Here goes something that I have had rattling around in my head for AGES since I heard the song "I May Fall" and came up with the idea that led to the eventual beginning of me writing this story.
I tend to write on the nights that I can't sleep so updates may be sporadic. Even if it's been a year, I eventually return to stories that I've begun. Until my external HD got corrupted and I lost everything, I had around 20 stories written out in Word that I had slowly been writing for years. Some parts of this may be a little hard for me to write while others will seemingly write themselves.
I just hope the people who decide to read this will enjoy it enough to leave a review and/or keep coming back.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own RWBY. RWBY is the property of Roosterteeth and Monty Oum.
Ruby was exhausted. Not only had she spent a sizable amount of time looking for Blake, but she hadn't eaten a single cookie all day. Ruby was running on fumes. It didn't help that she had been blasted by Roman Torchwick. Her aches and pains from the blast faded fairly quickly, thanks to her aura protecting her. Ruby could feel her irritation starting to build. So, she shifted her thoughts to Sun, the guy that Blake had been with.
Sun seemed like he was a good person. He had helped Blake in the fight in the port against Torchwick and the White Fang. Blake didn't talk about him much but she seemed to trust him enough to fight with him at her side. This much, Ruby knew. She didn't get a chance to really talk to him much before he left her team at the hands of the police and the Beacon professors.
Ruby's thoughts shifted again. Professor Goodwitch was less than thrilled with team RWBY being wrapped up in a fight, against criminals no less. The Headmaster silently watched them with a smile on his face as Professor Goodwitch berated the team. Ruby had looked at him only once during the professor's lecture but he seemed to be proud of them for stopping the criminals.
Ruby rolled over and tried to make out Blake's sleeping form as her thoughts shifted towards Blake. Blake had said that she had left the White Fang because she couldn't agree with their methods any longer. Ruby found herself idly wondering what had changed Blake's mind on the White Fang's views. It was obvious to Ruby that Blake didn't hate humans. More than anything, Ruby was just thankful that Blake came back to the team.
Ruby's focus shifted to her sister sleeping in the bunk above Blake. Yang didn't ask Blake anything about her past. Most people would see that as Yang not caring but Ruby knew better. Yang was as concerned as Ruby was about Blake. However, Ruby knew Yang would wait for a bit to allow Blake time to adjust to her secret being known.
Ruby rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling. Her thoughts just wouldn't stop flowing. It was as if they were like a train that she couldn't see an end to. They were an endless train of thoughts. It was an endless amount of thinking that kept her from falling asleep.
The quiet sound of a mattress creaking shook Ruby from her thoughts. When she rolled over to see who it was, she saw Weiss standing next to their bunk bed. Weiss was staring up at Ruby. Ruby leaned over the side of the bed and towards Weiss. "Did I wake you?", whispered Weiss as she glanced at her teammates. Ruby didn't want to wake them either so she merely shook my head. Weiss pointed to the door of their dorm and raised an eyebrow. Ruby nodded and quietly climbed down from her bunk.
The girls tiptoed their way to the door and quickly, quietly let themselves out. As Ruby shut the door and turned towards her team mate, Weiss was looking her in the eyes. What Weiss said chilled Ruby's bones and left her feeling slightly unnerved to the point that she subconsciously took a step backwards. "One day, your curiosity about things is going to get you killed." After that, Weiss turned away from Ruby and started walking towards the dorm bathrooms.
Ruby could only think of one thing at that moment. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked. Weiss didn't stop walking as she replied to Ruby. "If you keep sticking your nose in other people's business AND their past, you are going to get badly burned by it." Weiss's voice carried a tone that Ruby had never heard her team mate use before. Ruby didn't respond and kept following her. Neither one said anything else the rest of the way to the bathroom.
When the two girls arrived, Weiss promptly went in to take care of business. Ruby stayed by the door and mulled over what Weiss had said to her. Ruby just couldn't place her finger on why Weiss's tone had bothered her. Ruby couldn't even guess at why she would say that much less why she felt that way. When Weiss exited the bathroom minutes later, Ruby still had no answers. Weiss stopped at the doorway of the bathroom and looked Ruby in the eyes again.
