the bottle on the girl's hand, which prompted her to sneeze, blowing the particles before it exploded into a giant fireball, which somehow miraculously pass by the girl, exempting her from both the explosion and the ashes and soot produced by it.

    "That was close." The girl mumbled. 

    "Sorry." Ruby said, hanging her head even more compared to her last time, which wasn't even a minute from now.

    "That's the third time you've used this particular sentence, or to be precise, word." The girl replied, giggling at the same time. "Oh, by the way, I'm Weiss. We had been talking for so long, and yet I failed to noticed that I haven't introduced myself."

    "I'm Ruby, Ruby Rose." Ruby said, before pausing for a second "Umm... No offence, but aren't you bothered by the fact that I nearly—"

    "Blow up some Dust right at my face? " Weiss asked, pausing her giggling. "No worries, it wasn't a big deal anyway."

    "But isn't that stuff expensive? " Ruby asked, the Dust itself shown zero hints about it's value, but the luggage beside Weiss sure does, none of the luggage's brand looks like something owned by a average household, nor even affordable for the average household.

    "Don't worry. I'm f—"

    "You're Weiss Schnee. " Said a voice behind them. "Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."

    Ruby rotated herself, only to see a girl with a pair of golden eyes, her pitch, black hair held back by a visibly large bow. 

    Weiss didn't reply, nor shown any visible changes towards her own expression, maintaining the smile which Ruby only now noticed, has been hanging on her face ever since she met Weiss, or... Weiss Schnee, but the black-haired girl decided to continue on nevertheless "The same Schnee Dust Company, known for its controversial labor practices and questionable business ethics."

    "How may I help you then? " Weiss asked, following an unexpected question immediately after the girl's sentence's end. Ruby had expected Weiss to react with more aggressiveness and hostility as the Schnee Dust Company is likely her family's company, which Ruby assumes to be meaningful to her. But maybe Weiss was just trained to deal with situations like these, or...  she had been through situations like these before.

    The black-haired girl freeze for a long moment, before turning herself away. "No, thank you."

    Ruby watched the girl walked away, before shifting her gaze back towards Weiss, who is still smiling, even now. "You seem calm, even after she talked about your family business like that."

    "I'm fine with her like that." Weiss replied, so casually as if she's talking about another person's business.

    "Wait, You know her? " Ruby asked, Weiss's answer did nothing but increased her curiosity, which has sprawled since the first moment they've met.

    "I know someone that's completely identical to her. " Weiss replied.

    "So that's why." Ruby said. She was in fact, really curious regarding that 'someone', but in her opinion, she wasn't really close enough to Weiss to ask something about it.

    "So Ruby, want to go to the hall together?" Weiss asked, her smile still unfazed. Ruby never had seen anyone in her life that manage to hold a smile so long. "And oh, by the way, I know this sounds surprising but... " She paused, before continuing on "Do you want to be friends? "

    "Yes! " Ruby exclaimed.

    " Thanks Ruby." 

    "Honestly, it's the first time I manage to make a friend this fast." She added-on, scratching her her head at the same time. "I always had a hard time making friends. Even when I'm at Signal, it took me years just to find one." Her tone dropped into a sad one at the end of the sentence. "But now I made one! In just a few minutes! " She said, her tone gliding up dramatically.

    "Sorry to hear that, but I'm glad that you're happy to befriend me." Weiss replied, to Ruby's surprise, her smile is still hanging on her face even until now, effortlessly.

    "Do you rarely have friends too? " Ruby asked, although she doubt that Weiss even lacks friends.

    " I... " Weiss paused, but the pause didn't last long. "have some really good friends, one is surprisingly like you. But... I can't see them anymore." For the first time ever since they met, Weiss's smile dropped, along with several shades of pale added onto her face.

    "Sorry." Ruby replied, but this time, her head didn't hang anymore.

    "This is the forth time you've used this word as a whole sentence." Weiss said, giggling once again, the sadness and paleness lingering on her face was nowhere to be found.

    "Sorry? " Ruby replied, even though she would definitely hate a 'this is the fifth time you've used this word as a whole sentence.' or anything similar, especially from someone who had already used this sentence on her for three times, which was unfortunately, her first friend in Beacon.

    "Now, shall we head towards the hall? " Weiss asked, gesturing towards the entrance leading towards the school's hall, hanging the iconic smile once again.

    "Okay, let's go! " Ruby exclaimed, charging towards the entrance, completely neglecting the crowd in front of her.

    "Wait for me! " Weiss shouted towards Ruby, who had no intention of slowing down nor even wait for her to catch up. She let out a sigh, before summoning a glyph, which seems to be capable of propelling her cart to automatically follows her while she slowly walk behind Ruby, who had already arrived at the entrance, waving at her direction.

    Weiss let out a sigh, her smile, as usual didn't dropped, but this time, it was mixed with lament "It's good to see you again like this. Energetic and..." She murmured. "Never mind." She shook her head, before putting up her iconic smile once again...

❖❖❖    

Chapter Text

    It had been 3 minutes since Ruby parted ways with her first friend in Beacon, a white-haired girl who goes by the name, Weiss. Ruby split herself from Weiss as her friend decided to head towards the school's temporary storage area to drop her piling luggage, which doesn't seem convenient by any means to carry along with, even with a luggage trolley. At first glance, the notion of splitting to save a place for both her and Weiss in the tremendous crowd flooding the hall seems like a good idea. But her imagination was immediately punctured once she found that the hall of already flooded with people, and the most likely possible spot left for her, and her friend might be a random corner that has zero to little view of the upcoming events.

    "Ruby! Over here! " A familiar voice preached from the crowd, attracting Ruby to shift her gaze to the direction of the voice's source. It was Yang, her 'good' sister that abandoned her in the middle of the crowd. "I've saved you a spot! "Yang exclaimed again, her violet eyes were still visibly shining like the moment she abandoned her, without a hint of guilt, which utterly displease her. Even though this isn't the first time Yang abandoned her in the middle of the nowhere, or to be precise, crowd to encourage her to find a friend, which she always finds force to be a more appropriate word than encourage.

    "How's your first date going on, little sister? " Yang teased as Ruby approaches with a displeased expression hanged on her face.

    "You mean since you ditched me and I exploded? " Ruby replied, deadpanned.

    "Yikes. Meltdown already? " Yang asked, even though the smirk and the teasing tone wasn't going anywhere.

    "No. I literally exploded the hole in front of the school! " Ruby replied, her eyebrows furrowed even more downwards.

    "You mean the one that nearly blow me up? " A voice asked from her back.

    "Ahh! " Ruby screamed, jumping onto Yang at the same time.

    Ruby slowly peeked through her closed eyes, before seeing Weiss, who was standing and giggling, most likely over the fuss she made of just now.

    "You're lucky we didn't get blow off the side of the cliff." Weiss said, still giggling, the tone doesn't sound mocking, but surely doesn't even sound comforting for Ruby, who's heart was still recovering from the shock just now.

    "Oh my god, you really exploded. " Yang said, her teasing tone dropped completely, replaced by a concerned one.

    "It was an accident. " Ruby replied, hanging her head once again.

    "No harm done, as I said earlier." Weiss replied, her iconic smile was now once again hanged on her face, the one that Ruby could never comprehend why it's always hanged on.

    "Damn. " Yang said, her tone doesn't sound positive as usual, but for the first time, Ruby sensed guilt from her sister's voice. "Guess I shouldn't have left you alone then."

    "I'm still not gonna forgive you." Ruby replied, sticking her tongue out. "Okay, maybe in 5 seconds." she had used tricks like this before, and it always ended with the tension eased.

    "Why you little—" As expected, Yang dropped her concerned tone, but the trick always have one downside, infuriating Yang, which always doesn't end well.

    "I think she wants an apology from you." Weiss spoked, oblivious to what Ruby's going to encounter next, her expression still unfazed.

    "Fine. You win." Yang surrendered, even though she have shown little to no hints of being convinced.

    Just as Yang finishes her sentence, a voice preached from the speaker hanged around the hall. "I'll keep this brief." said the voice, who Ruby finds identical to Professor Ozpin's. "You have come here today, in search of knowledge, to hone your crafts and acquire new skills. And when you finished, you plan to dedicate your lives to the protection of the people." Ruby's attention was completely swayed by Ozpin's speech, not even a word was coming from her mouth, her gaze fixated on the stage in front of her which Ozpin stood on. "But I look amongst you, " Ozpin continues. "and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, and direction." The sentence did nothing but making the students around the stage frown, but Ozpin seemed oblivious to the fact and continues on nevertheless. "You assume knowledge will be free you of this. But your time in this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to make the first step." 

    Ozpin left the stage the moment his speech ended, none of the students in the hall gave him even an applause, but he doesn't seem to mind that either. The female figure next to her, which Ruby remembered to come to her aid when she's fighting robbers and then... interrogate her in a dark room, before meeting with Ozpin.

    The female figure, which Ruby only until previously was aware of her name, Glynda Goodwitch, cleared her voice and spoke "You will gather at the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed." Glynda left the stage just like Ozpin upon the finishing of her speech.

    "He seemed... kind of off." Yang commented. "It's almost like he wasn't there."

    "Now. Let's head to the ballroom, shall we?" Weiss proposed.

    "Wait. You know where it is? I thought you're a newcomer? " Yang asked with a puzzled face.

    "Of course I am. I simply just memorized the school's layout prior my arrival." Weiss replied, but the reply felt more like a brush off rather than a serious reply in Ruby's eyes, but since Yang seemed convinced, she decided to drop the suspicion.

❖❖❖

    Ruby, now in her pajamas, lying on a mattress, jotting something on her book. 

    "It's like a big— slumber party." Said Yang, launching herself onto the mattress next to Ruby, with the big word intentionally and unnecessarily stretched.

    "I don't think dad would approve of all the boys though." Ruby replied, her gaze still fixated on the paper she was jotting on.

    "I know." Yang replied, smirking. "Oh, I do." Her gaze shifted upwards as she finishes her sentence.

    Ruby positioned her gaze to the approximate direction she assume Yang to be staring, only to see some boys half-naked, showing off their muscles. Eww. She thought to herself. 

    "What's that? " Yang asked, with her eyebrows raised upwards, gesturing towards the paper Ruby's jotting on.

    "A letter to the gang back at Signal. I promised to tell all of them about Beacon and how things are going." Ruby replied, the end of her lips unknowingly titling upwards.

    "Aww that's so cute!~" Yang commented, the end of the sentence once again, unnecessarily and intentionally stretched.

    "Shut. Up." Ruby replied, hulling a white pillow of hers to her sister's grinning face.

    "I didn't get to bring any of my friends here." Ruby said, frowning. "It's weird not knowing anyone here, except you, and Weiss."

    "Oh c'mon, Weiss's already a one hundred percent increase for your friend count." Yang said, still grinning. "It's only the first day. Trust me, you will have friends all around you, you just haven't met them yet."

    Ruby eyebrows furrowed even more, but currently, she's much interested in what's Weiss writing on the red covered book held in her hands, as Weiss had been writing on the book ever since they arrived in the ballroom and the page Weiss is currently on isn't even the first page. "What are you writing, Weiss? " Ruby asked, with a genuine and curious tone.

    Weiss's gaze was directed at her the moment she started her question, her hand instinctively closed the book, ending it with a thump.

    "Just about what happened today. I have a habit of writing a diary." Weiss replied, smiling. For some reason, this smile feels like a rehearsed one to Ruby, although she wasn't aware of the reason behind it, it just feels like one.

    Just then, a clicking sound attracted Ruby and her sister's gaze, just not Weiss's. From her spot, Ruby saw that black-haired girl ignited a candle near her with a lighter in her right hand, later returning her gaze to the brown-covered book placed on her lap. "Oh, it's her." The voice left Ruby's mouth before she could even realize.

    "You know her?" Yang's eyebrows raised once again.

    "Not really. She saw everything this morning, but left before I can say anything. And Weiss saw it too." Ruby said, while gesturing towards Weiss, who's currently continuing her diary writing activity interrupted by Ruby and Yang's conversation.

    "Well, now's your chance." Yang said, standing up while dragging Ruby with her hand before Ruby could fully process the meaning behind her sister's sentence.

    "Wait! What are you doing? " Ruby exclaimed, but the protest have little to no effect on her sister's mind.

    Ruby watched herself being dragged by Yang all over to in front of the currently reading black-haired girl. She have every intent of returning to her mattress, but it was not going to be put into effect as Yang didn't even soften the grip on her arm. 

    Yang ignored every sign of protest her sister expressed, still dragging Ruby on her own, while waving at the black-haired girl's direction. "Hello. I believe that you two may know each other! "

    The black-haired girl repositioned her gaze from her book to them, Ruby assumed the event will be her most embarrassed moment in her life ever, not even comparable to the degree when she nearly fall on Weiss's luggage and nearly blows herself and Weiss up afterwards. The black-haired girl paused for a moment before speaking "Aren't you that girl that exploded? "

    "Uh, yes. My name's Ruby." Ruby replied, her gaze unknowingly shifting towards other directions. "But you can just call me Crater. Actually, you can just call me Ruby." This is definitely my worst self introduction ever in my life, She thought, even though she always had the same notion.

    "What are you doing? " Yang whispered to her.

    "I don't know. Help me." Ruby replied, rushing.

    "So, what's your name? " Yang asked, smiling awkwardly at the girl.

    "Blake." The girl replied, nothing more, nothing less.

    "Well Blake... I'm Ruby's older sister, she skipped two grades by the way." Yang said, continuing her visibly awkward conversation with the girl.

    "That's admirable." Blake commented, her sentence was still short and minimalistic.

    "Uh." Yang paused, seemingly squeezing ideas for the conversation. "Your bow looks great on you, it suits your pajamas well and it looks kinda cute."

    Blake visibly paused for a while, before returning her gaze to her book. "Thanks."

     "Nice night, don't ya think? " Yang continued.

    "Yes. It's lovely, just as this book is, and if you won't mind I would prefer to continue reading it. If you really want to talk, we could leave it for tomorrow." Blake replied, ending the conversation at the same time, before returning her gaze that has once again been raised to her book.

    "What's this book about? " Ruby asked, a question so sudden she would consider to drain all her courage supplies.

    "It's about a man having two souls, each fighting control over his body." Blake replied.

    "I love books. Yang used to read me every night before bed." Ruby continued. "Stories about monsters and heroes, they're one of the reasons I want to become a huntress."

    "Why? Hoping that you'll live happily ever after? " The confusion of Blake's face was visibly clear.

    "I'm hoping we all will, everyone on this world will." Ruby replied.

    "That's very admirable and ambitious." Blake commented. "Unfortunately, the real world isn't the same as fairy tales."

    "Isn't that why were here? To make the world better? " Ruby replied, the shone in her eyes has visibly became even clearer than before.

    "Oh, I'm so proud of my baby sister! " Yang exclaimed, wrapping her hands around Ruby and raised her up.

    "Cut it out!" Ruby shouted.

    "Ruby, Yang—" 

    "Now, what is going on over here? " Weiss asked, her question causes both Ruby and Yang to pause whatever they have going on.

    "People are trying to sleep, so if you would kindly do so, please be quiet or better, head back to sleep." Weiss continued.

    "Fine." Ruby replied.

    Blake, who's still sitting, with the book placed on her lap, let out a sigh, before blowing out the flame on the candle ignited by her.

❖❖❖     

Chapter Text

    "For years, you have been trained to become warriors." Ozpin said, holding a mug embedded with the Kingdom of Vale's flag. "And today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."
    "Now, I'm sure that many of you have heard rumours about the assignment of teams." Glynda continued. "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates." She paused. "Today."
    "What?" Ruby's jaw dropped. Glynda's words has thrown a wrench directly in her self-assumed marvellous and wonderful plan of pre-pairing plan with Yang. Weiss had entered her mind before when she's deciding a teammate, but she probably had her own choices made, which was unlikely to include her. 
    "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here in Beacon, so it is in your best interest to be paired with whom you can work well with." Ozpin's continuing speech has further pillaged Ruby's ability to come up with a plan B, which was something she had never considered before. Not to mention a plan C.
    "That being said, the first person you made eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." said Ozpin. Why can't you just told us earlier? Ruby screamed in her heart. Why do every teacher loves ice-breaking so much? Why can't you just leave me be? But even then, she was still powerless, as always, without a noticeable improvement even after 3 years in Signal. 

    "After you partnered up. Make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way, do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path. Or you will die." Ozpin continued nevertheless. Ruby shifted her gaze to the greenish forest bordering the Beacon cliff. At least I still have Crescent Rose... She consoled herself. Her High-Calibre Sniper Scythe is the only thing that has never parted her side, except when she left it alone in a locker when she's taking classes.

    "You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation. But our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path, containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will guard that item as well as your standing and grade you appropriately." said Ozpin, his speech felt like eternal from Ruby's point of view. "Are there any questions?" 

    Ruby's gaze shifted to the 'vomit boy' she saw back at the ship. He opened his mouth, but immediately closed it as he swallowed something, possibly saliva, or a question. His gaze were waving from the professors to the line on student both him and Ruby stood on. He let out a big sigh, before slowly but fumblingly raising his right hand. "Um, sir?"

    "Good." Ozpin said, oblivious to 'vomit boy''s question. "Now take your positions." Ruby had every intention of assisting 'vomit boy' but just like him, she was too afraid to ask, to be precise, she even lack the confidence to raise her hand 'vomit boy' possessed. Not to mention asking a question.

    Ruby took a quick glance at Yang, she had already took her position, so as the rest in the line. How she envied her sister's never lacking nor dropping confidence, Yang was still confident and focused even until now, while her thought was waving from whom she should team up with and what she should do afterwards . With a sigh, she took her position, pulling out her weapon that's even taller than her, aiming both of her eyes at the forest in front.

    With a mechanical click from the ground, she was instantly launched into the air, the forest emerging and fading continuously, she took a quick glance on her side, everyone including her, were being launched altogether, without an exception. She watched herself being pull towards the forest by gravity, the experience was honestly and surprisingly thrilling and enjoyable, unlike the previous ice-breaking sessions she was being forced into back at Signal. Without a pause, she aimed one of the trees which she will fall upon, firing several blasts which's recoil reduced her velocity, providing her with the chance to change Crescent Rose into a scythe. She then immediately swung Crescent Rose towards a branch who's width she assumed to be capable of enduring her weight, to be honest, the process does not involve any mathematical calculations other than simple intuitions and experience. Upon contact, she was swung by the remaining velocity from her fall, rotating several times around the branch, before finally landing on the forest floor.

    Upon landing, she switched Crescent Rose back to its portable form which she relies on for carrying it around. She took a quick glance at the moss clinging onto the rocks around her, before charging in the direction the moss grows on. Mosses tends to grow on the north in Vale, that's what the textbook says, hope it wasn't a lie. She mumbled, while charging aimlessly towards the approximate direction which's accuracy she was already unsure after charging for a few seconds.

    Where's Yang? Where's the others? Who can I team up with? The questions were rotating around Ruby the moment Ozpin announced their teammates will be decided with— eye contact. The idea sounded so dumb to her, but she has no time to spare to think about how dumb Ozpin's method was. She needed a teammate and she needs it right now.

    Out of the blue, a deafening scream pierced through the sky, the sound has little to zero resemblance of a human's so Ruby instantly dropped the notion of someone's in danger. But on her second thought, if there was a Grimm that screams so loudly, someone's probably in trouble then. Maybe I could find my teammate there. The thought boosted her confidence at the speed of lightning, even though the thought was literally gloating over someone in danger.

    Ruby pulled out Crescent Rose as it shifted into its sniper form, she dashed into the bushes, aiming at its direction with Crescent Rose as she charged through it. Upon her view's clearance from the bushes's obstruct, her crosshairs were not met with any Grimm, but a figure in white. "Weiss?" Ruby dropped Crescent Rose the moment she figured out the figure's identity. 

    "Oh, hi there." Weiss said, holding her rapier in hand, while a white glyph faded along with the white particles that were scattered in the air, although it was unknown whether it belongs to the Grimm that screamed just now. "Didn't saw you just now."

    "Um. Did you see a Grimm? A one that screams very loud." Ruby asked, her mind was completely puzzled by the Grimm's sudden and unexpected disappearance.

    "No. Unfortunately."

    "Then where did it go? I'm sure the sound was sourced from here." Ruby was confused even more when she heard Weiss's reply, her hearings were always accurate, unless her ears was occupied by her earphones of course.

    "It probably has went somewhere else." Weiss consoled.

    "Oh." Ruby exclaimed, remembering something important."Have you team up with anyone yet?"

    "No, you?"

