Mao hit the mat with a meaty slap, his belly wobbling as his back reacquainted itself with the floor.

"Ow."

"Sorry," Pyrrha sighed, arms crossed as she waited for the round boy to pick himself up again. "But your stance it still off. Your center of gravity is already low, so you need to capitalize on that." In all honesty, she was surprised Mao was still getting back up. Between herself, Blake, and Nora they had unlocked the remaining Grimm teens auras first thing after breakfast, and though they could take the punishment now, drive was the real key to successful training. And the former ursa was nothing if not determined. He was already back on his feet and trying another stance.

Weiss bit her lip and tongue even as a hundred corrections came to mind. She forced her eyes off the boy's atrocious footwork, instead focusing on her partner and the young wolf faunus she had clearly taken a quick liking to sitting at her left.

As Pyrrha put Mao through his paces on the mat, Ruby was walking Grendel through the design process she had used to create Crescent Rose. Weiss allowed the corner of her mouth a slight upturn. Ruby was only using one hand to work her Scroll where it sat in her lap, the other writing in a notebook by her side as Grendel made tiny criticisms and comments about her weapon. It wasn't the most suspenseful or entertaining thing to watch, but it was preferable to the scene on her right.

"It was horrible," Ellen shivered. "I tried to hold my eyes open, but I couldn't even stand. It felt like the sheets were grabbing me and holding me down. Then before I knew it … nothing. There was nothing. Just a great big, black, nothing."

"Ellen," Blake deadpanned, regarding her over the top of a book that mercifully hid her smirk. "You fell asleep."

"I don't care what it's called," the feather haired girl cringed, so obviously scared by the experience it was all Blake could do not to laugh. "How do I stop it?"

"Unless you want to go crazy," Yang sighed, watching the spar more than listening to the ex-nevermore. "You don't. It's just what happens when you get tired. Believe me you get used to it." Yang actually winced, hissing through her teeth as Mao's gut and face met mat again.

"Better," Pyrrha smiled, not even sweating or out of breath. "Now I think we should check your momentum. Come on, let's start again with a level one balance exercise."

"Is there a level zero?" Mao groaned, struggling to his feet as Ren walked up to the spartan.

"Let me try something," He volunteered, waving the former Ursa over to another set of mats as Jaune sighed and turned to his partner.

"I think Mao and Ren are right Pyr," he said, and once again completely missing the shade of pink tinting Pyrrha's cheeks. "I know you trained with the best, but maybe we need something a little easier on them for their first day."

"Agreed," she said quietly, turning so slightly as to hide her blush while Jaune turned to the others.

"Okay, who's next?" Yang immediately raised her hand.

"Dibs on golden boy!" She cheered as Wyatt glared at the blonde brawler.

"First Ellen now you, why does everyone keep call'n me that all've a sudden?"

"Same reason Jaune's always gonna be vomit boy," Yang smiled, slipping Ember Celica off her wrists, handing them off to Blake and beckoning Wyatt forward with raised fists. The former deathstalker looked back at Grendel and Ellen, but all they offered were shrugs.

"Fat lotta help ya'll are," he grumbled, stomping up to Yang and trying to mimic her stance, only for the brawler to roll her eyes.

"Forget about form, that comes later. Right now just focus on what feels right. Now hit me with your best shot." Yang was ready for a lot of things. As Wyatt took a breath and steadied himself, she imagined all his possible next moves, every wild, uncontrolled angle of attack a rookie could take. Then she blinked, and opened her eyes to a cowboy hat and duster barreling at her like a freight train.

Yang kicked a leg up, spinning on her heel like a matador as the much taller boy came screeching past, his lanky frame lost beneath his billowing coat as he dropped down, skidding through a turn on one knee and hand, then launching himself right back up.

Yang barely had time to realize she was backpedaling, blocking jab after hook to keep her much taller opponents fists from connecting with her chest and head. Whatever idea she'd had of Wyatt's toothpick like noodle build being weak was gone, replaced with a manic grin as the ex-deathstalker became a whirlwind of leather and fists.

