This is a RWBY Volume 1 story with original characters I created. I will detach from the show like half way through the first volume. Follow team MAUV (a shade of purple) through their first experience in Beacon Academy. In this story all the characters are over 18. Beacon Academy will be considered a University in this AU.

Notes: So, yeah, this happened. Hope you al least enjoy this and to be fair, I have zero experience in writing. So feel free to correct me on things, and typos.

I present you team MAUV:
Mauvin Hood: alludes to Robin Hood
Artemisia Kynigos: Alludes to the goddess of the moon and the hunt
Ulrich de Vil: alludes to Cruella de Vil
Vinncent Vulcan: alludes to the god of volcanoes and metalworking

(Edit: 3/23/2017) Just FYI Team RWBY will show up when these characters are in their sophomore year. Team CVFY will be shown, they are in the same year as team MAUV. RWBY will be mentioned and appear but it wont concentrate on them much. If you want certain things you want to happen with my characters or other characters then let me know and I can figure something out. If you want more info on my characters (weapon detail and symbols etc.) let me know.

(Edit: 8/08/2017) I have created fanart to my fic. Concept art for Artemis and a silhouette team one. If you are interested in checking them out link will be at the bottom.

She traced her fingers along the faint cracks on the window of the ship, forehead pressed against it. I made it Leo, she thought solemnly. Beacon Academy, she hoped her life outside the protection of the kingdoms was enough background to pass the entrance exam. When she was approved with a high score she almost couldn't believe it. She was almost positive they would reject her, but not from lack of combat experience. No, as she filed the paperwork she checked the disability box: unable to speak, she wrote. It's a lie of course, she can most definitely speak, but the last time she did was when her semblance activated for the first time and caused an explosion. The loud screams, dust and smoke everywhere started to fill her mind. She really wished she could turn it off, but she can't. Her semblance is always there.

(Back during the entrance exams)

I don't get it. I'm flattered but I can't speak, how can a team operate without proper communication? She signed to the professor who took her examination. He sipped dark liquid from his coffee mug, examining me over the rim of the cup. He paused in thought before answering. "Well, the best teams are those who communicate in battle without words. There's a connection. Don't think it'll be easy, you have a tough road ahead of you. And your right in one aspect, you do need to communicate. Which is why the team members you get pair up with will be obligated to take SL (Sign Language) for their language elective." He walked forward and placed a hand on her left shoulder. "You have too great a talent to go to waste. We will help you grow and learn about information you'll need out there in the field, but hopefully this place will also have a play in helping you learn more about yourself as well. Everyone comes here with a weight on their shoulders, that's what a team is for. You lean on each other, and make the weight a little more bearable." He removed his hand and started walking toward the door, pausing by the doorway and angled his face towards her. "It's amusing seeing you so surprised, if you expected rejection, why did you come?" The fanus hesitated for a moment before answering. I don't know, she signed. The professor raised his eyebrows from behind his spectacles, "Interesting. Well, I hope you find the answer to that here as well, Miss Kynigos."

(Present)

The news program that was projecting during the ride to the academy was interrupted by a hologram of a lady. An instructor? Her blond hair making her green eyes stand out. "Hello and welcome to Beacon. My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among the privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy! Our world is experiencing and incredible time of piece, and as future huntsmen and huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task. And now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world. Upon landing, please head to the auditorium. Crossing the entrance to the school follow the path to your right towards the second building. There we will give you a brief introduction and further instructions." As her projection vanished everyone hurried toward the windows of the ship. An uproar of excitement filled the confined space. She scurried toward the opposite side of the crowd, sighing in relief when she could move without being elbowed in the ribs.

She never once thought she'd ever become a huntress, didn't see herself as the hero type, too much of a scowl on her face that they would probably think she's the bad guy. But past events closed off other pathways to her future. Her brother always helped people, never asked for food or money in return much to her frustration. He'd always stare at those flyers to recruit new hunters and huntresses, and urged her to consider going. She'd always refused, said that going to a kingdom they'd be subjectable to discrimination to their faunus heritage. He'd always respond with realism, "There will be hate wherever you go Artemis, you can't let that stop you from living your life and doing what you were meant to do."

What I'm meant to do huh? She thought as the ship landed, opening the hatch. Students started to walk out, different sizes, weapons, animal parts. Well, I'm here to find out. She thought as she also stepped out and put one foot forward towards the next four years of her life.

