What is up? Fresh with a new chapter! Only 8 days left to RWBY Volume 4! I'm hella excited! Well enjoy.
Disclaimer: Sonic goes to SEGA and RWBY goes to Rooster Teeth Productions and Monty Oum!
We see the window overlooking Beacon Academy from the new room of Team RWBY, panning over to Weiss Schnee sleeping soundly in her bed. Her eyes flutter open and she stretches her arms above herself, yawning, while Ruby Rose, dressed in her strangely-colored school uniform, creeps up on her side and suddenly blows a whistle, causing Weiss to fall off the bed.
"Good morning, team RWBY!" Ruby chimed with excitement.
"What in the world is wrong with you?" Weiss asked with annoyance in her tone.
"Now that you're awake, we can officially begin our first order of business." Ruby said ignoring her annoyed teammate's question.
Weiss got up and brushed herself off. "Excuse me?"
"Decorating!" Yang answered holding a collection of objects - pillows, pamphlets, a candle-holder - in her arms, also dressed alongside Blake Belladonna.
"What?!"
Blake lifts her suitcase. "We still have to unpack. Aaaand clean."
Weiss does not look enthusiastic, especially when Ruby knocks her back again with the blow of her whistle.
"Aaaalright! Weiss, Blake, Yang, and their fearless leader Ruby have begun their first mission!" Ruby declares raising her fist into the air. "Banzai!"
"Banzai!" Yang and Blake repeated in unison as they turn at an angle as Weiss lays on the floor and upbeat montage music starts playing.
Yang places a poster of six guys in various poses named "THE ACHIEVE MEN" on her part of the room. Weiss positions the painting of the Forever Fall forest to perfection and walks away. Blake is busy putting away her books on the shelves, picking up a copy of Ninjas of Love and widening her eyes as she warily looks around before putting it back. Ruby positions Crescent Rose at an exact angle against the curtains so she can perfectly slash a diagonal portion off. A quick zoom around the room and the repaired curtains ends with the girls admiring their handiwork... with one problem. The beds are cramped together in the center of the floor.
Weiss shook her head as she rubbed her temples. "This isn't going to work."
"It is a bit cramped." Blake chipped in.
Yang shrugs. "Maybe we should ditch some of our stuff..."
"Or we could ditch the beds... and replace them with bunk beds!" The Red Hooded Reaper exclaimed.
Weiss rose an eyebrow. "Umm, that sounds incredibly dangerous."
Yang nods with a smirk. "And super-awesome!"
"It does seem efficient." The Cat Faunus said agreeing with Yang.
"Well, we should put it to a vote!" Weiss suggested.
Ruby grinned. "I think we just did."
To the sounds of two dings and a single buzz, Blake thumbs up the idea, Yang makes a double-rocker gesture, and Weiss angrily curls her fists at her side. Decided, they rush at the beds, where sounds of jack hammering and sawing are heard until they gather back at the front of the room.
Ruby nods smiling brightly. "Objective: Complete!"
"Wait. You guys hear music?" Blake asked hearing music play.
-Music: Into The Wind (Crush 40)-
The four girls look out the window to see the source of the musical disturbance. A radio. But then they saw a familiar spiked knuckled hand which is Knuckles Geb to lower the volume, but then he noticed Team RWBY as he waved.
"Sup ladies!" Knuckles greeted. "Whatcha doing?"
"Doing albeit of decorating, what about you?" Yang answered.
"Knux! We need help here-" The voice of Sonic Maruti came in then he turned to the four girls and smiled. "Oh hello Team RWBY, we're remodeling our dorm room."
"Remodeling?" Weiss asked raising a white eyebrow. "Is that even possible?"
Sonic nods grinning. "If this is going to be our home away from home, then it has to be customized! We're getting flat screen TVs in our room! It'll be a way past cool pad!"
"Whaaaat?!" Team RWBY cried in shock.
"We're almost done anyway, so… are you four going to be standing there or head to class?" Sonic asked.
"Why?" Ruby asked.
"Class starts at 9 o'clock." Knuckles said with a sigh.