Weiss sighed as her shoulders drooped slightly before returning to her normal posture. "You just can't leave it alone, can you? You are such a dolt at times.", muttered Weiss as she shook her head. The look in her eyes and on her face was a look that Ruby hadn't ever seen her team mate make before. Weiss's voice didn't carry her usual tone of slight indifference or condescendence. She almost sounded sad. Ruby scratched the back of her head out of nervousness as she replied. "The way you said it, it had a bigger hook than a good cliffhanger in stories."
Weiss sighed again. "Let's just say…I overheard something that I couldn't believe. Just call it a…dark, horrible secret that brought me a heavy burden. It's all because I eavesdropped on a conversation out of curiosity." Without looking at Ruby or even waiting for her, Weiss headed back to the dorm. After a moment, Ruby followed Weiss back to the dorm.
The next week went by in a blur. Things seemed to return to normal for team RWBY. They went to their classes as if nothing happened. They ate their meals as they normally did, sitting with team JNPR. They talked with team JNPR in between classes. They studied notes and did their homework, Yang and Ruby sometimes needing help with their studies. They were about to be blind-sided and didn't even have a slight chance of seeing it coming.
Ruby could hear Yang talking with Phyrra while Nora was talking Ren's ear off as the two teams walked to their Combat Training class. Weiss and Blake were listening to the conversations. Ruby could see Jaune staring off at the scenery outside the windows. "I'm just saying that it would be nice to fight people from other classes.", said Yang as she explained her view to Phyrra. Phyrra had a logical response of her own waiting for Yang.
"If we constantly fight new opponents, then we have nothing to gauge our growth in skill and ability against.", said Phyrra as she wore a slight smile on her face. Ruby could see that Phyrra had Yang beat in this debate. Yang opened her mouth and then shut it a time or two before admitting her defeat. "I guess. I just want a new opponent or two." Yang was quiet the rest of the way to class.
Glynda Goodwitch dropped a bomb on the two teams during her Combat Training class. Glynda cleared her throat before speaking. "Students, I have an important announcement to make. This announcement will impact all of you. For the next month, each of you will be sparring against students in their fourth year at Beacon. These training sessions will commence as a tournament style duel of one team of first year students against a single fourth year student. Aura usage will be allowed but, as always, no firearms or dust of any kind may be used." Ruby could hear her friends and the other students murmuring about what this could mean but Glynda put an end to that before rumors could even start going around the class.
"Each of the students your teams will face is in the top of their year. Also, many of them are leaders of their own teams. They are powerful, focused, and highly skilled hunters and huntresses who will undoubtedly graduate this year." Glynda paused again. Ruby snuck a look at her friends.
Ruby could see Phyrra covering her face with one hand as she quietly groaned. Ruby also couldn't help but notice as Jaune slouched and groaned in a quiet manner like Phyrra did. Nora and Ren only exchanged a glance before smiling at each other. Blake and Weiss looked completely caught off guard by the news. Even Ruby was feeling slightly nervous about fighting a fourth year student. Yang looked like she was starting to get excited.
"This change to the Combat Training class will occur more than 'just a few times'. It will be to gauge how much your team has improved in between each time this change occurs. This exercise is also to provide the fourth year students with another means of sharpening their skills. It will also help each of you realize your limits." Glynda paused for a moment again.
Yang couldn't hold it back any more. "So, we'll be fighting against really strong people?", asked a hopeful Yang. Glynda merely nodded in confirmation. Yang jumped and pumped her fist in the air. "Yah! Finally! We get to fight new people!"
Glynda coughed and spoke up. "I should inform you, Ms. Xaio Long, that several of the fourth year students are able to force the occurrence of a draw between my colleagues and themselves." Now, Ruby was starting to feel really nervous. Even Yang looked like she was suddenly having second thoughts about wanting to do this.