    "Me too!" Ruby exclaimed once again, Weiss's reply felt like a lifesaver to her."Does that makes us teammates?"

    "Yes of course." Weiss replied, smiling as usual.

    But before Ruby could digest the joy brought from securing a teammate, Weiss turned herself to another direction.

    "Where are you going Weiss?" Ruby asked.

    "Jaune's trapped on the tree, might as well provide some assistance."

    "Who's Jaune?" Ruby asked once again, Weiss's answer just now only introduced more confusion and curiosity.

    "Umm.." Weiss paused. "Oh, the vomit boy you had seen on the ship."

    "Oh. But why you always seem to know everything bout' me?" Ruby asked, Weiss question doesn't seem to be introducing an end to her curiosity even until now.

    "I saw Yang hugging you on the ship, and plus, you two's volume could use some... attention." Weiss replied, finally an end to Ruby's endless confusion.

    "Sorry." 

    "That would make it the fifth time." Weiss replied, giggling once again. Ruby hate these kind of responses from Weiss. What's wrong using Sorry as a sentence to reply? But Weiss seems to find entertainment from it, which she cannot stop nor help.

    Weiss pushed the bushes aside, with Ruby following behind. Weiss then summoned a glyph, at her rapier, within seconds, an ice slide could be seen forming at the tree Jaune's stuck on, with a spear pinning him on it. "Wait, who's that spear's owner? It looks so cool!" Ruby exclaimed, she had always been a big fan or even, follower of cool weapons.

    "Pyrrha. Someone you'll know about soon." Weiss replied, before turning back to the direction of the place where Ruby met her again. 

    "Wait! Aren't you helping me down?" Jaune screamed, but Weiss seemed completely oblivious, as if her duties were done at creating a slide for Jaune.

    Ruby shook her head, making her best effort to remove Jaune from her thoughts and follow Weiss as she moved forward, he was indeed requiring help, but it would be just too awkward for her to ask Weiss to help Jaune down. How is she suppose to save the world when she can't even open her mouth and ask for help? But the thought immediately faded as Weiss stopped. 

    The bushes around Ruby and Weiss preached several rustlings, to be precise, impact sounds due to trees falling. She pulled out Crescent Rose, standing in a guard stance. Weiss on the other hand, her rapier was still in her hand, but she seems leisure, unlike Ruby.

    Ruby's pupils contracted as the tree in front of them fall, with the culprit emerging from behind, a large Beowolf, twice the height of a normal adult human, with even more shorter ones emerging around, even the shorter ones were taller than an adult. Low, yet loud growling sounds could be heard preaching from the Beowolf's mouth. Ruby retreated one step behind, the Grimms were to much for her to handle if she can't maintain the distance between her and them. Weiss, still as leisurely as ever, doesn't even bother to take a look at the dangers in front and around.

    "Weiss?" 

    "Oh sorry, I'm too focused on the time." Weiss replied, the reply was not considered a serious one, comparing to the intense dangers around them.

    "We need to get out of here, otherwise we'll run out of time!" said Ruby, the dangers around are indeed, probably lethal, but definitely not more lethal than a low score.

    "Sure." Weiss replied, before raising her rapier, pointing at the direction of the tallest Beowolf.

    "What's that fo—" Before Ruby could even complete, several large fireballs emerged from the newly formed orange glyph, before being instantly launched, creating a large explosion upon impact.

    But before Ruby could comprehend, Weiss grabbed her arm and started to sprint towards another direction. Ruby took a quick glance behind, the Grimms were still mostly alive, with only several smaller ones dead. "Wait, even that kind of explosion couldn't kill them?" She exclaimed with horror as she watched the Grimms charging at them.

    "If you can't kill Grimms immediately, they can recover any kinds of damage within a day, even lethal ones. But they'll still die from ageing, quite surprising right?" Weiss explained. Even though Ruby cannot comprehend how was her mind wired, how could someone just gave a trivia while their lives are on line?

❖❖❖

    After sprinting for their lives, the two miraculously managed to get rid of the Grimms chasing behind, Ruby can't even understand how they did it, maybe Weiss just simply knows everything include the layout of the forest? They settled down in a tiny plain among the forest, Weiss was sitting on a large piece of rock, seemingly waiting for something. Just then, a large flying Grimm, or a Nevermore, caught Ruby's eyes. That should do!

❖❖❖

    "Why do I have to experience this again!" Weiss screamed, desperately holding onto a Nevermore's feather, while flying along with it in the air. "Why do I agree with your plan?"

    "It's fine! Stop worrying!" Ruby replied, shouting, otherwise her voice won't be heard, clinging onto another piece of the Nevermore's feather.

    "I'm so far from being just worried!" Weiss shouted.

    "In a good way right?" Ruby asked, still shouting.

    "In a bad way! A very, very bad way!" Weiss shouted.

    "Well, why don't we just jump?"

    "Are you insane?" Weiss shouted again.

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    Yang’s gaze wandered around the greenish trees of the Emerald Forest; she had just landed herself on the ground from the sky. The launching pad back at Beacon cliff launched her much higher and faster compared to her expectation. Wonder how Rube’s doing. She thought, due to the distance between her and Ruby, the situation her sister was currently enduring remain a myth to her. Hope she gets a teammate smoothly.

    Yang let out a concerning sigh before repositioning her gaze to her front. She then examined the ammo she carried on her, the chains of Dust propelled buckshot shells in her pockets remained intact even after the vigorous launch earlier.

    The forest around Yang was silent, the type of silent where she always hears when Tai takes her and Ruby to go camping at a mountain, albeit the mountains doesn’t have Grimm, unlike the forest, which was literally a part of Beacon Academy’s campus.

     She shook her head, before cautiously navigating her way through the forest, her violet eyes scanning her surroundings. The spaces left between trees were rather spacious, which means she doesn’t have to knock trees down to pave way, but on the other hand, it means that Grimms could provide her with unwanted sneak attacks.

        Just then, a low, yet loud growl preached from Yang’s front. She placed herself one step backwards, raising both her hands along with Ember Celica to the height of her neck, while both of her eyes stared at the front. An Ursa minor, emerged between the trees, aiming at her, while its claws uneasily scratched against the forest floor. It had been a while ever since Yang managed to entertain herself by fighting Grimms, but unfortunately, she had to drop the notion of doing so as she had to find a teammate and get to the abandoned temple as soon as possible.

     But before either Yang or the Ursa made the first move, a loud deafening scream interrupts their yet to begin fight. Yang’s attention instinctively shifted the moment the scream reached her ears, but just as she redirected it back, the Ursa hulled its giant claws onto her face. She immediately flipped herself backwards, slightly passing by the claws that dropped heavily on the ground. Yang then retreated herself backwards, avoiding the Ursa’s another slam, before stabilizing her posture.

    Without any delay, Yang strengthened the grip on her fist, launching herself forward before delivering an uppercut onto the Ursa’s exposed jaw, knocking it backwards. The Ursa staggered backwards, shooting its head, seemingly to recover itself from the blow just now. Yang stood in guarding stance, her face expressing a visible grin while gesturing a palm-up beckon towards the Ursa. The Ursa let out a loud roar, before charging towards her. Yang slide to her left, dodging another attack, before firing a punch onto the Ursa’s flank, blasting a buckshot round onto the Ursa’s flank at the same time from her gauntlet, launching the Ursa onto a tree’s trunk. The tree instantly fell following the Ursa’s landing on it. “By the way, have you seen a girl wearing a red hood?” Yang said, pulling out a picture of Ruby from her pocket, pointing a finger on it. The only reply from the Ursa was another roar, with its paw following it, slamming towards Yang. Yang slides back, launching another round onto the Ursa’s torso, creating an explosion on its face before fully knocking it down. “You could have just say you didn’t.” Yang said, placing both of her hands on her hips, frowning.

    Just then, a flicker of memory passed through Yang’s mind. Only then, she remembered she still hasn’t found a teammate yet, and she had spent roughly a minute fighting the Ursa. She let out a sigh, shoving Ruby’s picture back to her pocket, before resuming her journey to the abandoned temple.

    Yang’s gaze wandered along her surroundings as she trekked through the forest, even though she poured all her attention in searching for just a hint regarding her possibly existing teammate candidate, the only thing that entered her view was leaves, branches and tree trunks.

    Just then a rustle preached from her right. Yang instantly shifted her gaze towards the bush that’s possibly housing the sound’s source. She cautiously pushed the bush’s leaves aside, before peeking her gaze through the bush, but to her disappointment, the only thing that met her gaze was a pair of Ursas. Yang instantly launched herself backwards with the recoil produced by the shot fired through her Dual Ranged Shot Gaunlet, as one of the Ursas hulled its paw towards her, crushing the bush along the way. The Ursa slowly moved itself past the flattened bush with the other Ursa following behind in a opposite direction.

    Yang let out an exhausted sigh, before resuming a guarding stance. The Ursas growled, splitting themselves while surrounding her from two opposing directions. Her gaze wandered from one of the Ursas to another, while slowly moving herself backwards. Within a blink, one Ursa lunged itself towards Yang, raising one of its paws before vigorously slamming it onto the ground. Yang slides towards her left, with the slam passing by her, she then delivers a shot towards the Ursa, which staggered backwards following the explosion that hit its flank.

    “Honestly, can’t you guys treat people with manners? It’s quite rude ya know?” Yang asked, while firing another round onto the other Ursa that tries to lunge forward, knocking it backwards. “And by the way, have you two see any human? Or Faunus? I’m finding one to become my teammate.” Yang asked again, scratching her head. If she can’t find a teammate as soon as possible, who knows what kind of mark the professors will gave?

Yang flipped sidewards as one of the Ursa lunged itself towards her. “If you guys want to hit someone, try to hi——" She instantly freeze when she saw one strand of her golden hair was stripped down by the Ursa’s blow. Her body trembled, but not from fear, but from extreme anger. She clenched her fist even further, digging her fingers into her palm as her violet iris shifted into a scarlet red one.

    “You motherfuckers will pay!” She shouted, launching herself towards the Ursa with the recoil from the shot she fires backwards, before delivering a violent smash onto the Ursa’s torso, sending it flying, crushing several tree’s trunk along the way. The other Ursa charged towards Yang, but before it could deliver any proper attack, Yang slides in before shoving an uppercut towards the Ursa’s jaw, launching it into the sky, before it could met the ground, Yang follows up with a strike on its abdomen with a punch that, carrying her rage and hatred towards the Ursa, which launched the Ursa horizontally, knocking down twice of the number of trees its predecessor does, before sliding heavily across the ground, dissolving into a puff of black smoke and particles.

    Just then, another rustle preached from the bush on Yang’s right side. Yang strengthened the grip on her fist, two Ursas were not adequate for her to unleash every single bit of her rage, even though one of the Ursas didn’t damage her hair, but they’ll pay for it anyway. But just as she is going to launch another buckshot round towards the bush, a black-haired figure emerged from the bush.

    “Yang?” The figure, who turns out to be Blake, asked as a puzzled expression surfaced.

    “Umm…” Yang paused. “Just fighting some Grimm.” She replied, squeezing out a smile.

    Blake’s head turns towards the row of trees violently knocked down; disbelief were visibly expressed on her face. “Just fighting huh?”

    “Oh. Have you got a teammate yet?” Yang asked, if Blake doesn’t have one, she can finally escape the awkward situation of not having a teammate, as well as the awkwardness brought by Blake’s discovery of what kinds of damage she had inflicted upon the poor forest.

    “No. What about you?”

    “Me too.” Yang replied, trying her best to mask her excitement behind a faked calm composure.

    “Then we’re teammates then.”

    “For real?” Yang asked, forgetting every single notion of hiding her excitement.

    “If I recall correctly, the first one you made eye contact with will become your teammate, right?” Blake asked back.

    “Oh. I had already forgot. Silly me.”

    “Then let’s head towards the temple.” Blake replied.

    “Kay'. By the way, have you heard a scream, like a few minutes ago?”

    “I did. But I’m unsure what kind of Grimm can scream like that.” Blake replied, it was apparent that the Grimm that produced the scream’s identity will be a mystery for the time being.

    “Then let’s go first, we can figure that out later.” Said Yang, smiling.

    Blake replied with a nod, placing her sword at her back, before walking towards the direction of the temple.

    Rubes would probably like that kind of weapon. Yang thought.

    “Aren’t you coming?” Blake’s sudden message interrupted Yang’s focus on her inner world.

    “Yes I am.” Yang replied, before moving with her new teammate.

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    “Now jump!” Ruby shouted as she released her grip on the Nevermore’s feather, her body was instantly pulled towards the ground from the Nevermore upon the moment she let herself go. Ruby rotated her head to her left, Weiss was also dropping to the ground just as her, although the expression placed on her face was unreadable. But just as Weiss’s gaze met Ruby’s, a smile was immediately formed on her face. Why does she always seem to smile whenever I’m looking at her? Ruby wondered, but her shook her head before returning her focus back to the ground she’s going to land on.

    The surface beneath zoomed as the distance between Ruby and the ground reduced. She pulled Crescent Rose from her back, while fixing her view on the ground. The ground was occupied by a plain, which stands out among the forest bordering it, with the abandoned temple standing on it.

    Ruby narrowed her view, focusing her gaze on the approximate location which she going to drop on. But then she took a quick glance on Weiss, who doesn’t seem to be doing anything other than maintaining the grip on her silver rapier.

    The temple beneath ‘s outline gradually became clearer as Ruby falls, she could start seeing several figures with a rather blur outline due to its size comparing to the temple, but she chooses to shift her attention back to the temple.

    Ruby then observes the ground for a few more seconds, before positioning Crescent Rose, which extended a stock along with the grip and the trigger to her front. With a deep breath, Ruby placed her left index finger on the trigger and pulled it, firing a loud blast which sends a recoil in her direction, jolting her backwards, reducing the velocity of her dropping onto the ground.

    Without pausing, Ruby continued to pull the trigger repeatedly until her velocity has been reduced to be within the limit her aura can endure.  But just as she is going to reach the ground, a scream preached from her left, and was clearly getting closer to her, Ruby took a glance at her left, only to see Jaune flying towards her direction.

    Within a blink, they Jaune crashed into her, and Ruby was now sent flying horizontally along with him. Albeit before Ruby can aim Crescent Rose at the direction of the tree whose distance with them was visibly shrinking in a fast speed, both of them violently collide with the tree, breaking several branches as well as well as causing some birds to fly away, chirping in a shocking tone.

   Ruby shook her head, which was engulfed in dizziness before regaining herself a clear sight. Jaune was now stuck on the branches above her, with his upper body hanging down like a vine, with no signs of consciousness.

    Just then, a loud crushing sound preached from a far, a giant scorpion like Grimm, with a golden sting embedded on its tail, its claws swinging as a red-haired girl in front of it jumped, ducking the lethal strike. Ruby squinted her eyes, the girl wasn’t among the people she knew in Beacon, but the spear carried in the girl’s hand feels outstanding and familiar to her. That’s the spear at the forest! Ruby exclaimed internally. So that person must be Pyrrha. She thought as she watched Pyrrha runs towards another direction, with the Grimm chasing. I guess she needs some help.

    “Oh wait, where’s Weiss?” Ruby exclaimed, as a memory flicker occurred in her brain. She hasn’t seen the white-haired girl ever since she crashed into Jaune. She anxiously swings her head left and right, her eyes searching for the familiar figure in white.

    Ruby’s eyes widened as Weiss emerged within her sight. Weiss was currently standing next to Yang, and Blake was behind Yang. There were also several people next to them, one in green while the other was in pink, with a grenade launcher mounted onto her back.

    “Yang! Weiss!” Ruby exclaimed as she jumped down from the tree, with Crescent Rose gripped firmly.

    “Wai—” said Jaune, but his voice was completely muffled by the thump sound produced by Ruby’s landing. Ruby, without realizing Jaune’s situation in need, joyfully running towards her sister.

    “Ruby!” said Yang, who instantly wrapped both her arms around Ruby upon her sister’s arrival.

    “I’m suf.. fo… ca…. ting.” Said Ruby while her arms desperately pulling Yang’s.

    “Oh, sorry.” Yang replied, scratching the back of her head, while Ruby was panting hard, with the pale on her face beginning to fade.

    “Are you alright?” Weiss asked. Her tone was soft yet bearing a hint of concern.

    “Yup. See? No problem.” Ruby replied, gesturing towards herself. Ruby took a glance at Weiss, her expression had soften, returning to the one Weiss had shown Ruby since the first day they met.

    “Did she just run all away here with a Death Stalker on her tail?” Blake asked, her arms were crossing each other.

    “Guess so. “ Yang replied as Ruby watch Pyrrha shifted her direction once more.

    “Shouldn’t we go hel—”

     But before Ruby could successfully finish her sentence. Pyrrha was launched towards the ground in front of them, with the Death Stalker swinging its claws and charging at their direction.

    “—them.” Said Ruby, her gaze dropped on Pyrrha who’s standing up before trailing back to the Death Stalker charging at them.

    “Great. Now the gang’s here, we could all die together.” Yang commented with a half-joking tone.

    “Not if I could help it.” Ruby replied as Crescent Rose transformed itself into a scythe.

    “Wait!” Yang shouted, her arm stretching out, but before she could place her hand on anything, Ruby has already charged towards the incoming Death Stalker. With several blast aimed towards her back, Ruby launched herself with the recoil, propelling her towards the Death Stalker.

    Just as Ruby landed, the giant scorpion pincers were thrown at her, with it heavily closing up as Ruby jumped above it. Without delay, Crescent Rose’s void black muzzle aimed at one of the Death Stalker’s eyes, with a blast, the recoil launched Ruby 5 feet away, while the Death Stalker screeched in pain, hulling its claws at the ground.

    Its shells seem to be quite tough. Ruby though as she slides towards her left while one of the Death Stalker’s claws dropped violently at her original location. Ruby jumped aside as its stinger impaled the the tree trunk she’s just standing near to, leaving a large hole at the middle of the trunk.

   The death Stalker’s clanked its chelicerae onto each other, producing a clanking sound as it eight legs propelled itself towards Ruby, with its claws swinging left and right.

   Ruby jumped once again as one of the Death Stalker’s claws swung violently at her prior location. As she landed, Ruby launched Crescent Rose’s blade onto the Death Stalker’s patella, the blow leaves a deep scar on the Grimm, with a painful screech, it shove Ruby away with a swing of its claws, sending her flying. Ruby hooked herself into the ground with Crescent Rose’s scythe blade, carving a 2 feet long scar on the ground’s surface before finally stopping down.

    “Ruby! Look up!” Yang’s voice preached from behind. Ruby lifted her gaze before seeing the Nevermore from just now, flying towards her. Oh no. She thought as she tighten the grip on Crescent Rose and sprinted. Ruby took a quick glance at the Nevermore as she run, the distance between her and it has reduced significantly compared to just now and it’s getting even closer to her than she was with Yang.

    “Ruby!”  Yang shouted as she runs towards her sister. Just then, a large amount of spear like giant black feathers dropped on the ground, blocking Ruby’s way to Yang. But just as Ruby jumped, she felt a pull before dropping onto the ground. She turned around, in horror, only to see her red clock pinned on the ground by one of the giant feathers, Ruby quickly stand up, but before she could make any next move, the Death Stalker’s claw had charged towards her.

Ruby’s eyes widened, the time around her seemingly slowed down, but so as her body, she closed her eyes, as she felt her life flies from her. But the only next thing she heard was the Death Stalker’s painful screech, she opened her eyes, the first thing entering her sight was not Yang, but a girl in white, holding a silver rapier which’s blade was covering in a blood red glow.

    “Weiss?” Ruby exclaimed as she watched one of the Death Stalker’s pincers dropped onto the ground, leaving an even incision on it.

    “Are you alright?” Weiss asked, her tone expressed a clear concern towards Ruby.

    “I’m fi—.”

    “Behind you!” Rub shouted as the Death Stalker’s other claw charged towards Weiss. But before laying even a scratch on Weiss, it was violently dragged towards the ground like the rest of the Death Stalker’s body. Ruby then shifted her gaze downwards, a black glyph with a tremendous size lying under the death stalker, with it shadowing even the entire giant body of the Death Stalker, pinning it on the ground.

    Weiss turned her head towards the Death Stalker, which was desperately pushing itself up before being dragged to the ground once again by the black glyph.

    “Can you stand?” Weiss asked.

    “Yes.” Ruby replied before standing up, before pulling her cloak once again which was still stuck on the ground due to the feather impaling it.

    “Wait.” Weiss said as the cylinder on her rapier rotates, before stopping at a chamber containing a bright red dust, which shifted the black glow covering Weiss’s rapier’s blade into a blood red one. With a slice, the feather dropped onto the ground, leaving the rachis exposed. Ruby pulled her cloak until the end of the rachis, before freeing her red cloak.

