Author's Note: Okay, so before we begin, I would like to offer a little explanation; this is, in essence a Future AU based on my first story, 'I'm Not Perfect.' I've been thinking about this for months now, and I've had most of this chapter sitting on my computer for months, and so I just today figured I'd post this first chapter and see how it goes. How this is going to work is that the chapters are going to take place either 14 years in the future, such as this present one, wherein the canon characters have settled into their adult lives and in which an OC team will be prominently featured (I promise to try not to write Seus - criticism is always welcome), or, like the next chapter I have planned, they will take place a scant 4 years ahead of "I'm Not Perfect" focusing pretty exclusively on the canon characters (Namely Weiss, Jaune, and Pyrrha as well) as they approach their graduation. For clarity's sake I will note which time period we're dealing with in each chapter through the author's notes. While this chapter is going to be an admittedly slow start, I do pledge here and now to try and include action that will hopefully live up to my previous story. Finally, I know that I posted this yesterday as a continuation of "I'm Not Perfect" but I'll level with you; I was half asleep at the time, and upon further reflection, this really is going to be it's own thing, so I'm officially swapping the 'continuation' label for 'sequel' instead. Anyway, without further ado, I do hope you enjoy if you haven't already, and I always look forward to whatever feedback that you care to leave.

Corolla Mädchen the Aspiring Huntress

It was a wintery day in northern Vale, and a dusting of snow covered the ground and tress that surrounded the little village. There were perhaps a few dozen log-cabin style buildings in all, mostly homes, but signs hanging in front of a few of them marked them out as shops: Dust, butcher, baker, candle-stick maker, etc. Cold as the day was, children could still be seen scrambling about between the houses, throwing snowballs and building forts, all bundled up nice and warm. The streets were unpaved and nearest one house could be found to be set relative to another was a good thirty feet of open space. All told, it was a nice little contrast to the densely-packed bustle of Urban Vale. Ten years ago though, this nice little hamlet hadn't existed, as this part of the kingdom had previously been a hotbed of Grimm activity, that is, until the local Huntress took up residence.

Adjusting her bright green scarf as she let out a sigh, causing a long plume of fog to spill out of her mouth in the form of a sigh, Corolla Mädchen halted in her progress to turn back and cast an impatient look at her best friend, "Come on, Rhiannon's! There's a dozen Dust shops in Vale!"

"Ya, I know, but-,"

"We came here for a reason Rhiannon's…" Corolla started tapping her foot, but she couldn't help cracking a smile as she offered a compromise, "We can always check it out after we meet her,"

"Aye," Rhiannon's MacCoul finally found the motivation to pry herself from the glass of the display window of the little Dust shop, "But I'm gonna hold ye to that,"

"Sure thing,"

"So which one of these houses is 'er's"

"Um…"

Rhiannon's snorted in her amusement, "Thought ye were s'posed to be the responsible one..." she weaved her fingers together behind her head and looked over at a few local children having a snowball fight, "Mayhap we ought just ask these little buggers-,"

"Got it!" Corolla interrupted, having fished the map out of the pocket of her green winter jacket and looking it over intently, "Let's see… It's… This one!" She showed Rhiannon's the map, her finger placed on the northernmost house represented.

Rhiannon's cocked her head, "A'ight then, lead the way,"

Corolla's shoulders slumped, "Seriously? You don't think you could find that? It's the last thing before the edge of the village!"

"'Course I could," Rhiannon's allowed, "But ye should know me by now; I'm just too damn lazy,"

"…"

"What?"

"Nothing… It's just… It's a good thing I like you…"

"Damn straight!" Corolla's red-headed friend grinned from ear to ear as she slung an arm over Corolla's shoulder, "Besides, how'd you reach the top shelf w'thout me?"

"I'm not that short!" Corolla shot back with a pout, drawing a few curious looks from the nearby children, and consequently lowering her voice, a bit embarrassed at having let Lydia rile her like that, "Anyway… Let's go and… Let me do the talking, okay?"

