I do not own RWBY or any referenced material, only my OC's, please support the official release and spam them with flames about Adam's new outfit, song, and character short.

IIIII

Ruby tried to pay attention to which direction everyone went flying. A hopeless endeavor but she still felt she deserved points for trying while shooting through the sky, literally, and hey, she took out the juvenile Nevermore on the fly. She groaned as the puns kept cropping up one after another. Yang would be proud even if she was too afraid to ever voice such things again.

Landing was a cake walk, silver eyes darting everywhere as she dashed off, chanting under her breath. "Yang, Blake, Jaune, Pyrrha, Yang, Blake, Jaune, Pyrrha," she muttered the names like prayers under her breath as she dashed through the forest.

A flash of white hair caught her eye sending the cloak wearer pinballing through the brush, making bushes explode like confetti whenever she hit them as she desperately ran from the potential disaster.

She stumbled into a clearing, head spinning as the violent ricocheting caught up with her. That didn't stop her from hearing a low rumbling and her mind immediately conjured her sisters 'would you rather' question from the night before. "It's supposed to be a choice." She moaned as she tried to move away from the black and white blur moving towards her.

A smaller blur appeared and the faint whistle of a blade cut the growls off instantly, the hulking form of the Beowolf falling over with a thumb heavy enough she felt the ground vibrate faintly.

Her eyesight cleared just as Blake leaned over, eerily familiar eyes faintly worried. "What happened Ruby?"

Ruby laughed faintly in embarrassment. "Emergency escape from the Weissicle, out of the freezer and into the fire and all that." She half groaned, wondering if her sister was somehow channeling her repressed humor into her.

The black-haired girl snorted. "I'll say." She still offered her hand though. Ruby laughed as she took it, letting the brunette pull her to her feet easily.

Instead of letting go immediately she gave the older a girl a tentative smile. "Blake. . . you can tell me the truth about that bow whenever you're ready."

The girl's stunned look lasted long enough for Ruby to wish she'd kept her mouth shut before it softened considerably. "Thanks Ruby."

IIIII

Ozpin watched as the youngest generation of hunters found their partners one by one. The sight of Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie's partnership certainly made him chuckle and watching Ms. Nikos and Ms. Xiao Long may or may not have him considering the schools training facilities insurance in the back of his head. Ms. Valkyrie notwithstanding, those two were undoubtedly the powerhouses of this year's candidates.

He didn't find one of this year's more interesting candidates until Ms. Schnee encountered a pair of Ursa. She killed the first with little trouble but the second was removed from her concern as Mr. Arc seemingly appeared in a manner more fitting for a cartoon character then a huntsman in training, slamming into the creature's side, making it role rather comically for a creature of its size.

With a lazy fluidness that almost spoke of boredom, the blond rolled across the grimm pinning one its forearms to the ground with a foot even as he redirected the other one directly into the creature's throat. He caught the beast's elbow and shoved hard to finish the kill.

Ocean blue eyes looked directly at the camera that captured every second of the rather remarkable display.

Ozpin almost dropped the scroll as the early morning air was blackened with smoke rising from Vale as Ozpin watched as his nightmare came to life as the city burned over Mr. Arc's shoulder, the young man's empty gaze boring into him as he held partner's lifeless body in his arms. "Wonder how many times we'll be here oh great and wonderful wizard."

For a boy holding the lifeless body of a girl two years younger than him he was remarkably composed. The foolish could even pretend she was just asleep and he, with his armor and longsword, was simply the knight who'd wandered through at the right time.

Ozpin counted himself as many things, a fool among them often enough. But not now, no, Ruby Rose was distinctly dead, bright silver eyes dulled to storm grey.

"Professor."

Ozpin found himself back on the cliff side, Glynda's worried gaze perusing his.

IIIII

Weiss stared at the blond. "How?"

"Practice." He stated easily. "Endless practice."

Weiss glanced at the quickly desiccating grimm. "Why?" Gambols like that were pointless risks, a fact drilled into her by everyone of her combat instructors.

Jaune shrugged. "Why not?"

The blond simply gazed at her, a knowing smirk on his face grating on her patience. That was when reality struck like lighting to the back of skull. She was stuck. With Jaune Arc. For the next four years of her life.

The blonde's smile became all the more impish as he hummed the same tune he'd played the night before. "We should go Weisscream, wouldn't do to keep the others waiting." He commented blandly as he set off without a hint of hesitation.

Weiss forced herself to swallow the bile climbing up her throat as she ran to catch up. "So, do you know where we're going?"

He grinned. "Sure, I mean we were given the most flawless directions," The cheerful sarcasm poured from the blond like ichor from a decapitated Beowolf, "Even if we hadn't, I'm certain we'd be fine, I bet we could even do it with a deathstalker on our heels, maybe hitch a ride on a nevermore." The blonde's rant turned into myriad of muttered curses about fate.

Weiss decided not to comment on the blonde's nose-diving sanity, everyone dealt with potentially life-threatening situations differently. Jaune apparently made obscure jokes only he understood. The thought was not a pleasant one.

IIIII

Yang and Pyrrha stepped into the ruins, wary gazes looking over the chess pieces on the pedestals around them. "Think it matters which one we take?" Pyrrha asked from where she was examining what Yang vaguely recalled was a bishop.

The blond shrugged. "No clue."

"Look out!" A voice screamed. Yang had time to look up just as Jaune crashed into the ruin before limply falling in to her arms as she caught him, more out of reflex then concern.

Jaune shook of his daze rather quickly and looked at her. "My hero." He exclaimed without a single regard to his masculine pride, making the two girls struggle not to laugh.

Half a moment later the sound of a Grimm's roars filled the clearing as Nora came riding in on an Ursa Major. The monster collapsed a moment later, Ren appearing from behind it panting for breath. "How long do you think she was riding that Ursa?" Pyrrha asked beside her, no trace of shock in her voice.

Yang didn't have a chance to answer before Blake and Ruby appeared through a narrow crevice between two boulders, cutting of the massive death claw behind them. "Blake's a good partner for your sister if she convinced her to run." Pyrrha commented lightly, showing a remarkable understanding of the young scythe user.

Yang went off, dropping Jaune without remorse as she screamed. "I can't take it anymore, could everyone just chill out for two seconds before the next crazy thing happens." Time seemed to count itself as silence descended other than Jaune who was shaking with barely contained laughter at their feet. She groaned as Ruby tapped her shoulder

"Um Yang." The blond only groaned before looking up to the miniscule figure in white still hanging from the Nevermore's talon.

The wailed 'How could you leave me' could faintly be heard.

"I said jump." Jaune answered smugly from where he lay, hands behind his head as a pillow.

"She's gonna fall." Blake stated as if she was talking about the weather.

"She'll be fine." Ruby responded.

"She's falling." Ren commented dryly.

Jaune gave out an exaggerated groan at Yang's feet before taking off. As rescue attempts go, it wasn't bad. Weiss could totally pull of the dirt stained look and Jaune's aura easily dealt with the scratches from the rocks he landed in. The ones from Weiss would probably have to be checked.

Beside her Ruby fell to her knees, trying to fight her laughter. "Jaune, I'm so SORRY!" She half sobbed in an attempt to cover it up. A failed effort from the start as Jaune's rapped his knuckles against her head rather sharply.

Yang would have swung at him for that alone even if the bastard didn't already have it coming. She was only halfway to her target though when the Nevermore screeched loudly, its feathers whistling through the air at tremendous speed. The brawler pivoted neatly, blasting the feather from it trajectory.

Metal chimed loudly as Jaune nocked another from the air, the links of his belt now a three-foot blade protruding from his wrist. Another foot ran the length of his forearm held in place by the former spirals of the weapons buckle, unraveling to form the basic gauntlet.

Yang could only stare at her fellow blond as the blade folded itself in half to form a thicker, more maneuverable blade even as the boy lazily moved to meet the death stalker which had managed to circumvent the boulders. The massive Grimm charged towards the blond, content to turn the human into a stain on the grass.

A series of dark violet pulses of light pushed the massive creature's pincers aside and nocked its tail's reflective strike away even as the blade slipped through one of the creature's eyes.

Jaune rolled onto its back before the last of the massive Grimm's momentum could crush him, his blade collapsing back into segments, sliding easily from the wound. Jaune was back on his feet before the carcass even finished moving.

"Praise my amazingness later, our priority's the relics and killing Feather's won't even count for extra credit." He commented blandly even as he fashioned his 'belt' back around his waist without even attempting to remove the Grimm ichor still dripping from its length.

The silence ended with a tired groan and seven sets of eyes quickly fell on Weiss who looked like she'd just swallowed straight vinegar. "He's right, we really don't have a reason to fight that thing."

Yang gave Pyrrha a shrug before darting after the rest who were already scrambling to collect the needed relic before making a mad dash for the forest.

