Chapter 9: Lessons Learned

Location: Beacon Academy, Vale Year: Unknown

I woke up around at 6:00 A.M. and gotten a head-start on organizing my own dorm. Ozpin was kind enough to lend some furnishings to me since I'm new to this world, as well as a school uniform, which was a suit-like outfit, and a device called a Scroll. I went ahead and stored it in my Pipboy and when I was about to relax, I heard a loud whistle, followed by a large 'thump', coming from Team RWBY's dorm.

I chuckled and thought, 'Thank God I woke up early.'

I checked the time on my Pipboy and it was around 7:45 and class starts at 9:00, so I have plenty of time to check on some of my weapons' conditions. Afterward, I checked on my ammunition stock.

After that was done, I notice that it was 8:56 and I switched to my uniform. I thought, 'I never thought I would be wearing a school uniform in all of my life.'

I then walked out of my dorm to see Teams RWBY and JNPR rushing out of their dorm and towards our class. I ran after them to catch up to them and thought, 'God, I hope this isn't going to be boring as Hell.'

XXXXXX

"Monsters! Demons... Prowlers of the night. Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names." Professor Port said.

I overheard Ruby snoring and I sighed and muttered quietly, "Really, Ruby?"

The professor continues, "But I, merely refer to them as prey." and gives a somewhat hearty laugh that woke Ruby up.

I thought, 'Oh God, he's one of those teachers...' then thought sarcastically, 'Great, just fucking great.'

The whole classroom was quiet and Professor Port continues, "Uhh, 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."

I thought, 'If only you knew about my world, though.'

"Our planet is absolutely teeming with creatures that would love nothing more than to tear you to pieces."

I thought again, 'The Wasteland is the same, maybe worse for all I know.'

"And that's where we come in..." Professor Port continues onward as I lose interest and began to become lost in thought.

I started to have flashbacks back to the Capital and the Mojave Wastelands and remembered the good old days. Especially with my friends like Fawkes, RL-3 Sergeant, Dogmeat, Amata, Butch, Boone, Veronica, ED-E, and many others that I met within and even before my travels in the Wastelands.

Then my train-of-thought was interrupted by Weiss shouting, "I do sir!"

I looked towards Weiss, who has an expression of annoyance, with her hand raised.

"Well then, let's find out." Professor Port said as he looked towards a cage with something inside.

I was very confused and turned towards to Yang, who was in front of me, and asked, "How the Hell didn't we see that there?"

"I have no idea." she answered.

XXXXXX

'a minute later...'

After Weiss gotten in her battle dress, as she calls it, she went to her fighting pose as she waits for the professor's cue.

"Gooo Weiss!" Yang cheered.

"Fight well!" Blake cheered as she waved a small flag with their team's name on it.

"Good luck, Weiss!" I cheered.

"Yeah, represent Team RWBY!" Ruby cheered.

Then Weiss turned towards Ruby in annoyance and said, "Ruby, I'm trying to focus."

"Oh, sorry." Ruby responded.

I raised an eyebrow and thought, 'The Hell's going on? Why is Weiss being rude to Ruby?'

Then the professor said, "Alright. Let the match, begin." as he cut off the lock of the cage with his weapon, revealing a Grimm that looks like a wild boar.

Immediately, the Grimm charged at Weiss. Weiss dodges out of the way, as well as an attempt to hurt it with her sword. Instead, her attack was blocked by the Grimm's natural armor plating.

"Haha, wasn't expecting that were you?" the professor asked.

'Nope, it was pretty obvious. At-least for me, though.' I thought as I watched.

"Hang in there Weiss!" Ruby shouted.

Weiss charged forward at the Grimm as it did the same. But then her blade gotten stuck from the Grimm's tusks.

"Bold, new approach. I like it!" the professor said.

"Come on Weiss, show it who's boss!" Ruby cheered.

Then she was distracted by Ruby's cheering and the Grimm used it to its advantage, by disarming Weiss of her sword.

"Oho, now what will you do without your weapon?" Professor Port asks.

'You're not helping, professor!' I thought in annoyance.

The Grimm charged at Weiss, who dodged out of the way, and resulted it to crash into one of the desks and fall over on its back. Weiss then ran towards her sword while the Grimm is down and picked her sword up.

