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The sun shined bright in the room for the newly-formed Team MSLE, while the alarm clock rung right in Edward's ear. "Whoa!" He yelped, as he fell out of his bed. Micaiah giggled, while Sothe and Leonardo were a little less thrilled. "Uh... good morning team." The swordfighter sheepishly chuckled.
"Morning? Are you sure about that?" Sothe replied. "Because of the way you were sleeping, it might as well have been afternoon."
Leonardo butted in. "Edward, we all agreed to wake up around dawn so that we would prepare to go over the itinerary for the day. As one of the newest teams in Beacon Academy, we have to be in top forme here."
"Relax Leo, I remembered." Edward sprung up from the ground before walking his clock. "That's why I set the alarm to... Huh?!" He noticed that the clock was set to 8:30, one hour later than he originally intended. "That's not right, I set the alarm to 7:30!"
"Yeah, glad you noticed." Sothe muttered.
"Well, why didn't anyone wake me up?!" The swordsman wondered, before noticing the rest of his pals wearing different outfits. "And what's with those get-ups?"
Micaiah opened the closet door. "Every student in this academy gets a school uniform to wear here." She gave Edward his uniform, as he went to the bathroom to quickly change. "However, we can customize it any way we want."
"As for waking you up, we spent 30 minutes trying to get you up." Leonardo explained. "You even knocked Sothe away. At that point, we decided to set everything up without you."
As Edward emerged, wearing the same outfit as Sothe and Leonardo, he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Oh... sorry about that guys. Don't worry, I'll be the best teammate ever for Team MSLE!" He pumped his hand up before sighing. "Hmm..."
"What is the matter, Edward?" Micaiah asked.
"I don't know, it's just that I'm not really a fan of our team name." Edward admitted. "I think we should have a cooler name like the forces of light of something like that!"
Leonardo put a hand on his pal's shoulder. "Perhaps we should just focus on getting to class." The blonde archer stated.
"Oh all right." Edward complied, as Team MSLE exited their dorm while passing through Team RWBY and Team JNPR's rooms.
After entering their first classroom, they looked at all the different students that were there; such as a green-haired soldier, a female priest with short-black hair, and a red haired cavalier. "Wow, there are so many students here." Micaiah said.
"I'll say." They heard a voice as they saw Ranulf and Lethe approaching, while they wore the same school outfits.
"Hey there, Ranulf. Didn't expect you guys to embrace the idea of wearing those uniforms." Edward commented.
Lethe huffed as she turned her face away. "I don't really care for clothes that were designed for Beorc!" She muttered while puffing her cheeks slightly. "Plus, this doesn't suit my style at all."
Sothe nodded. "Yeah, I'm not really used to wearing this sort of thing."
"That's true, but at least it helps us from constantly seeing your belly button all the time." Micaiah joked, causing Sothe to blush out of embarrassment.
"M-Micaiah!" The rogue turned to face her as the others chuckled, while even Lethe had a small smirk on her face.
After the laugher died down, the blue haired Laguz looked around. "Say, where's Ruby, Jaune, and the rest of the group?"
Micaiah closed her eyes before answering. "They should be arriving very soon." And right on cue, Teams RWBY and JNPR came bursting in those doors, barely avoiding being late.
"Phew! Thank god we made it." Yang muttered.
Ruby panted, before she saw Micaiah. "Hey, Micaiah!"
Micaiah smiled back. "Hello, Ruby. Thank goodness you were not late."
"Well, we would have been earlier if someone didn't waste our time!" Weiss glared at her leader, before everyone eventually took their seats.
After everyone sat, almost half of the class was dozing off to the lectures of the wide-load Professor Peter Port. He rambled on about the stories of his grandfather about how he was a legendary Huntsman, as well as speaking of the qualities that a proper Huntsman should have. During the lecture, Ruby was goofing off constantly, which quickly earned Weiss' growing ire. Eventually, Professor Port spoke up while holding a cage. "So, who among you believes themselves to be the embodiment of these traits?"
"I do, sir!" The peeved heiress spoke up.
The portly professor grinned through his mustache, as he set the cage down. "Then step forward, and face your opponent!" He brought out an axe, and broke the cage door open. The class looked on as a small boar-like Grimm with big tusks exited from the cage. This species of Grimm was known as a Boarbatusk.
"A Grimm? How'd he get that in this cage?" Sothe wondered.
"Well, he is a seasoned Huntsman after all." Blake replied.
Weiss quickly stepped down the stairs, having already changed into her normal outfit and wielding her weapon in hand, and stared against the Boarbatusk, while receiving cheers from her team. "Go Weiss, represent Team RWBY!" Ruby cheered.
