The Badge and The Burden.
The morning after their initiation, the sun shines through the window of the new team of huntresses. Lucina slowly woke up and sat up in her bed with a yawn. She noticed her new teammates where still asleep. Severa was snoring softly, Lyre sounded like a cat and Bernadetta... was sleeping under her blanket, how was she even breathing under there? Lucina shook her head. she never expected she would become the leader of this team. But Ozpin made it very clear that she was indeed the leader. So she guessed she needs to at least try.
"Alright everyone. It's time to wake up" She said, and the other girls slowly woke from their slumber.
"Morning already? My cat nap was way to short" Lyre said with a yawn.
Bernadetta slowly poked her head out of her blanket "Oh, it wasn't a dream. I am still here".
"Quit complaining you two. We need to unpack our stuff and get ready for our first day here" Severa said as she got out of bed and casually shed her pajamas.
"Meow, those are some tone muscles you got there Severa" Lyre said with a giggle.
"Thanks, if you try anything stupid, you will get a first hand demonstration of how strong my muscles are" Severa warned.
"No worries, girls that are too muscular ain't my thing. I prefer those with a more smooth physique" Lyre said as she did some stretches.
"Enough girl talk, we need to get ready while we still have time. Time to get up Bernadetta" Lucina ordered the best she could.
"No! I am calling in sick today! Just bring me some work and I can study in the room!" Bernadetta said as she hid again.
"Oh come on, you can't call in sick on the first day! Get your butt out of bed!" Severa said before she tipped Bernadetta's bed to the side, making the girl yelp as she fell to the floor "Now get up. You will be here for 4 years, and there is no way you can hide away all that time".
"Fine..." Bernadetta said reluctantly as she got up.
Lucina sighed, so far Severa was doing a better job at kicking the other girls in to line than Lucina did. Still they changed in to their school uniforms and began to unpack their bags and decorate their room. Luckily non of them brought to much stuff, so there was still plenty of room for them. When they were done they took a moment to admire their work. They were fairly proud of their work, their room looked a lot nicer now.
"Well, I say we did a good job" Lyre said in pride.
"Simple, but fine" Severa said with a satisfied nod.
"Ok, what now?" Bernadetta asked.
"Well, we have classes today, the first one starts 9 o'clock... wait, it's 8:55!" Lucina realized in slight panic.
"Oh crap!" Severa shouts as she rushes out of the room.
She almost ran in to Weiss, luckily both were more concerned about getting to class on time than to tell each other to watch where their going. As both were rushing out of down the hall, the members of RWBY and JNPR peeking out from their doorways to look at her go.
Ruby flabbergasted until she decides "To class!".
Ruby runs out, followed by Yang, and Blake.
""Class...?" Jaune loses his balance and ends up toppling Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren on top of him. He manages to get out from under them and start dashing "We're gonna be late!".
"Hurry! Let's go!" Lucina said as she, Lyre and Bernadetta hurries out.
In the courtyard, Ozpin and Glynda watch the three teams hurry through the school. Glynda looks at her watch, and Ozpin simply sips his drink. It was clear this wasn't the first time new students had been late on their first day.
Later, they were all gathered in a class room as an elderly teacher named Peter Port was explaining the grimm to the students.
"Monsters! Deeeemons... Prowlers of the night! Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names, but I merely refer to them as prey! Ha-ha!" The members of RWBY, 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, which receives 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..." He gives Yang a wink, which she groans uncomfortably at "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. Lyre giggled, at lest one person was enjoying himself. Lucina was listening respectfully, Severa was doing her best to endure how boring this was since she knew knowledge was important. And Bernadetta was hiding under a book, hoping Port would not notice her.
"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 began to tell his story, which only a few of the students listened to, "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!" He does a quick bow as he finished the story "The moral of this story? A true Huntsman must be honorable! A true Huntsman must be dependable! A true Huntsman must be strategic, well-educated, and wise! "So, who among you believes themselves to be the embodiment of these traits?".
Weiss raised her hand, sounding really angry "I do, sir!".