Then Wyatt drew one jab back just a little too far, and Yang took it. Her gloved fist shot out, knuckles colliding with his right pectoral and sending the pale giant skidding back. Somehow he kept his footing, and it was only when he'd come to a stop ten feet away that he took a breath.

"Damn," he groaned, rolling his shoulder even as the bruise flashed a faint gold. "An I thought Boarbatusks hit hard."

"You're not bad yourself," Yang admitted, rubbing her arms and the bruises her aura wouldn't quite keep from forming. "Where did that even come fro … whoa."

"What?" He said, looking up from his hands, gold aura fading as bruised knuckles healed. Yang, along with everyone else in the room for that matter, was staring at him, their faces ranging from shock to pure awe. Even Mao had frozen on one leg, stuck mid transition between the stances Ren was showing him.

"What? Is there someth'n on mah face?" Wyatt noticed the glow only a second before Blake's limp hand dropped her book and subtly pointed his eyes down. He then noticed the twin trails of smoldering blue stretching between himself and Yang, lines he followed down to his very much on fire boots.

"YyeeEEEOOOOW!" Wyatt immediately jumped up, trying in vain to get away from his flaming footwear, before he resorted to hopping on one foot, the other held up as he blew futily on the blue flames. All this spanned perhaps three seconds before Jaune sprinted over, extinguisher ready.

"Hold still!" He shouted, even as he fumbled with the release. "Oh of all the, WHY IS THERE ALWAYS A STUPID SAFETY PIN?!"

"Jaune wait!" Pyrrha shouted, running up and pushing her partner's frantic hands down. "Look." Jaune followed the Spartans green eyes to Wyatt's boots, his nose and eyes realizing a very important something.

"Uh, fellas?" Wyatt asked, not sure whether to be afraid or thankful that the azure flames at his feet weren't burning him to a crisp. "Ain't fire s'possed ta, ya know, hurt?"

"Normally yes," Pyrrha smiled knowingly. "Except when it's manifested through your semblance." The former deathstalker could only half hear the shouts of praise and congratulations as he willed the flames licking his shins out of existence, then screw his eyebrows back up in concentration. Before anyone could ask, His hands were enveloped in soft blue heat.

"Now this,' He grinned as an orb of fiery blue formed in his open palm and began dancing between his fingers. "This I like." He turned to Yang, burning fists ready. "Well blondy? You rar'n to go fer round two or what?"

"Easy Hothead." No one was more surprised than Yang when the punny nickname didn't come from her, but Ellen as the ex-nevermore sauntered onto the mat. "Some of us still want a turn."

"Oh dear Oum," Blake groaned as her partner's face broke into a magnificent grin. "Please don't tell me."

"Come on Cowboy," Ellen smirked, a glint of mischief in her red-gold eyes as her pilfered sword gleamed in a borrowed sheath across her back. "You've had your warm-up."

"YES!" Yang cheered, running over and nearly crushing Ellen in a bear hug. "You beautiful little bird from hell! You made a pun! I'm so proud of you!"

"GACK! Get off me!" But Ellen's struggle was worthless, the blonde brawler holding her tight and relentlessly ruffling her feather like hair. Blake couldn't help but smile at the ex-nevermores attempts to flee.

"I'll spar with you if you want," She offered, pulling Gambol Shroud from her back and cycling out the magazine for safety.

"Sure, just as soon as you get your partner to STOP PETTING ME!"

"Sheesh, fine," Yang sighed, all but tossing Ellen to her partner. "She's all yours Blakey. Remind me to look up that proctologist I recommended to Weiss again."

"A Proc-ta-what?" Ellen asked, looking at Blake, but the black huntress could only groan.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Ellen looked like she might ask, but a quick glance at Yang's grin and she thought better. Blake steadied her breathing and turned to face her opponent, unable to hide the slight quirk of her lips as the ex-nevermore drew her sword, which was really more an oversized machete. It was obviously based on a classic Valien design, but the blade itself was so thick it made the sword infuriatingly heavy, and the unrefined tip certainly didn't help.