Or at least she thought she did, because soon she found herself falling forward, her fast cheetah heritage acted out of instinct and she landed on all fours. She froze for a second, assessing her situation. Both of her hands were on the ground, her left leg out stretched to the side while her right was folded under her. From another person's point of view she looked like a feline ready to pounce, her cheetah spots visible she's sure she made herself the center of attention, something she most certainly did NOT want. Artemis became aware of a person standing near with a sheepish look on his face, right hand rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Sorry, wasn't looking where I was going. Got a bit disoriented with all the colors," he stated. Dropping his hand from his neck, he extends it down towards Artemis. She hesitated a moment, trying to make sense of what he just said and wondering if he was messing with her. She let it go and accepted his hand letting him haul her up from the ground.

The quiet girl examined him up close, his platinum white hair was brushed upwards in a stylish way, black roots showing but it didn't look dyed. Brown eyes, his cheekbones slightly sprinkled with freckles. He had a pronounced jaw that was styling a crooked smile. He had on a black T-shirt underneath a black leather jacket with red sleeves. His shorts stopped just below the knee, white with black patches. He topped it off with red fingerless gloves and short weathered deep red boots that almost looked black.

After he let go of her hand, his eyes started trailing a path from her left cheekbone down her body. Following her faunus heritage down her uncovered leg. Black cheetah marks cover her body's left side. Artemis expected to see some sort of negative reaction; disgust or a disapproving gaze. But all the faunus saw was curiosity and friendliness.

"Nice save with the fall there. You heading for initiation?" He asked with a smile on his face. Artemis stared back with a guarded expression, old habits die hard. She nodded to answer the guy's question, earning her a 100 watts smile that made her wince from the intensity. "Awesome! So am I, I'm kind of a failure when it comes to directions, mind if I walk with you to the auditorium? Professor Goodwitch lost me at 'crossing the entrance,'" he gave her a sheepish smile this time.

Artemis was a bit at a loss for words, her first communication with a person who didn't outright hate on her faunus heritage, and there she was. Dumbstruck into silence. Ha. Get it? Because she can't speak? She blinked her confusion away, having been used to rejection and hate . I don't mind, she signed. Forgetting that this person probably won't know that she doesn't speak and probably doesn't know SL. The stranger looked surprised at first but soon responded back with "great! Sorry, I didn't know you were deaf, your lip reading is very good if you understood me." As he was speaking, Artemis was astonished to see him sign what he was saying. But soon proceeded to respond to his statement. I'm not deaf, I can hear fine. I'm just unable to speak. The cheetah faunus started to walk towards the auditorium, her new acquaintance following her lead. "Oh, thats good. I'm not that great with sign language. Just picked up a bit from a friend of mine. Oh! Almost forgot, my name is Ulrich." He said, without signing this time. Artemis, the feline signed to him. "Artemis?" he asked, double checking his SL skills. She nodded. "Well Artemis, thanks for leading this hopeless-misdirected-guy-who-bumps-into-people-as-a-first-impression to the auditorium," he said lightheartedly. "I'll see you around!" he turned around and started to walk towards the front of the stage. Artemis stayed back at a distance, her body positioned where she could keep an eye at the entrance and her gaze quickly looked for different exit points. She caught herself doing this a few times. Old habits really do die hard, she thought to herself again. Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of a microphone coming to focus. She then saw who she now knows is Professor Ozpin, the headmaster at Beacon Academy, and the person who personally scored her entrance exam. "Ahem, . . . I will keep this brief. You have all traveled here today in the search on knowledge. To hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you are finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." With that, the professor turned and walked off the stage. The lady who introduced herself earlier in the ship as Glenda Goodwich took his place placing an announcement. "You will gather in the ballroom tonight, you will sleep there for tonight until tomorrow, where we will assign you all dormitories. Tomorrow your initiation begins, breakfast is served at 6am sharp. Be ready, you are dismissed." With that, chatter starts to flare up again in the small crowded space. Artemis quickly heads off to the ballroom, not used to being in a crown with so much noise.

She reaches the ballroom in record time, only a handful of students having made it before her. "Not a crowd person either?" a voice asks from behind. Ulrich catches up to her, relief apparent in his face. The faunus shakes her head, glad that she's not the only one who felt that way. "Yeah, the colors get overwhelming after a while," he stated nonchalantly. Like what he was saying made the most perfect sense. Her confusion much have been apparent on her face because he soon backtracked and said, "Oh, I'm talking about my semblance. I can see a person's aura. They leave a trail wherever they go. Imagine seeing 85 different colors in one place. It gets disorienting after a while." He explained. "Sucks that I can't turn it off, not yet anyway," That explains what he had said back at the ship, Artemis thought. He doesn't have much control over his semblance either, that makes two of us.

