Chapter 6: Beauty or the Beast

Yang woke slowly, sunlight landing squarely on her face and burning straight through her eyelids. After several minutes attempting to defy the sun and go back to sleep she gave up and gingerly opened her eyes.

Her team's, well, her sister's team, she reminded herself, dorm was looking reasonably tidy for the home of four teenagers. Speaking of four teenagers, none of the others were in their beds, Blake was at her desk, writing something, and Yang could hear the shower going, so that was probably where her sister had gone.

Except the room was missing a large amount of red, her sister's cloak wasn't on the coat stand. Yang sat up, her sister had thought of running away from Beacon already these last couple days, what if she had? Their father would kill her.

Except, her sister's bed was unmade, her pjs were strewn messily over her pillow, and her suitcase was still sitting under it. So unless she'd cut and run and left everything behind she was still somewhere in Beacon.

"Hey, Blake. Where's Ruby?" Yang asked.

"Firing Range," Blake replied without looking up from her book.

Crack, the report of Ruby's rifle echoed across the empty range. She racked the bolt back and took aim again. "Not a good enough leader," she muttered.

Crack, she primed and prepared to fire again. "Not responsible enough."

Crack. "Not smart enough."

Crack. "I'm not ready for this"

Click. Her clip was empty. Ruby sighed and reached for a new one from her belt, and her hand felt nothing but the cloth of her clothes. She'd been firing for so long that she'd run though all her ammo. Probably meant that she should go soon, breakfast would be serving about now. And she'd need to … "Miss Rose, is there a reason you're destroying my training dummy at such an hour in the morning."

She spun around, a familiar green suited, white haired man looking at her through his spectacles. "I'm sorry Professor Ozpin."

"Oh," He laughed, "don't mistake my question for recrimination, the dummies are there to be shot, I'm just curious as to why you chose to go out here at 6 in the morning? And why have you been here for almost 2 hours?"

"I, umm-" did she tell the headmaster about her problems with her team, what if he agreed with Weiss. But if he did agree with Weiss then she wouldn't have to worry about leading anymore. But she also wasn't sure if she should back down from the challenge, even if she hated it. Eventually Ruby decided to do as Yang would do and 'screw it', "I'm having problems with my team, and I came here to release my stress."

"Miss Schnee not being cooperative I assume?" Ozpin asked.

"I … Yeah," Ruby said, looking down, "She says I'm not good enough to be a leader and won't listen to my orders."

"Miss Rose," Ozpin paused for a second, as if considering what to say next, " Ruby, leadership is not about being the best person in the room. It's about knowing how to use the people you lead effectively, not only to achieve your objective, but to keep them alive and well as well. I saw your fight yesterday, you've already shown a good understanding of how your teammates fight, once they realise that, and they will eventually, they'll let you lead. And just ignore Miss Schnee."

"Sir?" Ruby asked.

"Every student here is here to learn, and what they need to learn differs for each," Ozpin began to explain, "You are a superior weapons fighter to a significant portion of the first year population already, you have to catch up your theoretical subjects, leadership, and hand to hand combat. Miss Schnee needs to work on endurance, fighting in a duel environment, and being led, and hand to hand combat."

"Oh," Ruby said, her voice small, not sure what to think about being told she was one the best weapons fighters in first year.

"A hunter cannot expect leadership in every scenario," Ozpin continued, "they must be ready to turn over command to those who are more experienced or simply more ready to lead. Miss Schnee is yet to understand that, but she will."

"I think I understand," Ruby said, as she collapsed Crescent Rose.

"I imagine you do Miss Rose," Ozpin said, a small smile on his face, "One day you will emerge from this institution a mighty huntress, of that I have no doubt. In the meantime, you had better hurry along and get breakfast, you have my class soon, and I brook no excuses for tardiness."

Ruby quickly left the firing range, weapon stowed on her belt. Ozpin watched her go, then turned back to the dummy. Ruby hadn't really done much damage to its body, though she had pretty much shattered the head analogue. Ozpin sighed wearily as he thought of the red cloaked girl, "Miss Rose, if only you knew."

The dining hall was busy, well it was always busy, but despite that Ruby could easily find her team. Her team who were, surprisingly, sitting together, although Blake was between Weiss and Yang.

Ruby grabbed a plate of scrambled eggs and took a seat next to Yang, who smiled and ruffled her hair. "Hey Rubes."