Jaune's recommendation proved ineffective as the Grimm's tenacity kept the creature dogging their heels as it pursued them through the forest all the way back to the cliffs, taking up residence in the ruin spanning the chasm cutting them off from the cliff as far as the eye could see in either direction.

Jaune seemed completely unfazed by his plans failure as he lit a smoke. "Huh, interesting geography." He commented blandly before giving the nevermore a bored look. "Guess we'll just have to kill it." He added with a shrug.

"The plan?" Ruby asked.

Jaune scratched his chin as he thought. "It's armor is weakest at the neck but it still takes a hell of a blow and piercing attacks are a fifty fifty shot at best, so your scythes the best option we've got, ideas?"

Ruby glanced about the ruins quickly then at those gathered. "Pin it to the cliff."

No questions were asked as they separated. Minutes later Ruby was perched on her scythe, Pyrrha's semblance keeping her in place on Gambol Shrouds improvised sling shot. They didn't have long to wait before Nevermore crashed into the cliff side, courtesy of Yang and Jaune who quickly leapt from its back.

The thing screeched loudly only to be cut off as one of Nora's grenades found its way down the monster's throat nocking it back against the cliff giving Weiss time to freeze its tail feathers to the cliff with a burst of ice dust.

"I think that's our cue." Ruby stated smugly.

Pyrrha smiled. "Good luck." She released her semblance sending the cloaked girl rocketing towards the monster.

The next thing Ruby knew the feeling of weightlessness was tingling in her stomach as she gracefully turned her body as the last of her momentum faded once gravity came back into effect. Crescent Rose's blade dug deeply into the earth as the ground absorbed its weight, her knees flexing to absorb her own.

Breathing deeply the young huntress looked over the cliffs edge to the sight of her sister and friends waving at her in the distance. If she'd looked into Crescent Roses blade at that moment she might have noticed the distinct glow in her silver eyes. For once though, her beloved weapon was not the first thing she thought of as her heart beat settled.

IIIII

"Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, Yang Xiao Long, Pyrrha Nikos." Ozpin called out solemnly. "You four collected the white bishop pieces. From today onward you will work together as team Rain or RYNN and for your duration at Beacon you will be led by Yang Xiao Long." The normally vivacious blond seemed less then pleased by the prospect but accepted it with a nod moments before giving her partner shrug, the champion hiding her smile at the blonde's blasé attitude to the unwanted responsibility.

Ozpin couldn't blame her for having no particular interest in the role and had for once deliberated heavily between the brawler and her more taciturn teammate. He'd finally settled with Yang simply believing that the talented brawler simply had more to gain from the position then Lie Ren.

"Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna." Ozpin called out as soon as the newly minted team stepped off the stage. The four stood in front of him with varying states of eagerness.

"You four acquired the black Knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team Raspberry or RASB." The name brought no shortage of poorly concealed laughter from the crowd as well Jaune and Ruby while Blake was forced to hide a smile, leaving only Weiss to look suitably horrified. "For your duration at Beacon you will be led by Ruby Rose." Ozpin finished, paying no heed to Weiss's ever-increasing dismay.

The crowd cheered even as Yang jumped back up on stage to hug her sister tightly. Jaune joined in, trapping the younger girl between the two much larger blonds.

"It seems it's going to be an interesting year." Ozpin commented softly.

IIIII

"You have a surprising amount of confidence in that young man." Glynda commented, clearly expecting an answer to the question she wasn't asking.

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, pulling of the numerous clips of Jaune's performance in the Emerald forest. "Does anything in Mr. Arc's transcripts suggest capabilities like those shown here?"

Glynda shook her head. "No, like Ms. Belladonna he's something of a mystery but if he's hiding a Faunus heritage, he's doing a remarkably better job."

Ozpin nodded before putting the brief performance up on the holographic display. "I'm telling you this only because I'm concerned for the students Glynda," he met her gaze firmly before he continued, "This young man puts me on edge."

Further conversation was delayed as his computer chimed with the notice of a priority message. He wasn't expecting it to be Professor Leo Lionheart's murder investigation report mixed with conclusive evidence of the man's long-term betrayal to an unknown faction. Ozpin gazed at the crime scene photos of Lionheart's office easily reading the neat handwriting seared into the old huntsman's forehead. "Guess no one gave him a fuckin medal."

"Glynda, as of right now classes are to be taught on the premise that war is inevitable, starting with the possibility of betrayal." Ozpin stated softly.

"I'll inform the staff at once headmaster." She left in a rather hurried manner, something he could understand all too well. Strangulation was never a good way to go and Leo's assassin had not been worried about interruption if the deep impressions the chain had left were anything to go off of.

Despite the shocking turn of events, Ozpin could help but find himself drawn back to the youthful enigma before he even made it through half of the police report on Lionheart's assassination.

One of Salem's agents would never dare attract so much attention to himself, nor could anyone achieve such a level of proficiency at such a young age without a phenomenal amount of help no matter how talented. Something only a few within Remnant possessed the capabilities to create. Himself, Ironwood. . . and Salem. In the light of Lionheart's clear betrayal though; he was forced to concede to the possibility that Jaune Arc must have found his way through the cracks without such aid.

The man was one of his oldest agents in this lifetime yet, while its authenticity could not be confirmed, the oldest of his transgressions started almost half a decade before his tenure as Haven's headmaster even began. Ozpin couldn't even begin to imagine just how many had lost his life to yet another one of his mistakes.

Silently, he stood from his seat to turn towards the window, his solemn gaze focused on the city spread out at his very feet. A city that looked to him for protection from creatures it simply couldn't begin to imagine. A city he could all too easily envision in flames while a arrogant youth mocked him for a fool.

"From the mouths of babes as they say." Ozpin murmured softly before turning back to his work. With even death denied to him, it was his only solace in a world capable of choosing its own destruction.

IIIII

"Of all ridiculous names he had to choose RASBERRY." Weiss was once again proving that one should never underestimate the lung capacity of five-foot one petite female. Blake, with her second set of ears, hidden or not, certainly wouldn't. If the girl was without a doubt a Schnee she would have thought it was the girl's semblance.

Ruby giggled from where she was sprawled out on her bed above the disguised Faunus. "I think it's a perfectly fine name Weiss." Ruby argued in her usual endearing fashion from atop their recently jury-rigged bunks now being held in place by strips of steel expertly nailed into place, both of which Jaune had produced from one of his bags like nothing, much to Ruby's dismay.

The high-spirited girl had begged to hang her bed with a series of rope but, much to Blake's delighted and Weiss's bewildered surprise, Jaune had stoically refused her. How neither of them knew but he'd managed to both construct the still obviously shady bunk beds and refuse the younger girl her desire for a jury rigged death trap at the same time. The fact that he hadn't used his more 'personal' methods to deal with the near death-ray of cuteness the girl could emanate showed just how serious he was.

The heiress let out a condescending snort at the girls attempt at placating her thought it barely had even a fraction of the venom she reserved for her partner. "If it wasn't for the connotations involved it wouldn't be but-"

The bathroom door banged open as Jaune strode out, cutting her off mid lecture. "Come on Weissicle, it aint that bad, not as cool as RYNN I'll admit but it has promise." The boy's hair slicked back from his shower and still shirtless but the girls' collective attention was fixated on the billowing cloud of steam obscuring nearly their entire dorms bathroom instead of the impressive muscle tone on display.

At least until they realized his exposed skin looked like it was all but seared pink with signs of aura assisted healing all over. "What did you do, heat the water with burn Dust to boil yourself alive?" Weiss snapped.

Jaune shrugged. "Yup, bad habit of mine." Ruby shared a questioning look with Blake. Jaune wouldn't have missed a chance to make some kind of mildly lewd come back involving Weiss cooling him off. Thankfully even Weiss, however riled up, wasn't going to prod that particular razor wasp nest anytime soon.

"Hey, if Yang was on this team you'd be team RWBY." Jaune stated, shamelessly redirecting the conversation back to its original topic.

The freshly minted leader of their team blinked. "But what about you and the others?"

"Team JNPR, you don't even have to use anyone's last names, it's like it was Fate's will." The excessive enthusiasm held no shortage of mockery leading the girls to give the blond yet another series of strange looks which he ignored.

Ruby however was quickly distracted by another thought. "I kind of wish that had been the case." She said it softly that Weiss didn't hear it at all and Blake only because of her additional senses; she didn't have a clue how to respond. Jaune however had both heard and did know.

"You're over thinking things." He stated with absolute confidence, ruffling her hair briskly.

"I'm not so certain." Ruby muttered softly, not even swatting at the blond.

So Jaune flicked her forehead instead, hard. "None of that kid, you're in school, by definition this is the place to make mistakes." Ruby stiffened as her father's face replaced Jaunes briefly before shifting back. "Besides, you think princess purrrfect will even let you?" Jaune totally failed to whisper the question. Ruby couldn't help from giggling as the blond received yet another lecture from said princess.