"Right-o, then,"

With another deep breath and a nod, Corolla started to move again, looking more at the map than where she was going, "So the square's just up ahead… then we take a right…"

After about ten minutes Corolla had managed to find their intended destination. At a cursory glance, it was just another humble log-cabin; one floor, surrounded by a little snow-covered yard, but the place was marked out by a wreath of roses hanging on the door, as well as what looked to be out of season rose bushes hugging the walls.

"Certainly looks like the place," Rhiannon's raised an eyebrow as she shifted her attention between the residence and her scroll, on which was displayed the file of the woman they'd come here to see, "'Bet the place looks real pretty-like in the spring,"

"Ruby Rose indeed…" Corolla whistled.

"Well? Don't just stand there! Ye wanted to do the talkin,' so go knock on the-," Rhiannon's encouragement was interrupted, however, when a little snowball smashed into the back of her head, getting in her red hair and falling down the back of her neck.

"You talk funny lady!" one of the local children teased, provoking a cacophony of laughter from the other kids.

"Rhiannon, don't-," Corolla tried to reign her friend in, having seen that evil smile plenty of times before on her face, but it was a useless effort.

"Corolla," Lydia said evenly, bending down to scoop up a handful of snow, "Ye can handle our little meet 'n' greet ya? Seems I've been invited…" She spun on her heel to pitch her own snowball back at the crowd of children, who al scattered, squealing with delight, "I'll meet ye at the Dust shop in a couple hours, ya?"

"Not like I've got much choice…"

It had always been like this really; they'd met in their first year of Signal and been best friends ever since. Lydia had always been stubborn and distractible, but always fun to be around, if not always the most diligent of partners. This sort of thing happened wherever they went though, because Lydia loved kids. Possibly owing to the fact that she was the oldest of sixteen, and so she'd had to learn to love them, but either way, she never missed a chance to let her own inner child loose, and kids usually loved her for it.

Corolla herself had always been the more diligent of the two; not that she was a wet blanket herself, but she was better at channeling her enthusiasm. Dad was a police officer and Mom had always taught her to help people, so training to be a huntress was a natural fit, and so the last push she'd needed to make her decision when she was a little girl had been Angela Snow. Apparently a distant relative, Angela had periodically sent her letters, starting with one attached to a present for her fourth birthday. The gift had been a box full of candy, and the letter contained Angela's introduction, as well as her return address at Beacon academy in case Corolla wanted to send her a letter in return. After asking her mother what Beacon Academy was, Corolla decided then and there that she wanted to be like Angela Snow, despite never having met her; it was a childishly impulsive decision upon reflection, but after almost fourteen years and eight semesters at Signal, she hadn't lived to regret it yet. Dismissing any remaining hesitation from her mind, Corolla reached forward and knocked a few times on the front door.

There was a yelp from inside, "Uh… Just a minute!" Corolla blinked a few times, and then winced at the baffling sounds of a great many things suddenly falling over on the other side of the door, but didn't dwell on it, as she had to duck a stray snowball as the door opened, "Sorry, I just had to-," Silver eyes blinked a few times in surprise as the snowball struck her face, "Uh… What?"

Corolla's hands flew to her mouth as she stood and gasped, "I am so sorry-, I ducked to avoid it-, I didn't know you'd-,"

Ruby Rose wiped the snow from her face with one hand, "No, no, it's fine; happens all the time actually… Aaaaanyway, come on in!"

After an apologetic bow, Corolla did as instructed, and followed the full-fledged huntress back into her home. Inside was a warmly burning fireplace which dominated the front room which also featured several comfortable looking chairs and a coffee table. From the kitchen wafted the smell of baking cookies. The place just felt sort of… cozy.

"So you're… Ruby Rose? The Huntress?"

"Yep, that'd be me," Ruby nodded with a smile and a gesture towards one of the chairs, "Have a seat; the cookies should be done in ten minutes or so… and take the jacket off and stay a while, well… if you want to…"

"What was that commotion a second ago?" Corolla asked confusedly.