"Remember," Blake smiled as Ellen tried to find a comfortable spot on the swords handle. "This isn't just about finding your semblance or figuring out a weapon, it's to help you learn about yourself. Now calm your mind. Breathe steady, and just let whatever comes next flow." Ellen nodded, then she took a deep breath, and charged.

Once again, Weiss watched the bout with veiled interest. She had been able to predict the outcome simply by Ellen's grip and footwork, though as far as the grimm-teens skills went thus far, she definitely fell in between. She obviously couldn't hope to match Blake for speed or agility, but at the same time she wasn't giving any ground either. Blake would dash inside and try to land a strike, only for Gambol Shroud's blade to glance off the flat of Ellen's sword or bite into the blunt back edge. Weiss winced every time the ringing of metal sounded, silently promising to check Mrytenasters cutting edges before Ms. Goodwitches combat class on Monday.

"And there," Ruby smiled proudly, putting away her scroll and finally pulling up her sketchpad for Grendel to see. "Well? Whaddya think?" Grendel could only stare for a few minutes, and a quick glance over her partner's shoulder showed Weiss why.

The weapon itself was based on Crescent Rose at least mechanically. The main body was obviously a high caliber gun, and guessing by the size and shape of the housing Ruby had quickly drawn, probably something with even more stopping power than her sniper-scythe. The drawing indicated a stock that extended into a longer shaft for the weapons melee form, and in true Ruby Rose fashion there was even an intricate four-part transition series of how the weapons massive crescent moon shaped blade would fold and unfold from a more compacted transportable form. Grendel's red-gold eyes were positively sparkling, and he finally managed five whispered words.

"Does it come in blue?"

CLANG!

The students instantly froze when the ring of metal on metal echoed in past the walls, and before Jaune or Weiss could object, Nora and Yang had darted over to the door.

"Hey," The blonde brawler called down the hall. "Hey what's the … okay then, cold shoulder it is." Nora of course brushed off whatever treatment they'd been given.

"Ah don't sweat it. After all he probably just slipped andeeyowoch."

"What?" Pyrrha finally asked as Nora darted outside, then returned with a look somewhere between admiration and sympathy as Yang explained.

"Cardin Winchester just put a three-inch dent in one of the walls. Fist sized, defined knuckles and everything."

"Think he's okay?" Jaune wondered out loud, earning a scoff from Blake as Weiss began flipping through her scroll.

"He's a self-entitled bully. Why should we even care?"

"He's still our classmate," Pyrrha added weakly, a part of her wanting to let Cardin stew on his own pain for once since they had unfortunately met the first-year jerk. "He might not be the most … agreeable sort, but he's still here to become a Huntsman. And as Hunstmen and Huntresses in training, we cannot let another person's pain go unnoti."

"Pyrrha," Weiss interrupted, her teammates only slightly surprised the cold heiress would cut Pyrrha off mid word, but caught completely off guard by the shock painting the young Schnee's face. "I don't think this is a problem Cardin wants our help with." She slowly held out her Scroll as the others gathered round, eyebrows rising and jaws dropping as they read the morning's headlines.

MURDERED IN POLICE CUSTODY! Disowned Heir Found DEAD in Cell!

Shrike Winchester, the eldest and famously disinherited son of Luke and Martha Winchester was found dead in his holding cell this morning, after Vale Police brought him and his accomplices in last night for attempted armed robbery.

"Dear Oum," Jaune gasped, face paling as one hand went to his stomach, the other his mouth. "That was us. Those were the guys we stopped last night."

"So that guy," Ruby gulped. "He was Cardin's brother?"

"Apparently," Blake said somberly, quickly reading the tiny text even from a distance away. "It says Shrike was the oldest of their children, but he got himself in trouble with the police one too many times and his father cut him off." Yang, to her credit, didn't make a pun.

"Dust. I get teaching your kid a lesson, but to let him sink so low he's taking orders from Junior? Cut a guy some slack."

