Author's Headnote: Well, it's on to Friday. I've started writing this after I published Chapter 57 of RWBY: Festival of Blood. I alternate between writing these so I don't get more distracted than I normally do.

And I'm going to say this, Ruby only slapped Nora out of a surprise reflex. If someone yelled in your ear at 4 AM, would you slap them too?

Ruby the Renegade: Unexpected Exams

Beacon Academy, 6:33 AM, Friday, Cafeteria

Much like the previous two days, Ruby had woken up her team early, and rushed them to get up. Along with Ruby getting up early, all of that stuff. Not much is different from the other days. Her team complained, and her and Weiss argued. But that was earlier, this is now.

Ruby was eating her breakfast, along with her team. She was giving the evil eye to Weiss whilst eating, she had done the same. The two girls especially did not get along with one another. And it seems the relationship is only getting worse, not that Ruby would care.

There was an awkward silence. Well, until someone broke it.

"So... the weekend's tomorrow. any plans?" Yang asked.

"No, not really." Jaune answered.

"Me and Ren are going to the arcade." Nora stated.

"I am going to improve my combat skills." Weiss retorted.

"Like you have any." Ruby stated.

"Hey, you lost to me!"

"It was a tie, and I slipped!"

"I would totally win against you!"

"Nuh uh."

"Yuh huh!"

"Can you two act your age!?" Yang demanded.

Ruby scoffed. Weiss just stayed silent.

The young trainee-huntress, Ruby had continued to eat her breakfast, not paying attention to the conversations at hand. It's better that way, although she did flip off Weiss. As for what's Ruby's eating, she's eating the same thing as she ate on Wednesday. After she finished her breakfast, she returned the bin and checked what classes she has...

All of them, with half the amount of time she'd normally have for them. Well... that's interesting.

But no less, Dust Studies appears to be first on the list. Thankfully, Ruby knows where that is... So Ruby proceeds to head to class, and she races there so she gets there before Weiss. She won't let Weiss 1-up her! She's the team leader, not her, and she will learn that!

Although Ruby doesn't use her semblance, that would make it too easy for Ruby. That, and she doesn't want to waste aura so early. Given that combat practice is only forty-five minutes long. Which means there would be no doubt time limits on each class. The transitional periods are also fifteen minutes long instead of thirty, which makes sense given the time schedule. But that matters little, she's off to dust class.

Beacon Academy, 8:30 AM, Friday, Dust Studies (In Session)

Class had started, and than all of a sudden, Professor Peach had handed out a packet, it was around twenty sheets of paper long. To everyone in the class. Ruby was confused.

"Excuse me, what is this?" Ruby asked.

"This is your weekly exam." The professor responded.

Weekly exam? Does that mean that she has exams EVERY FRIDAY!? If she had known there was a test today, she would have studied. The rest of the class appears to be objecting to this as well, but chances are that won't change things. As she's reluctantly taking the test here...

The test is being taken on basic Dust geology. Ruby knows some of these answers from Signal. So, she's blitzing through the answers quickly, and as she progresses with the test questions, they seem to make be more complex in difficulty. Yet again, what test isn't?

It went from the basic geology to how the dust functions... let's see here... Fire dust burns, has larger explosions, and is commonly used for the base of stock ammunition, adding more fire dust can apply burning damage. Fire dust is also the most common form of dust.

Ice dust can form ice crystalline resistant to melting for a short time, fired from a bullet, can prevent an opponent from moving for a short while. Ice dust can freeze opponents too if the application is more potent.

Lightning dust allows faster movement of bullets, albeit without any recoil, making it comparable to a proto-railgun. Bullets with lightning dust applies electrical effects. It is also used as a base for dust capacitors, which can power an entire building or a city complex.

Earth dust has similar effects in combat as Ice, it does less damage to grimm and aura, but can stun people for much longer. Earth dust is commonly used defensively. Since it's barriers can endure more hits than the ones than ones made with ice. albeit, earth dust is more rare than ice dust.