At least until she saw the stylized black horse head wreathed in flame tattooed on the blonde's right shoulder blade. She didn't get a chance to ask though before he quickly donned an undershirt and shrugged on his uniforms button up. "Yo, we've got class in five minutes."

That sent the girls into a panic as they scrambled for the door, Jaune snickering behind them as he finished dressing.

IIIII

Ren watched as his sister team scrambled into the class room just as the bell rang. Something his team had avoided thanks to their Yang's surprising attention to the schedule as well as the clock.

On the other hand, Jaune displaying an eerie ability to fall asleep almost as soon as he took his seat 'and' ignore all of Weiss's efforts to wake him at the same time didn't even cause the martial artist to raise an eyebrow.

A part of him even envied the blonde as soon as Professor Port started his lecture. It didn't take long for numerous others join the blonde while others simply drifted somewhere between the class room and the afterlife.

Port glanced at his watch half way through the period though his audience would certainly disagree. "I need to retrieve something for our next lesson so I'll pause there for moment to let you all stretch your legs, please be back in the next fifteen minutes if you go to the restroom."

Yang shuddered violently as she glanced towards Nora and her sister. "How did he do that?"

The orange haired girl only shivered dramatically while Ruby blinked owlishly. "We might have all been caught in his semblance forcing us into a natural state of catatonia with the only escape being through sleep him releasing us."

Ren smiled at the younger girl's wild imagination before he slipped away while Nora was distracted with Yang and made a beeline for the restroom and the urinals with in.

He'd almost finished when he noted Jaune enter out of the corner of his eye. The blond mumbled some sort of hello as he took the urinal several rows down still clearly half asleep. The martial artist vaguely caught the blatant role of the blonde's shoulder that suggested a remarkable amount of effort to retrieve a choicely located object ought of the corner of his eye.

The blond fumbled and the sound of something soft hitting porcelain followed along with the blond cursing creatively about fate and perverts while simultaneously expressing a revulsion all men understood.

Ren's blank face never changed as he returned to Port's class.

By the end of the professor's time limit, the portly man had retrieved a Boarbatusk trapped in a solid cage of all things, the beast growling menacingly from within its prison.

"Could I please have a volunteer for this next lesson?" Port asked with his usual enthusiasm.

Weiss raised her hand. "I'll do it."

The professor nodded. "Very good Ms. Schnee, go ahead and retrieve your equipment. Weiss nodded politely as she stood.

IIIII

The Boarbatusk grunted and snarled with in the cage as one of its prey stepped in front of it. The small thing's every move rippled the Call in the back of the creature's skull as it gazed balefully through the bars trapping it. Unlike most of its prey, this one was almost entirely white instead of the muted greys that typically made up the creatures.

It's prison rattled as metal broke freeing the creature. Snarling it charged its prey fulling the creature to run. Instead the creature simply stepped aside at the last possible second. Caught off guard the Grimm slammed into the desk, causing another one of it's prey to raise it's head.

The creature's eyes narrowed briefly as they met the Grimm's glowing scarlet, their dark grey depths. . . changing to. . . icy. . . sapphire as. "Wow kid, you took that mauling like a champ." The. . . mocking tone of the voice wove itself with in the Call stilling the Boarbatusk instantly.

"Blow me." A second voice, torn in a furious snarl, made the Call thrum in turn.

"Seriously," The far to. . . cheerful voice commented, completely ignoring the. . . crude command. The Boarbatusk stopped snarling, not wanting that voice to notice it, "That thing ricocheted off four trees before it even cut through your aura and you still went back for more twice, damn impressive."

The beast mewled softly but unable to look away from it's prey's gaze. "What do you want?" The anger was gone leaving only. . . tired. . . resignation. Dark. . . blond hair swayed in front of the. . . boy's gaze as he shifted to rest his. . . chin on the palm of his hand.

"What, I can't just pop in and make your life miserable whenever I want?" The boy's pale. . . pink. . . lips tilted up into a. . . smirk that. . . silenced the Call.

The other voice. . . laughed. It was a tired and bitter sound but a laugh nonetheless. "I don't suppose this misery might include some bit of wisdom oh great and powerful fate?" The. . . desperation behind the. . . question felt like mist against an otherwise stagnant pool.

The silence lingered for a moment before the first voice finally replied. "Just think of this whole thing as a really, really detailed rpg? The. . . suggestion brought the Call back as crashing of thunder. The creature never felt the prick at the back of its neck through the horrendous crescendo as a thin blade was thrust through its skull.

IIIII

Blake could barely understand what she'd just watched as the Boarbatusk's desiccated in front of them. The grimm had just stood and stared at Jaune while the boy in turn had smiled at the thing.

"Astounding young man but poor form interrupting you partner's lesson." Port praised and lectured with a great deal less exuberance than he usually possessed.

Jaune only shrugged. "Apologies professor, I was caught off guard and couldn't reign my semblance in before it was too late."

The professor nodded slowly, clearly hesitant to simply drop the matter. "Understandable I suppose, may I ask what sort of illusion your semblance creates?"

Jaune surprised her by shaking his head. "It's not actually an illusion, Grimm don't have the cognitive functions to produce emotions so I basically implant them into lesser or weakened Grimm's minds, it's not natural to them so they can't resist." Jaune explained.

The professor was silent for a moment before actually shaking his head disbelief. "I see, go ahead and resume your seat, top marks for taking initiative and slaying the creature while it was distracted." The girl nodded politely at the praise but clearly did not share Port's opinion on the matter.

Meaning she pounced the second Port started to ramble once again. "How can your semblance create simply an essence of emotion when it forms entire illusions for humans." She hissed her voice low to avoid being heard by the Professor.

"Human brains work on a much higher level than your typical Grimm," Jaune answered not bothering to whisper at all even as he started to play on his scroll directly out in the open, "The 'illusions' a human would see have such a strong potency though because it's still directly stimulating an emotional response."

"Is that why we see familiar places in them?" Pyrrha asked from the row above.

Jaune nodded. "Yes, it uses your own memories to create a sense of familiarity, the stronger the connection to the location the stronger the illusion."

"You're better off fighting humans or Faunus then." Blake stated warily.

"Not in the sense your thinking of, Humans and Faunus experience fear naturally and maintaining the illusion can be something of a pain, especially when the targets juiced on adrenaline and completely aware they're in a fight." Jaune answered easily.

"It's still pretty awesome you can make Grimm scared of you." Ruby crowed softly. "I mean that's like seriously amazing."

"I think it's more impressive that you haven't become reliant on it." Pyrrha commented. "I've seen and heard of a lot of potential talent getting wasted by young hunters who rely too heavily on a powerful semblance like that."

"Huh?" Jaune looked up in confusion.

"She means your swordsmanship and dust manipulation." Blake answered. "Nevermore feathers are usually weighed in at over forty pounds and have an estimated velocity of three hundred miles an hour." The boy didn't even glance at her. "While an aura imbued shotgun blast at close enough range might be enough, a small blade like yours shouldn't have a chance.

He finally glanced at her from the corner of his eye and she held up a text book, the page showing a diagram of a Nevermore daring him to challenge her. Instead he shrugged. "Weight and speed aside, their still subject to the laws of physics."

"What does that mean?" Weiss hissed.

The blond gave her a cocky smirk as he showed her what he'd been doing on his scroll. "It's all in the wrist snowflake."

The white-haired girl stood so quickly her chair was thrown backwards crashing loudly against the wall behind them. Jaune had already closed the scroll before the others could look.

Professor Port's coughed gently. "Is there a problem Ms. Schnee?" More than a few of their classmates appeared to be all but begging for her to say yes.

The girl glared at her partner who hadn't even bothered to lose his smug look. "No Professor, my partner simply has a bad sense of humor."

The Professor frowned as he looked towards Jaune. "Mr. Arc, please refrain from antics that would disturb the class."

"Of course professor." Blake was no stranger to liars and while the blond wasn't waving his crossed fingers about like a child it was a near thing. For better or worse though, class remained undisturbed for the remainder of the period.

That of course only gave a certain genius vocalist to 'prepare' for the imminent tongue lashing her partner clearly had coming. "Of all the immorally lewd things you could do with them." She snarled as she stalked after the boy.

"You're racist then." The blond deadpanned without even looking at the girl.

"Don't twist my disgust into something it's not, this is completely about you in that perverted fantasy you created."

"Jaune," Ruby hissed, "What did you do this time?"

"You are not showing that to anyone." Weiss snarled but Jaune had already turned his scroll to those gathered before she finished. The reaction was rather mixed as Ruby blushed and Pyrrha rolled her eyes, Yang snickered, and Ren once again simply managed Nora.

Blake however stiffened like someone had put a gun to her back.

It was one of the pictures taken of her and Weiss the day before during the impromptu dog pile, now cropped to show only Weiss and her and photo shopped to appear as if she was no longer wearing her bow and her claws fully extended but what truly attention to her were huge golden cat eyes.