"Oh, that…" Ruby rubbed the back of her head nervously, "I might have knocked over a stack of dirty dishes in the kitchen, but never mind that, let's talk about you," Ruby cocked her head as they both took seats, "You're… Corolla Mädchen, right?"

Corolla nodded.

"Weren't there supposed to be two of you though?"

"Yeah…" Corolla nodded gesturing back toward the door, "Lydia's… Well she's playing with the kids outside, I guess…"

"Ah," The older woman nodded sagely, "I've been there… Just yesterday actually…"

Corolla cocked her head, "Really?"

"Totally!" Ruby affirmed emphatically, "Every time it snows," She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone, "Between you and me, I win every time,"

Corolla just blinked a few more times, Is she serious?

"But enough about that…" Ruby leaned back a bit, "you're here for… some kind of interview… thing… right?"

Somewhat relieved to be back on subject, Corolla nodded, "I-," She caught herself, rolling her eyes, "We were supposed to Interview an active Huntsman or huntress before we graduate from Signal and-,"

"Really?" It was Ruby's turn to cock her head in puzzlement, "I never had to do that…"

"Mr. Qrow said that all Signal students had to do this before graduation…"

Ruby's eyes widened in realization, "Oooooh…. That's why…"

"Hmmm?"

"It's nothing really…" Ruby blushed a bit, "I just got bumped up two years to Beacon…"

"Mr. Qrow did say you were pretty awesome but…"

"I don't know about that..." Ruby was blushing furiously now, "Uncle Qrow's just biased…"

"Wait, Mr. Qrow's your Uncle?" Corolla asked, amazed.

"Yep; taught me everything I knew before I went to Beacon," Ruby beamed, but then seemed to remember what they were supposed to be talking about, "So was Uncle Qrow one of your main instructors?"

"He's my and Rhiannon's guidance counselor," Corolla nodded, slightly bewildered; Qrow had never mentioned that her interviewee was his niece.

"Neat," Ruby commented leaning over and sifting through a pile of envelopes on her coffee table, "Let's see… Uncle Qrow… Uncle Qrow… Ah! Here it is!" She picked up one of the envelopes and pulled out the letter inside, scanning it quickly, "Let's see here…" Her eyes read over the little bio enclosed, "He says here that you and Lydia have already been accepted to Beacon…" Her eyebrow cocked at one particular line, "And you've been awarded the Glynda Goodwitch Memorial Scholarship? That's really impressive…"

"That was hard work," Corolla nodded, a tired look passing over her just thinking of it, "I almost didn't get my marks up high enough…"

"I bet," Ruby agreed with a nostalgic little smile, "My old partner from Beacon endowed it, and let me tell you, she was a perfectionist,"

"You knew Weiss Schnee? Like, from the Schnee Dust Company?" Corolla asked, amazed.

Ruby nodded, her grin broadening and taking on a somewhat sly quality, though Corolla couldn't puzzle out why, "She works at Beacon too; you'll probably have her as a teacher if you get up there before she works herself into an early grave. As a matter of fact, she's actually coming to visit this afternoon believe it or not,"

"Wait… Am I going to be in the way?" Corolla shifted nervously in her seat, "I mean… I'd love to thank her in person but I don't want to overstay my welcome…"

"Don't worry about it," Ruby shook her head, "She's coming for dinner, along with my sister and her old partner; it's a team reunion thing… so we've got like four hours,"

"Okay…" Corolla sighed, "But I don't know how one person could balance that much on her plate at once," she slumped back in her chair, mind blown, "How does she do it? And have time to visit old friends? Does she sleep?"

"I don't know," Ruby said wistfully, "But she's always been pretty amazing… Maybe a bit abrasive at first, but once you get to know her…"

"Miss Rose?"

"Wha-! Oh, sorry… I kinda spaced… I do that sometimes…"

"Okay…" Corolla scrutinized her senior quizzically, but let it go in favor of another question that niggled at the back of her mind more and more as she looked at the Huntress, "I'm sorry, this is probably gonna sound weird, but… Have we met somewhere before?"

