A/N: EDIT: Flames and death chants in the reviews need to sod off, can't we all just enjoy a good story?
SO tired...T_T
As ever, I live for reviews and feedback; without them, I simply can't write a single word. So by all means! Speak up!
Yours feedback is the reason this story continues. Ever bit helps. It keeps me going in these crazy times. So by all means! Speak up! No review is too short or too small!
Now then, votes for the team names have been tallied, and we finally get to see them!
...and just how much the world of Remnant has changed.
Hope you all had a good holiday~! I certainly did.
Now for a few quick questions:
Q: So you're skipping the rest of initiation?
A: This time, yes. Things were a bit more tame this time around with none of the shenanigans we see in Volume One.
It also lets us get to the juicy interpersonal bits you've all been waiting for.
So, is Pyrrha good for an open relationship or what?
Q: Oi! Jaune better get a girl of his own! Who will it be?!
A: Read on and see for yourself. All will be revealed in good time.
Q: So a good bit of Beacon's students know each other from Minato's gym, right?
A: Indeed, a good chunk of them. Most, but not all. Weiss certainly isn't one of them. Nor were a few others.
Q: More selfish Pyrrha! I wanna see her be baaaad.
A: Um...you DO realize she's not evil this, right? She's just learned to be a little less polite in the manners of the heart...and other things.
In terms of skills...well, those who attended the Leaf Gym are a fair bit stronger than their canon counterparts. Pyrrha especially. I dare say she's near Cinder's level, maybe a little below. Enough to put up one helluva fight if we ever come to...well...that.
Well, I've kept you long enough.
You came here for a story, didn't you? Don't mind the rambling of sickly man.
As ever, I own no quotes. references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one! Hope you enjoy!
"I believe this is the part where I'm supposed to say sorry. But that's the thing.
I'm...not sorry for this. Not one bit. You brought this on yourself.
You don't seem to understand. This life? This life is MINE.
~?
A Bit of Bonding
Weiss Schnee considered herself a good person.
She was prim and proper above all else, ever conscious of her reputation, of right and wrong. All her life, she'd been careful to cultivate a good image of herself. It was expected of her. Demanded. She was a Schnee, after all. Father would tolerate nothing less. Whatever you wanted in this world? You had to take it. Time and time again. There were no miracles in this world. Everything you wanted must be grasped with your own two hands; nothing less would to.
Father had beaten that lesson into her; Weiss still heard his voice, sometimes.
You want to be my heir, child? Then show me your mettle. Prove that you're better than your runaway sister; that you have the right to lead this company.
Beacon, you say? Fight for it. Defeat this enemy. What's that? A scar? What of it? A Schnee does not cry.
Surely you can at least do this much? You're such a disappointment to me, Weiss.
"Weiss? Weiss!" A hand waved before her face, snapping her back tor reality. "Remnant to Weiss?"
Reality snapped back with an awful crack, leaving ice blue eyes blinking rapidly.
"I'm sorry?" she blinked once and dabbed a bit of sweat from her brow. "Did you say something, Pyrrha?"
"Don't be." Striking green eyes met hers. "You had us worried for a moment there."
"I'm fine, I assure you."
"If you say so." Naruto shrugged beside their resident redhead. "Better pay attention. They'll be calling our names any minute now."
Weiss tossed her head and lifted her chin. "I'm quite prepared, good sir."
Naruto blinked. "Sir...?"
Her new partner chose that moment to chime in. "This from the girl who was muttering to herself a minute ago?"
"Yang Xiao-Long!" she rounded on the culprit in question with a scowl. "You're my partner! You're meant to be on my side!"
"Yeah no, I'm very much on their side." the blond brawler crossed both arms behind her head with a catty grin. "Whiskers over there could fold me in half if I piss him off." her smile took on a more lascivious look. "Pyrrha already did."
Weiss found herself shrinking back a bit. Truly?
"One time." Pyrrha looked away with a sigh. "And she never lets me forget it...
"Nope~!"
Naruto pinched the brow of his nose. "Yang, don't poke Pyrrha or I'll be the one doing the bending...
Her eyes absolutely flashed. "Don't make promises you can't keep, loverboy."
He swatted at her, only to miss as she ducked. "Always with the jokes...