Weiss on the other hand no longer had her hair up, her long snow colored locks draped about her to mix with Blakes. The distinct blush on both their faces only made the fury in both their expressions all the more condemning.

While the blond was certainly treading a fine line with the animal features, the picture was only mildly suggestive at worse. Only the sheer detail of the changes making proving it a forger difficult, the mildly racist notion of faunus having more than a single animal trait, and that it included a Schnee would factor into the massive scandal it would become if publicized.

"You look amazing as a Faunus Blake." Ruby cried far too loudly, completely oblivious to her friends cringing or her partner's subdued glare at her teammate.

Pyrrha shot Jaune a disappointed look. "You really shouldn't be making such jokes, they're not very tasteful."

The blond rolled his eyes. "Personally, I think Remnants just stupidly sensitive." He still openly deleted the picture before slipping his scroll back into his pocket.

Ruby hesitantly raised her hand. "Why is it even a big deal in the first place, haven't Faunus been around as long as regular humans?"

"Humans are prone to mistakes as individuals, number one being them fearing something pointlessly stupid simply because they don't understand." Jaune answered easily as he started walking in the direction of the cafeteria. "Combine the mistakes of a world population and you start wondering how we even function as a dominant species."

Blake snorted. "Especially with the Grimm all too willingly hounding our doorsteps."

Jaune gave of a bitter laugh. "The sad fact is that we can thank the Grimm for creating what little stability we have with the Faunus with them simply forcing us to work together." The contempt for the fact all but dripped from his lips.

Pyrrha smiled. "You've read Spectrum's case on Faunus civil rights haven't you?"

The blond shrugged. "I follow pretty much all his work borderline religiously, the guy's a genius."

"He's a degenerate adrenaline junky criminal." Wiess snapped and damn near righteous fury. "All that talent and he puts it to making fools of the authorities and pumping up his own ego." Given that one of those thesis's was a fifty thousand words worth of accurate documentation on her family's genetic semblance, her anger was understandable.

"How can you say that?" Ruby hissed.

"How can I not, you try waking up in the morning to find you home has been broken into and vandalized scandalously by a documented killer who actively supports criminals and terrorist organizations."

The last part caught Pyrrha's attention. "While he's certainly been affiliated with men like Roman Torchwick, I've never heard of the man collaborating with the White Fang outside of settling disputes at peaceful rallies before the extremists could act, even aiding in the arrest of a number of them in some cases."

"It does not change the fact that the man is an idolized brigand." Weiss snarled emphatically, abandoning her usual logical approach.

"Whose tech can be clearly located on the hilt of a certain sword." Jaune commented dryly, shoving the cafeteria door open rather forcefully.

The chilling effect of Weiss's glare could not be underestimated. "It's illogical not to reach for an obvious advantage not involving a legitimate moral dilemma," She countered, "Besides, he's the fool willing to strengthen his own enemies."

Jaune picked up a tray and a set of utensils before he answered. "Good, he'd approve that kind of thinking."

Weis clearly did not appreciate the notion. "I would hardly regard the respect of such a degenerate as a worthy compliment." Her eyes narrowed shrewdly. "And how could you possibly claim to know the mind that has baffled investigators for the last decade?"

"Game players typically approve when someone picks up their crumb trails." Jaune answered easily, leaving his fuming partner sputtering as he stepped into the line.

Weiss huffed as she followed him. "Say your right, what does he get out of it?"

"Other than the sheer orgasmic satisfaction of being right who knows," Jaune answered with a shrug before accepting a plate from the lunch lady. "I can profile a guy, not read his mind."

"How do you know how to profile someone though?" Blake asked shrewdly.

"I've been in my home town's precinct a lot, pretty much on a first name basis with everyone there at this point," another easy reply, "Picked up a thing or two along the way."

"Did you have a relative that worked there?" Yang rubbed her eyes as she tried not to groan. Ruby could be adorably innocent or painfully so.

Jaune laughed as he set his tray down on a relatively empty table. "With how well my mom got to know the place picking me up on a near weekly basis, she certainly could have applied."

"You were a trouble maker!" Nora accused loudly.

Jaune's smirk flashed in a show of devilish humor. "Am, Nora, am."

"Let go, that hurts." A girl suddenly cried out.

Everyone turned to see Cardin pulling on a Rabbit Faunus's ears as he and his team laughed. Blake hands tightened into fists at the disgusting display but didn't even have a chance to consider intervening.

The first-year bully became very still as a mildly irritated voice called out loudly. "Hey Cardin," Teams RASB and RYNN were gazing warily at Jaune, "Your mom's probably of a wonderful woman, but if she knew what a disappointment you'd become, she'd probably have told your dad to stick it in her butt instead."

The rabbit Faunus was the only sign of life in the entire cafeteria as she fled from the bully. Cardin on the other hand was barely able to breath, even going as far as to stand but was quickly dragged back by his team, two of which went as far as to scramble across the table in order to do so.

Jaune only snorted before turning back to his meal. The rest of lunch was spent with nervous gazes flicked their way as well as outraged scowls from team cardinal.

IIIII

Unfortunately combat class was directly after lunch. The usual half hour safety speech was absolutely nothing they hadn't heard, most students only giving their attention because it was Ms. Goodwitch giving it. Most meant every one present except for a single blond blatantly scrolling while team RYNN and three quarters of RASB vaguely shifted ever so slightly away.

"Mr. Arc, I assume you can repeat what I just said." Ms. Goodwitch commented scathingly.

"Take caution once your opponent's aura reaches the yellow to avoid serious injuries." He answered promptly. "I'd add that strikes against limbs would be far more advisable by then, a broken leg or arm is worlds better then ruptured organs."

Weiss very nearly shivered at the small twitch in the corner of their combat instructor's eye. "An accurate assessment Mr. Arc, any other suggestions?"

A collective shiver passed through the room as Jaune shrugged. "Don't milk it." His gaze instantly falling on Cardin.

"You would all do well to remember that." Ms. Goodwitch snapped crisply. "Those who treat this as a game are always the first ones that die in the real world." Jaune gave off an ugly snort but it was quiet enough Ms. Goodwitch either didn't notice it or took it as a sign of agreement.

"Mr. Arc, Mr. Winchester, please join me in the ring." Weiss shuddered as she watched the two obey.

"This won't end well." Blake murmured beside her.

Weiss only shook her head in disdain. "No it won't but it will end quickly." The dark haired girl snorted what might have possibly been a stifled laugh.

Both their predictions proved spectacularly accurate as Jaune didn't even bother reaching for his belt, going straight for Cardin's mace with a jump that planted both feet on the ridiculously sized weapon. The weapon slammed it into the bully's face sending him to the ground in a loud crash.

With his weapon and his opponent's weight crushing his head into concrete and delving a significant chunk from his aura Cardin was clearly far out of his depth. Worse his vision was clouded by the reflex tears from his broken nose.

"Reckless." Blake murmured, commenting on Jaune's technique.

Weiss nodded. "Pointlessly so, he just wants to humiliate him."

In the short amount of time their conversation took, Jaune had effortlessly relieved the taller boy of his weapon. The boy's following adrenaline-fueled panic got him to his knees only to put in the perfect position for Jaune to hammer the boy's weapon into his chest. The force actually lifted the boy into the air and hurl him from the ring.

"Excellent use of improvisation against much larger opponent Mr. Arc, have you sparred against such before?" Glynda asked.

Jaune gave off an ugly hybrid between a laugh and a snort as he dropped Cardin's weapon. "You could say that." He glanced towards Cardin. "Stop compensating with your weapon, it's going to get you killed." The crudeness of the advice did nothing to lessen its accuracy. Cardin's weapon simply did not compliment him, signifying years of wasted training.

The blond didn't wait for Ms. Goodwitch's approval before he left the ring, nor did he meet anyone's gaze as he settled back into the bleachers.

Weiss was the one to ask the question on all their minds. "Jaune, why didn't you just kill the Nevermore?"

Jaune's gaze flickered towards her briefly, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth but said nothing as he opened his scroll. Weiss almost said something but instead turned back to the ring. The fact that she'd somehow just managed to 'impress' her partner was unsettling enough as it was.

"Will Ruby Rose and Lie Ren please join me in the sparring circle." Ms. Goodwitch called out, sending the young girl in to a fit of shivers as she made her way towards the locker room, her movements slightly mechanical.

"She's over thinking everything." Weiss commented once their captain reappeared still moving far too stiffly, Blake hummed in agreement beside her.

"Ren will give her a chance to find her feet." Jaune stated confidently without looking away from his scroll. The dark-haired boy in question lunged forward into their captain's guard, ducking Ruby's clumsy strike but proving teammate right as his counter blow didn't come at nearly the same speed they'd seen him move at.

Blake nodded with clear approval as the green wearer said something softly to her partner before jumping out of her scythes reach. "He patient and kind enough to let her build up confidence, Ms. Goodwitch probably chose him for this exact reason."