Weiss looked at her, and scolded. "Ruby! I'm trying to focus!"
Ruby looked down. "Oh, um... Sorry..." She replied sheepishly.
"Alright, let the match begin!" Professor Port declared, as the heiress and the Grimm duked it out.
As the match started, the Grimm raced towards Weiss to attack her head-on, but she managed to repel its attack. Weiss then tried charging towards the Boarbatusk, but all that accomplished was her getting Myrtenaster stuck in the beast's tusks. Weiss tried to free herself from the Boarbatusk, while Ruby kept cheering encouragement to her. However, that distracted Weiss enough to allow the beast to throw her weapon far away from her. Disarmed, the heiress quickly made her way to retrieve her rapier.
Ruby tried to give Weiss a pointer to aim for it's belly. Unfortunately, Weiss' patience with her leader had worn out, to which she snapped at her. "Stop telling me what to do!" She harshly yelled, as Ruby was hurt by her outburst. The match ended with Weiss doing what Ruby pointed out, driving her weapon into the Grimm's stomach, slaying it as it faded away. Professor Port commended her as class was dismissed. Weiss glared towards her leader before storming off, with the latter chasing after her.
"Yeesh, her fighting style's is as cold as her attitude." Ranulf commented.
"What's her deal?" Jaune wondered.
"Typical human emotions, who cares?" Lethe huffed, as Ranulf rolled his eyes. "It's stuff like that that can weaken you in battle."
"Y'know, it's funny how you and Weiss act all superior like that." The blue haired Laguz reminded.
"Hssssss, do not place in the same group as her!" The female cat glared. "Let's go already, we have our next class to get to." She walked out.
"Oh yeah, we have dust management with Professor Calill!" Yang commented. "Let's get going."
As everyone started heading to their next class, Micaiah was deep in thought. "Micaiah, are you okay?" Sothe asked.
"I'll be fine." The silver haired girl assured. "I just need to check on something."
The rogue nodded as he walked with the rest of the group. Micaiah walked towards the direction that Ruby and Weiss went through. As she walked, she could see Weiss laying into her leader as she quickly hid behind a locker.
"I've studied and trained. And quite frankly, I deserve better." Weiss yelled as she turned away from her, before clearly commenting. "Ozpin made a mistake." She then stormed off as Ruby was crestfallen at her criticism.
Micaiah felt bad for her friend and was about to check on her, but Ozpin beat her to the punch. She decided to check on her later, as she took her seat next to Sothe at Professor Calill's class. Seconds later, Ruby took her seat next to Yang, which caused Weiss to scoot away from her.
"Ah, welcome students!" Calill spoke up as she addressed the class. "My name is Professor Calill, and I will be your professor for this course, which is Dust Management."
Weiss scoffed as she whispered to herself. "Dust management, no problem to the Schnee Dust Company Heiress."
Professor Calill heard her little remark, as she narrowed her eyes while continuing. "This class is designed to help teach you how to effectively use dust to your advantage against your foes, as well as going over in detail of each and every element of dust." She sternly faced the class. "Now, everyone pay close attention to these lectures, as you will all be experimenting every time to make sure you are up to snuff with your elements. And if I see anyone trying to blow off each other's fingers or faces off, you will answer to me!"
Half of the class gulped at her warning. "Geez, she's not messing around." Edward commented. Meanwhile, Weiss was still feeling confident in her knowledge of dust as she looked ready to show off her worth.
"Now then, who can tell me what the main purpose of dust is?" Calill asked, as Weiss already had her hand up. She saw Ruby's hand up as well, and called out to her. "Yes, Miss Rose?"
Ruby thought carefully before she answered. "Dust is here to help mankind defend against the Grimm." She spoke, while Weiss was slightly annoyed that she was ignored.
"Correct." Calill nodded. "Now, what forms can dust can be used in?" Weiss held her hand up high and waved it too. Pyrrha also had her hand up. "Miss Nikos?"
"Dust can take the form of either crystals or powder." Pyrrha explained. "In addition, Dust can act as ammunition for weapons, and can have different effects based on the element that they represent."
Calill nodded again. "Very good, Miss Nikos." She noticed that Weiss' eye was twitching over being ignored twice in a row. "Miss Schnee? Perhaps you would like to answer the next question?"
Weiss was taken aback by her statement, but regained composure. "Yes, Professor Calill."
The blonde Professor pondered, before coming up with something. "Since you find yourself to be such an expert, you must be aware that there are certain elements that counter one another, right?" Weiss was not sure where she was going with this, but nodded regardless. "Let's say we have three elements; fire, thunder, and wind. Each of these elements can counter one another, with one element being stronger against a different element while having a disadvantage against the third type at the same time."