    “Ruby!” Yang exclaimed before throwing her arms around Ruby. “I’m so glad that you’re okay.” The sentence trailing into a concerned tone at the end.

    “Sorry Yang.” Ruby replied, hanging her head. “I shouldn’t just rush.” Yang’s sentence hammered a nail right at Ruby’s heart, but the only thing Ruby could do was biting her lips and apologize.

    “As long you’re okay, it’s fine.” Said Yang.

    Just then, the Death Stalker s reached once again. Its claws slowly raising, even though it didn’t manage to distance itself from the ground for even a foot. Ruby tightened her grip on Crescent Rose, while Yang raise her arm, her hand balling into a fist as Ember Celica covered her fist. Weiss was still maintaining a leisure posture even until now. She let out a sigh before pointing her rapier into the air, an orange Glyph could be seen spawning above the Death Stalker before forming several large stone spikes covered in magma, which then heavily slams on the Death Stalker’s body, digging into its shell.

    “This should silence it for a while” said Weiss, who’s walking towards the temple, seemingly oblivious to the Death Stalker’s frequent screech. Ruby took a final glance at the Death Stalker, before returning to the temple with Yang.

    “Umm, guys?” Jaune asked. “That thing is circling back.” He said as he gestures towards the Nevermore.”What are we gonna do?”

    “We just need to get these relics back to the cliff right? We don’t have to fight these things.” Ruby replied, but even then, she still frequently shift her gaze towards the flying Nevermore.

    “Couldn’t Weiss just kill that thing?” Blake asked. “She just pinned a Death Stalker and has severely injured it, she could kill it if she wants to.”

    Ruby shift her gaze towards Weiss, who’s smile was now a no more. But she still managed to replace it with a new one within a blink. “I didn’t injured it, the spikes were merely brushing its tough shell.”

    “Well, my bad.” Blake apologized, although her raising eyebrows still didn’t drop down.

    “So now we just had to run and live? Sounds like a plan I can get behind.” said Jaune.

    “Yup.” Ruby replied, before reaching her hand towards the horse shaped relic places on one of the pedestal in temple.

    “We don’t have much time left. “ the boy in green gestures towards the Death Stalker, which was starting to stand up, the glyph beneath it was visibly shrinking.

    “Right. Let’s go.” Said Jaune.

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    Ruby's eyes darted across the cliff in front as she runs along with the others, the cliff was separated from the forest by a wide chasm, connected merely by an ancient bridge that was made of stone. She then shifted her gaze to her rear, Jaune and Pyrrha were running along with the girl with a grenade launcher and the boy in green. The Death Stalker still doesn't seem to be coming yet. Ruby thought, but an uneasy instinct prompted her to speed up her pace.

    Just as Ruby reached the bridge, a familiar, thundering screech preached from behind. She turned her head backwards, only to see the Death Stalker galloping towards the bridge after smashing its claws onto the trees in front of it, toppling the trees aside. Oh no. Ruby sped up her pace even more as the tension engulfed her mind. Just run. No need to fight it. Ruby told herself while forcing her gaze away from the Death Stalker. She looks forward, Weiss, Yang and Blake were already reaching the end of the bridge, connecting to the tower that stands in the middle of the chasm, bridging to another bridge that leads to the cliff. Just then, several gunshots preached from behind. She glanced behind only to see Pyrrha shooting at the Death Stalker as its claw digs into the bridge, with the boy in green landing on the ground, they both continued to run as the Death Stalker shook its head before continued to charge at their direction.

    Ruby turned her head back towards her front, Yang was waving at her from the tower, with Blake and Weiss standing alongside. Just then, several thunderous wing-flap sounds entered her ear.

    "Ruby!" Yang shouted as Ruby shifted her gaze towards her left, only to see a Nevermore flying towards the bridge. Within a few seconds, the Nevermore crushed into the bridge, Ruby’s location was far from the impact centre, but even then, the shockwave still managed to reach her ground, crumbling the deck beneath her before she could jump on an intact one, dropping into the chasm as soon as the deck beneath collapse. Ruby watched herself drifted deeper into the chasm as she was distanced even further from the tower, with Yang's desperate figure shrinking along in the process.

    No, not like this. Ruby though as she watches herself fall. She watched the approaching valley and took a deep breath, before a surge of energy emerged from her body. In an instant, her body scattered into a storm of petals, swirling before taking a turn and charged towards the tower in an impossible speed. The surroundings blurred into streaks and smears, flashing as Ruby flies upwards, within a few second, Ruby reached the ground before charging onto it. But just as she reached the ground, she crashed into something, knocking it down along with herself. Fortunately, Ruby managed to throw her hands on the ground, supporting herself before she fell on the person.

    "Ouch." Weiss's sound entered Ruby's ears. Ruby nervously opened her eyes, her gaze peeking out, only to meet Weiss's. Only then, Ruby realised their faces were barely inches apart, if not for her arms supporting, her head would directly crash into Weiss’s. Her hands were also placed beside Weiss’s head, supporting her as her body slightly leaned in due to gravity, one of her knees were even planted between Weiss’s legs. Ruby’s eye widened as soon as she realises what posture she’s in, she tried to open her mouth, but no words came out, all she had done was staring into Weiss’s eyes, awkwardly and embarrassingly.

     "Could you please get off me? And… is there anything on my face? " Weiss asked, her face holding a deadpanned expression. She seemed to be unfazed even after what happened, unlike Ruby, whose face was hanging a forced smile, mixed with awkwardness, embarrassment and a bit of nervousness.

     "Oh, sorry. " Ruby replied, hurrying to stand up, her legs even stumbled across each other, nearly felling down as she supported herself up. "And, no, there’s nothing on your face.” Ruby continued, forcible chuckling as she retreated several steps further.

     Weiss gave a nod, but her expression remained unconvinced. She brushed her forehead slightly before proceeding to dust the dusts from her skirt.

    "Umm... Sorry bout' that." Ruby apologized awkwardly, retreating several more steps backward, her gaze avoiding Weiss. 

    "Never mind." Weiss replied calmly, brushing the dust off her skirt before picking her rapier up.

    "Uh." Yang paused. "Are you… two alright?"

    "Yes... I guess." Ruby replied, her gaze trembled as she took a quick glance at Weiss, but as soon as Weiss look towards her, her gaze darted away.

    "They need help. " Said Blake, gesturing towards the four stuck all the way at the other end of the bridge, battling the Death Stalker.

    "Then let’s go— " Ruby replied, pulling out Crescent Rose. Even then, she is still subconsciously avoiding Weiss’s gaze.

    But just as they’re about to move, several familiar, thunderous wing-flaps approached from their right, Ruby turned around, only to see the Nevermore, charging towards them just like how it shoved her off the bridge, shrieking.

    "JUMP! " Yang shouted as the Nevermore collided itself onto the tower, knocking the tower turret down as well as the four of them. Ruby pointed Crescent Rose towards the chasm as she falls, firing several blasts that propelled herself sidewards, before landing on the remnants on the tower. She turned herself around, the tower’s turret was nowhere to be found, along with the pillars and walls supporting it, with the remaining parts being debris that managed to prevent itself from joining the chasm.

    "We need to get that thing down. " Said Ruby. "Otherwise, it’ll only keep attacking us. Possibly even knocking us down when we’re climbing the cliff. "

    "But how? " Blake asked. "That thing is constantly flying and could even shoot feathers down from above. But if we were to get it down, killing it won't be a problem."

    Ruby's gaze wandered around her surroundings, before finally stopping at the cliff. "We could get the Nevermore to crash on the cliff, and then... Weiss could hold it in place. Then we could kill it!" Ruby exclaimed.

    Yang didn't say anything, her gaze towards Ruby were visibly displaying concern. She then looked around, but as soon as her gaze met the last remaining pillar on the tower, a grin surfaced. "I think I can get that thing down." 

    "Then can you kill it? " Blake asked, her question pointing towards Ruby. "I mean your scythe is quite effective and lethal when it comes to dealing Grimms." For some reason, her ribbon slightly twitched, but after a blink, it became static once again. The new discovery, or most likely illusions, make Ruby's curiosity ticked, but she shove it off instantly as her thought returned to the question.

    "Yes. But I would need someone to send me towards the Nevermore. Crescent Rose can't really just send me flying. "

    "I can help with that." said Weiss. But Ruby's eyes instantly darted away as soon as her gaze met Weiss's.

    "Okay. " Ruby replied, her tone slightly trembling, although it was so little that it remained unnoticed by anyone else but herself.

    "Then I guess its bird-hunting time. Shame this one is even tanker than a Paladin. " Yang joked as Ember Celica extended itself towards her knuckles, her eyes pointing towards the Nevermore circling towards their direction as Ember Celica produced a metal click sound.

    "Then let's hit it with everything we got." Ruby said as she loaded a new magazine containing Fire Dust bullets before pulling Crescent Rose's bolt.

    As soon as the Nevermore approached with a deafening screech, Ruby aimed Crescent Rose at the incoming Nevermore, with a deep breath, she pulled the trigger over and over, spreading bullets on the Nevermore's wings as its body was hit by other countless explosions, bullets and  fireballs, with each producing a visible scar on its giant body, with one even hitting one of its eyes. The Nevermore, with a screech, paused its charging mid-air, before vigorously pulling its wings towards its front, launching even more giant feathers towards their direction.

    "Everybody, get d—"

    But before Ruby get to finish her sentence, a giant blue glyph spawned instantly in front of them, halting every single feather that made contact with it in place. 

     "No need for that." Weiss said, before pulling her rapier down, which seemingly causes the glyph to de-spawn, dropping the feathers on the ground, with some felling into the void.

    Wow. Ruby thought, as she watched the feather dropping on the ground, with little to no velocity, with some feathers manage to make some parts of itself on the ground, but still fells into the chasm after struggling to maintain balance.

    Just then, the Nevermore screeched, but it didn't charge itself onto the tower, instead, it flew past the tower and the bridge, flying towards the forest before changing its direction. Ruby's attention was still stolen by the glyph Weiss summoned, staring at its location even after it de-spawned.

    "Now go prepare for your plan sis." said Yang, who's voice pierced Ruby's attention. "I'll get that thing to the cliff." Yang continued as the Nevermore circled itself towards their direction once again.

    "Alright." Ruby replied, before jumping from the tower along with Blake and Weiss, heading towards the relic beneath the cliff.

❖❖❖

    "Are you sure this will work? " Ruby asked Blake as she watched Blake throw her sword, connected by a ribbon towards the pillar several yards away from the pillar Blake's standing on. The sword landed on the other pillar, carving a notch as it digs itself into it. "Won't it break?" She asked as she slammed a magazine containing Gravity Dust bullets into Crescent Rose.

    "The ribbon have a very high endurance, don't worry about it breaking in the process." Blake replied.

    "Here comes Yang." Weiss said, which prompted Ruby to look at the sky, only to see Yang, somehow got herself in the Nevermore's mouth and seems to be firing shots into it. She watched the Nevermore shake in the air, its head swinging as its body twitched, possibly from the pain Yang caused. Yang jumped from the Nevermore's mouth, landing on the ground, before the Nevermore crashed itself onto the rocky wall of the cliff, creating a loud sound before dropping itself from the ground. 

    "Weiss! " Yang shouted as she runs towards their direction. Ruby's gaze promptly shifted towards Weiss, who pointed her rapier towards the cliff, her gaze fully fixed on the Nevermore. With a small slash in the air, the cylinder on her rapier rotated, before stopping at a chamber holding a white Dust. To Ruby's surprise, a giant white glyph, visible even from her distance spawned at the Nevermore's legs as it tries to stand up. Within a blink, the glyph contracted, disappearing before spawning ice spikes that exploded across the Nevermore's legs as well as the relic it's standing on, freezing it in place while forming large ice spikes in the meantime.

    "Ruby! " Blake's shouted, gesturing towards the ribbon as Yang reached them.

    "Alright! " Ruby replied, pointing Crescent Rose's muzzle towards ground, before firing a shot that launched herself into the air. She flipped mid-air before landing on the ribbon, which was then pulled along with her backwards. Ruby turned her head back, a black glyph could be seen at the ribbon's middle point, pulling it towards Weiss, who had already arrived at behind her, possibly using her glyph to achieve such speed?

    "Do you think you can make the shot? " Ruby asked, finally recovering the courage to meet Weiss's eyes.

    "No."

    "What? " Said Ruby. Weiss's reply gave nothing but sending a shock all over Ruby's brain.

     "Just kidding. " Weiss replied, chuckling. "I never joke with your lives. Never will." Weiss's tone shifted to a serious one near the end of the sentence, her gaze locked on the Nevermore.

     "Don't joke like that ever again. " Ruby complained, swinging Crescent Rose's blade behind her, crouching down, aiming at the Nevermore.

     "Ready? " Weiss asked, but Ruby's gaze was entirely fixed on the Nevermore, which was slowly breaking the ice around it.

     "Yes. " Ruby replied. As soon as her sentence ended, she was instantly launched into the air, flying towards the Nevermore in a speed even faster than her semblance's. Ruby narrowed her eyes as the air around her vigorously rush towards her, she tightened the grip on Crescent Rose, while aiming it towards the incoming Nevermore's neck. Within a blink, she crashed onto the cliff, with her scythe hooking the Nevermore's neck, with it leaving a painful yet loud screech, but Ruby still managed to land without hurting herself, with her aura absorbing most of the damage except a slight pain at her legs. Without even a slight pause, several glyphs formed on the cliff, holding on to Ruby's body leading all the way to the summit. With a deep breath, she charged towards the summit, firing more blasts that propelled her even faster, while pulling the Nevermore's giant body along with her. Ruby charged all the way till the clifftop, landing on the ground while the Nevermore was being pulled towards her, with a pull on the trigger, the Crescent Rose's blade contracted, slicing off the Nevermore's head, separating it from its torso before it dropped onto the ground, meeting its maker with a loud bang on the ground, crushing the relic beneath.

    Ruby then shifted her gaze towards the four back at the relic near the chasm, although she can't really see the exact expression on their face, but they'll most likely be filled with joy from the Nevermore's defeat and death. She then repositions her gaze towards the the four stuck all the way at the other end of the chasm, but the Death Stalker had already disappeared from her sight, possibly defeated by them. Ruby pulled her gaze back to Weiss, Yang and Blake, waving at them, with a genuine joy-filled smile forming on her face. After all, her first teamwork in Beacon goes smooth, everyone has so much tacit agreement even when they've just met for not long...

❖❖❖  

Chapter Text

    Ruby stood beside Weiss; whose blankets were still wrapping around her while her head was lying on her white pillow. Weiss's eyes were still tightly closed, oblivious to the sun shining at her direction. With a sigh, Ruby positioned the whistle she held in hand towards Weiss. With a deep breath, she blows every ounce of air within her lungs into the whistle's wind way through its mouthpiece. Producing a sharp, high-pitched sound which resounded throughout the room. Weiss, seemingly hearing the sound, instantly sprung up from her pillow, eyes widened along with her shallow breath. But upon the moment her gaze met Ruby, to be precise, the whistle in Ruby's hand, her panic dropped, along with her eyebrows.

    "Umm... I thought it’s a good idea to wake you up." Ruby said, her eyes unconsciously rotating towards her right. "After all, it’s already seven fifteen." 

    "Then wake me up at half past seven." Weiss replied, before proceeding to return to her blanket's warmth.

    "Hey c'mon. We still haven't begun our first order of business." said Ruby, clinging onto Weiss's right arm, dragging Weiss from her bed.

    "What is it?"

    "Decorating!" Yang interjected, holding a combination of posters, wallpapers, soft-toys and even a clock, which's hour hand was currently pointing at 6 for some reason.

    "We still have to unpack and clean." Blake said as the items in her suitcase dropped on the ground upon its opening.

    "Oh, I'd forgot." said Weiss.

    "Huh? We've just start to discuss this just now." said Ruby. "How did you know?"

    "A lot of people's first thing to do to their dorm is decorating." Weiss replied as she stands up from her bed. "I've seen at least once."

    "Okay?" said Yang, her tone filled with zero certainty.

    Ruby's gaze shifted towards Blake as Weiss's figure entered the bathroom along with her uniform. Blake's gaze lingered on Weiss's direction for a second too long, before turning her head back. But just as Ruby is about to speak, Yang's voice interjected. 

    "Is there anything wrong?" Yang asked.

    The black-haired girl didn't reply immediately, she paused for a while before speaking. "Something's wrong."

    "What's wrong?" Ruby asked. Her mind was instantly overwhelmed by Blake's new question.

    "Weiss." Blake continued. "Just everything about her seems to have something off."

    "What?" Ruby and Yang exclaimed in unison, their eyes both widened in disbelief.

    "I mean, if Weiss is sleeping sound, how would she know we want to decorate the dorm?" said Blake.

    "Isn't that just what people normally do?" Yang asked.

    "I don't know how to explain, but she doesn't seem surprised, even for a little bit." The black-haired girl continued. "Normally, people would be a bit surprised if their roommates told them they want to decorate their dorm on the first day. But Weiss? the reason she gave seems more like deflecting to me."

    "I bet she's just acting perfect." Yang joked, but the tone seemed slightly different from its usual counterpart.

    "She's also always smiling, is that weird?" Ruby asked nervously.

    "Smiling doesn't equal to weird, lil sis." Yang replied, but to Ruby, Weiss had been always smiling at her and everybody, except uhh... that incident.

    Just then, the bathroom's door opened, Weiss emerged wearing her uniform. "Did I miss anything?" she said.

    "We're just discussing about how to decorate the dorm." Yang replied, the tone was so smooth that no one would suspect it is a lie.

    "Really?" Weiss asked. "Then what idea have you come up with?"

    "Umm... not yet." said Yang.

    "Well, why don't we just try and see?" Ruby proposed, although her main objective was purely redirecting the topic, but they sure should focus on their 'main' task. "Then we don't have to discuss for so long."

    "Good idea." Blake replied, her gaze reaching for her watch on her wrist. "We have classes at nine O' clock, better hurry."

    "Sure." said Weiss, who's still hanging a smile just like always.

❖❖❖

    "Monsters, demons, prowlers of the night. Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names, but I merely refer to them as prey." Professor Port's voice preached from the centre or the room. Ruby's hands were desperately holding onto her dropping eyelids, her body prompting her to lie down on the table.

    "Uhh." Professor Port paused. "And you shall too upon graduating from this prestigious academy! Now just as I was saying, Vale, as well as the other three kingdoms are safe havens in an otherwise treacherous world. Our planet was absolutely teeming with creatures that would love nothing more than to tear you to pieces. And that's where we come in, huntsmen. Huntresses. Individuals who have sworn to protect those who cannot protect themselves. From what you ask, why the very world? That is what you are training to become. But first a story—"

    Ruby's attention had already fully shifted towards the marvellous, if not silly drawing of hers. A fat man, with a large moustache as well as a pair of squinting eyes, which represented Professor Port emerged on her paper as her pencil scribbled. She giggled as she moved her pencil around the paper, which seemingly prompted Weiss to look at her direction. Promptly, Ruby raised her paper with the 'exact' same figure of Port to Weiss, with her helplessly giggling at her creation, or to be precise, doodle.

    Weiss let out a sigh. "Ruby, save some of your energy, the class is about to end soon." But her comment isn't prickly, nor making fun of Ruby, perhaps, it was just a genuine comment friends gave to each other.

    "But the class is just too boring." Ruby complaint. "I would have felt asleep if I don't do something like this."

    "There, there. Just wait for a little longer, alright?"

    "Now, who among you believe themselves to be an embodiment of these traits?" Port's voice suddenly cut in.

    "I do, sir." Weiss replied calmly, raising her hand. Weiss's actions shocked Ruby, as if Weiss was waiting for this moment.

    "Well let's find out." Port replied, gesturing towards the Grimm caged within the large metal box. "Step forward and face your opponent."

❖❖❖

    Within minutes, Weiss emerged with her battle outfit, her hand holding her rapier, or Myrtenaster, the name Weiss claimed to be her rapier's last night. Ruby watched Weiss walked calmly walked towards the centre of the stage, with the Grimm's growl preaching from the other side of the classroom. 

    "Go Weiss!" said Yang.

    "Fight well!" Blake continued, waving a flag that seemed to spawn out of nowhere. 

    "Represent team Ruby!" Ruby shouted, punching her fist into the air.

    "Calm down you all, it’s only a test, not a tournament nor a fight." said Weiss, still smiling.

    "Alright, let the match—" said Port. "Begin!" He said, slicing his axe onto the lock restricting the Grimm from breaking through.

