AN: Sorry this took so long to get out! Expect longer chapters from me from now on as a way to try and make up for the lack of updates. Couple things, there has been a change to my update roster. Next update WON'T be Writing Our Own Story, instead I'll be updating Glyph Runner then WOOS and then VKS. I did have to change a few words in a quote that is in this chapter. You'll know it when you see it, if you don't see it then feel free to ask what it is and where. Lastly I am looking for questions cause I'm working on a mailbag episode for the Legion205 Podcast. Send'em via PM or at our email, Legionof205 Gmail . com (no spaces). That's all for now, catch you all in Glyph Runner! Enjoy the journey, keep moving forward and don't feed the guard dogs.

I DO NOT OWN RWBY IT IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF ROOSTERTEETH PRODUCTIONS

Rest in peace Monty, thank you for being the one to start me on this journey.

Chapter Twenty-two: Seasons and Lessons

The first day of classes for the students of Beacon would begin in the morning. That is what should have been on the mind of one of the academy's professors. Unfortunately, he was troubled by other things. Thamior woke shaking and still groggy with sleep, trying not to disturb Glynda with his movements as he carefully got out of bed and started to make his way the bathroom.

"What in the Hell was that dream? At least it had better damn well have been nothing more than a dream." Thamior mumbled as he splashed water onto his face to bring himself back to reality. One moment, he could see his brother dancing with a blurred figure at the Faunus-Human equality gala, then the next moment he saw a spray of blood arc from him, followed by a bright flash of light.

"Thamior, what's wrong, dear?" Glynda asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes and stepping into the bathroom behind him. Thamior could see her from the mirror over the sink.

"Oh, sorry Glynda, I tried not to wake you, it was just a dream. I'll be back to bed in a moment." Thamior said, waving off her concern.

"It's not like you to get nightmares. Can you tell me what you saw?" Glynda asked, hugging the Hunter from behind, she could feel him shaking; the dream still fresh on his mind.

"We were at the Gala, Martin was dancing with someone, I couldn't see who. Then all I saw was a spray of blood arcing away from him as if he'd been stabbed. The blood was followed by a bright flash of light." Thamior said still looking at the mirror.

"Sounds like a message more than a dream, Thamior." Glynda said, thinking about the dream.

"If it is a message, I don't care for the way it was delivered." Thamior said frowning.

"I won't dispute that. Though, there is only one person I can think of capable of sending a message that way, and if she's sending a message, then they're planning something and want us to know it." Glynda said, walking Thamior back into their room.

"If I have Emerald to blame for ruining my sleep because she wants us to know they're going to attack during the Gala, then I don't know if I should be happy she's still able to help us, or worried that she could be masking her team's true intent." The shaken Hunter replied.

"You and I both know she's trying to help us, whether or not she is telling us everything or is able to tell us everything is another matter." The dust-weaver said, immediately trying to quash any doubt about their friend's loyalty.

"I hope you're right, Glynda, I really do." Thamior sighed, allowing Glynda to pull him back to their bed to catch a few more hours of sleep before classes began in the morning.

The Phoenix Chamber

"Are you planning on telling the girls about their link to the seasons?" Summer asked as Martin stretched his arm and shoulder.

"I am, though for now I plan on masking it in this first class lesson. I'll fully explain everything this weekend once they're finished getting used to their schedules." Martin replied, the link to the seasons that Summer was referring to was team RWBY's semblances and aura.

For the time being, only small aspects of their semblances had begun to change. Blake's clones solidifying, and Weiss' aura beginning to intensify, were, so far, the only known examples that had come to his attention; the latter of the two was beginning to worry him. Martin had been keeping an eye on the fencer in case he had to help her, but if her aura went too far, he'd be powerless to help her regain control, and only one person, Winter Schnee, would be able to help the white haired girl. Unfortunately, the elder Schnee was out of reach after a falling out between the sisters when their parents died. That was not all, though, as soon their semblances would take elemental aspects of their respective seasons and manifest themselves within their semblance. Martin already had an idea of how those aspects would take shape.