"Weiss, go for its belly! There's no armor underneath-" Ruby shouted and Weiss interrupted.

"Stop telling me what to do!" Weiss shouted to Ruby.

"What's up with her? Ruby is only trying to help." I muttered to myself.

Then the Grimm did a barrel roll towards Weiss. Weiss made a symbol to block the Grimm's attack and to fall on its back. Weiss then killed the Grimm by shoving her blade into its belly.

"Bravo! Braa-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." The professor said.

Weiss walked away as everyone else starts to leave the classroom. I walked up to Ruby, patted her on the back, and said, "Don't worry, Ruby. Let me go talk to her."

She nodded and I went after Weiss. I shouted to her, "Hey, Weiss!"

She turn towards me and asks, "What is it?"

She still seems very annoyed about something. I responded, "We're going to have chat, you and I. I want to know why you were shouting at Ruby back in class. Care to tell me why?"

"It's Ruby herself! She's my problem!" She shouted at me.

"Weiss, don't be hostile towards me. I know you're frustrated, but that doesn't give you an excuse to shout at Ruby like that. She was only cheering for you." I said to Weiss.

There was a pause and then I asked, "Now let me ask again, and give me a more precise answer: Why were you shouting at Ruby?"

"She's supposed to be a leader and all she's been so far is a nuisance." She answered.

"And what did she ever do to you? Besides accidentally falling into your luggage and almost blowing us off a cliff, she has done nothing to upset you." I responded.

"That's just it, she has done nothing to earn her position. Back in the forest, she acted like a child and she only continued to do so." She answered in frustration.

There was a pause for about 15 seconds before I responded, "So, it's because that you should be the leader? Is that it?"

She didn't answer and I continued, "Look, Weiss. I doubt that Ozpin would have made a mistake. As far as I know, she, besides her uncle who is a teacher at Signal, is the only one who wields a scythe like that, let alone, mastered on how to use it. She may be only 15, but even the youngest can be as wise as the elders, because they're more open-minded, creative, and are able to learn from themselves and by others. She earned her position not as a mistake, but for a purpose, and that is unknown by us."

I gave another pause before continuing, "Back at the Capital Wasteland, the ruins of Washington D.C., which used to be the capital of the United States, I was only 18 years old when I joined a faction known as the Brotherhood of Steel, and only after a few days, I was promoted to a Star Paladin, which is a great honor."

Weiss then looked at me with an expression of surprise on her face as I continued...

"I have devoted my life to protect the ones who cannot protect themselves and the ones who are barely surviving day and night from Slavers, Raiders, Super Mutants, and even the last, corrupted remnants of the U.S. government known as the Enclave. I almost died a thousand times while I protected the innocent from those who want to enslave them and/ or kill them. Ruby is like me, Weiss. She is dedicated enough to do so as well, 'till the very end. Some leaders may be made, but sometimes there will be some who are born to be leaders. Yes, she acts like a child, but that's only because she is still a child, but she cares about you and the entire team, Weiss, and true leaders care for their teams, understand?" I concluded.

"Y-you're right, Edward. I guess she does deserve to be a leader." She pauses as she looked up to me and continued, "Thank you... for the talk."

I smiled and responded, "That's why I'm here, to help your teams to become better, not just in combat, but as well as to help you guys to understand each other."

She smiled back and said, "I'll go find Ruby and apologize to her."

"Of-course." I said as I nodded, watching her go and heard a voice behind me...

"That was quite the speech, you gave there, Edward."

I turned towards to see Ozpin, sipping from his coffee, as usual.

"How long were you there, Ozpin?" I asked.

"I heard everything. I'm glad that you are trying your best to keep the teams together." Ozpin said.

"I've also gone through what they're going through, right now. You made me a mentor, after all." I answered.

"That's the whole point of it. You have survived, endured, and learned from your years in the wastes that you have wandered. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and it still is." Ozpin said and paused to sip his coffee. He continued, "And... Teams RWBY and JNPR told me about your parents. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, you didn't know at the time. I should get going to my next class." I responded.

"Of-course. Have a nice day." Ozpin said.

To be Continued...