"Hi Yang," Ruby replied between bites, "what's going on?"

"Weiss thought the team should sit together to promote team cohesion," Yang said, "Where'd you go?"

"Firing Range, went to go practice with Crescent Rose," Ruby said, "Ran into Ozpin."

Weiss looked up at the mention of Ozpin's name, "Speaking of the headmaster, I'm going to go talk to him about transferral of leadership after class."

Ruby sighed, she felt the stress she'd worked so hard to burn off returning fourfold, of course Weiss wasn't going to stop. "I really wouldn't bother Weiss," Ruby said, "I talked to Ozpin about it and he said that I am the leader and that that's not going to change."

"Of course you'd say that," Weiss replied, and she took a bite of her omelette.

"Are you calling my sister a liar?" Yang asked, temper rising.

Ruby sighed as Yang and Weiss got into a prolonged argument about Ruby's honesty and the nature of power. Blake, meanwhile, was staring at a TV on the wall. Ruby peered at it, the news was running a feature about a White Fang raid on a train. Blake was shaking. "Blake? What's wrong?"

"Sorry, pardon?" Blake asked, being reminded that she was in fact with others.

"You were watching the news report about the White Fang and shaking, is everything ok? Did you know someone on that train?" Ruby questioned.

"Uh yeah," Blake said quietly.

"Hmph. The White Fang, what a disgusting band of murderers and terrorists." Weiss muttered.

"What's your problem?" Blake asked.

"I just think the White Fang are a despicable organisation of thieves, liars and murderers that are all out to get humankind." Weiss replied, airily. She grimaced as she spoke, like a bad memory was resurfacing.

"How dare you," Blake hissed quietly, "The White Fang are just trying to fight for freedom for the Faunus, from people like you and your father."

"Ah yes, my father, the tyrannical business man with his concentration camps, yes?" Weiss said, her words practically dripping with sarcasm.

"You … you know what, I'm not dealing with this right now," Blake muttered, "I'm going to class."

Blake got up and left, leaving behind her team. Ruby watched her go, sadly. There went the only reasonable member of her team, except she wasn't being reasonable. Ruby sighed, it was going to be another long day, wasn't it?

Weiss mentally grumbled as she walked through the courtyard, it'd been a long day of classes, only the redeeming fact that she was about to receive leadership of her team kept her from going to her dorm and taking a long shower, before going to bed.

In what Weiss could only assume was a power move the headmaster of Beacon had their office in the tallest tower of Beacon, accessible only by an elevator (which prompted Weiss to wonder about the fire safety of Beacon).

She quickly jabbed the button for Ozpin's office and took her place in the lift cabin. The trip up was rather pleasant, if Weiss had to say so. The glass cabin of the lift gave her an enjoyable view of the school as she climbed higher and higher. From her height she could see pretty much all of Beacon.

Bing. The elevator announced she had arrived at the headmasters office and she stepped out. The headmaster was waiting at his desk, a rather unimpressed look on his face. Behind him stood professor Goodwitch looking somewhere between frustrated and borderline angry.

"Miss Schnee, what can I do for you?" Ozpin asked, his voice had none of the warmth Weiss had heard when he addressed other students, perhaps he was an objector to the supposed misdeeds of her father. No matter, he had to be professional regardless.

"Professors," She began, "I am here to ask that the leadership of team RWBY can be transferred to me, I think that it will …"

"No." Ozpin said, cutting Weiss off. Weiss was nearly incensed, no one interrupted her, she was Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, she was the most powerful teenager on Remnant and would not be interrupted by anyone.

"What! Why ever not?" Weiss exclaimed, trying, though failing, to not let her emotions seep into her voice.

"Three reasons," Ozpin's voice hardened as he spoke, "First of all, this is a school, Ruby is here to learn how to lead, you are here to learn to be led. Secondly, your attitude to your teammates shows me already that you are not a good leader. Thirdly, and finally, you come into my office demanding I organise my teams to suit you. This is not your company, and that is not how you change anyone's mind."

"I … uh" Weiss's mind short-circuited, she didn't expect to be rebuffed. Being told no was something that only her father did, not random no-name headmasters.

"If that is all you came for Miss Schnee, you may leave now," Professor Goodwitch said sternly.