Weiss' eyes widen as her shaky pointer finger slowly rose. "What?! Did you say 9 o'clock?"
Sonic nods as he turns off the radio. "Yeah, better hurry." He zips off as he shuts the window.
"It's 8:55, you dunces! Hurry up!" Weiss cried running out the door.
Weiss is the first rushing out of the room and down the hall, the members of RWBY and JNPR peeking out from their doorways to look at her go.
"To class!" Ruby commanded.
Ruby runs out, followed by Yang, and Blake.
Jaune Arc sweat drops. "Class...?"
Jaune loses his balance and ends up toppling Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, and Lie Ren on top of him. He manages to get out from under them and start dashing. In the courtyard, Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch watch the two teams hurry through the school. Glynda looks at her watch, and Ozpin simply sips his coffee.
-Music: Let's Study (Sen no Kiseki)-
The sight of an axe-blunderbuss weapon pans down to the boards displaying various species of Grimm - King Taijitu, Death Stalker, Beowolf, Boarbatusk, Nevermore, and Ursa - behind an elderly teacher named Peter Port.
"Monsters! Deeeemons... Prowlers of the night! Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names, but I merely refer to them as prey! Ha-ha!" Port states with enthusiasm.
The members of RWBY and SSKT, seated on the front row, are in varying stages of interest; Blake and Yang are sitting up and paying attention, Weiss is taking notes, and Ruby has her head propped in her hand as she takes a quick nap until she is woken back up by Port's bad joke, Sonic shook his head as he yawned, Knuckles was sleeping with a book on his head Shadow had an emotionless look on his face, and Tails was reading and taking notes. A cricket-filled silence as a result.
"Uhhhh... And you shall too, upon graduating from 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! And that's where we come in. Huntsmen! Huntresses..." Port states as he winks at Yang who groaned uncomfortably. "Individuals who have sworn to protect those who cannot protect themselves! From what, you ask? Why, the very world!"
A student raises his fist. "Ayyyy-yep!" He stands like this for a moment as everyone looks at him strangely before sitting down, embarrassed.
"Dumb ass…" Knuckles muttered rubbing his eyes.
"That is what you are training to become. But first: A story. A tale of a young, handsome man... Me! When I was a boy..." Port's words fade into the background and a series of "blah"s when Weiss notices Ruby is very focused on penciling the paper in front of her.
"...Despite smelling of cabbages, my grandfather was a wise man. 'Peter', he told me..." The large man continued.
The speech evolves into more "blah"s as Ruby snickers at her creation and shows it to her teammates: A general ball-with-limbs-and-a-head drawing of the teacher with stink lines coming from him and "Professor Poop" written underneath. Blake and Yang are heard laughing, but Weiss looks annoyed.
"Ah-heh-hem!" Port waits until he has their attention again. "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 teacher takes a bow as Weiss slowly gets more and more frustrated with Ruby's antics.
"The moral of this story? A true Huntsman must be honorable!" Port said raising his finger as he paces the room.
Ruby is balancing an apple on a book with her pencil held only by her finger while making a silly face.
"A true Huntsman must be dependable!"
Ruby has fallen asleep again in the first class of the year.
"A true Huntsman must be strategic, well-educated, and wise!"
Ruby is not-so-subtly picking her nose, much to Weiss' building anger.
Port glances to his class. "So, who among you believes themselves to be the embodiment of these traits?"
Weiss raises her hand with anger on her face. "I do, sir!"
Port smiled. "Well, then, let's find out!" He turns to gesture at the glowing red eyes surrounded by shadow shaking the cage that traps it. "Step forward, and face your opponent!"
The unknown monster continues to growl.
-Music Ends-
Weiss Schnee, now back in her regular attire, readying her Myrtenaster at the growling creature in the cage barely seen at the end of the last episode. Her teammates cheer her on from their seats in the front row.
"Goooo, Weiss!" Yang cheered raising her fists.
Blake waved a small flag saying "RWBY". "Fight well!"
"Yeah, represent teeeeam RWBY!" Ruby chimed happily.