Pyrrha pushed her way between them. "Yang. No. Bad Yang!"
Weiss blinked slowly. This? This was the woman who had all of Mistral quaking in fear of her name?
Pyrrha Nikos was something of a fascination to Weiss. Not an idol, but rather, an example; something She'd studied her career extensively. Almost obsessively. A former tournament, once known throughout Mistral as the Invincible Girl before her ignoble defeat. Since then she'd had thrown off the yoke placed on her by her own Father; someone who forged her own path in defiance of tradition and custom. She was not the Invincible Girl anymore. She had thrown that title away, and the prestige with it. She lived with full control of her life, her destiny, everything she could ever want.
Weiss wanted that.
So what if she'd stumbled upon her having a m-m-moment with someone back in the Emerald Forest?
Weiss wasn't a prude, no matter what anyone might say. It was only natural that a young man and woman who trust one another would eventually entertain such...activities. They hadn't expected her to bumble her way into their clearing, that was all. It did not bother Weiss. Nay. It didn't bother her. Not a bit. Nope.
...
...
...
Alright. IT BOTHERED HER A LOT!
Naturally when she'd seen her from afar, she'd tried to partner up with her; technically, she'd gotten what she wanted.
Pyrrha Nikos may not be her teammate -blast that blond of hers!- but they were going to be on the same team, she just knew it. With a bit of luck, she would yet be named leader of it. This was fate. This was destiny. It was meant to be.
That said, Initiation had proven to be rather...tame, all things considered.
Almost suspiciously.
There were no giant Grimm attacks, no chaos, hardly any Grimm at all, really. Little more than a race to collect the Relics and make it to the cliffs in time. Her current partner left much to be desired, but at least she knew enough to handle herself. Better her than that , she thought to herself, her teammates certainly knew how to fight. She'd scarcely had a chance to display her skills. Yang aside, Naruto and Pyrrha had cut through the Grimm like a storm. Try as she might, she couldn't help but wonder where she stood compared to them. Those three were just so...physical. They clearly knew one another long before Initiation, almost intimately so.
So did that leave her?
"Will, Weiss Schnee, Pyrrha Nikos, Yang Xiao-Long and Naruto Uzumaki please make their way to the stage?" the implacable voice of Headmaster Ozpin cut through her maudlin thoughts once more. "I repeat, please make your way to the stage."
Weiss did so, keenly aware of everyone's eyes upon her. This was her moment. Do or die.
Her partner elbowed her with a wink as they walked. "Showtime, princess~!"
Yang was going to rue this day. She swore it.
"You retrieved the the black knight pieces." Ozpin's gaze swept over each of them in turn. "Henceforth, you will be known as Team WYPN! Otherwise known as Team Weapon!"
Weapon? Her mind initially balked at the given title. How droll. The name was a bit galling, but they would make it theirs. In a sense they were each of them a weapon; against the Grimm, against injustice, against all the evils of the world. Such were the ideals embodied by a huntsman. Yes, when she thought of it like that, she rather liked it. Weapons could be many colors...
"Led by Weiss Schnee."
Ha! Her heart gave a little thrill of pride as the Headmaster spoke her name for a second time. She stole a subtle glance at her new teammates and was immediately embarrassed for it. Naruto and Pyrrha returned her startled smile with warmwords and encouragement sure enough, but it was their arms that truly drew her attention. Holding hands in public! How shameless!
"C'mon," Yang elbowed her again. "Don't be a prude."
"Xiao-Long, I will harm you...
They were escorted off stage and left to watch with the others. Another set of names were called.
"Next we have Ruby Rose, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren, and Blake Belladona." Just as before, Ozpin waited courteously until the aforementioned students assembled before him. "You collected the white bishop pieces." yet again that intense gaze swept over them, searching for any sign of weakness. Only when he found none did he continue. "Henceforth you will be known as Team RVRB or Reverb, for short."
Understandable, Weiss allowed. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, but understandable.
"Led by Ruby Rose."
That child?!
Yang's fist slammed into the air. "Way to go, sis!"
Well, it wasn't as if she was on their team. Perhaps she had acquitted herself well in Initiation. Who could say? Weiss listened only a little as they came and went, followed soon thereafter by another. A third team, CRDL, that is to say Cardinal, was christened, and she paid them little mind.
