Chapter 11: The Badge and the Burden Part 2

Weiss changed back to her regular attire, ready to fight the Grimm. Then, she heard her team cheering from their seats.

"Go, Weiss," Yang shouted.

"Fight well," Blake said, holding a little flag saying 'RWB2Y.'

"Go get it," shouted Bill. Then, her leader shouted

"Yeah, represent teeeeam RWB2Y!" Weiss ignored everyone, except Ruby.

"Ruby! I'm trying to focus!"

"Oh, um... Sorry..."

"Allllright!" They all turned to see Professor Port next to the cage, with an axe. "Let the match... begin!"

Port brought down his axe, breaking the lock, and opening the cage. The Grimm came out, and charged at Weiss. She used Myrtenaster to block the attack, and escaped the Grimm. She then started to study the Grimm. It was a Boarbatusk , a pig like creature with large tusks and four eyes.

"Ha-ha! Wasn't expecting that, were you," Port said.

"Hang in there, Weiss," Ruby shouted. She pointed her sword at the Boarbatusk, then using her glyphs to speed her up, and attacked the creature. She thought she had it, but Myrtenaster was caught by its tusks.

"Bold, new approach. I like it," Port said.

Then, Ruby shouted "Come on, Weiss, show it who's boss!"

The heiress glared at her leader as the Grimm knocked her weapon out of her hand.

"Oh-ho! Now what will you do without your weapon?" She looked up just in time to see the Boarbatusk to charge at her. She rolled out of the way, and towards her sword.

"Weiss! Go for its belly! There's no armor underneath-"

"Stop telling me what to do!" Ruby was hurt by her partner's rebuttal. The Boarbatusk leaped into the air and rolled into a ball. Then, it launched itself at Weiss. Weiss stood there, until she used one of her glyphs to knock it on its back. She jumped into the air, went down, and stabs the Grimm's torso, silencing the creature.

"Bravo! Bra-vo! It appears we are indeed in the presence of a true Huntress-in-training!" Weiss stood up, and tried not to notice Ruby's sad glare."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 did nothing but leave the room in a hurry, leaving her team.

Team RWB2Y and JNPR watched leave as Jaune muttered "Sheesh, what's with her?" The remaining members of team RWB2Y look at each other with the same question. Then, Ruby got up, and went after her teammate, while the others went to their dorm.


Bill opened the door, only to see Legion in between the two bunk beds.

"Well, hello, and welcome back. How was your first day?"

"A little bit of drama,"

"A little bit?" He turned to Blake and said

"Fine! A bit of drama."

"A bit," Yang questioned.

"FINE! A lot of drama! What do you guys want from me?"

"So, where is this fifth bed," Yang asked.

"Right here." He pointed his finger between the beds.

"Uh… Where?"

"Hmm… the old hidden bed. Good one Legion." He patted the robot's back.

"I aim to please," Legion said.

"So, where's the button?"

"Right here." He gesture his hand to the side of the bookcase. As he pushed it, a bed suddenly appeared.

"Well… That solves problem number two," Bill said. Then, he dropped his things in the corner, and went towards the door.

"Where are you going," Blake asked.

"To the infirmary," he answered, as he went out the door. Blake was about to go to her bed, when she saw her partner with a big grin.

"What?"

"Blake, please don't tell me you have a crush on him."

"What, no. Of course not."

"Then why would you ask him where he was going?"

"Isn't that a thing to ask a teammate?"

"Bullshit, I think you're lying."

"Language please."

She turned to the robot and said "You can't tell me what to do. You're not an adult."

"Yeah, you're right. Fuck it, I'm done." He then pushed a button on the back of his neck and turned back into a suitcase. She turned around to keep teasing her partner, but saw that she went into the bathroom.

"Well played, Blake. Well played."


"Weiss!" The heiress turned around and shouted

"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!"

Ruby scoffed and asked "What did I do?"

"That's just it," Weiss continued. "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!"

"Weiss, where is this coming from? What happened to all the talk about 'working together'? I thought you believed in acting as a team."