Then, Ruby heard a voice that she wasn't expecting to hear. "So, if these training battles are going to be with five people…then, isn't the stage a little small for this?" Ruby found the source of the question to be Jaune. Glynda nodded. "That is correct. "
The professor merely smiled. "The area you are standing is where these battles will take place. Those not fighting will be on the stage.", said Glynda with a wry smile that added a little more fuel to her students nervousness. At that time, a voice called out behind Ruby. "Sorry we're late Professor Goodwitch. We had to find a few Nevermore in the forest." When Ruby turned around, she saw a group of four people walking towards the class. She didn't know which one had spoken.
Ruby glanced back at the professor. She wasn't sure but her professor seemed to anticipate the group being late. Ruby turned back to the new group. A young woman wearing blue jeans and a white shirt with a flame design on it spoke up. Her hair was a dark reddish black. She carried a pair of swords at her side and was the one who apologized earlier. "Professor Griffon gave us an assignment. Each of us had to find a Nevermore or Deathstalker and take it down alone. It didn't help that we had to have another team watch as witnesses."
This got a reaction from everyone, including Ruby. Ruby could only wonder how they managed to do it. It took the full cooperation of her team to bring down a single Nevermore. As Ruby studied each of the newcomers, she could see signs of fighting on their clothing and armor.
Yang was the first to comment. "Geez, fight a Nevermore? Alone?" Phyrra shrugged her shoulders as she spoke up. "I have heard that Beacon does have an odd professor or two that gives strange, tough assignments." Yang walked towards her professor and called out to her. Everyone but Ruby had their eyes on Yang. "So Professor, who gets to fight first?", said Yang with a mischievous smile as she clenched her hands in anticipation, her earlier apprehension gone.
"Who gets to fight first?", said one of the newcomers, echoing Yang's question. Ruby could see he had black hair that was kept short. The group parted as he walked toward us. Ruby could see he wore only a black shirt and jeans with a pair of knuckledusters. "I'll go first.", said the young man with confidence as he took a fighting stance. His voice had a low, gravelly feel to it. "Oh~. A fist fighter? I could have fun fighting you.", said Yang with a grin as she brought out Ember Celica.
Ruby glanced at Weiss and Blake. "Good grief.", muttered Weiss to nobody. Blake smiled and drew Gambol Shroud and its sheath. "It seems Yang volunteered us to go first.", said a not too happy Blake. Weiss sighed and drew Myrtenaster. "She didn't even consider us.", complained Weiss. Ruby drew Crescent Rose, shifted it to scythe form, and hung it over her shoulder. "Team RWBY, let's go.", said Ruby as she sized up her opponent. She could hear everyone else behind her moving towards the stage to avoid being drawn into battle.
Team RWBY watched the young man as he smiled. "Belthasar Braddon. Semblance? Force." Each of the four girls glanced at each other for a moment. They introduced themselves but didn't mention their semblances. "No semblance mentioning? Don't be so cold girls. It won't make a difference in who's going to win.", said Belthasar with a shrug before returning to his fighting stance.
Yang bristled, falling for the mental trap. "You want to talk or fight?", said Ruby as she took her own stance. Belthasar smiled and threw one hand behind him. A blast of white light immediately followed, sending him rocketing towards the girls. When he got close, Ruby realized his target was Yang. She saw a flash of white as her sister guarded the attack. It still blew Yang backwards. The rest of team RWBY didn't stand a chance.
Weiss promptly got a follow-up one-two combo with the second hit giving off that same flash of light. During that, Blake swung Gambol Shroud at him with the sheath being used to parry a punch from Belthasar. Ruby used her semblance of speed to slip behind him. She saw Blake's next attack get parried before she was thrown back with that same flash of white light.
At that point, Yang had gotten back into the fray. Belthasar and Yang had a cross counter moment. Ruby brought the back end of Crescent Rose down on his shoulder. I heard Belthasar grunt as he bore the attack. Immediately after, Ruby saw Belthasar grab her sweetheart near the base of the crescent blade as he grabbed Yang's arm. He slammed Ruby and Yang into each other.
As Ruby tried to recover from the world swirling in strange ways, she saw a white light coming from Belthasar. It wasn't meant for her or Yang. Blake and Weiss had entered the fray again, trying to attack from Belthasar's now open flanks but it was only for a moment. Weiss had apparently used her glyphs to propel them immediately back into the battle. Ruby struggled to regain her balance from the heavy blow she had taken as her friends were blown backwards. Then, Ruby heard a voice.
"Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna are eliminated." The voice belonged to Glynda Goodwitch. Yang flared with her semblance as she charged forward at Belthasar with a flurry of blows and sent him on the defensive as he parried each of them. Ruby glanced at the giant screen that tracked their auras. Belthasar, Yang, and Ruby were all in the yellow. Blake and Weiss were in the red. Then, Ruby saw a white flash in the corner of her eye and Yang's aura dropped into the red.
"Yang Xaio Long is eliminated." Ruby looked at the one who would likely defeat her team. Belthasar eyed Ruby up and down as he maintained his stance. He had a smug look on his face. Ruby saw that he felt that his victory was already won. Ruby was the only one left. Ruby used her semblance to charge straight at him. Ruby never guessed he saw the attack coming.
Ruby planted the back end of Crescent Rose into his stomach but he didn't get sent flying, the unanticipated reaction catching her off guard. Belthasar grabbed the handle and tried to throw Ruby, using her weapon against her, but Ruby had already let go of her sweetheart. Belthasar only succeeded in throwing the scythe to the side. Using her semblance, Ruby immediately reclaimed her 'baby' from the ground, followed by a mental apology to her beloved weapon.
That was when Ruby saw Belthasar sizing her up in a serious manner. He knew Ruby wouldn't go down without a serious fight, not after how he eliminated her teammates. Ruby glanced at the giant screen and saw that both of their auras were close to the red. The two of them knew the next exchange would be the last.
When Ruby disappeared from Belthasar's sight, his whole body immediately started glowing with white light. As Ruby got close to his left flank, her vision exploded into white and she felt her body go weightless for a moment before she hit the ground. "Ruby Rose is eliminated." Ruby heard her professor announce her defeat as she sat up. Ruby was greeted by the sight of Belthasar offering her a hand and she took it.
It wasn't until Ruby stood next to him that she realized just how tall he was. He stood a bit taller than Yang but not by much. "A clear lack of tactics and strategy costed you this fight.", said Belthasar, his gaze and tone of voice being cold and harsh as he continued. "When fighting something you know nothing about, a defensive role is the best solution. Learn about your opponent and THEN defeat them."
Ruby saw the other fourth year students walking towards them with her team in tow. When the two groups met up, they headed for the stage. The red-headed woman in the white shirt with a flame design and jeans playfully punched Belthasar in the arm. "You just couldn't give them a single chance, could you?", she said with a laugh. "Well, Sildra, I saw openings and I took them. They're strong but uncoordinated.", replied Belthasar with a look of mild annoyance. Yang walked up to her sister.
"You made short work of them, idiot." The one who insulted Belthasar was a young man with dusty brown hair. He wore a plain black sleeveless shirt with blue jean shorts. Belthasar dismissed the man with a wave of his hand. "Janis, I hate losing. You know this.", said Belthasar as he turned to face the man he called Janis. Yang piped up with her own retort. "If we could use ammo, it would have been a landslide victory for us.", said Yang with confidence.
Belthasar shook his head. "That wouldn't make up for the lack of team work. The only one who was a true threat is this cute girl next to me.", said Belthasar as he looked at Ruby. Using her semblance, Ruby slipped behind Yang and hid behind her sister. "Yang, help!", squeaked Ruby from behind Yang. Belthasar only laughed. "And with that, he's been shot down again.", said Sildra with a shrug of her shoulders.
It was then that Ruby noticed one of the fourth year students was intensely eyeing her scythe. Ruby was taken aback by the woman's intense star. The woman had green hair that was pulled back in a short pony tail, wore short black shorts, and a plain black sleeveless tank top that was tight on her, revealing her curves. "Ca-can I help you?", said Ruby, unsure of what to make of this newfound attention.
"Don't mind Flora. She's just a weapon geek.", said Sildra as she tried to haul the curvy Flora away from Ruby. Almost immediately, Flora broke free and started gushing over Ruby's scythe. "I can't believe it! It's a high caliber sniper scythe! Custom scythes are so COOL!", squealed Flora with excitement. As the group neared the stage, Ruby switched her scythe to its compact travel form and clipped it to the back of her belt.