"Wonder where Jaune is?" Naruto whispered.
Pyrrha offered a small shrug. "I'm sure he made it, she was with him after all...
Sure enough, a fourth list of names were called, much to the immediate chagrin of Weiss.
"Jaune Arc, Melanie Malachite, Miltia Malachite and...?" Ozpin paused, squinted at his Scroll and frowned. "I do hope I'm reading this last one correctly. "Neopolitan? Is that right?"
A girl with flowing hair of strawberry pink and chocolate brown skipped onto their stage well ahead of the others.
"Oh, right." Yang hummed in quiet appreciaton. "Almost forgot about her. Figures she made it in."
Weiss considered the stranger anew. Gods above, she was a tiny little thing. Even Ruby was taller than this one, and that was saying something. Still, Weiss couldn't help but frown at the sight of her. What was the saying Father often used? Dangerous things came in small packages. She couldn't help but feel the same about this one. There was an air about her, as if she found this all terribly amusing; a grand joke, with each and every one of them as the punchline. When their eyes met across the way, the strange girl cocked her head in silent curiosity.
Then she smiled at Weiss.
It was not a pleasant thing, that smile. Those mismatching eyes were narrow and sharp, her grin that of a predator considering its prey...and beneath it, Weiss felt like the latter. All her pride and courage meant nothing in the face of that half-lidded gaze. The little hellion saw her. Knew her. Neo's lips parted, moving soundlessly.
I see you, little Schnee.
Weiss jolted and reached for Myternaster, only to remember it wasn't there. This was no mere student...!
"Neo, wait up!"
With one last lingering look at her the petite predator turned and preened as her teammates climbed up onto the sage. A blond young man Weiss dimly recognized stepped up to her; Neo immediately pressed herself into his side and clung to his arm. The girl's grin told a story all its own as they looked fondly upon one another. Before her eyes she stood on the very tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. The blond sputtered at the sudden display of affection, but didn't draw away.
Ozpin saw it too and regarded them with a fond smile. "Henceforth you will be known as team JMMN, or Jasmine."
Pyrrha winced. "Oh, dear. The twins won't be happy with that name...
"Led by Jaune Arc!"
Naruto whistled. "Thatta boy, Jaune!"
Pyrrha and Yang shouted encouragement of their own.
And yet, despite all that, Weiss couldn't forget what she'd just seen.
That...creature was more than she appeared. She would do well to stay far, far away from her.
(.0.0.0.)
This wasn't all that bad, really.
Naruto found he rather liked his new teammates, if only because he knew them so well already.
Well, it went without saying for Pyrrha, but really. That had been something of a stroke of luck, blundering into Weiss; because she'd brought Yang with her. He remembered her well enough from all their time in the Gym-although Pyrrha still seemed strangely cross about that- and while Weiss was a bit of a mystery, Naruto felt he could get along with her well enough...once he got the measure of her.
Their dorm was...not small, but he couldn't call it roomy either.
A bit of redecorating might be in order once they finished their first meeting. Ought to make things interesting. Put up a few posters, some decorations, perhaps a bunk bed or two? The thought tore a grin from him. Bunk beds sounded nice...for reasons he wasn't about to say.
"So, he offered the proverbial olive branch as he sprawled on his cot. "We're settled in. Is this part where we start spilling our hopes and dreams to each other?"
Pyrrha rolled her eyes and settled in beside him. "Not much point in that. You already know mine."
"Same." Yang uttered a jaw-popping yawn as she stretched upon her own bed.
Weiss blinked, momentarily taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"
"Well," he elaborated, not at all liking the mulish look in her eye, "When you think about it, we don't know all that much about each other-
"You and Pyrrha do." Leave it to Yang to be the devil's advocate. She wiggled her brows at him and Naruto felt an insidious heat creep up the back of his neck. "You're thick as thieves."
Pyrrha didn't deny it, of course. She was stubborn like that.
"Point taken." he coughed into his fist to hide it. "So, what about you, Weiss? What's your story?"
The Schnee preened a little and he suspected he had the measure of her. Not one of those posh arrogant types after all. Not quite.