Weiss lowered her sword and looking over at her "leader". "Ruby! I'm trying to focus!"
"Oh, um... Sorry..." Ruby sheepishly giggles.
"I have a feeling this will not go well…" Shadow thought glancing at Ruby and Weiss.
"Thinking mutual thoughts Shads?" Sonic asked him.
Shadow's crimson eyes looked at his leader and then back on Weiss. "...Yeah."
Port grinned. "Allllright!" Next to the cage, pulling out his axe. "Let the match... begin!"
-Music: Don't be Defeated by a Friend! (Sen no Kiseki)-
The professor swings down and breaks the lock, dropping the cage door and revealing the Boarbatusk inside, which immediately charges at Weiss. She uses Myrtenaster to deflect its attack and roll to the side, readying herself for its next move. The Grimm stands a distance away from its enemy, studying her.
"Ha-ha! Wasn't expecting that, were you?" Port asked with excitement in his tone.
"Hang in there, Weiss!" Ruby said trying to cheer Weiss on.
Weiss is now speeding towards the oncoming Boarbatusk, sticking her blade straight at its skull until they meet and Myrtenaster is trapped in the beast's tusks. Weiss is still hanging on to the hilt, and is tossed around as she struggles to get the rapier back.
Port nods in approval. "Bold, new approach. I like it!"
"Come on, Weiss, show it who's boss!" Ruby cheered.
Weiss turns to glare at Ruby, only for the Boarbatusk to turn its head and rip the sword from her grip. Myrtenaster lands far away from its master, who is knocked back by the creature's tusks.
"Oh-ho! Now what will you do without your weapon?" Port asked wondering what the Heiress would do.
Weiss looks up just in time to see the Boarbatusk to charge again, rolling out of the way just in time to avoid getting trampled and make it crash into a desk. Weiss rushes at her sword and slides to get it back in her hand.
"Weiss! Go for its belly! There's no armor underneath-" Ruby began to say.
Weiss turned to Ruby. "Stop telling me what to do!"
Ruby looks hurt at Weiss' rebuttal. Meanwhile, the Boarbatusk leaps into the air and rolls into a ball, spinning rapidly in the air and landing on the ground, consistently gaining speed until it launches itself at Weiss. It comes closer and closer, but Weiss activates one of her blue-white circles and blocks the roll, leaping up into the now-black snowflake symbol and turning it blue again so she can drive the blade into the Boarbatusk's stomach. It squeals and falls silent while Weiss gasps in relief.
-Music Ends-
Port claps. "Bravo! Bra-vo! 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!"
Weiss glares and turns away, walking hurriedly to the exit past her teammates.
"Sheesh, what's with her?" Jaune asked watching her leave.
"Everything Jaune, she always had her panties in a fucking twist but I don't give a fuck about her." Knuckles stated getting his magenta headsets.
The remaining members of team RWBY look at each other with the same question.
Weiss is still storming off, but Ruby turns a corner and manages to catch up with her.
"Weiss!"
Weiss turns around glaring at her leader. "What?"
"What's wrong with you? Why are you being-?"
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? You're supposed to be a leader, and all you've been so far is a nuisance!" Weiss snapped.
Ruby scoffs at this. "What did I do?"
"That's just it - you've done nothing to earn your position! Back in the forest, you acted like a child, and you've only continued to do so!" The Heiress hissed at her.
Ruby sighed. "Weiss, where is this coming from? What happened to all the talk about 'working together'? I thought you believed in acting as a team."
Weiss points at Ruby. "Not a team led by you. I've studied and trained. And quite frankly, I deserve better. Ozpin made a mistake." She walks away from her dejected leader.
"Hmm... Now that didn't seem to go very well." Ozpin's voice surprised Ruby as he walks to her with his coffee and his cane.
"Is she right? Did you make a mistake?" Ruby asked being unsure and on the verge of tears.
Ozpin laughs slightly. "That remains to be seen."
Weiss is still walking around the halls until she comes across a balcony where Professor Port is watching the sunset over Beacon Academy's rooftops.