"L-lets get back to training," Ruby stammered, voice shaking as her face tinted green, and Weiss quickly turned off and pocketed her Scroll as Wyatt turned away as well.

"Yeah," he swallowed, pulling at the brim of his hat. "Is there uhh, a place we can start make'n our weapons?"

"The Forges," Weiss supplied quickly. "Not only are they open at all times, but they more than likely have a selection of parts and abandoned projects you can start your weapons from."

"Then that's our plan," Ruby smiled, hugging her partner even as Weiss tried and failed to dodge the red reaping missile. "Does everyone know what they want to build?"

"You know I do!" Grendel cheered, earning a smile and eye roll from the other grimm teens.

"Definitely someth'n lets me use mah fists," Wyatt said, raising his hands before a thought passed over his face. "But with a good bit'o reach too. Ah don't wanna get pinned down by some varmit with a rifle." Blake couldn't help but smile as Yang quietly slipped Ember Celica back onto her wrists. Goodwitch had made an example of Yang's exclusively close quarters fighting style, and the blond brawler's ego was still nursing bruises. Thankfully, Ellen hadn't learned enough about subtle embarrassment to capitalize on it.

"I'll just stick with my sword. Maybe a longer handle or,"

"Nope," Ruby said quickly. "Nope nope nope nope nopitty nope! If you're going to even pretend to be a huntress, you need a weapon awesome enough to belong to one." Weiss nodded at the logic hidden in her partner's enthusiasm.

"We can reforge it of you like," She offered diplomatically as Ellen cradled her pilfered blade like it was made of gold. "And I promise it will be a much more effective and elegant weapon." Truthfully Ellen looked like she was ready to bite anyone that tried to touch her sword, but after a few seconds she relented.

"Fine, just as long as you don't make it into a pointy little twig like Ice Queens sword." Pyrrha fought valiantly to push her laughter at Yang's utterly smug look into a giggle, and lost when Weiss turned as red as her partner's cloak.

"What about you Mao?" Jaune asked through his own nervous laughter as they left the training room for the hallway. "Any ideas?"

"Maybe," He shrugged, hands clasped lazily behind his head as Ren strolled up alongside.

"You're quite good for someone who's never practiced Shaolin before," He smiled, as Nora nodded an agreement. "I've only seen a handful of masters adapt to new stances so quickly."

"I still say you need a hammer," Nora added firmly. "With both me and Ren's skills, you'd be unstoppable!" This of course earned Nora a quiet smile from her partner and teammates, and started a round of joking that lasted until they reached the turn that would take them either back to the dorms, or the forges.

"Well good luck," Jaune smiled, patting Mao on the shoulder. And looking at Ruby. "If you need anything just text us."

"You're not coming?" Grendel asked, his wolf ears quirking along with his furrowed brow when Jaune's smile turned knowing.

"Sorry, but Nora needs our help setting up a little something for tonight."

"And no!" Nora cheered when Ellen turned a glare on the blonde knight. "We can't tell you what it is, or it won't be a surprise." The ex-nevermores expression didn't change until team JNPR was out of sight, and Ruby all but herded them down the hall toward the small stone staircase that marked the forges technical entrance.

Grendel was ecstatic about building the weapon Ruby had thought up for him, until he felt himself sweating through his jacket.

"Forget froges," He groaned, rolling his sleeves up in a desperate attempt to let out the heat rapidly enveloping them. "This place is just one big furnace."

"You're not wrong," Blake said, wiping her brow as their eyes fell on the walls and facilities that were Beacon's forges.

Unlike the rest of Beacons campus, from the gardens to the dorms, the forges location was not obvious. There wasn't one large low building set off to the side, or a great gaping pit vomiting smoke and ash into the air, not anymore at least. Instead Beacons Forges were neatly tucked away out of sight, only accessible via a series of doors and descending staircases in each of the main buildings.

The entrances were easy enough to find, but the issues came once they were underground. The forges were probably as central as one could be on beacons sprawling grounds, so no matter where you entered from getting to the Forge itself meant a long, sweltering walk through what seemed like miles of underground halls and passageways. Electric dust lamps dotted the walls, all glowing with Beacons trademark soft emerald green, but the ancient stonework and bricked up passages they illuminated only added to the air of menace.