This caused Flora to get even more excited as the group climbed onto the stage. "It can even collapse into a more storable form!" The whole class cringed at the high pitch of Flora's voice. "You have got to tell me where this amazing weapon is from!", said Flora as she grabbed both of Ruby's hands with her own, excited beyond belief. Ruby laughed nervously.
"I-I designed and built it myself while studying at Signal Academy.", said Ruby nervously, hoping the information wouldn't cause another high-pitched outburst from the new admirer of her handiwork. Flora just stood slack-jawed for a moment before she found her voice. "That is just too cool…", she whispered.
"Sildra, you are next in line to fight.", said Glynda without looking up from the screen in her hands. With a touch on the screen, the students saw team RWBY's portraits go blank. Then, the screen began to quickly cycle through team names of the class in a seemingly random way until it stopped on team JNPR. Ruby saw Jaune slouch, his head hanging low as he gave an audible groan. Ruby heard Nora's excited squeal pierce her eardrums in a manner similar to Flora's voice.
"Awesome! Think we'll see Sildra cut loose?", squealed Flora as she clasped her hands behind her as her question went unanswered. "Mr. Arc, you don't seem to be pleased with this development.", stated Glynda with a raised eyebrow. Flora chimed in her two lien. "Well Professor, maybe even the first years have heard the rumors about her." This made every first year student look at Flora.
Flora stared back at them. "What? None of you even know her reputation?!", asked Flora in dismay. Sildra stepped forward, raised her hand, and coughed into it. "I have never lost a match. Professor, what is my record at after the last few weeks?" Glynda quickly pulled up her student's records and smiled. She knew her class would not believe it when she would announce it. "Over your time in Beacon, you have amassed an impressive seven hundred and sixty-two consecutive wins, no losses, and no draws."
This news caused Jaune to slouch even further. It even took the wind out of Nora's sails. Sildra could only smile. "My goal before graduation is one thousand wins and no losses OR draws.", said a very confident Sildra as she hopped off the stage. Sildra looked back at her soon-to-be opponents. "Come on kids. Let's get this over with.", said Sildra as she motioned for them to come forward.
Team JNPR slowly moved towards the edge of the stage. Ruby watched her friends as they hopped down, drew their weapons, and took their stances. Ruby saw Flora shaking her head. Ruby shot her peer a questioning look that Flora immediately caught. "They don't stand a chance.", said a sad Flora.
Ruby was taken aback by Flora's matter-of-fact statement. "What do you mean?", asked Ruby in a quizzical tone of voice. Belthasar decided to join the conversation and toss his two lien as well. "Look at Sildra. She's completely relaxed as she is sizing up her opponents. As experienced as she is, she can tell in a glance that she will win."
Belthasar pointed at Jaune as he continued on. "That kid's stance is weak compared to the other girl with a shield." Flora pointed at Ren. "He looks calm but I can tell he's really nervous about fighting Sildra." Ruby looked at her friends and she could see Jaune's stance was fairly weak but she couldn't see what they saw in Ren.
"Both of the girls are wary, with good reason. Sildra is a beast of an opponent even when she's not serious.", stated Flora in the same matter-of-fact tone she had used moments ago. "Comparing that shield user's stance to the boy's, it's similar to his but it's much more solid. She won't topple easily under a rain of blows.", murmured Belthasar as he and Flora proceeded to size up all of team JNPR.
Sildra closed her eyes as she began to glow with a black aura around her. Team JNPR watched in fascination and apprehension as Sildra's shadow split into three shadows that rose up from the ground and took an exact likeness to Sildra. "My semblance: Doppelganger. Doppelgangers feel no pain, so don't hold back.", said all four of the Sildras with a smirk. All four drew their dual swords and started walking towards team JNPR.
Ruby watched in awe at the semblance she was seeing. "She's starting off with her semblance? I didn't see that coming.", murmured Belthasar. Flora stood completely still, intent on not missing a moment of her friend's battle. Much to Flora's disappointment, the battle ended in about five minutes. Team JNPR didn't stand a chance under the quick and precise onslaught of Sildra's caliber.