Ruby fell quiet for a bit, carefully scrutinizing Corolla now in turn, "Hmmm… Corolla Mädchen… Mädchen… Corolla Mädchen…" Her eyes flashed with recognition, and then perplexingly, panic, "Uh-oh…"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ruby responded, standing abruptly and heading into the kitchen, before returning with a vase full of white roses, "I just forgot to put these out… Just in case…"

Corolla eyed the flowers curiously, "Well those are pretty, but what are they for?"

"Oh, just apology flowers…"

"Apology flowers?"

"Yeah…" Ruby nodded, "When you screw up as much as I do… It's just good to keep a few around…"

"But aren't you a top-notch huntress or something?"

"Oh definitely," Ruby lit up a little bit at the praise, but she sobered again, "I'm uh… not so hot with people though… Fighting monsters is simple… People… not so much…"

Corolla could only look on, confused, as Ruby Rose appeared to shrink back into her seat, "Uh… should I come back some other time?"

Ruby shook her head, snapping herself out of it, "No, no, I can do this! Let's hear those questions!"

"Right," Corolla nodded, fishing out the scribbled list of questions from the same pocket she'd pulled the map from earlier, "Um… Let's see… Why did you want to become a Huntress?"

"Oh, that's easy: 'Cause it's awesome!" Ruby suddenly enthused, anxiety seemingly gone, "I always used to read the stories and it's just so much more romantic-, and you get to help people-, y'know?"

Corolla blinked a few times, "Uh… more romantic than what?"

"You know…" The full-fledged huntress looked like she was about to clam up again, "I just like the idea of being a hero and stuff…"

"Oh…" Corolla glanced back down at the back of the slightly crumpled paper on which were printed the questions that she was supposed to ask, "…What would you say was your biggest challenge in becoming a Huntress?"

"Hmmm…" Ruby leaned back in her chair to think it over, "If I had to say anything… it's probably getting paid…"

Corolla raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"

Ruby fiddled nervously with her thumbs, "Well… you know… It's just… awkward when you have to go back and collect pay for a job…"

"…"

"I'm uh… also not really good with money…"

"…"

Ruby laughed nervously, "Weis actually uh… insists on helping me keep track of my finances…"

"Really?" Corolla asked in disbelief, "Do you not make enough?"

"No, no, I make plenty…" Ruby insisted, "I just… I like sweets… Weiss says I'm a 'spendthrift…' whatever that means… I guess it's for the best though; she was the one who made me learn to bake my own cookies-,"

"Miss Rose…"

"Yes?"

"I think something's burning…"

"Gah!" Ruby sprang from her seat and bolted to the kitchen faster than Corolla's eyes could follow, "Sorry! Just a minute!" There was a violent clattering from the kitchen, and something shattered, "Don't worry! It's totally fine!" Nonetheless, there was a loud spraying noise and Corolla saw the white spray of a fire extinguisher from around the corner.

"Are you sure?" Corolla asked hesitantly.

"Yes!" Ruby called back, "Nothing to worry about; I only set half of them on fire!"

On fire?

Shortly thereafter, Ruby returned to the living room with a sigh, a small plate laden with a scant half dozen blackened cookies, "Want one?" she offered weakly.

"Um… No thanks…"

"Yeah… Me neither…"

Corolla cleared her throat, "Alright then, moving right along… What do you think is the most important part of being a huntress?"

"And that is why you must always keep your weapon in good working order!"

Corolla couldn't help a little chuckle, "Noted… but uh… as much as I enjoyed the story…" She glanced down at her scroll – over an hour had passed, "it doesn't really answer my question…"

"Huh…" Ruby Rose snapped back to attention, "Oh… sorry… I got distracted…"

"Uhuh…"

"What was the question again…?"

"What was the most important part of being a huntress?"