Water dust is not used for combat, it is mostly used for wash-ups and plumbing. Wind Dust, or alternately Air dust can be used to push oneself or enemies, allowing it to be very versatile for it's usage. Wind dust bullets do not leave any physical bullet behind but leaves a strong recoil behind. Ruby and Yang tends to use these rounds for mobility.

Gravity Dust, although not intended for combat has seen it's use in the battlefield. It's recoil is much stronger is than the wind-dust bullet, and it leaves behind a bullet too. Ruby tends to use these to mix up for mobility or scythe attacks that require a speed boost. This dust is very experimental for it's able to provide de-buffs and delivers raw offensive quality, but is rarely used due to how uncommon it is in terms of dust, due to it being the rarest of the dust variants.

Dust, of course is not just bullets. Some people apply dust to their melee weapons to cast some sort of pseudo-magical spells. Dust can also have effects on people's semblances. Ruby, for one if concentrating with fire dust, she could make her normal semblance have a fiery effect, making her a living fireball. She does not enjoy the feeling of being on fire, however. That's why she rarely uses her semblance with dust, because she could feel the dust effects across her body. She does not enjoy it one bit. Wonder how dust would react with Yang's semblance, though... likely wouldn't want to add more fire to her semblance, it's likely a disaster waiting to happen.

But no less, after answering the questions they way she did, she handed her test to Professor Peach and waited for class to be over. Well, she felt stupid not expecting exams today. Guess she'll be more careful... well at least during Fridays, everyone's not disturbing Ruby. In which she could finally have some quiet. She decides to relax and wait to be dismissed to the next class, which will be history... these back-to-back exams are going to be annoying.

Well, she hopes her knowledge on dust is accurate as well.

Beacon Academy, 10:30 AM, Friday, Math Class (In Session)

The history exam was well, Ruby had no clue about half of the test so she had just guessed through all of it.

Ruby had received the math exam... these are the worst parts about math class. The tests, like Ruby mentioned before, Ruby answers questions in a non-standard method, so she'll get points off unless she does it their way.

But screw the standard method! It doesn't work for Ruby!

So, Ruby was answering the questions on the math test accordingly. Unlike the last two classes, there was a tablet with the test on it, along with a stylus. There was no calculator provided, as the test specifically stated that calculators weren't allowed in the exams.

Basic Algebra here... than it goes to geometry, a misplaced physics question... than there's the calculus. She then comes across the simple question. Let's see here, a simple car is driving across eastern Sanus in a straight line at 75 mph, and she has to figure out how long does it take to reach the other side. Well... let's see here, a straight line would mean that the car wouldn't on any major roads, or any settlements. And they are just constantly driving forward. And then there's calculating the quantity of grimm attacks around Vale. Ruby outright answers the question that the car would be attack and destroyed by grimm, and there's no actual and consistent route to drive straight forward in Eastern Sanus.

And then Ruby comes across the one math question on every test that comes up with a story that doesn't make any sense and no one has any idea what the answer is because the question is just way too bizarre. Let's see here... at 7:30 AM, a bullhead launches off the ground and heads forward at 55 mph, carrying 20 men and 20 women, along with a cargo of 70 pounds worth of fire dust. Three hours later, a conspiracy of seven nevermores is flying away from the bullhead at 73 mph, all of which are around fifty feet in length... how many cow skulls are in the desert? This question makes no absolute sense. There is no consistency in the question. Who writes these tests? She's just going to leave that question blank and head to the next one...

'From the answer you've reached from the last question'. These tests are stupid. This is stupid. What does math even have to do with being a huntress?

Well, no matter. She has to answer these questions, just get a C be done with it.

Beacon Academy, 12:44 PM, Friday, Cafeteria

The literature exam, was mostly testing whether or not one would understand the meaning of certain poems. It was relatively easy, but chances are things would only get harder from there on. Because they had to explain the certain meaning behind them.

As for right now, Ruby was eating well-done steak and rice. Along with a baked potato and various greens. She needs all the energy for tests and the inevitable combat exam. As she cut her steak, her teammates had stopped to notice it.

"Is that steak... well done?" Weiss asked in disgust.

"Ya. I don't like undercooked meat." Ruby mentioned.

"You're supposed to eat steak rare!"

"No, I'm not. And it'd be too moist for my taste."