"Spooky," Mao said, looking up and down the long stone hallways as Grendel's eyes darted back and forth.

"Yeah," he gulped as Wyatt's head kept turning left right and back as if scanning for enemies in the long dim.

"I thought Beacon was a school. Why's it got someth'n like this undergroun?"

"Well," Weiss deadpanned with just the barest hint of a smirk as Ellen started glancing about nervously. "According to historical records Beacon was originally built as a military fortress, just as all the academies were. As such it contained facilities to both house and train armed forces, as well as dungeons for any prisoners."

"It's a good thing they bricked up most of it," Blake added, tugging slightly at her vest as they passed yet another sealed doorway. "These tunnels probably go under the whole campus. One wrong turn and we wouldn't be found until graduation."

"We're here!" Ruby shouted, voice ringing like bells through the halls as the students turned a final corner, and the simmering heat came to a boil in mid air.

The Forge's main room was massive and appeared to be one long curved hallway, but one look was all it took for Grendel to realize the truth. What looked like another wall of worn red brick was actually the outside of the heat source keeping them sweating through their combat outfits. If the infernal heat wasn't evidence enough, the tangled mass of pipes clustered above their heads told them just why the forges main furnace was so massive.

"Well," Yang shrugged, or attempted too as sweat plastered her hair to her back. "At least we won't be cold when winter rolls around. This thing probably heats the whole campus."

"And part of Vale." The teens spun, trained reflexes and surprise combining as the new voice announcing itself to their left. Out of the forges red dim stepped an old man, his withered body bent and hunched over from age, legs hobbling along with the help of a short carved walking stick. His wrinkled leathery features stretched over gaunt bones beneath a short but thick grey beard, the hair fading from grey to pale white.

"If someone could be bothered to open the old pipes. Forgemaster Alejandro De la Fuego," he smiled, bowing as low as his staff would allow, before again resting his orange gaze upon the eight teens. "At your service." His attire was completely black, as if openly defy the stifling heat. A close fit shirt and thick pants beneath a worn leather apron and heavy gloves suggested he was either born in the furnaces sweltering shadow, or had lived in it for so long he no longer cared.

"A pleasure," Weiss greeted politely as Blake bowed while Yang and Ruby nodded their smiles.

"Not many students visit my forge so early in the year, let alone on the weekend," the old forgemaster observed wryly. "I trust it's nothing serious." Thankfully Weiss caught Ruby before her partner could spout another knee-jerk reaction lie.

"Unfortunately," She sighed dramatically with a wave to the grimm-teens. "Our friends had to make an emergency trip back to their home village after initiation, and it seems there was a mix-up with their baggage on the return flight."

"I see. Well, pick whichever forge you'd like, and feel free to help yourselves to to odds and ends lying near the back." He nodded a quick goodbye to each of them and hobbled off as Ruby bolted for the nearest forge. Once the red reaper was sure everything she needed was in place, she pulled the grimm-teens over to the pile of discarded projects and scrap parts. Grendel immediately gravitated toward the mechanisms and barrel left from a cannibalized elephant gun, while Wyatt managed to dig out a set of gauntlets Yang deemed fit for modifying, and a length of chain that his hands seemed to wander towards. Then came the surprise no one saw coming.

"You?" Yang laughed, not sure whether to gape or make a joke at Weiss's expense. "You can remake Ellen's sword?"

"You sound surprised Xiao Long,' Weiss sneered, tieing the laces of a thick leather apron tight as her smirk grew, then vanished when Yang's smile returned.

"Well yeah. I mean is that safe? Won't you melt if you stand by the fire too long?"

"Har har. I'll have you know I am more than capable of forging a blade. I crafted Myrtenaster myself." Once again, Weiss realized her mistake the split second after it left her mouth, but dread turned to confusion when Ruby's big silver eyes didn't look at her with any sort of awe. Though she was slightly insulted by the surprised look from Blake.