"Oh right!" Ruby Rose perked up, "Well that would have to be-," Unfortunately, the resumption of the interview was interrupted by several knocks on the door, whereupon the fully-fledged Huntress froze, "Oh crap… Please tell me that's your friend…"

"Probably not…" Corolla commented, "She said she'd meet me at the Dust shop after we were done here…"

Ruby's face fell, "Then she's early… I guess I should have known… she's always early…"

As her interviewee got up from her chair and made for the door, Corolla stood as well, "I think I've got enough to work with…" she offered, "I can leave now if you like…"

"No, no, this isn't your fault – I was the one who kept blabbing on and on about Crescent Rose… Besides… you wanted a chance to meet Weiss Schnee, right?"

"Well yeah… but I wouldn't want to impose…"

"Eh… don't worry about it," the Crimsonette waved off the aspiring Huntress's concerns as she answered the door, "Hey Weiss! You sure are early today…"

"Don't be ridiculous Ruby, punctuality is key; to be early is to be on time-,"

"And to be on time is to be late… Yeah I get it…" The cloaked huntress grumbled like a kid, "It's just that you're usually not three hours early... I haven't had the chance to clean up…"

"Why do you think I'm here?" The ivory-haired huntress huffed as she hung her cardigan on a coatrack beside the door, pausing when she saw Corolla's, "Ruby.. Who's coat is…" Turning around, Weiss Schnee laid eyes on Corolla Mädchen, and froze, "You didn't mention that you'd be having… other guests, Ruby…"

"Well no..." the Crimson-garbed Huntress twiddled her thumbs nervously, rather like a child being scolded for some reason, "Uncle Qrow asked me to agree to an interview for some seniors at Signal… So uh, Weiss, meet Corolla Mädchen, Corolla Mädchen, Weiss Schnee…"

"Hi…" Corolla greeted weakly; Weiss Schnee actually wasn't all that much taller than she was, and she was slightly built besides, but there was just some kind of intimidating air about her. Corolla had expected her to be formal, but her expectations hadn't prepared her for the icy gaze of Weiss Schnee, "I'm… I'm Corolla…"

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

"So I'm told…" Weiss Schnee responded dryly, "As I recall, you won this year's Glynda Goodwitch scholarship, right?"

"Y-yes!" Corolla nodded, "And I can't thank you enough – this has been my dream since I was four and-,"

"Take my advice," Weiss Schnee cut her off, "Thank me after initiation – if you still want to do this that is…" She turned back to her old partner, "Ruby, a word in the kitchen if you wouldn't mind?'

The younger huntress gulped, "Y-yeah… okay… but did you notice the flowers? They're you favorite color-,"

"And completely irrelevant Red…" Weiss rolled her eye as she dragged Ruby out of the room by the hood.

Corolla could hear the two whispering at each other in the kitchen – it was a small house after all, and there wasn't a door separating the spaces either – but she couldn't make out what was being said. Either way though, she was beginning to feel more and more awkward standing in a total stranger's living room alone, but it gave her plenty of time to stew over precisely how much she suddenly wanted to die. She'd wanted to thank Weiss Schnee for the scholarship since she'd received the confirmation letter, and for weeks she'd been running through what she would say to the Chief Operational Officer of the Schnee Dust Company in the Vale Regency if she ever got the chance, but now that she'd been presented with that chance, her rehearsals had deserted her… I just hate being on the spot like that!

Corolla sighed, "Oh well…"

Corolla was roused from her musings by the sound of a utilitarian ring tone emanating from a scroll in the kitchen, followed in short order by a cease in the aggravated whispers as the newcomer – Corolla still wasn't sure that she believed it was the actual Weiss Schnee – spoke, "We'll discuss this later; I have to take this," before she walked back out across the living room and stepped outside to answer her scroll.

"Saved by the bell," The Crimson-haired Huntress sighed in relief as she re-entered her living room, "Or the scroll… for the moment… Oh never mind…"

"She seems…"

"Like a huge grump? Yeah, she's always like that with new people, but deep down, past all the angry looks, lectures, a few miles of ice and… and… where was I going with that…?"