"You're worried about Weiss and the fluctuation with her aura, aren't you?" Summer asked, she could see he was thinking about what Ruby had told him about Weiss' initial reaction to the prank the other day.

"Yeah, if it continues to grow and she doesn't adapt to it quick enough, I may have to slow it down long enough for Winter to help her." Martin replied, tugging his arm until he heard the joint pop.

"You're assuming Winter will want to help her, or that Weiss will let her help." Summer retorted, still displeased with the older Schnee's actions ten years ago.

"She's the only one who can, I have to hope those two will set the past aside long enough for Weiss to regain control. Besides, Winter blames me for not saving their parents." the summer phoenix sighed.

"You did everything you could to save them, Winter was just too blinded by grief and let it get between them. I still can't believe she left before they were even buried." the white cloaked apparition said, placing a pale incorporeal hand on her husband's shoulder. He wouldn't feel the pressure of the touch but the effect was the same, Summer could see him relax slightly.

"Still won't let that go, eh?" Martin replied with a sidelong glance.

"How could I? Weiss was only seven years old."

"I know, but patching the rift between them is one of my priorities, we're spread too thin, and if I can fix things between Winter, Weiss, and I, we may just be a little bit safer. It has to be possible to bridge this rift, they are sisters after all." the Commander replied, with an optimistic smile.

"Well, keep that optimism, love. It's nice seeing that light of hope in your eyes again." Summer said, as the infectious optimism spread to her. Martin extended his arm again until he heard his right shoulder pop, and for a second time, the tension released. "You still need to take things easy, even though you can fully move your arm, it isn't fully recovered. The students can't afford to have one of their teachers out of commission." Summer advised, wincing as she watched Martin loosen the rest of the tension in his body.

"I know, Summer, although, even with all of the trouble with our Snowflake on my mind, I'm more worried about how this day will go." Martin replied.

"First day anxiety all over again, huh?" Came the reply.

"Yeah, I've taught the girls, but teaching on this scale feels different."

"Hahaha." Summer's laughter filled the chamber.

"What's so funny?" Martin asked, a little confused.

"Sorry Martin, but I can't help but think about you being afraid of your students, you, the one who imprisoned the Fallen. You'll do fine, dear. Besides, I'll be watching." Summer replied.

"I hope so, just remember someday soon you might be feeling this same bout of anxiety when you join the staff." Martin replied smiling in the direction of the apparition.

"That day can't come soon enough." Summer said, returning the smile.

"Agreed, well, wish me luck, I've got about ten minutes to get to my classroom." Martin said before walking out of the revival chamber to return to the school.

Summer smiled in the direction of the retreating figure, then turned and glared toward the door that kept people from tampering with the Fallen's seal. "Don't make me wake up early, Fallen, you've seen me upset before. I don't think you want to see it again." The only response was silence, the answer Summer had expected and hoped for. Satisfied that she'd be able to rest for the time being, the spring phoenix turned toward her brazier and faded into motes of light which drifted into the basin.

"WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" Ruby shouted as the four fledgling faunus sprinted through the halls of Beacon to their first class. It was dust and aura training with Martin, and they didn't want to be late for fear of being chewed out later that night.

"HOW COULD YOU FORGET TO SET THE ALARM?!" Weiss shouted as she sprinted with the help of her glyphs to keep pace with her girlfriend.

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" the sprinting reaper replied.

"YOUR FIRST DAY AS OUR TEAM LEADER AND YO-" Weiss started to retort, before Yang interrupted her.

"QUIT IT WITH THE LOVER'S QUARREL YOU TWO AND LET'S GO!" Yang shouted, as she held the door open for the rest of the team. Before she could follow them into the room, however, Weiss stepped back for a moment.

"Yang, you know we haven't done that. We haven't even been together for a month yet." Weiss whispered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, as they took a seat in the bench behind the members of team DRAB.