"Moist?"

"At least have it medium or medium-rare! Eating steak like that is just heresy!" Blake yelled.

"And not like you two eat steak anyway. You, I've always seen eating some kind of fish, most commonly tuna. And Ice-bitch is a vegetarian." Ruby commented.

"Meat is filled with so many carcinogens! It's unhealthy!" Weiss objected. "Also, stop calling me that!"

"Nope." Ruby retorted.

"Everything is a carcinogen Weiss." Yang said, as she is literally downing a double bacon chicken-beef cheeseburger, with double cheese.

There's more meat and cheese on that sandwich than there is vegetables and tomatoes... and Ruby is convinced there isn't any greens in Yang's sandwich. It's all meat and cheese. Save for the bread. Along with Pineapple soda at the side. And cheesy-bacon covered ranch dressing covered fries. If it weren't for Yang's good metabolism, she wouldn't be eating like she is.

"Yang. I suggest you eat vegetables." Blake said.

"I am eating vegetables, see?" Yang said, holding up a frie.

"She means anything other than potatoes." Weiss stated.

"But I am eating something other than potatoes." Yang said, holding her burger.

Ruby facepalmed whilst listening on to the conversation with both of her hands. Either Yang is messing with them, or she really is a meathead. It could be both for all Ruby knows. Ruby would try to intervene, but she knows it is pointless just to try and tell her what they're saying.

"And you need to learn how to respect a steak!" Blake yelled at Ruby.

Ruby merely responded by flipping the bird at Blake. She does not want to deal with her team right now, she just wants to eat, then go to the courtyard to study for her grimm studies' test. Better spend a short amount of time learning stuff for her test than to get an edge on her test. Then it's whatever the heck 'leadership skills' is. And there's no way she's going to receive a test on the first class.

Beacon Academy, 2:04 PM, Friday, Leadership Skills (In session)

They are giving her a test on the first class. This classroom looks similar to the Dust studies classroom, except the stage is larger, and the number of seats is smaller. Yet again, only a select number of students would be here.

Ruby was sitting, with the test tablet and stylus at hand. She's not sure why Dust Studies and History had packets. Maybe they were leftover and didn't want to put them to waste. She sighed as she was answering these questions. Most of them are hypothetical and subjective. Is there even a right or wrong answer to any of these?

'One of your teammates is swarmed down by a group of grimm, rescue your ally or slay the grimm?' Of course, she's going to pick 'slay the grimm'. Any grimm that isn't dead is going to be a problem for the next huntsman or huntress. And aura could heal up their wounds, if they don't have an unlocked aura, they were a goner anyway. Even than, the career they go to expects them to die from grimm. They knew what they signed up for. The grimm are always a higher priority than evacuating fallen allies.

The tactics section... these questions run a simulation using Ruby's team determining a case of scenarios in which Ruby would have her team, analyzed based on their fighting skills recorded overall during their time at Beacon Academy to accurate summarize the simulation combat scenarios. The first one consists of 6 ursai and a nevermore. The question would be marked right if all the team members defeat the grimm with no causalities.

Of course, she would put Yang as the tank and lure whilst having Blake and herself strike them from behind. And have Weiss just stand at the corner and not do anything. Wait, these questions require her to use ALL members of her team... well, this makes things 100% harder for Ruby. Since she has no idea how to efficiently apply Weiss. Her semblance is too showy-offy, and often leaves her vulnerable to attacks, she's really only good for a supporting role. Well, she'll be just that, she'll just use her glyphs to help the team and hinder the grimm... once Ruby runs the simulation on the tablet... her plans fail drastically. Well, she'll be drafting on this for the rest of the test time.

Yet again, she'll have to actually learn what her team could actually do in order to learn how the fight respectively, especially given the last class of the day would be combat practice, which will no doubt be a test of her team's fighting skills. Assuming if Weiss has any. Yet again, she did save Ruby's life, so... but she won't put that in affair, she won't let Weiss get the better of Ruby.

Beacon Academy, 3:22 PM, Friday, Indoor Combat Arena

The indoor combat arena was larger, where as the theater was fitted for one-on-one fights, the arena was suited for larger fights, and tournament fights. With the seats positioned in a circular arena-like format compared to the theater which was like a standard theater room format.

