AN: I do not own RWBY. I do however own the OCs that exist in this fanfic.

Leader. I don't think I'll ever get used to that word. I mean, what do you do when you're told you're now the leader of a team of monster killers. If we were still on Ethos and you told me that I'd have to fight the top contender in the WWT, well Khane, I'd jump at the chance to do so. But tell me that I'm now responsible for three people's actions and/or injuries, I just... I don't know. You know what, let's just get on with the story.

(Beacon Academy FAYD Dorm Room, Sep. 8 7:55 AM)

*SPLSH*

"GAAAH!" I woke up drenched to the bone. Why? One word: Felice.

"Seriously, again?!"

"Well if you weren't such a heavy sleeper..." Felice stretched the statement, "Come on, it's our first day of classes and we don't want to be late."

'We don't?' is what I would say if she wouldn't whack me in the head afterwards. See, I learn.

Not wanting to get scolded, I get dressed and brush my teeth. I was now wearing the male school uniform. A black suit, blue vest, and white shirt. Only one problem, there was a tie. Granted, I don't hate ties, I just don't particularly like them. At least I was still allowed to wear my silver dagger necklace. Walking back into the main dorm room, I was met with several pairs of eyes staring straight at me. I couldn't help but get curious.

"What's with the staring?"

"I do believe that it is the leader who decides the first order of business." Yoshi answered in his really polite, yet at the same time, really creepy tone of voice. Wait, what? Oh yeah, I'm the leader.

"Uhhh... " I look around the room for any ideas when my eyes land on our suitcases, "Right! First order of business, we unpack and get this room looking relatively like home."

And with that, the four of us began unpacking. Me, Felice, and Nate didn't have a whole lot of stuff to unpack. Just some clothes, hygiene stuff, a few school supplies and some books. The books came from Yoshi by the way. I swear, that guy has so many books, he could have his own library. Actually, I think he does have his own library. Most of what he unpacked was books, from Dust, Doohickies, and Doodads (which was a book about the use of Dust and old or forgotten gadgets) to Remnant: A History. I don't think a single book in that pile was for casual reading. When we got done unpacking, the room looked pretty good. Thank Zar we didn't have a whole lot of belongings to unpack, or we'd be reorganizing the room. It took us around an hour when we heard someone across the hall. Looking outside we saw Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang running down the hall.

"Class?" Jaune asked. Wait, class?

Me and Nate look at each other for a few seconds before, "We're gonna be late!"

And with that, the four of us headed off to our first class, Grimm Studies...

(Beacon Academy Grimm Studies Classroom, Sep. 8 9:00 AM)

"Monsters! Deeemons...Prowlers of the night! Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names, but I merely refer to them as prey. Haha!" Came the annoyingly boring voice known as Professor Port. I swear, this man doesn't need a weapon. He can simply bore the Grimm to death. There you go, monster problem solved.

With the sound of crickets, Professor Port decided just to continue the lecture, "And you shall too, upon graduating this prestigious academy. Now, as I was saying, Vale, as well as the other three kingdoms, are safe havens in an otherwise treacherous world! Our planet is absolutely teeming with creatures that would love nothing more than to tear you to pieces."

Okay, what is it with this school and scaring its students. 'We staff members have dedicated ourselves to protecting and aiding our students however and whenever we can. But if an Ursa tries to eat you alive, you can find us in the main office drinking tea and eating crumpets. Have a nice day.'

"And that's where we come in. Huntsmen! Huntresses." He then winked at Yang. Creepy stalker teacher, at two-o-clock, "Individuals who have sworn to protect those who cannot protect themselves. From what, you ask? Why, the very world!"

That's when someone in the back raised his fist and cheered. The rest of us just sat there looking at him for a few minutes before he sat back down. Professor Port continued with his lecture.

"That is what you are training to become. But first, a story. A tale of a young, handsome man... Me!" I'm sorry, did I say lecture, I meant boring story.

I tried diverting my attention to something else when I saw Ruby... doing something. I think she was drawing. This only frustrated Weiss who was sitting next to her. Yang and Blake were laughing.

"Ah-heh-hem!" Professor Port cleared his throat catching all of our attention, "In the end, the Beowolf was no match for my sheer tenacity. And I returned to my village with the beast in captivity and my head held high, celebrated as a hero. The moral of this story? A true Huntsman must be honorable."

I look back at Ruby to see her balancing a book and an apple on a pencil. I gotta say, I was impressed. And Weiss was getting more frustrated by the minute.

"A true Huntsman must be dependable."

Now she was sleeping, ticking Weiss off even further. Okay, now that I think about it, maybe Ruby should stop. I mean, it's funny and all but even I know not to push someone past their boiling point.

"A true Huntsman must be strategic, well-educated, and wise."

And now she's poking at her nose making Weiss even angrier than before. This isn't going to end well.

