AN: So, I am here. Ya know, just getting into the flow of things. *sigh* I'm exhausted, people.

Still, fiction is nice and people can be, so here I am. Why did I say this? I have no bloody clue. I'm just here. Anyhow, onto some things.

So, had some nice reviews last chapter, felt pretty splendid, decided I should write a bit faster(and also maybe get to working harder at college…) so yeah.

There was one review I couldn't reply to because of reasons, and I was a little miffed when I realized it, and felt very sad, because now I need to dedicate space here to answer them.

If you want to skip to the story, here is where to do it.

So, for the reviewer:

Alkus: Realistically, I doubt Mistral or Atlas would observe such a thing for long, seeing as they were against it. Names are part of culture and each kingdom probably has their own, with Vale wanting expression the most out of the Great War. So, Natsuki's name, while I am fairly sure has some relation to the color blue, really doesn't need such a thing, because in world, everyone naming their children after colors would get boring and restrictive. There are plenty of non-color names that are perfect for children.

Also, human memory is really short, do you really think naming conventions over dead soldiers would stick for over 70 years?(which I presume is at least the amount of time since the War, seeing as there are no underlying tensions between nations over the war that we've seen). It wouldn't for us, I doubt it would for them either.

Naturally, that's only in world logic, out of world it's by Monty's request, and technically her name is related to color. I just didn't put in Herculean amounts of effort to it.

Jesus, this is why I like PMing people for reviews, I end up writing essays…

Sorry everyone!

The story begins now!

Chapter 4: Teaching Life

Alicia's POV

It came as a small surprise to me that I was able to do that little introduction to every single class I had. I had expected to get told off by Goodwitch, seeing as I didn't properly explain everything I'd wanted to do to my students, but on the contrary, she simply pushed her glasses up her nose and told me to be more careful with what limits I set.

Specifically, tournament rules, so at the very least students won't be placed in grievous danger if a stray bullet tags them. Perhaps a testament to the skill of my first class, nobody did actually get shot. Apparently, students Scarlatina and Adel rallied their colleagues, set up a regroup zone for the disabled students, and made sure all active students knew not to shoot in their direction.

Thanks to them and the other senior students that took up the mantle, nobody was actually hurt. I did get a few complaints filed against me by upset students, but those were brushed off by Beacon on the reasoning that being a Hunter is a deadly profession, and as the best school for training Hunters, we must be allowed to simulate reality as closely as possible.

That was excellent for me, and I mostly managed to keep it a secret from every individual class by threatening the grades of anybody who leaked my initial test to the school rumor mill. The last three classes had the beans spilled for them, but I managed to track down the students requiring punishment without any hassle and dock their overall grade for spoiling my fun.

My test. I meant my test.

Regardless, my first week passed mostly without any fanfare, aside from students, mostly fresh meat, griping about my teaching methods. They clearly didn't care for how I'd managed to pick them apart with nearly no issues.

I can't lie though, by the end of the week, my Aura was feeling pretty strained from all the abuse it had suffered. One class even managed to lower me to nearly a third, and that was quite the day. To be fair, they were my third class in a row, and I wasn't fully recharged from my earlier tests.

Of course, not everything was so simple. I had managed to notice a decent number of students more skilled than the rest. Not quite a full forty, but a nice twenty-five of them. I submitted their names to Ozpin to see if he could rearrange the schedules so I could have them all put in an advanced class with me. He denied it, which didn't surprise me, as that would require reshuffling many student schedules, and the students I had mentioned, while ahead, were not so far ahead that they were going to learn nothing from the basic class.

My first week ended with paperwork mainly being done so I could officially dock points from everyone who had bothered me or been late to class. Seeing as anyone who'd actually fought me wasn't graded on their performance but rather their promptness, I just had to dock points from a few team's, as well as the little shits that spoiled my surprise.

I did tell them their performance and how long they lasted mattered, but really, I have over two hundred students. I do not remember what order they dropped in, just that they did indeed drop. Really, nothing else matters.

I stare at the virtual computer before me, tapping away on the keyboard with a stoic presentation that belies my boredom. Despite how advanced Remnant's computers and other technology is in comparison to Earth's, paperwork and other desk work remains exactly as tedious as I remember it. Granted, I was only sixteen when I unfortunately left, but I'd had a job, and it required a bit of paperwork, which was always the worst part of my day.