"Not a team led by you. I've studied and trained. And quite frankly, I deserve better." She turned around and said out loud "Ozpin made a mistake."

Ruby looked more hurt as Weiss said that. She turned around and saw Professor Ozpin standing behind her, with a mug in his hand.

"Hmm... Now that didn't seem to go very well," he said.

"Is she right," she asked. "Did you make a mistake?"

"That remains to be seen."

"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." He put his hand on her shoulder and asked "Do you?"

"Um…"

"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?" He turned around, preparing to leave when he continued.

"You've been burdened with a daunting responsibility, Ruby. I advise you take some time, to think about how you will uphold it."

As he walked away, Ruby went up to him. "Wait, I have a question. Why do you always have that mug?" He turned around to answer her question.

"One of my mistakes. A professor thought it would be funny to glue my mug to my hand. But, I deserve it for using his things for the initiation. Don't worry though, I've already taken my revenge."

"What did you do?"

"You'll find out, now have a good evening Miss Rose." As he left, Ruby wandered the halls, thinking of what he said.


Weiss was walking through the halls until she came across a balcony where Professor Port was gazing upon the sunset. She went up to him and said "Professor Port!"

He turned around and said "Ah, Miss Schnee! And to what do I owe this fine pleasure?"

"I... I enjoyed your lecture!"

"Of course you did, child; you have the blood of a true Huntress in you."

"You really think so?"

"Most surely!" He noticed that she was frowning and asked

"Hmm... Something's troubling you."

"Yes, sir..."

"Dear girl, confess to me your strife!"

"Well... I-I think I should have been the leader of team RWB2Y!"

Port was silent until saying "That's preposterous!"

"Excuse me?!"

"I've believed in Professor Ozpin for many years, and the man's never once led me astray!"

"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."

Weiss shouted "How dare you!"

"My point exactly. I see a girl before me who has spent her entire life getting exactly what she wanted."

She crossed her arms and said "That's not even remotely true!" She noticed Port's gaze and said "Well... not entirely true."

"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." Weiss smiled at his words of wisdom.


Ruby was walking through the halls when he noticed Weiss talking to Professor Port, and noticed her smiling. She then smiled at the sight of that. 'Well, time to be a great leader,' she thought. Then, she sprinted towards her dorm.


Weiss was going back to her dorm after a long walk around the academy, when she saw Bill about to open the dorm.

"What are you doing out late," she asked.

"Doctor's visit went on for a while. What are you doing out late?"

"Walked around Beacon for a bit."

"Well look at us. First day and we're already past curfew." He chuckled as he opened the door. He went to the floor door, kicked it open, and jumped inside. As Weiss went in, she noticed light coming from Ruby's bed. She uncovered her sheets, and was surprised to see Ruby fallen asleep while studying. She gently shook her, making her regain her consciousness.

"Weiss! I-I was studying, and then I fell asleep! I'm sorry..." Weiss put her hand over Ruby's mouth, gesturing her to be quiet. Then, she noticed an empty Beacon mug.

She put her hand down and asked "How do you take your coffee?"

"I... I don't..."

"Answer the question!"

"Uhh, cream and five sugars!"

Weiss sighed and said "Don't move." She climbed down the bed, and after a few moments, came back up with a fresh cup of coffee. "Here."

"Um... Thanks, Weiss."

"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!" They both shared a smile as Weiss said "Good luck studying!" She climbed down, but quickly climbed back up, pointing to a paper saying "That's wrong, by the way."

Before Weiss went into the bathroom to change she said "Hey, Ruby?"

"Uh-huh?"

"I always wanted bunk beds as a kid," she said, before closing the door. Ruby smiled in victory, then going back to studying.

"That was a happier conversation than the last one." She looked down to see Bill in his pajamas shorts, and a t-shirt with a sword logo on it.

"Yeah, I feel happy now."

"I bet you do." Then, he pushed the secret button, revealing the hidden bed.

"Wait… What?"

"We'll talk about this later," Bill said, before going to bed.