"So, who among you believes themselves to be the embodiment of these traits?" Professor Port's question was answered by the instant raise of hand by Weiss.

"I do, sir!" Me, Nate, and Felice just looked at each other, all of us having the same bad feeling.

"Well then, let's find out. Step forward and face your opponent!" He said as he pointed towards a rattling cage. With glowing red eyes. Oh fun.

Weiss returned to the classroom in her white dress. Reaching the center of the classroom, she got into a fighting stance readying her rapier.

"Gooo Weiss!" Yang cheered for her teammate.

"Fight well!" Blake joined in with a small RWBY flag. Wait, how the heck did she get that? Where did she get that?

It was Ruby's turn to cheer, "Yeah, represent teeeam RWBY!"

"Ruby, I'm trying to focus!" Weiss scolded Ruby. Really? She was trying to cheer you on and you yell at her? Well now we're back to square one with me thinking you're a prissy little rich girl. Oh the fun this'll be.

"Alright!" Professor Port started pulling out his axe from behind his back, "Let the match... begin."

With Professor Port chopping off the lock and the cage door falling down, a Boarbatusk comes charging out towards Weiss. Blocking the Grimm's attack, she rolls off to the side and gets ready for another attack.

"Haha! Weren't expecting that, were you?" The professor exclaims though I don't think Weiss is paying much attention. Ruby tried cheering her on again but to no avail.

Weiss sped off towards the Boarbatusk trying to pierce its armor. Instead, she gets her weapon stuck in the Grimm's tusks. Ruby tries to cheer Weiss on once more but instead receives a glare from the white-clothed girl. This simply gives the Grimm enough time to whip its head and throw Weiss's rapier across the room.

"Never take your eyes off your opponent." Both Yoshi and I say at the same time. Nate and Felice look at us with odd looks.

Weiss finally retrieves her weapon.

"Weiss, go for its belly! There's no armor underneath-" Ruby tried to give Weiss some advice but was harshly interrupted by said girl.

"Stop telling me what to do!" Uh, she kinda has to. She's your leader. Ugh, there's that word again.

While Weiss was getting infuriated with Ruby, the Boarbatusk decided to attack again. By spinning? Are we sure that thing's not a hedgehog? We can paint it blue for the sake of continuity. Weiss used one of her glyphs to deflect the Grimm's attack. Jumping up in the air, she uses another glyph and launches herself at the Grimm.

*SQUEAL*

Weiss stayed there for a few seconds catching her breath.

"Bravo, bravo. It appears we are indeed in the presence of a true Huntress-in-training. I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today. Be sure to cover the assigned readings, and... stay vigilant. Class dismissed." Finally, class was over.

Weiss simply stormed out of the classroom without a second thought.

"What's her problem?" Nate wondered.

(Beacon Academy, Sep. 8 10:00 AM)

Felice was currently dragging Nate by his ear... again. Why, you ask? Well as we were leaving the classroom, Nate decided to guess what Weiss 'problem' was. Let's just say that his last guess involved a certain time of the month.

"Ow, ow! Let go!" Nate pleaded with no success.

"That's what you get for saying something like that." I say simply.

"Sometimes it is wise to say nothing than say anything at all." Yoshi smirked.

At that moment, Felcie and I keeled over in laughter. I couldn't believe it, Yoshi just made a smart remark towards Nate. The same Yoshi that's always overly formal and serious. And to top it off, he made it sound like he was trying to be polite. This was awesome.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. I still say that girl's got issues." Nate huffed while rubbing his ear.

After a few minutes of laughing, I was able to gather myself and stand up, "We're not saying we disagree with you. In fact, I whole-heartedly agree, Weiss has problems. I mean she yelled at Ruby for giving her advice. She's their team leader, she's supposed to help her teammates."

That's when I was met with three pairs of eyes looking straight at me.

"What?"

"You're confident when you're talking about other team leaders, but not yourself." Felice responded with a smirk.

"*SCOFF* What? I don't know what you're talking about." I try to divert her suspicions.

"Seriously Krowe, you're not fooling anybody. You've been worried about being our leader ever since Ozpin assigned the position to you." Nate offered his two cents.

"No I haven't."

"You fidget every time the topic is brought up." Yoshi chimed in.

"No I don't"

The three of them merely pointed to my hands. Sure enough, my hands were tapping the sides of my pant legs. Realizing this, I immediately stopped.

"Uh, I gotta go." Without giving them a chance to respond, I run off away from them.

I continued walking down one of the hallways, thinking about what my teammates said. In fact, I don't need to think about anything. It's all true. How am I supposed to be a team leader? I can make quick decisions out on the battlefield easily, but giving other people orders, giving my friends orders? How am I supposed to do that?

"Ugh, I hate myself." I groan as I knock my head against the wall. I stood there for a few minutes until...

"Is there a reason you're standing in the middle of the hallway with your head on the wall?"

I turn around to see that the question came from none other than Professor Goodwitch.