It was a series of quick, brutal movements. All four Sildras moved quickly in unison as they forced each member of team JNPR in singles style combat. Ruby watched Jaune as he tried to keep up with his shield against the quick flashes of Sildra's blades. It only took a few attacks before one of the blades slipped past Jaune's shield. The flat side of the sword easily pushed aside Jaune's shield and slammed into his left shoulder, causing the boy to cry out in pain as his stance was nearly toppled by the quick attack.
Ruby glanced at the big screen and saw Jaune's aura had dropped by a decent amount. "Red, if you're wondering why she's only playing with them, it's because she uses her semblance mainly for training. The use of her semblance splits the strength of her aura equally between herself and her shadows.", said Belthasar as his gaze never left the battle playing out before him. "Each shadow shares their learned knowledge when they return to being a part of her. Thus, it's the main method she uses for training herself and others.", continued Belthasar as Ruby heard her professor announce Nora's defeat at the same time.
Ren was the next to be defeated under the heavy, precise attacks that picked apart his defense. With each member of team JNPR that was defeated, one of the Sildra shadows merely joined with another shadow in combat against the remaining members. Ruby watched in fascination as she realized that Jaune had gotten a fair bit better from the last time she had seen him fight. With every blow blocked by his shield or taken aside by his sword, it seemed as if Jaune's stance and guard were slightly improving.
"It seems Sildra likes them.", said Belthasar with a laugh. Yang piped up next to him. "What do you mean?", she asked. Belthasar smiled as he responded. "Sildra would have ended it by now. She's got their defenses completely figured out and is just chipping away at their auras, hoping they learn something." Yang folded her arms under her ample chest with a confused look on her face. "So, she's just trying to show them where they have openings?", asked the blonde.
Belthasar's smile grew a little when Phyrra was eliminated. "It's four against one, blonde boy. Let's see what you do now.", whispered Flora as she continued to watch with an intense look to her eyes. Jaune held up longer than anyone expected. Nobody could tell which one was Sildra but her skill was evident in how she kept Jaune entirely on the defensive.
Then, something happened. Jaune caught a blade aimed at his back with his shield. Jaune decided to attack. He stepped forward and brought his shield around to catch another blade coming from his left as his sword intercepted and parried a blade from his right. He barely saw the speedy lunging stab coming at him from the front. He semi-wildly swung his shield from left to right and knocked aside the blade, his sword barely parrying another blade due to his awkward stance.
Jaune slammed his shield straight into what he thought was one of the shadows of Sildra. From the cry of pain and surprise, he realized he had hit the real Sildra as he quickly spun around to face the shadows. If not for his own surprise, the battle would likely have gone on longer but the three shadows didn't budge an inch in their attacks. The battle ended with that exchange as all three shadows converged on him. Even though the blows weren't strong in force, Jaune collapsed out of bodily exhaustion from fighting for about five minutes straight against an opponent who tested him further and further with every exchange.
Belthasar gave a quiet whistle as he shook his head. Flora was slack jawed for a moment before she found her voice. "He actually hit her. Even I have trouble doing that.", muttered Flora in dismay at a first year student doing something she apparently had trouble doing. "Shields divide the work of offense and defense. It's such an effective method of defense that even law enforcement personnel use shields to protect themselves during civil unrest. Despite that, many hunters and huntresses opt for a different style of fighting. ", said Belthasar to nobody in particular.
Glynda eyed Jaune up and down. It was apparent to her that he had gotten better but she knew he wasn't ready for Beacon's level of training. Now, she was sure he had been receiving training from someone outside of her class and there was only one person that it could be due to how similar their combat methods were. Glynda watched as Jaune's friends huddled around him, asking if he was hurt anywhere. Despite his team losing, Jaune had a content smile on his face as he assured his friends that he was only worn out.
Belthasar moved next to Glynda. "He's really rough around the edges but he's got potential, more than he realizes. Think you can give him a boost of confidence? A lack of faith in himself seems to be his biggest weakness.", whispered Belthasar as he watched Jaune slowly stand up with the help of his friends. Glynda didn't respond to him as she walked forward.