    With a loud slam on the ground, a Boarbatusk emerged, slowly stepping itself outside, growling, with its blood-red eyes fixed on Weiss. Within a second, it sprung out from the cage, galloping towards Weiss, who's holding Myrtenaster in a guarding stance, her gaze place towards the charging Grimm. Just as the Boarbatusk reached Weiss, Weiss leap aside, while launching a strike onto its back, which's only outcome was a loud clank, no scratch, not even a single hair was dropping down. The Grimm slowly rotated itself, growling as it re-positioned itself.

    "Ha." said Port. "Wasn't expecting that was you?" 

    Weiss didn't reply, she simply places her hand on Myrtenaster's chamber, which somehow prompted it to rotate until the chamber housing a bright-red Fire Dust emerged, with a visibly speed, the rapier's blade was covered in a bright-red aura, before it shifts into a blood-red one that even overshadows the blade.

    "Hang in there Weiss!" Ruby shouted.

    "I'm fine. Don't worry." Weiss replied, still smiling even until now.

    With a roar from the Boarbatusk, it charged towards Weiss once again, Weiss didn't move, she simply summoned a glyph behind her, placing herself on it, eyes fixed on the incoming Grimm. Just as it approached, the glyph launched Weiss from itself, sending her flying towards the Boarbatusk in the speed of a blink of an eye, before her landing on the ground several yards away from the Boarbatusk. Ruby only saw Weiss 'teleported' along with a slicing sound that Ruby still hasn't figured out its source. Ruby then looked at the Grimm, which's front left leg had been sliced, dropping on the ground as the Grimm screeched in extreme pain. The Boarbatusk, struggling to stand, fell on the ground again, mimicking its previous attempts. 

    Weiss, whose rapier's blade's blood-red aura faded, shifting into a glowing ice-blue one. Her smile has magically faded, but the expression replacing it was a cold gaze, a gaze that's expressing a somewhat like a murderous intent. With a slight swing of Myrtenaster, a blue glyph formed above the struggling Grimm, before dropping four ice spikes in a incredible speed, crashing violently on the Grimm, before impaling its head and body, causing it to fall before reducing into a bunch of particles that scatter over the roof, fading into thin air.

    "Bravo. Bravo. It appears we are indeed in the presence of a true huntress in training." Port commented. "But I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today. Be sure to cover the assigned readings and stay vigilant. Class dismissed."

    "Wow." The word left Ruby's mouth before she even realized, but along with it was a doubt to her abilities, so far, Weiss exhibited nothing but far-superior fighting capability, calmness, tactical-awareness etc. But Ruby? She's nothing but a fifteen years old girl who skipped two grades thanks to Ozpin. Am I really suitable for being the leader? She wondered. Weiss seems far better than me.

❖❖❖

    "Umm, Weiss?" Ruby asked as the four were walking towards their dorm. Her tone was a bit trembling. "Can I ask you something?"

    "Feel free to do so." Weiss replied. 

    "Is there anything wrong, Rubes?" Yang interjected.

    "Nothing. It's just I don't feel like being suitable to be the team's leader."

    "Why?" Weiss asked, her face was expressing a visible concerned look.

    "Ruby you're totally fine, there's nothing wrong of you being the leader." Yang replied.

    "It's just, everyone in the team is somehow better than me. It's just... I think that any of you could be a better leader than me."

    "You just have to give yourself some time. Plus, didn't you exhibited good leadership at the Emerald Forest?" said Weiss, seemingly trying her best to ease Ruby's concern.

    “But...”

    Blake, who’s silent for the whole time, speak. “Ruby, being a good leader doesn’t mean that you must be the best among the rest, it requires leadership, not raw power. And just like Weiss had stated, you exhibited enough leadership to be our leader.”

    “Is that so?” Ruby asked, her trembling voice was now mixed with a glimpse of hope.

    “You were also quite optimistic all the time, that’s what I admire about you.” Said Blake. “I couldn’t really possibly do that.”

    “Thanks.” Ruby replied. “But…”

    “C’mon Rubes, all you had to do is watch as you go, don’t doubt yourself on your very first day of being a team leader.” Yang interjected. “And I’ll buy ya some cookies later to celebrate my baby sister becoming a team leader!”

    “I’m not a baby anymore!” Ruby protested, but her face was visibly lightened from the doubt just now. “But yeah, keep the cookies.”

    “Alright, if all you want is sweets, I’ll buy you as much as you like.” Weiss said, smiling.

    “For real?” Ruby exclaimed.

    “For real.”

    “Thanks Ice Queen.” Said Yang.

    Weiss freeze for a second, before dropping her eyebrows. “I am not an embodiment of ice nor am I cold and distant.” She protested.

    “Well, you look like an ice sculpture, in terms of colour.” Yang joked, albeit her tone was not malicious in any way. "And don't friends gave each other nicknames?" 

    “Fine."  Weiss resigned with a sigh. " Do as you please."

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    Blake’s gaze shifted towards the Grimm Studies textbook placed in front of her, folding on the twenty-ninth page as her ears focused on Port’s lecture, sharing his first experience in combating a Beowolf. Her cat ears subtly rotated behind under the ribbon covering them, as a chatting noise preached towards her. She took a glance at her left, her friends were all sitting still, eyes focused on their front, albeit with one exception, Ruby. The fifteen-years-old precocious girl doesn’t seem to find importance nor anything interesting regarding the subject being taught by the professor in front, her attention was fully reserved on doodling on a piece of paper, with Weiss helplessly playing along. The three were surprisingly easy for Blake to get along with, with Yang, the blonde with a pair of violet eyes in particular. Blake’s attention unconsciously shifted towards her friends, with Port’s voice getting muffled in the process.

    “Ruby, this is already the fourth time you doodle in Professor Port’s class.” Weiss said as Blake overhears her with her pair of cat ears, which were currently camouflaging under a big, large butterfly bow placed on her head. “Would you please just focus on the class?”

    “But it’s so hypnotizing.” Ruby complained, continuing her doodling work, nevertheless.

    “C’mon Ice Queen. It’s already been two weeks since Ruby doodled on Port’s class.” Said Yang. “Isn’t that already a big improvement compared to the first two weeks?”

    “That doesn’t count.” Weiss replied. “Her grades will fail if she doesn’t focus in class. And didn’t she skip two grades? She’ll have to study harder to catch up.”

    “Relax, the mid-term exam is 5 months away.” Yang replied jokingly, resting her head on her right hand. “And Ruby’s the bees’s knees, isn’t she? She’ll catch up in no time.”

    “Ta-da! An ursa! Completely from memory!” Ruby exclaimed, raising her paper once more just as the first time she did it, before returning to doodle once again.

     “That looks more like a teddy bear.” Yang replied, grinning.

    “If you connive her even more, she’ll have to repeat a grade, or worse, two.” Said Weiss, following with a sigh.

    “It’s fine, Ruby has been studying on her own regarding Grimm Studies.” Said Yang. “And she has made a quite good amount of progress.”

    “But listening in class is equally important.” Weiss replied, sighing even more.

    “And here we are. Talking in class, bet none of us had an idea of what the prof is talking bout’.” Said Yang, shrugging off her shoulders.

    “Patterns of Grimm migration across different continents. And now, the southern part of Anima.” Weiss replied.

    “You were listening the whole time?” Yang asked, her jaw dropping, struggling to close her mouth up. “For real?”

    “Professor Port teaches in the textbook’s sequence.” Weiss replied. “And now he’s sharing his first experience in fighting a Beowolf.” Weiss’s words surprised Blake, she hasn’t really notice Weiss to be capable of focusing on multiple things at once, especially when she had spent her past 10 minutes talking to Ruby.

    Blake shook her head, before returning her gaze to Port’s lecture, she took a quick glance at her watch, 5 minutes left for Port to finish his lectures today. Port, just as Weiss had mentioned, was teaching about the Grimm’s migration pattern in the southern part of Anima, interjecting some of his personal experiences within.

    “Hey Blake, watcha’ thinking bout’?” Yang asked. Blake turned her head around, only to see Yang’s head facing her, grinning in an unreadable manner.

    “Listening to the professor of course.” Blake replied, her face placed with a deadpanned expression, only with her eyebrows slightly tilted. “Is there anything?”

    “Nope." Yang replied. “Just asking.”

    “Honestly, why can you just talk without anything to even talk about?” Blake asked, no offence was meant but Yang always seem to be finding things to talk about even when it’s crystal clear that there’s none.

    “You don’t have to have anything to talk bout’.” Yang replied with another grin. “Just talk. That’s all.”

    “Do you guys have any idea of what to do later?” Ruby’s exhausted voice interjected. “We’ve got an hour and are we going to keep spending it in the dorm?”

    “Spar then?” Yang proposed. “Juniper is free too.”

    “If you insist.” Weiss replied.

    “Do you have any other suggestions, Blake?” Ruby asked suddenly, turning her head towards Blake.

    “Sparring sounds like a good idea to me.” Blake replied. “Plus, there’s also some training halls free for us to use today.”

    “Then let’s go.” Yang said, stretching her arms. “My body’s stiffer than Nora’s breakfast cereal.”

    “Guess we’ve got a new victim of your puns.” Ruby replied, giggling. “Bet one day if we list the first victim till the last, the list will reach Atlas from Beacon.”

    “That’s the neat part, it won’t.” Said Yang. “Cuz I’ll never stop pun-ning.”

    “Alright class. Remember to finish the assigned readings.” Port’s voice preached from their front, interrupting the conversation occurring beneath the professor’s nose. “Class dismissed.”

❖❖❖

    “So, are we going to spar in teams?” Jaune asked. “Or are we sparring individually?” His voice trembled slightly when the second question left his mouth, but it wasn’t noticeable if not for Blake’s pair of cat ears.

    “Individually of course.” Ruby replied, oblivious to Jane’s slight trembling in his voice. “Otherwise, how could we find out and fix our weak points if we’re always shielded by our teammates?” Upon saying she pulled out Crescent Rose from her back, before it extends itself into a large scythe, even taller than Ruby as she swung it.

    “So how will we split?” Yang asked. “We can’t just wait here staring.”

    “How about a lucky draw?” Nora proposed, raising her hand. “I’ve brought a lucky draw box just for that.”

    “That’s a bit inappropriate, Nora.” Said Ren.

    “C’mon it’s fun.” Nora replied. “What do you say Pyrrha?”

    “Sure. That sounds lovely.”  Pyrrha replied. Blake noticed a tiny pause before Pyrrha’s reply, as if she’s focusing on something or, someone else. Blake shook her head. I must have read too many novels. She told herself.

    “So, who’s with me?” said Nora, raising her hand even more, seemingly expecting a high five.

    “Me!” Ruby exclaimed, hitting her palm against Nora’s while the same smile surfaced on the two’s face.

    “Sure thing.” Said Yang.

    “I have no objections.” Weiss replied, wiping Myrtenaster’s blade with a handkerchief.

    “Okay then.” Ren resigned.

    “Umm... Blake?” Jaune asked, his hopeful yet pleading gaze shines at Blake. “Don’t you want to say anything?”

    Blake stood silent for a second, before replying. “No.” For some reason, she heard a glass breaking sound, as if someone’s hope shattered. Sorry Jaune. Blake apologised internally, but Jaune did asked if she have anything to say and her answer? A “no”.

    “Then put your hands in the box, pick one card, and if anyone’s card is the same colour as yours then they’ll be your today’s sparring partner!” said Nora, stretching out her hands holding the box.

    Everybody put their hand into the box, before pulling out their cards. Blake watched the blue coloured card in her hand, before shifting her gaze towards the other blue card in Yang’s hand. Ruby and Nora get the green card. Ren and Jaune with their yellow cards while Weiss and Pyrrha received the red cards.

    “We’ll start with red, so here you go!” Nora exclaimed, even pulling out a trumpet before blowing it like she’s opening a ceremony. Blake watched the two walked towards the opposite sides of the room. Pyrrha pulled out Miló and Akoúo̱, holding them in guarding stance while Weiss just leisurely stands with Myrtenaster in hand.

    “Are you ready?” Weiss asked.

    “I’m ready when you are.” said Pyrrha, her grip on Miló and Akoúo̱ tightened as her gaze focused on her front.

    With a sprint, Pyrrha charged herself towards Weiss, slashing her spear towards Weiss’s head, as Miló and Myrtenaster’s blades clash onto each other, Miló’s shaft extended before Pyrrha slashes it once again towards Weiss. Weiss jumped aside as Miló’s blade swung towards the opposite location before stabbing Myrtenaster towards Pyrrha. Their blades clashed over and over until Pyrrha leap back, hurling Miló mid-air as a faint black aura surrounded its shaft and blade, sending it crashing onto the ground as Weiss launched herself backwards through a white glyph that spawned before Miló’s blade met her. Miló shifted into rifle form upon the moment it flew into Pyrrha’s hands, before its muzzle pointed towards Weiss. As Miló’s scope aligned with Weiss’s position, Pyrrha’s finger repeatedly pulled the trigger, firing multiple shots at Weiss.

    Blake’s gaze jumped towards Weiss’s location as several loud bangs preached her ears, Weiss didn’t duck, instead she pointed Myrtenaster at her front, as a light blue glyph formed instantly at the direction, its immense area halting every single bullet Miló fired.

    “Can you keep up?” Pyrrha asked, her hands holding Miló slowly dropped down. “I could lower my pace if you needed.” Her tone was concerning, so as her gaze. Pyrrha seems to have a higher strength compared to Weiss. Blake thought as she silently observes the scene.

    “No need.” Weiss replied, her face hanging her iconic smile as usual. “I’m perfectly fine.” Even though her reply was confident, Blake captures a slight squint on her eye, but Weiss doesn’t seem to express any other signs of exhaustion nor fatigue. She’s probably just focusing. Blake thought as she watched both Pyrrha and Weiss returned into combat stance.

    Pyrrha charged once again, but before she could approach Weiss, a blast dropped at her feet, exploding as she leaps backwards. Promptly, Blake shifted her gaze towards Weiss, several red glyphs with point with angular spikes could be seen floating above Weiss, Pyrrha on the other hand, retreated into guarding stance, tightening her grip on Miló and Akóuó.

    “Shall we continue?” Weiss asked, with Myrtenaster’s blade pointing towards Pyrrha as the red glyphs slowly spined.

    “No problem.” Pyrrha replied, before sprinting towards Weiss as Miló returned into its javelin form. But then, the red glyphs launched several blasts, with them flying towards Pyrrha, exploding on the ground as Pyrrha leaps around, barely missing the blasts. She continued to charge forward, ducking and leaping as the blasts flies towards her, while blocking several ones with Akóuó. Weiss was still casually standing, moving Myrtenaster’s blade as the red glyphs above her launched even more blasts. Miló shifted into its rifle form as Pyrrha slides from away from a blast that explodes behind, with the rifle’s scope aligning with Weiss’s position, but before the trigger was even pulled, another blast dropped at her, Pyrrha instantly raised Akóuó, blocking the explosion. Pyrrha pushed herself up, sprinting as several more blasts crashed onto the ground around her, exploding as she ducked away from the explosion. With a throw, Pyrrha hulled Akóuó as the black aura covered it thoroughly once again, sending it flying towards Weiss. Weiss immediately spawned a barrier glyph, which Akóuó crashed on, but at the same time, the red glyphs slowly fractured into particles.

    With another charge, Pyrrha launched herself towards Weiss, with Myrtenaster and Miló’s blades crashing onto each other, producing a clear clank, without a pause, Pyrrha hulled Akóuó once again upon the moment it returned to Pyrrha’s hand, sending it flying before hitting Weiss, pushing her backwards before Weiss stabilize herself.

    “Are you okay Weiss?” Pyrrha asked once again. “You don’t have to force yourself.”

    “I’m fine.” Weiss replied, but this time, Blake noticed her eyes squinted even more, her breath has also started to speed up a little, albeit slightly. “I guess my strength just doesn’t really match yours.”

    “I could go lighter if you need.” Pyrrha suggested.

    “No need.” Weiss replied. “But do you mind if I call for reinforcements?”

    “I’m fine with that.”

    As Pyrrha finishes her reply, Weiss pointed Myrtenaster towards the ground, followed by a small glyph spawning on the ground, which then expands itself before a figure emerged from within. Blake narrowed her gaze, focusing on the figure while filtering out Ruby, Yang, Nora and Ren’s continuing conversation into the background. The figure was approximately 2 meters tall, fully covered in a light blue aura and slightly transparent, with its appearance fully resembling a knight. The figure raised its head towards its front, before wielding its huge blade as Weiss does, albeit with both hands.

    “This is an Arma Gigas, a grimm-machine hybrid my father’s company designed, but this one is merely an avatar based on its fallen counterpart.” Weiss introduced.

    “You’ve defeated it before?” Pyrrha asked. “It seems strong.”

    “Yeah, but if I don’t, my father won’t let me enrol in Beacon.”

    “Sorry to hear that.” Pyrrha replied. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

    “That’s fine, now shall we continue?” Weiss asked, although Blake noticed the pale on her face has become even more obvious than a few minutes ago.

    “Okay.” Pyrrha replied, smiling. Blake has always finds Weiss’s smile to be different from the others, always the same, always un-fazing and seemed a little bit too similar to a rehearsed smile as those politician’s ugly mask she had seen, especially when they’re advocating for a policy that only benefits themselves, not even their supporting humans, while exploiting the Faunus even more.

    Blake shook her head, throwing the notion out of her mind, before returning her attention towards the spar.

    “Is that Weiss’s?” Ruby’s voiced entered Blake’s ears, surprisingly, she had managed to keep her voice low for so long. “That knight seems so cool!”

     “Calm down Rubes.” Yang replied. “You can ask Weiss bout’ that later.”

    “C’mon Yang.” Nora interjected, softly hitting Yang with her elbow. “That knight is really cool! Don’t you think so?”

    “I get it, its cool. Satisfied?” Yang replied jokingly. “Just kidding, it does seem cool.”

    Blake then returned her attention back to the spar, the Arma Gigas’s blade clashed on Miló’s producing a clank sound before Pyrrha directed the Amra Gigas’s blade crashing on the ground, she then points Miló towards the avatar as Miló transformed into its rifle form, shooting it in the head before leaping backwards, landing on the ground. The Arma Gigas didn’t pause even after the shot in its head, it charged towards Pyrrha, landing its huge blade on Miló’s shaft, before Pyrrha slides sidewards, hulling Akóuó towards the avatar. The Arma Gigas parried the shield with its huge blade, before slashing towards Pyrrha once again. Their blades clashed repeatedly, although the Arma Gigas seemed to be big and clunky with its huge blade, it surprisingly turned out to be agile enough to keep up with Pyrrha’s pace and even able to wield its sword like Myrtenaster. Weiss was still standing; her face has paled even more; her gaze had started to even drop a little before being pulled up again.

    “Weiss seems tired or sick.” Yang said, stealing away Blake’s chance to open her mouth and ask the exact same matter. “Do we need to call them to stop?”

    “I think so.” Nora replied, before Blake managed to do anything, Nora stood up. With a deep exhale, she shouted. “YOU TWO STOP!”

    Both the Arma Gigas and Pyrrha paused, turning their heads towards Nora.

    “Umm… Yang said that Weiss seemed sick. Anyways, just stop.” Nora said, awkwardly.

    “Weiss!” Ruby shouted, running towards Weiss. “Are you okay?”

    “Are you alright Wei—” Before Pyrrha’s sentenced was finished, the Arma Gigas falls onto the ground, one of its knees crashing on the ground while it holds itself onto its sword digging into the ground.

    “I’ll go for the infirmary!” Yang shouted, before heading for the exit.

    “I’ll go too.” Said Jaune.

    “Is she alright?” Ren asked. “I have some drugs on me.”

    “I’m… Al..right.” Weiss replied weakly, at the same time, the Arma Gigas tumbled on the ground, dissolving into particles along with its sword. Ruby was still standing beside Weiss, holding her.

    “You need to get to the infirmary.” Pyrrha said, running towards Weiss. “You’re definitely not okay.”

    “I’m… fi..ne.” Weiss replied, but her body has been visibly starting to lose balance, relying on Ruby to even stand properly. Just then, Weiss falls.

    “Weiss!”

❖❖❖    

Chapter Text

    “Ruby?” Weiss’s voice entered Ruby’s ears. Promptly, she slowly opened her eyes, only for Weiss’s figure to enter her sight. The white-haired girl seemed to be startled, her face half-covered by the silhouette produced by the lights hanging above, her mouth was slightly opened, but no words came out.

    “Weiss!” Ruby exclaimed, jumping up. “You’re awake?”

    “Yes.” Wess replied, her tone mixed with grief. “I… Umm, sorry for waking you up.”