Weiss turned mechanically and stepped into the elevator. Her thoughts raced, who could be responsible for this? Blake, her mind settled on. Blake had left the breakfast hall early, but hadn't shown up to the class until after Weiss had arrived, she had gone to lie to Ozpin about how Weiss would be a bad leader.

Blake was a Faunus after all, daughter of the ex-leaders of the White Fang. She was, like all Faunus, out to get Weiss. Faunus, all animals and rogues alike, were enemies of Weiss and her family, and Blake was no different. Weiss must have been blind to think otherwise.

The dorm was peaceful, which was a thing Ruby was glad for. History was hard, as was tutoring. She was fortunate that Oobleck was rather good at his subject, and willing to put up with Ruby not grasping things on the first or even second try.

Now, however, she was hoping to put it all behind her and read a comic or two, maybe play a game. Her favourite comic, which was about a group of huntresses who discovered a new type of Grimm in a volcano, had published a new issue last week and Ruby had managed to purchase a digital copy.

Just when she settled into reading the next comic, the door made a noise resembling a thunder's crash as Weiss practically broke it down. "Blake Belladonna! You absolute scum!"

"What?" Blake flinches, not understanding why Weiss was suddenly screaming at her.

"You went and lied to Ozpin about me," Weiss accused, "You left the lunch hall early and arrived at class late."

"What?" Blake asked again, "What did I lie about?"

"You must have lied to Ozpin about how I was a bad leader, he didn't let me take over the team and you left early so obviously you went to talk to him." Weiss ranted.

"I ... why would I even do that?" Blake continued to pointlessly question.

"Because you're a Faunus, and a White Fang member. They've always been out to get me and my family," Weiss partially explained and partially ranted.

"How did…" Blake's eyes shot wide, and she stepped back. Weiss stepped forward and slammed the door behind her. "How did you know?"

"Did you really think I wouldn't recognise the name of the founder of the group that's been making my father's life, and so by extension my life hell, practically since I was born?"Weiss asked.

"Perhaps if you weren't all bigots and didn't exploit the Faunus people, you wouldn't have the White Fang trying to exact justice on you," Blake muttered.

"And exactly how does my family exploit the Faunus?" Weiss spluttered, indignant at the mere suggestion.

"Oh, I don't know? Maybe the work camps? Or the so-called living wages? Oh, and don't get me started in branding your, ahem, indentured workers." Blake's voice rose in pitch and volume, anger washing off her like water off of a window.

"Ah yes. These time old classics," Weiss replied, sarcastically, "First of all, Work Camps? Under Atlas labor laws. Even if we wanted to brave the horrible PR that would come with them, the council would shut us down the first chance they got."

"Oh please, everyone knows that the SDC pays off the council," Blake's face twitched, and her lips stretched up into a snarl.

"Huh", Weiss snorted, "Between the daily fines the council levies at us, the costs of damages your little group of terrorists cause, and the constant legal cases equality groups launch against us, do you really think we could afford that?"

"Given that you don't pay your 'employees' wages, I'd imagine so," Blake hissed.

"We pay them, it may be minimum wage, but we do pay them. Atlas law finds two hundred lien an hour a suitable wage to live on," Weiss said, with rehearsed clarity, "And also happens to be twenty-five lien higher than either Vale's or Mistral's minimum wage."

Blake faltered for a minute, if everything Weiss said was true, and she knew the laws she was spouting were correct, then the SDC didn't sound prejudiced, just greedy and uncaring. "What about the branding? How do you excuse branding your employees?"

"I assume you're talking about your boyfriend, Adam? He was never an employee of the SDC, his scars are nothing more than a false flag operation." Weiss took a small satisfaction in how disquieted Blake seemed to be.

"And," Weiss continued, "even if we did all of those things, where in Atlas would we find the Faunus to abuse and enslave? If you were paying attention in history yesterday you'd recall that the Faunus are a tiny minority in Atlas. It's simply not economically viable."

"That's your defense?" Blake asked, incredulously, "Not that it wouldn't be moral to run camps akin to the last Faunus purge's but that it would be too expensive."

"Have you met my father?" Weiss asked. Blake shook her head, "He isn't racist, just classist. He wishes to rise further in life, and the easiest way to do that is to push the low down lower. He doesn't care enough about them to change his ways, it just so happens that the Faunus happen to be mostly in the lower echelons of Atlas society."