"Really? I would've thought your father had it made for you." As usual the black huntress in trainings flat tone made it impossible to tell genuine surprise from sarcasm.

"It was one of his conditions," the heiress explained sourly, watching from the corner of her scarred eye as Ellen sifted through pieces of scrap metal for some reason. "When I told him I wanted to become a Huntress he was … less than enthusiastic. He said if I intended to attend any academy besides Atlas, I would do it by my own means." Weiss couldn't be sure, but it almost looked like a smile that ghosted over her black haired teammates face, before Yang's arm nearly crushed her shoulder blades.

"Good for you Weissy!"

"Unhand me you brute!"

"Is that normal?" Grendel asked as Ruby inspected the rifle parts the wolf faunus had managed to come up with.

"It's starting to be," she shrugged, tossing aside a cracked barrel and picking up a slightly rusted collapsible stock, only to throw it away as well. "This might not be as easy as I thought. Half of these parts are rusted through." Grendel bit his tongue, looking over the already picked through piles and shelves before something shiny near the top caught his red-gold eyes

"How about this?" He reached up to grasp the cylinder sticking over the side. He thought it was a simple tube Ruby could make into a gun barrel, only to find the "tube" was much longer and heavier than it looked. It wasn't until the young wolf had muscled it down that they saw the rest of it, and Ruby's eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

"That's an Orange Zero! Vacuo only made like fifty of these during the Great War!"

"So it's rare?" Grendel asked hefting the rifle over one shoulder, rather easily Ruby noticed. It's sheer size made no bones about its firepower, the receiver and action easily as long as his arm, but its pistol grip seemed to offer it up as a handheld weapon. It needed a stock and a little modifying to allow for a melee form, but Ruby could already see the design come to life as she framed the young faunus with her hands. Before long each student picked out a separate forge to work at, each one equipped with tables, tools, and all the supplies needed to take a weapon from draft to done if need be.

As Wyatt seemed fixated on a pair of gauntlets, Yang volunteered to help him, offering up Ember Celica's design as a base. Blake was more than content to watch Mao and offer the occasional advice or question as the rotund boy struggled to decide on a weapon, and while Ruby and Grendel immediately set to work, Weiss found herself at an impasse with a certain ex-nevermore.

"Two?" She asked incredulously, her left hand twitching and grasping at the hilt she couldn't grasp. "You want two blades?" Ellen could only groan, looking anywhere but down at the heiress reprimanding glare.

"I know, I know: tall order but …" Ellen hesitated, biting her lip and looking up and down the forge to see if any of the others could hear from their stations. "I want something simple okay? Yeah the transforming weapons thing is cool, but what's the point of making something so complicated it needs a manual?"

"That we can agree on," Weiss said, adding a small smile to her words as she offered up a long piece of drafting paper and a pencil. "Any ideas? A specific shape or color? Ruby will likely throw a tantrum if you don't put some manner of flair into the design."

"Definitely red," she said looking at her gloves, just a shade darker than her suspenders. Weiss blushed and quickly looked away as Ellen tugged at one for a color comparison. "Something between these two maybe? As for a shape …." She trailed off again, looking around the forge and back across the room toward the discards for inspiration. "I want something … menacing. Something intimidating. Something I can just hold up and people will know don't mess with m,"

CLANG!

The sudden sound of falling metal echoed alone for but a moment before a cry of agony rang out, followed by a fast becoming familiar laugh. Weiss groaned and shook her head, silently promising to reprimand Yang later for finding humor in their charges pain. Ellen however, was not quiet.

"Actually, scratch that. Make me something that will scare the blonde off of Shot-gauntlets."

"Easier said than done," Weiss sighed, folding her arms and glaring at the still blank draft paper. "So far I have yet to see anything Yang is truly afraid of. The only things that even remotely get under her skin are someone threatening Ruby or messing with her precious ha …." Ellen looked up when Weiss stopped talking, only to watch the heiress expression shift from shock, to thoughtful, then up into a twisted demented smile.