She then created a triangle diagram on a holographic device with three symbols beside it. "Care to tell us how they interact with one another?" Weiss was actually stumped by this puzzle of hers. "Well, I'm waiting." She crossed her arms.
"Fire would have to be weak against... wind?" The heiress guessed.
Professor Calill shook her head. "That is incorrect. Anyone else?" Weiss was shocked to hear that she was wrong, as Micaiah held up her hand. "Yes?"
"Fire has an advantage against wind, but a disadvantage against thunder, to which thunder is weak against wind." The silver haired girl answered, to Weiss' confusion. "It is based on the trinity of magic that anima mages study."
Professor Calill smiled. "Excellent work, Micaiah. That is precisely what I was basing my riddle on." She pushed a button as a training dummy appear. The sage then pulled out an Elfire tome and opened it. "While this class will focus on Dust management, I will also be offering lessons on casting spells from tomes!" She revealed as she cast an Elfire spell, surrounding the training dummy in flames before it burned up.
The class was in awe at Professor Calill's magic display, while Weiss was upset that she was duped. "Wait a minute, that was a trick question, wasn't it?!"
The blonde sage faced the heiress before raising an eyebrow. "I don't know what you are talking about, Miss Schnee."
"That last question had absolutely nothing to do with dust!" Weiss exclaimed.
"Weiss, calm down." Yang mouthed.
"And do you claim to have an issue with that? Because the way I see it, the way you use dust in your weapon is quite similar to casting spells, do you not agree?" Calill retorted.
"That's not the point!" Weiss snapped. "What I mean is you tried to test me on something I had no knowledge on! You can't just pull a dirty trick like that!"
"Excuse me? Who gives you the right to tell me how to run this class?!" Professor Calill raised her voice, startling everyone. "Do you claim to know everything because of the fact you studied in Atlas? Does being the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company automatically make you the top student in this class? Or maybe you think you be more suited to teach these lectures over me - is that it?"
Weiss was stunned by Professor Calill's speech. "Well... no, I, -yes I- I don't know!"
"Exactly, you don't know! You cannot think you know more than your fellow students!" Calill then addressed the whole class. "Keep this in mind, no matter how much you studied, no matter how good your grades were in the past, it does not matter how glamorous your title is here, it doesn't change the fact that you are all students in this Academy. As such, you are expected to take these studies seriously. We can teach you what you need to know, but if you aren't going to have the right attitude to learn, then I am sorry to say that you will not get far at all."
She looked at the time, before noticing. "Oops, I suppose we are done for today. Just a quick reminder that I will be giving out spell casting lessons after class. If anyone is interested, there is a sign-up sheet in front." She pointed out as a few students walked down to sign up.
As everyone got up from their seats, Weiss was at a loss for words. "Weiss?" She heard Ruby call out. "Are you feeling okay?"
Weiss sighed before turning away. "Just leave me alone." She dashed away from her teammates.
"Weiss, wait!" Ruby was about to go after her, but Ranulf stopped her.
"Relax, Ruby. I think she just needs some time to let Professor Calill's words sink into her." The cat Laguz explained.
"To be honest, that felt a bit too harsh." Leonardo commented.
"True, but I think it needed to be said." Blake said.
As everyone else exited into the hallway, Micaiah walked up to Ruby. "Excuse me, Ruby?" The silver haired girl called out.
Ruby turned around. "Oh, hey Micaiah. What's up?"
"I was wondering if you were feeling all right from before?" Micaiah asked.
"Oh, uh yeah. I'm fine." Ruby gave her a reassuring smile.
Micaiah tilted her head. "Are you sure you are not concerned about your capabilities as leader?"
Ruby was surprised. "H-How did you...?"
"I can sense how others are feeling based on what they are. By seeing the movement of a person's mind, I can usually deduce what the person is thinking…" Micaiah explained.
"Whoa! Really?!" Ruby yelled, surprised.
"...that and I heard a portion of your conversation with Weiss earlier." She sheepishly admitted.
"Oh." The silver eyed warrior looked down. "Then you probably think it was a mistake for me to be leader of Team RWBY too."
Micaiah shook her head before placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think that at all." Ruby turned to face her friend. "I've seen the way you fight, and the way you care for your friends. I think you have what it takes to be a great leader.
"Really?" Ruby asked. "Ozpin told me something similar to what you said, but I don't know if I'll be as good of a leader as you, what with that foresight ability of yours."