"Well, if you must know...
All too easy. Pride cometh before the fall, little Schnee. Her story was much as he suspected it would be; not a fall from grace, but a tale of a young girl seeing her way in the world. She'd come to Vale of her own accord, but the tacit tones of her voice told another story. It wasn't hard to make a conjecture here or there with the hints she laid. A bad home life was one thing and a bad mother, but for a father to be that controlling of their daughter...it struck up ugly parallels with Pyrrha's old man.
He said as much once she finished. "Someone needs to smack your old man in the mouth."
Yang nearly fell off her bunk. "Blunt as ever. I see. Careful, Weiss. He'll have you eatin' out of the palm of his hand...
"I...do not disagree with that statement." the fencer allowed. "But his legacy is not-
-your legacy." Naruto finished. "I know."
"You do?!"
"Yup." he smacked his lips. "The sins of the parent can't be the sins of the daughter. Just ask Pyrrha. Her dad's a dick, but she's sweet as sugar." Her face turned red as her hair. An elbow found his ribs, creating a dull ache. He ignored it. "Yang's mom ran out on her because, according to our favorite bond brawler, she's a cowardly bitch...
"Guilty as charged." his fellow blond raised a hand. "Doesn't bother me. I've got a better mother now. Summer makes some mean cookies."
...and I don't judge them for that." he continued. "Life is what you make of it. Not your parents, ya know."
When he looked back, a bit of life had come back to Weiss' gaze.
Behind him Pyrrha sighed softly. "Not another one...
Another what? What the hell was she on about?
In hindsight, he had no way of knowing just how much he'd impressed Weiss. Why would he? The female mind was a strange thing. Many are its mysteries. He didn't see Yang cock her head, nor the sudden way in which Pyrrha was regarding the Schnee, treating her as some poisonous snake. Thus, it came as something of a surprise when Weiss' icy demeanor actually thawed a bit.
"It seems I may have misjudged you." she frowned, though the words lacked their usual bite. "Perhaps you're not such a brute after all."
"Great!" That was good, right?" Naruto grinned. "Soooo...can we be friends?"
"I said may!" a pale finger jabbed his nose, "Don't let it go to your head. Gods know your ego's thick as a brick. I still don't think much of you."
"Awww, I love you too!"
"Ugh!"
Yang laughed. "Wow, total tsundere, am I right?"
Weiss arched a pale brow. "You do realize I am armed."
"Yeah?" She smacked her fists together. "Funny thing, that. So am I. You wanna go-ack?!"
Weiss raised the other brow and Yang's diatribe trailed off into an undignified squeak as a glyph hummed into existence beneath her feet. Gravity reversed and she slammed her into the ceiling. Pyrrha applauded a little at the display.
"Hey! No fair!" Yang flailed, to no avail. "Lemme go!"
Poor choice of words. "As you wish."
Gravity reversed and Xiao-Long crashed into the ground. A muffled groan rose from the carpet. Naruto leaned back with a rueful smile. Pyrrha laid her head against his chest and threaded her hand with his. Good. Their Schnee was already beginning to cut loose. Someday, the four of them really would make One Helluva Team.
But he couldn't be silent forever.
"Alright." he cleared his throat, "Now that we've gotten that out of the way, whaddya say we do a little team building exercise?"
Pyrrha perked up. "I'm game."
"Same here." Yang leaned forward on her elbows, anger momentarily forgotten. "We hardly had a chance to fight anything back in the Emerald Forest."
Yes, and he'd noticed that. Everyone said the forests around Beacon were teeming with the creatures, yet they'd barely seen any. Had the teachers culled them beforehand? Or was there something else at work here? He could've sworn he was missing something, but for the life of him, he couldn't see what." Something to ponder later.
"What did you have in mind?" Pyrrha tugged a this hand, pulling him back to reality."
"Well," his brow furrowed, "I was thinking maybe a bit of a spar or something; we didn't really get to see each other fight all that much back in Initiation."
Yang huffed. "Tell me about it."
"True," his partner agreed. "It was rather tame."
"Ahem!" Weiss cleared her throat. "As team Leader, I believe the final say should rest with me."
Pyrrha stiffened. "Really, Weiss?"