Weiss nodded in agreement. "It probably comes from knowing someone like Nora for so long." The three of them chuckled in mutual amusement as they glanced towards the orange haired girl who was bouncing in her seat cheering loudly. Any agility fighter that had honed his skills with that girl deserved nor shortage of respect.

"I'm surprised Ms. Goodwitch realized though, Ruby did tag her rather nicely after all." Blake commented. Before anyone could add on though, Ruby deftly jumped away, firing off around to gain further momentum.

"She's ready." Jaune murmured as he lowered in scroll leaned forward just as Ruby twirled her scythe gracefully, forcing Ren back in the process, his own weapons unsuitable to block such an assault. Their class's noise level rose dramatically in surprise and Weiss honestly couldn't blame them.

Unlike Cardin who solely focused his strength to manipulate his weapon, Ruby wasn't frightened to let crescent rose's weight manipulate itself or even her as the massive blade danced about the young girl's petite frame in a series of movements the heiress found herself hard pressed to track when not even under the pressure of combat.

"She'd probably run straight over most of our class," Blake commented, "I'm not surprised that Ozpin let her attend Beacon at such a young age."

Jaune snorted. "Personally, I think it's a little scary that he's so desperate."

Weiss and Blake stared at him in shock. "What?" The heiress hissed.

Jaune shrugged. "Huntsmen and Huntress numbers may have gone down almost fifteen percent in the last decade alone," He gestured towards Ruby, "But if she'd remained at Signal for another two years, she might have even reached Pyrrha's level before she came here." It didn't take a natural analyst like Weiss or a quick thinker like Blake to see his point. Or shudder at what it could possibly entitle.

"Do we tell her?" Blake asked softly.

"No and definitely don't tell her sister," Jaune stated firmly, eyeing the blond cheering the young reaper, "If war really is on the horizon, I'd rather let them have what remaining childhood they can."

IIIII

Roman did his best not to fidget as black nails tapped softly against the table, topaz eyes watching him with a coolness contradicting their color. They'd been like this for over an hour.

The scroll between them started to ring. She didn't move, letting it do so, topaz eyes never leaving him. Finally, he hesitantly reached for it. An eyebrow arched as he lifted it though. Taking the hint, he put the call on speaker.

"WAAAAZZZ UP," A boisterous yell blared through making him wince, "Heya firework, thanks for sending favorite flavors by, we-" The man cut himself off. "I'm sensing dark thoughts, slow roasting flesh, and a smile that could give me a boner three years after death, is that you dear?"

The woman giggled as she rested her chin elegantly on her woven fingers. "Oh Spectrum, you always say the sweetest things."

The man laughed. "Oh baby, if you weren't-"

"Smart enough to avoid the walking incubator." She cut him off this time, her voice as bland as ash but Roman didn't fail to notice her eyes flash ever so slightly brighter. A bad sign for nearly anyone and certainly why he kept the details of the boy's 'wisely' monogamous relationship to himself.

Spectrum only laughed. "Glad I'm naturally a masochist cause sweetheart that was a buuuurn."

Roman was glad her attention was on the scroll because what she muttered next threw him for a loop. "If it isn't one it's another," If he didn't know her at all, he'd almost think her expression could be described as fond, "Spectrum, I have a task for you."

"Really," The man asked eagerly, Roman conjuring the image of a puppy shark once again, "what is it, fly Fire works escape bullhead, kill some bookstore owner," Roman frowned at the mention of one of the grimmer items on his to do list, "Oh I know, smash a train full of White Fang through the middle of down town to let a bunch of Grimm in." He stiffened briefly but relaxed as the woman failed to hide a smile of all things.

"Oh Spectrum, just what am I going to do with you?"

"Considering that you were in such short supply of henchmen just a few days ago that you had me playing babysitter, probably nothing." The man answered with confidant smugness. "Then again, you can pilot can't you?" The questions suggestion remained unspoken.

She let out a soft beautiful laugh, the first clue it was fake. "For such an acclaimed genius you have the strangest ideas sometime Spectrum."

"Oh you know how Fate is with his plot lines, gotta introduce you somehow." The ash haired genius drawled lazily clearly not realizing his mouth was still moving.

"Spectrum," She spoke softly trying to regain her employ's attention.

"Shoulda just had you torching a paladin up in Atlas or something, woulda taken care of Mercald and Emury as well though I guess their intro wasn't all that bad." Roman surreptitiously angled his seat for a quick escape as topaz eyes brightened.

"Spectrum,"

"Maybe have one of your sister's deal with good old Goodwitch."

"Spectrum!" She snapped abruptly.

"What?"

"You're droning." It came out dry, temper cooled as quickly as it had sparked.

". . . Oops."

"Yes oops, now are you listening?" She replied, voice as silky as ever.

"Ja, ja I'm listening." The puppy shark image instantly cropped up in Roman's head.

"Good, now this is mostly a waste of your talents but I need you're help clearing out as much of the grimm as possible from mountain glenn, it doesn't have to be perfect, just enough to keep any suspicion off the place while we work."

Silence.

"Spectrum?" Roman took a chance and moved towards the window for a smoke.

Silence.

"Spectrum?"

Silence.

She sighed and closed the scroll. "I'll just have to call him back then."

"Fell asleep on you did he?" Roman asked from beside the window he'd politely opened as widely as possible before he'd lit his cigar.

"You to huh?"

IIIII

Blake found her teammate dozing on one of the stone benches scattered throughout the school grounds, the shade of a massive oak covering him from the sunlight above. Knowing he'd wake up with a massive cramp in his neck if he continued to sleep like that, Blake settled at the base of the same oak with her book, more than content to wait.

She made it through almost four chapters before he stirred, groaning softly as he sat up, tentatively stretching his neck out as he did. "Need something?" He asked without looking at her.

"Just wondering why you enjoy playing with people's lives so much." She commented softly, never looking away from her book.

The blond snorted. "I don't, their minds on the other hand are fair game."

She flicked her gaze up to glare at him only to still at the faint sliver of blue she could make out of the boy's eyes as he craned his neck to look at her in return. No vision assaulted her thankfully but his following question turned her relief to ash. "Dust contacts?"

Ice gripped her spine faster than if someone had shoved a dust crystal in her. "What?"

"For your eyes, regular ones can't be worn continuously, in combat, or properly mute their unusual reflection." He answered easily.

"H-how could you possibly know that?" Blake stuttered, realizing just how far out of her depth she was.

"A better question is how I know just how much you despise wearing that bow or how irritatingly fast your nails grow." He returned as he stood and stretched before pulling out his scroll, pulling up Ruby's number from his contacts list with barely a glance. "How does a team bonding exercise sound?"

Though she couldn't make out what her partner said, Blake had no trouble discerning Ruby's animated approval of the idea though the smug look that took over Jaune's face would have been obvious enough even without it. "Good, you and Weiss get prepped for combat and meet Blake and I on the edge of the Emerald forest, I'll clear it with Ms. Goodwitch."

He lowered his scroll a second later. "How does a trial by fire sound to you?"

Blake's eyes narrowed. "For who?" She really didn't like his smirk but she wasn't abandoning Ruby and Weiss to his machinations so she still followed him even though he didn't answer her question.

IIIII

Weiss was anything but pleased to find herself on the cliffs overlooking the Emerald forest they'd only recently been catapulted from and from the look of so was Blake. Her team caption however was bouncing eagerly. "What's the plan?"

Jaune gestured for them to follow before flinging himself off the cliff. Weiss groaned, immediately envying the blondes both mastery and possession of gravity dust. One annoying fact about landing strategies, their annoyingly easier with forward momentum so the sight of the blonde's smug look once they'd reconvened at the bottom had even Ruby's ever cheerful nature on a back burner.

"I was thinking a little mob control would be in order," He stated easily, "Nothings better than a small horde or two of worthless Grimm to wind down after a long day."

Weiss snorted. "What horde, the forest boasts a decent number but it would still take something ridiculous to bring them out in any number."

Jaune winked at her before flicking Ruby on the nose without warning. The scythe wielder jumped back. "Hey, what was-" The younger girl started only to scream a second later forcing Blake to catch her as she fell back while Weiss moved to stand between them and her partner, her hand paler then usual where gripped Myrtenaster.

Jaune hadn't moved, his eyes as vacant as they'd been in the vision. "I'm sorry." He whispered softly as his gaze turned towards the forest, numerous howls rising from its depths.

"Why would you show me that?" Ruby all but pleaded.

Jaune moved slowly to place himself between them and the forest, its shadows already teaming with dozens of Grimm. "For it is in suffering that we come to grasp our purpose and in fear that we strive for it. Infinite in choice and tempered by fate, I release your soul and by my own, accept thee."

All three recognized the words for a hunter's mantra. The unique phrasing was a fundamental key to unlocking the aura for those without training after all. Historically it had numerous meanings among huntsmen and huntresses, the most common being a plea for trust during times of war.