    “It’s alright.” Ruby replied. “I didn’t think I would fall asleep either.”

    “Where’s the others?” Weiss asked, her gaze trailing towards the clock hanging on the wall a few meters away. “And how long have I been unconscious?”

    “Yang and the rest went back to class once Professor Goodwitch says that you’re okay and just needs some rest.” Ruby replied, slightly embarrassed. “I… I don’t know why but… for some reason, I… just want to stay.”

    “Thank you, Ruby.” Weiss replied, looking at Ruby, which for some reason makes her heart feels warm, even if for a little.

    “And you’re just being asleep for around two hours.” Ruby continued. “Not long, just enough to skip history.” Her sentenced trailed into a tiny chuckle escaping her mouth.

    “Do you really hate the class that much?” Weiss asked, seemingly playing along.

    “Not really.” Ruby replied. “Just saying.”

    “Professor Oobleck won’t be pleased if he knew you’re joking on his favourite subject.” Weiss joked, the first time ever since they’ve met.

    “Oh. And Professor Goodwitch says that you fainted because of Aura depletion.” Said Ruby. “She says that you better take a leave tomorrow.”

    “I’m fine now.” Weiss replied.

    “Really?” Ruby asked, her tone was filled with concern. “You can stay for another while if you’re not okay. The infirmary is empty today.”

    “I’m really fine Ruby.” Said Weiss. “I just probably need to prevent vigorous activities.”

    “But… could your body take it? By the time we sent you here, your Aura is already fully depleted.”

    “I’m really okay.” Weiss replied. “I can still walk and move around, just probably unable to fight.”

    “Okay then.” Ruby replied, although she was visibly lacking the confidence in Weiss’s words, especially when it’s from someone who had just fainted.

    Weiss hanged her iconic smile once again. “Don’t worry Ruby, if something’s wrong, I’ll tell you.”

    “Alright.”

    Just then, the door bumped open, prompting Ruby to turn her head over to the direction. “Yo Ice Queen, already awake?” said Yang, with Blake, Jaune and the rest standing behind her.

    “Only for a while.”

    “Y’know.” Yang said, grinning while her gaze was trailing towards Ruby. “Rubes insisted to stay here even though Professor Goodwitch told us you’re okay. Not gonna say anything?”

    “Ruby has told me about this earlier.”

    “Well but are you okay now?” Yang’s tone switched. “You’ve just fainted y’know.”

    “I don’t feel unwell.”

    “But do you have an idea of why your aura would be fully depleted?” Blake interjected. “You and Pyrrha had just sparred for a few minutes, and your face is already pale.”

    “Yeah, you didn’t take that many hits for your aura to fully deplete.” Said Jaune.

    “I’m not quite sure either.” Weiss replied.

    “Perhaps your semblance drains your aura really fast?” Pyrrha asked. “I’ve seen some like that before. But…”

    “You don’t seem to have that problem before.” Said Ren. “Your problem just seems to be spawning out of nowhere.”

    “Well, the most important thing is that she’s awake, not still unconscious.” Nora interjected. “At least give her some time, okay?”

    “Also, didn’t professor Goodwitch said if there’s nothing wrong after a few days, then she’s fine.” Said Jaune.

    Ruby then shifted her gaze back to Weiss, whose attention seemingly attracted by the ongoing conversation as Ruby placed her gaze on the white-haired girl. Just then, Weiss’s gaze shifted towards Ruby, startling her, causing her to slightly jolt back. “Ruby, is there anything you want to say?”

    “Uhm… no.” Ruby said, scratching her head awkwardly. Why did I feel startled?

    “So. Ice Queen, are you going to keep resting here or are you leaving?” Yang asked.

    “The latter of course.” Weiss replied. “Oh, by the way, did I miss anything in the class?”

    “No, other than Cardin being a bitch, as usual.”

    “That bastard’s still bullying Jaune, at least professor Oobleck scolded him for that.” Nora huffed. Ruby shifted her gaze towards Jaune, who’s seemingly biting his lips. Ruby felt her chest tightened, but for now, she can’t even form a sentence to comfort the blonde boy.

    “He deserves worse.” Blake replied.

    “He deserves a kick in the ass!” Nora said, huffing.

    “We’ve got professor Goodwitch’s class tomorrow, you could do that if he unfortunately becomes your sparring partner.” Said Yang.

    “I’ll make sure to also smack him in the face.”

    “Just make sure not to get hurt.” said Ren.

    “I promise.”

   “It’s already quite late, we should go back to our dorms.” Said Weiss, her gaze placed on the clock, which’s hour hand has already struck 6. Weiss stood up from the bed, before walking towards the door.

    “Well, guess you’re really okay, Ice Queen.” Yang said, crossing her arms while a grin formed on her face.

    “And I thought we had reached an agreement regarding the matter.” Weiss replied.

    “Since Weiss’s okay, then let’s head back to our dorms, the sky’s getting dark.” Said Jaune, gesturing towards the window, with the darkening sky outside placed in it, before walking towards the door, followed by Pyrrha, Nora and Ren. 

    "See you later." Pyrrha said, before her figure disappears along with the rest of team Juniper into the halls.

    "See ya later too." Yang replied, while Blake just simply provided a nod.

    “Are you three planning to stay here?” Weiss asked, her head turning around, facing Ruby as well as Yang and Blake. “If not then, don’t just stand or sit at there.”

   “Coming.” Ruby replied, half-running towards Weiss.

    “Alright Ice Queen, don’t have to be in such a hurry, y’know.” Yang replied lazily, walking towards the door at the same time, followed by Blake, silent as usual.

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    Jaune panted, his grip on his sword tightened on his sword, Corcea Mors which’s point was digging into the ground as his exhausted body supported itself through it, with his body slightly leaning towards his sword. He raised his gaze towards the Cardin Winchester, who was currently standing a few meters away, holding a large, black mace on his shoulder as a sneer escaped his mouth, his head titling upwards.

    Jaune continued to pant, but his breath has become much steady, he narrowed his eyes as his gaze concentrated on Cardin, his grip on Corcea Mors tightened even more. With a battle cry, he charged himself towards Cardin, lifting his sword over his head as he approached the big bully before slashing it down on Cardin with all his feeble strength, but all he had hit was the ground. Jaune immediately turned himself over, only to be greeted with Cardin’s giant mace. The mace instantly collided with his shield which he instinctively raised before being knocked back several meters away along with himself. Jaune’s body violently crashed on the ground, with his shield even sliding away from him. He laboriously supported himself up again, holding Corcea Mors with both of his hands before charging again towards Cardin with another cry. Jaune slashed his sword towards Cardin’s head once again, only for Cardin to block Jaune’s attack with his mace’s shaft.

    “This is the part where you lose.” Cardin mocked, effortlessly pushing Jaune and his sword back.

    “Over my dead b—” Before Jaune’s sentence managed to be finished, he felt a heavy blow on his stomach, producing a pain that causes his body to collapse instantly before dropping on the ground. Jaune laboriously turned his head up, his gaze placed upon Cardin’s approaching figure as the pain continued to plague his body. Jaune watched Cardin raised his mace over his head, his grin widening even more.

    Just as Cardin’s mace was about to drop, an air horn’s blast preached, halting his action. “That’s enough.” Said Professor Goodwitch, walking towards the centre of the stage while Jaune pressed his hands onto the part of his stomach which was hit, hoping to relieve the pain for even a little, but to his dismay, it did not. “Students, as you can see here. Mr. Arc’s aura has now dropped into the red, in a tournament style duel, this will indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle, and the official may call the match to stop.” Professor Goodwitch continued, her gaze focused on the scroll in her hand. “Mr. Arc, it’s been weeks now, please try to refer to your scroll during combat.” She said as Jaune watched her gaze shifted towards him, while he could only lie on the ground, struggling to even stand up, he laboriously took out his scroll, which’s interface projected his remaining aura, which barely have any left. How he wished that he was much better, much stronger, but reality just keep hits him like a truck, knocking him down every single time without a single exception.

    “Speak for yourself.” Said Cardin, before walking away with his mace placed on his shoulder.

Jaune finally have the strength to support himself up, before walking down the arena, nearly stumbled as he descends.

    “Now.” Said Professor Goodwitch. “We still have some time left before you’re dismissed for lunch. So, we’ll be having one last round.” She said as her gaze navigated among the students. “Mr Bronzewing.” She called. “Please come down.” Jaune took a glance at Dove Bronzewing, who Cardin gives a pat on the back to before he walks down with his sword in hand. Glynda continued to scan the students, with her gaze pausing around Jaune, at least he thinks so. “Ms. Schnee.” Professor Goodwitch called.

    “Yes?” Weiss asked, closing her red-covered book before putting it down along with the pen in her left hand.

    “Would you be Dove’s sparring partner for today?”

    Jaune looked towards Weiss, who was hanging a smile on her face. Weiss figured for a second before raising her head. “Yes, I would.”

    “Then please head down to the stage.”

    Jaune watched Weiss stand up, before walking down through the stairs, while holding her rapier in hand, which was if he recalls correctly, named Myrtenaster. He then shifted his gaze towards his left, Ruby and Yang were cheering, just like Nora, who’s voice was so loud that she overshadows the two’s single-handedly; Pyrrha was also cheering enthusiastically, although it was much subdued compared to the three cheering.

    Jaune moved his gaze back to the arena, Weiss stood on the opposite end of the arena to Dove, who’s holding his sword in guarding stance, his gaze fixed on Weiss while a grin surfaced. Weiss on the other hand, her smile was still hanging, but she doesn’t bother making even a stance. Dove moved forward slightly, lowering his body with his head up, albeit he was still holding his sword in guarding stance. Jaune then shifted his gaze back to Weiss, a glyph spawned behind Weiss, before it instantly expanding itself into a gigantic size, while a familiar screech preached his ears as he watched a light blue Nevermore exited the glyph, standing on its two legs with its wings folded.

    “Did Weiss’s father told her to defeat this too?” Pyrrha asked.

    “Yeah, bet he’s a bastard. Who the fuck tells their daughter to kill a Nevermore just to go to a school!” Nora huffed.

    “Calm down Nora, if she came here that means that she defeated it.” Ren said.

    Jaune then shifted his attention back to the arena. “I hope that we both could find rooms for improvement in this spar.” Weiss said, as the Nevermore beside her moved a step forward. Dove hesitated for a second, fear leaking through his expression. But after shaking his head, Dove charges towards Weiss with a cry, raising his sword. At the same time, the Nevermore, with a screech, charges towards Dove, its giant wing slammed towards Dove before he even reaches Weiss. Dove leap backwards, stabilizing his pose as he cautiously navigates the Grimm with his gaze, while holding his sword in plow stance. The Nevermore stood static, only slightly leaning its head forward with its eyes fixed on Dove, as if a hawk eying its prey. But the Nevermore only continued the situation for a second, it then lunges itself towards Dove, its giant beak closing violently as Dove narrowly escapes by sliding towards his left, barely missing the bite. Without a pause, Dove aimed his sword at the Nevermore as its head started to rotate towards him and fires multiple shot through the gun embedded within his sword at the Nevermore’s eye, causing it to screech loudly, violently swinging its head. Dove continued to fire before the Nevermore shoves its left wing at Dove, knocking him as well as sending him flying until he hits the wall before his body drops on the ground. Jaune’s gaze then shifted towards Weiss, who’s still standing like a healthy person despite going unconscious in the previous day due to aura depletion; her smile was no longer hanging, but Jaune interprets it as Weiss focussing on the battle. Jaune’s attention was then pulled back to the Nevermore by another screech from it, as he redirects his eyes towards the giant bird-like Grimm, Jaune saw it charges towards Dove, but once again, it misses and even bumped its head into the wall. Seizing the opportunity, Dove charges towards the Grimm, jumped on its wings before arriving on its back, striking a blow at the Nevermore’s nape, causing it to screech even louder than before. The Nevermore shook its body with seemingly all the strength it possesses, but still unable to shook Dove, who was pinning himself onto the Grimm with his sword away from its body.

   Just then, the Nevermore freezes, but after a blink, it starts to flap its wings, rising itself as it slams itself at the roof, with Dove jumping off from the Grimm with his sword before his body was able to be crushed on impact. As Dove landed, the Nevermore dives down, with its giant beak opened once more as its previous fruitless attempts, Dove ducks the bite once again, but this time, the Nevermore managed to land itself stably, charging towards Dove again without even the slightest pause. Dove continues to run as he reached the walls of the arena, with the auditorium which the students stood on lying upon, Dove turns around, with a precise shot, he hits one of the Nevermore’s eye, but this time, it didn’t screech, but instead immediately covers its head with its right wing as Dove continues to fire several more shots, seemingly halting its advance.

    Jaune narrowed his eye slightly, focusing his gaze on the Nevermore, but just then, the Nevermore turned its head at his direction, causing him to nearly jump. Then the Nevermore flapped its wings, rising itself until it meets the roof. But unlike before, the Nevermore opened its wings to its maximum wingspan, before closing its wings with a mighty strength, sending a swarm of feathers down to the ground just like the one Jaune saw in the Emerald Forest. This time, Dove didn’t manage to duck the attack, one thrown feather hit his body, knocking him away as multiple more dropped down around him, digging into the ground. Dove supported himself up in pain, if not for his aura, he might be impaled, and Jaune does not dare to imagine what it would look like. But before Dove managed to fully stand up, the Nevermore’s claw crashed on his body, pinning him onto the ground. With another screech, the Nevermore dives its opened beak towards Dove’s head, but before it managed to even lay a bite on Dove’s skull, a voice halted it.

    “Ms. Schnee.” Said Professor Goodwitch, prompting both the Nevermore and Weiss to turn their heads at the professor standing aside. “Would you look at here?” She said as she gestures at the part of the auditorium which the Nevermore is standing next to, prompting Jaune to turn his head towards his right, the direction the professor points to. Several, if not many feathers could be seen being fixed in place by a purple aura surrounding it, otherwise the students sitting there might have to take the blow. As Jaune was thinking so, the light-blue feathers started to dissolve into particles. “Although in a tournament, the audience will be protected by a barrier, so they will not be harmed even if an attack is directed at them. But.” She paused. “You’re here to train to become a huntress, and in your mission, if you continue to be like this, there’s a high chance you’ll harm several innocent civilians, or even worse, killing them as they do not have their aura activated.”

    “I’m sorry, professor.” Weiss apologised, bowing her head. “I’ll be more careful in my future trainings.” The Nevermore also could be seen doing the exact same.

    Professor Goodwitch narrowed her eyes slightly, but her gaze then softens. “Very well, just keep this in mind in your upcoming trainings.” Said she. “The Vytal festival is only a few months away; I hope to see your name on the list.”

    “Thank you, professor.” Weiss replied joyfully, although the Nevermore didn’t follow this time.

    “This match will be ending here soon.” Said Professor Goodwitch. “Please let Mr. Bronzewing stand up.” The Nevermore, as if understanding the professor’s message, or perhaps Weiss just commands it to do so, removes its claws from Dove, before it dissolves into light-blue particles that were scattered into the air. Dove laboriously supported himself up, staggering while he walks his way back to his seat.

    “Remember students.” Professor Goodwitch said, turning herself towards the centre of the auditorium. “The Vytal Festival is only a few months away it won't be long before students from the other Kingdom start arriving in Vale so, keep practicing.  Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of the Vale.” Jaune’s jaw tightened, he only has 9 months left, how could he improve himself until he could join? He wasn’t like Pyrrha, nor Weiss, not even Ruby and everyone else, he was just a someone who forged his papers so he could enter Beacon, yet his level was leagues behind everyone else in this academy, including Cardin, even if he doesn’t want to admit.

    Just then, a ringing sound preached. Professor Goodwitch looked up to the bell producing the sound, before turning her gaze back again. “Well then, students, you may leave for lunch. Thank you.”

❖❖❖

    “So, there we were in the middle of the night…” Nora said, her tone mysterious and perhaps even creepy, but Jaune doesn’t have the mood to listen to Nora’s stories, albeit he’ll stay silent about this.

    “It was day.” Ren interjected.

    “We were surrounded by Ur—sa.” Nora continued, oblivious to Ren’s interruption.

    “They were Beowolfs.” Ren continued to interrupt.

    “DOZENS OF THEM!” Nora said, her pitch and volume skyrocketing in just one second, she even stands up while her hands supporting her on the table. “But they were no match, and, in the end, Ren and I took them down. And made a boatload of Lien selling Ursa skin rugs.”

    Ren sighed. “She’s been having this recurring dream for nearly a month now.” Jaune listens as he continues to pitch his fork at the sandwich served in the plate in front of him, his mind drifting into nowhere.

    “Jaune are you okay?” Pyrrha asked, breaking Jaune’s mind-wandering state.

    “Oh, uh… yeah. Why?” Jaune anxiously replied.

    “It’s just that you seem a little...” Ruby paused. “Not okay.”

    “Guys, I’m fine. Seriously, look.” Jaune replied, but just then a familiar laughter preached his ears. Jaune promptly rotated his head towards the direction, only to see Team CRDL surrounding a rabbit Faunus girl, laughing while making fun of her.

    “Jaune. Cardin has been picking up on you since the first week.” Pyrrha continued.

    “Cardin Winchester? He just likes to mess around. Y’kn—”

    “Hey!” Ruby shouted, leaving her table and walks to Cardin. “Stop bullying her!” Yang and Blake could also be seen following.

    “What’s wrong with you?” Cardin asked. “It’s none of your business. Can’t you see we’re trying to be friendly?”

    “What the fuck is wrong with your definition of ‘friendly’?” Yang scoffed, her arms crossed.

    “I never thought bullying could be counted as friendly.” Blake added-on.

    “Urg. I have no time to deal with you, just back off.” Cardin replied, shoving his hand. He then turned back and joined the bullying on the girl along with his other teammates.

    “Hey!” Said Ruby. “Stop it!”

    “Didn’t I told you to back off?” Cardin said, standing up, his tall figure overshadowing Ruby’s. Oh no. Jaune thought. “Do you want to pick a fight?” Cardin asked, his tone threatening.

    “I don’t care!” Ruby replied. “Just leave her alone.”

    “Yeah, bring it in!” Said Yang. “Who the fuck is afraid of you?”

    Cardin’s face twitched, he raised his fist and lunged it towards Ruby. But before his fist managed to even touch Ruby, a light blue hand, covered in knight armour, grabbed Cardin’s arm, halting him.

    “There are many ways to solve an argument, Cardin.” Weiss said, holding a bitten apple in her hand. “And choosing the worst method would be kind of… unwise.”

    Cardin’s eyebrows furrowed, he swings his arm, breaking free from the hand’s grab despite its immense strength. “Let’s go.” He said to his teammates, before leaving the canteen, followed by his teammates, Dove, Sky and Russel. But Jaune could only hang his head, sighing over his incompetence.

    “That was so cool!” Ruby exclaimed, her glowing eyes shining at Weiss.

    “It was nothing really, Ruby.” Weiss replied, smiling.

    “Bet Cardin’s gonna be real pissed.” Yang commented, grinning.

    “Nora.” Ren said, taking a bite on his sandwich. “You could sit down now. Cardin’s gone.”

    “Uh okay. Alright.” Nora replied, awkwardly hiding her hammer that Jaune doesn’t remember seeing her bringing alongside while an even awkward smile formed on her face.

    “Jaune. Are you really alright?” Pyrrha asked once again. “You really don’t seem well.”

    “I’m alright.” Jaune replied. “Nothing wrong.”

    “Umm…” A voice interjected. Jaune turned his head over, only to see the Faunus girl. “Thank you.”

    “You should thank Ice Queen for her heroic move.” Yang said, gesturing at Weiss.

Weiss raised her head. “You should thank Ruby; she’s the one making the first move. We’re just following her.”

    “Anyways. Thank you.” The girl said, before leaving. 

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    Ruby's gaze wandered across the page of the book she holds in her hands while she lies on her bed. But she finds that her mind was still bothered by the scene back at the canteen that she couldn't even move her gaze till the end of the sentence. She let out a sigh, closing her book before putting it down beside her. "Do you guys think that Jaune's okay?" She asked, turning her head over to Yang's bed, with Blake's bed stacked on top of Yang's. "He doesn't really talk as much as he usually does after Professor Goodwitch's class."

    "Dunno. But he definitely doesn't seem to be in a good mood." Yang replied, lying on her bead, her hands placed beneath her head.

    "He is in a bad mood." Blake replied, her gaze fixed on her scroll as it broadcast some news. "But the exact reason is still unclear."

    "Well, he seems to stay silent after Weiss sparred with Dove." Said Yang. "Although the spar was more of a one-sided one."

