The odd group of four moved silently through the forest, the cloaked figures blending in with the intense shadows of the thicket. It wasn't long ago that they heard the racket caused by Ozpin's initiation for their 'peers', marking the half time of their own test. Their progress was well on track by their proctor's timescale, but that left them behind the ambitions of their stalwart leader.

"You're too eager to impress. You should have realized his timing would be so precise." The lone female of the team said, her glittering, pristine white hair flowed out of her hood in a loose french braid. She stopped to lean again her double-bladed sword as the young man behind her followed up,

"Especially if you're intent on following his rules. Had we split up, we would've been done an hour ago." His left hand rested on the pommel of the ornate, curved sword that hung from his belt, as his free hand brushed his malleable, silver hair back, allowing his hood to fall from its concealing placement. His angular face bore a smirk, with dazzling red and silver eyes glinting with mischievous intent. With the group halted, the smallest member of the four, all the way in the back, sat down. He held silent, either not caring or not knowing how to add to the banter of his teammates. Not that it lasted long. Their leader made the calculations quickly, and relented with a sigh.

"Alright… but let's have some fun then. Orion, Siria, get to the second site, but don't bother killing the Death Stalker. Open up it's hiding place and lead a pair to it, then let them deal with it. Dawnar, come with me. We had a Nevermore wake up…" his orders left a distaste in the woman's mouth, as she hadn't been expecting such a… risky action. However, the man next to her sighed and started to walk off, prompting her to follow.


They found the cliff side easily enough, making sure to leave a trail that the other initiates were bound to notice. Once there, she loaded the rotaries of her weapon with Dust cartridges and carved out an opening in the rock wall.

"Do you think this will do, or should we go find someone?" Her question was answered quickly as her companion put his hand on her shoulder. Once he did, they found themselves elsewhere. It took her a moment to regain her bearings, and she realized they were deep in the forest underbrush again. A sigh escaped her lips as she managed to hold back her questions. And just in time, as two other initiates walked into their view, coming up to the cave entrance where they had been just moments before. The leader of the two, a blond haired boy in jeans and work boots and what looked like age-old armor, looked at the entrance with an enthusiastic interest. The red head next to him kept quiet mostly, giggling at his trepidation to make a torch.

"I'm pretty sure that's Pyrrha Nikos… who's that that she's with though…?" The woman whispered, her company answering with an aloof bluntness.

"Nobody we know about. But if she's following him, I would say that that Death Stalker won't be an issue much longer. C'mon, Vaner just messaged me where to meet up with them." They got to their feet, and quickly hurried off to meet up with the other two of their group.

They found their way to the cliffs fast enough, their view of the ancient temple spire an interesting one. Before they could inquire why that particular spot, the two of them saw it.

First, the massive, freed, now angry, Nevermore flying low to the ground, speeding their way. Then off in the distance, on the other side of the grey, dilapidated structure, 8 dots of varying colours burst from the treeline, taking cover among the columns to avoid a volley of arrow-like black feathers.

"Ahh, so you've set up a show. What fun."

"Shut it Orion. This isn't entertainment." The taller teen was taken aback by his leader's volatility, and then he and his companion soon noticed the reason why. He was staring at a particular member of the group, a specific white dot. Once the Death Stalker broke the treeline, literally, and the group of initiates started making their way to the temple structure, she came more and more into view: Weiss Schnee.

"Oh, please tell me you didn't have us set those things loose just for that grudge. I've seen you be petty, but this is ridiculous." He refused to answer her, keeping his eyes focused on the battle. They were impressed that the orange haired girl and Pyrrha's companion managed to reinforce the group abandoned on one side of the now collapsed bridge, and then again as the black hair girl assaulted the flying Nevermore. When the beast finally slammed into the ruined spire though and sent the four initiates tumbling, she had enough.

"Okay that's it, we have to help." She started to stomp off, but she was quickly stopped by the smallest of them.

"Istari, I don't think they need our help." His quiet voice convinced her to look back at the battle once more. Each team had regrouped, and they began their counter attack. The redhead spoke with Weiss, obviously setting up a plan, as the long haired blonde kept the Nevermore distracted. The other team was also dealing with the Death Stalker in quick fashion, the hammer wielding girl slamming down on its head, killing it rather quickly as the remaining two made it off the falling bridge.