"Well, then, let's find out!" Port turns to gesture at the glowing red eyes surrounded by shadow shaking the cage that traps it "Step forward, and face your opponent!".
Weiss went to get changed in to her regular attire. When she got back she was 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.
Yang raised her fist "Goooo, Weiss!".
"Fight well!" Blake said as she waves a small flag saying RWBY, when did she even get it?
"Yeah, represent Teeeeam RWBY!" Ruby cheered.
Weiss lowers her sword and looks over at her leader "Ruby! I'm trying to focus!".
Ruby looked sheepish "Oh, um... Sorry...".
"Allllright!" Port said as he pull out his weapon "Let the match... begin!".
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.
"Hang in there, Weiss!" Ruby calls out in support of her partner.
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.
"Bold, new approach. I like it!" Port said.
"Come on, Weiss, show it who's boss!" Ruby calls out again.
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.
Weiss looks up just in time to see the Boarbatusk 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.
Ruby kept trying to support her "Weiss! Go for its belly! There's no armor underneath-".
Weiss turns 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.
"Bravo! Bra-vo! It appears we are indeed in the presence of a true Huntress-in-training!" Port praised.
However, Severa was not having it. She was not about to stay quiet as the ice queen gained un-deserved praise. Not only did she struggle against a low level grimm that anyone with some training could handle, she got mad at her own partner just for trying to offer some advice, like any decent teammate would.
So she slammed her hands in to her desk as she stood up "What the hell is your problem!?".
The students looked at her in surprise, while Port raised an eyebrow in curiosity and did not say anything.
"Excuse me?" Weiss demanded.
"You were getting your ass kicked through the whole fight! And when your teammate tried to offer you support, you repaid her with nothing but anger! What is wrong with you?!" Severa demanded.
"She was distracting me! She is supposed to be a leader, but she is nothing but a nuisance!" Weiss said, which hurt Ruby even more.
"Ok fine, she was a little distracting. But there other ways to tell her that. And what do you mean a nuisance? She is your leader, and like any leader should, she was trying to help you. Is it really that hard to show gratitude? Or are you just mad that you didn't become leader?" Severa demanded.
Weiss was about to retort but paused for a moment... making the answer clear.
"Of course, that's exactly what it is. Just to be expected from someone like you. This is why I hate rich brats like you! You think you are entitled to everything just because you have money, and it wouldn't surprise me if you bought your way in to Beacon, and did nothing to deserve it! But news flash! Grimm aren't going to care one bit how rich you are! So until you can accept that you aren't better than everyone around you, you have no business calling yourself a huntress! And you have no right at all to be here!" Severa yelled.
"SHUT UP! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME!" Weiss screamed... the whole room fell silent as Weiss caught her breath, she then suddenly ran out of the class room... and some people could've sworn they saw tears on her face.
Severa slowly calmed down and realized she said more than she meant to, and some of the things she said may have been un-called for "I.. I didn't... I didn't mean to...".
"I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today. Be sure to cover the assigned readings, and... stay vigilant! Class dismissed!" Port said, sounding less cheerful than before. The students began leaving the classroom, silently. Severa didn't move from her spot.
"Severa..." Lucina said as she put a hand on her teammate's shoulder.
"I didn't mean to..." Severa said silently.
"You can apologize later. For now, I think Weiss needs some space" Lucina said.
"Right... and Bernie, I swear what I said did not include you" Severa said as she looked at her partner.
"I know... you have changed, Severa. You were not like this during the initiation" Bernadetta said.
"If you say so..." Severa said "Wait where did Lyre go?".
Said cat faunus had was searching for Weiss and sure enough, she spotted Weiss standing outside, leaning on a railing. Looks like Severa's words hit her harder than expected.
"Hey..." Lyre spoke softly.
Weiss gasped and wiped her eyes "I-I am not crying! You saw nothing!".
"It's ok Weiss. I'm not trying to make excuses for my teammate, but I don't think Severa meant everything she said" Lyre said.