"I know, but when we get the time, you and I need to have a chat. Big sister to best friend." Yang said quietly.

"I think I have an idea of what you want to talk about, but first, let's just focus on our classes for the day." the white-haired phoenix replied.

"You both done? Can't help but overhear your personal problems." A black-cloaked raven faunus called over his shoulder.

"Sorry, Jason, right?" Weiss asked, apologetically.

"Yup and-" Before Jason could finish speaking, a loud bang interrupted him and caused the other students in the room to cover their ears and look at the person in the center of the room.

"Good, now that you're all awake and I have everyone's attention, we can begin." Martin said, dusting himself off to remove any remains of the kinetic-dust crystal he had just shattered.

"That's how he gets people's attention? We'll be lucky to still be able to hear." Jaune Arc, the leader of team JNPR whispered, or so he thought.

"Mr. Arc, if you think you were whispering you weren't, and I do apologize, but it seems that dust crystal was stronger than I intended. Miss Nikos, could you please see him to the infirmary? Today won't be a major lesson and anything you'll learn today will be repeated tomorrow before I begin digging into the important details." Martin said, turning to face the blonde-haired team leader and his partner.

"I'll get him there and be back quickly, Sir." The tall redhead said, taking her partner by the hand and leading him out the door of the classroom.

"Pyrrha Nikos, top ten in her class at Sanctum. You haven't let it get to your head, yes, I believe you'll meet the expectations I have. Jaune Arc, a bit of a slow learner when it comes to fighting, but when you fought at initiation, you gave a good account of yourself. His father was the same as when he attended Beacon, wouldn't surprise me if he pulled the same stunt to get here, too. Lie Ren, I don't need to question why you're here or why you were chosen. Your skill with aura manipulation is unprecedented in one so young. Nora Valkyrie, your strength and bright outlook on life, even after the pain you've been through, will be a pillar of light in the dark. Your parents certainly were, and I think you will be too." Martin mused, thinking about the members of team JNPR. They would find their test to be difficult, but not insurmountable. It would begin in one short week.

"Is it just me, or was Martin just examining JNPR?" Blake asked, glancing at her team.

"Seems that way. We all know that look, Dad has something planned." Yang replied quietly.

"Should be interesting. Wonder if he and the Colonel had selected more than just us, what do you think, Rex, you were there at their meeting, right?" Ruby asked the wolf faunus in front of her.

"Yeah, we were. The Commander mentioned a task-force, should be safe to say the eight of us won't be the only ones involved." Rex replied, looking intently at the veteran Hunter.

"Jason, what's wrong?" Haley asked, noticing her partner was looking toward team CRDL, his knuckles were white as he clenched his fists. The four of them were picking on a rabbit faunus.

"Someone should really put those guys in their place." Jason growled.

"While I do agree with the sentiment, acting out with violence won't help deal with bigots like them." Blake said, keeping her own emotions hidden.

"Easy for you to say, you have the Commander's name to hide behind." Azure mumbled, her own thoughts mirroring Jason's.

"You could not be more wrong about that even if you tried. You're either blind to what actually goes on in Vale, or you have been out of the loop for the last month." Weiss said, harshly. She hadn't fully recovered from the stress of having her own company try to get rid of her. She also hadn't been coping well with what she had done during the White Fang and Black Claw attack prior to her kidnapping.

"Weiss, please, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it." Ruby said, taking Weiss' hand and stroking it. She could feel the white-haired girl relax slightly, though her touch was still cooler than normal. "That's it, you and I are going to do something this week. I don't care what as long as I can get your mind off of the last month and half."

Any reply Azure was thinking of making was cut off by a sharp cry from the rabbit faunus. "OW, LET GO OF ME!"

Haley and Rex each placed a hand on the raven faunus' shoulders, keeping him seated, even though they would have wanted nothing more than to let him loose on the troublemakers. Before the Hunter-in-training could start struggling against the grip, another small explosion went off as a dust crystal detonated behind the heads of the offending team. "Team CRDL, if you lay a hand on another student outside of a sanctioned sparring match, I will turn a blind eye when the other teams decide to use you as target practice. Do I make myself clear?" Martin growled, his voice cut through the sudden silence. The four Hunters-in-training only nodded before hurrying to their seats. "Are you alright, Miss Scarlatina?"