"Me? Well, to be honest, I don't really see myself as much of a leader." Micaiah admitted. "I mean, while my visions enhance my decision making, they are times I was in a bind, and Sothe came to my rescue. That's why I am lucky to have him, as well as Edward and Leonardo to help me whenever I need it." She gave Ruby another reassuring smile. Think about it, Ruby. While we are both leaders, we can't always expect ourselves to do everything." She pondered, as Ruby nodded "Truthfully, I'm not sure how to be an effective leader, but even so, we can both try our best and learn how to be strong leaders. Does that sound fine to you?"
Ruby smiled back. "I'd like that. Thanks, Micaiah."
"Of course, Ruby. And don't worry, I know Weiss will come around and accept you as team leader." The silver haired girl assured. "And I don't need any visions to see that." She added, as they both giggled.
As the day passed by, Weiss was walking all alone, lost in thought about what had happened between her and Professor Calill. She approached her office door and was about to knock, before the door opened. "Oh! Miss Schnee, what a pleasant surprise." The sage spoke.
"Hello, Professor Calill. I just wanted to... apologize for my behaviour before." Weiss glumly spoke. "I know that I was being unreasonable, and I should not have lost my composure there."
Professor Calill was taken aback by her confession, but replied. "That's quite all right. In my defense, I should not have called you out like that in front of the whole class." She admitted, while noticing something was off. "Is everything all right with you?"
"Well, earlier I lashed out at Ruby about not being the leader of Team RWBY. And honestly, while I was about to make that claim to Ozpin, I started to doubt that claim after hearing your words earlier." The heiress addressed the sage.
"Oh? so what conclusion did you reach?" Calill asked.
"I think that my know-it-all attitude will get in the way of becoming leader." Weiss pondered before answering. "Can I ask you one question, Professor?"
"Of course, my dear." She nodded.
"Why did you trick me with that question about anima spells?" The heiress asked.
Calill chuckled, before sharing something. "Weiss, my dear, I know what it is like to feel overconfident about one's own skills. After all, I was in the same boat as you." This piqued Weiss' curiosity. "With my spell-casting abilities, I constantly felt like I was a first-class mage. I felt that no one could ever best me!" Calill reminisced.
"Is that so?" Weiss mused. "Well, then what happened?"
"Well, one day when I was walking home from a shopping trip, I was ambushed by a pair of bandits." Calill explained. "I figured that I could best them with my Elfire tome, but one of them knocked me down, and stole my tome; I was defenseless! I thought I was a goner, until I was saved by my soon-to-be then husband at the time, Largo. Boy, I tell you that man is as muscular as..." She got off topic before focusing. "The point is, while having first-rate skills is a good thing, you can't always rely on them alone. After all, what good will they do you if the enemy gets the better of you?"
Weiss listened carefully before asking. "So, I guess I shouldn't worry about being leader. Maybe I should try and be the best teammate to Ruby instead?"
Calill nodded. "That sounds like a good plan to me. After all, when the Hero Ike fought for peace all around Remnant, he was never alone. When he faced off against the Mad King Ashnard's forces, he was backed up by comrades of his own."
"What do you mean by that?" Weiss wondered.
"Think about it, he always borrowed the strength and assistance of every ally that fought alongside him. He may be one of the strongest swordsmen in the land, not even he could do it all by himself." The sage explained. "And that is what I think you should focus on; being the best teammate you can be."
"Thanks, Professor Calill." She was about to walk, before asking something else. "Say, would it be all right if I could sign up for some tome lessons?"
Professor Calill laughed, before bringing the sign-up form. "I thought you would never ask." She smiled as Weiss signed it.
Later on in the evening, Weiss saw Ruby trying her hardest to study being leader, and after bringing her a cup of coffee, the heiress made a vow to be the best teammate that she can possibly be, much to her leader's happiness.
There you go, that's another chapter done. I don't know if you guys mind the previews I give before the full release of the chapter. I just do it as a sign to show that I'm not totally dead. So, while this story takes place after the events of Path of Radiance, this is a different timeline. So, I may insert some characters from that era (except Ashnard, that motherfucker's dead XD). Also, a little observation I usually notice during some RWBY Fire Emblem crossovers, people having Weiss learn tomes. Honestly, I can totally see Weiss being the mage of the group. As for the trivia game about the three teams, I'll probably reveal them next chapter. And finally, I'll come up with the idea of having the group named as the Dawn Brigade, because while Micaiah did pick the name, I can see Edward doing that sort of thing. Okay, thoughts are done; please feel free to leave me ideas and critisisms, and don't forget to comment on who you'd like to see in this story.