A/N: Hello, my readers! My sincerest apologies for being gone too long… chalk that up to work, RTX, and a forced and prolonged dumb RP that sucked my want for creativity dry (thanks T.E.)… anyhoo, freshly loaded with a new story idea. All other stories except maybe Role Reversal are now officially on indefinite hiatus. Also, as this is a collaboration with another soon to be named author, this story may and will probably show up on his thing, so… don't be alarmed if double stories come up. I have a few chapters done already, but will try to upload weekly.

Chapter 1

She pulled her hood up over her red-brown hair, he silver eyes watching the Headmaster announce the teams. These people would be her classmates for 4 entire years! The faunus stood nearby, talking avidly to the blonde, until…

"You four must follow your leader, through thick and thin… for that is what Beacon stands for, holding the bonds of humanity and Faunus, together. Together against the creatures of Grimm, and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. You four are team WSTT (West)." The headmaster shouted, then motioned for the next group, her group, to the stage after it was clear.

"Summer Rose, Taiyang Xiao Long, Raven Branwen, Qrow Branwen…" Headmaster Ozpin, with his usual untidy yet proper brown hair and sharp green suit called out, "You have collected the White Knights. You will form team STRQ (Stark), led by Summer Rose!" He ended, raising his voice at the end for flair.

The hall erupted. Although barely into their first week, everyone knew Summer Rose, "The nicest and friendliest girl in Initiation"

Due to an unexpected and Grimm complication, as Taiyang had put it, the entirety of the Initiation class was attacked by several hundred Beowolves. Summers quick thinking and planning helped them to annihilate the creatures with small scratches and cuts to show for it.

It was no wonder that she was awarded leadership of the team.

She was going to half to get used to that… 'her team'… She looked down for a second. She usually wasn't one to admire her own outfit, but a girl had to have her time sometimes.

She wore a modest white buttonup shirt, white jeans, white/red combat boots, and her signature white cape with the hood.

Taiyang was a veritable powerhouse. Somewhat slow moving, but could hit like a shit ton of bricks. He had messy blond hair, and a bit of stubble on his chin. He wore a simple brown leather vest and orange sweatpants. He had tattoos of dragons circling his arms, starting at the shoulder, and ending with the open mouthed heads on the back of his hands. He smirked at her.

Raven and Qrow, though brother and sister, could not be more different.

The former had long spikey black hair that vaguely resembled feathers, kind of a beaklike nose, red eyes, and a sneering expression on her face. She wore a blood red jacket, black shirt and pants, a combat skirt, also blood red, and… what may have been the biggest Katana she'd ever seen at her side. Out of all of them, Summer thought Raven would have been leader. She always seemed to operate tactfully and thought before every move. And she didn't take shit from anybody. Qrow on the other hand wore a white button down shirt, gray pants, and had messy yet slicked back grayish black hair. He also smirked, but that may have been because of the mysterious contents of the flask he always seemed to be drinking from.

Summer looked out at the cheering crowd, and saw her longtime friend, a bull Faunus named Adam Tavros, sat with his team, but was still cheering avidly.

Adam always seemed either happy, or really spaced out. The Faunus boy hated large crowds like this, preferring one on one or small group interactions. She was pleased to see he was able to function well in this situation.

He was tall and somewhat lanky, had wild red hair with two little brown horns poking through, and dark red eyes, an uncommon trait in bull Faunus. He wore a black blazer, black undershirt, black pants, and of course, black shoes. He always explained his bleak look to be "just how I came into this world." And wouldn't answer any more questions. He didn't look very bleak now, waving wildly and shouting.

His team, however, weren't as happy as he was.

Wyvern Winchester, White Schnee, and Ellinika Torchwick looked like something recently dead was shoved in their faces.

Winchester was a weedy looking boy, with greasy orange hair, a pointed face, and looked a little hunched, like he was carrying a lot of weight.

Schnee, his partner, was the complete opposite. He stood ramrod straight, with his hands clasped behind his back. He had short styled white hair, and a white/light blue suit. Rumors were already spreading as to why White Schnee, heir to the Schnee Dust Company was in training to become a hunter instead of some cushy job at SDC HQ… or why he was in Beacon in the first place, instead of the school in Atlas.

Ellinika Torchwick was… a stylish contrast to Schnee. She wore a black bowler hat with a greenish feather, a white peacoat and a red/white striped scarf. Black pants and shoes. She had a boycut, naturally a ginger, but with blue, green, and white highlights sticking out from under the hat. She was leaning idly on a thick black cane, but something told Summer that it wasn't simply to help with transportation.

The three of them stood close together, noticeably shying away from Adam, and staring at her like she was some lowlife or something…

She didn't care though. She wasn't as shallow as to expect to be loved and worshipped by all… in fact she preferred it. Taiyang seemed to kiss the ground she walked on, increased only after Initiation.

Raven and Qrow, a brother and sister, seemed less enthusiastic, but still nice and polite. They seemed to think one should be respected only if earned.

She didn't disagree with that in the slightest.

After shaking hands with Ozpin, they left the stage to watch the rest of the audience, standing close to WSTT.

Adam rushed up to her and hugged her tight, "I knew you'd get leadership after that thing with Initiation!" he said happily.

Behind him, the rest of WSTT followed their leader, albeit unwillingly, and voiced their congratulations through grit teeth.

Summer took him aside, "Adam… your teammates… don't seem to be very excited… is there something I should know?" she asked, giving him a 'don't shit with me' stare.

"Hehe…" He scratched his head, "They don't really like Faunus… at all… the idea of being on the command of one is… worse than death." He attempted a dark joke.

Adam was… very different than anyone Summer had ever met. He was as selfless and never liked to bother people with his problems, and if he did, Summer was usually the one that made him do so.

"You should talk to Ozpin… I'm sure he'd make an exception… they don't seem like the most hospitable bunch."

"Naw… I can handle them… Especially if my girl Summer is around…" He smiled dorkily at her, and she reciprocated…

She couldn't deny, although she'd known him since she herself was three years old, she couldn't help but feel different around him nowadays… not a bad feeling, not at all… just different. Like she was seeing him in a different light.

"Comeon, let's get to our dorms… Wyvern, White, and Ellinika may have sticks up their asses, but I, as leader, have to keep morale up… maybe bunkbeds would do the trick…" He scratched his chin, pondering.

"Yeah… I don't think they'd go for that. Ever. Especially the Schnee." Summer said, punching his shoulder.

He responded by giving her a light peck on the forehead before running off to his team, grabbing them, and pulling them along.

'This… is gonna be a long four years….' She thought to herself, before following her own teammates out.