"Yes, really! You're all ignoring me! That's rude!
Yang flopped back onto her bed with a put upon sigh. "Here we go...
Anyone else would have been irritated by what seemed a blatant power play. Naruto wasn't; if only because he saw the truth of the matter. Weiss wasn't trying to throw her weight around -nonexistent though it was!- but neither did she wish to be ignored, either. He'd always been able to read people, and he could see that she felt left out, clear as day.
"Sorry," he flashed her his most disarming grin. "Didn't mean to step on your toes, there. Got any ideas?"
"W-Well!" Her pale face turned a pretty shade of pink and she looked away thrice as quickly. "I'm open to suggestions."
She didn't have any ideas after all, then. She'd just wanted to be heard. Like a little sister. Cute.
"Alright." he sat up a little bit, pulling Pyrrha with him. "Pyr and I already know how to fight one another, and I've seen Yang's style a time or two. How about a doubles match?"
He was still speaking when he felt Pyrrha latch onto his arm.
"Dibs." guileless green eyes met his.
"Damn, she's thirsty." Yang swore. "Guess that leaves you and me, Weiss-cream."
"Again with the nicknames!" she hissed. "Do you have a deathwish?!"
"Naw, its just fun to ruffle your feathers."
"So its decided then-
A harsh knock on the wall just above his head cut him short.
"Hey!" An equally familiar voice chimed through the thin plaster, "You setting up a brawl over there?"
That was Melanie if he'd ever heard her.
"Oooh!" Ruby's gleeful cry came through the opposite side. "Can we join, too? We're booored~!"
"Well, alright then." he cracked his knuckles, feeling just a little vindictive. "Change of plans. Lets show these rookies how professionals fight.
"Yeah!" Yang slammed her fists together. "It'll be just like old times. Let's kick some butt!"
Pyrrha rolled up a sleeve. "It does sound like an entertaining little diversion.
Weiss slapped a hand to her forehead. "Children, the lot of you."
They were already halfway out the door when she looked up.
"Oi, Weiss! You coming or what?"
She bolted to her feet.
"Wait for me!"
(.0.0.0.)
What a lovely day.
The sun was shining, the birds were singing, there was a three way brawl down there in the courtyard-wait, what?
Ozpin took a long, measure sip of his coffee as he noticed the chaos raging below. From his tower window he had an unparalleled view o it all.
The headmaster blinked; then he frowned.
Taking a step back he cleaned his spectacles once for good measure; adjusted them, then donned them again. No, that was most certainly a melee down there. Not a bloody one by any means, but still, impossible to miss. If the sounds of steel striking steel weren't obvious enough, then the He sighed softly as the brawl below descended into utter chaos.
Really, it was a massace. Team WYPN had been called such for a reason..
"Friendships were far less violent in my day...
He settled into watch with a small smile.
A/N: And there we go!
As ever, I live for reviews and feedback; without them, I simply can't write a single word. So by all means! Speak up!
Yours feedback is the reason this story continues. Ever bit helps. It keeps me going in these crazy times. So by all means! Speak up! No review is too short or too small!
Had a right blast writing this, and next chapter is truly where the crazy REALLY takes off.
As ever, read the previews before you review, please.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews.
SUR~PRI~SE~!
(Preview)
Pyrrha cast her defeated adversary aside and gloried in the brawl. "Who's next?!"
"Since when can they fight that good?!"
"Pushups, sit ups and plenty of juice. I'm not sorry."
"Holy crap, Pyr just made a joke! Is the world ending?!"
Naruto swatted Ruby into the air. She crashed into a fountain, but only for a moment. Water exploded as she came up swinging...and soaking wet. Silver eyes promised murder.
"VENGEANCE WILL BE MINE!"
"Alright, we're here. Why did you want to meet on the roof...?"
Pyrrha kicked off her shoes.
Naruto frowned...until her skirt hit him in the face.
"Oh."
Weiss raised a hand as they ate. "So, Jaune and Neo are...?"
"Together-together?" Nora swallowed another bite of her pancackes.. "Oh, yeah. There's a story there.
"I don't want or need power. I'm strong enough. This is my life."
"Perhaps you haven't considered-
"My answer is no."
"She's here. We strike soon.