More and more students started to enter. The ballroom was way bigger than the auditorium, to the crowd wasn't as stifling. As they walked towards the opposite side of the room a voice called out, "Ric?" Ulrich turned around and surprise lit up on his face. "Mauvin? Hey, man! Long time no see!" A tall figure walked over. He had on dark green pants with tall brown leather boots, a long olive green coat with some type of gauntlets strapped over the sleeves. The figure raised his right hand to grasp Ulrich's in a tight shake. "I didn't know you had applied for Beacon! Damn, I thought you were still up at Atlas," the newcomer exclaimed. He had a very handsome face, with heterochromia. Had one brown eye and one blue. Something about him seemed familiar to Artemis, like she's seen him before but couldn't quite place him. "Yeah, I moved out of the house not too long ago. Besides you know I've always wanted leave that place," Ulrich responded. At this point, Artemis started to feel self-conscious. Should I just back away slowly? She thought, as the two apparent friends kept going with their conversation. "You should have contacted me! We could have – "the stranger paused and shifted his eyes to Artemis, who started to make her move of slowly backing away. Ulrich followed his gaze and realized he hadn't introduced them. "Oh, right! Mauvin this is Artemis: person I accidentally knocked over when we landed. And Artemis this is Mauvin: childhood friend whom I hadn't seen in ages and can make fingerlickin' good sweets." Mauvin smirked at that. "Nice to meet you, Artemis." He said, stretching out his arm for a handshake. "And I go by Mauve," he added.

Artemis said nothing, as can be expected. Just took his hand, nodded once in affirmation. And started towards the locker rooms, following Goodwitch's orders to put their weapons away. Mauve just stared at her back as she walked away, a bit confused at her departure and taking in her weapon. A bladed bow, he thought. Fitting, goes with her name. "Well, she was something,'" he muttered out loud. "She can't speak," Ulrich responded, following his gaze. "Which is interesting because she's not deaf," he pondered. Mauve glanced at Ric, then turned back to Artemis' retreating figure. "Something must have happened to her then." He mused, "I'm curious though. She must have great skills to have been accepted with her disability." Ulrich turned to him and cocked his head to the side, "what do you mean?" he asked. Mauve's face turned pensive, "well, we are going to end up in teams. For one of the members to not be able to communicate in battle will be a heavy burden on the whole team." He thought out loud. "It must have been because she's got great skills and experience."

Ulrich looked lost, "wait, how do you know she's got experience?" he asked. Mauve looked at him raising an eyebrow, "she makes no sound as she walks, her eyes scan the room when she enters, when she first saw me she looked for my weapon first, and back at the auditorium she stood facing the entrance," he paused. "I've only ever seen that with people who've been outside the kingdom's defenses." Ulrich's eyes widened a bit, "well damn, you're as observant as ever. You always were the one who could spot trouble from a mile away," he recalled. Mauve started walking the same way Artemis disappeared to, planning to find his locker to put his weapon away and find his luggage. "Well, the only reason I gained that skill was because someone always had the knack of running into trouble, or starting it for that matter" he responded with a sly smile. The silvered haired student raised his hands up defensively, "hey, I'm not very good with impulse control." Both friends chuckled, remembering their past before Mauve moved from Atlas to Vale, separating the duo. "Really missed you Ric, I'll forgive you for not calling me about moving here, but in exchange we're gonna have all night to catch up,"

Both friends made their way to the coed weapon locker rooms, finding their luggage beside their assigned locker. They put their weapons away and made their way back to the ballroom to catch up and rest for tomorrow's initiation, passing a dark toned student with long black hair. He was big, he had broad shoulders and his cut off shirt revealed his muscular arms. He looked like he could carry anything. As this stranger walked towards his assigned locker room, he passed by Artemis who was leaning against hers. She had no luggage, she was on the move for most of her life that carrying things with her would only be a hindrance. I'll be living here for the next four years, she thought. We have assigned uniforms so I don't have to worry much about school clothes. Our Initiation is Friday, so I'll have the weekend to go in to town and buy some stuff, sleepwear most importantly, she decided. She waited until the locker room was empty and nobody else walked by. Once she was sure no one would come in, she slid down against her locker. She outstretched her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. Not once in her life since she made her weapon did she part from it, she couldn't. She sat there and closed her eyes, after a while noise started to die down, given her feline heritage she had better hearing than humans. The noise didn't bother her, but she couldn't fall asleep knowing that a stranger was up an awake. Years of caution engraved into the faunus was hard to shake off. I should dial it down a bit, she thought. It might be natural for me but others might pick up on it. That Mauve guy seemed too observant for his own good. Slowly but surely, Artemis slowly drifted to sleep.

Yeah, slow build. I'll get there. So yeah, Artemisia is a cheetah faunus (the only faunus in the team). Background stories will come soon enough as well as her semblance, which is part of the reason she wont speak. Hopefully nothing is too farfetched. Any questions or comments please let me know :)

(Edit: 8/08/2017) I cant do links so to look at my art just enter my pen name (qtrlbsceci) dot deviantart dot com

or you can just google my name and deviant art and it should be the first link.