After seeing CRDL taking on one of those group of students without effort. Ruby was interested. Although both have claimed they passed. In which professor goodwitch has lectured and dismissed the two teams and than went on to refresh the arena.

"Next up is team RWBY vs team JNPR." Glynda announced.

Well, time for the team fight. Ruby and her team went to the locker room and went to get changed, although Ruby made it clear that her modesty is respected. She would not get changed if someone is looking at her, which is why she used one of the locker-room bathroom stalls. Because they have enough room to ensure privacy.

After that, she got her outfit and weapon ready for the fight. Her team is prepared as well. She steps onto the arena with her friends intact, along with JNPR across from it. From what she remembers, the so-called 'invincible girl' is on that team. Well, she's about to get this spoiled tournament fighter a taste of reality.

"Pyrrha Nikos? Shouldn't you be doing commercials for cereal?" Ruby asked.

"Was... that an insult?" Pyrrha asked.

"I'm saying that the life of a huntress isn't like fighting a tournament, the grimm don't exactly throw the match to appease the audience."

"Oooh! Burn!" Cardin said, in the background.

"Well, that's not very nice to say, is it?" Pyrrha asked.

"Ya ya, just shut up and take your humble pie." Ruby retorted.

"Miss Rose, would you please wait until AFTER I announce the fight to start for you to taunt your opponent?" Glynda asked.

Ruby scoffed. She knew better than to just diss the teacher. So, she waited until the teacher announced the match to start.

"BEGIN!" Glynda announced.

And just like that Ruby had lunged to initiate an attack for Pyrrha, in which she somehow dodged a point-blank attack. She than countered with a shield bash, and a horizontal sweep with her javelin. Followed by two slashes, a pause and than a flurry of jabs. Followed by a thrust from her javelin, enforced by recoil, pushed Ruby back. How did she manage to fall for such a cheap tactic? Well, no matter, she changed Crescent Rose to her rifle form and started firing, in which Pyrrha manages to counter every single shot with one of her own.

Weiss, however, had an easy time keeping up with her opponent, Jaune Arc (AKA: Vomit Boy). Weiss manages to keep him on her glyph whilst he's trying to block with his shield, but he cannot counter an attack from the sides and the behind. Ruby can list 57 ways that he could have easily countered that glyph blitz attack of hers. Eventually she finished that attack with a slash down, knocking Jaune down to 15% aura, getting him out from the match. She than strikes Nora with lightning dust-bolt

Afterwards, just when Yang was about to win her fight with Nora. Then Nora had been struck with the lightning bolt, instead of taking damage, she was invigorated by it. She then followed by striking her hammer on Yang, knocking her out from the arena, and creating a Yang-shaped hole in the wall.

"Cheap... Semblance..." Yang said, followed by falling down from the wall.

Blake was fighting Ren, but the odds seem dead-even. Neither seem to have the advantage over one another. Meanwhile Nora and Weiss come at it. With Nora's strong, but slow attacks meet Weiss' fast but weak attacks. Although it seems like Nora is having the advantage.

Meanwhile, back with Ruby and Pyrrha. The red-hooded huntress can't land a hit on her opponent. Which makes Ruby infuriated. How can she be out-skilled by a tournament fighter? She decided to use speed to catch Pyrrha off-guard, in which she uses her semblance to cause a blitz, leaving behind a trail of red rose petals. Although did lay a hit on Pyrrha, she was quick on the counter-attack, bashing her down with the shield, and than lifting her up with the javelin, just to whack her down again. Ruby had gotten up and went back to the attack with a blitz, in which Pyrrha somehow dodged.

"You think you're the first person I fought with a speed semblance?" Pyrrha asked.

"Just because you've learned to react to high speeds, doesn't mean you're a competent fighter." Ruby retorted.

"It seems you're the incompetent one. Oh, sorry if that came out as offensive." Pyrrha stated.