Jaune looked back at them even as more and more grimm appeared from the forest. He didn't speak before sprinting towards them, his blade locking into place even as he leapt at the head of the pack but he first of his victims didn't fall to the blade but to his bare hands as Jaune caught the beowolf's muzzle, fangs and all as he flipped over the beast, his momentum and weight tearing the top of the creature's head clean off.

He landed on back of an Ursa, his blade extending like a whip, its aura honed edge passing through the grim as if they were nothing but mist. The monsters perished so quickly that the blond was briefly blocked from view by the thick smoke.

By the time it cleared, Jaune had shifted the weapon to bladed staff, the silver and black of the spirals now coating the edge to protect the blonde's hands as he slipped through the thickest of the grim like water between reeds. With how close he was, some of the monsters even savaged their own kind due to close proximity and their disjointed attacks.

"None of them are approaching us." Ruby stated the obvious but no less frightening fact softly.

"B-but how, he said his illusions didn't effect Grimm?" Weiss stuttered briefly in shock.

Blake tasted iron as she bit her tongue trying to keep her face neutral. She'd seen those eyes before. Behind the narrow slits of a mask the coldly sneered words 'what about them' echoing all too loudly in the back of her mind.

Jaune slipped free of the Grimm calling out as he ran from the chaos engulfed horde even as he shouted. "Ruby, your turn!"

Caught by surprise, their captain was a little clumsy heading off the Boarbatusk on the boy's heels but she managed. Blake watched in amazement as her partner's fumbling quickly transformed to easy twirls and jumps and as the younger girl's initial shock passed and she and her immense weapon began to dance amongst the frenzied Grimm.

"What differences do you see between the two of us?" Jaune asked after audaciously lighting a smoke.

Weiss frowned before focusing on their young captain. "Her movements are more exaggerated then yours from both lack of experience, weapon size, and technique."

"Her aura undoubtedly drains faster as well but-" Blake cut herself off trying to think, "She's not as emotionally involved."

The claim caught Weiss off guard. "How can you tell?"

"Her eyes," Jaune answered, "I've been told mine are almost as scary as the Grimm when I'm fighting. Ruby's are clear and focused, she doesn't hate or even particularly care about the Grimm, she on the other hand isn't here for them."

"How is she so good then?" Blake asked out of disbelief, one didn't simply become a huntress on a whim and certainly not one talented enough to be admitted in to Beacon two years ahead of schedule.

"Simply put, it's who she is." Jaune answered. "Most people struggle to find who they want to be for their entire life, always dreaming but never trying to reach for it." He gestured at the cloaked girl with the smoke in his hand. "She's probably known for as long as she can remember and never questioned that choice even once. Ruby Rose simply put will never be anything but a huntress."

Blake studied her partner closely as the girl flashed between Grimm and, though lacking Jaune's eerie grace, adapted to each challenge presented without even blinking. "She does seem remarkably at ease compared to when she was sparring against Ren." It was rather evident that while Ruby had enjoyed match, she simply didn't have the same focus.

Jaune chuckled. "That's the crux of the matter, as frighteningly talented as she is, the mental hurdle of fighting another human or Faunus isn't something she's overcome yet."

Blake sighed. "Naïve."

"Childish." Weiss commented in agreement.

Jaune however snorted, shaking his head as he did. "Innocent, hopeful, she's both and more, something sorely lacking in this cruel world." Jaune responded.

Beside her Weiss stiffened. "You seem awfully certain about her, what about Blake or myself?"

He chuckled lightly, sparkling sapphire matching irate baby blue. "You two are both more and less complicated but I believe we've left our spirited captain alone for long enough." He answered cheerfully as he strode easily towards the horde, the Grimm switching their focus unnaturally and paying for it the second they reached him.

Weiss growled in annoyance. "The nerve," She turned to Blake when the girl didn't respond, finding the girl strangely lost in thought. "What is it?"

The dark-haired girl blinked in surprise before looking at her. "It's nothing, we should help them." She spoke rather quickly as she rushed into the fray leaving Weiss to stare as the one teammate that seemed to possess a modicum of sanity rushed after the other two.

The Heiress rolled her eyes in exasperation before chasing after the dark-haired girl. "It's going to be a long four years." She muttered. The first rank fell to a barrage of ice shards, easily opening a path for the white-haired girl to weave through, her glyphs providing all the needed momentum to keep her from being pinned down.

What she didn't expect was just how inflexible her sword technique was against numerous opponents. Unlike her teammate's weapons, Myrtenaster was designed more to help focus her dust and glyph casting, both of which she had to use sparingly as to not run out before the battle was over.

She compensated for the weakness by shadowing Ruby, thinning the horde about the younger girl and cleaning up whatever sorry creature was left in the reappears wake. As she did, it was hard not to be further impressed by her team leader. Scythes were an unwieldy all but unheard-of weapons even when prudently sized, something Ruby's certainly wasn't. It didn't stop the girl from harvesting the Grimm's lives like a child swiping at dandelion heads.

She didn't know how but Jaune somehow maneuvered her into taking point for him while Blake guarded Ruby. The blond wasn't even remotely frightened to make her life miserable, forcing her to struggle when she tried to anticipate his attacks so she could coordinate her own. She refused to back down though, refused to show weakness to the arrogant bastard.

Instead, Jaune darted by her without warning, the Grimm in front of them falling as his blade whipped out in a wide arc before coiling around his waist. "Your focus is slipping on your pride Weiss." The heiress blinked at his sudden chastisement. Jaune all but loomed over her, ignoring the Ursa major that had been out of his attack range rushing towards them.

In her fury, Weiss chose to ignore the creature as well, though she did still turn Myrtenaster cylinder till it hit the burn chamber. Whether it was for the monster or her partner she couldn't say. "Says the bastard intentionally trying to distract me." She snarled, refusing to be intimidated by the unpredictable man in front of her.

The Ursa reared up behind the blond, the creature's rumbling growl shaking the very air about them as it raised its immense paw, bone white claws longer then Weiss's hand eager for blood. Jaune simply caught the creature's massive limb, dark amethyst flashing in the palm of his hand as did. The blond stepped back easily, his free hand rising to press his middle finger against the monster's throat in a blatantly crude gesture a second before the top of its head erupted in a mixture of black ichor and another dark amethyst flare.

Jaune stared at her briefly before shaking his head. "Fighting in a position your techniques are unsuited is nothing but reckless Weiss, why would you let me force you into it?" He left her standing there to attend to the remainder of the horde with Ruby and Blake while she burned alongside her pride.

IIIII

Ruby sighed in contentment as she rinsed the last of the shampoo from her hair, enjoying the near scalding water of the shower as she listened to Blake and Weiss talk softly from one of the nearby benches in the locker room. Jaune was singing softly of all things further down the isle. Nothing loud enough to make out over the noise of the shower but she was just happy her team was finally coming together.

Turning off the shower, she toweled off and slipped into a set of well-worn workout clothes she'd stashed in her locker. Stepping out of the stall she spotted the monochrome pair of team raspberry located a few seats down the aisle, Weiss was dressed much like she was while Blake had chosen to wait and shower in their team's room.

The two older girls shared a look as she got closer before Blake suddenly caught her hand gently. "Ruby, what did Jaune show you?"

Ruby stiffened as the memory of gem blue eye's darkened in front of her while cold winds bit straight through her cloak, blood dribbling from his lips, a glossy black arrow head jutting from the owner's black and grey ballistic chest plate.

Thunderous roars shaking the building.

Someone trying to pull her away.

A familiar red dress, coal black hair fluttering in front of vacant amber eyes.

Crescent Rose in the pool of scarlet still dripping from the massive gash in the woman's pale skin.

Ruby shuddered as cold gripped her. "I-I don't want to talk about it."

Weiss frowned, it wasn't her usual 'your annoying' frown. "Ruby, that was your fear that called that horde, we can't just brush it off, especially when. . ." The girl looked past Ruby. "Not when it was our teammate who caused it."

Ruby didn't have time to find the words before it was answered for her. "I showed her what betrayal feels like." Jaune stated as he stepped form the shower, towel wrapped around his waist, skin once again covered in minor burns. "Everyone's nightmare right?" He stated as he turned, three sets of eyes of eyes falling on black and scarlet horsehead before he vanished behind a row of lockers.

Ruby looked at her teammate and partner once again before sighing at the sight of their expectant looks. "It started with Jaune dying right in front of me from a- a familiar weapon."

"It belonged to a friend didn't it?" Blake stated already praying that it wasn't hers.

The younger girl nodded. "Worse, there was this massive Grimm destroying Vale and," Ruby's throat was suddenly to dry to continue.

"Your friend?" Weiss tried clarify as gently as possible. Ruby nodded unable to talk.