It has not changed since I got here.

I glance at the clock in the corner of the screen.

22:34, I think with a grimace, turning back to my work. And I'm only two thirds of the way done. At least tomorrow's the weekend. I'll just have to put in another few hours. Might as well do it….

One Night of Paperwork and Twelve Hours Later…

I glare at the monitor in front of me as I finally finish off all the work I'd needed to do.

Pro tip, when you do paperwork, make sure you do it right the fucking first time. I had to review the entire thing when I made a few key mistakes, and I'm exhausted right now. I need a day. Maybe five.

I open up my Beacon email to see if anything important is in, and find almost a hundred different emails. I scroll through them with a baleful glare, before submitting to my fate.

After a few minutes of checking, the majority are from students or some form of spam, while there are four from Goodwitch and one from Ozpin and a final one from a random email.

I check the one from Ozpin first, and find it to be a welcoming email more than anything, and move on to the four from Goodwitch. To my surprise she sent me several book titles on teaching and suggestions on how to properly teach, and apparently a schedule on teacher meetings.

The random email is apparently from Councilman Winchester, who is reaching out over my treatment of his son and his sons team on Monday. To my surprise, he was actually quite approving, and encouraged me to do whatever necessary in order to make them stronger.

I wouldn't have presumed him to be quite so amicable over this, but he is a former Hunter, so I suppose it makes sense. He actually offered to help cover expenses for training tools that Beacon wouldn't help me get. The thought is nice, but there aren't any tools to help with Aura training, as more scientific understandings of Aura don't exist yet. I'll need to explain that when I'm more awake.

The rest all come from students either screeching at me or asking if we could meet up over the weekend for practice and the like. I let out a sigh and send out an email to one of the more interesting teams, setting a meeting in about an hour.

I really ought to get proper sleep, but progress never sleeps.

I set an alarm on my scroll as I turn my computer off, and lean back in my chair with a groan. A few moments of regretting my life choices later I make my way out to the Emerald Forest.

Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

An Hour Later…

I wake from my short nap as my scroll blares near my head. I shift back to my more human form, and groggily grab my scroll, moving out of my cave. I walk for a few minutes and make my way towards the sound of a gun going off, shuffling along like a zombie.

A little time later I arrive at a small battleground to see team CFVY fighting a small group of Grimm. I watch as they take down the beast's, moving fluidly and covering each other well as the last dies off.

"Nice teamwork," I comment as I come out behind them. The team looks back at me, with Adel lowering her sunglasses slightly.

"You're a bit late to the party," she replies with a smirk. I raise an eyebrow before shrugging.

"You looked like you had it covered," I answer calmly, looking over the four as they array themselves in front of me. "You wanted to meet up for extra practice. Do you want to refine Aura techniques you already know or did you want to learn something new?"

"I, uh, wanted to ask if you could help me refine my technique," Scarlatina admits, looking slightly unnerved. I stare down at the girl as she continues. "I think I'm ahead of the rest of my team, but they also wanted to learn something, so they came along." I nod in response as I step up to the Faunus girl.

"Give me your hand for a moment," I order, extending my own. After a moment, she clasps hands with me and I extend a probe into her Aura. I note as she grimaces, her ears drooping, and tone down the intensity of the probe. Her ears perk up at that with a look of surprise moving in, and I continue on my search.

"What are you doing?" Adel asks curiously.

"Gauging her Aura levels," I inform them, still calculating. "If research into Aura was more advanced, there might be a standard measurement and tools with which to measure Aura levels, but as things stand, those that know how to look into Aura must do it personally. It makes it hell when you want to properly communicate about how much a person has." I remove my Aura probe as I finish. "Alright. You've got decent Aura reserves, from what I've seen." I take away my hand as her ears perk up. I raise a hand in the direction of a tree and prime a flicking motion with my index finger while my Aura charges. "You used an Aura Blast in the test earlier this week, so I presume that's what you want to refine." As she nods, I release my Aura and flick my finger.

A moment later, the tree in its path bursts into shrapnel, causing my pupils to shout in surprise. I rub my eyes, wishing I'd denied this meeting, as I'm feeling my exhaustion.