"Y-yes, Sir, though you didn't have to do that." The faunus replied, a little softly.

"Well, I won't tolerate bullying in my classroom. Hunters, in training or otherwise, should know better and set an example for others." Martin replied, pulling out an old pocket watch. "Hmm, seems we only have time for a few things. I have only one question. Can any of you tell me what the four seasons represent?" Martin slowly scanned the blank faces of his new students until they rested on Lie Ren.

"Sir, are you asking what they represent in terms of a person's life? If so, the season of spring represents new life. The season of summer sees that life begins to grow and come into it's own, fall sees the life living to the fullest it can. Winter sees that life teaches the lessons it had learned, gifting it's knowledge to spring and summer." the green clad student said, somewhat solemnly.

"I could not have said that better myself. Though there is another meaning. The seasons also refer to a person's aura. Spring sees that aura unlock, summer sees it grow and change in certain ways, fall sees the aura being mastered and beginning to find it's full potential, winter sees the aura at it's peak and being used to shield innocents from harm. When I say that the aura of everyone here has entered summer, I mean it. Your aura, if it has not started to, may begin changing over the course of your lives. In fact, there are cases where the seasons are linked to a person's aura and manifests itself in their semblance, I am one such person, a child of the season of summer, and my semblance conveys that link as fire." Martin said, expanding on the philosophy. "Those who are born linked to a season will find their semblance will become stronger the closer the season is to their respective equinox or solstice. But even though these differences in strength will exist, it is up to everyone of us, linked to a season or not, to protect the seasons. Because above all else, they do represent life, and if we lose too many lives, the seasonal cycle of life will end, and the creatures of Grimm will win. So, if you would protect that cycle, I want you to stand and tell me our oath and don't give me the official one." As Martin watched his students, he saw them all rise. Even team CRDL who moments before had been pestering Velvet Scarlatina. It seemed that they'd still do their duty even if they were at odds with some of the people they would be protecting or working alongside.

"I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If I endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often my greater dreams are not something I will achieve within my own lifetime. The effort I put forth to anything transcends myself, for there is no futility even in death." Those who recited the true oath of the Hunters would never stop fighting and never stop living, no matter the odds, and Martin couldn't have been prouder. When their real training began, they would be ready.

Combat Class

"Dad was giving us our first lesson about what we are capable of." Yang said, as she watched a pair of students duel under the gaze of Thamior and Qrow.

"You mean that speech about the seasons being linked to certain people?" Ruby asked.

"Yup." Came the short reply.

"Makes sense, though. He did say that our semblances would be changing because of our blood and that the changes that I've started seeing with my clones would not be the only possible ones." Blake said from her seat next to Yang. "Makes me wonder what exactly my link to a season would be. He probably already has a guess."

"Except fire is already the basis for my semblance." Yang said, pulling Blake from her thoughts.

"Well, you haven't exactly had much control over it. Maybe that'll be the change it'll go through." the faunus replied.

"Maybe, just feels like that's too simple an explanation though." the brawler mused.

"Well, don't worry about it too much we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Blake said, smiling slightly and placing a hand on Yang's shoulder.

"You're right Blake, got enough on our plates to worry about anyway." Yang said returning the smile, then turning to see the end of the match. The fight ended with one combatant's aura in the red and the other in the yellow.

"Well fought both of you, this is exactly how the Vytal Tournament will function." Thamior said, congratulating the two fighters. Then he consulted his scroll for the next pair that would face off. He kept his face impassive as he read off the two names that would enter the sparring arena. "Blake Belladonna of team RWBY and Azure Raptor of team DRAB." Even though the veteran's face was impassive as he read the names, he did nothing to mask the mental scream when his eyes went across Azure's picture, causing the members of team RWBY and Rex to wince and cover their ears reflexively. "WHAT IN THE HELL IS SHE DOING HERE?!"