"Maybe not... but she is not the only one who thinks like that. I can see it in the other's faces. When they look at me, all they see is my name. I want to be more than a name. That's the reason I came here in the first place. I am not like my father, and I don't want to be" Weiss said as she looked away.
"I believe you, Weiss. But there is one thing I need to know. Do you hate me?" Lyre asked.
Weiss looked at her in surprise "What? Why would I hate you?".
"Because I am a faunus" Lyre answered.
"Oh... ok I am going to be honest with you. I... don't really trust the Faunus. Mainly the White Fang, since they caused a lot of trouble for my family" Weiss admitted but was quick to continue "But no, I do not hate you Lyre. You have done nothing to make me hate you. And the fact you would come to check on me like this, even though you had no reason to do it... I say that proves that you are nothing like the White Fang".
"Hearing you say that means more than you realize. I know what the White Fang has done... and I don't want to be anything like them" Lyre said.
"I can tell you are not like them... still Severa had a point. If I keep behaving like this, I am not worthy to be a huntress" Weiss said.
"If you want to improve. I suggest you accept the help from your team. And help Ruby become the leader your team needs. After all, no one can make it alone in this world" Lyre said.
"You are smarter than you look Lyre. Fine I will help her, after all she is my partner" Weiss said.
Lyre smiled "And I will do the same for Lucina. It's clear as day that she don't believe she is worthy to be leader. So she needs a nice confidence boost".
"Good luck with that... and thank you Lyre" Weiss said as she put a hand on Lyre's shoulder before leaving.
Lyre was surprised but smiled.
Meanwhile, Severa also needed some time for herself. So she headed to the courtyard and sat on a bench. She was looking at the ground, wondering what to do.
"That was nice of you, you know" Severa looked up and saw Blake, who was holding a book.
"Your name was Blake right? I pretty much verbally assaulted your teammate. I don't think that counts as being nice" Severa said.
"Maybe not. But you also defended my other teammate. So take the good with the bad. Besides, I think Weiss needed a reality check. Those who believe they deserve something more than others, are often not worthy of it... I read it in a book" Blake said.
"It's a good line. Still while I meant what I said, I didn't mean to sound so mean about it... I made her cry, when I just wanted her to get of her high horse. If this I how I deal with people that happens to annoy me, then I am not any better" Severa said.
"Realizing that is a good first step to becoming better. I do not believe you are a bad person, Severa. No bad people would go out of their way to defend someone they barely know" Blake said.
Severa smiled a little "Well same could be said about you Blake. You came to talk to me despite barely knowing who I am".
Blake smiled "I guess so. Here...".
Severa looked up and saw Blake hold out the book she was carrying "What is this?".
"It's a good book. And I think it could help you sort your head out a bit. After all you have a partner and a leader who will need your support" Blake said.
"You're right... I need to be a good teammate, or I might as well leave. Bernie is scared of her own shadow. Lyre is not that bright. And Lucina's confidence is non-existent. Someone needs to help them toughen up" Severa declared.
Blake chuckled a little "Well, good luck. Still you should read the book. Just don't stay out to late".
Severa watched as Blake walked away and smiled. She then opened the book and began to read. She needed to get better. Not just for herself... but for her team. A while later she returned to her room where Lyre and Bernadetta were sleeping. But Lucina was sitting on her bed.
"Hey Lucina" Severa said.
Lucina looked up "Oh, you're back. Are you alright now?".
"I'm better. But I will only be fine after I apologize to Weiss tomorrow... But listen Lucina, anyone can see your doubts. But I want you to know that you don't need to worry about being a bad leader. You already kept us alive when we fought that Great Beast. You can be a good leader, and we are all here to make up for any mess ups" Severa said.
Lucina looked surprised "Wow, I didn't expect such wisdom from you".
"Well this book Blake lent me helped. But I meant what I said" Severa said.
Lucina smiled "Thank you Severa. Let's all do our best".
Severa smiled back before they decided to finally get some much needed sleep.
.
Tell me what you think.