That's when they heard a large crash. Turning, they saw the blonde had sent the flying monstrosity into the cliff wall. As it tried to get back into the air, Weiss pinned it with ice, as the blonde and black haired girls strung a ribbon across two columns. The large, makeshift bow was nocked, the redhead jumping with an absurdly oversized scythe. With everything in place, Weiss's black glyph pulled it back to full tension, and released. They watched her sail through the air with a flurry, the scythe wrapping around the neck of the trapped Nevermore.

"Impressive… I guess calling them peers won't be much of a stretch after all…" Orion muttered as they watched her run up the wall with the snagged grimm.

"We should leave. Evac is nearby." His cooled tone let them know the anger he had shown just moments ago had passed, and they turned away after little red decapitated it, all of their moods now raised by their newfound respect for their peers.


Ruby stood on the edge of the cliff, the dissolving head of the giant Nevermore next to her as she looked down at her new friends and… Weiss. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement though, and glanced in its direction. However, when she looked, there was nothing there- just the rustling bushes. The slight pause in her elated celebration broke, and she came back the situation at hand: looking for a way down.

The rest of the day was a blur for the 8 students; finding their way back to the launch site, flying back to Beacon, organizing in the great hall, and finally, the announcement ceremony.

"Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long. Together, you shall form Team RWBY. Lead by… Ruby Rose." Professor Ozpin revealed, to both the excitement and immediate anxiety of the small, red and black haired girl. Ruby could hear Yang's enthusiasm, but ignored it as she stared up at the projection and the list of all the new, first year teams. They were listed alphabetically by leader's first name. Ruby had assumed they would be the last team, but one other remained. Team VOID.

She didn't have much time to think about it though. Yang scooped her up into a debilitating hug, breaking her concentration. As the ceremony continued, they walked off the stage, back into the seats for the first years. With their attention back on Ozpin though, she noticed the listing yet again, and glanced around. 11, 12… 16… four teams, right? Bewildered, she leaned her head over to the white haired heiress next to her, ignoring the thick atmosphere of indignation that Weiss was putting off, and whispered,

"Weiss, who's Team VOID…?" The question cut through the Schnee's irritation like a knife, her head looking over the hologram display of the new teams. Last on the list, right below their own, was another. Weiss followed Ruby's steps, double checking all the new students, recounting the teams. In a rare moment of befuddlement, she leaned back to the redhead.

"I have no idea. Maybe it's just an error?" She responded. They both knew it was nothing of the sort though, and waited patiently until the ceremony concluded. Yang was the first one up, jumping to her feet with an exaggerated stretch.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Let's go get some food before curfew locks us in our room for the night." Her eagerness was apparent, and Blake soon agreed with a slight nod.

"Actually, I wanted to ask Professor Ozpin something first. I'll catch up quickly." Ruby responded, with Weiss quickly added herself to Ruby's reply.

"Yes, I was curious about something, too. Go on and save us a seat, please." The heiress said, all the while looking for the headmaster through the crowd.

"Alright, don't take too long." Blake turned after hearing this. Yang said similar, before following suit. When Ruby turned to Weiss, she was just in time to see the Ice Queen walking away, making a beeline to the grey haired huntsman. She quickly caught up, and felt the nerves when he noticed the pair making their way towards him.

"Ahh, hallo Miss Rose, Miss Schnee. What can I do for you?" His pleasant voice and inviting tone helped to dissipate the gnawing feeling. Surprisingly Weiss let Ruby speak first, the heiress looking to her to explain.

"Well sir, I noticed there was a fifth team listed on the board, a Team VOID...?" Ruby asked, letting her question trail off.

"And you never introduced them, not to mention if I remember correctly, there were only 16 people on the launch site, and 8 'relics'. That would mean at most 4 teams, right?" Weiss added, intent on contributing at her perception skills, for a number of reasons. Ozpin raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of coffee from his mug, and looked down at the tablet in his hand.

"Ahh yes, Team VOID. You'll meet them soon enough. Due to special circumstances, they had their own, private, ceremony," he answered, before quickly adding, "it might behoove you to meet them. I suspect this year would go very differently without their participation. Now, if you would excuse me, I have a meeting I must get to." He bade them farewell as he started to walk away. However, neither of them were pleased with his answer.