Blake caught the girl in a tight hug, tears already falling freely. "Why did it have to be her?" She sobbed softly barely feeling her partner gently help her sit on the bench or Weiss shift ever so slightly closer, trying to offer what support she could.

Jaune was waiting for them outside the locker room, a firm look in his gem colored eyes. "I can't give you an apology without insulting you Ruby nor can I make any promise to not do something similar again."

He couldn't meet her pained gaze and even started to walk away before she caught his arm. "Does she have a name?" She gestured towards his belt.

He smiled faintly. "Night Mirror."

The red head was silent before smiling weakly. "I think Yang would like that."

The boy chuckled. "I suppose you would know."

He made up some excuse about meeting an old teacher down in vale, leaving the three of them to wander back to their teams' room. After properly cleaning her scythe and two minutes of trying to read one of her many weapons magazines and she threw the thing to the foot of her bed and pulled out her scroll.

Rolling on her stomach she opened the one story she'd ever managed to finish though its ending had always sickened her.

Frigid snow laced winds, the haze of blood loss, his prey's rapid pulse pounding against his thumb tips, panicked gold eyes dulling slowly. Thick red ichor gushing from under his nails and across his hands to mix with the liquid flowing down his arms.

"Are you certain this is what you want child?" The lilting woman's voice held powerful confidence of one so used to holding life and death between her fingers it had lost interest.

"Yes," This woman's voice was smoother, both youthful and seductive, "He is the most ideal, his potential, cunning, ruthlessness," light hearted laughter raises his skin, "Besides, his eyes alone will make it anything but a trial."

Gem blue eyes shifted slowly about the cell hastily refitted as a half way decent medical bay from behind sun blond hair carefully calculating his confinement with hidden exasperation. "Atlas again." Only the highly militarized kingdom would put in the effort to turn a prison cell into a perfectly ideal medical center, complete with a full-sized hospital bed if only because it had more places they could chain him down to.

A woman giggled softly from beside him. "So it seems my dear, our little home away from home wouldn't you say?" She asked coyly even as she draped herself across him, scarlet painted nails softly scraping at his skin of his neck while dark locks brushed against his cheek.

He only rolled his eyes. "Not now Shiro, I'd rather not explain such an awkward condition if they chose to move us."

Shiro giggled cheekily and didn't remove herself from him even as the cell door opened to admit General Copperstone of all people and his aid, Specialist Glacier Neige. It wasn't until he gazed at her duly that woman laughed as she released him, heels clicking dramatically against the cold stone floor.

Suzume only looked at the man as the general sat on the plain stool by his bed. "Can't say I was expecting a visit from the kingdom's finest general."

The man chuckled softly. "If times were different even you wouldn't warrant such regard," The general went silent briefly, "But the circumstances that lead to your capture raised a number of questions."

The blonde smirked. "Such as how a seventeen-year old happened to put a sociopathic scorpion Faunus with elite huntsman training down with only moderately severe injuries." Suzume replied. "Or was it how an international criminal saved a number of high interest subjects possessing a certain object from a known pawn of Saeva without cause or possible knowledge of their location or importance." He finished, unashamedly using the Grimm queens name in front of his yet in the dark aid.

The general matched his gaze for almost a minute before he turned to the woman beside him. "Wait for me outside Glacier."

The woman turned to him in shock. "Sir!"

"Now Specialist." The man commanded firmly.

Suzume only gave the woman a bright grin while Shiro laughed freely in the corner as the woman stalked form the room. "She's an interesting one."

He barely kept himself from outright frowning when the general nodded of all things. "That she is."

The click of Shiro's heels echoed behind him as the woman stepped around the table, pirouetting playfully as she did. "This is interesting, is the great general actually showing feelings of all things." She commented playfully. "And in front of you of all people."

Suzume ignored her in favor of studying the general before shrugging his shoulders as best he could while so heavily restrained. "You win general, I don't think I can handle have a heart to heart with the likes of you."

Copperstone smirked. "And what makes you say that?"

Suzume answered honestly. "Mine's an easier target." He snickered lightly at the general's stunned look. "Appearances are deceiving general, anyone who knows that spider's name should know that."

The general watched him carefully for the longest of times but Suzume remained quiet. Shiro was under no such restriction as sashayed back to his side and curled up beside him on the narrow bed with a distinct purr. "This old man is so boring Suzu, can't you kill him already?"

Suzume simply ignored her as the general leaned forward. "Then you understand why you've won yourself no favors, Salt Corbin already informed me of that particular agents possible mental state."

Blue eyes only stared dully at the general. "And?"

"Don't play that game son," The general rebuked calmly, "Saeva would be more than willing to sacrifice such a pawn to make room for a knight."

Shiro tried to muffle her laughter the crook of his neck but it was a futile effort at best. Suzume simply struggled to contain his smile, though he was certain that the general picked up on it easily enough. "Apologies sir, your analogy has a rather apt if wrongly placed sense to it."

"You aren't making much of a case for yourself with such a comment son." The general stated warily.

Gem blue eyes flashed with ire. "Please stop referring to me in such a manner general, I find it demeaning," The mask returned before the man could fully comprehend it ever even lowering and Suzume chuckled, "As for that Faunus, his name was Bora Gallows and he was at the very least one of the spider's rooks, literally insanely loyal and a relentless hunter, she would never have sacrificed him to place a spy here, even one as that reached as far as between your bedsheets general."

The general frowned as he stood, assuming the position of 'at ease' out of habit. "You have a great deal of confidence in that belief, do you mind explaining your reasoning?"

Suzume shrugged once again. "Saeva has lived for centuries general, seen every sort of military man throughout history," He answered plainly, "She knows you have no intention of looking beyond your borders now that Beacon has fallen General." Shiro giggled in amusement as the fresh perspective of the world's enemy washed over the general while Suzume continued. "She has you pegged or did you really think a seventeen-year-old managed to play you like a fiddle?"

The general fixed him with a stony gaze. "Say I believe you, say I make you an offer?"

The blond smirked. "I'd ask what's in it for me."

Copperstone scowled. "Don't play the fool with me Bachi, the childish rebel act is good but you've already thrown that card haven't you?"

Suzume rolled his eyes and shifted as much as his restraints allowed while Shiro once again purred from where she was curled up next to him. "Your point sir?"

This time the general visibly forced himself to calm down before he spoke again. "You've bled the Grey Claw for years but aided countless of Faunus as well, saved numerous huntsman and huntresses from death, including those previously attempting to capture you."

Suzume remained silent through the tirade, more desperate for a smoke then he was in the man's words. "This might go faster if you just tell me the offer general?"

Instead Copperstone stood. "No, I think it's time we took a break before something regretful happens."

"Like how you failed the wizard?" Suzume smirked cruelly when the man stiffened and out right laughed when the man only closed the door behind him.

Copperstone shook his head gently as he stepped from the cell but didn't say anything to Glacier when she fell in beside him as he made his way to security check point at the far end of the hallway. The men inside were quick to snap to attention the second he opened the door. "At ease, could we please have the room for a moment sergeant?" The man only nodded as he filed out with the three others under his command.

The general quickly located the monitor connected to the camera. "Glacier, I'm not seeing the estimated thirty something rogue huntsman, I see a child who hasn't even reached twenty." A glance towards his aid told him she understood the question he wasn't asking.

The tall white-haired woman nodded. "I struggle to believe it myself sir but he does possess a number of scars that coincide with confirmed injuries the man suffered as well as number that were previously only speculated on."

"Any further evidence?"

The woman nodded as she scrolled further down. "Medical scans show that his body has been put through what can only be described as remarkable conditioning for his age, aura readings are off the charts sir and the lack of any sort of weapon in his possession." She looked back at the screen displaying the bo- man. "This has to be him sir."

The general sighed feeling his age as he settled into the chair in front of the monitor. "What happened to this boy?"

"Given that the injuries we have on record barely makes up even sixty percent of his current scar tissue and that's with his aura being more than forty percent more efficient at healing him then veteran huntsman sir," The woman paused to look at the screen, "A lot and very little of good."

The general hummed softly in agreement as he carefully watched the predator displayed on the screen. It had been unsettling how small that cell had seemed when it had just been the two of them.

"Who are you Suzume Bachi?"

Ruby rolled on her back only to jump at the sight of Blake peaking over the edge of her bed with curios topaz eyes and quickly blushing cheeks as she realized she'd been caught reading over her partner's shoulder. Silver yes brightened even as they narrowed dangerously. "Blake."

IIIII

Yang stepped into the club for the second time that week, the black suited bouncer's tensing as she did despite her not even bothering to look at them. Junior spotted her quickly from his position behind the bar gesturing discreetly towards the stairs leading to the private rooms in the balconies above. The nod she gave him could have been missed by anyone.

Weaving through the other patrons she slipped up the stairs heading straight for the very last one that just happened to be the only one equipped with a scanner like the dorms in Beacon though clearly a more advanced model and much heavier doors. Holding her scroll over it the door opened with eerie silence to admit her into the room, the only illumination from the dance floor below thanks to the entirety of the far wall being removed in favor of a table topped railing.