"W-what? Oh, no. No reason at all." I respond to her question while trying to walk past her. No success.

Goodwitch stops me by putting a hand on my shoulder, "What's the matter?"

I hesitate to answer her, "*SIGH* I'm not sure Professor Ozpin made the right choice in assigning me leader."

"Why?" She asks simply.

"'Why?' 'Why?' Come up with any reason and it'd be a good reason." I answered her. I don't think that satisfied her though as she merely raised an eyebrow.

"Choose any of my teammates and I could easily tell you why they'd be better than me at being leader."

"Alright, Yama Oshiro." She offered.

"He's the smartest one out of all of us. Got a question, he's got the answer. And you've seen how formal he is and how he's always saying those wise sayings and whatnot."

"Felice Fabron." She said the next name.

"She's the strongest. Have you seen her hold that hammer. I couldn't even drag that thing, and technically, it's my weapon."

"Nathaniel Alburn." Final name.

"Easy, even back on Eth- back home, he always put family and friends first. Always trying to protect them. In fact, one time when his little sister Emily went missing, his parents had called the police to find her. You know who the first person to find and save her was? Nate. He would stop at nothing to make sure that his little sister was safe."

"And what about Sephalis Durma?" Wait what?

"What?"

"I said 'And what about Sephalis Durma?'" Goodwitch repeated the question.

"I-I don't know. I'm good at using weaponry and making plans I guess."

She just stood there looking at me as if studying me.

"Is that all?" She asked.

"Yes...?" I stretched the question.

"I see, pity." She started to walk off.

"Hey wait!" Stopping, she turned around towards me, "What do you mean 'Pity.'"

"Ozpin chose you as leader for a reason. He may say it is because you have potential, but I believe it is because of another reason."

I stood there waiting for her to continue.

"You say Yama should be leader because he's smart and formal, Felice because she is strong, or even Nathaniel because he cares for his friends and family. What if none of these qualities made a true leader?" She asked.

I just stood there confused. 'What if none of these qualities made a true leader?'

"Strength is not the only attribute that makes a leader, but also speed, agility, and quick thinking. All of which you possess. If every leader thought the way Mr. Oshiro does, every leader would be easily beaten. Sometimes it is necessary to think outside the lines." Goodwitch explained.

Now what, you can't tell me that a true leader has to ignore his friends and family. Right?

"And sometimes, a true leader must make choices that others are not willing to make. Even if that choice comes at the cost of their friends."

What?!

"Ozpin says he chose you because he sees potential in you. Maybe so, but you know what I see? I see not a leader, or even a Hunter at all. I see a coward. A coward who has no confidence whatsoever in himself or even the faith his teammates put in him. So tell me Sephalis Krowe Durma, are you a coward or are you a Hunter? A leader?"

And with that happy note, she walked off, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded.

(Beacon Academy FAYD Dorm Room, Sep. 8 8:30 PM)

I was currently laying in my bed thinking over what Goodwitch had said to me. All this time, I've been worried about being team leader and I never once thought about what a true leader was. How sad is that? That's when the door opened with Nate entering the room in his pajamas. As he neared his bed, he stopped and looked at me. There was an awkward silence before...

"Hey." Really, 'Hey' that's it?

"Hi." Okay, maybe I'm just as lame.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah. Why do you ask?"

"You seemed kinda nervous when the topic about you being leader was brought up." Oh that. More silence.

"*SIGH* Look Krowe, I know it may not seem like much, but I believe you can be a great leader. You don't have to worry about it, " He paused to look over to the sleeping forms of Felice and Yoshi, " because we'll be here to back you up."

*SNICKER*

"Who are you and what have you done with Nate?" I remark.

"Okay, yeah. That might have come off more sappy then intended." He laughed. He finally reached his bed and was about to get under the sheets.

"Nate?" He turned around, "Thanks."

"Anytime bird-brain." He smirked.

"Heh, fish-eyes." With that, we drifted off to sleep. Maybe being leader isn't going to be such a bad thing after all.

Chapter number ten. YAY! A somewhat OC centric chapter. Haven't done one of these in a while. I know it's a little shorter than usual but I hope you enjoyed it.

Also, a friend of mine was concerned with the problem Seph has in this chapter being the same as Ruby's problem. I thought I might clear that up a bit. It is not the same. Yes, it is similar, but not the same. Ruby's problem was, to put it crudely, Weiss. Ruby was really ecstatic about being team leader until Weiss said that she was too immature for the position making Ruby depressed. Weiss had no faith in Ruby. Now, Seph's problem. He had no faith in himself straight from the get-go. His teammates did but Seph himself did not.

And, I apologize if Professor Goodwitch is a bit OOC. After re-watching the episode, I saw Port and Ozpin giving helpful advice and thought Goodwitch should have a chance to help. Though at the same time, speak in the usual strict, blunt tone she always does.