"She seems mean, but…" Corolla said helpfully.

"Oh yeah…" Ruby nodded, "She's only angry because she cares… most of the time…"

"She didn't seem happy to see me…"

"Don't take it personally; she's never happy to see anyone," Ruby chuckled, "Most of the time…"

"It must have been hard to be partnered with her…"

"Oh absolutely," Ruby answered without pause, "She's an abrasive, workaholic taskmaster… but it all worked out for the best,"

"I'll try to remember that…" It was Corolla's turn to sigh, but before she could speak up again, the woman in question returned, pocketing her scroll as she opened the door.

"Corolla,"

"Y-yes?"

"I think you're friend out there needs a hand," the Schnee Heiress gestured out the window to where Rhiannon MacCoul – or more accurately, Rhiannon MacCoul's foot – could be seen jutting gracelessly out of a pile of snow recently dislodged from the roof of a house.

"Oh God…" Corolla facepalmed, before turning back to her interviewee with an apologetic little bow, "I am so sorry, but I really do have to go help her-,"

"No prob," Ruby Rose smiled, extending a hand to shake by way of farewell, "I think we pretty much covered the basics… even if we didn't stick to your questions…"

Corolla accepted the handshake, "Thank you Ma'am; it's been a pleasure,"

"Ooh… Did you hear that Weiss? She called me 'Ma'am!'"

"Don't let it go to your head Red,"

With one final bow and thank-you, Corolla showed herself out, hastily grabbing her coat and scarf as she bolted to help dig her friend out, letting the door swing shut on its own, "Rhiannon!"

"She doesn't really remind me of you…" Ruby commented absently as she and Weiss watched the aspiring huntress try to dig her friend free out Ruby's front window.

Weiss sighed, easing into one of the chairs, "No, she doesn't, but then, she didn't have my father…" Weiss's expression hardened again, "And don't think you're off the hook, Ruby; you should not have scheduled this for today!"

"I already apologized! I swear, I just forgot!" Ruby made her own apologetic bow, "I didn't even recognize her at first! You know I wouldn't spring something like this on you on purpose!"

"I know, I know…" Weiss allowed as she massaged her temples, "It was just… a surprise…"

"You do hate those…"

"And always have," The Heiress agreed, "They do seem to love me though…"

"Hmmm…" The Crimsonette pondered aloud, "Work been rough?"

"Between re-negotiating contracts, reviewing transcripts, and slaying the odd Grimm? Yeah, kinda…"

"Well worry no more! This is a house of relaxation!" Ruby declared emphatically with a grandiose sweeping gesture.

"And burning cookies?"

"That too…"

Character Bio: Corolla Mädchen

Loosely inspired by the short story "The Dandelion Girl," Corolla is Weiss' half-sister, being the daughter of Weiss' estranged mother and her second husband (see 'I'm Not Perfect' chapters 6 and 16). She has wanted to be a huntress since the age of four (as mentioned above) because of Angela Snow (read: Weiss Schnee) from Beacon academy sent her a birthday present and young Corolla decided that she wanted to help people just like Angela Snow, so she decided to be a Huntress as well. Unlike Weiss however, Corolla is unaware of their family connection. She is generally an optimist, on the studious side, and determined, but she does know how to relax, perhaps unlike Weiss.

She is a goldenrod blonde, and her favorite colors are Yellow and green – her combat attire is loosely inspired by a Japanese-style archery uniform, albeit with more tailored trousers in green and a short-sleeved yellow blouse, plus green wrist-guards and sandals. Her weapon (Lövenzahn) consists a pair of golden-colored Katana, one longer than the other, both of which combine at the hilt to form a Yumi-Style bow from which she fires Dust-treated arrows which she carries in a quiver at her hip. Finally, her Semblance is the ability to look backward and forward through time (in the former case, to see what did happen, and in the latter, what will happen if she doesn't intervene), which is her primary relationship, albeit a somewhat tangential link.