    "His strategy for targeting the Nevermore's eye is still quite good though." Weiss said, her voice preaching from her bed. "And he does have some really good marksmanship."

    "Yet you still defeated him without even trying." Yang replied. 

    "I'm not the one fighting." Weiss clarified.

    "Oh, so you're just giving it orders?" Yang asked. "Sounds kinda cool."

    "It's much easier than fighting yourself." Weiss replied. "Although it would drain my aura much faster than fighting on my own."

    "So, is that... why you fainted yesterday?" Ruby asked, peeking her head down from her bed. Weiss going unconscious once more is the last thing she would ever want, not literally of course.

    "I'm... " Weiss paused. "Not quite sure. But I don't feel unwell throughout the day."

    "Guess Ice Queen not only excels in academics and combat." Yang said, using a joking tone. "But also, in terms of physical conditions. Alright, back to the topic, should we ask Juniper? I think they might know a thing or two."

    "Jaune's doesn't seem to even talk about his problems to any of them..." Ruby said, Jaune seems to be depressed or having anxiety, but she doesn't know how to help, she wanted to be the leader that could solve every single problem her team and her friends would face, yet she always finds herself leaning on others. She wished she was perfect, perhaps even just a little like Weiss would suffice her, but to her dismay, she wasn't.

    "Then let's just talk to him bout' this." Yang proposed. "Don't worry Ruby, I'm pretty sure we'll find a way to help him overcome this problem." She said, looking at Ruby, smiling. Ruby felt much better with her sister's words, perhaps together they will come up with a solution.

    "We can just talk to him about it tomorrow." Said Blake.

    "Perhaps giving him some time will be a better solution?" Said Weiss. "Forcing him to spit out his problems will only worsen the situation."

    "Then what should we do?" Ruby asked, what could they do to help Jaune? What should I do?  She wondered, but even then, no solutions showed itself.

    "C'mon. Don't worry that much, Rubes, we can ask him when he's in a better mood." Yang replied. "Right Blake?"

    "I still can't comprehend your obsession with making me talk." Blake replied to Yang, her gaze still fixed on her scroll. "But yes, I support Yang's advocation."

    "C'mon, talking a few more words won't die." Said Yang. "See! That's sixteen more words than your average word count."

    Blake let out a sigh, but she doesn't seem to be annoyed. "The Vale Police Department just announced that yesterday, a case occurred in a warehouse near the Port of Vale. Thirty gang members belonging to a gang called the Xiong Family are found dead in the warehouse, with no survivers. No suspects were identified."

    "The Xiong Family?" Yang asked. "Oh! I've been to their bar before."

    "And you wrecked it just because they didn't have any information of your mum." Ruby replied.

    "Hey, they start the fight first." Said Yang.

    "Those members all have gun shots and wounds ranging from one to five centimetres deep, probably knife wounds, but the police didn't make clear." Blake continued. "They also said that the case was probably a inner conflict occurring between the members, which they for now interprets as a result of unequal distribution of spoils. They've also found several paladins; three hundred different types of rifles and a ton of Dust-propelled rounds packed in magazines." 

    "So, is it some kind of weapon-trafficking case?" Yang asked.

    "Not sure, but all found armaments are proven to be manufactured by the Schnee Dust Company, according to the police themselves." Blake replied as her scroll continue to broadcast the news.

    "Isn't that Weiss's family's company?" Ruby asked, although every time her family company was brought up in a conversation Weiss's doesn't seem affected, but she's still concerned whether Weiss will be hurt or not. "Why would they be involved?"

    "Her father has some questionable business ethics, it's not unexpected." Blake replied drily, she still seemed to have a grudge regarding Weiss's father.

    "He sure does." Weiss replied, so casually as if she's talking about somebody else's father. "For a man who marries my mother just for my family's name and company, it is not unexpected indeed."

    Blake freezes, with her head hanging down. "Sorry to hear that."

    "It's alright." Weiss said. "He's just a bad father after all."

    "He's not a father!" Yang replied, angrily. "That man's a fucking bastard!"

    "It's alright." Weiss repeated, smiling. "It's not like he'll be in my life forever."

    "Weiss..." Ruby said, but she can't find the words for her to continue.

    "It's alright." Weiss repeated once again. "So, where were we again?"

    Blake's gaze towards Weiss seems to be filled with compassion. "Umm... The Vale Police Department said that they've launched a joint operation with the Atlas Civil Guard to investigate this case that's probably involving a worldwide arm trafficking network. Weiss's father was just arrested an hour ago."

    "Atlas Civil Guards?" Ruby's eyebrow raised, although her concern remains on Weiss, who doesn't seem to be bothered by the news at all, continuing to write on her diary. "I've read about them on a book about Atlas before, but I only know that they're Atlas's police."

    "They're a civilian paramilitary organization that's the sole law enforcement forces in Atlas, while also being it's official gendarmerie." Blake explained. "They're the one arresting Weiss's father."

    "Sounds authentic to Atlas's militaristic nature." Yang commented, still lying on her bed.

    "But they're under Atlas's Ministry of Interior, instead of the Ministry of Defence so, they're not really part of the military." Weiss elaborated. "But they do have military-grade gear."

    The atmosphere seems much light to Ruby compared to several minutes before. "So, are they like military police?" She asked.

    "They do have the responsibility of policing the Atlas military." Blake replied. "But they're more of regular police with military-grade gear."

    "Some weird trivia for today." Yang commented. "Especially for a time like nine thirty-two."

    "It sure sounds like one." Weiss replied.

    "The Civil Guards says that they'll be detaining Weiss's father for a day to assist in the investigation." Blake continued, her gaze now back on her scroll. "The Atlas Magistrate Court has also issued a arrest warrant for the guards to arrest Weiss's father yesterday, as well as a search warrant."

    "So now this bastard's getting some treatment he deserved." Said Yang. "Hope he'll end up in jail."

    "The case has only started to be investigated." Blake replied. "But what confuses me the most is why aren't any suspects identified, and the Vale Police Department said that they only received the emergency call from one person and it's using one of the dead gang member's phones. But they said that one of the suspects might be an aura user."

    "A huntsman?" Ruby asked.

    "Some huntsmen uses their abilities to do crime." Weiss replied. "But not all huntsmen are like that." Her reply provided a much-needed reassurance to Ruby's belief in huntsmen and huntresses.

    "Umm... Weiss?" Ruby asked.

    "Yes?" 

    "Are you really fine?" Ruby asked. "Your father was just being arrested, I know he's a bad person but..." Her sentence dropped mid-way, she lost the words to continue her sentence.

    "I'm fine Ruby, he deserved it." Weiss replied, smiling. "It would be better if he ended up in prison."

    "Okay then." Ruby replied, while she continues to find herself staring at Weiss.

    ❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    "Yes students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful." Professor Goodwitch said as she walks in front, while Ruby continued to wanders her gaze around the marvellous sight of the red forest. "But. We are not here for sight-seeing. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside the forest. And I'm here to make sure that non of you died while doing so." She said as she suddenly turned around, stopping.

    "Oh." Jaune's voice preached. Ruby turned her head around only to see Jaune, who's holding a box as well as several jars in hand while he's awkwardly whistling, his gaze directing away from Cardin. Cardin seemed to be mildly infuriated, although he then switched to a smile, before giving a heavy pat on Jaune's back, causing the latter to stumble. Since when Jaune and Cardin are on good terms? Ruby thought before she shifted her gaze towards Weiss, who is still looking at Professor Goodwitch as the professor continues to speak.

    "Each of you were to gather one jar of red sap." Professor Goodwitch continues, her strict gaze mercilessly glared at every single being present. "However, this forest is full of creatures of Grimm so, be sure to stay by your teammates." She said as Ruby once again finds herself glancing at her white-haired teammate. She's so beautiful. A thought surfaced in Ruby's mind as her gaze went static around her teammate. Wait! What am I thinking? The sudden realisation hit her a jarring, electric shock, crawling all the way to her brain from her toes. She shook her head as she finds the shock crawls into her brain. Wait, Weiss is indeed beautiful. What's wrong with that? She assured herself, letting out a sigh as the relief calmed her heart.

    "Ms. Rose." Professor Goodwitch's voice preached into Ruby's ears, promptly, her gaze instantly jumped back to the professor. "Are you alright?" 

    "Just got some dust in my eye!" Ruby replied, unfurling a forced smile. "I'm okay now."

    Professor Goodwitch then dropped her raising eyebrow, pulling her gaze away from Ruby. "Alright students, I want you to be back here at four O' clock. Have fun." She said, as Ren and Nora begins to head towards into the forest, with Pyrrha following, albeit her gaze paused at Jaune's direction, before pulling herself away. Did something happen? Ruby thought, she didn't went out to check on Jaune yesterday night so, the current situation seems a bit baffling to her. 

    "Ruby, are you really alright?" Weiss's asked. "You seemed—"

    "I'm perfectly okay." Ruby interjected. "Nothing really." She said, hanging the forced smile once more.

    Weiss doesn't seem convinced, but she still gave Ruby a nod. "Then... let's go."

    "Okay!" Ruby replied, slightly tightening the grip on the jars in her hands due to some nervousness she couldn't identify where it's from. 

    Ruby followed Weiss into the forest, passing by several trees before Weiss stopped in front of a tall tree with a large canopy with its roots spread widely on the ground. 

    "This should do the job." Weiss murmured, her gaze scanning the tree in front. Afterwards, she put down the jars in her hand as well as a toolbox. She then pull out a drill and then dug its bit into the trunk before she start the drill, after pulling out the drill, she inserted a spile into the drilled hole following with several taps on the end of the spile with a hammer. Afterwards, Weiss hanged a hook on the spile before hooking the jar onto the hook, while Ruby continues to watch as she had nothing to do, while her mind is still thinking about Cardin's abrupt friendliness with Jaune.

    "Umm... Weiss?" Ruby nervously asked. 

    "Yes?" Weiss asked, her head turning towards Ruby as the jar fills up with a speed as fast as a turtle.

    "Should we go check on the others?" Ruby asked. "Especially Jaune. Cardin's just suddenly friendly to Jaune.. and I don't know... if something's going on or not."

    "Relax Ruby." Weiss replied, her face hanging a smile. "We can go check on him after we filled two jars" 

    "Okay." Ruby replied as her gaze trailed towards the half-filled jar.

    Ruby waited for another while until the jar Weiss placed was fully filled, removing it before placing another empty jar onto the hook while she started another cycle of 'staring-at-the-jar-while-it-fills'. Just as Ruby was watching the 1/4 filled jar, a roar preached from her right, Ruby instinctively jumped back, pulling out Crescent Rose while it expanded itself into its scythe form. An Ursa emerged through the trees, slamming one of its claws onto a nearby tree's trunk while slowly advancing towards Ruby's direction. The Ursa lowered its body closer to the ground, growling while its showing its sharp teeth. Just as Ruby was about to attack, the Ursa lunged itself towards Ruby, but before Ruby managed to point Crescent Rose's muzzle at the Ursa's incoming head, a giant rock spike that flew from behind penetrating while pinning the Ursa on to the tree behind, knocking the tree down along with the Ursa. 

    Weiss walked over to Ruby with a concerned look. "Are you alright Ruby?" She said.

    "Yup." Ruby replied. "Just about to blow off its head. But anyways."

    "That's good news." Weiss replied, before pointing Myrtenaster's point at the Ursa, followed by an orange glyph spawning above the Ursa as it roared in pain. Another spike spawned before violently dropping down, penetrating the Ursa's head before its body dissolves into black smoke. "Oh, by the way, your jar is already half-filled." 

    Ruby promptly turned her head at the jar, which was indeed half filled. "Then what should we do now? It takes another while for the jar to be fully filled."    

    "Perhaps just enjoy the scenery around?" Weiss proposed, sitting down on the ground. "This forest is quite beautiful."

    Ruby sat down beside Weiss before staring at the same direction as the white-haired girl. "It is really beautiful..."

    Ruby stared at the sky for another while, until a flicker of memory sent a shock to her head. She jumped up and rushed towards the jar, which is already fully filled, with some even more on the ground, with a size as big as a small puddle.

    "Ruby? Are you alright?" Weiss asked, rushing towards Ruby's side. "Is there anything wro— Oh." 

    "Hope Professor Good witch won't scold me for this." Ruby joked as she remove her jar from the hook, while pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the leaking sap from the jar. 

    Weiss giggled, possibly because of her not so really funny joke. She then walked towards the toolbox and took a pincer out before using it to remove the spike from the tree. Afterwards, Weiss packed the tools nearly inside the toolbox while Ruby puts the 2 jars filled with sap in a separate bag from the remaining 3 spared-ones. 

    "Now, shall we go and check on them?" Weiss asked, hanging her iconic smile while gesturing at the direction of the spot Professor Goodwtich told them to gather at.

    "Okay." Ruby replied, holding the two bags of jars.

    The two then walked back through the path they used to arrive at the tree, as they were heading for the spot, they saw Yang and Blake, as well as Pyrrha, Nora and Ren. "Hey Rubes." Yang said, waving her hand at Ruby.

    "Hi Yang." 

    "Did you guys encounter any Grimms?" Yang asked, walking forward. "Prof said that this forest got many, but I didn't even see one."

    "We did encounter one." Ruby replied. "And Weiss blowed its head off."

    "Wow~" Yang exclaimed, making an exaggerated expression. "Never thought Ice Queen could be this violent." 

    "But it's efficient." Weiss replied. 

    "So, you admit you're violent?" Yang teased.

    Weiss stood silent for a while, before finally providing an answer. "Depending on the situation."

    Just as they're talking, Pyrrha's figure approached. "Did you guys see Jaune?" He's been with Team Cardinel for so long and still hasn't come back yet."

    "They're probably there." Blake replied, her finger pointing at a direction leading to an open space about 20 meters away, while her other hand is still holding onto a book.

    "Thanks." Pyrrha thanked, before heading at the direction Blake pointed.

    Just then a loud roar preached Ruby's ears, the roar was much quiet compared to the one she heard at the Emerald Forest. "Did you guys hear that?" Ruby asked before Dove, Sky and Russel ran past her.

    "Ursa! Ursa!" Russel shouted, running while taking several glance at his back. As he was running he bumped into Yang. 

    Yang grabbed Russel's hoodie, lifting him up. "Where?"

    "Back there!" Russel replied in fear, although Ruby couldn't figure out whether he is afraid of the Ursa he said or is he afraid of Yang. "It's got Cardin!"

    "Jaune!" Pyrrha said, the jar in her hand dropped on the ground. Her eyes were widening in horror. Without a pause, she pulled out Miló and Akóuó as Miló extended itself.

    "Yang!" Ruby said, pulling out Crescent Rose. "You and Blake go get Professor Goodwitch. I'll go with Pyrrha."

    Yang and Blake gave a nod before sprinting towards the spot Professor Goodwitch told them to gather by 4 O' clock. Just as Nora was about to pull out her Magnhild, Pyrrha interrupted her. "You two go with them! There could be more Grimm." 

    Nora gave a nod before heading towards the spot along with Ren.

    Ruby ran at the direction Russel pointed, her grip tightening on Crescent Rose. When they arrived, the first thing that entered Ruby's eyes were Cardin, who's being knocked back until his body bumped on a tree, his chestplate was covered by something that seems to be the sap produced by the trees in this forest. A giant Ursa, which's back were filled with large bone spikes, could be seen approaching at Cardin, growling as it slowly advanced. With another loud growl, the Ursa raised its paw and slammed towards Cardin. But before the paw could even reached Cardin, a shield blocked its advance, and surprisingly, it was Jaune's. Jaune laboriously supported himself as well as his shield while the Ursa suppressed even more strength on its paw, causing Jaune to be pushed down even more. Seeing this, Ruby aimed Crescent Rose's muzzle at the Ursa's head, but just as she was about to pull the trigger, Pyrrha interrupted her.

    "Wait." Pyrrha said, her eyes still focused on the battle in front.

    With a low growl, the Ursa slammed its other paw onto Jaune, causing the latter to be sent flying until he hits a tree nearby. The Ursa then launched itself at Jaune, raising its paw along with its sharp claws. Jaune ducked, the Ursa's blow barely misses him, as he slashed at the Ursa's chest before retreating backwards. Ruby took a glance at the tree, the part hit by the Ursa's claw has been dug out, leaving three visible deep wounds on the trunk, she couldn't even dare to imagine what will happen if Jaune was hit. Ruby then redirected her focus back to Jaune, who's holding his shield and his sword in front of Cardin. The Ursa charged towards Jaune, swinging its paw at Jaune again, only to miss again as Jaune slides towards the opposite direction of its claw, following with a slash at the Ursa's forelimb. The Ursa groaned, violently swinging the slashed forelimb at Jaune, halting Jaune's plan to duck the attack as well as sending him flying before dropping on the ground after a slide. 

    Jaune laboriously supported himself up, taking a quick glance at his scroll which was embedded at his shield while displaying a bar in red. Just then, the Ursa charged towards Jaune again, leaping up while its left forelimb was raised to the highest it could. Jaune charged forward at the same time, raising up his shield as well as his sword. With a clash, the Ursa's paw crashed on Jaune's shield, which was now covered in a black aura. The Ursa swinged its other paw at Jaune, but before it could hit Jaune, Corcea Mors's blade has already reached the Ursa's neck, slicing it fully off as the paw hit Jaune, sending him sliding on the ground. Ruby took a glance at Pyrrha's fading black aura that were covering her right hand. 

    "Umm." Ruby paused. "What is that?"

    Pyrrha turned her head over at Ruby. "Well, you have your speed, Weiss have her glyphs. My semblance is polarity."

    "So you could control poles." Ruby exclaimed.

    "Not quite." Pyrrha corrected. "It's like uhh... magnetism."

    "That's still cool too."

    "Thanks." Pyrrha replied. Ruby then took a glance at Weiss, who's writing something on a book, with a brown leather cover instead of her usual red diary. Afterwards, she closed her book and started to walked back.

    "Weiss?" Ruby asked. "Where are you going?"

    "To the spot where Professor Goodwitch told us to gather of course." Weiss replied, her gaze directed at Ruby, she was still hanging her iconic smile for some reason. "It's already ten to four."

    "Oh." Ruby said. "Then let's go tell the others about this, Pyrrha." She said, turning her head to face Pyrrha

    "We could." Pyrrha replied. "Or maybe... we could keep this out little secret."

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    "Dust." Said Professor Oobleck. "Is the most commonly used energy propellent of all Remnant, from powering ammunitions that most of you used to propelling large ships, they're everywhere around us. In fact, even the heating you used for a hot shower are powered by Dust." He said as he glides past the table Ruby was sitting at, his speed was so fast that he even leave a wind behind that barely managed to follow him. "Now Ms. Rose!" The professor said as Ruby finds him suddenly appears in front of her face, her heart nearly jumping out from the shock. "Would you please tell me, how was Dust discovered?" 

    Ruby repositioned herself on her seat, her gaze swiftly taking a quick glance at the history textbook placed in front of her. "Umm... It was discovered by some villagers who lived around Southern Vale. As they were collecting branches for firewood, they saw a shiny crystal on the ground which they had never seen before. They eventually discovered that the crystal when crashed will generate a large amount of heat that's capable of kindling a fire on impact. And... that was the first ever recorded discovery of Dust?" 

    The professor gave Ruby a satisfied nod. "Very well. Thank you, Miss Rose." He said before he glides towards another table. "As Miss Rose have said, Dust was discovered by accident, which you can refer to your textbook on page fifty three, just right below the title." Professor Oobleck said even though his textbook remained on his desk from the start of the class, closed even until now. "Since its discovery, Dust has made its way to every single place in our life, it was even weaved into clothes by warriors back in the old days for concealment. Now, can anybody tell me, why is this archaic technique not used in modern days?" 

    "Beacuse of its high risk." Blake said as Ruby turned her head over to the black-haired girl's direction, who just dropped her hand. "Keeping powdered Dust in a close proximity to the body is inherently dangerous, which is why it was eventually replaced by Dust-infused ammunitions and other weapon systems." 