After she said that. Ruby jumped up and went to strike Pyrrha down from the air, in which Pyrrha reacted by bashing the weapon, causing Ruby's hands to slip and having her drop the weapon across the arena. As Ruby went to go and get it, Pyrrha had threw her javelin and knocking Ruby out of the arena, ringing her out.

The invincible girl then went to get her javelin back. Afterwards she went to intervene in Blake and Ren's fight.

Meanwhile, Weiss tried to electrocute Nora again, and it seems her attempt has backfired, as Weiss joins Yang with an imprint of the Schnee Dust Company Heiress is now on the wall.

The inevitable happens, as Blake albeit her semblance gives her an edge, she would be overwhelmed by the three remaining opponents.

"The match is called; the winner is team JNPR." Glynda announced. "Although I admire your admirability and adaptation, applying proper tactics and combat skills could have made this a swifter victory for you, Team JNPR." She added.

Jaune didn't saying anything and raised his thumb up. The rest of team JNPR nodded.

"As for team RWBY, never underestimate your opponent, and I've detected a severe lack of co-operation in your team, I suggest you fix that. If a team cannot work together, that team would end up being weak and easily broken." Glynda lectured.

Ruby stayed silent, and Weiss looked offended. The rest of the team just groaned in pain. Ruby and her team got up to get changed and proceeded to watch the fights for the rest of the class.

Beacon Academy, 6:00 PM, Friday, RWBY Dormitory

Ruby was playing games on her scroll; the back-to-back exams have been really annoying to her. She didn't really care which game she picked, she just pressed a random app and just started playing the game around it. She was sitting on her bed, which by the way is not a bunk bed. She would never think of organizing the beds that way, there's no way to actually keep it stable. She just wants to unwind for today, she doesn't want to deal with her team right now.

She heard one of her teammates talking to her, she just put in her headphones and flipped the bird at them. But don't worry, she'll be actively spending more time with them soon enough.

And then someone ripped her headphones out.

"Hey, what's the big Idea?" Ruby demanded.

"You think you can just dismiss me like I'm some sort of stranger?" Weiss yelled.

"I just did, now give me my headphones." Ruby stated.

"No."

"It wasn't a request, Ice Bitch. Give them to me. They are my headphones. I've paid for them with my money."

"I'm not giving you your headphones back until you outright listen to me."

"And I'm not listening until you give me my headphones back."

"Then you'll need to rip them out of my hands."

"Oh, I will." Ruby said, getting up and proceeding to reach for the headphones, in which Weiss responded by trying to push Ruby away and moving the arm holding the headphones away from Ruby. In which Ruby responded by stepping on Weiss' foot, causing her to lose focus and drop the headphones, in which Ruby caught.

"Hey! Are you trying to break my shoe!?" Weiss retorted.

"If you had fought in something other than high heels, maybe you would be a better fighter." Ruby stated.

"Hey! You know how expensive combat stilettos are?"

"Just fight in normal shoes, or boots."

"No, I won't! And stop changing the subject!"

"You brought up the shoes."

"Ya... but. You've been nothing but a jerk."

"Okay, and?"

"What's your game?"

"My game?"

"How does a spoiled fifteen-year-old get into beacon academy two years before anyone else?"

"Spoiled? Says miss heiress to the company that holds a monopoly on dust!"

"I am not going to stand by and let you backlash me?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I am going to be better than you, and prove I am more qualified to lead this team!"

"You literally supercharged one of your opponents twice!"

"Okay, I didn't even know what her semblance was at the time!"

"You saw her supercharged and swing my sister across the arena!"

"That could have been anything!"

"It was fairly obvious!"

"That's not the point! The point is, I am challenging your position as leader. From this point forward, consider us rivals!"

"Fine by me."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Author's Footnote: Well, that's this chapter. I would figure that Ruby would underestimate Pyrrha and go after her first. Of course, by now you know that the plan backfired. As for team organization, Well Jaune is not a good fighter, but he is a better tactician. Where as Ruby right now is a good fighter, but she mostly makes up plans as she goes. And this Ruby, in particular prefers to work alone, so really her team doesn't have any direction. Hence, why they lost to JNPR. And something tells me she is going to fail that leadership skills test. Of course, me saying it means she will be. Well, see you when I write the next chapter.