"Your father might not be racist, I'd have to meet him to judge, but you certainly are," Blake spat, "blaming me for everything that goes wrong? Tell me, why would I go and tell Ozpin about you?"

"Because your kind has been out for me and mine ever since I was a child," Weiss's voice was almost at screaming level by now, "When I was 4 I came out of my room to find the decapitated body of my uncle, the only father figure whom I've ever been close to, sitting in the hall. At 8 I came home from piano practice to find my house crawling with soldiers and everything scarred with bullet holes. At 10 I'm woken in the night by a bat Faunus breaking through my window, fencing training was the only reason I got out of that with this scar and nothing else." She gestured at her face. "So you tell me, Blake, is an organisation that preys on 10 year olds, just?"

"I … you were- no, are complicit in your father's crimes, by nature of being his daughter," Blake's voice was shaky and she stuttered as she spoke.

"Oh yes, as a 10 year old I'm complicit. Why? Because I didn't convince him to change his practices? Or was it because I was an easier target than him, one that you could use to hurt him?" Weiss's smirk said it all, she thought she was winning this argument.

"And what about the crackdowns?" Blake asked, anger seeping back into her voice, "SDC security compliance personnel marching into miner housing and dragging out perfectly innocent Faunus for no reason other than their species."

"Bah," Weiss scoffed, "There's no such thing as an innocent faunus. They were conspirators and saboteurs in waiting if they weren't already."

"What? So you're not complicit by blood but they were complicit by race? How is that fair? How is that just?" Blake's voice strained as she spoke.

"Perhaps because they've made no efforts to stop their kin, and unlike me they do have the power to effect change. Besides, your argument is null, father banned those crack-downs years ago." Weiss retorted.

"We both know they're still carried out," Blake said, her voice lowered conspiratorially, though it didn't lose its anger.

"Perhaps, but neither my father nor I are responsible for said purges," Weiss's smugness returned, "Now, Blake, answer for your original crime, why did you go to Ozpin?"

"I didn't, I was late to class because I realised I forgot my textbooks and doubled back to get them," Blake said.

"Like I'd believe that," Weiss said, as she turned on her heel, "Regardless of what you say or what Ruby thinks, tomorrow I'll prove that I should lead, then we'll see what Ozpin says."

Weiss left a dumbstruck Blake behind, who was too busy thinking over everything that had been said to notice time pass until the sun had sunk far below the horizon.

Ozpin's office was dark, only a single holographic lamp on his desk lit the room. Glynda called it inefficient and bad for his eyes, Ozpin preferred to think of it as dramatic and cool. Besides, it wasn't his fault that his predecessor had failed to install actual lights in the room. His scroll, which was more advanced than most, sat on his desk, allowing it to connect to the room's speakers, it was also dialing a number, the number of Qrow Branwen, his spymaster.

"Oz, what do you want, its like 4 in the morning," The gruff and hoarse voice of Qrow echoed through the room, in surround sound.

"You're in Vacuo, correct? It's currently 5 in the afternoon there." Ozpin retorted lightly, Qrow's sleep schedule had been broken even before he'd attended Beacon, it was unlikely to have fixed itself in the week since they'd last spoken.

"Feels like 4 in the morning. What do you need?" Qrow asked.

"I could be calling as a friend," Ozpin said, smirking as he stood and strolled to the window, when Qrow didn't reply he continued, "I need you back at Beacon. Things are moving and Fall is in Vale."

"You sure?" Qrow asked.

"Very, your niece ran into her a couple days before she came here," Ozpin's voice dropped, his tone turned grave and serious.

"Oz, is Yang ok?" Qrow said, the sleep left his voice instantly, replaced by what Ozpin could only describe as thinly veiled anger.

"Ruby is fine, she's currently preparing for her first mission tomorrow." Ozpin reported dutifully.

"Ruby is at Beacon?" Qrow asked, incredulously.

"Indeed, I felt it would be safer to keep her somewhere she could be protected, in case Fall went after her," Ozpin said, looking in his reflection in the floor to ceiling window and out past his reflection, at his school.

"I'll be there yesterday," Qrow said and the line went dead. Oz sighed, if Fall was in Vale then that gave him an opportunity to end the shadow war Crimson had passed down to him once and for all. It also put him perilously close to losing. Sometimes he hated his mentor for tasking him with such a mountainous task, normally he focused his hatred on the wizard who caused this whole problem to begin with.