    "Thank you very much Ms. Belladonna." Professor Oobleck replied before taking a sip of the coffee in the cup he hold. "Now." He said, gliding back to his desk placed in the middle of the classroom. "Let us continue with chapter two point two. While the origin of Dust remained a mystery even until now despite our technological advancements, various folklores regarding Dust's origin has sprawled throughout history. For instance, there is a Valean tale that says Dust is born from a Grand Spirit Tree, which was a product of mother nature's compassion for us humans. At the time, Grimms loomed throughout every single corner on Remnant, while humanity could only struggle under the endless darkness of the creatures of Grimm." The professor then gave a quick pause, taking another sip of his coffee before resuming the story. "From the deepest chasm, a small tree bloomed, it grows and grows until it's canopy eventually reached the clouds, with its roots stretched deep into the caves. Humanity eventually discovered this magnificent gift from mother nature, which instead of producing fruits, it bores magical crystals that glowed with the power of fire, ice, wind and lightning. With this newly discovered gift, humanity finally was able to craft weapons that were strong enough to defend their settlements from the creatures of Grimm, which let to the the entire human civilisation's prosperity. But, the tree, gets older and older as the days go by, eventually withering and collapsed... But! its roots that sprawled through Remnant dissolved into the same crystal the tree itself bored, which turned into Dust veins which was still the primary source of the extraction of raw Dust." Ruby turned her head towards Yang, who's head was repeatedly dropping down yet instantly pulled up afterwards, so as her eyelids. 

    "Ms. Xiao Long!" Said Professor Oobleck as he glides back out of the blue. "Would you mind repeating what I said?" 

    Yang shook her head, seemingly trying her best to shook her drowsiness out of her head, only for her to take a yawn. "Uhm... A tree that bores Dust? And its roots turned into Dust veins?" 

    "Thank you very much Ms. Xiao Long. But next time, make sure you get enough sleep before heading to class." Professor Oobleck said, taking another sip of his coffee before he glides back to his desk. Yang didn't really not sleep enough, history's just hypnotizing for her, just like Grimm Studies to Ruby. The professor then took a quick glance at his watch, then he glides towards the middle of the classroom. "Now class. As our time was coming to the end, I would like to ask you all to prepare an essay regarding the role of Dust in the kingdom's founding, you are free to write about all four kingdoms or to just focus on a particular one." He then took another glance at his watch. "You'll have one week. Class dismissed." He said before gliding out the class.

❖❖❖

*Library, Beacon Academy:

    "Ugh." Yang groaned, her face felling into the book in front of her, with more piling beside her. "Why did Professor Oobleck had to assign this stupid essay?" 

    "Relax Yang." Said Ruby, her gaze everywhere except her book. "We just need to make some research and the writing process will be completed much faster." At least she does think so.

    "Still a pain in the ass." Yang replied with a exhausted tone, letting out an even exhausted sigh, a one Ruby had only seen in the book she read yesterday, which was about a man who had just lost his wife and family in an accident only to be welcomed by even more miseries, not a girl whose professor just gave an essay assignment about Dust. 

    "If you start early, you'll finish early and it won't keep getting in you hair. And the correct version is pain in the neck, not... Whatever you just said."

    "Thanks for the correction Ice Queen. But anyways." Yang replied, lifting her head from the book her face just lied on. 

    Just as Yang's sentence completed, Blake returned, carrying a thick book covered in green with some golden linings around its cover. "I just found this book, it's specifically about the history of Dust." She said as she sat down, after placing the book in the middle of Ruby and Yang. "Its chapter three has a part where it covered its role in the founding of the Kingdom of Vale. It's author was even a professor, perhaps this will come handy." 

    "After that we still gotta dig through another bunch of articles online." Yang replied, letting out another heavy sigh.

    "Searching online will be much easier though." Ruby replied, at least that is so from her point of view.

    "So we just gotta read all these chunks and just start writing right?" Yang asked. "I mean these books seems to be enough for sources, we've already got ten of em' lying over here."

    "It is still advised to refer to different types of sources." Weiss replied, her blue eyes still focused on the book she held in hand, her face half covered by the silhouette produced by the light that penetrated its way through the window on her left. But Yang and Blake on the other side of the table, had no problem having their face fully covered by the light. "A well-used set of 5 sources can be stronger than 10 sources that are just dropped in."

    "Given the thickness of the books, one day will probably suffice for us to finish reading them." Said Blake, her gaze had fully dived into the book who's cover featured a person which Ruby does not recognize. "So we should be able to finish it in three or four days.

    "Hope so." Yang replied, flipping a page of the book lying in front of her. "Oh by the way, Professor Goodwitch's gonna make us spar in different types of environments next class, what kind of environment do you think we'll have? The prof didn't give us any hint to start with."

    "A tundra?" Ruby replied. She would wish that Professor Goodwitch didn't have the biome surfacing within her thoughts of course, otherwise there would be a high chance of her slipping on the ice when she uses her semblance.

    "Forest perhaps?" Weiss replied, her gaze finally leaving the book in her hands, albeit a part of her face was still invariably covered in the silhouette. 

    "Doesn't matter what biome nor terrain. Ice Queen's gonna just end the spar in a minute." Yang replied. "Without even fighting herself." 

    "That's... not entirely true." Said the so Yang called "Ice Queen".

    "So, what do you say Blake? You've been silent the whole time y'know?" Yang asked, suddenly turning her head towards the black-haired girl.

    "Is this topic even worth discussing?" Blake asked back, lifting her gaze from the book she held in hand. "We'll know when we attend the class." 

    "Oh c'mon." Said Yang. "Just finding something to chat bout'. Ain't gonna stare at books only for the rest of the day right?" 

    "I thought you like books." Blake said, one of her eyebrows lifting. 

    "I do." Yang replied. "Thanks to Rubes for crying me to read stories for her before bed every night."

    "That's when I'm still little." Ruby stated, slighting huffing. "I can read on my own now." 

    "Ain't changing the fact you used to~." Yang teased. "And back to the question, any books, other than those bout' history."

    "Aren't we supposed to finish reading these books?" Weiss interjected. "We're here to find sources for our essays, not here for chit-chats."

    "Why so serious Ice Queen?" Yang replied, lying back onto her chair. "Gotta know how to relax y'know."

    "Relaxing at the right time." Said Weiss. "And definitely not now."

    "We've got a whole damn week." Said Yang, never more relaxed, on the outside. "Why rush?" 

    "There's more than one reason why you should start early." Weiss replied. "And there's even more regarding why you shouldn't procrastinate." 

    "Alright. Got it." Yang replied. "So, Ice Queen. Any news on ya father?" 

    "Still appealing." Weiss replied, her gaze still fixed on the book she held. "Nothing interesting."

    "Aren't you bothered?" Blake asked. "I've heard some students gossiping about your father's case." Blake's words baffled Ruby, she didn't really recall anyone talking about the case, not even Team CRDL. 

    "They're just cacophonies." Weiss said. "Nothing worth of attention." 

    Ruby shook her head and focused her attention back to the book in her hand. Weiss had said over and over, she's okay and there's no need to ask her again. Ruby told herself, she had spent so much time listening to her teammate's conversation that she forgot to even start reading her book. She let out a heavy sigh and took a glance at the book's immense width. She could finally see why Yang hates history so much... 

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

*Dormitory, Beacon Academy:

    "The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window." Yang murmured as she read the book lying in her hands. Blake persuaded her to read the book yesterday, claiming it was awesome, but Yang decided to reserve her doubt until she finishes the book. 382 B.C. That's quite old. She thought. But just as her gaze moved onto the next paragraph, her sister's voice interjected.

    "Guys!" Ruby exclaimed. "The school festival's gonna arrive in a week! And we can set up our booths!" Her voice brimmed with excitement. 

    "Calm down Ruby." Said Weiss, pausing her diary-writing process. "And didn't Professor Goodwitch informed all of us earlier? So, why are you so excited?"

    "We got to set up our own booths!" Ruby exclaimed. "Weiss don't you get it?"

    "I do face some problems in seeing the point of your excitement." Weiss replied.

    "She's always excited when it comes to celebrations." Said Yang, closing up her book before setting it aside. "So, what booth should we set up?" She already had an idea in mind, which is a gambling booth. But she doubt if the professors will even allow such 'filth' to have a place in such prestige academy's school festival, which was meant to celebrate the completion of the academy's construction.

    Weiss fingers silently tapped on her now closed red diary. "I don't really have any ideas." She said. "You can go first."

    "Wow~." Said Yang, stretching her sentence. "Never thought the perfect Ice Queen will ran out of ideas one day~." She loved it when it comes to make fun of all of her teammates, especially Weiss, since it guarantees a reaction.

    Weiss didn't reply, instead she let out a soft sigh, slightly shaking her head. 

    "What about a shooting booth?" Ruby proposed. "We could make some Grimm dummies to shoot, and depending on the accuracy, the participants will be rewarded with some prizes!" She sounds excited even until now, which Yang expected, as her sister's excitement could always last for a whole day, and sometimes even extending to the next one.

    "But most students in Beacon possessed good marksmanship so, our target demographic might be limited to visitors from the outside." Said Weiss. "Hit a target won't be really luring for the others."

    "Perhaps if we set the game play to be accumulating as much points as possible in a certain period of time, then it won't be boring to the others." Said Blake, her voice preaching from her bed, stacked directly upon Yang's. Even until now, Yang still finds the fact that the support 'pillars' between the bed frames were only a couple of books amusing.

    "But then... What kind of prizes should we prepare?" Ruby asked.

    Blake pondered for a while. "Some Grimm plushies perhaps? They're quite popular these days." She said. "Especially amongst teenagers."

    "Never thought those things would be popular." Yang commented. The idea of a human-hunting monster themed plush was just simply absurd to her, even though she could clearly see why. 

    "Sometimes people just have some weird taste." Weiss replied, resuming her progress in writing her diary. "But... maybe we could include some jewellery replicas?"

    "You sure sound older than you look." Yang teased. 

    Suddenly, Weiss froze, her pen nearly felling out from her hand while her eyes widened for some reason Yang didn't know. But after a blink, she resumes to her normal state, as if nothing ever happened. "Perhaps I'm just unable to comprehend such so called 'modern fashion'." She replied calmly. Yang shook her head, Weiss's unnatural reaction hit her like a train, since when the perfect Ice Queen ever had such reaction? A reaction Yang only remembers to be seen by someone hiding something. Yang shook her head once again as her thoughts seemed to be out of place at the moment.

    "Weiss... " Said Ruby, her tone filled with concern as well as uncertainty. "Are.. you... o. kay?"

    "I'm perfectly fine." Weiss replied, smiling. "Now where are we again?"

    "Umm... So what other prizes can we prepare?" Said Ruby. "We need something else other than jewellery and plushies."

    "What about some snack baskets?" Yang proposed with a cheerful tone, albeit she had to fake one as her mind still hasn't fully process Weiss's reaction just now. "Can't just have inedible items only y'know."

    "That will do." Ruby replied. "Oh, maybe we could also add some mugs?"

    "Perhaps mugs with some Grimms printed on it?" Weiss added-on. "Any suggestions Blake?"

    Blake's reply didn't come immediately, as if she's pondering something. "Maybe the Grimm designs could be chibi-styled, they're much more appealing than realistic ones." Realistic ones sure does sucks in looks. Yang thought, at least that is the case in her opinion.

    "Then what kind of design should the booth have?" Weiss asked.

    "I got some sketches." Ruby said as she pulled out several design sketched on papers in detail. The first one was a small booth with red and white lines painted across it, as well as several Grimm dummies acting as targets placed inside the booth with empty shelves placed behind. The second one was a larger, paired with a roof but still with covered in the same lines with the shelves lying at the exact same spot; the target's numbers had also increased up to 10, spread across the booth in different sizes. The third one's size was the same as the second one, but it was filled with different types of ribbons and balloons. It even has a large signboard that has a cartoonish Beowolf head hanged on it as a cartoonish gun pointed at its head, while a colourful line of words were placed alongside it, saying: Grimm Shooting.

    "I'll go with the third one." Yang said, the third one is the most visually appealing compared to the rest of Ruby's sketches. Plus, a signboard will also improve clarity regarding what the booth offers. "It looks sick." 

    "I prefer the second one, it requires much less work." Weiss replied.

    "I choose the third one." Blake replied.

    "That will be two to one, Ice Queen." Yang replied, grinning.

    "Then we'll choose the THIRD ONE!" Ruby announced, raising up the third sketch.

    "Alright then." Said Weiss, unfurling a smile. "I'll support the third one.

    "So, now we'll just go with the design, so what materials will we need?" Yang asked. Now's the most boring part. She told herself. 

    "I got all of them listed." Ruby replied, pulling out a long list of items listed on her scroll. 

    "So, that's why you disappeared for the whole morning after Professor Goodwitch announced?" Yang asked in a teasing tone. "Guess you're really over-excited for the festival."

    "It's quite detailed." Weiss commented after she took a look at the list. 

    "Uhm... t-thanks." Ruby replied, stumbling. From Yang's point of view, her sister seems to be much happier than before. But still, afterwards, she's gonna spend the entire week building the booth. But at least it will be fun, right?

    "Then let's prepare the proposal, the form's right here." Blake said as she stretched out her hand from her bed, handing-out several pieces of forms.

    "Alright." Ruby replied.

❖❖❖

*Professor Goodwitch's office:

    "So, this is your team's final proposal?" Professor Goodwitch asked, adjusting her glasses as she scanned through the proposal. Yang leaned against the wall as she waited for the professor's reply. The office was quiet, so quiet that the only sound heard where the sounds of folding paper. 

    After a while, Professor Goodwitch closed the folder with a soft snap. "I see you’ve accounted for safety, scheduling, and cleanup. Thorough work." 

    "So does that mean we're approved?" Ruby asked, her tone brimmed with hope. 

    "Not yet." The professor replied. "I'll still need to discuss the details with Professor Ozpin before I could approve anything. But, if nothing goes wrong, your booth should be able to appear at the festival."

    "We'll, at least all that late-night drafting paid off." Said Yang. "Maybe."

    "You will receive my reply at the latest on Tuesday." Said Professor Goodwitch. "You are advised to start your preparation only after you received the reply. Now, you may return to your dorms." She said as the beams of the evening sunlight penetrated the window installed in the office before the team exited the room.

    "Well, guess we got a yes." Yang said as she closed the door of Professor Goodwitch's office. 

    "The final decision isn't decided yet." Weiss replied.

    "That's why I said guess." Yang replied.

    "Anyways, let's go get something to eat." Said Ruby. "I'm hungry." A growl escaped from Ruby's stomach as she complained. 

    "Sure thing." Yang replied. "Whatcha' say Blake?" 

    "No objections." Blake replied.

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

*Corridor, Faculty Block, Beacon Academy:

    "Yay!" Ruby exclaimed, jumping happily along the corridor as she departs from Professor Goodwitch's office with the professor's approval on their booth. "We can finally set up our booth!"

    "You’re going to hit the ceiling if you keep jumping sis." Yang teased, grinning.

    "Not in a million years." Ruby replied, still jumping. She would never bump her head into the ceiling, not in a million years.

    "We've got one more week to prepare our booth." Said Blake. "Guess we could start purchasing the required materials."

    "Well, then gotta give a big thanks to our sponsor... ICE QUEEN!" Yang exclaimed, throwing her arms out diagonally at Weiss, as if she's presenting something. Now, the areas around Weiss seemingly glowed for some reason Ruby didn't know.

    "It's not even a big deal." Weiss replied. "Why make such a fuss over it?"

    "Yup." Yang said, grinning. "four thousand Lien. Definitely not a big deal." 

    "You can pay me back later." Said Weiss, unfazed, but Ruby noticed a small curve at the end of her lips.

    "Wait, what?" Yang's head suddenly turned over, her jaw dropping in horror.

    "Just kidding." Weiss replied as a slight chuckle escaped through her mouth. "I'll start ordering tonight." She said, resuming her usual posture. "At the latest, we should be able to start at Friday." As she was saying, Yang let out a sigh of relief.

    "So, what are we going to do now?" Ruby asked. "The materials aren't going to arrive now." She already had a clear picture of the completed booth in her mind as well as what will happen at the day of the festival. I can't wait! She exclaimed internally. 

    Weiss took a glance at her watch. "Grimm Studies in five minutes." She spoke. "Let's hurry." As Weiss's sentenced finished, her pace has started to speed up.

    Ruby let out a heavy sigh, but she still decides to speed up her pace. Hope I won't fell asleep again. Nearly caught by Professor Port Yesterday. 

❖-❖|Three days later|❖-❖

*Parcel Centre, Beacon Academy:

    "Wow." Said Yang. "This is a bit more than I expect." Her gaze dropping at the pile of boxes neatly placed on a heavy-duty-shelve labelling: Team R.W.B.Y.

    "They're finally HERE!" Ruby exclaimed with excitement. "We can finally start!" But before she managed to set her hands on any parcels, a voice halted her.

    "Wait a minute, Ruby." Said Weiss. "We'll still have to check the parcels before we collect them." Ruby immediately retreated herself back the moment Weiss stepped-in, holding her scroll as it manifested a list. Her eyes scanned through the lists after she receive the manifest from the stationing staff. Weiss then proceed to the counter after she stood in front of the shelf for a while.

    "Now we can collect the parcels." Said Weiss, who had just returned from the counter, her scroll now closed. "And by the way, there're still several trolleys left for us to use."

    "Well, guess it's time to box out these boxes." Said Yang, grinning. 

    Just then, Blake emerged from behind, pushing a trolley. "Well, what are you waiting for?" 

    "When did you get the trolley?" Yang asked. "You're here just now." She said, pointing at her right.

    "Just now." Blake replied. "As you were talking."

    "Then let's get started!" Ruby announced, leaping as she shot her fist out.

    "Relax Ruby." Said Weiss. "We're not in a hurry."

    The boxes piled up on the trolley as more parcels were removed from the shelves, with the ones on the fourth row being an exception. Ruby tipped her toes, stretching her arms at the parcels till its maximum length, but still her fingers were still 5 centimetres away from the parcel.

    "Here lil sis." Said Yang, grinning. She stretched out her hand, which effortlessly reached the parcel before she removed it from the shelf. "That's what ya'll get if ya're two years older."

    "That's not fair!" Ruby protested, how she hates the gap between her height and Yang's.

    "At least you're taller than Ice Queen." Yang replied. "She's only one hundred and sixty centimetres [five feet three] tall."

    "Is that part really necessary?" Weiss said, letting out a sigh, but her expression shown no hint of being bothered.

    "Nope. But still, sorry bout' that." Yang apologised while she removes another parcel from the shelf, handing it over to Blake.

    A few minutes later, the final parcel was removed before Blake stacked it onto the other parcels placed on the trolley. "Now we can move these to the courtyard." Blake said, pushing the trolley towards the exit.

    "Yeah, let's go." Yang added-on.

❖-❖-❖

    "Let's start constructing!" Ruby exclaimed. The pile of parcels was scattered on the ground without a sense of tidiness while Yang departs to the Parcel Centre along with the trolley.

    "Hey Ruby!" Jaune's voice preached. 

    Ruby turned herself around, with Team J.N.P.R. entering her eyes; Ren was pushing the trolley stacked with parcels while Nora was uhh... munching pancakes for some reason.

    "How you're doing?" Jaune asked, walking forward, while Ren moved their trolley to another direction, with Nora following behind. Nora's mouth was still stuffed with pancakes, likely to be made by Ren. 

    "Haven't start yet." Ruby replied, gesturing at the pile of parcels scattered on the ground which Blake and Weiss were standing next to. "So, did Professor Goodwitch approve Nora's idea of selling pancakes?"

    "Yeah, but she instructed us to not let Nora gobble up all the pancakes. She doesn't want them to be finished before anyone even bought any." Jaune replied. "Ren says that he'll make enough pancakes to sell as well as to fill Nora's stomach up."

    "By the way, where's your booth space?" Ruby asked, the courtyard is only filled with several teams sparsely spaced, including her team and Jaune's, so she couldn't really find Team J.N.P.R.’s lot.

    "Oh, our space is right there." Jaune replied, gesturing at the space Ren is at, which was only several metres away from Ruby. "Quite close to yours."

    "Hi Ruby." Pyrrha greeted as she walked towards the two.

    "Hi Pyrrha." Ruby greeted back. "So, did you add more foods to sell?" 

    "Well, we added muffins, as well as sausages as Pyrrha suggested." Jaune replied, gesturing at Pyrrha.

    "I thought they’d be simple enough to prepare, but filling enough to keep people satisfied." Said Pyrrha. "But the muffins were Ren's idea."

    "Sorry to interrupt." Said Weiss, who appeared beside Ruby suddenly. "Just saying hi."

    "Hi Weiss." Jaune replied, giving a small wave, so as Pyrrha.

    "What are you talking about?" 

    "Just about what we added to our list." Jaune replied. "So, are those Grimm dummies?" He said, pointing at a long parcel next to Blake, while the black-haired girl continues to organize the scattered parcels.

    "That one is the sign board." Weiss replied. "This one over here are the dummies." She said, pointing at another long parcel placed nearer to them.

    "Is anything happening?" Blake interjected, walking towards them while she looked left and right. "Why are you grouping here?"

    "Nothing happened." Jaune replied. "Just chatting." Blake replies with a nod, but no more words came out.