"Mr. Arc, I very seldom give compliments to any of my students. However, this one, you have earned. Belthasar, Flora, Sildra's shadows, and a very small number of others are the only ones who have ever landed a solid attack on Sildra. Sildra's ability to perceive and react accordingly to her attacker is great indeed.", said Glynda very slowly as she watched the words sink into her student.
Jaune immediately felt several hands on his shoulders and back as his friends echoed their professor's compliment. Jaune slowly processed what his professor had actually really meant. She had told him he was better than he thought he was and that even she acknowledged his abilities this one time. A professor at the prestigious Beacon Academy that trained only the best of the potential hunters and huntresses had acknowledged him, Jaune D'Arc. Jaune felt a mix of soul-crushing regret for using false papers to enter the school and extreme hope that he may actually be able to attain his desire to become a hero with the help of his teammate, Phyrra.
The rest of the classes went by in a blur and before the two teams realized it, even dinner had come and gone. Just as quickly, the evening time had faded into the early hours of nighttime. Before team RWBY knew it, it was already time for bed. Ruby had heard her teammates, Blake and Yang, fall asleep as she lay curled up in her bed, studying her notes to help her with doing her homework.
She could see Weiss sitting at the table, only illuminated by candlelight. There were open books strewn out all across the table as Weiss poured over different books at different times for references on one subject or another. Ruby gathered up her homework and her book before quietly hopping down from her bunk bed. Weiss only glanced up at her as she set her homework out on a tiny section of the table that was clear of Weiss's papers and books.
"I can't help you study tonight, Ruby. I have a paper due soon on advanced Dust Mechanics.", whispered Weiss. Without even looking at Ruby, she knew her partner understood. "That's fine. I just felt the table would be better instead of a comfy bed.", whispered Ruby as she began on her homework again.
Weiss set her pen down and looked up at Ruby, catching her partner's hint. "Cream and five sugars, right?", whispered Weiss as she stood up. Ruby didn't look up or stop writing as she nodded in affirmation. Weiss stood up and, without saying anything further, left the room. Ruby felt a warm feeling in her heart that made her smile, despite being exhausted from her fight earlier in the day. "Normal knees…", she thought to herself as she kept at her homework. It was a thought she had every time her and Weiss did homework together like this.
And that's the first chapter. I hope that you, the readers, have enjoyed the chapter. :) When I reference something canon, I either refer to the RWBY wiki or, in the case of how Ruby likes her coffee, I refer to the episodes. Why? I like to be close to the original while still doing my own thing. :) It...lends a sense of the believable to the story, in my opinion.
I know Ruby doesn't seem like the type to let her thoughts wander like they do at the beginning but she struck me as the type of person who would take Ozpin's advice very seriously about being a leader. I AM, however, semi-influenced by other writers who have written Ruby as having an unhealthy obsession with eating cookies.
As for Jaune suddenly "being good enough" to land a single blow on a huntress-in-training like Sildra, even the best fighters can't always keep an opening from being there. Also, I feel Jaune is better than what we've seen so far. Probably not by much but given that Phyrra has a similar fighting style of sword/spear and shield, I do expect Jaune to be at least a decent fighter by the end of his first year at Beacon. Probably not good enough to have been accepted into Beacon but still good enough to hold his own in a small encounter of around 5-10 Grimm. Now, 20+ Grimm? I would expect him to get hurt badly, if not outright killed. His team can only watch his back so much in a fight where their lives are on the line...
If you see a misspelled word(hard to believe but spell check and I don't always catch them) or a word(like there/their/they're) used improperly, please mention it in a review so that I can fix it. In my opinion, proper grammar and spelling makes it much easier for readers to enjoy a story. Not to mention that it makes it easier to read and understand.
Random author comment:Word has some messed up concepts of line breaks, tabs, and formatting. I miss the days of when I used a word processor where everything was in nice little menus that led to a single window where you could easily setup the entire spacing and layout of a document in less than a minute. Now, with this Word Processor from Windows 7, I'm lost! :)