"Professor Port!" Weiss calls him.
Port turns to look at her. "Ah, Miss Schnee! And to what do I owe this fine pleasure?"
"I... I enjoyed your lecture!" She lied with a smile.
Port chuckles. "Of course you did, child; you have the blood of a true Huntress in you."
"You really think so?"
"Most surely!" He notices Weiss' small frown and lack of eye contact. "Hmm... Something's troubling you."
Weiss sighs. "Yes, sir..."
"Dear girl, confess to me your strife!" Port said ready to hear the problem with his student.
Weiss looks down a bit before looking Port. "Well... I-I think I should have been the leader of team RWBY!"
Port stays silent for a moment until he speaks. "That's preposterous!"
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's only been one day. Ruby... I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet. But at this moment, I would not consider your appointment to leader to be one of them." Ozpin leans in so he can look more directly at Ruby. "Do you?"
"Excuse me?!" Weiss asked getting infuriated.
"I've believed in Professor Ozpin for many years, and the man's never once led me astray!" Port said with pride.
Weiss just couldn't accept this. "So you would just blindly accept his decision even after seeing how exceptional I am?"
"With all due respect, your exceptional skill on the battlefield is matched only by your poor attitude." Port said.
Weiss seethed by Port's words. "How dare you!"
Port sighed. "My point exactly. I see a girl before me who has spent her entire life getting exactly what she wanted."
Weiss crossing her arms, looking defiant, then she reluctantly relents. "That's not even remotely true! Well... not entirely true."
"Being a team leader isn't just a title you carry into battle, but a badge you wear constantly. If you're not always performing at your absolute best, then what reason do you give others to follow you?" Ozpin asked.
Ruby looks thoughtful with Ozpin's words, then smiles at him.
"So the outcome did not fall in your favor. Do you really believe that acting in such a manner would cause those in power to reconsider their decision? So instead of fretting about what you don't have, savor what you do. Hone your skills, perfect every technique, and be not the best leader, but the best person you can be." Port states with a small smile on his face.
Weiss smiles a little at the words of wisdom.
Ozpin turned back on Ruby, still talking to her. "You've been burdened with a daunting responsibility, Ruby. I advise you take some time, to think about how you will uphold it."
Ruby, with a last look of consideration, turns and walks away. She comes to the balcony where Port is walking away from Weiss and smiles a little at her partner.
The full moon shines over the green lights of Beacon, and in the room of team RWBY, the door opens and Weiss' shadow is seen against the hall's light. Blake is sleeping under the covers, Yang is spread out on her bed and snoring, and when Weiss lifts the blanket of Ruby's tent, she finds the occupant with her head resting on notes, a pencil in her hand, and open books all around her. Weiss, looking amazed at Ruby's determination, clears her throat and gently shakes the other girl awake, who takes a second to regain consciousness and start flailing in surprise.'
"Weiss! I-I was studying, and then I fell asleep! I'm sorry..." Ruby sweats.
Weiss places a hand over Ruby's mouth and puts a finger to her own so Ruby understands the need for lowering her voice. Weiss looks near Ruby's pillow and spots an empty Beacon coffee mug. "How do you take your coffee?"
Ruby didn't expect this. "I... I don't..."
"Answer the question!" Weiss said getting irritated.
Ruby sweats harder as she sheepishly giggles. "Uhh, cream and five sugars!"
Weiss sighed. "Don't move." Then she ducks under to her own bed and comes up a moment later with a fresh cup, offering it to Ruby. "Here."
Ruby takes the cup. "Um... Thanks, Weiss."
Weiss smiles, then looks apologetic. "Ruby, I think you have what it takes to be a good leader. Just know that I am going to be the best teammate you'll ever have! Good luck studying! That's wrong, by the way. Hey, Ruby?"
"Uh-huh?"
Weiss stands in the door with her hand on the knob. "I always wanted bunk beds as a kid." Weiss starts to close the door.
Ruby, grinning at the progress with her friend, goes back to her notes as scene fades to black.
To be Continued...