    "JAUNE! PYRRHA!" Nora shouted from the place Ren dropped the parcels of his team. "TIME TO START BUILDING THE BOOTH! And hi there." She said, waving her hand. Ruby greeted her back with another wave. 

    "Now we gotta get going." Said Jaune, walking towards his team's pile of parcel, waving back at the same time. "See ya later."

    "See you later." Ruby replied, waving back.

    "Good luck with the construction." Said Pyrrha, following Jaune's footsteps.

    "Good luck to you too!" Ruby replied.

    "Good luck." Said Blake.

    "Did I miss anything?" Yang's voice preached. Ruby turned around, her sister's figure entering her eyes, the trolley was nowhere to be found.

    "No." Ruby replied. "We're just chatting about what they add into their menu."

    "Well so, did the prof approve Nora for selling pancakes?" Yang asked, a grin forming on her face.

    "She did, but Jaune says that Professor Goodwitch doesn't want Nora to finish all the pancakes before the first one was even bought." Said Ruby. 

    "We'll. At least they've got it passed." Yang replied. "So, are we starting?" 

    "The parcels have already been unpacked." Said Weiss, who is gesturing at the signboard, decorations, tentpoles as well as the canopy lying on the ground. Another pile of cardboards could be seen lying next to the materials. "We could start anytime." 

    "Then let's get started!" Said Ruby, her tone brimming with excitement.  

    Within minutes, four 3 metre long spreader poles are placed end-to-end in the shape of a square, with four 4-way corner fittings tidily laid at the corners. Another four slightly shorter hip-rafter poles were laid in the square, forming a X-shape along with the four way crown laid in the middle of the square, while the final four poles which are the legs, were placed next to the square with an 'X' in it. Ruby's gaze scanned throughly through the assembly guide, checking for missing pieces, before she lifts her head from the piece of paper she was diving her head into. "No missing poles." She reported. "We could start assembling now." 

    "Alright." Said Yang, already starting to attaching the poles together. "Now, let's get this thing done!"

    "Weiss, do you need help?" Ruby asked, walking towards her white-haired teammate.

    Weiss turned her head towards Ruby, her arms are stuffed with different kinds of decorations. "No. But if you're free now, perhaps you could start placing the prizes on the shelf?" 

    "Okay." Ruby replied. She turned back and head to the boxes filled with all sorts of prizes that they have discussed four days ago. She grabbed one box and stacked another on top of it before heading back to the tent. But as her gaze stopped by the last remaining box, she put the stack in her hands down and stacked the final box on top of it before walking back, carrying a tower of boxes in her hands. Now, she wouldn't have to walk back and forth several times and the task could be settled in just a run.

    At least that's what she thought, she quickly realised that the tower was blocking her sight, forcing her to tilt her head towards her left just to gain some sight of her front.   She difficultly walked her way towards the tent. Luckily, she didn't tripped and the boxes didn't fell. 

    Shortly after, the shelves were filled with different kinds of prizes, while ribbons, balloons and light bulbs were hung all over the tent. The booth was finally completed. 

❖-❖-❖

Chapter Text

    On the day of the festival, Beacon's campus was overflowing with vitality. The once grand courtyard has now turned into a maze of booths, each surrounded by a cluster of guests made of students and outside visitors. Lanterns and festoon lights of vibrant colours were hung across the entire academy while the air brimmed with the mouth-watering scent of various kinds of foods. Visitors were darting from one booth to another; their hands filled with different kinds of foods as well as souvenirs bought. 

    Ruby sat on a chair, her head resting on her arm as she waited for the next guest. Half an hour has passed since anyone stopped by. Her gaze lingered on the lining guests in front of Team J.N.P.R.'s booth. She hated to admit it, yet a sour knot twisted in her stomach as she watched. She dropped her head on the counter; her eyes fixed on the crowd. If only our booth drew half the guests. Her fingers tapped against the counter as breath slipped into a weary sigh.

    "What's wrong, Ruby?" Weiss asked. Ruby turned to her white-haired friend, who glanced up from her diary. "You look tired," Weiss said softly. 

    Ruby glanced at her watch and sighed. "It's just... we don't have many guests here." 

    "We're not here for profit, anyway," Weiss replied.

    "I know," Ruby replied, "But I just wish we had the same number of guests as Juniper does."

    "Just wait a little longer," Weiss said, eyes returning to her red diary. "I'm sure someone will be here soon." 

    Weiss's words reassured Ruby, and the sour knot in her stomach eased. "Okay then." She straightened her posture, and turned her gaze away from Team J.N.P.R.'s booth, scanning for her sister. Yang had been gone for 10 minutes, wandering while they wait for their father, who had messaged them that he would drop by today. But aside from Jaune's blonde hair, no one resembling her sister emerged within her view. Blake, on the other hand, had left 5 minutes earlier to visit some booths. 

    "Hey, little huntress," a familiar voice called, "how's your booth doing?"

    "Dad?" Ruby exclaimed, "when did you come?"

    "Ten minutes ago," Tai replied, "didn't see yer sis, so I came straight to your booth. And this must be the Weiss you mentioned a lot, right?"

    "Yup," Ruby said excitedly, "She's the one I told you about— the one that saved me when I nearly fell."

    "Nice to meet you Mr. Xiao Long," Weiss said politely.

    "So, Ruby has introduced her ol' man, huh."

    "Yes, she does," Weiss replied, "mostly about the trips you brought her and Yang through the forests in Patch."

    "That one when you taught us how to start a fire when I was nine," Ruby added, bumping her elbow against her father's arm.

    "Ah," said Tai, "That one when ya got lost in a forest and we spent like an hour before finding ya."

    "Not that one!" Ruby cried, what her father said was true, but she didn’t want him blurting it out, especially today for some reason.

    "Alright, got it," Tai replied with Yang's iconic grin, giving Ruby a pat on the head.

    "So, dad, where's Zwei?" Ruby asked, she had just noticed that the familiar dog was missing by her dad's side.

    "Yer uncle Qrow borrowed him for some 'mission,'" Tai explained. "Says he needs Zwei's nose. So, how does yer game work?"

    "Well... First, you need to rent this gun over here," Ruby explained, gesturing at the paintball rifle."And just hit as many dummies as you can in one minute. Each target hit rewards five points, and you can pick the prizes that are equal or less than your total score,"

    "Sounds interesting," said Tai, rolling his shoulders before handing over 8 Lien. "Time to show ya how capable yer ol' man is."

    Weiss took over the note from Tai, drop it into the counter's drawer and handed Tai the rifle.

    Tai inspected the gun for a moment. "Looks realistic."

    "Weiss bought it," Ruby replied.

    "It's nothing," Weiss replied, pulling the lever that set the Grimm dummies in motion. "You may start now, Mr. Xiao Long."

     "Alright." Tai aimed the rifle at one of the targets. As soon as the Grimm dummies moved, he opened fire, each pull of the trigger splattering paint across a dummy. By the end of the minute, all thirty were covered. Tai stood proudly, his grin widening even more.

    "You have accumulated 150 points in total, enough to cover all prizes here," Weiss said, tapping at the calculator in her hand. "Which one would you like, Mr. Xiao Long?"

    "Hmm... " Tai pondered, "I guess I'll go with this Beowolf plush over here," he said, gesturing at a particularly big one. "Zwei will probably like it."

    Just as Ruby removed the plush from the shelves, Yang's voice came. 

    "Dad?" Yang exclaimed. "Since when did you arrive?"

    "A while ago," Tai replied. "Didn't expect yer ol' man to be this quick, huh?"

    "Yeah, sure didn't," Yang replied. "I thought you'd wander around some booths before coming."

    "Nah," Tai replied, "only if I got enough time. But not the case for today, gotta go one minute later."

    "Here's your prize dad," Ruby said, handing the giant plush to her father. "Don't lose it."

    "Sure won't— or else Zwei will blame me for that," Tai replied, carrying the plush under his arm. "Oh right," he said, taking a glance at his watch before walking away. "Gotta go now. Remember to call me." 

    "We will!" Ruby and Yang said in unison.

    "We just called him yesterday y'know." Yang said, as she and Ruby watched Tai's waving figure faded into the crowd.

    "Is that your dad?" Jaune asked. 

    "Yup," Ruby replied, turning to Jaune. "So, you're done?"

    "Yeah,sold out way sooner than I thought," Jaune replied, "but Nora finished all the pancakes after we'd sold four."

    "Nope," Nora interjected. "Left some for ya." She stretched out her hand, balancing four paper bags of pancakes in her palm, while her other hand held another bag she was already biting into. Ruby took one bag from Nora as she distributed two to Weiss and Yang.

    "These were supposed to be sold, Nora," Ren sighed.

    "You did say I could eat as many as I want, no?"

    Ren let out another sigh. "I did."

    "So, where's Blake?" Pyrrha asked, glancing around. "Wasn't she with you just now?"

    "She was," Yang replied, munching on the pancake Nora had given her. "But she said she wants to wander around."

    "Did I miss anything?" Blake's voice suddenly appeared behind Yang. 

    "WAH!" Yang shouted, her pancake nearly escaping her grasp. "You scared me."

    "Sorry about that," Blake replied.

    "So, how's your booth doing?" Nora asked, handing out the final bag of pancakes to Blake. "Was busy serving the guests, didn't see much." 

    "I thought it would be a good idea." Ruby sighed, "but we've only got twelve customers in total, including my dad."

    "Sorry to hear," Pyrrha said sympathetically.

    "But anyway, shouldn't you guys go wander around?" Yang asked, "most booths are still opened y'know?"

    "But who'll take care of the booth?" Ruby asked back, she hated the thought of a guest showing up while she's absent.

    "Blake and I can, right Blake?" Yang said, nudging Blake with her elbow as a grin spread across her face.

    Blake glanced at Yang before giving a nod. "Don't worry, we'll take care of the booth."

    "So, should we go, Weiss?" Ruby turned to her white-haired friend. 

    "If you insist," Weiss replied, smiling.

    ❖-❖-❖

    "What's so special that you have to bring only the two of us here?" Weiss asked while Ruby tugged her through the crowd.

    Ruby glanced back with a smirk. "You'll see soon."

    Weiss's eyebrows furrowed, lips parting, but the only word that slipped out was a wavering, "Okay?"

    At last, Ruby and Weiss broke free from the pressing crowd, but Ruby dragged Weiss onward until they stood before a shadowy tent swathed in black. Skeletons and jack-o'-lanterns were clustered around the void black entrance, their cavities glowing with an unnatural green. Above it all, a neon sign flickered in jagged letters, screaming: GHOST HOUSE.

    "A ghost house?" Weiss asked, her expression perplexed.

    "C'mon Weiss." Ruby pleaded, her hand still in place. "Let's give it a try."

    Weiss hesitated, then finally conceded. "Alright."

    Ruby tugged Weiss to the counter, purchased two tickets and pulled Weiss into the entrance shrouded in black. As the stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind them with a heavy thump. Instantly, their surroundings were engulfed in darkness, not a single light to be seen.

    "It's a bit dark here," Weiss murmured. 

    "Don't worry— we've got signs to guide us." Ruby replied, pointing with her free hand to a board glowing faintly in a reddish green. She tugged Weiss forward until the text on the board became legible: a single arrow pointing at the tunnel ahead. Without the signboard's dim glow outlining the tunnel's bare shape, it would have been invisible.

    "Let's go," said Ruby.

    "Okay," Weiss replied. Although Weiss was completely invisible except the bare outline of her, Ruby was certain she was hanging her usual smile.

    They continue down the pitch-black corridor, guided by nothing except the recurring signboards directing them forward. At the end, the signboard paused, leaving them in a suffocating darkness. Ruby reach out her hand, searching for a wall. Suddenly, her foot pressed against something hidden on the floor. With a click, the area ahead lit up and at that very moment, a skeleton sprang forward, lunging straight into her face.

    "AHHHHH!" Ruby screamed, her eyelids clamping shut instinctively. For a moment, she did not dare to move. When she finally forced her eyes open, the light revealed nothing more than a regular skeleton, harmless and lifeless compared to moments ago. She then turned to her friend, only to realise her arms were wrapped tightly around Weiss's, unaware of when she had clung on to her friend.

    "Are you alright, Ruby?" Weiss asked. With the light, her face was finally visible. To Ruby's relief, she doesn't seem bothered by the fact that Ruby clinging to her arm.

    "I'm f-fine. Perfectly fine." Ruby said sheepishly, releasing Weiss's arm and retreating a step backwards. "And... sorry about that." 

    "It's fine Ruby," Weiss replied gently. "There's nothing to be ashamed of in being scared. After all, aren't ghost house supposed to be scary?"

    "I guess so?" Ruby said uncertainly. "But why aren't you startled?" How she wished she was also the same.

    "I... don't know how to explain," Weiss replied, her composure unshaken, without a single hint of fear on her face. "But... I just don't find it scary. So, shall we go on?" She asked, gesturing at a new corridor exposed by the light.

    "O...kay." Ruby replied, her voice wavering. Now, her only hope was the upcoming jump-scares won't leave her white as a sheet.

    What happened after Ruby stepped into the corridor was a blur to her, she couldn't recall anything except her screams. By the time she reopened her eyes, she and Weiss were at the exit, her arms once more tightly wrapped around Weiss's, without her realising when she had clung to Weiss.

    "Umm... sorry." Ruby apologised, releasing Weiss's arm, her voice barely audible.

    "It's alright," Weiss replied softly, glancing at her watch. "It's already forty-three past six. I think we should head back now."

    "Yeah," said Ruby. She swore that she'll never set her foot on a ghost house again for the rest of her life, no matter what.

❖❖❖

Chapter Text

    Whitley's gaze lingered on a specific name on his contact list. After a moment of hesitation, he finally ringed the dial button. His scroll ringed for a while before the other person on the other end of the scroll picked up.

    "Hello Whitley," a familiar voice greeted. "How you're doing lately?"

    "Fine. Perfectly fine, dear sister," Whitley replied wearily, "And you?"

    "Me too," Weiss replied with a smile. "I really appreciate you found time to call me, despite your tight schedule."

    "Yeah, well. After you shove everything onto me, my schedule is indeed very tight."

    "You're much suitable for the role compared to me, aren't you?" Weiss asked. "I'm always absent from heiress duties, and father never intended for me to inherit the company."

    "That doesn't mean you're entitled to shove all your job to your dear brother," Whitley said drily. "Who's two years old younger than you, for god's sake. But that's not what I called."

    "Then why did you?"

    "About how you changed," Whitley replied. "How you changed overnight at the start of the year."

    "Did I?"

    "Well, first things first, you suddenly became gentle, kind and caring to the staffs since that day," Whitley said. "And second, the way you speak and act has grown... mature. Subtle, but noticeable. Third, you suddenly became attentive to me. All of it happened since that day."

    "I admit, before that I ignored you and your well being. But I want to change, that's why."

    "I still remember you rolled your eyes to me that night. And the next day, you were different... so different that even the word ‘drastic’ can't fully describe it."

    "A lot happened that night," Weiss said calmly. "So I reflected on myself and changed in the way I thought I should."

    "What? Did you had a long dream?" Whitley asked, his sister seemed to start to lower her guard. Perhaps he now could learn the reason of her sister's dramatic change.

    "A very long one," Weiss replied, her tone suddenly heavy. "It starts as a beautiful dream, a one so beautiful that you don't want to escape. But when it reaches the climax, it turned into a nightmare."

    "What is it about?" 

    "About an adventure, an adventure that's so vivid that I could still clearly remember the voices of those in my dream," Weiss continued. 

    "Can you remember what they said?" 

    "Crystal clear." Weiss replied unfazed, as if she's oblivious to what her reply implied.

    "Is that really a dream?" Whitley asked. He had high hopes that Weiss will end his confusion, not deepen it.

    "I don't know," Weiss replied, wearing her classic smile. "But for what happened in it, I genuinely wish it was."

    "What happened?" Whitley asked, he feels like he's once again closer to the truth.

    "I don't remember, only that it's something bad. I can't really tell."

    "You remember the voices of those in your dreams but you forgot what the dream is about?" Whitley asked, unconvinced.

    "Isn't that how dreams work? Fragmented and aren't our brains selective with what they encode?"

    Whitley fell silent. He could feel there was something hidden behind that "dream," but he couldn’t yet put it into words.

    "Anything else you want to ask?" Weiss interjected. 

    Whitley hesitated, then he leaned forward. "Yes I do. What did you tell Mr. Hale?" Whitley questioned. "Why is that after speaking with you, he and the rest of the legal team suddenly gave up on appealing father's case?"

    "I simply provided him with a suggestion that's best for everyone, including himself."

    "An offer he can't refuse?" Whitley sharpened his tone. He needed to crack Weiss's facade, otherwise he will never get any answers.

    "Not quite, it was a suggestion, not an offer."

    "A suggestion he can't refuse, huh?" Whitley sneered.

    "A suggestion he wouldn't refuse, not he can't," said Weiss. "He still has the right to say no."

    "But he didn't."

    "Which means he accepted my suggestion."

    "So what exactly did you told him?" Whitley pressed.

    "He wishes to keep this a secret."

    "I have every right to know what did you told him." Whitley snapped.

    "I'll told you when the time comes."

    "Since when did you have the right to dictate what I should know and what I shouldn't?" Whitley teeth clenched; he was on the brink of exploding.

    "I'm really sorry," Weiss said softly. "But a promise is a promise." Whitley has never been so infuriated by her sister's words, not even when she's that arrogant, audacious self.

    "You'd better be." Whitley sneered. He had nearly lose his composure, his voice trembling with restrained anger. Weiss on the other hand, remained utterly unfazed.

    "I truly am," Weiss replied. "So... how's mother?"

    Whitley rolled his eyes again. "Changing the subject again, as always." He muttered. "Mother? She’s starting to recover, thanks to Father being tangled up in that weapon‑trafficking scandal. But she still has a long way to go."

    "She hasn't been drinking, has she?" Weiss asked carefully.

    "At least I haven't found any hidden bottles," Whitley replied. "Do you know how tiring it was to stop her from smuggling liquor into the manor? No you don't, you're far away in Beacon, enjoying your school life. But at least she stopped now."

    Weiss didn't rise to the jab. "So, none of the staffs have helped her?"

    Whitley shook his head. "No." 

    "That's good news."

    "Yes it is, in every way possible," Whitley replied. "So, what did told Mr. Hale?" He still wants to give one more try.

    "I told you he want it to remain a secret. But I can assure you, the outcome will be favourable for everyone, including you."

    "What outcome, father in jail?"

    Weiss replied with an unreadable smile. "You're getting closer but... no."

    "Then. What. Is. It." Whitley pressed.

    Just then, the door of Weiss's dorm slammed open, interrupting whatever Whitley thought her sister might say.

    "I'm back!" The newcomer announced with a tone overflowing with unrestrained energy.

    "Welcome back Ruby." Weiss replied as Whitley watched her sister turned her head away from the screen. Ruby? He thought. Guess this is the captain of her team she wrote about.

    "Uhm... who's that on your scroll?" Ruby asked. "Is it your brother?"

    "Yes he is."

    Before Whitley managed to say anything, Ruby popped her face into the display. "Hi Whitley. Weiss talked a lot about you."

    "What did she talked about me?" Whitley asked, although his mind was still figuring how to crack his sister's facade.

    "Just your name, how you look and uhh... other stuff." Ruby replied, scratching her head.

    "Did she told you what happened to her at the start of the year?" Whitley asked, Ruby might be the crack he could use to learn what Weiss is hiding.

    "Yeah, she told me that's when she picked up her habit of writing a diary." Ruby replied innocently. Whitley slumped his head on the table, he's still far away from the truth he seeks.

    "I mean—"

    "Ruby, you haven't introduced yourself yet." Weiss said to Ruby, as if to interrupt what Whitley wants to say.

    "Oh yeah, uh... I'm Ruby, your sister's friend and... Bestie!" Ruby said, wrapping her arms around Weiss while the latter just replied with a smile.

    "Nice to meet you." Whitley replied.

    "Nice to meet you too!" Ruby greeted back with brimming energy. "And oh, it's your family time, I'll be heading to the library soon, just here to grab my notebook." Upon saying, she disappeared from the display, with the door of Weiss's dorm closed after some sounds of papers shuffling. A smile surfaced on Weiss face as her gaze lingered at the door.

    "So, is there anything else you would like to say?" Weiss turned back to the screen. "I still have one minute left before leaving for my next class."

    "No," Whitley replied even though he had far more to say compared to what he said.

    "Would you please give Klein my best?"

    "Yeah, sure will." Whitley replied. Just you wait, I''ll find out what's behind your mask.