"That was the most efficient use of roughly seventy percent of your reserves I can do in an Aura Blast," I inform the group, and they look at me with interest. "Naturally, I could have done it with much less if I'd bothered to actually make contact with the tree." I take a few steps away from the group and assume a defensive stance. "Scarlatina, his me with the strongest Blast you can."

"Uh, are you sure that's-," she begins to object.

"I have over thirty times the amount of Aura you do, and know how to use mine more efficiently than you likely will for the next twenty years," I cut in blandly. "You won't be able to hurt me, and I'll need something to base your skill off of. I could ask you to hit a tree, but I am a much sturdier target, and I can feel it directly. Easier for everyone."

The Faunus looks to her team leader, who just gestures for her to do it. I stare at the rabbit while she finally prepares to attack, and then snort as she jumps up above me.

Strong legs, I note absently as she completes a flip in the arc above me. Covered a good five foot gap from a standing position and ascended quite high. I catch her kick on my right forearm with a focused swirl of Aura, dispersing her charged Aura without much difficulty, though my lack of forced movement clearly threw Velvet off, as she flops to the ground without ceremony, knocking her head on a chunk of wood.

I stare at her as she rubs her head, groaning.

"Good for someone without formal training," I compliment, adjusting my sleeve and extending a hand to help her up. "The Blast was solid, and if I wasn't quite so experienced in Aura techniques, you'd probably have knocked me off my feet." The girl accepts my hand with a small thanks. I pull her to her feet as I probe her Aura levels once more.

Well, for a decent attack, she used almost a quarter of her reserves.

Jesus save me, the lack of efficiency is almost worse than I was.

"That said, your inefficiency with the technique could hardly get worse," I state while withdrawing my hand, causing the girl to flinch and her ears to droop. I note that her team shifts a bit, standing a bit more aggressively, and I repress a scoff. "There are a few ways to improve Aura control, and most involve being hit over and over again until you get better at blocking things with minimal Aura. I started with a teacher who always nailed me between the eyes with a cast iron pot."

I rub my forehead with a vaguely fond smile as team CFVY looks confused on whether to laugh or not. I erase my smile and stare at the Faunus in front of me again.

"It's a slow process, but it is better than learning in combat, which will happen as time goes on, should you survive," I inform the group. "Really, the best you can ask for is finding something heavy and blunt, then striking delicate areas of the body." The group glance at Adel. "It wouldn't help if you prepared for it, as most things in combat happen rapidly and are tough to react to, therefore, this training is best if used for wake up calls or while someone is unaware. You always waste the most Aura out of shock rather than necessity."

"So you're telling us to constantly try to surprise attack each other every day while we aren't expecting it," Adel summarizes.

"Once or twice a day at most," I correct. "It helps build both efficiency in Aura use and reaction time. Also, enlist help from other teams. Limiting it to yourselves would mean you'd all naturally expect it from each other, and not everyone else. You will hinder your progress if it cannot happen from anyone and at anytime."

This is totally not a reason to see battle royales in the courtyard. Totally.

I draw my gun off my waist and shoot the Ursa approaching from the left, casually replacing my gun as the corpse falls, the team with me looking over in surprise.

"You just need to keep practicing using Aura, and to do that, the most common way is actually using it," I lecture, before holding up a hand and forcing my Aura into the visual spectrum. "Of course, another way is cycling your Aura. Aura naturally moves through the body with the circulatory system. It flows outward from the center of the chest, follows arteries down to the extremities and up to the head, then tracks with the veins back to the heart." The group pays almost religious attention to my words. "Some theorize this is why Aura heals us, similar to how blood clots a wound. Aura does not follow blood after it has left the body, so the idea that Aura is carried in blood is largely discarded, at least in informed circles." Yatsuhashi raises his hand, prompting me to nod at the boy.

"While I certainly appreciate the lesson on how our Aura works, how does this tie into improving our efficiency in using Aura?" The giant asks. I look up at him, realizing he has a good six or seven inches on me.

I sigh and draw my gun again, aiming past his head and shooting down four small Nevermore, before returning it. The team look behind them to see what I'd shot, and watch as the tiny bodies hit the ground half disintegrated.