"I think he recognizes you, Azure." Rex murmured out of the side of his mouth to his partner.

"The look on your face right now pretty much filled me in Rex." Azure said, doing her best to look inconspicuous as she looked for an escape route. "And here I was hoping for at least one month before he figured out who I was and came after me."

"I think you were lucky to get a few days." Rex replied.

"Think I'll survive if I start barking like a poodle when he confronts me after class?" Azure said, thinking about the last time she had run into the Hunter.

"Not a chance." the wolf faunus replied.

"Well, he'll be trying to kill me anyway. Couldn't really hurt." Azure retorted.

"Ok...why would he go after you, and what do you mean by barking like a poodle?" Haley asked, turning toward her team mate.

"Well, what I mean about barking like a poodle is just that. You know, like the dog, all annoying and trying to be more threatening than I am."

"What about that part with him chasing you down?" Jason asked, concerned about what his friend's past was really like.

"It's nothing that you need to be concerned about, Jason. You already know she had a rough history, just leave it at that, she'll tell you when or if she wants to." Rex said, grabbing the raven faunus' eye with a look that said to drop the topic. "Don't worry about what could happen, Azure. Remember those records were sealed, only Colonel Oum, Qrow, and Commander Rose would know about them." Rex said, messaging Azure telepathically.

"You're right, thanks Rex. Well, wish me luck." Azure said, returning the thought and stepping into the arena where Blake was already waiting for her.

"Remind me to pay her back for dousing my clothes in perfume the other day." Haley said, looking at Azure's back as she entered the arena.

"Noted. By the way how'd Professor Goodwitch take it when you walked past her in one of my uniforms instead of a girls?" Breech asked.

"About as well as you'd expect. Thought she was going to try and frog march me into a locker room to change into a different uniform. She's willing to overlook this irregularity. Works out well for me though, I can't stand being in a dress or a skirt for that matter, and I'm going to enjoy the irritated look on her face each time she sees me breaking academy tradition." the black and white haired teen replied, with a smirk.

"Well, you are lucky my clothes fit you well enough, though I'd suggest getting your own this weekend." her partner suggested.

"You have a point. It'll give me an excuse to look around Vale City some more too." Haley agreed, "It'll also give me a reason to take Terra to dinner, maybe surprise her with the Golden Lane restaurant. She had fun when we went there."

As the two fighters entered the arena and stood across from each other, Thamior stood between them. "You both know the rules. You fight until one of you yields or your aura reaches the red." As he finished speaking, Thamior backed to the edge of the arena and motioned for them to begin.

Blake and Azure started circling each other. "Don't take this the wrong way, but Weiss was right. We don't hide behind the Rose family name. In fact, the name has only made us more of a target. Not many were happy when my Godfather refused to hand command of the Vale Hunter Corp to a Human when the rebellion ended. It's because of people who can't see us for who we are and instead for what we are, our family still has our own issues with those who are prejudiced. Let me show you what I've learned, then when we're done here, I'll show you what peace can do to help our race, instead of violence."

Blake darted forward quickly, the sheath of Gambol Shroud in her left hand and her sword in her right, trying to close the gap between her and Azure. The hawk faunus had drawn Slumber, her sniper rifle, and fired. The shot was aimed at Blake's chest, but instead of connecting as she would have thought, the high caliber bullet passed through, what Azure now realized to her surprise was a clone, and slammed into the wall of the arena.

"Shit!" Azure thought, before using her semblance to shift as far as she could from where she had fired at the clone. Just before Blake slammed Gambol's sheath into the ground where Azure had been a split second before. Azure heard a chuckle from Blake as the hybrid faunus charged again, using another clone to mask her movements.

"Hehehe. Not bad, little bird, back at Signal my other opponents would fall for that. Guess this game of chase is only just starting." Blake said, as a second and then a third clone separated from the first. Only this time, they were solid, and after that first strike Blake had taken off her bow and wrapped it around the hilt of Gambol Shroud.