She spotted Neo first as the petite girl turned to look over her shoulder at her, mismatched eyes dulling at the sight of her though she did struggle to give her a smile just as Yang did the same. The small thief had abandoned her jacket, leaving her in her dark brown sleeveless shirt that hugged her body and artfully displayed her cleavage in a near sinful display. Her boots had been kicked off as well as her socks, giving her devilish innocence a cruel boost.

She spotted him a second later. Going a step further with his feet bare and dressed only in black slacks, white silk button up and his mask, Spectrum was perched on the railing overlooking the dance floor without a care. She couldn't help but return the smile he gave her. "What could possibly bring my gorgeous dragon calling when she should still be celebrating with her new team?"

Yang felt her cheeks warm at his praise. "I'm not so poor a student as to not thank my teacher."

Too much of Spectrum's face was hidden to properly read. "We'll, you going to tell us about your new team, how about your sister's, you said she managed to get in a whole two years early thanks to our little spectacle."

Yang smiled but rolled her eyes as she took a seat. "Yep, she even made team captain."

Her teacher whistled as he pulled out his scroll. "Impressive, strawberry sunrise or would you like to try something else tonight considering this is pretty much your party?" He offered as he took the seat across from her.

She laughed. "I stick with the sunrise thank you; I do have class tomorrow you know." His smile told her he wasn't buying it and for good reason.

Neo chose that moment to not so subtly stake her claim by sliding into the man's lap.

Spectrum only adjusted himself accordingly without even looking away from his scroll. "If you say so," his voice tinged in amusement, "Anything else of interest besides the little rose's remarkable success?"

Yang snickered. "I'm pretty certain one of her teammates is almost as zealous about your work as Ruby is about her scythe."

His mask didn't manage to hide her teacher's skepticism. "From what you've told me, I find the exceptionally difficult to believe Yang."

Yang snickered and started to tell him everything that had happened during the last two days. Being forced to flee from her sister made a few of the stories second hand but that didn't stop her teacher or his girl from snickering at them.

Junior appeared with their drinks halfway through just getting to Beacon, the man no doubt willing to do a little leg work to prevent a number of potential events from occurring or reoccurring. By the time she'd finished talking about their first day of classes, even Neo's smile had softened from her usual 'I'd look cuter covered in blood' to a typically more socially acceptable 'I'm drunk and so getting laid soon' which, on a girl that naturally looked anywhere between ten and thirty at any given moment, was rather disconcerting for the naturally adventurous blond.

The tiny thief became the last of her concerns when Spectrum lit a smoke. Something he very rarely did around her. "From what I know of Ms. Nikos, she'll make an excellent partner for you but I want your primary focus to be on Ms. Schnee though."

Yang blinked. "What for?" Her mentor remained silent with his masked gaze fixated on her, his way of saying figure it out yourself, something he did a lot these days. She simply nodded. "Understood, is there anything else?" This time it was her turn to ask the unspoken question.

The ashen haired man sighed as he rubbed his eyes through his mask. "I've finished Raven's analysis Yang," The normally vivacious blond gazed at her teacher with a statuesque expression until he finished, "She's a lost cause, end of story." His voice was layered so thickly in disgust even Neo notably stiffened.

Yang lowered her gaze to the floor. "Your certain then." It wasn't a question, Spectrum wouldn't tell her if he wasn't, she just didn't know what else to say.

"She hides it well behind one hell of a façade of narcissism but she's running and it sure as hells isn't from you."

Her eyes were scarlet, she didn't need a mirror to tell her, not with the golden light her hair was giving off in the dimly lit room. Her fire wanted out, it wanted to burn. The worse part was that she couldn't even look at him. She couldn't even look at the man she respected more than her father or uncle just because he told her the truth.

The only casualty thankfully was the last of her drink and the glass it was in as it shattered in her grip. It took several long minutes for the glow to recede and even then, she'd bet bumblebee her eyes were still red. "Qrow and Dad all said she was the best," She murmured, "What could put her on the run?"

Her teacher was silent for a moment before whispering something into Neo's ear that the multicolored girl did not appreciate if the murderous look she shot him was anything to go off of. She stormed from the room, pausing only long enough to collect her shoes and jacket, slamming the door behind her as she went. Yang was left with the distinct impression her teacher had just crammed himself in a very small dog house for her.

That didn't stop her from focusing intently as he swirled the amber liquid in his drink thoughtfully. "Raven Branwen is one of if not the most power of huntresses alive today and now that Ozpin is out of his prime, I can't name a specific individual that could take her on directly with absolute confidence."

Yang sighed knowing her teacher had factored himself into this equation already. He had an image to maintain not an ego. "An organization then."

Spectrum chuckled dryly. "Perhaps but the only two that might possibly have a motive to do so are all too happily waging their own little war to bother with a single bandit however powerful." He took a sip of his drink before leaning forward. "The kind of power and experience your mother or even your uncle possess doesn't come without sacrifice Yang, the options being yourself or others." He didn't have to say which one her mother had chosen each and every time. Mask or not it was written all over his face.

Yang gritted her teeth briefly before forcing herself to stand. "Thanks for the drinks Teach." She'd made it to the door before he spoke.

"You good to get home?"

She flashed a grin over her shoulder knowing he asked more out of politeness than actual concern. "Considering someone just saw fit to burn a hard night's work out my system in less than five minutes, I think I'm good."

The ashen haired man laughed as he raised his glass to her in a shameless admittance of his guilt. "My gorgeous dragon is welcome anytime."

Yang didn't look back as she left, or at anyone as she passed through the club though most were smart enough to clear the way for her when her eyes were scarlet.

Hells, the brawler was half way back to beacon before she felt her blood stop simmering enough to spot some blond guy to fixated on his scroll about to get mugged by half a dozen wannabes looking for a thrill. Bumblebee's tires screeched as she came to stop, instantly becoming the center of attention on the less then crowded street.

She'd barely removed her helmet before she recognized the blond. "Makin new friends already Jaune, your gonna break poor Weiss's heart?" She asked coyly.

Sapphire eyes danced as he slid his scroll away as the soon to be street pizza surrounding him all but licked their lips while ogling her. "Oh, hey Yang, what's you doing out here?"

She smirked putting the odds of Jaune being his usual charming self and actually not realizing he was in potential danger at fifty-fifty. "Nothing much, just enjoying an evening ride."

"Neat," He rubbed the back of his in exaggerated awkwardness, "Mind giving me a lift, I'm kinda lost."

While the timing of the request honestly couldn't have come at a worse time, the way the would-be thugs' eyes dilated in rage as the 'idiot' asked a girl like her for a ride went a long way to soothing her ire. Then there was the bonus of actually 'giving' him the ride. "Why not?"

"You're a life savior Yang!" He shouted as he slipped free of his 'friends' in the time it took her to put her helmet back on. The faces of the wannabes as he hoped on behind her was absolutely priceless before she gunned it, hitting seventy only a seconds later.

It took her that exactly three turns to discover that Jaune was either a kindred thrill seeker or he didn't fear death. By the time they made it back to Beacon's garage for the rare student's with vehicles, she'd grudgingly bumped the blond up from another two points in her book, one for actually having a pair unlike a lot of guys and another for not getting any more touchy-feely then his balance required turning the bastard into an eight.

She'd never admit but he'd be nine without the mind games and she'd take the fact that he'd be a ten with white hair to her grave.

IIIII

No flames will be deleted or reported but do attempt to actually clarify what set you off, that way I can A) not do it again or B) add even more. If this is beyond you, at least attempt to be creative about it.

Mr. Cynical gets full credit for that insult, you know which one, but since it was part of one of his drunken ramblings (his words not mine) instead of his actual work, I feel no shame.

For those who can't tell, meaning all you civilians, Jaune and Ruby's less obvious relation is that of a butter bar who some scored a CSM with a career in spec ops as an NCOIC and some the irritable bastard likes her, for those who don't speak army Google is your friend, for those who do your either laughing or rolling your eyes, good for you either way.

Full rant on Adam

Seriously, the costume is stupid compared to the original, the song sounds like absolute crap, and the character short was a bunch blocky inconsistent clips of nothing we didn't know or remotely important, a character they've ALREADY KILLED and completely obsolete fight scenes and no reason he's so spiteful against humans, or obsessed with Blake.

The red trailer had more character depth about Ruby and there wasn't a damn line it. Thank god he's solo or part of Salem's crew now, they got that right at least. Why? Which is more dangerous A) A rabid creature tied down to something or B) A rabid creature free to roam at will.

QA: Let's face the facts, NO WAY IN HELL would Cinder be Roman's get away pilot. That's a prime example of 'fated intervention' aka really bad story planning. Seriously, RWBY has so much promise but really bad editors.

Questions, comments, concerns? Can't fix what I don't know you know.