"Knowledge is always helpful, even if you lack the ability to apply it," I return while rubbing my eyes. "The reason I am telling you is so you know what way your Aura naturally cycles. If you study your cardiovascular system, you'll be able to at least follow the natural paths of your Aura. I don't want you to accidentally try cycling your Aura backwards because you might injure yourselves with a massive buildup and then internal explosion of Aura." At that, Velvet pales, while the rest merely frown or nod. "It is easier and far safer to try accelerating the rate at which your Aura cycles. It does so naturally when your heart rate increases, which is why injuries are less likely to happen in full blown combat. Conversely, more Aura is used up in every hit you take while it cycles faster, but that's just how it goes. Terribly inefficient, if you ask me." Coco interrupts this time, though with little more indication than shifting her stance.

"So you're telling how not to kill ourselves in learning how to control our Auras," she states. I nod.

"Most Hunters die from overusing their Aura and being killed the traditional way than need to," I inform them. I lower my Aura encased hand. "In any event, Scarlatina, you wanted ways to refine the technique, the best way is to refine your overall skill with your Aura." I stretch for a moment, before gesturing at her to come at me. "For the moment, use it against me until you fall over. I'll give you more pointers then."

She shifts uncomfortably, before nodding, taking a stance as her team falls back a bit.

God I wish I chose sleep right now.

AN: Huh… I don't really know what to feel this chapter. It's more for introducing some Aura concepts, and as she is a teacher, lovely lectures for everyone! God I'm tired…

Anyways, if I had my way, this is about the halfway mark for that scrolly bar on the right of your screen. You may be wondering why that is.

Really, I got into a meme, had a good associate encourage my madness, and decided to write an omake…

Never done this before… neat.

So yeah, if you can't figure out what meme has been influencing me by the end of it, uh…. My condolences for your sad childhood.

Also, this will be in third person POV rather than the First person I am quite fond of. If anyone thinks this is an improvement over what I'm doing, I might consider doing it again in the future. I dunno.

Finally, this will take place some time in the future, in a final desperate push against Salem's castle. So, just know that they are in the heart of the Grimmlands.

Also, have Sabaton's 'The Last Stand' on standby. Y'know.

Just in case.

If anyone knows what's coming… it should be stupid.

AND IT'S GONNA BE GREAT!

-Lambda38

P.S.-dunno if I need to say this, but it's non-canon until further notice. Bye.

Omake Begins?

Alicia heaves a sigh as she tosses the rags that used to be her cloak onto the dwindling fire. Qrow offers her his flask with a grunt as Ruby and Blake sit against the wall of their decrepit building.

The Faunus accepts hesitantly with a small nod, knocking it back with little pause. She takes three gulps before returning the flask to the man.

"I'm sorry," she begins, before she's cut off by the one eyed girl across from her.

"It wasn't your fault my mother died, and it isn't your fault we couldn't save Yang," Ruby says, frowning as she stares at the fire. "We were all there, and she delayed Salem for us." Blake lets out a sigh as her ears twitch.

"We were idiots for trying to challenge an immortal," the cat Faunus states. "There is no way for us to win, and no point in trying to change what has already happened." Alicia's cheeks flush red as Qrow drinks from his flask.

"Th-that's one way to put it, I guess," Alicia says, voice audibly slurring. The three with her stare in surprise. "Wh-What?" She hiccups. "I'm just trying to, trying to… what am I doing?"

"Are you drunk?" Qrow asks incredulously, capping his flask and pocketing it. Alicia tries to shake her head, before slumping over. Qrow snickers at the sight. "What a lightweight."

A moment later, Alicia stands abruptly, startling her companions.

"Alicia?" Ruby asks, staring at the woman, whose hair had drifted in front of her face.

The Aura Master walked over to the entrance to the dilapidated structure, walking through before anyone could say a word.

"Alicia!" Qrow shouts, standing and racing after the drunk. He exited the building with his blade drawn, only to find an empty hills and wasteland.

He swivels his head, trying to find his missing friend, as noise begins to come from beyond his sight. Ruby and Blake stand beside the veteran Huntsman, with Ruby squinting slightly as she listens.

A distant rhythmic thud steadily gets louder as the noise become more clear, with the sound of a guitar becoming clear.