"I forgot that the Belladonnas were part feline. But was the joke necessary?" Azure said, firing three more shots in quick succession. Only for them to either dodge the shots or parry them faster than she'd thought possible at that range. "What the Hell?! They're solid now?! Guess I need to do this the other way." Azure thought, before dropping her rifle and pulling out her daggers, waiting again for the feline-phoenix to make her next move.

As Blake and her clones circled the blades of their weapons glowing faintly as the faunus activated the dust in the blade. She decided to end this fight quickly, Blake looked at the aura gauge on her scroll. Azure's semblance had pushed her into the middle of the green. "Well, I'd better end this first or she'll just embarrass herself, let's just see what her next move is and then use the dust in Gambol. Shouldn't be too difficult to finish her with how quick I'll be. Wait…what the Hell?" When Blake focused her thoughts towards her opponent, she was met with the blue haired faunus. Her mind a blank white room.

"Now who said you could be in here?" Azure said, smirk on her face and her middle-finger extended.

"First, rude." Blake said, crossing her arms as her ears flattened in annoyance.

"So is getting inside someone else's mind." The sharpshooter retorted.

"Second, how did you know I was probing your thoughts?!" the raven-haired fighter continued, ignoring the irony of her previous statement.

"That's for me to know."

"And that is an incredibly useful trick." Came the reply. "Not many can even sense when someone is in their thoughts when they themselves aren't telepaths."

"How about this, we call a draw. You know I can't take out all your clones and an idiot could see that my semblance is taking too much out of me." Azure suggested, she knew she was on the losing side of the fight. Her semblance could only get her so far, and she wasn't going to let it be the reason she lost the match.

"Fine. You should still plan on a rematch, and when I get the time, I am still going to show you that peace is a better way to handle bigots."

"Agreed."

The conversation between the pair only lasted for a few seconds. During that moment neither had let their guard drop, they had continued to circle and counter-circle each other, probing for weaknesses. Then at the same time they both lowered their weapons and looked at Thamior and Qrow. "We both yield."

"Well…this is not unprecedented. Unusual certainly, but if you both do not wish to continue then so be it. The match is a draw." Qrow said blinking a little at first in surprise. He had not expected the pair to come to a draw. He had seen what Azure and Blake could do, having taught Blake at Signal and helping with her rearing and keeping tabs on Azure during her time at Sanctum. His first impression was that they'd be fighting with everything they had.

"Well, I guess we will move onto the next match. Oh, and Miss Azure, tomorrow you, myself, and my brother are going to have a nice long chat about how you are here." Thamior said, glaring slightly as the hawk faunus started walking toward her seat.

"Shit." Azure thought, wincing slightly.

"Our next match will be between Haley Dragon Onyx of team DRAB and Yang Xaio Long Rose of team RWBY." Qrow said, looking at his scroll and calling out the bout.

When the combatants entered the arena, they circled one another cautiously. "So answer me this question if ya don't mind? Why Dragon as your middle name?" Yang asked, continuing to circle keeping Haley in her sight.

"A few reasons. How about answering one of mine. Drop your last name and it translates to Little Sun Dragon, right?" The scythe wielder replied, drawing both Onyx and Ivory. She had a pair of short swords strapped to her back as well, but decided to stick with her scythes.

"Yeah."

"You know what the saying is about dragons. The sky..." Haley started, prompting Yang to finish the age old saying.

"Is only big enough for one." Yang finished grinning, activating Ember Celica. "Oh, this is gonna be fun!"

"I couldn't agree more." Haley replied, chuckling slightly as she activated her semblance. She could feel the white and black dragon tattoos, both named Ebony and Ivory just like her weapons, on her arm begin to move, peeling themselves off of her and begin hovering in the air.

Yang's smile didn't waver at the sight of the dragons now circling her opponent. "I repeat; this is gonna be fun!"