"Even if they had other arrangements for their entrance ceremony, that doesn't explain why they weren't at initiation." Weiss mentioned under her breath. Ruby was quick to catch the statement, trying as best she could to work with what Ozpin told them.

"Maybe that had something to do with it? Some sort of special test? My dad told Yang and I before we left that Professor Ozpin likes his secrets." She tried to diffuse the the growing attitude Weiss was building, to limited success.

"Fine. I guess we'll find out soon enough. C'mon, your sister and Blake surely didn't get far by now." The two of them started off to the mess hall in a silence Ruby would try to break several times, all to no avail.


"I must say, I did not expect you four to be so risky with your assignment, although in hindsight, it was a far better outcome than I could have anticipated. That was a gamble, and it paid off quite well." Professor Ozpin rewatched the battle that the four students in front of him had set in motion, pleased with the results.

"Professor, while I'm happy to see nothing went wrong, I should point out that they didn't do as instructed of them. That should be taken into consideration." The sixth person in the room spoke up. He was dressed similarly to the four students; he wore a long black cloak, embroidered with simple silver flames, and an odd emblem of a man in a cloud on his back. His thick, white hair was tipped black, and brushed back. His face was mostly obscured, all but a single silver eye, but a steel mask, one that distorted his voice with a deep, scratchy, mechanical tone.

"Don't worry, Nebulous, I assure you your siblings won't get away scot free for being so fast and loose with the rules, not to mention their recklessness with the lives of their now fellow students. But their place here at the academy is not in question." Ozpin's comments elicited an objection from the de facto leader of the 4.

"Sir, we were told to go in and eliminate the two mega-Grimm in the forest by any means necessary without compromising our existence. I fail to see how we broke any rules." The adolescent's hood was back, revealing his spiky, reddish orange, chin length hair, with the longer locks braided on the side of right side of his face. His dual coloured eye, red and silver, almost seemed to glow in to the low light of Ozpin's office.

"True, but some rules should not need to be said for them to be understood. Unleashing two highly dangerous Grimm onto your peers was arguably irresponsible, especially since should you have realized they couldn't handle them on their own, you would have been expected to step in and lend a hand, therefore failing your second objective. And seeing as you were so inclined to see them in action, I only think it fair to let you spend the next four years doing so."

"What?!" Their leader hissed, angered by this.

"You heard me right. I'm denying your request for private tutoring. While I am sure you won't need the actual classes you'll be required to take in the normal study's course, I think the increased exposure will be far more helpful than the added field experience." Ozpin never broke his cool headed demeanor, his attitude breaking the growing anger of the fiery headed first-year in front of him. This turn prompted a response from the other three as well though, starting with the silvery white hair young man standing next to him.

"Sir, don't you think that a little unnecessary…? Punishing us all for Vaner's orders-" he failed to finish, as the headmaster was quick to cut him off.

"They were not just his orders; they were orders you all chose to follow. Listening to your commander is one thing, blind obedience another. Orion, Siria, you both had reservations about his commands, yet you followed them without so much as a moment's to disobey when it is necessary is not something you'll learn working under the command of a huntsman or huntress out in the field. But it is definitely something you'll pick up being surrounded by students your own age. And I'm sure we mustn't go over how this might help young Dawnar." With their resistance broken, Ozpin sighed before continuing.

"Vanetian Antares Silverblood, Orion Betelle Silverblood, Istari Siria Silverblood, and Dawnar Fornaxa Silverblood, I hereby designate you as Team VOID, lead by Vanetian Antares Silverblood. I hope you will take these comments to heart over the next four years." The professor gave his usual declaration before dismissing the dismayed students. Before they left though, he quickly added,

"Two of the first years noticed your team name on the announcement board, and were asking for you. I suspect you'll be fairly well known by this point. If you wish to avoid that, I would head to your dorm. I'll have Glynda send some food your way, as a thank you for making my job a tad easier choosing team leaders."


Hallo everyone. Thank you for reading. I've been on this site for a long while, but have been ever resistant to writing a RWBY fanfic for reasons I'll keep to myself. Anywho, this story has been on my mind for a while. If it catches enough of a following, then I plan on writing it in full. Please review, as that would help a lot. Thank you again.