"Is, is that," Ruby begins, confusion plastered across her face. "The Last Stand by Sabaton?" Blake listens, unconsciously bobbing her head to the tune.

The noise continues to grow, as the thudding grows into a massive crash, with the sound of armor shaking reaches the group. Qrow furrows his brow before moving towards the noise, as the song gets clearer. Before the group can reach the top of the hill, a mass of steel and white cloth crests it, with many banners holding a flag adorned by a red cross on a white background. The three gape at the lines of knights, as the music reaches a crescendo.

"Hail travelers!" A familiar voice calls, as one steps forward, removing her helm. Qrow gapes at Alicia as she stares at him, speaking with a deep accent. "Could you perhaps be fellow believers of the Holy Lord and His Church?"

Qrow gapes for a moment, before putting on a straight face.

"Yes, we are!" He replies strongly, while Blake and Ruby still look confused.

"Excellent! We are on the way to Jerusalem in order to drive out the Saracens and reclaim the Holy Land!" She proclaims loudly, as the howls and roars of Grimm begin to resound through the loud music. "Join us on our Holy Crusade!"

Qrow glances over his shoulder towards the oncoming Grimm, seeing hundreds of Grimm with Salem at their backs, and smirks slightly.

"Yes, we will gladly join! But be warned, a witch known as Salem has many beasts of Shadow under her control, and has joined the Saracens!" He lies fluidly, causing fury to build on Alicia's face. "We must defeat her and her armies before we can march on the Holy Land!"

Alicia draws her blade as the Grimm draw near.

"In the name of the Lord, my brothers! Deus Vult!" She shouts before charging down the hill towards the oncoming horde.

"DEUS VULT! DEUS VULT! DEUS VULT! WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM!"

"IN THE NAME OF GOD WE GO TO HEAVEN!"

The three Hunters watch as the army charges around them, hundreds upon hundreds of heavily armored knights going on to fight for their Holy Crusade. When the tides of silver and black collide, the Grimm are instantly pushed back, evaporating in droves upon the steel of God's warriors.

"DEUS VULT, INFIDELS!"

Qrow shrugs as he watches it, feeling a certain smugness from how easily this army(which had mysteriously come from nowhere) cut through the hides of the Grimm he'd fought for a lifetime, while the music intensified as the battle drew on.

"Where are they playing the music from?" Ruby asks in confusion, searching for the source.

"Please, my child," an elderly voice interrupts, drawing the trios attention to a man in cloth, with a strange hexagonal hat upon his head, and a staff topped with a large golden cross in his hand. "The Lord provides for his Holy Warriors, and His miracles are unquestionable."

A loud roar splits the air, drawing the attention of the group to the skies, to see the massive dragon Grimm flying closer and closer to the army of Crusaders. The old man lets out a hum.

"Do you think your God will protect you from that?" Blake asks skeptically. The man turns a critical eye towards the Faunus as every knight within thirty feet stopped and turned to stare at her.

"Are you a disbelieving heretic, perhaps?" He asks dangerously, making the girl sweat heavily.

"N-no! No, no nononono!" She quickly backpedals. "Deus Vult!" And with that the Crusaders returned to their charge.

"Is there any end to our Holy brethren?" Ruby asks, still watching as more knights pour over the hill.

"Not until God wills it, my child," the old man states as the dragon crashes down upon the crusaders. He watches for a few moments as the Crusaders attack futilely, swords bouncing off its thick hide. He slams the base of his staff on the ground. "Speak it with me, my brethren!" He shouts, voice carrying over the music and clamor of battle as he levels the top of his cross at the monstrous Grimm.

"DEUS VULT!"

In a moment, a massive beam of light left the cross, and split the Dragon in twine. The three Hunters stared in shock. The dragon, which had felled Beacon, which resisted Ruby's silver eyes, which had killed off Ren, Nora, Oscar, and Weiss, in an instant, was felled.

"Heh," The old man says with a smirk. "Deus Vult, infidels."

AN: Remember how before I said I'd consider doing third person again in the future?

Fuck. That. Noise.

Never again.

Anyhow, review, tell me how horrid it was, etc etc.

See ya next time.

-Lambda38

P.S.-If you think I shouldn't of done that omake… blame Radi. He was supposed to be my impulse control. Also, give his stories a read. He's a good writer.

Later.